Andthentherebrokeonhimoneofthosedeliriouswavesofnaturaldesire,againstwhichhehadsooftenfought,sooftenwithgreatpainconquered。Hegotup,andrandownhill,leapingoverthestones,andthethickerclumpsofheather。
AudreyNoel,too,hadbeenearlyastir,thoughshehadgonelateenoughtobed。Shedressedlanguidly,butverycarefully,beingoneofthosewomenwhoputonarmouragainstFate,becausetheyareproud,anddislikethethoughtthattheirsufferingsshouldmakeotherssuffer;because,too,theirbodiesaretothemasitweresacred,havingbeengiventhemintrust,tocausedelight。Whenshehadfinished,shelookedatherselfintheglassrathermoredistrustfullythanusual。Shefeltthathersortofwomanwasatadiscountinthesedays,andbeingsensitive,shewasnevercontenteitherwithherappearance,orherhabits。But,forallthat,shewentonbehavinginunsatisfactoryways,becausesheincorrigiblylovedtolookascharmingasshecould;andevenifnooneweregoingtoseeher,sheneverfeltthatshelookedcharmingenough。Shewas——asLadyCasterleyhadshrewdlyguessed——thekindofwomanwhospoilsmenbybeingtoonicetothem;ofnousetothosewhowishwomentoassertthemselves;yethavingacertainpassivestoicism,verydisconcerting。Withlittleornopowerofinitiative,shewoulddowhatshewassettodowithathoroughnessthatwouldshameaninitiator;temperamentallyunabletobeganythingofanybody,sherequiredloveasaplantrequireswater;shecouldgiveherselfcompletely,yetremainoddlyincorruptible;inaword,hopeless,andusuallybelovedofthosewhothoughtherso。
Withallthis,however,shewasnotquitewhatiscalleda\'sweetwoman——aphraseshedetested——fortherewasinheraqueerveinofgentlecynicism。She\'saw\'withextraordinaryclearness,asifshehadbeenborninItalyandstillcarriedthatcleardryatmosphereabouthersoul。Shelovedglowandwarmthandcolour;suchmysticismasshefeltwaspagan;andshehadfewaspirations——sufficienttoherwerethingsastheyshowedthemselvestobe。
Thismorning,whenshehadmadeherselfsmellofgeraniums,andfastenedallthesmallcontrivancesthatholdeventhebestofwomentogether,shewentdownstairstoherlittledining—room,setthespiritlampgoing,andtakinguphernewspaper,stoodwaitingtomaketea。
Itwasthehourofthedaymostdeartoher。Ifthedewhadbeenbrushedoffherlife,itwasstilloutthereeverymorningonthefaceofNature,andonthefacesofherflowers;therewasbeforeherallthepleasureofseeinghoweachofthoselittlecreaturesinthegardenhadslept;howmanychildrenhadbeenbornsincetheDawn;whowasailing,andneededattention。Therewasalsothefeeling,whichrenewsitselfeverymorninginpeoplewholivelonelylives,thattheyarenotlonely,until,thedaywearingon,assuresthemofthefact。Notthatshewasidle,forshehadobtainedthroughCourtiertheworkofreviewingmusicinawoman\'spaper,forwhichshewasintuitivelyfitted。This,herflowers,herownmusic,andtheaffairsofcertainfamiliesofcottagers,fillednearlyallhertime。
Andsheaskednobetterfatethantohaveeveryminuteoccupied,havingthatpassionforworkrequiringnoinitiation,whichisnaturaltotheownersoflazyminds。
Suddenlyshedroppedhernewspaper,wenttothebowlofflowersonthebreakfast—table,andpluckedforthtwostalksoflavender;
holdingthemawayfromher,shewentoutintothegarden,andflungthemoverthewall。
