Orlandostoodamoment，thenmovedtowardsthedoor。TheheavinessofhisstepsmoteuponOswald’searandcausedhimtoexclaim：”Forgiveme，Orlando。”Buttheothercuthimshortwithanimperative：”Thanksforyourcandour！Ifherspiritisdestinedtostandlikeanimmovableshadowbetweenyouandme，youdorighttowarnme。
　　Butthisinterviewmustendallallusiontothesubject。Iwillseekandfindanothermantosharemyfortunes；ashesaidthisheapproachedsuddenly，andtookhispapersfromtheother’shand
　　or-”Herehehastilyretracedhisstepstothedoorwhichhesoftlyopened。”Or”herepeated-ButthoughOswaldlistenedfortherest，itdidnotcome。Whilehewaited，theotherhadgivenhimonedeeplyconcentratedlookandpassedout。
　　Noheartfeltunderstandingwaspossiblebetweenthesetwomen。
　　Crossingthehall，OrlandoknockedatthedoorofDoris’littlesitting-room。
　　Noanswer，yetshewasthere。Heknewitineverythrobbingfibreofhisbody。Shewasthereandquiteawareofhispresence；ofthishefeltsure；yetshedidnotbidhimenter。Shouldheknockagain?Never！buthewouldnotquitthethreshold，notifshekepthimwaitingthereforhours。Perhapssherealisedthis。
　　Perhapsshehadmeanttoopenthedoortohimfromtheveryfirst，whocantell?Whatavailsisthatshedidultimatelyopenit，andhe，meetinghersofteye，wishedfromhisveryheartthathisimpulsehadledhimanotherway，evenifthatwayhadbeentotheedgeoftheprecipice-andover。
　　Forthefacehelookeduponwasserene，andtherewasnoserenityinhim；ratheraconfusionofunloosedpassionsfearfulofbarrierandyearningtumultuouslyforfreedom。But，whateverhisrevolt，thesecretrevoltwhichmakesnoshowinlookormovement，hekepthisgroundandforcedasmileofgreeting。Ifherfacewasquiet，itwasalsolovely；-toolovely，hefelt，foramantoleaveit，whatevermightcomeofhislingering。
　　Nothinginallhislifehadeveraffectedhimlikeit。Forhimtherewasnootherwomaninthepast，thepresentorthefuture，and，realisingthis-takingintothefullwhatheraffectionandhertrustmightbetohiminthosefearsomedaystocome，hesodreadedarebuff-he，whohadbeenthecourtedofwomenandtheadmiredofmeneversincehecouldremember，-thathefailedtorespondtoherwelcomeandthesimplecongratulationsshefeltforcedtorepeat。Hecouldneitherspeakthecommonplace，norlistentoit。Thiswashiscrucialhour。Hemustfindsupporthere，oryieldhopelesslytothemaelstrominwhosewhirlhewascaught。
　　Shesawhisexcitementandfalteredbackastep-amovewhichsheregrettedthenextminute，forhetookadvantageofittoenterandclosebehindhimthedoorwhichshewouldneverhaveshutofherownaccord。Thenhespoke，abruptly，passionately，butinthosegoldentoneswhichnoemotioncouldrenderotherthanalluring：”Iamanunhappyman，MissScott。Iseethatmypresencehereisnotwelcome，yetamsurethatitwouldbesoifitwerenotforaprejudicewhichyourgenerousnatureshouldbethefirsttocastaside，infaceoftheoutspokenconfidenceofmybrother：Oswald。
　　Doris，littleDoris，Iloveyou。Ihavelovedyoufromthemomentofourfirstmeeting。Nottomanymenisitgiventofindhisheartsolate，andwhenhedoes，itisforhiswholelife；nosecondpassioncanfollowit。IknowthatIamprematureinsayingthis；thatyouarenotpreparedtohearsuchwordsfrommeandthatitmightbewiserformetowithholdthem，butImustleaveDerbysoon，andIcannotgountilIknowwhetherthereistheleasthopethatyouwillyetlendalighttomycareerorwhetherthatcareermustburnitselftoashesatyourfeet。Oswald-nay，hearmeout-Oswaldlivesinhismemories；butImusthaveanactivehope-atangibleexpectation-ifIamtobethemanIwasmeanttobe。
　　Willyou，then，coldlydismissme，orwillyouletmywholefuturelifeprovetoyoutheinnocenceofmypast?Iwillnothastenanything；allIaskissomeindulgence。Timewilldotherest。””Impossible，”shemurmured。
