tree，andyoungMorlandstoodlookingather。Whyshouldonefaceandnotanother，thisvoiceandnotthat，makeaheartbeat;whyshouldatouchfromonehandawakenrapture，andatouchfromanotherawakennothing？Hekneltdownandpressedhislipstoherfoot。Hereyesgrewverybright;butshegotupandranon——shehadnotexpectedhimtokissherfoot。Sheheardhimhurryingafterher，andstopped，leaningagainstabirchtrunk。Herushedtoher，and，withoutawordspoken，hislipswereonherlips。Themomentinlife，whichnowordscanrender，hadcomeforthem。Theyhadfoundtheirenchantedspot，andtheymovednofurther，butsatwiththeirarmsroundeachother，whilethehappyBeingofthewoodwatched。A
marvellousspeeder—upofLoveisWar。Whatmighthavetakensixmonths，wasthusaccomplishedinthreeweeks。
Ashorthourpassed，thenNoelsaid:
\"ImusttellDaddy，Cyril。Imeanttotellhimsomethingthismorning，onlyIthoughtI’dbetterwait，incaseyoudidn’t。\"
Morlandanswered:\"Oh，Noel！\"Itwasthestapleofhisconversationwhiletheysatthere。
Againashorthourpassed，andMorlandsaid:
\"Ishallgooffmychumpifwe’renotmarriedbeforeIgoout。\"
\"Howlongdoesittake？\"
\"Notime，ifwehurryup。I’vegotsixdaysbeforeIrejoin，andperhapstheChiefwillgivemeanotherweek，ifItellhim。\"
\"PoorDaddy！Kissmeagain;alongone。\"
Whenthelongonewasover，shesaid:
\"ThenIcancomeandbenearyoutillyougoout？Oh，Cyril！\"
\"Oh，Noel！\"
\"Perhapsyouwon’tgososoon。Don’tgoifyoucanhelpit！\"
\"NotifIcanhelpit，darling;butIshan’tbeable。\"
\"No，of，coursenot;Iknow。\"
YoungMorlandclutchedhishair。\"Everyone’sinthesameboat，butitcan’tlastforever;andnowwe’reengagedwecanbetogetherallthetimetillI’vegotthelicenceorwhateveritis。Andthen——！\"
\"Daddywon’tlikeournotbeingmarriedinachurch;butIdon’tcare！\"
Lookingdownatherclosedeyes，andtheirlashesrestingonhercheeks，youngMorlandthought:
’MyGod！I’minheaven！’
Anothershorthourpassedbeforeshefreedherself。
\"Wemustgo，Cyril。Kissmeoncemore！\"
Itwasnearlydinner—time，andtheyrandown。
4
EdwardPierson，returningfromtheEveningService，wherehehadreadtheLessons，sawtheminthedistance，andcompressedhislips。
Theirlongabsencehadvexedhim。Whatoughthetodo？InthepresenceofLove’syoungdream，hefeltstrangeandhelpless。Thatnight，whenheopenedthedoorofhisroom，hesawNoelonthewindow—seat，inherdressing—gown，withthemoonlightstreaminginonher。
\"Don’tlightup，Daddy;I’vegotsomethingtosay。\"
Shetookholdofthelittlegoldcrossonhisvest，andturneditover。
\"I’mengagedtoCyril;wewanttobemarriedthisweek。\"
Itwasexactlyasifsomeonehadpunchedhimintheribs;andatthesoundhemadeshehurriedon:
\"Yousee，wemustbe;hemaybegoingoutanyday。\"
Inthemidstofhisachingconsternation，headmittedakindofreasoninherwords。Buthesaid:
\"Mydear，you’reonlyachild。Marriageisthemostseriousthinginlife;you’veonlyknownhimthreeweeks。\"
\"Iknowallthat，Daddy\"hervoicesoundedsoridiculouslycalm;\"butwecan’taffordtowait。Hemightnevercomeback，yousee，andthenIshouldhavemissedhim。\"
\"But，Noel，supposeheneverdidcomeback;itwouldonlybemuchworseforyou。\"
