TheprofessorhadthenaskedwithconsiderablespiritfortheproofsuponwhichMrs。WainwrightnamedColemanamonster，andhadmadeawryfaceoverhercompletelyconventionalreply。Hehadtoldhercategoricallyhisopinionofhereruditioninsuchmatters。
ButMrs。Wainwrightwasnottobedeterredfromanexcitingespousalofthecauseofhersex。Upontheinstantthattheprofessorstrenuouslyopposedhershebecameanapostle，anenlightened，upliftedapostletotheworldonthewrongsofhersex。Shehadcomedownwiththisthingasifitwereadisease。
Nothingcouldstopher。Herhusband，herdaughter，allinfluencesinotherdirections，hadbeenoverturnedwitharoar，andthefirstthingfullycleartotheprofessor\'smindhadbeenthathiswifewasridingaffablyinthecarriagewithNoraBlack。
Colemanarousedwhenheheardoneofthestudentscryout:\"Why，thereisRufusColeman\'sdragoman。
Hemustbehere。\"Amomentlatertheythrongeduponhim。\"Hi，oldman，caughtyouagain!Wheredidyoubreakto？Gladtocatchyou，oldboy。Howareyoumakingit？Where\'syourhorse？\"
\"Sentthehorsesonto，Athens，\"saidColeman。
Hehadnotyetrecoveredhiscomposure，andhewasgladtofindavailablethiscommonplacereturntotheirexuberantgreetingsandquestions。\"SentthemontoAthenswiththegroom。\"
Inthemeantimetheengineofthelittletrainwasscreamingtoheaventhatitsintentionofstartingwasmostserious。Thediligenciacareeredtothestationplatformandunburdened。Colemanhadhadhisdragomanplacehisluggageinalittlefirst-classcarriageandhedefiantlyentereditandclosedthedoor。
Hehadasuddenreturntotheoldsenseofdownfall，andwithitcametheoriginalrebelliousdesires。However，hehopedthatsomebodywouldintrudeuponhim。
ItwasPeterTounley。Thestudentflungopenthedoorandthenyelledtothedistance:\"Here\'sanemptyone。\"Heclatteredintothecompartment。
\"Hello，Coleman!Didn\'tknowyouwereinhere!\"
AthisheelscameNoraBlack，CokeandMarjory。
\"Oh!\"theysaid，whentheysawtheoccupantofthecarriage。\"Oh!\"Colemanwasfurious。Hecouldhavedistributedsomeofhistrapsinawaytocreatemoreroom，buthedidnotmove。
CHAPTERXXIV。
THEREwasademonstrationoftheunequalledfacilitiesofaEuropeanrailwaycarriageforrenderingunpleasantthingsalmostintolerable。Thesepeoplecouldfindnowaytoalleviatethepoignancyoftheirposition。Colemandidnotknowwheretolook。
EverypersonalmannerismbecomesaccentuatedinaEuropeanrailwaycarriage。Ifyouglanceataman，yourglancedefinesitselfasastare。Ifyoucarefullylookatnothing，youcreateforyourselfaresemblancetoallwooden-headedthings。Anewspaperis，then，inthenatureofapreservative，andColemanlongedforanewspaper。
ItwasthisabominablerailwaycarriagewhichexactedthefirstdisplayofagitationfromMarjory。
Sheflushedrosily，andhereyeswaveredoverthecornpartment。NoraBlacklaughedinawaythatwasashocktothenerves。Cokeseemedveryangry，indeed，andPeterTounleywasinpitifuldistress。
Everythingwasacutely，painfullyvivid，bald，paintedasglaringlyasagrocer\'snewwagon。Itfulfilledthosetraditionswhichtheartistsdeplorewhentheyusetheirpetphraseonapicture，\"Ithurts。\"ThedamnablepowerofaccentuationoftheEuropeanrailwaycarriageseemed，toColeman\'samazedmind，toberedoubledandredoubled。
ItwasPeterTounleywhoseemedtobeinthegreatestagony。Helookedatthecorrespondentbeseechinglyandsaid:\"It\'saverycoldmorning，Coleman。\"
