Page 148 - of-human-bondage-

now and then they glanced at Philip and one of them said
something in an undertone; they both giggled, and Phil-
ip blushed awkwardly, feeling that they were making fun
of him. Near them sat a Chinaman, with a yellow face and
an expansive smile, who was studying Western conditions
at the University. He spoke so quickly, with a queer accent,
that the girls could not always understand him, and then
they burst out laughing. He laughed too, good-humoured-
ly, and his almond eyes almost closed as he did so. There
were two or three American men, in black coats, rather yel-
low and dry of skin: they were theological students; Philip
heard the twang of their New England accent through their
bad German, and he glanced at them with suspicion; for he
had been taught to look upon Americans as wild and des-
perate barbarians.
Afterwards, when they had sat for a little on the stiff
green velvet chairs of the drawing-room, Fraulein Anna
asked Philip if he would like to go for a walk with them.
Philip accepted the invitation. They were quite a party.
There were the two daughters of the Frau Professor, the two
other girls, one of the American students, and Philip. Philip
walked by the side of Anna and Fraulein Hedwig. He was
a little fluttered. He had never known any girls. At Black-
stable there were only the farmers’ daughters and the girls
of the local tradesmen. He knew them by name and by sight,
but he was timid, and he thought they laughed at his defor-
mity. He accepted willingly the difference which the Vicar
and Mrs. Carey put between their own exalted rank and
that of the farmers. The doctor had two daughters, but they

1