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really reduced to idiocy by the effect of his passion for her。 She
flattered herself moreover； nobly； that with the unpleasant
conspicuity of this passion she would never have consented to be
obliged to him。 The most she would ever do would be always to
shove off on him whenever she could the registration of letters； a
job she happened particularly to loathe。 After the long stupors；
at all events； there almost always suddenly would come a sharp
taste of something； it was in her mouth before she knew it； it was
in her mouth now。
To Cissy； to Mary； whichever it was； she found her curiosity going
out with a rush； a mute effusion that floated back to her； like a
returning tide； the living colour and splendour of the beautiful
head； the light of eyes that seemed to reflect such utterly other
things than the mean things actually before them； and； above all；
the high curt consideration of a manner that even at bad moments
was a magnificent habit and of the very essence of the innumerable
thingsher beauty； her birth； her father and mother； her cousins
and all her ancestorsthat its possessor couldn't have got rid of
even had she wished。 How did our obscure little public servant
know that for the lady of the telegrams this was a bad moment？ How
did she guess all sorts of impossible things； such as； almost on
the very spot； the presence of drama at a critical stage and the
nature of the tie with the gentleman at the Hotel Brighton？ More
than ever before it floated to her through the bars of the cage
that this at last was the high reality； the bristling truth that
she had hitherto only patched up and eked outone of the
creatures； in fine； in whom all the conditions for happiness
actually met； and who； in the air they made； bloomed with an
unwitting insolence。 What came home to the girl was the way the
insolence was tempered by something that was equally a part of the
distinguished life； the custom of a flowerlike bend to the less
fortunatea dropped fragrance； a mere quick breath； but which in
fact pervaded and lingered。 The apparition was very young； but
certainly married； and our fatigued friend had a sufficient store
of mythological comparison to recognise the port of Juno。
Marguerite might be 〃awful；〃 but she knew how to dress a goddess。
Pearls and Spanish laceshe herself； with assurance； could see
them； and the 〃full length〃 too； and also red velvet bows； which；
disposed on the lace in a particular manner （she could have placed
them with the turn of a hand） were of course to adorn the front of
a black brocade that would be like a dress in a picture。 However；
neither Marguerite nor Lady Agnes nor Haddon nor Fritz nor Gussy
was what the wearer of this garment had really come in for。 She
had come in for Everardand that was doubtless not his true name
either。 If our young lady had never taken such jumps before it was
simply that she had never before been so affected。 She went all
the way。 Mary and Cissy had been round together； in their single
superb person； to see himhe must live round the corner； they had
found that； in consequence of something they had come； precisely；
to make up for or to have another scene about； he had gone off
gone off just on purpose to make them feel it； on which they had
come together to Cocker's as to the nearest place； where they had
put in the three forms partly in order not to put in the one alone。
The two others in a manner； covered it； muffled it； passed it off。
Oh yes； she went all the way； and this was a specimen of how she
often went。 She would know the hand again any time。 It was as
handsome and as everything else as the woman herself。 The woman
herself had； on learning his flight； pushed past Everard's servant
and into his room； she had written her missive at his table and
with his pen。 All this； every inch of it； came in the waft that
she blew through and left behind her； the influence that； as I have
said； lingered。 And among the things the girl was sure of；
happily； was that she should see her again。
CHAPTER IV
She saw her in fact； and only ten days later； but this time not
alone； and that was exactly a part of the luck of it。 Not unaware…
…as how could her observation have left her so？of the
possibilities through which it could range； our young lady had ever
since had in her mind a dozen conflicting theories about Everard's
type； as to which； the instant they came into the place； she felt
the point settled with a thump that seemed somehow addressed
straight to her heart。 That organ literally beat faster at the
approach of the gentleman who was this time with Cissy； and who； as
seen from within the cage； became on the spot the happiest of the
happy circumstances with which her mind had invested the friend of
Fritz and Gussy。 He was a very happy circumstance indeed as； with
his cigarette in his lips and his broken familiar talk caught by
his companion； he put down the half…dozen telegrams it would take
them together several minutes to dispatch。 And here it occurred；
oddly enough； that if； shortly before the girl's interest in his
companion had sharpened her sense for the messages then
transmitted； her immediate vision of himself had the effect； while
she counted his seventy words； of preventing intelligibility。 His
words were mere numbers； they told her nothing whatever； and after
he had gone she was in possession of no name； of no address； of no
meaning； of nothing but a vague sweet sound and an immense
impression。 He had been there but five minutes； he had smoked in
her face； and； busy with his telegrams； with the tapping pencil and
the conscious danger； the odious betrayal that would come from a
mistake； she had had no wandering glances nor roundabout arts to
spare。 Yet she had taken him in； she knew everything； she had made
up her mind。
He had come back from Paris； everything was re…arranged； the pair
were again shoulder to shoulder in their high encounter with life；
their large and complicated game。 The fine soundless pulse of this
game was in the air for our young woman while they remained in the
shop。 While they remained？ They remained all day； their presence
continued and abode with her； was in everything she did till
nightfall； in the thousands of other words she counted； she
transmitted； in all the stamps she detached and the letters she
weighed and the change she gave； equally unconscious and unerring
in each of these particulars； and not； as the run on the little
office thickened with the afternoon hours； looking up at a single
ugly face in the long sequence； nor really hearing the stupid
questions that she patiently and perfectly answered。 All patience
was possible now； all questions were stupid after his； all faces
were ugly。 She had been sure she should see the lady again； and
even now she should perhaps； she should probably； see her often。
But for him it was totally different； she should never never see