It’sthepovertyofthelifethosepeopleshow，andtheawfulbounders，ofbothsexes，thattheyrepresent。"
"Ohnowwehaveyou！"herinterlocutorlaughed。"Tome，whenall’ssaidanddone，theyseemtobe——asnearasartcancome——inthetruthofthetruth。Itcanonlytakewhatlifegivesit，thoughitcertainlymaybeapitythatthatisn’tbetter。Yourcomplaintoftheirmonotonyisacomplaintoftheirconditions。Whenyousaywegetalwaysthesamecouplewhatdoyoumeanbutthatwegetalwaysthesamepassion？Ofcoursewedo！"Voytpursued。"Ifwhatyou’relookingforisanother，that’swhatyouwon’tanywherefind。"
Maudforawhilesaidnothing，andMrs。Dyottseemedtowait。
"Well，IsupposeI’mlooking，morethananythingelse，foradecentwoman。"
"Ohthenyoumustn’tlookforherinpicturesofpassion。That’snotherelementnorherwhereabouts。"
Mrs。Blessingbourneweighedtheobjection。"Doesitnotdependonwhatyoumeanbypassion？"
"IthinkIcanmeanonlyonething：theenemytobehaviour。"
"OhIcanimaginepassionsthatareonthecontraryfriendstoit。"
Herfellow-guestthought。"Doesn’titdependperhapsonwhatyoumeanbybehaviour？"
"Dearno。Behaviour’sjustbehaviour——themostdefinitethingintheworld。"
"Thenwhatdoyoumeanbythe’interest’youjustnowspokeof？
Thepictureofthatdefinitething？"
"Yes——callitthat。Womenaren’tALWAYSvicious，evenwhenthey’re——"
"Whenthey’rewhat？"Voytpressed。
"Whenthey’reunhappy。Theycanbeunhappyandgood。"
"Thatonedoesn’tforamomentdeny。Butcantheybe’good’andinteresting？"
"ThatmustbeMaud’ssubject！"Mrs。Dyottinterposed。"ToshowawomanwhoIS。I’mafraid，mydear，"shecontinued，"youcouldonlyshowyourself。"
"You’dshowthenthemostbeautifulspecimenconceivable"——andVoytaddressedhimselftoMaud。"Butdoesn’titprovethatlifeis，againstyourcontention，moreinterestingthanart？Lifeyouembellishandelevate;butartwouldfinditselfabletodonothingwithyou，and，onsuchimpossibleterms，wouldruinyou。"
Thecolourinherfaintconsciousnessgavebeautytoherstare。
"’Ruin’me？"
"Hemeans，"Mrs。Dyottagainindicated，"thatyou’druin’art。’"
"Withoutontheotherhand"——Voytseemedtoassent——"itsgivingatallacoherentimpressionofyou。"
"Shewantsherromancecheap！"saidMrs。Dyott。
"Ohno——Ishouldbewillingtopayforit。Idon’tseewhytheromance——sinceyougiveitthatname——shouldbeall，astheFrenchinveteratelymakeit，forthewomenwhoarebad。"
"Ohtheypayforit！"saidMrs。Dyott。
"DOthey？"
"Soatleast"——Mrs。Dyottalittlecorrectedherself——"onehasgathered（forIdon’treadyourbooks，youknow！）thatthey’reusuallyshownasdoing。"
Maudwondered，butlookingatVoyt，"They’reshownoften，nodoubt，aspayingfortheirbadness。Butaretheyshownaspayingfortheirromance？"
"Mydearlady，"saidVoyt，"theirromanceistheirbadness。Thereisn’tanyother。It’sahardlaw，ifyouwill，andastrange，butgoodnesshastogowithoutthatluxury。Isn’ttoBEgoodjustexactly，allround，togowithout？"Heputitbeforeherkindlyandclearly——regretfullytoo，asifheweresorrythetruthshouldbesosad。Heandshe，hispleasanteyesseemedtosay，would，hadtheyhadthemakingofit，havemadeitbetter。"Onehashearditbefore——atleastIhave;onehasheardyourquestionput。Butalways，whenputtoamindnotmerelymuddled，foraninevitableanswer。’Whydon’tyou，chermonsieur，giveusthedramaofvirtue？’’Because，cheremadame，thehighprivilegeofvirtueispreciselytoavoiddrama。’Theadventuresofthehonestlady？Thehonestladyhasn’t，can’tpossiblyhave，adventures。"
Mrs。Blessingbourneonlymethiseyesatfirst，smilingwithsomeintensity。"Doesn’titdependalittleonwhatyoucalladventures？"
"MypoorMaud，"saidMrs。Dyottasifincompassionforsophistrysosimple，"adventuresarejustadventures。That’sallyoucanmakeofthem！"
Butherfriendtalkedfortheircompanionandasifwithouthearing。"Doesn’titdependagooddealonwhatyoucalldrama？"
Maudspokeasonewhohadalreadythoughtitout。"Doesn’titdependonwhatyoucallromance？"
Herlistenergavetheseargumentshisverybestattention。"Ofcourseyoumaycallthingsanythingyoulike——speakofthemasonethingandmeanquiteanother。Butwhyshoulditdependonanything？Behindthesewordsweuse——theadventure，thenovel，thedrama，theromance，thesituation，inshort，aswemostcomprehensivelysay——behindthemallstandsthesamesharpfactwhichtheyallintheirdifferentwaysrepresent。"
"Precisely！"Mrs。Dyottwasfullofapproval。
Maudhoweverwasfullofvagueness。"Whatgreatfact？"
"Thefactofarelation。Theadventure’sarelation;therelation’sanadventure。Theromance，thenovel，thedramaarethepictureofone。Thesubjectthenovelisttreatsistherise，theformation，thedevelopment，theclimaxandforthemostpartthedeclineofone。Andwhatisthehonestladydoingonthatsideofthetown？"
Mrs。Dyottwasmorepointed。"Shedoesn’tsomuchasFORMarelation。"
ButMaudboreup。"Doesn’titdependagainonwhatyoucallarelation？"
"Oh，"saidMrs。Dyott，"ifagentlemanpicksupherpocket-
handkerchief——"
"Aheventhat’sone，"theirfriendlaughed，"ifshehasthrownittohim。Wecanonlydealwithonethatisone。"
"Surely，"Maudreplied。"Butifit’saninnocentone——"
"Doesn’titdependagooddeal，"Mrs。Dyottasked，"onwhatyoucallinnocent？"
"Youmeanthattheadventuresofinnocencehavesooftenbeenthematerialoffiction？Yes，"Voytreplied;"that’sexactlywhattheboredreadercomplainsof。Hehasaskedforbreadandbeengivenastone。Whatisitbut，withabsolutedirectness，aquestionofinterestor，aspeoplesay，ofthestory？What’sasituationundevelopedbutasubjectlost？Ifarelationstops，where’sthestory？Ifitdoesn’tstop，where’stheinnocence？Itseemstomeyoumustchoose。Itwouldbeveryprettyifitwereotherwise，butthat’showweflounder。Artisourflounderingsshown。"
Mrs。Blessingbourne——andwithanairofdeferencescarcesupportedperhapsbyitssketchiness——keptherdeepeyesonthisdefinition。
"Butsometimesweflounderout。"
ItimmediatelytouchedinColonelVoytthespringofagenialderision。"That’sjustwhereIexpectedYOUwould！Onealwaysseesitcome。"
"Hehas，younotice，"Mrs。DyottparenthesisedtoMaud，"seenitcomesooftenI;andhehasalwayswaitedforitandmetit。"
"Metit，dearlady，simplyenough！It’stheoldstory，Mrs。
Blessingbourne。Therelation’sinnocentthattheheroinegetsoutof。Thebook’sinnocentthat’sthestoryofhergettingout。Butwhatthedevil——inthenameofinnocence——wasshedoingIN？"
Mrs。Dyottpromptlyechoedthequestion。"Youhavetobein，youknow，toGETout。Sothereyouarealreadywithyourrelation。
It’stheendofyourgoodness。"
"Andthebeginning，"saidVoyt，"ofyourplay！"
"Aren’ttheyall，forthatmatter，eventheworst，"Mrs。Dyottpursued，"supposedSOMEtimeorothertogetout？Butifmeanwhilethey’vebeenin，howeverbriefly，longenoughtoadornatale？"
