SEQUEL
PREFATORYNOTE
Thefollowingstory,thefirstpublishedbytheauthor,waswrittennineteenyearsago,atatimewhenhewasfeelinghiswaytoamethod。Theprinciplesobservedinitscompositionare,nodoubt,tooexclusivelythoseinwhichmystery,entanglement,surprise,andmoralobliquityaredependedonforexcitinginterest;butsomeofthescenes,andatleastoneofthecharacters,havebeendeemednotunworthyofalittlelongerpreservation;andastheycouldhardlybereproducedinafragmentaryformthenovelisreissuedcomplete——
themorereadilythatithasforsomeconsiderabletimebeenreprintedandwidelycirculatedinAmerica。
January1889。
TotheforegoingnoteIhaveonlytoaddthat,inthepresenteditionof\'DesperateRemedies,\'someWessextownsandotherplacesthatarecommontothescenesofseveralofthesestorieshavebeencalledforthefirsttimebythenamesunderwhichtheyappearelsewhere,forthesatisfactionofanyreaderwhomaycareforconsistencyinsuchmatters。
Thisistheonlymaterialchange;for,asithappenedthatcertaincharacteristicswhichprovokedmostdiscussioninmylateststorywerepresentinthismyfirst——publishedin1871,whentherewasnoFrenchnameforthemithasseemedbesttoletthemstandunaltered。
T。H。
February1896。
I。THEEVENTSOFTHIRTYYEARS
1。DECEMBERANDJANUARY,1835-36
InthelongandintricatelyinwroughtchainofcircumstancewhichrendersworthyofrecordsomeexperiencesofCythereaGraye,EdwardSpringrove,andothers,thefirsteventdirectlyinfluencingtheissuewasaChristmasvisit。
Intheabove-mentionedyear,1835,AmbroseGraye,ayoungarchitectwhohadjustbegunthepracticeofhisprofessioninthemidlandtownofHocbridge,tothenorthofChristminster,wenttoLondontospendtheChristmasholidayswithafriendwholivedinBloomsbury。
TheyhadgoneuptoCambridgeinthesameyear,and,aftergraduatingtogether,Huntway,thefriend,hadtakenorders。
Grayewashandsome,frank,andgentle。Hehadaqualityofthoughtwhich,exercisedonhomeliness,washumour;onnature,picturesqueness;onabstractions,poetry。Being,asarule,broadcast,itwasallthree。
Ofthewickednessoftheworldhewastooforgetful。Todiscoverevilinanewfriendistomostpeopleonlyanadditionalexperience:tohimitwaseverasurprise。
WhileinLondonhebecameacquaintedwitharetiredofficerintheNavynamedBradleigh,who,withhiswifeandtheirdaughter,livedinastreetnotfarfromRussellSquare。Thoughtheywereinnomorethancomfortablecircumstances,thecaptain\'swifecameofanancientfamilywhosegenealogicaltreewasinterlacedwithsomeofthemostillustriousandwell-knowninthekingdom。
Theyounglady,theirdaughter,seemedtoGrayebyfarthemostbeautifulandqueenlybeinghehadeverbeheld。Shewasaboutnineteenortwenty,andhernamewasCytherea。Intruthshewasnotsoveryunlikecountrygirlsofthattypeofbeauty,exceptinonerespect。Shewasperfectinhermannerandbearing,andtheywerenot。Ameredistinguishingpeculiarity,bycatchingtheeye,isoftenreadasthepervadingcharacteristic,andsheappearedtohimnolessthanperfectionthroughout——transcendingherruralrivalsinverynature。Grayedidathingtheblissfulnessofwhichwasonlyeclipsedbyitshazardousness。Helovedheratfirstsight。
HisintroductionshadledhimintocontactwithCythereaandherparentstwoorthreetimesonthefirstweekofhisarrivalinLondon,andaccidentandalover\'scontrivancebroughtthemtogetherasfrequentlytheweekfollowing。TheparentslikedyoungGraye,andhavingfewfriendsfortheirequalsinbloodweretheirsuperiorsinposition,hewasreceivedonverygenerousterms。HispassionforCythereagrewnotonlystrong,butineffablyexalted:
she,withoutpositivelyencouraginghim,tacitlyassentedtohisschemesforbeingnearher。Herfatherandmotherseemedtohavelostallconfidenceinnobilityofbirth,withoutmoneytogiveeffecttoitspresence,andlookeduponthebuddingconsequenceoftheyoungpeople\'sreciprocalglanceswithplacidity,ifnotactualfavour。
Graye\'swholeimpassioneddreamterminatedinasadandunaccountableepisode。Afterpassingthroughthreeweeksofsweetexperience,hehadarrivedatthelaststage——akindofmoralGaza——
beforeplungingintoanemotionaldesert。ThesecondweekinJanuaryhadcomeround,anditwasnecessaryfortheyoungarchitecttoleavetown。
Throughouthisacquaintanceshipwiththeladyofhishearttherehadbeenthismarkedpeculiarityinherlove:shehaddelightedinhispresenceasasweetheartshoulddo,yetfromfirsttolastshehadrepressedallrecognitionofthetruenatureofthethreadwhichdrewthemtogether,blindingherselftoitsmeaningandonlynaturaltendency,andappearingtodreadhisannouncementofthem。Thepresentseemedenoughforherwithoutcumulativehope:usually,evenifloveisinitselfanend,itmustberegardedasabeginningtobeenjoyed。
Inspiteofevasionsasanobstacle,andinconsequenceofthemasaspur,hewouldputthematteroffnolonger。Itwasevening。Hetookherintoalittleconservatoryonthelanding,andthereamongtheevergreens,bythelightofafewtinylamps,infinitelyenhancingthefreshnessandbeautyoftheleaves,hemadethedeclarationofaloveasfreshandbeautifulasthey。
\'Mylove——mydarling,bemywife!\'
Sheseemedlikeonejustawakened。\'Ah——wemustpartnow!\'shefaltered,inavoiceofanguish。\'Iwillwritetoyou。\'Sheloosenedherhandandrushedaway。
InawildfeverGrayewenthomeandwatchedforthenextmorning。
Whoshallexpresshismiseryandwonderwhenanotecontainingthesewordswasputintohishand?
