"GodinHeaven！"washerinwardcry。"Godofalltheworlds！Donotlethimdie。`IfyeaskanythinginmynamethatIwilldo。’Christsaidit。InthenameofJesusofNazareth——donotlethimdie！Alltheworldsareyours——allthepower——listentous——listentous。Lord，Ibelieve——helpthoumyunbelief。Ifthisterrorrobsmeoffaith，andIpraymadly——forgive，forgiveme。Donotcountitagainstmeassin。Youmadehim。Hehassufferedandbeenalone。Itisnottime——itisnottimeyetforhimtogo。Hehasknownnojoyandnobrightthing。Donotlethimgooutofthewarmworldlikeablindman。Donotlethimdie。Perhapsthisisnotprayer，butraging。Forgive——forgive！Allpowerisgonefromme。Godoftheworlds，andthegreatwinds，andthemyriadstars——donotlethimdie！"
　　Sheknewherthoughtswerewild，buttheirtorrentboreherwiththemintoastrange，greatsilence。Shedidnothearthevicar’swords，ortheresponsesofthepeople。Shewasnotwithinthegreystonewalls。Shehadbeendrawnawayasintothedarknessandstillnessofthenight，andnosoulbutherownseemednear。Throughthestillnessandthedarkherprayingseemedtocallandecho，clamouringagainandagain。
　　ItmustreachSomething——itmustbeheard，becauseshecriedsoloud，thoughtothehumanbeingsabouthersheseemedkneelinginsilence。Shewentonandon，repeatingherwords，changingthem，endingandbeginningagain，pouringforthafloodofappeal。Shethoughtlaterthatthefloodmusthavebeenatitshighesttidewhen，singularly，itwasstemmed。
　　Withoutwarning，awaveofawepassedoverherwhichstrangelysilencedher——andleftherbowedandkneeling，butcryingoutnomore。Thedarknesshadbecomestill，evenasithadnotbeenstillbefore。Suddenlyshecoweredasshekneltandheldherbreath。Somethinghaddrawnalittlenear。
　　Nothoughts——nowords——nocrieswereneededasthegreatstillnessgrewandspread，andfoldedherbeingwithinit。
　　Shewaited——onlywaited。Shedidnotknowhowlongatimepassedbeforeshefeltherselfdrawnbackfromthesilentandshadowyplaces——awakening，asitwere，tothesoundsinthechurch。
　　"OurFather，"shebegantosay，assimplyasachild。
　　"OurFatherwhoartinHeaven——hallowedbethyname。"
　　Therewasastirringamongthecongregation，andsoundsoffeet，asthepeoplebegantomovedowntheaisleinreverentslowness。Shecaughtagaintheoccasionalsoundofasubduedsob。Rosaliegentlytouchedher，andsherose，followingheroutofthebigpewandpassingdowntheaisleafterthevillagers。
　　Outsidetheentrancethepeoplewaitedasiftheywantedtoseeheragain。Foreheadsweretouchedasbefore，andeyesfollowedher。Shewastothegeneralmindthecentreofthedrama，and"theA’mighty"woulddowelltohearher。Shehadbeendoinghisworkforhim"sameashislordship。"
　　Theydidnotexpecthertosmileatsuchatime，whenshereturnedtheirgreetings，andshedidnot，buttheysaidafterwards，intheircottages，that"troubleornotshewasawonderforlooks，thatshewas——MissVanderpoel。"
　　Rosalieslippedahandthroughherarm，andtheywalkedhometogether，veryclosetoeachother。NowandthentherewasaquestioninginRosy’slook。Butneitherofthemspokeonce。
