第14章

Andso，inspiteofall——inspiteofallbeliefs，fixedortransitory，withamindwhirlingamidcontestingforcesandcompellingbeliefs——Isteppedintothechurchoverwhelmedwiththatmostreceptiveofatmospheres——doubt。

InonethingonlywasIfixed：hereatleastwasnodoubtormisgivingwhatever。IintendedtogothroughwhatIhadundertaken。

Moreover，IfeltthatIwasstrongenoughtocarryoutmyintention，whatevermightbeoftheUnknown——howeverhorrible，howeverterrible。

WhenIhadenteredthechurchandclosedtheheavydoorbehindme，thesenseofdarknessandlonelinessinalltheirhorrorenfoldedmeround。Thegreatchurchseemedalivingmystery，andservedasanalmostterriblebackgroundtothoughtsandremembrancesofunutterablegloom。Myadventurouslifehashaditsownschoolingtoenduranceandupholdingone’scourageintryingtimes；butithasitscontrainfulnessofmemory。

Ifeltmywayforwardwithbothhandsandfeet。Everysecondseemedasifithadbroughtmeatlasttoadarknesswhichwasactuallytangible。Allatonce，andwithnoheedofsequenceororder，Iwasconsciousofallaroundme，theknowledgeorperceptionofwhich——orevenspeculationonthesubject——hadneverenteredmymind。TheyfurnishedthedarknesswithwhichIwasencompassedwithallthecrowdedphasesofadream。Iknewthatallaroundmewerememorialsofthedead——thatintheCryptdeep—wroughtintherockbelowmyfeetlaythedeadthemselves。Someofthem，perhaps——oneofthemIknew——

hadevenpassedthegrimportalsoftimeUnknown，andhad，bysomemysteriouspoweroragency，comebackagaintomaterialearth。Therewasnoresting—placeforthoughtwhenIknewthattheveryairwhichIbreathedmightbefullofdenizensofthespirit—world。Inthatimpenetrableblacknesswasaworldofimaginingwhosepossibilitiesofhorrorwereendless。

IalmostfanciedthatIcouldseewithmortaleyesdownthroughthatrockyfloortowhere，inthelonelyCrypt，lay，inhertombofmassivestoneandunderthatbewilderingcoverletofglass，thewomanwhomIlove。Icouldseeherbeautifulface，herlongblacklashes，hersweetmouth——whichIhadkissed——relaxedinthesleepofdeath。

Icouldnotethevoluminousshroud——apieceofwhichasaprecioussouvenirlayeventhensoclosetomyheart——thesnowywoollencoverletwroughtoveringoldwithsprigsofpine，thesoftdentinthecushiononwhichherheadmustforsolonghavelain。Icouldseemyself——withinmyeyesthememoryofthatfirstvisit——comingonceagainwithgladsteptorenewthatdearsight——dear，thoughitscorchedmyeyesandharrowedmyheart——andfindingthegreatersorrow，thegreaterdesolationoftheemptytomb！

There！IfeltthatImustthinknomoreofthatlestthethoughtshouldunnervemewhenIshouldmostwantallmycourage。Thatwaymadnesslay！Thedarknesshadalreadysufficientterrorsofitsownwithoutbringingtoitsuchgrimremembrancesandimaginings……

AndIhadyettogothroughsomeordealwhich，eventoherwhohadpassedandrepassedtheportalsofdeath，wasfulloffear。

Itwasamercifulrelieftomewhen，ingropingmywayforwardsthroughthedarkness，Istruckagainstsomeportionofthefurnishingofthechurch。FortunatelyIwasallstrunguptotension，elseI

shouldneverhavebeenabletocontrolinstinctively，asIdid，theshriekwhichwasrisingtomylips。

Iwouldhavegivenanythingtohavebeenabletolightevenamatch。

Asinglesecondoflightwould，Ifelt，havemadememyownmanagain。ButIknewthatthiswouldbeagainsttheimpliedconditionofmybeingthereatall，andmighthavehaddisastrousconsequencestoherwhomIhadcometosave。Itmightevenfrustratemyscheme，andaltogetherdestroymyopportunity。Atthatmomentitwasborneuponmemorestronglythaneverthatthiswasnotamerefightformyselformyownselfishpurposes——notmerelyanadventureorastruggleforonlylifeanddeathagainstunknowndifficultiesanddangers。ItwasafightonbehalfofherIloved，notmerelyforherlife，butperhapsevenforhersoul。

