Love，shetoldherself，wouldonedayreleaseherfromthisspellofunreality。Shewaspersuadedthatthesublimepassionwasthekeytotheenigma；butitwasdifficulttorelateherconceptionoflovetotheformsitworeinherexperience。Twoorthreeofthegirlsshehadenviedfortheirsuperioracquaintancewiththeartsoflifehadcontracted，inthecourseoftime，whatwerevariouslydescribedas"romantic"or"foolish"marriages；oneevenmadearunawaymatch，andlanguishedforawhileunderacloudofsocialreprobation。Here，then，waspassioninaction，romanceconvertedtoreality；yettheheroinesoftheseexploitsreturnedfromthemuntransfigured，andtheirhusbandswereasdullaseverwhenonehadtositnexttothematdinner。
　　Herowncase，ofcourse，wouldbedifferent。SomedayshewouldfindthemagicbridgebetweenWestFifty—fifthStreetandlife；onceortwiceshehadevenfanciedthatthecluewasinherhand。ThefirsttimewaswhenshehadmetyoungDarrow。Sherecalledevennowthestiroftheencounter。
　　Buthispassionsweptoverherlikeawindthatshakestheroofoftheforestwithoutreachingitsstillgladesorripplingitshiddenpools。Hewasextraordinarilyintelligentandagreeable，andherheartbeatfasterwhenhewaswithher。Hehadatallfaireasypresenceandamindinwhichthelightsofironyplayedpleasantlythroughtheshadesoffeeling。Shelikedtohearhisvoicealmostasmuchastolistentowhathewassaying，andtolistentowhathewassayingalmostasmuchastofeelthathewaslookingather；buthewantedtokissher，andshewantedtotalktohimaboutbooksandpictures，andhavehiminsinuatetheeternalthemeoftheirloveintoeverysubjecttheydiscussed。
　　Whenevertheywereapartareactionsetin。Shewonderedhowshecouldhavebeensocold，calledherselfaprudeandanidiot，questionedifanymancouldreallycareforher，andgotupinthedeadofnighttotrynewwaysofdoingherhair。Butassoonashereappearedherheadstraighteneditselfonherslimneckandshespedherlittleshaftsofirony，orflewherlittlekitesoferudition，whilehotandcoldwavessweptoverher，andthethingsshereallywantedtosaychokedinherthroatandburnedthepalmsofherhands。
　　Oftenshetoldherselfthatanysillygirlwhohadwaltzedthroughaseasonwouldknowbetterthanshehowtoattractamanandholdhim；butwhenshesaid"aman"shedidnotreallymeanGeorgeDarrow。
　　Thenoneday，atadinner，shesawhimsittingnexttooneofthesillygirlsinquestion：theheroineoftheelopementwhichhadshakenWestFifty—fifthStreettoitsbase。Theyoungladyhadcomebackfromheradventurenolesssillythanwhenshewent；andacrossthetablethepartnerofherflight，afatyoungmanwitheye—glasses，satstolidlyeatingterrapinandtalkingaboutpoloandinvestments。
　　Theyoungwomanwasundoubtedlyassillyasever；yetafterwatchingherforafewminutesMissSummersperceivedthatshehadsomehowgrownluminous，perilous，obscurelymenacingtonicegirlsandtheyoungmentheyintendedeventuallytoaccept。Suddenly，atthesight，arageofpossessorshipawokeinher。ShemustsaveDarrow，assertherrighttohimatanyprice。Prideandreticencewentdowninahurricaneofjealousy。Sheheardhimlaugh，andtherewassomethingnewinhislaugh……Shewatchedhimtalking，talking……Hesatslightlysideways，afaintsmilebeneathhislids，loweringhisvoiceashelowereditwhenhetalkedtoher。Shecaughtthesameinflections，buthiseyesweredifferent。
　　Itwouldhaveoffendedheronceifhehadlookedatherlikethat。Nowheronethoughtwasthatnonebutshehadarighttobesolookedat。Andthatgirlofallothers！Whatillusionscouldhehaveaboutagirlwho，hardlyayearago，hadmadeafoolofherselfoverthefatyoungmanstolidlyeatingterrapinacrossthetable？Ifthatwaswhereromanceandpassionended，itwasbettertotaketodistrictvisitingoralgebra！
