CHAPTER X.

otconsideredthatthedesiretoconquerisitselfasortofsubjection)shehadmadeuphermindthathewastobeoneofthosecomplimentaryandassiduouslyadmiringmenofwhomevenhernarrowexperiencehadshownherseveralwithvarious-coloredbeardsandvariousstylesofbearingandthesensethatherfriendswouldwanthertothinkhimdelightful,gaveheraresistantinclinationtopresupposehimridiculous.Butthatwasnoreasonwhyshecouldsparehispresence:andevenapassingprevisionoftroubleincaseshedespisedandrefusedhim,raisednottheshadowofawishthatheshouldsaveherthattroublebyshowingnodispositiontomakeheranoffer.Mr.Grandcourttakinghardlyanynoticeofher,andbecomingshortlyengagedtoMissArrowpoint,wasnotapicturewhichflatteredherimagination. HenceGwendolenhadbeenalleartoLordBrackenshaw’smodeofaccountingforGrandcourt’snon-appearanceandwhenhedidarrive,noconsciousness—notevenMrs.Arrowpoint’sorMr.Gascoigne’s—wasmoreawaketothefactthanhers,althoughshesteadilyavoidedlookingtowardanypointwherehewaslikelytobe.Thereshouldbenoslightestshiftingofanglestobetraythatitwasofanyconsequencetoherwhetherthemuch-talked-ofMr.MallingerGrandcourtpresentedhimselfornot.Shebecameagainabsorbedintheshooting,andsoresolutelyabstainedfromlookingroundobservantlythat,evensupposinghimtohavetakenaconspicuousplaceamongthespectators,itmightbeclearshewasnotawareofhim.Andallthewhilethecertaintythathewastheremadeadistinctthreadinherconsciousness.Perhapshershootingwasthebetterforit:atanyrate,itgainedinprecision,andsheatlastraisedadelightfulstormofclappingandapplausebythreehitsrunninginthegold—afeatwhichamongtheBrackenshawarchershadnotthevulgarrewardofashillingpoll-tax,butthatofaspecialgoldstartobewornonthebreast.Thatmomentwasnotonlyahappyonetoherself—itwasjustwhathermammaandherunclewouldhavechosenforher.TherewasageneralfallingintorankstogiveherspacethatshemightadvanceconspicuouslytoreceivethegoldstarfromthehandsofLadyBrackenshawandtheperfectmovementofherfineformwascertainlyapleasantthingtobeholdintheclearafternoonlightwhentheshadowswerelongandstill.Shewasthecentralobjectofthatprettypicture,andeveryonepresentmustgazeather.Thatwasenough:sheherselfwasdeterminedtoseenobodyinparticular,ortoturnhereyesanywayexcepttowardLadyBrackenshaw,butherthoughtsundeniablyturnedinotherways.ItenteredalittleintoherpleasurethatHerrKlesmermustbeobservingheratamomentwhenmusicwasoutofthequestion,andhissuperiorityveryfarinthebackgroundforvanityisasillateaseunderindifferenceastendernessisunderalovewhichitcannotreturnandtheunconqueredKlesmerthrewatraceofhismalignpowerevenacrossherpleasantconsciousnessthatMr.Grandcourtwasseeinghertotheutmostadvantage,andwasprobablygivingheranadmirationunmixedwithcriticism.Shedidnotexpecttoadmirehim,butthatwasnotnecessarytoherpeaceofmind. GwendolenmetLadyBrackenshaw’sgracioussmilewithoutblushing(whichonlycametoherwhenshewastakenbysurprise),butwithacharminggladnessofexpression,andthenbentwitheasygracetohavethestarfixednearhershoulder.ThatlittleceremonyhadbeenoverlongenoughforhertohaveexchangedplayfulspeechesandreceivedcongratulationsasshemovedamongthegroupswhowerenowinterestingthemselvesintheresultsofthescoringbutithappenedthatshestoodoutsideexaminingthepointofanarrowwithratheranabsentairwhenLordBrackenshawcameuptoherandsaid, “MissHarleth,hereisagentlemanwhoisnotwillingtowaitanylongerforanintroduction.HehasbeengettingMrs.Davilowtosendmewithhim.WillyouallowmetointroduceMr.MallingerGrandcourt?”