"I lay awake considering with some care what you told me last night about--about Stella Ballantyne." Of late she had been simply Stella to Harold Hazlewood.

The addition of Ballantyne was significant.

It replaced friendliness with formality.
"Yes, we agreed to champion her cause, didn't we ?" said Dick cheerily.
"You took one good step forward last night, I took another." "You took a long stride, Richard, and I think you might have consulted me first." Dick walked over to the table at which his father sat.
"Do you know, that's just what Stella said," he remarked, and he seemed to find the suggestion rather unintelligible.

Mr.Hazlewood snatched at any support which was offered to him.
"Ah!" he exclaimed, and for the first time that morning he looked his son in the face.

"There now, Richard, you see!" "Yes," Richard returned imperturbably.