第14章

’It’sarealold—fashionedAmericancase，assweetandsoundashome—madebread。’Well，ifyoutakehisloafawayfromhim，whatareyougoingtofeedhimwithinstead？WhichofyournastyParispoisonsdoyouthinkhe’llturnto？

Supposingyousucceedinkeepinghimoutofareallybadmess——and，knowingtheyoungmanasIdo，Iratherthinkthat，atthiscrisis，theonlywaytodoitwouldbetomarryhimslapofftosomebodyelse——well，then，who，mayI

ask，wouldyoupickout？OneofyoursweetFrenchingenues，Isuppose？Withasmuchmindasaminnowandasmuchsnapasasoft—boiledegg。Youmighthustlehimintothatkindofmarriage；Idaresayyoucould——butifIknowOwen，thenaturalthingwouldhappenbeforethefirstbabywasweaned。"

"Idon’tknowwhyyouinsinuatesuchodiousthingsagainstOwen！"

"Doyouthinkitwouldbeodiousofhimtoreturntohisreallovewhenhe’dbeenforciblypartedfromher？Atanyrate，it’swhatyourFrenchfriendsdo，everyoneofthem！

Onlytheydon’tgenerallyhavethegracetogobacktoanoldlove；andIbelieve，uponmyword，Owenwould！"

MadamedeChantellelookedatherwithamixtureofaweandexultation。"Ofcourseyourealize，Adelaide，thatinsuggestingthisyou’reinsinuatingthemostshockingthingsagainstMissViner？"

"WhenIsaythatifyouparttwoyoungthingswhoaredyingtobehappyinthelawfulwayit’stentoonethey’llcometogetherinanunlawfulone？I’minsinuatingshockingthingsagainstYOU，LucretiaMary，insuggestingforamomentthatyou’llcaretoassumesucharesponsibilitybeforeyourMaker。Andyouwouldn’t，ifyoutalkedthingsstraightoutwithhim，insteadofmerelysendinghimmessagesthroughamiserablesinnerlikeyourself！"

DarrowexpectedthisassaultonheradoptedcreedtoprovokeinMadamedeChantelleanexplosionofpiousindignation；

buttohissurpriseshemerelymurmured："Idon’tknowwhatMr。Darrow’llthinkofyou！"

"Mr。DarrowprobablyknowshisBibleaswellasIdo，"MissPaintercalmlyrejoined；addingamomentlater，withouttheleastperceptiblechangeofvoiceorexpression："Isupposeyou’veheardthatGiseledeFolembray’shusbandaccusesherofbeingmixedupwiththeDucd’ArcachoninthatbusinessoftryingtosellalotofimitationpearlstoMrs。HomerPond，theChicagowomantheDuke’sengagedto？ItseemsthejewellersaysGiselebroughtMrs。Pondthere，andgottwenty—fivepercent——whichofcourseshepassedontod’Arcachon。ThepooroldDuchessisinafearfulstate——soafraidherson’llloseMrs。Pond！WhenIthinkthatGiseleisoldBradfordWagstaff’sgrand—daughter，I’mthankfulhe’ssafeinMountAuburn！"

XXII

ItwasnotuntillatethatafternoonthatDarrowcouldclaimhispostponedhourwithAnna。Whenatlasthefoundheraloneinhersitting—roomitwaswithasenseofliberationsogreatthathesoughtnologicaljustificationofit。HesimplyfeltthatalltheirdestinieswereinMissPainter’sgrasp，andthat，resistancebeinguseless，hecouldonlyenjoythesweetsofsurrender。

Annaherselfseemedashappy，andformoreexplicablereasons。Shehadassisted，afterluncheon，atanotherdebatebetweenMadamedeChantelleandherconfidant，andhadsurmised，whenshewithdrewfromit，thatvictorywaspermanentlyperchedonMissPainter’sbanners。

"Idon’tknowhowshedoesit，unlessit’sbythedeadweightofherconvictions。ShedeteststheFrenchsothatshe’dbackupOwenevenifsheknewnothing——orknewtoomuch——ofMissViner。ShesomehowregardsthematchasaprotestagainstthecorruptionofEuropeanmorals。ItoldOwenthatwashisgreatchance，andhe’smadethemostofit。"

