midday
He walked on , swinging his short arms to and fro , then suddenly looked up with a keen glance into Ron 's eager face . There were no traces of dreaminess in the brown eyes at this moment ; the dilated pupil gave to them an appearance of extraordinary depth and intensity ; it was easy to see that the lad had been swept off his feet by the rugged force of the speaker 's words , and was kindled into a like enthusiasm . Lads of nineteen and twenty make it so much a matter of principle to suppress all exhibition of feeling , that it is almost startling to come across one who is not ashamed to betray a little human emotion . Mr Elgood evidently found it so , for he continued to cast those quick peering glances until the inn was reached , and the little party separated , to prepare for the midday dinner . Margot walked slowly up the steep staircase leading to her room , and sat herself down on the bed to think out the problem . More and more did she long to pierce through the armour by which the strange , silent man was enveloped ; but how was it to be done ? Opportunities were few and far between , and now , for the first time in her life , confidence in her own powers deserted her , and she was overcome by a strange new feeling of humility and doubt .