"She＇s too fond of mystery," said Mrs. Touchett; "that＇s her great fault."
"Ah," exclaimed Madame Merle, "I＇ve great faults,but I don＇t think that＇s one of then; it certainly isn＇t the greatest. I came into the world in the Brooklyn navyyard. My father was a high of昀cer in the United States Navy, and had a post—a post of responsibility—in that establishment at the time. I suppose I ought to love the sea, but I hate it. That＇s why I don＇t return to America. I love the land; the great thing is to love something."