Itwasstillfulllightwhentheyrosefromthetable，anditwasscarcelytwilightwhenJeffheardCynthialettingherselfoutatthebackdoor。Hefanciedhergoingdowntoherfather’shouse，andhewentouttothecornerofthehoteltomeether。Shefalteredamomentatsightofhim，andthenkeptonwithavertedface。
　　Hejoinedher，andwalkedbesideher。"Well，Cynthy，whatareyougoingtosaytome？I’moffforCambridgeagainto—morrowmorning，andI
　　supposewe’vegottounderstandeachother。Icameupheretoputmyselfinyourhands，tokeeportothrowaway，justasyouplease。Well？Haveyouthoughtaboutit？"
　　"Everyminute，"saidthegirl，quietly。
　　"Well？"
　　"Ifyouhadcaredforme，itcouldn’thavehappened。"
　　"Ohyes，itcould。Nowthat’sjustwhereyou’remistaken。That’swhereawomannevercanunderstandaman。Imightcarryonwithhalfadozengirls，andyetneverforgetyou，orthinklessofyou，althoughIcouldseeallthetimehowprettyandbrighteveryoneof’emwas。That’sthewayaman’smindisbuilt。It’scurious，butit’strue。"
　　"Idon’tbelieveIcareforanyshareinyourmind，then，"saidthegirl。
　　"Oh，come，now！Youdon’tmeanthat。YouknowIwasjustjoking；youknowIdon’tjustifywhatI’vedone，andIdon’texcuseit。ButIthinkI’veactedprettysquarewithyouaboutit——abouttellingyou，Imean。
　　Idon’twanttolayanyclaim，butyourememberwhenyoumademepromisethatiftherewasanythingshadyIwantedtohidefromyou——Well，Iactedonthat。Youdoremember？"
　　"Yes，"saidCynthia，andshepulledthecloudoverthesideofherfacenexttohim，andwalkedalittlefaster。
　　Hehastenedhisstepstokeepupwithher。"Cynthy，ifyouputyourarmsroundme，asyoudidthen——"
　　"Ican’tJeff！"
　　"Youdon’twantto。"
　　"Yes，Ido！Butyoudon’twantmeto，asyoudidthen。Doyou？"Shestoppedabruptlyandfacedhimfull。"Tellme，honestly！"
　　Jeffdroppedhisboldeyes，andthesmilelefthishandsomemouth。
　　"Youdon’t，"saidthegirl，"foryouknowthatifyoudid，Iwoulddoit。"Shebegantowalkonagain。"Itwouldn’tbehardformetoforgiveyouanythingyou’vedoneagainstme——oragainstyourself；Ishouldcareforyouthesame——ifyouwerethesameperson；butyou’renotthesame，andyouknowit。Itoldyouthen——thattimethatIdidn’twanttomakeyoudowhatyouknewwasright，andInevershalltrytodoitagain。
　　I’msorryIdiditthen。Iwaswrong。AndIshouldbeafraidofyouifIdidnow。Sometimeyouwouldmakemesufferforit，justasyou’vemademesufferformakingyoudothenwhatwasright。"
　　ItstruckJeffasaverycuriousfactthatCynthiamustalwayshaveknownhimbetterthanheknewhimselfinsomeways，forhenowperceivedthetruthandaccuracyofherwords。Hegavehermindcreditforthepenetrationdueherheart；hedidnotunderstandthatitisthroughtheirlovewomendivinethesoulsofmen。Whatotherwitnessesofhischaracterhadslowlyandcarefullyreasonedoutfromtheirexperienceofhimshehadknownfromthebeginning，becausehewasdeartoher。
　　Hewassilent，andthen，withraregravity，hesaid，"Cynthia，Ibelieveyou’reright，"andheneverknewhowherheartleapedtowardhimathiswords。"I’maprettybadchap，Iguess。ButIwantyoutogivemeanotherchanceandI’lltrynottomakeyoupayforit，either，"headded，withaflickerofhissaucyhumor。
　　"I’llgiveyouachance，then，"shesaid，andsheshrankfromthehandheputouttowardher。"Gobackandtellthatgirlyou’refreenow，andifshewantsyoushecanhaveyou。"
