"I’vegotthreenewgirls，"Mrs。Bonnycastlesaid。"Youmusttalktothemall。"
"Allatonce？"Vogelsteinasked，reversinginfancyapositionnotatallunknowntohim。Hehadsorepeatedlyheardhimselfaddressedinevenmorethantriplesimultaneity。
"Ohno；youmusthavesomethingdifferentforeach；youcan’tgetoffthatway。Haven’tyoudiscoveredthattheAmericangirlexpectssomethingespeciallyadaptedtoherself？It’sverywellforEuropetohaveafewphrasesthatwilldoforanygirl。TheAmericangirlisn’tANYgirl；she’saremarkablespecimeninaremarkablespecies。
ButyoumustkeepthebestthiseveningforMissDay。"
"ForMissDay！"——andVogelsteinhadastareofintelligence。"DoyoumeanforPandora？"
Mrs。Bonnycastlebrokeonhersideintofreeamusement。"Onewouldthinkyouhadbeenlookingforherovertheglobe！Soyouknowheralready——andyoucallherbyherpetname？"
"Ohno，Idon’tknowher；thatisIhaven’tseenherorthoughtofherfromthatdaytothis。WecametoAmericainthesameship。"
"Isn’tsheanAmericanthen？"
"Ohyes；shelivesatUtica——intheinterior。"
"IntheinteriorofUtica？Youcan’tmeanmyyoungwomanthen，wholivesinNewYork，whereshe’sagreatbeautyandagreatbelleandhasbeenimmenselyadmiredthiswinter。"
"Afterall，"saidCountOtto，consideringandalittledisappointed，"thename’snotsouncommon；it’sperhapsanother。Buthassheratherstrangeeyes，alittleyellow，butverypretty，andanosealittlearched？"
"Ican’ttellyouallthat；Ihaven’tseenher。She’sstayingwithMrs。Steuben。Sheonlycameadayortwoago，andMrs。Steuben’stobringher。WhenshewrotetometoaskleaveshetoldmewhatI
tellyou。Theyhaven’tcomeyet。"
VogelsteinfeltaquickhopethatthesubjectofthiscorrespondencemightindeedbetheyoungladyhehadpartedfromonthedockatNewYork，buttheindicationsseemedtopointanotherway，andhehadnowishtocherishanillusion。Itdidn’tseemtohimprobablethattheenergeticgirlwhohadintroducedhimtoMr。LansingwouldhavetheentreeofthebesthouseinWashington；besides，Mrs。
Bonnycastle’sguestwasdescribedasabeautyandbelongingtothebrilliantcity。
"What’sthesocialpositionofMrs。Steuben？"itoccurredtohimtoaskwhilehemeditated。Hehadanearnestartlessliteralwayofputtingsuchaquestionasthat；youcouldseefromitthathewasverythorough。
Mrs。Bonnycastlemetit，however，but，withmockinglaughter。"I’msureIdon’tknow！What’syourown？"——andshelefthimtoturntoherotherguests，toseveralofwhomsherepeatedhisquestion。
CouldtheytellherwhatwasthesocialpositionofMrs。Steuben？
TherewasCountVogelsteinwhowantedtoknow。Heinstantlybecameawareofcoursethatheoughtn’tsotohaveexpressedhimself。
Wasn’tthelady’splaceinthescalesufficientlyindicatedbyMrs。
Bonnycastle’sacquaintancewithher？Stilltherewerefinedegrees，andhefeltalittleundulysnubbed。Itwasperfectlytrue，ashetoldhishostess，thatwiththequickwaveofnewimpressionsthathadrolledoverhimafterhisarrivalinAmericatheimageofPandorawasalmostcompletelyeffaced；hehadseeninnumerablethingsthatwerequiteasremarkableintheirwayastheheroineoftheDonau，butatthetouchoftheideathathemightseeherandhearheragainatanymomentshebecameasvividinhismindasiftheyhadpartedthedaybefore：herememberedtheexactshadeoftheeyeshehaddescribedtoMrs。Bonnycastleasyellow，thetoneofhervoicewhenatthelastsheexpressedthehopehemightjudgeAmericacorrectly。HADhejudgedAmericacorrectly？Ifheweretomeetheragainshedoubtlesswouldtrytoascertain。ItwouldbegoingmuchtoofartosaythattheideaofsuchanordealwasterribletoCountOtto；butitmayatleastbesaidthatthethoughtofmeetingPandoraDaymadehimnervous。Thefactiscertainlysingular，butIshallnottakeonmyselftoexplainit；therearesomethingsthateventhemostphilosophichistorianisn’tboundtoaccountfor。
Hewanderedintoanotherroom，andthere，attheendoffiveminutes，hewasintroducedbyMrs。Bonnycastletooneoftheyoungladiesofwhomshehadspoken。ThiswasaveryintelligentgirlwhocamefromBostonandshowedmuchacquaintancewithSpielhagen’snovels。"Doyoulikethem？"Vogelsteinaskedrathervaguely，nottakingmuchinterestinthematter，ashereadworksoffictiononlyincaseofasea-voyage。TheyoungladyfromBostonlookedpensiveandconcentrated；thensheansweredthatshelikedSOMEofthemVERY
much，butthattherewereothersshedidn’tlike——andsheenumeratedtheworksthatcameundereachoftheseheads。Spielhagenisavoluminouswriter，andsuchacataloguetooksometime；attheendofitmoreoverVogelstein’squestionwasnotanswered，forhecouldn’thavetolduswhethershelikedSpielhagenornot。
Onthenexttopic，however，therewasnodoubtaboutherfeelings。
TheytalkedaboutWashingtonaspeopletalkonlyintheplaceitself，revolvingaboutthesubjectinwideningandnarrowingcircles，perchingsuccessivelyonitsmanybranches，consideringitfromeverypointofview。OuryoungmanhadbeenlongenoughinAmericatodiscoverthatafterhalfacenturyofsocialneglectWashingtonhadbecomethefashionandenjoyedthegreatadvantageofbeinganewresourceinconversation。Thiswasespeciallythecaseinthemonthsofspring，whentheinhabitantsofthecommercialcitiescamesofarsouthwardtoescape，afterthelongwinter，thatfinalaffront。TheywereallagreedthatWashingtonwasfascinating，andnoneofthemwerebetterpreparedtotalkitoverthantheBostonians。Vogelsteinoriginallyhadbeenratheroutofstepwiththem；hehadn’tseizedtheirpointofview，hadn’tknownwithwhattheycomparedthisobjectoftheirinfatuation。Butnowhekneweverything；hehadsettleddowntothepace；therewasn’tapossiblephaseofthediscussionthatcouldfindhimataloss。
TherewasakindofHegelianelementinit；inthelightoftheseconsiderationstheAmericancapitaltookonthesemblanceofamonstrousmysticalinfiniteWerden。ButtheyfatiguedVogelsteinalittle，anditwashispreference，asageneralthing，nottoengagethesameeveningwithmorethanonenewcomer，onevisitorinthefreshnessofinitiation。ThiswaswhyMrs。Bonnycastle’sexpressionofawishtointroducehimtothreeyoungladieshadstartledhimalittle；hesawacertainprocess，inwhichheflatteredhimselfthathehadbecomeproficient，butwhichwasafteralltolerablyexhausting，repeatedforeachofthedamsels。AfterseparatingfromhisjudiciousBostonianheratherevadedMrs。Bonnycastle，contentinghimselfwiththeconversationofoldfriends，pitchedforthemostpartinalowerandeasierkey。
