第7章

Andthentherebrokeonhimoneofthosedeliriouswavesofnaturaldesire,againstwhichhehadsooftenfought,sooftenwithgreatpainconquered。Hegotup,andrandownhill,leapingoverthestones,andthethickerclumpsofheather。

AudreyNoel,too,hadbeenearlyastir,thoughshehadgonelateenoughtobed。Shedressedlanguidly,butverycarefully,beingoneofthosewomenwhoputonarmouragainstFate,becausetheyareproud,anddislikethethoughtthattheirsufferingsshouldmakeotherssuffer;because,too,theirbodiesaretothemasitweresacred,havingbeengiventhemintrust,tocausedelight。Whenshehadfinished,shelookedatherselfintheglassrathermoredistrustfullythanusual。Shefeltthathersortofwomanwasatadiscountinthesedays,andbeingsensitive,shewasnevercontenteitherwithherappearance,orherhabits。But,forallthat,shewentonbehavinginunsatisfactoryways,becausesheincorrigiblylovedtolookascharmingasshecould;andevenifnooneweregoingtoseeher,sheneverfeltthatshelookedcharmingenough。Shewas——asLadyCasterleyhadshrewdlyguessed——thekindofwomanwhospoilsmenbybeingtoonicetothem;ofnousetothosewhowishwomentoassertthemselves;yethavingacertainpassivestoicism,verydisconcerting。Withlittleornopowerofinitiative,shewoulddowhatshewassettodowithathoroughnessthatwouldshameaninitiator;temperamentallyunabletobeganythingofanybody,sherequiredloveasaplantrequireswater;shecouldgiveherselfcompletely,yetremainoddlyincorruptible;inaword,hopeless,andusuallybelovedofthosewhothoughtherso。

Withallthis,however,shewasnotquitewhatiscalleda\'sweetwoman——aphraseshedetested——fortherewasinheraqueerveinofgentlecynicism。She\'saw\'withextraordinaryclearness,asifshehadbeenborninItalyandstillcarriedthatcleardryatmosphereabouthersoul。Shelovedglowandwarmthandcolour;suchmysticismasshefeltwaspagan;andshehadfewaspirations——sufficienttoherwerethingsastheyshowedthemselvestobe。

Thismorning,whenshehadmadeherselfsmellofgeraniums,andfastenedallthesmallcontrivancesthatholdeventhebestofwomentogether,shewentdownstairstoherlittledining—room,setthespiritlampgoing,andtakinguphernewspaper,stoodwaitingtomaketea。

Itwasthehourofthedaymostdeartoher。Ifthedewhadbeenbrushedoffherlife,itwasstilloutthereeverymorningonthefaceofNature,andonthefacesofherflowers;therewasbeforeherallthepleasureofseeinghoweachofthoselittlecreaturesinthegardenhadslept;howmanychildrenhadbeenbornsincetheDawn;whowasailing,andneededattention。Therewasalsothefeeling,whichrenewsitselfeverymorninginpeoplewholivelonelylives,thattheyarenotlonely,until,thedaywearingon,assuresthemofthefact。Notthatshewasidle,forshehadobtainedthroughCourtiertheworkofreviewingmusicinawoman\'spaper,forwhichshewasintuitivelyfitted。This,herflowers,herownmusic,andtheaffairsofcertainfamiliesofcottagers,fillednearlyallhertime。

Andsheaskednobetterfatethantohaveeveryminuteoccupied,havingthatpassionforworkrequiringnoinitiation,whichisnaturaltotheownersoflazyminds。

