第13章

Justthisfinedishonestyofhereyes，moreover——thelightofaparttoplay，theexcitement（heavenknowswhatitstruckmeasbeing！）ofahappyduplicity——maywellhavebeenwhatcontributedmosttoherpresentgrandair。

Itwasinanycasewhatevokedformemostthecontrastedimage，sofreshwithme，oftheother，thetragiclady——theimagethathadsoembodiedtheunutterableoppositeofeverythingactuallybeforeme。Whatwasactuallybeforemewasthepositiveprideoflifeandexpansion，theamplitudeofconsciousactionanddesign；notthearidchannelforsakenbythestream，butthefull—fedriversweepingtothesea，thevolumeofwater，thestatelycurrent，thefloodedbanksintowhichthesourcehadswelled。TherewasnothingMrs。Serverhadbeenabletorisk，buttherewasarichindifferencetoriskinthemerecarriageofGraceBrissenden’shead。Herreference，forthatmatter，toourdiscussedsubjecthadtheeffectofrelegatingtotherealmofdimshadestheladyrepresentingit，andtherewassmallsoundnessinherglanceatthepossibilityonthepartofthispersonofananxiousprowlback。Therewasindeed——therecouldbe——smallsincerityinanyimmediatedemonstrationfromawomansomarkedlygainingtimeandgettingheradvantagesinhand。Theconnectionsbetweenthetwo，certainly，wereindirectandintricate，butitwaspositivetomethat，forthespiritualear，mycompanion’swordshadthesoundofahardbump，acontactfromtheforceofwhichtheweakervesselmighthavebeenfelttocrack。Atlast，mercifulpowers，itwasinpieces！Theshockofthebrasshadtoldupontheporcelain，andIfanciedmyselfforaninstantfacingMrs。Brissoverthedamage——adamagefromwhichIwasnever，asIknew，toseethepoorbanishedghostrecover。Asstrangeasanythingwasthiseffectalmostofsurpriseformeinthefreedomofhermentionof"May。"Forwhathadshecometome，ifforanything，buttoinsistonherviewofMay，andwhataccordinglywasmoretothepointthantomentionher？Yetitwasalmostalreadyasiftomentionherhadbeentogetridofher。Shewasmentioned，however，inevitablyandnonethelesspromptly，anew——evenasifsimplytoreceiveafinalshakebeforebeingquitedropped。Myfriendkeptitup。"IfyouweresobentonnotlosingwhatImighthavetogiveyouthatyoufortunatelystucktotheship，forpoorBrisstopickyouup，wasn’tthisalso"——sheroundlyputittome——"agooddealbecauseyou’vebeennursingalldaythegrievancewithwhichIthismorningsocomfortablyfurnishedyou？"

Ijustwaited，butfairlyforadmiration。"Oh，Icertainlyhadmyreasons——asI’venolesscertainlyhadmyluck——fornotindeeddesertingourdearlittlebattered，butstilljustsufficientlybuoyantvessel，fromwhicheveryoneelseappears，Irecognise；tos’etresauve。She’llfloatafewminutesmore！But（beforeshesinks！）doyoumeanbymygrievance——"

"Oh，youknowwhatImeanbyyourgrievance！"SHEhadnointention，Mrs。Briss，ofsinking。"IwastogiveyoutimetomakeupyourmindthatMrs。Serverwasourlady。Yousoresented，forsomereason，mysuggestingitthatIscarcelybelievedyou’dconsideritatall；onlyIhadn’tforgotten，whenIspoketoyouawhilesince，thatyouhadneverthelesshandsomelypromisedmethatyouwoulddoyourbest。"

