’It’sarealold—fashionedAmericancase，assweetandsoundashome—madebread。’Well，ifyoutakehisloafawayfromhim，whatareyougoingtofeedhimwithinstead？WhichofyournastyParispoisonsdoyouthinkhe’llturnto？
　　Supposingyousucceedinkeepinghimoutofareallybadmess——and，knowingtheyoungmanasIdo，Iratherthinkthat，atthiscrisis，theonlywaytodoitwouldbetomarryhimslapofftosomebodyelse——well，then，who，mayI
　　ask，wouldyoupickout？OneofyoursweetFrenchingenues，Isuppose？Withasmuchmindasaminnowandasmuchsnapasasoft—boiledegg。Youmighthustlehimintothatkindofmarriage；Idaresayyoucould——butifIknowOwen，thenaturalthingwouldhappenbeforethefirstbabywasweaned。"
　　"Idon’tknowwhyyouinsinuatesuchodiousthingsagainstOwen！"
　　"Doyouthinkitwouldbeodiousofhimtoreturntohisreallovewhenhe’dbeenforciblypartedfromher？Atanyrate，it’swhatyourFrenchfriendsdo，everyoneofthem！
　　Onlytheydon’tgenerallyhavethegracetogobacktoanoldlove；andIbelieve，uponmyword，Owenwould！"
　　MadamedeChantellelookedatherwithamixtureofaweandexultation。"Ofcourseyourealize，Adelaide，thatinsuggestingthisyou’reinsinuatingthemostshockingthingsagainstMissViner？"
　　"WhenIsaythatifyouparttwoyoungthingswhoaredyingtobehappyinthelawfulwayit’stentoonethey’llcometogetherinanunlawfulone？I’minsinuatingshockingthingsagainstYOU，LucretiaMary，insuggestingforamomentthatyou’llcaretoassumesucharesponsibilitybeforeyourMaker。Andyouwouldn’t，ifyoutalkedthingsstraightoutwithhim，insteadofmerelysendinghimmessagesthroughamiserablesinnerlikeyourself！"
　　DarrowexpectedthisassaultonheradoptedcreedtoprovokeinMadamedeChantelleanexplosionofpiousindignation；
　　buttohissurpriseshemerelymurmured："Idon’tknowwhatMr。Darrow’llthinkofyou！"
　　"Mr。DarrowprobablyknowshisBibleaswellasIdo，"MissPaintercalmlyrejoined；addingamomentlater，withouttheleastperceptiblechangeofvoiceorexpression："Isupposeyou’veheardthatGiseledeFolembray’shusbandaccusesherofbeingmixedupwiththeDucd’ArcachoninthatbusinessoftryingtosellalotofimitationpearlstoMrs。HomerPond，theChicagowomantheDuke’sengagedto？ItseemsthejewellersaysGiselebroughtMrs。Pondthere，andgottwenty—fivepercent——whichofcourseshepassedontod’Arcachon。ThepooroldDuchessisinafearfulstate——soafraidherson’llloseMrs。Pond！WhenIthinkthatGiseleisoldBradfordWagstaff’sgrand—daughter，I’mthankfulhe’ssafeinMountAuburn！"
　　XXII
　　ItwasnotuntillatethatafternoonthatDarrowcouldclaimhispostponedhourwithAnna。Whenatlasthefoundheraloneinhersitting—roomitwaswithasenseofliberationsogreatthathesoughtnologicaljustificationofit。HesimplyfeltthatalltheirdestinieswereinMissPainter’sgrasp，andthat，resistancebeinguseless，hecouldonlyenjoythesweetsofsurrender。
　　Annaherselfseemedashappy，andformoreexplicablereasons。Shehadassisted，afterluncheon，atanotherdebatebetweenMadamedeChantelleandherconfidant，andhadsurmised，whenshewithdrewfromit，thatvictorywaspermanentlyperchedonMissPainter’sbanners。
　　"Idon’tknowhowshedoesit，unlessit’sbythedeadweightofherconvictions。ShedeteststheFrenchsothatshe’dbackupOwenevenifsheknewnothing——orknewtoomuch——ofMissViner。ShesomehowregardsthematchasaprotestagainstthecorruptionofEuropeanmorals。ItoldOwenthatwashisgreatchance，andhe’smadethemostofit。"
