\"Thereisnoonetohelpher；shemusthelpherself。Shelooks。Thesethingsshehas——asweetvoice，richinsubtileintonations；afair，veryfairface，withapowerofconcentratinginitself，andgivingexpressionto，feelingsthatotherwisemusthavebeendissipatedinwords；ararepowerofenteringintootherlivesunlikeherown，andintuitivelyreadingthemaright。Thesequalitiesshehas。Howshallsheusethem？Apoet，awriter，needsonlythemental；whatusehasheforabeautifulbodythatregistersclearlymentalemotions？Andthepainterwantsaneyeforformandcolour，andthemusiciananearfortimeandtune，andthemeredrudgehasnoneedformentalgifts。
\"Butthereisoneartinwhichallshehaswouldbeused，forwhichtheyareallnecessary——thedelicateexpressivebody，therichvoice，thepowerofmentaltransposition。Theactor，whoabsorbsandthenreflectsfromhimselfotherhumanlives，needsthemall，butneedsnotmuchmore。Thisisherend；buthowtoreachit？Beforeherareendlessdifficulties：
seasmustbecrossed，povertymustbeendured，loneliness，want。Shemustbecontenttowaitlongbeforeshecanevengetherfeetuponthepath。Ifshehasmadeblundersinthepast，ifshehasweightedherselfwithaburdenwhichshemustbeartotheend，shemustbutbeartheburdenbravely，andlabouron。Thereisnouseinwailingandrepentancehere：
thenextworldistheplaceforthat；thislifeistooshort。Byourerrorsweseedeeperintolife。Theyhelpus。\"Shewaitedforawhile。
\"Ifshedoesallthis——ifshewaitspatiently，ifsheisnevercastdown，neverdespairs，neverforgetsherend，movesstraighttowardit，bendingmenandthingsmostunlikelytoherpurpose——shemustsucceedatlast。Menandthingsareplastic；theyparttotherightandleftwhenonecomesamongthemmovinginastraightlinetooneend。Iknowitbymyownlittleexperience，\"shesaid。\"LongyearsagoIresolvedtobesenttoschool。Itseemedathingutterlyoutofmypower；butIwaited，I
watched，Icollectedclothes，Iwrote，tookmyplaceattheschool；whenallwasreadyIborewithmyfullforceontheBoer—woman，andshesentmeatlast。Itwasasmallthing；butlifeismadeupofsmallthings，asabodyisbuiltupofcells。Whathasbeendoneinsmallthingscanbedoneinlarge。Shallbe，\"shesaidsoftly。
Waldolistened。Tohimthewordswerenoconfession，noglimpseintothestrong，proud，restlessheartofthewoman。Theyweregeneralwordswithageneralapplication。Helookedupintothesparklingskywithdulleyes。
\"Yes，\"hesaid；\"butwhenwelieandthink，andthink，weseethatthereisnothingworthdoing。Theuniverseissolarge，andmanissosmall——\"
Sheshookherheadquickly。
\"Butwemustnotthinksofar；itismadness，itisadisease。Weknowthatnoman’sworkisgreat，andstandsforever。Mosesisdead，andtheprophetsandthebooksthatourgrandmothersfedonthemouldiseating。
Yourpoetandpainterandactor，——beforetheshoutsthatapplaudthemhavediedtheirnamesgrowstrange，theyaremilestonesthattheworldhaspassed。Menhavesettheirmarkonmankindforever，astheythought；buttimehaswasheditoutasithaswashedoutmountainsandcontinents。\"Sheraisedherselfonherelbow。\"Andwhatifwecouldhelpmankind，andleavethetracesofourworkuponittotheend？Mankindisonlyanephemeralblossomonthetreeoftime；therewereothersbeforeitopened；therewillbeothersafterithasfallen。Wherewasmaninthetimeofthedicynodont，andwhenhoarymonsterswallowedinthemud？Willhebefoundintheaeonsthataretocome？Wearesparks，weareshadows，wearepollen，whichthenextwindwillcarryaway。Wearedyingalready；itisalladream。
