He felt impotent and beaten, lying there like a log unable to move.
Mrs.Cricklander sent him another little note in the afternoon.

Arabella had reported that the patient was restless, and this might mean one of two things--either that he was becoming impatient to see her, or that he was growing restive and bored with bed.

In either case it was the moment to strike--and to strike quickly.
"The doctors have said you may have a taste of champagne to-night," she wrote, which was quite untrue, but a small fib like this could not count when such large issues were at stake.

"And so I propose, if you will let me and will have me for your guest, to come and dine with you to celebrate the event.

Say if I may.