PREFACE

ThepeninsulacarvedbyTimeoutofasinglestone，whereonmostofthefollowingscenesarelaid，hasbeenforcenturiesimmemorialthehomeofacuriousandwell-nighdistinctpeople，cherishingstrangebeliefsandsingularcustoms，nowforthemostpartobsolescent。Fancies，likecertainsoft-woodedplantswhichcannotbearthesilentinlandfrosts，butthrivebytheseaintheroughestofweather，seemtogrowupnaturallyhere，inparticularamongstthosenativeswhohavenoactiveconcerninthelaboursofthe’Isle。’Henceitisaspotapttogenerateatypeofpersonagelikethecharacterimperfectlysketchedinthesepages——anativeofnatives——whomsomemaychoosetocallafantast（iftheyhonourhimwiththeirconsiderationsofar），butwhomothersmayseeonlyasonethatgaveobjectivecontinuityandanametoadelicatedreamwhichinavaguerformismoreorlesscommontoallmen，andisbynomeansnewtoPlatonicphilosophers。

TothosewhoknowtherockycoignofEnglandheredepicted——overlookingthegreatChannelHighwaywithallitssuggestiveness，andstandingoutsofarintomid-seathattouchesoftheGulfStreamsoftentheairtillFebruary——itismatterofsurprisethattheplacehasnotbeenmorefrequentlychosenastheretreatofartistsandpoetsinsearchofinspiration——foratleastamonthortwointheyear，thetempestuousratherthanthefineseasonsbypreference。Tobesure，onenookthereinistheretreat，attheircountry’sexpense，ofothergeniusesfromadistance；buttheirpresenceishardlydiscoverable。Yetperhapsitisaswellthattheartisticvisitorsdonotcome，ornomorewouldbeheardoflittlefreeholdhousesbeingboughtandsoldthereforacoupleofhundredpounds——builtofsolidstone，anddatingfromthesixteenthcenturyandearlier，withmullions，copings，andcorbelscomplete。Thesetransactions，bytheway，arecarriedoutandcovenanted，orweretilllately，intheparishchurch，inthefaceofthecongregation，suchbeingtheancientcustomoftheIsle。

Asforthestoryitself，itmaybeworthwhiletoremarkthat，differingfromallormostothersoftheseriesinthattheinterestaimedatisofanidealorsubjectivenature，andfranklyimaginative，verisimilitudeinthesequenceofeventshasbeensubordinatedtothesaidaim。

Thefirstpublicationofthistaleinanindependentformwasin1897；

butithadappearedintheperiodicalpressin1892，underthetitleof’ThePursuitoftheWell-Beloved。’Afewchaptersofthatexperimentalissuewererewrittenforthepresentandfinalformofthenarrative。

T。H。

August1912。

CONTENTS

PARTFIRST——AYOUNGMANOFTWENTY。

I。ASUPPOSITITIOUSPRESENTMENTOFHER

II。THEINCARNATIONISASSUMEDTOBETRUE

III。THEAPPOINTMENT

IV。ALONELYPEDESTRIAN

V。ACHARGE

VI。ONTHEBRINK

VII。HEREARLIERINCARNATIONS

VIII。’TOOLIKETHELIGHTNING’

IX。FAMILIARPHENOMENAINTHEDISTANCE

PARTSECOND——AYOUNGMANOFFORTY。

I。THEOLDPHANTOMBECOMESDISTINCT

II。SHEDRAWSCLOSEANDSATISFIES

III。SHEBECOMESANINACCESSIBLEGHOST

IV。SHETHREATENSTORESUMECORPOREALSUBSTANCE

V。THERESUMPTIONTAKESPLACE

VI。THEPASTSHINESINTHEPRESENT

VII。THENEWBECOMESESTABLISHED

VIII。HISOWNSOULCONFRONTSHIM

IX。JUXTAPOSITIONS

X。SHEFAILSTOVANISHSTILL

XI。THEIMAGEPERSISTS

XII。AGRILLEDESCENDSBETWEEN

XIII。SHEISENSHROUDEDFROMSIGHT

PARTTHIRD——AYOUNGMANOFSIXTY。

I。SHERETURNSFORTHENEWSEASON

II。MISGIVINGSONTHERE-EMBODIMENT

III。THERENEWEDIMAGEBURNSITSELFIN

IV。ADASHFORTHELASTINCARNATION

V。ONTHEVERGEOFPOSSESSION

VI。THEWELL-BELOVEDIS——WHERE？

VII。ANOLDTABERNACLEINANEWASPECT

VIII。’ALASFORTHISGREYSHADOW，ONCEAMAN！’

PARTFIRST——AYOUNGMANOFTWENTY。

——’Now，ifTimeknowsThatHer，whoseradiantbrowsWeavethemagarlandofmyvows；

HerthatdaresbeWhattheselineswishtosee：

Iseeknofurther，itisShe。’

——R。CRASHAW。

1。I。ASUPPOSITITIOUSPRESENTMENTOFHER

Apersonwhodifferedfromthelocalwayfarerswasclimbingthesteeproadwhichleadsthroughthesea-skirtedtownletdefinableastheStreetofWells，andformsapassintothatGibraltarofWessex，thesingularpeninsulaonceanisland，andstillcalledsuch，thatstretchesoutliketheheadofabirdintotheEnglishChannel。Itisconnectedwiththemainlandbyalongthinneckofpebbles’castupbyragesofthese，’andunparalleledinitskindinEurope。

Thepedestrianwaswhathelookedlike——ayoungmanfromLondonandthecitiesoftheContinent。Nobodycouldseeatpresentthathisurbanismsatuponhimonlyasagarment。Hewasjustrecollectingwithsomethingofself-reproachthatawholethreeyearsandeightmonthshadflownsincehepaidhislastvisittohisfatheratthislonelyrockofhisbirthplace，theinterveningtimehavingbeenspentamidmanycontrastingsocieties，peoples，manners，andscenes。

