Had he waited too long?
Mechanically, he proceeded to dress for dinner.

Since he was to sit at the family table, he must fit his dress and manners to the hour.

He did not resist the sardonic smile as he put on his fresh patent leathers and his new dinner coat.

He recalled Fitzgerald's half-concealed glances of pity the last time they had dined together.
In the room across the corridor, Fitzgerald was busy with a similar occupation.

The only real worry he had was the doubt of his luggage arriving before he left.