Thisstrangeimmolationofthosetwopoorsprigs,bornsoearly,gatheredandplacedbeforeherwithsuchkindintentionbyhermaid,seemedofallactstheleasttobeexpectedofonewhohatedtohurtpeople\'sfeelings,andwhoseeyesalwaysshoneatthesightofflowers。Butintruththesmelloflavender——thatscentcarriedonherhusband\'shandkerchiefandclothes——stillaffectedhersostronglythatshecouldnotbeartobeinaroomwithit。Asnothingelsedid,itbroughtbeforeherone,tolivewithwhomhadslowlybecometorture。Andfreedbythatscent,thewholefloodofmemorybrokeinonher。Thememoryofthreeyearswhenherteethhadbeensetdoggedly,onherdiscoverythatshewaschainedtounhappinessforlife;thememoryoftheabruptend,andofhercreepingawaytoletherscorchednervesrecover。Ofhowduringthefirstyearofthisreleasewhichwasnotfreedom,shehadtwicechangedherabode,togetawayfromherownstory——notbecauseshewasashamedofit,butbecauseitremindedherofwretchedness。OfhowshehadthencometoMonkland,wherethequietlifehadslowlygivenherelasticityagain。AndthenofhermeetingwithMiltoun;theunexpecteddelightofthatcompanionship;thefrankenjoymentofthefirstfourmonths。Andsherememberedallhersecretrejoicing,hersilentidentificationofanotherlifewithherown,beforesheacknowledgedorevensuspectedlove。Andjustthreeweeksagonow,helpingtotieupherroses,hehadtouchedher,andshehadknown。
Buteventhen,untilthenightofCourtier\'saccident,shehadnotdaredtorealize。Moreconcernednowforhimthanforherself,sheaskedherselfathousandtimesifshehadbeentoblame。Shehadlethimgrowfondofher,awomanoutofcourt,adeadwoman！Anunpardonablesin！Yetsurelythatdependedonwhatshewaspreparedtogive！Andshewasfranklyreadytogiveeverything,andaskfornothing。Heknewherposition,hehadtoldherthatheknew。Inherloveforhimshegloried,wouldcontinuetoglory;wouldsufferforitwithoutregret。Miltounwasrightinbelievingthatnewspapergossipwasincapableofhurtingher,thoughherreasonsforbeingsoimperviouswerenotwhathesupposed。Shewasnot,likehim,securedfrompainbecausesuchinsinuationsabouttheprivateaffairsofothersweremeanandvulgarandbeneathnotice;ithadnotasyetoccurredtohertolookatthematterinsoloftyandgeneralalight;shesimplywasnothurt,becauseshewasalreadysodeeplyMiltoun\'spropertyinspirit,thatshewasalmostgladthattheyshouldassignhimalltherestofher。ButforMiltoun\'ssakeshewasdisturbedtothesoul。Shehadtarnishedhisshieldintheeyesofmen;and（forshewasoddlypractical,andsawthingsinveryclearproportion）perhapsputbackhiscareer,whoknewhowmanyyears！
Shesatdowntodrinkhertea。Notbeingacryingwoman,shesufferedquietly。ShefeltthatMiltounwouldbecomingtoher。Shedidnotknowatallwhatsheshouldsaywhenhedidcome。Hecouldnotcareforhersomuchasshecaredforhim！Hewasaman;mensoonforget！Ah！buthewasnotlikemostmen。Onecouldnotlookathiseyeswithoutfeelingthathecouldsufferterribly！Inallthisherownreputationconcernedhernotatall。Life,andherclearwayoflookingatthings,hadrootedinhertheconvictionthattoawomanthepreciousnessofherreputationwasafictioninventedbymenentirelyforman\'sbenefit;asecond—handfetishinsidiously,inevitablyset—upbymenforworship,innovels,plays,andlaw—