Whathadseemedusualintheislewhenhelivedtherealwayslookedquaintandoddafterhislaterimpressions。Morethaneverthespotseemedwhatitwassaidoncetohavebeen，theancientVindiliaIsland，andtheHomeoftheSlingers。Thetoweringrock，thehousesabovehouses，oneman’sdoorsteprisingbehindhisneighbour’schimney，thegardenshungupbyoneedgetothesky，thevegetablesgrowingonapparentlyalmostverticalplanes，theunityofthewholeislandasasolidandsingleblockoflimestonefourmileslong，werenolongerfamiliarandcommonplaceideas。Allnowstooddazzlinglyuniqueandwhiteagainstthetintedsea，andthesunflashedoninfinitelystratifiedwallsofoolite，ThemelancholyruinsOfcancelledcycles，……

withadistinctivenessthatcalledtheeyestoitasstronglyasanyspectaclehehadbeheldafar。

Afteralaboriousclamberhereachedthetop，andwalkedalongtheplateautowardstheeasternvillage。Thetimebeingabouttwoo’clock，inthemiddleofthesummerseason，theroadwasglaringanddusty，anddrawingneartohisfather’shousehesatdowninthesun。

Hestretchedouthishandupontherockbesidehim。Itfeltwarm。

Thatwastheisland’spersonaltemperaturewheninitsafternoonsleepasnow。Helistened，andheardsounds：whirr-whirr，saw-saw-saw。

Thoseweretheisland’ssnores——thenoisesofthequarrymenandstone-

sawyers。

Oppositetothespotonwhichhesatwasaroomycottageorhomestead。

Liketheislanditwasallofstone，notonlyinwallsbutinwindow-

frames，roof，chimneys，fence，stile，pigstyandstable，almostdoor。

Herememberedwhohadusedtolivethere——andprobablylivedtherenow——

theCarofamily；the’roan-mare’Caros，astheywerecalledtodistinguishthemfromotherbranchesofthesamepedigree，therebeingbuthalf-a-dozenChristianandsurnamesinthewholeisland。Hecrossedtheroadandlookedinattheopendoorway。Yes，theretheywerestill。

Mrs。Caro，whohadseenhimfromthewindow，methimintheentry，andanold-fashionedgreetingtookplacebetweenthem。Amomentafteradoorleadingfromthebackroomswasthrownopen，andayounggirlaboutseventeenoreighteencameboundingin。

’Why，’TISdearJoce！’sheburstoutjoyfully。Andrunninguptotheyoungman，shekissedhim。

Thedemonstrationwassweetenoughfromtheownerofsuchanaffectionatepairofbrighthazeleyesandbrowntressesofhair。Butitwassosudden，sounexpectedbyamanfreshfromtowns，thathewincedforamomentquiteinvoluntarily；andtherewassomeconstraintinthemannerinwhichhereturnedherkiss，andsaid，’MyprettylittleAvice，howdoyoudoaftersolong？’

Forafewsecondsherimpulsiveinnocencehardlynoticedhisstartofsurprise；butMrs。Caro，thegirl’smother，hadobserveditinstantly。

Withapainedflushsheturnedtoherdaughter。

’Avice——mydearAvice！Why——whatareyoudoing？Don’tyouknowthatyou’vegrownuptobeawomansinceJocelyn——Mr。Pierston——waslastdownhere？Ofcourseyoumustn’tdonowasyouusedtodothreeorfouryearsago！’

TheawkwardnesswhichhadarisenwashardlyremovedbyPierston’sassurancethathequiteexpectedhertokeepupthepracticeofherchildhood，followedbyseveralminutesofconversationongeneralsubjects。Hewasvexedfromhissoulthathisunawaremovementshouldsohavebetrayedhim。AthisleavingherepeatedthatifAviceregardedhimotherwisethanassheusedtodohewouldneverforgiveher；butthoughtheypartedgoodfriendsherregretattheincidentwasvisibleinherface。Jocelynpassedoutintotheroadandonwardtohisfather’shousehardby。Themotheranddaughterwereleftalone。

’Iwasquiteamazedat’ee，mychild！’exclaimedtheelder。’AyoungmanfromLondonandforeigncities，usednowtothestrictestcompanymanners，andladieswhoalmostthinkitvulgartosmilebroad！Howcouldyedoit，Avice？’

’I——Ididn’tthinkabouthowIwasaltered！’saidtheconscience-

strickengirl。’Iusedtokisshim，andheusedtokissmebeforehewentaway。’

’Butthatwasyearsago，mydear！’

’Oyes，andforthemomentIforgot！Heseemedjustthesametomeasheusedtobe。’

’Well，itcan’tbehelpednow。Youmustbecarefulinthefuture。

He’sgotlotsofyoungwomen，I’llwarrant，andhasfewthoughtsleftforyou。He’swhattheycallasculptor，andhemeanstobeagreatgeniusinthatlinesomeday，theydosay。’

’Well，I’vedoneit；anditcan’tbemended！’moanedthegirl。

MeanwhileJocelynPierston，thesculptorofbuddingfame，hadgoneonwardtothehouseofhisfather，aninartisticmanoftradeandcommercemerely，fromwhom，nevertheless，Jocelyncondescendedtoacceptayearlyallowancependingthefamousdaystocome。Buttheelder，havingreceivednowarningofhisson’sintendedvisit，wasnotathometoreceivehim。Jocelynlookedroundthefamiliarpremises，glancedacrosstheCommonatthegreatyardswithinwhicheternalsawsweregoingtoandfrouponeternalblocksofstone——theverysamesawsandtheverysameblocksthathehadseentherewhenlastintheisland，soitseemedtohim——andthenpassedthroughthedwellingintothebackgarden。

Likeallthegardensintheisleitwassurroundedbyawallofdry-

jointedspawls，andatitsfurtherextremityitranoutintoacorner，whichadjoinedthegardenoftheCaros。Hehadnosoonerreachedthisspotthanhebecameawareofamurmuringandsobbingontheothersideofthewall。ThevoiceherecognizedinamomentasAvice’s，andsheseemedtobeconfidinghertroubletosomeyoungfriendofherownsex。

