第9章

"NicestAmericansIevermet，"addedEarlDanvers，"butNicholasRawdonwillbebetteratRawdonCourt。"Towhichstatementtherewasageneralassent，andthenthesubjectwasconsideredsettled。

InthemeantimeTyrrelandEthelhadreachedLondonandgonetotheMetropoleHotel；because，asEthelsaid，nooneknewwhereDorawas；butifinEngland，shewaslikelytobeattheSavoy。TheyweretobetwodaysinLondon。Tyrrelhadbankingandotherbusinesstofullyoccupythetime，andEthelrememberedshehadsomeshoppingtodo，athinganywomanwoulddiscoverifshefoundherselfintheneighborhoodofRegentStreetandPiccadilly。Ontheafternoonoftheseconddaythisdutywasfinished，andshereturnedtoherhotelsatisfiedbutalittleweary。Asshewasgoingupthestepsshenoticedawomancomingslowlydownthem。ItwasDoraMostyn。TheymetwithgreatenthusiasmonDora’spart，andsheturnedbackandwentwithEtheltoherroom。

Ethellookedatherwithastonishment。ShewasnotlikeanyDorashehadpreviouslyseen。Herbeautyhaddevelopedwondrously，shehadgrownmuchtaller，andherchildishmannerhadbeensupersededbyacarriageandairofsuperbgraceanddignity。Shehadnowafinecolor，andhereyesweredarker，softer，andmoredreamythanever。

"Takeoffyourhat，Dora，"saidEthel，"andtellmewhathashappened。Youarepositivelysplendid。WhereisMr。Mostyn？"

"Ineitherknownorcare。Heistrampingroundtheworldafterme，andIintendtokeephimatit。ButIforget。ImusttellyouhowTHAThascomeabout。"

"WeheardfromMrs。Denning。Shesaidshehadreceivedyousafely。"

"Mydearmother！Shemetmelikeanangel；comfortedandcaredforme，neversaidonewordofblame，onlykissedandpitiedme。Wetalkedthingsover，andsheadvisedmetogotoNewYork。SowetookthreepassagesunderthenamesofMrs。JohnGifford，MissGifford，andMissDianaGifford。

MissDianawasmymaid，butmotherthoughtapartyofthreewouldthrowMostynoffourtrack。"

"Averygoodidea。"

"Wesailedatonce。OntheseconddayoutIhadason。Thepoorlittlefellowdiedinafewhours，andwasburiedatsea。ButhisbirthhasgivenmethepowertorepaytoFredMostynsomeofthemiseryhecausedme。"

"Howso？Idonotsee。"

"Oh，youmustsee，ifyouwillonlyrememberhowcrazyEnglishmenareabouttheirsons。Daughtersdon’tcount，youknow，butasoncarriesthepropertyinthefamilyname。Heisitsrepresentativeforthenextgeneration。AsIlaysufferingandweeping，afineschemeofrevengecameclearlytome。

Listen！SoonafterwegothomemothercabledMostyn’slawyerthat`Mrs。Mostynhadhadason。’Nothingwassaidoftheboy’sdeath。AlmostimmediatelyIwasnotifiedthatMr。Mostynwouldinsistonthesurrenderofthechildtohiscare。Itooknonoticeoftheletters。Thenhesenthislawyertoclaimthechildandawomantotakecareofit。Ilaughedthemtoscorn，anddefiedthemtofindthechild。AfterthemcameMostynhimself。Heintervieweddoctors，overlookedbaptismalregisters，advertisedfarandwide，bribedourservants，beardedfatherinhisoffice，abusedBryceontheavenue，waylaidmeinallmyusualresorts，andbombardedmewithletters，butheknowsnomoreyetthanthecabletoldhim。AndthemanisbecomingamonomaniacaboutHIS

SON。"

"Areyoudoingright，Dora？"