　　OnanoaktableinthehallaletterfromMr。Penzancewaslying。Itwasbrief，hurried，andanxious。TherumourthatMountDunstanhadbeenailingwastrue，andthattheyhadfelttheymustconcealthematterfromthevillagerswastruealso。Forsomebafflingreasonthefeverhadnotabsolutelydeclareditself，buttheyoungdoctorswerebesetbygraveforebodings。Insuchcasesthemostserioussymptomsmightsuddenlydevelop。Oneneverknew。Mr。Penzancewasevidentlytornbyfearswhichhedesperatelystrovetosuppress。ButBettycouldseetheanguishonhisfineoldface，andbetweenthelinesshereaddreadandwarningnotputintowords。Shebelievedthat，fearingtheworst，hefelthemustpreparehermind。
　　"Hehaslivedunderagreatstrainformonths，"heended。
　　"Itbeganlongbeforetheoutbreakofthefever。Iamnotstrongundermysenseofthecrueltyofthings——andIhaveneverlovedhimasIlovehimto—day。"
　　Bettytookthelettertoherroom，andreadittwoorthreetimes。BecauseshehadaskedintelligentquestionsofthemedicalauthorityshehadconsultedonhervisittoLondon，sheknewsomethingofthefeveranditshabits。Evenherunclericalknowledgewassuchasitwasnotwelltoreflectupon。Sherefoldedtheletterandlaiditaside。
　　"Imustnotthink。Imustdosomething。Itmaypreventmylistening，"shesaidaloudtothesilenceofherroom。
　　Shecasthereyesaboutherasifinsearch。Uponherdesklayanotebook。Shetookitupandopenedit。Itcontainedlistsofplants，offlowerseeds，ofbulbs，andshrubs。
　　Eachlistwasheadedwithanexplanatorynote。
　　"Yes，thiswilldo，"shesaid。"IwillgoandtalktoKedgers。"
　　Kedgersandeverymanunderhimhadbeenattheservice，buttheyhadreturnedtotheirrespectiveduties。Kedgers，givingdirectionstosomeundergardenerswhowereclearingflowerbedsandpreparingthemfortheirwinterrest，turnedtomeetherassheapproached。ToKedgersthesightofhercomingtowardshimonagardenpathwasajoyfulthing。
　　Hehaddonewonders，itistrue，butifshehadnotstoodbyhissidewithinspirationaswellasconfidence，heknewthatthingsmighthave"comeoutdifferent。"
　　"Youwasbornagardener，miss——bornone，"hehadsaidmonthsago。
　　Itwasthetimewhenflowerbedsmustbeplannedforthecomingyear。Hernotebookwasfilledwithmemorandaofthethingstheymusttalkabout。
　　Itwasgood，normal，healthyworktodo。Thescentoftherich，damp，upturnedmouldwasagoodthingtoinhale。Theywalkedfromoneendtoanother，stoodbeforeclumpsofshrubs，andstudiedbitsofwall。Hereamassofbluemightgrow，herelowthingsofwhiteandpaleyellow。Aquickly—climbingrosewouldhangsheetsofbloomoverthisdeadtree。ThisshelteredwallwouldholdwarmthforaMarechalNiel。
　　"Youmusttakecareofitall——evenifIamnotherenextyear，"MissVanderpoelsaid。
　　Kedgers’absorbedfacechanged。
　　"Nothere，miss，"heexclaimed。"Younothere！Thingswouldn’tgrow，miss。"Hecheckedhimself，hisweather—
　　toughenedskinreddeningbecausehewasafraidhehadperhapstakenaliberty。Andthenmovinghishatuneasilyonhishead，hetookanother。"Butit’strueenough，"lookingdownonthegravelwalk，"we——wecouldn’texpecttokeepyou。"
　　Shedidnotlookasifshehadnoticedtheliberty，butshedidnotlookquitelikeherself，Kedgersthought。Ifshehadbeenanotheryounglady，andbutforhisestablishedfeelingthatshewassomehowimmunefromallills，hewouldhavethoughtshehadaheadache，orwaslowinhermind。
