第15章

WEhaddawdledoverourluncheonbeforeMrs。MacallanarrivedatBenjamin’scottage。Theensuingconversationbetweentheoldladyandmyself（ofwhichIhaveonlypresentedabriefabstract）

lasteduntilquitelateintheafternoon。Thesunwassettinginheavycloudswhenwegotintothecarriage，andtheautumntwilightbegantofallarounduswhilewewerestillontheroad。

Thedirectioninwhichwedrovetookus（aswellasIcouldjudge）towardthegreatnorthernsuburbofLondon。

Formorethananhourthecarriagethreadeditswaythroughadingybricklabyrinthofstreets，growingsmallerandsmalleranddirtieranddirtierthefurtherwewent。Emergingfromthelabyrinth，Inoticedinthegatheringdarknessdrearypatchesofwastegroundwhichseemedtobeneithertownnorcountry。

Crossingthese，wepassedsomeforlornoutlyinggroupsofhouseswithdimlittlescatteredshopsamongthem，lookinglikelostcountryvillageswanderingonthewaytoLondon，disfiguredandsmoke—driedalreadybytheirjourney。Darkeranddarkeranddrearieranddreariertheprospectdrew，untilthecarriagestoppedatlast，andMrs。Macallanannounced，inhersharplysatiricalway，thatwehadreachedtheendofourjourney。

"PrinceDexter’sPalace，mydear，"shesaid。"Whatdoyouthinkofit？"

Ilookedaroundme，notknowingwhattothinkofit，ifthetruthmustbetold。

Wehadgotoutofthecarriage，andwewerestandingonaroughhalf—madegravel—path。Rightandleftofme，inthedimlight，I

sawthehalf—completedfoundationsofnewhousesintheirfirststageofexistence。Boardsandbrickswerescatteredaboutus。Atplacesgauntscaffoldingpolesroselikethebranchlesstreesofthebrickdesert。Behindus，ontheothersideofthehigh—road，stretchedanotherplotofwasteground，asyetnotbuilton。Overthesurfaceofthisseconddeserttheghostlywhitefiguresofvagrantducksgleamedatintervalsinthemysticlight。Infrontofus，atadistanceoftwohundredyardsorsoaswellasI

couldcalculate，roseablackmass，whichgraduallyresolveditself，asmyeyesbecameaccustomedtothetwilight，intoalong，low，andancienthouse，withahedgeofevergreensandapitch—blackpalinginfrontofit。Thefootmanledthewaytowardthepalingthroughtheboardsandthebricks，theoystershellsandthebrokencrockery，thatstrewedtheground。Andthiswas"PrinceDexter’sPalace！"

Therewasagateinthepitch—blackpaling，andabell—handle——discoveredwithgreatdifficulty。Pullingatthehandle，thefootmansetinmotion，tojudgebythesoundproduced，abellofprodigioussize，fitterforachurchthanahouse。

Whilewewerewaitingforadmission，Mrs。Macallanpointedtothelow，darklineoftheoldbuilding。

"Thereisoneofhismadnesses，"shesaid。"ThespeculatorsinthisnewneighborhoodhaveofferedhimIdon’tknowhowmanythousandpoundsforthegroundthathousestandson。Itwasoriginallythemanor—houseofthedistrict。Dexterpurchaseditmanyyearssinceinoneofhisfreaksoffancy。Hehasnooldfamilyassociationswiththeplace；thewallsareallbuttumblingabouthisears；andthemoneyofferedwouldreallybeofusetohim。Butno！Herefusedtheproposaloftheenterprisingspeculatorsbyletterinthesewords：’Myhouseisastandingmonumentofthepicturesqueandbeautiful，amidthemean，dishonest，andgrovelingconstructionsofamean，dishonest，andgrovelingage。Ikeepmyhouse，gentlemen，asausefullessontoyou。Lookatitwhileyouarebuildingaroundme，andblush，ifyoucan，foryourwork。’Wasthereeversuchanabsurdletterwrittenyet？Hush！Ihearfootstepsinthegarden。Herecomeshiscousin。Hiscousinisawoman。Imayaswelltellyouthat，oryoumightmistakeherforamaninthedark。"

