Then the hand dropped, and she saw the drawing-room door closing on the player.
Falloden looked down upon her with a sarcastic mouth, which, however, worked nervously.
"I'm extremely sorry to bring you down to earth.

I suppose he's awfully good." "It's genius," said Connie, breathlessly--"just that--genius! I had no idea he had such a gift." Falloden shrugged his shoulders without reply.
He threw himself into a chair beside her, his knees crossed, his hands on the topmost knee, with the finger-tips lightly touching, an attitude characteristic of him.

The lamp which had been brought in to light the piano shone full upon him, and Constance perceived that, in spite of his self-confident ease of bearing, he looked haggard and pale with the long strain of the schools.

Her own manner relaxed.
"Have you really done ?" she asked, more graciously.
"I was in for my last paper this afternoon.

I am now a free man." "And you've got your First ?" He laughed.
"That only the gods know.