sily conscious of her
folly. He was thirteen years younger than she--it was ridiculous. She
was a fool, after all the opportunities she'd had, to fall in love with
a mere boy. But she knew in her heart that it was his youth she wanted
most, partly because it was Martin's youth, partly because it called to
something in her which was not youth, nor yet belonged to age--something
which was wise, tender and possessive--something which had never yet
been satisfied.

Luckily she had health robust enough to endure the preyings of her mind,
and did not bear her conflict on her face when Hill called for her the
next evening. She had been inspired to wear the same clothes as
before--having once pleased, she thought perhaps she would be wise not
to take any risks with the purple body, and as for an evening gown,
Joanna would have felt like a bad woman in a book if she had worn one.
But she was still guiltily without her collar.

He took her to a small restaurant on the sea-front, where half a dozen
couples sat at little rosily lit tables. Joanna was pleased--she was
beginning faintly to enjoy the impropriety of her existence ... dinner
in a restyrong--with wine--that would be something to hold in her heart
against Ellen, next time that young person became superior. Joanna did
not really like wine--a glass of stout at her meals, or pale ale in the
hot weather, was all she took as a rule--but there was a subtle
fascination in putting her lips to the red glass full of broken lights,
and feeling the wine like fire against them, while her eyes gazed over
the brim at Hill ... he gazed at her over the brim of his, and somehow
when their eyes met thus over their glasses, over the red wine, it was
more than when they just met across the table, in the pauses of their
talk. It seemed to her that he was more lover-like to-night--his words
seemed to hover round her, to caress her, and she was not surprised when
she felt his foot press hers under the table, though she hastily drew
her own away.

After dinner, he took her on the pier. "East Lynne" was being played in
the Pavilion, and they had two of the best seats. Joanna was terribly
thrilled and a little shocked--she was also, at the proper time,
overcome with emotion. When little Willie lay dying, it was more than
she could bear ... poor little chap, it made your heart ache to see
him--even though he was called Miss Maidie Masserene on the programme,
and when not in bed stuck out in parts