"Unexpectedobstacle。Pleasedon’tcometillthirtieth。

Anna。"

AllthewayfromCharingCrosstoDoverthetrainhadhammeredthewordsofthetelegramintoGeorgeDarrow’sears，ringingeverychangeofironyonitscommonplacesyllables：rattlingthemoutlikeadischargeofmusketry，lettingthem，onebyone，dripslowlyandcoldlyintohisbrain，orshaking，tossing，transposingthemlikethediceinsomegameofthegodsofmalice；andnow，asheemergedfromhiscompartmentatthepier，andstoodfacingthewind—

sweptplatformandtheangryseabeyond，theyleaptoutathimasiffromthecrestofthewaves，stungandblindedhimwithafreshfuryofderision。

"Unexpectedobstacle。Pleasedon’tcometillthirtieth。

Anna。"

Shehadputhimoffattheverylastmoment，andforthesecondtime：puthimoffwithallhersweetreasonableness，andforoneofherusual"good"reasons——hewascertainthatthisreason，liketheother，（thevisitofherhusband’suncle’swidow）wouldbe"good"！Butitwasthatverycertaintywhichchilledhim。Thefactofherdealingsoreasonablywiththeircaseshedanironiclightontheideathattherehadbeenanyexceptionalwarmthinthegreetingshehadgivenhimaftertheirtwelveyearsapart。

Theyhadfoundeachotheragain，inLondon，somethreemonthspreviously，atadinnerattheAmericanEmbassy，andwhenshehadcaughtsightofhimhersmilehadbeenlikearedrosepinnedonherwidow’smourning。Hestillfeltthethrobofsurprisewithwhich，amongthestereotypedfacesoftheseason’sdiners，hehadcomeuponherunexpectedface，withthedarkhairbandedabovegraveeyes；eyesinwhichhehadrecognizedeverylittlecurveandshadowashewouldhaverecognized，afterhalfalife—time，thedetailsofaroomhehadplayedinasachild。Andas，intheplumedstarredcrowd，shehadstoodoutforhim，slender，secludedanddifferent，sohehadfelt，theinstanttheirglancesmet，thatheassharplydetachedhimselfforher。Allthatandmorehersmilehadsaid；hadsaidnotmerely"I

remember，"but"Irememberjustwhatyouremember"；almost，indeed，asthoughhermemoryhadaidedhis，herglanceflungbackontheirrecapturedmomentitsmorningbrightness。

Certainly，whentheirdistractedAmbassadress——withthecry：

"Oh，youknowMrs。Leath？That’sperfect，forGeneralFarnhamhasfailedme"——hadwavedthemtogetherforthemarchtothediningroom，Darrowhadfeltaslightpressureofthearmonhis，apressurefaintlybutunmistakablyemphasizingtheexclamation："Isn’titwonderful？——InLondon——intheseason——inamob？"

Littleenough，onthepartofmostwomen；butitwasasignofMrs。Leath’squalitythateverymovement，everysyllable，toldwithher。Evenintheolddays，asanintentgrave—

eyedgirl，shehadseldommisplacedherlightstrokes；andDarrow，onmeetingheragain，hadimmediatelyfelthowmuchfinerandsureraninstrumentofexpressionshehadbecome。

Theireveningtogetherhadbeenalongconfirmationofthisfeeling。Shehadtalkedtohim，shylyyetfrankly，ofwhathadhappenedtoherduringtheyearswhentheyhadsostrangelyfailedtomeet。ShehadtoldhimofhermarriagetoFraserLeath，andofhersubsequentlifeinFrance，whereherhusband’smother，leftawidowinhisyouth，hadbeenre—marriedtotheMarquisdeChantelle，andwhere，partlyinconsequenceofthissecondunion，thesonhadpermanentlysettledhimself。Shehadspokenalso，withanintenseeagernessofaffection，ofherlittlegirlEffie，whowasnownineyearsold，and，inastrainhardlylesstender，ofOwenLeath，thecharmingcleveryoungstepsonwhomherhusband’sdeathhadlefttohercare……

