第5章
CHAPTERXX。
IHAVEHEARDTHEPASSIONATEGALLOPOFTHOSEFIERY-FOOTEDSTEEDS。
Ellawasstandingwaitingforheroutsidetheopendoorofadrawingroom。Shewaswearingalovelyeveningdresswithacorsageofwhitelacecoveredwithdiamondsandsapphires。Herhair——itwasofthedarkestbrownandwasveryplentiful——wasalsoglitteringwithgemsunderthelightthatflowedthroughtheopendoor。ThesamelightshowedPhyllishowdeathlywhiteElla"sfaceandneckwere——howtumultuouslyherbosomwasheaving。Shehadonehandpressedtoherside，andtheotheronthehandleofthedoorwhenPhyllismether；
andinthatattitude，eventhoughtheexpanseofwhiteflesh，withitsgraciouscurvesthatforcedoutherbodice，hadnoroseatetintuponit，shelookedlovely——intoxicatingtotheeyesofmen。
Phylliswascertainlysurprised。Thehourwasscarcelyeleven，butEllahadgivennonoticeofherintentiontopayavisittoherfriendthatnight。Whenthegirlraisedherhandswithalaughofadmiration，ofpleasure，Ellagraspedherhandswithbothofherownanddrewherintothedrawingroomwithoutaword。Thenwithacry，——alaughandacrymingled，——sheliterallyflungherselfintothegirl"sarmsandkissedherconvulsivelyadozentimes，onthethroat，ontheneck，ontheshoulderwhereonherheadlay。
“Mydarling，mydarling！“shecried，——andnowandagainhervoicewasbrokenwithasob，——“mydarlingPhyllis！Ihavecometoyou——Iwanttobewithyou——tobenearyou——tokeepmyarmsaboutyou，sotightlythatnoonecanpluckusasunder。Oh，youdon"tknowwhatmenare——
theywouldpluckusasunderiftheycould；buttheycan"tnow。WithyouIamsafe——thatiswhyIhavecometoyou，myPhyllis。Iwanttobesafe——indeedIdo！“
ShehadnowraisedherheadfromPhyllis"shoulder，butwasstillholdinghertightly——ahandoneachofherarms，andherfacewithinaninchofthegirl"sface。
Phylliskissedhersoftlyoneachcheek。
“Mypoordear！“shesaid，“whatcanhavehappenedtoyou?“
“Nothing——nothing！Itellyouthatnothinghashappenedtome，“criedElla，withavehemencethatalmostamountedtofiercenessinhervoice。“WouldIbeherewithyounowifanythinghadhappenedtome?
tellmethat。Icametoyou——ah！womenhavenoguardianangels，buttheyhavesisterswhoareequallygoodandpure，andyouaremysister——mysister——betterthanalltheangelsthateversangadirgeoveralostsoulthattheyputforthnohandtosave。Youwillnotletmego，darlingPhyllis，youwillnotletmegoevenifItellyouthatIwanttogo。Don"tbelieveme，Phyllis；Idon"twanttogo——Idon"twanttobelost，andifIleaveyouIamlost。Youwillkeepme，dear，willyounot?“
“Untiltheendoftheworld，“saidPhyllis。“Come，dearestElla，tellmewhatisthematter——whyyouhavecometomeinthatlovelycostume。
Youlookasifyouweredressedforabridal。”
“Abridal——abridal?Whatdoyoumeanbythat?“saidElla，withcuriouseagerness——asuggestionofsuspicionwasinhertone。Shehadloosedherholduponthegirl"sarms。
Phyllislaughed。SheputahandroundElla"swaistandledhertoasofa，saying:
“Letussitdownandtalkitallover。ThatisthelaceyoutoldmeyoupickedupatMunich。Whatadesign——lilies！“
“TheVirgin"sflower——theVirgin"sflower！Ineverthoughtofthat，“
laughedElla。“Itisforyou——notme，thislace。Ishalltearitoffand——“
“Youshalldonothingofthekind，“criedPhyllis。“Ihaveheapsoflace——morethanIshalleverwear。Whatalovelyideathatisofyours，——I"msureitisyours，——sewingthediamondsaroundthecupofthelilies，likedewdrops。Ialwaysdidlikediamondsonlace。Somepeoplewouldhaveusbelievethatdiamondsshouldonlybewornwithbluevelvet。Howcommonplace！Wherehaveyoubeento-night?“
“WherehaveIbeen?Ihavebeenathome。Whereshouldagoodwomanbeintheabsenceofherhusband，butathome——hishomeandherhome?“
Ellalaughedloudandlongwithherheadthrownbackonthecushionofthesofa，andthediamondsinherhairgivingbackflashforflashtotheelectriccandlesaboveherhead。“Yes；Iwasathome——Idinedathome，and，Godknowswhy，Iconceivedasuddendesiretogototheopera，——Melbaisthe/Juliet/，——andforgettingthatyouwereengagedtotheEarlscourts——youtoldmelastweekthatyouweregoing，butI
stupidlyforgot，Idroveacrossheretoaskyoutobemycompanion。
Oh，yes，Ihavebeenheresince——sincenine，mindthat！nine——nine——
asktheservants。WhenIheardthatyouwerediningoutIthoughtthatIwaslost——onecannotdriveaboutthestreetsallnight，canone?Ah！
IthoughtthatGodwasagainstmenow，asheeverhasbeen；andasformyguardianangel——ah！ourguardianangelsareworsethantheservantsofnowadayswhohavenosenseofresponsibility。Thompson，yourbutler，isworthawholeheavenfulofangels，foritwashewhoaskedmeifIwouldcomeinandwaitforyourreturn——askhim，ifyoudoubtmyword。”
“GoodHeavens，Ella，whatdoyousay?Doubtyourword——Idoubtyourword?Youwoundmedeeply。”
“Forgiveme，myPhyllis。Idon"tquiteknowwhatIsaid。Ah，letmenestlehere——here。”ShehadputherheaddowntoPhyllis"bareneckandwaslookinguptoherfaceasachildmighthavedone。“Thereisnodangerhere。Nowpetme，andsaythatyouforgivemeforhavingsaidwhateverIdidsay。”
Phyllislaughedandputherlipsdownamongthemyriaddiamondsthatglowedamidtheother"shair，likestarsseenamongthethickfoliageofacopperbeech。
“Iforgiveyouforwhateveryousaid，“shecried。“I，too，haveforgottenwhatitwas；butyoumustneversaysoagain。Buthadyoureallynoengagementforto-nightthatyoutookthatfancyforgoingto"Romeo"?“
“Noengagement?HadInoengagement，doyouaskme?“criedElla。“Oh，yes，yes！Ihadanengagement，butIbrokeit——Ibrokeit——Ibrokeit，andthatiswhyIamhere。Whatevermaycomeofit，Iamhere，andhereImeantostay。Iamsafehere。AthomeIamindanger。”
Phylliswonderedgreatlywhathadcometoherfriendtomakehertalkinthiswildstrain。
“Wherewereyouengaged?“sheinquiredcasually。Shehadcometotheconclusionthattherewassafetyinthecommonplace:shewouldnottraveloutoftheregionofcommonplaceswithEllainherpresentstate。
“WherewasIengaged?SurelyItoldyou。Didn"tIsaysomethingabouttheopera——"RomeoandJuliet"?——thatwastobetheplace，butIcametoyouinstead。Ah，whathavewemissed！Wasthereeversuchapoemwrittenas"RomeoandJuliet"?WasthereeversuchmusicasGounod"s?
