Риф, или Там, где разбивается счастье

           I’veseenmuchmoreaccomplishedgovernesses—tomycost!—butI’veneverseenayoungthingmoregayandkindandhuman.Youmusthavenoticed,thoughyou’veseenthemsolittletogether,howEffieexpandswhenshe’swithher.Andthat,youknow,iswhatIwant.MadamedeChantellewillprovidethenecessaryrestraint.”Sheclaspedherhandsonhisarm.“Yes,I’mreadytogowithyounow.Butfirstofall—thisverymoment!—youmustcomewithmetoEffie.Sheknows,ofcourse,nothingofwhat’sbeenhappening;andIwanthertobetoldfirstaboutyou.”

           Effie,soughtthroughoutthehouse,waspresentlytracedtotheschool-room,andthitherDarrowmountedwithAnna.Hehadneverseenhersoalightwithhappiness,andhehadcaughtherbuoyancyofmood.Hekeptrepeatingtohimself:“It’sover—it’sover,”asifsomemonstrousmidnighthallucinationhadbeenroutedbythereturnofday.

           Astheyapproachedtheschool-roomdoortheterrier’sbarkscametothemthroughlaughingremonstrances.

           “She’sgivinghimhisdinner,”Annawhispered,herhandinDarrow’s.

           “Don’tforgetthegold-fish!”theyheardanothervoicecallout.

           Darrowhaltedonthethreshold.“Oh—notnow!”

           “Notnow?”

           “Imean—she’dratherhaveyoutellherfirst.I’llwaitforyoubothdownstairs.”

           Hewasawarethatsheglancedathimintently.“Asyouplease.I’llbringherdownatonce.”

           Sheopenedthedoor,andasshewentinheheardhersay:“No,Sophy,don’tgo!Iwantyouboth.”

           TherestofDarrow’sdaywasasuccessionofemptyandagitatingscenes.