Atanyrateweloved，andoneeveningintheshelterofthesolemnwallsofthegreatColiseumatRome，whichatthathourwereshuttoallexceptourselves，weconfessedourlove。I
　　reallythinkwemusthavechosenthespotbytacitbutmutualconsentbecausewefeltittobefitting。Itwassoold，soimpregnatedwitheveryhumanexperience，fromthedirestcrimeofthetyrantwhothoughthimselfagod，tothesublimestsacrificeofthemartyrwhoalreadywashalfagod；witheveryviceandvirtuealsowhichliesbetweentheseextremes，thatitseemedtobethemostfittingaltarwhereontoofferourheartsandallthatcausedthemtobeat，eachtotheother。
　　SoNatalieandIwerebetrothedwithinamonthofourfirstmeeting。Withinthreeweweremarried，forwhatwastheretopreventordelay？NaturallySirAlfredwasdelighted，seeingthathepossessedbutsmallprivateresourcesandIwasabletomakeampleprovisionforhisdaughterwhohadhithertoshownherselfsomewhatdifficultinthisbusinessofmatrimonyandnowwasborderingonhertwenty—seventhyear。Everybodywasdelighted，everythingwentsmoothlyasasledgeslidingdownaslopeoffrozensnowandthemistsoftimehidwhatevermightbeattheendofthatslope。Probablyaplain；attheworsttheupwardriseofordinarylife。
　　Thatiswhatwethought，ifwethoughtatall。Certainlyweneverdreamedofaprecipice。Whyshouldwe，whowereyoung，bycomparison，quitehealthyandveryrich？Whothinksofprecipicesundersuchcircumstances，whendisasterseemstobeeliminatedanddeathisyetalongwayoff？
　　Andyetweoughttohavedoneso，becauseweshouldhaveknownthatsmoothsurfaceswithoutimpedimenttotherunnersoftenendinsomethingofthekind。
　　IamboundtosaythatwhenwereturnedhometoFulcombe，whereofcoursewemetwithagreatreception，includingtheringing（outoftune）ofthenewpealofbellsthatIhadgiventothechurch，Bastinmadehastetopointthisout。
　　"Yourwifeseemsaveryniceandbeautifullady，Arbuthnot，"hereflectedaloudafterdinner，whenMrs。Bastin，gloweringasusual，thoughwhatatIdonotknow，hadbeenescortedfromtheroombyNatalie，"andreally，whenIcometothinkofit，youareanunusuallyfortunateperson。Youpossessagreatdealofmoney，muchmorethanyouhaveanyrightto；whichyouseemtohavedoneverylittletoearnanddonotspendquiteasIshouldlikeyoutodo，andthisniceproperty，thatoughttobeownedbyagreatnumberofpeople，as，accordingtotheviewsyouexpress，I
　　shouldhavethoughtyouwouldacknowledge，andeverythingelsethatamancanwant。Itisverystrangethatyoushouldbesofavouredandnotbecauseofanyparticularmeritsofyourownwhichonecansee。However，Ihavenodoubtitwillallcomeevenintheendandyouwillgetyourshareoftroubles，likeothers。
　　PerhapsMrs。Arbuthnotwillhavenochildrenasthereissomuchforthemtotake。Orperhapsyouwillloseallyourmoneyandhavetoworkforyourliving，whichmightbegoodforyou。Or，"
　　headded，stillthinkingaloudafterhisfashion，"perhapsshewilldieyoung——shehasthatkindofface，although，ofcourse，I
　　hopeshewon’t，"headded，wakingup。
　　Idonotknowwhy，buthiswanderingwordsstruckmecold；theproverbialfuneralbellatthemarriagefeastwasnothingtothem。IsupposeitwasbecauseinaflashofintuitionIknewthattheywouldcometrueandthathewasanappointedCassandra。
　　Perhapsthisuncannyknowledgeovercamemynaturalindignationatsuchsuper—gaucherieofwhichnoonebutBastincouldhavebeencapable，andevenpreventedmefromreplyingatall，sothatI
　　merelysatstillandlookedathim。
　　ButBickleydidreplywithsomevigour。
