beforehersharp-tonguedrailleryshewasawomanwithalmostawittywayofseeingtheworld,withapeculiarlyfemininegiftforputtingoldthingsinanew,absurdlight.ToMrs.Wallace,Jamesseemedamiracleofingenuousness,andshelaughedathimcontinuallythenshebegantolikehim,andtookhimaboutwithher,atwhichhewasmuchflattered.
Jameshadbeenbroughtupinthebeliefthatwomenwerefashionedofdifferentclayfrommen,lessgross,lessearthlyhethoughtnotonlythattheywerepious,sweetandinnocent,ignorantentirelyofdisagreeablethings,butthatitwasman'sfirstdutytoprotectthemfromallknowledgeoftherealitiesoflife.Tohimtheywereanetherealblendingofmilk-and-waterwithhighprinciplesithadneveroccurredtohimthattheywerefleshandblood,andsense,andfireandnerves—especiallynerves.Mosttopics,ofcourse,couldnotbebroachedintheirpresenceinfact,almosttheonlysafesubjectofconversationwastheweather.
ButMrs.Pritchard-Wallacepridedherselfonfrankness,whichislesscommoninprettywomenthaninplainandshehadnohesitationindiscussingwithJamesmattersthathehadneverhearddiscussedbefore.Shewashugelyamusedattheembarrassmentwhichmadehimhesitateandfalter,tryingtofindpolitewaysofexpressingthethingswhichhiswholetraininghadtaughthimtokeeprigidlytohimself.Thensometimes,frompuredevilry,Mrs.Wallacetoldstoriesonpurposetoshockhimandrevelledinhisforced,politesmile,andinhisstronglookofdisapproval.
"Whatafunnyboyyouare!"shesaid."Butyoumusttakecare,youknowyouhaveallthemakingsofaperfectprig."
"D'youthinkso?"
"Youmusttrytobelessmoral.Themoralyoungmanisratherfunnyforachange,buthepallsafteratime."
"IfIboreyou,youhaveonlytosayso,andIwon'tbotheryouagain."
"Andmoralyoungmenshouldn'tgetcrossit'sverybadmanners,"sheanswered,smiling.
Beforeheknewwhathadhappened,JamesfoundhimselfmadlyinlovewithMrs.Wallace.Butwhatadifferentpassionwasthis,resemblingnotatallthatpallidflamewhichalonehehadexperienced!Howcouldherecognisethegentleminglingoffriendshipandofcommon-sensewhichhecalledloveinthatdestroyingv