OnemorningBetty，comingtomakehervisitofinquiryfoundthepatientlookingthoughtful，andwhenshecommenteduponhisairofpondering，hisreplycastlightuponthemystery。
　　"Well，MissVanderpoel，"heexplained，"IwaslyingherethinkingofLordMountDunstanandMr。Penzance，andhowwelltheytreatedme——Ihaven’ttoldyouaboutthat，haveI？
　　"ThatexplainswhatMrs。Buttlesaid，"sheanswered。
　　"WhenyouweredeliriousyoutalkedfrequentlytoLordMountDunstanandMr。Penzance。Webothwonderedwhy。"
　　Thenhetoldherthewholestory。Beginningwithhissittingonthegrassybankoutsidethepark，listeningtothesongoftherobin，heendedwiththeadieuxattheentrancegateswhenthesoundofherhorse’strottinghoofshadbeenheardbyeachofthem。
　　"WhatI’vebeenlyingherethinkingof，"hesaid，"ishowqueeritwasithappenedjustthatway。IfIhadn’tstoppedjustthatminute，andifyouhadn’tgoneby，andifLordMountDunstanhadn’tknownyouandsaidwhoyouwere，LittleWilliewouldhavebeeninLondonbythistime，hustlingtogetacheapbunkbacktoNewYorkin。"
　　"Because？"inquiredMissVanderpoel。
　　G。Seldenlaughedandhesitatedamoment。Thenhemadeacleanbreastofit。
　　"Say，MissVanderpoel，"hesaid，"Ihopeitwon’tmakeyoumadifIownup。Ladieslikeyoudon’tknowanythingaboutchapslikeme。Onthesquareandstraightout，whenIseenyouandheardyournameIcouldn’thelprememberingwhosedaughteryouwas。ReubenS。Vanderpoelspellsabigthing。Why，whenIwasinNewYorkwefellowsusedtogettogetherandtalkaboutwhatit’dmeantothechapwhocouldgetnexttoReubenS。Vanderpoel。Weusedtocountupallthebusinesshedoes，andalltheclerkshe’sgotunderhimpoundingawayontypewriters，andhowthey’dbeboundtogetwornoutandneednewones。Andwe’dmakecalculationshowmanyamancouldunload，ifhecouldgetnext。Itwasakindoftypewritingjuniorassistantfairystory，andweknewitcouldn’thappenreally。Butweusedtochinaboutitjustforthefunofthething。OneoftheboysmadeupathingaboutoneofussavingReubenS。’slife——dragginghimfromunderarunawayautoand，whenhesays，`WhatcanI
　　dotoshowmygratitude，youngman？’himhandingouthiscatalogueandsaying，`IshouldliketocallyourattentiontotheDelkoff，sir，’andgettinghimtopromisehe’dneveruseanyother，aslongashelived！"
　　ReubenS。Vanderpoel’sdaughterlaughedasspontaneouslyasanygirlmighthavedone。G。Seldenlaughedwithher。
　　Atanyrate，shehadn’tgotmad，sofar。
　　"Thatwaswhatdidit，"hewenton。"WhenIrodeawayonmybikeIgotthinkingaboutitandcouldnotgetitoutofmyhead。ThenextdayIjuststoppedontheroadandgotoffmywheel，andIsaystomyself：`Lookhere，businessisbusiness，ifyouAREtravellinginEuropeandlunchingatBuckinghamPalacewiththemainsqueeze。Getbusy！What’lltheboyssayiftheyhearyou’vemissedachancelikethis？YOU
　　hitthepikeforStornhamCastle，orwhateverit’scalled，andtakeyournervewithyou！Shecan’tdomorethanhaveyoufiredout，andyou’vebeenfiredbeforeandgotyourbreathafterit。SoIturnedroundandmadetime。AndthatwashowI
　　happenedonyouravenue。AndperhapsitwasbecauseIwasfeelingabitrattledIlostmyholdwhenthechainbroke，andpitchedoveronmyhead。There，I’vegotitoffmychest。I
　　wasthinkingIshouldhavetoexplainsomehow。"
　　Somethingakintoherfeelingofaffectionforthenice，long—