　　"Isthatwhatyoucallachance？"demandedJeff，betweenangerandinjury。Foraninstantheimaginedherderidinghimandrevengingherself。
　　"It’stheonlyoneIcangiveyou。She’snevertriedtomakeyoudowhatwasright，andyou’llneverbetemptedtohurther。"
　　"You’reprettyroughonme，Cynthy，"Jeffprotested，almostplaintively。
　　Heasked，moreincharacter："Ain’tyouafraidofmakingmedoright，now？"
　　"I’mnotmakingyou。Idon’tpromiseyouanything，evenifshewon’thaveyou。"
　　"Oh！"
　　"DidyousupposeIdidn’tmeanthatyouwerefree？ThatIwouldputalieinyourmouthforyoutobetruewith？"
　　"Iguessyou’retoodeepforme，"saidJeff，afterasulkysilence。
　　"Thenit’salloffbetweenus？Whatdoyousay？"
　　"Whatdoyousay？"
　　"Isayit’sjustasitwasbefore，ifyoucareforme。"
　　"Icareforyou，butitcanneverbethesameasitwasbefore。Whatyou’vedone，you’vedone。IwishIcouldhelpit，butIcan’t。Ican’tmakemyselfoverintowhatIwastwenty—fourhoursago。Iseemanotherperson，inanotherworld；it’sasifIdied，andcametolifesomewhereelse。I’msorryenough，ifthatcouldhelp，butitcan’t。Goandtellthatgirlthetruth：thatyoucameupheretome，andIsentyoubacktoher。"
　　AgleamofamusementvisitedJeffinthegloomwhereheseemedtobedarkling。HefancieddoingthatverythingwithBessieLynde，andthewildjoyshewouldsnatchfromanexperiencesounique，soimpossible。
　　Thenthegleamfaded。"AndwhatifIdidn’twanther？"hedemanded。
　　"Tellherthattoo，"saidCynthia。
　　"Isuppose，"saidJeff，sulkily，"you’llletmegoawayanddoasI
　　please，ifI’mfree。"
　　"Ohyes。Idon’twantyoutodoanythingbecauseItoldyou。Iwon’tmakethatmistakeagain。Goanddowhatyouareabletodoofyourownfreewill。YouknowwhatyououghttodoaswellasIdo；andyouknowagreatdealbetterwhatyoucando。"
　　TheyhadreachedCynthia’shouse，andtheyweretalkingatthesidedoor，astheyhadthenightbefore，whentherehadbeenhopeforherinthenewnessofhercalamity，beforeshehadyetfullyimaginedit。
　　Jeffmadenoanswertoherlastwords。Heasked，"AmIgoingtoseeyouagain？"
　　"Iguessnot。Idon’tbelieveIshallbeupbeforeyoustart。"
　　"Allright。Good—bye，then。"Heheldouthishand，andsheputhersinitforthemomenthechosetoholdit。Thenheturnedandslowlyclimbedthehill。
　　Cynthiawasstilllyingwithherfaceinherpillowwhenherfathercameintothedarklittlehouse，andpeeredintoherroomwiththenewlylightedlampinhishand。Sheturnedherfacequicklyoverandlookedathimwithdryandshiningeyes。
　　"Well，it’salloverwithJeffandme，father。"
　　"Well，I’msatisfied，"saidWhitwell。"Ifyoucouldha’madeitup，soyoucouldha’feltrightaboutit，Ishouldn’tha’hadanythingtosayagainstit，butI’mgladit’sturnedoutthewayithas。He’sacomicaldevil，andhealwayswas，andI’mgladyoua’n’ttakin’onabouthimanymore。Youusedtohavesomuchspiritwhenyouwaslittle。"
　　"Oh，——spirit！Youdon’tknowhowmuchspiritI’vehad，now。"
　　"Well，Ipresumenot，"Whitwellassented。
　　"I’vebeenthinking，"saidthegirl，afteralittlepause，"thatweshallhavetogoawayfromhere。"
　　"Well，Iguessnot，"herfatherbegan。"NotfornoJeffDur——"
　　"Yes，yes。Wemust！Don’tmakeonetalkaboutit。We’llstayheretillJacksongetsbackinJune，andthen——wemustgosomewhereelse。We’llgodowntoBoston，andI’lltrytogetaplacetoteach，orsomething，andFrankcangetaplace。"
