hecan’tliveontheinterestofhisfeelings。HeworshipsSophyandsheseemedtobefondofhim。Ifshe’schangedit’sbeenverysudden。Andiftheypartlikethis，angrilyandinarticulately，itwillhurthimhorribly——hurthisverysoul。Butthat，asyousay，isbetweenthetwo。Whatconcernsmeishisassociatingyouwiththeirquarrel。
Owen’slikemyownson——ifyou’dseenhimwhenIfirstcamehereyou’dknowwhy。Wewereliketwoprisonerswhotalktoeachotherbytappingonthewall。He’sneverforgottenit，norI。WhetherhebreakswithSophy，orwhethertheymakeitup，Ican’tlethimthinkyouhadanythingtodowithit。\"
SheraisedhereyesentreatinglytoDarrow’s，andreadinthemtheforbearanceofthemanresignedtothediscussionofnon—existentproblems。
\"I’lldowhateveryouwantmeto，\"hesaid；\"butIdon’tyetknowwhatitis。\"
Hissmileseemedtochargeherwithinconsequence，andthepricktoherpridemadehercontinue：\"Afterall，it’snotsounnaturalthatOwen，knowingyouandSophytobealmoststrangers，shouldwonderwhatyouweresayingtoeachotherwhenhesawyoutalkingtogether。\"
Shefeltawarningtremorasshespoke，asthoughsomeinstinctdeeperthanreasonsurgedupindefenseofitstreasure。ButDarrow’sfacewasunstirredsavebytheflitofhishalf—amusedsmile。
\"Well，mydear——andcouldn’tyouhavetoldhim？\"
\"I？\"shefalteredoutthroughherblush。
\"Youseemtoforget，oneandallofyou，thepositionyouputmeinwhenIcamedownhere：yourappealtometoseeOwenthrough，yourassurancetohimthatIwould，MadamedeChantelle’sattempttowinmeover；andmostofall，myownsenseofthefactyou’vejustrecalledtome：theimportance，forbothofus，thatOwenshouldlikeme。ItseemedtomethatthefirstthingtodowastogetasmuchlightasIcouldonthewholesituation；andtheobviouswayofdoingitwastotrytoknowMissVinerbetter。OfcourseI’vetalkedwithheralone——I’vetalkedwithherasoftenasIcould。I’vetriedmybesttofindoutifyouwererightinencouragingOwentomarryher。\"
Shelistenedwithagrowingsenseofreassurance，strugglingtoseparatetheabstractsenseofhiswordsfromthepersuasioninwhichhiseyesandvoiceenvelopedthem。
\"Isee——Idosee，\"shemurmured。
\"Youmustsee，also，thatIcouldhardlysaythistoOwenwithoutoffendinghimstillmore，andperhapsincreasingthebreachbetweenMissVinerandhimself。WhatsortoffigureshouldIcutifItoldhimI’dbeentryingtofindoutifhe’dmadeaproperchoice？Inanycase，it’snoneofmybusinesstoofferanexplanationofwhatshejustlysaysdoesn’tneedone。Ifshedeclinestospeak，it’sobviouslyonthegroundthatOwen’sinsinuationsareabsurd；andthatsurelypledgesmetosilence。\"
\"Yes，yes！Isee，\"Annarepeated。\"ButIdon’twantyoutoexplainanythingtoOwen。\"
\"Youhaven’tyettoldmewhatyoudowant。\"
Shehesitated，consciousofthedifficultyofjustifyingherrequest；then：\"IwantyoutospeaktoSophy，\"shesaid。
Darrowbrokeintoanincredulouslaugh。\"Consideringwhatmypreviousattemptshaveresultedin————！\"
Sheraisedhereyesquickly。\"Theyhaven’t，atleast，resultedinyourlikingherless，inyourthinkinglesswellofherthanyou’vetoldme？\"
Shefanciedhefrownedalittle。\"Iwonderwhyyougobacktothat？\"
\"Iwanttobesure——IoweittoOwen。Won’tyoutellmetheexactimpressionshe’sproducedonyou？\"
\"Ihavetoldyou——IlikeMissViner。\"
\"Doyoustillbelieveshe’sinlovewithOwen？\"
\"Therewasnothinginourshorttalkstothrowanyparticularlightonthat。\"
\"Youstillbelieve，though，thatthere’snoreasonwhyheshouldn’tmarryher？\"
Againhebetrayedarestrainedimpatience。\"HowcanI
answerthatwithoutknowingherreasonsforbreakingwithhim？\"
\"That’sjustwhatIwantyoutofindoutfromher。\"
\"Andwhyintheworldshouldshetellme？\"
