Book Description
Henry James' novella begins at a luncheon that John Marcher has been invited to, at an extravagant house in London. On this October afternoon, he meets May Bartram. John muses that he has perhaps met her before, and as they converse he tries to place her face. He describes her as 'distinctly handsome' but much older than when they previously met. As May approaches him, she remembers John Marcher very well.Marcher feels guilty for not remembering May straight away, and blurts out that he remembers all about her from Rome eight years ago, when they met previously. Whilst May is happy that he remembers, she corrects him. It was in Naples they met, and ten years ago. She recalls the company they correct, and an incident at Pompeii where a thunderstorm forced them to take refuge. Marcher wishes that a romantic incident had happened between them in Naples, such as saving her from a capsized boat, so that there would be some substance and history to this meeting. They both silently acknowledge an attraction between the two and Marcher wonders why their reunion was not earlier.May tells Marcher she remembers a great secret he once told her in Sorrento. She asks him if he is still of that kind, yet Marcher still doesn't remember what he told her. She asks him 'Has it ever happened?' and Marcher pales, astonished that he revealed his secret to May. She is the only person in the world to know. Marcher asks how he revealed it to May, and she tells him what he said. From a very early age, Marcher had the 'sense of being kept for something rare and strange, possible prodigious and terrible' that would happen, and was constantly waiting for the event. May asks him if the event could be falling in love, and Marcher denies this; he has already been in love, and it has not been overwhelming enough for it to be the grand event.