\"Anythingonearthyoucananyofyousay。\"
Shechallengedhim：\"AmIoneof’anyofyou’？\"
Hedidnotyield。\"Well，then——anythingonearththatevenYOUcansay。\"
\"Youdon’tintheleastknowwhatIcansay——orwhatImeanto。\"
\"Don’tI，generally？\"
Shegavehimthispoint，butonlytomakeanother。\"Yes；butthisisparticularly。Iwanttosay……Owen，you’vebeenadmirableallthrough。\"
Hebrokeintoalaughinwhichtheoddelder—brotherlynotewasoncemoreperceptible。
\"Admirable，\"sheemphasized。\"AndsohasSHE。\"
\"Oh，andsohaveyoutoHER！\"Hisvoicebrokedowntoboyishness。\"I’veneverlostsightofthatforaminute。
It’sbeenaltogethereasierforher，though，\"hethrewoffpresently。
\"Onthewhole，Isupposeithas。Well————\"shesummedupwithalaugh，\"aren’tyouallthebetterpleasedtobetoldyou’vebehavedaswellasshe？\"
\"Oh，youknow，I’venotdoneitforyou，\"hetossedbackather，withouttheleastnoteofhostilityintheaffectedlightnessofhistone。
\"Haven’tyou，though，perhaps——theleastbit？Because，afterall，youknewIunderstood？\"
\"You’vebeenawfullykindaboutpretendingto。\"
Shelaughed。\"Youdon’tbelieveme？YoumustrememberIhadyourgrandmothertoconsider。\"
\"Yes：andmyfather——andEffie，Isuppose——andtheoutragedshadesofGivre！\"Hepaused，asiftolaymorestressontheboyishsneer：\"DoyoulikewiseincludethelateMonsieurdeChantelle？\"
Hisstep—motherdidnotappeartoresentthethrust。Shewenton，inthesametoneofaffectionatepersuasion：\"Yes：
ImusthaveseemedtoyoutoosubjecttoGivre。PerhapsI
havebeen。Butyouknowthatwasnotmyrealobjectinaskingyoutowait，tosaynothingtoyourgrandmotherbeforeherreturn。\"
Heconsidered。\"Yourrealobject，ofcourse，wastogaintime。\"
\"Yes——butforwhom？WhynotforYOU？\"
\"Forme？\"Heflushedupquickly。\"Youdon’tmean————？\"
Shelaidherhandonhisarmandlookedgravelyintohishandsomeeyes。
\"ImeanthatwhenyourgrandmothergetsbackfromOuchyI
shallspeaktoher————\"
\"You’llspeaktoher……？\"
\"Yes；ifonlyyou’llpromisetogivemetime————\"
\"TimeforhertosendforAdelaidePainter？\"
\"Oh，she’llundoubtedlysendforAdelaidePainter！\"
Theallusiontouchedaspringofmirthinboththeirminds，andtheyexchangedalaughinglook。
\"Onlyyoumustpromisenottorushthings。YoumustgivemetimetoprepareAdelaidetoo，\"Mrs。Leathwenton。
\"Preparehertoo？\"Hedrewawayforabetterlookather。
\"Prepareherforwhat？\"
\"Why，toprepareyourgrandmother！Foryourmarriage。Yes，that’swhatImean。I’mgoingtoseeyouthrough，youknow————\"
Hisfeintofindifferencebrokedownandhecaughtherhand。
\"Oh，youdeardivinething！Ididn’tdream————\"
\"Iknowyoudidn’t。\"Shedroppedhergazeandbegantowalkonslowly。\"Ican’tsayyou’veconvincedmeofthewisdomofthestep。OnlyIseemtoseethatotherthingsmattermore——andthatnotmissingthingsmattersmost。PerhapsI’vechanged——orYOURnotchanginghasconvincedme。
I’mcertainnowthatyouwon’tbudge。AndthatwasreallyallIevercaredabout。\"
\"Oh，astonotbudging——Itoldyousomonthsago：youmighthavebeensureofthat！Andhowcanyoubeanysurertodaythanyesterday？\"
\"Idon’tknow。Isupposeonelearnssomethingeveryday————
\"
\"NotatGivre！\"helaughed，andshotahalf—ironiclookather。\"Butyouhaven’treallyBEENatGivrelately——notformonths！Don’tyousupposeI’venoticedthat，mydear？\"
Sheechoedhislaughtomergeitinanundenyingsigh。\"PoorGivre……\"
\"PooremptyGivre！Withsomanyroomsfullandyetnotasoulinit——exceptofcoursemygrandmother，whoisitssoul！\"
