I + 

Selden paused in surprise. In the afternoon rush of the Grand Central Station his eyes had been refreshed by the sight of Miss Lily Bart. + 

It was a Monday in early September, and he was returning to his work from a hurried dip into the country; but what was Miss Bart doing in town at that season? If she had appeared to be catching a train, he might have inferred that he had come on her in the act of transition between one and another of the country-houses which disputed her presence after the close of the Newport season; but her desultory air perplexed him. She stood apart from the crowd, letting it drift by her to the platform or the street, and wearing an air of irresolution which might, as he surmised, be the mask of a very definite purpose. It struck him at once that she was waiting for someone, but he hardly knew why the idea arrested him. There was nothing new about Lily Bart, yet he could never see her without a faint movement of interest: it was characteristic of her that she always roused speculation, that her simplest acts seemed the result of far-reaching intentions. + 

An impulse of curiosity made him turn out of his direct line to the door, and stroll past her. He knew that if she did not wish to be seen she would contrive to elude him; and it amused him to think of putting her skill to the test. + 

тАЬMr.┬аSeldenтБатАФwhat good luck!тАЭ + 

She came forward smiling, eager almost, in her resolve to intercept him. One or two persons, in brushing past them, lingered to look; for Miss Bart was a figure to arrest even the suburban traveller rushing to his last train. + 

Selden had never seen her more radiant. Her vivid head, relieved against the dull tints of the crowd, made her more conspicuous than in a ballroom, and under her dark hat and veil she regained the girlish smoothness, the purity of tint, that she was beginning to lose after eleven years of late hours and indefatigable dancing. Was it really eleven years, Selden found himself wondering, and had she indeed reached the nine-and-twentieth birthday with which her rivals credited her? + 

тАЬWhat luck!тАЭ she repeated. тАЬHow nice of you to come to my rescue!тАЭ + 

He responded joyfully that to do so was his mission in life, and asked what form the rescue was to take. + 

тАЬOh, almost anyтБатАФeven to sitting on a bench and talking to me. One sits out a cotillionтБатАФwhy not sit out a train? It isnтАЩt a bit hotter here than in Mrs.┬аVan OsburghтАЩs conservatoryтБатАФand some of the women are not a bit uglier.тАЭ + 

She broke off, laughing, to explain that she had come up to town from Tuxedo, on her way to the Gus TrenorsтАЩ at Bellomont, and had missed the three-fifteen train to Rhinebeck. + 

тАЬAnd there isnтАЩt another till half-past five.тАЭ She consulted the little jewelled watch among her laces. тАЬJust two hours to wait. And I donтАЩt know what to do with myself. My maid came up this morning to do some shopping for me, and was to go on to Bellomont at one oтАЩclock, and my auntтАЩs house is closed, and I donтАЩt know a soul in town.тАЭ She glanced plaintively about the station. тАЬIt is hotter than Mrs.┬аVan OsburghтАЩs, after all. If you can spare the time, do take me somewhere for a breath of air.тАЭ + 

He declared himself entirely at her disposal: the adventure struck him as diverting. As a spectator, he had always enjoyed Lily Bart; and his course lay so far out of her orbit that it amused him to be drawn for a moment into the sudden intimacy which her proposal implied. + 

тАЬShall we go over to SherryтАЩs for a cup of tea?тАЭ + 

She smiled assentingly, and then made a slight grimace. + 

тАЬSo many people come up to town on a MondayтБатАФone is sure to meet a lot of bores. IтАЩm as old as the hills, of course, and it ought not to make any difference; but if IтАЩm old enough, youтАЩre not,тАЭ she objected gaily. тАЬIтАЩm dying for teaтБатАФbut isnтАЩt there a quieter place?тАЭ + 

He answered her smile, which rested on him vividly. Her discretions interested him almost as much as her imprudences: he was so sure that both were part of the same carefully-elaborated plan. In judging Miss Bart, he had always made use of the тАЬargument from design.тАЭ + 

тАЬThe resources of New York are rather meagre,тАЭ he said; тАЬbut IтАЩll find a hansom first, and then weтАЩll invent something.тАЭ + 

He led her through the throng of returning holidaymakers, past sallow-faced girls in preposterous hats, and flat-chested women struggling with paper bundles and palm-leaf fans. Was it possible that she belonged to the same race? The dinginess, the crudity of this average section of womanhood made him feel how highly specialized she was. + 

