Риф, или Там, где разбивается счастье

           I’mgladshe’soutofit,poorgirl!”“Thenyouneverreallysawanythingofherthere?”

           “Ineverhadthechance.Mrs.Murrettdiscouragedanycompetitiononthepartofhersubordinates.”

           “Especiallysuchprettyones,Isuppose?”Darrowmadenocomment,andshecontinued:“AndMrs.Murrett’sownopinion—ifshe’dofferedyouone—probablywouldn’thavebeenofmuchvalue?”

           “Onlyinsofarasherdisapprovalwould,ongeneralprinciples,havebeenagoodmarkforMissViner.Butsurely,”hewentonafterapause,“youcouldhavefoundoutaboutherfromthepeoplethroughwhomyoufirstheardofher?”

           Annasmiled.“Oh,weheardofherthroughAdelaidePainter—;”andinreplytohisglanceofinterrogationsheexplainedthattheladyinquestionwasaspinsterofSouthBraintree,Massachusetts,who,havingcometoParissomethirtyyearsearlier,tonurseabrotherthroughanillness,hadeversinceprotestinglyandprovisionallycampedthereinastateofcontemptuousprotestationoddlymanifestedbyhernevertakingtheslip-coversoffherdrawing-roomchairs.HerlongresidenceonGallicsoilhadnotmitigatedherhostilitytowardthecreedandcustomsoftherace,butthoughshealwaysreferredtotheCatholicChurchastheScarletWomanandtookthedarkestviewsofFrenchprivatelife,MadamedeChantelleplacedgreatrelianceonherjudgmentandexperience,andineverydomesticcrisistheirreducibleAdelaidewasimmediatelysummonedtoGivre.