“Glad of it,” he said. “I’m sharp set. Come along, Glynne.”
Alleyne gazed at them intently with a strange feeling of depression coming over his spirit, and so lost to other surroundings that he did not reply to the major, who came up to him, moved by a desire to be polite to a man whom he was beginning to esteem.
Then Major Day drew back and his keen eyes brightened, for Glynne said quietly,—
“You forget. Go on in with uncle.”
“Eh?” said the young officer, looking puzzled.
“Go on in with my uncle,” said Glynne quietly.
And she crossed to where Alleyne was standing, and, in the character of hostess, laid her hand upon his arm.
“There, you’re dismissed for to-night, Rolph,” said the major, who could hardly conceal his satisfaction at this trifling incident.
Then, thrusting his arm through that of the athlete, he marched him to the dining-room, the young man’s face growing dark and full of annoyance at having to give way in this case of ordinary etiquette.
“Confound the fellow! I wish they wouldn’t ask him here,” he muttered.