下载辰思小说免费APP
OneSeptemberevening，fourmonthslater，whenMrs。Barnetwasinperfecthealth，andMrs。Downebutaweakeningmemory，anerrand-boypausedtoresthimselfinfrontofMr。Barnet’soldhouse，depositinghisbasketononeofthewindow-sills。Thestreetwasnotyetlighted，buttherewerelightsinthehouse，andatintervalsaflittingshadowfellupontheblindathiselbow。Wordsalsowereaudiblefromthesameapartment，andtheyseemedtobethoseofpersonsinviolentaltercation。Buttheboycouldnotgathertheirpurport，andhewentonhisway。
TenminutesafterwardsthedoorofBarnet’shouseopened，andatallclosely-veiledladyinatravelling-dresscameoutanddescendedthefreestonesteps。Theservantstoodinthedoorwaywatchingherasshewentwithameasuredtreaddownthestreet。WhenshehadbeenoutofsightforsomeminutesBarnetappearedatthedoorfromwithin。
’Didyourmistressleavewordwhereshewasgoing？’heasked。
’No，sir。’
’Isthecarriageorderedtomeetheranywhere？’
’No，sir。’
’Didshetakealatch-key？’
’No，sir。’
Barnetwentinagain，satdowninhischair，andleanedback。Theninsolitudeandsilencehebroodedoverthebitteremotionsthatfilledhisheart。Itwasforthisthathehadgratuitouslyrestoredhertolife，andmadehisunionwithanotherimpossible！Theeveningdrewon，andnobodycametodisturbhim。Atbedtimehetoldtheservantstoretire，thathewouldsitupforMrs。Barnethimself；andwhentheyweregoneheleanedhisheaduponhishandandmusedforhours。
Theclockstruckone，two；stillhiswifecamenot，and，withimpatienceaddedtodepression，hewentfromroomtoroomtillanotherwearyhourhadpassed。ThiswasnotaltogetheranewexperienceforBarnet；butshehadneverbeforesoprolongedherabsence。Atlasthesatdownagainandfellasleep。
Heawokeatsixo’clocktofindthatshehadnotreturned。Insearchingabouttheroomshediscoveredthatshehadtakenacaseofjewelswhichhadbeenhersbeforehermarriage。Ateightanotewasbroughthim；itwasfromhiswife，inwhichshestatedthatshehadgonebythecoachtothehouseofadistantrelativenearLondon，andexpressedawishthatcertainboxes，articlesofclothing，andsoon，mightbesenttoherforthwith。ThenotewasbroughttohimbyawaiterattheBlack-BullHotel，andhadbeenwrittenbyMrs。
Barnetimmediatelybeforeshetookherplaceinthestage。
Bytheeveningthisorderwascarriedout，andBarnet，withasenseofrelief，walkedoutintothetown。Afairhadbeenheldduringtheday，andthelargeclearmoonwhichroseoverthemostprominenthillflungitslightupontheboothsandstandingsthatstillremainedinthestreet，mixingitsrayscuriouslywiththosefromtheflaringnaphthalamps。Thetownwasfullofcountry-peoplewhohadcomeintoenjoythemselves，andonthisaccountBarnetstrolledthroughthestreetsunobserved。Withacertainrecklessnesshemadefortheharbour-road，andpresentlyfoundhimselfbytheshore，wherehewalkedontillhecametothespotnearwhichhisfriendthekindlyMrs。Downehadlostherlife，andhisownwife’slifehadbeenpreserved。Atremulouspathwayofbrightmoonshineno
