第9章

smackupontheprojectingledgesofrock——atfirstlouderandheavierthanthatofthebrook，andthenscarcelytobedistinguishedfromit——thenacessation，thenthesplashingofthestreamasbefore，andtheaccompanyingmurmurofthesea，werealltheincidentsthatdisturbedthecustomaryflowofthelittlewaterfall。

Thesingerwaitedinafixedattitudeforafewminutes，thenturning，herapidlyretracedhisstepsovertheinterveninguplandtowardtheroad，andinlessthanaquarterofanhourwasatthedoorofthehotel。Slippingquietlyinastheclockstruckten，hesaidtothelandlord，overthebarhatchway-

"Thebillassoonasyoucanletmehaveit，includingchargesforthesupperthatwasordered，thoughwecannotstaytoeatit，Iamsorrytosay。"Headdedwithforcedgaiety，"Thelady"sfatherandcousinhavethoughtbetterofinterceptingthemarriage，andafterquarrellingwitheachotherhavegonehomeindependently。"

"Welldone，sir!"saidthelandlord，whostillsidedwiththiscustomerinpreferencetothosewhohadgiventroubleandbarelypaidforbaitingthehorses。""Lovewillfindouttheway!"asthesayingis。Wishyoujoy，sir!"

SignorSmithozziwentupstairs，andonenteringthesitting-roomfoundthatLaurahadcreptoutfromthedarkadjoiningchamberinhisabsence。Shelookedupathimwitheyesredfromweeping，andwithsymptomsofalarm。

"Whatisit?——whereishe?"shesaidapprehensively。

"CaptainNorthbrookhasgoneback。Hesayshewillhavenomoretodowithyou。"

"AndIamquiteabandonedbythem!——andthey"llforgetme，andnobodycareaboutmeanymore!"Shebegantocryafresh。

"Butitistheluckiestthingthatcouldhavehappened。Allisjustasitwasbeforetheycamedisturbingus。But，Laura，yououghttohavetoldmeaboutthatprivatemarriage，thoughitisallthesamenow；itwillbedissolved，ofcourse。Youareawid——virtuallyawidow。"

"Itisnousetoreproachmeforwhatispast。WhatamItodonow?"

"WegoatoncetoCliff-Martin。Thehorsehasrestedthoroughlytheselastthreehours，andhewillhavenodifficultyindoinganadditionalhalf-dozenmiles。Weshallbetherebeforetwelve，andtherearelatetavernsintheplace，nodoubt。Therewe"llsellbothhorseandcarriageto-morrowmorning；andgobythecoachtoDownstaple。Onceinthetrainwearesafe。"

"Iagreetoanything，"shesaidlistlessly。

Inabouttenminutesthehorsewasputin，thebillpaid，thelady"sdriedwrapsputroundher，andthejourneyresumed。

Whenaboutamileontheirway，theysawaglimmeringlightinadvanceofthem。"Iwonderwhatthatis?"saidthebaritone，whosemannerhadlatterlybecomenervous，everysoundandsightcausinghimtoturnhishead。

"Itisonlyaturnpike，"saidshe。"Thatlightisthelampkeptburningoverthedoor。"

"Ofcourse，ofcourse，dearest。HowstupidIam!"

Onreachingthegatetheyperceivedthatamanonfoothadapproachedit，apparentlybysomemoredirectpaththantheroadwaytheypursued，andwas，atthemomenttheydrewup，standinginconversationwiththegatekeeper。

"ItisquiteimpossiblethathecouldfalloverthecliffbyaccidentorthewillofGodonsuchalightnightasthis，"thepedestrianwassaying。"ThesetwochildrenItellyouofsawtwomengoalongthepathtowardthewaterfall，andtenminuteslateronlyoneof"emcameback，walkingfast，likeamanwhowantedtogetoutofthewaybecausehehaddonesomethingqueer。Thereisnomannerofdoubtthathepushedtheothermanover，and，markme，itwillsooncauseahueandcryforthatman。"

ThecandleshoneinthefaceoftheSignorandshowedthattherehadarisenuponitafilmofghastliness。Laura，glancingtowardhimforafewmomentsobservedit，till，thegatekeeperhavingmechanicallyswungopenthegate，hercompaniondrovethrough，andtheyweresoonagainenvelopedinthewhitesilence。

HerconductorhadsaidtoLaura，justbefore，thathemeanttoinquirethewayatthisturnpike；buthehadcertainlynotdoneso。

