'I gave one great scream, and flew at the newspaper. The worst was, that I had to explain, and then—oh! it was enough to make one sick. Why had I not said I was Lord Ormersfield's cousin? I turned into a fine aristocratic-looking girl on the spot! Miss Salter came and fondled, and wanted me to walk with her!'
'Of course; she had compassion on your distress—amiable feeling!'
'She only wanted to ask ridiculous questions, whether you were handsome.'
'What did you reply?'
'I told them not a word, except that my brother was going to be your tutor. When I saw Miss Salter setting off by this line, I made Jem take second-class tickets, that she might be ashamed of me.'
'My dear Giraffe, bend down your neck, and don't take such a commonplace, conventional view of your schoolfellows.'
'Conventional! ay, all agree because they know it by experience,' said Clara—'I'm sure I do!'
'Then take the other side—see the best.'
'Jem says you go too far, and are unreasonable with your theory of making the best of every one.'
'By no means. I always made the worst of Frampton, and now I know what injustice I did him. I never saw greater kindness and unselfishness than he has shown me.'