Suddenlyshedroppedhernewspaper,wenttothebowlofflowersonthebreakfast—table,andpluckedforthtwostalksoflavender;

holdingthemawayfromher,shewentoutintothegarden,andflungthemoverthewall。

Thisstrangeimmolationofthosetwopoorsprigs,bornsoearly,gatheredandplacedbeforeherwithsuchkindintentionbyhermaid,seemedofallactstheleasttobeexpectedofonewhohatedtohurtpeople\'sfeelings,andwhoseeyesalwaysshoneatthesightofflowers。Butintruththesmelloflavender——thatscentcarriedonherhusband\'shandkerchiefandclothes——stillaffectedhersostronglythatshecouldnotbeartobeinaroomwithit。Asnothingelsedid,itbroughtbeforeherone,tolivewithwhomhadslowlybecometorture。Andfreedbythatscent,thewholefloodofmemorybrokeinonher。Thememoryofthreeyearswhenherteethhadbeensetdoggedly,onherdiscoverythatshewaschainedtounhappinessforlife;thememoryoftheabruptend,andofhercreepingawaytoletherscorchednervesrecover。Ofhowduringthefirstyearofthisreleasewhichwasnotfreedom,shehadtwicechangedherabode,togetawayfromherownstory——notbecauseshewasashamedofit,butbecauseitremindedherofwretchedness。OfhowshehadthencometoMonkland,wherethequietlifehadslowlygivenherelasticityagain。AndthenofhermeetingwithMiltoun;theunexpecteddelightofthatcompanionship;thefrankenjoymentofthefirstfourmonths。Andsherememberedallhersecretrejoicing,hersilentidentificationofanotherlifewithherown,beforesheacknowledgedorevensuspectedlove。Andjustthreeweeksagonow,helpingtotieupherroses,hehadtouchedher,andshehadknown。

Buteventhen,untilthenightofCourtier\'saccident,shehadnotdaredtorealize。Moreconcernednowforhimthanforherself,sheaskedherselfathousandtimesifshehadbeentoblame。Shehadlethimgrowfondofher,awomanoutofcourt,adeadwoman！Anunpardonablesin！Yetsurelythatdependedonwhatshewaspreparedtogive！Andshewasfranklyreadytogiveeverything,andaskfornothing。Heknewherposition,hehadtoldherthatheknew。Inherloveforhimshegloried,wouldcontinuetoglory;wouldsufferforitwithoutregret。Miltounwasrightinbelievingthatnewspapergossipwasincapableofhurtingher,thoughherreasonsforbeingsoimperviouswerenotwhathesupposed。Shewasnot,likehim,securedfrompainbecausesuchinsinuationsabouttheprivateaffairsofothersweremeanandvulgarandbeneathnotice;ithadnotasyetoccurredtohertolookatthematterinsoloftyandgeneralalight;shesimplywasnothurt,becauseshewasalreadysodeeplyMiltoun\'spropertyinspirit,thatshewasalmostgladthattheyshouldassignhimalltherestofher。ButforMiltoun\'ssakeshewasdisturbedtothesoul。Shehadtarnishedhisshieldintheeyesofmen;and（forshewasoddlypractical,andsawthingsinveryclearproportion）perhapsputbackhiscareer,whoknewhowmanyyears！

Shesatdowntodrinkhertea。Notbeingacryingwoman,shesufferedquietly。ShefeltthatMiltounwouldbecomingtoher。Shedidnotknowatallwhatsheshouldsaywhenhedidcome。Hecouldnotcareforhersomuchasshecaredforhim！Hewasaman;mensoonforget！Ah！buthewasnotlikemostmen。Onecouldnotlookathiseyeswithoutfeelingthathecouldsufferterribly！Inallthisherownreputationconcernedhernotatall。Life,andherclearwayoflookingatthings,hadrootedinhertheconvictionthattoawomanthepreciousnessofherreputationwasafictioninventedbymenentirelyforman\'sbenefit;asecond—handfetishinsidiously,inevitablyset—upbymenforworship,innovels,plays,andlaw—