　　"Ipresume，"Whitwellmused，"thatMr。Westovercould——"
　　"Father！"criedthegirl，withanenergythatstartledhim，assheliftedherselfonherelbow。"Don’teverthinkoftroublingMr。Westover！Oh，"
　　shelamented，"Iwasthinkingoftroublinghimmyself！Butwemustn’t，wemustn’t！Ishouldbesoashamed！"
　　"Well，"saidWhitwell，"timeenoughtothinkaboutallthat。WegottwogoodmonthsyettoplanitoutbeforeJacksongetsback，andIguesswecanthinkofsomethingbeforethat。Ipresume，"headded，thoughtfully，"thatwhenMrs。Durginhearsthatyou’vegiveJeffthesack，she’llmakeconsid’ableofakick。Shedoneitwhenyougotengaged。"
　　XLVII。
　　AfterhewentbacktoCambridge，Jeffcontinuedmechanicallyinthedirectiongivenhimbymotiveswhichhadceasedforhim。InthemidstofhisdivergencewithBessieLyndehehadstillkeptaninnerfealtytoCynthia，andtriedtofulfilthepurposesandambitionshehadforhim。
　　Theoperationofthishabitualallegiancenowkepthimuptohiswork，butthetimemustcomewhenitcouldnolongeroperate，whenhiswholeconsciousnessshouldacceptthefactknowntohisintelligence，andheshouldrecognizethecloseofthatincidentofhislifeasthebereavedfinallyacceptandrecognizethefactofdeath。
　　Theeventbroughthimrelief，anditbroughthimfreedom。Hewassensibleinhisrelaxationofhavingstraineduptoanother’sideal，ofhavingbeenhamperedbyanother’swill。Hispleasureinthereliefwastemperedbyaregret，notwhollyunpleasant，forthegirlwhoseaims，sincetheywerenolongerhis，mustbedisappointed。HewassorryforCynthia，andinhisremorsehewasfonderofherthanhehadeverbeen。
　　Hefelthermagnanimityandclemency；hebegantoquestion，inthatwordlessdeepofbeingwherevolitionbegins，whetheritwouldnotbepayingakindofdutytoherifhetookheratherwordandtriedtogobacktoBessieLynde。Butforthepresenthedidnothingbutrenounceallnotionofworkingathisconditions，orattemptingtotakeadegree。
　　Thatwaspartofathingthatwaspast，andwasnopartofanythingtocome，sofarasJeffnowforecasthisfuture。
　　HedidnotchoosetoreporthimselftoWestover，andriskascolding，orasnubbing。HeeasilyforgaveWestoverforthetonehehadtakenattheirlastmeeting，buthedidnotcaretoseehim。Hewouldhavemethimhalf—way，however，inafriendlyadvance，andhewasawareofmuchgood—willtowardhim，whichhecouldnothavebeenreluctanttoshowifchancehadbroughtthemtogether。
　　JeffmissedCynthia’sletterswhichusedtocomesoregularlyeveryTuesday，andhehadahalf—houreverySundaywhichwasatfirstratherpainfullyvacantsincehenolongerwrotetoher。Butinthisvacancyhehadatleastnolongerthepangofself—reproachwhichherlettersalwaysbroughthim，andhewasnotobligedtoputhimselftotheshameofconcealmentinwritingtoher。Hehadnevermindedthattacitlyingonhisownaccount，buthehateditinrelationtoher；italwayshurthimassomethingincongruousandunfit。HewrotetohismothernowonSunday，andinhisfirstletter，whiletheimpressionofCynthia’sdignityandgenerositywasstillvivid，heurgedhertomakeitcleartothegirlthathewishedherandherfamilytoremainatLion’sHeadasifnothinghadhappened。Heputagreatdealofrealfeelingintothisrequest，andheofferedtogoandspendayearinEurope，ifhismotherthoughtthatCynthiawouldbemorereconciledtohiscomingbackattheendofthattime。
