Quartier Latin and
write about French life for the American papers. I was only too thankful
to find anyone who was vouched for by decent people; and so far I've had
no cause to regret my choice. But I know, after all, very little about
Miss Viner; and there are all kinds of reasons why I want, as soon as
possible, to find out more--to find out all I can."

"Since you've got to leave Effie I understand your feeling in that way.
But is there, in such a case, any recommendation worth half as much as
your own direct experience?"

"No; and it's been so favourable that I was ready to accept it as
conclusive. Only, naturally, when I found you'd known her in London I
was in hopes you'd give me some more specific reasons for liking her as
much as I do."

"I'm afraid I can give you nothing more specific than my general vague
impression that she seems very plucky and extremely nice."

"You don't, at any rate, know anything specific to the contrary?"

"To the contrary? How should I? I'm not conscious of ever having heard
any one say two words about her. I only infer that she must have pluck
and character to have stuck it out so long at Mrs. Murrett's."

"Yes, poor thing! She has pluck, certainly; and pride, too; which must
have made it all the harder." Anna rose to her feet. "You don't know how
glad I am that your impression's on the whole so good. I particularly
wanted you to like her."

He drew her to him with a smile. "On that condition I'm prepared to love
even Adelaide Painter."

"I almost hope you wont have the chance to--poor Adelaide! Her
appearance here always coincides with a catastrophe."

"Oh, then I must manage to meet her elsewhere." He held Anna closer,
saying to himself, as he smoothed back the hair from her forehead: "What
does anything matter but just THIS?--Must I go now?" he added aloud.

She answered absently: "It must be time to dress"; then she drew back a
little and laid her hands on his shoulders. "My love--oh, my dear love!"
she said.

It came to him that they were the first words of endearment he had heard
her speak, and their rareness gave them a magic quality of reassurance,
as though no danger could strike through such a shield.

A knock on the door made them draw apart. Anna lifted her hand to
her hair and Darrow stooped to examine a photograph of Effie on the
writing-table.

"Come in!" Anna said.

The door opened and Sophy Viner entered. Seeing Darrow, she drew back.

"Do come in,