"Aboutmymarriage？"
　　"Aboutyourmarriage。"
　　Shecontinuedtoconsiderhimbetweenhalf—drawnlids。"WhatcanIsaythatMrs。Leathhasnotalreadytoldyou？"
　　"Mrs。Leathhastoldmenothingwhateverbutthefact——andherpleasureinit。"
　　"Well；aren’tthosethetwoessentialpoints？"
　　"TheessentialpointstoYOU？Ishouldhavethought————"
　　"Oh，toYOU，Imeant，"sheputinkeenly。
　　Heflushedattheretort，butsteadiedhimselfandrejoined：
　　"Theessentialpointtomeis，ofcourse，thatyoushouldbedoingwhat’sreallybestforyou。"
　　Shesatsilent，withloweredlashes。AtlengthshestretchedoutherarmandtookupfromthetablealittlethreadbareChinesehand—screen。Sheturneditsebonystemonceortwicebetweenherfingers，andasshedidsoDarrowwaswhimsicallystruckbythewayinwhichtheirevanescentslightromancewassymbolizedbythefadinglinesonthefrailsilk。
　　"DoyouthinkmyengagementtoMr。Leathnotreallybestforme？"sheaskedatlength。
　　Darrow，beforeanswering，waitedlongenoughtogethiswordsintothetersestshape——notwithoutasense，ashedidso，ofhislikenesstothesurgeondeliberatelypoisinghislancetforacleanincision。"I’mnotsure，"hereplied，"ofitsbeingthebestthingforeitherofyou。"
　　Shetookthestrokesteadily，butafaintredsweptherfacelikethereflectionofablush。Shecontinuedtokeepherloweredeyesonthescreen。
　　"Fromwhosepointofviewdoyouspeak？"
　　"Naturally，thatofthepersonsmostconcerned。"
　　"FromOwen’s，then，ofcourse？Youdon’tthinkmeagoodmatchforhim？"
　　"Fromyours，firstofall。Idon’tthinkhimagoodmatchforyou。"
　　Hebroughttheansweroutabruptly，hiseyesonherface。
　　Ithadgrownextremelypale，butasthemeaningofhiswordsshapeditselfinhermindhesawacuriousinnerlightdawnthroughhersetlook。Sheliftedherlidsjustfarenoughforaveiledglanceathim，andasmileslippedthroughthemtohertremblinglips。Foramomentthechangemerelybewilderedhim；thenitpulledhimupwithasharpjerkofapprehension。
　　"Idon’tthinkhimagoodmatchforyou，"hestammered，gropingforthelostthreadofhiswords。
　　Shethrewavaguelookaboutthechillyrain—dimmedroom。
　　"Andyou’vebroughtmeheretotellmewhy？"
　　Thequestionrousedhimtothesensethattheirminuteswerenumbered，andthatifhedidnotimmediatelygettohispointtheremightbenootherchanceofmakingit。
　　"MychiefreasonisthatIbelievehe’stooyoungandinexperiencedtogiveyouthekindofsupportyouneed。"
　　Athiswordsherfacechangedagain，freezingtoatragiccoldness。Shestaredstraightaheadofher，perceptiblystrugglingwiththetremorofhermuscles；andwhenshehadcontrolleditsheflungoutapale—lippedpleasantry。"ButyouseeI’vealwayshadtosupportmyself！"
　　"He’saboy，"Darrowpushedon，"acharming，wonderfulboy；
　　butwithnomorenotionthanaboyhowtodealwiththeinevitabledailyproblems……thetrivialstupidunimportantthingsthatlifeischieflymadeupof。"
　　"I’lldealwiththemforhim，"sherejoined。
　　"They’llbemorethanordinarilydifficult。"
　　Sheshotachallengingglanceathim。"Youmusthavesomespecialreasonforsayingso。"
　　"Onlymyclearperceptionofthefacts。"
　　"Whatfactsdoyoumean？"
　　Darrowhesitated。"YoumustknowbetterthanI，"hereturnedatlength，"thatthewaywon’tbemadeeasytoyou。"
　　"Mrs。Leath，atanyrate，hasmadeitso。"
　　"MadamedeChantellewillnot。"
　　"HowdoYOUknowthat？"sheflungback。
　　Hepausedagain，notsurehowfaritwasprudenttorevealhimselfintheconfidenceofthehousehold。Then，toavoidinvolvingAnna，heanswered："MadamedeChantellesentformeyesterday。"
　　"Sentforyou——totalktoyouaboutme？"Thecolourrosetoherforeheadandhereyesburnedblackunderloweredbrows。
