III。THEEVENTSOFEIGHTDAYS
1。FROMTHETWENTY-SECONDTOTHETWENTY-SEVENTHOFJULY
Butthingsarenotwhattheyseem。AresponsiveloveforEdwardSpringrovehadmadeitsappearanceinCytherea'sbosomwithallthefascinatingattributesofafirstexperience，notsucceedingtoordisplacingotheremotions，asinolderhearts，buttakingupentirelynewground；aswhengazingjustaftersunsetatthepaleblueskyweseeastarcomeintoexistencewherenothingwasbefore。
Hispartingwords，'Don'tforgetme，'sherepeatedtoherselfahundredtimes，andthoughshethoughttheirimportwasprobablycommonplace，shecouldnothelptoyingwiththem，——lookingatthemfromallpoints，andinvestingthemwithmeaningsofloveandfaithfulness，——ostensiblyentertainingsuchmeaningsonlyasfableswherewithtopassthetime，yetinherheartadmitting，fordetachedinstants，apossibilityoftheirdeepertruth。Andthus，forhoursafterhehadlefther，herreasonflirtedwithherfancyasakittenwillsportwithadove，pleasantlyandsmoothlythrougheasyattitudes，butdisclosingitscruelandunyieldingnatureatcrises。
Toturnnowtothemorematerialmediathroughwhichthisstorymoves，itsohappenedthattheverynextmorningbroughtroundacircumstancewhich，slightinitself，tookuparelevantandimportantpositionbetweenthepastandthefutureofthepersonshereinconcerned。
Atbreakfasttime，justasCythereahadagainseenthepostmanpasswithoutbringingherananswertotheadvertisement，asshehadfullyexpectedhewoulddo，Owenenteredtheroom。
'Well，'hesaid，kissingher，'youhavenotbeenalarmed，ofcourse。
SpringrovetoldyouwhatIhaddone，andyoufoundtherewasnotrain？'
'Yes，itwasallclear。Butwhatisthelamenessowingto？'
'Idon'tknow——nothing。Ithasquitegoneoffnow……Cytherea，IhopeyoulikeSpringrove。Springrove'sanicefellow，youknow。'
'Yes。Ithinkheis，exceptthat——'
'IthappenedjusttothepurposethatIshouldmeethimthere，didn'tit？AndwhenIreachedthestationandlearntthatIcouldnotgetonbytrainmyfootseemedbetter。Istartedofftowalkhome，andwentaboutfivemilesalongapathbesidetherailway。ItthenstruckmethatImightnotbefitforanythingtodayifI
walkedandaggravatedthebotheringfoot，soIlookedforaplacetosleepat。Therewasnoavailablevillageorinn，andIeventuallygotthekeeperofagate-house，wherealanecrossedtheline，totakemein。'
Theyproceededwiththeirbreakfast。Owenyawned。
'Youdidn'tgetmuchsleepatthegate-houselastnight，I'mafraid，Owen，'saidhissister。
'Totellthetruth，Ididn't。Iwasinsuchverycloseandnarrowquarters。Thosegate-housesaresuchsmallplaces，andthemanhadonlyhisownbedtoofferme。Ah，by-the-bye，Cythie，Ihavesuchanextraordinarythingtotellyouinconnectionwiththisman！——byJove，Ihadnearlyforgottenit！ButI'llgostraighton。AsIwassaying，hehadonlyhisownbedtoofferme，butIcouldnotaffordtobefastidious，andashehadaheartymanner，thoughaveryqueerone，Iagreedtoacceptit，andhemadearoughpalletforhimselfonthefloorclosebesideme。Well，Icouldnotsleepformylife，andIwishedIhadnotstayedthere，thoughIwassotired。Foronething，thereweretheluggagetrainsrattlingbyatmyelbowtheearlypartofthenight。Butworsethanthis，hetalkedcontinuallyinhissleep，andoccasionallystruckoutwithhislimbsatsomethingoranother，knockingagainstthepostofthebedsteadandmakingittremble。MyconditionwasaltogethersounsatisfactorythatatlastIawokehim，andaskedhimwhathehadbeendreamingaboutfortheprevioushour，forIcouldgetnosleepatall。Hebeggedmypardonfordisturbingme，butanameIhadcasuallyletfallthateveninghadledhimtothinkofanotherstrangerhehadoncehadvisithim，whohadalsoaccidentallymentionedthesamename，andsomeverystrangeincidentsconnectedwiththatmeeting。
Theaffairhadoccurredyearsandyearsago；butwhatIhadsaidhadmadehimthinkanddreamaboutitasifitwerebutyesterday。Whatwastheword？Isaid。“Cytherea，“hesaid。Whatwasthestory？I
askedthen。HethentoldmethatwhenhewasayoungmaninLondonheborrowedafewpoundstoaddtoafewhehadsavedup，andopenedalittleinnatHammersmith。Oneevening，aftertheinnhadbeenopenaboutacoupleofmonths，everyidlerintheneighbourhoodranofftoWestminster。TheHousesofParliamentwereonfire。
'Notasoulremainedinhisparlourbesideshimself，andhebeganpickingupthepipesandglasseshiscustomershadhastilyrelinquished。Atlengthayoungladyaboutseventeenoreighteencamein。Sheaskedifawomanwastherewaitingforherself——MissJaneTaylor。Hesaidno；askedtheyoungladyifshewouldwait，andshowedherintothesmallinnerroom。Therewasaglass-paneinthepartitiondividingthisroomfromthebartoenablethelandlordtoseeifhisvisitors，whosatthere，wantedanything。Acuriousawkwardnessandmelancholyaboutthebehaviourofthegirlwhocalled，causedmyinformanttolookfrequentlyatherthroughthepartition。Sheseemedwearyofherlife，andsatwithherfaceburiedinherhands，evidentlyquiteoutofherelementinsuchahouse。ThenawomanmucholdercameinandgreetedMissTaylorbyname。Themandistinctlyheardthefollowingwordspassbetweenthem：——
'“Whyhaveyounotbroughthim？”
'“Heisill；heisnotlikelytolivethroughthenight。“
'Atthisannouncementfromtheelderlywoman，theyoungladyfelltothefloorinaswoon，apparentlyovercomebythenews。Thelandlordraninandliftedherup。Well，dowhattheywouldtheycouldnotforalongtimebringherbacktoconsciousness，andbegantobemuchalarmed。“Whoisshe？”theinnkeepersaidtotheotherwoman。
“Iknowher，“theothersaid，withdeepmeaninginhertone。Theelderlyandyoungwomanseemedallied，andyetstrangers。
'Shenowshowedsignsoflife，anditstruckhimhewasplainlyofaninquisitiveturn，thatinherhalf-bewilderedstatehemightgetsomeinformationfromher。Hestoopedoverher，puthismouthtoherear，andsaidsharply，“What'syourname？”“Tocatchawomannappingisdifficult，evenwhenshe'shalfdead；butIdidit，“saysthegatekeeper。Whenheaskedherhername，shesaidimmediately——
'“Cytherea“——andstoppedsuddenly。'
'Myownname！'saidCytherea。
'Yes——yourname。Well，thegatemanthoughtatthetimeitmightbeequallywithJaneanameshehadinventedfortheoccasion，thattheymightnottraceher；butIthinkitwastruthunconsciouslyuttered，forsheaddeddirectlyafterwards：“O，whathaveIsaid！”
andwasquiteovercomeagain——thistimewithfright。Hervexationthatthewomannowdoubtedthegenuinenessofherothernamewasverymuchgreaterthanthattheinnkeeperdid，anditisevidentthattoblindthewomanwashermainobject。Healsolearntfromwordstheelderlywomancasuallydropped，thatmeetingsofthesamekindhadbeenheldbefore，andthatthefalsenessofthesoi-disantMissJaneTaylor'snamehadneverbeensuspectedbythisdependentorconfederatetillthen。
