“We’ve just finished our rubber,” he called, as he came towards them. “Will you folks come and take a hand?”
Then, as neither of them made any immediate response, he paused uncertainly and glanced in, an embarrassed way from one to the other, vaguely conscious that his appearance on the scene had been inopportune. Womanlike, Cara was the first to recover her self-possession.
“Yes, of course we’ll come,” she said quickly. “But I haven’t played cards for so long that I’m sure whoever is unlucky enough to draw me for a partner will be thankful Miss Caroline has limited the stakes to a penny a hundred.”
The ease with which she spoke sufficed to reassure Robin completely.
“You’ll play, Coventry?” he said, as they all three turned and walked towards the companion-way.
“I’ll cut in—and take my chance,” answered Eliot.
Cara glanced at him swiftly. His mouth wore a grave little smile, as though the words bore for him a second and deeper meaning than the obvious one of their reply to Robin’s question.