AtlasthehearditmentionedthatthePresidenthadarrived，hadbeensomehalf-hourinthehouse，andhewentinsearchoftheillustriousguest，whosewhereaboutsatWashingtonpartieswasneverindicatedbyaclusterofcourtiers。Hemadeitapoint，wheneverhefoundhimselfincompanywiththePresident，topayhimhisrespects，andhehadnotbeendiscouragedbythefactthattherewasnoassociationofideasintheeyeofthegreatmanasheputouthishandpresidentiallyandsaid，"Happytomeetyou，sir。"CountOttofelthimselftakenforamereloyalsubject，possiblyforanoffice-seeker；andheusedtoreflectatsuchmomentsthatthemonarchicalformhaditsmeritsitprovidedalineofheredityforthefacultyofquickrecognition。Hehadnowsomedifficultyinfindingthechiefmagistrate，andendedbylearningthathewasinthetea-room，asmallapartmentdevotedtolightrefectionneartheentranceofthehouse。Hereouryoungmanpresentlyperceivedhimseatedonasofaandinconversationwithalady。Therewereanumberofpeopleaboutthetable，eating，drinking，talking；andthecoupleonthesofa，whichwasnotnearitbutagainstthewall，inashallowrecess，lookedalittlewithdrawn，asiftheyhadsoughtseclusionandweredisposedtoprofitbythedivertedattentionoftheothers。ThePresidentleanedback；hisglovedhands，restingoneitherknee，madelargewhitespots。Helookedeminent，buthelookedrelaxed，andtheladybesidehimministeredfreelyandwithoutscruple，itwasclear，tothiseffectofhiscomfortablyunbending。Vogelsteincaughthervoiceasheapproached。Heheardhersay"Wellnow，remember；Iconsideritapromise。"Shewasbeautifullydressed，inrose-colour；herhandswereclaspedinherlapandhereyesattachedtothepresidentialprofile。
"Well，madam，inthatcaseit’saboutthefiftiethpromiseI’vegivento-day。"
Itwasjustasheheardthesewords，utteredbyhercompanioninreply，thatCountOttocheckedhimself，turnedawayandpretendedtobelookingforacupoftea。Itwasn’tusualtodisturbthePresident，evensimplytoshakehands，whenhewassittingonasofawithalady，andtheyoungsecretaryfeltitinthiscaselesspossiblethanevertobreaktherule，fortheladyonthesofawasnoneotherthanPandoraDay。Hehadrecognisedherwithoutherappearingtoseehim，andevenwithhalfaneye，astheysaid，hadtakeninthatshewasnowapersontobereckonedwith。Shehadanairofelation，ofsuccess；sheshone，tointensity，inherrose-
coloureddress；shewasextractingpromisesfromtheruleroffiftymillionsofpeople。Whatanoddplacetomeether，heroldshipmatethought，andhowlittleonecouldtell，afterall，inAmerica，whopeoplewere！Hedidn’twanttospeaktoheryet；hewantedtowaitalittleandlearnmore；butmeanwhiletherewassomethingattractiveinthefactthatshewasjustbehindhim，afewyardsoff，thatifheshouldturnhemightseeheragain。ItwassheMrs。
Bonnycastlehadmeant，itwasshewhowassomuchadmiredinNewYork。Herfacewasthesame，yethehadmadeoutinamomentthatshewasvaguelyprettier；hehadrecognisedthearchofhernose，whichsuggestedafineambition。Hetooksometea，whichhehadn’tdesired，inordernottogoaway。Herememberedherentourageonthesteamer；herfatherandmother，thesilentsenselessburghers，solittle"oftheworld，"herinfantsister，somuchofit，herhumorousbrotherwithhistallhatandhisinfluenceinthesmoking-
room。HerememberedMrs。Dangerfield’swarnings——yetherperplexitiestoo——andtheletterfromMr。Bellamy，andtheintroductiontoMr。Lansing，andthewayPandorahadstoopeddownonthedirtydock，laughingandtalking，mistressofthesituation，toopenhertrunkfortheCustoms。Hewasprettysureshehadpaidnodutiesthatday；thiswouldnaturallyhavebeenthepurposeofMr。
Bellamy’sletter。Wasshestillincorrespondencewiththatgentleman，andhadhegotoverthesicknessinterferingwiththeirreunion？TheseimagesandthesequestionscoursedthroughCountOtto’smind，andhesawitmustbequiteinPandora’slinetobemistressofthesituation，fortherewasevidentlynothingonthepresentoccasionthatcouldcallitselfhermaster。Hedrankhisteaandas；heputdownhiscupheardthePresident，behindhim，say："Well，IguessmywifewillwonderwhyIdon’tcomehome。"
"Whydidn’tyoubringherwithyou？"Pandorabenevolentlyasked。
"Well，shedoesn’tgooutmuch。Thenshehasgothersisterstayingwithher——Mrs。Runkle，fromNatchez。She’sagooddealofaninvalid，andmywifedoesn’tliketoleaveher。"
"Shemustbeaverykindwoman"——andtherewasahighmaturecompetenceinthewaythegirlsoundedthenoteofapproval。
"Well，Iguesssheisn’tspoiled——yet。"
"Ishouldlikeverymuchtocomeandseeher，"saidPandora。
"Docomeround。Couldn’tyoucomesomenight？"thegreatmanresponded。
"Well，I’llcomesometime。AndIshallremindyouofyourpromise。"
"Allright。There’snothinglikekeepingitup。Well，"saidthePresident，"Imustbidgood-byetothesebrightfolks。"
Vogelsteinheardhimrisefromthesofawithhiscompanion；afterwhichhegavethepairtimetopassoutoftheroombeforehim。
Theydiditwithacertainimpressivedeliberation，peoplemakingwayfortheruleroffiftymillionsandlookingwithacertaincuriosityatthestrikingpinkpersonathisside。Whenalittlelaterhefollowedthemacrossthehall，intooneoftheotherrooms，hesawthehostandhostessaccompanythePresidenttothedoorandtwoforeignministersandajudgeoftheSupremeCourtaddressthemselvestoPandoraDay。Heresistedtheimpulsetojointhiscircle：ifheshouldspeaktoheratallhewouldsomehowwishittobeinmoreprivacy。Shecontinuedneverthelesstooccupyhim，andwhenMrs。Bonnycastlecamebackfromthehallheimmediatelyapproachedherwithanappeal。"Iwishyou’dtellmesomethingmoreaboutthatgirl——thatoneoppositeandinpink。"
"ThelovelyDay——that’swhattheycallher，Ibelieve？Iwantedyoutotalkwithher。"
"IfindsheistheoneI’vemet。Butsheseemstobesodifferenthere。Ican’tmakeitout，"saidCountOtto。
TherewassomethinginhisexpressionthatagainmovedMrs。
Bonnycastletomirth。"HowwedopuzzleyouEuropeans！Youlookquitebewildered。"
"I’msorryIlookso——Itrytohideit。Butofcoursewe’reverysimple。Letmeaskthenasimpleearnestchildlikequestion。Areherparentsalsoinsociety？"
"Parentsinsociety？D’outombez-vous？Didyoueverhearoftheparentsofatriumphantgirlinrose-colour，withanoseallherown，insociety？"
"Isshethenallalone？"hewentonwithastrainofmelancholyinhisvoice。
Mrs。Bonnycastlelaunchedathimallherlaughter。
