ANY INDIVIDUAL WOMAN MAY WAVER BETWEEN A CRAVING FOR SELF SACRIFICE AND A REPUGNANCE TO THE VERY THOUGHT OF IT THIS CHANGEABLENESS CAN MAKE HER FEEL RESENTFUL AFTER SHE HAS GIVEN IN TO HER HUSBAND ALL THIS MUST BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN MAKING DECISIONS


COMPROMISE NOT SUBMISSION SHOULD BE THE RULE IF JOHN FORGES AHEAD ON ONE COUNT MARY MUST FIND AN ACCEPTABLE OUTLET FOR HERSELF ON SOME OTHER FRONT THREE


AND THE EFFORT TO DO SO TO PLEASE THE PARTNER IS LIABLE TO RESULT IN A TOPHEAVY HYPOCRISY A SUPERSTRUCTURE CALCULATED TO IMPRESS THE OBSERVER BUT BUILT ON A SHAKY FOUNDATION OF CHAOS


A CHAMELEON CHANGES COLOR EASILY TO MATCH ITS ENVIRONMENT OR TEMPER OF THE MOMENT BUT A HUMAN BEING'S MORE LASTING CHANGE IS NOT SO READILY MADE EACH MARRIAGE PARTNER MUST BE PROUD OF THE OTHER AND LET THE OTHER CONTINUE TO BE PROUD OF HIM OR HER


THEREFORE YOU HAVE TO RESPECT YOURSELF AND ACT AS IF YOU DID EVEN AT HOME TOO MANY COUPLES EXPLOIT THE SENSE OF LET DOWN THAT MARRIAGE BRINGS WITH IT AFTER SO LONG A TIME HUSBAND AND WIFE CEASE TO FEEL THAT THEY MUST EXERT THEMSELVES FOR EACH OTHER IN LITTLE MATTERS


KNOWING THEMSELVES ACCEPTED THEY LOUNGE MENTALLY MANNERLY AND PHYSICALLY WHEN AT HOME OR ELSEWHERE ALONE TOGETHER SOME OF THIS RELAXATION IS A GOOD THING BUT IT IS A MISTAKE TO LET HOME AND SPOUSE DEGENERATE INTO NOTHING MORE THAN AN INVITATION TO BE LAZY


USING THE MATE FOR RELIEF AS IN NAGGING WHINING CRYING OR GRUMBLING IS TABOO IF YOU ARE TIRED OR IRRITABLE YOU CAN REST OR EXERCISE FOR RESTORATION AS IN THE DAYS BEFORE MARRIAGE


AND DRY UP THE SOURCE OF REFRESHMENT YOU ARE TRYING TO TAP FATIGUE AND NERVOUSNESS EXPRESSED BREED FATIGUE AND NERVOUSNESS IN A SYMPATHETIC AUDIENCE FOUR TOO GREAT CONCENTRATION IS TO BE AVOIDED


EVEN THE GREATEST LOVE STAGNATES IF IT IS KEPT OUT OF THE MAIN CURRENT OF LIFE TO CARE ONLY FOR EACH OTHER IS SELFISHNESS FOR TWO ONLY ONE STEP REMOVED FROM SELF CENTERED ENGROSSMENT


THIS IS WHY THE UNIQUE VALUE OF CHILDREN IS THEIR SERVICE AS AN ENTERING WEDGE IN THE CLOSE GROWN LOVE OF HUSBAND AND WIFE A WEDGE THAT WIDENS AND HOLDS FOREVER WIDER THE UNITY OF LOVE IT HAS PENETRATED OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES OTHER INTERESTS MAY SERVE A SIMILAR PURPOSE


THOUGH MORE EASILY DISLODGED AND SELDOM STRIKING SO DEEP FRIENDS OLD AND NEW HAVE A FUNCTION IN RELIEVING THE OVERCLOSE CONCERN OF ONE MARRIAGE PARTNER WITH THE OTHER IF THEY ARE TO PLAY THEIR FULL PART IN PREVENTING OVERCONCENTRATION


COMMON FRIENDS ARE FINE BUT FOR THIS PURPOSE THERE IS SPECIAL NEED OF FRIENDS FOR EITHER SPOUSE WHO CAN CALL FORTH THOSE SIDES OF HIS OR HER NATURE THAT ARE NOT AROUSED BY THE MATE


THE FACTOR THAT UNDERLIES ALL THE PERPLEXITIES AND MOST OF THE CONTENTMENT OF MARRIAGE IS ITS UNIQUE DEGREE OF CONCENTRATED INTIMACY HERE THE SUPREME TESTING ALWAYS COMES EACH MEANS SO MUCH TO THE OTHER


THE WIFE MAY BE ALONE PART OF THE DAY AND PROFIT BY IT WHEN JOHN COMES HOME AT NIGHT HE HAS NOT HAD THAT PRIVILEGE


OR BY GOING OUT WITHOUT HIS WIFE OR BY HAVING HIS FRIENDS IN WHEN SHE IS NOT AROUND FIVE THE GENERAL LEVEL OF EMOTION IS WHAT COUNTS NOT THE SPECTACULAR SCALING OF PEAKS STAKING ALL ON HIGH MOMENTS IS MELODRAMA WITH NO COMIC RELIEF


SOME HUSBANDS SOME WIVES ARE ARTISTS AT ACHIEVING AND MOMENTARILY LIVING UP TO ROMANTIC SETTINGS BUT QUICKLY FLOP DOWN TO THE LOWER LEVELS OF DECENT FAIRNESS BETWEEN THE HIGH SPOTS OF THEIR SENTIMENTAL FLARE UPS OTHERS CANNOT UTTER A POETIC PHRASE


MAKE A ROMANTIC GESTURE OR LET THEIR EYES SHOW THE QUICK INTENSITY OF THEIR TENDER EMOTIONS IF THEY MUST DIE FOR IT THIS DIFFERENCE IS ONE OF MAKE UP AND TRAINING NOT OF MARRIAGE CAPACITY THE COUPLE WHO ARE SURE OF EACH OTHER'S STEADY AFFECTION REGARDLESS OF ITS EXPRESSION IN ROMANTIC INTERLUDES


ANOTHER TERRIBLE MOMENT THAT IS DUE TO COME MAY SEEM EVEN MORE FRIGHTENING BECAUSE IT IS YOU WHO ARE SLIPPING SOON OR LATE YOU FIND THAT SOME FAMILIAR MANNERISM OF YOUR SPOUSE DISPLEASES YOU IT MAY BE A SLIGHT UNCOUTHNESS AT TABLE


NOW IT VEXES YOU AND YOUR VEXATION TERRIFIES YOU DOES THIS MEAN THAT YOU NO LONGER LOVE YOUR MATE AS YOU DID YOU CANNOT HELP YOUR CHANGE OF FEELING HOW THEN CAN YOU HOPE TO KEEP YOUR AFFECTION FROM DISAPPEARING ALTOGETHER IF IT HAS ALREADY BEGUN TO WANE


YOU REMEMBER OTHER PEOPLE YOU ONCE THOUGHT YOU LOVED AND WONDER PANIC STRICKEN HOW YOU CAN KEEP THIS LOVE FROM DYING AS THOSE OTHER LOVES DID THIS IS PROBABLY AN ALMOST UNIVERSAL EXPERIENCE MARKING NOT THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF LOVE


MATURITY BRINGS RECOGNITION OF HUMAN IMPERFECTIONS IN THE MOST HEROIC BUT ALSO DEVELOPS THE ABILITY TO WEIGH BIG AND LITTLE THINGS AND TO


ALWAYS IT IS THE UNTURNED PAGE THE HOLDS THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION HOW GOES IT WITH THIS MARRIAGE THE PRESENT IS USEFUL ONLY AS A FOUNDATION STONE FOR THE FUTURE WHICH IS BEING BUILT UP OUT OF MANY FLEETING PRESENT MOMENTS EACH QUICKLY LOST IN THE PAST


SEVEN THERE CAN BE NO NARROWING OF MARRIAGE TO MERE SEX ADJUSTMENT


AND THE TWO PERSONS HAVE TO WORK OUT A COMMON LIFE THAT MEANS SOMETHING TO THEM OVER AND ABOVE THE PLEASURE THEY MAY TAKE IN EACH OTHER'S COMPANY AS A CONTINUING PART OF THIS LIFE ADJUSTMENT SEX ADJUSTMENT CAN DEVELOP INTO A PERMANENT FACTOR OF MARRIED HAPPINESS


BUT WITHOUT THE LARGER ADJUSTMENT THE PARTIAL ADJUSTMENT CANNOT BE MADE IN ANY FUNDAMENTAL AND ENDURING FORM IN THE SEX LIFE IN MARRIAGE AS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE ASSOCIATION EACH PARTNER WINS BY CONSIDERING THE OTHER BEFORE THE SELF


BUT INSTEAD A COMPLETE TRUST IN EACH OTHER ONE WHO PRIDES HIMSELF OR HERSELF ON HAVING TO BE HANDLED WITH GLOVES HAS A GREAT DEAL OF GROWING UP TO DO IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO BE AN ACTIVE PARTNER IN THE MARRIAGE CRY BABYING IS NO MORE HELPFUL IN MARRIAGE THAN IN BUSINESS OR SOCIAL LIFE


IN THE HEALTHY MARRIAGE THIS SYMPATHETIC RESPONSE WILL SOON GIVE WAY TO ANGER WHICH IN TURN MAY HAVE THE EFFECT OF A DASH OF COLD WATER IN THE FACE OF THE OVERSENSITIVE ONE HELPING HIM OR HER TO BUCK UP AND BEHAVE LIKE AN ADULT IN THE UNHEALTHY MARRIAGE SYMPATHY WILL GROW INTO PITY


THE MARRIAGE PARTNER WHO IS MATURE WILL MAINTAIN TRUST IN THE OTHER'S GOOD INTENTIONS IN THE FACE OF WHAT MIGHT SEEM TO BE OCCASIONS FOR HURT FEELINGS A CHIEF ADVANTAGE OF THE MARRIED ESTATE IS ITS OPPORTUNITY FOR FRANKNESS WHY DOESN'T HIS WIFE TELL HIM OF THAT UNPLEASANT MANNERISM SO HE CAN CORRECT IT


MARY MAY SOON LOSE COURAGE AND RELINQUISH HER WIFELY JOB OF HUSBAND IMPROVEMENT OR THE COMBINATION MAY BE REVERSED FRANKNESS MUST GO CLOTHED IN TACT STIFF MINDED PEOPLE WHO ARE FRANK ONLY WHEN ANGRY LOSE THEIR CASE BEFORE THEY PRESENT IT


IF THE EXPRESSION OF ANGER IS TO HAVE ITS PROPER STIMULATIVE EFFECT IT HAS TO BE ADMINISTERED BUT RARELY AND THEN IN SMALL DOSES MORE HAS A PARALYZING EFFECT ON THE RECIPIENT


PRODUCING A RESPONSE IN KIND THAT TAKES AWAY THE ABILITY TO THINK OF ANYTHING EXCEPT RETALIATION NINE WILLINGNESS TO GROW IS THE MOST NECESSARY FACTOR FOR SUCCESS MARRIAGE IS A LIFE PROGRAM OF GOING ON TOGETHER THAT REQUIRES MATURITY


AS THIS IS AN IMPOSSIBILITY THEY ARE AWARE OF INCREASING DISSATISFACTION THAT DOES NOT MEAN THEY ARE UNADAPTED TO EACH OTHER THEY ARE AFRAID TO LEAVE THE KNOWN PLEASURES OF THEIR FIRST YOUTH FOR THE UNGUESSED SATISFACTIONS OF MATURITY SO THEY TRY TO STAND STILL


HOPING TO KEEP THEIR MARRIAGE UNCHANGED IN ITS FIRST STAGE OF PROMISE IF BOTH HUSBAND AND WIFE ACCEPT MATURING RESPONSIBILITIES AS THEY COME THEIR MARRIAGE RELATIONSHIP WILL KEEP PACE WITH THEIR OWN DEVELOPMENT AND WILL THEREFORE BECOME INCREASINGLY SATISFYING TO THEM


WHEN IT WAS THE THREE HUNDRED AND FORTY SEVENTH NIGHT SHE SAID IT HATH REACHED ME O AUSPICIOUS KING THAT IBRAHIM SON OF AL MAHDI CONTINUED NOW WHEN THE HOUSEMASTER HEARD MY NAME HE SPRANG TO HIS FEET AND SAID


INDEED I WONDERED THAT SUCH GIFTS SHOULD BELONG TO ANY BUT THE LIKE OF THEE AND FORTUNE HATH DONE ME A GOOD TURN FOR WHICH I CANNOT THANK HER TOO MUCH BUT HAPLY THIS IS A DREAM FOR HOW COULD I HOPE THAT ONE OF THE CALIPHATE HOUSE SHOULD VISIT MY HUMBLE HOME


AND CAROUSE WITH ME THIS NIGHT


AS TO THE CAUSE OF MY VISIT IN THE MOST COURTEOUS TERMS SO I TOLD HIM THE WHOLE AFFAIR FIRST AND LAST HIDING NAUGHT AND SAID TO HIM NOW AS TO THE FOOD I HAVE HAD MY WILL BUT OF THE HAND AND WRIST I HAVE STILL TO WIN MY WISH


QUOTH HE THOU SHALT HAVE THY DESIRE OF THE HAND AND WRIST ALSO INSHALLAH THEN SAID HE TO THE SLAVE GIRL HO SUCH AN ONE BID SUCH AN ONE COME DOWN AND HE CALLED HIS SLAVE GIRLS DOWN ONE BY ONE AND SHOWED THEM TO ME


BUT I SAW NOT MY MISTRESS AMONG THEM AND HE SAID O MY LORD THERE IS NONE LEFT SAVE MY MOTHER AND SISTER BUT BY ALLAH I MUST NEEDS HAVE THEM ALSO DOWN AND SHOW THEM TO THEE SO I MARVELLED AT HIS COURTESY AND LARGE HEARTEDNESS AND SAID


MAY I BE THY SACRIFICE BEGIN WITH THE SISTER AND HE ANSWERED WITH JOY AND GOODWILL SO SHE CAME DOWN AND HE SHOWED ME HER HAND AND BEHOLD SHE WAS THE OWNER OF THE HAND AND WRIST QUOTH I


SEEKETH IN MARRIAGE MY SISTER SUCH AN ONE AND I CALL YOU TO WITNESS THAT I GIVE HER IN WEDLOCK TO HIM AND THAT HE HATH SETTLED UPON HER TEN THOUSAND DINARS AND HE SAID TO ME I GIVE THEE MY SISTER IN MARRIAGE AT THE PORTION AFORESAID


I CONSENT ANSWERED I AND AM HEREWITH CONTENT WHEREUPON HE GAVE ONE OF THE BAGS TO HER AND THE OTHER TO THE WITNESSES AND SAID TO ME O OUR LORD I DESIRE TO ADORN A CHAMBER FOR THEE WHERE THOU MAYST SLEEP WITH THY WIFE


BUT I WAS ABASHED AT HIS GENEROSITY AND WAS ASHAMED TO LIE WITH HER IN HIS HOUSE SO I SAID EQUIP HER AND SEND HER TO MY PLACE


AND BY THY BEING O COMMANDER OF THE FAITHFUL HE SENT ME WITH HER SUCH AN EQUIPAGE THAT MY HOUSE FOR ALL ITS GREATNESS WAS TOO STRAIT TO HOLD IT AND I BEGOT ON HER THIS BOY THAT STANDETH IN THY PRESENCE


THEN AL MAAMUN MARVELLED AT THE MAN'S GENEROSITY AND SAID GIFTED OF ALLAH IS HE NEVER HEARD I OF HIS LIKE AND HE BADE IBRAHIM BIN AL MAHDI BRING HIM TO COURT THAT HE MIGHT SEE HIM HE BROUGHT HIM AND THE CALIPH CONVERSED WITH HIM


AND HIS WIT AND GOOD BREEDING SO PLEASED HIM THAT HE MADE HIM ONE OF HIS CHIEF OFFICERS AND ALLAH IS THE GIVER THE BESTOWER MEN ALSO RELATE THE TALE OF THE WOMAN WHOSE HANDS WERE CUT OFF FOR GIVING ALMS TO THE POOR


A CERTAIN KING ONCE MADE PROCLAMATION TO THE PEOPLE OF HIS REALM SAYING IF ANY OF YOU GIVE ALMS OF AUGHT I WILL VERILY AND ASSUREDLY CUT OFF HIS HAND


WHEREFORE ALL THE PEOPLE ABSTAINED FROM ALMS DEED AND NONE COULD GIVE ANYTHING TO ANY ONE NOW IT CHANCED THAT ONE DAY A BEGGAR ACCOSTED A CERTAIN WOMAN AND INDEED HUNGER WAS SORE UPON HIM AND SAID TO HER


GIVE ME AN ALMS AND SHAHRAZAD PERCEIVED THE DAWN OF DAY AND CEASED TO SAY HER PERMITTED SAY WHEN IT WAS THREE HUNDRED AND FORTY EIGHTH NIGHT SHE SAID


IT HATH REACHED ME O AUSPICIOUS KING THAT QUOTH THE BEGGAR TO THE WOMAN GIVE ME AN ALMS HOWEVER SMALL BUT SHE ANSWERED HIM HOW CAN I GIVE THEE AUGHT WHEN THE KING CUTTETH OFF THE HANDS OF ALL WHO GIVE ALMS


THEN HE SAID I CONJURE THEE BY ALLAH ALMIGHTY GIVE ME AN ALMS SO WHEN HE ADJURED HER BY THE HOLY NAME OF ALLAH SHE HAD RUTH ON HIM AND GAVE HIM TWO SCONES


THE KING HEARD OF THIS WHEREUPON HE CALLED HER BEFORE HIM AND CUT OFF HER HANDS AFTER WHICH SHE RETURNED TO HER HOUSE NOW IT CHANCED AFTER A WHILE THAT THE KING SAID TO HIS MOTHER I HAVE A MIND TO TAKE A WIFE


SO DO THOU MARRY ME TO A FAIR WOMAN QUOTH SHE THERE IS AMONG OUR FEMALE SLAVES ONE WHO IS UNSURPASSED IN BEAUTY BUT SHE HATH A GRIEVOUS BLEMISH THE KING ASKED WHAT IS THAT AND HIS MOTHER ANSWERED


SHE HATH HAD BOTH HER HANDS CUT OFF SAID HE LET ME SEE HER SO SHE BROUGHT HER TO HIM AND HE WAS RAVISHED BY HER AND MARRIED HER AND WENT IN UNTO HER AND BEGAT UPON HER A SON


NOW THIS WAS THE WOMAN WHO HAD GIVEN TWO SCONES AS AN ALMS TO THE ASKER AND WHOSE HANDS HAD BEEN CUT OFF THEREFOR AND WHEN THE KING MARRIED HER HER FELLOW WIVES ENVIED HER AND WROTE TO THE COMMON HUSBAND THAT SHE WAS AN UNCHASTE


HAVING JUST GIVEN BIRTH TO THE BOY SO HE WROTE TO HIS MOTHER BIDDING HER CARRY THE WOMAN INTO THE DESERT AND LEAVE HER THERE THE OLD QUEEN OBEYED HIS COMMANDMENT AND ABANDONED THE WOMAN AND HER SON IN THE DESERT


WHEREUPON SHE FELL TO WEEPING FOR THAT WHICH HAD BEFALLEN HER AND WAILING WITH EXCEEDING SORE WAIL AS SHE WENT ALONG SHE CAME TO A RIVER AND KNELT DOWN TO DRINK BEING OVERCOME WITH EXCESS OF THIRST


FOR FATIGUE OF WALKING AND FOR GRIEF BUT AS SHE BENT HER HEAD THE CHILD WHICH WAS AT HER NECK FELL INTO THE WATER THEN SHE SAT WEEPING BITTER TEARS FOR HER CHILD AND AS SHE WEPT BEHOLD CAME UP TWO MEN WHO SAID TO HER


