"WhenOwenmarries？That’slookingsomedistanceahead！I
　　wanttobetoldthatmeanwhileyou’llhavenoregrets。"
　　Shehesitated。Whydidhepresshertouncovertohimherpoorstarvedpast？Avaguefeelingofloyalty，adesiretosparewhatcouldnolongerharmher，madeheranswerevasively："Therewillprobablybeno’meanwhile。’Owenmaymarrybeforelong。"
　　Shehadnotmeanttotouchonthesubject，forherstep—sonhadswornhertoprovisionalsecrecy；butsincetheshortnessofDarrow’sleavenecessitatedapromptadjustmentoftheirownplans，itwas，afterall，inevitablethatsheshouldgivehimatleastahintofOwen’s。
　　"Owenmarry？Why，healwaysseemslikeafauninflannels！I
　　hopehe’sfoundadryad。Theremighteasilybeoneleftintheseblue—and—goldwoods。"
　　"Ican’ttellyouyetwherehefoundhisdryad，butsheISone，Ibelieve：atanyrateshe’llbecometheGivrewoodsbetterthanIdo。Onlytheremaybedifficulties————"
　　"Well！Atthatagethey’renotalwaystobewishedaway。"
　　Shehesitated。"Owen，atanyrate，hasmadeuphismindtoovercomethem；andI’vepromisedtoseehimthrough。"
　　Shewenton，afteramoment’sconsideration，toexplainthatherstep—son’schoicewas，forvariousreasons，notlikelytocommenditselftohisgrandmother。"Shemustbepreparedforit，andI’vepromisedtodothepreparing。YouknowI
　　alwaysHAVEseenhimthroughthings，andherathercountsonmenow。"
　　ShefanciedthatDarrow’sexclamationhadinitafaintnoteofannoyance，andwonderedifheagainsuspectedherofseekingapretextforpostponement。
　　"ButonceOwen’sfutureissettled，youwon’t，surely，forthesakeofwhatyoucallseeinghimthrough，askthatI
　　shouldgoawayagainwithoutyou？"Hedrewhercloserastheywalked。"Owenwillunderstand，ifyoudon’t。Sincehe’sinthesamecasehimselfI’llthrowmyselfonhismercy。He’llseethatIhavethefirstclaimonyou；hewon’tevenwantyounottoseeit。"
　　"Owenseeseverything：I’mnotafraidofthat。Buthisfutureisn’tsettled。He’sveryyoungtomarry——tooyoung，hisgrandmotherissuretothink——andthemarriagehewantstomakeisnotlikelytoconvincehertothecontrary。"
　　"Youdon’tmeanthatit’slikehisfirstchoice？"
　　"Oh，no！Butit’snotwhatMadamedeChantellewouldcallagoodmatch；it’snotevenwhatIcallawiseone。"
　　"Yetyou’rebackinghimup？"
　　"YetI’mbackinghimup。"Shepaused。"Iwonderifyou’llunderstand？WhatI’vemostwantedforhim，andshallwantforEffie，isthattheyshallalwaysfeelfreetomaketheirownmistakes，andnever，ifpossible，bepersuadedtomakeotherpeople’s。EvenifOwen’smarriageisamistake，andhastobepaidfor，Ibelievehe’lllearnandgrowinthepaying。OfcourseIcan’tmakeMadamedeChantelleseethis；butIcanremindherthat，withhischaracter——hisbigrushesofimpulse，hisoddintervalsofebbandapathy——shemaydrivehimintosomeworseblunderifshethwartshimnow。"
　　"AndyoumeantobreakthenewstoherassoonasshecomesbackfromOuchy？"
　　"AssoonasIseemywaytoit。Sheknowsthegirlandlikesher：that’sourhope。Andyetitmay，intheend，proveourdanger，makeitharderforusall，whenshelearnsthetruth，thanifOwenhadchosenastranger。Ican’ttellyoumoretillI’vetoldher：I’vepromisedOwennottotellanyone。AllIaskyouistogivemetime，togivemeafewdaysatanyrateShe’sbeenwonderfully’nice，’asshewouldcallit，aboutyou，andaboutthefactofmyhavingsoontoleaveGivre；butthat，again，maymakeitharderforOwen。
　　Atanyrate，youcansee，can’tyou，howitmakesmewanttostandbyhim？Yousee，Icouldn’tbearitiftheleastfractionofmyhappinessseemedtobestolenfromhis——asifitwerealittlescrapofhappinessthathadtobepiecedoutwithotherpeople’s！"SheclaspedherhandsonDarrow’sarm。"Iwantourlifetobelikeahousewithallthewindowslit：I’dliketostringlanternsfromtheroofandchimneys！"
