The waves of laughter and conversation broke upon it without affecting it any more than if it had been a rock in the sea and the words and the laughter veritable waters.
He held his head down and looked ashamed.

Some of the women cast glances of pity toward him from time to time in a furtive and half afraid way, and some of the youngest of the men plainly had compassion on the young fellow--a compassion exhibited in their faces but not in any more active or compromising way.

But the great majority of the people present showed entire indifference to the youth and his sorrows.

Marsh sat with his head down, but one could catch the malicious gleam of his eyes through his shaggy brows.

He was watching that young fellow with evident relish.
He had not neglected him through carelessness, and apparently the table understood that fact.