onlysaidittoteaseJimmy————"
　　Heramusementobscurelyannoyedhim。"Oh，you’reallalike！"heexclaimed，movedbyanunaccountablesenseofdisappointment。
　　Shecaughthimupinaflash——shedidn’tmissthings！"YousaythatbecauseyouthinkI’mspitefulandenvious？Yes——I
　　wasenviousofLadyUlrica……Oh，notonaccountofyouorJimmyBrance！SimplybecauseshehadalmostallthethingsI’vealwayswanted：clothesandfunandmotors，andadmirationandyachtingandParis——why，Parisalonewouldbeenough！——Andhowdoyousupposeagirlcanseethatsortofthingaboutherdayafterday，andneverwonderwhysomewomen，whodon’tseemtohaveanymorerighttoit，haveitalltumbledintotheirlaps，whileothersarewritingdinnerinvitations，andstraighteningoutaccounts，andcopyingvisitinglists，andfinishinggolf—stockings，andmatchingribbons，andseeingthatthedogsgettheirsulphur？Onelooksinone’sglass，afterall！"
　　Shelaunchedtheclosingwordsathimonacrythatliftedthemabovethepetulanceofvanity；buthissenseofherwordswaslostinthesurpriseofherface。Undertheflyingcloudsofherexcitementitwasnolongerashallowflower—cupbutadarkeninggleamingmirrorthatmightgivebackstrangedepthsoffeeling。Thegirlhadstuffinher——
　　hesawit；andsheseemedtocatchtheperceptioninhiseyes。
　　"That’sthekindofeducationIgotatMrs。Murrett’s——andIneverhadanyother，"shesaidwithashrug。
　　"GoodLord——wereyoutheresolong？"
　　"Fiveyears。Istuckitoutlongerthananyoftheothers。"
　　Shespokeasthoughitweresomethingtobeproudof。
　　"Well，thankGodyou’reoutofitnow！"
　　Againajustperceptibleshadowcrossedherface。"Yes——I’moutofitnowfastenough。"
　　"Andwhat——ifImayask——areyoudoingnext？"
　　Shebroodedamomentbehinddroopedlids；then，withatouchofhauteur："I’mgoingtoParis：tostudyforthestage。"
　　"Thestage？"Darrowstaredather，dismayed。Allhisconfusedcontradictoryimpressionsassumedanewaspectatthisannouncement；andtohidehissurpriseheaddedlightly："Ah——thenyouwillhaveParis，afterall！"
　　"HardlyLadyUlrica’sParis。Itsnotlikelytoberoses，rosesalltheway。"
　　"It’snot，indeed。"Realcompassionpromptedhimtocontinue："Haveyouany——anyinfluenceyoucancounton？"
　　Shegaveasomewhatflippantlittlelaugh。"Nonebutmyown。I’veneverhadanyothertocounton。"
　　Hepassedovertheobviousreply。"Buthaveyouanyideahowtheprofessionisover—crowded？IknowI’mtrite————"
　　"I’veaveryclearidea。ButIcouldn’tgoonasIwas。"
　　"Ofcoursenot。Butsince，asyousay，you’dstuckitoutlongerthananyoftheothers，couldn’tyouatleasthaveheldontillyouweresureofsomekindofanopening？"
　　Shemadenoreplyforamoment；thensheturnedalistlessglancetotherain—beatenwindow。"Oughtn’twebestarting？"sheasked，withaloftyassumptionofindifferencethatmighthavebeenLadyUlrica’s。
　　Darrow，surprisedbythechange，butacceptingherrebuffasaphaseofwhatheguessedtobeaconfusedandtormentedmood，rosefromhisseatandliftedherjacketfromthechair—backonwhichshehadhungittodry。Asheheldittowardhershelookedupathimquickly。
　　"Thetruthis，wequarrelled，"shebrokeout，"andIleftlastnightwithoutmydinner——andwithoutmysalary。"
　　"Ah——"hegroaned，withasharpperceptionofallthesordiddangersthatmightattendsuchabreakwithMrs。Murrett。
　　"Andwithoutacharacter！"sheadded，assheslippedherarmsintothejacket。"Andwithoutatrunk，asitappears——
　　butdidn’tyousaythat，beforegoing，there’dbetimeforanotherlookatthestation？"