IthoughtthefirsttimethatIwenttotheoperathatitwouldspoilShakspere——howcoulditdootherwise?Iasked。Couldsupremeperfectionbeimprovedupon?BeforethebalconyscenehadcometoanendIfoundthatIhadneverbeforeunderstoodthegloryofthepoem。
Ah，ifyoucouldunderstandwhatlovemeans，myPhyllis，youwouldappreciatethepoemandthemusic；thenoteofdoomrunsthroughit；
that——thatiswhereinitsgreatnesslies——passionanddoom——passionanddoom——thatismyownlife——thelifeofuswomen。Weliveinawhirlwindofpassion，andfancythatwecanstepoutofthewhirlwindintoacalmatanymoment。Wemarryourhusbandsandwefancythatallthetragedyofhumanpassionisoversofarasweareconcerned。"Thehavenenteredandthetempestpassed。"PhilipMarston"sterriblepoem，——youhavereadit，——"AChristmasVigil"?"Thehavenentered，"——thewhirlwindofpassionhasbeenleftfaraway，wefancy。Oh，wearefools！Itsweepsdownuponusandthen——doom——doom！“
“Mypoordear，youaretalkingwildly。”
“Ifyouonlyunderstood——perhapsyouwillsomedayunderstand，andthenyouwillknowwhatseemswildinmyspeechisbuttheincoherenceofapoorcreaturewhohasbeenbeatentothegroundbythewhirlwind，andonlysavedfromdestructionbyamiracle。”
Shehadsprungfromherplaceonthesofaandwaspacingtheroom，herdiamondsquivering，luminousasashowerofmeteors——thatwasthefancythatflashedfromhertoPhyllis。Meteors——meteors——whatasplendidpictureshemadeflashingfromplacetoplace！Meteors——ah，surelytherewasthemeteor-birdflashingacrossthedrawingroom！
“Comeandsitdown，mydearElla，“saidPhyllis。“Youare，asyouknow，quiteunintelligibletome。”
“Unintelligibletoyou?Iamunintelligibletomyself，“criedElla。
“WhyshouldIbetrampingupanddownyourroomwhenImightbeatthisverymoment——“SheclutchedPhyllis"arm。“Iwanttostaywithyouallnight，“shewhispered。“Iwanttosleepinyourbedwithyou，Phyllis。IwanttofeelyourarmsaroundmeasIusedtofeelmymother"slongago。WhateverImaysay，youwillnotletmego，Phyllis?“
“Iwillloadyouwithchains，“saidPhyllis，pattingherlovelyhair——
itwasnolongersmooth。“Whyshouldyouwanttogoawayfromme?
Cannotwebehappytogetheronceagainasweusedtobelongago?“
“Howlongagothatwas！Andweread"RomeoandJuliet"together，andfanciedthatwehadgonedowntotheverydepthsofitsmeaning。Wefanciedthatwehadsoundedtheverydepthsofitspassionandpathos。
Wewereonlygirls。Ah，Phyllis，Itellyou——I，whoknow——I，whohavefounditout，——Itellyouthatthetragedyisthetragedyofallloverswhohaveeverlivedintheworld。Itellyouthatitisthetragedyofloveitself。"Gallopapace，yefiery-footedsteeds！"Thatisthepoemthattheheartoftheloversingsallday——allday！Ihaveheardit——myhearthassungit。Ihaveheardthepassionategallopofthosefiery-footedsteeds。Ihavelistenedtothemwhilemyheartbeatinunisonwiththeirfranticcareer——alldaycountingthemomentswithfieryface，andthen——then——somethingthatwasnotpassionforcedmetoflyfromitforthesalvationofmysoul。Iwasafool！WhyamI
here，whenIshouldbewherehe——Whatisthehour?Why，itisscarcelytwelveo"clock！DidIsaynineinmyletter?Whatdoesitmatter?Iwonderifonthatwonderfulnight——Gounodtranslateditsgloryintomusic——Julietkeptherloverwaitingforthreehours。”
“Whatareyoudoing?“criedPhyllis，rising。
Ellahadpickeduphertheatrewrap——itwasasummercloudbrocadedwithgoldenthreadsofquiveringsunlight，andhadflungitaroundher。
SheheldoutahandtoPhyllis。Phyllisgraspedherroundthewaist。
“Whereareyougoing?“shesaid。
“Tohell！“
Shehadwhisperedthewords，andattheirutterancePhyllisgaveacryofhorrorandcoveredherfacewithherhands。
Hadsheseenasuggestionofthesatyrintheexpressionofthatlovelyfacebeforeher?
Inthepausethatfollowedthesoundoffootstepsuponthestairsoutsidewasheard；thesoundoffootstepsandofmen"sfriendlylaughter。Somepersonswereintheactofascending。
“MyGod！“whisperedElla。“Hehasfollowedmehere！“
“Hush！“saidPhyllis。“Papaisbringingsomeonetous。”
“Whom——whom?“
Theywerebothstandingtogetherinthemiddleoftheroom，bothhavingtheireyesfixedonthedoor，whenthedooropenedandMr。
Ayrtonappeared，havingbyhissideamanwithiron-grayhairandacuriouslypallidface。
AtthesightofthatmanElla"shands，thathadbeenholdingherwrapclosetoherthroat，feelingforitssilverclasp，felllimp，andthesplendidmassofwhitebrocadeslippedtothefloorandlayinfoldsaboutherfeet，revealingherlovelyfiguresparklingfromthehemofherdresstothetopofhershapelyhead。
CHAPTERXXI。
THATTOILETSHOULDNOTHAVEBEENWASTED。
Forseveralsecondsthetableauremainedunchanged:thetwowomenstandingsidebyside，thetwomenmotionlessatthehalf-opendoor。
EllawasstaringatthemanwhohadenteredwithMr。Ayrton。Therewassomeapprehensioninhereyes。
Themanhadhiseyesfixeduponher。Buthisfacewaswhollydevoidofexpression。
Phylliswasthefirsttobreakthesilencethatmadeaframe，sotospeak，forthepicture。
“Howdoyoudo，Mr。Linton?“shesaid，takingasteptowardthedoor。
“Iamverywell，thankyou，MissAyrton，“themanreplied，shakinghandswithher。“Ratherasingularhourforavisit，isitnot?“
“Oh，no！onlyElladidn"ttellmethatyou——“
SheturnedtoElla，andnoticedthattheexpressionofapprehensiononherfacehadincreased。Shewasstillgazingatherhusbandasoneshutupinaroomwithasnakemightgazeatit，waitingforittostrike。
“Elladidn"ttellyouthatIwascoming?“saidhe。“Shehadthebestofreasonsforherreticence。”
“Ah！“
ThesoundcamefromElla。Therewasalittlescornfulsmileonherface。
“Thebestofreasons?“saidPhyllisinterrogatively。
“Theverybest；shehadnoideathatIwascoming。Iwonderifsheisgladtoseeme。Shehasnotspokenawordtomeyet。”
“Youhavestartledherbyyoursuddenappearance，“saidPhyllis。“Sheisnotcertainwhetheryouarefleshandbloodoraghost。”
ThenEllagavealaugh。
“Oh，yes！“shesaid。“Heismyhusband。Goonwithwhatyouhavetosay，Stephen。Iwillnotrunaway。”
“Runaway?Whatnonsenseisthis，mydear?Runaway?Whosaidanythingaboutyourrunningaway?“
Herhusbandhadadvancedtoherashespoke。Heputahandcaressinglyononeofherbarearmsandtheotheratthebackofherhead。Shesufferedhimtopressherheadforwarduntilheputhislipsuponherforehead。
Whenhehadreleasedher，andhadtakenastepbackfromher，——heseemedabuttoaddressPhyllis，——alittlecryforceditselffromher。
Shecalledhisnametwice，——thesecondtimelouder，——andthrewherselfintohisarms，buryingherfaceonhisshoulder，asshehadburieditonPhyllis"shoulder。
Inafewmoments，however，shelookedup。Herhusbandwaspattingheronthearm。Shehadacquiredtwonewgemssinceshehadbentherhead。
Theywereshininginhereyes。
“Don"tgoaway，Phyllisdear，“shesaid。Phyllisandherfatherwerestandingatthe/portiere/betweenthedrawingrooms。Mr。Ayrtonhadahandattheembroiderededgeintheactofraisingit。“Don"tgoaway。
Iamallrightnow。IwasquitedazedatStephen"ssuddenappearance。
Ithoughtthatperhapshehad——had——Ah，IscarcelyknowwhatI
thought。Howdidyoucomehere——whydidyoucomehere?“
Shehadturnedtoherhusband。Inspiteofhermanifestationofaffection，——theresultofacertainreliefwhichsheexperiencedatthatmoment，——therewasanoteofsomethingakintoindignationinhervoice。
“Itisverysimple，mydear，“repliedherhusband。Hiscuriouslysallowfacehadresumeditsusualexpressionlessappearance。“Nothingcouldbemoresimple。IgotatelegramatParisregardingthemine，andIhadtostartatamoment"snotice。Iwroteoutatelegramtosendtoyou，andthatidioticcourierputitintothepocketofmyovercoatinsteadofsendingit。IfounditinmypocketwhenwehadcomeasfarasCanterbury。Iamnotoneofthosefoolishhusbandswhokeepthesepleasantsurprisesfortheirwives——itisusuallythehusbandwhoreceivesthesurpriseinsuchcases。”
