The person stopped simultaneously half a flight downstairs.
"Ralph ?" said a voice, inquiringly.
"Joan ?" "I was coming up, but I saw your notice." "Well, come along in, then." He concealed his desire beneath a tone as grudging as he could make it.
Joan came in, but she was careful to show, by standing upright with one hand upon the mantelpiece, that she was only there for a definite purpose, which discharged, she would go.
She was older than Ralph by some three or four years.

Her face was round but worn, and expressed that tolerant but anxious good humor which is the special attribute of elder sisters in large families.

Her pleasant brown eyes resembled Ralph's, save in expression, for whereas he seemed to look straightly and keenly at one object, she appeared to be in the habit of considering everything from many different points of view.

This made her appear his elder by more years than existed in fact between them.

Her gaze rested for a moment or two upon the rook.