Darrowhadalreadyguessedhertobeapersonwhowouldinstinctivelyopposeanysuggestedchanges，andthen，afteronehadexhaustedone’smainarguments，unexpectedlyyieldtosomesmallincidentalreason，andadheredoggedlytohernewposition。Sheboastedofherold—fashionedprejudices，talkedagooddealofbeingagrandmother，andmadeashowofreachinguptotapOwen’sshoulder，thoughhisheightwaslittlemorethanhers。
　　ShewasfullofasmallpaleprattleaboutthepeopleshehadseenatOuchy，astowhomshehadtheminutestatisticalinformationofagazetteer，withoutanyapparentsenseofpersonaldifferences。ShesaidtoDarrow："TheytellmethingsareverymuchchangedinAmerica……OfcourseinmyyouththereWASaSociety"……Shehadnodesiretoreturnthereshewassurethestandardsmustbesodifferent。
　　"Therearecharmingpeopleeverywhere……andonemustalwayslookonthebestside……butwhenonehaslivedamongTraditionsit’sdifficulttoadaptone’sselftothenewideas……Thesedreadfulviewsofmarriage……it’ssohardtoexplainthemtomyFrenchrelations……I’mthankfultosayI
　　don’tpretendtounderstandthemmyself！ButYOU’REanEverard——ItoldAnnalastspringinLondonthatoneseesthatinstantly"……
　　ShewanderedofftothecookingandtheserviceofthehotelatOuchy。Sheattachedgreatimportancetogastronomicdetailsandtothemannersofhotelservants。There，too，therewasafallingoff，shesaid。"Idontknow，ofcourse；butpeoplesayit’sowingtotheAmericans。
　　Certainlymywaiterhadawayofslappingdownthedishes……theytellmethatmanyofthemareAnarchists……belongtoUnions，youknow。"SheappealedtoDarrow’sreportedknowledgeofeconomicconditionstoconfirmthisominousrumour。
　　AfterdinnerOwenLeathwanderedintothenextroom，wherethepianostood，andbegantoplayamongtheshadows。Hisstep—motherpresentlyjoinedhim，andDarrowsatalonewithMadamedeChantelle。
　　Shetookupthethreadofhermildchatandcarrieditonatthesamepaceasherknitting。Herconversationresembledthelargeloose—strandedwebbetweenherfingers：nowandthenshedroppedastitch，andwentonregardlessofthegapinthepattern。
　　Darrowlistenedwithalazysenseofwell—being。Inthementallulloftheafter—dinnerhour，withharmoniousmemoriesmurmuringthroughhismind，andthesofttintsandshadowyspacesofthefineoldroomcharminghiseyestoindolence，MadamedeChantelle’sdiscourseseemednotoutofplace。Hecouldunderstandthat，inthelongrun，theatmosphereofGivremightbesuffocating；butinhispresentmooditsverylimitationshadagrace。
　　Presentlyhefoundthechancetosayawordinhisownbehalf；andthereuponmeasuredtheadvantage，neverbeforeparticularlyapparenttohim，ofbeingrelatedtotheEverardsofAlbany。MadamedeChantelle’sconceptionofhernativecountry——towhichshehadnotreturnedsincehertwentiethyear——remindedhimofanancientgeographer’smapoftheHyperboreanregions。Itwasallafoggyblank，fromwhichonlyoneortwofixedoutlinesemerged；andoneofthesebelongedtotheEverardsofAlbany。
　　Thefactthattheyofferedsuchfirmfooting——formed，sotospeak，afriendlyterritoryonwhichtheopposingpowerscouldmeetandtreat——helpedhimthroughthetaskofexplainingandjustifyinghimselfasthesuccessorofFraserLeath。MadamedeChantellecouldnotresistsuchincontestableclaims。Sheseemedtofeelherson’shoveringanddiscriminatingpresence，andshegaveDarrowthesensethathewasbeingtestedandapprovedasalastadditiontotheLeathCollection。
