"WhyshouldIhavethoughtofMissViner？"
　　"YouseenowwhyIwantedsomuchtofindoutwhatyouknewabouther。"Hemadenocomment，andshepursued："NowthatyouDOknowit’sshe，ifthere’sanything————"
　　Hemovedbackintotheroomandwentuptoher。Hisfacewasserious，withaslightshadeofannoyance。"Whatonearthshouldtherebe？AsItoldyou，I’veneverinmylifeheardanyonesaytwowordsaboutMissViner。"
　　Annamadenoanswerandtheycontinuedtofaceeachotherwithoutmoving。ForthemomentshehadceasedtothinkaboutSophyVinerandOwen：theonlythoughtinhermindwasthatDarrowwasalonewithher，closetoher，andthat，forthefirsttime，theirhandsandlipshadnotmet。
　　Heglancedbackdoubtfullyatthewindow。"It’spouring。
　　Perhapsyou’drathernotgoout？"
　　Shehesitated，asifwaitingforhimtourgeher。"I
　　supposeI’dbetternot。Ioughttogoatoncetomymother—
　　in—law——Owen’sjustbeentellingher，"shesaid。
　　"Ah。"Darrowhazardedasmile。"Thataccountsformyhaving，onmywayup，heardsomeonetelephoningforMissPainter！"
　　Attheallusiontheylaughedtogether，vaguely，andAnnamovedtowardthedoor。Hehelditopenforherandfollowedherout。
　　XIX
　　HeleftheratthedoorofMadamedeChantelle’ssitting—
　　room，andplungedoutaloneintotherain。
　　Thewindflungaboutthestrippedtree—topsoftheavenueanddashedthestingingstreamsintohisface。Hewalkedtothegateandthenturnedintothehigh—roadandstrodealongintheopen，buffetedbyslantinggusts。Theevenlyridgedfieldswereablurredwasteofmud，andtherussetcovertswhichheandOwenhadshotthroughthedaybeforeshivereddesolatelyagainstadrivingsky。
　　Darrowwalkedonandon，indifferenttothedirectionhewastaking。Histhoughtsweretossinglikethetree—tops。
　　Anna’sannouncementhadnotcometohimasacompletesurprise：thatmorning，ashestrolledbacktothehousewithOwenLeathandMissViner，hehadhadamomentaryintuitionofthetruth。Butithadbeennomorethananintuition，themerestfaintcloud—puffofsurmise；andnowitwasanattestedfact，darkeningoverthewholesky。
　　Inrespectofhisownattitude，hesawatoncethatthediscoverymadenoappreciablechange。Ifhehadbeenboundtosilencebefore，hewasnolessboundtoitnow；theonlydifferencelayinthefactthatwhathehadjustlearnedhadrenderedhisbondagemoreintolerable。HithertohehadfeltforSophyViner’sdefenselessstateasympathyprofoundlytingedwithcompunction。Butnowhewashalf—consciousofanobscureindignationagainsther。Superiorashehadfanciedhimselftoready—madejudgments，hewasawareofcherishingthecommondoubtastothedisinterestednessofthewomanwhotriestoriseaboveherpast。Nowondershehadbeensickwithfearonmeetinghim！Itwasinhispowertodohermoreharmthanhehaddreamed……
　　Assuredlyhedidnotwanttoharmher；buthediddesperatelywanttopreventhermarryingOwenLeath。Hetriedtogetawayfromthefeeling，toisolateandexteriorizeitsufficientlytoseewhatmotivesitwasmadeof；butitremainedamereblindmotionofhisblood，theinstinctiverecoilfromthethingthatnoamountofarguingcanmake"straight。"Histramp，prolongedasitwas，carriedhimnonearertoenlightenment；andaftertrudgingthroughtwoorthreesallowmud—stainedvillagesheturnedaboutandwearilymadehiswaybacktoGivre。Ashewalkeduptheblackavenue，makingforthelightsthattwinkledthroughitspitchingbranches，hehadasuddenrealisationofhisutterhelplessness。Hemightthinkandcombineashewould；