A rapid shower had cooled the air, and clouds still hung refreshingly over the moist street. + 

тАЬHow delicious! Let us walk a little,тАЭ she said as they emerged from the station. + 

They turned into Madison Avenue and began to stroll northward. As she moved beside him, with her long light step, Selden was conscious of taking a luxurious pleasure in her nearness: in the modelling of her little ear, the crisp upward wave of her hairтБатАФwas it ever so slightly brightened by art?тБатАФand the thick planting of her straight black lashes. Everything about her was at once vigorous and exquisite, at once strong and fine. He had a confused sense that she must have cost a great deal to make, that a great many dull and ugly people must, in some mysterious way, have been sacrificed to produce her. He was aware that the qualities distinguishing her from the herd of her sex were chiefly external: as though a fine glaze of beauty and fastidiousness had been applied to vulgar clay. Yet the analogy left him unsatisfied, for a coarse texture will not take a high finish; and was it not possible that the material was fine, but that circumstance had fashioned it into a futile shape? + 

As he reached this point in his speculations the sun came out, and her lifted parasol cut off his enjoyment. A moment or two later she paused with a sigh. + 

тАЬOh, dear, IтАЩm so hot and thirstyтБатАФand what a hideous place New York is!тАЭ She looked despairingly up and down the dreary thoroughfare. тАЬOther cities put on their best clothes in summer, but New York seems to sit in its shirtsleeves.тАЭ Her eyes wandered down one of the side-streets. тАЬSomeone has had the humanity to plant a few trees over there. Let us go into the shade.тАЭ + 

тАЬI am glad my street meets with your approval,тАЭ said Selden as they turned the corner. + 

тАЬYour street? Do you live here?тАЭ + 

She glanced with interest along the new brick and limestone house-fronts, fantastically varied in obedience to the American craving for novelty, but fresh and inviting with their awnings and flower-boxes. + 

тАЬAh, yesтБатАФto be sure: The Benedick. What a nice-looking building! I donтАЩt think IтАЩve ever seen it before.тАЭ She looked across at the flat-house with its marble porch and pseudo-Georgian fa├зade. тАЬWhich are your windows? Those with the awnings down?тАЭ + 

тАЬOn the top floorтБатАФyes.тАЭ + 

тАЬAnd that nice little balcony is yours? How cool it looks up there!тАЭ + 

He paused a moment. тАЬCome up and see,тАЭ he suggested. тАЬI can give you a cup of tea in no timeтБатАФand you wonтАЩt meet any bores.тАЭ + 

Her colour deepenedтБатАФshe still had the art of blushing at the right timeтБатАФbut she took the suggestion as lightly as it was made. + 

тАЬWhy not? ItтАЩs too temptingтБатАФIтАЩll take the risk,тАЭ she declared. + 

тАЬOh, IтАЩm not dangerous,тАЭ he said in the same key. In truth, he had never liked her as well as at that moment. He knew she had accepted without afterthought: he could never be a factor in her calculations, and there was a surprise, a refreshment almost, in the spontaneity of her consent. + 

On the threshold he paused a moment, feeling for his latchkey. + 

тАЬThereтАЩs no one here; but I have a servant who is supposed to come in the mornings, and itтАЩs just possible he may have put out the tea-things and provided some cake.тАЭ + 

He ushered her into a slip of a hall hung with old prints. She noticed the letters and notes heaped on the table among his gloves and sticks; then she found herself in a small library, dark but cheerful, with its walls of books, a pleasantly faded Turkey rug, a littered desk and, as he had foretold, a tea-tray on a low table near the window. A breeze had sprung up, swaying inward the muslin curtains, and bringing a fresh scent of mignonette and petunias from the flower-box on the balcony. + 

Lily sank with a sigh into one of the shabby leather chairs. + 

тАЬHow delicious to have a place like this all to oneтАЩs self! What a miserable thing it is to be a woman.тАЭ She leaned back in a luxury of discontent. + 

Selden was rummaging in a cupboard for the cake. + 

тАЬEven women,тАЭ he said, тАЬhave been known to enjoy the privileges of a flat.тАЭ + 

тАЬOh, governessesтБатАФor widows. But not girlsтБатАФnot poor, miserable, marriageable girls!тАЭ + 

тАЬI even know a girl who lives in a flat.тАЭ + 

She sat up in surprise. тАЬYou do?тАЭ + 

тАЬI do,тАЭ he assured her, emerging from the cupboard with the sought-for cake. + 

