XV

           MadamedeChantelleandAnnahadplanned,fortheafternoon,avisittoaremotelysituatedacquaintancewhomtheintroductionofthemotorhadtransformedintoaneighbour.Effiewastopayforhermorning’sholidaybyanhourortwointheschool-room,andOwensuggestedthatheandDarrowshouldbetakethemselvestoadistantcovertinthedesultoryquestforpheasants.

           Darrowwasnotanardentsportsman,butanypretextforphysicalactivitywouldhavebeenacceptableatthemoment;andhewasgladbothtogetawayfromthehouseandnottobelefttohimself.

           Whenhecamedownstairsthemotorwasatthedoor,andAnnastoodbeforethehallmirror,swathingherhatinveils.Sheturnedatthesoundofhisstepandsmiledathimforalongfullmoment.

           “I’dnoideayouknewMissViner,”shesaid,ashehelpedherintoherlongcoat.

           “Itcamebacktome,luckily,thatI’dseenhertwoorthreetimesinLondon,severalyearsago.Shewassecretary,orsomethingofthesort,inthebackgroundofahousewhereIusedtodine.”

           Heloathedtheslightingindifferenceofthephrase,buthehaduttereditdeliberately,hadbeensecretlypractisingitallthroughtheinterminablehourattheluncheon-table.Nowthatitwasspoken,heshiveredatitsnoteofcondescension.Insuchcasesonewasalmostsuretooverdo....ButAnnaseemedtonoticenothingunusual.

           “Wasshereally?Youmusttellmeallaboutit—tellmeexactlyhowshestruckyou.I’msogladitturnsoutthatyouknowher.”

           “‘Know’isratherexaggerated:weusedtopasseachotheronthestairs.