InthisironicalestimateoftheirrelationGlennardfoundhimselfstrangelyrelievedofallconcernastohiswife’sfeelingsforFlamel。FromanOlympianpinnacleofindifferencehecalmlysurveyedtheirinoffensiveantics。Itwassurprisinghowhischeapeningofhiswifeputhimateasewithhimself。Farasheandshewerefromeachothertheyyethad，inasense，thetacitnearnessofcomplicity。Yes，theywereaccomplices；hecouldnomorebejealousofherthanshecoulddespisehim。Thejealousythatwouldoncehaveseemedabluronherwhitenessnowappearedlikeatributetoidealsinwhichhenolongerbelieved……
Glennardwaslittlegiventoexploringtheoutskirtsofliterature。Healwaysskippedthe"literarynotices"inthepapersandhehadsmallleisurefortheintermittentpleasuresoftheperiodical。Hehadthereforenonotionoftheprolongedreverberationswhichthe"AubynLetters"hadawakenedintheprecinctsofcriticism。Whenthebookceasedtobetalkedabouthesupposedithadceasedtoberead；andthisapparentsubsidenceoftheagitationaboutitbroughtthereassuringsensethathehadexaggerateditsvitality。Theconviction，ifitdidnoteasehisconscience，atleastofferedhimtherelativereliefofobscurity：
hefeltlikeanoffendertakendownfromthepilloryandthrustintothesoothingdarknessofacell。
Butoneevening，whenAlexahadlefthimtogotoadance，hechancedtoturnoverthemagazinesonhertable，andthecopyoftheHoroscope，towhichhesettleddownwithhiscigar，confrontedhim，onitsfirstpage，withaportraitofMargaretAubyn。Itwasareproductionofthephotographthathadstoodsolongonhisdesk。Thedesiccatingairofmemoryhadturnedherintothemereabstractionofawoman，andthisunexpectedevocationseemedtobringhernearerthanshehadeverbeeninlife。Wasitbecauseheunderstoodherbetter？Helookedlongintohereyes；littlepersonaltraitsreachedouttohimlikecaresses——thetireddroopofherlids，herquickwayofleaningforwardasshespoke，themovementsofherlongexpressivehands。Allthatwasfeminineinher，thequalityhehadalwaysmissed，stoletowardhimfromherunreproachfulgaze；andnowthatitwastoolatelifehaddevelopedinhimthesubtlerperceptionswhichcoulddetectitineventhispoorsemblanceofherself。Foramomenthefoundconsolationinthethoughtthat，atanycost，theyhadthusbeenbroughttogether；thenafloodofshamerushedoverhim。Facetofacewithher，hefelthimselflaidbaretotheinmostfoldofconsciousness。Theshamewasdeep，butitwasarenovatinganguish；hewaslikeamanwhomintolerablepainhasrousedfromthecreepinglethargyofdeath……
HerosenextmorningtoasfreshasenseoflifeasthoughhishourofmutecommunionwithMargaretAubynhadbeenamoreexquisiterenewaloftheirearliermeetings。Hiswakingthoughtwasthathemustseeheragain；andasconsciousnessaffirmeditselfhefeltanintensefearoflosingthesenseofhernearness。Butshewasstillclosetohim；herpresenceremainedthesolerealityinaworldofshadows。Allthroughhisworkinghourshewasre—livingwithincredibleminutenesseveryincidentoftheirobliteratedpast；asamanwhohasmasteredthespiritofaforeigntongueturnswithrenewedwondertothepageshisyouthhasploddedover。Inthislucidityofretrospectionthemosttrivialdetailhaditssignificance，andtheraptureofrecoverywasembitteredtoGlennardbytheperceptionofallthathehadmissed。Hehadbeenpitiably，grotesquelystupid；andtherewasironyinthethoughtthat，butforthecrisisthroughwhichhewaspassing，hemighthavelivedonincomplacentignoranceofhisloss。Itwasasthoughshehadboughthimwithherblood……
ThateveningheandAlexadinedalone。Afterdinnerhefollowedhertothedrawing—room。Henolongerfelttheneedofavoidingher；hewashardlyconsciousofherpresence。Afterafewwordstheylapsedintosilenceandhesatsmokingwithhiseyesonthefire。Itwasnotthathewasunwillingtotalktoher；hefeltacuriousdesiretobeaskindaspossible；buthewasalwaysforgettingthatshewasthere。Herfullbrightpresence，throughwhichthecurrentsoflifeflowedsowarmly，hadgrownastenuousasashadow，andhesawsofarbeyondher——
Presentlysheroseandbegantomoveabouttheroom。Sheseemedtobelookingforsomethingandherousedhimselftoaskwhatshewanted。
"OnlythelastnumberoftheHoroscope。IthoughtI’dleftitonthistable。"Hesaidnothing，andshewenton："Youhaven’tseenit？"
"No，"hereturnedcoldly。Themagazinewaslockedinhisdesk。
Hiswifehadmovedtothemantel—piece。Shestoodfacinghimandashelookeduphemethertentativegaze。"Iwasreadinganarticleinit——areviewofMrs。Aubyn’sletters，"sheadded，slowly，withherdeep，deliberateblush。
Glennardstoopedtotosshiscigarintothefire。Hefeltasavagewishthatshewouldnotspeaktheotherwoman’sname；
nothingelseseemedtomatter。"Youseemtodoalotofreading，"
hesaid。
Shestillearnestlyconfrontedhim。"Iwaskeepingthisforyou——
