Theylunchedslowlyandmeditatively, withmuteintervalsbetweenrushesoftalk; for, thespelloncebroken, theyhadmuchtosay, , notwithconsciousintentionbutbecausehedidnotwanttomissawordofherhistory; andleaningonthetable, herchinrestingonherclaspedhands, shetalkedtohimoftheyearandahalfsincetheyhadmet.
Shehadgrowntiredofwhatpeoplecalled "society"; NewYorkwaskind, itwasalmostoppressivelyhospitable; sheshouldneverforgetthewayinwhichithadwelcomedherback; butafterthefirstflushofnoveltyshehadfoundherself, asshephrasedit, too "different" tocareforthethingsitcaredabout—andsoshehaddecidedtotryWashington, , andmakeahomethereforpoorMedora, whohadwornoutthepatienceofallherotherrelationsjustatthetimewhenshemostneededlookingafterandprotectingfrommatrimonialperils."—aren'? Ihearhe'sbeenstayingwithyouattheBlenkers'."
Shesmiled."Oh, , andMedoraissimplyagoodadvertisementasaconvert."
"Aconverttowhat?"
", doyouknow, theyinterestmemorethantheblindconformitytotradition—somebodyelse'stradition—." Shesmiledacrossthetable."DoyousupposeChristopherColumbuswouldhavetakenallthattroublejusttogototheOperawiththeSelfridgeMerrys?"
Archerchangedcolour."AndBeaufort—doyousaythesethingstoBeaufort?" heaskedabruptly.
"Ihaven'; andheunderstands."
"Ah, it'swhatI'vealwaystoldyou; youdon''ssounlikeus." Helookedaboutthebareroomandoutatthebarebeachandtherowofstarkwhitevillagehousesstrungalongtheshore."We''venocharacter, nocolour, novariety.—Iwonder," hebrokeout, "whyyoudon'tgoback?"
