XIII
GladasAgneswaswhenherloverreturnedforlunch，shewasatthesametimeratherdismayed:sheknewthatMrs。Failingwouldnotlikeherplansaltered。Andherdismaywasjustified。Theirhostesswasalittlestiff，andaskedwhetherStephenhadbeenobnoxious。
\"Indeedhehasn’t。Hespentthewholetimelookingafterme。\"
\"FromwhichIconcludehewasmoreobnoxiousthanusual。\"
Rickiepraisedhimdiligently。Buthiscandidnatureshowedeverythingthrough。Hisauntsoonsawthattheyhadnotgoton。
Shehadexpectedthis——almostplannedit。Neverthelesssheresentedit，andherresentmentwastofallonhim。
Thestormgatheredslowly，andmanyotherthingswenttoswellit。Weaklypeople，iftheyarenotcareful，hateoneanother，andwhentheweaknessishereditarythetemptationincreases。Elliotshadnevergotonamongthemselves。Theytalkedof\"TheFamily，\"
buttheyalwaysturnedoutwardstothehealthandbeautythatliesopromiscuouslyabouttheworld。Rickie’sfatherhadturned，foratimeatallevents，tohismother。RickiehimselfwasturningtoAgnes。AndMrs。Failingnowwasirritable，andunfairtothenephewwhowaslamelikeherhorriblebrotherandlikeherself。
Shethoughthiminvertebrateandconventional。Shewasenviousofhishappiness。Shedidnottroubletounderstandhisart。Shelongedtoshatterhim，butknowingasshedidthatthehumanthunderboltoftenreboundsandstrikesthewielder，sheheldherhand。
Agneswatchedtheapproachingclouds。Rickiehadwarnedher;nowshebegantowarnhim。Asthevisitworeawaysheurgedhimtobepleasanttohisaunt，andsoconvertitintoasuccess。
Hereplied，\"Whyneeditbeasuccess？\"——areplyinthemannerofAnsell。
Shelaughed。\"Oh，that’ssolikeyoumen——alltheory！Whataboutyourgreattheoryofhatingnoone？Assoonasitcomesinusefulyoudropit。\"
\"Idon’thateAuntEmily。Honestly。ButcertainlyIdon’twanttobenearherorthinkabouther。Don’tyouthinktherearetwogreatthingsinlifethatweoughttoaimat——truthandkindness？
Let’shavebothifwecan，butlet’sbesureofhavingoneortheother。Myauntgivesupbothforthesakeofbeingfunny。\"
\"AndStephenWonham，\"pursuedAgnes。\"There’sanotherpersonyouhate——ordon’tthinkabout，ifyoupreferitputlikethat。\"
\"Thetruthis，I’mchanging。I’mbeginningtoseethattheworldhasmanypeopleinitwhodon’tmatter。Ihadtimeforthemonce。
Notnow。\"Therewasonlyonegatetothekingdomofheavennow。
Agnessurprisedhimbysaying，\"ButtheWonhamboyisevidentlyapartofyouraunt’slife。Shelaughsathim，butsheisfondofhim。\"
\"What’sthattodowithit？\"
\"Yououghttobepleasanttohimonaccountofit。\"
\"Whyonearth？\"
Sheflushedalittle。\"I’mold—fashioned。Oneoughttoconsiderone’shostess，andfallinwithherlife。Afterweleaveit’sanotherthing。ButwhilewetakeherhospitalityIthinkit’sourduty。\"
Hergoodsensetriumphed。HenceforthhetriedtofallinwithAuntEmily’slife。AuntEmilywatchedhimtrying。Thestormbroke，asstormssometimesdo，onSunday。
SundaychurchwasafunctionatCadover，thoughastrangeone。
Thepompouslandaurolleduptothehouseataquartertoeleven。
ThenMrs。Failingsaid，\"WhyamIbeinghurried？\"andafteranintervaldescendedthestepsinherordinaryclothes。Sheregardedthechurchasasortofsitting—room，andrefusedeventowearabonnetthere。Thevillagewasshocked，butatthesametimealittleproud;itwouldpointoutthecarriagetostrangersandgossipaboutthepalesmilingladywhosatinit，alwaysalone，alwayslate，herhairalwaysdrapedinanexpensiveshawl。
