\"Sobeit，mybeloved。Itrustyoutothefull，evenasyoutrustme。Andthathasbeenproventhisnight，eventomyowndoubtingheart。Ishallwait；andasIknowyouwishit，IshallwaitaspatientlyasIcan。Buttillyoucometomeforgoodandall，letmeseeyouorhearfromyouwhenyoucan。Thetime，dearwife，mustgoheavilywithmeasIthinkofyousufferingandlonely。Sobegoodtome，andletnottoolongatimeelapsebetweenmyglimpsesofhope。And，sweetheart，whenyouDOcometome，itshallbeforever！\"Therewassomethingintheintonationofthelastsentence——I
feltitssinceritymyself——someimpliedyearningforapromise，thatmadeherbeautifuleyesswim。Thegloriousstarsinthemwereblurredassheansweredwithafervourwhichseemedtomeasmorethanearthly：
\"Forever！Iswearit！\"
Withonelongkiss，andastrainingineachothersarms，whichleftmetinglingforlongafterwehadlostsightofeachother，weparted。Istoodandwatchedherasherwhitefigure，glidingthroughthedeepeninggloom，fadedastheforestthickened。Itsurelywasnoopticaldelusionoraphantomofthemindthathershroudedarmwasraisedasthoughinblessingorfarewellbeforethedarknessswallowedherup。
BOOKVI：THEPURSUITINTHEFOREST