Page:The Golden Bowl (Scribner, New York, 1909), Volume 2.djvu/174

THE GOLDEN BOWL by the most wonderful of chances. That's why, since it has been here, I've stood it out for my husband to see; put it where it would meet him almost immediately if he should come into the room. I've wanted it to meet him," she went on, "and I've wanted him to meet it, and to be myself present at the meeting. But that hasn't taken place as yet; often as he has lately been in the way of coming to see me here—yes in particular lately—he hasn't showed today." It was with her managed quietness more and more that she talked—an achieved coherence that helped her evidently to hear and to watch herself; there was support, and thereby an awful harmony, but which meant a further guidance, in the facts she could add together. "It's quite as if he had an instinct—something that has warned him off or made him uneasy. He doesn't understand, naturally, what has happened, but guesses, with his beautiful cleverness, that something has, and isn't in a hurry to be confronted with it. So in his vague fear he keeps off."

"But being meanwhile in the house—?"

"I 've no idea—not having seen him to-day, by exception, since before luncheon. He spoke to me then," the Princess freely explained, "of a ballot, of great importance, at a club—for somebody, some personal friend, I think, who's coming up and is supposed to be in danger. To make an effort for him he thought he had better lunch there. You see the efforts he can make"—for which Maggie found a smile that went to her friend's heart. "He's in so many ways the kindest of men. But it was hours ago." 164