下载辰思小说免费APP
smackupontheprojectingledgesofrock——atfirstlouderandheavierthanthatofthebrook，andthenscarcelytobedistinguishedfromit——thenacessation，thenthesplashingofthestreamasbefore，andtheaccompanyingmurmurofthesea，werealltheincidentsthatdisturbedthecustomaryflowofthelittlewaterfall。
Thesingerwaitedinafixedattitudeforafewminutes，thenturning，herapidlyretracedhisstepsovertheinterveninguplandtowardtheroad，andinlessthanaquarterofanhourwasatthedoorofthehotel。Slippingquietlyinastheclockstruckten，hesaidtothelandlord，overthebarhatchway-
\'Thebillassoonasyoucanletmehaveit，includingchargesforthesupperthatwasordered，thoughwecannotstaytoeatit，Iamsorrytosay。\'Headdedwithforcedgaiety，\'Thelady\'sfatherandcousinhavethoughtbetterofinterceptingthemarriage，andafterquarrellingwitheachotherhavegonehomeindependently。\'
\'Welldone，sir!\'saidthelandlord，whostillsidedwiththiscustomerinpreferencetothosewhohadgiventroubleandbarelypaidforbaitingthehorses。\'"Lovewillfindouttheway!"asthesayingis。Wishyoujoy，sir!\'
SignorSmithozziwentupstairs，andonenteringthesitting-roomfoundthatLaurahadcreptoutfromthedarkadjoiningchamberinhisabsence。Shelookedupathimwitheyesredfromweeping，andwithsymptomsofalarm。
\'Whatisit?——whereishe?\'shesaidapprehensively。
\'CaptainNorthbrookhasgoneback。Hesayshewillhavenomoretodowithyou。\'
\'AndIamquiteabandonedbythem!——andthey\'llforgetme，andnobodycareaboutmeanymore!\'Shebegantocryafresh。
\'Butitistheluckiestthingthatcouldhavehappened。Allisjustasitwasbeforetheycamedisturbingus。But，Laura，yououghttohavetoldmeaboutthatprivatemarriage，thoughitisallthesamenow；itwillbedissolved，ofcourse。Youareawid——virtuallyawidow。\'
\'Itisnousetoreproachmeforwhatispast。WhatamItodonow?\'
\'WegoatoncetoCliff-Martin。Thehorsehasrestedthoroughlytheselastthreehours，andhewillhavenodifficultyindoinganadditionalhalf-dozenmiles。Weshallbetherebeforetwelve，andtherearelatetavernsintheplace，nodoubt。Therewe\'llsellbothhorseandcarriageto-morrowmorning；andgobythecoachtoDownstaple。Onceinthetrainwearesafe。\'
\'Iagreetoanything，\'shesaidlistlessly。
Inabouttenminutesthehorsewasputin，thebillpaid，thelady\'sdriedwrapsputroundher，andthejourneyresumed。
Whenaboutamileontheirway，theysawaglimmeringlightinadvanceofthem。\'Iwonderwhatthatis?\'saidthebaritone，whosemannerhadlatterlybecomenervous，everysoundandsightcausinghimtoturnhishead。
\'Itisonlyaturnpike，\'saidshe。\'Thatlightisthelampkeptburningoverthedoor。\'
\'Ofcourse，ofcourse，dearest。HowstupidIam!\'
Onreachingthegatetheyperceivedthatamanonfoothadapproachedit，apparentlybysomemoredirectpaththantheroadwaytheypursued，andwas，atthemomenttheydrewup，standinginconversationwiththegatekeeper。
\'ItisquiteimpossiblethathecouldfalloverthecliffbyaccidentorthewillofGodonsuchalightnightasthis，\'thepedestrianwassaying。\'ThesetwochildrenItellyouofsawtwomengoalongthepathtowardthewaterfall，andtenminuteslateronlyoneof\'emcameback，walkingfast，likeamanwhowantedtogetoutofthewaybecausehehaddonesomethingqueer。Thereisnomannerofdoubtthathepushedtheothermanover，and，markme，itwillsooncauseahueandcryforthatman。\'
