But circumstances, as I have already explained, leave me no other choice." "Will you take a seat, Mr.Pendril?
You wished to see me in this room, I believe ?" "Only in this room, because Mr.Vanstone's papers are kept here, and I may find it necessary to refer to some of them." After that formal interchange of question and answer, they sat down on either side of a table placed close under the window.

One waited to speak, the other waited to bear.

There was a momentary silence.

Mr.
Pendril broke it by referring to the young ladies, with the customary expressions of sympathy.

Miss Garth answered him with the same ceremony, in the same conventional tone.