It was to have been one of those rare and solitary occasions that can only come once in a blue moon.

The lump sum of pleasure that other people get spread for them more or less thickly over the surface of the years, she meant to take once for all, packed and pressed into one rapturous hour, one Saturday afternoon from four-thirty to five-thirty, the memory of it to be stored up and economised so as to last her life-time, thus justifying the original expense.

She knew that success was doubtful, because of the uncertainty of things in general and of the Old Lady's temper in particular.

And then she had to stake everything on his coming; and the chances, allowing for the inevitable claims on a doctor's time, were a thousand to one against it.

She had nothing to go upon but the delicate incalculable balance of events.