“Andthecoachmantoldyouthathehaddrivenmehere?“saidElla。
“Quiteso，“repliedthehusband。“But，yousee，Ihadsomelittlehesitationincominghereathalf-pastteno"clocktomakeinquiriesaboutmywife——youmighthavegonetosomeplaceelse，youknow，inwhichcaseIshouldhavelookedatriflefoolish；soIthoughthat，onthewhole，mybestplanwouldbetodropinuponMr。AyrtonattheHouseofCommonsanddriveherewithhimwhenhewascominghomeforthenight。ItookitforgrantedthatevensoearnestalegislatorasMr。Ayrtonallowshimselfhisnights——aftertwelve，ofcourse——athome。I"mverysorryIstartledyou，Ella。Itshallnotoccuragain。”
“Whattimedidyoureachhome?“inquiredEllacasually——socasuallythatherhusband，whohadaverydiscriminatingear，gavealittleglanceinherdirection。Shewasdisengagingacornerofherlacetrimmingthathadbecomeentangledwithalargesapphireinapendant。
“Ireachedhomeatnine，“hereplied。
“Atnine?“Shespokethewordsafterhiminalittlegasp。Thenshesaid，walkingacrosstheroomtoasofa，“Icouldnothaveleftmanyminutesbeforeyouarrived。Iintendedgoingtotheopera。”
“Thattoiletshouldnothavebeenwasted，“saidhe。“Itisexquisite——
/ravissante/！“
“Itwasaninspiration，yourputtingiton，“saidPhyllis。“Iwonderifshereallyhadnosubtlesuggestionfromherownheartthatyouwereonyourwaytoher，Mr。Linton，“sheadded，turningtothehusband。
“Idaresayitwassomeinwardpromptingofthatmysteriousnature，MissAyrton，“hereplied。“Awoman"sheartisbarometricinitsnature，itisnot?Itssensitivenessissogreatthatitmovesresponsivetoasuggestionofwhatistocome。Isawoman"sheartprophetic，Iwonder?“
“Itwouldbearankheresytodoubtit，aftertheexamplewehavehadto-night，“saidMr。Ayrton。“Yes，awoman"sheartisabarometersuggestingwhatiscomingtoher，andhertoiletisathermometerindicatingthedegreeofexpectancy。”
“Acharmingphrase，“saidMr。Linton；“acharmingprinciple，onlyonethatdemandssomeyearsofclosestudytoberenderedpractical。Forinstance，lookatmywife"stoilet:itisbridal，andyetwehavebeenmarriedthreeyears。”
“Quiteso；andthattoiletmeansthatyouaretheluckiestfellowintheworld，“saidMr。Ayrton。
“Iadmittheinterpretation，“saidherhusband。“Itoldthehansomtowaitforme。Heisatthedoornow。Youhavehadnooperato-night，mydear?“
“Youwouldnotexpectmetogoalone?PhylliswasdiningattheEarlscourts"，“saidthewife。
“Youarethesoulofdiscretion，mybeloved，“saidthehusband。“Isyourstockofphrasesequaltoasuggestionastowhatinstrumentisthesoulofawoman，Ayrton?“headded。“Herheartisabarometer，hertoiletathermometer，andhersoul——“
“Thesoulofawomanisnotaninstrument，butaflower——alily，“saidMr。Ayrton。
“Andmywifewearshersouluponhersleeve，“saidMr。Linton，touchingthedesignonthelacethatfellfromhershoulders。
“Butnotfordawstopeckat——thatistheheart，“laughedMr。Ayrton。
“Talkingofwoman"ssoul，howisLadyEarlscourt?“headded，tohisdaughter。
“IwassosorrythatIwasatthatstupiddinner，“saidPhyllis。“I
mighthaveenjoyedthemusicof"RomeoandJuliet。"ButIhadengagedmyselftoLadyEarlscourtafortnightago。”
“YoudidnotseeLordEarlscourt，atanyrate，“saidherfather。
“No；heleftusintheeveningforSouthampton，“saidPhyllis。
“And，curiouslyenough，Idinedwithhimattheclub，“saidherfather。“Yes，hecameinwithHerbertCourtlandathalf-pastseven；hehadmetCourtlandandpersuadedhimtojoinhiminhiscruisetoNorway。Theydinedatmytable，andbythetimewehadfinishedCourtland"smanhadarrivedwithhisbag。Hehadsentthemanamessagefromtheclubtopack。Theyleftbytheeight-fortytrain，andIexpecttheyarewellunderwaybythistime。”
“That"squitetoobadofCourtland，“saidMr。Linton。“Iwantedtohaveatalkwithhim——aratherserioustalk。”
EllahadlistenedtoMr。Ayrton"saccountofthatlittledinnerpartyattheclubwithwhitecheeks——amomentbeforetheyhadbeenred——andwithherlipstightlyclosed。Herhandswereclencheduntilthetipsofthenailswerebitingintoeachofherpalms，beforehehadcometotheendofhisstory——astoryofoneincident。Butwhenherhusbandhadspokenherhandsrelaxed。Theblazethathadcometohereyesforasecondwentoutwithoutaflicker。
“Aserioustalk?“shemurmured。
“Aserioustalk——aboutthemine，“repliedherhusband。
“Aboutthemine，“sherepeated，andamomentafterburstintoalaughthatwasalmoststartlinginitsinsincerity。“Itissoamusing，thischapterofcross-purposes，“shecried。“Whatasightithasbeen！anightofthrillingsurprisestoallofus！ImissPhyllisbyhalfanhourandmyhusbandmissesmebylessthanhalfanhour。HecomesatexpressspeedfromParistohaveatalk，aserioustalk，withMr。
Courtlandaboutthemine，andwhileheisdrivingfromVictoria，Mr。
CourtlandisdrivingtothesamestationwithLordEarlscourt！“
“Whataseriesoffatalities！“saidMr。Ayrton。“ButwhatseemedtomemostamusingwasthepersuasivenessofEarlscourt。HehasonlytospeakhalfadozenwordstoCourtland，andoffhegoestoNorwayatamoment"snoticewithprobablythemostuncongenialboat"sloadthatCourtlandeversailedwith，andhemusthavedoneagooddealinthatwayinNewGuineawaters。Now，whyshouldCourtlandtakesuchaturn?“
“Ah，why，indeed！“criedMrs。Linton。“Yes，thatis，asyousay，themostamusingpartofthewholeeveningofcross-purposes。Whyshouldherunawayjustatthistime——to-night——to-night?“
“Whatisthereparticularaboutto-nightthatCourtland"srunningawayshouldseemdoublyerratic?“askedMr。Linton，afteralittlepause。
Hehadhiseyesfixedcoldlyuponhiswife"sface。
Sheturnedtohimandlaughedquitemerrily。
“Whatisthereparticularaboutto-night?“sherepeated。“Why，haveyounotarrivedfromParisto-nighttohavethatserioustalkwithhimaboutthemine?Doesn"titseemtoyoudoublyprovokingthathedidn"tstayuntilto-morroworthatyoudidn"tarriveyesterday?Why，why，whydidherunawayto-nightbeforenine?“
“Whybeforenine?“saidherhusband。
“Heavens！Wasnotthatthehourwhenyouarrivedhome?Yousaidsojustnow，“shecried。Thenshepickedupherwrap。PhyllishadthrownitoverachairwhenithadlaininaheaponthefloorasCleopatra"swrapmayhavelainwhenshewascarriedintothepresenceofherlover。“MydearStephen，don"tyouthinkthatasitispastnine，andMr。Courtlandisprobablysomemilesoutatseawithhisheadreposingonsomethinghard，——thereisnothingsoftaboutayacht，——weshouldmakeamoveinthedirectionofhome?Itseemsprettyclearthatyouwillhavenoserioustalkwithhimto-night。Alas！myPhyllis，ourdreamofhappinessisover。Wearetobeseparatedbythecrueltyofman，asusual。Good-night，mydear！Good-night，Mr。Ayrton！Prayforgiveusforkeepingyououtofbedsolong；andreceivemythanksforrestoringmylong-losthusbandtomyarms。Didn"tyousaythatthehansomwaswaiting，Stephen?“
“Iexpectthemanhasbeenasleepforthelasthalf-hour，“saidherhusband。
“Ihopenothinghasgoneastraywiththegoldmine，“saidshe。“Hasn"tsomeonemadeacalculationregardingtheaccumulationofashillinghansomfareatcompoundinterestwhenthedriveriskeptwaiting?Itislikethesumaboutthenailsinthehorse"sshoe。Weshallberuinedifweremainheremuchlonger。”
“Ah，mydear，“saidMr。Ayrton，whenhehadkissedherhand，andstraightenedthesablecollarofherwrap；“ah，mydear，ahusbandisahusband。”
“Evenwhenhestaysawayfromhiswifeforthreemonthsatatime?“