"They’vebeeninlongenoughtopointamoral。Thatistopointours！"Withwhich，andasifasuddenflushofwarmerlighthadmovedhim，ColonelVoytgotup。Theveilofthestormhadpartedoveragreatredsunset。
Mrs。Dyottalsowasonherfeet，andtheystoodbeforehischarmingantagonist，who，witheyesloweredandasomewhatfixedsmile，hadnotmoved。
"We’vespoiledhersubject！"theelderladysighed。
"Well，"saidVoyt，"it’sbettertospoilanartist’ssubjectthantospoilhisreputation。Imean，"heexplainedtoMaudwithhisindulgentmanner，"hisappearanceofknowingwhathehasgotholdof，forthat，inthelastresort，ishishappiness。"
Sheslowlyroseatthis，facinghimwithanaspectashandsomelymildashisown。"Youcan’tspoilmyhappiness。"
Heheldherhandaninstantashetookleave。"IwishIcouldaddtoit！"
CHAPTERIII
WhenhehadquittedthemandMrs。Dyotthadcandidlyaskedifherfriendhadfoundhimrudeorcrude，Maudreplied——thoughnotimmediately——thatshehadfearedshowingonlytoomuchhowcharmingshefoundhim。ButifMrs。Dyotttookthisitwastoweighthesense。"Howcouldyoushowittoomuch？"
"BecauseIalwaysfeelthatthat’smyonlywayofshowinganything。
It’sabsurd，ifyoulike，"Mrs。Blessingbournepursued，"butI
neverknow，insuchintensediscussions，whatstrangeimpressionI
maygive。"
Hercompanionlookedamused。"Wasitintense？"
"_I_was，"Maudfranklyconfessed。
"Thenit’sapityyouweresowrong。ColonelVoyt，youknow，isright。"Mrs。Blessingbourneatthisgaveoneoftheslowsoftsilentheadshakestowhichsheoftenresortedandwhich，mostlyaccompaniedbythelightofcheer，hadsomehow，inspiteofthesmallobstinacythatsmiledinthem，aspecialgrace。Withthisgrace，foramoment，herfriend，lookingherupanddown，appearedimpressed，yetnottoomuchsototakethenextminuteadecision。
"Ohmydear，I’msorrytodifferfromanyonesolovely——foryou’reawfullybeautifulto-night，andyourfrock’stheverynicestI’veeverseenyouwear。Buthe’sasrightashecanbe。"
Maudrepeatedhermotion。"Notsoright，atalleventsashethinksheis。OrperhapsIcansay，"shewenton，afteraninstant，"thatI’mnotsowrong。IdoknowalittlewhatI’mtalkingabout。"
Mrs。Dyottcontinuedtostudyher。"YouAREvexed。Younaturallydon’tlikeit——suchdestruction。"
"Destruction？"
"Ofyourillusion。"
"IHAVEnoillusion。IfIhadmoreoveritwouldn’tbedestroyed。
Ihaveonthewhole，Ithink，mylittledecency。"
Mrs。Dyottstared。"Letusgrantitforargument。What，then？"
"Well，I’vealsomylittledrama。"
"Anattachment？"
"Anattachment。"
"Thatyoushouldn’thave？"
"ThatIshouldn’thave。"
"Apassion？"
"Apassion。"
"Shared？"
"Ahthankgoodness，no！"
Mrs。Dyottcontinuedtogaze。"Theobject’sunaware——？"
"Utterly。"
Mrs。Dyottturneditover。"Areyousure？"
"Sure。"
"That’swhatyoucallyourdecency？Butisn’tit，"Mrs。Dyottasked，"ratherhis？"
"Dearno。It’sonlyhisgoodfortune。"
Mrs。Dyottlaughed。"Butyours，darling——yourgoodfortune：wheredoesTHATcomein？"
"Why，inmysenseoftheromanceofit。"
"Theromanceofwhat？Ofhisnotknowing？"
"Ofmynotwantinghimto。IfIdid"——Maudhadtouchinglyworkeditout——"wherewouldbemyhonesty？"
Theinquiry，foraninstant，heldherfriend，yetonly，itseemed，forastupefactionthatwasalmostamusement。"Canyouwantornotwantasyoulike？Whereintheworld，ifyoudon’twant，isyourromance？"
Mrs。Blessingbournestillworehersmile，andshenow，withalightgesturethatmatchedit，justtouchedtheregionofherheart。
"There！"
Hercompanionadmiringlymarvelled。"Alovelyplaceforit，nodoubt！——butnotquiteaplace，thatIcansee，tomakethesentimentarelation。"
"Whynot？Whatmoreisrequiredforarelationforme？"
"Ohallsortsofthings，Ishouldsay！Andmanymore，addedtothose，tomakeitoneforthepersonyoumention。"
"AhthatIdon’tpretenditeithershouldbeorCANbe。Ionlyspeakformyself。"
ThiswassaidinamannerthatmadeMrs。Dyott，withavisiblemixtureofimpressions，suddenlyturnaway。Sheindulgedinavaguemovementortwo，asiftolookforsomething;thenagainfoundherselfnearherfriend，onwhomwiththesameabruptness，infactwithastrangesharpness，sheconferredakissthatmighthaverepresentedeitherhertributetoexaltedconsistencyorherideaofagracefulcloseofthediscussion。"YoudeservethatoneshouldspeakFORyou！"
Hercompanionlookedcheerfulandsecure。"HowCANyouwithoutknowing——？"
"Ohbyguessing！It’snot——？"
ButthatwasasfarasMrs。Dyottcouldget。"It’snot，"saidMaud，"anyoneyou’veeverseen。"
"AhthenIgiveyouup！"
AndMrs。DyottconformedfortherestofMaud’sstaytothespiritofthisspeech。ItwasmadeonaSaturdaynight，andMrs。
BlessingbourneremainedtilltheWednesdayfollowing，anintervalduringwhich，asthereturnoffineweatherwasconfirmedbytheSunday，thetwoladiesfoundawiderrangeofaction。Thereweredrivestobetaken，callsmade，objectsofinterestseenatadistance;withtheeffectofmucheasytalkandstillmoreeasysilence。TherehadbeenaquestionofColonelVoyt’sprobablereturnontheSunday，butthewholetimepassedwithoutasignfromhim，anditwasmerelymentionedbyMrs。Dyott，inexplanation，thathemusthavebeensuddenlycalled，ashewassoliabletobe，totown。ThatthisinfactwaswhathadhappenedhemadecleartoheronThursdayafternoon，when，walkingoveragainlate，hefoundheralone。TheconsequenceofhisSundaylettershadbeenhistaking，thatday，the4。15。Mrs。VoythadgonebackonThursday，andhenow，tosettleonthespotthequestionofapieceofworkbegunathisplace，hadrusheddownforafewhoursinanticipationoftheusualcollectivemovefortheweek’send。Hewastogoupagainbythelatetrain，andhadtocountalittle——afactacceptedbyhishostesswiththehardpliancyofpractice——hispresenthappymoments。Toofewasthesewere，however，hefoundtimetomakeofheraninquiryortwonotdirectlybearingontheirsituation。ThefirstwasarecallofthequestionforwhichMrs。Blessingbourne’sentranceonthepreviousSaturdayhadarrestedheranswer。Hadthatladytheideaofanythingbetweenthem？
"No。I’msure。There’soneideashehasgot，"Mrs。Dyottwenton;
"butit’squitedifferentandnotsoverywonderful。"
"Whatthenisit？"
"Well，thatshe’sherselfinlove。"
Voytshowedhisinterest。"Youmeanshetoldyou？"
"Igotitoutofher。"
Heshowedhisamusement。"Poorthing！Andwithwhom？"
"Withyou。"
Hissurprise，ifthedistinctionmightbemade，waslessthanhiswonder。"Yougotthatoutofhertoo？"
"No——itremainsin。Whichismuchthebestwayforit。Foryoutoknowitwouldbetoendit。"
Helookedrathercheerfullyatsea。"Isthatthenwhyyoutellme？"
"Imeanforhertoknowyouknowit。Thereforeit’sinyourinterestnottolether。"
"Isee，"Voytafteramomentreturned。"Yourrealcalculationisthatmyinterestwillbesacrificedtomyvanity——sothat，ifyourotherideaisjust，theflamewillinfact，andthankstohermorbidconscience，expirebyhertakingfrightatseeingmesopleased。ButIpromiseyou，"hedeclared，"thatsheshan’tseeit。
