Shetookitinwithherpresentoddmixtureofthereceptiveandthederisive。\"Arrangedwhat？\"
\"Oh，askHER！\"
\"IwouldifIcouldfindher！\"Afterwhich，foramoment，myinterlocutressagainconsidered。\"ButIthoughtitwasjustyourcontentionthatSHEdoesn’tshine。Ifit’sLadyJohn’sperfectrepairthatputsthatsortofthingoutofthequestion，yourimage，itseemstome，breaksdown。\"
Itdidalittle，Isaw，butIgaveitatiltup。\"Notatall。It’sacaseofshiningasBrissendenshines。\"IwonderedifImightgofurther——thenriskedit。\"Bysacrifice。\"
IperceivedatoncethatIneedn’tfear：herconsciencewastoogood——shewasonlyamused。\"Sacrifice，formercy’ssake，ofwhat？\"
\"Well——formercy’ssake——ofhistime。\"
\"Histime？\"Shestared。\"Hasn’theallthetimehewants？\"
\"Mydearlady，\"Ismiled，\"hehasn’tallthetimeYOUwant！\"
ButsheevidentlyhadnotaglimmeringofwhatImeant。\"Don’tImakethingsofanease，don’tImakelifeofacharm，forhim？\"
I’mafraidIlaughedout。\"That’sperhapsexactlyit！It’swhatGilbertLongdoesforHISvictim——makesthings，makeslife，ofaneaseandacharm。\"
Shestoppedyetagain，reallywonderingatmenow。\"Thenit’sthewoman，simply，who’shappiest？\"
\"BecauseBrissenden’sthemanwhois？Precisely！\"
Onwhichforaminute，withouthergoingon，welookedateachother。
\"DoyoureallymeanthatifyouonlyknewMEasIam，itwouldcometoyouinthesamewaytohuntformyconfederate？Imeanifheweren’tmadeobvious，youknow，byhisbeingmyhusband。\"
Iturnedthisover。\"Ifyouwereonlyinflirtation——asyouremindedmejustnowthatyou’renot？Surely！\"Ideclared。\"Ishouldarriveathim，perfectly，afteralleliminations，ontheprincipleoflookingforthegreatesthappiness——\"
\"Ofthesmallestnumber？Well，hemaybeasmallnumber，\"sheindulgentlysighed，\"buthe’swhollycontent！Lookathimnowthere，\"sheaddedthenextmoment，\"andjudge。\"Wehadresumedourwalkandturnedthecornerofthehouse，amovementthatbroughtusintoviewofacouplejustroundtheangleoftheterrace，acouplewho，likeourselves，musthavepausedinasociablestroll。Thelady，withherbacktous，leanedalittleonthebalustradeandlookedatthegardens；thegentlemanclosetoher，withthesamesupport，offeredusthefaceofGuyBrissenden，asrecognisableatadistanceasthenumberedcardofa\"turn\"——theblackfigureuponwhite——atamusic—hall。Onseeingushesaidawordtohiscompanion，whoquicklyjerkedround。Thenhiswifeexclaimedtome——onlywithmoresharpness——asshehadexclaimedatMme。deDreuil：\"Byallthat’slovely——MayServer！\"
Itookit，onthespot，forakindof\"Eureka！\"butwithoutcatchingmyfriend’sidea。Iwasonlyawareatfirstthatthisidealeftmeasunconvincedaswhentheotherpossibilitieshadpassedbeforeus。Wasn’titsimplytheresultofthislady’sbeingtheonlyonewehadhappenednottoeliminate？
Shehadnotevenoccurredtous。Shewasprettyenoughperhapsforanymagic，butshehadn’ttheothersigns。Ididn’tbelieve，somehow——certainlynotonsuchshortnotice——eitherinherhappinessorinherflatness。Therewasavaguesuggestion，ofasort，inourhavingfoundhertherewithBrissenden：
therewouldhavebeenapertinence，toourcuriosity，oratleasttomine，inthisjuxtapositionofthetwopersonswhopaid，asIhadamusedmyselfwithcallingit，soheroically；yetIhadonlytohaveitmarkedforme（toseethem，thatis，sidebyside，）inordertofeelhowlittle——atanyratesuperficially——thegraceful，natural，charmingwomanrangedherselfwiththesuperannuatedyouth。
