As he became more at home in the house, however, he grew to know her better, and to feel on a more friendly footing. Not unfrequently it was in her great studio that Meredith would be sitting, and then, as he listened to the old man’s eager talk, his eye would rest with a certain satisfaction upon the graceful figure of the daughter, and he was not sorry when she too became included in the conversation. Maud had told him that Roma’s coldness was only a cloak for a painful shyness, induced by her lonely life; and so the young man, feeling himself immeasurably older and more worldly-wise than this handsome, bashful girl, took some pains to draw her out and put her at her ease; and Meredith listened to his pleasant voice and gentle, brotherly gallantry with a curious smile upon his still face, whilst Roma unbent almost unconsciously before the easy friendliness of Tor’s manner. There was not one spice of the lover in any single word or tone to alarm her or put her on the defensive. Tor was far too loyal to Maud ever to wish for even a mild flirtation with Roma. Had he been fancy free, the dark beauty and statuesque grace of the young sculptor might have made an impression upon him; but with Maud’s sunny face, mischievous smile and winsome ways always before his mind’s eye, he was proof against other charms, and only offered to her a frank, friendly kindliness which she could not but accept as it was meant. Maud was delighted to find that he and Roma were friends, and was quite prepared to hear later on that they were something more than that. She had no wish that Phil should marry; but if he must do so, she would like Roma Meredith as a sister-in-law better than anybody else she knew. Tor walked down one day to the sculptor’s house. He was an intimate now, and did not ring the bell, but walked straight to Mr. Meredith’s study, as usual. The room was empty, so he naturally concluded that the studio was his place of habitation that day, and made his way thither without further delay. When, however, he entered, at Roma’s bidding, he found the girl alone at work. The blind man’s chair was empty. ‘I beg your pardon, Miss Meredith; I thought I should find your father here.’ ‘He has gone out,’ answered Roma. ‘Mrs. Lorraine kindly called for him, and asked him to drive with her. But—but—I think he will be back very soon—if you don’t mind waiting.’ There was a little hesitation in the girl’s manner which struck Tor as being unusual. And it was rather unlike her to ask him to wait. ‘I will do so with pleasure. This room is a delightful contrast to the heat out of doors. I hope I shall not be in your way.’ ‘No, not at all, thank you,’ answered Roma, still intent on her modelling, and she did not look up as she continued speaking. ‘In fact, I am rather glad you have come just now. I have wanted to speak to you about something; and I cannot do it when you are with father.’