"Whatatacticianyouare！YoumakemefeelthatIhardlyknowtherudimentsofdiplomacy，"Darrowsmiledather，abandoninghimselftoaperiloussenseofwell—being。

Shegavehimbackhissmile。"I’mafraidIthinknothingshortofmyownhappinessisworthwastinganydiplomacyon！"

"That’swhyImeantoresignfromtheserviceofmycountry，"herejoinedwithalaughofdeepcontent。

Thefeelingthatbothresistanceandapprehensionwerevainwasworkinglikewineinhisveins。Hehaddonewhathecouldtodeflectthecourseofevents：nowhecouldonlystandasideandtakehischanceofsafety。Underneaththisfatalisticfeelingwasthedeepsenseofreliefthathehad，afterall，saidanddonenothingthatcouldintheleastdegreeaffectthewelfareofSophyViner。Thatfacttookamillstoneoffhisneck。

MeanwhilehegavehimselfuponcemoretothejoyofAnna’spresence。Theyhadnotbeenalonetogetherfortwolongdays，andhehadthelover’ssensethathehadforgotten，oratleastunderestimated，thestrengthofthespellshecast。

Oncemorehereyesandhersmileseemedtoboundhisworld。

Hefeltthattheirlightwouldalwaysmovewithhimasthesunsetmovesbeforeashipatsea。

Thenextdayhissenseofsecuritywasincreasedbyadecisiveincident。ItbecameknowntotheexpectanthouseholdthatMadamedeChantellehadyieldedtothetremendousimpactofMissPainter’sdeterminationandthatSophyVinerhadbeen"sentfor"tothepurplesatinsitting—

room。

Atluncheon，Owen’sradiantcountenanceproclaimedthehappysequel，andDarrow，whenthepartyhadmovedbacktotheoak—roomforcoffee，deemeditdiscreettowanderoutalonetotheterracewithhiscigar。TheconclusionofOwen’sromancebroughthisownplansoncemoretothefront。AnnahadpromisedthatshewouldconsiderdatesandsettledetailsassoonasMadamedeChantelleandhergrandsonhadbeenreconciled，andDarrowwaseagertogointothequestionatonce，sinceitwasnecessarythatthepreparationsforhismarriageshouldgoforwardasrapidlyaspossible。Anna，heknew，wouldnotseekanyfartherpretextfordelay；andhestrolledupanddowncontentedlyinthesunshine，certainthatshewouldcomeoutandreassurehimassoonasthereunitedfamilyhadclaimeditsdueshareofherattention。

Butwhenshefinallyjoinedhimherfirstwordwasfortheyoungerlovers。

"Iwanttothankyouforwhatyou’vedoneforOwen，"shebegan，withherhappiestsmile。

"Who——I？"helaughed。"AreyouconfusingmewithMissPainter？"

"PerhapsIoughttosayforME，"shecorrectedherself。

"You’vebeenevenmoreofahelptousthanAdelaide。"

"Mydearchild！WhatonearthhaveIdone？"

"You’vemanagedtohidefromMadamedeChantellethatyoudon’treallylikepoorSophy。"

Darrowfeltthepallourinhischeek。"Notlikeher？Whatputsuchanideaintoyourhead？"

"Oh，it’smorethananidea——it’safeeling。Butwhatdifferencedoesitmake，afterall？Yousawherinsuchadifferentsettingthatit’snaturalyoushouldbealittledoubtful。ButwhenyouknowherbetterI’msureyou’llfeelaboutherasIdo。"

"It’sgoingtobehardformenottofeelabouteverythingasyoudo。"

"Well，then——pleasebeginwithmydaughter—in—law！"

Hegaveherbackinthesametoneofbanter："Agreed：ifyoullagreetofeelasIdoaboutthepressingnecessityofourgettingmarried。"

