Gregoryfelthemustsustaintheconversation。Theonlythinghecouldthinkofwastoreciteapieceofpoetry。Heknewhehadlearntmanyaboutlove；buttheonlythingthatwouldcomeintohismindnowwasthe\"BattleofHohenlinden，\"and\"Notadrumwasheard，\"neitherofwhichseemedtobeardirectlyonthesubjectonhand。
ButunexpectedreliefcametohimfromDoss，who，toodeeplylostincontemplationofhiscrevice，wassurprisedbythesuddendescentofthestoneLyndall’sfoothadloosened，which，rollingagainsthislittlefrontpaw，carriedawayapieceofwhite—skin。Dossstoodonthreelegs，holdingupthepawwithanexpressionofextremeself—commiseration；hethenproceededtohopslowlyupwardinsearchofsympathy。
\"Youhavehurtthatdog，\"saidGregory。
\"HaveI？\"sherepliedindifferently，andre—openedthebook，asthoughtoresumeherstudyoftheplay。
\"He’sanasty，snappishlittlecur！\"saidGregory，calculatingfromhermannerthattheremarkwouldbeendorsed。\"Hesnappedatmyhorse’stailyesterday，andnearlymadeitthrowme。Iwonderhismasterdidn’ttakehim，insteadofleavinghimheretobeanuisancetoallofus！\"
Lyndallseemedabsorbedinherplay；butheventuredanotherremark。
\"Doyouthinknow，MissLyndall，thathe’lleverhaveanythingintheworld——thatGerman。Imean——moneyenoughtosupportawifeon，andallthatsortofthing？Idon’t。He’swhatIcallsoft。\"
Shewasspreadingherskirtoutsoftlywithherlefthandforthedogtoliedownonit。
\"IthinkIshouldberatherastonishedifheeverbecamearespectablememberofsociety，\"shesaid。Idon’texpecttoseehimthepossessorofbank—shares，thechairmanofadivisionalcouncil，andthefatherofalargefamily；wearingablackhat，andgoingtochurchtwiceonaSunday。
Hewouldratherastonishmeifhecametosuchanend。\"
\"Yes；Idon’texpectanythingofhimeither，\"saidGregory，zealously。
\"Well，Idon’tknow，\"saidLyndall；\"therearesomesmallthingsIratherlooktohimfor。Ifheweretoinventwings，orcarveastatuethatonemightlookatforhalfanhourwithoutwantingtolookatsomethingelse，I
shouldnotbesurprised。Hemaydosomelittlethingofthatkindperhaps，whenhehasdonefermentingandthesedimenthasallgonetothebottom。\"
Gregoryfeltthatwhatshesaidwasnotwhollyintendedasblame。
\"Well，Idon’tknow，\"hesaidsulkily；\"tomehelookslikeafool。Towalkaboutalwaysinthatdead—and—alivesortofway，mutteringtohimselflikeanoldKafferwitchdoctor！Heworkshardenough，butit’salwaysasthoughhedidn’tknowwhathewasdoing。Youdon’tknowhowhelookstoapersonwhoseeshimforthefirsttime。\"
Lyndallwassoftlytouchingthelittlesorefootassheread，andDoss，toshowhelikedit，lickedherhand。
\"But，MissLyndall，\"persistedGregory，\"whatdoyoureallythinkofhim？\"
\"Ithink，\"saidLyndall，\"thatheislikeathorn—tree，whichgrowsupveryquietly，withoutanyone’scaringforit，andonedaysuddenlybreaksoutintoyellowblossoms。\"
\"AndwhatdoyouthinkIamlike？\"askedGregory，hopefully。
Lyndalllookedupfromherbook。
\"Likealittletinduckfloatingonadishofwater，thatcomesafterapieceofbreadstuckonaneedle，andthemoretheneedlepricksitthemoreitcomeson。\"
\"Oh，youaremakingfunofmenow，youreallyare！\"saidGregoryfeelingwretched。\"Youaremakingfun，aren’tyou，now？\"
\"Partly。Itisalwaysdivertingtomakecomparisons。\"
\"Yes；butyoudon’tcomparemetoanythingnice，andyoudootherpeople。
WhatisEmlike，now？\"
\"Theaccompanimentofasong。Shefillsupthegapsinotherpeople’slives，andisalwaysnumbertwo；butIthinksheislikemanyaccompaniments——agreatdealbetterthanthesongsheistoaccompany。\"
