possibly in a higher degree to a striking appearance,
but demanding all the effort of the military posture.
She felt this instrument, for that matter, already
on her back, so that she proceeded now in very truth
as a soldier on a march proceeded as if, for her
initiation, the first charge had been sounded. She
passed along unknown streets, over dusty littery
ways, between long rows of fronts not enhanced by
the August light; she felt good for miles and only
wanted to get lost; there were moments at corners,
where she stopped and chose her direction, in which
she quite lived up to his injunction to rejoice that she
was active. It was like a new pleasure to have so
new a reason; she would affirm, without delay, her
option, her volition; taking this personal possession
of what surrounded her was a fair affirmation to
start with; and she really didn't care if she made
it at the cost of alarms for Susie. Susie would won
der in due course " whatever," as they said at the
hotel, had become of her; yet this would be nothing
either, probably, to wonderments still in store.
Wonderments in truth, Milly felt, even now attended
her steps: it was quite as if she saw in people's eyes
the reflection of her appearance and pace. She
found herself moving at times in regions visibly not
haunted by odd-looking girls from New York, dusk
ily draped, sable-plumed, all but incongruously shod
and gazing about them with extravagance; she
might, from the curiosity she clearly excited in by
ways, in side-streets peopled with grimy children

[[272]]

p271 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p272w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p273

v?