A flattering emphasis, truly! I felt my temper a little stirred by Miss Etty's frankness. I was sulkily silent.
"I had no claim to any forbearance, any consideration for peculiarities of any sort. I am perfectly resigned to being the theme of your wit in any circle, if you can find aught in my country-bred ways to amuse you."
Zounds! I must speak.
"My conduct to Flora must have confirmed the charming impression produced by my unlucky phiz, I imagine. But don't bear malice against me in her behalf; you must have seen that she was perfectly able to revenge herself."
Etty's light-hearted laugh rung out, and reminded me of my once baffled curiosity when it reached my ear from Norah's domain. But though this unsuppressed mirth of hers revealed the prettiest row of teeth in the world, and made the whole face decidedly beautiful, somehow or other it gave me no pleasure, but rather a feeling of depression. My joining in it was pure pretence.
Presently the brightness faded, and I found myself gazing at the cold countenance of Little Ugly again.
"No, I did not refer to Flora," said she. "As you say, she can avenge her own quarrel, and we both were quite as ready to laugh at you, as you could be to laugh at us, I assure you."
"No doubt of it," said I, with some pique.
"But what I cannot forgive you, cannot think of with any toleration, is—"
"What?" cried I, astonished. "How have I offended?"