Sink or Swim? , Volume III by Matilda Charlotte Houstoun

The breakfast meal at No. 13 Stanwick-street, not being either a varied / or a luxurious one, did not occupy much of Colonel Fred Norcott's / valuable time. It commenced, however, frequently at so late an hour, / owing to the stay-out habits over night of the master of the house, that / twelve o'clock often struck before the table was what Mrs. Norcott / called "cleared," and the room ready for company.

Which company consisted usually, at the time of Honor's stay, but of one / visitor -- _the_ visitor whom, for reasons best known to himself, Colonel / Norcott was ever on the watch to conciliate and flatter. Arthur / Vavasour's appearance in Stanwick-street was usually so timed that his / host's horses -- animals chiefly devoted at that period to the use of his / daughter -- should be walking up and down before the house in readiness / for Mrs. Beacham's appearance. On the eventful Tuesday morning -- the / Tuesday in Epsom holiday week -- which was hereafter to be a strongly / marked one in Honor Beacham's memory, Colonel Norcott, departing / somewhat from his accustomed habits, was early astir -- so early that at a / little after eleven he might have been seen, his cigar between his lips, / standing on the steps of the house he occupied, and evidently waiting / for some person whose coming was longer delayed than the Colonel found / altogether agreeable. At last, walking briskly round a corner, with a / very preoccupied expression of countenance, and swinging in the air a / light riding-whip with the manner of one lost in thought, Arthur / Vavasour, the individual expected by Honor's impatient parent, appeared / in sight.