"Why，havingsuchsecrets。"Shewasroundlyreadynow。"SacrificingpoorMay。"
　　"ButYOU，dearlady，sacrificedpoorMay！Itdidn’tstrikeyouashorridTHEN。"
　　"Well，thatwasonly，"shemaintained，"becauseyoutalkedmeover。"
　　Iletherseethefullprocessofmytaking——ornottaking——thisin。
　　"Andwhoisitthenthat——if，asyousay，you’vespokentonoone——has，asImaycallit，talkedyouunder？"
　　Shecompleted，onthespot，herstatementofamomentbefore。"Notacreaturehasspokentome。"
　　Ifeltsomehowthewishtomakehersayitinasmanywaysaspossible——I
　　seemedsotoenjoyhersayingit。Thishelpedmetomakemytoneapproveandencourage。"You’vecommunicatedsolittlewithanyone！"Ididn’tevenmakeitaquestion。
　　Itwasscarceyet，however，quitegoodenough。"Solittle？I’venotcommunicatedtheleastmite。"
　　"Precisely。Butdon’tthinkmeimpertinentforhavingforamomentwondered。
　　WhatIshouldsaytoyouifyouhad，youknow，wouldbethatyoujustaccusedme。"
　　"Accusedyou？"
　　"Oftalkingtoomuch。"
　　Itcamebacktoherdim。"Areweaccusingeachother？"
　　Hertoneseemedsuddenlytoputusnearertogetherthanwehadeverbeenatall。"Dearno，"Ilaughed——"noteachother；onlywitheachother’shelp，afewofourgoodfriends。"
　　"Afew？"Shehandsomelydemurred。"Butoneortwoatthebest。"
　　"Orattheworst！"——Icontinuedtolaugh。"Andnoteventhose，itafterallappears，verymuch！"
　　Shedidn’tlikemylaughter，butshewasnowgrandlyindulgent。"Well，Iaccusenoone。"
　　Iwassilentalittle；thenIconcurred。"It’sdoubtlessyourbestline；
　　andIreallyquitefeel，atallevents，thatwhenyoumentionedawhilesincethatItalktoomuchyouonlymeanttoomuchtoYOU。"
　　"Yes——Iwasn’timputingtoyouthesamedirectappeal。Ididn’tsuppose，"
　　sheexplained，"that——tomatchyourownsuppositionofME——youhadresortedtoMayherself。"
　　"Youdidn’tsupposeIhadaskedher？"Thepointwaspositivelythatshedidn’t；yetitmadeuslookateachotheralmostashardasifshedid。"No，ofcourseyoucouldn’thavesupposedanythingsocruel——allthemorethat，asyouknew，Ihadnotadmittedthepossibility。"
　　Sheacceptedmyassent；but，oddlyenough，withasuddenqualificationthatshowedherasstillsharplydisposedtomakeuseofanyloosescrapofherembarrassedacuteness。"Ofcourse，atthesametime，youyourselfsawthatyournotadmittingthepossibilitywouldhavetakentheedgefromyourcruelty。It’snottheinnocent，"shesuggestivelyremarked，"thatwefeartofrighten。"
　　"Oh，"Ireturned，"Ifear，mostly，Ithink，tofrightenANYone。I’mnotparticularlybrave。Ihaven’t，atallevents，inspiteofmycertitude，interrogatedMrs。Server，andIgiveyoumywordofhonourthatI’venothadanydenialfromhertopropupmydoubt。Itstillstandsonitsownfeet，anditwasitsownbattlethat，whenIcamehereatyoursummons，itwaspreparedtofight。Letmeaccordinglyremindyou，"Ipursued，"inconnectionwiththat，oftheonesenseinwhichyouwere，asyouamomentagosaid，talkedoverbyme。IpersuadedyouapparentlythatLong’smetamorphosiswasnottheworkofLadyJohn。Ipersuadedyouofnothingelse。"
