Love，shetoldherself，wouldonedayreleaseherfromthisspellofunreality。Shewaspersuadedthatthesublimepassionwasthekeytotheenigma；butitwasdifficulttorelateherconceptionoflovetotheformsitworeinherexperience。Twoorthreeofthegirlsshehadenviedfortheirsuperioracquaintancewiththeartsoflifehadcontracted，inthecourseoftime，whatwerevariouslydescribedas\"romantic\"or\"foolish\"marriages；oneevenmadearunawaymatch，andlanguishedforawhileunderacloudofsocialreprobation。Here，then，waspassioninaction，romanceconvertedtoreality；yettheheroinesoftheseexploitsreturnedfromthemuntransfigured，andtheirhusbandswereasdullaseverwhenonehadtositnexttothematdinner。
Herowncase，ofcourse，wouldbedifferent。SomedayshewouldfindthemagicbridgebetweenWestFifty—fifthStreetandlife；onceortwiceshehadevenfanciedthatthecluewasinherhand。ThefirsttimewaswhenshehadmetyoungDarrow。Sherecalledevennowthestiroftheencounter。
Buthispassionsweptoverherlikeawindthatshakestheroofoftheforestwithoutreachingitsstillgladesorripplingitshiddenpools。Hewasextraordinarilyintelligentandagreeable，andherheartbeatfasterwhenhewaswithher。Hehadatallfaireasypresenceandamindinwhichthelightsofironyplayedpleasantlythroughtheshadesoffeeling。Shelikedtohearhisvoicealmostasmuchastolistentowhathewassaying，andtolistentowhathewassayingalmostasmuchastofeelthathewaslookingather；buthewantedtokissher，andshewantedtotalktohimaboutbooksandpictures，andhavehiminsinuatetheeternalthemeoftheirloveintoeverysubjecttheydiscussed。
Whenevertheywereapartareactionsetin。Shewonderedhowshecouldhavebeensocold，calledherselfaprudeandanidiot，questionedifanymancouldreallycareforher，andgotupinthedeadofnighttotrynewwaysofdoingherhair。Butassoonashereappearedherheadstraighteneditselfonherslimneckandshespedherlittleshaftsofirony，orflewherlittlekitesoferudition，whilehotandcoldwavessweptoverher，andthethingsshereallywantedtosaychokedinherthroatandburnedthepalmsofherhands。
Oftenshetoldherselfthatanysillygirlwhohadwaltzedthroughaseasonwouldknowbetterthanshehowtoattractamanandholdhim；butwhenshesaid\"aman\"shedidnotreallymeanGeorgeDarrow。
Thenoneday，atadinner，shesawhimsittingnexttooneofthesillygirlsinquestion：theheroineoftheelopementwhichhadshakenWestFifty—fifthStreettoitsbase。Theyoungladyhadcomebackfromheradventurenolesssillythanwhenshewent；andacrossthetablethepartnerofherflight，afatyoungmanwitheye—glasses，satstolidlyeatingterrapinandtalkingaboutpoloandinvestments。
Theyoungwomanwasundoubtedlyassillyasever；yetafterwatchingherforafewminutesMissSummersperceivedthatshehadsomehowgrownluminous，perilous，obscurelymenacingtonicegirlsandtheyoungmentheyintendedeventuallytoaccept。Suddenly，atthesight，arageofpossessorshipawokeinher。ShemustsaveDarrow，assertherrighttohimatanyprice。Prideandreticencewentdowninahurricaneofjealousy。Sheheardhimlaugh，andtherewassomethingnewinhislaugh……Shewatchedhimtalking，talking……Hesatslightlysideways，afaintsmilebeneathhislids，loweringhisvoiceashelowereditwhenhetalkedtoher。Shecaughtthesameinflections，buthiseyesweredifferent。
Itwouldhaveoffendedheronceifhehadlookedatherlikethat。Nowheronethoughtwasthatnonebutshehadarighttobesolookedat。Andthatgirlofallothers！Whatillusionscouldhehaveaboutagirlwho，hardlyayearago，hadmadeafoolofherselfoverthefatyoungmanstolidlyeatingterrapinacrossthetable？Ifthatwaswhereromanceandpassionended，itwasbettertotaketodistrictvisitingoralgebra！
