Alas,nothingbutadesertoffinestsand！Notatracewasleftoftheriverthathadplungedadowntherocks！Thepowderydrifthadfilleditscoursetothelevelofthedrearyexpanse！AsI
lookedbackIsawthattheriverhaddividedintotwobranchesasitfell,thatwhosebankIhadnowfollowedtothefootoftherockyscaur,andthatwhichfirstIcrossedtotheEvilWood。ThewoodIdescriedbetweenthetwoonthefarhorizon。Beforemeandtotheleft,thedesertstretchedbeyondmyvision,butfartotherightIcouldseealiftinthesky—line,givinghopeoftheforesttowhichmyhostesshaddirectedme。
Isatdown,andsoughtinmypocketthehalf—loafIhadbroughtwithme——thenfirsttounderstandwhatmyhostesshadmeantconcerningit。Verilythebreadwasnotforthemorrow:ithadshrunkandhardenedtoastone！Ithrewitaway,andsetoutagain。
AboutnoonIcametoafewtamariskandjunipertrees,andthentoafewstuntedfirs。AsIwenton,closerthicketsandlargerfirsmetme,andatlengthIwasinjustsuchaforestofpinesandothertreesasthatinwhichtheLittleOnesfoundtheirbabies,andbelievedIhadreturneduponafartherportionofthesame。ButwhatmatteredWHEREwhileEVERYWHEREwasthesameasNOWHERE！Ihadnotyet,bydoingsomethinginit,madeANYWHEREintoaplace！I
wasnotyetalive;IwasonlydreamingIlived！Iwasbutaconsciousnesswithanoutlook！TrulyIhadbeennothingelseintheworldIhadleft,butnowIknewthefact！IsaidtomyselfthatifinthisforestIshouldcatchthefaintgleamofthemirror,Iwouldturnfarasidelestitshouldentrapmeunawares,andgivemebacktomyoldexistence:hereImightlearntobesomethingbydoingsomething！Icouldnotendurethethoughtofgoingback,withsomanybeginningsandnotanendachieved。TheLittleOneswouldmeetwhatfatewasappointedthem;theawfulwitchIshouldnevermeet;thedeadwouldripenandarisewithoutme;IshouldbutwaketoknowthatIhaddreamed,andthatallmygoingwasnowhither！I
wouldrathergoonandonthancometosuchaclose！
Iwentdeeperintothewood:Iwasweary,andwouldrestinit。
Thetreeswerenowlarge,andstoodinregular,almostgeometric,fashion,withroomyspacesbetween。Therewaslittleundergrowth,andIcouldseealongwayineverydirection。Theforestwaslikeagreatchurch,solemnandsilentandempty,forImetnothingontwofeetorfourthatday。Nowandthen,itistrue,someswiftthing,andagainsomeslowthing,wouldcrossthespaceonwhichmyeyehappenedthatmomenttosettle;butitwasalwaysatsomedistance,andonlyenhancedthesenseofwidenessandvacancy。I
heardafewbirds,andsawplentyofbutterflies,someofmarvellouslygorgeouscolouringandcombinationsofcolour,someofapureanddazzlingwhiteness。
Comingtoaspotwherethepinesstoodfartherapartandgaveroomforfloweringshrubs,andhopingitasignofsomedwellingnear,I
tookthedirectionwhereyetmoreandmorerosesgrew,forIwashungryafterthevoiceandfaceofmykind——afteranylivesoul,indeed,humanornot,whichImightinsomemeasureunderstand。
Whatahellofhorror,Ithought,towanderalone,abareexistencenevergoingoutofitself,neverwideningitslifeinanotherlife,but,boundwiththecordsofitspoorpeculiarities,lyinganeternalprisonerinthedungeonofitsownbeing！Ibegantolearnthatitwasimpossibletoliveforoneselfeven,saveinthepresenceofothers——then,alas,fearfullypossible！evilwasonlythroughgood！
