"No——Ishouldliketogoaway……myfriendstheFarlowswouldletmegotothem……"Hervoicegrewfirmerandsheliftedhereyestoadd："Ishouldliketoleavetoday，ifyoudon’tmind。"
　　Annalistenedwitharisingwonder。
　　"YouwanttoleaveGivreatonce？"Shegavetheideaamoment’sswiftconsideration。"Youprefertobewithyourfriendstillyourmarriage？Iunderstandthat——butsurelyyouneedn’trushofftoday？Therearesomanydetailstodiscuss；andbeforelong，youknow，Ishallbegoingawaytoo。"
　　"Yes，Iknow。"Thegirlwasevidentlytryingtosteadyhervoice。"ButIshouldliketowaitafewdays——tohavealittlemoretimetomyself。"
　　Annacontinuedtoconsiderherkindly。ItwasevidentthatshedidnotcaretosaywhyshewishedtoleaveGivresosuddenly，butherdisturbedfaceandshakenvoicebetrayedamorepressingmotivethanthenaturaldesiretospendtheweeksbeforehermarriageunderheroldfriends’roof。
　　SinceshehadmadenoresponsetotheallusiontoMadamedeChantelle，AnnacouldbutconjecturethatshehadhadapassingdisagreementwithOwen；andifthiswereso，randominterferencemightdomoreharmthangood。
　　"Mydearchild，ifyoureallywanttogoatonceIsha’n’t，ofcourse，urgeyoutostay。IsupposeyouhavespokentoOwen？"
　　"No。Notyet……"
　　Annathrewanastonishedglanceather。"Youmeantosayyouhaven’ttoldhim？"
　　"Iwantedtotellyoufirst。IthoughtIoughtto，onaccountofEffie。"Herlookclearedassheputforththisreason。
　　"Oh，Effie！——"Anna’ssmilebrushedawaythescruple。"Owenhasarighttoaskthatyoushouldconsiderhimbeforeyouthinkofhissister……Ofcourseyoushalldojustasyouwish，"shewenton，afteranotherthoughtfulinterval。
　　"Oh，thankyou，"SophyVinermurmuredandrosetoherfeet。
　　Annarosealso，vaguelyseekingforsomewordthatshouldbreakdownthegirl’sresistance。"You’lltellOwenatonce？"shefinallyasked。
　　MissViner，insteadofreplying，stoodbeforeherinmanifestuncertainty，andasshedidsotherewasalighttaponthedoor，andOwenLeathwalkedintotheroom。
　　Anna’sfirstglancetoldherthathisfacewasunclouded。
　　HemethergreetingwithhishappiestsmileandturnedtoliftSophy’shandtohislips。TheperceptionthathewasutterlyunconsciousofanycauseforMissViner’sagitationcametohisstep—motherwithasharpthrillofsurprise。
　　"Darrow’slookingforyou，"hesaidtoher。"Heaskedmetoremindyouthatyou’dpromisedtogoforawalkwithhim。"
　　Annaglancedattheclock。"I’llgodownpresently。"ShewaitedandlookedagainatSophyViner，whosetroubledeyesseemedtocommittheirmessagetoher。"You’dbettertellOwen，mydear。"
　　Owen’slookalsoturnedonthegirl。"Tellmewhat？Why，what’shappened？"
　　Annasummonedalaughtoeasethevaguetensionofthemoment。"Don’tlooksostartled！Nothing，exceptthatSophyproposestodesertusforawhilefortheFarlows。"
　　Owen’sbrowcleared。"Iwasafraidshe’drunoffbeforelong。"HeglancedatAnna。"Dopleasekeepherhereaslongasyoucan！"
　　Sophyintervened："Mrs。Leath’salreadygivenmeleavetogo。"
　　"Already？Togowhen？"
　　"Today，"saidSophyinalowtone，hereyesonAnna’s。
　　"Today？Whyonearthshouldyougotoday？"Owendroppedbackasteportwo，flushingandpalingunderhisbewilderedfrown。Hiseyesseemedtosearchthegirlmoreclosely。
　　"Something’shappened。"Hetoolookedathisstep—mother。
　　"Isupposeshemusthavetoldyouwhatitis？"
　　Annawasstruckbythesuddennessandvehemenceofhisappeal。Itwasasthoughsomesmoulderingapprehensionhadlaincloseunderthesurfaceofhissecurity。
　　"She’stoldmenothingexceptthatshewishestobewithherfriends。It’squitenaturalthatsheshouldwanttogotothem。"
