"Unexpectedobstacle。Pleasedon’tcometillthirtieth。
　　Anna。"
　　AllthewayfromCharingCrosstoDoverthetrainhadhammeredthewordsofthetelegramintoGeorgeDarrow’sears，ringingeverychangeofironyonitscommonplacesyllables：rattlingthemoutlikeadischargeofmusketry，lettingthem，onebyone，dripslowlyandcoldlyintohisbrain，orshaking，tossing，transposingthemlikethediceinsomegameofthegodsofmalice；andnow，asheemergedfromhiscompartmentatthepier，andstoodfacingthewind—
　　sweptplatformandtheangryseabeyond，theyleaptoutathimasiffromthecrestofthewaves，stungandblindedhimwithafreshfuryofderision。
　　"Unexpectedobstacle。Pleasedon’tcometillthirtieth。
　　Anna。"
　　Shehadputhimoffattheverylastmoment，andforthesecondtime：puthimoffwithallhersweetreasonableness，andforoneofherusual"good"reasons——hewascertainthatthisreason，liketheother，（thevisitofherhusband’suncle’swidow）wouldbe"good"！Butitwasthatverycertaintywhichchilledhim。Thefactofherdealingsoreasonablywiththeircaseshedanironiclightontheideathattherehadbeenanyexceptionalwarmthinthegreetingshehadgivenhimaftertheirtwelveyearsapart。
　　Theyhadfoundeachotheragain，inLondon，somethreemonthspreviously，atadinnerattheAmericanEmbassy，andwhenshehadcaughtsightofhimhersmilehadbeenlikearedrosepinnedonherwidow’smourning。Hestillfeltthethrobofsurprisewithwhich，amongthestereotypedfacesoftheseason’sdiners，hehadcomeuponherunexpectedface，withthedarkhairbandedabovegraveeyes；eyesinwhichhehadrecognizedeverylittlecurveandshadowashewouldhaverecognized，afterhalfalife—time，thedetailsofaroomhehadplayedinasachild。Andas，intheplumedstarredcrowd，shehadstoodoutforhim，slender，secludedanddifferent，sohehadfelt，theinstanttheirglancesmet，thatheassharplydetachedhimselfforher。Allthatandmorehersmilehadsaid；hadsaidnotmerely"I
　　remember，"but"Irememberjustwhatyouremember"；almost，indeed，asthoughhermemoryhadaidedhis，herglanceflungbackontheirrecapturedmomentitsmorningbrightness。
　　Certainly，whentheirdistractedAmbassadress——withthecry：
　　"Oh，youknowMrs。Leath？That’sperfect，forGeneralFarnhamhasfailedme"——hadwavedthemtogetherforthemarchtothediningroom，Darrowhadfeltaslightpressureofthearmonhis，apressurefaintlybutunmistakablyemphasizingtheexclamation："Isn’titwonderful？——InLondon——intheseason——inamob？"
　　Littleenough，onthepartofmostwomen；butitwasasignofMrs。Leath’squalitythateverymovement，everysyllable，toldwithher。Evenintheolddays，asanintentgrave—
　　eyedgirl，shehadseldommisplacedherlightstrokes；andDarrow，onmeetingheragain，hadimmediatelyfelthowmuchfinerandsureraninstrumentofexpressionshehadbecome。
　　Theireveningtogetherhadbeenalongconfirmationofthisfeeling。Shehadtalkedtohim，shylyyetfrankly，ofwhathadhappenedtoherduringtheyearswhentheyhadsostrangelyfailedtomeet。ShehadtoldhimofhermarriagetoFraserLeath，andofhersubsequentlifeinFrance，whereherhusband’smother，leftawidowinhisyouth，hadbeenre—marriedtotheMarquisdeChantelle，andwhere，partlyinconsequenceofthissecondunion，thesonhadpermanentlysettledhimself。Shehadspokenalso，withanintenseeagernessofaffection，ofherlittlegirlEffie，whowasnownineyearsold，and，inastrainhardlylesstender，ofOwenLeath，thecharmingcleveryoungstepsonwhomherhusband’sdeathhadlefttohercare……
