III

           ItwasoneofthelawsofGlennard’sintercoursewithMissTrentthathealwayswenttoseeherthedayafterhehadresolvedtogiveherup.Therewasaspecialcharmaboutthemomentsthussnatchedfromthejawsofrenunciation;andhissenseoftheirsignificancewasonthisoccasionsokeenthathehardlynoticedtheaddedgravityofherwelcome.

           Hisfeelingforherhadbecomesovitalapartofhimthathernearnesshadthequalityofimperceptiblyreadjustinghispointofview,sothatthejumbledphenomenaofexperiencefellatonceintoarationalperspective.Inthisredistributionofvaluesthesombreretrospectofthepreviouseveningshranktoamerecloudontheedgeofconsciousness.Perhapstheonlyserviceanunlovedwomancanrenderthemanshelovesistoenhanceandprolonghisillusionsaboutherrival.ItwasthefateofMargaretAubyn’smemorytoserveasafoiltoMissTrent’spresence,andneverhadthepoorladythrownhersuccessorintomorevividrelief.

           MissTrenthadthecharmofstillwatersthatarefelttoberenewedbyrapidcurrents.Herattentionspreadatranquilsurfacetothedemonstrationsofothers,anditwasonlyindaysofstormthatonefeltthepressureofthetides.ThisinscrutablecomposurewasperhapsherchiefgraceinGlennard’seyes.Reserve,insomenatures,impliesmerelythelockingofemptyroomsorthedissimulationofawkwardencumbrances;butMissTrent’sreticencewastoGlennardlikethecloseddoortothesanctuary,andhiscertaintyofdiviningthehiddentreasuremadehimcontenttoremainoutsideinthehappyexpectancyoftheneophyte.