Shedroppedintoaseatbesideherdressing—table，restingherchinonherliftedhands，andlaughingoutathimundertheelf—lockwhichhadshakenitselfdownoverhereyes。
　　Heroutburstdidnotoffendtheyoungman；itsimmediateeffectwasthatofallayinghisagitation。Thetheatricaltouchinhermannermadehisoffenseseemmorevenialthanhehadthoughtitamomentbefore。
　　Hedrewupachairandsatdownbesideher。"Afterall，"hesaid，inatoneofgood—humouredprotest，"Ineedn’thavetoldyouI’dkeptbackyourletter；andmytellingyouseemsratherstrongproofthatIhadn’tanyverynefariousdesignsonyou。"
　　Shemetthiswithashrug，buthedidnotgivehertimetoanswer。"Mydesigns，"hecontinuedwithasmile，"werenotnefarious。Isawyou’dbeenthroughabadtimewithMrs。
　　Murrett，andthattheredidn’tseemtobemuchfunaheadforyou；andIdidn’tsee——andIdon’tyetsee——theharmoftryingtogiveyouafewhoursofamusementbetweenadepressingpastandanotparticularlycheerfulfuture。"Hepausedagain，andthenwenton，inthesametoneoffriendlyreasonableness："ThemistakeImadewasnottotellyouthisatonce——nottoaskyoustraightouttogivemeadayortwo，andletmetrytomakeyouforgetallthethingsthataretroublingyou。IwasafoolnottoseethatifI’dputittoyouinthatwayyou’dhaveacceptedorrefused，asyouchose；butthatatleastyouwouldn’thavemistakenmyintentions。——Intentions！"Hestoodup，walkedthelengthoftheroom，andturnedbacktowhereshestillsatmotionless，herelbowsproppedonthedressing—table，herchinonherhands。"Whatrubbishwetalkaboutintentions！ThetruthisIhadn’tany：Ijustlikedbeingwithyou。Perhapsyoudon’tknowhowextraordinarilyonecanlikebeingwithyou……Iwasdepressedandadriftmyself；andyoumademeforgetmybothers；andwhenIfoundyouweregoing——andgoingbacktodreariness，asIwas——Ididn’tseewhyweshouldn’thaveafewhourstogetherfirst；soIleftyourletterinmypocket。"
　　Hesawherfacemeltasshelistened，andsuddenlysheunclaspedherhandsandleanedtohim。
　　"ButareYOUunhappytoo？Oh，Ineverunderstood——I
　　neverdreamedit！Ithoughtyou’dalwayshadeverythingintheworldyouwanted！"
　　Darrowbrokeintoalaughatthisingenuouspictureofhisstate。Hewasashamedoftryingtobetterhiscasebyanappealtoherpity，andannoyedwithhimselfforalludingtoasubjecthewouldratherhavekeptoutofhisthoughts。
　　Butherlookofsympathyhaddisarmedhim；hisheartwasbitteranddistracted；shewasnearhim，hereyeswereshiningwithcompassion——hebentoverherandkissedherhand。
　　"Forgiveme——doforgiveme，"hesaid。
　　Shestoodupwithasmilinghead—shake。"Oh，it’snotsooftenthatpeopletrytogivemeanypleasure——muchlesstwowholedaysofit！Isha’n’tforgethowkindyou’vebeen。I
　　shallhaveplentyoftimetoremember。ButthisISgood—
　　bye，youknow。ImusttelegraphatoncetosayI’mcoming。"
　　"Tosayyou’recoming？ThenI’mnotforgiven？"
　　"Oh，you’reforgiven——ifthat’sanycomfort。"
　　"It’snot，theveryleast，ifyourwayofprovingitistogoaway！"
　　Shehungherheadinmeditation。"ButIcan’tstay。——HowCANIstay？"shebrokeout，asifarguingwithsomeunseenmonitor。
　　"Whycan’tyou？Nooneknowsyou’rehere……Nooneneedeverknow。"
　　Shelookedup，andtheireyesexchangedmeaningsforarapidminute。Hergazewasasclearasaboy’s。"Oh，it’snotTHAT，"sheexclaimed，almostimpatiently；"it’snotpeopleI’mafraidof！They’veneverputthemselvesoutforme——whyonearthshouldIcareaboutthem？"
　　Helikedherdirectnessashehadneverlikeditbefore。
　　"Well，then，whatisit？NotME，Ihope？"
　　"No，notyou：Ilikeyou。It’sthemoney！Withmethat’salwaystherootofthematter。Icouldneveryetaffordatreatinmylife！"
　　IsTHATall？"Helaughed，relievedbyhernaturalness。
　　"Lookhere；sinceweretalkingasmantoman——can’tyoutrustmeaboutthattoo？"
