第8章

ThetwoshadowyfiguresseenthroughthegreygauzesofthemorningbyRuth，fivehoursbeforethistime，hadgoneontotheopenplacebythenorthentranceofSylvaniaCastle，wherethelanetotheruinsoftheoldcastlebranchedoff。Alistenerwouldnothavegatheredthatasinglewordpassedbetweenthem。Themanwalkedwithdifficulty，supportedbythewoman。Atthisspottheystoppedandkissedeachotheralongwhile。

’WeoughttowalkallthewaytoBudmouth，ifwewishnottobediscovered，’hesaidsadly。’AndIcan’tevengetacrosstheisland，evenbyyourhelp，darling。Itistwomilestothefootofthehill。’

She，whowastrembling，triedtospeakconsolingly：

’IfyoucouldwalkweshouldhavetogodowntheStreetofWells，whereperhapssomebodywouldknowme？NowifwegetbelowheretotheCove，can’twepushoffoneofthelittleboatsIsawtherelastnight，andpaddlealongclosetotheshoretillwegettothenorthside？Thenwecanwalkacrosstothestationverywell。Itisquitecalm，andasthetidesetsinthatdirection，itwilltakeusalongofitself，withoutmuchrowing。I’veoftengotroundinaboatthatway。’

Thisseemedtobetheonlyplanthatoffered，andabandoningthestraightroadtheywounddownthedefilespannedfurtheronbytheoldcastlearch，andformingtheoriginalfosseofthefortress。

Thestrokeoftheirownfootsteps，lightlyasthesefell，wasflappedbacktothemwithimpertinentgratuitousnessbytheverticalfacesoftherock，sostillwaseverythingaround。Alittlefurther，andtheyemergedupontheopenledgeofthelowertierofcliffs，totherightbeingtheslopingpathwayleadingdowntothesecludedcreekattheirbase——thesinglepracticablespotofexitfromorentrancetotheisleonthissidebyaseagoingcraft；onceanactivewharf，whencemanyafinepublicbuildinghadsailed——includingSaintPaul’sCathedral。

Thetimorousshadowyshapesdescendedthefootway，oneatleastofthemknowingtheplacesowellthatshefounditscarcelynecessarytoguideherselfdownbytouchingthenaturalwallofstoneonherrighthand，ashercompaniondid。Thus，withquicksuspensivebreathingstheyarrivedatthebottom，andtrodthefewyardsofshinglewhich，ontheforbiddingshorehereabout，couldbefoundatthisspotalone。Itwassosolitaryastobeunvisitedoftenforfour-and-twentyhoursbyalivingsoul。Upontheconfinedbeachweredrawnuptwoorthreefishing-lerrets，andacoupleofsmallerones，besidethembeingaroughslipwayforlaunching，andaboathouseoftarredboards。Thetwoloversunitedtheirstrengthtopushthesmallestoftheboatsdowntheslope，andfloatingittheyscrambledin。

Thegirlbrokethesilencebyasking，’Wherearetheoars？’

Hefeltabouttheboat，butcouldfindnone。’Iforgottolookfortheoars！’hesaid。

’Theyarelockedintheboathouse，Isuppose。Nowwecanonlysteerandtrusttothecurrent！’

Thecurrentsherewereofacomplicatedkind。Itwastrue，asthegirlhadsaid，thatthetideranroundtothenorth，butataspecialmomentineveryfloodtheresetinalongtheshoreanarrowrefluxcontrarytothegeneralouterflow，called’TheSouthern’bythelocalsailors。ItwasproducedbythepeculiarcurvesofcoastlyingeastandwestoftheBeal；thesebentsouthwardintwobackstreamstheup-Channelflowoneachsideofthepeninsula，whichtwostreamsunitedoutsidetheBeal，andtheremetthedirecttidalflow，theconfluenceofthethreecurrentsmakingthesurfaceoftheseaatthispointtoboillikeapot，evenincalmestweather。Thedisturbedarea，asiswellknown，iscalledtheRace。

ThusalthoughtheouterseawasnowrunningnorthwardtotheroadsteadandthemainlandofWessex’TheSouthern’raninfullforcetowardstheBealandtheRacebeyond。Itcaughtthelovers’haplessboatinafewmoments，and，unabletorowacrossit——mereriver’swidththatitwas——

theybeheldthegreyrocksnearthem，andthegrimwrinkledforeheadoftheisleabove，slidingawaynorthwards。

Theygazedhelplesslyateachother，though，inthelong-livingfaithofyouth，withoutdistinctfear。Theundulationsincreasedinmagnitude，andswungthemhigherandlower。Theboatrocked，receivedasmartslapofthewavesnowandthen，andwheeledround，sothatthelightshipwhichstolidlywinkedatthemfromthequicksand，thesingleobjectwhichtoldthemoftheirbearings，wassometimesontheirrighthandandsometimesontheirleft。Neverthelesstheycouldalwaysdiscernfromitthattheircourse，whetherstemwardsorsternwards，wassteadilysouth。

