Sheglanceddownthelongwalkaheadofthemandthenbackinthedirectionofthehouse。"Ifyoulike，"shesaidinalowvoice，withoneofherquickfluctuationsofcolour；butinsteadoftakingthewayheproposedsheturnedtowardanarrowpathwhichbranchedoffobliquelythroughthetrees。
　　Darrowwasstruck，andvaguelytroubled，bythechangeinherlookandtone。Therewasinthemanundefinableappeal，whetherforhelporforbearancehecouldnottell。Thenitoccurredtohimthattheremighthavebeensomethingmisleadinginhissopointedlyseekingher，andhefeltamomentaryconstraint。Toeaseithemadeanabruptdashatthetruth。
　　"Icameouttolookforyoubecauseourtalkofyesterdaywassounsatisfactory。Iwanttohearmoreaboutyou——aboutyourplansandprospects。I’vebeenwonderingeversincewhyyou’vesocompletelygivenupthetheatre。"
　　Herfaceinstantlysharpenedtodistrust。"Ihadtolive，"
　　shesaidinanoff—handtone。
　　"Iunderstandperfectlythatyoushouldlikeithere——foratime。"Hisglancestrayeddownthegold—roofedwindingsaheadofthem。"It’sdelightful：youcouldn’tbebetterplaced。OnlyIwonderalittleatyourhavingsocompletelygivenupanyideaofadifferentfuture。"
　　Shewaitedforamomentbeforeanswering："IsupposeI’mlessrestlessthanIusedtobe。"
　　"It’scertainlynaturalthatyoushouldbelessrestlessherethanatMrs。Murrett’s；yetsomehowIdon’tseemtoseeyoupermanentlygivenuptoformingtheyoung。"
　　"What——exactly——DOyouseemtoseemepermanentlygivenupto？Youknowyouwarnedmeratheremphaticallyagainstthetheatre。"Shethrewoffthestatementwithoutimpatience，asthoughtheywerediscussingtogetherthefateofathirdpersoninwhombothwerebenevolentlyinterested。
　　Darrowconsideredhisreply。"IfIdid，itwasbecauseyousoemphaticallyrefusedtoletmehelpyoutoastart。"
　　Shestoppedshortandfacedhim"AndyouthinkImayletyounow？"
　　Darrowfeltthebloodinhischeek。Hecouldnotunderstandherattitude——ifindeedshehadconsciouslytakenone，andherchangesoftonedidnotmerelyreflecttheinvoluntaryalternationsofhermood。Ithumbledhimtoperceiveoncemorehowlittlehehadtoguidehiminhisjudgmentofher。
　　Hesaidtohimself："IfI’devercaredastrawforherI
　　shouldknowhowtoavoidhurtinghernow"——andhisinsensibilitystruckhimasnobetterthanavulgarobtuseness。Buthehadafixedpurposeaheadandcouldonlypushontoit。
　　"Ihope，atanyrate，you’lllistentomyreasons。There’sbeentime，onbothsides，tothinkthemoversince————"Hecaughthimselfbackandhunghelplessonthe"since"：
　　whateverwordshechose，heseemedtostumbleamongremindersoftheirpast。
　　Shewalkedonbesidehim，hereyesontheground。"ThenI’mtounderstand——definitely——thatyouDOrenewyouroffer？"sheasked"Withallmyheart！Ifyou’llonlyletme————"
　　Sheraisedahand，asthoughtocheckhim。"It’sextremelyfriendlyofyou——IDObelieveyoumeanitasafriend——
　　butIdon’tquiteunderstandwhy，findingme，asyousay，sowellplacedhere，youshouldshowmoreanxietyaboutmyfuturethanatatimewhenIwasactually，andratherdesperately，adrift。"
　　"Oh，no，notmore！"
　　"Ifyoushowanyatall，itmust，atanyrate，befordifferentreasons。——Infact，itcanonlybe，"shewenton，withoneofherdisconcertingflashesofastuteness，"foroneoftworeasons；eitherbecauseyoufeelyououghttohelpme，orbecause，forsomereason，youthinkyouoweittoMrs。Leathtoletherknowwhatyouknowofme。"
　　Darrowstoodstillinthepath。BehindhimheheardEffie’scall，andatthechild’svoicehesawSophyturnherheadwiththealertnessofonewhoisobscurelyonthewatch。
　　Thelookwassofugitivethathecouldnothavesaidwhereinitdifferedfromhernormalprofessionalairofhavingherpupilonhermind。
