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。\'