AllthroughthesemeditationsrantheundercurrentofanabsolutetrustinSophyViner。Shethoughtofthegirlwithaminglingofantipathyandconfidence。Itwashumiliatingtoherpridetorecognizekindredimpulsesinacharacterwhichshewouldhavelikedtofeelcompletelyalientoher。
　　Butwhatindeedwasthegirlreallylike？Sheseemedtohavenoscruplesandathousanddelicacies。ShehadgivenherselftoDarrow，andconcealedtheepisodefromOwenLeath，withnomoreapparentsenseofdebasementthanthevulgarestofadventuresses；yetshehadinstantlyobeyedthevoiceofherheartwhenitbadeherpartfromtheoneandservetheother。
　　Annatriedtopicturewhatthegirl’slifemusthavebeen：
　　whatexperiences，whatinitiations，hadformedher。Butherowntraininghadbeentoodifferent：therewereveilsshecouldnotlift。Shelookedbackathermarriedlife，anditscolourlessuniformitytookonanairofhighrestraintandorder。Wasitbecauseshehadbeensoincuriousthatithadwornthatlooktoher？Itstruckherwithamazementthatshehadnevergivenathoughttoherhusband’spast，orwonderedwhathedidandwherehewentwhenhewasawayfromher。Ifshehadbeenaskedwhatshesupposedhethoughtaboutwhentheywereapart，shewouldinstantlyhaveanswered：hissnuff—boxes。Ithadneveroccurredtoherthathemighthavepassions，interests，preoccupationsofwhichshewasabsolutelyignorant。YethewentuptoParisratherregularly：ostensiblytoattendsalesandexhibitions，ortoconferwithdealersandcollectors。Shetriedtopicturehim，straight，trim，beautifullybrushedandvarnished，walkingfurtivelydownaquietstreet，andlookingabouthimbeforeheslippedintoadoorway。Sheunderstoodnowthatshehadbeencoldtohim：whatmorelikelythanthathehadsoughtcompensations？Allmenwerelikethat，shesupposed——nodoubthersimplicityhadamusedhim。
　　IntheactoftransposingFraserLeathintoaDonJuanshewaspulledupbytheironicperceptionthatshewassimplytryingtojustifyDarrow。Shewantedtothinkthatallmenwere"likethat"becauseDarrowwas"likethat"：shewantedtojustifyheracceptanceofthefactbypersuadingherselfthatonlythroughsuchconcessionscouldwomenlikeherselfhopetokeepwhattheycouldnotgiveup。Andsuddenlyshewasfilledwithangeratherblindness，andthenatherdisastrousattempttosee。WhyhadsheforcedthetruthoutofDarrow？Ifonlyshehadheldhertonguenothingneedeverhavebeenknown。SophyVinerwouldhavebrokenherengagement，Owenwouldhavebeensentaroundtheworld，andherowndreamwouldhavebeenunshattered。Butshehadprobed，insisted，cross—examined，notrestedtillshehaddraggedthesecrettothelight。Shewasoneofthelucklesswomenwhoalwayshavethewrongaudacities，andwhoalwaysknowit……
　　Wasitshe，AnnaLeath，whowaspicturingherselftoherselfinthatway？Sherecoiledfromherthoughtsasifwithasenseofdemoniacpossession，andthereflashedthroughherthelongingtoreturntoheroldstateoffearlessignorance。IfatthatmomentshecouldhavekeptDarrowfromfollowinghertoGivreshewouldhavedoneso……
　　Buthecame；andwiththesightofhimtheturmoilfellandshefeltherselfreassured，rehabilitated。Hearrivedtowarddusk，andshemotoredtoFrancheuiltomeethim。Shewantedtoseehimassoonaspossible，forshehaddivined，throughthenewinsightthatwasinher，thatonlyhispresencecouldrestorehertoanormalviewofthings。Inthemotor，astheyleftthetownandturnedintothehigh—
