第2章

III。THEEVENTSOFEIGHTDAYS

1。FROMTHETWENTY-SECONDTOTHETWENTY-SEVENTHOFJULY

Butthingsarenotwhattheyseem。AresponsiveloveforEdwardSpringrovehadmadeitsappearanceinCytherea\'sbosomwithallthefascinatingattributesofafirstexperience，notsucceedingtoordisplacingotheremotions，asinolderhearts，buttakingupentirelynewground；aswhengazingjustaftersunsetatthepaleblueskyweseeastarcomeintoexistencewherenothingwasbefore。

Hispartingwords，\'Don\'tforgetme，\'sherepeatedtoherselfahundredtimes，andthoughshethoughttheirimportwasprobablycommonplace，shecouldnothelptoyingwiththem，——lookingatthemfromallpoints，andinvestingthemwithmeaningsofloveandfaithfulness，——ostensiblyentertainingsuchmeaningsonlyasfableswherewithtopassthetime，yetinherheartadmitting，fordetachedinstants，apossibilityoftheirdeepertruth。Andthus，forhoursafterhehadlefther，herreasonflirtedwithherfancyasakittenwillsportwithadove，pleasantlyandsmoothlythrougheasyattitudes，butdisclosingitscruelandunyieldingnatureatcrises。

Toturnnowtothemorematerialmediathroughwhichthisstorymoves，itsohappenedthattheverynextmorningbroughtroundacircumstancewhich，slightinitself，tookuparelevantandimportantpositionbetweenthepastandthefutureofthepersonshereinconcerned。

Atbreakfasttime，justasCythereahadagainseenthepostmanpasswithoutbringingherananswertotheadvertisement，asshehadfullyexpectedhewoulddo，Owenenteredtheroom。

\'Well，\'hesaid，kissingher，\'youhavenotbeenalarmed，ofcourse。

SpringrovetoldyouwhatIhaddone，andyoufoundtherewasnotrain？\'

\'Yes，itwasallclear。Butwhatisthelamenessowingto？\'

\'Idon\'tknow——nothing。Ithasquitegoneoffnow……Cytherea，IhopeyoulikeSpringrove。Springrove\'sanicefellow，youknow。\'

\'Yes。Ithinkheis，exceptthat——\'

\'IthappenedjusttothepurposethatIshouldmeethimthere，didn\'tit？AndwhenIreachedthestationandlearntthatIcouldnotgetonbytrainmyfootseemedbetter。Istartedofftowalkhome，andwentaboutfivemilesalongapathbesidetherailway。ItthenstruckmethatImightnotbefitforanythingtodayifI

walkedandaggravatedthebotheringfoot，soIlookedforaplacetosleepat。Therewasnoavailablevillageorinn，andIeventuallygotthekeeperofagate-house，wherealanecrossedtheline，totakemein。\'

Theyproceededwiththeirbreakfast。Owenyawned。

\'Youdidn\'tgetmuchsleepatthegate-houselastnight，I\'mafraid，Owen，\'saidhissister。

\'Totellthetruth，Ididn\'t。Iwasinsuchverycloseandnarrowquarters。Thosegate-housesaresuchsmallplaces，andthemanhadonlyhisownbedtoofferme。Ah，by-the-bye，Cythie，Ihavesuchanextraordinarythingtotellyouinconnectionwiththisman！——byJove，Ihadnearlyforgottenit！ButI\'llgostraighton。AsIwassaying，hehadonlyhisownbedtoofferme，butIcouldnotaffordtobefastidious，andashehadaheartymanner，thoughaveryqueerone，Iagreedtoacceptit，andhemadearoughpalletforhimselfonthefloorclosebesideme。Well，Icouldnotsleepformylife，andIwishedIhadnotstayedthere，thoughIwassotired。Foronething，thereweretheluggagetrainsrattlingbyatmyelbowtheearlypartofthenight。Butworsethanthis，hetalkedcontinuallyinhissleep，andoccasionallystruckoutwithhislimbsatsomethingoranother，knockingagainstthepostofthebedsteadandmakingittremble。MyconditionwasaltogethersounsatisfactorythatatlastIawokehim，andaskedhimwhathehadbeendreamingaboutfortheprevioushour，forIcouldgetnosleepatall。Hebeggedmypardonfordisturbingme，butanameIhadcasuallyletfallthateveninghadledhimtothinkofanotherstrangerhehadoncehadvisithim，whohadalsoaccidentallymentionedthesamename，andsomeverystrangeincidentsconnectedwiththatmeeting。

Theaffairhadoccurredyearsandyearsago；butwhatIhadsaidhadmadehimthinkanddreamaboutitasifitwerebutyesterday。Whatwastheword？Isaid。“Cytherea，“hesaid。Whatwasthestory？I

askedthen。HethentoldmethatwhenhewasayoungmaninLondonheborrowedafewpoundstoaddtoafewhehadsavedup，andopenedalittleinnatHammersmith。Oneevening，aftertheinnhadbeenopenaboutacoupleofmonths，everyidlerintheneighbourhoodranofftoWestminster。TheHousesofParliamentwereonfire。

\'Notasoulremainedinhisparlourbesideshimself，andhebeganpickingupthepipesandglasseshiscustomershadhastilyrelinquished。Atlengthayoungladyaboutseventeenoreighteencamein。Sheaskedifawomanwastherewaitingforherself——MissJaneTaylor。Hesaidno；askedtheyoungladyifshewouldwait，andshowedherintothesmallinnerroom。Therewasaglass-paneinthepartitiondividingthisroomfromthebartoenablethelandlordtoseeifhisvisitors，whosatthere，wantedanything。Acuriousawkwardnessandmelancholyaboutthebehaviourofthegirlwhocalled，causedmyinformanttolookfrequentlyatherthroughthepartition。Sheseemedwearyofherlife，andsatwithherfaceburiedinherhands，evidentlyquiteoutofherelementinsuchahouse。ThenawomanmucholdercameinandgreetedMissTaylorbyname。Themandistinctlyheardthefollowingwordspassbetweenthem：——

\'“Whyhaveyounotbroughthim？”

\'“Heisill；heisnotlikelytolivethroughthenight。“

\'Atthisannouncementfromtheelderlywoman，theyoungladyfelltothefloorinaswoon，apparentlyovercomebythenews。Thelandlordraninandliftedherup。Well，dowhattheywouldtheycouldnotforalongtimebringherbacktoconsciousness，andbegantobemuchalarmed。“Whoisshe？”theinnkeepersaidtotheotherwoman。

“Iknowher，“theothersaid，withdeepmeaninginhertone。Theelderlyandyoungwomanseemedallied，andyetstrangers。

\'Shenowshowedsignsoflife，anditstruckhim(hewasplainlyofaninquisitiveturn)，thatinherhalf-bewilderedstatehemightgetsomeinformationfromher。Hestoopedoverher，puthismouthtoherear，andsaidsharply，“What\'syourname？”“Tocatchawomannappingisdifficult，evenwhenshe\'shalfdead；butIdidit，“saysthegatekeeper。Whenheaskedherhername，shesaidimmediately——

\'“Cytherea“——andstoppedsuddenly。\'

\'Myownname！\'saidCytherea。

\'Yes——yourname。Well，thegatemanthoughtatthetimeitmightbeequallywithJaneanameshehadinventedfortheoccasion，thattheymightnottraceher；butIthinkitwastruthunconsciouslyuttered，forsheaddeddirectlyafterwards：“O，whathaveIsaid！”

andwasquiteovercomeagain——thistimewithfright。Hervexationthatthewomannowdoubtedthegenuinenessofherothernamewasverymuchgreaterthanthattheinnkeeperdid，anditisevidentthattoblindthewomanwashermainobject。Healsolearntfromwordstheelderlywomancasuallydropped，thatmeetingsofthesamekindhadbeenheldbefore，andthatthefalsenessofthesoi-disantMissJaneTaylor\'snamehadneverbeensuspectedbythisdependentorconfederatetillthen。

