\"Imean，becauseIunderstandbetterhowonecantortureone’sselfoverunrealities。\"
AsDarrowlistened，thetensionofhisnervesbegantorelax。Hergaze，sograveandyetsosweet，waslikeadeeppoolintowhichhecouldplungeandhidehimselffromthehardglareofhismisery。Asthisecstaticsenseenvelopedhimhefounditmoreandmoredifficulttofollowherwordsandtoframeananswer；butwhatdidanythingmatter，exceptthathervoiceshouldgoon，andthesyllablesfalllikesofttouchesonhistorturedbrain？
\"Don’tyouknow，\"shecontinued，\"theblissofwakingfromabaddreaminone’sownquietroom，andgoingslowlyoverallthehorrorwithoutbeingafraidofitanymore？That’swhatI’mdoingnow。Andthat’swhyIunderstandOwen……\"Shebrokeoff，andhefelthertouchonhisarm。\"BECAUSE
I’DDREAMEDTHEHORRORTOO！\"
Heunderstoodherthen，andstammered：\"You？\"
\"Forgiveme！Andletmetellyou！……ItwillhelpyoutounderstandOwen……ThereWERElittlethings……littlesigns……onceIhadbeguntowatchforthem：yourreluctancetospeakabouther……herreservewithyou……asortofconstraintwe’dneverseeninherbefore……\"
Shelaughedupathim，andwithherhandsinhishecontrivedtosay：\"NOWyouunderstandwhy？\"
\"Oh，Iunderstand；ofcourseIunderstand；andIwantyoutolaughatme——withme！Becausetherewereotherthingstoo……crazierthingsstill……Therewaseven——lastnightontheterrace——herpinkcloak……\"
\"Herpinkcloak？\"Nowhehonestlywondered，andasshesawitsheblushed。
\"You’veforgottenaboutthecloak？ThepinkcloakthatOwensawyouwithattheplayinParis？Yes……yes……Iwasmadenoughforthat！……Itdoesmegoodtolaughaboutitnow！
ButyououghttoknowthatI’mgoingtobeajealouswoman……aridiculouslyjealouswoman……yououghttobewarnedofitintime……\"
Hehaddroppedherhands，andsheleanedcloseandliftedherarmstohisneckwithoneofherraregesturesofsurrender。
\"Idon’tknowwhyitis；butitmakesmehappiernowtohavebeensofoolish！\"
Herlipswerepartedinanoiselesslaughandthetremorofherlashesmadetheirshadowmoveonhercheek。Helookedatherthroughamistofpainandsawallherofferedbeautyhelduplikeacuptohislips；butashestoopedtoitadarknessseemedtofallbetweenthem，herarmsslippedfromhisshouldersandshedrewawayfromhimabruptly。
\"ButsheWASwithyou，then？\"sheexclaimed；andthen，ashestaredather：\"Oh，don’tsayno！Onlygoandlookatyoureyes！\"
Hestoodspeechless，andshepressedon：\"Don’tdenyit——oh，don’tdenyit！Whatwillbeleftformetoimagineifyoudo？Don’tyouseehoweverysinglethingcriesitout？Owenseesit——hesawitagainjustnow！WhenItoldhimshe’drelented，andwouldseehim，hesaid：’IsthatDarrow’sdoingtoo？’\"
Darrowtooktheonslaughtinsilence。Hemighthavespoken，havesummoneduptheusualphrasesofbanteranddenial；hewasnotevencertainthattheymightnot，forthemoment，haveservedtheirpurposeifhecouldhaveutteredthemwithoutbeingseen。ButhewasasconsciousofwhathadhappenedtohisfaceasifhehadobeyedAnna’sbiddingandlookedathimselfintheglass。Heknewhecouldnomorehidefromherwhatwaswrittentherethanhecouldeffacefromhissoulthefieryrecordofwhathehadjustlivedthrough。Therebeforehim，staringhimintheeyes，andreflectingitselfinallhislineaments，wastheoverwhelmingfactofSophyViner’spassionandoftheactbywhichshehadattestedit。
