She could not see the whole room, however.

A good section of it was concealed from her.

Wallie Hine was leaning forward on the table, with his head so low and his arms so spread that she could not see in what book he was writing.

But apparently he did not write to the satisfaction of his companions.

In spite of Parminter's care his pen spluttered.
Sylvia saw Archie look at Barstow, and she heard Barstow answer "No, that won't do." Archie Parminter dropped Hine's hand, tore a slip of paper out of the book, crumpled it, and threw it down with a gesture of anger on to the carpet.
"Try again, old fellow," said Barstow, eagerly, bending down toward Hine with a horrid smile upon his face, a smile which tried to conceal an intense exasperation, an intense desire to strike.