CHAPTERV
REVENGE
Andfullofblackrage！Hadsheonlyreproachedme，or，turningonmeinthehourofMYvictory，saidallthatshehadnowsaidinthemomentofherown，Icouldhaveborneit。Shemighthaveshamedmethen，andImighthavetakentheshametomyselfandforgivenher。But，asitwas，Istoodthereinthegatheringdusk，betweenthedarkeninghedges，baffled，tricked，defeated！Andbyawoman！Shehadpittedherwitsagainstmine，herwoman\'swillagainstmyexperience，andshehadcomeoffthevictor。Andthenshehadreviledme！AsItookitallin，andbegantocomprehendalsothemoreremoteresults，andhowcompletelyhermovehadmadefurtherprogressonmypartimpossible，Ihatedher。Shehadtrickedmewithhergraciouswaysandherslow-comingsmile。And，afterall——forwhatshehadsaid——itwasthisman\'slifeormine。\'WhathadIdonethatanothermanwouldnotdo？MONDIEU！inthefuturetherewasnothingIwouldnotdo。Iwouldmakehersmartforthosewordsofhers！Iwouldbringhertoherknees！
Still，hotasIwas，anhourmighthaverestoredmetocoolness。ButwhenIstartedtoreturn，Ifellintoafreshrage，forIrememberedthatIdidnotknowmywayoutofthemazeofridesandpathsintowhichshehaddrawnme；andthisandthemishapswhichfollowed，keptmyragehot。ForafullhourIwanderedinthewood，unable，thoughIknewwherethevillagelay，tofindanytrackwhichledcontinuouslyinonedirection。
Whenever，attheendofeachattempt，thethicketbroughtmeupshort，IfanciedthatIheardherlaughingonthefarthersideofthebrake；andtheignominyofthischancepunishment，andthecheckwhichtheconfinementplacedonmyrage，almostmaddenedme。InthedarknessIfell，androsecursing；Itoremyhandswiththorns；Istainedmysuit，whichhadsufferedsadlyoncebefore。Atlength，whenIhadalmostresignedmyselftolieinthewood，Icaughtsightofthelightsofthevillage，and，tremblingbetweenhasteandanger，pressedtowardsthem。InafewminutesIstoodinthelittlestreet。