"Ifyouonlyknewhowhehadtorturedme！FatherandmotherthinkhedeservesallIcandotohim。Anyway，hewillhaveittobear。Ifhegoestotheasylumhethreatenedmewith，Ishallbebarelysatisfied。The`cat-facedwoman’isgettingherinningsnow。"

"Haveyouneverspokentohimorwrittentohim？Surely"

"HecaughtmeonedayasIcameoutofourhouse，andsaid，`Madam，whereismyson？’AndIanswered，`Youhavenoson。

ThechildWASMINE。Youshallneverseehisfaceinthisworld。Ihavetakengoodcareofthat。’

"`Iwillfindhimsomeday，’hesaid，andI

laughedathim，andanswered，`Heistoocunninglyhid。DoyouthinkIwouldlettheboyknowhehadsuchafatherasyou？No，indeed。Notunlesstherewaspropertyforthedisgrace。’Itouchedhimontherawinthatremark，andthenIgotintomycarriageandtoldthecoachmantodrivequickly。

Mostynattemptedtofollowme，butthewhiplashingthehorseswasintheway。"AndDoralaughed，andthelaughwascruelandmockingandfullofmeaning。

"Dora，howcanyou？Howcanyoufindpleasureinsuchrevenges，"

"Iamhavingthegreatestsatisfactionofmylife。AndIamonlybeginningthejustretribution，formybeautyisenthrallingthemanagain，andheisontheroadtoamadjealousyofme。"

"Whydon’tyougetadivorce？Thisisacaseforthatremedy。Hemightthenmarryagain，andyoualso。"

"Evenso，Ishouldstilltormenthim。Ifhehadsonshewouldbemiserableinthethoughtthathisunknownsonmight，onhisdeath，takefromthemthepreciousMostynestate，andthatwretched，old，hauntedhouseofhis。Iambindinghimtomiseryoneveryhand。"

"IsMrs。Denningherewithyou？"

"Bothmyfatherandmotherarewithme。

Fatherisgoingtotakeayear’srest，andweshallvisitBerlin，Vienna，Rome，Parisorwhereverourfancyleadsus。"

"AndMr。Mostyn？"

"Hecanfollowmeround，andseenoblesandprincesandkingspaycourttothebeautyofthe`cat-facedwoman。’Ishallnevernoticehim，neverspeaktohim；butyouneednotlooksosuspicious，Ethel。NeitherbywordnordeedwillIbreakasingleconventionofthestrictestrespectability。"

"Mr。Mostynoughttogiveyouyourfreedom。"

"Ihavegivenfreedomtomyself。Ihavealreadydivorcedhim。Whentheybroughtmydeadbabyformetokiss，Islippedintoitslittlehandtheringthatmademehismother。Theywenttothebottomoftheseatogether。Asforevermarryingagain，notinthislife。Ihavehadenoughofit。Myfirsthusbandwasthesweetestsaintoutofheaven，andmysecondwassomemeanlittledemonthathadsneakedhiswayoutofhell；

andIfoundbothinsupportable。"Sheliftedherhatasshespoke，andbegantopinitonherbeautifullydressedhair。"Havenofearforme，"shecontinued。"IamsureBasilwatchesoverme。SomedayIshallbegood，andhewillbehappy。"Then，handinhand，theywalkedtothedoortogether，andthereweretearsinbothvoicesastheysoftlysaid"Good-by。"

CHAPTERXII

AWEEKafterthisinterviewTyrrelandEthelwereinNewYork。Theylandedearlyinthemorning，buttheJudgeandRuthwereonthepiertomeetthem；andtheybreakfastedtogetheratthefashionablehotel，whereanelegantsuitehadbeenreservedfortheresidenceoftheTyrrel-Rawdonsuntiltheyhadperfectedtheirplansforthefuture。