Andyetthisverythinking——understanding——createdanewformofterror。Forinthatgrim，shroudingdarknesscamememoriesofothermomentsofterriblestress。

Ofwild，mysticritesheldinthedeepgloomofAfricanforests，when，amidscenesofrevoltinghorror，Obiandthedevilsofhiskindseemedtorevealthemselvestorecklessworshippers，surfeitedwithhorror，whoselivescountedfornaught；whenevenhumansacrificewasanepisode，andthereekofolddeviltriesandrecentcarnagetaintedtheair，tillevenI，whowas，attheriskofmylife，aprivilegedspectatorwhohadcomethroughdangerswithoutendtobeholdthescene，roseandfledinhorror。

Ofscenesofmysteryenactedinrock—cuttemplesbeyondtheHimalayas，whosefanaticpriests，coldasdeathandasremorseless，inthereactionoftheirphrenzyofpassion，foamedatthemouthandthensankintomarblequiet，aswithinnereyestheybeheldthevisionsofthehellishpowerswhichtheyhadinvoked。

Ofwild，fantasticdancesoftheDevil—worshippersofMadagascar，whereeventheverysemblanceofhumanitydisappearedinthefantasticexcessesoftheirorgies。

Ofstrangedoingsofgloomandmysteryintherock—perchedmonasteriesofThibet。

Ofawfulsacrifices，alltomysticends，intheinnermostrecessesofCathay。

Ofweirdmovementswithmassesofpoisonoussnakesbythemedicine—

menoftheZuniandMochiIndiansinthefarsouth—westoftheRockies，beyondthegreatplains。

OfsecretgatheringsinvasttemplesofoldMexico，andbydimaltarsofforgottencitiesintheheartofgreatforestsinSouthAmerica。

OfritesofinconceivablehorrorinthefastnessesofPatagonia。

Of……HereIoncemorepulledmyselfup。SuchthoughtswerenokindofproperpreparationforwhatImighthavetoendure。Myworkthatnightwastobebasedonlove，onhope，onself—sacrificeforthewomanwhoinalltheworldwastheclosesttomyheart，whosefutureIwastoshare，whetherthatsharingmightleadmetoHellorHeaven。Thehandwhichundertooksuchataskmusthavenotrembling。

Still，thosehorriblememorieshad，Iamboundtosay，ausefulpartinmypreparationfortheordeal。TheywereoffactwhichIhadseen，ofwhichIhadmyselfbeeninpartasharer，andwhichIhadsurvived。Withsuchexperiencesbehindme，couldtherebeaughtbeforememoredreadful？……

Moreover，ifthecomingordealwasofsupernaturalorsuperhumanorder，couldittranscendinlivinghorrorthevilestandmostdesperateactsofthebasestmen？……

WithrenewedcourageIfeltmywaybeforeme，tillmysenseoftouchtoldmethatIwasatthescreenbehindwhichlaythestairtotheCrypt。

ThereIwaited，silent，still。

Myownpartwasdone，sofarasIknewhowtodoit。Beyondthis，whatwastocomewas，sofarasIknew，beyondmyowncontrol。IhaddonewhatIcould；therestmustcomefromothers。Ihadexactlyobeyedmyinstructions，fulfilledmywarrantytotheutmostinmyknowledgeandpower。Therewas，therefore，leftformeinthepresentnothingbuttowait。

Itisapeculiarityofabsolutedarknessthatitcreatesitsownreaction。Theeye，weariedoftheblackness，beginstoimagineformsoflight。HowfarthisiseffectedbyimaginationpureandsimpleI

knownot。Itmaybethatnerveshavetheirownsensesthatbringthoughttothedepositorycommontoallthehumanfunctions，but，whatevermaybethemechanismortheobjective，thedarknessseemstopeopleitselfwithluminousentities。

SowasitwithmeasIstoodlonelyinthedark，silentchurch。Hereandthereseemedtoflashtinypointsoflight。

Inthesamewaythesilencebegantobebrokennowandagainbystrangemuffledsounds——thesuggestionofsoundsratherthanactualvibrations。Thesewereallatfirstoftheminorimportanceofmovement——rustlings，creakings，faintstirrings，fainterbreathings。

Presently，whenIhadsomewhatrecoveredfromthesortofhypnotictrancetowhichthedarknessandstillnesshadduringthetimeofwaitingreducedme，Ilookedaroundinwonder。