Allnightshelayawakeandwondered：\"Whatwasshesayingtohim？HowshallIlearntosaysuchthings？\"andshedecidedthatherheartwouldtellher——thatthenexttimetheywerealonetogethertheirresistiblewordwouldspringtoherlips。Hecamethenextday，andtheywerealone，andallshefoundwas：\"Ididn’tknowthatyouandKittyMayneweresuchfriends。\"
Heansweredwithindifferencethathedidn’tknowiteither，andinthereactionofreliefshedeclared：\"She’scertainlyeversomuchprettierthanshewas……\"
\"She’srathergoodfun，\"headmitted，asthoughhehadnotnoticedherotheradvantages；andsuddenlyAnnasawinhiseyesthelookshehadseentherethepreviousevening。
Shefeltasifhewereleaguesandleaguesawayfromher。
Allherhopesdissolved，andshewasconsciousofsittingrigidly，withhighheadandstraightlips，whiletheirresistiblewordfledwithalastwing—beatintothegoldenmistofherillusions……
ShewasstillquiveringwiththepainandbewildermentofthisadventurewhenFraserLeathappeared。ShemethimfirstinItaly，whereshewastravellingwithherparents；
andthefollowingwinterhecametoNewYork。InItalyhehadseemedinteresting：inNewYorkhebecameremarkable。
HeseldomspokeofhislifeinEurope，andletdropbutthemostincidentalallusionstothefriends，thetastes，thepursuitswhichfilledhiscosmopolitandays；butintheatmosphereofWestFifty—fifthStreetheseemedtheembodimentofastoriedpast。HepresentedMissSummerswithaprettily—boundanthologyoftheoldFrenchpoetsand，whensheshowedadiscriminatingpleasureinthegift，observedwithhisgravesmile：\"Ididn’tsupposeIshouldfindanyoneherewhowouldfeelaboutthesethingsasI
do。\"Onanotheroccasionheaskedheracceptanceofahalf—
effacedeighteenthcenturypastelwhichhehadsurprisinglypickedupinaNewYorkauction—room。\"Iknownoonebutyouwhowouldreallyappreciateit，\"heexplained。
Hepermittedhimselfnoothercomments，buttheseconveyedwithsufficientdirectnessthathethoughtherworthyofadifferentsetting。Thatsheshouldbesoregardedbyamanlivinginanatmosphereofartandbeauty，andesteemingthemthevitalelementsoflife，madeherfeelforthefirsttimethatshewasunderstood。Herewassomeonewhosescaleofvalueswasthesameashers，andwhothoughtheropinionworthhearingontheverymatterswhichtheybothconsideredofsupremeimportance。Thediscoveryrestoredherself—
confidence，andsherevealedherselftoMr。LeathasshehadneverknownhowtorevealherselftoDarrow。
Asthecourtshipprogressed，andtheygrewmoreconfidential，hersuitorsurprisedanddelightedherbylittleexplosionsofrevolutionarysentiment。Hesaid：
\"Shallyoumind，Iwonder，ifItellyouthatyouliveinadread—fullyconventionalatmosphere？\"and，seeingthatshemanifestlydidnotmind：\"OfcourseIshallsaythingsnowandthenthatwillhorrifyyourdeardelightfulparents——I
shallshockthemawfully，Iwarnyou。\"
Inconfirmationofthiswarninghepermittedhimselfanoccasionalplayfulflingattheregularchurch—goingofMr。
andMrs。Summers，attheinnocuouscharacteroftheliteratureintheirlibrary，andattheirguilelessappreciationsinart。HeevenventuredtobanterMrs。
SummersonherrefusaltoreceivetheirrepressibleKittyMaynewho，afterarapidpassagewithGeorgeDarrow，wasnowinvolvedinanotherandmoreflagrantadventure。
\"InEurope，youknow，thehusbandisregardedastheonlyjudgeinsuchmatters。Aslongasheacceptsthesituation——\"Mr。LeathexplainedtoAnna，whotookhisviewthemoreemphaticallyinordertoconvinceherselfthat，personally，shehadnonebutthemosttolerantsentimentstowardthelady。
ThesubversivenessofMr。Leath’sopinionswasenhancedbythedistinctionofhisappearanceandthereserveofhismanners。Hewasliketheanarchistwithagardeniainhisbuttonholewhofiguresinthehighermelodrama。Everyword，everyallusion，everynoteofhisagreeably—modulatedvoice，gaveAnnaaglimpseofasocietyatoncefreerandfiner，whichobservedthetraditionalformsbuthaddiscardedtheunderlyingprejudices；whereastheworldsheknewhaddiscardedmanyoftheformsandkeptalmostalltheprejudices。