Thiswasanactualappealinthenameofhumanity。
Colemancamesquarely。tothefrontandevengrinnedalittleatpoorPeterTounley\'smisery。
\"Yes，itisacoldmorning，Peter。Ishouldsayittooneofthecoldestmorningsinmyrecollection。\"
PeterTounleyhadnotintendedatypicalAmericanemphasisonthepolarconditionswhichobtainedinthecompartmentatthistime，butColemanhadgiventhewordthismeaning。Spontaneouslyeverybodysmiled，andatoncethetensionwasrelieved。
Butofcoursethesatanicpowersoftherailwaycarriagecouldnotbealtogethersetatnaught。OfcourseitfelltothelotofCoketogettheseatdirectlyinfrontofColeman，andthus，facetoface，theyweredoomedtostareateachother。
PeterTounleywasinspiredtobeginconventionalbabble，inwhichhetookgreatcaretomakeanappear。
anceoftalkingtoallinthecarriage。\"FunnythingIneverknewthesemorningsinGreeceweresocold。
Ithoughttheclimateherewasquitetropical。Itmusthavebeeninconvenientintheancienttimes，when，Iamtold，peopledidn\'twearnearsomany-
er-clothes。Really，Idon\'tseehowtheystoodit。
Formypart，Iwouldlikenothingsomuchasabuffalorobe。Isupposewhenthosegreatsculptorsweredoingtheirmasterpieces，theyhadtoweargloves。
Everthinkofthat？Funny，isn\'tit？Aren\'tyoucold，Marjory？Iam。jingo!ImaginetheSpartansinulsters，goingouttomeetanenemyincape-overcoats，andbeingdesiredbytheirmotherstoreturnwiththeirulstersorwrappedinthem。\"
ItwasratherhardworkforPeterTounley。BothMarjoryandColemantriedtodisplayaninterestinhislabours，andtheylaughednotatwhathesaid，butbecausetheybelieveditassistedhim。Thelittletrain，meanwhile，wanderedupagreatgreenslope，andthedayrapidlycolouredtheland。
AtfirstNoraBlackdidnotdisplayamilitantmood，butastimepassedColemansawclearlythatshewasconsideringtheadvisabilityofanewattack。ShehadColemanandMarjoryinconjunctionandwheretheywereunabletoescapefromher。Theopportunitiesweregreat。ToColeman，sheseemedtobegloatingoverthepossibilitiesofmakingmoremischief。Shewaslookingathimspeculatively，asifconsideringthebestplacetohithimfirst。Presentlyshedrawled:
\"Rufus，Iwishyouwouldfixmyrugaboutmealittlebetter。\"Colemansawthatthiswasabeginning。
PeterTounleysprangtohisfeetwithspeedanden-
thusiasm。\"Oh，letmedoitforyou。\"Hehadherwellmuffledintherugbeforeshecouldprotest，evenifaprotesthadbeenrational。TheyoungmanhadnoideaofdefendingColeman。Hehadnoknowledgeofthenecessityforit。Ithadbeenmerelytheexerciseofhishabitofamiability，hischronicdesiretoseeeverybodycomfortable。HispassioninthisdirectionwaswellknowninWashurst，wherethestudentshadborrowedaphrasefromthephotographersinordertodescribehimfullyinanickname。Theycalledhim\"Look-pleasantTounley。\"Thisdidnotinanywayantagonisehisperfectwillingnesstofightonoccasionswithasingulardesperation，whichusuallyhasasmallstoolineverymindwheregoodnaturehasathrone。
\"Oh，thankyouverymuch，Mr。Tounley，\"saidNoraBlack，withoutgratitude。\"Rufusisalwayssolaxinthesematters。\"
\"Idon\'tknowhowyouknowit，\"saidColemanboldly，andhelookedherfearlesslyintheeye。Thebattlehadbegun。
\"Oh，\"respondedNora，airily，\"Ihavehadopportunityenoughtoknowit，Ishouldthink，bythistime。\"
