Thebloodrushedtoherface。Hehadhisreasons，then——shewassurenowthathehadhisreasons！Inthetenyearsoftheirmarriage，howoftenhadeitherofthemstoppedtoconsidertheideasonwhichitwasfounded？Howoftendoesamandigaboutthebasementofhishousetoexamineitsfoundation？Thefoundationisthere，ofcourse——thehouserestsonit——butonelivesabovestairsandnotinthecellar。Itwasshe，indeed，whointhebeginninghadinsistedonreviewingthesituationnowandthen，onrecapitulatingthereasonswhichjustifiedhercourse，onproclaiming，fromtimetotime，heradherencetothereligionofpersonalindependence；butshehadlongceasedtofeeltheneedofanysuchidealstandards，andhadacceptedhermarriageasfranklyandnaturallyasthoughithadbeenbasedontheprimitiveneedsoftheheart，andneedednospecialsanctiontoexplainorjustifyit。
“OfcourseIstillbelieveinourideas！”sheexclaimed。
“ThenIrepeatthatIdon\'tunderstand。Itwasapartofyourtheorythatthegreatestpossiblepublicityshouldbegiventoourviewofmarriage。Haveyouchangedyourmindinthatrespect？”
Shehesitated。“Itdependsoncircumstances——onthepubliconeisaddressing。ThesetofpeoplethattheVanSiderensgetaboutthemdon\'tcareforthetruthorfalsenessofadoctrine。Theyareattractedsimplybyitsnovelty。“
“AndyetitwasinjustsuchasetofpeoplethatyouandImet，andlearnedthetruthfromeachother。“
“Thatwasdifferent。“
“Inwhatway？”
“Iwasnotayounggirl，tobeginwith。Itisperfectlyunfittingthatyounggirlsshouldbepresentat——atsuchtimes——
shouldhearsuchthingsdiscussed——“
“IthoughtyouconsidereditoneofthedeepestsocialwrongsthatsuchthingsneverAREdiscussedbeforeyounggirls；butthatisbesidethepoint，forIdon\'trememberseeinganyyounggirlinmyaudienceto-day——“
“ExceptUnaVanSideren！”
Heturnedslightlyandpushedbackthelampathiselbow。
“Oh，MissVanSideren——naturally——“
“Whynaturally？”
“Thedaughterofthehouse——wouldyouhavehadhersentoutwithhergoverness？”
“IfIhadadaughterIshouldnotallowsuchthingstogooninmyhouse！”
Westall，strokinghismustache，leanedbackwithafaintsmile。
“IfancyMissVanSiderenisquitecapableoftakingcareofherself。“
“Nogirlknowshowtotakecareofherself——tillit\'stoolate。“
“Andyetyouwoulddeliberatelydenyherthesurestmeansofself-defence？”
“Whatdoyoucallthesurestmeansofself-defence？”
“Somepreliminaryknowledgeofhumannatureinitsrelationtothemarriagetie。“
Shemadeanimpatientgesture。“Howshouldyouliketomarrythatkindofagirl？”
“Immensely——ifsheweremykindofgirlinotherrespects。“
Shetookuptheargumentatanotherpoint。
“Youarequitemistakenifyouthinksuchtalkdoesnotaffectyounggirls。Unawasinastateofthemostabsurdexaltation——“
Shebrokeoff，wonderingwhyshehadspoken。
Westallreopenedamagazinewhichhehadlaidasideatthebeginningoftheirdiscussion。“Whatyoutellmeisimmenselyflatteringtomyoratoricaltalent——butIfearyouoverrateitseffect。IcanassureyouthatMissVanSiderendoesn\'thavetohaveherthinkingdoneforher。She\'squitecapableofdoingitherself。“
“Youseemveryfamiliarwithhermentalprocesses！”flashedunguardedlyfromhiswife。
Helookedupquietlyfromthepageshewascutting。
“Ishouldliketobe，“heanswered。“Sheinterestsme。“
II
Iftherebeadistinctioninbeingmisunderstood，itwasonedeniedtoJuliaWestallwhensheleftherfirsthusband。Everyonewasreadytoexcuseandeventodefendher。TheworldsheadornedagreedthatJohnArmentwas“impossible，“andhostessesgaveasighofreliefatthethoughtthatitwouldnolongerbenecessarytoaskhimtodine。
Therehadbeennoscandalconnectedwiththedivorce：neithersidehadaccusedtheotheroftheoffenceeuphemisticallydescribedas“statutory。“TheArmentshadindeedbeenobligedtotransfertheirallegiancetoaStatewhichrecognizeddesertionasacausefordivorce，andconstruedthetermsoliberallythattheseedsofdesertionwereshowntoexistineveryunion。EvenMrs。Arment\'ssecondmarriagedidnotmaketraditionalmoralitystirinitssleep。Itwasknownthatshehadnotmethersecondhusbandtillaftershehadpartedfromthefirst，andshehad，moreover，replacedarichmanbyapoorone。ThoughClementWestallwasacknowledgedtobearisinglawyer，itwasgenerallyfeltthathisfortuneswouldnotriseasrapidlyashisreputation。TheWestallswouldprobablyalwayshavetolivequietlyandgoouttodinnerincabs。CouldtherebebetterevidenceofMrs。Arment\'scompletedisinterestedness？
