She did not expect much from the world
around her, beyond this, that the guests should not complain about
their suppers as long as the suppers provided were reasonably good.
Had no great undertaking been presented to her, the performance of
no heavy task demanded from her, she would have gone on with her
work without showing even by the altered colour of her cheek that
she was a sufferer. But this other man had come,--this Adrian
Urmand; and a great undertaking was presented to her, and the
performance of a heavy task was demanded from her. Then it was
necessary that there should be identity of self and introspection.
She had to ask herself whether the task was practicable, whether its
performance was within the scope of her powers. She told herself at
first that it was not to be done; that it was one which she would
not even attempt. Then as she looked at it more frequently, as she
came to understand how great was the urgency of her uncle; as she
came to find, in performing that task of introspection, how
unimportant a person she was herself, she began to think that the
attempt might be made.
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