\"Because，whatevergrievanceshehasagainstOwen，shecancertainlyhavenoneagainstme。Shecan’twanttohaveOwenconnectmeinhismindwiththiswretchedquarrel；andshemustseethathewilluntilhe’sconvincedyou’vehadnoshareinit。\"
Darrow’selbowdroppedfromthemantel—pieceandhetookarestlesssteportwoacrosstheroom。Thenhehaltedbeforeher。
\"Whycan’tyoutellherthisyourself？\"
\"Don’tyousee？\"
Heeyedherintently，andshepressedon：\"YoumusthaveguessedthatOwen’sjealousofyou。\"
\"Jealousofme？\"Thebloodflewupunderhisbrownskin。
\"Blindwithit——whatelsewoulddrivehimtothisfolly？AndIcan’thaveherthinkmejealoustoo！I’vesaidallI
could，shortofmakingherthinkso；andshe’srefusedawordmoretoeitherofus。Ouronlychancenowisthatsheshouldlistentoyou——thatyoushouldmakeherseetheharmhersilencemaydo。\"
Darrowutteredaprotestingexclamation。\"It’salltoopreposterous——whatyousuggest！Ican’t，atanyrate，appealtoheronsuchagroundasthat！\"
Annalaidherhandonhisarm。\"AppealtoheronthegroundthatI’malmostOwen’smother，andthatanyestrangementbetweenyouandhimwouldkillme。Sheknowswhatheis——
she’llunderstand。Tellhertosayanything，doanything，shewishes；butnottogoawaywithoutspeaking，nottoleaveTHATbetweenuswhenshegoes！\"
Shedrewbackastepandliftedherfacetohis，tryingtolookintohiseyesmoredeeplythanshehadeverlooked；butbeforeshecoulddiscernwhattheyexpressedhehadtakenholdofherhandsandbenthisheadtokissthem。
\"You’llseeher？You’llseeher？\"sheentreated；andheanswered：\"I’lldoanythingintheworldyouwantmeto。\"
XXVI
Darrowwaitedaloneinthesitting—room。
Noplacecouldhavebeenmoredistastefulasthesceneofthetalkthatlaybeforehim；buthehadaccededtoAnna’ssuggestionthatitwouldseemmorenaturalforhertosummonSophyVinerthanforhimtogoinsearchofher。Ashistroubledpacingscarriedhimbackandfortharelentlesshandseemedtobetearingawayallthetenderfibresofassociationthatboundhimtothepeacefulroom。Here，inthisveryplace，hehaddrunkhisdeepestdraughtsofhappiness，hadhadhislipsatthefountain—headofitsoverflowingrivers；butnowthatsourcewaspoisonedandhewouldtastenomoreofanuntaintedcup。
Foramomenthefeltanactualphysicalanguish；thenhisnerveshardenedforthecomingstruggle。Hehadnonotionofwhatawaitedhim；butafterthefirstinstinctiverecoilhehadseeninaflashtheurgentneedofanotherwordwithSophyViner。HehadbeeninsincereinlettingAnnathinkthathehadconsentedtospeakbecausesheaskedit。Inrealityhehadbeenfeverishlycastingaboutforthepretextshehadgivenhim；andforsomereasonthistrivialhypocrisyweighedonhimmorethanallhisheavyburdenofdeceit。
AtlengthheheardastepbehindhimandSophyVinerentered。Whenshesawhimshepausedonthethresholdandhalfdrewback。
\"IwastoldthatMrs。Leathhadsentforme。\"
\"Mrs。LeathDIDsendforyou。She’llbeherepresently；
butIaskedhertoletmeseeyoufirst。\"
Hespokeverygently，andtherewasnoinsincerityinhisgentleness。Hewasprofoundlymovedbythechangeinthegirl’sappearance。Atsightofhimshehadforcedasmile；
butitlitupherwretchednesslikeacandle—flameheldtoadeadface。
Shemadenoreply，andDarrowwenton：\"Youmustunderstandmywantingtospeaktoyou，afterwhatIwastoldjustnow。\"
Sheinterposed，withagestureofprotest：\"I’mnotresponsibleforOwen’sravings！\"
\"Ofcourse————\"。Hebrokeoffandtheystoodfacingeachother。Sheliftedahandandpushedbackherlooselockwiththegesturethatwasburntintohismemory；thenshelookedaboutheranddroppedintothenearestchair。
\"Well，you’vegotwhatyouwanted，\"shesaid。
\"WhatdoyoumeanbywhatIwanted？\"
\"Myengagement’sbroken——youheardmesayso。\"