Insuchanatmosphereashisaneageryoungwoman，curiousastoallthemanifestationsoflife，yetinstinctivelydesiringthattheyshouldcometoherintermsofbeautyandfinefeeling，mustsurelyfindthelargestscopeforself—
expression。Study，travel，thecontactoftheworld，thecomradeshipofapolishedandenlightenedmind，wouldcombinetoenrichherdaysandformhercharacter；anditwasonlyintheraremomentswhenMr。Leath’ssymmetricalblondmaskbentoverhers，andhiskissdroppedonherlikeacoldsmoothpebble，thatshequestionedthecompletenessofthejoysheoffered。
Therehadbeenatimewhenthewallsonwhichhergazenowrestedhadshedaglareofironyontheseearlydreams。InthefirstyearsofhermarriagethesobersymmetryofGivrehadsuggestedonlyherhusband’sneatly—balancedmind。Itwasamind，shesoonlearned，contentedlyabsorbedinformulatingtheconventionsoftheunconventional。WestFifty—fifthStreetwasnomoreconscientiouslyconcernedthanGivrewiththemomentousquestionof\"whatpeopledid\"；
itwasonlythetypeofdeedinvestigatedthatwasdifferent。Mr。Leathcollectedhissocialinstanceswiththesameseriousnessandpatienceashissnuff—boxes。Heexactedarigidconformitytohisrulesofnon—conformityandhisscepticismhadtheabsoluteaccentofadogma。Heevencherishedcertainexceptionstohisrulesasthebook—
collectorprizesa\"defective\"firstedition。TheProtestantchurch—goingofAnna’sparentshadprovokedhisgentlesarcasm；buthepridedhimselfonhismother’sdevoutness，becauseMadamedeChantelle，inembracinghersecondhusband’screed，hadbecomepartofasocietywhichstillobservestheoutwardritesofpiety。
Anna，infact，haddiscoveredinheramiableandelegantmother—in—lawanunexpectedembodimentoftheWestFifty—
fifthStreetideal。Mrs。SummersandMadamedeChantelle，howeverstronglytheywouldhavedisagreedastotheauthorizedsourceofChristiandogma，wouldhavefoundthemselvescompletelyinaccordonallthemomentousminutiaeofdrawing—roomconduct；yetMr。Leathtreatedhismother’sfoibleswitharespectwhichAnna’sexperienceofhimforbadehertoattributewhollytofilialaffection。
Intheearlydays，whenshewasstillquestioningtheSphinxinsteadoftryingtofindananswertoit，sheventuredtotaxherhusbandwithhisinconsistency。
\"Yousayyourmotherwon’tlikeitifIcallonthatamusinglittlewomanwhocameheretheotherday，andwasletinbymistake；butMadamedeChantelletellsmesheliveswithherhusband，andwhenmotherrefusedtovisitKittyMayneyousaid————\"
Mr。Leath’ssmilearrestedher。\"Mydearchild，Idon’tpretendtoapplytheprinciplesoflogictomypoormother’sprejudices。\"
\"ButifyouadmitthattheyAREprejudices————？\"
\"Thereareprejudicesandprejudices。Mymother，ofcourse，gothersfromMonsieurdeChantelle，andtheyseemtomeasmuchintheirplaceinthishouseasthepot—pourriinyourhawthornjar。TheypreserveasocialtraditionofwhichI
shouldbesorrytolosetheleastperfume。OfcourseI
don’texpectyou，justatfirst，tofeelthedifference，toseethenuance。InthecaseoflittleMadamedeVireville，forinstance：youpointoutthatshe’sstillunderherhusband’sroof。Verytrue；andifsheweremerelyaParisacquaintance——especiallyifyouhadmether，asonestillmight，intheRIGHTKINDofhouseinParis——I
shouldbethelasttoobjecttoyourvisitingher。Butinthecountryit’sdifferent。Eventhebestprovincialsocietyiswhatyouwouldcallnarrow：Idon’tdenyit；andifsomeofourfriendsmetMadamedeVirevilleatGivre——