'Sherecovered，restedthereforanhour，andfirstsendingoffhercompanionperemptorilywhichwasanotheroddthing，sheleftthehouse，offeringthelandlordallthemoneyshehadtosaynothingaboutthecircumstance。Hehasneverseenhersince，accordingtohisownaccount。Isaidtohimagainandagain，“Didyoufindanymoreparticularsafterwards？”“Notasyllable，“hesaid。O，heshouldneverhearanymoreofthat！toomanyyearshadpassedsinceithappened。“Atanyrate，youfoundouthersurname？”Isaid。
“Well，well，that'smysecret，“hewenton。“PerhapsIshouldneverhavebeeninthispartoftheworldifithadn'tbeenforthat。I
failedasapublican，youknow。“Iimaginethesituationofgatemanwasgivenhimandhisdebtspaidoffasabribetosilence；butI
can'tsay。“Ah，yes！”hesaid，withalongbreath。“Ihaveneverheardthatnamementionedsincethattimetillto-night，andthenthereinstantlyrosetomyeyesthevisionofthatyoungladylyinginafaintingfit。“Hethenstoppedtalkingandfellasleep。
TellingthestorymusthaverelievedhimasitdidtheAncientMariner，forhedidnotmoveamuscleormakeanothersoundfortheremainderofthenight。Nowisn'tthatanoddstory？'
'Itisindeed，'Cythereamurmured。'Very，verystrange。'
'Whyshouldshehavesaidyourmostuncommonname？'continuedOwen。
'Themanwasevidentlytruthful，fortherewasnotmotivesufficientforhisinventionofsuchatale，andhecouldnothavedoneiteither。'
Cytherealookedlongatherbrother。'Don'tyourecognizeanythingelseinconnectionwiththestory？'shesaid。
'What？'heasked。
'Doyourememberwhatpoorpapaonceletdrop——thatCythereawasthenameofhisfirstsweetheartinBloomsbury，whosomysteriouslyrenouncedhim？Asortofintuitiontellsmethatthiswasthesamewoman。'
'Ono——notlikely，'saidherbrothersceptically。
'Hownotlikely，Owen？There'snotanotherwomanofthenameinEngland。Inwhatyearusedpapatosaytheeventtookplace？'
'Eighteenhundredandthirty-five。'
'AndwhenweretheHousesofParliamentburnt？——stop，Icantellyou。'Shesearchedtheirlittlestockofbooksforalistofdates，andfoundoneinanoldschoolhistory。
'TheHousesofParliamentwereburntdownintheeveningofthesixteenthofOctober，eighteenhundredandthirty-four。'
'Nearlyayearandaquarterbeforeshemetfather，'remarkedOwen。
Theyweresilent。'Ifpapahadbeenalive，whatawonderfulabsorbinginterestthisstorywouldhavehadforhim，'saidCythereaby-and-by。'Andhowstrangelyknowledgecomestous。Wemighthavesearchedforacluetohersecrethalftheworldover，andneverfoundone。Ifwehadreallyhadanymotivefortryingtodiscovermoreofthesadhistorythanpapatoldus，weshouldhavegonetoBloomsbury；butnotcaringtodoso，wegotwohundredmilesintheoppositedirection，andtherefindinformationwaitingtobetoldus。Whatcouldhavebeenthesecret，Owen？'
'Heavenknows。Butourhavingheardalittlemoreofherinthiswayifsheisthesamewomanisamerecoincidenceafterall——afamilystorytotellourfriendsifweeverhaveany。Butweshallneverknowanymoreoftheepisodenow——trustourfatesforthat。'
Cythereasatsilentlythinking。
'Therewasnoanswerthismorningtoyouradvertisement，Cytherea？'
hecontinued。
'None。'
'IcouldseethatbyyourlookswhenIcamein。'
'Fancynotgettingasingleone，'shesaidsadly。'Surelytheremustbepeoplesomewherewhowantgovernesses？'
'Yes；butthosewhowantthem，andcanaffordtohavethem，getthemmostlybyfriends'recommendations；whilstthosewhowantthem，andcan'taffordtohavethem，makeuseoftheirpoorrelations。'
'WhatshallIdo？'
'Nevermindit。Goonlivingwithme。Don'tletthedifficultytroubleyourmindso；youthinkaboutitallday。Icankeepyou，Cythie，inaplainwayofliving。Twenty-fiveshillingsaweekdonotamounttomuchtruly；butthenmanymechanicshavenomore，andwelivequiteassparinglyasjourneymenmechanics……Itisameagrenarrowlifewearedriftinginto，'headdedgloomily，'butitisadegreemoretolerablethantheworryingsensationofalltheworldbeingashamedofyou，whichweexperiencedatHocbridge。'
'Icouldn'tgobackthereagain，'shesaid。
'NorI。O，Idon'tregretourcourseforamoment。Wedidquiterightindroppingoutoftheworld。'Thesneeringtonesoftheremarkwerealmosttoolabouredtobereal。'Besides，'hecontinued，'somethingbetterformeissuretoturnupsoon。Iwishmyengagementherewasapermanentoneinsteadofforonlytwomonths。Itmay，certainly，beforalongertime，butallisuncertain。'
'IwishIcouldgetsomethingtodo；andImusttoo，'shesaidfirmly。'Suppose，asisveryprobable，youarenotwantedafterthebeginningofOctober——thetimeMr。Gradfieldmentioned——whatshouldwedoifIweredependentonyouonlythroughoutthewinter？'
Theyponderedonnumerousschemesbywhichayoungladymightbesupposedtoearnadecentlivelihood——moreorlessconvenientandfeasibleinimagination，butrelinquishedthemalluntiladvertisinghadbeenoncemoretried，thistimetakinglowerground。Cythereawasvexedathertemerityinhavingrepresentedtotheworldthatsoinexperiencedabeingasherselfwasaqualifiedgoverness；andhadafancythatthispresumptionofhersmightbeonereasonwhynoladiesapplied。Thenewandhumblerattemptappearedinthefollowingform：——
'NURSERYGOVERNESSORUSEFULCOMPANION。Ayoungpersonwishestohearofasituationineitheroftheabovecapacities。Salaryverymoderate。Sheisagoodneedle-woman——AddressG。，3CrossStreet，Budmouth。'
Intheeveningtheywenttoposttheletter，andthenwalkedupanddowntheParadeforawhile。SoontheymetSpringrove，saidafewwordstohim，andpassedon。Owennoticedthathissister'sfacehadbecomecrimson。RatheroddlytheymetSpringroveagaininafewminutes。Thistimethethreewalkedalittlewaytogether，EdwardostensiblytalkingtoOwen，thoughwithasinglethoughttothereceptionofhiswordsbythemaidenatthefartherside，uponwhomhisgazewasmostlyresting，andwhowasattentivelylistening——
lookingfixedlyuponthepavementthewhile。Ithasbeensaidthatmenlovewiththeireyes；womenwiththeirears。
AsOwenandhimselfwerelittlemorethanacquaintancesasyet，andasSpringrovewaswantingintheassuranceofmanymenofhisage，itnowbecamenecessarytowishhisfriendsgood-evening，ortofindareasonforcontinuingnearCythereabysayingsomenicenewthing。
Hethoughtofanewthing；heproposedapullacrossthebay。Thiswasassentedto。Theywenttothepier；steppedintooneofthegailypaintedboatsmooredalongsideandsheeredoff。Cythereasatinthesternsteering。
Theyrowedthatevening；thenextcame，andwithitthenecessityofrowingagain。Thenthenext，andthenext，Cythereaalwayssittinginthesternwiththetillerropesinherhand。Thecurvesofherfigureweldedwiththoseofthefragileboatinperfectcontinuation，asshegirlishlyyieldedherselftoitsheavingandsinking，seemingtoformwithitanorganicwhole。
ThenOwenwasinclinedtotesthisskillinpaddlingacanoe。