Aporter，stumblingagainstDarrow’sbags，rousedhimtothefactthathestillobstructedtheplatform，inertandencumberingashisluggage。

"Crossing，sir？"

Washecrossing？Hereallydidn’tknow；butforlackofanymorecompellingimpulsehefollowedtheportertotheluggagevan，singledouthisproperty，andturnedtomarchbehinditdownthegang—way。Asthefiercewindshoulderedhim，buildingupacrystalwallagainsthisefforts，hefeltanewthederisionofhiscase。

"Nastyweathertocross，sir，"theporterthrewbackathimastheybeattheirwaydownthenarrowwalktothepier。

Nastyweather，indeed；butluckily，asithadturnedout，therewasnoearthlyreasonwhyDarrowshouldcross。

Whilehepushedoninthewakeofhisluggagehisthoughtsslippedbackintotheoldgroove。HehadonceortwicerunacrossthemanwhomAnnaSummershadpreferredtohim，andsincehehadmetheragainhehadbeenexercisinghisimaginationonthepictureofwhathermarriedlifemusthavebeen。HerhusbandhadstruckhimasacharacteristicspecimenofthekindofAmericanastowhomoneisnotquiteclearwhetherhelivesinEuropeinordertocultivateanart，orcultivatesanartasapretextforlivinginEurope。

Mr。Leath’sartwaswater—colourpainting，buthepractiseditfurtively，almostclandestinely，withthedisdainofamanoftheworldforanythingborderingontheprofessional，whilehedevotedhimselfmoreopenly，andwithreligiousseriousness，tothecollectionofenamelledsnuff—boxes。Hewasblondandwell—dressed，withthephysicaldistinctionthatcomesfromhavingastraightfigure，athinnose，andthehabitoflookingslightlydisgusted——aswhoshouldnot，inaworldwhereauthenticsnuff—boxesweregrowingdailyhardertofind，andthemarketwasfloodedwithflagrantforgeries？

DarrowhadoftenwonderedwhatpossibilitiesofcommuniontherecouldhavebeenbetweenMr。Leathandhiswife。Nowheconcludedthattherehadprobablybeennone。Mrs。

Leath’swordsgavenohintofherhusband’shavingfailedtojustifyherchoice；butherveryreticencebetrayedher。

Shespokeofhimwithakindofimpersonalseriousness，asifhehadbeenacharacterinanovelorafigureinhistory；andwhatshesaidsoundedasthoughithadbeenlearnedbyheartandslightlydulledbyrepetition。ThisfactimmenselyincreasedDarrow’simpressionthathismeetingwithherhadannihilatedtheinterveningyears。

She，whowasalwayssoelusiveandinaccessible，hadgrownsuddenlycommunicativeandkind：hadopenedthedoorsofherpast，andtacitlylefthimtodrawhisownconclusions。Asaresult，hehadtakenleaveofherwiththesensethathewasabeingsingledoutandprivileged，towhomshehadentrustedsomethingprecioustokeep。Itwasherhappinessintheirmeetingthatshehadgivenhim，hadfranklylefthimtodowithashewilled；andthefranknessofthegesturedoubledthebeautyofthegift。

Theirnextmeetinghadprolongedanddeepenedtheimpression。Theyhadfoundeachotheragain，afewdayslater，inanoldcountryhousefullofbooksandpictures，inthesoftlandscapeofsouthernEngland。Thepresenceofalargeparty，withallitsaimlessandagitateddisplacements，hadservedonlytoisolatethepairandgivethem（atleasttotheyoungman’sfancy）adeeperfeelingofcommunion，andtheirdaystherehadbeenlikesomemusicalprelude，wheretheinstruments，breathinglow，seemtoholdbackthewavesofsoundthatpressagainstthem。

Mrs。Leath，onthisoccasion，wasnolesskindthanbefore；

butshecontrivedtomakehimunderstandthatwhatwassoinevitablycomingwasnottocometoosoon。Itwasnotthatsheshowedanyhesitationastotheissue，butratherthatsheseemedtowishnottomissanystageinthegradualrefloweringoftheirintimacy。