Annawastalkingagain，hurriedly，feverishly，andhissoulwaswrungbytheanguishinhervoice。\"Dospeakatlast——
youmustspeak！Idon’twanttoaskyoutoharmthegirl；
butyoumustseethatyoursilenceisdoinghermoreharmthanyouransweringmyquestionscould。You’releavingmeonlytheworstthingstothinkofher……she’dseethatherselfifshewerehere。Whatworseinjurycanyoudoherthantomakemehateher——tomakemefeelshe’splottedwithyoutodeceiveus？\"
\"Oh，notthat！\"Darrowheardhisownvoicebeforehewasawarethathemeanttospeak。\"Yes；IdidseeherinParis，\"hewentonafterapause；\"butIwasboundtorespectherreasonfornotwantingitknown。\"
Annapaled。\"Itwassheatthetheatrethatnight？\"
\"Iwaswithheratthetheatreonenight。\"
\"Whyshouldshehaveaskedyounottosayso？\"
\"Shedidn’twishitknownthatI’dmether。\"
\"Whyshouldn’tshehavewisheditknown？\"
\"ShehadquarrelledwithMrs。MurrettandcomeoversuddenlytoParis，andshedidn’twanttheFarlowstohearofit。I
cameacrossherbyaccident，andsheaskedmenottospeakofhavingseenher。\"
\"Becauseofherquarrel？Becauseshewasashamedofherpartinit？\"
\"Oh，no。Therewasnothingforhertobeashamedof。ButtheFarlowshadfoundtheplaceforher，andshedidn’twantthemtoknowhowsuddenlyshe’dhadtoleave，andhowbadlyMrs。Murretthadbehaved。Shewasinaterribleplight——thewomanhadevenkeptbackhermonth’ssalary。SheknewtheFarlowswouldbeawfullyupset，andshewantedmoretimetopreparethem。\"
Darrowheardhimselfspeakasthoughthewordshadproceededfromotherlips。Hisexplanationsoundedplausibleenough，andhehalf—fanciedAnna’slookgrewlighter。Shewaitedamoment，asthoughtobesurehehadnomoretoadd；thenshesaid：\"ButtheFarlowsDIDknow；theytoldmeallaboutitwhentheysenthertome。\"
Heflushedasifshehadlaidadeliberatetrapforhim。
\"TheymayknowNOW；theydidn’tthen————\"
\"That’snoreasonforhercontinuingnowtomakeamysteryofhavingmetyou。\"
\"It’stheonlyreasonIcangiveyou。\"
\"ThenI’llgoandaskherforonemyself。\"Sheturnedandtookafewstepstowardthedoor。
\"Anna！\"Hestartedtofollowher，andthencheckedhimself。
\"Don’tdothat！\"
\"Whynot？\"
\"It’snotlikeyou……notgenerous……\"
Shestoodbeforehimstraightandpale，butunderherrigidfacehesawthetumultofherdoubtandmisery。
\"Idon’twanttobeungenerous；Idon’twanttopryintohersecrets。Butthingscan’tbeleftlikethis。Wouldn’titbebetterformetogotoher？Surelyshe’llunderstand——she’llexplain……Itmaybesomemeretrifleshe’sconcealing：
somethingthatwouldhorrifytheFarlows，butthatI
shouldn’tseeanyharmin……\"Shepaused，hereyessearchinghisface。\"Aloveaffair，Isuppose……that’sit？
Youmetherwithsomemanatthetheatre——andshewasfrightenedandbeggedyoutofibaboutit？Thosepooryoungthingsthathavetogoaboutamonguslikemachines——oh，ifyouknewhowIpitythem！\"
\"Ifyoupityher，whynotlethergo？\"
Shestared。\"Lethergo——goforgood，youmean？Isthatthebestyoucansayforher？\"
\"Letthingstaketheircourse。Afterall，it’sbetweenherselfandOwen。\"
\"Andyouandme——andEffie，ifOwenmarriesher，andIleavemychildwiththem！Don’tyouseetheimpossibilityofwhatyou’reasking？We’reallboundtogetherinthiscoil。\"
