He was lying upon a horsehair sofa, apparently dozing.

She was gazing negligently out of the window, and drumming upon the window pane with her fingers.
My arrival seemed to act like an electric shock upon both of them.

It struck me that to her it was not altogether welcome, but my father was nervously anxious to impress upon me his satisfaction at my visit.
"Now," he said, drawing his chair up to the table, "we can discuss this little matter in a business-like way.

I am delighted to see you, Guy, quite delighted." "What matter ?" I asked quietly.
My father coughed and looked towards my stepmother, as though for guidance.

But her face was a blank.
"Guy," he said, "I am sure that you are a young man of common sense.
You will prefer that I speak to you plainly.