Edith Wharton

Name: The Reef — Chapter XXIII
Author: Edith Wharton

The Reef — Chapter XXIII (1912)

Summary

“The Reef — Chapter XXIII”, published in 1912, is a work by Edith Wharton. It explores elements such as Sophy Viner, Anna and Owen.

Quotes from The Reef — Chapter XXIII (Edith Wharton)

Edith Wharton, The Reef — Chapter XXIII (1912)

“ She had, in truth, so many reasons for wanting Sophy to like her: her love for Owen, her solicitude for Effie, and her own sense of the girl's fine mettle. She had always felt a romantic and almost humble admiration for those members of her sex who, from force of will, or the constraint of circumstances, had plunged into the conflict from which fate had so persistently excluded her. There were even moments when she fancied herself vaguely to blame for her immunity, and felt that she ought somehow to have affronted the perils and hardships which refused to come to her. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Edith Wharton, The Reef — Chapter XXIII (1912)

“ Anna had exacted of Owen that no one, not even Sophy Viner, should be given a hint of her own projects till all contingent questions had been disposed of. She had felt, from the outset, a secret reluctance to intrude her securer happiness on the doubts and fears of the young pair.
From the sofa-corner to which she had dropped back she pointed to Darrow's chair. "Come and sit by me, dear. I wanted to see you alone. There's so much to say that I hardly know where to begin." ”

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Source: Wikisource

Edith Wharton, The Reef — Chapter XXIII (1912)

“ 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?" ”

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Source: Wikisource

Edith Wharton, The Reef — Chapter XXIII (1912)

“ And what, after all, now that Owen's happiness was secured, did it matter if there were certain reserves in Darrow's approval of his marriage?
A knock on the door made Anna glance at the clock. "There's Nurse to carry you off."
"It's Sophy's knock," the little girl answered, jumping down to open the door; and Miss Viner in fact stood on the threshold.
"Come in," Anna said with a smile, instantly remarking how pale she looked.
"May Effie go out for a turn with Nurse?" the girl asked. "I should like to speak to you a moment." ”

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Source: Wikisource

Edith Wharton, The Reef — Chapter XXIII (1912)

“ She did not know what had made the question spring to her lips, but she was glad she had closed them before pronouncing it. Nothing could have been more distasteful to her than to clear up such obscurities by turning on them the tiny flame of her daughter's observation. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Edith Wharton, The Reef — Chapter XXIII (1912)

“ Nothing, except that Sophy proposes to desert us for a while for the Farlows."
Owen's brow cleared. "I was afraid she'd run off before long." He glanced at Anna. "Do please keep her here as long as you can!"
Sophy intervened: "Mrs. Leath's already given me leave to go."
"Already? To go when?"
"Today," said Sophy in a low tone, her eyes on Anna's.
"Today? Why on earth should you go today?" Owen dropped back a step or two, flushing and paling under his bewildered frown. His eyes seemed to search the girl more closely. "Something's happened." He too looked at his step-mother. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Edith Wharton, The Reef — Chapter XXIII (1912)

“ She laid her hand on the girl's. "When his grandmother sees how happy Owen is she'll be quite happy herself. If it's only that, don't be distressed. Just trust to Owen--and the future."
Sophy Viner, with an almost imperceptible recoil of her whole slight person, had drawn her hand from under the palm enclosing it.
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about--the future."
"Of course! We've all so many plans to make--and to fit into each other's. Please let's begin with yours."
The girl paused a moment, her hands clasped on the arms of her chair, her lids dropped under Anna's gaze ”

Edith Wharton

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