Page:The Novels and Tales of Henry James, Volume 1 (New York, Charles Scribner's Sons, 1907).djvu/514

 XXIV

day shortly after this, as the two young men sat at the inn door watching the sunset, which on that evening was very rich and clear, Rowland made an attempt to sound his companion's actual sentiment touching Christina Light. "I wonder where she is," he permitted himself to begin, "and what sort of a life she 's leading her Prince."

Roderick at first made no response. He was watching a figure on the summit of some distant rocks opposite. The figure was apparently descending into the valley, and in relief against the crimson screen of the western sky it looked gigantic. "Christina Light?" he at last repeated, as if rousing himself from a reverie. "Where she is? It's 'rum' how little I care!"

"Have you completely got over caring?"

To this he made no direct reply; he sat brooding a while. "She 's a fearful fraud!" he presently exclaimed.

"She 's certainly not a mere child of nature. But she had elements of interest."

"She did n't at all come up to my original idea of her," Roderick pursued.

"In what manner then did she fall away from it?"

"Oh, don't ask me or remind me!" Roderick cried. "What 's the use of going into it now? It was only three months ago, but it seems like ten 480