Ithoughtitmightinterestyou，"shesaid，withanairofgentleinsistence。
Hestoodupandturnedaway。Hewassuresheknewthathehadtakenthereviewandhefeltthathewasbeginningtohateheragain。
"Ihaven’ttimeforsuchthings，"hesaid，indifferently。Ashemovedtothedoorheheardhertakeaprecipitatestepforward；
thenshepausedandsankwithoutspeakingintothechairfromwhichhehadrisen。
XI
AsGlennard，intherawFebruarysunlight，mountedtheroadtothecemetery，hefeltthebeatitudethatcomeswithanabruptcessationofphysicalpain。Hehadreachedthepointwhereself—
analysisceases；theimpulsethatmovedhimwaspurelyintuitive。
Hedidnotevenseekareasonforit，beyondtheobviousonethathisdesiretostandbyMargaretAubyn’sgravewaspromptedbynoattemptatasentimentalreparation，butratherbythevagueneedtoaffirminsomewaytherealityofthetiebetweenthem。
TheironicalpromiscuityofdeathhadbroughtMrs。Aubynbacktosharethenarrowhospitalityofherhusband’slastlodging；butthoughGlennardknewshehadbeenburiednearNewYorkhehadnevervisitedhergrave。Hewasoppressed，ashenowthreadedthelongavenues，byachillingvisionofherreturn。Therewasnofamilytofollowherhearse；shehaddiedalone，asshehadlived；
andthe"distinguishedmourners"whohadformedtheescortofthefamouswriterknewnothingofthewomantheywerecommittingtothegrave。Glennardcouldnotevenrememberatwhatseasonshehadbeenburied；buthismoodindulgedthefancythatitmusthavebeenonsomesuchdayofharshsunlight，theincisiveFebruarybrightnessthatgivesperspicuitywithoutwarmth。Thewhiteavenuesstretchedbeforehiminterminably，linedwithstereotypedemblemsofaffliction，asthoughalltheplatitudeseverutteredhadbeenturnedtomarbleandsetupovertheunresistingdead。
Hereandthere，nodoubt，afrigidurnoraninsipidangelimprisonedsomefine—fibredgrief，asthemosthackneyedwordsmaybecomethevehicleofraremeanings；butforthemostparttheendlessalignmentofmonumentsseemedtoembodythoseeasygeneralizationsaboutdeaththatdonotdisturbthereposeoftheliving。Glennard’seye，ashefollowedthewayindicatedtohim，hadinstinctivelysoughtsomelowmoundwithaquietheadstone。
Hehadforgottenthatthedeadseldomplantheirownhouses，andwithapanghediscoveredthenamehesoughtonthecyclopeanbaseofagraniteshaftrearingitsaggressiveheightattheangleoftwoavenues。
"Howshewouldhavehatedit!"hemurmured。
Abenchstoodnearandheseatedhimself。Themonumentrosebeforehimlikesomepretentiousuninhabiteddwelling；hecouldnotbelievethatMargaretAubynlaythere。ItwasaSundaymorningandblackfiguresmovedamongthepaths，placingflowersonthefrost—boundhillocks。Glennardnoticedthattheneighboringgraveshadbeenthusnewlydressed；andhefanciedablindstirofexpectancythroughthesod，asthoughthebaremoundsspreadaparchedsurfacetothatcommemorativerain。Herosepresentlyandwalkedbacktotheentranceofthecemetery。
Severalgreenhousesstoodnearthegates，andturninginatthefirstheaskedforsomeflowers。
"Anythingintheemblematicline？"askedtheanaemicmanbehindthedrippingcounter。
Glennardshookhishead。
"Justcutflowers？Thisway，then。"Thefloristunlockedaglassdoorandledhimdownamoistgreenaisle。Thehotairwaschokedwiththescentofwhiteazaleas，whitelilies，whitelilacs；alltheflowerswerewhite；theywerelikeaprolongation，amysticalefflorescence，ofthelongrowsofmarbletombstones，andtheirperfumeseemedtocoveranodorofdecay。TherichatmospheremadeGlennarddizzy。Asheleanedinthedoorpost，waitingfortheflowers，hehadapenetratingsenseofMargaretAubyn’snearness——nottheimponderablepresenceofhisinnervision，butalifethatbeatwarminhisarms……
Thesharpaircaughthimashesteppedoutintoitagain。Hewalkedbackandscatteredtheflowersoverthegrave。Theedgesofthewhitepetalsshrivelledlikeburntpaperinthecold；andashewatchedthemtheillusionofhernearnessfaded，shrankbackfrozen。
XII
Themotiveofhisvisittothecemeteryremainedundefinedsaveasafinaleffortofescapefromhiswife’sinexpressiveacceptanceofhisshame。Itseemedtohimthataslongashecouldkeephimselfalivetothatshamehewouldnotwhollyhavesuccumbedtoitsconsequences。Hischieffearwasthatheshouldbecomethecreatureofhisact。Hiswife’sindifferencedegradedhim；itseemedtoputhimonalevelwithhisdishonor。MargaretAubynwouldhaveabhorredthedeedinproportiontoherpityfortheman。Thesenseofherpotentialpitydrewhimbacktoher。Theonewomanknewbutdidnotunderstand；theother，itsometimesseemed，understoodwithoutknowing。
Initslastdisguiseofretrospectiveremorse，hisself—pityaffectedadesireforsolitudeandmeditation。Helosthimselfinmorbidmusings，infutilevisionsofwhatlifewithMargaretAubynmighthavebeen。Thereweremomentswhen，inthestrangedislocationofhisview，thewronghehaddoneherseemedatiebetweenthem。
