第15章

Theygotwithinahundredyardsofit，andallsawitplainly，scarcebelievingtheirsenses。

Whentheycouldgetnonearerforthewind，thecaptainyieldedtothatinstinctwhichurgesmanalwaystokillacuriosity，"toencouragetherest，"assaiththewittyVoltaire。"Getreadyagun——bestshotintheshiplayandfireit。"

Thiswassoondone。Bangwentthegun。Theshotstruckthewaterclosetothebrute，andmayhavestruckhimunderwater，foraughtIknow。Anyway，itsorelydisturbedhim；forherearedintotheairacolumnofserpent"sfleshthatlookedasthickasthemaintopmastofaseventy-four，openedamouththatlookedcapaciousenoughtoswallowthelargestbuoyanchorintheship，and，withastrangegratingnoisebetweenabarkandahiss，dived，andwasseennomore。

Whenhewasgone，theyalllookedatoneanotherlikemenawakingfromadream。

Stainesalonetookitquitecoolly。Itdidnotsurprisehimintheleast。Hehadalwaysthoughtitincrediblethattheboa-

constrictorshouldbelargerthananysea-snake。Thatideastruckhimasmonstrousandabsurd。Henotedthesea-serpentinhisjournal，butwiththisdoubt，"Semble——morelikeaverylargeeel。"

Nextdaytheycrossedtheline。JustbeforenoonayounggentlemanburstintoStaines"scabin，apologizingforwantofceremony；butifDr。Staineswouldliketoseetheline，itwasnowinsightfromthemizzentop。

"Gladofit，sir，"saidStaines；"collectitformeintheship"sbuckets，ifyouplease。IwanttosendALINEtofriendsathome。"

Younggentlemanburiedhishandsinhispockets，walkedoutinsolemnsilence，andresumedhispositiononthelee-sideofthequarter-deck。

Nevertheless，thisopening，coupledwithwhathehadheardandread，madeStainesalittleuneasy，andhewenttohisfriendFitzroy，andsaid，"Now，lookhere:Iamattheserviceofyouexperiencedandhumorousmariners。Ipleadguiltyatoncetothecrimeofneverhavingpassedtheline；so，makereadyyourswabs，andlatherme；yourship"sscraper，andshaveme；andletusgetitover。ButLordTadcasterisnervous，sensitive，prouderthanheseems，andI"mnotgoingtohavehimdrivenintoafitforalltheNeptunesandAmphitritesincreation。"

Fitzroyheardhimout，thenburstoutlaughing。"Why，thereisnoneofthatgameintheRoyalNavy，"saidhe。"Hasn"tbeenthistwentyyears。"

"I"msosorry，"saidDr。Staines。"Ifthere"saformofwitI

revere，itispracticaljoking。"

"Doctor，youareasatiricalbeggar。"

StainestoldTadcaster，andhewentforwardandchaffedhisfriendthequartermaster，whowasoneoftheforecastlewits。

"Isay，quartermaster，whydoesn"tNeptunecomeonboard?"

Deadsilence。

"IwonderwhathasbecomeofpooroldNep?"

"Goneashore!"growledtheseaman。"LastseeninRateliffHighway。

Gotashopthere——lendsashillinginthepoundonseamen"sadvancetickets。"

"Oh!andAmphitrite?"

"MarriedthesextonatWapping。"

"AndtheNereids?"

"Neruds!"(scratchinghishead。)"Iharn"tkeptmyeyeonthemsmallcraft。ButIBELIEVEtheyaresellingoystersintheportofLeith。"

Alightbreezecarriedthemacrosstheequator；butsoonaftertheygotbecalmed，anditwasdrearywork，andtheshiprolledgently，butcontinuously，andupsetLordTadcaster"sstomachagain，andquenchedhismanlyspirit。

Atlasttheywerefortunateenoughtocatchthesoutheasttrade，butitwassolanguidatfirstthattheshipbarelymovedthroughthewater，thoughtheyseteverystitch，andstuddingsailsalowandaloft，tillreallyshewasacresofcanvas。

Whileshewassocreepingalong，amaninthemizzentopnoticedanenormoussharkglidingsteadilyinherwake。Thismayseemasmallincident，yetitranthroughtheshiplikewildfire，andcausedmoreorlessuneasinessinthreehundredstouthearts；soneariseveryseamantodeath，andsostrongthepersuasionintheirsuperstitiousminds，thatasharkdoesnotfollowashippertinaciouslywithoutapropheticinstinctofcalamity。