Sothereyouare！"Shekepthereyesonhimandhadevidentlytoadmitafteralittlethatthereshewas。Distinctashehadmadethecase，however，hewasn’tyetquitesatisfied。"WhyareyousosureI’mtheman？"
"Fromthewayshedeniesyou。"
"Youputittoher？"
"Straight。Ifyouhadn’tbeenshe’dofcoursehaveconfessedtoyou——tokeepmeinthedarkabouttherealone。"
PoorVoytlaughedoutagain。"Ohyoudearsouls！"
"Besides，"hiscompanionpursued，"Iwasn’tinwantofthatevidence。"
"Thenwhatotherhadyou？"
"Herstatebeforeyoucame——whichwaswhatmademeaskyouhowmuchyouhadseenher。Andherstateafterit，"Mrs。Dyottadded。"Andherstate，"shewoundup，"whileyouwerehere。"
"ButherstatewhileIwasherewascharming。"
"Charming。That’sjustwhatIsay。"
Shesaiditinatonethatplacedthematterinitsrightlight——alightinwhichtheyappearedkindly，quitetenderly，towatchMaudwanderawayintospacewithherlovelyheadbentunderatheoryrathertoobigforit。Voyt’slastword，however，wasthattherewasjustenoughinit——inthetheory——forthemtoallowthatshehadnotshownherself，ontheoccasionoftheirtalk，whollybereftofsense。Herconsciousness，iftheyletitalone——astheyofcourseafterthismercifullymust——WAS，inthelastanalysis，akindofshyromance。Notaromanceliketheirown，athingtomakethefortuneofanyauthoruptothemark——onewhoshouldhavetheinventionorwhoCOULDhavethecourage;butasmallscaredstarvedsubjectivesatisfactionthatwoulddohernoharmandnobodyelseanygood。Whobutaduffer——hestucktohiscontention——wouldseetheshadowofa"story"init？
FLICKERBRIDGE
CHAPTERI
FrankGrangerhadarrivedfromParistopaintaportrait——anordergivenhim，asayoungcompatriotwithafuture，whoseearlyworkwouldsomedayhaveaprice，byaladyfromNewYork，afriendofhisownpeopleandalso，asithappened，ofAddie’s，theyoungwomantowhomitwaspubliclybothaffirmedanddeniedthathewasengaged。OtheryoungwomeninParis——fellow-membersthereofthelittletighttranspontineworldofart-study——professedtoknowthatthepairhad"severaltimes"overrenewedtheirfondunderstanding。This，however，wastheirownaffair;thelastphaseoftherelation，thelasttimeofthetimes，hadpassedintovagueness;therewasperhapsevenanimpressionthatiftheywereinscrutabletotheirfriendstheywerenotwhollycrystallinetoeachotherandthemselves。WhathadoccurredforGrangeratalleventsinconnexionwiththeportraitwasthatMrs。Bracken，hisintendingmodel，whosereturntoAmericawasathand，hadsuddenlybeencalledtoLondonbyherhusband，occupiedtherewithpressingbusiness，buthadyetdesiredthatherdisplacementshouldnotinterrupthersittings。Theyoungman，atherrequest，hadfollowedhertoEnglandandprofitedbyallshecouldgivehim，makingshiftwithasmallstudiolenthimbyaLondonpainterwhomhehadknownandlikedafewyearsbeforeintheFrenchatelierthatthencradled，andthatcontinuedtocradle，somanyoftheirkind。
TheBritishcapitalwasastrangegreyworldtohim，wherepeoplewalked，inmorewaysthanone，byadimlight;buthewashappilyofsuchaturnthattheimpression，justasitcame，couldnowhereeverfailhim，andeventheworstofthesethingswasalmostasmuchanoccupation——puttingitonlyatthat——asthebest。Mrs。
Brackenmoreoverpassedhimon，andwhilethedarknessebbedalittleintheAprildayshefoundhimselfconsolinglycommittedtoacoupleoffreshsubjects。Thiscuthimoutworkformorethananothermonth，butmeanwhile，ashesaid，hesawalot——alotthat，withfrequencyandwithmuchexpression，hewroteabouttoAddie。
Shealsowrotetoherabsentfriend，butinbriefersnatches，ameagrenesstoherreasonsforwhichhehadlongsinceassented。
Shehadotherplayforherpenaswellas，fortunately，otherremuneration;aregularcorrespondencefora"prominentBostonpaper，"fitfulconnexionswithpublicsheetsperhapsalsoincasesfitful，andamindaboveallengrossedattimes，totheexclusionofeverythingelse，withthestudyoftheshortstory。Thislastwaswhatshehadmainlycomeouttogointo，twoorthreeyearsafterhehadfoundhimselfengulfedinthemysteryofCarolus。Shewasindeed，onherowndeepsea，moreengulfedthanhehadeverbeen，andhehadgrowntoacceptthesensethat，forprogresstoo，shesailedundermorecanvas。Ithadn’tbeenparticularlypresenttohimtillnowthathehadintheleastgoton，butthewayinwhichAddiehad——andevidentlystillmorewould——wasthetheme，asitwere，ofeverytongue。Shehadthirtyshortstoriesoutandninedescriptivearticles。HisthreeorfourportraitsoffatAmericanladies——theywereallfat，allladiesandallAmerican——
wereapoorshowcomparedwiththesetriumphs;especiallyasAddiehadbeguntothrowoutthatitwasabouttimetheyshouldgohome。
ItkeptperpetuallycomingupinParis，inthetranspontineworld，that，asthephrasewas，Americahadgrownmoreinterestingsincetheyleft。Addiewasattentivetotherumour，and，asfullofconscienceasshewasoftaste，ofpatriotismasofcuriosity，hadoftenputittohimfrankly，withwhathe，whowasofNewYork，recognisedasherNewEnglandemphasis："I’mnotsure，youknow，thatwedoREALjusticetoourcountry。"Grangerfelthewoulddoitontheday——ifthedayevercame——heshouldirrevocablymarryher。Noothercountrycouldpossiblyhaveproducedher。
CHAPTERII
Butmeanwhileitbefellthat，inLondon，hewasstrickenwithinfluenzaandwithsubsequentsorrow。Theattackwasshortbutsharp——haditlastedAddiewouldcertainlyhavecometohisaid;
mostofablightreallyinitssecondarystage。Thegoodladieshissitters——theladieswiththefrizzledhair，withthediamondearrings，withthechinstendingtothemassive——leftforhim，atthedoorofhislodgings，flowers，soupandlove，sothatwiththeirassistancehepulledthrough;buthisconvalescencewasslowandhisweaknessoutofproportiontothemuffledshock。Hecameout，buthewentaboutlame;ittiredhimtopaint——hefeltasifhehadbeenillthreemonths。HestrolledinKensingtonGardenswhenheshouldhavebeenatwork;hesatlongonpennychairsandhelplesslymusedandmooned。AddiedesiredhimtoreturntoParis，buttherewerechancesunderhishandthathefelthehadjustwitenoughleftnottorelinquish。Hewouldhavegoneforaweektothesea——hewouldhavegonetoBrighton;butMrs。Brackenhadtobefinished——Mrs。Brackenwassosoontosail。Hejustmanagedtofinishherintime——thedaybeforethedatefixedforhisbreakinggroundonagreaterbusinessstill，thecircumvallationofMrs。
Dunn。Mrs。Dunndulywaitedonhim，andhesatdownbeforeher，feeling，however，ereherose，thathemusttakealongbreathbeforetheattack。Whileaskinghimselfthatnight，therefore，whereheshouldbestreplenishhislungshereceivedfromAddie，whohadhadfromMrs。Brackenapoorreportofhim，acommunicationwhich，besidesbeingofsuddenandstartlinginterest，applieddirectlytohiscase。
