Chapter1
Itwasanoccasion，Ifelt——theprospectofalargeparty——tolookoutatthestationforothers，possiblefriendsandevenpossibleenemies，whomightbegoing。Suchpremonitions，itwastrue，bredfearswhentheyfailedtobreedhopes，thoughitwastobeaddedthatthereweresometimes，inthecase，ratherhappyambiguities。Onewasgloweredat，inthecompartment，bypeoplewhoonthemorrow，afterbreakfast，weretoprovecharming；onewasspokentofirstbypeoplewhosesociabilitywassubsequentlytoshowasbleak；andonebuiltwithconfidenceonotherswhowerenevertoreappearatall——whowereonlygoingtoBirmingham。AssoonasIsawGilbertLong，somewayuptheplatform，however，Iknewhimasanelement。ItwasnotsomuchthatthewishwasfathertothethoughtasthatIrememberedhavingalreadymorethanoncemethimatNewmarch。Hewasafriendofthehouse——hewouldn’tbegoingtoBirmingham。Isolittleexpectedhim，atthesametime，torecognisemethatIstoppedshortofthecarriagenearwhichhestood——Ilookedforaseatthatwouldn’tmakeusneighbours。
IhadmethimatNewmarchonly——aplaceofacharmsospecialastocreateratherabondamongitsguests；buthehadalways，intheinterval，sofailedtoknowmethatIcouldonlyholdhimasstupidunlessIheldhimasimpertinent。Hewasstupidinfact，andinthatcharacterhadnobusinessatNewmarch；buthehadalso，nodoubt，hissystem，whichheappliedwithoutdiscernment。Iwondered，whileIsawmythingsputintomycorner，whatNewmarchcouldseeinhim——foritalwayshadtoseesomethingbeforeitmadeasign。Hisgoodlooks，whichwerestriking，perhapspaidhisway——hissixfeetandmoreofstature，hislow—growing，tight—curlinghair，hisbig，bare，bloomingface。Hewasafinepieceofhumanfurniture——hemadeasmallpartyseemmorenumerous。This，atleast，wastheimpressionofhimthathadrevivedbeforeIsteppedoutagaintotheplatform，anditarmedmeonlyatfirstwithsurprisewhenIsawhimcomedowntomeasifforagreeting。Ifhehaddecidedatlasttotreatmeasanacquaintancemade，itwasnonethelessacaseforlettinghimcomealltheway。That，accordingly，waswhathedid，andwithsoclearaconscience，Ihastentoadd，thatattheendofaminuteweweretalkingtogetherquiteaswiththetraditionofpromptintimacy。Hewasgood—lookingenough，Inowagainsaw，butnotsuchamodelofitasIhadseemedtoremember；ontheotherhandhismannershaddistinctlygainedinease。Hereferredtoourpreviousencountersandcommoncontacts——hewasgladIwasgoing；hepeepedintomycompartmentandthoughtitbetterthanhisown。Hecalledaporter，thenextminute，toshifthisthings，andwhilehisattentionwassotakenImadeoutsomeoftherestofthecontingent，whowerefindingorhadalreadyfoundplaces。
ThislastedtillLongcamebackwithhisporter，aswellaswithaladyunknowntomeandtowhomhehadapparentlymentionedthatourcarriagewouldpleasantlyaccommodateher。Theportercarriedinfactherdressing—bag，whichheputuponaseatandthebestowalofwhichlefttheladypresentlyfreetoturntomewithareproach：\"Idon’tthinkitveryniceofyounottospeaktome。\"Istared，thencaughtatheridentitythroughhervoice；afterwhichIreflectedthatshemighteasilyhavethoughtmethesamesortofassasIhadthoughtLong。Forshewassimply，itappeared，GraceBrissenden。Wehad，thethreeofus，thecarriagetoourselves，andwejourneyedtogetherformorethananhour，duringwhich，inmycorner，Ihadmycompanionsopposite。Webeganatfirstbytalkingalittle，andthenasthetrain——afastone——ranstraightandproportionatelybellowed，wegaveuptheefforttocompetewithitsmusic。Meantime，however，wehadexchangedwitheachotherafactortwototurnoverinsilence。