　　Owenvisiblycontrolledhimself。"Ofcourse——quitenatural。"HespoketoSophy。"Butwhydidn’tyoutellmeso？Whydidyoucomefirsttomystep—mother？"
　　Annaintervenedwithhercalmsmile。"Thatseemstomequitenatural，too。SophywasconsiderateenoughtotellmefirstbecauseofEffie。"
　　Heweighedit。"Verywell，then：that’squitenatural，asyousay。Andofcourseshemustdoexactlyasshepleases。"
　　Hestillkepthiseyesonthegirl。"Tomorrow，"heabruptlyannounced，"IshallgouptoParistoseeyou。"
　　"Oh，no——no！"sheprotested。
　　OwenturnedbacktoAnna。"NOWdoyousaythatnothing’shappened？"
　　UndertheinfluenceofhisagitationAnnafeltavaguetighteningoftheheart。Sheseemedtoherselflikesomeoneinadarkroomaboutwhomunseenpresencesaregroping。
　　"Ifit’sanythingthatSophywishestotellyou，nodoubtshe’lldoso。I’mgoingdownnow，andI’llleaveyouheretotalkitoverbyyourselves。"
　　Asshemovedtothedoorthegirlcaughtupwithher。"Butthere’snothingtotell：whyshouldtherebe？I’veexplainedthatIsimplywanttobequiet。"HerlookseemedtodetainMrs。Leath。
　　Owenbrokein："IsthatwhyImayn’tgouptomorrow？"
　　"Nottomorrow！"
　　"ThenwhenmayI？"
　　"Later……inalittlewhile……afewdays……"
　　"Inhowmanydays？"
　　"Owen！"hisstep—motherinterposed；butheseemednolongerawareofher。"Ifyougoawaytoday，thedaythatourengagement’smadeknown，it’sonlyfair，"hepersisted，"thatyoushouldtellmewhenIamtoseeyou。"
　　Sophy’seyeswaveredbetweenthetwoanddroppeddownwearily。"It’syouwhoarenotfair——whenI’vesaidI
　　wantedtobequiet。"
　　"Butwhyshouldmycomingdisturbyou？I’mnotaskingnowtocometomorrow。IonlyaskyounottoleavewithouttellingmewhenI’mtoseeyou。"
　　"Owen，Idon’tunderstandyou！"hisstep—motherexclaimed。
　　"Youdon’tunderstandmyaskingforsomeexplanation，someassurance，whenI’mleftinthisway，withoutaword，withoutasign？AllIaskhertotellmeiswhenshe’llseeme。"
　　AnnaturnedbacktoSophyViner，whostoodstraightandtremulousbetweenthetwo。
　　"Afterall，mydear，he’snotunreasonable！"
　　"I’llwrite——I’llwrite，"thegirlrepeated。
　　"WHATwillyouwrite？"hepressedhervehemently。
　　"Owen，"Annaexclaimed，"youareunreasonable！"
　　HeturnedfromSophytohisstep—mother。"Ionlywanthertosaywhatshemeans：thatshe’sgoingtowritetobreakoffourengagement。Isn’tthatwhatyou’regoingawayfor？"
　　Annafeltthecontagionofhisexcitement。ShelookedatSophy，whostoodmotionless，herlipsset，herwholefacedrawntoasilentfixityofresistance。
　　"Yououghttospeak，mydear——yououghttoanswerhim。"
　　"Ionlyaskhimtowait————"
　　"Yes，"Owen，brokein，"andyouwon’tsayhowlong！"
　　BothinstinctivelyaddressedthemselvestoAnna，whostood，nearlyasshakenasthemselves，betweenthedoubleshockoftheirstruggle。ShelookedagainfromSophy’sinscrutableeyestoOwen’sstormyfeatures；thenshesaid："WhatcanI
　　do，whenthere’sclearlysomethingbetweenyouthatIdon’tknowabout？"
　　"Oh，ifitWEREbetweenus！Can’tyouseeit’soutsideofus——outsideofher，draggingather，draggingherawayfromme？"Owenwheeledroundagainuponhisstep—mother。
　　Annaturnedfromhimtothegirl。"Isittruethatyouwanttobreakyourengagement？Ifyoudo，yououghttotellhimnow。"
　　Owenburstintoalaugh。"Shedoesn’tdareto——she’safraidI’llguessthereason！"
　　AfaintsoundescapedfromSophy’slips，butshekeptthemcloseonwhateveranswershehadready。
　　"Ifshedoesn’twishtomarryyou，whyshouldshebeafraidtohaveyouknowthereason？"