　　Aporter，stumblingagainstDarrow’sbags，rousedhimtothefactthathestillobstructedtheplatform，inertandencumberingashisluggage。
　　"Crossing，sir？"
　　Washecrossing？Hereallydidn’tknow；butforlackofanymorecompellingimpulsehefollowedtheportertotheluggagevan，singledouthisproperty，andturnedtomarchbehinditdownthegang—way。Asthefiercewindshoulderedhim，buildingupacrystalwallagainsthisefforts，hefeltanewthederisionofhiscase。
　　"Nastyweathertocross，sir，"theporterthrewbackathimastheybeattheirwaydownthenarrowwalktothepier。
　　Nastyweather，indeed；butluckily，asithadturnedout，therewasnoearthlyreasonwhyDarrowshouldcross。
　　Whilehepushedoninthewakeofhisluggagehisthoughtsslippedbackintotheoldgroove。HehadonceortwicerunacrossthemanwhomAnnaSummershadpreferredtohim，andsincehehadmetheragainhehadbeenexercisinghisimaginationonthepictureofwhathermarriedlifemusthavebeen。HerhusbandhadstruckhimasacharacteristicspecimenofthekindofAmericanastowhomoneisnotquiteclearwhetherhelivesinEuropeinordertocultivateanart，orcultivatesanartasapretextforlivinginEurope。
　　Mr。Leath’sartwaswater—colourpainting，buthepractiseditfurtively，almostclandestinely，withthedisdainofamanoftheworldforanythingborderingontheprofessional，whilehedevotedhimselfmoreopenly，andwithreligiousseriousness，tothecollectionofenamelledsnuff—boxes。Hewasblondandwell—dressed，withthephysicaldistinctionthatcomesfromhavingastraightfigure，athinnose，andthehabitoflookingslightlydisgusted——aswhoshouldnot，inaworldwhereauthenticsnuff—boxesweregrowingdailyhardertofind，andthemarketwasfloodedwithflagrantforgeries？
　　DarrowhadoftenwonderedwhatpossibilitiesofcommuniontherecouldhavebeenbetweenMr。Leathandhiswife。Nowheconcludedthattherehadprobablybeennone。Mrs。
　　Leath’swordsgavenohintofherhusband’shavingfailedtojustifyherchoice；butherveryreticencebetrayedher。
　　Shespokeofhimwithakindofimpersonalseriousness，asifhehadbeenacharacterinanovelorafigureinhistory；andwhatshesaidsoundedasthoughithadbeenlearnedbyheartandslightlydulledbyrepetition。ThisfactimmenselyincreasedDarrow’simpressionthathismeetingwithherhadannihilatedtheinterveningyears。
　　She，whowasalwayssoelusiveandinaccessible，hadgrownsuddenlycommunicativeandkind：hadopenedthedoorsofherpast，andtacitlylefthimtodrawhisownconclusions。Asaresult，hehadtakenleaveofherwiththesensethathewasabeingsingledoutandprivileged，towhomshehadentrustedsomethingprecioustokeep。Itwasherhappinessintheirmeetingthatshehadgivenhim，hadfranklylefthimtodowithashewilled；andthefranknessofthegesturedoubledthebeautyofthegift。
　　Theirnextmeetinghadprolongedanddeepenedtheimpression。Theyhadfoundeachotheragain，afewdayslater，inanoldcountryhousefullofbooksandpictures，inthesoftlandscapeofsouthernEngland。Thepresenceofalargeparty，withallitsaimlessandagitateddisplacements，hadservedonlytoisolatethepairandgivethem（atleasttotheyoungman’sfancy）adeeperfeelingofcommunion，andtheirdaystherehadbeenlikesomemusicalprelude，wheretheinstruments，breathinglow，seemtoholdbackthewavesofsoundthatpressagainstthem。
　　Mrs。Leath，onthisoccasion，wasnolesskindthanbefore；
