Dearme，howinterestingarencontre！Livedallalonehereforseven——wasitsevenyears？——yes，Iremembernow。Existedquiteaunaturel，onemightsay。Howodd！NotthatIknowanythingaboutthatsortofthing，youknow。I’velivedalwaysamongpeople，andamreallyquiteastranger，Iassureyou。Buthonestly，Mr。——Ibegyourpardon——Mr。Grey，howdoyoulikeit？\"
Shehadquietlytakenhischairandthrownhercloakandhoodoveritsback，andwasnowthoughtfullyremovinghergloves。Whateverwerethearguments，——andtheyweredoubtlessmanyandprofound，——
whatevertheexperience，——anditwasdoubtlesshardandsatisfyingenough，——bywhichthisunfortunatemanhadjustifiedhislifeforthelastsevenyears，somehowtheysuddenlybecametrivialandterriblyridiculousbeforethissimplebutpracticalquestion。
\"Well，youshalltellmeallaboutitafteryouhavegivenmesomethingtoeat。Wewillhavetimeenough;Barkercannotfindhiswaybackinthisfogto-night。Nowdon’tputyourselvestoanytroubleonmyaccount。Barkerwillassist？\"
Barkercameforward。Gladtoescapethescrutinyofhisguest，thehermitgaveafewrapiddirectionstothePrincessinhernativetongue，anddisappearedintheshed。Leftamomentalone，MissPortfiretookaquick，half-audible，feminineinventoryofthecabin。\"Books，guns，skins，ONEchair，ONEbed，nopictures，andnolooking-glass！\"ShetookabookfromtheswingingshelfandresumedherseatbythefireasthePrincessre-enteredwithfreshfuel。ButwhilekneelingonthehearththePrincesschancedtolookupandmetMissPortfire’sdarkeyesovertheedgeofherbook。