Ifthereasoningbywhichherfriendsjustifiedhercoursewassomewhatcruderandlesscomplexthanherownelucidationofthematter，bothexplanationsledtothesameconclusion：JohnArmentwasimpossible。Theonlydifferencewasthat，tohiswife，hisimpossibilitywassomethingdeeperthanasocialdisqualification。Shehadoncesaid，inironicaldefenceofhermarriage，thatithadatleastpreservedherfromthenecessityofsittingnexttohimatdinner；butshehadnotthenrealizedatwhatcosttheimmunitywaspurchased。JohnArmentwasimpossible；butthestingofhisimpossibilitylayinthefactthathemadeitimpossibleforthoseabouthimtobeotherthanhimself。Byanunconsciousprocessofeliminationhehadexcludedfromtheworldeverythingofwhichhedidnotfeelapersonalneed：hadbecome，asitwere，aclimateinwhichonlyhisownrequirementssurvived。Thismightseemtoimplyadeliberateselfishness；buttherewasnothingdeliberateaboutArment。Hewasasinstinctiveasananimalorachild。Itwasthischildishelementinhisnaturewhichsometimesforamomentunsettledhiswife\'sestimateofhim。Wasitpossiblethathewassimplyundeveloped，thathehaddelayed，somewhatlongerthanisusual，thelaboriousprocessofgrowingup？Hehadthekindofsporadicshrewdnesswhichcausesittobesaidofadullmanthatheis“nofool“；anditwasthisqualitythathiswifefoundmosttrying。Eventothenaturalistitisannoyingtohavehisdeductionsdisturbedbysomeunforeseenaberrancyofformorfunction；andhowmuchmoresotothewifewhoseestimateofherselfisinevitablyboundupwithherjudgmentofherhusband！
Arment\'sshrewdnessdidnot，indeed，implyanylatentintellectualpower；itsuggested，rather，potentialitiesoffeeling，ofsuffering，perhaps，inablindrudimentaryway，onwhichJulia\'ssensibilitiesnaturallydeclinedtolinger。Shesofullyunderstoodherownreasonsforleavinghimthatshedislikedtothinktheywerenotascomprehensibletoherhusband。
Shewashaunted，inheranalyticmoments，bythelookofperplexity，tooinarticulateforwords，withwhichhehadacquiescedtoherexplanations。
Thesemomentswererarewithher，however。Hermarriagehadbeentooconcreteamiserytobesurveyedphilosophically。Ifshehadbeenunhappyforcomplexreasons，theunhappinesswasasrealasthoughithadbeenuncomplicated。Soulismorebruisablethanflesh，andJuliawaswoundedineveryfibreofherspirit。Herhusband\'spersonalityseemedtobeclosinggraduallyinonher，obscuringtheskyandcuttingofftheair，tillshefeltherselfshutupamongthedecayingbodiesofherstarvedhopes。Asenseofhavingbeendecoyedbysomeworld-oldconspiracyintothisbondageofbodyandsoulfilledherwithdespair。Ifmarriagewastheslowlife-longacquittalofadebtcontractedinignorance，thenmarriagewasacrimeagainsthumannature。She，forone，wouldhavenoshareinmaintainingthepretenceofwhichshehadbeenavictim：thepretencethatamanandawoman，forcedintothenarrowestofpersonalrelations，mustremaintheretilltheend，thoughtheymayhaveoutgrownthespanofeachother\'snaturesasthematuretreeoutgrowstheironbraceaboutthesapling。
ItwasinthefirstheatofhermoralindignationthatshehadmetClementWestall。Shehadseenatoncethathewas“interested，“andhadfoughtoffthediscovery，dreadinganyinfluencethatshoulddrawherbackintothebondageofconventionalrelations。Towardofftheperilshehad，withanalmostcrudeprecipitancy，revealedheropinionstohim。Tohersurprise，shefoundthathesharedthem。Shewasattractedbythefranknessofasuitorwho，whilepressinghissuit，admittedthathedidnotbelieveinmarriage。Herworstaudacitiesdidnotseemtosurprisehim：hehadthoughtoutallthatshehadfelt，andtheyhadreachedthesameconclusion。Peoplegrewatvaryingrates，andtheyokethatwasaneasyfitfortheonemightsoonbecomegallingtotheother。Thatwaswhatdivorcewasfor：thereadjustmentofpersonalrelations。Assoonastheirnecessarilytransitivenaturewasrecognizedtheywouldgainindignityaswellasinharmony。Therewouldbenofartherneedoftheignobleconcessionsandconnivances，theperpetualsacrificeofpersonaldelicacyandmoralpride，bymeansofwhichimperfectmarriageswerenowheldtogether。Eachpartnertothecontractwouldbeonhismettle，forcedtoliveuptothehigheststandardofself-development，onpainoflosingtheother\'srespectandaffection。Thelownaturecouldnolongerdragthehigherdown，butmuststruggletorise，orremainaloneonitsinferiorlevel。Theonlynecessaryconditiontoaharmoniousmarriagewasafrankrecognitionofthistruth，andasolemnagreementbetweenthecontractingpartiestokeepfaithwiththemselves，andnottolivetogetherforamomentaftercompleteaccordhadceasedtoexistbetweenthem。Thenewadulterywasunfaithfulnesstoself。
Itwas，asWestallhadjustremindedher，onthisunderstandingthattheyhadmarried。Theceremonywasanunimportantconcessiontosocialprejudice：nowthatthedoorofdivorcestoodopen，nomarriageneedbeanimprisonment，andthecontractthereforenolongerinvolvedanydiminutionofself-respect。Thenatureoftheirattachmentplacedthemsofarbeyondthereachofsuchcontingenciesthatitwaseasytodiscussthemwithanopenmind；andJulia\'ssenseofsecuritymadeherdwellwithatenderinsistenceonWestall\'spromisetoclaimhisreleasewhenheshouldceasetoloveher。Theexchangeofthesevowsseemedtomakethem，inasense，championsofthenewlaw，pioneersintheforbiddenrealmofindividualfreedom：theyfeltthattheyhadsomehowachievedbeatitudewithoutmartyrdom。
