London, as one might explain, the parties to every
relation.

Kate did explain, for her listening friend: every
one who had anything to give it was true they were
the fewest made the sharpest possible bargain for
it, got at least its value in return. The strangest
thing, furthermore, was that this might be, in cases,
a happy understanding. The worker in one connec
tion was the worked in another; it was as broad as
it was long with the wheels of the system, as might
be seen, wonderfully oiled. People could quite like
each other in the midst of it, as Aunt Maud, by every
appearance, quite liked Lord Mark, and as Lord
Mark, it was to be hoped, liked Mrs. Lowder, since
if he didn't he was a greater brute than one could be
lieve. She, Kate, had not yet, it was true, made out
what he was doing for her besides which the dear
woman needed him, even at the most he could do,
much less than she imagined; so far as all of which
went, moreover, there were plenty of things on every
side she had not yet made out. She believed, on the
whole, in any one Aunt Maud took up; and she gave
it to Milly as worth thinking of that, whatever won
derful people this young lady might meet in the land,
she would meet no more extraordinary woman.
There were greater celebrities by the million, and of
course greater swells, but a bigger person, by Kate's
view, and a larger natural handful every way, would
really be far to seek. When Milly inquired with in
terest if Kate's belief in her was primarily on the

[[198]]

p197 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p198w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p199

v?