Thatdecidedus，andwebecameunitedinfact。Shewasdivorced，marriedme，andyouwereborn。Wehavelivedinperfecthappiness，atleastIhave，andIbelieveyourmotheralso。Soames，soonafterthedivorce，marriedFleur’smother，andshewasborn。Thatisthestory，Jon。Ihavetoldityou，becausebytheaffectionwhichweseeyouhaveformedforthisman’sdaughteryouareblindlymovingtowardwhatmustutterlydestroyyourmother’shappiness，ifnotyourown。Idon’twishtospeakofmyself，becauseatmyagethere’snousesupposingIshallcumberthegroundmuchlonger，besides，whatI
shouldsufferwouldbemainlyonheraccount，andonyours。ButwhatIwantyoutorealiseisthatfeelingsofhorrorandaversionsuchasthosecanneverbeburiedorforgotten。Theyarealiveinherto—day。
OnlyyesterdayatLord’swehappenedtoseeSoamesForsyte。Herface，ifyouhadseenit，wouldhaveconvincedyou。Theideathatyoushouldmarryhisdaughterisanightmaretoher，Jon。IhavenothingtosayagainstFleursavethatsheishisdaughter。Butyourchildren，ifyoumarriedher，wouldbethegrandchildrenofSoames，asmuchasofyourmother，ofamanwhoonceownedyourmotherasamanmightownaslave。Thinkwhatthatwouldmean。Bysuchamarriageyouenterthecampwhichheldyourmotherprisonerandwhereinsheateherheartout。Youarejustonthethresholdoflife，youhaveonlyknownthisgirltwomonths，andhoweverdeeplyyouthinkyouloveher，Iappealtoyoutobreakitoffatonce。
Don’tgiveyourmotherthisranklingpainandhumiliationduringtherestofherlife。Youngthoughshewillalwaysseemtome，sheisfifty—seven。Exceptforustwoshehasnooneintheworld。Shewillsoonhaveonlyyou。Pluckupyourspirit，Jon，andbreakaway。
Don’tputthiscloudandbarrierbetweenyou。Don’tbreakherheart！
Blessyou，mydearboy，andagainforgivemeforallthepainthislettermustbringyou——wetriedtospareityou，butSpain——itseems—
——wasnogood。
\"Everyourdevotedfather\"JOLYONFORSYTE。\"
Havingfinishedhisconfession，Jolyonsatwithathincheekonhishand，re—reading。Therewerethingsinitwhichhurthimsomuch，whenhethoughtofJonreadingthem，thathenearlytoretheletterup。Tospeakofsuchthingsatalltoaboy——hisownboy——tospeakoftheminrelationtohisownwifeandtheboy’sownmother，seemeddreadfultothereticenceofhisForsytesoul。AndyetwithoutspeakingofthemhowmakeJonunderstandthereality，thedeepcleavage，theineffaceablescar？Withoutthem，howjustifythisstiffingoftheboy’slove？Hemightjustaswellnotwriteatall！
Hefoldedtheconfession，andputitinhispocket。Itwas——thankHeaven！——Saturday;hehadtillSundayeveningtothinkitover;forevenifpostednowitcouldnotreachJontillMonday。Hefeltacuriousreliefatthisdelay，andatthefactthat，whethersentornot，itwaswritten。
Intherosegarden，whichhadtakentheplaceoftheoldfernery，hecouldseeIrenesnippingandpruning，withalittlebasketonherarm。Shewasneveridle，itseemedtohim，andheenviedhernowthathehimselfwasidlenearlyallhistime。Hewentdowntoher。
Sheheldupastainedgloveandsmiled。Apieceoflacetiedunderherchinconcealedherhair，andherovalfacewithitsstilldarkbrowslookedveryyoung。
\"Thegreen—flyareawfulthisyear，andyetit’scold。Youlooktired，Jolyon。\"
Jolyontooktheconfessionfromhispocket。\"I’vebeenwritingthis。
Ithinkyououghttoseeit？\"
\"ToJon？\"Herwholefacehadchanged，inthatinstant，becomingalmosthaggard。
\"Yes;themurder’sout。\"
