This was a complete surprise to her; for the moment she found Michael's presence and his proximity to her simply distasteful.
"I thought Hermann was never going," he said.
For a second or two she did not reply; it was clearly no use to continue the ordinary banter of conversation, to suggest that as the room was Hermann's he might conceivably be conceded the right to stop there if he chose.

There was no transition possible between the affairs of every day and the affair for which Michael had stopped to speak.

She gave up all attempt to make one; instead, she just helped him.
"What is it, Michael ?" she asked.
Then to her, at any rate, Michael's face completely changed.

There burned in it all of a sudden the full glow of that of which she had only seen glimpses.
"You know," he said.
His shyness, his awkwardness, had all vanished; the time had come for him to offer to her all that he had to offer, and he did it with the charm of perfect manliness and simplicity.
"Whether you can accept me or not," he said, "I have just to tell you that I am entirely yours.

Is there any chance for me, Sylvia ?" He stood quite still, making no movement towards her.