\"Aboutmymarriage？\"
\"Aboutyourmarriage。\"
Shecontinuedtoconsiderhimbetweenhalf—drawnlids。\"WhatcanIsaythatMrs。Leathhasnotalreadytoldyou？\"
\"Mrs。Leathhastoldmenothingwhateverbutthefact——andherpleasureinit。\"
\"Well；aren’tthosethetwoessentialpoints？\"
\"TheessentialpointstoYOU？Ishouldhavethought————\"
\"Oh，toYOU，Imeant，\"sheputinkeenly。
Heflushedattheretort，butsteadiedhimselfandrejoined：
\"Theessentialpointtomeis，ofcourse，thatyoushouldbedoingwhat’sreallybestforyou。\"
Shesatsilent，withloweredlashes。AtlengthshestretchedoutherarmandtookupfromthetablealittlethreadbareChinesehand—screen。Sheturneditsebonystemonceortwicebetweenherfingers，andasshedidsoDarrowwaswhimsicallystruckbythewayinwhichtheirevanescentslightromancewassymbolizedbythefadinglinesonthefrailsilk。
\"DoyouthinkmyengagementtoMr。Leathnotreallybestforme？\"sheaskedatlength。
Darrow，beforeanswering，waitedlongenoughtogethiswordsintothetersestshape——notwithoutasense，ashedidso，ofhislikenesstothesurgeondeliberatelypoisinghislancetforacleanincision。\"I’mnotsure，\"hereplied，\"ofitsbeingthebestthingforeitherofyou。\"
Shetookthestrokesteadily，butafaintredsweptherfacelikethereflectionofablush。Shecontinuedtokeepherloweredeyesonthescreen。
\"Fromwhosepointofviewdoyouspeak？\"
\"Naturally，thatofthepersonsmostconcerned。\"
\"FromOwen’s，then，ofcourse？Youdon’tthinkmeagoodmatchforhim？\"
\"Fromyours，firstofall。Idon’tthinkhimagoodmatchforyou。\"
Hebroughttheansweroutabruptly，hiseyesonherface。
Ithadgrownextremelypale，butasthemeaningofhiswordsshapeditselfinhermindhesawacuriousinnerlightdawnthroughhersetlook。Sheliftedherlidsjustfarenoughforaveiledglanceathim，andasmileslippedthroughthemtohertremblinglips。Foramomentthechangemerelybewilderedhim；thenitpulledhimupwithasharpjerkofapprehension。
\"Idon’tthinkhimagoodmatchforyou，\"hestammered，gropingforthelostthreadofhiswords。
Shethrewavaguelookaboutthechillyrain—dimmedroom。
\"Andyou’vebroughtmeheretotellmewhy？\"
Thequestionrousedhimtothesensethattheirminuteswerenumbered，andthatifhedidnotimmediatelygettohispointtheremightbenootherchanceofmakingit。
\"MychiefreasonisthatIbelievehe’stooyoungandinexperiencedtogiveyouthekindofsupportyouneed。\"
Athiswordsherfacechangedagain，freezingtoatragiccoldness。Shestaredstraightaheadofher，perceptiblystrugglingwiththetremorofhermuscles；andwhenshehadcontrolleditsheflungoutapale—lippedpleasantry。\"ButyouseeI’vealwayshadtosupportmyself！\"
\"He’saboy，\"Darrowpushedon，\"acharming，wonderfulboy；
butwithnomorenotionthanaboyhowtodealwiththeinevitabledailyproblems……thetrivialstupidunimportantthingsthatlifeischieflymadeupof。\"
\"I’lldealwiththemforhim，\"sherejoined。
\"They’llbemorethanordinarilydifficult。\"
Sheshotachallengingglanceathim。\"Youmusthavesomespecialreasonforsayingso。\"
\"Onlymyclearperceptionofthefacts。\"
\"Whatfactsdoyoumean？\"
Darrowhesitated。\"YoumustknowbetterthanI，\"hereturnedatlength，\"thatthewaywon’tbemadeeasytoyou。\"
\"Mrs。Leath，atanyrate，hasmadeitso。\"
\"MadamedeChantellewillnot。\"
\"HowdoYOUknowthat？\"sheflungback。
Hepausedagain，notsurehowfaritwasprudenttorevealhimselfintheconfidenceofthehousehold。Then，toavoidinvolvingAnna，heanswered：\"MadamedeChantellesentformeyesterday。\"
\"Sentforyou——totalktoyouaboutme？\"Thecolourrosetoherforeheadandhereyesburnedblackunderloweredbrows。
