第6章

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？"