He stretched out his hand across the table, keeping his eyes on hers.
"Let me have his letter to answer!" he said.
She made a sharp instinctive movement of withdrawal.

"Oh, no!" she said.
"No!" Jeff said nothing; but his face hardened somewhat, and his hand remained outstretched.
Doris's grey eyes gleamed.

"No, Jeff!" she repeated, more calmly, and with the words she slipped Hugh's envelope into the bosom of her dress.
"I can't give you my letters to answer indeed." Jeff withdrew his hand, and began to eat his breakfast in utter silence.
Doris played with hers until the silence became intolerable, and then, very suddenly and very winningly, she leaned towards him.
"Dear Jeff, surely you are not vexed!" she said.
He looked at her again, and in spite of herself she felt her heart quicken.
"Are you, Jeff ?" she said, and held out her hand to him.
For a moment he sat motionless, then abruptly he grasped the hand.
"May I say what I think ?" he asked her bluntly.
"Of course," she said.
"Then I think from all points of view that you had better leave Chesyl alone," he said.
"What do you mean ?" Quickly she asked the question; the colour flamed in her face once more.

"Tell my why you think that!" she said.
"I would rather not," said Jeff.
"But that is not fair of you, Jeff," she protested.
He released her hand slowly.

"I am sorry," he said.