Риф, или Там, где разбивается счастье

           There’sbeentime,onbothsides,tothinkthemoversince——”Hecaughthimselfbackandhunghelplessonthe“since”:whateverwordshechose,heseemedtostumbleamongremindersoftheirpast.

           Shewalkedonbesidehim,hereyesontheground.“ThenI’mtounderstand—definitely—thatyoudorenewyouroffer?”sheasked

           “Withallmyheart!Ifyou’llonlyletme——”

           Sheraisedahand,asthoughtocheckhim.“It’sextremelyfriendlyofyou—Idobelieveyoumeanitasafriend—butIdon’tquiteunderstandwhy,findingme,asyousay,sowellplacedhere,youshouldshowmoreanxietyaboutmyfuturethanatatimewhenIwasactually,andratherdesperately,adrift.”

           “Oh,no,notmore!”

           “Ifyoushowanyatall,itmust,atanyrate,befordifferentreasons.—Infact,itcanonlybe,”shewenton,withoneofherdisconcertingflashesofastuteness,“foroneoftworeasons;eitherbecauseyoufeelyououghttohelpme,orbecause,forsomereason,youthinkyouoweittoMrs.Leathtoletherknowwhatyouknowofme.”

           Darrowstoodstillinthepath.BehindhimheheardEffie’scall,andatthechild’svoicehesawSophyturnherheadwiththealertnessofonewhoisobscurelyonthewatch.Thelookwassofugitivethathecouldnothavesaidwhereinitdifferedfromhernormalprofessionalairofhavingherpupilonhermind.

           Effiesprangpastthem,andDarrowtookupthegirl’schallenge.

           “WhatyousuggestaboutMrs.Leathishardlyworthanswering.