| 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 |
| 1 | 65 | 130 | 195 | 260 |
|
He tried a quietly insinuating smile that he knew for a grin even as
he smiled it; felt she disapproved--that she despised him, was overcome
with shame at her expression, turned his back upon her, and began (very
clumsily) to mount. He did so with a horrible swerve, and went
pedalling off, riding very badly, as he was only too painfully aware.
Nevertheless, thank Heaven for the mounting! He could not see her
because it was so dangerous for him to look round, but he could imagine
her indignant and pitiless. He felt an unspeakable idiot. One had to be
so careful what one said to Young Ladies, and he'd gone and treated her
just as though she was only a Larky Girl. It was unforgivable. He
always WAS a fool. You could tell from her manner she didn't think him a
gentleman. One glance, and she seemed to look clear through him and all
his presence. What rot it was venturing to speak to a girl like that!
With her education she was bound to see through him at once.
How nicely she spoke too! nice clear-cut words! She made him feel what
slush his own accent was. And that last silly remark. What was it? 'Not
being the other gentleman, you know!' No point in it. And 'GENTLEMAN!'
What COULD she be thinking of him?
But really the Young Lady in Grey had dismissed Hoopdriver from her
thoughts almost before he had vanished round the corner. She had thought
no ill of him. His manifest awe and admiration of her had given her not
an atom of offence. But for her just now there were weightier things
to think about, things that would affect all the rest of her life. She
continued slowly walking her machine Londonward. Presently she stopped.
4
4
Page
Quick Jump
|