Itwasstillfulllightwhentheyrosefromthetable，anditwasscarcelytwilightwhenJeffheardCynthialettingherselfoutatthebackdoor。Hefanciedhergoingdowntoherfather’shouse，andhewentouttothecornerofthehoteltomeether。Shefalteredamomentatsightofhim，andthenkeptonwithavertedface。
Hejoinedher，andwalkedbesideher。\"Well，Cynthy，whatareyougoingtosaytome？I’moffforCambridgeagainto—morrowmorning，andI
supposewe’vegottounderstandeachother。Icameupheretoputmyselfinyourhands，tokeeportothrowaway，justasyouplease。Well？Haveyouthoughtaboutit？\"
\"Everyminute，\"saidthegirl，quietly。
\"Well？\"
\"Ifyouhadcaredforme，itcouldn’thavehappened。\"
\"Ohyes，itcould。Nowthat’sjustwhereyou’remistaken。That’swhereawomannevercanunderstandaman。Imightcarryonwithhalfadozengirls，andyetneverforgetyou，orthinklessofyou，althoughIcouldseeallthetimehowprettyandbrighteveryoneof’emwas。That’sthewayaman’smindisbuilt。It’scurious，butit’strue。\"
\"Idon’tbelieveIcareforanyshareinyourmind，then，\"saidthegirl。
\"Oh，come，now！Youdon’tmeanthat。YouknowIwasjustjoking；youknowIdon’tjustifywhatI’vedone，andIdon’texcuseit。ButIthinkI’veactedprettysquarewithyouaboutit——abouttellingyou，Imean。
Idon’twanttolayanyclaim，butyourememberwhenyoumademepromisethatiftherewasanythingshadyIwantedtohidefromyou——Well，Iactedonthat。Youdoremember？\"
\"Yes，\"saidCynthia，andshepulledthecloudoverthesideofherfacenexttohim，andwalkedalittlefaster。
Hehastenedhisstepstokeepupwithher。\"Cynthy，ifyouputyourarmsroundme，asyoudidthen——\"
\"Ican’tJeff！\"
\"Youdon’twantto。\"
\"Yes，Ido！Butyoudon’twantmeto，asyoudidthen。Doyou？\"Shestoppedabruptlyandfacedhimfull。\"Tellme，honestly！\"
Jeffdroppedhisboldeyes，andthesmilelefthishandsomemouth。
\"Youdon’t，\"saidthegirl，\"foryouknowthatifyoudid，Iwoulddoit。\"Shebegantowalkonagain。\"Itwouldn’tbehardformetoforgiveyouanythingyou’vedoneagainstme——oragainstyourself；Ishouldcareforyouthesame——ifyouwerethesameperson；butyou’renotthesame，andyouknowit。Itoldyouthen——thattimethatIdidn’twanttomakeyoudowhatyouknewwasright，andInevershalltrytodoitagain。
I’msorryIdiditthen。Iwaswrong。AndIshouldbeafraidofyouifIdidnow。Sometimeyouwouldmakemesufferforit，justasyou’vemademesufferformakingyoudothenwhatwasright。\"
ItstruckJeffasaverycuriousfactthatCynthiamustalwayshaveknownhimbetterthanheknewhimselfinsomeways，forhenowperceivedthetruthandaccuracyofherwords。Hegavehermindcreditforthepenetrationdueherheart；hedidnotunderstandthatitisthroughtheirlovewomendivinethesoulsofmen。Whatotherwitnessesofhischaracterhadslowlyandcarefullyreasonedoutfromtheirexperienceofhimshehadknownfromthebeginning，becausehewasdeartoher。
Hewassilent，andthen，withraregravity，hesaid，\"Cynthia，Ibelieveyou’reright，\"andheneverknewhowherheartleapedtowardhimathiswords。\"I’maprettybadchap，Iguess。ButIwantyoutogivemeanotherchanceandI’lltrynottomakeyoupayforit，either，\"headded，withaflickerofhissaucyhumor。
\"I’llgiveyouachance，then，\"shesaid，andsheshrankfromthehandheputouttowardher。\"Gobackandtellthatgirlyou’refreenow，andifshewantsyoushecanhaveyou。\"
