"Anythingonearthyoucananyofyousay。"
　　Shechallengedhim："AmIoneof’anyofyou’？"
　　Hedidnotyield。"Well，then——anythingonearththatevenYOUcansay。"
　　"Youdon’tintheleastknowwhatIcansay——orwhatImeanto。"
　　"Don’tI，generally？"
　　Shegavehimthispoint，butonlytomakeanother。"Yes；butthisisparticularly。Iwanttosay……Owen，you’vebeenadmirableallthrough。"
　　Hebrokeintoalaughinwhichtheoddelder—brotherlynotewasoncemoreperceptible。
　　"Admirable，"sheemphasized。"AndsohasSHE。"
　　"Oh，andsohaveyoutoHER！"Hisvoicebrokedowntoboyishness。"I’veneverlostsightofthatforaminute。
　　It’sbeenaltogethereasierforher，though，"hethrewoffpresently。
　　"Onthewhole，Isupposeithas。Well————"shesummedupwithalaugh，"aren’tyouallthebetterpleasedtobetoldyou’vebehavedaswellasshe？"
　　"Oh，youknow，I’venotdoneitforyou，"hetossedbackather，withouttheleastnoteofhostilityintheaffectedlightnessofhistone。
　　"Haven’tyou，though，perhaps——theleastbit？Because，afterall，youknewIunderstood？"
　　"You’vebeenawfullykindaboutpretendingto。"
　　Shelaughed。"Youdon’tbelieveme？YoumustrememberIhadyourgrandmothertoconsider。"
　　"Yes：andmyfather——andEffie，Isuppose——andtheoutragedshadesofGivre！"Hepaused，asiftolaymorestressontheboyishsneer："DoyoulikewiseincludethelateMonsieurdeChantelle？"
　　Hisstep—motherdidnotappeartoresentthethrust。Shewenton，inthesametoneofaffectionatepersuasion："Yes：
　　ImusthaveseemedtoyoutoosubjecttoGivre。PerhapsI
　　havebeen。Butyouknowthatwasnotmyrealobjectinaskingyoutowait，tosaynothingtoyourgrandmotherbeforeherreturn。"
　　Heconsidered。"Yourrealobject，ofcourse，wastogaintime。"
　　"Yes——butforwhom？WhynotforYOU？"
　　"Forme？"Heflushedupquickly。"Youdon’tmean————？"
　　Shelaidherhandonhisarmandlookedgravelyintohishandsomeeyes。
　　"ImeanthatwhenyourgrandmothergetsbackfromOuchyI
　　shallspeaktoher————"
　　"You’llspeaktoher……？"
　　"Yes；ifonlyyou’llpromisetogivemetime————"
　　"TimeforhertosendforAdelaidePainter？"
　　"Oh，she’llundoubtedlysendforAdelaidePainter！"
　　Theallusiontouchedaspringofmirthinboththeirminds，andtheyexchangedalaughinglook。
　　"Onlyyoumustpromisenottorushthings。YoumustgivemetimetoprepareAdelaidetoo，"Mrs。Leathwenton。
　　"Preparehertoo？"Hedrewawayforabetterlookather。
　　"Prepareherforwhat？"
　　"Why，toprepareyourgrandmother！Foryourmarriage。Yes，that’swhatImean。I’mgoingtoseeyouthrough，youknow————"
　　Hisfeintofindifferencebrokedownandhecaughtherhand。
　　"Oh，youdeardivinething！Ididn’tdream————"
　　"Iknowyoudidn’t。"Shedroppedhergazeandbegantowalkonslowly。"Ican’tsayyou’veconvincedmeofthewisdomofthestep。OnlyIseemtoseethatotherthingsmattermore——andthatnotmissingthingsmattersmost。PerhapsI’vechanged——orYOURnotchanginghasconvincedme。
　　I’mcertainnowthatyouwon’tbudge。AndthatwasreallyallIevercaredabout。"
　　"Oh，astonotbudging——Itoldyousomonthsago：youmighthavebeensureofthat！Andhowcanyoubeanysurertodaythanyesterday？"
　　"Idon’tknow。Isupposeonelearnssomethingeveryday————
　　"
　　"NotatGivre！"helaughed，andshotahalf—ironiclookather。"Butyouhaven’treallyBEENatGivrelately——notformonths！Don’tyousupposeI’venoticedthat，mydear？"
　　Sheechoedhislaughtomergeitinanundenyingsigh。"PoorGivre……"
　　"PooremptyGivre！Withsomanyroomsfullandyetnotasoulinit——exceptofcoursemygrandmother，whoisitssoul！"
　　Theyhadreachedthegatewayofthecourtandstoodlookingwithacommonaccordatthelongsoft—huedfacadeonwhichtheautumnlightwasdying。"Itlookssomadetobehappyin————"shemurmured。