\"Iknowthatthought。Whenthefeveroflivingisonus，whenthedesiretobecome，toknow，todo，isdrivingusmad，wecanuseitasananodyne，tostillthefeverandcoolourbeatingpulses。Butitisapoison，notafood。Ifweliveonititwillturnourbloodtoice；wemightaswellbedead。Wemustnot，Waldo；Iwantyourlifetobebeautiful，toendinsomething。YouarenoblerandstrongerthanI，\"shesaid；\"andasmuchbetterasoneofGod’sgreatangelsisbetterthanasinningman。Yourlifemustgoforsomething。\"
\"Yes，wewillwork，\"hesaid。
Shemovedclosertohimandlaystill，hisblackcurlstouchinghersmoothlittlehead。
Doss，whohadlainathismaster’sside，climbedoverthebench，andcurledhimselfupinherlap。Shedrewherskirtupoverhim，andthethreesatmotionlessforalongtime。
\"Waldo，\"shesaid，suddenly，\"theyarelaughingatus。\"
\"Who？\"heasked，startingup。
\"They——thestars！\"shesaid，softly。\"Doyounotsee？Thereisalittlewhite，mockingfingerpointingdownatusfromeachoneofthem！Wearetalkingoftomorrowandtomorrow，andourheartsaresostrong；wearenotthinkingofsomethingthatcantouchussoftlyinthedarkandmakeusstillforever。TheyarelaughingatusWaldo。\"
Bothsatlookingupward。
\"Doyoueverpray？\"heaskedherinalowvoice。
\"No。\"
\"Ineverdo；butImightwhenIlookupthere。Iwilltellyou，\"headded，inastilllowervoice，\"whereIcouldpray。Iftherewereawallofrockontheedgeofaworld，andonerockstretchedoutfar，farintospace，andIstoodaloneuponit，alone，withstarsaboveme，andstarsbelowme，——I
wouldnotsayanything；butthefeelingwouldbeprayer。\"
Therewasanendtotheirconversationafterthat，andDossfellasleeponherknee。Atlastthenight—windgrewverychilly。
\"Ah，\"shesaid，shivering，anddrawingtheskirtabouthershoulders，\"Iamcold。Span—inthehorses，andcallmewhenyouareready。\"
Sheslippeddownandwalkedtowardthehouse，Dossstifflyfollowingher，notpleasedatbeingroused。AtthedoorshemetGregory。
\"Ihavebeenlookingforyoueverywhere；mayInotdriveyouhome？\"hesaid。
\"Waldodrivesme，\"shereplied，passingon；anditappearedtoGregorythatshelookedathimintheoldway，withoutseeinghim。Butbeforeshehadreachedthedooranideahadoccurredtoher，forsheturned。
\"Ifyouwishtodrivemeyoumay。\"
GregorywenttolookforEm，whomhefoundpouringoutcoffeeinthebackroom。Heputhishandquicklyonhershoulder。
\"YoumustridewithWaldo；Iamgoingtodriveyourcousinhome。\"
\"ButIcan’tcomejustnow，Greg；IpromisedTantAnnieMullertolookafterthethingswhileshewenttorestalittle。\"
\"Well，youcancomepresently，can’tyou？Ididn’tsayyouweretocomenow。I’msickofthisthing，\"saidGregory，turningsharplyonhisheel。
\"WhymustIsitupthewholenightbecauseyourstepmotherchoosestogetmarried？\"
\"Oh，it’sallright，Greg，Ionlymeant——\"
Buthedidnothearher，andamanhadcomeuptohavehiscupfilled。
AnhourafterWaldocameintolookforher，andfoundherstillbusyatthetable。
\"Thehorsesareready，\"hesaid；\"butifyouwouldliketohaveonedancemoreIwillwait。\"
Sheshookherheadwearily。
\"No；Iamquiteready。Iwanttogo。\"
Andsoontheywereonthesandyroadthebuggyhadtravelledanhourbefore。Theirhorses，withheadsclosetogether，noddingsleepilyastheywalkedinthestarlight，youmighthavecountedtheriseandfalloftheirfeetinthesand；andWaldoinhissaddlenoddeddrowsilyalso。OnlyEmwasawake，andwatchedthestarlitroadwithwide—openeyes。Atlastshespoke。
