\"Anotherskeleton！\"Isaidtomyself,kneelingandlayingmyhanduponit。Abodyitwas,however,andnoskeleton,thoughasnearlyoneasbodycouldwellbe。Itlayonitsside,andwasverycold——
notcoldlikeastone,butcoldlikethatwhichwasoncealive,andisalivenomore。ThecloserIlookedatit,theoftenerItouchedit,thelessitseemedpossibleitshouldbeotherthandead。Foronebewilderedmoment,Ifancieditoneofthewilddancers,aghostlyCinderella,perhaps,thathadlostherwayhome,andperishedinthestrangenightofanout—of—doorworld！Itwasquitenaked,andsowornthat,evenintheshadow,Icould,peeringclose,havecountedwithouttouchingthem,everyribinitsside。Allitsbones,indeed,wereasvisibleasiftight—coveredwithonlyathinelasticleather。Itsbeautifulyetterribleteeth,unseemlydisclosedbytheretractedlips,gleamedghastlythroughthedark。Itshairwaslongerthanitself,thickandveryfinetothetouch,andblackasnight。
Itwasthebodyofatall,probablygracefulwoman。——Howhadshecomethere？Notofherself,andalreadyinsuchwastedcondition,surely！Herstrengthmusthavefailedher;shehadfallen,andlainthereuntilshediedofhunger！Buthow,evenso,couldshebethusemaciated？Andhowcameshetobenaked？Wherewerethesavagestostripandleaveher？orwhatwildbeastswouldhavetakenhergarments？Thatherbodyshouldhavebeenleftwasnotwonderful！
Irosetomyfeet,stood,andconsidered。Imustnot,couldnotletherlieexposedandforsaken！Naturalreverenceforbadeit。Eventhegarmentofawomanclaimsrespect;herbodyitwereimpossibletoleaveuncovered！Irreverenteyesmightlookonit！Brutalclawsmighttossitabout！Yearswouldpasserethefriendlyrainswasheditintothesoil！——Butthegroundwashard,almostsolidwithinterlacingroots,andIhadbutmybarehands！
Atfirstitseemedplainthatshehadnotlongbeendead:therewasnotasignofdecayabouther！Butthenwhathadtheslowwastingoflifeleftofhertodecay？
Couldshebestillalive？Mightshenot？Whatifshewere！Thingswentverystrangelyinthisstrangeworld！Eventhentherewouldbelittlechanceofbringingherback,butImustknowshewasdeadbeforeIburiedher！
AsIlefttheforest—hall,Ihadspiedinthedoorwayabunchofripegrapes,andbroughtitwithme,eatingasIcame:afewwereyetleftonthestalk,andtheirjuicemightpossiblyreviveher！
AnyhowitwasallIhadwithwhichtoattemptherrescue！Themouthwashappilyalittleopen;buttheheadwasinsuchanawkwardpositionthat,tomovethebody,Ipassedmyarmundertheshoulderonwhichitlay,whenIfoundthepine—needlesbeneathitwarm:
shecouldnothavebeenanytimedead,andMIGHTstillbealive,thoughIcoulddiscernnomotionoftheheart,oranyindicationthatshebreathed！Oneofherhandswasclenchedhard,apparentlyinclosingsomethingsmall。Isqueezedagrapeintohermouth,butnoswallowingfollowed。
TodoforherallIcould,Ispreadathicklayerofpine—needlesanddryleaves,laidoneofmygarmentsoverit,warmfrommybody,liftedheruponit,andcoveredherwithmyclothesandagreatheapofleaves:Iwouldsavethelittlewarmthleftinher,hopinganincreasetoitwhenthesuncameback。ThenItriedanothergrape,butcouldperceivenoslightestmovementofmouthorthroat。
\"Doubt,\"Isaidtomyself,\"maybeapoorencouragementtodoanything,butitisabadreasonfordoingnothing。\"SotightwastheskinuponherbonesthatIdarednotusefriction。
Icreptintotheheapofleaves,gotasclosetoherasIcould,andtookherinmyarms。Ihadnotmuchheatleftinme,butwhatIhadIwouldsharewithher！ThusIspentwhatremainedofthenight,sleepless,andlongingforthesun。Hercoldseemedtoradiateintome,butnoheattopassfrommetoher。
