They saw only that Evered’s head was held a little higher than was his custom of late; they saw that his eyes were sober and clear and thoughtful; they marked that his voice was gentle. He had dinner with them, speaking little, then went back to his room.
Soon after dinner Darrin came to the door. Ruth asked him in, but the man would not come. John was in the barn; and Ruth, a little uneasy and afraid before this man, wished John were here.
She asked Darrin, “Were you all right, last night?”
He said he had been comfortable; that he had been able to keep dry. He had come on no definite errand.
“I just—wanted to see you,” he said.
Ruth made no reply, because she did not know what to say.
Darrin asked, “Are you all all right here?”
“Why, yes,” she told him.
He looked to right and left, his eyes unable to meet hers. “Is Evered all right?” he asked.
She felt the tension in his voice without understanding it. “Yes,” she said uncertainly; and then: “Why?”