　　leggedWesternershehadseenramblinginBondStreettouchedBettyagain。TheDelkoffwasthecentreofG。Selden’sworldastheflowerswereofKedgers’，asthe"little’ome"wasofMrs。Welden’s。
　　"WereyougoingtotrytosellMEatypewriter？"sheasked。
　　"Well，"G。Seldenadmitted，"Ididn’tknowbutwhattheremightbeuseforone，writingbusinesslettersonabigplacelikethis。Straight，Iwon’tsayIwasn’tgoingtotryprettyhard。Itmaylooklikegall，butyouseeafellowhastorushthingsorhe’llnevergetthere。AchaplikemeHAS
　　togetthere，somehow。"
　　Shewassilentafewmomentsandlookedasifshewasthinkingsomethingover。HersilenceandthislookonherfaceactuallycausedtodawninthebreastofSeldenagleamofdaringhope。Helookedroundatherwithafaintrisingofcolour。
　　"Say，MissVanderpoel——say————"hebegan，andthenbrokeoff。
　　"Yes？"saidBetty，stillthinking。
　　"C—COULDyouuseone——anywhere？"hesaid。"Idon’twanttorushthingstoomuch，but——COULDyou？"
　　"Isiteasytolearntouseit？"
　　"Easy！"hisheadliftedfromhispillow。"It’saseasyasfallingoffalog。Ababyinaperambulatorcouldlearntotickoffordersforitsbottle。And——onthesquare——thereisn’titsequalonthemarket，MissVanderpoel——thereisn’t。"Hefumbledbeneathhispillowandactuallybroughtforthhiscatalogue。
　　"Iaskedthenursetoputitthere。Iwantedtostudyitnowandthenandthinkuparguments。See——adjustabletoholdwithperfecteaseanenvelope，anindexcard，orastripofpapernowiderthanapostagestamp。Unsurpassedpaperfeed，practicalribbonmechanism——perfectandpermanentalignment。"
　　AsMountDunstanhadtakenthebook，BettyVanderpoeltookit。NeverhadG。Seldenbeheldsuchsmilingineyesabouttobenduponhiscatalogue。
　　"Youwillraiseyourtemperature，"shesaid，"ifyouexciteyourself。Youmustn’tdothat。Ibelievetherearetwoorthreepeopleontheestatewhomightbetaughttouseatypewriter。Iwillbuythree。Yes——wewillsaythree。"
　　Shewouldbuythree。Hesoaredtoheights。Hedidnotknowhowtothankher，thoughhedidhisbest。Dizzyingvisionsofwhathewouldhavetotell"theboys"whenhereturnedtoNewYorkflashedacrosshismind。ThedaughterofReubenS。VanderpoelhadboughtthreeDelkoffs，andhewasthejuniorassistantwhohadsoldthemtoher。
　　"Youdon’tknowwhatitmeanstome，MissVanderpoel，"
　　hesaid，"butifyouwereajuniorsalesmanyou’dknow。It’snotonlythesale——thoughthat’sarake—offoffifteendollarstome——butit’sbecauseit’sYOUthat’sboughtthem。Gee！"
　　gazingatherwithafrankawewhoseobvioussincerityheldaqueertouchofpathos。"WhatitmustbetobeYOU——justYOU！"
　　Shedidnotlaugh。Shefeltasifahandhadlightlytouchedheronhernakedheart。Shehadthoughtofitsooften——hadbeenbewilderedrestlesslybyitasamerechild——thisdifferenceinhumanlot——thischance。WasitchancewhichhadplacedherentityinthecentreofBettinaVanderpoel’sworldinsteadofinthatofsomelittlecashgirlwithhairrakedbackfromasallowface，whostaredatherasshepassedinashop——orinthatoftheyoungFrenchwomanwhoselifewasspentinservingher，incaringfordelicatedressesandkeepingguardoverornamentswhosepricewouldhavegiventoherownhumblenesseasefortherestofexistence？Whatdiditmean？AndwhatLawwaslaiduponher？WhatLawwhichcouldonlyworkthroughherandsuchasshewhohadbeenbornwithalmostunearthlypowerlaidintheirhands——thereinsofmonstrouswealth，whichguidedordrovetheworld？Sometimesfeartouchedher，aswiththislighttouchanherheart，becauseshedidnotKNOWtheLawandcouldonlypraythatherguessingatitmightberight。And，evenasshethoughtthesethings，G。