saidElla。
“Notinspiteofthat，butonaccountofit，“saidMr。Ayrton。“Haveyoubeenmarriedalltheseyearswithoutfindingthatout?“
“Good-night！“saidshe。
CHAPTERXXII。
HEHADEXPLAINEDTOPHYLLISONCETHATHETHOUGHTOFGOD
ONLYASAPRINCIPLE。
Thesoundofthehansomwheelsdiedawaybeforethefatheranddaughterexchangedaword。Mr。Ayrtonwasthefirsttospeak。
“Itseemstohavebeenanightofmischance，“saidhe。
“IamverygladthatMr。Lintonhasreturned，“saidshe。
“What?Now，whyshouldyoubegladofthatveryordinaryincident?“
“Why?Oh，papa，Iamsofondofher！“
“Shemaybefondofhim，afterall。”
Mr。Ayrtonspokemusingly。
“Ofcoursesheis，“saidPhyllis，withapositivenessthatwasdesignedtoconvinceherselfthatshebelievedherownstatement。
“Andhemaybefondofher——yes，attimes，“resumedMr。Ayrton。“Thattoiletofhersseemstohavebeentheonlyhappyelementinthegameofcross-purposeswhichwasplayedto-night。”
“Ah，“whisperedthegirl。
“Yes；itwasininspiration。Shecouldnothaveexpectedherhusbandto-night。Whatadress！Evenahusbandwouldbecompelledtoadmititsfascination。Andshesaidshemeanttowearitattheoperato-night。
Itwasscarcelyanoperatoilet，wasit?“
“Ella"stasteisneveratfault，papa。”
“Isupposenot。Iwonderifheiscapableofappreciatingthe——the——
letussay，theinspirationofthattoilet。Isthat，Iwonder，thesortofdressthatamanlikeshiswifetowearwhenshewelcomeshimhomeafteranabsenceofsomemonths?Nomatteritwasexquisiteineverydetail。Curious，hercominghereandwaitingaftershehadlearnedthatyouwereout，wasitnot；fromnineo"clock——thatfatefulhour！——to-night。”
“Ithinkshemusthavefelt——lonely，“saidPhyllis。“Sheseemedsogladtoseeme——sorelieved。Shemeanttostaywithmeallnight，poorthing！Oh，whyshouldherhusbandstayawayfromherformonthsatatime?Itisquitedisgraceful！“
“Ithinkthatwehadbettergotobed，“saidherfather。“Ifwebegintodiscussabstractquestionsoftemperamentwemayabandonallhopeofsleeptonight。WemightaswelltrytofathomHerbertCourtland"sreasonsforgoingtoyachtwithsouncongenialapartyasLordEarlscourt"s。Good-night，mydear！“
Hekissedherandwentupstairs。Shedidnotfollowhimimmediately。
Shestoodinthecenteroftheroom，andoverhersweetfaceapuzzledexpressioncrept，asasinglebreathofwindpassesoverthesmoothsurfaceofalakeonadaywhennowindstirsaleaf。
ShethoughtfirstofHerbertCourtland，whichofitselfwasacuriousincident。HowdiditcomethathehadyieldedsoeasilytotheinvitationofLordEarlscourttoaccompanyhimonhiscruiseintheyacht/WaterNymph/?(LordEarlscourt"simaginationinthedirectionofthenomenclatureofhisboatsaswellashishorseswasnotunlimited。)
Butthiswasjustthequestionwhichherfatherhadsuggestedasanexampleofasubjectofprofitlessdiscussion。Sherememberedthis，andaskedherselfifitwaslikelythatshe，havingathercommandfewerdatathanherfatherbearinguponthiscase，shouldmakeabetterattemptthanhemadeatitssolution。HerfatherhadseenHerbertCourtlandsincehehadagreedtogoonthecruise，andwasthereforeinthebetterpositiontoarriveatareasonableconclusioninregardtothesourceoftheimpulseuponwhichMr。Courtlandhadacted；somuchshethoughtcertain。Andyetherfatherhadsuggestedtheprofitlessnatureofsuchaninvestigation，andherfatherwascertainlyright。
OnlyforasinglemomentdiditoccurtoherthatsomethingshehadsaidtoHerbertCourtlandwhenhewassittingthere，thereinthatchairbesideher，mighthavehaditsinfluenceuponhim——onlyforasinglemoment，however；thensheshookherhead。
No，no！thatsuppositionwastoo，tooridiculoustobeentertainedforamoment。Hehad，tobesure，shownthathefeltdeeplythewordswhichshehadquotedastheycamefromMrs。Haddon；butwhatcouldthosewordshavetodowithhissuddenacceptanceofLordEarlscourt"sinvitationtogotoNorway?
ShemadeuphermindthatitwasnothingtoherwhatcourseHerbertCourtlandhadpursued，consequentlytheendeavorstofathomhisreasonforadoptingsuchacoursewouldbewhollyprofitless。ButthequestionofthesingularmoodssuggestedbytheconductandthewordsofherfriendEllaLintonstoodonaverydifferentbasis。Ellawasherdearestfriend，andnothingthatshehadsaidordoneshouldbedismissedasprofitless。
WhatonearthhadEllameantbyappearinginthatwonderfulcostumethatnight?Itwasnotatoiletfortheopera，evenonaMelbanight；
evenona“RomeoandJuliet“night，unless，indeed，thewearermeanttoappearonthestageas/Juliet/，wasthethoughtwhichoccurredtothegirl。Herfantasticthought——shethoughtitwasafantasticthought——madehersmile。Unless——
Andthenanotherthoughtcametoherwhich，notbeingfantastic，banishedhersmile。
/Unless/——
Shegottoherfeet——veryslowly——andwalkedveryslowly——acrosstheroom。SheseatedherselfonthesofawhereEllahadsat，andsheremainedmotionlessforsomeminutes。Thenshemadeamotionwithoneofherhandsasifsweepingfrombeforehereyessomeflimsyrepulsiveness——thewebofanuncleanthingflashingintheair。InanotherinstantshehadburiedherfaceinthepillowthatstillboretheimpressofElla"sface。
“Oh，God——myGod，forgiveme——forgiveme——forgiveme！“washersilent，passionateprayerasshelaytheresobbing。“HowcouldIeverhavesuchathought，soterribleathought。Sheismyfriend——mysister——
andsheputherselfintoherhusband"sarmsandkissedhim！Oh，God，forgiveme！“
Thatwasherprayerforthegreaterpartofthenightasshelayinherwhitebed。
Shefeltthatshehadsinnedgrievouslyinthoughtagainstherfriend，whensherecalledthewayinwhichherfriendhadthrownherselfintothearmsofherhusband。ThatwastheoneactionwhichthegirlfeltshouldentitleEllaLintontobethesubjectofnosuchhorridthoughtashadbeenforashockinginstantforceduponhermind，whenshereflecteduponthestrangepassionwhichhadtingledthroughElla"srepetitionofthefierywordsof/Juliet/。
SherecalledeverystrangeelementintheincidentofElla"sappearanceinthedrawingroom:thewayinwhichEllahadkissedherandclungtoherasachildmighthavedoneonfindingsomeonetoprotectit；sherecalledthewildwordswhichEllahaduttered，and，finally，theterribleexpressionwhichhadappearedonherfaceasshewhisperedthatrecklessanswertoPhyllis"question，whenshehadpickedupherwrapandflungitaroundherjustbeforethesoundoffootstepshadcometotheirears。AllthatsherecalledinconnectionwiththatextraordinaryvisitofElla"swasquiteintelligibletoher；
butthemysteryofallwasmorethanneutralizedbyherrecollectionofthewayEllahadthrownherselfintoherhusband"sarms。Thatactionshould，shefelt，beregardedastheoneimportantfactor，asitwere，inthesolutionoftheproblemofElla"smood——Ella"sseriesofmoods。Nothingelsethatshehaddone，nothingthatshehadsaid，wasworthyofbeingtakenaccountof，alongsidethatdominantactofthetruewife。
Thelittlewhisperwhichsuggestedtoherthattherewasagooddealthatwasmysteriousintheincidentofherfriend"svisitsherefusedtoregardasrenderingitlessobligatoryonher——Phyllis——topraythatshemightbeforgiventhathorridsuspicionwhich，foraninstant，hadcometoher；andsoshefellasleepprayingtoGodtoforgiveherforhersin(inthought)againstherfriend。
AndwhilePhylliswasprayingherprayer，herfriend，theTrueWife，wasprayingwithherfacedownuponherpillow，andherbarearmsstretchedoutoverthewhitelaceofthebed:
“Forgiveme，OGod；forgiveme！andkeephimawayfromme——foreverandeverandever。Amen。”