Shehadsaidawordtohimatsightofus，inanswertohisown，andinaminuteortwotheyhadmetus。Thishadgivenmetimeformorethanonereflection。IthadalsogivenMrs。Brissendentimetoinsisttomeonheridentification，whichIcouldseeshewouldbemuchlessquicktodropthanintheformercases。\"Wehaveher，\"shemurmured；\"wehaveher；
it’sSHE！\"Itwasbyherinsistanceinfactthatmythoughtwasquickened。
Itevenfeltakindofchill——anoddrevulsion——atthetouchofhereagerness。
Singularperhapsthatonlythen——yetquitecertainlythen——thecuriositytowhichIhadsofreelysurrenderedmyselfbegantostrikemeaswantingintaste。ItwasreflectedinMrs。Brissendenquitebymyfault，andI
can’tsayjustwhatcauseforshame，aftersomuchtalkofoursearchandourscent，Ifoundinourawakenedandconfirmedkeenness。Whyintheworldhadn’tIfounditbefore？Myscruple，inshort，wasathingoftheinstant；
itwasinapositiveflashthattheamusingquestionwasstampedformeasnoneofmybusiness。OneofthereflectionsIhavejustmentionedwasthatIhadnothadahappyhandinmakingitsocompletelyMrs。Brissenden’s。
Anotherwas，however，thatnothing，fortunately，thathadhappenedbetweenusreallysignified。Forwhathadsosuddenlyovertakenmewastheconsciousnessofthisanomaly：thatIwasatthesametimeasdisgustedasifIhadexposedMrs。ServerandabsolutelyconvincedthatIhadyetNOTexposedher。
While，aftertheothershadgreetedusandwestoodinvaguetalk，I
caughtafreshtheeffectoftheirjuxtaposition，Igrasped，withaprivatejoythatwasquiteextravagant——assobeyondtheneededmark——atthereassuranceitoffered。Thisreassurancesprangstraightfromaspecialsource。Brissenden’ssecretwassoawareofitselfastobealwaysonthedefensive。Shyandsuspicious，itwasasmuchonthedefensiveatpresentasIhadfeltittobe——sofarasIwasconcerned——thenightbefore。WhatwasthereaccordinglyinMrs。Server——frankandfragrantinthemorningair——tocorrespondtoanysuchconsciousness？Nothingwhatever——notasymptom。Whateversecretsshemighthavehad，shehadnotTHATone；shewasnotinthesamebox；
thesacredfount，inher，wasnotthreatenedwithexhaustion。Weallsoonre—enteredthehousetogether，butMrs。Brissenden，duringthefewminutesthatfollowed，managedtopossessherselfofthesubjectofherdenunciation。
SheputmeoffwithGuy，andIcouldn’thelpfeelingitasasignofherconcentration。ShewarmedtothequestionjustasIhadthrownitover；
andIaskedmyselfratherruefullywhatonearthIhadbeenthinkingof。
Ihadn’tintheleasthaditinmindto\"compromise\"anindividual；butanindividualwouldbecompromisedifIdidn’tnowtakecare。
Chapter4
IHAVEsaidthatIdidmanythingsonthiswonderfulday，butperhapsthesimplestwaytodescribetherestofthemisasasustainedattempttoavertthatdisaster。Isucceeded，byvigilance，inpreventingmylatecompanionfromcarryingMrs。Serveroff；Ihadnowishtoseeherstudied——byanyonebutmyselfatleast——inthelightofmytheory。IfeltbythistimethatIunderstoodmytheory，butIwasnotobligedtobelievethatMrs。