　　"Yes——today，today！"Hepressedherarmalittle。"Oh，youdarling——tohavegivenitthatlookforme！"Hepaused，andthenwentoninalowervoice："Don’tyoufeelweoweittothepooroldplacetodowhatwecantogiveitthatlook？
　　You，too，Imean？Come，let’smakeitgrinfromwingtowing！I’vesuchamaddesiretosayoutrageousthingstoit——haven’tyou？Afterall，inoldtimestheremusthavebeenlivingpeoplehere！"
　　Looseningherarmfromhisshecontinuedtogazeupatthehouse—front，whichseemed，intheplaintivedeclineoflight，tosendherbackthemuteappealofsomethingdoomed。
　　"ItISbeautiful，"shesaid。
　　"Abeautifulmemory！QuiteperfecttotakeoutandturnoverwhenI’mgrindingatthelawinNewYork，andyou’re————"Hebrokeoffandlookedatherwithaquestioningsmile。
　　"Come！Tellme。YouandIdon’thavetosaythingstotalktoeachother。WhenyouturnsuddenlyabsentmindedandmysteriousIalwaysfeellikesaying：’Comeback。Allisdiscovered’。"
　　Shereturnedhissmile。"YouknowasmuchasIknow。I
　　promiseyouthat。"
　　Hewavered，asifforthefirsttimeuncertainhowfarhemightgo。"Idon’tknowDarrowasmuchasyouknowhim，"hepresentlyrisked。
　　Shefrownedalittle。"Yousaidjustnowwedidn’tneedtosaythings"
　　"WasIspeaking？Ithoughtitwasyoureyes————"Hecaughtherbybothelbowsandspunherhalfwayround，sothatthelatesunshedabetrayinggleamonherface。
　　"They’resuchawfullyconversationaleyes！Don’tyousupposetheytoldmelongagowhyit’sjusttodayyou’vemadeupyourmindthatpeoplehavegottolivetheirownlives——evenatGivre？"
　　XI
　　"Thisisthesouthterrace，"Annasaid。"Shouldyouliketowalkdowntotheriver？"
　　Sheseemedtolistentoherselfspeakingfromafar—offairyheight，andyettobewhollygatheredintothecircleofconsciousnesswhichdrewitsglowingringaboutherselfandDarrow。Totheaeriallistenerherwordssoundedflatandcolourless，buttotheselfwithintheringeachonebeatwithaseparateheart。
　　ItwasthedayafterDarrow’sarrival，andhehadcomedownearly，drawnbythesweetnessofthelightonthelawnsandgardensbelowhiswindow。Annahadheardtheechoofhissteponthestairs，hispauseinthestone—flaggedhall，hisvoiceasheaskedaservantwheretofindher。Shewasattheendofthehouse，inthebrown—panelledsitting—roomwhichshefrequentedatthatseasonbecauseitcaughtthesunlightfirstandkeptitlongest。Shestoodnearthewindow，inthepalebandofbrightness，arrangingsomesalmon—pinkgeraniumsinashallowporcelainbowl。Everysensationoftouchandsightwasthrice—aliveinher。Thegrey—greenfurofthegeraniumleavescaressedherfingersandthesunlightwaveringacrosstheirregularsurfaceoftheoldparquetfloormadeitseemasbrightandshiftingasthebrownbedofastream。
　　Darrowstoodframedinthedoor—wayofthefarthestdrawing—
　　room，alight—greyfigureagainsttheblackandwhiteflaggingofthehall；thenhebegantomovetowardherdowntheemptypale—panelledvista，crossingoneafteranotherthelongreflectionswhichaprojectingcabinetorscreencasthereandthereupontheshiningfloors。
　　Ashedrewnearer，hisfigurewassuddenlydisplacedbythatofherhusband，whom，fromthesamepoint，shehadsooftenseenadvancingdownthesameperspective。Straight，spare，erect，lookingtorightandleftwithquickpreciseturnsofthehead，andstoppingnowandthentostraightenachairoralterthepositionofavase，FraserLeathusedtomarchtowardherthroughthedoublefileoffurniturelikeageneralreviewingaregimentdrawnupforhisinspection。