　　Shealsomadehimawareoftheimmenseadvantagehepossessedinbelongingtothediplomaticprofession。ShespokeofthishumdrumcallingasaCareer，andgaveDarrowtounderstandthatshesupposedhimtohavebeenseducingDuchesseswhenhewasnotnegotiatingTreaties。Heheardagainquaintphraseswhichromanticoldladieshadusedinhisyouth："Brilliantdiplomaticsociety……socialadvantages……theentreeeverywhere……nothingelseFORMSayoungmaninthesameway……"andshesighinglyaddedthatshecouldhavewishedhergrandsonhadchosenthesamepathtoglory。
　　Darrowprudentlysuppressedhisownviewoftheprofession，aswellasthefactthathehadadopteditprovisionally，andforreasonslesssocialthansociological；andthetalkpresentlypassedontothesubjectofhisfutureplans。
　　Hereagain，MadamedeChantelle’saweoftheCareermadeheradmitthenecessityofAnna’sconsentingtoanearlymarriage。ThefactthatDarrowwas"ordered"toSouthAmericaseemedtoputhimintheromanticlightofayoungsoldierchargedtoleadaforlornhope：shesighedandsaid：
　　"Atsuchmomentsawife’sdutyisatherhusband’sside。"
　　TheproblemofEffie’sfuturemighthavedisturbedher，sheadded；butsinceAnna，foratime，consentedtoleavethelittlegirlwithher，thatproblemwasatanyratedeferred。
　　Shespokeplaintivelyoftheresponsibilityoflookingafterhergranddaughter，butDarrowdivinedthatsheenjoyedtheflavourofthewordmorethanshefelttheweightofthefact。
　　"Effie’saperfectchild。She’smorelikemyson，perhaps，thandearOwen。She’llneverintentionallygivemetheleasttrouble。Butofcoursetheresponsibilitywillbegreat……I’mnotsureIshoulddaretoundertakeitifitwerenotforherhavingsuchatreasureofagoverness。HasAnnatoldyouaboutourlittlegoverness？Afteralltheworrywehadlastyear，withoneimpossiblecreatureafteranother，itseemsprovidential，justnow，tohavefoundher。
　　Atfirstwewereafraidshewastooyoung；butnowwe’vethegreatestconfidenceinher。Socleverandamusing——andSUCHalady！Idon’tsayhereducation’sallitmightbe……nodrawingorsinging……butonecan’thaveeverything；
　　andshespeaksItalian……"
　　MadamedeChantelle’sfondinsistenceonthelikenessbetweenEffieLeathandherfather，ifnotparticularlygratifyingtoDarrow，hadatleastincreasedhisdesiretoseethelittlegirl。ItgavehimanoddfeelingofdiscomforttothinkthatsheshouldhaveanyofthecharacteristicsofthelateFraserLeath：hehad，somehow，fantasticallypicturedherasthemysticaloffspringoftheearlytendernessbetweenhimselfandAnnaSummers。
　　HisencounterwithEffietookplacethenextmorning，onthelawnbelowtheterrace，wherehefoundher，intheearlysunshine，knockingaboutgolfballswithherbrother。
　　Almostatonce，andwithinfiniterelief，hesawthattheresemblanceofwhichMadamedeChantelleboastedwasmainlyexternal。Eventhatdiscoverywasslightlydistasteful，thoughDarrowwasforcedtoownthatFraserLeath’sstraight—featuredfairnesshadlentitselftotheproductionofapeculiarlyfinishedimageofchildishpurity。ButitwasevidentthatotherelementshadalsogonetothemakingofEffie，andthatanotherspiritsatinhereyes。Herserioushandshake，her"pretty"greeting，wereworthyoftheLeathtradition，andheguessedhertobemoremalleablethanOwen，moresubjecttotheinfluencesofGivre；buttheshoutwithwhichshereturnedtoherromphadinitthenoteofhermother’semancipation。
　　Hehadbeggedaholidayforher，andwhenMrs。Leathappearedheandsheandthelittlegirlwentoffforaramble。AnnawishedherdaughtertohavetimetomakefriendswithDarrowbeforelearninginwhatrelationhewastostandtoher；andthethreeroamedthewoodsandfieldstillthedistantchimeofthestable—clockmadethemturnbackforluncheon。
　　Effie，whowasattendedbyashaggyterrier，hadpickeduptwoorthreesubordinatedogsatthestable；andasshetrottedonaheadwithheryappingescort，AnnahungbacktothrowalookatDarrow。
