第8章

Andyet，superficiallyarrestedasIwasforthetime，Idirectlyafterwardsrecognisedinthisinstinctivediscrimination——thelast，theexpiringstruggleofhernativelucidity——asupremelyconvincingbitofevidence。Itwasstillmoreconvincingthanifshehaddoneanyofthecommonthings——stammered，changedcolour，shownanapprehensionofwhatthepersonnamedmighthavesaidtome。ShehadhaditfrommethatheandIhadtalkedabouther，buttherewasnothingthatsheacceptedtheideaofhishavingbeenabletosay。Isaw——stillmorethanthis——thattherewasnothingtomypurpose（sincemypurposewastounderstand）thatshewouldhavehad，asmattersstood，coherenceenoughtoimputetohim。Itwasextremelycurioustometodivine，justhere，thatshehadn’taglimmeringofthereallogicofBrissenden’shappyeffectonhernerves。Itwastheeffect，ascomingfromhim，thatabeautifuldelicacyforbadeherasyettogivemeherwordfor；

andshewascertainlyherselfinthestageofregardingitasananomaly。

Why，onthecontrary，Imighthavewondered，shouldn’tshehavejumpedatthechance，atthecomfort，ofseeingapreferencetrivialenoughtobe"worked"imputedtoher？Whyshouldn’tshehavebeenpositivelypleasedthatpeoplemighthelpfullycouplehernamewiththatofthewrongman？

Why，inshort，inthelanguagethatGraceBrissendenandIhadusedtogether，wasnotthatlady’shusbandtheperfectionofaredherring？Justbecause，Iperceived，therelationthathadestablisheditselfbetweenthemWAS

foritsfunction，arealrelation，therelationofafellowshipinresistancetodoom。

NothingcouldhavebeenstrangerthanforMEsotoknowitwaswhilethestrickenpartiesthemselveswereinignorance；butnothing，atthesametime，couldhavebeen，asIhavesincemadeout，moremagnanimousthanMrs。Server’sattitude。Shemoved，gropingandpanting，inthegatheringduskofherfate，buttherewerecalculationsshestillcoulddimlymake。

Oneofthesewasthatshemustdragnooneelsein。Iverilybelievethat，forthatmatter，shehadscruples，poignantandexquisite，evenaboutlettingourfriendhimselfseehowmuchshelikedtobewithhim。Shewouldn’t，atallevents，letanothersee。IsawwhatIsaw，IfeltwhatIfelt，butsuchthingswereexactlyasignthatIcouldtakecareofmyself。Therewasapparently，Iwasobligedtoadmit，butlittleapprehensioninherofherundulyshowingthatourmeetinghadbeenanythingofablessingtoher。Therewasnooneindeedjustthentobethewiserforit；Imightperhapselseevenhavefearedthatshewouldhavebeeninfluencedtotreattheincidentasclosed。Ihad，forthatmatter，nowishtoprolongitbeyondherownconvenience；ithadalreadytoldmeeverythingitcouldpossiblytell。IthoughtIknewmoreoverwhatshewouldhavegotfromit。Ipreferred，nonetheless，thatweshouldseparatebymyownact；Iwantednottoseehermoveinordertobefreeofme。SoIstoodup，toputhermoreatherease，anditwaswhileIremainedbeforeherthatItriedtoturntoheradvantagewhatIhadcommittedmyselftoaboutBrissenden。

"Ihadafancy，atanyrate，thathewaslookingforyou——allthemorethathedidn’tdenyit。"

Shehadnotmoved；shehadletmetakemyhandfromherownwithaslittlesignasonherfirstfeelingitstouch。Sheonlykepthereyesonme。"Whatmadeyouhavesuchafancy？"

"Whatmakesmeeverhaveany？"Ilaughed。"Myextraordinaryinterestinmyfellow—creatures。Ihavemorethanmostmen。I’veneverreallyseenanyonewithhalfsomuch。Thatbreedsobservation，andobservationbreedsideas。Doyouknowwhatithasdone？"Icontinued。"IthasbredformetheideathatBrissenden’sinlovewithyou。"

