the 30th April at ten o'clock
I hope it was really your last shilling , -- not your last sovereign ! '' He laughed , kissed her , and walked downstairs , softly humming to himself , `` Gin a body meet a body ... '' When he had gone , Felicity looked quite sensible for a little while as she pondered indulgently on the weaknesses of her husband , cheerfully on the troubles of her brother , and with some real sisterly anxiety concerning the alarming attractions of Frank Woodville . Several hours of the morning had been passed by Woodville in an occupation that , one might think , would easily pall on a spirited young man -- addressing envelopes and filling in invitation cards . The cards stated with tedious repetition that Miss Crofton and Sir James Crofton , M.P. , would be At Home on the 30th April at ten o'clock . In the left-hand corner were the words , `` Herr Yung 's White Viennese Orchestra . '' Woodville 's desk was close to the long French window , which opened on to a charming garden . From this garden came the sound of excited twitterings of birds and other pleasant suggestions of spring .