ThetwoshadowyfiguresseenthroughthegreygauzesofthemorningbyRuth，fivehoursbeforethistime，hadgoneontotheopenplacebythenorthentranceofSylvaniaCastle，wherethelanetotheruinsoftheoldcastlebranchedoff。Alistenerwouldnothavegatheredthatasinglewordpassedbetweenthem。Themanwalkedwithdifficulty，supportedbythewoman。Atthisspottheystoppedandkissedeachotheralongwhile。
’WeoughttowalkallthewaytoBudmouth，ifwewishnottobediscovered，’hesaidsadly。’AndIcan’tevengetacrosstheisland，evenbyyourhelp，darling。Itistwomilestothefootofthehill。’
She，whowastrembling，triedtospeakconsolingly：
’IfyoucouldwalkweshouldhavetogodowntheStreetofWells，whereperhapssomebodywouldknowme？NowifwegetbelowheretotheCove，can’twepushoffoneofthelittleboatsIsawtherelastnight，andpaddlealongclosetotheshoretillwegettothenorthside？Thenwecanwalkacrosstothestationverywell。Itisquitecalm，andasthetidesetsinthatdirection，itwilltakeusalongofitself，withoutmuchrowing。I’veoftengotroundinaboatthatway。’
Thisseemedtobetheonlyplanthatoffered，andabandoningthestraightroadtheywounddownthedefilespannedfurtheronbytheoldcastlearch，andformingtheoriginalfosseofthefortress。
Thestrokeoftheirownfootsteps，lightlyasthesefell，wasflappedbacktothemwithimpertinentgratuitousnessbytheverticalfacesoftherock，sostillwaseverythingaround。Alittlefurther，andtheyemergedupontheopenledgeofthelowertierofcliffs，totherightbeingtheslopingpathwayleadingdowntothesecludedcreekattheirbase——thesinglepracticablespotofexitfromorentrancetotheisleonthissidebyaseagoingcraft；onceanactivewharf，whencemanyafinepublicbuildinghadsailed——includingSaintPaul’sCathedral。
Thetimorousshadowyshapesdescendedthefootway，oneatleastofthemknowingtheplacesowellthatshefounditscarcelynecessarytoguideherselfdownbytouchingthenaturalwallofstoneonherrighthand，ashercompaniondid。Thus，withquicksuspensivebreathingstheyarrivedatthebottom，andtrodthefewyardsofshinglewhich，ontheforbiddingshorehereabout，couldbefoundatthisspotalone。Itwassosolitaryastobeunvisitedoftenforfour-and-twentyhoursbyalivingsoul。Upontheconfinedbeachweredrawnuptwoorthreefishing-lerrets，andacoupleofsmallerones，besidethembeingaroughslipwayforlaunching，andaboathouseoftarredboards。Thetwoloversunitedtheirstrengthtopushthesmallestoftheboatsdowntheslope，andfloatingittheyscrambledin。
Thegirlbrokethesilencebyasking，’Wherearetheoars？’
Hefeltabouttheboat，butcouldfindnone。’Iforgottolookfortheoars！’hesaid。
’Theyarelockedintheboathouse，Isuppose。Nowwecanonlysteerandtrusttothecurrent！’
Thecurrentsherewereofacomplicatedkind。Itwastrue，asthegirlhadsaid，thatthetideranroundtothenorth，butataspecialmomentineveryfloodtheresetinalongtheshoreanarrowrefluxcontrarytothegeneralouterflow，called’TheSouthern’bythelocalsailors。ItwasproducedbythepeculiarcurvesofcoastlyingeastandwestoftheBeal；thesebentsouthwardintwobackstreamstheup-Channelflowoneachsideofthepeninsula，whichtwostreamsunitedoutsidetheBeal，andtheremetthedirecttidalflow，theconfluenceofthethreecurrentsmakingthesurfaceoftheseaatthispointtoboillikeapot，evenincalmestweather。Thedisturbedarea，asiswellknown，iscalledtheRace。
ThusalthoughtheouterseawasnowrunningnorthwardtotheroadsteadandthemainlandofWessex’TheSouthern’raninfullforcetowardstheBealandtheRacebeyond。Itcaughtthelovers’haplessboatinafewmoments，and，unabletorowacrossit——mereriver’swidththatitwas——
theybeheldthegreyrocksnearthem，andthegrimwrinkledforeheadoftheisleabove，slidingawaynorthwards。
Theygazedhelplesslyateachother，though，inthelong-livingfaithofyouth，withoutdistinctfear。Theundulationsincreasedinmagnitude，andswungthemhigherandlower。Theboatrocked，receivedasmartslapofthewavesnowandthen，andwheeledround，sothatthelightshipwhichstolidlywinkedatthemfromthequicksand，thesingleobjectwhichtoldthemoftheirbearings，wassometimesontheirrighthandandsometimesontheirleft。Neverthelesstheycouldalwaysdiscernfromitthattheircourse，whetherstemwardsorsternwards，wassteadilysouth。
