Page:The Golden Bowl (Scribner, New York, 1909), Volume 2.djvu/336

THE GOLDEN BOWL aggravated way—which is the way he desires." With which Maggie further said: "Of course I understand."

"So do I!" her visitor after a moment breathed. "You've had to vacate the house—that was inevitable. But at least here he doesn't funk."

Our young woman accepted the expression. "He doesn't funk."

It only however half-contented Fanny, who thoughtfully raised her eyebrows. "He's prodigious; but what is there—as you've 'fixed' it—to dodge? Unless," she pursued, "it's her getting near him; it's—if you'll pardon my vulgarity—her getting at him. That," she suggested, "may count with him."

But it found the Princess prepared. "She can get near him here. She can get 'at' him. She can come up."

"Can she?" Fanny Assingham questioned.

"Can't she?" Maggie returned. Their eyes for a minute intimately met on it; after which the elder woman said: "I mean for seeing him alone."

"So do I," said the Princess.

At which Fanny, for her reasons, couldn't help smiling. "Oh if it's for that he's staying—!"

"He's staying—I've made it out—to take anything that comes or calls upon him. To take," Maggie went on, "even that." Then she put it as she had at last put it to herself. "He's staying for high decency."

"Decency?" Mrs. Assingham gravely echoed.

"Decency. If she should try—!"

"Well—?" Mrs. Assingham urged. 326