　　Therewastimeforanotherlookatthestation；butthelookagainresultedindisappointment，sincehertrunkwasnowheretobefoundinthehugeheapdisgorgedbythenewly—
　　arrivedLondonexpress。ThefactcausedMissVineramoment’sperturbation；butshepromptlyadjustedherselftothenecessityofproceedingonherjourney，andherdecisionconfirmedDarrow’svagueresolvetogotoParisinsteadofretracinghiswaytoLondon。
　　MissVinerseemedcheeredattheprospectofhiscompany，andsustainedbyhisoffertotelegraphtoCharingCrossforthemissingtrunk；andhelefthertowaitintheflywhilehehastenedbacktothetelegraphoffice。Theenquirydespatched，hewasturningawayfromthedeskwhenanotherthoughtstruckhimandhewentbackandinditedamessagetohisservantinLondon："IfanyletterswithFrenchpost—markreceivedsincedepartureforwardimmediatelytoTerminusHotelGareduNordParis。"
　　ThenherejoinedMissViner，andtheydroveoffthroughtheraintothepier。
　　III
　　AlmostassoonasthetrainleftCalaisherheadhaddroppedbackintothecorner，andshehadfallenasleep。
　　Sittingopposite，inthecompartmentfromwhichhehadcontrivedtohaveothertravellersexcluded，Darrowlookedathercuriously。Hehadneverseenafacethatchangedsoquickly。Amomentsinceithaddancedlikeafieldofdaisiesinasummerbreeze；now，underthepallidoscillatinglightofthelampoverhead，itworethehardstampofexperience，asofasoftthingchilledintoshapebeforeitscurveshadrounded：anditmovedhimtoseethatcarealreadystoleuponherwhensheslept。
　　Thestoryshehadimpartedtohiminthewheezingshakingcabin，andattheCalaisbuffet——wherehehadinsistedonofferingherthedinnershehadmissedatMrs。Murrett’s——
　　hadgivenadistincteroutlinetoherfigure。FromthemomentofenteringtheNewYorkboarding—schooltowhichapreoccupiedguardianhadhastilyconsignedherafterthedeathofherparents，shehadfoundherselfaloneinabusyandindifferentworld。Heryouthfulhistorymight，infact，havebeensummedupinthestatementthateverybodyhadbeentoobusytolookafterher。Herguardian，adrudgeinabigbankinghouse，wasabsorbedby"theoffice"；theguardian’swife，byherhealthandherreligion；andaneldersister，Laura，married，unmarried，remarried，andpursuing，throughallthesealternatingphases，somevaguely"artistic"idealonwhichtheguardianandhiswifelookedaskance，had（asDarrowconjectured）takentheirdisapprovalasapretextfornottroublingherselfaboutpoorSophy，towhom——perhapsforthisreason——shehadremainedtheincarnationofremoteromanticpossibilities。
　　Inthecourseoftimeasudden"stroke"oftheguardian’shadthrownhispersonalaffairsintoastateofconfusionfromwhich——afterhiswidelylamenteddeath——itbecameevidentthatitwouldnotbepossibletoextricatehisward’sinheritance。Noonedeploredthismoresincerelythanhiswidow，whosawinitonemoreproofofherhusband’slifehavingbeensacrificedtotheinnumerabledutiesimposedonhim，andwhocouldhardly——butforthecounselsofreligion——havebroughtherselftopardontheyounggirlforherindirectshareinhasteninghisend。
　　Sophydidnotresentthispointofview。Shewasreallymuchsorrierforherguardian’sdeaththanforthelossofherinsignificantfortune。Thelatterhadrepresentedonlythemeansofholdingherinbondage，anditsdisappearancewastheoccasionofherimmediateplungeintothewidebrightseaoflifesurroundingtheisland—ofhercaptivity。