Unfortunately，thequartermasterconveyedthisideatoLordTadcaster，andconfirmeditbynumerousexamplestoprovethattherewasalwaysdeathathandwhenasharkfollowedtheship。

ThereuponTadcastertookitintohisheadthathewasunderarelapse，andthesharkwaswaitingforhisdeadbody:hegotquitelow-spirited。

StainestoldFitzroy。Fitzroysaid，"Sharkbehanged!I"llhavehimondeckinhalfanhour。"Hegotleavefromthecaptain:ahookwasbaitedwithalargepieceofpork，andtowedasternbyastoutline，experiencedoldhandsattendingtoitbyturns。

Thesharkcameupleisurely，surveyedthebait，and，Iapprehend，ascertainedthepositionofthehook。Atallevents，heturnedquietlyonhisback，suckedthebaitoff，andretiredtoenjoyit。

Everyofficerintheshiptriedhiminturn，butwithoutsuccess；

for，iftheygotreadyforhim，and，themomenthetookthebait，jerkedtheropehard，inthatcaseheopenedhisenormousmouthsowidethatthebaitandhookcameoutclear。But，soonerorlater，healwaysgotthebait，andlefthiscaptorsthehook。

Thiswentonfordays，andhishugedorsalfinalwaysintheship"swake。

ThenTadcaster，whohadwatchedtheseexperimentswithhope，losthisspiritandappetite。

Stainesreasonedwithhim，butinvain。Somebodywastodie；and，althoughtherewerethreehundredandmoreintheship，hemustbetheone。Atlastheactuallymadehiswill，andthrewhimselfintoStaines"sarms，andgavehimmessagestohismotherandLadyCicely；andendedbyfrighteninghimselfintoafit。

ThisrousedStaines"spity，andalsoputhimonhismettle。What，sciencebebeatenbyashark!

Heponderedthematterwithallhismight；andatlastanideacametohim。

Heaskedthecaptain"spermissiontotryhishand。Thiswasaccordedimmediately，andtheship"sstoresplacedathisdisposalverypolitely，butwithasly，comicalgrin。

Dr。Stainesgotfromthecarpentersomesheetsofzincandsparecopper，andsomeflannel:thesehecutintothree-inchsquares，andsoakedtheflannelinacidulatedwater。Hethenprocuredaquantityofbell-wire，thegreaterpartofwhichheinsulatedbywrappingitroundwithhotguttapercha。Soeagerwashe，thathedidnotturninallnight。

Inthemorninghepreparedwhathecalledanelectricfuse——hefilledasoda-waterbottlewithgunpowder，attachingsomecorktomakeitbuoyant，putinthefuseandbung，madeitwater-tight，connectedandinsulatedhismainwires——envelopedthebottleinpork——tiedalinetoit，andletthebottleoverboard。

Thecaptainandofficersshooktheirheadsmysteriously。Thetarspeepedandgrinnedfromeveryropetoseeadoctortryandcatchasharkwithasoda-waterbottleandnohook；butsomehowthedoctorseemedtoknowwhathewasabout，sotheyhoveredround，andawaitedtheresult，mystified，butcurious，andshowingtheirteethfromeartoear。

"TheonlythingIfear，"saidStaines，"isthat，themomenthetakesthebait，hewillcutthewirebeforeIcancompletethecircuit，andfirethefuse。"

Nevertheless，therewasanotherobjectiontothesuccessoftheexperiment。Thesharkhaddisappeared。

"Well，"saidthecaptain，"atallevents，youhavefrightenedhimaway。"

"No，"saidlittleTadcaster，whiteasaghost；"heisonlyunderwater，Iknow；waiting——waiting。"

"Thereheis，"criedoneintheratlines。

Therewasarushtothetaffrail——greatexcitement。

"Keepclearofme，"saidStainesquietlybutfirmly。"Itcanonlybedoneatthemomentbeforehecutsthewire。"

Theoldsharkswamslowlyroundthebait。

Hesawitwassomethingnew。

Heswamroundandroundit。

"Hewon"ttakeit，"saidone。

"Hesuspectssomething。"

"Oh，yes，hewilltakethemeatsomehow，andleavethepepper。Slyoldfox!"