Brissendenwascominglater——not，indeed，thatthatwassuchafact。Buthiswifewasinformed——sheknewaboutthenumerousothers；shehadmentioned，whilewewaited，peopleandthings：thatObert，R。A。，wassomewhereinthetrain，thatherhusbandwastobringonLadyJohn，andthatMrs。FroomeandLordLutleywereinthewondrousnewfashion——andtheirservantstoo，likeasinglehousehold——starting，travelling，arrivingtogether。ItcamebacktomeasIsattherethatwhenshementionedLadyJohnasinchargeofBrissendentheothermemberofourtriohadexpressedinterestandsurprise——expresseditsoastohavemadeherreplywithasmile：\"Didn’tyoureallyknow？\"
Thispassagehadtakenplaceontheplatformwhile，availingourselvesofourlastminute，wehungaboutourdoor。
\"WhyintheworldSHOULDIknow？\"
Towhich，withgoodnature，shehadsimplyreturned：\"Oh，it’sonlythatIthoughtyoualwaysdid！\"Andtheybothhadlookedatmealittleoddly，asifappealingfromeachother。\"Whatintheworlddoesshemean？\"
Longmighthaveseemedtoask；whileMrs。Brissendenconveyedwithlightprofundity：\"YOUknowwhyheshouldaswellasI，don’tyou？\"InpointoffactIdidn’tintheleast；andwhatafterwardsstruckmemuchmoreasthebeginningofmyanecdotewasaworddroppedbyLongaftersomeonehadcomeuptospeaktoher。Ihadthengivenhimhiscuebyalludingtomyoriginalfailuretoplaceher。Whatintheworld，intheyearortwo，hadhappenedtoher？Shehadchangedsoextraordinarilyforthebetter。
Howcouldawomanwhohadbeenplainsolongbecomeprettysolate？
Itwasjustwhathehadbeenwondering。\"Ididn’tplaceheratfirstmyself。Shehadtospeaktome。ButIhadn’tseenhersincehermarriage，whichwas——wasn’tit？——fourorfiveyearsago。She’samazingforherage。\"
\"Whatthenisherage？\"
\"Oh——twoorthree—and—forty。\"
\"She’sprodigiousforthat。Butcanitbesogreat？\"
\"Isn’titeasytocount？\"heasked。\"Don’tyouremember，whenpoorBrissmarriedher，howimmenselyshewasolder？Whatwasittheycalledit？——acaseofchild—stealing。Everyonemadejokes。Brissisn’tyetthirty。\"No，Ibethoughtmyself，hewouldn’tbe；butIhadn’trememberedthedifferenceassogreat。WhatIhadmainlyrememberedwasthatshehadbeenratherugly。Atpresentshewasratherhandsome。Long，however，astothis，didn’tagree。\"I’mboundtosayIdon’tquitecallitbeauty。\"
\"Oh，Ionlyspeakofitasrelative。Shelookssowellandsomehowso’fine。’Whyelseshouldn’twehaverecognisedher？\"
\"Whyindeed？Butitisn’tathingwithwhichbeautyhastodo。\"HehadmadethematteroutwithanacutenessforwhichIshouldn’thavegivenhimcredit。\"Whathashappenedtoherissimplythat——well，thatnothinghas。\"
\"Nothinghashappened？But，mydearman，shehasbeenmarried。That’ssupposedtobesomething。\"
\"Yes，butshehasbeenmarriedsolittleandsostupidly。ItmustbedesperatelydulltobemarriedtopoorBriss。Hiscomparativeyouthdoesn’t，afterall，makemoreofhim。He’snothingbutwhatheis。Herclockhassimplystopped。Shelooksnoolder——that’sall。\"
\"Ah，andajollygoodthingtoo，whenyoustartwhereshedid。ButI
takeyourdiscrimination，\"Iadded，\"asjust。Theonlythingisthatifawomandoesn’tgrowoldershemaybesaidtogrowyounger；andifshegrowsyoungershemaybesupposedtogrowprettier。That’sallexcept，ofcourse，thatitstrikesmeascharmingalsoforBrissendenhimself。
HEhadtheface，Iseemtorecall，ofababy；sothatifhiswifedidflauntherfiftyyears——！\"
\"Oh，\"Longbrokein，\"itwouldn’thavematteredtohimifshehad。That’stheawfulness，don’tyousee？ofthemarriedstate。Peoplehavetogetusedtoeachother’scharmsaswellastotheirfaults。Hewouldn’thavenoticed。It’sonlyyouandIwhodo，andthecharmofitisforUS。\"
