“Well，“sheexclaimed，withherusualenthusiasm，seizingRachelbythearm，“Icallthissplendid！Iguesseditwasgoingtohappenfromtheverybeginning！Isawyoutwoweremadeforeachother。
Nowyou’vejustgottotellmeallaboutit——when’sittobe，whereareyougoingtolive——areyoubothtremendouslyhappy？“
ButtheattentionofthegroupwasdivertedtoMrs。Elliot，whowaspassingthemwithhereagerbutuncertainmovement，carryinginherhandsaplateandanemptyhot-waterbottle。
Shewouldhavepassedthem，butMrs。Thornburywentupandstoppedher。
“Thankyou，Hughling’sbetter，“shereplied，inanswertoMrs。Thornbury’senquiry，“buthe’snotaneasypatient。Hewantstoknowwhathistemperatureis，andifItellhimhegetsanxious，andifIdon’ttellhimhesuspects。Youknowwhatmenarewhenthey’reill！
Andofcoursetherearenoneoftheproperappliances，and，thoughheseemsverywillingandanxioustohelp“(heresheloweredhervoicemysteriously)，“onecan’tfeelthatDr。Rodriguezisthesameasaproperdoctor。Ifyouwouldcomeandseehim，Mr。Hewet，“
sheadded，“Iknowitwouldcheerhimup——lyingthereinbedallday——
andtheflies——ButImustgoandfindAngelo——thefoodhere——
ofcourse，withaninvalid，onewantsthingsparticularlynice。“
Andshehurriedpasttheminsearchoftheheadwaiter。Theworryofnursingherhusbandhadfixedaplaintivefrownuponherforehead；
shewaspaleandlookedunhappyandmorethanusuallyinefficient，andhereyeswanderedmorevaguelythaneverfrompointtopoint。
“Poorthing！“Mrs。Thornburyexclaimed。ShetoldthemthatforsomedaysHughlingElliothadbeenill，andtheonlydoctoravailablewasthebrotheroftheproprietor，orsotheproprietorsaid，whoserighttothetitleofdoctorwasnotabovesuspicion。
“Iknowhowwretcheditistobeillinahotel，“Mrs。Thornburyremarked，oncemoreleadingthewaywithRacheltothegarden。
“IspentsixweeksonmyhoneymooninhavingtyphoidatVenice，“
shecontinued。“Butevenso，Ilookbackuponthemassomeofthehappiestweeksinmylife。Ah，yes，“shesaid，takingRachel’sarm，“youthinkyourselfhappynow，butit’snothingtothehappinessthatcomesafterwards。AndIassureyouIcouldfinditinmyhearttoenvyyouyoungpeople！You’veamuchbettertimethanwehad，Imaytellyou。WhenIlookbackuponit，Icanhardlybelievehowthingshavechanged。WhenwewereengagedIwasn’tallowedtogoforwalkswithWilliamalone——someonehadalwaystobeintheroomwithus——IreallybelieveIhadtoshowmyparentsallhisletters！——
thoughtheywereveryfondofhimtoo。Indeed，Imaysaytheylookeduponhimastheirownson。Itamusesme，“shecontinued，“tothinkhowstricttheyweretous，whenIseehowtheyspoiltheirgrand-children！“
Thetablewaslaidunderthetreeagain，andtakingherplacebeforetheteacups，Mrs。Thornburybeckonedandnoddeduntilshehadcollectedquiteanumberofpeople，SusanandArthurandMr。Pepper，whowerestrollingabout，waitingforthetournamenttobegin。
Amurmuringtree，ariverbrimminginthemoonlight，Terence’swordscamebacktoRachelasshesatdrinkingtheteaandlisteningtothewordswhichflowedonsolightly，sokindly，andwithsuchsilverysmoothness。Thislonglifeandallthesechildrenhadleftherverysmooth；theyseemedtohaverubbedawaythemarksofindividuality，andtohaveleftonlywhatwasoldandmaternal。
“Andthethingsyouyoungpeoplearegoingtosee！“
Mrs。Thornburycontinued。Sheincludedthemallinherforecast，sheincludedthemallinhermaternity，althoughthepartycomprisedWilliamPepperandMissAllan，bothofwhommighthavebeensupposedtohaveseenafairshareofthepanorama。
“WhenIseehowtheworldhaschangedinmylifetime，“shewenton，“Icansetnolimittowhatmayhappeninthenextfiftyyears。
Ah，no，Mr。Pepper，Idon’tagreewithyouintheleast，“shelaughed，interruptinghisgloomyremarkaboutthingsgoingsteadilyfrombadtoworse。“IknowIoughttofeelthat，butIdon’t，I’mafraid。They’regoingtobemuchbetterpeoplethanwewere。
Surelyeverythinggoestoprovethat。AllroundmeIseewomen，youngwomen，womenwithhouseholdcaresofeverysort，goingoutanddoingthingsthatweshouldnothavethoughtitpossibletodo。“