ThisSunday，thoughlateasusual，shewasnotalone。MissPembroke，engrandetoilette，satbyherside。Rickie，lookingplainanddevout，perchedopposite。AndStephenactuallycametoo，murmuringthatitwouldbetheBenedicite，whichhehadneverminded。TherewasalsotheLitany，whichdrovehimintotheairagain，muchtoMrs。Failing’sdelight。Sheenjoyedthissortofthing。ItamusedherwhenherProtegeleftthepew，lookingbored，athletic，anddishevelled，andgropingmostobviouslyforhispipe。Shelikedtokeepathoroughbredpagantoshockpeople。
\"He’sgonetoworshipNature，\"shewhispered。Rickiedidnotlookup。\"Don’tyouthinkhe’scharming？\"Hemadenoreply。
\"Charming，\"whisperedAgnesoverhishead。
Duringthesermonsheanalysedherguests。MissPembroke——
undistinguished，unimaginative，tolerable。Rickie——intolerable。
\"Andhowpedantic！\"shemused。\"HesmellsoftheUniversitylibrary。Ifhewasstupidintherightwayhewouldbeadon。\"
Shelookedroundthetinychurch;atthewhitewashedpillars，thehumblepavement，thewindowfullofmagentasaints。Therewasthevicar’swife。AndMrs。Wilbraham’sbonnet。Ugh！Therestofthecongregationwerepoorwomen，withflat，hopelessfaces——shesawthemSundayafterSunday，butdidnotknowtheirnames——
diversifiedwithafewreluctantplough—boys，andthevilelittleschoolchildrenrowuponrow。\"Ugh！whatahole，\"thoughtMrs。
Failing，whoseChristianitywasthetypebestdescribedas\"cathedral。\"\"Whataholeforaculturedwoman！Idon’tthinkithasbluntedmysensations，though;Istillseeitssqualorasclearlyasever。Andmynephewpretendsheisworshipping。Pah！
thehypocrite。\"Aboveherthevicarspokeofthedangerofhurryingfromonedissipationtoanother。Shetreasuredhiswords，andcontinued:\"Icannotstandsmugness。Itistheone，theunpardonablesin。Freshair！ThefreshairthathasmadeStephenWonhamfreshandcompanionableandstrong。Evenifitkills，Iwillletinthefreshair。\"
ThusreasonedMrs。Failing，inthefacileveinofIbsenism。Sheimaginedherselftobeacold—eyedScandinavianheroine。ReallyshewasanEnglisholdlady，whodidnotmindgivingotherpeopleachillprovideditwasnotinfectious。
Agnes，onthewayback，notedthatherhostesswasalittlesnappish。Butoneissohungryaftermorningservice，andeithersohotorsocold，thathewouldbeasaintindeedwhobecomesasaintatonce。Mrs。Failing，afterassertingvindictivelythatitwasimpossibletomakealivingoutofliterature，wascourteouslyleftalone。Roast—beefandmosellemightyetworkmiracles，andAgnesstillhopedfortheintroductions——theintroductionstocertaineditorsandpublishers——onwhichherwholediplomacywasbent。Rickiewouldnotpushhimself。Itwashisbesettingsin。Wellforhimthathewouldhaveawife，andalovingwife，whoknewthevalueofenterprise。
Unfortunatelylunchwasaquarterofanhourlate，andduringthatquarterofanhourtheauntandthenephewquarrelled。Shehadbeeninveighingagainstthemorningservice，andhequietlyanddeliberatelyreplied，\"Iforganizedreligionisanything——anditissomethingtome——itwillnotbewreckedbyaharmoniumandadullsermon。\"
Mrs。Failingfrowned。\"Ienvyyou。Itisagreatthingtohavenosenseofbeauty。\"
\"IthinkIhaveasenseofbeauty，whichleadsmeastrayifIamnotcareful。\"