\"Bywhatright，Ishouldliketoknow？Whathaveyoutodowithme，orwithanythingintheworldthatconcernsme？\"
Darrowinstantlyperceivedwhatdreadsuspicionagainpossessedher，andthesensethatitwasnotwhollyunjustifiedcausedhimapassingpangofshame。Butitdidnotturnhimfromhispurpose。
\"I’manoldfriendofMrs。Leath’s。It’snotunnaturalthatMadamedeChantelleshouldtalktome。\"
Shedroppedthescreenonthetableandstoodup，turningonhimthesamesmallmaskofwrathandscornwhichhadglaredathim，inParis，whenhehadconfessedtohissuppressionofherletter。Shewalkedawayasteportwoandthencameback。
\"MayIaskwhatMadamedeChantellesaidtoyou？\"
\"Shemadeitclearthatsheshouldnotencouragethemarriage。\"
\"AndwhatwasherobjectinmakingthatcleartoYOU？\"
Darrowhesitated。\"Isupposeshethought————\"
\"ThatshecouldpersuadeyoutoturnMrs。Leathagainstme？\"
Hewassilent，andshepressedhim：\"Wasthatit？\"
\"Thatwasit。\"
\"Butifyoudon’t——ifyoukeepyourpromise————\"
\"Mypromise？\"
\"Tosaynothing……nothingwhatever……\"Herstrainedlookthrewahaggardlightalongthepause。
Asshespoke，thewholeodiousnessofthescenerushedoverhim。\"OfcourseIshallsaynothing……youknowthat……\"Heleanedtoherandlaidhishandonhers。\"YouknowI
wouldn’tfortheworld……\"
Shedrewbackandhidherfacewithasob。Thenshesankagainintoherseat，stretchedherarmsacrossthetableandlaidherfaceuponthem。Hesatstill，overwhelmedwithcompunction。Afteralonginterval，inwhichhehadpainfullymeasuredthesecondsbyherhard—drawnbreathing，shelookedupathimwithafacewashedclearofbitterness。
\"Don’tsupposeIdon’tknowwhatyoumusthavethoughtofme！\"
Thecrystruckhimdowntoalowerdepthofself—abasement。
\"Mypoorchild，\"hefeltlikeanswering，\"theshameofitisthatI’veneverthoughtofyouatall！\"Buthecouldonlyuselesslyrepeat：\"I’lldoanythingIcantohelpyou。\"
Shesatsilent，drummingthetablewithherhand。Hesawthatherdoubtofhimwasallayed，andtheperceptionmadehimmoreashamed，asifhertrusthadfirstrevealedtohimhownearhehadcometonotdeservingit。Suddenlyshebegantospeak。
\"Youthink，then，I’venorighttomarryhim？\"
\"Noright？Godforbid！Ionlymeant————\"
\"Thatyou’dratherIdidn’tmarryanyfriendofyours。\"Shebroughtitoutdeliberately，notasaquestion，butasameredispassionatestatementoffact。
Darrowinturnstoodupandwanderedawayhelplesslytothewindow。Hestoodstaringoutthroughitssmalldiscolouredpanesatthedimbrowndistances；thenhemovedbacktothetable。
\"I’lltellyouexactlywhatImeant。You’llbewretchedifyoumarryamanyou’renotinlovewith。\"
Heknewtheriskofmisapprehensionthatheran，butheestimatedhischancesofsuccessaspreciselyinproportiontohisperil。Ifcertainsignsmeantwhathethoughttheydid，hemightyet——atwhatcosthewouldnotstoptothink——
makehispastpayforhisfuture。
Thegirl，athiswords，hadliftedherheadwithamovementofsurprise。Hereyesslowlyreachedhisfaceandrestedthereinagazeofdeepinterrogation。Heheldthelookforamoment；thenhisowneyesdroppedandhewaited。
Atlengthshebegantospeak。\"You’remistaken——you’requitemistaken。\"
Hewaitedamomentlonger。\"Mistaken————？\"
\"Inthinkingwhatyouthink。I’mashappyasifIdeservedit！\"shesuddenlyproclaimedwithalaugh。
Shestoodupandmovedtowardthedoor。\"NOWareyousatisfied？\"sheasked，turninghervividestfacetohimfromthethreshold。
XXI
Downtheavenuetherecametothem，withtheopeningofthedoor，thevoiceofOwen’smotor。Itwasthesignalwhichhadinterruptedtheirfirsttalk，andagain，instinctively，theydrewapartatthesound。WithoutawordDarrowturnedbackintotheroom，whileSophyVinerwentdownthestepsandwalkedbackalonetowardthecourt。
