no trace of dissipation upon the fine lips which curved ever so delicately at the ends with a whimsical little twist. It was a face that any loss of weight would have made thin, but as she saw it it needed nothing to give it perfection of proportion. She was only conscious of all this as a setting for his eyes. It was they that held and abashed her. They lit from within his whole glamorous presence. They spread the troubled questioning and nervous discontent about his features. They suggested quests, adventures, battles, defeats, despairs. In the poor gaslight they seemed to be absolutely black and she could not tell what colour was in them.
She recovered herself and went on. “I put that badly. What I meant to say was that I never encroach on people’s peace. I care too much for my own.”
He did not take his eyes off her as she spoke. He was rather astonished that she had sensed him so quickly, and still more astonished at her blundering apology. It was unexpectedly human.
“I understand you, thank you,” he said quietly. His glance fell on Esther Waters lying on the top of a fat ledger. He looked back at her.
“Was it you who were out on the point by the river last night?”
“Yes. Is that your land too?”
At the change in her tone his face melted into a slow smile that created a responsive one on hers.
“No, Miss Carr. And you may come out to that point of mine whenever you want to. But for God’s sake don’t bring anyone with you or tell anyone you come. Goodnight.”
Before she could think of an answer he was gone round the counter and she heard the door close.
He left an extraordinary blank behind him. It seemed