Arough，deepvoice，whichIshouldcertainlyneverhavesupposedtobethevoiceofawoman，hailedusfromtheinnersideofthepaling。

"Who’sthere？"

"Mrs。Macallan，"answeredmymother—in—law。

"Whatdoyouwant？"

"WewanttoseeDexter。"

"Youcan’tseehim。"

"Whynot？"

"Whatdidyousayyournamewas？"

"Macallan。Mrs。Macallan。EustaceMacallan’smother。_Now_doyouunderstand？"

Thevoicemutteredandgruntedbehindthepaling，andakeyturnedinthelockofthegate。

Admittedtothegarden，inthedeepshadowoftheshrubs，Icouldseenothingdistinctlyofthewomanwiththeroughvoice，exceptthatsheworeaman’shat。Closingthegatebehindus，withoutawordofwelcomeorexplanation，sheledthewaytothehouse。

Mrs。Macallanfollowedhereasily，knowingtheplace；andI

walkedinMrs。Macallan’sfootstepsascloselyasIcould。"Thisisanicefamily，"mymother—in—lawwhisperedtome。"Dexter’scousinistheonlywomaninthehouse——andDexter’scousinisanidiot。"

Weenteredaspacioushallwithalowceiling，dimlylightedatitsfurtherendbyonesmalloil—lamp。Icouldseethattherewerepicturesonthegrim，brownwalls，butthesubjectsrepresentedwereinvisibleintheobscureandshadowylight。

Mrs。Macallanaddressedherselftothespeechlesscousinwiththeman’shat。

"Nowtellme，"shesaid。"Whycan’tweseeDexter？"

Thecousintookasheetofpaperoffthetable，andhandedittoMrs。Macallan。

"TheMaster’swriting，"saidthisstrangecreature，inahoarsewhisper，asifthebareideaof"theMaster"terrifiedher。"Readit。Andstayorgo，whichyouplease。"

Sheopenedaninvisiblesidedoorinthewall，maskedbyoneofthepictures——disappearedthroughitlikeaghost——andleftustogetheraloneinthehall。

Mrs。Macallanapproachedtheoil—lamp，andlookedbyitslightatthesheetofpaperwhichthewomanhadgiventoher。Ifollowedandpeepedoverhershoulderwithoutceremony。Thepaperexhibitedwrittencharacters，tracedinawonderfullylargeandfirmhandwriting。HadIcaughttheinfectionofmadnessintheairofthehouse？OrdidIreallyseebeforemethesewords？

"NOTICE。——Myimmenseimaginationisatwork。Visionsofheroesunrollthemselvesbeforeme。Ireanimateinmyselfthespiritsofthedepartedgreat。Mybrainsareboilinginmyhead。Anypersonswhodisturbme，underexistingcircumstances，willdoitattheperiloftheirlives。——DEXTER。"

Mrs。Macallanlookedaroundatmequietlywithhersardonicsmile。

"Doyoustillpersistinwantingtobeintroducedtohim？"sheasked。

Themockeryinthetoneofthequestionrousedmypride。I

determinedthatIwouldnotbethefirsttogiveway。

"NotifIamputtingyouinperilofyourlife，ma’am，"I

answered，pertlyenough，pointingtothepaperinherhand。

Mymother—in—lawreturnedtothehalltable，andputthepaperbackonitwithoutcondescendingtoreply。Shethenledthewaytoanarchedrecessonourrighthand，beyondwhichIdimlydiscernedabroadflightofoakenstairs。

"Followme，"saidMrs。Macallan，mountingthestairsinthedark。

"Iknowwheretofindhim。"

Wegropedourwayupthestairstothefirstlanding。Thenextflightofsteps，turninginthereversedirection，wasfaintlyilluminated，likethehallbelow，byoneoil—lamp，placedinsomeinvisiblepositionaboveus。Ascendingthesecondflightofstairsandcrossingashortcorridor，wediscoveredthelamp，throughtheopendoorofaquaintlyshapedcircularroom，burningonthemantel—piece。Itslightilluminatedastripofthicktapestry，hangingloosefromtheceilingtothefloor，onthewalloppositetothedoorbywhichwehadentered。