　　butshecontrivedtomakehimunderstandthatwhatwassoinevitablycomingwasnottocometoosoon。Itwasnotthatsheshowedanyhesitationastotheissue，butratherthatsheseemedtowishnottomissanystageinthegradualrefloweringoftheirintimacy。
　　Darrow，forhispart，wascontenttowaitifshewishedit。
　　Herememberedthatonce，inAmerica，whenshewasagirl，andhehadgonetostaywithherfamilyinthecountry，shehadbeenoutwhenhearrived，andhermotherhadtoldhimtolookforherinthegarden。Shewasnotinthegarden，butbeyondithehadseenherapproachingdownalongshadypath。Withouthasteningherstepshehadsmiledandsignedtohimtowait；andcharmedbythelightsandshadowsthatplayeduponherasshemoved，andbythepleasureofwatchingherslowadvancetowardhim，hehadobeyedherandstoodstill。Andsosheseemednowtobewalkingtohimdowntheyears，thelightandshadeofoldmemoriesandnewhopesplayingvariouslyonher，andeachstepgivinghimthevisionofadifferentgrace。Shedidnotwaverorturnaside；heknewshewouldcomestraighttowherehestood；
　　butsomethinginhereyessaid"Wait"，andagainheobeyedandwaited。
　　Onthefourthdayanunexpectedeventthrewouthiscalculations。SummonedtotownbythearrivalinEnglandofherhusband’smother，sheleftwithoutgivingDarrowthechancehehadcountedon，andhecursedhimselfforadilatoryblunderer。Still，hisdisappointmentwastemperedbythecertaintyofbeingwithheragainbeforesheleftforFrance；andtheydidinfactseeeachotherinLondon。
　　There，however，theatmospherehadchangedwiththeconditions。Hecouldnotsaythatsheavoidedhim，oreventhatshewasashadelessgladtoseehim；butshewasbesetbyfamilydutiesand，ashethought，alittletooreadilyresignedtothem。
　　TheMarquisedeChantelle，asDarrowsoonperceived，hadthesamemildformidablenessasthelateMr。Leath：asortofinsistentself—effacementbeforewhicheveryoneabouthergaveway。Itwasperhapstheshadowofthislady’spresence——pervasiveevenduringheractualbriefeclipses——
　　thatsubduedandsilencedMrs。Leath。Thelatterwas，moreover，preoccupiedaboutherstepson，who，soonafterreceivinghisdegreeatHarvard，hadbeenrescuedfromastormylove—affair，andfinally，aftersomemonthsoftroubleddrifting，hadyieldedtohisstep—mother’scounselandgoneuptoOxfordforayearofsupplementarystudy。
　　ThitherMrs。Leathwentonceortwicetovisithim，andherremainingdayswerepackedwithfamilyobligations：getting，asshephrasedit，"frocksandgovernesses"forherlittlegirl，whohadbeenleftinFrance，andhavingtodevotetheremaininghourstolongshoppingexpeditionswithhermother—in—law。Nevertheless，duringherbriefescapesfromduty，Darrowhadhadtimetofeelhersafeinthecustodyofhisdevotion，setapartforsomeinevitablehour；andthelastevening，atthetheatre，betweentheovershadowingMarquiseandtheunsuspiciousOwen，theyhadhadanalmostdecisiveexchangeofwords。
　　Now，intherattleofthewindabouthisears，Darrowcontinuedtohearthemockingechoofhermessage：
　　"Unexpectedobstacle。"InsuchanexistenceasMrs。Leath’s，atoncesoorderedandsoexposed，heknewhowsmallacomplicationmightassumethemagnitudeofan"obstacle；"
　　yet，evenallowingasimpartiallyashisstateofmindpermittedforthefactthat，withhermother—in—lawalways，andherstepsonintermittently，underherroof，herlotinvolvedahundredsmallaccommodationsgenerallyforeigntothefreedomofwidowhood——evenso，hecouldnotbutthinkthattheveryingenuitybredofsuchconditionsmighthavehelpedhertofindawayoutofthem。No，her"reason"，whateveritwas，could，inthiscase，benothingbutapretext；unlessheleanedtothelessflatteringalternativethatanyreasonseemedgoodenoughforpostponinghim！
