第8章

"Anotherskeleton！"Isaidtomyself,kneelingandlayingmyhanduponit。Abodyitwas,however,andnoskeleton,thoughasnearlyoneasbodycouldwellbe。Itlayonitsside,andwasverycold——

notcoldlikeastone,butcoldlikethatwhichwasoncealive,andisalivenomore。ThecloserIlookedatit,theoftenerItouchedit,thelessitseemedpossibleitshouldbeotherthandead。Foronebewilderedmoment,Ifancieditoneofthewilddancers,aghostlyCinderella,perhaps,thathadlostherwayhome,andperishedinthestrangenightofanout—of—doorworld！Itwasquitenaked,andsowornthat,evenintheshadow,Icould,peeringclose,havecountedwithouttouchingthem,everyribinitsside。Allitsbones,indeed,wereasvisibleasiftight—coveredwithonlyathinelasticleather。Itsbeautifulyetterribleteeth,unseemlydisclosedbytheretractedlips,gleamedghastlythroughthedark。Itshairwaslongerthanitself,thickandveryfinetothetouch,andblackasnight。

Itwasthebodyofatall,probablygracefulwoman。——Howhadshecomethere？Notofherself,andalreadyinsuchwastedcondition,surely！Herstrengthmusthavefailedher;shehadfallen,andlainthereuntilshediedofhunger！Buthow,evenso,couldshebethusemaciated？Andhowcameshetobenaked？Wherewerethesavagestostripandleaveher？orwhatwildbeastswouldhavetakenhergarments？Thatherbodyshouldhavebeenleftwasnotwonderful！

Irosetomyfeet,stood,andconsidered。Imustnot,couldnotletherlieexposedandforsaken！Naturalreverenceforbadeit。Eventhegarmentofawomanclaimsrespect;herbodyitwereimpossibletoleaveuncovered！Irreverenteyesmightlookonit！Brutalclawsmighttossitabout！Yearswouldpasserethefriendlyrainswasheditintothesoil！——Butthegroundwashard,almostsolidwithinterlacingroots,andIhadbutmybarehands！

Atfirstitseemedplainthatshehadnotlongbeendead:therewasnotasignofdecayabouther！Butthenwhathadtheslowwastingoflifeleftofhertodecay？

Couldshebestillalive？Mightshenot？Whatifshewere！Thingswentverystrangelyinthisstrangeworld！Eventhentherewouldbelittlechanceofbringingherback,butImustknowshewasdeadbeforeIburiedher！

AsIlefttheforest—hall,Ihadspiedinthedoorwayabunchofripegrapes,andbroughtitwithme,eatingasIcame:afewwereyetleftonthestalk,andtheirjuicemightpossiblyreviveher！

AnyhowitwasallIhadwithwhichtoattemptherrescue！Themouthwashappilyalittleopen;buttheheadwasinsuchanawkwardpositionthat,tomovethebody,Ipassedmyarmundertheshoulderonwhichitlay,whenIfoundthepine—needlesbeneathitwarm:

shecouldnothavebeenanytimedead,andMIGHTstillbealive,thoughIcoulddiscernnomotionoftheheart,oranyindicationthatshebreathed！Oneofherhandswasclenchedhard,apparentlyinclosingsomethingsmall。Isqueezedagrapeintohermouth,butnoswallowingfollowed。

TodoforherallIcould,Ispreadathicklayerofpine—needlesanddryleaves,laidoneofmygarmentsoverit,warmfrommybody,liftedheruponit,andcoveredherwithmyclothesandagreatheapofleaves:Iwouldsavethelittlewarmthleftinher,hopinganincreasetoitwhenthesuncameback。ThenItriedanothergrape,butcouldperceivenoslightestmovementofmouthorthroat。

"Doubt,"Isaidtomyself,"maybeapoorencouragementtodoanything,butitisabadreasonfordoingnothing。"SotightwastheskinuponherbonesthatIdarednotusefriction。

Icreptintotheheapofleaves,gotasclosetoherasIcould,andtookherinmyarms。Ihadnotmuchheatleftinme,butwhatIhadIwouldsharewithher！ThusIspentwhatremainedofthenight,sleepless,andlongingforthesun。Hercoldseemedtoradiateintome,butnoheattopassfrommetoher。

