Page:The Eyes of Innocence.djvu/74

70 and rudeness, so unlovable a nature and so marked a determination to repel her advances and treat her as he treated the other frequenters of the salon that Gilberte was quite discomfited.

"Do not be discouraged," said the mother. "He is a little unsociable; but he is so full of good qualities."

Nevertheless, Gilberte once heard her mutter between her teeth:

"What a bear that boy is!"

And she heard on all sides that mother and son did not agree.

The salon underwent a change. There were as many commonplaces uttered as ever; but those who spoke them did so with less smug importance than before. People were less sure of themselves. The talented amateurs in singing and piano-playing sought for shades of expression and feeling. Lastly, the order of the concert became "subject to alterations" and the performers no longer wore the air of automata obeying