Chapter 17

           "YourcousintheCountesscalledonmotherwhileyouwereaway,"JaneyArcherannouncedtoherbrotherontheeveningofhisreturn.Theyoungman,whowasdiningalonewithhismotherandsister,glancedupinsurpriseandsawMrs.Archer’sgazedemurelybentonherplate.Mrs.Archerdidnotregardherseclusionfromtheworldasareasonforbeingforgottenbyit;andNewlandguessedthatshewasslightlyannoyedthatheshouldbesurprisedbyMadameOlenska’svisit."Shehadonablackvelvetpolonaisewithjetbuttons,andatinygreenmonkeymuff;Ineversawhersostylishlydressed,"Janeycontinued."Shecamealone,earlyonSundayafternoon;luckilythefirewaslitinthedrawing-room.Shehadoneofthosenewcard-cases.Shesaidshewantedtoknowusbecauseyou’dbeensogoodtoher."Newlandlaughed."MadameOlenskaalwaystakesthattoneaboutherfriends.She’sveryhappyatbeingamongherownpeopleagain.""Yes,soshetoldus,"saidMrs.Archer."Imustsaysheseemsthankfultobehere.""Ihopeyoulikedher,mother."Mrs.Archerdrewherlipstogether."Shecertainlylaysherselfouttoplease,evenwhensheiscallingonanoldlady.""Motherdoesn’tthinkhersimple,"Janeyinterjected,hereyesscreweduponherbrother’sface."It’sjustmyold-fashionedfeeling;dearMayismyideal,"saidMrs.Archer."Ah,"saidherson,"they’renotalike."ArcherhadleftSt.AugustinechargedwithmanymessagesforoldMrs.Mingott;andadayortwoafterhisreturntotownhecalledonher.