　　Atacertainpoint，midwayacrossthesecondroom，healwaysstoppedbeforethemantel—pieceofpinkish—yellowmarbleandlookedathimselfinthetallgarlandedglassthatsurmountedit。Shecouldnotrememberthathehadeverfoundanythingtostraightenoralterinhisownstudiedattire，butshehadneverknownhimtoomittheinspectionwhenhepassedthatparticularmirror。
　　Whenitwasoverhecontinuedmorebrisklyonhisway，andtheresultingexpressionofsatisfactionwasstillonhisfacewhenheenteredtheoaksitting—roomtogreethiswife……
　　ThespectralprojectionofthislittledailyscenehungbutforamomentbeforeAnna，butinthatmomentshehadtimetoflingawonderingglanceacrossthedistancebetweenherpastandpresent。Thenthefootstepsofthepresentcameclose，andshehadtodropthegeraniumstogiveherhandtoDarrow……
　　"Yes，letuswalkdowntotheriver。"
　　Theyhadneitherofthem，asyet，foundmuchtosaytoeachother。Darrowhadarrivedlateonthepreviousafternoon，andduringtheeveningtheyhadhadbetweenthemOwenLeathandtheirownthoughts。Nowtheywerealoneforthefirsttimeandthefactwasenoughinitself。YetAnnawasintenselyawarethatassoonastheybegantotalkmoreintimatelytheywouldfeelthattheykneweachotherlesswell。
　　Theypassedoutontotheterraceanddownthestepstothegravelwalkbelow。Thedelicatefrostingofdewgavethegrassabluishshimmer，andthesunlight，slidinginemeraldstreaksalongthetree—boles，gathereditselfintogreatluminousblursattheendofthewood—walks，andhungabovethefieldsawaterygloryliketheringaboutanautumnmoon。
　　"It’sgoodtobehere，"Darrowsaid。
　　Theytookaturntotheleftandstoppedforamomenttolookbackatthelongpinkhouse—front，plainer，friendlier，lessadornedthanonthesidetowardthecourt。Soprolongedyetdelicatehadbeenthefrictionoftimeuponitsbricksthatcertainexpanseshadthebloomandtextureofoldredvelvet，andthepatchesofgoldlichenspreadingoverthemlookedlikethelasttracesofadimembroidery。
　　Thedomeofthechapel，withitsgildedcross，roseaboveonewing，andtheotherendedinaconicalpigeon—house，abovewhichthebirdswereflying，lustrousandslatey，theirbreastsmergedintheblueoftheroofwhentheydroppeddownonit。
　　"Andthisiswhereyou’vebeenalltheseyears。"
　　Theyturnedawayandbegantowalkdownalongtunnelofyellowingtrees。Bencheswithmossyfeetstoodagainstthemossyedgesofthepath，andatitsfartherenditwidenedintoacircleaboutabasinrimmedwithstone，inwhichtheopaquewaterstrewnwithleaveslookedlikeaslabofgold—
　　fleckedagate。Thepath，growingnarrower，woundoncircuitouslythroughthewoods，betweenslenderserriedtrunkstwinedwithivy。Patchesofblueappearedabovethemthroughthedwindlingleaves，andpresentlythetreesdrewbackandshowedtheopenfieldsalongtheriver。
　　Theywalkedonacrossthefieldstothetow—path。Inacurveofthewallsomestepsleduptoacrumblingpavilionwithopeningschokedwithivy。AnnaandDarrowseatedthemselvesonthebenchprojectingfromtheinnerwallofthepavilionandlookedacrosstheriverattheslopesdividedintoblocksofgreenandfawn—colour，andatthechalk—tintedvillageliftingitssquatchurch—towerandgreyroofsagainstthepreciselydrawnlinesofthelandscape。
　　Annasatsilent，sointenselyawareofDarrow’snearnessthattherewasnosurpriseinthetouchhelaidonherhand。
　　Theylookedateachother，andhesmiledandsaid："Therearetobenomoreobstaclesnow。"
　　"Obstacles？"Thewordstartledher。"Whatobstacles？"
　　"Don’tyourememberthewordingofthetelegramthatturnedmebacklastMay？’Unforeseenobstacle’：thatwasit。Whatwastheearth—shakingproblem，bytheway？FindingagovernessforEffie，wasn’tit？"