Toindulgetheseemotionshefellintothehabit，onSundayafternoons，ofsolitarywalksprolongedtillafterdusk。Thedayswerelengthening，therewasatouchofspringintheair，andhiswanderingsnowusuallyledhimtotheParkanditsoutlyingregions。
OneSunday，tiredofaimlesslocomotion，hetookacabattheParkgatesandletitcarryhimouttotheRiversideDrive。Itwasagrayafternoonstreakedwitheastwind。Glennard’scabadvancedslowly，andasheleanedback，gazingwithabsentintentnessatthedesertedpathsthatwoundunderbareboughsbetweengrassbanksofprematurevividness，hisattentionwasarrestedbytwofigureswalkingaheadofhim。Thiscouple，whohadthepathtothemselves，movedatanunevenpace，asthoughadaptingtheirgaittoaconversationmarkedbymeditativeintervals。Nowandthentheypaused，andinoneofthesepausesthelady，turningtowardhercompanion，showedGlennardtheoutlineofhiswife’sprofile。
ThemanwasFlamel。
ThebloodrushedtoGlennard’sforehead。Hesatupwithajerkandpushedbackthelidintheroofofthehansom；butwhenthecabmanbentdownhedroppedintohisseatwithoutspeaking。Then，becomingconsciousoftheprolongedinterrogationoftheliftedlid，hecalledout——"Turn——driveback——anywhere——I’minahurry——"
Asthecabswungroundhecaughtalastglimpseofthetwofigures。Theyhadnotmoved；Alexa，withbenthead，stoodlistening。
"MyGod，myGod——"hegroaned。
Itwashideous——itwasabominable——hecouldnotunderstandit。
Thewomanwasnothingtohim——lessthannothing——yetthebloodhummedinhisearsandhungacloudbeforehim。Heknewitwasonlythestirringoftheprimalinstinct，thatithadnomoretodowithhisreasoningselfthananyrefleximpulseofthebody；
butthatmerelyloweredanguishtodisgust。Yes，itwasdisgusthefelt——almostaphysicalnausea。Thepoisonousfumesoflifewereinhislungs。Hewassick，unutterablysick……
Hedrovehomeandwenttohisroom。Theyweregivingalittledinnerthatnight，andwhenhecamedowntheguestswerearriving。
Helookedathiswife：herbeautywasextraordinary，butitseemedtohimthebeautyofasmoothseaalonganunlitcoast。Shefrightenedhim。
Hesatlatethatnightinhisstudy。Heheardtheparlor—maidlockthefrontdoor；thenhiswifewentupstairsandthelightswereputout。Hisbrainwaslikesomegreatemptyhallwithanechoinit；onethoughtreverberatedendlessly……Atlengthhedrewhischairtothetableandbegantowrite。Headdressedanenvelopeandthenslowlyre—readwhathehadwritten。
"MYDEARFLAMEL"
"Manyapologiesfornotsendingyousoonertheenclosedcheck，whichrepresentsthecustomarypercentageonthesaleoftheLetters。"
"Trustingyouwillexcusetheoversight，"Yourstruly，"STEPHENGLENNARD。"
Helethimselfoutofthedarkenedhouseanddroppedtheletterinthepost—boxatthecorner。
Thenextafternoonhewasdetainedlateathisoffice，andashewaspreparingtoleaveheheardsomeoneaskingforhimintheouterroom。HeseatedhimselfagainandFlamelwasshownin。
Thetwomen，asGlennardpushedasideanobstructivechair，hadamomenttomeasureeachother；thenFlameladvanced，anddrawingouthisnote—case，laidaslipofpaperonthedesk。
"Mydearfellow，whatonearthdoesthismean？"Glennardrecognizedhischeck。
"ThatIwasremiss，simply。Itoughttohavegonetoyoubefore。"
Flamel’stonehadbeenthatofunaffectedsurprise，butatthishisaccentchangedandheasked，quickly："Onwhatground？"
Glennardhadmovedawayfromthedeskandstoodleaningagainstthecalf—backedvolumesofthebookcase。"OnthegroundthatyousoldMrs。Aubyn’slettersforme，andthatIfindtheintermediaryinsuchcasesisentitledtoapercentageonthesale。"
Flamelpausedbeforeanswering。"Youfind，yousay。It’sarecentdiscovery？"
"Obviously，frommynotsendingthechecksooner。YouseeI’mnewtothebusiness。"
"Andsincewhenhaveyoudiscoveredthattherewasanyquestionofbusiness，asfarasIwasconcerned？"
Glennardflushedandhisvoiceroseslightly。"Areyoureproachingmefornothavingremembereditsooner？"
Flamel，whohadspokenintherapidrepressedtoneofamanonthevergeofanger，staredamomentatthisandthen，inhisnaturalvoice，rejoined，good—humoredly，"Uponmysoul，Idon’tunderstandyou!"
ThechangeofkeyseemedtodisconcertGlennard。"It’ssimpleenough——"hemuttered。
"Simpleenough——yourofferingmemoneyinreturnforafriendlyservice？Idon’tknowwhatyourotherfriendsexpect!"
"Someofmyfriendswouldn’thaveundertakenthejob。Thosewhowouldhavedonesowouldprobablyhaveexpectedtobepaid。"
HeliftedhiseyestoFlamelandthetwomenlookedateachother。
Flamelhadturnedwhiteandhislipsstirred，butheheldhistemperatenote。"Ifyoumeantoimplythatthejobwasnotaniceone，youlayyourselfopentotheretortthatyouproposedit。
ButformypartI’veneverseen，Inevershallsee，anyreasonfornotpublishingtheletters。"
"That’sjustit!"