　　Shespentanhourortwowithhim，andtogethertheyplannedforthechangingseasonsoftheyeartocome。Howshecouldkeephermindonathing，andwhataheadshehadforplanning，andwhataneyeforcolour！Butyes——therewassomethingabitwrongsomehow。Nowandthenshewouldstopandstandstillforamoment，andsuddenlyitstruckKedgersthatshelookedasifshewerelistening。
　　"Didyouthinkyouheardsomething，miss？"heaskedheroncewhenshepausedandworethislook。
　　"No，"sheanswered，"no。"Anddrewhimonquickly——
　　almostasifshedidnotwanthimtohearwhatshehadseemedlisteningfor。
　　Whenshelefthimandwentbacktothehouse，allthelovelinessofspring，summerandautumnhadbeenthoughtoutandprovidedfor。Kedgersstoodonthepathandlookedafterheruntilshepassedthroughtheterracedoor。Hechewedhislipuneasily。Thenherememberedsomethingandfeltabitrelieved。Itwastheserviceheremembered。
　　"Ah！it’sthatthat’supsether——andit’snatural，seeinghowshe’shelpedhimandDunstanvillage。It’sonlynatural。"
　　Hechewedhislipagain，andnoddedhisheadinoddreflection。
　　"Ay！Ay！"hesummedherup。"She’sagreatladythat——she’sagreatlady——sameasifshe’dbeenborninacivilisedland。"
　　DuringtherestofthedaythelookofquestioninRosalie’seyeschangedinitsnature。Whenhersisterwasnearhershefoundherselfglancingatherwithanewfeeling。Itwasagrowingfeeling，whichgraduallybecame——anxiousness。
　　Bettypresentedtohertheaspectofonewithdrawnintosomeremotespace。Shewasnotlivingthisdayasherdayswereusuallylived。Shedidnotsitstillorstrollaboutthegardensquietly。Theconsecutivenessofheractionseemedbroken。Shedidonethingafteranother，asifshemustfilleachmoment。ThiswasnotherBetty。LadyAnstrutherswatchedandthoughtuntil，intheend，anewpainedfearbegantocreepslowlyintohermind，andmakeherfeelasifshewereslightlytremblingthoughherhandsdidnotshake。
　　Shedidnotdaretoallowherselftothinkthethingsheknewshewasonthebrinkofthinking。Shethrustitawayfromher，andtriednottothinkatall。HerBetty——hersplendidBetty，whomnothingcouldhurt——whocouldnotbetouchedbyanyawfulthing——herdearBetty！
　　Intheafternoonshesawherwritenotessteadilyforanhour，thenshewentoutintothestablesandvisitedthehorses，talkedtothecoachmanandtoherowngroom。Shewasverykindtoavillageboywhohadbeenrecentlytakenonasanadditionalassistantinthestable，andwhowasratherfrightenedandshy。Sheknewhismother，whohadalargefamily，andshehad，indeed，giventheboyhisplacethathemightbetrainedunderthegreatMr。Buckham，whowascoachmanandheadofthestables。Shesaidencouragingthingswhichquitecheeredhim，andshespokeprivatelytoMr。Buckhamabouthim。Thenshewalkedintheparkalittle，butnotforlong。WhenshecamebackRosaliewaswaitingforher。
　　"Iwanttotakealongdrive，"shesaid。"Ifeelrestless。
　　Willyoucomewithme，Betty？"Yes，shewouldgowithher，soBuckhambroughtthelandauwithitspairofbighorses，andtheyrolleddowntheavenue，andintothesmooth，whitehighroad。Hetookthemfar——pastthegreatmarshes，betweenmilesofbaredhedges，pastfarmsandscatteredcottages。Sometimesheturnedintolanes，wherethehedgeswereclosertoeachother，andwhere，hereandthere，theycaughtsightofnewpointsofviewbetweentrees。BettywasgladtofeelRosy’sslimbodynearherside，andshewasconsciousthatitgraduallyseemedtodrawcloserandcloser。ThenRosy’shandslippedintohersandhelditsoftlyonherlap。
