instead , he guided the conversation smoothly away , inquiring of philip regarding the operations of the plantation and of miss twelvetrees regarding the natural history of jamaica , for which she seemed to have some feeling , judging by the rather good watercolours of plants and animals that hung about the room , all neatly signed n. t. gradually , the sense of tension in the room relaxed , and grey became aware that miss twelvetrees was focusing her attentions upon him .