Noonehaseverlovedaswehaveloved。“
Itseemedtohimthattheircompleteunionandhappinessfilledtheroomwithringseddyingmoreandmorewidely。Hehadnowishintheworldleftunfulfilled。Theypossessedwhatcouldneverbetakenfromthem。
Hewasnotconsciousthatanyonehadcomeintotheroom，butlater，momentslater，orhourslaterperhaps，hefeltanarmbehindhim。
Thearmswereroundhim。Hedidnotwanttohavearmsroundhim，andthemysteriouswhisperingvoicesannoyedhim。HelaidRachel’shand，whichwasnowcold，uponthecounterpane，androsefromhischair，andwalkedacrosstothewindow。Thewindowswereuncurtained，andshowedthemoon，andalongsilverpathwayuponthesurfaceofthewaves。
“Why，“hesaid，inhisordinarytoneofvoice，“lookatthemoon。
There’sahaloroundthemoon。Weshallhaverainto-morrow。“
Thearms，whethertheywerethearmsofmanorofwoman，wereroundhimagain；theywerepushinghimgentlytowardsthedoor。Heturnedofhisownaccordandwalkedsteadilyinadvanceofthearms，consciousofalittleamusementatthestrangewayinwhichpeoplebehavedmerelybecausesomeonewasdead。Hewouldgoiftheywishedit，butnothingtheycoulddowoulddisturbhishappiness。
Ashesawthepassageoutsidetheroom，andthetablewiththecupsandtheplates，itsuddenlycameoverhimthatherewasaworldinwhichhewouldneverseeRachelagain。
“Rachel！Rachel！“heshrieked，tryingtorushbacktoher。
Buttheypreventedhim，andpushedhimdownthepassageandintoabedroomfarfromherroom。Downstairstheycouldhearthethudofhisfeetonthefloor，ashestruggledtobreakfree；andtwicetheyheardhimshout，“Rachel，Rachel！“
Fortwoorthreehourslongerthemoonpoureditslightthroughtheemptyair。Unbrokenbycloudsitfellstraightly，andlayalmostlikeachillwhitefrostovertheseaandtheearth。
Duringthesehoursthesilencewasnotbroken，andtheonlymovementwascausedbythemovementoftreesandbrancheswhichstirredslightly，andthentheshadowsthatlayacrossthewhitespacesofthelandmovedtoo。Inthisprofoundsilenceonesoundonlywasaudible，thesoundofaslightbutcontinuousbreathingwhichneverceased，althoughitneverroseandneverfell。Itcontinuedafterthebirdshadbeguntoflutterfrombranchtobranch，andcouldbeheardbehindthefirstthinnotesoftheirvoices。Itcontinuedallthroughthehourswhentheeastwhitened，andgrewred，andafaintbluetingedthesky，butwhenthesunroseitceased，andgaveplacetoothersounds。
Thefirstsoundsthatwereheardwerelittleinarticulatecries，thecries，itseemed，ofchildrenoroftheverypoor，ofpeoplewhowereveryweakorinpain。Butwhenthesunwasabovethehorizon，theairwhichhadbeenthinandpalegreweverymomentricherandwarmer，andthesoundsoflifebecamebolderandmorefullofcourageandauthority。Bydegreesthesmokebegantoascendinwaveringbreathsoverthehouses，andtheseslowlythickened，untiltheywereasroundandstraightascolumns，andinsteadofstrikinguponpalewhiteblinds，thesunshoneupondarkwindows，beyondwhichtherewasdepthandspace。
Thesunhadbeenupformanyhours，andthegreatdomeofairwaswarmedthroughandglitteringwiththingoldthreadsofsunlight，beforeanyonemovedinthehotel。Whiteandmassiveitstoodintheearlylight，halfasleepwithitsblindsdown。
Atabouthalf-pastnineMissAllancameveryslowlyintothehall，andwalkedveryslowlytothetablewherethemorningpaperswerelaid，butshedidnotputoutherhandtotakeone；shestoodstill，thinking，withherheadalittlesunkuponhershoulders。
Shelookedcuriouslyold，andfromthewayinwhichshestood，alittlehunchedtogetherandverymassive，youcouldseewhatshewouldbelikewhenshewasreallyold，howshewouldsitdayafterdayinherchairlookingplacidlyinfrontofher。
Otherpeoplebegantocomeintotheroom，andtopassher，butshedidnotspeaktoanyofthemorevenlookatthem，andatlast，asifitwerenecessarytodosomething，shesatdowninachair，andlookedquietlyandfixedlyinfrontofher。Shefeltveryoldthismorning，anduselesstoo，asifherlifehadbeenafailure，asifithadbeenhardandlaborioustonopurpose。
Shedidnotwanttogoonliving，andyetsheknewthatshewould。
Shewassostrongthatshewouldlivetobeaveryoldwoman。
