下载辰思小说免费APP
Alas,nothingbutadesertoffinestsand！Notatracewasleftoftheriverthathadplungedadowntherocks！Thepowderydrifthadfilleditscoursetothelevelofthedrearyexpanse！AsI
lookedbackIsawthattheriverhaddividedintotwobranchesasitfell,thatwhosebankIhadnowfollowedtothefootoftherockyscaur,andthatwhichfirstIcrossedtotheEvilWood。ThewoodIdescriedbetweenthetwoonthefarhorizon。Beforemeandtotheleft,thedesertstretchedbeyondmyvision,butfartotherightIcouldseealiftinthesky—line,givinghopeoftheforesttowhichmyhostesshaddirectedme。
Isatdown,andsoughtinmypocketthehalf—loafIhadbroughtwithme——thenfirsttounderstandwhatmyhostesshadmeantconcerningit。Verilythebreadwasnotforthemorrow:ithadshrunkandhardenedtoastone！Ithrewitaway,andsetoutagain。
AboutnoonIcametoafewtamariskandjunipertrees,andthentoafewstuntedfirs。AsIwenton,closerthicketsandlargerfirsmetme,andatlengthIwasinjustsuchaforestofpinesandothertreesasthatinwhichtheLittleOnesfoundtheirbabies,andbelievedIhadreturneduponafartherportionofthesame。ButwhatmatteredWHEREwhileEVERYWHEREwasthesameasNOWHERE！Ihadnotyet,bydoingsomethinginit,madeANYWHEREintoaplace！I
wasnotyetalive;IwasonlydreamingIlived！Iwasbutaconsciousnesswithanoutlook！TrulyIhadbeennothingelseintheworldIhadleft,butnowIknewthefact！IsaidtomyselfthatifinthisforestIshouldcatchthefaintgleamofthemirror,Iwouldturnfarasidelestitshouldentrapmeunawares,andgivemebacktomyoldexistence:hereImightlearntobesomethingbydoingsomething！Icouldnotendurethethoughtofgoingback,withsomanybeginningsandnotanendachieved。TheLittleOneswouldmeetwhatfatewasappointedthem;theawfulwitchIshouldnevermeet;thedeadwouldripenandarisewithoutme;IshouldbutwaketoknowthatIhaddreamed,andthatallmygoingwasnowhither！I
wouldrathergoonandonthancometosuchaclose！
Iwentdeeperintothewood:Iwasweary,andwouldrestinit。
Thetreeswerenowlarge,andstoodinregular,almostgeometric,fashion,withroomyspacesbetween。Therewaslittleundergrowth,andIcouldseealongwayineverydirection。Theforestwaslikeagreatchurch,solemnandsilentandempty,forImetnothingontwofeetorfourthatday。Nowandthen,itistrue,someswiftthing,andagainsomeslowthing,wouldcrossthespaceonwhichmyeyehappenedthatmomenttosettle;butitwasalwaysatsomedistance,andonlyenhancedthesenseofwidenessandvacancy。I
heardafewbirds,andsawplentyofbutterflies,someofmarvellouslygorgeouscolouringandcombinationsofcolour,someofapureanddazzlingwhiteness。
Comingtoaspotwherethepinesstoodfartherapartandgaveroomforfloweringshrubs,andhopingitasignofsomedwellingnear,I
tookthedirectionwhereyetmoreandmorerosesgrew,forIwashungryafterthevoiceandfaceofmykind——afteranylivesoul,indeed,humanornot,whichImightinsomemeasureunderstand。
Whatahellofhorror,Ithought,towanderalone,abareexistencenevergoingoutofitself,neverwideningitslifeinanotherlife,but,boundwiththecordsofitspoorpeculiarities,lyinganeternalprisonerinthedungeonofitsownbeing！Ibegantolearnthatitwasimpossibletoliveforoneselfeven,saveinthepresenceofothers——then,alas,fearfullypossible！evilwasonlythroughgood！