　　Certainly，ifherwelcomehadmeantwhatheimagined，shecouldnot，forthesecondtimewithinafewweeks，havesubmittedsotamelytothedisarrangementoftheirplans；adisarrangementwhich——hisofficialdutiesconsidered——might，forallsheknew，resultinhisnotbeingabletogotoherformonths。
　　"Pleasedon’tcometillthirtieth。"Thethirtieth——anditwasnowthefifteenth！Sheflungbackthefortnightonhishandsasifhehadbeenanidlerindifferenttodates，insteadofanactiveyoungdiplomatistwho，torespondtohercall，hadhadtohewhiswaythroughaveryjungleofengagements！"Pleasedon’tcometillthirtieth。"Thatwasall。Nottheshadowofanexcuseoraregret；noteventheperfunctory"havewritten"withwhichitisusualtosoftensuchblows。Shedidn’twanthim，andhadtakentheshortestwaytotellhimso。Eveninhisfirstmomentofexasperationitstruckhimascharacteristicthatsheshouldnothavepaddedherpostponementwithafib。Certainlyhermoralangleswerenotdraped！
　　"IfIaskedhertomarryme，she’dhaverefusedinthesamelanguage。ButthankheavenIhaven’t！"hereflected。
　　Theseconsiderations，whichhadbeenwithhimeveryyardofthewayfromLondon，reachedaclimaxofironyashewasdrawnintothecrowdonthepier。Itdidnotsoftenhisfeelingstorememberthat，butforherlackofforethought，hemight，atthisharshendofthestormyMayday，havebeensittingbeforehisclubfireinLondoninsteadofshiveringinthedamphumanherdonthepier。Admittingthesex’straditionalrighttochange，shemightatleasthaveadvisedhimofhersbytelegraphingdirectlytohisrooms。Butinspiteoftheirexchangeoflettersshehadapparentlyfailedtonotehisaddress，andabreathlessemissaryhadrushedfromtheEmbassytopitchhertelegramintohiscompartmentasthetrainwasmovingfromthestation。
　　Yes，hehadgivenherchanceenoughtolearnwherehelived；
　　andthisminorproofofherindifferencebecame，ashejammedhiswaythroughthecrowd，themainpointofhisgrievanceagainstherandofhisderisionofhimself。Halfwaydownthepiertheprodofanumbrellaincreasedhisexasperationbyrousinghimtothefactthatitwasraining。
　　Instantlythenarrowledgebecameabattle—groundofthrusting，slanting，parryingdomes。Thewindrosewiththerain，andtheharriedwretchesexposedtothisdoubleassaultwreakedontheirneighboursthevengeancetheycouldnottakeontheelements。
　　Darrow，whosehealthyenjoymentoflifemadehimingeneralagoodtraveller，tolerantofagglutinatedhumanity，felthimselfobscurelyoutragedbythesepromiscuouscontacts。
　　Itwasasthoughallthepeopleabouthimhadtakenhismeasureandknownhisplight；asthoughtheywerecontemptuouslybumpingandshovinghimliketheinconsiderablethinghehadbecome。"Shedoesn’twantyou，doesn’twantyou，doesn’twantyou，"theirumbrellasandtheirelbowsseemedtosay。
　　Hehadrashlyvowed，whenthetelegramwasflungintohiswindow："AtanyrateIwon’tturnback"——asthoughitmightcausethesenderamaliciousjoytohavehimretracehisstepsratherthankeepontoParis！Nowheperceivedtheabsurdityofthevow，andthankedhisstarsthatheneednotplunge，tonopurpose，intothefuryofwavesoutsidetheharbour。
　　Withthisthoughtinhismindheturnedbacktolookforhisporter；butthecontiguityofdrippingumbrellasmadesignallingimpossibleand，perceivingthathehadlostsightoftheman，hescrambledupagaintotheplatform。Ashereachedit，adescendingumbrellacaughthiminthecollar—