Darrow，forhispart，wascontenttowaitifshewishedit。

Herememberedthatonce，inAmerica，whenshewasagirl，andhehadgonetostaywithherfamilyinthecountry，shehadbeenoutwhenhearrived，andhermotherhadtoldhimtolookforherinthegarden。Shewasnotinthegarden，butbeyondithehadseenherapproachingdownalongshadypath。Withouthasteningherstepshehadsmiledandsignedtohimtowait；andcharmedbythelightsandshadowsthatplayeduponherasshemoved，andbythepleasureofwatchingherslowadvancetowardhim，hehadobeyedherandstoodstill。Andsosheseemednowtobewalkingtohimdowntheyears，thelightandshadeofoldmemoriesandnewhopesplayingvariouslyonher，andeachstepgivinghimthevisionofadifferentgrace。Shedidnotwaverorturnaside；heknewshewouldcomestraighttowherehestood；

butsomethinginhereyessaid"Wait"，andagainheobeyedandwaited。

Onthefourthdayanunexpectedeventthrewouthiscalculations。SummonedtotownbythearrivalinEnglandofherhusband’smother，sheleftwithoutgivingDarrowthechancehehadcountedon，andhecursedhimselfforadilatoryblunderer。Still，hisdisappointmentwastemperedbythecertaintyofbeingwithheragainbeforesheleftforFrance；andtheydidinfactseeeachotherinLondon。

There，however，theatmospherehadchangedwiththeconditions。Hecouldnotsaythatsheavoidedhim，oreventhatshewasashadelessgladtoseehim；butshewasbesetbyfamilydutiesand，ashethought，alittletooreadilyresignedtothem。

TheMarquisedeChantelle，asDarrowsoonperceived，hadthesamemildformidablenessasthelateMr。Leath：asortofinsistentself—effacementbeforewhicheveryoneabouthergaveway。Itwasperhapstheshadowofthislady’spresence——pervasiveevenduringheractualbriefeclipses——

thatsubduedandsilencedMrs。Leath。Thelatterwas，moreover，preoccupiedaboutherstepson，who，soonafterreceivinghisdegreeatHarvard，hadbeenrescuedfromastormylove—affair，andfinally，aftersomemonthsoftroubleddrifting，hadyieldedtohisstep—mother’scounselandgoneuptoOxfordforayearofsupplementarystudy。

ThitherMrs。Leathwentonceortwicetovisithim，andherremainingdayswerepackedwithfamilyobligations：getting，asshephrasedit，"frocksandgovernesses"forherlittlegirl，whohadbeenleftinFrance，andhavingtodevotetheremaininghourstolongshoppingexpeditionswithhermother—in—law。Nevertheless，duringherbriefescapesfromduty，Darrowhadhadtimetofeelhersafeinthecustodyofhisdevotion，setapartforsomeinevitablehour；andthelastevening，atthetheatre，betweentheovershadowingMarquiseandtheunsuspiciousOwen，theyhadhadanalmostdecisiveexchangeofwords。

Now，intherattleofthewindabouthisears，Darrowcontinuedtohearthemockingechoofhermessage：

"Unexpectedobstacle。"InsuchanexistenceasMrs。Leath’s，atoncesoorderedandsoexposed，heknewhowsmallacomplicationmightassumethemagnitudeofan"obstacle；"

yet，evenallowingasimpartiallyashisstateofmindpermittedforthefactthat，withhermother—in—lawalways，andherstepsonintermittently，underherroof，herlotinvolvedahundredsmallaccommodationsgenerallyforeigntothefreedomofwidowhood——evenso，hecouldnotbutthinkthattheveryingenuitybredofsuchconditionsmighthavehelpedhertofindawayoutofthem。No，her"reason"，whateveritwas，could，inthiscase，benothingbutapretext；unlessheleanedtothelessflatteringalternativethatanyreasonseemedgoodenoughforpostponinghim！

