Wefollowed。Bending，andtreadingheavily，hewentupstairs。HestruckablowonPasiance’sdoor。"Letmein！"hesaid。IdrewDanintomybedroom。Thekeywasslowlyturned，herdoorwasflungopen，andthereshestoodinherdressing—gown，acandleinherhand，herfacecrimson，andoh！soyoung，withitsshort，crisphairandroundcheeks。Theoldman——likeagiantinfrontofher——raisedhishands，andlaidthemonhershoulders。
　　"What’sthis？You——you’vehadamaninyourroom？"
　　Hereyesdidnotdrop。
　　"Yes，"shesaid。Dangaveagroan。
　　"Who？"
　　"ZacharyPearse，"sheansweredinavoicelikeabell。
　　Hegaveheroneawfulshake，droppedhishands，thenraisedthemasthoughtostrikeher。Shelookedhimintheeyes;hishandsdropped，andhetoogroaned。AsfarasIcouldsee，herfacenevermoved。
　　"I’mmarriedtohim，"shesaid，"d’youhear？Marriedtohim。Gooutofmyroom！"Shedroppedthecandleonthefloorathisfeet，andslammedthedoorinhisface。Theoldmanstoodforaminuteasthoughstunned，thengropedhiswaydownstairs。
　　"Dan，"Isaid，"isittrue？"
　　"Ah！"heanswered，"it’strue;didn’tyouhearher？"
　　IwasgladIcouldn’tseehisface。
　　"Thatendsit，"hesaidatlast;"there’stheoldmantothinkof。"
　　"Whatwillhedo？"
　　"Gotothefellowthisverynight。"Heseemedtohavenodoubt。
　　Trustonemanofactiontoknowanother。
　　Imutteredsomethingaboutbeinganoutsider——wonderediftherewasanythingIcoulddotohelp。
　　"Well，"hesaidslowly，"Idon’tknowthatI’manythingbutanoutsidernow;butI’llgoalongwithhim，ifhe’llhaveme。"
　　Hewentdownstairs。Afewminuteslatertheyrodeoutfromthestraw—yard。Iwatchedthempastthelineofhayricks，intotheblackershadowsofthepines，thenthetrampofhoofsbegantofailinthedarkness，andatlastdiedaway。
　　I’vebeensittinghereinmybedroomwritingtoyoueversince，tillmycandle’salmostgone。Ikeepthinkingwhattheendofitistobe;andreproachingmyselffordoingnothing。Andyet，whatcouldI
　　havedone？I’msorryforher——sorrierthanIcansay。Thenightissoquiet——Ihaven’theardasound;issheasleep，awake，crying，triumphant？
　　It’sfouro’clock;I’vebeenasleep。
　　They’reback。Danislyingonmybed。I’lltryandtellyouhisstoryasnearasIcan，inhisownwords。
　　"Werode，"hesaid，"roundtheupperway，keepingoutofthelanes，andgottoKingswearbyhalf—pasteleven。Thehorse—ferryhadstoppedrunning，andwehadajobtofindanyonetoputusover。Wehiredthefellowtowaitforus，andtookacarriageatthe’Castle。’
　　BeforewegottoBlackMillitwasnearlyone，pitch—dark。Withthebreezefromthesoutheast，Imadeoutheshouldhavebeeninanhourormore。Theoldmanhadneverspokentomeonce:andbeforewegotthereIhadbeguntohopeweshouldn’tfindthefellowafterall。Wemadethedriverpullupintheroad，andwalkedroundandround，tryingtofindthedoor。Thensomeonecried，’Whoareyou？’
　　"’JohnFord。’
　　"’Whatdoyouwant？’ItwasoldPearse。
　　"’ToseeZacharyPearse。’
　　"Thelongwindowoutoftheporchwherewesattheotherdaywasopen，andinwewent。Therewasadoorattheendoftheroom，andalightcomingthrough。JohnFordwenttowardsit;Istayedoutinthedark。
　　"’Who’sthatwithyou？’
　　"’Mr。Treffry。’
　　"’Lethimcomein！’Iwentin。Theoldfellowwasinbed，quitestillonhispillows，acandlebyhisside;tolookathimyou’dthinknothingofhimbuthiseyeswerealive。Itwasqueerbeingtherewiththosetwooldmen！"
　　Danpaused，seemedtolisten，thenwentondoggedly。
　　"’Sitdown，gentleman，’saidoldPearse。’Whatmayyouwanttoseemysonfor？’JohnFordbeggedhispardon，hehadsomethingtosay，hesaid，thatwouldn’twait。
