\"Well，\"Ireturnedafterconsideration，\"thatisobviouslyM。deDreuil。\"
\"Areyousosure？Idon’tmakeouttheperson，\"myfriendcontinued——\"I
onlyseeshe’snotalone。Iunderstoodyoumoreoverthatyouhadlatelylefttheminthehouse。\"
\"TheyWEREinthehouse，buttherewasnothingtokeepthemfromcomingout。They’vehadplentyoftimewhilewe’vetalked；theymusthavepasseddownbysomeoftheothersteps。Perhapsalso，\"Iadded，\"it’sanotherman。\"
Butbythistimeshewassatisfied。\"It’sHE！\"
\"GilbertLong？Ithoughtyoujustsaid，\"Iobserved，\"thatyoucanmakenobodyout。\"
Wewatchedtogether，butthedistancewasconsiderable，andthesecondfigurecontinuedtobescreened。\"ItMUSTbehe，\"Mrs。Brissendenresumedwithimpatience，\"sinceitwaswithhimIsodistinctlysawher。\"
\"Letmeoncemoreholdyoutothefact，\"Ianswered，\"thatshehad，tomyknowledge，succumbedtoM。deDreuilafterwards。Themomentshavefled，yousee，inourfascinatingdiscussion，andvariousthings，onyourtheoryofherpounce，havecomeandgone。Don’tImoreovermakeoutabrownshoe，inawhitegaiter，protrudingfromtheothersideofherdress？ItmustbeLordLutley。\"
Mrs。Brissendenlookedandmused。\"Abrownshoeinawhitegaiter？\"
AtthismomentMrs。Servermoved，andthenext——asifitweretimeforanotherpounce——shehadgotup。Wecould，however，stilldistinguishbutashoulderandanoutstretchedlegofhergentleman，who，onhermovement，appeared，asinprotest，tohaveaffirmedbyanemphaticshiftofhisseathispreferencefortheirremainingastheywere。Thiscarriedhimfurtherroundthetree。Wethuslosthim，butshestoodtherewhilewewaited，evidentlyexhortinghim；afteraminuteofwhichshecameawayasinconfidencethathewouldfollow。Duringthisprocess，withafacemorevisible，shehadlookedascharmingasaprettywomanalmostalwaysdoesinrisingeloquentbeforetheapatheticmale。Shehadn’tyetnoticedus，butsomethinginherattitudeandmannerparticularlyspoketome。TherewereimplicationsinittowhichIcouldn’tbeblind，andIfelthowmyneighbouralsowouldhavecaughtthemandbeenconfirmedinhercertitude。InfactIfeltthebreathofherconfirmationinanotherelated\"There！\"——ina\"LookatherNOW！\"Incontestably，whilenotyetawareofus，Mrs。Serverconfessedwitheveryturnofherheadtoapartinarelation。Itstuckoutofher，herpartinarelation；ithungbeforeus，herpartinarelation；itwaslargetousbeyondthebreadthoftheglade。Andsince，offherguard，shesoletushaveit，withwhomintheworldcouldtherelation——somuchofoneasthat——bebutwithGilbertLong？Thequestionwasnotsettledtillshehadcomeonsomedistance；thentheproducerofourtension，emergingandcomingafterher，offeredhimselftoourunited，toourconfounded，anxietyoncemoreaspoorBriss。
Thatweshouldhavebeenconfoundedwasdoubtlessbutaproofoftheimpression——thesingularassuranceofintimacybornetowardusonthesoftsummerair——thatwehad，howeverdelusively，received。Ishouldmyselfhavebeenasreadyasmyneighbourtosay\"Whoeverheis，they’reindeep！\"——andongrounds，moreover，quiteasrecklessly，asfantasticallyconstructiveashers。Therewasnothingtoexplainourimpressionbutthefactofouralreadyhavingseenthemfiguretogether，andofthisweneededbreathing—timetogivethemthenaturalbenefit。ItwasnotindeedasanabsolutebenefitforeitherthatGraceBrissenden’stonemarkedourrecognition。\"DearGuyAGAIN？\"——butshehadrecoveredherselfenoughtolaugh。\"Ishouldhavethoughthehadhadmorethanhisturn！\"ShehadrecoveredherselfinfactmuchmorethanI；forsomehow，fromthisinstant，convincedasshehadbeenandturningeverythingtoherconviction，Ifoundmyselfdealing，inthought，withstilllargermaterial。ItwasoddwhatadifferencewasmadeformebytherenewedsightofdearGuy。Ididn’tofcourseanalysethissenseatthetime；thatwasstilltocome。Ourfriendsmeanwhilehadnoticedus，andsomethingclearlypassedbetweenthem——italmostproduced，foraninstant，avisiblearrestintheiradvance——onthequestionoftheirhavingperhapsbeenforsometimeexposed。