This，asJulianowreviewedthepast，sheperceivedtohavebeenhertheoreticalattitudetowardmarriage。Itwasunconsciously，insidiously，thathertenyearsofhappinesswithWestallhaddevelopedanotherconceptionofthetie；areversion，rather，totheoldinstinctofpassionatedependencyandpossessorshipthatnowmadeherbloodrevoltatthemerehintofchange。Change？
Renewal？Wasthatwhattheyhadcalledit，intheirfoolishjargon？Destruction，exterminationrather——thisrendingofamyriadfibresinterwovenwithanother\'sbeing！Another？Buthewasnotother！Heandshewereone，oneinthemysticsensewhichalonegavemarriageitssignificance。Thenewlawwasnotforthem，butforthedisunitedcreaturesforcedintoamockeryofunion。Thegospelshehadfeltcalledontoproclaimhadnobearingonherowncase……Shesentforthedoctorandtoldhimshewassuresheneededanervetonic。
Shetookthenervetonicdiligently，butitfailedtoactasasedativetoherfears。Shedidnotknowwhatshefeared；butthatmadeheranxietythemorepervasive。HerhusbandhadnotrevertedtothesubjectofhisSaturdaytalks。Hewasunusuallykindandconsiderate，withasofteningofhisquickmanner，atouchofshynessinhisconsideration，thatsickenedherwithnewfears。Shetoldherselfthatitwasbecauseshelookedbadly——
becauseheknewaboutthedoctorandthenervetonic——thatheshowedthisdeferencetoherwishes，thiseagernesstoscreenherfrommoraldraughts；buttheexplanationsimplyclearedthewayforfreshinferences。
Theweekpassedslowly，vacantly，likeaprolongedSunday。OnSaturdaythemorningpostbroughtanotefromMrs。VanSideren。
WoulddearJuliaaskMr。Westalltocomehalfanhourearlierthanusual，astherewastobesomemusicafterhis“talk“？
Westallwasjustleavingforhisofficewhenhiswifereadthenote。Sheopenedthedrawing-roomdoorandcalledhimbacktodeliverthemessage。
Heglancedatthenoteandtosseditaside。“Whatabore！I
shallhavetocutmygameofracquets。Well，Isupposeitcan\'tbehelped。Willyouwriteandsayit\'sallright？”
Juliahesitatedamoment，herhandstiffeningonthechair-backagainstwhichsheleaned。
“Youmeantogoonwiththesetalks？”sheasked。
“I——whynot？”hereturned；andthistimeitstruckherthathissurprisewasnotquiteunfeigned。Thediscoveryhelpedhertofindwords。
“Yousaidyouhadstartedthemwiththeideaofpleasingme——“
“Well？”
“Itoldyoulastweekthattheydidn\'tpleaseme。“
“Lastweek？Oh——“Heseemedtomakeaneffortofmemory。“I
thoughtyouwerenervousthen；yousentforthedoctorthenextday。“
“ItwasnotthedoctorIneeded；itwasyourassurance——“
“Myassurance？”
Suddenlyshefeltthefloorfailunderher。Shesankintothechairwithachokingthroat，herwords，herreasonsslippingawayfromherlikestrawsdownawhirlingflood。
“Clement，“shecried，“isn\'titenoughforyoutoknowthatI
hateit？”
Heturnedtoclosethedoorbehindthem；thenhewalkedtowardherandsatdown。“Whatisitthatyouhate？”heaskedgently。
Shehadmadeadesperateefforttorallyherroutedargument。
“Ican\'tbeartohaveyouspeakasif——asif——ourmarriage——wereliketheotherkind——thewrongkind。WhenIheardyouthere，theotherafternoon，beforeallthoseinquisitivegossipingpeople，proclaimingthathusbandsandwiveshadarighttoleaveeachotherwhenevertheyweretired——orhadseensomeoneelse——“
Westallsatmotionless，hiseyesfixedonapatternofthecarpet。
“YouHAVEceasedtotakethisview，then？”hesaidasshebrokeoff。“YounolongerbelievethathusbandsandwivesARE
justifiedinseparating——undersuchconditions？”
“Undersuchconditions？”shestammered。“Yes——Istillbelievethat——buthowcanwejudgeforothers？Whatcanweknowofthecircumstances——？”
Heinterruptedher。“Ithoughtitwasafundamentalarticleofourcreedthatthespecialcircumstancesproducedbymarriagewerenottointerferewiththefullassertionofindividualliberty。“Hepausedamoment。“IthoughtthatwasyourreasonforleavingArment。“
Sheflushedtotheforehead。Itwasnotlikehimtogiveapersonalturntotheargument。
“Itwasmyreason，“shesaidsimply。
“Well，then——whydoyourefusetorecognizeitsvaliditynow？”
“Idon\'t——Idon\'t——Ionlysaythatonecan\'tjudgeforothers。“
Hemadeanimpatientmovement。“Thisismerehair-splitting。
Whatyoumeanisthat，thedoctrinehavingservedyourpurposewhenyouneededit，younowrepudiateit。“
“Well，“sheexclaimed，flushingagain，“whatifIdo？Whatdoesitmattertous？”
Westallrosefromhischair。Hewasexcessivelypale，andstoodbeforehiswifewithsomethingoftheformalityofastranger。
“Itmatterstome，“hesaidinalowvoice，“becauseIdoNOT
repudiateit。“
“Well——？”
“AndbecauseIhadintendedtoinvokeitas“——
Hepausedanddrewhisbreathdeeply。Shesatsilent，almostdeafenedbyherheart-beats——
“asacompletejustificationofthecourseIamabouttotake。“
Juliaremainedmotionless。“Whatcourseisthat？”sheasked。
Heclearedhisthroat。“Imeantoclaimthefulfilmentofyourpromise。“
