Possibly this indifference piqued Miss Thayer . Possibly she considered it refreshing after the servile adulation of the M.P.s. . At any rate , when all the latter were gathered about the piano singing a chorus with gusto , she shook Madison off and went over to the corner where Spencer , deserted by the Major , whose bass was wanted , was sitting in solitary state . He looked up indifferently as Violet shimmered down on the divan beside him . Sergeant Robinson , who was watching them jealously from the corner beyond the palms , and would have given his eyes , or at least one of them , for such a favour , mentally vowed that Spencer was the dullest fellow he had ever put those useful members on . `` Do n't you sing , Mr. Spencer ? '' asked Violet by way of beginning a conversation , as she turned her splendid eyes full upon him . Robinson would have lost his head under them , but Spencer kept his heroically . `` No , '' was his calmly brief reply , given without any bluntness , but with no evident intention of saying anything more . In spite of her social experience Violet felt disconcerted . `` If he does n't want to talk to me I wo n't try to make him , '' she thought crossly . No man had ever snubbed her so before . Spencer listened immovably to the music for a time . Then he turned to his companion with a palpable effort to be civilly sociable . `` How do you like the west , Miss Thayer ? '' he said . Violet smiled -- the smile most men found dangerous . `` Very much , so far as I have seen it . There is a flavour about the life here that I like , but I dare say it would soon pall . It must be horribly lonesome here most of the time , especially in winter . ''
`` The M.P.s are always growling XXXXX it is , '' returned Spencer with a slight smile .
At after as for of off on that to under