’It’sarealold—fashionedAmericancase，assweetandsoundashome—madebread。’Well，ifyoutakehisloafawayfromhim，whatareyougoingtofeedhimwithinstead？WhichofyournastyParispoisonsdoyouthinkhe’llturnto？
Supposingyousucceedinkeepinghimoutofareallybadmess——and，knowingtheyoungmanasIdo，Iratherthinkthat，atthiscrisis，theonlywaytodoitwouldbetomarryhimslapofftosomebodyelse——well，then，who，mayI
ask，wouldyoupickout？OneofyoursweetFrenchingenues，Isuppose？Withasmuchmindasaminnowandasmuchsnapasasoft—boiledegg。Youmighthustlehimintothatkindofmarriage；Idaresayyoucould——butifIknowOwen，thenaturalthingwouldhappenbeforethefirstbabywasweaned。\"
\"Idon’tknowwhyyouinsinuatesuchodiousthingsagainstOwen！\"
\"Doyouthinkitwouldbeodiousofhimtoreturntohisreallovewhenhe’dbeenforciblypartedfromher？Atanyrate，it’swhatyourFrenchfriendsdo，everyoneofthem！
Onlytheydon’tgenerallyhavethegracetogobacktoanoldlove；andIbelieve，uponmyword，Owenwould！\"
MadamedeChantellelookedatherwithamixtureofaweandexultation。\"Ofcourseyourealize，Adelaide，thatinsuggestingthisyou’reinsinuatingthemostshockingthingsagainstMissViner？\"
\"WhenIsaythatifyouparttwoyoungthingswhoaredyingtobehappyinthelawfulwayit’stentoonethey’llcometogetherinanunlawfulone？I’minsinuatingshockingthingsagainstYOU，LucretiaMary，insuggestingforamomentthatyou’llcaretoassumesucharesponsibilitybeforeyourMaker。Andyouwouldn’t，ifyoutalkedthingsstraightoutwithhim，insteadofmerelysendinghimmessagesthroughamiserablesinnerlikeyourself！\"
DarrowexpectedthisassaultonheradoptedcreedtoprovokeinMadamedeChantelleanexplosionofpiousindignation；
buttohissurpriseshemerelymurmured：\"Idon’tknowwhatMr。Darrow’llthinkofyou！\"
\"Mr。DarrowprobablyknowshisBibleaswellasIdo，\"MissPaintercalmlyrejoined；addingamomentlater，withouttheleastperceptiblechangeofvoiceorexpression：\"Isupposeyou’veheardthatGiseledeFolembray’shusbandaccusesherofbeingmixedupwiththeDucd’ArcachoninthatbusinessoftryingtosellalotofimitationpearlstoMrs。HomerPond，theChicagowomantheDuke’sengagedto？ItseemsthejewellersaysGiselebroughtMrs。Pondthere，andgottwenty—fivepercent——whichofcourseshepassedontod’Arcachon。ThepooroldDuchessisinafearfulstate——soafraidherson’llloseMrs。Pond！WhenIthinkthatGiseleisoldBradfordWagstaff’sgrand—daughter，I’mthankfulhe’ssafeinMountAuburn！\"
XXII
ItwasnotuntillatethatafternoonthatDarrowcouldclaimhispostponedhourwithAnna。Whenatlasthefoundheraloneinhersitting—roomitwaswithasenseofliberationsogreatthathesoughtnologicaljustificationofit。HesimplyfeltthatalltheirdestinieswereinMissPainter’sgrasp，andthat，resistancebeinguseless，hecouldonlyenjoythesweetsofsurrender。
Annaherselfseemedashappy，andformoreexplicablereasons。Shehadassisted，afterluncheon，atanotherdebatebetweenMadamedeChantelleandherconfidant，andhadsurmised，whenshewithdrewfromit，thatvictorywaspermanentlyperchedonMissPainter’sbanners。
\"Idon’tknowhowshedoesit，unlessit’sbythedeadweightofherconvictions。ShedeteststheFrenchsothatshe’dbackupOwenevenifsheknewnothing——orknewtoomuch——ofMissViner。ShesomehowregardsthematchasaprotestagainstthecorruptionofEuropeanmorals。ItoldOwenthatwashisgreatchance，andhe’smadethemostofit。\"
