s only that I want you
to have the whole of my feeling. I didn't know what it was till I saw
you again. I never dreamed I should say such things to you!"

"I never dreamed I should be here to hear you say them!" He turned back
and lifting a floating end of her scarf put his lips to it. "But now
that you have, I know--I know," he smiled down at her.

"You know?"

"That this is no light thing between us. Now you may ask me anything you
please! That was all I wanted to ask YOU."

For a long moment they looked at each other without speaking. She saw
the dancing spirit in his eyes turn grave and darken to a passionate
sternness. He stooped and kissed her, and she sat as if folded in wings.

XII

It was in the natural order of things that, on the way back to the
house, their talk should have turned to the future.

Anna was not eager to define it. She had an extraordinary sensitiveness
to the impalpable elements of happiness, and as she walked at Darrow's
side her imagination flew back and forth, spinning luminous webs of
feeling between herself and the scene about her. Every heightening of
emotion produced for her a new effusion of beauty in visible things, and
with it the sense that such moments should be lingered over and absorbed
like some unrenewable miracle. She understood Darrow's impatience to see
their plans take shape. She knew it must be so, she would not have had
it otherwise; but to reach a point where she could fix her mind on his
appeal for dates and decisions was like trying to break her way through
the silver tangle of an April wood.

Darrow wished to use his diplomatic opportunities as a means of studying
certain economic and social problems with which he presently hoped to
deal in print; and with this in view he had asked for, and obtained, a
South American appointment. Anna was ready to follow where he led, and
not reluctant to put new sights as well as new thoughts between herself
and her past. She had, in a direct way, only Effie and Effie's education
to consider; and there seemed, after due reflection, no reason why the
most anxious regard for these should not be conciliated with the demands
of Darrow's career. Effie, it was evident, could be left to Madame de
Chantelle's care till the couple should have organized their life; and
she might even, as long as her future step-father's work retained him
in distant posts, continue to divide her year between Givre and the
antipodes.

As for O