selfishnessbutaparasiteonthetreeoflife！InmyownworldIhadthehabitofsolitarysong;herenotacrooningmurmureverpartedmylips！ThereIsangwithoutthinking;hereIthoughtwithoutsinging！thereIhadneverhadabosom—friend;heretheaffectionofanidiotwouldbedivinelywelcome！"IfonlyIhadadogtolove！"Isighed——andregardedwithwondermypastself,whichpreferredthecompanyofbookorpentothatofmanorwoman;
which,iftheauthorofataleIwasenjoyingappeared,wouldwishhimawaythatImightreturntohisstory。Ihadchosenthedeadratherthantheliving,thethingthoughtratherthanthethingthinking！"Anyman,"Isaidnow,"ismorethanthegreatestofbooks！"Ihadnotcaredformylivebrothersandsisters,andnowIwasleftwithouteventhedeadtocomfortme！
Thewoodthinnedyetmore,andthepinesgrewyetlarger,sendinguphugestems,likecolumnseagertosupporttheheavens。Moretreesofotherkindsappeared;theforestwasgrowingricher！Therosesworenowtrees,andtheirflowersofastonishingsplendour。
SuddenlyIspiedwhatseemedagreathouseorcastle;butitsformsweresostrangelyindistinct,thatIcouldnotbecertainitwasmorethanachancecombinationoftree—shapes。AsIdrewnearer,itslinesyetheldtogether,butneithertheynorthebodyofitgrewatallmoredefinite;andwhenatlengthIstoodinfrontofit,Iremainedasdoubtfulofitsnatureasbefore。Houseorcastlehabitable,itcertainlywasnot;itmightbearuinovergrownwithivyandroses！Yetofbuildinghidinthefoliage,notthepoorestwall—remnantcouldIdiscern。AgainandagainIseemedtodescrywhatmustbebuilding,butitalwaysvanishedbeforecloserinspection。
Coulditbe,Ipondered,thattheivyhadembracedahugeedificeandconsumedit,anditsinterlacedbranchesretainedtheshapesofthewallsithadassimilated？——Icouldbesureofnothingconcerningtheappearance。
Beforemewasarectangularvacancy——theghostofadoorwaywithoutadoor:Isteppedthroughit,andfoundmyselfinanopenspacelikeagreathall,itsfloorcoveredwithgrassandflowers,itswallsandroofofivyandvine,mingledwithroses。
Therecouldbenobetterplaceinwhichtopassthenight！I
gatheredaquantityofwitheredleaves,laidtheminacorner,andthrewmyselfuponthem。Aredsunsetfilledthehall,thenightwaswarm,andmycouchrestful;Ilaygazingupattheliveceiling,withitstraceryofbranchesandtwigs,itscloudsoffoliage,andpeepingpatchesofloftierroof。Myeyeswentwadingaboutasiftangledinit,untilthesunwasdown,andtheskybeginningtogrowdark。Thentheredrosesturnedblack,andsoontheyellowandwhitealonewerevisible。Whentheyvanished,thestarscameinstead,hangingintheleaveslikelivetopazes,throbbingandsparklingandflashingmanycolours:IwascanopiedwithatreefromAladdin\'scave！
ThenIdiscoveredthatitwasfullofnests,whencetinyheads,nearlyindistinguishable,keptpoppingoutwithachirportwo,anddisappearingagain。Forawhiletherewererustlingsandstirringsandlittleprayers;butasthedarknessgrew,thesmallheadsbecamestill,andatlasteveryfeatheredmotherhadherbroodquietunderherwings,thetalkinthelittlebedswasover,andGod\'sbird—nurseryatrestbeneaththewavesofsleep。Oncemoreafewflutteringsmademelookup:anowlwentsailingacross。Ihadonlyaglimpseofhim,butseveraltimesfeltthecoolwaftureofhissilentwings。Themotherbirdsdidnotmoveagain;theysawthathewaslookingformice,notchildren。
