But a natural diffidence restrained him, which caused him to remain silent and unseen.

But-and she hesitated with becoming and natural diffidence-werenot his habits unfixed and roving?

I took but slight part in the campaign; in fact, a natural diffidence kept me aloof from active politics.

Perhaps it was her Japanese heritage showing through, perhaps it was just natural diffidence, but Jack viewed it with some concern.

My reminiscences of Spey and Speyside are drawing to an end, and I now with natural diffidence approach a great theme.

Gus could see but one thing to do properly and his natural diffidence was cast aside by his generous and kindly nature.

I think, indeed, that his only doubt was a natural diffidence as to whether the record had sufficient importance to justify its publication.

She continued to study his face frankly, with a half-shy, half-defiant scrutiny, as if she banished a natural diffidence under pressure of necessity.

Since the tragedies of her middle age her curious natural diffidence, which the habit of the world had never been able to subdue, had increased.

"I don't suppose," said Gus, with the natural diffidence he often experienced in expressing his mind, "that we could help you."