selfishnessbutaparasiteonthetreeoflife！InmyownworldIhadthehabitofsolitarysong;herenotacrooningmurmureverpartedmylips！ThereIsangwithoutthinking;hereIthoughtwithoutsinging！thereIhadneverhadabosom—friend;heretheaffectionofanidiotwouldbedivinelywelcome！\"IfonlyIhadadogtolove！\"Isighed——andregardedwithwondermypastself,whichpreferredthecompanyofbookorpentothatofmanorwoman;
which,iftheauthorofataleIwasenjoyingappeared,wouldwishhimawaythatImightreturntohisstory。Ihadchosenthedeadratherthantheliving,thethingthoughtratherthanthethingthinking！\"Anyman,\"Isaidnow,\"ismorethanthegreatestofbooks！\"Ihadnotcaredformylivebrothersandsisters,andnowIwasleftwithouteventhedeadtocomfortme！
Thewoodthinnedyetmore,andthepinesgrewyetlarger,sendinguphugestems,likecolumnseagertosupporttheheavens。Moretreesofotherkindsappeared;theforestwasgrowingricher！Therosesworenowtrees,andtheirflowersofastonishingsplendour。
SuddenlyIspiedwhatseemedagreathouseorcastle;butitsformsweresostrangelyindistinct,thatIcouldnotbecertainitwasmorethanachancecombinationoftree—shapes。AsIdrewnearer,itslinesyetheldtogether,butneithertheynorthebodyofitgrewatallmoredefinite;andwhenatlengthIstoodinfrontofit,Iremainedasdoubtfulofitsnatureasbefore。Houseorcastlehabitable,itcertainlywasnot;itmightbearuinovergrownwithivyandroses！Yetofbuildinghidinthefoliage,notthepoorestwall—remnantcouldIdiscern。AgainandagainIseemedtodescrywhatmustbebuilding,butitalwaysvanishedbeforecloserinspection。
Coulditbe,Ipondered,thattheivyhadembracedahugeedificeandconsumedit,anditsinterlacedbranchesretainedtheshapesofthewallsithadassimilated？——Icouldbesureofnothingconcerningtheappearance。
Beforemewasarectangularvacancy——theghostofadoorwaywithoutadoor:Isteppedthroughit,andfoundmyselfinanopenspacelikeagreathall,itsfloorcoveredwithgrassandflowers,itswallsandroofofivyandvine,mingledwithroses。
Therecouldbenobetterplaceinwhichtopassthenight！I
gatheredaquantityofwitheredleaves,laidtheminacorner,andthrewmyselfuponthem。Aredsunsetfilledthehall,thenightwaswarm,andmycouchrestful;Ilaygazingupattheliveceiling,withitstraceryofbranchesandtwigs,itscloudsoffoliage,andpeepingpatchesofloftierroof。Myeyeswentwadingaboutasiftangledinit,untilthesunwasdown,andtheskybeginningtogrowdark。Thentheredrosesturnedblack,andsoontheyellowandwhitealonewerevisible。Whentheyvanished,thestarscameinstead,hangingintheleaveslikelivetopazes,throbbingandsparklingandflashingmanycolours:IwascanopiedwithatreefromAladdin\'scave！
ThenIdiscoveredthatitwasfullofnests,whencetinyheads,nearlyindistinguishable,keptpoppingoutwithachirportwo,anddisappearingagain。Forawhiletherewererustlingsandstirringsandlittleprayers;butasthedarknessgrew,thesmallheadsbecamestill,andatlasteveryfeatheredmotherhadherbroodquietunderherwings,thetalkinthelittlebedswasover,andGod\'sbird—nurseryatrestbeneaththewavesofsleep。Oncemoreafewflutteringsmademelookup:anowlwentsailingacross。Ihadonlyaglimpseofhim,butseveraltimesfeltthecoolwaftureofhissilentwings。Themotherbirdsdidnotmoveagain;theysawthathewaslookingformice,notchildren。
