There was a little embarrassed silence around the table after Pendragon had spoken, then Angela began talking of some irrelevant subject and the conversation went on, but always Ruth observed that neither Gloria nor Pendragon ever spoke directly to each other, though the omission was so cleverly disguised that no one at the table observed it except Terry and Ruth who always seemed to see everything together. Ruth had been so busy with Gloria and her affairs that she had talked very little to Terry and never alone; but they conversed nevertheless, constantly reading each other’s eyes as clearly as they would a printed page. The same things seemed to amuse them both and except in the realm of mystery which Ruth’s childhood had built about her, they understood each other perfectly. She knew now that he wanted to talk to her, but she pretended not to see, for having begun her task of managing the happiness of Gloria, she was determined to go on, and the person she wanted to see alone was Professor Pendragon. Angela who always advertised her house as “one of those places where you can do exactly what you please,” and therefore never on any occasion let any one do as they pleased if she could possibly prevent it by a continuous program of “amusement” and “entertainment,” was trying to interest them in a plan to go skating that evening by moonlight on a little lake that lay halfway between Fir Tree Farm and the village. Some one had reported that the ice was clear of snow and what was the good of being in the country in winter time if one didn’t go in for winter sport? Her plans fell on rather unenthusiastic ears. The men, having enjoyed a long hike in the morning, were not eager for more exercise; Gloria wanted to spend the afternoon preparing to leave the next morning; Ruth was not interested in anything that did not seem to offer any furtherance of her plans for Gloria; and Miss Gilchrist didn’t skate. The very atmosphere seemed to say that the party was finished; that these people had, for the time being, said all they had to say to each other and for the time, and wanted to be gone along their several roads. It is a wise hostess who recognizes this situation and apparently Angela did recognize it, for she finally stopped urging her scheme and when Gloria asked Ruth to help her pack—Gloria always went on a week-end equipped as for transcontinental travel—Angela made no effort to detain them or to go with them. Gloria’s moment of confidences had passed. She talked now, but of Terry’s play. She had told him of her changed decision and he seemed very happy about it. “Perhaps you’ll have a chance to make sketches of us,” she said to Ruth, awakening again Ruth’s interest in the work to which she also was returning.