"HehaseatenmanyapoorJack，thatone。"

Thesharkturnedslowlyonhisback，and，insteadofgrabbingatthebait，seemedtodrawitbygentlesuctionintothatcapaciousthroat，readytoblowitoutinamomentifitwasnotallright。

Themomentthebaitwasdrawnoutofsight，Stainescompletedthecircuit；thebottleexplodedwithafurythatsurprisedhimandeverybodywhosawit；atonofwaterflewintotheair，andcamedowninspray，andagorycarcassfloated，bellyuppermost，visiblystainingthebluewater。

Therewasaroarofamazementandapplause。

Thecarcasswastowedalongside，atTadcaster"surgentrequest，andthenthepoweroftheexplosionwasseen。Confined，firstbythebottle，thenbythemeat，thenbythefish，andlastlybythewater，ithadexplodedwithtenfoldpower，hadblownthebrute"sheadintoamillionatoms，andhadeventornagreatfurrowinitscarcass，exposingthreefeetofthebackbone。

Taddygloatedonhisenemy，andbegantopickupagainfromthathour。

Thewindimproved，and，asusualinthatlatitude，scarcelyvariedapoint。Theyhadapleasanttime，——privatetheatricalsandotheramusementstilltheygottolatitude26deg。S。andlongitude27

deg。W。Thenthetradewinddesertedthem。Lightandvariablewindssucceeded。

Themastercomplainedofthechronometers，andthecaptainthoughtithisdutytoverifyorcorrectthem；andsoshapedhiscoursefortheislandofTristand"Acunha，thenlyingalittlewayoutofhiscourse。Iought，perhaps，toexplaintothegeneralreaderthattheexactpositionofthisislandbeinglongagoestablishedandrecorded，itwasaninfallibleguidetogobyinverifyingaship"schronometers。

Nextdaytheglassfellallday，andthecaptainsaidheshoulddouble-reeftopsailsatnightfall，forsomethingwasbrewing。

Theweather，however，wasfine，andtheshipwassailingveryfast，when，abouthalfanhourbeforesunset，themast-headmanhailedthattherewasabulkoftimberinsight，broadontheweather-bow。

Thesignalmanwassentup，andsaiditlookedlikearaft。

Thecaptain，whowasondeck，levelledhisglassatit，andmadeitoutaraft，withasortofrailtoit，andthestumpofamast。

Heorderedtheofficerofthewatchtokeeptheshipasclosetothewindaspossible。Heshouldliketoexamineitifhecould。

Themasterrepresented，respectfully，thatitwouldbeunadvisabletobeattowindwardforthat。"Ihavenofaithinourchronometers，sir，anditisimportanttomaketheislandbeforedark；fogsriseheresosuddenly。"

"Verywell，Mr。Bolt；thenIsupposewemustlettheraftgo。"

"MANONTHERAFTTOWINDWARD!"hailedthesignalman。

Thiselectrifiedtheship。Thecaptainranupthemizzenrigging，andscannedtheraft，nownearlyabeam。

"ItISaman!"hecried，andwasabouttoaltertheship"scoursewhen，atthatmoment，thesignalmanhailedagain，——

"ITISACORPSE。"

"Howd"yeknow?"

"Bythegulls。"

Thensucceededanexcitingdialoguebetweenthecaptainandthemaster，who，beinginhisdepartment，wasveryfirm；andwentsofarastosayhewouldnotanswerforthesafetyoftheship，iftheydidnotsightthelandbeforedark。

Thecaptainsaid，"Verywell，"andtookaturnortwo。Butatlasthesaid，"No。HerMajesty"sshipmustnotpassaraftwithamanonit，deadoralive。"

Hethenbegantogivethenecessaryorders；butbeforetheywerealloutofhismouth，afatalinterruptionoccurred。

TadcasterranintoDr。Staines"scabin，crying，"Araftwithacorpsecloseby!"

