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polished floor； as if still moved by the music that had ceased； and as
she drew near； Miss Milray gave a cry of joy； and ran upon her。 〃Why；
Clementina！〃 she screamed； and caught her and the child both in her arms。
She began to weep； but Clementina smiled instead of weeping； as she
always used to do。 She returned Miss Milray's affectionate greeting with
a tenderness as great as her own； but with a sort of authority； such as
sometimes comes to those who have suffered。 She quieted the older woman
with her own serenity； and met the torrent of her questions with as many
answers as their rush permitted； when they were both presently in Miss
Milray's room talking in their old way。 From time to time Miss Milray
broke from the talk to kiss the little girl； whom she declared to be
Clementina all over again； and then returned to her better behavior with
an effect of shame for her want of self…control； as if Clementina's mood
had abashed her。 Sometimes this was almost severe in its quiet； that was
her mother coming to her share in her； but again she was like her father；
full of the sunny gayety of self…forgetfulness； and then Miss Milray
said； 〃Now you are the old Clementina！〃
Upon the whole she listened with few interruptions to the story which she
exacted。 It was mainly what we know。 After her husband's death
Clementina had gone back to his family for a time； and each year since
she had spent part of the winter with them； but it was very lonesome for
her； and she began to be home…sick for Middlemount。 They saw it and
considered it。 〃They ah' the best people； Miss Milray！〃 she said； and
her voice； which was firm when she spoke of her husband； broke in the
words of minor feeling。 Besides being a little homesick； she ended； she
was not willing to live on there； doing nothing for herself； and so she
had come back。
〃And you are here； doing just what you planned when you talked your life
over with me in Venice！〃
〃Yes； but life isn't eva just what we plan it to be； Miss Milray。〃
〃Ah； don't I know it！〃
Clementina surprised Miss Milray by adding； 〃In a great many things
I don't know but in mostit's better。 I don't complain of mine〃
〃You poor child！ You never complained of anythingnot even of Mrs。
Lander！〃
〃But it's different from what I expected； and it'sstrange。〃
〃Yes； life is very strange。〃
〃I don't mean…losing him。 That had to be。 I can see； now； that it had
to be almost from the beginning。 It seems to me that I knew it had to be
from the fust minute I saw him in New Yo'k； but he didn't； and I am glad
of that。 Except when he was getting wohse； he always believed he should
get well； and he was getting well； when he〃
Miss Milray did not violate the pause she made with any question； though
it was apparent that Clementina had something on her mind that she wished
to say； and could hardly say of herself。
She began again； 〃I was glad through everything that I could live with
him so long。 If there is nothing moa； here or anywhe'a； that was
something。 But it is strange。 Sometimes it doesn't seem as if it had
happened。〃
〃I think I can understand； Clementina。〃
〃I feel sometimes as if I hadn't happened myself。〃 She stopped； with a
patient little sigh； and passed her hand across the child's forehead；
in a mother's fashion； and smoothed her hair from it； bending over to
look down into her face。 〃We think she has her fatha's eyes；〃 she said。
〃Yes； she has；〃 Miss Milray assented； noting the upward slant of the
child's eyes； which gave his quaintness to her beauty。 〃He had
fascinating eyes。〃
After a moment Clementina asked； 〃Do you believe that the looks are all
that ah' left？〃
Miss Milray reflected。 〃I know what you mean。 I should say character
was left； and personalitysomewhere。〃
〃I used to feel as if it we'e left here； at fustas if he must come
back。 But that had to go。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Everything seems to go。 After a while even the loss of him seemed to
go。〃
〃Yes； losses go with the rest。〃
〃That's what I mean by its seeming as if it never any of it happened。
Some things before it are a great deal more real。〃
〃Little things？〃
〃Not exactly。 But things when I was very young。〃 Miss Milray did not
know quite what she intended； but she knew that Clementina was feeling
her way to something she wanted to say； and she let her alone。 〃When it
was all over； and I knew that as long as I lived he would be somewhere
else； I tried to be paht of the wo'ld I was left in。 Do you think that
was right？〃
〃It was wise； and； yes； it was best；〃 said Miss Milray； and for relief
from the tension which was beginning to tell upon her own nerves； she
asked； 〃I suppose you know about my poor brother？ I'd better tell you to
keep you from asking for Mrs。 Milray； though I don't know that it's so
very painful with him。 There isn't any Mrs。 Milray now；〃 she added； and
she explained why。
Neither of them cared for Mrs。 Milray； and they did not pretend to be
concerned about her； but Clementina said； vaguely； as if in recognition
of Mrs。 Milray's latest experiment； 〃Do you believe in second marriages？〃
Miss Milray laughed； 〃Well； not that kind exactly。〃
〃No；〃 Clementina assented； and she colored a little。
Miss Milray was moved to add； 〃But if you mean another kind； I don't see
why not。 My own mother was married twice。〃
〃Was she？〃 Clementina looked relieved and encouraged； but she did not say
any more at once。 Then she asked； 〃Do you know what ever became of Mr。
Belsky？〃
〃Yes。 He's taken his title again； and gone back to live in Russia； he's
made peace with the Czar； I believe。〃
〃That's nice；〃 said Clementina； and Miss Milray made bold to ask：
〃And what has become of Mr。 Gregory？〃
Clementina answered； as Miss Milray thought； tentatively and obliquely：
〃You know his wife died。〃
〃No； I never knew that she lived。〃
〃Yes。 They went out to China； and she died the'a。〃
〃And is he there yet？ But of course！ He could never have given up being
a missionary。〃
〃Well；〃 said Clementina； 〃 he isn't in China。 His health gave out； and
he had to come home。 He's in…Middlemount Centa。〃
Miss Milray suppressed the 〃Oh！〃 that all but broke from her lips。
〃Preaching to the heathen； there？〃 she temporized。
〃To the summa folks；〃 Clementina explained； innocent of satire。 〃They
have got a Union Chapel the'a； now； and Mr。 Gregory has been preaching
all summa。〃 There seemed nothing more that Miss Milray could prompt her
to say； but it was not quite with surprise that she heard Clementina
continue； as if it were part of the explanation； and followed from the
fact she had stated； 〃He wants me to marry him。〃
Miss Milray tried to emulate her calm in asking； 〃And shall you？〃
〃I don't know。 I told him I would see； he only asked me last night。 It
would be kind of natural。 He was the fust。 You may think it is
strange〃
Miss Milray； in the superstition of her old…maidenhood concerning love；
really thought it cold…blooded and shocking； but she said； 〃Oh； no。〃
Clementina resumed： 〃And he says that if it was right for me to stop
caring for him when I did； it is right now for me to ca'e for him again