　　"Bywhatright，Ishouldliketoknow？Whathaveyoutodowithme，orwithanythingintheworldthatconcernsme？"
　　Darrowinstantlyperceivedwhatdreadsuspicionagainpossessedher，andthesensethatitwasnotwhollyunjustifiedcausedhimapassingpangofshame。Butitdidnotturnhimfromhispurpose。
　　"I’manoldfriendofMrs。Leath’s。It’snotunnaturalthatMadamedeChantelleshouldtalktome。"
　　Shedroppedthescreenonthetableandstoodup，turningonhimthesamesmallmaskofwrathandscornwhichhadglaredathim，inParis，whenhehadconfessedtohissuppressionofherletter。Shewalkedawayasteportwoandthencameback。
　　"MayIaskwhatMadamedeChantellesaidtoyou？"
　　"Shemadeitclearthatsheshouldnotencouragethemarriage。"
　　"AndwhatwasherobjectinmakingthatcleartoYOU？"
　　Darrowhesitated。"Isupposeshethought————"
　　"ThatshecouldpersuadeyoutoturnMrs。Leathagainstme？"
　　Hewassilent，andshepressedhim："Wasthatit？"
　　"Thatwasit。"
　　"Butifyoudon’t——ifyoukeepyourpromise————"
　　"Mypromise？"
　　"Tosaynothing……nothingwhatever……"Herstrainedlookthrewahaggardlightalongthepause。
　　Asshespoke，thewholeodiousnessofthescenerushedoverhim。"OfcourseIshallsaynothing……youknowthat……"Heleanedtoherandlaidhishandonhers。"YouknowI
　　wouldn’tfortheworld……"
　　Shedrewbackandhidherfacewithasob。Thenshesankagainintoherseat，stretchedherarmsacrossthetableandlaidherfaceuponthem。Hesatstill，overwhelmedwithcompunction。Afteralonginterval，inwhichhehadpainfullymeasuredthesecondsbyherhard—drawnbreathing，shelookedupathimwithafacewashedclearofbitterness。
　　"Don’tsupposeIdon’tknowwhatyoumusthavethoughtofme！"
　　Thecrystruckhimdowntoalowerdepthofself—abasement。
　　"Mypoorchild，"hefeltlikeanswering，"theshameofitisthatI’veneverthoughtofyouatall！"Buthecouldonlyuselesslyrepeat："I’lldoanythingIcantohelpyou。"
　　Shesatsilent，drummingthetablewithherhand。Hesawthatherdoubtofhimwasallayed，andtheperceptionmadehimmoreashamed，asifhertrusthadfirstrevealedtohimhownearhehadcometonotdeservingit。Suddenlyshebegantospeak。
　　"Youthink，then，I’venorighttomarryhim？"
　　"Noright？Godforbid！Ionlymeant————"
　　"Thatyou’dratherIdidn’tmarryanyfriendofyours。"Shebroughtitoutdeliberately，notasaquestion，butasameredispassionatestatementoffact。
　　Darrowinturnstoodupandwanderedawayhelplesslytothewindow。Hestoodstaringoutthroughitssmalldiscolouredpanesatthedimbrowndistances；thenhemovedbacktothetable。
　　"I’lltellyouexactlywhatImeant。You’llbewretchedifyoumarryamanyou’renotinlovewith。"
　　Heknewtheriskofmisapprehensionthatheran，butheestimatedhischancesofsuccessaspreciselyinproportiontohisperil。Ifcertainsignsmeantwhathethoughttheydid，hemightyet——atwhatcosthewouldnotstoptothink——
　　makehispastpayforhisfuture。
　　Thegirl，athiswords，hadliftedherheadwithamovementofsurprise。Hereyesslowlyreachedhisfaceandrestedthereinagazeofdeepinterrogation。Heheldthelookforamoment；thenhisowneyesdroppedandhewaited。
　　Atlengthshebegantospeak。"You’remistaken——you’requitemistaken。"
　　Hewaitedamomentlonger。"Mistaken————？"
　　"Inthinkingwhatyouthink。I’mashappyasifIdeservedit！"shesuddenlyproclaimedwithalaugh。
　　Shestoodupandmovedtowardthedoor。"NOWareyousatisfied？"sheasked，turninghervividestfacetohimfromthethreshold。
　　XXI
　　Downtheavenuetherecametothem，withtheopeningofthedoor，thevoiceofOwen’smotor。Itwasthesignalwhichhadinterruptedtheirfirsttalk，andagain，instinctively，theydrewapartatthesound。WithoutawordDarrowturnedbackintotheroom，whileSophyVinerwentdownthestepsandwalkedbackalonetowardthecourt。
