"Imean，becauseIunderstandbetterhowonecantortureone’sselfoverunrealities。"
　　AsDarrowlistened，thetensionofhisnervesbegantorelax。Hergaze，sograveandyetsosweet，waslikeadeeppoolintowhichhecouldplungeandhidehimselffromthehardglareofhismisery。Asthisecstaticsenseenvelopedhimhefounditmoreandmoredifficulttofollowherwordsandtoframeananswer；butwhatdidanythingmatter，exceptthathervoiceshouldgoon，andthesyllablesfalllikesofttouchesonhistorturedbrain？
　　"Don’tyouknow，"shecontinued，"theblissofwakingfromabaddreaminone’sownquietroom，andgoingslowlyoverallthehorrorwithoutbeingafraidofitanymore？That’swhatI’mdoingnow。Andthat’swhyIunderstandOwen……"Shebrokeoff，andhefelthertouchonhisarm。"BECAUSE
　　I’DDREAMEDTHEHORRORTOO！"
　　Heunderstoodherthen，andstammered："You？"
　　"Forgiveme！Andletmetellyou！……ItwillhelpyoutounderstandOwen……ThereWERElittlethings……littlesigns……onceIhadbeguntowatchforthem：yourreluctancetospeakabouther……herreservewithyou……asortofconstraintwe’dneverseeninherbefore……"
　　Shelaughedupathim，andwithherhandsinhishecontrivedtosay："NOWyouunderstandwhy？"
　　"Oh，Iunderstand；ofcourseIunderstand；andIwantyoutolaughatme——withme！Becausetherewereotherthingstoo……crazierthingsstill……Therewaseven——lastnightontheterrace——herpinkcloak……"
　　"Herpinkcloak？"Nowhehonestlywondered，andasshesawitsheblushed。
　　"You’veforgottenaboutthecloak？ThepinkcloakthatOwensawyouwithattheplayinParis？Yes……yes……Iwasmadenoughforthat！……Itdoesmegoodtolaughaboutitnow！
　　ButyououghttoknowthatI’mgoingtobeajealouswoman……aridiculouslyjealouswoman……yououghttobewarnedofitintime……"
　　Hehaddroppedherhands，andsheleanedcloseandliftedherarmstohisneckwithoneofherraregesturesofsurrender。
　　"Idon’tknowwhyitis；butitmakesmehappiernowtohavebeensofoolish！"
　　Herlipswerepartedinanoiselesslaughandthetremorofherlashesmadetheirshadowmoveonhercheek。Helookedatherthroughamistofpainandsawallherofferedbeautyhelduplikeacuptohislips；butashestoopedtoitadarknessseemedtofallbetweenthem，herarmsslippedfromhisshouldersandshedrewawayfromhimabruptly。
　　"ButsheWASwithyou，then？"sheexclaimed；andthen，ashestaredather："Oh，don’tsayno！Onlygoandlookatyoureyes！"
　　Hestoodspeechless，andshepressedon："Don’tdenyit——oh，don’tdenyit！Whatwillbeleftformetoimagineifyoudo？Don’tyouseehoweverysinglethingcriesitout？Owenseesit——hesawitagainjustnow！WhenItoldhimshe’drelented，andwouldseehim，hesaid：’IsthatDarrow’sdoingtoo？’"
　　Darrowtooktheonslaughtinsilence。Hemighthavespoken，havesummoneduptheusualphrasesofbanteranddenial；hewasnotevencertainthattheymightnot，forthemoment，haveservedtheirpurposeifhecouldhaveutteredthemwithoutbeingseen。ButhewasasconsciousofwhathadhappenedtohisfaceasifhehadobeyedAnna’sbiddingandlookedathimselfintheglass。Heknewhecouldnomorehidefromherwhatwaswrittentherethanhecouldeffacefromhissoulthefieryrecordofwhathehadjustlivedthrough。Therebeforehim，staringhimintheeyes，andreflectingitselfinallhislineaments，wastheoverwhelmingfactofSophyViner’spassionandoftheactbywhichshehadattestedit。