　　Hismotheransweredwithadrynesstowhichhisearsuppliedthetonesofhervoice，thatshewouldtrytogetalonginthemanagementofLion’sHeadtillhisbrothergotback，butthatshehadnoobjectiontohisgoingtoEuropeforayearifhehadthemoneytospare。Jeffcouldnotrefuseherjoke，ashefeltit，acertainapplause，buthethoughtitprettyroughthathismothershouldtakepartsodecidedlyagainsthimassheseemedtobedoing。Hehadexpectedhertobeangrywithhim，butbeforetheypartedshehadseemedtofindsomeexcuseforhim，andyethereshewassidingagainstherownsoninwhathemightverywellconsideranunnaturalway。IfJacksonhadbeenathomehewouldhavelaidittohischarge；butheknewthatCynthiawouldhavescornedeventospeakofhimwithhismother，andheknewtoowellhismother’sslightforWhitwelltosupposethathecouldhaveinfluencedher。HismindturnedinmomentarysuspiciontoWestover。HadWestover，hewondered，withapurposetopayhimupforitformingitselfsimultaneouslywithhisquestion，beensettinghismotheragainsthim？ShemighthavewrittentoWestovertogetatthetrueinwardnessofhisbehavior，andWestovermighthavewrittenhersomethingthathadmadeherhardenherheartagainsthim。Butuponreflectionthisseemedoutofcharacterforbothofthem；andJeffwasthrownbackuponhismother’ssobersecondthoughtofhismisconductforanexplanationofhercoldness。Hecouldnotdenythathehadgrievouslydisappointedherinseveralways。
　　Buthedidnotseewhyheshouldnottakeacertainhintfromherletter，orconstructahintfromit，atonewithavagueintentpromptedbyhisownrestlessandcuriousvanity。SincehehadpartedwithBessieLynde，ontermsofhumiliationforherwhichmusthavebeenanguishforhimifhehadeverlovedher，orlovedanythingbuthispoweroverher，hehadremainedinabsoluteignoranceofher。Hehadnotheardwhereshewasorhowshewas；butnow，asthefewweeksbeforeClassDayandCommencementcrumbledaway，hebegantowonderwhyshemadenosign。Hebelievedthatsinceshehadbeenwillingtogosofartogethim，shewouldnotbewillingtogivehimupsoeasily。ThethoughtofCynthiahadalwaysintrudedmoreorlesseffectivelybetweenthem，butnowthatthisthoughtbegantofadeintothepast，thethoughtofBessiebegantogrowoutofitwithnointerposingshadow。
　　However，Jeffwasinnohurry。Itwasnotpassionthatmovedhim，andthemoodinwhichhecouldplaywiththenotionofgettingbacktohisflirtationwithBessieLyndewaspleasanteraftertheviolenceofrecenteventsthananyrenewalofstrongsensationscouldbe。Hepreferredtoloiterinthismood，andhewasmeantimemuchmorecomfortablethanhehadbeenforagreatwhile。HewasridofthedisagreeablesenseofdisloyaltytoCynthia，andhewasridofthestressoflivinguptoherconscienceinvariousways。HewasridofBessieLynde，too，andofthetroubleofforecastinganddiscountinghercaprices。Histhoughtturnedattimeswithasoftregrettohopes，disappointments，experiencesconnectedwithneither，andnowtingedwithatendermelancholy，unalloyedbyshameorremorse。AshedrewnearertoClassDayhehadasomewhatkeenercompunctionforCynthiaandthehopeshehadencouragedhertobuildandhadthendashed。Buthewascomingmoreandmoretoregarditallasfatality；andifthechancethathecountedupontobringhimandBessietogetheragainhadoccurredhecouldhavemoreeasilyforgivenhimself。
