He was puzzled by the unexpected and unusual occurrence, but finally concluded that his father, realizing how taciturn they had become of late, wished to resume their former status, and this view was confirmed to his mind by the fact that they had been more companionable than usual that evening, albeit that nothing of any special significance had been said.
As has been stated, a longer interval than usual had elapsed since John's last visit to Sixty-ninth Street, a fact which had been commented on by Mr.Carling, but not mentioned between the ladies.

When he found himself at that hospitable house on that evening, he was greeted by Miss Blake alone.
"Julius did not come down to-night, and my sister is with him," she said, "so you will have to put up with my society--unless you'd like me to send up for Alice.

Julius is strictly _en retraite_, I should say." "Don't disturb her, I beg," protested John, laughing, and wondering a bit at the touch of coquetry in her speech, something unprecedented in his experience of her, "if you are willing to put up with my society.

I hope Mr.Carling is not ill ?" They seated themselves as she replied: "No, nothing serious, I should say.

A bit of a cold, I fancy; and for a fortnight he has been more nervous than usual.