　　Annawastalkingagain，hurriedly，feverishly，andhissoulwaswrungbytheanguishinhervoice。"Dospeakatlast——
　　youmustspeak！Idon’twanttoaskyoutoharmthegirl；
　　butyoumustseethatyoursilenceisdoinghermoreharmthanyouransweringmyquestionscould。You’releavingmeonlytheworstthingstothinkofher……she’dseethatherselfifshewerehere。Whatworseinjurycanyoudoherthantomakemehateher——tomakemefeelshe’splottedwithyoutodeceiveus？"
　　"Oh，notthat！"Darrowheardhisownvoicebeforehewasawarethathemeanttospeak。"Yes；IdidseeherinParis，"hewentonafterapause；"butIwasboundtorespectherreasonfornotwantingitknown。"
　　Annapaled。"Itwassheatthetheatrethatnight？"
　　"Iwaswithheratthetheatreonenight。"
　　"Whyshouldshehaveaskedyounottosayso？"
　　"Shedidn’twishitknownthatI’dmether。"
　　"Whyshouldn’tshehavewisheditknown？"
　　"ShehadquarrelledwithMrs。MurrettandcomeoversuddenlytoParis，andshedidn’twanttheFarlowstohearofit。I
　　cameacrossherbyaccident，andsheaskedmenottospeakofhavingseenher。"
　　"Becauseofherquarrel？Becauseshewasashamedofherpartinit？"
　　"Oh，no。Therewasnothingforhertobeashamedof。ButtheFarlowshadfoundtheplaceforher，andshedidn’twantthemtoknowhowsuddenlyshe’dhadtoleave，andhowbadlyMrs。Murretthadbehaved。Shewasinaterribleplight——thewomanhadevenkeptbackhermonth’ssalary。SheknewtheFarlowswouldbeawfullyupset，andshewantedmoretimetopreparethem。"
　　Darrowheardhimselfspeakasthoughthewordshadproceededfromotherlips。Hisexplanationsoundedplausibleenough，andhehalf—fanciedAnna’slookgrewlighter。Shewaitedamoment，asthoughtobesurehehadnomoretoadd；thenshesaid："ButtheFarlowsDIDknow；theytoldmeallaboutitwhentheysenthertome。"
　　Heflushedasifshehadlaidadeliberatetrapforhim。
　　"TheymayknowNOW；theydidn’tthen————"
　　"That’snoreasonforhercontinuingnowtomakeamysteryofhavingmetyou。"
　　"It’stheonlyreasonIcangiveyou。"
　　"ThenI’llgoandaskherforonemyself。"Sheturnedandtookafewstepstowardthedoor。
　　"Anna！"Hestartedtofollowher，andthencheckedhimself。
　　"Don’tdothat！"
　　"Whynot？"
　　"It’snotlikeyou……notgenerous……"
　　Shestoodbeforehimstraightandpale，butunderherrigidfacehesawthetumultofherdoubtandmisery。
　　"Idon’twanttobeungenerous；Idon’twanttopryintohersecrets。Butthingscan’tbeleftlikethis。Wouldn’titbebetterformetogotoher？Surelyshe’llunderstand——she’llexplain……Itmaybesomemeretrifleshe’sconcealing：
　　somethingthatwouldhorrifytheFarlows，butthatI
　　shouldn’tseeanyharmin……"Shepaused，hereyessearchinghisface。"Aloveaffair，Isuppose……that’sit？
　　Youmetherwithsomemanatthetheatre——andshewasfrightenedandbeggedyoutofibaboutit？Thosepooryoungthingsthathavetogoaboutamonguslikemachines——oh，ifyouknewhowIpitythem！"
　　"Ifyoupityher，whynotlethergo？"
　　Shestared。"Lethergo——goforgood，youmean？Isthatthebestyoucansayforher？"
　　"Letthingstaketheircourse。Afterall，it’sbetweenherselfandOwen。"
　　"Andyouandme——andEffie，ifOwenmarriesher，andIleavemychildwiththem！Don’tyouseetheimpossibilityofwhatyou’reasking？We’reallboundtogetherinthiscoil。"