"You’retoopathetic。Don’tyouknowwhatsheis？Isupposedofcourseyouknew。"
"It’sexactlywhatI’maskingyou。"
"Whyshe’sthenewtype。Ithasonlycomeuplately。Theyhavehadarticlesaboutitinthepapers。That’sthereasonItoldMrs。
Steubentobringher。"
"Thenewtype？WHATnewtype，Mrs。Bonnycastle？"hereturnedpleadingly——soconsciouswashethatalltypesinAmericawerenew。
Herlaughtercheckedherreplyamoment，andbythetimeshehadrecoveredherselftheyoungladyfromBoston，withwhomVogelsteinhadbeentalking，stoodtheretotakeleave。This，foranAmericantype，wasanoldone，hewassure；andtheprocessofpartingbetweentheguestandherhostesshadanancientelaboration。CountOttowaitedalittle；thenheturnedawayandwalkeduptoPandoraDay，whosegroupofinterlocutorshadnowbeenre-enforcedbyagentlemanwhohadheldanimportantplaceinthecabinetofthelateoccupantofthepresidentialchair。HehadaskedMrs。Bonnycastleifshewere"allalone"；buttherewasnothinginherpresentsituationtoshowherforsolitary。Shewasn’tsufficientlyaloneforourfriend’staste；buthewasimpatientandhehopedshe’dgivehimafewwordstohimself。Sherecognisedhimwithoutamoment’shesitationandwiththesweetestsmile，asmilematchingtoashadethetoneinwhichshesaid："Iwaswatchingyou。Iwonderedifyouweren’tgoingtospeaktome。"
"MissDaywaswatchinghim！"oneoftheforeignministersexclaimed；
"andweflatteredourselvesthatherattentionwasallwithus。"
"Imeanbefore，"saidthegirl，"whileIwastalkingwiththePresident。"
Atwhichthegentlemenbegantolaugh，oneofthemremarkingthatthiswasthewaytheabsentweresacrificed，eventhegreat；whileanotherputonrecordthathehopedVogelsteinwasdulyflattered。
"OhIwaswatchingthePresidenttoo，"saidPandora。"I’vegottowatchHIM。Hehaspromisedmesomething。"
"ItmustbethemissiontoEngland，"thejudgeoftheSupremeCourtsuggested。"Agoodpositionforalady；they’vegotaladyattheheadoverthere。"
"Iwishtheywouldsendyoutomycountry，"oneoftheforeignministerssuggested。"I’dimmediatelygetrecalled。"
"WhyperhapsinyourcountryIwouldn’tspeaktoyou！It’sonlybecauseyou’rehere，"theex-heroineoftheDonaureturnedwithagayfamiliaritywhichevidentlyrankedwithherbutasoneoftheartsofdefence。"You’llseewhatmissionitiswhenitcomesout。
ButI’llspeaktoCountVogelsteinanywhere，"shewenton。"He’sanolderfriendthananyrighthere。I’veknownhimindifficultdays。"
"Ohyes，onthegreatocean，"theyoungmansmiled。"Onthewaterywaste，inthetempest！"
"OhIdon’tmeanthatsomuch；wehadabeautifulvoyageandtherewasn’tanytempest。ImeanwhenIwaslivinginUtica。That’sawaterywasteifyoulike，andatempesttherewouldhavebeenapleasantvariety。"
"Yourparentsseemedtomesopeaceful！"herassociateintheothermemoriessighedwithavaguewishtosaysomethingsympathetic。
"Ohyouhaven’tseenthemashore！AtUticatheywereverylively。
Butthat’snolongerournaturalhome。Don’tyourememberItoldyouIwasworkingforNewYork？Well，Iworked——lhadtoworkhard。
Butwe’vemoved。"
CountOttoclungtohisinterest。"AndIhopethey’rehappy。"
"Myfatherandmother？Ohtheywillbe，intime。Imustgivethemtime。They’reveryyoungyet，they’veyearsbeforethem。Andyou’vebeenalwaysinWashington？"Pandoracontinued。"Isupposeyou’vefoundouteverythingabouteverything。"
"Ohno——therearesomethingsICAN’Tfindout。"
"ComeandseemeandperhapsIcanhelpyou。I’mverydifferentfromwhatIwasinthatphase。I’veadvancedagreatdealsincethen。"
"OhhowwasMissDayinthatphase？"askedacabinetministerofthelastadministration。
"Shewasdelightfulofcourse，"CountOttosaid。
"He’sveryflattering；Ididn’topenmymouth！"Pandoracried。
"HerecomesMrs。Steubentotakemetosomeotherplace。Ibelieveit’saliterarypartyneartheCapitol。EverythingseemssoseparateinWashington。Mrs。Steuben’sgoingtoreadapoem。I
wishshe’dreadithere；wouldn’titdoaswell？"
Thislady，arriving，signifiedtoheryoungfriendthenecessityoftheirmovingon。ButMissDay’scompanionshadvariousthingstosaytoherbeforegivingherup。Shehadavividanswerforeach，anditwasbroughthometoVogelsteinwhilehelistenedthatthiswouldbeindeed，inherdevelopment，asshesaid，anotherphase。
Daughterofsmallburghersasshemightbeshewasreallybrilliant。
HeturnedawayalittleandwhileMrs。Steubenwaitedputheraquestion。HehadmadeherhalfanhourbeforethesubjectofthatinquirytowhichMrs。Bonnycastlereturnedsoambiguousananswer；
butthiswasn’tbecausehefailedofalldirectacquaintancewiththeamiablewomanorofanygeneralideaoftheesteeminwhichshewasheld。Hehadmetherinvariousplacesandhadbeenatherhouse。Shewasthewidowofacommodore，wasahandsomemildsoftswayingperson，whomeveryoneliked，withglossybandsofblackhairandalittleringletdependingbehindeachear。Someonehadsaidthatshelookedlikethevieuxjeu，ideaofthequeeninHamlet。ShehadwrittenverseswhichwereadmiredintheSouth，woreafull-lengthportraitofthecommodoreonherbosomandspokewiththeaccentofSavannah。ShehadaboutherapositivestrongodourofWashington。IthadcertainlybeenverysuperfluousinouryoungmantoquestionMrs。Bonnycastleabouthersocialposition。
"Dokindlytellme，"hesaid，loweringhisvoice，"what’sthetypetowhichthatyoungladybelongs？Mrs。Bonnycastletellsmeit’sanewone。"
Mrs。Steubenforamomentfixedherliquideyesonthesecretaryoflegation。Shealwaysseemedtobetranslatingtheproseofyourspeechintothefinerrhythmswithwhichherownmindwasfamiliar。
"Doyouthinkanything’sreallynew？"shethenbegantoflute。"I’mveryfondoftheold；youknowthat’saweaknessofweSoutherners。"
Thepoorlady，itwillbeobserved，hadanotherweaknessaswell。
"Whatweoftentaketobethenewissimplytheoldundersomenovelform。Weretherenotremarkablenaturesinthepast？IfyoudoubtityoushouldvisittheSouth，wherethepaststilllingers。"
VogelsteinhadbeenstruckbeforethiswithMrs。Steuben’spronunciationofthewordbywhichhernativelatitudesweredesignated；transcribingitfromherlipsyouwouldhavewrittenit（asthenearestapproach）theSooth。Butatpresenthescarceheededthispeculiarity；hewaswonderingratherhowawomancouldbeatoncesocopiousandsouninforming。WhatdidhecareaboutthepastorevenabouttheSooth？Hewasafraidofstartingheragain。Helookedather，discouragedandhelpless，asbewilderedalmostasMrs。Bonnycastlehadfoundhimhalfanhourbefore；lookedalsoatthecommodore，who，onherbosom，seemedtobreatheagainwithhiswidow’srespirations。"Callitanoldtypethenifyoulike，"hesaidinamoment。"AllIwanttoknowiswhattypeitIS！
