It was
partly drawing-room, partly curiosity-shop. Cups, saucers, and spoons
appeared as if by magicians' call, and one blazing afternoon the news
flashed round the diamond-pits that Miss Musgrave was "taking afternoon
tea with the Scholar." But when the Scholar saw the dismay his simple
act had spread around him, he dissipated it with a kindly laugh and a
few reassuring words.
"Don't mind me, boys. I was only doing the civil in a purely platonic
manner. Miss Musgrave is nothing to me, nor am I anything to her. Heaven
forbid! I'm too hard a bargain for any girl. If any one of you marries
her I'll act as his best man if he asks me to, and wish him every
felicity without a thought of regret."
"Bully for the Scholar!" yelled the delighted crowd; and Miss Musgrave's
smiles were more sought after than ever.
So things went on day after day, week after week, till Miss Musgrave
became little short of an autocratic empress. But still she showed no
signs of taking unto herself a consort; she kept all men at a cousinly
distance, and those who felt intimate enough to address her as "Miss
Mary" accounted themselves uncommonly fortunate.
Pages:
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161