Foraninstanttheroomwaveredanddarkened；thensherecoveredatorturingacutenessofvision。Everydetailofhersurroundingspresseduponher：thetickoftheclock，theslantofsunlightonthewall，thehardnessofthechair-armsthatshegrasped，wereaseparatewoundtoeachsense。
“Mypromise——“shefaltered。
“Yourpartofourmutualagreementtoseteachotherfreeifoneortheothershouldwishtobereleased。“
Shewassilentagain。Hewaitedamoment，shiftinghispositionnervously；thenhesaid，withatouchofirritability：“Youacknowledgetheagreement？”
Thequestionwentthroughherlikeashock。Sheliftedherheadtoitproudly。“Iacknowledgetheagreement，“shesaid。
“And——youdon\'tmeantorepudiateit？”
Alogonthehearthfellforward，andmechanicallyheadvancedandpusheditback。
“No，“sheansweredslowly，“Idon\'tmeantorepudiateit。“
Therewasapause。Heremainednearthehearth，hiselbowrestingonthemantel-shelf。Closetohishandstoodalittlecupofjadethathehadgivenherononeoftheirweddinganniversaries。Shewonderedvaguelyifhenoticedit。
“Youintendtoleaveme，then？”shesaidatlength。
Hisgestureseemedtodeprecatethecrudenessoftheallusion。
“Tomarrysomeoneelse？”
Againhiseyeandhandprotested。Sheroseandstoodbeforehim。
“Whyshouldyoubeafraidtotellme？IsitUnaVanSideren？”
Hewassilent。
“Iwishyougoodluck，“shesaid。
III
Shelookedup，findingherselfalone。Shedidnotrememberwhenorhowhehadlefttheroom，orhowlongafterwardshehadsatthere。Thefirestillsmoulderedonthehearth，buttheslantofsunlighthadleftthewall。
Herfirstconsciousthoughtwasthatshehadnotbrokenherword，thatshehadfulfilledtheveryletteroftheirbargain。Therehadbeennocryingout，novainappealtothepast，noattemptattemporizingorevasion。Shehadmarchedstraightuptotheguns。
Nowthatitwasover，shesickenedtofindherselfalive。Shelookedabouther，tryingtorecoverherholdonreality。Heridentityseemedtobeslippingfromher，asitdisappearsinaphysicalswoon。“Thisismyroom——thisismyhouse，“sheheardherselfsaying。Herroom？Herhouse？Shecouldalmosthearthewallslaughbackather。
Shestoodup，adullacheineverybone。Thesilenceoftheroomfrightenedher。Sheremembered，now，havingheardthefrontdoorclosealongtimeago：thesoundsuddenlyre-echoedthroughherbrain。Herhusbandmusthaveleftthehouse，then——herHUSBAND？
Shenolongerknewinwhattermstothink：thesimplestphraseshadapoisonededge。Shesankbackintoherchair，overcomebyastrangeweakness。Theclockstruckten——itwasonlyteno\'clock！
Suddenlysherememberedthatshehadnotordereddinner……orweretheydiningoutthatevening？DINNER——DININGOUT——theoldmeaninglessphraseologypursuedher！Shemusttrytothinkofherselfasshewouldthinkofsomeoneelse，asomeonedissociatedfromallthefamiliarroutineofthepast，whosewantsandhabitsmustgraduallybelearned，asonemightspyoutthewaysofastrangeanimal……
Theclockstruckanotherhour——eleven。Shestoodupagainandwalkedtothedoor：shethoughtshewouldgoupstairstoherroom。HERroom？Againthewordderidedher。Sheopenedthedoor，crossedthenarrowhall，andwalkedupthestairs。Asshepassed，shenoticedWestall\'ssticksandumbrellas：apairofhisgloveslayonthehalltable。Thesamestair-carpetmountedbetweenthesamewalls；thesameoldFrenchprint，initsnarrowblackframe，facedheronthelanding。Thisvisualcontinuitywasintolerable。Within，agapingchasm；without，thesameuntroubledandfamiliarsurface。Shemustgetawayfromitbeforeshecouldattempttothink。But，onceinherroom，shesatdownonthelounge，astuporcreepingoverher……
Graduallyhervisioncleared。Agreatdealhadhappenedintheinterval——awildmarchingandcountermarchingofemotions，arguments，ideas——afuryofinsurgentimpulsesthatfellbackspentuponthemselves。Shehadtried，atfirst，torally，toorganizethesechaoticforces。Theremustbehelpsomewhere，ifonlyshecouldmastertheinnertumult。Lifecouldnotbebrokenoffshortlikethis，forawhim，afancy；thelawitselfwouldsidewithher，woulddefendher。Thelaw？Whatclaimhadsheuponit？Shewastheprisonerofherownchoice：shehadbeenherownlegislator，andshewasthepredestinedvictimofthecodeshehaddevised。Butthiswasgrotesque，intolerable——amadmistake，forwhichshecouldnotbeheldaccountable！Thelawshehaddespisedwasstillthere，mightstillbeinvoked……
invoked，buttowhatend？CouldsheaskittochainWestalltoherside？SHEhadbeenallowedtogofreewhensheclaimedherfreedom——shouldsheshowlessmagnanimitythanshehadexacted？
Magnanimity？Thewordlashedherwithitsirony——onedoesnotstrikeanattitudewhenoneisfightingforlife！Shewouldthreaten，grovel，cajole……shewouldyieldanythingtokeepherholdonhappiness。Ah，butthedifficultylaydeeper！Thelawcouldnothelpher——herownapostasycouldnothelpher。Shewasthevictimofthetheoriessherenounced。Itwasasthoughsomegiantmachineofherownmakinghadcaughtherupinitswheelsandwasgrindinghertoatoms……
