Ihadstill，afterall，tododgealittle。\"Knowwhat？\"
\"Why，thatyou’vefoundoutwhatshehastohide。\"
\"You’reperfectlyfreetoaskher。Iwondereventhatyouhaven’tdonesoyet。\"
\"Well，\"hesaidwiththefineststrokeofunconsciousnesshehadyetshownme——\"well，Isupposeit’sbecauseI’mafraidofher。\"
\"Butnottoomuchafraid，\"Iriskedsuggesting，\"tobehopingatthismomentthatyou’llfindherifyougobacktowheremostofourpartyisgathered。You’renotgoingfortea——you’regoingforMrs。Server：justofwhomitwas，asIsay，youwerethinkingwhileyousattherewithLadyJohn。Sowhatisityousogreatlyfear？\"
ItwasasifIcouldseethroughhisdimfaceasortofgratitudeformymakingallthisouttohim。\"Idon’tknowthatit’sanythingthatshemaydotoME。\"Hecouldmakeitoutinamannerforhimself。\"It’sasifsomethingmighthappentoher。It’swhatItoldyou——thatshemaybreakdown。Ifyouaskmehow，orinwhat，\"hecontinued，\"howcanItellyou？
Inwhateveritisthatshe’stryingtodo。Idon’tunderstandit。\"Thenhewoundupwithasighthat，inspiteofitssoftness，heimperfectlystifled。\"Butit’ssomethingorother！\"
\"Whatwoulditbe，then，\"Iasked，\"butwhatyouspeakofaswhatI’ve’foundout’？Theeffortyoudistinguishinheristheeffortofconcealment——vain，asIgatheritstrikesyouboth，sofarasi，inmysupernaturalacuteness，amconcerned。\"
Followingthiswiththefinaleasetowhichmyencouragementdirectlyministered，heyetgaveme，beforehehadquitearrived，aqueersidelongglance。\"Wouldn’titreallybebetterifyouweretotellme？Idon’taskhermyself，yousee。Idon’tputthingstoherinthatway。\"
\"Oh，no——I’veshownyouhowIdosee。That’sapartofyouradmirableconsideration。ButImustrepeatthatnothingwouldinducemetotellyou。\"
Hispooroldfacefairlypleaded。\"ButIwantsotoknow。\"
\"Ah，thereitis！\"Ialmosttriumphantlylaughed。
\"Therewhatis？\"
\"Why，everything。WhatI’vedivined，betweenyouandMrs。Server，asthetie。Yourwantingsotoknow。\"
Ifeltasifhewerenow，intellectuallyspeaking，plasticwaxinmyhand。\"Andherwantingmenotto？\"
\"WantingMEnotto，\"Ismiled。
Hepuzzleditout。\"Andbeingwilling，therefore———\"
\"Thatyou——youonly，forsympathy，forfellowship，forthewildwonderofit——SHOULDknow？Well，forallthosethings，andinspiteofwhatyoucallyourfear，TRYher！\"WithwhichnowatlastIquittedhim。
Chapter8
I’mafraidIcan’tquitesaywhat，afterthat，Iatfirstdid，norjusthowIimmediatelyprofitedbyourseparation。Ifeltabsurdlyexcited，thoughthisindeedwaswhatIhadfeltallday；therehadbeeninfactdeepeningdegreesofiteversincemyfirstmysticthrobafterfindingmyself，thedaybeforeinourrailway—carriage，shutuptoanhour’scontemplationandcollation，asitwere，ofGilbertLongandMrs。Brissenden。Ihavenotedhowmyfirstfullcontactwiththechangedstateoftheseassociateshadcausedtheknellofthetranquilmindaudiblytoringforme。Ihavespokenofmysharpenedperceptionthatsomethingaltogetheroutofthecommonhadhappened，independently，toeach，andIcouldnowcertainlyflattermyselfthatIhadn’tmissedafeatureoftheroadIhadthusbeenbeguiledtotravel。Itwasaroadthathadcarriedmefar，andverilyatthishourIFELTfar。IdaresaythatforawhileafterleavingpoorBriss，afterwhatImayindeedcalllaunchinghim，thiswaswhatIpredominantlyfelt。TobewhereIwas，towhateverelseitmightlead，treatedmebyitshelptothetasteofsuccess。ItappearedthenthatthemorethingsIfittedtogetherthelargersense，everyway，theymadearemarkinwhichIfoundanextraordinaryelation。Itjustifiedmyindiscreetcuriosity；
itcrownedmyunderhandprocesswithbeauty。ThebeautyperhapswasonlyforME——thebeautyofhavingbeenright；itmadeatalleventsanelementinwhich，whilethelongdaysoftlydropped，Iwanderedanddriftedandsecurelyfloated。Thiselementboremebravelyup，andmyprivatetriumphstruckmeasallonewiththecharmofthemomentandoftheplace。
