"Billiards?" said Randal. "Give me fifty, and I'll play you a hundred up."
Dick shook his head. "Too lazy," he answered.
"Miss Caldegard gone to bed?" asked Randal.
"Looked as if she was coming back—though she did say she was tired."
"Then I'll practise that canon you were showing me. See you again," said Randal, and went upstairs.
In the passage above he met Amaryllis. The sound of their voices, but not their words, trickled down to Dick in the hall.
Then she came; and the man, lest he should show in his face the pleasure that came with her, did not look at the girl until she was at the foot of the stair; and when he did raise his eyes, it was to find hers averted, and to see her turn at once to her left and make for the study. Just as she was disappearing into the narrow corridor, he saw, or thought that he saw, her white shoulder shaken by a sob without sound.
With an eager instinct he sprang to his feet—and sat down again. If she wanted his help, she would ask for it.
Almost at once, however, he rose again, unsatisfied and restless; and hardly knew what he was doing before he found himself at the study door, and in his ears a sound which told him that he had read her shoulders correctly.
He went in, closing the door as softly as he had opened it.