WHAT MAKETH THEE WEEP QUOTH SHE I HAD A CHILD AT MY NECK AND HE HATH FALLEN INTO THE WATER THEY ASKED WILT THOU THAT WE BRING HIM OUT TO THEE AND SHE ANSWERED YES


SO THEY PRAYED TO ALMIGHTY ALLAH AND THE CHILD CAME FORTH OF THE WATER TO HER SAFE AND SOUND


YES REPLIED SHE WHEREUPON THEY PRAYED TO ALLAH EXTOLLED AND EXALTED BE HE


AND WITH THE PROFIT HE LAID IN DAILY BREAD FOR HIS HOUSEHOLD ONE MORNING HE WENT OUT AND SOLD THE DAY'S YARN AS WONT WHEN THERE MET HIM ONE OF HIS BRETHREN WHO COMPLAINED TO HIM OF NEED SO HE GAVE HIM THE PRICE OF THE THREAD AND RETURNED EMPTY HANDED TO HIS FAMILY


WHO SAID TO HIM WHERE IS THE COTTON AND THE FOOD QUOTH HE SUCH AN ONE MET ME AND COMPLAINED TO ME OF WANT WHEREUPON I GAVE HIM THE PRICE OF THE YARN AND THEY SAID HOW SHALL WE DO WE HAVE NOTHING TO SELL


SO HE TOOK THEM TO THE BAZAR BUT NONE WOULD BUY THEM OF HIM HOWEVER PRESENTLY AS HE STOOD IN THE MARKET THERE PASSED BY A MAN WITH A FISH AND SHAHRAZAD PERCEIVED THE DAWN OF DAY


AND CEASED SAYING HER PERMITTED SAY WHEN IT WAS THE THREE HUNDRED AND FORTY NINTH NIGHT SHE SAID IT HATH REACHED ME O AUSPICIOUS KING


THAT THE MAN TOOK THE TRENCHER AND JAR TO THE BAZAR BUT NONE WOULD BUY THEM OF HIM HOWEVER THERE PRESENTLY PASSED BY A MAN WITH A FISH WHICH WAS SO STINKING AND SO SWOLLEN


AND HE SAID TO THE JEW WILT THOU SELL ME THINE UNSALEABLE WARE FOR MINE YES ANSWERED THE JEW AND GIVING HIM THE WOODEN TRENCHER AND JAR TOOK THE FISH AND CARRIED IT HOME TO HIS FAMILY WHO SAID


WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH THIS FISH QUOTH HE WE WILL BROIL IT AND EAT IT TILL IT PLEASE ALLAH TO PROVIDE BREAD FOR US SO THEY TOOK IT AND RIPPING OPEN ITS BELLY FOUND THEREIN A GREAT PEARL AND TOLD THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD WHO SAID


SEE YE IF IT BE PIERCED IF SO IT BELONGETH TO SOME ONE OF THE FOLK IF NOT TIS A PROVISION OF ALLAH FOR US SO THEY EXAMINED IT AND FOUND IT UNPIERCED


NOW WHEN IT WAS THE MORROW THE JEW CARRIED IT TO ONE OF HIS BRETHREN WHICH WAS AN EXPERT IN JEWELS AND THE MAN ASKED O SUCH AN ONE WHENCE HADDEST THOU THIS PEARL


IT WAS A GIFT OF ALMIGHTY ALLAH TO US AND THE OTHER SAID IT IS WORTH A THOUSAND DIRHAMS AND I WILL GIVE THEE THAT BUT TAKE IT TO SUCH AN ONE FOR HE HATH MORE MONEY AND SKILL THAN I SO THE JEW TOOK IT TO THE JEWELLER WHO SAID


IT IS WORTH SEVENTY THOUSAND DIRHAMS AND NO MORE THEN HE PAID HIM THAT SUM AND THE JEW HIRED TWO PORTERS TO CARRY THE MONEY TO HIS HOUSE AS HE CAME TO HIS DOOR A BEGGAR ACCOSTED HIM SAYING


QUOTH THE JEW TO THE ASKER BUT YESTERDAY WE WERE EVEN AS THOU TAKE THEE HALF THIS MONEY SO HE MADE TWO PARTS OF IT AND EACH TOOK HIS HALF


THE BAKER AND OTHER TRADESMEN DUNNED AND IMPORTUNED ME AND MY MISERY BECAME EXTREME FOR I KNEW OF NO RESOURCE NOR WHAT TO DO THINGS BEING ON THIS WISE THERE CAME TO ME ONE DAY CERTAIN OF MY SERVANTS AND SAID TO ME


AT THE DOOR IS A PILGRIM WIGHT WHO SEEKETH ADMISSION TO THEE QUOTH I ADMIT HIM SO HE CAME IN AND BEHOLD HE WAS A KHORASANI WE EXCHANGED SALUTATIONS AND HE SAID TO ME


TELL ME ART THOU ABU HASSAN AL ZIYADI AND I REPLIED YES WHAT IS THY WISH QUOTH HE I AM A STRANGER AND AM MINDED TO MAKE THE PILGRIMAGE BUT I HAVE WITH ME A GREAT SUM OF MONEY WHICH IS BURDENSOME TO BEAR


SO I WISH TO DEPOSIT THESE TEN THOUSAND DIRHAMS WITH THEE WHILST I MAKE MY PILGRIMAGE AND RETURN IF THE CARAVAN MARCH BACK AND THOU SEE ME NOT THEN KNOW THAT I AM DEAD IN WHICH CASE THE MONEY IS A GIFT FROM ME TO THEE BUT IF I COME BACK


IT SHALL BE MINE I ANSWERED BE IT AS THOU WILT AN THUS PLEASE ALLAH ALMIGHTY SO HE BROUGHT OUT A LEATHER BAG AND I SAID TO THE SERVANT FETCH THE SCALES


AND WHEN HE BROUGHT THEM THE MAN WEIGHED OUT THE MONEY AND HANDED IT TO ME AFTER WHICH HE WENT HIS WAY THEN I CALLED THE PURVEYORS AND PAID THEM MY LIABILITIES


AND SHAHRAZAD PERCEIVED THE DAWN OF DAY AND CEASED TO SAY HER PERMITTED SAY WHEN IT WAS THE THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH NIGHT SHE SAID IT HATH REACHED ME O AUSPICIOUS KING


THAT QUOTH ABU HASSAN AL ZIYADI I CALLED THE PURVEYORS AND PAID THEM MY LIABILITIES AND SPENT FREELY AND AMPLY SAYING TO MYSELF BY THE TIME HE RETURNS ALLAH WILL HAVE RELIEVED ME WITH ONE OR OTHER OF THE BOUNTIES HE HATH BY HIM


HOWEVER ON THE VERY NEXT DAY THE SERVANT CAME IN TO ME AND SAID THY FRIEND THE KHORASAN MAN IS AT THE DOOR ADMIT HIM ANSWERED I SO HE CAME IN AND SAID TO ME I HAD PURPOSED TO MAKE THE PILGRIMAGE


AND I HAVE RESOLVED TO RETURN SO GIVE ME THE MONIES I DEPOSITED WITH THEE YESTERDAY WHEN I HEARD THIS I WAS TROUBLED AND PERPLEXED BEYOND MEASURE OF PERPLEXITY KNOWN TO MAN AND WOTTED NOT WHAT REPLY TO MAKE HIM


FOR IF I DENIED IT HE WOULD PUT ME ON MY OATH AND I SHOULD BE DISGRACED IN THE WORLD TO COME WHILST IF I TOLD HIM THAT I HAD SPENT THE MONEY HE WOULD MAKE AN OUTCRY AND DISHONOUR ME BEFORE MEN


SO I SAID TO HIM ALLAH GIVE THEE HEALTH


SO I ROSE AND BADE THE BOY SADDLE ME THE SHE MULE ANSWERED HE O MY LORD IT IS YET BUT THE FIRST THIRD OF THE NIGHT AND INDEED WE HAVE HARDLY HAD TIME TO REST I RETURNED TO MY BED


BUT SLEEP WAS FORBIDDEN TO ME AND I CEASED NOT TO AWAKEN THE BOY AND HE TO PUT ME OFF TILL BREAK OF DAY WHEN HE SADDLED ME THE MULE AND I MOUNTED AND RODE OUT NOT KNOWING WHITHER TO GO


WHILST SHE FARED ON WITH ME TO THE EASTWARD OF BAGHDAD PRESENTLY AS I WENT ALONG BEHOLD


EXPOUND TO ME THY CASE SO I RECOUNTED TO HIM MY CASE AND HE WEPT SORE AND SAID TO ME


WOE TO THEE SUCCOUR ABU HASSAN AL ZIYADI I AWOKE A SECOND TIME BUT KNOWING THEE NOT I WENT TO SLEEP AGAIN AND HE CAME TO ME A THIRD TIME AND STILL I KNEW THEE NOT AND WENT TO SLEEP AGAIN THEN HE CAME TO ME ONCE MORE AND SAID OUT ON THEE


SUCCOUR ABU HASSAN AL ZIYADI AFTER THAT I DARED NOT SLEEP ANY MORE BUT WATCHED THE REST OF THE NIGHT AND AROUSED MY PEOPLE AND SENT THEM ON ALL SIDES IN QUEST OF THEE THEN HE GAVE ME ONE MYRIAD OF DIRHAMS SAYING THIS IS FOR THE KHORASANI


AND OTHER TEN THOUSAND SAYING SPEND FREELY OF THIS AND AMEND THY CASE THEREWITH AND SET THINE AFFAIRS IN ORDER


AND BEHOLD PRESENTLY CAME THE KHORASANI SO I CARRIED HIM INTO THE HOUSE AND BROUGHT OUT TO HIM ONE MYRIAD OF DIRHAMS SAYING HERE IS THY MONEY QUOTH HE IT IS NOT MY VERY MONEY HOW COMETH THIS


SO I TOLD HIM THE WHOLE STORY AND HE WEPT AND SAID BY ALLAH HADDEST THOU TOLD ME THE FACT AT FIRST I HAD NOT PRESSED THEE


FIVE YEARS IS BUT A SHORT TIME IN THE LIFE OF A MAN AND YET MANY THINGS MAY HAPPEN THEREIN FOR INSTANCE THE WHOLE WAY OF A FAMILY'S LIFE MAY BE CHANGED GOOD NATURES MAY BE MADE INTO BAD ONES


AND OUT OF A SOUL OF FAITH GROW A SPIRIT OF UNBELIEF THE INDEPENDENCE OF RESPECTABILITY MAY HARDEN INTO THE INSOLENCE OF DEFIANCE AND THE SENSITIVE CHEEK OF MODESTY INTO THE BRAZEN FACE OF SHAMELESSNESS


IT MAY BE TRUE THAT THE HABITS OF YEARS ARE HARD TO CHANGE BUT THIS IS NOT TRUE OF THE FIRST SIXTEEN OR SEVENTEEN YEARS OF A YOUNG PERSON'S LIFE ELSE KITTY HAMILTON AND JOE COULD NOT SO EASILY HAVE BECOME WHAT THEY WERE


IT HAD TAKEN BARELY FIVE YEARS TO ACCOMPLISH AN ENTIRE METAMORPHOSIS OF THEIR CHARACTERS IN JOE'S CASE EVEN A SHORTER TIME WAS NEEDED HE WAS SO READY TO GO DOWN THAT IT NEEDED BUT A GENTLE PUSH TO START HIM AND ONCE STARTED


THERE WAS NOTHING WITHIN HIM TO HOLD HIM BACK FROM THE DEPTHS FOR HIS WILL WAS AS FLABBY AS HIS CONSCIENCE AND HIS PRIDE WHICH STANDS TO SOME MEN FOR CONSCIENCE HAD NO DEFINITE AIM OR DIRECTION


HATTIE STERLING HAD GIVEN HIM BOTH HIS GREATEST IMPULSE FOR EVIL AND FOR GOOD SHE HAD AT FIRST GIVEN HIM HIS GENTLE PUSH BUT WHEN SHE SAW THAT HIS COLLAPSE WOULD LOSE HER A FAITHFUL AND USEFUL SLAVE


SHE HAD SOUGHT TO CHECK HIS COURSE HER THREAT OF THE SEVERANCE OF THEIR RELATIONS HAD HELD HIM UP FOR A LITTLE TIME AND SHE BEGAN TO BELIEVE THAT HE WAS SAFE AGAIN HE WENT BACK TO THE WORK HE HAD NEGLECTED DRANK MODERATELY


AND ACTED IN MOST THINGS AS A SOUND SENSIBLE BEING THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN HE WENT DOWN AGAIN AND WENT DOWN BADLY SHE KEPT HER PROMISE AND THREW HIM OVER


THEN HE BECAME A HANGER ON AT THE CLUBS A GENTEEL LOAFER HE USED TO SAY IN HIS SOBER MOMENTS THAT AT LAST HE WAS ONE OF THE BOYS THAT SADNESS HAD SPOKEN OF HE DID NOT WORK


BUT HE SOON TIRED OF BEING SEPARATED FROM HATTIE AND STRAIGHTENED UP AGAIN AFTER SOME DEMUR SHE RECEIVED HIM UPON HIS FORMER FOOTING IT WAS ONLY FOR A FEW MONTHS HE FELL AGAIN FOR ALMOST FOUR YEARS THIS HAD HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY


FINALLY HE TOOK A TURN FOR THE BETTER THAT ENDURED SO LONG THAT HATTIE STERLING AGAIN GAVE HIM HER FAITH THEN THE WOMAN MADE HER MISTAKE SHE WARMED TO HIM SHE SHOWED HIM THAT SHE WAS PROUD OF HIM


HE WENT FORTH AT ONCE TO CELEBRATE HIS VICTORY HE DID NOT RETURN TO HER FOR THREE DAYS THEN HE WAS BATTERED UNKEMPT AND THICK OF SPEECH SHE LOOKED AT HIM IN SILENT CONTEMPT FOR A WHILE AS HE SAT NURSING HIS ACHING HEAD


SHE SAID FINALLY WITH CUTTING SCORN YOU OUGHT TO BE PUT UNDER A GLASS CASE AND PLACED ON EXHIBITION HE GROANED AND HIS HEAD SUNK LOWER A DRUNKEN MAN IS ALWAYS DISARMED


HIS HELPLESSNESS INSTEAD OF INSPIRING HER WITH PITY INFLAMED HER WITH AN UNFEELING ANGER THAT BURST FORTH IN A VOLUME OF TAUNTS


NO ONE HAD EVER LOOKED AT YOU UNTIL I PICKED YOU UP AND YOU VE BEEN STRUTTING AROUND EVER SINCE


AND NOW THIS IS THE WAY YOU PAY ME BACK DRUNK HALF THE TIME AND HALF DRUNK THE REST WELL YOU KNOW WHAT I TOLD YOU THE LAST TIME YOU GOT LOADED I MEAN IT TOO YOU RE NOT THE ONLY STAR IN SIGHT SEE SHE LAUGHED MEANLY


AND BEGAN TO SING YOU LL HAVE TO FIND ANOTHER BABY NOW FOR THE FIRST TIME HE LOOKED UP AND HIS EYES WERE FULL OF TEARS TEARS BOTH OF GRIEF AND INTOXICATION THERE WAS AN EXPRESSION OF A WHIPPED DOG ON HIS FACE


HE PLEADED STRETCHING OUT HIS HANDS TO HER HER EYES BLAZED BACK AT HIM BUT SHE SANG ON INSOLENTLY TAUNTINGLY THE VERY INANITY OF THE MAN DISGUSTED HER


AND ON A SUDDEN IMPULSE SHE SPRANG UP AND STRUCK HIM FULL IN THE FACE WITH THE FLAT OF HER HAND HE WAS TOO WEAK TO RESIST THE BLOW AND TUMBLING FROM THE CHAIR FELL LIMPLY TO THE FLOOR WHERE HE LAY AT HER FEET


ALTERNATELY WEEPING ALOUD AND QUIVERING WITH DRUNKEN HICCOUGHING SOBS


YOU SHA'N'T LAY AROUND MY HOUSE HE HAD ALREADY BEGUN TO FALL INTO A DRUNKEN SLEEP BUT SHE SHOOK HIM GOT HIM TO HIS FEET AND PUSHED HIM OUTSIDE THE DOOR NOW GO YOU DRUNKEN DOG


AND NEVER PUT YOUR FOOT INSIDE THIS HOUSE AGAIN HE STOOD OUTSIDE SWAYING DIZZILY UPON HIS FEET AND LOOKING BACK WITH DAZED EYES AT THE DOOR THEN HE MUTTERED PU ME OUT WI YOU PU ME OUT DAMN YOU WELL


AND HE HALF WALKED HALF FELL DOWN THE STREET SADNESS AND SKAGGSY WERE TOGETHER AT THE CLUB THAT NIGHT FIVE YEARS HAD NOT CHANGED THE LATTER AS TO WEALTH OR POSITION OR INCLINATION


AND HE WAS STILL A FREQUENT VISITOR AT THE BANNER HE ALWAYS CAME IN ALONE NOW FOR MAUDIE HAD GONE THE WAY OF ALL THE HALF WORLD AND REACHED DEPTHS TO WHICH MISTER SKAGGS'S JOB PREVENTED HIM FROM FOLLOWING HER HOWEVER


HE MOURNED TRULY FOR HIS LOST COMPANION AND TO NIGHT HE WAS IN A PARTICULARLY PENSIVE MOOD SOME ONE WAS PLAYING RAG TIME ON THE PIANO AND THE DANCERS WERE WHEELING IN TIME TO THE MUSIC


SKAGGSY LOOKED AT THEM REGRETFULLY AS HE SIPPED HIS LIQUOR IT MADE HIM THINK OF MAUDIE HE SIGHED AND TURNED AWAY I TELL YOU SADNESS HE SAID IMPULSIVELY DANCING IS THE POETRY OF MOTION


YES REPLIED SADNESS AND DANCING IN RAG TIME IS THE DIALECT POETRY THE REPORTER DID NOT LIKE THIS IT SAVOURED OF FLIPPANCY


AND HE WAS ABOUT ENTERING UPON A DISCUSSION TO PROVE THAT SADNESS HAD NO SOUL WHEN JOE WITH BLOOD SHOT EYES AND DISHEVELLED CLOTHES STAGGERED IN AND REELED TOWARDS THEM DRUNK AGAIN


SAID SADNESS REALLY IT S A WASTE OF TIME FOR JOE TO SOBER UP HULLO THERE AS THE YOUNG MAN BROUGHT UP AGAINST HIM TAKE A SEAT HE PUT HIM IN A CHAIR AT THE TABLE


OH A HAIR OF THE DOG SOME MEN SHAVE THEIR DOGS CLEAN AND THEN HAVE HYDROPHOBIA HERE JACK THEY DRANK AND THEN AS IF THE WHISKEY HAD DONE HIM GOOD JOE SAT UP IN HIS CHAIR


LUCKY DOG YOU MIGHT HAVE KNOWN IT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED SOONER OR LATER BETTER SOONER THAN NEVER SKAGGS SMOKED IN SILENCE AND LOOKED AT JOE


THEN BRACING HIMSELF UP AGAIN HE BROKE OUT SUDDENLY


HE NEVER STOLE THAT MONEY KNOW HE DI N HE THREATENED TO FALL ASLEEP NOW BUT THE REPORTER WAS ALL ALERT HE SCENTED A STORY BY JOVE HE EXCLAIMED DID YOU HEAR THAT


COME COME WAKE UP HERE THREE MORE JACK WHAT ABOUT YOUR FATHER FATHER


HERE HERE TELL US ABOUT YOUR FATHER AND THE MONEY IF HE DID N'T STEAL IT WHO DID WHO DID THA S IT WHO DID OL MAN DI N STEAL IT KNOW HE DI N OH LET HIM ALONE SKAGGSY


YES HE DOES A DRUNKEN MAN TELLS THE TRUTH IN SOME CASES SAID SADNESS OH LET ME ALONE MAN


AND IF THIS STORY IS ONE I M A MADE MAN THE DRINK SEEMED TO REVIVE THE YOUNG MAN AGAIN


AT ITS CLOSE HE RELAPSED INTO STUPIDITY MURMURING SHE THROWED ME DOWN WELL SNEERED SADNESS YOU SEE DRUNKEN MEN TELL THE TRUTH AND YOU DON'T SEEM TO GET MUCH GUILT OUT OF OUR YOUNG FRIEND


