a pretext of shops, of a whim, of she didn't know
what the amusement of being for once in the
streets by herself. The streets by herself were new
to her she had always had in them a companion, or
a maid; and he was never to believe, moreover, that
she couldn't take full in the face anything he might
have to say. He was softly amused at her account
of her courage; though he yet showed it somehow
without soothing her too grossly. Still, he did want
to know whom she had. Hadn't there been a lady
with her on Wednesday?

"Yes a different one. Not the one who's trav
elling with me. I ve told her"

Distinctly he was amused, and it added to his air
the greatest charm of all of giving her lots of
time. " You ve told her what?"

"Well," said Milly, " that I visit you in secret."

"And how many persons will she tell?"

"Oh, she's devoted. Not one."

"Well, if she's devoted doesn't that make another
friend for you?"

It didn't take much computation, but she never
theless had to think a moment, conscious as she was
that he distinctly would want to fill out his notion
of her even a little, as it were, to warm the air for
her. That, however and better early than late
he must accept as of no use; and she herself felt for
an instant quite a competent certainty on the subject
of any such warming. The air, for Milly Theale,
was, from the very nature of the case, destined never

[[261]]

p260 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p261w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p262

v?