Abrightideaoccurredtotheyoungman。Hepulledouthishandkerchiefand，strikingalight，setitonfire。Shegavehimhers，andhemadethatflareupalso。Theonlyavailablefuelleftwasthesmallumbrellathegirlhadbrought；thiswasalsokindledinanopenedstate，andhehelditupbythestemtillitwasconsumed。
Thelightshiphadloomedquitelargebythistime，andafewminutesaftertheyhadburntthehandkerchiefsandumbrellaacolouredflamerepliedtothemfromthevessel。Theyflungtheirarmsroundeachother。
’Iknewweshouldn’tbedrowned！’saidAvicehysterically。
’Ithoughtweshouldn’ttoo，’saidhe。
Withtheappearanceofdayaboatputofftotheirassistance，andtheyweretowedtowardstheheavyredhulkwiththelargewhitelettersonitsside。
3。VII。ANOLDTABERNACLEINANEWASPECT
TheOctoberdaythickenedintodusk，andJocelynsatmusingbesidethecorpseofMrs。Pierston。Avicehavinggoneawaynobodyknewwhither，hehadactedasthenearestfriendofthefamily，andattendedaswellashecouldtothesombredutiesnecessitatedbyhermother’sdecease。
Itwasdoubtful，indeed，ifanybodyelsewereinapositiontodoso。
OfAvicetheSecond’stwobrothers，onehadbeendrownedatsea，andtheotherhademigrated，whileheronlychildbesidesthepresentAvicehaddiedininfancy。Asforherfriends，shehadbecomesoabsorbedinherambitiousandnearlyaccomplisheddesignofmarryingherdaughtertoJocelyn，thatshehadgraduallycompletedthatestrangementbetweenherselfandtheotherislanderswhichhadbeenbegunsolongagoaswhen，ayoungwoman，shehadherselfbeenaskedbyPierstontomarryhim。Onhertantalizinginabilitytoacceptthehonouroffered，sheandherhusbandhadbeensetupinamatter-of-factbusinessinthestonetradebyherpatron，butthatunforgettablerequestintheLondonstudiohadmadeherfeeleversincearefinedkinshipwithsculpture，andaproportionatealoofnessfrommerequarrying，whichwas，perhaps，nomorethanavenialweaknessinAvicetheSecond。Herdaughter’sobjectiontoJocelynshecouldneverunderstand。Toherowneyehewasnoolderthanwhenhehadproposedtoher。
AshesatdarklingheretheghostlyoutlinesofformershapestakenbyhisLovecameroundtheirsistertheunconsciouscorpse，confrontinghimfromthewallinsadarray，likethepicturedTrojanwomenbeheldbyAEneasonthewallsofCarthage。Manyofthemhehadidealizedinbustandinfigurefromtimetotime，butitwasnotassuchthatherememberedandreanimatedthemnow；ratherwasitinalltheirnaturalcircumstances，weaknesses，andstains。Andthenashecametohimselftheirvoicesgrewfainter；theyhadallgoneoffontheirdifferentcareers，andhewasleftherealone。
Theprobableridiculethatwouldresulttohimfromtheeventsofthedayhedidnotmindinitselfatall。Buthewouldfainhaveremovedthemisapprehensionsonwhichitwouldbebased。That，however，wasimpossible。Nobodywouldeverknowthetruthabouthim；whatitwashehadsoughtthathadsoeluded，tantalized，andescapedhim；whatitwasthathadledhimsuchadance，andhadatlast，ashebelievedjustnowinthefreshnessofhisloss，beendiscoveredinthegirlwhohadlefthim。Itwasnottheflesh；hehadneverkneltlowtothat。Notawomanintheworldhadbeenwreckedbyhim，thoughhehadbeenimpassionedbysomany。Nobodywouldguessthefurthersentiment——thecordialloving-kindness——whichhadlainbehindwhathadseemedtohimtheenrapturedfulfilmentofapleasingdestinypostponedforfortyyears。HisattractiontothethirdAvicewouldberegardedbytheworldastheselfishdesignsofanelderlymanonamaid。
Hislifeseemednolongeraprofessionalman’sexperience，butaghoststory；andhewouldfainhavevanishedfromhishauntsonthiscriticalafternoon，astheresthaddone。Hedesiredtosleepawayhistendencies，tomakesomethinghappenwhichwouldputanendtohisbondagetobeautyintheideal。
Sohesatontillitwasquitedark，andalightwasbrought。Therewasachillywindblowingoutside，andthelightshiponthequicksandafarlookedharassedandforlorn。Thehaggardsolitudewasbrokenbyaringatthedoor。