　　Shehadfirstlanded——thankstotheinterventionoftheladieswhohaddirectedhereducation——inaFifthAvenueschool—roomwhere，forafewmonths，sheactedasabufferbetweenthreeautocraticinfantsandtheirbodyguardofnursesandteachers。Thetoo—pressingattentionsoftheirfather’svalethadcausedhertoflythisshelteredspot，againsttheexpressadviceofhereducationalsuperiors，whoimpliedthat，intheirowncase，refinementandself—respecthadalwayssufficedtokeepthemostungovernablepassionsatbay。Theexperienceoftheguardian’swidowhavingbeenpreciselysimilar，andthedeplorableprecedentofLaura’scareerbeingpresenttoalltheirminds，noneoftheseladiesfeltanyobligationtointervenefartherinSophy’saffairs；andshewasaccordinglylefttoherownresources。
　　AschoolmatefromtheRockyMountains，whowastakingherfatherandmothertoEurope，hadsuggestedSophy’saccompanyingthem，and"goinground"withherwhileherprogenitors，inthecareofthecourier，nursedtheirailmentsatafashionablebath。Darrowgatheredthatthe"goinground"withMamieHokewasavariedanddivertingprocess；butthisrelativelybrilliantphaseofSophy’scareerwascutshortbytheelopementoftheinconsiderateMamiewitha"matineeidol"whohadfollowedherfromNewYork，andbytheprecipitatereturnofherparentstonegotiatefortherepurchaseoftheirchild。
　　Itwasthen——afteranintervalofreposewithcompassionatebutimpecuniousAmericanfriendsinParis——thatMissVinerhadbeendrawnintotheturbidcurrentofMrs。Murrett’scareer。TheimpecuniouscompatriotshadfoundMrs。Murrettforher，anditwaspartlyontheiraccount（becausetheyweresuchdears，andsounconscious，poorconfidingthings，ofwhattheywerelettingherinfor）thatSophyhadstuckitoutsolonginthedreadfulhouseinChelsea。TheFarlows，sheexplainedtoDarrow，werethebestfriendsshehadeverhad（andtheonlyoneswhohadever"beendecent"
　　aboutLaura，whomtheyhadseenonce，andintenselyadmired）；butevenaftertwentyyearsofParistheywerethemostincorrigiblyinexperiencedangels，andquitepersuadedthatMrs。Murrettwasawomanofgreatintellectualeminence，andthehouseatChelsea"thelastofthesalons"
　　——Darrowknewwhatshemeant？Andshehadn’tlikedtoundeceivethem，knowingthattodosowouldbevirtuallytothrowherselfbackontheirhands，andfeeling，moreover，afterherpreviousexperiences，theurgentneedofgaining，atanycost，anameforstability；besideswhich——shethrewitoffwithaslightlaugh——nootherchance，inalltheseyears，hadhappenedtocometoher。
　　Shehadbrushedinthisoutlineofhercareerwithlightrapidstrokes，andinatoneoffatalismoddlyuntingedbybitterness。Darrowperceivedthatsheclassifiedpeopleaccordingtotheirgreaterorless"luck"inlife，butsheappearedtoharbournoresentmentagainsttheundefinedpowerwhichdispensedthegiftinsuchunequalmeasure。
　　Thingscameone’swayortheydidn’t；andmeanwhileonecouldonlylookon，andmakethemostofsmallcompensations，suchaswatching"theshow"atMrs。
　　Murrett’s，andtalkingovertheLadyUlricasandotherfootlightfigures。Andatanymoment，ofcourse，aturnofthekaleidoscopemightsuddenlytossabrightspangleintothegreypatternofone’sdays。
　　Thislight—heartedphilosophywasnotwithoutcharmtoayoungmanaccustomedtomoretraditionalviews。GeorgeDarrowhadhadafairlyvariedexperienceoffemininetypes，butthewomenhehadfrequentedhadeitherbeenpronouncedly"ladies"ortheyhadnot。Gratefultobothforministeringtothemorecomplexmasculinenature，anddisposedtoassumethattheyhadbeenevolved，ifnotdesigned，tothatend，hehadinstinctivelykeptthetwogroupsapartinhismind，avoidingthatintermediatesocietywhichattemptstoconciliateboththeoriesoflife。"Bohemianism"seemedtohimacheaperconventionthantheothertwo，andheliked，aboveall，peoplewhowentasfarastheycouldintheirownline——likedhis"ladies"andtheirrivalstobeequallyunashamedofshowingforexactlywhattheywere。Hehadnotindeed——thefactofLadyUlricawastheretoremindhim——