Abrightideaoccurredtotheyoungman。Hepulledouthishandkerchiefand，strikingalight，setitonfire。Shegavehimhers，andhemadethatflareupalso。Theonlyavailablefuelleftwasthesmallumbrellathegirlhadbrought；thiswasalsokindledinanopenedstate，andhehelditupbythestemtillitwasconsumed。

Thelightshiphadloomedquitelargebythistime，andafewminutesaftertheyhadburntthehandkerchiefsandumbrellaacolouredflamerepliedtothemfromthevessel。Theyflungtheirarmsroundeachother。

’Iknewweshouldn’tbedrowned！’saidAvicehysterically。

’Ithoughtweshouldn’ttoo，’saidhe。

Withtheappearanceofdayaboatputofftotheirassistance，andtheyweretowedtowardstheheavyredhulkwiththelargewhitelettersonitsside。

3。VII。ANOLDTABERNACLEINANEWASPECT

TheOctoberdaythickenedintodusk，andJocelynsatmusingbesidethecorpseofMrs。Pierston。Avicehavinggoneawaynobodyknewwhither，hehadactedasthenearestfriendofthefamily，andattendedaswellashecouldtothesombredutiesnecessitatedbyhermother’sdecease。

Itwasdoubtful，indeed，ifanybodyelsewereinapositiontodoso。

OfAvicetheSecond’stwobrothers，onehadbeendrownedatsea，andtheotherhademigrated，whileheronlychildbesidesthepresentAvicehaddiedininfancy。Asforherfriends，shehadbecomesoabsorbedinherambitiousandnearlyaccomplisheddesignofmarryingherdaughtertoJocelyn，thatshehadgraduallycompletedthatestrangementbetweenherselfandtheotherislanderswhichhadbeenbegunsolongagoaswhen，ayoungwoman，shehadherselfbeenaskedbyPierstontomarryhim。Onhertantalizinginabilitytoacceptthehonouroffered，sheandherhusbandhadbeensetupinamatter-of-factbusinessinthestonetradebyherpatron，butthatunforgettablerequestintheLondonstudiohadmadeherfeeleversincearefinedkinshipwithsculpture，andaproportionatealoofnessfrommerequarrying，whichwas，perhaps，nomorethanavenialweaknessinAvicetheSecond。Herdaughter’sobjectiontoJocelynshecouldneverunderstand。Toherowneyehewasnoolderthanwhenhehadproposedtoher。

AshesatdarklingheretheghostlyoutlinesofformershapestakenbyhisLovecameroundtheirsistertheunconsciouscorpse，confrontinghimfromthewallinsadarray，likethepicturedTrojanwomenbeheldbyAEneasonthewallsofCarthage。Manyofthemhehadidealizedinbustandinfigurefromtimetotime，butitwasnotassuchthatherememberedandreanimatedthemnow；ratherwasitinalltheirnaturalcircumstances，weaknesses，andstains。Andthenashecametohimselftheirvoicesgrewfainter；theyhadallgoneoffontheirdifferentcareers，andhewasleftherealone。

Theprobableridiculethatwouldresulttohimfromtheeventsofthedayhedidnotmindinitselfatall。Buthewouldfainhaveremovedthemisapprehensionsonwhichitwouldbebased。That，however，wasimpossible。Nobodywouldeverknowthetruthabouthim；whatitwashehadsoughtthathadsoeluded，tantalized，andescapedhim；whatitwasthathadledhimsuchadance，andhadatlast，ashebelievedjustnowinthefreshnessofhisloss，beendiscoveredinthegirlwhohadlefthim。Itwasnottheflesh；hehadneverkneltlowtothat。Notawomanintheworldhadbeenwreckedbyhim，thoughhehadbeenimpassionedbysomany。Nobodywouldguessthefurthersentiment——thecordialloving-kindness——whichhadlainbehindwhathadseemedtohimtheenrapturedfulfilmentofapleasingdestinypostponedforfortyyears。HisattractiontothethirdAvicewouldberegardedbytheworldastheselfishdesignsofanelderlymanonamaid。

Hislifeseemednolongeraprofessionalman’sexperience，butaghoststory；andhewouldfainhavevanishedfromhishauntsonthiscriticalafternoon，astheresthaddone。Hedesiredtosleepawayhistendencies，tomakesomethinghappenwhichwouldputanendtohisbondagetobeautyintheideal。

Sohesatontillitwasquitedark，andalightwasbrought。Therewasachillywindblowingoutside，andthelightshiponthequicksandafarlookedharassedandforlorn。Thehaggardsolitudewasbrokenbyaringatthedoor。