Stainessprangtothequarterporttosee，andcraningeagerlyout，thelowerportchain，whichhadnotbeenwellsecured，slipped，theportgaveway，andashiswholeweightrestedonit，cantedhimheadlongintothesea。

Asmartseamanintheforechainssawtheaccident，andinstantlyroaredout，"MANOVERBOARD!"acrythatsendsathrillthroughaship"sveryribs。

Anothersmartfellowcutthelife-buoyadriftsoquicklythatitstruckthewaterwithintenyardsofStaines。

Theofficerofthewatch，withouttheintervalofhalfamoment，gavetherightorders，inthevoiceofastentor；

"Letgolife-buoy。

"Life-boat"screwaway。

"Handsshortensail。

"Mainselup。

"Maintopseltomast。"

Theseorderswereexecutedwithadmirableswiftness。Meantimetherewasamightyrushoffeetthroughoutthefrigate，everyhatchwaywascrammedwithmeneagertoforcetheirwayondeck。

Infivesecondsthemiddyofthewatchandhalfhercrewwereintheleecutter，fittedwithClifford"sapparatus。

"Loweraway!"criedtheexcitedofficer；"theotherswillcomedownbythependants。"

Themanstationed，sittingonthebottomboards，easedawayroundly，whensuddenlytherewasahitch——theboatwouldgonofarther。

"Lowerawaythereinthecutter!Whydon"tyoulower?"screamedthecaptain，whohadcomeovertoleewardexpectingtoseetheboatinthewater。

"Theropehasswollen，sir，andthependantswon"tunreeve，"criedthemiddyinagony。

"Volunteersfortheweather-boat!"shoutedthefirstlieutenant；

buttheorderwasunnecessary，formorethanthepropernumberwereinheralready。

"Plugin——loweraway。"

Butmishapsnevercomesingly。Scarcelyhadthisboatgoneafootfromthedavit，thanthevolunteerwhowasactingascoxswain，inreachingoutforsomething，inadvertentlyletgotheline，which，inKynaston"sapparatus，keepsthetackleshooked；consequently，downwenttheboatandcrewtwentyfeet，withaterrificcrash；themenwerestrugglingfortheirlives，andtheboatwasstove。

But，meantime，moremenhavingbeensentintotheleecutter，theirweightcausedthependantstorender，andtheboatgotafloat，andwassoonemployedpickingupthestrugglingcrew。

Seeingthis，LieutenantFitzroycollectedsomehands，andloweredthelife-boatgig，whichwasfittedwithcommontackles，gotdownintoherhimselfbythefalls，andpullingroundtowindward，shoutedtothesignalmanfordirections。

Thesignalmanwasathispost，andhadfixedhiseyeonthemanoverboard，ashisdutywas；buthismess-matewasinthestoveboat，andhehadcastoneanxiouslookdowntoseeifhewassaved，and，sadtorelate，inthatonemomenthehadlostsightofStaines；thesuddendarkness——therewasnotwilight——confusedhimmore，andtheshiphadincreasedherdrift。

Fitzroy，however，madearapidcalculation，andpulledtowindwardwithallhismight。Hewasfollowedinaboutaminutebytheothersoundboatpowerfullymanned，andbothboatsmeltedawayintothenight。

Therewasalongandanxioussuspense，duringwhichitbecamepitchdark，andtheshipburnedbluelightstomarkherpositionmoreplainlytothecrewsthatweregropingtheseaforthatbelovedpassenger。

CaptainHamiltonhadnodoubtthatthefateofStaineswasdecided，onewayorother，longbeforethis；buthekeptquietuntilhesawtheplainsignsofasquallathand。Then，ashewasresponsibleforthesafetyofboatsandship，hesentuprocketstorecallthem。

Thecuttercamealongsidefirst。Lightswerepouredonher，andquaveringvoicesasked，"Haveyougothim?"

Theanswerwasdeadsilence，andsorrowful，droopingheads。

Sadlyandreluctantlywastheordergiventohoisttheboatin。

Thenthegigcamealongside。Fitzroyseatedinher，withhishandsbeforehisface；themengloomyandsad。

"GONE!GONE!"