　　bone；andthenextmoment，bentsidewaysbythewind，itturnedinsideoutandsoaredup，kite—wise，attheendofahelplessfemalearm。
　　Darrowcaughttheumbrella，lowereditsinvertedribs，andlookedupatthefaceitexposedtohim。
　　"Waitaminute，"hesaid；"youcan’tstayhere。"
　　Ashespoke，asurgeofthecrowddrovetheowneroftheumbrellaabruptlydownonhim。Darrowsteadiedherwithextendedarms，andregainingherfootingshecriedout："Oh，dear，oh，dear！It’sinribbons！"
　　Herliftedface，freshandflushedinthedrivingrain，wokeinhimamemoryofhavingseenitatadistanttimeandinavaguelyunsympatheticsetting；butitwasnomomenttofollowupsuchclues，andthefacewasobviouslyonetomakeitswayonitsownmerits。
　　Itspossessorhaddroppedherbagandbundlestoclutchatthetatteredumbrella。"IboughtitonlyyesterdayattheStores；and——yes——it’sutterlydonefor！"shelamented。
　　Darrowsmiledattheintensityofherdistress。Itwasfoodforthemoralistthat，sidebysidewithsuchcatastrophesashis，humannaturewasstillagitatingitselfoveritsmicroscopicwoes！
　　"Here’smineifyouwantit！"heshoutedbackatherthroughtheshoutingofthegale。
　　Theoffercausedtheyoungladytolookathimmoreintently。"Why，it’sMr。Darrow！"sheexclaimed；andthen，allradiantrecognition："Oh，thankyou！We’llshareit，ifyouwill。"
　　Sheknewhim，then；andheknewher；buthowandwherehadtheymet？Heputasidetheproblemforsubsequentsolution，anddrawingherintoamoreshelteredcorner，badeherwaittillhecouldfindhisporter。
　　When，afewminuteslater，hecamebackwithhisrecoveredproperty，andthenewsthattheboatwouldnotleavetillthetidehadturned，sheshowednoconcern。
　　"Notfortwohours？Howlucky——thenIcanfindmytrunk！"
　　OrdinarilyDarrowwouldhavefeltlittledisposedtoinvolvehimselfintheadventureofayoungfemalewhohadlosthertrunk；butatthemomenthewasgladofanypretextforactivity。EvenshouldhedecidetotakethenextuptrainfromDoverhestillhadayawninghourtofill；andtheobviousremedywastodevoteittothelovelinessindistressunderhisumbrella。
　　"You’velostatrunk？LetmeseeifIcanfindit。"
　　Itpleasedhimthatshedidnotreturntheconventional"Oh，WOULDyou？"Instead，shecorrectedhimwithalaugh——Notatrunk，butmytrunk；I’venoother——"andthenaddedbriskly："You’dbetterfirstseetogettingyourownthingsontheboat。"
　　Thismadehimanswer，asiftogivesubstancetohisplansbydiscussingthem："Idon’tactuallyknowthatI’mgoingover。"
　　"Notgoingover？"
　　"Well……perhapsnotbythisboat。"Againhefeltastealingindecision。"ImayprobablyhavetogobacktoLondon。
　　I’m——I’mwaiting……expectingaletter……（She’llthinkmeadefaulter，"hereflected。）"Butmeanwhilethere’splentyoftimetofindyourtrunk。"
　　Hepickeduphiscompanion’sbundles，andofferedheranarmwhichenabledhertopressherslightpersonmorecloselyunderhisumbrella；andas，thuslinked，theybeattheirwaybacktotheplatform，pulledtogetherandapartlikemarionettesonthewiresofthewind，hecontinuedtowonderwherehecouldhaveseenher。Hehadimmediatelyclassedherasacompatriot；hersmallnose，hercleartints，akindofsketchydelicacyinherface，asthoughshehadbeenbrightlybutlightlywashedinwithwater—colour，allconfirmedtheevidenceofherhighsweetvoiceandofherquickincessantgestures。ShewasclearlyanAmerican，butwiththeloosenativequalitystrainedthroughacloserwoofofmanners：thecompositeproductofanenquiringandadaptablerace。Allthis，however，didnothelphimtofitanametoher，forjustsuchinstanceswereperpetuallypouringthroughtheLondonEmbassy，andtheetchedandangularAmericanwasbecomingrarerthanthefluidtype。
