"Thereisnoonetohelpher；shemusthelpherself。Shelooks。Thesethingsshehas——asweetvoice，richinsubtileintonations；afair，veryfairface，withapowerofconcentratinginitself，andgivingexpressionto，feelingsthatotherwisemusthavebeendissipatedinwords；ararepowerofenteringintootherlivesunlikeherown，andintuitivelyreadingthemaright。Thesequalitiesshehas。Howshallsheusethem？Apoet，awriter，needsonlythemental；whatusehasheforabeautifulbodythatregistersclearlymentalemotions？Andthepainterwantsaneyeforformandcolour，andthemusiciananearfortimeandtune，andthemeredrudgehasnoneedformentalgifts。
　　"Butthereisoneartinwhichallshehaswouldbeused，forwhichtheyareallnecessary——thedelicateexpressivebody，therichvoice，thepowerofmentaltransposition。Theactor，whoabsorbsandthenreflectsfromhimselfotherhumanlives，needsthemall，butneedsnotmuchmore。Thisisherend；buthowtoreachit？Beforeherareendlessdifficulties：
　　seasmustbecrossed，povertymustbeendured，loneliness，want。Shemustbecontenttowaitlongbeforeshecanevengetherfeetuponthepath。Ifshehasmadeblundersinthepast，ifshehasweightedherselfwithaburdenwhichshemustbeartotheend，shemustbutbeartheburdenbravely，andlabouron。Thereisnouseinwailingandrepentancehere：
　　thenextworldistheplaceforthat；thislifeistooshort。Byourerrorsweseedeeperintolife。Theyhelpus。"Shewaitedforawhile。
　　"Ifshedoesallthis——ifshewaitspatiently，ifsheisnevercastdown，neverdespairs，neverforgetsherend，movesstraighttowardit，bendingmenandthingsmostunlikelytoherpurpose——shemustsucceedatlast。Menandthingsareplastic；theyparttotherightandleftwhenonecomesamongthemmovinginastraightlinetooneend。Iknowitbymyownlittleexperience，"shesaid。"LongyearsagoIresolvedtobesenttoschool。Itseemedathingutterlyoutofmypower；butIwaited，I
　　watched，Icollectedclothes，Iwrote，tookmyplaceattheschool；whenallwasreadyIborewithmyfullforceontheBoer—woman，andshesentmeatlast。Itwasasmallthing；butlifeismadeupofsmallthings，asabodyisbuiltupofcells。Whathasbeendoneinsmallthingscanbedoneinlarge。Shallbe，"shesaidsoftly。
　　Waldolistened。Tohimthewordswerenoconfession，noglimpseintothestrong，proud，restlessheartofthewoman。Theyweregeneralwordswithageneralapplication。Helookedupintothesparklingskywithdulleyes。
　　"Yes，"hesaid；"butwhenwelieandthink，andthink，weseethatthereisnothingworthdoing。Theuniverseissolarge，andmanissosmall——"
　　Sheshookherheadquickly。
　　"Butwemustnotthinksofar；itismadness，itisadisease。Weknowthatnoman’sworkisgreat，andstandsforever。Mosesisdead，andtheprophetsandthebooksthatourgrandmothersfedonthemouldiseating。
　　Yourpoetandpainterandactor，——beforetheshoutsthatapplaudthemhavediedtheirnamesgrowstrange，theyaremilestonesthattheworldhaspassed。Menhavesettheirmarkonmankindforever，astheythought；buttimehaswasheditoutasithaswashedoutmountainsandcontinents。"Sheraisedherselfonherelbow。"Andwhatifwecouldhelpmankind，andleavethetracesofourworkuponittotheend？Mankindisonlyanephemeralblossomonthetreeoftime；therewereothersbeforeitopened；therewillbeothersafterithasfallen。Wherewasmaninthetimeofthedicynodont，andwhenhoarymonsterswallowedinthemud？Willhebefoundintheaeonsthataretocome？Wearesparks，weareshadows，wearepollen，whichthenextwindwillcarryaway。Wearedyingalready；itisalladream。