　　Seldenwenton。
　　"Younevercanknow，"hesaid，"becauseyou’vealwaysbeeninit。Andtherestoftheworldcan’tknow，becausethey’veneverbeenanywherenearit。"Hestoppedandevidentlyfelltothinking。
　　"Tellmeabouttherestoftheworld，"saidBettyquietly。
　　Helaughedagain。
　　"Why，Iwasjustthinkingtomyselfyoudidn’tknowathingaboutit。Andit’squeer。It’stherestofusthatmountsupwhenyoucometonumbers。Iguessit’drunintomillions。
　　I’mnotthinkingofbeggarsandstarvingpeople，I’vebeenrushingtheDelkofftoosteadytogetontoanyswellcharityorganisation，soIdon’tknowaboutthem。I’mjustthinkingofthemillionsoffellows，andwomen，too，forthematterofthat，thatwakenupeverymorningandknowthey’vegottohustlefortheirtenperortheirfifteenper——iftheycanstiritupasthickasthat。Ifit’sasmuchasfiftyper，ofcourse，seemsliketome，they’reonEasyStreet。Butsometimesthosethat’sgottofiftyper——orevenmore——havegotmorethingstodowithit——kids，youknow，andmorerentandclothes。They’vegottogetatitjustashardaswehave。Why，MissVanderpoel，howmanypeopledoyousupposethereareinamillionthatdon’thavetoworryovertheirnextmonth’sgrocerybills，andtherentoftheirflat？Ibetthere’snotten——andIdon’tknowtheten。"
　　Hedidnotstatehiscaseuncheerfully。"Therestoftheworld"representedtohimthenormalconditionofthings。
　　"Mostmarriedmen’sabitafraidtolookanhonestgrocerybillintheface。AndtheyWILLcomein——asregularasspringhats。AndItellYOU，whenaman’sgottoliveonseventy—fiveamonth，athingthat’lltakeallthestrengthandenergyoutofatwenty—dollarbillsortergetshimdownonthemat。"
　　LikeoldMrs。Welden’s，hisroughlysketchedpicturewasagraphicone。
　　"’Tain’ttheworkingthatbothersmostofus。Wewereborntothat，andmostofuswouldfeellikedeadbeatsifweweredoingnothing。It’stheearninglessthanyoucanliveon，andgettingasortoftiredfeelingoverit。It’sthehavingtomakeadollar—billlookliketwo，andwatchingeveryotherfellowtrytodothesamething，andnotoftenmakethetrip。
　　There’smillionsofus——justmillions——everyoneofuswithhisDelkofftosell————"hisfigureofspeechpleasedhimandhechuckledathisowncleverness——"andthinkingofit，andtalkingaboutit，and——underhisvest——halfafraidthathecan’tmakeit。Andwhatyousayinthemorningwhenyouopenyoureyesandstretchyourselfis，`Hullygee！I’veGOTtosellaDelkoffto—day，andsupposeIshouldn’t，andcouldn’tholddownmyjob！’Ibeganitovermyfeedingbottle。SodidallthepeopleIknow。That’swhatgavemeasortofajoltjustnowwhenIlookedatyouandthoughtaboutyoubeingYOU——
　　andwhatitmeant。"
　　WhentheirconversationendedshehadamuchmoreintimateknowledgeofNewYorkthanshehadeverhadbefore，andshefeltitarichpossession。Shehadheardofthe"hallbedroom"previously，andshehadseenfromtheoutsidethe"quicklunch"counter，butG。Seldenunconsciouslyescortedherinsideandthrewuponfacesandlivestheglareofaflashlight。
　　"TherewasathingI’vebeenthinkingI’daskyou，MissVanderpoel，"hesaidjustbeforeshelefthim。"I’dlikeyoutotellme，ifyouplease。It’slikethis。Youseethosetwofellowstreatedmeasfineassilk。ImeanLordMountDunstanandMr。Penzance。Ineverexpectedit。Ineversawalordbefore，muchlessspoketoone，butIcantellyouthatone’sjustaboutallright——MountDunstan。Andtheotherone——