Mrs。Macallandrewasidethestripoftapestry，and，signingmetofollowher，passedbehindit。

"Listen！"shewhispered。

Standingontheinnersideofthetapestry，Ifoundmyselfinadarkrecessorpassage，attheendofwhicharayoflightfromthelampshowedmeacloseddoor。Ilistened，andheardontheothersideofthedoorashoutingvoice，accompaniedbyanextraordinaryrumblingandwhistlingsound，travelingbackwardandforward，aswellasIcouldjudge，overagreatspace。Nowtherumblingandthewhistlingwouldreachtheirclimaxofloudness，andwouldovercometheresonantnotesoftheshoutingvoice。Thenagainthoseloudersoundsgraduallyretreatedintodistance，andtheshoutingvoicemadeitselfheardasthemoreaudiblesoundofthetwo。Thedoormusthavebeenofprodigioussolidity。ListenasintentlyasImight，Ifailedtocatchthearticulatewords（ifany）whichthevoicewaspronouncing，andI

wasequallyatalosstopenetratethecausewhichproducedtherumblingandwhistlingsounds。

"Whatcanpossiblybegoingon，"IwhisperedtoMrs。Macallan，"ontheothersideofthatdoor？"

"Stepsoftly，"mymother—in—lawanswered，"andcomeandsee。"

Shearrangedthetapestrybehindussoascompletelytoshutoutthelightinthecircularroom。Thennoiselesslyturningthehandle，sheopenedtheheavydoor。

Wekeptourselvesconcealedintheshadowoftherecess，andlookedthroughtheopendoorway。

Isaw（orfanciedIsaw，intheobscurity）alongroomwithalowceiling。Thedyinggleamofanill—keptfireformedtheonlylightbywhichIcouldjudgeofobjectsanddistances。Redlyilluminatingthecentralportionoftheroom，oppositetowhichwewerestanding，thefire—lightlefttheextremitiesshadowedinalmosttotaldarkness。IhadbarelytimetonoticethisbeforeI

heardtherumblingandwhistlingsoundsapproachingme。Ahighchaironwheelsmovedby，throughthefieldofredlight，carryingashadowyfigurewithfloatinghair，andarmsfuriouslyraisedandloweredworkingthemachinerythatpropelledthechairatitsutmostrateofspeed。"IamNapoleon，atthesunriseofAusterlitz！"shoutedthemaninthechairashesweptpastmeonhisrumblingandwhistlingwheels，intheredglowofthefire—light。"Igivetheword，andthronesrock，andkingsfall，andnationstremble，andmenbytensofthousandsfightandbleedanddie！"Thechairrushedoutofsight，andtheshoutingmaninitbecameanotherhero。"IamNelson！"theringingvoicecriednow。"IamleadingthefleetatTrafalgar。Iissuemycommands，propheticallyconsciousofvictoryanddeath。Iseemyownapotheosis，mypublicfuneral，mynation’stears，myburialinthegloriouschurch。Theagesrememberme，andthepoetssingmypraiseinimmortalverse！"Thestridentwheelsturnedatthefarendoftheroomandcameback。Thefantasticandfrightfulapparition，manandmachineryblendedinone——thenewCentaur，halfman，halfchair——flewbymeagaininthedyinglight。"IamShakespeare！"criedthefranticcreaturenow。"Iamwriting’Lear，’thetragedyoftragedies。Ancientsandmoderns，Iamthepoetwhotowersoverthemall。Light！light！thelinesflowoutlikelavafromtheeruptionofmyvolcanicmind。Light！light！

forthepoetofalltimetowritethewordsthatliveforever！"

Hegroundandtorehiswaybacktowardthemiddleoftheroom。Asheapproachedthefire—placealastmorselofunburnedcoal（orwood）burstintomomentaryflame，andshowedtheopendoorway。Inthatmomenthesawus！Thewheel—chairstoppedwithashockthatshookthecrazyoldflooroftheroom，altereditscourse，andflewatuswiththerushofawildanimal。Wedrewback，justintimetoescapeit，againstthewalloftherecess。Thechairpassedon，andburstasidethehangingtapestry。Thelightofthelampinthecircularroompouredinthroughthegap。Thecreatureinthechaircheckedhisfuriouswheels，andlookedbackoverhisshoulderwithanimpishcuriosityhorribletosee。