Therewassomethinginhereyesthatstruckmeasbetraying——andtheappealofitwenttotheheart——theconstantdreadthatifentangledintalkshemightshowconfusion。Neverthelessshebroughtoutafteramoment，asnaturallyandcharminglyaspossible："Howcanthatbewhenhe’ssostrikinglyinlovewithhiswife？"

Igaveherthebenefitofthemostapparentconsideration。"Strikingly，youcallit？"

"Why，Ithoughtitwasnoticed——whathedoesforher。"

"Well，ofcourseshe’sextremelyhandsome——oratleastextremelyfreshandattractive。HeISinlovewithher，nodoubt，ifyoutakeitbythequarter，orbytheyear，likeayachtorastable，"Ipushedonatrandom。

"Butisn’ttheresuchastatealsoasbeinginlovebytheday？"

Shewaited，andIguessedfromthemannerofitexactlywhy。ItwasthemostobscureofintimationsthatshewouldhavelikedbetterthatI

shouldn’tmakehertalk；butobscurity，bythistime，offeredmenomoredifficulties。Thehint，nonetheless，atrifledisconcertedme，and，whileIvaguelysoughtforsomesmallprovisionalmiddlewaybetweengoingandnotgoingon，theoddestthing，asafruitofmyowndelay，occurred。Thiswasneithermorenorlessthantherevivalofherterriblelittlefixedsmile。Itcamebackasifwithanaudibleclick——asagas—burnermakesapopwhenyoulightit。Ittoldmevisiblythatfromthemomentshemusttalkshecouldtalkonlywithitsaid。TheeffectofitsaidIindeedimmediatelyperceived。"HowdoIknow？"sheaskedinanswertomyquestion。"I’veneverBEENinlove。"

"Notevenbytheday？"

"Oh，aday’ssurelyalongtime。"

"Itis，"Ireturned。"ButI’venonetheless，morefortunatelythanyou，beeninloveforawholeone。"ThenIcontinued，fromanimpulseofwhichIhadjustbecomeconsciousandthatwasclearlytheresultoftheheart—breakingfacialcontortion——heart—breaking，thatis，whenoneknewwhatIknew——bywhichsheimaginedherselftorepresentthepleasantgive—and—takeofsociety。Thissense，forme，wasaquickhorrorofforcingher，insuchconditions，totalkatall。PoorBrisshadmentionedtome，asanincidentofhiscontactwithher，hisapprehensionofherbreakingdown；andnow，atatouch，Isawwhathehadmeant。SheWOULDbreakdownifIdidn’tlookout。Ifoundmyselfthus，fromoneminutetotheother，asgreatlydreadingitforher，dreadingitindeedforbothofus，asImighthavedreadedsomephysicalaccidentordanger，herfallfromanunmanageablehorseorthecrackbeneathherofthinice。Itwasimpossible——thatwastheextraordinaryimpression——tocometoomuchtoherassistance。Wehadeachofusall，inourway，hourafterhour，been，asgoodnaturedlyasunwittingly，givingheralift；yetwhatwastheendofitbutherstillsittingtheretoassuremeofastateofgratitude——thatshecouldn’tevenarticulate——foreveryhintofaperchthatmightstillbeheldout？Whatcouldonly，therefore，intheconnection，strikemeasindicatedwasfairlytoputintohermouth——ifonemightdosowithoutshowingtooungracefullyasalarmed——thewordsonemighthaveguessedhertowishtouseweresheabletouseany。ItwasasmallserviceofanticipationthatItriedtorenderherwithaslittleofanairaspossibleofbeingremedial。"Idaresayyouwonder，"

Iremarkedontheselines，"why，atall，IshouldhavethrustBrissendenin。"

"Oh，IDOsowonder！"sherepliedwiththerefinedbutexaggeratedgleethatisafrequentforminhighcompaniesandlightcolloquies。IDIDhelpher——itwasadmirabletofeelit。Shelikedmyimposingonhernomorecomplexaproposition。Shelikedmyputtingthethingtohersomuchbetterthanshecouldhaveputittome。Butsheimmediatelyafterwardslookedawayasif——nowthatweHADputit，anditdidn’tmatterwhichofusbest——wehadnothingmoretodowithit。Shegavemeahintofdropsandinconsequencesthatmightindeedhaveopenedupabysses，andallthewhileshesmiledandsmiled。Yetwhatevershedidorfailedof，asIeventhenobservedtomyself，howsheremainedlovely！One’spleasureinthathelpedonesomehownottobreakdownonone’sownside——sincebreakingdownwasinquestion——forcommiseration。Ididn’tknowwhatshemighthavehoursoffortheman——whoeverhewas——towhomhersacrificehadbeenmade；butIdoubtedifforanyotherpersonshehadeverbeensobeautifulasshewasformeatthesemoments。