Mr。Pepperthoughthersentimentalandirrationallikealloldwomen，buthermanneroftreatinghimasifhewereacrossoldbabybaffledhimandcharmedhim，andhecouldonlyreplytoherwithacuriousgrimacewhichwasmoreasmilethanafrown。
“Andtheyremainwomen，“Mrs。Thornburyadded。“Theygiveagreatdealtotheirchildren。“
AsshesaidthisshesmiledslightlyinthedirectionofSusanandRachel。Theydidnotliketobeincludedinthesamelot，buttheybothsmiledalittleself-consciously，andArthurandTerenceglancedateachothertoo。Shemadethemfeelthattheywereallinthesameboattogether，andtheylookedatthewomentheyweregoingtomarryandcomparedthem。ItwasinexplicablehowanyonecouldwishtomarryRachel，incrediblethatanyoneshouldbereadytospendhislifewithSusan；butsingularthoughtheother’stastemustbe，theyboreeachothernoill-willonaccountofit；indeed，theylikedeachotherratherthebetterfortheeccentricityoftheirchoice。
“Ireallymustcongratulateyou，“Susanremarked，assheleantacrossthetableforthejam。
ThereseemedtobenofoundationforSt。John’sgossipaboutArthurandSusan。Sunburntandvigoroustheysatsidebyside，withtheirracquetsacrosstheirknees，notsayingmuchbutsmilingslightlyallthetime。Throughthethinwhiteclotheswhichtheywore，itwaspossibletoseethelinesoftheirbodiesandlegs，thebeautifulcurvesoftheirmuscles，hisleannessandherflesh，anditwasnaturaltothinkofthefirm-fleshedsturdychildrenthatwouldbetheirs。Theirfaceshadtoolittleshapeinthemtobebeautiful，buttheyhadcleareyesandanappearanceofgreathealthandpowerofendurance，foritseemedasifthebloodwouldneverceasetoruninhisveins，ortoliedeeplyandcalmlyinhercheeks。
Theireyesatthepresentmomentwerebrighterthanusual，andworethepeculiarexpressionofpleasureandself-confidencewhichisseenintheeyesofathletes，fortheyhadbeenplayingtennis，andtheywerebothfirst-rateatthegame。
Evelynhadnotspoken，butshehadbeenlookingfromSusantoRachel。Well——theyhadbothmadeuptheirmindsveryeasily，theyhaddoneinaveryfewweekswhatitsometimesseemedtoherthatshewouldneverbeabletodo。Althoughtheyweresodifferent，shethoughtthatshecouldseeineachthesamelookofsatisfactionandcompletion，thesamecalmnessofmanner，andthesameslownessofmovement。Itwasthatslowness，thatconfidence，thatcontentwhichshehated，shethoughttoherself。Theymovedsoslowlybecausetheywerenotsinglebutdouble，andSusanwasattachedtoArthur，andRacheltoTerence，andforthesakeofthisonemantheyhadrenouncedallothermen，andmovement，andtherealthingsoflife。Lovewasallverywell，andthosesnugdomestichouses，withthekitchenbelowandthenurseryabove，whichweresosecludedandself-contained，likelittleislandsinthetorrentsoftheworld；
buttherealthingsweresurelythethingsthathappened，thecauses，thewars，theideals，whichhappenedinthegreatworldoutside，andwentsoindependentlyofthesewomen，turningsoquietlyandbeautifullytowardsthemen。Shelookedatthemsharply。Ofcoursetheywerehappyandcontent，buttheremustbebetterthingsthanthat。
Surelyonecouldgetnearertolife，onecouldgetmoreoutoflife，onecouldenjoymoreandfeelmorethantheywouldeverdo。
Rachelinparticularlookedsoyoung——whatcouldsheknowoflife？
Shebecamerestless，andgettingup，crossedovertositbesideRachel。
Sheremindedherthatshehadpromisedtojoinherclub。
“Thebotheris，“shewenton，“thatImayn’tbeabletostartworkseriouslytillOctober。I’vejusthadaletterfromafriendofminewhosebrotherisinbusinessinMoscow。Theywantmetostaywiththem，andasthey’reinthethickofalltheconspiraciesandanarchists，I’veagoodmindtostoponmywayhome。Itsoundstoothrilling。“
ShewantedtomakeRachelseehowthrillingitwas。“Myfriendknowsagirloffifteenwho’sbeensenttoSiberiaforlifemerelybecausetheycaughtheraddressingalettertoananarchist。
Andtheletterwasn’tfromher，either。I’dgiveallIhaveintheworldtohelponarevolutionagainsttheRussiangovernment，andit’sboundtocome。“