тАЬOh, I knowтБатАФyou mean Gerty Farish.тАЭ She smiled a little unkindly. тАЬBut I said тАШmarriageableтАЩтБатАФand besides, she has a horrid little place, and no maid, and such queer things to eat. Her cook does the washing and the food tastes of soap. I should hate that, you know.тАЭ + 

тАЬYou shouldnтАЩt dine with her on washdays,тАЭ said Selden, cutting the cake. + 

They both laughed, and he knelt by the table to light the lamp under the kettle, while she measured out the tea into a little teapot of green glaze. As he watched her hand, polished as a bit of old ivory, with its slender pink nails, and the sapphire bracelet slipping over her wrist, he was struck with the irony of suggesting to her such a life as his cousin Gertrude Farish had chosen. She was so evidently the victim of the civilization which had produced her, that the links of her bracelet seemed like manacles chaining her to her fate. + 

She seemed to read his thought. тАЬIt was horrid of me to say that of Gerty,тАЭ she said with charming compunction. тАЬI forgot she was your cousin. But weтАЩre so different, you know: she likes being good, and I like being happy. And besides, she is free and I am not. If I were, I daresay I could manage to be happy even in her flat. It must be pure bliss to arrange the furniture just as one likes, and give all the horrors to the ash-man. If I could only do over my auntтАЩs drawing-room I know I should be a better woman.тАЭ + 

тАЬIs it so very bad?тАЭ he asked sympathetically. + 

She smiled at him across the teapot which she was holding up to be filled. + 

тАЬThat shows how seldom you come there. Why donтАЩt you come oftener?тАЭ + 

тАЬWhen I do come, itтАЩs not to look at Mrs.┬аPenistonтАЩs furniture.тАЭ + 

тАЬNonsense,тАЭ she said. тАЬYou donтАЩt come at allтБатАФand yet we get on so well when we meet.тАЭ + 

тАЬPerhaps thatтАЩs the reason,тАЭ he answered promptly. тАЬIтАЩm afraid I havenтАЩt any cream, you knowтБатАФshall you mind a slice of lemon instead?тАЭ + 

тАЬI shall like it better.тАЭ She waited while he cut the lemon and dropped a thin disk into her cup. тАЬBut that is not the reason,тАЭ she insisted. + 

тАЬThe reason for what?тАЭ + 

тАЬFor your never coming.тАЭ She leaned forward with a shade of perplexity in her charming eyes. тАЬI wish I knewтБатАФI wish I could make you out. Of course I know there are men who donтАЩt like meтБатАФone can tell that at a glance. And there are others who are afraid of me: they think I want to marry them.тАЭ She smiled up at him frankly. тАЬBut I donтАЩt think you dislike meтБатАФand you canтАЩt possibly think I want to marry you.тАЭ + 

тАЬNoтБатАФI absolve you of that,тАЭ he agreed. + 

тАЬWell, thenтБатАФ?тАЭ + 

He had carried his cup to the fireplace, and stood leaning against the chimneypiece and looking down on her with an air of indolent amusement. The provocation in her eyes increased his amusementтБатАФhe had not supposed she would waste her powder on such small game; but perhaps she was only keeping her hand in; or perhaps a girl of her type had no conversation but of the personal kind. At any rate, she was amazingly pretty, and he had asked her to tea and must live up to his obligations. + 

тАЬWell, then,тАЭ he said with a plunge, тАЬperhaps thatтАЩs the reason.тАЭ + 

тАЬWhat?тАЭ + 

тАЬThe fact that you donтАЩt want to marry me. Perhaps I donтАЩt regard it as such a strong inducement to go and see you.тАЭ He felt a slight shiver down his spine as he ventured this, but her laugh reassured him. + 

тАЬDear Mr.┬аSelden, that wasnтАЩt worthy of you. ItтАЩs stupid of you to make love to me, and it isnтАЩt like you to be stupid.тАЭ She leaned back, sipping her tea with an air so enchantingly judicial that, if they had been in her auntтАЩs drawing-room, he might almost have tried to disprove her deduction. + 

