onlysaidittoteaseJimmy————\"
Heramusementobscurelyannoyedhim。\"Oh，you’reallalike！\"heexclaimed，movedbyanunaccountablesenseofdisappointment。
Shecaughthimupinaflash——shedidn’tmissthings！\"YousaythatbecauseyouthinkI’mspitefulandenvious？Yes——I
wasenviousofLadyUlrica……Oh，notonaccountofyouorJimmyBrance！SimplybecauseshehadalmostallthethingsI’vealwayswanted：clothesandfunandmotors，andadmirationandyachtingandParis——why，Parisalonewouldbeenough！——Andhowdoyousupposeagirlcanseethatsortofthingaboutherdayafterday，andneverwonderwhysomewomen，whodon’tseemtohaveanymorerighttoit，haveitalltumbledintotheirlaps，whileothersarewritingdinnerinvitations，andstraighteningoutaccounts，andcopyingvisitinglists，andfinishinggolf—stockings，andmatchingribbons，andseeingthatthedogsgettheirsulphur？Onelooksinone’sglass，afterall！\"
Shelaunchedtheclosingwordsathimonacrythatliftedthemabovethepetulanceofvanity；buthissenseofherwordswaslostinthesurpriseofherface。Undertheflyingcloudsofherexcitementitwasnolongerashallowflower—cupbutadarkeninggleamingmirrorthatmightgivebackstrangedepthsoffeeling。Thegirlhadstuffinher——
hesawit；andsheseemedtocatchtheperceptioninhiseyes。
\"That’sthekindofeducationIgotatMrs。Murrett’s——andIneverhadanyother，\"shesaidwithashrug。
\"GoodLord——wereyoutheresolong？\"
\"Fiveyears。Istuckitoutlongerthananyoftheothers。\"
Shespokeasthoughitweresomethingtobeproudof。
\"Well，thankGodyou’reoutofitnow！\"
Againajustperceptibleshadowcrossedherface。\"Yes——I’moutofitnowfastenough。\"
\"Andwhat——ifImayask——areyoudoingnext？\"
Shebroodedamomentbehinddroopedlids；then，withatouchofhauteur：\"I’mgoingtoParis：tostudyforthestage。\"
\"Thestage？\"Darrowstaredather，dismayed。Allhisconfusedcontradictoryimpressionsassumedanewaspectatthisannouncement；andtohidehissurpriseheaddedlightly：\"Ah——thenyouwillhaveParis，afterall！\"
\"HardlyLadyUlrica’sParis。Itsnotlikelytoberoses，rosesalltheway。\"
\"It’snot，indeed。\"Realcompassionpromptedhimtocontinue：\"Haveyouany——anyinfluenceyoucancounton？\"
Shegaveasomewhatflippantlittlelaugh。\"Nonebutmyown。I’veneverhadanyothertocounton。\"
Hepassedovertheobviousreply。\"Buthaveyouanyideahowtheprofessionisover—crowded？IknowI’mtrite————\"
\"I’veaveryclearidea。ButIcouldn’tgoonasIwas。\"
\"Ofcoursenot。Butsince，asyousay，you’dstuckitoutlongerthananyoftheothers，couldn’tyouatleasthaveheldontillyouweresureofsomekindofanopening？\"
Shemadenoreplyforamoment；thensheturnedalistlessglancetotherain—beatenwindow。\"Oughtn’twebestarting？\"sheasked，withaloftyassumptionofindifferencethatmighthavebeenLadyUlrica’s。
Darrow，surprisedbythechange，butacceptingherrebuffasaphaseofwhatheguessedtobeaconfusedandtormentedmood，rosefromhisseatandliftedherjacketfromthechair—backonwhichshehadhungittodry。Asheheldittowardhershelookedupathimquickly。
\"Thetruthis，wequarrelled，\"shebrokeout，\"andIleftlastnightwithoutmydinner——andwithoutmysalary。\"
\"Ah——\"hegroaned，withasharpperceptionofallthesordiddangersthatmightattendsuchabreakwithMrs。Murrett。
\"Andwithoutacharacter！\"sheadded，assheslippedherarmsintothejacket。\"Andwithoutatrunk，asitappears——
butdidn’tyousaythat，beforegoing，there’dbetimeforanotherlookatthestation？\"