\'Good-bye;good-byeforever。Asrecognizedloverssomethingdividesuseternally。Forgiveme——Ishouldhavetoldyoubefore;
butyourlovewassweet!Nevermentionme。\'
Thatveryday,andasitseemed,toputanendtoapainfulconditionofthings,daughterandparentsleftLondontopayoffapromisedvisittoarelativeinawesterncounty。Nomessageorletterofentreatycouldwringfromheranyexplanation。Shebeggedhimnottofollowher,andthemostbewilderingpointwasthatherfatherandmotherappeared,fromthetoneofaletterGrayereceivedfromthem,asvexedandsadasheatthissuddenrenunciation。Onethingwasplain:withoutadmittingherreasonasvalid,theyknewwhatthatreasonwas,anddidnotintendtorevealit。
AweekfromthatdayAmbroseGrayelefthisfriendHuntway\'shouseandsawnomoreoftheLovehemourned。FromtimetotimehisfriendansweredanyinquiryGrayemadebyletterrespectingher。
Butverypoorfoodtoaloverisintelligenceofamistressfilteredthroughafriend。Huntwaycouldtellnothingdefinitely。HesaidhebelievedtherehadbeensomepriorflirtationbetweenCythereaandhercousin,anofficeroftheline,twoorthreeyearsbeforeGrayemether,whichhadsuddenlybeenterminatedbythecousin\'sdepartureforIndia,andtheyounglady\'stravellingontheContinentwithherparentsthewholeoftheensuingsummer,onaccountofdelicatehealth。EventuallyHuntwaysaidthatcircumstanceshadrenderedGraye\'sattachmentmorehopelessstill。
Cytherea\'smotherhadunexpectedlyinheritedalargefortuneandestatesinthewestofEnglandbytherapidfallofsomeinterveninglives。ThishadcausedtheirremovalfromthesmallhouseinBloomsbury,and,asitappeared,arenunciationoftheiroldfriendsinthatquarter。
YoungGrayeconcludedthathisCythereahadforgottenhimandhislove。Buthecouldnotforgether。
2。FROM1843TO1861
Eightyearslater,feelinglonelyanddepressed——amanwithoutrelatives,withmanyacquaintancesbutnofriends——AmbroseGrayemetayoungladyofadifferentkind,fairlyendowedwithmoneyandgoodgifts。AstocaringverydeeplyforanotherwomanafterthelossofCytherea,itwasanabsoluteimpossibilitywithhim。Withall,thebeautifulthingsoftheearthbecomemoredearastheyeludepursuit;butwithsomenaturesutterelusionistheonespecialeventwhichwillmakeapassinglovepermanentforever。
ThissecondyoungladyandGrayeweremarried。Thathedidnot,firstorlast,lovehiswifeasheshouldhavedone,wasknowntoall;butfewknewthathisunmanageableheartcouldneverbeweanedfromuselessrepiningatthelossofitsfirstidol。
Hischaractertosomeextentdeteriorated,asemotionalconstitutionswillunderthelongsenseofdisappointmentathavingmissedtheirimagineddestiny。Andthus,thoughnaturallyofagentleandpleasantdisposition,hegrewtobenotsotenderlyregardedbyhisacquaintancesasitisthelotofsomeofthosepersonstobe。Thewinningandsanguinereceptivityofhisearlylifedevelopedbydegreesamoodynervousness,andwhennotpicturingprospectsdrawnfrombaselesshopehewasthevictimofindescribabledepression。Thepracticalissueofsuchaconditionwasimprovidence,originallyalmostanunconsciousimprovidence,foreverydebtincurredhadbeenmentallypaidoffwithareligiousexactnessfromthetreasuresofexpectationbeforementioned。Butasyearsrevolved,thesamecoursewascontinuedfromthelackofspiritsufficientforshiftingoutofanoldgroovewhenithasbeenfoundtoleadtodisaster。
Intheyear1861hiswifedied,leavinghimawidowerwithtwochildren。Theelder,asonnamedOwen,nowjustturnedseventeen,wastakenfromschool,andinitiatedaspupiltotheprofessionofarchitectinhisfather\'soffice。Theremainingchildwasadaughter,andOwen\'sjuniorbyayear。
HerchristiannamewasCytherea,anditiseasytoguesswhy。
3。OCTOBERTHETWELFTH,1863
Wepassovertwoyearsinordertoreachthenextcardinaleventofthesepersons\'lives。ThesceneisstilltheGrayes\'nativetownofHocbridge,butasitappearedonaMondayafternooninthemonthofOctober。
Theweatherwassunnyanddry,buttheancientboroughwastobeseenwearingoneofitsleastattractiveaspects。Firstonaccountofthetime。Itwasthatstagnanthourofthetwenty-fourwhenthepracticalgarishnessofDay,havingescapedfromthefreshlongshadowsandenliveningnewnessofthemorning,hasnotyetmadeanyperceptibleadvancetowardsacquiringthosemellowandsoothingtoneswhichgraceitsdecline。Next,itwasthatstageintheprogressoftheweekwhenbusiness——which,carriedonunderthegablesofanoldcountryplace,isnotdevoidofaromanticsparkle——
waswell-nighextinguished。Lastly,thetownwasintentionallybentuponbeingattractivebyexhibitingtoaninfluxofvisitorsthelocaltalentfordramaticrecitation,andprovincialtownstryingtobelivelyarethedullestofdullthings。
Littletownsarelikelittlechildreninthisrespect,thattheyinterestmostwhentheyareenactingnativepeculiaritiesunconsciousofbeholders。Discoveringthemselvestobewatchedtheyattempttobeentertainingbyputtingonanantic,andproducedisagreeablecaricatureswhichspoilthem。
Theweather-stainedclock-faceinthelowchurchtowerstandingattheintersectionofthethreechiefstreetswasexpressinghalf-pasttwototheTownHallopposite,wherethemuchtalked-ofreadingfromShakespearewasabouttobegin。Thedoorswereopen,andthosepersonswhohadalreadyassembledwithinthebuildingwerenoticingtheentranceofthenew-comers——silentlycriticizingtheirdress——
questioningthegenuinenessoftheirteethandhair——estimatingtheirprivatemeans。
Amongtheselateronescameanexceptionalyoungmaidenwhoglowedamidthedulnesslikeasinglebright-redpoppyinafieldofbrownstubble。Sheworeanelegantdarkjacket,lavenderdress,hatwithgreystringsandtrimmings,andglovesofacolourtoharmonize。
Shelightlywalkedupthesidepassageoftheroom,castaslightglancearound,andenteredtheseatpointedouttoher。
TheyounggirlwasCythereaGraye;heragewasnowabouteighteen。
Duringherentry,andatvarioustimeswhilstsittinginherseatandlisteningtothereaderontheplatform,herpersonalappearanceformedaninterestingsubjectofstudyforseveralneighbouringeyes。
Herfacewasexceedinglyattractive,thoughartisticallylessperfectthanherfigure,whichapproachedunusuallyneartothestandardoffaultlessness。Buteventhisfeatureofhersyieldedthepalmtothegracefulnessofhermovement,whichwasfascinatinganddelightfultoanextremedegree。
Indeed,motionwasherspeciality,whethershownonitsmostextendedscaleofbodilyprogression,orminutely,asintheupliftingofhereyelids,thebendingofherfingers,thepoutingofherlip。Thecarriageofherhead——motionwithinmotion——aglideuponaglide——wasasdelicateasthatofamagneticneedle。Andthisflexibilityandelasticityhadneverbeentaughtherbyrule,norevenbeenacquiredbyobservation,but,nullocultu,hadnaturallydevelopeditselfwithheryears。Inchildhood,astoneorstalkintheway,whichhadbeentheinevitableoccasionofafalltoherplaymates,hadusuallylefthersafeanduprightonherfeetafterthenarrowestescapebyoscillationsandwhirlsforthepreservationofherbalance。AtmixedChristmasparties,whenshenumberedbuttwelveorthirteenyears,andwasheartilydespisedonthataccountbyladswhodeemedthemselvesmen,heraptlightnessinthedancecoveredthisincompletenessinherwomanhood,andcompelledtheself-sameyouthsinspiteofresolutionstoseizeuponherchildishfigureasapartnerwhomtheycouldnotaffordtocontemn。Andinlateryears,whentheinstinctsofhersexhadshownherthispointasthebestandrarestfeatureinherexternalself,shewasnotfoundwantinginattentiontothecultivationoffinishinitsdetails。