тАЬDonтАЩt you see,тАЭ she continued, тАЬthat there are men enough to say pleasant things to me, and that what I want is a friend who wonтАЩt be afraid to say disagreeable ones when I need them? Sometimes I have fancied you might be that friendтБатАФI donтАЩt know why, except that you are neither a prig nor a bounder, and that I shouldnтАЩt have to pretend with you or be on my guard against you.тАЭ Her voice had dropped to a note of seriousness, and she sat gazing up at him with the troubled gravity of a child. + 

тАЬYou donтАЩt know how much I need such a friend,тАЭ she said. тАЬMy aunt is full of copybook axioms, but they were all meant to apply to conduct in the early fifties. I always feel that to live up to them would include wearing book-muslin with gigot sleeves. And the other womenтБатАФmy best friendsтБатАФwell, they use me or abuse me; but they donтАЩt care a straw what happens to me. IтАЩve been about too longтБатАФpeople are getting tired of me; they are beginning to say I ought to marry.тАЭ + 

There was a momentтАЩs pause, during which Selden meditated one or two replies calculated to add a momentary zest to the situation; but he rejected them in favour of the simple question: тАЬWell, why donтАЩt you?тАЭ + 

She coloured and laughed. тАЬAh, I see you are a friend after all, and that is one of the disagreeable things I was asking for.тАЭ + 

тАЬIt wasnтАЩt meant to be disagreeable,тАЭ he returned amicably. тАЬIsnтАЩt marriage your vocation? IsnтАЩt it what youтАЩre all brought up for?тАЭ + 

She sighed. тАЬI suppose so. What else is there?тАЭ + 

тАЬExactly. And so why not take the plunge and have it over?тАЭ + 

She shrugged her shoulders. тАЬYou speak as if I ought to marry the first man who came along.тАЭ + 

тАЬI didnтАЩt mean to imply that you are as hard put to it as that. But there must be someone with the requisite qualifications.тАЭ + 

She shook her head wearily. тАЬI threw away one or two good chances when I first came outтБатАФI suppose every girl does; and you know I am horribly poorтБатАФand very expensive. I must have a great deal of money.тАЭ + 

Selden had turned to reach for a cigarette-box on the mantelpiece. + 

тАЬWhatтАЩs become of Dillworth?тАЭ he asked. + 

тАЬOh, his mother was frightenedтБатАФshe was afraid I should have all the family jewels reset. And she wanted me to promise that I wouldnтАЩt do over the drawing-room.тАЭ + 

тАЬThe very thing you are marrying for!тАЭ + 

тАЬExactly. So she packed him off to India.тАЭ + 

тАЬHard luckтБатАФbut you can do better than Dillworth.тАЭ + 

He offered the box, and she took out three or four cigarettes, putting one between her lips and slipping the others into a little gold case attached to her long pearl chain. + 

тАЬHave I time? Just a whiff, then.тАЭ She leaned forward, holding the tip of her cigarette to his. As she did so, he noted, with a purely impersonal enjoyment, how evenly the black lashes were set in her smooth white lids, and how the purplish shade beneath them melted into the pure pallor of the cheek. + 

She began to saunter about the room, examining the bookshelves between the puffs of her cigarette-smoke. Some of the volumes had the ripe tints of good tooling and old morocco, and her eyes lingered on them caressingly, not with the appreciation of the expert, but with the pleasure in agreeable tones and textures that was one of her inmost susceptibilities. Suddenly her expression changed from desultory enjoyment to active conjecture, and she turned to Selden with a question. + 

тАЬYou collect, donтАЩt youтБатАФyou know about first editions and things?тАЭ + 

тАЬAs much as a man may who has no money to spend. Now and then I pick up something in the rubbish heap; and I go and look on at the big sales.тАЭ + 

She had again addressed herself to the shelves, but her eyes now swept them inattentively, and he saw that she was preoccupied with a new idea. + 

тАЬAnd AmericanaтБатАФdo you collect Americana?тАЭ + 

Selden stared and laughed. + 

тАЬNo, thatтАЩs rather out of my line. IтАЩm not really a collector, you see; I simply like to have good editions of the books I am fond of.тАЭ + 

She made a slight grimace. тАЬAnd Americana are horribly dull, I suppose?тАЭ + 

тАЬI should fancy soтБатАФexcept to the historian. But your real collector values a thing for its rarity. I donтАЩt suppose the buyers of Americana sit up reading them all nightтБатАФold Jefferson Gryce certainly didnтАЩt.тАЭ + 