Assoonastheyhadgonealittlefarthertheomission，intentionalornot，begantocausethemsometrouble。Beyondthesecludeddistrictwhichtheynowtraversedranthemorefrequentedroad，whereprogresswouldbeeasy，thesnowbeingprobablyalreadybeatentheretosomeextentbytraffic；buttheyhadnotyetreachedit，andhavingnoonetoguidethemtheirjourneybegantoappearlessfeasiblethanithaddonebeforestarting。Whenthelittlelanewhichtheyhadenteredascendedanotherhill，andseemedtowindroundinadirectioncontrarytotheexpectedroutetoCliff-Martin，thequestiongrewserious。Eversinceoverhearingtheconversationattheturnpike，Laurahadmaintainedaperfectsilence，andhadevenshrunksomewhatawayfromthesideofherlover。

"Whydon"tyoutalk，Laura，"hesaidwithforcedbuoyancy，"andsuggestthewayweshouldgo?"

"Ohyes，Iwill，"sheresponded，acuriousfearfulnessbeingaudibleinhervoice。

Afterthissheutteredafewoccasionalsentenceswhichseemedtopersuadehimthatshesuspectednothing。Atlasthedrewrein，andthewearyhorsestoodstill。

"Weareinafix，"hesaid。

Sheansweredeagerly:"I"llholdthereinswhileyourunforwardtothetopoftheridge，andseeiftheroadtakesafavourableturnbeyond。Itwouldgivethehorseafewminutes"rest，andifyoufindoutnochangeinthedirection，wewillretracethislane，andtaketheotherturning。"

Theexpedientseemedagoodoneinthecircumstances，especiallywhenrecommendedbythesingulareagernessofhervoice；andplacingthereinsinherhands——aquiteunnecessaryprecaution，consideringthestateoftheirhack——hesteppedoutandwentforwardthroughthesnowtillshecouldseenomoreofhim。

NosoonerwashegonethanLaura，witharapiditywhichcontrastedstrangelywithherpreviousstillness，madefastthereinstothecornerofthephaeton，andslippingoutontheoppositeside，ranbackwithallhermightdownthehill，till，comingtoanopeninginthefence，shescrambledthroughit，andplungedintothecopsewhichborderedthisportionofthelane。Hereshestoodinhidingunderoneofthelargebushes，clingingsocloselytoitsumbrageastoseembutaportionofitsmass，andlisteningintentlyforthefaintestsoundofpursuit。Butnothingdisturbedthestillnesssavetheoccasionalslippingofgatheredsnowfromtheboughs，ortherustleofsomewildanimaloverthecrispflake-bespatteredherbage。

Atlength，apparentlyconvincedthatherformercompanionwaseitherunabletofindher，ornotanxioustodoso，inthepresentstrangestateofaffairs，shecreptoutfromthebushes，andinlessthananhourfoundherselfagainapproachingthedooroftheProspectHotel。

Asshedrewnear，Lauracouldseethat，farfrombeingwrappedindarkness，asshemighthaveexpected，therewereamplesignsthatallthetenantswereonthealert，lightsmovingabouttheopenspaceinfront。Satisfactionwasexpressedinherfacewhenshediscernedthatnoreappearanceofherbaritoneandhispony-carriagewascausingthissensation；butitspeedilygavewaytogriefanddismaywhenshesawbythelightstheformofamanborneonastretcherbytwoothersintotheporchofthehotel。

"Ihavecausedallthis，"shemurmuredbetweenherquiveringlips。

"Hehasmurderedhim!"Runningforwardtothedoor，shehastilyaskedofthefirstpersonshemetifthemanonthestretcherwasdead。

"No，miss，"saidthelaboureraddressed，eyeingherupanddownasanunexpectedapparition。"Heisstillalive，theysay，butnotsensible。Heeitherfellorwaspushedoverthewaterfall；"tisthoughtedhewaspushed。Heisthegentlemanwhocameherejustnowwiththeoldlord，andwentoutafterward(asisthoughted)withastrangerwhohadcomealittleearlier。Anyhow，that"sasIhadit。"

Lauraenteredthehouse，andacknowledgingwithouttheleastreservethatshewastheinjuredman"swife，hadsooninstalledherselfasheadnursebythebedonwhichhelay。Whenthetwosurgeonswhohadbeensentforarrived，shelearnedfromthemthathiswoundsweresosevereastoleavebutaslenderhopeofrecovery，itbeinglittleshortofmiraculousthathewasnotkilledonthespot，whichhisenemyhadevidentlyreckonedtobethecase。Sheknewwhothatenemywas，andshuddered。

