\"Unexpectedobstacle。Pleasedon’tcometillthirtieth。
Anna。\"
AllthewayfromCharingCrosstoDoverthetrainhadhammeredthewordsofthetelegramintoGeorgeDarrow’sears，ringingeverychangeofironyonitscommonplacesyllables：rattlingthemoutlikeadischargeofmusketry，lettingthem，onebyone，dripslowlyandcoldlyintohisbrain，orshaking，tossing，transposingthemlikethediceinsomegameofthegodsofmalice；andnow，asheemergedfromhiscompartmentatthepier，andstoodfacingthewind—
sweptplatformandtheangryseabeyond，theyleaptoutathimasiffromthecrestofthewaves，stungandblindedhimwithafreshfuryofderision。
\"Unexpectedobstacle。Pleasedon’tcometillthirtieth。
Anna。\"
Shehadputhimoffattheverylastmoment，andforthesecondtime：puthimoffwithallhersweetreasonableness，andforoneofherusual\"good\"reasons——hewascertainthatthisreason，liketheother，（thevisitofherhusband’suncle’swidow）wouldbe\"good\"！Butitwasthatverycertaintywhichchilledhim。Thefactofherdealingsoreasonablywiththeircaseshedanironiclightontheideathattherehadbeenanyexceptionalwarmthinthegreetingshehadgivenhimaftertheirtwelveyearsapart。
Theyhadfoundeachotheragain，inLondon，somethreemonthspreviously，atadinnerattheAmericanEmbassy，andwhenshehadcaughtsightofhimhersmilehadbeenlikearedrosepinnedonherwidow’smourning。Hestillfeltthethrobofsurprisewithwhich，amongthestereotypedfacesoftheseason’sdiners，hehadcomeuponherunexpectedface，withthedarkhairbandedabovegraveeyes；eyesinwhichhehadrecognizedeverylittlecurveandshadowashewouldhaverecognized，afterhalfalife—time，thedetailsofaroomhehadplayedinasachild。Andas，intheplumedstarredcrowd，shehadstoodoutforhim，slender，secludedanddifferent，sohehadfelt，theinstanttheirglancesmet，thatheassharplydetachedhimselfforher。Allthatandmorehersmilehadsaid；hadsaidnotmerely\"I
remember，\"but\"Irememberjustwhatyouremember\"；almost，indeed，asthoughhermemoryhadaidedhis，herglanceflungbackontheirrecapturedmomentitsmorningbrightness。
Certainly，whentheirdistractedAmbassadress——withthecry：
\"Oh，youknowMrs。Leath？That’sperfect，forGeneralFarnhamhasfailedme\"——hadwavedthemtogetherforthemarchtothediningroom，Darrowhadfeltaslightpressureofthearmonhis，apressurefaintlybutunmistakablyemphasizingtheexclamation：\"Isn’titwonderful？——InLondon——intheseason——inamob？\"
Littleenough，onthepartofmostwomen；butitwasasignofMrs。Leath’squalitythateverymovement，everysyllable，toldwithher。Evenintheolddays，asanintentgrave—
eyedgirl，shehadseldommisplacedherlightstrokes；andDarrow，onmeetingheragain，hadimmediatelyfelthowmuchfinerandsureraninstrumentofexpressionshehadbecome。
Theireveningtogetherhadbeenalongconfirmationofthisfeeling。Shehadtalkedtohim，shylyyetfrankly，ofwhathadhappenedtoherduringtheyearswhentheyhadsostrangelyfailedtomeet。ShehadtoldhimofhermarriagetoFraserLeath，andofhersubsequentlifeinFrance，whereherhusband’smother，leftawidowinhisyouth，hadbeenre—marriedtotheMarquisdeChantelle，andwhere，partlyinconsequenceofthissecondunion，thesonhadpermanentlysettledhimself。Shehadspokenalso，withanintenseeagernessofaffection，ofherlittlegirlEffie，whowasnownineyearsold，and，inastrainhardlylesstender，ofOwenLeath，thecharmingcleveryoungstepsonwhomherhusband’sdeathhadlefttohercare……
