"So I supposed;" and as Arnault turned away, the speaker gave Madge a
humorous glance, which made her look of demure innocence difficult to
maintain.
* * * * *
Graydon had enjoyed fair success in fishing, and yet had not been
supremely happy. He found, with the venerated Izaak Walton, that the
"gentle art" was conducive to contemplation; but there were certain
phases in his situation that were not agreeable to contemplate. As he
followed the trout-stream amid the solitudes of nature, the artificial
and conventional in life grew less attractive. In spite of his efforts
to the contrary, Miss Wildmere seemed to represent just these phases.
He recalled critically and dispassionately all the details of their
past acquaintance, and found, with something like dismay, that she had
exhibited only the traits of a society belle--that he could recall
no new ideas or inspiring thoughts received from her. The apparent
self-sacrifice for her father, which he had so unequivocally
condemned, was, after all, about the best thing he knew of her. The
glamour of her beauty had been upon his eyes, and he had credited her
with corresponding graces of heart and mind. What evidence had he of
their existence?
The more he thought of it, the more his pride, also, rebelled at the
ignominious position in the background that he was compelled to take
while the Wall Street diplomacy was prolonged.
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