\"Isthatwhatyoucallachance？\"demandedJeff，betweenangerandinjury。Foraninstantheimaginedherderidinghimandrevengingherself。
\"It’stheonlyoneIcangiveyou。She’snevertriedtomakeyoudowhatwasright，andyou’llneverbetemptedtohurther。\"
\"You’reprettyroughonme，Cynthy，\"Jeffprotested，almostplaintively。
Heasked，moreincharacter：\"Ain’tyouafraidofmakingmedoright，now？\"
\"I’mnotmakingyou。Idon’tpromiseyouanything，evenifshewon’thaveyou。\"
\"Oh！\"
\"DidyousupposeIdidn’tmeanthatyouwerefree？ThatIwouldputalieinyourmouthforyoutobetruewith？\"
\"Iguessyou’retoodeepforme，\"saidJeff，afterasulkysilence。
\"Thenit’salloffbetweenus？Whatdoyousay？\"
\"Whatdoyousay？\"
\"Isayit’sjustasitwasbefore，ifyoucareforme。\"
\"Icareforyou，butitcanneverbethesameasitwasbefore。Whatyou’vedone，you’vedone。IwishIcouldhelpit，butIcan’t。Ican’tmakemyselfoverintowhatIwastwenty—fourhoursago。Iseemanotherperson，inanotherworld；it’sasifIdied，andcametolifesomewhereelse。I’msorryenough，ifthatcouldhelp，butitcan’t。Goandtellthatgirlthetruth：thatyoucameupheretome，andIsentyoubacktoher。\"
AgleamofamusementvisitedJeffinthegloomwhereheseemedtobedarkling。HefancieddoingthatverythingwithBessieLynde，andthewildjoyshewouldsnatchfromanexperiencesounique，soimpossible。
Thenthegleamfaded。\"AndwhatifIdidn’twanther？\"hedemanded。
\"Tellherthattoo，\"saidCynthia。
\"Isuppose，\"saidJeff，sulkily，\"you’llletmegoawayanddoasI
please，ifI’mfree。\"
\"Ohyes。Idon’twantyoutodoanythingbecauseItoldyou。Iwon’tmakethatmistakeagain。Goanddowhatyouareabletodoofyourownfreewill。YouknowwhatyououghttodoaswellasIdo；andyouknowagreatdealbetterwhatyoucando。\"
TheyhadreachedCynthia’shouse，andtheyweretalkingatthesidedoor，astheyhadthenightbefore，whentherehadbeenhopeforherinthenewnessofhercalamity，beforeshehadyetfullyimaginedit。
Jeffmadenoanswertoherlastwords。Heasked，\"AmIgoingtoseeyouagain？\"
\"Iguessnot。Idon’tbelieveIshallbeupbeforeyoustart。\"
\"Allright。Good—bye，then。\"Heheldouthishand，andsheputhersinitforthemomenthechosetoholdit。Thenheturnedandslowlyclimbedthehill。
Cynthiawasstilllyingwithherfaceinherpillowwhenherfathercameintothedarklittlehouse，andpeeredintoherroomwiththenewlylightedlampinhishand。Sheturnedherfacequicklyoverandlookedathimwithdryandshiningeyes。
\"Well，it’salloverwithJeffandme，father。\"
\"Well，I’msatisfied，\"saidWhitwell。\"Ifyoucouldha’madeitup，soyoucouldha’feltrightaboutit，Ishouldn’tha’hadanythingtosayagainstit，butI’mgladit’sturnedoutthewayithas。He’sacomicaldevil，andhealwayswas，andI’mgladyoua’n’ttakin’onabouthimanymore。Youusedtohavesomuchspiritwhenyouwaslittle。\"
\"Oh，——spirit！Youdon’tknowhowmuchspiritI’vehad，now。\"
\"Well，Ipresumenot，\"Whitwellassented。
\"I’vebeenthinking，\"saidthegirl，afteralittlepause，\"thatweshallhavetogoawayfromhere。\"
\"Well，Iguessnot，\"herfatherbegan。\"NotfornoJeffDur——\"
\"Yes，yes。Wemust！Don’tmakeonetalkaboutit。We’llstayheretillJacksongetsbackinJune，andthen——wemustgosomewhereelse。We’llgodowntoBoston，andI’lltrytogetaplacetoteach，orsomething，andFrankcangetaplace。\"