AboutmidnightIcamewideawake,rousedbyarevelry,whosenoiseswereyetnotloud。Neitherweretheydistant;theywereclosetome,butattenuate。Myeyesweresodazzled,however,thatforawhileIcouldseenothing;atlasttheycametothemselves。
Iwaslyingonmywitheredleavesinthecornerofasplendidhall。
Beforemewasacrowdofgorgeouslydressedmenandgracefullyrobedwomen,noneofwhomseemedtoseeme。Indanceafterdancetheyvaguelyembodiedthestoryoflife,itsmeetings,itspassions,itspartings。AstudentofShakspere,Ihadlearnedsomethingofeverydancealludedtoinhisplays,andhencepartiallyunderstoodseveralofthoseInowsaw——theminuet,thepavin,thehey,thecoranto,thelavolta。Thedancerswereattiredinfashionasancientastheirdances。
AmoonhadrisenwhileIslept,andwasshiningthroughthecountless—windowedroof;butherlightwascrossedbysomanyshadowsthatatfirstIcoulddistinguishalmostnothingofthefacesofthemultitude;Icouldnotfail,however,toperceivethattherewassomethingoddaboutthem:Isatuptoseethembetter。——Heavens！couldIcallthemfaces？Theywereskullfronts！
——hard,gleamingbone,barejaws,truncatednoses,liplessteethwhichcouldnomoretakepartinanysmile！Ofthese,someflashedsetandwhiteandmurderous;otherswerecloudedwithdecay,brokenandgapped,colouredoftheearthinwhichtheyseemedsolongtohavelain！Fearfulleryet,theeye—socketswerenotempty;ineachwasalidlesslivingeye！Inthosewrecksoffaces,glowedorflashedorsparkledeyesofeverycolour,shape,andexpression。Thebeautiful,proudeye,darkandlustrous,condescendingtowhateveritrestedupon,wasthemoreterrible;thelovely,languishingeye,themorerepulsive;whilethedim,sadeyes,lessatvariancewiththeirsetting,weresadexceedingly,anddrewtheheartinspiteofthehorroroutofwhichtheygazed。
Iroseandwentamongtheapparitions,eagertounderstandsomethingoftheirbeingandbelongings。Weretheysouls,orweretheyandtheirrhythmicmotionsbutphantasmsofwhathadbeen？Bylooknorbygesture,notbyslightestbreakinthemeasure,didtheyshowthemselvesawareofme;Iwasnotpresenttothem:howmuchweretheyinrelationtoeachother？SurelytheysawtheircompanionsasIsawthem！Orwaseachonlydreamingitselfandtherest？
Didtheyknoweachhowtheyappearedtotheothers——adeathwithlivingeyes？Hadtheyusedtheirfaces,notforcommunication,nottoutterthoughtandfeeling,nottoshareexistencewiththeirneighbours,buttoappearwhattheywishedtoappear,andconcealwhattheywere？and,havingmadetheirfacesmasks,weretheythereforedeprivedofthosemasks,andcondemnedtogowithoutfacesuntiltheyrepented？
"Howlongmusttheyflaunttheirfacelessnessinfacelesseyes？"I
wondered。"Howlongwillthefrightfulpunitionendure？Havetheyatlengthbeguntoloveandbewise？Havetheyyetyieldedtotheshamethathasfoundthem？"
Iheardnotaword,sawnotamovementofonenakedmouth。Weretheybecauseoflyingbereftofspeech？Withtheireyestheyspokeasiflongingtobeunderstood:wasittruthorwasitfalsehoodthatspokeintheireyes？Theyseemedtoknowoneanother:didtheyseeoneskullbeautiful,andanotherplain？Differencemustbethere,andtheyhadhadlongstudyofskulls！