　　Whentheydrovetogetherinthiswaytheywereusuallybothofthemrathersilentandquiet，butnowRosaliespokeofmanythings——ofUghtred，ofNigel，oftheDunholms，ofNewYork，andtheirfatherandmother。
　　"IwanttotalkbecauseI’mnervous，Ithink，"shesaidhalfapologetically。"Idonotwanttositstillandthinktoomuch——offather’scoming。Youdon’tmindmytalking，doyou，Betty？"
　　"No，"Bettyanswered。"Itisgoodforyouandforme。"
　　AndshemetthepressureofRosy’shandhalfway。
　　ButRosywastalking，notbecauseshedidnotwanttositstillandthink，butbecauseshedidnotwantBettytodoso。
　　Andallthetimeshewastryingtothrustawaythethoughtgrowinginhermind。
　　Theyspenttheeveningtogetherinthelibrary，andBettyreadaloud。Shereadalongtime——untilquitelate。Shewishedtotireherselfaswellastoforceherselftostoplistening。
　　Whentheysaidgood—nighttoeachotherRosyclungtoherasdesperatelyasshehadclungonthenightafterherarrival。
　　Shekissedheragainandagain，andthenhungherheadandexcusedherself。
　　"Forgivemeforbeing——nervous。I’mashamedofmyself，"
　　shesaid。"PerhapsintimeIshallgetoverbeingacoward。"
　　Butshesaidnothingofthefactthatshewasnotacowardforherself，butthroughaslowlyformulatingandstruggled——
　　againstfear，whichchilledherveryheart，andwhichshecouldbestcoverbyapretenceofbeingapoltroon。
　　Shecouldnotsleepwhenshewenttobed。Thenightseemedcrowdedwithstrange，terrifiedthoughts。TheywereallofBetty，thoughsometimesshethoughtofherfather’scoming，ofhermotherinNewYork，andofBetty’ssteadyworkingthroughouttheday。Sometimesshecried，twistingherhandstogether，andsometimesshedroppedintoafeverishsleep，anddreamedthatshewaswatchingBetty’sface，yetwasafraidtolookatit。
　　Sheawakenedsuddenlyfromoneofthesedreams，andsatuprightinbedtofindthedawnbreaking。Sheroseandthrewonadressing—gown，andwenttohersister’sroombecauseshecouldnotbeartostayaway。
　　Thedoorwasnotlocked，andshepusheditopengently。
　　Oneofthewindowshaditsblinddrawnup，andlookedlikeapatchofdullgrey。Bettywasstandinguprightnearit。
　　Shewasinhernight—gown，andalongblackplaitofhairhungoveroneshoulderheavily。Shelookedallblackandwhiteinstrongcontrast。Thegreylightsetherforthasatallghost。
　　LadyAnstruthersslidforward，feelingatightnessinherchest。
　　"Thedawnwakenedmetoo，"shesaid。
　　"Ihavebeenwaitingtoseeitcome，"answeredBetty。"Itisgoingtobeadull，drearyday。"
　　CHAPTERXLVII
　　"IHAVENOWORDORLOOKTOREMEMBER"
　　Itwasadullanddrearyday，asBettyhadforeseenitwouldbe。Heavyraincloudshungandthreatened，andtheatmospherewasdampandchill。ItwasoneofthosedaysoftheEnglishautumnwhichspeakonlyoftheendofthings，bereavingoneofthepowertoremembernextyear’sspringandsummer，which，afterall，mustsurelycome。Skyisgrey，treesaregrey，deadleavesliedampbeneaththefeet，sunlightandbirdsseemforgottenthings。Allthathasbeensadandtoberegrettedorfearedhangsheavyintheairandswaysallthought。Inthepassingofthesehoursthereisnohopeanywhere。Bettyappearedatbreakfastinshortdressandclosehat。Sheworethicklittleboots，asifforwalking。