"Yes，and，stillmorehandsomely，thatifIchangedmymind，Iwouldeat，inyourpresence，formyerror，thelargestpossiblesliceofhumblepie。Ifyoudidn’tseethismorning，"Icontinued，"quitewhyIshouldhavecaredsomuch，soIdon’tquiteseewhy，inyourdifferentway，youshould；atthesametimethatIdofulljusticetothegoodfaithwithwhichyou’vegivenmemychance。PleasebelievethatifICOULDcandidlyembracethatchanceIshouldfeelallthejoyintheworldinrepayingyou。It’sonly，alas！becauseIclingtomycandourthatIventuretodisappointyou。IfIcaredthismorningitwasreallysimpleenough。Youdidn’tconvinceme，butIshouldhavecaredjustasmuchifyouhad。Ionlydidn’tseewhatyousaw。Ineededmorethanyoucouldthengiveme。Iknew，yousee，whatIneeded——ImeanbeforeIstruck！Itwastheelementofcollateralsupportthatwebothlacked。Icouldn’tdowithoutitasyoucould。ThiswaswhatI，clumsilyenough，triedtoshowyouIfelt。You，onyourside，"

Ipursued，"graspedadmirablytheevidenttruththatthatelementCOULD

bepresentonlyinsuchdosesaspracticallytoescapedetection。"Ikeptitupasshehaddone，andIrememberstrikingmyselfasscarcelessexcitedlyvoluble。IwasconsciousofbeingatapointatwhichIshouldhavetogostraight，togofast，togoit，asthephraseis，blind，inordertogoatall。Iwasalsoconscious——anditcamefromthelookwithwhichshelistenedtomeandthattoldmemorethanshewished——Ifeltsharply，thoughbutinstinctively，infine，thatIshouldstill，whateverIpracticallyhadlost，makemypersonalexperiencemostrichandmostcompletebyputtingitdefinitelytoherthat，sorryasImightbenottoobligeher，Ihad，evenatthishour，nosubmissiontomake。IdoubtedinfactwhethermymakingoneWOULDhaveobligedher；butIfeltthat，forallsomuchhadcomeandgone，Iwasnottheretotake，forherpossibleprofit，anynewtonewithher。Shewouldsufficientlyprofit，attheworst，bytheold。

Myoldmotive——oldwiththeprodigiousantiquitythefewhourshadgivenit——hadquiteleftme；Iseemedtomyselftoknowlittlenowofmydesireto"protect"Mrs。Server。Shewascertainly，withMrs。Brissatleast，pastallprotection；andtheconvictionhadgrownwithme，inthesefewminutes，thattherewasnownoragofthequeertruththatMrs。Brisshadn’tsecretly——bywhichImeantmorally——handled。ButInonetheless，onaperfectlysimplereasoning，stoodtomyguns，andwithnosensewhatever，Imustadd，ofnowbreakingmyvowofthemorning。Ihadmadeanothervowsincethen——madeittothepoorladyherselfaswesattogetherinthewood；passedmywordtoHERthattherewasnoapproximationIpretendedeventomyselftohavemade。HowthenwasItopretendtoMrs。Briss，andwhatfactsHADIcollectedonwhichIcouldrespectablygroundanacknowledgmenttoherthatIhadcomeroundtoherbelief？IfIhad"caught"ourincriminatedpairtogether——reallytogether——evenforthreeminutes，Iwould，Isincerelyconsidered，havecomeround。ButIwastohaveperformedthisrevolutiononnothingless，asInowwentontoexplaintoher。"Ofcourseifyou’vegotnewevidenceIshallbedelightedtohearit；andofcourseIcan’thelpwonderingwhetherthepossessionofitandthedesiretooverwhelmmewithitaren’t，together，theonethingyou’vebeennursingtillnow。"

Oh，howintenselyshedidn’tlikesuchatone！Ifshehadn’tlookedsohandsomeIwouldsayshemadeawryfaceoverit，thoughIdidn’tevenyetseewhereherdislikewouldmakehercomeout。Beforeshecameout，infact，shewaitedasifitwereaquestionofdashingherheadatawall。

Then，atlast，shecharged。"It’snonsense。I’venothingtotellyou。I

feelthere’snothinginitandI’vegivenitup。"

Ialmostgaped——bywhichImeanthatIlookedasifIdid——forsurprise。

"Youagreethatit’snotshe——？"Then，assheagainwaited，"It’sYOUwho’vecomeround？"Iinsisted。

