She wanted very urgently to secure his friendship.

She had counted upon that day in his society to do so.

But it seemed to be his resolve to hold aloof.

He seemed disinclined to commit himself to anything approaching intimacy, and that attitude of his filled her with misgiving.

Had he begun to repent of the one-sided bargain, she asked herself?
Or could it be that he also was oppressed by shyness?
She longed intensely to know.
The sun was sinking low in the sky when at length reluctantly she went back to him.