XXXVIII
Annadrovetothechemist’sforOwen’sremedy。Onthewayshestoppedhercabatabook—shop，andemergedfromitladenwithliterature。SheknewwhatwouldinterestOwen，andwhathewaslikelytohaveread，andshehadmadeherchoiceamongthenewestpublicationswiththepromptnessofadiscriminatingreader。Butonthewaybacktothehotelshewasovercomebytheironyofaddingthismentalpanaceatotheother。Therewassomethinggrotesqueandalmostmockingintheideaofofferingajudiciousselectionofliteraturetoamansettingoutonsuchajourney。\"Heknows……heknows……\"shekeptonrepeating；andgivingtheportertheparcelfromthechemist’sshedroveawaywithoutleavingthebooks。
Shewenttoherapartment，whitherhermaidhadprecededher。Therewasafireinthedrawing—roomandthetea—tablestoodreadybythehearth。Thestormyrainbeatagainsttheuncurtainedwindows，andshethoughtofOwen，whowouldsoonbedrivingthroughittothestation，alonewithhisbitterthoughts。Shehadbeenproudofthefactthathehadalwayssoughtherhelpindifficulthours；andnow，inthemostdifficultofall，shewastheonebeingtowhomhecouldnotturn。Betweenthem，henceforth，therewouldalwaysbethewallofaninsurmountablesilence……Shestrainedherachingthoughtstoguesshowthetruthhadcometohim。Hadheseenthegirl，andhadshetoldhim？Instinctively，Annarejectedthisconjecture。Butwhatneedwasthereofassuminganexplicitstatement，wheneverybreaththeyhaddrawnforthelastweekshadbeenchargedwiththeimmanentsecret？AsshelookedbackoverthedayssinceDarrow’sfirstarrivalatGivresheperceivedthatatnotimehadanyonedeliberatelyspoken，oranythingbeenaccidentallydisclosed。Thetruthhadcometolightbytheforceofitsirresistiblepressure；
andtheperceptiongaveherastartledsenseofhiddenpowers，ofachaosofattractionsandrepulsionsfarbeneaththeorderedsurfacesofintercourse。Shelookedbackwithmelancholyderisiononheroldconceptionoflife，asakindofwell—litandwellpolicedsuburbtodarkplacesoneneedneverknowabout。Heretheywere，thesedarkplaces，inherownbosom，andhenceforthshewouldalwayshavetotraversethemtoreachthebeingsshelovedbest！
Shewasstillsittingbesidetheuntouchedtea—tablewhensheheardDarrow’svoiceinthehall。Shestartedup，sayingtoherself：\"ImusttellhimthatOwenknows……\"butwhenthedooropenedandshesawhisface，stilllitbythesamesmileofboyishtriumph，shefeltanewtheuselessnessofspeaking……HadheeversupposedthatOwenwouldnotknow？
Probably，fromtheheightofhisgreaterexperience，hehadseenlongsincethatallthathappenedwasinevitable；andthethoughtofit，atanyrate，wasclearlynotweighingonhimnow。
Hewasalreadydressedfortheevening，andashecametowardherhesaid：\"TheAmbassador’sbookedforanofficialdinnerandI’mfreeafterall。Whereshallwedine？\"
Annahadpicturedherselfsittingalonealltheeveningwithherwretchedthoughts，andthefactofhavingtoputthemoutofhermindforthenextfewhoursgaveheranimmediatesensationofrelief。AlreadyherpulsesweredancingtothetuneofDarrow’s，andastheysmiledateachothershethought：\"NothingcaneverchangethefactthatIbelongtohim。\"
\"Whereshallwedine？\"herepeatedgaily，andshenamedawell—knownrestaurantforwhichshehadonceheardhimexpressapreference。Butasshedidsoshefanciedshesawashadowonhisface，andinstantlyshesaidtoherself：\"ItwasTHEREhewentwithher！\"
\"Oh，no，notthere，afterall！\"sheinterruptedherself；andnowshewassurehiscolourdeepened。
\"Whereshallitbe，then？\"