　　"Whatatacticianyouare！YoumakemefeelthatIhardlyknowtherudimentsofdiplomacy，"Darrowsmiledather，abandoninghimselftoaperiloussenseofwell—being。
　　Shegavehimbackhissmile。"I’mafraidIthinknothingshortofmyownhappinessisworthwastinganydiplomacyon！"
　　"That’swhyImeantoresignfromtheserviceofmycountry，"herejoinedwithalaughofdeepcontent。
　　Thefeelingthatbothresistanceandapprehensionwerevainwasworkinglikewineinhisveins。Hehaddonewhathecouldtodeflectthecourseofevents：nowhecouldonlystandasideandtakehischanceofsafety。Underneaththisfatalisticfeelingwasthedeepsenseofreliefthathehad，afterall，saidanddonenothingthatcouldintheleastdegreeaffectthewelfareofSophyViner。Thatfacttookamillstoneoffhisneck。
　　MeanwhilehegavehimselfuponcemoretothejoyofAnna’spresence。Theyhadnotbeenalonetogetherfortwolongdays，andhehadthelover’ssensethathehadforgotten，oratleastunderestimated，thestrengthofthespellshecast。
　　Oncemorehereyesandhersmileseemedtoboundhisworld。
　　Hefeltthattheirlightwouldalwaysmovewithhimasthesunsetmovesbeforeashipatsea。
　　Thenextdayhissenseofsecuritywasincreasedbyadecisiveincident。ItbecameknowntotheexpectanthouseholdthatMadamedeChantellehadyieldedtothetremendousimpactofMissPainter’sdeterminationandthatSophyVinerhadbeen"sentfor"tothepurplesatinsitting—
　　room。
　　Atluncheon，Owen’sradiantcountenanceproclaimedthehappysequel，andDarrow，whenthepartyhadmovedbacktotheoak—roomforcoffee，deemeditdiscreettowanderoutalonetotheterracewithhiscigar。TheconclusionofOwen’sromancebroughthisownplansoncemoretothefront。AnnahadpromisedthatshewouldconsiderdatesandsettledetailsassoonasMadamedeChantelleandhergrandsonhadbeenreconciled，andDarrowwaseagertogointothequestionatonce，sinceitwasnecessarythatthepreparationsforhismarriageshouldgoforwardasrapidlyaspossible。Anna，heknew，wouldnotseekanyfartherpretextfordelay；andhestrolledupanddowncontentedlyinthesunshine，certainthatshewouldcomeoutandreassurehimassoonasthereunitedfamilyhadclaimeditsdueshareofherattention。
　　Butwhenshefinallyjoinedhimherfirstwordwasfortheyoungerlovers。
　　"Iwanttothankyouforwhatyou’vedoneforOwen，"shebegan，withherhappiestsmile。
　　"Who——I？"helaughed。"AreyouconfusingmewithMissPainter？"
　　"PerhapsIoughttosayforME，"shecorrectedherself。
　　"You’vebeenevenmoreofahelptousthanAdelaide。"
　　"Mydearchild！WhatonearthhaveIdone？"
　　"You’vemanagedtohidefromMadamedeChantellethatyoudon’treallylikepoorSophy。"
　　Darrowfeltthepallourinhischeek。"Notlikeher？Whatputsuchanideaintoyourhead？"
　　"Oh，it’smorethananidea——it’safeeling。Butwhatdifferencedoesitmake，afterall？Yousawherinsuchadifferentsettingthatit’snaturalyoushouldbealittledoubtful。ButwhenyouknowherbetterI’msureyou’llfeelaboutherasIdo。"
　　"It’sgoingtobehardformenottofeelabouteverythingasyoudo。"
　　"Well，then——pleasebeginwithmydaughter—in—law！"
　　Hegaveherbackinthesametoneofbanter："Agreed：ifyoullagreetofeelasIdoaboutthepressingnecessityofourgettingmarried。"