\"Whatatacticianyouare！YoumakemefeelthatIhardlyknowtherudimentsofdiplomacy，\"Darrowsmiledather，abandoninghimselftoaperiloussenseofwell—being。
Shegavehimbackhissmile。\"I’mafraidIthinknothingshortofmyownhappinessisworthwastinganydiplomacyon！\"
\"That’swhyImeantoresignfromtheserviceofmycountry，\"herejoinedwithalaughofdeepcontent。
Thefeelingthatbothresistanceandapprehensionwerevainwasworkinglikewineinhisveins。Hehaddonewhathecouldtodeflectthecourseofevents：nowhecouldonlystandasideandtakehischanceofsafety。Underneaththisfatalisticfeelingwasthedeepsenseofreliefthathehad，afterall，saidanddonenothingthatcouldintheleastdegreeaffectthewelfareofSophyViner。Thatfacttookamillstoneoffhisneck。
MeanwhilehegavehimselfuponcemoretothejoyofAnna’spresence。Theyhadnotbeenalonetogetherfortwolongdays，andhehadthelover’ssensethathehadforgotten，oratleastunderestimated，thestrengthofthespellshecast。
Oncemorehereyesandhersmileseemedtoboundhisworld。
Hefeltthattheirlightwouldalwaysmovewithhimasthesunsetmovesbeforeashipatsea。
Thenextdayhissenseofsecuritywasincreasedbyadecisiveincident。ItbecameknowntotheexpectanthouseholdthatMadamedeChantellehadyieldedtothetremendousimpactofMissPainter’sdeterminationandthatSophyVinerhadbeen\"sentfor\"tothepurplesatinsitting—
room。
Atluncheon，Owen’sradiantcountenanceproclaimedthehappysequel，andDarrow，whenthepartyhadmovedbacktotheoak—roomforcoffee，deemeditdiscreettowanderoutalonetotheterracewithhiscigar。TheconclusionofOwen’sromancebroughthisownplansoncemoretothefront。AnnahadpromisedthatshewouldconsiderdatesandsettledetailsassoonasMadamedeChantelleandhergrandsonhadbeenreconciled，andDarrowwaseagertogointothequestionatonce，sinceitwasnecessarythatthepreparationsforhismarriageshouldgoforwardasrapidlyaspossible。Anna，heknew，wouldnotseekanyfartherpretextfordelay；andhestrolledupanddowncontentedlyinthesunshine，certainthatshewouldcomeoutandreassurehimassoonasthereunitedfamilyhadclaimeditsdueshareofherattention。
Butwhenshefinallyjoinedhimherfirstwordwasfortheyoungerlovers。
\"Iwanttothankyouforwhatyou’vedoneforOwen，\"shebegan，withherhappiestsmile。
\"Who——I？\"helaughed。\"AreyouconfusingmewithMissPainter？\"
\"PerhapsIoughttosayforME，\"shecorrectedherself。
\"You’vebeenevenmoreofahelptousthanAdelaide。\"
\"Mydearchild！WhatonearthhaveIdone？\"
\"You’vemanagedtohidefromMadamedeChantellethatyoudon’treallylikepoorSophy。\"
Darrowfeltthepallourinhischeek。\"Notlikeher？Whatputsuchanideaintoyourhead？\"
\"Oh，it’smorethananidea——it’safeeling。Butwhatdifferencedoesitmake，afterall？Yousawherinsuchadifferentsettingthatit’snaturalyoushouldbealittledoubtful。ButwhenyouknowherbetterI’msureyou’llfeelaboutherasIdo。\"
\"It’sgoingtobehardformenottofeelabouteverythingasyoudo。\"
\"Well，then——pleasebeginwithmydaughter—in—law！\"
Hegaveherbackinthesametoneofbanter：\"Agreed：ifyoullagreetofeelasIdoaboutthepressingnecessityofourgettingmarried。\"
