第5章

IfeltthatIwentpale，andthoughnat\'rallyaboldspeaker，I

couldn\'thardlysay，"Where\'sNormandy?"

"Bolted。Withtheplate，"saidMr。Chops。

"Andt\'otherone?"meaninghimasformerlyworethebishop\'smitre。

"Bolted。Withthejewels，"saidMr。Chops。

Isatdownandlookedathim，andhestoodupandlookedatme。

"Magsman，"hesays，andheseemedtomyselftogetwiserashegothoarser；"Society，takeninthelump，isalldwarfs。AtthecourtofSt。James\'s，theywasalladoingmyoldbusiness——allagointhreetimesroundtheCairawan，intheholdcourt-suitsandproperties。Elsewheres，theywasmostof\'emringintheirlittlebellsoutofmake-believes。Everywheres，thesarserwasagoinround。Magsman，thesarseristheuniwersalInstitution!"

Iperceived，youunderstand，thathewassouredbyhismisfortunes，andIfeltforMr。Chops。

"AstoFatLadies，"hesays，givinghisheadatremendiousoneaginthewall，"there\'slotsofTHEMinSociety，andworsethantheoriginal。HERSwasaoutrageuponTaste——simplyaoutrageuponTaste——awakenincontempt——carryinitsownpunishmentintheformofaIndian。"Herehegivhimselfanothertremendiousone。"ButTHEIRS，Magsman，THEIRSismercenaryoutrages。LayinCashmeershawls，buybracelets，strew\'emandalotof\'andsomefansandthingsaboutyourrooms，letitbeknownthatyougiveawaylikewatertoallascometoadmire，andtheFatLadiesthatdon\'texhibitforsomuchdownuponthedrum，willcomefromallthepintsofthecompasstoflockaboutyou，whateveryouare。They\'lldrillholesinyour\'art，Magsman，likeaCullender。Andwhenyou\'venomorelefttogive，they\'lllaughatyoutoyourface，andleaveyoutohaveyourbonespickeddrybyWulturs，likethedeadWildAssofthePrairiesthatyoudeservetobe!"Herehegivhimselfthemosttremendiousoneofall，anddropped。

Ithoughthewasgone。HisEdwassoheavy，andheknockeditsohard，andhefellsostoney，andthesassagerialdisturbanceinhimmusthavebeensoimmense，thatIthoughthewasgone。But，hesooncomeroundwithcare，andhesatuponthefloor，andhesaidtome，withwisdomcominoutofhiseyes，ifeveritcome:

"Magsman!Themostmaterialdifferencebetweenthetwostatesofexistencethroughwhichyourunhappyfriendhaspassed；"hereachedouthispoorlittlehand，andhistearsdroppeddownonthemoustachiowhichitwasacredittohimtohavedonehisbesttogrow，butitisnotinmortalstocommandsuccess，——"thedifferencethis。WhenIwasoutofSociety，Iwaspaidlightforbeingseen。

WhenIwentintoSociety，Ipaidheavyforbeingseen。Iprefertheformer，evenifIwasn\'tforceduponit。Givemeoutthroughthetrumpet，intheholdway，to-morrow。"

Arterthat，heslidintothelineagainaseasyasifhehadbeeniledallover。Buttheorganwaskepfromhim，andnoallusionswasevermade，whenacompanywasin，tohisproperty。Hegotwisereveryday；hisviewsofSocietyandthePublicwasluminous，bewilderin，awful；andhisEdgotbiggerandbiggerashisWisdomexpandedit。

Hetookwell，andpulled\'eminmostexcellentfornineweeks。Attheexpirationofthatperiod，whenhisEdwasasight，heexpressedoneevenin，thelastCompanyhavinbeenturnedout，andthedoorshut，awishtohavealittlemusic。

"Mr。Chops，"Isaid(Ineverdroppedthe"Mr。"withhim；theworldmightdoit，butnotme)；"Mr。Chops，areyousureasyouareinastateofmindandbodytositupontheorgan?"

