But the newcomer paid little attention to the cup placed beside her.

Her eyes wandered round the group at the tea-table, her uncle, a man of originally strong physique, marred now by the student's stoop, and by weak eyes, tried by years of Greek and German type; her aunt-- "What a very odd woman Aunt Ellen is!" thought Constance.
For, all the way from the station, Mrs.Hooper had talked about scarcely anything but her own ailments, and the Oxford climate.

"She told us all about her rheumatisms--and the east winds--and how she ought to go to Buxton every year--only Uncle Hooper wouldn't take things seriously.

And she never asked us anything at all about our passage, or our night journey! And there was Annette--as yellow as an egg--and as _cross_--" However Dr.Hooper was soon engaged in making up for his wife's shortcomings.

He put his niece through many questions as to the year which had elapsed since her parent's death; her summer in the high Alps, and her winter at Cannes.
"I never met your friends--Colonel and Mrs.King.We are not military in Oxford.