The journey from London had been one incessant anticipation, tormented with doubt.

Would her presence conquer him royally, assure her dominion, convert his intellectual fealty to passionate desire?
He regarded her without emotion.
Yet Annabel was not so calm as she wished to be.

Only by force of will could she exchange greetings without evidence of more than friendly pleasure.

This irritated her, for up to an hour ago she had said that his coming would in no way disturb her.

When, after an hour's talk, she left her father and the guest together, and went up to her room, the first feeling she acknowledged to herself was one of disappointment.
Egremont had changed, and not, she thought, for the better.