To crown all, she said, with her eyes smiling upon him: "My father would so like to know you; could you dine with us one evening before you go ?" Piers declared his absolute freedom for a week to come.
"Suppose, then, we say Thursday?
An old friend of ours will be with us, whom you may like to meet." She spoke a name which surprised and delighted him; that of a scientific man known the world over.

Piers went his way with raptures and high resolves singing at his heart.
For the rest of daytime it was enough to walk about the streets in sun and shower, seeing a glorified London, one exquisite presence obscuring every mean thing and throwing light upon all that was beautiful.

He did not reason with himself about Irene's friendliness; it had cast a spell upon him, and he knew only his joy, his worship.

Three years of laborious exile were trifling in the balance; had they been passed in sufferings ten times as great, her smile would have paid for all.
Fortunately, he had a little business to transact in London; on the two mornings that followed he was at his firm's house in the City, making reports, answering inquiries--mainly about wool and hemp.

Piers was erudite concerning Russian wool and hemp.