How we cite our quotes: (Volume.Book.Chapter.Line)
Quote #7
Never, he flattered himself, had he seen anything so gregariously ugly—operatively, ominously so cruel [as Aunt Maud's waiting room]." (1.2.2.3)
When he first goes to meet Maud Lowder, Merton Densher realizes that Maud is messing with him by keeping him waiting in her sitting room. While he sits there, Merton can't help but think that the room he's sitting in is some kind of torture chamber. His nervousness affects the way he views everything around him.
Quote #8
Mrs. Stringham was never to forget—for the moment had not faded, nor the infinitely fine vibration it set up in any degree ceased—her own first sight of the striking apparition, then unheralded and unexplained: the slim, constantly pale, delicately haggard, anomalously, agreeably angular young person." (1.3.1.3)
When she first met Milly, Susan found the girl kind of awkward looking and pale. But the more she got to know her, the more Susan realized (like everyone else in the book) that Milly is one of the most delicate and angelic-looking people ever to walk the earth. From this point in the novel onwards, Milly is never described as anything but beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. This first description, though, goes to show how much talking to Milly can completely change the way people see her. She's beautiful inside and out.
Quote #9
[He] would have affected her as the most intellectual person present if he had not affected her as the most frivolous. The latter quality was rather in his look than in anything else, though he constantly wore his double eyeglasses, which was, much more, Bostonian and thoughtful." (1.4.1.4)
Milly has a tough time pinning down Lord Mark. He seems to be this mishmash of thoughtfulness and shallowness. His baldness and double eyeglasses make him look thoughtful, but he also has a childish glint in his eyes. This quote establishes Milly as a person who is pretty good at judging books by their covers.