Chapter 9

           TheCountessOlenskahadsaid"afterfive";andathalfafterthehourNewlandArcherrangthebellofthepeelingstuccohousewithagiantwisteriathrottlingitsfeeblecast-ironbalcony,whichshehadhired,fardownWestTwenty-thirdStreet,fromthevagabondMedora.Itwascertainlyastrangequartertohavesettledin.Smalldress-makers,bird-stuffersand"peoplewhowrote"werehernearestneighbours;andfurtherdownthedishevelledstreetArcherrecognisedadilapidatedwoodenhouse,attheendofapavedpath,inwhichawriterandjournalistcalledWinsett,whomheusedtocomeacrossnowandthen,hadmentionedthathelived.Winsettdidnotinvitepeopletohishouse;buthehadoncepointeditouttoArcherinthecourseofanocturnalstroll,andthelatterhadaskedhimself,withalittleshiver,ifthehumanitiesweresomeanlyhousedinothercapitals.MadameOlenska’sowndwellingwasredeemedfromthesameappearanceonlybyalittlemorepaintaboutthewindow-frames;andasArchermustereditsmodestfronthesaidtohimselfthatthePolishCountmusthaverobbedherofherfortuneaswellasofherillusions.Theyoungmanhadspentanunsatisfactoryday.HehadlunchedwiththeWellands,hopingafterwardtocarryoffMayforawalkinthePark.Hewantedtohavehertohimself,totellherhowenchantingshehadlookedthenightbefore,andhowproudhewasofher,andtopresshertohastentheirmarriage.ButMrs.