Certainly，ifherwelcomehadmeantwhatheimagined，shecouldnot，forthesecondtimewithinafewweeks，havesubmittedsotamelytothedisarrangementoftheirplans；adisarrangementwhich——hisofficialdutiesconsidered——might，forallsheknew，resultinhisnotbeingabletogotoherformonths。

"Pleasedon’tcometillthirtieth。"Thethirtieth——anditwasnowthefifteenth！Sheflungbackthefortnightonhishandsasifhehadbeenanidlerindifferenttodates，insteadofanactiveyoungdiplomatistwho，torespondtohercall，hadhadtohewhiswaythroughaveryjungleofengagements！"Pleasedon’tcometillthirtieth。"Thatwasall。Nottheshadowofanexcuseoraregret；noteventheperfunctory"havewritten"withwhichitisusualtosoftensuchblows。Shedidn’twanthim，andhadtakentheshortestwaytotellhimso。Eveninhisfirstmomentofexasperationitstruckhimascharacteristicthatsheshouldnothavepaddedherpostponementwithafib。Certainlyhermoralangleswerenotdraped！

"IfIaskedhertomarryme，she’dhaverefusedinthesamelanguage。ButthankheavenIhaven’t！"hereflected。

Theseconsiderations，whichhadbeenwithhimeveryyardofthewayfromLondon，reachedaclimaxofironyashewasdrawnintothecrowdonthepier。Itdidnotsoftenhisfeelingstorememberthat，butforherlackofforethought，hemight，atthisharshendofthestormyMayday，havebeensittingbeforehisclubfireinLondoninsteadofshiveringinthedamphumanherdonthepier。Admittingthesex’straditionalrighttochange，shemightatleasthaveadvisedhimofhersbytelegraphingdirectlytohisrooms。Butinspiteoftheirexchangeoflettersshehadapparentlyfailedtonotehisaddress，andabreathlessemissaryhadrushedfromtheEmbassytopitchhertelegramintohiscompartmentasthetrainwasmovingfromthestation。

Yes，hehadgivenherchanceenoughtolearnwherehelived；

andthisminorproofofherindifferencebecame，ashejammedhiswaythroughthecrowd，themainpointofhisgrievanceagainstherandofhisderisionofhimself。Halfwaydownthepiertheprodofanumbrellaincreasedhisexasperationbyrousinghimtothefactthatitwasraining。

Instantlythenarrowledgebecameabattle—groundofthrusting，slanting，parryingdomes。Thewindrosewiththerain，andtheharriedwretchesexposedtothisdoubleassaultwreakedontheirneighboursthevengeancetheycouldnottakeontheelements。

Darrow，whosehealthyenjoymentoflifemadehimingeneralagoodtraveller，tolerantofagglutinatedhumanity，felthimselfobscurelyoutragedbythesepromiscuouscontacts。

Itwasasthoughallthepeopleabouthimhadtakenhismeasureandknownhisplight；asthoughtheywerecontemptuouslybumpingandshovinghimliketheinconsiderablethinghehadbecome。"Shedoesn’twantyou，doesn’twantyou，doesn’twantyou，"theirumbrellasandtheirelbowsseemedtosay。

Hehadrashlyvowed，whenthetelegramwasflungintohiswindow："AtanyrateIwon’tturnback"——asthoughitmightcausethesenderamaliciousjoytohavehimretracehisstepsratherthankeepontoParis！Nowheperceivedtheabsurdityofthevow，andthankedhisstarsthatheneednotplunge，tonopurpose，intothefuryofwavesoutsidetheharbour。

Withthisthoughtinhismindheturnedbacktolookforhisporter；butthecontiguityofdrippingumbrellasmadesignallingimpossibleand，perceivingthathehadlostsightoftheman，hescrambledupagaintotheplatform。Ashereachedit，adescendingumbrellacaughthiminthecollar—

bone；andthenextmoment，bentsidewaysbythewind，itturnedinsideoutandsoaredup，kite—wise，attheendofahelplessfemalearm。

Darrowcaughttheumbrella，lowereditsinvertedribs，andlookedupatthefaceitexposedtohim。

