Willard looked up in
surprise. I put that in just to please myself, for of course the
whole incident would have had to be cut out when the manuscript went
to the type-setter." The chapter takes a new lead here, as follows:)
Mrs. Willard was punctiliously prompt in sending the acceptances of
herself and Mr. Willard to Mrs. Howlett, and at the same time
Marguerite's acceptance was despatched, although she was at first
disposed to send her regrets. She was only moderately fond of those
inconsequent pleasures which make the life social. She was a good
dancer, but a more excellent talker, and she preferred talking to
dancing; but the inanity of what are known as stair talks at dances
oppressed her; nor did she look forward with any degree of pleasure
to what we might term conservatory confidences, which in these
luxurious days have become so large a factor in terpsichorean
diversions, for Marguerite was of a practical nature. She had once
chilled the heart of a young poet by calling Venice malarious (Harley
little realized when he wrote this how he would have suffered had he
carried out his original intention and transplanted Marguerite to the
City of the Sea!), and a conservatory to her was a thing for mid-day,
and not for midnight.
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