His tongue failed him, however, when he tried to embark upon the most ordinary form of greeting.

Their appearance gave him again a most unpleasant shock, a fact which he found it extremely difficult to conceal.
"Well, can't you say you're glad to see us ?" Ellen demanded, belligerently.
"If I had not wished to see you," he replied, tactfully, "I should not have asked you to come." "Kiss your father," Ellen ordered, twisting the arm of her offspring.
"Kiss him at once, then, and stop whimpering." The salute, which seemed to afford no one any particular satisfaction, was carried out in perfunctory fashion.

Burton, secretly wiping his lips--he hated peppermint--turned towards Piccadilly.
"We will have some tea," he suggested,--"Lyons', if you like.

There is music there.

I am glad that you are both well." "Considering," Ellen declared, "that you haven't set eyes on us for Lord knows how long--well, you need to be glad.