Sheglanceddownthelongwalkaheadofthemandthenbackinthedirectionofthehouse。\"Ifyoulike，\"shesaidinalowvoice，withoneofherquickfluctuationsofcolour；butinsteadoftakingthewayheproposedsheturnedtowardanarrowpathwhichbranchedoffobliquelythroughthetrees。
Darrowwasstruck，andvaguelytroubled，bythechangeinherlookandtone。Therewasinthemanundefinableappeal，whetherforhelporforbearancehecouldnottell。Thenitoccurredtohimthattheremighthavebeensomethingmisleadinginhissopointedlyseekingher，andhefeltamomentaryconstraint。Toeaseithemadeanabruptdashatthetruth。
\"Icameouttolookforyoubecauseourtalkofyesterdaywassounsatisfactory。Iwanttohearmoreaboutyou——aboutyourplansandprospects。I’vebeenwonderingeversincewhyyou’vesocompletelygivenupthetheatre。\"
Herfaceinstantlysharpenedtodistrust。\"Ihadtolive，\"
shesaidinanoff—handtone。
\"Iunderstandperfectlythatyoushouldlikeithere——foratime。\"Hisglancestrayeddownthegold—roofedwindingsaheadofthem。\"It’sdelightful：youcouldn’tbebetterplaced。OnlyIwonderalittleatyourhavingsocompletelygivenupanyideaofadifferentfuture。\"
Shewaitedforamomentbeforeanswering：\"IsupposeI’mlessrestlessthanIusedtobe。\"
\"It’scertainlynaturalthatyoushouldbelessrestlessherethanatMrs。Murrett’s；yetsomehowIdon’tseemtoseeyoupermanentlygivenuptoformingtheyoung。\"
\"What——exactly——DOyouseemtoseemepermanentlygivenupto？Youknowyouwarnedmeratheremphaticallyagainstthetheatre。\"Shethrewoffthestatementwithoutimpatience，asthoughtheywerediscussingtogetherthefateofathirdpersoninwhombothwerebenevolentlyinterested。
Darrowconsideredhisreply。\"IfIdid，itwasbecauseyousoemphaticallyrefusedtoletmehelpyoutoastart。\"
Shestoppedshortandfacedhim\"AndyouthinkImayletyounow？\"
Darrowfeltthebloodinhischeek。Hecouldnotunderstandherattitude——ifindeedshehadconsciouslytakenone，andherchangesoftonedidnotmerelyreflecttheinvoluntaryalternationsofhermood。Ithumbledhimtoperceiveoncemorehowlittlehehadtoguidehiminhisjudgmentofher。
Hesaidtohimself：\"IfI’devercaredastrawforherI
shouldknowhowtoavoidhurtinghernow\"——andhisinsensibilitystruckhimasnobetterthanavulgarobtuseness。Buthehadafixedpurposeaheadandcouldonlypushontoit。
\"Ihope，atanyrate，you’lllistentomyreasons。There’sbeentime，onbothsides，tothinkthemoversince————\"Hecaughthimselfbackandhunghelplessonthe\"since\"：
whateverwordshechose，heseemedtostumbleamongremindersoftheirpast。
Shewalkedonbesidehim，hereyesontheground。\"ThenI’mtounderstand——definitely——thatyouDOrenewyouroffer？\"sheasked\"Withallmyheart！Ifyou’llonlyletme————\"
Sheraisedahand，asthoughtocheckhim。\"It’sextremelyfriendlyofyou——IDObelieveyoumeanitasafriend——
butIdon’tquiteunderstandwhy，findingme，asyousay，sowellplacedhere，youshouldshowmoreanxietyaboutmyfuturethanatatimewhenIwasactually，andratherdesperately，adrift。\"
\"Oh，no，notmore！\"
\"Ifyoushowanyatall，itmust，atanyrate，befordifferentreasons。——Infact，itcanonlybe，\"shewenton，withoneofherdisconcertingflashesofastuteness，\"foroneoftworeasons；eitherbecauseyoufeelyououghttohelpme，orbecause，forsomereason，youthinkyouoweittoMrs。Leathtoletherknowwhatyouknowofme。\"
Darrowstoodstillinthepath。BehindhimheheardEffie’scall，andatthechild’svoicehesawSophyturnherheadwiththealertnessofonewhoisobscurelyonthewatch。
Thelookwassofugitivethathecouldnothavesaidwhereinitdifferedfromhernormalprofessionalairofhavingherpupilonhermind。