Tohavekeptherso，tohavemadehermoreso——howmightthatresultoftheirrelationnotinfacthaveshoneasablindinglightintotheeyesofherlover？Whatwouldhehavebeenboundtomakeoutinherafterallbutherpassionandherbeauty？Wasn’titenoughforsuchwondersasthesetofillhisconsciousness？Iftheydidn’tfillmine——eventhoughoccupyingsolargeaplaceinit——wasthatnotonlybecauseIhadnotthedirectbenefitofthemastheotherpartytotheprodigyhadit？Theyfilledminetoo，forthatmatter，justatthisjuncture，longenoughformetodescribemyselfasrenderedsubjectbythemtoatemporarylossofmythread。WhatCOULDpassmusterwithherasanaccountofmyreasonforevokingtheblightedidentityofourfriend？Therecameconstantlyintoheraspect，Ishouldsay，thestrangestalternatives，asIcanonlymostconvenientlycallthem，ofpresenceandabsence——somethinglikeintermissionsofintensity，cessationsandresumptionsoflife。Theywereliketheslowflickersofatroubledflame，breatheduponandthenleft，burningupandburningdown。Shehadreallyburntdown——Imeansofarashersenseofthingswent——whileIstoodthere。

Istoodlongenoughtoseethatitdidn’tintheleastsignifywhetherornoIexplained，andduringthisintervalIfoundmyself——tomysurprise——inreceiptofstillbetterassistancethananyIhadtogive。Ihadhappenedtoturn，whileIawkwardlyenough，nodoubt，restedandshifted，tothequarterfromwhichMrs。Serverhadarrived；andthere，justattheendofthesamevista，Igatheredmaterialformyproperreply。Hereyesatthismomentwerefixedelsewhere，andthatgavemestillalittlemoretime，attheendofwhichmyreferencehadallitspoint。"IsupposedyoutohaveBrissendeninyourhead，"Isaid，"becauseit’sevidentlywhathehimselftakesforgranted。Butlethimtellyou！"Hewasalreadyclosetous：missingheratthehouse，hehadstartedagaininsearchofherandhadsuccessfullyfollowed。TheeffectonhimofcominginsightofushadbeenforaninstanttomakehimhangbackasIhadseenMrs。Serverhang。Buthehadthenadvancedjustasshehaddone；Ihadwaitedforhimtoreachus；andnowshesawhim。Shelookedathimasshealwayslookedatallofus，yetnotateitherofusasifwehadlatelybeentalkingofhim。Ifitwasvacancyitwaseloquent；ifitwasvigilanceitwassplendid。

Whatwasmostcurious，atallevents，wasthatitwasnowpoorBrisswhowasdisconcerted。Hehadcountedonfindingher，butnotonfindingherwithme，andIinterpretedacertainruefulnessinhimasthesignofaquick，uneasysensethathemusthavebeeninquestionbetweenus。Iinstantlyfeltthattherightthingwastolethimknowhehadbeen，andImentionedtohim，asajoke，thathehadcomejustintimetosavehimself。Wehadbeentalkingofhim，andIwouldn’tanswerforwhatMrs。Serverhadbeengoingtosay。Hetookitgravely，buthetookeverythingsogravelythatIsawnosymptominthat。Infact，asheappearedatfirstcarefulnottomeetmyeyes，Isawforaminuteortwonosymptominanything——inanything，atleast，butthewayinwhich，standingbesidemeandbeforeMrs。Server’sbench，hereceivedtheconsciousglareofherrecognitionwithoutreturningitandwithoutindeedgivingheralook。Helookedallabout——looked，assheherselfhaddoneafterourmeeting，atthecharmingplaceanditsmarksofthehour，attherichtwilight，deepernowintheavenues，andatthetree—topsandsky，moreflushednowwithcolour。IfoundmyselfofasuddenquiteassorryforhimasIhadbeenforMrs。Server，andIscarceknowhowitwassuggestedtomethatduringtheshortintervalsinceourseparationsomethinghadhappenedthatmadeadifferenceinhim。WasthedifferenceaconsciousnessstillmorechargedthanIhadleftit？Icouldn’texactlysay，andthequestionreallylostitselfinwhatsooncameuppermostforme——thedesire，aboveall，tosparethembothandtosparethemequally。