"HaveIrunoverthem？HaveIgroundthemtopowderforpresumingtointrudeonme？"hesaidtohimself。Astheexpressionofthisamiabledoubtpassedhislipshiseyeslightedonus。HismindinstantlyveeredbackagaintoShakespeareandKingLear。

"GonerilandRegan！"hecried。"Mytwounnaturaldaughters，myshe—devilchildrencometomockatme！"

"Nothingofthesort，"saidmymother—in—law，asquietlyasifshewereaddressingaperfectlyreasonablebeing。"Iamyouroldfriend，Mrs。Macallan；andIhavebroughtEustaceMacallan’ssecondwifetoseeyou。"

Theinstantshepronouncedthoselastwords，"EustaceMacallan’ssecondwife，"themaninthechairsprangoutofitwithashrillcryofhorror，asifshehadshothim。Foronemomentwesawaheadandbodyintheair，absolutelydeprivedofthelowerlimbs。

Themomentafter，theterriblecreaturetouchedtheflooraslightlyasamonkey，onhishands。Thegrotesquehorrorofthesceneculminatedinhishoppingawayonhishands，ataprodigiousspeed，untilhereachedthefire—placeinthelongroom。Therehecrouchedoverthedyingembers，shudderingandshivering，andmuttering，"Oh，pityme，pityme！"dozensanddozensoftimestohimself。

ThiswasthemanwhoseadviceIhadcometoask——whoassistanceI

hadconfidentlycountedoninmyhourofneed。

CHAPTERXXV。

MISERRIMUSDEXTER——SECONDVIEW

THOROUGHLYdisheartenedanddisgusted，and（ifImusthonestlyconfessit）thoroughlyfrightenedtoo，IwhisperedtoMrs。

Macallan，"Iwaswrong，andyouwereright。Letusgo。"

TheearsofMiserrimusDextermusthavebeenassensitiveastheearsofadog。Heheardmesay，"Letusgo。"

"No！"hecalledout。"BringEustaceMacallan’ssecondwifeinhere。Iamagentleman——Imustapologizetoher。Iamastudentofhumancharacter——Iwishtoseeher。"

Thewholemanappearedtohaveundergoneacompletetransformation。Hespokeinthegentlestofvoices，andhesighedhystericallywhenhehaddone，likeawomanrecoveringfromaburstoftears。Wasitrevivingcourageorrevivingcuriosity？

WhenMrs。Macallansaidtome，"Thefitisovernow；doyoustillwishtogoaway？"Ianswered，"No；Iamreadytogoin。"

"Haveyourecoveredyourbeliefinhimalready？"askedmymother—in—law，inhermercilesslysatiricalway。

"Ihaverecoveredfrommyterrorofhim，"Ireplied。

"IamsorryIterrifiedyou，"saidthesoftvoiceatthefire—place。"SomepeoplethinkIamalittlemadattimes。Youcame，Isuppose，atoneofthetimes——ifsomepeopleareright。I

admitthatIamavisionary。Myimaginationrunsawaywithme，andIsayanddostrangethings。Onthoseoccasions，anybodywhoremindsmeofthathorribleTrialthrowsmebackagainintothepast，andcausesmeunutterablenervoussuffering。Iamaverytender—heartedman。Asthenecessaryconsequence（insuchaworldasthis），Iamamiserablewretch。Acceptmyexcuses。Comein，bothofyou。Comeinandpityme。"

Achildwouldnothavebeenfrightenedofhimnow。Achildwouldhavegoneinandpitiedhim。

Theroomwasgettingdarkeranddarker。WecouldjustseethecrouchingfigureofMiserrimusDexterattheexpiringfire——andthatwasall。

"Arewetohavenolight？"askedMrs。Macallan。"Andisthisladytoseeyou，whenthelightcomes，outofyourchair？"

