Shemusedawhile，lookingoutwithfixedeyes。
　　"Thatiswhythebellrangsocheerfully，"shesaid。"Whentheolddieitiswell；theyhavehadtheirtime。Itiswhentheyoungdiethatthebellsweepdropsofblood。"
　　"Buttheoldlovelife？"hesaid；foritwassweettohearherspeak。
　　Sheraisedherselfonherelbow。
　　"Theylovelife，theydonotwanttodie，"sheanswered，"butwhatofthat？
　　Theyhavehadtheirtime。Theyknewthataman’slifeisthree—scoreyearsandten；theyshouldhavemadetheirplansaccordingly！
　　"Buttheyoung，"shesaid，"theyoung，cutdown，cruelly，whentheyhavenotseen，whentheyhavenotknown——whentheyhavenotfound——itisforthemthatthebellsweepblood。Iheardintheringingitwasanoldman。
　　Whentheolddie——Listentothebell！itislaughing——’Itisright，itisright；hehashadhistime。’Theycannotringsofortheyoung。"
　　Shefellbackexhausted；thehotlightdiedfromhereyes，andshelaylookingoutintothestreet。Byandbystragglersfromthefuneralbegantocomebackanddisappearhereandthereamongthehouses；thenallwasquiet，andthenightbegantosettledownuponthevillagestreet。
　　Afterward，whentheroomwasalmostdark，sothattheycouldnotseeeachother’sfaces，shesaid，"Itwillraintonight；"andmovedrestlesslyonthepillows。"Howterriblewhentherainfallsdownonyou。"
　　Hewonderedwhatshemeant，andtheysatoninthestilldarkeningroom。
　　Shemovedagain。
　　"Willyoupresentlytakemycloak——andnewgreycloakfrombehindthedoor—
　　—andgooutwithit。Youwillfindalittlegraveatthefootofthetallgum—tree；thewaterdripsoffthelong，pointedleaves；youmustcoveritupwiththat。"
　　Shemovedrestlesslyasthoughinpain。
　　Gregoryassented，andtherewassilenceagain。Itwasthefirsttimeshehadeverspokenofherchild。
　　"Itwassosmall，"shesaid；"itlivedsuchalittlewhile——onlythreehours。Theylaiditclosebyme，butIneversawit；Icouldfeelitbyme。"Shewaited；"itsfeetweresocold；Itooktheminmyhandtomakethemwarm，andmyhandclosedrightoverthemtheyweresolittle。"Therewasanuneventremblinginthevoice。"Itcreptclosetome；itwantedtodrink，itwantedtobewarm。"Shehardenedherself——"Ididnotloveit；
　　itsfatherwasnotmyprince；Ididnotcareforit；butitwassolittle。"
　　Shemovedherhand。"Theymighthavekissedit，oneofthem，beforetheyputitin。Itneverdidanyoneanyharminallitslittlelife。Theymighthavekissedit，oneofthem。"
　　Gregoryfeltthatsomeonewassobbingintheroom。
　　Lateonintheevening，whentheshutterwasclosedandthelamplighted，andtherain—dropsbeatontheroof，hetookthecloakfrombehindthedoorandwentawaywithit。Onhiswaybackhecalledatthevillagepost—
　　officeandbroughtbackaletter。Inthehallhestoodreadingtheaddress。Howcouldhefailtoknowwhosehandhadwrittenit？Hadhenotlongagostudiedthosecharactersonthetornfragmentsofpaperintheoldparlour？AburningpainwasatGregory’sheart。Ifnow，nowatthelast，oneshouldcome，shouldstepinbetween！Hecarriedtheletterintothebedroomandgaveittoher。"Bringmethelampnearer，"shesaid。Whenshehadreaditsheaskedforherdesk。
　　ThenGregorysatdowninthelamp—lightontheothersideofthecurtain，andheardthepencilmoveonthepaper。Whenhelookedroundthecurtainshewaslyingonthepillowmusing。Theopenletterlayatherside；sheglancedatitwithsofteyes。Themanwiththelanguideyelidsmusthavebeenstrangelymovedbeforehishandsetdownthosewords：
