"I am. I have taught at least twenty men in New York and San Francisco."
"I hope he appreciates your kindness."
"I mean to try if I can make him forget to be frightened," she said, with a gay laugh.
It was certainly nettling to find his air of reserve and displeasure met with such inconsequent lightness. She never seemed to recognize the subtle changes of temperature expressed in his manner. Only his sense of what was due to himself prevented his being very chilly indeed; but as she went on with her gay chat, in utter ignorance of his mood, and indulged in some very pretty airy nonsense, he soon recovered himself, and almost forgot his private grievance.
Before going away, he promised to ask Lady Theobald's indulgence in the matter of Lucia's joining them in their game. One speech of Octavia's, connected with the subject, he had thought very pretty, as well as kind.
"I like Miss Gaston," she said. "I think we might be friends if Lady Theobald would let us. Her superior advantages might do me good. They might improve me," she went on, with a little laugh, "and I suppose I need improving very much. All my advantages have been of one kind."
When he had left her, she startled Miss Belinda by saying,—
"I have been asking Mr. Barold if he thought I was fast; and I believe he does—in fact, I am sure he does."
"Ah, my dear, my dear!" ejaculated Miss Belinda, "what a terrible thing to say to a gentleman! What will he think?"
Octavia smiled one of her calmest smiles.