Part7
ThestepsbywhichAnnVeronicadeterminedtoengageherselftomarryManningwereneververycleartoher。Amedleyofmotiveswarredinher，anditwascertainlynotoneoftheleastofthesethatsheknewherselftobepassionatelyinlovewithCapes；atmomentsshehadagiddyintimationthathewasbeginningtofeelkeenlyinterestedinher。Sherealizedmoreandmorethequalityofthebrinkuponwhichshestood——thedreadfulreadinesswithwhichincertainmoodsshemightplunge，theunmitigatedwrongnessandrecklessnessofsuchaself-abandonment。\"Hemustneverknow，\"shewouldwhispertoherself，\"hemustneverknow。
Orelse——ElseitwillbeimpossiblethatIcanbehisfriend。\"
ThatsimplestatementofthecasewasbynomeansallthatwentoninAnnVeronica’smind。Butitwastheformofherrulingdetermination；itwastheonlyformthatsheeverallowedtoseedaylight。Whatelsewastherelurkedinshadowsanddeepplaces；
ifinsomemoodofreverieitcameoutintothelight，itwaspresentlyoverwhelmedandhustledbackagainintohiding。Shewouldneverlooksquarelyatthesedreamformsthatmockedthesocialorderinwhichshelived，neveradmitshelistenedtothesoftwhisperingsinherear。ButManningseemedmoreandmoreclearlyindicatedasarefuge，assecurity。Certainsimplepurposesemergedfromthedisingenuousmuddleofherfeelingsanddesires。SeeingCapesfromdaytodaymadeabrighteventfulnessthathamperedherinthecourseshehadresolvedtofollow。Shevanishedfromthelaboratoryforaweek，aweekofoddlyinterestingdays……