Hisfriendwrotetohimunderthelivelyemotionofhavingfromonedaytoanotherbecomeawareofanewrelative，anancientcousin，asequesteredgentlewoman，thesolesurvivalof"theEnglishbranchofthefamily，"stillresident，atFlickerbridge，inthe"oldfamilyhome，"andwithwhom，thathemightimmediatelybetakehimselftosoauspiciousaquarterforchangeofair，shehadalreadydonewhatwaspropertoplacehim，asshesaid，intouch。
Whatcameofitall，tobebrief，wasthatGrangerfoundhimselfsoplacedalmostasheread：hewasintouchwithMissWenhamofFlickerbridge，totheextentofbeingincorrespondencewithher，beforetwenty-fourhourshadsped。Andontheseconddayhewasinthetrain，settledforafive-hours’runtothedoorofthisamiablewomanwhohadsoabruptlyandkindlytakenhimontrustandofwhombutyesterdayhehadneversomuchasheard。Thiswasanoddity——thewholeincidentwas——ofwhich，inthecornerofhiscompartment，asheproceeded，hehadtimetotakethesize。Butthesurprise，theincongruity，ashefelt，couldbutdeepenashewent。Itwasasufficientlyqueernote，inthelight，ortheabsenceofit，ofhislateexperience，thatsocomplexaproductasAddieshouldhaveANYsimpleinsulartie;butitwasaqueerernotestillthatsheshouldhavehadonesolongonlytoremainunprofitablyunconsciousofit。Nottohavedonesomethingwithit，usedit，workedit，talkedaboutitatleast，andperhapsevenwritten——thesethings，attherateshemoved，representedalossofopportunityunderwhichashesawher，shewaspeculiarlyformedtowince。Shewasatanyrate，itwasclear，doingsomethingwithitnow;usingit，workingit，certainly，alreadytalking——and，yes，quitepossiblywriting——aboutit。Shewasinshortsmartlymakingupwhatshehadmissed，andhecouldtakesuchcomfortfromhisownactionashehadbeenhelpedtobytherestofthefacts，succinctlyreportedfromParisontheverymorningofhisstart。
Itwasthesingularstoryofasharpsplit——inagoodEnglishhouse——thatdatednowfromyearsback。AworthyBriton，ofthebestmiddlingstock，had，duringthefourthdecadeofthecentury，asaveryyoungman，inDresden，whitherhehadbeendespatchedtoqualifyinGermanforastoolinanuncle’scounting-house，met，admired，wooedandwonanAmericangirl，ofdueattractions，domiciledatthatperiodwithherparentsandasister，whowasalsoattractive，intheSaxoncapital。Hehadmarriedher，takenhertoEngland，andthere，aftersomeyearsofharmonyandhappiness，losther。Thesisterinquestionhad，afterherdeath，cometohimandtohisyoungchildonavisit，theeffectofwhich，betweenthepair，eventuallydefineditselfasasentimentthatwasnottoberesisted。Thebereavedhusband，yieldingtoanewattachmentandanewresponse，andfindinganewunionthusprescribed，hadyetbeenforcedtoreckonwiththeunaccommodatinglawoftheland。Encompassedwithfrownsinhisowncountry，however，marriagesofthisparticulartypewerewreathedinsmilesinhissister’s-in-law，sothathisremedywasnotforbidden。
Choosingbetweentwoallegianceshehadlettheonegothatseemedtheleastclose，andhadinbrieftransplantedhispossibilitiestoaneasierair。TheknotwastiedforthecoupleinNewYork，where，toprotectthelegitimacyofsuchotherchildrenasmightcometothem，theysettledandprospered。Childrencame，andoneofthedaughters，growingupandmarryinginherturn，was，ifFrankrightlyfollowed，themotherofhisownAddie，whohadbeendeprivedoftheknowledgeofherindeed，inchildhood，bydeath，andbeenbroughtup，thoughwithoutunduetension，byastepmother——
acharacterbreakingoutthusanew。
ThebreachproducedinEnglandbytheinvidiousaction，asitwasthereheld，ofthegirl’sgrandfather，hadnotfailedtowiden——allthemorethatnothinghadbeendoneontheAmericansidetocloseit。Frigidityhadsettled，andhostilityhadbeenarrestedonlybyindifference。Darknessthereforehadfortunatelysupervened，andacousinshipcompletelydivided。Oneithersideoftheimpassablegulf，oftheimpenetrablecurtain，eachbranchhadputforthitsleaves——afoliagefailing，intheAmericanquarter，itwasdistinctenoughtoGranger，ofnosignorsymptomofclimateandenvironment。ThegraftinNewYorkhadtaken，andAddiewasavivid，anunmistakableflower。AtFlickerbridge，orwherever，ontheotherhand，strangetosay，theparentstemhadhadafortunecomparativelymeagre。Fortune，itwastrue，inthevulgarestsense，hadattendedneitherparty。Addie’simmediatebelongingswereaspoorastheywerenumerous，andhegatheredthatMissWenham’spretensionstowealthwerenotsomarkedastoexposetheclaimofkinshiptotheimputationofmotive。Tothislady’ssingleidentitytheoriginalstockhadatalleventsdwindled，andouryoungmanwasproperlywarnedthathewouldfindhershyandsolitary。Whatwassingularwasthatintheseconditionssheshoulddesire，sheshouldendure，toreceivehim。Butthatwasallanotherstory，lucidenoughwhenmastered。HekeptAddie’sletters，exceptionallycopious，inhislap;heconnedthematintervals;heheldthethreads。
HelookedoutbetweenwhilesatthepleasantEnglishland，anAprilaquarellewashedinwithwondrousbreadth。HeknewtheFrenchthing，heknewtheAmerican，buthehadknownnothingofthis。HesawitalreadyastheremarkableMissWenham’ssetting。Thedoctor’sdaughteratFlickerbridge，withnippersonhernose，apaletteonherthumbandinnocenceinherheart，hadbeenthemiraculouslink。Shehadbecomeawareeventhere，inourworldofwonders，thatthecurrentfashionforyoungwomensoequippedwastoentertheParisianlists。Addiehadaccordinglychanceduponher，ontheslopesofMontparnasse，asoneoftheEnglishgirlsinoneofthethorough-goingsets。Theyhadmetinsomeeasycollocationandhadfallenuponcommonground;afterwhichtheyoungwoman，restoredtoFlickerbridgeforaninterludeandretailingthereheradventuresandimpressions，hadmentionedtoMissWenhamwhohadknownandprotectedherfrombabyhood，thatthatlady’sownnameofAdelaidewas，aswellasthesurnameconjoinedwithit，borne，toherknowledge，inParis，byanextraordinaryAmericanspecimen。ShehadthenrecrossedtheChannelwithawonderfulmessage，acourteouschallenge，toherfriend’sduplicate，whohadinturngrantedthroughhereverysatisfaction。TheduplicatehadinotherwordsbravelyletMissWenhamknowexactlywhoshewas。MissWenham，inwhosepersonaltraditiontheflameofresentmentappearedtohavebeenreducedbytimetothepalestashes——forwhomindeedthestoryofthegreatschismwasnowbutalegendonlyneedingalittlelessdimnesstomakeitromantic——MissWenhamhadpromptlyrespondedbyaletterfragrantwiththehopethatoldthreadsmightbetakenup。Itwasarelationshipthattheymustpuzzleouttogether，andshehadearnestlysoundedtheotherpartytoitonthesubjectofapossiblevisit。Addiehadmetherwithadefinitepromise;shewouldcomesoon，shewouldcomewhenfree，shewouldcomeinJuly;
