She said things in the air, and yet flattered herself
that she struck him as saying them not in the tone
of agitation but in the tone of New York. In the
tone of New York agitation was beautifully dis
counted, and she had now a sufficient view of how
much it might accordingly help her.

The help was fairly rendered before they left the
place; when her friends presently accepted her in
vitation to adjourn with her to luncheon at her hotel,
it was in the Fifth Avenue that the meal might have
waited. Kate had never been there so straight, but
Milly was at present taking her; and if Mr. Densher
had been he had at least never had to come so fast.
She proposed it as the natural thing proposed it
as the American girl; and she saw herself quickly
justified by the pace at which she was followed.
The beauty of the case was that to do it all she had
only to appear to take Kate's hint. This had said,
in its fine first smile, " Oh yes, our look is queer-
but give me time; " and the American girl could give
time as nobody else could. What Milly thus gave
she therefore made them take even if, as they
might surmise, it was rather more than they wanted.
In the porch of the museum she expressed her pref
erence for a four-wheeler; they would take their
course in that guise precisely to multiply the minutes.
She was more than ever justified by the positive
charm that her spirit imparted even to their use of
this conveyance; and she touched her highest point
that is, certainly, for herself as she ushered her

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p322 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p323w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p324

v?