She could not undertake to invite an unknown young man to her table.

Thus, the want of a dress-suit limited Mrs.Yorke's hospitality and served a secondary and more important purpose for her.
"I wish papa were here; he would agree with me," sighed the girl.
When the controversy was settled Miss Alice slipped off to gild the lily.

The care she took in the selection of a toilet, and the tender pats and delicate touches she gave as she turned before her cheval-glass, might have belied her declaration to her mother, a little while before, that she was indifferent to Mr.Keith, and might even have given some comfort to the anxious young man in the drawing-room below, who, in default of books, was examining the pictures with such interest.
He had never seen such a sumptuous house.
Meantime, Mrs.Yorke executed a manoeuvre.

As soon as Alice disappeared, she descended to the drawing-room.

But she slipped on an extra diamond ring or two.