Effiesprangpastthem，andDarrowtookupthegirl’schallenge。
\"WhatyousuggestaboutMrs。Leathishardlyworthanswering。Astomyreasonsforwantingtohelpyou，agooddealdependsonthewordsoneusestodefineratherindefinitethings。It’strueenoughthatIwanttohelpyou；butthewishisn’tdueto……toanypastkindnessonyourpart，butsimplytomyowninterestinyou。WhynotputitthatourfriendshipgivesmetherighttointerveneforwhatIbelievetobeyourbenefit？\"
Shetookafewhesitatingstepsandthenpausedagain。
Darrownoticedthatshehadgrownpaleandthattherewereringsofshadeabouthereyes。
\"You’veknownMrs。Leathalongtime？\"sheaskedhimsuddenly。
Hepausedwithasenseofapproachingperil。\"Alongtime——
yes。\"
\"Shetoldmeyouwerefriends——greatfriends\"
\"Yes，\"headmitted，\"we’regreatfriends。\"
\"Thenyoumightnaturallyfeelyourselfjustifiedintellingherthatyoudon’tthinkI’mtherightpersonforEffie。\"
Heutteredasoundofprotest，butshedisregardedit。\"I
don’tsayyou’dLIKEtodoit。Youwouldn’t：you’dhateit。AndthenaturalalternativewouldbetotrytopersuademethatI’dbebetteroffsomewhereelsethanhere。Butsupposingthatfailed，andyousawIwasdeterminedtostay？
THENyoumightthinkityourdutytotellMrs。Leath。\"
Shelaidthecasebeforehimwithacoldlucidity。\"I
should，inyourplace，Ibelieve，\"sheendedwithalittlelaugh。
\"Ishouldn’tfeeljustifiedintellingher，behindyourback，ifIthoughtyouunsuitedfortheplace；butIshouldcertainlyfeeljustified，\"herejoinedafterapause，\"intellingYOUifIthoughttheplaceunsuitedtoyou。\"
\"Andthat’swhatyou’retryingtotellmenow？\"
\"Yes；butnotforthereasonsyouimagine。\"
\"What，then，areyourreasons，ifyouplease？\"
\"I’vealreadyimpliedtheminadvisingyounottogiveupallideaofthetheatre。You’retoovarious，toogifted，toopersonal，totieyourselfdown，atyourage，tothedismaldrudgeryofteaching。\"
\"AndisTHATwhatyou’vetoldMrs。Leath？\"
Sherushedthequestionoutathimasifsheexpectedtotriphimupoverit。Hewasmovedbythesimplicityofthestratagem。
\"I’vetoldherexactlynothing，\"hereplied。
\"Andwhat——exactly——doyoumeanby’nothing’？YouandsheweretalkingaboutmewhenIcameintohersitting—roomyesterday。\"
Darrowfelthisbloodriseatthethrust。
\"I’vetoldher，simply，thatI’dseenyouonceortwiceatMrs。Murrett’s。\"
\"Andnotthatyou’veeverseenmesince？\"
\"AndnotthatI’veeverseenyousince……\"
\"Andshebelievesyou——shecompletelybelievesyou？\"
Heutteredaprotestingexclamation，andhisflushreflecteditselfinthegirl’scheek。
\"Oh，Ibegyourpardon！Ididn’tmeantoaskyouthat。\"Shehalted，andagaincastarapidglancebehindandaheadofher。Thensheheldoutherhand。\"Well，then，thankyou——
andletmerelieveyourfears。Isha’n’tbeEffie’sgovernessmuchlonger。\"
Attheannouncement，Darrowtriedtomergehislookofreliefintotheexpressionoffriendlyinterestwithwhichhegraspedherhand。\"Youreallydoagreewithme，then？
Andyou’llgivemeachancetotalkthingsoverwithyou？\"
Sheshookherheadwithafaintsmile。\"I’mnotthinkingofthestage。I’vehadanotheroffer：that’sall。\"
Thereliefwashardlylessgreat。Afterall，hispersonalresponsibilityceasedwithherdeparturefromGivre。
\"You’lltellmeaboutthat，then——won’tyou？\"
Hersmileflickeredup。\"Oh，you’llhearaboutitsoon……I
mustcatchEffienowanddragherbacktotheblackboard。\"
Shewalkedonforafewyards，andthenpausedagainandconfrontedhim。\"I’vebeenodioustoyou——andnotquitehonest，\"shebrokeoutsuddenly。
\"Notquitehonest？\"herepeated，caughtinafreshwaveofwonder。