courts。Herinstincttoldherthatmencouldnotfeelsecureinthepossessionoftheirwomenunlesstheycouldbelievethatwomensettremendousstorebysexualreputation。Whattheywantedtobelieve,thattheydidbelieve！Butsheknewotherwise。Suchgreat—mindedwomenasshehadmetorreadofhadalwaysleftonhertheimpressionthatreputationforthemwasamatterofthespirit,havinglittletodowithsex。Fromherownfeelingssheknewthatreputation,forasimplewoman,meanttostandwellintheeyesofhimorherwhomshelovedbest。Forworldlywomen——andthereweresomanykindsofthose,besidesthemerelyfashionable——shehadalwaysnotedthatitsvaluewasnotintrinsic,butcommercial;notacrownofdignity,butjustamarketableasset。ShedidnotdreadintheleastwhatpeoplemightsayofherfriendshipwithMiltoun;nordidshefeelatallthatherindissolublemarriageforbadeherlovinghim。Shehadsecretlyfeltfreeassoonasshehaddiscoveredthatshehadneverreallylovedherhusband;shehadonlygoneondutifullyuntiltheseparation,fromsheerpassivity,andbecauseitwasagainsthernaturetocausepaintoanyone。Themanwhowasstillherhusbandwasnowasdeadtoherasifhehadneverbeenborn。Shecouldnotmarryagain,itwastrue;butshecouldanddidlove。Ifthatlovewastobestarvedanddieaway,itwouldnotbebecauseofanymoralscruples。

Sheopenedherpaperlanguidly;andalmostthefirstwordssheread,undertheheadingofElectionNews,werethese:

\'AproposoftheoutrageonMr。Courtier,wearerequestedtostatethattheladywhoaccompaniedLordMiltountotherescueofthatgentlemanwasMrs。LeesNoel,wifeoftheRev。StephenLeesNoel,vicarofClathampton,Warwickshire。\'

Thisdubiouslittledaubofwhitewashonlybroughtarathersadsmiletoherlips。Shelefthertea,andwentoutintotheair。ThereatthegatewasMiltouncomingin。Herheartleaped。Butshewentforwardquietly,andgreetedhimwithcast—downeyes,asifnothingwereoutoftheordinary。

CHAPTERXV

ExaltationhadnotleftMiltoun。Hissallowfacewasflushed,hiseyesglowedwithasortofbeauty;andAudreyNoelwho,betterthanmostwomen,couldreadwhatwaspassingbehindaface,sawthoseeyeswiththedelightofamothflutteringtowardsalamp。Butinaveryunemotionalvoiceshesaid:

"Soyouhavecometobreakfast。Howniceofyou！

ItwasnotinMiltountoobservetheformalitiesofattack。Hadhebeengoingtofightadueltherewouldhavebeennopreliminary,justalook,abow,andtheswordscrossed。Sointhisfirstengagementofhiswiththesoulofawoman！

Heneithersatdownnorsufferedhertosit,butstoodlookingintentlyintoherface,andsaid:

"Iloveyou。"

Nowthatithadcome,withthisdisconcertingswiftness,shewasstrangelycalm,andunashamed。Theelationofknowingforsurethatshewaslovedwaslikeawandwavingawayalltremors,stillingthemtosweetness。Sincenothingcouldtakeawaythatknowledge,itseemedthatshecouldneveragainbeutterlyunhappy。Then,too,inhernature,sodeeply,unreasoninglyincapableofperceivingtheimportanceofanyprinciplebutlove,therewasasecretfeelingofassurance,oftriumph。Hedidloveher！Andshe,him！Well！Andsuddenlypanic—stricken,lestheshouldtakebackthosewords,sheputherhanduptohisbreast,andsaid:

"AndIloveyou。"

Thefeelofhisarmsroundher,thestrengthandpassionofthatmoment,weresoterriblysweet,thatshediedtothought,justlookingupathim,withlipspartedandeyesdarkerwiththedepthofherlovethanhehadeverdreamedthateyescouldbe。Themadnessofhisownfeelingkepthimsilent。Andtheystoodthere,somergedinoneanotherthattheyknewandcarednothingforanyothermortalthing。Itwasverystillintheroom;therosesandcarnationsinthelustrebowl,seemingtoknowthattheirmistresswascaughtupintoheaven,hadlettheirperfumestealforthandoccupyeverycrannyoftheabandonedair;ahoveringbee,too,circledroundthelovers\'heads,scenting,itseemed,thehoneyintheirhearts。