Pierstonheardavoicebelow，theaccentsofawoman。Theyhadagroundqualityoffamiliarity，asuperficialarticulationofstrangeness。Onlyonepersoninallhisexperiencehadeverpossessedpreciselythosetones；rich，asiftheyhadoncebeenpowerful。

Explanationsseemedtobeaskedforandgiven，andinaminutehewasinformedthataladywasdownstairswhomperhapshewouldliketosee。

’Whoisthelady？’Jocelynasked。

Theservanthesitatedalittle。’Mrs。Leverre——themotherofthe——

younggentlemanMissAvicehasrunoffwith。’

’Yes——I’llseeher，’saidPierston。

HecoveredthefaceofthedeadAvice，anddescended。’Leverre，’hesaidtohimself。Hisearshadknownthatnamebeforeto-day。ItwasthenamethosetravellingAmericanshehadmetinRomegavethewomanhesupposedmightbeMarciaBencomb。

Asuddenadjustinglightburstuponmanyfamiliarthingsatthatmoment。Hefoundthevisitorinthedrawing-room，standingupveiled，thecarriagewhichhadbroughtherbeinginwaitingatthedoor。Bythedimlighthecouldseenothingofherfeaturesinsuchcircumstances。

’Mr。Pierston？’

’IamMr。Pierston。’

’YourepresentthelateMrs。Pierston？’

’Ido——thoughIamnotoneofthefamily。’

’Iknowit……IamMarcia——afterfortyyears。’

’Iwasdiviningasmuch，Marcia。Maythelineshavefallentoyouinpleasantplacessincewelastmet！But，ofallmomentsofmylife，whydoyouchoosetohuntmeupnow？’

’Why——Iamthestep-motherandonlyrelationoftheyoungmanyourbrideelopedwiththismorning。’

’Iwasjustguessingthat，too，asIcamedownstairs。But——’

’AndIamnaturallymakinginquiries。’

’Yes。Letustakeitquietly，andshutthedoor。’

Marciasatdown。Andhelearntthattheconjunctionofoldthingsandnewwasnoaccident。WhatMrs。Pierstonhaddiscussedwithhernurseandneighbourasvagueintelligence，wasnowrevealedtoJocelynatfirsthandbyMarciaherself；how，manyyearsaftertheirseparation，andwhenshewasleftpoorbythedeathofherimpoverishedfather，shehadbecomethewifeofthatbygoneJerseyloverofhers，whowantedatendernurseandmotherfortheinfantlefthimbyhisfirstwiferecentlydeceased；howhehaddiedafewyearslater，leavingherwiththeboy，whomshehadbroughtupatSt。HeliersandinParis，educatinghimaswellasshecouldwithherlimitedmeans，tillhebecametheFrenchmasterataschoolinSandbourne；andhow，ayearago，sheandhersonhadgottoknowMrs。Pierstonandherdaughterontheirvisittotheisland，’toascertain，’sheadded，moredeliberately，’notentirelyforsentimentalreasons，whathadbecomeofthemanwithwhomIelopedinthefirstflushofmyyoungwomanhood，andonlymissedmarryingbymyownwill。’

Pierstonbowed。

’Well，thatwashowtheacquaintancebetweenthechildrenbegan，andtheirpassionateattachmenttoeachother。’ShedetailedhowAvicehadinducedhermothertolethertakelessonsinFrenchofyoungLeverre，renderingtheirmeetingseasy。Marciahadneverthoughtofhinderingtheirintimacy，forinherrecentyearsofafflictionshehadacquiredanewinterestinthenameshehadrefusedtotakeinherpurse-proudyoungwomanhood；anditwasnotuntilsheknewhowdeterminedMrs。

PierstonwastomakeherdaughterJocelyn’swifethatshehadobjectedtoherson’sacquaintancewithAvice。Butitwastoolatetohinderwhathadbeenbegun。Hehadlatelybeenill，andshehadbeenfrightenedbyhisnotreturninghomethenightbefore。ThenoteshehadreceivedfromhimthatdayhadonlyinformedherthatAviceandhimselfhadgonetobemarriedimmediately——whithershedidnotknow。

’Whatdoyoumeantodo？’sheasked。

’Idonothing：thereisnothingtobedone……ItishowIservedhergrandmother——oneofTime’srevenges。’

’Servedhersoforme。’

’Yes。Nowshemeforyourson。’

Marciapausedalongwhilethinkingthatover，tillarousingherselfsheresumed：’Butcan’tweinquirewhichwaytheywentoutoftheisland，orgathersomeparticularsaboutthem？’

’Aye——yes。Wewill。’

AndPierstonfoundhimselfasinadreamwalkingbesideMarciaalongtheroadintheircommonquest。Hediscoveredthatalmosteveryoneoftheneighbouringinhabitantsknewmoreabouttheloversthanhedidhimself。