\"Whataluckythingthen，\"Ilaughed，\"that，withBrissendensooutofitandrelegatedtothetime—table’sobscurehereafter，itshouldbeyouandIwhoenjoyher！\"IhadbeenstruckinwhathesaidwithmorethingsthanIcouldtakeup，andIthinkImusthavelookedathim，whilehetalked，withaslightreturnofmyfirstmystification。HetalkedasIhadneverheardhim——lessandlessliketheheavyAdoniswhohadsooften\"cut\"me；
andwhilehedidsoIwasproportionatelymoreconsciousofthechangeinhim。Henoticedinfactafteralittlethevagueconfusionof’mygazeandaskedme——withcompletegoodnaturewhyIstaredathimsohard。I
sufficientlydisembroiledmyselftoreplythatIcouldonlybefascinatedbythewayhemadehispoints；towhichhe——withthesamesociability——madeanswerthathe，onthecontrary，morethansuspectedme，cleverandcriticalasIwasofamusementathisartlessprattle。HestucknonethelesstohisideathatwhatwehadbeendiscussingwaslostonBrissenden。\"Ah，thenIhope，\"Isaid，\"thatatleastLadyJohnisn’t！\"
\"Oh，LadyJohn——！\"Andheturnedawayasiftherewereeithertoomuchortoolittletosayabouther。
IfoundmyselfengagedagainwithMrs。Brisswhilehewasoccupiedwithanewspaper—boy——andengaged，oddly，inverymuchthefreeviewofhimthatheandIhadjusttakenofherself。Sheputittomefranklythatshehadneverseenamansoimproved：aconfidencethatImetwithalacrity，asitshowedmethat，underthesameimpression，Ihadnotbeenastray。
Shehadonly，itseemed，onseeinghim，madehimoutwithagreateffort。
Itookinthisconfession，butIrepaidit。\"Hehintedtomethathehadnotknownyoumoreeasily。\"
\"Moreeasilythanyoudid？Oh，nobodydoesthat；and，tobequitehonest，I’vegotusedtoitanddon’tmind。Peopletalkofourchangingeverysevenyears，buttheymakemefeelasifIchangedeverysevenminutes。Whatwillyouhave，atanyrate，andhowcanIhelpit？It’sthegrindoflife，thewearandtearoftimeandmisfortune。And，youknow，I’mninety—three。\"
\"Howyoungyoumustfeel，\"Ianswered，\"tocaretotalkofyourage！
Ienvyyou，fornothingwouldinducemetoletyouknowmine。Youlook，yousee，justtwenty—five。\"
Itevidentlytoo，whatIsaid，gaveherpleasure——apleasurethatshecaughtandheld。\"Well，youcan’tsayIdressit。\"
\"No，youdress，Imakeout，ninety—three。IfyouWOULDonlydresstwenty—fiveyou’dlookfifteen。\"
\"Fifteeninaschoolroomcharade！\"Shelaughedatthishappilyenough。
\"Yourcomplimenttomytasteisodd。Iknow，atallevents，\"shewenton，\"what’sthedifferenceinMr。Long。\"
\"Besogoodthen，formyrelief，astonameit。\"
\"Well，averycleverwomanhasforsometimepast——\"
\"Taken\"——thisbeginningwasofcourseenough——\"aparticularinterestinhim？DoyoumeanLadyJohn？\"Iinquired；and，assheevidentlydid，Iratherdemurred。\"DoyoucallLadyJohnaverycleverwoman？\"
\"Surely。That’swhyIkindlyarrangedthat，asshewastotake，Ihappenedtolearn，thenexttrain，Guyshouldcomewithher。\"
\"Youarrangedit？\"Iwondered。\"She’snotsocleverasyouthen。\"
\"BecauseyoufeelthatSHEwouldn’t，orcouldn’t？Nodoubtshewouldn’thavemadethesamepointofit——formorethanonereason。PoorGuyhasn’tpretensions——hasnothingbuthisyouthandhisbeauty。Butthat’spreciselywhyI’msorryforhimandtrywheneverIcantogivehimalift。LadyJohn’scompanyIS，yousee，alift。\"
\"YoumeanithassounmistakablybeenonetoLong？\"
\"Yes——ithaspositivelygivenhimamindandatongue。THAT’Swhathascomeoverhim。\"
\"Then，\"Isaid，\"it’samostextraordinarycase——suchasonereallyhasnevermet。\"
\"Oh，but，\"sheobjected，\"ithappens。\"