　　buttherewasnothing，absolutelynothing，thathecoulddo……
　　Hedroppedhiswetcoatinthevestibuleandbegantomountthestairstohisroom。Butonthelandinghewasovertakenbyasober—facedmaidwho，intonesdiscreetlylowered，beggedhimtobesokindastostep，foramoment，intotheMarquise’ssitting—room。Somewhatdisconcertedbythesummons，hefolloweditsbearertothedooratwhich，acoupleofhoursearlier，hehadtakenleaveofMrs。Leath。
　　Itopenedtoadmithimtoalargelamp—litroomwhichheimmediatelyperceivedtobeempty；andthefactgavehimtimetonote，eventhroughhisdisturbanceofmind，theinterestingdegreetowhichMadamedeChantelle’sapartment"dated"andcompletedher。Itsloopedandcordedcurtains，itspurplesatinupholstery，theSevresjardinieres，therosewoodfire—screen，thelittlevelvettablesedgedwithlaceandcrowdedwithsilverknick—knacksandsimperingminiatures，reconstitutedanalmostperfectsettingfortheblondebeautyofthe’sixties。DarrowwonderedthatFraserLeath’sfilialrespectshouldhaveprevailedoverhisaestheticscruplestotheextentofpermittingsuchananachronismamongtheeighteenthcenturygracesofGivre；
　　butamoment’sreflectionmadeitclearthat，toitslateowner，theattitudewouldhaveseemedexactlyinthetraditionsoftheplace。
　　MadamedeChantelle’semergencefromaninnerroomsnatchedDarrowfromtheseirrelevantmusings。Shewasalreadybeadedandbugledfortheevening，and，saveforaslightpinknessoftheeye—lids，herelaborateappearancerevealednomarkofagitation；butDarrownoticedthat，inrecognitionofthesolemnityoftheoccasion，shepinchedalacehandkerchiefbetweenherthumbandforefinger。
　　Sheplungedatonceintothecentreofthedifficulty，appealingtohim，inthenameofalltheEverards，todescendtherewithhertotherescueofherdarling。Shewasn’t，shewassure，addressingherselfinvaintoonewhoseperson，whose"tone，"whosetraditionssobrilliantlydeclaredhisindebtednesstotheprinciplesshebesoughthimtodefend。HerownreceptionofDarrow，theconfidenceshehadatonceaccordedhim，musthaveshownhimthatshehadinstinctivelyfelttheirunanimityofsentimentonthesefundamentalquestions。Shehadinfactrecognizedinhimtheonepersonwhom，withoutpaintohermaternalpiety，shecouldwelcomeasherson’ssuccessor；anditwasalmostastoOwen’sfatherthatshenowappealedtoDarrowtoaidinrescuingthewretchedboy。
　　"Don’tthink，please，thatI’mcastingtheleastreflectiononAnna，orshowinganywantofsympathyforher，whenIsaythatIconsiderherpartlyresponsibleforwhat’shappened。
　　Annais’modern’——Ibelievethat’swhatit’scalledwhenyoureadunsettlingbooksandadmirehideouspictures。Indeed，"
　　MadamedeChantellecontinued，leaningconfidentiallyforward，"Imyselfhavealwaysmoreorlesslivedinthatatmosphere：myson，youknow，wasveryrevolutionary。Onlyhedidn’t，ofcourse，applyhisideas：theywerepurelyintellectual。That’swhatdearAnnahasalwaysfailedtounderstand。AndI’mafraidshe’screatedthesamekindofconfusioninOwen’smind——ledhimtomixupthingsyoureadaboutwiththingsyoudo……Youknow，ofcourse，thatshesideswithhiminthiswretchedbusiness？"
