"Don’tlisten——darling——darling！"Rosycriedoutinanguish。"Shutyourears——shutyourears！"Andshetriedtothrowherarmsaroundthehighblackhead，andstifleallsoundwithherembrace。
　　"Idon’twanttoshutthem，"wastheanswer。"Alltheunkindnessandmiseryareoverforhim，IoughttothankGod——
　　butIdon’t。Ishallhear——ORosy，listen！——Ishallhearthattotheendofmydays。"
　　Rosyheldhertight，androckedandsobbed。
　　"MyBetty，"shekeptsaying。"MyBetty，"andshecouldsaynomore。Whatmorewastheretosay？AtlastBettywithdrewherselffromherarms，andthenRosalienoticedforthefirsttimethatsheworethehabit。
　　"Dearest，"shewhispered，"whatareyougoingtodo？"
　　"Iwasgoingtoride，andIamgoingtodoitstill。I
　　mustdosomething。Ishallridealong，longway——andridehard。Youwon’ttrytokeepme，Rosy。Youwillunderstand。"
　　"Yes，"bitingherlip，andlookingatherwithlarge，awedeyes，asshepattedherarmwithahandthattrembled。"I
　　wouldnotholdyouback，Betty，fromanythingintheworldyouchosetodo。"
　　Andwithanotherlong，clingingclaspofher，shelethergo。
　　MasonwasstandingbyChildeHaroldwhenshewentdownthebroadsteps。Healsoworealookofrepressedemotion，andstoodwithbaredheadbent，hiseyesfixedonthegravelofthedrive，listeningtotheheavystrokesofthebellinthechurchtower，ratherasifheweretakingpartinsomesolemnceremony。
　　Hemountedhersilently，andafterhehadgivenherthebridle，lookedup，andspokeinasomewhathuskyvoice：
　　"Theorderwasthatyoudidnotwantme，miss？Wasthatcorrect？"
　　"Yes，Iwishtoridealone。"
　　"Yes，miss。Thankyou，miss。"
　　ChildeHaroldwasingoodspirits。Hehelduphishead，andblewthebreaththroughhisdelicate，dilated，rednostrilsashesetoutwithhisfavouritesidling，dancingsteps。Masonwatchedhimdowntheavenue，sawthelodgekeepercomeouttoopenthegate，andcurtsyasherladyship’ssisterpassedthroughit。Afterthathewentslowlybacktothestables，andsatintheharness—roomalongtime，staringatthefloor，asthebellstruckponderouslyonhisear。
　　ThewomanwhohadopenedthegateforherBettysawhadredeyes。Sheknewwhy。
　　"Ayearagotheyallthoughtofhimasanoutcast。Theywouldhavebelievedanyeviltheyhadheardconnectedwithhisname。Now，ineverycottage，thereisweeping——weeping。
　　Andheliesdeafanddumb，"washerthought。
　　Shedidnotwishtopassthroughthevillage，andturneddownasideroad，whichwouldleadhertowhereshecouldcrossthemarshes，andcomeuponlonelyplaces。Themorelonely，thebetter。Everyfewmomentsshecaughtherbreathwithahardshortgasp。Theslowrainfelluponher，biground，crystaldropshungonthehedgerows，anddrippeduponthegrassbanksbelowthem；thetrees，wreathedwithmist，werelikewaitingghostsasshepassedthemby；ChildeHarold’shoofupontheroad，madeahollow，lonelysound。
　　Athoughtbegantofillherbrain，andmakeinsistentpressureuponit。Shetriednomoretothrustthoughtaway。Thosewholaydeafanddumb，thoseforwhompeoplewept——whereweretheywhentheweepingseemedtosoundthroughalltheworld？Howfarhadtheygone？Wasitfar？Couldtheyhearandcouldtheysee？Ifonepleadwiththemaloud，couldtheydrawneartolisten？Didtheybeginalong，longjourneyassoonastheyhadslippedaway？The"wonderoftheworld，"shehadsaid，watchinglifeswellingandburstingtheseedsinKedgers’hothouses！Butthiswasagreaterwonderstill，becauseofitsawesomeness。Thismanhadbeen，andwhodaresayhewasnot——evennow？Thestrengthofhisgreatbody，thelookinhisred—browneyes，thesoundofhisdeepvoice，thestruggle，themeaningofhim，wherewerethey？
