But the next moment his blood chilled; for he had perceived, though he had not felt simultaneously, that two gentlemen were standing near her, addressing her.

And it was likewise manifest that she listened to them.

These presently raised their hats and disappeared.

Rhoda came on toward Robert.
"You have forgotten your dinner," he said, with a queer sense of shame at dragging in the mention of that meal.
"I have been too happy to eat," Rhoda replied.
Robert glanced up the lane, but she gave no heed to this indication, and asked: "Has uncle come ?" "Did you expect him ?" "I thought he would come." "What has made you happy ?" "You will hear from uncle." "Shall I go and hear what those--" Robert checked himself, but it would have been better had he spoken out.

Rhoda's face, from a light of interrogation, lowered its look to contempt.
She did not affect the feminine simplicity which can so prettily misunderstand and put by an implied accusation of that nature.