[Maggie: A Girl of the Streets by Stephen Crane]@TWC D-Link bookMaggie: A Girl of the Streets CHAPTER XII 3/6
She seemed to beseech tenderness of him. Pete's air of distinguished valor had grown upon him until it threatened stupendous dimensions.
He was infinitely gracious to the girl.
It was apparent to her that his condescension was a marvel. He could appear to strut even while sitting still and he showed that he was a lion of lordly characteristics by the air with which he spat. With Maggie gazing at him wonderingly, he took pride in commanding the waiters who were, however, indifferent or deaf. "Hi, you, git a russle on yehs! What deh hell yehs lookin' at? Two more beehs, d'yeh hear ?" He leaned back and critically regarded the person of a girl with a straw-colored wig who upon the stage was flinging her heels in somewhat awkward imitation of a well-known danseuse. At times Maggie told Pete long confidential tales of her former home life, dwelling upon the escapades of the other members of the family and the difficulties she had to combat in order to obtain a degree of comfort.
He responded in tones of philanthropy.
He pressed her arm with an air of reassuring proprietorship. "Dey was damn jays," he said, denouncing the mother and brother. The sound of the music which, by the efforts of the frowsy-headed leader, drifted to her ears through the smoke-filled atmosphere, made the girl dream.
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