\"WhenOwenmarries？That’slookingsomedistanceahead！I
wanttobetoldthatmeanwhileyou’llhavenoregrets。\"
Shehesitated。Whydidhepresshertouncovertohimherpoorstarvedpast？Avaguefeelingofloyalty，adesiretosparewhatcouldnolongerharmher，madeheranswerevasively：\"Therewillprobablybeno’meanwhile。’Owenmaymarrybeforelong。\"
Shehadnotmeanttotouchonthesubject，forherstep—sonhadswornhertoprovisionalsecrecy；butsincetheshortnessofDarrow’sleavenecessitatedapromptadjustmentoftheirownplans，itwas，afterall，inevitablethatsheshouldgivehimatleastahintofOwen’s。
\"Owenmarry？Why，healwaysseemslikeafauninflannels！I
hopehe’sfoundadryad。Theremighteasilybeoneleftintheseblue—and—goldwoods。\"
\"Ican’ttellyouyetwherehefoundhisdryad，butsheISone，Ibelieve：atanyrateshe’llbecometheGivrewoodsbetterthanIdo。Onlytheremaybedifficulties————\"
\"Well！Atthatagethey’renotalwaystobewishedaway。\"
Shehesitated。\"Owen，atanyrate，hasmadeuphismindtoovercomethem；andI’vepromisedtoseehimthrough。\"
Shewenton，afteramoment’sconsideration，toexplainthatherstep—son’schoicewas，forvariousreasons，notlikelytocommenditselftohisgrandmother。\"Shemustbepreparedforit，andI’vepromisedtodothepreparing。YouknowI
alwaysHAVEseenhimthroughthings，andherathercountsonmenow。\"
ShefanciedthatDarrow’sexclamationhadinitafaintnoteofannoyance，andwonderedifheagainsuspectedherofseekingapretextforpostponement。
\"ButonceOwen’sfutureissettled，youwon’t，surely，forthesakeofwhatyoucallseeinghimthrough，askthatI
shouldgoawayagainwithoutyou？\"Hedrewhercloserastheywalked。\"Owenwillunderstand，ifyoudon’t。Sincehe’sinthesamecasehimselfI’llthrowmyselfonhismercy。He’llseethatIhavethefirstclaimonyou；hewon’tevenwantyounottoseeit。\"
\"Owenseeseverything：I’mnotafraidofthat。Buthisfutureisn’tsettled。He’sveryyoungtomarry——tooyoung，hisgrandmotherissuretothink——andthemarriagehewantstomakeisnotlikelytoconvincehertothecontrary。\"
\"Youdon’tmeanthatit’slikehisfirstchoice？\"
\"Oh，no！Butit’snotwhatMadamedeChantellewouldcallagoodmatch；it’snotevenwhatIcallawiseone。\"
\"Yetyou’rebackinghimup？\"
\"YetI’mbackinghimup。\"Shepaused。\"Iwonderifyou’llunderstand？WhatI’vemostwantedforhim，andshallwantforEffie，isthattheyshallalwaysfeelfreetomaketheirownmistakes，andnever，ifpossible，bepersuadedtomakeotherpeople’s。EvenifOwen’smarriageisamistake，andhastobepaidfor，Ibelievehe’lllearnandgrowinthepaying。OfcourseIcan’tmakeMadamedeChantelleseethis；butIcanremindherthat，withhischaracter——hisbigrushesofimpulse，hisoddintervalsofebbandapathy——shemaydrivehimintosomeworseblunderifshethwartshimnow。\"
\"AndyoumeantobreakthenewstoherassoonasshecomesbackfromOuchy？\"
\"AssoonasIseemywaytoit。Sheknowsthegirlandlikesher：that’sourhope。Andyetitmay，intheend，proveourdanger，makeitharderforusall，whenshelearnsthetruth，thanifOwenhadchosenastranger。Ican’ttellyoumoretillI’vetoldher：I’vepromisedOwennottotellanyone。AllIaskyouistogivemetime，togivemeafewdaysatanyrateShe’sbeenwonderfully’nice，’asshewouldcallit，aboutyou，andaboutthefactofmyhavingsoontoleaveGivre；butthat，again，maymakeitharderforOwen。
Atanyrate，youcansee，can’tyou，howitmakesmewanttostandbyhim？Yousee，Icouldn’tbearitiftheleastfractionofmyhappinessseemedtobestolenfromhis——asifitwerealittlescrapofhappinessthathadtobepiecedoutwithotherpeople’s！\"SheclaspedherhandsonDarrow’sarm。\"Iwantourlifetobelikeahousewithallthewindowslit：I’dliketostringlanternsfromtheroofandchimneys！\"