\"Butthisisagreatrelieftome。Ithoughtthepresentdayyoungmanwasanagnostic！Isn’tagnosticismallthethingatCambridge？\"
\"Nothingisthe’thing’atCambridge。Ifafewmenareagnosticthere，itisforsomegravereason，notbecausetheyareirritatedwiththewaytheparsonsayshisvowels。\"
Agnesintervened。\"Well，IsidewithAuntEmily。Ibelieveinritual。\"
\"Don’t，mydear，sidewithme。Hewillonlysayyouhavenosenseofreligioneither。\"
\"Excuseme，\"saidRickie，perhapshetoowasalittlehungry，——\"I
neversuggestedsuchathing。Ineverwouldsuggestsuchathing。
Whycannotyouunderstandmyposition？Ialmostfeelitisthatyouwon’t。\"
\"Itrytounderstandyourpositionnightanddaydear——whatyoumean，whatyoulike，whyyoucametoCadover，andwhyyoustopherewhenmypresenceissoobviouslyunpleasingtoyou。\"
\"Luncheonisserved，\"saidLeighton，buthesaidittoolate。
Theydiscussedthebeefandthemoselleinsilence。Theairwasheavyandominous。EventheWonhamboywasaffectedbyit，shiveredattimes，chokedonce，andhastenedanewintothesun。
Hecouldnotunderstandcleverpeople。
Agnes，inabriefanxiousinterview，advisedtheculprittotakeasolitarywalk。ShewouldstopnearAuntEmily，andpavethewayforanapology。
\"Don’tworrytoomuch。Itdoesn’treallymatter。\"
\"Isupposenot，dear。Butitseemsapity，consideringwearesoneartheendofourvisit。\"
\"RudenessandGrossnessmatter，andI’veshownboth，andalreadyI’msorry，andIhopeshe’llletmeapologize。Butfromtheselfishpointofviewitdoesn’tmatterastraw。She’snomoretousthantheWonhamboyorthebootboy。\"
\"Whichwaywillyouwalk？\"
\"Ithinktothatentrenchment。Lookatit。\"Theyweresittingonthesteps。HestretchedouthishandtoCadsburyRings，andthenletitrestforamomentonhershoulder。\"You’rechangingme，\"
hesaidgently。\"Godblessyouforit。\"
Heenjoyedhiswalk。Cadfordwasacharmingvillageandforatimehehungoverthebridgebythemill。Soclearwasthestreamthatitseemednotwateratall，butsomeinvisiblequintessenceinwhichthehappyminnowsandtheweedswerevibrating。AndhepausedagainattheRomancrossing，andthoughtforamomentoftheunknownchild。Thelinecurvedsuddenly:certainlyitwasdangerous。Thenheliftedhiseyestothedown。Theentrenchmentshowedliketherimofasaucer，andoveritsnarrowlinepeepedthesummitofthecentraltree。Itlookedinteresting。Hehurriedforward，withthewindbehindhim。
TheRingswerecuriousratherthanimpressive。Neitherembankmentwasovertwelvefeethigh，andthegrassonthemhadnottheexquisitegreenofOldSarum，butwasgreyandwiry。ButNature（ifshearrangesanything）hadarrangedthatfromthem，atallevents，thereshouldbeaview。ThewholesystemofthecountrylayspreadbeforeRickie，andhegainedanideaofitthathenevergotinhiselaborateride。HesawhowallthewaterconvergesatSalisbury;howSalisburyliesinashallowbasin，justatthechangeofthesoil。HesawtothenorththePlain，andthestreamoftheCadflowingdownfromit，withatributarythatbrokeoutsuddenly，asthechalkstreamsdo:onevillagehadclusteredroundthesourceandclotheditselfwithtrees。HesawOldSarum，andhintsoftheAvonvalley，andthelandaboveStoneHenge。Andbehindhimhesawthegreatwoodbeginningunobtrusively，asifthedowntooneededshaving;andintoittheroadtoLondonslipped，coveringthebusheswithwhitedust。
