Andso，inspiteofall——inspiteofallbeliefs，fixedortransitory，withamindwhirlingamidcontestingforcesandcompellingbeliefs——Isteppedintothechurchoverwhelmedwiththatmostreceptiveofatmospheres——doubt。
InonethingonlywasIfixed：hereatleastwasnodoubtormisgivingwhatever。IintendedtogothroughwhatIhadundertaken。
Moreover，IfeltthatIwasstrongenoughtocarryoutmyintention，whatevermightbeoftheUnknown——howeverhorrible，howeverterrible。
WhenIhadenteredthechurchandclosedtheheavydoorbehindme，thesenseofdarknessandlonelinessinalltheirhorrorenfoldedmeround。Thegreatchurchseemedalivingmystery，andservedasanalmostterriblebackgroundtothoughtsandremembrancesofunutterablegloom。Myadventurouslifehashaditsownschoolingtoenduranceandupholdingone’scourageintryingtimes；butithasitscontrainfulnessofmemory。
Ifeltmywayforwardwithbothhandsandfeet。Everysecondseemedasifithadbroughtmeatlasttoadarknesswhichwasactuallytangible。Allatonce，andwithnoheedofsequenceororder，Iwasconsciousofallaroundme，theknowledgeorperceptionofwhich——orevenspeculationonthesubject——hadneverenteredmymind。TheyfurnishedthedarknesswithwhichIwasencompassedwithallthecrowdedphasesofadream。Iknewthatallaroundmewerememorialsofthedead——thatintheCryptdeep—wroughtintherockbelowmyfeetlaythedeadthemselves。Someofthem，perhaps——oneofthemIknew——
hadevenpassedthegrimportalsoftimeUnknown，andhad，bysomemysteriouspoweroragency，comebackagaintomaterialearth。Therewasnoresting—placeforthoughtwhenIknewthattheveryairwhichIbreathedmightbefullofdenizensofthespirit—world。Inthatimpenetrableblacknesswasaworldofimaginingwhosepossibilitiesofhorrorwereendless。
IalmostfanciedthatIcouldseewithmortaleyesdownthroughthatrockyfloortowhere，inthelonelyCrypt，lay，inhertombofmassivestoneandunderthatbewilderingcoverletofglass，thewomanwhomIlove。Icouldseeherbeautifulface，herlongblacklashes，hersweetmouth——whichIhadkissed——relaxedinthesleepofdeath。
Icouldnotethevoluminousshroud——apieceofwhichasaprecioussouvenirlayeventhensoclosetomyheart——thesnowywoollencoverletwroughtoveringoldwithsprigsofpine，thesoftdentinthecushiononwhichherheadmustforsolonghavelain。Icouldseemyself——withinmyeyesthememoryofthatfirstvisit——comingonceagainwithgladsteptorenewthatdearsight——dear，thoughitscorchedmyeyesandharrowedmyheart——andfindingthegreatersorrow，thegreaterdesolationoftheemptytomb！
There！IfeltthatImustthinknomoreofthatlestthethoughtshouldunnervemewhenIshouldmostwantallmycourage。Thatwaymadnesslay！Thedarknesshadalreadysufficientterrorsofitsownwithoutbringingtoitsuchgrimremembrancesandimaginings……
AndIhadyettogothroughsomeordealwhich，eventoherwhohadpassedandrepassedtheportalsofdeath，wasfulloffear。
Itwasamercifulrelieftomewhen，ingropingmywayforwardsthroughthedarkness，Istruckagainstsomeportionofthefurnishingofthechurch。FortunatelyIwasallstrunguptotension，elseI
shouldneverhavebeenabletocontrolinstinctively，asIdid，theshriekwhichwasrisingtomylips。
Iwouldhavegivenanythingtohavebeenabletolightevenamatch。
Asinglesecondoflightwould，Ifelt，havemadememyownmanagain。ButIknewthatthiswouldbeagainsttheimpliedconditionofmybeingthereatall，andmighthavehaddisastrousconsequencestoherwhomIhadcometosave。Itmightevenfrustratemyscheme，andaltogetherdestroymyopportunity。Atthatmomentitwasborneuponmemorestronglythaneverthatthiswasnotamerefightformyselformyownselfishpurposes——notmerelyanadventureorastruggleforonlylifeanddeathagainstunknowndifficultiesanddangers。ItwasafightonbehalfofherIloved，notmerelyforherlife，butperhapsevenforhersoul。