Hisanswerwasthis:"Toby，whennextmetwithonthetramp，I

forgiveherandtheIndian。AndIam。"

ItwaswithfearandtremblingthatIbegantoturnthehandle；buthesatlikealamb。Iwillbemybelieftomydyingday，thatIseehisEdexpandashesat；youmaythereforejudgehowgreathisthoughtswas。Hesatoutallthechanges，andthenhecomeoff。

"Toby，"hesays，withaquietsmile，"thelittlemanwillnowwalkthreetimesroundtheCairawan，andretirebehindthecurtain。"

Whenwecalledhiminthemorning，wefoundhimgoneintoamuchbetterSocietythanmineorPallMall\'s。IgivMr。Chopsascomfortableafuneralaslayinmypower，followedmyselfasChief，andhadtheGeorgetheFourthcanvasscarriedfirst，intheformofabanner。But，theHousewassodismalarterwards，thatIgivitup，andtooktotheWanagain。

"Idon\'ttriumph，"saidJarber，foldingupthesecondmanuscript，andlookinghardatTrottle。"Idon\'ttriumphoverthisworthycreature。Imerelyaskhimifheissatisfiednow?"

"Howcanhebeanythingelse?"Isaid，answeringforTrottle，whosatobstinatelysilent。"Thistime，Jarber，youhavenotonlyreadusadelightfullyamusingstory，butyouhavealsoansweredthequestionabouttheHouse。Ofcourseitstandsemptynow。Whowouldthinkoftakingitafterithadbeenturnedintoacaravan?"I

lookedatTrottle，asIsaidthoselastwords，andJarberwavedhishandindulgentlyinthesamedirection。

"Letthisexcellentpersonspeak，"saidJarber。"Youwereabouttosay，mygoodman?"-

"Ionlywishedtoask，sir，"saidTrottledoggedly，"ifyoucouldkindlyobligemewithadateortwoinconnectionwiththatlaststory?"

"Adate!"repeatedJarber。"Whatdoesthemanwantwithdates!"

"Ishouldbegladtoknow，withgreatrespect，"persistedTrottle，"ifthepersonnamedMagsmanwasthelasttenantwholivedintheHouse。It\'smyopinion——ifImaybeexcusedforgivingit——thathemostdecidedlywasnot。"

Withthosewords，Trottlemadealowbow，andquietlylefttheroom。

ThereisnodenyingthatJarber，whenwewerelefttogether，lookedsadlydiscomposed。Hehadevidentlyforgottentoinquireaboutdates；and，inspiteofhismagnificenttalkabouthisseriesofdiscoveries，itwasquiteasplainthatthetwostorieshehadjustread，hadreallyandtrulyexhaustedhispresentstock。Ithoughtmyselfbound，incommongratitude，tohelphimoutofhisembarrassmentbyatimelysuggestion。SoIproposedthatheshouldcometoteaagain，onthenextMondayevening，thethirteenth，andshouldmakesuchinquiriesinthemeantime，asmightenablehimtodisposetriumphantlyofTrottle\'sobjection。

Hegallantlykissedmyhand，madeaneatlittlespeechofacknowledgment，andtookhisleave。FortherestoftheweekI

wouldnotencourageTrottlebyallowinghimtorefertotheHouseatall。Isuspectedhewasmakinghisowninquiriesaboutdates，butI

putnoquestionstohim。

OnMondayevening，thethirteenth，thatdearunfortunateJarbercame，punctualtotheappointedtime。Helookedsoterriblyharassed，thathewasreallyquiteaspectacleoffeeblenessandfatigue。Isaw，ataglance，thatthequestionofdateshadgoneagainsthim，thatMr。MagsmanhadnotbeenthelasttenantoftheHouse，andthatthereasonofitsemptinesswasstilltoseek。

"WhatIhavegonethrough，"saidJarber，"wordsarenoteloquentenoughtotell。OSophonisba，Ihavebegunanotherseriesofdiscoveries!Acceptthelasttwoasstorieslaidonyourshrine；

andwaittoblamemeforleavingyourcuriosityunappeased，untilyouhaveheardNumberThree。"

