Certainly--Willy!" he called to a small boy who carried a livery of startling newness, "go tell Miss Yardwell a gentleman would like to see her." "I suppose you are from her country home ?" said the old gentleman, who imagined a romance in this relation of a powerful and handsome young man to Miss Yardwell.
"I am," Harold replied briefly.
"Take a seat--she will be here presently." Harold took the offered seat with a sick, faint feeling at the pit of his stomach.

The long-hoped-for event was at hand.

It seemed impossible that Mary could be there--that she was about to stand before him.

His mind was filled with the things he had arranged to say to her, but they were now in confused mass, circling and circling like the wrack of a boat in a river's whirlpool.
He knew her far down the hall--he recognized the poise of her head and her walk, which had always been very fine and dignified.

As she approached, the radiance of her dress, her beauty, scared him.