XIV

           IfDarrow,onenteringthedrawing-roombeforedinner,examineditsnewoccupantwithunusualinterest,itwasmoreonOwenLeath’saccountthanhisown.

           Anna’shintshadrousedhisinterestinthelad’sloveaffair,andhewonderedwhatmannerofgirltheheroineofthecomingconflictmightbe.HehadguessedthatOwen’srebellionsymbolizedforhisstep-motherherownlongstruggleagainsttheLeathconventions,andheunderstoodthatifAnnasopassionatelyabettedhimitwaspartlybecause,assheowned,shewantedhisliberationtocoincidewithhers.

           Theladywhowastorepresent,intheimpendingstruggle,theforcesoforderandtraditionwasseatedbythefirewhenDarrowentered.Amongtheflowersandoldfurnitureofthelargepale-panelledroom,MadamedeChantellehadtheinanimateeleganceofafigureintroducedintoa“still-life”togivethescale.Andthis,Darrowreflected,wasexactlywhatshedoubtlessregardedasherchiefobligation:hewassureshethoughtagreatdealof“measure”,andapprovedofmostthingsonlyuptoacertainpoint.Shewasawomanofsixty,withafigureatonceyoungandold-fashioned.Herfairfadedtints,herquaintcorseting,thepassementerieonhertight-waisteddress,thevelvetbandonhertaperingarm,madeherresemblea“cartedevisite”photographofthemiddle’sixties.Onesawher,youngerbutnolessinvinciblylady-like,leaningonachairwithafringedback,acurlinherneck,alocketonhertuckeredbosom,towardtheendofanembossedmoroccoalbumbeginningwithTheBeautiesoftheSecondEmpire.