NumberThreelookedlikeaveryshortmanuscript，andIsaidasmuch。Jarberexplainedtomethatweweretohavesomepoetrythistime。InthecourseofhisinvestigationshehadsteppedintotheCirculatingLibrary，toseekforinformationontheoneimportantsubject。AlltheLibrary-peopleknewabouttheHousewas，thatafemalerelativeofthelasttenant，astheybelieved，had，justafterthattenantleft，sentalittlemanuscriptpoemtothemwhichshedescribedasreferringtoeventsthathadactuallypassedintheHouse；andwhichshewantedtheproprietoroftheLibrarytopublish。Shehadwrittennoaddressonherletter；andtheproprietorhadkeptthemanuscriptreadytobegivenbacktoher(thepublishingofpoemsnotbeinginhisline)whenshemightcallforit。Shehadnevercalledforit；andthepoemhadbeenlenttoJarber，athisexpressrequest，toreadtome。

Beforehebegan，IrangthebellforTrottle；beingdeterminedtohavehimpresentatthenewreading，asawholesomecheckonhisobstinacy。TomysurprisePeggyansweredthebell，andtoldme，thatTrottlehadsteppedoutwithoutsayingwhere。Iinstantlyfeltthestrongestpossibleconvictionthathewasathisoldtricks:

andthathissteppingoutintheevening，withoutleave，meant——

Philandering。

Controllingmyselfonmyvisitor\'saccount，IdismissedPeggy，stifledmyindignation，andprepared，aspolitelyasmightbe，tolistentoJarber。

THREEEVENINGSINTHEHOUSE

NUMBERONE。

I。

Yes，itlook\'ddarkanddrearyThatlongandnarrowstreet:

Onlythesoundoftherain，Andthetrampofpassingfeet，Thedullerglowofthefire，AndgatheringmistsofnightTomarkhowslowandwearyThelongday\'scheerlessflight!

II。

Watchingthesullenfire，Hearingthedrearyrain，Dropafterdrop，rundownOnthedarkeningwindow-pane；

ChillwastheheartofBertha，Chillasthatwinterday，-

ForthestarofherlifehadrisenOnlytofadeaway。

III。

ThevoicethathadbeensostrongTobidthesnaredepart，Thetrueandearnestwill，Andthecalmandsteadfastheart，Werenowweigh\'ddownbysorrow，Werequiveringnowwithpain；

Theclearpathnowseem\'dclouded，Andallhergriefinvain。

IV。

Duty，Right，Truth，whopromisedTohelpandsavetheirown，Seem\'dspreadingwidetheirpinionsToleavehertherealone。

So，turningfromthePresentTowell-knowndaysofyore，Shecall\'donthemtostrengthenAndguardhersouloncemore。

V。

ShethoughthowinhergirlhoodHerlifewasgivenaway，ThesolemnpromisespokenShekeptsowellto-day；

HowtoherbrotherHerbertShehadbeenhelpandguide，Andhowhisartist-natureOnhercalmstrengthrelied。

VI。

Howthroughlife\'sfretandturmoilThepassionandfireofartInhimwassoothedandquicken\'dByhertruesisterheart；

HowfuturehopeshadalwaysBeenforhissakealone；

Andnow，whatstrangenewfeelingPossess\'dherasitsown?

VII。

Herhome；eachflowerthatbreathedthere；

Thewind\'ssigh，softandlow；

Eachtremblingsprayofivy；

Theriver\'smurmuringflow；

Theshadowoftheforest；

Sunset，ortwilightdim；

Dearastheywere，weredearerByleavingthemforhim。

VIII。

AndeachyearasitfoundherInthedull，feverishtown，Sawselfstillmoreforgotten，AndselfishcarekeptdownBythecalmjoyofeveningThatbroughthimtoherside，Towarnhimwithwisecounsel，Orpraisewithtenderpride。

IX。

Herheart，herlife，herfuture，Hergenius，onlymeantAnotherthingtogivehim，Andbetherewithcontent。

To-day，whatwordshadstirr\'dher，Hersoulcouldnotforget?

Whatdreamhadfill\'dherspiritWithstrangeandwildregret?

X。

Toleavehimforanother:

Coulditindeedbeso?

CouldithavecostsuchanguishTobidthisvisiongo?

Wasthisherfaith?WasHerbertThesecondinherheart?

DiditneedallthisstruggleTobidadreamdepart?