Hegaveittoher，andwalkedawayamongtheroses。Presently，seeingthatshehadfinishedreadingandwasstandingquitestillwiththesheetsoftheletteragainstherskirt，hecamebacktoher。
\"Well？\"
\"It’swonderfullyput。Idon’tseehowitcouldbeputbetter。
Thankyou，dear。\"
\"Isthereanythingyouwouldlikeleftout？\"
Sheshookherhead。
\"No;hemustknowall，ifhe’stounderstand。\"
\"That’swhatIthought，but——Ihateit！\"
Hehadthefeelingthathehateditmorethanshe——tohimsexwassomucheasiertomentionbetweenmanandwomanthanbetweenmanandman;andshehadalwaysbeenmorenaturalandfrank，notdeeplysecretivelikehisForsyteself。
\"Iwonderifhewillunderstand，evennow，Jolyon？He’ssoyoung;
andheshrinksfromthephysical。\"
\"Hegetsthatshrinkingfrommyfather，hewasasfastidiousasagirlinallsuchmatters。Woulditbebettertorewritethewholething，andjustsayyouhatedSoames？\"
Ireneshookherhead。
\"Hate’sonlyaword。Itconveysnothing。No，betterasitis。\"
\"Verywell。Itshallgoto—morrow。\"
Sheraisedherfacetohis，andinsightofthebighouse’smanycreeperedwindows，hekissedher。
II
CONFESSION
Latethatsameafternoon，Jolyonhadanapintheoldarmchair。
FacedownonhiskneewasLaRotisseriedelaRefinePedauque，andjustbeforehefellasleephehadbeenthinking:’AsapeopleshallweeverreallyliketheFrench？Willtheyeverreallylikeus！’HehimselfhadalwayslikedtheFrench，feelingathomewiththeirwit，theirtaste，theircooking。IreneandhehadpaidmanyvisitstoFrancebeforetheWar，whenJonhadbeenathisprivateschool。HisromancewithherhadbeguninParis——hislastandmostenduringromance。ButtheFrench——noEnglishmancouldlikethemwhocouldnotseetheminsomesortwiththedetachedaestheticeye！Andwiththatmelancholyconclusionhehadnoddedoff。
WhenhewokehesawJonstandingbetweenhimandthewindow。Theboyhadevidentlycomeinfromthegardenandwaswaitingforhimtowake。Jolyonsmiled，stillhalfasleep。Hownicethechaplooked——
sensitive，affectionate，straight！Thenhisheartgaveanastyjump;
andaquakingsensationovercamehim。Jon！Thatconfession！Hecontrolledhimselfwithaneffort。\"Why，Jon，wheredidyouspringfrom？\"
Jonbentoverandkissedhisforehead。
Onlythenhenoticedthelookontheboy’sface。
\"Icamehometotellyousomething，Dad。\"
WithallhismightJolyontriedtogetthebetterofthejumping，gurglingsensationswithinhischest。
\"Well，sitdown，oldman。Haveyouseenyourmother？\"
\"No。\"Theboy’sflushedlookgaveplacetopallor;hesatdownonthearmoftheoldchair，as，inolddays，Jolyonhimselfusedtositbesidehisownfather，installedinitsrecesses。Rightuptothetimeoftheruptureintheirrelationshehadbeenwonttoperchthere——hadhenowreachedsuchamomentwithhisownson？Allhislifehehadhatedsceneslikepoison，avoidedrows，goneonhisownwayquietlyandletothersgoontheirs。Butnow——itseemed——attheveryendofthings，hehadascenebeforehimmorepainfulthananyhehadavoided。Hedrewavisordownoverhisemotion，andwaitedforhissontospeak。
\"Father，\"saidJonslowly，\"FleurandIareengaged。\"
’Exactly！’thoughtJolyon，breathingwithdifficulty。
\"IknowthatyouandMotherdon’tliketheidea。FleursaysthatMotherwasengagedtoherfatherbeforeyoumarriedher。OfcourseI
don’tknowwhathappened，butitmustbeagesago。I’mdevotedtoher，Dad，andshesayssheistome。\"
Jolyonutteredaqueersound，halflaugh，halfgroan。
\"Youarenineteen，Jon，andIamseventy—two。Howarewetounderstandeachotherinamatterlikethis，eh？\"
