"I have not seen you for a long time." She held out her hand tentatively, while Grace stood like a wild animal on first confronting a mirror or other puzzling product of civilization.

Was it really Mrs.Charmond speaking to her thus?
If it was, she could no longer form any guess as to what it signified.
"I want to talk with you," said Mrs.Charmond, imploringly, for the gaze of the young woman had chilled her through.

"Can you walk on with me till we are quite alone ?" Sick with distaste, Grace nevertheless complied, as by clockwork and they moved evenly side by side into the deeper recesses of the woods.
They went farther, much farther than Mrs.Charmond had meant to go; but she could not begin her conversation, and in default of it kept walking.
"I have seen your father," she at length resumed.

"And--I am much troubled by what he told me." "What did he tell you?
I have not been admitted to his confidence on anything he may have said to you." "Nevertheless, why should I repeat to you what you can easily divine ?" "True--true," returned Grace, mournfully.

"Why should you repeat what we both know to be in our minds already ?" "Mrs.Fitzpiers, your husband--" The moment that the speaker's tongue touched the dangerous subject a vivid look of self-consciousness flashed over her, in which her heart revealed, as by a lightning gleam, what filled it to overflowing.