He had been ordering her to cover her throat.

Stella, on the other hand, had been quiet but defiant.

She had refused.

Now she had changed her mind.
Baram Singh brought in the soup-tureen a second afterwards and Ballantyne raised his hands in a simulation of the profoundest astonishment.
"Why, dinner's actually punctual! What a miracle! Upon my word, Stella, I shan't know what to expect next if you spoil me in this way." "It's usually punctual, Stephen," Stella replied with a smile of anxiety and appeal.
"Is it, my dear?
I hadn't noticed it.

Let us sit down at once." Upon this tone of banter the dinner began; and no doubt in another man's mouth it might have sounded good-humoured enough.