nounced
French phrases into their conversation under the impression that they
imparted a piquant and graceful effect. It was a touch of vulgarity
which inspired her with a violent contempt absurdly disproportioned to
the gravity of the offense. It had always been a cherished theory of
hers that there were certain offenses in manners which were keys to
character. If persons committed them, it implied an essential strain of
vulgarity in their dispositions. Judged by this theory, where would her
lover come out?

Hunt managed to get into a political discussion with Mr. Gifford at
table that noon, talking in a rather supercilious tone, and purposely
making several bad blunders, which Mr. Gifford corrected rather
pointedly. Annie could not help observing that her lover's conceit and
ignorance of the subjects discussed seemed about equal.

"How do you like your book?" he asked that evening.

She murmured something confusedly.

"Haven't begun it yet?" he inquired in surprise. "Well, when once you
do, I 'm sure you 'll not lay it down till it's finished. And, by the
way, your judgment in literary matters is so good, I 'd like to get
your opinion on the essay I 'm getting up for Commencement. I think it's
rather the best thing I 've written."

He proceeded to read what purported to be a sketch of its argument,
which proved to be so flat and vapid that Annie blushed with shame
for his mental poverty, and was fain to cover her chagrin with a few
meaningless comments.

Her mind was the theatre of a struggle between disgust and affection,
which may be called ghastly. Had he been openly wicked, she would have
known how to give a good account of all disloyal suggestions to desert
or forget him. But what could she do against such a cold, creeping
thing as this disgust and revulsion of taste, which, like the chills
of incipient fever, mingled with every rising pulse of tender feeling?
Finally, out of her desperation, she concluded that the fault must be
with her; that she was fickle, while he was true. She tried hard to
despise herself, and determined to fight down her growing coldness, and
reciprocate as it deserved the affection with which he was so lavish.
The result of these mental exercises was to impart a humility and
constrained cordiality to her air very opposite to its usual piquancy
and impulsiveness, and, by a sense of her own shortcomings, to distract
her mind from speculation, which she might otherwise have indulged,