With her face hidden she waited to hear him move away, to hear the door open and close again, as, a few hours earlier, it had opened and closed on Sophy Viner. But Darrow made no sound or movement: he too was waiting. Anna felt a thrill of resentment: his presence was an outrage on her sorrow, a humiliation to her pride. It was strange that he should wait for her to tell him so!
“You want me to leave Givre?” he asked at length. She made no answer, and he went on: “Of course I’ll do as you wish; but if I go now am I not to see you again?”
His voice was firm: his pride was answering her pride!
She faltered: “You must see it’s useless——”
“I might remind you that you’re dismissing me without a hearing——”
“Without a hearing? I’ve heard you both!”
——“but I won’t,” he continued, “remind you of that, or of anything or any one but Owen.”
“Owen?”
“Yes; if we could somehow spare him——”
She had dropped her hands and turned her startled eyes on him. It seemed to her an age since she had thought of Owen!