I would be very careful not to precipitate the disclosure, however, while we sat at table; it is so disagreeable to talk to any one on an agitating subject _vis-a-vis_ across a little dinner-table, with a bright light overhead, and a servant walking around, able to stop and study you from any point she pleases.
Coffee came at last, though even that, Susan was unwilling to look upon as the legitimate finale, and had her views about liqueur, instructed by Throckmorton.

But I cut it short by getting up and saying, "I'm sure you'll be glad to go into the parlor; it gets warm so soon in these little rooms." The parlor was very cool and pleasant; a window had been open, and the air was fresh, and the flowers were delicious, and the lamp was softer and pleasanter than the gas.

I went to break up the coal and make the fire blaze, and Richard to shut the window down.
When I had pulled a chair up to the fire and seated myself, he stood leaning on the mantelpiece, on the other side from me.

I felt sure he meant to go, the minute that he could get away--a committee meeting, no doubt, or some such nauseous fraud.

But he should not go away until he had told me, that was certain.
"What is it that you wanted to ask me about, Pauline ?" he said, rather abruptly.
My heart gave a great thump; how could he have known?
Oh, it was the business that I had spoken of in my stupid note.