Pierstonheardavoicebelow，theaccentsofawoman。Theyhadagroundqualityoffamiliarity，asuperficialarticulationofstrangeness。Onlyonepersoninallhisexperiencehadeverpossessedpreciselythosetones；rich，asiftheyhadoncebeenpowerful。
Explanationsseemedtobeaskedforandgiven，andinaminutehewasinformedthataladywasdownstairswhomperhapshewouldliketosee。
’Whoisthelady？’Jocelynasked。
Theservanthesitatedalittle。’Mrs。Leverre——themotherofthe——
younggentlemanMissAvicehasrunoffwith。’
’Yes——I’llseeher，’saidPierston。
HecoveredthefaceofthedeadAvice，anddescended。’Leverre，’hesaidtohimself。Hisearshadknownthatnamebeforeto-day。ItwasthenamethosetravellingAmericanshehadmetinRomegavethewomanhesupposedmightbeMarciaBencomb。
Asuddenadjustinglightburstuponmanyfamiliarthingsatthatmoment。Hefoundthevisitorinthedrawing-room，standingupveiled，thecarriagewhichhadbroughtherbeinginwaitingatthedoor。Bythedimlighthecouldseenothingofherfeaturesinsuchcircumstances。
’Mr。Pierston？’
’IamMr。Pierston。’
’YourepresentthelateMrs。Pierston？’
’Ido——thoughIamnotoneofthefamily。’
’Iknowit……IamMarcia——afterfortyyears。’
’Iwasdiviningasmuch，Marcia。Maythelineshavefallentoyouinpleasantplacessincewelastmet！But，ofallmomentsofmylife，whydoyouchoosetohuntmeupnow？’
’Why——Iamthestep-motherandonlyrelationoftheyoungmanyourbrideelopedwiththismorning。’
’Iwasjustguessingthat，too，asIcamedownstairs。But——’
’AndIamnaturallymakinginquiries。’
’Yes。Letustakeitquietly，andshutthedoor。’
Marciasatdown。Andhelearntthattheconjunctionofoldthingsandnewwasnoaccident。WhatMrs。Pierstonhaddiscussedwithhernurseandneighbourasvagueintelligence，wasnowrevealedtoJocelynatfirsthandbyMarciaherself；how，manyyearsaftertheirseparation，andwhenshewasleftpoorbythedeathofherimpoverishedfather，shehadbecomethewifeofthatbygoneJerseyloverofhers，whowantedatendernurseandmotherfortheinfantlefthimbyhisfirstwiferecentlydeceased；howhehaddiedafewyearslater，leavingherwiththeboy，whomshehadbroughtupatSt。HeliersandinParis，educatinghimaswellasshecouldwithherlimitedmeans，tillhebecametheFrenchmasterataschoolinSandbourne；andhow，ayearago，sheandhersonhadgottoknowMrs。Pierstonandherdaughterontheirvisittotheisland，’toascertain，’sheadded，moredeliberately，’notentirelyforsentimentalreasons，whathadbecomeofthemanwithwhomIelopedinthefirstflushofmyyoungwomanhood，andonlymissedmarryingbymyownwill。’
Pierstonbowed。
’Well，thatwashowtheacquaintancebetweenthechildrenbegan，andtheirpassionateattachmenttoeachother。’ShedetailedhowAvicehadinducedhermothertolethertakelessonsinFrenchofyoungLeverre，renderingtheirmeetingseasy。Marciahadneverthoughtofhinderingtheirintimacy，forinherrecentyearsofafflictionshehadacquiredanewinterestinthenameshehadrefusedtotakeinherpurse-proudyoungwomanhood；anditwasnotuntilsheknewhowdeterminedMrs。
PierstonwastomakeherdaughterJocelyn’swifethatshehadobjectedtoherson’sacquaintancewithAvice。Butitwastoolatetohinderwhathadbeenbegun。Hehadlatelybeenill，andshehadbeenfrightenedbyhisnotreturninghomethenightbefore。ThenoteshehadreceivedfromhimthatdayhadonlyinformedherthatAviceandhimselfhadgonetobemarriedimmediately——whithershedidnotknow。
’Whatdoyoumeantodo？’sheasked。
’Idonothing：thereisnothingtobedone……ItishowIservedhergrandmother——oneofTime’srevenges。’
’Servedhersoforme。’
’Yes。Nowshemeforyourson。’
Marciapausedalongwhilethinkingthatover，tillarousingherselfsheresumed：’Butcan’tweinquirewhichwaytheywentoutoftheisland，orgathersomeparticularsaboutthem？’
’Aye——yes。Wewill。’
AndPierstonfoundhimselfasinadreamwalkingbesideMarciaalongtheroadintheircommonquest。Hediscoveredthatalmosteveryoneoftheneighbouringinhabitantsknewmoreabouttheloversthanhedidhimself。
