I’msosorryHowveryunfortunate！”。
　　ButMrsMallowehadpass~don。
　　“Forthepracticedequivocatoryousaidhewas。”murmuredMrs。
　　Hauksbee，“hestrikesmeasafailureNowwhereforeshouldhehavepreferredawalkwithTheDowdtoteawithus？Electiveaffinities，Isuppos~bothgrubbyPolly，I’dneverforgivethatwomanaslongastheworldrolls。”
　　“Iforgiveeverywomaneve“ything。”
　　saidMrsMallowe“Hewillbeasufficientpunishmentforher。
　　Whatacommonvoiceshehas！”
　　MrsDelville’svoicewasnotpretty，hercarriagewasevenlesslovely，andherraimentwasstrikinglyneglectedAllthesethingsMrsMallowenoticedoverthetopofamagazine。
　　“Nowwhatisthereinher？”saidMrsHauksbee“DoyouseewhatImeantabouttheclothesfallingoff？IfIwereamanIwouldperishsoonerthanbeseenwiththatrag-bagAndyet，shehasgoodeyes，but~h！”
　　“Whatisit？”
　　“Shedoesn’tknowhowtousethem！OnmyHonor，shedoesnot。
　　Look！Ohlook！UntidinessI
　　canendure，butignor~1cenever！Thewoman’safool。”
　　“Hsh！She’llhearyou。”
　　“AllthewomeninSimlaarefoolsShe’llthinkImeansomeoneelseNowshe’sgoingo~tWhatathoroughlyobjectionablecouplesheandTheDancingMastermake！WhichremindsmeDoyousupposethey’lleverdancetogether？”
　　“WaitandseeIdon’tenvybertheconversationofTheDancingMaster-loathlyman~Hiswifeoughttobeupherebeforelong。”
　　“Doyouknowanythingabouthim？”
　　“OnlywhathetoldmeItmaybea11afictionHemarriedagirlbredinthecountry，Ithink，and，beinganhonorable，chivalroussoul，toldmethatherepentedhisbargainandsenthertohermotherasoftenaspossible’~apersonwhohaslivedintheDoonsincethememoryofmanandgoestoMussooriewhenotherpeoplegoHomeThewifeiswithheratpresentSohesays。”
　　’Babies？’
　　“Oneonly，buthetalksofhiswifeinarevoltingwayIhatedhimforitHethoughthewasbeingepigrammaticandbrilliant。”
　　“ThatisavicepeculiartomenIdislikehimbecauseheisgenerallyinthewakeofsomegirl，disappointingtheEligiblesHewillpersecuteMayHoltnomore，unlessIammuchmistaken。”
　　“NoIthinkMrsDelvillemayoccupyhisattentionforawhile。”
　　“Doyousupposesheknowsthatheistheheadofafamily？”
　　“NotfromhislipsHesworemetoeternalsecrecyWhereforeI
　　tellyouDon’tyouknowthattypeofman？”
　　“Notintimately，thankgoodness！Asageneralrule，whenamanbeginstoabusehiswifetome，IfindthattheLordgivesmewherewithtoanswerhimaccordingtohisfolly；andwepartwithacoolnessbetweenusIlaugh。”
　　“I’mdifferentI’venosenseofhumor。”
　　“Cultivateit，thenIthasbeenmymainstayformoreyearsthanI
　　caretothinkaboutA
　　well-educatedsenseofHumorwillsaveawomanwhenReligion，Training，andHomeinfluencesfail；andwemayallneedsalvationsometimes。”
　　“DoyousupposethattheDelvillewomanhashumor？”
　　“HerdressbewraysherHowcanaThingwhowearsasupplementunderherleftarmhaveanynotionofthefitnessofthings-muchlesstheirfolly？IfshediscardsTheDancingMaste~afterhavingonceseenhimdance，Imayrespecther，Otherwise-“Butarewenotbothassumingagreatdealtoomuch，dear？Yousa“thewomanatPeliti’s-halfanhourASECOND-RATEWOMAN
　　literyousawherwalkingwithTheDancingMaster-anhourlateryoumetherhereattheLibrary。”
　　“StillwithTheDancingMaster，remember。”
　　“StillwithTheDancingMaster，Iadmit，butwhyonthestrengthofthatshouldyouimagine“-“I
　　imaginenothingIhavenoimaginationIamonlyconvincedthatTheDancingMasterisattractedtoTheDowdbecauseheisobjectionableineverywayandsheineveryotherIfIknowthemanasyouhavedescribedhim，heholdshiswifeinslaveryatpresent。”