Edwarddidnotlikecanoes，andtheissuewas，that，havingseenOwenonboard，Springroveproposedtopulloffafterhimwithapairofsculls；butnotconsideringhimselfsufficientlyaccomplishedtodofinishedrowingbeforeaparadefullofpromenaderswhentherewasalittleswellon，andwiththerudderunshippedinaddition，hebeggedthatCythereamightcomewithhimandsteerasbefore。Shesteppedin，andtheyfloatedalonginthewakeofherbrother。Thuspassedthefiftheveningonthewater。
Butthesympatheticpairwerethrownintostillclosercompanionship，andmuchmoreexclusiveconnection。
2。JULYTHETWENTY-NINTH
ItwasasadtimeforCytherea——thelastdayofSpringrove'smanagementatGradfield's，andthelasteveningbeforehisreturnfromBudmouthtohisfather'shouse，previoustohisdepartureforLondon。
Grayehadbeenrequestedbythearchitecttosurveyaplotoflandnearlytwentymilesoff，which，withthejourneytoandfro，wouldoccupyhimthewholeday，andpreventhisreturningtilllateintheevening。Cythereamadeacompanionofherlandladytotheextentofsharingmealsandsittingwithherduringthemorningofherbrother'sabsence。Mid-dayfoundherrestlessandmiserableunderthisarrangement。Alltheafternoonshesatalone，lookingoutofthewindowforshescarcelyknewwhom，andhopingshescarcelyknewwhat。Half-pastfiveo'clockcame——theendofSpringrove'sofficialday。TwominuteslaterSpringrovewalkedby。
Sheenduredhersolitudeforanotherhalf-hour，andthencouldendurenolonger。Shehadhoped——whileaffectingtofear——thatEdwardwouldhavefoundsomereasonorotherforcalling，butitseemedthathehadnot。Hastilydressingherselfshewentout，whenthefarceofanaccidentalmeetingwasrepeated。Edwardcameuponherinthestreetatthefirstturning，and，liketheGreatDukeFerdinandin'TheStatueandtheBust'——
'Helookedatherasalovercan；
Shelookedathimasonewhoawakes——
Thepastwasasleep，andherlifebegan。'
'Shallwehaveaboat？'hesaidimpulsively。
Howblissfulitallisatfirst。Perhaps，indeed，theonlyblissinthecourseoflovewhichcantrulybecalledEden-likeisthatwhichprevailsimmediatelyafterdoubthasendedandbeforereflectionhassetin——atthedawnoftheemotion，whenitisnotrecognizedbyname，andbeforetheconsiderationofwhatthisloveis，hasgivenbirthtotheconsiderationofwhatdifficultiesittendstocreate；
whenontheman'spart，themistressappearstothemind'seyeinpicturesque，hazy，andfreshmorninglights，andsoftmorningshadows；when，asyet，sheisknownonlyasthewearerofonedress，whichsharesherownpersonality；asthestanderinonespecialposition，thegiverofonebrightparticularglance，andthespeakerofonetendersentence；when，onherpart，sheistimidlycarefuloverwhatshesaysanddoes，lestsheshouldbemisconstruedorunder-ratedtothebreadthofashadowofahair。
'Shallwehaveaboat？'hesaidagain，moresoftly，seeingthattohisfirstquestionshehadnotanswered，butlookeduncertainlyattheground，thenalmost，butnotquite，inhisface，blushedaseriesofminuteblushes，leftoffinthemidstofthem，andshowedtheusualsignsofperplexityinamatteroftheemotions。
Owenhadalwaysbeenwithherbefore，buttherewasnowaforceofhabitintheproceeding，andwithArcadianinnocencesheassumedthatarowonthewaterwas，underanycircumstances，anaturalthing。Withoutanotherwordbeingspokenoneitherside，theywentdownthesteps。Hecarefullyhandedherin，tookhisseat，slidnoiselesslyoffthesand，andawayfromtheshore。
Theythussatfacingeachotherinthegracefulyellowcockle-shell，andhiseyesfrequentlyfoundaresting-placeinthedepthsofhers。
Theboatwassosmallthatateachreturnofthesculls，whenhishandscameforwardtobeginthepull，theyapproachedsoneartoherthathervividimaginationbegantothrillherwithafancythathewasgoingtoclasphisarmsroundher。Thesensationgrewsostrongthatshecouldnotruntheriskofagainmeetinghiseyesatthosecriticalmoments，andturnedasidetoinspectthedistanthorizon；
thenshegrewwearyoflookingsideways，andwasdriventoreturntohernaturalpositionagain。Atthisinstantheagainleantforwardtobegin，andmetherglancebyanardentfixedgaze。Aninvoluntaryimpulseofgirlishembarrassmentcausedhertogiveavehementpullatthetiller-rope，whichbroughttheboat'sheadroundtilltheystooddirectlyforshore。
Hiseyes，whichhaddweltuponherformduringthewholetimeofherlookaskance，nowlefther；heperceivedthedirectioninwhichtheyweregoing。
'Why，youhavecompletelyturnedtheboat，MissGraye？'hesaid，lookingoverhisshoulder。'Lookatourtrackonthewater——agreatsemicircle，precededbyaseriesofzigzagsasfaraswecansee。'
Shelookedattentively。'Isitmyfaultoryours？'sheinquired。
'Mine，Isuppose？'
'Ican'thelpsayingthatitisyours。'
Shedroppedtheropesdecisively，feelingtheslightesttwingeofvexationattheanswer。
'Whydoyouletgo？'
'Idoitsobadly。'
'Ono；youturnedaboutforshoreinamasterlyway。Doyouwishtoreturn？'
'Yes，ifyouplease。'
'Ofcourse，then，Iwillatonce。'
'Ifearwhatthepeoplewillthinkofus——goinginsuchabsurddirections，andallthroughmywretchedsteering。'
'Nevermindwhatthepeoplethink。'Apause。'Yousurelyarenotsoweakastomindwhatthepeoplethinkonsuchamatterasthat？'
Thosewordsmightalmostbecalledtoofirmandhardtobegivenbyhimtoher；butnevermind。Foralmostthefirsttimeinherlifeshefeltthecharmingsensation，althoughonsuchaninsignificantsubject，ofbeingcompelledintoanopinionbyamansheloved。
Owen，thoughlessyieldingphysically，andmorepractical，wouldnothavehadtheintellectualindependencetoanswerawomanthus。Sherepliedquietlyandhonestly——ashonestlyaswhenshehadstatedthecontraryfactaminuteearlier——
'Idon'tmind。'
'I'llunshipthetillerthatyoumayhavenothingtodogoingbackbuttoholdyourparasol，'hecontinued，andarosetoperformtheoperation，necessarilyleaningcloselyagainsther，toguardagainsttheriskofcapsizingtheboatashereachedhishandsastern。Hiswarmbreathtouchedandcreptroundherfacelikeacaress；buthewasapparentlyonlyconcernedwithhistask。Shelookedguiltyofsomethingwhenheseatedhimself。Hereadinherfacewhatthatsomethingwas——shehadexperiencedapleasurefromhistouch。Butheflungapracticalglanceoverhisshoulder，seizedtheoars，andtheyspedinastraightlinetowardstheshore。
Cythereasawthathenotedinherfacewhathadpassedinherheart，andthatnotingit，hecontinuedasdecidedasbefore。Shewasinwardlydistressed。Shehadnotmeanthimtotranslateherwordsaboutreturninghomesoliterallyatthefirst；shehadnotintendedhimtolearnhersecret；butmorethanallshewasnotabletoenduretheperceptionofhislearningitandcontinuingunmoved。
Therewasnothingbutmiserytocomenow。Theywouldstepashore；
hewouldsaygood-night，gotoLondonto-morrow，andthemiserableShewouldlosehimforever。Shedidnotquitesupposewhatwasthefact，thataparallelthoughtwassimultaneouslypassingthroughhismind。