IthasbeensaidthatMiltoun\'sfacewasnotunhandsome;forAudreyNoelatthismomentwhenhiseyesweresonearhers,andhislipstouchingher,hewastransfigured,andhadbecomethespiritofallbeauty。Andshe,withheartbeatingfastagainsthim,hereyes,halfclosingfromdelight,andherhairaskingtobepraisedwithitsfragrance,hercheeksfaintingpalewithemotion,andherarmstoolanguidwithhappinesstoembracehim——she,tohim,wastheincarnationofthewomanthatvisitsdreams。

Sopassedthatmoment。

Thebeeendedit;who,impatientwithflowersthathidtheirhoneysodeep,hadentangledhimselfinAudrey\'shair。Andthen,seeingthatwords,thosedreadedthings,wereonhislips,shetriedtokissthemback。Buttheycame:

"Whenwillyoumarryme？"

Itallswayedalittle。Andwithmarvellousrapiditythewholepositionstartedupbeforeher。Shesaw,withpreternaturalinsight,intoitsnooksandcorners。Somethinghehadsaidoneday,whentheyweretalkingoftheChurchviewofmarriageanddivorce,lightedallup。Sohehadreallyneverknownabouther！Atthismomentofuttersickness,shewassavedfromfaintingbyhersenseofhumour——hercynicism。Notcontenttoletherbe,people\'stongueshaddivorcedher;hehadbelievedthem！Andthecrownofironywasthatheshouldwanttomarryher,whenshefeltsoutterly,sosacredlyhis,todowhathelikedwithsansformsorceremonies。AsurgeofbitterfeelingagainstthemanwhostoodbetweenherandMiltounalmostmadehercryout。Thatmanhadcapturedherbeforesheknewtheworldorherownsoul,andshewastiedtohim,tillbysomebeneficentchancehedrewhislastbreathwhenherhairwasgrey,andhereyeshadnolovelight,andhercheeksnolongergrewpalewhentheywerekissed;

whentwilighthadfallen,andtheflowers,andbeesnolongercaredforher。

Itwasthatfeeling,thesuddenrevoltofthedesperateprisoner,whichsteeledhertoputoutherhand,takeupthepaper,andgiveittoMiltoun。

Whenhehadreadthelittleparagraph,therefollowedoneofthoseeternitieswhichlastperhapstwominutes。

Hesaid,then:

"It\'strue,Isuppose？"And,athersilence,added:"Iamsorry。"

Thisqueerdrysayingwassomuchmoreterriblethananyoutcry,thatsheremained,deprivedevenofthepowerofbreathing,withhereyesstillfixedonMiltoun\'sface。

ThesmileoftheoldCardinalhadcomeupthere,andwastoherlikealivingaccusation。Itseemedstrangethatthehumofthebeesandfliesandthegentleswishingofthelimetreeshouldstillgoonoutside,insistingthattherewasaworldmovingandbreathingapartfromher,andcarelessofhermisery。Thensomeofhercouragecameback,andwithitherwoman\'smutepower。Itcamehauntingaboutherface,perfectlystill,aboutherlips,sensitiveanddrawn,abouthereyes,dark,almostmutinousundertheirarchedbrows。Shestood,drawinghimwithsilenceandbeauty。

Atlasthespoke:

"Ihavemadeafoolishmistake,itseems。Ibelievedyouwerefree。"

Herlipsjustmovedforthewordstopass:"Ithoughtyouknew。I

never,dreamedyouwouldwanttomarryme。"

Itseemedtohernaturalthatheshouldbethinkingonlyofhimself,butwiththesubtlestdefensiveinstinct,sheputforwardherowntragedy:

"IsupposeIhadgottoousedtoknowingIwasdead。"

"Istherenorelease？"

"None。Wehaveneitherofusdonewrong;besideswithhim,marriageis——forever。"

"MyGod！"

Shehadbrokenhissmile,whichhadbeencruelwithoutmeaningtobecruel;andwithasmileofherownthatwascrueltoo,shesaid:

"Ididn\'tknowthatyoubelievedinreleaseeither。"

