DOI article:
James, Henry: The Coxon Fund
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.21215#0341
By Henry James 337
I noted that they were already Ruth and Adelaide, but what I
said was : " Do you mean that she has returned to make it a
certainty ?"
" No, I mean that I imagine she has come out for some reason
independent of it." Adelaide could only imagine as yet, and
there was more, as we found, to be revealed. Mrs. Mulville, on
hearing of her arrival, had brought the young lady out, in the
green landau, for the Sunday. The Coxons were in possession of
the house in the Regent's Park, and Miss Anvoy was in dreary
lodgings. George Gravener was with her when Adelaide called,
but he had assented graciously enough to the little visit at Wim-
bledon. The carriage, with Mr. Saltram in it but not mentioned,
had been sent off on some errand from which it was to return and
pick the ladies up. Gravener left them together, and at the end
of an hour, on the Saturday afternoon, the party of three drove out
to Wimbledon. This was the girl's second glimpse of our great
man, and I was interested in asking Mrs. Mulville if the impression
made by the first appeared to have been confirmed. On her
replying, after consideration, that of course with time and oppor-
tunity it couldn't fail to be, but that as yet she was disappointed, I
was sufficiently Struck with her use of this last word to question
her further.
" Do you mean that you're disappointed because you judge that
Miss Anvoy is ?"
" Yes; I hoped for a greater effect last evening. We had two
or three people, but he scarcely opened his mouth."
" He'll be all the better this evening," I added after a moment.
" What particular importance do you attach to the idea of her
being impressed ? "
Adelaide turned herclear,pale eyes on measif she wereamazed at
mylevity. "Why, the importance of her being as happyaszware !"
I'm
I noted that they were already Ruth and Adelaide, but what I
said was : " Do you mean that she has returned to make it a
certainty ?"
" No, I mean that I imagine she has come out for some reason
independent of it." Adelaide could only imagine as yet, and
there was more, as we found, to be revealed. Mrs. Mulville, on
hearing of her arrival, had brought the young lady out, in the
green landau, for the Sunday. The Coxons were in possession of
the house in the Regent's Park, and Miss Anvoy was in dreary
lodgings. George Gravener was with her when Adelaide called,
but he had assented graciously enough to the little visit at Wim-
bledon. The carriage, with Mr. Saltram in it but not mentioned,
had been sent off on some errand from which it was to return and
pick the ladies up. Gravener left them together, and at the end
of an hour, on the Saturday afternoon, the party of three drove out
to Wimbledon. This was the girl's second glimpse of our great
man, and I was interested in asking Mrs. Mulville if the impression
made by the first appeared to have been confirmed. On her
replying, after consideration, that of course with time and oppor-
tunity it couldn't fail to be, but that as yet she was disappointed, I
was sufficiently Struck with her use of this last word to question
her further.
" Do you mean that you're disappointed because you judge that
Miss Anvoy is ?"
" Yes; I hoped for a greater effect last evening. We had two
or three people, but he scarcely opened his mouth."
" He'll be all the better this evening," I added after a moment.
" What particular importance do you attach to the idea of her
being impressed ? "
Adelaide turned herclear,pale eyes on measif she wereamazed at
mylevity. "Why, the importance of her being as happyaszware !"
I'm