Shedroppedthelittlecross，andtookholdofhishand，pressingitagainstherheart。Butstillhervoicewascalm:
\"No;muchbetter，Daddy;youthinkIdon’tknowmyownfeelings，butIdo，\"’
ThemaninPiersonsoftened;thepriesthardened。
\"Nollie，truemarriageistheunionofsouls;andforthat，timeiswanted。Timetoknowthatyoufeelandthinkthesame，andlovethesamethings。\"
\"Yes，Iknow;butwedo。\"
\"Youcan’ttellthat，mydear;noonecouldinthreeweeks。\"
\"Butthesearen’tordinarytimes，arethey？Peoplehavetodothingsinahurry。Oh，Daddy！Beanangel！Motherwouldhaveunderstood，andletme，Iknow！\"
Piersondrewawayhishand;thewordshurt，fromreminderofhisloss，fromreminderofthepoorsubstitutehewas。
\"Look，Nollie！\"hesaid。\"Afteralltheseyearssincesheleftus，I’maslonelyasever，becausewewerereallyone。Ifyoumarrythisyoungmanwithoutknowingmoreofyourownheartsthanyoucaninsuchalittletime，youmayregretitdreadfully;youmayfinditturnout，afterall，nothingbutalittleemptypassion;oragain，ifanythinghappenstohimbeforeyou’vehadanyrealmarriedlifetogether，you’llhaveamuchgreatergriefandsenseoflosstoputupwiththanifyousimplystayengagedtillafterthewar。Besides，mychild，you’remuchtooyoung。\"
Shesatsostillthathelookedatherinalarm。\"ButImust！\"
Hebithislips，andsaidsharply:\"Youcan’t，Nollie！\"
Shegotup，andbeforehecouldstopher，wasgone。Withtheclosingofthedoor，hisangerevaporated，anddistresstookitsplace。Poorchild！Whattodowiththiswaywardchickenjustoutoftheegg，andwantingtobefull—fledgedatonce？Thethoughtthatshewouldbelyingmiserable，crying，perhaps，besethimsothathewentoutintothepassageandtappedonherdoor。Gettingnoanswer，hewentin。
Itwasdarkbutforastreakofmoonlight，andinthathesawher，lyingonherbed，facedown;andstealinguplaidhishandonherhead。Shedidnotmove;and，strokingherhair，hesaidgently:
\"Nolliedear，Ididn’tmeantobeharsh。IfIwereyourmother，I
shouldknowhowtomakeyousee，butI’monlyanoldbumble—daddy。\"
Sherolledover，scramblingintoacross—leggedpostureonthebed。
Hecouldseehereyesshining。Butshedidnotspeak;sheseemedtoknowthatinsilencewasherstrength。
Hesaidwithasortofdespair:
\"Youmustletmetalkitoverwithyouraunt。Shehasalotofgoodsense。\"
\"Yes。\"
Hebentoverandkissedherhotforehead。
\"Goodnight，mydear;don’tcry。Promiseme！\"
Shenodded，andliftedherface;hefeltherhotsoftlipsonhisforehead，andwentawayalittlecomforted。
ButNoelsatonherbed，huggingherknees，listeningtothenight，totheemptinessandsilence;eachminutesomuchlostofthelittle，littletimeleft，thatshemighthavebeenwithhim。
III
Piersonwokeafteratroubledanddreamfulnight，inwhichhehadthoughthimselfwanderinginheavenlikealostsoul。
Afterregaininghisroomlastnightnothinghadstruckhimmoreforciblythantheneedlessnessofhiswords:\"Don’tcry，Nollie！\"