Shenoticedthathedidnotaskthereasonofherchange，andthisconvincedherthatshehadguessedthetruth，andthatheknewshehadguessedit。\"HewillalwaysknowwhatIamthinking，andhewillneverdaretoaskme，\"shethought；andshesawbetweenthemthesameinsurmountablewallofsilenceasbetweenherselfandOwen，awallofglassthroughwhichtheycouldwatcheachother’sfaintestmotionsbutwhichnosoundcouldevertraverse……
TheydrovetoarestaurantontheBoulevard，andthere，intheirintimatecorneroftheserriedscene，thesenseofwhatwasunspokenbetweenthemgraduallyceasedtooppressher。Helookedsolight—heartedandhandsome，soingenuouslyproudofher，soopenlyhappyatbeingwithher，thatnootherfactcouldseemrealinhispresence。HehadlearnedthattheAmbassadorwastospendtwodaysinParis，andhehadreasontohopethatinconsequencehisowndepartureforLondonwouldbedeferred。HewasexhilaratedbytheprospectofbeingwithAnnaforafewhourslonger，andshedidnotaskherselfifhisexhilarationwereasignofinsensibility，forshewastooconsciousofhispowerofswayinghermoodsnottobesecretlyproudofaffectinghis。
Theylingeredforsometimeoverthefruitandcoffee，andwhentheyrosetogoDarrowsuggestedthat，ifshefeltdisposedfortheplay，theywerenottoolateforthesecondpartoftheprogrammeatoneofthesmallertheatres。
HismentionofthehourrecalledOwentoherthoughts。Shesawhistrainrushingsouthwardthroughthestorm，and，inacorneroftheswayingcompartment，hisface，whiteandindistinctasithadloomedonherintherainytwilight。
Itwashorribletobethusperpetuallypayingforherhappiness！
Darrowhadcalledforatheatricaljournal，andhepresentlylookedupfromittosay：\"IhearthesecondplayattheAtheneeisamusing。\"
ItwasonAnna’slipstoacquiesce；butasshewasabouttospeakshewonderedifitwerenotattheAtheneethatOwenhadseenDarrowwithSophyViner。Shewasnotsurehehadevenmentionedthetheatre，butthemerepossibilitywasenoughtodarkenhersky。ItwashatefultohertothinkofaccompanyingDarrowtoplaceswherethegirlhadbeenwithhim。Shetriedtoreasonawaythisscruple，sheevenremindedherselfwithabitterironythatwhenevershewasinDarrow’sarmsshewaswherethegirlhadbeenbeforeher——butshecouldnotshakeoffhersuperstitiousdreadofbeingwithhiminanyofthescenesoftheParisianepisode。
Sherepliedthatshewastootiredfortheplay，andtheydrovebacktoherapartment。Atthefootofthestairsshehalf—turnedtowishhimgoodnight，butheappearednottonoticehergestureandfollowedheruptoherdoor。
\"Thisiseversomuchbetterthanthetheatre，\"hesaidastheyenteredthedrawing—room。
Shehadcrossedtheroomandwasbendingoverthehearthtolightthefire。Sheknewhewasapproachingher，andthatinamomenthewouldhavedrawnthecloakfromhershouldersandlaidhislipsonherneck，justbelowthegathered—uphair。Theseprivilegeswerehisand，howeverdeferentlyandtenderlyheclaimedthem，thejoyouseaseofhismannermarkedadifferenceandproclaimedaright。
\"Afterthetheatretheycamehomelikethis，\"shethought；
andatthesameinstantshefelthishandsonhershouldersandshrankback。
\"Don’t——oh，don’t！\"shecried，drawinghercloakabouther。
Shesawfromhisastonishedstarethatherfacemustbequiveringwithpain。
\"Anna！Whatonearthisthematter？\"
\"Owenknows！\"shebrokeout，withaconfuseddesiretojustifyherself。
Darrow’scountenancechanged。\"Didhetellyouso？Whatdidhesay？\"
\"Nothing！Iknewitfromthethingshedidn’tsay。\"
\"Youhadatalkwithhimthisafternoon？\"
\"Yes：forafewminutes。Icouldseehedidn’twantmetostay。\"
Shehaddroppedintoachair，andsattherehuddled，stillholdinghercloakabouthershoulders。
Darrowdidnotdisputeherassumption，andshenoticedthatheexpressednosurprise。Hesatdownatalittledistancefromher，turningaboutinhisfingersthecigar—casehehaddrawnoutastheycamein。Atlengthhesaid：\"HadheseenMissViner？\"
