下载辰思小说免费APP
ReturningtoEngland/via/theWestIndiesinthecompanyofherunclewhowascominghomeonleavebeforetakingupanappointmentasMinistertooneoftheSouthAmericanrepublics，shewasgreetedontheplatformatWaterloobyherfather。SirJohnBlakehadbythistimeforgottentheirpreviousdisagreements，or，atanyrate，determinedtoignorethem，andIsobel，whowasnowinherwayafinishedwomanoftheworld，thoughshedidnotforget，hadcometoalikeconclusion。Sotheirmeetingwascordialenough，andforawhile，notaverylongwhile，theycontinuedtolivetogetherinoutwardamity，withatacitunderstandingthattheyshouldfollowtheirrespectivepaths，unmolestedbyeachother。
OntheafternoonofthefirstdayafterhisarrivalattheAbbey，somespiritinhisfeetmovedGodfreytogointothechurch。Asthoughbyinstinct，hewenttothechancel，andstoodtherecontemplatingthebrassofthenamelessPlantagenetlady。Howlongitwassincehehadlookeduponhergravenfaceandformdrapedinthestatelyhabilimentsofabygoneage!Then，herememberedwithapang，Isobelwaswithhim，andtheyhadseemedtobeveryneartogether。NowtherewasnoIsobel，andtheywereveryfarapart，bothinthespiritandintheflesh。ForhehadnotheardofherreturntoEnglandandimaginedthatshewasstillinMexico，whencenotidingsofhercametohim。
Therehestoodamongthedead，reflectingthatwedonotneedtopassoutofthebodytoknowthemeaningofdeath，since，asonceIsobelhadsaidherself，someseparationsareasbad，orworse。Thestoryofthedeadis，atanyrate，completed；thereisnothingmoretobelearnedaboutthem，andofthemweimagine，perhapsquiteerroneously，thatwehavenoneedtobejealous，sincewecannotconceivethattheymayformnewinterestsinanothersphere。Butwiththelivingitisotherwise。Somewheretheirlifeiscontinued；somewheretheyaregettingthemselvesfriendsorloversandcarryingonthedailyroundofbeing，andwehavenoshareinthemorinaughtthattheymaydo。
Andprobablytheyhaveforgottenus。And，ifwestillhappentobeattachedtothem，oh!ithurts。
ThusmusedGodfrey，tryingtopicturetohimselfwhatIsobellookedlikewhenshehadstoodbyhissideonthatlong-pastautumneve，andonlysucceededinrememberingexactlywhatshelookedlikewhenshewaskissingarosewithacertainknightinarmourinasquaregarden，sinceforsomeperversereasonitwasthispicturethatremainedsopainfullycleartohismind。Thenhedriftedoffintospeculationsuponthegeneralmysteryofthingsofasortthatwerecommonwithhim，andinthesebecameobliviousofallelse。
Hedidnotevenhearorseeatallyoungwomanenterthechurch，cladinsummerwhite，no，notwhenshewaswithinfivepaceand，becomingsuddenlyawareofhispresence，hadstoppedtostudyhimwiththeacutestinterest。InaflashIsobelknewwhohewas。Ofcoursehewasmuchchanged，forGodfrey，whohadmaturedearly，asthoseofhisgenerationwereapttodo，especiallyiftheyhadledavariedlife，wasnowahandsomeandwell-builtyoungmanwithafine，thoughtfulfaceandaquiterespectablemoustache。
“Howhehaschanged，oh!howhehaschanged，“shethoug