\'Sherecovered，restedthereforanhour，andfirstsendingoffhercompanionperemptorily(whichwasanotheroddthing)，sheleftthehouse，offeringthelandlordallthemoneyshehadtosaynothingaboutthecircumstance。Hehasneverseenhersince，accordingtohisownaccount。Isaidtohimagainandagain，“Didyoufindanymoreparticularsafterwards？”“Notasyllable，“hesaid。O，heshouldneverhearanymoreofthat！toomanyyearshadpassedsinceithappened。“Atanyrate，youfoundouthersurname？”Isaid。

“Well，well，that\'smysecret，“hewenton。“PerhapsIshouldneverhavebeeninthispartoftheworldifithadn\'tbeenforthat。I

failedasapublican，youknow。“Iimaginethesituationofgatemanwasgivenhimandhisdebtspaidoffasabribetosilence；butI

can\'tsay。“Ah，yes！”hesaid，withalongbreath。“Ihaveneverheardthatnamementionedsincethattimetillto-night，andthenthereinstantlyrosetomyeyesthevisionofthatyoungladylyinginafaintingfit。“Hethenstoppedtalkingandfellasleep。

TellingthestorymusthaverelievedhimasitdidtheAncientMariner，forhedidnotmoveamuscleormakeanothersoundfortheremainderofthenight。Nowisn\'tthatanoddstory？\'

\'Itisindeed，\'Cythereamurmured。\'Very，verystrange。\'

\'Whyshouldshehavesaidyourmostuncommonname？\'continuedOwen。

\'Themanwasevidentlytruthful，fortherewasnotmotivesufficientforhisinventionofsuchatale，andhecouldnothavedoneiteither。\'

Cytherealookedlongatherbrother。\'Don\'tyourecognizeanythingelseinconnectionwiththestory？\'shesaid。

\'What？\'heasked。

\'Doyourememberwhatpoorpapaonceletdrop——thatCythereawasthenameofhisfirstsweetheartinBloomsbury，whosomysteriouslyrenouncedhim？Asortofintuitiontellsmethatthiswasthesamewoman。\'

\'Ono——notlikely，\'saidherbrothersceptically。

\'Hownotlikely，Owen？There\'snotanotherwomanofthenameinEngland。Inwhatyearusedpapatosaytheeventtookplace？\'

\'Eighteenhundredandthirty-five。\'

\'AndwhenweretheHousesofParliamentburnt？——stop，Icantellyou。\'Shesearchedtheirlittlestockofbooksforalistofdates，andfoundoneinanoldschoolhistory。

\'TheHousesofParliamentwereburntdownintheeveningofthesixteenthofOctober，eighteenhundredandthirty-four。\'

\'Nearlyayearandaquarterbeforeshemetfather，\'remarkedOwen。

Theyweresilent。\'Ifpapahadbeenalive，whatawonderfulabsorbinginterestthisstorywouldhavehadforhim，\'saidCythereaby-and-by。\'Andhowstrangelyknowledgecomestous。Wemighthavesearchedforacluetohersecrethalftheworldover，andneverfoundone。Ifwehadreallyhadanymotivefortryingtodiscovermoreofthesadhistorythanpapatoldus，weshouldhavegonetoBloomsbury；butnotcaringtodoso，wegotwohundredmilesintheoppositedirection，andtherefindinformationwaitingtobetoldus。Whatcouldhavebeenthesecret，Owen？\'

\'Heavenknows。Butourhavingheardalittlemoreofherinthisway(ifsheisthesamewoman)isamerecoincidenceafterall——afamilystorytotellourfriendsifweeverhaveany。Butweshallneverknowanymoreoftheepisodenow——trustourfatesforthat。\'

Cythereasatsilentlythinking。

\'Therewasnoanswerthismorningtoyouradvertisement，Cytherea？\'

hecontinued。

\'None。\'

\'IcouldseethatbyyourlookswhenIcamein。\'

\'Fancynotgettingasingleone，\'shesaidsadly。\'Surelytheremustbepeoplesomewherewhowantgovernesses？\'

\'Yes；butthosewhowantthem，andcanaffordtohavethem，getthemmostlybyfriends\'recommendations；whilstthosewhowantthem，andcan\'taffordtohavethem，makeuseoftheirpoorrelations。\'

\'WhatshallIdo？\'

\'Nevermindit。Goonlivingwithme。Don\'tletthedifficultytroubleyourmindso；youthinkaboutitallday。Icankeepyou，Cythie，inaplainwayofliving。Twenty-fiveshillingsaweekdonotamounttomuchtruly；butthenmanymechanicshavenomore，andwelivequiteassparinglyasjourneymenmechanics……Itisameagrenarrowlifewearedriftinginto，\'headdedgloomily，\'butitisadegreemoretolerablethantheworryingsensationofalltheworldbeingashamedofyou，whichweexperiencedatHocbridge。\'

\'Icouldn\'tgobackthereagain，\'shesaid。

\'NorI。O，Idon\'tregretourcourseforamoment。Wedidquiterightindroppingoutoftheworld。\'Thesneeringtonesoftheremarkwerealmosttoolabouredtobereal。\'Besides，\'hecontinued，\'somethingbetterformeissuretoturnupsoon。Iwishmyengagementherewasapermanentoneinsteadofforonlytwomonths。Itmay，certainly，beforalongertime，butallisuncertain。\'

\'IwishIcouldgetsomethingtodo；andImusttoo，\'shesaidfirmly。\'Suppose，asisveryprobable，youarenotwantedafterthebeginningofOctober——thetimeMr。Gradfieldmentioned——whatshouldwedoifIweredependentonyouonlythroughoutthewinter？\'

Theyponderedonnumerousschemesbywhichayoungladymightbesupposedtoearnadecentlivelihood——moreorlessconvenientandfeasibleinimagination，butrelinquishedthemalluntiladvertisinghadbeenoncemoretried，thistimetakinglowerground。Cythereawasvexedathertemerityinhavingrepresentedtotheworldthatsoinexperiencedabeingasherselfwasaqualifiedgoverness；andhadafancythatthispresumptionofhersmightbeonereasonwhynoladiesapplied。Thenewandhumblerattemptappearedinthefollowingform：——

\'NURSERYGOVERNESSORUSEFULCOMPANION。Ayoungpersonwishestohearofasituationineitheroftheabovecapacities。Salaryverymoderate。Sheisagoodneedle-woman——AddressG。，3CrossStreet，Budmouth。\'

Intheeveningtheywenttoposttheletter，andthenwalkedupanddowntheParadeforawhile。SoontheymetSpringrove，saidafewwordstohim，andpassedon。Owennoticedthathissister\'sfacehadbecomecrimson。RatheroddlytheymetSpringroveagaininafewminutes。Thistimethethreewalkedalittlewaytogether，EdwardostensiblytalkingtoOwen，thoughwithasinglethoughttothereceptionofhiswordsbythemaidenatthefartherside，uponwhomhisgazewasmostlyresting，andwhowasattentivelylistening——

lookingfixedlyuponthepavementthewhile。Ithasbeensaidthatmenlovewiththeireyes；womenwiththeirears。

AsOwenandhimselfwerelittlemorethanacquaintancesasyet，andasSpringrovewaswantingintheassuranceofmanymenofhisage，itnowbecamenecessarytowishhisfriendsgood-evening，ortofindareasonforcontinuingnearCythereabysayingsomenicenewthing。

Hethoughtofanewthing；heproposedapullacrossthebay。Thiswasassentedto。Theywenttothepier；steppedintooneofthegailypaintedboatsmooredalongsideandsheeredoff。Cythereasatinthesternsteering。

Theyrowedthatevening；thenextcame，andwithitthenecessityofrowingagain。Thenthenext，andthenext，Cythereaalwayssittinginthesternwiththetillerropesinherhand。Thecurvesofherfigureweldedwiththoseofthefragileboatinperfectcontinuation，asshegirlishlyyieldedherselftoitsheavingandsinking，seemingtoformwithitanorganicwhole。

