Риф, или Там, где разбивается счастье

XXII

           

           “IthinkIshouldliketoaskher,”thechildrejoined,afteraminute’sshyconsideration;andasDarrowsetherdownhermotherlaughed:“Do,darling,do!Runoffatonce,andtellherweexpecthertobeawfullyhappytoo.”

           Thescenehadbeensucceededbyotherslesspoignantbutalmostastrying.Darrowcursedhisluckinhaving,atsuchamoment,torunthegauntletofahousefulofinterestedobservers.Thestateofbeing“engaged”,initselfanabsurdenoughpredicament,eventoamanonlyintermittentlyexposed,becameintolerableunderthecontinuousscrutinyofasmallcirclequiveringwithparticipation.Darrowwasfurthermoreawarethat,thoughthecaseoftheothercoupleoughttohavemadehisownlessconspicuous,itwasrathertheywhofoundarefugeintheshadowofhisprominence.MadamedeChantelle,thoughshehadconsentedtoOwen’sengagementandformallywelcomedhisbetrothed,wasneverthelessnotsorrytoshow,byherreceptionofDarrow,ofwhatfinely-shadeddegreesofcordialityshewascapable.MissPainter,havingwonthedayforOwen,wasalsofreetoturnherattentiontothenewercandidateforhersympathy;andDarrowandAnnafoundthemselvesimmersedinawarmbathofsentimentalcuriosity.

           ItwasarelieftoDarrowthathewasunderapositiveobligationtoendhisvisitwithinthenextforty-eighthours.WhenheleftLondon,hisAmbassadorhadaccordedhimatendays’leave.

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