　　Developingatlengthuponthistheme，shefinallynarroweddowntothepointofDarrow’sintervention。"Mygrandson，Mr。Darrow，callsmeillogicalanduncharitablebecausemyfeelingstowardMissVinerhavechangedsinceI’veheardthisnews。Well！You’veknownher，itappears，forsomeyears：Annatellsmeyouusedtoseeherwhenshewasacompanion，orsecretaryorsomething，toadreadfullyvulgarMrs。Murrett。AndIaskyouasafriend，IaskyouasoneofUS，totellmeifyouthinkagirlwhohashadtoknockabouttheworldinthatkindofposition，andattheordersofallkindsofpeople，isfittedtobeOwen’swifeI’mnotimplyinganythingagainsther！ILIKEDthegirl，Mr。Darrow……Butwhat’sthatgottodowithit？Idon’twanthertomarrymygrandson。IfI’dbeenlookingforawifeforOwen，Ishouldn’thaveappliedtotheFarlowstofindmeone。That’swhatAnnawon’tunderstand；andwhatyoumusthelpmetomakehersee。"
　　Darrow，tothisappeal，couldopposeonlytherepeatedassuranceofhisinabilitytointerfere。HetriedtomakeMadamedeChantelleseethattheverypositionhehopedtotakeinthehouseholdmadehisinterventionthemorehazardous。Hebroughtuptheusualarguments，andsoundedtheexpectednoteofsympathy；butMadamedeChantelle’salarmhaddispelledherhabitualimprecision，and，thoughshehadnotmanyreasonstoadvance，herargumentclungtoitspointlikeafrightenedsharp—clawedanimal。
　　"Well，then，"shesummedup，inresponsetohisrepeatedassertionsthathesawnowayofhelpingher，"youcan，atleast，evenifyouwon’tsayawordtotheothers，tellmefranklyandfairly——andquitebetweenourselves——yourpersonalopinionofMissViner，sinceyou’veknownhersomuchlongerthanwehave。"
　　Heprotestedthat，ifhehadknownherlonger，hehadknownhermuchlesswell，andthathehadalready，onthispoint，convincedAnnaofhisinabilitytopronounceanopinion。
　　MadamedeChantelledrewadeepsighofintelligence。"YouropinionofMrs。Murrettisenough！Idon’tsupposeyoupretendtoconcealTHAT？Andheavenknowswhatotherunspeakablepeopleshe’sbeenmixedupwith。TheonlyfriendsshecanproducearecalledHoke……Don’ttrytoreasonwithme，Mr。Darrow。Therearefeelingsthatgodeeperthanfacts……AndIKNOWshethoughtofstudyingforthestage……"MadamedeChantelleraisedthecornerofherlacehandkerchieftohereyes。"I’mold—fashioned——likemyfurniture，"shemurmured。"AndIthoughtIcouldcountonyou，Mr。Darrow……"
　　WhenDarrow，thatnight，regainedhisroom，hereflectedwithaflashofironythateachtimeheenteredithebroughtafreshtroopofperplexitiestotroubleitssereneseclusion。Sincethedayafterhisarrival，onlyforty—
　　eighthoursbefore，whenhehadsethiswindowopentothenight，andhishopeshadseemedasmanyasitsstars，eacheveninghadbroughtitsnewproblemanditsreneweddistress。Butnothing，asyet，hadapproachedtheblankmiseryofmindwithwhichhenowsethimselftofacethefreshquestionsconfrontinghim。
　　SophyVinerhadnotshownherselfatdinner，sothathehadhadnoglimpseofherinhernewcharacter，andnomeansofdiviningtherealnatureofthetiebetweenherselfandOwenLeath。Onething，however，wasclear：whateverherrealfeelingswere，andhowevermuchorlittleshehadatstake，ifshehadmadeuphermindtomarryOwenshehadmorethanenoughskillandtenacitytodefeatanyartsthatpoorMadamedeChantellecouldopposetoher。