ThenOwenwasinclinedtotesthisskillinpaddlingacanoe。

Edwarddidnotlikecanoes，andtheissuewas，that，havingseenOwenonboard，Springroveproposedtopulloffafterhimwithapairofsculls；butnotconsideringhimselfsufficientlyaccomplishedtodofinishedrowingbeforeaparadefullofpromenaderswhentherewasalittleswellon，andwiththerudderunshippedinaddition，hebeggedthatCythereamightcomewithhimandsteerasbefore。Shesteppedin，andtheyfloatedalonginthewakeofherbrother。Thuspassedthefiftheveningonthewater。

Butthesympatheticpairwerethrownintostillclosercompanionship，andmuchmoreexclusiveconnection。

2。JULYTHETWENTY-NINTH

ItwasasadtimeforCytherea——thelastdayofSpringrove\'smanagementatGradfield\'s，andthelasteveningbeforehisreturnfromBudmouthtohisfather\'shouse，previoustohisdepartureforLondon。

Grayehadbeenrequestedbythearchitecttosurveyaplotoflandnearlytwentymilesoff，which，withthejourneytoandfro，wouldoccupyhimthewholeday，andpreventhisreturningtilllateintheevening。Cythereamadeacompanionofherlandladytotheextentofsharingmealsandsittingwithherduringthemorningofherbrother\'sabsence。Mid-dayfoundherrestlessandmiserableunderthisarrangement。Alltheafternoonshesatalone，lookingoutofthewindowforshescarcelyknewwhom，andhopingshescarcelyknewwhat。Half-pastfiveo\'clockcame——theendofSpringrove\'sofficialday。TwominuteslaterSpringrovewalkedby。

Sheenduredhersolitudeforanotherhalf-hour，andthencouldendurenolonger。Shehadhoped——whileaffectingtofear——thatEdwardwouldhavefoundsomereasonorotherforcalling，butitseemedthathehadnot。Hastilydressingherselfshewentout，whenthefarceofanaccidentalmeetingwasrepeated。Edwardcameuponherinthestreetatthefirstturning，and，liketheGreatDukeFerdinandin\'TheStatueandtheBust\'——

\'Helookedatherasalovercan；

Shelookedathimasonewhoawakes——

Thepastwasasleep，andherlifebegan。\'

\'Shallwehaveaboat？\'hesaidimpulsively。

Howblissfulitallisatfirst。Perhaps，indeed，theonlyblissinthecourseoflovewhichcantrulybecalledEden-likeisthatwhichprevailsimmediatelyafterdoubthasendedandbeforereflectionhassetin——atthedawnoftheemotion，whenitisnotrecognizedbyname，andbeforetheconsiderationofwhatthisloveis，hasgivenbirthtotheconsiderationofwhatdifficultiesittendstocreate；

whenontheman\'spart，themistressappearstothemind\'seyeinpicturesque，hazy，andfreshmorninglights，andsoftmorningshadows；when，asyet，sheisknownonlyasthewearerofonedress，whichsharesherownpersonality；asthestanderinonespecialposition，thegiverofonebrightparticularglance，andthespeakerofonetendersentence；when，onherpart，sheistimidlycarefuloverwhatshesaysanddoes，lestsheshouldbemisconstruedorunder-ratedtothebreadthofashadowofahair。

\'Shallwehaveaboat？\'hesaidagain，moresoftly，seeingthattohisfirstquestionshehadnotanswered，butlookeduncertainlyattheground，thenalmost，butnotquite，inhisface，blushedaseriesofminuteblushes，leftoffinthemidstofthem，andshowedtheusualsignsofperplexityinamatteroftheemotions。

Owenhadalwaysbeenwithherbefore，buttherewasnowaforceofhabitintheproceeding，andwithArcadianinnocencesheassumedthatarowonthewaterwas，underanycircumstances，anaturalthing。Withoutanotherwordbeingspokenoneitherside，theywentdownthesteps。Hecarefullyhandedherin，tookhisseat，slidnoiselesslyoffthesand，andawayfromtheshore。

Theythussatfacingeachotherinthegracefulyellowcockle-shell，andhiseyesfrequentlyfoundaresting-placeinthedepthsofhers。

Theboatwassosmallthatateachreturnofthesculls，whenhishandscameforwardtobeginthepull，theyapproachedsoneartoherthathervividimaginationbegantothrillherwithafancythathewasgoingtoclasphisarmsroundher。Thesensationgrewsostrongthatshecouldnotruntheriskofagainmeetinghiseyesatthosecriticalmoments，andturnedasidetoinspectthedistanthorizon；

thenshegrewwearyoflookingsideways，andwasdriventoreturntohernaturalpositionagain。Atthisinstantheagainleantforwardtobegin，andmetherglancebyanardentfixedgaze。Aninvoluntaryimpulseofgirlishembarrassmentcausedhertogiveavehementpullatthetiller-rope，whichbroughttheboat\'sheadroundtilltheystooddirectlyforshore。

Hiseyes，whichhaddweltuponherformduringthewholetimeofherlookaskance，nowlefther；heperceivedthedirectioninwhichtheyweregoing。

\'Why，youhavecompletelyturnedtheboat，MissGraye？\'hesaid，lookingoverhisshoulder。\'Lookatourtrackonthewater——agreatsemicircle，precededbyaseriesofzigzagsasfaraswecansee。\'

Shelookedattentively。\'Isitmyfaultoryours？\'sheinquired。

\'Mine，Isuppose？\'

\'Ican\'thelpsayingthatitisyours。\'

Shedroppedtheropesdecisively，feelingtheslightesttwingeofvexationattheanswer。

\'Whydoyouletgo？\'

\'Idoitsobadly。\'

\'Ono；youturnedaboutforshoreinamasterlyway。Doyouwishtoreturn？\'

\'Yes，ifyouplease。\'

\'Ofcourse，then，Iwillatonce。\'

\'Ifearwhatthepeoplewillthinkofus——goinginsuchabsurddirections，andallthroughmywretchedsteering。\'

\'Nevermindwhatthepeoplethink。\'Apause。\'Yousurelyarenotsoweakastomindwhatthepeoplethinkonsuchamatterasthat？\'

Thosewordsmightalmostbecalledtoofirmandhardtobegivenbyhimtoher；butnevermind。Foralmostthefirsttimeinherlifeshefeltthecharmingsensation，althoughonsuchaninsignificantsubject，ofbeingcompelledintoanopinionbyamansheloved。

Owen，thoughlessyieldingphysically，andmorepractical，wouldnothavehadtheintellectualindependencetoanswerawomanthus。Sherepliedquietlyandhonestly——ashonestlyaswhenshehadstatedthecontraryfactaminuteearlier——

\'Idon\'tmind。\'

\'I\'llunshipthetillerthatyoumayhavenothingtodogoingbackbuttoholdyourparasol，\'hecontinued，andarosetoperformtheoperation，necessarilyleaningcloselyagainsther，toguardagainsttheriskofcapsizingtheboatashereachedhishandsastern。Hiswarmbreathtouchedandcreptroundherfacelikeacaress；buthewasapparentlyonlyconcernedwithhistask。Shelookedguiltyofsomethingwhenheseatedhimself。Hereadinherfacewhatthatsomethingwas——shehadexperiencedapleasurefromhistouch。Butheflungapracticalglanceoverhisshoulder，seizedtheoars，andtheyspedinastraightlinetowardstheshore。

Cythereasawthathenotedinherfacewhathadpassedinherheart，andthatnotingit，hecontinuedasdecidedasbefore。Shewasinwardlydistressed。Shehadnotmeanthimtotranslateherwordsaboutreturninghomesoliterallyatthefirst；shehadnotintendedhimtolearnhersecret；butmorethanallshewasnotabletoenduretheperceptionofhislearningitandcontinuingunmoved。

Therewasnothingbutmiserytocomenow。Theywouldstepashore；

hewouldsaygood-night，gotoLondonto-morrow，andthemiserableShewouldlosehimforever。Shedidnotquitesupposewhatwasthefact，thataparallelthoughtwassimultaneouslypassingthroughhismind。

Theywerenowwithintenyards，nowwithinfive；hewasonlynowwaitingfora\'smooth\'tobringtheboatin。Sweet，sweetLovemustnotbeslainthus，wasthefairmaid\'sreasoning。Shewasequaltotheoccasion——ladiesare——anddeliveredthegod——

