ThateveningwhenArchercamedownbeforedinnerhefoundthedrawing-roomempty.
HeandMaywerediningalone, 'sillness; , forwhilehedressedhehadheardhermovingaboutinherroom; andhewonderedwhathaddelayedher.
-in-law'sabsorptionintrifles; , longago, hadhadescapesandvisions, andhadconjuredupallthehostsofdomesticitytodefendhimselfagainstthem.
-neckedandtightly-laceddinner-dresswhichtheMingottceremonialexactedonthemostinformaloccasions, andhadbuiltherfairhairintoitsusualaccumulatedcoils; andherface, incontrast, , andhereyeshadkeptthebluedazzleofthedaybefore.
"Whatbecameofyou, dear?" sheasked."IwaswaitingatGranny's, andEllencamealone, 'snothingwrong?"
"OnlysomelettersI'dforgotten, andwantedtogetoffbeforedinner."
"Ah—" shesaid; andamomentafterward: "I'msorryyoudidn'tcometoGranny's—unlesstheletterswereurgent."
"Theywere," herejoined, surprisedatherinsistence."Besides, Idon'tseewhyIshouldhavegonetoyourgrandmother''tknowyouwerethere."
, liftingherlongarmtofastenapuffthathadslippedfromitsplaceinherintricatehair, Archerwasstruckbysomethinglanguidandinelasticinherattitude, , ashehadleftthehousethatmorning, shehadcalledoverthestairsthatshewouldmeethimathergrandmother' "Yes!" andthen, absorbedinothervisions, , , (hesuspectedherofmany) hemighthavelaughedthemaway; butshewastrainedtoconcealimaginarywoundsunderaSpartansmile.
Todisguisehisownannoyanceheaskedhowhergrandmotherwas, , buthadbeenratherdisturbedbythelastnewsabouttheBeauforts.
"Whatnews?"