　　"She’safraidtohaveYOUknowit——notme！"
　　"TohaveMEknowit？"
　　Helaughedagain，andAnna，athislaugh，feltasuddenrushofindignation。
　　"Owen，youmustexplainwhatyoumean！"
　　Helookedatherhardbeforeanswering；then："AskDarrow！"
　　hesaid。
　　"Owen——Owen！"SophyVinermurmured。
　　XXIV
　　Annastoodlookingfromonetotheother。IthadbecomeapparenttoherinaflashthatOwen’sretort，thoughitstartledSophy，didnottakeherbysurprise；andthediscoveryshotitslightalongdarkdistancesoffear。
　　TheimmediateinferencewasthatOwenhadguessedthereasonofDarrow’sdisapprovalofhismarriage，orthat，atleast，hesuspectedSophyVinerofknowinganddreadingit。ThisconfirmationofherownobscuredoubtsentatremorofalarmthroughAnna。Foramomentshefeltlikeexclaiming："Allthisisreallynobusinessofmine，andIrefusetohaveyoumixmeupinit——"buthersecretfearheldherfast。
　　SophyVinerwasthefirsttospeak。
　　"Ishouldliketogonow，"shesaidinalowvoice，takingafewstepstowardthedoor。
　　HertonewokeAnnatothesenseofherownshareinthesituation。"Iquiteagreewithyou，mydear，thatit’suselesstocarryonthisdiscussion。ButsinceMr。Darrow’snamehasbeenbroughtintoit，forreasonswhichIfailtoguess，Iwanttotellyouthatyou’rebothmistakenifyouthinkhe’snotinsympathywithyourmarriage。Ifthat’swhatOwenmeanstoimply，theidea’sacompletedelusion。"
　　Shespokethewordsdeliberatelyandincisively，asifhopingthatthesoundoftheirutterancewouldstiflethewhisperinherbosom。
　　Sophy’sonlyanswerwasavaguemurmur，andamovementthatbroughthernearertothedoor；butbeforeshecouldreachitOwenhadplacedhimselfinherway。
　　"Idon’tmeantoimplywhatyouthink，"hesaid，addressinghisstep—motherbutkeepinghiseyesonthegirl。"Idon’tsayDarrowdoesn’tlikeourmarriage；Isayit’sSophywho’shateditsinceDarrow’sbeenhere！"
　　Hebroughtoutthechargeinatoneofforcedcomposure，buthislipswerewhiteandhegraspedthedoorknobtohidethetremorofhishand。
　　Anna’sangersurgedupwithherfears。"You’reabsurd，Owen！Idon’tknowwhyIlistentoyou。WhyshouldSophydislikeMr。Darrow，andifshedoes，whyshouldthathaveanythingtodowithherwishingtobreakherengagement？"
　　"Idon’tsayshedislikeshim！Idon’tsayshelikeshim；I
　　don’tknowwhatitistheysaytoeachotherwhenthey’reshutuptogetheralone。"
　　"Shutuptogetheralone？"Annastared。Owenseemedlikeamanindelirium；suchanexhibitionwasdegradingtothemall。Buthepushedonwithoutseeingherlook。
　　"Yes——thefirsteveningshecame，inthestudy；thenextmorning，early，inthepark；yesterday，again，inthespring—house，whenyouwereatthelodgewiththedoctor……I
　　don’tknowwhattheysaytoeachother，butthey’vetakeneverychancetheycouldtosayit……andtosayitwhentheythoughtthatnoonesawthem。"
　　Annalongedtosilencehim，butnowordscametoher。Itwasasthoughallherconfusedapprehensionshadsuddenlytakendefiniteshape。Therewas"something"——yes，therewas"something"……Darrow’sreticencesandevasionshadbeenmorethanafigmentofherdoubts。
　　Thenextinstantbroughtarecoilofpride。Sheturnedindignantlyonherstep—son。
　　"Idon’thalfunderstandwhatyou’vebeensaying；butwhatyouseemtohintissopreposterous，andsoinsultingbothtoSophyandtome，thatIseenoreasonwhyweshouldlistentoyouanylonger。"
　　ThoughhertonesteadiedOwen，sheperceivedatoncethatitwouldnotdeflecthimfromhispurpose。Hespokelessvehemently，butwithallthemoreprecision。