\"Iwonderifallpeoplefeelsoold，soveryold，whentheygettobeseventeen？\"
\"Notolderthanbefore，\"saidWaldosleepily，pullingathisbridle。
Presentlyshesaidagain：
\"IwishIcouldhavebeenalittlechildalways。Youaregoodthen。Youareneverselfish；youlikeeveryonetohaveeverything；butwhenyouaregrownuptherearesomethingsyouliketohavealltoyourself，youdon’tlikeanyoneelsetohaveanyofthem。\"
\"Yes，\"saidWaldosleepily，andshedidnotspeakagain。
Whentheyreachedthefarmhouseallwasdark，forLyndallhadretiredassoonastheygothome。
WaldoliftedEmfromhersaddle，andforamomentsheleanedherheadonhisshoulderandclungtohim。
\"Youareverytired，\"hesaid，ashewalkedwithhertothedoor；\"letmegoinandlightacandleforyou。\"
\"No，thankyou；itisallright，\"shesaid。\"Goodnight，Waldo，dear。\"
Butwhenshewentinshesatlongaloneinthedark。
Chapter2。VII。WaldoGoesOuttoTasteLife，andEmStaysAtHomeandTastesIt。
Atnineo’clockintheevening，packinghisbundlesforthenextmorning’sstart，Waldolookedup，andwassurprisedtoseeEm’syellowheadpeepinginathisdoor。Itwasmanyamonthsinceshehadbeenthere。Shesaidshehadmadehimsandwichesforhisjourney，andshestayedawhiletohelphimputhisgoodsintothesaddlebags。
\"Youcanleavetheoldthingslyingabout，\"shesaid；\"Iwilllocktheroom，andkeepitwaitingforyoutocomebacksomeday。\"
Tocomebacksomeday！Wouldthebirdeverreturntoitscage？Buthethankedher。Whenshewentawayhestoodonthedoorstepholdingthecandletillshehadalmostreachedthehouse。ButEmwasthateveninginnohurrytoenter，and，insteadofgoinginatthebackdoor，walkedwithlaggingfootstepsroundthelowbrickwallthatranbeforethehouse。
Oppositetheopenwindowoftheparlourshestopped。Thelittleroom，keptcarefullyclosedinTantSannie’stime，waswelllightedbyaparaffinlamp；booksandworklaystrewnaboutit，anditworeabright，habitableaspect。BesidethelampatthetableinthecornersatLyndall，theopenlettersandpapersoftheday’spostlyingscatteredbeforeher，whilesheperusedthecolumnsofanewspaper。Atthecentretable，withhisarmsfoldedonanopenpaper，whichtherewasnotlightenoughtoread，satGregory。Hewaslookingather。ThelightfromtheopenwindowfellonEm’slittlefaceunderitswhitekapjeasshelookedin，butnooneglancedthatway。
\"Goandfetchmeaglassofwater！\"Lyndallsaid，atlast。
Gregorywentouttofindit；whenheputitdownathersideshemerelymovedherheadinrecognition，andhewentbacktohisseatandhisoldoccupation。ThenEmmovedslowlyawayfromthewindow，andthroughitcameinspotted，hard—wingedinsects，toplayroundthelamp，till，onebyone，theystucktoitsglass，andfelltothefootdead。
Teno’clockstruck。ThenLyndallrose，gatheredupherpapersandletters，andwishedGregorygoodnight。SometimeafterEmentered；shehadbeensittingallthewhileontheloftladder，andhaddrawnherkapjedownverymuchoverherface。
Gregorywaspiecingtogetherthebitsofanenvelopewhenshecamein。
\"Ithoughtyouwerenevercoming，\"hesaid，turningroundquickly，andthrowingthefragmentsontothefloor。\"YouknowIhavebeenshearingallday，anditisteno’clockalready。\"
\"I’msorry。Ididnotthinkyouwouldbegoingsosoon，\"shesaidinalowvoice。
\"Ican’thearwhatyousay。Whatmakesyoumumbleso？Well，goodnight，Em。\"