　　beenwithouthisexperienceofathirdtype；butthatexperiencehadlefthimwithacontemptuousdistasteforthewomanwhousestheprivilegesofoneclasstoshelterthecustomsofanother。
　　Astoyounggirls，hehadneverthoughtmuchaboutthemsincehisearlyloveforthegirlwhohadbecomeMrs。Leath。
　　Thatepisodeseemed，ashelookedbackonit，tobearnomorerelationtorealitythanapaledecorativedesigntotheconfusedrichnessofasummerlandscape。Henolongerunderstoodtheviolentimpulsesanddreamypausesofhisownyoungheart，ortheinscrutableabandonmentsandreluctancesofhers。Hehadknownamomentofanguishatlosingher——themadplungeofyouthfulinstinctsagainstthebarrieroffate；butthefirstwaveofstrongersensationhadsweptawayallbuttheoutlineoftheirstory，andthememoryofAnnaSummershadmadetheimageoftheyounggirlsacred，buttheclassuninteresting。
　　Suchgeneralisationsbelonged，however，toanearlierstageofhisexperience。Themorehesawoflifethemoreincalculablehefoundit；andhehadlearnedtoyieldtohisimpressionswithoutfeelingtheyouthfulneedofrelatingthemtoothers。Itwasthegirlintheoppositeseatwhohadrousedinhimthedormanthabitofcomparison。Shewasdistinguishedfromthedaughtersofwealthbyheravowedacquaintancewiththerealbusinessofliving，afamiliarityasdifferentaspossiblefromtheirtheoreticalproficiency；
　　yetitseemedtoDarrowthatherexperiencehadmadeherfreewithouthardnessandself—assuredwithoutassertiveness。
　　TherushintoAmiens，andtheflashofthestationlightsintotheircompartment，brokeMissViner’ssleep，andwithoutchangingherpositionsheliftedherlidsandlookedatDarrow。Therewasneithersurprisenorbewildermentinthelook。Sheseemedinstantlyconscious，notsomuchofwhereshewas，asofthefactthatshewaswithhim；andthatfactseemedenoughtoreassureher。Shedidnoteventurnherheadtolookout；hereyescontinuedtorestonhimwithavaguesmilewhichappearedtolightherfacefromwithin，whileherlipskepttheirsleepydroop。
　　Shoutsandthehurriedtreadoftravellerscametothemthroughtheconfusingcross—lightsoftheplatform。Aheadappearedatthewindow，andDarrowthrewhimselfforwardtodefendtheirsolitude；buttheintruderwasonlyatrainhandgoinghisroundofinspection。Hepassedon，andthelightsandcriesofthestationdroppedaway，mergedinawiderhazeandahollowerresonance，asthetraingathereditselfupwithalongshakeandrolledoutagainintothedarkness。
　　MissViner’sheadsankbackagainstthecushion，pushingoutaduskywaveofhairaboveherforehead。Theswayingofthetrainloosenedalockoverherear，andsheshookitbackwithamovementlikeaboy’s，whilehergazestillrestedonhercompanion。
　　"You’renottootired？"
　　Sheshookherheadwithasmile。
　　"Weshallbeinbeforemidnight。We’reverynearlyontime。"Heverifiedthestatementbyholdinguphiswatchtothelamp。
　　Shenoddeddreamily。"It’sallright。ItelegraphedMrs。
　　Farlowthattheymustn’tthinkofcomingtothestation；butthey’llhavetoldtheconciergetolookoutforme。"
　　"You’llletmedriveyouthere？"