Itseemsimpossible，"hegasped，"tofindout。"
"Youcanfindoutinthenewspapers。They’vehadarticlesaboutit。
Theywriteabouteverythingnow。Butitisn’ttrueaboutMissDay。
It’soneofthefirstfamilies。Hergreat-grandfatherwasintheRevolution。"PandorabythistimehadgivenherattentionagaintoMrs。Steuben。Sheseemedtosignifythatshewasreadytomoveon。
"Wasn’tyourgreat-grandfatherintheRevolution？"theelderladyasked。"I’mtellingCountVogelsteinabouthim。"
"Whyareyouaskingaboutmyancestors？"thegirldemandedoftheyoungGermanwithuntemperedbrightness。"Isthatthethingyousaidjustnowthatyoucan’tfindout？Well，ifMrs。Steubenwillonlybequietyouneverwill。"
Mrs。Steubenshookherheadratherdreamily。"Well，it’snotroubleforweoftheSoothtobequiet。There’sakindoflanguorinourblood。Besides，wehavetobeto-day。ButI’vegottoshowsomeenergyto-night。I’vegottogetyoutotheendofPennsylvaniaAvenue。"
PandoragaveherhandtoCountOttoandaskedhimifhethoughttheyshouldmeetagain。HeansweredthatinWashingtonpeoplewerealwaysmeetingagainandthatatanyrateheshouldn’tfailtowaituponher。Hereupon，justasthetwoladiesweredetachingthemselves，Mrs。SteubenremarkedthatiftheCountandMissDaywishedtomeetagainthepicnicwouldbeagoodchance——thepicnicshewasgettingupforthefollowingThursday。Itwastoconsistofabouttwentybrightpeople，andthey’dgodownthePotomactoMountVernon。TheCountansweredthatifMrs。Steubenthoughthimbrightenoughheshouldbedelightedtojointheparty；andhewastoldthehourforwhichthetrystwastaken。
HeremainedatMrs。Bonnycastle’saftereveryonehadgone，andthenheinformedthisladyofhisreasonforwaiting。Wouldshehavemercyonhimandlethimknow，inasingleword，beforehewenttorest——forwithoutitrestwouldbeimpossible——whatwasthisfamoustypetowhichPandoraDaybelonged？
"Gracious，youdon’tmeantosayyou’venotfoundoutthattypeyet！"Mrs。Bonnycastleexclaimedwithareturnofherhilarity。
"Whathaveyoubeendoingalltheevening？YouGermansmaybethorough，butyoucertainlyarenotquick！"
ItwasAlfredBonnycastlewhoatlasttookpityonhim。"MydearVogelstein，she’sthelatestfreshestfruitofourgreatAmericanevolution。She’stheself-madegirl！"
CountOttogazedamoment。"ThefruitofthegreatAmericanRevolution？Yes，Mrs。Steubentoldmehergreat-grandfather——"buttherestofhissentencewaslostinarenewedexplosionofMrs。
Bonnycastle’ssenseoftheridiculous。Hebravelypushedhisadvantage，suchasitwas，however，and，desiringhishost’sdefinitiontobedefined，inquiredwhattheself-madegirlmightbe。
"Sitdownandwe’lltellyouallaboutit，"Mrs。Bonnycastlesaid。
"Iliketalkingthisway，afteraparty’sover。Youcansmokeifyoulike，andAlfredwillopenanotherwindow。Well，tobeginwith，theself-madegirl’sanewfeature。That，however，youknow。Inthesecondplacesheisn’tself-madeatall。Weallhelptomakeher——wetakesuchaninterestinher。"
"That’sonlyaftershe’smade！"AlfredBonnycastlebrokein。"Butit’sVogelsteinthattakesaninterest。WhatonearthhasstartedyouupsoonthesubjectofMissDay？"
Thevisitorexplainedaswellashecouldthatitwasmerelytheaccidentofhishavingcrossedtheoceaninthesteamerwithher；
buthefelttheinadequacyofthisaccountofthematter，feltitmorethanhishosts，whocouldknowneitherhowlittleactualcontacthehadhadwithherontheship，howmuchhehadbeenaffectedbyMrs。Dangerfield’swarnings，norhowmuchobservationatthesametimehehadlavishedonher。Hesattherehalfanhour，andthewarmdeadstillnessoftheWashingtonnight——nowherearethenightssosilent——cameinattheopenwindow，mingledwithasoftsweetearthysmell，thesmellofgrowingthingsandinparticular，ashethought，ofMrs。Steuben’sSooth。Beforehewentawayhehadheardallabouttheself-madegirl，andtherewassomethinginthepicturethatstronglyimpressedhim。ShewaspossibledoubtlessonlyinAmerica；Americanlifehadsmoothedthewayforher。Shewasnotfast，noremancipated，norcrude，norloud，andtherewasn’tinher，ofnecessityatleast，agrainofthestuffofwhichtheadventuressismade。Shewassimplyverysuccessful，andhersuccesswasentirelypersonal。Shehadn’tbeenbornwiththesilverspoonofsocialopportunity；shehadgraspeditbyhonestexertion。
Youknewherbymanydifferentsigns，butchiefly，infallibly，bytheappearanceofherparents。Itwasherparentswhotoldherstory；youalwayssawhowlittleherparentscouldhavemadeher。
Herattitudewithregardtothemmightvaryindifferentways。Asthegreatfactonherownsidewasthatshehadliftedherselffromalowersocialplane，doneitallherself，anddoneitbythesimpleleverofherpersonality，itwasnaturallytobeexpectedthatshewouldleavetheauthorsofhermerematerialbeingintheshade。
Sometimesshehadtheminherwake，lostinthebubblesandthefoamthatshowedwhereshehadpassed；sometimes，asAlfredBonnycastlesaid，sheletthemslidealtogether；sometimesshekeptthemincloseconfinement，resortingtothemundercoverofnightandwitheveryprecaution；sometimessheexhibitedthemtothepublicindiscreetglimpses，inprearrangedattitudes。Butthegeneralcharacteristicoftheself-madegirlwasthat，thoughitwasfrequentlyunderstoodthatshewasprivatelydevotedtoherkindred，sheneverattemptedtoimposethemonsociety，anditwasstrikingthat，thoughinsomeofhermanifestationsabore，shewasatherworstlessofaborethanthey。Theywerealmostalwayssolemnandportentous，andtheywereforthemostpartofadeathlyrespectability。Shewasn’tnecessarilysnobbish，unlessitwassnobbishtowantthebest。Shedidn’tcringe，shedidn’tmakeherselfsmallerthanshewas；shetookonthecontraryastandofherownandattractedthingstoherself。NaturallyshewaspossibleonlyinAmerica——onlyinacountrywherewholerangesofcompetitionandcomparisonwereabsent。Thenaturalhistoryofthisinterestingcreaturewasatlastcompletelylaidbaretotheearneststranger，who，ashesatthereintheanimatedstillness，withthefragrantbreathoftheWesternworldinhisnostrils，wasconvincedofwhathehadalreadysuspected，thatconversationinthegreatRepublicwasmoreyearningly，nottosaygropingly，psychologicalthanelsewhere。Anotherthing，ashelearned，thatyouknewtheself-