　　"Trustyou？Howdoyoumean？You’dbetternottrustME！"shelaughedbacksharply。"Imightneverbeabletopayup！"
　　Hisgesturebrushedasidetheallusion。"Moneymaybetherootofthematter；itcan’tbethewholeofit，betweenfriends。Don’tyouthinkonefriendmayacceptasmallservicefromanotherwithoutlookingtoofaraheadorweighingtoomanychances？Thequestionturnsentirelyonwhatyouthinkofme。Ifyoulikemewellenoughtobewillingtotakeafewdays’holidaywithme，justforthepleasureofthething，andthepleasureyou’llbegivingme，let’sshakehandsonit。Ifyoudon’tlikemewellenoughwe’llshakehandstoo；onlyIshallbesorry，"heended。
　　"Oh，butIshallbesorrytoo！"Herface，assheliftedittohis，lookedsosmallandyoungthatDarrowfeltafugitivetwingeofcompunction，instantlyeffacedbytheexcitementofpursuit。
　　"Well，then？"Hestoodlookingdownonher，hiseyespersuadingher。Hewasnowintenselyawarethathisnearnesswashavinganeffectwhichmadeitlessandlessnecessaryforhimtochoosehiswords，andhewenton，moremindfuloftheinflectionsofhisvoicethanofwhathewasactuallysaying："Whyonearthshouldwesaygood—byeifwe’rebothsorryto？Won’tyoutellmeyourreason？It’snotabitlikeyoutoletanythingstandinthewayofyoursayingjustwhatyoufeel。Youmustn’tmindoffendingme，youknow！"
　　Shehungbeforehimlikealeafonthemeetingofcross—
　　currents，thatthenextripplemaysweepforwardorwhirlback。Thensheflungupherheadwiththeoddboyishmovementhabitualtoherinmomentsofexcitement。"WhatI
　　feel？DoyouwanttoknowwhatIfeel？Thatyou’regivingmetheonlychanceI’veeverhad！"
　　Sheturnedaboutonherheeland，droppingintothenearestchair，sankforward，herfacehiddenagainstthedressing—
　　table。
　　Underthefoldsofherthinsummerdressthemodellingofherbackandofherliftedarms，andtheslighthollowbetweenhershoulder—blades，recalledthefaintcurvesofaterra—cottastatuette，someyoungimageofgracehardlymorethansketchedintheclay。Darrow，ashestoodlookingather，reflectedthathercharacter，forallitsseemingfirmness，itsflashingedgesof"opinion"，wasprobablynolessimmature。Hehadnotexpectedhertoyieldsosuddenlytohissuggestion，ortoconfessheryieldinginthatway。
　　Atfirsthewasslightlydisconcerted；thenhesawhowherattitudesimplifiedhisown。Herbehaviourhadalltheindecisionandawkwardnessofinexperience。Itshowedthatshewasachildafterall；andallhecoulddo——allhehadevermeanttodo——wastogiveherachild’sholidaytolookbackto。
　　Foramomenthefanciedshewascrying；butthenextshewasonherfeetandhadsweptroundonhimafaceshemusthaveturnedawayonlytohidethefirstrushofherpleasure。
　　Forawhiletheyshoneoneachotherwithoutspeaking；thenshesprangtohimandheldoutbothhands。
　　"Isittrue？Isitreallytrue？IsitreallygoingtohappentoME？"
　　Hefeltlikeanswering："You’retheverycreaturetowhomitwasboundtohappen"；butthewordshadadoublesensethatmadehimwince，andinsteadhecaughtherprofferedhandsandstoodlookingatheracrossthelengthofherarms，withoutattemptingtobendthemortodrawhercloser。Hewantedhertoknowhowherwordshadmovedhim；buthisthoughtswereblurredbytherushofthesameemotionthatpossessedher，andhisownwordscamewithaneffort。
　　Heendedbygivingherbackalaughasfrankasherown，anddeclaring，ashedroppedherhands："Allthatandmoretoo——
　　you’llsee！"
　　VIII
　　Allday，sincethelatereluctantdawn，therainhadcomedownintorrents。ItstreamedagainstDarrow’shigh—perchedwindows，reducedtheirvastprospectofroofsandchimneystoablackoilyhuddle，andfilledtheroomwiththedrabtwilightofanundergroundaquarium。
　　Thestreamsdescendedwiththeregularityofathirdday’srain，whentrimmingandshufflingareover，andtheweatherhassettleddowntodoitsworst。Therewerenovariationsofrhythm，nolyricalupsanddowns：thegreylinesstreakingthepaneswereasdenseanduniformasapageofunparagraphednarrative。
