“Oh, no, I should like to learn all those things very much.”
“Well, Miss Peele can teach you. She is awfully clever at all those things. Don’t you think Miss Mairs looks like Mary Anderson?”
“Mary Anderson?”
“Yes, the actress, you know.”
“I have never seen her.”
The girl was visibly embarrassed. Another, who looked as if harbouring a grin in her straight little mouth, came to the rescue.
“Oh, I do think Mr. Peele is so good-looking,” she exclaimed, with a fine show of animation. “We all think you are to be congratulated.”
Patience smiled at the frank rudeness of this remark, and said nothing.
“You know Amy Murray was wild about him. She’s not here to-day, I notice. We did think it too bad that he wouldn’t go out. Some of the girls have met him here, but I never have. They say he is awfully fascinating.”
“Oh, yes, he is fascinating,” said Patience.