madegirlbywasherculture，whichwasperhapsalittletoorestlessandobvious。Shehadusuallygotintosocietymoreorlessbyreading，andherconversationwasapttobegarnishedwithliteraryallusions，evenwithfamiliarquotations。Vogelsteinhadn’thadtimetoobservethiselementasadevelopedforminPandoraDay；butAlfredBonnycastlehintedthathewouldn’ttrusthertokeepitunderinatete-a-tete。ItwasneedlesstosaythattheseyoungpersonshadalwaysbeentoEurope；thatwasusuallythefirstplacetheygotto。Bysuchartstheysometimesenteredsocietyontheothersidebeforetheydidsoathome；itwastobeaddedatthesametimethatthisresourcewaslessandlessvaluable，forEurope，intheAmericanworld，hadlessandlessprestigeandpeopleintheWesternhemispherenowkeptawatchonthatroundaboutroad。AllofwhichquiteappliedtoPandoraDay——
thejourneytoEurope，theculture（asexemplifiedinthebooksshereadontheship），therelegation，theeffacement，ofthefamily。
Theonlythingthatwasexceptionalwastherapidityofhermarch；
forthejumpshehadtakensinceheleftherinthehandsofMr。
LansingstruckVogelstein，evenafterhehadmadeallallowancefortheabnormalhomogeneityoftheAmericanmass，asreallyconsiderable。Ittookallherclevernesstoaccountforsuchthings。Whenshe"moved"fromUtica——mobilisedhercommissariat——
thebattleappearedvirtuallytohavebeengained。
CountOttocalledthenextday，andMrs。Steuben’sblackamoorinformedhim，inthecommunicativemannerofhisrace，thattheladieshadgoneouttopaysomevisitsandlookattheCapitol。
Pandoraapparentlyhadnothithertoexaminedthismonument，andouryoungmanwishedhehadknown，theeveningbefore，ofheromission，sothathemighthaveofferedtobeherinitiator。ThereistooobviousaconnexionforustofailofcatchingitbetweenhisregretandthefactthatinleavingMrs。Steuben’sdoorheremindedhimselfthathewantedagoodwalk，andthathethereupontookhiswayalongPennsylvaniaAvenue。Hiswalkhadbecomefairlygoodbythetimehereachedthegreatwhiteedificethatunfoldsitsrepeatedcolonnadesandupliftsitsisolateddomeattheendofalongvistaofsaloonsandtobacco-shops。Heslowlyclimbedthegreatsteps，hesitatingalittle，evenwonderingwhyhehadcome。Thesuperficialreasonwasobviousenough，buttherewasarealonebehinditthatstruckhimasratherwantinginthesoliditywhichshouldcharacterisethemotivesofanemissaryofPrinceBismarck。ThesuperficialreasonwasabeliefthatMrs。Steubenwouldpayhervisitfirst——itwasprobablyonlyaquestionofleavingcards——andbringheryoungfriendtotheCapitolatthehourwhentheyellowafternoonlightwouldgiveatonetotheblanknessofitsmarblewalls。TheCapitolwasasplendidbuilding，butitwasratherwantingintone。
Vogelstein’scuriosityaboutPandoraDayhadbeenmuchmorequickenedthancheckedbytherevelationsmadetohiminMrs。
Bonnycastle’sdrawing-room。Itwasarelieftohavethecreatureclassified；buthehadadesire，ofwhichhehadnotbeenconsciousbefore，toseereallytotheendhowwell，inotherwordshowcompletelyandartistically，agirlcouldmakeherself。Hiscalculationshadbeenjust，andhehadwanderedabouttherotundaforonlytenminutes，lookingagainatthepaintings，commemorativeofthenationalannals，whichoccupyitslowerspaces，andatthesimulatedsculptures，sotouchinglycharacteristicofearlyAmericantaste，whichadornitsupperreaches，whenthecharmingwomenhehadbeencountingonpresentedthemselvesinchargeofalicensedguide。
Hewenttomeetthemanddidn’tconcealfromthemthathehadmarkedthemforhisveryown。Theencounterwashappyonbothsides，andheaccompaniedthemthroughthequeerandendlessinterior，throughlabyrinthsofbleakbaredevelopment，intolegislativeandjudicialhalls。Hethoughtitahideousplace；hehadseenitallbeforeandaskedhimselfwhatsenselessgamehewasplaying。InthelowerHousewerecertainbedaubedwalls，inthebaseststyleofimitation，whichmadehimfeelfaintlysick，nottospeakofalobbyadornedwithartlessprintsandphotographsofeminentdefunctCongressmenthatwasalltooseriousforajokeandtoocomicforaValhalla。
ButPandorawasgreatlyinterested；shethoughttheCapitolveryfine；itwaseasytocriticisethedetails，butasawholeitwasthemostimpressivebuildingshehadeverseen。Sheprovedacharmingfellowtourist；shehadconstantlysomethingtosay，butneversaidittoomuch；itwasimpossibletodraginthewakeofaciceronelessofalengtheningoranirritatingchain。Vogelsteincouldseetoothatshewishedtoimprovehermind；shelookedatthehistoricalpictures，attheuncannystatuesoflocalworthies，presentedbythedifferentStates——theywereofdifferentsizes，asiftheyhadbeen"numbered，"inashop——sheaskedquestionsoftheguideandinthechamberoftheSenaterequestedhimtoshowherthechairsofthegentlemenfromNewYork。Shesatdowninoneofthem，thoughMrs。SteubentoldherTHATSenator（shemistookthechair，droppingintoanotherState）wasahorridoldthing。
ThroughoutthehourhespentwithherVogelsteinseemedtoseehowitwasshehadmadeherself。Theywalkedabout，afterwardsonthesplendidterracethatsurroundstheCapitol，thegreatmarbleflooronwhichitstands，andmadevagueremarks——Pandora’swerethemostdefinite——abouttheyellowsheenofthePotomac，thehazyhillsofVirginia，thefar-gleamingpedimentofArlington，therawconfused-
lookingcountry。Washingtonwasbeneaththem，bristlingandgeometrical；thelonglinesofitsavenuesseemedtostretchintonationalfutures。PandoraaskedCountOttoifhehadeverbeentoAthensand，onhisadmittingsomuch，soughttoknowwhethertheeminenceonwhichtheystooddidn’tgivehimanideaoftheAcropolisinitsprime。Vogelsteindeferredthesatisfactionofthisappealtotheirnextmeeting；hewasglad——inspiteoftheappeal——tomakepretextsforseeingheragain。Hedidsoonthemorrow；Mrs。Steuben’spicnicwasstillthreedaysdistant。HecalledonPandoraasecondtime，alsomethereacheveningintheWashingtonworld。IttookverylittleofthistoremindhimthathewasforgettingbothMrs。Dangerfield’swarningsandtheadmonitions——