Soontheshipwasbattlingaheavysquall。

Atmidnightallquietagain，andhoveto。Then，attherequestofmany，thebellwastolled，andtheship"scompanymusteredbareheaded，andmanyastoutseamanintears，asthelastservicewasreadforChristopherStaines。

CHAPTERXIV。

Rosafellillwithgriefatthehotel，andcouldnotmoveforsomedays；butthemomentshewasstrongenough，sheinsistedonleavingPlymouth:likeallwoundedthings，shemustdragherselfhome。

Butwhatahome!Howemptyitstruck，andsheheart-sickanddesolate。Nowallthefamiliarplacesworeanewaspect:thelittleyard，wherehehadsowalkedandwaited，becameatempletoher，andshecameoutandsatinit，andnowfirstfelttothefullhowmuchhehadsufferedthere——withwhatfortitude。Shecreptaboutthehouse，andkissedthechairhehadsatin，andeverymuch-usedplaceandthingofthedeparted。

Hershallownaturedeepenedanddeepenedunderthisbereavement，ofwhich，shesaidtoherself，withashudder，shewasthecause。Andthisisthecourseofnature；thereisnothinglikesufferingtoenlightenthegiddybrain，widenthenarrowmind，improvethetrivialheart。

Asherregretsweretenderanddeep，sohervowsofrepentanceweresincere。Oh，whatawifeshewouldmakewhenhecameback!howthoughtful!howprudent!howloyal!andneverhaveasecret。Shewhohadoncesaid，"Whatistheuseofyourwriting?nobodywillpublishit，"nowcollectedandperusedeverywrittenscrap。Withsimpleaffectionsheevenlockeduphisverywaste-paperbasket，fulloffragmentshehadtorn，oruselesspapershehadthrownthere，beforehewenttoPlymouth。

Inthedrawerofhiswriting-tableshefoundhisdiary。Itwasathickquarto:itbeganwiththeirmarriage，andendedwithhisleavinghome——forthenhetookanothervolume。ThisdiarybecameherBible；shestudieditdaily，tillhertearshidhislines。Theentrieswereverymiscellaneous，veryexact；itwasamapoftheirmarriedlife。Butwhatshestudiedmostwashisobservationsonherowncharacter，soscientific，yetsokindly；andhisscholar-

likeandwisereflections。Thebookwasanunconsciouspictureofagreatmindshehadhithertobutglancedat:nowshesawitallplainbeforeher；sawit，understoodit，adoredit，mournedit。

Suchwomenareshallow，notforwantofaheadupontheirshoulders，butofATTENTION。Theydonotreallystudyanything:

theyhavebeentaughtattheirschoolsthebadartofskimming；butlettheirheartscompeltheirbrainstothinkandthink，theresultisconsiderable。Thedeepestphilosopherneverfathomedacharactermorethoroughlythanthispoorchildfathomedherphilosopher，whenshehadreadhisjournaltenoreleventimes，andbedeweditwithathousandtears。

Onepassagealmostcuthermoreintelligentheartintwain:——

"ThisdarkdayIhavedoneathingincredible。IhavespokenwithbrutalharshnesstotheinnocentcreatureIhavesworntoprotect。

Shehadrunindebt，throughinexperience，andthatunhappytimiditywhichmakeswomenconcealanerrortillitramifies，byconcealment，intoafault；andImuststormandraveather，tillsheactuallyfaintedaway。Brute!Ruffian!Monster!Andshe，howdidshepunishme，poorlamb?Bysoftandtenderwords——likealady，assheis。Oh，mysweetRosa，Iwishyoucouldknowhowyouareavenged。Talkofthescourge——thecat!Iwouldbethankfulfortwodozenlashes。Ah!thereisnoneed，Ithink，topunishamanwhohasbeencrueltoawoman。Lethimalone。Hewillpunishhimselfmorethanyoucan，ifheisreallyaman。"

Fromthedateofthatentry，thisself-reproachandself-torturekeptcroppingupeverynowandtheninthediary；anditappearedtohavebeennotentirelywithoutitsinfluenceinsendingStainestosea，thoughthemainreasonhegavewasthathisRosamighthavethecomfortsandluxuriesshehadenjoyedbeforeshemarriedhim。

Oneday，whileshewascryingoverthisdiary，UnclePhilipcalled；

butnottocomforther，Ipromiseyou。Heburstonher，irate，totakehertotask。Hehadreturned，learnedChristopher"sdeparture，andsettledthereasoninhisownmind:thatuxoriousfoolwasgonetoseabyanaturalreaction；hiseyeswereopentohiswifeatlast，andhewassickofherfolly；sohehadfledtodistantclimes，aswhowouldnot，thatcould?

"SO，ma"am，"saidhe，"mynephewisgonetosea，Ifind——allinahurry。PraymayIaskwhathehasdonethatfor?"

