he hadnt the heart to correct the mistaken compliment , if in fact it had been a mistake in the first place and so pretended that it hadnt been , gazing on her fondly whenever propriety allowed , and bugger me if she didnt start smiling back and displaying herself the way only a young woman could , leaning this way and that , blushing sweetly , flattening her jeans against her thighs , primping , looking demure and sweet yet approachable .