Thetimeshetooktomeetmylastremarkisnaturallynotrepresentedbythisprolongedglanceofmineattheamountofsuggestionthatjustthenhappenedtoreachmefromtheotherquarter。ItatalleventsdulycameoutbetweenusthatMrs。ServerwasthepersonIdidhaveonmymind；
andIrememberthatithadseemedtomeattheendofaminutetomattercomparativelylittlebywhichofus，afterall，shewasfirstdesignated。
Thereisperhapsanoddity——whichImustsetdowntomyemotionofthemoment——inmynotnowbeingabletosay。IshouldhavebeenhugelystartledifthesightofGilbertLonghadappearedtomakemycompanionsuddenlythinkofher；andreminiscenceofthatshockisnotoneofthoseIhavefoundmyselfstoringup。Whatdoesabidewithmeisthememoryofhow，afteralittle，myapprehensions，ofvariouskinds，dropped——mostofallunderthedeepeningconvictionthatLadyJohnwasnotawhitlessagreeablysuperficialthanIcouldevenattheworsthavedesired。Thepointestablishedformewasthat，whereasshepassedwithherselfandsomanyothersastakingineverything，shehadtakeninnothingwhateverthatitwastomypurposesheshouldnottake。Vast，truly，wastheworldofobservation，thatwecouldbothgleaninitsoactivelywithoutcrossingeachother’ssteps。Therewestoodclosetogether，yet——savefortheaccidentofafinaldash，asIshallnote——wereatoppositeendsofthefield。
It’samatterastowhichthetruthsoundspriggish，butIcan’thelpitif——yes，positively——itaffectedmeashopelesslyvulgartohavemadeanyinductionatallaboutourcompanionsBUTthoseIhaverecorded，insuchdetail，onbehalfofmyownenergy。Itwasbetterverilynottohavetouchedthem——whichwasthecaseofeveryoneelse——thantohavetakenthemup，withknowinggestures，onlytodosolittlewiththem。ThatIfelttheinterestofMayServer，thatMayServerfelttheinterestofpoorBriss，andthatmyfeelingincongruouslypresenteditselfasputtingup，philosophically，withtheinconvenienceofthelady’s——thesewere，infine，circumstancestowhichsheclearlyattachedideastoocommonplaceformetojudgeitusefultogatherthemin。Shereadallthings，LadyJohn，heavenknows，inthelightoftheuniversalpossibilityofa\"relation\"；butmostoftherelationsthatshehaduphersleevecouldthrustthemselvesintomytheoryonlytofindthemselves，thenextminute，eliminated。Theywereofaliensubstance——insolubleinthewhole。GilbertLonghadforhernoconnection，inmydeepersense，withMrs。Server，norMrs。ServerwithGilbertLong，northehusbandwiththewife，northewifewiththehusband，norIwitheithermemberofeitherpair，noranyonewithanything，noranythingwithanyone。ShewasthusexactlywhereIwantedhertobe，for，frankly，Ibecameconscious，atthisclimaxofmyconclusion，thatIalittlewantedhertobewhereshebaddistinctlyendedbybetrayingtomethatherproperinspirationhadplacedher。IfIhavejustsaidthatmyapprehensions，ofvariouskinds，hadfinallyandcompletelysubsided，amoreexactstatementwouldperhapshavebeenthatfromthemomentoureyesmetovertheshowofourcoupleonthesofa，thequestionofanyothercalculablethingthanTHAThintofarelationhadsimplyknownitselfsuperseded。
Reducedtoitsplainestterms，thissketchofanimprovedacquaintancebetweenourcomradeswasdesignedtomakeLadyJohnthink。Itwasdesignedtomakemedonoless，butwethought，inevitably，ondifferentlines。