\'Doyouwantverymuchtoland，Mr。Springrove？\'shesaid，lettingheryoungvioleteyespineathimavery，verylittle。

\'I？Notatall，\'saidhe，lookinganastonishmentatherinquirywhichaslighttwinkleofhiseyehalfbelied。\'Butyoudo？\'

\'Ithinkthatnowwehavecomeout，anditissuchapleasantevening，\'shesaidgentlyandsweetly，\'Ishouldlikealittlelongerrowifyoudon\'tmind？I\'lltrytosteerbetterthanbeforeifitmakesiteasierforyou。I\'lltryveryhard。\'

Itwastheturnofhisfacetotellatalenow。Helooked，\'Weunderstandeachother——ah，wedo，darling！\'turnedtheboat，andpulledbackintotheBayoncemore。

\'Nowsteerwhereveryouwill，\'hesaid，inalowvoice。\'Nevermindthedirectnessofthecourse——whereveryouwill。\'

\'ShallitbeCrestonShore？\'shesaid，pointingtoastretchofbeachnorthwardfromBudmouthEsplanade。

\'CrestonShorecertainly，\'heresponded，graspingthesculls。Shetookthestringsdaintily，andtheywoundawaytotheleft。

Foralongtimenothingwasaudibleintheboatbuttheregulardipoftheoars，andtheirmovementintherowlocks。Springroveatlengthspoke。

\'Imustgoawayto-morrow，\'hesaidtentatively。

\'Yes，\'sherepliedfaintly。

\'ToendeavourtoadvancealittleinmyprofessioninLondon。\'

\'Yes，\'shesaidagain，withthesamepreoccupiedsoftness。

\'ButIshan\'tadvance。\'

\'Whynot？Architectureisabewitchingprofession。Theysaythatanarchitect\'sworkisanotherman\'splay。\'

\'Yes。Butworldlyadvantagefromanartdoesn\'tdependuponmasteringit。Iusedtothinkitdid；butitdoesn\'t。Thosewhogetrichneedhavenoskillatallasartists。\'

\'Whatneedtheyhave？\'

\'Acertainkindofenergywhichmenwithanyfondnessforartpossessveryseldomindeed——anearnestnessinmakingacquaintances，andaloveforusingthem。Theygivetheirwholeattentiontotheartofdiningout，aftermasteringafewrudimentaryfactstoserveupinconversation。Nowaftersayingthat，doIseemamanlikelytomakeaname？\'

\'Youseemamanlikelytomakeamistake。\'

\'What\'sthat？\'

\'Togivetoomuchroomtothelatentfeelingwhichisrathercommoninthesedaysamongtheunappreciated，thatbecausesomeremarkablysuccessfulmenarefools，allremarkablyunsuccessfulmenaregeniuses。\'

\'Prettysubtleforayounglady，\'hesaidslowly。\'FromthatremarkIshouldfancyyouhadboughtexperience。\'

Shepassedovertheidea。\'Dotrytosucceed，\'shesaid，withwistfulthoughtfulness，leavinghereyesonhim。

Springroveflushedalittleattheearnestnessofherwords，andmused。\'Then，likeCatotheCensor，IshalldowhatIdespise，tobeinthefashion，\'hesaidatlast……\'Well，whenIfoundallthisoutthatIwasspeakingof，whateverdoyouthinkIdid？Fromhavingalreadylovedversepassionately，Iwentontoreaditcontinually；thenIwentrhymingmyself。Ifanythingonearthruinsamanforusefuloccupation，andforcontentwithreasonablesuccessinaprofessionortrade，itisthehabitofwritingversesonemotionalsubjects，whichhadmuchbetterbelefttodiefromwantofnourishment。\'

\'Doyouwritepoemsnow？\'shesaid。

\'None。Poeticaldaysaregettingpastwithme，accordingtotheusualrule。Writingrhymesisastagepeopleofmysortpassthrough，astheypassthroughthestageofshavingforabeard，orthinkingtheyareill-used，orsayingthere\'snothingintheworldworthlivingfor。\'

\'Thenthedifferencebetweenacommonmanandarecognizedpoetis，thatonehasbeendeluded，andcuredofhisdelusion，andtheothercontinuesdeludedallhisdays。\'

\'Well，there\'sjustenoughtruthinwhatyousay，tomaketheremarkunbearable。However，itdoesn\'tmattertomenowthatI“meditatethethanklessMuse“nolonger，but……\'Hepaused，asifendeavouringtothinkwhatbetterthinghedid。

Cytherea\'smindranontothesucceedinglinesofthepoem，andtheirstartlingharmonywiththepresentsituationsuggestedthefancythathewas\'sporting\'withher，andbroughtanawkwardcontemplativenesstoherface。

Springroveguessedherthoughts，andinanswertothemsimplysaid\'Yes。\'Thentheyweresilentagain。

\'IfIhadknownanAmarylliswascominghere，Ishouldnothavemadearrangementsforleaving，\'heresumed。

Suchlevity，superimposedonthenotionof\'sport\'，wasintolerabletoCytherea；forawomanseemsnevertoseeanybuttheserioussideofherattachment，thoughthemostdevotedloverhasallthetimeavagueanddimperceptionthatheislosinghisolddignityandfritteringawayhistime。

\'Butwillyounottryagaintogetoninyourprofession？Tryoncemore；dotryoncemore，\'shemurmured。\'Iamgoingtotryagain。I

haveadvertisedforsomethingtodo。\'

\'OfcourseIwill，\'hesaid，withaneagergestureandsmile。\'ButwemustrememberthatthefameofChristopherWrenhimselfdependedupontheaccidentofafireinPuddingLane。Mysuccessesseemtocomeveryslowly。Ioftenthink，thatbeforeIamreadytolive，itwillbetimeformetodie。However，Iamtrying——notforfamenow，butforaneasylifeofreasonablecomfort。\'

Itisamelancholytruthforthemiddleclasses，thatinproportionastheydevelop，bythestudyofpoetryandart，theircapacityforconjugalloveofthehighestandpurestkind，theylimitthepossibilityoftheirbeingabletoexerciseit——theveryactputtingoutoftheirpowertheattainmentofmeanssufficientformarriage。

Themanwhoworksupagoodincomehashadnotimetolearnlovetoitssolemnextreme；themanwhohaslearntthathashadnotimetogetrich。

\'Andifyoushouldfail——utterlyfailtogetthatreasonablewealth，\'shesaidearnestly，\'don\'tbeperturbed。Thetrulygreatstanduponnomiddleledge；theyareeitherfamousorunknown。\'

\'Unknown，\'hesaid，\'iftheirideashavebeenallowedtoflowwithasympatheticbreadth。Famousonlyiftheyhavebeenconvergentandexclusive。\'

\'Yes；andIamafraidfromthat，thatmyremarkwasbutdiscouragement，wearingthedressofcomfort。PerhapsIwasnotquiterightin——\'

\'Itdependsentirelyuponwhatismeantbybeingtrulygreat。Butthelongandtheshortofthematteris，thatmenmuststicktoathingiftheywanttosucceedinit——notgivingwaytoover-muchadmirationfortheflowerstheyseegrowinginotherpeople\'sborders；whichIamafraidhasbeenmycase。\'Helookedintothefardistanceandpaused。

Adherencetoacoursewithpersistencesufficienttoensuresuccessispossibletowidelyappreciativemindsonlywhenthereisalsofoundinthemapower——commonplaceinitsnature，butrareinsuchcombination——thepowerofassumingtoconvictionthatintheoutlyingpathswhichappearsomuchmorebrilliantthantheirown，therearebitternessesequallygreat——unperceivedsimplyonaccountoftheirremoteness。