"ToyourdoubtofitsbeingMay？Yes——I’vecomeround。"

"Ah，pardonme，"Ireturned；"whatIexpressedthismorningwas，ifIrememberrightly，notatalla’doubt，’butapositive，intimateconvictionthatwasinconsistentwithANYdoubt。Iwasemphatic——purelyandsimply——thatIdidn’tseeit。"

Shelooked，however，asifshecaughtmeinaweaknesshere。"Thenwhydidyousaytomethatifyoushouldreconsider——"

"Youshouldhandsomelyhaveitfromme，andmygrounds？Why，asI’vejustremindedyou，asaformofcourtesytoyou——magnanimouslytohelpyou，asitwere，tofeelascomfortableasIconceivedyounaturallywoulddesiretofeelinyourownconviction。Onlyforthat。Andnow，"Ismiled，"I’mtounderstandfromyouthat，inspiteofthatimmenseallowance，youHAVEN’T，allthiswhile，feltcomfortable？"

Shegave，onthis，inawonderful，beautifulway，aslow，simplifyingheadshake。"Mrs。Serverisn’tinit！"

Theonlywaythentotakeitfromherwasthatherconcessionwasapreludetosomethingstillbetter；andwhenIhadgivenhertimetoseethisdawnuponmeIhadmyeagernessandIjumpedintothebreathless。

"You’vemadeoutthenwhoIS？"

"Oh，Idon’tmakeout，youknow，"shelaughed，"somuchasyou！SHE

isn’t，"shesimplyrepeated。

Ilookedatit，onmyinspiration，quiteruefully——almostasifInowwished，afterall，shewere。"Ah，but，doyouknow？itreallystrikesmeyoumakeoutmarvels。YoumadeoutthismorningquitewhatIcouldn’t。

Ihadn’tputtogetheranythingsoextraordinaryasthat——inthetotalabsenceofeverything——itSHOULDhavebeenourfriend。"

Mrs。Brissappeared，onherside，totakeintheintentionofthis。

"Whatdoyoumeanbythetotalabsence？WhenImademymistake，"shedeclaredasifintheinterestofherdignity，"Ididn’tthinkeverythingabsent。"

"Isee，"Iadmitted。"Isee，"Ithoughtfullyrepeated。"Anddoyou，then，thinkeverythingnow？"

"Ihadmyhonestimpressionofthemoment，"shepursuedasifshehadnotheardme。"Therewereappearancesthat，asitatthetimestruckme，fitted。"

"Precisely"——andIrecalledforhertheoneshehadmademostof。"TherewasinespecialtheappearancethatshewasataparticularmomentusingBrissendentoshowwhomshewasnotusing。YoufeltTHEN，"Iventuredtoobserve，"theforceofthat。"

Iventuredlessthan，already，Ishouldhavelikedtoventure；yetI

nonethelessseemedtoseehertryonmetheeffectoftheintimationthatIwasgoingfar。"Isityourwish，"sheinquiredwithmuchnobleness，"toconfrontme，tomyconfusion，withmyinconsistency？"Hernoblenessoffereditselfsomehowassucharebuketomymerelogicthat，inmymomentaryirritation，Imighthavebeenonthepointofassentingtoherquestion。

Thisimminenceofmyassent，justifiedbymyhorrorofherhugeegotism，butjustifiedbynothingelseandprecipitatingeverything，seemedasmarkedforthesefewsecondsasifweeachhadoureyesonit。ButIsatsotightthatthedangerpassed，leavingmysilencetodowhatitcouldformymanners。

Sheproceededmeanwhiletoaddaveryhandsomeaccountofherown。"YoushoulddomethejusticetorecognisehowlittleIneedhavespokenanotherwordtoyou，andhowlittle，also，thisamiableexplanationtoyouisintheinterestofone’snaturalpride。ItseemstomeI’vecometoyouherealtogetherintheinterestofYOURS。Youtalkabouthumblepie，butIthinkthat，uponmyword——withallI’vesaidtoyou——it’sIwhohavehadtoeatit。Themagnanimityyouspeakof，"shecontinuedwithallhergrandeur——"I

reallydon’tsee，either，whoseitisbutmine。Idon’tseewhataccountofanythingI’minanywayobligedtogive。"

