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           Hergoodnesswasabovetheprosymoralsofthehusband-seeker,apartfromthedullliteratureoffemalevirtue.

           Sorrowlaylightlyaroundher,andwhenAmoryfoundherinPhiladelphiahethoughthersteelyblueeyesheldonlyhappiness;alatentstrength,arealism,wasbroughttoitsfullestdevelopmentbythefactsthatshewascompelledtoface.Shewasaloneintheworld,withtwosmallchildren,littlemoney,and,worstofall,ahostoffriends.HesawherthatwinterinPhiladelphiaentertainingahousefulofmenforanevening,whenheknewshehadnotaservantinthehouseexceptthelittlecoloredgirlguardingthebabiesoverhead.Hesawoneofthegreatestlibertinesinthatcity,amanwhowashabituallydrunkandnotoriousathomeandabroad,sittingoppositeherforanevening,discussinggirls’boarding-schoolswithasortofinnocentexcitement.WhatatwistClarahadtohermind!Shecouldmakefascinatingandalmostbrilliantconversationoutofthethinnestairthateverfloatedthroughadrawing-room.

           Theideathatthegirlwaspoverty-strickenhadappealedtoAmory’ssenseofsituation.HearrivedinPhiladelphiaexpectingtobetoldthat921ArkStreetwasinamiserablelaneofhovels.Hewasevendisappointedwhenitprovedtobenothingofthesort.Itwasanoldhousethathadbeeninherhusband’sfamilyforyears.Anelderlyaunt,whoobjectedtohavingitsold,hadputtenyears’taxeswithalawyerandprancedofftoHonolulu,leavingClaratostrugglewiththeheating-problemasbestshecould.