　　theoldvicar——I’venevertakentoanyonesinceIwasbornlikeItooktohim。Thewayheputsonhiseye—glassesandlooksatyou，sorterkindandcuriousaboutyouatthesametime！Andhisvoiceandhiswayofsayinghiswords——well，theyjustGOTme——sure。Andtheybothof’emdidsaythey’dliketoseemeagain。Nowdoyouthink，MissVanderpoel，itwouldlooktoofresh——ifIwastowriteapolitenoteandaskifeitherofthemcouldmakeitconvenienttocomeandtakealookatme，ifitwouldn’tbetoomuchtrouble。I
　　don’tWANTtobetoofresh——andperhapstheywouldn’tcomeanyhow——andifitis，pleasewon’tyoutellme，MissVanderpoel？"
　　BettythoughtofMountDunstanashehadstoodandtalkedtoherinthedeepeningafternoonsun。Shedidnotknowmuchofhim，butshethought——havingheardG。Selden’sstoryofthelunch——thathewouldcome。ShehadneverseenMr。
　　Penzance，butsheknewsheshouldliketoseehim。
　　"Ithinkyoumightwritethenote，"shesaid。"Ibelievetheywouldcometoseeyou。"
　　"Doyou？"witheagerpleasure。"ThenI’lldoit。I’dgiveagooddealtoseethemagain。Itellyou，theyarejustIt——bothofthem。"
　　CHAPTERXXVII
　　LIFE
　　MountDunstan，walkingthroughtheparknextmorningonhiswaytothevicarage，justafterposttime，metMr。
　　PenzancehimselfcomingtomakeanequallyearlycallattheMount。Eachofthemhadaletterinhishand，andeachmettheother’sglancewithasmile。
　　"G。Selden，"MountDunstansaid。"Andyours？"
　　"G。Seldenalso，"answeredthevicar。"Pooryoungfellow，whatill—luck。Andyet——isitill—luck？Hesaysnot。"
　　"Hetellsmeitisnot，"saidMountDunstan。"AndIagreewithhim。"
　　Mr。Penzancereadhisletteraloud。
　　"DEARSIR：
　　"Thisistonotifyyouthatowingtomybikegoingbackonmewhengoingdownhill，ImetwithanaccidentinStornhamPark。Wascutabouttheheadandlegbroken。LittleWilliebeingfarfromhomeandmother，youcanseewhatsortoffixhe’dbeeninifithadn’tbeenforthekindnessofReubenS。
　　Vanderpoel’sdaughters——MissBettinaandhersisterLadyAnstruthers。Thewaythey’vehadmetakencareofhasbeengreat。I’vebeenunderanurseanddoctorsameasifIwasAlbertEdwardwithappendycytus（Iapologiseifthat’snotspeltright）。DearSir，thisistosaythatIaskedMissVanderpoelifIshouldbebuttingintoomuchifIdroppedalinetoaskifyoucouldsparethetimetocallandseeme。Itwouldbeconsideredafavourandappreciatedby"G。SELDEN，"DelkoffTypewriterCo。Broadway。
　　"P。S。HavealreadysoldthreeDelkoffstoMissVanderpoel。"
　　"Uponmyword，"Mr。Penzancecommented，andhisamiablefervourquiteglowed，"Ilikethatqueeryoungfellow——
　　Ilikehim。Hedoesnotwishto`buttintoomuch。’Now，thereisrudimentarydelicacyinthat。Andwhatahumorous，forcefulfigureofspeech！Somebuttinganimal——agoat，I
　　seemtosee，preferably——forcingitswayintoagrouporclosedcircleofpersons。"
　　HisgleefulanalysisofthephrasehadsuchevidentcharmforhimthatMountDunstanbrokeintoashoutoflaughter，evenasG。SeldenhaddoneattheadroitmentionofWeber&Fields。
　　"Shallwerideovertogethertoseehimthismorning？AnhourwithG。Selden，surroundedbytheatmosphereofReubenS。Vanderpoel，wouldbeacheeringthing，"hesaid。
　　"Itwould，"Mr。Penzanceanswered。"Letusgobyallmeans。Weshouldnot，Isuppose，"withkeendelight，"be`buttingin’uponLadyAnstrutherstooearly？"Hewasquiteenrapturedwithhisownaptness。"LikeG。Selden，I