forhehadrealisedwithuneasinessthatshehadnotbeennearcrying。No;therewasinhersomeemotionverydifferentfromthetearful。Hekeptseeinghercross—leggedfigureonthebedinthatdimlight;tense，enigmatic，almostChinese;keptfeelingthefeverishtouchofherlips。Agoodgirlishburstoftearswouldhavedonehergood，andbeenaguarantee。Hehadtheuncomfortableconvictionthathisrefusalhadpassedherby，asifunspoken。And，sincehecouldnotgoandmakemusicatthattimeofnight，hehadendedonhisknees，inalongsearchforguidance，whichwasnotvouchsafedhim。
Theculpritsweredemureatbreakfast;noonecouldhavetoldthatforthelasthourtheyhadbeensittingwiththeirarmsroundeachother，watchingtheriverflowby，talkingbutlittle，throughlipstoobusy。Piersonpursuedhissister—in—lawtotheroomwhereshedidherflowerseverymorning。Hewatchedherforaminutedividingramblersfrompansies，cornflowersfromsweetpeas，beforehesaid:
\"I’mverytroubled，Thirza。Nolliecametomelastnight。Imagine！
Theywanttogetmarried——thosetwo！\"
Acceptinglifeasitcame，Thirzashowednodismay，buthercheeksgrewalittlepinker，andhereyesalittlerounder。Shetookupasprigofmignonette，andsaidplacidly:
\"Oh，mydear！\"
\"Thinkofit，Thirza——thatchild！Why，it’sonlyayearortwosincesheusedtositonmykneeandticklemyfacewithherhair。\"
Thirzawentonarrangingherflowers。
\"Noelisolderthanyouthink，Edward;sheismorethanherage。Andrealmarriedlifewouldn’tbeginforthemtillafter——ifiteverbegan。\"
Piersonexperiencedasortofshock。Hissister—in—law’swordsseemedcriminallylight—hearted。
\"But——but——\"hestammered;\"theunion，Thirza！Whocantellwhatwillhappenbeforetheycometogetheragain！\"
Shelookedathisquiveringface，andsaidgently:
\"Iknow，Edward;butifyourefuse，Ishouldbeafraid，inthesedays，ofwhatNoelmightdo。Itoldyouthere’sastreakofdesperationinher。\"
\"Noelwillobeyme。\"
\"Iwonder！Therearesomanyofthesewarmarriagesnow。\"
Piersonturnedaway。
\"Ithinkthey’redreadful。Whatdotheymean——Justamomentarygratificationofpassion。Theymightjustaswellnotbe。\"
\"Theymeanpensions，asarule，\"saidThirzacalmly。
\"Thirza，thatiscynical;besides，itdoesn’taffectthiscase。I
can’tbeartothinkofmylittleNolliegivingherselfforamomentwhichmaycometonothing，ormayturnoutthebeginningofanunhappymarriage。Whoisthisboy——whatishe？Iknownothingofhim。HowcanIgivehertohim——it’simpossible！IftheyhadbeenengagedsometimeandIknewsomethingofhim——yes，perhaps;evenatherage。Butthishastypassionateness——itisn’tright，itisn’tdecent。Idon’tunderstand，Ireallydon’t——howachildlikethatcanwantit。Thefactis，shedoesn’tknowwhatshe’sasking，poorlittleNollie。Shecan’tknowthenatureofmarriage，andshecan’trealiseitssacredness。Ifonlyhermotherwerehere！Talktoher，Thirza;youcansaythingsthatIcan’t！\"
Thirzalookedaftertheretreatingfigure。Inspiteofhiscloth，perhapsalittlebecauseofit，heseemedtoherlikeachildwhohadcometoshowherhissorefinger。And，havingfinishedthearrangementofherflowers，shewentouttofindherniece。Shehadnotfartogo;forNoelwasstandinginthehall，quiteevidentlylyinginwait。Theywentouttogethertotheavenue。
Thegirlbeganatonce:
\"Itisn’tanyusetalkingtome，Auntie;Cyrilisgoingtogetalicense。\"