Tyrrelwasboyishlyexcited，butEthel’sinterestcouldnotleaveherfatherandhisnewwife。Thesetwohadlivedinthesamehomeforfifteenyears，andthentheyhadmarriedeachother，andbothofthemlookedfifteenyearsyounger。TheJudgewasactuallymerry，andRuth，inspiteofhersupposed"docility，"hadquitereversedthesituation。

ItwastheJudgewhowasnowdocile，andevenadmiringlyobedienttoallRuth’swifelyadvicesandadmonitions。

Thebreakfastwasatalkative，tardyone，butatlengththeJudgewenttohisofficeandTyrrelhadtogototheCustomHouse。Ethelwaseagertoseehergrandmother，andshewassurethedearoldladywasanxiouslywaitingherarrival。AndRuthwasjustasanxiousforEtheltovisitherrenovatedhome。

Shehadtheyoungwife’sdelightinitsbeauty，andshewantedEtheltoadmireitwithher。

"Wewilldinewithyouto-morrow，Ruth，"

saidEthel，"andIwillcomeveryearlyandseealltheimprovements。Ifeelsurethehouseislovely，andIamgladfathermadeyousuchaprettynest。Nothingistooprettyforyou，Ruth。"Andtherewasnoinsincerityinthiscompliment。Thesetwowomenknewandlovedandtrustedeachotherwithoutashadowofdoubtorvariableness。

SoRuthwenttoherhome，andEthelhastenedtoGramercyPark。Madamwaseagerlywatchingforherarrival。

"Ihavebeenimpatientforawholehour，allinaquiver，dearie，"shecried。"Itisnearlynoon。"

"Ihavebeenimpatientalso，Granny，butfatherandRuthmetusatthepierandstayedtobreakfastwithus，andyouknowhowmentalkandtalk。"

"Ruthandfatherdownatthepier！Howyoudream！"

"Theywerereallythere。Andtheydoseemsohappy，grandmother。Theyaresomuchinlovewitheachother。"

"Idaresay。Therearenofoolslikeoldfools。SoyouhavesoldtheCourttoNicholasRawdon，andacotton-spinnerisLordoftheManor。Well，well，howarethemightyfallen！"

"Imadetwentythousandpoundsbythesale。NicholasRawdonisagentleman，andJohnThomasisthemostpopularmaninalltheneighborhood。And，Granny，hehastwosons——twins——thehandsomestlittlechapsyoueversaw。NofearofaRawdontoheirtheManornow。"

"Fortuneisabaggage。Whensheisilltoamansheknowsnoreason。ShesentJohnThomastoParliament，andkeptFredoutataloss，too。ShetooktheCourtfromFredandgaveittoJohnThomas，andshegiveshimtwosonsaboutthesametimeshegivesFredone，andthatoneshekidnapsoutofhissightandknowledge。PoorFred！"

"Well，grandmother，itis`poorFred’s’

owndoing，and，Iassureyou，FredwouldhavebeenmostunwelcomeattheCourt。Andthesquiresandgentryrounddidnotlikeawomanintheplace；theywereatalosswhattodowithme。Iwasnogoodfordinnersandpoliticsandhunting。Iembarrassedthem。"

"Ofcourseyouwould。Theywouldhavetotalkdecentlyandbehavepolitely，andtheywouldnotbeabletotelltheirchoiceststories。

Yourpresencewouldbeabore；butcouldnotTyrreltakeyourplace？"

"Granny，Tyrrelwasreallyunhappyinthatkindoflife。Andhewasaforeigner，sowasI。YouknowwhatYorkshirepeoplethinkofforeigners。Theywereverycourteous，buttheyweregladtohavetheYorkshireRawdonsinourplace。AndTyrreldidnotlikeworkingwiththeearth；helovesmachineryandelectricity。"

"Tobesure。Whenamanhasgotusedtodelvingforgoldorsilver，cuttinggrassandwheatdoesseemaslowkindofbusiness。"