\"Iwanttotalktoyouaboutthattoo。Youdon’tknowwhataweightisoffmymind！WithSophyhereforgood，IshallfeelsodifferentlyaboutleavingEffie。I’veseenmuchmoreaccomplishedgovernesses——tomycost！——butI’veneverseenayoungthingmoregayandkindandhuman。Youmusthavenoticed，thoughyou’veseenthemsolittletogether，howEffieexpandswhenshe’swithher。Andthat，youknow，iswhatIwant。MadamedeChantellewillprovidethenecessaryrestraint。\"Sheclaspedherhandsonhisarm。
\"Yes，I’mreadytogowithyounow。Butfirstofall——thisverymoment！——youmustcomewithmetoEffie。Sheknows，ofcourse，nothingofwhat’sbeenhappening；andIwanthertobetoldfirstaboutYOU。\"
Effie，soughtthroughoutthehouse，waspresentlytracedtotheschool—room，andthitherDarrowmountedwithAnna。Hehadneverseenhersoalightwithhappiness，andhehadcaughtherbuoyancyofmood。Hekeptrepeatingtohimself：
\"It’sover——it’sover，\"asifsomemonstrousmidnighthallucinationhadbeenroutedbythereturnofday。
Astheyapproachedtheschool—roomdoortheterrier’sbarkscametothemthroughlaughingremonstrances。
\"She’sgivinghimhisdinner，\"Annawhispered，herhandinDarrow’s。
\"Don’tforgetthegold—fish！\"theyheardanothervoicecallout。
Darrowhaltedonthethreshold。\"Oh——notnow！\"
\"Notnow？\"
\"Imean——she’dratherhaveyoutellherfirst。I’llwaitforyoubothdownstairs。\"
Hewasawarethatsheglancedathimintently。\"Asyouplease。I’llbringherdownatonce。\"
Sheopenedthedoor，andasshewentinheheardhersay：
\"No，Sophy，don’tgo！Iwantyouboth。\"
TherestofDarrow’sdaywasasuccessionofemptyandagitatingscenes。OnhiswaydowntoGivre，beforehehadseenEffieLeath，hehadpicturedsomewhatsentimentallythejoyofthemomentwhenheshouldtakeherinhisarmsandreceiveherfirstfilialkiss。Everythinginhimthategotisticallycravedforrest，stability，acomfortablyorganizedmiddle—age，allthehome—buildinginstinctsofthemanwhohassufficientlywooedandwandered，combinedtothrowacharmaboutthefigureofthechildwhomight——whoshould——havebeenhis。Effiecametohimtrailingthecloudofgloryofhisfirstromance，givinghimbackthemagichourhehadmissedandmourned。Andhowdifferenttherealizationofhisdreamhadbeen！Thechild’sradiantwelcome，herunquestioningacceptanceof，thisnewfigureinthefamilygroup，hadbeenallthathehadhopedandfancied。IfMotherwassoawfullyhappyaboutit，andOwenandGranny，too，howniceandcosyandcomfortableitwasgoingtobeforallofthem，herbeaminglookseemedtosay；
andthen，suddenly，thesmallpinkfingershehadbeenkissingwerelaidontheoneflawinthecircle，ontheonepointwhichmustbesettledbeforeEffiecould，withcompleteunqualifiedassurance，admitthenew—comertofullequalitywiththeothergodsofherOlympus。
\"AndisSophyawfullyhappyaboutittoo？\"shehadasked，looseningherholdonDarrow’snecktotiltbackherheadandincludehermotherinherquestioninglook。
\"Why，dearest，didn’tyouseeshewas？\"Annahadexclaimed，leaningtothegroupwithradianteyes。
\"IthinkIshouldliketoaskher，\"thechildrejoined，afteraminute’sshyconsideration；andasDarrowsetherdownhermotherlaughed：\"Do，darling，do！Runoffatonce，andtellherweexpecthertobeawfullyhappytoo。\"
Thescenehadbeensucceededbyotherslesspoignantbutalmostastrying。Darrowcursedhisluckinhaving，atsuchamoment，torunthegauntletofahousefulofinterestedobservers。Thestateofbeing\"engaged\"，initselfanabsurdenoughpredicament，eventoamanonlyintermittentlyexposed，becameintolerableunderthecontinuousscrutinyofasmallcirclequiveringwithparticipation。Darrowwasfurthermoreawarethat，thoughthecaseoftheothercoupleoughttohavemadehisownlessconspicuous，itwasrathertheywhofoundarefugeintheshadowofhisprominence。