well，itwouldproduceabadimpression。You’reinclinedtoridiculesuchconsiderations，butgraduallyyou’llcometoseetheirimportance；andmeanwhile，dotrustmewhenIaskyoutobeguidedbymymother。ItisalwayswellforastrangerinanoldsocietytoerralittleonthesideofwhatyoucallitsprejudicesbutIshouldratherdescribeasitstraditions。\"
Afterthatshenolongertriedtolaughorargueherhusbandoutofhisconvictions。TheyWEREconvictions，andthereforeunassailable。Norwasanyinsincerityimpliedinthefactthattheysometimesseemedtocoincidewithhers。
Therewereoccasionswhenhereallydidlookatthingsasshedid；butforreasonssodifferentastomakethedistancebetweenthemallthegreater。Life，toMr。Leath，waslikeawalkthroughacarefullyclassifiedmuseum，where，inmomentsofdoubt，onehadonlytolookatthenumberandrefertoone’scatalogue；tohiswifeitwaslikegropingaboutinahugedarklumber—roomwheretheexploringrayofcuriositylitupnowsomeshapeofbreathingbeautyandnowamummy’sgrin。
Inthefirstbewildermentofhernewstatethesediscoverieshadhadtheeffectofdroppinganotherlayerofgauzebetweenherselfandreality。Sheseemedfartherthaneverremovedfromthestrongjoysandpangsforwhichshefeltherselfmade。Shedidnotadoptherhusband’sviews，butinsensiblyshebegantolivehislife。Shetriedtothrowacompensatingardourintothesecretexcursionsofherspirit，andthustheoldviciousdistinctionbetweenromanceandrealitywasre—establishedforher，andsheresignedherselfagaintothebeliefthat\"reallife\"wasneitherrealnoralive。
Thebirthofherlittlegirlsweptawaythisdelusion。Atlastshefeltherselfincontactwiththeactualbusinessofliving：buteventhisimpressionwasnotenduring。
Everythingbuttheirreduciblecrudefactofchild—bearingassumed，intheLeathhousehold，thesameghostlytingeofunreality。Herhusband，atthetime，wasallthathisownidealofahusbandrequired。Hewasattentive，andevensuitablymoved：butashesatbyherbedside，andthoughtfullyprofferedtoherthelistofpeoplewhohad\"calledtoenquire\"，shelookedfirstathim，andthenatthechildbetweenthem，andwonderedattheblunderingalchemyofNature……
Withtheexceptionofthelittlegirlherself，everythingconnectedwiththattimehadgrowncuriouslyremoteandunimportant。Thedaysthathadmovedsoslowlyastheypassedseemednowtohaveplungeddownhead—longsteepsoftime；andasshesatintheautumnsun，withDarrow’sletterinherhand，thehistoryofAnnaLeathappearedtoitsheroinelikesomegreyshadowytalethatshemighthavereadinanoldbook，onenightasshewasfallingasleep……
X
Twobrownblursemergingfromthefartherendofthewood—
vistagraduallydefinedthemselvesasherstep—sonandanattendantgame—keeper。Theygrewslowlyuponthebluishbackground，withoccasionaldelaysandre—effacements，andshesatstill，waitingtilltheyshouldreachthegateattheendofthedrive，wherethekeeperwouldturnofftohiscottageandOwencontinueontothehouse。
Shewatchedhisapproachwithasmile。Fromthefirstdaysofhermarriageshehadbeendrawntotheboy，butitwasnotuntilafterEffie’sbirththatshehadreallybeguntoknowhim。TheeagerobservationofherownchildhadshownherhowmuchshehadstilltolearnabouttheslightfairboywhomtheholidaysperiodicallyrestoredtoGivre。Owen，eventhen，bothphysicallyandmorally，furnishedherwiththeoddestofcommentariesonhisfather’smienandmind。