Theycameon，however，andIwavedthemfromafaragreeting，towhichMrs。Serveralonereplied。DistancesweregreatatNewmarchandlandscape—gardeningonthegrandscale；itwouldtakethemstillsomeminutestoreachourplaceofvantageortoarrivewithinsoundofspeech。Therewasaccordinglynothingmarkedinourturningawayandstrollingbacktothehouse。Wehadbeensointentthatweconfessedbythismovementtoaquickimpulsetodisownit。Yetitwasremarkablethat，beforewewentin，Mrs。Brissendenshouldhavestruckmeafreshashavinggotallshewanted。Herrecoveryfromoursurprisewasalreadysocompletethatherhighluciditynowalonereigned。\"Youdon’trequire，Isuppose，anythingmorethanTHAT？\"
\"Well，Idon’tquitesee，I’mboundtosay，justwhereeven’that’comesin。\"Itincommodedmesingularlylittle，atthepointtowhichIhadjumped，thatthisstatementwastheexactreverseofthetruth。WhereitcameinwaswhatIhappenedtobeintheveryactofseeing——seeingtotheexclusionofalmosteverythingelse。ItwassufficientthatImightperhapsfeelmyselftohavedoneatlastwithMrs。Brissenden。Idesired，atallevents，quiteasifthisbenefitwereassuredme，toleaveherthehonoursofthelastword。
Shewasfinelyenoughpreparedtotakethem。\"Why，thisinventionofusingmyhusband——！\"Shefairlygaspedathavingtoexplain。
\"Of’using’him？\"
\"Trailinghimacrossthescentasshedoesallofyou，oneaftertheother。Excusemycomparingyoutosomanyredherrings。Youeachhaveyourturn；onlyHISseemsrepeated，poordear，tillhe’squitewornoutwithit。\"
Ikeptforalittlethisimageinmyeye。\"Icanseeofcoursethathiswholesituationmustbesomethingofastrainforhim；forI’venotforgottenwhatyoutoldmeyesterdayofhisservicewithLadyJohn。Tohavetoworkinsuchawayfortwoofthematonce\"——itcouldn’thelp，Iadmitted，beingataxonafellow。Besides，whenonecametothinkofit，thesamemancouldn’tbeTWOredherrings。ToshowasMrs。Server’swoulddirectlyimpairhispowertoshowasLadyJohn’s。Itwouldseem，inshort，amatterforhispatronessestohaveouttogether。
Mrs。Brissendenbetrayed，onthis，someannoyanceatmylevity。\"Oh，thecasesarenotthesame，forwithLadyJohnitamuseshim：hethinksheknows。\"
\"Knowswhat？\"
\"Whatshewantshimfor。Hedoesn’tknow\"——shekeptitwonderfullyclear——\"thatshereallydoesn’twanthimforanything；foranythingexcept，ofcourse\"——thiscameasadrollsecondthought——\"himself。\"
\"Andhedoesn’tknow，either\"——Itriedtoremainatherlevel——\"thatMrs。Serverdoes。\"
\"No，\"sheassented，\"hedoesn’tknowwhatit’sherideatodowithhim。\"
\"Hedoesn’tknow，infine，\"Icheerfullypursued，\"thetruthaboutanything。
Andofcourse，byyouragreementwithme，he’snottolearnit。\"
Sherecognisedheragreementwithme，yetlookedasifshehadreservedacertainmeasureoffreedom。Thenshehandsomelygaveupeventhat。\"I
certainlydon’twanthimtobecomeconscious。\"
\"It’shisunconsciousness，\"Ideclared，\"thatsaveshim。\"
\"Yes，evenfromhimself。\"
\"Wemustaccordinglyfeedit。\"Inthehouse，withintention，wepartedcompany；buttherewassomethingthat，beforethis，Ifeltitduetomyclaimofconsistencytobringout。\"Itwasn’t，atallevents，GilbertLongbehindthetree！\"
Mytriumph，however，beneaththespongeshewaspreparedtopassagainovermuchofourexperience，wasshort—lived。\"Ofcourseitwasn’t。Weshouldn’thavebeentreatedtothesceneifitHADbeen。WhatcouldshepossiblyhaveputpoorBrissthereforbutjusttoshowitwasn’t？\"
