You're sure you want me to come ?" She drew up and looked at him.
He bowed to hide his face.

"Of all things on earth," he said.
She ran on ahead, slipped into the house and up to her room.
Exultant and full of hope, Gilbert waited for a moment before following her in.

Going straight to the telephone room he shut the door, asked for the number of his cottage and drummed the instrument with his fingers.
At last! "Is that you, Itrangi?
...

Lay some sort of dinner for two,--cold things with wine.

It doesn't matter what, but at once.