\"WhenOwenmarries？That’slookingsomedistanceahead！I
wanttobetoldthatmeanwhileyou’llhavenoregrets。\"
Shehesitated。Whydidhepresshertouncovertohimherpoorstarvedpast？Avaguefeelingofloyalty，adesiretosparewhatcouldnolongerharmher，madeheranswerevasively：\"Therewillprobablybeno’meanwhile。’Owenmaymarrybeforelong。\"
Shehadnotmeanttotouchonthesubject，forherstep—sonhadswornhertoprovisionalsecrecy；butsincetheshortnessofDarrow’sleavenecessitatedapromptadjustmentoftheirownplans，itwas，afterall，inevitablethatsheshouldgivehimatleastahintofOwen’s。
\"Owenmarry？Why，healwaysseemslikeafauninflannels！I