Atthecornersomemenwereengagedinconversationontheoccurrence。

Itwasallusiveonly，butknowingthedialect，PierstonandMarciagathereditsimporteasily。Assoonasithadgotlightthatmorningoneoftheboatswasdiscoveredmissingfromthecreekbelow，andwhentheflightoftheloverswasmadeknownitwasinferredthattheyweretheculprits。

UnconsciouslyPierstonturnedinthedirectionofthecreek，withoutregardingwhetherMarciafollowedhim，andthoughitwasdarkerthanwhenAviceandLeverrehaddescendedinthemorninghepursuedhiswaydowntheinclinetillhereachedthewater-side。

’Isthatyou，Jocelyn？’

TheinquirycamefromMarcia。Shewasbehindhim，abouthalf-waydown。

’Yes，’hesaid，noticingthatitwasthefirsttimeshehadcalledhimbyhisChristianname。

’Ican’tseewhereyouare，andIamafraidtofollow。’

Afraidtofollow。Howstrangelythatalteredhisconceptionofher。

Tillthismomentshehadstoodinhismindastheimperious，invincibleMarciaofold。Therewasastrangepathosinthisrevelation。Hewentbackandfeltforherhand。’I’llleadyoudown，’hesaid。Andhedidso。

Theylookedoutuponthesea，andthelightshipshiningasifithadquiteforgottenallaboutthefugitives。’Iamsouneasy，’saidMarcia。’Doyouthinktheygotsafelytoland？’

’Yes，’repliedsomeoneotherthanJocelyn。Itwasaboatmansmokingintheshadowoftheboathouse。Heinformedherthattheywerepickedupbythelightshipmen，andafterwards，attheirrequest，takenacrosstotheoppositeshore，wheretheylanded，proceedingthenceonfoottothenearestrailwaystationandenteringthetrainforLondon。Thisintelligencehadreachedtheislandaboutanhourbefore。

’They’llbemarriedto-morrowmorning！’saidMarcia。

’Somuchthebetter。Don’tregretit，Marcia。Heshallnotlosebyit。Ihavenorelationintheworldexceptsometwentiethcousinsintheisle，ofwhomherfatherwasone，andI’lltakestepsatoncetomakeheragoodmatchforhim。Asforme……Ihavelivedadaytoolong。’

3。VIII。’ALASFORTHISGREYSHADOW，ONCEAMAN！’

InthemonthofNovemberwhichfollowedPierstonwaslyingdangerouslyillofafeverathishouseinLondon。

ThefuneralofthesecondAvicehadhappenedtobeononeofthosedrenchingafternoonsoftheautumn，whentherawrainflieslevelasthemissilesoftheancientinhabitantsacrossthebeakedpromontorywhichhasformedthesceneofthisnarrative，scarcelyalightingexceptagainsttheuprightsidesofthingssturdyenoughtostanderect。Onepersononlyfollowedthecorpseintothechurchaschiefmourner，JocelynPierston——fickleloverinthebrief，faithfulfriendinthelongrun。NomeanshadbeenfoundofcommunicatingwithAvicebeforetheinterment，thoughthedeathhadbeenadvertisedinthelocalandotherpapersinthehopethatitmightcatchhereye。

So，whenthepatheticprocessioncameoutofthechurchandmovedroundintothegraveyard，ahiredvehiclefromBudmouthwasseencomingatgreatspeedalongtheopenroadfromTop-o’-Hill。Itstoppedatthechurchyardgate，andayoungmanandwomanalightedandentered，thevehiclewaiting。TheyglidedalongthepathandreachedPierston’ssidejustasthebodywasdepositedbythegrave。

Hedidnotturnhishead。HeknewitwasAvice，withHenriLeverre——bythistime，hesupposed，herhusband。Herremorsefulgrief，thoughsilent，seemedtoimpregnatetheatmospherewithitsheaviness。

PerceivingthattheyhadnotexpectedhimtobetherePierstonedgedback；andwhentheservicewasoverhekeptstillfurtheraloof，anactofconsideratenesswhichsheseemedtoappreciate。

Thus，byhisowncontrivance，neitherAvicenortheyoungmanheldcommunicationwithJocelynbywordorbysign。Aftertheburialtheyreturnedastheyhadcome。

ItwassupposedthathisexposurethatdayinthebleakestchurchyardinWessex，tellinguponadistractedmentalandbodilycondition，hadthrownPierstonintothechillandfeverwhichheldhimswayingforweeksbetweenlifeanddeathshortlyafterhisreturntotown。Whenhehadpassedthecrisis，andbegantoknowagainthattherewassuchastateasmentalequilibriumandphysicalcalm，heheardawhisperedconversationgoingonaroundhim，andthetouchoffootstepsonthecarpet。Thelightinthechamberwassosubduedthatnothingaroundhimcouldbeseenwithanydistinctness。Twolivingfigureswerepresent，anursemovingaboutsoftly，andavisitor。Hediscernedthatthelatterwasfeminine，andforthetimethiswasall。

