Page:Duer Miller--The charm school.djvu/65

 "Why, that's an extraordinary thing, isn't it?" said Mr. Boyd, looking hard at his wife down the length of the table, as if no one would understand what he was trying to convey by the look.

Mrs. Boyd dived to the essential. "Is he nice-looking?" she asked.

At this the faces of the two girls became like carved stone, and at last Sally dropped a casual, "Why, yes," as much as to say, if you are interested in that sort of thing, I suppose you might think so.

"How perfectly wonderful!" said Mrs. Boyd. "You must describe him to me." The Sphinxlike quality in Sally did not go very deep, and she answered, eagerly:

"Well, I think he looks like the picture of Tristram that hangs in the back hall."

"Oh, that horrid picture!" said Elise. "Mr. Bevans is so much more virile-looking."

"I mean if it had blue eyes and a better figure," said Sally.

"Really, mother," cried George, "do you think Sally ought to talk about a school-master's figure and eyes? She ought not know he has them."

"Wouldn't be much use as a teacher if he hadn't," answered Sally.

"Do you mean that the fellow is