YOU RE DISAPPOINTED ARE N'T YOU I CONFESS I AM DISAPPOINTED


OH YOU HAVE WELL DON'T HANDLE IT CARELESSLY IT MIGHT GO OFF AND SADNESS ROSE THE REPORTER SAT THINKING FOR A TIME AND THEN FOLLOWED HIM LEAVING JOE IN A DRUNKEN SLEEP AT THE TABLE


THERE HE LAY FOR MORE THAN TWO HOURS WHEN HE FINALLY AWOKE HE STARTED UP AS IF SOME DETERMINATION HAD COME TO HIM IN HIS SLEEP A PART OF THE HELPLESSNESS OF HIS INTOXICATION HAD GONE BUT HIS FIRST ACT WAS TO CALL FOR MORE WHISKEY


THIS HE GULPED DOWN AND FOLLOWED WITH ANOTHER AND ANOTHER FOR A WHILE HE STOOD STILL BROODING SILENTLY HIS RED EYES BLINKING AT THE LIGHT THEN HE TURNED ABRUPTLY AND LEFT THE CLUB


IT WAS VERY LATE WHEN HE REACHED HATTIE'S DOOR BUT HE OPENED IT WITH HIS LATCH KEY AS HE HAD BEEN USED TO DO HE STOPPED TO HELP HIMSELF TO A GLASS OF BRANDY AS HE HAD SO OFTEN DONE BEFORE


THEN HE WENT DIRECTLY TO HER ROOM


HIS VOICE WAS STEADIER NOW BUT GRIM WHAT DO YOU WANT


GET OUT OR I LL HAVE YOU TAKEN OUT SHE SPRANG UP IN BED GLARING ANGRILY AT HIM HIS HANDS TWITCHED NERVOUSLY AS IF HER WILL WERE CONQUERING HIM AND HE WERE UNEASY


HE SAID YES AND I M GOING TO DO IT AGAIN


SHE STARTED TO RISE BUT HE TOOK A STEP TOWARDS HER AND SHE PAUSED HE LOOKED AS SHE HAD NEVER SEEN HIM LOOK BEFORE HIS FACE WAS ASHEN AND HIS EYES LIKE FIRE AND BLOOD SHE QUAILED BENEATH THE LOOK


HE TOOK ANOTHER STEP TOWARDS HER YOU PUT ME OUT TO NIGHT HE REPEATED LIKE A DOG HIS STEP WAS STEADY AND HIS TONE WAS CLEAR MENACINGLY CLEAR SHE SHRANK BACK FROM HIM


BACK TO THE WALL STILL HIS HANDS TWITCHED


STILL HE CREPT SLOWLY TOWARDS HER HIS LIPS WORKING AND HIS HANDS MOVING CONVULSIVELY JOE JOE SHE SAID HOARSELY WHAT S THE MATTER


THE GOWN HAD FALLEN AWAY FROM HER BREAST AND SHOWED THE CONVULSIVE FLUTTERING OF HER HEART


AND HIS HANDS SOUGHT EACH OTHER WHILE THE FINGERS TWITCHED OVER ONE ANOTHER LIKE COILING SERPENTS YOU PUT ME OUT YOU YOU AND YOU MADE ME WHAT I AM


THE REALISATION OF WHAT HE WAS OF HIS FOULNESS AND DEGRADATION SEEMED JUST TO HAVE COME TO HIM FULLY YOU MADE ME WHAT I AM AND THEN YOU SENT ME AWAY YOU LET ME COME BACK AND NOW YOU PUT ME OUT


SHE GAZED AT HIM FASCINATED SHE TRIED TO SCREAM AND SHE COULD NOT THIS WAS NOT JOE THIS WAS NOT THE BOY THAT SHE HAD TURNED AND TWISTED ABOUT HER LITTLE FINGER


THIS WAS A TERRIBLE TERRIBLE MAN OR A MONSTER


FOR AN INSTANT SHE LOST THEIR STEADY GLARE AND THEN SHE FOUND HER VOICE THE SCREAM WAS CHECKED AS IT BEGAN HIS FINGERS HAD CLOSED OVER HER THROAT JUST WHERE THE GOWN HAD LEFT IT TEMPTINGLY BARE THEY GAVE IT THE CARESS OF DEATH


SHE STRUGGLED THEY HELD HER HER EYES PRAYED TO HIS BUT HIS WERE THE FIRE OF HELL SHE FELL BACK UPON HER PILLOW IN SILENCE HE HAD NOT UTTERED A WORD HE HELD HER


FINALLY HE FLUNG HER FROM HIM LIKE A RAG AND SANK INTO A CHAIR


AND EXCEEDINGLY UNHAPPY IN FACT D'ARTAGNAN D'ARTAGNAN WE SAY FOR WE MUST CALL HIM BY HIS NAME TO REMIND OUR READERS OF HIS EXISTENCE D'ARTAGNAN WE REPEAT


HAD ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WHATEVER TO DO AMIDST THESE BRILLIANT BUTTERFLIES OF FASHION AFTER FOLLOWING THE KING DURING TWO WHOLE DAYS AT FONTAINEBLEAU


THE MUSKETEER FELT THAT HE NEEDED SOMETHING MORE THAN THIS TO SATISFY THE CRAVINGS OF HIS NATURE AT EVERY MOMENT ASSAILED BY PEOPLE ASKING HIM HOW DO YOU THINK THIS COSTUME SUITS ME MONSIEUR D'ARTAGNAN HE WOULD REPLY TO THEM IN QUIET SARCASTIC TONES


WHY I THINK YOU ARE QUITE AS WELL DRESSED AS THE


IT WAS JUST SUCH A COMPLIMENT D'ARTAGNAN WOULD CHOOSE WHERE HE DID NOT FEEL DISPOSED TO PAY ANY OTHER


WHENEVER ANY ONE ASKED HIM HOW DO YOU INTEND TO DRESS YOURSELF THIS EVENING HE REPLIED I SHALL UNDRESS MYSELF AT WHICH THE LADIES ALL LAUGHED


AND ALSO TO RECEIVE IN EXCHANGE D'ARTAGNAN ASKED THE KING FOR LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOR A MATTER OF PRIVATE BUSINESS AT THE MOMENT D'ARTAGNAN MADE HIS REQUEST


QUITE EXHAUSTED FROM DANCING YOU WISH TO LEAVE ME MONSIEUR D'ARTAGNAN INQUIRED THE KING WITH AN AIR OF ASTONISHMENT


ANY ONE WHO HAD THE DISTINGUISHED HONOR OF BEING NEAR HIM COULD WISH TO LEAVE HIM SIRE SAID D'ARTAGNAN


AH IF I COULD ONLY HOLD THE BALANCING POLE WHILE YOU WERE DANCING IT WOULD BE A VERY DIFFERENT AFFAIR BUT MY DEAR MONSIEUR D'ARTAGNAN SAID THE KING GRAVELY PEOPLE DANCE WITHOUT BALANCING POLES


AH INDEED SAID THE MUSKETEER CONTINUING HIS IMPERCEPTIBLE TONE OF IRONY


THEREFORE AT FONTAINEBLEAU FOR TO DO SO WOULD BE USELESS BUT WITH THE PERMISSION OF OUR READERS FOLLOW HIM TO THE RUE DES LOMBARDS WHERE HE WAS LOCATED AT THE SIGN OF THE PILON D'OR


AND THE WEATHER WAS EXCEEDINGLY WARM THERE WAS ONLY ONE WINDOW OPEN AND THAT ONE BELONGING TO A ROOM


A PERFUME OF SPICES MINGLED WITH ANOTHER PERFUME LESS EXOTIC BUT MORE PENETRATING NAMELY THAT WHICH AROSE FROM THE STREET ASCENDED TO SALUTE THE NOSTRILS OF THE MUSKETEER D'ARTAGNAN RECLINING IN AN IMMENSE STRAIGHT BACKED CHAIR WITH HIS LEGS NOT STRETCHED OUT


BUT SIMPLY PLACED UPON A STOOL FORMED AN ANGLE OF THE MOST OBTUSE FORM THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE SEEN BOTH HIS ARMS WERE CROSSED OVER HIS HEAD HIS HEAD RECLINING UPON HIS LEFT SHOULDER LIKE ALEXANDER THE GREAT HIS EYES


USUALLY SO QUICK AND INTELLIGENT IN THEIR EXPRESSION WERE NOW HALF CLOSED AND SEEMED FASTENED AS IT WERE UPON A SMALL CORNER OF BLUE SKY THAT WAS VISIBLE BEHIND THE OPENING OF THE CHIMNEYS


THERE WAS JUST ENOUGH BLUE AND NO MORE TO FILL ONE OF THE SACKS OF LENTILS OR HARICOTS WHICH FORMED THE PRINCIPAL FURNITURE OF THE SHOP ON THE GROUND FLOOR THUS EXTENDED AT HIS EASE AND SHELTERED IN HIS PLACE OF OBSERVATION BEHIND THE WINDOW D'ARTAGNAN


SEEMED AS IF HE HAD CEASED TO BE A SOLDIER AS IF HE WERE NO LONGER AN OFFICER BELONGING TO THE PALACE BUT WAS ON THE CONTRARY A QUIET EASY GOING CITIZEN IN A STATE OF STAGNATION BETWEEN HIS DINNER AND SUPPER OR BETWEEN HIS SUPPER AND HIS BED


WHILE THE WINDOWS OF THE UPPER APARTMENTS WERE BEING CLOSED AND THE RHYTHMIC STEPS OF A PATROL OF SOLDIERS FORMING THE NIGHT WATCH COULD BE HEARD RETREATING D'ARTAGNAN CONTINUED HOWEVER TO THINK OF NOTHING EXCEPT THE BLUE CORNER OF THE SKY A FEW PACES FROM HIM


AND HIS EYES FIXED ON D'ARTAGNAN WHO WAS EITHER THINKING DREAMING OR SLEEPING WITH HIS EYES OPEN


BUT D'ARTAGNAN DID NOT STIR


AFTER A PROLONGED REFLECTION ON THE SUBJECT THE MOST INGENIOUS MEANS THAT SUGGESTED ITSELF TO HIM UNDER THE PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES WAS TO LET HIMSELF ROLL OFF THE SACK ON TO THE FLOOR MURMURING AT THE SAME TIME AGAINST HIMSELF THE WORD STUPID BUT


NOTWITHSTANDING THE NOISE PRODUCED BY PLANCHET'S FALL D'ARTAGNAN WHO HAD IN THE COURSE OF HIS EXISTENCE HEARD MANY OTHER AND VERY DIFFERENT FALLS DID NOT APPEAR TO PAY THE LEAST ATTENTION TO THE PRESENT ONE BESIDES


AND YET PLANCHET FANCIED THAT IN TOKEN OF TACIT APPROVAL HE SAW HIM IMPERCEPTIBLY SMILE AT THE WORD STUPID THIS EMBOLDENED HIM TO SAY ARE YOU ASLEEP MONSIEUR D'ARTAGNAN NO PLANCHET I AM NOT EVEN ASLEEP REPLIED THE MUSKETEER


I AM IN DESPAIR SAID PLANCHET TO HEAR SUCH A WORD AS EVEN WELL


OF COURSE MONSIEUR D'ARTAGNAN WELL WELL THEN THE WORD DISTRESSES ME BEYOND MEASURE TELL ME WHY YOU ARE DISTRESSED PLANCHET SAID D'ARTAGNAN IF YOU SAY THAT YOU ARE NOT EVEN ASLEEP


PLANCHET YOU KNOW THAT I AM NEVER BORED EXCEPT TO DAY AND THE DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY BAH MONSIEUR D'ARTAGNAN IT IS A WEEK SINCE YOU RETURNED HERE FROM FONTAINEBLEAU


IN OTHER WORDS YOU HAVE NO LONGER YOUR ORDERS TO ISSUE OR YOUR MEN TO REVIEW AND MANEUVER YOU NEED THE SOUND OF GUNS DRUMS AND ALL THAT DIN AND CONFUSION


WHEN YOU WERE THERE WHEN WE BOTH WERE THERE A CERTAIN ARAB


HE WAS A CLEVER FELLOW ALTHOUGH OF A VERY ODD COMPLEXION WHICH WAS THE SAME COLOR AS YOUR OLIVES WELL THIS ARAB WHENEVER HE HAD DONE EATING OR WORKING USED TO SIT DOWN TO REST HIMSELF


AS I AM RESTING MYSELF NOW AND SMOKED I CANNOT TELL YOU WHAT SORT OF MAGICAL LEAVES IN A LARGE AMBER MOUTHED TUBE


BETTER TO SIT DOWN THAN TO STAND UP TO LIE DOWN THAN TO SIT DOWN TO BE DEAD THAN TO LIE DOWN HE WAS AN ACUTELY MELANCHOLY ARAB AND I REMEMBER HIM PERFECTLY WELL


HE USED TO CUT OFF THE HEADS OF PROTESTANTS WITH THE MOST SINGULAR GUSTO PRECISELY AND THEN USED TO EMBALM THEM WHEN THEY WERE WORTH THE TROUBLE


HE LOOKED LIKE A BASKET MAKER MAKING BASKETS YOU ARE QUITE RIGHT PLANCHET HE DID


I HAVE NO DOUBT OF IT BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK OF HIS MODE OF REASONING


IN POINT OF FACT THEN BETTER TO SIT DOWN THAN TO STAND UP IS PLAIN ENOUGH ESPECIALLY WHEN ONE MAY BE FATIGUED AND PLANCHET SMILED IN A ROGUISH WAY AS FOR BETTER TO BE LYING DOWN LET THAT PASS


IT IS IN MY OPINION VERY ABSURD MY OWN UNDOUBTED PREFERENCE BEING FOR MY BED AND IF YOU ARE NOT OF MY OPINION IT IS SIMPLY AS I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE HONOR OF TELLING YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE BORING YOURSELF TO DEATH PLANCHET


EXACTLY WELL THEN I AM LIKE HIS HARE HE HAS GOT A HARE ALSO THEN HE HAS ALL SORTS OF ANIMALS WELL WHAT DOES HIS HARE DO THEN


THINKS AH


AND YET MONSIEUR YOU HAVE A LOOK OUT UPON THE STREET YES AND WONDERFULLY INTERESTING THAT IS OF COURSE BUT IT IS NO LESS TRUE MONSIEUR THAT


AH PLANCHET MY FRIEND RETURNED D'ARTAGNAN YOU ARE GETTING AMBITIOUS


WOULD BE ONE OF THE PRIVILEGED TRAVELERS AND AS THE PLUME IN PORTHOS'S HAT MADE THE WOODEN CANDLES SUSPENDED OVER THE FRONT JINGLE TOGETHER


FOR THE MORROW BUT THE GROCER HAD A HEART OF GOLD EVER MINDFUL OF THE GOOD OLD TIMES A TRAIT THAT CARRIES YOUTH INTO OLD AGE SO PLANCHET NOTWITHSTANDING A SORT OF INTERNAL SHIVER CHECKED AS SOON AS EXPERIENCED


RECEIVED PORTHOS WITH RESPECT MINGLED WITH THE TENDEREST CORDIALITY PORTHOS WHO WAS A LITTLE COLD AND STIFF IN HIS MANNERS AT FIRST ON ACCOUNT OF THE SOCIAL DIFFERENCE EXISTING AT THAT PERIOD BETWEEN A BARON AND A GROCER SOON BEGAN TO SOFTEN WHEN HE PERCEIVED SO MUCH GOOD FEELING


AND INTO THE DRAWERS FULL OF SWEETMEATS


WHERE HIS FINGERS COULD ALWAYS FISH UP WHATEVER HIS NOSE DETECTED THE DELICIOUS FIGS FROM PROVENCE FILBERTS FROM THE FOREST TOURS PLUMS WERE SUBJECTS OF HIS UNINTERRUPTED ATTENTION FOR FIVE CONSECUTIVE HOURS HIS TEETH LIKE MILLSTONES CRACKED HEAPS OF NUTS


THE SHELLS OF WHICH WERE SCATTERED ALL OVER THE FLOOR WHERE THEY WERE TRAMPLED BY EVERY ONE WHO WENT IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP PORTHOS PULLED FROM THE STALK WITH HIS LIPS AT ONE MOUTHFUL BUNCHES OF THE RICH MUSCATEL RAISINS WITH THEIR BEAUTIFUL BLOOM


AT EACH OTHER WITHOUT VENTURING TO OPEN THEIR LIPS THEY DID NOT KNOW WHO PORTHOS WAS FOR THEY HAD NEVER SEEN HIM BEFORE


HAD ALREADY BEGUN TO DISAPPEAR


HE WILL VERY SOON HAVE NONE AT ALL TO DO IF THIS SORT OF THING CONTINUES GRUMBLED THE FOREMAN WHO HAD PLANCHET'S WORD THAT HE SHOULD BE HIS SUCCESSOR IN THE MIDST OF HIS DESPAIR


HE APPROACHED PORTHOS WHO BLOCKED UP THE WHOLE OF THE PASSAGE LEADING FROM THE BACK SHOP TO THE SHOP ITSELF HE HOPED THAT PORTHOS WOULD RISE AND THAT THIS MOVEMENT WOULD DISTRACT HIS DEVOURING IDEAS WHAT DO YOU WANT MY MAN ASKED PORTHOS AFFABLY


I SHOULD LIKE TO PASS YOU MONSIEUR IF IT IS NOT TROUBLING YOU TOO MUCH VERY WELL SAID PORTHOS IT DOES NOT TROUBLE ME IN THE LEAST AT THE SAME MOMENT HE TOOK HOLD OF THE YOUNG FELLOW BY THE WAISTBAND LIFTED HIM OFF THE GROUND AND PLACED HIM VERY GENTLY ON THE OTHER SIDE


SMILING ALL THE WHILE WITH THE SAME AFFABLE EXPRESSION AS SOON AS PORTHOS HAD PLACED HIM ON THE GROUND THE LAD'S LEGS SO SHOOK UNDER HIM THAT HE FELL BACK UPON SOME SACKS OF CORKS BUT NOTICING THE GIANT'S GENTLENESS OF MANNER HE VENTURED AGAIN AND SAID


YES BUT IF RAISINS NUTS AND ALMONDS ARE HEATING THERE IS NO DOUBT AT ALL OF IT MONSIEUR HONEY IS VERY COOLING SAID PORTHOS STRETCHING OUT HIS HAND TOWARD A SMALL BARREL OF HONEY WHICH WAS OPEN AND HE PLUNGED THE SCOOP WITH


THE FOREMAN CLASPED HIS HANDS TOGETHER THE TWO OTHERS GOT UNDER THE COUNTERS FEARING PORTHOS MIGHT HAVE A TASTE FOR HUMAN FLESH WE SHALL ONLY TAKE A SORT OF SNACK HERE SAID D'ARTAGNAN


SO MUCH THE BETTER YOU OVERWHELM ME MONSIEUR LE BARON THE MONSIEUR LE BARON HAD A GREAT EFFECT UPON THE MEN WHO DETECTED A PERSONAGE OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY IN AN APPETITE OF THAT KIND THIS TITLE TOO REASSURED THEM


THEY HAD NEVER HEARD THAT AN OGRE WAS EVER CALLED MONSIEUR LE BARON I WILL TAKE A FEW BISCUITS TO EAT ON THE ROAD SAID PORTHOS CARELESSLY AND HE EMPTIED A WHOLE JAR OF ANISEED BISCUITS INTO THE HUGE POCKET OF HIS DOUBLET


MY SHOP IS SAVED EXCLAIMED PLANCHET YES AS THE CHEESE WAS WHISPERED THE FOREMAN WHAT CHEESE THE DUTCH CHEESE INSIDE WHICH A RAT HAD MADE HIS WAY AND WE FOUND ONLY THE RIND LEFT


