She did not even perceive the opportunity offered to her for a wily performance.

She felt the hollowness of his speech, and no more; and she said, "Good-bye, Edward." He had been on one knee.

Springing cheerfully to his feet, "Good-bye, darling," he said.

"But I must see her sit to table first.

Such a wretched dinner for her!" and he mumbled, "By Jove, I suppose I shan't get any at all myself!" His watch confirmed it to him that any dinner which had been provided for him at the Club would be spoilt.
"Never mind," he said aloud, and examined the roast-beef ruefully, thinking that, doubtless, it being more than an hour behind the appointed dinner-time at the Club, his guest must now be gone.
For a minute or so he gazed at the mournful spectacle.