XXVI

           Darrowwaitedaloneinthesitting-room.

           Noplacecouldhavebeenmoredistastefulasthesceneofthetalkthatlaybeforehim;buthehadaccededtoAnna’ssuggestionthatitwouldseemmorenaturalforhertosummonSophyVinerthanforhimtogoinsearchofher.Ashistroubledpacingscarriedhimbackandfortharelentlesshandseemedtobetearingawayallthetenderfibresofassociationthatboundhimtothepeacefulroom.Here,inthisveryplace,hehaddrunkhisdeepestdraughtsofhappiness,hadhadhislipsatthefountain-headofitsoverflowingrivers;butnowthatsourcewaspoisonedandhewouldtastenomoreofanuntaintedcup.

           Foramomenthefeltanactualphysicalanguish;thenhisnerveshardenedforthecomingstruggle.Hehadnonotionofwhatawaitedhim;butafterthefirstinstinctiverecoilhehadseeninaflashtheurgentneedofanotherwordwithSophyViner.HehadbeeninsincereinlettingAnnathinkthathehadconsentedtospeakbecausesheaskedit.Inrealityhehadbeenfeverishlycastingaboutforthepretextshehadgivenhim;andforsomereasonthistrivialhypocrisyweighedonhimmorethanallhisheavyburdenofdeceit.

           AtlengthheheardastepbehindhimandSophyVinerentered.Whenshesawhimshepausedonthethresholdandhalfdrewback.

           “IwastoldthatMrs.Leathhadsentforme.”

           “Mrs.Leathdidsendforyou.She’llbeherepresently;butIaskedhertoletmeseeyoufirst.”

           Hespokeverygently,andtherewasnoinsincerityinhisgentleness.Hewasprofoundlymovedbythechangeinthegirl’sappearance.