\"Imean，inseemingnottotrustyou。It’scomeovermeagainaswetalkedthat，atheart，I’vealwaysKNOWNI
could……\"
Hercolourroseinabrightwave，andhereyesclungtohisforaswiftinstantofreminderandappeal。Forthesamespaceoftimethepastsurgedupinhimconfusedly；thenaveildroppedbetweenthem。
\"Here’sEffienow！\"sheexclaimed。
Heturnedandsawthelittlegirltrottingbacktothem，herhandinOwenLeath’s。
EventhroughthestirofhissubsidingexcitementDarrowwasatonceawareofthechangeeffectedbytheyoungman’sapproach。ForamomentSophyViner’scheeksburnedredder；
thentheyfadedtothepalenessofwhitepetals。Shelost，however，nothingofthebrightbraverywhichitwasherwaytoturnontheunexpected。PerhapsnoonelessfamiliarwithherfacethanDarrowwouldhavediscernedthetensionofthesmileshetransferredfromhimselftoOwenLeath，orhaveremarkedthathereyeshadhardenedfrommistygreytoashiningdarkness。ButherobserverwaslessstruckbythisthanbythecorrespondingchangeinOwenLeath。Thelatter，whenhecameinsight，hadbeenlaughingandtalkingunconcernedlywithEffie；butashiseyefellonMissVinerhisexpressionalteredassuddenlyashers。
Thechange，forDarrow，waslessdefinable；but，perhapsforthatreason，itstruckhimasmoresharplysignificant。
Only——justwhatdiditsignify？Owen，likeSophyViner，hadthekindoffacewhichseemslessthestageonwhichemotionsmovethantheverystufftheyworkin。Inmomentsofexcitementhisoddirregularfeaturesseemedtogrowfluid，tounmakeandremakethemselvesliketheshadowsofcloudsonastream。Darrow，throughtherapidflightoftheshadows，couldnotseizeonanyspecificindicationoffeeling：hemerelyperceivedthattheyoungmanwasunaccountablysurprisedatfindinghimwithMissViner，andthattheextentofhissurprisemightcoverallmannerofimplications。
Darrow’sfirstideawasthatOwen，ifhesuspectedthattheconversationwasnottheresultofanaccidentalencounter，mightwonderathisstep—mother’ssuitorbeingengaged，atsuchanhour，inprivatetalkwithherlittlegirl’sgoverness。Thethoughtwassodisturbingthat，asthethreeturnedbacktothehouse，hewasonthepointofsayingtoOwen：\"Icameouttolookforyourmother。\"But，inthecontingencyhefeared，evensosimpleaphrasemightseemlikeanawkwardattemptatexplanation；andhewalkedoninsilenceatMissViner’sside。PresentlyhewasstruckbythefactthatOwenLeathandthegirlweresilentalso；andthisgaveanewturntohisthoughts。Silencemaybeasvariouslyshadedasspeech；andthatwhichenfoldedDarrowandhistwocompanionsseemedtohiswatchfulperceptionstobequiveringwithcross—threadsofcommunication。Atfirsthewasawareonlyofthosethatcentredinhisowntroubledconsciousness；thenitoccurredtohimthatanequalactivityofintercoursewasgoingonoutsideofit。
SomethingwasinfactpassingmutelyandrapidlybetweenyoungLeathandSophyViner；butwhatitwas，andwhitherittended，Darrow，whentheyreachedthehouse，wasbutjustbeginningtodivine……
XVIII
AnnaLeath，fromtheterrace，watchedthereturnofthelittlegroup。
Shelookeddownonthem，astheyadvancedacrossthegarden，fromthesereneheightofherunassailablehappiness。Theretheywere，comingtowardherinthemildmorninglight，herchild，herstep—son，herpromisedhusband：thethreebeingswhofilledherlife。Shesmiledalittleatthehappypicturetheypresented，Effie’sgambolsencirclingitinamovingframewithinwhichthetwomencameslowlyforwardinthesilenceoffriendlyunderstanding。Itseemedpartofthedeepintimacyofthescenethattheyshouldnotbetalkingtoeachother，anditdidnottillafterwardstrikeherasoddthatneitherofthemapparentlyfeltitnecessarytoaddressawordtoSophyViner。
