Itworriedhimthatpostscript.Hecouldnotmakeoutforalongtimewhyitworriedhim.Suddenly，inawasteofendlesssnows，theexplanationflashedacrosshim.Sylviaoftheletterswasalivingwoman！Shecouldtravel——withabox，hesupposed，possiblywithtwoorthree，andparcels.Couldtaketickets，walkupagangway，staggeraboutadeckfeeling，maybe，alittleseasick.Alltheseyearshehadbeenlivingwithherindreamlandshehadbeen，ifhehadonlyknownit，aMissSomebody—or—other，whomusthavestoodeverymorninginfrontofalooking—glasswithhairpinsinhermouth.Hehadneverthoughtofherdoingthesethings;itshockedhim.Hecouldnothelpfeelingitwasindelicateofher——comingtolifeinthissudden，uncalled—formanner.
Hestruggledwiththisnewconceptionofher，andhadalmostforgivenher，whenafurtherandstillmorestartlingsuggestionarrivedtoplaguehim.Ifshereallylivedwhyshouldhenotseeher，speaktoher？Solongasshehadremainedinherhiddentemple，situateinthevaguerecessesofLondon，S.E.，herlettershadcontentedhim.Butnowthatshehadmoved，nowthatshewasnolongeravoicebutawoman！Well，itwouldbeinterestingtoseewhatshewaslike.Heimaginedtheintroduction：\"MissSomebody—
or—other，allowmetopresentyoutoMr.MatthewPole.\"ShewouldhavenoideahewasAstonRowant.Ifshehappenedtobeyoung，beautiful，inallwayssatisfactory，hewouldannouncehimself.Howastonished，howdelightedshewouldbe.
Butifnot！Ifshewereelderly，plain？Thewisest，wittiestofwomenhavebeenknowntohaveanincipientmoustache.Abeautifulspiritcan，andsometimesdoes，lookoutofgoggleeyes.Supposeshesufferedfromindigestionandhadashinynose！Wouldherletterseveragainhavethesamecharmforhim？Absurdthattheyshouldnot.Butwouldthey？
Theriskwastoogreat.Givingthematterlongandcarefulconsideration，hedecidedtosendherbackintodreamland.