\"Ipresume，\"Whitwellmused，\"thatMr。Westovercould——\"
\"Father！\"criedthegirl，withanenergythatstartledhim，assheliftedherselfonherelbow。\"Don’teverthinkoftroublingMr。Westover！Oh，\"
shelamented，\"Iwasthinkingoftroublinghimmyself！Butwemustn’t，wemustn’t！Ishouldbesoashamed！\"
\"Well，\"saidWhitwell，\"timeenoughtothinkaboutallthat。WegottwogoodmonthsyettoplanitoutbeforeJacksongetsback，andIguesswecanthinkofsomethingbeforethat。Ipresume，\"headded，thoughtfully，\"thatwhenMrs。Durginhearsthatyou’vegiveJeffthesack，she’llmakeconsid’ableofakick。Shedoneitwhenyougotengaged。\"
XLVII。
AfterhewentbacktoCambridge，Jeffcontinuedmechanicallyinthedirectiongivenhimbymotiveswhichhadceasedforhim。InthemidstofhisdivergencewithBessieLyndehehadstillkeptaninnerfealtytoCynthia，andtriedtofulfilthepurposesandambitionshehadforhim。
Theoperationofthishabitualallegiancenowkepthimuptohiswork，butthetimemustcomewhenitcouldnolongeroperate，whenhiswholeconsciousnessshouldacceptthefactknowntohisintelligence，andheshouldrecognizethecloseofthatincidentofhislifeasthebereavedfinallyacceptandrecognizethefactofdeath。
Theeventbroughthimrelief，anditbroughthimfreedom。Hewassensibleinhisrelaxationofhavingstraineduptoanother’sideal，ofhavingbeenhamperedbyanother’swill。Hispleasureinthereliefwastemperedbyaregret，notwhollyunpleasant，forthegirlwhoseaims，sincetheywerenolongerhis，mustbedisappointed。HewassorryforCynthia，andinhisremorsehewasfonderofherthanhehadeverbeen。
Hefelthermagnanimityandclemency；hebegantoquestion，inthatwordlessdeepofbeingwherevolitionbegins，whetheritwouldnotbepayingakindofdutytoherifhetookheratherwordandtriedtogobacktoBessieLynde。Butforthepresenthedidnothingbutrenounceallnotionofworkingathisconditions，orattemptingtotakeadegree。
Thatwaspartofathingthatwaspast，andwasnopartofanythingtocome，sofarasJeffnowforecasthisfuture。
HedidnotchoosetoreporthimselftoWestover，andriskascolding，orasnubbing。HeeasilyforgaveWestoverforthetonehehadtakenattheirlastmeeting，buthedidnotcaretoseehim。Hewouldhavemethimhalf—way，however，inafriendlyadvance，andhewasawareofmuchgood—willtowardhim，whichhecouldnothavebeenreluctanttoshowifchancehadbroughtthemtogether。
JeffmissedCynthia’sletterswhichusedtocomesoregularlyeveryTuesday，andhehadahalf—houreverySundaywhichwasatfirstratherpainfullyvacantsincehenolongerwrotetoher。Butinthisvacancyhehadatleastnolongerthepangofself—reproachwhichherlettersalwaysbroughthim，andhewasnotobligedtoputhimselftotheshameofconcealmentinwritingtoher。Hehadnevermindedthattacitlyingonhisownaccount，buthehateditinrelationtoher；italwayshurthimassomethingincongruousandunfit。HewrotetohismothernowonSunday，andinhisfirstletter，whiletheimpressionofCynthia’sdignityandgenerositywasstillvivid，heurgedhertomakeitcleartothegirlthathewishedherandherfamilytoremainatLion’sHeadasifnothinghadhappened。Heputagreatdealofrealfeelingintothisrequest，andheofferedtogoandspendayearinEurope，ifhismotherthoughtthatCynthiawouldbemorereconciledtohiscomingbackattheendofthattime。