HadIfledfromthebeautifulsleepers,Ithought,eachonher\"dim,straight\"silvercouch,toliealonewithsuchabedfellow！Ihadrefusedalovelyprivilege:Iwasgivenovertoanawfulduty！
Beneaththesad,slow—settingmoon,Ilaywiththedead,andwatchedforthedawn。
Thedarknesshadgivenway,andtheeasternhorizonwasgrowingdimlyclearer,whenIcaughtsightofamotionratherthanofanythingthatmoved——notfarfromme,andclosetotheground。Itwasthelowundulatingofalargesnake,whichpassedmeinanunswervingline。Presentlyappeared,makingasitseemedforthesamepoint,whatItookforaroebuck—doeandhercalf。Againawhile,andtwocreatureslikebear—cubscame,withthreeorfoursmalleronesbehindthem。Thelightwasnowgrowingsorapidlythatwhen,afewminutesafter,atroopofhorseswenttrottingpast,I
couldseethat,althoughthelargestofthemwerenobiggerthanthesmallestShetlandpony,theymustyetbefull—grown,soperfectweretheyinform,andsomuchhadtheyallthewaysandactionofgreathorses。Theywereofmanybreeds。Someseemedmodelsofcart—horses,othersofchargers,hunters,racers。Dwarfcattleandsmallelephantsfollowed。
\"Whyarethechildrennothere！\"Isaidtomyself。\"ThemomentIamfreeofthispoorwoman,Imustgobackandfetchthem！\"
Wherewerethecreaturesgoing？Whatdrewthem？Wasthisanexodus,oramorninghabit？Imustwaitforthesun！TillhecameImustnotleavethewoman！
Ilaidmyhandonthebody,andcouldnothelpthinkingitfeltatriflewarmer。ItmighthavegainedalittleoftheheatIhadlost！
itcouldhardlyhavegeneratedany！Whatreasonforhopetherewashadnotgrownless！
Theforeheadofthedaybegantoglow,andsoonthesuncamepeeringup,asiftoseeforthefirsttimewhatallthisstirofanewworldwasabout。Atsightofhisgreatinnocentsplendour,Irosefulloflife,strongagainstdeath。RemovingthehandkerchiefI
hadputtoprotectthemouthandeyesfromthepine—needles,I
lookedanxiouslytoseewhetherIhadfoundapricelessjewel,orbutitsemptycase。
ThebodylaymotionlessaswhenIfoundit。Thenfirst,inthemorninglight,Isawhowdrawnandhollowwastheface,howsharpwerethebonesundertheskin,howeverytoothshapeditselfthroughthelips。Thehumangarmentwasindeedworntoitsthreads,butthebirdofheavenmightyetbenestlingwithin,mightyetawaketomotionandsong！
Butthesunwasshiningonherface！Ire—arrangedthehandkerchief,laidafewleaveslightlyoverit,andsetouttofollowthecreatures。Theirmaintrackwaswellbeaten,andmusthavelongbeenused——likewisemanyofthetracksthat,joiningitfrombothsides,mergedin,andbroadenedit。ThetreesretreatedasIwent,andthegrassgrewthicker。Presentlytheforestwasgone,andawideexpanseofloveliestgreenstretchedawaytothehorizon。
Throughit,alongtheedgeoftheforest,flowedasmallriver,andtothisthetrackled。Atsightofthewateranewthoughundefinedhopesprangupinme。Thestreamlookedeverywheredeep,andwasfulltothebrim,butnowheremorethanafewyardswide。Abluishmistrosefromit,vanishingasitrose。Ontheoppositeside,intheplentifulgrass,manysmallanimalswerefeeding。Apparentlytheysleptintheforest,andinthemorningsoughttheplain,swimmingtherivertoreachit。Ikneltandwouldhavedrunk,butthewaterwashot,andhadastrangemetallictaste。
Ileapttomyfeet:herewasthewarmthIsought——thefirstnecessityoflife！Ispedbacktomyhelplesscharge。
Withoutwellconsideringmysolitude,noonewillunderstandwhatseemedtolieformeintheredemptionofthiswomanfromdeath。
\"Provewhatshemay,\"Ithoughtwithmyself,\"Ishallatleastbelonelynomore！\"IhadfoundmyselfsuchpoorcompanythatnowfirstIseemedtoknowwhathopewas。Thisblessedwaterwouldexpelthecolddeath,anddrownmydesolation！
