“No answer. Oh, well, there was hardly an answer needed. That’s all right.”
From his tone nobody would have guessed that Theodore cared more than his words implied; but Bram, who saw most things, noticed a frown of disappointment and anger on the airy Mr. Biron’s face. After a pause Theodore said—
“I think I shall go down the hill and have a game of billiards. That will fill up the time till you’ve finished your carpentering, Elshaw, and then we’ll finish up with a game of chess.”
And Theodore disappeared. A few moments later they heard him shut himself out by the front door.
Bram after a glance at Claire went on with his sawing, judging it wiser not to attempt to offer the sympathy with which his heart was bursting.
When he had been going on with his work for some minutes, however, Claire came and stood silently beside him. He looked up and smiled.
“Go on with your work,” said she gravely, “just for a few minutes. Then I’m going to send you away.”
“Send me away, Miss Claire? What for?”
“For your own good, Mr. Elshaw.”
Bram suddenly pulled himself upright, and then looked down at her in dismay.