　　Shelookeddownalittle，asifagainatatrap。"Youpersuadedmethatitwastheworkofsomebody。"Thensheheldupherhead。"Itcametothesamething。"
　　IfIhadcreditthenformytrapitatleastmightserve。"Thesamethingaswhat？"
　　"Why，asclaimingthatitWASshe。"
　　"PoorMay——’claiming’？WhenIinsisteditwasn’t！"
　　Mrs。Brissendenflushed。"Youdidn’tinsistitwasn’tanybody！"
　　"WhyshouldIwhenIdidn’tbelieveso？I’veleftyouinnodoubt，"
　　Iindulgentlysmiled，"ofmybeliefs。Itwassomebody——anditstillis。"
　　Shelookedaboutatthetopoftheroom。"Themistake’snowyours。"
　　Iwatchedheraninstant。"Canyoutellmethenwhatonedoestorecoverfromsuchmistakes？"
　　"Onethinksalittle。"
　　"Ah，themoreI’vethoughtthedeeperI’vesunk！Andthatseemedtomethecasewithyouthismorning，"Iadded，"themoreYOUthought。"
　　"Well，then，"shefranklydeclared，"Imusthavestoppedthinking！"
　　Itwasaphenomenon，Isufficientlyshowed，thatthoughtonlycouldmeet。"Couldyoutellmethenatwhatpoint？"
　　Shehadtothinkeventodothat。"Atwhatpoint？"
　　"Whatinparticulardetermined，Imean，yourarrest？Yousurelydidn’t——launchedasyouwere——stopshortallofyourself。"
　　Shefrontedme，afterall，stillsobravelythatIbelievedherforaninstantnottobe，onthisarticle，withoutananswershecouldproduce。
　　Theunexpectedthereforebrokeformewhenshefairlyproducednone。"I
　　confessIdon’tmakeout，"shesimplysaid，"whyyouseemsolittlepleasedthatIagreewithyou。"
　　Ithrewback，indespair，bothheadandhands。"But，youpoor，dearthing，youdon’tintheLEASTagreewithme！Youflatlycontradictme。
　　Youdenymymiracle。"
　　"Idon’tbelieveinmiracles，"shepanted。
　　"SoIexactly，atthislatehour，learn。ButIdon’tinsistonthename。
　　Nothingis，Iadmit，amiraclefromthemomentone’sonthetrackofthecause，whichwasthescentwewerefollowing。Callthethingsimplymyfact。"
　　Shegaveherhighheadatoss。"Ifit’syoursit’snobodyelse’s！"
　　"Ah，there’sjustthequestion——ifwecouldknowall！Butmypointisprecisely，forthepresent，thatyoudodenyit。"
　　"OfcourseIdenyit，"saidMrs。Briss。
　　Itookamoment，butmysilenceheldher。"Your’ofcourse’wouldbewhatIwouldagaincontest，whatIwoulddenounceandbrandasthewordtoomuch——thewordthatspoils，wereitnotthatitseemsbest，thatitinanycaseseemsnecessary，toletallquestionofyourconsistencygo。"
　　OnthatIhadpaused，and，asIfeltmyselfstillholdingher，Iwasnotsurprisedwhenmypausehadaneffect。"Youdoletitgo？"
　　Shehadtried，Icouldsee，toputtheinquiryasallironic。Butitwasnotallironic；itwas，infact，littleenoughsotosuggestformesomeintensification——notquite，Itrust，wanton——ofhersuspense。Ishouldbeatalosstosayindeedhowmuchitsuggestedorhalfofwhatittold。
　　Thesethingsagainalmostviolentlymovedme，andifI，afteraninstant，inmysilence，turnedaway，itwasnotonlytokeepherwaiting，buttomakemyelationmoreprivate。IturnedawaytothattunethatIliterally，forafewminutes，quittedher，availingmyselfthus，superficially，oftheairofweighingaconsequence。Iwanderedofftwentystepsand，whileIpassedmyhandovermytroubledhead，lookedvaguelyatobjectsontablesandsniffedabsentlyatflowersinbowls。Idon’tknowhowlongIsolostmyself，norquitewhy——asImustforsometimehavekeptitup——mycompaniondidn’tnowreallyembraceherpossiblealternativeofruptureandretreat。
