Then he went to the smoking-room and remained there until luncheon hour.
Today Mary Standish was ahead of him at the table.

She was seated with her back toward him as he entered, so she did not see him as he came up behind her, so near that his coat brushed her chair.

He looked across at her and smiled as he seated himself.

She returned the smile, but it seemed to him an apologetic little effort.

She did not look well, and her presence at the table struck him as being a brave front to hide something from someone.