"Run along where?" asked Paul.
"Well, I thought maybe you were going out or--somewhere."
Paul's face expressed astonishment. He took up a book and settled himself firmly in the wicker rocking-chair.
"No," he said, "I'm not going anywhere."
Neil studied in silence a while, and Paul turned several pages of his book. Then footsteps sounded on the stairs and Cowan's voice hailed Paul from beyond the closed door.
"O Paul, are you coming along?"
Paul glanced irresolutely from the door to Neil's face, which was bent calmly over his book. Then--"No," he called gruffly, "not to-night!"