Evidentlynot，forthetougholdpoliticianoftheFifteenthWardwaslaughing，atoneofhisownjokesprobably，andlookingupinthefaceofMr。Blake，whosebackwasturnedtome，inawaythatentirelyprecludedallthoughtofanytragicexpressioninthatquarter。Somewhatdisgusted，Iwithdrewandfollowedthelady。
Icouldnotgetverynear。Bythistimethepresenceofalivecountessintheassemblyhadbecomeknown，andIfoundhersurroundedbyaswarmofhalf-fledgedyouths。ButIcaredlittleforthis；allI
wantedtoknowwaswhetherMr。Blakewouldapproachherornotduringtheevening。Tediouslythemomentspassed；butadetectiveonduty，oronfanciedduty，succumbstonoweariness。Ihadawomanbeforemeworthstudyingandthetimecouldnotbethrownaway。Ilearnedtoknowherbeauty；thepoiseofherhead，theflushofhercheek，thecurlofherlip，theglance——yes，theglanceofhereye，thoughthatwasmoredifficulttounderstand，forshehadawayofdroopingherlidsattimesthat，whileexceedinglyeffectiveuponthepoorwretchtowardwhomshemightbedirectingthathalf-veiledshaftoflight，wasanythingbutconducivetomypurposes。
Atlengthwitharestlessshrugofherhaughtyshoulderssheturnedawayfromhercrowdofadorers，herbreastheavingunderitsrobingofgarnetvelvet，andherwholefaceflaringwithalightthatmightmeanresolveandmightmeansimplylove。Ihadnoneedtoturnmyheadtoseewhowasadvancingtowardsher；herstatelyattitudeascountess，herthrillingglanceaswoman，betrayedonlytooreadily。
Hewasthemorecomposedofthetwo。BowingoverherhandwithafewwordsIcouldnothear，hedrewbackastepandbeganutteringtheusualcommon-placesentimentsoftheoccasion。