If she wished to invite the Miss Milvains to St Paul's Crescent, he only begged that the times and seasons of the household might not be disturbed.
As her habit was, Marian took refuge in silence.

Nothing could have been more welcome to her than the proximity of Maud and Dora, but she foresaw that her own home would not be freely open to them; perhaps it might be necessary to behave with simple frankness, and let her friends know the embarrassments of the situation.

But that could not be done in the first instance; the unkindness would seem too great.

A day after the arrival of the girls, she received a note from Dora, and almost at once replied to it by calling at her friends' lodgings.

A week after that, Maud and Dora came to St Paul's Crescent; it was Sunday, and Mr Yule purposely kept away from home.