Perhaps she read there his instinct of self-abnegation.
"I am in command of the situation," she continued, a little more lightly.

"Every one must please obey me.

I shan't be more than five minutes." She left the room, waving back Lessingham's attempt to open the door for her.

He stood for a moment looking at the place where she had vanished.
Then he turned round.
"Major Felstead's description," he said quietly, "did not do his sister justice." "Philippa is a dear," Helen declared enthusiastically.

"Just for a moment, though, I was terrified.