　　road，heliftedherhandandkissedit，andsheleanedagainsthim，andfeltthecurrentsflowbetweenthem。Shewasgratefultohimfornotsayinganything，andfornotexpectinghertospeak。Shesaidtoherself："Henevermakesamistake——healwaysknowswhattodo"；andthenshethoughtwithastartthatitwasdoubtlessbecausehehadsooftenbeeninsuchsituations。Theideathathistactwasakindofprofessionalexpertnessfilledherwithrepugnance，andinsensiblyshedrewawayfromhim。Hemadenomotiontobringhernearer，andsheinstantlythoughtthatthatwascalculatedtoo。Shesatbesidehiminfrozenmisery，wonderingwhether，henceforth，shewouldmeasureinthiswayhiseverylookandgesture。Neitherofthemspokeagaintillthemotorturnedunderthedarkarchoftheavenue，andtheysawthelightsofGivretwinklingatitsend。ThenDarrowlaidhishandonhersandsaid："Iknow，dear——"andthehardnessinhermelted。"He’ssufferingasIam，"shethought；andforamomentthebalefulfactbetweenthemseemedtodrawthemcloserinsteadofwallingthemupintheirseparatewretchedness。
　　Itwaswonderfultobeoncemorere—enteringthedoorsofGivrewithhim，andastheoldhousereceivedthemintoitsmellowsilenceshehadagainthesenseofpassingoutofadreadfuldreamintothereassuranceofkindlyandfamiliarthings。Itdidnotseempossiblethatthesequietrooms，sofulloftheslowly—distilledaccumulationsofafastidioustaste，shouldhavebeenthesceneoftragicdissensions。
　　Thememoryofthemseemedtobeshutoutintothenightwiththeclosingandbarringofitsdoors。
　　Atthetea—tableintheoak—roomtheyfoundMadamedeChantelleandEffie。Thelittlegirl，catchingsightofDarrow，raceddownthedrawing—roomstomeethim，andreturnedintriumphonhisshoulder。Annalookedatthemwithasmile。Effie，forallhergraces，wascharyofsuchfavours，andhermotherknewthatinaccordingthemtoDarrowshehadadmittedhimtothecirclewhereOwenhadhithertoruled。
　　Overthetea—tableDarrowgaveMadamedeChantelletheexplanationofhissuddenreturnfromEngland。OnreachingLondon，hetoldher，hehadfoundthatthesecretaryhewastohavereplacedwasdetainedtherebytheillnessofhiswife。TheAmbassador，knowingDarrow’surgentreasonsforwishingtobeinFrance，hadimmediatelyproposedhisgoingback，andawaitingatGivrethesummonstorelievehiscolleague；andhehadjumpedintothefirsttrain，withoutevenwaitingtotelegraphthenewsofhisrelease。Hespokenaturally，easily，inhisusualquietvoice，takinghisteafromEffie，helpinghimselftothetoastshehanded，andstoopingnowandthentostrokethedozingterrier。Andsuddenly，asAnnalistenedtohisexplanation，sheaskedherselfifitweretrue。
　　Thequestion，ofcourse，wasabsurd。Therewasnopossiblereasonwhyheshouldinventafalseaccountofhisreturn，andeveryprobabilitythattheversionhegavewastherealone。ButhehadlookedandspokeninthesamewaywhenhehadansweredherprobingquestionsaboutSophyViner，andshereflectedwithachilloffearthatshewouldneveragainknowifhewerespeakingthetruthornot。Shewassurehelovedher，andshedidnotfearhisinsincerityasmuchasherowndistrustofhim。Foramomentitseemedtoherthatthismustcorrupttheverysourceoflove；thenshesaidtoherself："Byandbye，whenIamaltogetherhis，weshallbesoneareachotherthattherewillbenoroomforanydoubtsbetweenus。"Butthedoubtsweretherenow，onemomentlulledtoquiescence，thenextmoretorturinglyalert。WhenthenurseappearedtosummonEffie，thelittlegirl，afterkissinghergrandmother，entrenchedherselfonDarrow’skneewiththeimperiousdemandtobecarrieduptobed；andAnna，whileshelaughinglyprotested，saidtoherselfwithapang："CanIgiveherafatheraboutwhomI
　　thinksuchthings？"
　　ThethoughtofEffie，andofwhatsheowedtoEffie，hadbeenthefundamentalreasonforherdelaysandhesitationswhensheandDarrowhadcometogetheragaininEngland。Herownfeelingwassoclearthatbutforthatscrupleshewouldhaveputherhandinhisatonce。Buttillshehadseenhimagainshehadneverconsideredthepossibilityofre—