"Iwanttotalktoyouaboutthattoo。Youdon’tknowwhataweightisoffmymind！WithSophyhereforgood，IshallfeelsodifferentlyaboutleavingEffie。I’veseenmuchmoreaccomplishedgovernesses——tomycost！——butI’veneverseenayoungthingmoregayandkindandhuman。Youmusthavenoticed，thoughyou’veseenthemsolittletogether，howEffieexpandswhenshe’swithher。Andthat，youknow，iswhatIwant。MadamedeChantellewillprovidethenecessaryrestraint。"Sheclaspedherhandsonhisarm。

"Yes，I’mreadytogowithyounow。Butfirstofall——thisverymoment！——youmustcomewithmetoEffie。Sheknows，ofcourse，nothingofwhat’sbeenhappening；andIwanthertobetoldfirstaboutYOU。"

Effie，soughtthroughoutthehouse，waspresentlytracedtotheschool—room，andthitherDarrowmountedwithAnna。Hehadneverseenhersoalightwithhappiness，andhehadcaughtherbuoyancyofmood。Hekeptrepeatingtohimself：

"It’sover——it’sover，"asifsomemonstrousmidnighthallucinationhadbeenroutedbythereturnofday。

Astheyapproachedtheschool—roomdoortheterrier’sbarkscametothemthroughlaughingremonstrances。

"She’sgivinghimhisdinner，"Annawhispered，herhandinDarrow’s。

"Don’tforgetthegold—fish！"theyheardanothervoicecallout。

Darrowhaltedonthethreshold。"Oh——notnow！"

"Notnow？"

"Imean——she’dratherhaveyoutellherfirst。I’llwaitforyoubothdownstairs。"

Hewasawarethatsheglancedathimintently。"Asyouplease。I’llbringherdownatonce。"

Sheopenedthedoor，andasshewentinheheardhersay：

"No，Sophy，don’tgo！Iwantyouboth。"

TherestofDarrow’sdaywasasuccessionofemptyandagitatingscenes。OnhiswaydowntoGivre，beforehehadseenEffieLeath，hehadpicturedsomewhatsentimentallythejoyofthemomentwhenheshouldtakeherinhisarmsandreceiveherfirstfilialkiss。Everythinginhimthategotisticallycravedforrest，stability，acomfortablyorganizedmiddle—age，allthehome—buildinginstinctsofthemanwhohassufficientlywooedandwandered，combinedtothrowacharmaboutthefigureofthechildwhomight——whoshould——havebeenhis。Effiecametohimtrailingthecloudofgloryofhisfirstromance，givinghimbackthemagichourhehadmissedandmourned。Andhowdifferenttherealizationofhisdreamhadbeen！Thechild’sradiantwelcome，herunquestioningacceptanceof，thisnewfigureinthefamilygroup，hadbeenallthathehadhopedandfancied。IfMotherwassoawfullyhappyaboutit，andOwenandGranny，too，howniceandcosyandcomfortableitwasgoingtobeforallofthem，herbeaminglookseemedtosay；

andthen，suddenly，thesmallpinkfingershehadbeenkissingwerelaidontheoneflawinthecircle，ontheonepointwhichmustbesettledbeforeEffiecould，withcompleteunqualifiedassurance，admitthenew—comertofullequalitywiththeothergodsofherOlympus。

"AndisSophyawfullyhappyaboutittoo？"shehadasked，looseningherholdonDarrow’snecktotiltbackherheadandincludehermotherinherquestioninglook。

"Why，dearest，didn’tyouseeshewas？"Annahadexclaimed，leaningtothegroupwithradianteyes。

"IthinkIshouldliketoaskher，"thechildrejoined，afteraminute’sshyconsideration；andasDarrowsetherdownhermotherlaughed："Do，darling，do！Runoffatonce，andtellherweexpecthertobeawfullyhappytoo。"