　　Darrowhimselfwasinfacttheonlypersonwhomightpossiblyturnherfromherpurpose：MadamedeChantelle，athaphazard，hadhitonthesurestmeansofsavingOwen——iftopreventhismarriageweretosavehim！Darrow，onthispoint，didnotpretendtoanyfixedopinion；onefeelingalonewasclearandinsistentinhim：hedidnotmean，ifhecouldhelpit，toletthemarriagetakeplace。
　　Howhewastopreventithedidnotknow：tohistormentedimaginationeveryissueseemedclosed。ForafantasticinstanthewasmovedtofollowMadamedeChantelle’ssuggestionandurgeAnnatowithdrawherapproval。Ifhisreticence，hiseffortstoavoidthesubject，hadnotescapedher，shehaddoubtlesssetthemdowntothefactofhisknowingmore，andthinkingless，ofSophyVinerthanhehadbeenwillingtoadmit；andhemighttakeadvantageofthistoturnhermindgraduallyfromtheproject。Yethowdosowithoutbetrayinghisinsincerity？Ifhehadhadnothingtohidehecouldeasilyhavesaid："It’sonethingtoknownothingagainstthegirl，it’sanothertopretendthatI
　　thinkheragoodmatchforOwen。"Butcouldhesayevensomuchwithoutbetrayingmore？ItwasnotAnna’squestions，orhisanswerstothem，thathefeared，butwhatmightcryaloudintheintervalsbetweenthem。HeunderstoodnowthateversinceSophyViner’sarrivalatGivrehehadfeltinAnnathelurkingsenseofsomethingunexpressed，andperhapsinexpressible，betweenthegirlandhimself……Whenatlasthefellasleephehadfatalisticallycommittedhisnextsteptothechancesofthemorrow。
　　ThefirstthatoffereditselfwasanencounterwithMrs。
　　Leathashedescendedthestairsthenextmorning。Shehadcomedownalreadyhattedandshodforadashtotheparklodge，whereoneofthegatekeeper’schildrenhadhadanaccident。Inhercompactdarkdressshelookedmorethanusuallystraightandslim，andherfaceworethepaleglowittookonatanycallonherenergy：akindofwarriorbrightnessthatmadehersmallhead，withitsstrongchinandclose—boundhair，likethatofanamazoninafrieze。
　　Itwastheirfirstmomentalonesinceshehadlefthim，theafternoonbefore，athermother—in—law’sdoor；andafterafewwordsabouttheinjuredchildtheirtalkinevitablyrevertedtoOwen。
　　Annaspokewithasmileofher"scene"withMadamedeChantelle，whobelonged，poordear，toagenerationwhen"scenes"（intheladylikeandlachrymalsenseoftheterm）
　　werethetributewhichsensibilitywasexpectedtopaytotheunusual。Theirconversationhadbeen，ineverydetail，soexactlywhatAnnahadforeseenthatithadclearlynotmademuchimpressiononher；butshewaseagertoknowtheresultofDarrow’sencounterwithhermother—in—law。
　　"Shetoldmeshe’dsentforyou：shealways’sendsfor’
　　peopleinemergencies。Thatagain，Isuppose，isdel’epoque。AndfailingAdelaidePainter，whocan’tgetheretillthisafternoon，therewasnoonebutpooryoutoturnto。"
　　Sheputitalllightly，withalightnessthatseemedtohistight—strungnervesslightly，undefinablyover—done。Buthewassoawareofhisowntensionthathewondered，thenextmoment，whetheranythingwouldeveragainseemtohimquiteusualandinsignificantandinthecommonorderofthings。
