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           TheBlenkers,dearoriginalbeings,havehiredaprimitiveoldfarm-houseatPortsmouthwheretheygatheraboutthemrepresentativepeople..."Shedroopedslightlybeneathherprotectingbrim,andaddedwithafaintblush:"ThisweekDr.AgathonCarverisholdingaseriesofInnerThoughtmeetingsthere.Acontrastindeedtothisgaysceneofworldlypleasure—butthenIhavealwayslivedoncontrasts!Tometheonlydeathismonotony.IalwayssaytoEllen:Bewareofmonotony;it’sthemotherofallthedeadlysins.Butmypoorchildisgoingthroughaphaseofexaltation,ofabhorrenceoftheworld.Youknow,Isuppose,thatshehasdeclinedallinvitationstostayatNewport,evenwithhergrandmotherMingott?IcouldhardlypersuadehertocomewithmetotheBlenkers’,ifyouwillbelieveit!Thelifesheleadsismorbid,unnatural.Ah,ifshehadonlylistenedtomewhenitwasstillpossible...Whenthedoorwasstillopen...Butshallwegodownandwatchthisabsorbingmatch?IhearyourMayisoneofthecompetitors."StrollingtowardthemfromthetentBeaufortadvancedoverthelawn,tall,heavy,tootightlybuttonedintoaLondonfrock-coat,withoneofhisownorchidsinitsbuttonhole.Archer,whohadnotseenhimfortwoorthreemonths,wasstruckbythechangeinhisappearance.Inthehotsummerlighthisfloridnessseemedheavyandbloated,andbutforhiserectsquare-shoulderedwalkhewouldhavelookedlikeanover-fedandover-dressedoldman.TherewereallsortsofrumoursafloataboutBeaufort.