　　Darrowturnedawaywithagroan。"Oh，lethergo——lethergo。"
　　"ThenthereISsomething——somethingreallybad？SheWASwithsomeonewhenyoumether？Someonewithwhomshewas————"Shebrokeoff，andhesawherstrugglingwithnewthoughts。"Ifit’sTHAT，ofcourse……Oh，don’tyousee，"shedesperatelyappealedtohim，"thatImustfindout，andthatit’stoolatenowforyounottospeak？Don’tbeafraidthatI’llbetrayyou……I’llnever，neverletasoulsuspect。ButImustknowthetruth，andsurelyit’sbestforherthatIshouldfinditoutfromyou。"
　　Darrowwaitedamoment；thenhesaidslowly："Whatyouimagine’smeremadness。Shewasatthetheatrewithme。"
　　"Withyou？"Hesawatremorpassthroughher，butshecontrolleditinstantlyandfacedhimstraightandmotionlessasawoundedcreatureinthemomentbeforeitfeelsitswound。"Whyshouldyoubothhavemadeamysteryofthat？"
　　"I’vetoldyoutheideawasnotmine。"Hecastabout。"ShemayhavebeenafraidthatOwen————"
　　"Butthatwasnotareasonforheraskingyoutotellmethatyouhardlyknewher——thatyouhadn’tevenseenherforyears。"Shebrokeoffandthebloodrosetoherfaceandforehead。"EvenifSHEhadotherreasons，therecouldbeonlyonereasonforyourobeyingher————"
　　Silencefellbetweenthem，asilenceinwhichtheroomseemedtobecomesuddenlyresonantwithvoices。Darrow’sgazewanderedtothewindowandhenoticedthatthegaleoftwodaysbeforehadnearlystrippedthetopsofthelime—
　　treesinthecourt。Annahadmovedawayandwasrestingherelbowsagainstthemantel—piece，herheadinherhands。Asshestoodtherehetookinwithanewintensityofvisionlittledetailsofherappearancethathiseyeshadoftencherished：thebranchingblueveinsinthebacksofherhands，thewarmshadowthatherhaircastonherear，andthecolourofthehairitself，dullblackwithatawnyunder—surface，likethewingsofcertainbirds。Hefeltittobeuselesstospeak。
　　Afterawhilesheliftedherheadandsaid："Ishallnotseeheragainbeforeshegoes。"
　　Hemadenoanswer，andturningtohimsheadded："Thatiswhyshe’sgoing，Isuppose？Becauseshelovesyouandwon’tgiveyouup？"
　　Darrowwaited。Thepaltrinessofconventionaldenialwassoapparenttohimthatevenifitcouldhavedelayeddiscoveryhecouldnolongerhaveresortedtoit。Underallhisotherfearswasthedreadofdishonouringthehour。
　　"SheHASgivenmeup，"hesaidatlast。
　　XXVIII
　　WhenhehadgoneoutoftheroomAnnastoodwherehehadlefther。"Imustbelievehim！Imustbelievehim！"shesaid。
　　Amomentbefore，atthemomentwhenshehadliftedherarmstohisneck，shehadbeenwrappedinasenseofcompletesecurity。Allthespiritsofdoubthadbeenexorcised，andherlovewasoncemoretheclearhabitationinwhicheverythoughtandfeelingcouldmoveinblissfulfreedom。Andthen，assheraisedherfacetoDarrow’sandmethiseyes，shehadseemedtolookintotheveryruinsofhissoul。
　　Thatwastheonlywayshecouldexpressit。Itwasasthoughheandshehadbeenlookingattwosidesofthesamething，andthesideshehadseenhadbeenalllightandlife，andhisaplaceofgraves……
　　Shedidn’tnowrecallwhohadspokenfirst，oreven，veryclearly，whathadbeensaid。Itseemedtoheronlyamomentlaterthatshehadfoundherselfstandingattheotherendoftheroom——theroomwhichhadsuddenlygrownsosmallthat，evenwithitslengthbetweenthem，shefeltasifhetouchedher——cryingouttohim"ItISbecauseofyoushe’sgoing！"andreadingtheavowalinhisface。