TheywereoppositeRingsworthShore。ThecliffsherewereformedofstratacompletelycontrastingwiththoseofthefurthersideoftheBay，whilstinandbeneaththewaterhardbouldershadtakentheplaceofsandandshingle，betweenwhich，however，theseaglidednoiselessly，withoutbreakingthecrestofasinglewave，sostrikinglycalmwastheair。Thebreezehadentirelydiedaway，leavingthewaterofthatrareglassysmoothnesswhichisunmarkedevenbythesmalldimplesoftheleastaerialmovement。Purplesandbluesofdiversshadeswerereflectedfromthismirroraccordinglyaseachundulationslopedeastorwest。Theycouldseetherockybottomsometwentyfeetbeneaththem，luxuriantwithweedsofvariousgrowths，anddottedwithpulpycreaturesreflectingasilveryandspangledradianceupwardstotheireyes。

Atlengthshelookedathimtolearntheeffectofherwordsofencouragement。Hehadlettheoarsdriftalongside，andtheboathadcometoastandstill。Everythingonearthseemedtakingacontemplativerest，asifwaitingtoheartheavowalofsomethingfromhislips。Atthatinstantheappearedtobreakaresolutionhithertozealouslykept。Leavinghisseatamidshipshecameandgentlyedgedhimselfdownbesideheruponthenarrowseatatthestern。

Shebreathedmorequicklyandwarmly：hetookherrighthandinhisownright：itwasnotwithdrawn。Heputhislefthandbehindhernecktillitcamerounduponherleftcheek：itwasnotthrustaway。Lightlypressingher，hebroughtherfaceandmouthtowardshisown；when，atthistheverybrink，someunaccountablethoughtorspellwithinhimsuddenlymadehimhalt——evennow，andasitseemedasmuchtohimselfastoher，hetimidlywhispered\'MayI？\'

HerendeavourwastosayNo，sodenudedofitsfleshandsinewsthatitsnaturewouldhardlyberecognized，orinotherwordsaNofromsoneartheaffirmativefrontierastobeaffectedwiththeYesaccent。ItwasthusawhisperedNo，drawnouttonearlyaquarterofaminute\'slength，theOmakingitselfaudibleasasoundlikethespringcooofapigeononunusuallyfriendlytermswithitsmate。Thoughconsciousofhersuccessinproducingthekindofwordshehadwishedtoproduce，sheatthesametimetrembledinsuspenseastohowitwouldbetaken。Butthetimeavailablefordoubtwassoshortastoadmitofscarcelymorethanhalfapulsation：

pressingcloserhekissedher。Thenhekissedheragainwithalongerkiss。

Itwasthesupremelyhappymomentoftheirexperience。The\'bloom\'

andthe\'purplelight\'werestrongonthelineamentsofboth。Theirheartscouldhardlybelievetheevidenceoftheirlips。

\'Iloveyou，andyouloveme，Cytherea！\'hewhispered。

Shedidnotdenyit；andallseemedwell。Thegentlesoundsaroundthemfromthehills，theplains，thedistanttown，theadjacentshore，thewaterheavingattheirside，thekiss，andthelongkiss，wereall\'manyavoiceofonedelight，\'andinunisonwitheachother。

Buthismindflewbacktothesameunpleasantthoughtwhichhadbeenconnectedwiththeresolutionhehadbrokenaminuteortwoearlier。

\'Icouldbeaslaveatmyprofessiontowinyou，Cytherea；Iwouldworkatthemeanest，honesttradetobenearyou——muchlessclaimyouasmine；Iwould——anything。ButIhavenottoldyouall；itisnotthis；youdon\'tknowwhatthereisyettotell。Couldyouforgiveasyoucanlove？\'Shewasalarmedtoseethathehadbecomepalewiththequestion。

\'No——donotspeak，\'hesaid。\'Ihavekeptsomethingfromyou，whichhasnowbecomethecauseofagreatuneasiness。Ihadnoright——toloveyou；butIdidit。Somethingforbade——\'

\'What？\'sheexclaimed。

\'Somethingforbademe——tillthekiss——yes，tillthekisscame；andnownothingshallforbidit！We\'llhopeinspiteofall……I

must，however，speakofthisloveofourstoyourbrother。Dearest，youhadbettergoindoorswhilstImeethimatthestation，andexplaineverything。\'

Cytherea\'sshort-livedblisswasdeadandgone。O，ifshehadknownofthissequelwouldshehaveallowedhimtobreakdownthebarrierofmereacquaintanceship——never，never！

\'Willyounotexplaintome？\'shefaintlyurged。Doubt——indefinite，carkingdoubthadtakenpossessionofher。

\'Notnow。Youalarmyourselfunnecessarily，\'hesaidtenderly。\'MyonlyreasonforkeepingsilenceisthatwithmypresentknowledgeI

maytellanuntruestory。Itmaybethatthereisnothingtotell。

Iamtoblameforhasteinalludingtoanysuchthing。Forgiveme，sweet——forgiveme。\'Herheartwasreadytoburst，andshecouldnotanswerhim。Hereturnedtohisplaceandtooktotheoars。

TheyagainmadeforthedistantEsplanade，now，withitslineofhouses，lyinglikeadarkgreybandagainstthelightwesternsky。

Thesunhadset，andastarortwobegantopeepout。Theydrewnearertheirdestination，Edwardashepulledtracinglistlesslywithhiseyestheredstripesuponherscarf，whichgrewtoappearasblackonesintheincreasingduskofevening。Shesurveyedthelonglineoflampsonthesea-wallofthetown，nowlookingsmallandyellow，andseemingtosendlongtap-rootsoffirequiveringdowndeepintothesea。By-and-bytheyreachedthelanding-steps。

Hetookherhandasbefore，andfounditascoldasthewateraboutthem。Itwasnotrelinquishedtillhereachedherdoor。Hisassurancehadnotremovedtheconstraintofhermanner：hesawthatsheblamedhimmutelyandwithhereyes，likeacapturedsparrow。

Leftalone，hewentandseatedhimselfinachairontheEsplanade。

Neithercouldshegoindoorstohersolitaryroom，feelingasshedidinsuchastateofdesperateheaviness。WhenSpringrovewasoutofsightsheturnedback，andarrivedatthecornerjustintimetoseehimsitdown。Thensheglidedpensivelyalongthepavementbehindhim，forgettingherselftomarblelikeMelancholyherselfasshemusedinhisneighbourhoodunseen。Sheheard，withoutheeding，thenotesofpianosandsingingvoicesfromthefashionablehousesatherback，fromtheopenwindowsofwhichthelamp-lightstreamedtojointhatoftheorange-huedfullmoon，newlyrisenovertheBayinfront。ThenEdwardbegantopaceupanddown，andCytherea，fearingthathewouldnoticeher，hastenedhomeward，flinginghimalastlookasshepassedoutofsight。Nopromisefromhimtowrite：

norequestthatsheherselfwoulddoso——nothingbutanindefiniteexpressionofhopeinthefaceofsomefearunknowntoher。Alas，alas！

WhenOwenreturnedhefoundshewasnotinthesmallsitting-room，andcreepingupstairsintoherbedroomwithalight，hediscoveredhertherelyingasleepuponthecoverletofthebed，stillwithherhatandjacketon。Shehadflungherselfdownonentering，andsuccumbedtotheunwontedoppressivenessthateverattendsfull-

blownlove。Thewettracesoftearswereyetvisibleuponherlongdroopinglashes。

\'Loveisasowredelight，andsugredgriefe，Alivingdeath，andever-dyinglife。\'

\'Cytherea，\'hewhispered，kissingher。Sheawokewithastart，andventedanexclamationbeforerecoveringherjudgment。\'He\'sgone！\'

shesaid。

\'Hehastoldmeall，\'saidGrayesoothingly。\'Heisgoingoffearlyto-morrowmorning。\'Twasashameofhimtowinyouawayfromme，andcruelofyoutokeepthegrowthofthisattachmentasecret。\'

\'Wecouldn\'thelpit，\'shesaid，andthenjumpingup——\'Owen，hashetoldyouALL？\'

\'Allofyourlovefrombeginningtoend，\'hesaidsimply。

Edwardthenhadnottoldmore——asheoughttohavedone：yetshecouldnotconvicthim。Butshewouldstruggleagainsthisfetters。

