where better than under Mrs. Lowder's windows.
They failed indeed to remain attached to that spot;
they wandered and strolled, taking in the course
of more than one of these interviews a considerable
walk, or else picked out a couple of chairs under
one of the great trees and sat as much apart
apart from every one else as possible. But Kate
had, each time, at first, the air of wishing to expose
herself to pursuit and capture if those things were
in question. She made the point that she was not
underhand, any more than she was vulgar; that the
Gardens were charming in themselves and this use
of them a matter of taste; and that, if her aunt
chose to glare at her from the drawing-room or to
cause her to be tracked and overtaken, she could at
least make it convenient that this should be easily
done. The fact was that the relation between these
young persons abounded in such oddities as were
not inaptly symbolised by assignations that had a
good deal more appearance than motive. Of the
strength of the tie that held them we shall suffi
ciently take the measure; but it was meanwhile al
most obvious that if the great possibility had come
up for them it had done so, to an exceptional de
gree, under the protection of the famous law of
contraries. Any deep harmony that might even
tually govern them would not be the result of their
having much in common having anything, in fact,
but their affection; and would really find its ex
planation in some sense, on the part of each, of

[[56]]

p055 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p056w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p057

v?