Mybodywastotheirsnoobstacle:wasIabody,andweretheybutforms？orwasIbutaform,andweretheybodies？Themomentoneofthedancerscamecloseagainstme,thatmomentheorshewasontheothersideofme,andIcouldtell,withoutseeing,which,whethermanorwoman,hadpassedthroughmyhouse。
Onmanyoftheskullsthehairhelditsplace,andhoweverdressed,orinitselfhoweverbeautiful,tomyeyeslookedfrightfulonthebonesoftheforeheadandtemples。Insuchcase,theouterearoftenremainedalso,andatitstip,thejeweloftheearasSidneycallsit,wouldhang,glimmering,gleaming,orsparkling,pearloropalordiamond——underthenightofbrownorofravenlocks,thesunriseofgoldenripples,orthemoonshineofpale,interclouded,fluffycirri——lichenousallontheivory—whiteordamp—yellownakedbone。Ilookeddownandsawthedaintilydomedinstep;Ilookedupandsawtheplumpshouldersbasingthespringoftheroundfullneck——whichwitheredathalf—heighttotheflutedshaftofagibbosecranium。
Themusicbecamewilder,thedancefasterandfaster;eyesflaredandflashed,jewelstwinkledandglittered,castingcolourandfireonthepallidgrinsthatglodethroughthehall,weavingaghastlyrhythmicwoofinintricatemazeofmultitudinousmotion,whensuddencameapause,andeveryeyeturnedtothesamespot:——inthedoorwaystoodawoman,perfectinform,inholding,andinhue,regardingthecompanyasfromthepedestalofagoddess,whilethedancersstood"likeoneforbid,"frozentoanewdeathbythevisionofalifethatkilled。"Deadthings,Ilive！"saidherscornfulglance。
Then,atonce,likeleavesinwhichaninstantwindawakes,theyturnedeachtoanother,andbrokeafreshintomelodiousconsortedmotion,anewexpressionintheireyes,latesolitary,nowfilledwiththeinterchangeofacommontriumph。"Thoualso,"theyseemedtosay,"wiltsoonbecomeweakaswe！thouwiltsoonbecomelikeuntous！"Iturnedmineagaintothewoman——andsawuponhersideasmalldarkshadow。
Shehadseenthechangeinthedeadstare;shelookeddown;sheunderstoodthetalkingeyes;shepressedbothherlovelyhandsontheshadow,gaveasmotheredcry,andfled。Thebirdsmovedrustlingintheirnests,andaflashofjoylituptheeyesofthedancers,whensuddenlyawarmwind,growinginstrengthasitsweptthroughtheplace,blewouteverylight。Butthelowmoonyetglimmeredonthehorizonwith"sickassay"toshine,andaturbidradianceyetgleamedfromsomanyeyes,thatIsawwellenoughwhatfollowed。
Asifeachshapehadbeenbutasnow—image,itbegantofalltopieces,ruininginthewarmwind。Inpaperyflakesthefleshpeeledfromitsbones,droppinglikesoiledsnowfromunderitsgarments;
thesefellflutteringinragsandstrips,andthewholewhiteskeleton,emergingfromgarmentandfleshtogether,stoodbareandlankamidthedecaythatlitteredthefloor。Afaintrattlingshiverwentthroughthenakedcompany;pairafterpairthelampingeyeswentout;andthedarknessgrewroundmewiththeloneliness。
Foramomenttheleaveswerestillsweptflutteringalloneway;
thenthewindceased,andtheowlfloatedsilentthroughthesilentnight。
NotforamomenthadIbeenafraid。Itistruethatwhoeverwouldcrossthethresholdofanyworld,mustleavefearbehindhim;but,formyself,Icouldclaimnopartinitsabsence。Noconsciouscouragewasoperantinme;simply,Iwasnotafraid。IneitherknewwhyIwasnotafraid,norwhereforeImighthavebeenafraid。
