further turn of exercise, engaged in by the coachman
for reasons of his own. The footman was there,
and had indicated that he was making the circuit;
so Kate went on while they stood. " But don't you
ask a good deal, darling, in proportion to what you
give?"

This pulled Milly up still shorter so short in fact
that she yielded as soon as she had taken it in. But
she continued to smile. " I see. Then you can
tell."

"I don't want to tell, " said Kate. " I ll be as
silent as the tomb if I can only have the truth from
you. All I want is that you shouldn't keep from me
how you find out that you really are."

"Well then, I won t, ever. But you see for your
self," Milly went on, " how I really am. I'm satis
fied. I'm happy."

Kate looked at her long. " I believe you like it.
The way things turn out for you!"

Milly met her look now without a thought of any
thing but the spoken. She had ceased to be Mr.
Densher's image; she was all her own memento
and she was none the less fine. Still, still, what had
passed was a fair bargain, and it would do. " Of
course I like it. I feel I can't otherwise describe
it as if I had been, on my knees, to the priest. I ve
confessed and I ve been absolved. It has been lifted
off."

Kate's eyes never quitted her. " He must have
liked you."

[[256]]

p255 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p256w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p257

v?