MadamedeChantelle，thoughshehadconsentedtoOwen’sengagementandformallywelcomedhisbetrothed，wasneverthelessnotsorrytoshow，byherreceptionofDarrow，ofwhatfinely—shadeddegreesofcordialityshewascapable。
MissPainter，havingwonthedayforOwen，wasalsofreetoturnherattentiontothenewercandidateforhersympathy；
andDarrowandAnnafoundthemselvesimmersedinawarmbathofsentimentalcuriosity。
ItwasarelieftoDarrowthathewasunderapositiveobligationtoendhisvisitwithinthenextforty—eighthours。WhenheleftLondon，hisAmbassadorhadaccordedhimatendays’leave。Hisfatebeingdefinitelysettledandopenlypublishedhehadnoreasonforaskingtohavethetimeprolonged，andwhenitwasoverhewastoreturntohisposttillthetimefixedfortakinguphisnewduties。Annaandhehadthereforedecidedtobemarried，inParis，adayortwobeforethedepartureofthesteamerwhichwastotakethemtoSouthAmerica；andAnna，shortlyafterhisreturntoEngland，wastogouptoParisandbeginherownpreparations。
InhonourofthedoublebetrothalEffieandMissVinerweretoappearthateveningatdinner；andDarrow，onleavinghisroom，metthelittlegirlspringingdownthestairs，herwhiterufflesandcoral—colouredbowsmakingherlooklikeadaisywithheryellowhairforitscentre。SophyVinerwasbehindherpupil，andasshecameintothelightDarrownoticedachangeinherappearanceandwonderedvaguelywhyshelookedsuddenlyyounger，morevivid，morelikethelittleluminousghostofhisParismemories。ThenitoccurredtohimthatitwasthefirsttimeshehadappearedatdinnersincehisarrivalatGivre，andthefirsttime，consequently，thathehadseenherineveningdress。Shewasstillattheagewhentheleastadornmentembellishes；
andnodoubtthemereuncoveringofheryoungthroatandneckhadgivenherbackherformerbrightness。Butasecondglanceshowedamoreprecisereasonforhisimpression。
Vaguelythoughheretainedsuchdetails，hefeltsureshewaswearingthedresshehadseenherineveryeveninginParis。Itwasasimpleenoughdress，black，andtransparentonthearmsandshoulders，andhewouldprobablynothaverecognizeditifshehadnotcalledhisattentiontoitinParisbyconfessingthatshehadn’tanyother。\"Thesamedress？Thatprovesthatshe’sforgotten！\"washisfirsthalf—ironicthought；butthenextmoment，withapangofcompunction，hesaidtohimselfthatshehadprobablyputitonforthesamereasonasbefore：simplybecauseshehadn’tanyother。
Helookedatherinsilence，andforaninstant，aboveEffie’sbobbinghead，shegavehimbackhislookinafullbrightgaze。
\"Oh，there’sOwen！\"Effiecried，andwhirledawaydownthegallerytothedoorfromwhichherstep—brotherwasemerging。AsOwenbenttocatchher，SophyVinerturnedabruptlybacktoDarrow。
\"You，too？\"shesaidwithaquicklaugh。\"Ididn’tknow————
\"AndasOwencameuptothemsheadded，inatonethatmighthavebeenmeanttoreachhisear：\"Iwishyoualltheluckthatwecanspare！\"
Aboutthedinner—table，whichEffie，withMissViner’said，hadlavishlygarlanded，thelittlepartyhadanairofsomewhatself—consciousfestivity。Inspiteofflowers，champagneandaunanimousattemptatease，therewerefrequentlapsesinthetalk，andmomentsofnervousgropingfornewsubjects。MissPainteraloneseemednotonlyunaffectedbythegeneralperturbationbutastightlysealedupinherunconsciousnessofitasadiverinhisbell。ToDarrow’sstrainedattentionevenOwen’sgustsofgaietyseemedtobetrayaninwardsenseofinsecurity。Afterdinner，however，atthepiano，hebrokeintoamoodofextravaganthilarityandfloodedtheroomwiththesplashandrippleofhismusic。