Heliftedsomethingbrightandmetallic，hangingroundhisneck，andblewonitaseriesofshrill，trilling，bird—likenotes。

Afteranintervalhewasansweredbyasimilarseriesofnotessoundingfaintlyinsomedistantregionofthehouse。

"Arieliscoming，"hesaid。"Composeyourself，MammaMacallan；

Arielwithmakemepresentabletoalady’seyes。"

Hehoppedawayonhishandsintothedarknessattheendoftheroom。"Waitalittle，saidMrs。Macallan，"andyouwillhaveanothersurprise——youwillseethe’delicateAriel。’"

Weheardheavyfootstepsinthecircularroom。

"Ariel！"sighedMiserrimusDexteroutofthedarkness，inhissoftestnotes。

Tomyastonishmentthecoarse，masculinevoiceofthecousinintheman’shat——theCaliban’s，ratherthantheAriel’svoice——answered，"Here！"

"Mychair，Ariel！"

Thepersonthusstrangelymisnameddrewasidethetapestry，soastoletinmorelight；thenenteredtheroom，pushingthewheeledchairbeforeher。ShestoopedandliftedMiserrimusDexterfromthefloor，likeachild。Beforeshecouldputhimintothechair，hesprangoutofherarmswithalittlegleefulcry，andalightedonhisseat，likeabirdalightingonitsperch！

"Thelamp，"saidMiserrimusDexter，"andthelooking—glass。——Pardonme，"headded，addressingus，"forturningmybackonyou。Youmustn’tseemeuntilmyhairissettorights。——Ariel！thebrush，thecomb，andtheperfumes！"

Carryingthelampinonehand，thelooking—glassintheother，andthebrush（withthecombstuckinit）betweenherteeth，ArieltheSecond，otherwiseDexter’scousin，presentedherselfplainlybeforemeforthefirsttime。Icouldnowseethegirl’sround，fleshy，inexpressiveface，herraylessandcolorlesseyes，hercoarsenoseandheavychin。Acreaturehalfalive；animperfectlydevelopedanimalinshapelessformcladinaman’spilotjacket，andtreadinginaman’sheavylacedboots，withnothingbutanoldred—flannelpetticoat，andabrokencombinherfrowzyflaxenhair，totellusthatshewasawoman——suchwastheinhospitablepersonwhohadreceivedusinthedarknesswhenwefirstenteredthehouse。

Thiswonderfulvalet，collectinghermaterialsfordressingherstillmorewonderfulmaster’shair，gavehimthelooking—glass（ahand—mirror），andaddressedherselftoherwork。

Shecombed，shebrushed，sheoiled，sheperfumedtheflowinglocksandthelongsilkybeardofMiserrimusDexterwiththestrangestmixtureofdullnessanddexteritythatIeversaw。Doneinbrutesilence，withalumpishlookandaclumsygait，theworkwasperfectlywelldonenevertheless。Theimpinthechairsuperintendedthewholeproceedingcriticallybymeansofhishand—mirror。HewastoodeeplyinterestedinthisoccupationtospeakuntilsomeoftheconcludingtouchestohisbeardbroughtthemisnamedArielinfrontofhim，andsoturnedherfullfacetowardthepartoftheroominwhichMrs。MacallanandIwerestanding。Thenheaddressedus，takingespecialcare，however，nottoturnhisheadourwaywhilehistoiletwasstillincomplete。

"MammaMacallan，"hesaid，"whatistheChristiannameofyourson’ssecondwife？"

"Whydoyouwanttoknow？"askedmymother—in—law。

"IwanttoknowbecauseIcan’taddressheras’Mrs。EustaceMacallan。’"

"Whynot？"

"Itrecalls_theother_Mrs。EustaceMacallan。IfIamremindedofthosehorribledaysatGleninchmyfortitudewillgiveway——I

shallburstoutscreamingagain。"

Hearingthis，Ihastenedtointerpose。

"MynameisValeria，"Isaid。

"ARomanname，"remarkedMiserrimusDexter。"Ilikeit。MymindiscastintheRomanmold。MybodilybuildwouldhavebeenRomanifIhadbeenbornwithlegs。IshallcallyouMrs。Valeria，unlessyoudisapproveofit。"