　　"ButIgaveyoumyreason：thereasonwhyitwasanobstacle。Iwroteyoufullyaboutit。"
　　"Yes，Iknowyoudid。"Heliftedherhandandkissedit。
　　"Howfaroffitallseems，andhowlittleitallmatterstoday！"
　　Shelookedathimquickly。"Doyoufeelthat？IsupposeI’mdifferent。Iwanttodrawallthosewastedmonthsintotoday——tomakethemapartofit。"
　　"Buttheyare，tome。Youreachbackandtakeeverything——
　　backtothefirstdaysofall。"
　　Shefrownedalittle，asifstrugglingwithaninarticulateperplexity。"It’scurioushow，inthosefirstdays，too，somethingthatIdidn’tunderstandcamebetweenus。"
　　"Oh，inthosedaysweneitherofusunderstood，didwe？It’spartofwhat’scalledtheblissofbeingyoung。"
　　"Yes，Ithoughtthat，too：thoughtit，Imean，inlookingback。Butitcouldn’t，eventhen，havebeenastrueofyouasofme；andnow————"
　　"Now，"hesaid，"theonlythingthatmattersisthatwe’resittingheretogether。"
　　Hedismissedtherestwithalightnessthatmighthaveseemedconclusiveevidenceofherpoweroverhim。Butshetooknoprideinsuchtriumphs。Itseemedtoherthatshewantedhisallegianceandhisadorationnotsomuchforherselfasfortheirmutuallove，andthatintreatinglightlyanypastphaseoftheirrelationhetooksomethingfromitspresentbeauty。Thecolourrosetoherface。
　　"Betweenyouandmeeverythingmatters。"
　　"Ofcourse！"Shefelttheunperceivingsweetnessofhissmile。"That’swhy，"hewenton，"’everything，’forme，ishereandnow：onthisbench，betweenyouandme。"
　　Shecaughtatthephrase。"That’swhatImeant：it’shereandnow；wecan’tgetawayfromit。"
　　"Getawayfromit？Doyouwantto？AGAIN？"
　　Herheartwasbeatingunsteadily。Somethinginher，fitfullyandwithreluctance，struggledtofreeitself，butthewarmthofhisnearnesspenetratedeverysenseasthesunlightsteepedthelandscape。Then，suddenly，shefeltthatshewantednolessthanthewholeofherhappiness。
　　"’Again’？Butwasn’titYOU，thelasttime————？"
　　Shepaused，thetremorinherofPsycheholdingupthelamp。
　　Butintheinterrogativelightofherpausehercompanion’sfeaturesunderwentnochange。
　　"Thelasttime？Lastspring？Butitwasyouwho——forthebestofreasons，asyou’vetoldme——turnedmebackfromyourverydoorlastspring！"
　　Shesawthathewasgood—humouredlyreadyto"threshout，"
　　forhersentimentalsatisfaction，aquestionwhich，forhisown，Timehadsoconclusivelydealtwith；andthesenseofhisreadinessreassuredher。
　　"IwroteassoonasIcould，"sherejoined。"Iexplainedthedelayandaskedyoutocome。Andyouneverevenansweredmyletter。"
　　"Itwasimpossibletocomethen。Ihadtogobacktomypost。"
　　"Andimpossibletowriteandtellmeso？"
　　"Yourletterwasalongtimecoming。Ihadwaitedaweek——
　　tendays。Ihadsomeexcuseforthinking，whenitcame，thatyouwereinnogreathurryforananswer。"
　　"Youthoughtthat——really——afterreadingit？"
　　"Ithoughtit。"
　　Herheartleapeduptoherthroat。"Thenwhyareyouheretoday？"
　　Heturnedonherwithaquicklookofwonder。"Godknows——
　　ifyoucanaskmethat！"
　　"YouseeIwasrighttosayIdidn’tunderstand。"
　　Hestoodupabruptlyandstoodfacingher，blockingtheviewovertheriverandthecheckeredslopes。"PerhapsImightsaysotoo。"
　　"No，no：wemustneitherofushaveanyreasonforsayingitagain。"Shelookedathimgravely。"SurelyyouandI
　　needn’tarrangethelightsbeforeweshowourselvestoeachother。IwantyoutoseemejustasIam，withallmyirrationaldoubtsandscruples；theoldonesandthenewonestoo。"
　　Hecamebacktohisseatbesideher。"Nevermindtheoldones。Theywerejustified——I’mwillingtoadmitit。Withthegovernesshavingsuddenlytobepackedoff，andEffieonyourhands，andyourmother—in—lawill，Iseetheimpossibilityofyourlettingmecome。Ievenseethat，atthemoment，itwasdifficulttowriteandexplain。Butwhatdoesallthatmatternow？ThenewscruplesaretheonesI