　　Allnightshelayawakeandwondered："Whatwasshesayingtohim？HowshallIlearntosaysuchthings？"andshedecidedthatherheartwouldtellher——thatthenexttimetheywerealonetogethertheirresistiblewordwouldspringtoherlips。Hecamethenextday，andtheywerealone，andallshefoundwas："Ididn’tknowthatyouandKittyMayneweresuchfriends。"
　　Heansweredwithindifferencethathedidn’tknowiteither，andinthereactionofreliefshedeclared："She’scertainlyeversomuchprettierthanshewas……"
　　"She’srathergoodfun，"headmitted，asthoughhehadnotnoticedherotheradvantages；andsuddenlyAnnasawinhiseyesthelookshehadseentherethepreviousevening。
　　Shefeltasifhewereleaguesandleaguesawayfromher。
　　Allherhopesdissolved，andshewasconsciousofsittingrigidly，withhighheadandstraightlips，whiletheirresistiblewordfledwithalastwing—beatintothegoldenmistofherillusions……
　　ShewasstillquiveringwiththepainandbewildermentofthisadventurewhenFraserLeathappeared。ShemethimfirstinItaly，whereshewastravellingwithherparents；
　　andthefollowingwinterhecametoNewYork。InItalyhehadseemedinteresting：inNewYorkhebecameremarkable。
　　HeseldomspokeofhislifeinEurope，andletdropbutthemostincidentalallusionstothefriends，thetastes，thepursuitswhichfilledhiscosmopolitandays；butintheatmosphereofWestFifty—fifthStreetheseemedtheembodimentofastoriedpast。HepresentedMissSummerswithaprettily—boundanthologyoftheoldFrenchpoetsand，whensheshowedadiscriminatingpleasureinthegift，observedwithhisgravesmile："Ididn’tsupposeIshouldfindanyoneherewhowouldfeelaboutthesethingsasI
　　do。"Onanotheroccasionheaskedheracceptanceofahalf—
　　effacedeighteenthcenturypastelwhichhehadsurprisinglypickedupinaNewYorkauction—room。"Iknownoonebutyouwhowouldreallyappreciateit，"heexplained。
　　Hepermittedhimselfnoothercomments，buttheseconveyedwithsufficientdirectnessthathethoughtherworthyofadifferentsetting。Thatsheshouldbesoregardedbyamanlivinginanatmosphereofartandbeauty，andesteemingthemthevitalelementsoflife，madeherfeelforthefirsttimethatshewasunderstood。Herewassomeonewhosescaleofvalueswasthesameashers，andwhothoughtheropinionworthhearingontheverymatterswhichtheybothconsideredofsupremeimportance。Thediscoveryrestoredherself—
　　confidence，andsherevealedherselftoMr。LeathasshehadneverknownhowtorevealherselftoDarrow。
　　Asthecourtshipprogressed，andtheygrewmoreconfidential，hersuitorsurprisedanddelightedherbylittleexplosionsofrevolutionarysentiment。Hesaid：
　　"Shallyoumind，Iwonder，ifItellyouthatyouliveinadread—fullyconventionalatmosphere？"and，seeingthatshemanifestlydidnotmind："OfcourseIshallsaythingsnowandthenthatwillhorrifyyourdeardelightfulparents——I
　　shallshockthemawfully，Iwarnyou。"
　　Inconfirmationofthiswarninghepermittedhimselfanoccasionalplayfulflingattheregularchurch—goingofMr。
　　andMrs。Summers，attheinnocuouscharacteroftheliteratureintheirlibrary，andattheirguilelessappreciationsinart。HeevenventuredtobanterMrs。
　　SummersonherrefusaltoreceivetheirrepressibleKittyMaynewho，afterarapidpassagewithGeorgeDarrow，wasnowinvolvedinanotherandmoreflagrantadventure。
　　"InEurope，youknow，thehusbandisregardedastheonlyjudgeinsuchmatters。Aslongasheacceptsthesituation——"Mr。LeathexplainedtoAnna，whotookhisviewthemoreemphaticallyinordertoconvinceherselfthat，personally，shehadnonebutthemosttolerantsentimentstowardthelady。
　　ThesubversivenessofMr。Leath’sopinionswasenhancedbythedistinctionofhisappearanceandthereserveofhismanners。Hewasliketheanarchistwithagardeniainhisbuttonholewhofiguresinthehighermelodrama。Everyword，everyallusion，everynoteofhisagreeably—modulatedvoice，gaveAnnaaglimpseofasocietyatoncefreerandfiner，whichobservedthetraditionalformsbuthaddiscardedtheunderlyingprejudices；whereastheworldsheknewhaddiscardedmanyoftheformsandkeptalmostalltheprejudices。
