Penniman (who, womanlike, went more into details) in thinking her
embellished.
To Catherine he appeared resplendent; it was some time before she
could believe again that this beautiful young man was her own
exclusive property. They had a great deal of characteristic lovers'
talk--a soft exchange of inquiries and assurances. In these matters
Morris had an excellent grace, which flung a picturesque interest
even over the account of his debut in the commission business--a
subject as to which his companion earnestly questioned him. From
time to time he got up from the sofa where they sat together, and
walked about the room; after which he came back, smiling and passing
his hand through his hair. He was unquiet, as was natural in a young
man who has just been reunited to a long-absent mistress, and
Catherine made the reflexion that she had never seen him so excited.
It gave her pleasure, somehow, to note this fact. He asked her
questions about her travels, to some of which she was unable to
reply, for she had forgotten the names of places, and the order of
her father's journey. But for the moment she was so happy, so lifted
up by the belief that her troubles at last were over, that she forgot
to be ashamed of her meagre answers. It seemed to her now that she
could marry him without the remnant of a scruple or a single tremor
save those that belonged to joy. Without waiting for him to ask, she
told him that her father had come back in exactly the same state of
mind--that he had not yielded an inch.
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