"What——？"
"Thecertaintyofyournotseeingwaswhatmademegotoyou。
Whenaman’sgotstolengoodstopawnhedoesn’ttakethemtothepolice—station。"
"Stolen？"Flamelechoed。"Theletterswerestolen？"
Glennardburstintoacoarselaugh。"Howmuchlongertoyouexpectmetokeepupthatpretenceabouttheletters？Youknewwellenoughtheywerewrittentome。"
Flamellookedathiminsilence。"Werethey？"hesaidatlength。
"Ididn’tknowit。"
"Anddidn’tsuspectit，Isuppose，"Glennardsneered。
Theotherwasagainsilent；thenhesaid，"Imayremindyouthat，supposingIhadfeltanycuriosityaboutthematter，Ihadnowayoffindingoutthattheletterswerewrittentoyou。Younevershowedmetheoriginals。"
"Whatdoesthatprove？Therewerefiftywaysoffindingout。
It’sthekindofthingonecaneasilydo。"
Flamelglancedathimwithcontempt。"Ourideasprobablydifferastowhatamancaneasilydo。Itwouldnothavebeeneasyforme。"
Glennard’sangerventeditselfinthewordsuppermostinhisthought。"Itmay，then，interestyoutohearthatmywifeDOES
knowabouttheletters——hasknownforsomemonths……"
"Ah，"saidtheother，slowly。Glennardsawthat，inhisblindclutchataweapon，hehadseizedtheonemostapttowound。
Flamel’smuscleswereundercontrol，buthisfaceshowedtheundefinablechangeproducedbytheslowinfiltrationofpoison。
Everyimplicationthatthewordscontainedhadreacheditsmark；
butGlennardfeltthattheirobviousintentionwaslostintheanguishofwhattheysuggested。HewassurenowthatFlamelwouldneverhavebetrayedhim；buttheinferenceonlymadeawideroutletforhisanger。HepausedbreathlesslyforFlameltospeak。
"Ifsheknows，it’snotthroughme。"ItwaswhatGlennardhadwaitedfor。
"Throughyou，byGod？Whosaiditwasthroughyou？DoyousupposeIleaveittoyou，ortoanybodyelse，forthatmatter，tokeepmywifeinformedofmyactions？Ididn’tsupposeevensuchegregiousconceitasyourscoulddeludeamantothatdegree!"
Strugglingforafootholdinthesmalllandslideofhisdignity，headded，inasteadiertone，"Mywifelearnedthefactsfromme。"
Flamelreceivedthisinsilence。Theother’soutbreakseemedtohavereinforcedhisself—control，andwhenhespokeitwaswithadeliberationimplyingthathiscoursewaschosen。"InthatcaseI
understandstillless——"
"Stillless——？"
"Themeaningofthis。"Hepointedtothecheck。"WhenyoubegantospeakIsupposedyouhadmeantitasabribe；nowIcanonlyinferitwasintendedasarandominsult。Ineithercase，here’smyanswer。"
HetoretheslipofpaperintwoandtossedthefragmentsacrossthedesktoGlennard。Thenheturnedandwalkedoutoftheoffice。
Glennarddroppedhisheadonhishands。Ifhehadhopedtorestorehisself—respectbythesimpleexpedientofassailingFlamel’s，theresulthadnotjustifiedhisexpectation。Theblowhehadstruckhadbluntedtheedgeofhisanger，andtheunforeseenextentofthehurtinflicteddidnotalterthefactthathisweaponhadbrokeninhishands。HesawnowthathisrageagainstFlamelwasonlythelastprojectionofapassionateself—
disgust。Thisconsciousnessdidnotdullhisdislikeoftheman；
itsimplymadereprisalsineffectual。Flamel’sunwillingnesstoquarrelwithhimwasthelaststageofhisabasement。
Inthelightofthisfinalhumiliationhisassumptionofhiswife’sindifferencestruckhimashardlysofatuousasthesentimentalresuscitationofhispast。Hehadbeenlivinginafactitiousworldwhereinhisemotionswerethesycophantsofhisvanity，anditwaswithinstinctivereliefthathefeltitsruinscrashabouthishead。
Itwasnearlydarkwhenhelefthisoffice，andhewalkedslowlyhomewardinthecompletementalabeyancethatfollowsonsuchacrisis。Hewasnotawarethathewasthinkingofhiswife；yetwhenhereachedhisowndoorhefoundthat，intheinvoluntaryreadjustmentofhisvision，shehadoncemorebecomethecentralpointofconsciousness。
XIII
Ithadneverbeforeoccurredtohimthatshemight，afterall，havemissedthepurportofthedocumenthehadputinherway。
Whatif，inherhurriedinspectionofthepapers，shehadpasseditoverasrelatedtotheprivatebusinessofsomeclient？What，forinstance，wastopreventherconcludingthatGlennardwasthecounseloftheunknownpersonwhohadsoldthe"AubynLetters。"
Thesubjectwasonenotlikelytofixherattention——shewasnotacuriouswoman。