Iborehertothestream。Tallasshewas,Ifoundhermarvellouslylight,herbonesweresodelicate,andsolittlecoveredthem。I
grewyetmorehopefulwhenIfoundhersofarfromstiffthatI
couldcarryherononearm,likeasleepingchild,leaningagainstmyshoulder。Iwentsoftly,dreadingeventhewindofmymotion,andgladtherewasnoother。
Thewaterwastoohottolayheratonceinit:theshockmightscarefromhertheyetflutteringlife！Ilaidheronthebank,anddippingoneofmygarments,begantobathethepitifulform。
Sowastedwasitthat,savefromtheplentifulnessandblacknessofthehair,itwasimpossibleeventoconjecturewhethershewasyoungorold。Hereyelidswerejustnotshut,whichmadeherlookdeadthemore:therewasacrackinthecloudsofhernight,atwhichnosunshonethrough！
ThelongerIwentonbathingthepoorbones,thelessgrewmyhopethattheywouldeveragainbeclothedwithstrength,thateverthoseeyelidswouldlift,andasoullookout;stillIkeptbathingcontinuously,allowingnoparttimetogrowcoldwhileIbathedanother;andgraduallythebodybecamesomuchwarmer,thatatlastIventuredtosubmergeit:Igotintothestreamanddrewitin,holdingthefaceabovethewater,andlettingtheswift,steadycurrentflowallabouttherest。Inoted,butwasabletoconcludenothingfromthefact,that,foralltheheat,theshuthandneverrelaxeditshold。
Afterabouttenminutes,Ilifteditoutandlaiditagainonthebank,driedit,andcovereditaswellasIcould,thenrantotheforestforleaves。
Thegrassandsoilweredryandwarm;andwhenIreturnedIthoughtithadscarcelylostanyoftheheatthewaterhadgivenit。I
spreadtheleavesuponit,andranformore——thenforathirdandafourthfreight。
Icouldnowleaveitandgotoexplore,inthehopeofdiscoveringsomeshelter。IranupthestreamtowardsomerockyhillsIsawinthatdirection,whichwerenotfaroff。
WhenIreachedthem,Ifoundtheriverissuingfullgrownfromarockatthebottomofoneofthem。Tomyfancyitseemedtohaverundownastairinside,aneagercataract,ateverylandingwildtogetout,butonlyatthefootfindingadoorofescape。
Itdidnotfilltheopeningwhenceitrushed,andIcreptthroughintoalittlecave,whereIlearnedthat,insteadofhurryingtumultuouslydownastair,itrosequietlyfromthegroundatthebacklikethebaseofalargecolumn,andranalongoneside,nearlyfillingadeep,rathernarrowchannel。Iconsideredtheplace,andsawthat,ifIcouldfindafewfallenboughslongenoughtolieacrossthechannel,andlargeenoughtobearalittleweightwithoutbendingmuch,Imight,withsmallerbranchesandplentyofleaves,makeuponthemacomfortablecouch,whichthestreamunderwouldkeepconstantlywarm。ThenIranbacktoseehowmychargefared。
ShewaslyingasIhadlefther。Theheathadnotbroughthertolife,butneitherhaditdevelopedanythingtocheckfartherhope。
Igotafewbouldersoutofthechannel,andarrangedthematherfeetandonbothsidesofher。
Runningagaintothewood,IhadnottosearchlongereIfoundsomesmallboughsfitformypurpose——mostlyofbeech,theirdryyellowleavesyetclingingtothem。WiththeseIhadsoonlaidthefloorofabridge—bedoverthetorrent。Icrossedtheboughswithsmallerbranches,interlacedthesewithtwigs,andburiedalldeepinleavesanddrymoss。
Whenthusatlength,afternotafewjourneystotheforest,Ihadcompletedawarm,dry,softcouch,Itookthebodyoncemore,andsetoutwithitforthecave。ItwassolightthatnowandthenasIwentIalmostfearedlest,whenIlaiditdown,Ishouldfinditaskeletonafterall;andwhenatlastIdidlayitgentlyonthepathlessbridge,itwasagreaterrelieftopartwiththatfancythanwiththeweight。OncemoreIcoveredthebodywithathicklayerofleaves;andtryingagaintofeedherwithagrape,foundtomyjoythatIcouldopenthemouthalittlefarther。Thegrape,indeed,layinitunheeded,butIhopedsomeofthejuicemightfinditswaydown。
