threshes his horse or kicks his dog in consequence. Grandcourt
felt toward Gwendolen and Deronda as if he knew them to be in a
conspiracy against him, and here was an event in league with them. What
he took for clearly certain--and so far he divined the truth--was that
Gwendolen was now counting on an interview with Deronda whenever her
husband's back was turned.

As he sat taking his coffee at a convenient angle for observing her, he
discerned something which he felt sure was the effect of a secret
delight--some fresh ease in moving and speaking, some peculiar meaning
in her eyes, whatever she looked on. Certainly her troubles had not
marred her beauty. Mrs. Grandcourt was handsomer than Gwendolen
Harleth: her grace and expression were informed by a greater variety of
inward experience, giving new play to her features, new attitudes in
movement and repose; her whole person and air had the nameless
something which often makes a woman more interesting after marriage
than before, less confident that all things are according to her
opinion, and yet with less of deer-like shyness--more fully a human
being.

This morning the benefits of the voyage seemed to be suddenly revealing
themselves in a new elasticity of mien. As she rose from the table and
put her two heavily-jewelled hands on each side of her neck, according
to her wont, she had no art to conceal that sort of joyous expectation
which makes the present more bearable than usual, just as when a man
means to go out he finds it easier to be amiable to the family for a
quarter of an hour beforehand. It is not impossible that a terrier
whose pleasure was concerned would perceive those amiable signs and
know their meaning--know why his master stood in a peculiar way, talked
with alacrity, and even had a peculiar gleam in his eye, so that on the
least movement toward the door, the terrier would scuttle to be in
time. And, in dog fashion, Grandcourt discerned the signs of
Gwendolen's expectation, interpreting them with the narrow correctness
which leaves a world of unknown feeling behind.

"A--just ring, please, and tell Gibbs to order some dinner for us at
three," said Grandcourt, as he too rose, took out a cigar, and then
stretched his hand toward the hat that lay near. "I'm going to send
Angus to find a little sailing-boat for us to go out in; one that I can
manage, with you at the tiller. It's uncommonly pleasant these fine
evenings--the least boring of anything we c