Chapter6
Isawotherthings，manythings，afterthis，butIhadalreadysomuchmatterforreflectionthatIsawthemalmostinspiteofmyself。Thedifficultywithmewasinthemomentumalreadyacquiredbytheact——aswellas，doubtless，bythegeneralhabit——ofobservation。IrememberindeedthatonseparatingfromMrs。BrissendenItookalivelyresolvetogetridofmyridiculousobsession。Itwasabsurdtohaveconsentedtosuchimmersion，intellectuallyspeaking，intheaffairsofotherpeople。Onehadalwaysaffairsofone’sown，andIwaspositivelyneglectingmine。Such，forawhile，wasmyforemostreflection；afterwhich，intheirorderoroutofit，cameaninevitabletrainofothers。Oneofthefirstofthesewasthat，frankly，myaffairswerebythistimeprettywellusedtomyneglect。Therewereconnectionsenoughinwhichithadneverfailed。Awholeclusterofsuchconnections，effectuallydisplacingthecentreofinterest，nowsurroundedme，andI
was——thoughalwaysbutintellectually——drawnintotheircircle。Ididmybestfortherestofthedaytoturnmybackonthem，butwiththepromptresultoffeelingthatImeddledwiththemalmostmoreinthinkingthemoverinisolationthaninhoveringpersonallyaboutthem。Reflectionwastherealintensity；reflection，astopoorMrs。Serverinparticular，wasanindiscreetopeningofdoors。ShebecamevividinthelightofthesolimitedvisionofherthatIalreadypossessed——trypositivelyasIwouldnotfurthertoextendit。Itwassomethingnottoaskanotherquestion，tokeepconstantlyawaybothfromMrs。BrissendenandfromFordObert，whomIhadrashlyinvitedtoadegreeofparticipation；itwassomethingtotalkashardaspossiblewithotherpersonsandonothersubjects，tomingleingroupsmuchmoresuperficialthantheysupposedthemselves，togiveeartobroaderjokes，todiscussmoretangiblemysteries。
Theday，asitdeveloped，waslargeandhot，anunstintedsplendourofsummer；excursions，exercise，organisedamusementwerethingsadmirablysparedus；lifebecameamerearrestedrambleorstimulatedlounge，andweprofitedtothefullbythenoblefreedomofNewmarch，thatoverarchingeasewhichinnothingwassomarkedasinthetoleranceoftalk。Theairoftheplaceitself，insuchconditions，leftone’spowerswithasenseofplay；ifonewantedsomethingtoplayatonesimplyplayedatbeingthere。Ididthismyself，withtheaid，inespecial，oftwoorthreesolitarystrolls，unaccompanieddips，ofhalfanhoura—piece，intooutlyingpartsofthehouseandthegrounds。ImustaddthatwhileIresortedtosuchmeasuresnottoseeIonlyfixedwhatIHADseen，whatIdidsee，themoreinmymind。Oneofthesethingshadbeenthewaythat，atluncheon，GilbertLong，watchingthechancegivenhimbythelooseorderinwhichwemovedtoit，slipped，tothevisibledefeatofsomebodyelse，intothechairofconspicuitybesidecleverLadyJohn。AsecondwasthatMrs。Serverthenoccupiedaplaceasremoteaspossiblefromthiscouple，butnotfromGuyBrissenden，whohadfoundmeanstoseathimselfnextherwhilemynoticewasengagedbytheothers。WhatIwasatthesametimesupremelystruckwithcoulddoubtlessonlybeMrs。Server’sbrightubiquity，asithadatlastcometoseemtome，andthatofthecompanionsshehadrecruitedfortheoccasion。Attendedconstantlybyadifferentgentleman，shewasintherangeofmyvisionwhereverIturned——shekeptrepeatingherpictureinsettingsseparatedbysuchintervalsthatIwonderedattheceleritywithwhichsheproceededfromspottospot。Shewasneverdiscerniblyoutofbreath，thoughtheassociateofherecstasyatthegivenmomentmighthavebeentakenasbeing；andIkeptgettingafreshtheimpressionwhich，thedaybefore，hadsopromptlyfollowedmyarrival，theoddimpression，asofsomethingthematterwitheachparty，thatIhadgathered，inthegrounds，fromthesightofheradvanceuponmewithObert。Ihadbythistimeofcoursemadeout——anditwasabsurdtoshutmyeyestoit——whatTHATparticularsomething，atleast，was。ItwasthatOberthadquicklyperceivedsomethingtobethematterwithHER，andthatshe，onherside，hadbecomeawareofhisdiscovery。