　　"Iamgoingtomakevisitsinthevillage，"shesaid。"I
　　wantabasketofgoodthingstotakewithme。Stourton’schildrenneedfeedingaftertheirmeasles。TheylookedverythinwhenIsawthemplayingintheroadyesterday。"
　　"Yes，dear，"Rosalieanswered。"Mrs。Noakesshallpreparethebasket。Goodchickenbroth，andjelly，andnourishingthings。Jennings，"tothebutler，"youknowthekindofbasketMissVanderpoelwants。SpeaktoMrs。Noakes，please。"
　　"Yes，mylady，"JenningsknewthekindofbasketandsodidMrs。Noakes。BelowstairsastrongsympathywithMissVanderpoel’smovementshaddeveloped。Nooneresentedthepreparationofbaskets。Somehowtheywerealwaysmanaged，evenifaskedforatuntimelyhours。
　　Bettywassittingsilent，lookingoutintothegreynessoftheautumn—smittenpark。
　　"Are——areyoulisteningforanything，Betty？"LadyAnstruthersaskedratherfalteringly。"Youhaveasortoflisteninglookinyoureyes。"
　　Bettycamebacktotheroom，asitwere。
　　"HaveI，"shesaid。"Yes，IthinkIwaslisteningfor——
　　something。"
　　AndRosaliedidnotaskherwhatshelistenedfor。Shewasafraidsheknew。
　　ItwasnotonlytheStourtonsBettyvisitedthismorning。
　　Shepassedfromonecottagetoanother——toseeoldwomen，andoldmen，aswellasyoungones，whoforonereasonoranotherneededhelpandencouragement。Byonebedsideshereadaloud；byanothershesatandtoldcheerfulstories；
　　shelistenedtotalkinlittlekitchens，andinonehousewelcomedanewbornthing。Asshewalkedsteadilyovergreyroadanddowngreylanesdampmistroseandhungabouther。Andshedidnotwalkalone。Fearwalkedwithher，andanguish，agreyghostbyherside。Onceshefoundherselfstandingquitestillonasidepath，coveringherfacewithherhands。Shefilledeverymomentofthemorning，andwalkeduntilshewastired。Beforeshewenthomeshecalledatthepostoffice，andMr。Tewsongreetedherwithasolemnface。Hedidnotwaittobequestioned。
　　"There’sbeennonewsto—day，miss，sofar，"hesaid。"Andthatseemsasiftheymightbesogivenuptohardworkatadreadfultimethatthere’sbeennochanceforanythingtogetout。Whenpeople’shangingoveraman’sbedattheend，it’sasifeverythingstoppedbutthat——that’sstoppingforalltime。"
　　Afterluncheontherainbegantofallsoftly，slowly，andwithasuggestionofendlessness。Itwasasortofmistitself，andbecameadampshadowamongthebarebranchesoftreeswhichsoonbegantodrip。
　　"Youhavebeenwalkingaboutallmorning，andyouaretired，dear，"LadyAnstrutherssaidtoher。"Won’tyougotoyourroomandrest，Betty？"
　　Yes，shewouldgotoherroom，shesaid。SomenewbookshadarrivedfromLondonthismorning，andshewouldlookoverthem。Shetalkedalittleabouthervisitsbeforeshewent，andwhen，asshetalked，Ughtredcameovertoherandstoodclosetohersideholdingherhandandstrokingit，shesmiledathimsweetly——thesmileheadored。Hestrokedthehandandsoftlypattedit，watchingherwistfully。Suddenlyheliftedittohislips，andkisseditagainandagainwithasortofpassion。
　　"Iloveyousomuch，AuntBetty，"hecried。"Webothloveyousomuch。Somethingmakesmeloveyouto—daymorethaneverIdidbefore。Italmostmakesmecry。Iloveyouso。"