\"Whydoyousaythat’swhatIwanted？AllIwished，fromthebeginning，wastoadviseyou，tohelpyouasbestIcould——
——\"
\"That’swhatyou’vedone，\"sherejoined。\"You’veconvincedmethatit’sbestIshouldn’tmarryhim。\"
Darrowbrokeintoadespairinglaugh。\"Attheverymomentwhenyou’dconvincedmetothecontrary！\"
\"HadI？\"Hersmileflickeredup。\"Well，Ireallybelievedittillyoushowedme……warnedme……\"
\"Warnedyou？\"
\"ThatI’dbemiserableifImarriedamanIdidn’tlove。\"
\"Don’tyoulovehim？\"
Shemadenoanswer，andDarrowstartedupandwalkedawaytotheotherendoftheroom。Hestoppedbeforethewriting—
table，wherehisphotograph，well—dressed，handsome，self—
sufficient——theportraitofamanoftheworld，confidentofhisabilitytodealadequatelywiththemostdelicatesituations——offereditshugefatuitytohisgaze。Heturnedbacktoher。\"It’sratherhardonOwen，isn’tit，thatyoushouldhavewaiteduntilnowtotellhim？\"
Shereflectedamomentbeforeanswering。\"ItoldhimassoonasIknew。\"
\"Knewthatyoucouldn’tmarryhim？\"
\"KnewthatIcouldneverliveherewithhim。\"Shelookedabouttheroom，asthoughtheverywallsmustspeakforher。
ForamomentDarrowcontinuedtosearchherfaceperplexedly；thentheireyesmetinalongdisastrousgaze。
\"Yes————\"shesaid，andstoodup。
BelowthewindowtheyheardEffiewhistlingforherdogs，andthen，fromtheterrace，hermothercallingher。
\"There——THATforinstance，\"SophyVinersaid。
Darrowbrokeout：\"It’sIwhooughttogo！\"
Shekepthersmallpalesmile。\"Whatgoodwouldthatdoanyofus——now？\"
Hecoveredhisfacewithhishands。\"GoodGod！\"hegroaned。
\"HowcouldItell？\"
\"Youcouldn’ttell。Weneitherofuscould。\"Sheseemedtoturntheproblemovercritically。\"Afterall，itmighthavebeenYOUinsteadofme！\"
Hetookanotherdistractedturnabouttheroomandcomingbacktohersatdowninachairatherside。Amockinghandseemedtodashthewordsfromhislips。Therewasnothingonearththathecouldsaytoherthatwasn’tfoolishorcruelorcontemptible……
\"Mydear，\"hebeganatlast，\"oughtn’tyou，atanyrate，totry？\"
Hergazegrewgrave。\"Trytoforgetyou？\"
Heflushedtotheforehead。\"Imeant，trytogiveOwenmoretime；togivehimachance。He’smadlyinlovewithyou；
allthegoodthat’sinhimisinyourhands。Hisstep—motherfeltthatfromthefirst。Andshethought——shebelieved————
\"
\"ShethoughtIcouldmakehimhappy。Wouldshethinksonow？\"
\"Now……？Idon’tsaynow。Butlater？Timemodifies……rubsout……morequicklythanyouthink……Goaway，butlethimhope……I’mgoingtoo——WE’REgoing——\"hestumbledontheplural——\"inaveryfewweeks：goingforalongtime，probably。Whatyou’rethinkingofnowmayneverhappen。Wemaynotallbeheretogetheragainforyears。\"
Sheheardhimoutinsilence，herhandsclaspedonherknee，hereyesbentonthem。\"Forme，\"shesaid，\"you’llalwaysbehere。\"
\"Don’tsaythat——oh，don’t！Thingschange……peoplechange……You’llsee！\"
\"Youdon’tunderstand。Idon’twantanythingtochange。I
don’twanttoforget——torubout。AtfirstIimaginedI
did；butthatwasafoolishmistake。AssoonasIsawyouagainIknewit……It’snotbeingherewithyouthatI’mafraidof——inthesenseyouthink。It’sbeinghere，oranywhere，withOwen。\"Shestoodupandbenthertragicsmileonhim。\"Iwanttokeepyoualltomyself。\"
Theonlywordsthatcametohimwerefutiledenunciationsofhisfolly；butthesenseoftheirfutilitycheckedthemonhislips。\"Poorchild——youpoorchild！\"heheardhimselfvainlyrepeating。
Suddenlyhefeltthestrongreactionofrealityanditsimpetusbroughthimtohisfeet。\"Whateverhappens，I
intendtogo——togoforgood，\"heexclaimed。\"Iwantyoutounderstandthat。Oh，don’tbeafraid——I’llfindareason。