Sheshrankfromthesoundofthename。\"No……Idon’tthinkso……I’msurehehadn’t……\"
Theyremainedsilent，lookingawayfromoneanother。FinallyDarrowstoodupandtookafewstepsacrosstheroom。Hecamebackandpausedbeforeher，hiseyesonherface。
\"Ithinkyououghttotellmewhatyoumeantodo。\"
Sheraisedherheadandgavehimbackhislook。\"NothingI
docanhelpOwen！\"
\"No；butthingscan’tgoonlikethis。\"Hepaused，asiftomeasurehiswords。\"Ifillyouwithaversion，\"heexclaimed。
Shestartedup，half—sobbing。\"No——oh，no！\"
\"Poorchild——youcan’tseeyourface！\"
Sheliftedherhandsasiftohideit，andturningawayfromhimbowedherheaduponthemantel—shelf。Shefeltthathewasstandingalittlewaybehindher，buthemadenoattempttotouchherorcomenearer。
\"Iknowyou’vefeltasI’vefelt，\"hesaidinalowvoice——\"
thatwebelongtoeachotherandthatnothingcanalterthat。Butotherthoughtscome，andyoucan’tbanishthem。
Wheneveryouseemeyouremember……youassociatemewiththingsyouabhor……You’vebeengenerous——immeasurably。
You’vegivenmeallthechancesawomancould；butifit’sonlymadeyousuffer，what’stheuse？\"
Sheturnedtohimwithatear—stainedface。\"Ithasn’tonlydonethat。\"
\"Oh，no！Iknow……There’vebeenmoments……\"Hetookherhandandraisedittohislips。\"They’llbewithmeaslongasI
live。ButIcan’tseeyoupayingsuchapriceforthem。
I’mnotworthwhatI’mcostingyou。\"
Shecontinuedtogazeathimthroughtear—dilatedeyes；andsuddenlysheflungoutthequestion：\"Wasn’tittheAtheneeyoutookhertothatevening？\"
\"Anna——Anna！\"
\"Yes；Iwanttoknownow：toknoweverything。Perhapsthatwillmakemeforget。Ioughttohavemadeyoutellmebefore。Whereverwego，Iimagineyou’vebeentherewithher……Iseeyoutogether。Iwanttoknowhowitbegan，whereyouwent，whyyoulefther……Ican’tgooninthisdarknessanylonger！\"
Shedidnotknowwhathadpromptedherpassionateoutburst，butalreadyshefeltlighter，freer，asifatlasttheevilspellwerebroken。\"Iwanttoknoweverything，\"sherepeated。\"It’stheonlywaytomakemeforget。\"
AftershehadceasedspeakingDarrowremainedwherehewas，hisarmsfolded，hiseyeslowered，immovable。Shewaited，hergazeonhisface。
\"Aren’tyougoingtotellme？\"
\"No。\"
Thebloodrushedtohertemples。\"Youwon’t？Whynot？\"
\"IfIdid，doyousupposeyou’dforgetTHAT？\"
\"Oh——\"shemoaned，andturnedawayfromhim。
\"Youseeit’simpossible，\"hewenton。\"I’vedoneathingI
loathe，andtoatoneforityouaskmetodoanother。Whatsortofsatisfactionwouldthatgiveyou？Itwouldputsomethingirremediablebetweenus。\"
Sheleanedherelbowagainstthemantel—shelfandhidherfaceinherhands。Shehadthesensethatshewasvainlythrowingawayherlasthopeofhappiness，yetshecoulddonothing，thinkofnothing，tosaveit。Theconjectureflashedthroughher：\"ShouldIbeatpeaceifIgavehimup？\"andsherememberedthedesolationofthedaysaftershehadsenthimaway，andunderstoodthatthathopewasvain。
Thetearswelledthroughherlidsandranslowlydownbetweenherfingers。
\"Good—bye，\"sheheardhimsay，andhisfootstepsturnedtothedoor。
Shetriedtoraiseherhead，buttheweightofherdespairboweditdown。Shesaidtoherself：\"Thisistheend……hewon’ttrytoappealtomeagain……\"andsheremainedinasortoftrancedrigidity，perceivingwithoutfeelingthefatefullapseoftheseconds。Thenthecordsthatboundherseemedtosnap，andsheliftedherheadandsawhimgoing。
\"Why，he’smine——he’smine！He’snooneelse’s！\"Hisfacewasturnedtoherandthelookinhiseyessweptawayallherterrors。Shenolongerunderstoodwhathadpromptedhersenselessoutcry；andthemortalsweetnessoflovinghimbecameagaintheonerealfactintheworld。