　　SheheardherselffollowedbythehollowechoofChildeHarold’shoofs，assherodepastcopseandhedge，andwetspreadingfields。Shewasthishourashehadbeenamonthago。
　　If，withsomestrangesuddenness，thiswhichwasBettyVanderpoel，slippedfromitsbody————Sheputherhanduptoherforehead。Itwasunthinkablethattherewouldbenomore。
　　Wherewashenow——wherewashenow？
　　Thiswasthethoughtthatfilledherbraincellstotheexclusionofallothers。Overtheroad，downthroughby—lanes，outonthemarshes。Wherewashe——wherewashe——WHERE？
　　ChildeHarold’shoofsbegantobeatitoutasarefrain。Sheheardnothingelse。Shedidnotknowwhereshewasgoinganddidnotaskherself。Shewentdownanyroadorlanewhichlookedemptyoflife，shetookstrangeturnings，withoutcaring；shedidnotknowhowfarshewasafield。
　　Wherewashenow——thishour——thismoment——wherewashenow？Didheknowtherain，thegreyness，thedesolationoftheworld？
　　Onceshestoppedherhorseonthelonelinessofthemarshland，andlookedupatthelowcloudsabouther，atthecreepingmist，thedankgrass。Itseemedaplaceinwhichanewly—
　　releasedsoulmightwanderbecauseitdidnotyetknowitsway。
　　"Ifyoushouldbenear，andcometome，youwillunderstand，"
　　herclearvoicesaidgravelybetweenthecaughtbreaths，"whatIgaveyouwasnothingtoyou——butyoutookitwithyou。Perhapsyouknowwithoutmytellingyou。Iwantyoutoknow。Whenamanisdead，everythingmeltsaway。
　　Ilovedyou。Iwishyouhadlovedme。"
　　CHAPTERXLVIII
　　THEMOMENT
　　Intheunnaturalunbearablenessofheranguish，shelostsightofobjectsasshepassedthem，shelostallmemoryofwhatshedid。Shedidnotknowhowlongshehadbeenout，orhowfarshehadridden。Whenthethoughtoftimeordistancevaguelyflittedacrosshermind，itseemedthatshehadbeenridingforhours，andmighthavecrossedonecountyandenteredanother。Shehadlongleftfamiliarplacesbehind。
　　Ridingthroughandinclosedbythemist，she，herself，mighthavebeenawanderingghost，lostinunknownplaces。Wherewashenow——wherewashenow？
　　Afterwardsshecouldnottellhoworwhenitwasthatshefoundherselfbecomingconsciousoftheevidencesthatherhorsehadbeenriddentoolongandhard，andthathewaswornoutwithfatigue。Shedidnotknowthatshehadriddenroundandroundoverthemarshes，andhadpassedseveraltimesthroughthesamelanes。ChildeHarold，thesureoffoot，actuallystumbled，outofsheerwearinessoflimb。
　　Perhapsitwasthiswhichbroughtherbacktoearth，andledhertolookaroundherwitheyeswhichsawmaterialobjectswithcomprehension。Shehadreachedthelonelyplaces，indeedandtheeveningwasdrawingon。Shewasattheedgeofthemarsh，andthelandaboutherwasstrangetoheranddesolate。
　　Atthesideofasteeplane，overgrownwithgrass，andseemingamerecart—path，stoodadeserted—looking，blackandwhite，timberedcottage，whichwashalfaruin。Closetoitwasadrippingspinney，itstreesformingadarklingbackgroundtothetumble—downhouse，whosethatchwasrottingintoholes，anditswallssaggingforwardperilously。Thebitofgardenaboutitwasneglectedanduntidy，hereandtherewindowswerebroken，andstuffedwithpiecesofraggedgarments。
　　Altogetherasinisterandrepellentplaceenough。
　　Shelookedatitwithheavyeyes。（Wherewashenow——