　　"Forgivemeforsayingso，Bastin，"hesaid，bristlingalloverasitwere，"butyourremarks，whichmayormaynotbeinaccordancewiththeprinciplesofyourreligion，seemtometobeinsingularlybadtaste。TheywouldhaveturnedthestomachsofagatheringofearlyChristians，whoappeartohavebeentheworstmanneredpeopleintheworld，andatanydecentheathenfeastyourneckwouldhavebeenwrungasthatofabirdofillomen。"
　　"Why？"askedBastinblankly。"IonlysaidwhatIthoughttobethetruth。Thetruthisbetterthanwhatyoucallgoodtaste。"
　　"ThenIwillsaywhatIthinkalsotobethetruth，"repliedBickley，growingfurious。"ItisthatyouuseyourChristianityasacloakforbadmanners。Itteachesconsiderationandsympathyforothersofwhichyouseemtohavenone。Moreover，sinceyoutalkofthedeathofpeople’swives，Iwilltellyousomethingaboutyourown，asadoctor，whichIcandoasIneverattendedher。Itishighlyprobable，inmyopinion，thatshewilldiebeforeMrs。Arbuthnot，whoisquiteahealthypersonwithagoodprospectoflife。"
　　"Perhaps，"saidBastin。"Ifso，itwillbeGod’swillandI
　　shallnotcomplain"（hereBickleysnorted），"thoughIdonotseewhatyoucanknowaboutit。ButwhyshouldyoucastreflectionsontheearlyChristianswhowerepeopleofstrongprinciplelivinginroughtimes，andhadtowagewaragainstanestablisheddevil—worship？IknowyouareangrybecausetheysmashedupthestatuesofVenusandsoforth，buthadIbeenintheirplaceI
　　shouldhavedonethesame。"
　　"Ofcourseyouwould，whodoubtsit？ButasfortheearlyChristiansandtheiriconoclasticperformances——well，cursethem，that’sall！"andhesprangupandlefttheroom。
　　Ifollowedhim。
　　Letitnotbesupposedfromtheabovescenethattherewasanyill—feelingbetweenBastinandBickley。Onthecontrarytheyweremuchattachedtoeachother，andthiskindofquarrelmeantnomorethanthestrongexpressionoftheirindividualviewstowhichtheywereaccustomedfromtheircollegedays。ForinstanceBastinwasalwaystalkingabouttheearlyChristiansandmissionaries，whileBickleyloathedboth，theearlyChristiansbecauseofthedestructionwhichtheyhadwroughtinEgypt，Italy，Greeceandelsewhere，ofallthatwasbeautiful；andthemissionariesbecause，ashesaid，theyweredegradingandspoilingthenativeracesandbyinducingthemtowearclothes，renderingthemliabletodisease。Bastinwouldanswerthattheirsoulsweremoreimportantthantheirbodies，towhichBickleyrepliedthatastherewasnosuchthingasasoulexceptinthestupidimaginationofpriests，hedifferedentirelyonthepoint。
　　Asitwasquiteimpossibleforeithertoconvincetheother，theretheconversationwouldend，ordriftintosomethinginwhichtheyweremutuallyinterested，suchasnaturalhistoryandthehygieneoftheneighbourhood。
　　HereImaystatethatBickley’skeenprofessionaleyewasnotmistakenwhenhediagnosedMrs。Bastin’sstateofhealthasdangerous。Asamatteroffactshewassufferingfromheartdiseasethatadoctorcanoftenrecognisebythecolourofthelips，etc。，whichbroughtaboutherdeathunderthefollowingcircumstances：
　　Herhusbandattendedsomeecclesiasticalfunctionatatownovertwentymilesawayandwastohavereturnedbyatrainwhichwouldhavebroughthimhomeaboutfiveo’clock。Ashedidnotarriveshewaitedatthestationforhimuntilthelasttraincameinaboutseveno’clock——withoutthebelovedBasil。Then，onawinter’snightshetoreuptothePrioryandbeggedmetolendheradog—cartinwhichtodrivetothesaidtowntolookforhim。Iexpostulatedagainstthefollyofsuchaproceeding，sayingthatnodoubtBasilwassafeenoughbuthadforgottentotelegraph，orthoughtthathewouldsavethesixpencewhichthewirecost。
　　Thenitcameout，toNatalie’sandmyintenseamusement，thatallthiswastheresultofherjealousnatureofwhichIhavespoken。Shesaidshehadneversleptanightawayfromherhusbandsincetheyweremarriedandwithsomany"designingpersons"aboutshecouldnotsaywhatmighthappenifshedidso，especiallyashewas"suchafavouriteandsohandsome。"（Bastinwasafinelookingmaninhisruggedway。）
