And so pondering, it was no wonder that Dan brought no joy to John Ware's library that night.

The minister himself seemed unwontedly preoccupied; Sylvia stared at the fire as though seeking in the flames answers to unanswerable questions.

Mrs.Ware sought vainly to bring cheer to the company: Shortly after eight o'clock, Sylvia rose to leave.
"Aunt Sally got home from Kentucky this afternoon, and I must drop in for a minute, Dan, if you don't mind." Sylvia hardly spoke on the way to Mrs.Owen's.

Since that night on the lake she had never been the same, or so it seemed to Dan.

She had gone back to her teaching, and when they met she talked of her work and of impersonal things.