How could so intelligent a woman as Blanche think that any money could compensate a clever, high-spirited girl like Bubbles for marrying a James Tapster?
Varick was glad Bubbles was not "in front." She was probably divesting herself of that extraordinary witch costume of hers behind the little curtained aperture to his left.
And then, all at once, he realized that Bubbles was among his audience after all! She was sitting by herself, on a little stool just below the platform.

He suddenly saw her head, with its shock of dark-brown hair, and there came over him a slight feeling of discomfort.

Bubbles had worked like a Trojan.

All this could not have happened but for her; and yet--and yet Varick again told himself that he could very well have dispensed with Bubbles from his Christmas house party.

There was growing up, in his dark, secretive heart, an unreasoning, violent dislike to the girl.
All these disconnected thoughts flashed through his mind in something under half-a-minute, and then Varick made his pleasant little speech, welcoming the people there, and saying he hoped there would ensue a long and pleasant connection between them.
There was a great deal more stamping of feet and handclapping, and then gradually the company, gentle and simple, dispersed.
Miss Farrow still had long and luxuriant hair, and perhaps the pleasantest half-hour in each day had come to be that half-hour just before she dressed for dinner, when Pegler, with gentle, skilful fingers, brushed and combed her mistress's beautiful tresses, and finally dressed them to the best advantage.
On Christmas night this daily ceremony had been put off till Miss Farrow's bed-time, when, after a quiet, short evening, the party had broken up on the happiest terms with one another.
As Blanche sat down, and her maid began taking the hairpins out of her hair, she told herself with a feeling of gratification that this had been one of the pleasantest Christmas days she had ever spent.
Everything had gone off so well, and she could see that Varick had enjoyed every moment of it, from his surprise distribution of little gifts to his guests at breakfast, to the last warm, grateful hand-shake on the landing outside her door.
"Were you in the school-room, Pegler ?" she asked kindly.