"Andhedislikedtheshut-upfeelingtheparkgavehim。Hesaidwewereinthemidstofsolitudethreemilesthick。Itmadehimdepressedandlonely。"

"Thatisnonsense。IamsureontheWesternplainshehadsolitudesixtymilesthick——often。"

"Verylikely，butthenhehadanhorizon，evenifitweresixtymilesaway。Andnomatterhowfarherode，therewasalwaysthatlinewhereearthseemedtorisetoheaven。

Buttheparkwassurroundedbyabrickwallfourteenfeethigh。Ithadnohorizon。

Youfeltasifyouwereinalarge，greenbox——atleastTyrreldid。Thewallwascoveredwithrosesandivy，butstillitwasaboundaryyoucouldnotpass，andcouldnotseeover。

Don’tyouunderstand，Granny，howTyrrelwouldfeelthis？"

"Ican’tsayIdo。Whydidn’thecomewithyou？"

"HehadtogototheCustomsaboutourtrunks，andtherewereotherthings。Hewillseeyouto-morrow。Thenwearegoingtodinewithfather，andifyouwilljoinus，wewillcallatsixforyou。Do，Granny。"

"Verywell，Ishallbeready。"Butafteramoment’sthoughtshecontinued，"No，I

willnotgo。Iamonlyamortalwoman，andthecompanyofangelsboresmeyet。"

"Now，Granny，dear。"

"ImeanwhatIsay。YourfatherhasmarriedsuchapieceofperfectionthatIfeelmyshortcomingsinherpresencemorethanIcanbear。ButI’lltellyouwhat，dearie，TyrrelmaycomeformeSaturdaynightatsix，andIwillhavemydinnerwithyou。I

wanttoseethedining-roomofaswellhotelinfulldress；andIwillwearmyvioletsatinandwhiteSpanishlace，andlookassmartascanbe，dear。AndTyrrelmaybuymeabunchofwhiteviolets。Iamnonetoooldtowearthem。WhoknowsbutImaygotothetheateralso？"

"Oh，Granny，youarejustthedearestyoungladyIknow！Tyrrelwillbeasproudasapeacock。"

"Well，IamnotasyoungasImightbe，butIamadealyoungerthanIlook。Listen，dearie，IhaveneverFELToldyet！Isn’tthatathingtobegratefulfor？Idon’treadmuchpoetry，exceptitbeintheChurchHymnal，butIcutaverseoutofamagazineayearagowhichjustsuitsmyideaoflife，and，whatisstillmorewonderful，Itookthetroubletolearnit。OliverWendellHolmeswroteit，andI’llwarranthimforagood，cheerful，trust-in-Godman，orhe’dneverhavethoughtofsuchsensiblewords。"

"Iamlistening，Granny，fortheverse。"

"Yes，andlearnityourself。Itwillcomeinhandysomeday，whenTyrrelandyouaregettingwhite-hairedandhandsome，aseveryoneoughttogetwhentheyhavepassedtheirhalf-centuryandarefacingthelightoftheheavenlyworld：

"Atsixty-twolifehasbegun；

Atseventy-threebeginsoncemore；

Flyswifterasthounear’stthesun，Andbrightershineateighty-four。

Atninety-five，Shouldthouarrive，StillwaitonGod，andworkandthrive。"

Suchwordsasthose，Ethel，keepawomanyoung，andmakeherrightgladthatshewasbornandthankfulthatshelives。"

"Thankyouforthem，dearGranny。NowImustrunawayasfastasIcan。Tyrrelwillbewonderingwhathashappenedtome。"

Inthisconjectureshewasright。Tyrrelwasineveningdress，andwalkingrestlesslyabouttheirprivateparlor。"Ethel，"hesaid，plaintively，"Ihavebeensouneasyaboutyou。"

"Iamallright，dearest。Iwaswithgrandmother。

Ishallbereadyinhalfanhour。"