Shewouldprobablylivetobeeighty，andasshewasnowfifty，thatleftthirtyyearsmoreforhertolive。Sheturnedherhandsoverandoverinherlapandlookedatthemcuriously；heroldhands，thathaddonesomuchworkforher。Theredidnotseemtobemuchpointinitall；onewenton，ofcourseonewenton……ShelookeduptoseeMrs。Thornburystandingbesideher，withlinesdrawnuponherforehead，andherlipspartedasifshewereabouttoaskaquestion。
MissAllananticipatedher。
“Yes，“shesaid。“Shediedthismorning，veryearly，aboutthreeo’clock。“
Mrs。Thornburymadealittleexclamation，drewherlipstogether，andthetearsroseinhereyes。Throughthemshelookedatthehallwhichwasnowlaidwithgreatbreadthsofsunlight，andatthecareless，casualgroupsofpeoplewhowerestandingbesidethesolidarm-chairsandtables。Theylookedtoherunreal，oraspeoplelookwhoremainunconsciousthatsomegreatexplosionisabouttotakeplacebesidethem。Buttherewasnoexplosion，andtheywentonstandingbythechairsandthetables。Mrs。Thornburynolongersawthem，but，penetratingthroughthemasthoughtheywerewithoutsubstance，shesawthehouse，thepeopleinthehouse，theroom，thebedintheroom，andthefigureofthedeadlyingstillinthedarkbeneaththesheets。Shecouldalmostseethedead。
Shecouldalmosthearthevoicesofthemourners。
“Theyexpectedit？“sheaskedatlength。
MissAllancouldonlyshakeherhead。
“Iknownothing，“shereplied，“exceptwhatMrs。Flushing’smaidtoldme。Shediedearlythismorning。“
Thetwowomenlookedateachotherwithaquietsignificantgaze，andthen，feelingoddlydazed，andseekingshedidnotknowexactlywhat，Mrs。Thornburywentslowlyupstairsandwalkedquietlyalongthepassages，touchingthewallwithherfingersasiftoguideherself。Housemaidswerepassingbrisklyfromroomtoroom，butMrs。Thornburyavoidedthem；shehardlysawthem；
theyseemedtohertobeinanotherworld。ShedidnotevenlookupdirectlywhenEvelynstoppedher。ItwasevidentthatEvelynhadbeenlatelyintears，andwhenshelookedatMrs。Thornburyshebegantocryagain。Togethertheydrewintothehollowofawindow，andstoodthereinsilence。BrokenwordsformedthemselvesatlastamongEvelyn’ssobs。“Itwaswicked，“shesobbed，“itwascruel——
theyweresohappy。“
Mrs。Thornburypattedherontheshoulder。
“Itseemshard——veryhard，“shesaid。ShepausedandlookedoutovertheslopeofthehillattheAmbroses’villa；thewindowswereblazinginthesun，andshethoughthowthesoulofthedeadhadpassedfromthosewindows。Somethinghadpassedfromtheworld。
Itseemedtoherstrangelyempty。
“Andyettheolderonegrows，“shecontinued，hereyesregainingmorethantheirusualbrightness，“themorecertainonebecomesthatthereisareason。Howcouldonegooniftherewerenoreason？“
sheasked。
Sheaskedthequestionofsomeone，butshedidnotaskitofEvelyn。
Evelyn’ssobswerebecomingquieter。“Theremustbeareason，“
shesaid。“Itcan’tonlybeanaccident。Foritwasanaccident——
itneedneverhavehappened。“
Mrs。Thornburysigheddeeply。
“Butwemustnotletourselvesthinkofthat，“sheadded，“andletushopethattheydon’teither。Whatevertheyhaddoneitmighthavebeenthesame。Theseterribleillnesses——“
“There’snoreason——Idon’tbelievethere’sanyreasonatall！“
Evelynbrokeout，pullingtheblinddownandlettingitflybackwithalittlesnap。
“Whyshouldthesethingshappen？Whyshouldpeoplesuffer？
Ihonestlybelieve，“shewenton，loweringhervoiceslightly，“thatRachel’sinHeaven，butTerence……“
“What’sthegoodofitall？“shedemanded。
Mrs。Thornburyshookherheadslightlybutmadenoreply，andpressingEvelyn’shandshewentondownthepassage。
Impelledbyastrongdesiretohearsomething，althoughshedidnotknowexactlywhattherewastohear，shewasmakingherwaytotheFlushings’room。Assheopenedtheirdoorshefeltthatshehadinterruptedsomeargumentbetweenhusbandandwife。
Mrs。Flushingwassittingwithherbacktothelight，andMr。Flushingwasstandingnearher，arguingandtryingtopersuadeherofsomething。
“Ah，hereisMrs。Thornbury，“hebeganwithsomereliefinhisvoice。
“Youhaveheard，ofcourse。Mywifefeelsthatshewasinsomewayresponsible。SheurgedpoorMissVinracetocomeontheexpedition。
I’msureyouwillagreewithmethatitismostunreasonabletofeelthat。
Wedon’tevenknow——infactIthinkitmostunlikely——thatshecaughtherillnessthere。Thesediseases——Besides，shewassetongoing。
