Jessie laughingly bade Josey West hold her tongue, and I saw with delight that she had placed in her bosom a flower from one of the bouquets.
'It was very kind of you, Chris,' said Jessie, giving me her hand, which was burning with excitement.
'You must be tired, Jessie.'
'I could go all through it again,' she replied.
'That's the way with us excitable creatures,' observed Josey West complacently; 'we're like thoroughbred race-horses, we can go on till we drop. Now, Jessie, come along and be praised.'
The praises she received were sufficient to turn any one's head; she was surrounded and kissed by all the women, and the men could not find words sufficiently strong to express their gratification. Mr. Rackstraw, the gentleman who prepared young ladies for the stage, was very eulogistic and very inquisitive, asking personal questions with a freedom which did not please me. But neither Josey West nor Jessie shared my feeling in this respect--Josey especially taking great interest in what he said.
'And you think she would succeed?' said Josey West.
'I am sure of it, Josey,' he answered.
He addressed all in the room by their Christian names, and was evidently regarded as a man of importance.
'But there is a great deal to be learnt?' asked Jessie; 'is there not?'