　　Insuchanatmosphereashisaneageryoungwoman，curiousastoallthemanifestationsoflife，yetinstinctivelydesiringthattheyshouldcometoherintermsofbeautyandfinefeeling，mustsurelyfindthelargestscopeforself—
　　expression。Study，travel，thecontactoftheworld，thecomradeshipofapolishedandenlightenedmind，wouldcombinetoenrichherdaysandformhercharacter；anditwasonlyintheraremomentswhenMr。Leath’ssymmetricalblondmaskbentoverhers，andhiskissdroppedonherlikeacoldsmoothpebble，thatshequestionedthecompletenessofthejoysheoffered。
　　Therehadbeenatimewhenthewallsonwhichhergazenowrestedhadshedaglareofironyontheseearlydreams。InthefirstyearsofhermarriagethesobersymmetryofGivrehadsuggestedonlyherhusband’sneatly—balancedmind。Itwasamind，shesoonlearned，contentedlyabsorbedinformulatingtheconventionsoftheunconventional。WestFifty—fifthStreetwasnomoreconscientiouslyconcernedthanGivrewiththemomentousquestionof"whatpeopledid"；
　　itwasonlythetypeofdeedinvestigatedthatwasdifferent。Mr。Leathcollectedhissocialinstanceswiththesameseriousnessandpatienceashissnuff—boxes。Heexactedarigidconformitytohisrulesofnon—conformityandhisscepticismhadtheabsoluteaccentofadogma。Heevencherishedcertainexceptionstohisrulesasthebook—
　　collectorprizesa"defective"firstedition。TheProtestantchurch—goingofAnna’sparentshadprovokedhisgentlesarcasm；buthepridedhimselfonhismother’sdevoutness，becauseMadamedeChantelle，inembracinghersecondhusband’screed，hadbecomepartofasocietywhichstillobservestheoutwardritesofpiety。
　　Anna，infact，haddiscoveredinheramiableandelegantmother—in—lawanunexpectedembodimentoftheWestFifty—
　　fifthStreetideal。Mrs。SummersandMadamedeChantelle，howeverstronglytheywouldhavedisagreedastotheauthorizedsourceofChristiandogma，wouldhavefoundthemselvescompletelyinaccordonallthemomentousminutiaeofdrawing—roomconduct；yetMr。Leathtreatedhismother’sfoibleswitharespectwhichAnna’sexperienceofhimforbadehertoattributewhollytofilialaffection。
　　Intheearlydays，whenshewasstillquestioningtheSphinxinsteadoftryingtofindananswertoit，sheventuredtotaxherhusbandwithhisinconsistency。
　　"Yousayyourmotherwon’tlikeitifIcallonthatamusinglittlewomanwhocameheretheotherday，andwasletinbymistake；butMadamedeChantelletellsmesheliveswithherhusband，andwhenmotherrefusedtovisitKittyMayneyousaid————"
　　Mr。Leath’ssmilearrestedher。"Mydearchild，Idon’tpretendtoapplytheprinciplesoflogictomypoormother’sprejudices。"
　　"ButifyouadmitthattheyAREprejudices————？"
　　"Thereareprejudicesandprejudices。Mymother，ofcourse，gothersfromMonsieurdeChantelle，andtheyseemtomeasmuchintheirplaceinthishouseasthepot—pourriinyourhawthornjar。TheypreserveasocialtraditionofwhichI
　　shouldbesorrytolosetheleastperfume。OfcourseI
　　don’texpectyou，justatfirst，tofeelthedifference，toseethenuance。InthecaseoflittleMadamedeVireville，forinstance：youpointoutthatshe’sstillunderherhusband’sroof。Verytrue；andifsheweremerelyaParisacquaintance——especiallyifyouhadmether，asonestillmight，intheRIGHTKINDofhouseinParis——I
　　shouldbethelasttoobjecttoyourvisitingher。Butinthecountryit’sdifferent。Eventhebestprovincialsocietyiswhatyouwouldcallnarrow：Idon’tdenyit；andifsomeofourfriendsmetMadamedeVirevilleatGivre——
