Риф, или Там, где разбивается счастье

XXI

           

           AfterluncheonAnna,whowastomotorthesurgeonhome,suggestedtoDarrowthatheshouldaccompanythem.Effiewasalsooftheparty;andDarrowinferredthatAnnawishedtogiveherstep-sonachancetobealonewithhisbetrothed.Onthewayback,afterthesurgeonhadbeenleftathisdoor,thelittlegirlsatbetweenhermotherandDarrow,andherpresencekepttheirtalkfromtakingapersonalturn.DarrowknewthatMrs.LeathhadnotyettoldEffieoftherelationinwhichhewastostandtoher.TheprematuredivulgingofOwen’splanshadthrowntheirownintothebackground,andbycommonconsenttheycontinued,inthelittlegirl’spresence,ontermsofaninformalfriendliness.

           Theskyhadclearedafterluncheon,andtoprolongtheirexcursiontheyreturnedbywayoftheivy-mantledruinwhichwastohavebeenthesceneoftheprojectedpicnic.Thiscircuitbroughtthembacktotheparkgatesnotlongbeforesunset,andasAnnawishedtostopatthelodgefornewsoftheinjuredchildDarrowlefthertherewithEffieandwalkedonalonetothehouse.Hehadtheimpressionthatshewasslightlysurprisedathisnotwaitingforher;buthisinnerrestlessnessventeditselfinanintensedesireforbodilymovement.Hewouldhavelikedtowalkhimselfintoastateoftorpor;totramponforhoursthroughthemoistwindsandthehealingdarknessandcomebackstaggeringwithfatigueandsleep.Buthehadnopretextforsuchaflight,andhefearedthat,atsuchamoment,hisprolongedabsencemightseemsingulartoAnna.

           Asheapproachedthehouse,thethoughtofhernearnessproducedaswiftreactionofmood.

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