Nor was Lee slow to profit by the child's suggestion, but responded with certain vicarious caresses that increased the mother's embarrassment.

That evening they retired early, but in the intervals of a restless night Kate was aware, from the sound of voices in the opposite room, that the friends were equally wakeful.
A morning of bright sunshine and soft warm air did not, however, bring any change to their new and constrained relations.

It only seemed to offer a reason for Falkner to leave the house very early for his daily rounds, and gave Lee that occasion for unaided exercise with an extempore crutch on the veranda which allowed Mrs.Hale to pursue her manifold duties without the necessity of keeping him company.

Kate also, as if to avoid an accidental meeting with Falkner, had remained at home with her sister.

With one exception, they did not make their guests the subject of their usual playful comments, nor, after the fashion of their sex, quote their ideas and opinions.