At four in the afternoon Mr.and Mrs.Quarrier would receive Mr.and Mrs.
Liversedge, and thus make formal declaration of their readiness to welcome friends.

Since her return to England, Lilian had seen no one.
She begged Denzil not to invite Glazzard to Clapham.
They reached Polterham at one o'clock, in the tumult of a snowstorm; ten minutes more, and the whitened cab deposited them at their doorway.
Quarrier knew, of course, what the general appearance of the interior would be, and he was well satisfied with the way in which his directions had been carried out.

His companion was at first overawed rather than pleased.

He led her from room to room, saying frequently, "Do you like it?
Will it do ?" "It frightens me!" murmured Lilian, at length.

"How shall I manage such a house ?" She was pale, and inclined to tearfulness, for the situation tired her fortitude in a degree Denzil could not estimate.