ItwassomewhatsingularthatGilesinhissemi-consciousstateacquiescedunresistinglyinallthatshedid。Butheneverforamomentrecognizedher——continuinghisrapidconversationtohimself，andseemingtolookuponherassomeangel，orothersupernaturalcreatureofthevisionaryworldinwhichhewasmentallyliving。Theundertakingoccupiedhermorethantenminutes；butbythattime，tohergreatthankfulness，hewasintheinnerroom，lyingonthebed，hisdampouterclothingremoved。
ThentheunhappyGraceregardedhimbythelightofthecandle。
Therewassomethinginhislookwhichagonizedher，intherushofhisthoughts，acceleratingtheirspeedfromminutetominute。Heseemedtobepassingthroughtheuniverseofideaslikeacomet——
erratic，inapprehensible，untraceable。
Grace’sdistractionwasalmostasgreatashis。Inafewmomentsshefirmlybelievedhewasdying。Unabletowithstandherimpulse，shekneltdownbesidehim，kissedhishandsandhisfaceandhishair，exclaiming，inalowvoice，“HowcouldI？HowcouldI？”