Pierstonbecamecoldasastone。ThechilltowardsNicholathatthepresenceofthegirl，——sprite，witch，trollthatshewas——broughtwithitcamelikeadoom。Heknewwhatafoolhewas，ashehadsaid。Buthewaspowerlessinthegraspoftheidealizingpassion。HecaredmoreforAvice’sfinger-tipsthanforMrs。Pine-Avon’swholepersonality。
PerhapsNicholasawit，forshesaidmournfully：’NowIhavedoneallIcould！Ifeltthattheonlycounterpoisetomycrueltytoyouinmydrawing-roomwouldbetocomeasasupplianttoyours。’
’Itismosthandsomeandnobleofyou，myverydearfriend！’saidhe，withanemotionofcourtesyratherthanofenthusiasm。
Thenadieuxwerespoken，andshedroveaway。ButPierstonsawonlytheretreatingAvice，andknewthathewashelplessinherhands。ThechurchoftheislandhadrisennearthefoundationsofthePagantemple，andaChristianemanationfromtheformermightbewrathfullytorturinghimthroughtheveryfalsegodstowhomhehaddevotedhimselfbothinhiscraft，likeDemetriusofEphesus，andinhisheart。
PerhapsDivinepunishmentforhisidolatrieshadcome。