　　GeorgeDarrowhaddrawnhisarmchairtothefire。Thetime—
　　tablehehadbeenstudyinglayonthefloor，andhesatstaringwithdullacquiescenceintotheboundlessblurofrain，whichaffectedhimlikeavastprojectionofhisownstateofmind。Thenhiseyestravelledslowlyabouttheroom。
　　Itwasexactlytendayssincehishurriedunpackinghadstrewnitwiththecontentsofhisportmanteaux。Hisbrushesandrazorswerespreadoutontheblotchedmarbleofthechestofdrawers。Astackofnewspapershadaccumulatedonthecentretableunderthe"electrolier"，andhalfadozenpapernovelslayonthemantelpieceamongcigar—casesandtoiletbottles；butthesetracesofhispassagehadmadenomarkonthefeaturelessdulnessoftheroom，itslookofbeingthemakeshiftsettingofinnumerabletransientcollocations。Therewassomethingsardonic，almostsinister，initsappearanceofhavingdeliberately"madeup"
　　foritsanonymouspart，allinnoncommittaldrabsandbrowns，withacarpetandpaperthatnobodywouldremember，andchairsandtablesasimpersonalasrailwayporters。
　　Darrowpickedupthetime—tableandtosseditontothetable。Thenherosetohisfeet，litacigarandwenttothewindow。Throughtherainhecouldjustdiscoverthefaceofaclockinatallbuildingbeyondtherailwayroofs。
　　Hepulledouthiswatch，comparedthetwotime—pieces，andstartedthehandsofhiswithsucharushthattheyflewpastthehourandhehadtomakethemrepeatthecircuitmoredeliberately。Hefeltaquitedisproportionateirritationatthetriflingblunder。Whenhehadcorrectedithewentbacktohischairandthrewhimselfdown，leaningbackhisheadagainsthishands。Presentlyhiscigarwentout，andhegotup，huntedforthematches，lititagainandreturnedtohisseat。
　　Theroomwasgettingonhisnerves。Duringthefirstfewdays，whiletheskieswereclear，hehadnotnoticedit，orhadfeltforitonlythecontemptuousindifferenceofthetravellertowardaprovisionalshelter。Butnowthathewasleavingit，waslookingatitforthelasttime，itseemedtohavetakencompletepossessionofhismind，tobesoakingitselfintohimlikeanuglyindelibleblot。Everydetailpresseditselfonhisnoticewiththefamiliarityofanaccidentalconfidant：whicheverwayheturned，hefeltthenudgeofatransientintimacy……
　　TheonefixedpointinhisimmediatefuturewasthathisleavewasoverandthathemustbebackathispostinLondonthenextmorning。Withintwenty—fourhourshewouldagainbeinadaylightworldofrecognizedactivities，himselfabusy，responsible，relativelynecessaryfactorinthebigwhirringsocialandofficialmachine。Thatfixedobligationwasthefacthecouldthinkofwiththeleastdiscomfort，yetforsomeunaccountablereasonitwastheoneonwhichhefounditmostdifficulttofixhisthoughts。
　　Wheneverhedidso，theroomjerkedhimbackintothecircleofitsinsistentassociations。Itwasextraordinarywithwhatamicroscopicminutenessofloathinghehateditall：
　　thegrimycarpetandwallpaper，theblackmarblemantel—
　　piece，theclockwithagiltallegoryunderadustybell，thehigh—bolsteredbrown—counterpanedbed，theframedcardofprintedrulesundertheelectriclightswitch，andthedoorofcommunicationwiththenextroom。Hehatedthedoormostofall……
　　Attheoutset，hehadfeltnospecialsenseofresponsibility。Hewassatisfiedthathehadstrucktherightnote，andconvincedofhispowerofsustainingit。
　　Thewholeincidenthadsomehowseemed，inspiteofitsvulgarsettinganditsinevitableprosaicpropinquities，tobeenactingitselfinsomeunmappedregionoutsidethepaleoftheusual。Itwasnotlikeanythingthathadeverhappenedtohimbefore，orinwhichhehadeverpicturedhimselfaslikelytobeinvolved；butthat，atfirst，hadseemednoargumentagainsthisfitnesstodealwithit。
