XXIII

           ThenextdaywasDarrow’slastatGivreand,foreseeingthattheafternoonandeveningwouldhavetobegiventothefamily,hehadaskedAnnatodevoteanearlyhourtothefinalconsiderationoftheirplans.Hewastomeetherinthebrownsitting-roomatten,andtheyweretowalkdowntotheriverandtalkovertheirfutureinthelittlepavilionabuttingonthewallofthepark.

           ItwasjustaweeksincehisarrivalatGivre,andAnnawished,beforeheleft,toreturntotheplacewheretheyhadsatontheirfirstafternoontogether.Hersensitivenesstotheappealofinanimatethings,tothecolourandtextureofwhateverwoveitselfintothesubstanceofheremotion,madeherwanttohearDarrow’svoice,andtofeelhiseyesonher,inthespotwhereblisshadfirstflowedintoherheart.

           Thatbliss,intheinterval,hadwounditselfintoeveryfoldofherbeing.Passing,inthefirstdays,fromahighshytendernesstotherushofasecretsurrender,ithadgraduallywidenedanddeepened,toflowoninredoubledbeauty.ShethoughtshenowknewexactlyhowandwhyshelovedDarrow,andshecouldseeherwholeskyreflectedinthedeepandtranquilcurrentofherlove.

           Earlythenextday,inhersitting-room,shewasglancingthroughtheletterswhichitwasEffie’smorningprivilegetocarryuptoher.Effiemeanwhilecircledinquisitivelyabouttheroom,wheretherewasalwayssomethingnewtoengageherinfantfancy;andAnna,lookingup,sawhersuddenlyarrestedbeforeaphotographofDarrowwhich,thedaybefore,hadtakenitsplaceonthewriting-table.

           Annaheldoutherarmswithafaintblush.