HadIfledfromthebeautifulsleepers,Ithought,eachonher"dim,straight"silvercouch,toliealonewithsuchabedfellow！Ihadrefusedalovelyprivilege:Iwasgivenovertoanawfulduty！

Beneaththesad,slow—settingmoon,Ilaywiththedead,andwatchedforthedawn。

Thedarknesshadgivenway,andtheeasternhorizonwasgrowingdimlyclearer,whenIcaughtsightofamotionratherthanofanythingthatmoved——notfarfromme,andclosetotheground。Itwasthelowundulatingofalargesnake,whichpassedmeinanunswervingline。Presentlyappeared,makingasitseemedforthesamepoint,whatItookforaroebuck—doeandhercalf。Againawhile,andtwocreatureslikebear—cubscame,withthreeorfoursmalleronesbehindthem。Thelightwasnowgrowingsorapidlythatwhen,afewminutesafter,atroopofhorseswenttrottingpast,I

couldseethat,althoughthelargestofthemwerenobiggerthanthesmallestShetlandpony,theymustyetbefull—grown,soperfectweretheyinform,andsomuchhadtheyallthewaysandactionofgreathorses。Theywereofmanybreeds。Someseemedmodelsofcart—horses,othersofchargers,hunters,racers。Dwarfcattleandsmallelephantsfollowed。

"Whyarethechildrennothere！"Isaidtomyself。"ThemomentIamfreeofthispoorwoman,Imustgobackandfetchthem！"

Wherewerethecreaturesgoing？Whatdrewthem？Wasthisanexodus,oramorninghabit？Imustwaitforthesun！TillhecameImustnotleavethewoman！

Ilaidmyhandonthebody,andcouldnothelpthinkingitfeltatriflewarmer。ItmighthavegainedalittleoftheheatIhadlost！

itcouldhardlyhavegeneratedany！Whatreasonforhopetherewashadnotgrownless！

Theforeheadofthedaybegantoglow,andsoonthesuncamepeeringup,asiftoseeforthefirsttimewhatallthisstirofanewworldwasabout。Atsightofhisgreatinnocentsplendour,Irosefulloflife,strongagainstdeath。RemovingthehandkerchiefI

hadputtoprotectthemouthandeyesfromthepine—needles,I

lookedanxiouslytoseewhetherIhadfoundapricelessjewel,orbutitsemptycase。

ThebodylaymotionlessaswhenIfoundit。Thenfirst,inthemorninglight,Isawhowdrawnandhollowwastheface,howsharpwerethebonesundertheskin,howeverytoothshapeditselfthroughthelips。Thehumangarmentwasindeedworntoitsthreads,butthebirdofheavenmightyetbenestlingwithin,mightyetawaketomotionandsong！

Butthesunwasshiningonherface！Ire—arrangedthehandkerchief,laidafewleaveslightlyoverit,andsetouttofollowthecreatures。Theirmaintrackwaswellbeaten,andmusthavelongbeenused——likewisemanyofthetracksthat,joiningitfrombothsides,mergedin,andbroadenedit。ThetreesretreatedasIwent,andthegrassgrewthicker。Presentlytheforestwasgone,andawideexpanseofloveliestgreenstretchedawaytothehorizon。

Throughit,alongtheedgeoftheforest,flowedasmallriver,andtothisthetrackled。Atsightofthewateranewthoughundefinedhopesprangupinme。Thestreamlookedeverywheredeep,andwasfulltothebrim,butnowheremorethanafewyardswide。Abluishmistrosefromit,vanishingasitrose。Ontheoppositeside,intheplentifulgrass,manysmallanimalswerefeeding。Apparentlytheysleptintheforest,andinthemorningsoughttheplain,swimmingtherivertoreachit。Ikneltandwouldhavedrunk,butthewaterwashot,andhadastrangemetallictaste。

Ileapttomyfeet:herewasthewarmthIsought——thefirstnecessityoflife！Ispedbacktomyhelplesscharge。

Withoutwellconsideringmysolitude,noonewillunderstandwhatseemedtolieformeintheredemptionofthiswomanfromdeath。

"Provewhatshemay,"Ithoughtwithmyself,"Ishallatleastbelonelynomore！"IhadfoundmyselfsuchpoorcompanythatnowfirstIseemedtoknowwhathopewas。Thisblessedwaterwouldexpelthecolddeath,anddrownmydesolation！