Iwonderedhereuponifthediscoverywereinevitableforeachgentlemaninsuccession，andifthisweretheirreasonforchangingsooften。Dideveryoneleaveher，likeObert，withanuneasyimpressionofher，andweretheseimpressionsnowpassedaboutwithprivatehilarityorprofundity，thoughwithouthavingreachedmesavefromthesourceIhavenamed？Iaffectedmyselfasconstantlycatchinghereye，asifshewishedtocallmyattentiontothefactofwhowaswithherandwhowasnot。Ihadkeptmydistancesinceourepisodewiththepastels，andyetnothingcouldmorecomehometomethanthatIhadreallynot，sincethen，beenabsentfromher。Wemetwithouttalk，butnot，thankstothesepointedlooks，withoutcontact。
Idaresaythat，forthatmatter，mycogitations——forImusthavebristledwiththem——wouldhavemademeasstiffapuzzletointerpretativemindsasIhadsufferedotherphenomenatobecometomyown。IdaresayIwanderedwithatell—talerestlessnessofwhichthepracticaldetachmentmightwellhavemystifiedthosewhohadn’tsuspicions。WheneverIcaughtMrs。Server’seyeitwasreallytowonderhowmanysuspicionsSHEhad。Icameuponheringreatdimchambers，andIcameuponherbeforesweepsofview。IcameuponheroncemorewiththeComtedeDreuil，withLordLutley，withFordObert，withalmosteveryothermaninthehouse，andwithseveralofthese，asiftherehadnotbeenenoughforsomanyturns，twoorthreetimesover。
Onlyatnomoment，whateverthefavouringframe，didIcomeuponherwithGilbertLong。Itwasofcourseananomalythat，asaneasyaccident，I
wasnotagainmyselfsetinthefavouringframe。ThatIconsistentlyescapedbeingmightindeedhavebeenthemeaningmostmarkedinourmuterecognitions。
Discretion，then，Ifinallyfelt，playedanoddpartwhenitsimplyleftonemoreattached，morally，toone’sprey。Whatwasmostevidenttomebyfiveo’clockintheafternoonwasthatIwastoopreoccupiednottofinditthebestwisdomtoacceptmymood。Itwasallverywelltorunaway；therewouldbenoeffectualrunningawaybuttohavemythingsquicklypackedandcatch，ifpossible，atrainfortown。OnthespotIhadtoBE
onit；anditbegantodawnbeforemethattherewassomethingquiteotherIpossiblymightdowithMrs。Serverthanendeavourineffectuallytoforgether。Whatwasnoneofone’sbusinessmightchangeitsnameshouldimportunitytaketheformofutility。Inresistedobservationthatwasvividthought，ininevitablethoughtthatwasvividobservation，throughasuccession，inshort，ofphasesinwhichIshallnotpretendtodistinguishoneoftheseelementsfromtheother，IfoundmyselfcherishingthefruitoftheseeddroppedequallybyFordObertandbyMrs。Briss。WhatwasthematterwithME？——somuchasthatIhadendedbyaskingmyself；andtheanswerhadcomeasanunmistakablereturnoftheanxietyproducedinmebymyfirstseeingthatIhadfairlyletGraceBrissendenloose。MyoriginalprotestagainsttheflashofinspirationinwhichshehadfixedresponsibilityonMrs。Serverhadbeeninfact，Inowsaw，butthescaredpresentimentofsomethinginstoreformyself。Thisscare，toexpressitsharply，hadverilynotleftmefromthatmoment；andifIhadbeenalreadythenanxiousitwasbecauseIhadfeltmyselfforedoomedtobesurethepoorladyherselfwouldbe。WhyIshouldhavemindedthis，shouldhavebeenanxiousatheranxietyandscaredatherscare，wasaquestiontroublingmetoolittleonthespotformetosufferittotroubleme，asapainterofmystate，inthisplace。Itissufficientthatwhensomuchoftheafternoonhadwanedastobringsignsoftheserviceofteaintheopenair，IknewhowfarIwasgoneinpityforher。ForIhadatlasthadtotakeinwhatmytwointerlocutorshadgivenme。Theirimpression，coincidingand，asonemightsay，disinterested，couldn’t，afteralittle，failinsomedegreetoimposeitself。Ithaditsvalue。Mrs。ServerWAS\"nervous。\"
