AllthroughthesemeditationsrantheundercurrentofanabsolutetrustinSophyViner。Shethoughtofthegirlwithaminglingofantipathyandconfidence。Itwashumiliatingtoherpridetorecognizekindredimpulsesinacharacterwhichshewouldhavelikedtofeelcompletelyalientoher。
Butwhatindeedwasthegirlreallylike？Sheseemedtohavenoscruplesandathousanddelicacies。ShehadgivenherselftoDarrow，andconcealedtheepisodefromOwenLeath，withnomoreapparentsenseofdebasementthanthevulgarestofadventuresses；yetshehadinstantlyobeyedthevoiceofherheartwhenitbadeherpartfromtheoneandservetheother。
Annatriedtopicturewhatthegirl’slifemusthavebeen：
whatexperiences，whatinitiations，hadformedher。Butherowntraininghadbeentoodifferent：therewereveilsshecouldnotlift。Shelookedbackathermarriedlife，anditscolourlessuniformitytookonanairofhighrestraintandorder。Wasitbecauseshehadbeensoincuriousthatithadwornthatlooktoher？Itstruckherwithamazementthatshehadnevergivenathoughttoherhusband’spast，orwonderedwhathedidandwherehewentwhenhewasawayfromher。Ifshehadbeenaskedwhatshesupposedhethoughtaboutwhentheywereapart，shewouldinstantlyhaveanswered：hissnuff—boxes。Ithadneveroccurredtoherthathemighthavepassions，interests，preoccupationsofwhichshewasabsolutelyignorant。YethewentuptoParisratherregularly：ostensiblytoattendsalesandexhibitions，ortoconferwithdealersandcollectors。Shetriedtopicturehim，straight，trim，beautifullybrushedandvarnished，walkingfurtivelydownaquietstreet，andlookingabouthimbeforeheslippedintoadoorway。Sheunderstoodnowthatshehadbeencoldtohim：whatmorelikelythanthathehadsoughtcompensations？Allmenwerelikethat，shesupposed——nodoubthersimplicityhadamusedhim。
IntheactoftransposingFraserLeathintoaDonJuanshewaspulledupbytheironicperceptionthatshewassimplytryingtojustifyDarrow。Shewantedtothinkthatallmenwere\"likethat\"becauseDarrowwas\"likethat\"：shewantedtojustifyheracceptanceofthefactbypersuadingherselfthatonlythroughsuchconcessionscouldwomenlikeherselfhopetokeepwhattheycouldnotgiveup。Andsuddenlyshewasfilledwithangeratherblindness，andthenatherdisastrousattempttosee。WhyhadsheforcedthetruthoutofDarrow？Ifonlyshehadheldhertonguenothingneedeverhavebeenknown。SophyVinerwouldhavebrokenherengagement，Owenwouldhavebeensentaroundtheworld，andherowndreamwouldhavebeenunshattered。Butshehadprobed，insisted，cross—examined，notrestedtillshehaddraggedthesecrettothelight。Shewasoneofthelucklesswomenwhoalwayshavethewrongaudacities，andwhoalwaysknowit……
Wasitshe，AnnaLeath，whowaspicturingherselftoherselfinthatway？Sherecoiledfromherthoughtsasifwithasenseofdemoniacpossession，andthereflashedthroughherthelongingtoreturntoheroldstateoffearlessignorance。IfatthatmomentshecouldhavekeptDarrowfromfollowinghertoGivreshewouldhavedoneso……
Buthecame；andwiththesightofhimtheturmoilfellandshefeltherselfreassured，rehabilitated。Hearrivedtowarddusk，andshemotoredtoFrancheuiltomeethim。Shewantedtoseehimassoonaspossible，forshehaddivined，throughthenewinsightthatwasinher，thatonlyhispresencecouldrestorehertoanormalviewofthings。Inthemotor，astheyleftthetownandturnedintothehigh—
