I noted that they were already Ruth and Adelaide, but what I said was: "Do you mean that she has returned to make it a certainty?"
"No, I mean that I imagine she has come out for some reason independent of it." Adelaide could only imagine as yet, and there was more, as we found, to be revealed. Mrs. Mulville, on hearing of her arrival, had brought the young lady out, in the green landau, for the Sunday. The Coxons were in possession of the house in the Regent's Park, and Miss Anvoy was in dreary lodgings. George Gravener was with her when Adelaide called, but he had assented graciously enough to the little visit at Wimbledon. The carriage, with Mr. Saltram in it but not mentioned, had been sent off on some errand from which it was to return and pick the ladies up. Gravener left them together, and at the end of an hour, on the Saturday afternoon, the party of three drove out to Wimbledon. This was the girl's second glimpse of our great man, and I was interested in asking Mrs. Mulville if the impression made by the first appeared to have been confirmed. On her replying, after consideration, that of course with time and opportunity it couldn't fail to be, but that as yet she was disappointed, I was sufficiently struck with her use of this last word to question her further.
"Do you mean that you're disappointed because you judge that Miss Anvoy is?"
"Yes; I hoped for a greater effect last evening. We had two or three people, but he scarcely opened his mouth."
"He'll be all the better this evening," I added after a moment.
"What particular importance do you attach to the idea of her being impressed?"
Adelaide turned her clear, pale eyes on me as if she were amazed at my levity. "Why, the importance of her being as happy as we are!"