Aporter，stumblingagainstDarrow’sbags，rousedhimtothefactthathestillobstructedtheplatform，inertandencumberingashisluggage。
\"Crossing，sir？\"
Washecrossing？Hereallydidn’tknow；butforlackofanymorecompellingimpulsehefollowedtheportertotheluggagevan，singledouthisproperty，andturnedtomarchbehinditdownthegang—way。Asthefiercewindshoulderedhim，buildingupacrystalwallagainsthisefforts，hefeltanewthederisionofhiscase。
\"Nastyweathertocross，sir，\"theporterthrewbackathimastheybeattheirwaydownthenarrowwalktothepier。
Nastyweather，indeed；butluckily，asithadturnedout，therewasnoearthlyreasonwhyDarrowshouldcross。
Whilehepushedoninthewakeofhisluggagehisthoughtsslippedbackintotheoldgroove。HehadonceortwicerunacrossthemanwhomAnnaSummershadpreferredtohim，andsincehehadmetheragainhehadbeenexercisinghisimaginationonthepictureofwhathermarriedlifemusthavebeen。HerhusbandhadstruckhimasacharacteristicspecimenofthekindofAmericanastowhomoneisnotquiteclearwhetherhelivesinEuropeinordertocultivateanart，orcultivatesanartasapretextforlivinginEurope。
Mr。Leath’sartwaswater—colourpainting，buthepractiseditfurtively，almostclandestinely，withthedisdainofamanoftheworldforanythingborderingontheprofessional，whilehedevotedhimselfmoreopenly，andwithreligiousseriousness，tothecollectionofenamelledsnuff—boxes。Hewasblondandwell—dressed，withthephysicaldistinctionthatcomesfromhavingastraightfigure，athinnose，andthehabitoflookingslightlydisgusted——aswhoshouldnot，inaworldwhereauthenticsnuff—boxesweregrowingdailyhardertofind，andthemarketwasfloodedwithflagrantforgeries？
DarrowhadoftenwonderedwhatpossibilitiesofcommuniontherecouldhavebeenbetweenMr。Leathandhiswife。Nowheconcludedthattherehadprobablybeennone。Mrs。
Leath’swordsgavenohintofherhusband’shavingfailedtojustifyherchoice；butherveryreticencebetrayedher。
Shespokeofhimwithakindofimpersonalseriousness，asifhehadbeenacharacterinanovelorafigureinhistory；andwhatshesaidsoundedasthoughithadbeenlearnedbyheartandslightlydulledbyrepetition。ThisfactimmenselyincreasedDarrow’simpressionthathismeetingwithherhadannihilatedtheinterveningyears。
She，whowasalwayssoelusiveandinaccessible，hadgrownsuddenlycommunicativeandkind：hadopenedthedoorsofherpast，andtacitlylefthimtodrawhisownconclusions。Asaresult，hehadtakenleaveofherwiththesensethathewasabeingsingledoutandprivileged，towhomshehadentrustedsomethingprecioustokeep。Itwasherhappinessintheirmeetingthatshehadgivenhim，hadfranklylefthimtodowithashewilled；andthefranknessofthegesturedoubledthebeautyofthegift。
Theirnextmeetinghadprolongedanddeepenedtheimpression。Theyhadfoundeachotheragain，afewdayslater，inanoldcountryhousefullofbooksandpictures，inthesoftlandscapeofsouthernEngland。Thepresenceofalargeparty，withallitsaimlessandagitateddisplacements，hadservedonlytoisolatethepairandgivethem（atleasttotheyoungman’sfancy）adeeperfeelingofcommunion，andtheirdaystherehadbeenlikesomemusicalprelude，wheretheinstruments，breathinglow，seemtoholdbackthewavesofsoundthatpressagainstthem。
Mrs。Leath，onthisoccasion，wasnolesskindthanbefore；