She was listening with keen attention. тАЬAnd yet they fetch fabulous prices, donтАЩt they? It seems so odd to want to pay a lot for an ugly badly-printed book that one is never going to read! And I suppose most of the owners of Americana are not historians either?тАЭ + 

тАЬNo; very few of the historians can afford to buy them. They have to use those in the public libraries or in private collections. It seems to be the mere rarity that attracts the average collector.тАЭ + 

He had seated himself on an arm of the chair near which she was standing, and she continued to question him, asking which were the rarest volumes, whether the Jefferson Gryce collection was really considered the finest in the world, and what was the largest price ever fetched by a single volume. + 

It was so pleasant to sit there looking up at her, as she lifted now one book and then another from the shelves, fluttering the pages between her fingers, while her drooping profile was outlined against the warm background of old bindings, that he talked on without pausing to wonder at her sudden interest in so unsuggestive a subject. But he could never be long with her without trying to find a reason for what she was doing, and as she replaced his first edition of La Bruy├иre and turned away from the bookcases, he began to ask himself what she had been driving at. Her next question was not of a nature to enlighten him. She paused before him with a smile which seemed at once designed to admit him to her familiarity, and to remind him of the restrictions it imposed. + 

тАЬDonтАЩt you ever mind,тАЭ she asked suddenly, тАЬnot being rich enough to buy all the books you want?тАЭ + 

He followed her glance about the room, with its worn furniture and shabby walls. + 

тАЬDonтАЩt I just? Do you take me for a saint on a pillar?тАЭ + 

тАЬAnd having to workтБатАФdo you mind that?тАЭ + 

тАЬOh, the work itself is not so badтБатАФIтАЩm rather fond of the law.тАЭ + 

тАЬNo; but the being tied down: the routineтБатАФdonтАЩt you ever want to get away, to see new places and people?тАЭ + 

тАЬHorriblyтБатАФespecially when I see all my friends rushing to the steamer.тАЭ + 

She drew a sympathetic breath. тАЬBut do you mind enoughтБатАФto marry to get out of it?тАЭ + 

Selden broke into a laugh. тАЬGod forbid!тАЭ he declared. + 

She rose with a sigh, tossing her cigarette into the grate. + 

тАЬAh, thereтАЩs the differenceтБатАФa girl must, a man may if he chooses.тАЭ She surveyed him critically. тАЬYour coatтАЩs a little shabbyтБатАФbut who cares? It doesnтАЩt keep people from asking you to dine. If I were shabby no one would have me: a woman is asked out as much for her clothes as for herself. The clothes are the background, the frame, if you like: they donтАЩt make success, but they are a part of it. Who wants a dingy woman? We are expected to be pretty and well-dressed till we dropтБатАФand if we canтАЩt keep it up alone, we have to go into partnership.тАЭ + 

Selden glanced at her with amusement: it was impossible, even with her lovely eyes imploring him, to take a sentimental view of her case. + 

тАЬAh, well, there must be plenty of capital on the lookout for such an investment. Perhaps youтАЩll meet your fate tonight at the TrenorsтАЩ.тАЭ + 

She returned his look interrogatively. + 

тАЬI thought you might be going thereтБатАФoh, not in that capacity! But there are to be a lot of your setтБатАФGwen Van Osburgh, the Wetheralls, Lady Cressida RaithтБатАФand the George Dorsets.тАЭ + 

She paused a moment before the last name, and shot a query through her lashes; but he remained imperturbable. + 

тАЬMrs.┬аTrenor asked me; but I canтАЩt get away till the end of the week; and those big parties bore me.тАЭ + 

тАЬAh, so they do me,тАЭ she exclaimed. + 

тАЬThen why go?тАЭ + 

тАЬItтАЩs part of the businessтБатАФyou forget! And besides, if I didnтАЩt, I should be playing bezique with my aunt at Richfield Springs.тАЭ + 

тАЬThatтАЩs almost as bad as marrying Dillworth,тАЭ he agreed, and they both laughed for pure pleasure in their sudden intimacy. + 

She glanced at the clock. + 

тАЬDear me! I must be off. ItтАЩs after five.тАЭ + 

She paused before the mantelpiece, studying herself in the mirror while she adjusted her veil. The attitude revealed the long slope of her slender sides, which gave a kind of wildwood grace to her outlineтБатАФas though she were a captured dryad subdued to the conventions of the drawing-room; and Selden reflected that it was the same streak of sylvan freedom in her nature that lent such savour to her artificiality. + 