　　Effiesprangpastthem，andDarrowtookupthegirl’schallenge。
　　"WhatyousuggestaboutMrs。Leathishardlyworthanswering。Astomyreasonsforwantingtohelpyou，agooddealdependsonthewordsoneusestodefineratherindefinitethings。It’strueenoughthatIwanttohelpyou；butthewishisn’tdueto……toanypastkindnessonyourpart，butsimplytomyowninterestinyou。WhynotputitthatourfriendshipgivesmetherighttointerveneforwhatIbelievetobeyourbenefit？"
　　Shetookafewhesitatingstepsandthenpausedagain。
　　Darrownoticedthatshehadgrownpaleandthattherewereringsofshadeabouthereyes。
　　"You’veknownMrs。Leathalongtime？"sheaskedhimsuddenly。
　　Hepausedwithasenseofapproachingperil。"Alongtime——
　　yes。"
　　"Shetoldmeyouwerefriends——greatfriends"
　　"Yes，"headmitted，"we’regreatfriends。"
　　"Thenyoumightnaturallyfeelyourselfjustifiedintellingherthatyoudon’tthinkI’mtherightpersonforEffie。"
　　Heutteredasoundofprotest，butshedisregardedit。"I
　　don’tsayyou’dLIKEtodoit。Youwouldn’t：you’dhateit。AndthenaturalalternativewouldbetotrytopersuademethatI’dbebetteroffsomewhereelsethanhere。Butsupposingthatfailed，andyousawIwasdeterminedtostay？
　　THENyoumightthinkityourdutytotellMrs。Leath。"
　　Shelaidthecasebeforehimwithacoldlucidity。"I
　　should，inyourplace，Ibelieve，"sheendedwithalittlelaugh。
　　"Ishouldn’tfeeljustifiedintellingher，behindyourback，ifIthoughtyouunsuitedfortheplace；butIshouldcertainlyfeeljustified，"herejoinedafterapause，"intellingYOUifIthoughttheplaceunsuitedtoyou。"
　　"Andthat’swhatyou’retryingtotellmenow？"
　　"Yes；butnotforthereasonsyouimagine。"
　　"What，then，areyourreasons，ifyouplease？"
　　"I’vealreadyimpliedtheminadvisingyounottogiveupallideaofthetheatre。You’retoovarious，toogifted，toopersonal，totieyourselfdown，atyourage，tothedismaldrudgeryofteaching。"
　　"AndisTHATwhatyou’vetoldMrs。Leath？"
　　Sherushedthequestionoutathimasifsheexpectedtotriphimupoverit。Hewasmovedbythesimplicityofthestratagem。
　　"I’vetoldherexactlynothing，"hereplied。
　　"Andwhat——exactly——doyoumeanby’nothing’？YouandsheweretalkingaboutmewhenIcameintohersitting—roomyesterday。"
　　Darrowfelthisbloodriseatthethrust。
　　"I’vetoldher，simply，thatI’dseenyouonceortwiceatMrs。Murrett’s。"
　　"Andnotthatyou’veeverseenmesince？"
　　"AndnotthatI’veeverseenyousince……"
　　"Andshebelievesyou——shecompletelybelievesyou？"
　　Heutteredaprotestingexclamation，andhisflushreflecteditselfinthegirl’scheek。
　　"Oh，Ibegyourpardon！Ididn’tmeantoaskyouthat。"Shehalted，andagaincastarapidglancebehindandaheadofher。Thensheheldoutherhand。"Well，then，thankyou——
　　andletmerelieveyourfears。Isha’n’tbeEffie’sgovernessmuchlonger。"
　　Attheannouncement，Darrowtriedtomergehislookofreliefintotheexpressionoffriendlyinterestwithwhichhegraspedherhand。"Youreallydoagreewithme，then？
　　Andyou’llgivemeachancetotalkthingsoverwithyou？"
　　Sheshookherheadwithafaintsmile。"I’mnotthinkingofthestage。I’vehadanotheroffer：that’sall。"
　　Thereliefwashardlylessgreat。Afterall，hispersonalresponsibilityceasedwithherdeparturefromGivre。
　　"You’lltellmeaboutthat，then——won’tyou？"
　　Hersmileflickeredup。"Oh，you’llhearaboutitsoon……I
　　mustcatchEffienowanddragherbacktotheblackboard。"
　　Shewalkedonforafewyards，andthenpausedagainandconfrontedhim。"I’vebeenodioustoyou——andnotquitehonest，"shebrokeoutsuddenly。
　　"Notquitehonest？"herepeated，caughtinafreshwaveofwonder。
