"AweeklaterJohntookmetothehouseofhisprospectivefather-in-law, andinMissMargovan, asyouhavealreadysurmised, buttomyprofoundastonishment, ."
Itwasplain, eveninthebrieftimegivenmeforreflection, thatindealingwiththisgirlordinarymethodswouldnotdo, andordinaryexactionswereneedless.
"MissMargovan," Isaid, doubtlesswithsomethingofthecompassioninmyvoicethatIhadinmyheart, "."
Sheshookherhead, sadlyandhopelessly, andIcontinued, withagitation:
", Ibelieve, dowhatyouconceivetobebest;ifyouarenot—well, Heavenhelpusall!YouhavenothingtofearfrommebutsuchoppositiontothismarriageasIcantrytojustifyon—onothergrounds."
Thesewerenotmyexactwords, butthatwasthesenseofthem, , mettheothersastheyre-enteredtheroomandsaid, ascalmlyasIcould, "IhavebeenbiddingMissMargovangoodevening;itislaterthanIthought."
;butthatfacthasonlythisimportance:herbeautywassuchasurprisetomethatitcastadoubtuponheridentitywiththeyoungwomanIhadseenbefore;howcouldthemarvellousfascinationofherfacehavefailedtostrikemeatthattime?Butno—therewasnopossibilityoferror;thedifferencewasduetocostume, lightandgeneralsurroundings.
JohnandIpassedtheeveningatthehouse, enduring, withthefortitudeoflongexperience, , "You, too, MissMargovan, haveadouble:IsawherlastTuesdayafternooninUnionSquare."
Shetrainedhergreatgreyeyesuponmeforamoment, butherglancewasatriflelesssteadythanmyownandshewithdrewit, fixingitonthetipofhershoe.
"Wassheverylikeme?" sheasked, withanindifferencewhichIthoughtalittleoverdone.
"Solike," saidI, "thatIgreatlyadmiredher, andbeingunwillingtolosesightofherIconfessthatIfollowedheruntil—MissMargovan, areyousurethatyouunderstand?"
Shewasnowpale, , withalookthatdidnotfalter.
"Whatdoyouwishmetodo?" sheasked."YouneednotobservedanythingsingularinJulia'smanner."
"Ithoughtherill," Ireplied, "thatiswhyIleft." Nothingmorewassaid.