　　Atluncheonthepresenceofthesurgeon，andthenon—
　　appearanceofMadamedeChantelle——whohadexcusedherselfonthepleaofaheadache——combinedtoshifttheconversationalcentreofgravity；andDarrow，undershelterofthenecessarilyimpersonaltalk，hadtimetoadjusthisdisguiseandtoperceivethattheotherswereengagedinthesamere—arrangement。ItwasthefirsttimethathehadseenyoungLeathandSophyVinertogethersincehehadlearnedoftheirengagement；butneitherrevealedmoreemotionthanbefittedtheoccasion。ItwasevidentthatOwenwasdeeplyunderthegirl’scharm，andthatattheleastsignfromherhisblisswouldhavebrokenbounds；butherreticencewasjustifiedbythetacitlyrecognizedfactofMadamedeChantelle’sdisapproval。ThisalsovisiblyweighedonAnna’smind，makinghermannertoSophy，ifnolesskind，yetatriflemoreconstrainedthanifthemomentoffinalunderstandinghadbeenreached。SoDarrowinterpretedthetensionperceptibleunderthefluentexchangeofcommonplacesinwhichhewasdiligentlysharing。Buthewasmoreandmoreawareofhisinabilitytotestthemoralatmosphereabouthim：hewaslikeamaninfevertestinganother’stemperaturebythetouch。
　　AfterluncheonAnna，whowastomotorthesurgeonhome，suggestedtoDarrowthatheshouldaccompanythem。Effiewasalsooftheparty；andDarrowinferredthatAnnawishedtogiveherstep—sonachancetobealonewithhisbetrothed。
　　Onthewayback，afterthesurgeonhadbeenleftathisdoor，thelittlegirlsatbetweenhermotherandDarrow，andherpresencekepttheirtalkfromtakingapersonalturn。
　　DarrowknewthatMrs。LeathhadnotyettoldEffieoftherelationinwhichhewastostandtoher。TheprematuredivulgingofOwen’splanshadthrowntheirownintothebackground，andbycommonconsenttheycontinued，inthelittlegirl’spresence，ontermsofaninformalfriendliness。
　　Theskyhadclearedafterluncheon，andtoprolongtheirexcursiontheyreturnedbywayoftheivy—mantledruinwhichwastohavebeenthesceneoftheprojectedpicnic。Thiscircuitbroughtthembacktotheparkgatesnotlongbeforesunset，andasAnnawishedtostopatthelodgefornewsoftheinjuredchildDarrowlefthertherewithEffieandwalkedonalonetothehouse。Hehadtheimpressionthatshewasslightlysurprisedathisnotwaitingforher；buthisinnerrestlessnessventeditselfinanintensedesireforbodilymovement。Hewouldhavelikedtowalkhimselfintoastateoftorpor；totramponforhoursthroughthemoistwindsandthehealingdarknessandcomebackstaggeringwithfatigueandsleep。Buthehadnopretextforsuchaflight，andhefearedthat，atsuchamoment，hisprolongedabsencemightseemsingulartoAnna。
　　Asheapproachedthehouse，thethoughtofhernearnessproducedaswiftreactionofmood。Itwasasifanintenservisionofherhadscatteredhisperplexitieslikemorningmists。Atthismoment，wherevershewas，heknewhewassafelyshutawayinherthoughts，andtheknowledgemadeeveryotherfactdwindleawaytoashadow。Heandshelovedeachother，andtheirlovearchedoverthemopenandampleastheday：inallitssunlitspacestherewasnocrannyforafeartolurk。Inafewminuteshewouldbeinherpresenceandwouldreadhisreassuranceinhereyes。Andpresently，beforedinner，shewouldcontrivethattheyshouldhaveanhourbythemselvesinhersitting—room，andhewouldsitbythehearthandwatchherquietmovements，andthewaythebluishlustreonherhairpurpledalittleasshebentabovethefire。
