Myeyeshadbeenmeetingherswithout，asitwere，hersquitemeetingmine。Butatthistherehadtobeintercourse。"Bymyhusband。"
　　ItpulledMEupatrifle。"Brissendenknows？"
　　Shehesitated；then，asifatmytone，gavealaugh。"Don’tyousupposeI’vetoldhim？"
　　Ireallycouldn’tbutadmireher。"Ah——soyouHAVEtalked！"
　　Itdidn’tconfoundher。"One’shusbandisn’ttalk。You’recruelmoreover，"
　　shecontinued，"tomyjoke。ItwasBriss，poordear，whotalked——though，Imean，onlytome。HEknows。"
　　Icastabout。"Sincewhen？"
　　Butshehaditready。"Sincethisevening。"
　　OncemoreIcouldn’tbutsmile。"Justintimethen！AndtheWAYheknows——？"
　　"Oh，theway！"——shehadatthisaslightdrop。Butshecameupagain。
　　"Itakehisword。"
　　"Youhaven’tthenaskedhim？"
　　"Thebeautyofitwas——halfanhourago，upstairs——thatIHADN’Ttoask。Hecameoutwithithimself，andTHAT——togiveyouthewholething——was，ifyoulike，mymoment。Hedroppeditonme，"shecontinuedtoexplain，"withoutintheleast，sweetinnocent，knowingwhathewasdoing；more，atleast，thatis，thangiveheraway。"
　　"Which，"Iconcurred，"wascomparativelynothing！"
　　Butshehadnoearforirony，andshemadeoutstillmoreofherstory。
　　"He’ssimple——buthesees。"
　　"Andwhenhesees"——Icompletedthepicture——"heluckilytells。"
　　Shequiteagreedwithmethatitwaslucky，butwithoutprejudicetohisacutenessandtowhathadbeeninhimmoreoveranaturalrevulsion。
　　"Hehasseen，inshort；therecomessomechancewhenonedoes。His，asluckilyasyouplease，camethisevening。IfyouaskmewhatitshowedhimyouaskmorethanI’VEeithercaredorhadtimetoask。Doyouconsider，forthatmatter"——sheputittome——"thatonedoesask？"Asherhighsmoothness——suchwasthewonderofthisreascendancy——almostdeprivedmeofmymeans，shewaswiseandgentlewithme。"Letusleaveitalone。"
　　Ifairly，whilemylookatherturnedrueful，scratchedmyhead。"Don’tyouthinkitalittlelateforthat？"
　　"Lateforeverything！"sheimpatientlysaid。"Butthereyouare。"
　　Ifixedthefloor。ThereindeedIwas。ButItriedtostaythere——justthereonly——asshortatimeaspossible。Something，moreover，afterall，caughtmeup。"ButifBrissendenalreadyknew——？"
　　"Ifheknew？"Shestillgaveme，withoutprejudicetoheringenuity——andindeeditwasapartofthis——alltheworkshecould。
　　"Why，thatLongandLadyJohnwerethick？"
　　"Ah，then，"shecried，"youadmittheyARE！"
　　"AmInotadmittingeverythingyoutellme？ButthemoreIadmit，"I
　　explained，"themoreImustunderstand。It’sTOadmit，yousee，thatI
　　inquire。IfBrisscamedownwithLadyJohnyesterdaytoobligeMr。Long——"
　　"Hedidn’tcome，"sheinterrupted，"toobligeMr。Long！"
　　"Well，then，toobligeLadyJohnherself——"
　　"Hedidn’tcometoobligeLadyJohnherself！"
　　"Well，then，toobligehiscleverwife——"
　　"Hedidn’tcometoobligehiscleverwife！Hecame，"saidMrs。Briss，"justtoamusehimself。HeHAShisamusements，andit’sodd，"sheremarkablylaughed，"thatyoushouldgrudgethemtohim！"
　　"ItwouldbeoddindeedifIdid！Butputhisproceeding，"Icontinued，"onanygroundyoulike；youdescribedtomethepurposeofitasascreeningofthepair。"
　　"Idescribedtoyouthepurposeofitasnothingofthesort。Ididn’tdescribetoyouthepurposeofit，"saidMrs。Briss，"atall。Idescribedtoyou，"shetriumphantlysetforth，"theEFFECTofit——whichisaverydifferentthing。"
　　Icouldonlymeetherwithadmiration。"You’reofanastuteness——！"
　　"OfcourseI’mofanastuteness！ISEEeffects。AndIsawthatone。
　　HowmuchBrisshimselfhadseenitis，asI’vetoldyou，anothermatter；
　　andwhathehad，atanyrate，quitetakentheaffairforwasthesortofflirtationinwhich，ifoneisafriendtoeitherparty，andone’sownfeelingsarenotatstake，onemaynowandthengivepeoplealift。Haven’tIaskedyoubefore，"shedemanded，"ifyousupposehewouldhavegivenonehadhehadanideawherethesepeopleARE？"