Atthecornersomemenwereengagedinconversationontheoccurrence。
Itwasallusiveonly，butknowingthedialect，PierstonandMarciagathereditsimporteasily。Assoonasithadgotlightthatmorningoneoftheboatswasdiscoveredmissingfromthecreekbelow，andwhentheflightoftheloverswasmadeknownitwasinferredthattheyweretheculprits。
UnconsciouslyPierstonturnedinthedirectionofthecreek，withoutregardingwhetherMarciafollowedhim，andthoughitwasdarkerthanwhenAviceandLeverrehaddescendedinthemorninghepursuedhiswaydowntheinclinetillhereachedthewater-side。
’Isthatyou，Jocelyn？’
TheinquirycamefromMarcia。Shewasbehindhim，abouthalf-waydown。
’Yes，’hesaid，noticingthatitwasthefirsttimeshehadcalledhimbyhisChristianname。
’Ican’tseewhereyouare，andIamafraidtofollow。’
Afraidtofollow。Howstrangelythatalteredhisconceptionofher。
Tillthismomentshehadstoodinhismindastheimperious，invincibleMarciaofold。Therewasastrangepathosinthisrevelation。Hewentbackandfeltforherhand。’I’llleadyoudown，’hesaid。Andhedidso。
Theylookedoutuponthesea，andthelightshipshiningasifithadquiteforgottenallaboutthefugitives。’Iamsouneasy，’saidMarcia。’Doyouthinktheygotsafelytoland？’
’Yes，’repliedsomeoneotherthanJocelyn。Itwasaboatmansmokingintheshadowoftheboathouse。Heinformedherthattheywerepickedupbythelightshipmen，andafterwards，attheirrequest，takenacrosstotheoppositeshore，wheretheylanded，proceedingthenceonfoottothenearestrailwaystationandenteringthetrainforLondon。Thisintelligencehadreachedtheislandaboutanhourbefore。
’They’llbemarriedto-morrowmorning！’saidMarcia。
’Somuchthebetter。Don’tregretit，Marcia。Heshallnotlosebyit。Ihavenorelationintheworldexceptsometwentiethcousinsintheisle，ofwhomherfatherwasone，andI’lltakestepsatoncetomakeheragoodmatchforhim。Asforme……Ihavelivedadaytoolong。’
3。VIII。’ALASFORTHISGREYSHADOW，ONCEAMAN！’
InthemonthofNovemberwhichfollowedPierstonwaslyingdangerouslyillofafeverathishouseinLondon。
ThefuneralofthesecondAvicehadhappenedtobeononeofthosedrenchingafternoonsoftheautumn，whentherawrainflieslevelasthemissilesoftheancientinhabitantsacrossthebeakedpromontorywhichhasformedthesceneofthisnarrative，scarcelyalightingexceptagainsttheuprightsidesofthingssturdyenoughtostanderect。Onepersononlyfollowedthecorpseintothechurchaschiefmourner，JocelynPierston——fickleloverinthebrief，faithfulfriendinthelongrun。NomeanshadbeenfoundofcommunicatingwithAvicebeforetheinterment，thoughthedeathhadbeenadvertisedinthelocalandotherpapersinthehopethatitmightcatchhereye。
So，whenthepatheticprocessioncameoutofthechurchandmovedroundintothegraveyard，ahiredvehiclefromBudmouthwasseencomingatgreatspeedalongtheopenroadfromTop-o’-Hill。Itstoppedatthechurchyardgate，andayoungmanandwomanalightedandentered，thevehiclewaiting。TheyglidedalongthepathandreachedPierston’ssidejustasthebodywasdepositedbythegrave。
Hedidnotturnhishead。HeknewitwasAvice，withHenriLeverre——bythistime，hesupposed，herhusband。Herremorsefulgrief，thoughsilent，seemedtoimpregnatetheatmospherewithitsheaviness。
PerceivingthattheyhadnotexpectedhimtobetherePierstonedgedback；andwhentheservicewasoverhekeptstillfurtheraloof，anactofconsideratenesswhichsheseemedtoappreciate。
Thus，byhisowncontrivance，neitherAvicenortheyoungmanheldcommunicationwithJocelynbywordorbysign。Aftertheburialtheyreturnedastheyhadcome。
ItwassupposedthathisexposurethatdayinthebleakestchurchyardinWessex，tellinguponadistractedmentalandbodilycondition，hadthrownPierstonintothechillandfeverwhichheldhimswayingforweeksbetweenlifeanddeathshortlyafterhisreturntotown。Whenhehadpassedthecrisis，andbegantoknowagainthattherewassuchastateasmentalequilibriumandphysicalcalm，heheardawhisperedconversationgoingonaroundhim，andthetouchoffootstepsonthecarpet。Thelightinthechamberwassosubduedthatnothingaroundhimcouldbeseenwithanydistinctness。Twolivingfigureswerepresent，anursemovingaboutsoftly，andavisitor。Hediscernedthatthelatterwasfeminine，andforthetimethiswasall。