’Oh，whatshallIDO！whatSHALLIdo！’shewassayingbitterly。’Soboldasitwas——soshameless！HowcouldIthinkofsuchathing！Hewillneverforgiveme——never，neverlikemeagain！He’llthinkmeaforwardhussy，andyet——andyetIquiteforgothowmuchIhadgrown。

Butthathe’llneverbelieve！’Theaccentswerethoseofonewhohadforthefirsttimebecomeconsciousofherwomanhood，asanunwontedpossessionwhichshamedandfrightenedher。

’Didheseemangryatit？’inquiredthefriend。

’Ono——notangry！Worse。Coldandhaughty。O，he’ssuchafashionablepersonnow——notatallanislandman。Butthere’snouseintalkingofit。IwishIwasdead！’

Pierstonretreatedasquicklyashecould。Hegrievedattheincidentwhichhadbroughtsuchpaintothisinnocentsoul；andyetitwasbeginningtobeasourceofvaguepleasuretohim。Hereturnedtothehouse，andwhenhisfatherhadcomebackandwelcomedhim，andtheyhadsharedamealtogether，Jocelynagainwentout，fullofanearnestdesiretosoothehisyoungneighbour’ssorrowinawayshelittleexpected；though，totellthetruth，hisaffectionforherwasratherthatofafriendthanofalover，andhefeltbynomeanssurethatthemigratory，elusiveidealizationhecalledhisLovewho，eversincehisboyhood，hadflittedfromhumanshelltohumanshellanindefinitenumberoftimes，wasgoingtotakeupherabodeinthebodyofAviceCaro。

1。II。THEINCARNATIONISASSUMEDTOBETRUE

Itwasdifficulttomeetheragain，eventhoughonthislumpofrockthedifficultylayasaruleratherinavoidancethaninmeeting。ButAvicehadbeentransformedintoaverydifferentkindofyoungwomanbytheself-consciousnessengenderedofherimpulsivegreeting，and，notwithstandingtheirnearneighbourhood，hecouldnotencounterher，tryashewould。Nosoonerdidheappearaninchbeyondhisfather’sdoorthanshewastoearthlikeafox；sheboltedupstairstoherroom。

Anxioustosootheherafterhisunintentionalslighthecouldnotstandtheseevasionslong。Themannersoftheislewereprimitiveandstraightforward，evenamongthewell-to-do，andnotingherdisappearanceonedayhefollowedherintothehouseandonwardtothefootofthestairs。

’Avice！’hecalled。

’Yes，Mr。Pierston。’

’Whydoyourunupstairslikethat？’

’Oh——onlybecauseIwantedtocomeupforsomething。’

’Well，ifyou’vegotit，can’tyoucomedownagain？’

’No，Ican’tverywell。’

’Come，DEARAvice。That’swhatyouare，youknow。’

Therewasnoresponse。

’Well，ifyouwon’t，youwon’t！’hecontinued。’Idon’twanttobotheryou。’AndPierstonwentaway。

Hewasstoppingtolookattheold-fashionedflowersunderthegardenwallswhenheheardavoicebehindhim。

’Mr。Pierston——Iwasn’tangrywithyou。WhenyouweregoneIthought——

youmightmistakeme，andIfeltIcoulddonolessthancomeandassureyouofmyfriendshipstill。’

TurninghesawtheblushingAviceimmediatelybehindhim。

’Youareagood，deargirl！’saidhe，and，seizingherhand，setuponhercheekthekindofkissthatshouldhavebeentheresponsetohersonthedayofhiscoming。

’DarlingAvice，forgivemefortheslightthatday！Sayyoudo。Come，now！AndthenI’llsaytoyouwhatIhaveneversaidtoanyotherwoman，livingordead："Willyouhavemeasyourhusband？"’

’Ah！——mothersaysIamonlyoneofmany！’

’Youarenot，dear。YouknewmewhenIwasyoung，andothersdidn’t。’

Somehoworotherherobjectionsweregotover，andthoughshedidnotgiveanimmediateassent，sheagreedtomeethimlaterintheafternoon，whenshewalkedwithhimtothesouthernpointoftheislandcalledtheBeal，or，bystrangers，theBill，pausingoverthetreacherouscavernknownasCaveHole，intowhichthesearoaredandsplashednowasithaddonewhentheyvisitedittogetheraschildren。

Tosteadyherselfwhilelookinginheofferedherhisarm，andshetookit，forthefirsttimeasawoman，forthehundredthtimeashiscompanion。

Theyrambledontothelighthouse，wheretheywouldhavelingeredlongerifAvicehadnotsuddenlyrememberedanengagementtorecitepoetryfromaplatformthatveryeveningattheStreetofWells，thevillagecommandingtheentrancetotheisland——thevillagethathasnowadvancedtobeatown。

’Recite！’saidhe。’Who’dhavethoughtanybodyoranythingcouldrecitedownhereexceptthereciterwehearawaythere——theneverspeechlesssea。’

’Obutwearequiteintellectualnow。Inthewinterparticularly。

But，Jocelyn——don’tcometotherecitation，willyou？Itwouldspoilmyperformanceifyouwerethere，andIwanttobeasgoodastherest。’

’Iwon’tifyoureallywishmenotto。ButIshallmeetyouatthedoorandbringyouhome。’

’Yes！’shesaid，lookingupintohisface。Avicewasperfectlyhappynow；shecouldneverhavebelievedonthatmortifyingdayofhiscomingthatshewouldbesohappywithhim。Whentheyreachedtheeastsideoftheisletheyparted，thatshemightbesoonenoughtotakeherplaceontheplatform。Pierstonwenthome，andafterdark，whenitwasaboutthehourforaccompanyingherback，hewentalongthemiddleroadnorthwardtotheStreetofWells。

Hewasfullofmisgiving。HehadknownAviceCarosowellofoldthathisfeelingforhernowwasrathercomradeshipthanlove；andwhathehadsaidtoherinamomentofimpulsethatmorningratherappalledhiminitsconsequences。Notthatanyofthemoresophisticatedandaccomplishedwomenwhohadattractedhimsuccessivelywouldbelikelytoriseinconvenientlybetweenthem。Forhehadquitedisabusedhismindoftheassumptionthattheidolofhisfancywasanintegralpartofthepersonalityinwhichithadsojournedforalongorashortwhile。

