mediately invite her."

"But where in the world is she?" He spoke as if he had not thought of
Charlotte, nor so much as heard her name pronounced, for a very long
time. He quite in fact amicably, almost amusedly, woke up to her.

"She's in Brittany, at a little bathing-place, with some people I don't
know. She's always with people, poor dear--she rather has to be; even
when, as is sometimes the case; they're people she doesn't immensely
like."

"Well, I guess she likes US," said Adam Verver. "Yes--fortunately she
likes us. And if I wasn't afraid of spoiling it for you," Maggie added,
"I'd even mention that you're not the one of our number she likes
least."

"Why should that spoil it for me?"

"Oh, my dear, you know. What else have we been talking about? It costs
you so much to be liked. That's why I hesitated to tell you of my
letter."

He stared a moment--as if the subject had suddenly grown out of
recognition. "But Charlotte--on other visits--never used to cost me
anything."

"No--only her 'keep,'" Maggie smiled.

"Then I don't think I mind her keep--if that's all." The Princess,
however, it was clear, wished to be thoroughly conscientious. "Well, it
may not be quite all. If I think of its being pleasant to have her, it's
because she WILL make a difference."

"Well, what's the harm in that if it's but a difference for the better?"

"Ah then--there you are!" And the Princess showed in her smile her small
triumphant wisdom. "If you acknowledge a possible difference for the
better we're not, after all, so tremendously right as we are. I mean
we're not--as satisfied and amused. We do see there are ways of being
grander."

"But will Charlotte Stant," her father asked with surprise, "make us
grander?"

Maggie, on this, looking at him well, had a remarkable reply. "Yes, I
think. Really grander."

He thought; for if this was a sudden opening he wished but the more to
meet it. "Because she's so handsome?"

"No, father." And the Princess was almost solemn. "Because she's so
great."

"Great--?"

"Great in nature, in character, in spirit. Great in life."

"So?" Mr. Verver echoed. "What has she done--in life?"

"Well, she has been brave and bright," said Maggie. "That mayn't sound
like much, but she has been so in the face of things that might well
have made it too difficult for many other girls. She hasn't a
creature in the world really--that is nearly--belonging to her. Only
acquaintances who, in all so