　　marriage，andwhenitsuddenlyconfrontedheritseemed，forthemoment，todisorganizethelifeshehadplannedforherselfandherchild。ShehadnotspokenofthistoDarrowbecauseitappearedtoherasubjecttobedebatedwithinherownconscience。Thequestion，then，wasnotastohisfitnesstobecometheguideandguardianofherchild；nordidshefearthatherloveforhimwoulddepriveEffieoftheleastfractionofhertenderness，sinceshedidnotthinkofloveassomethingmeasuredandexhaustiblebutasatreasureperpetuallyrenewed。WhatshequestionedwasherrighttointroduceintoherlifeanyinterestsanddutieswhichmightrobEffieofapartofhertime，orlessentheclosenessoftheirdailyintercourse。
　　Shehaddecidedthisquestionasitwasinevitablethatsheshould；butnowanotherwasbeforeher。Assuredly，atherage，therewasnopossiblereasonwhysheshouldcloisterherselftobringupherdaughter；buttherewaseveryreasonfornotmarryingamaninwhomherownfaithwasnotcomplete……
　　XXXIV
　　Whenshewokethenextmorningshefeltagreatlightnessofheart。SherecalledherlastawakeningatGivre，threedaysbefore，whenithadseemedasthoughallherlifehadgonedownindarkness。NowDarrowwasoncemoreunderthesameroofwithher，andoncemorehisnearnesssufficedtomaketheloominghorrordropaway。Shecouldalmosthavesmiledatherscruplesofthenightbefore：asshelookedbackonthemtheyseemedtobelongtotheoldignoranttimoroustimewhenshehadfearedtolooklifeintheface，andhadbeenblindtothemysteriesandcontradictionsofthehumanheartbecauseherownhadnotbeenrevealedtoher。Darrowhadsaid："Youweremadetofeeleverything"；andtofeelwassurelybetterthantojudge。
　　Whenshecamedownstairshewasalreadyintheoak—roomwithEffieandMadamedeChantelle，andthesenseofreassurancewhichhispresencegaveherwasmergedinthereliefofnotbeingabletospeakofwhatwasbetweenthem。Butthereitwas，inevitably，andwhenevertheylookedateachothertheysawit。Inherdreadofgivingitamoretangibleshapeshetriedtodevisemeansofkeepingthelittlegirlwithher，and，whenthelatterhadbeencalledawaybythenurse，foundanexcuseforfollowingMadamedeChantelleupstairstothepurplesitting—room。ButaconfidentialtalkwithMadamedeChantelleimpliedthedetaileddiscussionofplansofwhichAnnacouldhardlyyetbeartoconsiderthevaguestoutline：thedateofhermarriage，therelativeadvantagesofsailingfromLondonorLisbon，thepossibilityofhiringahabitablehouseattheirnewpost；and，whentheseproblemswereexhausted，theapplicationofthesamemethodtothesubjectofOwen’sfuture。
　　Hisgrandmother，havingnosuspicionoftherealreasonofSophyViner’sdeparture，hadthoughtit"extremelysuitable"
　　oftheyounggirltowithdrawtotheshelterofheroldfriends’roofinthehourofbridalpreparation。ThismaidenlyretreathadinfactimpressedMadamedeChantellesofavourablythatshewasdisposedforthefirsttimetotalkoverOwen’sprojects；andaseveryhumaneventtranslateditselfforherintotermsofsocialanddomesticdetail，Annahadperforcetotravelthesameroundagain。
　　ShefeltamomentaryreliefwhenDarrowpresentlyjoinedthem；buthiscomingservedonlytodrawtheconversationbacktothequestionoftheirownfuture，andAnnafeltanewpangassheheardhimcalmlyandlucidlydiscussingit。
　　Didsuchself—possessionimplyindifferenceorinsincerity？
　　Inthatproblemhermindperpetuallyrevolved；andshedreadedtheoneanswerasmuchastheother。
　　Shewasresolvedtokeeponhercourseasthoughnothinghadhappened：tomarryDarrowandneverlettheconsciousnessofthepastintrudeitselfbetweenthem；butshewasbeginningtofeelthattheonlywayofattainingtothisstateofdetachmentfromtheirreparablewasonceforalltoturnbackwithhimtoitscontemplation。AssoonasthisdesirehadgerminateditbecamesostronginherthatsheregrettedhavingpromisedEffietotakeheroutfortheafternoon。