Hismotheransweredwithadrynesstowhichhisearsuppliedthetonesofhervoice，thatshewouldtrytogetalonginthemanagementofLion’sHeadtillhisbrothergotback，butthatshehadnoobjectiontohisgoingtoEuropeforayearifhehadthemoneytospare。Jeffcouldnotrefuseherjoke，ashefeltit，acertainapplause，buthethoughtitprettyroughthathismothershouldtakepartsodecidedlyagainsthimassheseemedtobedoing。Hehadexpectedhertobeangrywithhim，butbeforetheypartedshehadseemedtofindsomeexcuseforhim，andyethereshewassidingagainstherownsoninwhathemightverywellconsideranunnaturalway。IfJacksonhadbeenathomehewouldhavelaidittohischarge；butheknewthatCynthiawouldhavescornedeventospeakofhimwithhismother，andheknewtoowellhismother’sslightforWhitwelltosupposethathecouldhaveinfluencedher。HismindturnedinmomentarysuspiciontoWestover。HadWestover，hewondered，withapurposetopayhimupforitformingitselfsimultaneouslywithhisquestion，beensettinghismotheragainsthim？ShemighthavewrittentoWestovertogetatthetrueinwardnessofhisbehavior，andWestovermighthavewrittenhersomethingthathadmadeherhardenherheartagainsthim。Butuponreflectionthisseemedoutofcharacterforbothofthem；andJeffwasthrownbackuponhismother’ssobersecondthoughtofhismisconductforanexplanationofhercoldness。Hecouldnotdenythathehadgrievouslydisappointedherinseveralways。
Buthedidnotseewhyheshouldnottakeacertainhintfromherletter，orconstructahintfromit，atonewithavagueintentpromptedbyhisownrestlessandcuriousvanity。SincehehadpartedwithBessieLynde，ontermsofhumiliationforherwhichmusthavebeenanguishforhimifhehadeverlovedher，orlovedanythingbuthispoweroverher，hehadremainedinabsoluteignoranceofher。Hehadnotheardwhereshewasorhowshewas；butnow，asthefewweeksbeforeClassDayandCommencementcrumbledaway，hebegantowonderwhyshemadenosign。Hebelievedthatsinceshehadbeenwillingtogosofartogethim，shewouldnotbewillingtogivehimupsoeasily。ThethoughtofCynthiahadalwaysintrudedmoreorlesseffectivelybetweenthem，butnowthatthisthoughtbegantofadeintothepast，thethoughtofBessiebegantogrowoutofitwithnointerposingshadow。
However，Jeffwasinnohurry。Itwasnotpassionthatmovedhim，andthemoodinwhichhecouldplaywiththenotionofgettingbacktohisflirtationwithBessieLyndewaspleasanteraftertheviolenceofrecenteventsthananyrenewalofstrongsensationscouldbe。Hepreferredtoloiterinthismood，andhewasmeantimemuchmorecomfortablethanhehadbeenforagreatwhile。HewasridofthedisagreeablesenseofdisloyaltytoCynthia，andhewasridofthestressoflivinguptoherconscienceinvariousways。HewasridofBessieLynde，too，andofthetroubleofforecastinganddiscountinghercaprices。Histhoughtturnedattimeswithasoftregrettohopes，disappointments，experiencesconnectedwithneither，andnowtingedwithatendermelancholy，unalloyedbyshameorremorse。AshedrewnearertoClassDayhehadasomewhatkeenercompunctionforCynthiaandthehopeshehadencouragedhertobuildandhadthendashed。Buthewascomingmoreandmoretoregarditallasfatality；andifthechancethathecountedupontobringhimandBessietogetheragainhadoccurredhecouldhavemoreeasilyforgivenhimself。