　　Isuggestedthatshemighthavealittleconfidenceinhim，towhichshereplieddarklythatshehadnoconfidenceinanybody。
　　TheendofitwasthatIlentherthecartwithafasthorseandagooddriver，andoffshewent。Reachingthetowninquestionsometwoandahalfhourslater，shesearchedhighandlowthroughwindandsleet，butfoundnoBasil。He，itappeared，hadgoneontoExeter，tolookatthecathedralwheresomebuildingwasbeingdone，andmissingthelasttrainhadtheresleptthenight。
　　Aboutoneinthemorning，afterbeingnearlylockedupasamadwoman，shedrovebacktotheVicarage，againtofindnoBasil。
　　Eventhenshedidnotgotobedbutragedaboutthehouseinherwetclothes，untilshefelldownutterlyexhausted。Whenherhusbanddidreturnonthefollowingmorning，fullofinformationaboutthecathedral，shewasdangerouslyill，andactuallypassedawaywhileutteringaviolenttiradeagainsthimforhissupposedsuspiciousproceedings。
　　ThatwastheendofthistrulyodiousBritishmatron。
　　InafterdaysBastin，bysomepeculiarmentalprocess，canonisedherinhisimaginationasakindofsaint。"Soloving，"
　　hewouldsay，"suchadevotedwife！Why，mydearHumphrey，Icanassureyouthateveninthemidstofherdeath—struggleherlastthoughtswereofme，"wordsthatcausedBickleytosnortwithmorethanusualvigour，untilIkickedhimtosilencebeneaththetable。
　　ChapterIV
　　DeathandDepartureNowImusttellofmyownterriblesorrow，whichturnedmylifetobitternessandmyhopestoashes。
　　NeverwereamanandawomanhappiertogetherthanIandNatalie。Mentally，physically，spirituallywewereperfectlymated，andwelovedeachotherdearly。Trulywewereasone。Yettherewassomethingaboutherwhichfilledmewithvaguefears，especiallyaftershefoundthatshewastobecomeamother。I
　　wouldtalktoherofthechild，butshewouldsighandshakeherhead，hereyesfillingwithtears，andsaythatwemustnotcountonthecontinuanceofsuchhappinessasours，foritwastoogreat。
　　Itriedtolaughawayherdoubts，thoughwheneverIdidsoI
　　seemedtohearBastin’sslowvoiceremarkingcasuallythatshemightdie，ashemighthavecommentedonthequalityoftheclaret。Atlast，however，Igrewterrifiedandaskedherbluntlywhatshemeant。
　　"Idon’tquiteknow，dearest，"shereplied，"especiallyasIamwonderfullywell。But——but——"
　　"Butwhat？"Iasked。
　　"ButIthinkthatourcompanionshipisgoingtobebrokenforalittlewhile。"
　　"Foralittlewhile！"Iexclaimed。
　　"Yes，Humphrey。IthinkthatIshallbetakenawayfromyou——
　　youknowwhatImean，"andshenoddedtowardsthechurchyard。
　　"Oh，myGod！"Igroaned。
　　"Iwanttosaythis，"sheaddedquickly，"thatifsuch’athingshouldhappen，asithappenseveryday，Iimploreyou，dearestHumphrey，nottobetoomuchdistressed，sinceIamsurethatyouwillfindmeagain。No，Ican’texplainhoworwhenorwhere，becauseIdonotknow。Ihaveprayedforlight，butithasnotcometome。AllIknowisthatIamnottalkingofreunioninMr。
　　Bastin’skindofconventionalheaven，whichhespeaksaboutasthoughtoreachitonestumbledthroughdarknessforaminuteintoafinenewhousenextdoor，whereexcellentservantshadmadeeverythingreadyforyourarrivalandallthelightswereturnedup。Itissomethingquitedifferentfromthatandverymuchmorereal。"
　　ThenshebentdownostensiblytopattheheadofalittleblackcockerspanielcalledTommywhichhadbeengiventoherasapuppy，ahighlyintelligentandaffectionateanimalthatwebothadoredandthatlovedherasonlyadogcanlove。Really，Iknew，itwastohidehertears，andfledfromtheroomlestsheshouldseemine。