　　"Iknowthatthought。Whenthefeveroflivingisonus，whenthedesiretobecome，toknow，todo，isdrivingusmad，wecanuseitasananodyne，tostillthefeverandcoolourbeatingpulses。Butitisapoison，notafood。Ifweliveonititwillturnourbloodtoice；wemightaswellbedead。Wemustnot，Waldo；Iwantyourlifetobebeautiful，toendinsomething。YouarenoblerandstrongerthanI，"shesaid；"andasmuchbetterasoneofGod’sgreatangelsisbetterthanasinningman。Yourlifemustgoforsomething。"
　　"Yes，wewillwork，"hesaid。
　　Shemovedclosertohimandlaystill，hisblackcurlstouchinghersmoothlittlehead。
　　Doss，whohadlainathismaster’sside，climbedoverthebench，andcurledhimselfupinherlap。Shedrewherskirtupoverhim，andthethreesatmotionlessforalongtime。
　　"Waldo，"shesaid，suddenly，"theyarelaughingatus。"
　　"Who？"heasked，startingup。
　　"They——thestars！"shesaid，softly。"Doyounotsee？Thereisalittlewhite，mockingfingerpointingdownatusfromeachoneofthem！Wearetalkingoftomorrowandtomorrow，andourheartsaresostrong；wearenotthinkingofsomethingthatcantouchussoftlyinthedarkandmakeusstillforever。TheyarelaughingatusWaldo。"
　　Bothsatlookingupward。
　　"Doyoueverpray？"heaskedherinalowvoice。
　　"No。"
　　"Ineverdo；butImightwhenIlookupthere。Iwilltellyou，"headded，inastilllowervoice，"whereIcouldpray。Iftherewereawallofrockontheedgeofaworld，andonerockstretchedoutfar，farintospace，andIstoodaloneuponit，alone，withstarsaboveme，andstarsbelowme，——I
　　wouldnotsayanything；butthefeelingwouldbeprayer。"
　　Therewasanendtotheirconversationafterthat，andDossfellasleeponherknee。Atlastthenight—windgrewverychilly。
　　"Ah，"shesaid，shivering，anddrawingtheskirtabouthershoulders，"Iamcold。Span—inthehorses，andcallmewhenyouareready。"
　　Sheslippeddownandwalkedtowardthehouse，Dossstifflyfollowingher，notpleasedatbeingroused。AtthedoorshemetGregory。
　　"Ihavebeenlookingforyoueverywhere；mayInotdriveyouhome？"hesaid。
　　"Waldodrivesme，"shereplied，passingon；anditappearedtoGregorythatshelookedathimintheoldway，withoutseeinghim。Butbeforeshehadreachedthedooranideahadoccurredtoher，forsheturned。
　　"Ifyouwishtodrivemeyoumay。"
　　GregorywenttolookforEm，whomhefoundpouringoutcoffeeinthebackroom。Heputhishandquicklyonhershoulder。
　　"YoumustridewithWaldo；Iamgoingtodriveyourcousinhome。"
　　"ButIcan’tcomejustnow，Greg；IpromisedTantAnnieMullertolookafterthethingswhileshewenttorestalittle。"
　　"Well，youcancomepresently，can’tyou？Ididn’tsayyouweretocomenow。I’msickofthisthing，"saidGregory，turningsharplyonhisheel。
　　"WhymustIsitupthewholenightbecauseyourstepmotherchoosestogetmarried？"
　　"Oh，it’sallright，Greg，Ionlymeant——"
　　Buthedidnothearher，andamanhadcomeuptohavehiscupfilled。
　　AnhourafterWaldocameintolookforher，andfoundherstillbusyatthetable。
　　"Thehorsesareready，"hesaid；"butifyouwouldliketohaveonedancemoreIwillwait。"
　　Sheshookherheadwearily。
　　"No；Iamquiteready。Iwanttogo。"
　　Andsoontheywereonthesandyroadthebuggyhadtravelledanhourbefore。Theirhorses，withheadsclosetogether，noddingsleepilyastheywalkedinthestarlight，youmighthavecountedtheriseandfalloftheirfeetinthesand；andWaldoinhissaddlenoddeddrowsilyalso。OnlyEmwasawake，andwatchedthestarlitroadwithwide—openeyes。Atlastshespoke。