Theyhadreachedthegatewayofthecourtandstoodlookingwithacommonaccordatthelongsoft—huedfacadeonwhichtheautumnlightwasdying。\"Itlookssomadetobehappyin————\"shemurmured。
\"Yes——today，today！\"Hepressedherarmalittle。\"Oh，youdarling——tohavegivenitthatlookforme！\"Hepaused，andthenwentoninalowervoice：\"Don’tyoufeelweoweittothepooroldplacetodowhatwecantogiveitthatlook？
You，too，Imean？Come，let’smakeitgrinfromwingtowing！I’vesuchamaddesiretosayoutrageousthingstoit——haven’tyou？Afterall，inoldtimestheremusthavebeenlivingpeoplehere！\"
Looseningherarmfromhisshecontinuedtogazeupatthehouse—front，whichseemed，intheplaintivedeclineoflight，tosendherbackthemuteappealofsomethingdoomed。
\"ItISbeautiful，\"shesaid。
\"Abeautifulmemory！QuiteperfecttotakeoutandturnoverwhenI’mgrindingatthelawinNewYork，andyou’re————\"Hebrokeoffandlookedatherwithaquestioningsmile。
\"Come！Tellme。YouandIdon’thavetosaythingstotalktoeachother。WhenyouturnsuddenlyabsentmindedandmysteriousIalwaysfeellikesaying：’Comeback。Allisdiscovered’。\"
Shereturnedhissmile。\"YouknowasmuchasIknow。I
promiseyouthat。\"
Hewavered，asifforthefirsttimeuncertainhowfarhemightgo。\"Idon’tknowDarrowasmuchasyouknowhim，\"hepresentlyrisked。
Shefrownedalittle。\"Yousaidjustnowwedidn’tneedtosaythings\"
\"WasIspeaking？Ithoughtitwasyoureyes————\"Hecaughtherbybothelbowsandspunherhalfwayround，sothatthelatesunshedabetrayinggleamonherface。
\"They’resuchawfullyconversationaleyes！Don’tyousupposetheytoldmelongagowhyit’sjusttodayyou’vemadeupyourmindthatpeoplehavegottolivetheirownlives——evenatGivre？\"
XI
\"Thisisthesouthterrace，\"Annasaid。\"Shouldyouliketowalkdowntotheriver？\"
Sheseemedtolistentoherselfspeakingfromafar—offairyheight，andyettobewhollygatheredintothecircleofconsciousnesswhichdrewitsglowingringaboutherselfandDarrow。Totheaeriallistenerherwordssoundedflatandcolourless，buttotheselfwithintheringeachonebeatwithaseparateheart。
ItwasthedayafterDarrow’sarrival，andhehadcomedownearly，drawnbythesweetnessofthelightonthelawnsandgardensbelowhiswindow。Annahadheardtheechoofhissteponthestairs，hispauseinthestone—flaggedhall，hisvoiceasheaskedaservantwheretofindher。Shewasattheendofthehouse，inthebrown—panelledsitting—roomwhichshefrequentedatthatseasonbecauseitcaughtthesunlightfirstandkeptitlongest。Shestoodnearthewindow，inthepalebandofbrightness，arrangingsomesalmon—pinkgeraniumsinashallowporcelainbowl。Everysensationoftouchandsightwasthrice—aliveinher。Thegrey—greenfurofthegeraniumleavescaressedherfingersandthesunlightwaveringacrosstheirregularsurfaceoftheoldparquetfloormadeitseemasbrightandshiftingasthebrownbedofastream。
Darrowstoodframedinthedoor—wayofthefarthestdrawing—
room，alight—greyfigureagainsttheblackandwhiteflaggingofthehall；thenhebegantomovetowardherdowntheemptypale—panelledvista，crossingoneafteranotherthelongreflectionswhichaprojectingcabinetorscreencasthereandthereupontheshiningfloors。
Ashedrewnearer，hisfigurewassuddenlydisplacedbythatofherhusband，whom，fromthesamepoint，shehadsooftenseenadvancingdownthesameperspective。Straight，spare，erect，lookingtorightandleftwithquickpreciseturnsofthehead，andstoppingnowandthentostraightenachairoralterthepositionofavase，FraserLeathusedtomarchtowardherthroughthedoublefileoffurniturelikeageneralreviewingaregimentdrawnupforhisinspection。