Atluncheonthepresenceofthesurgeon，andthenon—
appearanceofMadamedeChantelle——whohadexcusedherselfonthepleaofaheadache——combinedtoshifttheconversationalcentreofgravity；andDarrow，undershelterofthenecessarilyimpersonaltalk，hadtimetoadjusthisdisguiseandtoperceivethattheotherswereengagedinthesamere—arrangement。ItwasthefirsttimethathehadseenyoungLeathandSophyVinertogethersincehehadlearnedoftheirengagement；butneitherrevealedmoreemotionthanbefittedtheoccasion。ItwasevidentthatOwenwasdeeplyunderthegirl’scharm，andthatattheleastsignfromherhisblisswouldhavebrokenbounds；butherreticencewasjustifiedbythetacitlyrecognizedfactofMadamedeChantelle’sdisapproval。ThisalsovisiblyweighedonAnna’smind，makinghermannertoSophy，ifnolesskind，yetatriflemoreconstrainedthanifthemomentoffinalunderstandinghadbeenreached。SoDarrowinterpretedthetensionperceptibleunderthefluentexchangeofcommonplacesinwhichhewasdiligentlysharing。Buthewasmoreandmoreawareofhisinabilitytotestthemoralatmosphereabouthim：hewaslikeamaninfevertestinganother’stemperaturebythetouch。
AfterluncheonAnna，whowastomotorthesurgeonhome，suggestedtoDarrowthatheshouldaccompanythem。Effiewasalsooftheparty；andDarrowinferredthatAnnawishedtogiveherstep—sonachancetobealonewithhisbetrothed。
Onthewayback，afterthesurgeonhadbeenleftathisdoor，thelittlegirlsatbetweenhermotherandDarrow，andherpresencekepttheirtalkfromtakingapersonalturn。
DarrowknewthatMrs。LeathhadnotyettoldEffieoftherelationinwhichhewastostandtoher。TheprematuredivulgingofOwen’splanshadthrowntheirownintothebackground，andbycommonconsenttheycontinued，inthelittlegirl’spresence，ontermsofaninformalfriendliness。
Theskyhadclearedafterluncheon，andtoprolongtheirexcursiontheyreturnedbywayoftheivy—mantledruinwhichwastohavebeenthesceneoftheprojectedpicnic。Thiscircuitbroughtthembacktotheparkgatesnotlongbeforesunset，andasAnnawishedtostopatthelodgefornewsoftheinjuredchildDarrowlefthertherewithEffieandwalkedonalonetothehouse。Hehadtheimpressionthatshewasslightlysurprisedathisnotwaitingforher；buthisinnerrestlessnessventeditselfinanintensedesireforbodilymovement。Hewouldhavelikedtowalkhimselfintoastateoftorpor；totramponforhoursthroughthemoistwindsandthehealingdarknessandcomebackstaggeringwithfatigueandsleep。Buthehadnopretextforsuchaflight，andhefearedthat，atsuchamoment，hisprolongedabsencemightseemsingulartoAnna。
Asheapproachedthehouse，thethoughtofhernearnessproducedaswiftreactionofmood。Itwasasifanintenservisionofherhadscatteredhisperplexitieslikemorningmists。Atthismoment，wherevershewas，heknewhewassafelyshutawayinherthoughts，andtheknowledgemadeeveryotherfactdwindleawaytoashadow。Heandshelovedeachother，andtheirlovearchedoverthemopenandampleastheday：inallitssunlitspacestherewasnocrannyforafeartolurk。Inafewminuteshewouldbeinherpresenceandwouldreadhisreassuranceinhereyes。Andpresently，beforedinner，shewouldcontrivethattheyshouldhaveanhourbythemselvesinhersitting—room，andhewouldsitbythehearthandwatchherquietmovements，andthewaythebluishlustreonherhairpurpledalittleasshebentabovethefire。
