I hazard the supposition that she was saying to herself that to be able to drag such a train over a polished floor was a felicity worth any price.

Her reflections, at any rate, were disturbed by the advent of Newman and his companion.

She glanced at them quickly, and then, coloring a little, rose and stood before her easel.
"I came here on purpose to see you," said Newman in his bad French, offering to shake hands.

And then, like a good American, he introduced Valentin formally: "Allow me to make you acquainted with the Comte Valentin de Bellegarde." Valentin made a bow which must have seemed to Mademoiselle Noemie quite in harmony with the impressiveness of his title, but the graceful brevity of her own response made no concession to underbred surprise.
She turned to Newman, putting up her hands to her hair and smoothing its delicately-felt roughness.

Then, rapidly, she turned the canvas that was on her easel over upon its face.