Afteranhourortwoonthecouch,shewasnolongercold。Thewarmthofthebrookhadinterpenetratedherframe——trulyitwasbutaframe！——andshewaswarmtothetouch;——not,probably,withthewarmthoflife,butwithawarmthwhichrendereditmorepossible,ifshewerealive,thatshemightlive。Ihadreadofoneinatrancelyingmotionlessforweeks！
Inthatcave,dayafterday,nightafternight,sevenlongdaysandnights,Isatorlay,nowwakingnowsleeping,butalwayswatching。
EverymorningIwentoutandbathedinthehotstream,andeverymorningfeltthereuponasifIhadeatenanddrunk——whichexperiencegavemecouragetolayherinitalsoeveryday。OnceasIdidso,ashadowofdiscolorationonherleftsidegavemeaterribleshock,butthenextmorningithadvanished,andIcontinuedthetreatment——
everymorning,afterherbath,puttingafreshgrapeinhermouth。
ItooateofthegrapesandotherberriesIfoundintheforest;
butIbelievedthat,withmydailybathinthatriver,Icouldhavedoneverywellwithouteatingatall。
EverytimeIslept,Idreamedoffindingawoundedangel,who,unabletofly,remainedwithmeuntilatlastshelovedmeandwouldnotleaveme;andeverytimeIwoke,itwastosee,insteadofanangel—visagewithlustrouseyes,thewhite,motionless,wastedfaceuponthecouch。ButAdamhimself,whenfirsthesawherasleep,couldnothavelookedmoreanxiouslyforEve\'sawakingthanI
watchedforthiswoman\'s。Adamknewnothingofhimself,perhapsnothingofhisneedofanotherself;I,analienfrommyfellows,hadlearnedtolovewhatIhadlost！Werethisonewastedshredofwomanhoodtodisappear,Ishouldhavenothinginmebutaconsuminghungerafterlife！IforgoteventheLittleOnes:thingswerenotamisswiththem！herelaywhatmightwakeandbeawoman！mightactuallyopeneyes,andlookoutofthemuponme！
NowfirstIknewwhatsolitudemeant——nowthatIgazedononewhoneithersawnorheard,neithermovednorspoke。Isawnowthatamanaloneisbutabeingthatmaybecomeaman——thatheisbutaneed,andthereforeapossibility。Tobeenoughforhimself,abeingmustbeaneternal,self—existentworm！Sosuperblyconstituted,sosimplycomplicateisman;herisesfromandstandsuponsuchapedestaloflowerphysicalorganismsandspiritualstructures,thatnoatmospherewillcomfortornourishhislife,lessdivinethanthatofferedbyothersouls;nowherebutinotherlivescanhebreathe。Onlybythereflexofotherlivescanheripenhisspecialty,developtheideaofhimself,theindividualitythatdistinguisheshimfromeveryother。Wereallmenalike,eachwouldstillhaveanindividuality,securedbyhispersonalconsciousness,buttherewouldbesmallreasonwhythereshouldbemorethantwoorthreesuch;while,forthedevelopmentofthedifferenceswhichmakealargeandloftyunitypossible,andwhichalonecanmakemillionsintoachurch,anendlessandmeasurelessinfluenceandreactionareindispensable。Amantobeperfect——complete,thatis,inhavingreachedthespiritualconditionofpersistentanduniversalgrowth,whichisthemodewhereinheinheritstheinfinitudeofhisFather——
musthavetheeducationofaworldoffellow—men。Saveforthehopeofthedawnoflifeintheformbesideme,Ishouldhavefledforfellowshiptothebeaststhatgrazedanddidnotspeak。Bettertogoaboutwiththem——infinitelybetter——thantolivealone！Butwiththefaintestprospectofawomantomyfriend,I,poorestofcreatures,wasyetapossibleman！
CHAPTERXIX
