I will send her there," said Mrs.Davilow, who had observed that he was fond of being with Gwendolen, as was natural, but had not thought of this as having any bearing on the realities of life: it seemed merely part of the Christmas holidays which were spinning themselves out.
Rex for his part thought that the realities of life were all hanging on this interview.

He had to walk up and down the drawing-room in expectation for nearly ten minutes--ample space for all imaginative fluctuations; yet, strange to say, he was unvaryingly occupied in thinking what and how much he could do, when Gwendolen had accepted him, to satisfy his father that the engagement was the most prudent thing in the world, since it inspired him with double energy for work.
He was to be a lawyer, and what reason was there why he should not rise as high as Eldon did?
He was forced to look at life in the light of his father's mind.
But when the door opened and she whose presence he was longing for entered, there came over him suddenly and mysteriously a state of tremor and distrust which he had never felt before.

Miss Gwendolen, simple as she stood there, in her black silk, cut square about the round white pillar of her throat, a black band fastening her hair which streamed backward in smooth silky abundance, seemed more queenly than usual.

Perhaps it was that there was none of the latent fun and tricksiness which had always pierced in her greeting of Rex.

How much of this was due to her presentiment from what he had said yesterday that he was going to talk of love?
How much from her desire to show regret about his accident?
Something of both.