Laurawatchedallnight，butherhusbandknewnothingofherpresence。Duringthenextdayheslightlyrecognizedher，andintheeveningwasabletospeak。Heinformedthesurgeonsthat，aswassurmised，hehadbeenpushedoverthecascadebySignorSmithozzi；buthecommunicatednothingtoherwhonursedhim，notevenreplyingtoherremarks；henoddedcourteouslyatanyactofattentionsherendered，andthatwasall。

Inadayortwoitwasdeclaredthateverythingfavouredhisrecovery，notwithstandingtheseverityofhisinjuries。FullsearchwasmadeforSmithozzi，butasyettherewasnointelligenceofhiswhereabouts，thoughtherepentantLauracommunicatedallsheknew。

Asfarascouldbejudged，hehadcomebacktothecarriageaftersearchingouttheway，andfindingtheyoungladymissing，hadlookedaboutforhertillhewastired；thenhaddrivenontoCliff-

Martin，soldthehorseandcarriagenextmorning，anddisappeared，probablybyoneofthedepartingcoacheswhichranthencetotheneareststation，theonlydifferencefromhisoriginalprogrammebeingthathehadgonealone。

Duringthedaysandweeksofthatlongandtediousrecovery，Laurawatchedbyherhusband"sbedsidewithazealandassiduitywhichwouldhaveconsiderablyextenuatedanyfaultsaveoneofsuchmagnitudeashers。Thatherhusbanddidnotforgiveherwassoonobvious。Nothingthatshecoulddointhewayofsmoothingpillows，easinghisposition，shiftingbandages，oradministeringdraughts，couldwinfromhimmorethanafewmeasuredwordsofthankfulness，suchashewouldprobablyhaveutteredtoanyotherwomanonearthwhohadperformedtheseparticularservicesforhim。

"Dear，dearJames，"shesaidoneday，bendingherfaceuponthebedinanexcessofemotion。"Howyouhavesuffered!Ithasbeentoocruel。IammoregladyouaregettingbetterthanIcansay。I

haveprayedforit——andIamsorryforwhatIhavedone；Iaminnocentoftheworst，and——Ihopeyouwillnotthinkmesoverybad，James!"

"Ohno。Onthecontrary，Ishallthinkyouverygood——asanurse，"

heanswered，thecausticseverityofhistonebeingapparentthroughitsweakness。

Lauraletfalltwoorthreesilenttears，andsaidnomorethatday。

SomehoworotherSignorSmithozziseemedtobemakinggoodhisescape。Ittranspiredthathehadnottakenapassageineitherofthesuspectedcoaches，thoughhehadcertainlygotoutofthecounty；altogether，thechanceoffindinghimwasproblematical。

NotonlydidCaptainNorthbrooksurvivehisinjuries，butitsoonappearedthatinthecourseofafewweekshewouldfindhimselflittleifanytheworseforthecatastrophe。ItcouldalsobeseenthatLaura，whilesecretlyhopingforherhusband"sforgivenessforapieceoffollyofwhichshesawtheenormitymoreclearlyeveryday，wasingreatdoubtastowhatherfuturerelationswithhimwouldbe。Moreover，toaddtothecomplication，whilstshe，asarunawaywife，wasunforgivenbyherhusband，sheandherhusband，asarunawaycouple，wereunforgivenbyherfather，whohadneveroncecommunicatedwitheitherofthemsincehisdeparturefromtheinn。

Butherimmediateanxietywastowinthepardonofherhusband，whopossiblymightbebearinginmind，ashelayuponhiscouch，thefamiliarwordsofBrabantio，"Shehasdeceivedherfather，andmaythee。"

MatterswentonthustillCaptainNorthbrookwasabletowalkabout。

Hethenremovedwithhiswifetoquietapartmentsonthesouthcoast，andherehisrecoverywasrapid。Walkingupthecliffsoneday，supportinghimbyherarmasusual，shesaidtohim，simply，"James，ifIgoonasIamgoingnow，andalwaysattendtoyoursmallestwant，andneverthinkofanythingbutdevotiontoyou，willyou——trytolikemealittle?"