　　Sheendedwithaninwardtremor。Allthroughherexpositionandherappealshehadtoldherselfthatthemomentcouldhardlyhavebeenlesswellchosen。InDarrow’splaceshewouldhavefelt，ashedoubtlessdid，thathercarefullydevelopedargumentwasonlythedisguiseofanhabitualindecision。Itwasthehourofallotherswhenshewouldhavelikedtoaffirmherselfbybrushingasideeveryobstacletohiswishes；yetitwasonlybyopposingthemthatshecouldshowthestrengthofcharactershewantedhimtofeelinher。
　　ButasshetalkedshebegantoseethatDarrow’sfacegavebacknoreflectionofherwords，thathecontinuedtoweartheabstractedlookofamanwhoisnotlisteningtowhatissaidtohim。Itcausedheraslightpangtodiscoverthathisthoughtscouldwanderatsuchamoment；then，withaflushofjoysheperceivedthereason。
　　Insomeundefinablewayshehadbecomeaware，withoutturningherhead，thathewassteepedinthesenseofhernearness，absorbedincontemplatingthedetailsofherfaceanddress；andthediscoverymadethewordsthrongtoherlips。Shefeltherselfspeakwithease，authority，conviction。Shesaidtoherself："Hedoesn’tcarewhatI
　　say——it’senoughthatIsayit——evenifit’sstupidhe’lllikemebetterforit……"Sheknewthateveryinflexionofhervoice，everygesture，everycharacteristicofherperson——itsverydefects，thefactthatherforeheadwastoohigh，thathereyeswerenotlargeenough，thatherhands，thoughslender，werenotsmall，andthatthefingersdidnottaper——sheknewthatthesedeficienciesweresomanychannelsthroughwhichherinfluencestreamedtohim；thatshepleasedhiminspiteofthem，perhapsbecauseofthem；
　　thathewantedherasshewas，andnotasshewouldhavelikedtobe；andforthefirsttimeshefeltinherveinsthesecurityandlightnessofhappylove。
　　Theyreachedthecourtandwalkedunderthelimestowardthehouse。Thehalldoorstoodwide，andthroughthewindowsopeningontheterracethesunslantedacrosstheblackandwhitefloor，thefadedtapestrychairs，andDarrow’stravellingcoatandcap，whichlayamongthecloaksandrugspiledonabenchagainstthewall。
　　Thesightofthesegarments，lyingamongherownwraps，gaveherasenseofhomelyintimacy。Itwasasifherhappinesscamedownfromtheskiesandtookontheplaindressofdailythings。Atlastsheseemedtoholditinherhand。
　　Astheyenteredthehallhereyelitonanunstampednoteconspicuouslyplacedonthetable。
　　"FromOwen！Hemusthaverushedoffsomewhereinthemotor。"
　　ShefeltasecretstirofpleasureattheimmediateinferencethatsheandDarrowwouldprobablylunchalone。
　　Thensheopenedthenoteandstaredatitinwonder。
　　"Dear，"Owenwrote，"afterwhatyousaidyesterdayIcan’twaitanotherhour，andI’mofftoFrancheuil，tocatchtheDijonexpressandtravelbackwiththem。Don’tbefrightened；Iwon’tspeakunlessit’ssafeto。Trustmeforthat——butIhadtogo。"
　　Shelookedupslowly。
　　"He’sgonetoDijontomeethisgrandmother。Oh，IhopeI
　　haven’tmadeamistake！"
　　"You？Why，whathaveyoutodowithhisgoingtoDijon？"
　　Shehesitated。"ThedaybeforeyesterdayItoldhim，forthefirsttime，thatImeanttoseehimthrough，nomatterwhathappened。AndI’mafraidhe’slosthishead，andwillbeimprudentandspoilthings。Yousee，Ihadn’tmeanttosayawordtohimtillI’dhadtimetoprepareMadamedeChantelle。"
　　ShefeltthatDarrowwaslookingatherandreadingherthoughts，andthecolourflewtoherface。"Yes：itwaswhenIheardyouwerecomingthatItoldhim。IwantedhimtofeelasIfelt……itseemedtoounkindtomakehimwait！"
　　Herhandwasinhis，andhisarmrestedforamomentonhershoulder。
　　"ItWOULDhavebeentoounkindtomakehimwait。"
　　Theymovedsidebysidetowardthestairs。Throughthehazeofblissenvelopingher，Owen’saffairsseemedcuriouslyunimportantandremote。Nothingreallymatteredbutthistorrentoflightinherveins。Sheputherfootontheloweststep，saying："It’snearlyluncheontime——Imusttakeoffmyhat……"andasshestartedupthestairsDarrowstoodbelowinthehallandwatchedher。Butthedistancebetweenthemdidnotmakehimseemlessnear：itwasasifhisthoughtsmovedwithherandtouchedherlikeendearinghands。