　　Butthatwasawordforwhichhehadnoear。Hesawthatshewasmoved，unexpectedlyso；thatwhilehereyeswanderedrestlesslyattimestowardsthedoor，theyevercamebackingirlishwonder，ifnotfascination，tohisface，emboldeninghimsothatheventuredatlast，toadd：”Doris，littleDoris，Iwillteachyouamarvellouslesson，ifyouwillonlyturnyourdaintyearmyway。Lovesuchasminecarriesinfinitetreasurewithit。Willyouhavethattreasureheaped，piledbeforeyourfeet?Yourlipssayno，butyoureyes-thetruesteyesIeversaw-whisperadifferentlanguage。Thedaywillcomewhenyouwillfindyourjoyinthebreastofhimyouarenowafraidtotrust。”Andnotwaitingfordisclaimerorevenaglanceofreproachfromtheeyeshehadsowilfullymisread，hewithdrewwithamovementasabruptasthatwithwhichhehadentered。
　　Why，then，withthememoryofthisexultanthourtofendoffallshadows，didthemidnightfindhiminhissolitaryhangarinthemoonlitwoods，adeeplydespondingfigureagain。Besidehim，swungthehugemachinewhichrepresentedalifeofpowerandluxury；buthenolongersawit。Itcalledtohimwithmanyacreakandquietsnap，-soundstostarthisbloodandfirehiseyeaweek-nay，adayago。Buthewasdeaftothismusicnow；thecallwentunheeded；
　　thefuturehadnofurthermeaning，forhim，nordidheknoworthinkwhetherhesatinlightorindarkness；whetherthewoodsweresilentabouthim，orpantingwithlifeandsound。Hisdemonhadgrippedhimagainandthefinalbattlewason。Therewouldneverbeanother。Mightyashefelthimselftobe，therewerelimitseventohiscapacityforendurance。Hecouldsustainnofurtherconflict。Howthenwoulditend?Heneverhadadoubthimself！Yethesatthere。
　　Aroundhimintheforest，thenightowlsscreechedandinnumerablesmallthingswithoutaname，skurriedfromlairtolair。
　　Heheardthemnot。
　　Above，themoonrode，fleckingthedeepestshadowswiththesilverfromherhalf-turnedurn，butnoneofthesoftandhealingdropsfelluponhim。Naturewasnolongeragoddess，butanavenger；
　　lightarevealer，notasolace。Darknesstheonlyboon。
　　Norhadtimeameaning。Fromearlyevetoearlymornhesatthereandknewnotifitwereonehourortwelve。Earthwashisnolonger。
　　Heroused，whenthesunmadeeverythinglightabouthim，buthedidnotthinkaboutit。Herose，butwasnotconsciousthatherose。
　　Heunlockedthedoorandsteppedoutintotheforest；buthecouldneverrememberdoingthis。Heonlyknewlaterthathehadbeeninthewoodsandnowwasinhisroomatthehotel；alltherestwasphantasmagoria，agonyanddefeat。
　　HehadcrossedtheRubiconofthisworld’shopesandfears，buthehadbeenunconsciousofthepassage。
　　THEAVENGER”DearMr。Challoner：”Witheveryapologyfortheintrusion，mayIrequestafewminutesofprivateconversationwithyouthiseveningatseveno’clock?Letitbeinyourownroom。”Yourstruly，”ORLANDOBROTHERSON。”
　　Mr。Challonerhadbeencalledupontofacemanydifficultandheartrendingdutiessincetheblowwhichhaddesolatedhishomefelluponhim。
　　Butfromnoneofthemhadheshrunkashedidfromtheinterviewthusdemanded。Hehadsupposedhimselfridofthisman。HehaddismissedhimfromhislifewhenhehaddismissedSweetwater。Hisface，accordingly，woreanythingbutapropitiatorylook，whenpromptlyatthehourofseven，OrlandoBrothersonenteredhisapartments。
　　Hispleasureorhisdispleasurewas，however，amatterofsmallconsequencetohisself-invitedvisitor。Hehadcometherewithasetpurpose，andnothinginheavenorearthcoulddeterhimfromitnow。Decliningtheofferofaseat，withtheslightestofacknowledgmentsinthewayofabow，hetookacarefulsurveyoftheroombeforesaying：”Arewealone，Mr。Challoner，oristhatmanSweetwaterlurkingsomewherewithinhearing?””Mr。Sweetwaterisgone，asIhadthehonouroftellingyouyesterday，”wasthesomewhatstiffreply。”Therearenowitnessestothisconference，ifthatiswhatyouwishtoknow。”Thankyou，butyouwillpardonmyinsistenceifIrequesttheprivilegeofclosingthatdoor。”Hepointedtotheonecommunicatingwiththebedroom。”TheinformationIhavetogiveyouisnotsuchasIamwillingtohaveshared，atleastforthepresent。””Youmayclosethedoor，”saidMr。Challonercoldly。”Butisitnecessaryforyoutogivemetheinformationyoumention，to-night?
