Courtship -- Fiction; England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction; Mate selection -- Fiction
“Hush! be calm, David, for Heaven's sake. I am only waiting to catch
her eye, and then we'll bid them good-evening.”
“Very well, I'll wait”; and David fixed his eyes sadly and doggedly on
the ground. “I won't look at her if I can help it,” said he,
resolutely, but very sadly, and turned his head away.
“Now, David,” whispered Eve.
David rose mechanically and moved with his sister toward the other
group. Miss Fountain turned at their approach. Somewhat to David's
surprise, Eve retreated as quickly as she had advanced.
“We are to stay.”
“What for?”
“She made me a signal.”
“Not that I saw,” said David, incredulously.
“What! didn't you see her give me a look?”
“Yes, I did. But what has that to do with it?”
“That look was as much as to say, Please stay a little longer; I have
something to say to you.”
“Good Heavens!”
“I think it is about a bonnet, David. I asked her to put me in the way
of getting one made like hers. She does wear heavenly bonnets.”
“Ay. I did well to listen to you, Eve; you see I can't even read her
face, much less her heart. I saw her look up, but that was all. How is
a poor fellow to make out such craft as these, that can signal one
another a whole page with a flash of the eye? Ah!”
“There, David, he is going. Was I right?”
Mr. Talboys was, in fact, taking leave of Miss Fountain. The old
gentleman convoyed his friend. As the door closed on them Miss
Fountain's face seemed to catch fire. Her sweet complacency gave way
to a half-joyous, half-irritated small energy. She came gliding
swiftly, though not hurriedly, up to Eve. “Thank you for seeing.” Then
she settled softly and gradually on an ottoman, saying, “Now, Mr.
Dodd.”
David looked puzzled. “What is it?” and he turned to his interpreter,
Eve.
But it was Lucy who replied: “'His messmate was crying like a child.
At sunrise poor Tom must die. Then up rose one fellow' (we have not
any idea who one fellow means in these narratives--have we, Miss
Dodd?) 'and cried, “I have it, messmates. Tom isn't dead yet.”' Now,
Mr. Dodd, between that sentence and the one that is to follow all that
has happened in this room was a hideous dream. On that understanding
we have put up with it. It is now happily dispersed, and we--go ahead
again.”
“I see, Eve, she thinks she would like some more of that China yarn.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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