Itwasafternoonwhenshefoundherselfout-of-doors。Shewalkedwithanaimlesshaste，fearingtomeetfamiliarfaces。Thedaywasradiant，metallic：oneofthosesearchingAmericandayssocalculatedtorevealtheshortcomingsofourstreet-cleaningandtheexcessesofourarchitecture。Thestreetslookedbareandhideous；everythingstaredandglittered。Shecalledapassinghansom，andgaveMrs。VanSideren\'saddress。Shedidnotknowwhathadleduptotheact；butshefoundherselfsuddenlyresolvedtospeak，tocryoutawarning。itwastoolatetosaveherself——butthegirlmightstillbetold。ThehansomrattledupFifthAvenue；shesatwithhereyesfixed，avoidingrecognition。
AttheVanSiderens\'doorshesprangoutandrangthebell。
Actionhadclearedherbrain，andshefeltcalmandself-
possessed。Sheknewnowexactlywhatshemeanttosay。
Theladieswerebothout……theparlor-maidstoodwaitingforacard。Julia，withavaguemurmur，turnedawayfromthedoorandlingeredamomentonthesidewalk。Thensherememberedthatshehadnotpaidthecab-driver。Shedrewadollarfromherpurseandhandedittohim。Hetouchedhishatanddroveoff，leavingheraloneinthelongemptystreet。Shewanderedawaywestward，towardstrangethoroughfares，whereshewasnotlikelytomeetacquaintances。Thefeelingofaimlessnesshadreturned。
OnceshefoundherselfintheafternoontorrentofBroadway，sweptpasttawdryshopsandflamingtheatricalposters，withasuccessionofmeaninglessfacesglidingbyintheoppositedirection……
Afeelingoffaintnessremindedherthatshehadnoteatensincemorning。Sheturnedintoasidestreetofshabbyhouses，withrowsofash-barrelsbehindbentarearailings。InabasementwindowshesawthesignLADIES\'RESTAURANT：apieandadishofdoughnutslayagainstthedustypanelikepetrifiedfoodinanethnologicalmuseum。Sheentered，andayoungwomanwithaweakmouthandabrazeneyeclearedatableforhernearthewindow。
Thetablewascoveredwitharedandwhitecottonclothandadornedwithabunchofceleryinathicktumblerandasalt-
cellarfullofgrayishlumpysalt。Juliaorderedtea，andsatalongtimewaitingforit。Shewasgladtobeawayfromthenoiseandconfusionofthestreets。Thelow-ceilingedroomwasempty，andtwoorthreewaitresseswiththinpertfacesloungedinthebackgroundstaringatherandwhisperingtogether。Atlasttheteawasbroughtinadiscoloredmetalteapot。Juliapouredacupanddrankithastily。Itwasblackandbitter，butitflowedthroughherveinslikeanelixir。Shewasalmostdizzywithexhilaration。Oh，howtired，howunutterablytiredshehadbeen！
Shedrankasecondcup，blackerandbitterer，andnowhermindwasoncemoreworkingclearly。Shefeltasvigorous，asdecisive，aswhenshehadstoodontheVanSiderens\'door-step——
butthewishtoreturntherehadsubsided。Shesawnowthefutilityofsuchanattempt——thehumiliationtowhichitmighthaveexposedher……Thepityofitwasthatshedidnotknowwhattodonext。Theshortwinterdaywasfading，andsherealizedthatshecouldnotremainmuchlongerintherestaurantwithoutattractingnotice。Shepaidforherteaandwentoutintothestreet。Thelampswerealight，andhereandthereabasementshopcastanoblongofgas-lightacrossthefissuredpavement。Inthedusktherewassomethingsinisterabouttheaspectofthestreet，andshehastenedbacktowardFifthAvenue。
Shewasnotusedtobeingoutaloneatthathour。
AtthecornerofFifthAvenueshepausedandstoodwatchingthestreamofcarriages。Atlastapolicemancaughtsightofherandsignedtoherthathewouldtakeheracross。Shehadnotmeanttocrossthestreet，butsheobeyedautomatically，andpresentlyfoundherselfonthefarthercorner。Thereshepausedagainforamoment；butshefanciedthepolicemanwaswatchingher，andthissentherhasteningdownthenearestsidestreet……Afterthatshewalkedalongtime，vaguely……Nighthadfallen，andnowandthen，throughthewindowsofapassingcarriage，shecaughttheexpanseofaneveningwaistcoatortheshimmerofanoperacloak……
Suddenlyshefoundherselfinafamiliarstreet。Shestoodstillamoment，breathingquickly。Shehadturnedthecornerwithoutnoticingwhitheritled；butnow，afewyardsaheadofher，shesawthehouseinwhichshehadoncelived——herfirsthusband\'shouse。Theblindsweredrawn，andonlyafainttranslucencemarkedthewindowsandthetransomabovethedoor。Asshestoodtheresheheardastepbehindher，andamanwalkedbyinthedirectionofthehouse。Hewalkedslowly，withaheavymiddle-
agedgait，hisheadsunkalittlebetweentheshoulders，theredcreaseofhisneckvisibleabovethefurcollarofhisovercoat。
Hecrossedthestreet，wentupthestepsofthehouse，drewforthalatch-key，andlethimselfin……
Therewasnooneelseinsight。Julialeanedforalongtimeagainstthearea-railatthecorner，hereyesfixedonthefrontofthehouse。Thefeelingofphysicalwearinesshadreturned，butthestrongteastillthrobbedinherveinsandlitherbrainwithanunnaturalclearness。Presentlysheheardanotherstepdrawnear，andmovingquicklyaway，shetoocrossedthestreetandmountedthestepsofthehouse。Theimpulsewhichhadcarriedherthereprolongeditselfinaquickpressureoftheelectricbell——thenshefeltsuddenlyweakandtremulous，andgraspedthebalustradeforsupport。Thedooropenedandayoungfootmanwithafreshinexperiencedfacestoodonthethreshold。
