Their eyes met, and his were filled with so great a passion that she grew afraid and rose quickly.
“I am very tired, and the doctor said that I must not overdo it. I think I will retire,” she said hastily.
Gaunt proffered his arm and together they walked in silence to her room, at the door of which she dismissed him with a smile. He went to the library, and sat down to think over what had taken place. It was certain that Lady Mildred had been hurt by his refusal to set off on the yacht at once, and he cursed the necessity of refusal, but there was no alternative if he was to keep faith.
These last few days had revealed to him some of the difficulties that lay before him, and for the moment he was dismayed, but it was typical of the man that there was not even a temptation to turn aside from the course that he had mapped out.
His reverie was interrupted by the entrance of Drake and Lady Ethel, both of whom were in the best of spirits, for they were chatting together gaily and it seemed to Gaunt that the man whom he now called his father confessor was enjoying himself thoroughly.
“Mr. Drake, I will play you a hundred up,” said Lady Ethel.
“I can’t play billiards,” Drake replied ruefully.
“Then it’s time you learned and I will teach you.”
“I shall be delighted,” he answered.
Gaunt looked after him, and then called out.