　　Morepuzzlingthanthefactofhisbeingunabletoidentifyherwasthepersistentsenseconnectingherwithsomethinguncomfortableanddistasteful。Sopleasantavisionasthatgleamingupathimbetweenwetbrownhairandwetbrownboashouldhaveevokedonlyassociationsaspleasing；buteachefforttofitherimageintohispastresultedinthesamememoriesofboredomandavaguediscomfort……
　　II
　　Don’tyouremembermenow——atMrs。Murrett’s？"
　　ShethrewthequestionatDarrowacrossatableofthequietcoffee—roomtowhich，afteravainlyprolongedquestforhertrunk，hehadsuggestedtakingherforacupoftea。
　　Inthismustyretreatshehadremovedherdrippinghat，hungitonthefendertodry，andstretchedherselfontiptoeinfrontoftheroundeagle—crownedmirror，abovethemantelvasesofdyedimmortelles，whilesheranherfingerscomb—
　　wisethroughherhair。ThegesturehadactedonDarrow’snumbfeelingsastheglowofthefireactedonhiscirculation；andwhenhehadasked："Aren’tyourfeetwet，too？"and，afterfrankinspectionofastout—shodsole，shehadansweredcheerfully："No——luckilyIhadonmynewboots，"hebegantofeelthathumanintercoursewouldstillbetolerableifitwerealwaysasfreefromformality。
　　Theremovalofhiscompanion’shat，besidesprovokingthisreflection，gavehimhisfirstfullsightofherface；andthiswassofavourablethatthenameshenowpronouncedfellonhimwithaquitedisproportionateshockofdismay。
　　"Oh，Mrs。Murrett’s——wasitTHERE？"
　　Herememberedhernow，ofcourse：rememberedherasoneoftheshadowysidlingpresencesinthebackgroundofthatawfulhouseinChelsea，oneofthedumbappendagesoftheshriekingunescapableMrs。Murrett，intowhosetalonshehadfalleninthecourseofhishead—longpursuitofLadyUlricaCrispin。Oh，thetasteofstalefollies！Howinsipiditwas，yethowitclung！
　　"Iusedtopassyouonthestairs，"sheremindedhim。
　　Yes：hehadseenherslipby——herecalleditnow——ashedasheduptothedrawing—roominquestofLadyUlrica。Thethoughtmadehimstealalongerlook。HowcouldsuchafacehavebeenmergedintheMurrettmob？Itsfugitiveslantinglines，thatlentthemselvestoallmanneroftendertiltsandforeshortenings，hadthefreakishgraceofsomeyoungheadoftheItaliancomedy。Thehairstoodupfromherforeheadinaboyishelf—lock，anditscolourmatchedherauburneyesfleckedwithblack，andthelittlebrownspotonhercheek，betweentheearthatwasmeanttohavearosebehinditandthechinthatshouldhaverestedonaruff。
　　Whenshesmiled，theleftcornerofhermouthwentupalittlehigherthantheright；andhersmilebeganinhereyesandrandowntoherlipsintwolinesoflight。HehaddashedpastthattoreachLadyUlricaCrispin！
　　"Butofcourseyouwouldn’trememberme，"shewassaying。
　　"MynameisViner——SophyViner。"
　　Notrememberher？ButofcourseheDID！Hewasgenuinelysureofitnow。"You’reMrs。Murrett’sniece，"hedeclared。
　　Sheshookherhead。"No；noteventhat。Onlyherreader。"
　　"Herreader？Doyoumeantosaysheeverreads？"
　　MissVinerenjoyedhiswonder。"Dear，no！ButIwrotenotes，andmadeupthevisiting—book，andwalkedthedogs，andsawboresforher。"
　　Darrowgroaned。"Thatmusthavebeenratherbad！"
　　"Yes；butnothinglikeasbadasbeingherniece。"
