He knew that Joanne would go walking with him that afternoon, and in spite of his most serious efforts to argue to the contrary he could not keep down the feeling that the event would mean a great deal for him.

Almost feverishly he interested himself in Paul Blackton's work.

When they returned to the bungalow, a little before noon, he went to his room, shaved himself, and in other ways prepared for dinner.
Joanne and the Blacktons were waiting when he came down.
His first look at Joanne assured him.

She was dressed in a soft gray walking-suit.

Never had the preparation of a dinner seemed so slow to him, and a dozen times he found himself inwardly swearing at Tom, the Chinese cook.