Darrow，sunkinasofacornerintheleeofMissPainter’sgranitebulk，smokedandlistenedinsilence，hiseyesmovingfromonefiguretoanother。MadamedeChantelle，inherarmchairnearthefire，claspedherlittlegranddaughtertoherwiththegestureofadrawing—roomNiobe，andAnna，seatednearthem，hadfallenintooneoftheattitudesofvividcalmwhichseemedtoDarrowtoexpressherinmostquality。SophyViner，aftermovinguncertainlyabouttheroom，hadplacedherselfbeyondMrs。Leath，inachairnearthepiano，whereshesatwithheadthrownbackandeyesattachedtothemusician，inthesameraptfixityofattentionwithwhichshehadfollowedtheplayersattheFrancais。Theaccidentofherhavingfallenintothesameattitude，andofherwearingthesamedress，gaveDarrow，ashewatchedher，astrangesenseofdoubleconsciousness。Toescapefromit，hisglanceturnedbacktoAnna；butfromthepointatwhichhewasplacedhiseyescouldnottakeintheonefacewithouttheother，andthatrenewedthedisturbingdualityoftheimpression。SuddenlyOwenbrokeoffwithacrashofchordsandjumpedtohisfeet。
\"What’stheuseofthis，withsuchamoontosayitforus？\"
Behindtheuncurtainedwindowalowgoldenorbhunglikearipefruitagainsttheglass。
\"Yes——let’sgooutandlisten，\"Annaanswered。Owenthrewopenthewindow，andwithhisgestureafoldoftheheavystar—sprinkledskyseemedtodroopintotheroomlikeadrawn—incurtain。Theairthatenteredwithithadafrostyedge，andAnnabadeEffieruntothehallforwraps。
Darrowsaid：\"Youmusthaveonetoo，\"andstartedtowardthedoor；butSophy，followingherpupil，criedback：\"We’llbringthingsforeverybody。\"
Owenhadfollowedher，andinamomentthethreereappeared，andthepartywentoutontheterrace。Thedeepbluepurityofthenightwasunveiledbymist，andthemoonlightrimmedtheedgesofthetreeswithasilverblurandblanchedtounnaturalwhitenessthestatuesagainsttheirwallsofshade。
DarrowandAnna，withEffiebetweenthem，strolledtothefarthercorneroftheterrace。Belowthem，betweenthefringesofthepark，thelawnslopeddimlytothefieldsabovetheriver。Forafewminutestheystoodsilentlysidebyside，touchedtopeacebeneaththetremblingbeautyofthesky。Whentheyturnedback，DarrowsawthatOwenandSophyViner，whohadgonedownthestepstothegarden，werealsowalkinginthedirectionofthehouse。Astheyadvanced，Sophypausedinapatchofmoonlight，betweenthesharpshadowsoftheyews，andDarrownoticedthatshehadthrownoverhershouldersalongcloakofsomelightcolour，whichsuddenlyevokedherimageasshehadenteredtherestaurantathissideonthenightoftheirfirstdinnerinParis。Amomentlatertheywerealltogetheragainontheterrace，andwhentheyre—enteredthedrawing—roomtheolderladieswereontheirwaytobed。
Effie，emboldenedbytheprivilegesoftheevening，wasforcoaxingOwentorounditoffwithagameofforfeitsorsomesuchrecklessclimax；butSophy，resumingherprofessionalrole，soundedthesummonstobed。Inherpupil’swakeshemadeherroundofgood—nights；butwhensheprofferedherhandtoAnna，thelatterignoringthegestureheldoutbotharms。
\"Good—night，dearchild，\"shesaidimpulsively，anddrewthegirltoherkiss。
BOOKIV