Chalkmadethedustwhite，chalkmadethewaterclear，chalkmadethecleanrollingoutlinesoftheland，andfavouredthegrassandthedistantcoronalsoftrees。Hereistheheartofourisland:theChilterns，theNorthDowns，theSouthDownsradiatehence。ThefibresofEnglanduniteinWiltshire，anddidwecondescendtoworshipher，hereweshoulderectournationalshrine。
Peopleatthattimeweretryingtothinkimperially，Rickiewonderedhowtheydidit，forhecouldnotimagineaplacelargerthanEngland。AndotherpeopletalkedofItaly，thespiritualfatherlandofusall。PerhapsItalywouldprovemarvellous。Butatpresentheconceiveditassomethingexotic，tobeadmiredandreverenced，butnottobelovedliketheseunostentatiousfields。
Hedrewoutabook，itwasnaturalforhimtoreadwhenhewashappy，andtoreadoutloud，——andforalittletimehisvoicedisturbedthesilenceofthatgloriousafternoon。ThebookwasShelley，anditopenedatapassagethathehadcherishedgreatlytwoyearsbefore，andmarkedas\"verygood。\"
\"IneverwasattachedtothatgreatsectWhosedoctrineisthateachoneshouldselectOutoftheworldamistressorafriend，Andalltherest，thoughfairandwise，commendTocoldoblivion，——thoughitisthecodeOfmodernmorals，andthebeatenroadWhichthosepoorslaveswithwearyfootstepstreadWhotraveltotheirhomeamongthedeadBythebroadhighwayoftheworld，——andsoWithonesadfriend，perhapsajealousfoe，Thedreariestandthelongestjourneygo。\"
Itwas\"verygood\"——finepoetry，and，inasense，true。Yethewassurprisedthathehadeverselecteditsovehemently。Thisafternoonitseemedalittleinhuman。Halfamileofftwoloverswerekeepingcompanywhereallthevillagerscouldseethem。Theycaredfornooneelse;theyfeltonlythepressureofeachother，andsoprogressed，silentandoblivious，acrosstheland。HefeltthemtobenearerthetruththanShelley。Eveniftheysufferedorquarrelled，theywouldhavebeennearerthetruth。HewonderedwhethertheywereHenryAdamsandJessicaThompson，bothofthisparish，whosebannshadbeenaskedforthesecondtimeinthechurchthismorning。Whycouldhenotmarryonfifteenshillingsa—week？Andbelookedatthemwithrespect，andwishedthathewasnotacumbersomegentleman。
Presentlyhesawsomethinglesspleasant——hisaunt’sponycarriage。Ithadcrossedtherailway，andwasadvancinguptheRomanroadalongbythestrawsacks。Hisimpulsewastoretreat，butsomeonewavedtohim。ItwasAgnes。Shewavedcontinually，asmuchastosay，\"Waitforus。\"Mrs。Failingherselfraisedthewhipinanonchalantway。StephenWonhamwasfollowingonfoot，somewaybehind。HeputtheShelleybackintohispocketandwaitedforthem。Whenthecarriagestoppedbysomehurdleshewentdownfromtheembankmentandhelpedthemtodismount。Hefeltrathernervous。
Hisauntgavehimoneofherdisquietingsmiles，butsaidpleasantlyenough，\"Aren’ttheRingsalittleimmense？AgnesandIcameherebecausewewantedanantidotetothemorningservice。\"
\"Pang！\"saidthechurchbellsuddenly;\"pang！pang！\"Itsoundedpettyandludicrous。Theyalllaughed。Rickieblushed，andAgnes，withaglancethatsaid\"apologize，\"dartedawaytotheentrenchment，asthoughunabletorestrainhercuriosity。
\"Theponywon’tmove，\"saidMrs。Failing。\"LeavehimforStephentotieup。Willyouwalkmetothetreeinthemiddle？Booh！I’mtired。Givemeyourarm——unlessyou’retiredaswell。\"
\"No。Icameoutpartlyinthehopeofhelpingyou。\"
