Her first impression was that they were both extremely well dressed.

She felt herself shabby and slovenly beside them, and did not know how she should entertain them, nor could she guess why they had come.

She had heard nothing of their engagement.

But after the first disappointment, she was pleased, for she felt instantly that Katharine was a personality, and, moreover, she need not now exercise her self-control.
"We were passing and saw a light in your window, so we came up," Katharine explained, standing and looking very tall and distinguished and rather absent-minded.
"We have been to see some pictures," said William.

"Oh, dear," he exclaimed, looking about him, "this room reminds me of one of the worst hours in my existence--when I read a paper, and you all sat round and jeered at me.