Then,asthoughshehadstabbedherselfinstabbinghim,herfacequivered。

Helookedathernow,consciousatlastthatshewassuffering。Andshefeltthathewasholdinghimselfinwithallhismightfromtakingheragainintohisarms。Seeingthis,thewarmthcreptbacktoherlips,andalittlelightintohereyes,whichshekepthiddenfromhim。Thoughshestoodsoproudlystill,somewistfulforcewascomingfromher,asfromamagnet,andMiltoun\'shandsandarmsandfacetwitchedasthoughpalsied。Thisstruggle,dumbandpitiful,seemednevertobecomingtoanendinthelittlewhiteroom,darkenedbythethatchoftheverandah,andsweetwiththescentofpinksandofawoodfirejustlightedsomewhereoutattheback。

Then,withoutaword,heturnedandwentout。Sheheardthewicketgateswingto。Hewasgone。

CHAPTERXVI

LordDeniswasfly—fishing——theweatherjusttoobrighttoallowthelittletroutofthatshallow,neversilentstreamtoembracewithaviditythesmallenticementswhichhethrewintheirdirection。

Neverthelesshecontinuedtoinvitethem,exploringeverynookoftheirwaterypathwaywithhissoft—swishingline。Inaroughsuitandbatteredhatadornedwiththoseartificialandotherflies,whichinfestHarristweed,hecreptalongamongthehazelbushesandthorn—

trees,perfectlyhappy。Likeanoldspaniel,whohasoncegloriedinthefetchingofhares,rabbits,andallmanneroffowl,andisnowgladifyouwillbutthrowastickforhim,soone,whohadbeenafamousfisherbeforetheLord,whohadharriedthewatersofScotlandandNorway,FloridaandIceland,nowpursuedtroutnobiggerthansardines。Theglamourofathousandmemorieshallowedthehourshethusspentbythatbrownwater。Hefishedunhasting,religious,likesomegoodCatholicaddingonemoretotherowofbeadsalreadytold,asthoughhewouldfishhimself,gravely,withoutcomplaint,intotheotherworld。Witheachfishcaughtheexperiencedasolemnsatisfaction。

ThoughhewouldhavelikedBarbarawithhimthatmorning,hehadonlylookedatheronceafterbreakfastinsuchawaythatshecouldnotseehim,andwithadrysmilegoneoffbyhimself。Downbythestreamitwasdappled,bothcoolandwarm,windless;thetreesmetovertheriver,andthereweremanystones,forminglittlebasinswhichhelduptheripple,sothatthecastingofaflyrequiredmuchcunning。Thislongdingleranformilesthroughthefoot—growthoffoldinghills。Itwasbelovedofjays;butofhumanbeingstherewerenone,exceptachicken—farmer\'swidow,wholivedinahousethatchedalmosttotheground,andmadeherlivelihoodbydirectingtourists,withsuchcunningthattheysooncamebacktoherfortea。

ItwaswhilethrowingaratherlongerlinethanusualtoreachalittledarkpieceofcrispwaterthatLordDennisheardtheswishingandcracklingofsomeoneadvancingatfullspeed。Hefrownedslightly,feelingforthenervesofhisfishes,whomhedidnotwishstartled。TheinvaderwasMiltoun,hot,pale,dishevelled,withaqueer,huntedlookonhisface。Hestoppedonseeinghisgreat—

uncle,andinstantlyassumedthemaskofhissmile。

LordDenniswasnotthemantoseewhatwasnotintendedforhim,andhemerelysaid:

"Well,Eustace！"ashemighthavespoken,meetinghisnephewinthehallofoneofhisLondonClubs。

Miltoun,nolesspolite,murmured:

"HopeIhaven\'tlostyouanything。"

LordDennisshookhishead,andlayinghisrodonthebank,said:

"Sitdownandhaveachat,oldfellow。Youdon\'tfish,Ithink？"

Hehadnot,intheleast,missedthesufferingbehindMiltoun\'smask;

hiseyeswerestillgood,andtherewasalittlematterofsometwentyyears\'sufferingofhisownonaccountofawoman——ancienthistorynow——whichhadlefthimquaintlysensitive,foranoldman,tosignsofsufferinginothers。