Andyetthisverythinking——understanding——createdanewformofterror。Forinthatgrim，shroudingdarknesscamememoriesofothermomentsofterriblestress。
Ofwild，mysticritesheldinthedeepgloomofAfricanforests，when，amidscenesofrevoltinghorror，Obiandthedevilsofhiskindseemedtorevealthemselvestorecklessworshippers，surfeitedwithhorror，whoselivescountedfornaught；whenevenhumansacrificewasanepisode，andthereekofolddeviltriesandrecentcarnagetaintedtheair，tillevenI，whowas，attheriskofmylife，aprivilegedspectatorwhohadcomethroughdangerswithoutendtobeholdthescene，roseandfledinhorror。
Ofscenesofmysteryenactedinrock—cuttemplesbeyondtheHimalayas，whosefanaticpriests，coldasdeathandasremorseless，inthereactionoftheirphrenzyofpassion，foamedatthemouthandthensankintomarblequiet，aswithinnereyestheybeheldthevisionsofthehellishpowerswhichtheyhadinvoked。
Ofwild，fantasticdancesoftheDevil—worshippersofMadagascar，whereeventheverysemblanceofhumanitydisappearedinthefantasticexcessesoftheirorgies。
Ofstrangedoingsofgloomandmysteryintherock—perchedmonasteriesofThibet。
Ofawfulsacrifices，alltomysticends，intheinnermostrecessesofCathay。
Ofweirdmovementswithmassesofpoisonoussnakesbythemedicine—
menoftheZuniandMochiIndiansinthefarsouth—westoftheRockies，beyondthegreatplains。
OfsecretgatheringsinvasttemplesofoldMexico，andbydimaltarsofforgottencitiesintheheartofgreatforestsinSouthAmerica。
OfritesofinconceivablehorrorinthefastnessesofPatagonia。
Of……HereIoncemorepulledmyselfup。SuchthoughtswerenokindofproperpreparationforwhatImighthavetoendure。Myworkthatnightwastobebasedonlove，onhope，onself—sacrificeforthewomanwhoinalltheworldwastheclosesttomyheart，whosefutureIwastoshare，whetherthatsharingmightleadmetoHellorHeaven。Thehandwhichundertooksuchataskmusthavenotrembling。
Still，thosehorriblememorieshad，Iamboundtosay，ausefulpartinmypreparationfortheordeal。TheywereoffactwhichIhadseen，ofwhichIhadmyselfbeeninpartasharer，andwhichIhadsurvived。Withsuchexperiencesbehindme，couldtherebeaughtbeforememoredreadful？……
Moreover，ifthecomingordealwasofsupernaturalorsuperhumanorder，couldittranscendinlivinghorrorthevilestandmostdesperateactsofthebasestmen？……
WithrenewedcourageIfeltmywaybeforeme，tillmysenseoftouchtoldmethatIwasatthescreenbehindwhichlaythestairtotheCrypt。
ThereIwaited，silent，still。
Myownpartwasdone，sofarasIknewhowtodoit。Beyondthis，whatwastocomewas，sofarasIknew，beyondmyowncontrol。IhaddonewhatIcould；therestmustcomefromothers。Ihadexactlyobeyedmyinstructions，fulfilledmywarrantytotheutmostinmyknowledgeandpower。Therewas，therefore，leftformeinthepresentnothingbuttowait。
Itisapeculiarityofabsolutedarknessthatitcreatesitsownreaction。Theeye，weariedoftheblackness，beginstoimagineformsoflight。HowfarthisiseffectedbyimaginationpureandsimpleI
knownot。Itmaybethatnerveshavetheirownsensesthatbringthoughttothedepositorycommontoallthehumanfunctions，but，whatevermaybethemechanismortheobjective，thedarknessseemstopeopleitselfwithluminousentities。
SowasitwithmeasIstoodlonelyinthedark，silentchurch。Hereandthereseemedtoflashtinypointsoflight。
Inthesamewaythesilencebegantobebrokennowandagainbystrangemuffledsounds——thesuggestionofsoundsratherthanactualvibrations。Thesewereallatfirstoftheminorimportanceofmovement——rustlings，creakings，faintstirrings，fainterbreathings。
Presently，whenIhadsomewhatrecoveredfromthesortofhypnotictrancetowhichthedarknessandstillnesshadduringthetimeofwaitingreducedme，Ilookedaroundinwonder。