courts。Herinstincttoldherthatmencouldnotfeelsecureinthepossessionoftheirwomenunlesstheycouldbelievethatwomensettremendousstorebysexualreputation。Whattheywantedtobelieve,thattheydidbelieve！Butsheknewotherwise。Suchgreat—mindedwomenasshehadmetorreadofhadalwaysleftonhertheimpressionthatreputationforthemwasamatterofthespirit,havinglittletodowithsex。Fromherownfeelingssheknewthatreputation,forasimplewoman,meanttostandwellintheeyesofhimorherwhomshelovedbest。Forworldlywomen——andthereweresomanykindsofthose,besidesthemerelyfashionable——shehadalwaysnotedthatitsvaluewasnotintrinsic,butcommercial;notacrownofdignity,butjustamarketableasset。ShedidnotdreadintheleastwhatpeoplemightsayofherfriendshipwithMiltoun;nordidshefeelatallthatherindissolublemarriageforbadeherlovinghim。Shehadsecretlyfeltfreeassoonasshehaddiscoveredthatshehadneverreallylovedherhusband;shehadonlygoneondutifullyuntiltheseparation,fromsheerpassivity,andbecauseitwasagainsthernaturetocausepaintoanyone。Themanwhowasstillherhusbandwasnowasdeadtoherasifhehadneverbeenborn。Shecouldnotmarryagain,itwastrue;butshecouldanddidlove。Ifthatlovewastobestarvedanddieaway,itwouldnotbebecauseofanymoralscruples。
Sheopenedherpaperlanguidly;andalmostthefirstwordssheread,undertheheadingofElectionNews,werethese:
\'AproposoftheoutrageonMr。Courtier,wearerequestedtostatethattheladywhoaccompaniedLordMiltountotherescueofthatgentlemanwasMrs。LeesNoel,wifeoftheRev。StephenLeesNoel,vicarofClathampton,Warwickshire。\'
Thisdubiouslittledaubofwhitewashonlybroughtarathersadsmiletoherlips。Shelefthertea,andwentoutintotheair。ThereatthegatewasMiltouncomingin。Herheartleaped。Butshewentforwardquietly,andgreetedhimwithcast—downeyes,asifnothingwereoutoftheordinary。
CHAPTERXV
ExaltationhadnotleftMiltoun。Hissallowfacewasflushed,hiseyesglowedwithasortofbeauty;andAudreyNoelwho,betterthanmostwomen,couldreadwhatwaspassingbehindaface,sawthoseeyeswiththedelightofamothflutteringtowardsalamp。Butinaveryunemotionalvoiceshesaid:
\"Soyouhavecometobreakfast。Howniceofyou！
ItwasnotinMiltountoobservetheformalitiesofattack。Hadhebeengoingtofightadueltherewouldhavebeennopreliminary,justalook,abow,andtheswordscrossed。Sointhisfirstengagementofhiswiththesoulofawoman！
Heneithersatdownnorsufferedhertosit,butstoodlookingintentlyintoherface,andsaid:
\"Iloveyou。\"
Nowthatithadcome,withthisdisconcertingswiftness,shewasstrangelycalm,andunashamed。Theelationofknowingforsurethatshewaslovedwaslikeawandwavingawayalltremors,stillingthemtosweetness。Sincenothingcouldtakeawaythatknowledge,itseemedthatshecouldneveragainbeutterlyunhappy。Then,too,inhernature,sodeeply,unreasoninglyincapableofperceivingtheimportanceofanyprinciplebutlove,therewasasecretfeelingofassurance,oftriumph。Hedidloveher！Andshe,him！Well！Andsuddenlypanic—stricken,lestheshouldtakebackthosewords,sheputherhanduptohisbreast,andsaid:
\"AndIloveyou。\"
Thefeelofhisarmsroundher,thestrengthandpassionofthatmoment,weresoterriblysweet,thatshediedtothought,justlookingupathim,withlipspartedandeyesdarkerwiththedepthofherlovethanhehadeverdreamedthateyescouldbe。Themadnessofhisownfeelingkepthimsilent。Andtheystoodthere,somergedinoneanotherthattheyknewandcarednothingforanyothermortalthing。Itwasverystillintheroom;therosesandcarnationsinthelustrebowl,seemingtoknowthattheirmistresswascaughtupintoheaven,hadlettheirperfumestealforthandoccupyeverycrannyoftheabandonedair;ahoveringbee,too,circledroundthelovers\'heads,scenting,itseemed,thehoneyintheirhearts。
