Not
only was her conversation pointedly directed to me, but she looked
at me, when singing, (especially, `Thou, thou, reign'st in this
bosom!') in a way that made me feel very uncomfortable. What if
Eunice should suspect an attachment towards her, on my part. What
if--oh, horror!--I had unconsciously said or done something to
impress Miss Ringtop herself with the same conviction? I shuddered
as the thought crossed my mind. One thing was very certain: this
suspense was not to be endured much longer.
"We had an unusually silent breakfast the next morning. Abel
scarcely spoke, which the others attributed to a natural
feeling of shame, after his display of the previous evening.
Hollins and Shelldrake discussed Temperance, with a special view to
his edification, and Miss Ringtop favored us with several
quotations about `the maddening bowl,'--but he paid no attention to
them. Eunice was pale and thoughtful. I had no doubt in my mind,
that she was already contemplating a removal from Arcadia.
Perkins, whose perceptive faculties were by no means dull,
whispered to me, `Shan't I bring up some porgies for supper?' but
I shook my head.
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