Overmore

After Mrs. Wix's retreat Miss Overmore appeared to recognise that she was not exactly in a position to denounce Ida Farange's second union; but she drew from a table-drawer the photograph of Sir Claude and, standing there before Maisie, studied it at some length.

What Maisie Knew Henry James 1879

Miss Overmore was not, something (strangely, confusingly) that mamma was even less.

What Maisie Knew Henry James 1879

This contradiction indeed peeped out only to vanish, for at the very moment that, in the spirit of it, she threw herself afresh upon her young friend a hansom crested with neat luggage rattled up to the door and Miss Overmore bounded out.

What Maisie Knew Henry James 1879

Overmore, however hungry, never disappeared: this marked her somehow as of higher rank, and the character was confirmed by a prettiness that

What Maisie Knew Henry James 1879

Miss Overmore, to her surprise, looked distant and rather odd, hesitating and giving her time to turn again to Mrs. Wix.

What Maisie Knew Henry James 1879

She turned these things over and remarked to Miss Overmore that if she should go to her mother perhaps the gentleman might become her tutor.

What Maisie Knew Henry James 1879

There was also the solution of a second governess, a young person to come in by the day and really do the work; but to this Miss Overmore wouldn't for a moment listen, arguing against it with great public relish and wanting to know from all comers -- she put it even to Maisie herself -- they didn't see how frightfully it would give her away.

What Maisie Knew Henry James 1879

Maisie, on the spot, quite believed she should; but the prospect was suddenly thrown into confusion by an extraordinary demonstration from Miss Overmore.

What Maisie Knew Henry James 1879

The terms on which, unless they were married, ladies and gentlemen might, as Miss Overmore expressed it, knock about together, were the terms on which she and Mr. Farange had exposed themselves to possible misconception.

What Maisie Knew Henry James 1879

Miss Overmore had so far raised her interdict as to make a move to the dining-room, where, in the absence of any suggestion of sitting down, it was scarcely more than natural that even poor Mrs. Wix should stand up.

What Maisie Knew Henry James 1879