He followed her across the room to the entrance-hall; but on the threshold she held out her hand with a gesture of leave-taking. + 

тАЬItтАЩs been delightful; and now you will have to return my visit.тАЭ + 

тАЬBut donтАЩt you want me to see you to the station?тАЭ + 

тАЬNo; goodbye here, please.тАЭ + 

She let her hand lie in his a moment, smiling up at him adorably. + 

тАЬGoodbye, thenтБатАФand good luck at Bellomont!тАЭ he said, opening the door for her. + 

On the landing she paused to look about her. There were a thousand chances to one against her meeting anybody, but one could never tell, and she always paid for her rare indiscretions by a violent reaction of prudence. There was no one in sight, however, but a charwoman who was scrubbing the stairs. Her own stout person and its surrounding implements took up so much room that Lily, to pass her, had to gather up her skirts and brush against the wall. As she did so, the woman paused in her work and looked up curiously, resting her clenched red fists on the wet cloth she had just drawn from her pail. She had a broad sallow face, slightly pitted with smallpox, and thin straw-coloured hair through which her scalp shone unpleasantly. + 

тАЬI beg your pardon,тАЭ said Lily, intending by her politeness to convey a criticism of the otherтАЩs manner. + 

The woman, without answering, pushed her pail aside, and continued to stare as Miss Bart swept by with a murmur of silken linings. Lily felt herself flushing under the look. What did the creature suppose? Could one never do the simplest, the most harmless thing, without subjecting oneтАЩs self to some odious conjecture? Halfway down the next flight, she smiled to think that a charwomanтАЩs stare should so perturb her. The poor thing was probably dazzled by such an unwonted apparition. But were such apparitions unwonted on SeldenтАЩs stairs? Miss Bart was not familiar with the moral code of bachelorsтАЩ flat-houses, and her colour rose again as it occurred to her that the womanтАЩs persistent gaze implied a groping among past associations. But she put aside the thought with a smile at her own fears, and hastened downward, wondering if she should find a cab short of Fifth Avenue. + 

Under the Georgian porch she paused again, scanning the street for a hansom. None was in sight, but as she reached the sidewalk she ran against a small glossy-looking man with a gardenia in his coat, who raised his hat with a surprised exclamation. + 

тАЬMiss Bart? WellтБатАФof all people! This is luck,тАЭ he declared; and she caught a twinkle of amused curiosity between his screwed-up lids. + 

тАЬOh, Mr.┬аRosedaleтБатАФhow are you?тАЭ she said, perceiving that the irrepressible annoyance on her face was reflected in the sudden intimacy of his smile. + 

Mr.┬аRosedale stood scanning her with interest and approval. He was a plump rosy man of the blond Jewish type, with smart London clothes fitting him like upholstery, and small sidelong eyes which gave him the air of appraising people as if they were bric-a-brac. He glanced up interrogatively at the porch of the Benedick. + 

тАЬBeen up to town for a little shopping, I suppose?тАЭ he said, in a tone which had the familiarity of a touch. + 

Miss Bart shrank from it slightly, and then flung herself into precipitate explanations. + 

тАЬYesтБатАФI came up to see my dressmaker. I am just on my way to catch the train to the TrenorsтАЩ.тАЭ + 

тАЬAhтБатАФyour dressmaker; just so,тАЭ he said blandly. тАЬI didnтАЩt know there were any dressmakers in the Benedick.тАЭ + 

тАЬThe Benedick?тАЭ She looked gently puzzled. тАЬIs that the name of this building?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes, thatтАЩs the name: I believe itтАЩs an old word for bachelor, isnтАЩt it? I happen to own the buildingтБатАФthatтАЩs the way I know.тАЭ His smile deepened as he added with increasing assurance: тАЬBut you must let me take you to the station. The Trenors are at Bellomont, of course? YouтАЩve barely time to catch the five-forty. The dressmaker kept you waiting, I suppose.тАЭ + 

Lily stiffened under the pleasantry. + 

тАЬOh, thanks,тАЭ she stammered; and at that moment her eye caught a hansom drifting down Madison Avenue, and she hailed it with a desperate gesture. + 

тАЬYouтАЩre very kind; but I couldnтАЩt think of troubling you,тАЭ she said, extending her hand to Mr.┬аRosedale; and heedless of his protestations, she sprang into the rescuing vehicle, and called out a breathless order to the driver. + 