road，heliftedherhandandkissedit，andsheleanedagainsthim，andfeltthecurrentsflowbetweenthem。Shewasgratefultohimfornotsayinganything，andfornotexpectinghertospeak。Shesaidtoherself：\"Henevermakesamistake——healwaysknowswhattodo\"；andthenshethoughtwithastartthatitwasdoubtlessbecausehehadsooftenbeeninsuchsituations。Theideathathistactwasakindofprofessionalexpertnessfilledherwithrepugnance，andinsensiblyshedrewawayfromhim。Hemadenomotiontobringhernearer，andsheinstantlythoughtthatthatwascalculatedtoo。Shesatbesidehiminfrozenmisery，wonderingwhether，henceforth，shewouldmeasureinthiswayhiseverylookandgesture。Neitherofthemspokeagaintillthemotorturnedunderthedarkarchoftheavenue，andtheysawthelightsofGivretwinklingatitsend。ThenDarrowlaidhishandonhersandsaid：\"Iknow，dear——\"andthehardnessinhermelted。\"He’ssufferingasIam，\"shethought；andforamomentthebalefulfactbetweenthemseemedtodrawthemcloserinsteadofwallingthemupintheirseparatewretchedness。
Itwaswonderfultobeoncemorere—enteringthedoorsofGivrewithhim，andastheoldhousereceivedthemintoitsmellowsilenceshehadagainthesenseofpassingoutofadreadfuldreamintothereassuranceofkindlyandfamiliarthings。Itdidnotseempossiblethatthesequietrooms，sofulloftheslowly—distilledaccumulationsofafastidioustaste，shouldhavebeenthesceneoftragicdissensions。
Thememoryofthemseemedtobeshutoutintothenightwiththeclosingandbarringofitsdoors。
Atthetea—tableintheoak—roomtheyfoundMadamedeChantelleandEffie。Thelittlegirl，catchingsightofDarrow，raceddownthedrawing—roomstomeethim，andreturnedintriumphonhisshoulder。Annalookedatthemwithasmile。Effie，forallhergraces，wascharyofsuchfavours，andhermotherknewthatinaccordingthemtoDarrowshehadadmittedhimtothecirclewhereOwenhadhithertoruled。
Overthetea—tableDarrowgaveMadamedeChantelletheexplanationofhissuddenreturnfromEngland。OnreachingLondon，hetoldher，hehadfoundthatthesecretaryhewastohavereplacedwasdetainedtherebytheillnessofhiswife。TheAmbassador，knowingDarrow’surgentreasonsforwishingtobeinFrance，hadimmediatelyproposedhisgoingback，andawaitingatGivrethesummonstorelievehiscolleague；andhehadjumpedintothefirsttrain，withoutevenwaitingtotelegraphthenewsofhisrelease。Hespokenaturally，easily，inhisusualquietvoice，takinghisteafromEffie，helpinghimselftothetoastshehanded，andstoopingnowandthentostrokethedozingterrier。Andsuddenly，asAnnalistenedtohisexplanation，sheaskedherselfifitweretrue。
Thequestion，ofcourse，wasabsurd。Therewasnopossiblereasonwhyheshouldinventafalseaccountofhisreturn，andeveryprobabilitythattheversionhegavewastherealone。ButhehadlookedandspokeninthesamewaywhenhehadansweredherprobingquestionsaboutSophyViner，andshereflectedwithachilloffearthatshewouldneveragainknowifhewerespeakingthetruthornot。Shewassurehelovedher，andshedidnotfearhisinsincerityasmuchasherowndistrustofhim。Foramomentitseemedtoherthatthismustcorrupttheverysourceoflove；thenshesaidtoherself：\"Byandbye，whenIamaltogetherhis，weshallbesoneareachotherthattherewillbenoroomforanydoubtsbetweenus。\"Butthedoubtsweretherenow，onemomentlulledtoquiescence，thenextmoretorturinglyalert。WhenthenurseappearedtosummonEffie，thelittlegirl，afterkissinghergrandmother，entrenchedherselfonDarrow’skneewiththeimperiousdemandtobecarrieduptobed；andAnna，whileshelaughinglyprotested，saidtoherselfwithapang：\"CanIgiveherafatheraboutwhomI
thinksuchthings？\"
ThethoughtofEffie，andofwhatsheowedtoEffie，hadbeenthefundamentalreasonforherdelaysandhesitationswhensheandDarrowhadcometogetheragaininEngland。Herownfeelingwassoclearthatbutforthatscrupleshewouldhaveputherhandinhisatonce。Buttillshehadseenhimagainshehadneverconsideredthepossibilityofre—