Hewouldnever，thefamilysighinglyrecognized，benearlyashandsomeasMr。Leath；buthisrathercharminglyunbalancedface，withitsbroodingforeheadandpetulantboyishsmile，suggestedtoAnnawhathisfather’scountenancemighthavebeencouldonehavepictureditsneatfeaturesdisorderedbyarattlingbreeze。Sheevenpushedtheanalogyfarther，anddescriedinherstep—son’smindaquaintly—twistedreflectionofherhusband’s。Withhisburstsofdoor—slammingactivity，hisfitsofbookishindolence，hiscruderevolutionarydogmatizingandhisflashesofprecociousirony，theboywasnotunlikeaboisterousembodimentofhisfather’stheories。ItwasasthoughFraserLeath’sideas，accustomedtohanglikemarionettesontheirpegs，shouldsuddenlycomedownandwalk。Thereweremoments，indeed，whenOwen’shumoursmusthavesuggestedtohisprogenitorthegambolsofaninfantFrankenstein；buttoAnnatheywerethevoiceofhersecretrebellions，andhertendernesstoherstep—sonwaspartlybasedonherseveritytowardherself。Ashehadthecourageshehadlacked，soshemeanthimtohavethechancesshehadmissed；andeveryeffortshemadeforhimhelpedtokeepherownhopesalive。
HerinterestinOwenledhertothinkmoreoftenofhismother，andsometimesshewouldslipawayandstandalonebeforeherpredecessor’sportrait。SinceherarrivalatGivrethepicture——a\"full—length\"byaoncefashionableartist——hadundergonethesuccessivedisplacementsofanexiledconsortremovedfartherandfartherfromthethrone；
andAnnacouldnothelpnotingthatthesestagescoincidedwiththegradualdeclineoftheartist’sfame。ShehadafancythatifhiscredithadbeenintheascendantthefirstMrs。Leathmighthavecontinuedtothroneoverthedrawing—
roommantel—piece，eventotheexclusionofhersuccessor’seffigy。Insteadofthis，herperegrinationshadfinallylandedherintheshroudedsolitudeofthebilliard—room，anapartmentwhichnooneeverentered，butwhereitwasunderstoodthat\"thelightwasbetter，\"ormighthavebeeniftheshuttershadnotbeenalwaysclosed。
Herethepoorlady，elegantlydressed，andseatedinthemiddleofalargelonelycanvas，intheblankcontemplationofagiltconsole，hadalwaysseemedtoAnnatobewaitingforvisitorswhonevercame。
\"Ofcoursetheynevercame，youpoorthing！Iwonderhowlongittookyoutofindoutthattheyneverwould？\"Annahadmorethanonceapostrophizedher，withaderisionaddressedrathertoherselfthantothedead；butitwasonlyafterEffie’sbirththatitoccurredtohertostudymorecloselythefaceinthepicture，andspeculateonthekindofvisitorsthatOwen’smothermighthavehopedfor。
\"Shecertainlydoesn’tlookasiftheywouldhavebeenthesamekindasmine：butthere’snotelling，fromaportraitthatwassoobviouslydone’topleasethefamily’，andthatleavesOwensounaccountedfor。Well，theynevercame，thevisitors；theynevercame；andshediedofit。Shediedofitlongbeforetheyburiedher：I’mcertainofthat。Thosearestone—deadeyesinthepicture……Thelonelinessmusthavebeenawful，ifevenOwencouldn’tkeepherfromdyingofit。AndtofeelitsoshemusthaveHADfeelings——
realliveones，thekindthattwitchandtug。Andallshehadtolookatallherlifewasagiltconsole——yes，that’sit，agiltconsolescrewedtothewall！That’sexactlyandabsolutelywhatheis！\"
Shedidnotmean，ifshecouldhelpit，thateitherEffieorOwenshouldknowthatloneliness，orletherknowitagain。
Theywerethree，now，tokeepeachotherwarm，andsheembracedbothchildreninthesamepassionofmotherhood，asthoughonewerenotenoughtoshieldherfromherpredecessor’sfate。
SometimesshefanciedthatOwenLeath’sresponsewaswarmerthanthatofherownchild。ButthenEffiewasstillhardlymorethanababy，andOwen，fromthefirst，hadbeenalmost\"oldenoughtounderstand\"：certainlyDIDunderstandnow，inatacitwaythatyetperpetuallyspoketoher。Thissenseofhisunderstandingwasthedeepestelementintheirfeelingforeachother。Thereweresomanythingsbetweenthemthatwereneverspokenof，orevenindirectlyalludedto，yetthat，evenintheiroccasionaldiscussionsanddifferences，formedtheunadducedargumentsmakingforfinalagreement……