　　Thatwashissecret，then，THEIRsecret：hehadmetthegirlinParisandhelpedherinherstraits——lenthermoney，Annavaguelyconjectured——andshehadfalleninlovewithhim，andonmeetinghimagainhadbeensuddenlyovermasteredbyherpassion。Anna，droppingbackintohersofa—corner，satstaringthesefactsintheface。
　　Thegirlhadbeeninadesperateplight——frightened，penniless，outragedbywhathadhappened，andnotknowing（withawomanlikeMrs。Murrett）whatfreshinjurymightimpend；andDarrow，meetingherinthisdistractedhour，hadpitied，counselled，beenkindtoher，withthefatal，theinevitableresult。TherewerethefactsasAnnamadethemout：that，atleast，wastheirexternalaspect，wasasmuchofthemasshehadbeensufferedtosee；andintothesecretintricaciestheymightcovershedarednotyetprojectherthoughts。
　　"Imustbelievehim……Imustbelievehim……"Shekeptonrepeatingthewordslikeatalisman。Itwasnatural，afterall，thatheshouldhavebehavedashehad：defendedthegirl’spiteoussecrettothelast。Shetoobegantofeelthecontagionofhispity——thestir，inherbreast，offeelingsdeeperandmorenativetoherthanthepainsofjealousy。
　　Fromthesecurityofherblessednessshelongedtoleanoverwithcompassionatehands……ButOwen？WhatwasOwen’sparttobe？Sheowedherselffirsttohim——shewasboundtoprotecthimnotonlyfromallknowledgeofthesecretshehadsurprised，butalso——andchiefly！——fromitsconsequences。
　　Yes：thegirlmustgo——therecouldbenodoubtofit——Darrowhimselfhadseenitfromthefirst；andatthethoughtshehadawildrevulsionofrelief，asthoughshehadbeentryingtocreateinherheartthedelusionofagenerosityshecouldnotfeel……
　　TheonefactonwhichshecouldstayhermindwasthatSophywasleavingimmediately；wouldbeoutofthehousewithinanhour。Onceshewasgone，itwouldbeeasiertobringOwentothepointofunderstandingthatthebreakwasfinal；ifnecessary，toworkuponthegirltomakehimseeit。Butthat，Annawassure，wouldnotbenecessary。ItwasclearthatSophyVinerwasleavingGivrewithnothoughtofeverseeingitagain……
　　Suddenly，asshetriedtoputsomeorderinherthoughts，sheheardOwen’scallatthedoor："Mother！————"anameheseldomgaveher。Therewasanewnoteinhisvoice：thenoteofajoyousimpatience。Itmadeherturnhastilytotheglasstoseewhatfaceshewasabouttoshowhim；butbeforeshehadhadtimetocomposeithewasintheroomandshewascaughtinaschool—boyhug。
　　"It’sallright！It’sallright！Andit’sallyourdoing！I
　　wanttodotheworstkindofpenance——bellandcandleandtherest。I’vebeenthroughitwithHER，andnowshehandsmeontoyou，andyou’retocallmeanynamesyouplease。"Hefreedherwithhishappylaugh。"I’mtobestoodinthecornertillnextweek，andthenI’mtogouptoseeher。AndshesaysIoweitalltoyou！"
　　"Tome？"Itwasthefirstphraseshefoundtoclutchatasshetriedtosteadyherselfintheeddiesofhisjoy。
　　"Yes：youweresopatient，andsodeartoher；andyousawatoncewhatadamnedassI’dbeen！"Shetriedasmile，anditseemedtopassmusterwithhim，forhesentitbackinabroadbeam。"That’snotsodifficulttosee？No，Iadmititdoesn’ttakeamicroscope。Butyouweresowiseandwonderful——youalwaysare。I’vebeenmadtheselastdays，simplymad——youandshemightwellhavewashedyourhandsofme！Andinstead，it’sallright——allright！"
