He looked gloomy as he sat there with his unread book in his hand, yet gradually an eager, happy light crept into his eyes.
After supper he told Sylvia he was going down to the store.

He did go, but on his way he stopped at the superintendent's house and told that he would report for work in the morning.
Rose had not come down to supper.

Henry had wondered why, and sympathized in part with Sylvia's anxiety.

Still, he had a vague feeling that a young girl's not coming down to supper need not be taken very seriously, that young girls had whims and fancies which signified nothing, and that it was better to let them alone until they got over them.

He knew that Sylvia, however, would take the greatest comfort in coddling the girl, and he welcomed the fact as conducing to his making his arrangements for the next day.