Darrowturnedawaywithagroan。\"Oh，lethergo——lethergo。\"
\"ThenthereISsomething——somethingreallybad？SheWASwithsomeonewhenyoumether？Someonewithwhomshewas————\"Shebrokeoff，andhesawherstrugglingwithnewthoughts。\"Ifit’sTHAT，ofcourse……Oh，don’tyousee，\"shedesperatelyappealedtohim，\"thatImustfindout，andthatit’stoolatenowforyounottospeak？Don’tbeafraidthatI’llbetrayyou……I’llnever，neverletasoulsuspect。ButImustknowthetruth，andsurelyit’sbestforherthatIshouldfinditoutfromyou。\"
Darrowwaitedamoment；thenhesaidslowly：\"Whatyouimagine’smeremadness。Shewasatthetheatrewithme。\"
\"Withyou？\"Hesawatremorpassthroughher，butshecontrolleditinstantlyandfacedhimstraightandmotionlessasawoundedcreatureinthemomentbeforeitfeelsitswound。\"Whyshouldyoubothhavemadeamysteryofthat？\"
\"I’vetoldyoutheideawasnotmine。\"Hecastabout。\"ShemayhavebeenafraidthatOwen————\"
\"Butthatwasnotareasonforheraskingyoutotellmethatyouhardlyknewher——thatyouhadn’tevenseenherforyears。\"Shebrokeoffandthebloodrosetoherfaceandforehead。\"EvenifSHEhadotherreasons，therecouldbeonlyonereasonforyourobeyingher————\"
Silencefellbetweenthem，asilenceinwhichtheroomseemedtobecomesuddenlyresonantwithvoices。Darrow’sgazewanderedtothewindowandhenoticedthatthegaleoftwodaysbeforehadnearlystrippedthetopsofthelime—
treesinthecourt。Annahadmovedawayandwasrestingherelbowsagainstthemantel—piece，herheadinherhands。Asshestoodtherehetookinwithanewintensityofvisionlittledetailsofherappearancethathiseyeshadoftencherished：thebranchingblueveinsinthebacksofherhands，thewarmshadowthatherhaircastonherear，andthecolourofthehairitself，dullblackwithatawnyunder—surface，likethewingsofcertainbirds。Hefeltittobeuselesstospeak。
Afterawhilesheliftedherheadandsaid：\"Ishallnotseeheragainbeforeshegoes。\"
Hemadenoanswer，andturningtohimsheadded：\"Thatiswhyshe’sgoing，Isuppose？Becauseshelovesyouandwon’tgiveyouup？\"
Darrowwaited。Thepaltrinessofconventionaldenialwassoapparenttohimthatevenifitcouldhavedelayeddiscoveryhecouldnolongerhaveresortedtoit。Underallhisotherfearswasthedreadofdishonouringthehour。
\"SheHASgivenmeup，\"hesaidatlast。
XXVIII
WhenhehadgoneoutoftheroomAnnastoodwherehehadlefther。\"Imustbelievehim！Imustbelievehim！\"shesaid。
Amomentbefore，atthemomentwhenshehadliftedherarmstohisneck，shehadbeenwrappedinasenseofcompletesecurity。Allthespiritsofdoubthadbeenexorcised，andherlovewasoncemoretheclearhabitationinwhicheverythoughtandfeelingcouldmoveinblissfulfreedom。Andthen，assheraisedherfacetoDarrow’sandmethiseyes，shehadseemedtolookintotheveryruinsofhissoul。
Thatwastheonlywayshecouldexpressit。Itwasasthoughheandshehadbeenlookingattwosidesofthesamething，andthesideshehadseenhadbeenalllightandlife，andhisaplaceofgraves……
Shedidn’tnowrecallwhohadspokenfirst，oreven，veryclearly，whathadbeensaid。Itseemedtoheronlyamomentlaterthatshehadfoundherselfstandingattheotherendoftheroom——theroomwhichhadsuddenlygrownsosmallthat，evenwithitslengthbetweenthem，shefeltasifhetouchedher——cryingouttohim\"ItISbecauseofyoushe’sgoing！\"andreadingtheavowalinhisface。