Acarriagedroveoutofthecourtasheenteredit，andinthehallhisvisionwasdispelledbytheexceedinglysubstantialpresenceofaladyinawaterproofandatweedhat，whostoodfirmlyplantedinthecentreofapileofluggage，astowhichshewasgivinginvolvedbutluciddirectionstothefootmanwhohadjustadmittedher。ShewentonwiththesedirectionsregardlessofDarrow’sentrance，merelyfixinghersmallpaleeyesonhimwhilesheproceeded，inadeepcontraltovoice，andafluentFrenchpronouncedwiththepurestBostonaccent，tospecifythedestinationofherbags；andthisenabledDarrowtogiveherbackagazeprotractedenoughtotakeinallthedetailsofherplainthick—setperson，fromthesquaresallowfacebeneathbandsofgreyhairtothebluntboot—toesprotrudingunderherwidewalkingskirt。
Shesubmittedtothisscrutinywithnomoreevidenceofsurprisethanamonumentexaminedbyatourist；butwhenthefateofherluggagehadbeensettledsheturnedsuddenlytoDarrowand，droppinghereyesfromhisfacetohisfeet，askedintrenchantaccents：\"Whatsortofbootshaveyougoton？\"
Beforehecouldsummonhiswitstotheconsiderationofthisquestionshecontinuedinatoneofsuppressedindignation：
\"UntilAmericansgetusedtothefactthatFranceisunderwaterforhalftheyearthey’reperpetuallyriskingtheirlivesbynotbeingproperlyprotected。Isupposeyou’vebeentrampingthroughallthisnastyclammymudasifyou’dbeentakingastrollonBostonCommon。\"
Darrow，withalaugh，affirmedhispreviousexperienceofFrenchdampness，andthedegreetowhichhewasonhisguardagainstit；butthelady，withacontemptuoussnort，rejoined：\"Youyoungmenareallalike————\"；towhichsheappended，afteranotherhardlookathim：\"Isupposeyou’reGeorgeDarrow？Iusedtoknowoneofyourmother’scousins，whomarriedaTunstallofMountVernonStreet。MynameisAdelaidePainter。HaveyoubeeninBostonlately？No？I’msorryforthat。IheartherehavebeenseveralnewhousesbuiltatthelowerendofCommonwealthAvenueandIhopedyoucouldtellmeaboutthem。Ihaven’tbeenthereforthirtyyearsmyself。\"
MissPainter’sarrivalatGivreproducedthesameeffectasthewind’shaulingaroundtothenorthafterdaysoflanguidweather。WhenDarrowjoinedthegroupaboutthetea—tableshehadalreadygivenatingletotheair。MadamedeChantellestillremainedinvisibleabovestairs；butDarrowhadtheimpressionthateventhroughherdrawncurtainsandbolteddoorsastimulatingwhiffmusthaveentered。
Annawasinherusualseatbehindthetea—tray，andSophyVinerpresentlyledinherpupil。Owenwasalsothere，seated，asusual，alittleapartfromtheothers，andfollowingMissPainter’smassivemovementsandequallysubstantialutteranceswithasmileofsecretintelligencewhichgaveDarrowtheideaofhishavingbeeninclandestineparleywiththeenemy。Darrowfurthertooknotethatthegirlandhersuitorperceptiblyavoidedeachother；butthismightbeanaturalresultofthetensionMissPainterhadbeensummonedtorelieve。
SophyVinerwouldevidentlypermitnorecognitionofthesituationsavethatwhichitlaywithMadamedeChantelletoaccord；butmeanwhileMissPainterhadproclaimedhertacitsenseofitbysummoningthegirltoaseatatherside。
Darrow，ashecontinuedtoobservethenewcomer，whowasperchedonherarm—chairlikeagraniteimageontheedgeofacliff，wasawarethat，inamoredetachedframeofmind，hewouldhavefoundanextremeinterestinstudyingandclassifyingMissPainter。Itwasnotthatshesaidanythingremarkable，orbetrayedanyofthoseunspokenperceptionswhichgivesignificancetothemostcommonplaceutterances。
