Риф, или Там, где разбивается счастье

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.

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