Herhairrestedgailyuponhershouldersincurlsandwasofashiningcornyellowinthehighlights,deepeningtoadefinitenut-
brownaseachcurlwoundroundintotheshade。Shehadeyesofasapphirehue,thoughratherdarkerthanthegemordinarilyappears;
theypossessedtheaffectionateandliquidsparkleofloyaltyandgoodfaithasdistinguishablefromthatharderbrightnesswhichseemstoexpressfaithfulnessonlytotheobjectconfrontingthem。
Buttoattempttogainaviewofher——orindeedofanyfascinatingwoman——fromameasuredcategory,isasdifficultastoappreciatetheeffectofalandscapebyexploringitatnightwithalantern——
orofafullchordofmusicbypipingthenotesinsuccession。
Neverthelessitmayreadilybebelievedfromthedescriptionhereventured,thatamongthemanywinningphasesofheraspect,thesewereparticularlystriking:——
Duringpleasantdoubt,whenhereyesbrightenedstealthilyandsmiledaseyeswillsmileasdistinctlyasherlips,andinthespaceofasingleinstantexpressedclearlythewholeroundofdegreesofexpectancywhichlieoverthewideexpansebetweenYeaandNay。
Duringthetellingofasecret,whichwasinvoluntarilyaccompaniedbyasuddenminutestart,andecstaticpressureofthelistener\'sarm,side,orneck,asthepositionanddegreeofintimacydictated。
Whenanxiouslyregardingonewhopossessedheraffections。
Shesuddenlyassumedthelast-mentionedbearingintheprogressofthepresententertainment。Herglancewasdirectedoutofthewindow。
Whytheparticularsofayounglady\'spresenceataverymediocreperformancewerepreventedfromdroppingintotheoblivionwhichtheirintrinsicinsignificancewouldnaturallyhaveinvolved——whytheywererememberedandindividualizedbyherselfandothersthroughafteryears——wassimplythatsheunknowinglystood,asitwere,upontheextremeposterioredgeofatractinherlife,inwhichtherealmeaningofTakingThoughthadneverbeenknown。Itwasthelasthourofexperiencesheeverenjoyedwithamindentirelyfreefromaknowledgeofthatlabyrinthintowhichshesteppedimmediatelyafterwards——tocontinueaperplexedcoursealongitsmazesforthegreaterportionoftwenty-ninesubsequentmonths。
TheTownHall,inwhichCythereasat,wasabuildingofbrownstone,andthroughoneofthewindowscouldbeseenfromtheinterioroftheroomthehousetopsandchimneysoftheadjacentstreet,andalsotheupperpartofaneighbouringchurchspire,nowincourseofcompletionunderthesuperintendenceofMissGraye\'sfather,thearchitecttothework。
ThatthetopofthisspireshouldbevisiblefromherpositionintheroomwasafactwhichCytherea\'sidlingeyeshaddiscoveredwithsomeinterest,andshewasnowengagedinwatchingthescenethatwasbeingenactedaboutitsairysummit。Roundtheconicalstoneworkroseacageofscaffoldingagainstthebluesky,anduponthisstoodfivemen——fourinclothesaswhiteasthenewerectionclosebeneaththeirhands,thefifthintheordinarydarksuitofagentleman。
Thefourworking-meninwhitewerethreemasonsandamason\'slabourer。Thefifthmanwasthearchitect,Mr。Graye。Hehadbeengivingdirectionsasitseemed,andretiringasfarasthenarrowfootwayallowed,stoodperfectlystill。
ThepicturethuspresentedtoaspectatorintheTownHallwascuriousandstriking。Itwasanilluminatedminiature,framedinbythedarkmarginofthewindow,thekeen-edgedshadinessofwhichemphasizedbycontrastthesoftnessoftheobjectsenclosed。
Theheightofthespirewasaboutonehundredandtwentyfeet,andthefivemenengagedthereonseemedentirelyremovedfromthesphereandexperiencesofordinaryhumanbeings。Theyappearedlittlelargerthanpigeons,andmadetheirtinymovementswithasoft,spirit-likesilentness。Oneideaaboveallotherswasconveyedtothemindofapersononthegroundbytheiraspect,namely,concentrationofpurpose:thattheywereindifferentto——evenunconsciousof——thedistractedworldbeneaththem,andallthatmoveduponit。Theyneverlookedoffthescaffolding。
Thenoneofthemturned;itwasMr。Graye。Againhestoodmotionless,withattentiontotheoperationsoftheothers。Heappearedtobelostinreflection,andhaddirectedhisfacetowardsanewstonetheywerelifting。
\'Whydoeshestandlikethat?\'theyoungladythoughtatlength——uptothatmomentaslistlessandcarelessasoneoftheancientTarentines,who,onsuchanafternoonasthis,watchedfromtheTheatretheentryintotheirHarbourofapowerthatoverturnedtheState。
Shemovedherselfuneasily。\'Iwishhewouldcomedown,\'shewhispered,stillgazingattheskybackedpicture。\'Itissodangeroustobeabsent-mindedupthere。\'
Whenshehaddonemurmuringthewordsherfatherindecisivelylaidholdofoneofthescaffold-poles,asiftotestitsstrength,thenletitgoandsteppedback。Instepping,hisfootslipped。Aninstantofdoublingforwardandsideways,andhereeledoffintotheair,immediatelydisappearingdownwards。
Hisagonizeddaughterrosetoherfeetbyaconvulsivemovement。
Herlipsparted,andshegaspedforbreath。Shecouldutternosound。Onebyonethepeopleabouther,unconsciousofwhathadhappened,turnedtheirheads,andinquiryandalarmbecamevisibleupontheirfacesatthesightofthepoorchild。Amomentlonger,andshefelltothefloor,ThenextimpressionofwhichCythereahadanyconsciousnesswasofbeingcarriedfromastrangevehicleacrossthepavementtothestepsofherownhousebyherbrotherandanolderman。
Recollectionofwhathadpassedevolveditselfaninstantlater,andjustastheyenteredthedoor——throughwhichanotherandsadderburdenhadbeencarriedbutafewinstantsbefore——hereyescaughtsightofthesouth-westernsky,and,withoutheeding,sawwhitesunlightshininginshaft-likelinesfromariftinaslatycloud。
Emotionswillattachthemselvestoscenesthataresimultaneous——
howeverforeigninessencethesescenesmaybe——aschemicalwaterswillcrystallizeontwigsandwires。EvenafterthattimeanymentalagonybroughtlessvividlytoCytherea\'smindthescenefromtheTownHallwindowsthansunlightstreaminginshaft-likelines。
4。OCTOBERTHENINETEENTH
Whendeathentersahouse,anelementofsadnessandanelementofhorroraccompanyit。Sadness,fromthedeathitself:horror,fromthecloudsofblacknesswedesignedlylabourtointroduce。
Thefuneralhadtakenplace。Depressed,yetresolvedinhisdemeanour,OwenGrayesatbeforehisfather\'sprivateescritoire,engagedinturningoutandunfoldingaheterogeneouscollectionofpapers——forbiddingandinharmonioustotheeyeatalltimes——mostofalltooneundertheinfluenceofagreatgrief。Laminaeofwhitepapertiedwithtwinewereindiscriminatelyintermixedwithotherwhitepapersboundedbyblackedges——thesewithbluefoolscapwrappedroundwithcruderedtape。
Thebulkoftheseletters,bills,andotherdocumentsweresubmittedtoacarefulexamination,bywhichtheappendedparticularswereascertained:——
First,thattheirfather\'sincomefromprofessionalsourceshadbeenverysmall,amountingtonotmorethanhalftheirexpenditure;
andthathisownandhiswife\'sproperty,uponwhichhehadreliedforthebalance,hadbeensunkandlostinunwiseloanstounscrupulousmen,whohadtradedupontheirfather\'stooopen-
heartedtrustfulness。