　　wanttotackle。"
　　Againherhearttrembled。Shefeltherhappinesssonear，sosure，thattostrainitclosermightbelikeachild’scrushingapetbirdinitscaress。Butherverysecurityurgedheron。Forsolongherdoubtshadbeenknife—edged：
　　nowtheyhadturnedintobrightharmlesstoysthatshecouldtossandcatchwithoutperil！
　　"Youdidn’tcome，andyoudidn’tanswermyletter；andafterwaitingfourmonthsIwroteanother。"
　　"AndIansweredthatone；andI’mhere。"
　　"Yes。"Sheheldhiseyes。"ButinmylastletterIrepeatedexactlywhatI’dsaidinthefirst——theoneIwroteyoulastJune。ItoldyouthenthatIwasreadytogiveyoutheanswertowhatyou’daskedmeinLondon；andintellingyouthat，Itoldyouwhattheanswerwas。"
　　"Mydearest！Mydearest！"Darrowmurmured。
　　"Youignoredthatletter。Allsummeryoumadenosign。AndallIasknowis，thatyoushouldfranklytellmewhy。"
　　"IcanonlyrepeatwhatI’vejustsaid。IwashurtandunhappyandIdoubtedyou。IsupposeifI’dcaredlessI
　　shouldhavebeenmoreconfident。IcaredsomuchthatI
　　couldn’triskanotherfailure。Foryou’dmademefeelthatI’dmiserablyfailed。SoIshutmyeyesandsetmyteethandturnedmyback。There’sthewholepusillanimoustruthofit！"
　　"Oh，ifit’stheWHOLEtruth！————"Shelethimclaspher。"There’smytorment，yousee。IthoughtthatwaswhatyoursilencemeanttillImadeyoubreakit。NowIwanttobesurethatIwasright。"
　　"WhatcanItellyoutomakeyousure？"
　　"YoucanletmetellYOUeverythingfirst。"Shedrewaway，butwithouttakingherhandsfromhim。"OwensawyouinParis，"shebegan。
　　Shelookedathimandhefacedhersteadily。Thelightwasfullonhispleasantly—brownedface，hisgreyeyes，hisfrankwhiteforehead。Shenoticedforthefirsttimeaseal—ringinasettingoftwistedsilveronthehandhehadkeptonhers。
　　"InParis？Oh，yes……Sohedid。"
　　"Hecamebackandtoldme。Ithinkyoutalkedtohimamomentinatheatre。Iaskedifyou’dspokenofmyhavingputyouoff——orifyou’dsentmeanymessage。Hedidn’trememberthatyouhad。"
　　"Inacrush——inaParisfoyer？Mydear！"
　　"Itwasabsurdofme！ButOwenandIhavealwaysbeenonoddkindofbrother—and—sisterterms。IthinkheguessedaboutuswhenhesawyouwithmeinLondon。Soheteasedmealittleandtriedtomakemecuriousaboutyou；andwhenhesawhe’dsucceededhetoldmehehadn’thadtimetosaymuchtoyoubecauseyouwereinsuchahurrytogetbacktotheladyyouwerewith。"
　　Hestillheldherhands，butshefeltnotremorinhis，andtheblooddidnotstirinhisbrowncheek。Heseemedtobehonestlyturningoverhismemories。
　　"Yes：andwhatelsedidhetellyou？"
　　"Oh，notmuch，exceptthatshewasawfullypretty。WhenI
　　askedhimtodescribeherhesaidyouhadhertuckedawayinabaignoireandhehadn’tactuallyseenher；buthesawthetailofhercloak，andsomehowknewfromthatthatshewaspretty。OneDOES，youknow……Ithinkhesaidthecloakwaspink。"
　　Darrowbrokeintoalaugh。"Ofcourseitwas——theyalwaysare！Sothatwasatthebottomofyourdoubts？"
　　"Notatfirst。Ionlylaughed。Butafterward，whenIwroteyouandyoudidn’tanswer————Oh，youDOsee？"sheappealedtohim。
　　Hewaslookingathergently。"Yes：Isee。"
　　"It’snotasifthiswerealightthingbetweenus。IwantyoutoknowmeasIam。IfIthoughtthatatthatmoment……whenyouwereonyourwayhere，almost————"
　　Hedroppedherhandandstoodup。"Yes，yes——Iunderstand。"
