第12章

Icouldn’thelpjumpingstraightup——Istoodbeforehim。"SothatwhoevermayhaveBEENtheman，themanNOW，theactualman——"

"Oh，"saidObert，looking，luminousandstraight，upatmefromhisseat，"themannow，theactualman——！"Buthestoppedshort，withhiseyessuddenlyquittingmeandhiswordsbecomingaformlessejaculation。Thedooroftheroom，towhichmybackwasturned，hadopened，andIquicklylookedround。ItwasBrissendenhimselfwho，tomysupremesurprise，stoodthere，withrapidinquiryinhisattitudeandface。Isaw，assoonashecaughtmine，thatIwaswhathewanted，and，immediatelyexcusingmyselfforaninstanttoObert，Ianticipated，bymovingacrosstheroom，theneed，onpoorBriss’spart，ofmyfurtherdemonstration。Mywholesenseofthesituationblazedupatthetouchofhispresence，andevenbeforeIreachedhimithadrolledovermeinaprodigiouswavethatIhadlostnothingwhatever。Ican’tbegintosayhowthefactofhisappearancecrownedthecommunicationmyinterlocutorhadjustmademe，norinwhatabrightconfusionofmanythingsIfoundmyselffacingpoorBriss。OneofthesethingswaspreciselythathehadneverbeensomuchpoorBrissasatthismoment。Thatministeredtotheconfusionaswellastothebrightness，forifhisbeingthereatallrenewedmysourcesandreplenishedmycurrent——spokeall，inshort，formygain——so，ontheotherhand，inthelightofwhatIhadjusthadfromObert，hisparticularaspectwassomethingofashock。

Ican’tpresentthisespecialimpressionbetterthanbythementionofmyinstantcertitudethatwhathehadcomeforwastobringmeamessageandthatsomehow——yes，indubitably——thiscircumstanceseemedtohaveplacedhimagainattheverybottomofhishole。Itwasdowninthatdepththatheletmeseehim——itwasoutofitthathedeliveredhimself。PoorBriss！

poorBriss！——IhadaskedmyselfbeforehespokewithwhatkindnessenoughIcouldmeethim。PoorBriss！poorBriss！——IamnotevennowsurethatIdidn’tfirstmeethimbyTHATirrepressiblemurmur。Itwasinitallformethat，thus，atmidnight，hehadtraversedonhiserrandthelengthofthegreatdarkhouse。Itrodwithhim，overthevelvetandthemarble，throughthetwistsandturns，amongthegloomsandglimmersandechoes，everyinchoftheway，andIdon’tknowwhathumiliation，forhim，wasconstitutedthere，betweenus，byhislongpilgrimage。Itwasthefinalexpressionofhissacrifice。

"Mywifehassomethingtosaytoyou。"

"Mrs。Briss？Good！"——andIcouldonlyhopethecandourofmysurprisewasallItriedtomakeit。"Isshewithyouthere？"

"No，butshehasaskedmetosaytoyouthatifyou’llpresentlybeinthedrawing—roomshe’llcome。"

Whocoulddoubt，asIlaidmyhandonhisshoulder，fairlypattingit，inspiteofmyself，forapplause——whocoulddoubtwhereIwouldpresentlybe？"It’smostuncommonlygoodofbothofyou。"

Therewassomethinginhisinscrutableservicethat，makinghimalmostaugust，gavemydissimulatedeagernessthesoundofaheartlesscompliment。

Istoodforthehollowchatterofthevulgarworld，andhe——oh，hewasasseriousashewasconscious；whichwasenough。"Shesaysyou’llknowwhatshewishes——andshewassureI’dfindyouhere。SoImaytellheryou’llcome？"

Hiscourtesyhalfbrokemyheart。"Why，mydearman，withallthepleasure——！

Somanythousandthanks。I’llbewithher。"

"ThankstoYOU。She’llbedown。Good—night。"Helookedroundtheroom——atthetwoorthreeclustersofmen，smoking，engaged，contented，ontheireasyseatsandamongtheirpoppedcorks；helookedoveraninstantatFordObert，whoseeyes，Ithought，hemomentarilyheld。Itwasabsolutelyasif，forme，hewereseekingsuchthings——outofwhatwasclosingoverhim——forthelasttime。Thenheturnedagaintothedoor，which，justnottofailhumanlytoaccompanyhimastep，Ihadopened。OntheothersideofitItookleaveofhim。Thepassage，thoughtherewasalightinthedistance，wasdarkerthanthesmoking—room，andIhaddrawnthedoorto。