IhavealreadysorepresentedmysuccessionsofreflectionasrapidthatImaynotappeartoexceedinmentioningtheamusementandphilosophywithwhichIpresentlyperceiveditasunmistakablethatshebelievedinthedepthofhernewsounding。ItvisiblywentdownforhermuchnearertothebottomoftheseathananyplumbImightbequalifiedtodrop。PoorBrisswasinlovewithhiswife——that，whendriventothewall，shehadhadtorecognise；butshehadnothadtorecognisethathiswifewasinlovewithpoorBriss。Whatwasthentomilitateonthatlady’spart，againstadueconsciousness，attheendofasplendidsummerday，adayonwhichoccasionshadbeensomultiplied，ofanimpressionofaspecialorder？
Whatwastoprovethattherewas\"nothinginit\"whentwopersonssatlookingsoveryexceptionallyMUCHasiftherewereeverythinginit，asiftheywereforthefirsttime——thankstofineropportunity——doingeachotherfulljustice？Mustn’titindeedatthisjuncturehavecomealittleovermyfriendthatGracehadlentherselfwithuncommongoodnature，thepreviousafternoon，tothearrangementbywhich，onthewayfromtown，herladyship’sreputationwastoprofitbynoworsecompany，precisely，thanpoorBriss’s？
Mrs。Brissenden’sownwasobviouslynowfreetoprofitbymycompanion’sremembering——ifthefacthadreachedherears——thatMrs。BrissendenhadmeanwhilehadLongforanescort。Somuch，atleast，IsawLadyJohnasseeing，andmyvisionmaybetakenasrepresentingthedashIhaveconfessedmyselfasmakingfrommyendofourfield。Itoffersus，tobeexact，asjostlingeachotherjustsensibly——thoughionlymightfeelthebruise——inourbusinessofpickingupstraws。Ourviewoftheimprovedacquaintancewasonlyastraw，butasIstoopedtoitIfeltmyheadbumpwithmyneighbour’s。
Thismighthavemademeashamedofmyeagerness，but，oddlyenough，thateffectwasnottocome。Ifeltinfactthat，sincewehadevenpulledagainsteachotheratthestraw，Icarriedoff，inturningaway，thelargerpiece。
Chapter10
ItwasinthemomentofturningawaythatIsomehowlearned，withoutlooking，thatMrs。Brissendenhadalsoimmediatelymoved。Iwantedtolookandyethadmyreasonsfornotappearingtodoittooquickly；inspiteofwhichIfoundmyfriends，evenafteraninterval，stilldistinguishableasseparatingfortheavoidanceofcomment。GilbertLong，risingdirectlyafterhisassociate，hadalreadywalkedaway，butthisassociate，lingeringwhereshestoodandmeetingmewithit，availedherselfoftheoccasiontoshowthatshewishedtospeaktome。Suchwastheideashethrewoutonmyforthwithgoingtoher。\"Forafewminutes——presently。\"
\"Doyoumeanalone？ShallIcomewithyou？\"
Shehesitatedlongenoughformetojudgeherasatriflesurprisedatmybeingsoready——asifindeedshehadratherhopedIwouldn’tbe；
whichwouldhavebeenaneasypretexttohertogaintime。Infact，withafacenotquitelikethebravefaceshehadateachstephithertoshownme，yetunlikeinafashionIshouldcertainlynothavebeenabletodefineonthespot；withanexpression，inshort，thatstruckmeastakingrefugeinageneralreminderthatnotmyconvenience，butherown，wasinquestion，shereplied：\"Oh，no——butbeforeit’stoolate。Afewminuteshence。Whereshallyoube？\"sheaskedwithashade，asIimagined，ofawkwardness。Shehadlookedaboutasforsymptomsofacceptanceoftheevening’sendonthepartoftheladies，butwecouldbothseeourhostessotherwiseoccupied。
\"Wedon’tgoupquiteyet。Inthemorning，\"sheaddedaswithanafterthought，\"Isupposeyouleaveearly。\"
Idebated。\"Ihaven’tthought。Andyou？\"