　　"Iwonderifallpeoplefeelsoold，soveryold，whentheygettobeseventeen？"
　　"Notolderthanbefore，"saidWaldosleepily，pullingathisbridle。
　　Presentlyshesaidagain：
　　"IwishIcouldhavebeenalittlechildalways。Youaregoodthen。Youareneverselfish；youlikeeveryonetohaveeverything；butwhenyouaregrownuptherearesomethingsyouliketohavealltoyourself，youdon’tlikeanyoneelsetohaveanyofthem。"
　　"Yes，"saidWaldosleepily，andshedidnotspeakagain。
　　Whentheyreachedthefarmhouseallwasdark，forLyndallhadretiredassoonastheygothome。
　　WaldoliftedEmfromhersaddle，andforamomentsheleanedherheadonhisshoulderandclungtohim。
　　"Youareverytired，"hesaid，ashewalkedwithhertothedoor；"letmegoinandlightacandleforyou。"
　　"No，thankyou；itisallright，"shesaid。"Goodnight，Waldo，dear。"
　　Butwhenshewentinshesatlongaloneinthedark。
　　Chapter2。VII。WaldoGoesOuttoTasteLife，andEmStaysAtHomeandTastesIt。
　　Atnineo’clockintheevening，packinghisbundlesforthenextmorning’sstart，Waldolookedup，andwassurprisedtoseeEm’syellowheadpeepinginathisdoor。Itwasmanyamonthsinceshehadbeenthere。Shesaidshehadmadehimsandwichesforhisjourney，andshestayedawhiletohelphimputhisgoodsintothesaddlebags。
　　"Youcanleavetheoldthingslyingabout，"shesaid；"Iwilllocktheroom，andkeepitwaitingforyoutocomebacksomeday。"
　　Tocomebacksomeday！Wouldthebirdeverreturntoitscage？Buthethankedher。Whenshewentawayhestoodonthedoorstepholdingthecandletillshehadalmostreachedthehouse。ButEmwasthateveninginnohurrytoenter，and，insteadofgoinginatthebackdoor，walkedwithlaggingfootstepsroundthelowbrickwallthatranbeforethehouse。
　　Oppositetheopenwindowoftheparlourshestopped。Thelittleroom，keptcarefullyclosedinTantSannie’stime，waswelllightedbyaparaffinlamp；booksandworklaystrewnaboutit，anditworeabright，habitableaspect。BesidethelampatthetableinthecornersatLyndall，theopenlettersandpapersoftheday’spostlyingscatteredbeforeher，whilesheperusedthecolumnsofanewspaper。Atthecentretable，withhisarmsfoldedonanopenpaper，whichtherewasnotlightenoughtoread，satGregory。Hewaslookingather。ThelightfromtheopenwindowfellonEm’slittlefaceunderitswhitekapjeasshelookedin，butnooneglancedthatway。
　　"Goandfetchmeaglassofwater！"Lyndallsaid，atlast。
　　Gregorywentouttofindit；whenheputitdownathersideshemerelymovedherheadinrecognition，andhewentbacktohisseatandhisoldoccupation。ThenEmmovedslowlyawayfromthewindow，andthroughitcameinspotted，hard—wingedinsects，toplayroundthelamp，till，onebyone，theystucktoitsglass，andfelltothefootdead。
　　Teno’clockstruck。ThenLyndallrose，gatheredupherpapersandletters，andwishedGregorygoodnight。SometimeafterEmentered；shehadbeensittingallthewhileontheloftladder，andhaddrawnherkapjedownverymuchoverherface。
　　Gregorywaspiecingtogetherthebitsofanenvelopewhenshecamein。
　　"Ithoughtyouwerenevercoming，"hesaid，turningroundquickly，andthrowingthefragmentsontothefloor。"YouknowIhavebeenshearingallday，anditisteno’clockalready。"
　　"I’msorry。Ididnotthinkyouwouldbegoingsosoon，"shesaidinalowvoice。
