.
Michael went over this very deliberately as he sat waiting for her twenty-four hours later.

He rehearsed this moment and that over and over again: in mind he followed himself and Sylvia across to the piano, not hurrying their steps, and going through the verse of the song she sang at the pace at which she actually sang it.

And, as he dreamed and recollected, he heard a little stir in the quiet house, and Sylvia came.
They met just as they met yesterday in front of the fireplace.
"Oh, Michael, have you been waiting long ?" she said.
"Yes, hours, or perhaps a couple of minutes.

I don't know." "Ah, but which?
If hours, I shall apologise, and then excuse myself by saying that you must have come earlier than you intended.

If minutes I shall praise myself for being so exceedingly punctual." "Minutes, then," said he.