With her came, too, a sudden strong scent of flowers, for she carried a marvellous bunch of hot-house roses, Aldous's gift, which had just arrived by special messenger.
Wharton sprang up and placed a chair for her.
"I had begun to believe the ball only existed in my own imagination!" he said gaily.

"Surely you are very late." Then he saw that she looked disturbed.
"It was papa," she said, coming to the fire, and looking down into it.
"It has been another attack of pain--not serious, mamma says; she is coming down directly.

But I wonder why they come, and why he thinks himself so ill--do you know ?" she added abruptly, turning to her companion.
Wharton hesitated, taken by surprise.

During the past weeks, what with Mr.Boyce's confidence and his own acuteness, he had arrived at a very shrewd notion of what was wrong with his host.

But he was not going to enlighten the daughter.
"I should say your father wants a great deal of care--and is nervous about himself," he said quietly.