This, being the major's cue for an exit, he rose, one sleek hand raised in sprightly protest as though to shield the invisible ladies, to whose bournes he was bound, from an uproar too masculine and mighty for the ears of such a sex.
"Ass!" muttered Alderdene, getting up and pattering about the room in his big, shiny pumps.

"Give me a peg--somebody!" Mortimer swallowed his brandy, lingered, lifted the decanter, mechanically considering its remaining contents and his own capacity; then: "Bridge, Captain ?" "Certainly," said Captain Voucher briskly.
"I'll go and shoo the major into the gun-room," observed Ferrall--"unless--" looking questioningly at Siward.
"I've a date with your wife," observed that young man, strolling toward the hall.
The Page boys, Rena Bonnesdel, and Eileen Shannon were seated at a card table together, very much engaged with one another, the sealed pack lying neglected on the green cloth, a vast pink box of bon-bons beside it, not neglected.
O'Hara and Quarrier with Marion Page and Mrs.Mortimer were immersed in the game, already stony faced and oblivious to outer sounds.
About the rooms were distributed girls en tete-a-tete, girls eating bon-bons and watching the cards--among them Sylvia Landis, hands loosely clasped behind her, standing at Quarrier's elbow to observe and profit by an expert performance.
As Siward strolled in she raised her dainty head for an instant, smiled in silence, and resumed a study of her fiance's game.
A moment later, when Quarrier had emerged brilliantly from the melee, she looked up again, triumphantly, supposing Siward was lingering somewhere waiting to join her.

And she was just a trifle surprised and disappointed to find him nowhere in sight.

She had wished him to observe the brilliancy of Mr.Quarrier's game.
But Siward, outside on the veranda, was saying at that moment to his hostess: "I shall be very glad to read my mother's letter at any time you choose." "It must be later, Stephen.

I'm to cut in when Kemp sends for me.