Brissendendid。IamafraidImustfranklyconfessthatIcalleddeceptiontomyaid；toseparatethetwoladiesIgavethemoreinitiatedalookinwhichIinvitedhertoreadvolumes。Thislook，orratherthelookshereturned，comesbacktomeasthefirstnoteofatolerablytight，tenselittledrama，alittledramaofwhichourremaininghoursatNewmarchwerethealltooamplestage。Sheunderstoodme，asImeant，thatshehadbetterleavemetogetatthetruth——owingmesomeobligation，asshedid，forsomuchofitasIhadalreadycommunicated。Thisstepwasofcourseatacitpledgethatsheshouldhavetherestfrommelateron。Iknewofsomepicturesinoneoftheroomsthathadnotbeenlightedthepreviousevening，andImadethesemypretextfortheeffectIdesired。IaskedMrs。Serverifshewouldn’tcomeandseethemwithme，admittingatthesametimethatIcouldscarceexpecthertoforgivemeformyshareintheinvasionofthequietcornerinwhichpoorBrisshadevidentlymanagedsotointeresther。
\"Oh，yes，\"sherepliedaswewentourway，\"heHADmanagedtointerestme。Isn’thecuriouslyinteresting？ButIhadn’t，\"shecontinuedonmybeingtoostruckwithherquestionforanimmediateanswer——\"Ihadn’tmanagedtointerestHIM。Ofcourseyouknowwhy！\"shelaughed。\"NooneinterestshimbutLadyJohn，andhecouldthinkofnothing，whileIkepthimthere，butofhowsoonhecouldreturntoher。\"
Theseremarks——ofwhichIgiveratherthesensethantheform，fortheywerealittlescatteredandtroubled，andIhelpedthemoutandpiecedthemtogether——theseremarkshadforme，Iwastofind，unexpectedsuggestions，notallofwhichwasIpreparedonthespottotakeup。\"AndisLadyJohninterestedinourfriend？\"
\"Not，Isuppose，givenhersituation，somuchashewouldperhapsdesire。
Youdon’tknowwhathersituationIS？\"shewentonwhileIdoubtlessappearedtobesunkininnocence。\"Isn’titrathermarkedthatthere’sonlyonepersonshe’sinterestedin？\"
\"Oneperson？\"Iwasthoroughlyatsea。
ButwehadreachedwithitthegreatpicturedsaloonwithwhichIhadproposedtoassisthertorenewacquaintanceandinwhichtwovisitorshadanticipatedus。\"Why，hereheis！\"sheexclaimedaswepaused，foradmiration，inthedoorway。Thehighfrescoedceilingarchedoverafloorsohighlypolishedthatitseemedtoreflectthefadedpastelsset，inrococoborders，inthewallsandconstitutingthedistinctionoftheplace。
Ourcompanions，examiningtogetheroneoftheportraitsandturningtheirbacks，wereattheoppositeend，andoneofthemwasGilbertLong。
Iimmediatelynamedtheother。\"DoyoumeanFordObert？\"
Shegaveme，withalaugh，oneofherbeautifullooks。\"Yes！\"
Itwasanswerenoughforthemoment，andthemannerofitshowedmetowhatlegendshewascommitted。Iaskedmyself，whilethetwomenfacedabouttomeetus，whyshewascommittedtoit，andIfurtherconsideredthatifGraceBrissenden，againsteveryappearance，wasright，therewouldnowbesomethingformetosee。Whichofthetwo——theagentortheobjectofthesacrifice——wouldtakemostprecautions？Ikeptmycompanionpurposely，foralittlewhile，onoursideoftheroom，leavingtheothers，interestedintheirobservations，totaketheirtimetojoinus。Itgavemeoccasiontowonderifthequestionmightn’tbecleareduponthespot。ThereWAS
noquestion，Ihadcompunctiouslymadeupmymind，forMrs。Server；butnowIshouldseetheproofofthatconclusion。Theproofofitwouldbe，betweenherandherimputedlover，theabsenceofanythingthatwasnotperfectlynatural。Mrs。Server，withhereyesraisedtothepainteddome，withresponsecharmedalmosttosolemnityinherexquisiteface，struckmeatthismoment，Ihadtoconcede，asmorethaneverapersontohavealoverimputed。Theplace，saveforitspicturesoflaterdate，atriumphofthefloriddecorationoftwocenturiesago，evidentlymetherspecialtaste，andakindofprofanepietyhaddroppedonher，drizzlingdown，inthecoldlight，insilver，incrystal，infaint，mixeddelicaciesofcolour，almostasonapilgrimatashrine。Idon’tknowwhatitwasinher——save，thatis，thepositivepitchofdelicacyinherbeauty——thatmadeher，soimpressedandpresented，indescribablytouching。Shewaslikeanawestruckchild；shemighthavebeenherself——allGreuzetints，allpalepinksandbluesandpearlywhitesandcandideyes——anolddeadpastelunderglass。