　　well，itwouldproduceabadimpression。You’reinclinedtoridiculesuchconsiderations，butgraduallyyou’llcometoseetheirimportance；andmeanwhile，dotrustmewhenIaskyoutobeguidedbymymother。ItisalwayswellforastrangerinanoldsocietytoerralittleonthesideofwhatyoucallitsprejudicesbutIshouldratherdescribeasitstraditions。"
　　Afterthatshenolongertriedtolaughorargueherhusbandoutofhisconvictions。TheyWEREconvictions，andthereforeunassailable。Norwasanyinsincerityimpliedinthefactthattheysometimesseemedtocoincidewithhers。
　　Therewereoccasionswhenhereallydidlookatthingsasshedid；butforreasonssodifferentastomakethedistancebetweenthemallthegreater。Life，toMr。Leath，waslikeawalkthroughacarefullyclassifiedmuseum，where，inmomentsofdoubt，onehadonlytolookatthenumberandrefertoone’scatalogue；tohiswifeitwaslikegropingaboutinahugedarklumber—roomwheretheexploringrayofcuriositylitupnowsomeshapeofbreathingbeautyandnowamummy’sgrin。
　　Inthefirstbewildermentofhernewstatethesediscoverieshadhadtheeffectofdroppinganotherlayerofgauzebetweenherselfandreality。Sheseemedfartherthaneverremovedfromthestrongjoysandpangsforwhichshefeltherselfmade。Shedidnotadoptherhusband’sviews，butinsensiblyshebegantolivehislife。Shetriedtothrowacompensatingardourintothesecretexcursionsofherspirit，andthustheoldviciousdistinctionbetweenromanceandrealitywasre—establishedforher，andsheresignedherselfagaintothebeliefthat"reallife"wasneitherrealnoralive。
　　Thebirthofherlittlegirlsweptawaythisdelusion。Atlastshefeltherselfincontactwiththeactualbusinessofliving：buteventhisimpressionwasnotenduring。
　　Everythingbuttheirreduciblecrudefactofchild—bearingassumed，intheLeathhousehold，thesameghostlytingeofunreality。Herhusband，atthetime，wasallthathisownidealofahusbandrequired。Hewasattentive，andevensuitablymoved：butashesatbyherbedside，andthoughtfullyprofferedtoherthelistofpeoplewhohad"calledtoenquire"，shelookedfirstathim，andthenatthechildbetweenthem，andwonderedattheblunderingalchemyofNature……
　　Withtheexceptionofthelittlegirlherself，everythingconnectedwiththattimehadgrowncuriouslyremoteandunimportant。Thedaysthathadmovedsoslowlyastheypassedseemednowtohaveplungeddownhead—longsteepsoftime；andasshesatintheautumnsun，withDarrow’sletterinherhand，thehistoryofAnnaLeathappearedtoitsheroinelikesomegreyshadowytalethatshemighthavereadinanoldbook，onenightasshewasfallingasleep……
　　X
　　Twobrownblursemergingfromthefartherendofthewood—
　　vistagraduallydefinedthemselvesasherstep—sonandanattendantgame—keeper。Theygrewslowlyuponthebluishbackground，withoccasionaldelaysandre—effacements，andshesatstill，waitingtilltheyshouldreachthegateattheendofthedrive，wherethekeeperwouldturnofftohiscottageandOwencontinueontothehouse。
　　Shewatchedhisapproachwithasmile。Fromthefirstdaysofhermarriageshehadbeendrawntotheboy，butitwasnotuntilafterEffie’sbirththatshehadreallybeguntoknowhim。TheeagerobservationofherownchildhadshownherhowmuchshehadstilltolearnabouttheslightfairboywhomtheholidaysperiodicallyrestoredtoGivre。Owen，eventhen，bothphysicallyandmorally，furnishedherwiththeoddestofcommentariesonhisfather’smienandmind。