AboutmidnightIcamewideawake,rousedbyarevelry,whosenoiseswereyetnotloud。Neitherweretheydistant;theywereclosetome,butattenuate。Myeyesweresodazzled,however,thatforawhileIcouldseenothing;atlasttheycametothemselves。
Iwaslyingonmywitheredleavesinthecornerofasplendidhall。
Beforemewasacrowdofgorgeouslydressedmenandgracefullyrobedwomen,noneofwhomseemedtoseeme。Indanceafterdancetheyvaguelyembodiedthestoryoflife,itsmeetings,itspassions,itspartings。AstudentofShakspere,Ihadlearnedsomethingofeverydancealludedtoinhisplays,andhencepartiallyunderstoodseveralofthoseInowsaw——theminuet,thepavin,thehey,thecoranto,thelavolta。Thedancerswereattiredinfashionasancientastheirdances。
AmoonhadrisenwhileIslept,andwasshiningthroughthecountless—windowedroof;butherlightwascrossedbysomanyshadowsthatatfirstIcoulddistinguishalmostnothingofthefacesofthemultitude;Icouldnotfail,however,toperceivethattherewassomethingoddaboutthem:Isatuptoseethembetter。——Heavens！couldIcallthemfaces？Theywereskullfronts！
——hard,gleamingbone,barejaws,truncatednoses,liplessteethwhichcouldnomoretakepartinanysmile！Ofthese,someflashedsetandwhiteandmurderous;otherswerecloudedwithdecay,brokenandgapped,colouredoftheearthinwhichtheyseemedsolongtohavelain！Fearfulleryet,theeye—socketswerenotempty;ineachwasalidlesslivingeye！Inthosewrecksoffaces,glowedorflashedorsparkledeyesofeverycolour,shape,andexpression。Thebeautiful,proudeye,darkandlustrous,condescendingtowhateveritrestedupon,wasthemoreterrible;thelovely,languishingeye,themorerepulsive;whilethedim,sadeyes,lessatvariancewiththeirsetting,weresadexceedingly,anddrewtheheartinspiteofthehorroroutofwhichtheygazed。
Iroseandwentamongtheapparitions,eagertounderstandsomethingoftheirbeingandbelongings。Weretheysouls,orweretheyandtheirrhythmicmotionsbutphantasmsofwhathadbeen？Bylooknorbygesture,notbyslightestbreakinthemeasure,didtheyshowthemselvesawareofme;Iwasnotpresenttothem:howmuchweretheyinrelationtoeachother？SurelytheysawtheircompanionsasIsawthem！Orwaseachonlydreamingitselfandtherest？
Didtheyknoweachhowtheyappearedtotheothers——adeathwithlivingeyes？Hadtheyusedtheirfaces,notforcommunication,nottoutterthoughtandfeeling,nottoshareexistencewiththeirneighbours,buttoappearwhattheywishedtoappear,andconcealwhattheywere？and,havingmadetheirfacesmasks,weretheythereforedeprivedofthosemasks,andcondemnedtogowithoutfacesuntiltheyrepented？
\"Howlongmusttheyflaunttheirfacelessnessinfacelesseyes？\"I
wondered。\"Howlongwillthefrightfulpunitionendure？Havetheyatlengthbeguntoloveandbewise？Havetheyyetyieldedtotheshamethathasfoundthem？\"
Iheardnotaword,sawnotamovementofonenakedmouth。Weretheybecauseoflyingbereftofspeech？Withtheireyestheyspokeasiflongingtobeunderstood:wasittruthorwasitfalsehoodthatspokeintheireyes？Theyseemedtoknowoneanother:didtheyseeoneskullbeautiful,andanotherplain？Differencemustbethere,andtheyhadhadlongstudyofskulls！
