Oh, perhaps her sharper tone had actually brought him alive: for now his defensiveness had taken on a different tone, as if he might actually be offended by it, or actually likely to blush at her unsolicited assessment of him.
Mattie refrained from smiling back, as if she could pretend she was offended; really, she was just distracted by his finally looking at her directly. She held his gaze instead, observing his face for as long as he might allow her; people said eyes were the windows to the soul, and she didn’t know if there was anything deeper to be gleaned in his, but she wasn’t ashamed to be looking.
Finally, the smile crept to the corner of her mouth, because although he was annoyed she wasn’t entirely dissuaded yet. “Well, please, Mr. Orpington,” she suggested brightly, “never mind your thoughts, then – show me one of these activities you do take pleasure in.” However he did have fun, if he had so profusely protested that he did; something he cared about he could be more open about. Prove it, she may as well have said.
Mattie refrained from smiling back, as if she could pretend she was offended; really, she was just distracted by his finally looking at her directly. She held his gaze instead, observing his face for as long as he might allow her; people said eyes were the windows to the soul, and she didn’t know if there was anything deeper to be gleaned in his, but she wasn’t ashamed to be looking.
Finally, the smile crept to the corner of her mouth, because although he was annoyed she wasn’t entirely dissuaded yet. “Well, please, Mr. Orpington,” she suggested brightly, “never mind your thoughts, then – show me one of these activities you do take pleasure in.” However he did have fun, if he had so profusely protested that he did; something he cared about he could be more open about. Prove it, she may as well have said.
