On her part, Christine was cool with the Marches.

It went through her mind that they must have told Miss Vance they knew her; and perhaps they had boasted of her intimacy.

She relaxed a little toward them when she saw Beaton leaning against the wall at the end of the row next Mrs.March.Then she conjectured that he might have told Miss Vance of her acquaintance with the Marches, and she bent forward and nodded to Mrs.March across Conrad, Mela, and Mr.March.She conceived of him as a sort of hand of her father's, but she was willing to take them at their apparent social valuation for the time.

She leaned back in her chair, and did not look up at Beaton after the first furtive glance, though she felt his eyes on her.
The music began again almost at once, before Mela had time to make Conrad tell her where Miss Vance had met him before.

She would not have minded interrupting the music; but every one else seemed so attentive, even Christine, that she had not the courage.