Hewasrecalledtohissurroundingsbyavoicemurmuringtheinquiry：
’Doesthelighttryyoureyes？’
Thetonesseemedfamiliar：theywerespokenbythewomanwhowasvisitinghim。HerecollectedthemtobeMarcia’s，andeverythingthathadhappenedbeforehefellillcamebacktohismind。
’Areyouhelpingtonurseme，Marcia？’heasked。
’Yes。Ihavecomeuptostayheretillyouarebetter，asyouseemtohavenootherwomanfriendwhocareswhetheryouaredeadoralive。I
amlivingquitenear。Iamgladyouhavegotroundthecorner。Wehavebeenveryanxious。’
’Howgoodyouare！……And——haveyouheardoftheothers？’
’Theyaremarried。Theyhavebeenheretoseeyou，andareverysorry。
Shesatbyyou，butyoudidnotknowher。Shewasbrokendownwhenshediscoveredhermother’sdeath，whichhadneveronceoccurredtoherasbeingimminent。Theyhavegoneawayagain。Ithoughtitbestsheshouldleave，nowthatyouareoutofdanger。NowyoumustbequiettillIcomeandtalkagain。’
Pierstonwasconsciousofasingularchangeinhimself，whichhadbeenrevealedbythisslightdiscourse。Hewasnolongerthesamemanthathehadhithertobeen。Themalignantfever，orhisexperiences，orboth，hadtakenawaysomethingfromhim，andputsomethingelseinitsplace。
Duringthenextdays，withfurtherintellectualexpansion，hebecameclearlyawareofwhatthiswas。Theartisticsensehadlefthim，andhecouldnolongerattachadefinitesentimenttoimagesofbeautyrecalledfromthepast。Hisappreciativenesswascapableofexercisingitselfonlyonutilitarianmatters，andrecollectionofAvice’sgoodqualitiesalonehadanyeffectonhismind；ofherappearancenoneatall。
Atfirsthewasappalled；andthenhesaid，’ThankGod！’
Marcia，who，withsomethingofheroldabsolutism，cametohishousecontinuallytoinquireandgiveorders，andtohisroomtoseehimeveryafternoon，foundoutforherselfinthecourseofhisconvalescencethisstrangedeathofthesensuoussideofJocelyn’snature。ShehadsaidthatAvicewasgettingextraordinarilyhandsome，andthatshedidnotwonderherstepsonlosthishearttoher——aninadvertentremarkwhichsheimmediatelyregretted，infearlestitshouldagitatehim。Hemerelyanswered，however，’Yes；Isupposesheishandsome。She’smore——awisegirlwhowillmakeagoodhousewifeintime……Iwishyouwerenothandsome，Marcia。’
’Why？’
’Idon’tquiteknowwhy。Well——itseemsastupidqualitytome。I
can’tunderstandwhatitisgoodforanymore。’
’O——Iasawomanthinkthere’sgoodinit。’
’Isthere？ThenIhavelostallconceptionofit。Idon’tknowwhathashappenedtome。IonlyknowIdon’tregretit。RobinsonCrusoelostadayinhisillness：Ihavelostafaculty，forwhichlossHeavenbepraised！’
Therewassomethingpatheticinthisannouncement，andMarciasighedasshesaid，’Perhapswhenyougetstrongitwillcomebacktoyou。’
Pierstonshookhishead。ItthenoccurredtohimthatneversincethereappearanceofMarciahadheseenherinfulldaylight，orwithoutabonnetandthickveil，whichshealwaysretainedonthesefrequentvisits，andthathehadbeenunconsciouslyregardingherastheMarciaoftheirearlytime，afancywhichthesmallchangeinhervoicewellsustained。Thestatelyfigure，thegoodcolour，theclassicalprofile，theratherlargehandsomenoseandsomewhatprominent，regularteeth，thefulldarkeye，formedstilltheMarciaofhisimagination；thequeenlycreaturewhohadinfatuatedhimwhenthefirstAvicewasdespisedandhersuccessorsunknown。Itwasthisoldideawhich，inhisrevoltfrombeauty，hadledtohisregretatherassumedhandsomeness。Hebeganwonderingnowhowmuchremainedofthatpresentationafterfortyyears。
’Whydon’tyoueverletmeseeyou，Marcia？’heasked。
’O，Idon’tknow。Youmeanwithoutmybonnet？Youhaveneveraskedmeto，andIamobligedtowrapupmyfacewiththiswoolveilbecauseI
suffersofromachesinthesecoldwinterwinds，thoughathickveilisawkwardforanyonewhosesightisnotsogoodasitwas。’
TheimpregnableMarcia’ssightnotsogoodasitwas，andherfaceintheachingstageoflife：thesesimplethingscameassermonstoJocelyn。