\"Sheisnothalfsogoodasyouare！\"saidGregory，withaburstofuncontrollableardour。
\"SheissomuchbetterthanI，thatherlittlefingerhasmoregoodnessinitthanmywholebody。Ihopeyoumaynotlivetofindoutthetruthofthatfact。\"
\"Youarelikeanangel，\"hesaid，thebloodrushingtohisheadandface。
\"Yes，probably；angelsareofmanyorders。\"
\"YouaretheonebeingthatIlove！\"saidGregoryquivering。\"IthoughtI
lovedbefore，butIknownow！Donotbeangrywithme。Iknowyoucouldneverlikeme；but，ifImightbutalwaysbenearyoutoserveyou，Iwouldbeutterly，utterlyhappy。Iwouldasknothinginreturn！IfyoucouldonlytakeeverythingIhaveanduseit；Iwantnothingbuttobeofusetoyou。\"
Shelookedathimforafewmoments。
\"Howdoyouknow，\"shesaidslowly，\"thatyoucouldnotdosomethingtoserveme？Youcouldservemebygivingmeyourname。\"
Hestarted，andturnedhisburningfacetoher。
\"Youareverycruel；youareridiculingme，\"hesaid。
\"No，Iamnot，Gregory。WhatIamsayingisplain，matter—of—factbusiness。Ifyouarewillingtogivemeyournamewithinthreeweeks’
time，Iamwillingtomarryyou，ifnot，well。Iwantnothingmorethanyourname。Thatisaclearproposal，isitnot？\"
Helookedup。Wasitcontempt，loathing，pity，thatmovedintheeyesabove！Hecouldnottell；buthestoopedoverthelittlefootandkissedit。
Shesmiled。
\"Doyoureallymeanit？\"hewhispered。
\"Yes。Youwishtoserveme，andtohavenothinginreturn！——youshallhavewhatyouwish。\"SheheldoutherfingersforDosstolick。\"Doyouseethisdog？HelicksmyhandbecauseIlovehim；andIallowhimto。WhereIdonotloveIdonotallowit。Ibelieveyouloveme；Itoocouldloveso，thattolieunderthefootofthethingIlovedwouldbemoreheaventhantolieinthebreastofanother。Come！letusgo。Carrythedog，\"
sheadded；\"hewillnotbiteyouifIputhiminyourarms。So——donotlethisfoothangdown。\"
Theydescendedthekopje。Atthebottom，hewhispered：
\"Wouldyounottakemyarm？thepathisveryrough。\"
Sherestedherfingerslightlyonit。
\"Imayyetchangemymindaboutmarryingyoubeforethetimecomes。Itisverylikely。Markyou！\"shesaid，turningroundonhim；\"Irememberyourwords：Youwillgiveeverything，andexpectnothing。Theknowledgethatyouareservingmeistobeyourreward；andyouwillhavethat。Youwillserveme，andgreatly。ThereasonsIhaveformarryingyouIneednotinformyouofnow；youwillprobablydiscoversomeofthembeforelong。\"
\"Ionlywanttobeofsomeusetoyou，\"hesaid。
ItseemedtoGregorythattherewerepulsesinthesolesofhisfeet，andthegroundshimmeredasonasummer’sday。TheywalkedroundthefootofthekopjeandpasttheKafferhuts。AnoldKaffermaidkneltatthedoorofonegrindingmealies。Thatsheshouldseehimwalkingsomadehisheartbeatsofast，thatthehandonhisarmfeltitspulsation。Itseemedthatshemustenvyhim。
JustthenEmlookedoutagainatthebackwindowandsawthemcoming。Shecriedbitterlyallthewhileshesortedtheskins。
ButthatnightwhenLyndallhadblownhercandleout，andhalfturnedroundtosleep，thedoorofEm’sbedroomopened。
\"Iwanttosaygoodnighttoyou，Lyndall，\"shesaid，comingtothebedsideandkneelingdown。
\"Ithoughtyouwereasleep，\"Lyndallreplied。
\"Yes，Ihavebeenasleep；butIhadsuchavividdream，\"shesaid，holdingtheother’shands，\"andthatwokeme。Ineverhadsovividadreambefore。
\"ItseemedIwasalittlegirlagain，andIcamesomewhereintoalargeroom。Onabedinthecornertherewassomethinglyingdressedinwhite，anditslittleeyeswereshut，anditslittlefacewaslikewax。Ithoughtitwasadoll，andIranforwardtotakeit；butsomeoneheldupherfingerandsaid：’Hush！itisalittledeadbaby。’AndIsaid：’Oh，I