　　Orrather，astoheractioninthislastmatter，Iam，andwasonthespot，clear：IknewatthatmomenthowmuchSHEknewshemustnotleavemewithouthavinggotfromme。Itcamebackinwaves，inwiderglimpses，andproducedinsodoingtheexcitementIhadtocontrol。ItcouldNOTbutbeexcitingtotalk，aswetalked，onthebasisofthosesuppressedprocessesandunavowedreferenceswhichmadethemeaningofourmeetingsodifferentfromitsform。Weknewourselves——whatmovedme，thatis，wasthatsheknewme——tomean，ateverypoint，immenselymorethanIsaidorthansheanswered；
　　justasshesawme，atthesamepoints，measurethespacebywhichheranswersfellshort。ThismademyconversationwithheratotallyotherandafarmoreinterestingthingthananycolloquyIhadeverenjoyed；
　　ithadevenasharpnessthathadnotbelonged，afewhoursbefore，tomyextraordinaryinterviewwithMrs。Server。Shecouldn’taffordtoquarrelwithmeforcatechisingher；shecouldn’taffordnottohavekept，inherway，faithwithme；shecouldn’tafford，afterinconceivablepassageswithLong，nottotreatmeasanobservertobesquared。Shehadcomedowntosquareme；shewashangingontosquareme；shewassufferingandstammeringandlying；shewasbothcarryingitgrandlyoffandlettingitdesperatelygo：all，alltosquareme。AndIcaughtmoreoverperfectlyhervisionofherway，andIfollowedherwayevenwhileIjudgedit，feelingthattheonlypersonalprivilegeIcould，afterall，savefromthewholebusinesswasthatofunderstanding。Icouldn’tsaveMrs。Server，andIcouldn’tsavepoorBriss；ICOULD，however，guard，tothelastgrainofgold，myprecioussenseoftheirloss，theirdisintegrationandtheirdoom；anditwasforthisIwasnowbargaining。
　　ItwasofgivingherselfawayjustenoughnottospoilformemybargainovermytreasurethatMrs。Briss’sbribewouldconsist。ShewouldletmeseeasfarasIwouldifshecouldfeelsureIwouldDOnothing；anditwasexactlyinthisquestionofhowmuchImighthavescaredmycoupleintothesenseICOULD"do"thatthesavourofmysuspensemostdwelt。
　　Icouldhavemadethemuneasy，ofcourse，onlybymakingthemfearmyintervention；
　　andyettheideaoftheirbeinguneasywaslesswonderfulthantheideaofmyhaving，withallmyprecautions，communicatedtothemaconsciousness。
　　ThiswassothelastthingIhadwantedtodothatIfelt，duringmyswiftexcursion，howmuchtimeIshouldneedinthefutureforrecoveryoftheprocess——allofthefinestwind—blownintimations，wovenofsilenceandsecrecyandair——bywhichtheirsuspicionwouldhavethrobbedintolife。
　　Icouldonly，provisionallyandsketchily，figureitout，thissuspicion，ashaving，littlebylittle——notwithasuddenstart——feltitselfinthepresenceofmyown，justasmyownnowreturnedthecompliment。Whatcamebacktome，asIhavesaid，inwavesandwiderglimpses，wasthemarveloftheirexchangeofsignals，thephenomenon，scarcetoberepresented，oftheirbreakinggroundwitheachother。Theybothhadtheirtreasuretoguard，andtheyhadlookedtoeachotherwiththeinstinctofhelp。