IthasbeensaidthatMiltoun\'sfacewasnotunhandsome;forAudreyNoelatthismomentwhenhiseyesweresonearhers,andhislipstouchingher,hewastransfigured,andhadbecomethespiritofallbeauty。Andshe,withheartbeatingfastagainsthim,hereyes,halfclosingfromdelight,andherhairaskingtobepraisedwithitsfragrance,hercheeksfaintingpalewithemotion,andherarmstoolanguidwithhappinesstoembracehim——she,tohim,wastheincarnationofthewomanthatvisitsdreams。
Sopassedthatmoment。
Thebeeendedit;who,impatientwithflowersthathidtheirhoneysodeep,hadentangledhimselfinAudrey\'shair。Andthen,seeingthatwords,thosedreadedthings,wereonhislips,shetriedtokissthemback。Buttheycame:
\"Whenwillyoumarryme？\"
Itallswayedalittle。Andwithmarvellousrapiditythewholepositionstartedupbeforeher。Shesaw,withpreternaturalinsight,intoitsnooksandcorners。Somethinghehadsaidoneday,whentheyweretalkingoftheChurchviewofmarriageanddivorce,lightedallup。Sohehadreallyneverknownabouther！Atthismomentofuttersickness,shewassavedfromfaintingbyhersenseofhumour——hercynicism。Notcontenttoletherbe,people\'stongueshaddivorcedher;hehadbelievedthem！Andthecrownofironywasthatheshouldwanttomarryher,whenshefeltsoutterly,sosacredlyhis,todowhathelikedwithsansformsorceremonies。AsurgeofbitterfeelingagainstthemanwhostoodbetweenherandMiltounalmostmadehercryout。Thatmanhadcapturedherbeforesheknewtheworldorherownsoul,andshewastiedtohim,tillbysomebeneficentchancehedrewhislastbreathwhenherhairwasgrey,andhereyeshadnolovelight,andhercheeksnolongergrewpalewhentheywerekissed;
whentwilighthadfallen,andtheflowers,andbeesnolongercaredforher。
Itwasthatfeeling,thesuddenrevoltofthedesperateprisoner,whichsteeledhertoputoutherhand,takeupthepaper,andgiveittoMiltoun。
Whenhehadreadthelittleparagraph,therefollowedoneofthoseeternitieswhichlastperhapstwominutes。
Hesaid,then:
\"It\'strue,Isuppose？\"And,athersilence,added:\"Iamsorry。\"
Thisqueerdrysayingwassomuchmoreterriblethananyoutcry,thatsheremained,deprivedevenofthepowerofbreathing,withhereyesstillfixedonMiltoun\'sface。
ThesmileoftheoldCardinalhadcomeupthere,andwastoherlikealivingaccusation。Itseemedstrangethatthehumofthebeesandfliesandthegentleswishingofthelimetreeshouldstillgoonoutside,insistingthattherewasaworldmovingandbreathingapartfromher,andcarelessofhermisery。Thensomeofhercouragecameback,andwithitherwoman\'smutepower。Itcamehauntingaboutherface,perfectlystill,aboutherlips,sensitiveanddrawn,abouthereyes,dark,almostmutinousundertheirarchedbrows。Shestood,drawinghimwithsilenceandbeauty。
Atlasthespoke:
\"Ihavemadeafoolishmistake,itseems。Ibelievedyouwerefree。\"
Herlipsjustmovedforthewordstopass:\"Ithoughtyouknew。I
never,dreamedyouwouldwanttomarryme。\"
Itseemedtohernaturalthatheshouldbethinkingonlyofhimself,butwiththesubtlestdefensiveinstinct,sheputforwardherowntragedy:
\"IsupposeIhadgottoousedtoknowingIwasdead。\"
\"Istherenorelease？\"
\"None。Wehaveneitherofusdonewrong;besideswithhim,marriageis——forever。\"
\"MyGod！\"
Shehadbrokenhissmile,whichhadbeencruelwithoutmeaningtobecruel;andwithasmileofherownthatwascrueltoo,shesaid:
\"Ididn\'tknowthatyoubelievedinreleaseeither。\"