　　"Letmecomebacktoyou！Mydarling，letmeputmyhandroundyou，andguardyoufromalltheworld。Asmywifetheyshallnevertouchyou。I
　　havelearnttoloveyoumorewisely，moretenderly，thanofold；youshallhaveperfectfreedom。Lyndall，grandlittlewoman，foryourownsakebemywife！
　　"Whydidyousendthatmoneybacktome？Youarecrueltome；itisnotrightlydone。"
　　Sherolledthelittleredpencilsoftlybetweenherfingers，andherfacegrewverysoft。Yet：
　　"Itcannotbe，"shewrote；"Ithankyoumuchfortheloveyouhaveshownme；butIcannotlisten。Youwillcallmemad，foolish——theworldwoulddoso；butIknowwhatIneedandthekindofpathImustwalkin。Icannotmarryyou。Iwillalwaysloveyouforthesakeofwhatlaybymethosethreehours；butthereitends。Imustknowandsee，IcannotbeboundtoonewhomIloveasIloveyou。Iamnotafraidoftheworld——Iwillfighttheworld。Oneday——perhapsitmaybefaroff——IshallfindwhatIhavewantedallmylife；somethingnobler，strongerthanI，beforewhichIcankneeldown。Youlosenothingbynothavingmenow；Iamaweak，selfish，erringwoman。OnedayIshallfindsomethingtoworship，andthenIshallbe——"
　　"Nurse，"shesaid；"takemydeskaway；Iamsuddenlysosleepy；Iwillwritemoretomorrow。"Sheturnedherfacetothepillow；itwasthesuddendrowsinessofgreatweakness。Shehaddroppedasleepinamoment，andGregorymovedthedesksoftly，andthensatinthechairwatching。Hourafterhourpassed，buthehadnowishforrest，andsaton，hearingtheraincease，andthestillnightsettledowneverywhere。Ataquarter—pasttwelveherose，andtookalastlookatthebedwhereshelaysleepingsopeacefully；thenheturnedtogotohiscouch。Beforehehadreachedthedoorshehadstartedupandwascallinghimback。
　　"Youaresureyouhaveputitup？"shesaid，withalookofblankterroratthewindow。"Itwillnotfallopeninthenight，theshutter——youaresure？"
　　Hecomfortedher。Yes，itwastightlyfastened。
　　"Evenifitisshut，"shesaid，inawhisper，"youcannotkeepitout！Youfeelitcominginatfouro’clock，creeping，creeping，up，up；deadlycold！"Sheshuddered。
　　Hethoughtshewaswandering，andlaidherlittletremblingbodydownamongtheblankets。
　　"Idreamedjustnowthatitwasnotputup，"shesaid，lookingintohiseyes；"anditcreptrightinandIwasalonewithit。"
　　"Whatdoyoufear？"heasked，tenderly。
　　"TheGreyDawn，"shesaid，glancingroundatthewindow。"Iwasneverafraidofanything，never，whenIwasalittlechild，butIhavealwaysbeenafraidofthat。Youwillnotletitcomeintome？"
　　"No，no；Iwillstaywithyou，"hecontinued。
　　Butshewasgrowingcalmer。"No，youmustgotobed。Ionlyawokewithastart；youmustbetired。Iamchildish，thatisall；"butsheshiveredagain。
　　Hesatdownbesideher，aftersometimeshesaid："Willyounotrubmyfeet？"
　　Hekneltdownatthefootofthebedandtookthetinyfootinhishand；itwasswollenandunsightlynow，butashetouchedithebentdownandcovereditwithkisses。
　　"Itmakesitbetterwhenyoukissit；thankyou。Whatmakesyoualllovemeso？"Thendreamilyshemutteredtoherself："Notutterlybad，notquitebad——whatmakesthemalllovemeso？"
　　Kneelingthere，rubbingsoftly，withhischeekpressedagainstthelittlefoot，Gregorydroppedtosleepatlast。Howlongheknelttherehecouldnottell；butwhenhestartedupawakeshewasnotlookingathim。Theeyeswerefixedonthefarcorner，gazingwideandintent，withanunearthlylight。
