Page:Stanwood Pier--The ancient grudge.djvu/124

Rh "Sorehead'! thought Floyd. "Sorehead, all right."

The others, however, were sufficiently appreciative. As for the young ladies, they had no words with which to express their admiration—except Miss Gorham, who ejaculated from time to time "Sorcerer!" or "How won-derful!" When the party came to an end, it was evident that Floyd's contribution was more highly regarded than any other feature of the entertainment.

Floyd had enough simplicity and vanity to enjoy such a little triumph, and he was willing always to display his one accomplishment before the unsophisticated audiences that sometimes gathered in Mrs. Bell's parlor. His fame was spread widely by Letty's friends; often in the evenings visitors came in the hope of meeting the distinguished boarder and of seeing him do some of his conjuring. He himself was unconscious or at least thoughtless of the fact that by his geniality and willingness he was winning friends among these humble people—friends whose influence spread out and reached even those who never entered the circle of Mrs. Bell's acquaintances, who never spoke to him or touched his hand.