Miltounwouldnothaveobeyedthatinvitationfromanyoneelse,buttherewassomethingaboutLordDenniswhichpeopledidnotresist;

hispowerlayinadryironicsuavitywhichcouldnotbutpersuadepeoplethatimpolitenesswasaltogethertoonewandrawathingtobeindulgedin。

Thetwosatsidebysideontherootsoftrees。Atfirsttheytalkedalittleofbirds,andthenweredumb,sodumbthattheinvisiblecreaturesofthewoodsconsultedtogetheraudibly。LordDennisbrokethatsilence。

"Thisplace,"hesaid,"alwaysremindsmeofMarkTwain\'swritings——

can\'ttellwhy,unlessit\'stheever—greenness。Iliketheevergreenphilosophers,TwainandMeredith。There\'snosalvationexceptthroughcourage,thoughInevercouldstomachthe\'strongman\'——

captainofhissoul,HenleyandNietzscheandthatsort——goesagainstthegrainwithme。Whatdoyousay,Eustace？"

"Theymeantwell,"answeredMiltoun,"buttheyprotestedtoomuch。"

LordDennismovedhisheadinassent。

"Tobecaptainofyoursoul！"continuedMiltouninabittervoice;

"it\'saprettyphrase！"

"Prettyenough,"murmuredLordDennis。

Miltounlookedathim。

"Andsuitabletoyou,"hesaid。

"No,mydear,"LordDennisanswereddryly,"alongwayoffthat,thankGod！"

Hiseyeswerefixedintentlyontheplacewherealargetrouthadriseninthestillesttoffee—colouredpool。Heknewthatfellow,ahalf—pounderatleast,andhisthoughtsbeganflightingroundthetopofhishead,hoveringoverthevariousmeritsoftheflies。Hisfingersitchedtoo,buthemadenomovement,andtheash—treeunderwhichhesatletitsleavestremble,asthoughinsympathy。

"Seethathawk？"saidMiltoun。

Ataheightmorethanlevelwiththetopsofthehillsabuzzardhawkwasstationaryinthebluedirectlyoverthem。Inspiredbycuriosityattheirstillness,hewaslookingdowntoseewhethertheywereedible;theupcurvedendsofhisgreatwingsflirtedjustoncetoshowthathewaspartofthelivinggloryoftheair——asymboloffreedomtomenandfishes。

LordDennislookedathisgreat—nephew。Theboy——forwhatelsewasthirtytoseventy—six？——wastakingithard,whateveritmightbe,takingitveryhard！Hewasthatsort——rantillhedropped。Theworstkindtohelp——thesortthatmadefortrouble——thatletthingsgnawatthem！Andthereflashedbeforetheoldman\'smindtheimageofPrometheusdevouredbytheeagle。Itwashisfavouritetragedy,whichhestillreadperiodically,intheGreek,helpinghimselfnowandthenoutofhisoldlexicontothemeaningofsomewordwhichhadflowntoErebus。Yes,Eustacewasafellowfortheheightsanddepths！

Hesaidquietly:

"Youdon\'tcaretotalkaboutit,Isuppose？"

Miltounshookhishead,andagaintherewassilence。

Thebuzzardhawkhavingseenthemmove,quiveredhiswingslikeamoth\'s,anddesertedthatplaneofair。Arobinfromthedappledwarmthofamossystone,wasregardingtheminstead。Therewasanothersplashinthepool。

LordDennissaidgently:

"Thatfellow\'srisentwice;Ibelievehe\'dtakea\'Wistman\'streasure。\'"Extractingfromhishatitslatestfly,andbindingiton,hebegansoftlytoswishhisline。