Sheendedwithaninwardtremor。Allthroughherexpositionandherappealshehadtoldherselfthatthemomentcouldhardlyhavebeenlesswellchosen。InDarrow’splaceshewouldhavefelt，ashedoubtlessdid，thathercarefullydevelopedargumentwasonlythedisguiseofanhabitualindecision。Itwasthehourofallotherswhenshewouldhavelikedtoaffirmherselfbybrushingasideeveryobstacletohiswishes；yetitwasonlybyopposingthemthatshecouldshowthestrengthofcharactershewantedhimtofeelinher。
ButasshetalkedshebegantoseethatDarrow’sfacegavebacknoreflectionofherwords，thathecontinuedtoweartheabstractedlookofamanwhoisnotlisteningtowhatissaidtohim。Itcausedheraslightpangtodiscoverthathisthoughtscouldwanderatsuchamoment；then，withaflushofjoysheperceivedthereason。
Insomeundefinablewayshehadbecomeaware，withoutturningherhead，thathewassteepedinthesenseofhernearness，absorbedincontemplatingthedetailsofherfaceanddress；andthediscoverymadethewordsthrongtoherlips。Shefeltherselfspeakwithease，authority，conviction。Shesaidtoherself：\"Hedoesn’tcarewhatI
say——it’senoughthatIsayit——evenifit’sstupidhe’lllikemebetterforit……\"Sheknewthateveryinflexionofhervoice，everygesture，everycharacteristicofherperson——itsverydefects，thefactthatherforeheadwastoohigh，thathereyeswerenotlargeenough，thatherhands，thoughslender，werenotsmall，andthatthefingersdidnottaper——sheknewthatthesedeficienciesweresomanychannelsthroughwhichherinfluencestreamedtohim；thatshepleasedhiminspiteofthem，perhapsbecauseofthem；
thathewantedherasshewas，andnotasshewouldhavelikedtobe；andforthefirsttimeshefeltinherveinsthesecurityandlightnessofhappylove。
Theyreachedthecourtandwalkedunderthelimestowardthehouse。Thehalldoorstoodwide，andthroughthewindowsopeningontheterracethesunslantedacrosstheblackandwhitefloor，thefadedtapestrychairs，andDarrow’stravellingcoatandcap，whichlayamongthecloaksandrugspiledonabenchagainstthewall。
Thesightofthesegarments，lyingamongherownwraps，gaveherasenseofhomelyintimacy。Itwasasifherhappinesscamedownfromtheskiesandtookontheplaindressofdailythings。Atlastsheseemedtoholditinherhand。
Astheyenteredthehallhereyelitonanunstampednoteconspicuouslyplacedonthetable。
\"FromOwen！Hemusthaverushedoffsomewhereinthemotor。\"
ShefeltasecretstirofpleasureattheimmediateinferencethatsheandDarrowwouldprobablylunchalone。
Thensheopenedthenoteandstaredatitinwonder。
\"Dear，\"Owenwrote，\"afterwhatyousaidyesterdayIcan’twaitanotherhour，andI’mofftoFrancheuil，tocatchtheDijonexpressandtravelbackwiththem。Don’tbefrightened；Iwon’tspeakunlessit’ssafeto。Trustmeforthat——butIhadtogo。\"
Shelookedupslowly。
\"He’sgonetoDijontomeethisgrandmother。Oh，IhopeI
haven’tmadeamistake！\"
\"You？Why，whathaveyoutodowithhisgoingtoDijon？\"
Shehesitated。\"ThedaybeforeyesterdayItoldhim，forthefirsttime，thatImeanttoseehimthrough，nomatterwhathappened。AndI’mafraidhe’slosthishead，andwillbeimprudentandspoilthings。Yousee，Ihadn’tmeanttosayawordtohimtillI’dhadtimetoprepareMadamedeChantelle。\"
ShefeltthatDarrowwaslookingatherandreadingherthoughts，andthecolourflewtoherface。\"Yes：itwaswhenIheardyouwerecomingthatItoldhim。IwantedhimtofeelasIfelt……itseemedtoounkindtomakehimwait！\"
Herhandwasinhis，andhisarmrestedforamomentonhershoulder。
\"ItWOULDhavebeentoounkindtomakehimwait。\"
Theymovedsidebysidetowardthestairs。Throughthehazeofblissenvelopingher，Owen’saffairsseemedcuriouslyunimportantandremote。Nothingreallymatteredbutthistorrentoflightinherveins。Sheputherfootontheloweststep，saying：\"It’snearlyluncheontime——Imusttakeoffmyhat……\"andasshestartedupthestairsDarrowstoodbelowinthehallandwatchedher。Butthedistancebetweenthemdidnotmakehimseemlessnear：itwasasifhisthoughtsmovedwithherandtouchedherlikeendearinghands。