ThecandleshoneinthefaceoftheSignorandshowedthattherehadarisenuponitafilmofghastliness。Laura，glancingtowardhimforafewmomentsobservedit，till，thegatekeeperhavingmechanicallyswungopenthegate，hercompaniondrovethrough，andtheyweresoonagainenvelopedinthewhitesilence。
HerconductorhadsaidtoLaura，justbefore，thathemeanttoinquirethewayatthisturnpike；buthehadcertainlynotdoneso。
Assoonastheyhadgonealittlefarthertheomission，intentionalornot，begantocausethemsometrouble。Beyondthesecludeddistrictwhichtheynowtraversedranthemorefrequentedroad，whereprogresswouldbeeasy，thesnowbeingprobablyalreadybeatentheretosomeextentbytraffic；buttheyhadnotyetreachedit，andhavingnoonetoguidethemtheirjourneybegantoappearlessfeasiblethanithaddonebeforestarting。Whenthelittlelanewhichtheyhadenteredascendedanotherhill，andseemedtowindroundinadirectioncontrarytotheexpectedroutetoCliff-Martin，thequestiongrewserious。Eversinceoverhearingtheconversationattheturnpike，Laurahadmaintainedaperfectsilence，andhadevenshrunksomewhatawayfromthesideofherlover。
\'Whydon\'tyoutalk，Laura，\'hesaidwithforcedbuoyancy，\'andsuggestthewayweshouldgo?\'
\'Ohyes，Iwill，\'sheresponded，acuriousfearfulnessbeingaudibleinhervoice。
Afterthissheutteredafewoccasionalsentenceswhichseemedtopersuadehimthatshesuspectednothing。Atlasthedrewrein，andthewearyhorsestoodstill。
\'Weareinafix，\'hesaid。
Sheansweredeagerly:\'I\'llholdthereinswhileyourunforwardtothetopoftheridge，andseeiftheroadtakesafavourableturnbeyond。Itwouldgivethehorseafewminutes\'rest，andifyoufindoutnochangeinthedirection，wewillretracethislane，andtaketheotherturning。\'
Theexpedientseemedagoodoneinthecircumstances，especiallywhenrecommendedbythesingulareagernessofhervoice；andplacingthereinsinherhands——aquiteunnecessaryprecaution，consideringthestateoftheirhack——hesteppedoutandwentforwardthroughthesnowtillshecouldseenomoreofhim。
NosoonerwashegonethanLaura，witharapiditywhichcontrastedstrangelywithherpreviousstillness，madefastthereinstothecornerofthephaeton，andslippingoutontheoppositeside，ranbackwithallhermightdownthehill，till，comingtoanopeninginthefence，shescrambledthroughit，andplungedintothecopsewhichborderedthisportionofthelane。Hereshestoodinhidingunderoneofthelargebushes，clingingsocloselytoitsumbrageastoseembutaportionofitsmass，andlisteningintentlyforthefaintestsoundofpursuit。Butnothingdisturbedthestillnesssavetheoccasionalslippingofgatheredsnowfromtheboughs，ortherustleofsomewildanimaloverthecrispflake-bespatteredherbage。
Atlength，apparentlyconvincedthatherformercompanionwaseitherunabletofindher，ornotanxioustodoso，inthepresentstrangestateofaffairs，shecreptoutfromthebushes，andinlessthananhourfoundherselfagainapproachingthedooroftheProspectHotel。
Asshedrewnear，Lauracouldseethat，farfrombeingwrappedindarkness，asshemighthaveexpected，therewereamplesignsthatallthetenantswereonthealert，lightsmovingabouttheopenspaceinfront。Satisfactionwasexpressedinherfacewhenshediscernedthatnoreappearanceofherbaritoneandhispony-carriagewascausingthissensation；butitspeedilygavewaytogriefanddismaywhenshesawbythelightstheformofamanborneonastretcherbytwoothersintotheporchofthehotel。