Theywerenowwithintenyards，nowwithinfive；hewasonlynowwaitingfora'smooth'tobringtheboatin。Sweet，sweetLovemustnotbeslainthus，wasthefairmaid'sreasoning。Shewasequaltotheoccasion——ladiesare——anddeliveredthegod——
'Doyouwantverymuchtoland，Mr。Springrove？'shesaid，lettingheryoungvioleteyespineathimavery，verylittle。
'I？Notatall，'saidhe，lookinganastonishmentatherinquirywhichaslighttwinkleofhiseyehalfbelied。'Butyoudo？'
'Ithinkthatnowwehavecomeout，anditissuchapleasantevening，'shesaidgentlyandsweetly，'Ishouldlikealittlelongerrowifyoudon'tmind？I'lltrytosteerbetterthanbeforeifitmakesiteasierforyou。I'lltryveryhard。'
Itwastheturnofhisfacetotellatalenow。Helooked，'Weunderstandeachother——ah，wedo，darling！'turnedtheboat，andpulledbackintotheBayoncemore。
'Nowsteerwhereveryouwill，'hesaid，inalowvoice。'Nevermindthedirectnessofthecourse——whereveryouwill。'
'ShallitbeCrestonShore？'shesaid，pointingtoastretchofbeachnorthwardfromBudmouthEsplanade。
'CrestonShorecertainly，'heresponded，graspingthesculls。Shetookthestringsdaintily，andtheywoundawaytotheleft。
Foralongtimenothingwasaudibleintheboatbuttheregulardipoftheoars，andtheirmovementintherowlocks。Springroveatlengthspoke。
'Imustgoawayto-morrow，'hesaidtentatively。
'Yes，'sherepliedfaintly。
'ToendeavourtoadvancealittleinmyprofessioninLondon。'
'Yes，'shesaidagain，withthesamepreoccupiedsoftness。
'ButIshan'tadvance。'
'Whynot？Architectureisabewitchingprofession。Theysaythatanarchitect'sworkisanotherman'splay。'
'Yes。Butworldlyadvantagefromanartdoesn'tdependuponmasteringit。Iusedtothinkitdid；butitdoesn't。Thosewhogetrichneedhavenoskillatallasartists。'
'Whatneedtheyhave？'
'Acertainkindofenergywhichmenwithanyfondnessforartpossessveryseldomindeed——anearnestnessinmakingacquaintances，andaloveforusingthem。Theygivetheirwholeattentiontotheartofdiningout，aftermasteringafewrudimentaryfactstoserveupinconversation。Nowaftersayingthat，doIseemamanlikelytomakeaname？'
'Youseemamanlikelytomakeamistake。'
'What'sthat？'
'Togivetoomuchroomtothelatentfeelingwhichisrathercommoninthesedaysamongtheunappreciated，thatbecausesomeremarkablysuccessfulmenarefools，allremarkablyunsuccessfulmenaregeniuses。'
'Prettysubtleforayounglady，'hesaidslowly。'FromthatremarkIshouldfancyyouhadboughtexperience。'
Shepassedovertheidea。'Dotrytosucceed，'shesaid，withwistfulthoughtfulness，leavinghereyesonhim。
Springroveflushedalittleattheearnestnessofherwords，andmused。'Then，likeCatotheCensor，IshalldowhatIdespise，tobeinthefashion，'hesaidatlast……'Well，whenIfoundallthisoutthatIwasspeakingof，whateverdoyouthinkIdid？Fromhavingalreadylovedversepassionately，Iwentontoreaditcontinually；thenIwentrhymingmyself。Ifanythingonearthruinsamanforusefuloccupation，andforcontentwithreasonablesuccessinaprofessionortrade，itisthehabitofwritingversesonemotionalsubjects，whichhadmuchbetterbelefttodiefromwantofnourishment。'
'Doyouwritepoemsnow？'shesaid。
'None。Poeticaldaysaregettingpastwithme，accordingtotheusualrule。Writingrhymesisastagepeopleofmysortpassthrough，astheypassthroughthestageofshavingforabeard，orthinkingtheyareill-used，orsayingthere'snothingintheworldworthlivingfor。'
'Thenthedifferencebetweenacommonmanandarecognizedpoetis，thatonehasbeendeluded，andcuredofhisdelusion，andtheothercontinuesdeludedallhisdays。'
'Well，there'sjustenoughtruthinwhatyousay，tomaketheremarkunbearable。However，itdoesn'tmattertomenowthatI“meditatethethanklessMuse“nolonger，but……'Hepaused，asifendeavouringtothinkwhatbetterthinghedid。
Cytherea'smindranontothesucceedinglinesofthepoem，andtheirstartlingharmonywiththepresentsituationsuggestedthefancythathewas'sporting'withher，andbroughtanawkwardcontemplativenesstoherface。
Springroveguessedherthoughts，andinanswertothemsimplysaid'Yes。'Thentheyweresilentagain。
'IfIhadknownanAmarylliswascominghere，Ishouldnothavemadearrangementsforleaving，'heresumed。
Suchlevity，superimposedonthenotionof'sport'，wasintolerabletoCytherea；forawomanseemsnevertoseeanybuttheserioussideofherattachment，thoughthemostdevotedloverhasallthetimeavagueanddimperceptionthatheislosinghisolddignityandfritteringawayhistime。
'Butwillyounottryagaintogetoninyourprofession？Tryoncemore；dotryoncemore，'shemurmured。'Iamgoingtotryagain。I
haveadvertisedforsomethingtodo。'
'OfcourseIwill，'hesaid，withaneagergestureandsmile。'ButwemustrememberthatthefameofChristopherWrenhimselfdependedupontheaccidentofafireinPuddingLane。Mysuccessesseemtocomeveryslowly。Ioftenthink，thatbeforeIamreadytolive，itwillbetimeformetodie。However，Iamtrying——notforfamenow，butforaneasylifeofreasonablecomfort。'
Itisamelancholytruthforthemiddleclasses，thatinproportionastheydevelop，bythestudyofpoetryandart，theircapacityforconjugalloveofthehighestandpurestkind，theylimitthepossibilityoftheirbeingabletoexerciseit——theveryactputtingoutoftheirpowertheattainmentofmeanssufficientformarriage。
Themanwhoworksupagoodincomehashadnotimetolearnlovetoitssolemnextreme；themanwhohaslearntthathashadnotimetogetrich。
'Andifyoushouldfail——utterlyfailtogetthatreasonablewealth，'shesaidearnestly，'don'tbeperturbed。Thetrulygreatstanduponnomiddleledge；theyareeitherfamousorunknown。'
'Unknown，'hesaid，'iftheirideashavebeenallowedtoflowwithasympatheticbreadth。Famousonlyiftheyhavebeenconvergentandexclusive。'
'Yes；andIamafraidfromthat，thatmyremarkwasbutdiscouragement，wearingthedressofcomfort。PerhapsIwasnotquiterightin——'
'Itdependsentirelyuponwhatismeantbybeingtrulygreat。Butthelongandtheshortofthematteris，thatmenmuststicktoathingiftheywanttosucceedinit——notgivingwaytoover-muchadmirationfortheflowerstheyseegrowinginotherpeople'sborders；whichIamafraidhasbeenmycase。'Helookedintothefardistanceandpaused。
Adherencetoacoursewithpersistencesufficienttoensuresuccessispossibletowidelyappreciativemindsonlywhenthereisalsofoundinthemapower——commonplaceinitsnature，butrareinsuchcombination——thepowerofassumingtoconvictionthatintheoutlyingpathswhichappearsomuchmorebrilliantthantheirown，therearebitternessesequallygreat——unperceivedsimplyonaccountoftheirremoteness。
