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 in any degree ? '' She was angry at herself and him . Where had her careless society manner and well-bred composure gone ? She felt weak and hysterical .
What XXXXX she should burst into tears before the whole crowd -- before those coldly critical grey eyes ?
Before at from if in of on so to with