Evenifshehadbeenlonger，shewouldhaveearnedthedelay，forshereturnedtohiminpinksilkandoldVenicepointderose，withaprettyerminetippetacrosshershoulders。

Itwasajoytoseeher，adelighttohearherspeak，andshewalkedasifsheheardmusic。Thedining-roomwascrowdedwhentheyentered，buttheymadeasensation。

Manyroseandcametowelcomethemhome。

Otherssmiledacrossthebusyspaceandliftedtheirwineglassinrecognition。Theroomwaselectric，sensitiveandexcited。Itwasfloodedwithasoftlight；itwasfulloftheperfumeofflowers。Thebrilliantcoloringofsilksandsatins，andthesoftmiracleofwhitelaceblendedwiththeartisticallypaintedwallsandroof。Thearomaofdelicatefood，thetinkleofcrystal，thelowmurmurofhappyvoices，thethrillofsuddenlaughter，andthedeliciousaccompanimentofsoft，sensuousmusiccompletedthecharmoftheroom。Toeatinsuchsurroundingswasasfarbeyondthefamousflower-crownedfeastsofRomeandGreeceastheeastisfromthewest。Itwasimpossibletoresistitsinfluence。Fromthepointofthesenses，thesoulwasdrinkinglifeoutofacupofoverflowingdelight。AnditwasonlynaturalthatintheirheartsbothTyrrelandEthelshouldmakeaswift，thoughsilent，comparisonbetweenthisfeastofsensationandflowofhumanattractionandthestill，sweetorderoftheRawdondining-room，withitsnoiselessservice，anditslatticedwin-

dowsopentoallthewanderingscentsandsongsofthegarden。

Perhapsthelatterwouldhavethesweetestanddearestandmostabidingplaceintheirhearts；butjustinthepresenttheywereenthralledandexcitedbythebeautyandgoodcomradeshipofthesocialNewYorkdinnerfunction。Theireyeswereshining，theirheartsthrilling，theywenttotheirownapartmentshandinhand，buoyant，vivacious，feelingthatlifewasgoodandloveunchangeable。

Andthewindowsbeingopen，theywalkedtooneandstoodlookingoutupontheavenue。

Allsignsofcommercehadgonefromthebeautifulstreet，butitwasbusyandnoisywiththetrafficofpleasure，andthehumofmultitudes，therattleofcarriages，therushofautos，thelight，hurryingfootstepsofpleasure-seekersinsistentlydemandedtheirsympathy。

"Wecannotgooutto-night，"saidEthel。

"Wearebothmorewearythanweknow。"

"No，wecannotgoto-night；but，oh，Ethel，weareinNewYorkagain！Isnotthatjoyenough？Iamsohappy！Iamsohappy。

WeareinNewYorkagain！Thereisnocitylikeitinalltheworld。Menlivehere，theyworkhere，theyenjoyhere。Howhappy，howbusywearegoingtobe，Ethel！"

Duringthesejoyful，hopefulexpectationshewaswalkingupanddowntheroom，hiseyesdilatingwithrapture，andEthelclosedthewindowandjoinedhim。Theymagnifiedtheirjoy，theywonderedatit，theyweresurenoonebeforethemhadeverlovedastheyloved。"Andwearegoingtolivehere，Ethel；goingtohaveourhomehere！Uponmyhonor，IcannotspeakthejoyIfeel，but"

——andhewentimpetuouslytothepianoandopenedit——"butIcanperhapssingit——

"`Thereisnotaspotinthiswide-peopledearthSodeartotheheartastheLandofourBirth；

’Tisthehomeofourchildhood，thebeautifulspotWhichMemoryretainswhenallelseisforgot。

MaytheblessingofGodeverhallowthesod，Anditsvalleysandhillsbyourchildrenbetrod！

"`MayColumbialongliftherwhitecresto’erthewave，Thebirthplaceofscienceandthehomeofthebrave。