　　"Iwanttotalktoyouaboutthattoo。Youdon’tknowwhataweightisoffmymind！WithSophyhereforgood，IshallfeelsodifferentlyaboutleavingEffie。I’veseenmuchmoreaccomplishedgovernesses——tomycost！——butI’veneverseenayoungthingmoregayandkindandhuman。Youmusthavenoticed，thoughyou’veseenthemsolittletogether，howEffieexpandswhenshe’swithher。Andthat，youknow，iswhatIwant。MadamedeChantellewillprovidethenecessaryrestraint。"Sheclaspedherhandsonhisarm。
　　"Yes，I’mreadytogowithyounow。Butfirstofall——thisverymoment！——youmustcomewithmetoEffie。Sheknows，ofcourse，nothingofwhat’sbeenhappening；andIwanthertobetoldfirstaboutYOU。"
　　Effie，soughtthroughoutthehouse，waspresentlytracedtotheschool—room，andthitherDarrowmountedwithAnna。Hehadneverseenhersoalightwithhappiness，andhehadcaughtherbuoyancyofmood。Hekeptrepeatingtohimself：
　　"It’sover——it’sover，"asifsomemonstrousmidnighthallucinationhadbeenroutedbythereturnofday。
　　Astheyapproachedtheschool—roomdoortheterrier’sbarkscametothemthroughlaughingremonstrances。
　　"She’sgivinghimhisdinner，"Annawhispered，herhandinDarrow’s。
　　"Don’tforgetthegold—fish！"theyheardanothervoicecallout。
　　Darrowhaltedonthethreshold。"Oh——notnow！"
　　"Notnow？"
　　"Imean——she’dratherhaveyoutellherfirst。I’llwaitforyoubothdownstairs。"
　　Hewasawarethatsheglancedathimintently。"Asyouplease。I’llbringherdownatonce。"
　　Sheopenedthedoor，andasshewentinheheardhersay：
　　"No，Sophy，don’tgo！Iwantyouboth。"
　　TherestofDarrow’sdaywasasuccessionofemptyandagitatingscenes。OnhiswaydowntoGivre，beforehehadseenEffieLeath，hehadpicturedsomewhatsentimentallythejoyofthemomentwhenheshouldtakeherinhisarmsandreceiveherfirstfilialkiss。Everythinginhimthategotisticallycravedforrest，stability，acomfortablyorganizedmiddle—age，allthehome—buildinginstinctsofthemanwhohassufficientlywooedandwandered，combinedtothrowacharmaboutthefigureofthechildwhomight——whoshould——havebeenhis。Effiecametohimtrailingthecloudofgloryofhisfirstromance，givinghimbackthemagichourhehadmissedandmourned。Andhowdifferenttherealizationofhisdreamhadbeen！Thechild’sradiantwelcome，herunquestioningacceptanceof，thisnewfigureinthefamilygroup，hadbeenallthathehadhopedandfancied。IfMotherwassoawfullyhappyaboutit，andOwenandGranny，too，howniceandcosyandcomfortableitwasgoingtobeforallofthem，herbeaminglookseemedtosay；
　　andthen，suddenly，thesmallpinkfingershehadbeenkissingwerelaidontheoneflawinthecircle，ontheonepointwhichmustbesettledbeforeEffiecould，withcompleteunqualifiedassurance，admitthenew—comertofullequalitywiththeothergodsofherOlympus。
　　"AndisSophyawfullyhappyaboutittoo？"shehadasked，looseningherholdonDarrow’snecktotiltbackherheadandincludehermotherinherquestioninglook。
　　"Why，dearest，didn’tyouseeshewas？"Annahadexclaimed，leaningtothegroupwithradianteyes。
　　"IthinkIshouldliketoaskher，"thechildrejoined，afteraminute’sshyconsideration；andasDarrowsetherdownhermotherlaughed："Do，darling，do！Runoffatonce，andtellherweexpecthertobeawfullyhappytoo。"
　　Thescenehadbeensucceededbyotherslesspoignantbutalmostastrying。Darrowcursedhisluckinhaving，atsuchamoment，torunthegauntletofahousefulofinterestedobservers。Thestateofbeing"engaged"，initselfanabsurdenoughpredicament，eventoamanonlyintermittentlyexposed，becameintolerableunderthecontinuousscrutinyofasmallcirclequiveringwithparticipation。Darrowwasfurthermoreawarethat，thoughthecaseoftheothercoupleoughttohavemadehisownlessconspicuous，itwasrathertheywhofoundarefugeintheshadowofhisprominence。