mustgoandcallLyndall，thatshemaylookatitalso。’
\"Andtheyputtheirfacesclosedowntomyearandwhispered：’ItisLyndall’sbaby。’
\"AndIsaid：’Shecannotbegrownupyet；sheisonlyalittlegirl！
Whereisshe？’AndIwenttolookforyou，butIcouldnotfindyou。
\"AndwhenIcametosomepeoplewhoweredressedinblack，Iaskedthemwhereyouwere，andtheylookeddownattheirblackclothes，andshooktheirheads，andsaidnothing；andIcouldnotfindyouanywhere。AndthenIawoke。
\"Lyndall，\"shesaid，puttingherfacedownuponthehandssheheld，\"itmademethinkaboutthattimewhenwewerelittlegirlsandusedtoplaytogether，whenIlovedyoubetterthananythingelseintheworld。Itisn’tanyone’sfaultthattheyloveyou；theycan’thelpit。Anditisn’tyourfault；youdon’tmakethemloveyou。Iknowit。\"
\"Thankyou，dear，\"Lyndallsaid。\"Itisnicetobeloved，butitwouldbebettertobegood。\"
Thentheywishedgoodnight，andEmwentbacktoherroom。LongafterLyndalllayinthedarkthinking，thinking，thinking；andassheturnedroundwearilytosleepshemuttered：
\"Therearesomewiserintheirsleepingthanintheirwaking。\"
Chapter2。IX。Lyndall’sStranger。
Afireisburningintheunusedhearthofthecabin。Thefuelblazesup，andlightstheblackrafters，andwarmsthefadedredlionsonthequilt，andfillsthelittleroomwithaglowofwarmthandlightmadebrighterbycontrast，foroutsidethenightischillandmisty。
Beforetheopenfireplacesitsastranger，histall，slightfigurereposinginthebrokenarmchair，hiskeenblueeyesstudyingthefirefrombeneathdelicatelypencilled，droopingeyelids。Onewhitehandplaysthoughtfullywithaheavyflaxenmoustache；yet，oncehestarts，andforaninstantthelanguidlidsraisethemselves；thereisakeen，intentlookuponthefaceashelistensforsomething。Thenheleansbackinhischair，fillshisglassfromthesilverflaskinhisbag，andresumeshisoldposture。
Presentlythedooropensnoiselessly。ItisLyndall，followedbyDoss。
Quietlyassheenters，hehearsher，andturns。
\"Ithoughtyouwerenotcoming。\"
\"Iwaitedtillallhadgonetobed。Icouldnotcomebefore。\"
Sheremovedtheshawlthatenvelopedher，andthestrangerrosetoofferherhischair；butshetookherseatonalowpileofsacksbeforethewindow。
\"IhardlyseewhyIshouldbeoutlawedafterthisfashion，\"hesaid，reseatinghimselfanddrawinghischairalittlenearertoher；\"thesearehardlythequartersoneexpectstofindaftertravellingahundredmilesinanswertoaninvitation。\"
\"Isaid，’Comeifyouwish。’\"
\"AndIdidwish。Yougivemeacoldreception。\"
\"Icouldnottakeyoutothehouse。QuestionswouldbeaskedwhichIcouldnotanswerwithoutprevarication。\"
\"Yourconscienceisgrowingtohaveacertainvirgintenderness，\"hesaid，inalow，melodiousvoice。
\"Ihavenoconscience。Ispokeonedeliberateliethisevening。Isaidthemanwhohadcomelookedrough，wehadbestnothavehiminthehouse；
thereforeIbroughthimhere。Itwasadeliberatelie，andIhatelies。I
tellthemifImust，buttheyhurtme。\"
\"Well，youdonottellliestoyourself，atallevents。Youarecandid，sofar。\"
Sheinterruptedhim。
\"Yougotmyshortletter？\"
\"Yes；thatiswhyIcome。Yousentaveryfoolishreply；youmusttakeitback。Whoisthisfellowyoutalkofmarrying？\"
\"Ayoungfarmer。\"
\"Liveshere？\"
\"Yes；hehasgonetotowntogetthingsforourwedding。\"
\"Whatkindofafellowishe？\"
\"Afool。\"
\"Andyouwouldrathermarryhimthanme？\"
\"Yes；becauseyouarenotone。\"
\"Thatisanovelreasonforrefusingtomarryaman，\"hesaid，leaninghiselbowonthetableandwatchingherkeenly。