　　"Yes，"heansweredit，"she’sexquisite……Oh，IseewhatI’maskingofyou！Butshe’llbequitehappyhere，won’tshe？
　　Andyoumustrememberitwon’tbeforlong……"
　　Annasighedheracquiescence。"Oh，she’llbehappyhere。
　　It’shernaturetobehappy。She’llapplyherselftoit，conscientiously，asshedoestoherlessons，andtowhatshecalls’beinggood’……Inaway，yousee，that’sjustwhatworriesme。Herideaof’beinggood’istopleasethepersonshe’swith——sheputsherwholedearlittlemindonit！Andso，ifevershe’swiththewrongperson————"
　　"Butsurelythere’snodangerofthatjustnow？MadamedeChantelletellsmethatyou’veatlastputyourhandonaperfectgoverness————"
　　Anna，withoutanswering，glancedawayfromhimtowardherdaughter。
　　"It’slucky，atanyrate，"Darrowcontinued，"thatMadamedeChantellethinksherso。"
　　"Oh，Ithinkveryhighlyofhertoo。"
　　"HighlyenoughtofeelquitesatisfiedtoleaveherwithEffie？"
　　"Yes。She’sjustthepersonforEffie。Only，ofcourse，oneneverknows……She’syoung，andshemighttakeitintoherheadtoleaveus……"Afterapausesheadded："I’mnaturallyanxioustoknowwhatyouthinkofher。"
　　Whentheyenteredthehousethehandsofthehallclockstoodwithinafewminutesoftheluncheonhour。AnnaledEffieofftohaveherhairsmoothedandDarrowwanderedintotheoaksitting—room，whichhefounduntenanted。Thesunlaypleasantlyonitsbrownwalls，onthescatteredbooksandtheflowersinoldporcelainvases。Inhiseyeslingeredthevisionofthedark—hairedmothermountingthestairswithherlittlefairdaughter。Thecontrastbetweenthemseemedalasttouchofgraceinthecomplexharmonyofthings。Hestoodinthewindow，lookingoutatthepark，andbroodinginwardlyuponhishappiness……
　　HewasrousedbyEffie’svoiceandthescamperofherfeetdownthelongfloorsbehindhim。
　　"Hereheis！Hereheis！"shecried，flyingoverthethreshold。
　　Heturnedandstoopedtoherwithasmile，andasshecaughthishandheperceivedthatshewastryingtodrawhimtowardsomeonewhohadpausedbehindherinthedoorway，andwhomhesupposedtobehermother。
　　"HEREheis！"Effierepeated，withhersweetimpatience。
　　ThefigureinthedoorwaycameforwardandDarrow，lookingup，foundhimselffacetofacewithSophyViner。Theystoodstill，ayardortwoapart，andlookedateachotherwithoutspeaking。
　　Astheypausedthere，ashadowfellacrossoneoftheterracewindows，andOwenLeathsteppedwhistlingintotheroom。Inhisroughshootingclothes，withtheglowofexerciseunderhisfairskin，helookedextraordinarilylight—heartedandhappy。Darrow，withaquickside—glance，noticedthis，andperceivedalsothattheglowontheyouth’scheekhaddeepenedsuddenlytored。Hetoostoppedshort，andthethreestoodtheremotionlessforabarelyperceptiblebeatoftime。Duringitslapse，Darrow’seyeshadturnedbackfromOwen’sfacetothatofthegirlbetweenthem。Hehadthesensethat，whateverwasdone，itwashewhomustdoit，andthatitmustbedoneimmediately。Hewentforwardandheldouthishand。
　　"Howdoyoudo，MissViner？"
　　Sheanswered："Howdoyoudo？"inavoicethatsoundedclearandnatural；andthenextmomentheagainbecameawareofstepsbehindhim，andknewthatMrs。Leathwasintheroom。
　　TohisstrainedsensesthereseemedtobeanotherjustmeasurablepausebeforeAnnasaid，lookinggailyaboutthelittlegroup："HasOwenintroducedyou？ThisisEffie’sfriend，MissViner。"
　　Effie，stillhangingonhergoverness’sarm，pressedherselfcloserwithalittlegestureofappropriation；andMissVinerlaidherhandonherpupil’shair。
　　DarrowfeltthatAnna’seyeshadturnedtohim。
　　"IthinkMissVinerandIhavemetalready——severalyearsagoinLondon。"