"ItisathingImustcarefullyconsider，"hesaid，withthesamegloomydrynesswhichcharacterizedallhiswordstohernow。"WhenIhaveconsidered，Iwilltellyou。"

Hedidnottellherthatevening，thoughshelingeredlongatherroutineworkofmakinghisbedroomcomfortable，puttingthelightsothatitwouldnotshineintohiseyes，seeinghimfallasleep，andthenretiringnoiselesslytoherownchamber。Whentheymetinthemorningatbreakfast，andshehadaskedhimasusualhowhehadpassedthenight，sheaddedtimidly，inthesilencewhichfollowedhisreply，"Haveyouconsidered?"

"No，Ihavenotconsideredsufficientlytogiveyouananswer。"

Laurasighed，buttonopurpose；andthedayworeonwithintenseheavinesstoher，andthecustomarymodicumofstrengthgainedtohim。

Thenextmorningsheputthesamequestion，andlookedupdespairinglyinhisface，asthoughherwholelifehunguponhisreply。

"Yes，Ihaveconsidered，"hesaid。

"Ah!"

"Wemustpart。"

"OJames!"

"Icannotforgiveyou；nomanwould。Enoughissettleduponyoutokeepyouincomfort，whateveryourfathermaydo。Ishallsellout，anddisappearfromthishemisphere。"

"Youhaveabsolutelydecided?"sheaskedmiserably。"Ihavenobodynowtoc-c-carefor——"

"Ihaveabsolutelydecided，"heshortlyreturned。"Wehadbetterparthere。Youwillgobacktoyourfather。ThereisnoreasonwhyIshouldaccompanyyou，sincemypresencewouldonlystandinthewayoftheforgivenesshewillprobablygrantyouifyouappearbeforehimalone。Wewillsayfarewelltoeachotherinthreedaysfromthistime。Ihavecalculatedonbeingreadytogoonthatday。"

Boweddownwithtrouble，shewithdrewtoherroom，andthethreedayswerepassedbyherhusbandinwritinglettersandattendingtootherbusiness-matters，sayinghardlyawordtoherthewhile。Themorningofdeparturecame；butbeforethehorseshadbeenputintotaketheseveredtwainindifferentdirections，outofsightofeachother，possiblyforever，thepostmanarrivedwiththemorningletters。

Therewasoneforthecaptain；noneforher——therewereneveranyforher。However，onthisoccasionsomethingwasenclosedforherinhis，whichhehandedher。Shereaditandlookeduphelpless。

"Mydearfather——isdead!"shesaid。Inafewmomentssheadded，inawhisper，"ImustgototheManortoburyhim……Willyougowithme，James?"

Hemusinglylookedoutofthewindow。"Isupposeitisanawkwardandmelancholyundertakingforawomanalone，"hesaidcoldly。

"Well，well——mypooruncle!——Yes，I"llgowithyou，andseeyouthroughthebusiness。"

Sotheywentofftogetherinsteadofasunder，asplanned。Itisunnecessarytorecordthedetailsofthejourney，orofthesadweekwhichfolloweditatherfather"shouse。LordQuantock"sseatwasafineoldmansionstandinginitsownpark，andtherewereplentyofopportunitiesforhusbandandwifeeithertoavoideachother，ortogetreconcilediftheyweresominded，whichoneofthemwasatleast。CaptainNorthbrookwasnotpresentatthereadingofthewill。Shecametohimafterward，andfoundhimpackinguphispapers，intendingtostartnextmorning，nowthathehadseenherthroughtheturmoiloccasionedbyherfather"sdeath。

"Hehasleftmeeverythingthathecould!"shesaidtoherhusband。

"James，willyouforgivemenow，andstay?"

"Icannotstay。"

"Whynot?"

"Icannotstay，"herepeated。

"Butwhy?"

"Idon"tlikeyou。"

Heacteduptohisword。Whenshecamedownstairsthenextmorningshewastoldthathehadgone。

Lauraboreherdoublebereavementasbestshecould。Thevastmansioninwhichshehadhithertolived，withallitshistoriccontents，hadgonetoherfather"ssuccessorinthetitle；butherownwasnounhandsomeone。Aroundlaytheundulatingpark，studdedwithtreesadozentimesherownage；beyondit，thewood；beyondthewood，thefarms。Allthisfairandquietscenewashers。Sheneverthelessremainedalonely，repentant，depressedbeing，whowouldhavegiventhegreaterpartofeverythingshepossessedtoensurethepresenceandaffectionofthathusbandwhoseveryausterityandphlegm——qualitiesthathadformerlyledtothealienationbetweenthem——seemednowtobeadorablefeaturesinhischaracter。