Butit’sperfectlyclearthatImustgo。\"
Sheutteredaprotestingcry。\"Goaway？You？Don’tyouseethatthatwouldtelleverything——drageverybodyintothehorror？\"
Hefoundnoanswer，andhervoicedroppedbacktoitscalmernote。\"Whatgoodwouldyourgoingdo？Doyousupposeitwouldchangeanythingforme？\"Shelookedathimwithamusingwistfulness。\"Iwonderwhatyourfeelingformewas？
ItseemsqueerthatI’veneverreallyknown——IsupposeweDON’Tknowmuchaboutthatkindoffeeling。Isitliketakingadrinkwhenyou’rethirsty？……Iusedtofeelasifallofmewasinthepalmofyourhand……\"
Hebowedhishumbledhead，butshewentonalmostexultantly：\"Don’tforaminutethinkI’msorry！Itwaswortheverypennyitcost。Mymistakewasinbeingashamed，justatfirst，ofitshavingcostsuchalot。Itriedtocarryitoffasajoke——totalkofittomyselfasan’adventure’。I’dalwayswantedadventures，andyou’dgivenmeone，andItriedtotakeyourattitudeaboutit，to’playthegame’andconvincemyselfthatIhadn’triskedanymoreonitthanyou。Then，whenImetyouagain，IsuddenlysawthatIHADriskedmore，butthatI’dwonmore，too——suchworlds！I’dbeentryingallthewhiletoputeverythingI
couldbetweenus；nowIwanttosweepeverythingaway。I’dbeentryingtoforgethowyoulooked；nowIwanttorememberyoualways。I’dbeentryingnottohearyourvoice；nowI
neverwanttohearanyother。I’vemademychoice——that’sall：I’vehadyouandImeantokeepyou。\"Herfacewasshininglikehereyes。\"Tokeepyouhiddenawayhere，\"sheended，andputherhanduponherbreast。
Aftershehadlefthim，Darrowcontinuedtositmotionless，staringbackintotheirpast。Hithertoithadlingeredontheedgeofhismindinavaguepinkblur，likeoneofthelittlerose—leafcloudsthatasettingsundropsfromitsdisk。Nowitwasahugeloomingdarkness，throughwhichhiseyesvainlystrained。Thewholeepisodewasstillobscuretohim，savewherehereandthere，astheytalked，somephraseorgestureorintonationofthegirl’shadlitupalittlespotinthenight。
Shehadsaid：\"Iwonderwhatyourfeelingformewas？\"andhefoundhimselfwonderingtoo……Heremembereddistinctlyenoughthathehadnotmeanttheperilouspassion——eveninitsmosttransientform——toplayapartintheirrelation。
Inthatrespecthisattitudehadbeenabovereproach。Shewasanunusuallyoriginalandattractivecreature，towhomhehadwantedtogiveafewdaysofharmlesspleasuring，andwhowasalertandexpertenoughtounderstandhisintentionandsparehimtheboredomofhesitationsandmisinterpretations。Thathadbeenhisfirstimpression，andhersubsequentdemeanourhadjustifiedit。Shehadbeen，fromtheoutset，justthefrankandeasycomradehehadexpectedtofindher。Wasithe，then，who，inthesequel，hadgrownimpatientoftheboundshehadsethimself？Wasithiswoundedvanitythat，seekingbalmforitshurt，yearnedtodipdeeperintothehealingpoolofhercompassion？Inhisconfusedmemoryofthesituationheseemednottohavebeenguiltlessofsuchyearnings……Yetforthefirstfewdaystheexperimenthadbeenperfectlysuccessful。Herenjoymenthadbeenuncloudedandhispleasureinitundisturbed。Itwasverygradually——heseemedtosee——thatashadeoflassitudehadcreptovertheirintercourse。
Perhapsitwasbecause，whenherlightchatteraboutpeoplefailed，hefoundshehadnootherfundtodrawon，orperhapssimplybecauseofthesweetnessofherlaugh，orofthecharmofthegesturewithwhich，onedayinthewoodsofMarly，shehadtossedoffherhatandtiltedbackherheadatthecallofacuckoo；orbecause，wheneverhelookedatherunexpectedly，hefoundthatshewaslookingathimanddidnotwanthimtoknowit；orperhaps，invaryingdegrees，becauseofallthesethings，thattherehadcomeamomentwhennowordseemedtoflyhighenoughordivedeepenoughtoutterthesenseofwell—beingeachgavetotheother，andthenaturalsubstituteforspeechhadbeenakiss。