Therewasageneralshadeinallthelowerreaches——afineclearduskingardenandgrove，athinsuffusionoftwilightoutofwhichthegreaterthings，thehightree—topsandpinnacles，thelongcrestsofmotionlesswoodandchimniedroof，roseintogoldenair。Thelastcallsofbirdssoundedextraordinarilyloud；theywerelikethetimed，serioussplashes，inwide，stillwater，ofdiversnotexpectingtoriseagain。IscarceknowwhatoddconsciousnessIhadofroamingatcloseofdayinthegroundsofsomecastleofenchantment。Ihadpositivelyencounterednothingtocomparewiththissincethedaysoffairy—talesandofthechildishimaginationoftheimpossible。THENIusedtocircleroundenchantedcastles，forthenImovedinaworldinwhichthestrange\"cametrue。\"Itwasthecomingtruethatwastheproofoftheenchantment，which，moreover，wasnaturallyneversogreataswhensuchcomingwas，tosuchadegreeandbythemostromanticstrokeofall，thefruitofone’sownwizardry。Iwaspositively——sohadthewheelrevolved——proudofmywork。Ihadthoughtitallout，andtohavethoughtitwas，wonderfully，tohavebroughtit。YetIrecallhowIeventhenknewonthespotthattherewassomethingsupremeIshouldhavefailedtobringunlessIhadhappenedsuddenlytobecomeawareoftheverypresenceofthehauntingprinciple，asitwere，ofmythought。
ThiswasthelightinwhichMrs。Server，walkingalonenow，apparently，inthegreywoodandpausingatsightofme，showedherselfinhercleardressattheendofavista。Itwasexactlyasifshehadbeentherebytheoperationofmyintelligence，orevenbythat——inastillhappierway——ofmyfeeling。Myexcitement，asIhavecalledit，onseeingher，wasassuredlyemotion。YetwhatWASthisfeeling，really？——ofwhich，atthepointwehadthusreached，Iseemedtomyselftohavegatheredfromallthingsaninvitationtorendersomeaccount。
Well，IknewwithintheminutethatIwasmovedbyitasbyanextraordinarytenderness；sothatthisisthenameImustleaveittomakethebestof。
IthadalreadybeenmyimpressionthatIwassorryforher，butitwasmarkedformenowthatIwassorrierthanIhadreckoned。Allherstoryseemedatoncetolookatmeoutofthefactofherpresentlonelyprowl。
Imetitwithoutdemur，onlywantinghertoknowthatifIstruckheraswaylayingherinthewood，aswaitingforherthereateventidewithanidea，Ishouldn’tintheleastdefendmyselffromthecharge。IcanscarceclearlytellhowmanyfinestrangethingsIthoughtofduringthisbriefcrisisofherhesitation。Iwantedinthefirstplacetomakeitend，andwhileImovedafewstepstowardherIfeltalmostasnoiselessandguardedasifIweretrappingabirdorstalkingafawn。Myfewstepsbroughtmetoaspotwhereanotherperspectivecrossedourown，sothattheymadetogetheraverdurouscirclewithaneveningskyaboveandgreatlengthening，archingrecessesinwhichthetwilightthickened。Oh，itwasquitesufficientlythecastleofenchantment，andwhenInoticedfouroldstoneseats，massiveandmossyandsymmetricallyplaced，Irecognisednotonlytheinfluence，inmyadventure，ofthegrandstyle，butthefamiliaridentityofthisconsecratednook，whichwassomuchofthetypeofallthebemusedandremembered。Wewereinabeautifuloldpicture，wewereinabeautifuloldtale，anditwouldn’tbethefaultofNewmarchifsomeothergreencarrefour，notfaroff，didn’tbalancewiththisoneandofferthealternativeofniches，inthegreenness，occupiedbyweather—stainedstatuesonfloridpedestals。
Isatstraightdownonthenearestofourbenches，forthisstruckmeasthebestwaytoexpresstheconceptionwithwhichthesightofMrs。