　　"Theywereverypolitetooneanother，"mutteredDan……
　　"’Willyouleaveyourmessagewithme？’saidPearse。
　　"’WhatIhavetosaytoyoursonisprivate。’
　　"’I’mhisfather。’
　　"’I’mmygirl’sgrandfather;andheronlystand—by。’
　　"’Ah！’mutteredoldPearse，’RickVoisey’sdaughter？’
　　"’Imeantoseeyourson。’
　　"OldPearsesmiled。Queersmilehe’sgot，sortofsneeringsweet。
　　"’YoucannevertellwhereZackmaybe，’hesaid。’YouthinkIwanttoshieldhim。You’rewrong;Zackcantakecareofhimself。’
　　"’Yourson’shere！’saidJohnFord。’Iknow。’OldPearsegaveusaveryqueerlook。
　　"’Youcomeintomyhouselikethievesinthenight，’hesaid，’andgivemethelie，doyou？’
　　"’Yoursoncametomychild’sroomlikeathiefinthenight;it’sforthatIwanttoseehim，’andthen，"saidDan，"therewasalongsilence。AtlastPearsesaid:
　　"’Idon’tunderstand;hasheplayedtheblackguard？’
　　"JohnFordanswered，’He’smarriedher，or，beforeGod，I’dkillhim。’
　　"OldPearseseemedtothinkthisover，nevermovingonhispillows。
　　’Youdon’tknowZack，’hesaid;’I’msorryforyou，andI’msorryforRickVoisey’sdaughter;butyoudon’tknowZack。’
　　’Sorry！’groanedoutJohnFord;’he’sstolenmychild，andI’llpunishhim。’
　　"’Punish！’criedoldPearse，’wedon’ttakepunishment，notinmyfamily。’
　　"’CaptainJanPearse，assureasIstandhere，youandyourbreedwillgetyourpunishmentofGod。’OldPearsesmiled。
　　"’Mr。JohnFord，that’sasmaybe;butsureasIlieherewewon’ttakeitofyou。Youcan’tpunishunlessyoumaketofeel，andthatyoucan’tdu。’"
　　Andthatistruth！
　　Danwentonagain:
　　"’Youwon’ttellmewhereyoursonis！’butoldPearseneverblinked。
　　"’Iwon’t，’hesaid，’andnowyoumaygetout。Iliehereanoldmanalone，withnousetomylegs，nightonnight，an’thehouseopen;
　　anyrapscallioncouldgetin;d’yethinkI’mafraidofyou？’
　　"Wewerebeat;andwalkedoutwithoutaword。Butthatoldman;I’vethoughtofhimalot——ninety—two，andlyingthere。Whateverhe’sbeen，andtheytellyourumthingsofhim，whateverhissonmaybe，he’saman。It’snotwhathesaid，northattherewasanythingtobeafraidofjustthen，butsomehowit’stheideaoftheoldchaplyingthere。Idon’teverwishtoseeabetterpluckedone……"
　　Wesatsilentafterthat;outofdoorsthelightbegantostiramongtheleaves。Therewereallkindsofrustlingsounds，asiftheworldwereturningoverinbed。
　　SuddenlyDansaid:
　　"He’scheatedme。Ipaidhimtoclearoutandleaveheralone。
　　D’youthinkshe’sasleep？"He’smadenoappealforsympathy，he’dtakepityforaninsult;buthefeelsitbadly。
　　"I’mtiredasacat，"hesaidatlast，andwenttosleeponmybed。
　　It’sbroaddaylightnow;Itooamtiredasacat……
　　V
　　"Saturday，6tbAugust……ItakeupmytalewhereIleftoffyesterday……DanandI
　　startedassoonaswecouldgetMrs。Hopgoodtogiveuscoffee。Theoldladywasmoretentative，moreundecided，morepouncing，thanI
　　hadeverseenher。Shewasmanifestlyuneasy:Ha—apgood——who"don’tslape"don’the，ifsnoresareanycriterion——hadcalledoutinthenight，"Harktoth’’arses’’oofs！"Hadweheardthem？Andwheremightwebegoingthen？’Twasveryearrlytostart，an’nobreakfast。Haapgoodhadsaiditwasgoin’toshaowerr。MissPasiancewasnotto’erviolinyet，an’MisterFord’ekept’isroom。
　　Wasit？——wouldtherebe——？"Well，an’therr’san’arvestbug;’tissomeearrlyforthey！"Wonderfulhowshepouncesonallsuchcreatures，whenIcan’tevenseethem。Shepresseditabsentlybetweenfingerandthumb，andbeganmanoeuvringroundanotherway。