\"No，\"saidColeman，\"sinceIhaveneverpaidyouparticularanddirectattention，youcannotpossiblyknowwhatIamlaxinandwhatIamnotlaxin。I
wouldbeobligedtobeofserviceatanytime，Nora，butsurelyyoudonotconsiderthatyouhavearighttomyservicessuperiortoanyotherright。\"
NoraBlacksimplywentmad，butfortunatelypartofhermadnesswasintheformofspeechlessness。
Otherwisetheremighthavebeenheardsomethingapproachingtobillingsgate。
MarjoryandPeterTounleyturnedfirsthotandthencold，andlookedasiftheywantedtoflyaway；andevenCoke，pennedhelplesslyinwiththisunpleasantincident，seemedtohaveasuddenattackofdistress。
TheonlyfrigidpersonwasColeman。Hehadmadehisdeclarationofindependence，andhesawwithgleethatthevictorywascomplete。NoraBlackmightstormandrage，buthehadannouncedhispositioninanunconventionalbluntwaywhichnobodyinthecarriagecouldfailtounderstand。HefeltsomewhatlikesmilingwithconfidenceanddefianceinNora\'sface，buthestillhadthefearforMarjory。
Unexpectedly，thefightwasalloutofNoraBlack。
Shehadthefuryofawomanscorned，butevidentlyshehadperceivedthatallwasoverandlost。TheremainderofherwrathdispenseditselfinglareswhichColemanwithstoodwithgreatcomposure。
AstrainedsilencefelluponthegroupwhichlasteduntiltheyarrivedatthelittleportofMesalonghi，whencetheyweretotakeshipforPatras。Colemanfoundhimselfwonderingwhyhehadnotgoneflatlyatthegreatquestionatamuchearlierperiod，indeedatthefirstmomentwhenthegreatquestionbegantomakelifeexcitingforhim。HethoughtthatifhehadchargedNora\'sgunsinthebeginningtheywouldhaveturnedouttobethesameincapableartillery。
Insteadofthathehadrunawayandcontinuedtorunawayuntilhewasactuallycorneredandmadetofight，andhiseasyvictoryhaddefinedhimasapersonwhohad，earlier，indulgedinmuchstupidityandcowardice。
Everythinghadworkedoutsosimply，histerrorshadbeendispelledsoeasily，thatheprobablywasledtooverestimatehissuccess。Anditoccurredsuddenlytohim。HeforesawafineoccasiontotalkprivatelytoMarjorywhenallhadboardedthesteamerforPatrasandheresolvedtomakeuseofit。Thishebelievedwouldendthestrifeandconclusivelylaurelhim。
Thetrainfinallydrewuponalittlestonepierandsomeboatmenbegantoscreamlikegulls。Thesteamerlayatanchorintheplacidbluecove。TheembarkationwaschaoticintheOrientalfashionandtherewasthecustomarymiserywhichwasonlyrelievedwhenthetravellershadsetfootonthedeckofthesteamer。ColemandidnotdevoteanyprematureattentiontofindingMarjory，butwhenthesteamerwasfairlyoutonthecalmwatersoftheGulfofCorinth，hesawherpacingtoandfrowithPeterTounley。
Atfirsthelurkedinthedistancewaitingforanopportunity，butultimatelyhedecidedtomakehisownopportunity。Heapproachedthem。\"Marjory，wouldyouletmespeaktoyoualoneforafewmoments？
Youwon\'tmind，willyou，Peter？\"
\"Oh，no，certainlynot，\"saidPeterTounley。
\"Ofcourse。Itisnotsomedreadfulrevelation，isit？\"saidMarjory，banteringhimcoolly。
\"No，\"answeredColeman，abstractedly。Hewasthinkingofwhathewasgoingtosay。PeterTounleyvanishedaroundthecornerofadeck-houseandMarjoryandColemanbegantopacetoandfroevenasMarjoryandPeterTounleyhaddone。Colemanhadthoughttospeakhismindfranklyandonceforall，andonthetrainhehadinventedmanyclearexpressionsofhisfeeling。Itdidnotappearthathehadforgottenthem。Itseemed，more，thattheyhadbecomeentangledinhismindinsuchawaythathecouldnotunraveltheendofhisdiscourse。