　　Hewouldnever，thefamilysighinglyrecognized，benearlyashandsomeasMr。Leath；buthisrathercharminglyunbalancedface，withitsbroodingforeheadandpetulantboyishsmile，suggestedtoAnnawhathisfather’scountenancemighthavebeencouldonehavepictureditsneatfeaturesdisorderedbyarattlingbreeze。Sheevenpushedtheanalogyfarther，anddescriedinherstep—son’smindaquaintly—twistedreflectionofherhusband’s。Withhisburstsofdoor—slammingactivity，hisfitsofbookishindolence，hiscruderevolutionarydogmatizingandhisflashesofprecociousirony，theboywasnotunlikeaboisterousembodimentofhisfather’stheories。ItwasasthoughFraserLeath’sideas，accustomedtohanglikemarionettesontheirpegs，shouldsuddenlycomedownandwalk。Thereweremoments，indeed，whenOwen’shumoursmusthavesuggestedtohisprogenitorthegambolsofaninfantFrankenstein；buttoAnnatheywerethevoiceofhersecretrebellions，andhertendernesstoherstep—sonwaspartlybasedonherseveritytowardherself。Ashehadthecourageshehadlacked，soshemeanthimtohavethechancesshehadmissed；andeveryeffortshemadeforhimhelpedtokeepherownhopesalive。
　　HerinterestinOwenledhertothinkmoreoftenofhismother，andsometimesshewouldslipawayandstandalonebeforeherpredecessor’sportrait。SinceherarrivalatGivrethepicture——a"full—length"byaoncefashionableartist——hadundergonethesuccessivedisplacementsofanexiledconsortremovedfartherandfartherfromthethrone；
　　andAnnacouldnothelpnotingthatthesestagescoincidedwiththegradualdeclineoftheartist’sfame。ShehadafancythatifhiscredithadbeenintheascendantthefirstMrs。Leathmighthavecontinuedtothroneoverthedrawing—
　　roommantel—piece，eventotheexclusionofhersuccessor’seffigy。Insteadofthis，herperegrinationshadfinallylandedherintheshroudedsolitudeofthebilliard—room，anapartmentwhichnooneeverentered，butwhereitwasunderstoodthat"thelightwasbetter，"ormighthavebeeniftheshuttershadnotbeenalwaysclosed。
　　Herethepoorlady，elegantlydressed，andseatedinthemiddleofalargelonelycanvas，intheblankcontemplationofagiltconsole，hadalwaysseemedtoAnnatobewaitingforvisitorswhonevercame。
　　"Ofcoursetheynevercame，youpoorthing！Iwonderhowlongittookyoutofindoutthattheyneverwould？"Annahadmorethanonceapostrophizedher，withaderisionaddressedrathertoherselfthantothedead；butitwasonlyafterEffie’sbirththatitoccurredtohertostudymorecloselythefaceinthepicture，andspeculateonthekindofvisitorsthatOwen’smothermighthavehopedfor。
　　"Shecertainlydoesn’tlookasiftheywouldhavebeenthesamekindasmine：butthere’snotelling，fromaportraitthatwassoobviouslydone’topleasethefamily’，andthatleavesOwensounaccountedfor。Well，theynevercame，thevisitors；theynevercame；andshediedofit。Shediedofitlongbeforetheyburiedher：I’mcertainofthat。Thosearestone—deadeyesinthepicture……Thelonelinessmusthavebeenawful，ifevenOwencouldn’tkeepherfromdyingofit。AndtofeelitsoshemusthaveHADfeelings——
　　realliveones，thekindthattwitchandtug。Andallshehadtolookatallherlifewasagiltconsole——yes，that’sit，agiltconsolescrewedtothewall！That’sexactlyandabsolutelywhatheis！"
　　Shedidnotmean，ifshecouldhelpit，thateitherEffieorOwenshouldknowthatloneliness，orletherknowitagain。
　　Theywerethree，now，tokeepeachotherwarm，andsheembracedbothchildreninthesamepassionofmotherhood，asthoughonewerenotenoughtoshieldherfromherpredecessor’sfate。
　　SometimesshefanciedthatOwenLeath’sresponsewaswarmerthanthatofherownchild。ButthenEffiewasstillhardlymorethanababy，andOwen，fromthefirst，hadbeenalmost"oldenoughtounderstand"：certainlyDIDunderstandnow，inatacitwaythatyetperpetuallyspoketoher。Thissenseofhisunderstandingwasthedeepestelementintheirfeelingforeachother。Thereweresomanythingsbetweenthemthatwereneverspokenof，orevenindirectlyalludedto，yetthat，evenintheiroccasionaldiscussionsanddifferences，formedtheunadducedargumentsmakingforfinalagreement……
