Your arrival distracted my attention." Oddly enough, she had complete control of her voice, although her play and the slight trembling of her fingers as she held her cards fan-wise were sufficient indication to Mallory of the deep waters that had been stirred beneath the surface.
"I'm sorry my return has proved so--inopportune," returned Rooke.

As he spoke his eyes rested for a reflective moment upon Peter Mallory, then returned challengingly to Nan's face.

The betraying colour flew up under her skin.

She understood what he intended to convey as well as though he had clothed his thought in words.
"Having none, partner ?" Mallory's kindly, drawling voice recalled her to the game, and she made an effort to focus her attention on the cards.

But it was quite useless.
Her play grew wilder and more erratic with each hand that was dealt, until at last a good no-trump call, completely thrown away by her disastrous tactics, brought the rubber to an end.
"You're not in your usual form this afternoon, Nan," remarked one of her opponents as they all rose from the table.