Toward the end of dinner Mrs. Grey said rather nervously:
"Francis dear, wouldn't you like to drink Pauline's health?"
"Why, with pleasure," said the Rector. "Though she looks very well."
Pauline jumped in her chair with delight at this, but Mrs. Grey waved her into silence and said:
"And Guy's health too?"
The Rector courteously saluted him; but the guest feared there was an undernote of irony in the bow.
After dinner when Monica, Margaret and Pauline were preparing for a trio, Mrs. Grey said confidentially to Guy:
"You mustn't expect Francis—the Rector to realize at once that you and Pauline are engaged. And of course it isn't exactly an engagement yet. You mustn't see her too often. You're both so young. Indeed, as Francis said, children really."
Then the trio began, and Guy in the tall Caroline chair lived every note that Pauline played on her violin, demanding of himself what he had done to deserve her love. He looked round once at Mrs. Grey in the other chair, and marked her beating time while like his own her thoughts were all for Pauline. In the heart of that music Guy was able to say anything and he could not resist leaning over and whispering to Mrs. Grey:
"I adore her."