\"Itisawiseone，\"shesaidshortly。\"IfImarryhimIshallshakehimoffmyhandwhenitsuitsme。IfIremainedwithhimfortwelvemonthshewouldneverhavedaredtokissmyhand。AsfarasIwishheshouldcome，hecomes，andnofurther。Wouldyouaskmewhatyoumightandwhatyoumightnotdo？\"
Hercompanionraisedthemoustachewithacaressingmovementfromhislipandsmiled。Itwasnotaquestionthatstoodinneedofanyanswer。
\"Whydoyouwishtoenteronthissemblanceofmarriage？\"
\"BecausethereisonlyonepointonwhichIhaveaconscience。Ihavetoldyouso。\"
\"Thenwhynotmarryme？\"
\"Becauseifonceyouhavemeyouwouldholdmefast。Ishallneverbefreeagain。\"Shedrewalong，lowbreath。
\"WhathaveyoudonewiththeringIgaveyou？\"hesaid。
\"SometimesIwearit；thenItakeitoffandwishtothrowitintothefire；thenextdayIputitonagain，andsometimesIkissit。\"
\"Soyoudolovemealittle？\"
\"Ifyouwerenotsomethingmoretomethananyothermanintheworld，doyouthink——\"Shepaused。\"IloveyouwhenIseeyou；butwhenyouareawayfrommeIhateyou。\"
\"ThenIfearImustbesingularlyinvisibleatthepresentmoment，\"hesaid。Possiblyifyouweretolooklessfixedlyintothefireyoumightperceiveme。\"
Hemovedhischairslightly，soastocomebetweenherandthefirelight。
Sheraisedhereyestohisface。
\"Ifyoudoloveme，\"heaskedher，\"whywillyounotmarryme？\"
\"Because，ifIhadbeenmarriedtoyouforayearIshouldhavecometomysensesandseenthatyourhandsandyourvoicearelikethehandsandthevoiceofanyotherman。Icannotquiteseethatnow。Butitisallmadness。Youcallintoactivityonepartofmynature；thereisahigherpartthatyouknownothingof，thatyounevertouch。IfImarriedyou，afterwarditwouldariseandassertitself，andIshouldhateyoualways，asIdonowsometimes。\"
\"Ilikeyouwhenyougrowmetaphysicalandanalytical，\"hesaid，leaninghisfaceuponhishand。\"Goalittlefurtherinyouranalysis；say，’I
loveyouwiththerightventricleofmyheart，butnottheleft，andwiththeleftauricleofmyheart，butnottheright；and，thisbeingthecase，myaffectionforyouisnotofadulyelevated，intellectualandspiritualnature。’Ilikeyouwhenyougetphilosophical。\"
Shelookedquietlyathim；hewastryingtoturnherownweaponsagainsther。
\"Youareactingfoolishly，Lyndall，\"hesaid，suddenlychanginghismanner，andspeakingearnestly，\"mostfoolishly。Youareactinglikealittlechild；Iamsurprisedatyou。Itisallverywelltohaveidealsandtheories；butyouknowaswellasanyonecanthattheymustnotbecarriedintothepracticalworld。Iloveyou。Idonotpretendthatitisinanyhigh，superhumansense；IdonotsaythatIshouldlikeyouaswellifyouwereuglyanddeformed，orthatIshouldcontinuetoprizeyouwhateveryourtreatmentofmemightbe，ortoloveyouthoughyouwereaspiritwithoutanybodyatall。Thatissentimentalityforbeardlessboys。Everyonenotamerechild（andyouarenotachild，exceptinyears）knowswhatlovebetweenamanandawomanmeans。Iloveyouwiththatlove。IshouldnothavebelieveditpossiblethatIcouldhavebroughtmyselftwicetoaskofanywomantobemywife，moreespeciallyonewithoutwealth，withoutposition，andwho——\"
\"Yes——goon。Donotgrowsorryforme。Saywhatyouweregoingto——’whohasputherselfintomypower，andwhohaslosttherightofmeetingmeonequalterms。’Saywhatyouthink。Atleastwetwomayspeakthetruthtooneanother。\"
Thensheaddedafterapause：
