When Jane's turn came, the camp-stool creaked beneath her weight.

Agatha again remonstrated with her, but immediately reproached herself with flippancy before Smilash, to whom she wished to convey an impression of deep seriousness of character.
"Smallest foot of the lot," he said critically, holding Jane's foot between his finger and thumb as if it were an art treasure which he had been invited to examine.

"And belonging to the finest built lady." Jane snatched away her foot, blushed, and said: "Indeed! What next, I wonder ?" "T'other 'un next," he said, setting to work on the remaining skate.
When it was off, he looked up at her, and she darted a glance at him as she rose which showed that his compliment (her feet were, in fact, small and pretty) was appreciated.
"Allow me, Miss," he said to Gertrude, who was standing on one leg, leaning on Agatha, and taking off her own skates.
"No, thank you," she said coldly.

"I don't need your assistance." "I am well aware that the offer was overbold," he replied, with a self-complacency that made his profession of humility exasperating.

"If all the skates is off, I will, by Miss Wilson's order, carry them and the camp-stool back to the college." Miss Ward handed him her skates and turned away.