Presently she rose and began to walk about the room; she went to the window, and looked out on to the white garden.

The sky beyond the thin boughs was dusking; the wind, which sang so merrily a few hours ago, had fallen to sobbing.
It was too wretched to remain alone; she resolved to go into the drawing-room; perhaps her brother was there.

As she approached the door somebody knocked on the outside, then there entered a dark man of spruce appearance, who drew back a step as soon as he saw her.
'Pray excuse me,' he said, with an air of politeness.

'I supposed I should find Mr.Mutimer here.' 'I think he's in the house,' Alice replied.
Richard appeared as they were speaking.
'What is it, Rodman ?' he asked abruptly, passing into the library.
'I'll go to the drawing-room,' Alice said, and left the men together.
In half an hour Richard again joined her.

He seemed in a better frame of mind, for he came in humming.