Serverfilledme。ItshowedherthatifIwatchedherIalsowaitedforher，andthatIwasthereforenotaffectedinanymannershereallyneeddeprecate。Shehadbeentoofaroffformetodistinguishherface，butherapproachhadfalteredlongenoughtoletmeseethatifshehadnottakenitastoolateshewould，toescapeme，havefoundsomepretextforturningoff。Itwasjustmyseatingmyselfthatmadethedifference——itwasmybeingsosimplewithherthatbroughtheron。Shecameslowlyandalittlewearilydownthevista，andhersad，shyadvance，withthemassedwoodoneithersideofher，waslikethereminiscenceofapictureortherefrainofaballad。WhatmadethedifferencewithME——ifanydifferencehadremainedtobemade——wasthesenseofthissharpcessationofherpublicextravagance。Shehadfoldeduphermannerinherflouncedparasol，whichsheseemedtodragafterherasasorrysoldierhismusket。ItwaspresenttomewithoutapangthatthiswasthepersonIhadsentpoorBrissofftofind——thepersonpoorBrisswouldowemesofewthanksforhisfailuretohavefound。Itwasequallymarkedtomethat，howeverdetachedandcasualshemight，atthefirstsightofme，havewishedtoshowherself，itwastoalightonpoorBrissthatshehadcomeout，itwasbecausehehadnotbeenatthehouseandmighttherefore，onhisside，bewandering，thatshehadtakencaretobeunaccompanied。MydemonstrationwascompletefromthemomentIthushadthemintheactofseekingeachother，andIwassopleasedathavinggatheredtheminthatIcaredlittlewhatelsetheyhadmissed。Ineithermovednorspoketillshehadcomequitenearme，andasshealsogavenosoundthemeaningofoursilenceseemedtostarestraightout。Itabsolutelyphrasedthere，inallthewonderfulconditions，arelationalreadyestablished；butthestrangeandbeautifulthingwasthatassoonaswehadrecognisedandaccepteditthisrelationputusalmostatourease。\"Youmustbewearyofwalking，\"Isaidatlast，\"andyouseeI’vebeenkeepingaseatforyou。\"
Ihadfinallygotup，asasignofwelcome，butIhaddirectlyafterwardsresumedmyposition，anditwasanillustrationofthetermsonwhichwemetthatweneitherofusseemedtomindherbeingmeanwhileonherfeet。
Shestoodbeforemeasiftotakein——withhersmilethathadbythistimesunkquitetodimness——morethanweshould，eitherofus，afterall，belikelytobeabletosay。Ievensawfromthismoment，Ithink，that，whatevershemightunderstand，shewouldbeableherselftosaybutlittle。Shegaveherself，inthatminute，morethanshedoubtlessknew——gaveherselfImean，tomyintenserapprehension。Shewentthroughtheformofexpression，butwhattoldmeeverythingwasthewaytheformofexpressionbrokedown。
Herlovelygrimace，thelightoftheprevioushours，wasasblurredasabitofbrushworkinwater—colourspoiledbytheupsettingoftheartist’sglass。Shefixedmewithitasshehadfixedduringthedayfortypersons，butitflutteredlikeabirdwithabrokenwing。Shelookedaboutandabove，downeachofourduskyavenuesandupatourgildedtree—topsandourpaintedsky，where，atthemoment，thepassageofaflightofrooksmadeaclamour。
Sheappearedtowishtoproducesomeexplanationofhersolitude，butI
wasquicklyenoughsurethatshewouldneverfindapresentableone。I
onlywantedtoshowherhowlittleIrequiredit。\"Ilikealonelywalk，\"
Iwenton，\"attheendofadayfullofpeople：it’salways，tome，onsuchoccasions，quiteasifsomethinghashappenedthatthemindwantstocatchandfixbeforethevividnessfades。SoImopebymyselfanhour——I
takestockofmyimpressions。Butthere’sonethingIdon’tbelieveyouknow。Thisistheveryfirsttime，insuchaplaceandatsuchanhour，thatithaseverbefallenmetocomeacrossafriendstrickenwiththesameperversityandengagedinthesamepursuit。Mostpeople，don’tyousee？\"——IkeptitupasIcould——\"don’tintheleastknowwhathashappenedtothem，anddon’tcaretoknow。That’soneway，andIdon’tdenyitmaybepracticallythebest。Butifonedoescaretoknow，that’sanotherway。
AssoonasIsawyouthereattheendofthealleyIsaidtomyself，withquitealittlethrillofelation，’Ah，thenit’sHERwaytoo！’Iwonderifyou’llletmetellyou，\"Iflounderedpleasantlyon，\"thatIimmediatelylikedyouthebetterforit。Itseemedtobringusmoretogether。That’swhatIsatstraightdownheretoshowyou。’Yes，’Iwishedyoutounderstandmeasfranklysaying，’IAM，aswellasyou，onthemope，oronthemuse，oronwhateveryoucallit，andthisisn’thalfabadcornerforsuchamood。’Ican’ttellyouwhatapleasureitistometoseeyoudounderstand。\"