’ButcertainlyIwillgratifyyourcuriosity，’sheresumedgood-
naturedly。’Itisreallyacomplimentthatyoushouldstilltakethatsortofinterestinme。’
Shehadmovedroundfromthedarksideoftheroomtothelamp——forthedaylighthadgone——andshenowsuddenlytookoffthebonnet，veilandall。Shestoodrevealedtohiseyesasremarkablygood-looking，consideringthelapseofyears。
’Iam——vexed！’hesaid，turninghisheadasideimpatiently。’Youarefairandfive-and-thirty——notadaymore。Youstillsuggestbeauty。
YOUwon’tdoasachastisement，Marcia！’
’Ah，butImay！Tothinkthatyouknowwomannobetterafterallthistime！’
’How？’
’Tobesoeasilydeceived。Think：itislamplight；andyoursightisweakatpresent；and……Well，Ihavenoreasonforbeinganythingbutcandidnow，Godknows！SoIwilltellyou……Myhusbandwasyoungerthanmyself；andhehadanabsurdwishtomakepeoplethinkhehadmarriedayoungandfresh-lookingwoman。TofallinwithhisvanityItriedtolookit。WewereofteninParis，andIbecameasskilledinbeautifyingartificesasanypasseewifeoftheFaubourgSt。
Germain。SincehisdeathIhavekeptupthepractice，partlybecausetheviceisalmostineradicable，andpartlybecauseIfoundthatithelpedmewithmeninbringinguphisboyonsmallmeans。AtthismomentIamfrightfullymadeup。ButIcancurethat。I’llcomeinto-morrowmorning，ifitisbright，justasIreallyam；you’llfindthatTimehasnotdisappointedyou。RememberIamasoldasyourself；
andIlookit。’
Themorrowcame，andwithitMarcia，quiteearly，asshehadpromised。
Ithappenedtobesunny，andshuttingthebedroomdoorshewentroundtothewindow，wheresheuncoveredimmediately，inhisfullview，andsaid，’SeeifIamsatisfactorynow——toyouwhothinkbeautyvain。Therestofme——anditisagooddeal——liesonmydressing-tableathome。
Ishallneverputitonagain——never！’
Butshewasawoman；andherlipsquivered，andtherewasatearinhereye，assheexposedtheruthlesstreatmenttowhichshehadsubjectedherself。Thecruelmorningrays——aswithJocelynunderAvice’sscrutiny——showedintheirfullbareness，unenrichedbyaddition，undisguisedbytheartsofcolourandshade，thethinremainsofwhathadoncebeenMarcia’smajesticbloom。ShestoodtheimageandsuperscriptionofAge——anoldwoman，paleandshrivelled，herforeheadploughed，hercheekhollow，herhairwhiteassnow。Tothisthefaceheoncekissedhadbeenbroughtbytheraspings，chisellings，scourgings，bakings，freezingsoffortyinvidiousyears——bythethinkingsofmorethanhalfalifetime。
’IamsorryifIshockyou，’shewentonhuskilybutfirmly，ashedidnotspeak。’Butthemothfretsthegarmentsomewhatinsuchaninterval。’
’Yes——yes！……Marcia，youareabravewoman。Youhavethecourageofthegreatwomenofhistory。Icannolongerlove；butIadmireyoufrommysoul！’
’Don’tsayIamgreat。SayIhavebeguntobepassablyhonest。Itismorethanenough。’
’Well——I’llsaynothingthen，morethanhowwonderfulitisthatawomanshouldhavebeenabletoputbacktheclockofTimethirtyyears！’
’Itshamesmenow，Jocelyn。Ishallneverdoitanymore！’
***
Assoonashewasstrongenoughhegothertotakehimroundtohisstudioinacarriage。Theplacehadbeenkeptaired，buttheshutterswereshut，andtheyopenedthemthemselves。Helookedrounduponthefamiliarobjects——somecompleteandmatured，themainofthemseedlings，grafts，andscionsofbeauty，waitingforamindtogrowtoperfectionin。
’No——Idon’tlikethem！’hesaid，turningaway。’Theyareasuglinesstome！Idon’tfeelasingletouchofkinwithorinterestinanyoneofthemwhatever。’
’Jocelyn——thisissad。’
’No——notatall。’Hewentagaintowardsthedoor。’Nowletmelookround。’Helookedback，Marciaremainingsilent。’TheAphrodites——howIinsultedherfairformbythosefailures！——theFreyjas，theNymphsandFauns，Eves，Avices，andotherinnumerableWell-Beloveds——Iwanttoseethemneveranymore！……"Insteadofsweetsmellthereshallbestink，andthereshallbeburninginsteadofbeauty，"saidtheprophet。’
Andtheycameaway。OnanotherafternoontheywenttotheNationalGallery，totesthistasteinpaintings，whichhadformerlybeengood。
