She did not know that only women with marriageable daughters saw her as she saw herself in the glass.
As she left her room a door opened at the farther end of the same wing, and a tall man came out.

The middle-class element in her said, "Superfine." His fastidious taste said, "A plain woman." In another instant they recognized each other.
"Superfine! What nonsense," she thought, as she met his eager, tremulous glance.
"A plain woman.

Rachel plain!" He had met the welcome in her eyes, and there was beauty in every movement, grace in every fold of her white gown.
As they met the gong suddenly boomed out close beneath them, and they could only smile at each other as they shook hands.

The butler, who was evidently an artist in his way, proved the gong to the uttermost; and they had descended the staircase together, and had crossed the hall before its dying tremors allowed them to speak.
As he was about to do so he saw her wince suddenly.

She was looking straight in front of her at the little crowd in the drawing-room.