"Did you ever feel anything so restful? It's positive, the silence, not negative. Listen to it. I could almost 'go into the silence' myself, if I didn't have to shut my eyes and concentrate. If I could keep them open and—and dissolve instead. I believe it would be rather restful."
"Do you?"
If he hacked at this peace with words he would force an opening through which an opportunity might come, and Jean would know that he did not want to go, except for his promise to Puck. But Jean drifted back into the stillness again and it seemed to Gregory that she actually dissolved into the unfathomable silence.
With a nervous gesture he rose at last.
"It's almost two o'clock."
Jean laughed. "Frightful. What will the hallboy think?"
But Gregory did not answer the laugh. He had yet to tell Jean, and now there was no time to lead up to it. He had to say baldly: "I am going away to-morrow."
Jean was smiling at him.
"There's no need to look so desperately serious about it, Mr. Allen, I just mention it casually."
"It is late, and I have to be up early." Gregory said and went into the hall for his hat. "I'm going up to Maine to-morrow for a month and I have several things to do before I go."