Thatwashissecret，then，THEIRsecret：hehadmetthegirlinParisandhelpedherinherstraits——lenthermoney，Annavaguelyconjectured——andshehadfalleninlovewithhim，andonmeetinghimagainhadbeensuddenlyovermasteredbyherpassion。Anna，droppingbackintohersofa—corner，satstaringthesefactsintheface。
Thegirlhadbeeninadesperateplight——frightened，penniless，outragedbywhathadhappened，andnotknowing（withawomanlikeMrs。Murrett）whatfreshinjurymightimpend；andDarrow，meetingherinthisdistractedhour，hadpitied，counselled，beenkindtoher，withthefatal，theinevitableresult。TherewerethefactsasAnnamadethemout：that，atleast，wastheirexternalaspect，wasasmuchofthemasshehadbeensufferedtosee；andintothesecretintricaciestheymightcovershedarednotyetprojectherthoughts。
\"Imustbelievehim……Imustbelievehim……\"Shekeptonrepeatingthewordslikeatalisman。Itwasnatural，afterall，thatheshouldhavebehavedashehad：defendedthegirl’spiteoussecrettothelast。Shetoobegantofeelthecontagionofhispity——thestir，inherbreast，offeelingsdeeperandmorenativetoherthanthepainsofjealousy。
Fromthesecurityofherblessednessshelongedtoleanoverwithcompassionatehands……ButOwen？WhatwasOwen’sparttobe？Sheowedherselffirsttohim——shewasboundtoprotecthimnotonlyfromallknowledgeofthesecretshehadsurprised，butalso——andchiefly！——fromitsconsequences。
Yes：thegirlmustgo——therecouldbenodoubtofit——Darrowhimselfhadseenitfromthefirst；andatthethoughtshehadawildrevulsionofrelief，asthoughshehadbeentryingtocreateinherheartthedelusionofagenerosityshecouldnotfeel……
TheonefactonwhichshecouldstayhermindwasthatSophywasleavingimmediately；wouldbeoutofthehousewithinanhour。Onceshewasgone，itwouldbeeasiertobringOwentothepointofunderstandingthatthebreakwasfinal；ifnecessary，toworkuponthegirltomakehimseeit。Butthat，Annawassure，wouldnotbenecessary。ItwasclearthatSophyVinerwasleavingGivrewithnothoughtofeverseeingitagain……
Suddenly，asshetriedtoputsomeorderinherthoughts，sheheardOwen’scallatthedoor：\"Mother！————\"anameheseldomgaveher。Therewasanewnoteinhisvoice：thenoteofajoyousimpatience。Itmadeherturnhastilytotheglasstoseewhatfaceshewasabouttoshowhim；butbeforeshehadhadtimetocomposeithewasintheroomandshewascaughtinaschool—boyhug。
\"It’sallright！It’sallright！Andit’sallyourdoing！I
wanttodotheworstkindofpenance——bellandcandleandtherest。I’vebeenthroughitwithHER，andnowshehandsmeontoyou，andyou’retocallmeanynamesyouplease。\"Hefreedherwithhishappylaugh。\"I’mtobestoodinthecornertillnextweek，andthenI’mtogouptoseeher。AndshesaysIoweitalltoyou！\"
\"Tome？\"Itwasthefirstphraseshefoundtoclutchatasshetriedtosteadyherselfintheeddiesofhisjoy。
\"Yes：youweresopatient，andsodeartoher；andyousawatoncewhatadamnedassI’dbeen！\"Shetriedasmile，anditseemedtopassmusterwithhim，forhesentitbackinabroadbeam。\"That’snotsodifficulttosee？No，Iadmititdoesn’ttakeamicroscope。Butyouweresowiseandwonderful——youalwaysare。I’vebeenmadtheselastdays，simplymad——youandshemightwellhavewashedyourhandsofme！Andinstead，it’sallright——allright！\"