\'Ihavecausedallthis，\'shemurmuredbetweenherquiveringlips。
\'Hehasmurderedhim!\'Runningforwardtothedoor，shehastilyaskedofthefirstpersonshemetifthemanonthestretcherwasdead。
\'No，miss，\'saidthelaboureraddressed，eyeingherupanddownasanunexpectedapparition。\'Heisstillalive，theysay，butnotsensible。Heeitherfellorwaspushedoverthewaterfall；\'tisthoughtedhewaspushed。Heisthegentlemanwhocameherejustnowwiththeoldlord，andwentoutafterward(asisthoughted)withastrangerwhohadcomealittleearlier。Anyhow，that\'sasIhadit。\'
Lauraenteredthehouse，andacknowledgingwithouttheleastreservethatshewastheinjuredman\'swife，hadsooninstalledherselfasheadnursebythebedonwhichhelay。Whenthetwosurgeonswhohadbeensentforarrived，shelearnedfromthemthathiswoundsweresosevereastoleavebutaslenderhopeofrecovery，itbeinglittleshortofmiraculousthathewasnotkilledonthespot，whichhisenemyhadevidentlyreckonedtobethecase。Sheknewwhothatenemywas，andshuddered。
Laurawatchedallnight，butherhusbandknewnothingofherpresence。Duringthenextdayheslightlyrecognizedher，andintheeveningwasabletospeak。Heinformedthesurgeonsthat，aswassurmised，hehadbeenpushedoverthecascadebySignorSmithozzi；buthecommunicatednothingtoherwhonursedhim，notevenreplyingtoherremarks；henoddedcourteouslyatanyactofattentionsherendered，andthatwasall。
Inadayortwoitwasdeclaredthateverythingfavouredhisrecovery，notwithstandingtheseverityofhisinjuries。FullsearchwasmadeforSmithozzi，butasyettherewasnointelligenceofhiswhereabouts，thoughtherepentantLauracommunicatedallsheknew。
Asfarascouldbejudged，hehadcomebacktothecarriageaftersearchingouttheway，andfindingtheyoungladymissing，hadlookedaboutforhertillhewastired；thenhaddrivenontoCliff-
Martin，soldthehorseandcarriagenextmorning，anddisappeared，probablybyoneofthedepartingcoacheswhichranthencetotheneareststation，theonlydifferencefromhisoriginalprogrammebeingthathehadgonealone。
Duringthedaysandweeksofthatlongandtediousrecovery，Laurawatchedbyherhusband\'sbedsidewithazealandassiduitywhichwouldhaveconsiderablyextenuatedanyfaultsaveoneofsuchmagnitudeashers。Thatherhusbanddidnotforgiveherwassoonobvious。Nothingthatshecoulddointhewayofsmoothingpillows，easinghisposition，shiftingbandages，oradministeringdraughts，couldwinfromhimmorethanafewmeasuredwordsofthankfulness，suchashewouldprobablyhaveutteredtoanyotherwomanonearthwhohadperformedtheseparticularservicesforhim。
\'Dear，dearJames，\'shesaidoneday，bendingherfaceuponthebedinanexcessofemotion。\'Howyouhavesuffered!Ithasbeentoocruel。IammoregladyouaregettingbetterthanIcansay。I
haveprayedforit——andIamsorryforwhatIhavedone；Iaminnocentoftheworst，and——Ihopeyouwillnotthinkmesoverybad，James!\'
\'Ohno。Onthecontrary，Ishallthinkyouverygood——asanurse，\'
heanswered，thecausticseverityofhistonebeingapparentthroughitsweakness。
Lauraletfalltwoorthreesilenttears，andsaidnomorethatday。
