The marriage had been an unhappy one . She was fond of society and gaiety , he wanted quiet and seclusion . She Was impulsive and impatient , he deliberate and grave . The strong wills clashed . After two years of an unbearable sort of life they had separated -- quietly , and without scandal of any sort . She had wanted a divorce , but he would not agree to that , so she had taken her own independent fortune and gone back to her own way of life . In the following five years she had succeeded in burying all remembrance well out of sight . No one knew if she were satisfied or not ; her world was charitable to her and she lived a gay and quite irreproachable life . She wished that she had not come to the races . It was such an irritating encounter . She opened her eyes wearily ; the dusty track , the flying horses , the gay dresses of the women on the grandstand , the cloudless blue sky , the brilliant September sunshine , the purple distances all commingled in a glare that made her head ache . Before it all she saw the tall figure by her side , his face turned from her , watching the track intently . She wondered with a vague curiosity what induced him to come to the races . Such things were not greatly in his line . Evidently their chance meeting had not disturbed him . It was a sign that he did not care . She sighed a little wearily and closed her eyes . When the heat was over he turned to her . `` May I ask how you have been since -- since we met last ? You are looking extremely well .
Has Vanity Fair palled XXXXX any degree ? ''
Before from if in on since so that to with