Hestoopeddownhastilytokissher。
\"Iwanttotalktoyou，Gregory。\"
\"Well，makehaste，\"hesaidpettishly。\"I’mawfullytired。I’vebeensittingherealltheevening。Whycouldn’tyoucomeandtalkbefore？\"
\"Iwillnotkeepyoulong，\"sheansweredverysteadilynow。\"Ithink，Gregory，itwouldbebetterifyouandIwerenevertobemarried。\"
\"GoodHeaven！Em，whatdoyoumean？Ithoughtyouweresofondofme？
Youalwaysprofessedtobe。Whatonearthhaveyoutakenintoyourheadnow？\"
\"Ithinkitwouldbebetter，\"shesaid，foldingherhandsovereachother，verymuchasthoughshewerepraying。
\"Better，Em！Whatdoyoumean？Evenawomancan’ttakeafreakallaboutnothing！Youmusthavesomereasonforit，andI’msureI’vedonenothingtooffendyou。Iwroteonlytodaytomysistertotellhertocomeupnextmonthtoourwedding，andI’vebeenasaffectionateandhappyaspossible。
Come——what’sthematter？\"
Heputhisarmhalfroundhershoulder，veryloosely。
\"Ithinkitwouldbebetter，\"sheanswered，slowly。
\"Oh，well，\"hesaid，drawinghimselfup，\"ifyouwon’tenterintoexplanationsyouwon’t；andI’mnotthemantobegandpray——nottoanywoman，andyouknowthat！Ifyoudon’twanttomarrymeIcan’tobligeyouto，ofcourse。\"
Shestoodquitestillbeforehim。
\"Youwomenneverdoknowyourownmindsfortwodaystogether；andofcourseyouknowthestateofyourownfeelingsbest；butit’sverystrange。
Haveyoureallymadeupyourmind，Em？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Well，I’mverysorry。I’msureI’venotbeeninanythingtoblame。Amancan’talwaysbebillingandcooing；but，asyousay，ifyourfeelingformehaschanged，it’smuchbetteryoushouldn’tmarryme。There’snothingsofoolishastomarrysomeoneyoudon’tlove；andIonlywishforyourhappiness，I’msure。Idaresayyou’llfindsomeonecanmakeyoumuchhappierthanIcould；thefirstpersonweloveisseldomtherightone。
Youareveryyoung；it’squitenaturalyoushouldchange。\"
Shesaidnothing。
\"Thingsoftenseemhardatthetime，butProvidencemakesthemturnoutforthebestintheend，\"saidGregory。\"You’llletmekissyou，Em，justforoldfriendship’ssake。\"Hestoopeddown。\"Youmustlookuponmeasadearbrother，asacousinatleast；aslongasIamonthefarmIshallalwaysbegladtohelpyou，Em。\"
Soonafterthebrownponywascanteringalongthefootpathtothedaub—and—
wattlehouse，andhismasterasherodewhistledJohnSperiwigandtheThornKloofSchottische。
Thesunhadnotyettouchedtheoutstretchedarmsofthepricklypearuponthekopje，andtheearlycocksandhensstillstruttedaboutstifflyafterthenight’sroost，whenWaldostoodbeforethewagon—housesaddlingthegreymare。Everynowandthenheglancedupattheoldfamiliarobjects：
theyhadanewaspectthatmorning。Eventhecocks，seeninthelightofparting，hadapeculiarinterest，andhelistenedwithconsciousattentionwhileonecrowedclearandloudasitstoodonthepigstywall。HewishedgoodmorningsoftlytotheKafferwomanwhowascomingupfromthehutstolightthefire。Hewasleavingthemalltothatoldlife，andfromhisheighthelookeddownonthempityingly。Sotheywouldkeeponcrowing，andcomingtolightfires，whenforhimthatoldcolourlessexistencewasbutadream。
Hewentintothehousetosaygood—byetoEm，andthenhewalkedtothedoorofLyndall’sroomtowakeher；butshewasup，andstandinginthedoorway。
\"Soyouareready，\"shesaid。
