Chapter 8

           WhatIhadsaidtoMrs.Grosewastrueenough:therewereinthematterIhadputbeforeherdepthsandpossibilitiesthatIlackedresolutiontosound;sothatwhenwemetoncemoreinthewonderofitwewereofacommonmindaboutthedutyofresistancetoextravagantfancies.Weweretokeepourheadsifweshouldkeepnothingelse—difficultindeedasthatmightbeinthefaceofwhat,inourprodigiousexperience,wasleasttobequestioned.Latethatnight,whilethehouseslept,wehadanothertalkinmyroom,whenshewentallthewaywithmeastoitsbeingbeyonddoubtthatIhadseenexactlywhatIhadseen.Toholdherperfectlyinthepinchofthat,IfoundIhadonlytoaskherhow,ifIhad“madeitup,”Icametobeabletogive,ofeachofthepersonsappearingtome,apicturedisclosing,tothelastdetail,theirspecialmarks—aportraitontheexhibitionofwhichshehadinstantlyrecognizedandnamedthem.Shewishedofcourse—smallblametoher!—tosinkthewholesubject;andIwasquicktoassureherthatmyowninterestinithadnowviolentlytakentheformofasearchforthewaytoescapefromit.Iencounteredheronthegroundofaprobabilitythatwithrecurrence—forrecurrencewetookforgranted—Ishouldgetusedtomydanger,distinctlyprofessingthatmypersonalexposurehadsuddenlybecometheleastofmydiscomforts.Itwasmynewsuspicionthatwasintolerable;andyeteventothiscomplicationthelaterhoursofthedayhadbroughtalittleease.