　　Butshecouldthinkofnopretextfordisappointingthelittlegirl，andsoonafterluncheonthethreesetforthinthemotortoshowDarrowachateaufamousintheannalsoftheregion。DuringtheirexcursionAnnafounditimpossibletoguessfromhisdemeanourifEffie’spresencebetweenthemwasasmuchofastraintohiscomposureastohers。Heremainedimperturbablygood—humouredandappreciativewhiletheywenttheroundofthemonument，andsheremarkedonlythatwhenhethoughthimselfunnoticedhisfacegrewgraveandhisanswerscamelesspromptly。
　　Onthewayback，twoorthreemilesfromGivre，shesuddenlyproposedthattheyshouldwalkhomethroughtheforestwhichskirtedthatsideofthepark。Darrowacquiesced，andtheygotoutandsentEffieoninthemotor。TheirwayledthroughabitofsoberFrenchwoodland，flatasafadedtapestry，butwithgleamsofliveemeraldlingeringhereandthereamongitsbrownsandochres。Theluminousgreyairgavevividnesstoitsdyingcolours，andveiledthedistantglimpsesofthelandscapeinsoftuncertainty。InsuchasolitudeAnnahadfancieditwouldbeeasiertospeak；butasshewalkedbesideDarrowoverthedeepsoundlessflooringofbrownmossthewordsonherlipstookflightagain。Itseemedimpossibletobreakthespellofquietjoywhichhispresencelaidonher，andwhenhebegantotalkoftheplacetheyhadjustvisitedsheansweredhisquestionsandthenwaitedforwhatheshouldsaynext……No，decidedlyshecouldnotspeak；shenolongerevenknewwhatshehadmeanttosay……
　　Thesameexperiencerepeateditselfseveraltimesthatdayandthenext。WhensheandDarrowwereapartsheexhaustedherselfinappealandinterrogation，sheformulatedwithaferventlucidityeverypointinherimaginaryargument。Butassoonasshewasalonewithhimsomethingdeeperthanreasonandsubtlerthanshynesslaiditsbenumbingtouchuponher，andthedesiretospeakbecamemerelyadimdisquietude，throughwhichhislooks，hiswords，histouch，reachedherasthroughamistofbodilypain。Yetthisinertiawastornbywildflashesofresistance，andwhentheywereapartshebegantoprepareagainwhatshemeanttosaytohim。
　　Sheknewhecouldnotbewithherwithoutbeingawareofthisinnerturmoil，andshehopedhewouldbreakthespellbysomereleasingword。Butshepresentlyunderstoodthatherecognizedthefutilityofwords，andwasresolutelybentonholdinghertoherownpurposeofbehavingasifnothinghadhappened。Oncemoresheinwardlyaccusedhimofinsensibility，andherimaginationwasbesetbytormentingvisionsofhispast……Hadsuchthingshappenedtohimbefore？Iftheepisodehadbeenanisolatedaccident——"amomentoffollyandmadness"，ashehadcalledit——shecouldunderstand，oratleastbegintounderstand（foratacertainpointherimaginationalwaysturnedback）；butifitwereamerelinkinachainofsimilarexperiments，thethoughtofitdishonouredherwholepast……
　　Effie，intheinterregnumbetweengovernesses，hadbeengivenleavetodinedownstairs；andAnna，ontheeveningofDarrow’sreturn，keptthelittlegirlwithhertilllongafterthenursehadsignalledfromthedrawing—roomdoor。
　　Whenatlengthshehadbeencarriedoff，Annaproposedagameofcards，andafterthisdiversionhaddrawntoitslanguidcloseshesaidgood—nighttoDarrowandfollowedMadamedeChantelleupstairs。ButMadamedeChantelleneversatuplate，andthesecondevening，withtheamiablyimpliedintentionofleavingAnnaandDarrowtothemselves，shetookanearlierleaveofthemthanusual。
　　Annasatsilent，listeningtohersmallstiffstepsastheyminceddownthehallanddiedoutinthedistance。MadamedeChantellehadbrokenherwoodenembroideryframe，andDarrow，havingofferedtorepairit，haddrawnhischairuptoatablethatheldalamp。Annawatchedhimashesatwithbentheadandknittedbrows，tryingtofittogetherthedisjoinedpieces。Thesightofhim，sotranquillyabsorbedinthistriflingbusiness，seemedtogivetothequietroomaperfumeofintimacy，tofillitwithasenseofsweetfamiliarhabit；anditcameoverheragainthatsheknewnothingoftheinnerthoughtsofthismanwhowassittingbyherasahusbandmight。Thelamplightfellonhiswhiteforehead，onthehealthybrownofhischeek，thebacksofhisthinsunburnthands。Asshewatchedthehandshersenseofthembecameasvividasatouch，andshesaidtoherself：