Shehopedandhopedagain，butalltonopurpose。CaptainNorthbrookdidnotalterhismindandreturn。Hewasquiteadifferentsortofmanfromonewhoalteredhismind；thatshewasatlastdespairinglyforcedtoadmit。Andthensheleftoffhoping，andsettleddowntoamechanicalroutineofexistencewhichinsomemeasuredulledhergrief；butattheexpenseofallhernaturalanimationandthesprightlywilfulnesswhichhadoncecharmedthosewhoknewher，thoughitwasperhapsallthewhileafactorintheproductionofherunhappiness。

Tosaythatherbeautyquitedepartedastheyearsrolledonwouldbetooverstatethetruth。Timeisnotamercifulmaster，asweallknow，andhewasnotlikelytoactexceptionallyinthecaseofawomanwhohadmentaltroublestobearinadditiontotheordinaryweightofyears。Bethisasitmay，elevenotherwinterscameandwent，andLauraNorthbrookremainedthelonelymistressofhouseandlandswithoutoncehearingofherhusband。Everyprobabilityseemedtofavourtheassumptionthathehaddiedinsomeforeignland；andoffersforherhandwerenotfewastheprobabilityvergedoncertaintywiththelonglapseoftime。Buttheideaofremarriageseemednevertohaveenteredherheadforamoment。Whethershecontinuedtohopeevennowforhisreturncouldnotbedistinctlyascertained；atalleventsshelivedalifeunmodifiedintheslightestdegreefromthatofthefirstsixmonthsofhisabsence。

ThistwelfthyearofLaura"sloneliness，andthethirtiethofherlifedrewonapace，andtheseasonapproachedthathadseentheunhappyadventureforwhichshesolonghadsuffered。Christmaspromisedtoberatherwetthancold，andthetreesontheoutskirtsofLaura"sestatedrippedmonotonouslyfromdaytodayupontheturnpike-roadwhichborderedthem。Onanafternooninthisweekbetweenthreeandfouro"clockahiredflymighthavebeenseendrivingalongthehighwayatthispoint，andonreachingthetopofthehillitstopped。Agentlemanofmiddleagealightedfromthevehicle。

"Youneeddrivenofarther，"hesaidtothecoachman。"Therainseemstohavenearlyceased。I"llstrollalittleway，andreturnonfoottotheinnbydinner-time。"

Theflymantouchedhishat，turnedthehorse，anddrovebackasdirected。Whenhewasoutofsight，thegentlemanwalkedon，buthehadnotgonefarbeforetherainagaincamedownpitilessly，thoughofthisthepedestriantooklittleheed，goingleisurelyonwardtillhereachedLaura"sparkgate，whichhepassedthrough。Thecloudswerethickandthedayswereshort，sothatbythetimehestoodinfrontofthemansionitwasdark。Inadditiontothishisappearance，whichonalightingfromthecarriagehadbeenuntarnished，partooknowofthecharacterofadrenchedwayfarernottoowellblessedwiththisworld"sgoods。Hehaltedfornomorethanamomentatthefrontentrance，andgoingroundtotheservants"quarter，asifhehadapreconceivedpurposeinsodoing，thererangthebell。Whenapagecametohimheinquirediftheywouldkindlyallowhimtodryhimselfbythekitchenfire。

Thepageretired，andafteramurmuredcolloquyreturnedwiththecook，whoinformedthewetandmuddymanthatthoughitwasnothercustomtoadmitstrangers，sheshouldhavenoparticularobjectiontohisdryinghimself；thenightbeingsodampandgloomy。

Thereforethewayfarerenteredandsatdownbythefire。

"Theownerofthishouseisaveryrichgentleman，nodoubt?"heasked，ashewatchedthemeatturningonthespit。

""Tisnotagentleman，butalady，"saidthecook。

"Awidow，Ipresume?"

"Asortofwidow。Poorsoul，herhusbandisgoneabroad，andhasneverbeenheardofformanyyears。"

"Sheseesplentyofcompany，nodoubt，tomakeupforhisabsence?"