THEWHITELEECH
Iwokeonemorningfromaprofoundsleep,withoneofmyhandsverypainful。Thebackofitwasmuchswollen,andinthecentreoftheswellingwasatriangularwound,likethebiteofaleech。Asthedaywenton,theswellingsubsided,andbytheeveningthehurtwasallbuthealed。Isearchedthecave,turningovereverystoneofanysize,butdiscoverednothingIcouldimaginecapableofinjuringme。
Slowlythedayspassed,andstillthebodynevermoved,neveropeneditseyes。Itcouldnotbedead,forassuredlyitmanifestednosignofdecay,andtheairaboutitwasquitepure。Moreover,I
couldimaginethatthesharpestanglesoftheboneshadbeguntodisappear,thattheformwaseverywherealittlerounder,andtheskinhadlessoftheparchment—look:ifsuchchangewasindeedthere,lifemustbethere！thetidewhichhadebbedsofartowardtheinfinite,musthavebegunagaintoflow！Ohjoytome,iftherisingripplesoflife\'soceanwereindeedburyingunderlovelyshapethebonesithadallbutforsaken！TwentytimesadayI
lookedforevidenceofprogress,andtwentytimesadayIdoubted——
sometimesevendespaired;butthemomentIrecalledthementalpictureofherasIfoundher,hoperevived。
Severalweekshadpassedthus,whenonenight,afterlyingalongtimeawake,Irose,thinkingtogooutandbreathethecoolerair;
for,althoughfromtherunningofthestreamitwasalwaysfreshinthecave,theheatwasnotseldomalittleoppressive。Themoonoutsidewasfull,theairwithinshadowyclear,andnaturallyI
castalingeringlookonmytreasureereIwent。\"Blisseternal！\"
Icriedaloud,\"doIseehereyes？\"Greatorbs,darkasifcutfromthesphereofastarlessnight,andluminousbyexcessofdarkness,seemedtoshineamidtheglimmeringwhitenessofherface。Istolenearer,myheartbeatingsothatIfearedthenoiseofitstartlingher。Ibentoverher。Alas,hereyelidswerecloseshut！HopeandImaginationhadwroughtmutualillusion！myheart\'sdesirewouldneverbe！Iturnedaway,threwmyselfonthefloorofthecave,andwept。ThenIbethoughtmethathereyeshadbeenalittleopen,andthatnowtheawfulchinkoutofwhichnothingnesshadpeered,wasgone:itmightbethatshehadopenedthemforamoment,andwasagainasleep！——itmightbeshewasawakeandholdingthemclose！
Ineithercase,life,lessormore,musthaveshutthem！Iwascomforted,andfellfastasleep。
ThatnightIwasagainbitten,andawokewithaburningthirst。
InthemorningIsearchedyetmorethoroughly,butagaininvain。
Thewoundwasofthesamecharacter,and,asbefore,wasnearlywellbytheevening。Iconcludedthatsomelargecreatureoftheleechkindcameoccasionallyfromthehotstream。\"But,ifbloodbeitsobject,\"Isaidtomyself,\"solongasIamthere,Ineedhardlyfearformytreasure！\"
Thatsamemorning,when,havingpeeledagrapeasusualandtakenawaytheseeds,Iputitinhermouth,herlipsmadeaslightmovementofreception,andIKNEWshelived！
MyhopewasnowsomuchstrongerthatIbegantothinkofsomeattireforher:shemustbeabletorisethemomentshewished！I
betookmyselfthereforetotheforest,toinvestigatewhatmaterialitmightafford,andhadhardlybeguntolookwhenfibrousskeletons,likethoseoftheleavesofthepricklypear,suggestedthemselvesasfitforthepurpose。Igatheredastockofthem,laidthemtodryinthesun,pulledapartthereticulatedlayers,andofthesehadsoonbeguntofashiontwoloosegarments,onetohangfromherwaist,theotherfromhershoulders。Withthestiletto—pointofanaloe—leafandvariousfilaments,Isewedtogetherthreethicknessesofthetissue。
Duringtheweekthatfollowed,therewasnofarthersignexceptthatshemoreevidentlytookthegrapes。Butindeedallthesignsbecamesurer:plainlyshewasgrowingplumper,andherskinfairer。