Shetingledtotheverysolesofherfeetattheverypossibilitythathemightbedeludingher。

\'Owen，\'shecontinued，withdignity，\'whatishetome？Nothing。I

mustdismisssuchweaknessasthis——believeme，Iwill。Somethingfarmorepressingmustdriveitaway。Ihavebeenlookingmypositionsteadilyintheface，andImustgetalivingsomehow。I

meantoadvertiseoncemore。\'

\'Advertisingisnouse。\'

\'Thisonewillbe。\'Helookedsurprisedatthesanguinetoneofheranswer，tillshetookapieceofpaperfromthetableandshowedithim。\'SeewhatIamgoingtodo，\'shesaidsadly，almostbitterly。

Thiswasherthirdeffort：——

\'LADY\'S-MAID。Inexperienced。Ageeighteen——G。，3CrossStreet，Budmouth。\'

Owen——Owentherespectable——lookedblankastonishment。Herepeatedinanameless，varyingtone，thetwowords——

\'Lady\'s-maid！\'

\'Yes；lady\'s-maid。\'Tisanhonestprofession，\'saidCythereabravely。

\'ButYOU，Cytherea？\'

\'Yes，I——whoamI？\'

\'Youwillneverbealady\'s-maid——never，Iamquitesure。\'

\'Ishalltrytobe，atanyrate。\'

\'Suchadisgrace——\'

\'Nonsense！Imaintainthatitisnodisgrace！\'shesaid，ratherwarmly。\'Youknowverywell——\'

\'Well，sinceyouwill，youmust，\'heinterrupted。\'Whydoyouput“inexperienced？”\'

\'BecauseIam。\'

\'Nevermindthat——scratchout“inexperienced。“Wearepoor，Cytherea，aren\'twe？\'hemurmured，afterasilence，\'anditseemsthatthetwomonthswillclosemyengagementhere。\'

\'Wecanputupwithbeingpoor，\'shesaid，\'iftheyonlygiveusworktodo……Yes，wedesireasablessingwhatwasgivenusasacurse，andeventhatisdenied。However，becheerful，Owen，andnevermind！\'

Injusticetodespondingmen，itisaswelltorememberthatthebrighterenduranceofwomenattheseepochs——invaluable，sweet，angelic，asitis——owesmoreofitsorigintoanarrowervisionthatshutsoutmanyoftheleaden-eyeddespairsinthevan，thantoahopefulnessintenseenoughtoquellthem。

IV。THEEVENTSOFONEDAY

1。AUGUSTTHEFOURTH。TILLFOURO\'CLOCK

TheearlypartofthenextweekbroughtananswertoCytherea\'slastnoteofhopeinthewayofadvertisement——notfromadistanceofhundredsofmiles，London，Scotland，Ireland，theContinent——asCythereaseemedtothinkitmust，tobeinkeepingwiththemeansadoptedforobtainingit，butfromaplaceintheneighbourhoodofthatinwhichshewasliving——acountrymansionnottwentymilesoff。Thereplyranthus：——

KNAPWATERHOUSE，August3，1864。

\'MissAldclyffeisinwantofayoungpersonaslady\'s-maid。Thedutiesoftheplacearelight。MissAldclyffewillbeinBudmouthonThursday，when(shouldG。stillnothaveheardofaplace)shewouldliketoseeherattheBelvedereHotel，Esplanade，atfouro\'clock。Noanswerneedbereturnedtothisnote。\'

Alittleearlierthanthetimenamed，Cytherea，clothedinamodestbonnet，andablacksilkjacket，turneddowntothehotel。

Expectation，thefreshairfromthewater，thebright，far-extendingoutlook，raisedthemostdelicateofpinkcolourstohercheeks，andrestoredtohertreadaportionofthatelasticitywhichherpasttroubles，andthoughtsofEdward，hadwell-nightakenaway。

Sheenteredthevestibule，andwenttothewindowofthebar。

\'IsMissAldclyffehere？\'shesaidtoanicely-dressedbarmaidintheforeground，whowastalkingtoalandladycoveredwithchains，knobs，andclampsofgold，inthebackground。

\'No，sheisn\'t，\'saidthebarmaid，notverycivilly。Cytherealookedashadetooprettyforaplaindresser。

\'MissAldclyffeisexpectedhere，\'thelandladysaidtoathirdperson，outofsight，inthetoneofonewhohadknownforseveraldaysthefactnewlydiscoveredfromCytherea。\'Getreadyherroom——

bequick。\'Fromthealacritywithwhichtheorderwasgivenandtaken，itseemedtoCythereathatMissAldclyffemustbeawomanofconsiderableimportance。

\'YouaretohaveaninterviewwithMissAldclyffehere？\'thelandladyinquired。

\'Yes。\'

\'Theyoungpersonhadbetterwait，\'continuedthelandlady。Withamoney-taker\'sintuitionshehadrightlydivinedthatCythereawouldbringnoprofittothehouse。

Cythereawasshownintoanondescriptchamber，ontheshadysideofthebuilding，whichappearedtobeeitherbedroomordayroom，asoccasionnecessitated，andwasoneofasuiteattheendofthefirst-floorcorridor。Theprevailingcolourofthewalls，curtains，carpet，andcoveringsoffurniture，wasmoreorlessblue，towhichthecoldlightcomingfromthenortheasterlysky，andfallingonawideroofofnewslates——theonlyobjectthesmallwindowcommanded——

impartedamorestrikingpaleness。Butunderneaththedoor，communicatingwiththenextroomofthesuite，gleamedaninfinitesimallysmall，yetverypowerful，fractionofcontrast——averythinlineofruddylight，showingthatthesunbeamedstronglyintothisroomadjoining。Thelineofradiancewastheonlycheeringthingvisibleintheplace。

Peoplegivewaytoveryinfantinethoughtsandactionswhentheywait；thebattle-fieldoflifeistemporarilyfencedoffbyahardandfastline——theinterview。Cythereafixedhereyesidlyuponthestreak，andbeganpicturingawonderfulparadiseontheothersideasthesourceofsuchabeam——remindingherofthewell-knowngooddeedinanaughtyworld。

Whilstshewatchedtheparticlesofdustfloatingbeforethebrilliantchinksheheardacarriageandhorsesstopoppositethefrontofthehouse。Afterwardscametherustleofalady\'sskirtsdownthecorridor，andintotheroomcommunicatingwiththeoneCythereaoccupied。

Thegoldenlinevanishedinpartslikethephosphorescentstreakcausedbythestrikingofamatch；therewasthefallofalightfootsteponthefloorjustbehindit：thenapause。Thenthefoottappedimpatiently，and\'There\'snoonehere！\'wasspokenimperiouslybyalady\'stongue。

\'No，madam；inthenextroom。Iamgoingtofetchher，\'saidtheattendant。

\'Thatwilldo——oryouneedn\'tgoin；Iwillcallher。\'

Cythereahadrisen，andsheadvancedtothemiddledoorwiththechinkunderitastheservantretired。Shehadjustlaidherhandontheknob，whenitslippedroundwithinherfingers，andthedoorwaspulledopenfromtheotherside。

2。FOURO\'CLOCK

Thedirectblazeoftheafternoonsun，partlyrefractedthroughthecrimsoncurtainsofthewindow，andheightenedbyreflectionsfromthecrimson-flockpaperwhichcoveredthewalls，andacarpetonthefloorofthesametint，shonewithaburningglowroundtheformofaladystandingclosetoCytherea\'sfrontwiththedoorinherhand。

Thestrangerappearedtothemaiden\'seyes——freshfromthebluegloom，andassistedbyanimaginationfreshfromnature——likeatallblackfigurestandinginthemidstoffire。Itwasthefigureofafinely-builtwoman，ofsparethoughnotangularproportions。

Cythereainvoluntarilyshadedhereyeswithherhand，retreatedasteportwo，andthenshecouldforthefirsttimeseeMissAldclyffe\'sfaceinadditiontoheroutline，litupbythesecondaryandsofterlightthatwasreflectedfromthevarnishedpanelsofthedoor。Shewasnotaveryyoungwoman，butcouldboastofmuchbeautyofthemajesticautumnalphase。