\"Oh！Soyou’vemadeupyourminds？\"
\"Quite。\"
\"Doyouthinkthat’sfairbyme，Nollie？ShouldIhaveaskedhimhereifI’dthoughtthiswasgoingtohappen？\"
Noelonlysmiled。
\"Haveyoutheleastideawhatmarriagemeans？\"
Noelnodded。
\"Really？\"
\"Ofcourse。Gratianismarried。Besides，atschool——\"
\"Yourfatherisdeadagainstit。Thisisasadthingforhim。He’saperfectsaint，andyououghtn’ttohurthim。Can’tyouwait，atleasttillCyril’snextleave？\"
\"Hemightneverhaveone，yousee。\"
Theheartofherwhoseboyswereouttheretoo，andmightalsoneverhaveanotherleave;couldnotbutberesponsivetothosewords。Shelookedatherniece，andadimappreciationofthisrevoltoflifemenacedbydeath，ofyouththreatenedwithextinction，stirredinher。Noel’steethwereclenched，herlipsdrawnback，andshewasstaringinfrontofher。
\"Daddyoughtn’ttomind。Oldpeoplehaven’ttofight，andgetkilled;theyoughtn’ttomindustakingwhatwecan。They’vehadtheirgoodtime。\"
ItwassuchajustlittlespeechthatThirzaanswered:
\"Yes;perhapshehasn’tquiterealisedthat。\"
\"IwanttomakesureofCyril，Auntie;IwanteverythingIcanhavewithhimwhilethere’sthechance。Idon’tthinkit’smuchtoask，whenperhapsI’llneverhaveanymoreofhimagain。\"
Thirzaslippedherhandthroughthegirl’sarm。
\"Iunderstand，\"shesaid。\"Only，Nollie，suppose，whenallthisisover，andwebreatheandlivenaturallyoncemore，youfoundyou’dmadeamistake？\"
Noelshookherhead。\"Ihaven’t。\"
\"Weallthinkthat，mydear;butthousandsofmistakesaremadebypeoplewhonomoredreamthey’remakingthemthanyoudonow;andthenit’saveryhorriblebusiness。Itwouldbeespeciallyhorribleforyou;yourfatherbelievesheartandsoulinmarriagebeingforever。\"
\"Daddy’sadarling;butIdon’talwaysbelievewhathebelieves，youknow。Besides，I’mnotmakingamistake，Auntie！IloveCyrileverso。\"
Thirzagaveherwaistasqueeze。
\"Youmustn’tmakeamistake。Weloveyoutoomuch，Nollie。IwishwehadGratianhere。\"
\"Gratianwouldbackmeup，\"saidNoel;\"sheknowswhatthewaris。
Andyououghtto，Auntie。IfRexorHarrywantedtobemarried，I’msureyou’dneveropposethem。Andthey’renoolderthanCyril。YoumustunderstandwhatitmeanstomeAuntiedear，tofeelthatwebelongtoeachotherproperlybefore——beforeitallbeginsforhim，and——andtheremaybenomore。Daddydoesn’trealise。Iknowhe’sawfullygood，but——he’sforgotten。\"
\"Mydear，Ithinkheremembersonlytoowell。Hewasdesperatelyattachedtoyourmother。\"
Noelclenchedherhands。
\"Washe？Well，soamItoCyril，andhetome。Wewouldn’tbeunreasonableifitwasn’t——wasn’tnecessary。Talk，toCyril，Auntie;
thenyou’llunderstand。Thereheis;only，don’tkeephimlong，becauseIwanthim。Oh！Auntie;Iwanthimsobadly！\"
Sheturned;andslippedbackintothehouse;andThirza，consciousofhavingbeendecoyedtothisyoungman，whostoodtherewithhisarmsfolded，likeNapoleonbeforeabattle，smiledandsaid:
\"Well，Cyril，soyou’vebetrayedme！\"
Eveninspeakingshewasconsciousofthereallymomentouschangeinthissunburnt，blue—eyed，lazilyimpudentyouthsincethedayhearrived，threeweeksago，intheirlittlewagonette。Hetookherarm，justasNoelhad，andmadehersitdownbesidehimontherusticbench，wherehehadevidentlybeentoldtowait。