　　"ThatotherwomanhassatandwatchedhimasIamdoing。
　　ShehasknownhimasIhaveneverknownhim……Perhapsheisthinkingofthatnow。OrperhapshehasforgottenitallascompletelyasIhaveforgotteneverythingthathappenedtomebeforehecame……"
　　Helookedyoung，active，storedwithstrengthandenergy；
　　notthemanforvainrepiningsorlongmemories。Shewonderedwhatshehadtoholdorsatisfyhim。Helovedhernow；shehadnodoubtofthat；buthowcouldshehopetokeephim？Theyweresonearlyofanagethatalreadyshefeltherselfhissenior。Asyetthedifferencewasnotvisible；outwardlyatleasttheywerematched；butill—
　　healthorunhappinesswouldsoondoawaywiththisequality。
　　Shethoughtwithapangofbitterness："Hewon’tgrowanyolderbecausehedoesn’tfeelthings；andbecausehedoesn’t，ISHALL……"
　　Andwhensheceasedtopleasehim，whatthen？Hadhethetraditionoffaithtothespokenvow，orthedeeperpietyoftheunspokendedication？Whatwashistheory，whathisinnerconvictioninsuchmatters？Butwhatdidshecareforhisconvictionsorhistheories？Nodoubthelovedhernow，andbelievedhewouldalwaysgoonlovingher，andwaspersuadedthat，ifheceasedto，hisloyaltywouldbeproofagainstthechange。Whatshewantedtoknowwasnotwhathethoughtaboutitinadvance，butwhatwouldimpelorrestrainhimatthecrucialhour。Sheputnofaithinherownarts：shewastoosureofhavingnone！Andifsomebeneficentenchanterhadbestowedthemonher，sheknewnowthatshewouldhaverejectedthegift。Shecouldhardlyconceiveofwantingthekindoflovethatwasastateonecouldbecozenedinto……
　　Darrow，puttingawaytheframe，walkedacrosstheroomandsatdownbesideher；andshefelthehadsomethingspecialtosay。
　　"They’resuretosendformeinadayortwonow，"hebegan。
　　Shemadenoanswer，andhecontinued："You’lltellmebeforeIgowhatdayI’mtocomebackandgetyou？"
　　ItwasthefirsttimesincehisreturntoGivrethathehadmadeanydirectallusiontothedateoftheirmarriage；andinsteadofansweringhimshebrokeout："There’ssomethingI’vebeenwantingyoutoknow。TheotherdayinParisIsawMissViner。"
　　Shesawhimflushwiththeintensityofhissurprise。
　　"Yousentforher？"
　　"No；sheheardfromAdelaidethatIwasinParisandshecame。Shecamebecauseshewantedtourgemetomarryyou。
　　Ithoughtyououghttoknowwhatshehaddone。"
　　Darrowstoodup。"I’mgladyou’vetoldme。"Hespokewithavisibleeffortatcomposure。Hereyesfollowedhimashemovedaway。
　　"Isthatall？"heaskedafteraninterval。
　　"Itseemstomeagreatdeal。"
　　"It’swhatshe’dalreadyaskedme。"Hisvoiceshowedherhowdeeplyhewasmoved，andathrobofjealousyshotthroughher。
　　"Oh，itwasforyoursake，Iknow！"Hemadenoanswer，andsheadded："She’sbeenexceedinglygenerous……Whyshouldn’twespeakofit？"
　　Shehadloweredherhead，butthroughherdroppedlidssheseemedtobewatchingthecrowdedsceneofhisface。
　　"I’venotshrunkfromspeakingofit。"
　　"Speakingofher，then，Imean。ItseemstomethatifI
　　couldtalktoyouaboutherIshouldknowbetter————"
　　Shebrokeoff，confused，andhequestioned："Whatisityouwanttoknowbetter？"
　　Thecolourrosetoherforehead。Howcouldshetellhimwhatshescarcelydaredowntoherself？Therewasnothingshedidnotwanttoknow，nofoldorcrannyofhissecretthatherawakenedimaginationdidnotstraintopenetrate；
　　butshecouldnotexposeSophyVinertothebasefingeringsofaretrospectivejealousy，norDarrowtothetemptationofbelittlingherintheefforttobetterhisowncase。Thegirlhadbeenmagnificent，andtheonlyworthyreturnthatAnnacouldmakewastotakeDarrowfromherwithoutaquestionifshetookhimatall……
