When he threw away his cigarette and went back to the drawing-room, he found his mother alone.
"I thought Anna was with you," he said apologetically, "or I would not have stayed out there so long.

I am afraid I must be going now." "You have your latch-key," she returned quietly; "sit down a moment, I want to speak to you, Malcolm.

You are not yourself this evening, something has gone wrong." Again Anna's very words.

He was silent.

Why had his womankind such sharp eyes?
"I am a bit flattened out," he acknowledged, "but I shall be all right in a day or two;" but she passed this by almost contemptuously.
"Something is troubling you," she continued, "and to judge by your looks it is no light thing.