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iet sea； in the daisied grass of the high…shouldered downs； had an air of inviting the intelligent observer to postpone his difficulties。 Blanquais…les…Galets； as Bernard learned the name of this unfashionable resort to be； was twenty miles from a railway； and the place wore an expression of unaffected rusticity。 Bernard stopped at an inn for his noonday breakfast； and then； with his appreciation quickened by the homely felicity of this repast； determined to go no further。 He engaged a room at the inn； dismissed his vehicle； and gave himself up to the contemplation of French sea…side manners。 These were chiefly to be observed upon a pebbly strand which lay along the front of the village and served as the gathering…point of its idler inhabitants。 Bathing in the sea was the chief occupation of these good people； including； as it did； prolonged spectatorship of the process and infinite conversation upon its mysteries。 The little world of Blanquais appeared to form a large family party； of highly developed amphibious habits； which sat gossiping all day upon the warm pebbles； occasionally dipping into the sea and drying itself in the sun； without any relaxation of personal intimacy。 All this was very amusing to Bernard； who in the course of the day took a bath with the rest。 The ocean was； after all； very large； and when one took one's plunge one seemed to have it quite to one's self。 When he had dressed himself again； Bernard stretched himself on the beach； feeling happier than he had done in a long time； and pulled his hat over his eyes。 The feeling of happiness was an odd one； it had come over him suddenly； without visible cause； but； such as it was； our hero made the most of it。 As he lay there it seemed to deepen； his immersion and his exercise in the salt water had given him an agreeable languor。 This presently became a drowsiness which was not less agreeable； and Bernard felt himself going to sleep。 There were sounds in the air above his headsounds of the crunching and rattling of the loose； smooth stones as his neighbors moved about on them； of high…pitched French voices exchanging colloquial cries； of the plash of the bathers in the distant water； and the short； soft breaking of the waves。 But these things came to his ears more vaguely and remotely； and at last they faded away。 Bernard enjoyed half an hour of that light and easy slumber which is apt to overtake idle people in recumbent attitudes in the open air on August afternoons。 It brought with it an exquisite sense of rest； and the rest was not spoiled by the fact that it was animated by a charming dream。 Dreams are vague things； and this one had the defects of its species； but it was somehow concerned with the image of a young lady whom Bernard had formerly known； and who had beautiful eyes； into whichin the dreamhe found himself looking。 He waked up to find himself looking into the crown of his hat； which had been resting on the bridge of his nose。 He removed it； and half raised himself； resting on his elbow and preparing to taste； in another position； of a little more of that exquisite rest of which mention has just been made。 The world about him was still amusing and charming； the chatter of his companions； losing itself in the large sea…presence； the plash of the divers and swimmers； the deep blue of the ocean and the silvery white of the cliff； had that striking air of indifference to the fact that his mind had been absent from them which we are apt to find in mundane things on emerging from a nap。 The same people were sitting near him on the beachthe same； and yet not quite the same。 He found himself noticing a person whom he had not noticed before a young lady； who was seated in a low portable chair； some dozen yards off； with her eyes bent upon a book。 Her head was in shade； her large parasol made； indeed； an awning for her whole person； which in this way； in the quiet attitude of perusal； seemed to abstract itself from the glare and murmur of the beach。 The clear shadow of her umbrellait was lined with blue was deep upon her face； but it was not deep enough to prevent Bernard from recognizing a profile that he knew。 He suddenly sat upright； with an intensely quickened vision。 Was he dreaming still； or had he waked？ In a moment he felt that he was acutely awake； he heard her； across the interval； turn the page of her book。 For a single instant； as she did so； she looked with level brows at the glittering ocean； then； lowering her eyes； she went on with her reading。 In this barely perceptible movement he saw Angela Vivian； it was wonderful how well he remembered her。 She was evidently reading very seriously； she was much interested in her book。 She was alone； Bernard looked about for her mother； but Mrs。 Vivian was not in sight。 By this time Bernard had become aware that he was agitated； the exquisite rest of a few moments before had passed away。 His agitation struck him as unreasonable； in a few minutes he made up his mind that it was absurd。 He had done her an injuryyes； but as she sat there losing herself in a French novelBernard could see it was a French novel he could not make out that she was the worse for it。 It had not affected her appearance； Miss Vivian was still a handsome girl。 Bernard hoped she would not look toward him or recognize him； he wished to look at her at his ease； to think it over； to make up his mind。 The idea of meeting Angela Vivian again had often come into his thoughts； I may； indeed； say that it was a tolerably familiar presence there； but the fact； nevertheless； now presented itself with all the violence of an accident for which he was totally unprepared。 He had often asked himself what he should say to her； how he should carry himself； and how he should probably find the young lady； but； with whatever ingenuity he might at the moment have answered these questions； his intelligence at present felt decidedly overtaxed。 She was a very pretty girl to whom he had done a wrong； this was the final attitude into which； with a good deal of preliminary shifting and wavering； she had settled in his recollection。 The wrong was a right； doubtless； from certain points of view； but from the girl's own it could only seem an injury to which its having been inflicted by a clever young man with whom she had been on agreeable terms； necessarily added a touch of baseness。
In every disadvantage that a woman suffers at the hands of a man； there is inevitably； in what concerns the man； an element of cowardice。 When I say 〃inevitably；〃 I mean that this is what the woman sees in it。 This is what Bernard believed that Angela Vivian saw in the fact that by giving his friend a bad account of her he had prevented her making an opulent marriage。 At first he had said to himself that； whether he had held his tongue or spoken； she had already lost her chance； but with time； somehow； this reflection had lost its weight in the scale。 It conveyed little re…assurance to his irritated conscience it had become imponderable and impertinent。 At the moment of which I speak it entirely failed to present itself； even for form's sake； and as he sat looking at this superior creature who came back to him out of an episode of his past； he thought of her simpl