　　“Sheistwentyyearsyoungerthanhe。”
　　“Poorwretch！And，intheend，afterlehasposedandswaggeredandlied-hehasamouthunderthatraggedmoustachesimplymadeforlies-hewillberswardedaccordingtohismerits。”
　　“Iwonderwhatthosereallyare。”saidMrsMallowe。
　　ButMrsHauksbee，herfacecloseto’heshelfofthenewbooks，washummingsoftly：“WhatshallhehavewhokilledtheDeer！”Shewasaladyofunfetteredspeech。
　　Onemonthlater，sheannouncedherintentionofcallinguponMrs。
　　DelvilleBothMrsHauksbeeandMrsMallowewereinmorningwrappers，andtherewasagreatpeaceintheland。
　　“IshouldgoasIwas。”saidMrsMallowe“Itwouldbeadelicatecomplimenttoherstyle。”
　　MrsHauksbeestudiedherselfintheglass。
　　“Assumingforamomentthatsheeverdarkenedthesedoors，I
　　shouldputonthisrobe，afteralltheothers，toshowherwhatamorningwrapperoughttobeItmightenlivenherAsitis，Ishallgointhedove-colored-sweetemblemofyouthandinnocence~andshallputonmynewgloves。”
　　“Ifyoureallyaregoing，dirtytauwouldbetoogood；andyouknowthatdove-colorspotswiththerain。”
　　“IcarenotImaymakeherenviousAtleastIshalltry，thoughonecannotexpectverymuchfromawomanwhoputsalacetuckerintoherhabit。”
　　“JustHeavens！Whendidshedothat？”
　　“Yesterday-ridingwithTheDancingMasterImetthematthebackofJakko，andtherainhadmadethelaceliedownTocompletetheeffect，shewaswearinganuncleanteraiwiththeelasticunderherchinIfeltalmosttoowellcontenttotakethetroubletodespiseher。”
　　“TheHawleyBoywasridingwithyouWhatdidhethink？”
　　“Doesaboyevernoticethesethings？ShouldIlikehimifhedid？
　　Hestaredintherudestway，andjustwhenIthoughthehadseentheelastic，hesaid，’There’ssomethingverytakingaboutthatface。’IrebukedhimonthespotIdon’tapproveofboysbeingtakenbyfaces。”
　　“OtherthanyourownIshouldn’tbeintheleastsurprisediftheHawleyBoyimmediatelywenttocall。”
　　“IforbadehimLetherbesatisfiedwithTheDancingMaster，andhiswifewhenshecomesup。
　　I’mrathercurioustoseeMrsBentandtheDelvillewomantogether。”
　　MrsHauksbeedepartedand，attheendofanhour，returnedslightlyflushed。
　　“Thereisnolimittothetreacheryof124
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　　t’outh！IorderedtheHawleyBoy，as’sevaluedmypatronage，nottocallThefirstpersonI
　　stumbleover-literallystumbleover-inherpoky，dark，jittledrawing-roomis，ofcourse，theilawleyBoyShekeptuswaitingtenruinutes，andthenemergedasthough~ehadbeentippedoutofthedirtyr。lothesbasketYouknowmyway，dear，whenI
　　amallputoutIwasSuperior，crrrushinglySuperior！’LiftedmyeyestoHeaven，andhadheardofnothing-’droppedmyeyesonthecarpetand’reallydidn’tknow’-’playedwitamycardcaseand’supposedso。’TheHawleyBoygiggledlikeagirl，andIhadtofreezehimwithscowlsbetweenthesentences。”
　　“Andshe？”
　　“Shesatinaheapontheedgeofacouch，andmanagedtoconveytheimpressionthatshewassufferingfromstomach-ache，attheveryleastItwasaHIcoulddonottoaskafterhersymptomsWhenIroseshegruntedjustlikeabuffalointhewater-toolazytomove。”
　　“Areyoucertain？”-“AmIblind，Polly？Laziness，sheerlaziness，nothingelse-orhergarmentswereonlyconstructedforsittingdowninIstayedforaquarterofanhourtryingtopenetratethegloom，toguesswhathersurroundingswerelike，whileshestuckouthertongue。”
　　’~Lu~cy！”