Hewasrecalledtohissurroundingsbyavoicemurmuringtheinquiry：

’Doesthelighttryyoureyes？’

Thetonesseemedfamiliar：theywerespokenbythewomanwhowasvisitinghim。HerecollectedthemtobeMarcia’s，andeverythingthathadhappenedbeforehefellillcamebacktohismind。

’Areyouhelpingtonurseme，Marcia？’heasked。

’Yes。Ihavecomeuptostayheretillyouarebetter，asyouseemtohavenootherwomanfriendwhocareswhetheryouaredeadoralive。I

amlivingquitenear。Iamgladyouhavegotroundthecorner。Wehavebeenveryanxious。’

’Howgoodyouare！……And——haveyouheardoftheothers？’

’Theyaremarried。Theyhavebeenheretoseeyou，andareverysorry。

Shesatbyyou，butyoudidnotknowher。Shewasbrokendownwhenshediscoveredhermother’sdeath，whichhadneveronceoccurredtoherasbeingimminent。Theyhavegoneawayagain。Ithoughtitbestsheshouldleave，nowthatyouareoutofdanger。NowyoumustbequiettillIcomeandtalkagain。’

Pierstonwasconsciousofasingularchangeinhimself，whichhadbeenrevealedbythisslightdiscourse。Hewasnolongerthesamemanthathehadhithertobeen。Themalignantfever，orhisexperiences，orboth，hadtakenawaysomethingfromhim，andputsomethingelseinitsplace。

Duringthenextdays，withfurtherintellectualexpansion，hebecameclearlyawareofwhatthiswas。Theartisticsensehadlefthim，andhecouldnolongerattachadefinitesentimenttoimagesofbeautyrecalledfromthepast。Hisappreciativenesswascapableofexercisingitselfonlyonutilitarianmatters，andrecollectionofAvice’sgoodqualitiesalonehadanyeffectonhismind；ofherappearancenoneatall。

Atfirsthewasappalled；andthenhesaid，’ThankGod！’

Marcia，who，withsomethingofheroldabsolutism，cametohishousecontinuallytoinquireandgiveorders，andtohisroomtoseehimeveryafternoon，foundoutforherselfinthecourseofhisconvalescencethisstrangedeathofthesensuoussideofJocelyn’snature。ShehadsaidthatAvicewasgettingextraordinarilyhandsome，andthatshedidnotwonderherstepsonlosthishearttoher——aninadvertentremarkwhichsheimmediatelyregretted，infearlestitshouldagitatehim。Hemerelyanswered，however，’Yes；Isupposesheishandsome。She’smore——awisegirlwhowillmakeagoodhousewifeintime……Iwishyouwerenothandsome，Marcia。’

’Why？’

’Idon’tquiteknowwhy。Well——itseemsastupidqualitytome。I

can’tunderstandwhatitisgoodforanymore。’

’O——Iasawomanthinkthere’sgoodinit。’

’Isthere？ThenIhavelostallconceptionofit。Idon’tknowwhathashappenedtome。IonlyknowIdon’tregretit。RobinsonCrusoelostadayinhisillness：Ihavelostafaculty，forwhichlossHeavenbepraised！’

Therewassomethingpatheticinthisannouncement，andMarciasighedasshesaid，’Perhapswhenyougetstrongitwillcomebacktoyou。’

Pierstonshookhishead。ItthenoccurredtohimthatneversincethereappearanceofMarciahadheseenherinfulldaylight，orwithoutabonnetandthickveil，whichshealwaysretainedonthesefrequentvisits，andthathehadbeenunconsciouslyregardingherastheMarciaoftheirearlytime，afancywhichthesmallchangeinhervoicewellsustained。Thestatelyfigure，thegoodcolour，theclassicalprofile，theratherlargehandsomenoseandsomewhatprominent，regularteeth，thefulldarkeye，formedstilltheMarciaofhisimagination；thequeenlycreaturewhohadinfatuatedhimwhenthefirstAvicewasdespisedandhersuccessorsunknown。Itwasthisoldideawhich，inhisrevoltfrombeauty，hadledtohisregretatherassumedhandsomeness。Hebeganwonderingnowhowmuchremainedofthatpresentationafterfortyyears。

’Whydon’tyoueverletmeseeyou，Marcia？’heasked。

’O，Idon’tknow。Youmeanwithoutmybonnet？Youhaveneveraskedmeto，andIamobligedtowrapupmyfacewiththiswoolveilbecauseI

suffersofromachesinthesecoldwinterwinds，thoughathickveilisawkwardforanyonewhosesightisnotsogoodasitwas。’