　　Theyhadfelt，oneitherside，thevictimpossiblyslip，andtheyhadconnectedthepossibilitywithaninterestdiscerniblyinspiredinmebythispersonage，andwitharelationdiscoverablyestablishedbythatinterest。Itwouldn’thavebeenadanger，perhaps，ifthetwovictimshadn’tslippedtogether；
　　andmoreamazing，doubtless，thananythingelsewastherecognitionbymysacrificingcoupleoftheopportunitydrawnbymysacrificedfrombeingconjoinedinmycharity。Howcouldtheyknow，GilbertLongandMrs。Briss，thatactivelytocommunicateaconsciousnesstomyotherfriendshadnopartinmyplan？ThemostIhaddreamedof，Icouldhonourablyfeel，wastoassuremyselfoftheirindependentpossessionofone。Thesethingswerewithmewhile，asIhavenoted，ImadeGraceBrissendenwait，anditwasalsowithmethat，thoughIcondonedherdeviation，shemusttakeitfrommeasacharity。Ihadpresentlyachievedanotherofmyfullrevolutions，andIfacedheragainwithaviewofherovertureandmyanswertoherlastquestion。Thetermswerenotaltogetherwhatmypitycouldhavewished，butIsufficientlykepteverythingtogethertohavetoseethattherewerelimitstomychoice。"Yes，Iletitgo，yourchangeoffront，thoughitvexesmealittle——andI’llinamomenttellyouwhy——tohaveto。Butletusputitthatit’sonacondition。"
　　"Changeoffront？"shemurmuredwhileshelookedatme。"Yourexpressionsarenotofthehappiest。"
　　ButIsawitwasonlyagaintocoveradoubt。Mycondition，forher，wasquestionable，andIfeltitwouldbestillmoresoonherhearingwhatitwas。Meanwhile，however，inspiteofherqualificationofit，Ihadfallenback，onceandforall，onpurebenignity。"ItscarcemattersifI’mclumsywhenyou’repracticallysobland。Iwonderifyou’llunderstand，"
　　Icontinued，"ifImakeyouanexplanation。"
　　"Mostprobably，"sheanswered，ashandsomeasever，"not。"
　　"Letmeatalleventstryyou。It’smoreovertheoneIjustpromised；
　　whichwasnomoreindeedthanthedevelopmentofafeelingI’vealreadypermittedmyselftoshowyou。Ilose"——Ibroughtitout——"byyouragreeingwithme！"
　　"’Lose’？"
　　"Yes；becausewhilewedisagreedyouwere，inspiteofthat，ontherightside。"
　　"Andwhatdoyoucalltherightside？"
　　"Well"——Ibroughtitoutagain——"onthesamesideasmyimagination。"
　　Butitgaveheratleastachance。"Oh，yourimagination！"
　　"Yes——Iknowwhatyouthinkofit；you’vesufficientlyhintedhowlittlethatis。Butit’spreciselybecauseyouregarditasrubbishthatInowappealtoyou。"
　　Shecontinuedtoguardherselfbyhersurprises。"Appeal？Ithoughtyouwereontheground，rather，"shebeautifullysmiled，"ofdictation。"
　　"Well，I’mthattoo。Idictatemyterms。Butmytermsareinthemselvestheappeal。"Iwasingeniousbutpatient。"See？"
　　"HowintheworldcanIsee？"