"Good—night，Brissenden。Ishallbegonetomorrowbeforeyoushow。"

Ishallneverforgetthewaythat，struckbymyword，helethiswhitefacefixmeinthedusk。"’Show’？WHATdoIshow？"

Ihadtakenhishandforfarewell，and，inevitablylaughing，butasthefalsestofnotes，Igaveitashake。"Youshownothing！You’remagnificent。"

Heletmekeephishandwhilethingsunspokenanduntouched，unspeakableanduntouchable，everythingthathadbeenbetweenusinthewoodafewhoursbefore，werebetweenusagain。Butsowecouldonlyleavethem，and，withashort，sharp"Good—bye！"hecompletelyreleasedhimself。WithmyhandonthelatchofthecloseddoorIwatchedaminutehisretreatalongthepassage，andIrememberthereflectionthat，beforerejoiningObert，Imadeonit。Iseemedperpetually，atNewmarch，tobetakinghismeasurefrombehind。

FordOberthassincetoldmethatwhenIcamebacktohimthereweretearsinmyeyes，andIdidn’tknowatthemomenthowmuchthewordswithwhichhemetmetookforgrantedmyconsciousnessofthem。"Helooksahundredyearsold！"

"Oh，butyoushouldseehisshoulders，always，ashegoesoff！TWOcenturies——ten！

Isn’titamazing？"

Itwassoamazingthat，foralittle，itmadeusreciprocallystare。

"Ishouldhavethought，"hesaid，"thathewouldhavebeenonthecontrary——"

"Visiblyrejuvenated？SoshouldI。Imustmakeitout，"Iadded。"I

SHALL。"

ButObert，withlesstogoupon，couldn’twait。Itwaswonderful，forthatmatter——andforallIhadtogoupon——howImyselfcould。Ididso，atthismoment，inmyrefreshedintensity，bythehelpofconfusedlylightinganothercigarette，whichIshouldhavenotimetosmoke。"Ishouldhavethought，"myfriendcontinued，"thathetoomighthavechangedback。"

Itookin，formyself，somuchmoreofitthanIcouldsay！"Certainly。

Youwouldn’thavethoughthewouldhavechangedforward。"ThenwithanimpulsethatbridgedoveranabyssofconnectionsIjumpedtoanotherplace。

"WaswhatyoumostsawwhileyouweretherewithHER——wasthisthathermisery，themiseryyoufirstphrasedtome，hasdropped？"

"Dropped，yes。"Hewasclearaboutit。"IcalledherbeastlyunhappytoyouthoughIeventhenknewthatbeastlyunhappinesswasn’tquiteallofit。Itwaspartofit，itwasenoughofit；forshewas——well，nodoubtyoucouldtellME。Justnow，atallevents"——andrecalling，reflecting，deciding，heused，withthestrongesteffect，ashesooftendidinpainting，thesimplestterm——"justnowshe’sallright。"

"Allright？"

Hecouldn’tknowhowmuchmorethanwaspossiblemyquestiongavehimtoanswer。Butheanswereditonwhathehad；herepeated："Allright。"

Iwondered，inspiteofthecomfortItook，asIhadmorethanonceinlifehadoccasiontotakeitbefore，atthesightofthepainter—sensedeeplyapplied。MywondercamefromthefactthatLadyJohnhadalsofoundMrs。Serverallright，andLadyJohnhadavisionasclosedasObert’swasopen。Itdidn’tsuitmybookforboththeseobserverstohavebeenaffectedinthesameway。"Youmeanyousawnothingwhateverinherthatwastheleastbitstrange？"

"Oh，Iwon’tsayasmuchasthat。ButnothingthatwasmorestrangethanthatsheSHOULDbe——well，afterall，allright。"

"Allthere，eh？"Iafteraninstantrisked。

Icouldn’tputittohimmoredefinitelythanthat，thoughtherewasatemptationtotrytodoso。ForOberttohavefoundherallthereanhourortwoafterIhadfoundherallabsent，mademeagain，inmynervousness，feelevennowatriflemenaced。ThingsHAD，fromsteptostep，tohangtogether，andjustheretheyseemed——withallallowances——tohangalittleapart。Mywholesuperstructure，Icouldonlyremember，reareditselfonmyviewofMrs。Server’scondition；butitwaspartofmypredicament——reallyequalinitswaytoherown——thatIcouldn’twithoutdishonouringmyselfgivemyinterlocutorapracticallead。Thequestionofherhappinesswasessentiallysubordinate；whatIstoodorfellbywasthatofherfaculty。