TheimpregnableMarcia’ssightnotsogoodasitwas，andherfaceintheachingstageoflife：thesesimplethingscameassermonstoJocelyn。

’ButcertainlyIwillgratifyyourcuriosity，’sheresumedgood-

naturedly。’Itisreallyacomplimentthatyoushouldstilltakethatsortofinterestinme。’

Shehadmovedroundfromthedarksideoftheroomtothelamp——forthedaylighthadgone——andshenowsuddenlytookoffthebonnet，veilandall。Shestoodrevealedtohiseyesasremarkablygood-looking，consideringthelapseofyears。

’Iam——vexed！’hesaid，turninghisheadasideimpatiently。’Youarefairandfive-and-thirty——notadaymore。Youstillsuggestbeauty。

YOUwon’tdoasachastisement，Marcia！’

’Ah，butImay！Tothinkthatyouknowwomannobetterafterallthistime！’

’How？’

’Tobesoeasilydeceived。Think：itislamplight；andyoursightisweakatpresent；and……Well，Ihavenoreasonforbeinganythingbutcandidnow，Godknows！SoIwilltellyou……Myhusbandwasyoungerthanmyself；andhehadanabsurdwishtomakepeoplethinkhehadmarriedayoungandfresh-lookingwoman。TofallinwithhisvanityItriedtolookit。WewereofteninParis，andIbecameasskilledinbeautifyingartificesasanypasseewifeoftheFaubourgSt。

Germain。SincehisdeathIhavekeptupthepractice，partlybecausetheviceisalmostineradicable，andpartlybecauseIfoundthatithelpedmewithmeninbringinguphisboyonsmallmeans。AtthismomentIamfrightfullymadeup。ButIcancurethat。I’llcomeinto-morrowmorning，ifitisbright，justasIreallyam；you’llfindthatTimehasnotdisappointedyou。RememberIamasoldasyourself；

andIlookit。’

Themorrowcame，andwithitMarcia，quiteearly，asshehadpromised。

Ithappenedtobesunny，andshuttingthebedroomdoorshewentroundtothewindow，wheresheuncoveredimmediately，inhisfullview，andsaid，’SeeifIamsatisfactorynow——toyouwhothinkbeautyvain。Therestofme——anditisagooddeal——liesonmydressing-tableathome。

Ishallneverputitonagain——never！’

Butshewasawoman；andherlipsquivered，andtherewasatearinhereye，assheexposedtheruthlesstreatmenttowhichshehadsubjectedherself。Thecruelmorningrays——aswithJocelynunderAvice’sscrutiny——showedintheirfullbareness，unenrichedbyaddition，undisguisedbytheartsofcolourandshade，thethinremainsofwhathadoncebeenMarcia’smajesticbloom。ShestoodtheimageandsuperscriptionofAge——anoldwoman，paleandshrivelled，herforeheadploughed，hercheekhollow，herhairwhiteassnow。Tothisthefaceheoncekissedhadbeenbroughtbytheraspings，chisellings，scourgings，bakings，freezingsoffortyinvidiousyears——bythethinkingsofmorethanhalfalifetime。

’IamsorryifIshockyou，’shewentonhuskilybutfirmly，ashedidnotspeak。’Butthemothfretsthegarmentsomewhatinsuchaninterval。’

’Yes——yes！……Marcia，youareabravewoman。Youhavethecourageofthegreatwomenofhistory。Icannolongerlove；butIadmireyoufrommysoul！’

’Don’tsayIamgreat。SayIhavebeguntobepassablyhonest。Itismorethanenough。’

’Well——I’llsaynothingthen，morethanhowwonderfulitisthatawomanshouldhavebeenabletoputbacktheclockofTimethirtyyears！’

’Itshamesmenow，Jocelyn。Ishallneverdoitanymore！’

***

Assoonashewasstrongenoughhegothertotakehimroundtohisstudioinacarriage。Theplacehadbeenkeptaired，buttheshutterswereshut，andtheyopenedthemthemselves。Helookedrounduponthefamiliarobjects——somecompleteandmatured，themainofthemseedlings，grafts，andscionsofbeauty，waitingforamindtogrowtoperfectionin。

’No——Idon’tlikethem！’hesaid，turningaway。’Theyareasuglinesstome！Idon’tfeelasingletouchofkinwithorinterestinanyoneofthemwhatever。’

’Jocelyn——thisissad。’

’No——notatall。’Hewentagaintowardsthedoor。’Nowletmelookround。’Helookedback，Marciaremainingsilent。’TheAphrodites——howIinsultedherfairformbythosefailures！——theFreyjas，theNymphsandFauns，Eves，Avices，andotherinnumerableWell-Beloveds——Iwanttoseethemneveranymore！……"Insteadofsweetsmellthereshallbestink，andthereshallbeburninginsteadofbeauty，"saidtheprophet。’