\"YouloveMother，Dad;youmustknowwhatwefeel。Itisn’tfairtoustoletoldthingsspoilourhappiness，isit？\"
Broughtfacetofacewithhisconfession，Jolyonresolvedtodowithoutitifbyanymeanshecould。Helaidhishandontheboy’sarm。
\"Look，Jon！Imightputyouoffwithtalkaboutyourbothbeingtooyoungandnotknowingyourownminds，andallthat，butyouwouldn’tlisten，besides，itdoesn’tmeetthecase——Youth，unfortunately，curesitself。Youtalklightlyabout’oldthingslikethat，’knowingnothing——asyousaytruly——ofwhathappened。Now，haveIevergivenyoureasontodoubtmyloveforyou，ormyword？\"
Atalessanxiousmomenthemighthavebeenamusedbytheconflicthiswordsaroused——theboy’seagerclasp，toreassurehimonthesepoints，thedreadonhisfaceofwhatthatreassurancewouldbringforth;buthecouldonlyfeelgratefulforthesqueeze。
\"Verywell，youcanbelievewhatItellyou。Ifyoudon’tgiveupthisloveaffair，youwillmakeMotherwretchedtotheendofherdays。Believeme，mydear，thepast，whateveritwas，can’tbeburied——itcan’tindeed。\"
Jongotoffthearmofthechair。
’Thegirl’——thoughtJolyon——’thereshegoes——startingupbeforehim——
lifeitself——eager，pretty，loving！’
\"Ican’t，Father;howcanI——justbecauseyousaythat？Ofcourse，I
can’t！\"
\"Jon，ifyouknewthestoryyouwouldgivethisupwithouthesitation;youwouldhaveto！Can’tyoubelieveme？\"
\"HowcanyoutellwhatIshouldthink？Father，Iloveherbetterthananythingintheworld。\"
Jolyon’sfacetwitched，andhesaidwithpainfulslowness:
\"Betterthanyourmother，Jon？\"
>Fromtheboy’sface，andhisclenchedfistsJolyonrealisedthestressandstrugglehewasgoingthrough。
\"Idon’tknow，\"heburstout，\"Idon’tknow！ButtogiveFleurupfornothing——forsomethingIdon’tunderstand，forsomethingthatI
don’tbelievecanreallymatterhalfsomuch，willmakeme——makeme\"
\"Makeyoufeelusunjust，putabarrier——yes。Butthat’sbetterthangoingonwiththis。\"
\"Ican’t。Fleurlovesme，andIloveher。Youwantmetotrustyou;
whydon’tyoutrustme，Father？Wewouldn’twanttoknowanything——
wewouldn’tletitmakeanydifference。It’llonlymakeusbothloveyouandMotherallthemore。\"
Jolyonputhishandintohisbreastpocket，butbroughtitoutagainempty，andsat，cluckinghistongueagainsthisteeth。
\"Thinkwhatyourmother’sbeentoyou，Jon！Shehasnothingbutyou;
Ishan’tlastmuchlonger。\"
\"Whynot？Itisn’tfairto——Whynot？\"
\"Well，\"saidJolyon，rathercoldly，\"becausethedoctorstellmeI
shan’t;that’sall。\"
\"Oh，Dad！\"criedJon，andburstintotears。
Thisdownbreakofhisson，whomhehadnotseencrysincehewasten，movedJolyonterribly。Herecognisedtothefullhowfearfullysofttheboy’sheartwas，howmuchhewouldsufferinthisbusiness，andinlifegenerally。Andhereachedouthishandhelplessly——notwishing，indeednotdaringtogetup。
\"Dearman，\"hesaid，\"don’t——oryou’llmakeme！\"
Jonsmothereddownhisparoxysm，andstoodwithfaceaverted，verystill。
’Whatnow？’thoughtJolyon。’WhatcanIsaytomovehim？’
’Bytheway，don’tspeakofthattoMother，\"hesaid;\"shehasenoughtofrightenherwiththisaffairofyours。Iknowhowyoufeel。
But，Jon，youknowherandmewellenoughtobesurewewouldn’twishtospoilyourhappinesslightly。Why，mydearboy，wedon’tcareforanythingbutyourhappiness——atleast，withmeit’sjustyoursandMother’sandwithherjustyours。It’sallthefutureforyouboththat’satstake。\"
Jonturned。Hisfacewasdeadlypale;hiseyes，deepinhishead，seemedtoburn。