marriage，andwhenitsuddenlyconfrontedheritseemed，forthemoment，todisorganizethelifeshehadplannedforherselfandherchild。ShehadnotspokenofthistoDarrowbecauseitappearedtoherasubjecttobedebatedwithinherownconscience。Thequestion，then，wasnotastohisfitnesstobecometheguideandguardianofherchild；nordidshefearthatherloveforhimwoulddepriveEffieoftheleastfractionofhertenderness，sinceshedidnotthinkofloveassomethingmeasuredandexhaustiblebutasatreasureperpetuallyrenewed。WhatshequestionedwasherrighttointroduceintoherlifeanyinterestsanddutieswhichmightrobEffieofapartofhertime，orlessentheclosenessoftheirdailyintercourse。
Shehaddecidedthisquestionasitwasinevitablethatsheshould；butnowanotherwasbeforeher。Assuredly，atherage，therewasnopossiblereasonwhysheshouldcloisterherselftobringupherdaughter；buttherewaseveryreasonfornotmarryingamaninwhomherownfaithwasnotcomplete……
XXXIV
Whenshewokethenextmorningshefeltagreatlightnessofheart。SherecalledherlastawakeningatGivre，threedaysbefore，whenithadseemedasthoughallherlifehadgonedownindarkness。NowDarrowwasoncemoreunderthesameroofwithher，andoncemorehisnearnesssufficedtomaketheloominghorrordropaway。Shecouldalmosthavesmiledatherscruplesofthenightbefore：asshelookedbackonthemtheyseemedtobelongtotheoldignoranttimoroustimewhenshehadfearedtolooklifeintheface，andhadbeenblindtothemysteriesandcontradictionsofthehumanheartbecauseherownhadnotbeenrevealedtoher。Darrowhadsaid：\"Youweremadetofeeleverything\"；andtofeelwassurelybetterthantojudge。
Whenshecamedownstairshewasalreadyintheoak—roomwithEffieandMadamedeChantelle，andthesenseofreassurancewhichhispresencegaveherwasmergedinthereliefofnotbeingabletospeakofwhatwasbetweenthem。Butthereitwas，inevitably，andwhenevertheylookedateachothertheysawit。Inherdreadofgivingitamoretangibleshapeshetriedtodevisemeansofkeepingthelittlegirlwithher，and，whenthelatterhadbeencalledawaybythenurse，foundanexcuseforfollowingMadamedeChantelleupstairstothepurplesitting—room。ButaconfidentialtalkwithMadamedeChantelleimpliedthedetaileddiscussionofplansofwhichAnnacouldhardlyyetbeartoconsiderthevaguestoutline：thedateofhermarriage，therelativeadvantagesofsailingfromLondonorLisbon，thepossibilityofhiringahabitablehouseattheirnewpost；and，whentheseproblemswereexhausted，theapplicationofthesamemethodtothesubjectofOwen’sfuture。
Hisgrandmother，havingnosuspicionoftherealreasonofSophyViner’sdeparture，hadthoughtit\"extremelysuitable\"
oftheyounggirltowithdrawtotheshelterofheroldfriends’roofinthehourofbridalpreparation。ThismaidenlyretreathadinfactimpressedMadamedeChantellesofavourablythatshewasdisposedforthefirsttimetotalkoverOwen’sprojects；andaseveryhumaneventtranslateditselfforherintotermsofsocialanddomesticdetail，Annahadperforcetotravelthesameroundagain。
ShefeltamomentaryreliefwhenDarrowpresentlyjoinedthem；buthiscomingservedonlytodrawtheconversationbacktothequestionoftheirownfuture，andAnnafeltanewpangassheheardhimcalmlyandlucidlydiscussingit。
Didsuchself—possessionimplyindifferenceorinsincerity？
Inthatproblemhermindperpetuallyrevolved；andshedreadedtheoneanswerasmuchastheother。
Shewasresolvedtokeeponhercourseasthoughnothinghadhappened：tomarryDarrowandneverlettheconsciousnessofthepastintrudeitselfbetweenthem；butshewasbeginningtofeelthattheonlywayofattainingtothisstateofdetachmentfromtheirreparablewasonceforalltoturnbackwithhimtoitscontemplation。AssoonasthisdesirehadgerminateditbecamesostronginherthatsheregrettedhavingpromisedEffietotakeheroutfortheafternoon。
