Bernard talked of this matter rather theoretically, inasmuch as to his own sense, he was in a state neither of incipient nor of absorbed fascination.

He got on very easily, however, with Angela Vivian, and felt none of the mysterious discomfort alluded to by his friend.

The element of mystery attached itself rather to the young lady's mother, who gave him the impression that for undiscoverable reasons she avoided his society.

He regretted her evasive deportment, for he found something agreeable in this shy and scrupulous little woman, who struck him as a curious specimen of a society of which he had once been very fond.

He learned that she was of old New England stock, but he had not needed this information to perceive that Mrs.Vivian was animated by the genius of Boston.