SomehoworotherSignorSmithozziseemedtobemakinggoodhisescape。Ittranspiredthathehadnottakenapassageineitherofthesuspectedcoaches，thoughhehadcertainlygotoutofthecounty；altogether，thechanceoffindinghimwasproblematical。
NotonlydidCaptainNorthbrooksurvivehisinjuries，butitsoonappearedthatinthecourseofafewweekshewouldfindhimselflittleifanytheworseforthecatastrophe。ItcouldalsobeseenthatLaura，whilesecretlyhopingforherhusband\'sforgivenessforapieceoffollyofwhichshesawtheenormitymoreclearlyeveryday，wasingreatdoubtastowhatherfuturerelationswithhimwouldbe。Moreover，toaddtothecomplication，whilstshe，asarunawaywife，wasunforgivenbyherhusband，sheandherhusband，asarunawaycouple，wereunforgivenbyherfather，whohadneveroncecommunicatedwitheitherofthemsincehisdeparturefromtheinn。
Butherimmediateanxietywastowinthepardonofherhusband，whopossiblymightbebearinginmind，ashelayuponhiscouch，thefamiliarwordsofBrabantio，\'Shehasdeceivedherfather，andmaythee。\'
MatterswentonthustillCaptainNorthbrookwasabletowalkabout。
Hethenremovedwithhiswifetoquietapartmentsonthesouthcoast，andherehisrecoverywasrapid。Walkingupthecliffsoneday，supportinghimbyherarmasusual，shesaidtohim，simply，\'James，ifIgoonasIamgoingnow，andalwaysattendtoyoursmallestwant，andneverthinkofanythingbutdevotiontoyou，willyou——trytolikemealittle?\'
\'ItisathingImustcarefullyconsider，\'hesaid，withthesamegloomydrynesswhichcharacterizedallhiswordstohernow。\'WhenIhaveconsidered，Iwilltellyou。\'
Hedidnottellherthatevening，thoughshelingeredlongatherroutineworkofmakinghisbedroomcomfortable，puttingthelightsothatitwouldnotshineintohiseyes，seeinghimfallasleep，andthenretiringnoiselesslytoherownchamber。Whentheymetinthemorningatbreakfast，andshehadaskedhimasusualhowhehadpassedthenight，sheaddedtimidly，inthesilencewhichfollowedhisreply，\'Haveyouconsidered?\'
\'No，Ihavenotconsideredsufficientlytogiveyouananswer。\'
Laurasighed，buttonopurpose；andthedayworeonwithintenseheavinesstoher，andthecustomarymodicumofstrengthgainedtohim。
Thenextmorningsheputthesamequestion，andlookedupdespairinglyinhisface，asthoughherwholelifehunguponhisreply。
\'Yes，Ihaveconsidered，\'hesaid。
\'Ah!\'
\'Wemustpart。\'
\'OJames!\'
\'Icannotforgiveyou；nomanwould。Enoughissettleduponyoutokeepyouincomfort，whateveryourfathermaydo。Ishallsellout，anddisappearfromthishemisphere。\'
\'Youhaveabsolutelydecided?\'sheaskedmiserably。\'Ihavenobodynowtoc-c-carefor——\'
\'Ihaveabsolutelydecided，\'heshortlyreturned。\'Wehadbetterparthere。Youwillgobacktoyourfather。ThereisnoreasonwhyIshouldaccompanyyou，sincemypresencewouldonlystandinthewayoftheforgivenesshewillprobablygrantyouifyouappearbeforehimalone。Wewillsayfarewelltoeachotherinthreedaysfromthistime。Ihavecalculatedonbeingreadytogoonthatday。\'
Boweddownwithtrouble，shewithdrewtoherroom，andthethreedayswerepassedbyherhusbandinwritinglettersandattendingtootherbusiness-matters，sayinghardlyawordtoherthewhile。Themorningofdeparturecame；butbeforethehorseshadbeenputintotaketheseveredtwainindifferentdirections，outofsightofeachother，possiblyforever，thepostmanarrivedwiththemorningletters。