　　"Imean，inseemingnottotrustyou。It’scomeovermeagainaswetalkedthat，atheart，I’vealwaysKNOWNI
　　could……"
　　Hercolourroseinabrightwave，andhereyesclungtohisforaswiftinstantofreminderandappeal。Forthesamespaceoftimethepastsurgedupinhimconfusedly；thenaveildroppedbetweenthem。
　　"Here’sEffienow！"sheexclaimed。
　　Heturnedandsawthelittlegirltrottingbacktothem，herhandinOwenLeath’s。
　　EventhroughthestirofhissubsidingexcitementDarrowwasatonceawareofthechangeeffectedbytheyoungman’sapproach。ForamomentSophyViner’scheeksburnedredder；
　　thentheyfadedtothepalenessofwhitepetals。Shelost，however，nothingofthebrightbraverywhichitwasherwaytoturnontheunexpected。PerhapsnoonelessfamiliarwithherfacethanDarrowwouldhavediscernedthetensionofthesmileshetransferredfromhimselftoOwenLeath，orhaveremarkedthathereyeshadhardenedfrommistygreytoashiningdarkness。ButherobserverwaslessstruckbythisthanbythecorrespondingchangeinOwenLeath。Thelatter，whenhecameinsight，hadbeenlaughingandtalkingunconcernedlywithEffie；butashiseyefellonMissVinerhisexpressionalteredassuddenlyashers。
　　Thechange，forDarrow，waslessdefinable；but，perhapsforthatreason，itstruckhimasmoresharplysignificant。
　　Only——justwhatdiditsignify？Owen，likeSophyViner，hadthekindoffacewhichseemslessthestageonwhichemotionsmovethantheverystufftheyworkin。Inmomentsofexcitementhisoddirregularfeaturesseemedtogrowfluid，tounmakeandremakethemselvesliketheshadowsofcloudsonastream。Darrow，throughtherapidflightoftheshadows，couldnotseizeonanyspecificindicationoffeeling：hemerelyperceivedthattheyoungmanwasunaccountablysurprisedatfindinghimwithMissViner，andthattheextentofhissurprisemightcoverallmannerofimplications。
　　Darrow’sfirstideawasthatOwen，ifhesuspectedthattheconversationwasnottheresultofanaccidentalencounter，mightwonderathisstep—mother’ssuitorbeingengaged，atsuchanhour，inprivatetalkwithherlittlegirl’sgoverness。Thethoughtwassodisturbingthat，asthethreeturnedbacktothehouse，hewasonthepointofsayingtoOwen："Icameouttolookforyourmother。"But，inthecontingencyhefeared，evensosimpleaphrasemightseemlikeanawkwardattemptatexplanation；andhewalkedoninsilenceatMissViner’sside。PresentlyhewasstruckbythefactthatOwenLeathandthegirlweresilentalso；andthisgaveanewturntohisthoughts。Silencemaybeasvariouslyshadedasspeech；andthatwhichenfoldedDarrowandhistwocompanionsseemedtohiswatchfulperceptionstobequiveringwithcross—threadsofcommunication。Atfirsthewasawareonlyofthosethatcentredinhisowntroubledconsciousness；thenitoccurredtohimthatanequalactivityofintercoursewasgoingonoutsideofit。
　　SomethingwasinfactpassingmutelyandrapidlybetweenyoungLeathandSophyViner；butwhatitwas，andwhitherittended，Darrow，whentheyreachedthehouse，wasbutjustbeginningtodivine……
　　XVIII
　　AnnaLeath，fromtheterrace，watchedthereturnofthelittlegroup。
　　Shelookeddownonthem，astheyadvancedacrossthegarden，fromthesereneheightofherunassailablehappiness。Theretheywere，comingtowardherinthemildmorninglight，herchild，herstep—son，herpromisedhusband：thethreebeingswhofilledherlife。Shesmiledalittleatthehappypicturetheypresented，Effie’sgambolsencirclingitinamovingframewithinwhichthetwomencameslowlyforwardinthesilenceoffriendlyunderstanding。Itseemedpartofthedeepintimacyofthescenethattheyshouldnotbetalkingtoeachother，anditdidnottillafterwardstrikeherasoddthatneitherofthemapparentlyfeltitnecessarytoaddressawordtoSophyViner。
