I should have noticed her more,
but I was in a reverie about Mary's admirable charms, and I only
just looked at her; she was frowning and drumming angrily with
her fingers on the table. The head waiter hurried up to her; his
face was covered with smiles, and he gave me a confidential nod
en passant. Nothing else occurred except that a villainous
looking fellow--something, to judge by his appearance, between a
valet and a secretary--thrust his ugly head through the door
three or four times. Whenever he did so the waiter smiled
blandly at him. He did it the last time just as the lady was
walking down the room. Seeing her coming he drew back and held
the door open for her with a clumsy, apologetic bow. She smiled
scornfully and passed through. The waiter stood grinning in the
middle of the room, and when I, in my turn, rose, he whispered to
me, `It's all right, sir.' I went to bed and dreamed of Mary.
"On entering the room next morning the first person I saw was
Mary. She was looking adorably fresh and pretty. She sat
opposite a stout, severe-looking dame in black. Directly my eyes
alighted on her I schooled them into a studiously vacant
expression. She, poor girl, was no diplomatist. She started;
she glanced anxiously at Miss Dibbs; I saw her lips move; she
blushed; she seemed almost to smile. Of course this behavior (I
loved Mary the more that she could not conceal her delightful
embarrassment!) excited the dragon's curiosity; she turned round
and favored me with a searching gaze.
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