butshecontrivedtomakehimunderstandthatwhatwassoinevitablycomingwasnottocometoosoon。Itwasnotthatsheshowedanyhesitationastotheissue，butratherthatsheseemedtowishnottomissanystageinthegradualrefloweringoftheirintimacy。
Darrow，forhispart，wascontenttowaitifshewishedit。
Herememberedthatonce，inAmerica，whenshewasagirl，andhehadgonetostaywithherfamilyinthecountry，shehadbeenoutwhenhearrived，andhermotherhadtoldhimtolookforherinthegarden。Shewasnotinthegarden，butbeyondithehadseenherapproachingdownalongshadypath。Withouthasteningherstepshehadsmiledandsignedtohimtowait；andcharmedbythelightsandshadowsthatplayeduponherasshemoved，andbythepleasureofwatchingherslowadvancetowardhim，hehadobeyedherandstoodstill。Andsosheseemednowtobewalkingtohimdowntheyears，thelightandshadeofoldmemoriesandnewhopesplayingvariouslyonher，andeachstepgivinghimthevisionofadifferentgrace。Shedidnotwaverorturnaside；heknewshewouldcomestraighttowherehestood；
butsomethinginhereyessaid\"Wait\"，andagainheobeyedandwaited。
Onthefourthdayanunexpectedeventthrewouthiscalculations。SummonedtotownbythearrivalinEnglandofherhusband’smother，sheleftwithoutgivingDarrowthechancehehadcountedon，andhecursedhimselfforadilatoryblunderer。Still，hisdisappointmentwastemperedbythecertaintyofbeingwithheragainbeforesheleftforFrance；andtheydidinfactseeeachotherinLondon。
There，however，theatmospherehadchangedwiththeconditions。Hecouldnotsaythatsheavoidedhim，oreventhatshewasashadelessgladtoseehim；butshewasbesetbyfamilydutiesand，ashethought，alittletooreadilyresignedtothem。
TheMarquisedeChantelle，asDarrowsoonperceived，hadthesamemildformidablenessasthelateMr。Leath：asortofinsistentself—effacementbeforewhicheveryoneabouthergaveway。Itwasperhapstheshadowofthislady’spresence——pervasiveevenduringheractualbriefeclipses——
thatsubduedandsilencedMrs。Leath。Thelatterwas，moreover，preoccupiedaboutherstepson，who，soonafterreceivinghisdegreeatHarvard，hadbeenrescuedfromastormylove—affair，andfinally，aftersomemonthsoftroubleddrifting，hadyieldedtohisstep—mother’scounselandgoneuptoOxfordforayearofsupplementarystudy。
ThitherMrs。Leathwentonceortwicetovisithim，andherremainingdayswerepackedwithfamilyobligations：getting，asshephrasedit，\"frocksandgovernesses\"forherlittlegirl，whohadbeenleftinFrance，andhavingtodevotetheremaininghourstolongshoppingexpeditionswithhermother—in—law。Nevertheless，duringherbriefescapesfromduty，Darrowhadhadtimetofeelhersafeinthecustodyofhisdevotion，setapartforsomeinevitablehour；andthelastevening，atthetheatre，betweentheovershadowingMarquiseandtheunsuspiciousOwen，theyhadhadanalmostdecisiveexchangeofwords。
Now，intherattleofthewindabouthisears，Darrowcontinuedtohearthemockingechoofhermessage：
\"Unexpectedobstacle。\"InsuchanexistenceasMrs。Leath’s，atoncesoorderedandsoexposed，heknewhowsmallacomplicationmightassumethemagnitudeofan\"obstacle；\"
yet，evenallowingasimpartiallyashisstateofmindpermittedforthefactthat，withhermother—in—lawalways，andherstepsonintermittently，underherroof，herlotinvolvedahundredsmallaccommodationsgenerallyforeigntothefreedomofwidowhood——evenso，hecouldnotbutthinkthattheveryingenuitybredofsuchconditionsmighthavehelpedhertofindawayoutofthem。No，her\"reason\"，whateveritwas，could，inthiscase，benothingbutapretext；unlessheleanedtothelessflatteringalternativethatanyreasonseemedgoodenoughforpostponinghim！