Igranteditquicklyandwithoutreserve。"You’renotobligedtogiveany——you’requiteright：youdoitonlybecauseyou’resuchalarge，splendidcreature。Iquitefeelthat，besideyou"——Idid，atleast，treatmyselftotheamusementofsaying——"Imoveinatinycircle。Still，Iwon’thaveit"——Icouldalso，again，keepitup——"thatouroccasionhasnothingforyoubutthetasteofabasement。Yougulpyourmouthfuldown，buthasn’titbeenservedongoldplate？You’vehadamagnificentday——abrimmingcupoftriumph，andyou’remorebeautifulandfresh，afteritall，andatanhourwhenfatiguewouldbealmostpositivelygraceful，thanyouwereeventhismorning，whenyoumetmeasadaughterofthedawn。That’sthesortofsense，"Ilaughed，"thatmustsustainawoman！"AndIwounduponacompleterecoveryofmygood—humour。"No，no。Ithankyou——thankyouimmensely。ButIdon’tpityyou。Youcanaffordtolose。"Iwantedherperplexity——thepropersharpdoseofit——toresultbothfromherknowingandhernotknowingsufficientlywhatImeant；andwhenIinfactsawhowperplexedshecouldbeandhowlittle，again，shecouldenjoyit，Ifeltanewmyprivatewonderatherhavingcaredanddaredtomeetme。WhereWASenjoyment，forher，wheretheinsolenceofsuccess，ifthebreathofironycouldchillthem？Why，sinceshewasbold，shouldshebesusceptible，andhow，sinceshewassusceptible，couldshebebold？Iscarceknowwhat，atthismoment，determinedthedivination；buteverything，thedistinctandthedimalike，hadclearedupthenextinstantatthetouchoftherealtruth。Thecertitudeofthesourceofmypresentopportunityhadrolledovermebeforeweexchangedanotherword。ThesourcewassimplyGilbertLong，andshewastherebecausehehaddirectedit。Thisconnectionhookeditself，likeasuddenpictureandwithaclickthatfairlyresoundedthroughouremptyrooms，intothearrayoftheotherconnections，totheimmenseenrichment，asitwaseasytofeel，oftheoccasion，andtotheimmenseconfirmationoftheveryideathat，inthecourseoftheevening，Ihadcomeneardismissingfrommymindastoofantasticevenfortherestofthecompanyitshouldenjoythere。WhatInowwassureofflashedback，atanyrate，everysyllableofsenseIcouldhavedesiredintothesuggestionIhad，afterthemusic，caughtfromthejuxtapositionofthesetwo。Thussolidified，thisconviction，itspreadandspreadtoadistancegreaterthanIcouldjustthentraverseunderMrs。Briss’seyes，butwhich，exactlyforthatreasonperhaps，quickenedmyprideinthekingdomofthoughtI

hadwon。Iwasreallynottohavefeltmore，inthewholebusiness，thanIfeltatthismomentthatbymyownrighthandIhadgainedthekingdom。

Longandsheweretogether，andIwasalonethusinfaceofthem，buttherewasnonethelessnotasingleflowerofthegardenthatmywovenwreathshouldlack。

