Риф, или Там, где разбивается счастье

           ”Sheadded,withasuddenflushofenthusiasm:“I’mgladshe’sgotitinhertomakeonefeellikethat!”

           SheseemedtowaitforDarrowtoagreewithher,ortoputsomeotherquestion,andhefinallyfoundvoicetoask:“Thenyouthinkit’snotafinalbreak?”

           “Ihopenot—I’veneverhopeditmore!IhadawordwithOwen,too,afterIlefther,andIthinkheunderstandsthathemustlethergowithoutinsistingonanypositivepromise.She’sexcited...hemustlethercalmdown...”

           Againshewaited,andDarrowsaid:“Surelyyoucanmakehimseethat.”

           “She’llhelpmeto—she’stoseehim,ofcourse,beforeshegoes.Shestartsimmediately,bytheway,withAdelaidePainter,whoismotoringovertoFrancheuiltocatchtheoneo’clockexpress—andwho,ofcourse,knowsnothingofallthis,andissimplytobetoldthatSophyhasbeensentforbytheFarlows.”

           Darrowmutelysignedhiscomprehension,andshewenton:“OwenisparticularlyanxiousthatneitherAdelaidenorhisgrandmothershouldhavetheleastinklingofwhat’shappened.TheneedofshieldingSophywillhelphimtocontrolhimself.He’scomingtohissenses,poorboy;he’sashamedofhiswildtalkalready.Heaskedmetotellyouso;nodoubthe’lltellyousohimself.”

           Darrowmadeamovementofprotest.“Oh,astothat—thething’snotworthanotherword.”

           “Oranotherthought,either?”Shebrightened.“Promisemeyouwon’teventhinkofit—promisemeyouwon’tbehardonhim!”

           Hewasfindingiteasiertosmilebackather.