Mybodywastotheirsnoobstacle:wasIabody,andweretheybutforms？orwasIbutaform,andweretheybodies？Themomentoneofthedancerscamecloseagainstme,thatmomentheorshewasontheothersideofme,andIcouldtell,withoutseeing,which,whethermanorwoman,hadpassedthroughmyhouse。
Onmanyoftheskullsthehairhelditsplace,andhoweverdressed,orinitselfhoweverbeautiful,tomyeyeslookedfrightfulonthebonesoftheforeheadandtemples。Insuchcase,theouterearoftenremainedalso,andatitstip,thejeweloftheearasSidneycallsit,wouldhang,glimmering,gleaming,orsparkling,pearloropalordiamond——underthenightofbrownorofravenlocks,thesunriseofgoldenripples,orthemoonshineofpale,interclouded,fluffycirri——lichenousallontheivory—whiteordamp—yellownakedbone。Ilookeddownandsawthedaintilydomedinstep;Ilookedupandsawtheplumpshouldersbasingthespringoftheroundfullneck——whichwitheredathalf—heighttotheflutedshaftofagibbosecranium。
Themusicbecamewilder,thedancefasterandfaster;eyesflaredandflashed,jewelstwinkledandglittered,castingcolourandfireonthepallidgrinsthatglodethroughthehall,weavingaghastlyrhythmicwoofinintricatemazeofmultitudinousmotion,whensuddencameapause,andeveryeyeturnedtothesamespot:——inthedoorwaystoodawoman,perfectinform,inholding,andinhue,regardingthecompanyasfromthepedestalofagoddess,whilethedancersstood\"likeoneforbid,\"frozentoanewdeathbythevisionofalifethatkilled。\"Deadthings,Ilive！\"saidherscornfulglance。
Then,atonce,likeleavesinwhichaninstantwindawakes,theyturnedeachtoanother,andbrokeafreshintomelodiousconsortedmotion,anewexpressionintheireyes,latesolitary,nowfilledwiththeinterchangeofacommontriumph。\"Thoualso,\"theyseemedtosay,\"wiltsoonbecomeweakaswe！thouwiltsoonbecomelikeuntous！\"Iturnedmineagaintothewoman——andsawuponhersideasmalldarkshadow。
Shehadseenthechangeinthedeadstare;shelookeddown;sheunderstoodthetalkingeyes;shepressedbothherlovelyhandsontheshadow,gaveasmotheredcry,andfled。Thebirdsmovedrustlingintheirnests,andaflashofjoylituptheeyesofthedancers,whensuddenlyawarmwind,growinginstrengthasitsweptthroughtheplace,blewouteverylight。Butthelowmoonyetglimmeredonthehorizonwith\"sickassay\"toshine,andaturbidradianceyetgleamedfromsomanyeyes,thatIsawwellenoughwhatfollowed。
Asifeachshapehadbeenbutasnow—image,itbegantofalltopieces,ruininginthewarmwind。Inpaperyflakesthefleshpeeledfromitsbones,droppinglikesoiledsnowfromunderitsgarments;
thesefellflutteringinragsandstrips,andthewholewhiteskeleton,emergingfromgarmentandfleshtogether,stoodbareandlankamidthedecaythatlitteredthefloor。Afaintrattlingshiverwentthroughthenakedcompany;pairafterpairthelampingeyeswentout;andthedarknessgrewroundmewiththeloneliness。
Foramomenttheleaveswerestillsweptflutteringalloneway;
thenthewindceased,andtheowlfloatedsilentthroughthesilentnight。
NotforamomenthadIbeenafraid。Itistruethatwhoeverwouldcrossthethresholdofanyworld,mustleavefearbehindhim;but,formyself,Icouldclaimnopartinitsabsence。Noconsciouscouragewasoperantinme;simply,Iwasnotafraid。IneitherknewwhyIwasnotafraid,norwhereforeImighthavebeenafraid。
Ifearednotevenfear——whichofalldangersisthemostdangerous。