WHERE IT HAD JUST BEEN ANNOUNCED THAT SOME REFRESHMENT WAS PREPARED ALAS THOUGHT THE GROCER ADDRESSING A LOOK AT D'ARTAGNAN FULL OF ENTREATY WHICH THE LATTER HALF UNDERSTOOD AS SOON AS THEY HAD FINISHED EATING THEY SET OFF IT WAS LATE


WHEN THE THREE RIDERS WHO HAD LEFT PARIS ABOUT SIX IN THE EVENING ARRIVED AT FONTAINEBLEAU


AND SEEMED DELIGHTED TO TALK TO HIM ABOUT HIS MEADOWS HIS WOODS AND HIS RABBIT WARRENS PORTHOS HAD ALL THE TASTE AND PRIDE OF A LANDED PROPRIETOR WHEN D'ARTAGNAN SAW HIS TWO COMPANIONS IN EARNEST CONVERSATION


SEPARATED HIMSELF FROM THE WHOLE WORLD AS HE HAD DONE FROM PORTHOS AND FROM PLANCHET THE MOON SHONE SOFTLY THROUGH THE FOLIAGE OF THE FOREST THE BREEZES OF THE OPEN COUNTRY ROSE DELICIOUSLY PERFUMED TO THE HORSE'S NOSTRILS AND THEY SNORTED AND PRANCED ALONG DELIGHTEDLY


IN THE BEAUTIFUL MEADOWS WHERE THE GRASS GREW AS HIGH AS THE KNEES AND WHERE HE HAD PLAYED UNDER THE GREEN APPLE TREES COVERED WITH RED CHEEKED FRUIT HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT HE HAD SOLEMNLY PROMISED HIMSELF THAT AS SOON AS HE SHOULD HAVE MADE HIS FORTUNE HE WOULD RETURN TO NATURE


HOW SO WHY YOU SEEM TO BE IN THE WAY OF MAKING YOUR FORTUNE VERY SOON


WHAT IS IT INQUIRED PORTHOS LOOKING ALL ROUND HIM AS IF IN SEARCH OF THE CIRCUMSTANCE THAT ANNOYED PLANCHET AND DESIROUS OF FREEING HIM FROM IT WHY FORMERLY SAID THE GROCER YOU USED TO CALL ME PLANCHET QUITE SHORT


AND YOU WOULD HAVE SPOKEN TO ME THEN IN A MUCH MORE FAMILIAR MANNER THAN YOU DO NOW CERTAINLY CERTAINLY I SHOULD HAVE SAID SO FORMERLY REPLIED THE GOOD NATURED PORTHOS WITH AN EMBARRASSMENT FULL OF DELICACY BUT FORMERLY


SO THAT MONSIEUR LE BARON CONTINUED THE GROCER


IF THAT BE THE CASE MY DEAR PLANCHET I WILL DO SO CERTAINLY REPLIED PORTHOS AND


BUT A FORTUNATE MOVEMENT OF THE HORSE MADE HIM MISS HIS AIM


WHICH MADE THE ANIMAL'S LEGS ALMOST GIVE WAY D'ARTAGNAN BURST OUT LAUGHING AS HE SAID TAKE CARE PLANCHET


OH SAID PLANCHET MOUSQUETON IS NOT DEAD AND YET MONSIEUR LE BARON IS VERY FOND OF HIM


AND I WAS ONLY SAYING THIS VERY MORNING TO D'ARTAGNAN HOW MUCH I REGRETTED HIM BUT TELL ME PLANCHET THANK YOU MONSIEUR LE BARON THANK YOU GOOD LAD GOOD LAD HOW MANY ACRES OF PARK HAVE YOU GOT OF PARK


WHEREABOUTS MONSIEUR AT YOUR CHATEAU OH MONSIEUR LE BARON I HAVE NEITHER CHATEAU NOR PARK NOR MEADOWS NOR WOODS WHAT HAVE YOU GOT THEN INQUIRED PORTHOS AND WHY DO YOU CALL IT A COUNTRY SEAT I DID NOT CALL IT A COUNTRY SEAT MONSIEUR LE BARON


REPLIED PLANCHET SOMEWHAT HUMILIATED BUT A COUNTRY BOX AH AH I UNDERSTAND YOU ARE MODEST NO MONSIEUR LE BARON I SPEAK THE PLAIN TRUTH I HAVE ROOMS FOR A COUPLE OF FRIENDS THAT'S ALL


IN THE FIRST PLACE THEY CAN WALK ABOUT THE KING'S FOREST WHICH IS VERY BEAUTIFUL


NEARLY AS BEAUTIFUL AS MY FOREST AT BERRY PLANCHET OPENED HIS EYES VERY WIDE


BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT ENDS AND ALSO BECAUSE IT IS FULL OF POACHERS HOW CAN THE POACHERS MAKE THE FOREST SO AGREEABLE TO YOU BECAUSE THEY HUNT MY GAME AND I HUNT THEM


WHICH IN THESE PEACEFUL TIMES IS FOR ME A SUFFICIENTLY PLEASING PICTURE OF WAR ON A SMALL SCALE


THE CAVALIERS LOOKED UP AND SAW THAT WHAT PLANCHET HAD ANNOUNCED TO THEM WAS TRUE TEN MINUTES AFTERWARDS THEY WERE IN THE STREET CALLED THE RUE DE LYON ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE HOSTELRY OF THE BEAU PAON A HIGH HEDGE OF BUSHY ELDERS


HAWTHORN AND WILD HOPS FORMED AN IMPENETRABLE FENCE BEHIND WHICH ROSE A WHITE HOUSE WITH A HIGH TILED ROOF


BETWEEN THE TWO A SMALL DOOR WITH A PORCH SUPPORTED BY A COUPLE OF PILLARS FORMED THE ENTRANCE TO THE HOUSE THE DOOR WAS GAINED BY A STEP RAISED A LITTLE FROM THE GROUND


ON SECOND THOUGHTS HE TOOK HOLD OF HIS HORSE BY THE BRIDLE AND LED IT ABOUT THIRTY PACES FURTHER ON HIS TWO COMPANIONS FOLLOWING HIM HE THEN ADVANCED ABOUT ANOTHER THIRTY PACES UNTIL HE ARRIVED AT THE DOOR OF A CART HOUSE LIGHTED BY AN IRON GRATING AND LIFTING UP A WOODEN LATCH PUSHED OPEN ONE OF THE FOLDING DOORS


HE ENTERED FIRST LEADING HIS HORSE AFTER HIM BY THE BRIDLE INTO A SMALL COURTYARD WHERE AN ODOR MET THEM WHICH REVEALED THEIR CLOSE VICINITY TO A STABLE THAT SMELLS ALL RIGHT SAID PORTHOS LOUDLY GETTING OFF HIS HORSE AND I ALMOST BEGIN TO THINK


PIERREFONDS I HAVE ONLY ONE COW PLANCHET HASTENED TO SAY MODESTLY AND I HAVE THIRTY SAID PORTHOS OR RATHER I DON'T EXACTLY KNOW HOW MANY I HAVE WHEN THE TWO CAVALIERS HAD ENTERED PLANCHET FASTENED THE DOOR BEHIND THEM


IN THE MEANTIME D'ARTAGNAN WHO HAD DISMOUNTED WITH HIS USUAL AGILITY INHALED THE FRESH PERFUMED AIR WITH THE DELIGHT A PARISIAN FEELS AT THE SIGHT OF GREEN FIELDS AND FRESH FOLIAGE


PORTHOS CLAWED HOLD OF SOME PEAS WHICH WERE TWINED ROUND POLES STUCK INTO THE GROUND AND ATE OR RATHER BROWSED UPON THEM SHELLS AND ALL


AND DRESSED IN AN OLD STABLE SUIT OF CLOTHES THE PEASANT


OH THEY SHALL HAVE AS MUCH AS THEY LIKE GENTLY GENTLY MY MAN SAID D'ARTAGNAN WE ARE GETTING ON A LITTLE TOO FAST A FEW OATS AND A GOOD BED NOTHING MORE SOME BRAN AND WATER FOR MY HORSE SAID PORTHOS


AND CAME OUT INTO A LITTLE GARDEN BEHIND THE HOUSE THE PRINCIPAL FRONT OF WHICH AS WE HAVE ALREADY NOTICED FACED THE STREET AS THEY APPROACHED


THIS ROOM SOFTLY LIGHTED BY A LAMP PLACED ON THE TABLE SEEMED FROM THE END OF THE GARDEN LIKE A SMILING IMAGE OF REPOSE COMFORT AND HAPPINESS IN EVERY DIRECTION WHERE THE RAYS OF LIGHT FELL


WHETHER UPON A PIECE OF OLD CHINA OR UPON AN ARTICLE OF FURNITURE SHINING FROM EXCESSIVE NEATNESS OR UPON THE WEAPONS HANGING AGAINST THE WALL THE SOFT LIGHT WAS SOFTLY REFLECTED AND ITS RAYS SEEMED TO LINGER EVERYWHERE UPON SOMETHING OR ANOTHER AGREEABLE TO THE EYE THE LAMP WHICH LIGHTED THE ROOM


WHILST THE FOLIAGE OF JASMINE AND CLIMBING ROSES HUNG IN MASSES FROM THE WINDOW FRAMES SPLENDIDLY ILLUMINATED A DAMASK TABLE CLOTH AS WHITE AS SNOW THE TABLE WAS LAID FOR TWO PERSONS AMBER COLORED WINE SPARKLED IN A LONG CUT GLASS BOTTLE


NEAR THE TABLE IN A HIGH BACKED ARMCHAIR RECLINED FAST ASLEEP A WOMAN OF ABOUT THIRTY YEARS OF AGE HER FACE THE VERY PICTURE OF HEALTH AND FRESHNESS UPON HER KNEES LAY A LARGE CAT WITH HER PAWS FOLDED UNDER HER


AND HER EYES HALF CLOSED PURRING IN THAT SIGNIFICANT MANNER WHICH ACCORDING TO FELINE HABITS INDICATES PERFECT CONTENTMENT


AT THE SOUND OF THIS GIGANTIC VOICE THE CAT TOOK FLIGHT


INTRODUCED HIS TWO COMPANIONS INTO THE ROOM WHERE THE TABLE WAS ALREADY LAID PERMIT ME MY DEAR HE SAID TO PRESENT TO YOU MONSIEUR LE CHEVALIER D'ARTAGNAN MY PATRON


MONSIEUR LE BARON DU VALLON


PORTHOS BOWED WITH A REVERENCE WHICH ANNE OF AUSTRIA WOULD HAVE APPROVED OF


AND HE UNHESITATINGLY EMBRACED THE LADY IN QUESTION NOT HOWEVER


FRANKLY CONCEDED D'ARTAGNAN COMPLIMENTED PLANCHET AND SAID YOU ARE INDEED A MAN WHO KNOWS HOW TO MAKE LIFE AGREEABLE LIFE MONSIEUR SAID PLANCHET LAUGHING IS CAPITAL WHICH A MAN OUGHT TO INVEST AS SENSIBLY AS HE POSSIBLY CAN


PLANCHET TURNED TO HIS HOUSEKEEPER YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU HE SAID TO HER


AND ABOUT TWO OTHERS AS WELL SAID THE LADY WITH A VERY DECIDED FLEMISH ACCENT MADAME IS DUTCH INQUIRED D'ARTAGNAN PORTHOS CURLED HIS MUSTACHE A CIRCUMSTANCE WHICH WAS NOT LOST UPON D'ARTAGNAN WHO NOTICED EVERYTHING I AM FROM ANTWERP SAID THE LADY


YOU SHOULD NOT CALL HER MADAME SAID D'ARTAGNAN WHY NOT ASKED PLANCHET BECAUSE IT WOULD MAKE HER SEEM OLDER EVERY TIME YOU CALL HER SO WELL


AND A VERY PRETTY NAME TOO SAID PORTHOS


SHE RAN AWAY FROM A BRUTE OF A HUSBAND WHO WAS IN THE HABIT OF BEATING HER BEING MYSELF A PICARD BORN I WAS ALWAYS VERY FOND OF THE ARTESIAN WOMEN AND IT IS ONLY A STEP FROM ARTOIS TO FLANDERS


SHE PLACED HER TWO THOUSAND FLORINS IN MY ESTABLISHMENT


AND WHICH HAVE BROUGHT HER IN TEN THOUSAND BRAVO PLANCHET SHE IS FREE AND WELL OFF SHE HAS A COW A MAID SERVANT AND OLD CELESTIN AT HER ORDERS SHE MENDS MY LINEN KNITS MY WINTER STOCKINGS SHE ONLY SEES ME EVERY FORTNIGHT


A MEAL INTO A REGULAR FEAST FRESH BUTTER SALT BEEF ANCHOVIES TUNNY A SHOPFUL OF PLANCHET'S COMMODITIES FOWLS VEGETABLES SALAD FISH FROM THE POND AND THE RIVER GAME FROM THE FOREST ALL THE PRODUCE IN FACT OF THE PROVINCE


THE GLASS OF WHICH COULD HARDLY BE SEEN FOR THE THICK COATING OF DUST WHICH COVERED THEM PORTHOS'S HEART BEGAN TO EXPAND AS HE SAID I AM HUNGRY AND HE SAT HIMSELF BESIDE MADAME TRUCHEN WHOM HE LOOKED AT IN THE MOST KILLING MANNER


DO NOT TROUBLE YOURSELVES HE SAID IF TRUCHEN SHOULD LEAVE THE TABLE NOW AND THEN DURING SUPPER FOR SHE WILL HAVE TO LOOK AFTER YOUR BEDROOMS IN FACT THE HOUSEKEEPER MADE HER ESCAPE QUITE FREQUENTLY AND THEY COULD HEAR ON THE FIRST FLOOR ABOVE THEM THE CREAKING OF THE WOODEN BEDSTEADS AND THE ROLLING OF THE CASTORS ON THE FLOOR


D'ARTAGNAN STILL PRESERVED HIS DIGNITY AND SELF POSSESSION BUT PORTHOS HAD LOST A PORTION OF HIS AND THE MIRTH SOON BEGAN TO GROW SOMEWHAT UPROARIOUS D'ARTAGNAN


RECOMMENDED A NEW DESCENT INTO THE CELLAR AND AS PLANCHET NO LONGER WALKED WITH THE STEADINESS OF A WELL TRAINED FOOT SOLDIER


THEY SET OFF HUMMING SONGS WILD ENOUGH TO FRIGHTEN ANYBODY WHO MIGHT BE LISTENING


WHILE THE TWO WINE BIBBERS


PORTHOS FANCIES HIMSELF AT LA ROCHELLE THOUGHT D'ARTAGNAN AS THEY RETURNED FREIGHTED WITH BOTTLES


D'ARTAGNAN WHOM NOTHING EVER ESCAPED REMARKED HOW MUCH REDDER TRUCHEN'S LEFT CHEEK WAS THAN HER RIGHT


AND TRUCHEN WAS LOOKING AT HIM WITH A MOST BEWITCHING SMILE THE SPARKLING WINE OF ANJOU VERY SOON PRODUCED A REMARKABLE EFFECT UPON THE THREE COMPANIONS


AFTER HIS FRIEND HAD UNDRESSED HIM D'ARTAGNAN GOT INTO HIS OWN BED SAYING TO HIMSELF MORDIOUX


NO ONE IN THE HOUSE WAS CAPABLE OF TAKING THE SLIGHTEST NOTICE


LIKE A KIND GOOD HOUSEKEEPER IT WAS STILL PERFECTLY DARK THEN


HE TOOK BY ASSAULT PORTHOS'S ROOM WHICH WAS NEXT TO HIS OWN THE WORTHY PORTHOS WAS SLEEPING WITH A NOISE LIKE DISTANT THUNDER IN THE DIM OBSCURITY OF THE ROOM HIS GIGANTIC FRAME WAS PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED


AND HIS SWOLLEN FIST HUNG DOWN OUTSIDE THE BED UPON THE CARPET


THE WHOLE HOUSEHOLD WAS ALREADY UP THE COOK WAS MERCILESSLY SLAUGHTERING IN THE POULTRY YARD CELESTIN WAS GATHERING WHITE CHERRIES IN THE GARDEN PORTHOS


BRISK AND LIVELY AS EVER HELD OUT HIS HAND TO PLANCHET'S AND D'ARTAGNAN REQUESTED PERMISSION TO EMBRACE MADAME TRUCHEN THE LATTER TO SHOW THAT SHE BORE NO ILL WILL APPROACHED PORTHOS UPON WHOM SHE CONFERRED THE SAME FAVOR


TOOK BOTH HIS FRIENDS BY THE HAND I AM GOING TO SHOW YOU OVER THE HOUSE HE SAID


I AM A GREAT STICKLER FOR A GOOD VIEW MYSELF SAID PORTHOS


I HAVE HAD FOUR AVENUES LAID OUT AND AT THE END OF EACH IS A LANDSCAPE OF AN ALTOGETHER DIFFERENT CHARACTER FROM THE OTHERS


AND HE LED HIS TWO GUESTS TO A WINDOW AH SAID D'ARTAGNAN THIS IS THE RUE DE LYON YES I HAVE TWO WINDOWS ON THIS SIDE A PALTRY INSIGNIFICANT VIEW


FOR THERE IS ALWAYS THAT BUSTLING AND NOISY INN WHICH IS A VERY DISAGREEABLE NEIGHBOR I HAD FOUR WINDOWS HERE BUT I BRICKED UP TWO LET US GO ON SAID D'ARTAGNAN


IT IS THE HORIZON A THICK LINE OF GREEN WHICH IS YELLOW IN THE SPRING GREEN IN THE SUMMER RED IN THE AUTUMN AND WHITE IN THE WINTER


I ASSURE YOU IT IS VERY CURIOUS HARDLY A DAY PASSES THAT SOME ONE IS NOT BURIED THERE FOR FONTAINEBLEAU IS BY NO MEANS AN INCONSIDERABLE PLACE SOMETIMES WE SEE YOUNG GIRLS CLOTHED IN WHITE CARRYING BANNERS


AND THEN TOO WE SEE SOME OF THE OFFICERS OF THE KING'S HOUSEHOLD I SHOULD NOT LIKE THAT SAID PORTHOS THERE IS NOT MUCH AMUSEMENT IN IT AT ALL EVENTS SAID D'ARTAGNAN


IF I HAD ANY I SHOULD BE FAR FROM REJECTING THEM SAID PLANCHET BUT POSSESSING ONLY THIS LITTLE CEMETERY FULL OF FLOWERS SO MOSS GROWN SHADY AND QUIET I AM CONTENTED WITH IT AND I THINK OF THOSE WHO LIVE IN TOWN IN THE RUE DES LOMBARDS FOR INSTANCE


AND WHO HAVE TO LISTEN TO THE RUMBLING OF A COUPLE OF THOUSAND VEHICLES EVERY DAY AND TO THE SOULLESS TRAMP TRAMP TRAMP OF A HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND FOOT PASSENGERS BUT LIVING SAID PORTHOS LIVING REMEMBER THAT


WHY I FEEL IT DOES ME GOOD TO CONTEMPLATE A FEW DEAD UPON MY WORD SAID D'ARTAGNAN


MONSIEUR SAID PLANCHET I AM ONE OF THOSE GOOD HUMORED SORT OF MEN WHOM HEAVEN CREATED FOR THE PURPOSE OF LIVING A CERTAIN SPAN OF DAYS


WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A REPRESENTATION NOW FOR I THINK I HEARD SOMETHING LIKE CHANTING YES SAID D'ARTAGNAN I HEAR SINGING TOO


THE OFFICIATING PRIEST THE BEADLE


NO NO ONE SEEMS TO BE FOLLOWING THE COFFIN YES SAID PORTHOS I SEE A MAN


I FIND IT INTERESTING SAID D'ARTAGNAN LEANING ON THE WINDOW SILL


IT IS EXACTLY MY OWN CASE I WAS SO MELANCHOLY AT FIRST THAT I COULD DO NOTHING BUT MAKE THE SIGN OF THE CROSS ALL DAY AND THE CHANTS WERE LIKE SO MANY NAILS BEING DRIVEN INTO MY HEAD BUT NOW THEY LULL ME TO SLEEP