***

TohisWell-Belovedhehadalwaysbeenfaithful；butshehadhadmanyembodiments。EachindividualityknownasLucy，Jane，Flora，Evangeline，orwhat-not，hadbeenmerelyatransientconditionofher。

Hedidnotrecognizethisasanexcuseorasadefence，butasafactsimply。Essentiallyshewasperhapsofnotangiblesubstance；aspirit，adream，afrenzy，aconception，anaroma，anepitomizedsex，alightoftheeye，apartingofthelips。Godonlyknewwhatshereallywas；Pierstondidnot。Shewasindescribable。

Nevermuchconsideringthatshewasasubjectivephenomenonvivifiedbytheweirdinfluencesofhisdescentandbirthplace，thediscoveryofherghostliness，ofherindependenceofphysicallawsandfailings，hadoccasionallygivenhimasenseoffear。Heneverknewwhereshenextwouldbe，whithershewouldleadhim，havingherselfinstantaccesstoallranksandclasses，toeveryabodeofmen。Sometimesatnighthedreamtthatshewas’thewile-weavingDaughterofhighZeus’inperson，bentontormentinghimforhissinsagainstherbeautyinhisart——theimplacableAphroditeherselfindeed。Heknewthathelovedthemasqueradingcreaturewhereverhefoundher，whetherwithblueeyes，blackeyes，orbrown；whetherpresentingherselfastall，fragile，orplump。Shewasneverintwoplacesatonce；buthithertoshehadneverbeeninoneplacelong。

Bymakingthiscleartohismindsometimebeforeto-day，hehadescapedagooddealofuglyself-reproach。Itwassimplythatshewhoalwaysattractedhim，andledhimwhithershewouldasbyasilkenthread，hadnotremainedtheoccupantofthesamefleshlytabernacleinhercareersofar。Whethershewouldultimatelysettledowntoonehecouldnotsay。

HadhefeltthatshewasbecomingmanifestinAvice，hewouldhavetriedtobelievethatthiswastheterminalspotofhermigrations，andhavebeencontenttoabidebyhiswords。ButdidheseetheWell-

BelovedinAviceatall？Thequestionwassomewhatdisturbing。

Hehadreachedthebrowofthehill，anddescendedtowardsthevillage，whereinthelongstraightRomanstreethesoonfoundthelightedhall。

Theperformancewasnotyetover；andbygoingroundtothesideofthebuildingandstandingonamoundhecouldseetheinteriorasfardownastheplatformlevel。Avice’sturn，orsecondturn，cameonalmostimmediately。Herprettyembarrassmentonfacingtheaudienceratherwonhimawayfromhisdoubts。Shewas，intruth，whatiscalleda’nice’girl；attractive，certainly，butaboveallthingsnice——oneoftheclasswithwhomtherisksofmatrimonyapproximatemostnearlytozero。Herintelligenteyes，herbroadforehead，herthoughtfulcarriage，ensuredonething，thatofallthegirlshehadknownhehadnevermetonewithmorecharmingandsolidqualitiesthanAviceCaro’s。

Thiswasnotamereconjecture——hehadknownherlongandthoroughly；

hereverymoodandtemper。

Aheavywagonpassingwithoutdrownedhersmallsoftvoiceforhim；buttheaudiencewerepleased，andsheblushedattheirapplause。Henowtookhisstationatthedoor，andwhenthepeoplehaddonepouringouthefoundherwithinawaitinghim。

TheyclimbedhomewardslowlybytheOldRoad，Pierstondragginghimselfupthesteepbythewaysidehand-railandpullingAviceafterhimuponhisarm。Atthetoptheyturnedandstoodstill。Totheleftofthemtheskywasstreakedlikeafanwiththelighthouserays，andundertheirfront，atperiodsofaquarterofaminute，therearoseadeep，hollowstrokelikethesinglebeatofadrum，theintervalsbeingfilledwithalong-drawnrattling，asofbonesbetweenhugecaninejaws。ItcamefromthevastconcaveofDeadman’sBay，risingandfallingagainstthepebbledyke。

Theeveningandnightwindsherewere，toPierston’smind，chargedwithasomethingthatdidnotburdenthemelsewhere。TheybroughtitupfromthatsinisterBaytothewest，whosemovementsheandhewerehearingnow。Itwasapresence——animaginaryshapeoressencefromthehumanmultitudelyingbelow：thosewhohadgonedowninvesselsofwar，EastIndiamen，barges，brigs，andshipsoftheArmada——selectpeople，common，anddebased，whoseinterestsandhopeshadbeenaswideasunderasthepoles，butwhohadrolledeachothertoonenessonthatrestlesssea-bed。Therecouldalmostbefeltthebrushoftheirhugecompositeghostasitranashapelessfigureovertheisle，shriekingforsomegoodgodwhowoulddisuniteitagain。

Thetwainwanderedalongwaythatnightamidtheseinfluences——sofarastotheoldHopeChurchyard，whichlayinaravineformedbyalandslipagesago。Thechurchhadslippeddownwiththerestofthecliff，andhadlongbeenaruin。ItseemedtosaythatinthislastlocalstrongholdofthePagandivinities，wherePagancustomslingeredyet，Christianityhadestablisheditselfprecariouslyatbest。InthatsolemnspotPierstonkissedher。

ThekisswasbynomeansonAvice’sinitiativethistime。Herformerdemonstrativenessseemedtohaveincreasedherpresentreserve。

***

Thatdaywasthebeginningofapleasantmonthpassedmainlyineachother’ssociety。Hefoundthatshecouldnotonlyrecitepoetryatintellectualgatherings，butplaythepianofairly，andsingtoherownaccompaniment。