　　"Voyons，then。Lightordarkness，myimaginationridesme。Butofcourseifit’sallwrongIwanttogetridofit。Youcan’t，naturally，helpmetodestroythefacultyitself，butyoucanaidinthedefeatofitsapplicationtoaparticularcase。Itwasbecauseyousosmiled，before，onthatapplication，thatIvaluedevenmyminordifferencewithyou；andwhatIrefertoasmylossisthefactthatyourfrownleavesmestrugglingalone。Thebestthingforme，accordingly，asIfeel，istogetridaltogetheroftheobsession。
　　Thewaytodothat，clearly，sinceYOU’VEdoneit，isjusttoquenchthefire。BythefireImeantheflameofthefancythatblazedsoforusthismorning。Whatthedeucehaveyou，foryourself，pouredonit？Tellme，"
　　Ipleaded，"andteachme。"
　　Equallywithhervoiceherfaceechoedmeagain。"Teachyou？"
　　"Toabandonmyfalsegods。LeadmebacktopeacebythestepsYOU’VE
　　trod。Bysomuchastheymusthaveremainedtraceabletoyou，shallIfindthemofinterestandprofit。Theymustinfactbemostremarkable：won’ttheyeven——forwhatimayfindinthem——bemoreremarkablethanthoseweshouldnowbetakingtogetherifwehadn’tseparated，ifwehadn’tpulledup？"ThatwasapropositionIcouldpresenttoherwithcandour，butbeforeherabsenceofprecipitationhadpermittedhermuchtoconsideritIhadalreadyfollowediton。"You’lljusttellme，however，thatsinceIdopullupandturnbackwithyouweshalljusthaveNOTseparated。Well，then，somuchthebetter——Iseeyou’reright。ButIwant，"Iearnestlydeclared，"nottoloseaninchofthejourney。"
　　ShewatchedmenowasaRomanladyatthecircusmayhavewatchedanexemplaryChristian。"Thejourneyhasbeenaverysimpleone，"shesaidatlast。"Withmymindmadeuponasinglepoint，itwastakenatastride。"
　　Iwasallinterest。"Onasinglepoint？"Then，as，almostexcessivelydeliberate，shestillkeptme："YoumeanthestillcommonplacecharacterofLong’s——a——consciousness？"
　　Shehadtakenatlastagainthetimesherequired。"DoyouknowwhatIthink？"
　　"It’sexactlywhatI’mpressingyoutomakeintelligible。"
　　"Well，"saidMrs。Briss，"Ithinkyou’recrazy。"
　　Itnaturallystruckme。"Crazy？"
　　"Crazy。"
　　Iturneditover。"Butdoyoucallthatintelligible？"
　　Shediditjustice。"No：Idon’tsupposeitCANbesoforyouifyouAREinsane。"
　　Iriskedthelonglaughwhichmighthaveseemedthatofmadness。"’IfIam’islovely！"Andwhetherornotitwasthespecialsound，inmyear，ofmyhilarity，IrememberjustwonderingifperhapsImightn’tbe。"Dearwoman，it’sthepointatissue！"
　　Butitwasasifshetoohadbeenaffected。"It’snotatissueformenow。"
　　Igaveherthenthebenefitofmystirredspeculation。"Italwayshappens，ofcourse，thatoneisone’sselfthelasttoknow。You’reperfectlyconvinced？"
　　Shenotungracefully，foraninstant，faltered；butsinceIreallywouldhaveit——！"Oh，sofaraswhatwe’vetalkedofisconcerned，perfectly！"
　　"Andit’sactuallywhatyou’vecomedownthentotellme？"
　　"Justexactlywhat。Andifit’sasurprisetoyou，"sheadded，"thatISHOULDhavecomedown——why，IcanonlysayIwaspreparedforanything。"
　　"Anything？"Ismiled。
　　"Inthewayofasurprise。"
　　Ithought；butherpreparationwasnatural，thoughinamomentIcouldmatchit。"Doyouknowthat’swhatIwastoo？"
　　"Prepared——？"
　　"Foranythinginthewayofasurprise。ButonlyFROMyou，"Iexplained。
　　"Andofcourse——yes，"Imused，"I’vegotit。IfIAMcrazy，"Iwenton——"it’sindeedsimple。"
