Who knows! "Stephen," she said under her breath, "I didn't mean to hurt you.

...

Don't scowl.Listen.I have already entirely forgotten the nature of my offense.

Pax, if you please." He refused to understand; and she understood that, too; and she gazed critically upon Sylvia Landis as a very young mother might inspect a rival infant with whom her matchless offspring was coquetting.
Then, without appearing to, she took Plank away from temptation; so skilfully that nobody except Siward understood that the young man had been incontinently removed.

He, Plank, never doubting that he was a perfectly free agent, decided that the time had arrived for triumphant retirement.