第21章

Shewasasleepinfiveminutes；andMissGalesatwatchingheratfirst，butpresentlyjoinedVizardattheotherend，andtheywhisperedtogether。Saidshe，"Whatbecomesofthetheorythatwomenhavenostrengthofwill?ThereisMademoiselle_Jeleveux_inperson。Whenshewantstosleep，shesleeps；andlookatyouandme——doyouknowwherewearegoing?"

"No。"

"NomoredoI。Themotivepoweristhatpersonificationofdivinereposethere。Howbeautifulsheiswithhersweetlipsparted，andherwhiteteethpeeping，andherupperandlowerlasheswedded，andhowgraceful!"

"Sheisagoddess，"saidVizard。"IwishIhadneverseenher。Markmywords，shewillgivemethesorestheartofall。"

"Ihopenot，"saidRhoda，veryseriously。

Inasleptsweetlyfornearlytwohours，andallthattimeherfriendscouldonlyguesswheretheyweregoing。

Atlastthetrainstopped，forthesixthtime，andAshmeadopenedthedoor。

Thisworthy，whowasentirelyincommandoftheexpedition，collectedtheluggage，includingVizard\'sbag，anddepositeditatthestation。Hethenintroducedthepartytoapair-horsefly，andmountedthebox。

WhentheystoppedatBagley，Vizardsuspectedwheretheyweregoing。

Whenhesawthedirectionthecarriagetook，heknewit，andturnedverygraveindeed。

Heevenregrettedthathehadputhimselfsoblindlyunderthecontrolofawoman。HecastsearchingglancesatMademoiselleKloskingtotryanddiscoverwhatonearthshewasgoingtodo。Butherfacewasasimpenetrableasmarble。Still，sheneverlookedlesslikelytodoanythingrashorinbadtaste。Quietnesswasthemaincharacteristicofherface，whennotrippledoverbyaravishingsweetness；buthehadneverseenherlooksogreat，andlofty，andresoluteasshelookednow；

alittlestern，too，asonewhohadagreatdutytodo，andwasinflexibleasiron。Whentrulyfemininefeaturesstiffenintomarblelikethis，beautyisindeedimperial，andworthyofepicsong；itrisesbeyondthewingofprose。

MyreaderistoointelligentnottodivinethatshewassteelingherselftoaterribleinterviewwithZoeVizard——terriblemainlyonaccountoftheanguishsheknewshemustinflict。

Butwecanrarelycarryoutourplansexactlyaswetracethem——unexpectedcircumstancesderangethemorexpandthem；andIwillsofaranticipateastosaythatinthiscaseamostunexpectedturnofeventstookLaKloskingbysurprise。

Whethersheprovedequaltotheoccasionthesepageswillshowverysoon。

CHAPTERXXVI。

POIKILUSneverleftTaddington——onlythe"Swan。"MorethanoncehewaswithinsightofAshmeadunobserved。Once，indeed，thatgentleman，whohadagreatrespectfordignitaries，salutedhim；foratthatmomentPoikilushappenedtobeasleekdignitaryoftheChurchofEngland。Poikilus，whenquitehimself，woreamustache，andwassallow，andleanasaweasel；butheshavedandstuffedandcoloredforthedean。Shovel-hat，portlywalk，andgreenspectaclesdidtherest。GrandfatherWhiteheadsaluted。Hisreverencechuckled。

PoikiluskeptSevernepostedbyletterandwireastomanythingsthathappenedoutsideVizardCourt；buthecouldnotdivinethestormthatwasbrewinginsideInaKlosking\'sroom。YetSevernedefendedhimselfexactlyashewouldhavedonehadheknownall。HeandZoespentElysianhours，meetingtwiceadayintheshrubbery，andmakingloveasiftheyweretheonlytwocreaturesintheworld；butitwasblindElysiumonlytooneofthem——Severnewasuneasyandalarmedthewholetime。Hissagacityshowedhimitcouldnotlast，andtherewasalwaysacreepingterroronhim。

WouldnotUxmoorcauseinquiries?WouldhenotbesuretotellVizard?

WouldnotVizardcometheretolookafterZoe，ororderherbacktoVizardCourt?WouldnottheKloskinggetwell，andinterfereoncemore?

Hepassedthetimebetweenheavenandhell；wheneverhewasnotundertheimmediatespellofZoe\'spresence，asortofvagueterrorwasalwaysonhim。Helookedallroundhim，whereverhewent。

Thisterror，andhispassion，whichwasnowasviolentasitwaswicked，soondrovehimtoconceivedesperatemeasures。But，bymasterlyself-government，hekeptthemtwodaystohisownbosom。HefeltitwastoosoontoraiseafreshandpainfuldiscussionwithZoe。Hemustletherdrinkunmixeddelight，andgetatasteforit；andthenshowheronwhatconditionsaloneitcouldbehadforever。

Itwasonthethirddayaftertheirreconciliationshefoundhimseatedonabenchintheshrubbery，lostinthought，andlookingverydejected。

Shewasclosetohimbeforehenoticed；thenhesprungup，staredather，andbegantokissherhandsviolently，andevenherverydress。

"Itisyou，"saidhe，"oncemore。"

"Yes，dear，"saidZoe，tenderly；"didyouthinkIwouldnotcome?"