Iwentoutintothewood,atoncetoresumemyjourney。Anothermoonwasrising,andIturnedmyfacetowardit。
CHAPTERXVII
AGROTESQUETRAGEDY
IhadnotgonetenpaceswhenIcaughtsightofastrange—lookingobject,andwentnearertoknowwhatitmightbe。Ifounditamoulderingcarriageofancientform,ruinousbutstilluprightonitsheavywheels。Oneachsideofthepole,stillinitsplace,laytheskeletonofahorse;fromtheirtwogrimwhiteheadsascendedtheshrivelledreinstothehandoftheskeleton—coachmanseatedonhistatteredhammer—cloth;bothdoorshadfallenaway;withinsattwoskeletons,eachleaningbackinitscorner。
EvenasIlooked,theystartedawake,andwithacrackingrattleofbones,eachleapedfromthedoornextit。Onefellandlay;
theotherstoodamoment,itsstructureshakingperilously;thenwithdifficulty,foritsjointswerestiff,crept,holdingbythebackofthecarriage,totheoppositeside,thethinleg—bonesseeminghardlystrongenoughtocarryitsweight,where,kneelingbytheother,itsoughttoraiseit,almostfallingitselfagainintheendeavour。
Theprostrateoneroseatlength,asbyasuddeneffort,tothesittingposture。Forafewmomentsitturneditsyellowishskulltothissideandthat;then,heedlessofitsneighbour,gotuponitsfeetbygraspingthespokesofthehindwheel。Halferectedthus,itstoodwithitsbacktotheother,bothhandsholdingoneofitsknee—joints。Withlittlelessdifficultyandnotafewcontortions,thekneelingonerosenext,andaddresseditscompanion。
\"Haveyouhurtyourself,mylord？\"itsaid,inavoicethatsoundedfar—off,andill—articulatedasifblownasidebysomespectralwind。
\"Yes,Ihave,\"answeredtheother,inlikebutroughertone。\"Youwoulddonothingtohelpme,andthiscursedkneeisout！\"
\"Ididmybest,mylord。\"
\"Nodoubt,mylady,foritwasbad！IthoughtIshouldneverfindmyfeetagain！——But,blessmysoul,madam！areyououtinyourbones？\"
Shecastalookatherself。
\"Ihavenothingelsetobeoutin,\"shereturned;\"——andYOUatleastcannotcomplain！Butwhatonearthdoesitmean？AmI
dreaming？\"
\"YOUmaybedreaming,madam——Icannottell;butthiskneeofmineforbidsmethegratefulillusion。——Ha！Itoo,Iperceive,havenothingtowalkinbutbones！——Notsounbecomingtoaman,however！
ItrusttogoodnesstheyarenotMYbones！everyoneachesworsethananother,andthisloosekneeworstofall！Thebedmusthavebeendamp——andItoodrunktoknowit！\"
\"Probably,mylordofCokayne！\"
\"What！what！——YoumakemethinkItooamdreaming——achesandall！
HowdoYOUknowthetitlemyroisteringbulliesgiveme？Idon\'trememberyou！——Anyhow,youhavenorighttotakeliberties！Mynameis——Iamlord————tut,tut！WhatdoyoucallmewhenI\'m——I
meanwhenyouaresober？Icannot——atthemoment,——Why,whatISmyname？——ImusthavebeenVERYdrunkwhenIwenttobed！Ioftenam！\"
\"Youcomesoseldomtomine,thatIdonotknow,mylord;butImaytakeyourwordforTHAT！\"
\"Ihopeso！\"
\"——iffornothingelse！\"
\"Hoitytoity！Inevertoldyoualieinmylife！\"
\"Younevertoldmeanythingbutlies。\"
\"Uponmyhonour！——Why,Ineversawthewomanbefore！\"
\"Youknewmewellenoughtolieto,mylord！\"
\"IdoseemtobegintodreamIhavemetyoubefore,but,uponmyoath,thereisnothingtoknowyouby！Outofyourclothes,whoistotellwhoyoumaynotbe？——OnethingIMAYswear——thatIneversawyousomuchundressedbefore！——Byheaven,Ihavenorecollectionofyou！\"