　　"Iremember，"saidSophyViner，inthesameclearvoice。
　　"Howcharming！Thenwe’reallfriends。Butluncheonmustbeready，"saidMrs。Leath。
　　Sheturnedbacktothedoor，andthelittleprocessionmoveddownthetwolongdrawing—rooms，withEffiewaltzingonahead。
　　XV
　　MadamedeChantelleandAnnahadplanned，fortheafternoon，avisittoaremotelysituatedacquaintancewhomtheintroductionofthemotorhadtransformedintoaneighbour。
　　Effiewastopayforhermorning’sholidaybyanhourortwointheschool—room，andOwensuggestedthatheandDarrowshouldbetakethemselvestoadistantcovertinthedesultoryquestforpheasants。
　　Darrowwasnotanardentsportsman，butanypretextforphysicalactivitywouldhavebeenacceptableatthemoment；
　　andhewasgladbothtogetawayfromthehouseandnottobelefttohimself。
　　Whenhecamedownstairsthemotorwasatthedoor，andAnnastoodbeforethehallmirror，swathingherhatinveils。
　　Sheturnedatthesoundofhisstepandsmiledathimforalongfullmoment。
　　"I’dnoideayouknewMissViner，"shesaid，ashehelpedherintoherlongcoat。
　　"Itcamebacktome，luckily，thatI’dseenhertwoorthreetimesinLondon，severalyearsago。Shewassecretary，orsomethingofthesort，inthebackgroundofahousewhereI
　　usedtodine。"
　　Heloathedtheslightingindifferenceofthephrase，buthehaduttereditdeliberately，hadbeensecretlypractisingitallthroughtheinterminablehourattheluncheon—table。
　　Nowthatitwasspoken，heshiveredatitsnoteofcondescension。Insuchcasesonewasalmostsuretooverdo……ButAnnaseemedtonoticenothingunusual。
　　"Wasshereally？Youmusttellmeallaboutit——tellmeexactlyhowshestruckyou。I’msogladitturnsoutthatyouknowher。"
　　"’Know’isratherexaggerated：weusedtopasseachotheronthestairs。"
　　MadamedeChantelleandOwenappearedtogetherashespoke，andAnna，gatheringupherwraps，said："You’lltellmeaboutthat，then。Tryandremembereverythingyoucan。"
　　Ashetrampedthroughthewoodsathisyounghost’sside，Darrowfeltthepartialrelieffromthoughtproducedbyexerciseandtheobligationtotalk。Littleashecaredforshooting，hehadthehabitofconcentrationwhichmakesitnaturalforamantothrowhimselfwhollyintowhateverbusinesshehasinhand，andthereweremomentsoftheafternoonwhenasuddenwhirrintheundergrowth，avividergleamagainstthehazybrownsandgreysofthewoods，wasenoughtofilltheforegroundofhisattention。Butallthewhile，behindthesevoluntarilyemphasizedsensations，hissecretconsciousnesscontinuedtorevolveonaloudwheelofthought。Foratimeitseemedtobesweepinghimthroughdeepgulfsofdarkness。Hissensationsweretooswiftandswarmingtobedisentangled。Hehadanalmostphysicalsenseofstrugglingforair，ofbattlinghelplesslywithmaterialobstructions，asthoughtherussetcovertthroughwhichhetrudgedweretheheartofamaleficentjungle……
　　Snatchesofhiscompanion’stalkdriftedtohimintermittentlythroughtheconfusionofhisthoughts。Hecaughteagerself—revealingphrases，andunderstoodthatOwenwassayingthingsabouthimself，perhapshintingindirectlyatthehopesforwhichDarrowhadbeenpreparedbyAnna’sconfidences。Hehadalreadybecomeawarethattheladlikedhim，andhadmeanttotakethefirstopportunityofshowingthathereciprocatedthefeeling。ButtheeffortoffixinghisattentiononOwen’swordswassogreatthatitleftnopowerformorethanthebriefestandmostinexpressivereplies。
　　YoungLeath，itappeared，feltthathehadreachedaturning—pointinhiscareer，aheightfromwhichhecouldimpartiallysurveyhispastprogressandprojectedendeavour。Atonetimehehadhadmusicalandliteraryyearnings，visionsofdesultoryartisticindulgence；butthesehadoflatebeensupersededbytheresolutedeterminationtoplungeintopracticallife。