Andwhileboththeseprayerswerebeingprayed，HerbertCourtlandwassittingononeofthedeckstoolsoftheyacht/WaterNymph/，lookingbackatthemanylightsthatgleamedinclustersalongthesoutherncoastofEngland，nowfarastern；foralightbreezewassendingtheboatalongwithacreaming，quiveringwake。Inthebowsayouthwasmakingthenighthideousthroughtheagencyofabanjoandashamnegromelody。Amidships，LordEarlscourtandtwoothermenwereplaying，bythelightofalanternslungfromthebackstay，agamecalledpoker；LordEarlscourt，ateveryfreshdeal，tryingtomaketherestunderstandhowgreatlytheworryofbeingheldresponsible，asthepatronofthelivingofSt。Chad"s，fortheeccentricitiesofhisrector，hadaffectedhisnerves——amatteruponwhichhisfriendsassuredhim，withvarieddegreesofemphasis，theywereinnowayinterested。
WithinafewfeetofthesecongenialshipmatesHerbertCourtlandsatlookingacrosstheshiningripplestotheshininglightsofthecoast；
wonderinghowhecametobeontheseainsteadofontheshore。Wasthisindeedthenightoverwhichhisimaginationhadgloatedformonths?Wasitindeedpossiblethatthiswastheverynightfollowingtheday——Thursday——forwhichhehadengagedhimselfinaccordancewiththeletterthathestillcarriedinhispocket?
Howonearthdiditcomethathewassittingwithhisarmoverthebulwarksofayachtinsteadof——Oh，thethingwasamiracle——amiracle！Hecouldthinkofitinnootherlightthanthatofamiracle。
Well，ifitwereamiracle，ithadbeentheworkofGod，andGodhadtobethankedforit。HehadexplainedtoPhyllisoncethathethoughtofGodonlyasaPrinciple——asthePrinciplewhichworkedinoppositiontotheprincipleofnature。ThatwascertainlytheGodwhichhadbeenevolvedoutofmoderncivilization。Thepagangodshadbeenjusttheopposite。Theyhadbeenfoundedonnaturalprinciples。
TheHebrewtraditionthatGodhadmademaninhisownimagewasthereverseoftheschemeofthepaganmanwhohadmadeGodafterhisownimage；intheimageofmancreatedheGod。
Butholdingthetheorythatheheld——thatGodwasthesometimessuccessfulopponenttotheprinciplesofnature(whichhecalledtheDevil)——HerbertCourtlandfeltthatthiswastheveryGodtowhomhisthanksweredueforthemiraclethathadbeenperformedonhisbehalf。
“ThankGod——thankGod——thankGod！“hemurmured，lookingoutovertheripplingwaters，steelgrayinthesoftshadowofthesummer"snight。
Butthenheheldthat“thankGod“wasbutafigureofspeech。
“Tinky-tink，tinky-tink，tinky-tinky-tinky-tinky-tinky-tinky-tink，“
wenttheyouthwiththebanjointhebows。
CHAPTERXXIII。
ITSMOUTHINGSOFTHEPASTHADBECOMEITSMUMBLINGSOFTHEPRESENT。
Itwasverydistressing——verydisappointing！ThebishopwouldneitherinstituteproceedingsagainsttherectorofSt。Chad"snorstateplainlyifitwashisintentiontoproceedagainstthatclergyman。
Whensomepeoplesuggestedverydelicately——thewayordinarypeoplewouldsuggestanythingtoabishop——thatitwassurelynotinsympathywiththeorganizationoftheChurchforanyclergymantotakeadvantageofhispositionandhispulpittocastsometimesridicule，sometimesabuse，uponcertain“scripturalcharacters“——thatwastheirphrase——whohadhithertoalwaysbeenregardedassacred，comparativelysacred，thebishophadbroughtthetipsofthefingersofonehandinimmediate，oralmostimmediate，contactwiththetipsofthefingersofhisotherhand，andhadshakenhishead——mournfully，sadly。Thesesignsofacquiescence，triflingthoughtheywere，hadencouragedthedeputationthatoncewaitedonhislordship——twomilitarymen(retiredontheageclause)，anofficerofengineers(ontheactivelist)，asolicitor(retired)，andamemberoftheLondonCountyCouncil(byoccupationanironmonger)，toexpressthedirectopinionthatthescandalwhichhadbeencreatedbythedissemination——theunrebukeddissemination——ofthedoctrinesheldbytherectorofSt。Chad"swasaffordingthefriendsofDisestablishmentanadditionalargumentinfavoroftheirpolicyofspoliation。Atthisstatementhislordshiphadnoddedhisheadthreetimeswithagravitythatdeeplyimpressedthespokesmanofthedeputation。HewonderedifhislordshiphadeverbeforeheardthatphraseaboutthefurnishingofanadditionalargumenttothefriendsofDisestablishment。(Asamatteroffacthislordshiphadhearditbefore。)
Afteranexpressionofthedeputation"sopinionthatimmediatestepsshouldbetakentomaketherectorofSt。Chad"samenabletothelawsoftheChurch，Hislordshipreplied。
(ItwashisfacilityinmakingconciliatoryrepliesthathadbroughtabouthiselevationintheChurch):
Hereferredto(1)hisdeepappreciationofthesincerityofthedeputation；(2)hisownsenseofresponsibilityinregardtothefeelingsoftheweakerbrethren；(3)hisappreciationofthevalueofthecounselofpracticalmeninmanyaffairsoftheChurch；(4)theexistingpositionoftheChurchinregardtothelaity；(5)thefriendlyrelationsthathadalwaysexistedbetweenhimselfpersonallyandtheclergyofhisextensivediocese；(6)hisearnestandprayerfuldesirethattheserelationsmightbestrengthened；(7)theinsecurityofahousedividedagainstitself；(8)theprogressofsocialism；(9)
theimpossibilityofsocialismcommendingitselftoEnglishmen；(10)
therecentanarchistoutrages；(11)thepurityoftheCourtofherMajestytheQueen；(12)theunionofallChristianChurches；(13)theimpossibilityofsuchunioneverbecomingpermanent；(14)thevalueofHolyScriptureindailylife；(15)hisfirmbeliefintheachievementofEngland"sgreatnessbymeansoftheopenBible；(16)thenoteofpessimisminmodernlife；(17)thenecessityfortheChurch"scombatingmodernpessimism；(18)theChurch"spositionasapurveyorofhealthyliteraturefortheyoung；(19)hisreluctancetotakeupanymoreoftheirvaluabletime，and(20)hisassurancethattheremarksoftheirspokesmanwouldhavehisearnestandprayerfulattention。
Thedeputationthenthankedhislordshipandwithdrew。
Butstillthebishopmadenomoveinthematter，andthefriendsoftheRev。GeorgeHollandfeltgrievouslydisappointed。Theyhadcountedonthebishop"satleastwritingaletterofremonstrancetotherectorofSt。Chad"s，anduponthepublicationoftheletter，withtherector"sreplyinthenewspapers；butnowquitetwomonthshadpassedsincetheappearanceof“RevisedVersions，“thebishophadreturnedfromtheEngadine，andstilltherewerenoindicationsofhisintentiontomaketheRev。GeorgeHollandresponsibletotherighttribunal——whateverthatwas——forhisdoctrines。Theycountedonhismartyrdomwithinsixmonths；and，consequently，uponhiselectiontoapositionofdistinctionintheeyesofhisfellow-country-men——or，atleast，ofhiscountry-women。Butthebishoptheyfoundtobeapoorthingafterall。Theyfeltsurethatwhatthepeoplesaidabouthisbeingquitehumbleinthepresenceofhiswifewasnotwithoutsomefoundation；andtheythoughtthat，afterall，therewasagreatdealtobesaidinfavorofthecelibacyofpriestscompulsoryintheChurchofRome。IfthebishopsoftheChurchofEnglandwerenotverycareful，theymightbethemeansofsuchagoingovertoRomeashadneverpreviouslybeenwitnessedinEngland。
GeorgeHollandmayhavebeendisappointed，orhemayhavebeenpleasedattheinactivityofthebishop。Hemadenosignonewayortheother。
Ofcoursehewasnomorethanhuman:hewouldhaveregardedaletterofremonstrancefromthebishopasapersonalcompliment；hehadcertainlyexpectedsuchaletter，forhehadalreadyputtogethertheheadsofthereplyhewouldmake——andpublish——toanyofficialremonstrancethatmightbeofferedtohim。Stillhemadenosign。HepreachedatleastonesermoneverySundaymorning，andwheneveritwasknownthathewouldpreach，St。Chad"swascrowdedandtheoffertorywasallthatcouldbedesired。Thebishop"schaplainnolongerheldawatchingbriefinregardinregardtothosesermons。Hedidnotthinkitworthwhiletodosomuch，GeorgeHolland"sfriendssaid，shakingtheirheadsandpursingouttheirlips。Oh，yes！therecouldbenodoubtthatthebishopwasaveryweaksortofman。