Ifearednotevenfear——whichofalldangersisthemostdangerous。
Iwentoutintothewood,atoncetoresumemyjourney。Anothermoonwasrising,andIturnedmyfacetowardit。
CHAPTERXVII
AGROTESQUETRAGEDY
IhadnotgonetenpaceswhenIcaughtsightofastrange—lookingobject,andwentnearertoknowwhatitmightbe。Ifounditamoulderingcarriageofancientform,ruinousbutstilluprightonitsheavywheels。Oneachsideofthepole,stillinitsplace,laytheskeletonofahorse;fromtheirtwogrimwhiteheadsascendedtheshrivelledreinstothehandoftheskeleton—coachmanseatedonhistatteredhammer—cloth;bothdoorshadfallenaway;withinsattwoskeletons,eachleaningbackinitscorner。
EvenasIlooked,theystartedawake,andwithacrackingrattleofbones,eachleapedfromthedoornextit。Onefellandlay;
theotherstoodamoment,itsstructureshakingperilously;thenwithdifficulty,foritsjointswerestiff,crept,holdingbythebackofthecarriage,totheoppositeside,thethinleg—bonesseeminghardlystrongenoughtocarryitsweight,where,kneelingbytheother,itsoughttoraiseit,almostfallingitselfagainintheendeavour。
Theprostrateoneroseatlength,asbyasuddeneffort,tothesittingposture。Forafewmomentsitturneditsyellowishskulltothissideandthat;then,heedlessofitsneighbour,gotuponitsfeetbygraspingthespokesofthehindwheel。Halferectedthus,itstoodwithitsbacktotheother,bothhandsholdingoneofitsknee—joints。Withlittlelessdifficultyandnotafewcontortions,thekneelingonerosenext,andaddresseditscompanion。
"Haveyouhurtyourself,mylord？"itsaid,inavoicethatsoundedfar—off,andill—articulatedasifblownasidebysomespectralwind。
"Yes,Ihave,"answeredtheother,inlikebutroughertone。"Youwoulddonothingtohelpme,andthiscursedkneeisout！"
"Ididmybest,mylord。"
"Nodoubt,mylady,foritwasbad！IthoughtIshouldneverfindmyfeetagain！——But,blessmysoul,madam！areyououtinyourbones？"
Shecastalookatherself。
"Ihavenothingelsetobeoutin,"shereturned;"——andYOUatleastcannotcomplain！Butwhatonearthdoesitmean？AmI
dreaming？"
"YOUmaybedreaming,madam——Icannottell;butthiskneeofmineforbidsmethegratefulillusion。——Ha！Itoo,Iperceive,havenothingtowalkinbutbones！——Notsounbecomingtoaman,however！
ItrusttogoodnesstheyarenotMYbones！everyoneachesworsethananother,andthisloosekneeworstofall！Thebedmusthavebeendamp——andItoodrunktoknowit！"
"Probably,mylordofCokayne！"
"What！what！——YoumakemethinkItooamdreaming——achesandall！
HowdoYOUknowthetitlemyroisteringbulliesgiveme？Idon\'trememberyou！——Anyhow,youhavenorighttotakeliberties！Mynameis——Iamlord————tut,tut！WhatdoyoucallmewhenI\'m——I
meanwhenyouaresober？Icannot——atthemoment,——Why,whatISmyname？——ImusthavebeenVERYdrunkwhenIwenttobed！Ioftenam！"
"Youcomesoseldomtomine,thatIdonotknow,mylord;butImaytakeyourwordforTHAT！"
"Ihopeso！"
"——iffornothingelse！"
"Hoitytoity！Inevertoldyoualieinmylife！"
"Younevertoldmeanythingbutlies。"
"Uponmyhonour！——Why,Ineversawthewomanbefore！"
"Youknewmewellenoughtolieto,mylord！"
"IdoseemtobegintodreamIhavemetyoubefore,but,uponmyoath,thereisnothingtoknowyouby！Outofyourclothes,whoistotellwhoyoumaynotbe？——OnethingIMAYswear——thatIneversawyousomuchundressedbefore！——Byheaven,Ihavenorecollectionofyou！"
