Hilda Wade was invited, too.

The moment we entered the house, we were both of us aware that some grim change had come over it.

Le Geyt met us in the hall, in his old genial style, it is true; but still with a certain reserve, a curious veiled timidity which we had not known in him.
Big and good-humoured as he was, with kindly eyes beneath the shaggy eyebrows, he seemed strangely subdued now; the boyish buoyancy had gone out of him.

He spoke rather lower than was his natural key, and welcomed us warmly, though less effusively than of old.

An irreproachable housemaid, in a spotless cap, ushered us into the transfigured drawing-room.