ButIcouldn’t，ontheotherhand——andremain"straight"——insisttomyfriendonthewhereaboutsofthisstolenproperty。Ifhehadn’tmisseditinherforhimselfImightn’tputhimonthetrackofit；since，withthedemonstrationhehadbeforemyeyesreceivedoftherateatwhichLongwas，asonehadtocallit，intellectuallyliving，nothingwouldbemorenaturalthanthatheshouldmakethecasesfit。Nowmypersonalproblem，unalteredintheleastparticularbyanything，wasformetohaveworkedtotheendwithoutbreathinginanotherearthatLonghadbeenherlover。

Thatwastheonlythinginthewholebusinessthatwassimple。Itmademeclinganinstantthemore，bothforblissandbale，tothebearingofthisfactofObert’sinsistence。Evenasasequeltohisvisionofherchange，almosteverythingwaswrongforherbeingallrightexcepttheonefactofmyrecentview，fromthewindow，ofthemanunnamed。Isawhimagainsharplyintheseseconds，andtonoticehowhestillkeptclearofourcompanywasalmosttoaddcertitudetothepresumptionofhisrarereasons。Mrs。Server’sbeingnow，byawonderfulturn，allrightwouldatleastdecidedlyoffertothesereasonsabasis。ItwouldbesomethingLong’sabsencewouldfit。Itwouldsupplyground，inshort，forthepossibilitythat，byaprocessnotlesswonderful，hehimselfwasallwrong。IfheWASallwrongmylastimpressionofhimwouldbeamplyaccountedfor。Ifhewasallwrong——ifhe，inanycase，felthimselfgoingso——whatmoreconsequentthanthatheshouldhavewishedtohideit，andthatthemostimmediatewayforthisshouldhaveseemedtohim，markedlygregariousasheusuallywas，tokeepawayfromthesmokers？ItcametomeunspeakablythatheWASstillhidingitandWASkeepingaway。How，accordingly，musthenot——andmustnotMrs。Briss——havebeeninthespiritofthisfromthemomentthat，whileItalkedwithLadyJohn，thesightofthesetwoseatedtogetherhadgivenmeitsmessage！ButObert’sanswertomyguardedchallengehadmeanwhilecome。"Oh，whenawoman’ssoclever——！"

Thatwasall，withitstouchofexperienceanditshintofphilosophy；

butitwasstupefying。Shewasalreadythenpositivelyagain"soclever？"

ThiswasreallymorethanIcouldasyetprovideanexplanationfor，butIwaspressed；Brissendenwouldhavereachedhiswife’sroomagain，andItemporised。"ItwasherclevernessthatheldyousothatwhenIpassedyoucouldn’tlookatme？"

Helookedatmeatpresentwellenough。"Iknewyouwerepassing，butIwantedpreciselytomarkforyouthedifference。Ifyoureallywanttoknow，"thepoormanconfessed，"Iwasalittleashamedofmyself。Ihadgivenherawaytoyou，youknow，rather，before。"

"Andyouwereboundyouwouldn’tdoitagain？"

Hesmiledinhisnowcompletecandour。"Ah，therewasnoreason。"Thenheused，happily，torighthimself，myownexpression。"Shewasallthere。"

"Isee——Isee。"YetIreallydidn’tseeenoughnottohaveforaninstanttoturnaway。

"Whereareyougoing？"heasked。

"TodowhatBrissendencametomefor。"

"ButIdon’tKNOW，yousee，whatBrissendencametoyoufor。"

"Well，withamessage。Shewastohaveseenmethisevening，but，asshegavemenochance，IwasafraidIhadlostitandthat，soratherawkwardlylate，shedidn’tventure。Butwhathearrivedforjustnow，atherrequest，wastosayshedoesventure。"

Mycompanionstared。"Atthisextraordinaryhour？"

"Ah，thehour，"Ilaughed，"isnomoreextraordinarythananyotherpartofthebusiness：nomoreso，forinstance，thanthispresenttalkofyoursandmine。Whatpartofthebusinessisn’textraordinary？Ifitis，atallevents，remarkablylate，that’sHERfault。"