Thescenehadbeensucceededbyotherslesspoignantbutalmostastrying。Darrowcursedhisluckinhaving，atsuchamoment，torunthegauntletofahousefulofinterestedobservers。Thestateofbeing"engaged"，initselfanabsurdenoughpredicament，eventoamanonlyintermittentlyexposed，becameintolerableunderthecontinuousscrutinyofasmallcirclequiveringwithparticipation。Darrowwasfurthermoreawarethat，thoughthecaseoftheothercoupleoughttohavemadehisownlessconspicuous，itwasrathertheywhofoundarefugeintheshadowofhisprominence。

MadamedeChantelle，thoughshehadconsentedtoOwen’sengagementandformallywelcomedhisbetrothed，wasneverthelessnotsorrytoshow，byherreceptionofDarrow，ofwhatfinely—shadeddegreesofcordialityshewascapable。

MissPainter，havingwonthedayforOwen，wasalsofreetoturnherattentiontothenewercandidateforhersympathy；

andDarrowandAnnafoundthemselvesimmersedinawarmbathofsentimentalcuriosity。

ItwasarelieftoDarrowthathewasunderapositiveobligationtoendhisvisitwithinthenextforty—eighthours。WhenheleftLondon，hisAmbassadorhadaccordedhimatendays’leave。Hisfatebeingdefinitelysettledandopenlypublishedhehadnoreasonforaskingtohavethetimeprolonged，andwhenitwasoverhewastoreturntohisposttillthetimefixedfortakinguphisnewduties。Annaandhehadthereforedecidedtobemarried，inParis，adayortwobeforethedepartureofthesteamerwhichwastotakethemtoSouthAmerica；andAnna，shortlyafterhisreturntoEngland，wastogouptoParisandbeginherownpreparations。

InhonourofthedoublebetrothalEffieandMissVinerweretoappearthateveningatdinner；andDarrow，onleavinghisroom，metthelittlegirlspringingdownthestairs，herwhiterufflesandcoral—colouredbowsmakingherlooklikeadaisywithheryellowhairforitscentre。SophyVinerwasbehindherpupil，andasshecameintothelightDarrownoticedachangeinherappearanceandwonderedvaguelywhyshelookedsuddenlyyounger，morevivid，morelikethelittleluminousghostofhisParismemories。ThenitoccurredtohimthatitwasthefirsttimeshehadappearedatdinnersincehisarrivalatGivre，andthefirsttime，consequently，thathehadseenherineveningdress。Shewasstillattheagewhentheleastadornmentembellishes；

andnodoubtthemereuncoveringofheryoungthroatandneckhadgivenherbackherformerbrightness。Butasecondglanceshowedamoreprecisereasonforhisimpression。

Vaguelythoughheretainedsuchdetails，hefeltsureshewaswearingthedresshehadseenherineveryeveninginParis。Itwasasimpleenoughdress，black，andtransparentonthearmsandshoulders，andhewouldprobablynothaverecognizeditifshehadnotcalledhisattentiontoitinParisbyconfessingthatshehadn’tanyother。"Thesamedress？Thatprovesthatshe’sforgotten！"washisfirsthalf—ironicthought；butthenextmoment，withapangofcompunction，hesaidtohimselfthatshehadprobablyputitonforthesamereasonasbefore：simplybecauseshehadn’tanyother。

Helookedatherinsilence，andforaninstant，aboveEffie’sbobbinghead，shegavehimbackhislookinafullbrightgaze。

"Oh，there’sOwen！"Effiecried，andwhirledawaydownthegallerytothedoorfromwhichherstep—brotherwasemerging。AsOwenbenttocatchher，SophyVinerturnedabruptlybacktoDarrow。

"You，too？"shesaidwithaquicklaugh。"Ididn’tknow————

"AndasOwencameuptothemsheadded，inatonethatmighthavebeenmeanttoreachhisear："Iwishyoualltheluckthatwecanspare！"

Aboutthedinner—table，whichEffie，withMissViner’said，hadlavishlygarlanded，thelittlepartyhadanairofsomewhatself—consciousfestivity。Inspiteofflowers，champagneandaunanimousattemptatease，therewerefrequentlapsesinthetalk，andmomentsofnervousgropingfornewsubjects。MissPainteraloneseemednotonlyunaffectedbythegeneralperturbationbutastightlysealedupinherunconsciousnessofitasadiverinhisbell。ToDarrow’sstrainedattentionevenOwen’sgustsofgaietyseemedtobetrayaninwardsenseofinsecurity。Afterdinner，however，atthepiano，hebrokeintoamoodofextravaganthilarityandfloodedtheroomwiththesplashandrippleofhismusic。