Certainly，ifherwelcomehadmeantwhatheimagined，shecouldnot，forthesecondtimewithinafewweeks，havesubmittedsotamelytothedisarrangementoftheirplans；adisarrangementwhich——hisofficialdutiesconsidered——might，forallsheknew，resultinhisnotbeingabletogotoherformonths。
\"Pleasedon’tcometillthirtieth。\"Thethirtieth——anditwasnowthefifteenth！Sheflungbackthefortnightonhishandsasifhehadbeenanidlerindifferenttodates，insteadofanactiveyoungdiplomatistwho，torespondtohercall，hadhadtohewhiswaythroughaveryjungleofengagements！\"Pleasedon’tcometillthirtieth。\"Thatwasall。Nottheshadowofanexcuseoraregret；noteventheperfunctory\"havewritten\"withwhichitisusualtosoftensuchblows。Shedidn’twanthim，andhadtakentheshortestwaytotellhimso。Eveninhisfirstmomentofexasperationitstruckhimascharacteristicthatsheshouldnothavepaddedherpostponementwithafib。Certainlyhermoralangleswerenotdraped！
\"IfIaskedhertomarryme，she’dhaverefusedinthesamelanguage。ButthankheavenIhaven’t！\"hereflected。
Theseconsiderations，whichhadbeenwithhimeveryyardofthewayfromLondon，reachedaclimaxofironyashewasdrawnintothecrowdonthepier。Itdidnotsoftenhisfeelingstorememberthat，butforherlackofforethought，hemight，atthisharshendofthestormyMayday，havebeensittingbeforehisclubfireinLondoninsteadofshiveringinthedamphumanherdonthepier。Admittingthesex’straditionalrighttochange，shemightatleasthaveadvisedhimofhersbytelegraphingdirectlytohisrooms。Butinspiteoftheirexchangeoflettersshehadapparentlyfailedtonotehisaddress，andabreathlessemissaryhadrushedfromtheEmbassytopitchhertelegramintohiscompartmentasthetrainwasmovingfromthestation。
Yes，hehadgivenherchanceenoughtolearnwherehelived；
andthisminorproofofherindifferencebecame，ashejammedhiswaythroughthecrowd，themainpointofhisgrievanceagainstherandofhisderisionofhimself。Halfwaydownthepiertheprodofanumbrellaincreasedhisexasperationbyrousinghimtothefactthatitwasraining。
Instantlythenarrowledgebecameabattle—groundofthrusting，slanting，parryingdomes。Thewindrosewiththerain，andtheharriedwretchesexposedtothisdoubleassaultwreakedontheirneighboursthevengeancetheycouldnottakeontheelements。
Darrow，whosehealthyenjoymentoflifemadehimingeneralagoodtraveller，tolerantofagglutinatedhumanity，felthimselfobscurelyoutragedbythesepromiscuouscontacts。
Itwasasthoughallthepeopleabouthimhadtakenhismeasureandknownhisplight；asthoughtheywerecontemptuouslybumpingandshovinghimliketheinconsiderablethinghehadbecome。\"Shedoesn’twantyou，doesn’twantyou，doesn’twantyou，\"theirumbrellasandtheirelbowsseemedtosay。
Hehadrashlyvowed，whenthetelegramwasflungintohiswindow：\"AtanyrateIwon’tturnback\"——asthoughitmightcausethesenderamaliciousjoytohavehimretracehisstepsratherthankeepontoParis！Nowheperceivedtheabsurdityofthevow，andthankedhisstarsthatheneednotplunge，tonopurpose，intothefuryofwavesoutsidetheharbour。
Withthisthoughtinhismindheturnedbacktolookforhisporter；butthecontiguityofdrippingumbrellasmadesignallingimpossibleand，perceivingthathehadlostsightoftheman，hescrambledupagaintotheplatform。Ashereachedit，adescendingumbrellacaughthiminthecollar—