\"Whatisit？Whatisit？Don’tkeepmelikethis！\"
Jolyon，whoknewthathewasbeaten，thrusthishandagainintohisbreastpocket，andsatforafullminute，breathingwithdifficulty，hiseyesclosed。Thethoughtpassedthroughhismind:’I’vehadagoodlonginnings——someprettybittermoments——thisistheworst！’
Thenhebroughthishandoutwiththeletter，andsaidwithasortoffatigue:\"Well，Jon，ifyouhadn’tcometo—day，Iwasgoingtosendyouthis。Iwantedtospareyou——Iwantedtospareyourmotherandmyself，butIseeit’snogood。Readit，andIthinkI’llgointothegarden。\"Hereachedforwardtogetup。
Jon，whohadtakentheletter，saidquickly，\"No，I’llgo\";andwasgone。
Jolyonsankbackinhischair。Ablue—bottlechosethatmomenttocomebuzzingroundhimwithasortoffury;thesoundwashomely，betterthannothing……Wherehadtheboygonetoreadhisletter？
Thewretchedletter——thewretchedstory！Acruelbusiness——crueltoher——toSoames——tothosetwochildren——tohimself！……Hisheartthumpedandpainedhim。Life——itsloves——itswork——itsbeauty——itsaching，and——itsend！Agoodtime;afinetimeinspiteofall;
until——youregrettedthatyouhadeverbeenborn。Life——itworeyoudown，yetdidnotmakeyouwanttodie——thatwasthecunningevil！
Mistaketohaveaheart！Againtheblue—bottlecamebuzzing——
bringinginalltheheatandhumandscentofsummer——yes，eventhescent——asofripefruits，driedgrasses，sappyshrubs，andthevanillabreathofcows。AndouttheresomewhereinthefragranceJonwouldbereadingthatletter，turningandtwistingitspagesinhistrouble，hisbewildermentandtrouble——breakinghisheartaboutit！
ThethoughtmadeJolyonacutelymiserable。Jonwassuchatender—
heartedchap，affectionatetohisbones，andconscientious，too——itwassounfair，sodamnedunfair！HerememberedIrenesayingtohimonce:\"NeverwasanyonebornmorelovingandlovablethanJon。\"
PoorlittleJon！Hisworldgoneupthespout，allofasummerafternoon！Youthtookthingssohard！Andstirred，tormentedbythatvisionofYouthtakingthingshard，Jolyongotoutofhischair，andwenttothewindow。Theboywasnowherevisible。Andhepassedout。Ifonecouldtakeanyhelptohimnow——onemust！
Hetraversedtheshrubbery，glancedintothewalledgarden——noJon！
Norwherethepeachesandtheapricotswerebeginningtoswellandcolour。HepassedtheCupressustrees，darkandspiral，intothemeadow。Wherehadtheboygotto？Hadherusheddowntothecoppice——hisoldhunting—ground？Jolyoncrossedtherowsofhay。
TheywouldcockitonMondayandbecarryingthedayafter，ifrainheldoff。Oftentheyhadcrossedthisfieldtogether——handinhand，whenJonwasalittlechap。Dashit！Thegoldenagewasoverbythetimeonewasten！Hecametothepond，wherefliesandgnatsweredancingoverabrightreedysurface;andonintothecoppice。Itwascoolthere，fragrantoflarches。StillnoJon！Hecalled。Noanswer！Onthelogseathesatdown，nervous，anxious，forgettinghisownphysicalsensations。Hehadbeenwrongtolettheboygetawaywiththatletter;heoughttohavekepthimunderhiseyefromthestart！Greatlytroubled，hegotuptoretracehissteps。Atthefarm—buildingshecalledagain，andlookedintothedarkcow—house。Thereinthecool，andthescentofvanillaandammonia，awayfromflies，thethreeAlderneyswerechewingthequietcud;justmilked，waitingforevening，tobeturnedoutagainintothelowerfield。Oneturnedalazyhead，alustrouseye;Jolyoncouldseetheslobberonitsgreylowerlip。Hesaweverythingwithpassionateclearness，intheagitationofhisnerves——allthatinhistimehehadadoredandtriedtopaint——wonderoflightandshadeandcolour。