Thedifficulty，however，wastosparetheminsomefashionthatwouldnotbemoremarkedthancontinuingtoobservethem。Toleavethemtogetherwithoutadecentpretextwouldbemarked；butthis，Ieagerlyrecognised，wasnonethelesswhatmostconcernedme。Whatevertheymightseeinit，therewasbythistimelittleenoughdoubtofhowitwouldindicateformyownmindthatthewheelhadcompletelyturned。ThatwasthepointtowhichIhadbeenbroughtbythelapseofafewhours。IhadverilytravelledfarsincethesightofthepairontheterracehadgivenitsarresttomyfirsttalkwithMrs。Briss。Iwasobligedtoadmittomyselfthatnothingcouldverywellhavebeenmoresingularthansomeofmysequences。Ihadcomeroundtotheoppositepoleoftheprotestmycompanionhadthendrawnfromme——whichwasthepoleofagreementwithherself；andithungsharplybeforemethatIwaspledgedtoconfesstohermyrevolution。Icouldn’tnowbeinthepresenceofthetwocreaturesIwasintheveryactoffinallyjudgingtobenotawhitlessstrickenthanIhadoriginallyimaginedthem——I

couldn’tdothisandthinkwithanycomplacencyoftheredemptionofmypledge；fortheprocessbywhichIhadatlastdefinitelyinculpatedMrs。

Serverwaspreciselysuchaprocessofprovidentialsupervisionasmadememorallyresponsible，sotospeak，forher，andtherebyintensifiedmyscruples。Well，myscrupleshadthelastword——theywerewhatdeterminedmetolookatmywatchandprofessthat，whateversenseofamarginBrissendenandMrs。Servermightstillenjoy，itbehovedmenottoforgetthatItook，onsuchgreatoccasions，anhourtodressfordinner。Itwasafairlycrudecoverformyretreat；perhapsindeedIshouldrathersaythatmyretreatwaspracticallynakedandunadorned。Itformulatedtheirrelation。Ileftthemwiththeformulaontheirhands，bothqueerlystaringatit，bothuncertainwhattodowithit。Forsomepassagethatwouldsoonbeacorrectionofthis，however，onemightsurelyfeelthatonecouldtrustthem。Iseemedtofeelmytrustjustified，behindmyback，beforeIhadgottwentyyardsaway。BythetimeIhaddonethis，Imustadd，somethingfurtherhadbefallenme。PoorBrisshadmetmyeyesjustprevioustomyflight，anditwasthenIsatisfiedmyselfofwhathadhappenedtohimatthehouse。Hehadmethiswife；shehadinsomewaydealtwithhim；hehadbeenwithher，howeverbriefly，alone；andtheintimacyoftheirunionhadbeenafreshimpresseduponhim。PoorBriss，infine，lookedtenyearsolder。

Chapter9

Ishallneverforgettheimpressionsofthatevening，northeway，inparticular，theimmediateeffectofsomeofthemwastomergethelightofmyextravagantperceptionsinaglamourmuchmorediffused。Irememberfeelingseriouslywarned，whiledinnerlasted，nottoyieldfurthertomyidlehabitofreadingintomerehumanthingsaninterestsomuchdeeperthanmerehumanthingswereingeneralpreparedtosupply。Thisespecialhour，atNewmarch，hadalwaysasplendourthataskedlittleofinterpretation，thatevencarrieditself，withanamiablearrogance，asindifferenttowhattheimaginationcoulddoforit。Ithinktheimagination，inthosehallsofartandfortune，wasalmostinevitablyaccountedapoormatter；