Shelookedatmestraighternow。\"Ihaven’tthoughteither。\"Thenshewassilent，neitherturningawaynorcomingtothepoint，asitseemedtomeshemighthavedone，oftellingmewhatshehadinherhead。Ievenfanciedthathermomentarysilence，combinedwiththewayshefacedme——asifthatmightspeakforher——wasmeantforanassurancethat，whatevertrainsheshouldtakeinthemorning，shewouldarrangethatitshouldn’tbe，asithadbeenthedaybefore，thesameasmine。Ireallycaughtinherattitudeaworldofinvidiousreferencetothelittlejourneywehadalreadymadetogether。Shehadsympathies，shehadproprietiesthatimposedthemselves，andIwasnottothinkthatanylittlejourneywastobethoughtofagaininthoseconditions。Itcameovermethatthismighthavebeenquiteamatterdiscussedbyher，discussedandsettled，withherinterlocutoronthesofa。Itcameovermethatif，beforeourbreak—upforthenight，Ishouldhappenalsotohaveaminute’stalkwiththatinterlocutor，I
wouldequallygetfromitthesenseofanintentionunfavourabletoourdepartinginthesamegroup。AndIwonderedifthis，inthatcase，wouldn’taffectmeasmarkingachangebacktoLong’soldmanner——aforfeitureoftheconditions，whateverviewmightbetakenofthem，thathadmadehim，atPaddington，suddenlyshowhimselfassopossibleandsopleasant。IfHE\"changedback，\"wouldn’tGraceBrissendenchangebythesamelaw？AndifGraceBrissendendid，wouldn’therhusband？Wouldn’tthemiracletaketheformoftherejuvenationofthathusband？Wouldit，stillbythesametoken，taketheformofHERbecomingveryold，becomingifnotasoldasherhusband，atleastasold，asonemightsay，asherself？Wouldittaketheformofherbecomingdreadfullyplain——plainwiththeplainnessofmerestoutmaturityandartificialpreservation？Andifittookthisformfortheothers，whichwouldittakeforMayServer？Wouldshe，ataboundasmarkedastheirs，recoverherpresenceofmindandherlostequipment？
ThekindofsuspensethattheserisingquestionsproducedformesufferednaturallynodropafterMrs。Brisshadcuteverythingshortbyrustlingvoluminouslyaway。Shehadsomethingtosaytome，andyetshehadn’t；
shehadnothingtosay，andyetIfelthertohavealreadylaunchedherselfinastatement。TherewereotherpersonsIhadmadeuncomfortablewithoutatallintendingit，butsheatleasthadnotsufferedfromme，andIhadnowishthatsheshould；accordingtowhichshehadnopressuretofear。
Mysuspense，inspiteofthis，remained——indeedallthemoresensiblythatIhadsuddenlylostmydiscomfortonthesubjectofredeemingmypledgetoher。Ithadsomehowleftmeatastroke，mydreadofhercallingme，asbyouragreement，tosubmitinrespecttowhatwehadtalkedofastheidentificationofthewoman。ThatcallhadbeenwhatIlookedforfromheraftershehadseenmebreakwithLadyJohn；myfirstideaTHENcouldonlybethatImustcome，asitwere，totime。Itwasstrangethat，thenextminute，IshouldfindmyselfsurethatIwas，asImayputit，free；
itwasatalleventsindisputablethatasIstoodtherewatchingherrecedeandfairlystudying，inmypreoccupation，herhandsomeaffirmativebackandthespecialsweepofherlongdress——itwasindisputablethat，onsomeintimationIcould，attheinstant，recognisebutnotseize，myconsciousnesswasawareofhavingperformedafullrevolution。IfIwasfree，thatwaswhatIhadbeenonlysoshortatimebefore，whatIhadbeenasIdrove，inLondon，tothestation。Wasthisnowaforeknowledgethat，onthemorrow，indrivingaway，Ishouldfeelmyselfrestoredtothatblankness？Thestatelostwasthestateofexemptionfromintenseobsessions，andthestaterecoveredwouldthereforelogicallymatchit。Iftheforeknowledgehadthus，asbythestiroftheairfrommyfriend’swhiskofhertrain，descendeduponme，myliberationwasinamannerwhatIwasalreadytasting。YethowIalsofelt，withit，somethingofthethreatofachilltomycuriosity！
Thetasteofitsbeingallover，thatreallysublimesuccessofthestrainedvisioninwhichIhadbeenlivingforcrowdedhours——wasthisatastethatIwassureIshouldparticularlyenjoy？Markedenoughitwas，doubtless，thateveninthestressofperceivingmyselfbrokenwithIruefullyreflectedonallthemore，ontheeversomuch，Istillwantedtoknow！