Andtheycameaway。OnanotherafternoontheywenttotheNationalGallery，totesthistasteinpaintings，whichhadformerlybeengood。

Asshehadexpected，itwasjustthesamewithhimthere。Hesawnomoretomovehim，hedeclared，inthetime-defyingpresentationsofPerugino，Titian，Sebastiano，andotherstatuesquecreatorsthanintheworkofthepavementartisttheyhadpassedontheirway。

’Itisstrange！’saidshe。

’Idon’tregretit。Thatfeverhaskilledafacultywhichhas，afterall，broughtmemygreatestsorrows，ifafewlittlepleasures。Letusbegone。’

Hewasnowsowelladvancedinconvalescencethatitwasdeemedamostdesirablethingtotakehimdownintohisnativeair。Marciaagreedtoaccompanyhim。’Idon’tseewhyIshouldn’t，’saidshe。’Anoldfriendlesswomanlikeme，andyouanoldfriendlessman。’

’Yes。ThankHeavenIamoldatlast。Thecurseisremoved。’

ItmaybeshortlystatedherethatafterhisdeparturefortheislePierstonneveragainsawhisstudiooritscontents。Hehadbeendowntherebutabriefwhilewhen，findinghissenseofbeautyinartandnatureabsolutelyextinct，hedirectedhisagentintowntodispersethewholecollection；whichwasdone。Hisleaseofthebuildingwassold，andinthecourseoftimeanothersculptorwonadmirationtherefromthosewhoknewnotJoseph。ThenextyearhisnamefiguredontheretiredlistofAcademicians。

***

Astimewentonhegrewaswellasoneofhisagecouldexpecttobeaftersuchablastingillness，butremainedontheisle，intheonlyhousehenowpossessed，acomparativelysmalloneatthetopoftheStreetofWells。AgrowingsenseoffriendshipwhichitwouldbefoolishtointerruptledhimtotakeasomewhatsimilarhouseforMarciaquitenear，andremoveherfurniturethitherfromSandbourne。

WhenevertheafternoonwasfinehewouldcallforherandtheywouldtakeastrolltogethertowardstheBeal，ortheancientCastle，seldomgoingthewholeway，hissciaticaandherrheumatismeffectuallypreventingthem，exceptinthedriestatmospheres。Hehadnowchangedhisstyleofdressentirely，appearingalwaysinahomelysuitoflocalmake，andofthefashionofthirtyyearsbefore，theachievementofatailoressatEastQuarriers。Healsolethisiron-greybeardgrowasitwould，andwhatlittlehairhehadleftfromthebaldnesswhichhadfollowedthefever。Andthus，numberinginyearsbuttwo-and-sixty，hemighthavepassedforseventy-five。

Thoughtheirearlyadventureaslovershadhappenedsolongago，itshistoryhadbecomeknownintheislewithmysteriousrapidityandfulnessofdetail。Thegossiptowhichitsbearingontheirpresentfriendshipgaverisewasthesubjectoftheirconversationononeofthesewalksalongthecliffs。

’Itisextraordinarywhataninterestourneighbourstakeinouraffairs，’heobserved。’Theysay"thoseoldfolkoughttomarry；

betterlatethannever。"That’showpeopleare——wantingtoroundoffotherpeople’shistoriesinthebestmachine-madeconventionalmanner。’

’Yes。Theykeeponaboutittome，too，indirectly。’

’Dothey！Ibelieveadeputationwillwaituponussomemorning，requestingintheinterestsofmatchmakingthatwewillpleasetogetmarriedassoonaspossible……Hownearweweretodoingitfortyyearsago，onlyyouweresoindependent！Ithoughtyouwouldhavecomebackandwasmuchsurprisedthatyoudidn’t。’

’Myindependentideaswerenotblameworthyinme，asanislander，thoughasakimberlinyoungladyperhapstheywouldhavebeen。Therewassimplynoreasonfromanislander’spointofviewwhyIshouldcomeback，sincenoresultthreatenedfromourunion；andIdidn’t。Myfatherkeptthatviewbeforeme，andIbowedtohisjudgment。’

’Andsotheislandruledourdestinies，thoughwewerenotonit。Yes——

weareinhandsnotourown……Didyouevertellyourhusband？’

’No。’

’Didheeverhearanything？’

’NotthatIamaware。’

Callinguponheroneday，hefoundherinastateofgreatdiscomfort。

Incertaingustywindsthechimneysofthelittlehouseshehadtakenheresmokedintolerably，andoneofthesewindswasblowingthen。Herdrawing-roomfirecouldnotbekeptburning，andratherthanletawomanwhosufferedfromrheumatismshiverfirelessheaskedhertocomeroundandlunchwithhimasshehadoftendonebefore。Astheywenthethought，notforthefirsttime，howneedlessitwasthatsheshouldbeputtothisinconveniencebytheiroccupyingtwohouses，whenonewouldbettersuittheirnowconstantcompanionship，anddisembarrassheroftheobjectionablechimneys。Moreover，bymarryingMarcia，andestablishingaparentalrelationwiththeyoungpeople，theratherdelicatebusinessofhismakingthemaregularallowancewouldbecomeanaturalproceeding。

