Mr. Spiller’s gallantry did not carry him far enough to turn over the leaves of the song. He presently strolled away, and walked leisurely in front of the rank of chairs on the girls’ side of the room, with his hands in his pockets. Some of them nudged each other as he passed, and giggled.
“Doesn’ he fancy himself—just,” observed Mary Wilby. “But he’s handsome, don’t you think so?”
“Yes, isn’t he divine!” whispered her friend. “I b’lieve he’s going to talk to Miss Ruan. Yes,” with a sigh, “he is.”
“She fancies herself, if you like. I believe she’s awfully stuck-up—really; despises us, I shouldn’t wonder, for all she’s pleasant enough when you meet her.”
“Stuck up! what’s she got to be stuck-up about? Why, her father’s only a publican. I must say I wonder at Mrs. Jenkins knowing the Ruans. Nice shop and all as they’ve got, and so well up as you might say they are. I hate public-house people myself. It’s such a low business. Don’t you think so?”
“Yes, but she doesn’t look much as though she belonged to one, does she? Queer-looking girl. Do you think she’s pretty?”
“No—much too strange-looking for my taste. I suppose we’re not good enough for her after her boarding-school people. She’s never made any friends since she came home. I don’t know her at all—don’t want to either; but Nellie Clarke says she went in there one day, and couldn’t get on with her a bit. She was polite enough, but Nellie says she couldn’t understand her; she didn’t seem to care for anything—not the church even, nor Mr. Millar, and he’s the best-looking of the curates. Anyway, Nellie couldn’t do with her at all.”
“Look at her,” urged Mary, nudging her friend again. “She’s hardly answering Charley Downs. Don’t you hate that way she has of looking on the carpet?—so indifferent; though I shouldn’t wonder if it wasn’t to show off her eyelashes. I believe she can hardly keep a sneer off her face.”
“She wouldn’t surely have the cheek to sneer at Charley Downs. Surely he’s good enough for her. Why, he’s in Bailey’s Bank, you know.”
“Oh, bless you, she wants a duke! What a dress, too. I think it’s downright affectation to come in a dress as plain as that. Just to make herself look different from us. She knew all the girls would likely wear their summer muslins.”