　　Sheappeared，however，tofeel，fromtheinfluenceofmypresenttone，theimpulse，incourtesy，toattenuate。"Oh，Idon’tpretendit’ssimple！"
　　"No？Ithoughtthatwasjustwhatyoudidpretend。"
　　"Ididn’tsuppose，"saidMrs。Briss，"thatyou’dlikeit。Ididn’tsupposethatyou’dacceptitorevenlistentoit。ButIowedittoyou——"Shehesitated。
　　"Youowedittometoletmeknowwhatyouthoughtofmeevenshoulditproveverydisagreeable？"
　　Thatperhapswasmorethanshecouldadopt。"Iowedittomyself，"sherepliedwithatouchofausterity。
　　"ToletmeknowI’mdemented？"
　　"ToletyouknowI’mNOT。"Weeachlooked，Ithink，whenshehadsaidit，asifshehaddonewhatshesaid。"That’sall。"
　　"All？"Iwailed。"Ah，don’tspeakasifitweresolittle。It’smuch。
　　It’severything。"
　　"It’sanythingyouwill！"saidMrs。Brissimpatiently。"Good—night。"
　　"Good—night？"Iwasaghast。"Youleavemeonit？"
　　Sheappearedtoprofessforaninstantallthefreshnessofherownthatshewaspledgedtoguard。"Imustleaveyouonsomething。Icouldn’tcometospendawholehour。"
　　"Butdoyouthinkit’ssoquicklydonetopersuadeamanhe’scrazy？"
　　"Ihaven’texpectedtopersuadeyou。"
　　"Onlytothrowoutthehint？"
　　"Well，"sheadmitted，"itwouldbegoodifitcouldworkinyou。ButI’vetoldyou，"sheaddedasiftowindupandhavedone，"whatdeterminedme。"
　　"Ibegyourpardon"——oh，Iprotested！"That’sjustwhatyou’venottoldme。Thereasonofyourchange——"
　　"I’mnotspeaking，"shebrokein，"ofmychange。"
　　"Ah，butiam！"Ideclaredwithasharpnessthatthrewherbackforaminuteonherreserves。"It’syourchange，"Iagaininsisted，"that’stheinterestingthing。IfI’mcrazy，Imustoncemoreremindyou，youweresimplycrazyWITHme；andhowcanIthereforebeindifferenttoyourrecoveryofyourwitorletyougowithouthavingwonfromyouthesecretofyourremedy？"Ishookmyheadwithkindness，butwithdecision。"Youmustn’tleavemetillyou’veplaceditinmyhand。"
　　ThereservesIhadspokenofwerenot，however，tofailher。"Ithoughtyoujustsaidthatyouletmyinconsistencygo。"
　　"Yourmoralresponsibilityforit——perfectly。ButhowcanIshowagreaterindulgencethanbypositivelydesiringtoenterintoitshistory？It’sinthatsensethat，asIsay，"Ideveloped，"Idospeakofyourchange。
　　Theremusthavebeenagivenmomentwhentheneedofit——orwhen，inotherwords，thetruthofmypersonalstate——dawneduponyou。Thatmomentisthekeytoyourwholeposition——themomentforustofix。"
　　"Fixit，"saidpoorMrs。Briss，"whenyoulike！"
　　"Ihadmuchrather，"Iprotested，"fixitwhenYOUlike。Iwant——yousurelymustunderstandifIwantanythingofitatall——togetitabsolutelyright。"Thenasthispleaseemedstillnottomoveher，Ioncemorecompressedmypalms。"YouWON’Thelpme？"
　　Shebridledatlastwithahighertoss。"Itwasn’twithsuchviewsI
　　came。Idon’tbelieve，"shewentonashademorepatiently，"Idon’tbelieveifyouwanttoknowthereason——thatyou’rereallysincere。"
　　Hereindeedwasanaffair。"Notsincere——i？"
　　"Notproperlyhonest。Imeaningivingup。"
　　"Givingupwhat？"
　　"Why，everything。"