XXIII
ThenextdaywasDarrow’slastatGivreand，foreseeingthattheafternoonandeveningwouldhavetobegiventothefamily，hehadaskedAnnatodevoteanearlyhourtothefinalconsiderationoftheirplans。Hewastomeetherinthebrownsitting—roomatten，andtheyweretowalkdowntotheriverandtalkovertheirfutureinthelittlepavilionabuttingonthewallofthepark。
ItwasjustaweeksincehisarrivalatGivre，andAnnawished，beforeheleft，toreturntotheplacewheretheyhadsatontheirfirstafternoontogether。Hersensitivenesstotheappealofinanimatethings，tothecolourandtextureofwhateverwoveitselfintothesubstanceofheremotion，madeherwanttohearDarrow’svoice，andtofeelhiseyesonher，inthespotwhereblisshadfirstflowedintoherheart。
Thatbliss，intheinterval，hadwounditselfintoeveryfoldofherbeing。Passing，inthefirstdays，fromahighshytendernesstotherushofasecretsurrender，ithadgraduallywidenedanddeepened，toflowoninredoubledbeauty。ShethoughtshenowknewexactlyhowandwhyshelovedDarrow，andshecouldseeherwholeskyreflectedinthedeepandtranquilcurrentofherlove。
Earlythenextday，inhersitting—room，shewasglancingthroughtheletterswhichitwasEffie’smorningprivilegetocarryuptoher。Effiemeanwhilecircledinquisitivelyabouttheroom，wheretherewasalwayssomethingnewtoengageherinfantfancy；andAnna，lookingup，sawhersuddenlyarrestedbeforeaphotographofDarrowwhich，thedaybefore，hadtakenitsplaceonthewriting—table。
Annaheldoutherarmswithafaintblush。\"Youdolikehim，don’tyou，dear？\"
\"Oh，mostawfully，dearest，\"Effie，againstherbreast，leanedbacktoassureherwithalimpidlook。\"AndsodoGrannyandOwen——andIDOthinkSophydoestoo，\"sheadded，afteramoment’searnestpondering。
\"Ihopeso，\"Annalaughed。Shecheckedtheimpulsetocontinue：\"Hasshetalkedtoyouabouthim，thatyou’resosure？\"Shedidnotknowwhathadmadethequestionspringtoherlips，butshewasgladshehadclosedthembeforepronouncingit。Nothingcouldhavebeenmoredistastefultoherthantoclearupsuchobscuritiesbyturningonthemthetinyflameofherdaughter’sobservation。Andwhat，afterall，nowthatOwen’shappinesswassecured，diditmatteriftherewerecertainreservesinDarrow’sapprovalofhismarriage？
AknockonthedoormadeAnnaglanceattheclock。\"There’sNursetocarryyouoff。\"
\"It’sSophy’sknock，\"thelittlegirlanswered，jumpingdowntoopenthedoor；andMissVinerinfactstoodonthethreshold。
\"Comein，\"Annasaidwithasmile，instantlyremarkinghowpaleshelooked。
\"MayEffiegooutforaturnwithNurse？\"thegirlasked。
\"Ishouldliketospeaktoyouamoment。\"
\"Ofcourse。ThisoughttobeYOURholiday，asyesterdaywasEffie’s。Runoff，dear，\"sheadded，stoopingtokissthelittlegirl。
WhenthedoorhadclosedsheturnedbacktoSophyVinerwithalookthatsoughtherconfidence。\"I’msogladyoucame，mydear。We’vegotsomanythingstotalkabout，justyouandItogether。\"
Theconfusedintercourseofthelastdayshad，infact，leftlittletimeforanyspeechwithSophybutsuchasrelatedtohermarriageandthemeansofovercomingMadamedeChantelle’soppositiontoit。AnnahadexactedofOwenthatnoone，notevenSophyViner，shouldbegivenahintofherownprojectstillallcontingentquestionshadbeendisposedof。Shehadfelt，fromtheoutset，asecretreluctancetointrudehersecurerhappinessonthedoubtsandfearsoftheyoungpair。
Fromthesofa—cornertowhichshehaddroppedbackshepointedtoDarrow’schair。\"Comeandsitbyme，dear。I
