Is there anything wrong ?" "If there is, my dear fellow, you will hear of it tomorrow." So they parted.
Comfortably established in the drawing-room, Mrs.Presty had just opened her favorite newspaper.

Her only companion was Linley's black poodle, resting at her feet.

On the opening of the door, the dog rose--advanced to caress his master--and looked up in Linley's face.

If Mrs.Presty's attention had happened to be turned that way, she might have seen, in the faithful creature's sudden and silent retreat, a warning of her son-in-law's humor at that moment.

But she was, or assumed to be, interested in her reading; and she deliberately overlooked Linley's appearance.