Atacertainpoint，midwayacrossthesecondroom，healwaysstoppedbeforethemantel—pieceofpinkish—yellowmarbleandlookedathimselfinthetallgarlandedglassthatsurmountedit。Shecouldnotrememberthathehadeverfoundanythingtostraightenoralterinhisownstudiedattire，butshehadneverknownhimtoomittheinspectionwhenhepassedthatparticularmirror。
Whenitwasoverhecontinuedmorebrisklyonhisway，andtheresultingexpressionofsatisfactionwasstillonhisfacewhenheenteredtheoaksitting—roomtogreethiswife……
ThespectralprojectionofthislittledailyscenehungbutforamomentbeforeAnna，butinthatmomentshehadtimetoflingawonderingglanceacrossthedistancebetweenherpastandpresent。Thenthefootstepsofthepresentcameclose，andshehadtodropthegeraniumstogiveherhandtoDarrow……
\"Yes，letuswalkdowntotheriver。\"
Theyhadneitherofthem，asyet，foundmuchtosaytoeachother。Darrowhadarrivedlateonthepreviousafternoon，andduringtheeveningtheyhadhadbetweenthemOwenLeathandtheirownthoughts。Nowtheywerealoneforthefirsttimeandthefactwasenoughinitself。YetAnnawasintenselyawarethatassoonastheybegantotalkmoreintimatelytheywouldfeelthattheykneweachotherlesswell。
Theypassedoutontotheterraceanddownthestepstothegravelwalkbelow。Thedelicatefrostingofdewgavethegrassabluishshimmer，andthesunlight，slidinginemeraldstreaksalongthetree—boles，gathereditselfintogreatluminousblursattheendofthewood—walks，andhungabovethefieldsawaterygloryliketheringaboutanautumnmoon。
\"It’sgoodtobehere，\"Darrowsaid。
Theytookaturntotheleftandstoppedforamomenttolookbackatthelongpinkhouse—front，plainer，friendlier，lessadornedthanonthesidetowardthecourt。Soprolongedyetdelicatehadbeenthefrictionoftimeuponitsbricksthatcertainexpanseshadthebloomandtextureofoldredvelvet，andthepatchesofgoldlichenspreadingoverthemlookedlikethelasttracesofadimembroidery。
Thedomeofthechapel，withitsgildedcross，roseaboveonewing，andtheotherendedinaconicalpigeon—house，abovewhichthebirdswereflying，lustrousandslatey，theirbreastsmergedintheblueoftheroofwhentheydroppeddownonit。
\"Andthisiswhereyou’vebeenalltheseyears。\"
Theyturnedawayandbegantowalkdownalongtunnelofyellowingtrees。Bencheswithmossyfeetstoodagainstthemossyedgesofthepath，andatitsfartherenditwidenedintoacircleaboutabasinrimmedwithstone，inwhichtheopaquewaterstrewnwithleaveslookedlikeaslabofgold—
fleckedagate。Thepath，growingnarrower，woundoncircuitouslythroughthewoods，betweenslenderserriedtrunkstwinedwithivy。Patchesofblueappearedabovethemthroughthedwindlingleaves，andpresentlythetreesdrewbackandshowedtheopenfieldsalongtheriver。
Theywalkedonacrossthefieldstothetow—path。Inacurveofthewallsomestepsleduptoacrumblingpavilionwithopeningschokedwithivy。AnnaandDarrowseatedthemselvesonthebenchprojectingfromtheinnerwallofthepavilionandlookedacrosstheriverattheslopesdividedintoblocksofgreenandfawn—colour，andatthechalk—tintedvillageliftingitssquatchurch—towerandgreyroofsagainstthepreciselydrawnlinesofthelandscape。
Annasatsilent，sointenselyawareofDarrow’snearnessthattherewasnosurpriseinthetouchhelaidonherhand。
Theylookedateachother，andhesmiledandsaid：\"Therearetobenomoreobstaclesnow。\"
\"Obstacles？\"Thewordstartledher。\"Whatobstacles？\"
\"Don’tyourememberthewordingofthetelegramthatturnedmebacklastMay？’Unforeseenobstacle’：thatwasit。Whatwastheearth—shakingproblem，bytheway？FindingagovernessforEffie，wasn’tit？\"