　　Inherbedroomsheshutthedoorandstoodstill，lookingaboutherinafitofdreamywonder。Herfeelingswereunlikeanyshehadeverknown：richer，deeper，morecomplete。Forthefirsttimeeverythinginher，fromheadtofoot，seemedtobefeedingthesamefullcurrentofsensation。
　　Shetookoffherhatandwenttothedressing—tabletosmoothherhair。Thepressureofthehathadflattenedthedarkstrandsonherforehead；herfacewaspalerthanusual，withshadowsabouttheeyes。Shefeltapangofregretforthewastedyears。"IfIlooklikethistoday，"shesaidtoherself，"whatwillhethinkofmewhenI’millorworried？"
　　Shebegantorunherfingersthroughherhair，rejoicinginitsthickness；thenshedesistedandsatstill，restingherchinonherhands。
　　"IwanthimtoseemeasIam，"shethought。
　　DeeperthanthedeepestfibreofhervanitywasthetriumphantsensethatASSHEWAS，withherflattenedhair，hertiredpallor，herthinsleevesalittletumbledbytheweightofherjacket，hewouldlikeherevenbetter，feelhernearer，dearer，moredesirable，thaninallthesplendoursshemightputonforhim。Inthelightofthisdiscoveryshestudiedherfacewithanewintentness，seeingitsdefectsasshehadneverseenthem，yetseeingthemthroughakindofradiance，asthoughlovewerealuminousmediumintowhichshehadbeenbodilyplunged。
　　Shewasgladnowthatshehadconfessedherdoubtsandherjealousy。Shedivinedthatamaninlovemaybeflatteredbysuchinvoluntarybetrayals，thattherearemomentswhenrespectforhislibertyappealstohimlessthantheinabilitytorespectit：momentssopropitiousthatawoman’sverymistakesandindiscretionsmayhelptoestablishherdominion。ThesenseofpowershehadbeenawareofintalkingtoDarrowcamebackwithten—foldforce。
　　Shefeltliketestinghimbythemostfantasticexactions，andatthesamemomentshelongedtohumbleherselfbeforehim，tomakeherselftheshadowandechoofhismood。Shewantedtolingerwithhiminaworldoffancyandyettowalkathissideintheworldoffact。Shewantedhimtofeelherpowerandyettoloveherforherignoranceandhumility。Shefeltlikeaslave，andagoddess，andagirlinherteens……
　　XIII
　　Darrow，latethatevening，threwhimselfintoanarmchairbeforehisfireandmused。
　　Theroomwaspropitioustomeditation。Thered—veiledlamp，thecornersofshadow，thesplashesoffirelightonthecurvesofoldfull—bodiedwardrobesandcabinets，gaveitanairofintimacyincreasedbyitsfadedhangings，itsslightlyfrayedandthreadbarerugs。Everythinginitwasharmoniouslyshabby，withasubtlesought—forshabbinessinwhichDarrowfanciedhediscernedthetouchofFraserLeath。
　　ButFraserLeathhadgrownsounimportantafactorintheschemeofthingsthatthesemarksofhispresencecausedtheyoungmannoemotionbeyondthatofafaintretrospectiveamusement。
　　Theafternoonandeveninghadbeenperfect。
　　Afteramomentofconcernoverherstep—son’sdeparture，AnnahadsurrenderedherselftoherhappinesswithanimpetuositythatDarrowhadneversuspectedinher。Earlyintheafternoontheyhadgoneoutinthemotor，traversingmilesofsober—tintedlandscapeinwhich，hereandthere，ascarletvineyardflamed，clatteringthroughthestreetsofstonyvillages，comingoutonlowslopesabovetheriver，orwindingthroughthepalegoldofnarrowwood—roadswiththeblueofclear—cuthillsattheirend。Overeverythinglayafaintsunshinethatseemeddissolvedinthestillair，andthesmellofwetrootsanddecayingleaveswasmergedinthepungentscentofburningunderbrush。Once，attheturnofawall，theystoppedthemotorbeforearuinedgatewayand，stumblingalongaroadfullofruts，stoodbeforealittleolddesertedhouse，fantasticallycarvedandchimneyed，whichlayinamoatundertheshadeofancienttrees。Theypacedthepathsbetweenthetrees，foundamouldyTempleofLoveonanisletamongreedsandplantains，and，sittingonabenchinthestable—yard，watchedthepigeonscirclingagainstthesunsetovertheircotofpatternedbrick。Thenthemotorflewonintothedusk……