Darrow，sunkinasofacornerintheleeofMissPainter’sgranitebulk，smokedandlistenedinsilence，hiseyesmovingfromonefiguretoanother。MadamedeChantelle，inherarmchairnearthefire，claspedherlittlegranddaughtertoherwiththegestureofadrawing—roomNiobe，andAnna，seatednearthem，hadfallenintooneoftheattitudesofvividcalmwhichseemedtoDarrowtoexpressherinmostquality。SophyViner，aftermovinguncertainlyabouttheroom，hadplacedherselfbeyondMrs。Leath，inachairnearthepiano，whereshesatwithheadthrownbackandeyesattachedtothemusician，inthesameraptfixityofattentionwithwhichshehadfollowedtheplayersattheFrancais。Theaccidentofherhavingfallenintothesameattitude，andofherwearingthesamedress，gaveDarrow，ashewatchedher，astrangesenseofdoubleconsciousness。Toescapefromit，hisglanceturnedbacktoAnna；butfromthepointatwhichhewasplacedhiseyescouldnottakeintheonefacewithouttheother，andthatrenewedthedisturbingdualityoftheimpression。SuddenlyOwenbrokeoffwithacrashofchordsandjumpedtohisfeet。

"What’stheuseofthis，withsuchamoontosayitforus？"

Behindtheuncurtainedwindowalowgoldenorbhunglikearipefruitagainsttheglass。

"Yes——let’sgooutandlisten，"Annaanswered。Owenthrewopenthewindow，andwithhisgestureafoldoftheheavystar—sprinkledskyseemedtodroopintotheroomlikeadrawn—incurtain。Theairthatenteredwithithadafrostyedge，andAnnabadeEffieruntothehallforwraps。

Darrowsaid："Youmusthaveonetoo，"andstartedtowardthedoor；butSophy，followingherpupil，criedback："We’llbringthingsforeverybody。"

Owenhadfollowedher，andinamomentthethreereappeared，andthepartywentoutontheterrace。Thedeepbluepurityofthenightwasunveiledbymist，andthemoonlightrimmedtheedgesofthetreeswithasilverblurandblanchedtounnaturalwhitenessthestatuesagainsttheirwallsofshade。

DarrowandAnna，withEffiebetweenthem，strolledtothefarthercorneroftheterrace。Belowthem，betweenthefringesofthepark，thelawnslopeddimlytothefieldsabovetheriver。Forafewminutestheystoodsilentlysidebyside，touchedtopeacebeneaththetremblingbeautyofthesky。Whentheyturnedback，DarrowsawthatOwenandSophyViner，whohadgonedownthestepstothegarden，werealsowalkinginthedirectionofthehouse。Astheyadvanced，Sophypausedinapatchofmoonlight，betweenthesharpshadowsoftheyews，andDarrownoticedthatshehadthrownoverhershouldersalongcloakofsomelightcolour，whichsuddenlyevokedherimageasshehadenteredtherestaurantathissideonthenightoftheirfirstdinnerinParis。Amomentlatertheywerealltogetheragainontheterrace，andwhentheyre—enteredthedrawing—roomtheolderladieswereontheirwaytobed。

Effie，emboldenedbytheprivilegesoftheevening，wasforcoaxingOwentorounditoffwithagameofforfeitsorsomesuchrecklessclimax；butSophy，resumingherprofessionalrole，soundedthesummonstobed。Inherpupil’swakeshemadeherroundofgood—nights；butwhensheprofferedherhandtoAnna，thelatterignoringthegestureheldoutbotharms。