\"Ah，soveryseldom！Yes——I’vepositivelynevermetit。Areyouverysure，\"Iinsisted，\"thatLadyJohnIStheinfluence？\"
\"Idon’tmeantosay，ofcourse，\"shereplied，\"thathelooksflutteredifyoumentionher，thathedoesn’tinfactlookasblankasapickpocket。
Butthatprovesnothing——orrather，asthey’reknowntobealwaystogether，andshefrommorningtillnightaspointedasahat—pin，itprovesjustwhatonesees。Onesimplytakesitin。\"
Iturnedthepictureround。\"They’rescarcelytogetherwhenshe’stogetherwithBrissenden。\"
\"Ah，that’sonlyonceinaway。It’sathingthatfromtimetotimesuchpeople——don’tyouknow？——makeaparticularpointof：theycultivate，tocovertheirgame，theappearanceofotherlittlefriendships。Itputsoutsidersoffthescent，andtherealthingmeanwhilegoeson。Besides，youyourselfacknowledgetheeffect。Ifshehasn’tmadehimclever，whathasshemadehim？Shehasgivenhim，steadily，moreandmoreintellect。\"
\"Well，youmayberight，\"Ilaughed，\"thoughyouspeakasifitwerecod—liveroil。Doessheadministerit，asadailydose，bythespoonful？
oronlyasadropatatime？Doeshetakeitinhisfood？Ishesupposedtoknow？ThedifficultyformeissimplythatifI’veseenthehandsomegrowuglyandtheuglyhandsome，thefatgrowthinandthethinfat，theshortgrowlongandthelongshort；ifI’veeven，likewise，seentheclever，asI’vetoofondly，atleast，supposedthem，growstupid：sohaveINOT
seen——no，notonceinallmydays——thestupidgrowclever。\"
Itwasaquestion，nonetheless，onwhichshecouldperfectlystandup。\"AllIcansayisthenthatyou’llhave，thenextdayortwo，aninterestingnewexperience。\"
\"ItWILLbeinteresting，\"IdeclaredwhileIthought——\"andallthemoreifImakeoutformyselfthatLadyJohnIStheagent。\"
\"You’llmakeitoutifyoutalktoher——thatis，Imean，ifyoumakeHERtalk。You’llseehowsheCAN。\"
\"Shekeepsherwitthen，\"Iasked，\"inspiteofallshepumpsintoothers？\"
\"Oh，shehasenoughfortwo！\"
\"I’mimmenselystruckwithyours，\"Ireplied，\"aswellaswithyourgenerosity。I’veseldomseenawomantakesohandsomeaviewofanother。\"
\"It’sbecauseIliketobekind！\"shesaidwiththebestfaithintheworld；towhichIcouldonlyreturn，asweenteredthetrain，thatitwasakindnessLadyJohnwoulddoubtlessappreciate。Longrejoinedus，andweran，asIhavesaid，ourcourse；which，asIhavealsonoted，seemedshorttomeinthelightofsuchablazeofsuggestion。Toeachofmycompanions——andthefactstuckoutofthem——somethingunprecedentedhadhappened。
Chapter2
ThedaywasasfineandthesceneasfairatNewmarchasthepartywasnumerousandvarious；andmymemoryassociateswiththerestofthelongafternoonmanyrenewalsofacquaintanceandmuchsittingandstrolling，forsnatchesoftalk，inthelongshadeofgreattreesandthroughthestraightwalksofoldgardens。Acoupleofhoursthuspassed，andfreshaccessionsenrichedthepicture。TherewerepersonsIwascuriousof——ofLadyJohn，forinstance，ofwhomIpromisedmyselfanearlyview；butwewereapttobecarriedawayincurrentsthatreflectednewimagesandsufficientlybeguiledimpatience。Irecover，allthesame，afullsequenceofimpressions，eachofwhich，Iafterwardssaw，hadbeenappointedtohelpalltheothers。
Ifmyanecdote，asIhavementioned，hadbegun，atPaddington，ataparticularmoment，itgatheredsubstancestepbystepandwithoutmissingalink。
Thelinks，infact，shouldIcountthemall，wouldmaketoolongachain。
Theyformed，nevertheless，thehappiestlittlechapterofaccidents，thoughaseriesofwhichIcanscarcegivemorethanthegeneraleffect。
