ewrittentoyoutwice—oncetocongratulateyou,andthentoaskyoutocomeandseeme—andyoutooknottheleastnotice."
"Barkerhasjusttoldmeyouwrote.Iamsosorry."
"Oh,well,Ithoughtyoumightnotreceivetheletters.I'llforgiveyou."
SheworeIndianankletsonherwristsandabarbaricchainaboutherneck,sothatevenintheLondonlodging-houseshepreservedamysteriousOrientalcharm.Inhermovementstherewasasinuousfelinegracewhichwasdelightful,andyetratherterrifying.Onefanciedthatshewasnotquitehuman,butsomecruelanimalturnedintothelikenessofawoman.VaguestoriesfloatedthroughthemindofLamia,andtheunhappyendofherlovers.
Thethreeofthembegantotalk,chatteringoftheolddaysinIndia,ofthewar.Mrs.Wallacebemoanedherfateinhavingtostayintownwhenallsmartpeoplehadleft.Barkertoldstories.Jamesdidnotknowhowhejoinedintheflippantconversationhewonderedathisself-commandinsayinginsignificantthings,inlaughingheartily,whenhiswholesoulwasinaturmoil.Atlengththeadjutantwentaway,andJameswasleftalonewithMrs.Wallace.
"D'youwishmetogo?"heasked."Youcanturnmeoutifyoudo."
"Oh,Ishould—withouthesitation,"sheretorted,laughing"butI'mboredtodeath,andIwantyoutoamuseme."
Strangelyenough,Jamesfeltthatthelongabsencehadcreatednobarrierbetweenthem.ThinkingofMrs.Wallaceincessantly,sometimesagainsthiswill,sometimeswithafiercedelight,holdingwithherimaginaryconversations,hefelt,onthecontrary,thatheknewherfarmoreintimatelythanhehadeverdone.Thereseemedtobealinkbetweenthem,asthoughsomethinghadpassedwhichpreventedthemfromeveragainbecomingstrangers.Jamesfelthehadherconfidence,andhewasabletotalkfranklyasbefore,inhistimidity,hehadneverventured.Hetreatedherwiththelovingfriendlinesswithwhichhehadbeenusedtotreattheimaginarycreatureofhisdreams.
"Youhaven'tchangedabit,"hesaid,lookingather.
"Didyouexpectmetobehaggardandwrinkled?Ineverletmyselfgrowold.Oneonlyneedsstrengthofmindtokeepyoungindefinitely."
"I'msurprised,