Musingonthis，shecontinuedtowatchhisapproach；andherheartbegantobeatalittlefasteratthethoughtofwhatshehadtosaytohim。Butwhenhereachedthegateshesawhimpause，andafteramomentheturnedasideasiftogainacross—roadthroughthepark。
Shestartedupandwavedhersunshade，buthedidnotseeher。Nodoubthemeanttogobackwiththegamekeeper，perhapstothekennels，toseearetrieverwhohadhurthisleg。Suddenlyshewasseizedbythewhimtoovertakehim。
Shethrewdowntheparasol，thrustherletterintoherbodice，andcatchingupherskirtsbegantorun。
Shewasslightandlight，withanaturaleaseandquicknessofgait，butshecouldnotrecallhavingrunayardsinceshehadrompedwithOweninhisschool—days；nordidsheknowwhatimpulsemovedhernow。Sheonlyknewthatrunshemust，thatnoothermotion，shortofflight，wouldhavebeenbuoyantenoughforherhumour。Sheseemedtobekeepingpacewithsomeinwardrhythm，seekingtogivebodilyexpressiontothelyricrushofherthoughts。Theearthalwaysfeltelasticunderher，andshehadaconsciousjoyintreadingit；butneverhaditbeenassoftandspringyastoday。Itseemedactuallytoriseandmeetherasshewent，sothatshehadthefeeling，whichsometimescametoherindreams，ofskimmingmiraculouslyovershortbrightwaves。
Theair，too，seemedtobreakinwavesagainsther，sweepingbyonitscurrentalltheslantedlightsandmoistsharpperfumesofthefailingday。Shepantedtoherself：\"Thisisnonsense！\"herbloodhummedback：\"Butit’sglorious！\"
andshespedontillshesawthatOwenhadcaughtsightofherandwasstridingbackinherdirection。
Thenshestoppedandwaited，flushedandlaughing，herhandsclaspedagainsttheletterinherbreast。
\"No，I’mnotmad，\"shecalledout；\"butthere’ssomethingintheairtoday——don’tyoufeelit？——AndIwantedtohavealittletalkwithyou，\"sheaddedashecameuptoher，smilingathimandlinkingherarminhis。
Hesmiledback，butabovethesmileshesawtheshadeofanxietywhich，forthelasttwomonths，hadkeptitsfixedlinebetweenhishandsomeeyes。
\"Owen，don’tlooklikethat！Idon’twantyouto！\"shesaidimperiously。
Helaughed。\"YousaidthatexactlylikeEffie。Whatdoyouwantmetodo？ToracewithyouasIdoEffie？ButI
shouldn’thaveashow！\"heprotested，stillwiththelittlefrownbetweenhiseyes。
\"Whereareyougoing？\"sheasked。
\"Tothekennels。Butthere’snottheleastneed。ThevethasseenGarryandhe’sallright。Ifthere’sanythingyouwantedtotellme————\"
\"DidIsaytherewas？Ijustcameouttomeetyou——Iwantedtoknowifyou’dhadgoodsport。\"
Theshadowdroppedonhimagain。\"Noneatall。ThefactisIdidn’ttry。JeanandIhavejustbeenknockingaboutinthewoods。Iwasn’tinasanguinarymood。\"
Theywalkedonwiththesamelightgait，sonearlyofaheightthatkeepingstepcameasnaturallytothemasbreathing。Annastoleanotherlookattheyoungfaceonalevelwithherown。
\"YouDIDsaytherewassomethingyouwantedtotellme，\"
herstep—sonbeganafterapause。
\"Well，thereis。\"Sheslackenedherpaceinvoluntarily，andtheycametoapauseandstoodfacingeachotherunderthelimes。
\"IsDarrowcoming？\"heasked。
Sheseldomblushed，butatthequestionasuddenheatsuffusedher。Sheheldherheadhigh。
\"Yes：he’scoming。I’vejustheard。Hearrivesto—morrow。
Butthat’snot————\"Shesawherblunderandtriedtorectifyit。\"Orrather，yes，inawayitismyreasonforwantingtospeaktoyou————\"
\"Becausehe’scoming？\"
\"Becausehe’snotyethere。\"
\"It’sabouthim，then？\"
Helookedatherkindly，half—humourously，analmostfraternalwisdominhissmile。
\"About————？No，no：ImeantthatIwantedtospeaktodaybecauseit’sourlastdayalonetogether。\"
\"Oh，Isee。\"Hehadslippedhishandsintothepocketsofhistweedshootingjacketandloungedalongatherside，hiseyesbentonthemoistrutsofthedrive，asthoughthematterhadlostallinterestforhim。
\"Owen————\"
Hestoppedagainandfacedher。\"Lookhere，mydear，it’snosortofuse。\"
\"What’snouse？\"