　　wherewashenow？——Thisrepeatingitselfinthefarchambersofherbrain。）Hersightseemeddimmed，notonlybythemist，butbyasinkingfaintnesswhichpossessedher。Shedidnotrememberhowlittlefoodshehadeatenduringmorethantwenty—fourhours。Herhabitwasheavywithmoisture，andclungtoherbody；shewasconsciousofahottremorpassingoverher，andsawthatherhandsshookastheyheldthebridleonwhichtheyhadlosttheirgrip。Shehadneverfaintedinherlife，andshewasnotgoingtofaintnow——womendidnotfaintinthesedays——butshemustreachthecottageanddismount，torestundershelterforashorttime。Nosmokewasrisingfromthechimney，butsurelysomeonewaslivingintheplace，andcouldtellherwhereshewas，andgiveheratleastwaterforherselfandherhorse。Poorbeast！howwickedlyshemusthavebeenridinghim，inherutterabsorptioninherthoughts。Hewaswet，notalonewithrain，butwithsweat。Hesnortedouthot，smokingbreaths。
　　Shespoketohim，andhemovedforwardathercommand。
　　Hewastremblingtoo。Notmorethantwohundredyards，andsheturnedhimintothelane。Butitwaswetandslippery，andstrewnwithstones。Histremblingandheruncertainholdonthebridlecombinedtoproducedisaster。Hesethisfootuponastonewhichslidbeneathit，hestumbled，andshecouldnothelphimtorecover，sohefell，andonlybyHeaven’smercynotuponher，withhiscrushing，big—bonedweight，andshewasabletodragherselffreeofhimbeforehebegantokick，inhishumiliatedeffortstorise。Buthecouldnotrise，becausehewashurt——andwhenshe，herself，gotup，shestaggered，andcaughtatthebrokengate，becauseinherwrenchingleapforsafetyshehadtwistedherankle，andforamomentwasincruelpain。
　　Whensherecoveredfromhershocksufficientlytobeabletolookatthecottage，shesawthatitwasmoreofaruinthanithadseemed，evenatashortdistance。Itsdoorhungopenonbrokenhinges，nosmokerosefromthechimney，becausetherewasnoonewithinitswallstolightafire。Itwasquiteempty。Everythingabouttheplacelayindeadanduttersilence。Inanormalmoodshewouldhavelikedthemysteryofthesituation，andwouldhavesetaboutplanningherwayoutofherdifficulty。Butnowhermindmadenoeffort，becausenormalinterestinthingshadfallenawayfromher。
　　ShemightbetwentymilesfromStornham，butthepossiblefactdidnot，atthemoment，seemtoconcernher。（Whereishenow——whereishenow？）ChildeHaroldwastryingtorise，despitehishurt，andhisevidentdeterminationtouchedher。Hewastooproudtolieinthemire。Shelimpedtohim，andtriedtosteadyhimbyhisbridle。Hewasnotbadlyinjured，thoughplainlyinpain。
　　"Poorboy，itwasmyfault，"shesaidtohimasheatlaststruggledtohisfeet。"IdidnotknowIwasdoingit。Poorboy！"
　　Heturnedavelvetdarkeyeuponher，andnosedherforgivinglywithawarmvelvetmuzzle，butitwasplainthat，forthetime，hewasdonefor。Theybothmovedhaltinglytothebrokengate，andBettyfastenedhimtoathorntreenearit，wherehestoodonthreefeet，hisfineheaddrooping。
　　Shepushedthegateopen，andwentintothehousethroughthedoorwhichhungonitshinges。Onceinside，shestoodstillandlookedabouther。Iftherewassilenceanddesolatenessoutside，therewaswithinthedesertedplaceastillnessliketheunresponseofdeath。Ithadbeenlongsinceanyonehadlivedinthecottage，buttrampsorgipsieshadattimespassedthroughit。Dead，blackenedemberslayonthehearth，abundleofdriedgrasswhichhadbeensleptonwaspiledinthecorner，anemptynailkegandawoodenboxhadbeendrawnbeforethebigchimneyplaceforsomewanderertositonwhentheblackembershadbeenhotandred。
