But most of all she dreaded that he might guess her secret.
"I don't know why you thought I minded your not--not talking to me during dinner," she faltered.

"I was having a perfectly heavenly time with Peter Tappan." "Do you mean that ?" murmured Dysart.

He could not help playing his part, even when it no longer interested him.

To murmur was as natural to him as to breathe.
She looked up piteously.

"I would rather have talked to you," she said.
"Peter Tappan is only an overgrown boy.