　　MadamedeChantelle，thoughshehadconsentedtoOwen’sengagementandformallywelcomedhisbetrothed，wasneverthelessnotsorrytoshow，byherreceptionofDarrow，ofwhatfinely—shadeddegreesofcordialityshewascapable。
　　MissPainter，havingwonthedayforOwen，wasalsofreetoturnherattentiontothenewercandidateforhersympathy；
　　andDarrowandAnnafoundthemselvesimmersedinawarmbathofsentimentalcuriosity。
　　ItwasarelieftoDarrowthathewasunderapositiveobligationtoendhisvisitwithinthenextforty—eighthours。WhenheleftLondon，hisAmbassadorhadaccordedhimatendays’leave。Hisfatebeingdefinitelysettledandopenlypublishedhehadnoreasonforaskingtohavethetimeprolonged，andwhenitwasoverhewastoreturntohisposttillthetimefixedfortakinguphisnewduties。Annaandhehadthereforedecidedtobemarried，inParis，adayortwobeforethedepartureofthesteamerwhichwastotakethemtoSouthAmerica；andAnna，shortlyafterhisreturntoEngland，wastogouptoParisandbeginherownpreparations。
　　InhonourofthedoublebetrothalEffieandMissVinerweretoappearthateveningatdinner；andDarrow，onleavinghisroom，metthelittlegirlspringingdownthestairs，herwhiterufflesandcoral—colouredbowsmakingherlooklikeadaisywithheryellowhairforitscentre。SophyVinerwasbehindherpupil，andasshecameintothelightDarrownoticedachangeinherappearanceandwonderedvaguelywhyshelookedsuddenlyyounger，morevivid，morelikethelittleluminousghostofhisParismemories。ThenitoccurredtohimthatitwasthefirsttimeshehadappearedatdinnersincehisarrivalatGivre，andthefirsttime，consequently，thathehadseenherineveningdress。Shewasstillattheagewhentheleastadornmentembellishes；
　　andnodoubtthemereuncoveringofheryoungthroatandneckhadgivenherbackherformerbrightness。Butasecondglanceshowedamoreprecisereasonforhisimpression。
　　Vaguelythoughheretainedsuchdetails，hefeltsureshewaswearingthedresshehadseenherineveryeveninginParis。Itwasasimpleenoughdress，black，andtransparentonthearmsandshoulders，andhewouldprobablynothaverecognizeditifshehadnotcalledhisattentiontoitinParisbyconfessingthatshehadn’tanyother。"Thesamedress？Thatprovesthatshe’sforgotten！"washisfirsthalf—ironicthought；butthenextmoment，withapangofcompunction，hesaidtohimselfthatshehadprobablyputitonforthesamereasonasbefore：simplybecauseshehadn’tanyother。
　　Helookedatherinsilence，andforaninstant，aboveEffie’sbobbinghead，shegavehimbackhislookinafullbrightgaze。
　　"Oh，there’sOwen！"Effiecried，andwhirledawaydownthegallerytothedoorfromwhichherstep—brotherwasemerging。AsOwenbenttocatchher，SophyVinerturnedabruptlybacktoDarrow。
　　"You，too？"shesaidwithaquicklaugh。"Ididn’tknow————
　　"AndasOwencameuptothemsheadded，inatonethatmighthavebeenmeanttoreachhisear："Iwishyoualltheluckthatwecanspare！"
　　Aboutthedinner—table，whichEffie，withMissViner’said，hadlavishlygarlanded，thelittlepartyhadanairofsomewhatself—consciousfestivity。Inspiteofflowers，champagneandaunanimousattemptatease，therewerefrequentlapsesinthetalk，andmomentsofnervousgropingfornewsubjects。MissPainteraloneseemednotonlyunaffectedbythegeneralperturbationbutastightlysealedupinherunconsciousnessofitasadiverinhisbell。ToDarrow’sstrainedattentionevenOwen’sgustsofgaietyseemedtobetrayaninwardsenseofinsecurity。Afterdinner，however，atthepiano，hebrokeintoamoodofextravaganthilarityandfloodedtheroomwiththesplashandrippleofhismusic。