Shetalkedofthelatenessofhertrain，ofanimpendingcrisisininternationalpolitics，ofthedifficultyofbuyingEnglishteainParisandoftheenormitiesofwhichFrenchservantswerecapable；andherviewsonthesesubjectswereenunciatedwithauniformityofemphasisimplyingcompleteunconsciousnessofanydifferenceintheirinterestandimportance。ShealwaysappliedtotheFrenchracethedistantepithetof\"thosepeople\"，butshebetrayedanintimateacquaintancewithmanyofitsmembers，andanencyclopaedicknowledgeofthedomestichabits，financialdifficultiesandprivatecomplicationsofvariouspersonsofsocialimportance。Yet，assheevidentlyfeltnoincongruityinherattitude，sosherevealednodesiretoparadeherfamiliaritywiththefashionable，orindeedanysenseofitasafacttobeparaded。ItwasevidentthatthetitledladieswhomshespokeofasMimiorSimoneorOdettewereasmuch\"thosepeople\"toherasthebonnewhotamperedwithherteaandsteamedthestampsoffherletters（\"when，byamiracle，Idon’tputthemintheboxmyself。\"）Herwholeattitudewasofavastgrimtoleranceofthings—as—they—came，asthoughshehadbeensomewonderfulautomaticmachinewhichrecordedfactsbuthadnotyetbeenperfectedtothepointofsortingorlabellingthem。
Allthis，asDarrowwasaware，stillfellshortofaccountingfortheinfluencesheobviouslyexertedonthepersonsincontactwithher。Itbroughtaslightrelieftohisstateoftensiontogoonwondering，whilehewatchedandlistened，justwherethemysterylurked。Perhaps，afterall，itwasinthefactofherblankinsensibility，aninsensibilitysodevoidofegotismthatithadnohardnessandnogrimaces，butratherthefreshnessofasimplermentalstate。Afterliving，ashehad，astheyallhad，forthelastfewdays，inanatmosphereperpetuallytremulouswithechoesandimplications，itwasrestfulandfortifyingmerelytowalkintothebigblankareaofMissPainter’smind，sovacuousforallitsaccumulateditems，soecholessforallitsvacuity。
HishopeofawordwithAnnabeforedinnerwasdispelledbyherrisingtotakeMissPainteruptoMadamedeChantelle；
andhewanderedawaytohisownroom，leavingOwenandMissVinerengagedinworkingoutapicture—puzzleforEffie。
MadamedeChantelle——possiblyastheresultofherfriend’sministrations——wasabletoappearatthedinner—table，ratherpaleandpink—nosed，andcastingtenderlyreproachfulglancesathergrandson，whofacedthemwithimperviousserenity；andthesituationwasrelievedbythefactthatMissViner，asusual，hadremainedintheschool—roomwithherpupil。
Darrowconjecturedthattherealclashofarmswouldnottakeplacetillthemorrow；andwishingtoleavethefieldopentothecontestantshesetoutearlyonasolitarywalk。
Itwasnearlyluncheon—timewhenhereturnedfromitandcameuponAnnajustemergingfromthehouse。Shehadonherhatandjacketandwasapparentlycomingforthtoseekhim，forshesaidatonce：\"MadamedeChantellewantsyoutogouptoher。\"
\"Togouptoher？Now？\"
\"That’sthemessageshesent。Sheappearstorelyonyoutodosomething。\"Sheaddedwithasmile：\"Whateveritis，let’shaveitover！\"
Darrow，throughhisrisingsenseofapprehension，wonderedwhy，insteadofmerelygoingforawalk，hehadnotjumpedintothefirsttrainandgotoutofthewaytillOwen’saffairswerefinallysettled。
\"ButwhatinthenameofgoodnesscanIdo？\"heprotested，followingAnnabackintothehall。
\"Idon’tknow。ButOwenseemssotorelyonyou，too————\"
\"Owen！IsHEtobethere？\"
\"No。ButyouknowItoldhimhecouldcountonyou。\"
\"ButI’vesaidtoyourmother—in—lawallIcould。\"
\"Well，thenyoucanonlyrepeatit。\"
ThisdidnotseemtoDarrowtosimplifyhiscaseasmuchassheappearedtothink；andoncemorehehadamovementofrecoil。\"There’snopossiblereasonformybeingmixedupinthisaffair！\"
Annagavehimareproachfulglance。\"NotthefactthatIam？\"sheremindedhim；buteventhisonlystiffenedhisresistance。
\"Whyshouldyoube，either——tothisextent？\"
Thequestionmadeherpause。Sheglancedaboutthehall，asiftobesuretheyhadittothemselves；andthen，inaloweredvoice：\"Idon’tknow，\"shesuddenlyconfessed；\"but，somehow，ifTHEY’REnothappyIfeelasifweshouldn’tbe。\"