Second,thatfindinghismistake,hehadendeavouredtoregainhisstandingbytheillusorypathofspeculation。Themostnotableinstanceofthiswasthefollowing。Hehadbeeninduced,whenatPlymouthintheautumnofthepreviousyear,toventureallhissparecapitalonthebottomrysecurityofanItalianbrigwhichhadputintotheharbourindistress。Theprofitwastobeconsiderable,sowastherisk。Thereturnedouttobenosecuritywhatever。Thecircumstancesofthecasetendereditthemostunfortunatespeculationthatamanlikehimself——ignorantofallsuchmatters——couldpossiblyengagein。Thevesselwentdown,andallMr。Graye\'smoneywithit。
Third,thatthesefailureshadlefthimburdenedwithdebtsheknewnothowtomeet;sothatatthetimeofhisdeatheventhefewpoundslyingtohisaccountatthebankwerehisonlyinname。
Fourth,thatthelossofhiswifetwoyearsearlierhadawakenedhimtoakeensenseofhisblindness,andofhisdutybyhischildren。Hehadthenresolvedtoreinstatebyunflaggingzealinthepursuitofhisprofession,andbynospeculation,atleastaportionofthelittlefortunehehadletgo。
Cythereawasfrequentlyatherbrother\'selbowduringtheseexaminations。Sheoftenremarkedsadly——
\'Poorpapafailedtofulfilhisgoodintentionforwantoftime,didn\'the,Owen?Andtherewasanexcuseforhispast,thoughheneverwouldclaimit。Ineverforgetthatoriginaldishearteningblow,andhowthatfromitsprangalltheillsofhislife——
everythingconnectedwithhisgloom,andthelassitudeinbusinessweusedsooftentoseeabouthim。\'
\'Irememberwhathesaidonce,\'returnedthebrother,\'whenIsatuplatewithhim。Hesaid,“Owen,don\'tlovetooblindly:blindlyyouwillloveifyouloveatall,butalittlecareisstillpossibletoawell-disciplinedheart。Maythatheartbeyoursasitwasnotmine,“fathersaid。“Cultivatetheartofrenunciation。“AndIamgoingto,Cytherea。\'
\'Andoncemammasaidthatanexcellentwomanwaspapa\'sruin,becausehedidnotknowthewaytogiveherupwhenhehadlosther。
Iwonderwheresheisnow,Owen?Weweretoldnottotrytofindoutanythingabouther。Papanevertoldushername,didhe?\'
\'Thatwasbyherownrequest,Ibelieve。Butnevermindher;shewasnotourmother。\'
TheloveaffairwhichhadbeenAmbroseGraye\'sdishearteningblowwaspreciselyofthatnaturewhichladstakelittleaccountof,butgirlsponderintheirhearts。
5。FROMOCTOBERTHENINETEENTHTOJULYTHENINTH
ThusAmbroseGraye\'sgoodintentionswithregardtothereintegrationofhispropertyhadscarcelytakentangibleformwhenhissuddendeathputthemforeveroutofhispower。
Heavybills,showingtheextentofhisobligations,tumbledinimmediatelyupontheheelsofthefuneralfromquarterspreviouslyunheardandunthoughtof。Thuspressed,abillwasfiledinChancerytohavetheassets,suchastheywere,administeredbytheCourt。
\'Whatwillbecomeofusnow?\'thoughtOwencontinually。
Thereisinusanunquenchableexpectation,whichatthegloomiesttimepersistsininferringthatbecauseweareOURSELVES,theremustbeaspecialfutureinstoreforus,thoughournatureandantecedentstotheremotestparticularhavebeencommontothousands。ThustoCythereaandOwenGrayethequestionhowtheirliveswouldendseemedthedeepestofpossibleenigmas。Tootherswhoknewtheirpositionequallywellwiththemselvesthequestionwastheeasiestthatcouldbeasked——\'Likethoseofotherpeoplesimilarlycircumstanced。\'
ThenOwenheldaconsultationwithhissistertocometosomedecisionontheirfuturecourse,andamonthwaspassedinwaitingforanswerstoletters,andintheexaminationofschemesmoreorlessfutile。Suddenhopesthatwererainbowstothesightprovedbutmiststothetouch。Inthemeantime,unpleasantremarks,disguisethemassomewell-meaningpeoplemight,werefloatingaroundthemeveryday。Theundoubtedtruth,thattheywerethechildrenofadreamerwholetslipawayeveryfarthingofhismoneyandranintodebtwithhisneighbours——thatthedaughterhadbeenbroughtuptonoprofession——thatthesonwhohad,hadmadenoprogressinit,andmightcometothedogs——couldnotfromthenatureofthingsbewrappedupinsilenceinorderthatitmightnothurttheirfeelings;andasamatteroffact,itgreetedtheirearsinsomeformorotherwherevertheywent。Theirfewacquaintancespassedthemhurriedly。Ancientpot-wallopers,andthrivingshopkeepers,intheirintervalsofleisure,stoodattheirshop-
doors——theirtoeshangingovertheedgeofthestep,andtheirobesewaistshangingovertheirtoes——andindiscourseswithfriendsonthepavement,formulatedthecourseoftheimprovident,andreducedthechildren\'sprospectstoashadow-likeattenuation。Thesonsofthesemenwhoworebreastpinsofasarcastickind,andsmokedhumorouspipesstaredatCythereawithastareunmitigatedbyanyoftherespectthathadformerlysoftenedit。
Nowitisanoticeablefactthatwedonotmuchmindwhatmenthinkofus,orwhathumiliatingsecrettheydiscoverofourmeans,parentage,orobject,providedthateachthinksandactsthereuponinisolation。Itistheexchangeofideasaboutusthatwedreadmost;andthepossessionbyahundredacquaintances,severallyinsulated,oftheknowledgeofourskeleton-closet\'swhereabouts,isnotsodistressingtothenervesasachatoveritbyapartyofhalf-a-dozen——exclusivedepositariesthoughthesemaybe。
Perhaps,thoughHocbridgewatchedandwhispered,itsanimuswouldhavebeenlittlemorethanatrifletopersonsinthrivingcircumstances。Butunfortunately,poverty,whilstitisnew,andbeforetheskinhashadtimetothicken,makespeoplesusceptibleinverselytotheiropportunitiesforshieldingthemselves。InOwenwasfound,inplaceofhisfather\'simpressibility,alargershareofhisfather\'spride,andasquarenessofideawhich,ifcoupledwithalittlemoreblindness,wouldhaveamountedtopositiveprejudice。Tohimhumanity,sofarashehadthoughtofitatall,wasratherdividedintodistinctclassesthanblendedfromextremetoextreme。Hencebyasequenceofideaswhichmightbetracedifitwereworthwhile,heeitherdetestedorrespectedopinion,andinstinctivelysoughttoescapeacoldshadethatmeresensitivenesswouldhaveendured。Hecouldhavesubmittedtoseparation,sickness,exile,drudgery,hungerandthirst,withstoicalindifference,butsuperciliousnesswastooincisive。
Afterlivingonforninemonthsinattemptstomakeanincomeashisfather\'ssuccessorintheprofession——attemptswhichwereutterlyfruitlessbyreasonofhisinexperience——Grayecametoasimpleandsweepingresolution。TheywouldprivatelyleavethatpartofEngland,dropfromthesightofacquaintances,gossips,harshcritics,andbittercreditorsofwhosemisfortunehewasnotthecause,andescapethepositionwhichgalledhimbytheonlyroadtheirgreatpovertyleftopentothem——thatofhisobtainingsomeemploymentinadistantplacebyfollowinghisprofessionasahumbleunder-draughtsman。
Hethoughtoverhiscapabilitieswiththesensationsofasoldiergrindinghisswordattheopeningofacampaign。Whatwithlackofemployment,owingtothedecreaseofhislatefather\'spractice,andtheabsenceofdirectanduncompromisingpressuretowardsmonetaryresultsfromapupil\'slabourwhichseemstobealwaysthecasewhenaprofessionalman\'spupilisalsohisson,Owen\'sprogressintheartandscienceofarchitecturehadbeenveryinsignificantindeed。Thoughanythingbutanidleyoungman,hehadhardlyreachedtheageatwhichindustriousmenwholackanexternalwhiptosendthemonintheworld,areinducedbytheirowncommonsensetowhiponthemselves。Hencehisknowledgeofplans,elevations,sections,andspecifications,wasnotgreaterattheendoftwoyearsofprobationthanmighteasilyhavebeenacquiredinsixmonthsbyayouthofaverageability——himself,forinstance——amidabustlingLondonpractice。
Butatanyratehecouldmakehimselfhandytooneoftheprofession——somemaninaremotetown——andtherefulfilhisindentures。Atangibleinducementlayinthisdirectionofsurvey。
