PSAT Reading Practice Question 60

Question: 60

This passage is adapted from Henry James, "The Beast in the Jungle," originally published in 1903. The passage describes the meeting, after many years, of John Marcher and May Bertram.
"You know you told me something I've never 
forgotten and that again and again has made me think 
of you since; it was that tremendously hot day when we 
went to Sorrento, across the bay, for the breeze. What I 
05allude to was what you said to me, on the way back, as 
we sat under the awning of the boat enjoying the cool. 
Have you forgotten?"
He had forgotten and was even more surprised 
than ashamed. But the great thing was that he saw 
10in this no vulgar reminder of any "sweet" speech. 
The vanity of women had long memories, but she 
was making no claim on him of a compliment or a 
mistake. With another woman, a totally different one, 
he might have feared the recall possibly even of some 
15imbecile "offer." So, in having to say that he had indeed 
forgotten, he was conscious rather of a loss than of a 
gain; he already saw an interest in the matter of her 
mention. "I try to think—but I give up. Yet I remember 
that Sorrento day."
20I'm not very sure you do, May Bertram after a 
moment said; "and I'm not very sure I ought to want 
you to. It's dreadful to bring a person back at any time 
to what he was ten years before. If you've lived away 
from it," she smiled, "so much the better."
25Ah, if you haven't why should I? he asked.
Lived away, you mean, from what I myself was?
From what I was. I was of course [a boor],
Marcher went on; "but I would rather know from 
you just the sort of [boor] I was than—from the 
30moment you have something in your mind—not know 
anything."
Still, however, she hesitated. "But if you've 
completely ceased to be that sort—?"
"Why I can then all the more bear to know. Besides, 
35perhaps I haven't."
"Perhaps. Yet if you haven't," she added, "I should 
suppose you'd remember. Not indeed that I in the least 
connect with my impression the invidious name you 
use. If I had only thought you foolish," she explained, 
40"the thing I speak of wouldn't so have remained with 
me. It was about yourself." She waited as if it might 
come to him; but as, only meeting her eyes in wonder, 
he gave no sign, she burnt her ships. "Has it ever 
happened?"
45Then it was that, while he continued to stare, a light 
broke for him and the blood slowly came to his face, 
which began to burn with recognition. "Do you mean 
I told you—?" But he faltered, lest what came to him 
shouldn't be right, lest he should only give himself 
50away.
"It was something about yourself that it was natural 
one shouldn't forget—that is if one remembered you at 
all. That's why I ask you," she smiled, "if the thing you 
then spoke of has ever come to pass?"
55Oh then he saw, but he was lost in wonder and 
found himself embarrassed. This, he also saw, made 
her sorry for him, as if her allusion had been a mistake. 
It took him but a moment, however, to feel it hadn't 
been, much as it had been a surprise. After the first 
60little shock of it her knowledge on the contrary began, 
even if rather strangely, to taste sweet to him. She was 
the only other person in the world then who would 
have it, and she had had it all these years, while the fact 
of his having so breathed his secret had unaccountably 
65faded from him. No wonder they couldn't have met 
as if nothing had happened. "I judge," he finally said, 
"that I know what you mean. Only I had strangely 
enough lost any sense of having taken you so far into 
my confidence."

Information in the passage suggests that John Marcher and May Bertram are

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