　　"Howcanitbepreposterous，sinceit’strue？Orinsulting，sinceIdon’tknow，anymorethanYOU，themeaningofwhatI’vebeenseeing？Ifyou’llbepatientwithmeI’lltrytoputitquietly。WhatImeanisthatSophyhascompletelychangedsinceshemetDarrowhere，andthat，havingnoticedthechange，I’mhardlytoblameforhavingtriedtofindoutitscause。"
　　Annamadeanefforttoanswerhimwiththesamecomposure。
　　"You’retoblame，atanyrate，forsorecklesslyassumingthatyouHAVEfounditout。Youseemtoforgetthat，tilltheymethere，SophyandMr。Darrowhardlykneweachother。"
　　"Ifso，it’sallthestrangerthatthey’vebeensooftenclosetedtogether！"
　　"Owen，Owen——"thegirlsighedout。
　　Heturnedhishaggardfacetoher。"CanIhelpit，ifI’veseenandknownwhatIwasn’tmeantto？ForGod’ssakegivemeareason——anyreasonIcandecentlymakeoutwith！Isitmyfaultif，thedayafteryouarrived，whenIcamebacklatethroughthegarden，thecurtainsofthestudyhadn’tbeendrawn，andIsawyoutherealonewithDarrow？"
　　Annalaughedimpatiently。"Really，Owen，ifyoumakeitagrievancethattwopeoplewhoarestayinginthesamehouseshouldbeseentalkingtogether————！"
　　"Theywerenottalking。That’sthepoint————"
　　"Nottalking？Howdoyouknow？Youcouldhardlyhearthemfromthegarden！"
　　"No；butIcouldsee。HEwassittingatmydesk，withhisfaceinhishands。SHEwasstandinginthewindow，lookingawayfromhim……"
　　Hewaited，asifforSophyViner’sanswer；butstillsheneitherstirrednorspoke。
　　"Thatwasthefirsttime，"hewenton；"andthesecondwasthenextmorninginthepark。Itwasnaturalenough，theirmeetingthere。SophyhadgoneoutwithEffie，andEffieranbacktolookforme。Shetoldmeshe’dleftSophyandDarrowinthepaththatleadstotheriver，andpresentlywesawthemaheadofus。Theydidn’tseeusatfirst，becausetheywerestandinglookingateachother；andthistimetheywerenotspeakingeither。Wecameupclosebeforetheyheardus，andallthattimetheyneverspoke，orstoppedlookingateachother。AfterthatIbegantowonder；andsoIwatchedthem。"
　　"Oh，Owen！"
　　"Oh，Ionlyhadtowait。Yesterday，whenImotoredyouandthedoctorbackfromthelodge，IsawSophycomingoutofthespring—house。Isupposedshe’dtakenshelterfromtherain，andwhenyougotoutofthemotorIstrolledbackdowntheavenuetomeether。Butshe’ddisappeared——shemusthavetakenashortcutandcomeintothehousebythesidedoor。Idon’tknowwhyIwentontothespring—house；I
　　supposeitwaswhatyou’dcallspying。Iwentupthestepsandfoundtheroomempty；buttwochairshadbeenmovedoutfromthewallandwerestandingnearthetable；andoneoftheChinesescreensthatlieonithaddroppedtothefloor。"
　　Annasoundedafaintnoteofirony。"Really？Sophy’dgonethereforshelter，andshedroppedascreenandmovedachair？"
　　"Isaidtwochairs————"
　　"Two？Whatdamningevidence——ofIdon’tknowwhat！"
　　"SimplyofthefactthatDarrow’dbeentherewithher。AsI
　　lookedoutofthewindowIsawhimcloseby，walkingaway。
　　Hemusthaveturnedthecornerofthespring—housejustasI
　　gottothedoor。"
　　Therewasanothersilence，duringwhichAnnapaused，notonlytocollectherownwordsbuttowaitforSophyViner’s；
　　then，asthegirlmadenosign，sheturnedtoher。
　　"I’veabsolutelynothingtosaytoallthis；butperhapsyou’dlikemetowaitandhearyouranswer？"
　　Sophyraisedherheadwithaquickflashofcolour。"I’venoanswereither——exceptthatOwenmustbemad。"
　　Intheintervalsinceshehadlastspokensheseemedtohaveregainedherself—control，andhervoicerangclear，withacoldedgeofanger。
　　Annalookedatherstep—son。Hehadgrownextremelypale，andhishandfellfromthedoorwithadiscouragedgesture。
