was just now the aspect it particularly wore. She
was not only to quarrel with Merton Densher to
oblige her five spectators with the Miss Condrips
there were five; she was to set forth in pursuit of
Lord Mark on some preposterous theory of the
premium attached to success. Mrs. Lowder's hand
had attached it, and it figured at the end of the
course as a bell that would ring, break out into
public clamour, as soon as touched. Kate reflected
sharply enough on the weak points of this fond
fiction, with the result at last of a certain chill for
her sister's confidence; though Mrs. Condrip still
took refuge in the plea which was after all the
great point that their aunt would be munificent
when their aunt should be pleased. The exact iden
tity of her candidate was a detail; what was of the
essence was her conception of the kind of match it
was open to her niece to make with her aid. Mar
ian always spoke of marriages as " matches," but
that was again a detail. Mrs. Lowder's " aid"
meanwhile awaited them if not to light the way
to Lord Mark, then to somebody better. Marian
would put up, in fine, with somebody better; she
only wouldn't put up with somebody so much
worse. Kate had, once more, to go through all
this before a graceful issue was reached. It was
reached by her paying with the sacrifice of Mr.
Densher for her reduction of Lord Mark to the
absurd. So they separated softly enough. She was
to be let off hearing about Lord Mark so long as

[[49]]

p048 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p049w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p050

v?