Page:The Bostonians (London & New York, Macmillan & Co., 1886).djvu/74

 gaiety, even, expressed in a higher pitch of conversation, seemed to float in the heated air. People circulated more freely, and Verena Tarrant was presently hidden from Ransom's sight by the close-pressed ranks of the new friends she had made. 'Well, I never heard it put that way!' Ransom heard one of the ladies exclaim; to which another replied that she wondered one of their bright women hadn't thought of it before. 'Well, it is a gift, and no mistake,' and 'Well, they may call it what they please, it's a pleasure to listen to it'—these genial tributes fell from the lips of a pair of ruminating gentlemen. It was affirmed within Ransom's hearing that if they had a few more like that the matter would soon be fixed; and it was rejoined that they couldn't expect to have a great many—the style was so peculiar. It was generally admitted that the style was peculiar, but Miss Tarrant's peculiarity was the explanation of her success.