Oneofthejays，whowasspreadingonratheralargescale，wantedJefftospreadwithhim，butherefused，because，ashesaid，hemeanttokeepoutofitaltogether；andforthesamereasonhedeclinedtotakepartinthespreadofaratherjaysocietyhebelongedto。InhissecrethearthetrustedthatsomefriendlyfortuitymightthrowaninvitationtoBeckHallinhisway，oratleastacardfortheGym，which，ifnolongertheplaceithadbeen，wasstillbynomeansjay。Hegotneither；butashefeltallthejoyoftheJunedayinhisyoungbloodheconsoledhimselfverywellwiththedancingatoneofthehalls，wherethecompanyhappenedthatyeartobeopenly，almostrecklesslyjay。Jeffhadsomedistinctionamongthefellowswhoenviouslyknewofhissocialsuccessduringthewinter，andespeciallyofhisaffairwithBessieLynde；andthereweresomegirlsveryprettyandverywelldressedamongthecrowdofgirlswhowereneither。Theywerefromremotepartsofthecountry，andinthechargeofchaperonsignorantofthedifferencessopoignanttolocalsociety。Jeffwentaboutamongthem，anddancedwiththesistersandcousinsofseveralmenwhoseemedsuperiortothelostconditionoftheirkinswomen；thesewerenicefellowsenough，butdoomedbytheirgrinding，ordigging，ortheirwantofworldlywisdom，toaplaceamongthejays，whentheyreallyhadsomequalificationsforanoblerstanding。
Hehadaverygoodtime，andhewasenjoyinghimselfinhisdevotiontoalivelyyoungbrunettewhomhewasmakinglaughwithhisjokesaboutsomeoftheothers，whenhiseyewascaughtbyagroupofladieswhoadvancedamongthejayswithsomethingofthatcollectiveintrepidityandindividualapprehensioncharacteristicofpeopleinslumming。Theyhadtheairofnotknowingwhatmighthappentothem，buttheadventurousyoungBostonmatroninchargeofthegirlskeptonaboldfrontbehindherlorgnette，andsweptthestrangecompanyshefoundherselfinwithanunshrinkingeyeassheledherbandamongthepromenaders，andpastthecouplesseatedalongthewalls。ShehesitatedamomentasherglancefelluponJeff，andthensheyielded，atwhateverrisk，tothecomfortoffindingaknownfaceamongsomanyaliens。\"Why，Mr。Durgin！\"shecalledout。\"Bessie，here’sMr。Durgin，\"andsheturnedtothegirl，whowasinhertrain，asJeffhadperceivedbysomethingfinerthanthesensesfromthefirst。
Herosefromthesideofhisbrunette，whosebrotherwasstandingnear，andshookhandswiththeadventurousyoungmatron，whoseemedsuddenlymuchbetteracquaintedwithhimthanhehadeverthoughther，andwithBessieLynde；theotherswereNewYorkgirls，andthematronpresentedhim。\"Areyougoingon？\"sheasked，andthevaguechallengewiththesmilethataccompanieditwassufficientinvitationforhim。
\"Why，Ibelieveso，\"hesaid，andheturnedtotakeleaveofhisprettybrunette；butshehadpromptlyvanishedwithherbrother，andhewassparedthetroubleofgettingridofher。HewouldhavebeenequaltomuchmoreforthesakeoffindinghimselfwithBessieLyndeagain，whoseexcitementhecouldseeburninginhereyes，thoughherthickcomplexiongrewneitherbrighternorpaler。Hedidnotknowwhatqualityofexcitementitmightbe，buthesaid，audaciously：\"It’sagoodwhilesincewemet！\"andhewassensiblethathisaudacityavailed。