Therewastimeforanotherlookatthestation；butthelookagainresultedindisappointment，sincehertrunkwasnowheretobefoundinthehugeheapdisgorgedbythenewly—
arrivedLondonexpress。ThefactcausedMissVineramoment’sperturbation；butshepromptlyadjustedherselftothenecessityofproceedingonherjourney，andherdecisionconfirmedDarrow’svagueresolvetogotoParisinsteadofretracinghiswaytoLondon。
MissVinerseemedcheeredattheprospectofhiscompany，andsustainedbyhisoffertotelegraphtoCharingCrossforthemissingtrunk；andhelefthertowaitintheflywhilehehastenedbacktothetelegraphoffice。Theenquirydespatched，hewasturningawayfromthedeskwhenanotherthoughtstruckhimandhewentbackandinditedamessagetohisservantinLondon：\"IfanyletterswithFrenchpost—markreceivedsincedepartureforwardimmediatelytoTerminusHotelGareduNordParis。\"
ThenherejoinedMissViner，andtheydroveoffthroughtheraintothepier。
III
AlmostassoonasthetrainleftCalaisherheadhaddroppedbackintothecorner，andshehadfallenasleep。
Sittingopposite，inthecompartmentfromwhichhehadcontrivedtohaveothertravellersexcluded，Darrowlookedathercuriously。Hehadneverseenafacethatchangedsoquickly。Amomentsinceithaddancedlikeafieldofdaisiesinasummerbreeze；now，underthepallidoscillatinglightofthelampoverhead，itworethehardstampofexperience，asofasoftthingchilledintoshapebeforeitscurveshadrounded：anditmovedhimtoseethatcarealreadystoleuponherwhensheslept。
Thestoryshehadimpartedtohiminthewheezingshakingcabin，andattheCalaisbuffet——wherehehadinsistedonofferingherthedinnershehadmissedatMrs。Murrett’s——
hadgivenadistincteroutlinetoherfigure。FromthemomentofenteringtheNewYorkboarding—schooltowhichapreoccupiedguardianhadhastilyconsignedherafterthedeathofherparents，shehadfoundherselfaloneinabusyandindifferentworld。Heryouthfulhistorymight，infact，havebeensummedupinthestatementthateverybodyhadbeentoobusytolookafterher。Herguardian，adrudgeinabigbankinghouse，wasabsorbedby\"theoffice\"；theguardian’swife，byherhealthandherreligion；andaneldersister，Laura，married，unmarried，remarried，andpursuing，throughallthesealternatingphases，somevaguely\"artistic\"idealonwhichtheguardianandhiswifelookedaskance，had（asDarrowconjectured）takentheirdisapprovalasapretextfornottroublingherselfaboutpoorSophy，towhom——perhapsforthisreason——shehadremainedtheincarnationofremoteromanticpossibilities。
Inthecourseoftimeasudden\"stroke\"oftheguardian’shadthrownhispersonalaffairsintoastateofconfusionfromwhich——afterhiswidelylamenteddeath——itbecameevidentthatitwouldnotbepossibletoextricatehisward’sinheritance。Noonedeploredthismoresincerelythanhiswidow，whosawinitonemoreproofofherhusband’slifehavingbeensacrificedtotheinnumerabledutiesimposedonhim，andwhocouldhardly——butforthecounselsofreligion——havebroughtherselftopardontheyounggirlforherindirectshareinhasteninghisend。
Sophydidnotresentthispointofview。Shewasreallymuchsorrierforherguardian’sdeaththanforthelossofherinsignificantfortune。Thelatterhadrepresentedonlythemeansofholdingherinbondage，anditsdisappearancewastheoccasionofherimmediateplungeintothewidebrightseaoflifesurroundingtheisland—ofhercaptivity。
