He would have retained the hand, but she gently withdrew it, though not in a way that involved repulsion.
"I am sorry for your indisposition," he said, in a tone of interest so unusual for him, that Miss Loring lifted her eyes, which had fallen to the carpet, and looked at him half shyly--half interrogatingly.
"If you had sent me word that you were not well, Miss Loring"-- He paused, gazing very earnestly upon her face, into which crimsoning blushes began to come.
"I am pleased to meet you, Mr.Hendrickson.I did not wish to be excused," she answered, and then, as if she had been led to utter more than maidenly modesty approved, averted her face suddenly, and seemed confused.

There followed a moment or two of silence; when her visitor said, leaning close to her, and speaking in a low, penetrating, steady voice-- "Your reply, Miss Loring, is an admission of more than I had expected--not more than I had hoped." He saw her start, as if she had touched an electric wire.

But her face remained averted.
"Miss Loring"-- Warmer words were on his lips, but he hesitated to give them utterance.

There was a pause.

Motionless sat the young maiden, her face still partly turned away.