Thephantomsoflightandsoundseemedtohavebecomereal。Thereweremostcertainlyactuallittlepointsoflightinplaces——notenoughtoseedetailsby，butquitesufficienttorelievetheuttergloom。Ithought——thoughitmayhavebeenaminglingofrecollectionandimagination——thatIcoulddistinguishtheoutlinesofthechurch；

certainlythegreataltar—screenwasdimlyvisible。InstinctivelyI

lookedup——andthrilled。There，hunghighaboveme，was，surelyenough，agreatGreekCross，outlinedbytinypointsoflight。

Ilostmyselfinwonder，andstoodstill，inapurelyreceptivemood，unantagonistictoaught，willingforwhatevermightcome，readyforallthings，inratheranegativethanapositivemood——amoodwhichhasanaspectofspiritualmeekness。Thisisthetruespiritoftheneophyte，and，thoughIdidnotthinkofitatthetime，theproperattitudeforwhatiscalledbytheChurchinwhosetempleIstooda"neo—nymph。"

Asthelightgrewalittleinpower，thoughneverincreasingenoughfordistinctness，Isawdimlybeforemeatableonwhichrestedagreatopenbook，whereonwerelaidtworings——oneofsliver，theotherofgold——andtwocrownswroughtofflowers，boundatthejoiningoftheirstemswithtissue——oneofgold，theotherofsilver。

IdonotknowmuchoftheritualoftheoldGreekChurch，whichisthereligionoftheBlueMountains，butthethingswhichIsawbeforemecouldbenoneotherthanenlighteningsymbols。InstinctivelyI

knewthatIhadbeenbroughthither，thoughinthisgrimway，tobemarried。Theveryideaofitthrilledmetotheheart’score。I

thoughtthebestthingIcoulddowouldbetostayquitestill，andnotshowsurpriseatanythingthatmighthappen；butbesureIwasalleyesandears。

Ipeeredanxiouslyaroundmeineverydirection，butIcouldseenosignofherwhomIhadcometomeet。

Incidentally，however，Inoticedthatinthelighting，suchasitwas，therewasnoflame，no"living"light。Whateverlighttherewascamemuffled，asthoughthroughsomegreentranslucentstone。Thewholeeffectwasterriblyweirdanddisconcerting。

PresentlyIstarted，as，seeminglyoutofthedarknessbesideme，aman’shandstretchedoutandtookmine。Turning，Ifoundclosetomeatallmanwithshiningblackeyesandlongblackhairandbeard。Hewascladinsomekindofgorgeousrobeofclothofgold，richwithvarietyofadornment。Hisheadwascoveredwithahigh，over—hanginghatdrapedcloselywithablackscarf，theendsofwhichformedalong，hangingveiloneitherside。Theseveils，fallingoverthemagnificentrobesofclothofgold，hadanextraordinarilysolemneffect。

Iyieldedmyselftotheguidinghand，andshortlyfoundmyself，sofarasIcouldsee，atonesideofthesanctuary。

Inthefloorclosetomyfeetwasayawningchasm，intowhich，fromsohighovermyheadthatintheuncertainlightIcouldnotdistinguishitsorigin，hungachain。Atthesightastrangewaveofmemorysweptoverme。Icouldnotbutrememberthechainwhichhungovertheglass—coveredtombintheCrypt，andIhadaninstinctivefeelingthatthegrimchasminthefloorofthesanctuarywasbuttheothersideoftheopeningintheroofofthecryptfromwhichthechainoverthesarcophagusdepended。

Therewasacreakingsound——thegroaningofawindlassandtheclankingofachain。Therewasheavybreathingclosetomesomewhere。IwassointentonwhatwasgoingonthatIdidnotseethatonebyone，seemingtogrowoutofthesurroundingdarkness，severalblackfiguresinmonkishgarbappearedwiththesilenceofghosts。Theirfaceswereshroudedinblackcowls，whereinwereholesthroughwhichIcouldseedarkgleamingeyes。Myguideheldmetightlybythehand。Thisgavemeafeelingofsecurityinthetouchwhichhelpedtoretainwithinmybreastsomesemblanceofcalm。