　　Helookedroundfearfully。Whatdidsheseethere？God’sangelscometocallher？Somethingfearful？Hesawonlythepurplecurtainwiththeshadowsthatfellfromit。Softlyhewhispered，askingwhatshesawthere。
　　Andshesaid，inavoicestrangelyunlikeherown："Iseethevisionofapoor，weaksoulstrivingaftergood。Itwasnotcutshort，andintheenditlearnt，throughtearsandmuchpain，thatholinessisaninfinitecompassionforothers；thatgreatnessistotakethecommonthingsoflifeandwalktrulyamongthem；that"——Shemovedherwhitehandandlaiditonherforehead——"happinessisagreatloveandmuchserving。Itwasnotcutshort；anditlovedwhatithadlearnt——itloved——and——"
　　Wasthatallshesawinthecorner？
　　Gregorytoldthelandladythenextmorningthatshehadbeenwanderingallnight。Yet，whenhecameintogiveherherbreakfast，shewassittingupagainstthepillows，lookingashehadnotseenherlookbefore。
　　"Putitclosetome，"shesaid，"andwhenIhavehadbreakfastIamgoingtodress。"
　　Shefinishedallhehadbroughthereagerly。
　　"Iamsittingupquitebymyself，"shesaid。"Givemehismeat；"andshefedthedogherself，cuttinghisfoodsmallforhim。Shemovedtothesideofthebed。
　　"Nowbringthechairnearanddressme。Itisbeinginthisroomsolong，andlookingatthatmiserablelittlebitofsunshinethatcomesinthroughtheshutter，thatismakingmesoill。Alwaysthatlion’spaw！"shesaid，withalookofdisgustatit。"Comeanddressme。"Gregorykneltonthefloorbeforeher，andtriedtodrawononestocking，butthelittleswollenfootrefusedtobecovered。
　　"ItisveryfunnythatIshouldhavegrownsofatsinceIhavebeensoill，"shesaid，peeringdowncuriously。"Perhapsitiswantofexercise。"
　　Shelookedtroubledandsaidagain，"Perhapsitiswantofexercise。"ShewantedGregorytosaysotoo。Butheonlyfoundalargerpair；andthentriedtoforcetheshoes，oh，sotenderly，ontoherlittlefeet。
　　"There，"shesaid，lookingdownatthemwhentheywereon，withthedelightofasmallchildoveritsfirstshoes，"Icouldwalkfarnow。Howniceitlooks！"
　　"No，"shesaid，seeingthesoftgownhehadpreparedforher，"Iwillnotputthaton。Getoneofmywhitedresses——theonewiththepinkbows。I
　　donotevenwanttothinkIhavebeenill。Itisthinkingandthinkingofthingsthatmakesthemreal，"shesaid。"Whenyoudrawyourmindtogether，andresolvethatathingshallnotbe，itgiveswaybeforeyou；itisnot。
　　Everythingispossibleifoneisresolved，"shesaid。Shedrewinherlittlelipstogether，andGregoryobeyedher；shewassosmallandslightnowitwaslikedressingasmalldoll。Hewouldhaveliftedherdownfromthebedwhenhehadfinished，butshepushedhimfromher，laughingverysoftly。Itwasthefirsttimeshehadlaughedinthoselong，drearymonths。
　　"No，no；Icangetdownmyself，"shesaid，slippingcautiouslyontothefloor。"Yousee！"Shecastadefiantglanceoftriumphwhenshestoodthere。"Holdthecurtainuphigh，Iwanttolookatmyself。"
　　Heraisedit，andstoodholdingit。Shelookedintotheglassontheoppositewall。
　　Suchaqueenlylittlefigureinitspinkandwhite。Suchatransparentlittleface，refinedbysufferingintoanalmostangel—likebeauty。Thefacelookedather；shelookedback，laughingsoftly。Doss，quiveringwithexcitement，ranroundher，barking。Shetookonesteptowardthedoor，balancingherselfwithoutstretchedhands。