Andsothezealouswishesoftheneighbourstogiveageometricalshapetotheirstorywerefulfilledalmostinspiteofthechiefpartiesthemselves。Whenheputthequestiontoherdistinctly，Marciaadmittedthatshehadalwaysregrettedtheimperiousdecisionofheryouth；andshemadenoadoaboutacceptinghim。

’Ihavenolovetogive，youknow，Marcia，’hesaid。’ButsuchfriendshipasIamcapableofisyourstilltheend。’

’Itisnearlythesamewithme——perhapsnotquite。But，liketheotherpeople，Ihavesomehowfelt，andyouwillunderstandwhy，thatIoughttobeyourwifebeforeIdie。’

Itchancedthatadayortwobeforetheceremony，whichwasfixedtotakeplaceveryshortlyaftertheforegoingconversation，Marcia’srheumatismsuddenlybecameacute。Theattackpromised，however，tobeonlytemporary，owingtosomeaccidentalexposureofherselfinmakingpreparationsforremoval，andastheythoughtitundesirabletopostponetheirunionforsuchareason，Marcia，afterbeingwellwrappedup，waswheeledintothechurchinachair。

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Amonththereafter，whentheyweresittingatbreakfastonemorning，Marciaexclaimed’Well——goodheavens！’whilereadingalettershehadjustreceivedfromAvice，whowaslivingwithherhusbandinahousePierstonhadboughtforthematSandbourne。

Jocelynlookedup。

’Why——AvicesaysshewantstobeseparatedfromHenri！Didyoueverhearofsuchathing！She’scominghereaboutitto-day。’

’Separated？Whatdoesthechildmean！’Pierstonreadtheletter。

’Ridiculousnonsense！’hecontinued。’Shedoesn’tknowwhatshewants。

Isayshesha’n’tbeseparated！Tellherso，andthere’sanendofit。

Why——howlonghavetheybeenmarried？Nottwelvemonths。Whatwillshesaywhentheyhavebeenmarriedtwentyyears！’

Marciaremainedreflecting。’Ithinkthatremorsefulfeelingsheunluckilyhasattimes，ofhavingdisobeyedhermother，andcausedherdeath，makesherirritable，’shemurmured。’Poorchild！’

Lunch-timehadhardlycomewhenAvicearrived，lookingverytearfulandexcited。Marciatookherintoaninnerroom，hadaconversationwithher，andtheycameouttogether。

’Oit’snothing，’saidMarcia。’Itellhershemustgobackdirectlyshehashadsomeluncheon。’

’Ah，that’sallverywell！’sobbedAvice。’B-b-butifyouhadbeenm-

marriedsolongasIhave，y-youwouldn’tsaygobacklikethat！’

’Whatisitallabout？’inquiredPierston。

’HesaidthatifheweretodieI——I——shouldbelookingoutforsomebodywithfairhairandgreyeyes，just——justtospitehiminhisgrave，becausehe’sdark，andhe’squitesureIdon’tlikedarkpeople！

Andthenhesaid——ButIwon’tbesotreacherousastotellanymoreabouthim！Iwish——’

’Avice，yourmotherdidthisverything。Andshewentbacktoherhusband。Nowyouaretodothesame。Letmesee；thereisatrain——’

’Shemusthavesomethingtoeatfirst。Sitdown，dear。’

ThequestionwassettledbythearrivalofHenrihimselfattheendofluncheon，withaveryanxiousandpaleface。Pierstonwentofftoabusinessmeeting，andlefttheyoungcoupletoadjusttheirdifferencesintheirownway。

Hisbusinesswas，amongkindredundertakingswhichfollowedtheextinctionoftheWell-Belovedandotherideals，toadvanceaschemefortheclosingoftheoldnaturalfountainsintheStreetofWells，becauseoftheirpossiblecontamination，andsupplyingthetownletwithwaterfrompipes，aschemethatwascarriedoutathisexpense，asiswellknown。Hewasalsoengagedinacquiringsomeoldmoss-grown，mullionedElizabethancottages，forthepurposeofpullingthemdownbecausetheyweredamp；whichheafterwardsdid，andbuiltnewoneswithhollowwalls，andfullofventilators。

Atpresentheissometimesmentionedas’thelateMr。Pierston’bygourd-likeyoungart-criticsandjournalists；andhisproductionsarealludedtoasthoseofamannotwithoutgenius，whosepowerswereinsufficientlyrecognizedinhislifetime。