Therewasoneforthecaptain；noneforher——therewereneveranyforher。However，onthisoccasionsomethingwasenclosedforherinhis，whichhehandedher。Shereaditandlookeduphelpless。
\'Mydearfather——isdead!\'shesaid。Inafewmomentssheadded，inawhisper，\'ImustgototheManortoburyhim……Willyougowithme，James?\'
Hemusinglylookedoutofthewindow。\'Isupposeitisanawkwardandmelancholyundertakingforawomanalone，\'hesaidcoldly。
\'Well，well——mypooruncle!——Yes，I\'llgowithyou，andseeyouthroughthebusiness。\'
Sotheywentofftogetherinsteadofasunder，asplanned。Itisunnecessarytorecordthedetailsofthejourney，orofthesadweekwhichfolloweditatherfather\'shouse。LordQuantock\'sseatwasafineoldmansionstandinginitsownpark，andtherewereplentyofopportunitiesforhusbandandwifeeithertoavoideachother，ortogetreconcilediftheyweresominded，whichoneofthemwasatleast。CaptainNorthbrookwasnotpresentatthereadingofthewill。Shecametohimafterward，andfoundhimpackinguphispapers，intendingtostartnextmorning，nowthathehadseenherthroughtheturmoiloccasionedbyherfather\'sdeath。
\'Hehasleftmeeverythingthathecould!\'shesaidtoherhusband。
\'James，willyouforgivemenow，andstay?\'
\'Icannotstay。\'
\'Whynot?\'
\'Icannotstay，\'herepeated。
\'Butwhy?\'
\'Idon\'tlikeyou。\'
Heacteduptohisword。Whenshecamedownstairsthenextmorningshewastoldthathehadgone。
Lauraboreherdoublebereavementasbestshecould。Thevastmansioninwhichshehadhithertolived，withallitshistoriccontents，hadgonetoherfather\'ssuccessorinthetitle；butherownwasnounhandsomeone。Aroundlaytheundulatingpark，studdedwithtreesadozentimesherownage；beyondit，thewood；beyondthewood，thefarms。Allthisfairandquietscenewashers。Sheneverthelessremainedalonely，repentant，depressedbeing，whowouldhavegiventhegreaterpartofeverythingshepossessedtoensurethepresenceandaffectionofthathusbandwhoseveryausterityandphlegm——qualitiesthathadformerlyledtothealienationbetweenthem——seemednowtobeadorablefeaturesinhischaracter。
Shehopedandhopedagain，butalltonopurpose。CaptainNorthbrookdidnotalterhismindandreturn。Hewasquiteadifferentsortofmanfromonewhoalteredhismind；thatshewasatlastdespairinglyforcedtoadmit。Andthensheleftoffhoping，andsettleddowntoamechanicalroutineofexistencewhichinsomemeasuredulledhergrief；butattheexpenseofallhernaturalanimationandthesprightlywilfulnesswhichhadoncecharmedthosewhoknewher，thoughitwasperhapsallthewhileafactorintheproductionofherunhappiness。
Tosaythatherbeautyquitedepartedastheyearsrolledonwouldbetooverstatethetruth。Timeisnotamercifulmaster，asweallknow，andhewasnotlikelytoactexceptionallyinthecaseofawomanwhohadmentaltroublestobearinadditiontotheordinaryweightofyears。Bethisasitmay，elevenotherwinterscameandwent，andLauraNorthbrookremainedthelonelymistressofhouseandlandswithoutoncehearingofherhusband。Everyprobabilityseemedtofavourtheassumptionthathehaddiedinsomeforeignland；andoffersforherhandwerenotfewastheprobabilityvergedoncertaintywiththelonglapseoftime。Buttheideaofremarriageseemednevertohaveenteredherheadforamoment。Whethershecontinuedtohopeevennowforhisreturncouldnotbedistinctlyascertained；atalleventsshelivedalifeunmodifiedintheslightestdegreefromthatofthefirstsixmonthsofhisabsence。
