XXI

           Downtheavenuetherecametothem,withtheopeningofthedoor,thevoiceofOwen’smotor.Itwasthesignalwhichhadinterruptedtheirfirsttalk,andagain,instinctively,theydrewapartatthesound.WithoutawordDarrowturnedbackintotheroom,whileSophyVinerwentdownthestepsandwalkedbackalonetowardthecourt.

           Atluncheonthepresenceofthesurgeon,andthenon-appearanceofMadamedeChantelle—whohadexcusedherselfonthepleaofaheadache—combinedtoshifttheconversationalcentreofgravity;andDarrow,undershelterofthenecessarilyimpersonaltalk,hadtimetoadjusthisdisguiseandtoperceivethattheotherswereengagedinthesamere-arrangement.ItwasthefirsttimethathehadseenyoungLeathandSophyVinertogethersincehehadlearnedoftheirengagement;butneitherrevealedmoreemotionthanbefittedtheoccasion.ItwasevidentthatOwenwasdeeplyunderthegirl’scharm,andthatattheleastsignfromherhisblisswouldhavebrokenbounds;butherreticencewasjustifiedbythetacitlyrecognizedfactofMadamedeChantelle’sdisapproval.ThisalsovisiblyweighedonAnna’smind,makinghermannertoSophy,ifnolesskind,yetatriflemoreconstrainedthanifthemomentoffinalunderstandinghadbeenreached.SoDarrowinterpretedthetensionperceptibleunderthefluentexchangeofcommonplacesinwhichhewasdiligentlysharing.Buthewasmoreandmoreawareofhisinabilitytotestthemoralatmosphereabouthim:hewaslikeamaninfevertestinganother’stemperaturebythetouch.