'I thought not about it at all. Or if I did—well, I thought it might be Mistress Blancheflower. You have seen them often together, May?—does she love him truly?'
'Not what I call truly, faith; but then Beatrix has a cold nature at the best of times.'
'How did she win him then, who has such fire?'
'Well, it is coldness that charms these fiery natures, Deb. Why, she treated him half with disdain; anon she would steal a glance, as Beatrix can, as if to lure him on; and when he wooed her, she frowned and was cold again. Take my word on't, Mistress Blancheflower is an arch-coquette. It matters not who it be. Why, she will play her airs on old Dandy Drummond!' And May burst into laughter, in which Deborah joined.
'Oh, I cannot do such things,' said Deborah, grave again, and sighing. 'Yet, 'tis no fault of mine. Were father rich, I would go to France, and get French polish and a maid to dress my hair. Money gets all things, May; and the accessories of money give confidence and power. Were I rich, I would outshine Mistress Blancheflower!'
'You!' cried May. 'Dost not know the moon even under a vapour outshines the stars? Dost know thy beauty, Deb?'
'Why, no. Sweet May, tell me! Am I beautiful? Father and Marjory tell me so; but they are blind, perchance.'
'Why, yes,' said May, laughing, 'you are; yet I like not to tell you so, for fear it should make you vain. You are beautiful as times go. Would that I were half as fair!'
How the maiden blushed. Her heart beat fast at May's simple praise, for Deborah had never believed herself to be beautiful before.
'O say not so, sweet May,' she answered; 'I would fain have your blue eyes and waxen skin and fairy-like figure. Father admires you greatly. Charlie, you have not seen. He is a man now, eighteen, and entered at Granta University.'