Thenextdayhementallytimedthemdowntheriver，allowingforthepausetotakeinballast，andontheWednesdaypicturedthesaildowntheopensea。Thatnighthethoughtofthelittlecraftunderthebowsofthehugesteam-vessels，powerlesstomakeitselfseenorheard，andAvice，nowgrowinginexpressiblydear，sleepinginherlittleberthatthemercyofathousandchancecatastrophes。
HonestperceptionhadtoldhimthatthisAvice，fairerthanhermotherinfaceandform，washerinferiorinsoulandunderstanding。Yetthefervourwhichthefirstcouldneverkindleinhimwas，almosttohisalarm，burningupnow。HebegantohavemisgivingsastosomequeertrickthathismigratoryBelovedwasabouttoplayhim，orratherthecapriciousDivinitybehindthatideallady。
Agiganticsatireuponthemutationsofhisnymphduringthepasttwentyyearsseemedloominginthedistance。Aforsakingoftheaccomplishedandwell-connectedMrs。Pine-Avonforthelittlelaundress，underthetractionofsomemysticmagnetwhichhadnothingtodowithreason——surelythatwastheformofthesatire。
Butitwasrecklesslypleasanttoleavethesuspicionunrecognizedasyet，andfollowthelead。
InthinkinghowbesttodothisPierstonrecollectedthat，aswascustomarywhenthesummer-timeapproached，SylvaniaCastlehadbeenadvertisedforlettingfurnished。Asolitarydreamerlikehimself，whosewantsalllayinanartisticandidealdirection，didnotrequiresuchgauntaccommodationastheaforesaidresidenceoffered；butthespotwasall，andtheexpensesofafewmonthsoftenancythereinhecouldwellafford。Alettertotheagentwasdispatchedthatnight，andinafewdaysJocelynfoundhimselfthetemporarypossessorofaplacewhichhehadneverseentheinsideofsincehischildhood，andhadthendeemedtheabodeofunpleasantghosts。