　　“Well-I’llwithdrawthetongue，thoughI’m~ureifshedidn’tdoitwhenIwasintheroom，shedidtheminuteIwasoutsideAtanyrate，shelayinalumpandgruntedAsktheHawleyBoy，dearIbelievethegruntsweremeantforsentencesbutshespokesoindistinctlythatIcan’tsweartoit。”
　　“Youareincorrigible，simply。”
　　“Iamnot！Treatmecivilly，givemepeacewithhonor，don’tputtheonlyavailableseatfacingthewindow，andachildmayeatjaminmylapbeforeChurchButIresentbeinggruntedat。
　　Wouldn’tyou？DoyousupposethatshecommunicatesherviewsonlifeandlovetoTheDancingMasterinasetofmodulated’Grmphs’？”
　　“YouattachtoomuchimportancetoTheDancingMaster。”
　　“Hecameaswewent，andTheDowdgrewalmostcordialatthesightofhimHesmiledgreasily，andmovedaboutthatdarkeneddog-kennelinasuspiciouslyfamiliarway。”
　　“Don’tbeuncharitableAnysinbutthatI’llforgive。”
　　“ListentothevoiceofHistoryIamonlydescribingwhatIsaw。
　　Heentered，theheaponthesofarevivedslightly，andtheHawleyBoyandIcameawaytogetherHeisdisillusioned，hutI
　　feltitmydutytolecturehimseverelyforgoingthereAndthat’sall。”
　　’~NowforPity’ssakeleavethewretchedcreatureandTheDancingMasteraloneTheyneverdidyouanyharm。”
　　“Noharm？Todress~sanexample~ndastumbling-blockforhalfSimla，andthentofindthisPersonwhoisdressedbythehandofGod-notthatIwishtodisparageHimforamoment，butyouknowthetikkadhurziewayHeattiresthoseliliesofthefield-thisPersondrawstheeyesofmen-andsomeofthemnicemen？It’salmostenough~omakeonediscardclothingItohItheHawleyBoyso。”
　　ASECOND-RATEWOMAN
　　“Andwhatdidthatsweetyouthdo？”
　　“Turnedshell-pinkandlookedacrossthefarbluehillslikeadistressedcherubAmItalkingwildly，Polly？Letmesaymysay，andIshallbecalmOtherwiseI
　　maygoabroadanddisturbSimlawithafeworiginalreflectionsExceptingalwaysyourownsweetself，thereisn’tasinglewomaninthelandwhounderstandsmewhenIam-what’stheword？”
　　“Tete-Fa7~e。”suggestedMrsMallowe。
　　“Exactly！AndnowletushavetiffinThedemandsofSocie~yare~xhausting，andasMrs。
　　Delvillesays“-HereMrsHauksbee，tothehorrorofthekhU。motgars，lapsedintoaseriesofgrunts，whileMrsMallowestaredinlazysurprise。
　　’Godgieusagudeconceitofoorselves，’“saidMrsHauksbee，piously，returningtohernaturalspeech“Now，inanyotherwomanthawouldhavebeenvulgarI
　　amconsumedwithcuriositytoseeMrsBentIexpectcomplications。”
　　“Womanofoneidea。”saidMrsMallowe，shortly；“allcomplicationsarea~oldasthehills！I
　　havelivedthroughornearall~ll-ALL！”
　　“Andyetdonotunderstandthatmciiandwomenneverbehavetwice~likeIamoldwhowasyoung-ifeverIputmyheadinyourlap，youdear，bigsceptic，youwilllearnthatmypartingisgauz~butnever，noneverhaveIlostmyinterestinmenandwomenPolly，IshallseethisbusinessOuttothebitterend。”
　　“Iamgoingtosleep。”saidMrsMallowe，calmly“IneverinterferewithmenorwomenunlessI
　　amcompelled。”
　　andsheretiredwithdignitytoherownroom。
　　MrsHauksbee’scuriositywasnotlongleftungratified，forMrs。
　　BentcameuptoSimlaafe~
　　daysaftertheconversationfaithfullyreportedabove，andpervadedtheMallbyherhusband’sside。
　　“Behold！”saidMrsHauksbee，thoughtfullyrubbinghernose。
　　“Thatisthelastlinkofthechain，ifweomitthehusbandoftheDelville，whoeverhemaybe。
　　LetmeconsiderTheBentsandtheDelvillesinhabitthesamehotel；andtheDelvilleisdetestedbytheWaddy-doyouknowtheWaddy？-
