XXVIII

           WhenhehadgoneoutoftheroomAnnastoodwherehehadlefther.“Imustbelievehim!Imustbelievehim!”shesaid.

           Amomentbefore,atthemomentwhenshehadliftedherarmstohisneck,shehadbeenwrappedinasenseofcompletesecurity.Allthespiritsofdoubthadbeenexorcised,andherlovewasoncemoretheclearhabitationinwhicheverythoughtandfeelingcouldmoveinblissfulfreedom.Andthen,assheraisedherfacetoDarrow’sandmethiseyes,shehadseemedtolookintotheveryruinsofhissoul.Thatwastheonlywayshecouldexpressit.Itwasasthoughheandshehadbeenlookingattwosidesofthesamething,andthesideshehadseenhadbeenalllightandlife,andhisaplaceofgraves...

           Shedidn’tnowrecallwhohadspokenfirst,oreven,veryclearly,whathadbeensaid.Itseemedtoheronlyamomentlaterthatshehadfoundherselfstandingattheotherendoftheroom—theroomwhichhadsuddenlygrownsosmallthat,evenwithitslengthbetweenthem,shefeltasifhetouchedher—cryingouttohim“Itisbecauseofyoushe’sgoing!”andreadingtheavowalinhisface.

           Thatwashissecret,then,theirsecret:hehadmetthegirlinParisandhelpedherinherstraits—lenthermoney,Annavaguelyconjectured—andshehadfalleninlovewithhim,andonmeetinghimagainhadbeensuddenlyovermasteredbyherpassion.Anna,droppingbackintohersofa-corner,satstaringthesefactsintheface.

           Thegirlhadbeeninadesperateplight—frightened,penniless,outragedbywhathadhappened,andnotknowing(withawomanlikeMrs.