　　Longbeforeshehadreachedherpoint，wehadgulpeddownourcoffee，anddeparted。Butaswerodeoutshecameatarun，holdingherskirtshighwitheitherhand，raisedheroldeyesbrightandanxiousintheirsettingoffinewrinkles，andsaid:
　　"’Tiddensorrowforher？"
　　Ashrugoftheshoulderswasalltheanswershegot。Werodebythelanes;throughslopingfarmyards，allmudandpigs，anddirtystraw，andfarmerswithclean—shavenupperlipsandwhiskersunderthechin;
　　pastfieldsofcorn，wherelarksweresinging。Upordown，wedidn’tdrawreintillwecametoDan’shotel。
　　Therewastherivergleamingbeforeusunderarainbowmistthathallowedeveryshape。Thereseemedaffinitybetweentheearthandthesky。I’veneverseenthatparticularsoftunityoutofDevon。
　　Andeveryship，howeverblackormodern，onthosepalewaters，hadthelookofadreamship。Thetallgreenwoods，theredearth，thewhitehouses，wereallmeltedintooneopalhaze。Itwasraining，butthesunwasshiningbehind。Gullsswoopedbyus——ghostsoftheoldgreedywanderersofthesea。
　　WehadtoldourtwoboatmentopullusouttothePiedWitcb！Theystartedwithgreatresolution，thenrestedontheiroars。
　　"ThePiedWitch，zurr？"askedonepolitely;"an’whichmayherbe？"
　　That’stheWestcountrymanallover！Neversayyou"nay，"neverloseanopportunity，neverownhedoesn’tknow，orcan’tdoanything——
　　independence，amiability，andaneyetothemainchance。WementionedPearse’sname。
　　"Capt’nZach’ryPearse！"Theyexchangedalookhalf—amused，half—
　　admiring。
　　"TheZunflaower，yumane。That’sher。Zunflaower，ahoy！"Aswemountedthesteamer’sblacksideIheardonesay:
　　"PiedWitch！Apra—apernamethat——adandynameforher！"Theylaughedastheymadefast。
　　ThemateoftheSunflower，orPiedWitcb，orwhatevershewascalled，metus——atallyoungfellowinhisshirtsleeves，tannedtotherootsofhishair，withsinewy，tattooedarms，andgreyeyes，charredroundtherimsfromstaringatweather。
　　"Theskipperisonboard，"hesaid。"We’reratherbusy，asyousee。
　　Getonwiththat，yousea—cooks，"hebawledattwofellowswhoweredoingnothing。Allovertheship，menwerehauling，splicing，andstowingcargo。
　　"To—day’sFriday:we’reoffonWednesdaywithanyluck。Willyoucomethisway？"Heledusdownthecompaniontoadarkholewhichhecalledthesaloon。"Names？What！areyouMr。Treffry？Thenwe’repartners！"Aschoolboy’sgleecameonhisface。
　　"Lookhere！"hesaid;"Icanshowyousomething，"andheunlockedthedoorofacabin。Thereappearedtobenothinginitbutahugepieceoftarpaulin，whichdepended，bulging，fromthetopmostbunk。Hepulleditup。Thelowerbunkhadbeenremoved，andinitsplacewastheuglybodyofadismountedGatlinggun。
　　"Gotsixofthem，"hewhispered，withunholymystery，throughwhichhisnativefranknessgapedout。"Worththeirweightingoldouttherejustnow，theskippersays。Gotaheapofrifles，too，andlotsofammunition。He’sgivenmeashare。ThisisbetterthantheP。andO。，andplayingdeckcricketwiththepassengers。I’dmadeupmymindalreadytochuckthat，andgoinforplantin’sugar，whenI
　　ranacrosstheskipper。Wonderfulchap，theskipper！I’llgoandtellhim。He’sbeenoutallnight;onlycameaboardatfourbells;
　　havinganapnow，buthewon’tmindthatforyou。"
　　Offhewent。IwonderedwhattherewasinZacharyPearsetoattractayoungsterofthissort;oneofthecustomarytwelvechildrenofsomecountryparson，nodoubt—burningtoshootafewniggers，andforeverfrankandyouthful。
　　Hecamebackwithhishandsfullofbottles。
