It was a summer's evening; Joan had dropped in at the Greysons and had found Mary alone, Francis not having yet returned from a bachelor dinner at his uncle's, who was some big pot in the Navy.

They sat in the twilight, facing the open French windows, through which one caught a glimpse of the park.

A great stillness seemed to be around them.
The sale and purchase of the _Evening Gazette_ had been completed a few days before.

Greyson had been offered the alternative of gradually and gracefully changing his opinions, or getting out; and had, of course, chosen dismissal.

He was taking a holiday, as Mary explained with a short laugh.
"He had some shares in it himself, hadn't he ?" Joan asked.
"Oh, just enough to be of no use," Mary answered.