thewholeplaceanditsparticipantsaboundedsoinpleasantnessandpicture，inallthefelicities，foreverysense，takenforgrantedtherebytheverybasisoflife，thateventhesensemostfinelypoetic，aspiringtoextractthemoral，couldscarcehavehelpedfeelingitselftreatedtosomethingofthesnubthataffects——whenitdoesaffect——theuninvitedreporterinwhosefaceadoorisclosed。Isaidtomyselfduringdinnerthatthesewerescenesinwhichatranscendentintelligencehadafterallnoapplication，andthat，inshort，anypreposterousacutenessmighteasilysufferamongthemsuchalossofdignityasovertakesthenewspaper—mankickedout。

Weexisted，allofustogether，tobehandsomeandhappy，tobereallywhatwelooked——sincewelookedtremendouslywell；tobethatandneithermorenorless，sonotdiscreditingbymustysecretsandaggressivedoubtsourhighprivilegeofharmonyandtaste。Wewereconcernedonlywithwhatwasbrightandopen，andtheexpressionthatbecameusallwas，atworst，thatoftheshadedbutgratifiedeye，theairofbeingforgivinglydazzledbytoomuchlustre。

Mrs。Server，attable，wasoutofmyrange，butIwonderedif，hadshenotbeenso，Ishouldn’tnowhavebeenmovedtorecogniseinherfixedexpressivenessnothingmorethanourcommonreciprocaltribute。Hadn’teveryonemyeyescouldatpresenttakeinafixedexpressiveness？WasI

notverypossiblymyself，onthisgroundofphysiognomiccongruity，morephysiognomicthananyoneelse？Imademyexcellence，onthechance，goasfarasitwouldtocovermytemporarydoubts。IsawMrs。Brissenden，inanotherfrock，naturally，andotherjewelsfromthoseoftheeveningbefore；butshegaveme，acrosstheboard，nomoreofalookthanifshehadquitedonewithme。ItstruckmethatshefeltsheHADdone——that，astothesubjectofourdiscussion，shedeemedhercasebythistimesoestablishedastooffercomparativelylittleinterest。Icouldn’tcometohertorenewthediscussion；Icouldonlycometohertomakemysubmission；

anditdoubtlessappearedtoher——todoherjustice——moredelicatenottotriumphovermeinadvance。Theprofessionofjoy，however，reignedinherhandsomefacenonethelesslargelyformynothavingthebenefitofit。IfIseemtofalsifymygeneralisationbyacknowledgingthatherhusband，onthesameside，madenomorepublicprofessionofjoythanusual，IamstilljustifiedbythefactthattherewassomethinginamannerdecorativeeveninBrissenden’swontedgloom。HeremindedmeatthishourmorethaneverofsomefineoldVelasquezorotherportrait——apresentationofuglinessandmelancholythatmighthavebeenroyal。Therewasaslittleofthecommoninhisdry，distinguishedpatienceasinthecaseIhadmadeoutforhim。

Blightedandensconced，helookedatitovertherigidconvention，hispeculiarperfectionofnecktie，shirt—frontandwaistcoat，assomeagedremnantofsovereigntyattheoperalooksovertheribbonofanorderandtheledgeofabox。