Asshehadexpected，itwasjustthesamewithhimthere。Hesawnomoretomovehim，hedeclared，inthetime-defyingpresentationsofPerugino，Titian，Sebastiano，andotherstatuesquecreatorsthanintheworkofthepavementartisttheyhadpassedontheirway。
’Itisstrange！’saidshe。
’Idon’tregretit。Thatfeverhaskilledafacultywhichhas，afterall，broughtmemygreatestsorrows，ifafewlittlepleasures。Letusbegone。’
Hewasnowsowelladvancedinconvalescencethatitwasdeemedamostdesirablethingtotakehimdownintohisnativeair。Marciaagreedtoaccompanyhim。’Idon’tseewhyIshouldn’t，’saidshe。’Anoldfriendlesswomanlikeme，andyouanoldfriendlessman。’
’Yes。ThankHeavenIamoldatlast。Thecurseisremoved。’
ItmaybeshortlystatedherethatafterhisdeparturefortheislePierstonneveragainsawhisstudiooritscontents。Hehadbeendowntherebutabriefwhilewhen，findinghissenseofbeautyinartandnatureabsolutelyextinct，hedirectedhisagentintowntodispersethewholecollection；whichwasdone。Hisleaseofthebuildingwassold，andinthecourseoftimeanothersculptorwonadmirationtherefromthosewhoknewnotJoseph。ThenextyearhisnamefiguredontheretiredlistofAcademicians。
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Astimewentonhegrewaswellasoneofhisagecouldexpecttobeaftersuchablastingillness，butremainedontheisle，intheonlyhousehenowpossessed，acomparativelysmalloneatthetopoftheStreetofWells。AgrowingsenseoffriendshipwhichitwouldbefoolishtointerruptledhimtotakeasomewhatsimilarhouseforMarciaquitenear，andremoveherfurniturethitherfromSandbourne。
WhenevertheafternoonwasfinehewouldcallforherandtheywouldtakeastrolltogethertowardstheBeal，ortheancientCastle，seldomgoingthewholeway，hissciaticaandherrheumatismeffectuallypreventingthem，exceptinthedriestatmospheres。Hehadnowchangedhisstyleofdressentirely，appearingalwaysinahomelysuitoflocalmake，andofthefashionofthirtyyearsbefore，theachievementofatailoressatEastQuarriers。Healsolethisiron-greybeardgrowasitwould，andwhatlittlehairhehadleftfromthebaldnesswhichhadfollowedthefever。Andthus，numberinginyearsbuttwo-and-sixty，hemighthavepassedforseventy-five。
Thoughtheirearlyadventureaslovershadhappenedsolongago，itshistoryhadbecomeknownintheislewithmysteriousrapidityandfulnessofdetail。Thegossiptowhichitsbearingontheirpresentfriendshipgaverisewasthesubjectoftheirconversationononeofthesewalksalongthecliffs。
’Itisextraordinarywhataninterestourneighbourstakeinouraffairs，’heobserved。’Theysay"thoseoldfolkoughttomarry；
betterlatethannever。"That’showpeopleare——wantingtoroundoffotherpeople’shistoriesinthebestmachine-madeconventionalmanner。’
’Yes。Theykeeponaboutittome，too，indirectly。’
’Dothey！Ibelieveadeputationwillwaituponussomemorning，requestingintheinterestsofmatchmakingthatwewillpleasetogetmarriedassoonaspossible……Hownearweweretodoingitfortyyearsago，onlyyouweresoindependent！Ithoughtyouwouldhavecomebackandwasmuchsurprisedthatyoudidn’t。’
’Myindependentideaswerenotblameworthyinme，asanislander，thoughasakimberlinyoungladyperhapstheywouldhavebeen。Therewassimplynoreasonfromanislander’spointofviewwhyIshouldcomeback，sincenoresultthreatenedfromourunion；andIdidn’t。Myfatherkeptthatviewbeforeme，andIbowedtohisjudgment。’
’Andsotheislandruledourdestinies，thoughwewerenotonit。Yes——
weareinhandsnotourown……Didyouevertellyourhusband？’
’No。’
’Didheeverhearanything？’
’NotthatIamaware。’
Callinguponheroneday，hefoundherinastateofgreatdiscomfort。
Incertaingustywindsthechimneysofthelittlehouseshehadtakenheresmokedintolerably，andoneofthesewindswasblowingthen。Herdrawing-roomfirecouldnotbekeptburning，andratherthanletawomanwhosufferedfromrheumatismshiverfirelessheaskedhertocomeroundandlunchwithhimasshehadoftendonebefore。Astheywenthethought，notforthefirsttime，howneedlessitwasthatsheshouldbeputtothisinconveniencebytheiroccupyingtwohouses，whenonewouldbettersuittheirnowconstantcompanionship，anddisembarrassheroftheobjectionablechimneys。Moreover，bymarryingMarcia，andestablishingaparentalrelationwiththeyoungpeople，theratherdelicatebusinessofhismakingthemaregularallowancewouldbecomeanaturalproceeding。