ImusthavelookedqueertomyfriendasIgrinnedtomyselfoverthisvow；butmyrelishofthewayIwaskeepingthingstogethermademeperhapsfortheinstantundulyrash。Icautionedmyself，however，fortunately，beforeitcouldleaveher——scaredalittle，allthesame，evenwithLongbehindher——anadvantagetotake，and，ininfinitelylesstimethanIhaveneededtotellit，Ihadachievedmyflightintoluminousetherand，alightinggracefullyonmyfeet，reportedmyselfatmypost。IhadinotherwordstakeninboththefullprodigyoftheententebetweenMrs。Server’sloverandpoorBriss’swife，andthefinerstrengthitgavethelast—namedastherepresentativeoftheirinterest。ImayaddtoothatIhadeventakentimefairlynottodecidewhichofthesetwobranchesofmyvision——thatofthetermsoftheirintercourse，orthatoftheirneedofit——waslikelytoprove，indelectableretrospect，themoreexquisite。Allthis，Iadmit，wasagooddealtohavecomeandgonewhilemyprivilegetrembled，initsveryessence，inthescale。Mrs。Brisshadbutabacktoturn，andeverythingwasover。Shehad，instrictness，alreadyutteredwhatsavedherhonour，andherrevengeonimpertinencemighteasilybeherwithdrawingwithoneofhersweeps。Icouldn’tcertainlyinthatcasehurryafterherwithoutspillingmycards。Asmyaccumulationsoflucidity，however，werenowsuchastodefyallleakage，Ipromptlyrecognisedthefacilitiesinvolvedinasuperficialsacrifice；andwithonemoreglanceatthebeautifulfactthatsheknewthestrengthofLong’shand，Iagainwentsteadilyandstraight。

Shewasactingnotonlyforherself，andsinceshehadanotheralsotoserveand，asIwassure，reportto，Ishouldsufficientlyholdher。I

knewmoreoverthatIheldherassoonasIhadbegunafresh。"Idon’tmeanthatanythingaltersthefactthatyoulosegracefully。ItISawfullycharming，yourthusgivingyourselfup，andyet，justifiedasIambyit，Ican’thelpregrettingalittletheexcitementIfounditthismorningtopulladifferentwayfromyou。ShallItellyou，"itsuddenlycametometoputtoher，"what，forsomereason，amanfeelsawareof？"Andthenas，guarded，stilluneasy，shewouldcommitherselftonopermission："Thatpullingagainstyoualsohaditsthrill。Youdefendedyourcause。Oh，"

Iquicklyadded，"Iknow——whoshouldknowbetter？——thatitwasbad。Only——whatshallIsay？——YOUweren’tbad，andonehadtofight。Andthentherewaswhatonewasfightingfor！Well，you’renotbadnow，either；sothatyoumayaskme，ofcourse，whatmoreIwant。"Itriedtothinkamoment。"Itisn’tthat，thrownbackonthecomparativedullnessofsecurity，Ifind——aspeoplehavebeenknownto——myowncauselessgood：no，itisn’tthat。"

AfterwhichIhadmyillumination。"I’lltellyouwhatitis：it’sthecome—downofceasingtoworkwithyou！"

Shelookedasifshewerequiteexcusablefornotfollowingme。"To’work’？"

Iimmediatelyexplained。"Evenfightingwasworking，forwestruck，you’llremember，sparks，andsparkswerewhatwewanted。Therewearethen，"

Icheerfullywenton。"Sparksarewhatwestillwant，andyou’venotcometome，Itrust，withamerespentmatch。Idependuponitthatyou’veanothertostrike。"IshowedherwithoutfearallItookforgranted。"Who，then，HAS？"

Shewassuperbinhercoldness，butherstarewaspartlyblank。"Whothenhaswhat？"

"Why，doneit。"Andasevenatthisshedidn’tlightIgavehersomethingofajog。"Youhaven’t，withtheforceofyourrevulsion，Ihope，literallylostourthread。"Butas，inspiteofmythuswaitingforhertopickitupshedidnothing，Iofferedmyselfasfairlystoopingtothecarpetforitandputtingitbackinherhand。"Donewhatwespentthemorningwonderingat。Whothen，ifitisn’t，certainly，Mrs。Server，ISthewomanwhohasmadeGilbertLong——well，whatyouknow？"

Ihadneededthemomenttotakeinthespecialshadeofinnocenceshewasbythistimepreparedtoshowme。Itwasaninnocence，inparticular，inrespecttotherelationofanyone，inallthevastimproprietyofthings，toanyone。"I’mafraidIknownothing。"

