Selina laughed.
"Don't be too unkind," she said. "That's the worst of you men. When you do find anything out you are always so severe."
"After all, though," Louise remarked, with a sidelong glance, "it must be very, very interesting to meet these sort of people, even if one doesn't quite belong to their set. I should think you must find every one else quite tame, Mr. Brooks."
"I can assure you I don't," he answered, coolly. "This evening has provided me with quite as pleasant society as ever I should wish for."
Selina beamed upon him.
"Oh, Mr. Brooks, you are terrible. You do say such things!" she declared, archly.
Louise laughed a little hardly.
"We mustn't take too much to ourselves, dear," she said. "Remember that
Mr. Brooks walked all the way up from the Secular Hall with Mary."
Mr. Bullsom threw down his paper with a little impatient exclamation.
"Come, come!" he said. "I want to have a few words with Brooks myself, if you girls'll give me a chance. Heard anything from Henslow lately, eh?"