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settled almost from one hour to the other that Grace should sail for
Liverpool； Mr。 Porterfield at last being ready。 He was taking a
little holiday； his mother was with him； they had come over from
Paris to see some of the celebrated old buildings in England； and he
had telegraphed to say that if Grace would start right off they would
just finish it up and be married。 It often happened that when things
had dragged on that way for years they were all huddled up at the
end。 Of course in such a case she； Mrs。 Mavis； had had to fly round。
Her daughter's passage was taken； but it seemed too dreadful she
should make her journey all alone； the first time she had ever been
at sea； without any companion or escort。 SHE couldn't goMr。 Mavis
was too sick： she hadn't even been able to get him off to the
seaside。
〃Well； Mrs。 Nettlepoint's going in that ship；〃 Mrs。 Allen had said；
and she had represented that nothing was simpler than to give her the
girl in charge。 When Mrs。 Mavis had replied that this was all very
well but that she didn't know the lady； Mrs。 Allen had declared that
that didn't make a speck of difference； for Mrs。 Nettlepoint was kind
enough for anything。 It was easy enough to KNOW her； if that was all
the trouble！ All Mrs。 Mavis would have to do would be to go right up
to her next morning； when she took her daughter to the ship （she
would see her there on the deck with her party） and tell her fair and
square what she wanted。 Mrs。 Nettlepoint had daughters herself and
would easily understand。 Very likely she'd even look after Grace a
little on the other side； in such a queer situation； going out alone
to the gentleman she was engaged to： she'd just help her； like a
good Samaritan； to turn round before she was married。 Mr。
Porterfield seemed to think they wouldn't wait long； once she was
there： they would have it right over at the American consul's。 Mrs。
Allen had said it would perhaps be better still to go and see Mrs。
Nettlepoint beforehand； that day； to tell her what they wanted： then
they wouldn't seem to spring it on her just as she was leaving。 She
herself （Mrs。 Allen） would call and say a word for them if she could
save ten minutes before catching her train。 If she hadn't come it
was because she hadn't saved her ten minutes but she had made them
feel that they must come all the same。 Mrs。 Mavis liked that better；
because on the ship in the morning there would be such a confusion。
She didn't think her daughter would be any troubleconscientiously
she didn't。 It was just to have some one to speak to her and not
sally forth like a servant…girl going to a situation。
〃I see； I'm to act as a sort of bridesmaid and to give her away；〃
Mrs。 Nettlepoint obligingly said。 Kind enough in fact for anything；
she showed on this occasion that it was easy enough to know her。
There is notoriously nothing less desirable than an imposed
aggravation of effort at sea； but she accepted without betrayed
dismay the burden of the young lady's dependence and allowed her； as
Mrs。 Mavis said； to hook herself on。 She evidently had the habit of
patience； and her reception of her visitors' story reminded me
afreshI was reminded of it whenever I returned to my native land
that my dear compatriots are the people in the world who most freely
take mutual accommodation for granted。 They have always had to help
themselves； and have rather magnanimously failed to learn just where
helping others is distinguishable from that。 In no country are there
fewer forms and more reciprocities。
It was doubtless not singular that the ladies from Merrimac Avenue
shouldn't feel they were importunate： what was striking was that
Mrs。 Nettlepoint didn't appear to suspect it。 However； she would in
any case have thought it inhuman to show thisthough I could see
that under the surface she was amused at everything the more
expressive of the pilgrims from the South End took for granted。 I
scarce know whether the attitude of the younger visitor added or not
to the merit of her good nature。 Mr。 Porterfield's intended took no
part in the demonstration； scarcely spoke； sat looking at the Back
Bay and the lights on the long bridge。 She declined the lemonade and
the other mixtures which； at Mrs。 Nettlepoint's request； I offered
her； while her mother partook freely of everything and I reflected
for I as freely drained a glass or two in which the ice tinkledthat
Mr。 Jasper had better hurry back if he wished to enjoy these
luxuries。
Was the effect of the young woman's reserve meanwhile ungracious； or
was it only natural that in her particular situation she shouldn't
have a flow of compliment at her command？ I noticed that Mrs。
Nettlepoint looked at her often； and certainly though she was
undemonstrative Miss Mavis was interesting。 The candlelight enabled
me to see that though not in the very first flower of her youth she
was still fresh and handsome。 Her eyes and hair were dark； her face
was pale； and she held up her head as if； with its thick braids and
everything else involved in it； it were an appurtenance she wasn't
ashamed of。 If her mother was excellent and common she was not
commonnot at least flagrantly soand perhaps also not excellent。
At all events she wouldn't be； in appearance at least； a dreary
appendage； which in the case of a person 〃hooking on〃 was always
something gained。 Was it because something of a romantic or pathetic
interest usually attaches to a good creature who has been the victim
of a 〃long engagement〃 that this young lady made an impression on me
from the firstfavoured as I had been so quickly with this glimpse
of her history？ I could charge her certainly with no positive
appeal； she only held her tongue and smiled； and her smile corrected
whatever suggestion might have forced itself upon me that the spirit
within her was deadthe spirit of that promise of which she found
herself doomed to carry out the letter。
What corrected it less； I must add； was an odd recollection which
gathered vividness as I listened to ita mental association evoked
by the name of Mr。 Porterfield。 Surely I had a personal impression；
over…smeared and confused； of the gentleman who was waiting at
Liverpool； or who presently would be； for Mrs。 Nettlepoint's
protegee。 I had met him； known him； some time； somewhere； somehow；
on the other side。 Wasn't he studying something； very hard；
somewhereprobably in Paristen years before； and didn't he make
extraordinarily neat drawings； linear and architectural？ Didn't he
go to a table d'hote； at two francs twenty…five； in the Rue
Bonaparte； which I then frequented； and didn't he wear spectacles and
a Scotch plaid arranged in a manner which seemed to say 〃I've
trustworthy information that that's the way they do it in the
Highlands〃？ Wasn't he exemplary to positive irritation； and very
poor； poor to positive oppression； so that I supposed he had no
overcoat and his tartan would be what he