Thekiss，atallevents，hadcomeattheprecisemomenttosavetheirventurefromdisaster。Theyhadreachedthepointwhenheramazingreminiscenceshadbeguntoflag，whenherfuturehadbeenexhaustivelydiscussed，hertheatricalprospectsminutelystudied，herquarrelwithMrs。Murrettretoldwiththelastamplificationofdetail，andwhen，perhapsconsciousofherexhaustedresourcesandhisdwindlinginterest，shehadcommittedthefatalerrorofsayingthatshecouldseehewasunhappy，andentreatinghimtotellherwhy……
Fromthebrinkofestrangingconfidences，andfromtheriskofunfavourablecomparisons，hisgesturehadsnatchedherbacktosafety；andassoonashehadkissedherhefeltthatshewouldneverborehimagain。Shewasoneoftheelementalcreatureswhoseemotionisallintheirpulses，andwhobecomeinexpressiveorsentimentalwhentheytrytoturnsensationintospeech。Hiscaresshadrestoredhertohernaturalplaceintheschemeofthings，andDarrowfeltasifhehadclaspedatreeandanymphhadbloomedfromit……
Themerefactofnothavingtolistentoheranylongeraddedimmenselytohercharm。Shecontinued，ofcourse，totalktohim，butitdidn’tmatter，becausehenolongermadeanyefforttofollowherwords，butlethervoicerunonasamusicalundercurrenttohisthoughts。
Shehadn’tadropofpoetryinher，butshehadsomeofthequalitiesthatcreateitinothers；andinmomentsofheattheimaginationdoesnotalwaysfeelthedifference……
Lyingbesideherintheshade，Darrowfeltherpresenceasapartofthecharmedstillnessofthesummerwoods，astheelementofvaguewell—beingthatsuffusedhissensesandlulledtosleeptheacheofwoundedpride。Allheaskedofher，asyet，wasatouchonthehandoronthelips——andthatsheshouldlethimgoonlyingtherethroughthelongwarmhours，whileablack—bird’ssongthrobbedlikeafountain，andthesummerwindstirredinthetrees，andcloseby，betweenthenearestbranchesandthebrimofhistiltedhat，aslightwhitefiguregatheredupallthefloatingthreadsofjoy……
Herecalled，too，havingnoticed，ashelaystaringatabreakinthetree—tops，astreamofmares’—tailscomingupthesky。Hehadsaidtohimself：\"Itwillrainto—morrow，\"
andthethoughthadmadetheairseemwarmerandthesunmorevividonherhair……Perhapsifthemares’—tailshadnotcomeuptheskytheiradventuremighthavehadnosequel。
Butthecloudbroughtrain，andnextmorninghelookedoutofhiswindowintoacoldgreyblur。Theyhadplannedanall—dayexcursiondowntheSeine，tothetwoAndelysandRouen，andnow，withthelonghoursontheirhands，theywerebothalittleataloss……TherewastheLouvre，ofcourse，andtheLuxembourg；buthehadtriedlookingatpictureswithher，shehadfirstsopersistentlyadmiredtheworstthings，andthensofranklylapsedintoindifference，thathehadnowishtorepeattheexperiment。Sotheywentout，aimlessly，andtookacoldwetwalk，turningatlengthintothedesertedarcadesofthePalaisRoyal，andfinallydriftingintooneofitsequallydesertedrestaurants，wheretheylunchedaloneandsomewhatdolefully，servedbyawanoldwaiterwiththelookofacastawaywhohasgivenupwatchingforasail……Itwasoddhowthewaiter’sfacecamebacktohim……
Perhapsbutfortherainitmightneverhavehappened；butwhatwastheuseofthinkingofthatnow？Hetriedtoturnhisthoughtstomoreurgentissues；but，byastrangeperversityofassociation，everydetailofthedaywasforcingitselfonhismindwithaninsistencefromwhichtherewasnoescape。Reluctantlyherelivedthelongwetwalkbacktothehotel，afteratedioushouratacinematographshowontheBoulevard。Itwasstillrainingwhentheywithdrewfromthisstalespectacle，butshehadobstinatelyrefusedtotakeacab，hadeven，ontheway，insistedonloiteringunderthedrippingawningsofshop—
