Happily, all was finished, and the servants were called in to pack the pretty, fragile articles.
"Now I shall have five minutes," I thought to myself, "and I will find out whether she cares for me or not." Alas! there was the dressing-bell.

"We have just finished in time for dinner," said Lady Thesiger.

"Sir John will not be at home; he does not return until late." I was tortured with impatience.

Had I been waiting for a verdict over life or death, my agony would not have been one-half so great.
The long ordeal of dinner had to pass.
"You will allow me to go to the drawing-room with you," I said to the mistress of the house.

"I could not sit here alone." Then I saw a chance.