Shehadfirstlanded——thankstotheinterventionoftheladieswhohaddirectedhereducation——inaFifthAvenueschool—roomwhere，forafewmonths，sheactedasabufferbetweenthreeautocraticinfantsandtheirbodyguardofnursesandteachers。Thetoo—pressingattentionsoftheirfather’svalethadcausedhertoflythisshelteredspot，againsttheexpressadviceofhereducationalsuperiors，whoimpliedthat，intheirowncase，refinementandself—respecthadalwayssufficedtokeepthemostungovernablepassionsatbay。Theexperienceoftheguardian’swidowhavingbeenpreciselysimilar，andthedeplorableprecedentofLaura’scareerbeingpresenttoalltheirminds，noneoftheseladiesfeltanyobligationtointervenefartherinSophy’saffairs；andshewasaccordinglylefttoherownresources。
AschoolmatefromtheRockyMountains，whowastakingherfatherandmothertoEurope，hadsuggestedSophy’saccompanyingthem，and\"goinground\"withherwhileherprogenitors，inthecareofthecourier，nursedtheirailmentsatafashionablebath。Darrowgatheredthatthe\"goinground\"withMamieHokewasavariedanddivertingprocess；butthisrelativelybrilliantphaseofSophy’scareerwascutshortbytheelopementoftheinconsiderateMamiewitha\"matineeidol\"whohadfollowedherfromNewYork，andbytheprecipitatereturnofherparentstonegotiatefortherepurchaseoftheirchild。
Itwasthen——afteranintervalofreposewithcompassionatebutimpecuniousAmericanfriendsinParis——thatMissVinerhadbeendrawnintotheturbidcurrentofMrs。Murrett’scareer。TheimpecuniouscompatriotshadfoundMrs。Murrettforher，anditwaspartlyontheiraccount（becausetheyweresuchdears，andsounconscious，poorconfidingthings，ofwhattheywerelettingherinfor）thatSophyhadstuckitoutsolonginthedreadfulhouseinChelsea。TheFarlows，sheexplainedtoDarrow，werethebestfriendsshehadeverhad（andtheonlyoneswhohadever\"beendecent\"
aboutLaura，whomtheyhadseenonce，andintenselyadmired）；butevenaftertwentyyearsofParistheywerethemostincorrigiblyinexperiencedangels，andquitepersuadedthatMrs。Murrettwasawomanofgreatintellectualeminence，andthehouseatChelsea\"thelastofthesalons\"
——Darrowknewwhatshemeant？Andshehadn’tlikedtoundeceivethem，knowingthattodosowouldbevirtuallytothrowherselfbackontheirhands，andfeeling，moreover，afterherpreviousexperiences，theurgentneedofgaining，atanycost，anameforstability；besideswhich——shethrewitoffwithaslightlaugh——nootherchance，inalltheseyears，hadhappenedtocometoher。
Shehadbrushedinthisoutlineofhercareerwithlightrapidstrokes，andinatoneoffatalismoddlyuntingedbybitterness。Darrowperceivedthatsheclassifiedpeopleaccordingtotheirgreaterorless\"luck\"inlife，butsheappearedtoharbournoresentmentagainsttheundefinedpowerwhichdispensedthegiftinsuchunequalmeasure。
Thingscameone’swayortheydidn’t；andmeanwhileonecouldonlylookon，andmakethemostofsmallcompensations，suchaswatching\"theshow\"atMrs。
Murrett’s，andtalkingovertheLadyUlricasandotherfootlightfigures。Andatanymoment，ofcourse，aturnofthekaleidoscopemightsuddenlytossabrightspangleintothegreypatternofone’sdays。
Thislight—heartedphilosophywasnotwithoutcharmtoayoungmanaccustomedtomoretraditionalviews。GeorgeDarrowhadhadafairlyvariedexperienceoffemininetypes，butthewomenhehadfrequentedhadeitherbeenpronouncedly\"ladies\"ortheyhadnot。Gratefultobothforministeringtothemorecomplexmasculinenature，anddisposedtoassumethattheyhadbeenevolved，ifnotdesigned，tothatend，hehadinstinctivelykeptthetwogroupsapartinhismind，avoidingthatintermediatesocietywhichattemptstoconciliateboththeoriesoflife。\"Bohemianism\"seemedtohimacheaperconventionthantheothertwo，andheliked，aboveall，peoplewhowentasfarastheycouldintheirownline——likedhis\"ladies\"andtheirrivalstobeequallyunashamedofshowingforexactlywhattheywere。Hehadnotindeed——thefactofLadyUlricawastheretoremindhim——