　　Shestoopedswiftlyanddrewhimintoherarmsandkissedhimcloseandhard。Heheldhisheadbackalittleandlookedintotheblueunderherlashes。
　　"Iloveyoureyes，"hesaid。"Anyonewouldloveyoureyes，AuntBetty。Butwhatisthematterwiththem？Youarenotcryingatall，but——oh！whatisthematter？"
　　"No，Iamnotcryingatall，"shesaid，andsmiled——almostlaughed。
　　Butaftershehadkissedhimagainshetookherbooksandwentupstairs。
　　Shedidnotliedown，andshedidnotreadwhenshewasaloneinherroom。Shedrewalongchairbeforethewindowandwatchedtheslowfallingoftherain。Thereisnothinglikeit——thatslowweepingoftherainonanEnglishautumnday。
　　Softandlightthoughitwas，theparkbegantolooksodden。
　　Thebaretreesheldouttheirbrancheslikeimploringarms，thebrowngardenbedswereneatandbare。Thesamerainwasdrip—drippingatMountDunstan——uponthedesolategreathouse——uponthevillage——uponthemoundsandancientstonetombsinthechurchyard，sinkingintotheearth——sinkingdeep，suckedinbytheclaybeneath——thecolddampclay。
　　Sheshookherselfshudderingly。Whyshouldthethoughtcometoher——thecolddampclay？Shewouldnotlistentoit，shewouldthinkofNewYork，ofitsroaringstreetsandcrashofsound，oftherushoffiercelifethere——ofherfatherandmother。ShetriedtoforceherselftocalluppicturesofBroadway，swarmingwithcrowdsofblackthings，which，seenfromthewindowsofitsmonstrousbuildings，seemedlikeswarmsofants，burstoutofant—hills，outofathousandant—
　　hills。Shetriedtoremembershopwindows，thethingsinthem，thethrongsgoingby，andthethrongspassinginandoutofgreat，swingingglassdoors。ShedraggedupbeforeheravisionofRosalie，drivingwithhermotherandherself，lookingaboutheratthenewbuildingsandchangedstreets，flushedandmaderadiantbytheacceleratedpaceandexcitementofherbelovedNewYork。But，oh，theslow，penetratingrainfall，and——thecolddampclay！
　　Sherose，makinganinvoluntarysoundwhichwashalfamoan。Thelongmirrorsetbetweentwowindowsshowedhermomentarilyanawfulyoungfigure，throwingupitsarms。
　　WasthatBettyVanderpoel——that？
　　"Whatdoesonedo，"shesaid，"whentheworldcomestoanend？Whatdoesonedo？"
　　Allherdaysshehaddonethings——therehadalwaysbeensomethingtodo。Nowtherewasnothing。Shewentsuddenlytoherbellandrangforhermaid。Thewomanansweredthesummonsatonce。
　　"SendwordtothestablethatIwantChildeHarold。I
　　donotwantMason。Ishallridealone。"
　　"Yes，miss，"Amblestonanswered，withoutanyexteriorsignofemotion。Shewastoowell—trainedapersontoexpressanyshadeofherinternalamazement。Aftershehadtransmittedtheordertothepropermanagershereturnedandchangedhermistress’scostume。
　　Shehadcontemplatedhertask，andwasstandingbehindMissVanderpoel’schair，puttingthelasttouchtoherveil，whenshebecameconsciousofaslightstiffeningoftheneckwhichheldsowellthehandsomehead，thentheheadslowlyturnedtowardsthewindowgivinguponthefrontpark。MissVanderpoelwaslisteningtosomething，listeningsointentlythatAmblestonfeltthat，forafewmoments，shedidnotseemtobreathe。Themaid’shandsfellfromtheveil，andshebegantolistenalso。Shehadbeenattheservicethedaybefore。
　　MissVanderpoelrosefromherchairslowly——veryslowly，andtookastepforward。Thenshestoodstillandlistenedagain。
