Page:The Princess Casamassima (London and New York, Macmillan & Co., 1886), Volume 1.djvu/195

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XII
THE PRINCESS CASAMASSIMA
181

with a little surprised sigh, almost an exhalation of awe, 'Well, I had no idea he was one of that lot!'

'You might at least tell me his name, so that I shall know what to call him when he comes round to speak to us,' the girl said, provoked at her companion's incommunicativeness.

'Comes round to speak to us—a chap like that!' Hyacinth exclaimed.

'Well, I'm sure if he had been your own brother he couldn't have grinned at you more! He may want to make my acquaintance after all; he won't be the first.'

The gentleman had once more retreated from sight, and there was as much evidence as that of the intention Millicent attributed to him. 'I don't think I'm at all clear that I have a right to tell his name,' he remarked, with sincerity, but with a considerable disposition at the same time to magnify an incident which deepened the brilliancy of the entertainment he had been able to offer Miss Henning. 'I met him in a place where he may not like to have it known that he goes.'

'Do you go to places that people are ashamed of? Is it one of your political clubs, as you call them, where that dirty young man from Camberwell, Mr. Monument (what do you call him?) fills your head with ideas that'll bring you to no good? I'm sure your friend over there doesn't look as if he'd be on your side.'

Hyacinth had indulged in this reflection himself; but the only answer he made to Millicent was, 'Well, then, perhaps he'll be on yours!'

'Laws, I hope she ain't one of the aristocracy!' Millicent exclaimed, with apparent irrelevance; and following