Thephantomsoflightandsoundseemedtohavebecomereal。Thereweremostcertainlyactuallittlepointsoflightinplaces——notenoughtoseedetailsby，butquitesufficienttorelievetheuttergloom。Ithought——thoughitmayhavebeenaminglingofrecollectionandimagination——thatIcoulddistinguishtheoutlinesofthechurch；
certainlythegreataltar—screenwasdimlyvisible。InstinctivelyI
lookedup——andthrilled。There，hunghighaboveme，was，surelyenough，agreatGreekCross，outlinedbytinypointsoflight。
Ilostmyselfinwonder，andstoodstill，inapurelyreceptivemood，unantagonistictoaught，willingforwhatevermightcome，readyforallthings，inratheranegativethanapositivemood——amoodwhichhasanaspectofspiritualmeekness。Thisisthetruespiritoftheneophyte，and，thoughIdidnotthinkofitatthetime，theproperattitudeforwhatiscalledbytheChurchinwhosetempleIstooda\"neo—nymph。\"
Asthelightgrewalittleinpower，thoughneverincreasingenoughfordistinctness，Isawdimlybeforemeatableonwhichrestedagreatopenbook，whereonwerelaidtworings——oneofsliver，theotherofgold——andtwocrownswroughtofflowers，boundatthejoiningoftheirstemswithtissue——oneofgold，theotherofsilver。
IdonotknowmuchoftheritualoftheoldGreekChurch，whichisthereligionoftheBlueMountains，butthethingswhichIsawbeforemecouldbenoneotherthanenlighteningsymbols。InstinctivelyI
knewthatIhadbeenbroughthither，thoughinthisgrimway，tobemarried。Theveryideaofitthrilledmetotheheart’score。I
thoughtthebestthingIcoulddowouldbetostayquitestill，andnotshowsurpriseatanythingthatmighthappen；butbesureIwasalleyesandears。
Ipeeredanxiouslyaroundmeineverydirection，butIcouldseenosignofherwhomIhadcometomeet。
Incidentally，however，Inoticedthatinthelighting，suchasitwas，therewasnoflame，no\"living\"light。Whateverlighttherewascamemuffled，asthoughthroughsomegreentranslucentstone。Thewholeeffectwasterriblyweirdanddisconcerting。
PresentlyIstarted，as，seeminglyoutofthedarknessbesideme，aman’shandstretchedoutandtookmine。Turning，Ifoundclosetomeatallmanwithshiningblackeyesandlongblackhairandbeard。Hewascladinsomekindofgorgeousrobeofclothofgold，richwithvarietyofadornment。Hisheadwascoveredwithahigh，over—hanginghatdrapedcloselywithablackscarf，theendsofwhichformedalong，hangingveiloneitherside。Theseveils，fallingoverthemagnificentrobesofclothofgold，hadanextraordinarilysolemneffect。
Iyieldedmyselftotheguidinghand，andshortlyfoundmyself，sofarasIcouldsee，atonesideofthesanctuary。
Inthefloorclosetomyfeetwasayawningchasm，intowhich，fromsohighovermyheadthatintheuncertainlightIcouldnotdistinguishitsorigin，hungachain。Atthesightastrangewaveofmemorysweptoverme。Icouldnotbutrememberthechainwhichhungovertheglass—coveredtombintheCrypt，andIhadaninstinctivefeelingthatthegrimchasminthefloorofthesanctuarywasbuttheothersideoftheopeningintheroofofthecryptfromwhichthechainoverthesarcophagusdepended。
Therewasacreakingsound——thegroaningofawindlassandtheclankingofachain。Therewasheavybreathingclosetomesomewhere。IwassointentonwhatwasgoingonthatIdidnotseethatonebyone，seemingtogrowoutofthesurroundingdarkness，severalblackfiguresinmonkishgarbappearedwiththesilenceofghosts。Theirfaceswereshroudedinblackcowls，whereinwereholesthroughwhichIcouldseedarkgleamingeyes。Myguideheldmetightlybythehand。Thisgavemeafeelingofsecurityinthetouchwhichhelpedtoretainwithinmybreastsomesemblanceofcalm。