　　Bettygaveoneglancearoundherandsatdownupontheboxstandingonthebarehearth，herheadsinkingforward，herhandsfallingclaspedbetweenherknees，hereyesonthebrickfloor。
　　"Whereishenow？"brokefromherinaloudwhisper，whosesoundwasmechanicalandhollow。"Whereishenow？"
　　Andshesattherewithoutmoving，whilethegreymistfromthemarshescreptcloseaboutthedoorandthroughitandstoleaboutherfeet。
　　Soshesatlong——long——inaheavy，far—offdream。
　　Alongtheroadamanwasridingwithalowering，frettedface。Hehadcomeacrosscountryonhorseback，becausetotravelbytrainmeantwearisomestopsandchangesandendlesslyslowjourneying，annoyingbeyondendurancetothosewhohavenotpatiencetospare。Hisridewouldhavebeenpleasantenoughbutfortheslowmist—likerain。Alsohehadtakenawrongturning，becausehedidnotknowtheroadshetravelled。Thelastsignposthehadpassed，however，hadgivenhimhiscueagain，andhebegantofeelsomethingofsecurity。
　　Confoundtherain！Thebestroadwasslipperywithit，andthehazeofitmadeaman’smindfeelbefoggedandloweredhisspiritshorribly——discouragedhim——wouldworryhimintoanillhumourevenifhehadreasontobeinagoodone。
　　Asforhim，hehadnoreasonforcheerfulness——heneverhadforthematterofthat，andjustnow————！Whatwasthematterwithhishorse？Hewasliftinghisheadandsniffingthedampairrestlessly，asifhescentedorsawsomething。Beastsoftenseemedtohaveasortofsecondsight——horsesparticularly。
　　Whatailedhimthatheshouldprickuphisearsandsnortafterhissniffingthemist！Didhehearanything？Yes，hedid，itseemed。Hegaveforthsuddenlyaloudshrillwhinny，turninghisheadtowardsaroughlanetheywereapproaching，andimmediatelyfromthevicinityofadeserted—lookingcottagebehindahedgecameasharpbutmournful—soundingneighinanswer。
　　"Whathorseisthat？"saidNigelAnstruthers，drawinginattheentrancetothelaneandlookingdownit。"Thereisafinebrutewithaside—saddleon，"headdedsharply。"Heiswaitingforsomeone。Whatisawomandoingthereatthistime？Isitarendezvous？Agoodplace————"
　　Hebrokeoffshortandrodeforward。"I’mhangedifitisnotChildeHarold，"hebrokeout，andhehadnosoonerassuredhimselfofthefactthanhethrewhimselffromhissaddle，tetheredhishorseandstrodeupthepathtothebroken—
　　hingeddoor。
　　Hestoodonthethresholdandstared。Whataholeitwas——
　　whatahole！AndthereSHEsat——alone——eighteenortwentymilesfromhome——onaturned—upboxneartheblackembers，herhandsclaspedlooselybetweenherknees，herfaceratherawful，hereyesstaringatthefloor，asifshedidnotseeit。
　　"Whereishenow？"heheardherwhispertoherselfwithsoftweirdness。"Whereishenow？"
　　SirNigelsteppedintotheplaceandstoodbeforeher。Hehadsmiledwithawryunpleasantnesswhenhehadheardherevidentlyunconsciouswords。
　　"Mygoodgirl，"hesaid，"IamsureIdonotknowwhereheis——butitisveryevidentthatheoughttobehere，sinceyouhaveamiablyputyourselftosuchtrouble。ItisfortunateforyouperhapsthatIamherebeforehim。Whatdoesthismean？"
　　thequestionbreakingfromhimwithsavageauthority。
　　Hehaddraggedherbacktoearth。Shesatuprightandrecognisedhimwithahideoussenseofshock，buthedidnotgivehertimetospeak。Hisinstinctofmalefuryleapedwithinhim。