　　Shedrewbackalittle，tryingtokeepthesmileonherlipsandnotlethimgettheleastglimpseofwhatithid。Nowifever，indeed，itbehovedhertobewiseandwonderful！
　　"I’msoglad，dear；soglad。Ifonlyyou’llalwaysfeellikethataboutme……"Shestopped，hardlyknowingwhatshesaid，andaghastattheideathatherownhandsshouldhaveretiedtheknotsheimaginedtobebroken。Butshesawhehadsomethingmoretosay；somethinghardtogetout，butabsolutelynecessarytoexpress。Hecaughtherhands，pulledherclose，and，withhisforeheaddrawnintoitswhimsicalsmilingwrinkles，"Lookhere，"hecried，"ifDarrowwantstocallmeadamnedasstooyou’renottostophim！"
　　Itbroughtherbacktoasharpersenseofhercentralperil：
　　ofthesecrettobekeptfromhimatwhatevercosttoherrackednerves。
　　"Oh，youknow，hedoesn’talwayswaitfororders！"Onthewholeitsoundedbetterthanshe’dfeared。
　　"Youmeanhe’scalledmeonealready？"Heacceptedthefactwithhisgayestlaugh。"Well，thatsavesalotoftrouble；
　　nowwecanpasstotheorderoftheday————"hebrokeoffandglancedattheclock——"whichis，youknow，dear，thatshe’sstartinginaboutanhour；sheandAdelaidemustalreadybesnatchingahastysandwich。You’llcomedowntobidthemgood—bye？"
　　"Yes——ofcourse。"
　　Therehad，infact，grownuponherwhilehespoketheurgencyofseeingSophyVineragainbeforesheleft。Thethoughtwasdeeplydistasteful：Annashrankfromencounteringthegirltillshehadclearedawaythroughherownperplexities。Butitwasobviousthatsincetheyhadseparated，barelyanhourearlier，thesituationhadtakenanewshape。SophyVinerhadapparentlyreconsideredherdecisiontobreakamicablybutdefinitelywithOwen，andstoodagainintheirpath，amenaceandamystery；andconfusedimpulsesofresistancestirredinAnna’smind。
　　ShefeltOwen’stouchonherarm。"Areyoucoming？"
　　"Yes……yes……presently。"
　　"What’sthematter？Youlooksostrange。"
　　"Whatdoyoumeanbystrange？"
　　"Idon’tknow：startled——surprised"Shereadwhatherlookmustbebyitssuddenreflectioninhisface。
　　"DoI？Nowonder！You’vegivenusallanexcitingmorning。"
　　Heheldtohispoint。"You’remoreexcitednowthatthere’snocauseforit。WhatonearthhashappenedsinceIsawyou？"
　　Helookedabouttheroom，asifseekingthecluetoheragitation，andinherdreadofwhathemightguesssheanswered："WhathashappenedissimplythatI’mrathertired。WillyouaskSophytocomeupandseemehere？"
　　Whileshewaitedshetriedtothinkwhatsheshouldsaywhenthegirlappeared；butshehadneverbeenmoreconsciousofherinabilitytodealwiththeobliqueandthetortuous。
　　Shehadlackedthehardteachingsofexperience，andaninstinctivedisdainforwhateverwaslessclearandopenthanherownconsciencehadkeptherfromlearninganythingoftheintricaciesandcontradictionsofotherhearts。Shesaidtoherself："Imustfindout————"yeteverythinginherrecoiledfromthemeansbywhichshefeltitmustbedone……