Oneofthefirstaccidentswasthat，beforedinner，ImetFordObertwanderingalittleapartwithMrs。Server，andthat，astheywereknowntomeasagreeableacquaintances，IshouldhavefacedthemwithconfidencehadInotimmediatelydrawnfromtheirsequesteredairthefearofinterruptingthem。Mrs。ServerwasalwayslovelyandObertalwaysexpert；thelatterstraightwaypulledup，however，makingmeaswelcomeasiftheirconversehaddropped。Shewasextraordinarilypretty，markedlyresponsive，conspicuouslycharming，buthegavemealookthatreallyseemedtosay：\"Don’t——there’sagoodfellow——leavemeanylongeralonewithher！\"IhadmetheratNewmarchbefore——itwasindeedonlysothatIhadmether——andIknewhowshewasvaluedthere。Ialsoknewthatanaversiontoprettywomen——numbersofwhomhehadpreservedforagratefulposterity——washissignneitherasmannorasartist；theeffectofallofwhichwastomakemeaskmyselfwhatshecouldhavebeendoingtohim。Makinglove，possibly——yetfromthathewouldscarcehaveappealed。Shewouldn’t，ontheotherhand，havegivenhimhercompanyonlytobeinhuman。Ijoinedthem，atallevents，learningfromMrs。Serverthatshehadcomebyatrainprevioustomyown；
andwemadeaslowtriotill，ataturnoftheprospect，wecameuponanothergroup。ItconsistedofMrs。FroomeandLordLutleyandofGilbertLongandLadyJohn——mingledandconfounded，asmightbesaid，notassortedaccordingtotradition。LongandMrs。Froomecamefirst，Irecollect，together，andhislordshipturnedawayfromLadyJohnonseeingmeratherdirectlyapproachher。Shehadbecomeforme，onthespot，asinterestingas，whilewetravelled，Ihadfoundmytwofriendsinthetrain。Asthesourceoftheflowof\"intellect\"
thathadtransmutedouryoungman，shehadeveryclaimtoanearnestattention；
andIshouldsoonhavebeenreadytopronouncethatsherewardeditasrichlyasusual。Shewasindeed，asMrs。Brisshadsaid，aspointedasahat—pin，andIboreinmindthatlady’sinjunctiontolookinherfortheanswertoourriddle。
Theriddle，Imaymention，soundedafreshtomyearinGilbertLong’sgayvoice；ithoveredthere——beforeme，beside，behindme，asweallpaused——inhislight，restlessstep，anervousanimationthatseemedtomultiplyhispresence。Hebecamereally，forthemoment，underthisimpression，thethingIwasmostconsciousof；Iheardhim，IfelthimevenwhileIexchangedgreetingswiththesorceressbywhosewandhehadbeentouched。TobetouchedmyselfwasdoubtlessnotquitewhatIwanted；yetIwanted，distinctly，aglimpse；sothat，withthesmartwelcomeLadyJohngaveme，ImightcertainlyhavefeltthatIwasonthewaytogetit。ThenoteofLong’spredominancedeepenedduringtheseminutesinamannerIcan’tdescribe，andIcontinuedtofeelthatthoughwepretendedtotalkitwastohimonlywelistened。
Hehadusallinhand；hecontrolledforthemomentallourattentionandourrelations。Hewasinshort，asaconsequenceofourattitude，inpossessionofthescenetoatunehecouldn’thavedreamedofayearortwobefore——inasmuchasatthatperiodhecouldhavefiguredatnosucheminencewithoutmakingafoolofhimself。Andthegreatthingwasthatifhiseminencewasnowsoperfectlygracedheyetknewlessthananyofuswhatwasthematterwithhim。Hewasunconsciousofhowhehad\"comeout\"——whichwasexactlywhatsharpenedmywonder。LadyJohn，onherside，wasthoroughlyconscious，andIhadafancythatshelookedatmetomeasurehowfarIwas。Icared，naturally，notintheleastwhatsheguessed；herinterestformewasallintheoperationofherinfluence。IamafraidIwatchedtocatchitintheact——watchedherwithacuriosityofwhichshemightwellhavebecomeaware。