Shewasnottooreducedtothisstate，however，nottotake，soonenough，herownprecaution——ifaprecautionitwastobedeemed。IwasacutelyconsciousthatthenaturalnesstowhichIhavejustalludedwouldbe，foreitherparty，theonlyprecautionworthspeakingof。Wemovedslowlyroundtheroom，pausinghereandthereforcuriosity；duringwhichtimethetwomenremainedwherewehadfoundthem。Shehadbegunatlasttowatchthemandhadproposedthatweshouldseeinwhattheyweresoabsorbed；butIcheckedherinthemovement，raisingmyhandinafriendlyadmonitiontowait。Wewaitedthen，facetoface，lookingateachotherasiftocatchastrainofmusic。ThiswaswhatIhadintended，forithadjustcometomethatoneofthevoiceswasintheairandthatithadimposedcloseattention。Thedistinguishedpainterlistenedwhile——toallappearance——GilbertLongdid，inthepresenceofthepicture，theexplaining。FordObertmoved，afteralittle，butnotsoastointerrupt——onlysoastoshowmehisfaceinarecallofwhathadpassedbetweenusthenightbeforeinthesmoking—room。
IturnedmyeyesfromMrs。Server’s；Iallowedmyselftocommunealittle，acrosstheshiningspace，withthoseofourfellow—auditor。Theoccasionhadthusforaminutetheoddestlittleairofanaestheticlecturepromptedbyaccidental，butimmense，suggestionsanddeliveredbyGilbertLong。
Icouldn’t，atthedistance，withmycompanion，quitefollowit，butObertwasclearlypatientenoughtobetraythathewasstruck。HisimpressionwasatanyratedoubtlesshisshareofsurpriseatLong’sgiftoftalk。
Thiswaswhathiseyesindeedmostseemedtothrowovertome——\"Whatanunexpecteddemonofacritic！\"Itwasextraordinarilyinteresting——Idon’tmeanthespecialdriftofLong’seloquence，whichIcouldn’t，asIsay，catch；butthephenomenonofhis，ofallpeople，dealinginthatarticle。
Itputbeforemethequestionofwhether，inthesestrangerelationsthatIbelievedIhadthusgotmyglimpseof，theactionoftheperson\"sacrificed\"
mightn’tbequiteoutofproportiontotheresourcesofthatperson。Itwasasiftheseelementsmightreallymultiplyinthetransfermadeofthem；asiftheborrowerpracticallyfoundhimself——orherself——inpossessionofagreatersumthantheknownpropertyofthecreditor。Thesurrender，inthisway，added，bypurebeauty，tothethingsurrendered。WeallknowtheFrenchadageaboutthatplusbellefilledumondewhocangivebutwhatshehas；yetifMrs。Server，forinstance，HADbeentheheroineofthisparticularconnection，thecommunicationofherintelligencetoherfriendwouldquitehavefalsifiedit。Shewouldhavegivenmuchmorethanshehad。
WhenLonghadfinishedhisdemonstrationandhischargedvoicehaddropped，wecrossedtoclaimacquaintancewiththeworkthathadinspiredhim。TheplacehadnotbeencompletelynewtoMrs。Serveranymorethantomyself，andtheimpressionnowmadeonherwasbuttheintenservibrationofachordalreadystirred；neverthelessIwasstruckwithhersaying，asaresultofmoreremembrancethanIhadattributedtoher\"Ohyes，——themanwiththemaskinhishand！\"OnourjoiningtheothersIexpressedregretatourhavingturneduptoolatefortheideasthat，onathemesopromising，theywouldhavebeensuretoproduce，andObert，quiteagreeingthatwehadlostatreat，saidfrankly，inreferencetoLong，butaddressinghimselfmoreespeciallytoMrs。Server：\"He’sperfectlyamazing，youknow——he’sperfectlyamazing！\"