Glennardatthispointlaiddownhisforkandglancedatherbetweenthecandle—shades。Thealternativeexplanationofherindifferencewasnotslowinpresentingitself。HerheadhadthesamelisteningdroopaswhenhehadcaughtsightofherthedaybeforeinFlamel’scompany；theattituderevivedthevividnessofhisimpression。Itwassimpleenough，afterall。Shehadceasedtocareforhimbecauseshecaredforsomeoneelse。
Ashefollowedherupstairshefeltasuddenstirringofhisdormantanger。Hissentimentshadlostalltheirfactitiouscomplexity。Hehadalreadyacquittedherofanyconnivanceinhisbaseness，andhefeltonlythathelovedherandthatshehadescapedhim。Thiswasnow，strangelyenough，hisdominatingthought：theconsciousnessthatheandshehadpassedthroughthefusionofloveandhademergedfromitasincommunicablyapartasthoughthetransmutationhadnevertakenplace。Everyotherpassion，hemused，leftsomemarkuponthenature；butlovepassedliketheflightofashipacrossthewaters。
Shesankintoherusualseatnearthelamp，andheleanedagainstthechimney，movingaboutwithaninattentivehandtheknick—
knacksonthemantel。
Suddenlyhecaughtsightofherreflectioninthemirror。Shewaslookingathim。Heturnedandtheireyesmet。
Hemovedacrosstheroomandstoodbeforeher。
"There’ssomethingthatIwanttosaytoyou，"hebeganinalowtone。
Sheheldhisgaze，buthercolordeepened。Henoticedagain，withajealouspang，howherbeautyhadgainedinwarmthandmeaning。
Itwasasthoughatransparentcuphadbeenfilledwithwine。Helookedatherironically。
"I’veneverpreventedyourseeingyourfriendshere，"hebrokeout。"WhydoyoumeetFlamelinout—of—the—wayplaces？Nothingmakesawomansocheap——"
Sheroseabruptlyandtheyfacedeachotherafewfeetapart。
"Whatdoyoumean？"sheasked。
"IsawyouwithhimlastSundayontheRiversideDrive，"hewenton，theutteranceofthechargerevivinghisanger。
"Ah，"shemurmured。Shesankintoherchairagainandbegantoplaywithapaper—knifethatlayonthetableatherelbow。
Hersilenceexasperatedhim。
"Well？"heburstout。"Isthatallyouhavetosay？"
"Doyouwishmetoexplain？"sheasked，proudly。
"DoyouimplyIhaven’ttherightto？"
"Iimplynothing。Iwilltellyouwhateveryouwishtoknow。I
wentforawalkwithMr。Flamelbecauseheaskedmeto。"
"Ididn’tsupposeyouwentuninvited。Buttherearecertainthingsasensiblewomandoesn’tdo。Shedoesn’tslinkaboutinout—of—the—waystreetswithmen。Whycouldn’tyouhaveseenhimhere？"
Shehesitated。"Becausehewantedtoseemealone。"
"Didhe，indeed？AndmayIaskifyougratifyallhiswisheswithequalalacrity？"
"Idon’tknowthathehasanyotherswhereIamconcerned。"Shepausedagainandthencontinued，inalowervoicethatsomehowhadanunder—noteofwarning。"Hewishedtobidmegood—by。He’sgoingaway。"
Glennardturnedonherastartledglance。"Goingaway？"
"He’sgoingtoEuropeto—morrow。Hegoesforalongtime。I
supposedyouknew。"
Thelastphraserevivedhisirritation。"YouforgetthatIdependonyouformyinformationaboutFlamel。He’syourfriendandnotmine。Infact，I’vesometimeswonderedatyourgoingoutofyourwaytobesociviltohimwhenyoumustseeplainlyenoughthatI
don’tlikehim。"
Heranswertothiswasnotimmediate。Sheseemedtobechoosingherwordswithcare，notsomuchforherownsakeasforhis，andhisexasperationwasincreasedbythesuspicionthatshewastryingtosparehim。
"Hewasyourfriendbeforehewasmine。IneverknewhimtillI
wasmarried。Itwasyouwhobroughthimtothehouseandwhoseemedtowishmetolikehim。"
Glennardgaveashortlaugh。Thedefencewasfeeblerthanhehadexpected：shewascertainlynotacleverwoman。
"Yourdeferencetomywishesisreallybeautiful；butit’snotthefirsttimeinhistorythatamanhasmadeamistakeinintroducinghisfriendstohiswife。Youmust，atanyrate，haveseensincethenthatmyenthusiasmhadcooled；butso，perhaps，hasyoureagernesstoobligeme。"
Shemetthiswithasilencethatseemedtorobthetauntofhalfitsefficacy。
"Isthatwhatyouimply？"hepressedher。
"No，"sheansweredwithsuddendirectness。"Inoticedsometimeagothatyouseemedtodislikehim，butsincethen——"
"Well——sincethen？"
"I’veimaginedthatyouhadreasonsforstillwishingmetobeciviltohim，asyoucallit。"
"Ah，"saidGlennard，withaneffortatlightness；buthisironydropped，forsomethinginhervoicemadehimfeelthatheandshestoodatlastinthatnakeddesertofapprehensionwheremeaningskulksvainlybehindspeech。