Juliaknewinaninstantthathewouldadmither。
“IsawMr。Armentgoinginjustnow，“shesaid。“Willyouaskhimtoseemeforamoment？”
Thefootmanhesitated。“IthinkMr。Armenthasgoneuptodressfordinner，madam。“
Juliaadvancedintothehall。“Iamsurehewillseeme——Iwillnotdetainhimlong，“shesaid。Shespokequietly，authoritatively，inthetonewhichagoodservantdoesnotmistake。Thefootmanhadhishandonthedrawing-roomdoor。
“Iwilltellhim，madam。Whatname，please？”
Juliatrembled：shehadnotthoughtofthat。“Merelysayalady，“shereturnedcarelessly。
Thefootmanwaveredandshefanciedherselflost；butatthatinstantthedooropenedfromwithinandJohnArmentsteppedintothehall。Hedrewbacksharplyashesawher，hisfloridfaceturningsallowwiththeshock；thenthebloodpouredbacktoit，swellingtheveinsonhistemplesandreddeningthelobesofhisthickears。
ItwaslongsinceJuliahadseenhim，andshewasstartledatthechangeinhisappearance。Hehadthickened，coarsened，settleddownintotheenclosingflesh。Butshenotedthisinsensibly：
heroneconsciousthoughtwasthat，nowshewasfacetofacewithhim，shemustnotlethimescapetillhehadheardher。Everypulseinherbodythrobbedwiththeurgencyofhermessage。
Shewentuptohimashedrewback。“Imustspeaktoyou，“shesaid。
Armenthesitated，redandstammering。Juliaglancedatthefootman，andherlookactedasawarning。Theinstinctiveshrinkingfroma“scene“predominatedovereveryotherimpulse，andArmentsaidslowly：“Willyoucomethisway？”
Hefollowedherintothedrawing-roomandclosedthedoor。
Julia，assheadvanced，wasvaguelyawarethattheroomatleastwasunchanged：timehadnotmitigateditshorrors。Thecontadinastilllurchedfromthechimney-breast，andtheGreekslaveobstructedthethresholdoftheinnerroom。Theplacewasalivewithmemories：theystartedoutfromeveryfoldoftheyellowsatincurtainsandglidedbetweentheanglesoftherosewoodfurniture。Butwhilesomesubordinateagencywascarryingtheseimpressionstoherbrain，herwholeconsciouseffortwascentredintheactofdominatingArment\'swill。Thefearthathewouldrefusetohearhermountedlikefevertoherbrain。Shefeltherpurposemeltbeforeit，wordsandargumentsrunningintoeachotherintheheatofherlonging。Foramomenthervoicefailedher，andsheimaginedherselfthrustoutbeforeshecouldspeak；
butasshewasstrugglingforaword，Armentpushedachairforward，andsaidquietly：“Youarenotwell。“
Thesoundofhisvoicesteadiedher。Itwasneitherkindnorunkind——avoicethatsuspendedjudgment，rather，awaitingunforeseendevelopments。Shesupportedherselfagainstthebackofthechairanddrewadeepbreath。“ShallIsendforsomething？”hecontinued，withacoldembarrassedpoliteness。
Juliaraisedanentreatinghand。“No——no——thankyou。Iamquitewell。“
Hepausedmidwaytowardthebellandturnedonher。“ThenmayI
ask——？”
“Yes，“sheinterruptedhim。“IcameherebecauseIwantedtoseeyou。ThereissomethingImusttellyou。“
Armentcontinuedtoscrutinizeher。“Iamsurprisedatthat，“hesaid。“Ishouldhavesupposedthatanycommunicationyoumaywishtomakecouldhavebeenmadethroughourlawyers。“
“Ourlawyers！”Sheburstintoalittlelaugh。“Idon\'tthinktheycouldhelpme——thistime。“
Arment\'sfacetookonabarricadedlook。“Ifthereisanyquestionofhelp——ofcourse——“
Itstruckher，whimsically，thatshehadseenthatlookwhensomeshabbydevilcalledwithasubscription-book。Perhapshethoughtshewantedhimtoputhisnamedownforsomuchinsympathy——oreveninmoney……Thethoughtmadeherlaughagain。Shesawhislookchangeslowlytoperplexity。Allhisfacialchangeswereslow，andsheremembered，suddenly，howithadoncedivertedhertoshiftthatlumberingscenerywithaword。Forthefirsttimeitstruckherthatshehadbeencruel。“ThereISaquestionofhelp，“shesaidinasofterkey：“youcanhelpme；butonlybylistening……Iwanttotellyousomething……“
Arment\'sresistancewasnotyielding。“Woulditnotbeeasierto——write？”hesuggested。
Sheshookherhead。“Thereisnotimetowrite……anditwon\'ttakelong。“Sheraisedherheadandtheireyesmet。“Myhusbandhasleftme，“shesaid。
“Westall——？”hestammered，reddeningagain。
“Yes。Thismorning。JustasIleftyou。Becausehewastiredofme。“
Thewords，utteredscarcelyaboveawhisper，seemedtodilatetothelimitoftheroom。Armentlookedtowardthedoor；thenhisembarrassedglancereturnedtoJulia。
“Iamverysorry，“hesaidawkwardly。
“Thankyou，“shemurmured。
“ButIdon\'tsee——“
“No——butyouwill——inamoment。Won\'tyoulistentome？
Please！”Instinctivelyshehadshiftedherpositionputtingherselfbetweenhimandthedoor。“Ithappenedthismorning，“