butmeanwhileshesentherdeputy。Frankaskedhimselfbywhatnameshehaddescribed，bywhatcharacterintroducedhimtoFlickerbridge。Hemainlyfeltonthewholeasifheweregoingtheretofindoutifhewereengagedtoher。HewasatseareallynowastowhichofthevariousviewsAddieherselftookofit。ToMissWenhamshemustdefinitelyhavetakenone，andperhapsMissWenhamwouldrevealit。Thisexpectationwasinfacthisexcuseforapossibleindiscretion。
CHAPTERIII
Hewasindeedtolearnonarrivaltowhathehadbeencommitted;
butthatwasforawhilesomuchapartofhisfirstgeneralimpressionthattheparticulartruthtooktimetodetachitself，thefirstgeneralimpressiondemandingverilyallhisfacultiesofresponse。Healmostfeltforadayortwothevictimofapracticaljoke，agrossabuseofconfidence。Hehadpresentedhimselfwiththemoderateamountofflutterinvolvedinasenseofduepreparation;buthehadthenfoundthat，howeverprimedwithprefacesandpromptedwithhints，hehadn’tbeenpreparedatall。
HowCOULDhebe，heaskedhimself，foranythingsoforeigntohisexperience，soalientohisproperworld，solittletobepreconceivedinthesharpnorthlightofthenewestimpressionism，andyetsorecognisedafterallintheevent，sonotedandtastedandassimilated？Itwasacasehewouldscarcehaveknownhowtodescribe——coulddoubtlesshavedescribedbestwithafullcleanbrush，supplementedbyaplayofgesture;foritwasalwayshishabittoseeanoccasion，ofwhateverkind，primarilyasapicture，sothathemightgetit，ashewaswonttosay，sothathemightkeepit，welltogether。Hehadbeentreatedofasudden，inthisadventure，tooneofthesweetestfairestcoolestimpressionsofhislife——onemoreovervisiblycompleteandhomogeneousfromthestart。OhitwasTHERE，ifthatwasallonewantedofathing！Itwasso"there"that，ashadbefallenhiminItaly，inSpain，confrontedatlast，induskyside-chapelorrichmuseum，withgreatthingsdreamedoforwithgreateronesunexpectedlypresented，hehadheldhisbreathforfearofbreakingthespell;hadalmost，fromthequickimpulsetorespect，toprolong，loweredhisvoiceandmovedontiptoe。Supremebeautysuddenlyrevealedisapttostrikeusasapossibleillusionplayingwithourdesire——instantfreedomwithittostrikeusasapossiblerashness。
Thisfortunately，however——andthemoresoashisfreedomforthetimequitelefthim——didn’tpreventhishostess，theeveningofhisadventandwhilethevisionwasnew，frombeingexactlyasqueerandrareandIMPAYABLE，asimprobable，asimpossible，asdelightfulattheeighto’clockdinner——sheappearedtokeeptheseimmensehours——asshehadoverwhelminglybeenatthefiveo’clocktea。Shewasinthemostnaturalwayintheworldoneoftheoddestapparitions，butthattheparticularmeanstosuchanendCOULDbenaturalwasaninferencedifficulttomake。Hefailedinfacttomakeitforacoupleofdays;butthen——thoughthenonly——hemadeitwithconfidence。Bythistimeindeedhewassureofeverything，luckilyincludinghimself。Ifwecomparehisimpression，withslightextravagance，tosomeofthegreatesthehadeverreceived，thisissimplybecausetheimagebeforehimwassoroundedandstamped。Itexpressedwithpureperfection，itexhausteditscharacter。Itwassoabsolutelyandsounconsciouslywhatitwas。
Hehadbeenfloatedbythestrangestofchancesoutoftherushingstreamintoaclearstillbackwater——adeepandquietpoolinwhichobjectsweresharplymirrored。Hehadhithertoinlifeknownnothingthatwasoldexceptafewstatuesandpictures;buthereeverythingwasold，wasimmemorial，andnothingsomuchsoastheveryfreshnessitself。Vaguelytohavesupposedthereweresuchnooksintheworldhaddonelittleenough，henowsaw，totempertheglareoftheiropposites。Itwasthefinetouchesthatcounted，andthesehadtobeseentobebelieved。
MissWenham，fifty-fiveyearsofageandunappeasablytimid，unaccountablystrange，had，onherreducedscale，analmostGothicgrotesqueness;butthefinaleffectofone’ssenseofitwasanamenitythataccompaniedone’sstepslikewaftedgratitude。Moreflurried，morespasmodic，moreapologetic，morecompletelyatalossatonemomentandmoreprecipitatelyaboundingatanother，hehadneverbeforeinallhisdaysseenanymaidenlady;yetfornomaidenladyhehadeverseenhadhesopromptlyconceivedaprivateenthusiasm。Hereyesprotruded，herchinrecededandhernosecarriedoninconversationaqueerlittleindependentmotion。Sheworeonthetopofherheadanuprightcircularcapthatmadeherresembleacaryatiddisburdened，andonotherpartsofherpersonstrangecombinationsofcolours，stuffs，shapes，ofmetal，mineralandplant。Thetonesofhervoiceroseandfell，herfacialconvulsions，whethertending——onecouldscarcemakeout——toexpressionorREpression，succeededeachotherbyalawoftheirown;shewasembarrassedatnothingandateverything，frightenedateverythingandatnothing，andsheapproachedobjects，subjects，thesimplestquestionsandanswersandthewholematerialofintercourse，eitherwiththeindirectnessofterrororwiththeviolenceofdespair。Thesethings，nonetheless，herrefinementsofoddityandintensitiesofcustom，herbetrayalatonceofconventionsandsimplicities，ofeaseandofagony，herroundaboutretardedsuggestionsandperceptions，stillpermittedhertostrikeherguestasirresistiblycharming。Hedidn’tknowwhattocallit;shewasafruitoftime。Shehadaqueerdistinction。Shehadbeenexpensivelyproducedandtherewouldbeagooddealmoreofhertocome。
Theresultofthewholequalityofherwelcome，atanyrate，wasthatthefirstevening，inhisroom，beforegoingtobed，herelievedhismindinalettertoAddie，which，ifspaceallowedustoembodyitinourtext，wouldusefullyperformtheofficeofa"plate。"Itwouldenableustopresentourselvesasprofuselyillustrated。Buttheprocessofreproduction，aswesay，costs。
Hewishedhisfriendtoknowhowgrandlytheiraffairturnedout。
Shehadputhiminthewayofsomethingabsolutelyspecial——anoldhouseuntouched，untouchable，indescribable，anoldcornersuchasonedidn’tbelieveexisted，andtheholycalmofwhichmadethechatterofstudios，thesmellofpaint，theslangofcritics，thewholesenseandsoundofParis，comebackassomanysignsofahugemonkey-cage。Hemovedabout，restless，whilehewrote;helightedcigarettesand，nervousandsuddenlyscrupulous，putthemoutagain;thenightwasmildandoneofthewindowsofhislargehighroom，whichstoodoverthegarden，wasup。Helosthimselfinthethingsabouthim，inthetypeoftheroom，thelastcenturywithnotachairmoved，notapointstretched。Hehungovertheobjectsandornaments，blissfullyfewandadorablygood，perfectpiecesall，andneverone，forachange，French。Thescenewasasrareassomefineoldprintwiththebestbitsdowninthecorners。
