It happened, too, that he was able to attach a particular significance to the omission.

When they had last parted, instead of just pressing her hand as usual, he had raised it to his lips.

She frowned and turned quickly away, saying no word.

He had offended her by this infringement of the conditions of their friendship; for once before, when he had uttered a word which implied more than she was willing to allow, Ida had engaged him in the distinct agreement that he should never do or say anything that approached love-making.

As, moreover, it was distinctly understood that he should never visit her save at times previously appointed, he could not see her till she chose to write.