Then,asthoughshehadstabbedherselfinstabbinghim,herfacequivered。
Helookedathernow,consciousatlastthatshewassuffering。Andshefeltthathewasholdinghimselfinwithallhismightfromtakingheragainintohisarms。Seeingthis,thewarmthcreptbacktoherlips,andalittlelightintohereyes,whichshekepthiddenfromhim。Thoughshestoodsoproudlystill,somewistfulforcewascomingfromher,asfromamagnet,andMiltoun\'shandsandarmsandfacetwitchedasthoughpalsied。Thisstruggle,dumbandpitiful,seemednevertobecomingtoanendinthelittlewhiteroom,darkenedbythethatchoftheverandah,andsweetwiththescentofpinksandofawoodfirejustlightedsomewhereoutattheback。
Then,withoutaword,heturnedandwentout。Sheheardthewicketgateswingto。Hewasgone。
CHAPTERXVI
LordDeniswasfly—fishing——theweatherjusttoobrighttoallowthelittletroutofthatshallow,neversilentstreamtoembracewithaviditythesmallenticementswhichhethrewintheirdirection。
Neverthelesshecontinuedtoinvitethem,exploringeverynookoftheirwaterypathwaywithhissoft—swishingline。Inaroughsuitandbatteredhatadornedwiththoseartificialandotherflies,whichinfestHarristweed,hecreptalongamongthehazelbushesandthorn—
trees,perfectlyhappy。Likeanoldspaniel,whohasoncegloriedinthefetchingofhares,rabbits,andallmanneroffowl,andisnowgladifyouwillbutthrowastickforhim,soone,whohadbeenafamousfisherbeforetheLord,whohadharriedthewatersofScotlandandNorway,FloridaandIceland,nowpursuedtroutnobiggerthansardines。Theglamourofathousandmemorieshallowedthehourshethusspentbythatbrownwater。Hefishedunhasting,religious,likesomegoodCatholicaddingonemoretotherowofbeadsalreadytold,asthoughhewouldfishhimself,gravely,withoutcomplaint,intotheotherworld。Witheachfishcaughtheexperiencedasolemnsatisfaction。
ThoughhewouldhavelikedBarbarawithhimthatmorning,hehadonlylookedatheronceafterbreakfastinsuchawaythatshecouldnotseehim,andwithadrysmilegoneoffbyhimself。Downbythestreamitwasdappled,bothcoolandwarm,windless;thetreesmetovertheriver,andthereweremanystones,forminglittlebasinswhichhelduptheripple,sothatthecastingofaflyrequiredmuchcunning。Thislongdingleranformilesthroughthefoot—growthoffoldinghills。Itwasbelovedofjays;butofhumanbeingstherewerenone,exceptachicken—farmer\'swidow,wholivedinahousethatchedalmosttotheground,andmadeherlivelihoodbydirectingtourists,withsuchcunningthattheysooncamebacktoherfortea。
ItwaswhilethrowingaratherlongerlinethanusualtoreachalittledarkpieceofcrispwaterthatLordDennisheardtheswishingandcracklingofsomeoneadvancingatfullspeed。Hefrownedslightly,feelingforthenervesofhisfishes,whomhedidnotwishstartled。TheinvaderwasMiltoun,hot,pale,dishevelled,withaqueer,huntedlookonhisface。Hestoppedonseeinghisgreat—
uncle,andinstantlyassumedthemaskofhissmile。
LordDenniswasnotthemantoseewhatwasnotintendedforhim,andhemerelysaid:
\"Well,Eustace！\"ashemighthavespoken,meetinghisnephewinthehallofoneofhisLondonClubs。
Miltoun,nolesspolite,murmured:
\"HopeIhaven\'tlostyouanything。\"
LordDennisshookhishead,andlayinghisrodonthebank,said:
\"Sitdownandhaveachat,oldfellow。Youdon\'tfish,Ithink？\"
Hehadnot,intheleast,missedthesufferingbehindMiltoun\'smask;