Thestrainofthecreakingwindlassandtheclankingchaincontinuedforsolongthatthesuspensebecamealmostunendurable。Atlasttherecameintosightanironring，fromwhichasacentredependedfourlesserchainsspreadingwide。InafewsecondsmoreIcouldseethatthesewerefixedtothecornersofthegreatstonetombwiththecoveringofglass，whichwasbeingdraggedupward。Asitaroseitfilledcloselythewholeaperture。Whenitsbottomhadreachedtheleveloftheflooritstopped，andremainedrigid。Therewasnoroomforoscillation。Itwasatoncesurroundedbyanumberofblackfigures，whoraisedtheglasscoveringandboreitawayintothedarkness。Thentheresteppedforwardaverytallman，black—bearded，andwithhead—gearlikemyguide，butmadeintripletiers，healsowasgorgeouslyarrayedinflowingrobesofclothofgoldrichlyembroidered。Heraisedhishand，andforthwitheightotherblack—

cladfiguressteppedforward，andbendingoverthestonecoffin，raisedfromittherigidformofmyLady，stillcladinherShroud，andlaiditgentlyonthefloorofthesanctuary。

Ifeltitagracethatatthatinstantthedimlightsseemedtogrowless，andfinallytodisappear——allsavethetinypointsthatmarkedtheoutlineofthegreatCrosshighoverhead。Theseonlygavelightenoughtoaccentuatethegloom。Thehandthatheldminenowreleasedit，andwithasighIrealizedthatIwasalone。Afterafewmomentsmoreofthegroaningofthewinchandclankingofthechaintherewasasharpsoundofstonemeetingstone；thentherewassilence。I

listenedacutely，butcouldnothearnearmetheslightestsound。

Eventhecautious，restrainedbreathingaroundme，ofwhichuptothenIhadbeenconscious，hadceased。Notknowing，inthehelplessnessofmyignorance，whatIshoulddo，IremainedasIwas，stillandsilent，foratimethatseemedendless。Atlast，overcomebysomeemotionwhichIcouldnotatthemomentunderstand，Islowlysanktomykneesandbowedmyhead。Coveringmyfacewithmyhands，Itriedtorecalltheprayersofmyyouth。Itwasnot，Iamcertain，thatfearinanyformhadcomeuponme，orthatIhesitatedorfalteredinmyintention。ThatmuchIknownow；Iknewiteventhen。

Itwas，Ibelieve，thattheprolongedimpressivegloomandmysteryhadatlasttouchedmetothequick。ThebendingofthekneeswasbutsymbolicalofthebowingofthespirittoahigherPower。WhenI

hadrealizedthatmuch，IfeltmorecontentthanIhaddonesinceI

hadenteredthechurch，andwiththerenewedconsciousnessofcourage，tookmyhandsfrommyface，andliftedagainmybowedhead。

ImpulsivelyIsprangtomyfeetandstooderect——waiting。AllseemedtohavechangedsinceIhaddroppedonmyknees。Thepointsoflightabouttimechurch，whichhadbeeneclipsed，hadcomeagain，andweregrowinginpowertoapartialrevealingofthedimexpanse。Beforemewasthetablewiththeopenbook，onwhichwerelaidthegoldandsilverringsandthetwocrownsofflowers。Therewerealsotwotallcandles，withtiniestflamesofblue——theonlylivinglighttobeseen。

Outofthedarknesssteppedthesametallfigureinthegorgeousrobesandthetriplehat。HeledbythehandmyLady，stillcladinherShroud；butoverit，descendingfromthecrownofherhead，wasaveilofveryoldandmagnificentlaceofastonishingfineness。EveninthatdimlightIcouldnotetheexquisitebeautyofthefabric。

Theveilwasfastenedwithabunchoftinyspraysoforange—blossommingledwithcypressandlaurel——astrangecombination。Inherhandshecarriedagreatbouquetofthesame。Itssweetintoxicatingodourfloateduptomynostrils。Itandthesentimentwhichitsverypresenceevokedmademequiver。

Yieldingtotheguidingofthehandwhichheldhers，shestoodatmyleftsidebeforethetable。Herguidethentookhisplacebehindher。Ateitherendofthetable，torightandleftofus，stoodalong—beardedpriestinsplendidrobes，andwearingthehatwithdependingveilofblack。Oneofthem，whoseemedtobethemoreimportantofthetwo，andtooktheinitiative，signedtoustoputourrighthandsontheopenbook。MyLady，ofcourse，understoodtheritual，andknewthewordswhichthepriestwasspeaking，andofherownaccordputoutherhand。Myguideatthesamemomentdirectedmyhandtothesameend。ItthrilledmetotouchmyLady’shand，evenundersuchmysteriousconditions。

