CHAPTER XVII. THE SCHOOL FEAST.

nomeansingoodhumour.Shefirstshruggedhershouldersathim,andthenshesaidabitterwordortwoabouthis"insupportabletardiness."Mooreneitherapologizednorretorted.Hestoodnearherquietly,asifwaitingtoseewhethershewouldrecoverhertemperwhichshedidinlittlemorethanthreeminutes,indicatingthechangebyofferinghimherhand.Mooretookitwithasmile,half-corrective,half-grateful.Theslightestpossibleshakeoftheheaddelicatelymarkedtheformerqualityitisprobableagentlepressureindicatedthelatter. "Youmaysitwhereyoucannow,Mr.Moore,"saidShirley,alsosmiling."YouseethereisnotaninchofroomforyouherebutIdiscernplentyofspaceatMrs.Boultby'stable,betweenMissArmitageandMissBirtwhistle.Go!JohnSykeswillbeyourvis-à-vis,andyouwillsitwithyourbacktowardsus." Moore,however,preferredlingeringaboutwherehewas.Henowandthentookaturndownthelongroom,pausinginhiswalktointerchangegreetingswithothergentlemeninhisownplacelesspredicamentbutstillhecamebacktothemagnet,Shirley,bringingwithhim,eachtimehereturned,observationsitwasnecessarytowhisperinherear. MeantimepoorSamWynnelookedfarfromcomfortable.Hisfairneighbour,judgingfromhermovements,appearedinamoodthemostunquietandunaccommodating.Shewouldnotsitstilltwoseconds.Shewashotshefannedherselfcomplainedofwantofairandspace.Sheremarkedthat,inheropinion,whenpeoplehadfinishedtheirteatheyoughttoleavethetables,andannounceddistinctlythatsheexpectedtofaintifthepresentstateofthingscontinued.Mr.Samofferedtoaccompanyherintotheopenairjustthewaytogiveherherdeathofcold,shealleged.Inshort,hispostbecameuntenableandhavingswallowedhisquantumoftea,hejudgeditexpedienttoevacuate. Mooreshouldhavebeenathand,whereashewasquiteattheotherextremityoftheroom,deepinconferencewithChristopherSykes.Alargecorn-factor,TimothyRamsden,Esq.,happenedtobenearerandfeelinghimselftiredofstanding,headvancedtofillthevacantseat.Shirley'sexpedientsdidnotfailher.Asweepofherscarfupsetherteacup:itscontentsweresharedbetweenthebenchandherownsatindress.Ofcourse,itbecamenecessarytocallawaitertoremedythemischief.Mr.Ramsden,astout,puffygentleman,aslargeinpersonashewasinproperty,heldalooffromtheconsequentcommotion.Shirley,usuallyalmostculpablyindifferenttoslightaccidentsaffectingdress,etc.,nowmadeacommotionthatmighthavebecomethemostdelicateandnervousofhersex.Mr.Ramsdenopenedhismouth,withdrewslowly,and,asMissKeeldaragainintimatedherintentionto"giveway"andswoononthespot,heturnedonhisheel,andbeataheavyretreat. Mooreatlastreturned.Calmlysurveyingthebustle,andsomewhatquizzicallyscanningShirley'senigmatical-lookingcountenance,heremarkedthatintruththiswasthehottestendoftheroom,thathefoundaclimatetherecalculatedtoagreewithnonebutcooltemperamentslikehisownandputtingthewaiters,thenapkins,thesatinrobe—thewholeturmoil,inshort—tooneside,heinstalledhimselfwheredestinyevidentlydecreedheshouldsit.ShirleysubsidedherfeaturesalteredtheirlinestheraisedknitbrowandinexplicablecurveofthemouthbecamestraightagainwilfulnessandroguerygaveplacetootherexpressionsandalltheangularmovementswithwhichshehadvexedthesoulofSamWynnewereconjuredtorestasbyacharm.StillnograciousglancewascastonMoore.Onthecontrary,hewasaccusedofgivingheraworldoftrouble,androundlychargedwithbeingthecauseofdeprivingheroftheesteemofMr.RamsdenandtheinvaluablefriendshipofMr.SamuelWynne. "Wouldn'thaveoffendedeithergentlemanfortheworld,"sheaverred."Ihavealwaysbeenaccustomedtotreatbothwiththemostrespectfulconsideration,andthere,owingtoyou,howtheyhavebeenused!IshallnotbehappytillIhavemadeitup.IneveramhappytillIamfriendswithmyneighbours.Soto-morrowImustmakeapilgrimagetoRoydcorn-mill,soothethemiller,andpraisethegrainandnextdayImustcallatDeWalden—whereIhatetogo—andcarryinmyreticulehalfanoatcaketogivetoMr.Sam'sfavouritepointers." "Youknowthesurestpathtotheheartofeachswain,Idoubtnot,"saidMoorequietly.Helookedverycontenttohaveatlastsecuredhispresentplacebuthemadenofinespeechexpressiveofgratification,andofferednoapologyforthetroublehehadgiven.Hisphlegmbecamehimwonderfully.Itmadehimlookhandsomer,hewassocomposeditmadehisvicinagepleasant,itwassopeace-restoring.Youwouldnothavethought,tolookathim,thathewasapoor,strugglingmanseatedbesidearichwomanthecalmofequalitystilledhisaspectperhapsthatcalm,too,reignedinhissoul.Nowandthen,fromthewayinwhichhelookeddownonMissKeeldarasheaddressedher,youwouldhavefanciedhisstationtoweredabovehersasmuchashisstaturedid.Almoststernlightssometimescrossedhisbrowandgleamedinhiseyes.Theirconversationhadbecomeanimated,thoughitwasconfinedtoalowkeyshewasurginghimwithquestions—evidentlyherefusedtohercuriosityallthegratificationitdemanded.Shesoughthiseyeoncewithhers.Youread,initssoftyeteagerexpression,thatitsolicitedclearerreplies.Mooresmiledpleasantly,buthislipscontinuedsealed.Thenshewaspiqued,andturnedawaybutherecalledherattentionintwominutes.Heseemedmakingpromises,whichhesoothedherintoacceptinginlieuofinformation. ItappearedthattheheatoftheroomdidnotsuitMissHelstone.Shegrewpalerandpalerastheprocessoftea-makingwasprotracted.Themomentthankswerereturnedshequittedthetable,andhastenedtofollowhercousinHortense,who,withMissMann,hadalreadysoughttheopenair.RobertMoorehadrisenwhenshedid—perhapshemeanttospeaktoherbuttherewasyetapartingwordtoexchangewithMissKeeldar,andwhileitwasbeingutteredCarolinehadvanished. Hortensereceivedherformerpupilwithademeanourofmoredignitythanwarmth.ShehadbeenseriouslyoffendedbyMr.Helstone'sproceedings,andhadallalongconsideredCarolinetoblameinobeyingheruncletooliterally. "Youareaverygreatstranger,"shesaidausterely,asherpupilheldandpressedherhand.Thepupilknewhertoowelltoremonstrateorcomplainofcoldness.Sheletthepunctiliouswhimpass,surethathernaturalbonté(IusethisF