Dorian never went through the formality of asking Carlia if he might accompany her home.

He had always taken it for granted that he was welcome; and, at any rate, a man could always tell by the girl's actions whether or not he was wanted.
"I haven't seen you for a long time," began Dorian by way of greeting.
The girl did not reply.
"Been sick ?" he asked.
"Yes--no, I'm all right." The parents walked on ahead, leaving the two young people to follow.
Evidently, Carlia was very much out of sorts, but the young man tried again.
"What's the matter, Carlia ?" "Nothing." "Well, I hope I'm not annoying you by my company." No answer.

They walked on in silence, Carlia looking straight ahead, not so much at her parents, as at the distant snow-clad mountains.

Dorian felt like turning about and going home, but he could not do that very well, so he went on to the gate, where he would have said goodnight had not Mrs.Duke urged him to come in.

The father and mother went to bed early, leaving the two young people by the dining-room fire.
They managed to talk for some time on "wind and weather".