　　"Everything？Isitaquestion"——Istared——"ofTHAT？"
　　"YouwouldifyouWEREhonest。"
　　"Everything？"Irepeated。
　　Againshestoodtoit。"Everything。"
　　"ButisthatquitethereadinessI’veprofessed？"
　　"Ifitisn’tthen，whatis？"
　　Ithoughtalittle。"Why，isn’titsimplyamatterratheroftherenunciationofaconfidence？"
　　"Inyoursenseandyourtruth？"This，sheindicated，wasallsheasked。
　　"Well，whatisthatbuteverything？"
　　"Perhaps，"Ireflected，"perhaps。"Infact，itnodoubtwas。"We’lltakeitthenforeverything，andit’sassotakingitthatIrenounce。
　　Ikeepnothingatall。NowdoyoubelieveI’mhonest？"
　　Shehesitated。"Well——yes，ifyousayso。"
　　"Ah，"Isighed，"Iseeyoudon’t！WhatcanIdo，"Iasked，"toproveit？"
　　"Youcaneasilyproveit。Youcanletmego。"
　　"Doesitstrikeyou，"Iconsidered，"thatIshouldtakeyourgoingasasignofyourbelief？"
　　"Ofwhatelse，then？"
　　"Why，surely，"Ipromptlyreplied，"myassenttoyourleavingourdiscussionwhereitstandswouldconstituteaverydifferentsymptom。Wouldn’titmuchratherrepresent，"Iinquired，"afailureofbeliefonmyownpartinYOURhonesty？Ifyoucanjudgeme，inshort，asonlypretending——"
　　"Whyshouldn’tyou，"sheputinforme，"alsojudgeME？WhathaveI
　　togainbypretending？"
　　"I’lltellyou，"Ireturned，laughing，"ifyou’lltellmewhatihave。"
　　Sheappearedtoaskherselfifshecould，andthentodecideinthenegative。"IfIdon’tunderstandyouinanyway，ofcourseIdon’tinthat。
　　Putit，atanyrate，"shenowratherwearilyquavered，"thatoneofushasaslittletogainastheother。Ibelieveyou，"sherepeated。"There！"
　　"Thanks，"Ismiled，"forthewayyousayit。Ifyoudon’t，asyousay，understandme，"Iinsisted，"it’sbecauseyouthinkmecrazy。AndifyouthinkmecrazyIdon’tseehowyouCANleaveme。"
　　Shepresentlymetthis。"IfIbelieveyou’resincereinsayingyougiveupIbelieveyou’verecovered。AndifIbelieveyou’verecoveredIdon’tthinkyoucrazy。It’ssimpleenough。"
　　"Thenwhyisn’titsimpletounderstandme？"
　　Sheturnedabout，andthereweremomentsinherembarrassment，now，fromwhichshefairlydrewbeauty。Herawkwardnesswassomehownoble；hersenseofherpredicamentwasinitselfyoung。"IsitEVER？"shecharminglythrewout。
　　IfeltshemustseeatthisjuncturehowwonderfulIfoundher，andeventhatthatimpression——one’swholeconsciousnessofherpersonalvictory——wasaforcethat，inthelastresort，wasallonherside。"Itwasquiteworthyourwhile，thissittinguptothishour，toshowafellowhowyoubloomwhenotherwomenarefagged。Ifthatwasreally，withthetruththatwe’resopullingaboutlaidbare，whatyoudidmostwanttoshow，why，then，you’vesplendidlytriumphed，andIcongratulateandthankyou。No，"Iquicklywenton，"Idaresay，todoyoujustice，theinterpretationofmytropesandfiguresISN’T’ever’perfectlysimple。YoudoubtlessHAVEdrivenmeintoacornerwithmydangerousexplosive，andmyonlyfaircoursemustbethereforetositonittillyougetoutoftheroom。I’msittingonitnow；andIthinkyou’llfindyoucangetoutassoonasyou’vetoldmeTHIS。Wasthemomentyourchangeofviewdawneduponyouthemomentofourexchangingawhileago，inthedrawing—room，ourfewwords？"