Well，somethingofthisquantity，inanycase，wouldcome，sinceMrs。
Brissdidwanttospeaktome。Thesuspensethatremainedwithme，asI
haveindicated，wasthespecialfreshoneshehadjustproduced。Itfed，foralittle，positively，onthatsurveyofherfineretreatingpersontowhichIhaveconfessedthatmyeyesattachedthemselves。Thesesecondswerenaturallyfew，andyetmymemorygathersfromthemsomethingthatIcanonlycompare，initspresenteffect，tothescentofastrangeflowerpassedrapidlyundermynose。IseeminotherwordstorecallthatIreceivedinthatbrushtheveryliveliestimpressionthatmywholeadventurewastoyield——theimpressionthatismyreasonforspeakingofmyselfashavingatthejunctureinquestion\"studied\"Mrs。Brissenden’sback。Studyofaprofoundsortwouldappearneededintruthtoaccountforit。Itwasashandsomeandaffirmativethatsheatoncemetandevadedmyview，butwasnottheaffirmation（asdistinguishedfromthehandsomeness，whichwasamatterofstatureandmass，）fairlydownrightanddefiant？Didn’twhatIsawstrikemeassayingstraightatme，asfaraspossible，\"Iamyoung——IamandIWILLbe；see，SEEifI’mnot；there，there，there！\"——with\"there’s\"asinsistentandrhythmicalastheundulationsofherfleeingpresence，asthebejewellednodofheravertedbrow？Ifherfacehadnotbeenhidden，shouldInotpreciselyhavefoundmyselfrightinbelievingthatitlooked，exactly，forthoseinstants，dreadfullyolderthanithadeveryethadto？Theanswerideallycynicalwouldhavebeen：\"Oh，anywomanofyourresourcescanlookyoungwithherbackturned！Butyou’vehadtoturnittomakethatproclamation。\"Shepassedoutoftheroomproclaiming，andIdidstandtherealittledefeated，eventhoughwithherwordforanotherchanceather。Wasthiswordonethatshewouldkeep？Ihadgotoff——yes，toacertainty。Butsotoohadnotshe？
Naturally，atanyrate，Ididn’tstayplanted；andthoughitseemedlongitwasprobablyfornogreattimeafterthisthatIroamedinmyimpatience。
IwasdividedbetweenthediscourtesyofwishingtheladieswouldgotobedandtheapprehensionthatiftheydidtoosoongoImightyetloseeverything。WasMrs。Brisswaitingformoreprivacy，orwassheonlywaitingforacompleteescape？Ofcourse，evenwhileIaskedmyselfthat，IhadtorememberhowmuchIwastakingforgrantedonherpartinthewayofconsciousmotive。Still，ifshehadnotamotiveforescaping，whyhadshenothadone，fiveminutesbefore，forcomingtothepointwithme？
Thisinquirykeptmehoveringwhereshemightatanyinstantfindme，butthatwasnotinconsistentwithmypresentlypassing，likeherself，intoanotherroom。ThefirstoneIentered——thereweregreatchainsofthematNewmarch——showedmeoncemore，attheendoppositethedoor，theobjectthatalldayhadbeen，presentorabsent，mostinmyeyes，andthattherenowcouldbenofallacyinmyrecognising。Mrs。Server’sunquenchablelittlesmilehadneveryetbeensofarfromquenchedaswhenitrecognised，onitsownside，thatIhadjusthadtimetonotehowFordObertwas，forachange，takingitin。Thesetwofriendsofmineappearedtohavemovedtogether，afterthemusic，tothecornerinwhichIshouldnothavefeltitasmisrepresentingthemattertosaythatIsurprisedthem。Theyowednothingoftheharmonythatheldthem——unlikemyothercouple——totheconstraintofacommonseat；asmallglazedtable，areceptacleforminuteobjectsofprice，extendeditselfbetweenthemasifithadoffereditselfasanoccasionfortheirdrawingtowarditapairoflowchairs；buttheirunionhadneverthelesssuchanairofaccepteddurationasleditslightlytopuzzleme。ThiswouldhavebeenareasonthemorefornotinterruptingitevenhadInotpeculiarlywishedtorespectit。ItwasgristtomymillsomehowthatsomethingorotherhadhappenedasaconsequenceofwhichOberthadlosttheimpulsetorepeattomehisoddinvitationtointervene。
