Chapter 16

           Shewokeupcooledandshamed.Thesightofherbeautyinthemirrordidnotreassureherbutonlyawakenedtheacheofyesterdayandaletter,forwardedbyhermother,fromtheboywhohadtakenhertotheYalepromlastfall,whichannouncedhispresenceinPariswasnohelp—allthatseemedfaraway.SheemergedfromherroomfortheordealofmeetingtheDiversweightedwithadoubletrouble.ButitwashiddenbyasheathasimpermeableasNicole’swhentheymetandwenttogethertoaseriesoffittings.Itwasconsoling,though,whenNicoleremarked,aproposofadistraughtsaleswoman:"Mostpeoplethinkeverybodyfeelsaboutthemmuchmoreviolentlythantheyactuallydo—theythinkotherpeople’sopinionsofthemswingthroughgreatarcsofapprovalordisapproval."YesterdayinherexpansivenessRosemarywouldhaveresentedthatremark—to-dayinherdesiretominimizewhathadhappenedshewelcomediteagerly.SheadmiredNicoleforherbeautyandherwisdom,andalsoforthefirsttimeinherlifeshewasjealous.JustbeforeleavingGausse’shotelhermotherhadsaidinthatcasualtone,whichRosemaryknewconcealedhermostsignificantopinions,thatNicolewasagreatbeauty,withthefrankimplicationthatRosemarywasnot.ThisdidnotbotherRosemary,whohadonlyrecentlybeenallowedtolearnthatshewasevenpersonable;sothatherprettinessneverseemedexactlyherownbutratheranacquirement,likeherFrench.Nevertheless,inthetaxishelookedatNicole,matchingherselfagainsther.