"Andwhydidyouimaginethis？"Thebloodmountedtohisforehead。"BecausehetoldyouthatIwasunderobligationstohim？"
Sheturnedpale。"Underobligations？"
"Oh，don’tlet’sbeataboutthebush。Didn’thetellyouitwasI
whopublishedMrs。Aubyn’sletters？Answermethat。"
"No，"shesaid；andafteramomentwhichseemedgiventotheweighingofalternatives，sheadded："Noonetoldme。"
"Youdidn’tknowthen？"
Sheseemedtospeakwithaneffort。"Notuntil——notuntil——"
"TillIgaveyouthosepaperstosort？"
Herheadsank。
"Youunderstoodthen？"
"Yes。"
Helookedatherimmovableface。"Hadyoususpected——before？"wasslowlywrungfromhim。
"Attimes——yes——"Hervoicedroppedtoawhisper。
"Why？Fromanythingthatwassaid——？"
Therewasashadeofpityinherglance。"Noonesaidanything——
noonetoldmeanything。"Shelookedawayfromhim。"Itwasyourmanner——"
"Mymanner？"
"Wheneverthebookwasmentioned。Thingsyousaid——onceortwice——
yourirritation——Ican’texplain——"
Glennard，unconsciously，hadmovednearer。Hebreathedlikeamanwhohasbeenrunning。"Youknew，then，youknew"——hestammered。
TheavowalofherloveforFlamelwouldhavehurthimless，wouldhaverenderedherlessremote。"Youknew——youknew——"herepeated；andsuddenlyhisanguishgatheredvoice。"MyGod!"hecried，"yoususpecteditfirst，yousay——andthenyouknewit——
thisdamnable，thisaccursedthing；youknewitmonthsago——it’smonthssinceIputthatpaperinyourway——andyetyou’vedonenothing，you’vesaidnothing，you’vemadenosign，you’velivedalongsideofmeasifithadmadenodifference——nodifferenceineitherofourlives。Whatareyoumadeof，Iwonder？Don’tyouseethehideousignominyofit？Don’tyouseehowyou’vesharedinmydisgrace？Orhaven’tyouanysenseofshame？"
Hepreservedsufficientlucidity，asthewordspouredfromhim，toseehowfatallytheyinvitedherderision；butsomethingtoldhimtheyhadbothpassedbeyondthephaseofobviousretaliations，andthatifanychordinherrespondeditwouldnotbethatofscorn。
Hewasright。Sheroseslowlyandmovedtowardhim。
"Haven’tyouhadenough——withoutthat？"shesaid，inastrangevoiceofpity。
Hestaredather。"Enough——？"
"Ofmisery……"
Anironbandseemedloosenedfromhistemples。"Yousawthen……？"
hewhispered。
"Oh，God————oh，God————"shesobbed。Shedroppedbesidehimandhidheranguishagainsthisknees。Theyclungthusinsilence，alongtime，driventogetherdownthesamefierceblastofshame。
Whenatlengthsheliftedherfaceheavertedhis。Herscornwouldhavehurthimlessthanthetearsonhishands。
Shespokelanguidly，likeachildemergingfromapassionofweeping。"Itwasforthemoney——？"
Hislipsshapedanassent。
"Thatwastheinheritance——thatwemarriedon？"
"Yes。"
Shedrewbackandrosetoherfeet。Hesatwatchingherasshewanderedawayfromhim。
"Youhateme，"brokefromhim。
Shemadenoanswer。
"Sayyouhateme!"hepersisted。
"Thatwouldhavebeensosimple，"sheansweredwithastrangesmile。Shedroppedintoachairnearthewriting—tableandrestedabowedforeheadonherhand。
"Wasitmuch——？"shebeganatlength。
"Much——？"hereturned，vaguely。
"Themoney。"
"Themoney？"Thatpartofitseemedtocountsolittlethatforamomenthedidnotfollowherthought。
"Itmustbepaidback，"sheinsisted。"Canyoudoit？"
"Oh，yes，"hereturned，listlessly。"Icandoit。"
"Iwouldmakeanysacrificeforthat!"sheurged。
Henodded。"Ofcourse。"Hesatstaringatherindry—eyedself—
contempt。"Doyoucountonitsmakingmuchdifference？"
"Muchdifference？"
"InthewayIfeel——oryoufeelaboutme？"
Sheshookherhead。
"It’stheleastpartofit，"hegroaned。
"It’stheonlypartwecanrepair。"
"Goodheavens!Iftherewereanyreparation——"Herosequicklyandcrossedthespacethatdividedthem。"Whydidyouneverspeak？"heasked。
"Haven’tyouansweredthatyourself？"
"Answeredit？"
"Justnow——whenyoutoldmeyoudiditforme。"Shepausedamomentandthenwentonwithadeepeningnote——"IwouldhavespokenifIcouldhavehelpedyou。"
"Butyoumusthavedespisedme。"
"I’vetoldyouthatwouldhavebeensimpler。"
"Buthowcouldyougoonlikethis——hatingthemoney？"
"Iknewyouwouldspeakintime。Iwantedyou，first，tohateitasIdid。"
Hegazedatherwithakindofawe。"You’rewonderful，"hemurmured。"Butyoudon’tyetknowthedepthsI’vereached。"
Sheraisedanentreatinghand。"Idon’twantto!"