TheywereoppositeRingsworthShore。ThecliffsherewereformedofstratacompletelycontrastingwiththoseofthefurthersideoftheBay，whilstinandbeneaththewaterhardbouldershadtakentheplaceofsandandshingle，betweenwhich，however，theseaglidednoiselessly，withoutbreakingthecrestofasinglewave，sostrikinglycalmwastheair。Thebreezehadentirelydiedaway，leavingthewaterofthatrareglassysmoothnesswhichisunmarkedevenbythesmalldimplesoftheleastaerialmovement。Purplesandbluesofdiversshadeswerereflectedfromthismirroraccordinglyaseachundulationslopedeastorwest。Theycouldseetherockybottomsometwentyfeetbeneaththem，luxuriantwithweedsofvariousgrowths，anddottedwithpulpycreaturesreflectingasilveryandspangledradianceupwardstotheireyes。
Atlengthshelookedathimtolearntheeffectofherwordsofencouragement。Hehadlettheoarsdriftalongside，andtheboathadcometoastandstill。Everythingonearthseemedtakingacontemplativerest，asifwaitingtoheartheavowalofsomethingfromhislips。Atthatinstantheappearedtobreakaresolutionhithertozealouslykept。Leavinghisseatamidshipshecameandgentlyedgedhimselfdownbesideheruponthenarrowseatatthestern。
Shebreathedmorequicklyandwarmly：hetookherrighthandinhisownright：itwasnotwithdrawn。Heputhislefthandbehindhernecktillitcamerounduponherleftcheek：itwasnotthrustaway。Lightlypressingher，hebroughtherfaceandmouthtowardshisown；when，atthistheverybrink，someunaccountablethoughtorspellwithinhimsuddenlymadehimhalt——evennow，andasitseemedasmuchtohimselfastoher，hetimidlywhispered'MayI？'
HerendeavourwastosayNo，sodenudedofitsfleshandsinewsthatitsnaturewouldhardlyberecognized，orinotherwordsaNofromsoneartheaffirmativefrontierastobeaffectedwiththeYesaccent。ItwasthusawhisperedNo，drawnouttonearlyaquarterofaminute'slength，theOmakingitselfaudibleasasoundlikethespringcooofapigeononunusuallyfriendlytermswithitsmate。Thoughconsciousofhersuccessinproducingthekindofwordshehadwishedtoproduce，sheatthesametimetrembledinsuspenseastohowitwouldbetaken。Butthetimeavailablefordoubtwassoshortastoadmitofscarcelymorethanhalfapulsation：
pressingcloserhekissedher。Thenhekissedheragainwithalongerkiss。
Itwasthesupremelyhappymomentoftheirexperience。The'bloom'
andthe'purplelight'werestrongonthelineamentsofboth。Theirheartscouldhardlybelievetheevidenceoftheirlips。
'Iloveyou，andyouloveme，Cytherea！'hewhispered。
Shedidnotdenyit；andallseemedwell。Thegentlesoundsaroundthemfromthehills，theplains，thedistanttown，theadjacentshore，thewaterheavingattheirside，thekiss，andthelongkiss，wereall'manyavoiceofonedelight，'andinunisonwitheachother。
Buthismindflewbacktothesameunpleasantthoughtwhichhadbeenconnectedwiththeresolutionhehadbrokenaminuteortwoearlier。
'Icouldbeaslaveatmyprofessiontowinyou，Cytherea；Iwouldworkatthemeanest，honesttradetobenearyou——muchlessclaimyouasmine；Iwould——anything。ButIhavenottoldyouall；itisnotthis；youdon'tknowwhatthereisyettotell。Couldyouforgiveasyoucanlove？'Shewasalarmedtoseethathehadbecomepalewiththequestion。
'No——donotspeak，'hesaid。'Ihavekeptsomethingfromyou，whichhasnowbecomethecauseofagreatuneasiness。Ihadnoright——toloveyou；butIdidit。Somethingforbade——'
'What？'sheexclaimed。
'Somethingforbademe——tillthekiss——yes，tillthekisscame；andnownothingshallforbidit！We'llhopeinspiteofall……I
must，however，speakofthisloveofourstoyourbrother。Dearest，youhadbettergoindoorswhilstImeethimatthestation，andexplaineverything。'
Cytherea'sshort-livedblisswasdeadandgone。O，ifshehadknownofthissequelwouldshehaveallowedhimtobreakdownthebarrierofmereacquaintanceship——never，never！
'Willyounotexplaintome？'shefaintlyurged。Doubt——indefinite，carkingdoubthadtakenpossessionofher。
'Notnow。Youalarmyourselfunnecessarily，'hesaidtenderly。'MyonlyreasonforkeepingsilenceisthatwithmypresentknowledgeI
maytellanuntruestory。Itmaybethatthereisnothingtotell。
Iamtoblameforhasteinalludingtoanysuchthing。Forgiveme，sweet——forgiveme。'Herheartwasreadytoburst，andshecouldnotanswerhim。Hereturnedtohisplaceandtooktotheoars。
TheyagainmadeforthedistantEsplanade，now，withitslineofhouses，lyinglikeadarkgreybandagainstthelightwesternsky。
Thesunhadset，andastarortwobegantopeepout。Theydrewnearertheirdestination，Edwardashepulledtracinglistlesslywithhiseyestheredstripesuponherscarf，whichgrewtoappearasblackonesintheincreasingduskofevening。Shesurveyedthelonglineoflampsonthesea-wallofthetown，nowlookingsmallandyellow，andseemingtosendlongtap-rootsoffirequiveringdowndeepintothesea。By-and-bytheyreachedthelanding-steps。
Hetookherhandasbefore，andfounditascoldasthewateraboutthem。Itwasnotrelinquishedtillhereachedherdoor。Hisassurancehadnotremovedtheconstraintofhermanner：hesawthatsheblamedhimmutelyandwithhereyes，likeacapturedsparrow。
Leftalone，hewentandseatedhimselfinachairontheEsplanade。
Neithercouldshegoindoorstohersolitaryroom，feelingasshedidinsuchastateofdesperateheaviness。WhenSpringrovewasoutofsightsheturnedback，andarrivedatthecornerjustintimetoseehimsitdown。Thensheglidedpensivelyalongthepavementbehindhim，forgettingherselftomarblelikeMelancholyherselfasshemusedinhisneighbourhoodunseen。Sheheard，withoutheeding，thenotesofpianosandsingingvoicesfromthefashionablehousesatherback，fromtheopenwindowsofwhichthelamp-lightstreamedtojointhatoftheorange-huedfullmoon，newlyrisenovertheBayinfront。ThenEdwardbegantopaceupanddown，andCytherea，fearingthathewouldnoticeher，hastenedhomeward，flinginghimalastlookasshepassedoutofsight。Nopromisefromhimtowrite：
norequestthatsheherselfwoulddoso——nothingbutanindefiniteexpressionofhopeinthefaceofsomefearunknowntoher。Alas，alas！
WhenOwenreturnedhefoundshewasnotinthesmallsitting-room，andcreepingupstairsintoherbedroomwithalight，hediscoveredhertherelyingasleepuponthecoverletofthebed，stillwithherhatandjacketon。Shehadflungherselfdownonentering，andsuccumbedtotheunwontedoppressivenessthateverattendsfull-
blownlove。Thewettracesoftearswereyetvisibleuponherlongdroopinglashes。
'Loveisasowredelight，andsugredgriefe，Alivingdeath，andever-dyinglife。'
'Cytherea，'hewhispered，kissingher。Sheawokewithastart，andventedanexclamationbeforerecoveringherjudgment。'He'sgone！'
shesaid。
'Hehastoldmeall，'saidGrayesoothingly。'Heisgoingoffearlyto-morrowmorning。'Twasashameofhimtowinyouawayfromme，andcruelofyoutokeepthegrowthofthisattachmentasecret。'
'Wecouldn'thelpit，'shesaid，andthenjumpingup——'Owen，hashetoldyouALL？'
'Allofyourlovefrombeginningtoend，'hesaidsimply。