　　"Iscarceknowwhatyouhaveaskedmebefore！"Isighed；"and’wheretheyare’isjustwhatyouhaven’ttoldme。"
　　"It’swheremyhusbandwassoannoyedunmistakablytodiscoverthem。"
　　Andasifshehadquitefixedthepointshepassedtoanother。"He’speculiar，dearoldBriss，butinawaybywhich，ifoneuseshim——bywhich，Imean，ifonedependsonhim——atall，onegains，Ithink，morethanoneloses。
　　Uptoacertainpoint，inanycasethat’stheleastacaseforsubtlety，heseesnothingatall；butbeyondit——whenoncehedoeswakeup——he’llgothroughahouse。Nothingthenescapeshim，andwhathedragstolightissometimesappalling。"
　　"Rather，"Ithoughtfullyresponded——"sincewitnessthisoccasion！"
　　"Butisn’ttheinterestofthisoccasion，asI’vealreadysuggested，"
　　shepropounded，"simplythatitmakesanend，burstsabubble，ridsusofanincubusandpermitsustogotobedinpeace？IthankGod，"shemoralised，"fordearoldBrissto—night。"
　　"SodoI，"Iafteramomentreturned；"butIshalldosowithstillgreaterfervourifyou’llhaveforthespaceofanotherquestionastillgreaterpatience。"Withwhich，asafinalmovementfromherseemedtosayhowmuchthiswastoask，IhadonmyownsideacertainexasperationofsorenessforallIhadtoacknowledge——evenwereitmereacknowledgment——thatshehadbroughtrattlingdown。"Remember，"Ipleaded，"thatyou’recostingmeaperfectpalaceofthought！"
　　Icouldseetoothat，heldunexpectedlybysomethinginmytone，shereallytookitin。Couldn’tIevenalmostseethat，foranoddinstant，sheregrettedtheblightedpleasureofthepursuitoftruthwithme？I
　　needed，atallevents，nobetterproofeitherofthesweetorofthebitterinhercomprehensionthantheaccentwithwhichshereplied："Oh，thosewholiveinglasshouses——"
　　"Shouldn’t——no，Iknowtheyshouldn’t——throwstones；andthat’spreciselywhyIdon’t。"Ihadtakenherimmediatelyup，andIheldherbyitandbysomethingbetterstill。"You，fromyourfortressofgranite，canchuckthemaboutasyouwill！Allthemorereason，however，"Iquicklyadded，"that，beforemyfrail，but，asImaintain，quitesublimestructure，youhonourme，forafewseconds，withanintelligentlookatit。Iseemmyselftoseeitagain，perfectineverypart，"Ipursued，"evenwhileIthusspeaktoyou，andtofeelafreshthat，weren’tthewretchedaccidentofitsweakfoundation，itwouldn’thavetheshadowofaflaw。I’vespokenofitinmyconceivableregret，"Iconceded，"asalreadyamereheapofdisfiguredfragments；butthatwastheextravaganceofmyvexation，mydespair。It’sinpointoffactsobeautifullyfittedthatitcomesapartpiecebypiece——which，sofarasthatgoes，you’veseenitdointhelastquarterofanhouratyourowntouch，quitehandingmethepieces，onebyone，yourselfandwatchingmestackthemalongtheground。They’renoteveninthisstate——see！"Iwoundup——"apileofruins！"Iwoundup，asIsay，butonlyforlongenoughtohave，withthevibration，theexaltation，ofmyeloquence，mysmalltriumphasagainsthergreatone。"Ishouldalmostlike，piecebypiece，tohandthembacktoyou。"AndthistimeIcompletedmyfigure。"Ibelievethat，fortheverycharmofit，you’dfindyourselfplacingthembyyourownsenseintheirorderandrearingoncemorethesplendidpile。WillyoutakejustONEofthemfrommeagain，"Iinsisted，"andletmeseeifonlytohaveitinyourhandsdoesn’tpositivelystartyouoff？That’swhatImeantjustnowbyaskingyouforanotheranswer。"
　　Shehadremainedsilent，asifreallyinthepresenceoftherisingmagnificenceofmymetaphor，anditwasnottoolatefortheonechanceleftme。"Therewasnothing，youknow，IhadsofittedasyouraccountofpoorMrs。Serverwhen，onourseeingthem，fromtheterrace，togetherbelow，youstruckoffyourexplanationthatoldBrisswasHERscreenforLong。"