Whatanintimacy，whatanintensityofrelation，Isaidtomyself，sosuccessfulaprocessimplied！Itwasofcoursefamiliarenoughthatwhenpeopleweresodeeplyinlovetheyrubbedoffoneachother——thatagreatpressureofsoultosoulusuallyleftoneithersideasufficientshowoftell—taletraces。ButforLongtohavebeensostampedasIfoundhim，howthepliantwaxmusthavebeenpreparedandthesealofpassionapplied！
Whatanaffectionthewomanworkingsuchachangeinhimmusthavemanagedtocreateasaprefacetoherinfluence！Withwhatasenseofhercharmshemusthavepavedthewayforit！Strangelyenough，however——itwasevenratherirritating——therewasnothingmorethanusualinLadyJohntoassistmyviewoftheheightatwhichthepairsoevokedmustmove。Thesethings——thewayotherpeoplecouldfeelabouteachother，thepowernotone’sself，inthegiveninstance，thatmadeforpassion——wereofcourseatbestthemysteryofmysteries；still，therewerecasesinwhichfancy，soundingthedepthsortheshallows，couldatleastdropthelead。LadyJohn，perceptibly，wasnosuchcase；imagination，inherpresence，wasbuttheweakwingoftheinsectthatbumpsagainsttheglass。Shewaspretty，prompt，hard，and，inawaythatwasspecialtoher，amistressatonceof\"culture\"
andofslang。Shewaslikeahat——withoneofMrs。Briss’shat—pins——askewonthebustofVirgil。Herornamentalinformation——asstrongasacoatoffurniture—polish——almostknockedyoudown。WhatIfeltinhernowmorethaneverwasthat，havingareputationfor\"point\"tokeepup，shewasalwaysunderarms，withabsencesandanxietieslikethoseofacelebrityatapublicdinner。Shethoughttoomuchofher\"speech\"——ofhowsoonitwouldhavetocome。Itwasnonethelesswonderful，however，that，asGraceBrissendenhadsaid，sheshouldstillfindherselfwithintellecttospare——havelavishedherselfbypreceptandexampleonLongandyethaveremainedforeachotherinterlocutorasfreshastheclownboundingintothering。Shecracked，formybenefit，asmanyjokesandturnedasmanysomersaultsasmighthavebeenexpected；afterwhichIthoughtitfairtoletheroff。
Weallfacedagaintothehouse，fordressinganddinnerwereinsight。
Ifoundmyselfoncemore，aswemoved，withMrs。Server，andIrememberrejoicingthat，sympatheticassheshowedherself，shedidn’tthinkitnecessarytobe，likeLadyJohn，always\"ready。\"Shewasdelightfullyhandsome——handsomerthanever；slim，fair，fine，withcharmingpaleeyesandsplendidauburnhair。IsaidtomyselfthatIhadn’tdoneherjustice；shehadn’torganisedherforces，wasalittlehelplessandvague，buttherewaseaseforthewearyinherhappynatureandherpeculiargrace。Theselastwerearticlesonwhich，fiveminuteslater，beforethehouse，wherewestillhadamargin，IwasmovedtochallengeFordObert。
\"Whatwasthematterjustnow——when，thoughyouweresofortunatelyoccupied，youyetseemedtocallmetotherescue？\"
\"Oh，\"helaughed，\"Iwasonlyoccupiedinbeingfrightened！\"
\"Butatwhat？\"
\"Well，atasortofsensethatshewantedtomakelovetome。\"
Ireflected。\"Mrs。Server？DoesMrs。Servermakelove？\"
\"Itseemedtome，\"myfriendreplied，\"thatshebeganonittoYOUassoonasshegotholdofyou。Weren’tyouaware？\"
Idebatedafresh；Ididn’tknowthatIhadbeen。\"Nottothepointofterror。She’ssogentleandsoappealing。Evenifshetookoneinhandwithviolence，moreover，\"Iadded，\"Idon’tseewhyterror——givensocharmingaperson——shouldbetheresult。It’sflattering。\"
\"Ah，you’rebrave，\"saidObert。
\"Ididn’tknowyouwereevertimid。Howcanyoube，inyourprofession？
Doesn’titcomebacktome，forthatmatter，that——onlytheotheryear——youpaintedher？\"
\"Yes，Ifacedhertothatextent。Butshe’sdifferentnow。\"
Iscarcelymadeitout。\"Inwhatwaydifferent？She’sascharmingasever。\"