　　"Ican’thearwhatyousay。Whatmakesyoumumbleso？Well，goodnight，Em。"
　　Hestoopeddownhastilytokissher。
　　"Iwanttotalktoyou，Gregory。"
　　"Well，makehaste，"hesaidpettishly。"I’mawfullytired。I’vebeensittingherealltheevening。Whycouldn’tyoucomeandtalkbefore？"
　　"Iwillnotkeepyoulong，"sheansweredverysteadilynow。"Ithink，Gregory，itwouldbebetterifyouandIwerenevertobemarried。"
　　"GoodHeaven！Em，whatdoyoumean？Ithoughtyouweresofondofme？
　　Youalwaysprofessedtobe。Whatonearthhaveyoutakenintoyourheadnow？"
　　"Ithinkitwouldbebetter，"shesaid，foldingherhandsovereachother，verymuchasthoughshewerepraying。
　　"Better，Em！Whatdoyoumean？Evenawomancan’ttakeafreakallaboutnothing！Youmusthavesomereasonforit，andI’msureI’vedonenothingtooffendyou。Iwroteonlytodaytomysistertotellhertocomeupnextmonthtoourwedding，andI’vebeenasaffectionateandhappyaspossible。
　　Come——what’sthematter？"
　　Heputhisarmhalfroundhershoulder，veryloosely。
　　"Ithinkitwouldbebetter，"sheanswered，slowly。
　　"Oh，well，"hesaid，drawinghimselfup，"ifyouwon’tenterintoexplanationsyouwon’t；andI’mnotthemantobegandpray——nottoanywoman，andyouknowthat！Ifyoudon’twanttomarrymeIcan’tobligeyouto，ofcourse。"
　　Shestoodquitestillbeforehim。
　　"Youwomenneverdoknowyourownmindsfortwodaystogether；andofcourseyouknowthestateofyourownfeelingsbest；butit’sverystrange。
　　Haveyoureallymadeupyourmind，Em？"
　　"Yes。"
　　"Well，I’mverysorry。I’msureI’venotbeeninanythingtoblame。Amancan’talwaysbebillingandcooing；but，asyousay，ifyourfeelingformehaschanged，it’smuchbetteryoushouldn’tmarryme。There’snothingsofoolishastomarrysomeoneyoudon’tlove；andIonlywishforyourhappiness，I’msure。Idaresayyou’llfindsomeonecanmakeyoumuchhappierthanIcould；thefirstpersonweloveisseldomtherightone。
　　Youareveryyoung；it’squitenaturalyoushouldchange。"
　　Shesaidnothing。
　　"Thingsoftenseemhardatthetime，butProvidencemakesthemturnoutforthebestintheend，"saidGregory。"You’llletmekissyou，Em，justforoldfriendship’ssake。"Hestoopeddown。"Youmustlookuponmeasadearbrother，asacousinatleast；aslongasIamonthefarmIshallalwaysbegladtohelpyou，Em。"
　　Soonafterthebrownponywascanteringalongthefootpathtothedaub—and—
　　wattlehouse，andhismasterasherodewhistledJohnSperiwigandtheThornKloofSchottische。
　　Thesunhadnotyettouchedtheoutstretchedarmsofthepricklypearuponthekopje，andtheearlycocksandhensstillstruttedaboutstifflyafterthenight’sroost，whenWaldostoodbeforethewagon—housesaddlingthegreymare。Everynowandthenheglancedupattheoldfamiliarobjects：
　　theyhadanewaspectthatmorning。Eventhecocks，seeninthelightofparting，hadapeculiarinterest，andhelistenedwithconsciousattentionwhileonecrowedclearandloudasitstoodonthepigstywall。HewishedgoodmorningsoftlytotheKafferwomanwhowascomingupfromthehutstolightthefire。Hewasleavingthemalltothatoldlife，andfromhisheighthelookeddownonthempityingly。Sotheywouldkeeponcrowing，andcomingtolightfires，whenforhimthatoldcolourlessexistencewasbutadream。
　　Hewentintothehousetosaygood—byetoEm，andthenhewalkedtothedoorofLyndall’sroomtowakeher；butshewasup，andstandinginthedoorway。
　　"Soyouareready，"shesaid。