　　AsIwentIheardthedogwhimperinginapeculiarway，asthoughsomesympatheticknowledgehadbeencommunicatedtoitswonderfulanimalintelligence。
　　ThatnightIspoketoBickleyaboutthematter，repeatingexactlywhathadpassed。AsIexpected，hesmiledinhisgrave，rathersarcasticway，andmadelightofit。
　　"MydearHumphrey，"hesaid，"don’ttormentyourselfaboutsuchfancies。Theyareofeverydayoccurrenceamongwomeninyourwife’scondition。Sometimestheytakeoneform，sometimesanother。Whenshehasgotherbabyyouwillhearnomoreofthem。"
　　Itriedtobecomfortedbutinvain。
　　Thedaysandweekswentbylikealongnightmareandinduecoursetheeventhappened。Bickleywasnotattendingthecase；itwasnotinhisline，hesaid，andhepreferredthatwhereafriend’swifewasconcerned，somebodyelseshouldbecalledin。
　　Soitwasputinchargeofaverygoodlocalmanwithalargeexperienceinsuchdomesticmatters。
　　HowamItotellofit？Everythingwentwrong；asforthedetails，letthembe。UltimatelyBickleydidoperate，andifsurpassingskillcouldhavesavedher，itwouldhavebeendone。
　　Buttheothermanhadmisjudgedtheconditions；itwastoolate，nothingcouldhelpeithermotherorchild，alittlegirlwhodiedshortlyaftershewasbornbutnotbeforeshehadbeenchristened，alsobythenameofNatalie。
　　Iwascalledintosayfarewelltomywifeandfoundherradiant，triumphanteveninherweakness。
　　"Iknownow，"shewhisperedinafaintvoice。"Iunderstoodasthechloroformpassedaway，butIcannottellyou。Everythingisquitewell，mydarling。Gowhereyouseemcalledtogo，faraway。
　　Oh！thewonderfulplaceinwhichyouwillfindme，notknowingthatyouhavefoundme。Good—byeforalittlewhile；onlyforalittlewhile，myown，myown！"
　　Thenshedied。AndforatimeItooseemedtodie，butcouldnot。IburiedherandthechildhereatFulcombe；orratherI
　　buriedtheirashessinceIcouldnotendurethatherbelovedbodyshouldseecorruption。
　　Afterwards，whenallwasover，IspokeoftheselastwordsofNatalie’swithbothBickleyandBastin，forsomehowIseemedtowishtolearntheirseparateviews。
　　ThelatterImayexplain，hadbeenpresentattheendinhisspiritualcapacity，butIdonotthinkthatheintheleastunderstoodthenatureofthedramawhichwaspassingbeforehiseyes。Hisprayersandthechristeningabsorbedallhisattention，andheneverwasamanwhocouldthinkofmorethanonethingatatime。
　　WhenItoldhimexactlywhathadhappenedandrepeatedthewordsthatNataliespoke，hewasmuchinterestedinhisownnebulousway，andsaidthatitwasdelightfultomeetwithanexampleofagoodChristian，suchasmywifehadbeen，whoactuallysawsomethingofHeavenbeforeshehadgonethere。Hisownfaithwas，hethankedGod，fairlyrobust，butstillanundoubtedoccurrenceofthesortactedasarefreshment，"likerainonapasturewhenitisratherdry，youknow，"headded，breakingintosimile。
　　Iremarkedthatshehadnotseemedtospeakinthesenseheindicated，butappearedtoalludetosomethingquitenearathandandmoreorlessimmediate。
　　"Idon’tknowthatthereisanythingnearerathandthantheHereafter，"heanswered。"IexpectshemeantthatyouwillprobablysoondieandjoinherinParadise，ifyouareworthytodoso。Butofcourseitisnotwisetoputtoomuchrelianceuponwordsspokenbypeopleatthelast，becauseoftentheydon’tquiteknowwhattheyaresaying。IndeedsometimesIthinkthiswassointhecaseofmyownwife，whoreallyseemedtometotalkagooddealofrubbish。Good—bye，IpromisedtoseeWidowJenkinsthisafternoonabouthavinghervaricoseveinscutout，andImustn’tstopherewastingtimeinpleasantconversation。
　　Shethinksjustasmuchofhervaricoseveinsaswedoofthelossofourwives。"
　　IwonderwhatBastin’sideasofunpleasantconversationmaybe，thoughtItomyself，asIwatchedhimdepartalreadywool—gatheringonsomeothersubject，probablytheheresyofoneofthose"earlyfathers"whooccupiedmostofhisthoughts。
