noon
It has not been difficult for her to avoid meeting Lord Gervase ; he is one of those persons whose movements are known and chronicled ; but she is conscious that the time is come when she can no longer escape doing so , except by such an abrupt departure that it would seem to herself too great a weakness , and be to him too great a flattery , for such a step to enter for an instant into the category of possibilities . It is , she reflects , or it should be , a matter to her of absolute indifference to see again a person whom she has not seen for seven years . Yet she is conscious of a sense of pain and excitation as her woman puts on her a maize satin tea-gown covered with point d'Alençon at five o'clock the next day , and she knows that when she goes down to the room in a few minutes Gervase , who was to arrive by the afternoon train , will in all probability be present there . Every one is in-doors that day , for a fine summer rain is falling without , and has been falling since noon . All the house-party are in the library , and the children are there also ; the windows are open , and the sweet smell from the damp gardens and wet grass fills the air . Every one is laughing and talking ; Usk is drinking a glass of kümmel , and Brandolin is playing with the dog ; conversing with Nina Curzon and the mistress of the house , and standing in front of them , is a tall fair man irreproachable in _ tenue _ and extremely distinguished in appearance . He is Lord Gervase .