Butthensuddenlythereappearedinthenewnumberofthe/ZeitGeistReview/anarticleabovethesignatureofGeorgeHolland，entitled“TheEnemytoChristianity，“andinamomentitbecameprettyplainthatGeorgeHollandhadnotinhis“RevisedVersions，“saidthelastwordthathehadtosayregardingtheattitudeoftheChurchofEnglandinrespectofthenon-church-goersoftheday。Whenpeoplereadthearticletheyasked“WhoistheEnemytoChristianityreferredtobythewriter?“andtheywereforcedtoconcludethattheanswerwhichwasmadetosuchaninquirybythearticleitselfwas，“TheChurch。”
HepointedouttheinfatuationwhichpossessedtheheadsoftheChurchofEnglandinexpectingtoappealwithsuccesstotheeducatedpeopleofthepresentday，whilestilldecliningtomovewiththecourseofthoughtofthepeople。Alreadythebrayingofatromboneoutoftune，andthebarbarousjingleofatambourine，hadabsorbedsomehundredthousandofpossiblechurch-goers；andthough，ofcourse，itwasimpossibleforsensiblemenandwomen——thepeoplewhomtheChurchshouldendeavortograppletoitssoulwithhooksofsteel——tolook，exceptwithamusedsadness，attheludicrousmethodsandvulgarineptitudeoftheSalvationArmy，stilltheChurchwasmakingnoefforttoprovidethesensible，thinking，educatedpeopleofEnglandwithanequivalentassuitabletotheirrequirementsastheSalvationArmywastotherequirementsofthefoolish，thehysterical，theunthinkingpeoplewhoplayedthetambourinesandbrayedonthetunelesstrombones。Thusitisthatonemansaystoanothernowadays，whenhehasgotnothingbettertotalkabout，“Areyouamanofintelligence，ordoyougotochurch?“
Menofintelligencedonotgotochurchnowadays，Mr。Hollandannouncedinthatarticleofhisinthe/ZeitGeist/；manywomenofintelligencerefrainfromgoing，headded，thoughmanybeautifullydressedwomenwerestillfrequentattenders。TherewasnoblinkingthefactthatthecrassstupidityoftheChurchhadmadechurch-goingunpopular——almostimpossible——withintelligentmenandwomen。TheChurchinsultedtheintelligencebytryingtoreconciletheteachingsofJudaismwiththeteachingsofChristianity，whenthetwowereabsolutelyirreconcilable。ItwasthecrassstupidityoftheChurchthathadcausedit——foritsself-protection，itfancied——tobitterlyopposeeverytruththatwasrevealedtoman。TheChurchhadtorturedandburnedatthestakethegreatmentowhomGodhadrevealedthegreatfactsofnature"sworkings——themotionoftheearthandtheotherplanets。Butthesefacts，beingDivineTruth，becameacceptedbytheworldinspiteofthethumb-screwsandthefagots——theargumentsoftheChurchagainstDivineTruth。ThelistoftheDivineTruthswhichtheChurchhadbitterlyopposedwasasickeningdocument。
Geography，Geology，Biology——theprogressofallhad，evenwithinrecentyears，beenbitterlyopposedbytheChurch，andyettheself-
constitutedarbitersbetweenTruthandfalsehoodhadbeencompelledtoeattheirownwords——todevourtheirowndenunciationswhentheyfoundthattheTruthwasacceptedbytheintelligenceofthepeopleinspiteoftheanathemasoftheChurch。
TheintelligenceoftheChurchwasequalonlytothedutyofburningwitches。Itburnedthembythethousand，simplybecauseancientJudaismhadaprofoundbeliefinthewitchandbecauseablood-thirstyJewishmurderer-monarchhadorganizedawitchhunt。
Andyetwithsucharecordagainstit——arecordofthemurderofinnocentmenandwomenwhoendeavoredtopromulgatetheDivineTruthsofnature——theChurchstillarrogatedtoitselftherighttolaydownaruleoflifeforintelligentpeople——aruleoflifefoundeduponthatimpossibleamalgamationofJudaismandChristianity。ThescienceoftheChurchwasnotequaltothetaskofamalgamatingtwosuchdeadlyopponents。
Wasitanywonder，then，thatchurch-goinghadbecomepracticallyobsoleteamongintelligentmenandwomen?thewriterasked。
HethenwentontorefertothenatureoftheexistingservicesoftheChurchofEngland。HedealtonlycasuallywiththemockeryoftheresponseofthecongregationtothereadingoutoftheFourthCommandmentbythepriest，whennooneintheChurchpaidtheleastrespecttotheSeventhDay。ThiswasadditionalproofoftheabsurdityoftheattemptedamalgamationofJudaismandChristianity。Butwhathedealtmostfullywithwastheindiscriminateselectionofwhatwereveryproperlytermedthe“Lessons“fromtheHebrewBible。Itwas，hesaid，farfromedifyingtohearsomechaptersreadoutfromthelecternwithoutcomment；thoughfortunatelythereaderswereasarulesoimperfectlytrainedthatthemostobjectionablepassageshadtheirpotentialityofmischiefminimized。HeconcludedhisindictmentbyareferencetoasermonpreachedbytheaverageclergymanoftheChurchofEngland。Thiswas，usually，hesaid，eitheratheologicalessayfoundeduponanobsoletesystemoftheology，oraseriesofplatitudesofmoralitydeliveredbyanunpracticalman。Thefirstwasaninsulttotheintelligenceofanaverageman；thesecondwasaninsulttotheintelligenceofanaverageschoolgirl。
HissummingupofthewholecaseagainsttheChurchwasaslogicalasitwastrenchant。TheChurchhadsurelybecome，hesaid，likeuntotheGiantPaganin“ThePilgrim"sProgress，“who，whenincapableofdoingmischief，satmumblingatthemouthofhiscaveontheroadside。TheChurchhadbecometoothless，decrepiteitherforevilorforgood。Itsmouthingsofthepasthadbecomeitsmumblingsofthepresent。Thecaveatthemouthofwhichthistoothlessgiantsatwasverydark；andintelligentpeoplewentbywithagood-naturedandtolerantlaugh。
Thisarticlewaspublishedinthe/Review/onTuesday。Phyllisreaditontheeveningofthatday。OnWednesdaythenewspaperswerefullofthisfurtherdevelopmentofthetheoriesofthewriter，andonThursdayafternoonthewriterpaidavisittoPhyllis。
AsheenteredthedrawingroomhefoundhimselffacetofacewithHerbertCourtland，whowasintheactofleaving。
CHAPTERXXIV。
SHEWASAWIFE，ANDSHEHADALOVERWHODISAPPOINTEDHER。
TheprayerofEllaLintonhadnotbeenanswered。Shehadprayed，notthatherheartwherewithshelovedHerbertCourtlandmightbechanged——thatsheknewwouldbedifficult；notthatherloveforHerbertCourtlandmightcease——thatshebelievedtobeimpossible；butsimplythatHerbertCourtlandmightbekeptawayfromher——thatsheknewtobethemostsensiblecourseherschemeofimplorationcouldtake。
ShewaswellawareofthefactthatGodhadgivenherstrengthtorunawayfromHerbertCourtland，andforthatshewassincerelythankful；
shedidnotpausetoanalyzeherfeelings，toaskherselfifherthankswereduetoherreflectionuponthecircumstanceofherhusband"sreturn，attheveryhourwhenshehadappointedtomeetHerbertCourtland；sheonlyfeltthatGodhadbeengoodtoheringivinghersufficientstrengthtorunawayfromthatappointment。Thenitwasthatshehadprayedthathemightbekeptawayfromher。SurelyGodwouldfinditeasytodothat，shethought。SurelyshemightassumethatGodwasonherside，andthathewouldnotleavehisworkhalfdone。
ButwhenshebegantothinkofthethoroughmannerinwhichGoddoeshisworkshebegantowishthatshehadnotprayedquitesoearnestly。
SupposingthatGodshouldthinkitfittokeephimawayfromherbysendingablastfromheaventocapsizethatyachtinthedeepsea，whatwouldshethinkofthefervencyofherprayerthen?