　　"Butdoyou？"Herlookfollowedhim。"I’mnotagooseofagirl。Iknow……ofcourseIKNOW……buttherearethingsawomanfeels……whenwhatsheknowsdoesn’tmakeanydifference。It’snotthatIwantyoutoexplain——Imeanaboutthatparticularevening。It’sonlythatIwantyoutohavethewholeofmyfeeling。Ididn’tknowwhatitwastillIsawyouagain。IneverdreamedIshouldsaysuchthingstoyou！"
　　"IneverdreamedIshouldbeheretohearyousaythem！"Heturnedbackandliftingafloatingendofherscarfputhislipstoit。"Butnowthatyouhave，Iknow——Iknow，"hesmileddownather。
　　"Youknow？"
　　"Thatthisisnolightthingbetweenus。Nowyoumayaskmeanythingyouplease！ThatwasallIwantedtoaskYOU。"
　　Foralongmomenttheylookedateachotherwithoutspeaking。Shesawthedancingspiritinhiseyesturngraveanddarkentoapassionatesternness。Hestoopedandkissedher，andshesatasiffoldedinwings。
　　XII
　　Itwasinthenaturalorderofthingsthat，onthewaybacktothehouse，theirtalkshouldhaveturnedtothefuture。
　　Annawasnoteagertodefineit。Shehadanextraordinarysensitivenesstotheimpalpableelementsofhappiness，andasshewalkedatDarrow’ssideherimaginationflewbackandforth，spinningluminouswebsoffeelingbetweenherselfandthesceneabouther。Everyheighteningofemotionproducedforheraneweffusionofbeautyinvisiblethings，andwithitthesensethatsuchmomentsshouldbelingeredoverandabsorbedlikesomeunrenewablemiracle。SheunderstoodDarrow’simpatiencetoseetheirplanstakeshape。Sheknewitmustbeso，shewouldnothavehaditotherwise；buttoreachapointwhereshecouldfixhermindonhisappealfordatesanddecisionswasliketryingtobreakherwaythroughthesilvertangleofanAprilwood。
　　Darrowwishedtousehisdiplomaticopportunitiesasameansofstudyingcertaineconomicandsocialproblemswithwhichhepresentlyhopedtodealinprint；andwiththisinviewhehadaskedfor，andobtained，aSouthAmericanappointment。Annawasreadytofollowwhereheled，andnotreluctanttoputnewsightsaswellasnewthoughtsbetweenherselfandherpast。Shehad，inadirectway，onlyEffieandEffie’seducationtoconsider；andthereseemed，afterduereflection，noreasonwhythemostanxiousregardfortheseshouldnotbeconciliatedwiththedemandsofDarrow’scareer。Effie，itwasevident，couldbelefttoMadamedeChantelle’scaretillthecoupleshouldhaveorganizedtheirlife；andshemighteven，aslongasherfuturestep—
　　father’sworkretainedhimindistantposts，continuetodivideheryearbetweenGivreandtheantipodes。
　　AsforOwen，whohadreachedhislegalmajoritytwoyearsbefore，andwassoontoattaintheagefixedforthetakingoverofhispaternalinheritance，thearrivalofthisdatewouldreducehisstep—mother’sresponsibilitytoafriendlyconcernforhiswelfare。ThismadeforthepromptrealizationofDarrow’swishes，andthereseemednoreasonwhythemarriageshouldnottakeplacewithinthesixweeksthatremainedofhisleave。
　　Theypassedoutofthewood—walkintotheopenbrightnessofthegarden。Thenoonsunlightsheetedwithgoldthebronzeflanksofthepolygonalyews。Chrysanthemums，russet，saffronandorange，glowedliketheefflorescenceofanenchantedforest；beltsofredbegoniapurplingtowine—
　　colourranlikesmoulderingflameamongtheborders；andabovethisoutspreadtapestrythehouseextendeditsharmoniouslength，thesobernessofitslinessoftenedtograceintheluminousmistyair。
　　Darrowstoodstill，andAnnafeltthathisglancewastravellingfromhertothesceneaboutthemandthenbacktoherface。
　　"You’resureyou’repreparedtogiveupGivre？Youlooksomadeforeachother！"
　　"Oh，Givre————"Shebrokeoffsuddenly，feelingasifhertoocarelesstonehaddeliveredallherpastintohishands；
　　andwithoneofherinstinctivemovementsofrecoilsheadded："WhenOwenmarriesIshallhavetogiveitup。"