1. Although James didn’t say it in so many words, Elizabeth could read between the lines that he didn’t want to see her again.
2. They tried to give him the bad news gently and without saying it directly, but he didn’t seem to understand all their hinting. Finally they asked him, “Can’t you read between the lines?”

Compare to: read something into (something). The expression suggests that there is meaning hidden between the lines of the words actually written.