Arrived at the house, he was led by a servant into the front room on the ground floor, where Lady Whitelaw, alone, sat reading a newspaper.

Her features were of a very common order, and nothing distinguished her from middle-aged women of average refinement; she had chubby hands, rather broad shoulders, and no visible waist.

The scrutiny she bestowed upon her visitor was close.

To Godwin's feelings it too much resembled that with which she would have received an applicant for the post of footman.

Yet her smile was friendly enough, and no lack of civility appeared in the repetition of her excuses for having replied so late.
'Let us talk about this,' she began, when Godwin was uneasily seated.
(She spoke with an excess of precision, as though it had at one time been needful for her to premeditate polished phrases.) 'I am very sorry you should have to think of quitting the College; very sorry indeed.
You are one of the students who do honour to the institution.' This was pleasant, and Godwin felt a regret of the constraint that was upon him.