“I don’t intend to, madam,” said Gilbert, stiffly. “I don’t think I have.”
“You seemed very attentive to Laura,” said Randolph, with a characteristic sneer.
“It was my duty to be polite,” said Gilbert.
By this time they had reached the street, and Gilbert said “Good-evening.”
Neither Mrs. Briggs nor Randolph invited him to call, though the fact that Mr. Briggs was still his guardian would have made such an invitation only an act of ordinary politeness.
As he made his way toward Fourth Avenue, Gilbert brushed against Simon Moore and John; but having his mind occupied, he did not notice them.
“There he goes!” said John, enviously. “I wish I had as much cheek as that fellow has.”
“You’ve got a fair amount, John,” said his cousin, drily.
“I didn’t know it,” said John, aggrieved.
“Never mind, John,” said the book-keeper, with unwonted good-humor. “Suppose we go in somewhere and have oysters. I feel hungry.”