ShelookedfromRacheltoTerence。Theywerebothalittletouchedbythesightofherrememberinghowlatelytheyhadbeenlisteningtoevilwordsabouther，andTerenceaskedherwhatherschemewas，andsheexplainedthatshewasgoingtofoundaclub——aclubfordoingthings，reallydoingthem。Shebecameveryanimated，asshetalkedonandon，forsheprofessedherselfcertainthatifoncetwentypeople——no，tenwouldbeenoughiftheywerekeen——setaboutdoingthingsinsteadoftalkingaboutdoingthem，theycouldabolishalmosteveryevilthatexists。Itwasbrainsthatwereneeded。
Ifonlypeoplewithbrains——ofcoursetheywouldwantaroom，aniceroom，inBloomsburypreferably，wheretheycouldmeetonceaweek……
AsshetalkedTerencecouldseethetracesoffadingyouthinherface，thelinesthatwerebeingdrawnbytalkandexcitementroundhermouthandeyes，buthedidnotpityher；lookingintothosebright，ratherhard，andverycourageouseyes，hesawthatshedidnotpityherself，orfeelanydesiretoexchangeherownlifeforthemorerefinedandorderlylivesofpeoplelikehimselfandSt。John，although，astheyearswentby，thefightwouldbecomeharderandharder。
Perhaps，though，shewouldsettledown；perhaps，afterall，shewouldmarryPerrott。Whilehismindwashalfoccupiedwithwhatshewassaying，hethoughtofherprobabledestiny，thelightcloudsoftobaccosmokeservingtoobscurehisfacefromhereyes。
TerencesmokedandArthursmokedandEvelynsmoked，sothattheairwasfullofthemistandfragranceofgoodtobacco。Intheintervalswhennoonespoke，theyheardfaroffthelowmurmurofthesea，asthewavesquietlybrokeandspreadthebeachwithafilmofwater，andwithdrewtobreakagain。Thecoolgreenlightfellthroughtheleavesofthetree，andthereweresoftcrescentsanddiamondsofsunshineupontheplatesandthetablecloth。Mrs。Thornbury，afterwatchingthemallforatimeinsilence，begantoaskRachelkindlyquestions——Whendidtheyallgoback？Oh，theyexpectedherfather。Shemustwanttoseeherfather——therewouldbeagreatdealtotellhim，and(shelookedsympatheticallyatTerence)
hewouldbesohappy，shefeltsure。Yearsago，shecontinued，itmighthavebeentenortwentyyearsago，sherememberedmeetingMr。Vinraceataparty，and，beingsomuchstruckbyhisface，whichwassounliketheordinaryfaceoneseesataparty，thatshehadaskedwhohewas，andshewastoldthatitwasMr。Vinrace，andshehadalwaysrememberedthename，——anuncommonname，——andhehadaladywithhim，averysweet-lookingwoman，butitwasoneofthosedreadfulLondoncrushes，whereyoudon’ttalk，——youonlylookateachother，——andalthoughshehadshakenhandswithMr。Vinrace，shedidn’tthinktheyhadsaidanything。Shesighedveryslightly，rememberingthepast。
ThensheturnedtoMr。Pepper，whohadbecomeverydependentonher，sothathealwayschoseaseatnearher，andattendedtowhatshewassaying，althoughhedidnotoftenmakeanyremarkofhisown。
“Youwhoknoweverything，Mr。Pepper，“shesaid，“tellushowdidthosewonderfulFrenchladiesmanagetheirsalons？DidweeverdoanythingofthesamekindinEngland，ordoyouthinkthatthereissomereasonwhywecannotdoitinEngland？“
Mr。PepperwaspleasedtoexplainveryaccuratelywhytherehasneverbeenanEnglishsalon。Therewerethreereasons，andtheywereverygoodones，hesaid。Asforhimself，whenhewenttoaparty，asonewassometimesobligedto，fromawishnottogiveoffence——
hisniece，forexample，hadbeenmarriedtheotherday——hewalkedintothemiddleoftheroom，said“Ha！ha！“asloudaseverhecould，consideredthathehaddonehisduty，andwalkedawayagain。
Mrs。Thornburyprotested。Shewasgoingtogiveapartydirectlyshegotback，andtheywerealltobeinvited，andsheshouldsetpeopletowatchMr。Pepper，andifsheheardthathehadbeencaughtsaying“Ha！ha！“shewould——shewoulddosomethingverydreadfulindeedtohim。ArthurVenningsuggestedthatwhatshemustdowastorigupsomethinginthenatureofasurprise——aportrait，forexample，ofaniceoldladyinalacecap，concealingabathofcoldwater，whichatasignalcouldbesprungonPepper’shead；
orthey’dhaveachairwhichshothimtwentyfeethighdirectlyhesatonit。
Susanlaughed。Shehaddonehertea；shewasfeelingverywellcontented，partlybecauseshehadbeenplayingtennisbrilliantly，andtheneveryonewassonice；shewasbeginningtofinditsomucheasiertotalk，andtoholdherownevenwithquitecleverpeople，forsomehowcleverpeopledidnotfrightenheranymore。