Yethenotunnaturally，inspiteofmyexplanation，continuedtowonder。

"And——a——whereisitthenyoumeet？"

"Oh，inthedrawing—roomorthehall。Sogood—night。"

Hegotuptoit，movingwithmetothedoor；buthismystification，littleasIcould，onthewhole，sootheit，stillkeptme。"Thehouseholdsitsupforyou？"

Iwonderedmyself，butfoundanassurance。"Shemusthavesquaredthehousehold！Anditwon’tprobablytakeusverylong。"

Hismystificationfranklyconfesseditself，atthis，plaincuriosity。

Thegroundofsuchaconference，forallthepointIhadgivenhisingenuity，simplybaffledhim。"Doyoumeanyouproposetodiscusswithher——？"

"Mydearfellow，"Ismiledwithmyhandonthedoor，"it’sSHE——don’tyousee？——whoproposes。"

"Butwhatintheworld——？"

"Oh，THATIshallhavetowaittotellyou。"

"Withalltheotherthings？"Hisface，whilehesoundedmine，seemedtosaythatImustthentakehisexpectationasserious。Butitseemedtosayalsothathewas——definitely，yes——moreatalossthanconsortedwithbeingquitesureofme。"Well，itwillmakealot，really——！"Buthebrokeoff。"Youdo，"hesighedwithaneffortatresignation，"knowmorethanI！"

"Andhaven’tIadmittedthat？"

"I’llbehangedifyouDON’Tknowwhoheis！"thepoorfellow，forallanswer，nowproduced。

HesaiditasifIhad，afterall，notbeenplayingfair，anditmademeforaninstanthesitate。"No，Ireallydon’tknow。Butit’sexactlywhatIshallperhapsnowlearn。"

"YoumeanthatwhatshehasproposedistoTELLyou？"

HisdarknesshadsodeepenedthatIsawonlynowwhatIshouldhaveseensooner——themisconceptionthat，inmyexcessiveestimateofthedistancehehadcomewithme，Ihadnotatfirstcaught。Butitwasamisconceptionthatonlyenrichedhistestimony；itinvolvedsuchaconvictionofthenewlinkbetweenourtwosacrificedfriendsthatitimmediatelyconstitutedformethestrongestlighthewould，inourwholetalk，havethrown。Yes，hehadnotyetthrownsomuchasinthiserroneoussuppositionofthesourceofmysummons。Ittookmeofcourse，atthesametime，butafewsecondstoremindmyselfagainoftheinnumerablestepshehadnecessarilymissed。

Hisquestionmeanwhile，rightlyappliedbymyownthought，broughtbacktothatthought，bywayofanswer，animmensesuggestion，whichmoreover，forhimtoo，wastemporarilyanswerenough。"She’lltellmewhoheWON’T

havebeen！"

Helookedvague。"Ah，butTHAT——"

"That，"Ideclared，"willbeluminous。"

Hemadeitout。"Asasign，youthink，thathemustbetheveryoneshedenies？"

"Theveryone！"Ilaughed；andIlefthimunderthissimpleandsecureimpressionthatmyappointmentwaswithMrs。Server。

Chapter12

Iwentfromoneroomtotheother，buttofindonly，atfirst，asonmypreviouscircuit，adesertonwhichthesunhadstillnotset。Mrs。

Brissendenwasnowhere，butthewholeplacewaitedaswehadleftit，withseatsdisplacedandflowersdispetalled，afanforgottenonatable，abooklaiddownuponachair。ItcameovermeasIlookedaboutthatifsheHAD"squared"thehousehold，solargeanorder，astheysaid，wasasignsufficientofwhatIwastohavefromher。Ihadquiteratheritwereherdoing——notmine；butitshowedwitheloquencethatshehadafteralljudgedsomeeffortorothertobeworthherwhile。Herreneweddelaymoreoveraddedtomyimpatienceofmindinrespecttothenatureofthiseffortbystrikingmeasalreadypartofit。What，Iaskedmyself，couldbesomuchworthherwhileastohavetobepaidforbysomuchapparentreluctance？

