His few attempts to talk to her fell flat, and in spite of the captain's almost nervous attempts to improve the festivity of the occasion, the meal was an uncomfortable one.
"Where's old Armstrong ?" demanded Tom.
"With Roger," replied Rosalind.
"Have you seen Armstrong ?" inquired the boy of the visitor; "he's a stunner, I can tell you.

He can bend a poker double across his knee.
You'll like him awfully; and he plays the piano like one o'clock.

He's our tutor, you know--no end of a chap." Mr Ratman was fain to express a longing desire to make the acquaintance of so redoubtable a hero.
"Does he lick you ?" he inquired.
"Sometimes, when it's wanted; but, bless you, he could take the lot of us left-handed; couldn't he, Jill ?" "Oh, yes," said Jill enthusiastically; "and he saved Roger's life, and prevented Hodder being turned out, and won such a lot of prizes at Oxford." "He must be a fine fellow," said Ratman, with a disagreeable laugh.
"You admire him too, of course, Miss Oliphant ?" "Yes, he's honest," said she.
"Teddy, my boy," said the visitor, when he and his friend had been left alone at the table, "that girl of yours is a treasure.

She don't fancy me, but she'll get over that.

I like her, Teddy; I like her." That evening, on his way to say good night to his dear ward, Captain Oliphant stopped at his daughter's door.
She was hard at work over a picture.
"Rosalind," said he, "you have disappointed me.