Hehadaslightconceptionofsuchaman——aMr。Gradfield——whowasinpracticeinBudmouthRegis,aseaporttownandwatering-placeinthesouthofEngland。
Aftersomedoubts,Grayeventuredtowritetothisgentleman,askingthenecessaryquestion,shortlyalludingtohisfather\'sdeath,andstatingthathistermofapprenticeshiphadonlyhalfexpired。Hewouldbegladtocompletehisarticlesataverylowsalaryforthewholeremainingtwoyears,providedpaymentcouldbeginatonce。
TheanswerfromMr。GradfieldstatedthathewasnotinwantofapupilwhowouldservetheremainderofhistimeonthetermsMr。
Grayementioned。Buthewouldjustaddoneremark。Hechancedtobeinwantofsomeyoungmaninhisoffice——forashorttimeonly,probablyabouttwomonths——totracedrawings,andattendtoothersubsidiaryworkofthekind。IfMr。Grayedidnotobjecttooccupysuchaninferiorpositionasthesedutieswouldentail,andtoacceptweeklywageswhichtoonewithhisexpectationswouldbeconsideredmerelynominal,thepostwouldgivehimanopportunityforlearningafewmoredetailsoftheprofession。
\'Itisabeginning,and,aboveall,anabiding-place,awayfromtheshadowofthecloudwhichhangsoverushere——Iwillgo,\'saidOwen。
Cytherea\'splanforherfuture,anintenselysimpleone,owingtotheevengreaternarrownessofherresources,wasalreadymarkedout。Oneadvantagehadaccruedtoherthroughhermother\'spossessionofafairshareofpersonalproperty,andperhapsonlyone。Shehadbeencarefullyeducated。Uponthisconsiderationherplanwasbased。Shewastotakeupherabodeinherbrother\'slodgingatBudmouth,whenshewouldimmediatelyadvertiseforasituationasgoverness,havingobtainedtheconsentofalawyeratAldbrickhamwhowaswindingupherfather\'saffairs,andwhoknewthehistoryofherposition,toallowhimselftobereferredtointhematterofherpastlifeandrespectability。
Earlyonemorningtheydepartedfromtheirnativetown,leavingbehindthemscarcelyatraceoftheirfootsteps。
Thenthetownpitiedtheirwantofwisdomintakingsuchastep。
\'Rashness;theywouldhavemadeabetterincomeinHocbridge,wheretheyareknown!Thereisnodoubtthattheywould。\'
ButwhatisWisdomreally?Asteadyhandlingofanymeanstobringaboutanyendnecessarytohappiness。
Yetwhetherone\'sendbetheusualend——awealthypositioninlife——
orno,thenameofwisdomisseldomappliedbuttothemeanstothatusualend。
II。THEEVENTSOFAFORTNIGHT
1。THENINTHOFJULY
Thedayoftheirdeparturewasoneofthemostglowingthattheclimaxofalongseriesofsummerheatscouldevolve。Thewideexpanseoflandscapequiveredupanddownliketheflameofataper,astheysteamedalongthroughthemidstofit。Placidflocksofsheeprecliningundertreesalittlewayoffappearedofapalebluecolour。Cloverfieldswerelividwiththebrightnessofthesunupontheirdeepredflowers。Allwaggonsandcartsweremovedtotheshadebytheircarefulowners,rain-waterbuttsfelltopieces;
well-bucketswereloweredinsidethecoversofthewell-hole,topreservethemfromthefateofthebutts,andgenerally,waterseemedscarcerinthecountrythanthebeerandciderofthepeasantrywhotoiledoridledthere。
Toseepersonslookingwithchildren\'seyesatanyordinaryscenery,isaproofthattheypossessthecharmingfacultyofdrawingnewsensationsfromanoldexperience——ahealthysign,rareinthesefeverishdays——themarkofanimperishablebrightnessofnature。
Bothbrotherandsistercoulddothis;Cythereamorenoticeably。
Theywatchedtheundulatingcorn-lands,monotonoustoalltheircompanions;thestonyandclayeyprospectsucceedingthose,withitsangularandabrupthills。Boggymoorscamenext,nowwitheredanddry——thespotsuponwhichpoolsusuallyspreadtheirwatersshowingthemselvesascirclesofsmoothbaresoil,over-runbyanet-workofinnumerablelittlefissures。Thenaroseplantationsoffirs,abruptlyterminatingbesidemeadowscleanlymown,inwhichhigh-
hipped,rich-colouredcows,withbackshorizontalandstraightastheridgeofahouse,stoodmotionlessorlazilyfed。Glimpsesoftheseanowinterestedthem,whichbecamemoreandmorefrequenttillthetrainfinallydrewupbesidetheplatformatBudmouth。
\'Thewholetownislookingoutforus,\'hadbeenGraye\'simpressionthroughouttheday。HecalleduponMr。Gradfield——theonlymanwhohadbeendirectlyinformedofhiscoming——andfoundthatMr。
Gradfieldhadforgottenit。
However,arrangementsweremadewiththisgentleman——astout,active,grey-beardedburgherofsixty——bywhichOwenwastocommenceworkinhisofficethefollowingweek。
ThesamedayCythereadrewupandsentofftheadvertisementappended:——
\'AYOUNGLADYisdesirousofmeetingwithanENGAGEMENTasGOVERNESS
orCOMPANION。SheiscompetenttoteachEnglish,French,andMusic。
Satisfactoryreferences——Address,C。G。,Post-Office,Budmouth。\'
Itseemedamorematerialexistencethanherownthatshesawthusdelineatedonthepaper。\'Thatcan\'tbemyself;howoddIlook!\'
shesaid,andsmiled。
2。JULYTHEELEVENTH
OntheMondaysubsequenttotheirarrivalinBudmouth,OwenGrayeattendedatMr。Gradfield\'sofficetoenteruponhisduties,andhissisterwasleftintheirlodgingsaloneforthefirsttime。
Despitethesadoccurrencesoftheprecedingautumn,anunwontedcheerfulnesspervadedherspiritthroughouttheday。Changeofscene——andthattountravelledeyes——conjoinedwiththesensationoffreedomfromsupervision,revivedthesparkleofawarmyoungnaturereadyenoughtotakeadvantageofanyadventitiousrestoratives。
Point-blankgrieftendsrathertosealuphappinessforatimethantoproducethatattritionwhichresultsfromgriefsofanticipationthatmoveonwardwiththedays:thesemaybesaidtofurrowawaythecapacityforpleasure。
Herexpectationsfromtheadvertisementbegantobeextravagant。A
thrivingfamily,whohadalwayssadlyneededher,wasalreadydefinitelypicturedinherfancy,which,initsexuberance,ledherontopicturingitsindividualmembers,theirpossiblepeculiarities,virtues,andvices,andobliteratedforatimetherecollectionthatshewouldbeseparatedfromherbrother。
Thusmusing,asshewaitedforhisreturnintheevening,hereyesfellonherlefthand。Thecontemplationofherownleftfourthfingerbysymbol-lovinggirlhoodofthisageis,itseems,veryfrequently,ifnotalways,followedbyapeculiartrainofromanticideas。Cytherea\'sthoughts,stillplayingaboutherfuture,becamedirectedintothisromanticgroove。Sheleantbackinherchair,andtakingholdofthefourthfinger,whichhadattractedherattention,shelifteditwiththetipsoftheothers,andlookedatthesmoothandtaperingmemberforalongtime。
Shewhisperedidly,\'Iwonderwhoandwhathewillbe?
\'Ifhe\'sagentlemanoffashion,hewilltakemyfingerso,justwiththetipsofhisown,andwithsomeflutteringoftheheart,andtheleasttremblingofhislip,sliptheringsolightlyonthatI
shallhardlyknowitisthere——lookingdelightfullyintomyeyesallthetime。
\'Ifhe\'sabold,dashingsoldier,Iexpecthewillproudlyturnround,taketheringasifitequalledherMajesty\'scrowninvalue,anddesperatelysetitonmyfingerthus。Hewillfixhiseyesunflinchinglyuponwhatheisdoing——justasifhestoodinbattlebeforetheenemythough,inreality,veryfondofme,ofcourse,andblushasmuchasIshall。
\'Ifhe\'sasailor,hewilltakemyfingerandtheringinthisway,anddeckitoutwithahousewifelytouchandatendernessofexpressionabouthismouth,assailorsdo:kissit,perhaps,withasimpleair,asifwewerechildrenplayinganidlegame,andnotattheveryheightofobservationandenvybyagreatcrowdsaying,“Ah!theyarehappynow!”