　　Annaherself，atthemoment，wasfloatinginthemid—currentoffelicity，onatidesobrightandbuoyantthatsheseemedtobeonewithitswarmwaves。Thefirstrushofblisshadstunnedanddazzledher；butnowthat，eachmorning，shewoketothecalmcertaintyofitsrecurrence，shewasgrowingusedtothesenseofsecurityitgave。
　　"IfeelasifIcouldtrustmyhappinesstocarryme；asifithadgrownoutofmelikewings。"SoshephrasedittoDarrow，as，laterinthemorning，theypacedthegarden—
　　pathstogether。Hisansweringlookgaveherthesameassuranceofsafety。Theeveningbeforehehadseemedpreoccupied，andtheshadowofhismoodhadfaintlyencroachedonthegreatgoldenorboftheirblessedness；butnowitwasuneclipsedagain，andhungabovethemhighandbrightasthesunatnoon。
　　Upstairsinhersitting—room，thatafternoon，shewasthinkingofthesethings。Themorningmistshadturnedtorain，compellingthepostponementofanexcursioninwhichthewholepartyweretohavejoined。Effie，withhergoverness，hadbeendespatchedinthemotortodosomeshoppingatFrancheuil；andAnnahadpromisedDarrowtojoinhim，laterintheafternoon，foraquickwalkintherain。
　　Hehadgonetohisroomafterluncheontogetsomebelatedlettersoffhisconscience；andwhenhehadlefthershehadcontinuedtositinthesameplace，herhandscrossedonherknees，herheadslightlybent，inanattitudeofbroodingretrospection。Asshelookedbackatherpastlife，itseemedtohertohaveconsistedofoneceaselessefforttopackintoeachhourenoughtofilloutitsslackfolds；butnoweachmomentwaslikeamiser’sbagstretchedtoburstingwithpuregold。
　　ShewasrousedbythesoundofOwen’sstepinthegalleryoutsideherroom。Itpausedatherdoorandinanswertohisknockshecalledout"Comein！"
　　Asthedoorclosedbehindhimshewasstruckbyhislookofpaleexcitement，andanimpulseofcompunctionmadehersay：
　　"You’vecometoaskmewhyIhaven’tspokentoyourgrandmother！"
　　HesentabouthimaglancevaguelyremindingherofthestrangelookwithwhichSophyVinerhadswepttheroomthenightbefore；thenhisbrillianteyescamebacktoher。
　　"I’vespokentohermyself，"hesaid。
　　Annastartedup，incredulous。
　　"You’vespokentoher？When？"
　　"Justnow。Ilefthertocomehere。"
　　Anna’sfirstfeelingwasoneofannoyance。Therewasreallysomethingcomicallyincongruousinthisboyishsurrendertoimpulseonthepartofayoungmansoeagertoassumetheresponsibilitiesoflife。Shelookedathimwithafaintlyveiledamusement。
　　"YouaskedmetohelpyouandIpromisedyouIwould。Itwashardlyworthwhiletoworkoutsuchanelaborateplanofactionifyouintendedtotakethematteroutofmyhandswithouttellingme。"
　　"Oh，don’ttakethattonewithme！"hebrokeout，almostangrily。
　　"Thattone？Whattone？"Shestaredathisquiveringface。
　　"Imight，"shepursued，stillhalf—laughing，"moreproperlymakethatrequestofYOU！"
　　Owenreddenedandhisvehemencesuddenlysubsided。
　　"ImeantthatIHADtospeak——that’sall。Youdon’tgivemeachancetoexplain……"
　　Shelookedathimgently，wonderingalittleatherownimpatience。
　　"Owen！Don’tIalwayswanttogiveyoueverychance？It’sbecauseIDOthatIwantedtotalktoyourgrandmotherfirst——thatIwaswaitingandwatchingfortherightmoment……"
　　"Therightmoment？SowasI。That’swhyI’vespoken。"Hisvoiceroseagainandtookthesharpedgeithadinmomentsofhighpressure。
　　Hisstep—motherturnedawayandseatedherselfinhersofa—
　　corner。"Oh，mydear，it’snotaprivilegetoquarrelover！
　　You’vetakenaloadoffmyshoulders。Sitdownandtellmeallaboutit。"