Heobservedthateveryaimofthosewhohadbroughtheruphadbeentogetherawaymentallyasfaraspossiblefromhernaturalandindividuallifeasaninhabitantofapeculiarisland：tomakeheranexactcopyoftensofthousandsofotherpeople，inwhosecircumstancestherewasnothingspecial，distinctive，orpicturesque；toteachhertoforgetalltheexperiencesofherancestors；todrownthelocalballadsbysongspurchasedattheBudmouthfashionablemusic-sellers’，andthelocalvocabularybyagoverness-tongueofnocountryatall。Shelivedinahousethatwouldhavebeenthefortuneofanartist，andlearnttodrawLondonsuburbanvillasfromprintedcopies。

Avicehadseenallthisbeforehepointeditout，but，withagirl’stractability，hadacquiesced。Byconstitutionshewaslocaltothebone，butshecouldnotescapethetendencyoftheage。

ThetimeforJocelyn’sdeparturedrewnear，andshelookedforwardtoitsadly，butserenely，theirengagementbeingnowasettledthing。

Pierstonthoughtofthenativecustomonsuchoccasions，whichhadprevailedinhisandherfamilyforcenturies，bothbeingoftheoldstockoftheisle。Theinfluxof’kimberlins，’or’foreigners’（asstrangersfromthemainlandofWessexwerecalled），hadledinalargemeasuretoitsdiscontinuance；butunderneaththeveneerofAvice’seducationmanyanold-fashionedidealayslumbering，andhewonderedif，inhernaturalmelancholyathisleaving，sheregrettedthechangingmannerswhichmadeunpopulartheformalratificationofabetrothal，accordingtotheprecedentoftheirsiresandgrandsires。

1。III。THEAPPOINTMENT

’Well，’saidhe，’hereweare，arrivedatthefag-endofmyholiday。

Whatapleasantsurprisemyoldhome，whichIhavenotthoughtworthcomingtoseeforthreeorfouryears，hadinstoreforme！’

’Youmustgoto-morrow？’sheaskeduneasily。

’Yes。’

Somethingseemedtooverweighthem；somethingmorethanthenaturalsadnessofapartingwhichwasnottobelong；andhedecidedthatinsteadofleavinginthedaytimeashehadintended，hewoulddeferhisdeparturetillnight，andgobythemail-trainfromBudmouth。Thiswouldgivehimtimetolookintohisfather’squarries，andenableher，ifshechose，towalkwithhimalongthebeachasfarastoHenrytheEighth’sCastleabovethesands，wheretheycouldlingerandwatchthemoonriseoverthesea。Shesaidshethoughtshecouldcome。

SoafterspendingthenextdaywithhisfatherinthequarriesJocelynpreparedtoleave，andatthetimeappointedsetoutfromthestonehouseofhisbirthinthisstoneisletowalktoBudmouth-Regisbythepathalongthebeach，AvicehavingsometimeearliergonedowntoseesomefriendsintheStreetofWells，whichwashalfwaytowardsthespotoftheirtryst。Thedescentsoonbroughthimtothepebblebank，andleavingbehindhimthelasthousesoftheisle，andtheruinsofthevillagedestroyedbytheNovembergaleof1824，hestruckoutalongthenarrowthreadofland。Whenhehadwalkedahundredyardshestopped，turnedasidetothepebbleridgewhichwalledoutthesea，andsatdowntowaitforher。

Betweenhimandthelightsoftheshipsridingatanchorintheroadsteadtwomenpassedslowlyinthedirectionheintendedtopursue。

OneofthemrecognizedJocelyn，andbadehimgood-night，adding，’Wishyoujoy，sir，ofyourchoice，andhopetheweddenwillbesoon！’

’Thankyou，Seaborn。Well——weshallseewhatChristmaswilldotowardsbringingitabout。’

’Mywifeopeneduponitthismornen："PleaseGod，I’llupandseethattherewedden，"saysshe，"knowing’embothfromtheircrawlingdays。"’

Themenmovedon，andwhentheywereoutofPierston’shearingtheonewhohadnotspokensaidtohisfriend，’Whowasthatyoungkimberlin？

Hedon’tseemoneo’we。’

’Oh，heis，though，everyincho’en。He’sMr。JocelynPierston，thestwone-merchant’sonlysonupatEastQuarriers。He’stobemarriedtoastylishyoungbody；hermother，awidowwoman，carriesonthesamebusinessaswellasshecan；buttheirtradeisnotatwentiethpartofPierston’s。He’sworththousandsandthousands，theysay，though’adoliveoninthesamewoldwayupinthesamewoldhouse。ThissonisdoengreatthingsinLondonasa’image-carver；andIcanmindwhen，asaboy，’afirsttooktocarvingsoldiersouto’bitso’stwonefromthesoft-bedofhisfather’squarries；andthen’amadeaseto’stwonenchess-men，andso’agoton。He’squitethegentinLondon，theytellme；andthewonderisthat’acaredtocomebackhereandpickuplittleAviceCaro——nicemaidassheisnotwithstanding……Hullo！

there’stobeachangeintheweathersoon。’

Meanwhilethesubjectoftheirremarkswaitedattheappointedplacetillseveno’clock，thehournamedbetweenhimselfandhisaffianced，hadstruck。Almostatthemomenthesawafigurecomingforwardfromthelastlampatthebottomofthehill。Butthefigurespeedilyresolveditselfintothatofaboy，who，advancingtoJocelyn，inquiredifhewereMr。Pierston，andhandedhimanote。

1。IV。ALONELYPEDESTRIAN

WhentheboyhadgoneJocelynretracedhisstepstothelastlamp，andread，inAvice’shand：

’MYDEAREST，——IshallbesorryifIgrieveyouatallinwhatIamgoingtosayaboutourarrangementtomeetto-nightintheSandsfootruin。ButIhavefanciedthatmyseeingyouagainandagainlatelyisincliningyourfathertoinsist，andyouashisheirtofeel，thatweoughttocarryoutIslandCustominourcourting——yourpeoplebeingsucholdinhabitantsinanunbrokenline。Truthtosay，mothersupposesthatyourfather，fornaturalreasons，mayhavehintedtoyouthatweought。Now，thethingiscontrarytomyfeelings：itisnearlyleftoff；andIdonotthinkitgood，evenwherethereisproperty，asinyourcase，tojustifyit，inameasure。IwouldrathertrustinProvidence。