Itwasaverysimplequestion，yetitdidnotelicitaveryplainanswer。Sheonlystaredatthisabruptinquisitor，andthencried，piteously，"Oh，UnclePhilip!"andburstoutsobbing。

"Why，whatisthematter?"

"YouWILLhatemenow。HeisgonetomakemoneyforME；andI

wouldratherhavelivedonacrust。Uncle——don"thateme。I"mapoor，bereaved，heart-brokencreature，thatrepents。"

"Repents!heigho!why，whathaveyoubeenuptonow，ma"am?Nogreatharm，I"llbebound。FlirtingalittlewithsomeFOOL——eh?"

"Flirting!Me!amarriedwoman。"

"Oh，tobesure；Iforgot。Why，surelyhehasnotdesertedyou。"

"MyChristopherdesertme!Helovesmetoowell；farmorethanI

deserve；butnotmorethanIwill。UnclePhilip，Iamtooconfusedandwretchedtotellyouallthathashappened；butIknowyoulovehim，thoughyouhadatiff:uncle，hecalledonyou，toshakehandsandaskyourforgiveness，poorfellow!Hewassosorryyouwereaway。Pleasereadhisdeardiary:itwilltellyouall，betterthanhispoorfoolishwifecan。Iknowitbyheart。I"llshowyouwhereyouandhequarrelledaboutme。There，see。"Andsheshowedhimthepassagewithherfinger。"Henevertoldmeitwasthat，orIwouldhavecomeandbeggedyourpardononmyknees。Butseehowsorryhewas。There，see。AndnowI"llshowyouanotherplace，wheremyChristopherspeaksofyourmany，manyactsofkindness。

There，see。Andnowpleaseletmeshowyouhowhelongedforreconciliation。There，see。Anditisthesamethroughthebook。

AndnowI"llshowyouhowgrievedhewastogowithoutyourblessing。ItoldhimIwassureyouwouldgivehimthat，andhimgoingaway。Ah，me!willheeverreturn?Uncledear，don"thateme。WhatshallIdo，nowheisgone，ifyoudisownme?Why，youaretheonlyStainesleftmetolove。"

"Disownyou，ma"am!thatI"llneverdo。Youareagood-heartedyoungwoman，Ifind。There，runanddryyoureyes；andletmereadChristopher"sdiaryallthrough。ThenIshallseehowthelandlies。"

Rosacompliedwithhisproposal；andlefthimalonewhileshebathedhereyes，andtriedtocomposeherself，forshewasalltremblingatthissuddenirruption。

Whenshereturnedtothedrawing-room，hewaswalkingabout，lookinggraveandthoughtful。

"Itistheoldstory，"saidhe，rathergently:"aMISUNDERSTANDING。

Howwiseourancestorswerethatfirstusedthatwordtomeanaquarrel!for，lookintotwentyquarrels，andyoushalldetectascoreofmis-under-standings。YetourAmericancousinsmustgoandsubstitutetheun-ideaedword"difficulty"；thatiswonderful。I

hadnoquarrelwithhim:delightedtoseeeitherofyou。ButIhadcalledtwiceonhim；soIthoughtheoughttogetoverhistemper，andcallonatriedfriendlikeme。Amisunderstanding!Now，mydear，letushavenomoreofthesemisunderstandings。Youwillalwaysbewelcomeatmyhouse，andIshalloftencomehereandlookafteryouandyourinterests。Whatdoyoumeantodo，Iwonder?"

"Sir，Iamtogohometomyfather，ifhewillbetroubledwithme。

Ihavewrittentohim。"

"AndwhatistobecomeoftheBijou?"

"MyChristiethoughtIshouldliketopartwithit，andthefurniture——buthisownwriting-deskandhischair，no，Ineverwill，andhislittleclock。Oh!oh!oh!——ButIrememberwhatyousaidaboutagents，andIdon"tknowwhattodo；forIshallbeaway。"

"Then，leaveittome。I"llcomeandliveherewithoneservant；

andI"llsoonsellitforyou。"

"You，UnclePhilip!"