　　Sheliftedhereyestohisface。"IthinkIonlywantedtospeakhername。It’snotrightthatweshouldseemsoafraidofit。IfIwerereallyafraidofitIshouldhavetogiveyouup，"shesaid。
　　Hebentoverherandcaughthertohim。"Ah，youcan’tgivemeupnow！"heexclaimed。
　　Shesufferedhimtoholdherfastwithoutspeaking；buttheolddreadwasbetweenthemagain，anditwasonherlipstocryout："HowcanIhelpit，whenIAMsoafraid？"
　　XXXV
　　Thenextmorningthedreadwasstillthere，andsheunderstoodthatshemustsnatchherselfoutofthetorporofthewillintowhichshehadbeengraduallysinking，andtellDarrowthatshecouldnotbehiswife。
　　Theknowledgecametoherinthewatchesofasleeplessnight，when，throughthetearsofdisenchantedpassion，shestaredbackuponherpast。Thereitlaybeforeher，hersoleromance，inallitspaltrypoverty，thecheapestofcheapadventures，themostpitifulofsentimentalblunders。
　　Shelookedaboutherroom，theroomwhere，forsomanyyears，ifherhearthadbeenquiescentherthoughtshadbeenalive，andpicturedherselfhenceforthcoweringbeforeathrongofmeansuspicions，ofunavowedcompromisesandconcessions。Inthatmomentofself—searchingshesawthatSophyVinerhadchosenthebetterpart，andthatcertainrenunciationsmightenrichwherepossessionwouldhaveleftadesert。
　　Passionatereactionsofinstinctfoughtagainsttheseeffortsofherwill。Whyshouldpastorfuturecoerceher，whenthepresentwassosecurelyhers？Whyinsanelysurrenderwhattheotherwouldafterallneverhave？HersenseofironywhisperedthatifshesentawayDarrowitwouldnotbetoSophyViner，buttothefirstwomanwhocrossedhispath——as，inasimilarhour，SophyVinerherselfhadcrossedit……Butthemerefactthatshecouldthinksuchthingsofhimsenthershudderingbacktotheoppositepole。
　　Shepicturedherselfgraduallysubduedtosuchaconceptionoflifeandlove，shepicturedEffiegrowingupundertheinfluenceofthewomanshesawherselfbecoming——andshehidhereyesfromthehumiliationofthepicture……
　　TheywereatluncheonwhenthesummonsthatDarrowexpectedwasbroughttohim。HehandedthetelegramtoAnna，andshelearnedthathisAmbassador，onthewaytoaGermancure，wastobeinParisthenexteveningandwishedtoconferwithhimtherebeforehewentbacktoLondon。Theideathatthedecisivemomentwasathandwassoagitatingtoherthatwhenluncheonwasoversheslippedawaytotheterraceandthencewentdownalonetothegarden。Thedaywasgreybutmild，withtheheavinessofdecayintheair。Sherambledonaimlessly，followingunderthedenudedboughsthepathsheandDarrowhadtakenontheirfirstwalktotheriver。
　　Shewassurehewouldnottrytoovertakeher：surehewouldguesswhyshewishedtobealone。Thereweremomentswhenitseemedtodoubleherlonelinesstobesocertainofhisreadingherheartwhileshewassodesperatelyignorantofhis……
　　Shewanderedonformorethananhour，andwhenshereturnedtothehouseshesaw，assheenteredthehall，thatDarrowwasseatedatthedeskinOwen’sstudy。Heheardherstep，andlookingupturnedinhischairwithoutrising。Theireyesmet，andshesawthathiswereclearandsmiling。Hehadaheapofpapersathiselbowandwasevidentlyengagedinsomeofficialcorrespondence。Shewonderedthathecouldaddresshimselfsocomposedlytohistask，andthenironicallyreflectedthatsuchdetachmentwasasignofhissuperiority。Shecrossedthethresholdandwenttowardhim；
　　butassheadvancedshehadasuddenvisionofOwen，standingoutsideinthecoldautumnduskandwatchingDarrowandSophyVinerastheyfacedeachotheracrossthelamplitdesk……Theevocationwassovividthatitcaughtherbreathlikeablow，andshesankdownhelplesslyonthedivanamongthepiled—upbooks。Distinctly，atthemoment，sheunderstoodthattheendhadcome。"WhenhespeakstomeI
　　willtellhim！"shethought