She advanced noiselessly over the dense old rug scattered with easy-chairs, and before she reached the middle of the room she saw that she had not been mistaken.

Lawrence Selden was in fact seated at its farther end; but though a book lay on his knee, his attention was not engaged with it, but directed to a lady whose lace-clad figure, as she leaned back in an adjoining chair, detached itself with exaggerated slimness against the dusky leather upholstery.
Lily paused as she caught sight of the group; for a moment she seemed about to withdraw, but thinking better of this, she announced her approach by a slight shake of her skirts which made the couple raise their heads, Mrs.Dorset with a look of frank displeasure, and Selden with his usual quiet smile.

The sight of his composure had a disturbing effect on Lily; but to be disturbed was in her case to make a more brilliant effort at self-possession.
"Dear me, am I late ?" she asked, putting a hand in his as he advanced to greet her.
"Late for what ?" enquired Mrs.Dorset tartly.

"Not for luncheon, certainly--but perhaps you had an earlier engagement ?" "Yes, I had," said Lily confidingly.
"Really?
Perhaps I am in the way, then?
But Mr.Selden is entirely at your disposal." Mrs.Dorset was pale with temper, and her antagonist felt a certain pleasure in prolonging her distress.
"Oh, dear, no--do stay," she said good-humouredly.

"I don't in the least want to drive you away." "You're awfully good, dear, but I never interfere with Mr.Selden's engagements." The remark was uttered with a little air of proprietorship not lost on its object, who concealed a faint blush of annoyance by stooping to pick up the book he had dropped at Lily's approach.