IobservedthatasaconsequenceofthisLonglookedneitheratMrs。
ServernoratObert；helookedonlyatme，andwithquiteapenetrableshadeofshyness。Thenagainastrangethinghappened，astrangerthingeventhanmyquicksense，thepreviousafternoonatthestation，thathewasachangedman。Itwasasifhewerestillmorechanged——hadalteredasmuchsincetheeveningbeforeasduringthesomuchlongerintervalofwhichIhadoriginallytotakeaccount。HehadalteredalmostlikeGraceBrissenden——helookedfairlydistinguished。Isaidtomyselfthat，withouthisstatureandcertainsignsinhisdress，Ishouldprobablynothaveplacedhim。EngrossedaninstantwiththisviewandwithnotlosingtouchoftheuneasinessthatIconceivedIhadfastenedonhim，IbecameawareonlyaftershehadspokenthatMrs。ServerhadgailyandgracefullyaskedofObertwhyintheworldsocleveramanshouldNOThavebeenclever。
\"Obert，\"Iaccordinglytookuponmyselftoremark，\"hadevidentlylabouredundersomeextraordinarydelusion。HemustliterallyhavedoubtedifLongWASclever。\"
\"Fancy！\"Mrs。ServerexplainedwithacharmingsmileatLong，who，stilllookingpleasantlycompetentandnottoofatuous，amiablyreturnedit。
\"They’renatural，they’renatural，\"Iprivatelyreflected；\"thatis，he’snaturaltoHER，buthe’snotsotome。\"Andasifseeingdepthsinthis，andtotryit，Iappealedtohim。\"Do，mydearman，letushaveitagain。It’sthepicture，ofallpictures，thatmostneedsaninterpreter。
DON’Twewant，\"IaskedofMrs。Server，\"toknowwhatitmeans？\"Thefigurerepresentedisayoungmaninblack——aquaint，tightblackdress，fashionedinyearslongpast；withapale，lean，lividfaceandastare，fromeyeswithouteyebrows，likethatofsomewhitenedold—worldclown。Inhishandheholdsanobjectthatstrikesthespectatoratfirstsimplyassomeobscure，someambiguousworkofart，butthatonasecondviewbecomesarepresentationofahumanface，modelledandcoloured，inwax，inenamelledmetal，insomesubstancenothuman。Theobjectthusappearsacompletemask，suchasmighthavebeenfantasticallyfittedandworn。
\"Yes，whatintheworlddoesitmean？\"Mrs。Serverreplied。\"Onecouldcallit——thoughthatdoesn’tgetonemuchfurther——theMaskofDeath。\"
\"Whyso？\"Idemandedwhileweallagainlookedatthepicture。\"Isn’titmuchrathertheMaskofLife？It’stheman’sownfacethat’sDeath。
Theotherone，bloomingandbeautiful——\"
\"Ah，butwithanawfulgrimace！\"Mrs。Serverbrokein。
\"Theotherone，bloomingandbeautiful，\"Irepeated，\"isLife，andhe’sgoingtoputiton；unlessindeedhehasjusttakenitoff。\"
\"He’sdreadful，he’sawful——that’swhatImean，\"saidMrs。Server。\"ButwhatdoesMr。Longthink？\"
\"Theartificialface，ontheotherhand，\"Iwenton，asLongnowsaidnothing，\"isextremelystudiedand，whenyoucarefullylookatit，charminglypretty。Idon’tseethegrimace。\"
\"Idon’tseeanythingelse！\"Mrs。Servergood—humouredlyinsisted。\"AndwhatdoesMr。Obertthink？\"
Hekepthiseyesonheramomentbeforereplying。\"Hethinksitlookslikealovelylady。\"
\"Thatgrinningmask？Whatlovelylady？\"
\"Itdoes，\"Ideclaredtohim，reallyseeingwhathemeant——\"itdoeslookremarkablylikeMrs。Server。\"