Inherbedroomsheshutthedoorandstoodstill，lookingaboutherinafitofdreamywonder。Herfeelingswereunlikeanyshehadeverknown：richer，deeper，morecomplete。Forthefirsttimeeverythinginher，fromheadtofoot，seemedtobefeedingthesamefullcurrentofsensation。
Shetookoffherhatandwenttothedressing—tabletosmoothherhair。Thepressureofthehathadflattenedthedarkstrandsonherforehead；herfacewaspalerthanusual，withshadowsabouttheeyes。Shefeltapangofregretforthewastedyears。\"IfIlooklikethistoday，\"shesaidtoherself，\"whatwillhethinkofmewhenI’millorworried？\"
Shebegantorunherfingersthroughherhair，rejoicinginitsthickness；thenshedesistedandsatstill，restingherchinonherhands。
\"IwanthimtoseemeasIam，\"shethought。
DeeperthanthedeepestfibreofhervanitywasthetriumphantsensethatASSHEWAS，withherflattenedhair，hertiredpallor，herthinsleevesalittletumbledbytheweightofherjacket，hewouldlikeherevenbetter，feelhernearer，dearer，moredesirable，thaninallthesplendoursshemightputonforhim。Inthelightofthisdiscoveryshestudiedherfacewithanewintentness，seeingitsdefectsasshehadneverseenthem，yetseeingthemthroughakindofradiance，asthoughlovewerealuminousmediumintowhichshehadbeenbodilyplunged。
Shewasgladnowthatshehadconfessedherdoubtsandherjealousy。Shedivinedthatamaninlovemaybeflatteredbysuchinvoluntarybetrayals，thattherearemomentswhenrespectforhislibertyappealstohimlessthantheinabilitytorespectit：momentssopropitiousthatawoman’sverymistakesandindiscretionsmayhelptoestablishherdominion。ThesenseofpowershehadbeenawareofintalkingtoDarrowcamebackwithten—foldforce。
Shefeltliketestinghimbythemostfantasticexactions，andatthesamemomentshelongedtohumbleherselfbeforehim，tomakeherselftheshadowandechoofhismood。Shewantedtolingerwithhiminaworldoffancyandyettowalkathissideintheworldoffact。Shewantedhimtofeelherpowerandyettoloveherforherignoranceandhumility。Shefeltlikeaslave，andagoddess，andagirlinherteens……
XIII
Darrow，latethatevening，threwhimselfintoanarmchairbeforehisfireandmused。
Theroomwaspropitioustomeditation。Thered—veiledlamp，thecornersofshadow，thesplashesoffirelightonthecurvesofoldfull—bodiedwardrobesandcabinets，gaveitanairofintimacyincreasedbyitsfadedhangings，itsslightlyfrayedandthreadbarerugs。Everythinginitwasharmoniouslyshabby，withasubtlesought—forshabbinessinwhichDarrowfanciedhediscernedthetouchofFraserLeath。
ButFraserLeathhadgrownsounimportantafactorintheschemeofthingsthatthesemarksofhispresencecausedtheyoungmannoemotionbeyondthatofafaintretrospectiveamusement。
Theafternoonandeveninghadbeenperfect。
Afteramomentofconcernoverherstep—son’sdeparture，AnnahadsurrenderedherselftoherhappinesswithanimpetuositythatDarrowhadneversuspectedinher。Earlyintheafternoontheyhadgoneoutinthemotor，traversingmilesofsober—tintedlandscapeinwhich，hereandthere，ascarletvineyardflamed，clatteringthroughthestreetsofstonyvillages，comingoutonlowslopesabovetheriver，orwindingthroughthepalegoldofnarrowwood—roadswiththeblueofclear—cuthillsattheirend。Overeverythinglayafaintsunshinethatseemeddissolvedinthestillair，andthesmellofwetrootsanddecayingleaveswasmergedinthepungentscentofburningunderbrush。Once，attheturnofawall，theystoppedthemotorbeforearuinedgatewayand，stumblingalongaroadfullofruts，stoodbeforealittleolddesertedhouse，fantasticallycarvedandchimneyed，whichlayinamoatundertheshadeofancienttrees。Theypacedthepathsbetweenthetrees，foundamouldyTempleofLoveonanisletamongreedsandplantains，and，sittingonabenchinthestable—yard，watchedthepigeonscirclingagainstthesunsetovertheircotofpatternedbrick。Thenthemotorflewonintothedusk……