\"Yousee，Mrs。Pierson，\"hesaid，\"it’snotasifNoelwereanordinarygirlinanordinarytime，isit？Noelisthesortofgirlonewouldknockone’sbrainsoutfor;andtosendmeoutthereknowingthatIcouldhavebeenmarriedtoherandwasn’t，willtakealltheheartoutofme。OfcourseImeantocomeback，butchapsdogetknockedover，andIthinkit’scruelthatwecan’ttakewhatwecanwhilewecan。Besides，I’vegotmoney;andthatwouldbehersanyway。So，dobeadarling，won’tyou？\"Heputhisarmroundherwaist，justasifhehadbeenherson，andherheart，whichwantedherownboyssobadly，feltwarmedwithinher。
\"Yousee，Idon’tknowMr。Pierson，butheseemsawfullygentleandjolly，andifhecouldseeintomehewouldn’tmind，Iknow。Wedon’tmindriskingourlivesandallthat，butwedothinkweoughttohavetherunofthemwhilewe’realive。I’llgivehimmydyingoathoranything，thatIcouldneverchangetowardsNoel，andshe’lldothesame。Oh！Mrs。Pierson，dobeajollybrick，andputinawordforme，quick！We’vegotsofewdays！\"
\"But，mydearboy，\"saidThirzafeebly，\"doyouthinkit’sfairtosuchachildasNoel？\"
\"Yes，Ido。Youdon’tunderstand;she’ssimplyhadtogrowup。Sheisgrown—up——allinthisweek;she’squiteasoldasIam，really——
andI’mtwenty—two。Andyouknowit’sgoingtobe——it’sgottobe——ayoungworld，fromnowon;peoplewillbegindoingthingsmuchearlier。What’stheuseofpretendingit’slikewhatitwas，andbeingcautious，andallthat？IfI’mgoingtobekilled，Ithinkwe’vegotarighttobemarriedfirst;andifI’mnot，thenwhatdoesitmatter？\"
\"You’veknowneachothertwenty—onedays，Cyril。\"
\"No;twenty—oneyears！Everyday’sayearwhenOh！Mrs。Pierson，thisisn’tlikeyou，isit？Younevergotomeettrouble，doyou？\"
Atthatshrewdremark，Thirzaputherhandonthehandwhichstillclaspedherwaist，andpresseditcloser。
\"Well，mydear，\"shesaidsoftly，\"wemustseewhatcanbedone。\"
CyrilMorlandkissedhercheek。\"Iwillblessyouforever，\"hesaid。\"Ihaven’tgotanypeople，youknow，exceptmytwosisters。\"
AndsomethingliketearsstarteduponThirza’seyelashes。Theyseemedtoherlikethebabesinthewood——thosetwo！
IV
1
Inthedining—roomofherfather’shouseinthatoldLondonSquarebetweenEastandWest，GratianLaird，intheoutdoorgarbofanurse，waswritingatelegram:\"ReverendEdwardPierson，Kestrel，Tintern，Monmouthshire。Georgeterriblyill。Pleasecomeifyoucan。
Gratian。\"Givingittoamaid，shetookoffherlongcoatandsatdownforamoment。Shehadbeentravellingallnight，afterafullday’swork，andhadonlyjustarrived，tofindherhusbandbetweenlifeanddeath。ShewasverydifferentfromNoel;notquitesotall，butofastrongerbuild;withdarkchestnut—colouredhair，clearhazeleyes，andabroadbrow。Theexpressionofherfacewasearnest，withasortofconstantspiritualenquiry;andasingularlytruthfullook:Shewasjusttwenty;andoftheyearthatshehadbeenmarried，hadonlyspentsixweekswithherhusband;theyhadnotevenahouseoftheirownasyet。Afterrestingfiveminutes，shepassedherhandvigorouslyoverherface，threwbackherhead，andwalkedupstairstotheroomwherehelay。Hewasnotconscious，andtherewasnothingtobedonebutsitandwatchhim。
