"
I looked up significantly and met Dr. Campbell's mock-reproachful
glance, resting full upon me.
"Spare whom?" I asked, very innocently.
"Oh! you wicked critic of human frailties," he answered slowly, "whom
do you think?"
I betrayed myself with an ill-suppressed smile which broadened into a
genuine laugh as poor Miss Nibbs retired most awkwardly from her post,
very well satisfied with herself, no doubt.
During the interval that followed, Dr. Campbell amused himself with
the indulgence of a new freak. He leaned his elbow on the back of the
chair in front of us, and turning his face towards me supported his
head in the palm of his hand. There was a new expression on his
countenance which foreboded the tantalising remark that followed:
"Do you know, Miss Hampden," he began, looking at me through his half
closed eye-lids, "you are beginning to puzzle me strangely. Did any
one ever tell you you are an eccentric girl?"
"Oh dear! yes! my step-mother persuaded me to that comfortable
conviction long ago," I answered laughingly.
He followed up this agreeable retort with a most expressive "Ahem!"
and then paused a moment before adding in a very emphatic tone:
"Well, you are a queer girl, you know."
"Because I fall short of your standard, I suppose?" I interrupted,
passing my hand languidly over my brow and eyes.
"Well that is not a bad guess, Miss Hampden, but that is not the only
reason."
The shaft pierced me.
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