\"Oh，well——\"Darrowacquiesced，inthetoneofthemanwhoperforceyieldstosolovelyanunreasonableness。Escapewas，afterall，impossible，andhecouldonlyresignhimselftobeingledtoMadamedeChantelle’sdoor。
Within，amongthebric—a—bracandfurbelows，hefoundMissPainterseatedinaredundantpurplearmchairwiththeincongruousairofahorsemanbestridingaheavymount。
MadamedeChantellesatopposite，stillalittlewananddisorderedunderherelaboratehair，andclaspingthehandkerchiefwhosevisibilitysymbolizedherdistress。Ontheyoungman’sentranceshesighedoutaplaintivewelcome，towhichsheimmediatelyappended：\"Mr。Darrow，Ican’thelpfeelingthatatheartyou’rewithme！\"
ThedirectnessofthechallengemadeiteasierforDarrowtoprotest，andhereiteratedhisinabilitytogiveanopiniononeitherside。
\"ButAnnadeclaresyouhave——onhers！\"
Hecouldnotrestrainasmileatthisfaintflawinanimpartialitysoscrupulous。EveryevidenceoffeminineinconsequenceinAnnaseemedtoattestherdeepersubjectiontothemostinconsequentofpassions。Hehadcertainlypromisedherhishelp——butbeforeheknewwhathewaspromising。
HemetMadamedeChantelle’sappealbyreplying：\"IftherewereanythingIcouldpossiblysayIshouldwantittobeinMissViner’sfavour。\"
\"You’dwantittobe——yes！Butcouldyoumakeitso？\"
\"Asfarasfactsgo，Idon’tseehowIcanmakeiteitherfororagainsther。I’vealreadysaidthatIknownothingofherexceptthatshe’scharming。\"
\"Asifthatweren’tenough——weren’tallthereOUGHTtobe！\"MissPainterputinimpatiently。SheseemedtoaddressherselftoDarrow，thoughhersmalleyeswerefixedonherfriend。
\"MadamedeChantelleseemstoimagine，\"shepursued，\"thatayoungAmericangirloughttohaveadossier——apolice—
record，orwhateveryoucallit：whatthoseawfulwomeninthestreetshavehere。Inourcountryit’senoughtoknowthatayounggirl’spureandlovely：peopledon’timmediatelyaskhertoshowherbank—accountandhervisiting—list。\"
MadamedeChantellelookedplaintivelyathersturdymonitress。\"Youdon’texpectmenottoaskifshe’sgotafamily？\"
\"No；nortothinktheworseofherifshehasn’t。Thefactthatshe’sanorphanought，withyourideas，tobeamerit。
Youwon’thavetoinviteherfatherandmothertoGivre！\"
\"Adelaide——Adelaide！\"themistressofGivrelamented。
\"LucretiaMary，\"theotherreturned——andDarrowsparedaninstant’samusementtothequaintincongruityofthename——
\"youknowyousentforMr。Darrowtorefuteme；andhowcanhe，tillheknowswhatIthink？\"
\"Youthinkit’sperfectlysimpletoletOwenmarryagirlweknownothingabout？\"
\"No；butIdon’tthinkit’sperfectlysimpletopreventhim。\"
TheshrewdnessoftheanswerincreasedDarrow’sinterestinMissPainter。Shehadnothithertostruckhimasbeingapersonofmuchpenetration，buthenowfeltsurethathergimletgazemightboretotheheartofanypracticalproblem。
MadamedeChantellesighedoutherrecognitionofthedifficulty。
\"Ihaven’tawordtosayagainstMissViner；butshe’sknockedaboutso，asit’scalled，thatshemusthavebeenmixedupwithsomeratherdreadfulpeople。IfonlyOwencouldbemadetoseethat——ifonecouldgetatafewfacts，Imean。Shesays，forinstance，thatshehasasister；butitseemsshedoesn’tevenknowheraddress！\"
\"Ifshedoes，shemaynotwanttogiveittoyou。Idaresaythesister’soneofthedreadfulpeople。I’venodoubtthatwithalittletimeyoucouldrakeupdozensofthem：haveher’traced’，astheycallitindetectivestories。Idon’tthinkyou’dfrightenOwen，butyoumight：it’snaturalenoughheshouldhavebeencorruptedbythoseforeignideas。
Youmightevenmanagetoparthimfromthegirl；butyoucouldn’tkeephimfrombeinginlovewithher。IsawthatwhenIlookedthemoverlastevening。Isaidtomyself：