\"Ibelieveyoudoloveme，asmuchasyoupossiblycouldloveanything；andIbelievethatwhenyouaskmetomarryyouyouareperformingthemostgenerousactyoueverhaveperformedinthecourseofyourlife，oreverwill；but，atthesametime，ifIhadrequiredyourgenerosity，itwouldnothavebeenshownme。If，whenIgotyourletteramonthago，hintingatyourwillingnesstomarryme，Ihadatoncewritten，imploringyoutocome，youwouldhavereadtheletter。’Poorlittledevil！’youwouldhavesaid，andtoreitup。ThenextweekyouwouldhavesailedforEurope，andhavesentmeacheckforahundredandfiftypounds（whichIwouldhavethrowninthefire），andIwouldhaveheardnomoreofyou。\"
Thestrangersmiled。
\"ButbecauseIdeclinedyourproposal，andwrotethatinthreeweeksI
shouldbemarriedtoanother，thenwhatyoucalllovewokeup。Yourman’sloveisachild’sloveforbutterflies。Youfollowtillyouhavethething，andbreakit。Ifyouhavebrokenonewing，andthethingfliesstill，thenyouloveitmorethanever，andfollowtillyoubreakboth；
thenyouaresatisfiedwhenitliesstillontheground。\"
\"Youareprofoundlywiseinthewaysoftheworld；youhaveseenfarintolife，\"hesaid。
Hemightaswellhavesneeredatthefirelight。
\"Ihaveseenenoughtotellmethatyoulovemebecauseyoucannotbeartoberesisted，andwanttomasterme。YoulikedmeatfirstbecauseI
treatedyouandallmenwithindifference。YouresolvedtohavemebecauseIseemedunattainable。Thisisallyourlovemeans。\"
Hefeltastronginclinationtostoopdownandkissthelittlelipsthatdefiedhim；butherestrainedhimself。Hesaid，quietly：\"Andyoulovedme——\"
\"Becauseyouarestrong。YouarethefirstmanIeverwasafraidof。
And\"——adreamylookcameintoherface——\"becauseIliketoexperience，I
liketotry。Youdon’tunderstandthat。\"
Hesmiled。
\"Well，sinceyouwillnotmarryme，mayIinquirewhatyourintentionsare，theplanyouwroteof。Youaskedmetocomeandhearit，andIhavecome。\"
\"Isaid，’Comeifyouwish。’Ifyouagreetoit，well；ifnot，ImarryonMonday。\"
\"Well？\"
Shewasstilllookingbeyondhimatthefire。
\"Icannotmarryyou，\"shesaidslowly，\"becauseIcannotbetied；butifyouwish，youmaytakemeawaywithyou，andtakecareofme；thenwhenwedonotloveanymorewecansaygood—bye。Iwillnotgodowncountry，\"sheadded；\"IwillnotgotoEurope。YoumusttakemetotheTransvaal。Thatisoutoftheworld。Peoplewemeetthereweneednotseeagaininourfuturelives。\"
\"Oh，mydarling，\"hesaid，bendingtenderly，andholdinghishandouttoher，\"whywillyounotgiveyourselfentirelytome？Onedayyouwilldesertmeandgotoanother。\"
Sheshookherheadwithoutlookingathim。
\"No，lifeistoolong。ButIwillgowithyou。\"
\"When？\"
\"Tomorrow。IhavetoldthemthatbeforedaylightIgotothenextfarm。I
willwritefromthetownandtellthemthefacts。Idonotwantthemtotroubleme；Iwanttoshakemyselffreeoftheseoldsurroundings；Iwantthemtolosesightofme。Youcanunderstandthatisnecessaryforme。\"
Heseemedlostinconsideration；thenhesaid：
\"Itisbettertohaveyouonthoseconditionsthannotatall。Ifyouwillhaveit，letitbeso。\"
Hesatlookingather。Onherfacewasthewearylookthatrestedtheresooftennowwhenshesatalone。Twomonthshadnotpassedsincetheyparted；
butthetimehadsetitsmarkonher。Helookedathercarefully，fromthebrown，smoothheadtothelittlecrossedfeetonthefloor。Awornlookhadgrownoverthelittleface，anditmadeitscharmforhimstronger。
Forpainandtime，whichtracedeeplinesandwriteastoryonahumanface，haveastrangelydifferenteffectononefaceandanother。Thefacethatisonlyfair，evenveryfair，theymarandflaw；buttothefacewhosebeautyistheharmonybetweenthatwhichspeaksfromwithinandtheformthroughwhichitspeaks，powerisaddedbyallthatcausestheoutermantobearmoredeeplytheimpressoftheinner。Theprettywomanfadeswiththerosesonhercheeks，andthegirlhoodthatlastsanhour；thebeautifulwomanfindsherfullnessofbloomonlywhenapasthaswrittenitselfonher，andherpoweristhenmostirresistiblewhenitseemsgoing。
