TheMarriages1TheMarriagesbyHenryJamesTheMarriages2CHAPTERI"Won'tyoustayalittlelonger?"thehostessaskedwhilesheheldthegirl'shandandsmiled."It'stooearlyforeveryonetogo--it'stooabsurd."Mrs.Churchleyinclinedherheadtoonesideandlookedgracious;sheflourishedaboutherface,inavaguelyprotectingshelteringway,anenormousfanofredfeathers.Everythinginhercomposition,forAdelaChart,wasenormous.Shehadbigeyes,bigteeth,bigshoulders,bighands,bigringsandbracelets,bigjewelsofeverysortandmanyofthem.Thetrainofhercrimsondresswaslongerthananyother;herhousewashuge;herdrawing-room,especiallynowthatthecompanyhadleftit,lookedvast,anditofferedtothegirl'seyesacollectionofthelargestsofasandchairs,pictures,mirrors,clocks,thatshehadeverbeheld.WasMrs.Churchley'sfortunealsolarge,toaccountforsomanyimmensities?OfthisAdelacouldknownothing,butitstruckher,whileshesmiledsweetlybackattheirentertainer,thatshehadbettertrytofindout.Mrs.Churchleyhadatleastahigh-hungcarriagedrawnbythetallesthorses,andintheRowshewastobeseenperchedonamightyhunter.Shewashighandextensiveherself,thoughnotexactlyfat;herboneswerebig,herlimbswerelong,andherloudhurryingvoiceresembledthebellofasteamboat.WhileshespoketohisdaughtershehadtheairofhidingfromColonelChart,alittleshyly,behindthewideostrichfan.ButColonelChartwasnotamantobeeitherignoredoreluded."Ofcourseeveryone'sgoingontosomethingelse,"hesaid."Ibelievetherearealotofthingsto-night.""AndwhereareYOUgoing?"Mrs.Churchleyasked,droppingherfanandturningherbrighthardeyesontheColonel."OhIdon'tdothatsortofthing!"--heusedatoneoffamiliarresentmentthatfellwithacertaineffectonhisdaughter'sear.ShesawinitthathethoughtMrs.Churchleymighthavedonehimalittlemorejustice.Butwhatmadethehonestsoulsupposeherapersontolooktoforaperceptionoffineshades?IndeedtheshadewasoneitmighthavebeenTheMarriages3alittledifficulttoseize--thedifferencebetween"goingon"andcomingtoadinneroftwentypeople.Thepairwereinmourning;thesecondyearhadmaintaineditforAdela,buttheColonelhadn'tobjectedtodiningwithMrs.Churchley,anymorethanhehadobjectedatEastertogoingdowntotheMillwards',wherehehadmetherandwherethegirlhadherreasonsforbelievinghimtohaveknownheshouldmeether.Adelawasn'tclearabouttheoccasionoftheiroriginalmeeting,towhichacertainmysteryattached.InMrs.Churchley'sexclamationnowtherewasthefullestconcurrenceinColonelChart'sidea;shedidn'tsay"Ahyes,dearfriend,Iunderstand!"butthiswasthenoteofsympathysheplainlywishedtosound.ItimmediatelymadeAdelasaytoher"Surelyyoumustbegoingonsomewhereyourself.""Yes,youmusthavealotofplaces,"theColonelconcurred,whilehisviewofhershiningraimenthadaninvidiousdirectness.Adelacouldreadthetacitimplication:"You'renotinsorrow,indesolation."Mrs.Churchleyturnedawayfromheratthisandjustwaitedbeforeanswering.Theredfanwasupagain,andthistimeitshelteredherfromAdela."I'llgiveeverythingup--forYOU,"werethewordsthatissuedfrombehindit."DOstayalittle.Ialwaysthinkthisissuchanicehour.Onecanreallytalk,"Mrs.Churchleywenton.TheColonellaughed;hesaiditwasn'tfair.Buttheirhostesspressedhisdaughter."Dositdown;it'stheonlytimetohaveanytalk."Thegirlsawherfathersitdown,butshewanderedaway,turningherbackandpretendingtolookatapicture.ShewassofarfromagreeingwithMrs.Churchleythatitwasanhoursheparticularlydisliked.Shewasconsciousofthequeerness,theshyness,inLondon,ofthegregariousflightofguestsafteradinner,thegeneralsauvequipeutandpanicfearofbeingleftwiththehostan...