"You’reafraid，then，thatyou’llhateme？"
"No——butthatyou’llhateME。Letmeunderstandwithoutyourtellingme。"
"Youcan’t。It’stoobase。Ithoughtyoudidn’tcarebecauseyoulovedFlamel。"
Sheblusheddeeply。"Don’t——don’t——"shewarnedhim。
"Ihaven’ttherightto，youmean？"
"Imeanthatyou’llbesorry。"
Hestoodimploringlybeforeher。"Iwanttosaysomethingworse——
somethingmoreoutrageous。Ifyoudon’tunderstandTHISyou’llbeperfectlyjustifiedinorderingmeoutofthehouse。"
Sheansweredhimwithaglanceofdivination。"Ishallunderstand——butyou’llbesorry。"
"Imusttakemychanceofthat。"Hemovedawayandtossedthebooksaboutthetable。Thenheswungroundandfacedher。"DoesFlamelcareforyou？"heasked。
Herflushdeepened，butshestilllookedathimwithoutanger。
"Whatwouldbetheuse？"shesaidwithanoteofsadness。
"Ah，Ididn’taskTHAT，"hepenitentlymurmured。
"Well，then——"
Tothisadjurationhemadenoresponsebeyondthatofgazingatherwithaneyewhichseemednowtoviewherasamerefactorinanimmenseredistributionofmeanings。
"IinsultedFlamelto—day。IlethimseethatIsuspectedhimofhavingtoldyou。Ihatedhimbecauseheknewabouttheletters。"
Hecaughtthespreadinghorrorofhereyes，andforaninstanthehadtograpplewiththenewtemptationtheylitup。Thenhesaid，withaneffort——"Don’tblamehim——he’simpeccable。Hehelpedmetogetthempublished；butIliedtohimtoo；Ipretendedtheywerewrittentoanotherman……amanwhowasdead……"
Sheraisedherarmsinagesturethatseemedtowardoffhisblows。
"YouDOdespiseme!"heinsisted。
"Ah，thatpoorwoman——thatpoorwoman——"heheardhermurmur。
"Isparenoone，yousee!"hetriumphedoverher。Shekeptherfacehidden。
"Youdohateme，youdodespiseme!"hestrangelyexulted。
"Besilent!"shecommandedhim；butheseemednolongerconsciousofanycheckonhisgatheringpurpose。
"Hecaredforyou——hecaredforyou，"herepeated，"andhenevertoldyouoftheletters——"
Shesprangtoherfeet。"Howcanyou？"sheflamed。"Howdareyou？THAT——!"
Glennardwasashypale。"It’saweapon……likeanother……"
"Ascoundrel’s!"
Hesmiledwretchedly。"Ishouldhaveuseditinhisplace。"
"Stephen!Stephen!"shecried，asthoughtodrowntheblasphemyonhislips。Sheswepttohimwitharescuinggesture。"Don’tsaysuchthings。Iforbidyou!Itdegradesusboth。"
Heputherbackwithtremblinghands。"NothingthatIsayofmyselfcandegradeyou。We’reondifferentlevels。"
"I’monyours，whateveritis!"
Heliftedhisheadandtheirgazeflowedtogether。
XIV
Thegreatrenewalstakeeffectasimperceptiblyasthefirstworkingsofspring。Glennard，thoughhefelthimselfbroughtnearertohiswife，wasstill，asitwere，hardlywithinspeakingdistance。Hewasbutlaboriouslyacquiringtherudimentsoftheirnewmediumofcommunication；andhehadtogropeforherthroughthedensefogofhishumiliation，thedistortingvaporagainstwhichhispersonalityloomedgrotesqueandmean。
Onlythefactthatweareunawarehowwellournearestknowusenablesustolivewiththem。Loveisthemostimpregnablerefugeofself—esteem，andwehatetheeyethatreachestoournakedness。
IfGlennarddidnothatehiswifeitwasslowly，sufferingly，thattherewasborninhimthatprofounderpassionwhichmadehisearlierfeelingseemamerecommotionoftheblood。Hewaslikeachildcomingbacktothesenseofanenvelopingpresence：hernearnesswasabreastonwhichheleaned。
Theydidnot，atfirst，talkmuchtogether，andeachbeatadevioustrackabouttheoutskirtsofthesubjectthatlaybetweenthemlikeahauntedwood。Buteveryword，everyaction，seemedtoglanceatit，todrawtowardit，asthoughafountofhealingspranginitspoisonedshade。Ifonlytheymightcutawaythroughthethickettothatrestoringspring!
Glennard，watchinghiswifewiththeintentnessofawanderertowhomnonaturalsignisnegligible，sawthatshehadtakentemporaryrefugeinthepurposeofrenouncingthemoney。Ifboth，theoretically，ownedtheinefficacyofsuchamends，thewoman’sinstinctivesubjectivenessmadeherfindreliefinthiscrudeformofpenance。Glennardsawthatshemeanttoliveasfrugallyaspossibletillwhatshedeemedtheirdebtwasdischarged；andheprayedshemightnotdiscoverhowfar—reaching，initsmerelymaterialsense，wastheobligationshethushopedtoacquit。Hermindwasfixedonthesumoriginallypaidfortheletters，andthisheknewhecouldlayasideinayearortwo。Hewastouched，meanwhile，bythespiritthatmadeherdiscardthepettyluxurieswhichsheregardedasthesignsoftheirbondage。Theirsharedrenunciationsdrewhernearertohim，helped，intheirevidenceofherhelplessness，torestorethefullprotectingstatureofhislove。Andstilltheydidnotspeak。
Itwasseveralweekslaterthat，oneafternoonbythedrawing—roomfire，shehandedhimaletterthatshehadbeenreadingwhenheentered。
"I’veheardfromMr。Flamel，"shesaid。
Glennardturnedpale。Itwasasthoughalatentpresencehadsuddenlybecomevisibletoboth。Hetookthelettermechanically。
"It’sfromSmyrna，"shesaid。"Won’tyoureadit？"
Hehandeditback。"Youcantellmeaboutit——hishand’ssoillegible。"Hewanderedtotheotherendoftheroomandthenturnedandstoodbeforeher。"I’vebeenthinkingofwritingtoFlamel，"hesaid。
Shelookedup。
"There’sonepoint，"hecontinued，slowly，"thatIoughttoclearup。Itoldhimyou’dknownaboutthelettersallalong；foralongtime，atleast；andIsawithurthimhorribly。ItwasjustwhatImeanttodo，ofcourse；butIcan’tleavehimtothatfalseimpression；Imustwritehim。"
Shereceivedthiswithoutoutwardmovement，buthesawthatthedepthswerestirred。Atlengthshereturned，inahesitatingtone，"Whydoyoucallitafalseimpression？Ididknow。"
"Yes，butIimpliedyoudidn’tcare。"
"Ah!"