\"Isit？\"sheasked。Heputhimselfatherside，andhedidnotleaveheragaintillhewenttodressforthestrugglearoundtheTree。Hefoundhimselfeasilyincludedintheadventurousyoungmatron’sparty。Hehadnottheeleganceofsomeofthetallerandslenderermeninthescholar’sgown，butthecapbecamehishandsomeface。HisaffairwithBessieLyndehadgivenhimacertainnote，andanadventurousyoungmatron，whowasnaturallyalittleindiscriminate，mightverywellhavebeenwillingtolethimgoaboutwithherparty。ShecouldnotknowhowimpudenthismerepresencewaswithreferencetoBessie，andthegirlherselfmadenosignthatcouldhaveenlightenedher。Sheacceptedsomethingmorethathershareofhisgeneralusefulnesstotheparty；shedancedwithhimwheneverheaskedher，andsheseemednottoscrupletopublishheraffairwithhimintheopenestmanner。Ifhecouldhavestilledacertainshameforherwhichhefelt，hewouldhavethoughthewashavingthebestkindoftime。Theymadenoaccountofby—gonesintheirtalk，butshehadneverbeensobrilliant，orpromptedhimtosomanyoftheeffronterieswhichwerethespiritofhishumor。Hethoughtherawfullynice，withlotsofsense；helikedherlettinghimcomebackwithoutanyfoolingorfuss，andhebegantoadmireinsteadofdespisingherforit。
Decidedlyitwas，asshewouldhavesaid，thechicquestsortofthing。
Whatwastheuse，anyway？Hemadeuphismind。
WhenhesaidhemustgoanddressfortheTree，hetookleaveofherfirst，andhewasawareofavividemotion，whichwaslikeregretinheratpartingwithhim。Shesaid，Musthe？Sheseemedtowanttosaysomethingmoretohim；whilehewasdismissinghimselffromtheothers，henoticedthatonceortwicesheopenedherlipsasifsheweregoingtospeak。Intheendshedidnothingmoreimportantthantoaskifhehadseenherbrother；butafterhehadleftthepartyheturnedandsawherfollowinghimwitheyesthathefanciedanxiousandevenfrightenedintheirgaze。
TheriotroundtheTreeroareditselfthroughitswontedevents。Classafterclassoftheundergraduatesfiledinandsankuponthegrassbelowtheterracesandparterresofbrilliantlydressedladieswithinthequadrangleofseats；thealumnipushedthemselvestogetheragainstthewallofHolderChapel；themenoftheSeniorclasscamelastintheirgrotesquevarietyofsweatersandsecondandthirdbestclothesforthescrambleattheTree。Theregulationcheerstorefromthroatsthatgrewhoarserandhoarser，tilleveryclassandeveryfavoriteinthefacultyhadbeencheered。Thenthesignal—hatwasflungintotheair，andtherushattheTreewasmade，andthecombat’fortheflowersthatgarlandeditsburlywaistbegan。
Jeff’ssizeandshapeforbadehimtotryfortheflowersfromtheshouldersofothers。HewasoneofagroupofjayswhosettheirbackstotheTree，andfoughtawayallcomersexcepttheirown；theypulleddowneverymannotoftheirsort，andputupajay，whostrippedtheTreeofitsflowersandflungthemtohisfellowsbelow。Ashewasletdroptotheground，Jeffsnatchedahandfulofhisspoilfromhim，andmadeoffwithittowardtheplacewherehehadseenBessieLyndeandherparty。Butwhenhereachedtheplace，shoulderingandelbowinghiswaythroughthepress，shewasnolongerthere。Hesawherhatatadistancethroughthecrowd，wherehedidnotchoosetofollow，andhestuffedtheflowersintohisbreasttogivetoherlater。Heexpectedtomeethersomewhereintheevening；ifnot，hewouldtrytofindheratheraunt’shouseintown；failingthat，hecouldsendhertheflowers，andtrustherforsomesortofleadingacknowledgment。