"Waitaminute，"hesaid；"youcan’tstayhere。"

Ashespoke，asurgeofthecrowddrovetheowneroftheumbrellaabruptlydownonhim。Darrowsteadiedherwithextendedarms，andregainingherfootingshecriedout："Oh，dear，oh，dear！It’sinribbons！"

Herliftedface，freshandflushedinthedrivingrain，wokeinhimamemoryofhavingseenitatadistanttimeandinavaguelyunsympatheticsetting；butitwasnomomenttofollowupsuchclues，andthefacewasobviouslyonetomakeitswayonitsownmerits。

Itspossessorhaddroppedherbagandbundlestoclutchatthetatteredumbrella。"IboughtitonlyyesterdayattheStores；and——yes——it’sutterlydonefor！"shelamented。

Darrowsmiledattheintensityofherdistress。Itwasfoodforthemoralistthat，sidebysidewithsuchcatastrophesashis，humannaturewasstillagitatingitselfoveritsmicroscopicwoes！

"Here’smineifyouwantit！"heshoutedbackatherthroughtheshoutingofthegale。

Theoffercausedtheyoungladytolookathimmoreintently。"Why，it’sMr。Darrow！"sheexclaimed；andthen，allradiantrecognition："Oh，thankyou！We’llshareit，ifyouwill。"

Sheknewhim，then；andheknewher；buthowandwherehadtheymet？Heputasidetheproblemforsubsequentsolution，anddrawingherintoamoreshelteredcorner，badeherwaittillhecouldfindhisporter。

When，afewminuteslater，hecamebackwithhisrecoveredproperty，andthenewsthattheboatwouldnotleavetillthetidehadturned，sheshowednoconcern。

"Notfortwohours？Howlucky——thenIcanfindmytrunk！"

OrdinarilyDarrowwouldhavefeltlittledisposedtoinvolvehimselfintheadventureofayoungfemalewhohadlosthertrunk；butatthemomenthewasgladofanypretextforactivity。EvenshouldhedecidetotakethenextuptrainfromDoverhestillhadayawninghourtofill；andtheobviousremedywastodevoteittothelovelinessindistressunderhisumbrella。

"You’velostatrunk？LetmeseeifIcanfindit。"

Itpleasedhimthatshedidnotreturntheconventional"Oh，WOULDyou？"Instead，shecorrectedhimwithalaugh——Notatrunk，butmytrunk；I’venoother——"andthenaddedbriskly："You’dbetterfirstseetogettingyourownthingsontheboat。"

Thismadehimanswer，asiftogivesubstancetohisplansbydiscussingthem："Idon’tactuallyknowthatI’mgoingover。"

"Notgoingover？"

"Well……perhapsnotbythisboat。"Againhefeltastealingindecision。"ImayprobablyhavetogobacktoLondon。

I’m——I’mwaiting……expectingaletter……（She’llthinkmeadefaulter，"hereflected。）"Butmeanwhilethere’splentyoftimetofindyourtrunk。"

Hepickeduphiscompanion’sbundles，andofferedheranarmwhichenabledhertopressherslightpersonmorecloselyunderhisumbrella；andas，thuslinked，theybeattheirwaybacktotheplatform，pulledtogetherandapartlikemarionettesonthewiresofthewind，hecontinuedtowonderwherehecouldhaveseenher。Hehadimmediatelyclassedherasacompatriot；hersmallnose，hercleartints，akindofsketchydelicacyinherface，asthoughshehadbeenbrightlybutlightlywashedinwithwater—colour，allconfirmedtheevidenceofherhighsweetvoiceandofherquickincessantgestures。ShewasclearlyanAmerican，butwiththeloosenativequalitystrainedthroughacloserwoofofmanners：thecompositeproductofanenquiringandadaptablerace。Allthis，however，didnothelphimtofitanametoher，forjustsuchinstanceswereperpetuallypouringthroughtheLondonEmbassy，andtheetchedandangularAmericanwasbecomingrarerthanthefluidtype。