　　"YOU！"hecriedout。"Ittakesawomanlikeyoutocomeandhideherselfinaplaceofthissort，likeatrollopinggipsywench！IttakesaNewYorkmillionairessoraRomanempressoroneofCharlestheSecond’sduchessestoplungeasdeepasthis。You，withyourgoldenpedestal——you，withyourostentatiousairsandgraces——you，withyourcondescendingtogiveamanachancetorepenthissinsandturnoveranewleaf！
　　Damnit，"risingtoasortoffrenzy，"whatareyoudoingwaitinginaholelikethis——inthisweather——atthishour——you——you！"
　　Thefool’sflameleapedhighenoughtomakehimstartforward，asiftoseizeherbytheshoulderandshakeher。
　　Butsheroseandsteppedbacktoleanagainstthesideofthechimney——tobraceherselfagainstit，sothatshecouldstandinherlamefoot’sdespite。Everydropofbloodhadbeensweptfromherface，andhereyeslookedimmense。Hiscomingwasagoodthingforher，thoughshedidnotknowit。Itbroughtherbackfromunearthlyplaces。Allherchildhatredwokeandblazedinher。Neverhadshehatedathingso，anditsetherslow，coldbloodrunninglikesomethingmolten。
　　"Holdyourtongue！"shesaidinaclear，awfulyoungvoiceofwarning。"Andtakecarenottotouchme。Ifyoudo——Ihavemywhiphere——Ishalllashyouacrossyourmouth！"
　　Hebrokeintoribaldlaughter。Acertainsuddenthoughtwhichhadcutintohimlikeaknifethrustintofleshdrovehimon。
　　"Do！"hecried。"IshouldliketocarryyourmarkbacktoStornham——andtellpeoplewhyitwasgiven。Iknowwhoyouareherefor。Onlysuchfellowsasksuchthingsofwomen。
　　Buthewasdeterminedtobesafe，ifyouhidinaditch。YouarehereforMountDunstan——andhehasfailedyou！"
　　Butsheonlystoodandstaredathim，holdingherwhipbehindher，knowingthatatanymomenthemightsnatchitfromherhand。Andsheknewhowpooraweaponitwas。Tostrikeoutwithitwouldonlyinfuriatehimandmakehimawildbeast。Anditwasbecominganagonytostanduponherfoot。
　　Andevenifithadnotbeenso——ifshehadbeenstrongenoughtomakealeapanddashpasthim，herhorsestoodoutsidedisabled。
　　NigelAnstruthers’eyesranoverherfromheadtofoot，downthesideofhermud—stainedhabit，whileacuriouslightdawnedinthem。
　　"Youhavehadafallfromyourhorse，"heexclaimed。"Youarelame！"Thenquickly，"ThatwaswhyChildeHaroldwastremblingandstandingonthreefeet！ByJove！"
　　Thenhesatdownonthenailkegandbegantolaugh。Helaughedforafullminute，butshesawhedidnottakehiseyesfromher。
　　"Youareinasunpleasantasituationasayoungwomancanwellbe，"hesaid，whenhestopped。"Youcametoadirtyholetobealonewithamanwhofeltitsafestnottokeephisappointment。Yourhorsestumbledanddisabledhimselfandyou。Youaretwentymilesfromhomeinadesertedcottageinalanenoonepassesdowneveningoodweather。Youarefrightenedtodeathandyouhavegivenmeevenabetterstorytoplaywiththanyoursistergaveme。ByJove！"
　　Hisfacewasanunholythingtolookupon。Thesituationandherpowerlessnesswereexcitinghim。
　　"No，"sheanswered，keepinghereyesonhis，asshemighthavekeptthemonsomewildanimal’s，"Iamnotfrightenedtodeath。"
　　Hisuglydarkflushrose。
　　"Well，ifyouarenot，"hesaid，"don’ttellmeso。Thatkindofdefianceisnotyourbestlinejustnow。YouhavebeendisdainingmefrommagnificentNewYorkheightsforsometime。DoyouthinkthatIamnotenjoyingthis？"
　　"Icannotimagineanyoneelsewhowouldenjoyitsomuch。"