Andsothezealouswishesoftheneighbourstogiveageometricalshapetotheirstorywerefulfilledalmostinspiteofthechiefpartiesthemselves。Whenheputthequestiontoherdistinctly，Marciaadmittedthatshehadalwaysregrettedtheimperiousdecisionofheryouth；andshemadenoadoaboutacceptinghim。
’Ihavenolovetogive，youknow，Marcia，’hesaid。’ButsuchfriendshipasIamcapableofisyourstilltheend。’
’Itisnearlythesamewithme——perhapsnotquite。But，liketheotherpeople，Ihavesomehowfelt，andyouwillunderstandwhy，thatIoughttobeyourwifebeforeIdie。’
Itchancedthatadayortwobeforetheceremony，whichwasfixedtotakeplaceveryshortlyaftertheforegoingconversation，Marcia’srheumatismsuddenlybecameacute。Theattackpromised，however，tobeonlytemporary，owingtosomeaccidentalexposureofherselfinmakingpreparationsforremoval，andastheythoughtitundesirabletopostponetheirunionforsuchareason，Marcia，afterbeingwellwrappedup，waswheeledintothechurchinachair。
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Amonththereafter，whentheyweresittingatbreakfastonemorning，Marciaexclaimed’Well——goodheavens！’whilereadingalettershehadjustreceivedfromAvice，whowaslivingwithherhusbandinahousePierstonhadboughtforthematSandbourne。
Jocelynlookedup。
’Why——AvicesaysshewantstobeseparatedfromHenri！Didyoueverhearofsuchathing！She’scominghereaboutitto-day。’
’Separated？Whatdoesthechildmean！’Pierstonreadtheletter。
’Ridiculousnonsense！’hecontinued。’Shedoesn’tknowwhatshewants。
Isayshesha’n’tbeseparated！Tellherso，andthere’sanendofit。
Why——howlonghavetheybeenmarried？Nottwelvemonths。Whatwillshesaywhentheyhavebeenmarriedtwentyyears！’
Marciaremainedreflecting。’Ithinkthatremorsefulfeelingsheunluckilyhasattimes，ofhavingdisobeyedhermother，andcausedherdeath，makesherirritable，’shemurmured。’Poorchild！’
Lunch-timehadhardlycomewhenAvicearrived，lookingverytearfulandexcited。Marciatookherintoaninnerroom，hadaconversationwithher，andtheycameouttogether。
’Oit’snothing，’saidMarcia。’Itellhershemustgobackdirectlyshehashadsomeluncheon。’
’Ah，that’sallverywell！’sobbedAvice。’B-b-butifyouhadbeenm-
marriedsolongasIhave，y-youwouldn’tsaygobacklikethat！’
’Whatisitallabout？’inquiredPierston。
’HesaidthatifheweretodieI——I——shouldbelookingoutforsomebodywithfairhairandgreyeyes，just——justtospitehiminhisgrave，becausehe’sdark，andhe’squitesureIdon’tlikedarkpeople！
Andthenhesaid——ButIwon’tbesotreacherousastotellanymoreabouthim！Iwish——’
’Avice，yourmotherdidthisverything。Andshewentbacktoherhusband。Nowyouaretodothesame。Letmesee；thereisatrain——’
’Shemusthavesomethingtoeatfirst。Sitdown，dear。’
ThequestionwassettledbythearrivalofHenrihimselfattheendofluncheon，withaveryanxiousandpaleface。Pierstonwentofftoabusinessmeeting，andlefttheyoungcoupletoadjusttheirdifferencesintheirownway。
Hisbusinesswas，amongkindredundertakingswhichfollowedtheextinctionoftheWell-Belovedandotherideals，toadvanceaschemefortheclosingoftheoldnaturalfountainsintheStreetofWells，becauseoftheirpossiblecontamination，andsupplyingthetownletwithwaterfrompipes，aschemethatwascarriedoutathisexpense，asiswellknown。Hewasalsoengagedinacquiringsomeoldmoss-grown，mullionedElizabethancottages，forthepurposeofpullingthemdownbecausetheyweredamp；whichheafterwardsdid，andbuiltnewoneswithhollowwalls，andfullofventilators。
Atpresentheissometimesmentionedas’thelateMr。Pierston’bygourd-likeyoungart-criticsandjournalists；andhisproductionsarealludedtoasthoseofamannotwithoutgenius，whosepowerswereinsufficientlyrecognizedinhislifetime。