\'O，\'saidthelady，\'comethisway。\'Cythereafollowedhertotheembrasureofthewindow。

Boththewomenshowedoffthemselvestoadvantageastheywalkedforwardintheorangelight；andeachshowedtooinherfacethatshehadbeenstruckwithhercompanion\'sappearance。ThewarmtintaddedtoCytherea\'sfaceavoluptuousnesswhichyouthandasimplelifehadnotyetallowedtoexpressitselfthereordinarily；whilstintheelderlady\'sfaceitreducedthecustomaryexpression，whichmighthavebeencalledsternness，ifnotharshness，tograndeur，andwarmedherdecayingcomplexionwithmuchoftheyouthfulrichnessitplainlyhadoncepossessed。

Sheappearednownomorethanfive-and-thirty，thoughshemighteasilyhavebeentenoradozenyearsolder。Shehadclearsteadyeyes，aRomannoseinitspurestform，andalsotheroundprominentchinwithwhichtheCaesarsarerepresentedinancientmarbles；amouthexpressingacapabilityforandtendencytostrongemotion，habituallycontrolledbypride。Therewasaseverityabouttheloweroutlinesofthefacewhichgaveamasculinecasttothisportionofhercountenance。Womanlyweaknesswasnowherevisiblesaveinonepart——thecurveofherforeheadandbrows——thereitwasclearandemphatic。Sheworealaceshawloverabrownsilkdress，andanetbonnetsetwithafewbluecornflowers。

\'Youinsertedtheadvertisementforasituationaslady\'s-maidgivingtheaddress，G。，CrossStreet？\'

\'Yes，madam。Graye。\'

\'Yes。Ihaveheardyourname——Mrs。Morris，myhousekeeper，mentionedyou，andpointedoutyouradvertisement。\'

Thiswaspuzzlingintelligence，buttherewasnottimeenoughtoconsiderit。

\'Wheredidyoulivelast？\'continuedMissAldclyffe。

\'Ihaveneverbeenaservantbefore。Ilivedathome。\'

\'Neverbeenout？Ithoughttooatsightofyouthatyouweretoogirlish-lookingtohavedonemuch。Butwhydidyouadvertisewithsuchassurance？Itmisleadspeople。\'

\'Iamverysorry：Iput“inexperienced“atfirst，butmybrothersaiditisabsurdtotrumpetyourownweaknesstotheworld，andwouldnotletitremain。\'

\'Butyourmotherknewwhatwasright，Isuppose？\'

\'Ihavenomother，madam。\'

\'Yourfather，then？\'

\'Ihavenofather。\'

\'Well，\'shesaid，moresoftly，\'yoursisters，aunts，orcousins。\'

\'Theydidn\'tthinkanythingaboutit。\'

\'Youdidn\'taskthem，Isuppose。\'

\'No。\'

\'Youshouldhavedoneso，then。Whydidn\'tyou？\'

\'BecauseIhaven\'tanyofthem，either。\'

MissAldclyffeshowedhersurprise。\'Youdeserveforgivenessthenatanyrate，child，\'shesaid，inasortofdrily-kindtone。

\'However，Iamafraidyoudonotsuitme，asIamlookingforanelderlyperson。Yousee，Iwantanexperiencedmaidwhoknowsalltheusualdutiesoftheoffice。\'Shewasgoingtoadd，\'ThoughI

likeyourappearance，\'butthewordsseemedoffensivetoapplytotheladylikegirlbeforeher，andshemodifiedthemto，\'thoughI

likeyoumuch。\'

\'IamsorryImisledyou，madam，\'saidCytherea。

MissAldclyffestoodinareverie，withoutreplying。

\'Goodafternoon，\'continuedCytherea。

\'Good-bye，MissGraye——Ihopeyouwillsucceed。\'

Cythereaturnedawaytowardsthedoor。Themovementchancedtobeoneofhermasterpieces。Itwasprecise：ithadasmuchbeautyaswascompatiblewithprecision，andaslittlecoquettishnessaswascompatiblewithbeauty。

Andshehadinturninglookedoverhershoulderattheotherladywithafaintaccentofreproachinherface。ThosewhorememberGreuze\'s\'HeadofaGirl，\'haveanideaofCytherea\'slookaskanceattheturning。Itisnotforamantotellfishersofmenhowtosetouttheirfascinationssoastobringaboutthehighestpossibleaverageoftakeswithintheyear：buttheactionthattugsthehardestofallatanemotionalbeholderisthissweetmethodofturningwhichstealsthebosomawayandleavestheeyesbehind。

NowMissAldclyffeherselfwasnotyroatwheeling。WhenCythereahadclosedthedooruponher，sheremainedforsometimeinhermotionlessattitude，listeningtothegraduallydyingsoundofthemaiden\'sretreatingfootsteps。Shemurmuredtoherself，\'Itisalmostworthwhiletobeboredwithinstructingherinordertohaveacreaturewhocouldglideroundmyluxuriousindolentbodyinthatmanner，andlookatmeinthatway——Iwarranthowlightherfingersareuponone\'sheadandneck……Whatasillymodestyoungthingsheis，togoawaysosuddenlyasthat！\'Sherangthebell。

\'Asktheyoungladywhohasjustleftmetostepbackagain，\'shesaidtotheattendant。\'Quick！orshewillbegone。\'

Cythereawasnowinthevestibule，thinkingthatifshehadtoldherhistory，MissAldclyffemightperhapshavetakenherintothehousehold；yetherhistorysheparticularlywishedtoconcealfromastranger。Whenshewasrecalledsheturnedbackwithoutfeelingmuchsurprise。Something，sheknewnotwhat，toldhershehadnotseenthelastofMissAldclyffe。

\'Youhavesomebodytorefermeto，ofcourse，\'theladysaid，whenCythereahadre-enteredtheroom。

\'Yes：Mr。Thorn，asolicitoratAldbrickham。\'

\'Andareyouacleverneedlewoman？\'

\'Iamconsideredtobe。\'

\'ThenIthinkthatatanyrateIwillwritetoMr。Thorn，\'saidMissAldclyffe，withalittlesmile。\'Itistrue，thewholeproceedingisveryirregular；butmypresentmaidleavesnextMonday，andneitherofthefiveIhavealreadyseenseemtodoforme……

Well，IwillwritetoMr。Thorn，andifhisreplyissatisfactory，youshallhearfromme。ItwillbeaswelltosetyourselfinreadinesstocomeonMonday。\'

WhenCythereahadagainbeenwatchedoutoftheroom，MissAldclyffeaskedforwritingmaterials，thatshemightatoncecommunicatewithMr。Thorn。Sheindecisivelyplayedwiththepen。\'SupposeMr。

Thorn\'sreplytobeinanywaydisheartening——andevenifsofromhisownimperfectacquaintancewiththeyoungcreaturemorethanfromcircumstantialknowledge——Ishallfeelobligedtogiveherup。

ThenIshallregretthatIdidnotgiveheronetrialinspiteofotherpeople\'sprejudices。Allheraccountofherselfisreliableenough——yes，Icanseethatbyherface。Ilikethatfaceofhers。\'

MissAldclyffeputdownthepenandleftthehotelwithoutwritingtoMr。Thorn。

V。THEEVENTSOFONEDAY

1。AUGUSTTHEEIGHTH。MORNINGANDAFTERNOON

Atpost-timeonthatfollowingMondaymorning，Cythereawatchedsoanxiouslyforthepostman，thatasthetimewhichmustbringhimnarrowedlessandlesshervividexpectationhadonlyadegreelesstangibilitythanhispresenceitself。Inanothersecondhisformcameintoview。HebroughttwolettersforCytherea。

OnefromMissAldclyffe，simplystatingthatshewishedCythereatocomeontrial：thatshewouldrequirehertobeatKnapwaterHousebyMondayevening。

TheotherwasfromEdwardSpringrove。Hetoldherthatshewasthebrightspotofhislife：thatherexistencewasfardearertohimthanhisown：thathehadneverknownwhatitwastolovetillhehadmether。True，hehadfeltpassingattachmentstootherfacesfromtimetotime；buttheyallhadbeenweakinclinationstowardsthosefacesastheythenappeared。Helovedherpastandfuture，aswellasherpresent。Hepicturedherasachild：helovedher。Hepicturedherofsageyears：helovedher。Hepicturedherintrouble；helovedher。Homelyfriendshipenteredintohisloveforher，withoutwhichalllovewasevanescent。