　　"Idon’twant，yousee，"Darrowheardhimexplaining，"todriftintowhatmygrandmother，poordear，istryingtomakeofme：anadjunctofGivre。Idon’twant——hangitall！——toslipintocollectingsensationsasmyfathercollectedsnuff—boxes。IwantEffietohaveGivre——it’smygrandmother’s，youknow，todoasshelikeswith；andI’veunderstoodlatelythatifitbelongedtomeitwouldgraduallygobblemeup。Iwanttogetoutofit，intoalifethat’sbiganduglyandstruggling。IfIcanextractbeautyoutofTHAT，somuchthebetter：that’llprovemyvocation。ButIwanttoMAKEbeauty，notbedrownedintheready—made，likeabeeinapotofhoney。"
　　Darrowknewthathewasbeingappealedtoforcorroborationoftheseviewsandforencouragementinthecoursetowhichtheypointed。Tohisownearshisanswerssoundednowcurt，nowirrelevant：atonemomentheseemedchillinglyindifferent，atanotherheheardhimselflaunchingoutonafloodofhazydiscursiveness。HedarednotlookatOwen，forfearofdetectingthelad’ssurpriseatthesesenselesstransitions。Andthroughtheconfusionofhisinwardstrugglesandoutwardloquacityheheardtheceaselesstrip—
　　hammerbeatofthequestion："WhatinGod’snameshallI
　　do？"……
　　TogetbacktothehousebeforeAnna’sreturnseemedhismostpressingnecessity。Hedidnotclearlyknowwhy：hesimplyfeltthatheoughttobethere。AtonemomentitoccurredtohimthatMissVinermightwanttospeaktohimalone——andagain，inthesameflash，thatitwouldprobablybethelastthingshewouldwant……Atanyrate，hefeltheoughttotrytospeaktoHER；oratleastbepreparedtodoso，ifthechanceshouldoccur……
　　Finally，towardfour，hetoldhiscompanionthathehadsomelettersonhismindandmustgetbacktothehouseanddespatchthembeforetheladiesreturned。HeleftOwenwiththebeaterandwalkedontotheedgeofthecovert。Attheparkgateshestruckobliquelythroughthetrees，followingagrassavenueattheendofwhichhehadcaughtaglimpseoftheroofofthechapel。Agreyhazehadblottedoutthesunandthestillairclungabouthimtepidly。Atlengththehouse—frontraisedbeforehimitsexpanseofdamp—
　　silveredbrick，andhewasstruckafreshbythehighdecorumofitscalmlinesandsoberlymassedsurfaces。Itmadehimfeel，intheturbidcoilofhisfearsandpassions，likeamuddytrampforcinghiswayintosomepuresequesteredshrine……
　　Byandbye，heknew，heshouldhavetothinkthecomplexhorrorout，slowly，systematically，bitbybit；butforthemomentitwaswhirlinghimaboutsofastthathecouldjustclutchatitssharpspikesandbetossedoffagain。Onlyonedefiniteimmediatefactstuckinhisquiveringgrasp。
　　Hemustgivethegirleverychance——mustholdhimselfpassivetillshehadtakenthem……
　　InthecourtEffieranuptohimwithherleapingterrier。
　　"Iwascomingouttomeetyou——youandOwen。MissVinerwascoming，too，andthenshecouldn’tbecauseshe’sgotsuchaheadache。I’mafraidIgaveittoherbecauseIdidmydivisionsodisgracefully。It’stoobad，isn’tit？Butwon’tyouwalkbackwithme？Nursewon’tmindtheleastbit；
　　she’dsomuchrathergointotea。"
　　Darrowexcusedhimselflaughingly，onthepleathathehadletterstowrite，whichwasmuchworsethanhavingaheadache，andnotinfrequentlyresultedinone。
　　"Oh，thenyoucangoandwritetheminOwen’sstudy。That’swheregentlemenalwayswritetheirletters。"
　　SheflewonwithherdogandDarrowpursuedhiswaytothehouse。Effie’ssuggestionstruckhimasuseful。Hehadpicturedhimselfasvaguelydriftingaboutthedrawing—
