It was, in fact, the first time that he had seen the girl's features; hitherto they had been, like everything else not embalmed in his memory, a mere vague perception, a detail of the phantasmic world through which he struggled against his _ennui_.
"Childish?
Oh dear, no!" he remarked, almost vivaciously.

"It is charming; they are both charming.

Really, I'd have some of both, Miss Denyer." "Then we certainly will," was Mrs.Denyer's conclusion; and with a gracious inclination of the head, she left the room, followed by her daughters.

Mr.Musselwhite looked round for another glance at Barbara, but of course he was just too late.
Poor Madeline, in the meantime, was being sorely tried.

Whilst Clifford Marsh was away at Pompeii, daily "scenes" took place between her and her mother.