Inthepause，Marjorybegantospeakinadmirationofthescenery。\"IneverimaginedthatGreecewassofullofmountains。OnereadssomuchoftheAtticPlains，butaren\'tthesemountainsroyal？Theylooksoruggedandcold，whereasthebayisabsolutelyasblueastheolddescriptionsofasummersea。\"
\"IwantedtospeaktoyouaboutNoraBlack，\"saidColeman。
\"NoraBlack？Why？\"saidMarjory，liftinghereye-
brows。
Youknowwellenough，\"saidColeman，inahead。
longfashion。\"Youmustknow，youmusthaveseenit。SheknowsIcareforyouandshewantstostopit。
Andshehasnorightto-tointerfere。Sheisafiend，aperfectfiend。SheistryingtomakeyoufeelthatI
careforher。\"
\"Anddon\'tyoucareforher？\"askedMarjory。
\"No，\"saidColeman，vehemently。\"Idon\'tcareforheratall。\"
\"Verywell，\"answeredMarjory，simply。\"Ibelieveyou。\"Shemanagedtogivethewordstheeffectofamereannouncementthatshebelievedhimanditwasinnowayplainthatshewasgladorthatsheesteemedthematterasbeingofconsequence。
Hescowledatherindarkresentment。\"Youmeanbythat，Isuppose，thatyoudon\'tbelieveme？\"
\"Oh，\"answeredMarjory，wearily，\"Ibelieveyou。
Isaidso。Don\'ttalkaboutitanymore。\"
\"Then，\"saidColeman，slowly，\"youmeanthatyoudonotcarewhetherI\'mtellingthetruthornot？\"
\"Why，ofcourseIcare，\"shesaid。\"Lyingisnotnice。\"
Hedidnotknow，apparently，exactlyhowtodealwithhermanner，whichwasactuallysopliablethat-itwasmarble，ifonemayspeakinthatway。Helookedruefullyatthesea。Hehadexpectedafareasiertime。\"Well-\"hebegan。
\"Really，\"interruptedMarjory，\"thisissomethingwhichIdonotcaretodiscuss。Iwouldratheryouwouldnotspeaktomeatallaboutit。Itseemstoo-too-bad。IcanreadilygiveyoumywordthatI
believeyou，butIwouldpreferyounottotrytotalktomeaboutitor-anythingofthatsort。Mother!\"
Mrs。Wainwrightwashoveringanxiouslyinthevicinity，andshenowboredownrapidlyuponthepair。\"YouareverynearlytoPatras，\"shesaidreproachfullytoherdaughter，asifthefacthadsomefaultofMarjory\'sconcealedinit。Sheinnowayac-
knowledgedthepresenceofColeman。
\"Oh，arewe？\"criedMarjory。
\"Yes，\"saidMrs。Wainwright。\"Weare。\"
ShestoodwaitingasifsheexpectedMarjorytoin-
stantlyquitColeman。Thegirlwaveredamomentandthenfollowedhermother。\"Good-bye。\"shesaid。
\"IhopewemayseeyouagaininAthens。\"ItwasacommandtohimtotravelalonewithhisservantonthelongrailwayjourneyfromPatrastoAthens。Itwasadismissalofacasualacquaintancegivensograciouslythatitstunghimtothedepthsofhispride。
Hebowedhisadieuandhisthanks。Whentheyellingboatmencameagain，heandhismanproceededtotheshoreinanearlyboatwithoutlookinginanywayafterthewelfareoftheothers。
Atthetrain，thepartysplitintothreesections。
Colemanandhismanhadonecompartment，NoraBlackandhersquadhadanother，andtheWainwrightsandstudentsoccupiedtwomore。
ThelittleofficerwasstillintowofNoraBlack。
Hewasveryenthusiastic。InFrenchshedirectedhimtoremainsilent，buthedidnotappeartounderstand。
\"Youtellhim，\"shethensaidtoherdragoman，\"tositinacornerandnottospeakuntilItellhimto，orIwon\'thavehiminhere。\"Sheseemedanxioustounburdenherselftotheoldladycompanion。