shewentoninshortbreathlessphrases。“Ineversuspectedanything——Ithoughtwewere——perfectlyhappy……Suddenlyhetoldmehewastiredofme……thereisagirlhelikesbetter……
Hehasgonetoher……“Asshespoke，thelurkinganguishroseuponher，possessingheroncemoretotheexclusionofeveryotheremotion。Hereyesached，herthroatswelledwithit，andtwopainfultearsburntawaydownherface。
Arment\'sconstraintwasincreasingvisibly。“This——thisisveryunfortunate，“hebegan。“ButIshouldsaythelaw——“
“Thelaw？”sheechoedironically。“Whenheasksforhisfreedom？”
“Youarenotobligedtogiveit。“
“Youwerenotobligedtogivememine——butyoudid。“
Hemadeaprotestinggesture。
“Yousawthatthelawcouldn\'thelpyou——didn\'tyou？”shewenton。“ThatiswhatIseenow。Thelawrepresentsmaterialrights——itcan\'tgobeyond。Ifwedon\'trecognizeaninnerlaw……
theobligationthatlovecreates……beinglovedaswellasloving……thereisnothingtopreventourspreadingruinunhindered……isthere？”Sheraisedherheadplaintively，withthelookofabewilderedchild。“ThatiswhatIseenow……
whatIwantedtotellyou。Heleavesmebecausehe\'stired……
butIwasnottired；andIdon\'tunderstandwhyheis。That\'sthedreadfulpartofit——thenotunderstanding：Ihadn\'trealizedwhatitmeant。ButI\'vebeenthinkingofitallday，andthingshavecomebacktome——thingsIhadn\'tnoticed……whenyouandI……“Shemovedclosertohim，andfixedhereyesonhiswiththegazethattriestoreachbeyondwords。“IseenowthatYOU
didn\'tunderstand——didyou？”
Theireyesmetinasuddenshockofcomprehension：aveilseemedtobeliftedbetweenthem。Arment\'sliptrembled。
“No，“hesaid，“Ididn\'tunderstand。“
Shegavealittlecry，almostoftriumph。“Iknewit！Iknewit！Youwondered——youtriedtotellme——butnowordscame……
Yousawyourlifefallinginruins……theworldslippingfromyou……andyoucouldn\'tspeakormove！”
Shesankdownonthechairagainstwhichshehadbeenleaning。
“NowIknow——nowIknow，“sherepeated。
“Iamverysorryforyou，“sheheardArmentstammer。
Shelookedupquickly。“That\'snotwhatIcamefor。Idon\'twantyoutobesorry。Icametoaskyoutoforgiveme……fornotunderstandingthatYOUdidn\'tunderstand……That\'sallI
wantedtosay。“Sherosewithavaguesensethattheendhadcome，andputoutagropinghandtowardthedoor。
Armentstoodmotionless。Sheturnedtohimwithafaintsmile。
“Youforgiveme？”
“Thereisnothingtoforgive——“
“Thenwillyoushakehandsforgood-by？”Shefelthishandinhers：itwasnerveless，reluctant。
“Good-by，“sherepeated。“Iunderstandnow。“
Sheopenedthedoorandpassedoutintothehall。Asshedidso，Armenttookanimpulsivestepforward；butjustthenthefootman，whowasevidentlyalivetohisobligations，advancedfromthebackgroundtoletherout。SheheardArmentfallback。Thefootmanthrewopenthedoor，andshefoundherselfoutsideinthedarkness。
TheEndofTheReckoningVerseBOTTICELLI\'SMADONNAINTHELOUVRE。
WHATstrangepresentiment，OMother，liesOnthywastebrowandsadly-foldedlips，ForefeelingtheLight\'sterribleeclipseOnCalvary，asiflovemadetheewise，AndthoucouldstreadinthosedearinfanteyesThesorrowthatbeneaththeirsmilingsleeps，AndguesswhatbittertearsamotherweepsWhenthecrossdarkensheruncloudedskies？
SadLady，ifsomemother，passingthee，Shouldfeelathrobofthyforebodingpain，Andthink——“Mychildathomeclingssotome，Withthesamesmile……andyetinvain，invain，SinceeventhisJesusdiedonCalvary“——
Saytoherthen：“Healsoroseagain。“
THETOMBOFILARIAGIUNIGI。
ILARIA，thouthatwertsofairanddearThatdeathwouldfaindisownthee，griefmadewiseWithprophecythyhusband\'swidowedeyesAndbadehimcallthemaster\'sarttorearThyperfectimageonthesculpturedbier，Withdreaminglids，handslaidinpeacefulguiseBeneaththebreastthatseemstofallandrise，Andlipsthatatlove\'scallshouldanswer，“Here！”
First-bornoftheRenascence，whenthysoulCastthesweetrobingofthefleshaside，Intotheseloveliermarblelimbsitstole，Regenerateinart\'ssunriseclearandwideAssaintswho，havingkeptfaith\'sraimentwhole，Changeitaboveforgarmentsglorified。
THESONNET。
PUREform，thatlikesomechaliceofoldtimeContain\'sttheliquidofthepoet\'sthoughtWithinthycurvinghollow，gem-enwroughtWithinterwoventraceriesofrhyme，Whileo\'erthybrimthebubblingfanciesclimb，WhatthingamI，thatundismayedhavesoughtTopourmyversewithtremblinghanduntaughtIntoashapesosmallyetsosublime？
Becauseperfectionhauntstheheartsofmen，BecausethysacredchalicegatheredupThewineofPetrarch，Shakspere，Shelley——thenReceivethesetearsoffailureastheydropSolevintageofmylife，sinceIamfainTopourtheminaconsecratedcup。
TWOBACKGROUNDS。
I。
LAVIERGEAUDONATEUR。
HEREbytheampleriver\'sargentsweep，Bosomedintilthandvintagetoherwalls，Atower-crownedCybeleinarmoredsleepThecitylies，fatplentyinherhalls，Withcalm，parochialspiresthatholdinfeeThefriendlygablesclusteredattheirbase，And，equipoisedo\'ertowerandmarket-place，TheGothicminster\'swingedimmensity；