　　Whentheycameintheysatbesidethefireintheoakdrawing—room，andDarrownoticedhowdelicatelyherheadstoodoutagainstthesombrepanelling，andmusedontheenjoymenttherewouldalwaysbeinthemerefactofwatchingherhandsastheymovedaboutamongthetea—things……
　　Theydinedlate，andfacingheracrossthetable，withitslowlightsandflowers，hefeltanextraordinarypleasureinseeingheragainineveningdress，andinlettinghiseyesdwellontheproudshysetofherhead，thewayherdarkhairclaspedit，andthegirlishthinnessofherneckabovetheslightswellofthebreast。Hisimaginationwasstruckbythequalityofreticenceinherbeauty。Shesuggestedafineportraitkeptdowntoafewtones，oraGreekvaseonwhichtheplayoflightistheonlypattern。
　　Afterdinnertheywentoutontheterraceforalookatthemoon—mistedpark。Throughthecrepuscularwhitenessthetreeshunginblottedmasses。Belowtheterrace，thegardendrewitsdarkdiagramsbetweenstatuesthatstoodlikemuffledconspiratorsontheedgeoftheshadow。Fartheroff，themeadowsunrolledasilver—shottissuetothemantlingofmistabovetheriver；andtheautumnstarstrembledoverheadliketheirownreflectionsseenindimwater。
　　Helithiscigar，andtheywalkedslowlyupanddowntheflagsinthelanguidair，tillheputanarmabouther，saying："Youmustn’tstaytillyou’rechilled"；thentheywentbackintotheroomanddrewuptheirchairstothefire。
　　Itseemedonlyamomentlaterthatshesaid："Itmustbeaftereleven，"andstoodupandlookeddownonhim，smilingfaintly。Hesatstill，absorbingthelook，andthinking：
　　"There’llbeeveningsandevenings"——tillshecamenearer，bentoverhim，andwithahandonhisshouldersaid："Goodnight。"
　　Hegottohisfeetandputhisarmsabouther。
　　"Goodnight，"heanswered，andheldherfast；andtheygaveeachotheralongkissofpromiseandcommunion。
　　Thememoryofitglowedinhimstillashesatoverhiscrumblingfire；butbeneathhisphysicalexultationhefeltacertaingravityofmood。Hishappinesswasinsomesorttherallying—pointofmanyscatteredpurposes。Hesummeditupvaguelybysayingtohimselfthattobelovedbyawomanlikethatmade"allthedifference"……Hewasalittletiredofexperimentingonlife；hewantedto"takealine"，tofollowthingsup，tocentralizeandconcentrate，andproduceresults。Twoorthreemoreyearsofdiplomacy——withherbesidehim！——andthentheirreallifewouldbegin：study，travelandbook—makingforhim，andforher——well，thejoy，atanyrate，ofgettingoutofanatmosphereofbric—a—bracandcard—leavingintotheopenairofcompetingactivities。
　　Thedesireforchangehadforsometimebeenlatentinhim，andhismeetingwithMrs。Leaththepreviousspringhadgivenitadefinitedirection。Withsuchacomradetofocusandstimulatehisenergieshefeltmodestlybutagreeablysureof"doingsomething"。Andunderthisassurancewasthelurkingsensethathewassomehowworthyofhisopportunity。
　　Hislife，onthewhole，hadbeenacreditableaffair。Outofmodestchancesandmiddlingtalentshehadbuilthimselfafairlymarkedpersonality，knownsomeexceptionalpeople，doneanumberofinterestingandafewratherdifficultthings，andfoundhimself，atthirty—seven，possessedofanintellectualambitionsufficienttooccupythepassagetoarobustandenergeticoldage。Asfortheprivateandpersonalsideofhislife，ithadcomeuptothecurrentstandards，andifithaddropped，nowandthen，belowamoreidealmeasure，eventhesedeclineshadbeenbrief，parenthetic，incidental。Intherecognizedessentialshehadalwaysremainedstrictlywithinthelimitofhisscruples。
