\"Oh————\"Annacried，andhidherface。
Thegirlwalkedacrosstheroomandpausedagaininthedoorway。Fromtheresheflungback：\"Iwantedit——Ichoseit。Hewasgoodtome——nooneeverwassogood！\"
Thedoor—handleturned，andAnnaheardhergo。
XXIX
Herfirstthoughtwas：\"He’sgoingtooinafewhours——I
needn’tseehimagainbeforeheleaves……\"AtthatmomentthepossibilityofhavingtolookinDarrow’sfaceandhearhimspeakseemedtohermoreunendurablethananythingelseshecouldimagine。Then，onthenextwaveoffeeling，camethedesiretoconfronthimatonceandwringfromhimsheknewnotwhat：avowal，denial，justification，anythingthatshouldopensomechannelofescapetothefloodofherpent—
upanguish。
ShehadtoldOwenshewastired，andthisseemedasufficientreasonforremainingupstairswhenthemotorcametothedoorandMissPainterandSophyVinerwereborneoffinit；sufficientalsoforsendingwordtoMadamedeChantellethatshewouldnotcomedowntillafterluncheon。
Havingdespatchedhermaidwiththismessage，shelaydownonhersofaandstaredbeforeherintodarkness……
Shehadbeenunhappybefore，andthevisionofoldmiseriesflockedlikehungryghostsaboutherfreshpain：sherecalledheryouthfuldisappointment，thefailureofhermarriage，thewastedyearsthatfollowed；butthosewerenegativesorrows，denialsandpostponementsoflife。Sheseemedinnowayrelatedtotheirshadowyvictim，shewhowasstretchedonthisfieryrackoftheirreparable。Shehadsufferedbefore——yes，butlucidly，reflectively，elegiacally：nowshewassufferingasahurtanimalmust，blindly，furiously，withthesinglefierceanimallongingthattheawfulpainshouldstop……
Sheheardhermaidknock，andshehidherfaceandmadenoanswer。Theknockingcontinued，andthedisciplineofhabitatlengthmadeherliftherhead，composeherfaceandholdoutherhandtothenotethewomanbroughther。ItwasawordfromDarrow——\"MayIseeyou？\"——andshesaidatonce，inavoicethatsoundedthinandempty：\"AskMr。Darrowtocomeup。\"
Themaidenquiredifshewishedtohaveherhairsmoothedfirst，andsheansweredthatitdidn’tmatter；butwhenthedoorhadclosed，theinstinctofpridedrewhertoherfeetandshelookedatherselfintheglassabovethemantelpieceandpassedherhandsoverherhair。Hereyeswereburningandherfacelookedtiredandthinner；otherwiseshecouldseenochangeinherappearance，andshewonderedthatatsuchamomentherbodyshouldseemasunrelatedtotheselfthatwrithedwithinherasifithadbeenastatueorapicture。
ThemaidreopenedthedoortoshowinDarrow，andhepausedamomentonthethreshold，asifwaitingforAnnatospeak。
Hewasextremelypale，buthelookedneitherashamednoruncertain，andshesaidtoherself，withaperversethrillofappreciation：\"He’sasproudasIam。\"
Aloudsheasked：\"Youwantedtoseeme？\"
\"Naturally，\"herepliedinagravevoice。
\"Don’t！It’suseless。Iknoweverything。Nothingyoucansaywillhelp。\"
Atthedirectaffirmationheturnedevenpaler，andhiseyes，whichhekeptresolutelyfixedonher，confessedhismisery。
\"Youallowmenovoiceindecidingthat？\"
\"Decidingwhat？\"
\"Thatthere’snothingmoretobesaid？\"Hewaitedforhertoanswer，andthenwenton：\"Idon’tevenknowwhatyoumeanby’everything’。\"
\"Oh，Idon’tknowwhatmorethereis！Iknowenough。I
imploredhertodenyit，andshecouldn’t……WhatcanyouandIhavetosaytoeachother？\"Hervoicebrokeintoasob。
Theanimalanguishwasuponheragain——justablindcryagainstherpain！
Darrowkepthisheadhighandhiseyessteady。\"Itmustbeasyouwish；andyetit’snotlikeyoutobeafraid。\"
\"Afraid？\"
\"Totalkthingsout——tofacethem。\"
\"It’sforYOUtofacethis——notme！\"
\"AllIaskistofaceit——butwithyou。\"Oncemorehepaused。\"Won’tyoutellmewhatMissVinertoldyou？\"