　　shouldnotliketo`buttin，’"headded。
　　Thescentandwarmthandglowofagloriousmorningfilledthehour。CombiningthemselveswithacertainnormalhumangaietywhichsurroundedthemerethoughtofG。Selden，theyweregoodthingsforMountDunstan。Lifewasstrongandyounginhim，andhehadlaughedabigyounglaugh，whichhad，perhapstendedtothewakinginhimofthefeelinghewassuddenlyconsciousof——thatasix—milerideoverawhite，tree—dappled，sunlitroadwouldbepleasantenough，and，afterall，ifattheendofthegalloponecameagainuponthatotherinwhomlifewasstrongandyoung，andbloomedonrose—cheekandwasthefarfireinthebluedeepsoflovelyeyes，andtheslimstraightnessofthefairbody，whywoulditnotbe，inaway，alltothegood？Hehadthoughtofheronmorethanoneday，andfeltthathewantedtoseeheragain。
　　"Letusgo，"heansweredPenzance。"Onecancallonaninvalidatanytime。LadyAnstrutherswillforgiveus。"
　　Inlessthananhour’stimetheywereontheirway。Theylaughedandtalkedastheyrode，theirhorses’hoofsstrikingoutacheerfulringingaccompanimenttotheirvoices。Thereisnothingmoreexhilaratingthanthehollow，regularringandclick—clackofgoodhoofsgoingwelloverafineoldRomanroadinthemorningsunlight。TheytalkedofthejuniorassistantsalesmanandofMissVanderpoel。Penzancewasmuchpleasedbytheprospectofseeing"thisdelightfulandunusualgirl。"Hehadheardstoriesofher，ashadLordWestholt。
　　HeknewofoldDoby’spipe，andofMrs。Welden’srespitefromtheUnion，andthoughsuchincidentswouldseemmeretriflestothedwelleringreattowns，hehadhimselflivedanddonehisworklongenoughinvillagestoknowthevillagemindandthescaleofproportionsbywhichitsgladnessandsadnessweremeasured。HeknewmoreofallthisthanMountDunstancould，sinceMountDunstan’sexistencehadisolateditself，fromrathergloomychoice。Butasherode，MountDunstanknewthathelikedtohearthesethings。Therewasthesuggestionofnewlifeandnewthoughtinthem，andsuchsuggestionwasgoodforanyman——orwoman，either——whohadfallenintolivinginadull，narrowgroove。
　　"Itisthenewlifeinherwhichstrikesme，"hesaid。"Shehasbroughtwealthwithher，andwealthispowertodothegoodorevilthatgrowsinaman’ssoul；butshehasbroughtsomethingmore。Shemighthavecomehereandbroughtallthesumptuousnessofafashionableyoungbeauty，whodrovethroughthevillageanddrewpeopletotheirwindows，andmadeclodhoppersscratchtheirheadsandpulltheirforelocks，andchildrenbobcurtsiesandstare。Shemighthavecomeandgoneandleftamind—dazzlingmemoryandnothingelse。A
　　fewsovereignstossedhereandtherewouldhaveearnedherareputation——but，bygee！toquoteSelden——shehasbegunLIVINGwiththem，asifherancestorshaddoneitforsixhundredyears。Andwhat_I_seeisthatifshehadcomewithoutapennyinherpocketshewouldhavedonethesamething。"
　　Hepausedaponderingmoment，andthendrewasharpbreathwhichwasanexclamationinitself。"She’sLife！"hesaid。
　　"She’sLifeitself！GoodGod！whatathingitisforamanorwomantobeLife——insteadofamassoftissueandmuscleandnerve，draggedaboutbythemeremechanismofliving！"
　　Penzancehadlistenedseriously。
　　"Whatyousayisverysuggestive，"hecommented。"Itstrikesmeastrue，too。Youhaveseensomethingofheralso，atleastmorethanIhave。"