"Good—night，dearchild，"shesaidimpulsively，anddrewthegirltoherkiss。

BOOKIV

XXIII

ThenextdaywasDarrow’slastatGivreand，foreseeingthattheafternoonandeveningwouldhavetobegiventothefamily，hehadaskedAnnatodevoteanearlyhourtothefinalconsiderationoftheirplans。Hewastomeetherinthebrownsitting—roomatten，andtheyweretowalkdowntotheriverandtalkovertheirfutureinthelittlepavilionabuttingonthewallofthepark。

ItwasjustaweeksincehisarrivalatGivre，andAnnawished，beforeheleft，toreturntotheplacewheretheyhadsatontheirfirstafternoontogether。Hersensitivenesstotheappealofinanimatethings，tothecolourandtextureofwhateverwoveitselfintothesubstanceofheremotion，madeherwanttohearDarrow’svoice，andtofeelhiseyesonher，inthespotwhereblisshadfirstflowedintoherheart。

Thatbliss，intheinterval，hadwounditselfintoeveryfoldofherbeing。Passing，inthefirstdays，fromahighshytendernesstotherushofasecretsurrender，ithadgraduallywidenedanddeepened，toflowoninredoubledbeauty。ShethoughtshenowknewexactlyhowandwhyshelovedDarrow，andshecouldseeherwholeskyreflectedinthedeepandtranquilcurrentofherlove。

Earlythenextday，inhersitting—room，shewasglancingthroughtheletterswhichitwasEffie’smorningprivilegetocarryuptoher。Effiemeanwhilecircledinquisitivelyabouttheroom，wheretherewasalwayssomethingnewtoengageherinfantfancy；andAnna，lookingup，sawhersuddenlyarrestedbeforeaphotographofDarrowwhich，thedaybefore，hadtakenitsplaceonthewriting—table。

Annaheldoutherarmswithafaintblush。"Youdolikehim，don’tyou，dear？"

"Oh，mostawfully，dearest，"Effie，againstherbreast，leanedbacktoassureherwithalimpidlook。"AndsodoGrannyandOwen——andIDOthinkSophydoestoo，"sheadded，afteramoment’searnestpondering。

"Ihopeso，"Annalaughed。Shecheckedtheimpulsetocontinue："Hasshetalkedtoyouabouthim，thatyou’resosure？"Shedidnotknowwhathadmadethequestionspringtoherlips，butshewasgladshehadclosedthembeforepronouncingit。Nothingcouldhavebeenmoredistastefultoherthantoclearupsuchobscuritiesbyturningonthemthetinyflameofherdaughter’sobservation。Andwhat，afterall，nowthatOwen’shappinesswassecured，diditmatteriftherewerecertainreservesinDarrow’sapprovalofhismarriage？

AknockonthedoormadeAnnaglanceattheclock。"There’sNursetocarryyouoff。"

"It’sSophy’sknock，"thelittlegirlanswered，jumpingdowntoopenthedoor；andMissVinerinfactstoodonthethreshold。

"Comein，"Annasaidwithasmile，instantlyremarkinghowpaleshelooked。

"MayEffiegooutforaturnwithNurse？"thegirlasked。

"Ishouldliketospeaktoyouamoment。"

"Ofcourse。ThisoughttobeYOURholiday，asyesterdaywasEffie’s。Runoff，dear，"sheadded，stoopingtokissthelittlegirl。

WhenthedoorhadclosedsheturnedbacktoSophyVinerwithalookthatsoughtherconfidence。"I’msogladyoucame，mydear。We’vegotsomanythingstotalkabout，justyouandItogether。"

Theconfusedintercourseofthelastdayshad，infact，leftlittletimeforanyspeechwithSophybutsuchasrelatedtohermarriageandthemeansofovercomingMadamedeChantelle’soppositiontoit。AnnahadexactedofOwenthatnoone，notevenSophyViner，shouldbegivenahintofherownprojectstillallcontingentquestionshadbeendisposedof。Shehadfelt，fromtheoutset，asecretreluctancetointrudehersecurerhappinessonthedoubtsandfearsoftheyoungpair。