Annaherself，atthemoment，wasfloatinginthemid—currentoffelicity，onatidesobrightandbuoyantthatsheseemedtobeonewithitswarmwaves。Thefirstrushofblisshadstunnedanddazzledher；butnowthat，eachmorning，shewoketothecalmcertaintyofitsrecurrence，shewasgrowingusedtothesenseofsecurityitgave。
\"IfeelasifIcouldtrustmyhappinesstocarryme；asifithadgrownoutofmelikewings。\"SoshephrasedittoDarrow，as，laterinthemorning，theypacedthegarden—
pathstogether。Hisansweringlookgaveherthesameassuranceofsafety。Theeveningbeforehehadseemedpreoccupied，andtheshadowofhismoodhadfaintlyencroachedonthegreatgoldenorboftheirblessedness；butnowitwasuneclipsedagain，andhungabovethemhighandbrightasthesunatnoon。
Upstairsinhersitting—room，thatafternoon，shewasthinkingofthesethings。Themorningmistshadturnedtorain，compellingthepostponementofanexcursioninwhichthewholepartyweretohavejoined。Effie，withhergoverness，hadbeendespatchedinthemotortodosomeshoppingatFrancheuil；andAnnahadpromisedDarrowtojoinhim，laterintheafternoon，foraquickwalkintherain。
Hehadgonetohisroomafterluncheontogetsomebelatedlettersoffhisconscience；andwhenhehadlefthershehadcontinuedtositinthesameplace，herhandscrossedonherknees，herheadslightlybent，inanattitudeofbroodingretrospection。Asshelookedbackatherpastlife，itseemedtohertohaveconsistedofoneceaselessefforttopackintoeachhourenoughtofilloutitsslackfolds；butnoweachmomentwaslikeamiser’sbagstretchedtoburstingwithpuregold。
ShewasrousedbythesoundofOwen’sstepinthegalleryoutsideherroom。Itpausedatherdoorandinanswertohisknockshecalledout\"Comein！\"
Asthedoorclosedbehindhimshewasstruckbyhislookofpaleexcitement，andanimpulseofcompunctionmadehersay：
\"You’vecometoaskmewhyIhaven’tspokentoyourgrandmother！\"
HesentabouthimaglancevaguelyremindingherofthestrangelookwithwhichSophyVinerhadswepttheroomthenightbefore；thenhisbrillianteyescamebacktoher。
\"I’vespokentohermyself，\"hesaid。
Annastartedup，incredulous。
\"You’vespokentoher？When？\"
\"Justnow。Ilefthertocomehere。\"
Anna’sfirstfeelingwasoneofannoyance。Therewasreallysomethingcomicallyincongruousinthisboyishsurrendertoimpulseonthepartofayoungmansoeagertoassumetheresponsibilitiesoflife。Shelookedathimwithafaintlyveiledamusement。
\"YouaskedmetohelpyouandIpromisedyouIwould。Itwashardlyworthwhiletoworkoutsuchanelaborateplanofactionifyouintendedtotakethematteroutofmyhandswithouttellingme。\"
\"Oh，don’ttakethattonewithme！\"hebrokeout，almostangrily。
\"Thattone？Whattone？\"Shestaredathisquiveringface。
\"Imight，\"shepursued，stillhalf—laughing，\"moreproperlymakethatrequestofYOU！\"
Owenreddenedandhisvehemencesuddenlysubsided。
\"ImeantthatIHADtospeak——that’sall。Youdon’tgivemeachancetoexplain……\"
Shelookedathimgently，wonderingalittleatherownimpatience。
\"Owen！Don’tIalwayswanttogiveyoueverychance？It’sbecauseIDOthatIwantedtotalktoyourgrandmotherfirst——thatIwaswaitingandwatchingfortherightmoment……\"
\"Therightmoment？SowasI。That’swhyI’vespoken。\"Hisvoiceroseagainandtookthesharpedgeithadinmomentsofhighpressure。
Hisstep—motherturnedawayandseatedherselfinhersofa—
corner。\"Oh，mydear，it’snotaprivilegetoquarrelover！
You’vetakenaloadoffmyshoulders。Sitdownandtellmeallaboutit。\"
Hestoodbeforeher，irresolute。\"Ican’tsitdown，\"hesaid。