Edwardthenhadnottoldmore——asheoughttohavedone：yetshecouldnotconvicthim。Butshewouldstruggleagainsthisfetters。
Shetingledtotheverysolesofherfeetattheverypossibilitythathemightbedeludingher。
'Owen，'shecontinued，withdignity，'whatishetome？Nothing。I
mustdismisssuchweaknessasthis——believeme，Iwill。Somethingfarmorepressingmustdriveitaway。Ihavebeenlookingmypositionsteadilyintheface，andImustgetalivingsomehow。I
meantoadvertiseoncemore。'
'Advertisingisnouse。'
'Thisonewillbe。'Helookedsurprisedatthesanguinetoneofheranswer，tillshetookapieceofpaperfromthetableandshowedithim。'SeewhatIamgoingtodo，'shesaidsadly，almostbitterly。
Thiswasherthirdeffort：——
'LADY'S-MAID。Inexperienced。Ageeighteen——G。，3CrossStreet，Budmouth。'
Owen——Owentherespectable——lookedblankastonishment。Herepeatedinanameless，varyingtone，thetwowords——
'Lady's-maid！'
'Yes；lady's-maid。'Tisanhonestprofession，'saidCythereabravely。
'ButYOU，Cytherea？'
'Yes，I——whoamI？'
'Youwillneverbealady's-maid——never，Iamquitesure。'
'Ishalltrytobe，atanyrate。'
'Suchadisgrace——'
'Nonsense！Imaintainthatitisnodisgrace！'shesaid，ratherwarmly。'Youknowverywell——'
'Well，sinceyouwill，youmust，'heinterrupted。'Whydoyouput“inexperienced？”'
'BecauseIam。'
'Nevermindthat——scratchout“inexperienced。“Wearepoor，Cytherea，aren'twe？'hemurmured，afterasilence，'anditseemsthatthetwomonthswillclosemyengagementhere。'
'Wecanputupwithbeingpoor，'shesaid，'iftheyonlygiveusworktodo……Yes，wedesireasablessingwhatwasgivenusasacurse，andeventhatisdenied。However，becheerful，Owen，andnevermind！'
Injusticetodespondingmen，itisaswelltorememberthatthebrighterenduranceofwomenattheseepochs——invaluable，sweet，angelic，asitis——owesmoreofitsorigintoanarrowervisionthatshutsoutmanyoftheleaden-eyeddespairsinthevan，thantoahopefulnessintenseenoughtoquellthem。
IV。THEEVENTSOFONEDAY
1。AUGUSTTHEFOURTH。TILLFOURO'CLOCK
TheearlypartofthenextweekbroughtananswertoCytherea'slastnoteofhopeinthewayofadvertisement——notfromadistanceofhundredsofmiles，London，Scotland，Ireland，theContinent——asCythereaseemedtothinkitmust，tobeinkeepingwiththemeansadoptedforobtainingit，butfromaplaceintheneighbourhoodofthatinwhichshewasliving——acountrymansionnottwentymilesoff。Thereplyranthus：——
KNAPWATERHOUSE，August3，1864。
'MissAldclyffeisinwantofayoungpersonaslady's-maid。Thedutiesoftheplacearelight。MissAldclyffewillbeinBudmouthonThursday，whenshouldG。stillnothaveheardofaplaceshewouldliketoseeherattheBelvedereHotel，Esplanade，atfouro'clock。Noanswerneedbereturnedtothisnote。'
Alittleearlierthanthetimenamed，Cytherea，clothedinamodestbonnet，andablacksilkjacket，turneddowntothehotel。
Expectation，thefreshairfromthewater，thebright，far-extendingoutlook，raisedthemostdelicateofpinkcolourstohercheeks，andrestoredtohertreadaportionofthatelasticitywhichherpasttroubles，andthoughtsofEdward，hadwell-nightakenaway。
Sheenteredthevestibule，andwenttothewindowofthebar。
'IsMissAldclyffehere？'shesaidtoanicely-dressedbarmaidintheforeground，whowastalkingtoalandladycoveredwithchains，knobs，andclampsofgold，inthebackground。
'No，sheisn't，'saidthebarmaid，notverycivilly。Cytherealookedashadetooprettyforaplaindresser。
'MissAldclyffeisexpectedhere，'thelandladysaidtoathirdperson，outofsight，inthetoneofonewhohadknownforseveraldaysthefactnewlydiscoveredfromCytherea。'Getreadyherroom——
bequick。'Fromthealacritywithwhichtheorderwasgivenandtaken，itseemedtoCythereathatMissAldclyffemustbeawomanofconsiderableimportance。
'YouaretohaveaninterviewwithMissAldclyffehere？'thelandladyinquired。
'Yes。'
'Theyoungpersonhadbetterwait，'continuedthelandlady。Withamoney-taker'sintuitionshehadrightlydivinedthatCythereawouldbringnoprofittothehouse。
Cythereawasshownintoanondescriptchamber，ontheshadysideofthebuilding，whichappearedtobeeitherbedroomordayroom，asoccasionnecessitated，andwasoneofasuiteattheendofthefirst-floorcorridor。Theprevailingcolourofthewalls，curtains，carpet，andcoveringsoffurniture，wasmoreorlessblue，towhichthecoldlightcomingfromthenortheasterlysky，andfallingonawideroofofnewslates——theonlyobjectthesmallwindowcommanded——
impartedamorestrikingpaleness。Butunderneaththedoor，communicatingwiththenextroomofthesuite，gleamedaninfinitesimallysmall，yetverypowerful，fractionofcontrast——averythinlineofruddylight，showingthatthesunbeamedstronglyintothisroomadjoining。Thelineofradiancewastheonlycheeringthingvisibleintheplace。
Peoplegivewaytoveryinfantinethoughtsandactionswhentheywait；thebattle-fieldoflifeistemporarilyfencedoffbyahardandfastline——theinterview。Cythereafixedhereyesidlyuponthestreak，andbeganpicturingawonderfulparadiseontheothersideasthesourceofsuchabeam——remindingherofthewell-knowngooddeedinanaughtyworld。
Whilstshewatchedtheparticlesofdustfloatingbeforethebrilliantchinksheheardacarriageandhorsesstopoppositethefrontofthehouse。Afterwardscametherustleofalady'sskirtsdownthecorridor，andintotheroomcommunicatingwiththeoneCythereaoccupied。
Thegoldenlinevanishedinpartslikethephosphorescentstreakcausedbythestrikingofamatch；therewasthefallofalightfootsteponthefloorjustbehindit：thenapause。Thenthefoottappedimpatiently，and'There'snoonehere！'wasspokenimperiouslybyalady'stongue。
'No，madam；inthenextroom。Iamgoingtofetchher，'saidtheattendant。
'Thatwilldo——oryouneedn'tgoin；Iwillcallher。'
Cythereahadrisen，andsheadvancedtothemiddledoorwiththechinkunderitastheservantretired。Shehadjustlaidherhandontheknob，whenitslippedroundwithinherfingers，andthedoorwaspulledopenfromtheotherside。
2。FOURO'CLOCK
Thedirectblazeoftheafternoonsun，partlyrefractedthroughthecrimsoncurtainsofthewindow，andheightenedbyreflectionsfromthecrimson-flockpaperwhichcoveredthewalls，andacarpetonthefloorofthesametint，shonewithaburningglowroundtheformofaladystandingclosetoCytherea'sfrontwiththedoorinherhand。
Thestrangerappearedtothemaiden'seyes——freshfromthebluegloom，andassistedbyanimaginationfreshfromnature——likeatallblackfigurestandinginthemidstoffire。Itwasthefigureofafinely-builtwoman，ofsparethoughnotangularproportions。
Cythereainvoluntarilyshadedhereyeswithherhand，retreatedasteportwo，andthenshecouldforthefirsttimeseeMissAldclyffe'sfaceinadditiontoheroutline，litupbythesecondaryandsofterlightthatwasreflectedfromthevarnishedpanelsofthedoor。Shewasnotaveryyoungwoman，butcouldboastofmuchbeautyofthemajesticautumnalphase。