ThistwelfthyearofLaura\'sloneliness，andthethirtiethofherlifedrewonapace，andtheseasonapproachedthathadseentheunhappyadventureforwhichshesolonghadsuffered。Christmaspromisedtoberatherwetthancold，andthetreesontheoutskirtsofLaura\'sestatedrippedmonotonouslyfromdaytodayupontheturnpike-roadwhichborderedthem。Onanafternooninthisweekbetweenthreeandfouro\'clockahiredflymighthavebeenseendrivingalongthehighwayatthispoint，andonreachingthetopofthehillitstopped。Agentlemanofmiddleagealightedfromthevehicle。
\'Youneeddrivenofarther，\'hesaidtothecoachman。\'Therainseemstohavenearlyceased。I\'llstrollalittleway，andreturnonfoottotheinnbydinner-time。\'
Theflymantouchedhishat，turnedthehorse，anddrovebackasdirected。Whenhewasoutofsight，thegentlemanwalkedon，buthehadnotgonefarbeforetherainagaincamedownpitilessly，thoughofthisthepedestriantooklittleheed，goingleisurelyonwardtillhereachedLaura\'sparkgate，whichhepassedthrough。Thecloudswerethickandthedayswereshort，sothatbythetimehestoodinfrontofthemansionitwasdark。Inadditiontothishisappearance，whichonalightingfromthecarriagehadbeenuntarnished，partooknowofthecharacterofadrenchedwayfarernottoowellblessedwiththisworld\'sgoods。Hehaltedfornomorethanamomentatthefrontentrance，andgoingroundtotheservants\'quarter，asifhehadapreconceivedpurposeinsodoing，thererangthebell。Whenapagecametohimheinquirediftheywouldkindlyallowhimtodryhimselfbythekitchenfire。
Thepageretired，andafteramurmuredcolloquyreturnedwiththecook，whoinformedthewetandmuddymanthatthoughitwasnothercustomtoadmitstrangers，sheshouldhavenoparticularobjectiontohisdryinghimself；thenightbeingsodampandgloomy。
Thereforethewayfarerenteredandsatdownbythefire。
\'Theownerofthishouseisaveryrichgentleman，nodoubt?\'heasked，ashewatchedthemeatturningonthespit。
\'\'Tisnotagentleman，butalady，\'saidthecook。
\'Awidow，Ipresume?\'
\'Asortofwidow。Poorsoul，herhusbandisgoneabroad，andhasneverbeenheardofformanyyears。\'
\'Sheseesplentyofcompany，nodoubt，tomakeupforhisabsence?\'
\'No，indeed——hardlyasoul。Servicehereisasbadasbeinginanunnery。\'
Inshort，thewayfarer，whohadatfirstbeensocoldlyreceived，contrivedbyhisfrankandengagingmannertodrawtheladiesofthekitchenintoamostconfidentialconversation，inwhichLaura\'shistorywasminutelydetailed，fromthedayofherhusband\'sdeparturetothepresent。Thesalientfeatureinalltheirdiscoursewasherunflaggingdevotiontohismemory。
Havingapparentlylearnedallthathewantedtoknow——amongotherthingsthatshewasatthismoment，asalways，alone——thetravellersaidhewasquitedry；andthankingtheservantsfortheirkindness，departedashehadcome。Onemergingintothedarknesshedidnot，however，godowntheavenuebywhichhehadarrived。Hesimplywalkedroundtothefrontdoor。Thereherang，andthedoorwasopenedtohimbyaman-servantwhomhehadnotseenduringhissojournattheotherendofthehouse。
Inanswertotheservant\'sinquiryforhisname，hesaidceremoniously，\'WillyoutellTheHonourableMrs。Northbrookthatthemanshenursedmanyyearsago，afterafrightfulaccident，hascalledtothankher?\'
