At dinner-time she had not returned.

It being Saturday, Mumford was back early in the afternoon, and Miss Derrick's absence caused no grief.

Emmeline could play with baby in the garden, whilst her husband smoked his pipe and looked on in the old comfortable way.
They already felt that domestic life was not quite the same with a stranger to share it.

Doubtless they would get used to the new restraints; but Miss Derrick must not expect them to disorganise their mealtimes on her account.

Promptly at half-past seven they sat down to dine, and had just risen from the table, when Louise appeared.
She was in excellent spirits, without a trace of the morning's ill-humour.