　　"Fitted？"——andtherewassincerityinhersurprise。"Ithoughtmystupidideatheoneforwhichyouhadexactlynouse！"
　　"Ihadnouse，"Iinstantlyconcurred，"foryourstupididea，butI
　　hadgreatuseforyourstupidly，alas！havingit。THATfittedbeautifully，"
　　Ismiled，"tillthepiececameout。Andevennow，"Iadded，"Idon’tfeelitquiteaccountedfor。"
　　"Theirbeingtheretogether？"
　　"No。Yournotlikingitthattheywere。"
　　Shestared。"Notlikingit？"
　　Icouldseehowlittleindeedshemindednow，butIalsokeptthethreadofmyownintellectualhistory。"Yes。YournotlikingitiswhatIspeakofasthepiece。Iholdit，yousee，upbeforeyou。What，artistically，wouldyoudowithit？"
　　Butonemighttakeahorsetowater——！Ihelditupbeforeher，butIcouldn’tmakeherlookatit。"HowdoyouknowwhatImayn’t，ormay，haveliked？"
　　Itdidbringmeto。"Becauseyouwereconsciousofnottellingme？Well，evenifyoudidn’t——！"
　　"Thatmadenodifference，"sheinquiredwithagenerousderision，"becauseyoucouldalwaysimagine？Ofcourseyoucouldalwaysimagine——whichispreciselywhatisthematterwithyou！ButI’msurprisedatyourcomingtomewithitoncemoreasevidenceofanything。"
　　Istoodrebuked，andevenmoresothanIshowedher，forsheneed，obviously，onlydeclinetotakeoneofmycounterstodepriveitofallvalueascoin。
　　WhenshepusheditacrossIhadbuttopocketitagain。"ItIStheweaknessofmycase，"IfeeblyandIdaresayawkwardlymusedather，"thatanyparticularthingyoudon’tgrantmebecomesstraightwaythestrengthofyours。Ofcourse，however"——andIgavemyselfashake——"I’mabsolutelyrejoicing（amInot？）inthestrengthofyours。Theweaknessofmyowniswhat，underyourinstruction，I’mnowgoinginto；butdon’tyouseehowmuchweakeritwillshowifIdrawfromyouthefullexpressionofyourindifference？
　　HowCOULDyouinfactcarewhenwhatyouwereattheverymomenturgingonmesohardwastheextravaganceofMrs。Server’sconduct？Thatextravagancethenprovedher，toyoureyes，thewomanwhohadaconnectionwithLongtokeeptheworldoffthescentof——thoughyoumaintainedthatinspiteofthedustshekickedupbyitshewas，atapinch，nowandthentobecaughtwithhim。ThatinsteadofbeingcaughtwithhimshewascaughtonlywithBrissendenannoyedyounaturallyforthemoment；butwhatwasthatannoyancecomparedtoyourappreciationofhershowing——byundertakingyourhusband，ofallpeople！——justthemoremarkedlyASextravagant？"
　　Shehadbeensufficientlyinterestedthistimetofollowme。"Whatwasitindeed？"
　　Igreetedheracquiescence，butIinsisted。"Andyetifsheisextravagant——whatdoyoudowithit？"
　　"Ithoughtyouwouldn’thearofit！"sheexclaimed。
　　Isoughttocombinefirmnesswithmymildness。"Whatdoyoudowithit？"
　　Butshecouldmatchmeatthis。"Ithoughtyouwouldn’thearofit！"
　　"It’snotaquestionofmydispositions。It’saquestionofherhavingbeen，ornotbeen，foryou’allovertheplace，’andofeveryone’salsobeing，foryou，onthechatteraboutit。YougobythatinrespecttoLong——byyourholding，thatis，thatnothinghasbeennoticed；thereforemustn’tyougobyitinrespecttoHER——sinceIunderstandfromyouthateverythinghas？"
　　"Everythingalwaysis，"Mrs。Brissagreeablyreplied，"inaplaceandapartylikethis；butsolittle——anythinginparticular——that，withpeoplemoving’everywhich’way，itcomestothesameasifnothingwas。Thingsarenot，also，gougedouttoYOURtune，anditdepends，stillfurther，onwhatyoumeanby’extravagant。"’
　　"Imeanwhateveryouyourselfmeant。"
　　"Well，Imyselfmeannolonger，youknow，whatIdidmean。"
　　"Sheisn’tthen——？"
　　Butsuddenlyshewasalmostsharpwithme。"Isn’twhat？"
　　"Whatthewomanwesoearnestlylookedforwouldhavetobe。"
　　"Allgone？"Shehadhesitated，butshewentonwithdecision。"No，sheisn’tallgone，sincetherewasenoughofherlefttomakeuptopoorBriss。"