longfamiliartohim——ofhisownconscience。Washeinperiloflove？WashetobesacrificedonthealtaroftheAmericangirl，analtaratwhichthoseotherpoorfellowshadpouredoutsomeofthebluestbloodinGermanyandhehadhimselftakenoathhewouldneverseriouslyworship？Hedecidedthathewasn’tinrealdanger，thathehadratherclinchedhisprecautions。Itwastruethatayoungpersonwhohadsucceededsowellforherselfmightbeagreathelptoherhusband；butthisdiplomaticaspirantpreferredonthewholethathissuccessshouldbehisown：itwouldn’tpleasehimtohavetheairofbeingpushedbyhiswife。Suchawifeasthatwouldwishtopushhim，andhecouldhardlyadmittohimselfthatthiswaswhatfatehadinreserveforhim——tobepropelledinhiscareerbyayoungladywhowouldperhapsattempttotalktotheKaiserashehadheardhertheothernighttalktothePresident。Wouldsheconsenttodiscontinuerelationswithherfamily，orwouldshewishstilltoborrowplasticrelieffromthatdomesticbackground？Thatherfamilywassoimpossiblewastoacertainextentanadvantage；foriftheyhadbeenalittlebetterthequestionofarupturewouldbelesseasy。Heturnedoverthesequestionsinspiteofhissecurity，orperhapsindeedbecauseofit。Thesecuritymadethemspeculativeanddisinterested。
TheyhauntedhimduringtheexcursiontoMountVernon，whichtookplaceaccordingtotraditionslongestablished。Mrs。Steuben’sconfederatesassembledonthesteamerandweresetafloatonthebigbrownstreamwhichhadalreadyseemedtoourspecialtravellertohavetoomuchbosomandtoolittlebank。Hereandthere，however，hebecameconsciousofashorewheretherewassomethingtolookat，eventhoughconsciousatthesametimethathehadofoldlostgreatopportunitiesofanidylliccastinnothavingmanagedtobemore"thrownwith"acertainyoungladyonthedeckoftheNorthGermanLloyd。ThetwoturnedroundtogethertohangoverAlexandria，whichforPandora，asshedeclared，wasapictureofOldVirginia。ShetoldVogelsteinthatshewasalwayshearingaboutitduringtheCivilWar，agesbefore。Littlegirlasshehadbeenatthetimesherememberedallthenamesthatwereonpeople’slipsduringthoseyearsofreiteration。Thishistoricspothadatouchoftheromanceofrichdecay，areferencetoolderthings，toadramaticpast。ThepastofAlexandriaappearedinthevistaofthreeorfourshortstreetsslopingupahillandlinedwithpoorbrickwarehouseserectedformerchandisethathadceasedtocomeorgo。Itlookedhotandblankandsleepy，downtotheshabbywatersidewheretattereddarkiesdangledtheirbarefeetfromtheedgeofrottingwharves。PandorawasevenmoreinterestedinMountVernon——whenatlastitswoodedbluffbegantocommandtheriver——thanshehadbeenintheCapitol，andaftertheyhaddisembarkedandascendedtothecelebratedmansionsheinsistedongoingintoeveryroomitcontained。She"claimedforit，"asshesaid——someofherturnsweresocharacteristicbothofhernationalityandherownstyle——
thefinestsituationintheworld，andwasdistinctastotheshameoftheirnotgivingittothePresidentforhiscountry-seat。Mostofhercompanionshadseenthehouseoften，andwerenowcouplingthemselvesinthegroundsaccordingtotheirsympathies，sothatitwaseasyforVogelsteintoofferthebenefitofhisownexperiencetothemostinquisitivememberoftheparty。Theywerenottolunchforanotherhour，andintheintervaltheyoungmanroamedwithhisfirstandfairestacquaintance。ThebreathofthePotomac，ontheboat，hadbeenalittleharsh，butonthesoftly-curvinglawn，beneaththeclusteredtrees，withtheriverrelegatedtoamereshiningpresencefarbelowandinthedistance，thedaygaveoutnothingbutitsmildness，thewholescenebecamenobleandgenial。
CountOttocouldjokealittleongreatoccasions，andthepresentonewasworthyofhishumour。Hemaintainedtohiscompanionthattheshallowpaintedmansionresembledafalsehouse，a"wing"orstructureofdaubedcanvas，onthestage；butsheansweredhimsowellwithcertaineconomicalpalacesshehadseeninGermany，where，asshesaid，therewasnothingbutchinastovesandstuffedbirds，thathewasobligedtoallowthehomeofWashingtontobeafterallreallygemuthlich。Whathefoundsoinfactwasthesofttextureoftheday，hispersonalsituation，thesweetnessofhissuspense。Forsuspensehaddecidedlybecomehisportion；hewasunderacharmthatmadehimfeelhewaswatchinghisownlifeandthathissusceptibilitieswerebeyondhiscontrol。Ithungoverhimthatthingsmighttakeaturn，fromonehourtotheother，whichwouldmakethemverydifferentfromwhattheyhadbeenyet；andhisheartcertainlybeatalittlefasterashewonderedwhatthatturnmightbe。WhydidhecometopicnicsonfragrantAprildayswithAmericangirlswhomightleadhimtoofar？Wouldn’tsuchgirlsbegladtomarryaPomeraniancount？AndWOULDthey，afterall，talkthatwaytotheKaiser？Ifheweretomarryoneofthemheshouldhavetogiveherseveralthoroughlessons。
Intheirlittletourofthehouseouryoungfriendandhiscompanionhadhadagreatmanyfellowvisitors，whohadalsoarrivedbythesteamerandwhohadhithertonotleftthemanidealprivacy。Buttheothersgraduallydispersed；theycircledaboutakindofshowmanwhowastheauthorisedguide，abigslowgenialvulgarheavily-
beardedman，withawhimsicaledifyingpatronisingtone，atonethathadimmensesuccesswhenhestoppedhereandtheretomakehispoints——topasshiseyesoverhislisteningflock，thenfixthemquiteaboveitwithameditativelookandbringoutsomeancientpleasantryasifitwereasuddeninspiration。Hemadeacheerfulthing，anechooftheplatformbeforetheboothofacountryfair，evenofavisittothetombofthepaterpatriae。Itisenshrinedinakindofgrottointhegrounds，andVogelsteinremarkedtoPandorathathewasagoodmanfortheplace，butwastoofamiliar。
"Ohhe’dhavebeenfamiliarwithWashington，"saidthegirlwiththebrightdrynesswithwhichsheoftenutteredamusingthings。
Vogelsteinlookedatheramoment，anditcameoverhim，ashesmiled，thatsheherselfprobablywouldn’thavebeenabashedevenbytheherowithwhomhistoryhastakenfewestliberties。"Youlookasifyoucouldhardlybelievethat，"Pandorawenton。"YouGermansarealwaysinsuchaweofgreatpeople。"AnditoccurredtohercriticthatperhapsafterallWashingtonwouldhavelikedhermanner，whichwaswonderfullyfreshandnatural。ThemanwiththebeardwasanidealministertoAmericanshrines；heplayedonthecuriosityofhislittlebandwiththetouchofamaster，drawingthemattherightmomentawaytoseetheclassicice-housewheretheoldladyhadbeenfoundweepinginthebeliefitwasWashington’sgrave。Whilethismonumentwasunderinspectionourinterestingcouplehadthehousetothemselves，andtheyspentsometimeonaprettyterracewherecertainwindowsofthesecondflooropened——alittlerootlessverandahwhichoverhung，inamanner，obliquely，allthemagnificenceoftheview；theimmensesweepoftheriver，theartisticplantations，thelast-centurygardenwithitsbigboxhedgesandremainsofoldespaliers。Theylingeredherefornearlyhalfanhour，anditwasinthisretirementthatVogelsteinenjoyedtheonlyapproachtointimateconversationappointedforhim，aswastoappear，withayoungwomaninwhomhehadbeenunabletopersuadehimselfthathewasnotabsorbed。It’snotnecessary，andit’snotpossible，thatIshouldreproducethiscolloquy；butImaymentionthatitbegan——astheyleanedagainsttheparapetoftheterraceandheardthecheerfulvoiceoftheshowmanwafteduptothemfromadistance——withhissayingtoherratherabruptlythathecouldn’tmakeoutwhytheyhadn’thadmoretalktogetherwhentheycrossedtheAtlantic。
