It seemed in some way to draw them together, effacing the memory of those weeks of bitter indifference which lay behind them.

Such a thing would have been grotesquely impossible of performance in the atmosphere of studied formality supplied by their estrangement, and Sara smiled a little to herself under cover of the darkness.
"One more mouthful!" she announced as she halved the last sandwich.
An instant later she felt his lips brush her fingers in a sudden, burning kiss, and she withdrew her hand as though stung.
She was tingling from head to foot, every nerve of her a-thrill, and for a moment she felt as though she hated him.

He had been so kind, so friendly, so essentially the good comrade in this crisis occasioned by Molly's flight, and now he had spoilt it all--playing the lover once more when he had shown her clearly that he meant nothing by it.
Apparently he sensed her attitude--the quick withdrawal of spirit which had accompanied the more physical retreat.
"Forgive me!" he said, rather low.

"I won't offend again." She made no answer, and presently she felt the car sliding slowly to a standstill.

A sudden panic assailed her.
"What is it?
What are you doing ?" she asked, quick fear in her sharply spoken question.
He laughed shortly.
"You needn't be afraid--" he began.
"I'm not!" she interpolated hastily.
"Excuse me," he said drily, "but you are.