As she closed the door behind her, Mark opened his own and smilingly confronted her. ‘Hullo! Is that the way you dress for dinner?’
She coloured a little under his gaze.
‘I couldn’t resist going in—just to greet them all.’
‘Well—you might have let me come too! Are they such very special friends?’
‘A part of me—almost,’ she said very low. ‘I’ve known most of them—haven’t I?—ever since they were born.’
Then she went quickly down the passage; and for several seconds Mark stood looking after her. The sudden softening of his whole face, could she have seen it, would have been balm to her heart.
CHAPTER XII.
The heavens such grace did lend her
That she might admired be.