　　"Iamnearlythere，"shesaid。
　　Thenshegropedblindly。
　　"Oh，Icannotsee！Icannotsee！WhereamI？"shecried。
　　WhenGregoryreachedhershehadfallenwithherfaceagainstthesharpfootofthewardrobeandcutherforehead。Verytenderlyheraisedthelittlecrushedheapofmuslinandribbons，andlaiditonthebed。Dossclimbedup，andsatlookingdownatit。VerysoftlyGregory’shandsdisrobedher。
　　"Youwillbestrongertomorrow，andthenweshalltryagain，"hesaid，butsheneitherlookedathimnorstirred。
　　Whenhehadundressedher，andlaidherinbed，Dossstretchedhimselfacrossherfeetandlaywhiningsoftly。
　　Soshelayallthatmorning，andallthatafternoon。
　　AgainandagainGregorycreptclosetothebedsideandlookedather；butshedidnotspeaktohim。Wasitstupororwasitsleepthatshoneunderthosehalf—closedeyelids。Gregorycouldnottell。
　　Atlastintheeveninghebentoverher。
　　"Theoxenhavecome，"hesaid；"wecanstarttomorrowifyoulike。ShallI
　　getthewagonreadytonight？"
　　Twiceherepeatedhisquestion。Thenshelookedupathim，andGregorysawthatallhopehaddiedoutofthebeautifuleyes。Itwasnotstuporthatshonethere，itwasdespair。
　　"Yes，letusgo，"shesaid。
　　"Itmakesnodifference，"saidthedoctor；"stayingorgoing；itisclosenow。"
　　SothenextdayGregorycarriedheroutinhisarmstothewagonwhichstoodinspannedbeforethedoor。Ashelaidherdownonthekartelshelookedfaroutacrosstheplain。Forthefirsttimeshespokethatday。
　　"Thatbluemountain，faraway；letusstopwhenwegettoit，notbefore。"
　　Sheclosedhereyesagain。Hedrewthesailsdownbeforeandbehind，andthewagonrolledawayslowly。Thelandladyandtheniggersstoodtowatchitfromthestoep。
　　Verysilentlythegreatwagonrolledalongthegrass—coveredplain。Thedriveronthefrontboxdidnotclaphiswhiporcalltohisoxen，andGregorysatbesidehimwithfoldedarms。Behindthem，intheclosedwagon，shelaywiththedogatherfeet，veryquiet，withfoldedhands。He，Gregory，darednotbeinthere。LikeHagar，whenshelaidhertreasuredowninthewilderness，hesatafaroff：——"ForHagarsaid，Letmenotseethedeathofthechild。"
　　Eveningcame，andyetthebluemountainwasnotreached，andallthenextdaytheyrodeonslowly，butstillitwasfaroff。Onlyateveningtheyreachedit；notbluenow，butlowandbrown，coveredwithlongwavinggrassesandroughstones。Theydrewthewagonupclosetoitsfootforthenight。Itwasasheltered，warmspot。
　　Whenthedarknighthadcome，whenthetiredoxenweretiedtothewheels，andthedriverandleaderhadrolledthemselvesintheirblanketsbeforethefire，andgonetosleep，thenGregoryfasteneddownthesailsofthewagonsecurely。Hefixedalongcandleneartheheadofthebed，andlaydownhimselfonthefloorofthewagonneartheback。Heleanedhisheadagainstthekartel，andlistenedtothechewingofthetiredoxen，andtothecracklingofthefire，till，overpoweredbyweariness，hefellintoaheavysleep。Thenallwasverystillinthewagon。Thedogsleptonhismistress’feet，andonlytwomosquitoes，creepinginthroughagapinthefrontsail，buzzeddrearilyround。
　　Thenightwasgrownveryoldwhenfromalong，peacefulsleepLyndallawoke。Thecandleburntatherhead，thedoglayonherfeet；butheshivered；itseemedasthoughacoldnessstruckuptohimfromhisresting—