　　Darrow，sunkinasofacornerintheleeofMissPainter’sgranitebulk，smokedandlistenedinsilence，hiseyesmovingfromonefiguretoanother。MadamedeChantelle，inherarmchairnearthefire，claspedherlittlegranddaughtertoherwiththegestureofadrawing—roomNiobe，andAnna，seatednearthem，hadfallenintooneoftheattitudesofvividcalmwhichseemedtoDarrowtoexpressherinmostquality。SophyViner，aftermovinguncertainlyabouttheroom，hadplacedherselfbeyondMrs。Leath，inachairnearthepiano，whereshesatwithheadthrownbackandeyesattachedtothemusician，inthesameraptfixityofattentionwithwhichshehadfollowedtheplayersattheFrancais。Theaccidentofherhavingfallenintothesameattitude，andofherwearingthesamedress，gaveDarrow，ashewatchedher，astrangesenseofdoubleconsciousness。Toescapefromit，hisglanceturnedbacktoAnna；butfromthepointatwhichhewasplacedhiseyescouldnottakeintheonefacewithouttheother，andthatrenewedthedisturbingdualityoftheimpression。SuddenlyOwenbrokeoffwithacrashofchordsandjumpedtohisfeet。
　　"What’stheuseofthis，withsuchamoontosayitforus？"
　　Behindtheuncurtainedwindowalowgoldenorbhunglikearipefruitagainsttheglass。
　　"Yes——let’sgooutandlisten，"Annaanswered。Owenthrewopenthewindow，andwithhisgestureafoldoftheheavystar—sprinkledskyseemedtodroopintotheroomlikeadrawn—incurtain。Theairthatenteredwithithadafrostyedge，andAnnabadeEffieruntothehallforwraps。
　　Darrowsaid："Youmusthaveonetoo，"andstartedtowardthedoor；butSophy，followingherpupil，criedback："We’llbringthingsforeverybody。"
　　Owenhadfollowedher，andinamomentthethreereappeared，andthepartywentoutontheterrace。Thedeepbluepurityofthenightwasunveiledbymist，andthemoonlightrimmedtheedgesofthetreeswithasilverblurandblanchedtounnaturalwhitenessthestatuesagainsttheirwallsofshade。
　　DarrowandAnna，withEffiebetweenthem，strolledtothefarthercorneroftheterrace。Belowthem，betweenthefringesofthepark，thelawnslopeddimlytothefieldsabovetheriver。Forafewminutestheystoodsilentlysidebyside，touchedtopeacebeneaththetremblingbeautyofthesky。Whentheyturnedback，DarrowsawthatOwenandSophyViner，whohadgonedownthestepstothegarden，werealsowalkinginthedirectionofthehouse。Astheyadvanced，Sophypausedinapatchofmoonlight，betweenthesharpshadowsoftheyews，andDarrownoticedthatshehadthrownoverhershouldersalongcloakofsomelightcolour，whichsuddenlyevokedherimageasshehadenteredtherestaurantathissideonthenightoftheirfirstdinnerinParis。Amomentlatertheywerealltogetheragainontheterrace，andwhentheyre—enteredthedrawing—roomtheolderladieswereontheirwaytobed。
　　Effie，emboldenedbytheprivilegesoftheevening，wasforcoaxingOwentorounditoffwithagameofforfeitsorsomesuchrecklessclimax；butSophy，resumingherprofessionalrole，soundedthesummonstobed。Inherpupil’swakeshemadeherroundofgood—nights；butwhensheprofferedherhandtoAnna，thelatterignoringthegestureheldoutbotharms。
　　"Good—night，dearchild，"shesaidimpulsively，anddrewthegirltoherkiss。
　　BOOKIV