\"Iamgladtohearit:myrecollectionsofyouarethelessdistasteful！——Goodmorning,mylord！\"
Sheturnedaway,hobbled,clacking,afewpaces,andstoodagain。
\"Youarejustasheartlessas——as——anyotherwoman,madam！——WhereinthishellofaplaceshallIfindmyvalet？——WhatwasthecursednameIusedtocallthefool？\"
Heturnedhisbarenoddlethiswayandthatonitscreakingpivot,stillholdinghiskneewithbothhands。
\"Iwillbeyourvaletforonce,mylord,\"saidthelady,turningoncemoretohim。\"——WhatcanIdoforyou？Itisnoteasytotell！\"
\"Tiemylegon,ofcourse,youfool！Can\'tyouseeitisallbutoff？Heigho,mydancingdays！\"
Shelookedaboutwithhereyelesssocketsandfoundapieceoffibrousgrass,withwhichsheproceededtobindtogethertheadjoiningpartsthathadformedtheknee。Whenshehaddone,hegaveoneortwocarefullytentativestamps。
\"Youusedtostampratherdifferently,mylord！\"shesaid,assherosefromherknees。
\"Eh？what！——NowIlookatyouagain,itseemstomeIusedtohateyou！——Eh？\"
\"Naturally,mylord！Youhatedagoodmanypeople！——yourwife,ofcourse,amongtherest！\"
\"Ah,Ibegin,Ibe—gin————But——Imusthavebeenalongtimesomewhere！——Ireallyforget！——There！yourdamned,miserablebitofgrassisbreaking！——WeusedtogetonPRETTYwelltogether——eh？\"
\"NotthatIremember,mylord。TheonlyhappymomentsIhadinyourcompanywerescatteredoverthefirstweekofourmarriage。\"
\"Wasthatthewayofit？Ha！ha！——Well,it\'sovernow,thankgoodness！\"
\"IwishIcouldbelieveit！Whywerewesittingthereinthatcarriagetogether？Itwakesapprehension！\"
\"Ithinkweweredivorced,mylady！\"
\"Hardlyenough:wearestilltogether！\"
\"Asadtruth,butcapableofremedy:theforestseemsofsomeextent！\"
\"Idoubt！Idoubt！\"
\"IamsorryIcannotthinkofacomplimenttopayyou——withoutlying,thatis。TojudgebyyourfigureandcomplexionyouhavelivedhardsinceIsawyoulast！IcannotsurelybeQUITEsonakedasyourladyship！——Ibegyourpardon,madam！ItrustyouwilltakeitIambutjestinginadream！Itisofnoconsequence,however;
dreamingorwaking,all\'sone——allmerestappearance！Youcan\'tbecertainofanything,andthat\'sasgoodasknowingthereisnothing！
Lifemayteachanyfoolthat！\"
\"IthastaughtmethefoolIwastoloveyou！\"
\"Youwerenottheonlyfooltodothat！Womenhadatrickoffallinginlovewithme:——Ihadforgottenthatyouwereoneofthem！\"
\"Ididloveyou,mylord——alittle——atonetime！\"
\"Ah,therewasyourmistake,mylady！Youshouldhavelovedmemuch,lovedmedevotedly,lovedmesavagely——lovedmeeternally！
ThenIshouldhavetiredofyouthesooner,andnothatedyousomuchafterward！——Butletbygonesbebygones！——WHEREarewe？
Localityisthequestion！Tobeornottobe,isNOTthequestion！\"
\"Weareintheotherworld,Ipresume！\"
\"Granted！——butinwhichorwhatsortofotherworld？Thiscan\'tbehell！\"
\"Itmust:there\'smarriageinit！YouandIaredamnedineachother。\"
\"ThenI\'mnotlikeOthello,damnedinafairwife！——Oh,IremembermyShakspeare,madam！\"
Shepickedupabrokenbranchthathadfallenintoabush,andsteadyingherselfwithit,walkedaway,tossingherlittleskull。
\"Givethatsticktome,\"criedherlatehusband;\"Iwantitmorethanyou。\"
Shereturnedhimnoanswer。
\"Youmeantomakemebegforit？\"
\"Notatall,mylord。Imeantokeepit,\"shereplied,continuingherslowdeparture。