Thestrainofthecreakingwindlassandtheclankingchaincontinuedforsolongthatthesuspensebecamealmostunendurable。Atlasttherecameintosightanironring，fromwhichasacentredependedfourlesserchainsspreadingwide。InafewsecondsmoreIcouldseethatthesewerefixedtothecornersofthegreatstonetombwiththecoveringofglass，whichwasbeingdraggedupward。Asitaroseitfilledcloselythewholeaperture。Whenitsbottomhadreachedtheleveloftheflooritstopped，andremainedrigid。Therewasnoroomforoscillation。Itwasatoncesurroundedbyanumberofblackfigures，whoraisedtheglasscoveringandboreitawayintothedarkness。Thentheresteppedforwardaverytallman，black—bearded，andwithhead—gearlikemyguide，butmadeintripletiers，healsowasgorgeouslyarrayedinflowingrobesofclothofgoldrichlyembroidered。Heraisedhishand，andforthwitheightotherblack—
cladfiguressteppedforward，andbendingoverthestonecoffin，raisedfromittherigidformofmyLady，stillcladinherShroud，andlaiditgentlyonthefloorofthesanctuary。
Ifeltitagracethatatthatinstantthedimlightsseemedtogrowless，andfinallytodisappear——allsavethetinypointsthatmarkedtheoutlineofthegreatCrosshighoverhead。Theseonlygavelightenoughtoaccentuatethegloom。Thehandthatheldminenowreleasedit，andwithasighIrealizedthatIwasalone。Afterafewmomentsmoreofthegroaningofthewinchandclankingofthechaintherewasasharpsoundofstonemeetingstone；thentherewassilence。I
listenedacutely，butcouldnothearnearmetheslightestsound。
Eventhecautious，restrainedbreathingaroundme，ofwhichuptothenIhadbeenconscious，hadceased。Notknowing，inthehelplessnessofmyignorance，whatIshoulddo，IremainedasIwas，stillandsilent，foratimethatseemedendless。Atlast，overcomebysomeemotionwhichIcouldnotatthemomentunderstand，Islowlysanktomykneesandbowedmyhead。Coveringmyfacewithmyhands，Itriedtorecalltheprayersofmyyouth。Itwasnot，Iamcertain，thatfearinanyformhadcomeuponme，orthatIhesitatedorfalteredinmyintention。ThatmuchIknownow；Iknewiteventhen。
Itwas，Ibelieve，thattheprolongedimpressivegloomandmysteryhadatlasttouchedmetothequick。ThebendingofthekneeswasbutsymbolicalofthebowingofthespirittoahigherPower。WhenI
hadrealizedthatmuch，IfeltmorecontentthanIhaddonesinceI
hadenteredthechurch，andwiththerenewedconsciousnessofcourage，tookmyhandsfrommyface，andliftedagainmybowedhead。
ImpulsivelyIsprangtomyfeetandstooderect——waiting。AllseemedtohavechangedsinceIhaddroppedonmyknees。Thepointsoflightabouttimechurch，whichhadbeeneclipsed，hadcomeagain，andweregrowinginpowertoapartialrevealingofthedimexpanse。Beforemewasthetablewiththeopenbook，onwhichwerelaidthegoldandsilverringsandthetwocrownsofflowers。Therewerealsotwotallcandles，withtiniestflamesofblue——theonlylivinglighttobeseen。
Outofthedarknesssteppedthesametallfigureinthegorgeousrobesandthetriplehat。HeledbythehandmyLady，stillcladinherShroud；butoverit，descendingfromthecrownofherhead，wasaveilofveryoldandmagnificentlaceofastonishingfineness。EveninthatdimlightIcouldnotetheexquisitebeautyofthefabric。
Theveilwasfastenedwithabunchoftinyspraysoforange—blossommingledwithcypressandlaurel——astrangecombination。Inherhandshecarriedagreatbouquetofthesame。Itssweetintoxicatingodourfloateduptomynostrils。Itandthesentimentwhichitsverypresenceevokedmademequiver。
Yieldingtotheguidingofthehandwhichheldhers，shestoodatmyleftsidebeforethetable。Herguidethentookhisplacebehindher。Ateitherendofthetable，torightandleftofus，stoodalong—beardedpriestinsplendidrobes，andwearingthehatwithdependingveilofblack。Oneofthem，whoseemedtobethemoreimportantofthetwo，andtooktheinitiative，signedtoustoputourrighthandsontheopenbook。MyLady，ofcourse，understoodtheritual，andknewthewordswhichthepriestwasspeaking，andofherownaccordputoutherhand。Myguideatthesamemomentdirectedmyhandtothesameend。ItthrilledmetotouchmyLady’shand，evenundersuchmysteriousconditions。