　　rooms，andhadperceivedthedifficultyofMissViner’shavingtoseekhimthere；butthestudy，asmallroomontherightofthehall，wasineasysightfromthestaircase，andsosituatedthattherewouldbenothingmarkedinhisbeingfoundthereintalkwithher。
　　Hewentin，leavingthedooropen，andsatdownatthewriting—table。Theroomwasafriendlyheterogeneousplace，theonerepository，inthewell—orderedandamply—servantedhouse，ofallitsunclassifiedoddsandends：Effie’scroquet—boxandfishingrods，Owen’sgunsandgolf—sticksandracquets，hisstep—mother’sflower—basketsandgardeningimplements，evenMadamedeChantelle’sembroideryframe，andthebacknumbersoftheCatholicWeekly。Theearlytwilighthadbeguntofall，andpresentlyaslantingrayacrossthedeskshowedDarrowthataservantwascomingacrossthehallwithalamp。Hepulledoutasheetofnote—paperandbegantowriteatrandom，whiletheman，entering，putthelampathiselbowandvaguely"straightened"theheapofnewspaperstossedonthedivan。ThenhisstepsdiedawayandDarrowsatleaninghisheadonhislockedhands。
　　Presentlyanotherstepsoundedonthestairs，waveredamomentandthenmovedpastthethresholdofthestudy。
　　Darrowgotupandwalkedintothehall，whichwasstillunlighted。InthedimnesshesawSophyVinerstandingbythehalldoorinherhatandjacket。Shestoppedatsightofhim，herhandonthedoor—bolt，andtheystoodforasecondwithoutspeaking。
　　"HaveyouseenEffie？"shesuddenlyasked。"Shewentouttomeetyou。"
　　"SheDIDmeetme，justnow，inthecourt。She’sgoneontojoinherbrother。"
　　Darrowspokeasnaturallyashecould，buthisvoicesoundedtohisownearslikeanamateuractor’sina"light"part。
　　MissViner，withoutanswering，drewbackthebolt。Hewatchedherinsilenceasthedoorswungopen；thenhesaid：
　　"Shehashernursewithher。Shewon’tbelong。"
　　Shestoodirresolute，andheadded："Iwaswritinginthere——won’tyoucomeandhavealittletalk？Everyone’sout。"
　　Thelastwordsstruckhimasnotwell—chosen，buttherewasnotimetochoose。Shepausedasecondlongerandthencrossedthethresholdofthestudy。Atluncheonshehadsatwithherbacktothewindow，andbeyondnotingthatshehadgrownalittlethinner，andhadlesscolourandvivacity，hehadseennochangeinher；butnow，asthelamplightfellonherface，itswhitenessstartledhim。
　　"Poorthing……poorthing……whatinheaven’snamecanshesuppose？"hewondered。
　　"Dositdown——Iwanttotalktoyou，"hesaidandpushedachairtowardher。
　　Shedidnotseemtoseeit，or，ifshedid，shedeliberatelychoseanotherseat。Hecamebacktohisownchairandleanedhiselbowsontheblotter。Shefacedhimfromthefarthersideofthetable。
　　"Youpromisedtoletmehearfromyounowandthen，"hebeganawkwardly，andwithasharpsenseofhisawkwardness。
　　Afaintsmilemadeherfacemoretragic。"DidI？Therewasnothingtotell。I’vehadnohistory——likethehappycountries……"
　　Hewaitedamomentbeforeasking："YouAREhappyhere？"
　　"IWAS，"shesaidwithafaintemphasis。
　　"Whydoyousay’was’？You’resurelynotthinkingofgoing？
　　Therecan’tbekinderpeopleanywhere。"Darrowhardlyknewwhathewassaying；butheranswercametohimwithdeadlydefiniteness。
　　"IsupposeitdependsonyouwhetherIgoorstay。"
　　"Onme？"HestaredatheracrossOwen’sscatteredpapers。
　　"GoodGod！Whatcanyouthinkofme，tosaythat？"
　　Themockeryofthequestionflashedbackathimfromherwretchedface。Shestoodup，wanderedaway，andleanedaninstantinthedarkeningwindow—frame。Fromtheresheturnedtoflingbackathim："Don’timagineI’mtheleastbitsorryforanything！"
　　Hesteadiedhiselbowsonthetableandhidhisfaceinhishands。Itwasharder，oh，damnablyharder，thanhehadexpected！Arguments，expedients，palliations，evasions，allseemedtobeslippingawayfromhim：hewasleftfacetofacewiththemeregracelessfactofhisinferiority。Heliftedhisheadtoaskatrandom："You’vebeenhere，then，eversince？"