Fromundertheirhalf—closedlidsthekeeneyeslookeddownather。Hershoulderswerebent；foramomentthelittlefigurehadforgottenitsqueenlybearing，anddroopedwearily；thewide，darkeyeswatchedthefireverysoftly。
Itcertainlywasnotinherpowertoresisthim，noranystrengthinherthatmadehisownatthatmomentgrowsoftashelookedather。
Hetouchedonelittlehandthatrestedonherknee。
\"Poorlittlething！\"hesaid；\"youareonlyachild。\"
Shedidnotdrawherhandawayfromhis，andlookedupathim。
\"Youareverytired？\"
\"Yes。\"
Shelookedintohiseyesasalittlechildmightwhomalongday’splayhadsaddened。
Heliftedhergentlyup，andsatheronhisknee。
\"Poorlittlething！\"hesaid。
Sheturnedherfacetohisshoulder，andburieditagainsthisneck；hewoundhisstrongarmabouther，andheldherclosetohim。Whenshehadsatforalongwhile，hedrewwithhishandthefacedown，andhelditagainsthisarm。Hekissedit，andthenputitbackinitsoldresting—
place。
\"Don’tyouwanttotalktome？\"
\"No。\"
\"Haveyouforgottenthenightintheavenue？\"
Hecouldfeelthatsheshookherhead。
\"Doyouwanttobequietnow？\"
\"Yes。\"
Theysatquitestill，exceptingthatonlysometimesheraisedherfingerssoftlytohismouth。
Doss，whohadbeenasleepinthecorner，wakingsuddenly，plantedhimselfbeforethem，hiswirylegsmovingnervously，hisyelloweyesfilledwithanxiety。Hewasnotatallsurethatshewasnotbeingretainedinherpresentpositionagainstherwill，andwasnotalittlerelievedwhenshesatupandheldoutherhandfortheshawl。
\"Imustgo，\"shesaid。
Thestrangerwrappedtheshawlverycarefullyabouther。
\"Keepitclosearoundyourface，Lyndall；itisverydampoutside。ShallI
walkwithyoutothehouse？\"
\"No。Liedownandrest；Iwillcomeandwakeyouatthreeo’clock。\"
Sheliftedherfacethathemightkissit，and，whenhehadkisseditonce，shestillhelditthathemightkissitagain。Thenheletherout。Hehadseatedhimselfatthefireplace，whenshereopenedthedoor。
\"Haveyouforgottenanything？\"
\"No。\"
Shegaveonelong，lingeringlookattheoldroom。Whenshewasgone，andthedoorshut，thestrangerfilledhisglass，andsatatthetablesippingitthoughtfully。
Thenightoutsidewasmistyanddamp；thefaintmoonlight，tryingtoforceitswaythroughthethickair，madedarklyvisibletheoutlinesofthebuildings。Thestonesandwallsweremoist，andnowandthenadrop，slowlycollecting，fellfromtheeavestotheground。Doss，notlikingthechangefromthecabin’swarmth，ranquicklytothekitchendoorstep；buthismistresswalkedslowlypasthim，andtookherwayupthewindingfootpaththatranbesidethestonewallofthecamps。Whenshecametotheendofthelastcamp，shethreadedherwayamongthestonesandbushestillshereachedtheGerman’sgrave。Whyshehadcomethereshehardlyknew；
shestoodlookingdown。Suddenlyshebentandputonehandonthefaceofawetstone。
\"Ishallnevercometoyouagain，\"shesaid。
Thenshekneltontheground，andleanedherfaceuponthestones。
\"Dearoldman，goodoldman，Iamsotired！\"shesaid（forwewillcometothedeadtotellsecretswewouldneverhavetoldtotheliving）。Iamsotired。Thereislight，thereiswarmth，\"shewailed；\"whyamIalone，sohard，socold？Iamsowearyofmyself！Itiseatingmysoultoitscore—
—self，self，self！Icannotbearthislife！Icannotbreathe，Icannotlive！Willnothingfreemefrommyself？\"Shepressedhercheekagainstthewoodenpost。\"Iwanttolove！Iwantsomethinggreatandpuretoliftmetoitself！Dearoldman，Icannotbearitanymore！Iamsocold，sohard，sohard；willnoonehelpme？\"