　　XXIII
　　ThenextdaywasDarrow’slastatGivreand，foreseeingthattheafternoonandeveningwouldhavetobegiventothefamily，hehadaskedAnnatodevoteanearlyhourtothefinalconsiderationoftheirplans。Hewastomeetherinthebrownsitting—roomatten，andtheyweretowalkdowntotheriverandtalkovertheirfutureinthelittlepavilionabuttingonthewallofthepark。
　　ItwasjustaweeksincehisarrivalatGivre，andAnnawished，beforeheleft，toreturntotheplacewheretheyhadsatontheirfirstafternoontogether。Hersensitivenesstotheappealofinanimatethings，tothecolourandtextureofwhateverwoveitselfintothesubstanceofheremotion，madeherwanttohearDarrow’svoice，andtofeelhiseyesonher，inthespotwhereblisshadfirstflowedintoherheart。
　　Thatbliss，intheinterval，hadwounditselfintoeveryfoldofherbeing。Passing，inthefirstdays，fromahighshytendernesstotherushofasecretsurrender，ithadgraduallywidenedanddeepened，toflowoninredoubledbeauty。ShethoughtshenowknewexactlyhowandwhyshelovedDarrow，andshecouldseeherwholeskyreflectedinthedeepandtranquilcurrentofherlove。
　　Earlythenextday，inhersitting—room，shewasglancingthroughtheletterswhichitwasEffie’smorningprivilegetocarryuptoher。Effiemeanwhilecircledinquisitivelyabouttheroom，wheretherewasalwayssomethingnewtoengageherinfantfancy；andAnna，lookingup，sawhersuddenlyarrestedbeforeaphotographofDarrowwhich，thedaybefore，hadtakenitsplaceonthewriting—table。
　　Annaheldoutherarmswithafaintblush。"Youdolikehim，don’tyou，dear？"
　　"Oh，mostawfully，dearest，"Effie，againstherbreast，leanedbacktoassureherwithalimpidlook。"AndsodoGrannyandOwen——andIDOthinkSophydoestoo，"sheadded，afteramoment’searnestpondering。
　　"Ihopeso，"Annalaughed。Shecheckedtheimpulsetocontinue："Hasshetalkedtoyouabouthim，thatyou’resosure？"Shedidnotknowwhathadmadethequestionspringtoherlips，butshewasgladshehadclosedthembeforepronouncingit。Nothingcouldhavebeenmoredistastefultoherthantoclearupsuchobscuritiesbyturningonthemthetinyflameofherdaughter’sobservation。Andwhat，afterall，nowthatOwen’shappinesswassecured，diditmatteriftherewerecertainreservesinDarrow’sapprovalofhismarriage？
　　AknockonthedoormadeAnnaglanceattheclock。"There’sNursetocarryyouoff。"
　　"It’sSophy’sknock，"thelittlegirlanswered，jumpingdowntoopenthedoor；andMissVinerinfactstoodonthethreshold。
　　"Comein，"Annasaidwithasmile，instantlyremarkinghowpaleshelooked。
　　"MayEffiegooutforaturnwithNurse？"thegirlasked。
　　"Ishouldliketospeaktoyouamoment。"
　　"Ofcourse。ThisoughttobeYOURholiday，asyesterdaywasEffie’s。Runoff，dear，"sheadded，stoopingtokissthelittlegirl。
　　WhenthedoorhadclosedsheturnedbacktoSophyVinerwithalookthatsoughtherconfidence。"I’msogladyoucame，mydear。We’vegotsomanythingstotalkabout，justyouandItogether。"
　　Theconfusedintercourseofthelastdayshad，infact，leftlittletimeforanyspeechwithSophybutsuchasrelatedtohermarriageandthemeansofovercomingMadamedeChantelle’soppositiontoit。AnnahadexactedofOwenthatnoone，notevenSophyViner，shouldbegivenahintofherownprojectstillallcontingentquestionshadbeendisposedof。Shehadfelt，fromtheoutset，asecretreluctancetointrudehersecurerhappinessonthedoubtsandfearsoftheyoungpair。
　　Fromthesofa—cornertowhichshehaddroppedbackshepointedtoDarrow’schair。"Comeandsitbyme，dear。I