　　"That’sallthen？Youwon’tgivemeanyreason？"
　　"Ididn’tsupposeitwasnecessarytogiveyouoranyoneelseareasonfortalkingwithafriendofMrs。Leath’sunderMrs。Leath’sownroof。"
　　Owenhardlyseemedtofeeltheretort：hekepthisdoggedstareonherface。
　　"Iwon’taskforone，then。I’llonlyaskyoutogivemeyourassurancethatyourtalkswithDarrowhavehadnothingtodowithyoursuddenlydecidingtoleaveGivre。"
　　Shehesitated，notsomuchwiththeairofweighingheranswerasofquestioninghisrighttoexactany。"Igiveyoumyassurance；andnowIshouldliketogo，"shesaid。
　　Assheturnedaway，Annaintervened。"Mydear，Ithinkyououghttospeak。"
　　Thegirldrewherselfupwithafaintlaugh。"Tohim——ortoYOU？"
　　"Tohim。"
　　Shestiffened。"I’vesaidallthereistosay。"
　　Annadrewback，hereyesonherstep—son。HehadleftthethresholdandwasadvancingtowardSophyVinerwithamotionofdesperateappeal；butashedidsotherewasaknockonthedoor。Amoment’ssilencefellonthethree；thenAnnasaid："Comein！"
　　Darrowcameintotheroom。Seeingthethreetogether，helookedrapidlyfromonetotheother；thenheturnedtoAnnawithasmile。
　　"Icameuptoseeifyouwereready；butpleasesendmeoffifI’mnotwanted。"
　　Hislook，hisvoice，thesimplesenseofhispresence，restoredAnna’sshakenbalance。ByOwen’ssidehelookedsostrong，sourbane，soexperienced，thatthelad’spassionatechargesdwindledtomereboyishvapourings。AmomentagoshehaddreadedDarrow’scoming；nowshewasgladthathewasthere。
　　Sheturnedtohimwithsuddendecision。"Comein，please；I
　　wantyoutohearwhatOwenhasbeensaying。"
　　ShecaughtamurmurfromSophyViner，butdisregardedit。
　　Anilluminatingimpulseurgedheron。She，habituallysoawareofherownlackofpenetration，hersmallskillinreadinghiddenmotivesanddetectingsecretsignals，nowfeltherselfmysteriouslyinspired。SheaddressedherselftoSophyViner。"It’smuchbetterforyouboththatthisabsurdquestionshouldbeclearedupnow"Then，turningtoDarrow，shecontinued："ForsomereasonthatIdon’tpretendtoguess，Owenhastakenitintohisheadthatyou’veinfluencedMissVinertobreakherengagement。"
　　Shespokeslowlyanddeliberately，becauseshewishedtogivetimeandtogainit；timeforDarrowandSophytoreceivethefullimpactofwhatshewassaying，andtimetoobserveitsfulleffectonthem。Shehadsaidtoherself：
　　"Ifthere’snothingbetweenthem，they’lllookateachother；ifthereISsomething，theywon’t；"andassheceasedtospeakshefeltasifallherlifewereinhereyes。
　　Sophy，afterastartofprotest，remainedmotionless，hergazeontheground。Darrow，hisfacegrowngrave，glancedslowlyfromOwenLeathtoAnna。Withhiseyesonthelatterheasked："HasMissVinerbrokenherengagement？"
　　Amoment’ssilencefollowedhisquestion；thenthegirllookedupandsaid："Yes！"
　　Owen，asshespoke，utteredasmotheredexclamationandwalkedoutoftheroom。Shecontinuedtostandinthesameplace，withoutappearingtonoticehisdeparture，andwithoutvouchsafinganadditionalwordofexplanation；then，beforeAnnacouldfindacrytodetainher，shetooturnedandwentout。
　　"ForGod’ssake，what’shappened？"Darrowasked；butAnna，withadropoftheheart，wassayingtoherselfthatheandSophyVinerhadnotlookedateachother。
　　XXV
　　Annastoodinthemiddleoftheroom，hereyesonthedoor。
　　Darrow’squestioninggazewasstillonher，andshesaidtoherselfwithaquick—drawnbreath："Ifonlyhedoesn’tcomenearme！"