AfterthepriesthadsigneduseachthriceontheforeheadwiththesignoftheCross，hegavetoeachofusatinylightedtaperbroughttohimforthepurpose。Thelightswerewelcome，notsomuchforthesolaceoftheaddedlight，greatasthatwas，butbecauseitallowedustoseealittlemoreofeachother’sfaces。ItwasrapturetometoseethefaceofmyBride；andfromtheexpressionofherfaceI

wasassuredthatshefeltasIdid。Itgavemeaninexpressiblepleasurewhen，ashereyesrestedonme，theregrewafaintblushoverthegreypallorofhercheeks。

Thepriestthenputinsolemnvoicetoeachofusinturn，beginningwithme，thequestionsofconsentwhicharecommontoallsuchrituals。IansweredaswellasIcould，followingthemurmuredwordsofmyguide。MyLadyansweredoutproudlyinavoicewhich，thoughgivensoftly，seemedtoring。Itwasaconcern——evenagrief——tomethatIcouldnot，inthepriest’squestioning，catchhername，ofwhich，strangelyenough，——Iwasignorant。But，asIdidnotknowthelanguage，andasthephraseswerenotinaccordliterallywithourownritual，Icouldnotmakeoutwhichwordwasthename。

Aftersomeprayersandblessings，rhythmicallyspokenorsungbyaninvisiblechoir，thepriesttooktheringsfromtheopenbook，and，aftersigningmyforeheadthricewiththegoldoneasherepeatedtheblessingineachcase，placeditonmyrighthand；thenhegavemyLadythesilverone，withthesameritualthricerepeated。Isupposeitwastheblessingwhichistheeffectivepointinmakingtwointoone。

Afterthis，thosewhostoodbehindusexchangedourringsthrice，takingthemfromonefingerandplacingthemontheother，sothatattheendmywifeworethegoldringandIthesilverone。

Thencameachant，duringwhichthepriestswungthecenserhimself，andmywifeandIheldourtapers。Afterthatheblessedus，theresponsescomingfromthevoicesoftheunseensingersinthedarkness。

Afteralongritualofprayerandblessing，sungintriplicate，thepriesttookthecrownsofflowers，andputoneontheheadofeach，crowningmefirst，andwiththecrowntiedwithgold。Thenhesignedandblesseduseachthrice。Theguides，whostoodbehindus，exchangedourcrownsthrice，astheyhadexchangedtherings；sothatatthelast，asIwasgladtosee，mywifeworethecrownofgold，andIthatofsilver。

Thentherecame，ifitispossibletodescribesuchathing，ahushovereventhatstillness，asthoughsomeformofaddedsolemnityweretobegonethrough。Iwasnotsurprised，therefore，whenthepriesttookinhishandsthegreatgoldenchalice。Kneeling，mywifeandI

partooktogetherthrice。

Whenwehadrisenfromourkneesandstoodforalittlewhile，thepriesttookmylefthandinhisright，andI，bydirectionofmyguide，gavemyrighthandtomywife。Andsoinaline，thepriestleading，wecircledroundthetableinrhythmicmeasure。Thosewhosupportedusmovedbehindus，holdingthecrownsoverourheads，andreplacingthemwhenwestopped。

Afterahymn，sungthroughthedarkness，thepriesttookoffourcrowns。Thiswasevidentlytheconclusionoftheritual，forthepriestplacedusineachother’sarmstoembraceeachother。Thenheblessedus，whowerenowmanandwife！

Thelightswentoutatonce，someasifextinguished，othersslowlyfadingdowntoblackness。

Leftinthedark，mywifeandIsoughteachother’sarmsagain，andstoodtogetherforafewmomentshearttoheart，tightlyclaspingeachother，andkissedeachotherfervently。