　　"Precisely——andit’sjustwhatwesaw，andjustwhat，withherotherdashesofthesamesort，ledustohavetofacethequestionofherbeing——well，whatIsay。Orrather，"Iadded，"whatYOUsay。Thatis，"Iamended，tokeepperfectlystraight，"whatyousayyouDON’Tsay。"
　　Itookindeedtoomanyprecautionsformyfriendnottohavetolookatthem。"Extravagant？"Theirritationofthewordhadgrownforher，yetIriskedrepeatingit，andwiththeeffectofitsgivingheranotherpause。
　　"ItellyousheISN’Tthat！"
　　"Exactly；andit’sonlytoaskyouwhatintheworldthensheIS。"
　　"She’shorrid！"saidMrs。Briss。
　　"’Horrid’？"Igloomilyechoed。
　　"Horrid。Itwasn’t，"shethendevelopedwithdecision，"a’dash，’asyousay，’ofthesamesort’——thoughgoodnessknowsofwhatsortyoumean：
　　itwasn’t，tobeplain，a’dash’atall。"MycompanionWASplain。"Shesettled。Shestuck。"Andfinally，asIcouldbutechoheragain："Shemadelovetohim。"
　　"But——a——really？"
　　"Really。That’showIknew。"
　　Iwasatsea。"’Knew’？Butyousaw。"
　　"Iknew——thatisIlearnt——morethanIsaw。Iknewshecouldn’tbegone。"
　　Itinfactbroughtlight。"KnewitbyHIM？"
　　"Hetoldme，"saidMrs。Briss。
　　Itbroughtlight，butitbroughtalso，Ifear，forme，anotherqueergrimace。"Doeshethenregularlytell？"
　　"Regularly。Butwhathetells，"shedidherselfthejusticetodeclare，"isnotalwayssomuchtothepointasthetwothingsI’verepeatedtoyou。"
　　TheirweightthensuggestedthatIshouldhavethemoveragain。"Hisrevelation，inthefirstplace，ofLongandLadyJohn？"
　　"Andhisrevelationinthesecond"——shespokeofitasabroadjoke——"ofMayServerandhimself。"
　　Therewassomethinginherjokethatwasachilltomymind；butIneverthelessplayedup。"Andwhatdoeshesaythat’sfurtherinterestingaboutTHAT？"
　　"Why，thatshe’sawfullysharp。"
　　Igasped——sheturneditoutso。"SHE——Mrs。Server？"
　　Itmadeher，however，equallystare。"Why，isn’tittheverythingyoumaintained？"
　　Ifeltherdreadfullogic，butIcouldn’t——withmyexquisiteimageallcontrasted，asinaflashfromflint，withthismonstrosity——somuchasentertainherquestion。Icouldonlystupidlyagainsoundit。"Awfullysharp？"
　　"Youafterallthennowdon’t？"Itwassheherselfwhomthewordsatpresentdescribed！"ThenwhatonearthDOyouthink？"Thestrangemixtureinmyfacenaturallymadeheraskit，buteverything，withinaminute，hadsomehowsogivenwayunderthetouchofhersupremeassurance，thepresentationofherownnowfinishedsystem，thatIdaresayIcouldn’tatthemomenthaveintheleasttrustedmyselftotellher。Sheleftme，however，infact，smalltime——sheonlytookenough，withhernegationsarrayedandherinsolencerecaptured，tojudgemeafresh，whichshedidasshegatheredherselfupintothestrengthoftwenty—five。Ididn’tafterall——itappearedpartofmysmash——knowtheweightofherhusband’syears，butIknewtheweightofmyown。Theymighthavebeenathousand，andnothingbutthesenseofthemwouldinamoment，Isaw，beleftme。"Mypoordear，youAREcrazy，andIbidyougood—night！"
　　Nothingbutthesenseofthem——onmytakingitfromherwithoutasoundandwatchingher，throughthelightedrooms，retreatanddisappear——WAS
　　atfirstleftme；butafteraminutesomethingelsecame，andIgrewconsciousthatherverdictlingered。Shehadsohadthelastwordthat，togetoutofitsplantedpresence，Ishookmyself，asIhaddonebefore，frommythought。WhenonceIhadstartedtomyroomindeed——andtopreparationforalivelierstartassoonasthehouseshouldstiragain——Ialmostbreathlesslyhurried。Suchalastword——thewordthatputmealtogethernowhere——wastoounacceptablenottoprescribeafreshthatprompttestofescapetootherairforwhichIhadearlierintheeveningseensomuchreason。I
　　SHOULDcertainlyneveragain，onthespot，quitehangtogether，eventhoughitwasn’treallythatIhadn’tthreetimeshermethod。WhatItoofatallylackedwashertone。