XVI

           IntheoakroomhefoundMrs.Leath,hermother-in-lawandEffie.Thegroup,ashecametowarditdownthelongdrawing-rooms,composeditselfprettilyaboutthetea-table.Thelampsandthefirecrossedtheirgleamsonsilverandporcelain,onthebrighthazeofEffie’shairandonthewhitenessofAnna’sforehead,assheleanedbackinherchairbehindthetea-urn.

           ShedidnotmoveatDarrow’sapproach,butliftedtohimadeepgazeofpeaceandconfidence.Thelookseemedtothrowabouthimthespellofadivinesecurity:hefeltthejoyofaconvalescentsuddenlywakingtofindthesunlightonhisface.

           MadamedeChantelle,acrossherknitting,discoursedoftheirafternoon’sexcursion,withoccasionalpausesinducedbythehypnoticeffectofthefreshair;andEffie,kneeling,onthehearth,softlybutinsistentlysoughttoimplantinherterrier’smindsomenotionoftherelationbetweenaverticalattitudeandsugar.

           Darrowtookachairbehindthelittlegirl,sothathemightlookacrossathermother.Itwasalmostanecessityforhim,atthemoment,tolethiseyesrestonAnna’sface,andtomeet,nowandthen,theproudshynessofhergaze.

           MadamedeChantellepresentlyenquiredwhathadbecomeofOwen,andamomentlaterthewindowbehindheropened,andhergrandson,guninhand,cameinfromtheterrace.Ashestoodthereinthelamp-light,withdeadleavesandbitsofbrambleclingingtohismud-spatteredclothes,thescentofthenightabouthimanditschillonhispalebrightface,hereallyhadthelookofayoungfaunstrayedinfromtheforest.

           Effieabandonedtheterriertoflytohim.