Stillshedidnotopenhereyes;andthehorridfearwouldattimesinvademe,thathergrowthwasofsomehideousfungoidnature,thefewgrapesbeingnowisesufficienttoaccountforit。
AgainIwasbitten;andnowthething,whateveritwas,begantopaymeregularvisitsatintervalsofthreedays。Itnowgenerallybitmeintheneckorthearm,invariablywithbutonebite,alwayswhileIslept,andnever,evenwhenIslept,inthedaytime。HourafterhourwouldIlieawakeonthewatch,butneverhearditcoming,orsawsignofitsapproach。Neither,Ibelieve,didIeverfeelitbiteme。AtlengthIbecamesohopelessofcatchingit,thatInolongertroubledmyselfeithertolookforitbyday,orlieinwaitforitatnight。IknewfrommygrowingweaknessthatI
waslosingbloodatadangerousrate,butIcaredlittleforthat:
insightofmyeyesdeathwasyieldingtolife;asoulwasgatheringstrengthtosavemefromloneliness;wewouldgoawaytogether,andIshouldspeedilyrecover！
Thegarmentswereatlengthfinished,and,contemplatingmyhandiworkwithnosmallsatisfaction,Iproceededtomatlayersofthefibreintosandals。
OnenightIwokesuddenly,breathlessandfaint,andlongingafterair,andhadrisentocrawlfromthecave,whenaslightrustleintheleavesofthecouchsetmelisteningmotionless。
\"Icaughtthevilething,\"saidafeeblevoice,inmymother—tongue;
\"Icaughtitintheveryact！\"
Shewasalive！shespoke！IdarednotyieldtomytransportlestI
shouldterrifyher。
\"Whatcreature？\"Ibreathed,ratherthansaid。
\"Thecreature,\"sheanswered,\"thatwasbitingyou。\"
\"Whatwasit？\"
\"Agreatwhiteleech。\"
\"Howbig？\"Ipursued,forcingmyselftobecalm。
\"Notfarfromsixfeetlong,Ishouldthink,\"sheanswered。
\"Youhavesavedmylife,perhaps！——Buthowcouldyoutouchthehorridthing！Howbraveofyou！\"Icried。
\"Idid！\"wasallheranswer,andIthoughtsheshuddered。
\"Whereisit？Whatcouldyoudowithsuchamonster？\"
\"Ithrewitintheriver。\"
\"Thenitwillcomeagain,Ifear！\"
\"IdonotthinkIcouldhavekilledit,evenhadIknownhow！——I
heardyoumoaning,andgotuptoseewhatdisturbedyou;sawthefrightfulthingatyourneck,andpulleditaway。ButIcouldnotholdit,andwashardlyabletothrowitfromme。Ionlyhearditsplashinthewater！\"
\"We\'llkillitnexttime！\"Isaid;butwiththatIturnedfaint,soughttheopenair,butfell。
WhenIcametomyselfthesunwasup。Theladystoodalittlewayoff,looking,evenintheclumsyattireIhadfashionedforher,atoncegrandandgraceful。IHADseenthosegloriouseyes！Throughthenighttheyhadshone！Darkasthedarknessprimeval,theynowoutshonetheday！Shestooderectasacolumn,regardingme。Herpalecheekindicatednoemotion,onlyquestion。Irose。
\"Wemustbegoing！\"Isaid。\"Thewhiteleech————\"
Istopped:astrangesmilehadflickeredoverherbeautifulface。
\"Didyoufindmethere？\"sheasked,pointingtothecave。
\"No;Ibroughtyouthere,\"Ireplied。
\"Youbroughtme？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Fromwhere？\"
\"Fromtheforest。\"
\"Whathaveyoudonewithmyclothes——andmyjewels？\"
\"YouhadnonewhenIfoundyou。\"
\"Thenwhydidyounotleaveme？\"
\"BecauseIhopedyouwerenotdead。\"
\"Whyshouldyouhavecared？\"
\"BecauseIwasverylonely,andwantedyoutolive。\"
\"Youwouldhavekeptmeenchantedformybeauty！\"shesaid,withproudscorn。
Herwordsandherlookrousedmyindignation。
\"Therewasnobeautyleftinyou,\"Isaid。
\"Why,then,again,didyounotletmealone？\"
\"Becauseyouwereofmyownkind。\"
\"OfYOURkind？\"shecried,inatoneofuttercontempt。
\"Ithoughtso,butfindIwasmistaken！\"
\"Doubtlessyoupitiedme！\"