XI。

Andyet，withinherspiritAfar-offlandwasseen；

Ahome，whichmighthaveheldher；

Alove，whichmighthavebeen；

AndLife:notthemerebeingOfdailyebbandflow，ButLifeitselfhadclaim\'dher，Andshehadletitgo!

XII。

Withinherheartthereecho\'dAgainthewell-knowntuneThatpromisedthisbrightfuture，Andask\'dherforitsown:

Thenwordsofsorrow，brokenByhalf-reproachfulpain；

Andthenafarewell，spokenInwordsofcolddisdain。

XIII。

WherenowwasthesternpurposeThatnervedhersoulsolong?

Whencecamethewordssheutter\'d，Sohard，socold，sostrong?

WhatrighthadshetobanishAhopethatGodhadgiven?

Whymustshechooseearth\'sportion，AndturnasidefromHeaven?

XIV。

To-day!Wasitthismorning?

Ifthislong，fearfulstrifeWasbuttheworkofhours，Whatwouldbeyearsoflife?

WhydidacruelHeavenForsuchgreatsufferingcall?

Andwhy——O，stillmorecruel!-

Mustherownwordsdoall?

XV。

Didsherepent?OSorrow!

WhydowelingerstillTotakethylovingmessage，Anddothygentlewill?

See，hertearsfallmoreslowly；

Thepassionatemurmurscease，AndbackuponherspiritFlowstrength，andlove，andpeace。

XVI。

Thefireburnsmorebrightly，Therainhaspassedaway，HerbertwillseenoshadowUponhishometo-day；

OnlythatBerthagreetshimWithdoublytendercare，KissingafonderblessingDownonhisgoldenhair。

NUMBERTWO。

I。

Thestudioisdeserted，Paletteandbrushlaidby，Thesketchrestsontheeasel，Thepaintisscarcelydry；

AndSilence——whoseemsalwaysWithinherdepthstobearThenextsoundthatwillutter-

Nowholdsadumbdespair。

II。

SoBerthafeelsit:listeningWithbreathless，stonyfear，WaitingthedreadfulsummonsEachminutebringsmorenear:

Whentheyounglife，nowebbing，Shallfail，andpassawayIntothatmightyshadowWhoshroudsthehouseto-day。

III。

Butwhy——whenthesickchamberIsontheupperfloor-

WhydaresnotBerthaenterWithintheclose-shutdoor?

Ifhe——herall——herBrother，Liesdyinginthatgloom，WhatstrangemysteriouspowerHassentherfromtheroom?

IV。

Itisnotoneweek\'sanguishThatcanhavechangedherso；

Joyhasnotdiedherelately，Struckdownbyonequickblow；

ButcruelmonthshaveneededTheirlongrelentlesschain，ToteachthatshrinkingmannerOfhelpless，hopelesspain。

V。

ThestrugglewasscarceoverLastChristmasEvehadbrought:

ThefibresstillwerequiveringOftheonewoundedthought，WhenHerbert——who，unconscious，Hadguessednoinwardstrife-

Badeher，inprideandpleasure，Welcomehisfairyoungwife。

VI。

Badeherrejoice，andsmiling，Althoughhiseyesweredim，Thank\'dGodhethuscouldpayherThecareshegavetohim。

ThisfreshbrightlifewouldbringherAnewandjoyousfate-

OBertha，checkthemurmurThatcries，Toolate!toolate!

VII。

Toolate!CouldshehaveknownitAfewshortweeksbefore，Thathislifewascompleted，Andneedinghersnomore，Shemight——Osadrepining!

What"mighthavebeen，"forget；

"Itwasnot，"shouldsufficeusTostiflevainregret。

VIII。

Heneededhernolonger，Eachdayitgrewmoreplain；

Firstwithastartledwonder，Thenwithawonderingpain。

Love:why，hiswifebestgaveit；

Comfort:durstBerthaspeak?