Whentheycameintheysatbesidethefireintheoakdrawing—room，andDarrownoticedhowdelicatelyherheadstoodoutagainstthesombrepanelling，andmusedontheenjoymenttherewouldalwaysbeinthemerefactofwatchingherhandsastheymovedaboutamongthetea—things……
Theydinedlate，andfacingheracrossthetable，withitslowlightsandflowers，hefeltanextraordinarypleasureinseeingheragainineveningdress，andinlettinghiseyesdwellontheproudshysetofherhead，thewayherdarkhairclaspedit，andthegirlishthinnessofherneckabovetheslightswellofthebreast。Hisimaginationwasstruckbythequalityofreticenceinherbeauty。Shesuggestedafineportraitkeptdowntoafewtones，oraGreekvaseonwhichtheplayoflightistheonlypattern。
Afterdinnertheywentoutontheterraceforalookatthemoon—mistedpark。Throughthecrepuscularwhitenessthetreeshunginblottedmasses。Belowtheterrace，thegardendrewitsdarkdiagramsbetweenstatuesthatstoodlikemuffledconspiratorsontheedgeoftheshadow。Fartheroff，themeadowsunrolledasilver—shottissuetothemantlingofmistabovetheriver；andtheautumnstarstrembledoverheadliketheirownreflectionsseenindimwater。
Helithiscigar，andtheywalkedslowlyupanddowntheflagsinthelanguidair，tillheputanarmabouther，saying：\"Youmustn’tstaytillyou’rechilled\"；thentheywentbackintotheroomanddrewuptheirchairstothefire。
Itseemedonlyamomentlaterthatshesaid：\"Itmustbeaftereleven，\"andstoodupandlookeddownonhim，smilingfaintly。Hesatstill，absorbingthelook，andthinking：
\"There’llbeeveningsandevenings\"——tillshecamenearer，bentoverhim，andwithahandonhisshouldersaid：\"Goodnight。\"
Hegottohisfeetandputhisarmsabouther。
\"Goodnight，\"heanswered，andheldherfast；andtheygaveeachotheralongkissofpromiseandcommunion。
Thememoryofitglowedinhimstillashesatoverhiscrumblingfire；butbeneathhisphysicalexultationhefeltacertaingravityofmood。Hishappinesswasinsomesorttherallying—pointofmanyscatteredpurposes。Hesummeditupvaguelybysayingtohimselfthattobelovedbyawomanlikethatmade\"allthedifference\"……Hewasalittletiredofexperimentingonlife；hewantedto\"takealine\"，tofollowthingsup，tocentralizeandconcentrate，andproduceresults。Twoorthreemoreyearsofdiplomacy——withherbesidehim！——andthentheirreallifewouldbegin：study，travelandbook—makingforhim，andforher——well，thejoy，atanyrate，ofgettingoutofanatmosphereofbric—a—bracandcard—leavingintotheopenairofcompetingactivities。
Thedesireforchangehadforsometimebeenlatentinhim，andhismeetingwithMrs。Leaththepreviousspringhadgivenitadefinitedirection。Withsuchacomradetofocusandstimulatehisenergieshefeltmodestlybutagreeablysureof\"doingsomething\"。Andunderthisassurancewasthelurkingsensethathewassomehowworthyofhisopportunity。
Hislife，onthewhole，hadbeenacreditableaffair。Outofmodestchancesandmiddlingtalentshehadbuilthimselfafairlymarkedpersonality，knownsomeexceptionalpeople，doneanumberofinterestingandafewratherdifficultthings，andfoundhimself，atthirty—seven，possessedofanintellectualambitionsufficienttooccupythepassagetoarobustandenergeticoldage。Asfortheprivateandpersonalsideofhislife，ithadcomeuptothecurrentstandards，andifithaddropped，nowandthen，belowamoreidealmeasure，eventhesedeclineshadbeenbrief，parenthetic，incidental。Intherecognizedessentialshehadalwaysremainedstrictlywithinthelimitofhisscruples。