　　Oneofthejays，whowasspreadingonratheralargescale，wantedJefftospreadwithhim，butherefused，because，ashesaid，hemeanttokeepoutofitaltogether；andforthesamereasonhedeclinedtotakepartinthespreadofaratherjaysocietyhebelongedto。InhissecrethearthetrustedthatsomefriendlyfortuitymightthrowaninvitationtoBeckHallinhisway，oratleastacardfortheGym，which，ifnolongertheplaceithadbeen，wasstillbynomeansjay。Hegotneither；butashefeltallthejoyoftheJunedayinhisyoungbloodheconsoledhimselfverywellwiththedancingatoneofthehalls，wherethecompanyhappenedthatyeartobeopenly，almostrecklesslyjay。Jeffhadsomedistinctionamongthefellowswhoenviouslyknewofhissocialsuccessduringthewinter，andespeciallyofhisaffairwithBessieLynde；andthereweresomegirlsveryprettyandverywelldressedamongthecrowdofgirlswhowereneither。Theywerefromremotepartsofthecountry，andinthechargeofchaperonsignorantofthedifferencessopoignanttolocalsociety。Jeffwentaboutamongthem，anddancedwiththesistersandcousinsofseveralmenwhoseemedsuperiortothelostconditionoftheirkinswomen；thesewerenicefellowsenough，butdoomedbytheirgrinding，ordigging，ortheirwantofworldlywisdom，toaplaceamongthejays，whentheyreallyhadsomequalificationsforanoblerstanding。
　　Hehadaverygoodtime，andhewasenjoyinghimselfinhisdevotiontoalivelyyoungbrunettewhomhewasmakinglaughwithhisjokesaboutsomeoftheothers，whenhiseyewascaughtbyagroupofladieswhoadvancedamongthejayswithsomethingofthatcollectiveintrepidityandindividualapprehensioncharacteristicofpeopleinslumming。Theyhadtheairofnotknowingwhatmighthappentothem，buttheadventurousyoungBostonmatroninchargeofthegirlskeptonaboldfrontbehindherlorgnette，andsweptthestrangecompanyshefoundherselfinwithanunshrinkingeyeassheledherbandamongthepromenaders，andpastthecouplesseatedalongthewalls。ShehesitatedamomentasherglancefelluponJeff，andthensheyielded，atwhateverrisk，tothecomfortoffindingaknownfaceamongsomanyaliens。"Why，Mr。Durgin！"shecalledout。"Bessie，here’sMr。Durgin，"andsheturnedtothegirl，whowasinhertrain，asJeffhadperceivedbysomethingfinerthanthesensesfromthefirst。
　　Herosefromthesideofhisbrunette，whosebrotherwasstandingnear，andshookhandswiththeadventurousyoungmatron，whoseemedsuddenlymuchbetteracquaintedwithhimthanhehadeverthoughther，andwithBessieLynde；theotherswereNewYorkgirls，andthematronpresentedhim。"Areyougoingon？"sheasked，andthevaguechallengewiththesmilethataccompanieditwassufficientinvitationforhim。
　　"Why，Ibelieveso，"hesaid，andheturnedtotakeleaveofhisprettybrunette；butshehadpromptlyvanishedwithherbrother，andhewassparedthetroubleofgettingridofher。HewouldhavebeenequaltomuchmoreforthesakeoffindinghimselfwithBessieLyndeagain，whoseexcitementhecouldseeburninginhereyes，thoughherthickcomplexiongrewneitherbrighternorpaler。Hedidnotknowwhatqualityofexcitementitmightbe，buthesaid，audaciously："It’sagoodwhilesincewemet！"andhewassensiblethathisaudacityavailed。
