Риф, или Там, где разбивается счастье

           Farlow,onthepleathatMissViner’splanswereuncertain,hadatfirstmadesomedifficultyaboutgivingthisinformation;andAnnaguessedthatthegirlhadleftherfriends’roof,andinstructedthemtowithholdheraddress,withtheobjectofavoidingOwen.“She’skeptfaithwithherselfandIhaven’t,”Annamused;andthethoughtwasafreshincentivetoaction.

           Darrowhadannouncedhisintentionofcomingsoonafterluncheon,andthemorningwasalreadysofaradvancedthatAnna,stillmistrustfulofherstrength,decidedtodriveimmediatelytotheaddressMrs.Farlowhadgiven.OnthewaythereshetriedtorecallwhatshehadheardofSophyViner’ssister,butbeyondthegirl’senthusiasticreportoftheabsentLaura’slovelinessshecouldrememberonlycertainvagueallusionsofMrs.Farlow’stoherartisticendowmentsandmatrimonialvicissitudes.Darrowhadmentionedherbutonce,andinthebriefestterms,ashavingapparentlyverylittleconcernforSophy’swelfare,andbeing,atanyrate,toogeographicallyremotetogiveheranypracticalsupport;andAnnawonderedwhatchancehadbroughthertohersister’ssideatthisconjunction.Mrs.Farlowhadspokenofherasacelebrity(inwhatlineAnnafailedtorecall);butMrs.Farlow’scelebritieswerelegion,andthenameontheslipofpaper—Mrs.McTarvie-Birch—didnotseemtohaveanydefiniteassociationwithfame.