While we were talking, Carleton came into the room. He was a squarely
built young man, with deeply set dark eyes, and a determined chin
and mouth. His figure was slightly above the middle height; he was
extremely spare, but had good shoulders and was well set up. As soon
as ever he appeared in sight, Miss Farnham, by an almost imperceptible
movement, slightly turned her back to him and her talk with me became
even more animated and full of wit than before. Her gay, light laugh
must have reached Carleton, who came straight across the room to her
side.
"You are in your favourite seat," he said.
"Yes," she replied, "and Dr. Halifax is having breakfast with me."
Then she turned to continue her conversation with me, while Carleton
stood perfectly erect and silent by her side.
"Why don't you eat something?" she said to him, presently.
"There is time enough," he answered.
Finding he would not go away she tried to draw him into conversation,
but he was evidently not in the humour to make himself agreeable. His
answers were confined to monosyllables, and to some of Miss Farnham's
remarks he did not reply at all.