　　place。Shelaywithfoldedhands，lookingupward；andsheheardtheoxenchewing，andshesawthetwomosquitoesbuzzingdrearilyroundandround，andherthoughts——herthoughtsranfarbackintothepast。
　　Throughthesemonthsofanguishamisthadrestedonhermind；itwasrolledtogethernow，andtheoldclearintellectawokefromitslongtorpor。Itlookedbackintothepast，itsawthepresent；therewasnofuturenow。Theoldstrongsoulgathereditselftogetherforthelasttime；itknewwhereitstood。
　　Slowlyraisingherselfonherelbow，shetookfromthesailaglassthathungpinnedthere。Herfingerswerestiffandcold。Sheputthepillowonherbreast，andstoodtheglassagainstit。Thenthewhitefaceonthepillowlookedintothewhitefaceintheglass。Theyhadlookedateachotheroftensobefore。Ithadbeenachild’sfaceonce，lookingoutaboveitsbluepinafore；ithadbeenawoman’sface，withadimshadowintheeyes，andasomethingwhichhadsaid，"Wearenotafraid，youandI；wearetogether；wewillfight，youandI。"Nowtonightithadcometothis。
　　Thedyingeyesonthepillowlookedintothedyingeyesintheglass；theyknewthattheirhourhadcome。Sheraisedonehandandpressedthestifffingersagainsttheglass。Theyweregrowingverystiff。Shetriedtospeaktoit，butshewouldneverspeakagain。Onlythewonderfulyearninglightwasintheeyesstill。Thebodywasdeadnow，butthesoul，clearandunclouded，lookedforth。
　　Thenslowly，withoutasound，thebeautifuleyesclosed。Thedeadfacethattheglassreflectedwasathingofmarvelousbeautyandtranquillity。
　　TheGreyDawncreptinoveritandsawitlyingthere。
　　Hadshefoundwhatshesoughtfor——somethingtoworship？Hadsheceasedfrombeing？Whoshalltellus？ThereisaveilofterriblemistoverthefaceoftheHereafter。
　　Chapter2。XIII。Dreams。
　　"Tellmewhatasouldesires，andIwilltellyouwhatitis。"Sorunsthephrase。
　　"Tellmewhatamandreams，andIwilltellyouwhatheloves。"Thatalsohasitstruth。
　　For，everfromtheearliestchildhoodtothelatestage，daybyday，andstepbystep，thebusywakinglifeisfollowedandreflectedbythelifeofdreams——wakingdreams，sleepingdreams。Weird，misty，anddistortedastheinvertedimageofamirage，orafigureseenthroughthemountainmist，theyarestillthereflectionsofareality。
　　OnthenightwhenGregorytoldhisstoryWaldosatalonebeforethefire，hisuntastedsupperbeforehim。Hewaswearyafterhisday’swork——toowearytoeat。HeputtheplatedownonthefloorforDoss，wholickeditclean，andthenwentbacktohiscorner。Afteratimethemasterthrewhimselfacrossthefootofthebedwithoutundressing，andfellasleepthere。Hesleptsolongthatthecandleburntitselfout，andtheroomwasindarkness。Buthedreamedalovelydreamashelaythere。
　　Inhisdream，tohisrightrosehighmountains，theirtopscrownedwithsnow，theirsidesclothedwithbushandbathedinthesunshine。Attheirfeetwasthesea，blueandbreezy，bluerthananyearthlysea，liketheseahehaddreamedofinhisboyhood。Inthenarrowforestthatranbetweenthemountainsandtheseatheairwasrichthatthescentofthehoney—
　　creeperthathungfromdarkgreenbushes，andthroughthevelvetygrasslittlestreamsranpurlingdownintothesea。