　　"Isit？"sheasked。Heputhimselfatherside，andhedidnotleaveheragaintillhewenttodressforthestrugglearoundtheTree。Hefoundhimselfeasilyincludedintheadventurousyoungmatron’sparty。Hehadnottheeleganceofsomeofthetallerandslenderermeninthescholar’sgown，butthecapbecamehishandsomeface。HisaffairwithBessieLyndehadgivenhimacertainnote，andanadventurousyoungmatron，whowasnaturallyalittleindiscriminate，mightverywellhavebeenwillingtolethimgoaboutwithherparty。ShecouldnotknowhowimpudenthismerepresencewaswithreferencetoBessie，andthegirlherselfmadenosignthatcouldhaveenlightenedher。Sheacceptedsomethingmorethathershareofhisgeneralusefulnesstotheparty；shedancedwithhimwheneverheaskedher，andsheseemednottoscrupletopublishheraffairwithhimintheopenestmanner。Ifhecouldhavestilledacertainshameforherwhichhefelt，hewouldhavethoughthewashavingthebestkindoftime。Theymadenoaccountofby—gonesintheirtalk，butshehadneverbeensobrilliant，orpromptedhimtosomanyoftheeffronterieswhichwerethespiritofhishumor。Hethoughtherawfullynice，withlotsofsense；helikedherlettinghimcomebackwithoutanyfoolingorfuss，andhebegantoadmireinsteadofdespisingherforit。
　　Decidedlyitwas，asshewouldhavesaid，thechicquestsortofthing。
　　Whatwastheuse，anyway？Hemadeuphismind。
　　WhenhesaidhemustgoanddressfortheTree，hetookleaveofherfirst，andhewasawareofavividemotion，whichwaslikeregretinheratpartingwithhim。Shesaid，Musthe？Sheseemedtowanttosaysomethingmoretohim；whilehewasdismissinghimselffromtheothers，henoticedthatonceortwicesheopenedherlipsasifsheweregoingtospeak。Intheendshedidnothingmoreimportantthantoaskifhehadseenherbrother；butafterhehadleftthepartyheturnedandsawherfollowinghimwitheyesthathefanciedanxiousandevenfrightenedintheirgaze。
　　TheriotroundtheTreeroareditselfthroughitswontedevents。Classafterclassoftheundergraduatesfiledinandsankuponthegrassbelowtheterracesandparterresofbrilliantlydressedladieswithinthequadrangleofseats；thealumnipushedthemselvestogetheragainstthewallofHolderChapel；themenoftheSeniorclasscamelastintheirgrotesquevarietyofsweatersandsecondandthirdbestclothesforthescrambleattheTree。Theregulationcheerstorefromthroatsthatgrewhoarserandhoarser，tilleveryclassandeveryfavoriteinthefacultyhadbeencheered。Thenthesignal—hatwasflungintotheair，andtherushattheTreewasmade，andthecombat’fortheflowersthatgarlandeditsburlywaistbegan。
　　Jeff’ssizeandshapeforbadehimtotryfortheflowersfromtheshouldersofothers。HewasoneofagroupofjayswhosettheirbackstotheTree，andfoughtawayallcomersexcepttheirown；theypulleddowneverymannotoftheirsort，andputupajay，whostrippedtheTreeofitsflowersandflungthemtohisfellowsbelow。Ashewasletdroptotheground，Jeffsnatchedahandfulofhisspoilfromhim，andmadeoffwithittowardtheplacewherehehadseenBessieLyndeandherparty。Butwhenhereachedtheplace，shoulderingandelbowinghiswaythroughthepress，shewasnolongerthere。Hesawherhatatadistancethroughthecrowd，wherehedidnotchoosetofollow，andhestuffedtheflowersintohisbreasttogivetoherlater。Heexpectedtomeethersomewhereintheevening；ifnot，hewouldtrytofindheratheraunt’shouseintown；failingthat，hecouldsendhertheflowers，andtrustherforsomesortofleadingacknowledgment。