WHAT SAID PORTHOS TO D'ARTAGNAN AS HE TURNED ROUND ARE YOU GOING TO REMAIN HERE YES I WILL JOIN YOU PRESENTLY


NOT YET AH YES THE GRAVE DIGGER IS WAITING UNTIL THE CORDS ARE FASTENED ROUND THE BIER BUT


LEAVE ME LEAVE ME I FEEL I AM BEGINNING ALREADY TO BE MUCH COMFORTED BY MY MEDITATIONS SO DO NOT INTERRUPT ME


THE TWO BEARERS OF THE CORPSE HAD UNFASTENED THE STRAPS BY WHICH THEY CARRIED THE LITTER AND WERE LETTING THEIR BURDEN GLIDE GENTLY INTO THE OPEN GRAVE


THE GRAVE HAVING BEEN FILLED UP THE PRIESTS TURNED AWAY AND THE GRAVE DIGGER HAVING ADDRESSED A FEW WORDS TO THEM FOLLOWED THEM AS THEY MOVED AWAY


IT IS ARAMIS HIMSELF ARAMIS IN FACT REMAINED ALONE ON THAT SIDE AT LEAST FOR HARDLY HAD HE TURNED HIS HEAD WHEN A WOMAN'S FOOTSTEPS AND THE RUSTLING OF HER DRESS WERE HEARD IN THE PATH CLOSE TO HIM HE IMMEDIATELY TURNED ROUND


YES HE ADDED AFTER A PAUSE


EITHER BY WAY OF ATTACK OR DEFENSE THAT THEY MUST BE CONVERSING ABOUT ANY OTHER SUBJECT THAN OF LOVE AT THE END OF THE CONVERSATION THE LADY ROSE AND BOWED PROFOUNDLY TO ARAMIS


THE CAVALIER KNEELS AT THE BEGINNING THE YOUNG LADY BY AND BY GETS TAMED DOWN AND THEN IT IS SHE WHO HAS TO SUPPLICATE WHO IS THIS LADY I WOULD GIVE ANYTHING TO ASCERTAIN THIS SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE HOWEVER FOR ARAMIS WAS THE FIRST TO LEAVE


I MUST AND WILL LEARN WHO THAT WOMAN IS SAID THE MUSKETEER AGAIN AND THEN WITHOUT FURTHER DELIBERATION HE SET OFF IN PURSUIT OF HER AS HE WAS GOING ALONG HE TRIED TO THINK HOW HE COULD POSSIBLY CONTRIVE TO MAKE HER RAISE HER VEIL SHE IS NOT YOUNG HE SAID


AND IS A WOMAN OF HIGH RANK IN SOCIETY I OUGHT TO KNOW THAT FIGURE AND PECULIAR STYLE OF WALK AS HE RAN THE SOUND OF HIS SPURS AND OF HIS BOOTS UPON THE HARD GROUND OF THE STREET MADE A STRANGE JINGLING NOISE A FORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCE IN ITSELF


WHICH HE WAS FAR FROM RECKONING UPON THE NOISE DISTURBED THE LADY SHE SEEMED TO FANCY SHE WAS BEING EITHER FOLLOWED OR PURSUED WHICH WAS INDEED THE CASE AND TURNED ROUND


HE MURMURED MADAME DE CHEVREUSE D'ARTAGNAN WOULD NOT GO HOME UNTIL HE HAD LEARNT EVERYTHING


A POOR FRANCISCAN MENDICANT FRIAR REPLIED THE LATTER WHO HAD NOT EVEN A DOG TO LOVE HIM IN THIS WORLD AND TO ACCOMPANY HIM TO HIS LAST RESTING PLACE IF THAT WERE REALLY THE CASE THOUGHT D'ARTAGNAN


AS WINGFOLD CAME OUT OF THE ROOM WHICH WAS NEAR THE STAIR HELEN ROSE FROM THE TOP OF IT WHERE SHE HAD BEEN SITTING ALL THE TIME HE HAD BEEN WITH HER BROTHER HE CLOSED THE DOOR GENTLY BEHIND HIM AND STEPPED SOFTLY ALONG THE LANDING


A HUMAN SOUL IN GUILT AND AGONY IS AN AWFUL PRESENCE BUT THERE WAS MORE THAN THAT IN THE HUSH OF THE CURATE HE FELT AS IF HE HAD LEFT THE PHYSICIAN OF SOULS BEHIND HIM AT THE BEDSIDE


BUT AT HIS HEAD STOOD ONE WHO WATCHED HIS THROES WITH THE THROBS OF SUCH A HUMAN HEART AS NEVER BEAT IN ANY BOSOM BUT HIS OWN AND THE EXECUTIONERS WERE ANGELS OF LIGHT NO WONDER IF WITH SUCH A FEELING IN HIS BREAST WINGFOLD WALKED SOFTLY AND HIS FACE GLISTENED


HE WAS NOT AWARE THAT THE TEARS STOOD IN HIS EYES BUT HELEN SAW THEM YOU KNOW ALL SHE FALTERED I DO WILL YOU LET ME OUT BY THE GARDEN AGAIN I WISH TO BE ALONE SHE LED THE WAY DOWN THE STAIR


AND WALKED WITH HIM THROUGH THE GARDEN WINGFOLD DID NOT SPEAK YOU DON'T THINK VERY BADLY OF MY POOR BROTHER DO YOU MISTER WINGFOLD SAID HELEN MEEKLY IT IS A TERRIBLE FATE HE RETURNED


I THINK I NEVER SAW A LOVELIER DISPOSITION I DO HOPE HIS MIND WILL SOON BE MORE COMPOSED I THINK HE KNOWS WHERE ALONE HE CAN FIND REST I AM WELL AWARE HOW FOOLISH THAT OF WHICH I SPEAK SEEMS TO SOME MINDS MISS LINGARD


BUT WHEN A MAN IS ONCE OVERWHELMED IN HIS OWN DEEDS WHEN THEY HAVE TURNED INTO SPECTRES TO MOCK AT HIM WHEN HE LOATHES HIMSELF AND TURNS WITH SICKNESS FROM PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE I KNOW BUT ONE CHOICE LEFT


INTO THE LIFE I HOPE YOUR BROTHER WILL ENTER I AM SO GLAD YOU DON'T HATE HIM HATE HIM WHO BUT A DEMON COULD HATE HIM HELEN LIFTED A GRATEFUL LOOK FROM EYES THAT SWAM IN TEARS


THE TERROR OF HIS POSSIBLE COUNSEL FOR THE MOMENT VANISHED HE COULD NEVER TELL HIM TO GIVE HIMSELF UP


THE DWARF EXCLAIMED HELEN SHUDDERING AT THE REMEMBRANCE OF WHAT SHE HAD GONE THROUGH AT THE COTTAGE YES THAT MAN'S SOUL IS AS GRAND AND BEAUTIFUL AND PATIENT AS HIS BODY IS INSIGNIFICANT AND DISTORTED AND TROUBLED


HE IS THE WISEST AND BEST MAN I HAVE EVER KNOWN I MUST ASK LEOPOLD RETURNED HELEN WHO THE BETTER THE MAN WAS REPRESENTED FELT THE MORE JEALOUS AND FEARFUL OF THE ADVICE HE MIGHT GIVE


HER LOVE AND HER CONSCIENCE WERE NOT YET AT ONE WITH EACH OTHER THEY PARTED AT THE DOOR FROM THE GARDEN AND SHE RETURNED TO THE SICK ROOM SHE PAUSED HESITATING TO ENTER ALL WAS STILL AS THE GRAVE SHE TURNED THE HANDLE SOFTLY AND PEEPED IN


COULD IT BE THAT WINGFOLD'S BEARING HAD COMMUNICATED TO HER MIND A SHADOW OF THE AWE WITH WHICH HE HAD LEFT THE PLACE WHERE PERHAPS A SOUL WAS BEING BORN AGAIN LEOPOLD DID NOT MOVE TERROR LAID HOLD OF HER HEART


SHE STEPPED QUICKLY IN AND ROUND THE SCREEN TO THE SIDE OF THE BED THERE TO HER GLAD SURPRISE HE LAY FAST ASLEEP WITH THE TEARS NOT YET DRIED UPON HIS FACE HER HEART SWELLED WITH SOME SENSE UNKNOWN BEFORE


WAS IT RUDIMENTARY THANKFULNESS TO THE FATHER OF HER SPIRIT AS SHE STOOD GAZING WITH THE LOOK OF A MOTHER OVER HER SICK CHILD HE LIFTED HIS EYELIDS AND SMILED A SAD SMILE WHEN DID YOU COME INTO THE ROOM HE SAID A MINUTE AGO SHE ANSWERED


I DID NOT HEAR YOU HE RETURNED NO YOU WERE ASLEEP NOT I MISTER WINGFOLD IS ONLY JUST GONE I HAVE LET HIM OUT ON THE MEADOW SINCE LEOPOLD STARED LOOKED HALF ALARMED AND THEN SAID


DID GOD MAKE ME SLEEP HELEN SHE DID NOT ANSWER THE LIGHT OF A NEW HOPE IN HIS EYE AS IF THE DAWN HAD BEGUN AT LAST TO BREAK OVER THE DARK MOUNTAINS WAS ALREADY REFLECTED FROM HER HEART OH HELEN HE SAID


THAT IS A GOOD FELLOW SUCH A GOOD FELLOW A PANG OF JEALOUSY THE FIRST SHE HAD EVER FELT SHOT TO HER HEART SHE HAD HITHERTO SINCE HIS TROUBLE BEEN ALL IN ALL TO HER LEOPOLD


HAD THE CURATE BEEN A MAN SHE LIKED SHE WOULD NOT PERHAPS HAVE MINDED IT SO MUCH YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DO WITHOUT ME NOW SHE SAID SADLY I NEVER COULD UNDERSTAND TAKING TO PEOPLE AT FIRST SIGHT SOME PEOPLE ARE MADE SO I SUPPOSE HELEN


I KNOW I TOOK TO YOU AT FIRST SIGHT I SHALL NEVER FORGET THE FIRST TIME I SAW YOU WHEN I CAME TO THIS COUNTRY A LONELY LITTLE FOREIGNER AND YOU A GREAT BEAUTIFUL LADY FOR SUCH YOU SEEMED TO ME THOUGH YOU HAVE TOLD ME SINCE YOU WERE ONLY A GREAT GAWKY GIRL


I KNOW THAT COULD NEVER HAVE BEEN YOU RAN TO MEET ME AND TOOK ME IN YOUR ARMS AND KISSED ME I WAS AS IF I HAD CROSSED THE SEA OF DEATH AND FOUND PARADISE IN YOUR BOSOM I AM NOT LIKELY TO FORGET YOU FOR MISTER WINGFOLD


GOOD AND KIND AND STRONG AS HE IS EVEN SHE COULD NOT MAKE ME FORGET YOU HELEN BUT NEITHER YOU NOR I CAN DO WITHOUT MISTER WINGFOLD ANY MORE I FANCY I WISH YOU LIKED HIM BETTER


BUT YOU WILL IN TIME YOU SEE HE'S NOT ONE TO PAY YOUNG LADIES COMPLIMENTS AS I HAVE HEARD SOME PARSONS DO AND HE MAY BE A LITTLE NO NOT UNPOLISHED NOT THAT THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEAN BUT UNORNAMENTAL IN HIS MANNERS


YOU KNOW ALL ABOUT HIM THOUGH YOU NEVER SAW HIM BEFORE THAT IS TRUE RETURNED LEOPOLD BUT THEN HE CAME TO ME WITH HIS DOOR OPEN AND LET ME WALK IN


HE HASN'T GOT A SECRET LIKE US HELEN HE ADDED SADLY WHAT DID HE SAY TO YOU MUCH WHAT HE SAID TO YOU FROM THE PULPIT THE OTHER DAY I SHOULD THINK THEN SHE WAS RIGHT FOR ALL HIS HARDNESS AND WANT OF SYMPATHY THE CURATE HAD YET HAD REGARD TO HER ENTREATIES


AND WAS NOT GOING TO PUT ANY HORRID NOTIONS ABOUT DUTY AND SELF SACRIFICE INTO THE POOR BOY'S HEAD HE'S COMING AGAIN TO MORROW ADDED LEOPOLD ALMOST GLEEFULLY AND THEN PERHAPS HE WILL TELL ME MORE AND HELP ME ON A BIT DID HE TELL YOU HE WANTS TO BRING A FRIEND WITH HIM


NO I CAN'T SEE THE GOOD OF TAKING MORE PEOPLE INTO OUR CONFIDENCE WHY SHOULD HE NOT DO WHAT HE THINKS BEST HELEN YOU DON'T INTERFERE WITH THE DOCTOR WHY SHOULD YOU WITH HIM WHEN A MAN IS GOING TO THE BOTTOM AS FAST AS HE CAN


AND ANOTHER COMES DIVING AFTER HIM IT ISN'T FOR ME TO SAY HOW HE IS TO TAKE HOLD OF ME NO HELEN WHEN I TRUST I TRUST OUT AND OUT HELEN SIGHED THINKING HOW ILL THAT HAD WORKED WITH EMMELINE


IT WAS SOME MOMENTS BEFORE EITHER OF THEM SPOKE AND IT DID NOT HELP WINGFOLD THAT SHE SAT CLOUDED BY A DARK COLOURED VEIL AT LENGTH HE SAID YOU MUST NOT FEAR TO TRUST ME BECAUSE I DOUBT MY ABILITY TO HELP YOU I CAN AT LEAST ASSURE YOU OF MY SYMPATHY


CAN YOU TELL ME SHE SAID FROM BEHIND MORE VEILS THAN THAT OF LACE HOW TO GET RID OF A HAUNTING IDEA THAT DEPENDS ON THE NATURE OF THE IDEA I SHOULD IMAGINE ANSWERED THE CURATE SUCH THINGS SOMETIMES ARISE MERELY FROM THE STATE OF THE HEALTH


AND THERE THE DOCTOR IS THE BEST HELP HELEN SHOOK HER HEAD AND SMILED BEHIND HER VEIL A GRIEVOUS SMILE THE CURATE PAUSED BUT RECEIVING NO ASSISTANCE VENTURED ON AGAIN IF IT BE A THOUGHT OF SOMETHING PAST AND GONE


FOR WHICH NOTHING CAN BE DONE I THINK ACTIVITY IN ONE'S DAILY WORK MUST BE THE BEST AID TO ENDURANCE OH DEAR OH DEAR SIGHED HELEN WHEN ONE HAS NO HEART TO ENDURE AND HATES THE VERY SUNLIGHT


YOU WOULDN'T TALK ABOUT WORK TO A MAN DYING OF HUNGER WOULD YOU I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THAT HE WOULDN'T HEED YOU PERHAPS NOT WHAT WOULD YOU DO THEN GIVE HIM SOME FOOD AND TRY HIM AGAIN I THINK


THEN GIVE ME SOME FOOD SOME HOPE I MEAN AND TRY ME AGAIN WITHOUT THAT I DON'T CARE ABOUT DUTY OR LIFE OR ANYTHING TELL ME THEN WHAT IS THE MATTER


I MAY BE ABLE TO HINT AT SOME HOPE SAID WINGFOLD VERY GENTLY DO YOU CALL YOURSELF A CHRISTIAN THE QUESTION WOULD TO MOST PEOPLE HAVE SOUNDED STRANGE ABRUPT INQUISITORIAL BUT TO HELEN IT SOUNDED NOT ONE OF THEM ALL


NO SHE ANSWERED AH SAID THE CURATE A LITTLE SADLY AND WENT ON BECAUSE THEN I COULD HAVE SAID YOU KNOW WHERE TO GO FOR COMFORT


MIGHT IT NOT BE WELL HOWEVER TO TRY IF THERE IS ANY TO BE HAD FROM HIM THAT SAID COME UNTO ME AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST I CAN DO NOTHING WITH THAT I HAVE TRIED AND TRIED TO PRAY BUT IT IS OF NO USE


I SUPPOSE IT IS BECAUSE I CANNOT BELIEVE THERE IS ANYONE HEARING A WORD I SAY YESTERDAY WHEN I GOT ALONE IN THE PARK I PRAYED ALOUD


I THOUGHT THAT PERHAPS EVEN IF HE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO READ WHAT WAS IN MY HEART HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO HEAR MY VOICE I WAS EVEN FOOLISH ENOUGH TO WISH I KNEW GREEK BECAUSE PERHAPS HE WOULD UNDERSTAND ME BETTER IF I WERE TO PRAY IN GREEK


SHE TRIED HARD BUT COULD NOT PREVENT A SOB


WILL YOU NOT TELL ME SOMETHING ABOUT IT SAID THE CURATE YET MORE GENTLY


HIS HELP MAY BE ON THE WAY TO YOU OR EVEN WITH YOU ONLY YOU DO NOT RECOGNIZE IT FOR WHAT IT IS I HAVE KNOWN THAT KIND OF THING TELL ME SOME FACT OR SOME FEELING I CAN LAY HOLD OF


POSSIBLY THERE IS SOMETHING YOU OUGHT TO DO AND ARE NOT DOING AND THAT IS WHY YOU CANNOT REST I THINK JESUS WOULD GIVE NO REST EXCEPT IN THE WAY OF LEARNING OF HIM HELEN'S SOBS CEASED


BUT WHAT APPEARED TO THE CURATE A LONG SILENCE FOLLOWED AT LENGTH SHE SAID WITH FALTERING VOICE SUPPOSE IT WERE A GREAT WRONG THAT HAD BEEN DONE AND THAT WAS THE UNENDURABLE THOUGHT SUPPOSE I SAY


THAT WAS WHAT MADE ME MISERABLE THEN YOU MUST OF COURSE MAKE ALL POSSIBLE REPARATION ANSWERED WINGFOLD AT ONCE BUT IF NONE WERE POSSIBLE WHAT THEN


HERE THE ANSWER WAS NOT SO PLAIN AND THE CURATE HAD TO THINK AT LEAST HE SAID AT LENGTH YOU COULD CONFESS THE WRONG AND ASK FORGIVENESS


AGAIN THE CURATE TOOK TIME TO REPLY I AM ENDEAVOURING TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS AS WELL AS I CAN HE SAID BUT IT IS HARD TO DEAL WITH GENERALITIES


YOU SEE HOW USELESS FOR THAT VERY REASON MY ANSWERS HAVE AS YET BEEN STILL I HAVE SOMETHING MORE TO SAY AND HESITATE ONLY BECAUSE IT MAY IMPLY MORE CONFIDENCE THAN I DARE PROFESS AND OF ALL THINGS I DREAD UNTRUTH


FOR SURELY THERE CANNOT BE ANY OTHER KIND OF GOD THAN THE FATHER OF JESUS CHRIST


THEREFORE SURELY THE FIRST STEP FOR ANYONE WHO HAS COMMITTED SUCH A CRIME MUST BE TO HUMBLE HIMSELF BEFORE GOD CONFESS THE SIN AND ASK FORGIVENESS AND CLEANSING


AND THE CREATURE HE HAS MADE AND IF GOD HEARD THE MAN'S PRAYER AND FORGAVE HIM THEN THE MAN WOULD CERTAINLY KNOW IT IN HIS HEART AND BE CONSOLED PERHAPS BY THE GIFT OF HUMILITY


THEN YOU THINK CONFESSION TO GOD IS ALL THAT IS REQUIRED IF THERE BE NO ONE ELSE WRONGED TO WHOM CONFESSION CAN BE MADE IF THE CASE WERE MINE


AND SOMETIMES I MUCH FEAR THAT IN TAKING HOLY ORDERS I HAVE GRIEVOUSLY SINNED I SHOULD THEN DO JUST AS I HAVE DONE WITH REGARD TO THAT CRY TO THE LIVING POWER WHICH I THINK ORIGINATED ME TO SET THE MATTER RIGHT FOR ME


THEN TO FORGIVE AND CONSOLE ME ALAS ALAS THAT HE WILL NOT HEAR OF HE WOULD RATHER BE PUNISHED THAN CONSOLED I FEAR FOR HIS BRAIN BUT INDEED THAT MIGHT BE WELL