beenwithouthisexperienceofathirdtype；butthatexperiencehadlefthimwithacontemptuousdistasteforthewomanwhousestheprivilegesofoneclasstoshelterthecustomsofanother。
Astoyounggirls，hehadneverthoughtmuchaboutthemsincehisearlyloveforthegirlwhohadbecomeMrs。Leath。
Thatepisodeseemed，ashelookedbackonit，tobearnomorerelationtorealitythanapaledecorativedesigntotheconfusedrichnessofasummerlandscape。Henolongerunderstoodtheviolentimpulsesanddreamypausesofhisownyoungheart，ortheinscrutableabandonmentsandreluctancesofhers。Hehadknownamomentofanguishatlosingher——themadplungeofyouthfulinstinctsagainstthebarrieroffate；butthefirstwaveofstrongersensationhadsweptawayallbuttheoutlineoftheirstory，andthememoryofAnnaSummershadmadetheimageoftheyounggirlsacred，buttheclassuninteresting。
Suchgeneralisationsbelonged，however，toanearlierstageofhisexperience。Themorehesawoflifethemoreincalculablehefoundit；andhehadlearnedtoyieldtohisimpressionswithoutfeelingtheyouthfulneedofrelatingthemtoothers。Itwasthegirlintheoppositeseatwhohadrousedinhimthedormanthabitofcomparison。Shewasdistinguishedfromthedaughtersofwealthbyheravowedacquaintancewiththerealbusinessofliving，afamiliarityasdifferentaspossiblefromtheirtheoreticalproficiency；
yetitseemedtoDarrowthatherexperiencehadmadeherfreewithouthardnessandself—assuredwithoutassertiveness。
TherushintoAmiens，andtheflashofthestationlightsintotheircompartment，brokeMissViner’ssleep，andwithoutchangingherpositionsheliftedherlidsandlookedatDarrow。Therewasneithersurprisenorbewildermentinthelook。Sheseemedinstantlyconscious，notsomuchofwhereshewas，asofthefactthatshewaswithhim；andthatfactseemedenoughtoreassureher。Shedidnoteventurnherheadtolookout；hereyescontinuedtorestonhimwithavaguesmilewhichappearedtolightherfacefromwithin，whileherlipskepttheirsleepydroop。
Shoutsandthehurriedtreadoftravellerscametothemthroughtheconfusingcross—lightsoftheplatform。Aheadappearedatthewindow，andDarrowthrewhimselfforwardtodefendtheirsolitude；buttheintruderwasonlyatrainhandgoinghisroundofinspection。Hepassedon，andthelightsandcriesofthestationdroppedaway，mergedinawiderhazeandahollowerresonance，asthetraingathereditselfupwithalongshakeandrolledoutagainintothedarkness。
MissViner’sheadsankbackagainstthecushion，pushingoutaduskywaveofhairaboveherforehead。Theswayingofthetrainloosenedalockoverherear，andsheshookitbackwithamovementlikeaboy’s，whilehergazestillrestedonhercompanion。
\"You’renottootired？\"
Sheshookherheadwithasmile。
\"Weshallbeinbeforemidnight。We’reverynearlyontime。\"Heverifiedthestatementbyholdinguphiswatchtothelamp。
Shenoddeddreamily。\"It’sallright。ItelegraphedMrs。
Farlowthattheymustn’tthinkofcomingtothestation；butthey’llhavetoldtheconciergetolookoutforme。\"
\"You’llletmedriveyouthere？\"
