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           Forthefirstyearhedidn’tnoticeJustine,whowasveryquietanddidexactlyasshewastold.Butattheendoftheyearherfreckletreatmentswerefinished,andshebegantostandoutagainstthesceneryinsteadofblendingintoit.

           Minusthefrecklesandplusmakeuptodarkenherbrowsandlashes,shewasagood-lookinggirlinanelfin,understatedway.ShehadnoneofLukeO’Neill’sarrestingbeauty,orhermother’sexquisiteness.Herfigurewaspassablethoughnotspectacular,atrifleonthethinside.Onlythevividredhaireverstoodout.Butonastageshewasquitedifferent;shecouldmakepeoplethinkshewasasbeautifulasHelenofTroyorasuglyasawitch.

           Arthurfirstnoticedherduringateachingperiod,whenshewasrequiredtoreciteapassagefromConrad’sLordJimusingvariousaccents.Shewasextraordinary,really;hecouldfeeltheexcitementinAlbertJones,andfinallyunderstoodwhyAldevotedsomuchtimetoher.Abornmimic,butfarmorethanthat;shegavecharactertoeverywordshesaid.Andtherewasthevoice,awonderfulnaturalendowmentforanyactress,deep,husky,penetrating.

           Sowhenhesawherwithacupofteainherhand,sittingwithabookopenonherknees,hecametositbesideher.

           "Whatareyoureading?"

           Shelookedup,smiled."Proust."

           "Don’tyoufindhimalittledull?"

           "Proustdull?Notunlessonedoesn’tcareforgossip,surely.That’swhatheis,youknow.Aterribleoldgossip."

           Hehadanuncomfortableconvictionthatshewasintellectuallypatronizinghim,butheforgaveher.