Constance extinguished her smile for Mr. Scales, and, turning away, lighted an entirely different and inferior smile for the customer.
"Good morning, Miss Baines.
Very cold, isn't it?"
"Good morning, Mrs. Chatterley.
Yes, it is.
I suppose you're getting anxious about those--" Constance stopped.
Sophia was now alone with Mr. Scales, for in order to discuss the unnameable freely with Mrs. Chatterley her sister was edging up the counter.
Sophia had dreamed of a private conversation as something delicious and impossible.
But chance had favoured her.
She was alone with him.
And his neat fair hair and his blue eyes and his delicate mouth were as wonderful to her as ever.
He was gentlemanly to a degree that impressed her more than anything had impressed her in her life.
And all the proud and aristocratic instinct that was at the base of her character sprang up and seized on his gentlemanliness like a famished animal seizing on food.
"The last time I saw you," said Mr. Scales, in a new tone, "you said you were never in the shop."
"What?
Yesterday?
Did I?"
"No, I mean the last time I saw you alone," said he.
"Oh!" she exclaimed.
"It's just an accident."
"That's exactly what you said last time."
"Is it?"
Was it his manner, or what he said, that flattered her, that intensified her beautiful vivacity?
"I suppose you don't often go out?" he went on.
"What? In this weather?"
"Any time."
"I go to chapel," said she, "and marketing with mother."
There was a little pause. "And to the Free Library."
"Oh yes.
You've got a Free Library here now, haven't you?"
"Yes.
We've had it over a year."
"And you belong to it?
What do you read?"
"Oh, stories, you know.
I get a fresh book out once a week."
"Saturdays, I suppose?"
"No," she said. "Wednesdays."
And she smiled. "Usually."
"It's Wednesday to-day," said he. "Not been already?"
She shook her head.
"I don't think I shall go to-day.
It's too cold.
I don't think I shall venture out to-day."
"You must be very fond of reading," said he.
Then Mr. Povey appeared, rubbing his mittened hands. And Mrs. Chatterley went.
"I'll run and fetch mother," said Constance.
Mrs. Baines was very polite to the young man.
He related his interview with the police, whose opinion was that he had been attacked by stray members of a gang from Hanbridge.
The young lady assistants, with ears cocked, gathered the nature of Mr. Scales's adventure, and were thrilled to the point of questioning Mr. Povey about it after Mr. Scales had gone.