　　Waldolookedatherwithsuddenheaviness；theexhilarationdiedoutofhisheart。Hergreydressing—gownhungcloseabouther，andbelowitsedgethelittlebarefeetwererestingonthethreshold。
　　"Iwonderwhenweshallmeetagain，Waldo？Whatyouwillbe，andwhatI？"
　　"Willyouwritetome？"heaskedofher。
　　"Yes；andifIshouldnot，youcanstillremember，whereveryouare，thatyouarenotalone。"
　　"IhaveleftDossforyou，"hesaid。
　　"Willyounotmisshim？"
　　"No；Iwantyoutohavehim。Helovesyoubetterthanhelovesme。"
　　"Thankyou。"Theystoodquiet。
　　"Good—bye！"shesaid，puttingherlittlehandinhis，andheturnedaway；
　　butwhenhereachedthedoorshecalledtohim："Comeback，Iwanttokissyou。"Shedrewhisfacedowntohers，andhelditwithbothhands，andkisseditontheforeheadandmouth。"Good—bye，dear！"
　　Whenhelookedbackthelittlefigurewithitsbeautifuleyeswasstandinginthedoorwaystill。
　　Chapter2。VIII。TheKopje。
　　"Goodmorning！"
　　Em，whowasinthestoreroommeasuringtheKaffer’srations，lookedupandsawherformerloverstandingbetwixtherandthesunshine。Forsomedaysafterthateveningonwhichhehadriddenhomewhistlinghehadshunnedher。Shemightwishtoenterintoexplanations，andhe，GregoryRose，wasnotthemanforthatkindofthing。Ifawomanhadoncethrownhimoverboardshemusttaketheconsequences，andstandbythem。When，however，sheshowednoinclinationtoreverttothepast，andshunnedhimmorethanheshunnedher，Gregorysoftened。
　　"YoumustletmecallyouEmstill，andbelikeabrothertoyoutillI
　　go，"hesaid；andEmthankedhimsohumblythathewishedshehadn’t。Itwasn’tsoeasyafterthattothinkhimselfaninjuredman。
　　Onthatmorninghestoodsometimeinthedoorwayswitchinghiswhip，andmovingratherrestlesslyfromonelegtotheother。
　　"IthinkI’lljusttakeawalkuptothecampsandseehowyourbirdsaregettingon。NowWaldo’sgoneyou’venoonetoseeafterthings。Nicemorning，isn’tit？"Thenheaddedsuddenly，"I’lljustgoroundtothehouseandgetadrinkofwaterfirst；"andsomewhatawkwardlywalkedoff。
　　Hemighthavefoundwaterinthekitchen，butheneverglancedtowardthebuckets。Inthefrontroomamonkeyandtwotumblersstoodonthecentre—
　　table；buthemerelylookedround，peepedintotheparlour，lookedroundagain，andthenwalkedoutatthefrontdoor，andfoundhimselfagainatthestoreroomwithouthavingsatisfiedhisthirst。"Awfullynicemorningthis，"hesaid，tryingtoposehimselfinagracefulandindifferentattitudeagainstthedoor。"Itisn’thotanditisn’tcold。It’sawfullynice。"
　　"Yes，"saidEm。
　　"Yourcousin，now，"saidGregoryinanaimlesssortofway——"Isupposeshe’sshutupinherroomwritingletters。"
　　"No，"saidEm。
　　"Goneforadrive，Iexpect？Nicemorningforadrive。"
　　"No。"
　　"Gonetoseetheostriches，Isuppose？"
　　"No。"AfteralittlesilenceEmadded，"Isawhergobythekraalstothekopje。"
　　Gregorycrossedanduncrossedhislegs。
　　"Well，IthinkI’lljustgoandhavealookabout，"hesaid，"andseehowthingsaregettingonbeforeIgotothecamps。Good—bye；solong。"
　　Emleftforawhilethebagsshewasfoldingandwenttothewindow，thesamethroughwhich，yearsbefore，Bonapartehadwatchedtheslouchingfigurecrosstheyard。Gregorywalkedtothepigstyfirst，andcontemplatedthepigsforafewseconds；thenturnedround，andstoodlookingfixedlyatthewallofthefuel—houseasthoughhethoughtitwantedrepairing；thenhestartedoffsuddenlywiththeevidentintentionofgoingtotheostrich—camps；thenpaused，hesitated，andfinallywalkedoffinthedirectionofthekopje。
