Chapter 30

           ThateveningwhenArchercamedownbeforedinnerhefoundthedrawing-roomempty.HeandMaywerediningalone,allthefamilyengagementshavingbeenpostponedsinceMrs.MansonMingott’sillness;andasMaywasthemorepunctualofthetwohewassurprisedthatshehadnotprecededhim.Heknewthatshewasathome,forwhilehedressedhehadheardhermovingaboutinherroom;andhewonderedwhathaddelayedher.Hehadfallenintothewayofdwellingonsuchconjecturesasameansoftyinghisthoughtsfasttoreality.Sometimeshefeltasifhehadfoundthecluetohisfather-in-law’sabsorptionintrifles;perhapsevenMr.Welland,longago,hadhadescapesandvisions,andhadconjuredupallthehostsofdomesticitytodefendhimselfagainstthem.WhenMayappearedhethoughtshelookedtired.Shehadputonthelow-neckedandtightly-laceddinner-dresswhichtheMingottceremonialexactedonthemostinformaloccasions,andhadbuiltherfairhairintoitsusualaccumulatedcoils;andherface,incontrast,waswanandalmostfaded.Butsheshoneonhimwithherusualtenderness,andhereyeshadkeptthebluedazzleofthedaybefore."Whatbecameofyou,dear?"sheasked."IwaswaitingatGranny’s,andEllencamealone,andsaidshehaddroppedyouonthewaybecauseyouhadtorushoffonbusiness.There’snothingwrong?""OnlysomelettersI’dforgotten,andwantedtogetoffbeforedinner.""Ah—"shesaid;andamomentafterward:"I’msorryyoudidn’tcometoGranny’s—unlesstheletterswereurgent.""Theywere,"herejoined,surprisedatherinsistence.