CHAPTER XVIII. WE QUARREL.
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DuringthefirstdaysofmystayattheTerrace,Grahamnevertookaseatnearme,orinhisfrequentpacingoftheroomapproachedthequarterwhereIsat,orlookedpre-occupied,ormoregravethanusual,butIthoughtofMissFanshaweandexpectedhernametoleapfromhislips.Ikeptmyearandmindinperpetualreadinessforthetenderthememypatiencewasorderedtobepermanentlyunderarms,andmysympathydesiredtokeepitscornucopiareplenishedandreadyforoutpouring.Atlast,andafteralittleinwardstruggle,whichIsawandrespected,heonedaylaunchedintothetopic.Itwasintroduceddelicatelyanonymouslyasitwere.
“Yourfriendisspendinghervacationintravelling,Ihear?”
“Friend,forsooth!”thoughtItomyself:butitwouldnotdotocontradicthemusthavehisownwayImustownthesoftimpeachment:friendletitbe.Still,bywayofexperiment,Icouldnothelpaskingwhomhemeant?
Hehadtakenaseatatmywork-tablehenowlaidhandsonareelofthreadwhichheproceededrecklesslytounwind.
“Ginevra—MissFanshawe,hasaccompaniedtheCholmondeleysonatourthroughthesouthofFrance?”
“Shehas.”
“Doyouandshecorrespond?”
“ItwillastonishyoutohearthatIneveroncethoughtofmakingapplicationforthatprivilege.”
“Youhaveseenlettersofherwriting?”
“Yesseveraltoheruncle.”
“Theywillnotbedeficientinwitandna?vetéthereissomuchsparkle,andsolittleartinhersoul?”
“ShewritescomprehensivelyenoughwhenshewritestoM.deBassompierre:hewhorunsmayread.”(Infact,Ginevra’sepistlestoherwealthykinsmanwerecommonlybusinessdocuments,unequivocalapplicationsforcash.)
“Andherhandwriting?Itmustbepretty,light,ladylike,Ishouldthink?”
Itwas,andIsaidso.
“Iverilybelievethatallshedoesiswelldone,”saidDr.JohnandasIseemedinnohurrytochimeinwiththisremark,headded“You,whoknowher,couldyounameapointinwhichsheisdeficient?”
“Shedoesseveralthingsverywell.”(“Flirtationamongsttherest,”subjoinedI,inthought.)
“Whendoyousupposeshewillreturntotown?”hesooninquired.
“Pardonme,Dr.John,Imustexplain.YouhonourmetoomuchinascribingtomeadegreeofintimacywithMissFanshaweIhavenotthefelicitytoenjoy.Ihaveneverbeenthedepositaryofherplansandsecrets.Youwillfindherparticularfriendsinanotherspherethanmine:amongsttheCholmondeleys,forinstance.”
HeactuallythoughtIwasstungwithakindofjealouspainsimilartohisown!
“Excuseher,”hesaid“judgeherindulgentlytheglitteroffashionmisleadsher,butshewillsoonfindoutthatthesepeoplearehollow,andwillreturntoyouwithaugmentedattachmentandconfirmedtrust.IknowsomethingoftheCholmondeleys:superficial,showy,selfishpeopledependonit,atheartGinevravaluesyoubeyondascoreofsuch.”
“Youareverykind,”Isaidbriefly.
Adisclaimerofthesentimentsattributedtomeburnedonmylips,butIextinguishe