　　Musingonthis，shecontinuedtowatchhisapproach；andherheartbegantobeatalittlefasteratthethoughtofwhatshehadtosaytohim。Butwhenhereachedthegateshesawhimpause，andafteramomentheturnedasideasiftogainacross—roadthroughthepark。
　　Shestartedupandwavedhersunshade，buthedidnotseeher。Nodoubthemeanttogobackwiththegamekeeper，perhapstothekennels，toseearetrieverwhohadhurthisleg。Suddenlyshewasseizedbythewhimtoovertakehim。
　　Shethrewdowntheparasol，thrustherletterintoherbodice，andcatchingupherskirtsbegantorun。
　　Shewasslightandlight，withanaturaleaseandquicknessofgait，butshecouldnotrecallhavingrunayardsinceshehadrompedwithOweninhisschool—days；nordidsheknowwhatimpulsemovedhernow。Sheonlyknewthatrunshemust，thatnoothermotion，shortofflight，wouldhavebeenbuoyantenoughforherhumour。Sheseemedtobekeepingpacewithsomeinwardrhythm，seekingtogivebodilyexpressiontothelyricrushofherthoughts。Theearthalwaysfeltelasticunderher，andshehadaconsciousjoyintreadingit；butneverhaditbeenassoftandspringyastoday。Itseemedactuallytoriseandmeetherasshewent，sothatshehadthefeeling，whichsometimescametoherindreams，ofskimmingmiraculouslyovershortbrightwaves。
　　Theair，too，seemedtobreakinwavesagainsther，sweepingbyonitscurrentalltheslantedlightsandmoistsharpperfumesofthefailingday。Shepantedtoherself："Thisisnonsense！"herbloodhummedback："Butit’sglorious！"
　　andshespedontillshesawthatOwenhadcaughtsightofherandwasstridingbackinherdirection。
　　Thenshestoppedandwaited，flushedandlaughing，herhandsclaspedagainsttheletterinherbreast。
　　"No，I’mnotmad，"shecalledout；"butthere’ssomethingintheairtoday——don’tyoufeelit？——AndIwantedtohavealittletalkwithyou，"sheaddedashecameuptoher，smilingathimandlinkingherarminhis。
　　Hesmiledback，butabovethesmileshesawtheshadeofanxietywhich，forthelasttwomonths，hadkeptitsfixedlinebetweenhishandsomeeyes。
　　"Owen，don’tlooklikethat！Idon’twantyouto！"shesaidimperiously。
　　Helaughed。"YousaidthatexactlylikeEffie。Whatdoyouwantmetodo？ToracewithyouasIdoEffie？ButI
　　shouldn’thaveashow！"heprotested，stillwiththelittlefrownbetweenhiseyes。
　　"Whereareyougoing？"sheasked。
　　"Tothekennels。Butthere’snottheleastneed。ThevethasseenGarryandhe’sallright。Ifthere’sanythingyouwantedtotellme————"
　　"DidIsaytherewas？Ijustcameouttomeetyou——Iwantedtoknowifyou’dhadgoodsport。"
　　Theshadowdroppedonhimagain。"Noneatall。ThefactisIdidn’ttry。JeanandIhavejustbeenknockingaboutinthewoods。Iwasn’tinasanguinarymood。"
　　Theywalkedonwiththesamelightgait，sonearlyofaheightthatkeepingstepcameasnaturallytothemasbreathing。Annastoleanotherlookattheyoungfaceonalevelwithherown。
　　"YouDIDsaytherewassomethingyouwantedtotellme，"
　　herstep—sonbeganafterapause。
　　"Well，thereis。"Sheslackenedherpaceinvoluntarily，andtheycametoapauseandstoodfacingeachotherunderthelimes。
　　"IsDarrowcoming？"heasked。
　　Sheseldomblushed，butatthequestionasuddenheatsuffusedher。Sheheldherheadhigh。
　　"Yes：he’scoming。I’vejustheard。Hearrivesto—morrow。
　　Butthat’snot————"Shesawherblunderandtriedtorectifyit。"Orrather，yes，inawayitismyreasonforwantingtospeaktoyou————"
　　"Becausehe’scoming？"
　　"Becausehe’snotyethere。"
　　"It’sabouthim，then？"
　　Helookedatherkindly，half—humourously，analmostfraternalwisdominhissmile。
　　"About————？No，no：ImeantthatIwantedtospeaktodaybecauseit’sourlastdayalonetogether。"
　　"Oh，Isee。"Hehadslippedhishandsintothepocketsofhistweedshootingjacketandloungedalongatherside，hiseyesbentonthemoistrutsofthedrive，asthoughthematterhadlostallinterestforhim。
　　"Owen————"
　　Hestoppedagainandfacedher。"Lookhere，mydear，it’snosortofuse。"
　　"What’snouse？"