"Iamgladtohearit:myrecollectionsofyouarethelessdistasteful！——Goodmorning,mylord！"
Sheturnedaway,hobbled,clacking,afewpaces,andstoodagain。
"Youarejustasheartlessas——as——anyotherwoman,madam！——WhereinthishellofaplaceshallIfindmyvalet？——WhatwasthecursednameIusedtocallthefool？"
Heturnedhisbarenoddlethiswayandthatonitscreakingpivot,stillholdinghiskneewithbothhands。
"Iwillbeyourvaletforonce,mylord,"saidthelady,turningoncemoretohim。"——WhatcanIdoforyou？Itisnoteasytotell！"
"Tiemylegon,ofcourse,youfool！Can\'tyouseeitisallbutoff？Heigho,mydancingdays！"
Shelookedaboutwithhereyelesssocketsandfoundapieceoffibrousgrass,withwhichsheproceededtobindtogethertheadjoiningpartsthathadformedtheknee。Whenshehaddone,hegaveoneortwocarefullytentativestamps。
"Youusedtostampratherdifferently,mylord！"shesaid,assherosefromherknees。
"Eh？what！——NowIlookatyouagain,itseemstomeIusedtohateyou！——Eh？"
"Naturally,mylord！Youhatedagoodmanypeople！——yourwife,ofcourse,amongtherest！"
"Ah,Ibegin,Ibe—gin————But——Imusthavebeenalongtimesomewhere！——Ireallyforget！——There！yourdamned,miserablebitofgrassisbreaking！——WeusedtogetonPRETTYwelltogether——eh？"
"NotthatIremember,mylord。TheonlyhappymomentsIhadinyourcompanywerescatteredoverthefirstweekofourmarriage。"
"Wasthatthewayofit？Ha！ha！——Well,it\'sovernow,thankgoodness！"
"IwishIcouldbelieveit！Whywerewesittingthereinthatcarriagetogether？Itwakesapprehension！"
"Ithinkweweredivorced,mylady！"
"Hardlyenough:wearestilltogether！"
"Asadtruth,butcapableofremedy:theforestseemsofsomeextent！"
"Idoubt！Idoubt！"
"IamsorryIcannotthinkofacomplimenttopayyou——withoutlying,thatis。TojudgebyyourfigureandcomplexionyouhavelivedhardsinceIsawyoulast！IcannotsurelybeQUITEsonakedasyourladyship！——Ibegyourpardon,madam！ItrustyouwilltakeitIambutjestinginadream！Itisofnoconsequence,however;
dreamingorwaking,all\'sone——allmerestappearance！Youcan\'tbecertainofanything,andthat\'sasgoodasknowingthereisnothing！
Lifemayteachanyfoolthat！"
"IthastaughtmethefoolIwastoloveyou！"
"Youwerenottheonlyfooltodothat！Womenhadatrickoffallinginlovewithme:——Ihadforgottenthatyouwereoneofthem！"
"Ididloveyou,mylord——alittle——atonetime！"
"Ah,therewasyourmistake,mylady！Youshouldhavelovedmemuch,lovedmedevotedly,lovedmesavagely——lovedmeeternally！
ThenIshouldhavetiredofyouthesooner,andnothatedyousomuchafterward！——Butletbygonesbebygones！——WHEREarewe？
Localityisthequestion！Tobeornottobe,isNOTthequestion！"
"Weareintheotherworld,Ipresume！"
"Granted！——butinwhichorwhatsortofotherworld？Thiscan\'tbehell！"
"Itmust:there\'smarriageinit！YouandIaredamnedineachother。"
"ThenI\'mnotlikeOthello,damnedinafairwife！——Oh,IremembermyShakspeare,madam！"
Shepickedupabrokenbranchthathadfallenintoabush,andsteadyingherselfwithit,walkedaway,tossingherlittleskull。
"Givethatsticktome,"criedherlatehusband;"Iwantitmorethanyou。"
Shereturnedhimnoanswer。
"Youmeantomakemebegforit？"