bone；andthenextmoment，bentsidewaysbythewind，itturnedinsideoutandsoaredup，kite—wise，attheendofahelplessfemalearm。
Darrowcaughttheumbrella，lowereditsinvertedribs，andlookedupatthefaceitexposedtohim。
\"Waitaminute，\"hesaid；\"youcan’tstayhere。\"
Ashespoke，asurgeofthecrowddrovetheowneroftheumbrellaabruptlydownonhim。Darrowsteadiedherwithextendedarms，andregainingherfootingshecriedout：\"Oh，dear，oh，dear！It’sinribbons！\"
Herliftedface，freshandflushedinthedrivingrain，wokeinhimamemoryofhavingseenitatadistanttimeandinavaguelyunsympatheticsetting；butitwasnomomenttofollowupsuchclues，andthefacewasobviouslyonetomakeitswayonitsownmerits。
Itspossessorhaddroppedherbagandbundlestoclutchatthetatteredumbrella。\"IboughtitonlyyesterdayattheStores；and——yes——it’sutterlydonefor！\"shelamented。
Darrowsmiledattheintensityofherdistress。Itwasfoodforthemoralistthat，sidebysidewithsuchcatastrophesashis，humannaturewasstillagitatingitselfoveritsmicroscopicwoes！
\"Here’smineifyouwantit！\"heshoutedbackatherthroughtheshoutingofthegale。
Theoffercausedtheyoungladytolookathimmoreintently。\"Why，it’sMr。Darrow！\"sheexclaimed；andthen，allradiantrecognition：\"Oh，thankyou！We’llshareit，ifyouwill。\"
Sheknewhim，then；andheknewher；buthowandwherehadtheymet？Heputasidetheproblemforsubsequentsolution，anddrawingherintoamoreshelteredcorner，badeherwaittillhecouldfindhisporter。
When，afewminuteslater，hecamebackwithhisrecoveredproperty，andthenewsthattheboatwouldnotleavetillthetidehadturned，sheshowednoconcern。
\"Notfortwohours？Howlucky——thenIcanfindmytrunk！\"
OrdinarilyDarrowwouldhavefeltlittledisposedtoinvolvehimselfintheadventureofayoungfemalewhohadlosthertrunk；butatthemomenthewasgladofanypretextforactivity。EvenshouldhedecidetotakethenextuptrainfromDoverhestillhadayawninghourtofill；andtheobviousremedywastodevoteittothelovelinessindistressunderhisumbrella。
\"You’velostatrunk？LetmeseeifIcanfindit。\"
Itpleasedhimthatshedidnotreturntheconventional\"Oh，WOULDyou？\"Instead，shecorrectedhimwithalaugh——Notatrunk，butmytrunk；I’venoother——\"andthenaddedbriskly：\"You’dbetterfirstseetogettingyourownthingsontheboat。\"
Thismadehimanswer，asiftogivesubstancetohisplansbydiscussingthem：\"Idon’tactuallyknowthatI’mgoingover。\"
\"Notgoingover？\"
\"Well……perhapsnotbythisboat。\"Againhefeltastealingindecision。\"ImayprobablyhavetogobacktoLondon。
I’m——I’mwaiting……expectingaletter……（She’llthinkmeadefaulter，\"hereflected。）\"Butmeanwhilethere’splentyoftimetofindyourtrunk。\"
Hepickeduphiscompanion’sbundles，andofferedheranarmwhichenabledhertopressherslightpersonmorecloselyunderhisumbrella；andas，thuslinked，theybeattheirwaybacktotheplatform，pulledtogetherandapartlikemarionettesonthewiresofthewind，hecontinuedtowonderwherehecouldhaveseenher。Hehadimmediatelyclassedherasacompatriot；hersmallnose，hercleartints，akindofsketchydelicacyinherface，asthoughshehadbeenbrightlybutlightlywashedinwithwater—colour，allconfirmedtheevidenceofherhighsweetvoiceandofherquickincessantgestures。ShewasclearlyanAmerican，butwiththeloosenativequalitystrainedthroughacloserwoofofmanners：thecompositeproductofanenquiringandadaptablerace。Allthis，however，didnothelphimtofitanametoher，forjustsuchinstanceswereperpetuallypouringthroughtheLondonEmbassy，andtheetchedandangularAmericanwasbecomingrarerthanthefluidtype。