Waldolookedatherwithsuddenheaviness；theexhilarationdiedoutofhisheart。Hergreydressing—gownhungcloseabouther，andbelowitsedgethelittlebarefeetwererestingonthethreshold。
\"Iwonderwhenweshallmeetagain，Waldo？Whatyouwillbe，andwhatI？\"
\"Willyouwritetome？\"heaskedofher。
\"Yes；andifIshouldnot，youcanstillremember，whereveryouare，thatyouarenotalone。\"
\"IhaveleftDossforyou，\"hesaid。
\"Willyounotmisshim？\"
\"No；Iwantyoutohavehim。Helovesyoubetterthanhelovesme。\"
\"Thankyou。\"Theystoodquiet。
\"Good—bye！\"shesaid，puttingherlittlehandinhis，andheturnedaway；
butwhenhereachedthedoorshecalledtohim：\"Comeback，Iwanttokissyou。\"Shedrewhisfacedowntohers，andhelditwithbothhands，andkisseditontheforeheadandmouth。\"Good—bye，dear！\"
Whenhelookedbackthelittlefigurewithitsbeautifuleyeswasstandinginthedoorwaystill。
Chapter2。VIII。TheKopje。
\"Goodmorning！\"
Em，whowasinthestoreroommeasuringtheKaffer’srations，lookedupandsawherformerloverstandingbetwixtherandthesunshine。Forsomedaysafterthateveningonwhichhehadriddenhomewhistlinghehadshunnedher。Shemightwishtoenterintoexplanations，andhe，GregoryRose，wasnotthemanforthatkindofthing。Ifawomanhadoncethrownhimoverboardshemusttaketheconsequences，andstandbythem。When，however，sheshowednoinclinationtoreverttothepast，andshunnedhimmorethanheshunnedher，Gregorysoftened。
\"YoumustletmecallyouEmstill，andbelikeabrothertoyoutillI
go，\"hesaid；andEmthankedhimsohumblythathewishedshehadn’t。Itwasn’tsoeasyafterthattothinkhimselfaninjuredman。
Onthatmorninghestoodsometimeinthedoorwayswitchinghiswhip，andmovingratherrestlesslyfromonelegtotheother。
\"IthinkI’lljusttakeawalkuptothecampsandseehowyourbirdsaregettingon。NowWaldo’sgoneyou’venoonetoseeafterthings。Nicemorning，isn’tit？\"Thenheaddedsuddenly，\"I’lljustgoroundtothehouseandgetadrinkofwaterfirst；\"andsomewhatawkwardlywalkedoff。
Hemighthavefoundwaterinthekitchen，butheneverglancedtowardthebuckets。Inthefrontroomamonkeyandtwotumblersstoodonthecentre—
table；buthemerelylookedround，peepedintotheparlour，lookedroundagain，andthenwalkedoutatthefrontdoor，andfoundhimselfagainatthestoreroomwithouthavingsatisfiedhisthirst。\"Awfullynicemorningthis，\"hesaid，tryingtoposehimselfinagracefulandindifferentattitudeagainstthedoor。\"Itisn’thotanditisn’tcold。It’sawfullynice。\"
\"Yes，\"saidEm。
\"Yourcousin，now，\"saidGregoryinanaimlesssortofway——\"Isupposeshe’sshutupinherroomwritingletters。\"
\"No，\"saidEm。
\"Goneforadrive，Iexpect？Nicemorningforadrive。\"
\"No。\"
\"Gonetoseetheostriches，Isuppose？\"
\"No。\"AfteralittlesilenceEmadded，\"Isawhergobythekraalstothekopje。\"
Gregorycrossedanduncrossedhislegs。
\"Well，IthinkI’lljustgoandhavealookabout，\"hesaid，\"andseehowthingsaregettingonbeforeIgotothecamps。Good—bye；solong。\"
Emleftforawhilethebagsshewasfoldingandwenttothewindow，thesamethroughwhich，yearsbefore，Bonapartehadwatchedtheslouchingfigurecrosstheyard。Gregorywalkedtothepigstyfirst，andcontemplatedthepigsforafewseconds；thenturnedround，andstoodlookingfixedlyatthewallofthefuel—houseasthoughhethoughtitwantedrepairing；thenhestartedoffsuddenlywiththeevidentintentionofgoingtotheostrich—camps；thenpaused，hesitated，andfinallywalkedoffinthedirectionofthekopje。