Inhercitiesmaypeaceandprosperitydwell，Andherdaughtersinvirtueandbeautyexcel。

MaytheblessingofGodeverhallowthesod，Anditsvalleysandhillsbyourchildrenbetrod。’"

WiththepatrioticmusicwarblinginhisthroatheturnedtoEthel，andlookedatherasalovercan，andsheansweredthelook；andthusleaningtowardeachotherinvisiblebeautyandaffectiontheirnewlifebegan。

Betweensmilesandkissestheysatspeaking，notofthepastwithallitsloveandloveliness，butofthehighthingscallingtothemfromthefuture，theworkanddutiesoflifesettogreatendsbothforpublicandprivategood。

AndastheythuscommunedTyrreltookhiswife’shandandslowlyturnedonherfingertheplaingoldweddingringbehinditsbarrierofguardinggems。

"Ethel，"hesaidtenderly，"whatenchantmentsareinthisringofgold！WhatromancesIusedtoweavearoundit，and，dearest，ithasturnedeveryRomanceintoReality。"

"And，Tyrrel，itwillalsoturnallourRealitiesintoRomances。Nothinginourlifewilleverbecomecommon。Lovewillglorifyeverything。"

"Andweshallalwaysloveaswelovenow？"

"Weshalllovefarbetter，farstronger，farmoretenderly。"

"Eventotheendofourlives，Ethel？"

"Yes，totheveryend。"

CHAPTERXIII

APAUSEofblissfulsilencefollowedthisassurance。ItwasbrokenbyalittleexclamationfromEthel。"Oh，dear，"shesaid，"howselfishlythoughtlessmyhappinessmakesme！

Ihaveforgottentotellyou，untilthismoment，thatIhavealetterfromDora。Itwassenttograndmother’scare，andIgotitthisafternoon；alsoonefromLucyRawdon。ThetwotogetherbringDora’saffairs，Ishouldsay，toapleasanterterminationthanwecouldhavehopedfor。"

"WhereistheEnchantress？"

"InParisatpresent。"

"Iexpectedthatanswer。"

"Butlisten，sheislivingthequietestoflives；themostdevoteddaughtercannotexcelher。"

"Issheherownauthorityforthatastonishingstatement？Doyoubelieveit？"

"Yes，underthecircumstances。Mr。DenningwenttoParisforacriticalandpainfuloperation，andDoraisgivingallherloveandtimetowardmakinghisconvalescenceaspleasantasitcanbe。Infact，herdescriptionoftheirlifeintheprettychateautheyhaverentedoutsideofParisisquiteidyllic。

WhenherfatherisabletotraveltheyaregoingtoAlgiersforthewinter，andwillreturntoNewYorkaboutnextMay。DorasayssheneverintendstoleaveAmericaagain。"

"Whereisherhusband？KeepingwatchontheFrenchchateau？"

"Thatisover。Mr。DenningpersuadedDoratowriteastatementofallthefactsconcerningthebirthofthechild。Shetoldherhusbandthenameunderwhichtheytraveled，thenamesoftheship，thecaptain，andtheship’sdoctor，andMrs。Denningauthenticatedthestatement；but，oh，whatamean，suspiciouscreatureMostynis！"

"Whatmakesyoureiteratethatdescriptionofhim？"

"Hewasquiteunabletoseeanygoodorkindintentinthispaper。Heproveditscorrectness，andthenwroteMr。Denningaverycontemptibleletter。"

"Whichwascharacteristicenough。Whatdidhesay？"

"Thattheamendehonorablewastoolate；

thathesupposedDorawishedtohavethedivorceproceedingsstoppedandbereinstatedashiswife，buthedesiredthewholeDenningfamilytounderstandthatwasnowimpossible；

hewas`fervently，feverishlyawaitinghisfreedom，whichheexpectedatanyhour。’