　　ThenEmwentbacktothecornerandfoldedmoresacks。
　　OntheothersideofthekopjeGregorycaughtsightofawhitetailwavingamongthestones，andasuccessionofshort，franticbarkstoldwhereDosswasengagedinhowlingimploringlytoalizardwhohadcreptbetweentwostones，andwhohadnottheslightestintentionofre—sunninghimselfatthatparticularmoment。
　　Thedog’smistresssathigherup，undertheshelvingrock，herfacebentoveravolumeofplaysuponherknee。AsGregorymountedthestonesshestartedviolentlyandlookedup；thenresumedherbook。
　　"IhopeIamnottroublingyou，"saidGregoryashereachedherside。"IfIamIwillgoaway。Ijust——"
　　"No；youmaystay。"
　　"IfearIstartledyou。"
　　"Yes；yourstepwasfirmerthanitgenerallyis。Ithoughtitwasthatofsomeoneelse。"
　　"Whocoulditbebutme？"askedGregory，seatinghimselfonastoneatherfeet。
　　"Doyousupposeyouaretheonlymanwhowouldfindanythingtoattracthimtothiskopje？"
　　"Oh，no，"saidGregory。
　　Hewasnotgoingtoarguethatpointwithher，noranyother；butnooldBoerwaslikelytotakethetroubleofclimbingthekopje，andwhoelsewasthere？
　　Shecontinuedthestudyofherbook。
　　"MissLyndall，"hesaidatlast，"Idon’tknowwhyitisyounevertalktome。"
　　"Wehadalongconversationyesterday，"shesaidwithoutlookingup。
　　"Yes；butyouaskmequestionsaboutsheepandoxen。Idon’tcallthattalking。YouusedtotalktoWaldo，now，"hesaid，inanaggrievedtoneofvoice。"I’veheardyouwhenIcamein，andthenyou’vejustleftoff。Youtreatedmelikethatfromthefirstday；andyoucouldn’ttellfromjustlookingatmethatIcouldn’ttalkaboutthethingsyoulike。I’msureI
　　knowasmuchaboutsuchthingsasWaldodoes，"saidGregory，inexceedingbitternessofspirit。
　　"Idonotknowwhichthingsyoureferto。IfyouwillenlightenmeIamquitepreparedtospeakofthem，"shesaid，readingasshespoke。
　　"Oh，youneverusedtoaskWaldolikethat，"saidGregory，inamoresorelyaggrievedtonethanever。"Youusedjusttobegin。"
　　"Well，letmesee，"shesaid，closingherbookandfoldingherhandsonit。
　　"ThereatthefootofthekopjegoesaKaffer；hehasnothingonbutablanket；heisasplendidfellow——sixfeethigh，withamagnificentpairoflegs。Inhisleatherbagheisgoingtofetchhisrations，andIsupposetokickhiswifewithhisbeautifullegswhenhegetshome。Hehasarightto；heboughtherfortwooxen。Thereisaleandoggoingafterhim，towhomIsupposehenevergivesmorethanabonefromwhichhehassuckedthemarrow；buthisdogloveshim，ashiswifedoes。Thereissomethingofthemasterabouthiminspiteofhisblacknessandwool。Seehowhebrandisheshisstickandholdsuphishead！"
　　"Oh，butaren’tyoumakingfun？"saidGregory，lookingdoubtfullyfromhertotheKafferherd，whoroundedthekopje。
　　"No；Iamveryserious。HeisthemostinterestingandintelligentthingI
　　canseejustnow，except，perhaps，Doss。Heisprofoundlysuggestive。
　　Willhisracemeltawayintheheatofacollisionwithahigher？Arethemenofthefuturetoseehisbonesonlyinmuseums——avestigeofonelinkthatspannedbetweenthedogandthewhiteman？Hewakesthoughtsthatrunfaroutintothefutureandbackintothepast。"
　　Gregorywasnotquitesurehowtotaketheseremarks。BeingaboutaKaffer，theyappearedtobeofthenatureofajoke；but，beingseriouslyspoken，theyappearedearnest；sohehalflaughedandhalfnot，tobeonthesafeside。
　　"I’veoftenthoughtsomyself。It’sfunnyweshouldboththinkthesame；I