\"Oh，she’sgenerous——totheutmost！\"Thepaincaughtherlikeaphysicalthroe。Itsuddenlycametoherhowthegirlmusthavelovedhimtobesogenerous——whatmemoriestheremustbebetweenthem！
\"Oh，go，pleasego。It’stoohorrible。WhyshouldIhavetoseeyou？\"shestammered，liftingherhandstohereyes。
Withherfacehiddenshewaitedtohearhimmoveaway，tohearthedooropenandcloseagain，as，afewhoursearlier，ithadopenedandclosedonSophyViner。ButDarrowmadenosoundormovement：hetoowaswaiting。Annafeltathrillofresentment：hispresencewasanoutrageonhersorrow，ahumiliationtoherpride。Itwasstrangethatheshouldwaitforhertotellhimso！
\"YouwantmetoleaveGivre？\"heaskedatlength。Shemadenoanswer，andhewenton：\"OfcourseI’lldoasyouwish；
butifIgonowamInottoseeyouagain？\"
Hisvoicewasfirm：hispridewasansweringherpride！
Shefaltered：\"Youmustseeit’suseless————\"
\"Imightremindyouthatyou’redismissingmewithoutahearing————\"
\"Withoutahearing？I’veheardyouboth！\"
————\"butIwon’t，\"hecontinued，\"remindyouofthat，orofanythingoranyonebutOwen。\"
\"Owen？\"
\"Yes；ifwecouldsomehowsparehim————\"
Shehaddroppedherhandsandturnedherstartledeyesonhim。ItseemedtoheranagesinceshehadthoughtofOwen！
\"Yousee，don’tyou，\"Darrowcontinued，\"thatifyousendmeawaynow————\"
Sheinterrupted：\"Yes，Isee————\"andtherewasalongsilencebetweenthem。Atlengthshesaid，verylow：\"I
don’twantanyoneelsetosufferasI’msuffering……\"
\"OwenknowsImeanttoleavetomorrow，\"Darrowwenton。\"Anysuddenchangeofplanmaymakehimthink……\"
Oh，shesawhisinevitablelogic：thehorrorofitwasoneverysideofher！IthadseemedpossibletocontrolhergriefandfaceDarrowcalmlywhileshewasupheldbythebeliefthatthiswastheirlasthourtogether，thatafterhehadpassedoutoftheroomtherewouldbenofearofseeinghimagain，nofearthathisnearness，hislook，hisvoice，andalltheunseeninfluencesthatflowedfromhim，woulddissolvehersoultoweakness。ButhercouragefailedattheideaofhavingtoconspirewithhimtoshieldOwen，ofkeepingupwithhim，forOwen’ssake，afeintofunionandfelicity。ToliveatDarrow’ssideinseemingintimacyandharmonyforanothertwenty—fourhoursseemedharderthantolivewithouthimforalltherestofherdays。Herstrengthfailedher，andshethrewherselfdownandburiedhersobsinthecushionswhereshehadsooftenhiddenafaceaglowwithhappiness。
\"Anna————\"Hisvoicewasclosetoher。\"Letmetalktoyouquietly。It’snotworthyofeitherofustobeafraid。\"
Wordsofendearmentwouldhaveoffendedher；butherheartroseatthecalltohercourage。
\"I’venodefensetomake，\"hewenton。\"Thefactsaremiserableenough；butatleastIwantyoutoseethemastheyare。Aboveall，IwantyoutoknowthetruthaboutMissViner————\"
ThenamesentthebloodtoAnna’sforehead。Sheraisedherheadandfacedhim。\"WhyshouldIknowmoreofherthanwhatshe’stoldme？Ineverwishtohearhernameagain！\"
\"It’sbecauseyoufeelaboutherinthatwaythatIaskyou——inthenameofcommoncharity——toletmegiveyouthefactsastheyare，andnotasyou’veprobablyimaginedthem。\"
\"I’vetoldyouIdon’tthinkuncharitablyofher。Idon’twanttothinkofheratall！\"
\"That’swhyItellyouyou’reafraid。\"
\"Afraid？\"
\"Yes。You’vealwayssaidyouwanted，aboveall，tolookatlife，atthehumanproblem，asitis，withoutfearandwithouthypocrisy；andit’snotalwaysapleasantthingtolookat。\"Hebrokeoff，andthenbeganagain：\"Don’tthinkthisapleaformyself！Idon’twanttosayawordtolessenmyoffense。Idon’twanttotalkofmyselfatall。EvenifIdid，Iprobablycouldn’tmakeyouunderstand——Idon’t，myself，asIlookback。Bejusttome——it’syourright；allIaskyouistobegeneroustoMissViner……\"