ThenEmwentbacktothecornerandfoldedmoresacks。
OntheothersideofthekopjeGregorycaughtsightofawhitetailwavingamongthestones，andasuccessionofshort，franticbarkstoldwhereDosswasengagedinhowlingimploringlytoalizardwhohadcreptbetweentwostones，andwhohadnottheslightestintentionofre—sunninghimselfatthatparticularmoment。
Thedog’smistresssathigherup，undertheshelvingrock，herfacebentoveravolumeofplaysuponherknee。AsGregorymountedthestonesshestartedviolentlyandlookedup；thenresumedherbook。
\"IhopeIamnottroublingyou，\"saidGregoryashereachedherside。\"IfIamIwillgoaway。Ijust——\"
\"No；youmaystay。\"
\"IfearIstartledyou。\"
\"Yes；yourstepwasfirmerthanitgenerallyis。Ithoughtitwasthatofsomeoneelse。\"
\"Whocoulditbebutme？\"askedGregory，seatinghimselfonastoneatherfeet。
\"Doyousupposeyouaretheonlymanwhowouldfindanythingtoattracthimtothiskopje？\"
\"Oh，no，\"saidGregory。
Hewasnotgoingtoarguethatpointwithher，noranyother；butnooldBoerwaslikelytotakethetroubleofclimbingthekopje，andwhoelsewasthere？
Shecontinuedthestudyofherbook。
\"MissLyndall，\"hesaidatlast，\"Idon’tknowwhyitisyounevertalktome。\"
\"Wehadalongconversationyesterday，\"shesaidwithoutlookingup。
\"Yes；butyouaskmequestionsaboutsheepandoxen。Idon’tcallthattalking。YouusedtotalktoWaldo，now，\"hesaid，inanaggrievedtoneofvoice。\"I’veheardyouwhenIcamein，andthenyou’vejustleftoff。Youtreatedmelikethatfromthefirstday；andyoucouldn’ttellfromjustlookingatmethatIcouldn’ttalkaboutthethingsyoulike。I’msureI
knowasmuchaboutsuchthingsasWaldodoes，\"saidGregory，inexceedingbitternessofspirit。
\"Idonotknowwhichthingsyoureferto。IfyouwillenlightenmeIamquitepreparedtospeakofthem，\"shesaid，readingasshespoke。
\"Oh，youneverusedtoaskWaldolikethat，\"saidGregory，inamoresorelyaggrievedtonethanever。\"Youusedjusttobegin。\"
\"Well，letmesee，\"shesaid，closingherbookandfoldingherhandsonit。
\"ThereatthefootofthekopjegoesaKaffer；hehasnothingonbutablanket；heisasplendidfellow——sixfeethigh，withamagnificentpairoflegs。Inhisleatherbagheisgoingtofetchhisrations，andIsupposetokickhiswifewithhisbeautifullegswhenhegetshome。Hehasarightto；heboughtherfortwooxen。Thereisaleandoggoingafterhim，towhomIsupposehenevergivesmorethanabonefromwhichhehassuckedthemarrow；buthisdogloveshim，ashiswifedoes。Thereissomethingofthemasterabouthiminspiteofhisblacknessandwool。Seehowhebrandisheshisstickandholdsuphishead！\"
\"Oh，butaren’tyoumakingfun？\"saidGregory，lookingdoubtfullyfromhertotheKafferherd，whoroundedthekopje。
\"No；Iamveryserious。HeisthemostinterestingandintelligentthingI
canseejustnow，except，perhaps，Doss。Heisprofoundlysuggestive。
Willhisracemeltawayintheheatofacollisionwithahigher？Arethemenofthefuturetoseehisbonesonlyinmuseums——avestigeofonelinkthatspannedbetweenthedogandthewhiteman？Hewakesthoughtsthatrunfaroutintothefutureandbackintothepast。\"
Gregorywasnotquitesurehowtotaketheseremarks。BeingaboutaKaffer，theyappearedtobeofthenatureofajoke；but，beingseriouslyspoken，theyappearedearnest；sohehalflaughedandhalfnot，tobeonthesafeside。
\"I’veoftenthoughtsomyself。It’sfunnyweshouldboththinkthesame；I