Hewentandhadabathanddressedhimselffreshly，andthenhewentforawalkinthestilleveningair。Hewasveryhotfromthebattlewhichhadbeenfoughtoverhim，andwhichhehadsharedwithallhisstrength，anditseemedtohimasifhecouldnotgetcool。HestrolledfaroutalongConcordAvenue，beyondtheexpansesandice—horsesofFreshPond，intothecountrytowardBelmont，withhishatoffandhisheaddown。Hewasverywellsatisfied，andhewassmilingtohimselfattheeaseofhisreturntoBessie，andsecurelyspeculatingupontheoutcomeoftheirrenewedunderstanding。
Heheardavehiclebehindhim，rapidlydriven，andheturnedoutforitwithoutlookingaround。Thensuddenlyhefeltafierystingonhisforehead，andthenashowerofstingsswiftlyfollowingeachotheroverhisheadandface。Herememberedstumbling，whenhewasaboy，intoanestofyellow—jackets，thatswarmeduparoundhimandpiercedhimlikesparksoffireateveryuncoveredpoint。Butheknewatthesametimethatitwassomeoneinthevehiclebesidehimwhowaslashinghimovertheheadwithawhip。Hebowedhisheadwithhiseyesshutandlungedblindlyouttowardhisassailant，hopingtoseizehim。
Butthehorsesprangaside，andtorepasthimdowntheroad。Jeffopenedhiseyes，andthroughthebloodthatdrippedfromthecutsabovethemhesawthewickedfaceofAlanLyndelookingbackathimfromthedogcartwherehesatwithhismanbesidehim。Hebrandishedhisbrokenwhipintheair，andflungitintothebushes。Jeffwalkedon，andpickeditup，beforeheturnedasidetothepoolsofthemarshstretchingoneitherhand，andtriedtostanchhishurts，andgethimselfintoshapeforreturningtotownandstealingbacktohislodging。Hehadtowaittillafterdark，andwatchhischancetogetintothehouseunnoticed。
XLVIII
ThechumtowhomJeffconfidedthestoryofhisencounterwithamanheleftnamelessinwardlythankedfortunethathewasnotthatman；forheknewhimdestinedsoonerorlatertomakesuchreparationfortheinjurieshehadinflictedasJeffchosetoexact。Hetendedhimcarefully，andrespectedthereticenceJeffguardedconcerningthewholematter，evenwiththeyoungdoctorwhomhisfriendcalled，andwhokepttohimselfhisimpressionsofthenatureofJeff’sinjuries。
Jefflayinhisdarkenedroom，andburnedwiththem，andwiththethoughts，guesses，purposeswhichflamedthroughhismind。Hadshe，thatgirl，knownwhatherbrothermeanttodo？Hadshewishedhimtothinkofherinthemomentofhispunishment，andhadshespokenofherbrothersothathemightrecallher，orhadshehadsomeineffectiveimpulsetowarnhimagainstherbrotherwhenshespokeofhim？
Helayandragedinvainwithhisconjectures，andhedidathousandimaginedmurdersuponLyndeinrevengeofhisshame。
Towardtheendoftheweek，whilehishurtswerestilltooevidenttoallowhimtogoout—of—doorsbeforedark，hehadanotefromWestoveraskinghimtocomeinatoncetoseehim。
\"YourbrotherJackson，\"Westoverwrote，\"reachedBostonbytheNewYorktrainthismorning，andiswithmehere。ImusttellyouIthinkheisnotatallwell，buthedoesnotknowhowsickheis，andsoIforewarnyou。Hewantstogetonhome，butIdonotfeeleasyaboutlettinghimmaketherestofthejourneyalone。Someoneoughttogowithhim。I
writenotknowingwhetheryouarestillinCambridgeornot；orwhether，ifyouare，youcangetawayatthistime。ButIthinkyonought，andI
wish，atanyrate，thatyouwouldcomeinatonceandseeJackson。Thenwecansettlewhathadbestbedone。\"