　　Perhapsbutforthethreedays’rainhemighthavegotawaywithoutadoubtastohisadequacy。Therainhadmadeallthedifference。Ithadthrownthewholepictureoutofperspective，blottedoutthemysteryoftheremoterplanesandtheenchantmentofthemiddledistance，andthrustintoprominenceeverycommonplacefactoftheforeground。Itwasthekindofsituationthatwasnothelpedbybeingthoughtover；andbytheperversityofcircumstancehehadbeenforcedintotheunwillingcontemplationofitseveryaspect……
　　Hiscigarhadgoneoutagain，andhethrewitintothefireandvaguelymeditatedgettinguptofindanother。Butthemereactofleavinghischairseemedtocallforagreaterexertionofthewillthanhewascapableof，andheleanedhisheadbackwithclosedeyesandlistenedtothedrummingoftherain。
　　Adifferentnoisearousedhim。Itwastheopeningandclosingofthedoorleadingfromthecorridorintotheadjoiningroom。Hesatmotionless，withoutopeninghiseyes；butnowanothersightforceditselfunderhisloweredlids。Itwastheprecisephotographicpictureofthatotherroom。Everythinginitrosebeforehimandpresseditselfuponhisvisionwiththesameacuityofdistinctnessastheobjectssurroundinghim。Astepsoundedonthefloor，andheknewwhichwaythestepwasdirected，whatpiecesoffurnitureithadtoskirt，whereitwouldprobablypause，andwhatwaslikelytoarrestit。Heheardanothersound，andrecognizeditasthatofawetumbrellaplacedintheblackmarblejambofthechimney—piece，againstthehearth。
　　Hecaughtthecreakofahinge，andinstantlydifferentiateditasthatofthewardrobeagainsttheoppositewall。Thenheheardthemouse—likesquealofareluctantdrawer，andknewitwastheupperoneinthechestofdrawersbesidethebed：theclatterwhichfollowedwascausedbythemahoganytoilet—glassjumpingonitsloosenedpivots……
　　Thestepcrossedtheflooragain。Itwasstrangehowmuchbetterheknewitthanthepersontowhomitbelonged！Nowitwasdrawingnearthedoorofcommunicationbetweenthetworooms。Heopenedhiseyesandlooked。Thestephadceasedandforamomenttherewassilence。Thenheheardalowknock。Hemadenoresponse，andafteranintervalhesawthatthedoorhandlewasbeingtentativelyturned。Heclosedhiseyesoncemore……
　　Thedooropened，andthestepwasintheroom，comingcautiouslytowardhim。Hekepthiseyesshut，relaxinghisbodytofeignsleep。Therewasanotherpause，thenawaveringsoftadvance，therustleofadressbehindhischair，thewarmthoftwohandspressedforamomentonhislids。ThepalmsofthehandshadthelingeringscentofsomestuffthathehadboughtontheBoulevard……Helookedupandsawaletterfallingoverhisshouldertohisknee……
　　"DidIdisturbyou？I’msosorry！TheygavemethisjustnowwhenIcamein。"
　　Theletter，beforehecouldcatchit，hadslippedbetweenhiskneestothefloor。Itlaythere，addressupward，athisfeet，andwhilehesatstaringdownatthestrongslendercharactersontheblue—grayenvelopeanarmreachedoutfrombehindtopickitup。
　　"Oh，don’t——DON’T"brokefromhim，andhebentoverandcaughtthearm。Thefaceaboveitwasclosetohis。
　　"Don’twhat？"
　　————"takethetrouble，"hestammered。
　　Hedroppedthearmandstoopeddown。Hisgraspclosedovertheletter，hefingereditsthicknessandweightandcalculatedthenumberofsheetsitmustcontain。
　　Suddenlyhefeltthepressureofthehandonhisshoulder，andbecameawarethatthefacewasstillleaningoverhim，andthatinamomenthewouldhavetolookupandkissit……
　　Hebentforwardfirstandthrewtheunopenedletterintothemiddleofthefire。
　　BOOKII
　　IX
　　ThelightoftheOctoberafternoonlayonanoldhigh—roofedhousewhichenclosedinitslongexpanseofbrickandyellowishstonethebreadthofagrassycourtfilledwiththeshadowandsoundoflimes。
　　Fromtheescutcheonedpiersattheentranceofthecourtaleveldrive，alsoshadedbylimes，extendedtoawhite—