\"Howsweetofyou。\"ShecontrastedhisblatantunselfishnesswiththehardnessofStephen。Stephennevercameouttohelpyou。
Butifyougotholdofhimhewassomegood。Hedidn’twobbleandbendatthecriticalmoment。HerfancycomparedRickietothecrackedchurchbellsendingforthitsmessageof\"Pang！pang！\"tothecountryside，andStephentotheyoungpaganswhoweresaidtolieunderthisfieldguardingtheirpagangold。
\"Thisplaceisfullofghosties，\"sheremarked;\"haveyouseenanyyet？\"
\"I’vekeptontheouterrimsofar。\"
\"Let’sgotothetreeinthecentre。\"
\"Here’sthepath。\"Thebankofgrasswherehehadsatwasbrokenbyagap，throughwhichchariotshadentered，andfarmcartsenterednow。Thetrack，followingtheancienttrack，ledstraightthroughturnipstoasimilargapinthesecondcircle，andthencecontinued，throughmoreturnips，tothecentraltree。
\"Pang！\"saidthebell，astheypausedattheentrance。
\"Youneedn’tunharness，\"shoutedMrs。Failing，forStephenwasapproachingthecarriage。
\"Yes，Iwill，\"heretorted。
\"Youwill，willyou？\"shemurmuredwithasmile。\"Iwishyourbrotherwasn’tquitesouppish。Let’sgeton。Doesn’tthatchurchdistractyou？\"
\"It’ssofainthere，\"saidRickie。Anditsoundedfainterinside，thoughtheearthworkwasneitherthicknortall;andtheview，thoughnothidden，wasgreatlydiminished。HewasremindedforaminuteofthatchalkpitnearMadingley，whoserampartsexcludedthefamiliarworld。Agneswashere，asshehadoncebeenthere。
Shestoodonthefartherbarrier，waitingtoreceivethemwhentheyhadtraversedtheheartofthecamp。
\"Admiremymangel—wurzels，\"saidMrs。Failing。\"Theyaresaidtogrowsosplendidlyonaccountofthedeadsoldiers。Isn’titasweetthought？NeedIsayitisyourbrother’s？\"
\"Wonham’s？\"hesuggested。Itwasthesecondtimethatshehadmadethelittleslip。Shenodded，andheaskedherwhatkindofghostieshauntedthiscuriousfield。
\"TheD。，\"washerpromptreply。\"Heleansagainstthetreeinthemiddle，especiallyonSundayafternoonsandalltheworshippersrisethroughtheturnipsanddanceroundhim。\"
\"Oh，theseweredecentpeople，\"hereplied，lookingdownwards——
\"soldiersandshepherds。Theyhavenoghosts。TheyworshippedMarsorPan—Erdaperhaps;notthedevil。\"
\"Pang！\"wentthechurch，andwassilent，fortheafternoonservicehadbegun。Theyenteredthesecondentrenchment，whichwasinheight，breadth，andcomposition，similartothefirst，andexcludedstillmoreoftheview。Hisauntcontinuedfriendly。
Agnesstoodwatchingthem。
\"Soldiersmayseemdecentinthepast，\"shecontinued，\"butwaittilltheyturnintoTommiesfromBulfordCamp，whorobthechickens。\"
\"Idon’tmindBulfordCamp，\"saidRickie，looking，thoughinvain，forsignsofitssnowytents。\"Thementherearethesonsofthemenhere，andhavecomebacktotheoldcountry。War’shorrible，yetonelovesallcontinuity。Andnoonecouldmindashepherd。\"
\"Indeed！Whataboutyourbrother——ashepherdifevertherewas？
Lookhowheboresyou！Don’tbesosentimental。\"
\"But——oh，youmean——\"
\"YourbrotherStephen。\"
Heglancedathernervously。Hehadneverknownhersoqueerbefore。Perhapsitwassomeliteraryallusionthathehadnotcaught;butherfacedidnotatthatmomentsuggestliterature。
Inthedifferentialtonesthatoneusestoanoldandinfirmpersonhesaid\"StephenWonhamisn’tmybrother，AuntEmily。\"
\"Mydear，you’rethatprecise。Onecan’tsay’half—brother’everytime。\"
