The correct answer is: Hope the narrator is impressing the shop girl.
The narrator is in a situation where he finds himself compelled to talk to the shop girl - probably pushed by his friends to do so. When he describes himself with adjectives such as <em>vexed, confused </em>and <em>happy</em>, the contrast of the latter with the first two shows he is attempting to make an impression - to make believe feeling something he is really not.
When it is pointed out the other boys are "absorbing interest in the proceedings", it is implied they are looking forward to see how the conversation between the narrator and the shop girl will turn out.