Oldbooksandoldpictures，allusionsrememberedandaspectsconjectured，reappearedtohim;heknewnotwhatanxiousislandershadbeentryingforintheirbackwardhuntforthehomely。ButthehomelyatFlickerbridgewasallstyle，evenasstyleatthesametimewasmerehonesty。Thelarger，thesmallerpast——hescarceknewwhichtocallit——wasatalleventssohushedtosleeproundhimashewrotethathehadalmostabadconscienceabouthavingcome。Howonemightloveit，buthowonemightspoilit！Tolookatittoohardwaspositivelytomakeitconscious，andtomakeitconsciouswaspositivelytowakeitup。Itsonlysafety，ofatruth，wastobeleftstilltosleep——tosleepinitslargefairchambersandunderitshighcleancanopies。
Headdedthusrestlesslyalinetohisletter，maunderedroundtheroomagain，notedandfingeredsomethingelse，andthen，droppingontheoldfloweredsofa，sustainedbythetightcubesofitscushions，yieldedafreshtothecigarette，hesitated，stared，wroteafewwordsmore。HewantedAddietoknow，thatwaswhathemostfelt，unlessheperhapsfelt，morehowmuchsheherselfwouldwantto。Yes，whathesupremelysawwasallthatAddiewouldmakeofit。Uptohisneckinittherehefairlyturnedcoldatthesenseofsuppressedopportunity，oftheoutrageofprivationthathiscorrespondentwouldretrospectivelyand，asheevendivinedwithavagueshudder，almostvindictivelynurse。Well，whathadhappenedwasthattheacquaintancehadbeenkeptforher，likeapacketenvelopedandsealedfordelivery，tillherattentionwasfree。Hesawherthere，heardherandfelther——felthowshewouldfeelandhowshewould，assheusuallysaid，"rave。"Someofheryoungcompatriotscalledit"yell，"andinthereferenceitself，alas！
illustratedtheirmeaning。Shewouldunderstandtheplaceatanyrate，downtotheground;therewasn’ttheslightestdoubtofthat。
Hersenseofitwouldbeexactlylikehisown，andhecouldsee，inanticipation，justthetermsofrecognitionandraptureinwhichshewouldabound。Heknewjustwhatshewouldcallquaint，justwhatshewouldcallbland，justwhatshewouldcallweird，justwhatshewouldcallwild。Shewouldtakeitallinwithanintelligencemuchmorefittedthanhisown，infact，todealwithwhathesupposedhemustregardasitsliteraryrelations。Shewouldhavereadthelong-windedobsoletememoirsandnovelsthatboththefiguresandthesettingoughtclearlytoremindoneof;
shewouldknowaboutthepastgenerations——thelumberingcountrymagnatesandtheirturbanedwivesandround-eyeddaughters，who，inotherdays，hadtreatedtheruddysturdytradelesstown，——thesolidsquarehousesandwidewalledgardens，thestreetsto-dayallgrassandgossip，asthesceneofalocal"season。"Shewouldhavewarrantfortheassemblies，dinners，deeppotations;forthesmokedsconcesintheduskyparlours;forthelongmuddycenturyoffamilycoaches，"holsters，"highwaymen。Shewouldputafingerinshort，justashehaddone，onthevitalspot——therichhumilityofthewholething，thefactthatneitherFlickerbridgeingeneralnorMissWenhaminparticular，noranythingnoranyoneconcerned，hadasuspicionoftheircharactersandtheirmerit。Addieandhewouldhavetocometoletinlight。
Heletitinthen，littlebylittle，beforegoingtobed，throughtheeightortenpagesheaddressedtoher;assuredherthatitwasthehappiestcaseintheworld，alittlepicture——yetfullof"style"too——absolutelycomposedandtransmitted，withtradition，andtraditiononly，ineverystroke，traditionstillnoiselesslybreathingandvisiblyflushing，markingstrangehoursinthetallmahoganyclocksthatwereneverwoundupandthatyetaudiblytickedon。Alltheelements，hewassureheshouldsee，wouldhangtogetherwithacharm，presentinghishostess——astrangeiridescentfishfortheglazedexposureofanaquarium——asafloatinhernativemedium。Helefthisletteropenonthetable，but，lookingitovernextmorning，feltofasuddenindisposedtosendit。Hewouldkeepittoaddmore，fortherewouldbemoretoknow;yetwhenthreedayshadelapsedhestillhadnotsentit。Hesentinstead，afterdelay，amuchbrieferreport，whichhewasmovedtomakedifferentand，forsomereason，lessvivid。MeanwhilehelearnedfromMissWenhamhowAddiehadintroducedhim。Ittooktimetoarrivewithheratthatpoint，butaftertheRubiconwascrossedtheywentfarafield。
CHAPTERIV
"Ohyes，shesaidyouwereengagedtoher。Thatwaswhy——sinceI
HADbrokenout——shethoughtImightliketoseeyou;asIassureyouI’vebeensodelightedto。ButAREN’Tyou？"thegoodladyaskedasifshesawinhisfacesomegroundfordoubt。
"Assuredly——ifshesaysso。Itmayseemveryoddtoyou，butI
haven’tknown，andyetI’vefeltthat，beingnothingwhatevertoyoudirectly，Ineedsomewarrantforconsentingthustobethrustonyou。WeWERE，"theyoungmanexplained，"engagedayearago;
butsincethen（ifyoudon’tmindmytellingyousuchthings;I
feelnowasifIcouldtellyouanything！）Ihaven’tquiteknownhowIstand。Ithasn’tseemedwewereinapositiontomarry。
Thingsarebetternow，butIhaven’tquiteknownhowshe’dseethem。TheyweresobadsixmonthsagothatIunderstoodher，I
thought，asbreakingoff。Ihaven’tbroken;I’veonlyaccepted，forthetime——becausemenmustbeeasywithwomen——beingtreatedas’thebestoffriends。’Well，Itrytobe。Iwouldn’thavecomehereifIhadn’tbeen。Ithoughtitwouldbecharmingforhertoknowyou——whenIheardfromhertheextraordinarywayyouhaddawneduponher;andcharmingthereforeifIcouldhelphertoit。
AndifI’mhelpingyoutoknowHER，"hewenton，"isn’tthatcharmingtoo？"
"OhIsowantto！"MissWenhammurmuredinherunpracticalimpersonalway。"You’resodifferent！"shewistfullydeclared。
"It’sYOU，ifImayrespectfully，ecstaticallysayso，whoaredifferent。That’sthepointofitall。I’mnotsurethatanythingsoterriblereallyoughttohappentoyouastoknowus。"
"Well，"saidMissWenham，"Idoknowyoualittlebythistime，don’tI？AndIdon’tfinditterrible。It’sadelightfulchangeforme。"
"OhI’mnotsureyououghttohaveadelightfulchange！"
"Whynot——ifyoudo？"
"AhIcanbearit。I’mnotsureyoucan。I’mtoobadtospoil——I
AMspoiled。I’mnobody，inshort;I’mnothing。I’venotype。
You’reALLtype。Ithastakendeliciouslongyearsofsecurityandmonotonytoproduceyou。Youfityourframewithaperfectiononlyequalledbytheperfectionwithwhichyourframefitsyou。Sothisadmirableoldhouse，alltime-softenedwhitewithinandtime-fadedredwithout，soeverythingthatsurroundsyouhereandthathas，bysomeextraordinarymercy，escapedtheinevitablefateofexploitation：soitall，Isay，isthesortofthingthat，wereittheleastbittofalltopieces，couldnever，ahnevermorebeputtogetheragain。Ihave，dearMissWenham，"Grangerwenton，happyhimselfinhisextravagance，whichwasyetallsincere，andhappierstillinherdeepbutaltogetherpleasedmystification——"I’vefound，doyouknow，justthethingonehaseverheardofthatyoumostresemble。You’retheSleepingBeautyintheWood。"
