The Wings of the Dove Henry James (android based ebook reader TXT) đ
- Author: Henry James
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The younger of the other men, it afterwards appeared, was most in his element at the piano; so that they had coffee and comic songs upstairsâ âthe gentlemen, temporarily relinquished, submitting easily in this interest to Mrs. Lowderâs parting injunction not to sit too tight. Our especial young man sat tighter when restored to the drawing-room; he made it out perfectly with Kate that they might, off and on, foregather without offence. He had perhaps stronger needs in this general respect than she; but she had better names for the scant risks to which she consented. It was the blessing of a big house that intervals were large and, of an August night, that windows were open; whereby, at a given moment, on the wide balcony, with the songs sufficiently sung, Aunt Maud could hold her little court more freshly. Densher and Kate, during these moments, occupied side by side a small sofaâ âa luxury formulated by the latter as the proof, under criticism, of their remarkably good conscience. âTo seem not to know each otherâ âonce youâre hereâ âwould be,â the girl said, âto overdo itâ; and she arranged it charmingly that they must have some passage to put Aunt Maud off the scent. She would be wondering otherwise what in the world they found their account in. For Densher, none the less, the profit of snatched moments, snatched contacts, was partial and poor; there were in particular at present more things in his mind than he could bring out while watching the windows. It was true, on the other hand, that she suddenly met most of themâ âand more than he could see on the spotâ âby coming out for him with a reference to Milly that was not in the key of those made at dinner. âSheâs not a bit right, you know. I mean in health. Just see her tonight. I mean it looks grave. For you she would have come, you know, if it had been at all possible.â
He took this in such patience as he could muster. âWhat in the worldâs the matter with her?â
But Kate continued without saying. âUnless indeed your being here has been just a reason for her funking it.â
âWhat in the worldâs the matter with her?â Densher asked again.
âWhy just what Iâve told youâ âthat she likes you so much.â
âThen why should she deny herself the joy of meeting me?â
Kate cast aboutâ âit would take so long to explain. âAnd perhaps itâs true that she is bad. She easily may be.â
âQuite easily, I should say, judging by Mrs. Stringham, whoâs visibly preoccupied and worried.â
âVisibly enough. Yet it maynât,â said Kate, âbe only for that.â
âFor what then?â
But this question too, on thinking, she neglected. âWhy, if itâs anything real, doesnât that poor lady go home? Sheâd be anxious, and she has done all she need to be civil.â
âI think,â Densher remarked, âshe has been quite beautifully civil.â
It made Kate, he fancied, look at him the least bit harder; but she was already, in a manner, explaining. âHer preoccupation is probably on two different heads. One of them would make her hurry back, but the other makes her stay. Sheâs commissioned to tell Milly all about you.â
âWell then,â said the young man between a laugh and a sigh, âIâm glad I felt, downstairs, a kind of âdrawingâ to her. Wasnât I rather decent to her?â
âAwfully nice. Youâve instincts, you fiend. Itâs all,â Kate declared, âas it should be.â
âExcept perhaps,â he after a moment cynically suggested, âthat she isnât getting much good of me now. Will she report to Milly on this?â And then as Kate seemed to wonder what âthisâ might be: âOn our present disregard for appearances.â
âAh leave appearances to me!â She spoke in her high way. âIâll make them all right. Aunt Maud, moreover,â she added, âhas her so engaged that she wonât notice.â Densher felt, with this, that his companion had indeed perceptive flights he couldnât hope to matchâ âhad for instance another when she still subjoined: âAnd Mrs. Stringhamâs appearing to respond just in order to make that impression.â
âWell,â Densher dropped with some humour, âlifeâs very interesting! I hope itâs really as much so for you as you make it for others; I mean judging by what you make it for me. You seem to me to represent it as thrilling for ces dames, and in a different way for each: Aunt Maud, Susan Shepherd, Milly. But what is,â he wound up, âthe matter? Do you mean sheâs as
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