He made no answer, merely releasing her hand rather quickly, as though something in her words had flicked him on the raw.
"What a pity Mr.Trent had to leave so soon," remarked Miss Lavinia, with innocent regret, when he had gone.

"I'm afraid we shall never persuade him to be really sociable, poor dear man! He seems a little moody to-day, don't you think ?"--hesitating delicately.
"He's a bore!" burst out Sara succinctly.
Miles shook his head.
"No, I don't think that," he said.

"But he's a very sick man.

In my opinion, Trent's had his soul badly mauled at some time or other." "He needn't advertise the fact, then," retorted Sara, unappeased.

"We all get our share of ill-luck.