Hestillhadnocompunctionwhenheheardherbewilderedlysigh：
"Ohyou’retoodelightfullydroll！"
"No，Ionlyputthing’sjustastheyare，andasI’vealsolearnedalittle，thankheaven，toseethem——whichisn’t，Iquiteagreewithyou，atallwhatanyonedoes。You’reinthedeepdozeofthespellthathasheldyouforlongyears，anditwouldbeashame，acrime，towakeyouup。IndeedIalreadyfeelwithathousandscruplesthatI’mgivingyouthefatalshake。IsayiteventhoughitmakesmesoundalittleasifIthoughtmyselfthefairyprince。"
Shegazedathimwithherqueerestkindestlook，whichhewasgettingusedtoinspiteofafaintfear，atthebackofhishead，ofthestrangethingsthatsometimesoccurredwhenlonelyladies，howevermature，begantolookatinterestingyoungmenfromovertheseasasiftheyoungmendesiredtoflirt。"It’ssowonderful，"shesaid，"thatyoushouldbesoveryoddandyetsoverygood-natured。"Well，itallcametothesamething——itwassowonderfulthatSHEshouldbesosimpleandyetsolittleofabore。
Heacceptedwithgratitudethetheoryofhislanguor——whichmoreoverwasrealenoughandpartlyperhapswhyhewassosensitive;helethimselfgoasaconvalescent，letherinsistontheweaknessalwaysleftbyfever。Ithelpedhimtogaintime，topreservethespellevenwhilehetalkedofbreakingit;sawhimthroughslowstrollsandsoftsessions，longgossips，fitfulhopelessquestions——therewassomuchmoretotellthan，byanycontortion，sheCOULD——andexplanationsaddressedgallantlyandpatientlytoherunderstanding，butnot，bygoodfortune，reallyreachingit。Theywereperfectlyatcross-purposes，anditwasthebetter，andtheywanderedtogetherinthesilverhazewithallcommunicationblurred。
Whentheysatinthesuninherformalgardenhequiteknewhowlittleeventhetenderestconsiderationfailedtodisguisehistreatingherasthemostexquisiteofcuriosities。Thetermofcomparisonmostpresenttohimwasthatofsomeobsoletemusicalinstrument。Theold-timeorderofhermindandherairhadthestillnessofapaintedspinnetthatwasdulydusted，gentlyrubbed，butnevertunednorplayedon。Heropinionswerelikedriedrose-
leaves;herattitudeslikeBritishsculpture;hervoicewhatheimaginedofthepossibletoneoftheoldgildedsilver-stringedharpinoneofthecornersofthedrawing-room。Thelonelylittledecenciesandmodestdignitiesofherlife，thefinegrainofitsconservatism，theinnocenceofitsignorance，allitsmonotonyofstupidityandsalubrity，itscolddulnessanddimbrightness，weretherebeforehim。Meanwhilewithinhimstrangethingstookplace。
Itwasliterallytruethathisimpressionbeganagain，afteralull，tomakehimnervousandanxious，andforreasonspeculiarlyconfused，almostgrotesquelymingled，oratleastcomicallysharp。
Hewasdistinctlyanagitationandanewtaste——thathecouldsee;
andhesawquiteasmuchthereforetheexcitementshealreadydrewfromthevisionofAddie，animageintensifiedbythesenseofcloserkinshipandpresentedtoher，clearly，withvariouserraticenhancements，byherfriendthedoctor’sdaughter。Attheendofafewdayshesaidtoher："Doyouknowshewantstocomewithoutwaitinganylonger？ShewantstocomewhileI’mhere。Ireceivedthismorningherletterproposingit，butI’vebeenthinkingitoverandhavewaitedtospeaktoyou。Thethingis，yousee，thatifshewritestoYOUproposingit——"
"OhIshallbesoparticularlyglad！"
CHAPTERV
Theywereasusualinthegarden，andithadn’tyetbeensopresenttohimthatifhewereonlyahappycadtherewouldbeagoodwaytoprotecther。Asshewouldn’thearofhisbeingyetbeyondprecautionsshehadgoneintothehouseforaparticularshawlthatwasjustthethingforhisknees，and，blinkinginthewaterysunshine，hadcomebackwithitacrossthefinelittlelawn。Hewasneitherfatuousnorasinine，buthehadalmosttoputittohimselfasasmalltasktoresistthesenseofhisabsurdadvantagewithher。Itfilledhimwithhorrorandawkwardness，madehimthinkofhedidn’tknowwhat，recalledsomethingofMaupassant’s——
thesmitten"MissHarriet"andhertragicfate。Therewasapreposterouspossibility——yes，heheldthestringsquiteinhishands——ofkeepingthetreasureforhimself。Thatwastheartoflife——whattherealartistwouldconsistentlydo。Hewouldclosethedooronhisimpression，treatitasaprivatemuseum。Hewouldseethathecouldloungeandlingerthere，livewithwonderfulthingsthere，lieuptheretorestandrefit。Forhimselfhewassurethatafteralittleheshouldbeabletopaintthere——dothingsinakeyhehadneverthoughtofbefore。Whenshebroughthimtherughetookitfromherandmadehersitdownonthebenchandresumeherknitting;then，passingbehindherwithalaugh，heplaceditoverherownshoulders;afterwhichhemovedtoandfrobeforeher，hishandsinhispocketsandhiscigaretteinhisteeth。Hewasashamedofthecigarette——avillainousfalsenote;
butsheallowed，liked，beggedhimtosmoke，andwhathesaidtoheronit，inoneofthepleasantriesshebenevolentlymissed，wasthathedidsoforfearofdoingworse。Thatonlyshowedhowtheendwasreallyinsight。"Idaresayitwillstrikeyouasquiteawful，whatI’mgoingtosaytoyou，butIcan’thelpit。Ispeakoutofthedepthsofmyrespectforyou。ItwillseemtoyouhorriddisloyaltytopoorAddie。Yes——thereweare;there_I_amatleastinmynakedmonstrosity。"Hestoppedandlookedathertillshemighthavebeenalmostfrightened。"Don’tlethercome。
Tellhernotto。I’vetriedtopreventit，butshesuspects。"
Thepoorwomanwondered。"Suspects？"
"Well，Idrewit，inwritingtoher，onreflexion，asmildasI
could——havingbeenvisitedinthewatchesofthenightbytheinstinctofwhatmighthappen。Somethingtoldmetokeepbackmyfirstletter——inwhich，underthefirstimpression，Imyselfrashly’raved’;andIconcoctedinsteadofitaninsincereandguardedreport。ButguardedasIwasIclearlydidn’tkeepyou’down，’aswesay，enough。Thewonderofyourcolour——daubyouoverwithgreyasImight——musthavecomethroughandtoldthetale。Shescentsbattlefromafar——bywhichImeanshescents’quaintness。’Butkeepheroff。It’shideous，whatI’msaying——butIoweittoyou。
Ioweittotheworld。She’llkillyou。"
"YoumeanIshan’tgetonwithher？"
"Ohfatally！Seehow_I_have。AndseehowyouhavewithME。
She’sintelligent，moreover，remarkablypretty，remarkablygood。
Andshe’lladoreyou。"
"Wellthen？"
"Whythatwillbejusthowshe’lldoforyou。"
"OhIcanholdmyown！"saidMissWenhamwiththeheadshakeofahorsemakinghissleigh-bellsrattleinfrostyair。
"Ahbutyoucan’tholdhers！She’llraveaboutyou。She’llwriteaboutyou。You’reNiagarabeforethefirstwhitetraveller——andyouknow，orratheryoucan’tknow，whatNiagarabecameAFTERthatgentleman。AddiewillhavediscoveredNiagara。She’llunderstandyouinperfection;she’llfeelyoudowntotheground;notadelicateshadeofyouwillsheloseorletanyoneelselose。
