Edwin Shaw thought that the child looked like Maria's little sister, but that she could not be, because the stout woman was a stranger to him.
Then he thought no more about it.

He gazed covertly at Maria, with the black sparkles of his shoes continuing to disturb him.

He admired Maria.

Presently he saw Wollaston Lee lean over the back of her seat and say something to her, and saw her half turn and dimple, and noticed how the lovely rose flushed the curve of her cheek, and he scowled at his shiny shoes.
As for Maria, when she felt the boy's warm breath on her neck, her heart beat fast.

She realized herself on the portals of an air-castle.
"Well, glad you are going to leave this old town ?" said Wollaston.
"I am not going to leave it, really," replied Maria.
"Oh, of course not, but you are going to leave the old school, anyhow.