Theyapproachedthecentraltree。
\"Howyoudopuzzleme，\"hesaid，droppingherarmandbeginningtolaugh。\"HowcouldIhaveahalf—brother？\"
Shemadenoanswer。
Thenahorrorleaptstraightathim，andhebeatitbackandsaid，\"Iwillnotbefrightened。\"Thetreeinthecentrerevolved，thetreedisappeared，andhesawaroom——theroomwherehisfatherhadlivedintown。\"Gently，\"hetoldhimself，\"gently。\"Stilllaughing，hesaid，\"I，withabrother—youngerit’snotpossible。\"Thehorrorleaptagain，andheexclaimed，\"It’safoullie！\"
\"Mydear，mydear！\"
\"It’safoullie！Hewasn’t——Iwon’tstand——\"
\"Mydear，beforeyousayseveralnoblethings，rememberthatit’sworseforhimthanforyou——worseforyourbrother，foryourhalf—brother，foryouryoungerbrother。\"
Butheheardhernolonger。Hewasgazingatthepast，whichhehadpraisedsorecently，whichgapedeverwider，likeanunhallowedgrave。Turnwherehewould，itencircledhim。Ittookvisibleform:itwasthisdoubleentrenchmentoftheRings。Hismouthwentcold，andheknewthathewasgoingtofaintamongthedead。Hestartedrunning，missedtheexit，stumbledontheinnerbarrier，fellintodarkness——
\"Gethisheaddown，\"saidavoice。\"Getthebloodbackintohim。
That’sallhewants。Leavehimtome。Elliot！\"——thebloodwasreturning——\"Elliot，wakeup！\"
Hewokeup。Theearthhehaddreadedlayclosetohiseyes，andseemedbeautiful。Hesawthestructureoftheclods。Atinybeetleswungonthegrassblade。Onhisownneckahumanhandpressed，guidingthebloodbacktohisbrain。
Therebrokefromhimacry，notofhorrorbutofacceptance。Foroneshortmomentheunderstood。\"Stephen——\"hebegan，andthenheheardhisownnamecalled:\"Rickie！Rickie！\"Agneshurriedfromherpostonthemargin，and，asifunderstandingalso，caughthimtoherbreast。
Stephenofferedtohelpthemfurther，butfindingthathemadethingsworse，hesteppedasidetoletthempassandthensaunteredinwards。Thewholefield，withconcentriccircles，wasvisible，andthebroadleavesoftheturnipsrustledinthegatheringwind。MissPembrokeandElliotweremovingtowardstheCadoverentrance。Mrs。Failingstoodwatchinginherturnontheoppositebank。Hewasnotaninquisitiveboy;butasheleantagainstthetreehewonderedwhatitwasallabout，andwhetherhewouldeverknow。
XIV
Onthewayback——atthatverylevel—crossingwherehehadpausedonhisupwardroute——Rickiestoppedsuddenlyandtoldthegirlwhyhehadfainted。Hithertoshehadaskedhiminvain。Histonehadgonefromhim，andhetoldherharshlyandbrutally，sothatshestartedawaywithahorrifiedcry。Thenhismanneraltered，andheexclaimed:\"Willyoumind？Areyougoingtomind？\"
\"OfcourseImind，\"shewhispered。Sheturnedfromhim，andsawuponthesky—linetwofiguresthatseemedtobeofenormoussize。
\"They’rewatchingus。Theystandontheedgewatchingus。Thiscountry’ssoopen——you——youcan’ttheywatchuswhereverwego。
Ofcourseyoumind。\"
Theyheardtherumbleofthetrain，andshepulledherselftogether。\"Come，dearest，weshallberunovernext。We’resayingthingsthathavenosense。\"Butonthewaybackherepeated:
\"Theycanstillseeus。Theycanseeeveryinchofthisroad。
Theywatchusforever。\"Andwhentheyarrivedatthestepsthere，sureenough，werestillthetwofiguresgazingfromtheoutercircleoftheRings。
Shemadehimgotohisroomatonce:hewasalmosthysterical。