\"Walkabout，then。Onlytellme：I’mimpatient。\"
Hisimmediateresponsewastothrowhimselfintothearmchairatherside，whereheloungedforamomentwithoutspeaking，hislegsstretchedout，hisarmslockedbehindhisthrown—backhead。Anna，hereyesonhisface，waitedquietlyforhimtospeak。
\"Well——ofcourseitwasjustwhatoneexpected。\"
\"Shetakesitsobadly，youmean？\"
\"Alltheheavybatterieswerebroughtup：myfather，Givre，MonsieurdeChantelle，thethroneandthealtar。Evenmypoormotherwasdraggedoutofoblivionandarmedwithimaginaryprotests。\"
Annasighedouthersympathy。\"Well——youwerepreparedforallthat？\"
\"IthoughtIwas，tillIbegantohearhersayit。ThenitsoundedsoincrediblysillythatItoldherso。\"
\"Oh，Owen——Owen！\"
\"Yes：Iknow。Iwasafool；butIcouldn’thelpit。\"
\"Andyou’vemortallyoffendedher，Isuppose？That’sexactlywhatIwantedtoprevent。\"Shelaidahandonhisshoulder。
\"Youtiresomeboy，nottowaitandletmespeakforyou！\"
Hemovedslightlyaway，sothatherhandslippedfromitsplace。\"Youdon’tunderstand，\"hesaid，frowning。
\"Idon’tseehowIcan，tillyouexplain。Ifyouthoughtthetimehadcometotellyourgrandmother，whynothaveaskedmetodoit？Ihadmyreasonsforwaiting；butifyou’dtoldmetospeakIshouldhavedoneso，naturally。\"
Heevadedherappealbyasuddenturn。\"WhatWEREyourreasonsforwaiting？\"
Annadidnotimmediatelyanswer。Herstep—son’seyeswereonherface，andunderhisgazeshefeltafaintdisquietude。
\"Iwasfeelingmyway……Iwantedtobeabsolutelysure……\"
\"Absolutelysureofwhat？\"
Shedelayedagainforajustperceptibleinstant。\"Why，simplyofOURsideofthecase。\"
\"Butyoutoldmeyouwere，theotherday，whenwetalkeditoverbeforetheycamebackfromOuchy。\"
\"Oh，mydear——ifyouthinkthat，insuchacomplicatedmatter，everyday，everyhour，doesn’tmoreorlessmodifyone’ssurestsureness！\"
\"That’sjustwhatI’mdrivingat。Iwanttoknowwhathasmodifiedyours。\"
Shemadeaslightgestureofimpatience。\"Whatdoesitmatter，nowthething’sdone？Idon’tknowthatIcouldgiveanyclearreason……\"
Hegottohisfeetandstoodlookingdownonherwithatormentedbrow。\"Butit’sabsolutelynecessarythatyoushould。\"
Athistoneherimpatienceflaredup。\"It’snotnecessarythatIshouldgiveyouanyexplanationwhatever，sinceyou’vetakenthematteroutofmyhands。AllIcansayisthatIwastryingtohelpyou：thatnootherthoughteverenteredmymind。\"Shepausedamomentandthenadded：\"Ifyoudoubtedit，youwererighttodowhatyou’vedone。\"
\"Oh，IneverdoubtedYOU！\"heretorted，withafugitivestressonthepronoun。Hisfacehadclearedtoitsoldlookoftrust。\"Don’tbeoffendedifI’veseemedto，\"hewenton。\"Ican’tquiteexplainmyself，either……it’sallakindoftangle，isn’tit？That’swhyIthoughtI’dbetterspeakatonce；orratherwhyIdidn’tthinkatall，butjustsuddenlyblurtedthethingout————\"
Annagavehimbackhislookofconciliation。\"Well，thehowandwhydon’tmuchmatternow。Thepointishowtodealwithyourgrandmother。You’venottoldmewhatshemeanstodo。\"
\"Oh，shemeanstosendforAdelaidePainter。\"
Thenamedrewafaintnoteofmirthfromhimandrelaxedboththeirfacestoasmile。
\"Perhaps，\"Annaadded，\"it’sreallythebestthingforusall。\"
Owenshruggedhisshoulders。\"It’stoopreposterousandhumiliating。Draggingthatwomanintooursecrets————！\"
\"Thiscouldhardlybeasecretmuchlonger。\"
Hehadmovedtothehearth，wherehestoodpushingaboutthesmallornamentsonthemantel—shelf；butatheranswerheturnedbacktoher。
\"Youhaven’t，ofcourse，spokenofittoanyone？\"
\"No；butIintendtonow。\"