ButatlastIsawherthroughavistaofopendoors，andasIforthwithwenttoher——shetooknosteptomeetme——Iwasdoubtlessimpressedafreshwiththe"pull"thatinsocialintercourseawomanalwayshas。Shewasabletoassumeonthespotbymereattitudeandairtheappearanceofhavingbeenreadyandthereforeinconvenienced。Oh，Isawsoonenoughthatshewasreadyandthatoneoftheformsofherreadinesswouldbepreciselytoofferherselfashavingactedentirelytoobligeme——togiveme，asasequeltowhathadalreadypassedbetweenus，theopportunityforwhichshehadassuredmeIshouldthankherbeforeIhaddonewithher。Yet，asIfeltsure，atthesametime，thatshehadtakenaline，Iwascuriousastohow，inherinterest，oursituationcouldbeworked。WhatithadoriginallyleftuswithwasherknowingIwaswrong。Ihadpromisedher，onmyhonour，tobecandid，butevenifIweredisposedtoceasetocontestheridentificationofMrs。ServerIwasscarcetobelookedtoforsuchanexhibitionofgratitudeasmightbeheldtorepayherforstayingsolongoutofbed。TherewereinshortelementsinthebusinessthatIcouldn’tquiteclearlyseehandledasfavourstome。Herdressgave，withfelicity，nosignwhateverofpreparationforthenight，andif，sinceourlastwords，shehadstoodwithanyanxietywhateverbeforeherglass，ithadnotbeentoremoveajewelortoaltertheplaceofaflower。Shewasasmuchunderarmsasshehadbeenondescendingtodinner——asfreshinherarrayasifthatbanquetwerestilltocome。Shemetmeinfactasadmirably——thatwasthetruththatcoveredeveryother——asifshehadbeenabletoguessthemostparticularcuriositywithwhich，frommyendoftheseriesofrooms，Iadvanceduponher。

Apartofthemixtureofmythoughtsduringthesesecondshadbeenthepossibility——absurd，preposterousthoughitlookswhenphrasedhere——ofsomechangeinherpersonthatwouldcorrespond，formetotheotherchangesIhadhadsuchkeenmomentsofflatteringmyselfIhadmadeout。Ihadjusthadthemoverinthesmoking—room，someofthesedifferences，andthenhadhadtimetoaskmyselfifIwerenotnowtobetreatedtothevisionofthegreatest，themostwonderful，ofall。Ihadalready，onfacingher，aftermylastmomentswithLadyJohn，seendifferencepeepoutatme，andIhadseentheimpressionofitconfirmedbywhathadafterwardshappened。Ithadbeeninherwayofturningfrommeafterthatbriefpassage；

ithadbeeninhergoinguptobedwithoutseeingmeagain；ithadbeenoncemoreinherthinking，forreasonsofherown，betterofthat；andithadbeenmostofallinhersendingherhusbanddowntome。Well，wouldn’titfinallybe，stillmorethanmostofall——？ButIscarcehadknown，atthispoint，whatgrossnessorwhatfinenessofmaterialcorrespondencetoforecast。Ionlyhadwaitedtherewiththesegeneralsymptomssopresentthatalmostanyfurtherdevelopmentofthemoccurredtomeasconceivable。

Somuchasthiswastrue，butIwasafteramomenttobecomeawareofsomethingbywhichIwasasstronglyaffectedasifIhadbeenquiteunprepared。

Yes，literally，thatfinalnote，inthesmoking—room，thenotestruckinObert’sejaculationonpoorBriss’shundredyears，hadfailedtoachieveformeaworthyimplication。Iwasforced，afterlookingatGraceBrissendenaminute，torecognisethatmyimaginationhadnotrisentoitsopportunity。

Thefullimpressiontookaminute——aminuteduringwhichshesaidnothing；

thenitleftmedeeplyandaboveall，asIfelt，discerniblyconsciousoftheprodigiousthing，thething，Ihadnotthoughtof。Thisitwasthatgavehersuchabeautifulchancenottospeak：shewassoquitesufficientlyoccupiedwithseeingwhatIhadn’tthoughtof，andwithseeingme，tomakeupforlosttime，breathlesslythinkofitwhileshewatchedme。

AllIhadatfirsttakeninwas，asIsay，heruntouchedsplendour；

Idon’tknowwhythatshouldhaveimpressedme——asifithadbeenprobableshewouldhaveappearedinherdressing—gown；itwastheonlythingtohaveexpected。Anditinfactplumedandenhancedherassurance，sustainedherpropriety，lentourbelatedinterviewthenaturalandcasualnote。