Andinthatnarrowburgh，withequalmood，Twoplacidhearts，toalllife\'sgoodresigned，Might，fromthealtartothelych-gate，findLongyearsofpeaceanddreamlessplenitude。
II。
MONALISA。
YonstrangebluecitycrownsascarpedsteepNomortalfoothathbloodlesslyessayed；
Dreamsandillusionsbeaconfromitskeep，ButatthegateanAngelbareshisblade；
AndtalesaretoldofthosewhothoughttogainAtdawnitsramparts；butwheneveningfellFarofftheysaweachfadingpinnacleLitwithwildlightningsfromtheheavenofpain；
Yettheretwosouls，whomlife\'sperversitiesHadmockedwithwantinplenty，tearsinmirth，Mightmeetindreams，ungarmentedofearth，AnddrainJoy\'sawfulchalicetothelees。
EXPERIENCE。
I。
LIKECrusoewiththebootlessgoldwestandUponthedesertvergeofdeath，andsay：
“WhatshallavailthewoesofyesterdayTobuyto-morrow\'swisdom，inthelandWhosecurrencyisstrangeuntoourhand？
Inlife\'ssmallmarkettheyhaveservedtopaySomelate-foundrapture，couldwebutdelayTillTimehathmatchedourmeanstoourdemand。“
ButotherwiseFatewillsit，for，behold，Ourgatheredstrengthofindividualpain，WhenTime\'slongalchemyhathmadeitgold，Dieswithus——hoardedalltheseyearsinvain，SincethosethatmightbeheirtoitthemouldRenew，andcointhemselvesnewgriefsagain。
II。
O，Death，wecomefull-handedtothygate，Richwithstrangeburdenofthemingledyears，Gainsandrenunciations，mirthandtears，Andlove\'soblivion，andrememberinghate，NorknowwewhatcompulsionlaidsuchfreightUponoursouls——andshallourhopesandfearsBuynothingofthee，Death？Beholdourwares，Andsellustheonejoyforwhichwewait。
Hadwelivedlonger，lifehadsuchforsale，Withthelastcoinofsorrowpurchasedcheap，Butnowwestandbeforethyshadowypale，Andallourlongingsliewithinthykeep——
Death，canitbetheyearsshallnaughtavail？
“Notso，“Deathanswered，“theyshallpurchasesleep。“
CHARTRES。
I。
IMMENSE，august，likesomeTitanicbloom，Themightychoirunfoldsitslithiccore，Petalledwithpanesofazure，gulesandor，SplendidlylambentintheGothicgloom，AndstamenedwithkeenflameletsthatillumeThepalehigh-altar。Ontheprayer-wornfloor，Bysurgingworshippersthick-throngedofyore，Afewbrowncrones，familiarsofthetomb，ThestrandeddriftwoodofFaith\'sebbingsea——
Forthesealonethefinialsfrettheskies，Thetopmostbossesshaketheirblossomsfree，Whilefromthetripleportals，withgraveeyes，Tranquil，andfixeduponeternity，Thecloudofwitnessesstilltestifies。
II。
Thecrimsonpaneslikeblood-dropsstigmatizeThewesternfloor。Theaislesaremuteandcold。
ArigidfetichinherrobeofgoldTheVirginofthePillar，withblankeyes，Enthronedbeneathhervotivecanopies，Gathersameagreremnanttoherfold。
Therestissolitude；thechurch，grownold，Standsstarkandgraybeneaththeburningskies。
Wellnighagainitsmightyframe-workgrowsTobeapartofnature\'sself，withdrawnFromhothumanity\'simpatientwoes；
Thefloorisridgedlikesomerudemountainlawn，AndintheeastonegiantwindowshowsTheroseatecoldnessofanAlpatdawn。
LIFE。
LIFE，likeamarbleblock，isgiventoall，Ablank，inchoatemassofyearsanddays，WhenceonewithardentchiselswiftessaysSomeshapeofstrengthorsymmetrytocall；
Oneshattersitinbitstomendawall；
Oneinacraftierhandthechisellays，Andone，towakethemirthinLesbia\'sgaze，Carvesitapaceintoysfantastical。
Butleastishewho，withenchantedeyesFilledwithhighvisionsoffairshapestobe，MuseswhichgodheshallimmortalizeIntheproudParian\'sperpetuity，TilltwilightwarnshimfromthepunctualskiesThatthenightcomethwhereinnoneshallsee。
ANAUTUMNSUNSET
I
LEAGUEREDinfireThewildblackpromontoriesofthecoastextendTheirsavagesilhouettes；
Thesuninuniversalcarnagesets，And，haltinghigher，Themotionlessstorm-cloudsmasstheirsullenthreats，Likeanadvancingmobinsword-pointspenned，That，balked，yetstandsatbay。
Mid-zenithhangsthefascinateddayInwind-lustratedhollowscrystalline，AwanvalkyriewhosewidepinionsshineAcrosstheensanguinedruinsofthefray，Andinherliftedhandswingshigho\'erhead，Abovethewasteofwar，Thesilvertorch-lightoftheeveningstarWherewithtosearchthefacesofthedead。
II
Lagoonedingold，SeemnotthosejettypromontoriesratherTheoutpostsofsomeancientlandforlorn，Uncomfortedofmorn，Whereoldoblivionsgather，Themelancholy，unconsolingfoldOfallthingsthatgoutterlytodeathAndmixnomore，nomoreWithlife\'sperpetuallyawakeningbreath？
ShallTimenotferrymetosuchashore，Oversuchsaillessseas，Towalkwithhope\'sslainimportunitiesInmiserablemarriage？Nay，shallnotAllthingsbethereforgot，Savethesea\'sgoldenbarrierandtheblackClosecrouchingpromontories？
Deadtoallshames，forgottenofallglories，ShallInotwanderthere，ashadow\'sshade，Aspectreself-destroyed，SopurgedofallremembranceandsuckedbackIntotheprimalvoid，ThatshouldweonthatshorephantasmalmeetIshouldnotknowthecomingofyourfeet？
End