IhastenedtosaythatIwasfarfromdisapprovingofit。

"Verygood，"saidMiserrimusDexter"Mrs。Valeria，doyouseethefaceofthiscreatureinfrontofme？"

Hepointedwiththehand—mirrortohiscousinasunconcernedlyashemighthavepointedtoadog。Hiscousin，onherside，tooknomorenoticethanadogwouldhavetakenofthecontemptuousphrasebywhichhehaddesignatedher。Shewentoncombingandoilinghisbeardascomposedlyasever。

"Itisthefaceofanidiot，isn’tit？"pursuedMiserrimusDexter！"Lookather！Sheisamerevegetable。Acabbageinagardenhasasmuchlifeandexpressioninitasthatgirlexhibitsatthepresentmoment。Wouldyoubelievetherewaslatentintelligence，affection，pride，fidelity，insuchahalf—developedbeingasthis？"

Iwasreallyashamedtoanswerhim。Quiteneedlessly！Theimpenetrableyoungwomanwentonwithhermaster’sbeard。A

machinecouldnothavetakenlessnoticeofthelifeandthetalkarounditthanthisincomprehensiblecreature。

"_I_havegotatthatlatentaffection，pride，fidelity，andtherestofit，"resumedMiserrimusDexter。"_I_holdthekeytothatdormantIntelligence。Grandthought！NowlookatherwhenI

speak。（Inamedher，poorwretch，inoneofmyironicalmoments。

Shehasgottolikehername，justasadoggetstolikehiscollar。）Now，Mrs。Valeria，lookandlisten。——Ariel！"

Thegirl’sdullfacebegantobrighten。Thegirl’smechanicallymovinghandstopped，andheldthecombinsuspense。

"Ariel！youhavelearnedtodressmyhairandanointmybeard，haven’tyou？"

Herfacestillbrightened。"Yes！yes！yes！"sheanswered，eagerly。"AndyousayIhavelearnedtodoitwell，don’tyou？"

"Isaythat。Wouldyouliketoletanybodyelsedoitforyou？"

Hereyesmeltedsoftlyintolightandlife。HerstrangeunwomanlyvoicesanktothegentlesttonesthatIhadheardfromheryet。

"Nobodyelseshalldoitforme，"shesaidatonceproudlyandtenderly。"Nobody，aslongasIlive，shalltouchyoubutme。"

"Noteventheladythere？"askedMiserrimusDexter，pointingbackwardwithhishand—mirrortotheplaceatwhichIwasstanding。

Hereyessuddenlyflashed，herhandsuddenlyshookthecombatme，inaburstofjealousrage。

"Lethertry！"criedthepoorcreature，raisinghervoiceagaintoitshoarsestnotes。"Lethertouchyouifshedares！"

Dexterlaughedatthechildishoutbreak。"Thatwilldo，mydelicateAriel，"hesaid。"IdismissyourIntelligenceforthepresent。Relapseintoyourformerself。Finishmybeard。"

Shepassivelyresumedherwork。Thenewlightinhereyes，thenewexpressioninherface，fadedlittlebylittleanddiedout。

Inanotherminutethefacewasasvacantandaslumpishasbefore；thehandsdidtheirworkagainwiththelifelessdexteritywhichhadsopainfullyimpressedmewhenshefirsttookupthebrush。MiserrimusDexterappearedtobeperfectlysatisfiedwiththeseresults。

"Ithoughtmylittleexperimentmightinterestyou，"hesaid。

"Youseehowitis？Thedormantintelligenceofmycuriouscousinislikethedormantsoundinamusicalinstrument。Iplayuponit——anditanswerstomytouch。Shelikesbeingplayedupon。Buthergreatdelightistohearmetellastory。Ipuzzlehertothevergeofdistraction；andthemoreIconfuseherthebettershelikesthestory。Itisthegreatestfun；youreallymustseeitsomeday。"Heindulgedhimselfinalastlookatthemirror。

"Ha！"hesaid，complacently；"nowIshalldo。Vanish，Ariel！"

