Then he came back into the drawing-room.

"Radmore's had a breakdown," he said briefly, "he's afraid he can't get here till seven." Here was a disappointing anti-climax! "Then we'd better all go and have our tea," said Timmy sententiously, and everyone felt, in a dispirited way, that, as usual, Timmy had hit the nail on the head.
They all trooped into the dining-room, but Timmy was the only one who did full justice to the cakes and scones which had been made specially in Godfrey Radmore's honour: all the others felt cross and disappointed, especially Tom and Rosamund, who had given up going to a tennis-party.
Tea was soon over, for everyone talked much less than usual, and then they all scattered with the exception of Timmy and Betty.

Janet had someone to see in the village; Tom persuaded Rosamund that they would still be welcome at the tennis-party; Betty stayed to clear the table.
She, alone of them all, was glad of even this short respite, for, as the day had gone on, she had begun to dread the meeting inexpressibly.

She knew that even Tom--who had only been seven years old when Godfrey went away--would be wondering how she felt, and watching to see how she would behave.

It was a comfort to be alone with only Timmy who was still at table eating steadily.