Shepausedforhisreply，andasitdidnotcomeshecontinued：\"IfAdelaidePainter’stobetoldthere’snopossiblereasonwhyIshouldn’ttellMr。Darrow。\"
Owenabruptlysetdownthelittlestatuettebetweenhisfingers。\"Nonewhatever：Iwanteveryonetoknow。\"
Shesmiledalittleathisover—emphasis，andwasabouttomeetitwithawordofbanterwhenhecontinued，facingher：
\"Youhaven’t，asyet，saidawordtohim？\"
\"I’vetoldhimnothing，exceptwhatthediscussionofourownplans——hisandmine——obligedmeto：thatyouwerethinkingofmarrying，andthatIwasn’twillingtoleaveFrancetillI’ddonewhatIcouldtoseeyouthrough。\"
Atherfirstwordsthecolourhadrushedtohisforehead；
butasshecontinuedshesawhisfacecomposeitselfandhisbloodsubside。
\"You’reabrick，mydear！\"heexclaimed。
\"Youhadmyword，youknow。\"
\"Yes；yes——Iknow。\"Hisfacehadcloudedagain。\"Andthat’sall——positivelyall——you’veeversaidtohim？\"
\"Positivelyall。Butwhydoyouask？\"
Hehadamoment’sembarrassedhesitation。\"Itwasunderstood，wasn’tit，thatmygrandmotherwastobethefirsttoknow？\"
\"Well——andsoshehasbeen，hasn’tshe，sinceyou’vetoldher？\"
Heturnedbacktohisrestlessshiftingoftheknick—knacks。
\"Andyou’resurethatnothingyou’vesaidtoDarrowcouldpossiblyhavegivenhimahint————？\"
\"NothingI’vesaidtohim——certainly。\"
Heswungaboutonher。\"Whydoyouputitinthatway？\"
\"Inwhatway？\"
\"Why——asifyouthoughtsomeoneelsemighthavespoken……\"
\"Someoneelse？Whoelse？\"Sherosetoherfeet。\"Whatonearth，mydearboy，canyoubedrivingat？\"
\"I’mtryingtofindoutwhetheryouthinkheknowsanythingdefinite。\"
\"WhyshouldIthinkso？DoYOU？\"
\"Idon’tknow。Iwanttofindout。\"
Shelaughedathisobstinateinsistence。\"Totestmyveracity，Isuppose？\"Atthesoundofastepinthegallerysheadded：\"Hereheis——youcanaskhimyourself。\"
ShemetDarrow’sknockwithaninvitationtoenter，andhecameintotheroomandpausedbetweenherselfandOwen。Shewasstruck，ashestoodthere，bythecontrastbetweenhishappycarelessgood—looksandherstep—son’sfrowningagitation。
Darrowmethereyeswithasmile。\"AmItoosoon？Orisourwalkgivenup？\"
\"No；Iwasjustgoingtogetready。\"Shecontinuedtolingerbetweenthetwo，lookingslowlyfromonetotheother。\"Butthere’ssomethingwewanttotellyoufirst：OwenisengagedtoMissViner。\"
ThesenseofanindefinableinterrogationinOwen’smindmadeher，asshespoke，fixhereyessteadilyonDarrow。
Hehadpausedjustoppositethewindow，sothat，evenintherainyafternoonlight，hisfacewasclearlyopentoherscrutiny。Forasecond，immensesurprisewasalonevisibleonit：sovisiblethatshehalfturnedtoherstep—son，withafaintsmileforhisrefutedsuspicions。Why，shewondered，shouldOwenhavethoughtthatDarrowhadalreadyguessedhissecret，andwhat，afterall，couldbesodisturbingtohiminthisnotimprobablecontingency？Atanyrate，hisdoubtmusthavebeendispelled：therewasnothingfeignedaboutDarrow’sastonishment。WhenhereyesturnedbacktohimhewasalreadycrossingtoOwenwithoutstretchedhand，andshehad，throughanunaccountablefaintflutterofmisgiving，amereconfusedsenseoftheirexchangingthecustomaryphrases。HernextperceptionwasofOwen’stranquillizedlook，andofhissmilingreturnofDarrow’scongratulatorygrasp。Shehadtheeeriefeelingofhavingbeenoversweptbyashadowwhichtherehadbeennocloudtocast……
AmomentlaterOwenhadlefttheroomandsheandDarrowwerealone。Hehadturnedawaytothewindowandstoodstaringoutintothedown—pour。
\"You’resurprisedatOwen’snews？\"sheasked。
\"Yes：Iamsurprised，\"heanswered。
\"Youhadn’tthoughtofitsbeingMissViner？\"