Shelaughed，butforgivingly。\"I’mimmenselyobliged。Youdeserve，\"
shecontinuedtome，\"thatIshouldsaythegentleman’sownfaceistheimageofacertainothergentleman’s。\"
\"Itisn’ttheimageofyours，\"Obertsaidtome，fittingthecap，\"butit’safunnythingthatitshouldreallyrecalltoonesomefaceamongushere，onthisoccasion——Imeansomefaceinourparty——thatIcan’tthinkof。\"Wehadoureyesagainontheominousfigure。\"We’veseenhimyesterday——we’veseenhimalreadythismorning。\"Obert，oddlyenough，stillcouldn’tcatchit。\"Whothedeuceisit？\"
\"Iknow，\"Ireturnedafteramoment——ourfriend’sreferencehavingagain，inaflash，becomeilluminating。\"Butnothingwouldinducemetotell。\"
\"Ifiweretheflatteredindividual，\"Longobserved，speakingforthefirsttime，\"I’veanideathatyou’dgivemethebenefitofthecompliment。
Thereforeit’sprobablynotme。\"
\"Oh，it’snotyouintheleast，\"Mrs。Serverblandlytookuponherselftoobserve。\"Thisfaceissobad——\"
\"Andmineissogood？\"ourcompanionlaughed。\"Thankyouforsavingme！\"
Iwatchedthemlookateachother，fortherehadbeenasyetbetweenthemnocompleteexchange。Yes，theywerenatural。Icouldn’thavemadeitoutthattheywerenot。Buttherewassomething，allthesame，thatIwantedtoknow，andIputitimmediatelytoLong。\"Whydoyoubringagainstmesuchanaccusation？\"
Hemetthequestion——singularlyenough——asifhisreadinesshadsuddenlydesertedhim。\"Idon’tknow！\"——andheturnedofftoanotherpicture。
ItleftthethreeofusallthemoreconfrontedwiththeconundrumlaunchedbyObert，andMrs。Server’scuriosityremained。\"DOname，\"shesaidtome，\"theflatteredindividual。\"
\"No，it’saresponsibilityIleavetoObert。\"
Buthewasclearlystillatfault；hewaslikeamandesiring，butunable，tosneeze。\"Iseethefellow——yetIdon’t。Nevermind。\"Heturnedawaytoo。\"He’llcometome。\"
\"Theresemblance，\"saidLong，onthis，atadistancefromusandnotturning，\"theresemblance，whichIshouldn’tthinkwouldpuzzleanyone，issimplyto’poorBriss’！\"
\"Oh，ofcourse！\"——andObertgaveajumpround。
\"Ah——Idoseeit，\"Mrs。Serverconcededwithherheadononeside，butasifspeakingratherforharmony。
Ididn’tbelieveshesawit，butthatonlymadeherthemorenatural；
whichwasalsotheairshehadongoingtojoinLong，inhisnewcontemplation，afterIhadadmittedthatitwasofBrissendenImyselfhadthought。ObertandIremainedtogetherinthepresenceoftheManwiththeMask，and，theothersbeingoutofearshot，heremindedmethatIhadpromisedhimthenightbeforeinthesmoking—roomtogivehimto—daytheknowledgeI
hadthenwithheld。IfIhadannouncedthatIwasonthetrackofadiscovery，prayhadImadeityet，andwhatwasit，atanyrate，thatIproposedtodiscover？Ifeltnow，intruth，moreuncomfortablethanIhadexpectedinbeingkepttomyobligation，andIbeataboutthebushalittletill，insteadofmeetingit，Iwasabletoputthenaturalquestion：\"WhatwonderfulthingswasLongjustsayingtoyou？\"
\"Oh，characteristiconesenough——whimsical，fanciful，funny。Thethingshesays，youknow。\"
Itwasindeedafreshview。\"Theystrikeyouascharacteristic？\"
\"Ofthemanhimselfandhistypeofmind？Surely。Don’tYOU？Hetalkstotalk，buthe’sreallyamusing。\"
Iwaswatchingourcompanions。\"Indeedheis——extraordinarilyamusing。\"
ItwashighlyinterestingtometohearatlastofLong’s\"typeofmind。\"
\"SeehowamusingheisatthepresentmomenttoMrs。Server。\"