　　Hestoodbeforeher，irresolute。"Ican’tsitdown，"hesaid。
　　"Walkabout，then。Onlytellme：I’mimpatient。"
　　Hisimmediateresponsewastothrowhimselfintothearmchairatherside，whereheloungedforamomentwithoutspeaking，hislegsstretchedout，hisarmslockedbehindhisthrown—backhead。Anna，hereyesonhisface，waitedquietlyforhimtospeak。
　　"Well——ofcourseitwasjustwhatoneexpected。"
　　"Shetakesitsobadly，youmean？"
　　"Alltheheavybatterieswerebroughtup：myfather，Givre，MonsieurdeChantelle，thethroneandthealtar。Evenmypoormotherwasdraggedoutofoblivionandarmedwithimaginaryprotests。"
　　Annasighedouthersympathy。"Well——youwerepreparedforallthat？"
　　"IthoughtIwas，tillIbegantohearhersayit。ThenitsoundedsoincrediblysillythatItoldherso。"
　　"Oh，Owen——Owen！"
　　"Yes：Iknow。Iwasafool；butIcouldn’thelpit。"
　　"Andyou’vemortallyoffendedher，Isuppose？That’sexactlywhatIwantedtoprevent。"Shelaidahandonhisshoulder。
　　"Youtiresomeboy，nottowaitandletmespeakforyou！"
　　Hemovedslightlyaway，sothatherhandslippedfromitsplace。"Youdon’tunderstand，"hesaid，frowning。
　　"Idon’tseehowIcan，tillyouexplain。Ifyouthoughtthetimehadcometotellyourgrandmother，whynothaveaskedmetodoit？Ihadmyreasonsforwaiting；butifyou’dtoldmetospeakIshouldhavedoneso，naturally。"
　　Heevadedherappealbyasuddenturn。"WhatWEREyourreasonsforwaiting？"
　　Annadidnotimmediatelyanswer。Herstep—son’seyeswereonherface，andunderhisgazeshefeltafaintdisquietude。
　　"Iwasfeelingmyway……Iwantedtobeabsolutelysure……"
　　"Absolutelysureofwhat？"
　　Shedelayedagainforajustperceptibleinstant。"Why，simplyofOURsideofthecase。"
　　"Butyoutoldmeyouwere，theotherday，whenwetalkeditoverbeforetheycamebackfromOuchy。"
　　"Oh，mydear——ifyouthinkthat，insuchacomplicatedmatter，everyday，everyhour，doesn’tmoreorlessmodifyone’ssurestsureness！"
　　"That’sjustwhatI’mdrivingat。Iwanttoknowwhathasmodifiedyours。"
　　Shemadeaslightgestureofimpatience。"Whatdoesitmatter，nowthething’sdone？Idon’tknowthatIcouldgiveanyclearreason……"
　　Hegottohisfeetandstoodlookingdownonherwithatormentedbrow。"Butit’sabsolutelynecessarythatyoushould。"
　　Athistoneherimpatienceflaredup。"It’snotnecessarythatIshouldgiveyouanyexplanationwhatever，sinceyou’vetakenthematteroutofmyhands。AllIcansayisthatIwastryingtohelpyou：thatnootherthoughteverenteredmymind。"Shepausedamomentandthenadded："Ifyoudoubtedit，youwererighttodowhatyou’vedone。"
　　"Oh，IneverdoubtedYOU！"heretorted，withafugitivestressonthepronoun。Hisfacehadclearedtoitsoldlookoftrust。"Don’tbeoffendedifI’veseemedto，"hewenton。"Ican’tquiteexplainmyself，either……it’sallakindoftangle，isn’tit？That’swhyIthoughtI’dbetterspeakatonce；orratherwhyIdidn’tthinkatall，butjustsuddenlyblurtedthethingout————"
　　Annagavehimbackhislookofconciliation。"Well，thehowandwhydon’tmuchmatternow。Thepointishowtodealwithyourgrandmother。You’venottoldmewhatshemeanstodo。"
　　"Oh，shemeanstosendforAdelaidePainter。"
　　Thenamedrewafaintnoteofmirthfromhimandrelaxedboththeirfacestoasmile。
　　"Perhaps，"Annaadded，"it’sreallythebestthingforusall。"
　　Owenshruggedhisshoulders。"It’stoopreposterousandhumiliating。Draggingthatwomanintooursecrets————！"
　　"Thiscouldhardlybeasecretmuchlonger。"
　　Hehadmovedtothehearth，wherehestoodpushingaboutthesmallornamentsonthemantel—shelf；butatheranswerheturnedbacktoher。
　　"Youhaven’t，ofcourse，spokenofittoanyone？"
　　"No；butIintendtonow。"