Buttherewasanotherserviceitstillmorerenderedher：itsocovered，atthefirstblush，therealmessageofheraspect，thatsheenjoyedtheluxury——andIfeltherenjoyit——ofseeingmyperceptioninarrest。Amazing，whenIthinkofit，thenumberofthingsthatoccurredinthesestayedsecondsofoursilence；buttheyareperhapsbestrepresentedbythetwomostmarkedintensitiesofmyownsensation：thefirstthecertitudethatshehadatnomomentsincehermarriagesotriumphantlyassertedherdefeatoftime，andthesecondtheconvictionthatI，losingwithherwhile，asitwere，weclosed，acertainadvantageIshouldneverrecover，hadatnomomentsincethedaybeforemadesopoorafigureonmyownground。

Ah，itmayhavebeenonlyforsixsecondsthatshecaughtmegapingatherrenewedbeauty；butsixseconds，itwasinevitabletofeel，werequiteenoughforeverypurposewithwhichshehadcomedowntome。Shemighthavebeenalarge，fair，rich，prosperouspersonoftwenty—five；shewasatanyratenearenoughtoittoputmeforeverinmyplace。Itwasasuccess，onherpart，that，thoughIcouldn’tasyetfullymeasureit，therecouldbenodoubtofwhatever，anymorethanofmysomehowpayingforit。Herbeingthereatall，atsuchanhour，insuchconditions，became，eachmoment，onthewholebusiness，moreandmoreapartofheradvantage；

thecaseforherwasreallyinalmostanyaspectshecouldnowmakeitweartomyimagination。Mywealthofthatfaculty，neversostimulated，wasthus，inamanner，herstrength；bywhichImeantheimpossibilityofmyindifferencetothemereimmensesuggestivenessofourcircumstances。

HowcanItellnowtowhattunethesenseofalltheseplayedintomymind？——thehugeoddityofthenamelessideaonwhichweforegathered，theabsenceandhushofeverythingexceptthatidea，somagnifiedinconsequenceandyetstill，afterall，altogetherfantastic。Thereremainedforher，therespokeforhertoo，hervividly"unconventional"step，thebraveryofherrustling，onanunderstandingsodifficulttogiveanaccountof，throughplacesandtimesonlymadesafebythesleepoftheunsuspecting。Myimagination，inshort，sinceIhavespokenofit，couldn’tdootherthanworkforherfromthemomentshehad，sosimplyyetsowonderfully，notfailedme。Thereforeitwasallwithmeagain，thevisionofherreasons。Theywereinfactsufficientlyinthesoundofwhatshepresentlysaid。"Perhapsyoudon’tknow——butImentionedintheproperquarterthatIshouldsitupalittle。

They’reofakindnesshere，luckily——！Soit’sallright。"Itwasallright，obviously——shemadeitso；butshemadeitsoaswellthat，inspiteofthesplendoursheshowedme，sheshouldbealittlenervous。"Weshallonlytakemoreover，"sheadded，"aminute。"

IshouldperhapshavewonderedmorewhatsheproposedtodoinaminutehadInotfeltitasalreadymoreorlessdone。Yes，shemighthavebeentwenty—five，anditwasashorttimeforTHATtohavetaken。However，whatIclutchedat，whatIclungto，wasthatitwasanervoustwenty—five。

Imightpayforherassurance，butwasn’ttheresomethingofmineforwhichSHEmightpay？Iwasnervousalso，but，asItookinagain，withaglancethroughourgreatchainofchambers，thewonderfulconditionsthatprotectedus，IdidmybesttofeelsurethatitwasonlybecauseIwassoamused。

That——insohighaform——waswhatitcametointheend。"Isupposed，"

Ireplied，"thatyou’dhavearranged；for，inspiteofthewaythingsweregoing，Ihadn’tgivenyouup。Ihaven’tunderstood，Iconfess，"Iwenton，"whyyou’vepreferredaconferencesointenselynocturnal——ofwhichIquitefeel，however，that，ifithashappenedtosuityou，itisn’tformetocomplain。ButIfeltsureofyou——thatwasthegreatthing——fromthemoment，halfanhourago，yousokindlyspoketome。Igaveyou，yousee，"Ilaughed，"what’scalled’rope。’"