\"Doyouknow，\"shesaid，\"thatgirlhasanervelikesteel。Itriedtobreakitthereinthatinn，butIcouldn\'tbudgeher。IfIamgoingtohaveherbeatenImustprovemyselftobeavery，veryartfulperson。\"
\"Whydidyoutrytobreakhernerve？\"askedtheoldlady，yawning。\"Whydoyouwanttohaveherbeaten？\"
\"BecauseIdo，oldstupid，\"answeredNora。\"YoushouldhaveheardthethingsIsaidtoher。\"
\"Aboutwhat？\"
\"AboutColeman。Can\'tyouunderstandanythingatall？\"
\"AndwhyshouldyousayanythingaboutColemantoher？\"queriedtheoldlady，stillhopelesslybefogged。
\"Because，\"criedNora，dartingalookofwrathathercompanion，\"Iwanttopreventthatmarriage。\"
Shehadbeenbetrayedintothisavowalbythesingularlyopaquemindoftheoldlady。Thelatteratoncesaterect-\"Oh，ho，\"shesaid，asifarayoflighthadbeenletintoherhead。\"Oh，ho。Sothat\'sit，isit？\"
\"Yes，that\'sit，rejoinedNora，shortly。
Theoldladywasamazedintoalongperiodofmeditation。Atlastshespokedepressingly。\"Well，howareyougoingtopreventit？Thosethingscan\'tbedoneinthesedaysatall。Iftheycareforeachother-\"
Noraburstoutfuriously。\"Don\'tventureopinionsuntilyouknowwhatyouaretalkingabout，please。
Theydon\'tcareforeachother，doyousee？Shecaresforhim，buthedon\'tgiveasnapofhisfingersforher。\"
\"But，\"criedthebewilderedlady，\"ifhedon\'tcareforher，therewillbenothingtoprevent。Ifhedon\'tcareforher，hewon\'taskhertomarryhim，andsotherewon\'tbeanythingtoprevent。\"
Noramadeabroadgestureofimpatience。\"Oh，can\'tyougetanythingthroughyourhead？Haven\'tyouseenthatthegirlhasbeentheonlyyoungwomaninthatwholepartylostupthereinthemountains，andthatnaturallymorethanhalfofthemenstillthinktheyareinlovewithher？That\'swhatitis。Can\'tyousee？Italwayshappensthatway。
ThenColemancomesalongandmakesafoolofhimselfwiththeothers。\"
Theoldladyspokeupbrightlyasifatlastfeelingabletocontributesomethingintelligenttothetalk。
\"Oh，then，hedoescareforher。\"
Nora\'seyeslookedasiftheirglancemightshriveltheoldlady\'shair。\"Don\'tIkeeptellingyouthatitisnosuchthing？Can\'tyouunderstand？Itisallglamour!Fascination!Wayupthereinthewilderness!Onlyoneevenpassablewomaninsight。\"
\"Idon\'tsaythatIamsoverykeen，\"saidtheoldlady，somewhatoffended，\"butIfailtoseewhereI
couldimprovewhenfirstyoutellmehedon\'tcareforher，andthenyoutellmethathedoescareforher。\"
\"Glamour，\'\'Fascination，\'\"quotedNora。\"Don\'tyouunderstandthemeaningofthewords？\"
\"Well，\"askedtheother，didn\'theknowher，then，beforehecameoverhere？\"
Norawassilentforatime，whileagloomuponherfacedeepened。Ithadstruckherthatthetheoriesforwhichsheprotestedsoenergeticallymightnotbeofsuchgreatvalue。Spokenaloud，theyhadasuddennewflimsiness。PerhapsshehadreiteratedtoherselfthatColemanwasthevictimofglamouronlybecauseshewishedittobetrue。Onetheory，however，re-
mainedunshaken。Marjorywasanartfulrninx，withnotruthinher。
Shepresentlyfeltthenecessityofreplyingtothequestionofhercompanion。\"Oh，\"shesaid，care-
lessly，\"Isupposetheywereacquainted-inaway。\"
Theoldladywasgivingthebestofhermindtothesubject。\"Ifthat\'sthecase-\"sheobserved，musingly，\"ifthat\'sthecase，youcan\'ttellwhatisbetween\'em。\"