HegavemenonoticeasIpassed；thenoticewasallfromhiscompanion。
Itconstituted，Ifelt，onherpart，preciselyasmuchandpreciselyaslittleofaninvitationasithadconstitutedatthemoment——sopromptlyfollowingourarrival——ofmyfirstseeingthemlinked；whichisbutanotherwayofsayingthatnothinginMrs。Serverappearedtoacknowledgealapse。
Itwasnearlymidnight，butshewasagainunderarms；everythingconceivable——orperhapsratherinconceivable——hadpassedbetweenusbeforedinner，butherfacewasexquisiteagaininitsrepudiationofanyreference。
Anyreference，Isaw，wouldhavebeendifficulttoME，hadIunluckilybeenforcedtoapproachher。Whatwouldhavemadetheraredelicacyoftheproblemwasthatblanknessitselfwasthemostdirectreferenceofall。Ihad，however，asIpassedherby，acomprehensionasinwardasthatwithwhichIhadwatchedMrs。Briss’sretreat。\"WHATshallIseewhenI
nextseeyou？\"waswhatIhadmutelyaskedofMrs。Briss；but\"GodgrantIdon’tseeYOUagainatall！\"wastheprayersharplydeterminedinmyheartasIleftMrs。Serverbehindme。Ileftherbehindmeforever，buttheprayerhasnotbeenanswered。Ididseeheragain；Iseehernow；I
shallseeheralways；Ishallcontinuetofeelatmomentsinmyownfacialmusclesthedeadlylittleacheofherheroicgrin。Withthis，however，Iwasnotthentoreckon，andmysimplephilosophyofthemomentcouldbebuttogetoutoftheroom。Theresultofthatmovementwasthat，twominuteslater，atanotherdoorway，butopeningthistimeintoagreatcorridor，Ifoundmyselfarrestedbyacombinationthatshouldreallyhavecountedformeastheleastofmypreciousanomalies，butthat——asaccidenthappenedtoprotectme——Iwatched，solongasImight，withintensity。Ishouldinthisconnectiondescribemyeyesasyetagainengagingthelessscrutablesideofthehumanfigure，wereitnotthatpoorBriss’sback，nowpresentedtomebesidehiswife’s——fortheseweretheelementsofthecombination——hadhithertoseemedtomethemosteloquentofhisaspects。Itwaswhenhepresentedhisfacethathelooked，eachtime，older；butitwaswhenheshowedyou，frombehind，thesingularstoopofhisshoulders，thathelookedoldest。
TheyhadjustpassedthedoorwhenIemerged，andtheyreceded，ataslowpaceandwithakindofconfidentialnearness，downthelongavenueofthelobby。Herheadwasalwayshighandherhusband’salwayslow，sothatIcouldn’tbesure——itmighthavebeenonlymyfancy——thatthecontrastofthishabitwasmoremarkedinthemthanusual。IfIhadknownnothingaboutthemIshouldhavejustunimaginativelysaidthattalkwasallononesideandattentionallontheother。I，ofcourse，forthatmatter，DIDknownothingaboutthem；yetIrecallhowitcametome，asmyextemporisedshrewdnesshungintheirrear，thatImustn’tthinkanythingtoogrosslysimpleofwhatmightbetakingplacebetweenthem。Mypositionwas，inspiteofmyself，thatofmyhavingmasteredenoughpossibilitiestochoosefrom。Ifoneofthesemightbe——forherface，inspiteofthebackwardcockofherhead，wasturnedtohim——thatshewaslookinghertimeoflifestraightAThimandyetmakinglovetohimwithitashardasevershecould，soanotherwasthathehadbeenalreadysothoroughlygotbackintohandthatshehadnoneedofaskingfavours，thatshewasmoresplendidthanever，andthat，thesamepoorBrissasbeforehisbriefadventure，hewasonlyfeelingafreshinhissoul，asaresponsetoher，thegushofthesacredfount。Presumptuouschoiceastothesealternativesfailed，onmypart，intime，letmesay，toflower；itrosebeforemeintimethat，whatevermightbe，fortheexposedinstant，thedeepnoteoftheirencounter，onlyonethingconcernedmeinit：itsbeingwhollytheirownbusiness。