Imustadd，however，thatinspiteofmysenseofhiswife’sindulgenceIkeptquiteawareofthenearerapproach，ascoursefollowedcourse，ofmyhourofreckoningwithher——moreandmoresawthemomentoftheeveningatwhich，franklyamusedatlastathavingmeinacleftstick，shewoulddrawmealittleoutofthethrong。Ofcourse，also，IwasmuchoccupiedinaskingmyselftowhatdegreeIwaspreparedtobeperjured。WASIreadytopretendthatmycandourwasstillunconvinced？AndwasIinthiscaseonlyinstinctivelymusteringmyarguments？IwascertainlyassorrythatMrs。ServerwasoutofmyviewasifIproposedstilltofight；andIreallyfelt，sofarasthatwent，asiftheremightbesomethingtofightforaftertheladyonmylefthadgivenmeapieceofnews。Ihadaskedherifshehappenedtoknow，aswecouldn’tsee，whowasnextMrs。Server，and，thoughunabletosayatthemoment，shemadenoscruple，afterashortinterval，ofascertainingwiththelastdirectness。Thestretchforwardinwhichshehadindulged，ortheinformationshehadcausedtobepasseduptoherwhileIwasagainengagedonmyright，establishedthatitwasLordLutleywhohadbroughtthelovelyladyinandthatitwasMr。Longwhowasonherotherside。Thesethingsindeedwerenotthefinestpointofmycompanion’scommunication，forIsawthatwhatshefeltIwouldbereallyinterestedinwasthefactthatMr。LonghadbroughtinLadyJohn，whowasnaturally，therefore，hisotherneighbour。BeyondLadyJohnwasMr。Obert，andbeyondMr。ObertMrs。Froome，not，forawonder，thistimepaired，asbytheimmemorialtradition，sofairlycomicalinitscandour，withLordLutley。Wasn’tittoofunny，thekindofgrandmotherlyviewoftheirrelationshownintheiralwaysbeingputtogether？IfIperhapsquestionedwhether"grandmotherly"wereexactlythenamefortheview，whatyetatleastwasdefiniteinthelightofthisevening’sarrangementwasthattheredidoccuroccasionsonwhichtheywereputapart。Myfriendofcoursedisposedofthisobservationbytheusualexceptionthat"provedtherule"；

butitwasabsurdhowIhadthrilledwithherannouncement，andourexchangeofideasmeanwhilehelpedtocarrymeon。

Mytheoryhadnotatallbeenframedtoembracethephenomenonthuspresented；ithadbeenpreciselyframed，onthecontrary，tohangtogetherwiththeobservedinveteracyofescape，onthepartofthetwopersonsaboutwhomitbusieditself，frompublicjuxtapositionofmorethanamoment。

Iwasfairlyupsetbytheneedtoconsideratthislatehourwhethergoinginforanewtheoryorbracingmyselffornewfactswouldholdouttomethebetterrefuge。ItisperhapsnottoomuchtosaythatIshouldscarcehavebeenabletositstillatallbutforthesupportaffordedmebytheoddityoftheseparationofLordLutleyandMrs。Froome；which，thoughrestingonageneralappearancedirectlyopposedtothatofmyfriends，offeredsomehowthereliefofasuggestiveanalogy。WhatIcoulddirectlyclutchatwasthatiftheexceptiondidprovetheruleintheonecaseitmightequallyproveitintheother。Ifonarareoccasiononeofthesecouplesmightbedivided，so，byasuncommonachance，theothermightbejoined；theonlydifferencebeinginthegravityoftheviolatedlaw。

Forwhichpairwasthebetrayalgreatest？ItwasnottilldinnerwasnearlyendedandtheladieswereabouttowithdrawthatIrecoveredluciditytomakeouthowmuchmoremachinerywouldhavehadtobeputintomotionconsistentlytoprevent，thanonceinawaytominimise，thedisconcertingaccident。

Allaccidents，Imustadd，werepresentlytolosethemselvesintheunexpectednessofmyfindingmyself，beforeweleftthedining—room，ineasytalkwithGilbertLong——talkthatwasatleasteasyforhim，whateveritmighthavestruckmeasnecessarilydestinedtobeforme。Ifeltasheapproachedme——forhedidapproachme——thatitwassomehow"important"；Iwassoawarethatsomethinginthestateofmyconsciencewouldhavepreventedmefromassumingconversationbetweenustobeatthisjuncturepossible。ThestateofmyconsciencewasthatIknewtoomuch——thatnoonehadreallyanybusinesstoknowwhatIknew。Ifhesuspectedbutthefiftiethpartofittherewasnosimplespiritinwhichhecouldchallengeme。Itwouldhavebeensimpleofcoursetodesiretoknockmedown，butthatwasbarredbyitsbeingsimpletoexcess。Itwouldn’tevenhavebeenenoughforhimmerelytogrounditonasuddenfancy。Itfitted，infine，withmycogitationsthatitwassosignificantforhimtowishtospeaktomethatIdidn’tenvyhimhisattemptattheparticularshadeofassurancerequiredforcarryingthethingoff。HewouldhavelearnedfromMrs。ServerthatIwasnot，asregardedthem，atallasotherswere；andthushisidea，thefruitofthatstimulation，couldonlybeeithertofathom，tofelicitate，or——asitwere——todestroyme。Whatwasatthesametimeobviouswasthatnooneoftheseattitudeswouldgoquiteofitself。Thesimplesightofhimashequittedhischairtotakeonenearermyownbroughthometomeinaflash——andmuchmorethananythinghadyetdone——therealexistenceinhimoftheconditionitwasmyprivatemadness（nonethelessprivateforGraceBrissenden’ssolimitedglimpseofit，）tobelieveIhadcoherentlystated。IsnotthissmalltouchperhapsthebestexampleIcangiveoftheintensityofamusementIhadatlastenabledmyprivatemadnesstoyieldme？Ifoundmyselfowingit，fromthistimeonandfortherestoftheevening，momentsofthehighestconcentration。