　　"What’llyoudrink？Theskipper’llbehereinajiffy。Excusemygoin’ondeck。We’resobusy。"
　　AndinfiveminutesZacharyPearsedidcome。Hemadenoattempttoshakehands，forwhichIrespectedhim。Hisfacelookedworn，andmoredefiantthanusual。
　　"Well，gentlemen？"hesaid。
　　"We’vecometoaskwhatyou’regoingtodo？"saidDan。
　　"Idon’tknow，"answeredPearse，"thatthat’sanyofyourbusiness。"
　　Dan’slittleeyeswereliketheeyesofanangrypig。
　　"You’vegotfivehundredpoundsofmine，"hesaid;"whydoyouthinkIgaveityou？"
　　Zacharybithisfingers。
　　"That’snoconcernofmine，"hesaid。"IsailonWednesday。Yourmoney’ssafe。"
　　"DoyouknowwhatIthinkofyou？"saidDan。
　　"No，andyou’dbetternottellme！"Then，withoneofhispeculiarchanges，hesmiled:"Asyoulike，though。"
　　Dan’sfacegrewverydark。"Givemeaplainanswer，"hesaid:"Whatareyougoingtodoabouther？"
　　Zacharylookedupathimfromunderhisbrows。
　　"Nothing。"
　　"Areyoucurenoughtodenythatyou’vemarriedher？"
　　Zacharylookedathimcoolly。"Notatall，"hesaid。
　　"WhatinGod’snamedidyoudoitfor？"
　　"You’venomonopolyinthepostofhusband，Mr。Treffry。"
　　"ToputachildinthatpositionD！Haven’tyoutheheartofaman？
　　Whatd’yecomesneakinginatnightfor？ByGad！Don’tyouknowyou’vedoneabeastlything？"
　　Zachary’sfacedarkened，heclenchedhisfists。Thenheseemedtoshuthisangerintohimself。
　　"Youwantedmetoleavehertoyou，"hesneered。"IgavehermypromisethatI’dtakeheroutthere，andwe’dhavegoneoffonWednesdayquietlyenough，ifyouhadn’tcomeandnosedthewholethingoutwithyourinfernaldog。Thefat’sinthefire！There’snoreasonwhyIshouldtakehernow。I’llcomebacktoherarichman，ornotatall。"
　　"Andinthemeantime？"Islippedin。
　　Heturnedtome，inaningratiatingway。
　　"Iwouldhavetakenhertosavethefuss——Ireallywould——it’snotmyfaultthething’scomeout。I’monariskyjob。Tohaveherwithmemightruinthewholething;itwouldaffectmynerve。Itisn’tsafeforher。"
　　"Andwhat’sherpositiontobe，"Isaid，"whileyou’reaway？Doyouthinkshe’dhavemarriedyouifshe’dknownyouweregoingtoleaveherlikethis？Yououghttogiveupthisbusiness。
　　Youstoleher。Herlife’sinyourhands;she’sonlyachild！"
　　Aquiverpassedoverhisface;itshowedthathewassuffering。
　　"Giveitup！"Iurged。
　　"Mylastfarthing’sinit，"hesighed;"thechanceofalifetime。"
　　Helookedatmedoubtfully，appealingly，asifforthefirsttimeinhislifehehadbeengivenaglimpseofthatdilemmaofconsequenceswhichhisnatureneverrecognises。Ithoughthewasgoingtogivein。Suddenly，tomyhorror，Dangrowled，"Playtheman！"
　　Pearseturnedhishead。"Idon’twantyouradviceanyway，"hesaid;
　　"I’llnotbedictatedto。"
　　"Toyourlastday，"saidDan，"youshallanswertomeforthewayyoutreather。"
　　Zacharysmiled。
　　"Doyouseethatfly？"hesaid。"Wel——Icareforyouaslittleasthis，"andheflickedtheflyoffhiswhitetrousers。"Good—
　　morning……！"
　　Thenoblemarinerswhomannedourboatpulledlustilyfortheshore，butwehadhardlyshovedoff’whenastormofrainburstovertheship，andsheseemedtovanish，leavingapictureonmyeyesofthematewavinghiscapabovetherail，withhistannedyoungfacebentdownatus，smiling，keen，andfriendly……Wereachedtheshoredrenched，angrywithourselves，andwitheachother;Istartedsulkilyforhome。
　　AsIrodepastanorchard，anapple，loosenedbytherainstorm，camedownwithathud。
　　"Theappleswereripeandreadytofall，Oh！heigh—ho！andreadytofall。"