　　Itseemedtoherthatshehadbeensuddenlyendowedwiththefatalgiftofreadingthesecretsenseofeveryseeminglyspontaneouslookandmovement，andthatinhisleastgestureofaffectionshewoulddetectacolddesign。
　　Foramomentlongerhecontinuedtolookatherenquiringly；
　　thenheturnedawayandtookuphishabitualstandbythemantel—piece。Shedrewadeepbreathofrelief。
　　"Won’tyoupleaseexplain？"hesaid。
　　"Ican’texplain：Idon’tknow。Ididn’tevenknow——tillshetoldyou——thatshereallymeanttobreakherengagement。
　　AllIknowisthatshecametomejustnowandsaidshewishedtoleaveGivretoday；andthatOwen，whenheheardofit——forshehadn’ttoldhim——atonceaccusedherofgoingawaywiththesecretintentionofthrowinghimover。"
　　"Andyouthinkit’sadefinitebreak？"Sheperceived，asshespoke，thathisbrowhadcleared。
　　"HowshouldIknow？Perhapsyoucantellme。"
　　"I？"Shefanciedhisfacecloudedagain，buthedidnotmovefromhistranquilattitude。
　　"AsItoldyou，"shewenton，"Owenhasworkedhimselfuptoimaginingthatforsomemysteriousreasonyou’veinfluencedSophyagainsthim。"
　　Darrowstillvisiblywondered。"Itmustindeedbeamysteriousreason！HeknowshowslightlyIknowMissViner。
　　Whyshouldheimagineanythingsowildlyimprobable？"
　　"Idon’tknowthateither。"
　　"Buthemusthavehintedatsomereason。"
　　"No：headmitshedoesn’tknowyourreason。HesimplysaysthatSophy’smannertohimhaschangedsinceshecamebacktoGivreandthathe’sseenyoutogetherseveraltimes——inthepark，thespring—house，Idon’tknowwhere——talkingaloneinawaythatseemedconfidential——almostsecret；andhedrawsthepreposterousconclusionthatyou’veusedyourinfluencetoturnheragainsthim。"
　　"Myinfluence？Whatkindofinfluence？"
　　"Hedoesn’tsay。"
　　Darrowagainseemedtoturnoverthefactsshegavehim。
　　Hisfaceremainedgrave，butwithouttheleasttraceofdiscomposure。"AndwhatdoesMissVinersay？"
　　"Shesaysit’sperfectlynaturalthatsheshouldoccasionallytalktomyfriendswhenshe’sundermyroof——
　　andrefusestogivehimanyotherexplanation。"
　　"Thatatleastisperfectlynatural！"
　　Annafelthercheeksflushassheanswered："Yes——butthereissomething————"
　　"Something————？"
　　"Somereasonforhersuddendecisiontobreakherengagement。IcanunderstandOwen’sfeeling，sorryasIamforhiswayofshowingit。Thegirloweshimsomesortofexplanation，andaslongassherefusestogiveithisimaginationissuretorunwild。"
　　"Shewouldhavegivenit，nodoubt，ifhedaskeditinadifferenttone。"
　　"Idon’tdefendOwen’stone——butsheknewwhatitwasbeforesheacceptedhim。Sheknowshe’sexcitableandundisciplined。"
　　"Well，she’sbeendisciplininghimalittle——probablythebestthingthatcouldhappen。Whynotletthematterrestthere？"
　　"LeaveOwenwiththeideathatyouHAVEbeenthecauseofthebreak？"
　　Hemetthequestionwithhiseasysmile。"Oh，astothat——
　　leavehimwithanyideaofmehechooses！Butleavehim，atanyrate，free。"
　　"Free？"sheechoedinsurprise。
　　"Simplyletthingsbe。You’vesurelydoneallyoucouldforhimandMissViner。Iftheydon’thititoffit’stheirownaffair。Whatpossiblemotivecanyouhavefortryingtointerferenow？"
　　Hergazewidenedtoadeeperwonder。"Why——naturally，whathesaysofyou！"
　　"Idon’tcareastrawwhathesaysofme！Insuchasituationaboyinlovewillsnatchatthemostfar—fetchedreasonratherthanfacethemortifyingfactthattheladymaysimplybetiredofhim。"
　　"YoudontquiteunderstandOwen。Thingsgodeepwithhim，andlastlong。Ittookhimalongtimetorecoverfromhisotherunluckyloveaffair。He’sromanticandextravagant：