Theterrorofherreflectionuponthepossibilityofthisoccurrenceflungherfromherbedandsentherpacing，withbarefeetandflyinglace，thefloorofherbedroominthefirstpearlylightofdawn，justasshehadpacedthefloorofPhyllis"drawingroombeneaththeglowoftheelectriclights。
Shewishedthatshehadnotprayedquitesoearnestlythathemightbekeptapartfromher。Butonecannotprayhotandcold；shefeltthatshehadnorightnowtolaydownanyconditionstoHeaveninthematterofkeepingHerbertCourtlandawayfromher。Shehadprayedherprayer；only，ifheweredrownedbeforeshesawhimagain，shewouldneversayanotherprayer。
ThisfeelingthatshewouldbeevenwithHeaven，sotospeak，hadtheeffectofsoothingher。Shethrewherselfuponherbedoncemoreandwasabletofallasleep；shehadaconsiderableamountofconfidenceinthediscriminationofHeaven。
Butbeforeshehadcomedowntothebreakfastroomwhereherhusbandwasreadinganewspaperinthemorning，shehadthoughtagooddealuponanothermatterthatdisquietedherinsomedegree。Shehadbeenexuberant(shethought)athavinghadsufficientstrengthgiventohertorunawayfromherlover；butthenshehadnotdweltupontheratherimportantcircumstancethatalltherunningawayhadnotbeenonherside。WhatwerethefactsasrevealedbythenarrativeofMr。Ayrton?
Why，simply，thatwhileshewasputtingonthatsupremetoiletwhichshehadpreparedforthedelightoftheeyesofherlover(feelingherselftobeamodernCleopatra)，thatloverofherswassittingonthecushionsofafirst-classcarriage，flyingalongtoSouthampton；
andwhileshehadbeenlyingamongthecushionsofherdrawingroom，waitingtremulously，nervously，ecstatically，forthedrearyminutestocrawlonuntiltheclockshouldchimethehourofnine，hewasprobablylightinghisfirstpipeaboardtheyacht/WaterNymph/。WhatdiditmatterthatshehadliftedherhotfacefromhercushionsandhadfledinwildhastetothearmsofPhyllisAyrton?Thefactremainedthesame；itwashewhohadrunawayfromher。
Thatwasaterriblereflection。Hithertoshehadneverfelthumiliated。Shehadnotfeltthathehadinsultedherbyhiskisses；
shehadgivenhimkissforkiss。Shehadbuttoholdupherfingerandhewasreadytoobeyher。Butnow——whatwasshetothinkofhim?Hadevermansohumiliatedwoman?Shehadofferedhim，notherheartbuthersoul——hadhenottoldherafewdaysbeforethathemeanthertogivehimhersoul?andwhenshehadlaidheartandsoulathisfeet——
thatwashowsheputittoherself——hehadnotconsidereditworthhiswhiletotakethepricelessgiftthatsheofferedtohim。
“Hewillanswertomeforthat，“shesaid，asshethoughtoverherhumiliation，infrontofherdressing-glassthatmorning，whilehermaidwasabsentfromtheroom。
Herwishwasnownotthatherprayerhadbeenlessearnest，butthatithadnotbeenutteredatall。ItwasnecessaryforhertomeethimagaininorderthathemightexplaintoherhowitcamethathehadpreferredtheattractionsincidentaltoacruisewithLordEarlscourtandhisfriendstoallthatshehadwrittentoofferhim。
Andyetwhenherhusband，afterhavingquitefinishedwithhispaper，said:
“It"sveryawkwardthatHerbertCourtlandisnotintown，“
Shemerelyraisedhershouldersaninch，saying:
“Isupposethathehasarighttotakeaholidaynowandthen。Ifyoudidn"ttelegraphtohimfromParis，youcannotcomplain。”
“IfeltcertainthatIshouldfindhimhere，“saidthehusband。
“Here?“saidthewife，raisinghereyebrowsandcastinganoffendedglanceatherhusband。“Here?“
Hesmiledinthefaceofheroffendedglance。
“Here——inLondon，Imean，ofcourse。Heavens，Ella！didyoufancyforamomentthatImeant——Ah，bytheway，youhaveseenhimrecently?“
“Oh，yes；quiterecently——onTuesday，Ithinkitwas，wemetattheAyrton"sdinnerparty——yes，itwasTuesday。Therewassomefuss，orattemptedfuss，abouthisadventuresinNewGuinea，andaquestionwasbeingaskedaboutthematterintheHouseofCommons。Mr。Ayrtongotridofsomeofhissuperfluousclevernessinputtingacounterquestion——youknowtheway。”
“Oh，perfectlywell！AndthatishowyoumetonTuesday——ifitwasTuesday?“
“Yes；hewenttothankMr。Ayrton，andMr。Ayrtonaskedhimtodinner。
Itwasasmallparty，andnotverybrilliant。Herbertcameherewithmeafterward——forfiveminutes。”
“Ah！Togetthetasteofthepartyoffhismouth，Isuppose?Hedidn"tsayanythingtoyouthenaboutbeingtiredofhisLondonseason?“
“Notaword。Heseemedtiredofthedinnerparty。Heyawned。”
“AndI"msurethatyouyawnedinsympathy。Whenamansofarforgetshimselfastoyawninthepresenceofawoman，sheneverfailstorespondwithoneofmoreamplecircumference。Whenawomansofarremembersherselfastoyawninthepresenceofaman，hetriestosaysomethingwitty。”
“Yes，whenthewomanisnothiswife。Ifsheishiswife，heasksherifshedoesn"tthinkit"sabouttimeshewasinbed。”
“Idaresayyou"reright；youhaveobservedmen——andwomen，forthatmatter——muchmorecloselythanIhavehadtimetodo。It"sveryawkwardthatheisn"there。Imustbringhimbackatonce。”
Shefeltalittlemovementatherheart；butsheonlysaid:
“Iwouldn"tdothat，ifIwereyou。Whyshouldn"thebeallowedtoenjoyhisholidayinpeace?“
“It"samatterofbusiness；themine，Itoldyou。”
“What"swrongwiththeminethatcouldbesetrightbyhiscomingbackatonce?Areyounotmakingenoughoutofit?“
“We"remakingquiteasmuchasisgoodforusoutofit。Butifwecangetahundredandfiftythousandpoundsforafewyardsofourclaimfurthereast，withoutdamagingtheprospectsofthemineitself，I
don"tthinkweshouldrefuseit——atanyrate，Idon"tthinkthatweshouldrefusetoconsidertheoffer。”
“Whatisahundredandfiftythousandpounds?“saidshe。
“Iwonderwhyyoudressedyourselfasyoudidlastnight?“saidhe。
Thesuddennessofthewordsdidnotcausehertoquailastheguiltywifequails——yes，underaproperlymanagedlime-light。Shedidnotevencolor。Butthen，ofcourse，shewasnotaguiltywife。
Shelaybackonherchairandlaughed。
Hewatchedher——noteagerly，butpleasantly，admiringly。
“MydearStephen，ifyoucouldunderstandwhyIdressedmyselfthatwayyouwouldbeabletogivemeavaluablehintastowheretheconnectionliesbetweenyourmineandmytoilet——Ineedsuchahint，now，Icanassureyou。”
Shewassittingupnowlookingathimwithlovelylaughingeyes。
(Afterall，shewasnoguiltywife。)
