It was plain to each that the other did not expect to talk, but they both realized that they owed a duty to appearances and to their hostess.

Through two courses, at least, there was dead silence between them.

It seemed as though every eye in the room were on them and every mind were speculating.

At last, in sheer desperation, Barbara turned to him with the first smile he had seen on her face in days.
There was no smile in her eyes, however, and Monty understood.
"We might at least give out the impression that we are friends," she said quietly.
"More easily said than done," he responded gloomily.
"They are all looking at us and wondering." "I don't blame them." "We owe something to Mrs.Dan, I think." "I know." Barbara uttered some inanity whenever she caught any one looking in their direction, but Brewster seemed not to hear.

At length he cut short some remark of hers about the weather.
"What nonsense this is, Barbara," he said.