"A woman friend," she added hastily, seeing his brows knit darkly.
"So much the better! But I could have done without the importation of any friends of yours--male or female--just now.

They're entirely superfluous"-- smiling.
"Well, I'm glad Mrs.Durward is coming, because--" "_Who_ did you say ?" broke in Garth, pausing in his stride.
"Mrs.Durward--Tim's mother, you know," she explained.

She had confided to him the history of her brief engagement to Tim.
Trent resumed his walk, but more slowly; the buoyancy seemed suddenly gone out of his step.
"Don't you think," he said, speaking in curiously measured tones, "that, in the circumstances, it will be a little awkward Mrs.Durward's coming here just now ?" Sara disclaimed the idea, pointing out that it was the very completeness of Elisabeth's conception of friendship which was bringing her to Monkshaven.
"When does she come ?" asked Trent.
"On Thursday.

I'm very anxious for you to meet her, Garth.

She is so thoroughly charming.