Ireallywonderedaninstanthowshecouldexpecthelpfromsuchextravagance。

"ButIthoughtyoujustrecognisedthatyoudoenjoythesenseofyourpardonablemistake。Youknewsomethingwhenyouknewenoughtoseeyouhadmadeit。"

Shefacedmeaswiththefrankperceptionthat，ofwhateverelseonemightbeaware，Iaboundedintraps，andthatthiswouldprobablybeoneofmyworst。"Oh，Ithinkonegenerallyknowswhenonehasmadeamistake。"

"That’sallthenIinviteyou——Amistake，asyouproperlycallit——toallowmetoimputetoyou。I’mnotaccusingyouofhavingmadefifty。Youmadenonewhatever，Ihold，whenyouagreedwithmewithsucheagernessaboutthestrikingchangeinhim。"

Sheaffectedmeasaskingherselfalittle，onthis，whethervagueness，thefailureofmemory，therejectionofnonsense，mightn’tstillserveher。Butshesawthenextmomentabetterway。Itallcamebacktoher，butfromsoveryfaroff。"Thechange，doyoumean，inpoorMr。Long？"

"Ofwhatotherchange——except，asyoumaysay，yourown——haveyoumetmeheretospeakof？Yourown，Ineedn’tremindyou，ispartandparcelofLong’s。"

"Oh，myown，"shepresentlyreturned，"isamuchsimplermattereventhanthat。MyownistherecognitionthatIjustexpressedtoyouandthatIcan’tconsent，ifyouplease，toyourtwistingintotherecognitionofanythingelse。It’stherecognitionthatIknownothingofanyotherchange。

Istick，ifyou’llallowme，tomyignorance。"

"I’llallowyouwithjoy，"Ilaughed，"ifyou’llletmesticktoitWITHyou。Yourownchangeisquitesufficient——itgivesusallweneed。

Itwillgiveus，ifweretracethestepsofit，everything，everything！"

Mrs。Brissconsidered。"Idon’tquitesee，doI？why，atthishourofthenight，weshouldbegintoretracesteps。"

"Simplybecauseit’sthehourofthenightyou’vehappened，inyourgenerosityandyourdiscretion，tochoose。I’mstruck，Iconfess，"Ideclaredwithastillsharperconviction，"withthewonderfulcharmofitforourpurpose。"

"And，pray，whatdoyoucallwithsuchsolemnity，"sheinquired，"ourpurpose？"

Ihadfairlyrecoveredatlast——sofarfrombeingsolemn——anappropriategaiety。"Icanonly，withpositiveness，answerformine！Thathasremainedalldaythesame——togetatthetruth：not，thatis，torelaxmygraspofthattipofthetailofitwhichyousohelpedmethismorningtofastento。Ifyou’veceasedtoCAREtohelpme，"Ipursued，"that’sadifferenceindeed。Butwhy，"Icandidly，pleadinglyasked，"SHOULDyouceasetocare？"

Itwasmoreandmoreofacomforttofeelherimprisonedinherinabilityreallytoexplainherbeingthere。Toshowherselfasshewasexplaineditonlysofarasshecouldexpressthat；whichwasjustthefreedomshecouldleasttake。"Whatonearthisbetweenus，anyhow，"Iinsisted，"butourconfoundedinterest？That’sonlyquickened，forme，don’tyousee？

bythecharmingwayyou’vecomeround；andIdon’tseehowitcanlogicallybeanythinglessthanquickenedforyourself。We’relikethemessengersandheraldsinthetaleofCinderella，andIprotest，Iassureyou，againstanysacrificeofourdenoument。We’vestilltheglassshoetofit。"

Itookpleasureatthemomentinmymetaphor；butthiswasnotthecase，Isoonenoughperceived，withmycompanion。"HowcanItell，please，"shedemanded，"whatyouconsideryou’retalkingabout？"

