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。
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