　　wantedtoseeyoualone。There’ssomuchtosaythatI
　　hardlyknowwheretobegin。"
　　Sheleanedforward，herhandsclaspedonthearmsofthesofa，hereyesbentsmilinglyonSophy’s。Asshedidso，shenoticedthatthegirl’sunusualpallourwaspartlyduetotheslightveilofpowderonherface。Thediscoverywasdistinctlydisagreeable。Annahadneverbeforenoticed，onSophy’spart，anyrecoursetocosmetics，and，muchasshewishedtothinkherselfexemptfromold—fashionedprejudices，shesuddenlybecameawarethatshedidnotlikeherdaughter’sgovernesstohaveapowderedface。ThenshereflectedthatthegirlwhosatoppositeherwasnolongerEffie’sgoverness，butherownfuturedaughter—in—law；andshewonderedwhetherMissVinerhadchosenthisoddwayofcelebratingherindependence，andwhether，asMrs。OwenLeath，shewouldpresenttotheworldabedizenedcountenance。Thisideawasscarcelylessdistastefulthantheother，andforamomentAnnacontinuedtoconsiderherwithoutspeaking。Then，inaflash，thetruthcametoher：
　　MissVinerhadpowderedherfacebecauseMissVinerhadbeencrying。
　　Annaleanedforwardimpulsively。"Mydearchild，what’sthematter？"Shesawthegirl’sbloodrushupunderthewhitemask，andhastenedon："Pleasedon’tbeafraidtotellme。
　　IdosowantyoutofeelthatyoucantrustmeasOwendoes。
　　Andyouknowyoumustn’tmindif，justatfirst，MadamedeChantelleoccasionallyrelapses。"
　　Shespokeeagerly，persuasively，almostonanoteofpleading。Shehad，intruth，somanyreasonsforwantingSophytolikeher：herloveforOwen，hersolicitudeforEffie，andherownsenseofthegirl’sfinemettle。Shehadalwaysfeltaromanticandalmosthumbleadmirationforthosemembersofhersexwho，fromforceofwill，ortheconstraintofcircumstances，hadplungedintotheconflictfromwhichfatehadsopersistentlyexcludedher。Therewereevenmomentswhenshefanciedherselfvaguelytoblameforherimmunity，andfeltthatsheoughtsomehowtohaveaffrontedtheperilsandhardshipswhichrefusedtocometoher。Andnow，asshesatlookingatSophyViner，sosmall，soslight，sovisiblydefencelessandundone，shestillfelt，throughallthesuperiorityofherworldlyadvantagesandherseemingmaturity，thesameoddsenseofignoranceandinexperience。Shecouldnothavesaidwhattherewasinthegirl’smannerandexpressiontogiveherthisfeeling，butshewasreminded，asshelookedatSophyViner，oftheothergirlsshehadknowninheryouth，thegirlswhoseemedpossessedofasecretshehadmissed。Yes，SophyVinerhadtheirlook——almosttheobscurelymenacinglookofKittyMayne……Anna，withaninwardsmile，brushedasidetheimageofthisforgottenrival。Butshehadfelt，deepdown，atwingeoftheoldpain，andshewassorrythat，evenfortheflashofathought，Owen’sbetrothedshouldhaveremindedherofsodifferentawoman……
　　Shelaidherhandonthegirl’s。"WhenhisgrandmotherseeshowhappyOwenisshe’llbequitehappyherself。Ifit’sonlythat，don’tbedistressed。JusttrusttoOwen——andthefuture。"
　　SophyViner，withanalmostimperceptiblerecoilofherwholeslightperson，haddrawnherhandfromunderthepalmenclosingit。
　　"That’swhatIwantedtotalktoyouabout——thefuture。"
　　"Ofcourse！We’veallsomanyplanstomake——andtofitintoeachother’s。Pleaselet’sbeginwithyours。"
　　Thegirlpausedamoment，herhandsclaspedonthearmsofherchair，herlidsdroppedunderAnna’sgaze；thenshesaid："Ishouldliketomakenoplansatall……justyet……"
　　"Noplans？"