"Ishallhavehimyet！"hemuttered。ButMiltounhadstolenaway……

ThefurtherpieceofinformationaboutMrs。Noel,alreadyknownbyBarbara,anddiffusedbythe\'BucklandburyNews\',hadnotbecomecommonknowledgeattheCourttillafterLordDennishadstartedouttofish。IncombinationwiththereportthatMiltounhadarrivedandgoneoutwithoutbreakfast,ithadbeenreceivedwithmingledfeelings。Bertie,Harbinger,andShropton,inashortconclave,afteragreeingthatfromthepointofviewoftheelectionitwasperhapsbetterthanifshehadbeenadivorcee,werestillinclinedtothebeliefthatnotimewastobelost——indoingwhat,however,theywereunabletodetermine。ApartfromtheimpossibilityofknowinghowafellowlikeMiltounwouldtakethematter,theywerefacedwiththedevilishsubtletyofallsituationstowhichtheproverb\'Leastsaid,soonestmended\'applies。Theywereinthepresenceofthatawe—inspiringthing,thepowerofscandal。Simplestatementsofsimplefacts,withoutmoraldrawn（towhichnolegalexceptioncouldbetaken）laidbeforethepublicaspiecesofinterestinginformation,orattheworstexposedinperfectgoodfaith,lestthepublicshouldblindlyelectastheirrepresentativeonewhoseprivatelifemightnotstandtheinspectionofdaylight——

whatcouldbemorejustifiable！AndyetMiltoun\'ssupportersknewthatthissimplestatementofwherehespenthiseveningshadapoisonouspotency,throughitspowerofstimulatingthatsideofthehumanimaginationthemosteasilyexcited。Theyrecognizedonlytoowell,howstrongwasacertainprimitivedesire,especiallyinruraldistricts,byyieldingtowhichtheworldwasmadetogo,andhowremarkablyhardit,wasnottoyieldtoit,andhowinterestingandexcitingtoseeorhearofothersyieldingtoit,andhow（thoughhere,ofcourse,menmightdiffersecretly）reprehensibleofthemtodoso！Theyrecognized,toowell,howacertainkindofconsciencewouldappreciatethisrumour;andhowthepuritanswouldlicktheirlengthenedchops。Theyknew,too,howirresistibletopeopleofanyimaginationatall,wasthemerecombinationofamemberofaclass,traditionallysupposedtobeinclinedtohavingwhatitwanted,withaladywholivedalone！AsHarbingersaid:Itwasreallydevilishawkward！For,totakeanynoticeofitwouldbetomakemorepeoplethaneverbelieveittrue。Andyet,thatitwasworkingmischief,theyfeltbythesecretvoiceintheirownsouls,tellingthemthattheywouldhavebelieveditiftheyhadnotknownbetter。Theyhungabout,waitingforMiltountocomein。

ThenewswasreceivedbyLadyValleyswithasighofintenserelief,andtheremarkthatitwasprobablyanotherlie。WhenBarbaraconfirmedit,sheonlysaid:"PoorEustace！"andatoncewroteofftoherhusbandtosaythat\'Anonyma\'wasstillmarried,sothattheworstfortunatelycouldnothappen。

Miltouncameintolunch,butfromhisfaceandmannernothingcouldbeguessed。Hewasathoughtmoretalkativethanusual,andspokeofBrabrook\'sspeech——someofwhichhehadheard。HelookedatCourtiermeaningly,andafterlunchsaidtohim:

"Willyoucomeroundtomyden？"

Inthatroom,theoldwithdrawing—roomoftheElizabethanwing——whereoncehadbeentheembroideries,tapestries,andmissalsofberuffleddameswerenowbooks,pamphlets,oak—panels,pipes,fencinggear,andalongonewallacollectionofRedIndianweaponsandornamentsbroughtbackbyMiltounfromtheUnitedStates。Highonthewallabovethesereignedthebronzedeath—maskofafamousApacheChief,castfromaplastertakenofthefacebyaprofessorofYaleCollege,whohaddeclaredittobeaperfectspecimenofthevanishingrace。

Thatvisage,whichhadacertainweirdresemblancetoDante\'s,presidedovertheroomwithcruel,tragicstoicism。Noonecouldlookonitwithoutfeelingthat,there,thehumanwillhadbeenpushedtoitsfarthestlimitsofendurance。