But there is no reason why she should be particularly gay." "Is she unhappy ?" "I won't say that, for unhappiness is according as one takes things, and Claire takes them according to some receipt communicated to her by the Blessed Virgin in a vision.

To be unhappy is to be disagreeable, which, for her, is out of the question.

So she has arranged her circumstances so as to be happy in them." "She is a philosopher," said Newman.
"No, she is simply a very nice woman." "Her circumstances, at any rate, have been disagreeable ?" Bellegarde hesitated a moment--a thing he very rarely did.

"Oh, my dear fellow, if I go into the history of my family I shall give you more than you bargain for." "No, on the contrary, I bargain for that," said Newman.
"We shall have to appoint a special seance, then, beginning early.
Suffice it for the present that Claire has not slept on roses.

She made at eighteen a marriage that was expected to be brilliant, but that turned out like a lamp that goes out; all smoke and bad smell.