The girls were leaning together, their arms around one another's necks, their heads almost touching.

Behind them, their visitor continued to eat and drink.

He rose at last, however, reluctantly to his feet, and coughed.

They started, suddenly remembering his presence.

Philippa turned impulsively towards him with outstretched hands.
"I can't tell you how thankful we are to you," she declared.
"Both of us," Helen echoed.
He touched with his fingers a box of cigarettes which stood upon the tea-table.
"You permit ?" he asked.
"Of course," Philippa assented eagerly.