If it made him angry or very unhappy, if it broke up his friendship with Geoff, and perhaps interfered with their partnership so that one or other of them must leave the High Valley, Clover felt that it would grievously mar her contentment.

There was no use in planning anything till they knew how he would feel and act.

In any case, she realized that they were bound to consider him before themselves, and make it as easy and as little painful as possible.

If he were vexatious, they must be patient; if sulky, they must be forbearing.
Phil opened his eyes very wide at the pair sitting so coseyly over the fire when at last he came in.
"I say, have _you_ been here all the evening ?" he cried.

"Well, that's a sell! I wouldn't have gone out if I'd known." "We've missed you very much," quoth Geoff; and then he laughed as at some extremely good joke, and Clover laughed too.
"You seem to have kept up your spirits pretty well, considering," remarked Phil, dryly.