ThetalkhadsoslackenedthatNora\'sunfortunateGreekadmirerfeltthatherewasagoodopportunitytopresenthimselfagaintothenoticeoftheactress。
ThemeanswasasmileandaFrenchsentence，buthisreceptionwouldhavefrightenedamaninarmour。
Hisfaceblanchedwithhorroratthestorm，hehadinvoked，andhedroppedlimplybackasifsomeonehadshothim。\"Youtellthislittlesnipetoletmealone!\"criedNora，tothedragoman。\"IfhedarestocomearoundmewithanymoreofthoseParisiandudespeeches，I-Idon\'tknowwhatI\'lldo!I
won\'thaveit，Isay。\"Theimpressionuponthedragomanwashardlylessineffect。HelookedwithbulgingeyesatNora，andthenbegantostammerattheofficer。Thelatter\'svoicecouldsometimesbeheardinawedwhispersforthemoreelaborateexplanationofsomedetailofthetragedy。Afterward，heremainedmeekandsilentinhiscorner，barelymorethanashadow，liketheproverbialhusbandofimperiousbeauty。
\"Well，\"saidtheoldlady，afteralongandthoughtfulpause，\"Idon\'tknow，I\'msure，butitseemstomethatifRufusColemanreallycaresforthatgirl，thereisn\'tmuchuseintryingtostophimfromgettingher。
Heisn\'tthatkindofaman。\"
\"Forheaven\'ssake，willyoustopassumingthathedoescareforher？\"demandedNora，breathlessly。
\"AndIdon\'tsee，\"continuedtheoldlady，\"whatyouwanttopreventhimfor，anyhow。\"
CHAPTERXXV。
\"IFEELinthisradiantatmospherethattherecouldbenosuchthingaswar-menstrivingtogetherinblackandpassionatehatred。\"Theprofessor\'swordswereforthebenefitofhiswifeanddaughter。，Hewasviewingthesky-bluewatersoftheGulfofCorinthwithitsbackgroundofmountainsthatinthesunshineweretouchedhereandtherewithacopperishglare。
Thetrainwasslowlysweepingalongthesouthernshore。\"Itisstrangetothinkofthosemenfightingupthereinthenorth。Anditisstrangetothinkthatweourselvesarebutjustreturningfromit。\"
\"Icannotbegintorealiseityet，\"saidMrs。Wain-
wright，inahighvoice。
\"Quiteso，\"respondedtheprofessor，reflectively。
\"Idonotsupposeanyofuswillrealiseitfullyforsometime。Itisaltogethertooodd，tooveryodd。\"
\"Tothinkofit!\"criedMrs。WainWright。\"Tothinkofit!SupposingthosedreadfulAlbaniansorthoseawfulmenfromtheGreekmountainshadcaughtus!Why，yearsfromnowI\'llwakeupinthenightandthinkofit!\"
Theprofessormused。\"Strangethatwecannotfeelitstronglynow。Mylogictellsmetobeaghastthatweevergotintosuchaplace，butmynervesatpresentrefusetothrill。IamverymuchafraidthatthissingularapathyofourshasledustobeunjusttopoorColeman。\"
HereMrs。Wainwrightobjected。\"PoorColeman!
Idon\'tseewhyyoucallhimpoorColeman。
\"Well，\"answeredtheprofessor，slowly，\"Iamindoubtaboutourbehaviour。It-\"
\"Oh，\"criedthewife，gleefully，\"indoubtaboutourbehaviour!I\'mindoubtabouthisbehaviour。\"
\"So，then，youdohaveadoubt。ofhisbehaviour？\"
\"Oh，no，\"respondedMrs。Wainwright，hastily，\"notaboutitsbadness。WhatImeanttosaywasthatinthefaceofhisoutrageousconductwiththat-
thatwoman，itiscuriousthatyoushouldworryaboutourbehaviour。Itsurprisesme，Harrison。\"
Theprofessorwaswagginghisheadsadly。\"I
don\'tknowIdon\'tknowItseemshardtojudge**Ihesitateto-\"
Mrs。Wainwrighttreatedthisattitudewithdisdain。
\"Itisnothardtojudge，\"shescoffed，\"andIfailtoseewhyyouhaveanyreasonforhesitationatall。
Herehebringsthiswoman——\"
Theprofessorgotangry。\"Nonsense!Nonsense!
