Susanne looks a little anxious, and sets about her business.
Helen attentively watches all she does. She holds out one of her small feet to be slippered. One of the pair brought is put on. She is dissatisfied and demands another pair.
Susanne takes Everet's violets from the water, and fastens them on her corsage.
"Madame is finished."
No, oh no, she is not—not for two hours yet.
Helen goes slowly down the stairs; in the hall below she stops a moment to give an instruction to a servant passing through. She speaks in her natural tone, perhaps a little more coldly because she is more excited than usual. She is quivering. She passes on to the library. She looks about the room reflectively. She rings the bell. The servant to whom she spoke in the hall, appears.
"When Mr. Everet comes, ask him to come in here, to the library. Say that I will be down in a moment. You understand? He is to come in here and wait for me. You are not to show him here—he knows the way."
The man bows and goes from the room.
She looks at the clock. It is nearly half-past eight. Everet is to come at half-past.
She walks to the cosy chair by the fire, and stops thoughtfully.