Morepuzzlingthanthefactofhisbeingunabletoidentifyherwasthepersistentsenseconnectingherwithsomethinguncomfortableanddistasteful。Sopleasantavisionasthatgleamingupathimbetweenwetbrownhairandwetbrownboashouldhaveevokedonlyassociationsaspleasing；buteachefforttofitherimageintohispastresultedinthesamememoriesofboredomandavaguediscomfort……
II
Don’tyouremembermenow——atMrs。Murrett’s？\"
ShethrewthequestionatDarrowacrossatableofthequietcoffee—roomtowhich，afteravainlyprolongedquestforhertrunk，hehadsuggestedtakingherforacupoftea。
Inthismustyretreatshehadremovedherdrippinghat，hungitonthefendertodry，andstretchedherselfontiptoeinfrontoftheroundeagle—crownedmirror，abovethemantelvasesofdyedimmortelles，whilesheranherfingerscomb—
wisethroughherhair。ThegesturehadactedonDarrow’snumbfeelingsastheglowofthefireactedonhiscirculation；andwhenhehadasked：\"Aren’tyourfeetwet，too？\"and，afterfrankinspectionofastout—shodsole，shehadansweredcheerfully：\"No——luckilyIhadonmynewboots，\"hebegantofeelthathumanintercoursewouldstillbetolerableifitwerealwaysasfreefromformality。
Theremovalofhiscompanion’shat，besidesprovokingthisreflection，gavehimhisfirstfullsightofherface；andthiswassofavourablethatthenameshenowpronouncedfellonhimwithaquitedisproportionateshockofdismay。
\"Oh，Mrs。Murrett’s——wasitTHERE？\"
Herememberedhernow，ofcourse：rememberedherasoneoftheshadowysidlingpresencesinthebackgroundofthatawfulhouseinChelsea，oneofthedumbappendagesoftheshriekingunescapableMrs。Murrett，intowhosetalonshehadfalleninthecourseofhishead—longpursuitofLadyUlricaCrispin。Oh，thetasteofstalefollies！Howinsipiditwas，yethowitclung！
\"Iusedtopassyouonthestairs，\"sheremindedhim。
Yes：hehadseenherslipby——herecalleditnow——ashedasheduptothedrawing—roominquestofLadyUlrica。Thethoughtmadehimstealalongerlook。HowcouldsuchafacehavebeenmergedintheMurrettmob？Itsfugitiveslantinglines，thatlentthemselvestoallmanneroftendertiltsandforeshortenings，hadthefreakishgraceofsomeyoungheadoftheItaliancomedy。Thehairstoodupfromherforeheadinaboyishelf—lock，anditscolourmatchedherauburneyesfleckedwithblack，andthelittlebrownspotonhercheek，betweentheearthatwasmeanttohavearosebehinditandthechinthatshouldhaverestedonaruff。
Whenshesmiled，theleftcornerofhermouthwentupalittlehigherthantheright；andhersmilebeganinhereyesandrandowntoherlipsintwolinesoflight。HehaddashedpastthattoreachLadyUlricaCrispin！
\"Butofcourseyouwouldn’trememberme，\"shewassaying。
\"MynameisViner——SophyViner。\"
Notrememberher？ButofcourseheDID！Hewasgenuinelysureofitnow。\"You’reMrs。Murrett’sniece，\"hedeclared。
Sheshookherhead。\"No；noteventhat。Onlyherreader。\"
\"Herreader？Doyoumeantosaysheeverreads？\"
MissVinerenjoyedhiswonder。\"Dear，no！ButIwrotenotes，andmadeupthevisiting—book，andwalkedthedogs，andsawboresforher。\"
Darrowgroaned。\"Thatmusthavebeenratherbad！\"
\"Yes；butnothinglikeasbadasbeingherniece。\"
\"ThatIcanwellbelieve。I’mgladtohear，\"headded，\"thatyouputitallinthepasttense。\"