knewweshouldifoncewetalked。Butthereareotherthings——love，now，\"
headded。\"Iwonderifwewouldthinkalikeaboutthat。Iwroteanessayonloveonce；themastersaiditwasthebestIeverwrote，andIcanrememberthefirstsentencestill——’Loveissomethingthatyoufeelinyourheart。’\"
\"Thatwasatrenchantremark。Can’tyourememberanymore？\"
\"No，\"saidGregory，regretfully；\"I’veforgottentherest。Buttellmewhatdoyouthinkaboutlove？\"
Alook，halfofabstraction，halfamusement，playedonherlips。
\"Idon’tknowmuchaboutlove，\"shesaid，\"andIdonotliketotalkofthingsIdonotunderstand；butIhaveheardtwoopinions。Somesaythedevilcarriedtheseedfromhellandplanteditontheearthtoplaguemenandmakethemsin；andsomesay，thatwhenalltheplantsinthegardenofEdenwerepulledupbytheroots，onebushthattheangelsplantedwasleftgrowing，anditspreaditsseedoverthewholeearth，anditsnameislove。
Idonotknowwhichisright——perhapsboth。Therearedifferentspeciesthatgounderthesamename。Thereisalovethatbeginsinthehead，andgoesdowntotheheart，andgrowsslowly；butitlaststilldeath，andaskslessthanitgives。Thereisanotherlove，thatblotsoutwisdom，thatissweetwiththesweetnessoflifeandbitterwiththebitternessofdeath，lastingforanhour；butitisworthhavinglivedawholelifeforthathour。Icannottell，perhapstheoldmonkswererightwhentheytriedtorootloveout；perhapsthepoetsarerightwhentheytrytowaterit。Itisablood—redflower，withthecolourofsin；butthereisalwaysthescentofagodaboutit。\"
Gregorywouldhavemadearemark；butshesaid，withoutnoticing：
\"Thereareasmanykindsoflovesasthereareflowers；everlastingsthatneverwither；speedwellsthatwaitforthewindtofanthemoutoflife；
blood—redmountain—liliesthatpourtheirvoluptuoussweetnessoutforoneday，andlieinthedustatnight。Thereisnoflowerhasthecharmofall——thespeedwell’spurity，theeverlasting’sstrength，themountain—
lily’swarmth；butwhoknowswhetherthereisnolovethatholdsall——
friendship，passion，worship？
\"Suchalove，\"shesaid，inhersweetestvoice，\"willfallonthesurfaceofstrong，cold，selfishlifeasthesunlightfallsonatorpidwinterworld；there，wherethetreesarebare，andthegroundfrozen，tillitringstothesteplikeiron，andthewaterissolid，andtheairissharpasatwo—edgedknifethatcutstheunwary。
\"Butwhenitssunshinesonit，throughitswholedeadcrustathrobbingyearningwakes：thetreesfeelhim，andeveryknotandbudswell，achingtoopentohim。Thebrownseeds，whohavesleptdeepundertheground，feelhim，andhegivesthemstrength，tilltheybreakthroughthefrozenearth，andlifttwotiny，tremblinggreenhandsinlovetohim。Andhetouchesthewater，tilldowntoitsdepthsitfeelshimandmelts，anditflows，andthethings，strangesweetthingsthatwerelockedupinit，itsingsasitruns，forloveofhim。Eachplanttriestobearatleastonefragrantlittleflowerforhim；andtheworldthatwasdeadlives，andtheheartthatwasdeadandself—centredthrobs，withanupward，outwardyearning，andithasbecomethatwhichitseemedimpossibleevertobecome。
There，doesthatsatisfyyou？\"sheasked，lookingdownatGregory。\"Isthathowyoulikemetotalk？\"
\"Oh，yes，\"saidGregory，\"thatiswhatIhavealreadythought。Wehavethesamethoughtsabouteverything。Howstrange！\"
\"Very，\"saidLyndall，workingwithherlittletoeatastoneinthegroundbeforeher。