　　Fromthisreassuringsurveyofhiscasehecamebacktothecontemplationofitscrowningfelicity。HismindturnedagaintohisfirstmeetingwithAnnaSummersandtookuponebyonethethreadsoftheirfaintlysketchedromance。Hedweltwithpardonableprideonthefactthatfatehadsoearlymarkedhimforthehighprivilegeofpossessingher：
　　itseemedtomeanthattheyhadreally，inthetruestsenseoftheill—usedphrase，beenmadeforeachother。
　　Deeperstillthanallthesesatisfactionswasthemereelementalsenseofwell—beinginherpresence。That，afterall，waswhatprovedhertobethewomanforhim：thepleasurehetookinthesetofherhead，thewayherhairgrewonherforeheadandatthenape，hersteadygazewhenhespoke，thegravefreedomofhergaitandgestures。Herecalledeverydetailofherface，thefineveiningsofthetemples，thebluish—brownshadowsinherupperlids，andthewaythereflectionsoftwostarsseemedtoformandbreakupinhereyeswhenheheldherclosetohim……
　　Ifhehadhadanydoubtastothenatureofherfeelingforhimthosedissolvingstarswouldhaveallayedit。Shewasreserved，shewasshyeven，waswhattheshallowandeffusivewouldcall"cold"。Shewaslikeapicturesohungthatitcanbeseenonlyatacertainangle：anangleknowntonoonebutitspossessor。Thethoughtflatteredhissenseofpossessorship……Hefeltthatthesmileonhislipswouldhavebeenfatuoushadithadawitness。HewasthinkingofherlookwhenshehadquestionedhimabouthismeetingwithOwenatthetheatre：lessofherwordsthanofherlook，andoftheeffortthequestioncosther：thereddeningofhercheek，thedeepeningofthestrainedlinebetweenherbrows，thewayhereyessoughtshelterandthenturnedanddrewonhim。Prideandpassionwereintheconflict——magnificentqualitiesinawife！Thesightalmostmadeupforhismomentaryembarrassmentattherousingofamemorywhichhadnoplaceinhispresentpictureofhimself。
　　Yes！Itwasworthagooddealtowatchthatfightbetweenherinstinctandherintelligence，andknowone’sselftheobjectofthestruggle……
　　Mingledwiththesesensationswereconsiderationsofanotherorder。Hereflectedwithsatisfactionthatshewasthekindofwomanwithwhomonewouldliketobeseeninpublic。Itwouldbedistinctlyagreeabletofollowherintodrawing—
　　rooms，towalkafterherdowntheaisleofatheatre，togetinandoutoftrainswithher，tosay"mywife"ofhertoallsortsofpeople。Hedrapedthesedetailsinthehandsomephrase"She’sawomantobeproudof"，andfeltthatthisfactsomehowjustifiedandennobledhisinstinctiveboyishsatisfactioninlovingher。
　　Hestoodup，rambledacrosstheroomandleanedoutforawhileintothestarrynight。Thenhedroppedagainintohisarmchairwithasighofdeepcontent。
　　"Oh，hangit，"hesuddenlyexclaimed，"it’sthebestthingthat’severhappenedtome，anyhow！"
　　Thenextdaywasevenbetter。Hefelt，andknewshefelt，thattheyhadreachedaclearerunderstandingofeachother。
　　Itwasasif，afteraswimthroughbrightopposingwaves，withadazzleofsunintheireyes，theyhadgainedaninletintheshadesofacliff，wheretheycouldfloatonthestillsurfaceandgazefardownintothedepths。
　　Nowandthen，astheywalkedandtalked，hefeltathrillofyouthfulwonderatthecoincidenceoftheirviewsandtheirexperiences，atthewaytheirmindsleapttothesamepointinthesameinstant。
　　"Theolddelusion，Isuppose，"hesmiledtohimself。"WillNaturenevertireofthetrick？"
　　Butheknewitwasmorethanthat。Thereweremomentsintheirtalkwhenhefelt，distinctlyandunmistakably，thesolidgroundoffriendshipunderneaththewhirlingdanceofhissensations。"HowIshouldlikeherifIdidn’tloveher！"hesummeditup，wonderingatthemiracleofsuchaunion。
　　InthecourseofthemorningatelegramhadcomefromOwenLeath，announcingthathe，hisgrandmotherandEffiewouldarrivefromDijonthatafternoonatfour。ThestationofthemainlinewaseightortenmilesfromGivre，andAnna，soonafterthree，leftinthemotortomeetthetravellers。