　　"IdidnotthinkthesethingswhenIsawher——thoughIsupposeI
　　feltthemunconsciously。Ihavereachedthiswayofsummingherupbyprocessesofexclusionandinclusion。Onehearsofher，asyouknowyourself，andonethinksherover。"
　　"Youhavethoughtherover？"
　　"Alot，"rathergrumpily。"Abeautifulfemalecreatureinevitablygivesanunbeautifulmalecreaturesomethingtothinkof——ifheisnototherwiseactivelyemployed。Iamnot。
　　Shehasbecomeasortofdawningrelieftomyhopelesshumours。
　　Beingalowandunworthybeast，Iamsometimesresentfulenoughoftheunfairnessofthings。Shehastoomuch。"
　　WhentheyrodethroughStornhamvillagetheysawsignsofworkalreadydoneandworkstillinhand。Therewerenobrokenwindowsorpalingsorhangingwicketgates；cottagegardenshadbeenputinorder，andtherewereevidencesofsuchcheeringtouchesasnewbitsofwindowcurtainandstrong—lookingyoungplantsbloomingbetweenthem。Somanysmall，butnecessary，thingshadbeendonethatthewholevillageworetheaspectofaplacewhichhadtakenheart，andwasfacingexistenceinahopefulspirit。AyearagoMountDunstanandhisvicarridingthroughithadbeenstruckbyitsneglectedanddispiritedlook。
　　AstheyenteredthehalloftheCourtMissVanderpoelwasdescendingthestaircase。Shewaslaughingalittletoherself，andshelookedpleasedwhenshesawthem。
　　"Itisgoodofyoutocome，"shesaid，astheycrossedthehalltothedrawing—room。"ButItoldhimIreallythoughtyouwould。Ihavejustbeentalkingtohim，andhewasalittleuncertainastowhetherhehadassumedtoomuch。"
　　"Astowhetherhehad`buttedin，’"saidMr。Penzance。
　　"Ithinkhemusthavesaidthat。"
　　"Hedid。Healsowasafraidthathemighthavebeen`toofresh。’"answeredBetty。
　　"Onourpart，"saidMr。Penzance，withgentleglee，"wehesitatedamomentinfearlestwealsomightappeartobe`buttingin。’"
　　Thentheyalllaughedtogether。TheywerelaughingwhenLadyAnstruthersentered，andsheherselfjoinedthem。ButtoMountDunstan，whofelthertobesomehowatouchinglittleperson，therewasmanifestatendernessinherfeelingforG。
　　Selden。Forthatmatter，however，therewassomethingalreadybeginningtoberatheraffectionateintheattitudeofeachofthem。Theywentupstairstofindhimlyinginstateuponabigsofaplacednearawindow，andhisjoyatthesightofthemwasagenuine，humanthing。Infact，hehadponderedagooddealinsecretonthepossibilityoftheseswellpeoplethinkinghehad"morethanhisshareofgall"toexpectthemtorememberhimafterhepassedonhisjuniorassistantsalesman’sway。ReubenS。Vanderpoel’sdaughterswereofthehighestofhisFourHundred，buttheywereAmericans，andAmericanswerenotasaruleso"stuckonthemselves"astheEnglish。Andherethesetwoswellscameasfriendlyasyouplease。Andthatniceoldchapthatwasavicar，smilingandgivinghim"thegladhand"！
　　BettyandMountDunstanleftMr。Penzancetalkingtotheconvalescentafterashorttime。MountDunstanhadaskedtobeshownthegardens。Hewantedtoseethewonderfulthingshehadheardhadbeenalreadydonetothem。
　　Theywentdownthestairstogetherandpassedthroughthedrawing—roomintothepleasuregrounds。Theonceneglectedlawnshadalreadybeenmownandrolled，clippedandtrimmed，untiltheyspreadbeforetheeyehugemeasuresofgreenvelvet；
　　eventhebedsgirdlingandadorningthemwerebrilliantwithflowers。
