RODERICK HUDSON
on the subject of Christina; but she found a dozen reasons for hesitating. Her questions would imply that Roderick had not treated her with confidence; for information on this point should properly have come from himself. They would imply that she was jealous, and to betray her jealousy was intolerable to her pride. For some minutes, as she sat pressing the brilliant pavement with the point of her umbrella, it was to be supposed that her pride and her anxiety held an earnest debate. At last anxiety won.
"About Miss Light then," she asked; "do you know her very well?"
"I can hardly say that. But I 've seen her repeatedly."
"Do you like her very much?"
"Yes and no. I think I 'm sorry for her."
Mary had spoken with her eyes on the pavement. At this she looked up. "Sorry for her? Why?"
"Well—she 's unhappy."
"What are her miseries?"
"Well—she has a horrible mother and has had a wretched bringing-up."
For a moment Mary was still. Then "Is n't she very beautiful?" she asked.
"Don't you think so?"
"That's measured by what men think! She's extremely clever too."
"Oh yes—speaking as men think'"
"She has beautiful dresses."
"Any number of them."
"And beautiful manners."
"Yes—sometimes."
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