’Ifhedies，’shethought，’IshallhateGodforHiscruelty。IhavehadsixweekswithGeorge;somepeoplehavesixtyyears。’Shefixedhereyesonhisface，shortandbroad，withbumpsof\"observation\"onthebrows。Hehadbeensunburnt。Thedarklashesofhisclosedeyeslayondeathlyyellowcheeks;histhickhairgrewratherlowonhisbroadforehead。Thelipswerejustopenandshowedstrongwhiteteeth。Hehadalittleclippedmoustache，andhairhadgrownonhisclean—cutjaw。Hispyjamajackethadfallenopen。Gratiandrewitclose。Itwascuriouslystill，foraLondonday，thoughthewindowwaswideopen。Anythingtobreakthisheavystupor，whichwasnotonlyGeorge’s，butherown，andtheveryworld’s！Thecrueltyofit——whenshemightbegoingtolosehimforever，inafewhoursordays！Shethoughtoftheirlastparting。Ithadnotbeenveryloving，hadcometoosoonafteroneofthoseargumentstheywereinclinedtohave，inwhichtheycouldnotasyetdisagreewithsuavity。Georgehadsaidtherewasnofuturelifefortheindividual;shehadmaintainedtherewas。Theyhadgrownhotandimpatient。Eveninthecabonthewaytohistraintheyhadpursuedthewretcheddiscussion，andthelastkisshadbeenfromlipsonlipsyetwarmfromdisagreement。
Eversince，asifincompunction，shehadbeenwaveringtowardshispointofview;andnow，whenhewasperhapstosolvetheproblem——
findoutforcertain——shehadcometofeelthatifhedied，shewouldneverseehimafter。Itwascruelthatsuchablightshouldhavecomeonherbeliefatthis，ofallmoments。
Shelaidherhandonhis。Itwaswarm，feltstrong，althoughsomotionlessandhelpless。Georgewassovigorous，soalive，andstrong—willed;itseemedimpossiblethatlifemightbegoingtoplayhimfalse。Sherecalledtheunflinchinglookofhissteel—brighteyes，hisdeep，queerlyvibratingvoice，whichhadnotraceofself—
consciousnessorpretence。Sheslippedherhandontohisheart，andbeganveryslowly，gentlyrubbingit。He，asdoctor，andshe，asnurse，hadbothseensomuchofdeaththeselasttwoyears！Yetitseemedsuddenlyasifshehadneverseendeath，andthattheyoungfacesshehadseen，emptyandwhite，inthehospitalwards，hadjustbeenashow。Deathwouldappeartoherforthefirsttime，ifthisfacewhichshelovedweretobedrainedforeveroflightandcolourandmovementandmeaning。
AhumblebeefromtheSquareGardenboomedinandbuzzedidlyroundtheroom。Shecaughtherbreathinalittlesob……
2
Piersonreceivedthattelegramatmidday，returningfromalonelywalkafterhistalkwithThirza。ComingfromGratiansoself—
reliant——itmeanttheworst。Hepreparedatoncetocatchthenexttrain。Noelwasout，nooneknewwhere:sowithasickfeelinghewrote:
\"DEARESTCHILD，\"IamgoinguptoGratian;poorGeorgeisdesperatelyill。Ifitgoesbadlyyoushouldbewithyoursister。Iwillwireto—morrowmorningearly。Ileaveyouinyouraunt’shands，mydear。Bereasonableandpatient。Godblessyou。
\"Yourdevoted’DADDY。\"
Hewasaloneinhisthird—classcompartment，and，leaningforward，watchedtheruinedAbbeyacrosstherivertillitwasoutofsight。