SHE HAD GONE MUCH FARTHER THAN SHE HAD INTENDED BUT THE MORE DOUBTFUL HELP BECAME THE MORE SHE WAS DRIVEN BY THE AGONY OF A PERISHING HOPE TO SEARCH THE HEART OF WINGFOLD AGAIN THE CURATE PONDERED ARE YOU SURE HE SAID AT LENGTH


THAT THE PERSON OF WHOM YOU SPEAK IS NOT NEGLECTING SOMETHING HE OUGHT TO DO SOMETHING HE KNOWS PERHAPS HE HAD COME BACK TO THE SAME WITH WHICH HE STARTED THROUGH HER VEIL HE SAW HER TURN DEADLY WHITE


EVER SINCE LEOPOLD SAID THE WORD JURY A GHASTLY FEAR HAD HAUNTED HELEN SHE PRESSED HER HAND ON HER HEART AND MADE NO ANSWER I SPEAK FROM EXPERIENCE THE CURATE WENT ON FROM WHAT ELSE COULD I SPEAK


I KNOW THAT SO LONG AS WE HANG BACK FROM DOING WHAT CONSCIENCE URGES THERE IS NO PEACE FOR US I WILL NOT SAY OUR PRAYERS ARE NOT HEARD FOR MISTER POLWARTH HAS TAUGHT ME THAT THE MOST PRECIOUS ANSWER PRAYER CAN HAVE


LIES IN THE GROWING STRENGTH OF THE IMPULSE TOWARDS THE DREADED DUTY AND IN THE EVER SHARPER STINGS OF THE CONSCIENCE I THINK I ASKED ALREADY WHETHER THERE WERE NO RELATIVES TO WHOM REPARATION COULD BE MADE YES YES GASPED HELEN


AND I TOLD YOU REPARATION WAS IMPOSSIBLE HER VOICE HAD SUNK ALMOST TO A GROAN


HELEN ROSE AND HASTENED TO HER BROTHER WITH A HEART OF LEAD IN HER BODY SHE STARTED WHEN SHE SAW HIM SOME CHANGE HAD PASSED ON HIM SINCE THE MORNING


THAT GLIMMER ON HIS COUNTENANCE DOUBTFUL AS THE FIRST OF THE MORNING WHEN THE TRAVELLER KNOWS NOT WHETHER THE LIGHT BE IN THE SKY OR ONLY IN HIS BRAIN


BUT AT THE SAME TIME HE APPEARED MORE WASTED AND PINCHED AND DEATH LIKE THAN SHE HAD YET SEEN HIM OR WAS IT ONLY IN HER EYES WAS SHE BUT READING IN HIS FACE THE AGONY SHE HAD HERSELF GONE THROUGH THAT DAY HELEN HELEN HE CRIED AS SHE ENTERED THE ROOM


WHAT WAS THAT POLDIE ASKED HELEN WITH A PANG OF FEAR WHY THOSE WORDS OF COURSE WHAT ELSE YOU SANG THEM TO ME AFTERWARDS YOU KNOW HELEN


DON'T YOU THINK HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING


WAS THIS WHAT CAME OF PRAYING SHE THOUGHT BITTERLY SOMETHING OR OTHER I DON'T KNOW WHAT EXACTLY RETURNED LEOPOLD OH HELEN HE BROKE OUT WITH A CRY STIFLED BY THE CAUTION THAT HAD GROWN HABITUAL TO BOTH OF THEM


IS THERE NO HELP OF ANY KIND ANYWHERE SURELY MISTER WINGFOLD COULD TELL ME SOMETHING COMFORT ME SOMEHOW IF I WERE TO TELL HIM ALL ABOUT IT I COULD TRUST THE MAN THAT SAID SUCH THINGS AS THOSE YOU TOLD ME THAT I COULD


OH I WISH I HADN'T RUN AWAY BUT HAD LET THEM TAKE ME AND HANG ME HELEN FELT HERSELF GROW WHITE SHE TURNED AWAY AND PRETENDED TO SEARCH FOR SOMETHING SHE HAD DROPPED


I DON'T THINK HE WOULD BE OF THE SLIGHTEST USE TO YOU SHE SAID STILL STOOPING AND SHE FELT LIKE A DEVIL DRAGGING THE SOUL OF HER BROTHER TO HELL BUT THAT WAS A FOOLISH FANCY AND MUST BE RESISTED


NOT IF I TOLD HIM EVERYTHING LEOPOLD HISSED FROM BETWEEN HIS TEETH IN THE STRUGGLE TO KEEP DOWN A SHRIEK NO NOT IF YOU TOLD HIM EVERYTHING SHE ANSWERED AND FELT LIKE A JUDGE CONDEMNING HIM TO DEATH


WHAT IS HE THERE FOR THEN SAID LEOPOLD INDIGNANTLY AND TURNED HIS FACE TO THE WALL AND MOANED HELEN HAD NOT YET THOUGHT OF ASKING HERSELF WHETHER HER LOVE TO HER BROTHER WAS ALL CLEAR LOVE AND NOWISE MINGLED WITH SELFISHNESS


WHETHER IN THE FRESH HORROR THAT DAY POURED INTO THE CUP THAT HAD SEEMED ALREADY RUNNING OVER IT WAS OF HER BROTHER ONLY SHE THOUGHT OR WHETHER THREATENED SHAME TO HERSELF HAD NOT A PART IN HER MISERY


FOR WHAT ATTEMPT EVEN HAD HE MADE TO COMFORT HER WHAT HAD HE DONE BUT UTTER COMMON PLACES AND TRUISMS ABOUT DUTY AND WHO COULD TELL BUT


INDEED WAS SHE NOT CERTAIN THAT SUCH A MAN BRINGING THE ARTILLERY OF HIS FANATICISM TO BEAR UPON HER POOR BOY'S WILD ENTHUSIASTIC TEMPERAMENT WOULD SPEEDILY PERSUADE HIM TO MAKE A REALITY OF THAT TERRIBLE THING HE HAD ALREADY THOUGHT OF THAT HIDEOUSLY IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBILITY


IT COULD NOT HAVE BEEN LONG SHE THOUGHT


APPARENTLY SENSELESS ON THE PILLOW AND SHE THOUGHT HE WAS DEAD THE SAME MOMENT SHE WAS FREE THE HORROR HAD DEPARTED FROM HER OWN ATMOSPHERE TOO AND SHE MADE HASTE TO RESTORE HIM


BUT IN ALL SHE DID FOR HIM SHE FELT LIKE THE EXECUTIONER WHO GIVES RESTORATIVES TO THE WRETCH THAT HAS FAINTED ON THE RACK OR THE WHEEL WHAT RIGHT HAD SHE SHE THOUGHT TO MULTIPLY TO HIM HIS MOMENTS OF TORTURE


IF THE CRUEL POWER THAT HAD CREATED HIM FOR SUCH MISERY WHOEVER WHATEVER WHEREVER HE MIGHT BE


YET SHE HESITATED NOT A SINGLE MOMENT IN HER MINISTRATIONS THERE IS SO MUCH PASSES IN US OF WHICH OUR CONSCIOUSNESS TAKES NO GRASP OR BUT WITH SUCH A FLITTING TOUCH AS SCARCELY TO HAND IT OVER TO THE MEMORY


THAT I FEEL ENCOURAGED TO DOUBT WHETHER EVER THERE WAS A MAN ABSOLUTELY WITHOUT HOPE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN ALAS ARE MANY WHO ARE AWARE OF NO GROUND OF HOPE NAY EVEN WHO FEEL NO GLIMMER IN THEM OF ANYTHING THEY CAN CALL HOPE I KNOW


BUT I THINK IN THEM ALL IS AN UNDERLYING UNCONSCIOUS HOPE I THINK THAT NOT ONE IN ALL THE WORLD HAS MORE THAN A SHADOWY NOTION OF WHAT HOPELESSNESS MEANS PERHAPS UTTER HOPELESSNESS IS THE OUTER DARKNESS


AT LENGTH LEOPOLD OPENED HIS EYES


NONSENSE DEAR POLDIE IT WAS ALL FANCY NOTHING MORE SHE RETURNED IN A VOICE ALMOST AS HOLLOW AS HIS AND THE LIGHTNESS OF THE WORDS UTTERED IN SUCH A TONE JARRED DISMAYFULLY ON HER OWN EAR FANCY HE REPEATED


I KNOW WHAT FANCY IS AS WELL AS ANY MAN OR WOMAN BORN THAT WAS NO FANCY SHE STOOD THERE BY THE WARDROBE IN THE SAME DRESS HER FACE AS WHITE AS HER DRESS AND LISTEN I WILL TELL YOU


I WILL SOON SATISFY YOU IT COULD BE NO FANCY HERE HE PUSHED HER FROM HIM AND LOOKED STRAIGHT IN HER EYES I SAW HER BACK REFLECTED IN THE MIRROR OF THE WARDROBE DOOR AND


HERE THE FIXED LOOK OF HORROR THREATENED TO RETURN UPON HIS FACE BUT HE WENT ON LISTEN


UGH I SAW IT IN THE MIRROR HIS VOICE HAD RISEN TO A STRANGLED SHRIEK HIS FACE WAS DISTORTED


IF INDEED THAT BE A POSSIBLE SOURCE OF COURAGE AND IT IS NOT GATHERED RATHER FROM THE HIDDEN HOPE OF WHICH I SPEAK AND THE LOVE THAT WILL CLEAVE AND NOT FORSAKE SHE SET HER TEETH AND SAID LET HER COME THEN POLDIE I AM WITH YOU AND I DEFY HER


SHE SHALL KNOW THAT A SISTER'S LOVE IS STRONGER THAN THE HATE OF A JILT EVEN IF YOU DID KILL HER BEFORE GOD POLDIE I WOULD AFTER ALL RATHER BE YOU THAN SHE SAY WHAT YOU WILL


BUT LEOPOLD SEEMED NOT TO HEAR A WORD SHE SAID AND LAY WITH HIS FACE TO THE WALL


SHE HAD SOUGHT THE DOOR OF PARADISE AND THE DOOR OF HELL HAD BEEN OPENED TO HER IF THE FRIGHTFUL IDEA WHICH SHE DID NOT DOUBT HAD ALREADY SUGGESTED ITSELF TO LEOPOLD SHOULD NOW BE ENCOURAGED THERE WAS NOTHING BUT BLACK MADNESS BEFORE HER


HER POLDIE ON THE SCAFFOLD GOD IN HEAVEN INFINITELY RATHER WOULD SHE POISON HERSELF AND HIM THEN SHE REMEMBERED HOW PLEASED AND CONSOLED HE HAD BEEN WHEN SHE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT THEIR DYING TOGETHER AND THAT REASSURED HER A LITTLE


BUT SHE MUST TAKE CARE THAT FOOLISH EXTRAVAGANT CURATE SHOULD NOT COME NEAR HIM THERE WAS NO KNOWING TO WHAT HE MIGHT PERSUADE HIM POOR POLDIE WAS SO EASILY LED BY ANY SHOW OF NOBILITY ANYTHING THAT LOOKED GRAND OR SELF SACRIFICING


HELEN'S ONLY KNOWLEDGE OF GUILT CAME FROM THE PALE IMAGE OF IT LIFTED ABOVE HER HORIZON BY THE REFRACTION OF HER SYMPATHY SHE DID NOT KNOW PERHAPS NEVER WOULD UNDERSTAND THE GHASTLY HORROR OF CONSCIOUS GUILT BESIDES WHICH THERE IS NO EVIL ELSE


AGONIES OF INJURY A MAN MAY ENDURE AND SO FAR FROM BEING OVERWHELMED RISE ABOVE THEM TENFOLD A MAN WHO WERE HE TO AWAKE TO THE SELF KNOWLEDGE OF A CRIME WOULD SINK INTO A HEAP OF RUIN


THEN INDEED IF THERE BE NO GOD OR ONE THAT HAS NOT AN INFINITE POWER OF SETTING RIGHT THAT WHICH HAS GONE WRONG WITH HIS WORK THEN INDEED WELCOME THE FAITH FOR FAITH IT MAY THEN BE CALLED OF SUCH AS SAY THERE IS NO HEREAFTER


HELEN DID NOT KNOW TO WHAT GULFS OF PERSONAL SHAME NAY TO WHAT SUMMITS OF PUBLIC EXECRATION A MAN MAY BE GLAD TO FLEE FOR REFUGE FROM THE FANGS OF HOME BORN GUILT IF SO BE THERE IS ANY REFUGE TO BE FOUND IN EITHER


AND SOME KIND OF REFUGE THERE DOES SEEM TO BE STRANGE IT IS AND TRUE THAT IN PUBLICITY ITSELF LIES SOME RELIEF FROM THE GNAWING OF THE WORM AS IF EVEN A CURSING HUMANITY WERE A BARRIER OF PROTECTION BETWEEN THE TORN SOUL AND ITS CRIME


IT FLEES TO ITS KIND FOR SHELTER FROM ITSELF HENCE I IMAGINE IN PART MAY THE COOLNESS OF SOME CRIMINALS BE ACCOUNTED FOR THEIR QUIETNESS IS THE RELIEF BROUGHT BY CONFESSION EVEN CONFESSION BUT TO THEIR FELLOWS


IS IT THAT THE CRIME SEEMS THEN LIFTED A LITTLE FROM THEIR SHOULDERS AND ITS WEIGHT SHARED BY THE ACE HELEN HAD HOPED THAT THE MAN WHO HAD SPOKEN IN PUBLIC SO TENDERLY AND AT THE SAME TIME SO POWERFULLY OF THE SAVING HEART OF THE UNIVERSE


THAT WOULD HAVE NO DIVISIONS OF PRIDE NO SCATTERINGS OF HATE


WHICH SHE MIGHT HAVE CARRIED HOME IN GLADNESS TO HER SICK SOULED BROTHER TO COMFORT AND STRENGTHEN HIM


AND MAKE HIM FEEL THAT AFTER ALL THERE WAS YET A PLACE FOR HIM IN THE UNIVERSE AND THAT HE WAS NO OUTCAST OF GEHENNA BUT INSTEAD OF SUCH WORDS OF GENTLE MIGHT LIKE THOSE OF THE MAN OF WHOM HE WAS SO FOND OF TALKING


HE HAD ONLY SPOKEN DREARILY OF DUTY HINTING AT A HORROR THAT WOULD PLUNGE THE WHOLE ANCIENT FAMILY INTO A HELL OF DISHONOUR AND CONTEMPT


SKELETONS THEY WERE AND NO HUMAN BEINGS AT ALL HER FATHER


IF LEOPOLD HAD HAD HER MOTHER FOR HIS TOO INSTEAD OF THE DARK SKINNED WOMAN WITH THE FLASHING EYES HE WOULD NEVER HAVE BROUGHT THIS UPON THEM IT WAS ALL HIS MOTHER'S FAULT THE FAULT OF HER RACE AND OF THE HORRIBLE DRUG HER PEOPLE HAD TAUGHT HIM TO TAKE


AND WAS HE TO GO AND CONFESS IT AND BE TRIED FOR IT AND BE GREAT GOD AND HERE WAS THE PRIEST ACTUALLY COUNSELLING WHAT WAS WORSE THAN ANY SUICIDE


SUDDENLY HOWEVER IT OCCURRED TO HER THAT THE CURATE HAD HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE FACTS OF THE CASE AND HAD THEREFORE BEEN COMPELLED TO TALK AT RANDOM IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE HE SHOULD SUSPECT THE CRIME OF WHICH HER BROTHER HAD BEEN GUILTY


AND THEREFORE COULD NOT KNOW THE FRIGHTFUL CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH A CONFESSION AS HE HAD COUNSELLED HAD SHE NOT BETTER THEN TELL HIM ALL AND SO GATHER FROM HIM SOME RIGHT AND REASONABLE ADVICE FOR THE SOOTHING OF THE AGONIES OF HER POOR BROKEN WINGED ANGEL


BUT ALAS WHAT SECURITY HAD SHE THAT A MAN CAPABLE OF SUCH PRIESTLY SEVEIRITY AND HEARTLESSNESS


NO SHE WOULD VENTURE NO FARTHER SOONER WOULD SHE GO TO GEORGE BASCOMBE FROM WHOM SHE NOT ONLY COULD LOOK FOR NO SPIRITUAL COMFORT BUT WHOSE THEORIES WERE SO CRUEL AGAINST CULPRITS OF ALL SORTS


ALAS ALAS SHE WAS ALONE ABSOLUTELY ALONE IN THE GREAT WASTE DEATH EYED UNIVERSE BUT FOR A MAN TO TALK SO OF THE TENDERNESS OF JESUS CHRIST


AND THEN SERVE HER AS THE CURATE HAD DONE IT WAS INDEED SHAMELESS HE WOULD NEVER HAVE TREATED A POOR WRETCHED WOMAN LIKE THAT AND AS SHE SAID THUS TO HERSELF AGAIN THE WORDS SOUNDED IN THE EAR OF HER HEART


COME UNTO ME ALL YE THAT LABOUR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST WHENCE CAME THE VOICE FROM HER MEMORY OR FROM THAT INNER CHAMBER OF THE SPIRIT WHICH THE ONE SPIRIT BEARING SPIRIT


KEEPS FOR HIS OWN IN EVERY HOUSE THAT HE BUILDS ALAS SO LONG IN MOST HUMAN HOUSES SHUT AWAY FROM THE REST OF THE ROOMS AND FORGOTTEN OR RECOLLECTED WITH UNEASINESS AS A LUMBER CLOSET IN WHICH LIE TOO MANY THINGS THAT HAD BETTER NOT BE LOOKED INTO


BUT WHAT MATTER WHERE THE VOICE THAT HAD SAID THEM SO LONG AS THE WORDS WERE TRUE AND SHE MIGHT BELIEVE THEM WHATEVER IS TRUE CAN BE BELIEVED OF THE TRUE HEART ERE SHE KNEW


HELEN WAS ON HER KNEES WITH HER HEAD ON THE CHAIR YET ONCE MORE CRYING TO THE HEARER OF CRIES POSSIBLE OR IMPOSSIBLE BEING SHE KNEW NOT IN THE LEAST BUT WORDS REPORTED OF HIM HAD GIVEN BIRTH TO THE CRY TO HELP HER IN HER DIRE NEED


INSTEAD OF ANY WORD OR THOUGHT EVEN COMING TO HER THAT MIGHT BE FANCIED AN ANSWER SHE WAS SCARED FROM HER KNEES BY AN APPROACHING STEP


CHAPTER FOURTEEN IT WAS SUNSET WHEN WE ARRIVED IN ROSVILLE AND FOUND MISTER MORGESON WAITING FOR US WITH HIS CARRIAGE AT THE STATION FROM ITS OPEN SIDES


I LOOKED OUT ON A TRANQUIL AGREEABLE LANDSCAPE THERE WAS NOTHING SALINE IN THE ATMOSPHERE THE WESTERN BREEZE WHICH BLEW IN OUR FACES HAD AN EARTHY SCENT WITH FLUCTUATING STREAMS OF ODORS FROM TREES AND FLOWERS


AS WE PASSED THROUGH THE TOWN COUSIN CHARLES POINTED TO THE ACADEMY WHICH STOOD AT THE HEAD OF A GREEN PRETTY HOUSES STOOD ROUND IT AND STREETS BRANCHED FROM IT IN ALL DIRECTIONS FLOWER GARDENS SHRUBBERY AND TREES WERE SCATTERED EVERYWHERE


ROSVILLE WAS LARGER AND HANDSOMER THAN SURREY THAT IS MY HOUSE ON THE RIGHT HE SAID WE LOOKED DOWN THE SHADY STREET THROUGH WHICH WE WERE GOING


AND PEAKED ROOF AND ON THE SIDE TOWARD US A LARGE YARD AND STABLES WE DROVE INTO THE YARD AND A WOMAN CAME OUT ON THE PIAZZA TO RECEIVE US IT WAS MISSUS MORGESON OR MY WIFE COUSIN ALICE


