Only yesterday I took him to the front door to give him a little air, and he stood still on the pavement, quite stupefied.

For the first time in his life, he snapped at nobody who went by; and, oh, dear, he hadn't even the heart to smell a lamp-post!" Isabel had barely stated this last afflicting circumstance when the memoirs of Tommie were suddenly cut short by the voice of Lady Lydiard--really calling this time--from the inner room.
"Isabel! Isabel!" cried her Ladyship, "what are you about ?" Isabel ran to the door of the boudoir and threw it open.

"Go in, sir! Pray go in!" she said.
"Without you ?" Hardyman asked.
"I will follow you, sir.

I have something to do for her Ladyship first." She still held the door open, and pointed entreatingly to the passage which led to the boudoir "I shall be blamed, sir," she said, "if you don't go in." This statement of the case left Hardyman no alternative.

He presented himself to Lady Lydiard without another moment of delay.
Having closed the drawing-room door on him, Isabel waited a little, absorbed in her own thoughts.
She was now perfectly well aware of the effect which she had produced on Hardyman.