’Onthewhole，therefore，itisbestthatIshouldnotcome——ifonlyforappearances——andmeetyouatatimeandplacesuggestingthecustom，toothersthanourselves，atleast，ifknown。

’Iamsurethatthisdecisionwillnotdisturbyoumuch；thatyouwillunderstandmymodernfeelings，andthinknoworseofmeforthem。Anddear，ifitweretobedone，andwewereunfortunateinit，wemightbothhaveenougholdfamilyfeelingtothink，likeourforefathers，andpossiblyyourfather，thatwecouldnotmarryhonourably；andhencewemightbemadeunhappy。

’However，youwillcomeagainshortly，willyounot，dearJocelyn？——andthenthetimewillsoondrawonwhennomoregood-byeswillberequired。——Alwaysandeveryours，’AVICE。’

Jocelyn，havingreadtheletter，wassurprisedatthenaiveteitshowed，andatAviceandhermother’santiquatedsimplicityinsupposingthattobestillagraveandoperatingprinciplewhichwasabygonebarbarismtohimselfandotherabsenteesfromtheisland。Hisfather，asamoney-maker，mighthavepracticalwishesonthematterofdescendantswhichlentplausibilitytotheconjectureofAviceandhermother；buttoJocelynhehadneverexpressedhimselfinfavouroftheancientways，old-fashionedashewas。

Amusedthereforeatherregardofherselfasmodern，Jocelynwasdisappointed，andalittlevexed，thatsuchanunforeseenreasonshouldhavedeprivedhimofhercompany。Howtheoldideassurvivedundertheneweducation！

Thereaderisaskedtorememberthatthedate，thoughrecentinthehistoryoftheIsleofSlingers，wasmorethanfortyyearsago。

***

Findingthattheeveningseemedlouring，yetindisposedtogobackandhireavehicle，hewentonquicklyalone。Insuchanexposedspotthenightwindwasgusty，andtheseabehindthepebblebarrierkickedandflouncedincomplexrhythms，whichcouldbetranslatedequallywellasshocksofbattleorshoutsofthanksgiving。

Presentlyonthepaleroadbeforehimhediscernedafigure，thefigureofawoman。HerememberedthatawomanpassedhimwhilehewasreadingAvice’sletterbythelastlamp，andnowhewasovertakingher。

HedidhopeforamomentthatitmightbeAvice，withachangedmind。

Butitwasnotshe，noranybodylikeher。Itwasataller，squarerformthanthatofhisbetrothed，andalthoughtheseasonwasonlyautumnshewaswrappedinfurs，orinthickandheavyclothingofsomekind。

Hesoonadvancedabreastofher，andcouldgetglimpsesofherprofileagainsttheroadsteadlights。Itwasdignified，arresting，thatofaveryJuno。Nothingmoreclassicalhadheeverseen。Shewalkedataswingingpace，yetwithsucheaseandpowerthattherewasbutlittledifferenceintheirrateofspeedforseveralminutes；andduringthistimeheregardedandconjectured。However，hewasabouttopassherbywhenshesuddenlyturnedandaddressedhim。

’MrPierston，Ithink，ofEastQuarriers？’

Heassented，andcouldjustdiscernwhatahandsome，commanding，imperiousfaceitwas——quiteofapiecewiththeproudtonesofhervoice。Shewasanewtypealtogetherinhisexperience；andheraccentwasnotsolocalasAvice’s。

’Canyoutellmethetime，please？’

Helookedathiswatchbytheaidofalight，andintellingherthatitwasaquarterpastsevenobserved，bythemomentarygleamofhismatch，thathereyeslookedalittleredandchafed，asifwithweeping。

’Mr。Pierston，willyouforgivewhatwillappearverystrangetoyou，I

daresay？Thatis，mayIaskyoutolendmesomemoneyforadayortwo？Ihavebeensofoolishastoleavemypurseonthedressing-

table。’

Itdidappearstrange：andyettherewerefeaturesintheyounglady’spersonalitywhichassuredhiminamomentthatshewasnotanimpostor。

Heyieldedtoherrequest，andputhishandinhispocket。Hereitremainedforamoment。Howmuchdidshemeanbythewords’somemoney’？TheJunonianqualityofherformandmannermadehimthrowhimselfbyanimpulseintoharmonywithher，andherespondedregally。

Hescentedaromance。Hehandedherfivepounds。

Hismunificencecausedhernoapparentsurprise。’Itisquiteenough，thankyou，’sheremarkedquietly，asheannouncedthesum，lestsheshouldbeunabletoseeitforherself。

Whileovertakingandconversingwithherhehadnotobservedthattherisingwind，whichhadproceededfrompuffingtogrowling，andfromgrowlingtoscreeching，withtheaccustomedsuddennessofitschangeshere，hadatlengthbroughtwhatitpromisedbythesevagaries——rain。

Thedrops，whichhadatfirsthittheirleftcheekslikethepelletsofapopgun，soonassumedthecharacterofarakingfusilladefromthebankadjoining，oneshotofwhichwassufficientlysmarttogothroughJocelyn’ssleeve。Thetallgirlturned，andseemedtobesomewhatconcernedatanonsetwhichshehadplainlynotforeseenbeforeherstarting。

’Wemusttakeshelter，’saidJocelyn。

’Butwhere？’saidshe。

Towindwardwasthelong，monotonousbank，tooobtuselypiledtoaffordascreen，overwhichtheycouldhearthecaninecrunchingofpebblesbytheseawithout；ontheirrightstretchedtheinnerbayorroadstead，thedistantriding-lightsoftheshipsnowdimandglimmering；behindthemafaintsparkhereandthereinthelowerskyshowedwheretheislandrose；beforetherewasnothingdefinite，andcouldbenothing，tilltheyreachedaprecariouswoodbridge，amilefurtheron，HenrytheEighth’sCastlebeingalittlefurtherstill。