　　"ThatIcanwellbelieve。I’mgladtohear，"headded，"thatyouputitallinthepasttense。"
　　Sheseemedtodroopalittleattheallusion；thensheliftedherchinwithajerkofdefiance。"Yes。Allisatanendbetweenus。We’vejustpartedintears——butnotinsilence！"
　　"Justparted？Doyoumeantosayyou’vebeenthereallthistime？"
　　"EversinceyouusedtocometheretoseeLadyUlrica？Doesitseemtoyousoawfullylongago？"
　　Theunexpectednessofthethrust——aswellasitsdoubtfultaste——chilledhisgrowingenjoymentofherchatter。Hehadreallybeengettingtolikeher——hadrecovered，underthecandidapprovalofhereye，hisusualsenseofbeingapersonableyoungman，withalltheprivilegespertainingtothestate，insteadoftheanonymousragofhumanityhehadfelthimselfinthecrowdonthepier。Itannoyedhim，atthatparticularmoment，toberemindedthatnaturalnessisnotalwaysconsonantwithtaste。
　　Sheseemedtoguesshisthought。"Youdon’tlikemysayingthatyoucameforLadyUlrica？"sheasked，leaningoverthetabletopourherselfasecondcupoftea。
　　Helikedherquickness，atanyrate。"It’sbetter，"helaughed，"thanyourthinkingIcameforMrs。Murrett！"
　　"Oh，weneverthoughtanybodycameforMrs。Murrett！Itwasalwaysforsomethingelse：themusic，orthecook——whentherewasagoodone——ortheotherpeople；generallyONE
　　oftheotherpeople。"
　　"Isee。"
　　Shewasamusing，andthat，inhispresentmood，wasmoretohispurposethantheexactshadeofhertaste。Itwasodd，too，todiscoversuddenlythattheblurredtapestryofMrs。
　　Murrett’sbackgroundhadallthewhilebeenaliveandfullofeyes。Now，withapairofthemlookingintohis，hewasconsciousofaqueerreversalofperspective。
　　"Whowerethe’we’？Wereyouacloudofwitnesses？"
　　"Therewereagoodmanyofus。"Shesmiled。"Letmesee——
　　whowasthereinyourtime？Mrs。Bolt——andMademoiselle——andProfessorDidymusandthePolishCountess。Don’tyourememberthePolishCountess？Shecrystal—gazed，andplayedaccompaniments，andMrs。MurrettchuckedherbecauseMrs。
　　DidymusaccusedherofhypnotizingtheProfessor。Butofcourseyoudon’tremember。Wewereallinvisibletoyou；
　　butwecouldsee。Andweallusedtowonderaboutyou————"
　　AgainDarrowfeltarednessinthetemples。"Whataboutme？"
　　"Well——whetheritwasyouorshewho……"
　　Hewinced，buthidhisdisapproval。Itmadethetimepasstolistentoher。
　　"Andwhat，ifonemayask，wasyourconclusion？"
　　"Well，Mrs。BoltandMademoiselleandtheCountessnaturallythoughtitwasSHE；butProfessorDidymusandJimmyBrance——especiallyJimmy————"
　　"Justamoment：whoonearthisJimmyBrance？"
　　Sheexclaimedinwonder："YouWEREabsorbed——nottorememberJimmyBrance！Hemusthavebeenrightaboutyou，afterall。"Sheletheramusedscrutinydwellonhim。"Buthowcouldyou？Shewasfalsefromheadtofoot！"
　　"False————？"Inspiteoftimeandsatiety，themaleinstinctofownershiproseupandrepudiatedthecharge。
　　MissVinercaughthislookandlaughed。"Oh，Ionlymeantexternally！Yousee，sheoftenusedtocometomyroomaftertennis，ortotouchupintheevenings，whentheyweregoingon；andIassureyoushetookapartlikeapuzzle。InfactIusedtosaytoJimmy——justtomakehimwild——：’I’llbetyouanythingyoulikethere’snothingwrong，becauseIknowshe’dneverdareun——’"Shebrokethewordintwo，andherquickblushmadeherfacelikeashallow—petalledroseshadingtothedeeperpinkofthecentre。
　　Thesituationwassaved，forDarrow，byanabruptrushofmemories，andhegavewaytoamirthwhichsheasfranklyechoed。"Ofcourse，"shegaspedthroughherlaughter，"I