　　Acarriagedroveoutofthecourtasheenteredit，andinthehallhisvisionwasdispelledbytheexceedinglysubstantialpresenceofaladyinawaterproofandatweedhat，whostoodfirmlyplantedinthecentreofapileofluggage，astowhichshewasgivinginvolvedbutluciddirectionstothefootmanwhohadjustadmittedher。ShewentonwiththesedirectionsregardlessofDarrow’sentrance，merelyfixinghersmallpaleeyesonhimwhilesheproceeded，inadeepcontraltovoice，andafluentFrenchpronouncedwiththepurestBostonaccent，tospecifythedestinationofherbags；andthisenabledDarrowtogiveherbackagazeprotractedenoughtotakeinallthedetailsofherplainthick—setperson，fromthesquaresallowfacebeneathbandsofgreyhairtothebluntboot—toesprotrudingunderherwidewalkingskirt。
　　Shesubmittedtothisscrutinywithnomoreevidenceofsurprisethanamonumentexaminedbyatourist；butwhenthefateofherluggagehadbeensettledsheturnedsuddenlytoDarrowand，droppinghereyesfromhisfacetohisfeet，askedintrenchantaccents："Whatsortofbootshaveyougoton？"
　　Beforehecouldsummonhiswitstotheconsiderationofthisquestionshecontinuedinatoneofsuppressedindignation：
　　"UntilAmericansgetusedtothefactthatFranceisunderwaterforhalftheyearthey’reperpetuallyriskingtheirlivesbynotbeingproperlyprotected。Isupposeyou’vebeentrampingthroughallthisnastyclammymudasifyou’dbeentakingastrollonBostonCommon。"
　　Darrow，withalaugh，affirmedhispreviousexperienceofFrenchdampness，andthedegreetowhichhewasonhisguardagainstit；butthelady，withacontemptuoussnort，rejoined："Youyoungmenareallalike————"；towhichsheappended，afteranotherhardlookathim："Isupposeyou’reGeorgeDarrow？Iusedtoknowoneofyourmother’scousins，whomarriedaTunstallofMountVernonStreet。MynameisAdelaidePainter。HaveyoubeeninBostonlately？No？I’msorryforthat。IheartherehavebeenseveralnewhousesbuiltatthelowerendofCommonwealthAvenueandIhopedyoucouldtellmeaboutthem。Ihaven’tbeenthereforthirtyyearsmyself。"
　　MissPainter’sarrivalatGivreproducedthesameeffectasthewind’shaulingaroundtothenorthafterdaysoflanguidweather。WhenDarrowjoinedthegroupaboutthetea—tableshehadalreadygivenatingletotheair。MadamedeChantellestillremainedinvisibleabovestairs；butDarrowhadtheimpressionthateventhroughherdrawncurtainsandbolteddoorsastimulatingwhiffmusthaveentered。
　　Annawasinherusualseatbehindthetea—tray，andSophyVinerpresentlyledinherpupil。Owenwasalsothere，seated，asusual，alittleapartfromtheothers，andfollowingMissPainter’smassivemovementsandequallysubstantialutteranceswithasmileofsecretintelligencewhichgaveDarrowtheideaofhishavingbeeninclandestineparleywiththeenemy。Darrowfurthertooknotethatthegirlandhersuitorperceptiblyavoidedeachother；butthismightbeanaturalresultofthetensionMissPainterhadbeensummonedtorelieve。
　　SophyVinerwouldevidentlypermitnorecognitionofthesituationsavethatwhichitlaywithMadamedeChantelletoaccord；butmeanwhileMissPainterhadproclaimedhertacitsenseofitbysummoningthegirltoaseatatherside。
　　Darrow，ashecontinuedtoobservethenewcomer，whowasperchedonherarm—chairlikeagraniteimageontheedgeofacliff，wasawarethat，inamoredetachedframeofmind，hewouldhavefoundanextremeinterestinstudyingandclassifyingMissPainter。Itwasnotthatshesaidanythingremarkable，orbetrayedanyofthoseunspokenperceptionswhichgivesignificancetothemostcommonplaceutterances。