Shewouldhavegonewhetheryouaskedherornot，Alice。“
“Don’t，Wilfrid，“saidMrs。Flushing，neithermovingnortakinghereyesoffthespotontheflooruponwhichtheyrested。
“What’stheuseoftalking？What’stheuse——？“Sheceased。
“Iwascomingtoaskyou，“saidMrs。Thornbury，addressingWilfrid，foritwasuselesstospeaktohiswife。“Isthereanythingyouthinkthatonecoulddo？Hasthefatherarrived？Couldonegoandsee？“
Thestrongestwishinherbeingatthismomentwastobeabletodosomethingfortheunhappypeople——toseethem——toassurethem——
tohelpthem。Itwasdreadfultobesofarawayfromthem。
ButMr。Flushingshookhishead；hedidnotthinkthatnow——
laterperhapsonemightbeabletohelp。HereMrs。Flushingrosestiffly，turnedherbacktothem，andwalkedtothedressing-roomopposite。
Asshewalked，theycouldseeherbreastslowlyriseandslowlyfall。
Buthergriefwassilent。Sheshutthedoorbehindher。
Whenshewasalonebyherselfsheclenchedherfiststogether，andbeganbeatingthebackofachairwiththem。Shewaslikeawoundedanimal。
Shehateddeath；shewasfurious，outraged，indignantwithdeath，asifitwerealivingcreature。Sherefusedtorelinquishherfriendstodeath。Shewouldnotsubmittodarkandnothingness。
Shebegantopaceupanddown，clenchingherhands，andmakingnoattempttostopthequicktearswhichraceddownhercheeks。
Shesatstillatlast，butshedidnotsubmit。Shelookedstubbornandstrongwhenshehadceasedtocry。
Inthenextroom，meanwhile，WilfridwastalkingtoMrs。Thornburywithgreaterfreedomnowthathiswifewasnotsittingthere。
“That’stheworstoftheseplaces，“hesaid。“PeoplewillbehaveasthoughtheywereinEngland，andthey’renot。I’venodoubtmyselfthatMissVinracecaughttheinfectionupatthevillaitself。
Sheprobablyranrisksadozentimesadaythatmighthavegivenhertheillness。It’sabsurdtosayshecaughtitwithus。“
Ifhehadnotbeensincerelysorryforthemhewouldhavebeenannoyed。
“Peppertellsme，“hecontinued，“thatheleftthehousebecausehethoughtthemsocareless。Hesaystheyneverwashedtheirvegetablesproperly。Poorpeople！It’safearfulpricetopay。
Butit’sonlywhatI’veseenoverandoveragain——peopleseemtoforgetthatthesethingshappen，andthentheydohappen，andthey’resurprised。
Mrs。Thornburyagreedwithhimthattheyhadbeenverycareless，andthattherewasnoreasonwhatevertothinkthatshehadcaughtthefeverontheexpedition；andaftertalkingaboutotherthingsforashorttime，shelefthimandwentsadlyalongthepassagetoherownroom。Theremustbesomereasonwhysuchthingshappen，shethoughttoherself，assheshutthedoor。Onlyatfirstitwasnoteasytounderstandwhatitwas。Itseemedsostrange——
sounbelievable。Why，onlythreeweeksago——onlyafortnightago，shehadseenRachel；whensheshuthereyesshecouldalmostseehernow，thequiet，shygirlwhowasgoingtobemarried。
ShethoughtofallthatshewouldhavemissedhadshediedatRachel’sage，thechildren，themarriedlife，theunimaginabledepthsandmiraclesthatseemedtoher，asshelookedback，tohavelainabouther，dayafterday，andyearafteryear。
Thestunnedfeeling，whichhadbeenmakingitdifficultforhertothink，graduallygavewaytoafeelingoftheoppositenature；
shethoughtveryquicklyandveryclearly，and，lookingbackoverallherexperiences，triedtofitthemintoakindoforder。
Therewasundoubtedlymuchsuffering，muchstruggling，but，onthewhole，surelytherewasabalanceofhappiness——surelyorderdidprevail。
Norwerethedeathsofyoungpeoplereallythesaddestthingsinlife——
theyweresavedsomuch；theykeptsomuch。Thedead——shecalledtomindthosewhohaddiedearly，accidentally——werebeautiful；
sheoftendreamtofthedead。AndintimeTerencehimselfwouldcometofeel——Shegotupandbegantowanderrestlesslyabouttheroom。
Foranoldwomanofherageshewasveryrestless，andforoneofherclear，quickmindshewasunusuallyperplexed。Shecouldnotsettletoanything，sothatshewasrelievedwhenthedooropened。
Shewentuptoherhusband，tookhiminherarms，andkissedhimwithunusualintensity，andthenastheysatdowntogethershebegantopathimandquestionhimasifhewereababy，anold，tired，querulousbaby。ShedidnottellhimaboutMissVinrace’sdeath，forthatwouldonlydisturbhim，andhewasputoutalready。
Shetriedtodiscoverwhyhewasuneasy。Politicsagain？