Instinctivelyweturnedtothedoorofthechurch，whichwasslightlyopen，sothatwecouldseethemoonlightstealinginthroughtheaperture。Withevensteps，sheholdingmetightlybytheleftarm——

whichisthewife’sarm，wepassedthroughtheoldchurchandoutintothefreeair。

Despiteallthatthegloomhadbroughtme，itwassweettobeintheopenairandtogether——thisquiteapartfromournewrelationstoeachother。Themoonrodehigh，andthefulllight，comingafterthedimnessordarknessinthechurch，seemedasbrightasday。Icouldnow，forthefirsttime，seemywife’sfaceproperly。Theglamourofthemoonlightmayhaveservedtoenhanceitsetherealbeauty，butneithermoonlightnorsunlightcoulddojusticetothatbeautyinitslivinghumansplendour。AsIgloriedinherstarryeyesIcouldthinkofnothingelse；butwhenforamomentmyeyes，rovingroundforthepurposeofprotection，caughtsightofherwholefigure，therewasapangtomyheart。Thebrilliantmoonlightshowedeverydetailinterribleeffect，andIcouldseethatsheworeonlyherShroud。Inthemomentofdarkness，afterthelastbenediction，beforeshereturnedtomyarms，shemusthaveremovedherbridalveil。Thismay，ofcourse，havebeeninaccordancewiththeestablishedritualofherchurch；but，allthesame，myheartwassore。Theglamourofcallinghermyveryownwassomewhatobscuredbythebridaladornmentbeingshorn。Butitmadenodifferenceinhersweetnesstome。Togetherwewentalongthepaththroughthewood，shekeepingequalstepwithmeinwifelyway。

WhenwehadcomethroughthetreesnearenoughtoseetheroofoftheCastle，nowgildedwiththemoonlight，shestopped，andlookingatmewitheyesfulloflove，said：

"HereImustleaveyou！"

"What？"Iwasallaghast，andIfeltthatmychagrinwasexpressedinthetoneofhorrifiedsurpriseinmyvoice。Shewentonquickly：

"Alas！ItisimpossiblethatIshouldgofarther——atpresent！"

"Butwhatistopreventyou？"Iqueried。"Youarenowmywife。Thisisourwedding—night；andsurelyyourplaceiswithme！"Thewailinhervoiceassheansweredtouchedmetothequick：

"Oh，Iknow，Iknow！Thereisnodearerwishinmyheart——therecanbenone——thantosharemyhusband’shome。Oh，mydear，mydear，ifyouonlyknewwhatitwouldbetometobewithyoualways！ButindeedImaynot——notyet！Iamnotfree！Ifyoubutknewhowmuchthatwhichhashappenedto—nighthascostme——orhowmuchcosttoothersaswellastomyselfmaybeyettocome——youwouldunderstand。

Rupert"——itwasthefirsttimeshehadeveraddressedmebyname，andnaturallyitthrilledmethroughandthrough——"Rupert，myhusband，onlythatItrustyouwithallthefaithwhichisinperfectlove——

mutuallove，IdarenothavedonewhatIhavedonethisnight。But，dear，Iknowthatyouwillbearmeout；thatyourwife’shonourisyourhonour，evenasyourhonourismine。Myhonourisgiventothis；andyoucanhelpme——theonlyhelpIcanhaveatpresent——bytrustingme。Bepatient，mybeloved，bepatient！Oh，bepatientforalittlelonger！Itshallnotbeforlong。SosoonasevermysoulisfreedIshallcometoyou，myhusband；andweshallneverpartagain。Becontentforawhile！BelievemethatIloveyouwithmyverysoul；andtokeepawayfromyourdearsideismorebitterformethanevenitcanbeforyou！Think，mydearone，Iamnotasotherwomenare，assomedayyoushallclearlyunderstand。Iamatthepresent，andshallbeforalittlelonger，constrainedbydutiesandobligationsputuponmebyothers，andforothers，andtowhichIampledgedbythemostsacredpromises——givennotonlybymyself，butbyothers——andwhichImustnotforgo。TheseforbidmetodoasIwish。

Oh，trustme，mybeloved——myhusband！"

Sheheldoutherhandsappealingly。Themoonlight，fallingthroughthethinningforest，showedherwhitecerements。Thentherecollectionofallshemusthavesuffered——theawfullonelinessinthatgrimtombintheCrypt，thedespairingagonyofonewhoishelplessagainsttheunknown——sweptovermeinawaveofpity。WhatcouldIdobutsaveherfromfurtherpain？Andthiscouldonlybebyshowinghermyfaithandtrust。Ifshewastogobacktothatdreadfulcharnel—house，shewouldatleasttakewithhertheremembrancethatonewholovedherandwhomsheloved——towhomshehadbeenlatelyboundinthemysteryofmarriage——trustedhertothefull。Ilovedhermorethanmyself——morethanmyownsoul；andIwasmovedbypitysogreatthatallpossibleselfishnesswasmergedinitsdepths。Ibowedmyheadbeforeher——myLadyandmyWife——asI

said：