Her father was in the dining-room when she entered.

He usually took an earlier train, but this morning he had felt utterly unable to rise.

Maria noticed, with a sudden qualm of fear, how ill and old and worn-out he looked, but Harry himself spoke first with concern for her.
"Papa's poor little girl!" he said, kissing her.

"She looks tired out.

Did you sleep, darling ?" "Yes, after a while.