　　SophyVinerappearedalmostimmediately，dressedfordeparture，herlittlebagonherarm。Shewasstillpaletothepointofhaggardness，butwithalightuponherthatstruckAnnawithsurprise。Orwasit，perhaps，thatshewaslookingatthegirlwithneweyes：seeingher，forthefirsttime，notasEffie’sgoverness，notasOwen’sbride，butastheembodimentofthatunknownperillurkinginthebackgroundofeverywoman’sthoughtsaboutherlover？Anna，atanyrate，withasuddensenseofestrangement，notedinhergracesandsnaresneverbeforeperceived。Itwasonlytheflashofaprimitiveinstinct，butitlastedlongenoughtomakeherashamedofthedarknessesitlitupinherheart……
　　ShesignedtoSophytositdownonthesofabesideher。"I
　　askedyoutocomeuptomebecauseIwantedtosaygood—byequietly，"sheexplained，feelingherlipstremble，buttryingtospeakinatoneoffriendlynaturalness。
　　Thegirl’sonlyanswerwasafaintsmileofacquiescence，andAnna，disconcertedbyhersilence，wenton："You’vedecided，then，nottobreakyourengagement？"
　　SophyVinerraisedherheadwithalookofsurprise。
　　Evidentlythequestion，thusabruptlyput，musthavesoundedstrangelyonthelipsofsoardentapartisanasMrs。Leath！
　　"Ithoughtthatwaswhatyouwished，"shesaid。
　　"WhatIwished？"Anna’sheartshookagainstherside。"I
　　wish，ofcourse，whateverseemsbestforOwen……It’snatural，youmustunderstand，thatthatconsiderationshouldcomefirstwithme……"
　　Sophywaslookingathersteadily。"Isupposeditwastheonlyonethatcountedwithyou。"
　　ThecurtnessofretortrousedAnna’slatentantagonism。"Itis，"shesaid，inahardvoicethatstartledherassheheardit。Hadsheeverspokensotoanyonebefore？Shefeltfrightened，asthoughherverynaturehadchangedwithoutherknowingit……Feelingthegirl’sastonishedgazestillonher，shecontinued："Thesuddennessofthechangehasnaturallysurprisedme。WhenIleftyouitwasunderstoodthatyouweretoreserveyourdecision————"
　　"Yes。"
　　"Andnow————？"Annawaitedforareplythatdidnotcome。
　　Shedidnotunderstandthegirl’sattitude，theedgeofironyinhershortsyllables，theplainlypremeditateddeterminationtolaytheburdenofproofonherinterlocutor。Annafeltthesuddenneedtolifttheirintercourseabovethismeanlevelofdefianceanddistrust。
　　ShelookedappealinglyatSophy。
　　"Isn’titbestthatweshouldspeakquitefrankly？It’sthischangeonyourpartthatperplexesme。Youcanhardlybesurprisedatthat。It’strue，IaskedyounottobreakwithOwentooabruptly——andIaskedit，believeme，asmuchforyoursakeasforhis：Iwantedyoutotaketimetothinkoverthedifficultythatseemstohavearisenbetweenyou。
　　Thefactthatyoufeltitrequiredthinkingoverseemedtoshowyouwouldn’ttakethefinalsteplightly——wouldn’t，I
　　mean，acceptofOwenmorethanyoucouldgivehim。ButyourchangeofmindobligesmetoaskthequestionIthoughtyouwouldhaveaskedyourself。Isthereanyreasonwhyyoushouldn’tmarryOwen？"
　　Shestoppedalittlebreathlessly，hereyesonSophyViner’sburningface。"Anyreason————？Whatdoyoumeanbyareason？"
　　Annacontinuedtolookathergravely。"Doyoulovesomeoneelse？"sheasked。
　　Sophy’sfirstlookwasoneofwonderandafaintrelief；
　　thenshegavebacktheother’sscrutinyinaglanceofindescribablereproach。"Ah，youmighthavewaited！"sheexclaimed。
　　"Waited？"
　　"TillI’dgone：tillIwasoutofthehouse。Youmighthaveknown……youmighthaveguessed……"SheturnedhereyesagainonAnna。"Ionlymeanttolethimhopealittlelonger，sothatheshouldn’tsuspectanything；ofcourseI