Shedrewbackalittle，tryingtokeepthesmileonherlipsandnotlethimgettheleastglimpseofwhatithid。Nowifever，indeed，itbehovedhertobewiseandwonderful！
\"I’msoglad，dear；soglad。Ifonlyyou’llalwaysfeellikethataboutme……\"Shestopped，hardlyknowingwhatshesaid，andaghastattheideathatherownhandsshouldhaveretiedtheknotsheimaginedtobebroken。Butshesawhehadsomethingmoretosay；somethinghardtogetout，butabsolutelynecessarytoexpress。Hecaughtherhands，pulledherclose，and，withhisforeheaddrawnintoitswhimsicalsmilingwrinkles，\"Lookhere，\"hecried，\"ifDarrowwantstocallmeadamnedasstooyou’renottostophim！\"
Itbroughtherbacktoasharpersenseofhercentralperil：
ofthesecrettobekeptfromhimatwhatevercosttoherrackednerves。
\"Oh，youknow，hedoesn’talwayswaitfororders！\"Onthewholeitsoundedbetterthanshe’dfeared。
\"Youmeanhe’scalledmeonealready？\"Heacceptedthefactwithhisgayestlaugh。\"Well，thatsavesalotoftrouble；
nowwecanpasstotheorderoftheday————\"hebrokeoffandglancedattheclock——\"whichis，youknow，dear，thatshe’sstartinginaboutanhour；sheandAdelaidemustalreadybesnatchingahastysandwich。You’llcomedowntobidthemgood—bye？\"
\"Yes——ofcourse。\"
Therehad，infact，grownuponherwhilehespoketheurgencyofseeingSophyVineragainbeforesheleft。Thethoughtwasdeeplydistasteful：Annashrankfromencounteringthegirltillshehadclearedawaythroughherownperplexities。Butitwasobviousthatsincetheyhadseparated，barelyanhourearlier，thesituationhadtakenanewshape。SophyVinerhadapparentlyreconsideredherdecisiontobreakamicablybutdefinitelywithOwen，andstoodagainintheirpath，amenaceandamystery；andconfusedimpulsesofresistancestirredinAnna’smind。
ShefeltOwen’stouchonherarm。\"Areyoucoming？\"
\"Yes……yes……presently。\"
\"What’sthematter？Youlooksostrange。\"
\"Whatdoyoumeanbystrange？\"
\"Idon’tknow：startled——surprised\"Shereadwhatherlookmustbebyitssuddenreflectioninhisface。
\"DoI？Nowonder！You’vegivenusallanexcitingmorning。\"
Heheldtohispoint。\"You’remoreexcitednowthatthere’snocauseforit。WhatonearthhashappenedsinceIsawyou？\"
Helookedabouttheroom，asifseekingthecluetoheragitation，andinherdreadofwhathemightguesssheanswered：\"WhathashappenedissimplythatI’mrathertired。WillyouaskSophytocomeupandseemehere？\"
Whileshewaitedshetriedtothinkwhatsheshouldsaywhenthegirlappeared；butshehadneverbeenmoreconsciousofherinabilitytodealwiththeobliqueandthetortuous。
Shehadlackedthehardteachingsofexperience，andaninstinctivedisdainforwhateverwaslessclearandopenthanherownconsciencehadkeptherfromlearninganythingoftheintricaciesandcontradictionsofotherhearts。Shesaidtoherself：\"Imustfindout————\"yeteverythinginherrecoiledfromthemeansbywhichshefeltitmustbedone……