　　barredgatebeyondwhichanequallylevelavenueofgrass，cutthroughawood，dwindledtoablue—greenbluragainstaskybankedwithstillwhiteslopesofcloud。
　　Inthecourt，half—waybetweenhouseanddrive，aladystood。Sheheldaparasolaboveherhead，andlookednowatthehouse—front，withitsdoubleflightofstepsmeetingbeforeaglazeddoorundersculpturedtrophies，nowdownthedrivetowardthegrassycuttingthroughthewood。Herairwaslessofexpectancythanofcontemplation：sheseemednotsomuchtobewatchingforanyone，orlisteningforanapproachingsound，aslettingthewholeaspectoftheplacesinkintoherwhilesheheldherselfopentoitsinfluence。
　　Yetitwasnolessapparentthatthescenewasnotnewtoher。Therewasnoeagernessofinvestigationinhersurvey：
　　sheseemedrathertobelookingaboutherwitheyestowhich，forsomeintimateinwardreason，detailslongsincefamiliarhadsuddenlyacquiredanunwontedfreshness。
　　ThiswasinfacttheexactsensationofwhichMrs。Leathwasconsciousasshecameforthfromthehouseanddescendedintothesunlitcourt。Shehadcometomeetherstep—son，whowaslikelytobereturningatthathourfromanafternoon’sshootinginoneofthemoredistantplantations，andshecarriedinherhandtheletterwhichhadsentherinsearchofhim；butwithherfirststepoutofthehouseallthoughtofhimhadbeeneffacedbyanotherseriesofimpressions。
　　Thesceneaboutherwasknowntosatiety。ShehadseenGivreatallseasonsoftheyear，andforthegreaterpartofeveryyear，sincethefar—offdayofhermarriage；thedaywhen，ostensiblydrivingthroughitsgatesatherhusband’sside，shehadactuallybeencarriedthereonacloudofiris—wingedvisions。
　　Thepossibilitieswhichtheplacehadthenrepresentedwerestillvividlypresenttoher。Themerephrase"aFrenchchateau"hadcalleduptoheryouthfulfancyathrongofromanticassociations，poetic，pictorialandemotional；andtheserenefaceoftheoldhouseseatedinitsparkamongthepoplar—borderedmeadowsofmiddleFrance，hadseemed，onherfirstsightofit，toholdouttoherafateasnobleanddignifiedasitsownmien。
　　Thoughshecouldstillcallupthatphaseoffeelingithadlongsincepassed，andthehousehadforatimebecometohertheverysymbolofnarrownessandmonotony。Then，withthepassingofyears，ithadgraduallyacquiredalessinimicalcharacter，hadbecome，notagainacastleofdreams，evokeroffairimagesandromanticlegend，buttheshellofalifeslowlyadjustedtoitsdwelling：theplaceonecamebackto，theplacewhereonehadone’sduties，one’shabitsandone’sbooks，theplaceonewouldnaturallyliveintillonedied：adullhouse，aninconvenienthouse，ofwhichoneknewallthedefects，theshabbinesses，thediscomforts，buttowhichonewassousedthatonecouldhardly，aftersolongatime，thinkone’sselfawayfromitwithoutsufferingacertainlossofidentity。
　　Now，asitlaybeforeherintheautumnmildness，itsmistresswassurprisedatherowninsensibility。Shehadbeentryingtoseethehousethroughtheeyesofanoldfriendwho，thenextmorning，wouldbedrivinguptoitforthefirsttime；andinsodoingsheseemedtobeopeningherowneyesuponitafteralongintervalofblindness。
　　Thecourtwasverystill，yetfullofalatentlife：thewheelingandrustlingofpigeonsabouttherectangularyewsandacrossthesunnygravel；thesweepofrooksabovethelustrousgreyish—purpleslatesoftheroof，andthestirofthetree—topsastheymetthebreezewhicheveryday，atthathour，camepunctuallyupfromtheriver。
　　JustsuchalatentanimationglowedinAnnaLeath。Ineverynerveandveinshewasconsciousofthatequipoiseofblisswhichthefearfulhumanheartscarcedaresacknowledge。Shewasnotusedtostrongorfullemotions；butshehadalwaysknownthatsheshouldnotbeafraidofthem。Shewasnotafraidnow；butshefeltadeepinwardstillness。