Iborehertothestream。Tallasshewas,Ifoundhermarvellouslylight,herbonesweresodelicate,andsolittlecoveredthem。I

grewyetmorehopefulwhenIfoundhersofarfromstiffthatI

couldcarryherononearm,likeasleepingchild,leaningagainstmyshoulder。Iwentsoftly,dreadingeventhewindofmymotion,andgladtherewasnoother。

Thewaterwastoohottolayheratonceinit:theshockmightscarefromhertheyetflutteringlife！Ilaidheronthebank,anddippingoneofmygarments,begantobathethepitifulform。

Sowastedwasitthat,savefromtheplentifulnessandblacknessofthehair,itwasimpossibleeventoconjecturewhethershewasyoungorold。Hereyelidswerejustnotshut,whichmadeherlookdeadthemore:therewasacrackinthecloudsofhernight,atwhichnosunshonethrough！

ThelongerIwentonbathingthepoorbones,thelessgrewmyhopethattheywouldeveragainbeclothedwithstrength,thateverthoseeyelidswouldlift,andasoullookout;stillIkeptbathingcontinuously,allowingnoparttimetogrowcoldwhileIbathedanother;andgraduallythebodybecamesomuchwarmer,thatatlastIventuredtosubmergeit:Igotintothestreamanddrewitin,holdingthefaceabovethewater,andlettingtheswift,steadycurrentflowallabouttherest。Inoted,butwasabletoconcludenothingfromthefact,that,foralltheheat,theshuthandneverrelaxeditshold。

Afterabouttenminutes,Ilifteditoutandlaiditagainonthebank,driedit,andcovereditaswellasIcould,thenrantotheforestforleaves。

Thegrassandsoilweredryandwarm;andwhenIreturnedIthoughtithadscarcelylostanyoftheheatthewaterhadgivenit。I

spreadtheleavesuponit,andranformore——thenforathirdandafourthfreight。

Icouldnowleaveitandgotoexplore,inthehopeofdiscoveringsomeshelter。IranupthestreamtowardsomerockyhillsIsawinthatdirection,whichwerenotfaroff。

WhenIreachedthem,Ifoundtheriverissuingfullgrownfromarockatthebottomofoneofthem。Tomyfancyitseemedtohaverundownastairinside,aneagercataract,ateverylandingwildtogetout,butonlyatthefootfindingadoorofescape。

Itdidnotfilltheopeningwhenceitrushed,andIcreptthroughintoalittlecave,whereIlearnedthat,insteadofhurryingtumultuouslydownastair,itrosequietlyfromthegroundatthebacklikethebaseofalargecolumn,andranalongoneside,nearlyfillingadeep,rathernarrowchannel。Iconsideredtheplace,andsawthat,ifIcouldfindafewfallenboughslongenoughtolieacrossthechannel,andlargeenoughtobearalittleweightwithoutbendingmuch,Imight,withsmallerbranchesandplentyofleaves,makeuponthemacomfortablecouch,whichthestreamunderwouldkeepconstantlywarm。ThenIranbacktoseehowmychargefared。

ShewaslyingasIhadlefther。Theheathadnotbroughthertolife,butneitherhaditdevelopedanythingtocheckfartherhope。

Igotafewbouldersoutofthechannel,andarrangedthematherfeetandonbothsidesofher。

Runningagaintothewood,IhadnottosearchlongereIfoundsomesmallboughsfitformypurpose——mostlyofbeech,theirdryyellowleavesyetclingingtothem。WiththeseIhadsoonlaidthefloorofabridge—bedoverthetorrent。Icrossedtheboughswithsmallerbranches,interlacedthesewithtwigs,andburiedalldeepinleavesanddrymoss。

Whenthusatlength,afternotafewjourneystotheforest,Ihadcompletedawarm,dry,softcouch,Itookthebodyoncemore,andsetoutwithitforthecave。ItwassolightthatnowandthenasIwentIalmostfearedlest,whenIlaiditdown,Ishouldfinditaskeletonafterall;andwhenatlastIdidlayitgentlyonthepathlessbridge,itwasagreaterrelieftopartwiththatfancythanwiththeweight。OncemoreIcoveredthebodywithathicklayerofleaves;andtryingagaintofeedherwithagrape,foundtomyjoythatIcouldopenthemouthalittlefarther。Thegrape,indeed,layinitunheeded,butIhopedsomeofthejuicemightfinditswaydown。