Fromthisreassuringsurveyofhiscasehecamebacktothecontemplationofitscrowningfelicity。HismindturnedagaintohisfirstmeetingwithAnnaSummersandtookuponebyonethethreadsoftheirfaintlysketchedromance。Hedweltwithpardonableprideonthefactthatfatehadsoearlymarkedhimforthehighprivilegeofpossessingher：
itseemedtomeanthattheyhadreally，inthetruestsenseoftheill—usedphrase，beenmadeforeachother。
Deeperstillthanallthesesatisfactionswasthemereelementalsenseofwell—beinginherpresence。That，afterall，waswhatprovedhertobethewomanforhim：thepleasurehetookinthesetofherhead，thewayherhairgrewonherforeheadandatthenape，hersteadygazewhenhespoke，thegravefreedomofhergaitandgestures。Herecalledeverydetailofherface，thefineveiningsofthetemples，thebluish—brownshadowsinherupperlids，andthewaythereflectionsoftwostarsseemedtoformandbreakupinhereyeswhenheheldherclosetohim……
Ifhehadhadanydoubtastothenatureofherfeelingforhimthosedissolvingstarswouldhaveallayedit。Shewasreserved，shewasshyeven，waswhattheshallowandeffusivewouldcall\"cold\"。Shewaslikeapicturesohungthatitcanbeseenonlyatacertainangle：anangleknowntonoonebutitspossessor。Thethoughtflatteredhissenseofpossessorship……Hefeltthatthesmileonhislipswouldhavebeenfatuoushadithadawitness。HewasthinkingofherlookwhenshehadquestionedhimabouthismeetingwithOwenatthetheatre：lessofherwordsthanofherlook，andoftheeffortthequestioncosther：thereddeningofhercheek，thedeepeningofthestrainedlinebetweenherbrows，thewayhereyessoughtshelterandthenturnedanddrewonhim。Prideandpassionwereintheconflict——magnificentqualitiesinawife！Thesightalmostmadeupforhismomentaryembarrassmentattherousingofamemorywhichhadnoplaceinhispresentpictureofhimself。
Yes！Itwasworthagooddealtowatchthatfightbetweenherinstinctandherintelligence，andknowone’sselftheobjectofthestruggle……
Mingledwiththesesensationswereconsiderationsofanotherorder。Hereflectedwithsatisfactionthatshewasthekindofwomanwithwhomonewouldliketobeseeninpublic。Itwouldbedistinctlyagreeabletofollowherintodrawing—
rooms，towalkafterherdowntheaisleofatheatre，togetinandoutoftrainswithher，tosay\"mywife\"ofhertoallsortsofpeople。Hedrapedthesedetailsinthehandsomephrase\"She’sawomantobeproudof\"，andfeltthatthisfactsomehowjustifiedandennobledhisinstinctiveboyishsatisfactioninlovingher。
Hestoodup，rambledacrosstheroomandleanedoutforawhileintothestarrynight。Thenhedroppedagainintohisarmchairwithasighofdeepcontent。
\"Oh，hangit，\"hesuddenlyexclaimed，\"it’sthebestthingthat’severhappenedtome，anyhow！\"
Thenextdaywasevenbetter。Hefelt，andknewshefelt，thattheyhadreachedaclearerunderstandingofeachother。
Itwasasif，afteraswimthroughbrightopposingwaves，withadazzleofsunintheireyes，theyhadgainedaninletintheshadesofacliff，wheretheycouldfloatonthestillsurfaceandgazefardownintothedepths。
Nowandthen，astheywalkedandtalked，hefeltathrillofyouthfulwonderatthecoincidenceoftheirviewsandtheirexperiences，atthewaytheirmindsleapttothesamepointinthesameinstant。
\"Theolddelusion，Isuppose，\"hesmiledtohimself。\"WillNaturenevertireofthetrick？\"
Butheknewitwasmorethanthat。Thereweremomentsintheirtalkwhenhefelt，distinctlyandunmistakably，thesolidgroundoffriendshipunderneaththewhirlingdanceofhissensations。\"HowIshouldlikeherifIdidn’tloveher！\"hesummeditup，wonderingatthemiracleofsuchaunion。
InthecourseofthemorningatelegramhadcomefromOwenLeath，announcingthathe，hisgrandmotherandEffiewouldarrivefromDijonthatafternoonatfour。ThestationofthemainlinewaseightortenmilesfromGivre，andAnna，soonafterthree，leftinthemotortomeetthetravellers。