Leightonbroughtoutsometeaforher，andshesatdrinkingitonthelittleterrace。Ofcoursesheminded。
Againshewasmenacedbytheabnormal。Allhadseemedsofairandsosimple，soinaccordancewithherideas;andthen，likeacorpse，thishorrorroseuptothesurface。Shesawthetwofiguresdescendandpausewhileoneofthemharnessedthepony;
shesawthemdrivedownward，andknewthatbeforelongshemustfacethemandtheworld。Sheglancedatherengagementring。
WhenthecarriagedroveupMrs。Failingdismounted，butdidnotspeak。ItwasStephenwhoinquiredafterRickie。She，scarcelyknowingthesoundofherownvoice，repliedthathewasalittletired。
\"Goandputupthepony，\"saidMrs。Failingrathersharply。
\"Agnes，givemesometea。\"
\"Itisratherstrong，\"saidAgnesasthecarriagedroveoffandleftthemalone。ThenshenoticedthatMrs。Failingherselfwasagitated。Herlipsweretrembling，andshesawtheboydepartwithmanifestrelief。
\"Doyouknow，\"shesaidhurriedly，asiftalkingagainsttime——
\"DoyouknowwhatupsetRickie？\"
\"Idoindeedknow。\"
\"Hashetoldanyoneelse？\"
\"Ibelievenot。\"
\"Agnes——haveIbeenafool？\"
\"Youhavebeenveryunkind，\"saidthegirl，andhereyesfilledwithtears。
ForamomentMrs。Failingwasannoyed。\"Unkind？Idonotseethatatall。Ibelieveinlookingfactsintheface。Rickiemustknowhisghostssometime。Whynotthisafternoon？\"
Sherosewithquietdignity，buthertearscamefaster。\"Thatisnotso。Youtoldhimtohurthim。Icannotthinkwhatyoudiditfor。Isupposebecausehewasrudetoyouafterchurch。Itisamean，cowardlyrevenge。
\"What——whatifit’salie？\"
\"Then，Mrs。Failing，itissickeningofyou。Thereisnootherword。Sickening。Iamsorry——anobodylikemyself——tospeaklikethis。HowCOULDyou，oh，howcouldyoudemeanyourself？Why，notevenapoorperson——Herindignationwasfineandgenuine。Buthertearsfellnolonger。Nothingmenacedheriftheywerenotreallybrothers。
\"Itisnotalie，myclear;sitdown。Iwillswearsomuchsolemnly。Itisnotalie，but——\"
Agneswaited。
\"——wecancallitalieifwechoose。\"
\"Iamnotsochildish。Youhavesaidit，andwemustallsuffer。
Youhavehadyourfun:Iconcludeyoudiditforfun。Youcannotgoback。He——\"Shepointedtowardsthestables，andcouldnotfinishhersentence。
\"Ihavenotbeenafooltwice。\"
Agnesdidnotunderstand。
\"Mydenselady，can’tyoufollow？IhavenottoldStephenonesingleword，neitherbeforenornow。\"
Therewasalongsilence。
Indeed，Mrs。Failingwasinanawkwardposition。
Rickiehadirritatedher，and，inherdesiretoshockhim，shehadimperilledherownpeace。Shehadfeltsounconventionaluponthehillside，whensheloosedthehorroragainsthim;butnowitwasdartingatheraswell。Supposethescandalcameout。
Stephen，whowasabsolutelywithoutdelicacy，wouldtellittothepeopleassoonastellthemthetime。Hispaganismwouldbetooassertive;itmightevenbeinbadtaste。Afterall，shehadaprominentpositionintheneighbourhood;shewastalkedabout，respected，lookedupto。Afterall，shewasgrowingold。Andtherefore，thoughshehadnotrueregardforRickie，norforAgnes，norforStephen，norforStephen’sparents，inwhosetragedyshehadassisted，yetshedidfeelthatifthescandalreviveditwoulddisturbtheharmonyofCadover，andthereforetriedtoretracehersteps。Itiseasytosayshockingthings:itissodifferenttobeconnectedwithanythingshocking。Lifeanddeathwerenotinvolved，butcomfortanddiscomfortwere。