Hewouldmakeonedepressingstatement。Uncontrollablecircumstances(alonghistory，withwhichitwasimpossibletoacquaintheratpresent)operatedtoacertainextentasadraguponhiswishes。Hehadfeltthismorestronglyatthetimeoftheirpartingthanhedidnow——anditwasthecauseofhisabruptbehaviour，forwhichhebeggedhertoforgivehim。Hesawnowanhonourablewayoffreeinghimself，andtheperceptionhadpromptedhimtowrite。Inthemeantimemightheindulgeinthehopeofpossessingheronsomebrightfutureday，whenbyhardlabourgeneratedfromherownencouragingwords，hehadplacedhimselfinapositionshewouldthinkworthytobesharedwithhim？

Dearlittleletter；shehuddleditup。Somuchmoreimportantalove-letterseemstoagirlthantoaman。Springrovewasunconsciouslycleverinhisletters，andamanwithatalentofthatkindmaywritehimselfuptoaherointhemindofayoungwomanwholoveshimwithoutknowingmuchabouthim。Springrovealreadystoodacubithigherinherimaginationthanhedidinhisshoes。

Duringthedaysheflittedabouttheroominanecstasyofpleasure，packingthethingsandthinkingofananswerwhichshouldbeworthyofthetendertoneofthequestion，herlovebubblingfromherinvoluntarily，likeprophesyingsfromaprophet。

IntheafternoonOwenwentwithhertotherailway-station，andputherinthetrainforCarrifordRoad，thestationnearesttoKnapwaterHouse。

Half-an-hourlatershesteppedoutupontheplatform，andfoundnobodytheretoreceiveher——thoughapony-carriagewaswaitingoutside。Intwominutesshesawamelancholymanincheerfulliveryrunningtowardsherfromapublic-housecloseadjoining，whoprovedtobetheservantsenttofetchher。Therearetwowaysofgettingridofsorrows：onebylivingthemdown，theotherbydrowningthem。Thecoachmandrownedhis。

Heinformedherthatherluggagewouldbefetchedbyaspring-waggoninabouthalf-an-hour；thenhelpedherintothechaiseanddroveoff。

Herlover\'sletter，lyingcloseagainstherneck，fortifiedheragainsttherestlesstimidityshehadpreviouslyfeltconcerningthisnewundertaking，andcompletelyfurnishedherwiththeconfidenteaseofmindwhichisrequiredforthecriticalobservationofsurroundingobjects。Itwasjustthatstageintheslowdeclineofthesummerdays，whenthedeep，dark，andvacuoushot-weathershadowsarebeginningtobereplacedbyblueonesthathaveasurfaceandsubstancetotheeye。Theytrottedalongtheturnpikeroadforadistanceofaboutamile，whichbroughtthemjustoutsidethevillageofCarriford，andthenturnedthroughlargelodge-gates，ontheheavystonepiersofwhichstoodapairofbitternscastinbronze。Theythenenteredtheparkandwoundalongadriveshadedbyoldanddroopinglime-trees，notarrangedintheformofanavenue，butstandingirregularly，sometimesleavingthetrackcompletelyexposedtothesky，atothertimescastingashadeoverit，whichalmostapproachedgloom——theundersurfaceofthelowestboughshangingatauniformlevelofsixfeetabovethegrass——theextremeheighttowhichthenibblingmouthsofthecattlecouldreach。

\'Isthatthehouse？\'saidCythereaexpectantly，catchingsightofagreygablebetweenthetrees，andlosingitagain。

\'No；that\'stheoldmanor-house——orratherallthat\'sleftofit。

TheAldycliffesusedtoletitsometimes，butitwasoftenerempty。

\'Tisnowdividedintothreecottages。Respectablepeopledidn\'tcaretolivethere。\'

\'Whydidn\'tthey？\'

\'Well，\'tissoawkwardandunhandy。Youseesomuchofithasbeenpulleddown，andtheroomsthatareleftwon\'tdoverywellforasmallresidence。\'Tissodismal，too，andlikemostoldhousesstandstoolowdowninthehollowtobehealthy。\'

\'Dotheytellanyhorridstoriesaboutit？\'

\'No，notasingleone。\'

\'Ah，that\'sapity。\'

\'Yes，that\'swhatIsay。\'Tisjestthehouseforaniceghastlyhair-on-endstory，thatwouldmaketheparishreligious。Perhapsitwillhaveonesomedaytomakeitcomplete；butthere\'snotawordofthekindnow。There，Iwouldn\'tlivethereforallthat。Infact，Icouldn\'t。Ono，Icouldn\'t。\'

\'Whycouldn\'tyou？\'

\'Thesounds。\'

\'Whatarethey？\'

\'Oneisthewaterfall，whichstandssoclosebythatyoucanhearthattherewaterfallineveryroomofthehouse，nightorday，illorwell。\'Tisenoughtodriveanybodymad：nowhark。\'

Hestoppedthehorse。Abovetheslightcommonsoundsintheaircametheunvaryingsteadyrushoffallingwaterfromsomespotunseenonaccountofthethickfoliageofthegrove。

\'There\'ssomethingawfulinthetimingo\'thatsound，ain\'tthere，miss？\'

\'Whenyousaythereis，therereallyseemstobe。Yousaidthereweretwo——whatistheotherhorridsound？\'

\'Thepumping-engine。That\'sclosebytheOldHouse，andsendswaterupthehillandallovertheGreatHouse。Weshallhearthatdirectly……There，nowharkagain。\'

Fromthesamedirectiondownthedelltheycouldnowhearthewhistlingcreakofcranks，repeatedatintervalsofhalf-a-minute，withasousingnoisebetweeneach：acreak，asouse，thenanothercreak，andsooncontinually。

\'Nowifanybodycouldmakeshifttolivethroughtheothersounds，thesewouldfinishhimoff，don\'tyouthinkso，miss？Thatmachinegoesonnightandday，summerandwinter，andishardlyevergreasedorvisited。Ah，ittriesthenervesatnight，especiallyifyouarenotverywell；thoughwedon\'toftenhearitattheGreatHouse。\'

\'Thatsoundiscertainlyverydismal。Theymighthavethewheelgreased。DoesMissAldclyffetakeanyinterestinthesethings？\'

\'Well，scarcely；youseeherfatherdoesn\'tattendtothatsortofthingasheusedto。Theenginewasoncequitehishobby。Butnowhe\'sgettenoldandveryseldomgoesthere。\'

\'Howmanyarethereinfamily？\'

\'Onlyherfatherandherself。He\'sa\'oldmanofseventy。\'

\'IhadthoughtthatMissAldclyffewassolemistressoftheproperty，andlivedherealone。\'

\'No，m——\'Thecoachmanwascontinuallycheckinghimselfthus，beingabouttostylehermissinvoluntarily，andthenrecollectingthathewasonlyspeakingtothenewlady\'s-maid。

\'Shewillsoonbemistress，however，Iamafraid，\'hecontinued，asifspeakingbyaspiritofprophecydeniedtoordinaryhumanity。

\'Thepooroldgentlemanhasdecayedveryfastlately。\'Themanthendrewalongbreath。

\'Whydidyoubreathesadlylikethat？\'saidCytherea。

\'Ah！……Whenhe\'sdeadpeacewillbealloverwithusoldservants。Iexpecttoseetheoldhouseturnedinsideout。\'

\'Shewillmarry，doyoumean？\'

\'Marry——notshe！Iwishshewould。No，inhersoulshe\'sassolitaryasRobinsonCrusoe，thoughshehasacquaintancesinplenty，ifnotrelations。There\'stherector，Mr。Raunham——he\'sarelationbymarriage——yetshe\'squitedistanttowardshim。AndpeoplesaythatifshekeepssingletherewillbehardlyalifebetweenMr。

Raunhamandtheheirshipoftheestate。Dangit，shedon\'tcare。