　　Hewentandhadabathanddressedhimselffreshly，andthenhewentforawalkinthestilleveningair。Hewasveryhotfromthebattlewhichhadbeenfoughtoverhim，andwhichhehadsharedwithallhisstrength，anditseemedtohimasifhecouldnotgetcool。HestrolledfaroutalongConcordAvenue，beyondtheexpansesandice—horsesofFreshPond，intothecountrytowardBelmont，withhishatoffandhisheaddown。Hewasverywellsatisfied，andhewassmilingtohimselfattheeaseofhisreturntoBessie，andsecurelyspeculatingupontheoutcomeoftheirrenewedunderstanding。
　　Heheardavehiclebehindhim，rapidlydriven，andheturnedoutforitwithoutlookingaround。Thensuddenlyhefeltafierystingonhisforehead，andthenashowerofstingsswiftlyfollowingeachotheroverhisheadandface。Herememberedstumbling，whenhewasaboy，intoanestofyellow—jackets，thatswarmeduparoundhimandpiercedhimlikesparksoffireateveryuncoveredpoint。Butheknewatthesametimethatitwassomeoneinthevehiclebesidehimwhowaslashinghimovertheheadwithawhip。Hebowedhisheadwithhiseyesshutandlungedblindlyouttowardhisassailant，hopingtoseizehim。
　　Butthehorsesprangaside，andtorepasthimdowntheroad。Jeffopenedhiseyes，andthroughthebloodthatdrippedfromthecutsabovethemhesawthewickedfaceofAlanLyndelookingbackathimfromthedogcartwherehesatwithhismanbesidehim。Hebrandishedhisbrokenwhipintheair，andflungitintothebushes。Jeffwalkedon，andpickeditup，beforeheturnedasidetothepoolsofthemarshstretchingoneitherhand，andtriedtostanchhishurts，andgethimselfintoshapeforreturningtotownandstealingbacktohislodging。Hehadtowaittillafterdark，andwatchhischancetogetintothehouseunnoticed。
　　XLVIII
　　ThechumtowhomJeffconfidedthestoryofhisencounterwithamanheleftnamelessinwardlythankedfortunethathewasnotthatman；forheknewhimdestinedsoonerorlatertomakesuchreparationfortheinjurieshehadinflictedasJeffchosetoexact。Hetendedhimcarefully，andrespectedthereticenceJeffguardedconcerningthewholematter，evenwiththeyoungdoctorwhomhisfriendcalled，andwhokepttohimselfhisimpressionsofthenatureofJeff’sinjuries。
　　Jefflayinhisdarkenedroom，andburnedwiththem，andwiththethoughts，guesses，purposeswhichflamedthroughhismind。Hadshe，thatgirl，knownwhatherbrothermeanttodo？Hadshewishedhimtothinkofherinthemomentofhispunishment，andhadshespokenofherbrothersothathemightrecallher，orhadshehadsomeineffectiveimpulsetowarnhimagainstherbrotherwhenshespokeofhim？
　　Helayandragedinvainwithhisconjectures，andhedidathousandimaginedmurdersuponLyndeinrevengeofhisshame。
　　Towardtheendoftheweek，whilehishurtswerestilltooevidenttoallowhimtogoout—of—doorsbeforedark，hehadanotefromWestoveraskinghimtocomeinatoncetoseehim。
　　"YourbrotherJackson，"Westoverwrote，"reachedBostonbytheNewYorktrainthismorning，andiswithmehere。ImusttellyouIthinkheisnotatallwell，buthedoesnotknowhowsickheis，andsoIforewarnyou。Hewantstogetonhome，butIdonotfeeleasyaboutlettinghimmaketherestofthejourneyalone。Someoneoughttogowithhim。I
　　writenotknowingwhetheryouarestillinCambridgeornot；orwhether，ifyouare，youcangetawayatthistime。ButIthinkyonought，andI
　　wish，atanyrate，thatyouwouldcomeinatonceandseeJackson。Thenwecansettlewhathadbestbedone。"