Oberttookthisin；shewasconvulsed，intheextravagancealwayssoprettyastobepardonable，withlaughter，andsheevenlookedoveratusasiftointimatewithhershining，lingeringeyesthatwewouldn’tbesurprisedathertransportsifwesuspectedwhatherentertainer，whomshehadneverknownforsuchahumourist，wassaying。Insteadofgoingtofindout，allthesame，weremainedanotherminutetogether。Itwasforme，now，Icouldsee，thatOberthadhisbestattention。\"What’sthematterwiththem？\"
Itstartledmealmostasmuchasifhehadaskedmewhatwasthematterwithmyself——forthatsomethingWAS，underthishead，Iwasbythistimeunabletoignore。NottwentyminuteshadelapsedsinceourmeetingwithMrs。ServerontheterracehaddeterminedGraceBrissenden’selation，butitwasafactthatmynervousnesshadtakenanextraordinarystride。I
hadperhapsnottillthisinstantbeenfullyawareofit——itwasreallybroughtoutbythewayObertlookedatmeasifhefanciedhehadheardmeshake。Mrs。Servermightbenatural，andGilbertLongmightbe，butIshouldnotpreservethatcalmunlessIpulledmyselfwelltogether。I
madetheeffort，facingmysharpinterlocutor；andIthinkitwasatthispointthatIfullymeasuredmydismay。Ihadgrown——thatwaswhatwasthematterwithmeprecipitately，preposterouslyanxious。Insteadofdropping，thediscomfortproducedinmebyMrs。Brissendenhaddeepenedtoagitation，andthisinspiteofthefactthatinthebriefintervalnothingworse，nothingbutwhatwasright，hadhappened。HadImyselfsuddenlyfallensomuchinlovewithMrs。Serverthatthecareforherreputationhadbecomewithmeanobsession？ItwasofnousesayingIsimplypitiedher：whatdidIpityherforifshewasn’tindanger？SheWASindanger：thatrushedovermeatpresent——rushedovermewhileItriedtolookeasyanddelayedtoanswermyfriend。SheWASindanger——ifonlybecauseshehadcaughtandheldthesearchlightofObert’sattention。Itookuphisinquiry。\"Thematterwiththem？Idon’tknowanythingbutthatthey’reyoungandhandsomeandhappy——children，aswhoshouldsay，oftheworld；childrenofleisureandpleasureandprivilege。\"
Obert’seyeswentbacktothem。\"DoyourememberwhatIsaidtoyouaboutheryesterdayafternoon？Shedartsfromflowertoflower，butsheclings，forthetime，toeach。You’vebeenfeeling，Ijudge，theforceofmyremark。\"
\"Oh，shedidn’tatall’dart，’\"Ireplied，\"justnowatme。Idarted，muchrather，atHER。\"
\"Longdidn’t，then，\"Obertsaid，stillwithhiseyesonthem。
Ihadtowaitamoment。\"Doyoumeanhestruckyouasavoidingher？\"
Heinturnconsidered。\"Hestruckmeashavingnoticedwithwhatintensity，eversincewecamedown，shehaskeptalighting。Sheinauguratedit，theinstantshearrived，withme，andeverymanofushashadhisturn。Idaresayit’sonlyfair，certainly，thatLongshouldhave。\"
\"He’sluckytogetit，thebrute！She’sascharmingasshecanpossiblybe。\"
\"That’sit，precisely；andit’swhatnowomanoughttobe——ascharmingasshepossiblycan！——morethanonceortwiceinherlife。Thisladyissoeveryblessedminute，andtoeveryblessedmale。It’sasifsheweretooawfullyafraidonewouldn’ttakeitin。Ifshebutknewhowonedoes！
However，\"myfriendcontinued，\"you’llrecollectthatwedifferedaboutheryesterday——andwhatdoesitsignify？Oneshouldofcoursebearlightlyonanythingsolight。ButIsticktoitthatshe’sdifferent。\"
Ipondered。\"Differentfromwhom？\"
\"Differentfromherself——asshewaswhenIpaintedher。There’ssomethingthematterwithher。\"