第28章

Hefollowedher，shutthedoor——whichshesomehowhadhopedhewouldleaveopen——andplacingachairforher，satdown。TheconcernwhichGracefeltatthedevelopmentofthesecommonplaceincidentswas，ofcourse，mainlyowingtothestrangeeffectuponhernervesofthatviewofhiminthemirrorgazingatherwithopeneyeswhenshehadthoughthimsleeping，whichmadeherfancythathisslumbermighthavebeenafeintbasedoninexplicablereasons。

Sheagainprofferedthenotes；heawokefromlookingatherasatapieceoflivestatuary，andlisteneddeferentiallyasshesaid，“Willyouthenreconsider，andcancelthebondwhichpoorGrammerOliversofoolishlygave？”

“I’llcancelitwithoutreconsideration。Thoughyouwillallowmetohavemyownopinionaboutherfoolishness。Grammerisaverywisewoman，andshewasaswiseinthatasinotherthings。Youthinktherewassomethingveryfiendishinthecompact，doyounot，MissMelbury？Butrememberthatthemosteminentofoursurgeonsinpasttimeshaveenteredintosuchagreements。”

“Notfiendish——strange。”

“Yes，thatmaybe，sincestrangenessisnotinthenatureofathing，butinitsrelationtosomethingextrinsic——inthiscaseanunessentialobserver。”

Hewenttohisdesk，andsearchingawhilefoundapaper，whichbeunfoldedandbroughttoher。Athickcrossappearedininkatthebottom——evidentlyfromthehandofGrammer。Graceputthepaperinherpocketwithalookofmuchrelief。

AsFitzpiersdidnottakeupthemoney(halfofwhichhadcomefromGrace’sownpurse)，shepusheditalittlenearertohim。

“No，no。Ishallnottakeitfromtheoldwoman。”hesaid。“Itismorestrangethanthefactofasurgeonarrangingtoobtainasubjectfordissectionthatouracquaintanceshouldbeformedoutofit。”

“Iamafraidyouthinkmeuncivilinshowingmydisliketothenotion。ButIdidnotmeantobe。”

“Ohno，no。”Helookedather，ashehaddonebefore，withpuzzledinterest。“Icannotthink，Icannotthink。”hemurmured。

“Somethingbewildersmegreatly。”Hestillreflectedandhesitated。“LastnightIsatupverylate。”heatlastwenton，“andonthataccountIfellintoalittlenaponthatcouchabouthalfanhourago。AndduringmyfewminutesofunconsciousnessI

dreamed——whatdoyouthink？——thatyoustoodintheroom。”

Shouldshetell？Shemerelyblushed。

“Youmayimagine。”Fitzpierscontinued，nowpersuadedthatithad，indeed，beenadream，“thatIshouldnothavedreamedofyouwithoutconsiderablethinkingaboutyoufirst。”

Hecouldnotbeacting；ofthatshefeltassured。

“Ifanciedinmyvisionthatyoustoodthere。”hesaid，pointingtowhereshehadpaused。“Ididnotseeyoudirectly，butreflectedintheglass。Ithought，whatalovelycreature！Thedesignisforoncecarriedout。NaturehasatlastrecoveredherlostunionwiththeIdea！MythoughtsraninthatdirectionbecauseIhadbeenreadingtheworkofatranscendentalphilosopherlastnight；andIdaresayitwasthedoseofIdealismthatIreceivedfromitthatmademescarcelyabletodistinguishbetweenrealityandfancy。IalmostweptwhenIawoke，andfoundthatyouhadappear