　　Imadeupmymindtopack，andgoaway。Butthere’sastrangeness，asortofhauntingfascinationinitall。Toyou，whodon’tknowthepeople，itmayonlyseemapieceofrathersordidfolly。Butitisn’tthegood，theobvious，theusefulthatputsaspellonusinlife。It’sthebizarre，thedimlyseen，themysteriousforgoodorevil。
　　ThesunwasoutagainwhenIrodeuptothefarm;itsyellowthatchshonethroughthetreesasifshelteringastoreofgladnessandgoodnews。JohnFordhimselfopenedthedoortome。
　　Hebeganwithanapology，whichmademefeelmorethaneveranintruder;thenhesaid:
　　"Ihavenotspokentomygranddaughter——IwaitedtoseeDanTreffry。"
　　Hewassternandsad—eyed，likeamanwithagreatweightofgriefonhisshoulders。Helookedasifhehadnotslept;hisdresswasoutoforder，hehadnottakenhisclothesoff，Ithink。Heisn’tamanwhomyoucanpity。IfeltIhadtakenalibertyinknowingofthematteratall。WhenItoldhimwherewehadbeen，hesaid:
　　"Itwasgoodofyoutotakethistrouble。Thatyoushouldhavehadto！Butsincesuchthingshavecometopass——"Hemadeagesturefullofhorror。Hegaveonetheimpressionofamanwhosepridewasstrugglingagainstamortalhurt。Presentlyheasked:
　　"Yousawhim，yousay？Headmittedthismarriage？Didhegiveanexplanation？"
　　ItriedtomakePearse’spointofviewclear。Beforethisoldman，withhisinflexiblewillandsenseofduty，IfeltasifIheldabriefforZachary，andmusttrytodohimjustice。
　　"Letmeunderstand，"hesaidatlast。"Hestoleher，yousay，tomakesure;anddesertsherwithinafortnight。"
　　"Hesayshemeanttotakeher——"
　　"Doyoubelievethat？"
　　BeforeIcouldanswer，IsawPasiancestandingatthewindow。HowlongshehadbeenthereIdon’tknow。
　　"Isittruethatheisgoingtoleavemebehind？"shecriedout。
　　Icouldonlynod。
　　"Didyouhearhimyourownself？"
　　"Yes。"
　　Shestampedherfoot。
　　"Buthepromised！Hepromised！"
　　JohnFordwenttowardsher。
　　"Don’ttouchme，grandfather！Ihateeveryone！Lethimdowhathelikes，Idon’tcare。"
　　JohnFord’sfaceturnedquitegrey。
　　"Pasiance，"hesaid，"didyouwanttoleavemesomuch？"
　　Shelookedstraightatus，andsaidsharply:
　　"What’sthegoodoftellingstories。Ican’thelpitshurtingyou。"
　　"Whatdidyouthinkyouwouldfindawayfromhere？"
　　Shelaughed。
　　"Find？Idon’tknow——nothing;Iwouldn’tbestifledanyway。NowI
　　supposeyou’llshutmeupbecauseI’maweakgirl，notstronglikemen！"
　　"Silence！"saidJohnFord;"Iwillmakehimtakeyou。"
　　"Youshan’t！"shecried;"Iwon’tletyou。He’sfreetodoashelikes。He’sfree——Itellyouall，everybody——free！"
　　Sheranthroughthewindow，andvanished。
　　JohnFordmadeamovementasifthebottomhaddroppedoutofhisworld。Ilefthimthere。
　　Iwenttothekitchen，whereHopgoodwassittingatthetable，eatingbreadandcheese。Hegotuponseeingme，andverykindlybroughtmesomecoldbaconandapintofale。
　　"IthartIshudebeseeingyu，zurr，"hesaidbetweenhisbites;
　　"Therr’snothartto’atin’’boutthe’ouseto—day。Theoldwumman’spuzzivantin’overMissPasiance。Younggirlsareskeerycritters"——
　　hebrushedhissleeveoverhisbroad，hardjaws，andfilledapipe"speciallywhenit’sinthebloodof’em。SquireRickVoiseywerradandy;an’MistressVoisey——well，shewerraniceladytu，but"——
　　rollingthestemofhispipefromcornertocornerofhismouth——"shewerrapra—apervixen。"
　　Hopgood’sagoodfellow，andIbelieveassoftashelookshard，buthe’snotquitethesortwithwhomonechoosestotalkoveramatterlikethis。Iwentupstairs，andbegantopack，butafterabitdroppeditforabook，andsomehoworotherfellasleep。
