Page:The Novels and Tales of Henry James, Volume 2 (New York, Charles Scribner's Sons, 1907).djvu/223

THE AMERICAN I hope that for ces dames the hardships of life commenced less early."

"They married very early indeed, if you call that a hardship—as girls do in our Western country. The husband of one of them is the owner of the largest india-rubber house in the West."

"Ah, you make houses also of india-rubber?" the Marquise asked.

"You can stretch them as your family increases," said her daughter-in-law, now enveloped in a soft shining cape. Newman indulged at this in a burst of hilarity and explained that the house in which his relatives lived was a large wooden structure, but that they manufactured and sold india-rubber on a colossal scale. My children have some little india-rubber shoes which they put on when they go to play in the Tuileries in damp weather," the young Marquise accordingly pursued. "I wonder if your brother-in-law made them."

"I guess he did,—and if he did you may be very sure you've got a good article."

"Well, you mustn't be too much discouraged," said M. de Bellegarde with vague benevolence.

"Oh, I don't mean to be. I've a project—really a grand one—which gives me plenty to think about, and that's an occupation." And then Newman waited, hesitating yet debating rapidly; he wished again to get near his point, though to do so forced him to depart still further from the form of not asking favours. He had to ask that of their attention. "Nevertheless," he continued, addressing himself to old Madame de Bellegarde, "I 'll tell you my great 193