AS MISTER MORGESON INTRODUCED HER GIVING US A CORDIAL WELCOME SHE LED US INTO A PARLOR WHERE TEA WAS WAITING A SERVANT CAME IN FOR OUR BONNETS AND BASKETS COUSIN ALICE BEGGED US TO TAKE TEA AT ONCE


WE WERE HARDLY SEATED WHEN WE HEARD THE CRY OF A YOUNG CHILD SHE LEFT THE TABLE HASTILY TO COME BACK IN A MOMENT WITH AN APOLOGY WHICH SHE MADE TO COUSIN CHARLES RATHER THAN TO US I HAD NEVER SEEN A TABLE SO WELL ARRANGED


SO FASTIDIOUSLY NEAT IT GLITTERED WITH GLASS AND FRENCH CHINA COUSIN CHARLES SENT AWAY A GLASS AND A PLATE FROWNING AT THE GIRL WHO WAITED THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A SPECK OR A FLAW IN THEM THE VIANDS WERE AS PRETTY AS THE DISHES


THE LAMB CHOPS WERE FRAGILE THE BREAD WAS DELICIOUS BUT CUT IN TRANSPARENT SLICES AND THE BUTTER PAT WAS NEARLY STAMPED THROUGH WITH ITS BOUQUET OF FLOWERS THIS WAS ALL THE FEAST EXCEPT SPONGE CAKE WHICH FELT LIKE MUSLIN IN THE FINGERS


I COULD HAVE SQUEEZED THE WHOLE OF IT INTO MY MOUTH STILL HUNGRY I OBSERVED THAT COUSIN CHARLES AND ALICE HAD FINISHED AND THOUGH SHE SHOOK HER SPOON IN THE CUP FEIGNING TO CONTINUE AND HE SNIPPED CRUMBS IN HIS PLATE


I FELT CONSTRAINED TO END MY REPAST HE ROSE THEN AND PUSHING BACK FOLDING DOORS WE ENTERED A LARGE ROOM LEAVING ALICE AT THE TABLE WINDOWS EXTENDING TO THE FLOOR OPENING ON THE PIAZZA


BUT NOTWITHSTANDING THE STREAM OF LIGHT OVER THE CARPET I THOUGHT IT SOMBER AND OUT OF KEEPING WITH THE COTTAGE EXTERIOR


THE FURNITURE WAS DARK THE MANTEL AND TABLE TOPS WERE BLACK MARBLE AND THE VASES AND CANDELABRA WERE BRONZE HE DIRECTED MOTHER'S ATTENTION TO THE PORTRAITS OF HIS CHILDREN EXPLAINING THEM


DARK AND DELICATE BUT TO LOOK AT IT MADE ME SHIVER MOTHER CAME TOWARD US PLEADING FATIGUE AS AN EXCUSE FOR RETIRING AND COUSIN CHARLES CALLED COUSIN ALICE WHO WENT WITH US TO OUR ROOM IN THE MORNING SHE SAID


WE SHOULD SEE HER THREE CHILDREN SHE NEVER LEFT THEM SHE WAS SO AFRAID OF THEIR BEING ILL ALSO TELLING MOTHER THAT SHE WOULD DO ALL IN HER POWER TO MAKE MY STAY IN ROSVILLE PLEASANT AND PROFITABLE AS A MOTHER


SHE COULD APPRECIATE HER ANXIETY AND SADNESS IN LEAVING ME MOTHER THANKED HER WARMLY AND WAS SURE THAT I SHOULD BE HAPPY BUT I HAD AN INWARD MISGIVING THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT I HEAR EDWARD SAID ALICE GOOD NIGHT


PRESENTLY A GIRL THE SAME WHO HAD TAKEN OUR BONNETS CAME IN WITH A PITCHER OF WARM WATER AND A PLATE OF SODA BISCUIT SHE DIRECTED US WHERE TO FIND THE APPAREL SHE HAD NICELY SMOOTHED AND FOLDED TOOK OFF THE HANDSOME COUNTERPANE AND THE PILLOWS TRIMMED WITH LACE


PUTTING OTHERS OF A PLAINER MAKE IN THEIR PLACES SHOOK DOWN THE WINDOW CURTAINS ASKED US IF WE WOULD HAVE ANYTHING MORE AND QUIETLY DISAPPEARED I OFFERED MOTHER THE WARM WATER AND APPROPRIATED THE BISCUITS THERE WERE SIX I ATE EVERY ONE


UNDRESSING MEANWHILE AND SURVEYING THE APARTMENT CASSY MISSUS MORGESON IS AN EXCELLENT HOUSEKEEPER YES I SAID HUSKILY FOR THE DRY BISCUIT CHOKED ME WHAT WOULD TEMPERANCE AND HEPSEY SAY TO THIS


I THINK THEY WOULD GRUMBLE AND ADMIRE LOOK AT THIS SHOWING HER THE TASSELS OF THE INNER WINDOW CURTAINS DONE UP IN LITTLE BAGS AND THE GLASS IS PINNED UP WITH NICE YELLOW PAPER


AND HERE IS A DAMASK NAPKIN FASTENED TO THE WALL BEHIND THE WASHSTAND AND EVERYTHING STANDS ON A MAT I WONDER IF THIS IS TO BE MY ROOM IT IS PROBABLY THE CHAMBER FOR VISITORS WHY


IT WAS BYRON AND TURNING OVER THE LEAVES TILL I CAME TO DON JUAN I READ IT THROUGH


WHICH WAS NOT THE ONE WE HAD TAKEN TEA IN BUT A SMALL APARTMENT WITH A DOOR OPENING INTO THE GARDEN


AND THEIR MOTHER WAS TENDING AND WATCHING THEM THE OLDEST WAS EIGHT YEARS THE YOUNGEST THREE MONTHS COUSIN ALICE GAVE US DESCRIPTIONS OF THEIR TASTES AND HABITS DWELLING WITH EMPHASIS ON THOSE OF THE BABY


I DREW FROM HER CONVERSATION THE OPINION THAT SHE HAD A TENDENCY TO THE REARING OF CHILDREN I WAS GLAD WHEN COUSIN CHARLES CAME IN LOOKING AT HIS WATCH SEND OFF THE BABIES ALICE AND RING THE BELL FOR BREAKFAST SHE SENT OUT THE TWO YOUNGEST


PUT LITTLE EDWARD IN HIS CHAIR AND BREAKFAST BEGAN MISSUS MORGESON SAID CHARLES THE HORSES WILL BE READY TO TAKE YOU ROUND ROSVILLE WE WILL CALL ON DOCTOR PRICE FOR YOU TO SEE THE KIND OF MASTER CASSANDRA WILL HAVE I HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN TO HIM ABOUT RECEIVING A NEW PUPIL


I SAID MOTHER TRIED IN VAIN TO LOOK HARD HEARTED AND TO PERSUADE THAT IT WAS GOOD FOR ME BUT SHE LOST HER APPETITE WITH THE THOUGHT OF LOSING ME WHICH THE MENTION OF DOCTOR PRICE BROUGHT HOME


THE HAM WAS MOST SAVORY BUT CUT IN SUCH THIN SLICES THAT IT CURLED AND THE BISCUITS WERE AS WHITE AND FEATHERY AS SNOWFLAKES


COUSIN ALICE GAVE UNREMITTING ATTENTION TO EDWARD WHO ATE AS LITTLE AS THE REST MOTHER I SAID AFTERWARD


I NOTICED HOW ELEGANT THEIR TABLE APPOINTMENTS WERE AND I SHALL BUY NEW CHINA IN BOSTON TO MORROW I WISH HEPSEY WOULD NOT LOAD OUR TABLE AS SHE DOES HEPSEY IS A GOOD WOMAN MOTHER DO GIVE MY LOVE TO HER NOW THAT I THINK OF IT


SHE WAS ALWAYS MAKING UP SOME NICE DISH TELL HER I REMEMBER IT WILL YOU WHEN COUSIN CHARLES PUT US INTO THE CARRIAGE AND HOISTED LITTLE EDWARD ON THE FRONT SEAT MOTHER NOTICED THAT TWO MEN HELD THE HORSES AND THAT THEY WERE NOT THE SAME HE HAD DRIVEN THE NIGHT BEFORE


SHE SAID SHE WAS AFRAID TO GO THEY LOOKED UNGOVERNABLE BUT HE REASSURED HER AND ONE OF THE MEN AVERRING THAT MISTER MORGESON COULD DRIVE ANYTHING SHE REPRESSED HER FEARS AND WE DROVE OUT OF THE YARD BEHIND A PAIR OF HORSES


THAT STOOD ON THEIR HIND LEGS AS OFTEN AS THAT POSITION WAS COMPATIBLE WITH THE NECESSITY THEY WERE UNDER OF GETTING ON FOR THEY EVIDENTLY UNDERSTOOD THAT THEY WERE GUIDED BY A FIRM HAND EDWARD WAS DELIGHTED WITH THEIR BEHAVIOR


AND FOR THE FIRST TIME I SAW HIS FATHER SMILE ON HIM THESE ARE FINE BRUTES HE SAID NOT TAKING HIS EYES FROM THEM BUT THEY ARE NOT EQUAL TO MY MARE NELL ALICE IS AFRAID OF HER BUT I HOPE THAT YOU CASSANDRA


LEAPING SO HIGH THAT THE HARNESS SEEMED RATTLING FROM THEIR BACKS HE STRUCK THEM AND SAID GO ON NOW GO ON DEVILS THERE WAS NO FURTHER TROUBLE HE ENCOURAGED MOTHER NOT TO BE AFRAID LOOKING KEENLY AT ME


AND THE SCHOLARS SOME SIXTY BOYS AND GIRLS WERE COMING DOWNSTAIRS FROM THE HALL TO GO INTO THE ROOMS EACH SIDE OF A GREAT DOOR DOCTOR PRICE WAS BEHIND THEM HE STOPPED WHEN HE SAW US AN INTRODUCTION TOOK PLACE AND HE INQUIRED FOR DOCTOR SNELL


AS AN OLD COLLEGE FRIEND LOCKE MORGESON SOUNDED FAMILIARLY HE SAID A MEMBER OF HIS MOTHER'S FAMILY NAMED SOMERS HAD MARRIED A GENTLEMAN OF THAT NAME HE REMEMBERED IT FROM AN OLD IVORY MINIATURE WHICH HIS MOTHER HAD SHOWN HIM


TELLING HIM IT WAS THE LIKENESS OF HER COUSIN RACHEL'S HUSBAND I REPLIED WE KNEW THAT GRANDFATHER HAD MARRIED A RACHEL SOMERS COUSIN CHARLES WAS SURPRISED AND A LITTLE VEXED THAT THE DOCTOR HAD NEVER TOLD HIM


AND WE FOLLOWED HIM TO HER SCHOOL ROOM I WAS AT ONCE INTERESTED AND IMPRESSED BY THE APPEARANCE OF MY TEACHER THAT WAS TO BE SHE WAS A DIGNIFIED KIND LOOKING WOMAN WHO ASKED ME A FEW QUESTIONS IN SUCH A PLEASANT DIRECT MANNER


THAT I FRANKLY TOLD HER I WAS EIGHTEEN YEARS OLD VERY IGNORANT AND AVERSE FROM LEARNING BUT I DID NOT SPEAK LOUD ENOUGH FOR ANYBODY BESIDE HERSELF TO HEAR NOW SAID MOTHER WHEN WE CAME AWAY


THINK HOW MUCH GREATER YOUR ADVANTAGES ARE THAN MINE HAVE EVER BEEN HOW MISERABLE WAS MY YOUTH IT IS TOO LATE FOR ME TO MAKE ANY ATTEMPT AT CULTIVATION I HAVE NO WISH THAT WAY


AND THAT THERE WAS NO CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN ROSVILLE SHE WENT TO BOSTON THAT FRIDAY AFTERNOON ANXIOUS TO GET SAFELY HOME WITH VERONICA WE PARTED WITH MANY A KISS AND SHAKE OF THE HAND AND LAST WORDS


INSTEAD OF MY HEART LEAPING FOR JOY AS I HAD EXPECTED A SUDDEN INDIFFERENCE FILLED IT I FELT AVERSE TO THE CHANGE FROM THE NARROW WAYS OF BARMOUTH WHICH FOR THE MOMENT I REGRETTED


WHEN I ENTERED THE HOUSE AND SAW MOTHER IN HER OLD PLACE HER SURROUNDINGS UNALTERED I SUFFERED A DISAPPOINTMENT I HAD NOT HAD THE POWER OF TRANSFERRING THE ATMOSPHERE OF MY YEAR'S MISERY TO SURREY


I HEARD THE WONTED SOUND OF THE BANGING OF DOORS THE DOORS AT GRAND'THER'S I MUSED HAD LIST NAILED ROUND THEIR EDGES BUT THEN HE HAD THE LIST BEING A TAILOR I VUM SAID TEMPERANCE WITH HER HAND ON HER HIP


AND NOT OFFERING TO APPROACH ME YOUR HAIR IS AS THICK AS A MOP HEPSEY RUBBING HER FINGERS AGAINST HER THUMB REMARKED THAT SHE HOPED LEARNING HAD NOT TAKEN AWAY MY APPETITE


IS IT BEST TO COOK MORE MISSUS MORGESON


THE BOY BY NAME CHARLES CAME TO SEE THE NEW ARRIVAL BUT SMITTEN WITH DIFFIDENCE CREPT UNDER THE TABLE AND EXAMINED ME FROM HIS RETREAT


INQUIRED MOTHER HE IS GETTING HIS DOUBLE TEETH OH YES AND WHERE'S VERONICA SHE'S UP GARRET WRITING GEOGRAPHY AND TOLD ME NOTHING IN THE WORLD MUST DISTURB HER TILL SHE HAD FINISHED AN ACCOUNT OF THE CITY OF PALMIRY


SAID TEMPERANCE CALL HER WHEN SUPPER IS READY REPLIED MOTHER WHO ASKED ME TO COME INTO THE BEDROOM WHERE ARTHUR WAS SLEEPING HE WAS A HANDSOME CHILD LARGE AND FAIR AND AS I LIFTED HIS WHITE LAX FINGERS


A TORRENT OF LOVE SWEPT THROUGH ME AND I KISSED HIM I AM AFRAID I MAKE AN IDOL OF HIM CASSY ARE YOU UNHAPPY BECAUSE YOU LOVE HIM SO WELL MOTHER AND FEEL THAT YOU MUST MAKE EXPIATION CASSANDRA SHE SPOKE WITH HASTE


DID YOU EXPERIENCE ANY SHADOW OF A CHANGE DURING THE REVIVAL AT BARMOUTH NO MORE THAN THE BABY HERE DID I SHALL HAVE FAITH THOUGH


BECAUSE YOU HAVE HAD THE BLESSING OF SO GOOD A MAN AS YOUR GRAND'THER BUT I NEVER HEARD A WORD OF GRAND'THER'S PRAYERS DO YOU REMEMBER HIS VOICE


MY HEARING HIM OR NOT WOULD MAKE NO DIFFERENCE SINCE GOD COULD HEAR AND ANSWER GRAND'THER DOES NOT LIKE ME I NEVER PLEASED HIM SHE LOOKED ASTONISHED THEN REFLECTIVE


TEMPERANCE BROUGHT ARTHUR TO THE TABLE HALF ASLEEP BUT HE ROUSED WHEN SHE DRUMMED ON HIS PLATE WITH A SPOON HEPSEY WAS STATIONED BY THE BANNOCK KNIFE IN HAND TO SERVE IT AS WE BEGAN OUR MEAL


VERONICA CAME IN FROM THE KITCHEN WITH A PLATE OF TOASTED CRACKERS SHE SET THE PLATE DOWN AND GRAVELY SHOOK HANDS WITH ME SAYING SHE HAD CONCLUDED TO LIVE ENTIRELY ON TOAST BUT SUPPOSED I WOULD EAT ALL SORTS OF FOOD AS USUAL


HER FACE WAS STILL LONG AND NARROW BUT PRETTIER AND HER LARGE DARK EYES HAD A SLIGHT CAST WHICH GAVE HER FACE AN INDESCRIBABLE EXPRESSION DISTANT INDIFFERENT AND SPECULATIVE AS THE EYES WERE


AND ATE IT IN SILENCE THE PLENTY AROUND ME THE EASE AND INDEPENDENCE GAVE ME A DELIGHTFUL SENSE OF COMFORT THE DISHES WERE ODD SOME OF CHINA SOME OF DELF AND WERE CONTINUALLY MOVED OUT OF THEIR PLACES FOR WE HELPED OURSELVES


SHE WAS TOO MUCH ENGAGED IN CONVERSATION TO FULFILL HER DUTIES THAT WAY


I GREW BLITHE AS I SAW IT WINKING UNDER THE RAYS OF THE AFTERNOON SUN AND CLAPPING MY HANDS SAID I WAS GLAD TO GET HOME WE LEFT VERONICA AT THE TABLE AND MOTHER RESUMED HER CONVERSATION WITH ME IN A CORNER OF THE ROOM


PRESENTLY TEMPERANCE CAME IN WITH CHARLES BRINGING FRESH PLATES AS SOON AS THEY BEGAN THEIR SUPPER VERONICA ASKED TEMPERANCE HOW THE FISH TASTED IS IT SALT MIDDLING HOW IS THE BANNOCK EXCELLENT


THE GLUTTON BUT HE HAS NOT BEEN HERE LONG THEY ARE ALL SO WHEN THEY FIRST COME SHE THEN GAVE HIM A LARGE SLICE OF THE CAKE VERONICA CONTRARY TO HER WONT


I FEEL EVIL STILL YOU KNOW TURNING TO ME THAT MY TEMPER IS WORSE THAN EVER IT IS LIKE A TIGER'S OH VERRY SAID MOTHER NOT QUITE SO BAD YOU ARE TOO HARD UPON YOURSELF


SAY SO TO MY OWN CHILD VERRY TURNED HER FACE TO THE WALL AND SAID NO MORE BUT SHE HAD STARTED A LESS PLEASANT TRAIN OF THOUGHT IT WAS CHANGED AGAIN BY TEMPERANCE COMING WITH LIGHTS


THOUGH THE TALL BRASS LAMPS GLITTERED LIKE GOLD THEIR CIRCLE OF LIGHT WAS SMALL THE CORNERS OF THE ROOM WERE OBSCURE MISTER PARK ENTERING RETREATED INTO ONE AND MOTHER WAS OBLIGED TO FOREGO THE PLEASURE OF UNDRESSING ARTHUR


SO SHE SENT HIM OFF WITH TEMPERANCE AND CHARLES WHOSE DUTY IT WAS TO ROCK THE CRADLE AS LONG AS HIS BABYSHIP REQUIRED SOON AFTER FATHER CAME AND HEPSEY BROUGHT IN HIS HOT SUPPER WHILE HE WAS EATING IT GRANDFATHER JOHN MORGESON BUSTLED IN


AS HE SHOOK HANDS WITH ME I SAW THAT HIS HAIR HAD WHITENED HE HELD A TASSELED CANE BETWEEN HIS KNEES AND THUMPED THE FLOOR WHENEVER HE ASKED A QUESTION


AND MOTHER LISTENED WITH A VAGUE RESPECTFUL ATTENTION HER HAND WAS PRESSED AGAINST HER BREAST AS IF SHE WERE REPRESSING AN INWARD VOICE WHICH CLAIMED HER ATTENTION


HER HAIR DROPPED ON HER SHOULDER AND LOOKED LIKE A BROWN COILED SERPENT VERONICA WHO HAD BEEN SILENTLY OBSERVING HER ROSE FROM THE SOFA PICKED UP THE COMB AND FASTENED HER HAIR WITHOUT SPEAKING AS SHE PASSED SHE GAVE ME A DARK LOOK


EH VERRY SAID FATHER ARE YOU THERE WERE YOU GLAD TO SEE CASSY HOME AGAIN SHOULD I BE GLAD WHAT CAN SHE DO GRANDFATHER PURSED UP HIS MOUTH