Butshecouldthinkofnopretextfordisappointingthelittlegirl，andsoonafterluncheonthethreesetforthinthemotortoshowDarrowachateaufamousintheannalsoftheregion。DuringtheirexcursionAnnafounditimpossibletoguessfromhisdemeanourifEffie’spresencebetweenthemwasasmuchofastraintohiscomposureastohers。Heremainedimperturbablygood—humouredandappreciativewhiletheywenttheroundofthemonument，andsheremarkedonlythatwhenhethoughthimselfunnoticedhisfacegrewgraveandhisanswerscamelesspromptly。
Onthewayback，twoorthreemilesfromGivre，shesuddenlyproposedthattheyshouldwalkhomethroughtheforestwhichskirtedthatsideofthepark。Darrowacquiesced，andtheygotoutandsentEffieoninthemotor。TheirwayledthroughabitofsoberFrenchwoodland，flatasafadedtapestry，butwithgleamsofliveemeraldlingeringhereandthereamongitsbrownsandochres。Theluminousgreyairgavevividnesstoitsdyingcolours，andveiledthedistantglimpsesofthelandscapeinsoftuncertainty。InsuchasolitudeAnnahadfancieditwouldbeeasiertospeak；butasshewalkedbesideDarrowoverthedeepsoundlessflooringofbrownmossthewordsonherlipstookflightagain。Itseemedimpossibletobreakthespellofquietjoywhichhispresencelaidonher，andwhenhebegantotalkoftheplacetheyhadjustvisitedsheansweredhisquestionsandthenwaitedforwhatheshouldsaynext……No，decidedlyshecouldnotspeak；shenolongerevenknewwhatshehadmeanttosay……
Thesameexperiencerepeateditselfseveraltimesthatdayandthenext。WhensheandDarrowwereapartsheexhaustedherselfinappealandinterrogation，sheformulatedwithaferventlucidityeverypointinherimaginaryargument。Butassoonasshewasalonewithhimsomethingdeeperthanreasonandsubtlerthanshynesslaiditsbenumbingtouchuponher，andthedesiretospeakbecamemerelyadimdisquietude，throughwhichhislooks，hiswords，histouch，reachedherasthroughamistofbodilypain。Yetthisinertiawastornbywildflashesofresistance，andwhentheywereapartshebegantoprepareagainwhatshemeanttosaytohim。
Sheknewhecouldnotbewithherwithoutbeingawareofthisinnerturmoil，andshehopedhewouldbreakthespellbysomereleasingword。Butshepresentlyunderstoodthatherecognizedthefutilityofwords，andwasresolutelybentonholdinghertoherownpurposeofbehavingasifnothinghadhappened。Oncemoresheinwardlyaccusedhimofinsensibility，andherimaginationwasbesetbytormentingvisionsofhispast……Hadsuchthingshappenedtohimbefore？Iftheepisodehadbeenanisolatedaccident——\"amomentoffollyandmadness\"，ashehadcalledit——shecouldunderstand，oratleastbegintounderstand（foratacertainpointherimaginationalwaysturnedback）；butifitwereamerelinkinachainofsimilarexperiments，thethoughtofitdishonouredherwholepast……
Effie，intheinterregnumbetweengovernesses，hadbeengivenleavetodinedownstairs；andAnna，ontheeveningofDarrow’sreturn，keptthelittlegirlwithhertilllongafterthenursehadsignalledfromthedrawing—roomdoor。
Whenatlengthshehadbeencarriedoff，Annaproposedagameofcards，andafterthisdiversionhaddrawntoitslanguidcloseshesaidgood—nighttoDarrowandfollowedMadamedeChantelleupstairs。ButMadamedeChantelleneversatuplate，andthesecondevening，withtheamiablyimpliedintentionofleavingAnnaandDarrowtothemselves，shetookanearlierleaveofthemthanusual。
Annasatsilent，listeningtohersmallstiffstepsastheyminceddownthehallanddiedoutinthedistance。MadamedeChantellehadbrokenherwoodenembroideryframe，andDarrow，havingofferedtorepairit，haddrawnhischairuptoatablethatheldalamp。Annawatchedhimashesatwithbentheadandknittedbrows，tryingtofittogetherthedisjoinedpieces。Thesightofhim，sotranquillyabsorbedinthistriflingbusiness，seemedtogivetothequietroomaperfumeofintimacy，tofillitwithasenseofsweetfamiliarhabit；anditcameoverheragainthatsheknewnothingoftheinnerthoughtsofthismanwhowassittingbyherasahusbandmight。Thelamplightfellonhiswhiteforehead，onthehealthybrownofhischeek，thebacksofhisthinsunburnthands。Asshewatchedthehandshersenseofthembecameasvividasatouch，andshesaidtoherself：