　　Andsheknewtheanswerwasdaring，butwouldhavemadeitifhehadheldaknife’spointatherthroat。
　　Hegotup，andwalkingtothedoordrewitbackonitscrazyhingesandmanagedtoshutitclose。Therewasabigwoodenboltinsideandheforceditintoitssocket。
　　"PresentlyIshallgoandputthehorsesintothecowshed，"
　　hesaid。"IfIleavethemstandingoutsidetheywillattractattention。Idonotintendtobedisturbedbyanygipsytrampwhowantsshelter。Ihaveneverhadyouquitetomyselfbefore。"
　　Hesatdownagainandnursedhiskneegracefully。
　　"AndIhaveneverseenyoulookasattractive，"bitinghisunderlipincynicalenjoyment。"To—day’sadventurehasrousedyouremotionsandactuallybeautifiedyou——whichwasnotnecessary。Idaresayyouhavebeenfuriousandhavecried。
　　Youreyesdonotlooklikemereeyes，butlikesplendidbluepoolsoftears。Perhaps_I_shallmakeyoucrysometime，mydearBetty。"
　　"No，youwillnot。"
　　"Don’ttemptme。Womenalwayscrywhenmenannoythem。Theyrage，buttheycryaswell。"
　　"Ishallnot。"
　　"It’struethatmostwomenwouldhavebeguntocrybeforethis。Thatiswhatstimulatesme。Youwillswaggertotheend。Youputthedevilintome。HalfanhouragoIwasjoggingalongtheroad，languidandboredtoextinction。Andnow————"Helaughedoutrightinactualexultation。"ByJove！"hecriedout。"Thingslikethisdon’thappentoamaninthesedulldays！There’snosuchluckgoingabout。
　　We’vegonebackfivehundredyears，andwe’vetakenNewYorkwithus。"Hislaughshutoffinthemiddle，andhegotuptothrusthisheavy，congestedfaceclosetohers。"Hereyouare，assafeasifyouwereinafeudalcastle，andhereisyourancientenemygivenhischance——givenhischance。Doyouthink，bytheLord，heisgoingtogiveitup？No。Toquoteyourownwords，`youmayplaceentireconfidenceinthat。’"
　　Exaggeratedasitallwas，somehowthemelodramadroppedawayfromitandleftbare，simple，hideousfactforhertoconfront。Theevilinhimhadrisenrampantandmadehimlosehishead。Hemightseehissenselessfollyto—morrowandknowhemustpayforit，buthewouldnotseeitto—day。Theplacewasnotafeudalcastle，butwhathesaidwasinsurmountabletruth。Aruinedcottageontheedgeofmilesofmarshland，aseldom—troddenroad，andnightuponthem！Awindwasrisingonthemarshesnow，andmakinglow，steadymoan。Horriblethingshadhappenedtowomenbefore，oneheardofthemwithshudderswhentheywererecordedinthenewspapers。OnlytwodaysagoshehadrememberedthatsometimesthereseemedblunderingsinthegreatSchemeofthings。Wasallthisreal，orwasshedreamingthatshestoodhereatbay，herbackagainstthechimney—wall，andthisdegenerateexultingoverher，whileRosywaswaitingforheratStornham——andatthisveryhourherfatherwasplanninghisjourneyacrosstheAtlantic？
　　"Whydidyounotbehaveyourself？"demandedNigelAnstruthers，shakingherbytheshoulder。"WhydidyounotrealisethatIshouldgetevenwithyouoneday，assureasyouwerewomanandIwasman？"
　　Shedidnotshrinkback，thoughthepupilsofhereyesdilated。
　　Wasitthewildestthingintheworldwhichhappenedtoher——
　　orwasitnot？Withoutwarning——thesuddenrushofathought，immenseandstrange，sweptoverherbodyandsoulandpossessedher——sopossessedherthatitchangedherpallortowhiteflame。ItwasactuallyAnstrutherswhoshrankbackashadebecause，forthemoment，shelookedsonearunearthly。
　　"Iamnotafraidofyou，"shesaid，inaclear，unshakenvoice。