Afteranhourortwoonthecouch,shewasnolongercold。Thewarmthofthebrookhadinterpenetratedherframe——trulyitwasbutaframe！——andshewaswarmtothetouch;——not,probably,withthewarmthoflife,butwithawarmthwhichrendereditmorepossible,ifshewerealive,thatshemightlive。Ihadreadofoneinatrancelyingmotionlessforweeks！

Inthatcave,dayafterday,nightafternight,sevenlongdaysandnights,Isatorlay,nowwakingnowsleeping,butalwayswatching。

EverymorningIwentoutandbathedinthehotstream,andeverymorningfeltthereuponasifIhadeatenanddrunk——whichexperiencegavemecouragetolayherinitalsoeveryday。OnceasIdidso,ashadowofdiscolorationonherleftsidegavemeaterribleshock,butthenextmorningithadvanished,andIcontinuedthetreatment——

everymorning,afterherbath,puttingafreshgrapeinhermouth。

ItooateofthegrapesandotherberriesIfoundintheforest;

butIbelievedthat,withmydailybathinthatriver,Icouldhavedoneverywellwithouteatingatall。

EverytimeIslept,Idreamedoffindingawoundedangel,who,unabletofly,remainedwithmeuntilatlastshelovedmeandwouldnotleaveme;andeverytimeIwoke,itwastosee,insteadofanangel—visagewithlustrouseyes,thewhite,motionless,wastedfaceuponthecouch。ButAdamhimself,whenfirsthesawherasleep,couldnothavelookedmoreanxiouslyforEve\'sawakingthanI

watchedforthiswoman\'s。Adamknewnothingofhimself,perhapsnothingofhisneedofanotherself;I,analienfrommyfellows,hadlearnedtolovewhatIhadlost！Werethisonewastedshredofwomanhoodtodisappear,Ishouldhavenothinginmebutaconsuminghungerafterlife！IforgoteventheLittleOnes:thingswerenotamisswiththem！herelaywhatmightwakeandbeawoman！mightactuallyopeneyes,andlookoutofthemuponme！

NowfirstIknewwhatsolitudemeant——nowthatIgazedononewhoneithersawnorheard,neithermovednorspoke。Isawnowthatamanaloneisbutabeingthatmaybecomeaman——thatheisbutaneed,andthereforeapossibility。Tobeenoughforhimself,abeingmustbeaneternal,self—existentworm！Sosuperblyconstituted,sosimplycomplicateisman;herisesfromandstandsuponsuchapedestaloflowerphysicalorganismsandspiritualstructures,thatnoatmospherewillcomfortornourishhislife,lessdivinethanthatofferedbyothersouls;nowherebutinotherlivescanhebreathe。Onlybythereflexofotherlivescanheripenhisspecialty,developtheideaofhimself,theindividualitythatdistinguisheshimfromeveryother。Wereallmenalike,eachwouldstillhaveanindividuality,securedbyhispersonalconsciousness,buttherewouldbesmallreasonwhythereshouldbemorethantwoorthreesuch;while,forthedevelopmentofthedifferenceswhichmakealargeandloftyunitypossible,andwhichalonecanmakemillionsintoachurch,anendlessandmeasurelessinfluenceandreactionareindispensable。Amantobeperfect——complete,thatis,inhavingreachedthespiritualconditionofpersistentanduniversalgrowth,whichisthemodewhereinheinheritstheinfinitudeofhisFather——

musthavetheeducationofaworldoffellow—men。Saveforthehopeofthedawnoflifeintheformbesideme,Ishouldhavefledforfellowshiptothebeaststhatgrazedanddidnotspeak。Bettertogoaboutwiththem——infinitelybetter——thantolivealone！Butwiththefaintestprospectofawomantomyfriend,I,poorestofcreatures,wasyetapossibleman！