XXXIX
Anna，thenextday，woketoahumiliatedmemoryofthepreviousevening。
Darrowhadbeenrightinsayingthattheirsacrificewouldbenefitnoone；yetsheseemeddimlytodiscernthattherewereobligationsnottobetestedbythatstandard。Sheowedit，atanyrate，asmuchtohisprideastoherstoabstainfromtherepetitionofsuchscenes；andshehadlearnedthatitwasbeyondherpowertodosowhiletheyweretogether。Yetwhenhehadgivenherthechancetofreeherself，everythinghadvanishedfromhermindbuttheblindfearoflosinghim；andshesawthatheandshewereasprofoundlyandinextricablyboundtogetherastwotreeswithinterwovenroots。
Foralongtimeshebroodedonherplight，vaguelyconsciousthattheonlyescapefromitmustcomefromsomeexternalchance。Andslowlytheoccasionshapeditselfinhermind。
ItwasSophyVineronlywhocouldsaveher——SophyVineronlywhocouldgiveherbackherlostserenity。ShewouldseekthegirloutandtellherthatshehadgivenDarrowup；andthatsteponcetakentherewouldbenoretracingit，andshewouldperforcehavetogoforwardalone。
Anypretextforactionwasakindofanodyne，andshedespatchedhermaidtotheFarlows’withanoteaskingifMissVinerwouldreceiveher。Therewasalongdelaybeforethemaidreturned，andwhenatlastsheappeareditwaswithaslipofpaperonwhichanaddresswaswritten，andaverbalmessagetotheeffectthatMissVinerhadleftsomedayspreviously，andwasstayingwithhersisterinahotelnearthePlacedel’Etoile。ThemaidaddedthatMrs。
Farlow，onthepleathatMissViner’splanswereuncertain，hadatfirstmadesomedifficultyaboutgivingthisinformation；andAnnaguessedthatthegirlhadleftherfriends’roof，andinstructedthemtowithholdheraddress，withtheobjectofavoidingOwen。\"She’skeptfaithwithherselfandIhaven’t，\"Annamused；andthethoughtwasafreshincentivetoaction。
Darrowhadannouncedhisintentionofcomingsoonafterluncheon，andthemorningwasalreadysofaradvancedthatAnna，stillmistrustfulofherstrength，decidedtodriveimmediatelytotheaddressMrs。Farlowhadgiven。OnthewaythereshetriedtorecallwhatshehadheardofSophyViner’ssister，butbeyondthegirl’senthusiasticreportoftheabsentLaura’slovelinessshecouldrememberonlycertainvagueallusionsofMrs。Farlow’stoherartisticendowmentsandmatrimonialvicissitudes。Darrowhadmentionedherbutonce，andinthebriefestterms，ashavingapparentlyverylittleconcernforSophy’swelfare，andbeing，atanyrate，toogeographicallyremotetogiveheranypracticalsupport；andAnnawonderedwhatchancehadbroughthertohersister’ssideatthisconjunction。Mrs。
Farlowhadspokenofherasacelebrity（inwhatlineAnnafailedtorecall）；butMrs。Farlow’scelebritieswerelegion，andthenameontheslipofpaper——Mrs。McTarvie—
Birch——didnotseemtohaveanydefiniteassociationwithfame。
WhileAnnawaitedinthedingyvestibuleoftheHotelChicagoshehadsodistinctavisionofwhatshemeanttosaytoSophyVinerthatthegirlseemedalreadytobebeforeher；andherheartdroppedfromalltheheightofitscouragewhentheporter，afteralongdelay，returnedwiththeannouncementthatMissVinerwasnolongerinthehotel。
Anna，doubtfulifsheunderstood，askedifhemerelymeantthattheyoungladywasoutatthemoment；butherepliedthatshehadgoneawaythedaybefore。Beyondthishehadnoinformationtoimpart，andafteramoment’shesitationAnnasenthimbacktoenquireifMrs。McTarvie—Birchwouldreceiveher。ShereflectedthatSophyhadprobablypledgedhersistertothesamesecrecyasMrs。Farlow，andthatapersonalappealtoMrs。Birchmightleadtolessnegativeresults。
Therewasanotherlongintervalofsuspensebeforetheporterreappearedwithanaffirmativeanswer；andathirdwhileanexiguousandhesitatingliftboreheruppastasuccessionofshabbylandings。