\"Neverhadwomanmoreclaimonpity,orlessonanyotherfeeling！\"
Withanexpressionofpain,mortification,andangerunutterable,sheturnedfrommeandstoodsilent。Starlessnightlayprofoundinthegulfsofhereyes:hateofhimwhobroughtitbackhadslaintheirsplendour。Thelightoflifewasgonefromthem。
\"Hadyoufailedtorouseme,whatwouldyouhavedone？\"sheaskedsuddenlywithoutmoving。
\"Iwouldhaveburiedit。\"
\"It！What？——YouwouldhaveburiedTHIS？\"sheexclaimed,flashingrounduponmeinawhitefury,herarmsthrownout,andhereyesdartingforksofcoldlightning。
\"Nay;thatIsawnot！That,wearyweeksofwatchingandtendinghavebroughtbacktoyou,\"Ianswered——forwithsuchawomanI
mustbeplain！\"HadIseenthesmallestsignofdecay,Iwouldatoncehaveburiedyou。\"
\"Dogofafool！\"shecried,\"Iwasbutinatrance——Samoil！whatafate！——Goandfetchtheshe—savagefromwhomyouborrowedthishideousdisguise。\"
\"Imadeitforyou。Itishideous,butIdidmybest。\"
Shedrewherselfuptohertallheight。
\"HowlonghaveIbeeninsensible？\"shedemanded。\"Awomancouldnothavemadethatdressinaday！\"
\"Notintwentydays,\"Irejoined,\"hardlyinthirty！\"
\"Ha！HowlongdoyoupretendIhavelainunconscious？——Answermeatonce。\"
\"IcannottellhowlongyouhadlainwhenIfoundyou,buttherewasnothingleftofyousaveskinandbone:thatismorethanthreemonthsago。——Yourhairwasbeautiful,nothingelse！IhavedoneforitwhatIcould。\"
\"Mypoorhair！\"shesaid,andbroughtagreatarmfulofitroundfrombehindher;\"——itwillbemorethanathree—months\'caretobringYOUtolifeagain！——IsupposeImustthankyou,althoughI
cannotsayIamgrateful！\"
\"Thereisnoneed,madam:Iwouldhavedonethesameforanywoman——yes,orforanymaneither！\"
\"Howisitmyhairisnottangled？\"shesaid,fondlingit。
\"Italwaysdriftedinthecurrent。\"
\"How？——Whatdoyoumean？\"
\"Icouldnothavebroughtyoutolifebutbybathingyouinthehotrivereverymorning。\"
Shegaveashudderofdisgust,andstoodforawhilewithhergazefixedonthehurryingwater。Thensheturnedtome:
\"Wemustunderstandeachother！\"shesaid。\"——Youhavedonemethetwoworstofwrongs——compelledmetolive,andputmetoshame:
neitherofthemcanIpardon！\"
Sheraisedherlefthand,andflungitoutasifrepellingme。
Somethingice—coldstruckmeontheforehead。WhenIcametomyself,Iwasontheground,wetandshivering。
CHAPTERXX
GONE！——BUTHOW？
Irose,andlookedaroundme,dazedatheart。ForamomentIcouldnotseeher:shewasgone,andlonelinesshadreturnedlikethecloudaftertherain！ShewhomIbroughtbackfromthebrinkofthegrave,hadfledfromme,andleftmewithdesolation！Idarednotonemomentremainthushideouslyalone。HadIindeeddoneherawrong？ImustdevotemylifetosharingtheburdenIhadcompelledhertoresume！
Idescriedherwalkingswiftlyoverthegrass,awayfromtheriver,tookoneplungeforafarewellrestorative,andsetouttofollowher。Thelastvisitofthewhiteleech,andtheblowofthewoman,hadenfeebledme,butalreadymystrengthwasreviving,andIkeptherinsightwithoutdifficulty。
\"Isthis,then,theend？\"IsaidasIwent,andmyheartbroodedasadsong。Herangry,hatingeyeshauntedme。Icouldunderstandherresentmentatmyhavingforcedlifeuponher,buthowhadI
furtherinjuredher？Whyshouldsheloatheme？Couldmodestyitselfbeindignantwithtrueservice？Howshouldtheproudestwoman,consciousofmyeveryaction,cherishagainstmetheleastsenseofdisgracingwrong？HowreverentlyhadInottouchedher！Asafatherhismotherlesschild,Ihadborneandtendedher！Hadallmylabour,allmydespairinghopegonetoredeemonlyingratitude？\"No,\"