"No，indeed——hardlyasoul。Servicehereisasbadasbeinginanunnery。"

Inshort，thewayfarer，whohadatfirstbeensocoldlyreceived，contrivedbyhisfrankandengagingmannertodrawtheladiesofthekitchenintoamostconfidentialconversation，inwhichLaura"shistorywasminutelydetailed，fromthedayofherhusband"sdeparturetothepresent。Thesalientfeatureinalltheirdiscoursewasherunflaggingdevotiontohismemory。

Havingapparentlylearnedallthathewantedtoknow——amongotherthingsthatshewasatthismoment，asalways，alone——thetravellersaidhewasquitedry；andthankingtheservantsfortheirkindness，departedashehadcome。Onemergingintothedarknesshedidnot，however，godowntheavenuebywhichhehadarrived。Hesimplywalkedroundtothefrontdoor。Thereherang，andthedoorwasopenedtohimbyaman-servantwhomhehadnotseenduringhissojournattheotherendofthehouse。

Inanswertotheservant"sinquiryforhisname，hesaidceremoniously，"WillyoutellTheHonourableMrs。Northbrookthatthemanshenursedmanyyearsago，afterafrightfulaccident，hascalledtothankher?"

Thefootmanretreated，anditwasratheralongtimebeforeanyfurthersignsofattentionwereapparent。Thenhewasshownintothedrawing-room，andthedoorclosedbehindhim。

OnthecouchwasLaura，tremblingandpale。Shepartedherlipsandheldoutherhandstohim，butcouldnotspeak。Buthedidnotrequirespeech，andinamomenttheywereineachother"sarms。

Strangenewscirculatedthroughthatmansionandtheneighbouringtownonthenextandfollowingdays。Buttheworldhasawayofgettingusedtothings，andtheintelligenceofthereturnofTheHonourableMrs。Northbrook"slong-absenthusbandwassoonreceivedwithcomparativecalm。

AfewdaysmorebroughtChristmas，andtheforlornhomeofLauraNorthbrookblazedfrombasementtoatticwithlightandcheerfulness。Notthatthehousewasovercrowdedwithvisitors，butmanywerepresent，andtheapathyofadozenyearscameatlengthtoanend。Theanimationwhichsetinthusatthecloseoftheoldyeardidnotdiminishonthearrivalofthenew；andbythetimeitstwelvemonthshadlikewiserunthecourseofitspredecessors，asonhadbeenaddedtothedwindledlineoftheNorthbrookfamily。

AttheconclusionofthisnarrativetheSparkwasthanked，withamannerofsomesurprise，fornobodyhadcreditedhimwithatastefortale-telling。Thoughithadbeenresolvedthatthisstoryshouldbethelast，afewoftheweather-boundlistenerswereforsittingonintothesmallhoursovertheirpipesandglasses，andrakingupyetmoreepisodesoffamilyhistory。Butthemajoritymurmuredreasonsforsoongettingtotheirlodgings。

Itwasquitedarkwithout，exceptintheimmediateneighbourhoodofthefeeblestreet-lamps，andbeforeafewshop-windowswhichhadbeenhardilykeptopeninspiteoftheobviousunlikelihoodofanychancecustomertraversingthemuddythoroughfaresatthathour。

Byone，bytwo，andbythreethebenightedmembersoftheField-Clubrosefromtheirseats，shookhands，madeappointments，anddroppedawaytotheirrespectivequarters，freeorhired，hopingforafairmorrow。Itwouldprobablybenotuntilthenextsummermeeting，monthsawayinthefuture，thattheeasyintercoursewhichnowexistedbetweenthemallwouldrepeatitself。Thecrimsonmaltster，forinstance，knewthatonthefollowingmarket-dayhisfriendsthePresident，theRuralDean，andthebookwormwouldpasshiminthestreet，iftheymethim，withthebarestnodofcivility，thePresidentandtheColonelforsocialreasons，thebookwormforintellectualreasons，andtheRuralDeanformoralones，thelatterbeingastaunchteetotaller，deadagainstJohnBarleycorn。Thesentimentalmemberknewthatwhen，onhisrambles，hemethisfriendthebookwormwithapocket-copyofsomethingorotherunderhisnose，thelatterwouldnotlovehiscompanionshipashehaddoneto-

day；andthePresident，thearistocrat，andthefarmerknewthataffairspolitical，sporting，domestic，oragriculturalwouldexcludeforalongtimeallruminationonthecharactersofdamesgonetodustforscoresofyears，howeverbeautifulandnobletheymayhavebeenintheirday。

Thelastmemberatlengthdeparted，theattendantatthemuseumloweredthefire，thecuratorlockeduptherooms，andsoontherewasonlyasinglepirouettingflameonthetopofasinglecoaltomakethebonesoftheichthyosaurusseemtoleap，thestuffedbirdstowink，andtodrawasmilefromthevarnishedskullsofVespasian"ssoldiery。