Shenoddedagain，andhereyesclosed。ItwasverypleasanttoDarrowthatshemadenoefforttotalkortodissemblehersleepiness。Hesatwatchinghertilltheupperlashesmetandmingledwiththelower，andtheirblentshadowlayonhercheek；thenhestoodupanddrewthecurtainoverthelamp，drowningthecompartmentinabluishtwilight。
AshesankbackintohisseathethoughthowdifferentlyAnnaSummers——orevenAnnaLeath——wouldhavebehaved。Shewouldnothavetalkedtoomuch；shewouldnothavebeeneitherrestlessorembarrassed；butheradaptability，herappropriateness，wouldnothavebeennaturebut\"tact。\"Theoddnessofthesituationwouldhavemadesleepimpossible，or，ifwearinesshadovercomeherforamoment，shewouldhavewakedwithastart，wonderingwhereshewas，andhowshehadcomethere，andifherhairweretidy；andnothingshortofhairpinsandaglasswouldhaverestoredherself—
possession……
Thereflectionsethimwonderingwhetherthe\"sheltered\"
girl’sbringing—upmightnotunfitherforallsubsequentcontactwithlife。HowmuchnearertoithadMrs。Leathbeenbroughtbymarriageandmotherhood，andthepassageoffourteenyears？Whatwereallherreticencesandevasionsbuttheresultofthedeadeningprocessofforminga\"lady\"？
Thefreshnesshehadmarvelledatwasliketheunnaturalwhitenessofflowersforcedinthedark。
Ashelookedbackattheirfewdaystogetherhesawthattheirintercoursehadbeenmarked，onherpart，bythesamehesitationsandreserveswhichhadchilledtheirearlierintimacy。Oncemoretheyhadhadtheirhourtogetherandshehadwastedit。Asinhergirlhood，hereyeshadmadepromiseswhichherlipswereafraidtokeep。Shewasstillafraidoflife，ofitsruthlessness，itsdangerandmystery。
Shewasstillthepettedlittlegirlwhocannotbeleftaloneinthedark……Hismemoryflewbacktotheiryouthfulstory，andlong—forgottendetailstookshapebeforehim。
Howfrailandfaintthepicturewas！Theyseemed，heandshe，liketheghostlyloversoftheGrecianUrn，foreverpursuingwithouteverclaspingeachother。Tothisdayhedidnotquiteknowwhathadpartedthem：thebreakhadbeenasfortuitousastheflutteringapartoftwoseed—vesselsonawaveofsummerair……
Theveryslightness，vagueness，ofthememorygaveitanaddedpoignancy。Hefeltthemysticpangoftheparentforachildwhichhasjustbreathedanddied。Whyhadithappenedthus，whentheleastshiftingofinfluencesmighthavemadeitallsodifferent？Ifshehadbeengiventohimthenhewouldhaveputwarmthinherveinsandlightinhereyes：wouldhavemadeherawomanthroughandthrough。
Musingthus，hehadthesenseofwastethatisthebitterestharvestofexperience。Alovelikehismighthavegivenherthedivinegiftofself—renewal；andnowhesawherfatedtowaneintooldagerepeatingthesamegestures，echoingthewordsshehadalwaysheard，andperhapsneverguessingthat，justoutsideherglazedandcurtainedconsciousness，liferolledaway，avastblacknessstarredwithlights，likethenightlandscapebeyondthewindowsofthetrain。
Theenginelowereditsspeedforthepassagethroughasleepingstation。InthelightoftheplatformlampDarrowlookedacrossathiscompanion。Herheadhaddroppedtowardoneshoulder，andherlipswerejustfarenoughapartforthereflectionoftheupperonetodeepenthecolouroftheother。Thejoltingofthetrainhadagainshakenloosethelockaboveherear。Itdancedonhercheekliketheflitofabrownwingoverflowers，andDarrowfeltanintensedesiretoleanforwardandputitbackbehindherear。
IV
Astheirmotor—cab，onthewayfromtheGareduNord，turnedintothecentralglitteroftheBoulevard，Darrowhadbentovertopointoutanincandescentthreshold。