　　knewweshouldifoncewetalked。Butthereareotherthings——love，now，"
　　headded。"Iwonderifwewouldthinkalikeaboutthat。Iwroteanessayonloveonce；themastersaiditwasthebestIeverwrote，andIcanrememberthefirstsentencestill——’Loveissomethingthatyoufeelinyourheart。’"
　　"Thatwasatrenchantremark。Can’tyourememberanymore？"
　　"No，"saidGregory，regretfully；"I’veforgottentherest。Buttellmewhatdoyouthinkaboutlove？"
　　Alook，halfofabstraction，halfamusement，playedonherlips。
　　"Idon’tknowmuchaboutlove，"shesaid，"andIdonotliketotalkofthingsIdonotunderstand；butIhaveheardtwoopinions。Somesaythedevilcarriedtheseedfromhellandplanteditontheearthtoplaguemenandmakethemsin；andsomesay，thatwhenalltheplantsinthegardenofEdenwerepulledupbytheroots，onebushthattheangelsplantedwasleftgrowing，anditspreaditsseedoverthewholeearth，anditsnameislove。
　　Idonotknowwhichisright——perhapsboth。Therearedifferentspeciesthatgounderthesamename。Thereisalovethatbeginsinthehead，andgoesdowntotheheart，andgrowsslowly；butitlaststilldeath，andaskslessthanitgives。Thereisanotherlove，thatblotsoutwisdom，thatissweetwiththesweetnessoflifeandbitterwiththebitternessofdeath，lastingforanhour；butitisworthhavinglivedawholelifeforthathour。Icannottell，perhapstheoldmonkswererightwhentheytriedtorootloveout；perhapsthepoetsarerightwhentheytrytowaterit。Itisablood—redflower，withthecolourofsin；butthereisalwaysthescentofagodaboutit。"
　　Gregorywouldhavemadearemark；butshesaid，withoutnoticing：
　　"Thereareasmanykindsoflovesasthereareflowers；everlastingsthatneverwither；speedwellsthatwaitforthewindtofanthemoutoflife；
　　blood—redmountain—liliesthatpourtheirvoluptuoussweetnessoutforoneday，andlieinthedustatnight。Thereisnoflowerhasthecharmofall——thespeedwell’spurity，theeverlasting’sstrength，themountain—
　　lily’swarmth；butwhoknowswhetherthereisnolovethatholdsall——
　　friendship，passion，worship？
　　"Suchalove，"shesaid，inhersweetestvoice，"willfallonthesurfaceofstrong，cold，selfishlifeasthesunlightfallsonatorpidwinterworld；there，wherethetreesarebare，andthegroundfrozen，tillitringstothesteplikeiron，andthewaterissolid，andtheairissharpasatwo—edgedknifethatcutstheunwary。
　　"Butwhenitssunshinesonit，throughitswholedeadcrustathrobbingyearningwakes：thetreesfeelhim，andeveryknotandbudswell，achingtoopentohim。Thebrownseeds，whohavesleptdeepundertheground，feelhim，andhegivesthemstrength，tilltheybreakthroughthefrozenearth，andlifttwotiny，tremblinggreenhandsinlovetohim。Andhetouchesthewater，tilldowntoitsdepthsitfeelshimandmelts，anditflows，andthethings，strangesweetthingsthatwerelockedupinit，itsingsasitruns，forloveofhim。Eachplanttriestobearatleastonefragrantlittleflowerforhim；andtheworldthatwasdeadlives，andtheheartthatwasdeadandself—centredthrobs，withanupward，outwardyearning，andithasbecomethatwhichitseemedimpossibleevertobecome。
　　There，doesthatsatisfyyou？"sheasked，lookingdownatGregory。"Isthathowyoulikemetotalk？"
　　"Oh，yes，"saidGregory，"thatiswhatIhavealreadythought。Wehavethesamethoughtsabouteverything。Howstrange！"
　　"Very，"saidLyndall，workingwithherlittletoeatastoneinthegroundbeforeher。