Shetrampedoutoftheroominherheavyboots，withthemuteobedienceofatrainedanimal。Isaid"Good—night"asshepassedme。Sheneitherreturnedthesalutationnorlookedatme：thewordssimplyproducednoeffectonherdullsenses。Theonevoicethatcouldreachherwassilent。Shehadrelapsedoncemoreintothevacantinanimatecreaturewhohadopenedthegatetous，untilitpleasedMiserrimusDextertospeaktoheragain。

"Valeria！"saidmymother—in—law。"Ourmodesthostiswaitingtoseewhatyouthinkofhim。"

Whilemyattentionwasfixedonhiscousinhehadwheeledhischairaroundsoastofaceme。withthelightofthelampfallingfullonhim。InmentioninghisappearanceasawitnessattheTrial，IfindIhaveborrowed（withoutmeaningtodoso）frommyexperienceofhimatthislatertime。Isawplainlynowthebrightintelligentfaceandthelargeclearblueeyes，thelustrouswavinghairofalightchestnutcolor，thelongdelicatewhitehands，andthemagnificentthroatandchestwhichIhaveelsewheredescribed。ThedeformitywhichdegradedanddestroyedthemanlybeautyofhisheadandbreastwashiddenfromviewbyanOrientalrobeofmanycolors，thrownoverthechairlikeacoverlet。Hewasclothedinajacketofblackvelvet，fastenedlooselyacrosshischestwithlargemalachitebuttons；andheworelacerufflesattheendsofhissleeves，inthefashionofthelastcentury。Itmaywellhavebeenduetowantofperceptiononmypart——butIcouldseenothingmadinhim，nothinginanywayrepelling，ashenowlookedatme。TheonedefectthatI

coulddiscoverinhisfacewasattheoutercornersofhiseyes，justunderthetemple。Herewhenhelaughed，andinalesserdegreewhenhesmiled，theskincontractedintoquaintlittlewrinklesandfolds，whichlookedstrangelyoutofharmonywiththealmostyouthfulappearanceoftherestofhisface。Astohisotherfeatures，themouth，sofarashisbeardandmustachepermittedmetoseeit，wassmallanddelicatelyformed；thenose——perfectlyshapedonthestraightGrecianmodel——wasperhapsalittletoothin，judgedbycomparisonwiththefullcheeksandthehighmassiveforehead。Lookingathimasawhole（andspeakingofhim，ofcourse，fromawoman’s，notaphysiognomist’spointofview），Icanonlydescribehimasbeinganunusuallyhandsomeman。ApainterwouldhavereveledinhimasamodelforSt。John。Andayounggirl，ignorantofwhattheOrientalrobehidfromview，wouldhavesaidtoherself，theinstantshelookedathim，"Hereistheheroofmydreams！"

Hisblueeyes——largeastheeyesofawoman，clearastheeyesofachild——restedonmethemomentIturnedtowardhim，withastrangelyvaryingplayofexpression，whichatonceinterestedandperplexedme。

Nowtherewasdoubt——uneasy，painfuldoubt——inthelook；andnowagainitchangedbrightlytoapproval，soopenandunrestrainedthatavainwomanmighthavefanciedshehadmadeaconquestofhimatfirstsight。Suddenlyanewemotionseemedtotakepossessionofhim。Hiseyessank，hisheaddrooped；heliftedhishandswithagestureofregret。Hemutteredandmurmuredtohimself；pursuingsomesecretandmelancholytrainofthought，whichseemedtoleadhimfurtherandfurtherawayfrompresentobjectsofinterest，andtoplungehimdeeperanddeeperintroubledrecollectionsofthepast。HereandthereIcaughtsomeofthewords。LittlebylittleIfoundmyselftryingtofathomwhatwasdarklypassinginthisstrangeman’smind。

"Afarmorecharmingface，"Iheardhimsay。"Butno——notamorebeautifulfigure。Whatfigurewasevermorebeautifulthanhers？

Something——butnotall——ofherenchantinggrace。Whereistheresemblancewhichhasbroughtherbacktome？Intheposeofthefigure，perhaps。Inthemovementofthefigure，perhaps。Poormartyredangel！Whatalife！Andwhatadeath！whatadeath！"