AfterthepriesthadsigneduseachthriceontheforeheadwiththesignoftheCross，hegavetoeachofusatinylightedtaperbroughttohimforthepurpose。Thelightswerewelcome，notsomuchforthesolaceoftheaddedlight，greatasthatwas，butbecauseitallowedustoseealittlemoreofeachother’sfaces。ItwasrapturetometoseethefaceofmyBride；andfromtheexpressionofherfaceI
wasassuredthatshefeltasIdid。Itgavemeaninexpressiblepleasurewhen，ashereyesrestedonme，theregrewafaintblushoverthegreypallorofhercheeks。
Thepriestthenputinsolemnvoicetoeachofusinturn，beginningwithme，thequestionsofconsentwhicharecommontoallsuchrituals。IansweredaswellasIcould，followingthemurmuredwordsofmyguide。MyLadyansweredoutproudlyinavoicewhich，thoughgivensoftly，seemedtoring。Itwasaconcern——evenagrief——tomethatIcouldnot，inthepriest’squestioning，catchhername，ofwhich，strangelyenough，——Iwasignorant。But，asIdidnotknowthelanguage，andasthephraseswerenotinaccordliterallywithourownritual，Icouldnotmakeoutwhichwordwasthename。
Aftersomeprayersandblessings，rhythmicallyspokenorsungbyaninvisiblechoir，thepriesttooktheringsfromtheopenbook，and，aftersigningmyforeheadthricewiththegoldoneasherepeatedtheblessingineachcase，placeditonmyrighthand；thenhegavemyLadythesilverone，withthesameritualthricerepeated。Isupposeitwastheblessingwhichistheeffectivepointinmakingtwointoone。
Afterthis，thosewhostoodbehindusexchangedourringsthrice，takingthemfromonefingerandplacingthemontheother，sothatattheendmywifeworethegoldringandIthesilverone。
Thencameachant，duringwhichthepriestswungthecenserhimself，andmywifeandIheldourtapers。Afterthatheblessedus，theresponsescomingfromthevoicesoftheunseensingersinthedarkness。
Afteralongritualofprayerandblessing，sungintriplicate，thepriesttookthecrownsofflowers，andputoneontheheadofeach，crowningmefirst，andwiththecrowntiedwithgold。Thenhesignedandblesseduseachthrice。Theguides，whostoodbehindus，exchangedourcrownsthrice，astheyhadexchangedtherings；sothatatthelast，asIwasgladtosee，mywifeworethecrownofgold，andIthatofsilver。
Thentherecame，ifitispossibletodescribesuchathing，ahushovereventhatstillness，asthoughsomeformofaddedsolemnityweretobegonethrough。Iwasnotsurprised，therefore，whenthepriesttookinhishandsthegreatgoldenchalice。Kneeling，mywifeandI
partooktogetherthrice。
Whenwehadrisenfromourkneesandstoodforalittlewhile，thepriesttookmylefthandinhisright，andI，bydirectionofmyguide，gavemyrighthandtomywife。Andsoinaline，thepriestleading，wecircledroundthetableinrhythmicmeasure。Thosewhosupportedusmovedbehindus，holdingthecrownsoverourheads，andreplacingthemwhenwestopped。
Afterahymn，sungthroughthedarkness，thepriesttookoffourcrowns。Thiswasevidentlytheconclusionoftheritual，forthepriestplacedusineachother’sarmstoembraceeachother。Thenheblessedus，whowerenowmanandwife！
Thelightswentoutatonce，someasifextinguished，othersslowlyfadingdowntoblackness。
Leftinthedark，mywifeandIsoughteachother’sarmsagain，andstoodtogetherforafewmomentshearttoheart，tightlyclaspingeachother，andkissedeachotherfervently。
Instinctivelyweturnedtothedoorofthechurch，whichwasslightlyopen，sothatwecouldseethemoonlightstealinginthroughtheaperture。Withevensteps，sheholdingmetightlybytheleftarm——
whichisthewife’sarm，wepassedthroughtheoldchurchandoutintothefreeair。