CHAPTERXIX

THEWHITELEECH

Iwokeonemorningfromaprofoundsleep,withoneofmyhandsverypainful。Thebackofitwasmuchswollen,andinthecentreoftheswellingwasatriangularwound,likethebiteofaleech。Asthedaywenton,theswellingsubsided,andbytheeveningthehurtwasallbuthealed。Isearchedthecave,turningovereverystoneofanysize,butdiscoverednothingIcouldimaginecapableofinjuringme。

Slowlythedayspassed,andstillthebodynevermoved,neveropeneditseyes。Itcouldnotbedead,forassuredlyitmanifestednosignofdecay,andtheairaboutitwasquitepure。Moreover,I

couldimaginethatthesharpestanglesoftheboneshadbeguntodisappear,thattheformwaseverywherealittlerounder,andtheskinhadlessoftheparchment—look:ifsuchchangewasindeedthere,lifemustbethere！thetidewhichhadebbedsofartowardtheinfinite,musthavebegunagaintoflow！Ohjoytome,iftherisingripplesoflife\'soceanwereindeedburyingunderlovelyshapethebonesithadallbutforsaken！TwentytimesadayI

lookedforevidenceofprogress,andtwentytimesadayIdoubted——

sometimesevendespaired;butthemomentIrecalledthementalpictureofherasIfoundher,hoperevived。

Severalweekshadpassedthus,whenonenight,afterlyingalongtimeawake,Irose,thinkingtogooutandbreathethecoolerair;

for,althoughfromtherunningofthestreamitwasalwaysfreshinthecave,theheatwasnotseldomalittleoppressive。Themoonoutsidewasfull,theairwithinshadowyclear,andnaturallyI

castalingeringlookonmytreasureereIwent。"Blisseternal！"

Icriedaloud,"doIseehereyes？"Greatorbs,darkasifcutfromthesphereofastarlessnight,andluminousbyexcessofdarkness,seemedtoshineamidtheglimmeringwhitenessofherface。Istolenearer,myheartbeatingsothatIfearedthenoiseofitstartlingher。Ibentoverher。Alas,hereyelidswerecloseshut！HopeandImaginationhadwroughtmutualillusion！myheart\'sdesirewouldneverbe！Iturnedaway,threwmyselfonthefloorofthecave,andwept。ThenIbethoughtmethathereyeshadbeenalittleopen,andthatnowtheawfulchinkoutofwhichnothingnesshadpeered,wasgone:itmightbethatshehadopenedthemforamoment,andwasagainasleep！——itmightbeshewasawakeandholdingthemclose！

Ineithercase,life,lessormore,musthaveshutthem！Iwascomforted,andfellfastasleep。

ThatnightIwasagainbitten,andawokewithaburningthirst。

InthemorningIsearchedyetmorethoroughly,butagaininvain。

Thewoundwasofthesamecharacter,and,asbefore,wasnearlywellbytheevening。Iconcludedthatsomelargecreatureoftheleechkindcameoccasionallyfromthehotstream。"But,ifbloodbeitsobject,"Isaidtomyself,"solongasIamthere,Ineedhardlyfearformytreasure！"

Thatsamemorning,when,havingpeeledagrapeasusualandtakenawaytheseeds,Iputitinhermouth,herlipsmadeaslightmovementofreception,andIKNEWshelived！

MyhopewasnowsomuchstrongerthatIbegantothinkofsomeattireforher:shemustbeabletorisethemomentshewished！I

betookmyselfthereforetotheforest,toinvestigatewhatmaterialitmightafford,andhadhardlybeguntolookwhenfibrousskeletons,likethoseoftheleavesofthepricklypear,suggestedthemselvesasfitforthepurpose。Igatheredastockofthem,laidthemtodryinthesun,pulledapartthereticulatedlayers,andofthesehadsoonbeguntofashiontwoloosegarments,onetohangfromherwaist,theotherfromhershoulders。Withthestiletto—pointofanaloe—leafandvariousfilaments,Isewedtogetherthreethicknessesofthetissue。

Duringtheweekthatfollowed,therewasnofarthersignexceptthatshemoreevidentlytookthegrapes。Butindeedallthesignsbecamesurer:plainlyshewasgrowingplumper,andherskinfairer。

Stillshedidnotopenhereyes;andthehorridfearwouldattimesinvademe,thathergrowthwasofsomehideousfungoidnature,thefewgrapesbeingnowisesufficienttoaccountforit。

