AllthroughthesemeditationsrantheundercurrentofanabsolutetrustinSophyViner。Shethoughtofthegirlwithaminglingofantipathyandconfidence。Itwashumiliatingtoherpridetorecognizekindredimpulsesinacharacterwhichshewouldhavelikedtofeelcompletelyalientoher。
Butwhatindeedwasthegirlreallylike？Sheseemedtohavenoscruplesandathousanddelicacies。ShehadgivenherselftoDarrow，andconcealedtheepisodefromOwenLeath，withnomoreapparentsenseofdebasementthanthevulgarestofadventuresses；yetshehadinstantlyobeyedthevoiceofherheartwhenitbadeherpartfromtheoneandservetheother。
Annatriedtopicturewhatthegirl’slifemusthavebeen：
whatexperiences，whatinitiations，hadformedher。Butherowntraininghadbeentoodifferent：therewereveilsshecouldnotlift。Shelookedbackathermarriedlife，anditscolourlessuniformitytookonanairofhighrestraintandorder。Wasitbecauseshehadbeensoincuriousthatithadwornthatlooktoher？Itstruckherwithamazementthatshehadnevergivenathoughttoherhusband’spast，orwonderedwhathedidandwherehewentwhenhewasawayfromher。Ifshehadbeenaskedwhatshesupposedhethoughtaboutwhentheywereapart，shewouldinstantlyhaveanswered：hissnuff—boxes。Ithadneveroccurredtoherthathemighthavepassions，interests，preoccupationsofwhichshewasabsolutelyignorant。YethewentuptoParisratherregularly：ostensiblytoattendsalesandexhibitions，ortoconferwithdealersandcollectors。Shetriedtopicturehim，straight，trim，beautifullybrushedandvarnished，walkingfurtivelydownaquietstreet，andlookingabouthimbeforeheslippedintoadoorway。Sheunderstoodnowthatshehadbeencoldtohim：whatmorelikelythanthathehadsoughtcompensations？Allmenwerelikethat，shesupposed——nodoubthersimplicityhadamusedhim。
IntheactoftransposingFraserLeathintoaDonJuanshewaspulledupbytheironicperceptionthatshewassimplytryingtojustifyDarrow。Shewantedtothinkthatallmenwere\"likethat\"becauseDarrowwas\"likethat\"：shewantedtojustifyheracceptanceofthefactbypersuadingherselfthatonlythroughsuchconcessionscouldwomenlikeherselfhopetokeepwhattheycouldnotgiveup。Andsuddenlyshewasfilledwithangeratherblindness，andthenatherdisastrousattempttosee。WhyhadsheforcedthetruthoutofDarrow？Ifonlyshehadheldhertonguenothingneedeverhavebeenknown。SophyVinerwouldhavebrokenherengagement，Owenwouldhavebeensentaroundtheworld，andherowndreamwouldhavebeenunshattered。Butshehadprobed，insisted，cross—examined，notrestedtillshehaddraggedthesecrettothelight。Shewasoneofthelucklesswomenwhoalwayshavethewrongaudacities，andwhoalwaysknowit……