Butjustwithinthesummitofthebank，whitherithadapparentlybeenhauledtobeoutofthewayofthewaves，wasoneofthelocalboatscalledlerrets，bottomupwards。Assoonastheysawitthepairranupthepebblyslopetowardsitbyasimultaneousimpulse。Theythenperceivedthatithadlaintherealongtime，andwerecomfortedtofinditcapableofaffordingmoreprotectionthananybodywouldhaveexpectedfromadistantview。Itformedashelterorstoreforthefishermen，thebottomofthelerretbeingtarredasaroof。Bycreepingunderthebows，whichoverhungthebankonpropstoleeward，theymadetheirwaywithin，where，uponsomethwarts，oars，andotherfragmentarywoodwork，layamassofdrynetting——awholesein。Uponthistheyscrambledandsatdown，throughinabilitytostandupright。

1。V。ACHARGE

Therainfelluponthekeeloftheoldlerretlikecornthrowninhandfulsbysomecolossalsower，anddarknesssetintoitsfullshade。

Theycrouchedsoclosetoeachotherthathecouldfeelherfursagainsthim。Neitherhadspokensincetheylefttheroadwaytillshesaid，withattemptedunconcern：’Thisisunfortunate。’

Headmittedthatitwas，andfound，afterafewfurtherremarkshadpassed，thatshecertainlyhadbeenweeping，therebeingasuppressedgaspofpassionatenessinherutterancenowandthen。

’Itismoreunfortunateforyou，perhaps，thanforme，’hesaid，’andI

amverysorrythatitshouldbeso。’

Sherepliednothingtothis，andheaddedthatitwasratheradesolateplaceforawoman，aloneandafoot。Hehopednothingserioushadhappenedtodragheroutatsuchanuntowardtime。

Atfirstsheseemednotatalldisposedtoshowanycandouronherownaffairs，andhewaslefttoconjectureastoherhistoryandname，andhowshecouldpossiblyhaveknownhim。But，astheraingavenottheleastsignofcessation，heobserved：’Ithinkweshallhavetogoback。’

’Never！’saidshe，andthefirmnesswithwhichsheclosedherlipswasaudibleintheword。

’Whynot？’heinquired。

’Therearegoodreasons。’

’Icannotunderstandhowyoushouldknowme，whileIhavenoknowledgeofyou。’

’Oh，butyouknowme——aboutme，atleast。’

’IndeedIdon’t。HowshouldI？Youareakimberlin。’

’Iamnot。Iamarealislander——orwas，rather……Haven’tyouheardoftheBest-BedStoneCompany？’

’Ishouldthinkso！Theytriedtoruinmyfatherbygettingawayhistrade——or，atleast，thefounderofthecompanydid——oldBencomb。’

’He’smyfather！’

’Indeed。IamsorryIshouldhavespokensodisrespectfullyofhim，forIneverknewhimpersonally。Aftermakingoverhislargebusinesstothecompany，heretired，Ibelieve，toLondon？’

’Yes。Ourhouse，orratherhis，notmine，isatSouthKensington。Wehavelivedthereforyears。ButwehavebeentenantsofSylvaniaCastle，ontheislandhere，thisseason。Wetookitforamonthortwooftheowner，whoisaway。’

’ThenIhavebeenstayingquitenearyou，MissBencomb。Myfather’sisacomparativelyhumbleresidencehardby。’

’Buthecouldaffordamuchbiggeroneifhechose。’

’Youhaveheardso？Idon’tknow。Hedoesn’ttellmemuchofhisaffairs。’

’Myfather，’sheburstoutsuddenly，’isalwaysscoldingmeformyextravagance！Andhehasbeendoingitto-daymorethanever。HesaidIgoshoppingintowntosimplyadiabolicalextent，andexceedmyallowance！’

’Wasthatthisevening？’

’Yes。AndthenitreachedsuchastormofpassionbetweenusthatI

pretendedtoretiretomyroomfortherestoftheevening，butI

slippedout；andIamnevergoingbackhomeagain。’

’Whatwillyoudo？’

’IshallgofirsttomyauntinLondon；andifshewon’thaveme，I’llworkforaliving。Ihaveleftmyfatherforever！WhatIshouldhavedoneifIhadnotmetyouIcannottell——ImusthavewalkedallthewaytoLondon，Isuppose。NowIshalltakethetrainassoonasIreachthemainland。’

’Ifyoueverdointhishurricane。’

’Imustsitheretillitstops。’

Andthereonthenetstheysat。PierstonknewofoldBencombashisfather’sbitterestenemy，whohadmadeagreatfortunebyswallowingupthesmallstone-merchants，buthadfoundJocelyn’ssireatrifletoobigtodigest——thelatterbeing，infact，thechiefrivaloftheBest-

BedCompanytothatday。JocelynthoughtitstrangethatheshouldbethrownbyfateintoapositiontoplaythesonoftheMontaguestothisdaughteroftheCapulets。

Astheytalkedtherewasamutualinstincttodroptheirvoices，andonthisaccounttheroarofthestormnecessitatedtheirdrawingquiteclosetogether。Somethingtendercameintotheirtonesasquarter-hourafterquarter-hourwenton，andtheyforgotthelapseoftime。Itwasquitelatewhenshestartedup，alarmedatherposition。

’Rainornorain，Icanstaynolonger，’shesaid。

’Docomeback，’saidhe，takingherhand。’I’llreturnwithyou。Mytrainhasgone。’

’No；Ishallgoon，andgetalodginginBudmouthtown，ifeverIreachit。’

’Itissolatethattherewillbenohouseopen，exceptalittleplacenearthestationwhereyouwon’tcaretostay。However，ifyouaredeterminedIwillshowyoutheway。Icannotleaveyou。Itwouldbetooawkwardforyoutogotherealone。’