SoforthatIliberallyletitgo，passingintothecorridor，butproceedingintheoppositesenseandaimingatanissuewhichIjudgedIshouldreachbeforetheywouldturnintheirwalk。Ihadnot，however，reacheditbeforeIcaughttheclosingofthedoorfurthestfromme；atthesoundofwhichIlookedabouttofindtheBrissendensgone。Theyhadnotremainedforanotherturn，buthadtakentheircourse，evidently，backtotheprincipaldrawing—room，where，nolesspresumably，theprocessionoftheladiesbedwardwaseventhenforming。Mrs。Brisswouldfallstraightintoit，andIHAD
accordinglylosther。Ihatedtoappeartopursueher，lateinthedayasitmayappeartoaffirmthatIputmydignitybeforemycuriosity。
Freeagain，atallevents，towaitortowander，IlingeredaminutewhereIhadstopped——closetoawidewindow，asithappened，that，atthisendofthepassage，stoodopentothewarmdarknessandoverhung，fromnogreatheight，oneoftheterraces。Thenightwasmildandrich，andthoughthelightswithinwere，indeferencetothetemperature，nottoonumerous，Ifoundthebreathoftheouterairasuddencorrectivetothegrossnessofourlustreandthethicknessofourmedium，ourgeneralheavyhumanity。Ifeltitstastesweet，andwhileIleanedforrefreshmentonthesillIthoughtofmanythings。OneofthosethatpassedbeforemewasthewaythatNewmarchanditshospitalitiesweresacrificed，afterall，andmuchmorethansmallercircles，tomaterialfrustrations。Wewereallsofineandformal，andtheladiesinparticularatoncesolittleandsomuchclothed，sobeflouncedyetsodenuded，thatthesummerstarscalledtousinvain。Wehadignoredtheminourcrystalcage，amongourtinklinglamps；nomorefreereallytoalightthanifwehadbeendashinginalockedrailway—trainacrossalovelyland。IrememberaskingmyselfifImightn’tstilltakeaturnunderthem，andIrememberthatonappealingtomywatchforitssanctionIfoundmidnighttohavestruck。Thatthenwastheend，andmyonlyrealalternativeswerebedorthesmoking—room。ThedifficultywithbedwasthatIwasinnoconditiontosleep，andthedifficultyaboutrejoiningthemenwasthat——definitely，yes——therewasoneofthemIdesirednotagaintosee。IfeltitwithsharpnessasIleanedonthesill；IfeltitwithsadnessasIlookedatthestars；IfeltoncemorewhatIhadfeltonturningafinalbackfiveminutesbefore，sodesignedly，onMrs。Server。
IsawpoorBrissashehadjustmovedawayfromme，andIknew，asIhadknownintheothercase，thatmytroubledsensewouldfainfeelIhadpracticallydonewithhim。Itwouldbewell，foraughtIcoulddoFORhim，thatIshouldhaveseenthelastofhim。Whatremainedwithmefromthatvisionofhispacingtherewithhiswifewastheconvictionthathisfate，whateveritwas，heldhimfast。Itwouldn’tlethimgo，andallIcouldaskofitnowwasthatitshouldletME。IWOULDgo——Iwasgoing；ifIhadnothadtoaccepttheintervalofthenightIshouldindeedalreadyhavegone。Theadmonitionsofthatmoment——onlyconfirmed，Ihastentoadd，bywhatwasstilltocome——werethatIshouldcatchinthemorning，withenergy，anearliertraintotownthananyoneelsewaslikelytotake，andgetoffalonebyit，biddingfarewellforalongdaytoNewmarch。Ishouldbeinsmallhastetocomeback，forIshouldleavebehindmemytangledtheory，noloosethreadofwhichneedIeveragainpickup，innostraymeshofwhichneedmyfootagaintrip。Itwasonmywaytotheplace，infine，thatmyobsessionhadmetme，anditwasbyretracingthosestepsthatIshouldbeabletogetridofit。OnlyImustbreakoffsharp，mustescapeallremindersbyforswearingallreturns。
