Риф, або Там, де розбивається щастя

XXIII

           Thegirlwasevidentlytryingtosteadyhervoice.“ButIshouldliketowaitafewdays—tohavealittlemoretimetomyself.”

           Annacontinuedtoconsiderherkindly.ItwasevidentthatshedidnotcaretosaywhyshewishedtoleaveGivresosuddenly,butherdisturbedfaceandshakenvoicebetrayedamorepressingmotivethanthenaturaldesiretospendtheweeksbeforehermarriageunderheroldfriends’roof.SinceshehadmadenoresponsetotheallusiontoMadamedeChantelle,AnnacouldbutconjecturethatshehadhadapassingdisagreementwithOwen;andifthiswereso,randominterferencemightdomoreharmthangood.

           “Mydearchild,ifyoureallywanttogoatonceIsha’n’t,ofcourse,urgeyoutostay.IsupposeyouhavespokentoOwen?”

           “No.Notyet...”

           Annathrewanastonishedglanceather.“Youmeantosayyouhaven’ttoldhim?”

           “Iwantedtotellyoufirst.IthoughtIoughtto,onaccountofEffie.”Herlookclearedassheputforththisreason.

           “Oh,Effie!—”Anna’ssmilebrushedawaythescruple.“Owenhasarighttoaskthatyoushouldconsiderhimbeforeyouthinkofhissister....Ofcourseyoushalldojustasyouwish,”shewenton,afteranotherthoughtfulinterval.

           “Oh,thankyou,”SophyVinermurmuredandrosetoherfeet.

           Annarosealso,vaguelyseekingforsomewordthatshouldbreakdownthegirl’sresistance.“You’lltellOwenatonce?”shefinallyasked.

           MissViner,insteadofreplying,stoodbeforeherinmanifestuncertainty,andasshedidsotherewasalighttaponthedoor,andOwenLeathwalkedintotheroom.

Налаштування
Фон сторінки
Розмір шрифту
Міжрядковий інтервал
Фразові дієслова
Показати / Приховати меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Сторінка 238 з 369