Morepuzzlingthanthefactofhisbeingunabletoidentifyherwasthepersistentsenseconnectingherwithsomethinguncomfortableanddistasteful。Sopleasantavisionasthatgleamingupathimbetweenwetbrownhairandwetbrownboashouldhaveevokedonlyassociationsaspleasing；buteachefforttofitherimageintohispastresultedinthesamememoriesofboredomandavaguediscomfort……

II

Don’tyouremembermenow——atMrs。Murrett’s？"

ShethrewthequestionatDarrowacrossatableofthequietcoffee—roomtowhich，afteravainlyprolongedquestforhertrunk，hehadsuggestedtakingherforacupoftea。

Inthismustyretreatshehadremovedherdrippinghat，hungitonthefendertodry，andstretchedherselfontiptoeinfrontoftheroundeagle—crownedmirror，abovethemantelvasesofdyedimmortelles，whilesheranherfingerscomb—

wisethroughherhair。ThegesturehadactedonDarrow’snumbfeelingsastheglowofthefireactedonhiscirculation；andwhenhehadasked："Aren’tyourfeetwet，too？"and，afterfrankinspectionofastout—shodsole，shehadansweredcheerfully："No——luckilyIhadonmynewboots，"hebegantofeelthathumanintercoursewouldstillbetolerableifitwerealwaysasfreefromformality。

Theremovalofhiscompanion’shat，besidesprovokingthisreflection，gavehimhisfirstfullsightofherface；andthiswassofavourablethatthenameshenowpronouncedfellonhimwithaquitedisproportionateshockofdismay。

"Oh，Mrs。Murrett’s——wasitTHERE？"

Herememberedhernow，ofcourse：rememberedherasoneoftheshadowysidlingpresencesinthebackgroundofthatawfulhouseinChelsea，oneofthedumbappendagesoftheshriekingunescapableMrs。Murrett，intowhosetalonshehadfalleninthecourseofhishead—longpursuitofLadyUlricaCrispin。Oh，thetasteofstalefollies！Howinsipiditwas，yethowitclung！

"Iusedtopassyouonthestairs，"sheremindedhim。

Yes：hehadseenherslipby——herecalleditnow——ashedasheduptothedrawing—roominquestofLadyUlrica。Thethoughtmadehimstealalongerlook。HowcouldsuchafacehavebeenmergedintheMurrettmob？Itsfugitiveslantinglines，thatlentthemselvestoallmanneroftendertiltsandforeshortenings，hadthefreakishgraceofsomeyoungheadoftheItaliancomedy。Thehairstoodupfromherforeheadinaboyishelf—lock，anditscolourmatchedherauburneyesfleckedwithblack，andthelittlebrownspotonhercheek，betweentheearthatwasmeanttohavearosebehinditandthechinthatshouldhaverestedonaruff。

Whenshesmiled，theleftcornerofhermouthwentupalittlehigherthantheright；andhersmilebeganinhereyesandrandowntoherlipsintwolinesoflight。HehaddashedpastthattoreachLadyUlricaCrispin！

"Butofcourseyouwouldn’trememberme，"shewassaying。

"MynameisViner——SophyViner。"

Notrememberher？ButofcourseheDID！Hewasgenuinelysureofitnow。"You’reMrs。Murrett’sniece，"hedeclared。

Sheshookherhead。"No；noteventhat。Onlyherreader。"

"Herreader？Doyoumeantosaysheeverreads？"

MissVinerenjoyedhiswonder。"Dear，no！ButIwrotenotes，andmadeupthevisiting—book，andwalkedthedogs，andsawboresforher。"

Darrowgroaned。"Thatmusthavebeenratherbad！"

"Yes；butnothinglikeasbadasbeingherniece。"

"ThatIcanwellbelieve。I’mgladtohear，"headded，"thatyouputitallinthepasttense。"

Sheseemedtodroopalittleattheallusion；thensheliftedherchinwithajerkofdefiance。"Yes。Allisatanendbetweenus。We’vejustpartedintears——butnotinsilence！"

