a crisis? Hers
was one of the natures in which exultation inevitably carries an
infusion of dread ready to curdle and declare itself.

She fell silent in spite of herself as they approached the gates, and
when her husband said, "Here we are at home!" and for the first time
kissed her on the lips, she hardly knew of it: it was no more than the
passive acceptance of a greeting in the midst of an absorbing show. Was
not all her hurrying life of the last three months a show, in which her
consciousness was a wondering spectator? After the half-willful
excitement of the day, a numbness had come over her personality.

But there was a brilliant light in the hall--warmth, matting, carpets,
full-length portraits, Olympian statues, assiduous servants. Not many
servants, however: only a few from Diplow in addition to those
constantly in charge of the house; and Gwendolen's new maid, who had
come with her, was taken under guidance by the housekeeper. Gwendolen
felt herself being led by Grandcourt along a subtly-scented corridor,
into an ante-room where she saw an open doorway sending out a rich glow
of light and color.

"These are our dens," said Grandcourt. "You will like to be quiet here
till dinner. We shall dine early."

He pressed her hand to his lips and moved away, more in love than he
had ever expected to be.

Gwendolen, yielded up her hat and mantle, threw herself into a chair by
the glowing hearth, and saw herself repeated in glass panels with all
her faint-green satin surroundings. The housekeeper had passed into
this boudoir from the adjoining dressing-room and seemed disposed to
linger, Gwendolen thought, in order to look at the new mistress of
Ryelands, who, however, being impatient for solitude said to her, "Will
you tell Hudson when she has put out my dress to leave everything? I
shall not want her again, unless I ring."

The housekeeper, coming forward, said, "Here is a packet, madam, which
I was ordered to give into nobody's hands but yours, when you were
alone. The person who brought it said it was a present particularly
ordered by Mr. Grandcourt; but he was not to know of its arrival till
he saw you wear it. Excuse me, madam; I felt it right to obey orders."

Gwendolen took the packet and let it lie on her lap till she heard the
doors close. It came into her mind that the packet might contain the
diamonds which Grandcourt had spoken of as being deposited somewhere
and to be given to her on her marriage. I