Риф, или Там, где разбивается счастье

XV

           

           Heunderstoodthen,forthefirsttime,howvague,incomparisonwithhers,hadbeenhisownvisionoftheparthehadplayedinthebriefepisodeoftheirrelation.Theincidenthadleftinhimasenseofexasperationandself-contempt,butthat,ashenowperceived,waschiefly,ifnotaltogether,asitboreonhispreconceivedidealofhisattitudetowardanotherwoman.Hehadfallenbelowhisownstandardofsentimentalloyalty,andifhethoughtofSophyVineritwasmainlyasthechanceinstrumentofhislapse.Theseconsiderationswerenotagreeabletohispride,buttheywereforcedonhimbytheexampleofhervaliantcommon-sense.Ifhehadcutasorryfigureinthebusiness,heowedittohernottoclosehiseyestothefactanylonger...

           Butwhenheopenedthem,whatdidhesee?Thesituation,detestableatbest,wouldyethavebeenrelativelysimpleifprotectingSophyVinerhadbeentheonlydutyinvolvedinit.Thefactthatthatdutywasparamountdidnotdoawaywiththecontingentobligations.ItwasDarrow’sinstinct,indifficultmoments,togostraighttothebottomofthedifficulty;buthehadneverbeforehadtotakesodarkadiveasthis,andfortheminuteheshiveredonthebrink....Well,hisfirstduty,atanyrate,wastothegirl:hemustletherseethathemeanttofulfillittothelastjot,andthentrytofindouthowtosquarethefulfillmentwiththeotherproblemsalreadyinhispath...

           

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