　　Bickleylistenedtomytaleinsympatheticsilence，asadoctordoestoapatient。Whenhewasobligedtospeak，hesaidthatitwasinterestingasanexampleofatendencyofcertainmindstowardsromanticvisionwhichsometimesassertsitself，eveninthethroesofdeath。
　　"Youknow，"headded，"thatIputfaithinnoneofthesethings。IwishthatIcould，butreasonandsciencebothshowmethattheylackfoundation。Theworldonthewholeisasadplace，wherewearrivethroughthepassionsofothersimplantedinthembyNature，which，althoughitcaresnothingforindividualdeath，istendertowardstheimpulseofracesofeverysorttopreservetheircollectivelife。IndeedtheimpulseisNature，oratleastitschiefmanifestation。Consequently，whetherwebegnatsorelephants，oranythingbetweenandbeyond，evenstarsforaughtI
　　know，wemustmakethebestofthingsastheyare，takingthegoodandtheevilastheycomeandgettingallwecanoutoflifeuntilitleavesus，afterwhichweneednottrouble。Youhadagoodtimeforalittlewhileandwerehappyinit；nowyouarehavingabadtimeandarewretched。Perhapsinthefuture，whenyourmentalbalancehasre—asserteditself，youwillhaveothergoodtimesintheafternoonofyourdays，andthenfollowtwilightandthedark。Thatisallthereistohopefor，andwemayaswelllookthethingintheface。OnlyIconfess，mydearfellow，thatyourexperienceconvincesmethatmarriageshouldbeavoidedatwhateverinconvenience。IndeedIhavelongwonderedthatanyonecantaketheresponsibilityofbringingachildintotheworld。Butprobablynobodydoesincoldblood，exceptmisguidedidiotslikeBastin，"headded。"Hewouldhavetwenty，hadnothisluckintervened。"
　　"Thenyoubelieveinnothing，Friend，"Isaid。
　　"Nothing，Iamsorrytosay，exceptwhatIseeandmyfivesensesappreciate。"
　　"Yourejectallpossibilityofmiracle，forinstance？"
　　"Thatdependsonwhatyoumeanbymiracle。Scienceshowsusallkindsofwonderswhichourgreatgrandfatherswouldhavecalledmiracles，butthesearenothingbutlawsthatwearebeginningtounderstand。Givemeaninstance。"
　　"Well，"Irepliedathazard，"ifyouwereassuredbysomeonethatamancouldliveforathousandyears？"
　　"Ishouldtellhimthathewasafooloraliar，thatisall。
　　Itisimpossible。"
　　"Orthatthesameidentity，spirit，animatingprinciple——callitwhatyouwill——canflitfrombodytobody，sayinsuccessiveages？Orthatthedeadcancommunicatewiththeliving？"
　　"Convincemeofanyofthesethings，Arbuthnot，andmindyouI
　　desiretobeconvinced，andIwilltakebackeverywordIhavesaidandwalkthroughFulcombeinawhitesheetproclaimingmyselfthefool。Now，ImustgetofftotheCottageHospitaltocutoutWidowJenkins’svaricoseveins。Theyaretangibleandrealatanyrate；aboutthelargestIeversaw，indeed。Giveupdreams，oldboy，andtaketosomethinguseful。Youmightgobacktoyourfictionwriting；youseemtohaveleaningsthatway，andyouknowyouneednotpublishthestories，exceptprivatelyfortheedificationofyourfriends。"
　　WiththisParthianshaftBickleytookhisdeparturetomakeajobofWidowJenkins’slegs。
　　Itookhisadvice。DuringthenextfewmonthsIdidwritesomethingwhichoccupiedmythoughtsforawhile，moreorless。
　　Itliesinmysafetothisminute，forsomehowIhaveneverbeenabletomakeupmymindtoburnwhatcostmesomuchphysicalandmentaltoil。
　　Whenitwasfinishedmymelancholyreturnedtomewithaddedforce。Everythinginthehousetookatongueandcriedtomeofpastdays。ItswallsechoedavoicethatIcouldneverhearagain；intheverylooking—glassesIsawthereflectionofalostpresence。AlthoughIhadmovedmyselfforthepurposesofsleeptoalittleroomatthefurtherendofthebuilding，footstepsseemedtocreepaboutmybedatnightandIheardtherustleofaremembereddresswithoutthedoor。Theplacegrewhatefultome。
