The distance got shortened a little, now.

Very soon the mother withdrew.

The distance narrowed again.

Tracy stood before a chromo of some Ohio politician which had been retouched and chain-mailed for a crusading Rossmore, and Gwendolen was sitting on the sofa not far from his elbow artificially absorbed in examining a photograph album that hadn't any photographs in it.
The "Senator" still lingered.

He was sorry for the young people; it had been a dull evening for them.