　　"Openthatwindow，ifyouplease，"shecommanded——"asifastoneimagewasspeaking"——Amblestonsaidlater。Thewindowwasthrownopen，andforafewsecondstheybothstoodstillagain。WhenMissVanderpoelspoke，itwasasifshehadforgottenwhereshewas，orasifshewereinadream。
　　"Itistheringers，"shesaid。"Theyaretollingthepassingbell。"
　　Theservingwomanwassoftofheart，andhadherfeminineemotions。Therehadbeenmuchtalkofthisthingintheservant’shall。SheturneduponBetty，andforgotallrulesandtraining。
　　"Oh，miss！"shecried。"He’sgone——he’sgone！Thatgoodman——outofthishardworld。Oh，miss，excuseme——
　　do！"Andassheburstintowildtears，sheranoutoftheroom……
　　Rosaliehadbeensittinginthemorningroom。Shealsohadstriventooccupyherselfwithwork。Shehadwrittentohermother，shehadread，shehadembroidered，andthenreadagain。WhatwasBettydoing——whatwasshethinkingnow？
　　Shelaidherbookdowninherlap，andcoveringherfacewithherhands，breathedadesperatelittleprayer。Thatlifeshouldbepainandemptinesstoherself，seemedsomehownaturalsinceshehadmarriedNigel——butpainandemptinessforBetty——No！No！No！NotforBetty！Piteoussorrowpoureduponherlikeaflood。Shedidnotknowhowthetimepassed。Shesat，huddledtogetherinherchair，withhiddenface。Shecouldnotbeartolookattherainandghostmistoutofdoors。Oh，ifhermotherwereonlyhere，andshemightspeaktoher！Andasherlovingtearsbrokeforthafresh，sheheardthedooropen。
　　"Ifyouplease，mylady——Ibegyourpardon，mylady，"asshestartedanduncoveredherface。
　　"Whatisit，Jennings？"
　　Thefigureatthedoorwasthatoftheserious，elderlybutler，andheworearespectfullygraveair。
　　"Asyourladyshipissittinginthisroom，wethoughtitlikelyyouwouldnothear，thewindowsbeingclosed，andwefeltsure，mylady，thatyouwouldwishtoknow————"
　　LadyAnstruthers’handsshookastheyclungtothearmsofherchair。
　　"Toknow————"shefaltered。"Hearwhat？"
　　"Thepassingbellistolling，mylady。Ithasjustbegun。
　　ItisforLordMountDunstan。There’snotadryeyedownstairs，yourladyship，notone。"
　　Heopenedthewindows，andshestoodup。Jenningsquietlylefttheroom。Theslow，heavyknellstruckponderouslyonthedampair，andshestoodandshivered。
　　Amomentortwolatersheturned，becauseitseemedasifshemust。
　　Betty，inherridinghabit，wasstandingmotionlessagainstthedoor，herwonderfuleyesstillasdeath，gazingather，gazinginanawful，simplesilence。
　　Oh，whatwastheuseofbeingafraidtospeakatsuchatimeasthis？InonemomentRosywaskneelingatherfeet，clingingaboutherknees，kissingherhands，theveryclothofherhabit，andsobbingaloud。
　　"Oh，mydarling——mylove——myownBetty！Idon’tknow——andIwon’task——butspeaktome——speakjustaword——mydearestdear！"
　　Bettyraisedherupanddrewherwithintheroom，closingthedoorbehindthem。
　　"KindlittleRosy，"shesaid。"Icametospeak——becausewetwoloveeachother。Youneednotask，Iwilltellyou。
　　Thatbellistollingforthemanwhotaughtme——toKNOW。
　　Heneverspoketomeoflove。Ihavenotonewordorlooktoremember。Andnow————Oh，listen——listen！Ihavebeenlisteningsincethemorningofyesterday。"Itwasanawfulthing——herwhiteface，withalltheflameoflifesweptoutofit。