　　Astheyhastenedonthroughthedrizzleinwhichthestormofthenightwasweepingitselfout，Annadrewcloseunderhisumbrella，andatthepressureofherarmagainsthisherecalledhiswalkuptheDoverpierwithSophyViner。Thememorygavehimastartledvisionoftheinevitableoccasionsofcontact，confidence，familiarity，whichhisfuturerelationshiptothegirlwouldentail，andthecountlesschancesofbetrayalthateveryoneoftheminvolved。
　　"Dotellmejustwhatyousaid，"heheardAnnapleading；andwithsuddenresolutionheaffirmed："Iquiteunderstandyourmother—in—law’sfeelingasshedoes。"
　　Thewords，whenuttered，seemedagooddeallesssignificantthantheyhadsoundedtohisinnerear；andAnnarepliedwithoutsurprise："Ofcourse。It’sinevitablethatsheshould。Butweshallbringherroundintime。"Underthedrippingdomesheraisedherfacetohis。"Don’tyourememberwhatyousaidthedaybeforeyesterday？’Togetherwecan’tfailtopullitoffforhim！’I’vetoldOwenthat，soyou’repledgedandthere’snogoingback。"
　　Thedaybeforeyesterday！Wasitpossiblethat，nolongerago，lifehadseemedasufficientlysimplebusinessforasanemantohazardsuchassurances？
　　"Anna，"hequestionedherabruptly，"whyareyousoanxiousforthismarriage？"
　　Shestoppedshorttofacehim。"Why？ButsurelyI’veexplainedtoyou——orratherI’vehardlyhadto，youseemedsoinsympathywithmyreasons！"
　　"Ididn’tknow，then，whoitwasthatOwenwantedtomarry。"
　　Thewordswereoutwithaspringandhefeltaclearerairinhisbrain。Butherlogichemmedhimin。
　　"Youknewyesterday；andyouassuredmethenthatyouhadn’tawordtosay————"
　　"AgainstMissViner？"Thename，onceuttered，soundedonandoninhisears。"Ofcoursenot。Butthatdoesn’tnecessarilyimplythatIthinkheragoodmatchforOwen。"
　　Annamadenoimmediateanswer。Whenshespokeitwastoquestion："Whydon’tyouthinkheragoodmatchforOwen？"
　　"Well——MadamedeChantelle’sreasonsseemtomenotquiteasnegligibleasyouthink。"
　　"Youmeanthefactthatshe’sbeenMrs。Murrett’ssecretary，andthatthepeoplewhoemployedherbeforewerecalledHoke？For，asfarasOwenandIcanmakeout，thesearethegravestchargesagainsther。"
　　"Still，onecanunderstandthatthematchisnotwhatMadamedeChantellehaddreamedof。"
　　"Oh，perfectly——ifthat’sallyoumean。"
　　Thelodgewasinsight，andshehastenedherstep。Hestrodeonbesideherinsilence，butatthegateshecheckedhimwiththequestion："Isitreallyallyoumean？"
　　"Ofcourse，"heheardhimselfdeclare。
　　"Oh，thenIthinkIshallconvinceyou——evenifIcan’t，likeMadamedeChantelle，summonalltheEverardstomyaid！"Sheliftedtohimthelookofhappylaughterthatsometimesbrushedherwithagleamofspring。
　　Darrowwatchedherhastenalongthepathbetweenthedrippingchrysanthemumsandenterthelodge。Aftershehadgoneinhepacedupanddownoutsideinthedrizzle，waitingtolearnifshehadanymessagetosendbacktothehouse；
　　andafterthelapseofafewminutesshecameoutagain。
　　Thechild，shesaid，wasbadly，thoughnotdangerously，hurt，andthevillagedoctor，whowasalreadyonhand，hadaskedthatthesurgeon，alreadysummonedfromFrancheuil，shouldbetoldtobringwithhimcertainneedfulappliances。
　　Owenhadstartedbymotortofetchthesurgeon，buttherewasstilltimetocommunicatewiththelatterbytelephone。
