XIII。THEEVENTSOFONEDAY
1。THEFIFTHOFJANUARY。BEFOREDAWN
Wepassovertheinterveningweeks。Thetimeofthestoryisthusadvancedmorethanaquarterofayear。
Onthemidnightprecedingthemorningwhichwouldmakeherthewifeofamanwhosepresencefascinatedherintoinvoluntarinessofbearing，andwhominabsenceshealmostdreaded，Cytherealayinherlittlebed，vainlyendeavouringtosleep。
Shehadbeenlookingbackamidtheyearsofhershortthoughvariedpast，andthinkingofthethresholduponwhichshestood。DaysandmonthshaddimmedtheformofEdwardSpringrovelikethegauzesofavanishingstage-scene，buthisdyingvoicecouldstillbeheardfaintlybehind。Thatasoftsmallchordinherstillvibratedtruetohismemory，shewouldnotadmit：thatshedidnotapproachManstonwithfeelingswhichcouldbyanystretchofwordsbecalledhymeneal，shecalmlyowned。