\'Ifheshouldberatherapoorman——noble-mindedandaffectionate,butstillpoor——\'
Owen\'sfootstepsrapidlyascendingthestairs,interruptedthisfancy-freemeditation。Reproachingherself,evenangrywithherselfforallowinghermindtostrayuponsuchsubjectsinthefaceoftheirpresentdesperatecondition,sherosetomeethim,andmaketea。
Cytherea\'sinteresttoknowhowherbrotherhadbeenreceivedatMr。
Gradfield\'sbrokeforthintowordsatonce。Almostbeforetheyhadsatdowntotable,shebegancross-examininghimintheregularsisterlyway。
\'Well,Owen,howhasitbeenwithyouto-day?Whatistheplacelike——doyouthinkyouwilllikeMrGradfield?\'
\'Oyes。Buthehasnotbeenthereto-day;Ihaveonlyhadtheheaddraughtsmanwithme。\'
Youngwomenhaveahabit,notnoticeableinmen,ofputtingonatamoment\'snoticethedramaofwhosoever\'slifetheychoose。
Cytherea\'sinterestwastransferredfromMr。Gradfieldtohisrepresentative。
\'Whatsortofamanishe?\'
\'Heseemsaverynicefellowindeed;thoughofcourseIcanhardlytelltoacertaintyasyet。ButIthinkhe\'saveryworthyfellow;
there\'snononsenseinhim,andthoughheisnotapublicschoolmanhehasreadwidely,andhasasharpappreciationofwhat\'sgoodinbooksandart。Infact,hisknowledgeisn\'tnearlysoexclusiveasmostprofessionalmen\'s。\'
\'That\'sagreatdealtosayofanarchitect,forofallprofessionalmentheyare,asarule,themostprofessional。\'
\'Yes;perhapstheyare。Thismanisratherofamelancholyturnofmind,Ithink。\'
\'Hasthemanagingclerkanyfamily?\'shemildlyasked,afterawhile,pouringoutsomemoretea。
\'Family;no!\'
\'Well,dearOwen,howshouldIknow?\'
\'Why,ofcourseheisn\'tmarried。Buttherehappenedtobeaconversationaboutwomengoingonintheoffice,andIheardhimsaywhatheshouldwishhiswifetobelike。\'
\'Whatwouldhewishhiswifetobelike?\'shesaid,withgreatapparentlackofinterest。
\'O,hesaysshemustbegirlishandartless:yethewouldbelothtodowithoutadashofwomanlysubtlety,\'tissopiquant。Yes,hesaid,thatmustbeinher;shemusthavewomanlycleverness。“AndyetIshouldlikehertoblushifonlyacock-sparrowweretolookatherhard,“hesaid,“whichbringsmebacktothegirlagain:andsoIflitbackwardsandforwards。Imusthavewhatcomes,I
suppose,“hesaid,“andwhatevershemaybe,thankGodshe\'snoworse。However,ifhemightgiveafinalhinttoProvidence,“hesaid,“achildamongpleasures,andawomanamongpainswastheroughoutlineofhisrequirement。“\'
\'Didhesaythat?Whatamusingcreaturehemustbe。\'
\'Hedid,indeed。\'
3。FROMTHETWELFTHTOTHEFIFTEENTHOFJULY
Asiswellknown,ideasaresoelasticinahumanbrain,thattheyhavenoconstantmeasurewhichmaybecalledtheiractualbulk。Anyimportantideamaybecompressedtoamoleculebyanunwontedcrowdingofothers;andanysmallideawillexpandtowhateverlengthandbreadthofvacuumthemindmaybeabletomakeovertoit。Cytherea\'sworldwastolerablyvacantatthistime,andtheyoungarchitecturaldesigner\'simagebecameverypervasive。Thenexteveningthissubjectwasagainrenewed。
\'HisnameisSpringrove,\'saidOwen,inreplytoher。\'Heisathoroughartist,butamanofratherhumbleorigin,itseems,whohasmadehimselfsofar。Ithinkheisthesonofafarmer,orsomethingofthekind。\'
\'Well,he\'snonetheworseforthat,Isuppose。\'
\'Nonetheworse。Aswecomedownthehill,weshallbecontinuallymeetingpeoplegoingup。\'ButOwenhadfeltthatSpringrovewasalittletheworsenevertheless。
\'Ofcoursehe\'sratheroldbythistime。\'
\'Ono。He\'saboutsix-and-twenty——notmore。\'
\'Ah,Isee……Whatishelike,Owen?\'
\'Ican\'texactlytellyouhisappearance:\'tisalwayssuchadifficultthingtodo。\'
\'Amanyouwoulddescribeasshort?Mostmenarethoseweshoulddescribeasshort,Ifancy。\'
\'Ishouldcallhim,Ithink,ofthemiddleheight;butasIonlyseehimsittingintheoffice,ofcourseIamnotcertainabouthisformandfigure。\'
\'Iwishyouwere,then。\'
\'Perhapsyoudo。ButIamnot,yousee。\'
\'Ofcoursenot,youarealwayssoprovoking。Owen,Isawamaninthestreetto-daywhomIfanciedwashe——andyet,Idon\'tseehowitcouldbe,either。Hehadlightbrownhair,asnubnose,veryroundface,andapeculiarhabitofreducinghiseyestostraightlineswhenhelookednarrowlyatanything。\'
\'Ono。Thatwasnothe,Cytherea。\'
\'Notabitlikehiminallprobability。\'
\'Notabit。Hehasdarkhair——almostaGreciannose,regularteeth,andanintellectualface,asnearlyasIcanrecalltomind。\'
\'Ah,therenow,Owen,youHAVEdescribedhim!ButIsupposehe\'snotgenerallycalledpleasing,or——\'
\'Handsome?\'
\'Iscarcelymeantthat。Butsinceyouhavesaidit,ishehandsome?\'
\'Rather。\'
\'Histoutensembleisstriking?\'
\'Yes——Ono,no——Iforgot:itisnot。Heisratheruntidyinhiswaistcoat,andneck-ties,andhair。\'
\'Howvexing!……itmustbetohimself,poorthing。\'
\'He\'sathoroughbookworm——despisesthepap-and-daisyschoolofverse——knowsShakespearetotheverydregsofthefoot-notes。
Indeed,he\'sapoethimselfinasmallway。\'
\'Howdelicious!\'shesaid。\'Ihaveneverknownapoet。\'
\'Andyoudon\'tknowhim,\'saidOwendryly。
Shereddened。\'OfcourseIdon\'t。Iknowthat。\'
\'Haveyoureceivedanyanswertoyouradvertisement?\'heinquired。
\'Ah——no!\'shesaid,andtheforgottendisappointmentwhichhadshoweditselfinherfaceatdifferenttimesduringtheday,becamevisibleagain。
Anotherdaypassedaway。OnThursday,withoutinquiry,shelearntmoreoftheheaddraughtsman。HeandGrayehadbecomeveryfriendly,andhehadbeentemptedtoshowherbrotheracopyofsomepoemsofhis——someseriousandsad——somehumorous——whichhadappearedinthepoets\'cornerofamagazinefromtimetotime。OwenshowedthemnowtoCytherea,whoinstantlybegantoreadthemcarefullyandtothinkthemverybeautiful。
\'Yes——Springrove\'snofool,\'saidOwensententiously。
\'Nofool!——Ishouldthinkheisn\'t,indeed,\'saidCytherea,lookingupfromthepaperinquiteanexcitement:\'towritesuchversesasthese!\'
\'Whatlogicareyouchopping,Cytherea?Well,Idon\'tmeanonaccountoftheverses,becauseIhaven\'treadthem;butforwhathesaidwhenthefellowsweretalkingaboutfallinginlove。\'
\'Whichyouwilltellme?\'
\'Hesaysthatyourtrueloverbreathlesslyfindshimselfengagedtoasweetheart,likeamanwhohascaughtsomethinginthedark。Hedoesn\'tknowwhetheritisabatorabird,andtakesittothelightwhenheiscooltolearnwhatitis。Helookstoseeifsheistherightage,butrightageorwrongage,hemustconsiderheraprize。Sometimelaterheponderswhethersheistherightkindofprizeforhim。Rightkindorwrongkind——hehascalledherhis,andmustabidebyit。Afteratimeheaskshimself,“Hasshethetemper,hair,andeyesImeanttohave,andwasfirmlyresolvednottodowithout?”Hefindsitisallwrong,andthencomesthetussle——\'
\'Dotheymarryandlivehappily?\'
\'Who?O,thesupposedpair。Ithinkhesaid——well,Ireallyforgetwhathesaid。\'
\'ThatISstupidofyou!\'saidtheyoungladywithdismay。
\'Yes。\'
\'Buthe\'sasatirist——Idon\'tthinkIcareabouthimnow。\'
