"I'm sure these will do.

They will do, won't they, Crawford ?" And still Crawford remained silent.

Mary-'Gusta, who was enjoying this portion of the interview as much as she had disliked its beginning, offered a suggestion.
"If you will just come here and look at these," she said, with mischievous gravity, addressing the young gentleman on the nail keg, "perhaps you can tell whether they're fresh enough." The young gentleman did not rise.

His face retained its brilliant color and his lips moved, but his answer was not audible.

At his age the dread of appearing ridiculous, especially in the presence of a youthful and charming female, is above all others hateful.