And then suddenly, in the midst of it, without any warning, she stood there in the room, looking at him with startled, abashed eyes.
No wonder, with a sense of non-comprehension, joy leapt to his own, transforming the white, unhappy gravity of his face to swift, questioning eagerness; while at the same time he breathed tensely, “Ethel!… you!”
It was the first time he had ever used her Christian name, and in spite of her confusion she could not fail to hear the ring of gladness, of intense, almost unbelievable joy.
It sent the blood rushing to her white cheeks, and made her heart beat wildly. She moved forward a little unsteadily.
“I saw about Miss Vivian’s death today, and I was afraid Hal would be all alone fretting… so I came to see—”
She broke off. Something like a sudden appeal in his eyes was unnerving her.
Dudley only heard vaguely what she said.
As she came forward he had seen that she was rather overcome; he had seen the quick scarlet in her face, followed by a striking parlor, and the bewildered surprise in her eyes.
What was it Hal had said that evening before she left? He could not remember, but he knew it meant that she did not think Ethel indifferent to him as he believed.
He knew she had meant more, but he had not dared to dwell upon it.