Shestooduptrembling。\"You’refreetobeasgeneroustoherasyouplease！\"
\"Yes：you’vemadeitcleartomethatI’mfree。Butthere’snothingIcandoforherthatwillhelpherhalfasmuchasyourunderstandingherwould。\"
\"Nothingyoucandoforher？Youcanmarryher！\"
Hisfacehardened。\"Youcertainlycouldn’twishheraworsefate！\"
\"Itmusthavebeenwhatsheexpected……reliedon……\"Hewassilent，andshebrokeout：\"Orwhatisshe？Whatareyou？
It’stoohorrible！Onyourwayhere……toME……\"Shefeltthetearsinherthroatandstopped。
\"Thatwasit，\"hesaidbluntly。Shestaredathim。
\"Iwasonmywaytoyou——afterrepeateddelaysandpostponementsofyourownmaking。Attheverylastyouturnedmebackwithamereword——andwithoutexplanation。I
waitedforaletter；andnonecame。I’mnotsayingthistojustifymyself。I’msimplytryingtomakeyouunderstand。
Ifelthurtandbitterandbewildered。Ithoughtyoumeanttogivemeup。Andsuddenly，inmyway，Ifoundsomeonetobesorryfor，tobeofuseto。That，Isweartoyou，wasthewayitbegan。Therestwasamoment’sfolly……aflashofmadness……assuchthingsare。We’veneverseeneachothersince……\"
Annawaslookingathimcoldly。\"Yousufficientlydescribeherinsayingthat！\"
\"Yes，ifyoumeasureherbyconventionalstandards——whichiswhatyoualwaysdeclareyouneverdo。\"
\"Conventionalstandards？Agirlwho————\"Shewascheckedbyasuddenrushofalmostphysicalrepugnance。Suddenlyshebrokeout：\"Ialwaysthoughtheranadventuress！\"
\"Always？\"
\"Idon’tmeanalways……butafteryoucame……\"
\"She’snotanadventuress。\"
\"Youmeanthatsheprofessestoactonthenewtheories？Thestuffthatawfulwomenraveaboutonplatforms？\"
\"Oh，Idon’tthinkshepretendedtohaveatheory————\"
\"Shehadn’teventhatexcuse？\"
\"Shehadtheexcuseofherloneliness，herunhappiness——ofmiseriesandhumiliationsthatawomanlikeyoucan’tevenguess。Shehadnothingtolookbacktobutindifferenceorunkindness——nothingtolookforwardtobutanxiety。ShesawIwassorryforherandittouchedher。Shemadetoomuchofit——sheexaggeratedit。Ioughttohaveseenthedanger，butIdidn’t。There’snopossibleexcuseforwhatIdid。\"
Annalistenedtohiminspeechlessmisery。Everywordhespokethrewbackadisintegratinglightontheirownpast。
Hehadcometoherwithanopenfaceandaclearconscience——cometoherfromthis！Ifhissecuritywasthesecurityoffalsehooditwashorrible；ifitmeantthathehadforgotten，itwasworse。Shewouldhavelikedtostopherears，toclosehereyes，toshutouteverysightandsoundandsuggestionofaworldinwhichsuchthingscouldbe；andatthesametimeshewastormentedbythedesiretoknowmore，tounderstandbetter，tofeelherselflessignorantandinexpertinmatterswhichmadesomuchofthestuffofhumanexperience。Whatdidhemeanby\"amoment’sfolly，aflashofmadness\"？Howdidpeopleenteronsuchadventures，howpassoutofthemwithoutmorevisibletracesoftheirhavoc？Herimaginationrecoiledfromthevisionofasuddendebasingfamiliarity：itseemedtoherthatherthoughtswouldneveragainbepure……
\"Isweartoyou，\"sheheardDarrowsaying，\"itwassimplythat，andnothingmore。\"
Shewonderedathiscomposure，hiscompetence，athisknowingsoexactlywhattosay。Nodoubtmenoftenhadtomakesuchexplanations：theyhadtheformulasbyheart……A
leadenlassitudedescendedonher。Shepassedfromflameandtormentintoacolourlesscoldworldwhereeverythingsurroundingherseemedequallyindifferentandremote。Foramomentshesimplyceasedtofeel。
ShebecameawarethatDarrowwaswaitingforhertospeak，andshemadeanefforttorepresenttoherselfthemeaningofwhathehadjustsaid；buthermindwasasblankasablurredmirror。Finallyshebroughtout：\"Idon’tthinkI
