She felt again the man's grim mastery behind the iron of his patience.

"I want to talk to you," he said, "about our marriage." "Ah!" It was scarcely more than a sharp intake of the breath, and as it escaped again Dot turned white to the lips.

His close scrutiny became suddenly more than she could bear, and she turned sharply from him.
He kept his hand upon her arm, but he made no further effort to restrain her, merely waiting mutely for her to speak.
In the room behind them there came the smart knocking of the balls, and a voice cried, "By Jove, he's fluked again! It's the devil's own luck!" Dot flinched a little.

The careless voice jarred upon her.

Her nerves were all on edge.