"Ididnotknowwhetheryoucouldcome。Ifeelthatmyhappinesscannotlastlong。And，Zoedear，Ihavehadadream。Idreamedweweretakenprisoners，andcarriedtoVizardCourt，andonthestepsstoodVizardandMademoiselleKloskingarm-in-arm；Ibelievetheyweremanandwife。Andyouweretakenoutandled，weeping，intothehouse，andIwasleftthereragingwithagony。Andthenthatladyputoutherfingerinacommandingway，andIwaswhirledawayintoutterdarkness，andIheardyoumoan，andIfought，anddashedmyheadagainstthecarriage，andIfeltmyheartburst，andmywholebodyfilledwithsomecoldliquid，andIwenttosleep，andIheardavoicesay，\'Itisallover；histroubleisended。\'Iwasdead。"

Thisnarrative，andhisdeepdejection，setZoe\'stearsflowing。"PoorEdward!"shesighed。"Iwouldnotsurviveyou。Butcheerup，dear；itwasonlyadream。Wearenotslaves。Iamnotdependentonanyone。Howcanwebeparted?"

"Weshall，unlessweuseouropportunity，andmakeitimpossibletopartus。Zoe，donotslightmyalarmandmymisgivings；suchwarningsareprophetic。ForHeaven\'ssake，makeonesacrificemore，andletusplaceourhappinessbeyondthereachofman!"

"Onlytellmehow。"

"Thereisbutoneway——marriage。"

Zoeblushedhigh，andpantedalittle，butsaidnothing。

"Ah!"saidhe，piteously，"Iasktoomuch。"

"Howcanyousaythat?"saidZoe。"OfcourseIshallmarryyou，dearest。

What!doyouthinkIcoulddowhatI_have_doneforanybodybutmyhusbandthatistobe?"

"Iwasmadtothinkotherwise，"saidhe，"butIaminlowspirits，andfullofmisgivings。Oh，thecomfort，thebliss，thepeaceofmind，thejoy，ifyouwouldseeourhazardouscondition，andmakeallsafebymarryingmeto-morrow。"

"To-morrow!Why，Edward，areyoumad?Howcanwebemarried，solongasmybrotherissoprejudicedagainstyou?"

"Ifwewaithisconsent，wearepartedforever。Hewouldforgiveusafterit——thatiscertain。Buthewouldneverconsent。Heistoomuchundertheinfluenceofhis——ofMademoiselleKlosking。"

"Indeed，Icannothopehewillconsentbeforehand，"sighedZoe；"butI

havenotthecouragetodefyhim；andifIhad，wecouldnotmarryallinamoment，likethat。Weshouldhavetobecriedinchurch。"

"Thatisquitegoneoutamongladiesandgentlemen。"

"Notinourfamily。Besides，evenaspeciallicensetakestime，I

suppose。Ohno，Icouldnotbemarriedinaclandestine，discreditableway。IamaVizard——pleaserememberthat。Wouldyoudegradethewomanyouhonorwithyourchoice?"

Andherredcheeksandflashingeyeswarnedhimtodesist。

"Godforbid!"saidhe。"Ifthatisthealternative，Iconsenttoloseher——andloseherIshall。"

Hethenaffectedtodismissthesubject，andsaid，"Letmeenjoythehoursthatareleftme。Muchmiseryormuchblisscanbecondensedinafewdays。Iwillenjoytheblessedtime，andwewillwaitforthechapterofaccidentsthatissuretopartus。"Thenheactedrecklesshappiness，andbrokedownatlast。

Shecried，butshowednosignofyielding。Herprideandself-respectwererousedandontheirdefense。

Thenextdayhecametoherquietlysad。Heseemedlanguidandlistless，andtocarefornothing。Hewasartfulenoughtotellher，ontheinformationofPoikilus，thatVizardhadhiredthecathedralchoirthreetimesaweektosingtohisinamorata；andthathehaddrivenheraboutTaddington，dressedlikeaduchess，inawholesuitofsables。

Atthatwordthegirlturnedpale。

Heobserved，andcontinued:"Anditseemsthesesablesareknownthroughoutthecounty。Therewereseveralcarriagesinthetown，andmyinformantheardaladysaytheywereMrs。Vizard\'ssables，worthfivehundredguineas——aRussianprincessgavethemher。"

"Itisquitetrue，"saidZoe。"Hismother\'ssables!Isitpossible!"