Whenthelastwasreached，andherguidehaddirectedherdownawindingpassagethatsmeltofsea—goingluggage，shefoundherselfbeforeadoorthroughwhichastrongodouroftobaccoreachedhersimultaneouslywiththesoundsofasuppressedaltercation。Herknockwasfollowedbyasilence，andafteraminuteortwothedoorwasopenedbyahandsomeyoungmanwhoseruffledhairandgeneralairofcreaseddisorderledhertoconcludethathehadjustrisenfromalong—limbedsprawlonasofastrewnwithtumbledcushions。Thissofa，andagrandpianobearingabasketoffadedroses，abiscuit—tinandadevastatedbreakfasttray，almostfilledthenarrowsitting—room，intheremainingcornerofwhichanotherman，short，swarthyandhumble，satexaminingtheliningofhishat。
Annapausedindoubt；butonhernamingMrs。Birchtheyoungmanpolitelyinvitedhertoenter，atthesametimecastinganimpatientglanceatthemutespectatorinthebackground。
Thelatter，raisinghiseyes，whichwereroundandbulging，fixedthem，notontheyoungmanbutonAnna，whom，foramoment，hescrutinizedassearchinglyastheinteriorofhishat。Underhisgazeshehadthesenseofbeingminutelycataloguedandvalued；andtheimpression，whenhefinallyroseandmovedtowardthedoor，ofhavingbeenacceptedasabetterguaranteethanhehadhadanyreasontohopefor。Onthethresholdhisglancecrossedthatoftheyoungmaninanexchangeofintelligenceasfullasitwasrapid；andthisbriefsceneleftAnnasooddlyenlightenedthatshefeltnosurprisewhenhercompanion，pushinganarm—chairforward，sociablyaskedherifshewouldn’thaveacigarette。Herpoliterefusalprovokedtheremarkthathewould，ifshe’dnoobjection；andwhilehegropedformatchesinhisloosepockets，andbehindthephotographsandletterscrowdingthenarrowmantel—shelf，sheventuredanotherenquiryforMrs。
Birch。
\"Justaminute，\"hesmiled；\"Ithinkthemasseur’swithher。\"HespokeinasmoothdenationalizedEnglish，which，likethelookinhislong—lashedeyesandthepromptnessofhischarmingsmile，suggestedalongtraininginalltheartsofexpediency。Havingfinallydiscoveredamatch—boxonthefloorbesidethesofa，helithiscigaretteanddroppedbackamongthecushions；andonAnna’sremarkingthatshewassorrytodisturbMrs。Birchherepliedthatthatwasallright，andthatshealwayskepteverybodywaiting。
Afterthis，throughthehazeofhisperpetuallyrenewedcigarettes，theycontinuedtochatforsometimeofindifferenttopics；butwhenatlastAnnaagainsuggestedthepossibilityofherseeingMrs。Birchherosefromhiscornerwithaslightshrug，andmurmuring：\"She’sperfectlyhopeless，\"loungedoffthroughaninnerdoor。
Annawasstillwonderingwhenandinwhatconjunctionofcircumstancesthemuch—marriedLaurahadacquiredapartnersoconspicuousforhispersonalcharms，whentheyoungmanreturnedtoannounce：\"Shesaysit’sallright，ifyoudon’tmindseeingherinbed。\"
HedrewasidetoletAnnapass，andshefoundherselfinadimuntidyscentedroom，withapinkcurtainpinnedacrossitssinglewindow，andaladywithagreatdealoffairhairanduncoverednecksmilingatherfromapinkbedonwhichanimmensepowder—pufftrailed。
\"Youdon’tmind，doyou？HecostssuchafrightfullotthatIcan’taffordtosendhimoff，\"Mrs。Birchexplained，extendingathickly—ringedhandtoAnna，andleavingherindoubtastowhetherthepersonalludedtowerehermasseurorherhusband。Beforeareplywaspossibletherewasaconvulsivestirbeneaththepinkexpanse，andsomethingthatresembledanotherpowder—puffhurleditselfatAnnawithavolleyofsoundslikethepoppingofLilliputianchampagnecorks。Mrs。Birch，flingingherselfforward，gaspedout：\"Ifyou’djustgivehimacaramel……there，inthatboxonthedressing—table……it’stheonlyearthlythingtostophim……\"andwhenAnnahadprofferedthissoptoherassailant，andhehadwithdrawnwithitbeneaththebedspread，hismistresssankbackwithalaugh。