ItlittlematteredtomenowthatMrs。Brisshadputittome——thatIhadevenwhimsicallyputittomyself——thatIwasperhapsinlovewithher。Thatwasasgoodanameasanotherforaninterestspringingupinanhour，andwasmoreoveradecentworkinghypothesis。Thesentimenthadnotindeedasserteditselfat\"firstsight，\"thoughitmighthavetakenitsplaceremarkablywellamongthephenomenaofwhatisknownassecond。
Therealfactwas，nonetheless，thatIwasquitetoosorryforhertobeanythingexceptsorry。ThisoddfeelingwassomethingthatImayaswellsayIshallnotevennowattempttoaccountfor——partly，itistrue，becausemyrecitaloftherestofwhatIwastoseeinnosmallmeasuredoesso。ItwasaforcethatIatthisstagesimplyfoundIhadalreadysuccumbedto。IfitwasnottheresultofwhatIhadgrantedtomyselfwasthematterwithher，thenitwasrathertheverycauseofmymakingthatconcession。Itwasadifferentthingfrommyfirstpromptimpulsetoshieldher。Ihadalreadyshieldedher——foughtforhersofarasIcouldorasthecaseimmediatelyrequired。MyownsenseofhowIwasaffectedhadpracticallyclearedup，inshort，inthepresenceofthisdeepervisionofher。Mydivinationsandinductionshadfinallybroughthometomethatinthewholehuge，brilliant，crowdedplaceIwastheonlypersonsaveonewhowasinanythingthatcouldbecalledarelationtoher。Theotherperson’srelationwasconcealed，andmine，sofarassheherselfwasconcerned，wasunexpressed——sothatIsupposewhatmost，atthejunctureinquestion，stirredwithinmewasthewonderofhowImightsuccessfullyexpressit。
IfeltthatsolongasIdidn’texpressitIshouldbehauntedwiththeideaofsomethinginfinitelytouchingandtragicinherloneliness——possiblyinhertorment，inherterror。Ifshewas\"nervous\"tothetuneIhadcometorecognise，itcouldonlybebecauseshehadgrounds。Andwhatmighthergroundsmorenaturallybethanthat，arrangedandarrayed，disguisedanddecorated，pursuinginvain，throughourcarelesscompany，hersearchfortherightshadeofapparentsecurity，shefeltherselfnonethelessallthewhiletherestlessvictimoffearandfailure？
Oncemyimaginationhadseenherinthislightthetouchesitcouldaddtothepicturemightbetrustedtobetelling。Furtherobservationwastoconvincemeoftheirtruth，butwhileIwaitedforitwithmyapprehensionthatitwouldcomeinspiteofmeIeasilymultipliedandlavishedthem。
Imadeoutaboveallwhatshewouldmostbetryingtohide。Itwasnot，sotospeak，theguardedprimaryfact——itcouldonlybe，wretchedwoman，thatproduced，thatdisastrous，treacherousconsequenceofthefactwhichherfacultieswouldexhibit，andmostofallthesnappedcordofherfacultyoftalk。GuyBrissendenhad，attheworst，hiscompromisedfaceandfiguretoshowandtoshroud——ifhewerereally，thatis，asmuchawareofthemasonehadsuspected。Shehadherwholecompromisedmachineryofthoughtandspeech，andifthesesignswerenot，likehis，external，thatmadehercasebuttheharder，forshehadtocreate，withintelligencerapidlyebbing，withwithalfgone，theillusionofanunimpairedestate。Shewaslikesomeunhappyladyrobbedofherbestjewels——obligedsotodisposeanddistributetheminortrinketsthathadescapedasstilltogivetheimpressionofarichecrin。Wasnotthatembarrassment，ifoneanalysedalittle，atthebottomofherhavingbeenallday，inthevulgarphraseandasthethreeofushadtoocruellynoted，allovertheplace？