　　Thelightthat，undermylastassurances，hadsoconsiderablyrevivedfadedinheralittleasshesawmeagaintacklethethemeofherinconstancy；
　　buttheprospectofgettingridofmeonthesetermsmademyinquiry，nonetheless，worthtryingtoface。"Thatmoment？"Sheshowedtheefforttothinkback。
　　Igavehereveryassistance。"Itwaswhen，afterthemusic，IhadbeentalkingtoLadyJohn。Youwereonasofa，notfarfromus，withGilbertLong；andwhen，onLadyJohn’sdroppingme，Imadeaslightmovementtowardyou，youmostgraciouslymetitbyrisingandgivingmeachancewhileMr。Longwalkedaway。"
　　ItwasasifIhadhungthepicturebeforeher，sothatshehadfairlytolookatit。Butthepointthatshefirst，inhereffort，tookupwasnot，superficially，themostsalient。"Mr。Longwalkedaway？"
　　"Oh，Idon’tmeantosaythatthathadanythingtodowithit。"
　　Shecontinuedtothink。"Todowithwhat？"
　　"Withthewaythesituationcomesbacktomenowaspossiblymarkingyourcrisis。"
　　Shewondered。"Wasita’situation’？"
　　"That’sjustwhatI’maskingyou。WASit？WasitTHEsituation？"
　　Butshehadquitefallenawayagain。"Irememberthemomentyoumean——itwaswhenIsaidIwouldcometoyouhere。Butwhyshouldithavestruckyouasacrisis？"
　　"Itdidn’tintheleastatthetime，forIdidn’tthenknowyouwerenolonger’with’me。ButinthelightofwhatI’vesincelearnedfromyouIseemtorecoveranimpressionwhich，onthespot，wasonlyvague。Theimpression，"Iexplained，"ofyourtakingadecisionthatpresentedsomedifficulty，butthatwasdeterminedbysomethingthathadthen——andevenperhapsalittlesuddenly——comeupforyou。That’sthepoint"——Icontinuedtounfoldmycase——"onwhichmyquestionbears。WASthis’something’yourconclusion，thenandthere，thatthere’snothinginanything？"
　　Shekeptherdistance。"’Inanything’？"
　　"AndthatIcouldonlybe，accordingly，outofmymind？Come，"Ipatientlypursued；"suchaperceptionasthathad，atsomeinstantorother，toBEGIN；
　　andI’monlytryingtoaidyoutorecollectwhenthedevilitdid！"
　　"Doesitparticularlymatter？"Mrs。Brissinquired。
　　Ifeltmychin。"Thatdependsalittle——doesn’tit？——onwhatyoumeanby’matter’！Itmattersforyourmeetingmycuriosity，andthatmatters，initsturn，aswejustarranged，formyreleasingyou。Youmayaskofcourseifmycuriosityitselfmatters；buttothat，fortunately，myreplycanonlybeoftheclearest。Thesatisfactionofmycuriosityisthepacificationofmymind。We’vegranted，we’veaccepted，Iagainpressuponyou，inrespecttothatprecariousquantity，itstopsy—turvystate。Onlygivemealead；
　　Idon’taskyouformore。Letmeforaninstantseeplaybeforemeanyfeeblereflectionwhateveroftheflashofnewtruththatunsettledyou。"
　　Ithoughtforamomentthat，inherdespair，shewouldfindsomethingthatwoulddo。Butsheonlyfound："Itdidn’tcomeinaflash。"
　　Iremainedallpatience。"Itcamelittlebylittle？ItbeganthenperhapsearlierinthedaythanthemomenttowhichIallude？Andyet，"Icontinued，"wewereprettywellonintheday，Imustkeepinmind，whenIhadyourlastnewsofyourcredulity。"
　　"Mycredulity？"