\"Isn’theabeauty？ThePrincegavehimtomedownatNicetheotherday——buthe’sperfectlyawful，\"sheconfessed，beamingintimatelyonhervisitor。Intheroseatepenumbraofthebed—curtainsshepresentedtoAnna’sstartledgazeanoddchromo—likeresemblancetoSophyViner，orasuggestion，rather，ofwhatSophyVinermight，withtheyearsandinspiteofthepowder—puff，become。Larger，blonder，heavier—
featured，sheyethadglancesandmovementsthatdisturbinglysuggestedwhatwasfreshestandmostengaginginthegirl；andasshestretchedherbareplumparmacrossthebedsheseemedtobepullingbacktheveilfromdingydistancesoffamilyhistory。
\"Dositdown，ifthere’saplacetositon，\"shecordiallyadvised；adding，asAnnatooktheedgeofachairhungwithmiscellaneousraiment：\"MysingingtakessomuchtimethatI
don’tgetachancetowalkthefatoff——that’stheworstofbeinganartist。\"
Annamurmuredanassent。\"Ihopeithasn’tinconveniencedyoutoseeme；ItoldMr。Birch——\"
\"Mr。WHO？\"therecumbentbeautyasked；andthen：\"Oh，JIMMY！\"shefaintlylaughed，asifmoreforherownenlightenmentthanAnna’s。
Thelattercontinuedeagerly：\"IunderstandfromMrs。Farlowthatyoursisterwaswithyou，andIventuredtocomeupbecauseIwantedtoaskyouwhenIshouldhaveachanceoffindingher。\"
Mrs。McTarvie—Birchthrewbackherheadwithalongstare。
\"Doyoumeantosaytheidiotatthedoordidn’ttellyou？
Sophywentawaylastnight。\"
\"Lastnight？\"Annaechoed。Asuddenterrorhadpossessedher。CoulditbethatthegirlhadtrickedthemallandgonewithOwen？Theideawasincredible，yetittooksuchholdofherthatshecouldhardlysteadyherlipstosay：
\"Theporterdidtellme，butIthoughtperhapshewasmistaken。Mrs。FarlowseemedtothinkthatIshouldfindherhere。\"
\"ItwasallsosuddenthatIdon’tsupposeshehadtimetolettheFarlowsknow。Shedidn’tgetMrs。Murrett’swiretillyesterday，andshejustpitchedherthingsintoatrunkandrushed————\"
\"Mrs。Murrett？\"
\"Why，yes。Sophy’sgonetoIndiawithMrs。Murrett；they’retomeetatBrindisi，\"Sophy’ssistersaidwithacalmsmile。
Annasatmotionless，gazingatthedisorderedroom，thepinkbed，thetrivialfaceamongthepillows。
Mrs。McTarvie—Birchpursued：\"Theyhadafearfulkick—uplastspring——Idaresayyouknewaboutit——butItoldSophyshe’dbetterlumpit，aslongastheoldwomanwaswillingto……Asanartist，ofcourse，it’sperfectlyimpossibleformetohaveherwithme……\"
\"Ofcourse，\"Annamechanicallyassented。
ThroughtheconfusedpainofherthoughtsshewashardlyawarethatMrs。Birch’sexplanationswerestillcontinuing。
\"NaturallyIdidn’taltogetherapproveofhergoingbacktothatbeastofawoman。IsaidallIcould……Itoldhershewasafooltochuckupsuchaplaceasyours。ButSophy’srestless——alwayswas——andshe’stakenitintoherheadshe’drathertravel……\"
Annarosefromherseat，gropingforsomeformulaofleave—
taking。Thepushingbackofherchairrousedthewhitedog’ssmoulderinganimosity，andhedrownedhismistress’sfurtherconfidencesinanotheroutburstofhysterics。
ThroughthetumultAnnasignedaninaudiblefarewell，andMrs。Birch，havingmomentarilysucceededinsuppressingherpetunderapillow，calledout：\"Docomeagain！I’dlovetosingtoyou。\"
Annamurmuredawordofthanksandturnedtothedoor。Assheopeneditsheheardherhostesscryingafterher：
\"Jimmy！Doyouhearme？JimmyBRANCE！\"andthen，therebeingnoresponsefromthepersonsummoned：\"DOtellhimhemustgoandcalltheliftforyou！\"
End