\'Thereyouarejustwrong。Heisnot。Heis,asIbelieve,animpulsivefellowwhohasbeenmadetopaythepenaltyofhisrashnessinsomeloveaffair。\'
ThusendedthedialogueofThursday,butCythereareadtheversesagaininprivate。OnFridayherbrotherremarkedthatSpringrovehadinformedhimhewasgoingtoleaveMr。Gradfield\'sinafortnighttopushhisfortunesinLondon。
AnindescribablefeelingofsadnessshotthroughCytherea\'sheart。
Whyshouldshebesadatsuchanannouncementasthat,shethought,concerningamanshehadneverseen,whenherspiritswereelasticenoughtoreboundafterhardblowsfromdeepandrealtroublesasifshehadscarcelyknownthem?Thoughshecouldnotanswerthisquestion,sheknewonething,shewassaddenedbyOwen\'snews。
4。JULYTHETWENTY-FIRST
AverypopularlocalexcursionbysteamboattoLulsteadCovewasannouncedthroughthestreetsofBudmouthoneThursdaymorningbytheweak-voicedtown-crier,tostartatsixo\'clockthesameday。
Theweatherwaslovely,andtheopportunitybeingthefirstofthekindofferedtothem,OwenandCythereawentwiththerest。
TheyhadreachedtheCove,andhadwalkedlandwardfornearlyanhouroverthehillwhichrosebesidethestrand,whenGrayerecollectedthattwoorthreemilesyetfurtherinlandfromthisspotwasaninterestingmediaevalruin。Hewasalreadyfamiliarwithitscharacteristicsthroughthemediumofanarchaeologicalwork,andnowfindinghimselfsoclosetothereality,feltinclinedtoverifysometheoryhehadformedrespectingit。Concludingthattherewouldbejustsufficienttimeforhimtogothereandreturnbeforetheboathadlefttheshore,hepartedfromCythereaonthehill,struckdownwards,andthenupaheatheryvalley。
Sheremainedonthesummitwherehehadlefthertillthetimeofhisexpectedreturn,scanningthedetailsoftheprospectaround。
PlacidlyspreadoutbeforeheronthesouthwastheopenChannel,reflectingablueintenserbymanyshadesthanthatoftheskyoverhead,anddottedintheforegroundbyhalf-a-dozensmallcraftofcontrastingrig,theirsailsgraduatinginhuefromextremewhitenesstoreddishbrown,thevaryingactualcoloursvariedagaininadoubledegreebytheraysofthedecliningsun。
Presentlythedistantbellfromtheboatwasheard,warningthepassengerstoembark。Thiswasfollowedbyalivelyairfromtheharpsandviolinsonboard,theirtones,astheyarose,becomingintermingledwith,thoughnotmarredby,thebrushofthewaveswhentheircrestsrolledover——atthepointwherethecheckoftheshallowswasfirstfelt——andthenthinnedawayuptheslopeofpebblesandsand。
Sheturnedherfacelandwardandstrainedhereyestodiscern,ifpossible,somesignofOwen\'sreturn。Nothingwasvisiblesavethestrikinglybrilliant,stilllandscape。Thewideconcavewhichlayatthebackofthehillinthisdirectionwasblazingwiththewesternlight,addinganorangetinttothevividpurpleoftheheather,nowattheveryclimaxofbloom,andfreefromtheslightesttouchoftheinvidiousbrownthatsosooncreepsintoitsshades。Thelightsointensifiedthecoloursthattheyseemedtostandabovethesurfaceoftheearthandfloatinmid-airlikeanexhalationofred。Intheminorvalleys,betweenthehillocksandridgeswhichdiversifiedthecontourofthebasin,butdidnotdisturbitsgeneralsweep,shemarkedbrakesoftall,heavy-stemmedferns,fiveorsixfeethigh,inabrilliantlight-greendress——abroadribandofthemwiththepathintheirmidstwindinglikeastreamalongthelittleravinethatreachedtothefootofthehill,anddeliveredupthepathtoitsgrassyarea。Amongthefernsgrewhollybushesdeeperintintthananyshadowaboutthem,whilstthewholesurfaceofthescenewasdimpledwithsmallconicalpits,andhereandtherewereroundponds,nowdry,andhalfovergrownwithrushes。
Thelastbellofthesteamerrang。Cythereahadforgottenherself,andwhatshewaslookingfor。InafeverofdistresslestOwenshouldbeleftbehind,shegatheredupinherhandthecornersofherhandkerchief,containingspecimensoftheshells,plants,andfossilswhichthelocalityproduced,startedofftothesands,andmingledwiththeknotsofvisitorstherecongregatedfromotherinterestingpointsaround;fromtheinn,thecottages,andhiredconveyancesthathadreturnedfromshortdrivesinland。Theyallwentaboardbytheprimitiveplanofanarrowplankontwowheels——
thewomenbeingassistedbyarope。Cytherealingeredtilltheverylast,reluctanttofollow,andlookingalternatelyattheboatandthevalleybehind。HerdelayprovokedaremarkfromCaptainJacobs,athicksetmanofhybridstains,resultingfromthemixedeffectsoffireandwater,peculiartosailorswhereenginesarethepropellingpower。
\'Nowthen,missy,ifyouplease。Iamsorrytotell\'eeourtime\'sup。Whoareyoulookingfor,miss?\'
\'Mybrother——hehaswalkedashortdistanceinland;hemustbeheredirectly。Couldyouwaitforhim——justaminute?\'
\'Really,Iamafraidnot,m\'m。\'Cytherealookedatthestout,round-facedman,andatthevessel,withalightinhereyessoexpressiveofherownopinionbeingthesame,onreflection,ashis,andwithsuchresignation,too,that,fromaninstinctivefeelingofprideatbeingabletoprovehimselfmorehumanethanhewasthoughttobe——worksofsupererogationaretheonlysacrificesthatenticeinthisway——andthatataverysmallcost,hedelayedtheboattillsomeamongthepassengersbegantomurmur。
\'There,nevermind,\'saidCythereadecisively。\'Goonwithoutme——I
shallwaitforhim。\'
\'Well,\'tisaveryawkwardthingtoleaveyouhereallalone,\'saidthecaptain。\'Icertainlyadviseyounottowait。\'
\'He\'sgoneacrosstotherailwaystation,forcertain,\'saidanotherpassenger。
\'No——hereheis!\'Cythereasaid,regarding,asshespoke,thehalfhiddenfigureofamanwhowasseenadvancingataheadlongpacedowntheravinewhichlaybetweentheheathandtheshore。
\'Hecan\'tgethereinlessthanfiveminutes,\'apassengersaid。
\'Peopleshouldknowwhattheyareabout,andkeeptime。Really,if——
\'
\'Yousee,sir,\'saidthecaptain,inanapologeticundertone,\'since\'tisherbrother,andshe\'sallalone,\'tisonlynatertowaitaminute,nowhe\'sinsight。Suppose,now,youwereayoungwoman,asmightbe,andhadabrother,likethisone,andyoustoodofaneveninguponthisherewildlonelyshore,likeher,whyyou\'dwantustowait,too,wouldn\'tyou,sir?Ithinkyouwould。\'
Thepersonsohastilyapproachinghadbeenlosttoviewduringthisremarkbyreasonofahollowintheground,andtheprojectingcliffimmediatelyathandcoveredthepathinitsrise。Hisfootstepswerenowheardstrikingsharplyupontheflintyroadatadistanceofabouttwentyorthirtyyards,butstillbehindtheescarpment。
Tosavetime,Cythereapreparedtoascendtheplank。
\'Letmegiveyoumyhand,miss,\'saidCaptainJacobs。
\'No——pleasedon\'ttouchme,\'saidshe,ascendingcautiouslybyslidingonefootforwardtwoorthreeinches,bringinguptheotherbehindit,andsoonalternately——herlipscompressedbyconcentrationonthefeat,hereyesgluedtotheplank,herhandtotherope,andherimmediatethoughttothefactofthedistressingnarrownessofherfooting。Stepsnowshookthelowerendoftheboard,andinaninstantwereuptoherheelswithabound。