understandwhatyou’vetoldme。\"
\"No；youdon’tunderstand，\"hereturnedwithsuddenbitterness；andonhislipsthechargeofincomprehensionseemedanoffensetoher。
\"Idon’twantto——aboutsuchthings！\"
Heansweredalmostharshly：\"Don’tbeafraid……youneverwill……\"andforaninstanttheyfacedeachotherlikeenemies。Thenthetearsswelledinherthroatathisreproach。
\"YoumeanIdon’tfeelthings——I’mtoohard？\"
\"No：you’retoohigh……toofine……suchthingsaretoofarfromyou。\"
Hepaused，asifconsciousofthefutilityofgoingonwithwhateverhehadmeanttosay，andagain，forashortspace，theyconfrontedeachother，nolongerasenemies——soitseemedtoher——butasbeingsofdifferentlanguagewhohadforgottenthefewwordstheyhadlearnedofeachother’sspeech。
Darrowbrokethesilence。\"It’sbest，onallaccounts，thatIshouldstaytilltomorrow；butIneedn’tintrudeonyou；
weneedn’tmeetagainalone。IonlywanttobesureIknowyourwishes。\"Hespoketheshortsentencesinalevelvoice，asthoughheweresumminguptheresultsofabusinessconference。
Annalookedathimvaguely。\"Mywishes？\"
\"AstoOwen————
Atthatshestarted。\"Theymustnevermeetagain！\"
\"It’snotlikelytheywill。WhatImeantwas，thatitdependsonyoutosparehim……\"
Sheansweredsteadily：\"Heshallneverknow，\"andafteranotherintervalDarrowsaid：\"Thisisgood—bye，then。\"
Atthewordsheseemedtounderstandforthefirsttimewhithertheflyingmomentshadbeenleadingthem。Resentmentandindignationdieddown，andallherconsciousnessresolveditselfintothemerevisualsensethathewastherebeforeher，nearenoughforhertoliftherhandandtouchhim，andthatinanotherinstanttheplacewherehestoodwouldbeempty。
Shefeltamortalweakness，acravenimpulsetocryouttohimtostay，alongingtothrowherselfintohisarms，andtakerefugetherefromtheunendurableanguishhehadcausedher。Thenthevisioncalledupanotherthought：\"Ishallneverknowwhatthatgirlhasknown……\"andtherecoilofprideflungherbackonthesharpedgesofheranguish。
\"Good—bye，\"shesaid，indreadlestheshouldreadherface；
andshestoodmotionless，herheadhigh，whilehewalkedtothedoorandwentout。
BOOKV
XXX
AnnaLeath，threedayslater，satinMissPainter’sdrawing—
roomintheruedeMatignon。
Comingupprecipitatelythatmorningfromthecountry，shehadreachedParisatoneo’clockandMissPainter’slandingsometenminuteslater。MissPainter’smouldylittleman—
servant，dissemblinganapkinunderhisarm，hadmildlyattemptedtoopposeherentrance；butAnna，insisting，hadgonestraighttothedining—roomandsurprisedherfriend——
whoateasfurtivelyascertainanimals——overastrangemealofcoldmuttonandlemonade。Ignoringtheembarrassmentshecaused，shehadsetforththeobjectofherjourney，andMissPainter，alwayshattedandbootedforaction，hadimmediatelyhastenedout，leavinghertothesolitudeofthebarefirelessdrawing—roomwithitseternalslip—coversand\"bowed\"shutters。
InthisinhospitableobscurityAnnahadsataloneforcloseupontwohours。Bothobscurityandsolitudewereacceptabletoher，andimpatientasshewastoheartheresultoftheerrandonwhichshehaddespatchedherhostess，shedesiredstillmoretobealone。Duringherlongmeditationinawhite—swathedchairbeforethemuffledhearthshehadbeenableforthefirsttimetoclearawaythroughthedarknessandconfusionofherthoughts。Thewaydidnotgofar，andherattempttotraceitwasasweakandspasmodicasaconvalescent’sfirsteffortstopickupthethreadofliving。Sheseemedtoherselflikesomeonestrugglingtorisefromalongsicknessofwhichitwouldhavebeensomucheasiertodie。AtGivreshehadfallenintoakindoftorpor，adeadnessofsoultraversedbywildflashesofpain；butwhethershesufferedorwhethershewasnumb，sheseemedequallyremotefromherreallivinganddoingself。
