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           Twobrownblursemergingfromthefartherendofthewood-vistagraduallydefinedthemselvesasherstep-sonandanattendantgame-keeper.Theygrewslowlyuponthebluishbackground,withoccasionaldelaysandre-effacements,andshesatstill,waitingtilltheyshouldreachthegateattheendofthedrive,wherethekeeperwouldturnofftohiscottageandOwencontinueontothehouse.

           Shewatchedhisapproachwithasmile.Fromthefirstdaysofhermarriageshehadbeendrawntotheboy,butitwasnotuntilafterEffie’sbirththatshehadreallybeguntoknowhim.TheeagerobservationofherownchildhadshownherhowmuchshehadstilltolearnabouttheslightfairboywhomtheholidaysperiodicallyrestoredtoGivre.Owen,eventhen,bothphysicallyandmorally,furnishedherwiththeoddestofcommentariesonhisfather’smienandmind.Hewouldnever,thefamilysighinglyrecognized,benearlyashandsomeasMr.Leath;buthisrathercharminglyunbalancedface,withitsbroodingforeheadandpetulantboyishsmile,suggestedtoAnnawhathisfather’scountenancemighthavebeencouldonehavepictureditsneatfeaturesdisorderedbyarattlingbreeze.Sheevenpushedtheanalogyfarther,anddescriedinherstep-son’smindaquaintly-twistedreflectionofherhusband’s.Withhisburstsofdoor-slammingactivity,hisfitsofbookishindolence,hiscruderevolutionarydogmatizingandhisflashesofprecociousirony,theboywasnotunlikeaboisterousembodimentofhisfather’stheories.