\"ButIgaveyoumyreason：thereasonwhyitwasanobstacle。Iwroteyoufullyaboutit。\"
\"Yes，Iknowyoudid。\"Heliftedherhandandkissedit。
\"Howfaroffitallseems，andhowlittleitallmatterstoday！\"
Shelookedathimquickly。\"Doyoufeelthat？IsupposeI’mdifferent。Iwanttodrawallthosewastedmonthsintotoday——tomakethemapartofit。\"
\"Buttheyare，tome。Youreachbackandtakeeverything——
backtothefirstdaysofall。\"
Shefrownedalittle，asifstrugglingwithaninarticulateperplexity。\"It’scurioushow，inthosefirstdays，too，somethingthatIdidn’tunderstandcamebetweenus。\"
\"Oh，inthosedaysweneitherofusunderstood，didwe？It’spartofwhat’scalledtheblissofbeingyoung。\"
\"Yes，Ithoughtthat，too：thoughtit，Imean，inlookingback。Butitcouldn’t，eventhen，havebeenastrueofyouasofme；andnow————\"
\"Now，\"hesaid，\"theonlythingthatmattersisthatwe’resittingheretogether。\"
Hedismissedtherestwithalightnessthatmighthaveseemedconclusiveevidenceofherpoweroverhim。Butshetooknoprideinsuchtriumphs。Itseemedtoherthatshewantedhisallegianceandhisadorationnotsomuchforherselfasfortheirmutuallove，andthatintreatinglightlyanypastphaseoftheirrelationhetooksomethingfromitspresentbeauty。Thecolourrosetoherface。
\"Betweenyouandmeeverythingmatters。\"
\"Ofcourse！\"Shefelttheunperceivingsweetnessofhissmile。\"That’swhy，\"hewenton，\"’everything，’forme，ishereandnow：onthisbench，betweenyouandme。\"
Shecaughtatthephrase。\"That’swhatImeant：it’shereandnow；wecan’tgetawayfromit。\"
\"Getawayfromit？Doyouwantto？AGAIN？\"
Herheartwasbeatingunsteadily。Somethinginher，fitfullyandwithreluctance，struggledtofreeitself，butthewarmthofhisnearnesspenetratedeverysenseasthesunlightsteepedthelandscape。Then，suddenly，shefeltthatshewantednolessthanthewholeofherhappiness。
\"’Again’？Butwasn’titYOU，thelasttime————？\"
Shepaused，thetremorinherofPsycheholdingupthelamp。
Butintheinterrogativelightofherpausehercompanion’sfeaturesunderwentnochange。
\"Thelasttime？Lastspring？Butitwasyouwho——forthebestofreasons，asyou’vetoldme——turnedmebackfromyourverydoorlastspring！\"
Shesawthathewasgood—humouredlyreadyto\"threshout，\"
forhersentimentalsatisfaction，aquestionwhich，forhisown，Timehadsoconclusivelydealtwith；andthesenseofhisreadinessreassuredher。
\"IwroteassoonasIcould，\"sherejoined。\"Iexplainedthedelayandaskedyoutocome。Andyouneverevenansweredmyletter。\"
\"Itwasimpossibletocomethen。Ihadtogobacktomypost。\"
\"Andimpossibletowriteandtellmeso？\"
\"Yourletterwasalongtimecoming。Ihadwaitedaweek——
tendays。Ihadsomeexcuseforthinking，whenitcame，thatyouwereinnogreathurryforananswer。\"
\"Youthoughtthat——really——afterreadingit？\"
\"Ithoughtit。\"
Herheartleapeduptoherthroat。\"Thenwhyareyouheretoday？\"
Heturnedonherwithaquicklookofwonder。\"Godknows——
ifyoucanaskmethat！\"
\"YouseeIwasrighttosayIdidn’tunderstand。\"
Hestoodupabruptlyandstoodfacingher，blockingtheviewovertheriverandthecheckeredslopes。\"PerhapsImightsaysotoo。\"
\"No，no：wemustneitherofushaveanyreasonforsayingitagain。\"Shelookedathimgravely。\"SurelyyouandI
needn’tarrangethelightsbeforeweshowourselvestoeachother。IwantyoutoseemejustasIam，withallmyirrationaldoubtsandscruples；theoldonesandthenewonestoo。\"
Hecamebacktohisseatbesideher。\"Nevermindtheoldones。Theywerejustified——I’mwillingtoadmitit。Withthegovernesshavingsuddenlytobepackedoff，andEffieonyourhands，andyourmother—in—lawill，Iseetheimpossibilityofyourlettingmecome。Ievenseethat，atthemoment，itwasdifficulttowriteandexplain。Butwhatdoesallthatmatternow？ThenewscruplesaretheonesI
