Among these sat Mandy. As his eye rested upon the billowy
outlines of her figure, struggling with the limitations of her white
blouse, tricked out with pink ribbons, he was conscious of a wave of
mingled pity and disgust. Dull, stupid, and vulgar she looked. It was at
her that Perkins was flipping his conversation lozenges. One fell
upon her hymn book. With a start she glanced about. Not an eye except
Cameron's was turned her way. With a smile and a blush that burned deep
under the dull tan of her neck and cheek she took the lozenge, read its
inscription, burning a deeper red. The words which she had read she
took as Cameron's. She turned her eyes full upon his face. The light
of tremulous joy in their lovely depths startled and thrilled him.
A snicker from the group of young men behind roused in him a deep
indignation. They were taking their coarse fun out of this simple-minded
girl. Cameron's furious glance at them appeared only to increase their
amusement. It did not lessen Cameron's embarrassment and rage that now
and then during the reading of the hymn Mandy's eyes were turned upon
him as if with new understanding. Enraged with himself, and more with
the group of hoodlums behind him, Cameron stood for the closing hymn
with his arms folded across his breast. At the second verse a hand
touched his arm.
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