Shepersisted，andtheystartedthroughthetwangingandspinningstorm。Thesearolledandrosesohighontheirleft，andwassonearthemontheirright，thatitseemedasiftheyweretraversingitsbottomliketheChildrenofIsrael。Nothingbutthefrailbankofpebblesdividedthemfromtheraginggulfwithout，andateverybangofthetideagainstitthegroundshook，theshingleclashed，thesprayrosevertically，andwasblownovertheirheads。Quantitiesofsea-

watertrickledthroughthepebblewall，andraninrivuletsacrosstheirpathtojointheseawithin。The’Island’wasanislandstill。

Theyhadnotrealizedtheforceoftheelementstillnow。Pedestrianshadoftenbeenblownintotheseahereabout，anddrowned，owingtoasuddenbreachinthebank；which，however，hadsomethingofasupernaturalpowerinbeingabletocloseupandjoinitselftogetheragainaftersuchdisruption，likeSatan’sformwhen，cutintwobytheswordofMichael，’Theetherealsubstanceclosed，Notlongdivisible。’

Herclothingofferedmoreresistancetothewindthanhis，andshewasconsequentlyinthegreaterdanger。Itwasimpossibletorefusehisprofferedaid。Firsthegavehisarm，butthewindtorethemapartaseasilyascoupledcherries。Hesteadiedherbodilybyencirclingherwaistwithhisarm；andshemadenoobjection。

***

Somewhereaboutthistime——itmighthavebeensooner，itmighthavebeenlater——hebecameconsciousofasensationwhich，initsincipientandunrecognizedform，hadlurkedwithinhimfromsomeunnoticedmomentwhenhewassittingclosetohisnewfriendunderthelerret。Thoughayoungman，hewastoooldahandnottoknowwhatthiswas，andfeltalarmed——evendismayed。ItmeantapossiblemigrationoftheWell-

Beloved。Thethinghadnot，however，takenplace；andhewentonthinkinghowsoftandwarmtheladywasinherfurcovering，asheheldhersotightly；theonlydryspotsintheclothingofeitherbeingherleftsideandhisright，wheretheyexcludedtherainbytheirmutualpressure。

Assoonastheyhadcrossedtheferry-bridgetherewasalittlemoreshelter，buthedidnotrelinquishhisholdtillsherequestedhim。

Theypassedtheruinedcastle，andhavinglefttheislandfarbehindthemtrodmileaftermiletilltheydrewneartotheoutskirtsoftheneighbouringwatering-place。Intoittheyploddedwithoutpause，crossingtheharbourbridgeaboutmidnight，wettotheskin。

Hepitiedher，and，whilehewonderedatit，admiredherdetermination。

Thehousesfacingthebaynowshelteredthemcompletely，andtheyreachedthevicinityofthenewrailwayterminus（whichthestationwasatthisdate）withoutdifficulty。Ashehadsaid，therewasonlyonehouseopenhereabout，alittletemperanceinn，wherethepeoplestayedupforthearrivalofthemorningmailandpassengersfromtheChannelboats。Theirapplicationforadmissionledtothewithdrawalofabolt，andtheystoodwithinthegaslightofthepassage。

Hecouldseenowthatthoughshewassuchafinefigure，quiteastallashimself，shewasbutinthebloomofyoungwomanhood。Herfacewascertainlystriking，thoughratherbyitsimperiousnessthanitsbeauty；

andthebeatingofthewindandrainandsprayhadinflamedhercheekstopeonyhues。

ShepersistedinthedeterminationtogoontoLondonbyanearlymorningtrain，andhethereforeofferedadviceonlessermattersonly。

’Inthatcase，’hesaid，’youmustgouptoyourroomandsenddownyourthings，thattheymaybedriedbythefireimmediately，ortheywillnotbeready。Iwilltelltheservanttodothis，andsendyouupsomethingtoeat。’

Sheassentedtohisproposal，without，however，showinganymarksofgratitude；andwhenshehadgonePierstondespatchedherthelightsupperpromisedbythesleepygirlwhowas’nightporter’atthisestablishment。Hefeltravenouslyhungryhimself，andsetaboutdryinghisclothesaswellashecould，andeatingatthesametime。

Atfirsthewasindoubtwhattodo，butsoondecidedtostaywherehewastillthemorrow。Bytheaidofsometemporarywraps，andsomeslippersfromthecupboard，hewascontrivingtomakehimselfcomfortablewhenthemaid-servantcamedownstairswithadamparmfulofwoman’sraiment。

Pierstonwithdrewfromthefire。Themaid-servantkneltdownbeforetheblazeandheldupwithextendedarmsoneofthehabilimentsoftheJunoupstairs，fromwhichacloudofsteambegantorise。Assheknelt，thegirlnoddedforward，recoveredherself，andnoddedagain。

’Youaresleepy，mygirl，’saidPierston。

’Yes，sir；Ihavebeenupalongtime。WhennobodycomesIliedownonthecouchintheotherroom。’

’ThenI’llrelieveyouofthat；goandliedownintheotherroom，justasifwewerenothere。I’lldrytheclothingandputthearticleshereinaheap，whichyoucantakeuptotheyoungladyinthemorning。’

The’nightporter’thankedhimandlefttheroom，andhesoonheardhersnoringfromtheadjoiningapartment。ThenJocelynopenedproceedings，overhaulingtherobesandextendingthemonebyone。Asthesteamwentuphefellintoareverie。Heagainbecameconsciousofthechangewhichhadbeeninitiatedduringthewalk。TheWell-Belovedwasmovinghouse——hadgoneovertothewearerofthisattire。

Inthecourseoftenminutesheadoredher。

AndhowaboutlittleAviceCaro？Hedidnotthinkofherasbefore。

HewasnotsurethathehadeverseentherealBelovedinthatfriendofhisyouth，solicitousashewasforherwelfare。But，lovingherornot，heperceivedthatthespirit，emanation，idealism，whichcalleditselfhisLovewasflittingstealthilyfromsomeremoterfiguretothenearoneinthechamberoverhead。

Avicehadnotkeptherengagementtomeethiminthelonelyruin，fearingherownimaginings。Buthe，infact，morethanshe，hadbeeneducatedoutoftheislandinnocencethathadupheldoldmanners；andthiswasthestrangeconsequenceofAvice’smisapprehension。

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