They stood for a moment laughing
together while one found the fare. The other glanced at Everett, and, as
it seemed to my too sensitive young friend, with a certain amusement.
"Is it possible that this little boy is coming to Lady Charlton's too?"
This at least is the meaning Everett read in an eye probably devoid of
any meaning at all. He felt he could not go in the company of these
gentlemen. He must wait now until they were admitted. So assuming as
unconscious an air as possible he stepped through the band of gaslight,
and was once more swallowed up in the friendly darkness beyond.
"I'll just walk once to the corner and back," said he; but, fresh
obstacle! when he returned, a servant with powdered head swaggered on
the threshold exchanging witticisms with the commissionaire keeping
order outside; and the crimson carpet laid down across the pavement was
fringed with loiterers at either edge, some of whom, as he drew near,
turned to look at him with an expectant air.
It was a moment of exquisite suffering. Should he go in? Should he pass
on? Only those, (and nowadays such are rare) who have themselves gone
through the agonies of shyness can appreciate the situation. As he
reached the full glare of the house-light, Everett's indecision was
visible in his face.
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