Except in the gross material sense of the afternoon tea I made no preparations for Mrs.Fyne.
It was impossible for me to make any such preparations.

I could not tell what sort of sustenance she would look for from my sagacity.

And as to taking stock of the wares of my mind no one I imagine is anxious to do that sort of thing if it can be avoided.

A vaguely grandiose state of mental self-confidence is much too agreeable to be disturbed recklessly by such a delicate investigation.

Perhaps if I had had a helpful woman at my elbow, a dear, flattering acute, devoted woman.