SophyVinerappearedalmostimmediately，dressedfordeparture，herlittlebagonherarm。Shewasstillpaletothepointofhaggardness，butwithalightuponherthatstruckAnnawithsurprise。Orwasit，perhaps，thatshewaslookingatthegirlwithneweyes：seeingher，forthefirsttime，notasEffie’sgoverness，notasOwen’sbride，butastheembodimentofthatunknownperillurkinginthebackgroundofeverywoman’sthoughtsaboutherlover？Anna，atanyrate，withasuddensenseofestrangement，notedinhergracesandsnaresneverbeforeperceived。Itwasonlytheflashofaprimitiveinstinct，butitlastedlongenoughtomakeherashamedofthedarknessesitlitupinherheart……
ShesignedtoSophytositdownonthesofabesideher。\"I
askedyoutocomeuptomebecauseIwantedtosaygood—byequietly，\"sheexplained，feelingherlipstremble，buttryingtospeakinatoneoffriendlynaturalness。
Thegirl’sonlyanswerwasafaintsmileofacquiescence，andAnna，disconcertedbyhersilence，wenton：\"You’vedecided，then，nottobreakyourengagement？\"
SophyVinerraisedherheadwithalookofsurprise。
Evidentlythequestion，thusabruptlyput，musthavesoundedstrangelyonthelipsofsoardentapartisanasMrs。Leath！
\"Ithoughtthatwaswhatyouwished，\"shesaid。
\"WhatIwished？\"Anna’sheartshookagainstherside。\"I
wish，ofcourse，whateverseemsbestforOwen……It’snatural，youmustunderstand，thatthatconsiderationshouldcomefirstwithme……\"
Sophywaslookingathersteadily。\"Isupposeditwastheonlyonethatcountedwithyou。\"
ThecurtnessofretortrousedAnna’slatentantagonism。\"Itis，\"shesaid，inahardvoicethatstartledherassheheardit。Hadsheeverspokensotoanyonebefore？Shefeltfrightened，asthoughherverynaturehadchangedwithoutherknowingit……Feelingthegirl’sastonishedgazestillonher，shecontinued：\"Thesuddennessofthechangehasnaturallysurprisedme。WhenIleftyouitwasunderstoodthatyouweretoreserveyourdecision————\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Andnow————？\"Annawaitedforareplythatdidnotcome。
Shedidnotunderstandthegirl’sattitude，theedgeofironyinhershortsyllables，theplainlypremeditateddeterminationtolaytheburdenofproofonherinterlocutor。Annafeltthesuddenneedtolifttheirintercourseabovethismeanlevelofdefianceanddistrust。
ShelookedappealinglyatSophy。
\"Isn’titbestthatweshouldspeakquitefrankly？It’sthischangeonyourpartthatperplexesme。Youcanhardlybesurprisedatthat。It’strue，IaskedyounottobreakwithOwentooabruptly——andIaskedit，believeme，asmuchforyoursakeasforhis：Iwantedyoutotaketimetothinkoverthedifficultythatseemstohavearisenbetweenyou。
Thefactthatyoufeltitrequiredthinkingoverseemedtoshowyouwouldn’ttakethefinalsteplightly——wouldn’t，I
mean，acceptofOwenmorethanyoucouldgivehim。ButyourchangeofmindobligesmetoaskthequestionIthoughtyouwouldhaveaskedyourself。Isthereanyreasonwhyyoushouldn’tmarryOwen？\"
Shestoppedalittlebreathlessly，hereyesonSophyViner’sburningface。\"Anyreason————？Whatdoyoumeanbyareason？\"
Annacontinuedtolookathergravely。\"Doyoulovesomeoneelse？\"sheasked。
Sophy’sfirstlookwasoneofwonderandafaintrelief；
thenshegavebacktheother’sscrutinyinaglanceofindescribablereproach。\"Ah，youmighthavewaited！\"sheexclaimed。
\"Waited？\"
\"TillI’dgone：tillIwasoutofthehouse。Youmighthaveknown……youmighthaveguessed……\"SheturnedhereyesagainonAnna。\"Ionlymeanttolethimhopealittlelonger，sothatheshouldn’tsuspectanything；ofcourseI