　　can’tmarryhim，"shesaid。
　　Annastoodmotionless，silencedbytheshockoftheavowal。
　　Shetoowastrembling，lesswithangerthanwithaconfusedcompassion。Butthefeelingwassoblentwithothers，lessgenerousandmoreobscure，thatshefoundnowordstoexpressit，andthetwowomenfacedeachotherwithoutspeaking。
　　"I’dbettergo，"Sophymurmuredatlengthwithloweredhead。
　　ThewordsrousedinAnnaalatentimpulseofcompunction。
　　Thegirllookedsoyoung，soexposedanddesolate！Andwhatthoughtsmustshebehidinginherheart！Itwasimpossiblethattheyshouldpartinsuchaspirit。
　　"Iwantyoutoknowthatnoonesaidanything……ItwasI
　　who……"
　　Sophylookedather。"YoumeanthatMr。Darrowdidn’ttellyou？Ofcoursenot：doyousupposeIthoughthedid？Youfounditout，that’sall——Iknewyouwould。InyourplaceI
　　shouldhaveguesseditsooner。"
　　Thewordswerespokensimply，withoutironyoremphasis；buttheywentthroughAnnalikeasword。Yes，thegirlwouldhavehaddivinations，promptingsthatshehadnothad！Shefelthalfenviousofsuchasadprecocityofwisdom。
　　"I’msosorry……sosorry……"shemurmured。
　　"Thingshappenthatway。NowI’dbettergo。I’dliketosaygood—byetoEffie。"
　　"Oh————"itbrokeinacryfromEffie’smother。"Notlikethis——youmustn’t！Ifeel——youmakemefeeltoohorribly：asifIweredrivingyouaway……"Thewordshadrushedupfromthedepthsofherbewilderedpity。
　　"Nooneisdrivingmeaway：Ihadtogo，"sheheardthegirlreply。
　　Therewasanothersilence，duringwhichpassionateimpulsesofmagnanimitywarredinAnnawithherdoubtsanddreads。
　　Atlength，hereyesonSophy’sface："Yes，youmustgonow，"
　　shebegan；"butlateron……afterawhile，whenallthisisover……ifthere’snoreasonwhyyoushouldn’tmarryOwen————
　　"shepausedamomentonthewords——"Ishouldn’twantyoutothinkIstoodbetweenyou……"
　　"You？"Sophyflushedagain，andthengrewpale。Sheseemedtotrytospeak，butnowordscame。
　　"Yes！ItwasnottruewhenIsaidjustnowthatIwasthinkingonlyofOwen。I’msorry——oh，sosorry！——foryoutoo。Yourlife——Iknowhowhardit’sbeen；andmine……mine’ssofull……Happywomenunderstandbest！"Annadrewnearandtouchedthegirl’shand；thenshebeganagain，pouringallhersoulintothebrokenphrases："It’sterriblenow……youseenofuture；butif，byandbye……youknowbest……butyou’resoyoung……andatyouragethingsDO
　　pass。Ifthere’snoreason，norealreason，whyyoushouldn’tmarryOwen，IWANThimtohope，I’llhelphimtohope……ifyousayso……"
　　WiththeurgencyofherpleadingherclasptightenedonSophy’shand，butitwarmedtonoresponsivetremor：thegirlseemednumb，andAnnawasfrightenedbythestonysilenceofherlook。"IsupposeI’mnotmorethanhalfawoman，"shemused，"forIdon’twantmyhappinesstohurther；"andaloudsherepeated："Ifonlyyou’lltellmethere’snoreason————"
　　Thegirldidnotspeak；butsuddenly，likeasnappedbranch，shebent，stoopeddowntothehandthatclaspedher，andlaidherlipsuponitinastreamofweeping。Shecriedsilently，continuously，abundantly，asthoughAnna’stouchhadreleasedthewatersofsomedeepspringofpain；then，asAnna，movedandhalfafraid，leanedoverherwithasoundofpity，shestoodupandturnedaway。
　　"You’regoing，then——forgood——likethis？"Annamovedtowardherandstopped。Sophystoppedtoo，witheyesthatshrankfromher。