　　ThedoctorfurthermorebeggedforanimmediateprovisionofsuchbandagesanddisinfectantsasGivreitselfcouldfurnish，andAnnabadeDarrowaddresshimselftoMissViner，whowouldknowwheretofindthenecessarythings，andwoulddirectoneoftheservantstobicyclewiththemtothelodge。
　　Darrow，ashehurriedoffonthiserrand，hadatonceperceivedtheopportunityitofferedofawordwithSophyViner。Whatthatwordwastobehedidnotknow；butnow，ifever，wasthemomenttomakeiturgentandconclusive。
　　Itwasunlikelythathewouldagainhavesuchachanceofunobservedtalkwithher。
　　Hehadsupposedheshouldfindherwithherpupilintheschool—room；buthelearnedfromaservantthatEffiehadgonetoFrancheuilwithherstep—brother，andthatMissVinerwasstillinherroom。Darrowsentherwordthathewasthebearerofamessagefromthelodge，andamomentlaterheheardhercomingdownthestairs。
　　XX
　　Forasecond，assheapproachedhim，thequicktremorofherglanceshowedherallintentonthesamethoughtashimself。
　　Hetransmittedhisinstructionswithmechanicalprecision，andsheansweredinthesametone，repeatinghiswordswiththeintensityofattentionofachildnotquitesureofunderstanding。Thenshedisappearedupthestairs。
　　Darrowlingeredoninthehall，notknowingifshemeanttoreturn，yetinwardlysureshewould。Atlengthhesawhercomingdowninherhatandjacket。Therainstillstreakedthewindowpanes，and，inordertosaysomething，hesaid：
　　"You’renotgoingtothelodgeyourself？"
　　"I’vesentoneofthemenaheadwiththethings；butI
　　thoughtMrs。Leathmightneedme。"
　　"Shedidn’taskforyou，"hereturned，wonderinghowhecoulddetainher；butsheanswereddecidedly："I’dbettergo。"
　　Heheldopenthedoor，pickeduphisumbrellaandfollowedherout。Astheywentdownthestepssheglancedbackathim。"You’veforgottenyourmackintosh。"
　　"Isha’n’tneedit。"
　　Shehadnoumbrella，andheopenedhisandhelditouttoher。Sherejecteditwithamurmurofthanksandwalkedonthroughthethindrizzle，andhekepttheumbrellaoverhisownhead，withoutofferingtoshelterher。
　　Rapidlyandinsilencetheycrossedthecourtandbegantowalkdowntheavenue。TheyhadtraversedathirdofitslengthbeforeDarrowsaidabruptly："Wouldn’tithavebeenfairer，whenwetalkedtogetheryesterday，totellmewhatI’vejustheardfromMrs。Leath？"
　　"Fairer————？"Shestoppedshortwithastartledlook。
　　"IfI’dknownthatyourfuturewasalreadysettledIshouldhavesparedyoumygratuitoussuggestions。"
　　Shewalkedon，moreslowly，forayardortwo。"Icouldn’tspeakyesterday。Imeanttohavetoldyoutoday。"
　　"Oh，I’mnotreproachingyouforyourlackofconfidence。
　　Only，ifyouHADtoldme，Ishouldhavebeenmoresureofyourreallymeaningwhatyousaidtomeyesterday。"
　　Shedidnotaskhimtowhathereferred，andhesawthatherpartingwordstohimlivedasvividlyinhermemoryasinhis。
　　"Isitsoimportantthatyoushouldbesure？"shefinallyquestioned。
　　"Nottoyou，naturally，"hereturnedwithinvoluntaryasperity。Itwasincredible，yetitwasafact，thatforthemomenthisimmediatepurposeinseekingtospeaktoherwaslostunderarushofresentmentatcountingforsolittleinherfate。Ofwhatstuff，then，washisfeelingforhermade？Afewhoursearliershehadtouchedhisthoughtsaslittleashissenses；butnowhefeltoldsleepinginstinctsstirinhim……