　　Shenoddedagain，andhereyesclosed。ItwasverypleasanttoDarrowthatshemadenoefforttotalkortodissemblehersleepiness。Hesatwatchinghertilltheupperlashesmetandmingledwiththelower，andtheirblentshadowlayonhercheek；thenhestoodupanddrewthecurtainoverthelamp，drowningthecompartmentinabluishtwilight。
　　AshesankbackintohisseathethoughthowdifferentlyAnnaSummers——orevenAnnaLeath——wouldhavebehaved。Shewouldnothavetalkedtoomuch；shewouldnothavebeeneitherrestlessorembarrassed；butheradaptability，herappropriateness，wouldnothavebeennaturebut"tact。"Theoddnessofthesituationwouldhavemadesleepimpossible，or，ifwearinesshadovercomeherforamoment，shewouldhavewakedwithastart，wonderingwhereshewas，andhowshehadcomethere，andifherhairweretidy；andnothingshortofhairpinsandaglasswouldhaverestoredherself—
　　possession……
　　Thereflectionsethimwonderingwhetherthe"sheltered"
　　girl’sbringing—upmightnotunfitherforallsubsequentcontactwithlife。HowmuchnearertoithadMrs。Leathbeenbroughtbymarriageandmotherhood，andthepassageoffourteenyears？Whatwereallherreticencesandevasionsbuttheresultofthedeadeningprocessofforminga"lady"？
　　Thefreshnesshehadmarvelledatwasliketheunnaturalwhitenessofflowersforcedinthedark。
　　Ashelookedbackattheirfewdaystogetherhesawthattheirintercoursehadbeenmarked，onherpart，bythesamehesitationsandreserveswhichhadchilledtheirearlierintimacy。Oncemoretheyhadhadtheirhourtogetherandshehadwastedit。Asinhergirlhood，hereyeshadmadepromiseswhichherlipswereafraidtokeep。Shewasstillafraidoflife，ofitsruthlessness，itsdangerandmystery。
　　Shewasstillthepettedlittlegirlwhocannotbeleftaloneinthedark……Hismemoryflewbacktotheiryouthfulstory，andlong—forgottendetailstookshapebeforehim。
　　Howfrailandfaintthepicturewas！Theyseemed，heandshe，liketheghostlyloversoftheGrecianUrn，foreverpursuingwithouteverclaspingeachother。Tothisdayhedidnotquiteknowwhathadpartedthem：thebreakhadbeenasfortuitousastheflutteringapartoftwoseed—vesselsonawaveofsummerair……
　　Theveryslightness，vagueness，ofthememorygaveitanaddedpoignancy。Hefeltthemysticpangoftheparentforachildwhichhasjustbreathedanddied。Whyhadithappenedthus，whentheleastshiftingofinfluencesmighthavemadeitallsodifferent？Ifshehadbeengiventohimthenhewouldhaveputwarmthinherveinsandlightinhereyes：wouldhavemadeherawomanthroughandthrough。
　　Musingthus，hehadthesenseofwastethatisthebitterestharvestofexperience。Alovelikehismighthavegivenherthedivinegiftofself—renewal；andnowhesawherfatedtowaneintooldagerepeatingthesamegestures，echoingthewordsshehadalwaysheard，andperhapsneverguessingthat，justoutsideherglazedandcurtainedconsciousness，liferolledaway，avastblacknessstarredwithlights，likethenightlandscapebeyondthewindowsofthetrain。
　　Theenginelowereditsspeedforthepassagethroughasleepingstation。InthelightoftheplatformlampDarrowlookedacrossathiscompanion。Herheadhaddroppedtowardoneshoulder，andherlipswerejustfarenoughapartforthereflectionoftheupperonetodeepenthecolouroftheother。Thejoltingofthetrainhadagainshakenloosethelockaboveherear。Itdancedonhercheekliketheflitofabrownwingoverflowers，andDarrowfeltanintensedesiretoleanforwardandputitbackbehindherear。
　　IV
　　Astheirmotor—cab，onthewayfromtheGareduNord，turnedintothecentralglitteroftheBoulevard，Darrowhadbentovertopointoutanincandescentthreshold。
