know about?"

"Oh, if it WERE between us! Can't you see it's outside
of us--outside of her, dragging at her, dragging her away
from me?" Owen wheeled round again upon his step-mother.

Anna turned from him to the girl. "Is it true that you want
to break your engagement? If you do, you ought to tell him
now."

Owen burst into a laugh. "She doesn't dare to--she's afraid
I'll guess the reason!"

A faint sound escaped from Sophy's lips, but she kept them
close on whatever answer she had ready.

"If she doesn't wish to marry you, why should she be afraid
to have you know the reason?"

"She's afraid to have YOU know it--not me!"

"To have ME know it?"

He laughed again, and Anna, at his laugh, felt a sudden rush
of indignation.

"Owen, you must explain what you mean!"

He looked at her hard before answering; then: "Ask Darrow!"
he said.