Most people would have thought that it was a magnificent bit of composition, particularly for so young a musician, but Mallory went deeper and knew it to be a wonderful piece of self-revelation--the fruit of a spirit sorely buffeted.
Almost instantaneously Nan realised that he had understood, and she was conscious of a fierce resentment.

She felt as though an unwarrantable intrusion had been made upon her privacy, and her annoyance showed itself in the quick compression of her mouth.

She was about to slip away under cover of the applause when Mallory laid a detaining hand upon her arm.
"Don't go," he said.

"And forgive me for understanding!" Nan, sorely against her will, looked, up and met his eyes--eyes that were irresistibly kind and friendly.

She hesitated, still anxious to escape.
"Please," he begged.