Itwasonlythediscovery——thatverymorning——ofOwen’sunannounceddepartureforParisthathadcaughtheroutofherdreamandforcedherbacktoaction。Thedreadofwhatthisflightmightimply，andoftheconsequencesthatmightresultfromit，hadrousedhertothesenseofherresponsibility，andfromthemomentwhenshehadresolvedtofollowherstep—son，andhadmadeherrapidpreparationsforpursuit，hermindhadbeguntoworkagain，feverishly，fitfully，butstillwithsomethingofitsnormalorder。Inthetrainshehadbeentooagitated，toopreoccupiedwithwhatmightnextawaither，togiveherthoughtstoanythingbuttheturningoverofdreadalternatives；butMissPainter’simperviousnesshadsteadiedher，andwhileshewaitedforthesoundofthelatch—keysheresolutelyreturneduponherself。
Withrespecttoheroutwardcourseshecouldatleasttellherselfthatshehadheldtoherpurpose。Shehad，aspeoplesaid，\"keptup\"duringthetwenty—fourhoursprecedingGeorgeDarrow’sdeparture；hadgonewithacalmfaceaboutherusualbusiness，andevencontrivednottooobviouslytoavoidhim。Then，thenextdaybeforedawn，frombehindtheclosedshutterswhereshehadkeptforhalfthenightherdry—eyedvigil，shehadheardhimdriveofftothetrainwhichbroughtitspassengerstoParisintimefortheCalaisexpress。
Thefactofhistakingthattrain，ofhistravellingsostraightandfarawayfromher，gavetowhathadhappenedtheimplacableoutlineofreality。Hewasgone；hewouldnotcomeback；andherlifehadendedjustasshehaddreameditwasbeginning。Shehadnodoubt，atfirst，astotheabsoluteinevitabilityofthisconclusion。Themanwhohaddrivenawayfromherhouseintheautumndawnwasnotthemanshehadloved；hewasastrangerwithwhomshehadnotasinglethoughtincommon。Itwasterrible，indeed，thatheworethefaceandspokeinthevoiceofherfriend，andthat，aslongashewasunderoneroofwithher，themerewayinwhichhemovedandlookedcouldbridgeatastrokethegulfbetweenthem。That，nodoubt，wasthefaultofherexaggeratedsensibilitytooutwardthings：shewasfrightenedtoseehowitenslavedher。Adayortwobeforeshehadsupposedthesenseofhonourwasherdeepestsentiment：ifshehadsmiledattheconventionsofothersitwasbecausetheyweretootrivial，notbecausetheyweretoograve。Therewerecertaindishonourswithwhichshehadneverdreamedthatanypactcouldbemade：shehadhadanincorruptiblepassionforgoodfaithandfairness。
Shehadsupposedthat，onceDarrowwasgone，onceshewassafefromthedangerofseeingandhearinghim，thishighdevotionwouldsustainher。Shehadbelieveditwouldbepossibletoseparatetheimageofthemanshehadthoughthimfromthatofthemanhewas。ShehadevenforeseenthehourwhenshemightraiseamournfulshrinetothememoryoftheDarrowshehadloved，withoutfearthathisdouble’sshadowwoulddesecrateit。Butnowshehadbeguntounderstandthatthetwomenwerereallyone。TheDarrowsheworshippedwasinseparablefromtheDarrowsheabhorred；andtheinevitableconclusionwasthatbothmustgo，andshebeleftinthedesertofasorrowwithoutmemories……
Butifthefuturewasthusvoid，thepresentwasalltoofull。Neverhadblowmorecomplexrepercussions；andtorememberOwenwastoceasetothinkofherself。Whatimpulse，whatapprehension，hadsenthimsuddenlytoParis？