WASindeed，forthatmatter，thisobservationconfinedtous，orhaditatlastbeenirrepressiblydeterminedonthepartofthecompanyatlarge？Thiswasaquestion，Ihastentoadd，thatIwouldnotnowfortheworldhaveputtothetest。IfeltIshouldhaveknownhowtoescapehadanyrumourofwonderatMrs。Server’swaysbeenfinallyconveyedtome。Imightfromthismomenthave，asmuchasIliked，myownsenseofit，butIwasdefinitelyconsciousofasortofloyaltytoherthatwouldhaverenderedmeblankbeforeothers：thoughnotindeedthat——oh，atlast，quitethecontrary！——itwouldhaveforbiddenmetowatchandwatch。IpositivelydreadedtheaccidentofmybeingaskedbyoneofthemenifIknewhoweveryonewastalkingabouther。Ifeveryonewastalkingabouther，Iwantedpositivelynottoknow。Butnobodywas，probably——theyscarcelycouldbeasyet。WithoutsuggestivecollateralevidencetherewouldbenobodyinthehousesoconscientiouslyinfernalasMrs。Brissenden，ObertandI。
Newmarchhadalways，inourtime，carrieditselfasthegreatasylumofthefinerwit，moreorlessexpresslygivingoutthat，asinvokinghospitalityorothercountenance，noneofthestupid，noneevenofthevotariesofthegrosslyobvious，needapply；butIcouldluckilyatpresentreflectthatitsmeasurementsinthisdirectionhadnotalwaysbeenmyown，andthat，moreover，whateverprecisiontheypossessed，humanblandness，eveninsuchhappyhalls，hadnotbeenquiteabolished。Therewasasoundlawinvirtueofwhichonecouldalways——alikeinprivilegedandunprivilegedcircles——restmoreonpeople’sdensitythanontheirpenetrability。Wasn’tittheirdensitytoothatwouldbepracticallynearesttheirgoodnature？
Whateverhersuccessivepartnersofamomentmighthavenoticed，theywouldn’thavediscoveredinherreasonfordroppingthemquicklyaprincipleoffearthattheymightnoticeherfailurearticulatelytokeepup。Myownactualvision，whichhaddevelopedwithsuchaffluence，wasthat，inagivencase，shecouldkeepupbutforafewminutesandwasthereforeobligedtobringthecontacttoanendbeforeexposure。Ihadconsistentlymasteredherpredicament：shehadatoncetocultivatecontacts，sothatpeopleshouldn’tguessherrealconcentration，andtomakethemaliteraltouchandgo，sothattheyshouldn’tsuspecttheenfeeblementofhermind。Itwasobviouslystillwortheverythingtoherthatshewassocharming。I
hadtheorisedwithMrs。Brissendenonhersupposititiousinanity，buttheexplanationofsuchcynicismineitherofuscouldonlybeasensibilitytothetruththatattractionssogreatmightfloatherevenalongtimeafterintelligencepureandsimpleshouldhavecollapsed。
Wasnotmypresentuneasiness，nonetheless，aprivatecuriositytoascertainjusthowmuchorhowlittleofthatelementshehadsavedfromthewreck？Shedodged，doubled，managed，brokeoff，clutchingoccasions，yetdoubtlessriskingdumbnesses，vaguenessesandotherbetrayals，dependingonattitudes，motions，expressions，amaterialpersonality，infine，inwhichaplainwomanwouldhavefoundnothingbutfailure；andpeacethereforemightrulethesceneoneveryhypothesisbutthatofhergetting，toputitcrudely，worse。HowIremembersayingtomyselfthatifshedidn’tgetbettershesurelyMUSTgetworse！——beingawarethatIreferredontheonesidetoheroccultsurrenderandontheothertoitsawfulpenalty。Itbecamepresenttomethatshepossiblymightrecoverifanythingshouldhappenthatwouldpullherup，turnherintosomeotherchannel。If，however，thatconsiderationdidn’tdetainmelongerthefactmaystandasasignofhowlittleIbelievedinanycheck。GilbertLongmightdie，butnottheintensityhehadinspired。TheanalogywiththesituationoftheBrissendenshere，Ifurtherconsidered，brokedown；IatanyrateratherpositivelywelcomedtheviewthatthesacrificedpartytoTHATunionmightreallyfindthearrestofhisdecline，ifnottherenewalofhisyouth，inthelossofhiswife。Wouldthisladyindeed，asaneffectofHISdeath，begintowrinkleandshrivel？ItwouldsoundbrutaltosaythatthiswaswhatIshouldhavepreferredtohold，wereitnotthatIinfactfeltforcedtorecognisetheslightnessofsuchachance。Shewouldhavelovedhisyouth，andhavemadeitherown，indeathasinlife，andhewouldhavequittedtheworld，intruth，onlythemoreeffectuallytoleaveittoher。