Ismiled；itwassoquitethequestionFordObert，inthesmoking—room，hadbegunbyputtingme。Ihadn’ttotaketimetoremindmyselfhowIhaddealtwithHIM。"Andyouknew，"Isighed，"sobeautifully，youglowedoveritso，thismorning！"Shecontinuedtogiveme，ineveryway，herdisconnectionfromthismorning，sothatIhadonlytoproceed："You’venotavailedyourselfofthisoccasiontopretendtomethatpoorMr。Long，asyoucallhim，is，afterall，thesamelimitedperson——"

"Thathealwayswas，andthatyou，yesterday，sosuddenlydiscoveredhimtohaveceasedtobe？"——forwiththisshehadwakedup。Butshewasstillthinkinghowshecouldturnit。"Youseetoomuch。"

"Oh，IknowIdo——eversomuchtoomuch。AndmuchasIsee，Iexpressonlyhalfofit——soyoumayjudge！"Ilaughed。"Butwhatwillyouhave？

IseewhatIsee，andthismorning，foragoodbit，youdidmethehonourtodothesame。Ireturned，also，thecompliment，didn’tI？byseeingsomethingofwhatYOUsaw。Weputit，thewholething，together，andweshookthebottlehard。I’mtotakefromyou，afterthis，"Iwoundup，"thatwhatitcontainsisaperfectlycolourlessfluid？"

Ipausedforareply，butitwasnottocomesohappilyasfromObert。

"Youtalktoomuch！"saidMrs。Briss。

Imetitwithamazement。"Why，whomhaveItold？"

Ilookedathersohardwithitthathercolourbegantorise，whichmademepromptlyfeelthatshewouldn’tpressthatpoint。"Imeanyou’recarriedaway——you’reabusedbyafinefancy：sothat，withyourartofputtingthings，onedoesn’tknowwhereoneis——nor，ifyou’llallowmetosayso，doIquitethinkYOUalwaysdo。OfcourseIdon’tdenyyou’reawfullyclever。Butyoubuildup，"shebroughtoutwitharegretsoindulgentandareluctancesomarkedthatsheforsomesecondsfairlyheldtheblow——"youbuilduphousesofcards。"

Ihadbeenimpatienttolearnwhat，and，frankly，Iwasdisappointed。

Thisbrokefromme，afteraninstant，doubtless，withabitternessnottobemistaken。"LongISN’Twhatheseems？"

"Seemstowhom？"sheaskedsturdily。

"Well，callit——forsimplicity——toME。Foryousee"——andIspokeastoshowWHATitwastosee——"itallstandsorfallsbythat。"

Theexplanationpresentlyappearedalittletohavesoftenedher。IfitallstoodorfellonlybyTHAT，itstoodorfellbysomethingthat，forhercomfort，mightbenotsounsuccessfullydisposedof。Sheexhaled，withtheswellofherfineperson，acomparativeblandness——seemedtoplaywiththeideaofasmile。Shehad，inshort，herownexplanation。"Thetroublewithyouisthatyouover—estimatethepenetrationofothers。Howcanitapproachyourown？"

"Well，yourshadforawhile，Ishouldsay，distinctmomentsofkeepingupwithit。Nothingismorepossible，"Iwenton，"thanthatIdotalktoomuch；butI’vedoneso——aboutthequestionindisputebetweenus——onlytoYOU。Ihaven’t，asIconceivedwewereabsolutelynottodo，mentionedittoanyoneelse，norgivenanyoneaglimpseofourdifference。Ifyou’venotunderstoodyourselfaspledgedtothesamereserve，andhaveconsequently，"

Iwenton，"appealedtothelightofotherwisdom，itshowsatleastthat，inspiteofmyintellectualpace，youmustmoreorlesshavefollowedme。

WhatamINOT，infine，tothinkofyourintelligence，"Iasked，"if，decidingforaresorttoheadquarters，you’veputthequestiontoLonghimself？"

"Thequestion？"Shewasstraightouttoseaagain。

"Oftheidentityofthelady。"

Sheslowly，atthis，headedabout。"ToLonghimself？"