can’tmarryhim，\"shesaid。
Annastoodmotionless，silencedbytheshockoftheavowal。
Shetoowastrembling，lesswithangerthanwithaconfusedcompassion。Butthefeelingwassoblentwithothers，lessgenerousandmoreobscure，thatshefoundnowordstoexpressit，andthetwowomenfacedeachotherwithoutspeaking。
\"I’dbettergo，\"Sophymurmuredatlengthwithloweredhead。
ThewordsrousedinAnnaalatentimpulseofcompunction。
Thegirllookedsoyoung，soexposedanddesolate！Andwhatthoughtsmustshebehidinginherheart！Itwasimpossiblethattheyshouldpartinsuchaspirit。
\"Iwantyoutoknowthatnoonesaidanything……ItwasI
who……\"
Sophylookedather。\"YoumeanthatMr。Darrowdidn’ttellyou？Ofcoursenot：doyousupposeIthoughthedid？Youfounditout，that’sall——Iknewyouwould。InyourplaceI
shouldhaveguesseditsooner。\"
Thewordswerespokensimply，withoutironyoremphasis；buttheywentthroughAnnalikeasword。Yes，thegirlwouldhavehaddivinations，promptingsthatshehadnothad！Shefelthalfenviousofsuchasadprecocityofwisdom。
\"I’msosorry……sosorry……\"shemurmured。
\"Thingshappenthatway。NowI’dbettergo。I’dliketosaygood—byetoEffie。\"
\"Oh————\"itbrokeinacryfromEffie’smother。\"Notlikethis——youmustn’t！Ifeel——youmakemefeeltoohorribly：asifIweredrivingyouaway……\"Thewordshadrushedupfromthedepthsofherbewilderedpity。
\"Nooneisdrivingmeaway：Ihadtogo，\"sheheardthegirlreply。
Therewasanothersilence，duringwhichpassionateimpulsesofmagnanimitywarredinAnnawithherdoubtsanddreads。
Atlength，hereyesonSophy’sface：\"Yes，youmustgonow，\"
shebegan；\"butlateron……afterawhile，whenallthisisover……ifthere’snoreasonwhyyoushouldn’tmarryOwen————
\"shepausedamomentonthewords——\"Ishouldn’twantyoutothinkIstoodbetweenyou……\"
\"You？\"Sophyflushedagain，andthengrewpale。Sheseemedtotrytospeak，butnowordscame。
\"Yes！ItwasnottruewhenIsaidjustnowthatIwasthinkingonlyofOwen。I’msorry——oh，sosorry！——foryoutoo。Yourlife——Iknowhowhardit’sbeen；andmine……mine’ssofull……Happywomenunderstandbest！\"Annadrewnearandtouchedthegirl’shand；thenshebeganagain，pouringallhersoulintothebrokenphrases：\"It’sterriblenow……youseenofuture；butif，byandbye……youknowbest……butyou’resoyoung……andatyouragethingsDO
pass。Ifthere’snoreason，norealreason，whyyoushouldn’tmarryOwen，IWANThimtohope，I’llhelphimtohope……ifyousayso……\"
WiththeurgencyofherpleadingherclasptightenedonSophy’shand，butitwarmedtonoresponsivetremor：thegirlseemednumb，andAnnawasfrightenedbythestonysilenceofherlook。\"IsupposeI’mnotmorethanhalfawoman，\"shemused，\"forIdon’twantmyhappinesstohurther；\"andaloudsherepeated：\"Ifonlyyou’lltellmethere’snoreason————\"
Thegirldidnotspeak；butsuddenly，likeasnappedbranch，shebent，stoopeddowntothehandthatclaspedher，andlaidherlipsuponitinastreamofweeping。Shecriedsilently，continuously，abundantly，asthoughAnna’stouchhadreleasedthewatersofsomedeepspringofpain；then，asAnna，movedandhalfafraid，leanedoverherwithasoundofpity，shestoodupandturnedaway。
\"You’regoing，then——forgood——likethis？\"Annamovedtowardherandstopped。Sophystoppedtoo，witheyesthatshrankfromher。