'O，'saidthelady，'comethisway。'Cythereafollowedhertotheembrasureofthewindow。
Boththewomenshowedoffthemselvestoadvantageastheywalkedforwardintheorangelight；andeachshowedtooinherfacethatshehadbeenstruckwithhercompanion'sappearance。ThewarmtintaddedtoCytherea'sfaceavoluptuousnesswhichyouthandasimplelifehadnotyetallowedtoexpressitselfthereordinarily；whilstintheelderlady'sfaceitreducedthecustomaryexpression，whichmighthavebeencalledsternness，ifnotharshness，tograndeur，andwarmedherdecayingcomplexionwithmuchoftheyouthfulrichnessitplainlyhadoncepossessed。
Sheappearednownomorethanfive-and-thirty，thoughshemighteasilyhavebeentenoradozenyearsolder。Shehadclearsteadyeyes，aRomannoseinitspurestform，andalsotheroundprominentchinwithwhichtheCaesarsarerepresentedinancientmarbles；amouthexpressingacapabilityforandtendencytostrongemotion，habituallycontrolledbypride。Therewasaseverityabouttheloweroutlinesofthefacewhichgaveamasculinecasttothisportionofhercountenance。Womanlyweaknesswasnowherevisiblesaveinonepart——thecurveofherforeheadandbrows——thereitwasclearandemphatic。Sheworealaceshawloverabrownsilkdress，andanetbonnetsetwithafewbluecornflowers。
'Youinsertedtheadvertisementforasituationaslady's-maidgivingtheaddress，G。，CrossStreet？'
'Yes，madam。Graye。'
'Yes。Ihaveheardyourname——Mrs。Morris，myhousekeeper，mentionedyou，andpointedoutyouradvertisement。'
Thiswaspuzzlingintelligence，buttherewasnottimeenoughtoconsiderit。
'Wheredidyoulivelast？'continuedMissAldclyffe。
'Ihaveneverbeenaservantbefore。Ilivedathome。'
'Neverbeenout？Ithoughttooatsightofyouthatyouweretoogirlish-lookingtohavedonemuch。Butwhydidyouadvertisewithsuchassurance？Itmisleadspeople。'
'Iamverysorry：Iput“inexperienced“atfirst，butmybrothersaiditisabsurdtotrumpetyourownweaknesstotheworld，andwouldnotletitremain。'
'Butyourmotherknewwhatwasright，Isuppose？'
'Ihavenomother，madam。'
'Yourfather，then？'
'Ihavenofather。'
'Well，'shesaid，moresoftly，'yoursisters，aunts，orcousins。'
'Theydidn'tthinkanythingaboutit。'
'Youdidn'taskthem，Isuppose。'
'No。'
'Youshouldhavedoneso，then。Whydidn'tyou？'
'BecauseIhaven'tanyofthem，either。'
MissAldclyffeshowedhersurprise。'Youdeserveforgivenessthenatanyrate，child，'shesaid，inasortofdrily-kindtone。
'However，Iamafraidyoudonotsuitme，asIamlookingforanelderlyperson。Yousee，Iwantanexperiencedmaidwhoknowsalltheusualdutiesoftheoffice。'Shewasgoingtoadd，'ThoughI
likeyourappearance，'butthewordsseemedoffensivetoapplytotheladylikegirlbeforeher，andshemodifiedthemto，'thoughI
likeyoumuch。'
'IamsorryImisledyou，madam，'saidCytherea。
MissAldclyffestoodinareverie，withoutreplying。
'Goodafternoon，'continuedCytherea。
'Good-bye，MissGraye——Ihopeyouwillsucceed。'
Cythereaturnedawaytowardsthedoor。Themovementchancedtobeoneofhermasterpieces。Itwasprecise：ithadasmuchbeautyaswascompatiblewithprecision，andaslittlecoquettishnessaswascompatiblewithbeauty。
Andshehadinturninglookedoverhershoulderattheotherladywithafaintaccentofreproachinherface。ThosewhorememberGreuze's'HeadofaGirl，'haveanideaofCytherea'slookaskanceattheturning。Itisnotforamantotellfishersofmenhowtosetouttheirfascinationssoastobringaboutthehighestpossibleaverageoftakeswithintheyear：buttheactionthattugsthehardestofallatanemotionalbeholderisthissweetmethodofturningwhichstealsthebosomawayandleavestheeyesbehind。
NowMissAldclyffeherselfwasnotyroatwheeling。WhenCythereahadclosedthedooruponher，sheremainedforsometimeinhermotionlessattitude，listeningtothegraduallydyingsoundofthemaiden'sretreatingfootsteps。Shemurmuredtoherself，'Itisalmostworthwhiletobeboredwithinstructingherinordertohaveacreaturewhocouldglideroundmyluxuriousindolentbodyinthatmanner，andlookatmeinthatway——Iwarranthowlightherfingersareuponone'sheadandneck……Whatasillymodestyoungthingsheis，togoawaysosuddenlyasthat！'Sherangthebell。
'Asktheyoungladywhohasjustleftmetostepbackagain，'shesaidtotheattendant。'Quick！orshewillbegone。'
Cythereawasnowinthevestibule，thinkingthatifshehadtoldherhistory，MissAldclyffemightperhapshavetakenherintothehousehold；yetherhistorysheparticularlywishedtoconcealfromastranger。Whenshewasrecalledsheturnedbackwithoutfeelingmuchsurprise。Something，sheknewnotwhat，toldhershehadnotseenthelastofMissAldclyffe。
'Youhavesomebodytorefermeto，ofcourse，'theladysaid，whenCythereahadre-enteredtheroom。
'Yes：Mr。Thorn，asolicitoratAldbrickham。'
'Andareyouacleverneedlewoman？'
'Iamconsideredtobe。'
'ThenIthinkthatatanyrateIwillwritetoMr。Thorn，'saidMissAldclyffe，withalittlesmile。'Itistrue，thewholeproceedingisveryirregular；butmypresentmaidleavesnextMonday，andneitherofthefiveIhavealreadyseenseemtodoforme……
Well，IwillwritetoMr。Thorn，andifhisreplyissatisfactory，youshallhearfromme。ItwillbeaswelltosetyourselfinreadinesstocomeonMonday。'
WhenCythereahadagainbeenwatchedoutoftheroom，MissAldclyffeaskedforwritingmaterials，thatshemightatoncecommunicatewithMr。Thorn。Sheindecisivelyplayedwiththepen。'SupposeMr。
Thorn'sreplytobeinanywaydisheartening——andevenifsofromhisownimperfectacquaintancewiththeyoungcreaturemorethanfromcircumstantialknowledge——Ishallfeelobligedtogiveherup。
ThenIshallregretthatIdidnotgiveheronetrialinspiteofotherpeople'sprejudices。Allheraccountofherselfisreliableenough——yes，Icanseethatbyherface。Ilikethatfaceofhers。'
MissAldclyffeputdownthepenandleftthehotelwithoutwritingtoMr。Thorn。
V。THEEVENTSOFONEDAY
1。AUGUSTTHEEIGHTH。MORNINGANDAFTERNOON
Atpost-timeonthatfollowingMondaymorning，Cythereawatchedsoanxiouslyforthepostman，thatasthetimewhichmustbringhimnarrowedlessandlesshervividexpectationhadonlyadegreelesstangibilitythanhispresenceitself。Inanothersecondhisformcameintoview。HebroughttwolettersforCytherea。
OnefromMissAldclyffe，simplystatingthatshewishedCythereatocomeontrial：thatshewouldrequirehertobeatKnapwaterHousebyMondayevening。
TheotherwasfromEdwardSpringrove。Hetoldherthatshewasthebrightspotofhislife：thatherexistencewasfardearertohimthanhisown：thathehadneverknownwhatitwastolovetillhehadmether。True，hehadfeltpassingattachmentstootherfacesfromtimetotime；buttheyallhadbeenweakinclinationstowardsthosefacesastheythenappeared。Helovedherpastandfuture，aswellasherpresent。Hepicturedherasachild：helovedher。Hepicturedherofsageyears：helovedher。Hepicturedherintrouble；helovedher。Homelyfriendshipenteredintohisloveforher，withoutwhichalllovewasevanescent。