\"ThatotherwomanhassatandwatchedhimasIamdoing。
ShehasknownhimasIhaveneverknownhim……Perhapsheisthinkingofthatnow。OrperhapshehasforgottenitallascompletelyasIhaveforgotteneverythingthathappenedtomebeforehecame……\"
Helookedyoung，active，storedwithstrengthandenergy；
notthemanforvainrepiningsorlongmemories。Shewonderedwhatshehadtoholdorsatisfyhim。Helovedhernow；shehadnodoubtofthat；buthowcouldshehopetokeephim？Theyweresonearlyofanagethatalreadyshefeltherselfhissenior。Asyetthedifferencewasnotvisible；outwardlyatleasttheywerematched；butill—
healthorunhappinesswouldsoondoawaywiththisequality。
Shethoughtwithapangofbitterness：\"Hewon’tgrowanyolderbecausehedoesn’tfeelthings；andbecausehedoesn’t，ISHALL……\"
Andwhensheceasedtopleasehim，whatthen？Hadhethetraditionoffaithtothespokenvow，orthedeeperpietyoftheunspokendedication？Whatwashistheory，whathisinnerconvictioninsuchmatters？Butwhatdidshecareforhisconvictionsorhistheories？Nodoubthelovedhernow，andbelievedhewouldalwaysgoonlovingher，andwaspersuadedthat，ifheceasedto，hisloyaltywouldbeproofagainstthechange。Whatshewantedtoknowwasnotwhathethoughtaboutitinadvance，butwhatwouldimpelorrestrainhimatthecrucialhour。Sheputnofaithinherownarts：shewastoosureofhavingnone！Andifsomebeneficentenchanterhadbestowedthemonher，sheknewnowthatshewouldhaverejectedthegift。Shecouldhardlyconceiveofwantingthekindoflovethatwasastateonecouldbecozenedinto……
Darrow，puttingawaytheframe，walkedacrosstheroomandsatdownbesideher；andshefelthehadsomethingspecialtosay。
\"They’resuretosendformeinadayortwonow，\"hebegan。
Shemadenoanswer，andhecontinued：\"You’lltellmebeforeIgowhatdayI’mtocomebackandgetyou？\"
ItwasthefirsttimesincehisreturntoGivrethathehadmadeanydirectallusiontothedateoftheirmarriage；andinsteadofansweringhimshebrokeout：\"There’ssomethingI’vebeenwantingyoutoknow。TheotherdayinParisIsawMissViner。\"
Shesawhimflushwiththeintensityofhissurprise。
\"Yousentforher？\"
\"No；sheheardfromAdelaidethatIwasinParisandshecame。Shecamebecauseshewantedtourgemetomarryyou。
Ithoughtyououghttoknowwhatshehaddone。\"
Darrowstoodup。\"I’mgladyou’vetoldme。\"Hespokewithavisibleeffortatcomposure。Hereyesfollowedhimashemovedaway。
\"Isthatall？\"heaskedafteraninterval。
\"Itseemstomeagreatdeal。\"
\"It’swhatshe’dalreadyaskedme。\"Hisvoiceshowedherhowdeeplyhewasmoved，andathrobofjealousyshotthroughher。
\"Oh，itwasforyoursake，Iknow！\"Hemadenoanswer，andsheadded：\"She’sbeenexceedinglygenerous……Whyshouldn’twespeakofit？\"
Shehadloweredherhead，butthroughherdroppedlidssheseemedtobewatchingthecrowdedsceneofhisface。
\"I’venotshrunkfromspeakingofit。\"
\"Speakingofher，then，Imean。ItseemstomethatifI
couldtalktoyouaboutherIshouldknowbetter————\"
Shebrokeoff，confused，andhequestioned：\"Whatisityouwanttoknowbetter？\"
Thecolourrosetoherforehead。Howcouldshetellhimwhatshescarcelydaredowntoherself？Therewasnothingshedidnotwanttoknow，nofoldorcrannyofhissecretthatherawakenedimaginationdidnotstraintopenetrate；
butshecouldnotexposeSophyVinertothebasefingeringsofaretrospectivejealousy，norDarrowtothetemptationofbelittlingherintheefforttobetterhisowncase。Thegirlhadbeenmagnificent，andtheonlyworthyreturnthatAnnacouldmakewastotakeDarrowfromherwithoutaquestionifshetookhimatall……