AND TURNED TOWARD MOTHER AS IF HE WOULD LIKE TO SAY YOU UNDERSTAND BRINGING UP CHILDREN DON'T YOU SHE COMPREHENDED HIM AND GIVING HER HEAD A SLIGHT TOSS TOLD VERRY TO GO AND PLAY ON THE PIANO I WAS GOING SHE ANSWERED PETTISHLY


AND DARTING OUT A MOMENT AFTER WE HEARD HER GRANDFATHER WENT AND PRESENTLY MISTER PARK GOT UP IN A LINGERING WAY


JOE BACON MOTHER RETIRED VERRY STILL PLAYED HER TALENT IS WONDERFUL SAID FATHER TAKING THE CIGAR FROM HIS MOUTH BY THE WAY YOU MUST TAKE LESSONS IN MILFORD I WISH YOU WOULD LEARN TO SING


THOUGH THE FIRE HAD GONE OUT THE LAMPS WINKED BRIGHTLY AND FATHER MOVING HIS CIGAR TO THE OTHER SIDE OF HIS MOUTH CHANGED HIS REGARDS FROM ONE LAMP TO THE OTHER AND SAID HE THOUGHT I WAS GROWING TO BE AN ATTRACTIVE GIRL


A VERY STRONG RELATION OF RESERVE GENERALLY EXISTED BETWEEN PARENT AND CHILD INSTEAD OF A CONFIDENTIAL ONE AND THE CHILD WAS APT TO DISCOVER THAT RESERVE ON THE PART OF THE PARENT WAS NOT SUPERIORITY BUT COWARDICE OR INDIFFERENCE


LET IT NOT BE SO WITH US WAS HIS CONCLUSION HE THREW AWAY THE STUMP OF HIS CIGAR AND WENT TO FASTEN THE HALL DOOR I TOOK ONE OF THE BRASS LAMPS PROPOSING TO GO TO BED


AS I PASSED THROUGH THE UPPER ENTRY VERONICA OPENED HER DOOR SHE WAS UNDRESSED AND HAD A LITTLE BOOK IN HER HAND WHICH SHE SHOOK AT ME SAYING


WE SAT IN STATE TO BE CONDOLED WITH AND WAITED UPON


THOUGH I AM SURE THE PERFORMERS THEREOF HAD SMALL ENCOURAGEMENT VERONICA ALONE WOULD SEE NO ONE HER ROOM WAS THE ONLY ONE NOT INVADED FOR THE NEIGHBORS TOOK THE HOUSE INTO THEIR HANDS ASSISTED BY THAT PART OF THE MORGESONS


WHO WERE TOO DISTANTLY RELATED TO CONSIDER THEMSELVES AS MOURNERS TO BE SHUT UP WITH US IT WAS PUT UNDER RIGOROUS FUNERAL LAW AND INSPECTED FROM GARRET TO CELLAR THEY SUPERVISED ALL THE ARRANGEMENTS


HER COURSE WAS TAKEN FOR GRANTED MINE WAS IMPOSED UPON ME I REMONSTRATED WITH TEMPERANCE BUT SHE REPLIED THAT IT WAS ALL WELL MEANT AND ALWAYS DONE


I ENDURED THE SAME ANNOYANCES OVER AND OVER AGAIN FROM RELAYS OF PEOPLE BED TIME ESPECIALLY WAS THEIR OCCASION I WAS NOT ALLOWED TO UNDRESS ALONE I MUST HAVE DRINKS EITHER TO COMPOSE OR STIMULATE


THEY REITERATED THE CHARACTER THE PECULIARITIES THE VIRTUES OF THE MOTHER I HAD LOST WHO COULD NEVER BE REPLACED WHO WAS IN A BETTER WORLD HOWEVER I WAS IN A MEASURE


KEPT FROM MYSELF DURING THIS INTERVAL THE MATTER IS OFTEN SUBSERVIENT TO THE MANNER ARTHUR'S FEELINGS WERE PLAYED UPON ALSO HE WEPT OFTEN CONFIDING TO ME HIS GRIEF AND HIS PLANS FOR THE FUTURE


THINGS WOULD GO WELL HE SAID FOR EVERYBODY MUST EXPECT TO DIE THEN THE BIBLE SAYS SO HE INFORMED ME ALSO THAT HE EXPECTED TO BE AN ARCHITECT AND THAT MOTHER LIKED IT HE HAD AN IDEA


WHICH HE HAD IMPARTED TO HER OF AN ARCH IT MUST BE MADE OF BLACK MARBLE WITH GOLD VEINS AND OUGHT TO STAND IN EGYPT WITH THE WORD PANDEMONIUM ON IT THE KITCHEN WAS THE FOCUS OF INTEREST TO HIM


FOR MEALS WERE PREPARED AT ALL HOURS FOR COMERS AND GOERS TEMPERANCE TOLD ME THAT THE MILD AND INDIFFERENT MOURNERS WERE FOND OF GOOD VICTUALS AND SHE THOUGHT THEIR HEARTS WERE LIGHTER THAN THEIR STOMACHS WHEN THEY WENT AWAY


BECAUSE HE LOOKED SO GRIEF STRUCK AUNT MERCE WAS ENGAGED WITH A DRESSMAKER AND WITH THE ORDERS FOR BONNETS AND VEILS SHE DISCUSSED THE SUBJECT OF THE MOURNING WITH THE MORGESONS I ACQUIESCED IN ALL HER ARRANGEMENTS


FOR SHE DERIVED A SIMPLE COMFORT FROM THESE EXTERNAL TOKENS VERONICA REFUSED TO WEAR THE BONNET AND VEIL AND THE REQUIRED BOMBAZINE BOMBAZINE MADE HER FLESH CRAWL WHY SHOULD SHE WEAR IT MOTHER HATED IT TOO


FOR SHE HAD NEVER WORN OUT THE GARMENTS MADE FOR GRAND'THER WARREN SHE'S A BIGGER CHILD THAN EVER TEMPERANCE REMARKED AND MUST HAVE HER WAY


COMING INTO MY ROOM DRESSED FOR THE FUNERAL NO


THE YARD IS FULL OF CARRIAGES ALREADY SOMEBODY HANDED ME GLOVES MY BONNET WAS TIED A HANDKERCHIEF GIVEN TO ME AND THE DOOR OPENED IN THE PASSAGE I HEARD A KNOCKING FROM VERONICA'S ROOM AND CROSSED TO LEARN WHAT SHE WANTED


IS THIS LIKE HER SHE ASKED SHOWING ME A DRAWING HOW COULD YOU HAVE DONE THIS BECAUSE I HAVE TRIED IS IT LIKE YES THE IDEA


BUT WHAT A PICTURE SHE HAD ATTEMPTED TO MAKE MOTHER'S SHADOWY FACE SERENELY LOOKED FROM A HIGH SMALL WINDOW SET IN CLOUDS LIKE THOSE WHICH GATHER OVER THE SUN WHEN IT DRAWS WATER


IT WAS CLOSELY PRESSED TO THE GLASS AND SHE WAS REGARDING DARK INDEFINITE CREATURES BELOW IT


KEEP IT BUT DON'T WORK ON IT ANY MORE AND I PUT IT AWAY SHE WAS WAN AND LANGUID BUT COLLECTED I SEE YOU ARE READY SOMEBODY MUST BURY THE DEAD GO


WILL THE HOUSE BE EMPTY YES GOOD I CAN WALK THROUGH IT ONCE MORE THE DEAD MUST BE BURIED THAT IS CERTAIN BUT WHY SHOULD IT BE CERTAIN THAT I MUST BE THE ONE TO DO IT YOU THINK I CAN GO THROUGH WITH IT THEN


I HAVE SET YOUR BEHAVIOR DOWN TO YOUR WILL YOU MAY BE RIGHT PERHAPS MOTHER WAS ALWAYS RIGHT ABOUT ME TOO SHE WAS AGAINST ME SHE LOOKED AT ME WITH A TIMIDITY AND APPREHENSION THAT MADE MY HEART BLEED


I THINK WE MIGHT KISS EACH OTHER NOW SHE SAID I OPENED MY ARMS HOLDING HER AGAINST MY BREAST SO TIGHTLY THAT SHE DREW BACK BUT KISSED MY CHEEK GENTLY AND TOOK FROM HER POCKET


A FLACON OF SALTS WHICH SHE FASTENED TO MY BELT BY ITS LITTLE CHAIN AND SAID AGAIN GO BUT RECALLING ME SAID


THE LANDING STAIR WAS FULL OF PEOPLE I LOCKED THE DOOR AND TOOK OUT THE KEY THE STAIRS WERE CROWDED ALL MADE WAY FOR ME WITH A SILENT RESPECT AUNT MERCE WHEN SHE SAW ME


PUT HER HAND ON AN EMPTY CHAIR BESIDE FATHER WHO SAT BY THE COFFIN THOSE PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE WHICH CONTAIN THE BEAUTIFULLY POETIC IMAGES RELATING TO THE GOING OF MAN TO HIS LONG HOME WERE READ AND TO MY EAR


THEY SEEMED TO FALL ON THE COFFIN IN DULL STRIFE WITH ITS INMATE WHO MUTELY CONTRADICTED THEM A DISCOURSE FOLLOWED WHICH WAS CALCULATED TO HARROW THE FEELINGS TO THE UTMOST ARTHUR BEGAN TO CRY SO NERVOUSLY


THAT SOME CONSIDERATE FRIEND TOOK HIM OUT AND AUNT MERCE WEPT SO VIOLENTLY THAT SHE GREW FAINT AND CAUGHT HOLD OF ME I GAVE HER THE FLACON OF SALTS WHICH REVIVED HER BUT I FELT AS FATHER LOOKED STERN


AND ANXIOUS TO ESCAPE THE UNPROFITABLE TRIAL AS THE COFFIN WAS TAKEN OUT TO THE HEARSE MY HEART TWISTED AND PALPITATED AS IF A COMMAND HAD BEEN LAID UPON IT TO FOLLOW AND NOT LEAVE HER


WHEN THE HEARSE MOVED DOWN THE STREET FATHER ARTHUR AND I WERE CALLED AND ASSISTED IN OUR OWN CHAISE AS IF WE WERE HELPLESS THE REINS WERE PUT IN FATHER'S HANDS AND THE HORSE WAS LED BEHIND THE HEARSE


AT LAST THE WORD WAS GIVEN AND THE LONG PROCESSION BEGAN TO MOVE THROUGH THE STREET WHICH WAS DESERTED A CAT RAN OUT OF A HOUSE AND SCAMPERED ACROSS THE WAY ARTHUR LAUGHED AND FATHER JUMPED NERVOUSLY AT THE SOUND OF HIS LAUGH


THE GRAVEYARD WAS A MILE OUTSIDE THE VILLAGE A SANDY PLAIN WHERE A FEW STUNTED PINES TRANSPLANTED FROM THE WOODS NEAR IT STRUGGLED TO KEEP ALIVE AS WE TURNED FROM THE STREET INTO THE LANE WHICH LED TO IT


AND RODE UP A LITTLE HILL WHERE THE SAND WAS SO DEEP THAT IT MUFFLED THE WHEELS AND FEET OF THE HORSES THE WHOLE ROUND OF THE GRAY SKY WAS VISIBLE IT HUNG LOW OVER US I WISHED IT TO DROP AND BLOT OUT THE VAGUE NOTHINGS UNDER IT


WE LEFT THE CARRIAGE AT THE PALINGS AND WALKED UP THE NARROW PATH AMONG THE MOUNDS WHERE EVERY STONE WAS MARKED MORGESON SOME SO OLD THAT THEY WERE STAINED WITH BLOTCHES OF YELLOW MOSS


SLANTING BACKWARD AND FORWARD IN PROTEST AGAINST THE FOLLY OF INDICATING WHAT WAS NO LONGER BENEATH THEM THE MOUNDS WERE COVERED WITH MATS OF SCANTY TANGLED GRASS WITH HERE AND THERE A RANK SPOT OF GREEN


IT WAS THE CUSTOM AND FATHER TOOK HIS HAT OFF TO THANK HIS FRIENDS FOR THEIR SYMPATHY AND ATTENTION HIS LIPS MOVED BUT NO WORDS WERE AUDIBLE THE PROCESSION MOVED DOWN THE PATH AGAIN


ARTHUR'S HAND WAS IN MINE HE STAMPED HIS FEET FIRMLY ON THE SAND AS IF TO BREAK THE OPPRESSIVE SILENCE WHICH NO ONE SEEMED DISPOSED TO DISTURB THE SAME CEREMONIES WERE PERFORMED IN STARTING US HOMEWARD


BUT NOT A SOUL WAS THERE WHEN WE WENT IN THE DUTIES OF FRIENDSHIP AND TRADITION HAD BEEN FULFILLED THE NEIGHBORS HAD GONE HOME TO THEIR AVOCATIONS FOR THE PUBLIC THE TRAGEDY WAS OVER ALL SPECULATION ON THE DEGREE OF OUR GRIEF


OR OUR INDIFFERENCE WAS SETTLED WE COULD TAKE OFF OUR MOURNING GARMENTS AND OUR MOURNING COUNTENANCE NOW THAT WE WERE ALONE OR WE COULD GIVE WAY TO THAT ANGUISH WE ARE AFRAID AND ASHAMED TO SHOW EXCEPT BEFORE THE ONE


FOR A WEEK BEFORE THANKSGIVING THERE WAS GREAT EXCITEMENT AMONG THE SCHOOLGIRLS ON ACCOUNT OF THE APPROACHING FOOTBALL GAME THE FOUR WERE AS EXCITED AS THE OTHERS ALTHOUGH NOT SO MANY OF THEIR OWN PARTICULAR FRIENDS WERE IN THE HARVARD TEAM


IT WAS TO BE A GAME WITH PRINCETON ONE OF THE GREAT UNIVERSITY MATCHES AND FOR SPECIAL REASONS THERE WAS THE DEEPEST INTEREST IN THE MATCH THOSE GIRLS WHO HAD BROTHERS IN COLLEGE OR EVEN COUSINS OR FRIENDS HELD THEMSELVES WITH MORE DIGNITY THAN ANY OF THE OTHERS


AND THOSE WHO HAD RELATIVES IN THE TEAM WERE TOO PROUD FOR ANYTHING AS BRENDA SAID THE GAME WAS TO BE PLAYED IN HOLMES FIELD AND TICKETS WERE NOT EASY TO GET BECAUSE THE SEATS WERE FAR LESS NUMEROUS THAN NOW ON THE GREAT SOLDIERS FIELD


THE GIRLS WERE MAKING UP LITTLE GROUPS TO GO TO THE GAME WITH YOUTHS OF THEIR ACQUAINTANCE AS ESCORTS UNDER THE CHAPERONAGE OF OLDER PEOPLE A FEW WHO HAD RECEIVED NO INVITATION WERE ESPECIALLY MISERABLE AND TOOK NO TROUBLE TO DISGUISE THEIR FEELINGS


WHO HAD NOT BEEN INVITED ELSEWHERE TO GO IN SOME OTHER PARTY NOW EDITH WAS OF A GENERALLY GENEROUS DISPOSITION AND NOT INCLINED TO LIMIT HER FAVORS OF WHATEVER NATURE TO ANY PARTICULAR SET OF GIRLS


AND EVEN OCCASIONALLY FROM BRENDA BOTH OF WHOM WERE INCLINED TO BE MORE EXCLUSIVE SO IT HAPPENED THAT THE GENERAL HARMONY OF THE FOUR WAS SOMEWHAT DISTURBED WHEN NORA ONE DAY AT RECESS EXCLAIMED WHO DO YOU SUPPOSE IS GOING WITH US TO THE GAME


FOR OF COURSE IN THE MINDS OF THE OTHERS THERE COULD BE BUT ONE GAME


WHY WHO IS IT CRIED BRENDA AND WHO IS IT ECHOED BELLE I KNOW THAT YOU CAN'T GUESS OH DON'T BE SILLY NORA IT WOULDN'T BE WORTH WHILE TO GUESS ABOUT SOMETHING YOU'LL KNOW ALL ABOUT SO SOON


EXCEPT THAT YOU SPEAK AS IF IT WERE SOME ONE WE MIGHT NOT CARE TO HAVE AND IF THAT'S THE CASE I DECLARE IT'S TOO BAD SAID BELLE IF IT'S ANYTHING LIKE THAT BROKE IN BRENDA RATHER SNAPPISHLY I WILL JUST TELL EDITH WHAT I THINK


IT THAT CRIED NORA DIDN'T I SAY THAT IT WAS A PERSON A GIRL IF I MUST BE MORE DEFINITE RUTH ROBERTS IF I MUST TELL JUST WHO IT IS OH CRIED BELLE AND AH ECHOED BRENDA


YOU NEED NOT LOOK SO SURPRISED REJOINED NORA AND IF YOU TAKE MY ADVICE YOU WILL NOT SAY ANYTHING TO EDITH SHE OUGHT TO HAVE HER OWN WAY IN ARRANGING HER OWN PARTY AND YOU KNOW WHEN SHE MAKES UP HER MIND IT IS OF NO USE TO TALK TO HER ABOUT IT


IT'S HARD ENOUGH TO HAVE JULIA TAGGING ABOUT EVERYWHERE BUT WHY IN THE WORLD WE SHOULD HAVE RUTH ROBERTS WHEN WE NEVER SEE HER ANYWHERE EXCEPT AT SCHOOL I REALLY CANNOT UNDERSTAND AND I DON'T SEE HOW YOU AND NORA CAN LIKE IT EITHER WHY


RUTH ROBERTS IS AS PLEASANT A GIRL AS THERE IS IN SCHOOL AND YET SHE WOULD HAVE A TERRIBLY LONELY TIME IF IT WERE NOT FOR EDITH AND JULIA NOBODY ELSE EVER THINKS OF SPEAKING TO HER WELL WHY SHOULD WE


YES THAT'S WHAT I THINK TOO NORA SMILED PLEASANTLY AND HER EYES LOOKED BRIGHTER THAN EVER UNDER THE RIM OF HER BROWN FELT HAT WITH ITS TRIMMINGS OF LIGHTER BROWN NORA'S TEMPER WAS NOT EASILY RUFFLED


THEN BELLE ADDED A FINAL WORD OH IT'S CLEAR THAT THIS IS ALL JULIA'S DOINGS


BUT I DON'T SEE TURNING RATHER SNAPPISHLY TOWARDS BRENDA WHY THE REST OF US HAVE GOT TO TAKE UP RUTH ROBERTS JUST BECAUSE YOUR COUSIN JULIA IS SO DEVOTED TO HER NOW THIS WAS A LITTLE TOO MUCH EVEN FOR BRENDA


AND ANYWAY I'M THANKFUL TO HAVE JULIA TAKE A FANCY TO ANYBODY IT LEAVES US A GREAT DEAL FREER TO DO AS WE LIKE I SHOULD THINK THAT YOU WOULD SEE THAT YOURSELF OH WELL SAID NORA LAUGHING THE WHOLE THING IS NOT WORTH QUARRELING ABOUT


YES I KNOW BUT STILL THE LEAST SAID THE SOONEST MENDED SAID NORA THOUGH TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH THE QUOTATION DID NOT SOUND ESPECIALLY APPROPRIATE THE LEAST SAID THE SOONEST MENDED


I AM GOING TO CARRY AN ORANGE SCARF AND PERHAPS AN ORANGE FLAG WHAT FOR WHY I NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING EXCLAIMED NORA NOR I CRIED BRENDA AT A HARVARD GAME


I SHOULD CALL IT VERY IMPOLITE IF THERE WERE NO ORANGE FLAGS SHOWN AT THE GAME WELL YOU HAVE THE MOST RIDICULOUS IDEAS HASN'T SHE BRENDA BRENDA NODDED ASSENT AND NORA CONTINUED


WHY IT'S A DUTY TO DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO HELP YOUR OWN SIDE I NEVER SAID THAT HARVARD WAS MY SIDE INTERRUPTED BELLE DIDN'T I TELL YOU THAT I HAVE A COUSIN ON THE PRINCETON TEAM YOU'D BETTER NOT SAY ANYTHING OF THAT KIND TO PHILIP