But as a conscientious man he could not stand aside when his only surviving daughter seemed in peril.

After an exchange of post cards a meeting took place between them on the Embankment below Waterloo Bridge, for neither father nor child had anything in the nature of a home beyond the indispensable bedroom, and their only chance of privacy was in the open air.

Having no desire to quarrel with her parent (it would have been so very one-sided and uninspiriting) Polly began in a conciliatory tone.
"Aunt Louisa's been making a bother, has she?
Just like her.

Don't you listen to her fussicking, dad.

What's all the row about?
I've had a present given to me; well, what of that?
You can look at it for yourself.