n
she perceived he looked at her intently and continuously, and was
persistently close to her and seemed always to be trying to do things to
please her and attract her attention. And then from the general
behaviour of the women about her, her mother and Mrs. Harman and her
friend's mother and her friend's sister, rather than from any one
specific thing they said, it grew upon her consciousness that this
important and fabulously wealthy person, who was also it seemed to her
so modest and quiet and touchingly benevolent, was in love with her.

"Your daughter," said Mrs. Harman repeatedly to Mrs. Sawbridge, "is
charming, perfectly charming."

"She's _such_ a child," said Mrs. Sawbridge repeatedly in reply.

And she told Ellen's friend's mother apropos of Ellen's friend's
engagement that she wanted all her daughters to marry for love, she
didn't care what the man had so long as they loved each other, and
meanwhile she took the utmost care that Isaac had undisputed access to
the girl, was watchfully ready to fend off anyone else, made her take
everything he offered and praised him quietly and steadily to her. She
pointed out how modest and unassuming he was, in spite of the fact that
he was "controlling an immense business" and in his own particular trade
"a perfect Napoleon."

"For all one sees to the contrary he might be just a private gentleman.
And he feeds thousands and thousands of people...."

"Sooner or later," said Mrs. Harman, "I suppose Isaac will marry. He's
been such a good son to me that I shall feel it dreadfully, and yet, you
know, I wish I could see him settled. Then _I_ shall settle--in a little
house of my own somewhere. Just a little place. I don't believe in
coming too much between son and daughter-in-law...."

Harman's natural avidity was tempered by a proper modesty. He thought
Ellen so lovely and so infinitely desirable--and indeed she was--that it
seemed incredible to him that he could ever get her. And yet he had got
most of the things in life he had really and urgently wanted. His doubts
gave his love-making an eager, lavish and pathetic delicacy. He watched
her minutely in an agony of appreciation. He felt ready to give or
promise anything.

She was greatly flattered by his devotion and she liked the surprises
and presents he heaped upon her extremely. Also she was sorry for him
beyond measure. In the deep recesses of her heart was an oleographic
ideal of a large brave young man with blue