Idonotbelievethathebroughther。IfIeversawaspectacleofawomanbringingherself，itwasthen。
Youkeepchantingthatthinglikeanoutrightparrot。\"
\"Well，\"retortedMrs。Wainwright，bridling，\"I
supposeyouimaginethatyouunderstandsuchthings，Menusuallythinkthat，butIwanttotellyouthatyouseemtomeutterlyblind。\"
\"Blindornot，dostoptheeverlastingreiterationofthatsentence。\"
Mrs。Wainwrightpassedintoanoffendedsilence，andtheprofessor，alsosilent，lookedwithagraduallydwindlingindignationatthescenery。
NightwassuggestedintheskybeforethetrainwasneartoAthens。\"Mytrunks，\"sighedMrs。
Wainwright。\"HowgladIwillbetogetbacktomytrunks!Oh，thedust!Oh，themisery!Dofindoutwhenwewillgetthere，Harrison。Maybethetrainislate。\"
But，atlast，theyarrivedinAthens，amidadarknesswhichwasconfusing，and，afternomorethanthecommonamountoftrouble，theyprocuredcarriagesandweretakentothehotel。Mrs。Wainwright\'simpulsesnowdominatedtheothersinthefamily。
Shehadonepassionafteranother。ThemajorityoftheservantsinthehotelpretendedthattheyspokeEnglish，but，inthreeminutes，shedrovethemdistractedwiththeabundanceandviolenceofherrequests。
ItcametopassthatintheexcitementtheoldcouplequiteforgotMarjory。ItwasnotuntilMrs。Wainwright，thenfeelingsplendidly，wasdressedfordinner，thatshethoughttoopenMarjory\'sdoorandgotorenderausualmotherlysupervisionofthegirl\'stoilet。
Therewasnolight:theredidnotseemtobeany-
bodyintheroom。\"Marjory!\"calledthemother，inalarm。Shelistenedforamomentandthenranhastilyoutagain。\"Harrison!\"shecried。\"Ican\'tfindMarjory!\"Theprofessorhadbeentyinghiscravat。Heletthelooseendsfly。\"What？\"heejaculated，openinghismouthwide。ThentheybothrushedintoMarjory\'sroom。\"Marjory!\"beseechedtheoldmaninavoicewhichwouldhaveinvokedthegrave。
Theanswerwasfromthebed。\"Yes？\"Itwaslow，weary，tearful。ItwasnotlikeMarjory。Itwasdangerouslythevoiceofahcart-brokenwoman。
Theyhurriedforwardwithoutcries。\"Why，Marjory!
Areyouill，child？Howlonghaveyoubeenlyinginthedark？Whydidn\'tyoucallus？Areyouill？\"
\"No，\"answeredthischangedvoice，\"Iamnotill。
IonlythoughtI\'drestforatime。Don\'tbother。\"
Theprofessorhastilylitthegasandthenfatherandmotherturnedhurriedlytothebed。InthefirstoftheilluminationtheysawthattearswereflowinguncheckeddownMarjory\'sface。
Theeffect。ofthisgriefupontheprofessorwas，inpart，aneffectoffear。Heseemedafraidtotouchit，togonearit。Hecould，evidently，onlyremainintheoutskirts，ahorrifiedspectator。Themother，how。
ever，flungherarmsaboutherdaughter。\"Oh，Marjory!\"
She，too，wasweeping。
Thegirlturnedherfacetothepillowandheldoutahandofprotest。\"Don\'t，mother!Don\'t!\"
\"Oh，Marjory!Oh，Marjory!\"
\"Don\'t，mother。Pleasegoaway。Pleasegoaway。Don\'tspeakatall，Ibegofyou。\"
\"Oh，Marjory!Oh，Marjory!\"
\"Don\'t。\"Thegirlliftedafacewhichappalledthem。Ithadsomethingentirelynewinit。\"Pleasegoaway，mother。Iwillspeaktofather，butIwon\'t-Ican\'t-Ican\'tbepitied。\"
Mrs。Wainwrightlookedatherhusband。\"Yes，\"
saidtheoldman，trembling。\"Go!\"Shethrewupherhandsinasorrowinggesturethatwasnotwithoutitssuggestionthatherexclusionwouldbeamistake。
Shelefttheroom。
TheprofessordroppedonhiskneesatthebedsideandtookoneofMarjory\'shands。Hisvoicedroppedtoitstenderestnote。\"Well，myMarjory？\"
Shehadturnedherfaceagaintothepillow。Atlastsheansweredinmuffledtones，\"Youknow。\"
Thereaftercamealongsilencefullofsharpenedpain。ItwasMarjorywhospokefirst。\"Ihavesavedmypride，daddy，but-Ihave-lost-everything——else。\"Evenhersuddenresumptionoftheoldepithetofherchildhoodwasanadditionalmiserytotheoldman。Hestillsaidnoword。Heknelt，grippingherfingersandstaringatthewall。
\"Yes，Ihavelost~everything-else。\"
