He was able now to face Miss Derwent, or anyone else.

Indeed, that young lady hardly came into his mind before he met her downstairs.

At the introduction he behaved with his natural reserve, which had nothing, as a rule, of awkwardness.

Irene was equally formal, though a smile at the corner of her lips half betrayed a mischievous thought.

They barely spoke to each other, and at table Irene took no heed of him.
But with the others she talked as brightly as usual, managing, none the less, to do full justice to the meal.