AgainIwasbitten;andnowthething,whateveritwas,begantopaymeregularvisitsatintervalsofthreedays。Itnowgenerallybitmeintheneckorthearm,invariablywithbutonebite,alwayswhileIslept,andnever,evenwhenIslept,inthedaytime。HourafterhourwouldIlieawakeonthewatch,butneverhearditcoming,orsawsignofitsapproach。Neither,Ibelieve,didIeverfeelitbiteme。AtlengthIbecamesohopelessofcatchingit,thatInolongertroubledmyselfeithertolookforitbyday,orlieinwaitforitatnight。IknewfrommygrowingweaknessthatI

waslosingbloodatadangerousrate,butIcaredlittleforthat:

insightofmyeyesdeathwasyieldingtolife;asoulwasgatheringstrengthtosavemefromloneliness;wewouldgoawaytogether,andIshouldspeedilyrecover！

Thegarmentswereatlengthfinished,and,contemplatingmyhandiworkwithnosmallsatisfaction,Iproceededtomatlayersofthefibreintosandals。

OnenightIwokesuddenly,breathlessandfaint,andlongingafterair,andhadrisentocrawlfromthecave,whenaslightrustleintheleavesofthecouchsetmelisteningmotionless。

"Icaughtthevilething,"saidafeeblevoice,inmymother—tongue;

"Icaughtitintheveryact！"

Shewasalive！shespoke！IdarednotyieldtomytransportlestI

shouldterrifyher。

"Whatcreature？"Ibreathed,ratherthansaid。

"Thecreature,"sheanswered,"thatwasbitingyou。"

"Whatwasit？"

"Agreatwhiteleech。"

"Howbig？"Ipursued,forcingmyselftobecalm。

"Notfarfromsixfeetlong,Ishouldthink,"sheanswered。

"Youhavesavedmylife,perhaps！——Buthowcouldyoutouchthehorridthing！Howbraveofyou！"Icried。

"Idid！"wasallheranswer,andIthoughtsheshuddered。

"Whereisit？Whatcouldyoudowithsuchamonster？"

"Ithrewitintheriver。"

"Thenitwillcomeagain,Ifear！"

"IdonotthinkIcouldhavekilledit,evenhadIknownhow！——I

heardyoumoaning,andgotuptoseewhatdisturbedyou;sawthefrightfulthingatyourneck,andpulleditaway。ButIcouldnotholdit,andwashardlyabletothrowitfromme。Ionlyhearditsplashinthewater！"

"We\'llkillitnexttime！"Isaid;butwiththatIturnedfaint,soughttheopenair,butfell。

WhenIcametomyselfthesunwasup。Theladystoodalittlewayoff,looking,evenintheclumsyattireIhadfashionedforher,atoncegrandandgraceful。IHADseenthosegloriouseyes！Throughthenighttheyhadshone！Darkasthedarknessprimeval,theynowoutshonetheday！Shestooderectasacolumn,regardingme。Herpalecheekindicatednoemotion,onlyquestion。Irose。

"Wemustbegoing！"Isaid。"Thewhiteleech————"

Istopped:astrangesmilehadflickeredoverherbeautifulface。

"Didyoufindmethere？"sheasked,pointingtothecave。

"No;Ibroughtyouthere,"Ireplied。

"Youbroughtme？"

"Yes。"

"Fromwhere？"

"Fromtheforest。"

"Whathaveyoudonewithmyclothes——andmyjewels？"

"YouhadnonewhenIfoundyou。"

"Thenwhydidyounotleaveme？"

"BecauseIhopedyouwerenotdead。"

"Whyshouldyouhavecared？"

"BecauseIwasverylonely,andwantedyoutolive。"

"Youwouldhavekeptmeenchantedformybeauty！"shesaid,withproudscorn。

Herwordsandherlookrousedmyindignation。

"Therewasnobeautyleftinyou,"Isaid。

"Why,then,again,didyounotletmealone？"

"Becauseyouwereofmyownkind。"

"OfYOURkind？"shecried,inatoneofuttercontempt。

"Ithoughtso,butfindIwasmistaken！"

"Doubtlessyoupitiedme！"

"Neverhadwomanmoreclaimonpity,orlessonanyotherfeeling！"