"Notatall,mylord。Imeantokeepit,"shereplied,continuingherslowdeparture。
"Giveitmeatonce;Imeantohaveit！Irequireit。"
"Unfortunately,IthinkIrequireitmyself！"returnedthelady,walkingalittlequicker,withasharpercrackingofherjointsandclinkingofherbones。
Hestartedtofollowher,butnearlyfell:hisknee—grasshadburst,andwithanoathhestopped,graspinghislegagain。
"Comeandtieitupproperly！"hewouldhavethundered,butheonlypipedandwhistled！
Sheturnedandlookedathim。
"Comeandtieitupinstantly！"herepeated。
Shewalkedasteportwofartherfromhim。
"IswearIwillnottouchyou！"hecried。
"Swearon,mylord！thereisnooneheretobelieveyou。But,pray,donotloseyourtemper,oryouwillshakeyourselftopieces,andwheretofindstringenoughtotieupallyourcrazyjoints,ismorethanIcantell。"
Shecameback,andkneltoncemoreathisside——first,however,layingthestickindisputebeyondhisreachandwithinherown。
Theinstantshehadfinishedretyingthejoint,hemadeagrabather,thinking,apparently,toseizeherbythehair;buthishardfingersslippedonthesmoothpoll。
"Disgusting！"hemuttered,andlaidholdofherupperarm—bone。
"Youwillbreakit！"shesaid,lookingupfromherknees。
"Iwill,then！"heanswered,andbegantostrainatit。
"Ishallnottieyourlegagainthenexttimeitcomesloose！"shethreatened。
Hegaveherarmavicioustwist,buthappilyherboneswereinbetterconditionthanhis。Shestretchedherotherhandtowardthebrokenbranch。
"That\'sright:reachmethestick！"hegrinned。
Shebroughtitroundwithsuchaswingthatoneofthebonesofthesounderlegsnapped。Hefell,chokingwithcurses。Theladylaughed。
"Nowyouwillhavetowearsplintsalways！"shesaid;"suchdrybonesnevermend！"
"Youdevil！"hecried。
"Atyourservice,mylord！ShallIfetchyouacoupleofwheel—spokes？
Neat——butheavy,Ifear！"
Heturnedhisbone—faceaside,anddidnotanswer,butlayandgroaned。Imarvelledhehadnotgonetopieceswhenhefell。Theladyroseandwalkedaway——notallungracefully,Ithought。
"Whatcancomeofit？"Isaidtomyself。"Thesearetoowretchedforanyworld,andthiscannotbehell,fortheLittleOnesareinit,andthesleeperstoo！Whatcanitallmean？Canthingsevercomerightforskeletons？"
"Therearewordstoobigforyouandme:ALLisoneofthem,andEVERisanother,"saidavoicenearmewhichIknew。
Ilookedabout,butcouldnotseethespeaker。
"Youarenotinhell,"itresumed。"NeitheramIinhell。Butthoseskeletonsareinhell！"
EreheendedIcaughtsightoftheravenontheboughofabeech,rightovermyhead。Thesamemomentheleftit,andalightingontheground,stoodthere,thethinoldmanofthelibrary,withlongnoseandlongcoat。
"Themalewasneveragentleman,"hewenton,"andinthebonystageofretrogression,withhisskeletonthroughhisskin,andhischaracteroutsidehismanners,doesnotlooklikeone。Thefemaleislessvulgar,andhasalittleheart。But,therestraintsofsocietyremoved,youseethemnowjustastheyareandalwayswere！"
"Tellme,Mr。Raven,whatwillbecomeofthem,"Isaid。
"Weshallsee,"hereplied。"Intheirdaytheywerethehandsomestcoupleatcourt;andnow,evenintheirdrybones,theyseemtoregardtheirformerreputeasaninalienablepossession;toseetheirfaces,however,mayyetdosomethingforthem！Theyfeltthemselvesrichtoowhiletheyhadpockets,buttheyhavealreadybeguntofeelratherpinched！Mylordusedtoregardmyladyasaworthlessencumbrance,forhewastiredofherbeautyandhadspenthermoney;nowheneedshertocobblehisjointsforhim！Thesechangeshaverootsofhopeinthem。Besides,theycannotnowgetfarawayfromeachother,andtheyseenoneelseoftheirownkind:
