Her sympathies were more likely to be enlisted in his favour if she knew the actual state of the case.
"Did Mrs.Holbrook positively decline to see me ?" he asked again, scarcely able to believe that Marian could have resisted even that brief appeal scrawled upon a scrap of paper.
"She did indeed, sir," answered the stewardess.

"Nothing could be more positive than her manner.

I told her how anxious you seemed--for I could see it in your face, you see, sir, when you gave me the paper--and I really didn't like to bring you such a message; but it was no use.

'I decline to see him,' the lady said, 'and be sure you bring me no more messages from this gentleman;' and with that, sir, she tore up the bit of paper, as cool as could be.

But, dear me, sir, how ill you do look, to be sure!" "I have been very ill.