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           Allwereyoungandpretty,andbathedinsummerbloom;butnotonehadthenymph-likeeaseofhiswife,when,withtensemusclesandhappyfrown,shebenthersouluponsomefeatofstrength."Gad,"ArcherheardLawrenceLeffertssay,"notoneofthelotholdsthebowasshedoes";andBeaufortretorted:"Yes;butthat’stheonlykindoftargetshe’lleverhit."Archerfeltirrationallyangry.Hishost’scontemptuoustributetoMay’s"niceness"wasjustwhatahusbandshouldhavewishedtohearsaidofhiswife.Thefactthatacoarsemindedmanfoundherlackinginattractionwassimplyanotherproofofherquality;yetthewordssentafaintshiverthroughhisheart.Whatif"niceness"carriedtothatsupremedegreewereonlyanegation,thecurtaindroppedbeforeanemptiness?AshelookedatMay,returningflushedandcalmfromherfinalbull’s-eye,hehadthefeelingthathehadneveryetliftedthatcurtain.Shetookthecongratulationsofherrivalsandoftherestofthecompanywiththesimplicitythatwashercrowninggrace.Noonecouldeverbejealousofhertriumphsbecauseshemanagedtogivethefeelingthatshewouldhavebeenjustassereneifshehadmissedthem.Butwhenhereyesmetherhusband’sherfaceglowedwiththepleasureshesawinhis.Mrs.Welland’sbasket-workpony-carriagewaswaitingforthem,andtheydroveoffamongthedispersingcarriages,MayhandlingthereinsandArchersittingatherside.