　　Arushofraindashedagainsthisface，and，catchingSophy’shat，straineditbackfromherloosenedhair。Sheputherhandstoherheadwithafamiliargesture……Hecamecloserandheldhisumbrellaoverher……
　　Atthelodgehewaitedwhileshewentin。Theraincontinuedtostreamdownonhimandheshiveredinthedampnessandstampedhisfeetontheflags。Itseemedtohimthatalongtimeelapsedbeforethedooropenedandshereappeared。HeglancedintothehouseforaglimpseofAnna，butobtainednone；yetthemeresenseofhernearnesshadcompletelyalteredhismood。
　　Thechild，Sophytoldhim，wasdoingwell；butMrs。Leathhaddecidedtowaittillthesurgeoncame。Darrow，astheyturnedaway，lookedthroughthegates，andsawthedoctor’sold—fashionedcarriagebytheroadside。
　　"Letmetellthedoctor’sboytodriveyouback，"hesuggested；butSophyanswered："No；I’llwalk，"andhemovedontowardthehouseatherside。Sheexpressednosurpriseathisnotremainingatthelodge，andagaintheywalkedoninsilencethroughtherain。Shehadacceptedtheshelterofhisumbrella，butshekeptherselfatsuchacarefullymeasureddistancethateventheslightswayingmovementsproducedbytheirquickpacedidnotoncebringherarmintouchwithhis；and，noticingthis，heperceivedthateverydropofherbloodmustbealivetohisnearness。
　　"WhatImeantjustnow，"hebegan，"wasthatyououghttohavebeensureofmygoodwishes。"
　　Sheseemedtoweighthewords。"Sureenoughforwhat？"
　　"Totrustmealittlefartherthanyoudid。"
　　"I’vetoldyouthatyesterdayIwasn’tfreetospeak。"
　　"Well，sinceyouarenow，mayIsayawordtoyou？"
　　Shepausedperceptibly，andwhenshespokeitwasinsolowatonethathehadtobendhisheadtocatchheranswer。"I
　　can’tthinkwhatyoucanhavetosay。"
　　"It’snoteasytosayhere，atanyrate。AndindoorsI
　　sha’n’tknowwheretosayit。"Heglancedabouthimintherain。"Let’swalkovertothespring—houseforaminute。"
　　Totherightofthedrive，underaclumpoftrees，alittlestuccopavilioncrownedbyabalustraderoseonarchesofmoulderingbrickoveraflightofstepsthatleddowntoaspring。Otherstepscurveduptoadoorabove。Darrowmountedthese，andopeningthedoorenteredasmallcircularroomhungwithloosenedstripsofpaintedpaperwhereonspectrallyfadedMandarinsexecutedelongatedgestures。
　　Someblackandgoldchairswithstrawseatsandanunsteadytableofcrackedlacquerstoodonthefloorofred—glazedtile。
　　Sophyhadfollowedhimwithoutcomment。Heclosedthedoorafterher，andshestoodmotionless，asthoughwaitingforhimtospeak。
　　"Nowwecantalkquietly，"hesaid，lookingatherwithasmileintowhichhetriedtoputanintentionofthefrankestfriendliness。
　　Shemerelyrepeated："Ican’tthinkwhatyoucanhavetosay。"
　　Hervoicehadlostthenoteofhalf—wistfulconfidenceonwhichtheirtalkofthepreviousdayhadclosed，andshelookedathimwithakindofpalehostility。Hertonemadeitevidentthathistaskwouldbedifficult，butitdidnotshakehisresolvetogoon。Hesatdown，andmechanicallyshefollowedhisexample。Thetablewasbetweenthemandsherestedherarmsonitscrackededgeandherchinonherinterlockedhands。Helookedatherandshegavehimbackhislook。
　　"HaveyounothingtosaytoME？"heaskedatlength。
　　Afaintsmilelifted，intherememberedway，theleftcornerofhernarrowedlips。