"Well，Icanifyoucan’t，"saidPandora。"I’dhavetalkedquickenoughifyouhadspokentome。Ispoketoyoufirst。"
"Yes，Irememberthat"——anditaffectedhimawkwardly。
"YoulistenedtoomuchtoMrs。Dangerfield。"
Hefeignedavagueness。"ToMrs。Dangerfield？"
"Thatwomanyouwerealwayssittingwith；shetoldyounottospeaktome。I’veseenherinNewYork；shespeakstomenowherself。
Sherecommendedyoutohavenothingtodowithme。"
"Ohhowcanyousaysuchdreadfulthings？"CountOttocriedwithaverybecomingblush。
"Youknowyoucan’tdenyit。Youweren’tattractedbymyfamily。
They’recharmingpeoplewhenyouknowthem。Idon’thaveabettertimeanywherethanIhaveathome，"thegirlwentonloyally。"Butwhatdoesitmatter？Myfamilyareveryhappy。They’regettingquiteusedtoNewYork。Mrs。Dangerfield’savulgarwretch——nextwintershe’llcallonme。"
"YouareunlikeanyMadchenI’veeverseen——Idon’tunderstandyou，"
saidpoorVogelsteinwiththecolourstillinhisface。
"Well，youneverWILLunderstandme——probably；butwhatdifferencedoesitmake？"
Heattemptedtotellherwhatdifference，butI’venospacetofollowhimhere。It’sknownthatwhentheGermanmindattemptstoexplainthingsitdoesn’talwaysreducethemtosimplicity，andPandorawasfirstmystified，thenamused，bysomeoftheCount’srevelations。AtlastIthinkshewasalittlefrightened，forsheremarkedirrelevantly，withsomedecision，thatluncheonwouldbereadyandthattheyoughttojoinMrs。Steuben。Hercompanionwalkedslowly，onpurpose，astheyleftthehousetogether，forheknewthepangofavaguesensethathewaslosingher。
"AndshallyoubeinWashingtonmanydaysyet？"heappealedastheywent。
"Itwillalldepend。I’mexpectingimportantnews。WhatIshalldowillbeinfluencedbythat。"
Thewayshetalkedaboutexpectingnews——andimportant！——madehimfeelsomehowthatshehadacareer，thatshewasactiveandindependent，sothathecouldscarcelyhopetostopherasshepassed。Itwascertainlytruethathehadneverseenanygirllikeher。ItwouldhaveoccurredtohimthatthenewsshewasexpectingmighthavereferencetothefavourshehadbeggedofthePresident，ifhehadn’talreadymadeuphismind——inthecalmofmeditationafterthattalkwiththeBonnycastles——thatthisfavourmustbeapleasantry。Whatshehadsaidtohimhadadiscouraging，asomewhatchillingeffect；neverthelessitwasnotwithoutacertainardourthatheinquiredofherwhether，solongasshestayedinWashington，hemightn’tpayhercertainrespectfulattentions。
"Asmanyasyoulike——andasrespectfulones；butyouwon’tkeepthemupforever！"
"Youtrytotormentme，"saidCountOtto。
Shewaitedtoexplain。"ImeanthatImayhavesomeofmyfamily。"
"Ishallbedelightedtoseethemagain。"
Againshejusthungfire。"Therearesomeyou’veneverseen。"
Intheafternoon，returningtoWashingtononthesteamer，Vogelsteinreceivedawarning。ItcamefromMrs。Bonnycastleandconstituted，oddlyenough，thesecondjunctureatwhichanofficiousfemalefriendhad，whilesociablyafloatwithhim，advisedhimonthesubjectofPandoraDay。
"There’sonethingweforgottotellyoutheothernightabouttheself-madegirl，"saidtheladyofinfinitemirth。"It’sneversafetofixyouraffectionsonher，becauseshehasalmostalwaysanimpedimentsomewhereinthebackground。"
Helookedatheraskance，butsmiledandsaid："Ishouldunderstandyourinformation——forwhichI’msomuchobliged——alittlebetterifIknewwhatyoumeanbyanimpediment。"
"OhImeanshe’salwaysengagedtosomeyoungmanwhobelongstoherearlierphase。"
"Herearlierphase？"
"Thetimebeforeshehadmadeherself——whenshelivedunconsciousofherpowers。AyoungmanfromUtica，say。Theyusuallyhavetowait；he’sprobablyinastore。It’salongengagement。"
CountOttosomehowpreferredtounderstandaslittleaspossible。
"Doyoumeanabetrothal——totakeeffect？"
"Idon’tmeananythingGermanandmoonstruck。ImeanthatpieceofpeculiarlyAmericanenterpriseaprematureengagement——totakeeffect，buttoocomplacently，attheendoftime。"
Vogelsteinveryproperlyreflectedthatitwasnousehishavingenteredthediplomaticcareerifheweren’tabletobearhimselfasifthisinterestinggeneralisationhadnoparticularmessageforhim。HedidMrs。Bonnycastlemoreoverthejusticetobelievethatshewouldn’thaveapproachedthequestionwithsuchlevityifshehadsupposedsheshouldmakehimwince。Thewholethingwas，likeeverythingelse，butforhertolaughat，andthebetrayalmoreoverofagoodintention。"Isee，Isee——theself-madegirlhasofcoursealwayshadapast。Yes，andtheyoungmaninthestore——fromUtica——ispartofherpast。"
"Youexpressitperfectly，"saidMrs。Bonnycastle。"Icouldn’tsayitbettermyself。"
"Butwithherpresent，withherfuture，whentheychangelikethisyounglady’s，Isupposeeverythingelsechanges。HowdoyousayitinAmerica？Sheletshimslide。"
"Wedon’tsayitatall！"Mrs。Bonnycastlecried。"Shedoesnothingofthesort；forwhatdoyoutakeher？Shestickstohim；thatatleastiswhatweEXPECThertodo，"sheaddedwithlessassurance。
"AsItellyou，thetype’snewandthecaseunderconsideration。Wehaven’tyethadtimeforcompletestudy。"
"OhofcourseIhopeshestickstohim，"VogelsteindeclaredsimplyandwithhisGermanaccentmoreaudible，asitalwayswaswhenhewasslightlyagitated。
Fortherestofthetriphewasratherrestless。Hewanderedabouttheboat，talkinglittlewiththereturningpicnickers。Towardthelast，astheydrewnearWashingtonandthewhitedomeoftheCapitolhungaloftbeforethem，lookingassimpleasasuspendedsnowball，hefoundhimself，onthedeck，inproximitytoMrs。Steuben。Hereproachedhimselfwithhavingratherneglectedherduringanentertainmentforwhichhewasindebtedtoherbounty，andhesoughttorepairhisomissionbyaproperdeference。ButtheonlyactofhomagethatoccurredtohimwastoaskherasbychancewhetherMissDaywere，toherknowledge，engaged。