　　"Kedgers！"saidBetty，wavingherhand。"InmyignoranceIthoughtwemustwaitforblossomsuntilnextyear；
　　butitappearsthatwonderscanbebroughtallreadytobloomforonefromnurserygardens，andcanbemadetogrowwithcare——anddaring——andpassionateaffection。IhaveseenKedgersturnpalewithanguishashehungoverabedoftransplantedthingswhichseemedtodrooptoolong。Theydroopjustatfirst，youknow，andthentheyslowlylifttheirheads，slowly，asiftolistentoaVoicecalling——calling。OnceIsatforquitealongtimebeforearose，watchingit。WhenIsawitBEGINtolisten，Ifeltalittletremblingpassovermybody。
　　Iseemedtobesostrangelyneartosuchastrangething。ItwasLife——Lifecomingback——inanswertowhatwecannothear。"
　　Shehadbegunlightly，andthenhervoicehadchanged。Itwasveryquietattheendofherspeaking。MountDunstansimplyrepeatedherlastwords。
　　"Towhatwecannothear。"
　　"Onefeelsitsomuchinagarden，"shesaid。"Ihaveneverlivedinagardenofmyown。Thisisnotmine，butIhavebeenlivinginit——withKedgers。OneissoclosetoLifeinit——
　　thestirringinthebrownearth，thepiercingthroughofgreenspears，thatbreakingofbudsandpouringforthofscent！Whyshouldn’tonetremble，ifonethinks？IhavestoodinapottingshedandwatchedKedgersfillashallowboxwithdamprichmouldandscatteroveritathinlayerofinfinitesimalseeds；thenhemoistensthemandcarriesthemreverentlytohisaltarsinagreenhouse。TheledgesinKedgers’green—
　　housesarealtars。Ithinkheoffersprayersbeforethem。Whynot？Ishould。Andwhenonecomestoseethem，themoistseedsareswelledtofulness，andwhenonecomesagaintheyarebursting。Andthenexttime，tinygreenthingsarecurlingoutward。And，atlast，thereisafairyforestoftiniestpalegreenstemsandleaves。AndoneisstandingclosetotheSecretoftheWorld！Andwhyshouldnotoneprostrateone’sself，breathingsoftly——andtouchingone’sawedforeheadtotheearth？"
　　MountDunstanturnedandlookedather——apauseinhisstep——theywerewalkingdownaturfedpath，andovertheirheadsmeetingbranchesofnewleaveshung。Somethinginhismovementmadeherturnandpausealso。Theybothpaused——andquiteunknowingly。
　　"Doyouknow，"hesaid，inalowandratherunusualvoice，"thataswewereonourwayhere，IsaidofyoutoPenzance，thatyouwereLife——YOU！"
　　Forafewseconds，astheystoodso，hislookheldher——theireyesinvoluntarilyandstrangelyheldeachother。Somethingsoftlyglowinginthesunlightfallingonthemboth，somethingrainingdowninthesongofarisingskylarktrillingintheblueafieldaway，somethinginthewarmedincenseofblossomsnearthem，wascalling——callingintheVoice，thoughtheydidnotknowtheyheard。Strangely，asplendidblushroseinafairfloodunderherskin。Shewasconsciousofit，andfeltasecond’samazedimpatiencethatsheshouldcolourlikeaschoolgirlsuspectingacompliment。Hedidnotlookatherasamanlookswhohasmadeaprettyspeech。Hiseyesmethersstraightandthoughtfully，andherepeatedhislastwordsashehadbeforerepeatedhers。
　　"ThatYOUwereLife——you！"
　　Thebluebellsunderwaterwereforthemomentincrediblylovely。
　　Herfeelingabouttheblushmeltedawayastheblushitselfhaddone。
　　"Iamgladyousaidthat！"sheanswered。"Itwasabeautifulthingtosay。IhaveoftenthoughtthatIshouldlikeittobetrue。"
　　"Itistrue，"hesaid。
　　Thentheskylark，showeringgoldenrain，sweptdowntoearthanditsnestinthemeadow，andtheywalkedon。