They spent the evening in the drawing-room.

Paula was persuaded to sing, which she did prettily, though still without her native vivacity.

Again she retired early.
After breakfast on the morrow it still rained, though not without promise of clearing.
'You'll excuse me till lunch,' Paula said to Annabel and Egremont, when they rose from the table.

'I have a great deal of correspondence to see to.' 'Correspondence' was a new word.

Usually she said, 'I have an awful heap of letters to write.' Her dignity of the former day was still preserved.
Having dismissed her household duties, Annabel went to the morning room and sat down to her books.