of the heavy window curtains she was going to play her highest card and it made her feel a little nervous she was afraid of appearing too much interested or excited she felt sure was watching her carefully she knew that with some men what she was about to say would have exactly the contrary effect to that which she desired to produce but she trusted to an almost strain of honour which she had observed once or twice in he would rather do anything than lose the least or of his self respect mrs part ii i will tell you why she said smelling the flowers again and i shall have to say something extremely disagreeable i shall offend your taste horribly i really doubt whether you will ever forgive me but i must consider elizabeth you know she paused � it really was an odious thing to say she wondered what would do � she wondered what frank would think � fortunately he would only hear her version of the story � would be very certain not to mention it in point of fact then you come here too often mr she said there are moments when it is quite impossible to maintain an appearance of philosophic calm was pretty well master of himself on most occasions but just now he could not manage to conceal his feelings he blushed violently and that added most materially to his sense of anger and wretchedness mrs frank did not give him time to speak yes she said quickly looking at him with an air of becoming distraction and stretching out her hands � flowers and all � with a appealing gesture it is a horrible thing to say to you you can never forgive me i have outraged your taste i know and entirely disgusted you but then people will talk and there is nobody to tell you but me speaking is forced upon me � i really cannot help myself this is extremely painful said i ch iii a sketch in black and white am more than sorry that i should have caused you any annoyance or in any way � really it is too unpleasant he added angrily turning away pray pray remember cried mrs frank hastily coming a step nearer to him and speaking � pray remember that elizabeth knows nothing of all this � is absolutely ignorant of it she positively knows nothing of it stood looking down perhaps he had never felt so thoroughly uncomfortable in all his life before he had been trying delicate and philosophic experiments as he supposed and the world at large was him all the while of an ordinary stupid bit of the position seemed to him vulgar he felt enraged with himself enraged with enraged with the whole universe he had got entangled � yes that was what people were saying � with mrs he could fancy the way this and that and the other person talked him over and laughed as they each added their little of gossip to the heap and he had always kept himself so free of this sort of thing oh it really was too odious heavens and earth what a fool he had been and what a commonplace scrape he had got himself into just then elizabeth came in from her walk mrs frank and heard her shut the front door and come lightly and quickly up the stairs they stood together in the shady back drawing room with its soft dusky colours and quaint furniture feeling like two suddenly discovered mrs il chapter iv looking up i saw it was a hung in a little cage � i can t get out i can t get out said the elizabeth certainly looked very handsome as she came into the room she still wore nothing but black but within the last few months she had taken to dressing in a rather superb manner this afternoon she had been paying some visits and was arrayed in a gown of some rich material loaded with jet which glanced and glittered as she moved her mantle � fitting tightly over the shoulders and showing the lines of the bust � matched her gown and was bordered with deep soft black fur she had on a little french bonnet tying with broad strings under the chin � the extreme of which had thrown into a small ecstasy of envy and admiration the first time she saw it perhaps elizabeth s style of dress was more suitable to a woman of forty than to a girl of barely four and twenty but it had the effect of making her look younger and not older than her real age mrs frank had a gift for receiving rapid ch iv a sketch in black and white she glanced up at her sister in law as she entered the room and said to herself � certainly elizabeth is wonderfully distinguished looking glanced up at her too he was sensible of a sharp feeling of longing and regret he was not at all under the impression that he was what is called in love with elizabeth � he was utterly uncertain about the future � but he knew that their pleasant friendship was at an end any way mrs frank had just given it its nothing absolutely nothing could put things back on their old easy footing again had nothing to say he stood silent feeling wretched was the first to regain her presence of mind and moved forward to meet her sister in law with a rather brilliant smile elizabeth quite unconscious of all the plots against her peace took mrs frank s hand and then turning to said cordially � how nice of you both to wait for me what delicious flowers where did you get them oh youve been playing she added turning again to have you brought that thing of s you promised me come into the other 