Asifevenforhisownsatisfactionmyfriendseemedtothinkalittle。
\"Well，heraffectionswerenotthen，Iimagine，atherdisposal。Ijudgethatthat’swhatitmusthavebeen。Theywerefixed——withintensity；anditmadethedifferencewithME。Herimaginationhad，forthetime，resteditswing。Atpresentit’sreadyforflight——itseeksafreshperch。It’strying。Takecare。\"
\"Oh，Idon’tflattermyself，\"Ilaughed，\"thatI’veonlytoholdoutmyhand！Atanyrate，\"Iwenton，\"ishan’tcallforhelp。\"
Heseemedtothinkagain。\"Idon’tknow。You’llsee。\"
\"IfIdoIshallseeagreatdealmorethanInowsuspect。\"Hewantedtogetofftodress，butIstillheldhim。\"Isn’tshewonderfullylovely？\"
\"Oh！\"hesimplyexclaimed。
\"Isn’tsheaslovelyassheseems？\"
Buthehadalreadybrokenaway。\"Whathasthattodowithit？\"
\"Whathasanything，then？\"
\"She’stoobeastlyunhappy。\"
\"Butisn’tthatjustone’sadvantage？\"
\"No。It’suncanny。\"Andheescaped。
ThequestionhadatalleventsbroughtusindoorsandsofarupourstaircaseastowhereitbranchedtowardsObert’sroom。Ifollowedittomycorridor，withwhichotheroccasionshadmademeacquainted，andIreachedthedooronwhichIexpectedtofindmycardofdesignation。Thisdoor，however，wasopen，soastoshowme，inmomentarypossessionoftheroom，agentleman，unknowntome，who，inunguidedquestofhisquarters，appearedtohavearrivedfromtheotherendofthepassage。Hehadjustseen，asthepropertyofanother，myunpackedthings，withwhichheimmediatelyconnectedme。Hemoreover，tomysurprise，onmyentering，soundedmyname，inresponsetowhichIcouldonlyatfirstremainblank。ItwasinfactnottillIhadbeguntohelphimplacehimselfthat，correctingmyblankness，IknewhimforGuyBrissenden。Hehadbeenputbyhimself，forsomereason，inthebachelorwingand，exploringathazard，hadmistakenthesigns。
BythetimewefoundhisservantandhislodgingIhadreflectedontheoddityofmyhavingbeenasstupidaboutthehusbandasIhadbeenaboutthewife。Hehadescapedmynoticesinceourarrival，butIhad，asamucholderman，methim——theheroofhisoddunion——atsomeearliertime。Likehiswife，nonetheless，hehadnowstruckmeasastranger，anditwasnottill，inhisroom，IstoodalittlefacetofacewithhimthatImadeoutthewonderfulreason。
ThewonderfulreasonwasthatIwasNOTamucholderman；GuyBrissenden，atanyrate，wasnotamuchyounger。Itwashewhowasold——itwashewhowasolder——itwashewhowasoldest。Thatwassodisconcertinglywhathehadbecome。Itwasinshortwhathewouldhavebeenhadhebeenasoldashelooked。Helookedalmostanything——helookedquitesixty。Imadeitoutagainatdinner，where，fromadistance，butopposite，Ihadhiminsight。Nothingcouldhavebeenstrangerthanthewaythat，fatigued，fixed，settled，heseemedtohavepileduptheyears。Theyweretherewithouthavinghadtimetoarrive。Itwasasifhehaddiscoveredsomemiraculousshortcuttothecommondoom。Hehadgrownold，infine，aspeopleyouseeafteranintervalsometimesstrikeyouashavinggrownrich——tooquicklyforthehonest，oratleastforthestraight，way。Hehadcheatedorinheritedorspeculated。Ittookmebutaminutethentoaddhimtomylittlegallery——thesmallcollection，Imean，representedbyhiswifeandbyGilbertLong，aswellasinsomedegreedoubtlessalsobyLadyJohn：themuseumofthosewhoputtomewithsuchintensitythequestionofwhathadhappenedtothem。Hiswife，onthesameside，wasnotoutofmyrange，andnow，largelyexposed，lighted，jewelled，andenjoyingmoreovervisiblythesenseofthesethings——hiswife，uponmyhonour，asIsoonremarkedtotheladynextme，hiswife（itwastooprodigious！）lookedabouttwenty。