　　"There！"
　　Abovethedoorway，anarchofflameflashedoutthenameofagreatactress，whoseclosingperformancesinaplayofunusualoriginalityhadbeenthethemeoflongarticlesintheParispaperswhichDarrowhadtossedintotheircompartmentatCalais。
　　"That’swhatyoumustseebeforeyou’retwenty—fourhoursolder！"
　　Thegirlfollowedhisgestureeagerly。Shewasallawakeandalivenow，asiftheheadyrumoursofthestreets，withtheirlongeffervescencesoflight，hadpassedintoherveinslikewine。
　　"Cerdine？Isthatwheresheacts？"Sheputherheadoutofthewindow，strainingbackforaglimpseofthesacredthreshold。Astheyflewpastitshesankintoherseatwithasatisfiedsigh。
　　"It’sdeliciousenoughjusttoKNOWshe’sthere！I’veneverseenher，youknow。WhenIwasherewithMamieHokeweneverwentanywherebuttothemusichalls，becauseshecouldn’tunderstandanyFrench；andwhenIcamebackafterwardtotheFarlows’Iwasdeadbroke，andcouldn’taffordtheplay，andneithercouldthey；sotheonlychancewehadwaswhenfriendsoftheirsinvitedus——andonceitwastoseeatragedybyaRoumanianlady，andtheothertimeitwasfor’L’AmiFritz’attheFrancais。"
　　Darrowlaughed。"Youmustdobetterthanthatnow。’LeVertige’isafinething，andCerdinegetssomewonderfuleffectsoutofit。Youmustcomewithmetomorroweveningtoseeit——withyourfriends，ofcourse。——Thatis，"headded，"ifthere’sanysortofchanceofgettingseats。"
　　Theflashofastreetlamplitupherradiantface。"Oh，willyoureallytakeus？Whatfuntothinkthatit’stomorrowalready！"
　　Itwaswonderfullypleasanttobeabletogivesuchpleasure。Darrowwasnotrich，butitwasalmostimpossibleforhimtopicturethestateofpersonswithtastesandperceptionslikehisown，towhomaneveningatthetheatrewasanunattainableindulgence。TherefloatedthroughhismindananswerofMrs。Leath’stohisenquirywhethershehadseentheplayinquestion。"No。Imeantto，ofcourse，butoneissooverwhelmedwiththingsinParis。AndthenI’mrathersickofCerdine——oneisalwaysbeingdraggedtoseeher。"
　　That，amongthepeoplehefrequented，wastheusualattitudetowardsuchopportunities。Thereweretoomany，theywereanuisance，onehadtodefendone’sself！Heevenrememberedwondering，atthemoment，whethertoareallyfinetastetheexceptionalthingcouldeverbecomeindifferentthroughhabit；whethertheappetiteforbeautywassosoondulledthatitcouldbekeptaliveonlybyprivation。Here，atanyrate，wasafinechancetoexperimentwithsuchahunger：healmostwishedhemightstayoninParislongenoughtotakethemeasureofMissViner’sreceptivity。
　　Shewasstilldwellingonhispromise，"It’stoobeautifulofyou！Oh，don’tyouTHINKyou’llbeabletogetseats？"Andthen，afterapauseofbrimmingappreciation："I
　　wonderifyou’llthinkmehorrid？——butitmaybemyonlychance；andifyoucan’tgetplacesforusall，wouldn’tyouperhapsjusttakeME？Afterall，theFarlowsmayhaveseenit！"
　　Hehadnot，ofcourse，thoughtherhorrid，butonlythemoreengaging，forbeingsonatural，andsounashamedofshowingthefrankgreedofherfamishedyouth。"Oh，youshallgosomehow！"hehadgailypromisedher；andshehaddroppedbackwithasighofpleasureastheircabpassedintothedimly—litstreetsoftheFarlows’quarterbeyondtheSeine……
　　Thislittlepassagecamebacktohimthenextmorning，asheopenedhishotelwindowontheearlyroaroftheNorthernTerminus。
