"Known what?" asked Mavis.

"That's asking something. In return I'm going to ask you a
question."

"Well?"

"What is it like to be so charming?"

The same question asked by another man might have offended her.
There was such a note of sincere, boyish admiration in the man's
voice, that she had said, almost before she was aware of it:

"Rather nice."

He said more in the same strain. Mavis found herself greatly
enjoying the thinly veiled compliments which he paid her. It was the
first time since she had grown up that she had spoken to a smart
man, who was obviously a gentleman. If this were not enough to thaw
her habitual reserve, there was something strangely familiar in the
young man's face and manner; it almost seemed to Mavis as if she
were talking with a very old friend or acquaintance, which was
enough to justify the unusual levity of her behaviour.

Once or twice, she caught Mrs Hamilton's eye, when she could not
help seeing how her friend was much pleased at the way in which she
attracted Mr Williams.

When he was taking the girl down to dinner, he murmured: