The envious of her sex declared that it was because she scarcely recognized the difference; but be that as it may, it served her on this occasion in the most admirable stead.

She detached the agitated peer from the thickest of the throng, propped him beside her against the wall, and by her kindness at length unloosed his tongue.

Then it was she began to suspect that his nervous manner must surely be due to some peculiar circumstance rather than mere constitutional shyness.

Made observant by her keen curiosity, she noticed at first a worried, almost hunted, look in his eyes and an extreme impatience of scrutiny by his fellow-guests; but as he gained confidence in her kindness and discretion these passed away, and he appeared simply a garrulous young man, with a tolerably good opinion of himself.
"Poor fellow! He is in trouble of some kind.

Something to do with Eva, of course!" she said to her sympathetically.
The genuine Tulliwuddle had indeed some cause for perturbation.