"Well，whynot?"saidheroughly。

"Thatwillbeagreattroubleanddiscomforttoyou，I"mafraid。"

"IfIfinditso，I"llsoondropit。I"mnotthefooltoputmyselfoutforanybody。Whenyouarereadytogoout，sendmeword，andI"llcomein。"

Soonafterthishebustledoff。Hegaveherasortofhurriedkissatparting，asifhewasashamedofit，andwanteditoverasquicklyaspossible。

Nextdayherfathercame，condoledwithherpolitely，assuredhertherewasnothingtocryabout；husbandswereasortoffunctionariesthatgenerallywenttoseaatsomepartoftheircareer，andnoharmevercameofit。Onthecontrary，"Absencemakestheheartgrowfonder，"saidthisjudiciousparent。

Thissentimenthappenedtobejustalittletootrue，andsetthedaughtercryingbitterly。Butshefoughtagainstit。"Ohno!"

saidshe，"IMUSTN"T。IwillnotbealwayscryinginKentVilla。"

"Lordforbid!"

"Ishallgetoveritintime——alittle。"

"Why，ofcourseyouwill。ButastoyourcomingtoKentVilla，I

amafraidyouwouldnotbeverycomfortablethere。YouknowIamsuperannuated。Onlygotmypensionnow。"

"Iknowthat，papa:and——why，thatisoneofthereasons。Ihaveagoodincomenow；andIthoughtifweputourmeanstogether"——

"Oh，thatisaverydifferentthing。Youwillwantacarriage，I

suppose。Ihaveputminedown。"

"Nocarriage；nohorse；nofootman；noluxuryofanykindtillmyChristiecomesback。Iabhordress；Iabhorexpense；IloatheeverythingIoncelikedtoowell；Idetesteveryfollythathaspartedus；andIhatemyselfworstofall。Oh!oh!oh!Forgivemeforcryingso。"

"Well，Idaresaythereareassociationsaboutthisplacethatupsetyou。Ishallgoandmakereadyforyou，dear；andthenyoucancomeassoonasyoulike。"

Hebestowedapaternalkissonherbrow，andglideddoucelyawaybeforeshecouldpossiblycryagain。

TheverynextweekRosawasatKentVilla，withtherelicsofherhusbandabouther；hischair，hiswriting-table，hisclock，hiswaste-paperbasket，averydeepandlargeone。ShehadthemallinherbedroomatKentVilla。

Herethedaysglidedquietlybutheavily。

ShederivedsomecomfortfromUnclePhilip。Hisrough，friendlywaywasatonic，andbracedher。HecalledseveraltimesabouttheBijou。Toldherhehadputupenormousboardsalloverthehouse，andpuffeditfinely。"Ihavehadahundredagentsatme，"saidhe；"andthenextthing，Ihope，willbeonecustomer；thatisabouttheproportion。"Atlasthewroteherhehadhookedavictim，andsoldtheleaseandfurnitureforninehundredguineas。

StaineshadassignedtheleasetoRosa，soshehadfullpowers；andPhilipinvestedthemoney，andtwohundredmoreshegavehim，inalittlemortgageatsixpercent。

NowcametheletterfromMadeira。Itgavehernewlife。

Christopherwaswell，contented，hopeful。Hisexampleshouldanimateher。Shewouldbravelybearthepresent，andsharehishopesofthefuture:withthesebrighterviewsNatureco-operated。

Theinstinctsofapproachingmaternitybrightenedthefuture。Shefellintogentlereveries，andsawherhusbandreturn，andsawherselfplacetheirinfantinhisarmswithallawife"s，amother"spride。

Induecoursecameanotherlongletterfromtheequator，withafulljournal，andmorewordsofhope。Homeinlessthanayear，withreputationincreasedbythislastcure；home，topartnomore。

Ah!whatachangedwifeheshouldfind!howfrugal，howcandid，howfullofappreciation，admiration，andlove，ofthenoblest，dearesthusbandthateverbreathed!