　　"Iamnotafraid。Somethingisnearmewhichwillstandbetweenus——somethingwhichDIEDto—day。"
　　Healmostgaspedbeforethestrangenessofit，butcaughtbackhisbreathandrecoveredhimself。
　　"Diedto—day！That’srecentenough，"hejeered。"Letushearaboutit。Whowasit？"
　　"ItwasMountDunstan，"sheflungathim。"Thechurch—
　　bellsweretollingforhimwhenIrodeaway。Icouldnotstaytohearthem。Itkilledme——Ilovedhim。Youwererightwhenyousaidit。Ilovedhim，thoughheneverknew。I
　　shallalwayslovehim——thoughheneverknew。Heknowsnow。
　　ThosewhodiedcannotgoawaywhenTHATisholdingthem。
　　Theymuststay。BecauseIlovedhim，hemaybeinthisplace。
　　Icallonhim————"raisingherclearvoice。"Icallonhimtostandbetweenus。"
　　Hebackedawayfromher，staringanevil，enrapturedstare。
　　"What！Thereisthatmuchtemperamentinyou？"hesaid。
　　"ThatwaswhatIhalf—suspectedwhenIsawyoufirst。Butyouhavehiddenitwell。Nowitburstsforthinspiteofyou。
　　GoodLord！Whatluck——whatluck！"
　　Hemovedtothedoorandopenedit。
　　"Iamaverymodernman，andIenjoythistotheutmost，"
　　hesaid。"WhatIlikebestisthemelodramaofit——inconnectionwithFifthAvenue。Iamperfectlyawarethatyouwillnotdiscussthisincidentinthefuture。Youareacleverenoughyoungwomantoknowthatitwillbemoretoyourinterestthantominethatitshallbekeptexceedinglyquiet。"
　　Thewhitefirehadnotdiedoutofherandshestoodstraight。
　　"WhatIhavecalledonwillbenearme，andwillstandbetweenus，"shesaid。
　　Oldthoughitwas，thedoorwasmassiveandheavytolift。
　　Toopenitcosthimsomemusculareffort。
　　"Iamgoingtothehorsesnow，"heexplainedbeforehedraggeditbackintoitsframeandshutherin。"Itissafeenoughtoleaveyouhere。Youwillstaywhereyouare。"
　　Hefelthimselfsecureinleavingherbecausehebelievedshecouldnotmove，andbecausehisarrogancemadeitimpossibleforhimtocountonstrengthandendurancegreaterthanhisown。Ofenduranceheknewnothingandinhiskeenandcynicalexultancehisdevilmadeafoolofhim。
　　Assheheardhimwalkdownthepathtothegate，Bettystoodamazedathislackofcomprehensionofher。
　　"HethinksIwillstayhere。HeabsolutelythinksIwillwaituntilhecomesback，"shewhisperedtotheemptinessofthebareroom。
　　Beforehehadarrivedshehadloosenedherboot，andnowshestoopedandtouchedherfoot。
　　"IfIweresafeathomeIshouldthinkIcouldnotwalk，butIcanwalknow——Ican——Ican——becauseIwillbearthepain。"
　　Insuchcottagesthereisalwaysadooropeningoutsidefromthelittlebrickedkitchen，wherethecopperstands。Shewouldreachthat，and，passingthrough，wouldcloseitbehindher。AfterthatSOMETHINGwouldtellherwhattodo——somethingwouldleadher。
　　Sheputherlamefootuponthefloor，andrestedsomeofherweightuponit——notall。Ajaggedpainshotupfromitthroughherwholesideitseemed，and，foraninstant，sheswayedandgroundherteeth。
　　"Thatisbecauseitisthefirststep，"shesaid。"ButifI
　　amtobekilled，Iwilldieintheopen——Iwilldieintheopen。"
　　Thesecondandthirdstepsbroughtcoldsweatoutuponher，butshetoldherselfthatthefourthwasnotquitesounbearable，andshestiffenedherwholebody，andmutteredsomewordswhileshetookafifthandsixthwhichcarriedherintothetinybackkitchen。
　　"Father，"shesaid。"Father，thinkofmenow——thinkofme！Rosy，loveme——lovemeandpraythatImaycomehome。
　　You——youwhohavedied，standverynear！"