NowonderthelegendputChristintoamanger——whatmoredevotionalthantheeyesandmoon—whitehornsofachewingcowinthewarmdusk！Hecalledagain。Noanswer！Andhehurriedawayoutofthecoppice，pastthepond，upthehill。Oddlyironical——nowhecametothinkofit——ifJonhadtakenthegruelofhisdiscoverydowninthecoppicewherehismotherandBosinneyinthoseolddayshadmadetheplungeofacknowledgingtheirlove。Wherehehimself，onthelogseattheSundaymorninghecamebackfromParis，hadrealisedtothefullthatIrenehadbecometheworldtohim。ThatwouldhavebeentheplaceforIronytoteartheveilfrombeforetheeyesofIrene’sboy！Buthewasnothere！Wherehadhegotto？Onemustfindthepoorchap！
Agleamofsunhadcome，sharpeningtohishurryingsensesallthebeautyoftheafternoon，ofthetalltreesandlengtheningshadows，oftheblue，andthewhiteclouds，thescentofthehay，andthecooingofthepigeons;andtheflowershapesstandingtall。Hecametotherosery，andthebeautyoftherosesinthatsuddensunlightseemedtohimunearthly。\"Rose，youSpaniard！\"Wonderfulthreewords！Thereshehadstoodbythatbushofdarkredroses;hadstoodtoreadanddecidethatJonmustknowitall！Heknewallnow！Hadshechosenwrong？Hebentandsniffedarose，itspetalsbrushedhisnoseandtremblinglips;nothingsosoftasarose—leaf’svelvet，exceptherneck——Irene！Onacrossthelawnhewent，uptheslope，totheoak—tree。Itstopalonewasglistening，forthesuddensunwasawayoverthehouse;thelowershadewasthick，blessedlycool——hewasgreatlyoverheated。Hepausedaminutewithhishandontheropeoftheswing——Jolly，Holly——Jon！Theoldswing！Andsuddenly，hefelthorribly——deadlyill。’I’veoverdoneit！’hethought:’byJove！I’veoverdoneit——afterall！’Hestaggereduptowardtheterrace，draggedhimselfupthesteps，andfellagainstthewallofthehouse。Heleanedtheregasping，hisfaceburiedinthehoney—
sucklethatheandshehadtakensuchtroublewiththatitmightsweetentheairwhichdriftedin。Itsfragrancemingledwithawfulpain。’Mylove！’hethought;’theboy！’Andwithagreatefforthetotteredinthroughthelongwindow，andsankintooldJolyon’schair。Thebookwasthere，apencilinit;hecaughtitup，scribbledawordontheopenpage……Hishanddropped……Soitwaslikethis——wasit？……
Therewasagreatwrench;anddarkness……
III
IRENE
WhenJonrushedawaywiththeletterinhishand，heranalongtheterraceandroundthecornerofthehouse，infearandconfusion。
Leaningagainstthecreeperedwallhetoreopentheletter。Itwaslong——verylong！Thisaddedtohisfear，andhebeganreading。Whenhecametothewords:\"ItwasFleur’sfatherthatshemarried，\"
everythingseemedtospinbeforehim。Hewasclosetoawindow，andenteringbyit，hepassed，throughmusic—roomandhall，uptohisbedroom。Dippinghisfaceincoldwater，hesatonhisbed，andwentonreading，droppingeachfinishedpageonthebedbesidehim。Hisfather’swritingwaseasytoread——heknewitsowell，thoughhehadneverhadaletterfromhimonequartersolong。Hereadwithadullfeeling——imaginationonlyhalfatwork。Hebestgrasped，onthatfirstreading，thepainhisfathermusthavehadinwritingsuchaletter。Heletthelastsheetfall，andinasortofmental，moralhelplessnessbegantoreadthefirstagain。Itallseemedtohimdisgusting——deadanddisgusting。Then，suddenly，ahotwaveofhorrifiedemotiontingledthroughhim。Heburiedhisfaceinhishands。Hismother！Fleur’sfather！Hetookuptheletteragain，andreadonmechanically。Andagaincamethefeelingthatitwasalldeadanddisgusting;hisownlovesodifferent！Thislettersaidhismother——andherfather！Anawfulletter！