Thefootmanretreated，anditwasratheralongtimebeforeanyfurthersignsofattentionwereapparent。Thenhewasshownintothedrawing-room，andthedoorclosedbehindhim。
OnthecouchwasLaura，tremblingandpale。Shepartedherlipsandheldoutherhandstohim，butcouldnotspeak。Buthedidnotrequirespeech，andinamomenttheywereineachother\'sarms。
Strangenewscirculatedthroughthatmansionandtheneighbouringtownonthenextandfollowingdays。Buttheworldhasawayofgettingusedtothings，andtheintelligenceofthereturnofTheHonourableMrs。Northbrook\'slong-absenthusbandwassoonreceivedwithcomparativecalm。
AfewdaysmorebroughtChristmas，andtheforlornhomeofLauraNorthbrookblazedfrombasementtoatticwithlightandcheerfulness。Notthatthehousewasovercrowdedwithvisitors，butmanywerepresent，andtheapathyofadozenyearscameatlengthtoanend。Theanimationwhichsetinthusatthecloseoftheoldyeardidnotdiminishonthearrivalofthenew；andbythetimeitstwelvemonthshadlikewiserunthecourseofitspredecessors，asonhadbeenaddedtothedwindledlineoftheNorthbrookfamily。
AttheconclusionofthisnarrativetheSparkwasthanked，withamannerofsomesurprise，fornobodyhadcreditedhimwithatastefortale-telling。Thoughithadbeenresolvedthatthisstoryshouldbethelast，afewoftheweather-boundlistenerswereforsittingonintothesmallhoursovertheirpipesandglasses，andrakingupyetmoreepisodesoffamilyhistory。Butthemajoritymurmuredreasonsforsoongettingtotheirlodgings。
Itwasquitedarkwithout，exceptintheimmediateneighbourhoodofthefeeblestreet-lamps，andbeforeafewshop-windowswhichhadbeenhardilykeptopeninspiteoftheobviousunlikelihoodofanychancecustomertraversingthemuddythoroughfaresatthathour。
Byone，bytwo，andbythreethebenightedmembersoftheField-Clubrosefromtheirseats，shookhands，madeappointments，anddroppedawaytotheirrespectivequarters，freeorhired，hopingforafairmorrow。Itwouldprobablybenotuntilthenextsummermeeting，monthsawayinthefuture，thattheeasyintercoursewhichnowexistedbetweenthemallwouldrepeatitself。Thecrimsonmaltster，forinstance，knewthatonthefollowingmarket-dayhisfriendsthePresident，theRuralDean，andthebookwormwouldpasshiminthestreet，iftheymethim，withthebarestnodofcivility，thePresidentandtheColonelforsocialreasons，thebookwormforintellectualreasons，andtheRuralDeanformoralones，thelatterbeingastaunchteetotaller，deadagainstJohnBarleycorn。Thesentimentalmemberknewthatwhen，onhisrambles，hemethisfriendthebookwormwithapocket-copyofsomethingorotherunderhisnose，thelatterwouldnotlovehiscompanionshipashehaddoneto-
day；andthePresident，thearistocrat，andthefarmerknewthataffairspolitical，sporting，domestic，oragriculturalwouldexcludeforalongtimeallruminationonthecharactersofdamesgonetodustforscoresofyears，howeverbeautifulandnobletheymayhavebeenintheirday。
Thelastmemberatlengthdeparted，theattendantatthemuseumloweredthefire，thecuratorlockeduptherooms，andsoontherewasonlyasinglepirouettingflameonthetopofasinglecoaltomakethebonesoftheichthyosaurusseemtoleap，thestuffedbirdstowink，andtodrawasmilefromthevarnishedskullsofVespasian\'ssoldiery。