　　Iwoke，andlookedatmywatch;itwasfiveo’clock。Ihadbeenasleepfourhours。Asinglesunbeamwasslantingacrossfromoneofmywindowstotheother，andtherewasthecoolsoundofmilkdroppingintopails;then，allatonce，astirasofalarm，andheavyfootsteps。
　　Iopenedmydoor。Hopgoodandacoast—guardsmanwerecarryingPasianceslowlyupthestairs。Shelayintheirarmswithoutmoving，herfacewhiterthanherdress，ascratchacrosstheforehead，andtwoorthreedropsthereofdriedblood。Herhandswereclasped，andsheslowlycrookedandstiffenedoutherfingers。Whentheyturnedwithheratthestairtop，sheopenedherlips，andgasped，"Allright，don’tputmedown。Icanbearit。"Theypassed，and，withahalf—smileinhereyes，shesaidsomethingtomethatIcouldn’tcatch;thedoorwasshut，andtheexcitedwhisperingbeganagainbelow。Iwaitedforthementocomeout，andcaughtholdofHopgood。
　　Hewipedthesweatoffhisforehead。
　　"Pooryoungthing！"hesaid。"Shefell——downthecliffs——’tisherback——coastguardsawher’twerrtheyfetchedherin。TheLord’elphermebbeshe’snotbrokenupmuch！An’MisterForddon’tknow！I’mgwineforthedoctor。"
　　Therewasanhourormoretowaitbeforehecame;ayoungfellow;
　　almostaboy。Helookedverygrave，whenhecameoutofherroom。
　　"Theoldwomantherefondofher？nurseherwell……？Fondasadog！——good！Don’tknow——can’ttellforcertain！Afraidit’sthespine，musthaveanotheropinion！Whatapluckygirl！TellMr。FordtohavethebestmanhecangetinTorquay——there’sC———。I’llberoundthefirstthinginthemorning。Keepherdeadquiet。I’veleftasleepingdraught;she’llhavefevertonight。"
　　JohnFordcameinatlast。Pooroldman！Whatitmusthavecosthimnottogotoherforfearoftheexcitement！Howmanytimesinthenextfewhoursdidn’tIhearhimcometothebottomofthestairs;
　　hisheavywheezing，andsighing;andtheforlorntreadofhisfeetgoingback！Abouteleven，justasIwasgoingtobed，Mrs。Hopgoodcametomydoor。
　　"Willyucome，sir，"shesaid;"she’saskingforyu。NaowtIcanzaybutwhatshewillseeyu;zeemscrazy，don’tit？"Ateartrickleddowntheoldlady’scheek。"Du’eecome;’twilldu’err’armmebbe，butIdunno——she’llfretelse。"
　　Islippedintotheroom。Lyingbackonherpillows，shewasbreathingquicklywithhalf—closedeyes。Therewasnothingtoshowthatshehadwantedme，orevenknewthatIwasthere。Thewickofthecandle，setbythebedside，hadbeensnuffedtooshort，andgavebutafaintlight;bothwindowanddoorstoodopen，stilltherewasnodraught，andthefeeblelittleflameburnedquitestill，castingafaintyellowstainontheceilingliketherefectionfromabuttercupheldbeneathachin。Theseceilingsarefartoolow！Acrossthewide，squatwindowtheapplebranchesfellinblackstripeswhichneverstirred。Itwastoodarktoseethingsclearly。Atthefootofthebedwasachest，andthereMrs。Hopgoodhadsatdown，movingherlipsasifinspeech。Mingledwiththehalf—mustysmellofage;
　　therewereotherscents，ofmignonette，apples，andsomesweet—
　　smellingsoap。Thefloorhadnocarpet，andtherewasnotonesingledarkobjectexcepttheviolin，hangingfromanailoverthebed。A
　　little，roundclocktickedsolemnly。
　　"Whywon’tyougivemethatstuff，Mums？"Pasiancesaidinafaint，sharpvoice。"Iwanttosleep。"
　　"Haveyoumuchpain？"Iasked。
　　"OfcourseIhave;it’severywhere。"
　　Sheturnedherfacetowardsme。
　　"YouthoughtIdiditonpurpose，butyou’rewrong。IfIhad，I’dhavedoneitbetterthanthis。Iwouldn’thavethisbrutalpain。"