midday
For Marion stood by the hearth looking down into the fire , and as Richard and Ellen came in she turned an impassive face towards them , and asked indifferently , `` Have you had a nice walk ? '' and fell to polishing her nails with the palm of her hand with that trivial , fribbling gesture that was somehow more desperate than any other being 's outflung arms . She was all that Ellen had remembered , and more . And she had infected the destiny of this house with her strangeness even to such small matters as the peace of the midday meal . For Mabel came in before they had finished the roast mutton , and said : `` Please , ma'am , there 's a man wanting to see you . '' And Marion asked , with that slightly disagreeable tone which Ellen had noticed always coloured her voice when she spoke to the girl : `` Who is he ? '' Mabel answered contemptuously : `` He wo n't give his name .