windowsandpokingintodraughtypassages，andfinally，whentheyhadnearlyreachedtheirdestination，hadgonesofarastosuggestthattheyshouldturnbacktohuntupsomeshowshehadheardofinatheatreattheBatignolles。Butatthathehadsomewhatirritablyprotested：herememberedthat，forthefirsttime，theywerebothratherirritable，andvaguelydisposedtoresistoneanother’ssuggestions。
Hisfeetwerewet，andhewastiredofwalking，andsickofthesmellofstuffyunairedtheatres，andhehadsaidhemustreallygetbacktowritesomeletters——andsotheyhadkeptontothehotel……
XXVII
DarrowhadnoideahowlonghehadsattherewhenheheardAnna’shandonthedoor。Theeffortofrising，andofcomposinghisfacetomeether，gavehimafactitioussenseofself—control。Hesaidtohimself：\"Imustdecideonsomething————\"andthatliftedhimahair’sbreadthabovethewhirlingwaters。
Shecameinwithalighterstep，andheinstantlyperceivedthatsomethingunforeseenandreassuringhadhappened。
\"She’sbeenwithme。Shecameandfoundmeontheterrace。
We’vehadalongtalkandshe’sexplainedeverything。I
feelasifI’dneverknownherbefore！\"
Hervoicewassomovedandtenderthatitcheckedhisstartofapprehension。
\"She’sexplained————？\"
\"It’snatural，isn’tit，thatsheshouldhavefeltalittlesoreatthekindofinspectionshe’sbeensubjectedto？Oh，notfromyou——Idon’tmeanthat！ButMadamedeChantelle’sopposition——andhersendingforAdelaidePainter！Shetoldmefranklyshedidn’tcaretooweherhusbandtoAdelaidePainter……ShethinksnowthatherannoyanceatfeelingherselfsotalkedoverandscrutinizedmayhaveshownitselfinhermannertoOwen，andsethimimaginingtheinsanethingshedid……Iunderstandallshemusthavefelt，andI
agreewithherthatit’sbestsheshouldgoawayforawhile。She’smademe，\"Annasummedup，\"feelasifI’dbeendreadfullythick—skinnedandobtuse！\"
\"YOU？\"
\"Yes。AsifI’dtreatedherlikethebric—a—bracthatusedtobesentdownhere’onapproval，’toseeifitwouldlookwellwiththeotherpieces。\"Sheadded，withasuddenflushofenthusiasm：\"I’mgladshe’sgotitinhertomakeonefeellikethat！\"
SheseemedtowaitforDarrowtoagreewithher，ortoputsomeotherquestion，andhefinallyfoundvoicetoask：
\"Thenyouthinkit’snotafinalbreak？\"
\"Ihopenot——I’veneverhopeditmore！IhadawordwithOwen，too，afterIlefther，andIthinkheunderstandsthathemustlethergowithoutinsistingonanypositivepromise。She’sexcited……hemustlethercalmdown……\"
Againshewaited，andDarrowsaid：\"Surelyyoucanmakehimseethat。\"
\"She’llhelpmeto——she’stoseehim，ofcourse，beforeshegoes。Shestartsimmediately，bytheway，withAdelaidePainter，whoismotoringovertoFrancheuiltocatchtheoneo’clockexpress——andwho，ofcourse，knowsnothingofallthis，andissimplytobetoldthatSophyhasbeensentforbytheFarlows。\"
Darrowmutelysignedhiscomprehension，andshewenton：
\"OwenisparticularlyanxiousthatneitherAdelaidenorhisgrandmothershouldhavetheleastinklingofwhat’shappened。TheneedofshieldingSophywillhelphimtocontrolhimself。He’scomingtohissenses，poorboy；he’sashamedofhiswildtalkalready。Heaskedmetotellyouso；nodoubthe’lltellyousohimself。\"
Darrowmadeamovementofprotest。\"Oh，astothat——thething’snotworthanotherword。\"
\"Oranotherthought，either？\"Shebrightened。\"Promisemeyouwon’teventhinkofit——promisemeyouwon’tbehardonhim！\"
Hewasfindingiteasiertosmilebackather。\"WhyshouldyouthinkitnecessarytoaskmyindulgenceforOwen？\"
Shehesitatedamoment，hereyeswanderingfromhim。Thentheycamebackwithasmile。\"PerhapsbecauseIneeditformyself。\"
\"Foryourself？\"