　　IfeltthatImustgetawayfromitorIshouldgomad。
　　OneafternoonBastinarrivedcarryingabookandinastateofhighindignation。Thiswork，written，ashesaid，bysomeribaldtraveller，grosslytraducedthecharacterofmissionariestotheSouthSeaIslands，especiallyofthoseoftheSocietytowhichhesubscribed，andhethrewitonthetableinhisrighteouswrath。
　　BickleypickeditupandopeneditataphotographofaveryprettySouthSeaIslandgirlcladinafewflowersandnothingelse，whichheheldtowardsBastin，saying：
　　"IsittothischildofNature。thatyouobject？Icallherdistinctlyattractive，thoughperhapsshedoeswearherhibiscusbloomswithadifferencetoourwomen——alittlelowerdown。"
　　"Thedevilisalwaysattractive，"repliedBastingloomily。
　　"ChildofNatureindeed！IcallherChildofSin。ThatphotographisenoughtomakemypoorSarahturninhergrave。"
　　"Why？"askedBickley；"seeingthatwideseasrollbetweenyouandthisduskyVenus。AlsoIthoughtthataccordingtoyourHebrewlegendsincameinwithbarkgarments。"
　　"YoushouldsearchtheScriptures，Bickley，"Ibrokein，"andcultivateaccuracy。Itwasfig—leavesthatsymboliseditsarrival。Thegarments，whichIthinkwereofskin，developedlater。"
　　"Perhaps，"wentonBickley，whohadturnedthepage，"she"（hereferredtothelateMrs。Bastin）"wouldhavepreferredherthus，"andheheldupanotherillustrationofthesamewoman。
　　Inthisthenativebelleappearedafterconversion，cladinbroken—downstays——Isupposetheywerestays——outofwhichsheseemedtobulgeandflowineverydirection，adirtywhitedressseveralsizestoosmall，akindofSalvationArmybonnetwithoutacrownandaprayer—bookwhichsheheldpressedtohermiddle；
　　thegeneraleffectbeinghideous，andinsomecuriousway，improper。
　　"Certainly，"saidBastin，"thoughIadmitherclothesdonotseemtofitandshehasnotbuttonedthemupassheought。Butitisnotofthepicturessomuchasoftheletterpresswithitsfalseandscandalousaccusations，thatIcomplain。"
　　"Whydoyoucomplain？"askedBickley。"Probablyitisquitetrue，thoughthatwecouldneverascertainwithoutvisitingthelady’shome。"
　　"IfIcouldaffordit，"exclaimedBastinwithrisinganger，"I
　　shouldliketogothereandexposethisviletraducerofmycloth。"
　　"SoshouldI，"answeredBickley，"andexposetheseintroducersofconsumption，measlesandotherEuropeandiseases，tosaynothingofgin，amonganinnocentandArcadianpeople。"
　　"Howcanyoucalltheminnocent，Bickley，whentheymurderandeatmissionaries？"
　　"Idaresayweshouldalleatamissionary，Bastin，ifwewerehungryenough，"wastheanswer，afterwhichsomethingoccurredtochangetheconversation。
　　ButIkeptthebookandreaditasaneutralobserver，andcametotheconclusionthattheseSouthSeaIslands，alandwhereitwasalwaysafternoon，mustbeacharmingplace，inwhichperhapsthestarsoftheTropicsandthescentoftheflowersmightenableonetoforgetalittle，oratleasttaketheedgeoffmemory。WhyshouldInotvisitthemandescapeanotherlonganddrearyEnglishwinter？No，Icouldnotdosoalone。IfBastinandBickleywerethere，theireternalargumentsmightamuseme。Well，whyshouldtheynotcomealso？Whenonehasmoneythingscanalwaysbearranged。
　　Theidea，whichhaditsrootinthisabsurdconversation，tookacuriousholdonme。Ithoughtofitalltheevening，beingalone，andthatnightitre—arosemmydreams。IdreamedthatmylostNatalieappearedtomeandshowedmeapicture。Itwasofalong，lowland，acurvingshoreofwhichtheendswereoutofthepicture，whereongrewtallpalms，andwheregreatcombersbrokeupongleamingsand。