wanttotackle。\"
Againherhearttrembled。Shefeltherhappinesssonear，sosure，thattostrainitclosermightbelikeachild’scrushingapetbirdinitscaress。Butherverysecurityurgedheron。Forsolongherdoubtshadbeenknife—edged：
nowtheyhadturnedintobrightharmlesstoysthatshecouldtossandcatchwithoutperil！
\"Youdidn’tcome，andyoudidn’tanswermyletter；andafterwaitingfourmonthsIwroteanother。\"
\"AndIansweredthatone；andI’mhere。\"
\"Yes。\"Sheheldhiseyes。\"ButinmylastletterIrepeatedexactlywhatI’dsaidinthefirst——theoneIwroteyoulastJune。ItoldyouthenthatIwasreadytogiveyoutheanswertowhatyou’daskedmeinLondon；andintellingyouthat，Itoldyouwhattheanswerwas。\"
\"Mydearest！Mydearest！\"Darrowmurmured。
\"Youignoredthatletter。Allsummeryoumadenosign。AndallIasknowis，thatyoushouldfranklytellmewhy。\"
\"IcanonlyrepeatwhatI’vejustsaid。IwashurtandunhappyandIdoubtedyou。IsupposeifI’dcaredlessI
shouldhavebeenmoreconfident。IcaredsomuchthatI
couldn’triskanotherfailure。Foryou’dmademefeelthatI’dmiserablyfailed。SoIshutmyeyesandsetmyteethandturnedmyback。There’sthewholepusillanimoustruthofit！\"
\"Oh，ifit’stheWHOLEtruth！————\"Shelethimclaspher。\"There’smytorment，yousee。IthoughtthatwaswhatyoursilencemeanttillImadeyoubreakit。NowIwanttobesurethatIwasright。\"
\"WhatcanItellyoutomakeyousure？\"
\"YoucanletmetellYOUeverythingfirst。\"Shedrewaway，butwithouttakingherhandsfromhim。\"OwensawyouinParis，\"shebegan。
Shelookedathimandhefacedhersteadily。Thelightwasfullonhispleasantly—brownedface，hisgreyeyes，hisfrankwhiteforehead。Shenoticedforthefirsttimeaseal—ringinasettingoftwistedsilveronthehandhehadkeptonhers。
\"InParis？Oh，yes……Sohedid。\"
\"Hecamebackandtoldme。Ithinkyoutalkedtohimamomentinatheatre。Iaskedifyou’dspokenofmyhavingputyouoff——orifyou’dsentmeanymessage。Hedidn’trememberthatyouhad。\"
\"Inacrush——inaParisfoyer？Mydear！\"
\"Itwasabsurdofme！ButOwenandIhavealwaysbeenonoddkindofbrother—and—sisterterms。IthinkheguessedaboutuswhenhesawyouwithmeinLondon。Soheteasedmealittleandtriedtomakemecuriousaboutyou；andwhenhesawhe’dsucceededhetoldmehehadn’thadtimetosaymuchtoyoubecauseyouwereinsuchahurrytogetbacktotheladyyouwerewith。\"
Hestillheldherhands，butshefeltnotremorinhis，andtheblooddidnotstirinhisbrowncheek。Heseemedtobehonestlyturningoverhismemories。
\"Yes：andwhatelsedidhetellyou？\"
\"Oh，notmuch，exceptthatshewasawfullypretty。WhenI
askedhimtodescribeherhesaidyouhadhertuckedawayinabaignoireandhehadn’tactuallyseenher；buthesawthetailofhercloak，andsomehowknewfromthatthatshewaspretty。OneDOES，youknow……Ithinkhesaidthecloakwaspink。\"
Darrowbrokeintoalaugh。\"Ofcourseitwas——theyalwaysare！Sothatwasatthebottomofyourdoubts？\"
\"Notatfirst。Ionlylaughed。Butafterward，whenIwroteyouandyoudidn’tanswer————Oh，youDOsee？\"sheappealedtohim。
Hewaslookingathergently。\"Yes：Isee。\"
\"It’snotasifthiswerealightthingbetweenus。IwantyoutoknowmeasIam。IfIthoughtthatatthatmoment……whenyouwereonyourwayhere，almost————\"
Hedroppedherhandandstoodup。\"Yes，yes——Iunderstand。\"