"Justparted？Doyoumeantosayyou’vebeenthereallthistime？"

"EversinceyouusedtocometheretoseeLadyUlrica？Doesitseemtoyousoawfullylongago？"

Theunexpectednessofthethrust——aswellasitsdoubtfultaste——chilledhisgrowingenjoymentofherchatter。Hehadreallybeengettingtolikeher——hadrecovered，underthecandidapprovalofhereye，hisusualsenseofbeingapersonableyoungman，withalltheprivilegespertainingtothestate，insteadoftheanonymousragofhumanityhehadfelthimselfinthecrowdonthepier。Itannoyedhim，atthatparticularmoment，toberemindedthatnaturalnessisnotalwaysconsonantwithtaste。

Sheseemedtoguesshisthought。"Youdon’tlikemysayingthatyoucameforLadyUlrica？"sheasked，leaningoverthetabletopourherselfasecondcupoftea。

Helikedherquickness，atanyrate。"It’sbetter，"helaughed，"thanyourthinkingIcameforMrs。Murrett！"

"Oh，weneverthoughtanybodycameforMrs。Murrett！Itwasalwaysforsomethingelse：themusic，orthecook——whentherewasagoodone——ortheotherpeople；generallyONE

oftheotherpeople。"

"Isee。"

Shewasamusing，andthat，inhispresentmood，wasmoretohispurposethantheexactshadeofhertaste。Itwasodd，too，todiscoversuddenlythattheblurredtapestryofMrs。

Murrett’sbackgroundhadallthewhilebeenaliveandfullofeyes。Now，withapairofthemlookingintohis，hewasconsciousofaqueerreversalofperspective。

"Whowerethe’we’？Wereyouacloudofwitnesses？"

"Therewereagoodmanyofus。"Shesmiled。"Letmesee——

whowasthereinyourtime？Mrs。Bolt——andMademoiselle——andProfessorDidymusandthePolishCountess。Don’tyourememberthePolishCountess？Shecrystal—gazed，andplayedaccompaniments，andMrs。MurrettchuckedherbecauseMrs。

DidymusaccusedherofhypnotizingtheProfessor。Butofcourseyoudon’tremember。Wewereallinvisibletoyou；

butwecouldsee。Andweallusedtowonderaboutyou————"

AgainDarrowfeltarednessinthetemples。"Whataboutme？"

"Well——whetheritwasyouorshewho……"

Hewinced，buthidhisdisapproval。Itmadethetimepasstolistentoher。

"Andwhat，ifonemayask，wasyourconclusion？"

"Well，Mrs。BoltandMademoiselleandtheCountessnaturallythoughtitwasSHE；butProfessorDidymusandJimmyBrance——especiallyJimmy————"

"Justamoment：whoonearthisJimmyBrance？"

Sheexclaimedinwonder："YouWEREabsorbed——nottorememberJimmyBrance！Hemusthavebeenrightaboutyou，afterall。"Sheletheramusedscrutinydwellonhim。"Buthowcouldyou？Shewasfalsefromheadtofoot！"

"False————？"Inspiteoftimeandsatiety，themaleinstinctofownershiproseupandrepudiatedthecharge。

MissVinercaughthislookandlaughed。"Oh，Ionlymeantexternally！Yousee，sheoftenusedtocometomyroomaftertennis，ortotouchupintheevenings，whentheyweregoingon；andIassureyoushetookapartlikeapuzzle。InfactIusedtosaytoJimmy——justtomakehimwild——：’I’llbetyouanythingyoulikethere’snothingwrong，becauseIknowshe’dneverdareun——’"Shebrokethewordintwo，andherquickblushmadeherfacelikeashallow—petalledroseshadingtothedeeperpinkofthecentre。

Thesituationwassaved，forDarrow，byanabruptrushofmemories，andhegavewaytoamirthwhichsheasfranklyechoed。"Ofcourse，"shegaspedthroughherlaughter，"I

【推荐阅读】幽幽深宫，醒来一梦似千年，重生于下堂妃身躯中的她，将如何手刃仇人? 点击阅读