Sheseemedtodroopalittleattheallusion；thensheliftedherchinwithajerkofdefiance。\"Yes。Allisatanendbetweenus。We’vejustpartedintears——butnotinsilence！\"
\"Justparted？Doyoumeantosayyou’vebeenthereallthistime？\"
\"EversinceyouusedtocometheretoseeLadyUlrica？Doesitseemtoyousoawfullylongago？\"
Theunexpectednessofthethrust——aswellasitsdoubtfultaste——chilledhisgrowingenjoymentofherchatter。Hehadreallybeengettingtolikeher——hadrecovered，underthecandidapprovalofhereye，hisusualsenseofbeingapersonableyoungman，withalltheprivilegespertainingtothestate，insteadoftheanonymousragofhumanityhehadfelthimselfinthecrowdonthepier。Itannoyedhim，atthatparticularmoment，toberemindedthatnaturalnessisnotalwaysconsonantwithtaste。
Sheseemedtoguesshisthought。\"Youdon’tlikemysayingthatyoucameforLadyUlrica？\"sheasked，leaningoverthetabletopourherselfasecondcupoftea。
Helikedherquickness，atanyrate。\"It’sbetter，\"helaughed，\"thanyourthinkingIcameforMrs。Murrett！\"
\"Oh，weneverthoughtanybodycameforMrs。Murrett！Itwasalwaysforsomethingelse：themusic，orthecook——whentherewasagoodone——ortheotherpeople；generallyONE
oftheotherpeople。\"
\"Isee。\"
Shewasamusing，andthat，inhispresentmood，wasmoretohispurposethantheexactshadeofhertaste。Itwasodd，too，todiscoversuddenlythattheblurredtapestryofMrs。
Murrett’sbackgroundhadallthewhilebeenaliveandfullofeyes。Now，withapairofthemlookingintohis，hewasconsciousofaqueerreversalofperspective。
\"Whowerethe’we’？Wereyouacloudofwitnesses？\"
\"Therewereagoodmanyofus。\"Shesmiled。\"Letmesee——
whowasthereinyourtime？Mrs。Bolt——andMademoiselle——andProfessorDidymusandthePolishCountess。Don’tyourememberthePolishCountess？Shecrystal—gazed，andplayedaccompaniments，andMrs。MurrettchuckedherbecauseMrs。
DidymusaccusedherofhypnotizingtheProfessor。Butofcourseyoudon’tremember。Wewereallinvisibletoyou；
butwecouldsee。Andweallusedtowonderaboutyou————\"
AgainDarrowfeltarednessinthetemples。\"Whataboutme？\"
\"Well——whetheritwasyouorshewho……\"
Hewinced，buthidhisdisapproval。Itmadethetimepasstolistentoher。
\"Andwhat，ifonemayask，wasyourconclusion？\"
\"Well，Mrs。BoltandMademoiselleandtheCountessnaturallythoughtitwasSHE；butProfessorDidymusandJimmyBrance——especiallyJimmy————\"
\"Justamoment：whoonearthisJimmyBrance？\"
Sheexclaimedinwonder：\"YouWEREabsorbed——nottorememberJimmyBrance！Hemusthavebeenrightaboutyou，afterall。\"Sheletheramusedscrutinydwellonhim。\"Buthowcouldyou？Shewasfalsefromheadtofoot！\"
\"False————？\"Inspiteoftimeandsatiety，themaleinstinctofownershiproseupandrepudiatedthecharge。
MissVinercaughthislookandlaughed。\"Oh，Ionlymeantexternally！Yousee，sheoftenusedtocometomyroomaftertennis，ortotouchupintheevenings，whentheyweregoingon；andIassureyoushetookapartlikeapuzzle。InfactIusedtosaytoJimmy——justtomakehimwild——：’I’llbetyouanythingyoulikethere’snothingwrong，becauseIknowshe’dneverdareun——’\"Shebrokethewordintwo，andherquickblushmadeherfacelikeashallow—petalledroseshadingtothedeeperpinkofthecentre。
Thesituationwassaved，forDarrow，byanabruptrushofmemories，andhegavewaytoamirthwhichsheasfranklyechoed。\"Ofcourse，\"shegaspedthroughherlaughter，\"I