hiseyeswerestillgood,andtherewasalittlematterofsometwentyyears\'sufferingofhisownonaccountofawoman——ancienthistorynow——whichhadlefthimquaintlysensitive,foranoldman,tosignsofsufferinginothers。
Miltounwouldnothaveobeyedthatinvitationfromanyoneelse,buttherewassomethingaboutLordDenniswhichpeopledidnotresist;
hispowerlayinadryironicsuavitywhichcouldnotbutpersuadepeoplethatimpolitenesswasaltogethertoonewandrawathingtobeindulgedin。
Thetwosatsidebysideontherootsoftrees。Atfirsttheytalkedalittleofbirds,andthenweredumb,sodumbthattheinvisiblecreaturesofthewoodsconsultedtogetheraudibly。LordDennisbrokethatsilence。
\"Thisplace,\"hesaid,\"alwaysremindsmeofMarkTwain\'swritings——
can\'ttellwhy,unlessit\'stheever—greenness。Iliketheevergreenphilosophers,TwainandMeredith。There\'snosalvationexceptthroughcourage,thoughInevercouldstomachthe\'strongman\'——
captainofhissoul,HenleyandNietzscheandthatsort——goesagainstthegrainwithme。Whatdoyousay,Eustace？\"
\"Theymeantwell,\"answeredMiltoun,\"buttheyprotestedtoomuch。\"
LordDennismovedhisheadinassent。
\"Tobecaptainofyoursoul！\"continuedMiltouninabittervoice;
\"it\'saprettyphrase！\"
\"Prettyenough,\"murmuredLordDennis。
Miltounlookedathim。
\"Andsuitabletoyou,\"hesaid。
\"No,mydear,\"LordDennisanswereddryly,\"alongwayoffthat,thankGod！\"
Hiseyeswerefixedintentlyontheplacewherealargetrouthadriseninthestillesttoffee—colouredpool。Heknewthatfellow,ahalf—pounderatleast,andhisthoughtsbeganflightingroundthetopofhishead,hoveringoverthevariousmeritsoftheflies。Hisfingersitchedtoo,buthemadenomovement,andtheash—treeunderwhichhesatletitsleavestremble,asthoughinsympathy。
\"Seethathawk？\"saidMiltoun。
Ataheightmorethanlevelwiththetopsofthehillsabuzzardhawkwasstationaryinthebluedirectlyoverthem。Inspiredbycuriosityattheirstillness,hewaslookingdowntoseewhethertheywereedible;theupcurvedendsofhisgreatwingsflirtedjustoncetoshowthathewaspartofthelivinggloryoftheair——asymboloffreedomtomenandfishes。
LordDennislookedathisgreat—nephew。Theboy——forwhatelsewasthirtytoseventy—six？——wastakingithard,whateveritmightbe,takingitveryhard！Hewasthatsort——rantillhedropped。Theworstkindtohelp——thesortthatmadefortrouble——thatletthingsgnawatthem！Andthereflashedbeforetheoldman\'smindtheimageofPrometheusdevouredbytheeagle。Itwashisfavouritetragedy,whichhestillreadperiodically,intheGreek,helpinghimselfnowandthenoutofhisoldlexicontothemeaningofsomewordwhichhadflowntoErebus。Yes,Eustacewasafellowfortheheightsanddepths！
Hesaidquietly:
\"Youdon\'tcaretotalkaboutit,Isuppose？\"
Miltounshookhishead,andagaintherewassilence。
Thebuzzardhawkhavingseenthemmove,quiveredhiswingslikeamoth\'s,anddesertedthatplaneofair。Arobinfromthedappledwarmthofamossystone,wasregardingtheminstead。Therewasanothersplashinthepool。
LordDennissaidgently:
\"Thatfellow\'srisentwice;Ibelievehe\'dtakea\'Wistman\'streasure。\'\"Extractingfromhishatitslatestfly,andbindingiton,hebegansoftlytoswishhisline。
\"Ishallhavehimyet！\"hemuttered。ButMiltounhadstolenaway……
