After sitting thus for a time, he seemed to reach some point in his thinking which demonstrated its futility, upon which he sighed and stretched his hand for a book lying on the table by his side.
Directly the door opened he closed the book, and the eyes of father and mother both rested on Katharine as she came towards them.

The sight seemed at once to give them a motive which they had not had before.
To them she appeared, as she walked towards them in her light evening dress, extremely young, and the sight of her refreshed them, were it only because her youth and ignorance made their knowledge of the world of some value.
"The only excuse for you, Katharine, is that dinner is still later than you are," said Mr.Hilbery, putting down his spectacles.
"I don't mind her being late when the result is so charming," said Mrs.
Hilbery, looking with pride at her daughter.

"Still, I don't know that I LIKE your being out so late, Katharine," she continued.

"You took a cab, I hope ?" Here dinner was announced, and Mr.Hilbery formally led his wife downstairs on his arm.

They were all dressed for dinner, and, indeed, the prettiness of the dinner-table merited that compliment.