Sheliftedhereyestohisface。\"IthinkIonlywantedtospeakhername。It’snotrightthatweshouldseemsoafraidofit。IfIwerereallyafraidofitIshouldhavetogiveyouup，\"shesaid。
Hebentoverherandcaughthertohim。\"Ah，youcan’tgivemeupnow！\"heexclaimed。
Shesufferedhimtoholdherfastwithoutspeaking；buttheolddreadwasbetweenthemagain，anditwasonherlipstocryout：\"HowcanIhelpit，whenIAMsoafraid？\"
XXXV
Thenextmorningthedreadwasstillthere，andsheunderstoodthatshemustsnatchherselfoutofthetorporofthewillintowhichshehadbeengraduallysinking，andtellDarrowthatshecouldnotbehiswife。
Theknowledgecametoherinthewatchesofasleeplessnight，when，throughthetearsofdisenchantedpassion，shestaredbackuponherpast。Thereitlaybeforeher，hersoleromance，inallitspaltrypoverty，thecheapestofcheapadventures，themostpitifulofsentimentalblunders。
Shelookedaboutherroom，theroomwhere，forsomanyyears，ifherhearthadbeenquiescentherthoughtshadbeenalive，andpicturedherselfhenceforthcoweringbeforeathrongofmeansuspicions，ofunavowedcompromisesandconcessions。Inthatmomentofself—searchingshesawthatSophyVinerhadchosenthebetterpart，andthatcertainrenunciationsmightenrichwherepossessionwouldhaveleftadesert。
Passionatereactionsofinstinctfoughtagainsttheseeffortsofherwill。Whyshouldpastorfuturecoerceher，whenthepresentwassosecurelyhers？Whyinsanelysurrenderwhattheotherwouldafterallneverhave？HersenseofironywhisperedthatifshesentawayDarrowitwouldnotbetoSophyViner，buttothefirstwomanwhocrossedhispath——as，inasimilarhour，SophyVinerherselfhadcrossedit……Butthemerefactthatshecouldthinksuchthingsofhimsenthershudderingbacktotheoppositepole。
Shepicturedherselfgraduallysubduedtosuchaconceptionoflifeandlove，shepicturedEffiegrowingupundertheinfluenceofthewomanshesawherselfbecoming——andshehidhereyesfromthehumiliationofthepicture……
TheywereatluncheonwhenthesummonsthatDarrowexpectedwasbroughttohim。HehandedthetelegramtoAnna，andshelearnedthathisAmbassador，onthewaytoaGermancure，wastobeinParisthenexteveningandwishedtoconferwithhimtherebeforehewentbacktoLondon。Theideathatthedecisivemomentwasathandwassoagitatingtoherthatwhenluncheonwasoversheslippedawaytotheterraceandthencewentdownalonetothegarden。Thedaywasgreybutmild，withtheheavinessofdecayintheair。Sherambledonaimlessly，followingunderthedenudedboughsthepathsheandDarrowhadtakenontheirfirstwalktotheriver。
Shewassurehewouldnottrytoovertakeher：surehewouldguesswhyshewishedtobealone。Thereweremomentswhenitseemedtodoubleherlonelinesstobesocertainofhisreadingherheartwhileshewassodesperatelyignorantofhis……
Shewanderedonformorethananhour，andwhenshereturnedtothehouseshesaw，assheenteredthehall，thatDarrowwasseatedatthedeskinOwen’sstudy。Heheardherstep，andlookingupturnedinhischairwithoutrising。Theireyesmet，andshesawthathiswereclearandsmiling。Hehadaheapofpapersathiselbowandwasevidentlyengagedinsomeofficialcorrespondence。Shewonderedthathecouldaddresshimselfsocomposedlytohistask，andthenironicallyreflectedthatsuchdetachmentwasasignofhissuperiority。Shecrossedthethresholdandwenttowardhim；
butassheadvancedshehadasuddenvisionofOwen，standingoutsideinthecoldautumnduskandwatchingDarrowandSophyVinerastheyfacedeachotheracrossthelamplitdesk……Theevocationwassovividthatitcaughtherbreathlikeablow，andshesankdownhelplesslyonthedivanamongthepiled—upbooks。Distinctly，atthemoment，sheunderstoodthattheendhadcome。\"WhenhespeakstomeI
willtellhim！\"shethought