\"There！\"
Abovethedoorway，anarchofflameflashedoutthenameofagreatactress，whoseclosingperformancesinaplayofunusualoriginalityhadbeenthethemeoflongarticlesintheParispaperswhichDarrowhadtossedintotheircompartmentatCalais。
\"That’swhatyoumustseebeforeyou’retwenty—fourhoursolder！\"
Thegirlfollowedhisgestureeagerly。Shewasallawakeandalivenow，asiftheheadyrumoursofthestreets，withtheirlongeffervescencesoflight，hadpassedintoherveinslikewine。
\"Cerdine？Isthatwheresheacts？\"Sheputherheadoutofthewindow，strainingbackforaglimpseofthesacredthreshold。Astheyflewpastitshesankintoherseatwithasatisfiedsigh。
\"It’sdeliciousenoughjusttoKNOWshe’sthere！I’veneverseenher，youknow。WhenIwasherewithMamieHokeweneverwentanywherebuttothemusichalls，becauseshecouldn’tunderstandanyFrench；andwhenIcamebackafterwardtotheFarlows’Iwasdeadbroke，andcouldn’taffordtheplay，andneithercouldthey；sotheonlychancewehadwaswhenfriendsoftheirsinvitedus——andonceitwastoseeatragedybyaRoumanianlady，andtheothertimeitwasfor’L’AmiFritz’attheFrancais。\"
Darrowlaughed。\"Youmustdobetterthanthatnow。’LeVertige’isafinething，andCerdinegetssomewonderfuleffectsoutofit。Youmustcomewithmetomorroweveningtoseeit——withyourfriends，ofcourse。——Thatis，\"headded，\"ifthere’sanysortofchanceofgettingseats。\"
Theflashofastreetlamplitupherradiantface。\"Oh，willyoureallytakeus？Whatfuntothinkthatit’stomorrowalready！\"
Itwaswonderfullypleasanttobeabletogivesuchpleasure。Darrowwasnotrich，butitwasalmostimpossibleforhimtopicturethestateofpersonswithtastesandperceptionslikehisown，towhomaneveningatthetheatrewasanunattainableindulgence。TherefloatedthroughhismindananswerofMrs。Leath’stohisenquirywhethershehadseentheplayinquestion。\"No。Imeantto，ofcourse，butoneissooverwhelmedwiththingsinParis。AndthenI’mrathersickofCerdine——oneisalwaysbeingdraggedtoseeher。\"
That，amongthepeoplehefrequented，wastheusualattitudetowardsuchopportunities。Thereweretoomany，theywereanuisance，onehadtodefendone’sself！Heevenrememberedwondering，atthemoment，whethertoareallyfinetastetheexceptionalthingcouldeverbecomeindifferentthroughhabit；whethertheappetiteforbeautywassosoondulledthatitcouldbekeptaliveonlybyprivation。Here，atanyrate，wasafinechancetoexperimentwithsuchahunger：healmostwishedhemightstayoninParislongenoughtotakethemeasureofMissViner’sreceptivity。
Shewasstilldwellingonhispromise，\"It’stoobeautifulofyou！Oh，don’tyouTHINKyou’llbeabletogetseats？\"Andthen，afterapauseofbrimmingappreciation：\"I
wonderifyou’llthinkmehorrid？——butitmaybemyonlychance；andifyoucan’tgetplacesforusall，wouldn’tyouperhapsjusttakeME？Afterall，theFarlowsmayhaveseenit！\"
Hehadnot，ofcourse，thoughtherhorrid，butonlythemoreengaging，forbeingsonatural，andsounashamedofshowingthefrankgreedofherfamishedyouth。\"Oh，youshallgosomehow！\"hehadgailypromisedher；andshehaddroppedbackwithasighofpleasureastheircabpassedintothedimly—litstreetsoftheFarlows’quarterbeyondtheSeine……
Thislittlepassagecamebacktohimthenextmorning，asheopenedhishotelwindowontheearlyroaroftheNorthernTerminus。
