“Your candle went out?” Eugenia asked. “You should have come back here and lighted it again.”
Clifford looked at her a moment. “So I have—come back. But I have left the candle!”
Eugenia turned away. “You are very stupid, my poor boy. You had better go home.”
“Well,” said Clifford, “good-night!”
“Haven’t you a word to throw to a man when he has safely returned from a dangerous journey?” Acton asked.
“How do you do?” said Clifford. “I thought—I thought you were——” and he paused, looking at the Baroness again.
“You thought I was at Newport, eh? So I was—this morning.”
“Good-night, clever child!” said Madame Münster, over her shoulder.
Clifford stared at her—not at all like a clever child; and then, with one of his little facetious growls, took his departure.
“What is the matter with him?” asked Acton, when he was gone. “He seemed rather in a muddle.”