Whatevertheremighthavebeenformeofpainordoubtwaswashedstraightoutbythespecialsensationofseeinghow"clever"poorLongnotonlywouldhavetobe；butconfidentlyandactuallyWAS；inasmuchasthisapprehensionseemedtoputmeinpossessionofhiscleverness，besidesleavingmeallmyown。Imadehimwelcome，Ihelpedhimtoanothercigarette，IfeltaboveallthatIshouldenjoyhim；myresponsetohisoverturewas，inotherwords，quicklyenoughtolaunchus。YetIfearIcandolittlejusticetothepleasantsuppressedtumultofimpressionandreflectionthat，onmypart，ourtenminutestogetherproduced。Theelementsthatmingledinitscarceadmitofdiscrimination。Itwasstillmorethanpreviouslyadeepsenseofbeingjustified。Myinterlocutorwasforthosetenminutesimmeasurablysuperior——superior，Imean，tohimself——andhecouldn’tpossiblyhavebecomesosavethroughtherelationIhadsopatientlytracked。Hefacedmetherewithanotherlightthanhisown，spokewithanothersound，thoughtwithanothereaseandunderstoodwithanotherear。Ishouldputitthatwhatcameupbetweenuswasthemerethingsoftheoccasion，wereitnotforthefinepointtowhich，inmyview，thethingsoftheoccasionhadbeenbrought。Whileoureyes，atallevents，oneitherside，metserenely，andourtalk，dealingwiththeidea，dealingwiththeextraordinaryspecialcharm，ofthesocialdaynowdeepeningtoitsend，touchedourcompanionssuccessively，touchedthemannerinwhichthisoneandthathadhappenedtobepredominantlyapartofthatcharm；whilesuchwereourimmediateconditionsIwonderedofcourseifhehadnot，justasconsciouslyandessentiallyasI，quiteanotherbusinessinmind。Itwasnotindeedthatourallusiontotheotherbusinesswouldnothavebeenwhollyundiscoverablebyathirdperson。

Sofarasittookplaceitwasofa"subtlety，"asweusedtosayatNewmarch，inrelationtowhichthecommonregisterofthatpressurewouldhavebeen，Ifear，tooold—fashionedabarometer。Ihadmoreoverthecomfort——foritamountedtothat——ofperceivingafteralittlethatweunderstoodeachothertoowellforourunderstandingreallytohavetoleratedtheinterferenceofpassion，suchpassionaswouldhavebeenrepresentedonhissidebyresentmentofmyintelligenceandonmysidebyresentmentofhis。Thehighsportofsuchintelligence——betweengentlemen，tothesensesofanyotherthanwhomitmustsurelybeclosed——demandedandimpliedinitsownintimateinterestacertainamenity。Yes，accordingly，Ihadpromptlygottheanswerthatmywonderathisapproachrequired：hehadcometomeforthehighsport。Hewouldformerlyhavebeenincapableofit，andhewasbeautifullycapableofitnow。Itwaspreciselythekindofhighsport——theplayofperception，expression，sociability——inwhichMrs。Serverwouldayearortwobeforehaveborneaslightahand。Ineedscarcelyaddhowlittleitwouldhavefounditselfinthatlady’spresentchords。Hehadsaidtomeinourtenminuteseverythingamusingshecouldn’thavesaid。