WhenshehadgoneDarrowstartedforawalk，planningtogetbacklate，inorderthatthereunitedfamilymighthavetheendoftheafternoontothemselves。Heroamedthecountry—
sidetilllongafterdark，andthestable—clockofGivrewasstrikingsevenashewalkeduptheavenuetothecourt。
Inthehall，comingdownthestairs，heencounteredAnna。
Herfacewasserene，andhisfirstglanceshowedhimthatOwenhadkepthiswordandthatnoneofherforebodingshadbeenfulfilled。
Shehadjustcomedownfromtheschool—room，whereEffieandthegovernesswerehavingsupper；thelittlegirl，shetoldhim，lookedimmenselybetterforherSwissholiday，butwasdroppingwithsleepafterthejourney，andtootiredtomakeherhabitualappearanceinthedrawing—roombeforebeingputtobed。MadamedeChantellewasresting，butwouldbedownfordinner；andasforOwen，Annasupposedhewasoffsomewhereinthepark——hehadapassionforprowlingabouttheparkatnightfall……
Darrowfollowedherintothebrownroom，wherethetea—tablehadbeenleftforhim。Hedeclinedherofferoftea，butshelingeredamomenttotellhimthatOwenhadinfactkepthisword，andthatMadamedeChantellehadcomebackinthebestofhumours，andunsuspiciousoftheblowabouttofall。
\"ShehasenjoyedhermonthatOuchy，andithasgivenheralottotalkabout——hersymptoms，andtherivaldoctors，andthepeopleatthehotel。ItseemsshemetyourAmbassadressthere，andLadyWantley，andsomeotherLondonfriendsofyours，andshe’sheardwhatshecalls’delightfulthings’
aboutyou：shetoldmetotellyouso。SheattachesgreatimportancetothefactthatyourgrandmotherwasanEverardofAlbany。She’spreparedtoopenherarmstoyou。Idon’tknowwhetheritwon’tmakeitharderforpoorOwen……thecontrast，Imean……TherearenoAmbassadressesorEverardstovouchforHISchoice！Butyou’llhelpme，won’tyou？
You’llhelpmetohelphim？To—morrowI’lltellyoutherest。NowImustrushupandtuckinEffie……\"
\"Oh，you’llsee，we’llpullitoffforhim！\"heassuredher；
\"together，wecan’tfailtopullitoff。\"
Hestoodandwatchedherwithasmileasshefleddownthehalf—litvistatothehall。
XIV
IfDarrow，onenteringthedrawing—roombeforedinner，examineditsnewoccupantwithunusualinterest，itwasmoreonOwenLeath’saccountthanhisown。
Anna’shintshadrousedhisinterestinthelad’sloveaffair，andhewonderedwhatmannerofgirltheheroineofthecomingconflictmightbe。HehadguessedthatOwen’srebellionsymbolizedforhisstep—motherherownlongstruggleagainsttheLeathconventions，andheunderstoodthatifAnnasopassionatelyabettedhimitwaspartlybecause，assheowned，shewantedhisliberationtocoincidewithhers。
Theladywhowastorepresent，intheimpendingstruggle，theforcesoforderandtraditionwasseatedbythefirewhenDarrowentered。Amongtheflowersandoldfurnitureofthelargepale—panelledroom，MadamedeChantellehadtheinanimateeleganceofafigureintroducedintoa\"still—
life\"togivethescale。Andthis，Darrowreflected，wasexactlywhatshedoubtlessregardedasherchiefobligation：
hewassureshethoughtagreatdealof\"measure\"，andapprovedofmostthingsonlyuptoacertainpoint。
Shewasawomanofsixty，withafigureatonceyoungandold—fashioned。Herfairfadedtints，herquaintcorseting，thepassementerieonhertight—waisteddress，thevelvetbandonhertaperingarm，madeherresemblea\"cartedevisite\"photographofthemiddlesixties。Onesawher，youngerbutnolessinvinciblylady—like，leaningonachairwithafringedback，acurlinherneck，alocketonhertuckeredbosom，towardtheendofanembossedmoroccoalbumbeginningwithTheBeautiesoftheSecondEmpire。
Shereceivedherdaughter—in—law’ssuitorwithanaffabilitywhichimpliedherknowledgeandapprovalofhissuit。