　　Ifitisofsuchanaturethatyoucannotaccordmetheprivilegeofsharingit，asyet，withothers，whynotsparemetillyoucan?I
　　havegonethroughmuch，Mr。Brotherson。””Youhave，”cameinsteadyassentasthemanthusaddressedsteppedtothedoorhehadindicatedandquietlyclosedit。”But，”hecontinued，ashecrossedbacktohisformerposition，”woulditbeeasierforyoutogothroughthenightnowinanticipationofwhatIhavetorevealthantohearitatoncefrommylipswhileIaminthemoodtospeak?”
　　Theanswerwasslowincoming。Thecouragewhichhadupheldthisrapidlyagingmanthroughsomanytryinginterviews，seemedinadequateforthetestputsocruellyuponit。Hefalteredandsankheavilyintoachair，whilethesternmanwatchinghim，gavenosignsofresponsivesympathyoreveninterest，onlyapatientandicy-temperedresolve。”Icannotliveinuncertainty；”suchwerefinallyMr。Challoner’swords。”WhatyouhavetosayconcernsEdith?”Thepausehemadewasinfinitesimalinlength，butitwaslongenoughforaquickdisclaimer。Butnosuchdisclaimercame。”Iwillhearit，”cameinreluctantfinish。
　　Mr。Brothersontookastepforward。Hismannerwasascoldastheheartwhichlaylikeastoneinhisbosom。”WillyoupardonmeifIaskyoutorise?”saidhe。”Ihavemyweaknessestoo。Hegavenosignofthem。”IcannotspeakdownfromsuchaheighttothemanIamboundtohurt。”
　　Asifansweringtotheconstraintofawillquiteoutsidehisown，Mr。Challonerrose。TheirheadswerenowmorenearlyonalevelandMr。Brotherson’svoiceremainedlow，asheproceeded，withquietintensity”Therehasbeenatime-anditmayexistyet，Godknows-whenyouthoughtmeinsomeunknownandsecretwaythemurdererofyourdaughter。Idonotquarrelwiththesuspicion；itwasjustified，Mr。
　　Challoner。Ididkillyourdaughter，andwiththishand！Icannolongerdenyit。”
　　Thewretchedfatherswayed，followingthegestureofthehandthusheldout；buthedidnotfall，nordidasoundleavehislips。
　　Brothersonwentcoldlyon：
　　IdiditbecauseIregardedhertreatmentofmysuitasinsolent。
　　Ihavenomercyforanysuchdisplayofintoleranceonthepartoftherichandthefortunate。Ihatedherforit；Ihatedherclass，herselfandallshestoodfor。TostrikethedealerofsuchahurtIfelttobemyright。Thoughamanofsmallbeginningsandofastockwhichsuchasyoucallcommon，Ihaveapridewhichfewofyourbloodcanequal。Icouldnotwork，orsleeporeatwithsuchastinginmybreastasshehadplantedthere。Toridmyselfofit，Ideterminedtokillher，andIdid。How?Oh，thatwaseasy，thoughithasprovedagreatstumbling-blocktothedetectives，asI