ThefurtherpieceofinformationaboutMrs。Noel,alreadyknownbyBarbara,anddiffusedbythe\'BucklandburyNews\',hadnotbecomecommonknowledgeattheCourttillafterLordDennishadstartedouttofish。IncombinationwiththereportthatMiltounhadarrivedandgoneoutwithoutbreakfast,ithadbeenreceivedwithmingledfeelings。Bertie,Harbinger,andShropton,inashortconclave,afteragreeingthatfromthepointofviewoftheelectionitwasperhapsbetterthanifshehadbeenadivorcee,werestillinclinedtothebeliefthatnotimewastobelost——indoingwhat,however,theywereunabletodetermine。ApartfromtheimpossibilityofknowinghowafellowlikeMiltounwouldtakethematter,theywerefacedwiththedevilishsubtletyofallsituationstowhichtheproverb\'Leastsaid,soonestmended\'applies。Theywereinthepresenceofthatawe—inspiringthing,thepowerofscandal。Simplestatementsofsimplefacts,withoutmoraldrawn（towhichnolegalexceptioncouldbetaken）laidbeforethepublicaspiecesofinterestinginformation,orattheworstexposedinperfectgoodfaith,lestthepublicshouldblindlyelectastheirrepresentativeonewhoseprivatelifemightnotstandtheinspectionofdaylight——
whatcouldbemorejustifiable！AndyetMiltoun\'ssupportersknewthatthissimplestatementofwherehespenthiseveningshadapoisonouspotency,throughitspowerofstimulatingthatsideofthehumanimaginationthemosteasilyexcited。Theyrecognizedonlytoowell,howstrongwasacertainprimitivedesire,especiallyinruraldistricts,byyieldingtowhichtheworldwasmadetogo,andhowremarkablyhardit,wasnottoyieldtoit,andhowinterestingandexcitingtoseeorhearofothersyieldingtoit,andhow（thoughhere,ofcourse,menmightdiffersecretly）reprehensibleofthemtodoso！Theyrecognized,toowell,howacertainkindofconsciencewouldappreciatethisrumour;andhowthepuritanswouldlicktheirlengthenedchops。Theyknew,too,howirresistibletopeopleofanyimaginationatall,wasthemerecombinationofamemberofaclass,traditionallysupposedtobeinclinedtohavingwhatitwanted,withaladywholivedalone！AsHarbingersaid:Itwasreallydevilishawkward！For,totakeanynoticeofitwouldbetomakemorepeoplethaneverbelieveittrue。Andyet,thatitwasworkingmischief,theyfeltbythesecretvoiceintheirownsouls,tellingthemthattheywouldhavebelieveditiftheyhadnotknownbetter。Theyhungabout,waitingforMiltountocomein。
ThenewswasreceivedbyLadyValleyswithasighofintenserelief,andtheremarkthatitwasprobablyanotherlie。WhenBarbaraconfirmedit,sheonlysaid:\"PoorEustace！\"andatoncewroteofftoherhusbandtosaythat\'Anonyma\'wasstillmarried,sothattheworstfortunatelycouldnothappen。
Miltouncameintolunch,butfromhisfaceandmannernothingcouldbeguessed。Hewasathoughtmoretalkativethanusual,andspokeofBrabrook\'sspeech——someofwhichhehadheard。HelookedatCourtiermeaningly,andafterlunchsaidtohim:
\"Willyoucomeroundtomyden？\"
Inthatroom,theoldwithdrawing—roomoftheElizabethanwing——whereoncehadbeentheembroideries,tapestries,andmissalsofberuffleddameswerenowbooks,pamphlets,oak—panels,pipes,fencinggear,andalongonewallacollectionofRedIndianweaponsandornamentsbroughtbackbyMiltounfromtheUnitedStates。Highonthewallabovethesereignedthebronzedeath—maskofafamousApacheChief,castfromaplastertakenofthefacebyaprofessorofYaleCollege,whohaddeclaredittobeaperfectspecimenofthevanishingrace。
Thatvisage,whichhadacertainweirdresemblancetoDante\'s,presidedovertheroomwithcruel,tragicstoicism。Noonecouldlookonitwithoutfeelingthat,there,thehumanwillhadbeenpushedtoitsfarthestlimitsofendurance。