Mrs。SteubenturnedherSoutherneyesuponhimwithalookofalmostromanticcompassion。"Tomyknowledge？WhyofcourseI’dknow！I
shouldthinkyou’dknowtoo。Didn’tyouknowshewasengaged？Whyshehasbeenengagedsinceshewassixteen。"
CountOttogazedatthedomeoftheCapitol。"ToagentlemanfromUtica？
"Yes，anativeofherplace。She’sexpectinghimsoon。"
"I’msoverygladtohearit，"saidVogelstein，whodecidedly，forhiscareer，hadpromise。"Andisshegoingtomarryhim？"
"WhywhatdopeoplefallinlovewitheachotherFOR？Ipresumethey’llmarrywhenshegetsroundtoit。AhifshehadonlybeenfromtheSooth——！"
Atthishebrokequicklyin："Butwhyhavetheyneverbroughtitoff，asyousay，insomanyyears？"
"Well，atfirstshewastooyoung，andthenshethoughtherfamilyoughttoseeEurope——ofcoursetheycouldseeitbetterWITHher——
andtheyspentsometimethere。AndthenMr。Bellamyhadsomebusinessdifficultiesthatmadehimfeelasifhedidn’twanttomarryjustthen。ButhehasgivenupbusinessandIpresumefeelsmorefree。Ofcourseit’sratherlong，butallthewhilethey’vebeenengaged。It’satrue，truelove，"saidMrs。Steuben，whosesoundoftheadjectivewasthatofafeebleflute。
"IshisnameMr。Bellamy？"theCountaskedwithhishauntingreminiscence。"D。F。Bellamy，so？Andhashebeeninastore？"
"Idon’tknowwhatkindofbusinessitwas：itwassomekindofbusinessinUtica。IthinkhehadabranchinNewYork。He’soneoftheleadinggentlemenofUticaandveryhighlyeducated。He’sagooddealolderthanMissDay。He’saveryfineman——Ipresumeacollegeman。HestandsveryhighinUtica。Idon’tknowwhyyoulookasifyoudoubtedit。"
VogelsteinassuredMrs。Steubenthathedoubtednothing，andindeedwhatshetoldhimwasprobablythemorecredibleforseemingtohimeminentlystrange。Bellamyhadbeenthenameofthegentlemanwho，ayearandahalfbefore，wastohavemetPandoraonthearrivaloftheGermansteamer；itwasinBellamy’snamethatshehadaddressedherselfwithsucheffusiontoBellamy’sfriend，themaninthestrawhatwhowasabouttofumbleinhermother’soldclothes。ThiswasafactthatseemedtoCountOttotofinishthepictureofhercontradictions；itwantedatpresentnotouchtobecomplete。Yetevenasithungtherebeforehimitcontinuedtofascinatehim，andhestaredatit，detachedfromsurroundingthingsandfeelingalittleasifhehadbeenpitchedoutofanoverturnedvehicle，tilltheboatbumpedagainstoneoftheoutstandingpilesofthewharfatwhichMrs。Steuben’spartywastodisembark。Therewassomedelayingettingthesteameradjustedtothedock，duringwhichthepassengerswatchedtheprocessoveritssideandextractedwhatentertainmenttheymightfromtheappearanceofthevariouspersonscollectedtoreceiveit。Thereweredarkiesandloafersandhackmen，andalsovagueindividuals，theloosestandblankesthehadeverseenanywhere，withtuftsontheirchins，toothpicksintheirmouths，handsintheirpockets，ruminationintheirjawsanddiamondpinsintheirshirt-fronts，wholookedasiftheyhadsaunteredoverfromPennsylvaniaAvenuetowhileawayhalfanhour，forsakingforthatintervaltheirvariousslantingposturesintheporticoesofthehotelsandthedoorwaysofthesaloons。
"OhI’msoglad！Howsweetofyoutocomedown！"ItwasavoiceclosetoCountOtto’sshoulderthatspokethesewords，andhehadnoneedtoturntoseefromwhomitproceeded。Ithadbeeninhisearsthegreaterpartoftheday，though，ashenowperceived，withoutthefullestrichnessofexpressionofwhichitwascapable。Stilllesswasheobligedtoturntodiscovertowhomitwasaddressed，forthefewsimplewordsIhavequotedhadbeenflungacrossthenarrowingintervalofwater，andagentlemanwhohadsteppedtotheedgeofthedockwithoutouryoungman’sobservinghimtossedbackanimmediatereply。
"Igotherebythethreeo’clocktrain。TheytoldmeinKStreetwhereyouwere，andIthoughtI’dcomedownandmeetyou。"
"Charmingattention！"saidPandoraDaywiththelaughthatseemedalwaystoinvitethewholeofanycompanytopartakeinit；thoughforsomemomentsafterthissheandherinterlocutorappearedtocontinuetheconversationonlywiththeireyes。MeanwhileVogelstein’salsowerenotidle。Helookedathervisitorfromheadtofoot，andhewasawarethatshewasquiteunconsciousofhisownproximity。Thegentlemanbeforehimwastall，good-looking，well-
dressed；evidentlyhewouldstandwellnotonlyatUtica，but，judgingfromthewayhehadplantedhimselfonthedock，inanypositionthatcircumstancesmightcompelhimtotakeup。Hewasaboutfortyyearsold；hehadablackmoustacheandheseemedtolookattheworldoversomecounter-likeexpanseonwhichheinviteditallwarilyandpleasantlytoputdownfirstitsideaofthetermsofatransaction。HewavedaglovedhandatPandoraasif，whensheexclaimed"Gracious，ain’ttheylong！"tourgehertobepatient。
Shewaspatientseveralsecondsandthenaskedhimifhehadanynews。Helookedatherbriefly，insilence，smiling，afterwhichhedrewfromhispocketalargeletterwithanofficial-lookingsealandshookitjocoselyabovehishead。Thiswasdiscreetly，covertlydone。Noonebutouryoungmanappearedawareofhowmuchwastakingplace——andpoorCountOttomainlyfeltitintheair。Theboatwastouchingthewharfandthespacebetweenthepairinconsiderable。
"DepartmentofState？"Pandoraveryprettilyandsoundlesslymouthedacrossathim。
"That’swhattheycallit。"
"Well，whatcountry？"
"What’syouropinionoftheDutch？"thegentlemanaskedforanswer。
"Ohgracious！"criedPandora。
"Well，areyougoingtowaitforthereturntrip？"saidthegentleman。
Oursilentsuffererturnedaway，andpresentlyMrs。Steubenandhercompaniondisembarkedtogether。WhenthisladyenteredacarriagewithMissDaythegentlemanwhohadspokentothegirlfollowedthem；theothersscattered，andVogelstein，decliningwiththanksa"lift"fromMrs。Bonnycastle，walkedhomealoneandinsomeintensityofmeditation。TwodayslaterhesawinanewspaperanannouncementthatthePresidenthadofferedthepostofMinistertoHollandtoMr。D。F。BellamyofUtica；andinthecourseofamonthheheardfromMrs。SteubenthatPandora，athousandotherdutiesperformed，hadfinally"gotround"tothealtarofherownnuptials。
HecommunicatedthisnewstoMrs。Bonnycastle，whohadnothearditbutwho，shriekingatthequeerfaceheshowedher，metitwiththeremarkthattherewasnowgroundforanewinductionastotheself-
madegirl。
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