wantedtoseeyoualone。There’ssomuchtosaythatI
hardlyknowwheretobegin。\"
Sheleanedforward，herhandsclaspedonthearmsofthesofa，hereyesbentsmilinglyonSophy’s。Asshedidso，shenoticedthatthegirl’sunusualpallourwaspartlyduetotheslightveilofpowderonherface。Thediscoverywasdistinctlydisagreeable。Annahadneverbeforenoticed，onSophy’spart，anyrecoursetocosmetics，and，muchasshewishedtothinkherselfexemptfromold—fashionedprejudices，shesuddenlybecameawarethatshedidnotlikeherdaughter’sgovernesstohaveapowderedface。ThenshereflectedthatthegirlwhosatoppositeherwasnolongerEffie’sgoverness，butherownfuturedaughter—in—law；andshewonderedwhetherMissVinerhadchosenthisoddwayofcelebratingherindependence，andwhether，asMrs。OwenLeath，shewouldpresenttotheworldabedizenedcountenance。Thisideawasscarcelylessdistastefulthantheother，andforamomentAnnacontinuedtoconsiderherwithoutspeaking。Then，inaflash，thetruthcametoher：
MissVinerhadpowderedherfacebecauseMissVinerhadbeencrying。
Annaleanedforwardimpulsively。\"Mydearchild，what’sthematter？\"Shesawthegirl’sbloodrushupunderthewhitemask，andhastenedon：\"Pleasedon’tbeafraidtotellme。
IdosowantyoutofeelthatyoucantrustmeasOwendoes。
Andyouknowyoumustn’tmindif，justatfirst，MadamedeChantelleoccasionallyrelapses。\"
Shespokeeagerly，persuasively，almostonanoteofpleading。Shehad，intruth，somanyreasonsforwantingSophytolikeher：herloveforOwen，hersolicitudeforEffie，andherownsenseofthegirl’sfinemettle。Shehadalwaysfeltaromanticandalmosthumbleadmirationforthosemembersofhersexwho，fromforceofwill，ortheconstraintofcircumstances，hadplungedintotheconflictfromwhichfatehadsopersistentlyexcludedher。Therewereevenmomentswhenshefanciedherselfvaguelytoblameforherimmunity，andfeltthatsheoughtsomehowtohaveaffrontedtheperilsandhardshipswhichrefusedtocometoher。Andnow，asshesatlookingatSophyViner，sosmall，soslight，sovisiblydefencelessandundone，shestillfelt，throughallthesuperiorityofherworldlyadvantagesandherseemingmaturity，thesameoddsenseofignoranceandinexperience。Shecouldnothavesaidwhattherewasinthegirl’smannerandexpressiontogiveherthisfeeling，butshewasreminded，asshelookedatSophyViner，oftheothergirlsshehadknowninheryouth，thegirlswhoseemedpossessedofasecretshehadmissed。Yes，SophyVinerhadtheirlook——almosttheobscurelymenacinglookofKittyMayne……Anna，withaninwardsmile，brushedasidetheimageofthisforgottenrival。Butshehadfelt，deepdown，atwingeoftheoldpain，andshewassorrythat，evenfortheflashofathought，Owen’sbetrothedshouldhaveremindedherofsodifferentawoman……
Shelaidherhandonthegirl’s。\"WhenhisgrandmotherseeshowhappyOwenisshe’llbequitehappyherself。Ifit’sonlythat，don’tbedistressed。JusttrusttoOwen——andthefuture。\"
SophyViner，withanalmostimperceptiblerecoilofherwholeslightperson，haddrawnherhandfromunderthepalmenclosingit。
\"That’swhatIwantedtotalktoyouabout——thefuture。\"
\"Ofcourse！We’veallsomanyplanstomake——andtofitintoeachother’s。Pleaselet’sbeginwithyours。\"
Thegirlpausedamoment，herhandsclaspedonthearmsofherchair，herlidsdroppedunderAnna’sgaze；thenshesaid：\"Ishouldliketomakenoplansatall……justyet……\"
\"Noplans？\"