“What，youcan"tseetheconnection?“hesaidslowly。“Youcansewoveryourdressaboutfiftythousandpounds"worthofdiamonds，andyetyoudon"tseetheconnectionbetweenthewearingofthatdressandthedevelopmentofagoldminebyyourhusband?“
“IthinkIseeitnow——somethingofaconnection。ButIdon"twantanymorediamonds；Idon"tcareifyoutakeallthataresewedaboutthedressandthrowthemintotheriver。That"showIfeelthismorning。”
“Iheardsometimeagoofawomanwhohadsomethingofyourmooduponheroneday。Shehadsomeexcellentdiamonds，andinoneofhermoods，sheflungthemintotheriver。Shewasawifeandshehadaloverwhodisappointedher。Thestoryreadsverysmoothlyinverse。”
Shelaughed。
“Ihavenolover，“shesaid——wasitmournfully?“Ihaveahusband，itistrue；butheisnotexactlyofthetypeofKingArthur——norSirGalahad，forthatmatter。IhopeyoufoundParisasenjoyableasever?“
“Quite。IneversawatParisamoreenrapturingtoiletthanyoursoflastnight。Youare，Iknow，thehandsomestwomanofmyacquaintance，andyoulookedhandsomerthanIhadeverbeforeseenyouinthatcostume。Iwonderwhyyouputiton。”
“Didn"tsomeone——wasitPhyllis?——suggestthatitwasanactofinspiration；thatIhadasecret，mysteriouspromptingtoputitontoachievetheobjectwhich——well，whichIdidachieve。”
“Object?Whatobject?“
“Tomakemyhusbandfallinlovewithmeagain。”
“Ah！Inlovethereisnoagain。IwonderwhereatelegramwouldfindHerbert。”
“Don"tworryyourselfabouthim。Lethimenjoyhisholiday。”
“DoyoufancyheisenjoyinghimselfwithEarlscourtandhisbooncompanions?They"llbeplayingpokerfrommorningtillnight——
certainlyfromnighttillmorning。”
“Whyshouldhegoonthecruiseifhewasnotcertaintoenjoyhimself?“
“Ah，thatquestionistoomuchforme。Thinkoverityourselfandletmeknowifyoucometoasolution，mydear。”
Heroseandlefttheroombeforeshecouldmakeanyanswer——beforeshecouldmakeanattempttofindoutinwhatdirectionhisthoughtsregardingthedepartureofHerbertCourtlandweremoving。
ShewonderedifhehadanysuspicioninregardtoHerbertandherself。
Hewasnotamangiventosuspicion，oratanyrate，giventoallowingwhateversuspicionhemayhavefelt，tobeapparent。HehadallowedhertodriveandtoridewithHerbertCourtlandduringthefourmonthstheyhadbeentogether，firstatEgypt，thenatFlorence，Vienna，Munich，andParis，andhecouldnothavebutseenthatHerbertandshehadagoodmanysympathiesincommon。Notawordhadbeenbreathed，however，ofasuspicionthattheyweremorethangoodfriendstoeachother。
(Asamatteroffact，theyhadnotbeenmorethangoodfriendstoeachother；butthensomehusbandsaregiventounworthysuspicions。)
Coulditbepossible，sheaskedherself，thatsomepeoplewithnastymindshadsuggestedtohiminParisthatsheandHerbertweretogetheragreatdealinLondon，andthathehadbeenledtomakethissuddenvisit，thissurprisevisittoLondon，withaviewofsatisfyinghimselfastothetruthofthenastyreports——thedisgracefulcalumnieswhichhadreachedhisears?
Ifhehaddoneso，allthatcouldbesaidwasthathehadbeensingularlyunfortunateinregardtohisvisit。“Unfortunate“wasthewordwhichwasinhermind，though，ofcourse/“fortunate“/wasthewordwhichshouldhaveoccurredtoher。Itwascertainlyafortunateresultofhisvisit——thattableauinthedrawingroomofMr。Ayrton:
Ellaandherdearestfriendstandingsidebyside，handinhand，asheentered。Asurprisevisit，itmayhavebeen，butassuredlythesurprisewasapleasantoneforthehusband，ifhehadlistenedtothevoiceofcalumny。
Andthen，afterponderinguponthiswithasmilingface，hersmilesuddenlyvanished。Shewasoverwhelmedwiththethoughtofwhatmighthavebeentheresultofthatsurprisevisit——yes，ifshehadnothadthestrengthtorunawaytothesideofPhyllis；yes，ifHerberthadnothadtheweaknesstojointhatpartyofpoker-playersaboardtheyacht。
Shebegantowonderwhatherhusbandwouldhavedoneifhehadenteredthehousebytheaidofhislatch-key，andhadfoundhersittinginthatlovelycostumebythesideofHerbertCourtland?Wouldhehavethoughtheraguiltywoman?WouldhehavethoughtHerbertafalsefriend?Wouldhehavekilledher，orwouldhehavekilledHerbert?
Herbertwould，shethought，takeagooddealofkillingfromamanofthecaliberofherhusband；butwhatcouldshehavedone?
Well，whatshedid，astheforceofthatthoughtcrushedherbackuponherchair，wastobringherhandstogetherinapassionateclasp，andtocryinapassionategasp:
“ThankGod——thankGod——thankGod！“
Shedinedalonewithherhusbandthatnight，andthoughtitwelltoappearinanothereveningtoilet——onethatwasquiteaslovely，thoughscarcelysostriking，asthatwhichherhusbandhadsoadmiredthepreviousnight。Heclearlyappreciatedhereffortstomaintainherlovelinessinhiseyes，andtheirlittledinnerwasaverypleasantone。
Hetoldherthathehadlearnedthattheyacht/WaterNymph/wouldputintoLeithbeforecrossingtheNorthSea，andthathehadwrittentoHerbertCourtlandatthatporttoreturnwithoutdelay。
“Youdidwrong，“saidshe；andshefeltthatshewasspeakingthetruth。
“Idon"tthinkso，“hereplied。“Atanyrate，youmayrestperfectlycertainthatHerbertwillreceivemyletterwithgratitude。”
AndMr。Linton"sjudgmentonthispointwasnotinerror。HerbertCourtlandreceived，ontheeveningofthethirddayafterleavingSouthampton，theletterwhichcalledhimbacktoLondon，andhecontrivedtoconcealwhateveremotionhemayhavefeltattheprospectofpartingfromhisshipmates。Theyaccompaniedhimashore，however——
theyhadwornoutsixpacksofcardsalready，andwereabouttobuyanotherdozenortwo，toseethemsafelythroughtheimposingsceneryoftheHardangerFjord。
ThenextdayhewasinLondon，anditwasontheeveningofthatsamedaythathecamefacetofacewiththeRev。GeorgeHollandoutsideMissAyrton"sdrawingroom。
CHAPTERXXV。
LIES！LIES！LIES！
“Youshouldhavecomealittlesooner，“saidPhyllisquitepleasantly。
“Mr。Courtlandwasgivingmesuchanamusingaccountofhislatestvoyage。Willyouhaveteaoricedcoffee?“
“Tea，ifyouplease，“saidGeorgeHolland，alsoquitepleasantly。“HasMr。Courtlandbeenonanothervoyageofdiscovery?Whathashelefthimselftodiscoverintheworldofwaters?“
“Ithinkthatwhathediscoveredonhislatestvoyagewastheeffectofabanjoonthehumanmind，“laughedPhyllis。“HewasaboardLordEarlscourt"syacht，the/WaterNymph/。Someothermenweretherealso。