Sophy Viner went
down the steps and walked back alone toward the court.

At luncheon the presence of the surgeon, and the non-appearance
of Madame de Chantelle--who had excused herself on the plea of a
headache--combined to shift the conversational centre of gravity; and
Darrow, under shelter of the necessarily impersonal talk, had time to
adjust his disguise and to perceive that the others were engaged in the
same re-arrangement. It was the first time that he had seen young Leath
and Sophy Viner together since he had learned of their engagement; but
neither revealed more emotion than befitted the occasion. It was evident
that Owen was deeply under the girl's charm, and that at the least
sign from her his bliss would have broken bounds; but her reticence
was justified by the tacitly recognized fact of Madame de Chantelle's
disapproval. This also visibly weighed on Anna's mind, making her manner
to Sophy, if no less kind, yet a trifle more constrained than if the
moment of final understanding had been reached. So Darrow interpreted
the tension perceptible under the fluent exchange of commonplaces in
which he was diligently sharing. But he was more and more aware of his
inability to test the moral atmosphere about him: he was like a man in
fever testing another's temperature by the touch.

After luncheon Anna, who was to motor the surgeon home, suggested to
Darrow that he should accompany them. Effie was also of the party; and
Darrow inferred that Anna wished to give her step-son a chance to be
alone with his betrothed. On the way back, after the surgeon had been
left at his door, the little girl sat between her mother and Darrow, and
her presence kept their talk from taking a personal turn. Darrow knew
that Mrs. Leath had not yet told Effie of the relation in which he was
to stand to her. The premature divulging of Owen's plans had thrown
their own into the background, and by common consent they continued, in
the little girl's presence, on terms of an informal friendliness.

The sky had cleared after luncheon, and to prolong their excursion they
returned by way of the ivy-mantled ruin which was to have been the scene
of the projected picnic. This circuit brought them back to the park
gates not long before sunset, and as Anna wished to stop at the lodge
for news of the injured child Darrow left her there with Effie and
walked on alone to the house. He had the impression that she
was slightly surprised at his not waiting