　　Shetalkedofthelatenessofhertrain，ofanimpendingcrisisininternationalpolitics，ofthedifficultyofbuyingEnglishteainParisandoftheenormitiesofwhichFrenchservantswerecapable；andherviewsonthesesubjectswereenunciatedwithauniformityofemphasisimplyingcompleteunconsciousnessofanydifferenceintheirinterestandimportance。ShealwaysappliedtotheFrenchracethedistantepithetof"thosepeople"，butshebetrayedanintimateacquaintancewithmanyofitsmembers，andanencyclopaedicknowledgeofthedomestichabits，financialdifficultiesandprivatecomplicationsofvariouspersonsofsocialimportance。Yet，assheevidentlyfeltnoincongruityinherattitude，sosherevealednodesiretoparadeherfamiliaritywiththefashionable，orindeedanysenseofitasafacttobeparaded。ItwasevidentthatthetitledladieswhomshespokeofasMimiorSimoneorOdettewereasmuch"thosepeople"toherasthebonnewhotamperedwithherteaandsteamedthestampsoffherletters（"when，byamiracle，Idon’tputthemintheboxmyself。"）Herwholeattitudewasofavastgrimtoleranceofthings—as—they—came，asthoughshehadbeensomewonderfulautomaticmachinewhichrecordedfactsbuthadnotyetbeenperfectedtothepointofsortingorlabellingthem。
　　Allthis，asDarrowwasaware，stillfellshortofaccountingfortheinfluencesheobviouslyexertedonthepersonsincontactwithher。Itbroughtaslightrelieftohisstateoftensiontogoonwondering，whilehewatchedandlistened，justwherethemysterylurked。Perhaps，afterall，itwasinthefactofherblankinsensibility，aninsensibilitysodevoidofegotismthatithadnohardnessandnogrimaces，butratherthefreshnessofasimplermentalstate。Afterliving，ashehad，astheyallhad，forthelastfewdays，inanatmosphereperpetuallytremulouswithechoesandimplications，itwasrestfulandfortifyingmerelytowalkintothebigblankareaofMissPainter’smind，sovacuousforallitsaccumulateditems，soecholessforallitsvacuity。
　　HishopeofawordwithAnnabeforedinnerwasdispelledbyherrisingtotakeMissPainteruptoMadamedeChantelle；
　　andhewanderedawaytohisownroom，leavingOwenandMissVinerengagedinworkingoutapicture—puzzleforEffie。
　　MadamedeChantelle——possiblyastheresultofherfriend’sministrations——wasabletoappearatthedinner—table，ratherpaleandpink—nosed，andcastingtenderlyreproachfulglancesathergrandson，whofacedthemwithimperviousserenity；andthesituationwasrelievedbythefactthatMissViner，asusual，hadremainedintheschool—roomwithherpupil。
　　Darrowconjecturedthattherealclashofarmswouldnottakeplacetillthemorrow；andwishingtoleavethefieldopentothecontestantshesetoutearlyonasolitarywalk。
　　Itwasnearlyluncheon—timewhenhereturnedfromitandcameuponAnnajustemergingfromthehouse。Shehadonherhatandjacketandwasapparentlycomingforthtoseekhim，forshesaidatonce："MadamedeChantellewantsyoutogouptoher。"
　　"Togouptoher？Now？"
　　"That’sthemessageshesent。Sheappearstorelyonyoutodosomething。"Sheaddedwithasmile："Whateveritis，let’shaveitover！"
　　Darrow，throughhisrisingsenseofapprehension，wonderedwhy，insteadofmerelygoingforawalk，hehadnotjumpedintothefirsttrainandgotoutofthewaytillOwen’saffairswerefinallysettled。
　　"ButwhatinthenameofgoodnesscanIdo？"heprotested，followingAnnabackintothehall。
　　"Idon’tknow。ButOwenseemssotorelyonyou，too————"
　　"Owen！IsHEtobethere？"
　　"No。ButyouknowItoldhimhecouldcountonyou。"
　　"ButI’vesaidtoyourmother—in—lawallIcould。"
　　"Well，thenyoucanonlyrepeatit。"
　　ThisdidnotseemtoDarrowtosimplifyhiscaseasmuchassheappearedtothink；andoncemorehehadamovementofrecoil。"There’snopossiblereasonformybeingmixedupinthisaffair！"
　　Annagavehimareproachfulglance。"NotthefactthatIam？"sheremindedhim；buteventhisonlystiffenedhisresistance。
　　"Whyshouldyoube，either——tothisextent？"
　　Thequestionmadeherpause。Sheglancedaboutthehall，asiftobesuretheyhadittothemselves；andthen，inaloweredvoice："Idon’tknow，"shesuddenlyconfessed；"but，somehow，ifTHEY’REnothappyIfeelasifweshouldn’tbe。"