Counsel:whenquickresentmentFlush\'dontheyoungwife\'scheek。

IX。

NomorelongtalksbyfirelightOfchildishtimeslongpast，AnddreamsoffuturegreatnessWhichhemustreachatlast；

Dreams，whereherpurerinstinctWithtruthunerringtoldWherewastheworthlessgilding，Andwhererefinedgold。

X。

Slowly，butsurelyever，Dora\'spoorjealouspride，Whichshecall\'dloveforHerbert，DroveBerthafromhisside；

And，spiteofnervouseffortTosharetheiralter\'dlife，ShefeltachecktoHerbert，Aburdentohiswife。

XI。

Thiswastheleast；forBerthaFear\'d，dreaded，KNEWatlength，HowmuchhisnatureowedherOftruth，andpower，andstrength；

Andwatch\'dthedailyfailingOfallhisnoblerpart:

Lowaims，weakpurpose，tellingInlower，weakerart。

XII。

Andnow，whenheisdying，ThelastwordsshecouldhearMustnotbehers，butgivenThebrideofoneshortyear。

Thelastcareisanother\'s；

ThelastprayermustnotbeTheonetheylearnttogetherBesidetheirmother\'sknee。

XIII。

Summon\'datlast:shekissesTheclay-coldstiffeninghand；

And，readingpleadingeffortsTomakeherunderstand，Answers，withsolemnpromise，Inclearbuttremblingtone，ToDora\'slifehenceforwardShewilldevoteherown。

XIV。

Nowallisover。BerthaDaresnotremaintoweep，ButsoothesthefrightenedDoraIntoasobbingsleep。

Thepoorweakchildwillneedher:

O，whocandarecomplain，WhenGodsendsanewDutyTocomforteachnewPain!

NUMBERTHREE。

I。

TheHouseisalldesertedInthedimeveninggloom，OnlyonefigurepassesSlowlyfromroomtoroom；

And，pausingateachdoorway，SeemsgatheringupagainWithinherhearttherelicsOfbygonejoyandpain。

II。

ThereisanearnestlongingInthosewhoonwardgaze，LookingwithwearypatienceTowardsthecomingdays。

Thereisadeeperlonging，Moresad，morestrong，morekeen:

Thoseknowitwholookbackward，Andyearnforwhathasbeen。

III。

Ateveryhearthshepauses，Toucheseachwell-knownchair；

Gazesfromeverywindow，Lingersoneverystair。

WhathavethesemonthsbroughtBerthaNowonemoreyearispast?

ThisChristmasEveshalltellus，Thethirdoneandthelast。

IV。

Thewilful，waywardDora，Inthosefirstweeksofgrief，CouldseekandfindinBerthaStrength，soothing，andrelief。

AndBertha——lastsadcomfortTruewoman-heartcantake-

HadsomethingstilltosufferAnddoforHerbert\'ssake。

V。

Spring，withherwesternbreezes，FromIndianislandsboreToBerthanewsthatLeonardWouldseekhishomeoncemore。

Whatwasit——joy，orsorrow?

Whatwerethey——hopes，orfears?

Thatflush\'dhercheekswithcrimson，Andfill\'dhereyeswithtears?

VI。

Hecame。AndwhosokindlyCouldaskandhearhertellHerbert\'slasthours；forLeonardHadknownandlovedhimwell。

Dailyhecame；andBertha，Poorwearheart，atlength，Weigh\'ddownbyother\'sweakness，Couldrestuponhisstrength。

VII。

YetnotthevoiceofLeonardCouldhertruecarebeguile，Thatturn\'dtowatch，rejoicing，Dora\'srevivingsmile。

So，fromthatlittlehouseholdTheworstgloompass\'daway，TheonebrighthourofeveningLitupthelivelongday。

VIII。

Dayspassed。ThegoldensummerInsuddenheatboredownItsblue，bright，glowingsweetnessUponthescorchingtown。

AndsightsandsoundsofcountryCameinthewarmsofttuneSungbythehoney\'dbreezesBorneonthewingsofJune。

IX。

Onetwilighthour，butearlierThanusual，BerthathoughtSheknewthefreshsweetfragranceOfflowersthatLeonardbrought；

Throughopen\'ddoorsandwindowsItstoleupthroughthegloom，AndwithappealingsweetnessDrewBerthafromherroom。

X。

Yes，hewasthere；andpausingJustneartheopen\'ddoor，Tocheckherheart\'squickbeating，Sheheard——andpausedstillmore-

HislowvoiceDora\'sanswers-

Hispleading——Yes，sheknewThetone——thewords——theaccents:

Sheoncehadheardthemtoo。

XI。