"Theyallsayheiscaughtatlast，andthisistobethenextMrs。

Vizard。"

"Theymaywellsayso，ifheparadesherinhismother\'ssables，"saidZoe，andcouldnotconcealherjealousyandherindignation。"Ineverdaredsomuchasaskhispermissiontowearthem，"saidshe。

"Andifyouhad，hewouldhavetoldyoutherelicsofasaintwerenottobeplayedwith。"

"Thatisjustwhathewouldhavesaid，Idobelieve。"Thefemaleheartwasstung。

"Ah，well，"saidSeverne，"IamsureIshouldnotgrudgehimhishappiness，ifyouwouldseethingsashedoes，andbeasbraveasheis。"

"Thankyou，"saidZoe。"Womencannotdefytheworldasmendo。"Then，passionately，"Whydoyoutormentmeso?whydoyouurgemeso?apoorgirl，allalone，andfarfromadvice。Whatonearthwouldyouhavemedo?"

"Secureusagainstanotherseparation，uniteusinblissforever。"

"AndsoIwouldifIcould；youknowIwould。Butitisimpossible。"

"No，Zoe；itiseasy。Therearetwoways:wecanreachScotlandineighthours；andthere，byasimplewritinganddeclarationbeforewitnesses，wearemanandwife。"

"AGretnaGreenmarriage?"

"ItisjustasmuchalegalmarriageasifabishopmarriedusatSt。

Paul\'s。However，wecouldfollowitupimmediatelybymarriageinachurch，eitherinScotlandortheNorthofEnglandButthereisanotherway:wecanbemarriedatBagley，anyday，beforetheregistrar。"

"Isthatamarriage——arealmarriage?"

"Asreal，aslegal，asbindingasaweddinginSt。Paul\'s。"

"Nobodyinthiscountyhaseverbeenmarriedso。Ishouldblushtobeseenaboutafterit。"

"Ourfirsthappyyearwouldnotbepassedinthiscountry。Weshouldgoabroadforsixmonths。"

"Ay，flyfromshame。"

"OnourreturnweshouldbereceivedwithopenarmsbymyownpeopleinHuntingdonshire，untilyourpeoplecameround，astheyalwaysdo。"

Hethenshowedheraletter，inwhichhispearlofacousinsaidtheywouldreceivehiswifewithopenarms，andmakeherashappyastheycould。UncleTomwascominghomefromIndia，withtwohundredthousandpounds；hewasaconfirmedoldbachelor，andEdwardhisfavorite，etc。

Zoefalteredalittle:sothenhepressedherhardwithlove，andentreaties，andpromises，andevenhystericaltears；thenshebegantocry——asuresignofyielding。"Givemetime，"shesaid——"givemetime。"

Hegroaned，andsaidtherewasnotimetolose。Otherwiseheneverwouldhaveurgedherso。

Forallthat，shecouldnotbedrawntoadecision。Shemustthinkoversuchastep。Nextmorning，attheusualtime，hecametoknowhisfate。

Butshedidnotappear。Hewaitedanhourforher。Shedidnotcome。Hebegantorageandstorm，andcursehisfollyfordrivinghersohard。

Atlastshecame，andfoundhimpalewithanxiety，andlookingutterlymiserable。Shetoldhimshehadpassedasleeplessnight，andherheadhadachedsointhemorningshecouldnotmove。

"Mypoordarling!"saidhe；"andIamthecause。Saynomoreaboutit，dearone。IseeyoudonotlovemeasIloveyou，andIforgiveyou。"

Shesmiledsadlyatthat，forshewassurerofherownlovethanhis。

Zoehadpassedanightoftormentandvacillation；andbutforherbrotherhavingparadedMademoiselleKloskinginhismother\'ssables，shewould，Ithink，haveheldout。Butthisturnedheralittleagainstherbrother；and，ashewasthemainobstacletoherunionwithSeverne，loveandpityconquered。YetstillHonorandPridehadtheirsay。"Edward，"

saidshe，"Iloveyouwithallmyheart，andshareyourfearsthataccidentmayseparateus。Iwillletyoudecideforbothofus。But，beforeyoudecide，bewarnedofonething。Iamagirlnolonger，butawomanwhohasbeendistractedwithmanypassions。Ifanyslurrestsonmyfairname，deeplyasIloveyounow，Ishallabhoryouthen。"

Heturnedpale，forhereyeflasheddismayintohiscravensoul。

Hesaidnothing；andshecontinued:"Ifyouinsistonthishasty，half-clandestinemarriage，thenIconsenttothis——Iwillgowithyoubeforetheregistrar，andIshallcomebackheredirectly。NextmorningearlywewillstartforScotland，andbemarriedthatotherwaybeforewitnesses。Thenyourfearswillbeatanend，foryoubelieveinthesemarriages；onlyasIdonot——forIlookonthese_legal_marriagesmerelyassolemnbetrothals——IshallbeMissZoeVizard，andexpectyoutotreatmeso，untilIhavebeenmarriedinachurch，likealady。"

"Ofcourseyoushall，"saidhe；andoverwhelmedherwithexpressionsofgratitude，respect，andaffection。

Thissoothedhertroubledmind，andshelethimtakeherhandandpourhishoneyedflatteriesintoherear，ashewalkedherslowlyupanddown。

Shecouldhardlytearhe