Mrs。Server’squandary——whichwasnowallIcaredfor——wasexactlyinherowncertitudeofeveryabsenceofissue。ButIneedgivelittlemoreevidenceofhowithadsetmethinking。
Asmuchasanythingelse，perhaps，itwasthefearofwhatoneofthemenmightsaytomethatmademeforanhourortwo，atthiscrisis，continuouslyshy。Nobody，doubtless，wouldhavesaidanythingworsethanthatshewasmoreofaflirtthanever，thattheyhadallcomparednotesandwouldaccordinglybeinterestedinsomehintofanother，possiblyadeeper，experience。ItwouldhavebeenalmostasembarrassingtohavetotellthemhowlittleexperienceIhadhadinfactastohavehadtotellthemhowmuchIhadhadinfancy——allthemorethatIhadasyetonlymythinideaofthelineoffeelinginherthathadledhersotospareme。Teaontheterracesrepresented，meanwhile，amongus，somuchneglectofeverythingelsethatmymeditationsremainedforsometimeasunobservedasIcoulddesire。
Iwasnot，moreover，heedingmuchwheretheycarriedme，andbecameawareofwhatIowedthemonlyonatlastfindingmyselfanticipatedastheoccupantofanarbourintowhichIhadstrolled。ThenIsawIhadreachedaremotepartofthegreatgardens，andthatforsomeofmyfriendsalsosecludedthoughthadinducements；thoughitwasnot，Ihastentoadd，thateitherofthepairIhereencounteredappearedtobestrikingoutinanyveryoriginaldirection。LadyJohnandGuyBrissenden，inthearbour，werethinkingsecludedlytogether；theyweretogether，thatis，becausetheywerescarceafootapart，andtheywerethinking，Iinferred，becausetheyweredoingnothingelse。Silence，byeverysymptom，haddefinitelysettledonthem，andwhateveritwasIinterruptedhadnoresemblancetotalk。Nothing——inthegeneralairofevidencehadmorestruckmethanthatwhatLadyJohn’sfamousintellectseemedtodrawmostfromBrissenden’spresencewasthelibertytorest。Yetitshookoffthislanguorassoonasshesawme；itthrewitselfstraightintothefield；itwent，Icouldsee，throughallthemotionsrequiredofitbyherladyship’sfallaciousphilosophy。Icouldmarktheseemotions，andwhatdeterminedthem，asbehindclearglass。
Ifound，onmyside，arareintellectualjoy，theoddestsecretexultation，infeelingherbegininstantlytoplaythepartIhadattributedtoherintheirreducibledrama。Shebrokeoutinamannerthatcouldonlyhavehadforitspurposetorepresenttomethatmereweakamiabilityhadcommittedhertosuchapredicament。Itwastohumourherfriend’shusbandthatshehadstrayedsofar，forshewassomehowsorryforhim，and——goodcreatureasweallknewher——had，onprinciple，akindlittlewayofherownwithsillyinfatuations。HisWASsilly，butitwasunmistakable，andshehadforsometimebeenfindingit，inshort，acaseforaspecialtact。ThatheboredhertodeathImighthavegatheredbythewaytheysatthere，andshecouldtrustmetobelieve——couldn’tshe？——thatshewasonlymusingastohowshemightmosthumanelygetridofhim。ShewouldleadhimsafelybacktothefoldifIwouldgivehertime。Sheseemedtoaskitall，oddly，ofme，totakemeremarkablyintoherconfidence，toreferme，foraspecimenofhisbehaviour，tohissignalabandonmentofhiswifethedaybefore，hishavingwaitedover，tocomedown，forthetraininwhichpoorSHEwastotravel。Itwasatallevents，Ifelt，oneoftheconsequencesofhavingcaughtontosomuchthatIbythistimefoundmyselfcatchingontoeverything。
