Love，shetoldherself，wouldonedayreleaseherfromthisspellofunreality。Shewaspersuadedthatthesublimepassionwasthekeytotheenigma；butitwasdifficulttorelateherconceptionoflovetotheformsitworeinherexperience。Twoorthreeofthegirlsshehadenviedfortheirsuperioracquaintancewiththeartsoflifehadcontracted，inthecourseoftime，whatwerevariouslydescribedas\"romantic\"or\"foolish\"marriages；oneevenmadearunawaymatch，andlanguishedforawhileunderacloudofsocialreprobation。Here，then，waspassioninaction，romanceconvertedtoreality；yettheheroinesoftheseexploitsreturnedfromthemuntransfigured，andtheirhusbandswereasdullaseverwhenonehadtositnexttothematdinner。
Herowncase，ofcourse，wouldbedifferent。SomedayshewouldfindthemagicbridgebetweenWestFifty—fifthStreetandlife；onceortwiceshehadevenfanciedthatthecluewasinherhand。ThefirsttimewaswhenshehadmetyoungDarrow。Sherecalledevennowthestiroftheencounter。
Buthispassionsweptoverherlikeawindthatshakestheroofoftheforestwithoutreachingitsstillgladesorripplingitshiddenpools。Hewasextraordinarilyintelligentandagreeable，andherheartbeatfasterwhenhewaswithher。Hehadatallfaireasypresenceandamindinwhichthelightsofironyplayedpleasantlythroughtheshadesoffeeling。Shelikedtohearhisvoicealmostasmuchastolistentowhathewassaying，andtolistentowhathewassayingalmostasmuchastofeelthathewaslookingather；buthewantedtokissher，andshewantedtotalktohimaboutbooksandpictures，andhavehiminsinuatetheeternalthemeoftheirloveintoeverysubjecttheydiscussed。
Whenevertheywereapartareactionsetin。Shewonderedhowshecouldhavebeensocold，calledherselfaprudeandanidiot，questionedifanymancouldreallycareforher，andgotupinthedeadofnighttotrynewwaysofdoingherhair。Butassoonashereappearedherheadstraighteneditselfonherslimneckandshespedherlittleshaftsofirony，orflewherlittlekitesoferudition，whilehotandcoldwavessweptoverher，andthethingsshereallywantedtosaychokedinherthroatandburnedthepalmsofherhands。
Oftenshetoldherselfthatanysillygirlwhohadwaltzedthroughaseasonwouldknowbetterthanshehowtoattractamanandholdhim；butwhenshesaid\"aman\"shedidnotreallymeanGeorgeDarrow。