You’llbetooweirdforwords，butthewordswillneverthelesscome。You’llbetooexactlytherealthingandbelefttooutterlyjustasyouare，andallAddie’sfriendsandallAddie’seditorsandcontributorsandreaderswillcrosstheAtlanticandflocktoFlickerbridgejustinorderso——unanimously，universally，vociferously——toleaveyou。You’llbeinthemagazineswithillustrations;you’llbeinthepaperswithheadings;you’llbeeverywherewitheverything。Youdon’tunderstand——youthinkyoudo，butyoudon’t。HeavenforbidyouSHOULDunderstand！That’sjustyourbeauty——your’sleeping’beauty。Butyouneedn’t。Youcantakemeontrust。Don’thaveher。Giveasapretext，asareason，anythingintheworldyoulike。Lietoher——scareheraway。I’llgoawayandgiveyouup——I’llsacrificeeverythingmyself。"Grangerpursuedhisexhortation，convincinghimselfmoreandmore。"IfIsawmywayout，mywaycompletelythrough，I’D
pileupsomefabricoffictionforher——Ishouldonlywanttobesureofitsnottumblingdown。Onewouldhave，yousee，tokeepthethingup。ButI’dthrowdustinhereyes。I’dtellheryoudon’tdoatall——thatyou’renotinfactadesirableacquaintance。
I’dtellheryou’revulgar，improper，scandalous;I’dtellheryou’remercenary，designing，dangerous;I’dtellhertheonlysafecourseisimmediatelytoletyoudrop。I’dthussurroundyouwithanimpenetrablelegendofconscientiousmisrepresentation，acircleofpiousfraud，andallthewhileprivatelykeepyouformyself。"
Shehadlistenedtohimasifhewereabandofmusicandsheherselfasmallshygarden-party。"Ishouldn’tlikeyoutogoaway。Ishouldn’tintheleastlikeyounottocomeagain。"
"Ahthereitis！"hereplied。"HowcanIcomeagainifAddieruinsyou？"
"Buthowwillsheruinme——evenifshedoeswhatyousay？IknowI’mtoooldtochangeandreallymuchtooqueertopleaseinanyoftheextraordinarywaysyouspeakof。Ifit’saquestionofquizzingmeIdon’tthinkmycousin，oranyoneelse，willhavequitethehandforitthatYOUseemtohave。SothatifYOU
haven’truinedme——！"
"ButIHAVE——that’sjustthepoint！"Grangerinsisted。"I’veunderminedyouatleast。I’veleftafterallterriblylittleforAddietodo。"
Shelaughedincleartones。"Wellthen，we’lladmitthatyou’vedoneeverythingbutfrightenme。"
Helookedatherwithsurpassinggloom。"No——thatagainisoneofthemostdreadfulfeatures。You’llpositivelylikeit——what’stocome。You’llbecaughtupinachariotoffireliketheprophet——
wasn’tthere，wasthereone？——ofold。That’sexactlywhy——ifonecouldbuthavedoneit——you’dhavebeentobekeptignorantandhelpless。There’ssomethingorotherinLatinthatsaysit’sthefinestthingsthatchangethemosteasilyfortheworse。Youalreadyenjoyyourdishonourandrevelinyourshame。It’stoolate——you’relost！"
CHAPTERVI
Allthiswasaspleasantamannerofpassingthetimeasanyother，foritdidn’tpreventhisold-worldcornerfromclosingroundhimmoreentirely，norstandinthewayofhismakingoutfromdaytodaysomenewsourceaswellassomeneweffectofitsvirtue。Hewasreallyscaredatmomentsatsomeofthelibertieshetookintalk——atfindinghimselfsofamiliar;forthegreatnoteoftheplacewasjustthatacertainmoderneasehadnevercrosseditsthreshold，thatquickintimaciesandquickoblivionswereastrangertoitsair。Ithadknowninallitsdaysnorude，noloudinvasion。Serenelyunconsciousofmostcontemporarythings，ithadbeensoofnothingsomuchasofthediffusedsocialpracticeofrunninginandout。GrangerheldhisbreathonoccasionstothinkhowAddiewouldrun。Thereweremomentswhen，morethanatothers，forsomereason，heheardhersteponthestaircaseandhercryinthehall。Ifheneverthelessplayedfreelywiththeideawithwhichwehaveshownhimasoccupieditwasn’tthatinallpalpablewayshedidn’tsacrificesofarasmortallypossibletostillness。
Heonlyhovered，eversolightly，totakeupagainhisthread。Shewouldn’thearofhisleavingher，ofhisbeingintheleastfitagain，asshesaid，totravel。ShespokeofthejourneytoLondon——
whichwasinfactamatterofmanyhours——asanexperimentfraughtwithlurkingcomplications。Headdedthendaytoday，yetonlyhereby，asheremindedher，givingothercomplicationsalargerchancetomultiply。Hekeptitbeforeher，whentherewasnothingelsetodo，thatshemustconsider;afterwhichhehadhistimesoffearthatsheperhapsreallywouldmakeforhimthissacrifice。
HeknewshehadwrittenagaintoParis，andknewhemusthimselfagainwrite——asituationaboundingforeachintheelementsofaplight。Ifhestayedsolongwhythenhewasn’tbetter，andifhewasn’tbetterAddiemighttakeitintoherhead——！TheymustmakeitclearthatheWASbetter，sothat，suspicious，alarmedatwhatwaskeptfromher，sheshouldn’tsuddenlypresentherselftonursehim。Ifhewasbetter，however，whydidhestaysolong？Ifhestayedonlyfortheattractionthesenseoftheattractionmightbecontagious。Thiswaswhatfinallygrewclearestforhim，sothathehadforhismilddisciplehoursofstillsharperprophecy。Itconsortedwithhisfancytorepresenttoherthattheiryoungfriendhadbeenbythistimeunsparinglywarned;butnothingcouldbeplainerthanthatthiswasineffectualsolongashehimselfresistedtheordeal。Topleadthatheremainedbecausehewastooweaktomovewasonlytothrowthemselvesbackontheotherhornoftheirdilemma。IfhewastooweaktomoveAddiewouldbringhimherstrength——ofwhich，whenshegotthere，shewouldgivethemspecimensenough。Onemorninghebrokeoutatbreakfastwithanintimateconviction。They’dseethatshewasactuallystarting——
they’dreceiveawirebynoon。Theydidn’treceiveit，butbyhistheorytheportentwasonlythestronger。Ithadmoreoveritsgraveaswellasitsgayside，sinceGranger’sparadoxandpleasantrywereonlythemethodmostopentohimofconveyingwhathefelt。Heliterallyheardtheknellsound，andinexpressingthistoMissWenhamwiththeconversationalfreedomthatseemedbesttopayhiswayhethemorevividlyfacedthecontingency。Hecouldneverreturn，andthoughheannounceditwithadespairthatdidwhatmightbetomakeitpassasajoke，hesawhow，whetherornosheatlastunderstood，shequiteatlastbelievedhim。Onthis，tohisknowledge，shewroteagaintoAddie，andthecontentsofherletterexcitedhiscuriosity。Butthatsentiment，thoughnotassuaged，quitedroppedwhen，thedayafter，intheevening，shelethimknowshehadhadatelegramanhourbefore。
"ShecomesThursday。"
Heshowednottheleastsurprise。Itwasthedeepcalmofthefatalist。ItHADtobe。"Imustleaveyouthento-morrow。"
Shelooked，onthis，ashehadneverseenher;itwouldhavebeenhardtosaywhetherwhatshowedinherfacewasthelastfailuretofolloworthefirstefforttomeet。"Andreallynottocomeback？"
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