　　Thegirlwasthere，intheroomnexttohim。Thathadbeenthefirstpointinhiswakingconsciousness。Thesecondwasasenseofreliefattheobligationimposedonhimbythisunexpectedturnofeverts。Towaketothenecessityofaction，topostponeperforcethefruitlesscontemplationofhisprivategrievance，wascauseenoughforgratitude，evenifthesmalladventureinwhichhefoundhimselfinvolvedhadnot，onitsownmerits，rousedaninstinctivecuriositytoseeitthrough。
　　Whenheandhiscompanion，thenightbefore，hadreachedtheFarlows’doorintheruedelaChaise，itwasonlytofind，afterrepeatedassaultsonitspanels，thattheFarlowswerenolongerthere。Theyhadmovedawaytheweekbefore，notonlyfromtheirapartmentbutfromParis；andMissViner’sbreachwithMrs。Murretthadbeentoosuddentopermitherletterandtelegramtoovertakethem。Bothcommunications，nodoubt，stillreposedinapigeon—holeoftheloge；
　　butitscustodian，whendrawnfromhislair，sulkilydeclinedtoletMissVinerverifythefact，andonlyflungout，inreturnforDarrow’sbribe，thestatementthattheAmericanshadgonetoJoigny。
　　Topursuethemthereatthathourwasmanifestlyimpossible，andMissViner，disturbedbutnotdisconcertedbythisnewobstacle，hadquitesimplyaccededtoDarrow’ssuggestionthatsheshouldreturnforwhatremainedofthenighttothehotelwherehehadsenthisluggage。
　　Thedrivebackthroughthedarkhushbeforedawn，withthenocturnalblazeoftheBoulevardfadingaroundthemlikethefalselightsofamagician’spalace，hadsoplayedonherimpressionabilitythatsheseemedtogivenofartherthoughttoherownpredicament。Darrownoticedthatshedidnotfeelthebeautyandmysteryofthespectacleasmuchasitspressureofhumansignificance，allitshiddenimplicationsofemotionandadventure。AstheypassedtheshadowycolonnadeoftheFrancais，remoteandtemple—likeinthepalinglights，hefeltaclutchonhisarm，andheardthecry："TherearethingsTHEREthatIwantsodesperatelytosee！"andallthewaybacktothehotelshecontinuedtoquestionhim，withshrewdprecisionandanartlessthirstfordetail，aboutthetheatricallifeofParis。Hewasstruckafresh，ashelistened，bythewayinwhichhernaturalnesseasedthesituationofconstraint，leavingtoitonlyapleasantsavourofgoodfellowship。Itwasthekindofepisodethatonemight，inadvance，havecharacterizedas"awkward"，yetthatwasproving，intheevent，asmuchoutsidesuchdefinitionsasasunrisestrollwithadryadinadew—drenchedforest；andDarrowreflectedthatmankindwouldneverhaveneededtoinventtactifithadnotfirstinventedsocialcomplications。
　　Ithadbeenunderstood，withhisgood—nighttoMissViner，thatthenextmorninghewastolookuptheJoignytrains，andseehersafelytothestation；but，whilehebreakfastedandwaitedforatime—table，herecalledagainhercryofjoyattheprospectofseeingCerdine。Itwascertainlyapity，sincethatmostelusiveandincalculableofartistswasleavingthenextweekforSouthAmerica，tomisswhatmightbealastsightofherinhergreatestpart；andDarrow，havingdressedandmadetherequisiteexcerptsfromthetime—table，decidedtocarrytheresultofhisdeliberationstohisneighbour’sdoor。
　　Itinstantlyopenedathisknock，andshecameforthlookingasifshehadbeenplungedintosomesparklingelementwhichhadcurledupallherdroopingtendrilsandwrappedherinashimmeroffreshleaves。
　　"Well，whatdoyouthinkofme？"shecried；andwithahandatherwaistshespunaboutasiftoshowoffsomemiracleofParisiandress—making。
　　"Ithinkthemissingtrunkhascome——andthatitwasworthwaitingfor！"
　　"YouDOlikemydress？"
　　"Iadoreit！Ialwaysadorenewdresses——why，youdon’tmeantosayit’sNOTanewone？"