Chapter13

IhadfeltIcouldrisksuchdirectnessonlybymakingitextravagant——bysuggestingitasbarelyimaginablethatshecouldsohaveplayedourgame；

andduringtheinstantforwhichIhadnowpulledherupIcouldjudgeIhadbeenright。Itwasaninstantthatsettledeverything，forIsawher，withintensity，withgallantrytoo，surprisedbutnotreallyembarrassed，recognisethatofcourseshemustsimplylie。Ihadbeenjustifiedbymakingitsopossibleforhertolie。"Itwouldhavebeenashortcut，"Isaid，"andevenmorestrikinglyperhaps——todoitjustice——abolddeed。Butitwouldhavebeen，instrictness，adeparture——wouldn’tit？——fromoursodistinguishedlittlecompact。YetwhileIlookatyou，"Iwenton，"Iwonder。

Bolddeedsare，afterall，quiteinyourline；andI’mnotsureIdon’tratherwantnottohavemissedsomuchpossiblecomedy。’IhaveitforyoufromMr。Longhimselfthat，everyappearancetothecontrarynotwithstanding，hisstupidityisunimpaired’——isn’tthat，forthebeautyofit，afterall，whatyou’veveraciouslytogiveme？"Westoodfacetofaceamoment，andIlaughedout。"Thebeautyofitwouldbegreat！"

Ihadgivenhertime；Ihadseenhersafelytoshore。ItwasquitewhatIhadmeanttodo，butshenowtookstillbetteradvantagethanIhadexpectedofheropportunity。Shenotonlyscrambledupthebank，sherecoveredbreathandturnedround。"Doyouimaginehewouldhavetoldme？"

Itwasmagnificent，butIfeltshewasstilltobetteritshouldIgiveheranewchance。"Whotheladyreallyis？Well，hardly；andthat’swhy，asyousoacutelysee，thequestionofyourhavingriskedsuchastephasoccurredtomeonlyasajest。Fancyindeed"——Ipileditup——"yoursayingtohim：’We’reallnoticingthatyou’resomuchlessofanidiotthanyouusedtobe，andwe’vedifferentviewsofthemiracle’！"

Ihadbeengoingon，butIwascheckedwithoutawordfromher。Herlookalonediditfor，thoughitwasalookthatpartlyspoiledherlie，it——bythatveryfact——sufficedtomyconfidence。"I’venotspokentoacreature。"

Itwasbeautifullysaid，butIfeltagaintheabyssesthatthemeresayingofitcovered，andthesenseofthesewonderfulthingswasnotalittle，nodoubt，inmyimmediatecheer。"Ah，then，we’reallright！"I

couldhaverubbedmyhandsoverit。"Imean，however，"Iquicklyadded，"onlyasfarasthat。Idon’tatallfeelcomfortableaboutyournewtheoryitself，whichputsmesowretchedlyinthewrong。"

"Rather！"saidMrs。Brissalmostgaily。"Wretchedlyindeedinthewrong！"

"Yetonly——equallyofcourse，"Ireturnedafterabriefbrooding，"ifIcomewithinaconceivabilityofacceptingit。Areyouconsciousthat，indefaultofLong’sownwordequivocalasthatwordwouldbe——youpressituponmewithouttheleastotherguarantee？"

"Andpray，"sheasked，"whatguaranteehadYOU？"

"Forthetheorywithwhichwestarted？Why，ourrecognisedfact。Thechangeintheman。Youmaysay，"Ipursued，"thatIwasthefirsttospeakforhim；butbeingthefirstdidn’t，inyourview，constituteaweaknesswhenitcametoyourspeakingyourselfforMrs。Server。BywhichImean，"

Iadded，"speakingagainsther。"

Sheremembered，butnotformybenefit。"Well，youthenaskedmemywarrant。AndasregardsMr。LongandyourspeakingagainstHIM——"

"DoyoudescribewhatIsayas’against’him？"Iimmediatelybrokein。

Ittookherbutaninstant。"Surely——tohavemadehimouthorrid。"

Icouldonlywanttofixit。"’Horrid’——？"