It was probably a matter of a few seconds, but to Bernard it seemed a little eternity.

He met her eyes, he looked straight into her face; now that she had seen him he could do nothing else.

Bernard's little eternity, however, came to an end; Miss Vivian dropped her eyes upon her book again.

She let them rest upon it only a moment; then she closed it and slowly rose from her chair, turning away from Bernard.

He still stood looking at her--stupidly, foolishly, helplessly enough, as it seemed to him; no sign of recognition had been exchanged.