"Idon’tsupposeyoumean，"sheexclaimed，"formetohangmyself！——forthat，Iassureyou，isnotatallwhatI’mpreparedfor。"Thensheseemedagaintogivemethemagnificenceofheryouth。Itwasn’t，throughout，Iwastofeel，thatsheatallhadabyssesofirony，forsheinfacthappilyneedednone。Hertriumphwasinitselfironicenough，andallherpointinhersenseofherfreshness。"Wereyoureallysoimpatient？"ButasI

inevitablyhungfirealittleshecontinuedbeforeIcouldanswer；whichsomewhathelpedmeindeedbyshowingtheoneflawinherconfidence。Moreextraordinaryperhapsthananythingelse，moreover，wasjustmyperceptionofthis；whichgivesthevalueofallthateachofussovisiblyfelttheothertohaveputtogether，tohavebeenmakingoutandgatheringin，sinceweparted，ontheterrace，afterseeingMrs。ServerandBrisscomeupfromundertheirtree。WeHAD，ofatruth，arrivedatourresults——thoughminewerenaturallytheonesformetobelievein；anditwasprodigiousthatweopenlymetnotatallwherewehadlastlefteachother，butexactlyonwhatoursubsequentsuppressedprocesseshadachieved。Wehadn’tnamedthem——hadn’talludedtothem，andwecouldn’t，nodoubt，havedoneeither；

buttheywerenonethelessintenselytherebetweenus，withthewholebright，emptyscenegivenuptothem。Onlyshehadhershrewdsensethatmine，forreasons，mighthavebeenstillmoreoccultthanherown。Hadn’tIpossiblyburrowedthedeeper——tocomeoutinsomeuncalculatedplacebehindherback？Thatwastheflawinherconfidence。Shehadinspiteofitherfirmground，andIcouldfeel，todoherjustice，howdifferentacomplacencyitwasfromsuchsmugignoranceasLadyJohn’s。IfIdidn’tfeartoseemtodrivelaboutmyownknowledgeIshouldsaythatshehad，inadditiontoalltherestofher"pull，"thebenefitofstrikingmeasworthyofme。ShewasINthemysticcircle——notoneofusmore；sheknewthesizeofit；anditwasournowbeinginitalonetogether，witheveryoneelseoutandwiththesizegreaterthanithadyetbeenatall——itwasthisthatgavethehour，infine，sosharpastamp。

Butshehadmeanwhiletakenupmyallusiontoherhavingpreferredsotowait。"Iwantedtoseeyouquietly；whichwaswhatItried——notaltogethersuccessfully，itratherstruckmeatthemoment——tomakeyouunderstandwhenIletyouknowaboutit。YoustaredsothatIdidn’tquiteknowwhatwasthematter。Nothingcouldbequiet，Isaw，tillthegoingtobedwasover，andIfeltitcomingoffthenfromoneminutetotheother。Ididn’twishpubliclytobecalledawayforitfromthisputtingofourheadstogether，and，thoughyoumaythinkmeabsurd，IhadadisliketohavingourquestionofMayupsolongasshewashangingabout。Iknewofcoursethatshewouldhangabouttilltheverylastmoment，andthatwaswhatIperhapsalittleclumsily——ifitwasmyownfault！——madetheefforttoconveytoyou。Shemaybehangingaboutstill，"Mrs。Brisscontinued，withherlargerlookround——herlooksroundwerenowimmense；"butatanyrateIshallhavedonewhatIcould。Ihadafeeling——perfectlypreposterous，Iadmit！——againstherseeingustogether；butifshecomesdownagain，asI’vesoboldlydone，andfindsus，she’llhavenoonebutherselftothank。It’safunnyhouse，forthatmatter，"myfriendrambledon，"andI’mnotsurethatanyoneHASgonetobed。Onedoeswhatonelikes；I’manoldwoman，atanyrate，andido！"Sheexplainednow，sheexplainedtoomuch，sheabounded，talkingherselfstoutlyintoanyassurancethatfailedher。Ihadmeanwhilewitheverywordsheutteredasharpersenseofthepressure，behindthemall，ofanewconsciousness。Itwasfullofeverythingshedidn’tsay，andwhatshesaidwasnorepresentationwhateverofwhatwasmostinhermind。Wehadindeedtakenajumpsincenoon——wehadindeedcomeoutfurtheron。