theymustatlastgrowwearyoftheirmutualrepugnance,andbegintoloveoneanother！forlove,nothate,isdeepestinwhatLove`lovedintobeing。\'"
"Isawmanymoreoftheirkindanhourago,inthehallcloseby！"
Isaid。
"Oftheirkind,butnotoftheirsort,"heanswered。"Formanyyearsthesewillseenonesuchasyousawlastnight。Thosearecenturiesinadvanceofthese。Yousawthatthosecouldevendressthemselvesalittle！Itistruetheycannotyetretaintheirclothessolongastheywould——only,atpresent,forapartofthenight;buttheyareprettysteadilygrowingmorecapable,andwillbyandbydevelopfaces;foreverygrainoftruthfulnessaddsafibretotheshowoftheirhumanity。Nothingbuttruthcanappear;andwhateverismustseem。"
"Aretheyupheldbythishope？"Iasked。
"Theyareupheldbyhope,buttheydonotintheleastknowtheirhope;tounderstandit,isyetimmeasurablybeyondthem,"answeredMr。Raven。
Hisunexpectedappearancehadcausedmenoastonishment。Iwaslikeachild,constantlywondering,andsurprisedatnothing。
"Didyoucometofindme,sir？"Iasked。
"Notatall,"hereplied。"Ihavenoanxietyaboutyou。Suchasyoualwayscomebacktous。"
"Tellme,please,whoamIsuchas？"Isaid。
"Icannotmakemyfriendthesubjectofconversation,"heanswered,withasmile。
"Butwhenthatfriendispresent！"Iurged。
"Ideclinethemorestrongly,"herejoined。
"Butwhenthatfriendasksyou！"Ipersisted。
"ThenmostpositivelyIrefuse,"hereturned。
"Why？"
"BecauseheandIwouldbetalkingoftwopersonsasiftheywereoneandthesame。Yourconsciousnessofyourselfandmyknowledgeofyouarefarapart！"
Thelapelsofhiscoatflewout,andthelappetslifted,andI
thoughtthemetamorphosisofHOMOtoCORVUSwasabouttotakeplacebeforemyeyes。Butthecoatclosedagaininfrontofhim,andheadded,withseeminginconsequence,"Inthisworldnevertrustapersonwhohasoncedeceivedyou。
Aboveall,neverdoanythingsuchaonemayaskyoutodo。"
"Iwilltrytoremember,"Ianswered;"——butImayforget！"
"Thensomeevilthatisgoodforyouwillfollow。"
"AndifIremember？"
"Someevilthatisnotgoodforyou,willnotfollow。"
Theoldmanseemedtosinktotheground,andimmediatelyIsawtheravenseveralyardsfromme,flyinglowandfast。
CHAPTERXVIII
DEADORALIVE？
Iwentwalkingon,stillfacingthemoon,who,notyethigh,wasstaringstraightintotheforest。Ididnotknowwhatailedher,butshewasdarkanddented,likeabattereddiscofoldcopper,andlookeddispiritedandweary。Notacloudwasnightokeephercompany,andthestarsweretoobrightforher。"Isthisgoingtolastforever？"sheseemedtosay。ShewasgoingonewayandIwasgoingtheother,yetthroughthewoodwewentalongwaytogether。
Wedidnotcommunemuch,formyeyeswereontheground;butherdisconsolatelookwasfixedonme:Ifeltwithoutseeingit。A
longtimeweweretogether,Iandthemoon,walkingsidebyside,shethedullshine,andItheliveshadow。
Somethingontheground,underaspreadingtree,caughtmyeyewithitswhiteness,andIturnedtowardit。Vagueasitwasintheshadowofthefoliage,itsuggested,asIdrewnearer,ahumanbody。
