If Mrs.Wayne referred to it, and of course there was no possible reason why she should not refer to it, Adelaide would never let him hear the last of it.

It would be natural for Adelaide to think it queer that he hadn't told her about it.

And the reason he hadn't told was perfectly clear: it was on that infernal pier that he had formed such an adverse opinion of Mrs.Wayne.But of course he did not wish to prejudice Adelaide; he wanted to leave her free to form her own opinions, and he was glad, excessively glad, that she had formed so favorable a one as to ask the woman to dinner.

There was no question about his being glad; he surprised his servant by whistling as he put on his white waistcoat, and fastened the buckle rather more snugly than usual.

Self-knowledge for the moment was not on hand.
He arrived at exactly the hour at which he always arrived, five minutes after eight, a moment not too early to embarrass the hostess and not too late to endanger the dinner.
No one was in the drawing-room but Mathilde and Farron.