Andwhyhadhethoughtitneedfultoconcealhisgoingfromher？WhenSophyVinerhadleft，ithadbeenwiththeunderstandingthathewastoawaithersummons；anditseemedimprobablethathewouldbreakhispledge，andseekherwithoutleave，unlesshislover’sintuitionhadwarnedhimofsomefreshdanger。Annarecalledhowquicklyhehadreadthealarminherfacewhenhehadrushedbacktohersitting—roomwiththenewsthatMissVinerhadpromisedtoseehimagaininParis。Tobesopromptlyroused，hissuspicionsmusthavebeenbuthalf—asleep；andsincethen，nodoubt，ifsheandDarrowhaddissembled，sohadhe。Toherprouddirectnessitwasdegradingtothinkthattheyhadbeenlivingtogetherlikeenemieswhospyuponeachother’smovements：shefeltadesperatelongingforthedayswhichhadseemedsodullandnarrow，butinwhichshehadwalkedwithherheadhighandhereyesunguarded。
ShehadcomeuptoParishardlyknowingwhatperilshefeared，andstilllesshowshecouldavertit。IfOwenmeanttoseeMissViner——andwhatotherobjectcouldhehave？——theymustalreadybetogether，anditwastoolatetointerfere。IthadindeedoccurredtoAnnathatParismightnotbehisobjectivepoint：thathisrealpurposeinleavingGivrewithoutherknowledgehadbeentofollowDarrowtoLondonandexactthetruthofhim。Buteventoheralarmedimaginationthisseemedimprobable。SheandDarrow，tothelast，hadkeptupsocompleteafeintofharmonythat，whateverOwenhadsurmised，hecouldscarcelyhaveriskedactingonhissuspicions。Ifhestillfelttheneedofanexplanation，itwasalmostcertainlyofSophyVinerthathewouldaskit；anditwasinquestofSophyVinerthatAnnahaddespatchedMissPainter。
ShehadfoundablessedrefugefromherperplexitiesinthestolidAdelaide’sunawareness。OnecouldsoabsolutelycountonMissPainter’sguessingnomorethanonechose，andyetactingastutelyonsuchhintsasonevouchsafedher！Shewaslikeawell—trainedretrieverwhoseinterestinhispreyceaseswhenhelaysitathismaster’sfeet。Anna，onarriving，hadexplainedthatOwen’sunannouncedflighthadmadeherfearsomefreshmisunderstandingbetweenhimselfandMissViner。Intheinterestsofpeaceshehadthoughtitbesttofollowhim；butshehastilyaddedthatshedidnotwishtoseeSophy，butonly，ifpossible，tolearnfromherwhereOwenwas。WiththesebriefinstructionsMissPainterhadstartedout；butshewasawomanofmanyoccupations，andhadgivenhervisitortounderstandthatbeforereturningsheshouldhavetocallonafriendwhohadjustarrivedfromBoston，andafterwarddespatchtoanotherexiledcompatriotasupplyofcranberriesandbrandiedpeachesfromtheAmericangroceryintheChampsElysees。
Gradually，asthemomentspassed，Annabegantofeelthereactionwhich，inmomentsofextremenervoustension，followsonanyeffortofthewill。Sheseemedtohavegoneasfarashercouragewouldcarryher，andsheshrankmoreandmorefromthethoughtofMissPainter’sreturn，sincewhateverinformationthelatterbroughtwouldnecessitatesomefreshdecision。WhatshouldshesaytoOwenifshefoundhim？Whatcouldshesaythatshouldnotbetraytheonethingshewouldgiveherlifetohidefromhim？\"Giveherlife\"——howthephrasederidedher！Itwasagiftshewouldnothavebestowedonherworstenemy。ShewouldnothavehadSophyVinerlivethehoursshewaslivingnow……
Shetriedagaintolooksteadilyandcalmlyatthepicturethattheimageofthegirlevoked。Shehadanideathatsheoughttoaccustomherselftoitscontemplation。Iflifewaslikethat，whythesooneronegotusedtoitthebetter……Butno！Lifewasnotlikethat。Heradventurewasahideousaccident。Shedreadedaboveallthetemptationtogeneralisefromherowncase，todoubtthehighthingsshehadlivedbyandseekacheapsolaceinbelittlingwhatfatehadrefusedher。Therewassuchloveasshehaddreamed，andshemeanttogoonbelievinginit，andcherishingthethoughtthatshewasworthyofit。Whathadhappenedtoherwasgrotesqueandmeanandmiserable；butsheherselfwasnoneofthesethings，andnever，neverwouldshemakeofherselfthemockthatfatehadmadeofher
