Miss Pinnegar stayed last, waiting for Alvina. And Alvina, in her excitement, waited for Mr. May and her father.
Mr. May fairly pranced into the empty hall.
“Well!” he said, shutting both his fists and flourishing them in Miss Pinnegar’s face. “How did it go?”
“I think it went very well,” she said.
“Very well! I should think so, indeed. It went like a house on fire. What? Didn’t it?” And he laughed a high, excited little laugh.
James was counting pennies for his life, in the cash-place, and dropping them into a Gladstone bag. The others had to wait for him. At last he locked his bag.
“Well,” said Mr. May, “done well?”
“Fairly well,” said James, huskily excited. “Fairly well.”
“Only fairly? Oh-h!” And Mr. May suddenly picked up the bag. James turned as if he would snatch it from him. “Well! Feel that, for fairly well!” said Mr. May, handing the bag to Alvina.
“Goodness!” she cried, handing it to Miss Pinnegar.