LadyCicelyTrehernewaitedsomeweeks，toletkindersentimentsreturn。ShethencalledinDearStreet，butfoundMrs。StaineswasgonetoGravesend。Shewrotetoher。

Inafewdaysshereceivedareply，studiouslypoliteandcold。

Thispersistentinjusticemortifiedheratlast。Shesaidtoherself，"DoesshethinkhisdeparturewasnolosstoME?Itwastoherinterests，aswellashis，Isacrificedmyownselfishwishes。Iwillwritetohernomore。"

Thisresolutionshesteadilymaintained。Itwasshakenforamoment，whensheheard，byasidewind，thatMrs。Staineswasfastapproachingthegreatpainandperilofwomen。Thenshewavered。

Butno。SheprayedforherbynameintheLiturgy，butshetroubledhernomore。

Thisstateofthingslastedsomesixweeks，whenshereceivedaletterfromhercousinTadcaster，closeontheheelsofhislast，towhichshehadrepliedasIhaveindicated。Sheknewhishandwriting，andopeneditwithasmile。

Thatsmilesoondiedoffherhorror-strickenface。Theletterranthus:——

TRISTAND"ACUNHA，Jan。5。

DEARCICELY，——Aterriblethinghasjusthappened。Wesignalledaraft，withabodyonit，andpoorDr。Stainesleanedoutoftheport-hole，andfelloverboard。Threeboatswereletdownafterhim；butitallwentwrong，somehow，oritwastoolate。Theycouldneverfindhim，hewasdrowned；andthefuneralservicewasreadforthepoorfellow。

Weareallsadlycutup。Everybodylovedhim。Itwasdreadfulnextdayatdinner，whenhischairwasempty。Theverysailorscriedatnotfindinghim。

Firstofall，IthoughtIoughttowritetohiswife。Iknowwhereshelives；itiscalledKentVilla，Gravesend。ButIwasafraid；

itmightkillher:andyouaresogoodandsensible，IthoughtI

hadbetterwritetoyou，andperhapsyoucouldbreakittoherbydegrees，beforeitgetsinallthepapers。

Isendthisfromtheisland，byasmallvessel，andpaidhimtenpoundstotakeit。

Youraffectionatecousin，TADCASTER。

Wordsarepowerlesstodescribeablowlikethis:theamazement，thestupor，thereluctancetobelieve——therising，swelling，surginghorror。Shesatlikeawomanofstone，crumplingtheletter。"Dead!——dead?"

Foralongtimethiswasallhermindcouldrealize——thatChristopherStaineswasdead。Hewhohadbeensofulloflifeandthoughtandgenius，andworthiertolivethanalltheworld，wasdead；andamillionnobodieswerestillalive，andhewasdead。

Shelaybackonthesofa，andallthepowerleftherlimbs。Shecouldnotmoveahand。

Butsuddenlyshestartedup；foranobleinstincttoldherthisblowmustnotfallonthewifeasithadonher，andinhertimeofperil。

Shehadherbonnetoninamoment，andforthefirsttimeinherlife，dartedoutofthehousewithouthermaid。Sheflewalongthestreets，scarcelyfeelingtheground。ShegottoDearStreet，andobtainedPhilipStaines"saddress。Sheflewtoit，andtherelearnedhewasdownatKentVilla。InstantlyshetelegraphedtohermaidtocomedowntoheratGravesend，withthingsforashortvisit，andwaitforheratthestation；andshewentdownbytraintoGravesend。

Hithertoshehadwalkedonair，drivenbyoneoverpoweringimpulse。

Now，asshesatinthetrain，shethoughtalittleofherself。

Whatwasbeforeher?TobreaktoMrs。Stainesthatherhusbandwasdead。Totellherallhermisgivingsweremorethanjustified。Toencounterhercoldcivility，andletherknow，inchbyinch，itmustbeexchangedforcursesandtearingofhair；herhusbandwasdead。Totellherthis，andinthetellingofit，perhapsrevealthatitwasHERgreatbereavement，aswellasthewife"s，forshehadadeeperaffectionforhimthansheought。

Well，shetrembledlikeanaspenleaf，trembledlikeoneinanague，evenasshesat。Butshepersevered。

Anoblewomanhashercourage；notexactlythesameasthatwhichleadsforlornhopesagainstbastionsbristlingwithriflesandtonguedwithflamesandthunderbolts；yetnotinferiortoit。

Tadcaster，smallanddull，butnoblebybirthandinstinct，hadseentherightthingforhertodo；andshe，ofthesamebreed，andnoblerfar，hadseenittoo；andthegreatsoulsteadilydrewtherecoilingheartandquiveringbodytothisfierytrial，thisactofhumanity——todowhichwasterribleandhard，toshirkit，cowardlyandcruel。

ShereachedGravesend，anddroveinaflytoKentVilla。