He wanted fully to appear to stand all he might; and there was a certain command of the situation for him in this very wish not to look too much at sea.

She was ready with everything, but so, sufficiently, was he; that is he was at one point the more prepared of the two, inasmuch as, for all her cleverness, she couldn't produce on the spot--and it was surprising--an account of the motive of her note.

He had the advantage that his pronouncing her "all right" gave him for an enquiry.

"May I ask, delighted as I've been to come, if you've wished to say something special ?" He spoke as if she might have seen he had been waiting for it--not indeed with discomfort, but with natural interest.

Then he saw that she was a little taken aback, was even surprised herself at the detail she had neglected--the only one ever yet; having somehow assumed he would know, would recognise, would leave some things not to be said.
She looked at him, however, an instant as if to convey that if he wanted them ALL--! "Selfish and vulgar--that's what I must seem to you.