Hesaiditwas`sickeningtorememberthewearinessofbodyandsoulDorahadgivenhimaboutanon-existingchild，andthoughthiscouldneverbeatonedfor，hedidthinkheoughttoberefundedthemoneyDora’scontemptiblerevengehadcosthim。"’

"Howcouldhe？Howcouldhe？"

"OfcourseMr。Denningsenthimacheck，aprettylargeone，Idaresay。AndIsupposehehashisfreedombythistime，unlesshehasmarriedagain。"

"Hewillnevermarryagain。"

"Indeed，thatisthestrangepartofthestory。Itwasbecausehewantedtomarryagainthathewas`fervently，feverishlyawaitinghisfreedom。’"

"Icanhardlybelieveit，Ethel。WhatdoesDorasay？"

"IhavethenewsfromLucy。ShesayswhenMostynwasignoredbyeveryoneintheneighborhood，onewomanstoodupforhimalmostpassionately。DoyourememberMissSadler？"

"ThatremarkablegovernessoftheSurreys？

Why，Ethel，sheistheveryugliestwomanIeversaw。"

"Sheissouglythatsheisfascinating。Ifyouseeheroneminuteyoucanneverforgether，andsheisbrainstoherfingertips。SheruledeveryoneatSurreyHouse。ShewasLordSurrey’ssecretaryandLadySurrey’sadviser。Sheeducatedthechildren，andtheyadoredher；sheruledtheservants，andtheyobeyedherwithfearandtrembling。NothingwasdoneinSurreyHousewithoutherapproval。

Andifherfacewasnothandsome，shehadanoblepresenceandamannerthatwasirresistible。"

"AndshetookMostyn’spart？"

"Withenthusiasm。SheabusedDoraindividually，andAmericanwomengenerally。

ShepitiedMr。Mostyn，andmadeothersdoso；andwhensheperceivedtherewouldbebutashabbyandtardyrestorationforhimsocially，sheadvisedhimtoshakeoffthedustofhisfeetfromMonk-Rawdon，andbeginlifeinsomemorecivilizedplace。Andinorderthathemightdoso，sheinducedLordSurreytogethimaveryexcellentcivilappointmentinCalcutta。"

"ThenheisgoingtoIndia？"

"Heisprobablynowonthewaythere。

HesoldtheMostynestate————"

"Icanhardlybelieveit。"

"HesoldittoJohnThomasRawdon。

JohnThomastoldmeitbelongedtoRawdonuntilthemiddleoftheseventeenthcentury，andhemeanttohaveitback。Hehasgotit。"

"MissSadlermustbeawitch。"

"Sheisasensible，practicalwoman，whoknowshowtomanagemen。ShehassoothedMostyn’swoundedpridewithappreciativeflatteryandstimulatedhisambition。ShehaspromisedhimgreatthingsinIndia，andshewillseethathegetsthem。"

"Hemustbecompletelyunderhercontrol。"

"Shewillneverlethimcallhissoulhisown，butshewillmanagehisaffairstoperfection。AndDoraisforeverridofthatwretchedinfluence。Themancanneveragaincomebetweenherandherlove；neveragaincomebetweenherandhappiness。Therewillbethecircumferenceoftheworldasabarrier。"

"TherewillbeJaneSadlerasabarrier。

Shewillbesufficient。TheWomanBetweenwillannihilateTheManBetween。Doraisnowsafe。Whatwillshedowithherself？"

"ShewillcomebacktoNewYorkandbeasocialpower。Sheisyoung，beautiful，rich，andherfatherhastremendousfinancialinfluence。

Socialaffairsareruledbyfinance。

IshouldnotwondertoseeherinSt。Jude’s，adevoteeandeminentforgoodworks。"

"AndifBasilStanhopeshouldreturn？"

"PoorBasil——heisdead。"

"Howdoyouknowthat？"

"WhatDOyoumean，Tyrrel？"

"AreyousureBasilisdead？Whatproofhaveyou？"