Despiteallthatthegloomhadbroughtme，itwassweettobeintheopenairandtogether——thisquiteapartfromournewrelationstoeachother。Themoonrodehigh，andthefulllight，comingafterthedimnessordarknessinthechurch，seemedasbrightasday。Icouldnow，forthefirsttime，seemywife’sfaceproperly。Theglamourofthemoonlightmayhaveservedtoenhanceitsetherealbeauty，butneithermoonlightnorsunlightcoulddojusticetothatbeautyinitslivinghumansplendour。AsIgloriedinherstarryeyesIcouldthinkofnothingelse；butwhenforamomentmyeyes，rovingroundforthepurposeofprotection，caughtsightofherwholefigure，therewasapangtomyheart。Thebrilliantmoonlightshowedeverydetailinterribleeffect，andIcouldseethatsheworeonlyherShroud。Inthemomentofdarkness，afterthelastbenediction，beforeshereturnedtomyarms，shemusthaveremovedherbridalveil。Thismay，ofcourse，havebeeninaccordancewiththeestablishedritualofherchurch；but，allthesame，myheartwassore。Theglamourofcallinghermyveryownwassomewhatobscuredbythebridaladornmentbeingshorn。Butitmadenodifferenceinhersweetnesstome。Togetherwewentalongthepaththroughthewood，shekeepingequalstepwithmeinwifelyway。
WhenwehadcomethroughthetreesnearenoughtoseetheroofoftheCastle，nowgildedwiththemoonlight，shestopped，andlookingatmewitheyesfulloflove，said：
\"HereImustleaveyou！\"
\"What？\"Iwasallaghast，andIfeltthatmychagrinwasexpressedinthetoneofhorrifiedsurpriseinmyvoice。Shewentonquickly：
\"Alas！ItisimpossiblethatIshouldgofarther——atpresent！\"
\"Butwhatistopreventyou？\"Iqueried。\"Youarenowmywife。Thisisourwedding—night；andsurelyyourplaceiswithme！\"Thewailinhervoiceassheansweredtouchedmetothequick：
\"Oh，Iknow，Iknow！Thereisnodearerwishinmyheart——therecanbenone——thantosharemyhusband’shome。Oh，mydear，mydear，ifyouonlyknewwhatitwouldbetometobewithyoualways！ButindeedImaynot——notyet！Iamnotfree！Ifyoubutknewhowmuchthatwhichhashappenedto—nighthascostme——orhowmuchcosttoothersaswellastomyselfmaybeyettocome——youwouldunderstand。
Rupert\"——itwasthefirsttimeshehadeveraddressedmebyname，andnaturallyitthrilledmethroughandthrough——\"Rupert，myhusband，onlythatItrustyouwithallthefaithwhichisinperfectlove——
mutuallove，IdarenothavedonewhatIhavedonethisnight。But，dear，Iknowthatyouwillbearmeout；thatyourwife’shonourisyourhonour，evenasyourhonourismine。Myhonourisgiventothis；andyoucanhelpme——theonlyhelpIcanhaveatpresent——bytrustingme。Bepatient，mybeloved，bepatient！Oh，bepatientforalittlelonger！Itshallnotbeforlong。SosoonasevermysoulisfreedIshallcometoyou，myhusband；andweshallneverpartagain。Becontentforawhile！BelievemethatIloveyouwithmyverysoul；andtokeepawayfromyourdearsideismorebitterformethanevenitcanbeforyou！Think，mydearone，Iamnotasotherwomenare，assomedayyoushallclearlyunderstand。Iamatthepresent，andshallbeforalittlelonger，constrainedbydutiesandobligationsputuponmebyothers，andforothers，andtowhichIampledgedbythemostsacredpromises——givennotonlybymyself，butbyothers——andwhichImustnotforgo。TheseforbidmetodoasIwish。
Oh，trustme，mybeloved——myhusband！\"
Sheheldoutherhandsappealingly。Themoonlight，fallingthroughthethinningforest，showedherwhitecerements。Thentherecollectionofallshemusthavesuffered——theawfullonelinessinthatgrimtombintheCrypt，thedespairingagonyofonewhoishelplessagainsttheunknown——sweptovermeinawaveofpity。WhatcouldIdobutsaveherfromfurtherpain？Andthiscouldonlybebyshowinghermyfaithandtrust。Ifshewastogobacktothatdreadfulcharnel—house，shewouldatleasttakewithhertheremembrancethatonewholovedherandwhomsheloved——towhomshehadbeenlatelyboundinthemysteryofmarriage——trustedhertothefull。Ilovedhermorethanmyself——morethanmyownsoul；andIwasmovedbypitysogreatthatallpossibleselfishnesswasmergedinitsdepths。Ibowedmyheadbeforeher——myLadyandmyWife——asI
said：