VIII
THEDARKTUNE
AsSoameswalkedawayfromthehouseatRobinHillthesunbrokethroughthegreyofthatchillafternoon，insmokyradiance。SoabsorbedinlandscapepaintingthatheseldomlookedseriouslyforeffectsofNatureoutofdoors——hewasstruckbythatmoodyeffulgence——itmournedwithatriumphsuitedtohisownfeeling。
Victoryindefeat。Hisembassyhadcometonaught。Buthewasridofthosepeople，hadregainedhisdaughterattheexpenseof——herhappiness。WhatwouldFleursaytohim？Wouldshebelievehehaddonehisbest？Andunderthatsunlightfaringontheelms，hazels，holliesofthelaneandthoseunexploitedfields，Soamesfeltdread。
Shewouldbeterriblyupset！Hemustappealtoherpride。Thatboyhadgivenherup，declaredpartandlotwiththewomanwhosolongagohadgivenherfatherup！Soamesclenchedhishands。Givenhimup，andwhy？Whathadbeenwrongwithhim？Andoncemorehefeltthemalaiseofonewhocontemplateshimselfasseenbyanother——likeadogwhochancesonhisrefectioninamirrorandisintriguedandanxiousattheunseizablething。