　　whoisalmostasbigadowdTheWaddyalsoabominatesthemaleBent，forwhich，ifherothersinsdonotweightooheavily，shewillev~tuallygotoHeaven。”
　　“Don’tbeirreverent。”saidMrsMallowe“IlikeMrsBent’sface。”
　　“IamdiscussingtheWaddy。”returnedMrsHauksbee，loftily。
　　“TheWaddywilltakethefemaleBentapart，atterhavingborrowed-yes！~everythingthatshecan，fromhairpinstobabies’
　　bottlesSuch，mydear，islifeinahotelTlicWaddywilltellthefemaleBentfactsandfictionsaboutTheDancingMasterandTheDowd。”
　　“Lucy，Ishouldlikeyoubetterifyouwerenotalwayslookingintopeople’sback-bed-rooms。”
　　“Aiiybodycanlookintotheirfrontdrawing-rooms；andrememberwhateverIdo，andwhateverI
　　look，Inevertalk-astheWaddywillLetushopethatTheDancingMaster’sgreasysmileandmannerofthepedagoguewillsoftentheheartofthatcow，hiswifeIfmouthsspeaktruth，Ishouldthinkthat226
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　　littleMrsBentcouldgetveryangryonoccasion。
　　“Butwhatreasonhassheforbeingangry？”
　　“Whatreason！TheDancingMasterinhimselfisareasonHowdoesitgo？’Ifinhislifesometrivialerrorsfall，Lookinhisfaceandyou’llbelievethemall~’I
　　ampreparedtocreditanyevilofTheDancingMaster，becauseIhatehimsoAndTheDowdissodisgustinglybadlydressed“-“Thatshe，too，iscapableofe~eryiniquity？IalwaysprefertobelievethebestofeverybodyItsavessomuchtrouble。”
　　“VerygoodIprefertobelievethe“orstItsavesuselessexpenditureofsympathyAndyoumaybequitecertainthattheWaddybelieveswithme。”
　　MrsMallowesighedandmadenoanswer。
　　TheconversationwasholdenafterdinnerwhileMrsHauksbeewasdressingforadance。
　　“Iamtootiredtogo。”pleadedMrsMallowe，andMrsHauksbeeleftherinpeacetilltwointhemorning，whenshewasawareofemphaticknockingatherdoor。
　　“Don’tbeveryangry，dear。”saidMrsHauksbee“Myidiotofanayahhasgonehome，and，asI
　　hopetosleepto-night，thereisn’tasoulintheplacetounlaceme。”
　　“Oh，thisistoobad！”saidMrsMallowesulkily。
　　“’Can’thelpitI’malone，lorngrass-widow，dear，butIwillnotsleepinmystaysAndsuchnews，too！Oh，dounlaceme，there’sadarling！TheDowd-TheDancingMaster-IandtheHawleyBoy-YouknowtheNortbveranda？”
　　“HowcanIdoanythingifyouspinroundlikethis？”protestedMrs。
　　Mallowe，fumblingwiththeknotofthelaces。
　　“Oh，IforgetImusttellmytalewithouttheaidofyoureyesDoyouknowyou’velovelyeyes，dear？Welltobeginwith，ItooktheHawleyBoytoakalo’
　　juggak。”
　　“Didhewantmuchtaking？”
　　“Lots！Therewasanarrangementofloose-boxesinkanats，andshewasinthenextonetalkingtohim。”
　　“Which？How？Explain。”
　　“YouknowwhatImean-TheDow1andTheDancingMasterWecouldheareverywordandwelistenedshamelessly-’speciallytheHawleyBoyPolly，Iquitelovethatwoman！”
　　“ThisisinterestingThere！NowturnroundWhathappened？”
　　“OnemomentAh-h！BlessedreliefI’vebeenlookingforwardtotakingthemoffforthelasthalf-hour-whichisominousatmytimeoflifeBut，asIwassaying，welistenedandheardTheDowddrawlworsethaneverShedropsherfinalg’slikeabarmaidorablue-bloodedAide-de-Camp’Lookhe-ere，you’regettin’toofond0’me，’shesaid，andTheDancingMasterowneditwassoinlanguagethatnearlymademei“TheDowdreflectedfoiawhileThenweheardhersay，’Lookhe-ere，MisterBent，whyareyousuchanaw-fulliar？’InearlyexplodedwhileTheDancingMasterdeniedthechargeItseemsthathenevertoldherhewa。”amarriedman。”
　　“Isaidhewouldn’t。”
　　’~Andshehadtakenthistoheart，o，~
　　ASECOND-RATEWOMAN