Thoseoldmonkshadlivedinanagesurelynotsosadasthis。Theymusthavehadpeacefullives，remotedownhere，indayswhentheChurchwasgreatandlovely，andmenlaiddowntheirlivesfortheirbeliefinher，andbuilteverlastingfanestothegloryofGod！Whatachangetothisageofrushandhurry，ofscience，trade，materialprofit，andthisterriblewar！Hetriedtoreadhispaper，butitwasfullofhorrorsandhate。’Whenwillitend？’hethought。Andthetrainwithitsrhythmicjoltingseemedgrindingouttheanswer:
\"Never——never！\"
AtChepstowasoldiergotin，followedbyawomanwithaveryflushedfaceandcurious，swimmyeyes;herhairwasindisorder，andherlipbleeding，asifshehadbittenitthrough。Thesoldier，too，lookedstrainedanddesperate。Theysatdown，farapart，ontheseatopposite。Pierson，feelingthathewasintheirway，triedtohidehimselfbehindhispaper;whenhelookedagain，thesoldierhadtakenoffhistunicandcapandwasleaningoutofthewindow。Thewoman，ontheseat’sedge，sniffingandwipingherface，methisglancewithresentfuleyes，then，gettingup，shepulledtheman’ssleeve。
\"Sitdahn;don’t’angouto’there。\"
ThesoldierflunghimselfbackontheseatandlookedatPierson。
\"Thewifean’me’s’adabitofarow，\"hesaidcompanionably。\"Gitsonmenerves;I’mnotusedtoit。Shewasinaraid，and’ernervesareallgonefunny;ain’tthey，oldgirl？Makesmefeelme’ead。
I’vebeenwoundedthere，youknow;can’tstandmuchnow。Imightdosomethin’ifshewastogoonlikethisforlong。\"
Piersonlookedatthewoman，buthereyesstillmethisresentfully。
Thesoldierheldoutapacketofcigarettes。\"Takeone，\"hesaid。
Piersontookoneand，feelingthatthesoldierwantedhimtospeak，murmured:\"Weallhavethesetroubleswiththosewe’refondof;thefonderweareofpeople，themorewefeelthem，don’twe？Ihadonewithmydaughterlastnight。\"
\"Ah！\"saidthesoldier;\"that’sright。Thewifeandme’llmakeitup。’Ere，comeorfit，oldgirl。\"
>Frombehindhispaperhesoonbecameconsciousofthesoundsofreconciliation——reproachesbecausesomeonehadbeenofferedadrink，kissesmixedwithmildslappings，andabuse。WhentheygotoutatBristolthesoldiershookhishandwarmly，butthewomanstillgavehimherresentfulstare，andhethoughtdreamily:’Thewar！Howitaffectseveryone！’Hiscarriagewasinvadedbyaswarmofsoldiers，andtherestofthejourneywaspassedinmakinghimselfsmall。Whenatlasthereachedhome，Gratianmethiminthehall。
\"Justthesame。Thedoctorsaysweshallknowinafewhoursnow。
Howsweetofyoutocome！Youmustbetired，inthisheat。Itwasdreadfultospoilyourholiday。\"
\"Mydear！AsifMayIgoupandseehim？\"
GeorgeLairdwasstilllyinginthatstupor。AndPiersonstoodgazingdownathimcompassionately。Likemostparsons，hehadawideacquaintancewiththesickanddying;andoneremorselessfellowshipwithdeath。Death！Thecommonestthingintheworld，now——commonerthanlife！Thisyoungdoctormusthaveseenmanydieintheselasttwoyears，savedmanyfromdeath;andtherehelay，notabletoliftafingertosavehimself。Piersonlookedathisdaughter;whatastrong，promisingyoungcoupletheywere！Andputtinghisarmroundher，heledherawaytothesofa，whencetheycouldseethesickman。