　　Theimmediateeffectofthefeelinghadbeentosendherforthinquestofherstep—son。Shewantedtostrollbackwithhimandhaveaquiettalkbeforetheyre—enteredthehouse。Itwasalwayseasytotalktohim，andatthismomenthewastheonepersontowhomshecouldhavespokenwithoutfearofdisturbingherinnerstillness。Shewasglad，forallsortsofreasons，thatMadamedeChantelleandEffiewerestillatOuchywiththegoverness，andthatsheandOwenhadthehousetothemselves。Andshewasgladthatevenhewasnotyetinsight。Shewantedtobealonealittlelonger；nottothink，buttoletthelongslowwavesofjoybreakoverheronebyone。
　　Shewalkedoutofthecourtandsatdownononeofthebenchesthatborderedthedrive。Fromherseatshehadadiagonalviewofthelonghouse—frontandofthedomedchapelterminatingoneofthewings。Beyondagateinthecourt—yardwalltheflower—gardendrewitsdark—greensquaresandraiseditsstatuesagainsttheyellowingbackgroundofthepark。Inthebordersonlyafewlatepinksandcrimsonssmouldered，butapeacockstruttinginthesunseemedtohavegatheredintohisout—spreadfanallthesummergloriesoftheplace。
　　InMrs。Leath’shandwastheletterwhichhadopenedhereyestothesethings，andasmilerosetoherlipsatthemerefeelingofthepaperbetweenherfingers。Thethrillitsentthroughhergaveakeeneredgetoeverysense。Shefelt，saw，breathedtheshiningworldasthoughathinimpenetrableveilhadsuddenlybeenremovedfromit。
　　Justsuchaveil，shenowperceived，hadalwayshungbetweenherselfandlife。Ithadbeenlikethestagegauzewhichgivesanillusiveairofrealitytothepaintedscenebehindit，yetprovesit，afterall，tobenomorethanapaintedscene。
　　Shehadbeenhardlyaware，inhergirlhood，ofdifferingfromothersinthisrespect。Inthewell—regulatedwell—fedSummersworldtheunusualwasregardedaseitherimmoralorill—bred，andpeoplewithemotionswerenotvisited。
　　Sometimes，withasenseofgropinginatopsy—turvyuniverse，Annahadwonderedwhyeverybodyaboutherseemedtoignoreallthepassionsandsensationswhichformedthestuffofgreatpoetryandmemorableaction。Inacommunitycomposedentirelyofpeoplelikeherparentsandherparents’friendsshedidnotseehowthemagnificentthingsonereadaboutcouldeverhavehappened。Shewassurethatifanythingofthekindhadoccurredinherimmediatecirclehermotherwouldhaveconsultedthefamilyclergyman，andherfatherperhapsevenhaverungupthepolice；andhersenseofhumourcompelledhertoownthat，inthegivenconditions，theseprecautionsmightnothavebeenunjustified。
　　Littlebylittletheconditionsconqueredher，andshelearnedtoregardthesubstanceoflifeasamerecanvasfortheembroideriesofpoetandpainter，anditslittlesweptandfencedandtendedsurfaceasitsactualsubstance。Itwasinthevisionedregionofactionandemotionthatherfullesthourswerespent；butithardlyoccurredtoherthattheymightbetranslatedintoexperience，orconnectedwithanythinglikelytohappentoayoungladylivinginWestFifty—fifthStreet。
　　Sheperceived，indeed，thatothergirls，leadingoutwardlythesamelifeasherself，andseeminglyunawareofherworldofhiddenbeauty，wereyetpossessedofsomevitalsecretwhichescapedher。Thereseemedtobeakindoffreemasonrybetweenthem；theywerewiderawakethanshe，morealert，andsureroftheirwantsifnotoftheiropinions。Shesupposedtheywere"cleverer"，andacceptedherinferioritygood—humouredly，halfaware，withinherself，ofareserveofunusedpowerwhichtheothersgavenosignofpossessing。
　　Thispartlyconsoledherformissingsomuchofwhatmadetheir"goodtime"；buttheresultingsenseofexclusion，ofbeingsomehowlaughinglybutfirmlydebarredfromashareoftheirprivileges，threwherbackonherselfanddeepenedthereservewhichmadeenviousmothersciteherasamodelofladylikerepression。