Property！Couldtherebemenwholookedonwomenastheirproperty？
Facesseeninstreetandcountrysidecamethrongingupbeforehim——
red，stock—fishfaces;hard，dullfaces;prim，dryfaces;violentfaces;hundreds，thousandsofthem！Howcouldheknowwhatmenwhohadsuchfacesthoughtanddid？Heheldhisheadinhishandsandgroaned。Hismother！Hecaughtuptheletterandreadonagain:
\"horrorandaversion—aliveinherto—day……yourchildren……
grandchildren……ofamanwhoonceownedyourmotherasamanmightownaslave……\"Hegotupfromhisbed。Thiscruelshadowypast，lurkingtheretomurderhisloveandFleur’s，wastrue，orhisfathercouldneverhavewrittenit。’Whydidn’ttheytellmethefirstthing，’hethought，’thedayIfirstsawFleur？Theyknew\"I’dseenher。Theywereafraid，and——now——I’ve——gotit！’Overcomebymiserytooacuteforthoughtorreason，hecreptintoaduskycorneroftheroomandsatdownonthefloor。Hesatthere，likesomeunhappylittleanimal。Therewascomfortindusk，andthefloor——asifhewerebackinthosedayswhenheplayedhisbattlessprawlingalloverit。Hesattherehuddled，hishairruffled，hishandsclaspedroundhisknees，forhowlonghedidnotknow。Hewaswrenchedfromhisblankwretchednessbythesoundofthedooropeningfromhismother’sroom。Theblindsweredownoverthewindowsofhisroom，shutupinhisabsence，andfromwherehesathecouldonlyheararustle，herfootstepscrossing，tillbeyondthebedhesawherstandingbeforehisdressing—table。Shehadsomethinginherhand。Hehardlybreathed，hopingshewouldnotseehim，andgoaway。Hesawhertouchthingsonthetableasiftheyhadsomevirtueinthem，thenfacethewindow—greyfromheadtofootlikeaghost。Theleastturnofherhead，andshemustseehim！Herlipsmoved:\"Oh！Jon！\"Shewasspeakingtoherself;thetoneofhervoicetroubledJon’sheart。
Hesawinherhandalittlephotograph。Sheheldittowardthelight，lookingatit——verysmall。Heknewit——oneofhimselfasatinyboy，whichshealwayskeptinherbag。Hisheartbeatfast。
And，suddenlyasifshehadheardit，sheturnedhereyesandsawhim。Atthegaspshegave，andthemovementofherhandspressingthephotographagainstherbreast，hesaid:
\"Yes，it’sme。\"
Shemovedovertothebed，andsatdownonit，quiteclosetohim，herhandsstillclaspingherbreast，herfeetamongthesheetsoftheletterwhichhadslippedtothefloor。Shesawthem，andherhandsgraspedtheedgeofthebed。Shesatveryupright，herdarkeyesfixedonhim。Atlastshespoke。
\"Well，Jon，youknow，Isee。\"
\"Yes。\"
\"You’veseenFather？\"
\"Yes。\"
Therewasalongsilence，tillshesaid:
\"Oh！mydarling！\"
\"It’sallright。\"Theemotionsinhimwereso，violentandsomixedthathedarednotmove——resentment，despair，andyetastrangeyearningforthecomfortofherhandonhisforehead。
\"Whatareyougoingtodo？\"
\"Idon’tknow。\"
Therewasanotherlongsilence，thenshegotup。Shestoodamoment，verystill，madealittlemovementwithherhand，andsaid:\"Mydarlingboy，mymostdarlingboy，don’tthinkofme——thinkofyourself，\"and，passingroundthefootofthebed，wentbackintoherroom。
Jonturned——curledintoasortofball，asmightahedgehog——intothecornermadebythetwowalls。
Hemusthavebeentwentyminutestherebeforeacryrousedhim。Itcamefromtheterracebelow。Hegotup，scared。Againcamethecry:
\"Jon！\"Hismotherwascalling！Heranoutanddownthestairs，throughtheemptydining—roomintothestudy。Shewaskneelingbeforetheoldarmchair，andhisfatherwaslyingbackquitewhite，hisheadonhisbreast，oneofhishandsrestingonanopenbook，withapencilclutchedinit——morestrangelystillthananythinghehadeverseen。Shelookedroundwildly，andsaid:
\"Oh！Jon——he’sdead——he’sdead！\"
Jonflunghimselfdown，andreachingoverthearmofthechair，wherehehadlatelybeensitting，puthislipstotheforehead。Icycold！
Howcould——howcouldDadbedead，whenonlyanhourago——！Hismother’sarmswereroundtheknees;pressingherbreastagainstthem。
\"Why——whywasn’tIwithhim？\"heheardherwhisper。Thenhesawthetotteringword\"Irene\"pencilledontheopenpage，andbrokedownhimself。Itwashisfirstsightofhumandeath，anditsunutterablestillnessblottedfromhimallotheremotion;allelse，then，wasbutpreliminarytothis！Allloveandlife，andjoy，anxiety，andsorrow，allmovement，lightandbeauty，butabeginningtothisterriblewhitestillness。Itmadeadreadfulmarkonhim;allseemedsuddenlylittle，futile，short。Hemasteredhimselfatlast，gotup，andraisedher。
\"Mother！don’tcry——Mother！\"
Somehourslater，whenallwasdonethathadtobe，andhismotherwaslyingdown，hesawhisfatheralone，onthebed，coveredwithawhitesheet。Hestoodforalongtimegazingatthatfacewhichhadneverlookedangry——alwayswhimsical，andkind。\"Tobekindandkeepyourendup——there’snothingelseinit，\"hehadonceheardhisfathersay。HowwonderfullyDadhadacteduptothatphilosophy！Heunderstoodnowthathisfatherhadknownforalongtimepastthatthiswouldcomesuddenly——known，andnotsaidaword。Hegazedwithanawedandpassionatereverence。Thelonelinessofit——justtosparehismotherandhimself！Hisowntroubleseemedsmallwhilehewaslookingatthatface。Thewordscribbledonthepage！Thefarewellword！Nowhismotherhadnoonebuthimself！Hewentupclosetothedeadface——notchangedatall，andyetcompletelychanged。Hehadheardhisfathersayoncethathedidnotbelieveinconsciousnesssurvivingdeath，orthatifitdiditmightbejustsurvivaltillthenaturalagelimitofthebodyhadbeenreached——thenaturaltermofitsinherentvitality;sothatifthebodywerebrokenbyaccident，excess，violentdisease，consciousnessmightstillpersisttill，inthecourseofNatureuninterferedwith，itwouldnaturallyhavefadedout。Ithadstruckhimbecausehehadneverheardanyoneelsesuggestit。Whentheheartfailedlikethis——surelyitwasnotquitenatural！Perhapshisfather’sconsciousnesswasintheroomwithhim。Abovethebedhungapictureofhisfather’sfather。Perhapshisconsciousness，too，wasstillalive;andhisbrother’s——hishalf—brother，whohaddiedintheTransvaal。Weretheyallgatheredroundthisbed？Jonkissedtheforehead，andstolebacktohisownroom。Thedoorbetweenitandhismother’swasajar;shehadevidentlybeenin——everythingwasreadyforhim，evensomebiscuitsandhotmilk，andtheletternolongeronthefloor。Heateanddrank，watchingthelastlightfade。
Hedidnottrytoseeintothefuture——juststaredatthedarkbranchesoftheoak—tree，levelwithhiswindow，andfeltasiflifehadstopped。Onceinthenight，turninginhisheavysleep，hewasconsciousofsomethingwhiteandstill，besidehisbed，andstartedup。
Hismother’svoicesaid:
\"It’sonlyI，Jondear！\"Herhandpressedhisforeheadgentlyback;
herwhitefiguredisappeared。
Alone！Hefellheavilyasleepagain，anddreamedhesawhismother’snamecrawlingonhisbed。