\'O,Owen,Iamsogladyouarecome!\'shesaidwithoutturning。
\'Don\'t,don\'tshaketheplankortouchme,whateveryoudo……
There,Iamup。Wherehaveyoubeensolong?\'shecontinued,inalowertone,turningroundtohimasshereachedthetop。
Raisinghereyesfromherfeet,which,standingonthefirmdeck,demandedherattentionnolonger,sheacquiredperceptionsofthenew-comerinthefollowingorder:unknowntrousers;unknownwaistcoat;unknownface。Themanwasnotherbrother,butatotalstranger。
Offwenttheplank;thepaddlesstarted,stopped,backed,patteredinconfusion,thenrevolveddecisively,andtheboatpassedoutintodeepwater。
Oneortwopersonshadsaid,\'Howd\'yedo,Mr。Springrove?\'andlookedatCytherea,toseehowsheboreherdisappointment。Herearshadbutjustcaughtthenameoftheheaddraughtsman,whenshesawhimadvancingdirectlytoaddressher。
\'MissGraye,Ibelieve?\'hesaid,liftinghishat。
\'Yes,\'saidCytherea,colouring,andtryingnottolookguiltyofasurreptitiousknowledgeofhim。
\'IamMr。Springrove。IpassedCorvsgateCastleaboutanhourago,andsoonafterwardsmetyourbrothergoingthatway。Hehadbeendeceivedinthedistance,andwasabouttoturnwithoutseeingtheruin,onaccountofalamenessthathadcomeoninhislegorfoot。
Iproposedthatheshouldgoon,sincehehadgotsonear;andafterwards,insteadofwalkingbacktotheboat,getacrosstoAngleburyStation——ashorterwalkforhim——wherehecouldcatchthelatetrain,andgodirectlyhome。Icouldletyouknowwhathehaddone,andallayanyuneasiness。\'
\'Isthelamenessserious,doyouknow?\'
\'Ono;simplyfromover-walkinghimself。Still,itwasjustaswelltoridehome。\'
RelievedfromherapprehensionsonOwen\'sscore,shewasableslightlytoexaminetheappearanceofherinformant——EdwardSpringrove——whonowremovedhishatforawhile,tocoolhimself。
Hewasratheraboveherbrother\'sheight。Althoughtheupperpartofhisfaceandheadwashandsomelyformed,andboundedbylinesofsufficientlymasculineregularity,hisbrowsweresomewhattoosoftlyarched,andfinelypencilledforoneofhissex;withoutprejudice,however,tothebeliefwhichthesumtotalofhisfeaturesinspired——thatthoughtheydidnotprovethatthemanwhothoughtinsidethemwoulddomuchintheworld,menwhohaddonemostofallhadhadnobetterones。Acrosshisforehead,otherwiseperfectlysmooth,ranonethinline,thehealthyfreshnessofhisremainingfeaturesexpressingthatithadcomethereprematurely。
Thoughsomeyearsshortoftheageatwhichtheclearspiritbidsgood-byetothelastinfirmityofnoblemind,andtakestohouse-
huntingandinvestments,hehadreachedtheperiodinayoungman\'slifewhenepisodicperiods,withahopefulbirthandadisappointingdeath,havebeguntoaccumulate,andtobearafruitofgeneralities;hisglancesometimesseemingtostate,\'Ihavealreadythoughtouttheissueofsuchconditionsastheseweareexperiencing。\'Atothertimesheworeanabstractedlook:\'Iseemtohavelivedthroughthismomentbefore。\'
Hewascarelesslydressedindarkgrey,wearingarolled-upblackkerchiefasaneck-cloth;theknotofwhichwasdisarranged,andstoodobliquely——adepositofwhitedusthavinglodgedinthecreases。
\'Iamsorryforyourdisappointment,\'hecontinued,glancingintoherface。Theireyeshavingmet,became,asitwere,mutuallylockedtogether,andthesingleinstantonlywhichgoodbreedingallowsasthelengthofsuchalook,becametrebled:aclearpenetratingrayofintelligencehadshotfromeachintoeach,givingbirthtooneofthoseunaccountablesensationswhichcarryhometotheheartbeforethehandhasbeentouchedorthemerestcomplimentpassed,bysomethingstrongerthanmathematicalproof,theconviction,\'Atiehasbeguntouniteus。\'
Bothfacesalsounconsciouslystatedthattheirownershadbeenmuchineachother\'sthoughtsoflate。OwenhadtalkedtotheyoungarchitectofhissisterasfreelyastoCythereaoftheyoungarchitect。
Aconversationbegan,whichwasnonethelessinterestingtothepartiesengagedbecauseitconsistedonlyofthemosttrivialandcommonplaceremarks。Thenthebandofharpsandviolinsstruckupalivelymelody,andthedeckwasclearedfordancing;thesundippingbeneaththehorizonduringtheproceeding,andthemoonshowingherselfattheirstern。Theseawassocalm,thatthesofthissproducedbytheburstingoftheinnumerablebubblesoffoambehindthepaddlescouldbedistinctlyheard。Thepassengerswhodidnotdance,includingCythereaandSpringrove,lapsedintosilence,leaningagainstthepaddle-boxes,orstandingaloof——noticingthetremblingofthedecktothestepsofthedance——watchingthewavesfromthepaddlesastheyslidthinlyandeasilyundereachother\'sedges。
NighthadquiteclosedinbythetimetheyreachedBudmouthharbour,sparklingwithitswhite,red,andgreenlightsinoppositiontotheshimmeringpathofthemoon\'sreflectionontheotherside,whichreachedawaytothehorizontillthefleckedripplesreducedthemselvestosparklesasfineasgolddust。
\'Iwillwalktothestationandfindouttheexacttimethetrainarrives,\'saidSpringrove,rathereagerly,whentheyhadlanded。
Shethankedhimmuch。
\'Perhapswemightwalktogether,\'hesuggestedhesitatingly。Shelookedasifshedidnotquiteknow,andhesettledthequestionbyshowingtheway。
Theyfound,onarrivingthere,thatonthefirstdayofthatmonththeparticulartrainselectedforGraye\'sreturnhadceasedtostopatAngleburystation。
\'IamverysorryImisledhim,\'saidSpringrove。
\'O,Iamnotalarmedatall,\'repliedCytherea。
\'Well,it\'ssuretobeallright——hewillsleepthere,andcomebythefirstinthemorning。Butwhatwillyoudo,alone?\'
\'Iamquiteeasyonthatpoint;thelandladyisveryfriendly。I
mustgoindoorsnow。Good-night,Mr。Springrove。\'
\'Letmegoroundtoyourdoorwithyou?\'hepleaded。
\'No,thankyou;welivecloseby。\'
Helookedatherasawaiterlooksatthechangehebringsback。
Butshewasinexorable。
\'Don\'t——forgetme,\'hemurmured。Shedidnotanswer。
\'Letmeseeyousometimes,\'hesaid。
\'Perhapsyouneverwillagain——Iamgoingaway,\'sherepliedinlingeringtones;andturningintoCrossStreet,ranindoorsandupstairs。
Thesuddenwithdrawalofwhatwassuperfluousatfirst,isoftenfeltasanessentialloss。Itwasfeltnowwithregardtothemaiden。More,too,afterameetingsopleasantandsoenkindling,shehadseemedtoimplythattheywouldnevercometogetheragain。
Theyoungmansoftlyfollowedher,stoodoppositethehouseandwatchedhercomeintotheupperroomwiththelight。Presentlyhisgazewascutshortbyherapproachingthewindowandpullingdowntheblind——EdwarddwellinguponhervanishingfigurewithahopelesssenseoflossakintothatwhichAdamissaidbylogicianstohavefeltwhenhefirstsawthesunset,andthought,inhisinexperience,thatitwouldreturnnomore。
Hewaitedtillhershadowhadtwicecrossedthewindow,when,findingthecharmingoutlinewasnottobeexpectedagain,heleftthestreet,crossedtheharbour-bridge,andenteredhisownsolitarychamberontheotherside,vaguelythinkingashewentforundefinedreasons,\'OnehopeistoolikedespairForprudencetosmother。\'