Just outside the drawing-room door the boy stopped for a moment, and shifted the cat's weight from one arm to the other.

There had come over him a rather uncomfortable premonition of evil, but he now felt strung up to go through with his experiment.
From within the drawing-room there came the sound of laughter and talking.

It was evident that the party was going well, and that everyone in there was merry and at their ease.
"Would you mind opening the door, Godfrey ?" There was a slight quiver of apprehension in Timmy's voice.
Radmore opened the door, and for a fleeting moment he saw an attractive, placid scene spread out before him.
The two girls, in their pretty light dresses, were standing by the wood fire.

On the sofa, to their left, with the light from one of the lamps focussed full on her, sat Mrs.Crofton, her bare left arm hanging over the side of the low couch.

Jack, perched on the arm of a big chair, was looking at her, all his soul in his eyes.