Thegirlwasthere，intheroomnexttohim。Thathadbeenthefirstpointinhiswakingconsciousness。Thesecondwasasenseofreliefattheobligationimposedonhimbythisunexpectedturnofeverts。Towaketothenecessityofaction，topostponeperforcethefruitlesscontemplationofhisprivategrievance，wascauseenoughforgratitude，evenifthesmalladventureinwhichhefoundhimselfinvolvedhadnot，onitsownmerits，rousedaninstinctivecuriositytoseeitthrough。
Whenheandhiscompanion，thenightbefore，hadreachedtheFarlows’doorintheruedelaChaise，itwasonlytofind，afterrepeatedassaultsonitspanels，thattheFarlowswerenolongerthere。Theyhadmovedawaytheweekbefore，notonlyfromtheirapartmentbutfromParis；andMissViner’sbreachwithMrs。Murretthadbeentoosuddentopermitherletterandtelegramtoovertakethem。Bothcommunications，nodoubt，stillreposedinapigeon—holeoftheloge；
butitscustodian，whendrawnfromhislair，sulkilydeclinedtoletMissVinerverifythefact，andonlyflungout，inreturnforDarrow’sbribe，thestatementthattheAmericanshadgonetoJoigny。
Topursuethemthereatthathourwasmanifestlyimpossible，andMissViner，disturbedbutnotdisconcertedbythisnewobstacle，hadquitesimplyaccededtoDarrow’ssuggestionthatsheshouldreturnforwhatremainedofthenighttothehotelwherehehadsenthisluggage。
Thedrivebackthroughthedarkhushbeforedawn，withthenocturnalblazeoftheBoulevardfadingaroundthemlikethefalselightsofamagician’spalace，hadsoplayedonherimpressionabilitythatsheseemedtogivenofartherthoughttoherownpredicament。Darrownoticedthatshedidnotfeelthebeautyandmysteryofthespectacleasmuchasitspressureofhumansignificance，allitshiddenimplicationsofemotionandadventure。AstheypassedtheshadowycolonnadeoftheFrancais，remoteandtemple—likeinthepalinglights，hefeltaclutchonhisarm，andheardthecry：\"TherearethingsTHEREthatIwantsodesperatelytosee！\"andallthewaybacktothehotelshecontinuedtoquestionhim，withshrewdprecisionandanartlessthirstfordetail，aboutthetheatricallifeofParis。Hewasstruckafresh，ashelistened，bythewayinwhichhernaturalnesseasedthesituationofconstraint，leavingtoitonlyapleasantsavourofgoodfellowship。Itwasthekindofepisodethatonemight，inadvance，havecharacterizedas\"awkward\"，yetthatwasproving，intheevent，asmuchoutsidesuchdefinitionsasasunrisestrollwithadryadinadew—drenchedforest；andDarrowreflectedthatmankindwouldneverhaveneededtoinventtactifithadnotfirstinventedsocialcomplications。
Ithadbeenunderstood，withhisgood—nighttoMissViner，thatthenextmorninghewastolookuptheJoignytrains，andseehersafelytothestation；but，whilehebreakfastedandwaitedforatime—table，herecalledagainhercryofjoyattheprospectofseeingCerdine。Itwascertainlyapity，sincethatmostelusiveandincalculableofartistswasleavingthenextweekforSouthAmerica，tomisswhatmightbealastsightofherinhergreatestpart；andDarrow，havingdressedandmadetherequisiteexcerptsfromthetime—table，decidedtocarrytheresultofhisdeliberationstohisneighbour’sdoor。
Itinstantlyopenedathisknock，andshecameforthlookingasifshehadbeenplungedintosomesparklingelementwhichhadcurledupallherdroopingtendrilsandwrappedherinashimmeroffreshleaves。
\"Well，whatdoyouthinkofme？\"shecried；andwithahandatherwaistshespunaboutasiftoshowoffsomemiracleofParisiandress—making。
\"Ithinkthemissingtrunkhascome——andthatitwasworthwaitingfor！\"
\"YouDOlikemydress？\"
\"Iadoreit！Ialwaysadorenewdresses——why，youdon’tmeantosayit’sNOTanewone？\"