\"Butdoyou？\"Herlookfollowedhim。\"I’mnotagooseofagirl。Iknow……ofcourseIKNOW……buttherearethingsawomanfeels……whenwhatsheknowsdoesn’tmakeanydifference。It’snotthatIwantyoutoexplain——Imeanaboutthatparticularevening。It’sonlythatIwantyoutohavethewholeofmyfeeling。Ididn’tknowwhatitwastillIsawyouagain。IneverdreamedIshouldsaysuchthingstoyou！\"
\"IneverdreamedIshouldbeheretohearyousaythem！\"Heturnedbackandliftingafloatingendofherscarfputhislipstoit。\"Butnowthatyouhave，Iknow——Iknow，\"hesmileddownather。
\"Youknow？\"
\"Thatthisisnolightthingbetweenus。Nowyoumayaskmeanythingyouplease！ThatwasallIwantedtoaskYOU。\"
Foralongmomenttheylookedateachotherwithoutspeaking。Shesawthedancingspiritinhiseyesturngraveanddarkentoapassionatesternness。Hestoopedandkissedher，andshesatasiffoldedinwings。
XII
Itwasinthenaturalorderofthingsthat，onthewaybacktothehouse，theirtalkshouldhaveturnedtothefuture。
Annawasnoteagertodefineit。Shehadanextraordinarysensitivenesstotheimpalpableelementsofhappiness，andasshewalkedatDarrow’ssideherimaginationflewbackandforth，spinningluminouswebsoffeelingbetweenherselfandthesceneabouther。Everyheighteningofemotionproducedforheraneweffusionofbeautyinvisiblethings，andwithitthesensethatsuchmomentsshouldbelingeredoverandabsorbedlikesomeunrenewablemiracle。SheunderstoodDarrow’simpatiencetoseetheirplanstakeshape。Sheknewitmustbeso，shewouldnothavehaditotherwise；buttoreachapointwhereshecouldfixhermindonhisappealfordatesanddecisionswasliketryingtobreakherwaythroughthesilvertangleofanAprilwood。
Darrowwishedtousehisdiplomaticopportunitiesasameansofstudyingcertaineconomicandsocialproblemswithwhichhepresentlyhopedtodealinprint；andwiththisinviewhehadaskedfor，andobtained，aSouthAmericanappointment。Annawasreadytofollowwhereheled，andnotreluctanttoputnewsightsaswellasnewthoughtsbetweenherselfandherpast。Shehad，inadirectway，onlyEffieandEffie’seducationtoconsider；andthereseemed，afterduereflection，noreasonwhythemostanxiousregardfortheseshouldnotbeconciliatedwiththedemandsofDarrow’scareer。Effie，itwasevident，couldbelefttoMadamedeChantelle’scaretillthecoupleshouldhaveorganizedtheirlife；andshemighteven，aslongasherfuturestep—
father’sworkretainedhimindistantposts，continuetodivideheryearbetweenGivreandtheantipodes。
AsforOwen，whohadreachedhislegalmajoritytwoyearsbefore，andwassoontoattaintheagefixedforthetakingoverofhispaternalinheritance，thearrivalofthisdatewouldreducehisstep—mother’sresponsibilitytoafriendlyconcernforhiswelfare。ThismadeforthepromptrealizationofDarrow’swishes，andthereseemednoreasonwhythemarriageshouldnottakeplacewithinthesixweeksthatremainedofhisleave。
Theypassedoutofthewood—walkintotheopenbrightnessofthegarden。Thenoonsunlightsheetedwithgoldthebronzeflanksofthepolygonalyews。Chrysanthemums，russet，saffronandorange，glowedliketheefflorescenceofanenchantedforest；beltsofredbegoniapurplingtowine—
colourranlikesmoulderingflameamongtheborders；andabovethisoutspreadtapestrythehouseextendeditsharmoniouslength，thesobernessofitslinessoftenedtograceintheluminousmistyair。
Darrowstoodstill，andAnnafeltthathisglancewastravellingfromhertothesceneaboutthemandthenbacktoherface。
\"You’resureyou’repreparedtogiveupGivre？Youlooksomadeforeachother！\"
\"Oh，Givre————\"Shebrokeoffsuddenly，feelingasifhertoocarelesstonehaddeliveredallherpastintohishands；
andwithoneofherinstinctivemovementsofrecoilsheadded：\"WhenOwenmarriesIshallhavetogiveitup。\"