Fromthesofa—cornertowhichshehaddroppedbackshepointedtoDarrow’schair。"Comeandsitbyme，dear。I

wantedtoseeyoualone。There’ssomuchtosaythatI

hardlyknowwheretobegin。"

Sheleanedforward，herhandsclaspedonthearmsofthesofa，hereyesbentsmilinglyonSophy’s。Asshedidso，shenoticedthatthegirl’sunusualpallourwaspartlyduetotheslightveilofpowderonherface。Thediscoverywasdistinctlydisagreeable。Annahadneverbeforenoticed，onSophy’spart，anyrecoursetocosmetics，and，muchasshewishedtothinkherselfexemptfromold—fashionedprejudices，shesuddenlybecameawarethatshedidnotlikeherdaughter’sgovernesstohaveapowderedface。ThenshereflectedthatthegirlwhosatoppositeherwasnolongerEffie’sgoverness，butherownfuturedaughter—in—law；andshewonderedwhetherMissVinerhadchosenthisoddwayofcelebratingherindependence，andwhether，asMrs。OwenLeath，shewouldpresenttotheworldabedizenedcountenance。Thisideawasscarcelylessdistastefulthantheother，andforamomentAnnacontinuedtoconsiderherwithoutspeaking。Then，inaflash，thetruthcametoher：

MissVinerhadpowderedherfacebecauseMissVinerhadbeencrying。

Annaleanedforwardimpulsively。"Mydearchild，what’sthematter？"Shesawthegirl’sbloodrushupunderthewhitemask，andhastenedon："Pleasedon’tbeafraidtotellme。

IdosowantyoutofeelthatyoucantrustmeasOwendoes。

Andyouknowyoumustn’tmindif，justatfirst，MadamedeChantelleoccasionallyrelapses。"

Shespokeeagerly，persuasively，almostonanoteofpleading。Shehad，intruth，somanyreasonsforwantingSophytolikeher：herloveforOwen，hersolicitudeforEffie，andherownsenseofthegirl’sfinemettle。Shehadalwaysfeltaromanticandalmosthumbleadmirationforthosemembersofhersexwho，fromforceofwill，ortheconstraintofcircumstances，hadplungedintotheconflictfromwhichfatehadsopersistentlyexcludedher。Therewereevenmomentswhenshefanciedherselfvaguelytoblameforherimmunity，andfeltthatsheoughtsomehowtohaveaffrontedtheperilsandhardshipswhichrefusedtocometoher。Andnow，asshesatlookingatSophyViner，sosmall，soslight，sovisiblydefencelessandundone，shestillfelt，throughallthesuperiorityofherworldlyadvantagesandherseemingmaturity，thesameoddsenseofignoranceandinexperience。Shecouldnothavesaidwhattherewasinthegirl’smannerandexpressiontogiveherthisfeeling，butshewasreminded，asshelookedatSophyViner，oftheothergirlsshehadknowninheryouth，thegirlswhoseemedpossessedofasecretshehadmissed。Yes，SophyVinerhadtheirlook——almosttheobscurelymenacinglookofKittyMayne……Anna，withaninwardsmile，brushedasidetheimageofthisforgottenrival。Butshehadfelt，deepdown，atwingeoftheoldpain，andshewassorrythat，evenfortheflashofathought，Owen’sbetrothedshouldhaveremindedherofsodifferentawoman……

Shelaidherhandonthegirl’s。"WhenhisgrandmotherseeshowhappyOwenisshe’llbequitehappyherself。Ifit’sonlythat，don’tbedistressed。JusttrusttoOwen——andthefuture。"

SophyViner，withanalmostimperceptiblerecoilofherwholeslightperson，haddrawnherhandfromunderthepalmenclosingit。

"That’swhatIwantedtotalktoyouabout——thefuture。"

"Ofcourse！We’veallsomanyplanstomake——andtofitintoeachother’s。Pleaselet’sbeginwithyours。"

Thegirlpausedamoment，herhandsclaspedonthearmsofherchair，herlidsdroppedunderAnna’sgaze；thenshesaid："Ishouldliketomakenoplansatall……justyet……"

"Noplans？"