Hestillstoodlookingdownonher。"Don’tyouwantmetosetthatright？"hetentativelypursued。
Sheliftedherheadandfixedhimbravely。"Itisn’tnecessary，"
shesaid。
Glennardflushedwiththeshockoftheretort；then，withagestureofcomprehension，"No，"hesaid，"withyouitcouldn’tbe；
butImightstillsetmyselfright。"
Shelookedathimgently。"Don’tI，"shemurmured，"dothat？"
"Inbeingyourselfmerely？Alas，therehabilitation’stoocomplete!Youmakemeseem——tomyselfeven——whatI’mnot；whatI
canneverbe。Ican’t，attimes，defendmyselffromthedelusion；
butIcanatleastenlightenothers。"
Thefloodwasloosened，andkneelingbyherhecaughtherhands。
"Don’tyouseethatit’sbecomeanobsessionwithme？ThatifI
couldstripmyselfdowntothelastlie——onlythere’dalwaysbeanotheroneleftunderit!——anddopenancenakedinthemarket—
place，Ishouldatleasthavethereliefofeasingoneanguishbyanother？Don’tyouseethattheworstofmytortureistheimpossibilityofsuchamends？"
Herhandslayinhiswithoutreturningpressure。"Ah，poorwoman，poorwoman，"heheardhersigh。
"Don’tpityher，pityme!WhathaveIdonetoherortoyou，afterall？You’rebothinaccessible!ItwasmyselfIsold。"
Hetookanabruptturnawayfromher；thenhaltedbeforeheragain。"Howmuchlonger，"heburstout，"doyousupposeyoucanstandit？You’vebeenmagnificent，you’vebeeninspired，butwhat’stheuse？Youcan’twipeouttheignominyofit。It’smiserableforyouanditdoesHERnogood!"
Sheliftedavividface。"That’sthethoughtIcan’tbear!"shecried。
"Whatthought？"
"Thatitdoeshernogood——allyou’refeeling，allyou’resuffering。Canitbethatitmakesnodifference？"
Heavoidedherchallengingglance。"What’sdoneisdone，"hemuttered。
"Isitever，quite，Iwonder？"shemused。Hemadenoanswerandtheylapsedintooneofthepausesthatareasubterraneanchannelofcommunication。
Itwasshewho，afterawhile，begantospeakwithanewsuffusingdiffidencethatmadehimturnarousedeyeonher。
"Don’ttheysay，"sheasked，feelingherwayasinakindoftenderapprehensiveness，"thattheearlyChristians，insteadofpullingdowntheheathentemples——thetemplesoftheuncleangods——
purifiedthembyturningthemtotheirownuses？I’vealwaysthoughtonemightdothatwithone’sactions——theactionsoneloathesbutcan’tundo。Onecanmake，Imean，awrongthedoortootherwrongsoranimpassablewallagainstthem……"Hervoicewaveredontheword。"Wecan’talwaysteardownthetempleswe’vebuilttotheuncleangods，butwecanputgoodspiritsinthehouseofevil——thespiritsofmercyandshameandunderstanding，thatmightneverhavecometousifwehadn’tbeeninsuchgreatneed……"
Shemovedovertohimandlaidahesitatinghandonhis。Hisheadwasbentandhedidnotchangehisattitude。Shesatdownbesidehimwithoutspeaking；buttheirsilencesnowwerefertileasrain—
clouds——theyquickenedtheseedsofunderstanding。
Atlengthhelookedup。"Idon’tknow，"hesaid，"whatspiritshavecometoliveinthehouseofevilthatIbuilt——butyou’rethereandthat’senoughforme。It’sstrange，"hewentonafteranotherpause，"shewishedthebestformesooften，andnow，atlast，it’sthroughherthatit’scometome。ButforherI
shouldn’thaveknownyou——it’sthroughherthatI’vefoundyou。
Sometimes，doyouknow？——thatmakesithardest——makesmemostintolerabletomyself。Can’tyouseethatit’stheworstthingI’vegottoface？IsometimesthinkIcouldhaveborneitbetterifyouhadn’tunderstood!Itookeverythingfromher——everything——
eventothepoorshelterofloyaltyshe’dtrustedin——theonlythingIcouldhavelefther!——Itookeverythingfromher，I
deceivedher，Idespoiledher，Idestroyedher——andshe’sgivenmeYOUinreturn!"
Hiswife’scrycaughthimup。"Itisn’tthatshe’sgivenMEtoyou——itisthatshe’sgivenyoutoyourself。"Sheleanedtohimasthoughsweptforwardonawaveofpity。"Don’tyousee，"shewenton，ashiseyeshungonher，"thatthat’sthegiftyoucan’tescapefrom，thedebtyou’repledgedtoacquit？Don’tyouseethatyou’veneverbeforebeenwhatshethoughtyou，andthatnow，sowonderfully，she’smadeyouintothemansheloved？THAT’S
worthsufferingfor，worthdyingfor，toawoman——that’sthegiftshewouldhavewishedtogive!"
"Ah，"hecried，"butwoetohimbywhomitcometh。WhatdidI
evergiveher？"
"Thehappinessofgiving，"shesaid。
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