Thefathergavealowgroan。Hewasthinkingdeeply，bitterly。Sinceonewasonlyahumanbeing，howwasonegoingtoprotectbelovedheartsassailedwithsinisterfuryfromtheinexplicablezenith？Inthistragedyhefeltashelplessasanoldgreyape。
Hedidnotseeapossibleweaponwithwhichhecoulddefendhischildfromthecalamitywhichwasuponher。Therewasnowall，noshieldwhichcouldturnthissorrowfromtheheartofhischild。Ifoneofhishandslosscouldhavesparedher，therewouldhavebeenasacrificeofhishand，buthewaspotentfornothing。Hecouldonlygroanandstareatthewall。
HereviewedthepasthalfinfearthathewouldsuddenlycomeuponhiserrorwhichwasnowthecauseofMarjory\'stears。HedweltlonguponthefactthatinWashursthehadrefusedhisconsenttoMarjory\'smarriagewithColeman，butevennowhecouldnotsaythathisjudgmentwasnotcorrect。Itwassimplythatthedoomofwoman\'swoewasuponMarjory，thisancientwoeofthesilenttongueandthegovernedwill，andhecouldonlykneelatthebedsideandstareatthewall。
Marjoryraisedhervoiceinalaugh。\"DidIbetraymyself？DidIbecomethemaidenallforlorn？DidIgiggletoshowpeoplethatIdidnotcare？No-I
didnot-Ididnot。Anditwassuchalongtime，daddy!Oh，suchalongtime!Ithoughtwewouldnevergethere。IthoughtIwouldnevergetwhereI
couldbealonelikethis，whereIcould-cry-ifI
wantedto。Iamnotmuchof-acrier，amI，daddy？
Butthistime-this-time-\"
Shesuddenlydrewherselfoverneartoherfatherandlookedathim。\"Oh，daddy，Iwanttotellyouonething。justonesimplelittlething。\"Shewaitedthen，andwhileshewaitedherfather\'sheadwentlowerandlower。\"Ofcourse，youknow-Itoldyouonce。Ilovehim!Ilovehim!Yes，probablyheisarascal，but，doyouknow，Idon\'tthinkIwouldmindifhewasa-anassassin。ThismorningIsenthimaway，but，daddy，hedidn\'twanttogoatall。
Iknowhedidn\'t。ThisNoraBlackisnothingtohim。
Iknowsheisnot。Iamsureofit。Yes-Iamsureofit。***Ineverexpectedtotalkthiswaytoanylivingcreature，but-youaresogood，daddy。
Dearolddaddy——\"
Sheceased，forshesawthatherfatherwaspraying。
Thesightbroughttoheranewoutburstofsobbing，forhersorrownowhaddignityandsolemnityfromthebowedwhiteheadofheroldfather，andshefeltthatherheartwasdyingamidthepompofthechurch。
Itwasthelastritesbeingperformedatthedeath-bed。
Intoherearscamesomeimaginingofthelowmelan。
cholychantofmonksinagloom。
Finallyherfatherarose。Hekissedheronthebrow。\"Trytosleep，dear，\"hesaid。Heturnedoutthegasandlefttheroom。Histhoughtwasfullofchastenedemotion。
Butifhisthoughtwasfullofchastenedemotion，itreceivedsomedegreeofshockwhenhearrivedinthepresenceofMrs。Wainwright。\"Well，whatisallthisabout？\"shedemanded，irascibly。\"DoyoumeantosaythatMarjoryisbreakingherheartoverthatmanColeman？Itisallyourfault-\"Shewasapparentlystillruffledoverherexclusion。
Whentheprofessorinterruptedherhedidnotspeakwithhisaccustomedspirit，butfromsomethingnovelinhismannersherecognisedadangersignal。
\"Pleasedonotburstoutatitinthatway。\"
\"ThenitIstrue？\"sheasked。Hervoicewasamereawedwhisper。
\"Itistrue，\"answeredtheprofessor。
\"Well，\"shesaid，afterreflection，\"Iknewit。I
alway\'sknewit。Ifyouhadn\'tbeensoblind!Youturnedlikeaweather-cockinyouropinionsofColeman。
Younevercouldkeepyouropinionabouthimformorethananhour。Nobodycouldimaginewhatyoumightthinknext。Andnowyouseetheresultofit!Iwarnedyou!ItoldyouwhatthisColemanwas，andifMarjoryissufferingnow，youhaveonlyyourselftoblameforit。Iwarnedyou!\"
\"Ifitismyfault，\"saidtheprofessor，drearily，\"I
hopeGodmayforgiveme，forhereisagreatwrongtomydaughter。\"
Well，ifyouhaddoneasItoldyou-\"shebegan。
Heretheprofessorrevolted。\"Oh，now，donotbe-
ginonthat，\"hesnarled，peevishly。Donotbeginonthat。\"
\"Anyhow，\"saidMrs。Wainwright，itistimethatweshouldbegoingdowntodinner。IsMarjorycom-
ing？\"