Риф, або Там, де розбивається щастя

XII

           Effie,itwasevident,couldbelefttoMadamedeChantelle’scaretillthecoupleshouldhaveorganizedtheirlife;andshemighteven,aslongasherfuturestep-father’sworkretainedhimindistantposts,continuetodivideheryearbetweenGivreandtheantipodes.

           AsforOwen,whohadreachedhislegalmajoritytwoyearsbefore,andwassoontoattaintheagefixedforthetakingoverofhispaternalinheritance,thearrivalofthisdatewouldreducehisstep-mother’sresponsibilitytoafriendlyconcernforhiswelfare.ThismadeforthepromptrealizationofDarrow’swishes,andthereseemednoreasonwhythemarriageshouldnottakeplacewithinthesixweeksthatremainedofhisleave.

           Theypassedoutofthewood-walkintotheopenbrightnessofthegarden.Thenoonsunlightsheetedwithgoldthebronzeflanksofthepolygonalyews.Chrysanthemums,russet,saffronandorange,glowedliketheefflorescenceofanenchantedforest;beltsofredbegoniapurplingtowine-colourranlikesmoulderingflameamongtheborders;andabovethisoutspreadtapestrythehouseextendeditsharmoniouslength,thesobernessofitslinessoftenedtograceintheluminousmistyair.

           Darrowstoodstill,andAnnafeltthathisglancewastravellingfromhertothesceneaboutthemandthenbacktoherface.

           “You’resureyou’repreparedtogiveupGivre?Youlooksomadeforeachother!”

           “Oh,Givre——”Shebrokeoffsuddenly,feelingasifhertoocarelesstonehaddeliveredallherpastintohishands;andwithoneofherinstinctivemovementsofrecoilsheadded:“WhenOwenmarriesIshallhavetogiveitup.

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