Hewouldmakeonedepressingstatement。Uncontrollablecircumstancesalonghistory，withwhichitwasimpossibletoacquaintheratpresentoperatedtoacertainextentasadraguponhiswishes。Hehadfeltthismorestronglyatthetimeoftheirpartingthanhedidnow——anditwasthecauseofhisabruptbehaviour，forwhichhebeggedhertoforgivehim。Hesawnowanhonourablewayoffreeinghimself，andtheperceptionhadpromptedhimtowrite。Inthemeantimemightheindulgeinthehopeofpossessingheronsomebrightfutureday，whenbyhardlabourgeneratedfromherownencouragingwords，hehadplacedhimselfinapositionshewouldthinkworthytobesharedwithhim？
Dearlittleletter；shehuddleditup。Somuchmoreimportantalove-letterseemstoagirlthantoaman。Springrovewasunconsciouslycleverinhisletters，andamanwithatalentofthatkindmaywritehimselfuptoaherointhemindofayoungwomanwholoveshimwithoutknowingmuchabouthim。Springrovealreadystoodacubithigherinherimaginationthanhedidinhisshoes。
Duringthedaysheflittedabouttheroominanecstasyofpleasure，packingthethingsandthinkingofananswerwhichshouldbeworthyofthetendertoneofthequestion，herlovebubblingfromherinvoluntarily，likeprophesyingsfromaprophet。
IntheafternoonOwenwentwithhertotherailway-station，andputherinthetrainforCarrifordRoad，thestationnearesttoKnapwaterHouse。
Half-an-hourlatershesteppedoutupontheplatform，andfoundnobodytheretoreceiveher——thoughapony-carriagewaswaitingoutside。Intwominutesshesawamelancholymanincheerfulliveryrunningtowardsherfromapublic-housecloseadjoining，whoprovedtobetheservantsenttofetchher。Therearetwowaysofgettingridofsorrows：onebylivingthemdown，theotherbydrowningthem。Thecoachmandrownedhis。
Heinformedherthatherluggagewouldbefetchedbyaspring-waggoninabouthalf-an-hour；thenhelpedherintothechaiseanddroveoff。
Herlover'sletter，lyingcloseagainstherneck，fortifiedheragainsttherestlesstimidityshehadpreviouslyfeltconcerningthisnewundertaking，andcompletelyfurnishedherwiththeconfidenteaseofmindwhichisrequiredforthecriticalobservationofsurroundingobjects。Itwasjustthatstageintheslowdeclineofthesummerdays，whenthedeep，dark，andvacuoushot-weathershadowsarebeginningtobereplacedbyblueonesthathaveasurfaceandsubstancetotheeye。Theytrottedalongtheturnpikeroadforadistanceofaboutamile，whichbroughtthemjustoutsidethevillageofCarriford，andthenturnedthroughlargelodge-gates，ontheheavystonepiersofwhichstoodapairofbitternscastinbronze。Theythenenteredtheparkandwoundalongadriveshadedbyoldanddroopinglime-trees，notarrangedintheformofanavenue，butstandingirregularly，sometimesleavingthetrackcompletelyexposedtothesky，atothertimescastingashadeoverit，whichalmostapproachedgloom——theundersurfaceofthelowestboughshangingatauniformlevelofsixfeetabovethegrass——theextremeheighttowhichthenibblingmouthsofthecattlecouldreach。
'Isthatthehouse？'saidCythereaexpectantly，catchingsightofagreygablebetweenthetrees，andlosingitagain。
'No；that'stheoldmanor-house——orratherallthat'sleftofit。
TheAldycliffesusedtoletitsometimes，butitwasoftenerempty。
'Tisnowdividedintothreecottages。Respectablepeopledidn'tcaretolivethere。'
'Whydidn'tthey？'
'Well，'tissoawkwardandunhandy。Youseesomuchofithasbeenpulleddown，andtheroomsthatareleftwon'tdoverywellforasmallresidence。'Tissodismal，too，andlikemostoldhousesstandstoolowdowninthehollowtobehealthy。'
'Dotheytellanyhorridstoriesaboutit？'
'No，notasingleone。'
'Ah，that'sapity。'
'Yes，that'swhatIsay。'Tisjestthehouseforaniceghastlyhair-on-endstory，thatwouldmaketheparishreligious。Perhapsitwillhaveonesomedaytomakeitcomplete；butthere'snotawordofthekindnow。There，Iwouldn'tlivethereforallthat。Infact，Icouldn't。Ono，Icouldn't。'
'Whycouldn'tyou？'
'Thesounds。'
'Whatarethey？'
'Oneisthewaterfall，whichstandssoclosebythatyoucanhearthattherewaterfallineveryroomofthehouse，nightorday，illorwell。'Tisenoughtodriveanybodymad：nowhark。'
Hestoppedthehorse。Abovetheslightcommonsoundsintheaircametheunvaryingsteadyrushoffallingwaterfromsomespotunseenonaccountofthethickfoliageofthegrove。
'There'ssomethingawfulinthetimingo'thatsound，ain'tthere，miss？'
'Whenyousaythereis，therereallyseemstobe。Yousaidthereweretwo——whatistheotherhorridsound？'
'Thepumping-engine。That'sclosebytheOldHouse，andsendswaterupthehillandallovertheGreatHouse。Weshallhearthatdirectly……There，nowharkagain。'
Fromthesamedirectiondownthedelltheycouldnowhearthewhistlingcreakofcranks，repeatedatintervalsofhalf-a-minute，withasousingnoisebetweeneach：acreak，asouse，thenanothercreak，andsooncontinually。
'Nowifanybodycouldmakeshifttolivethroughtheothersounds，thesewouldfinishhimoff，don'tyouthinkso，miss？Thatmachinegoesonnightandday，summerandwinter，andishardlyevergreasedorvisited。Ah，ittriesthenervesatnight，especiallyifyouarenotverywell；thoughwedon'toftenhearitattheGreatHouse。'
'Thatsoundiscertainlyverydismal。Theymighthavethewheelgreased。DoesMissAldclyffetakeanyinterestinthesethings？'
'Well，scarcely；youseeherfatherdoesn'tattendtothatsortofthingasheusedto。Theenginewasoncequitehishobby。Butnowhe'sgettenoldandveryseldomgoesthere。'
'Howmanyarethereinfamily？'
'Onlyherfatherandherself。He'sa'oldmanofseventy。'
'IhadthoughtthatMissAldclyffewassolemistressoftheproperty，andlivedherealone。'
'No，m——'Thecoachmanwascontinuallycheckinghimselfthus，beingabouttostylehermissinvoluntarily，andthenrecollectingthathewasonlyspeakingtothenewlady's-maid。
'Shewillsoonbemistress，however，Iamafraid，'hecontinued，asifspeakingbyaspiritofprophecydeniedtoordinaryhumanity。
'Thepooroldgentlemanhasdecayedveryfastlately。'Themanthendrewalongbreath。
'Whydidyoubreathesadlylikethat？'saidCytherea。
'Ah！……Whenhe'sdeadpeacewillbealloverwithusoldservants。Iexpecttoseetheoldhouseturnedinsideout。'
'Shewillmarry，doyoumean？'
'Marry——notshe！Iwishshewould。No，inhersoulshe'sassolitaryasRobinsonCrusoe，thoughshehasacquaintancesinplenty，ifnotrelations。There'stherector，Mr。Raunham——he'sarelationbymarriage——yetshe'squitedistanttowardshim。AndpeoplesaythatifshekeepssingletherewillbehardlyalifebetweenMr。
Raunhamandtheheirshipoftheestate。Dangit，shedon'tcare。