Withanexpressionofpain,mortification,andangerunutterable,sheturnedfrommeandstoodsilent。Starlessnightlayprofoundinthegulfsofhereyes:hateofhimwhobroughtitbackhadslaintheirsplendour。Thelightoflifewasgonefromthem。

"Hadyoufailedtorouseme,whatwouldyouhavedone？"sheaskedsuddenlywithoutmoving。

"Iwouldhaveburiedit。"

"It！What？——YouwouldhaveburiedTHIS？"sheexclaimed,flashingrounduponmeinawhitefury,herarmsthrownout,andhereyesdartingforksofcoldlightning。

"Nay;thatIsawnot！That,wearyweeksofwatchingandtendinghavebroughtbacktoyou,"Ianswered——forwithsuchawomanI

mustbeplain！"HadIseenthesmallestsignofdecay,Iwouldatoncehaveburiedyou。"

"Dogofafool！"shecried,"Iwasbutinatrance——Samoil！whatafate！——Goandfetchtheshe—savagefromwhomyouborrowedthishideousdisguise。"

"Imadeitforyou。Itishideous,butIdidmybest。"

Shedrewherselfuptohertallheight。

"HowlonghaveIbeeninsensible？"shedemanded。"Awomancouldnothavemadethatdressinaday！"

"Notintwentydays,"Irejoined,"hardlyinthirty！"

"Ha！HowlongdoyoupretendIhavelainunconscious？——Answermeatonce。"

"IcannottellhowlongyouhadlainwhenIfoundyou,buttherewasnothingleftofyousaveskinandbone:thatismorethanthreemonthsago。——Yourhairwasbeautiful,nothingelse！IhavedoneforitwhatIcould。"

"Mypoorhair！"shesaid,andbroughtagreatarmfulofitroundfrombehindher;"——itwillbemorethanathree—months\'caretobringYOUtolifeagain！——IsupposeImustthankyou,althoughI

cannotsayIamgrateful！"

"Thereisnoneed,madam:Iwouldhavedonethesameforanywoman——yes,orforanymaneither！"

"Howisitmyhairisnottangled？"shesaid,fondlingit。

"Italwaysdriftedinthecurrent。"

"How？——Whatdoyoumean？"

"Icouldnothavebroughtyoutolifebutbybathingyouinthehotrivereverymorning。"

Shegaveashudderofdisgust,andstoodforawhilewithhergazefixedonthehurryingwater。Thensheturnedtome:

"Wemustunderstandeachother！"shesaid。"——Youhavedonemethetwoworstofwrongs——compelledmetolive,andputmetoshame:

neitherofthemcanIpardon！"

Sheraisedherlefthand,andflungitoutasifrepellingme。

Somethingice—coldstruckmeontheforehead。WhenIcametomyself,Iwasontheground,wetandshivering。

CHAPTERXX

GONE！——BUTHOW？

Irose,andlookedaroundme,dazedatheart。ForamomentIcouldnotseeher:shewasgone,andlonelinesshadreturnedlikethecloudaftertherain！ShewhomIbroughtbackfromthebrinkofthegrave,hadfledfromme,andleftmewithdesolation！Idarednotonemomentremainthushideouslyalone。HadIindeeddoneherawrong？ImustdevotemylifetosharingtheburdenIhadcompelledhertoresume！

Idescriedherwalkingswiftlyoverthegrass,awayfromtheriver,tookoneplungeforafarewellrestorative,andsetouttofollowher。Thelastvisitofthewhiteleech,andtheblowofthewoman,hadenfeebledme,butalreadymystrengthwasreviving,andIkeptherinsightwithoutdifficulty。

"Isthis,then,theend？"IsaidasIwent,andmyheartbroodedasadsong。Herangry,hatingeyeshauntedme。Icouldunderstandherresentmentatmyhavingforcedlifeuponher,buthowhadI

furtherinjuredher？Whyshouldsheloatheme？Couldmodestyitselfbeindignantwithtrueservice？Howshouldtheproudestwoman,consciousofmyeveryaction,cherishagainstmetheleastsenseofdisgracingwrong？HowreverentlyhadInottouchedher！Asafatherhismotherlesschild,Ihadborneandtendedher！Hadallmylabour,allmydespairinghopegonetoredeemonlyingratitude？"No,"