　　"Oh，well——"Darrowacquiesced，inthetoneofthemanwhoperforceyieldstosolovelyanunreasonableness。Escapewas，afterall，impossible，andhecouldonlyresignhimselftobeingledtoMadamedeChantelle’sdoor。
　　Within，amongthebric—a—bracandfurbelows，hefoundMissPainterseatedinaredundantpurplearmchairwiththeincongruousairofahorsemanbestridingaheavymount。
　　MadamedeChantellesatopposite，stillalittlewananddisorderedunderherelaboratehair，andclaspingthehandkerchiefwhosevisibilitysymbolizedherdistress。Ontheyoungman’sentranceshesighedoutaplaintivewelcome，towhichsheimmediatelyappended："Mr。Darrow，Ican’thelpfeelingthatatheartyou’rewithme！"
　　ThedirectnessofthechallengemadeiteasierforDarrowtoprotest，andhereiteratedhisinabilitytogiveanopiniononeitherside。
　　"ButAnnadeclaresyouhave——onhers！"
　　Hecouldnotrestrainasmileatthisfaintflawinanimpartialitysoscrupulous。EveryevidenceoffeminineinconsequenceinAnnaseemedtoattestherdeepersubjectiontothemostinconsequentofpassions。Hehadcertainlypromisedherhishelp——butbeforeheknewwhathewaspromising。
　　HemetMadamedeChantelle’sappealbyreplying："IftherewereanythingIcouldpossiblysayIshouldwantittobeinMissViner’sfavour。"
　　"You’dwantittobe——yes！Butcouldyoumakeitso？"
　　"Asfarasfactsgo，Idon’tseehowIcanmakeiteitherfororagainsther。I’vealreadysaidthatIknownothingofherexceptthatshe’scharming。"
　　"Asifthatweren’tenough——weren’tallthereOUGHTtobe！"MissPainterputinimpatiently。SheseemedtoaddressherselftoDarrow，thoughhersmalleyeswerefixedonherfriend。
　　"MadamedeChantelleseemstoimagine，"shepursued，"thatayoungAmericangirloughttohaveadossier——apolice—
　　record，orwhateveryoucallit：whatthoseawfulwomeninthestreetshavehere。Inourcountryit’senoughtoknowthatayounggirl’spureandlovely：peopledon’timmediatelyaskhertoshowherbank—accountandhervisiting—list。"
　　MadamedeChantellelookedplaintivelyathersturdymonitress。"Youdon’texpectmenottoaskifshe’sgotafamily？"
　　"No；nortothinktheworseofherifshehasn’t。Thefactthatshe’sanorphanought，withyourideas，tobeamerit。
　　Youwon’thavetoinviteherfatherandmothertoGivre！"
　　"Adelaide——Adelaide！"themistressofGivrelamented。
　　"LucretiaMary，"theotherreturned——andDarrowsparedaninstant’samusementtothequaintincongruityofthename——
　　"youknowyousentforMr。Darrowtorefuteme；andhowcanhe，tillheknowswhatIthink？"
　　"Youthinkit’sperfectlysimpletoletOwenmarryagirlweknownothingabout？"
　　"No；butIdon’tthinkit’sperfectlysimpletopreventhim。"
　　TheshrewdnessoftheanswerincreasedDarrow’sinterestinMissPainter。Shehadnothithertostruckhimasbeingapersonofmuchpenetration，buthenowfeltsurethathergimletgazemightboretotheheartofanypracticalproblem。
　　MadamedeChantellesighedoutherrecognitionofthedifficulty。
　　"Ihaven’tawordtosayagainstMissViner；butshe’sknockedaboutso，asit’scalled，thatshemusthavebeenmixedupwithsomeratherdreadfulpeople。IfonlyOwencouldbemadetoseethat——ifonecouldgetatafewfacts，Imean。Shesays，forinstance，thatshehasasister；butitseemsshedoesn’tevenknowheraddress！"
　　"Ifshedoes，shemaynotwanttogiveittoyou。Idaresaythesister’soneofthedreadfulpeople。I’venodoubtthatwithalittletimeyoucouldrakeupdozensofthem：haveher’traced’，astheycallitindetectivestories。Idon’tthinkyou’dfrightenOwen，butyoumight：it’snaturalenoughheshouldhavebeencorruptedbythoseforeignideas。
　　Youmightevenmanagetoparthimfromthegirl；butyoucouldn’tkeephimfrombeinginlovewithher。IsawthatwhenIlookedthemoverlastevening。Isaidtomyself：