　　Shepausedforhisreply，andasitdidnotcomeshecontinued："IfAdelaidePainter’stobetoldthere’snopossiblereasonwhyIshouldn’ttellMr。Darrow。"
　　Owenabruptlysetdownthelittlestatuettebetweenhisfingers。"Nonewhatever：Iwanteveryonetoknow。"
　　Shesmiledalittleathisover—emphasis，andwasabouttomeetitwithawordofbanterwhenhecontinued，facingher：
　　"Youhaven’t，asyet，saidawordtohim？"
　　"I’vetoldhimnothing，exceptwhatthediscussionofourownplans——hisandmine——obligedmeto：thatyouwerethinkingofmarrying，andthatIwasn’twillingtoleaveFrancetillI’ddonewhatIcouldtoseeyouthrough。"
　　Atherfirstwordsthecolourhadrushedtohisforehead；
　　butasshecontinuedshesawhisfacecomposeitselfandhisbloodsubside。
　　"You’reabrick，mydear！"heexclaimed。
　　"Youhadmyword，youknow。"
　　"Yes；yes——Iknow。"Hisfacehadcloudedagain。"Andthat’sall——positivelyall——you’veeversaidtohim？"
　　"Positivelyall。Butwhydoyouask？"
　　Hehadamoment’sembarrassedhesitation。"Itwasunderstood，wasn’tit，thatmygrandmotherwastobethefirsttoknow？"
　　"Well——andsoshehasbeen，hasn’tshe，sinceyou’vetoldher？"
　　Heturnedbacktohisrestlessshiftingoftheknick—knacks。
　　"Andyou’resurethatnothingyou’vesaidtoDarrowcouldpossiblyhavegivenhimahint————？"
　　"NothingI’vesaidtohim——certainly。"
　　Heswungaboutonher。"Whydoyouputitinthatway？"
　　"Inwhatway？"
　　"Why——asifyouthoughtsomeoneelsemighthavespoken……"
　　"Someoneelse？Whoelse？"Sherosetoherfeet。"Whatonearth，mydearboy，canyoubedrivingat？"
　　"I’mtryingtofindoutwhetheryouthinkheknowsanythingdefinite。"
　　"WhyshouldIthinkso？DoYOU？"
　　"Idon’tknow。Iwanttofindout。"
　　Shelaughedathisobstinateinsistence。"Totestmyveracity，Isuppose？"Atthesoundofastepinthegallerysheadded："Hereheis——youcanaskhimyourself。"
　　ShemetDarrow’sknockwithaninvitationtoenter，andhecameintotheroomandpausedbetweenherselfandOwen。Shewasstruck，ashestoodthere，bythecontrastbetweenhishappycarelessgood—looksandherstep—son’sfrowningagitation。
　　Darrowmethereyeswithasmile。"AmItoosoon？Orisourwalkgivenup？"
　　"No；Iwasjustgoingtogetready。"Shecontinuedtolingerbetweenthetwo，lookingslowlyfromonetotheother。"Butthere’ssomethingwewanttotellyoufirst：OwenisengagedtoMissViner。"
　　ThesenseofanindefinableinterrogationinOwen’smindmadeher，asshespoke，fixhereyessteadilyonDarrow。
　　Hehadpausedjustoppositethewindow，sothat，evenintherainyafternoonlight，hisfacewasclearlyopentoherscrutiny。Forasecond，immensesurprisewasalonevisibleonit：sovisiblethatshehalfturnedtoherstep—son，withafaintsmileforhisrefutedsuspicions。Why，shewondered，shouldOwenhavethoughtthatDarrowhadalreadyguessedhissecret，andwhat，afterall，couldbesodisturbingtohiminthisnotimprobablecontingency？Atanyrate，hisdoubtmusthavebeendispelled：therewasnothingfeignedaboutDarrow’sastonishment。WhenhereyesturnedbacktohimhewasalreadycrossingtoOwenwithoutstretchedhand，andshehad，throughanunaccountablefaintflutterofmisgiving，amereconfusedsenseoftheirexchangingthecustomaryphrases。HernextperceptionwasofOwen’stranquillizedlook，andofhissmilingreturnofDarrow’scongratulatorygrasp。Shehadtheeeriefeelingofhavingbeenoversweptbyashadowwhichtherehadbeennocloudtocast……
　　AmomentlaterOwenhadlefttheroomandsheandDarrowwerealone。Hehadturnedawaytothewindowandstoodstaringoutintothedown—pour。
　　"You’resurprisedatOwen’snews？"sheasked。
　　"Yes：Iamsurprised，"heanswered。
　　"Youhadn’tthoughtofitsbeingMissViner？"