\"Giveitmeatonce;Imeantohaveit！Irequireit。\"
\"Unfortunately,IthinkIrequireitmyself！\"returnedthelady,walkingalittlequicker,withasharpercrackingofherjointsandclinkingofherbones。
Hestartedtofollowher,butnearlyfell:hisknee—grasshadburst,andwithanoathhestopped,graspinghislegagain。
\"Comeandtieitupproperly！\"hewouldhavethundered,butheonlypipedandwhistled！
Sheturnedandlookedathim。
\"Comeandtieitupinstantly！\"herepeated。
Shewalkedasteportwofartherfromhim。
\"IswearIwillnottouchyou！\"hecried。
\"Swearon,mylord！thereisnooneheretobelieveyou。But,pray,donotloseyourtemper,oryouwillshakeyourselftopieces,andwheretofindstringenoughtotieupallyourcrazyjoints,ismorethanIcantell。\"
Shecameback,andkneltoncemoreathisside——first,however,layingthestickindisputebeyondhisreachandwithinherown。
Theinstantshehadfinishedretyingthejoint,hemadeagrabather,thinking,apparently,toseizeherbythehair;buthishardfingersslippedonthesmoothpoll。
\"Disgusting！\"hemuttered,andlaidholdofherupperarm—bone。
\"Youwillbreakit！\"shesaid,lookingupfromherknees。
\"Iwill,then！\"heanswered,andbegantostrainatit。
\"Ishallnottieyourlegagainthenexttimeitcomesloose！\"shethreatened。
Hegaveherarmavicioustwist,buthappilyherboneswereinbetterconditionthanhis。Shestretchedherotherhandtowardthebrokenbranch。
\"That\'sright:reachmethestick！\"hegrinned。
Shebroughtitroundwithsuchaswingthatoneofthebonesofthesounderlegsnapped。Hefell,chokingwithcurses。Theladylaughed。
\"Nowyouwillhavetowearsplintsalways！\"shesaid;\"suchdrybonesnevermend！\"
\"Youdevil！\"hecried。
\"Atyourservice,mylord！ShallIfetchyouacoupleofwheel—spokes？
Neat——butheavy,Ifear！\"
Heturnedhisbone—faceaside,anddidnotanswer,butlayandgroaned。Imarvelledhehadnotgonetopieceswhenhefell。Theladyroseandwalkedaway——notallungracefully,Ithought。
\"Whatcancomeofit？\"Isaidtomyself。\"Thesearetoowretchedforanyworld,andthiscannotbehell,fortheLittleOnesareinit,andthesleeperstoo！Whatcanitallmean？Canthingsevercomerightforskeletons？\"
\"Therearewordstoobigforyouandme:ALLisoneofthem,andEVERisanother,\"saidavoicenearmewhichIknew。
Ilookedabout,butcouldnotseethespeaker。
\"Youarenotinhell,\"itresumed。\"NeitheramIinhell。Butthoseskeletonsareinhell！\"
EreheendedIcaughtsightoftheravenontheboughofabeech,rightovermyhead。Thesamemomentheleftit,andalightingontheground,stoodthere,thethinoldmanofthelibrary,withlongnoseandlongcoat。
\"Themalewasneveragentleman,\"hewenton,\"andinthebonystageofretrogression,withhisskeletonthroughhisskin,andhischaracteroutsidehismanners,doesnotlooklikeone。Thefemaleislessvulgar,andhasalittleheart。But,therestraintsofsocietyremoved,youseethemnowjustastheyareandalwayswere！\"
\"Tellme,Mr。Raven,whatwillbecomeofthem,\"Isaid。
\"Weshallsee,\"hereplied。\"Intheirdaytheywerethehandsomestcoupleatcourt;andnow,evenintheirdrybones,theyseemtoregardtheirformerreputeasaninalienablepossession;toseetheirfaces,however,mayyetdosomethingforthem！Theyfeltthemselvesrichtoowhiletheyhadpockets,buttheyhavealreadybeguntofeelratherpinched！Mylordusedtoregardmyladyasaworthlessencumbrance,forhewastiredofherbeautyandhadspenthermoney;nowheneedshertocobblehisjointsforhim！Thesechangeshaverootsofhopeinthem。Besides,theycannotnowgetfarawayfromeachother,andtheyseenoneelseoftheirownkind:
theymustatlastgrowwearyoftheirmutualrepugnance,andbegintoloveoneanother！forlove,nothate,isdeepestinwhatLove`lovedintobeing。\'\"
\"Isawmanymoreoftheirkindanhourago,inthehallcloseby！\"
Isaid。
\"Oftheirkind,butnotoftheirsort,\"heanswered。\"Formanyyearsthesewillseenonesuchasyousawlastnight。Thosearecenturiesinadvanceofthese。Yousawthatthosecouldevendressthemselvesalittle！Itistruetheycannotyetretaintheirclothessolongastheywould——only,atpresent,forapartofthenight;buttheyareprettysteadilygrowingmorecapable,andwillbyandbydevelopfaces;foreverygrainoftruthfulnessaddsafibretotheshowoftheirhumanity。Nothingbuttruthcanappear;andwhateverismustseem。\"
\"Aretheyupheldbythishope？\"Iasked。
\"Theyareupheldbyhope,buttheydonotintheleastknowtheirhope;tounderstandit,isyetimmeasurablybeyondthem,\"answeredMr。Raven。
Hisunexpectedappearancehadcausedmenoastonishment。Iwaslikeachild,constantlywondering,andsurprisedatnothing。
\"Didyoucometofindme,sir？\"Iasked。
\"Notatall,\"hereplied。\"Ihavenoanxietyaboutyou。Suchasyoualwayscomebacktous。\"
\"Tellme,please,whoamIsuchas？\"Isaid。
\"Icannotmakemyfriendthesubjectofconversation,\"heanswered,withasmile。
\"Butwhenthatfriendispresent！\"Iurged。
\"Ideclinethemorestrongly,\"herejoined。
\"Butwhenthatfriendasksyou！\"Ipersisted。
\"ThenmostpositivelyIrefuse,\"hereturned。
\"Why？\"
\"BecauseheandIwouldbetalkingoftwopersonsasiftheywereoneandthesame。Yourconsciousnessofyourselfandmyknowledgeofyouarefarapart！\"
Thelapelsofhiscoatflewout,andthelappetslifted,andI
thoughtthemetamorphosisofHOMOtoCORVUSwasabouttotakeplacebeforemyeyes。Butthecoatclosedagaininfrontofhim,andheadded,withseeminginconsequence,\"Inthisworldnevertrustapersonwhohasoncedeceivedyou。
Aboveall,neverdoanythingsuchaonemayaskyoutodo。\"
\"Iwilltrytoremember,\"Ianswered;\"——butImayforget！\"
\"Thensomeevilthatisgoodforyouwillfollow。\"
\"AndifIremember？\"
\"Someevilthatisnotgoodforyou,willnotfollow。\"
Theoldmanseemedtosinktotheground,andimmediatelyIsawtheravenseveralyardsfromme,flyinglowandfast。
CHAPTERXVIII
DEADORALIVE？
Iwentwalkingon,stillfacingthemoon,who,notyethigh,wasstaringstraightintotheforest。Ididnotknowwhatailedher,butshewasdarkanddented,likeabattereddiscofoldcopper,andlookeddispiritedandweary。Notacloudwasnightokeephercompany,andthestarsweretoobrightforher。\"Isthisgoingtolastforever？\"sheseemedtosay。ShewasgoingonewayandIwasgoingtheother,yetthroughthewoodwewentalongwaytogether。
Wedidnotcommunemuch,formyeyeswereontheground;butherdisconsolatelookwasfixedonme:Ifeltwithoutseeingit。A
longtimeweweretogether,Iandthemoon,walkingsidebyside,shethedullshine,andItheliveshadow。
Somethingontheground,underaspreadingtree,caughtmyeyewithitswhiteness,andIturnedtowardit。Vagueasitwasintheshadowofthefoliage,itsuggested,asIdrewnearer,ahumanbody。