　　"SinceJune；yes。ItturnedoutthattheFarlowswerehuntingforme——allthewhile——forthis。"
　　Shestoodfacinghim，herbacktothewindow，evidentlyimpatienttobegone，yetwithsomethingstilltosay，orthatsheexpectedtohearhimsay。Thesenseofherexpectancybenumbedhim。Whatinheaven’snamecouldhesaytoherthatwasnotanoffenseoramockery？
　　"Yourideaofthetheatre——yougavethatupatonce，then？"
　　"Oh，thetheatre！"Shegavealittlelaugh。"Icouldn’twaitforthetheatre。Ihadtotakethefirstthingthatoffered；Itookthis。"
　　Hepushedonhaltingly："I’mglad——extremelyglad——you’rehappyhere……I’dcountedonyourlettingmeknowiftherewasanythingIcoulddo……Thetheatre，now——ifyoustillregretit——ifyou’renotcontentedhere……IknowpeopleinthatlineinLondon——I’mcertainIcanmanageitforyouwhenIgetback————"
　　Shemoveduptothetableandleanedoverittoask，inavoicethatwashardlyaboveawhisper："ThenyouDOwantmetoleave？Isthatit？"
　　Hedroppedhisarmswithagroan。"Goodheavens！Howcanyouthinksuchthings？Atthetime，youknow，IbeggedyoutoletmedowhatIcould，butyouwouldn’thearofit……andeversinceI’vebeenwantingtobeofuse——todosomething，anything，tohelpyou……"
　　Sheheardhimthrough，motionless，withoutaquiveroftheclaspedhandssherestedontheedgeofthetable。
　　"Ifyouwanttohelpme，then——youcanhelpmetostayhere，"shebroughtoutwithlow—tonedintensity。
　　Throughthestillnessofthepausewhichfollowed，thebrayofamotor—hornsoundedfardownthedrive。Instantlysheturned，withalastwhitelookathim，andfledfromtheroomandupthestairs。Hestoodmotionless，benumbedbytheshockofherlastwords。Shewasafraid，then——afraidofhim——sickwithfearofhim！Thediscoverybeathimdowntoalowerdepth……
　　Themotor—hornsoundedagain，closeathand，andheturnedandwentuptohisroom。Hisletter—writingwasasufficientpretextfornotimmediatelyjoiningthepartyaboutthetea—table，andhewantedtobealoneandtrytoputalittleorderintohistumultuousthinking。
　　Upstairs，theroomheldouttheintimatewelcomeofitslampandfire。Everythinginitexhaledthesamesenseofpeaceandstabilitywhich，twoeveningsbefore，hadlulledhimtocomplacentmeditation。Hisarmchairagaininvitedhimfromthehearth，buthewastooagitatedtositstill，andwithsunkheadandhandsclaspedbehindhisbackhebegantowanderupanddowntheroom。
　　HisfiveminuteswithSophyVinerhadflashedstrangelightsintotheshadowycornersofhisconsciousness。Thegirl’sabsolutecandour，herhardardenthonesty，wasforthemomentthevividestpointinhisthoughts。Hewonderedanew，ashehadwonderedbefore，atthewayinwhichtheharshdisciplineoflifehadstrippedheroffalsesentimentwithoutlayingtheleasttouchonherpride。Whentheyhadparted，fivemonthsbefore，shehadquietlybutdecidedlyrejectedallhisoffersofhelp，eventothesuggestionofhistryingtofurtherhertheatricalaims：shehadmadeitclearthatshewishedtheirbriefalliancetoleavenotraceontheirlivessavethatofitsownsmilingmemory。Butnowthattheywereunexpectedlyconfrontedinasituationwhichseemed，toherterrifiedfancy，toputherathismercy，herfirstimpulsewastodefendherrighttotheplaceshehadwon，andtolearnasquicklyaspossibleifhemeanttodisputeit。Whilehehadpicturedherasshrinkingawayfromhiminatremorofself—effacementshehadwatchedhismovements，madesureofheropportunity，andcomestraightdownto"haveitout"withhim。Hewassostruckbythefranknessandenergyoftheproceedingthatforamomenthelostsightoftheviewofhisowncharacterimpliedinit。