Thatwasverywell，butitwouldperhapshavebeenbetterstillifI
hadgonestraighttobed。InthatcaseISHOULDhavebrokenoffsharp——toosharptobecomeawareofsomethingthatkeptmeaminutelongeratthewindowandthathadtheinstanteffectofmakingmewonderif，intheinterestofobservation，Imightn’tsnapdowntheelectriclightthat，playingjustbehindme，mustshowwhereIstood。Iresistedthisimpulseand，withthethoughtthatmypositionwasinnowaycompromising，chancedbeingmyselfobserved。IpresentlysawmoreoverthatIwasreallynotinevidence：I
couldtakeinfreelywhatIhadatfirstnotbeensureof，theidentityofthefigurestationedjustwithinmyrange，butjustoutofthatofthelightprojectedfrommywindow。Oneofthemenofourcompanyhadcomeoutbyhimselfforastroll，andthemanwasGilbertLong。Hehadpaused，Imadeout，inhiswalk；hisbackwastothehouse，and，restingonthebalustradeoftheterracewithacigaretteinhislips，hehadgivenwaytoasenseofthefragrantgloom。HemovedsolittlethatIwassure——makingnoturnthatwouldhavemademedrawback；heonlysmokedslowlyinhisplaceandseemedaslostinthoughtasIwaslostinmyattentiontohim。
Iscarceknewwhatthistoldme；allIfeltwasthat，howeverslighttheincidentandsmalltheevidence，itessentiallyfittedin。Ithadformyimaginationavalue，formytheoryaprice，anditinfactconstitutedanimpressionundertheinfluenceofwhichthistheory，justimpatientlyshakenoff，perchedagainonmyshoulders。ItwasofthedeepestinteresttometoseeLonginsuchdetachment，insuchapparentconcentration。Thesethingsmarkedandpresentedhimmorethananyhadyetdone，andplacedhimmorethananyyetinrelationtoothermatters。Theyshowedhim，I
thought，asserious，hissituationasgrave。Icouldn’thavesaidwhattheyproved，butIwasasaffectedbythemasiftheyprovedeverything。
Theproofsimplyactedfromtheinstantthevisionofhimalonethereinthewarmdarknesswascaught。ItwasjustwithallthatwasinthebusinessthatheWAS，thathehadfitfullyneededtobe，alone。Nervousandrestlessafterseparating，undermyeyes，fromMrs。Briss，hehadwanderedofftothesmoking—room，asyetempty；HEdidn’tknowwhattodoeither，andwasincapableofbedandofsleep。Hehadobservedthecommunicationofthesmoking—roomwiththeterraceandhadcomeoutintotheair；thiswaswhatsuitedhim，and，withpausesandmeditations，much，possibly，bythistimetoturnover，heprolongedhissoftvigil。Butheatlastmoved，andI
foundmyselfstartled。Igaveupwatchingandretracedmycourse。Ifelt，nonetheless，fairlyhumiliated。Ithadtakenbutanotherturnofaneyetore—establishallmyconnections。
Ihadnot，however，gonetwentystepsbeforeImetFordObert，whohadenteredthecorridorfromtheotherendandwas，asheimmediatelyletmeknow，onhiswaytothesmoking—room。
\"Iseveryonethendispersing？\"
\"Someofthemen，Ithink，\"hesaid，\"arefollowingme；others，Ibelieve——wonderfulcreatures！——havegonetoarraythemselves。Othersstill，doubtless，havegonetobed。\"
\"Andtheladies？\"
\"Oh，they’vefloatedaway——soaredaloft；tohighfinks——isn’tthattheidea？——intheirownquarters。Don’ttheytoo，atthesehours，practisesociabilitiesofsorts？Theymake，atanyrate，here，anextraordinarypictureonthatgreatstaircase。\"
Ithoughtamoment。\"IwishIhadseenit。ButIdoseeit。Yes——splendid。
Istheplacewhollyclearedofthem？\"
\"Save，itstruckme，sofarastheymayhaveleftsome’blackplumeasatoken’——\"