　　Hesatonahighsquarerockamongthebushes，andLyndallsatbyhimandsangtohim。Shewasonlyasmallchild，withabluepinafore，andagrave，grave，littleface。Hewaslookingupatthemountains，thensuddenlywhenhelookedroundshewasgone。Heslippeddownfromhisrock，andwenttolookforher，buthefoundonlyherlittlefootmarks；hefoundthemonthebrightgreengrass，andinthemoistsand，andtherewherethelittlestreamsranpurlingdownintothesea。Inandout，inandout，andamongthebusheswherethehoney—creeperhung，hewentlookingforher。Atlast，faroff，inthesunshine，hesawhergatheringshellsuponthesand。
　　Shewasnotachildnow，butawoman，andthesunshoneonhersoftbrownhair，andinherwhitedresssheputtheshellsshegathered。Shewasstooping，butwhensheheardhisstepshestoodup，holdingherskirtcloseabouther，andwaitedforhiscoming。Onehandsheputinhis，andtogethertheywalkedonovertheglitteringsandandpinksea—shells；andtheyheardtheleavestalking，andtheyheardthewatersbabblingontheirwaytothesea，andtheyheardtheseasingingtoitself，singing，singing。
　　Atlasttheycametoaplacewherewasalongreachofpurewhitesand；
　　thereshestoodstill，anddroppedontothesandonebyonetheshellsthatshehadgathered。Thenshelookedupintohisfacewithherbeautifuleyes。Shesaidnothing；butsheliftedonehandandlaiditsoftlyonhisforehead；theothershelaidonhisheart。
　　WithacryofsuppressedagonyWaldosprungfromthebed，flungopentheupperhalfofthedoor，andleanedout，breathingheavily。
　　GreatGod！itmightbeonlyadream，butthepainwasveryreal，asthoughakniferanthroughhisheart，asthoughsometreacherousmurderercreptonhiminthedark！Thestrongmandrewhisbreathlikeafrightenedwoman。
　　"Onlyadream，butthepainwasveryreal，"hemuttered，ashepressedhisrighthanduponhisbreast。Thenhefoldedhisarmsonthedoor，andstoodlookingoutintothestarlight。
　　Thedreamwaswithhimstill；thewomanwhowashisfriendwasnotseparatedfromhimbyyears——onlythatverynighthehadseenher。Helookedupintothenightskythatallhislifelonghadmingleditselfwithhisexistence。Therewereathousandfacesthathelovedlookingdownathim，athousandstarsintheirglory，incrowns，andcircles，andsolitarygrandeur。Tothemantheywerenotlessdearthantotheboytheyhadbeennotlessmysterious；yethelookedupatthemandshuddered；atlastturnedawayfromthemwithhorror。Suchcountlessmultitudesstretchingoutfarintospace，andyetnotinoneofthemallwasshe！Thoughhesearchedthroughthemall，tothefurthest，faintestpointoflight，nowhereshouldheeversay，"Sheishere！"Tomorrow’ssunwouldriseandgildtheworld’smountains，andshineintoitsthousandvalleys；itwouldsetandthestarscreepoutagain。Yearafteryear，centuryaftercentury，theoldchangesofnaturewouldgoon，dayandnight，summerandwinter，seed—timeandharvest；butinnoneofthemallwouldshehavepart！
　　Heshutthedoortokeepouttheirhideousshining，andbecausethedarkwasintolerablelitacandle，andpacedthelittleroom，fasterandfasteryet。Hesawbeforehimthelongagesofeternitythatwouldrollon，on，on，andneverbringher。Shewouldexistnomore。Adarkmistfilledthelittleroom。
　　"Oh，littlehand！oh，littlevoice！oh，littleform！"hecried；oh，littlesoulthatwalkedwithmine！oh，littlesoul，thatlookedsofearlesslydownintothedepths，doyouexistnomoreforever——foralltime？"Hecriedmorebitterly："Itisforthishour——this——thatmenblindreason，andcrushoutthought！Forthishour——this，this——theybartertruthandknowledge，takeanylie，anycreed，soitdoesnotwhispertothemofthedeadthattheyaredead！Oh，God！foraHereafter！"