"Youmustbedreaming！Ofcourseheisdead！Hisfriendcameandtoldmeso——toldmeeverything。"

"Isthatall？"

"Therewerenoticesinthepapers。"

"Isthatall？"

"Mr。Denningmusthaveknownitwhenhestoppeddivorceproceedings。"

"Doubtlesshebelievedit；hewishedtodoso。"

"Tyrrel，tellmewhatyoumean。"

"Ialwayswonderedabouthisdeathratherthanbelievedinit。BasilhadaconsumingsenseofhonorandaffectionfortheChurchanditssacredoffices。Hewouldhavediedwillinglyratherthandragthemintothemireofadivorcecourt。Whenthefearbecamecertaintyhedisappeared——reallydiedtoallhispreviouslife。"

"ButIcannotconceiveofBasillyingforanypurpose。"

"Hedisappeared。Hisfamilyandfriendstookonthemselvesthemeanstheythoughtmostlikelytomakethatdisappearanceafinality。"

"Haveyouheardanything，seenanything？"

"OnenightjustbeforeIlefttheWestatraveleraskedmeforanight’slodging。HehadbeenprospectinginBritishAmericaintheregionoftheKlondike，andwasfullofincidentalconversation。Amongmanyotherthingshetoldmeofawonderfulsermonhehadheardfromayoungmaninalargeminingcamp。Ididnotgivethestoryanyattentionatthetime，butafterhehadgoneawayitcametomelikeaflashoflightthatthepreacherwasBasilStanhope。"

"Oh，Tyrrel，ifitwas——ifitwas！Whatabeautifuldream！Butitisonlyadream。

Ifitcouldbetrue，wouldheforgiveDora？

Wouldhecomebacktoher？"

"No！"Tyrrel’svoicewaspositiveandevenstern。"No，hecouldnevercomebacktoher。Shemightgotohim。Shelefthimwithoutanyreason。Idonotthinkhewouldcaretoseeheragain。"

"Iwouldsaynomore，Tyrrel。Idonotthinkasyoudo。Itisadream，afancy，justanimagination。Butifitweretrue，Basilwouldwishnopilgrimageofabasement。Hewouldsaytoher，`Dearone，HUSH！Loveishere，travel-stained，soreandweary，butsohappytowelcomeyou！’Andhewouldopenallhisgreat，sweethearttoher。MayItellDorasomedaywhatyouhavethoughtandsaid？Itwillbesomethinggoodforhertodreamabout。"

"Doyouthinkshecares？Didsheeverlovehim？"

"Hewasherfirstlove。Shelovedhimoncewithallherheart。Ifitwouldberight——safe，Imean，totellDora————"

"OnthissubjectthereissomuchNOTtosay。Iwouldneverspeakofit。"

"Itmaybeatruth"

"Thenitisamongthosetruthsthatshouldbeheldback，anditislikelyonlyatrickofmyimagination，asupposition，afancy。"

Amiracle！AndoftwomiraclesIprefertheleast，andthatisthatBasilisdead。Youryoungpreacherisadream；and，oh，Tyrrel，Iamsotired！Ithasbeensuchalong，long，happyday！Iwanttosleep。MyeyesareshuttingasItalktoyou。Suchalong，long，happyday！"

"Andsomanylong，happydaystocome，dearest。"

"Somany，"sheanswered，asshetookTyrrel’shand，andliftedherfurandfanandgloves。"Whatwerethoselineswereadtogetherthenightbeforeweweremarried？

Iforget，Iamsotired。Iknowthatlifeshouldhavemanyahopeandaim，dutiesenough，andlittlecares，andnowbequiet，andnowastir，tillGod’shandbeckonedusunawares————"

Therestwasinaudible。Butbetweenthatlong，happydayandthepresenttimetherehasbeenanarcoflifelargeenoughtoplacetheunionofTyrrelandEthelRawdonamongthoseblessedbridalsthatare"Thebestoflife’sromances。"