　　WhenshehadgoneDarrowstartedforawalk，planningtogetbacklate，inorderthatthereunitedfamilymighthavetheendoftheafternoontothemselves。Heroamedthecountry—
　　sidetilllongafterdark，andthestable—clockofGivrewasstrikingsevenashewalkeduptheavenuetothecourt。
　　Inthehall，comingdownthestairs，heencounteredAnna。
　　Herfacewasserene，andhisfirstglanceshowedhimthatOwenhadkepthiswordandthatnoneofherforebodingshadbeenfulfilled。
　　Shehadjustcomedownfromtheschool—room，whereEffieandthegovernesswerehavingsupper；thelittlegirl，shetoldhim，lookedimmenselybetterforherSwissholiday，butwasdroppingwithsleepafterthejourney，andtootiredtomakeherhabitualappearanceinthedrawing—roombeforebeingputtobed。MadamedeChantellewasresting，butwouldbedownfordinner；andasforOwen，Annasupposedhewasoffsomewhereinthepark——hehadapassionforprowlingabouttheparkatnightfall……
　　Darrowfollowedherintothebrownroom，wherethetea—tablehadbeenleftforhim。Hedeclinedherofferoftea，butshelingeredamomenttotellhimthatOwenhadinfactkepthisword，andthatMadamedeChantellehadcomebackinthebestofhumours，andunsuspiciousoftheblowabouttofall。
　　"ShehasenjoyedhermonthatOuchy，andithasgivenheralottotalkabout——hersymptoms，andtherivaldoctors，andthepeopleatthehotel。ItseemsshemetyourAmbassadressthere，andLadyWantley，andsomeotherLondonfriendsofyours，andshe’sheardwhatshecalls’delightfulthings’
　　aboutyou：shetoldmetotellyouso。SheattachesgreatimportancetothefactthatyourgrandmotherwasanEverardofAlbany。She’spreparedtoopenherarmstoyou。Idon’tknowwhetheritwon’tmakeitharderforpoorOwen……thecontrast，Imean……TherearenoAmbassadressesorEverardstovouchforHISchoice！Butyou’llhelpme，won’tyou？
　　You’llhelpmetohelphim？To—morrowI’lltellyoutherest。NowImustrushupandtuckinEffie……"
　　"Oh，you’llsee，we’llpullitoffforhim！"heassuredher；
　　"together，wecan’tfailtopullitoff。"
　　Hestoodandwatchedherwithasmileasshefleddownthehalf—litvistatothehall。
　　XIV
　　IfDarrow，onenteringthedrawing—roombeforedinner，examineditsnewoccupantwithunusualinterest，itwasmoreonOwenLeath’saccountthanhisown。
　　Anna’shintshadrousedhisinterestinthelad’sloveaffair，andhewonderedwhatmannerofgirltheheroineofthecomingconflictmightbe。HehadguessedthatOwen’srebellionsymbolizedforhisstep—motherherownlongstruggleagainsttheLeathconventions，andheunderstoodthatifAnnasopassionatelyabettedhimitwaspartlybecause，assheowned，shewantedhisliberationtocoincidewithhers。
　　Theladywhowastorepresent，intheimpendingstruggle，theforcesoforderandtraditionwasseatedbythefirewhenDarrowentered。Amongtheflowersandoldfurnitureofthelargepale—panelledroom，MadamedeChantellehadtheinanimateeleganceofafigureintroducedintoa"still—
　　life"togivethescale。Andthis，Darrowreflected，wasexactlywhatshedoubtlessregardedasherchiefobligation：
　　hewassureshethoughtagreatdealof"measure"，andapprovedofmostthingsonlyuptoacertainpoint。
　　Shewasawomanofsixty，withafigureatonceyoungandold—fashioned。Herfairfadedtints，herquaintcorseting，thepassementerieonhertight—waisteddress，thevelvetbandonhertaperingarm，madeherresemblea"cartedevisite"photographofthemiddlesixties。Onesawher，youngerbutnolessinvinciblylady—like，leaningonachairwithafringedback，acurlinherneck，alocketonhertuckeredbosom，towardtheendofanembossedmoroccoalbumbeginningwithTheBeautiesoftheSecondEmpire。
　　Shereceivedherdaughter—in—law’ssuitorwithanaffabilitywhichimpliedherknowledgeandapprovalofhissuit。