Ikeptitup，asIsay，toreassureandsootheandsteadyher；therewasnothing，howeverfantasticandbornofthepressureofthemoment，thatIwouldn’thaveriskedforthatpurpose。Shewasabsolutelyonmyhandswithhersecret——Ifeltthatfromthewayshestoodandlistenedtome，silentlyshowingherselfrelievedandpacified。ItwasmarkedthatifIhadhithertoseenheras\"allovertheplace，\"shehadyetnowhereseemedtomelesssothanatthisfurthermostpoint。Butif，thoughonlynearertohersecretandstillnotinpossession，IfeltasjustifiedasIhavealreadydescribedmyself，soitequallycametomethatIwasquitenearenough，atthepasswehadreached，forwhatIshouldhavetotakefromitall。Shewasonmyhands——itwassheherself，poorcreature，whowas：thiswasthethingthatjustnowloomedlarge，andthesecretwasacomparativedetail。\"Ithinkyou’reverykind，\"shesaidforallanswertothespeechIhavereported，andtheminuteafterthisshehadsunkdown，inconfessedcollapse，tomybench，onwhichshesatandstaredbeforeher。Themeremechanismofherexpression，thedanglingpaperlanternitself，wasnowallthatwasleftinherface。Sheremainedalittleasifdiscouragedbythesightofthewearinessthathersurrenderhadletout。Ihesitated，fromjustthisfearofaddingtoit，tocommiserateherforitmoredirectly，andshespokeagainbeforeIhadfoundanythingtosay。Shebroughtbackherattentionindeedasifwithaneffortandfromadistance。\"Whatisitthathashappenedtoyou？\"
\"Oh，\"Ilaughed，\"whatisitthathashappenedtoYOU？\"Myquestionhadnotbeenintheleastintendedforpressure，butitmadeherturnandlookatme，andthis，Iquicklyrecognised，wasalltheanswerthemostpitilesscuriositycouldhavedesired——allthemore，aswell，thattheintentioninithadbeennogreaterthaninmywords。Beautiful，abysmal，involuntary，herexquisiteweaknesssimplyopenedupthedepthsitwouldhaveclosed。Itwasinshortasupremelyunsuccessfulattempttosaynothing。
Itsaideverything，andbytheendofaminutemychatter——nonethelessoutofplaceforbeingallaudible——washushedtopositiveawebywhatithadconveyed。IsawasIhadneverseenbeforewhatconsumingpassioncanmakeofthemarkedmortalonwhom，withfixedbeakandclaws，ithassettledasonaprey。Sheremindedmeofaspongewrungdryandwithfineporesagape。Voidedandscrapedofeverything，hershellwasmerelycrushable。
Soitwasbroughthometomethatthevictimcouldbeabased，andsoitdisengageditselffromthesethingsthattheabasementcouldbeconscious。
ThatwasMrs。Server’stragedy，thatherconsciousnesssurvived——survivedwithaforcethatmadeitstruggleanddissemble。Thisconsciousnesswasallhersecret——itwasatanyrateallmine。IpromisedmyselfroundlythatIwouldhenceforthkeepclearofanyother。
Inonetheless——fromsimplysittingwithherthere——gatheredinthesenseofmorethingsthanIcouldhavenamed，eachofwhich，asitcametome，mademycompassionmoretender。Whoofusallcouldsaythathisfallmightnotbeasdeep？——ormightnotatleastbecomesowithequalopportunity。IforawhilefairlyforgotMrs。Server，Ifear，intheintimacyofthisvisionofthepossibilitiesofourcommonnature。Shebecamesuchawastedanddishonouredsymbolofthemasmighthaveputtearsinone’seyes。WhenIpresentlyreturnedtoher——oursessionseemingtoresolveitselfintoameremildnessofsilence——Isawhowitwasthatwhereas，insuchcasesingeneral，peoplemighthavegivenupmuch，thesortofpersonthispoorladywascouldonlygiveupeverything。Shewastheabsolutewreckofherstorm，accordingly，buttowhichthepaleghostofaspecialsensibilitystillclung，wavingfromthemast，withabraverythatwenttotheheart，thelasttatterofitsflag。Thereareimpressionstoofineforwords，andIshallnotattempttosayhowitwasthatunderthetouchofthisoneIfelthownothingthatconcernedmycompanioncouldeveragainbepresenttomebutthefactitselfofheradmirablestate。Thiswasthesourceofherwanlittleglory，constitutedevenforherasmallsublimityinthelightofwhichmereminoridentificationsturnedvulgar。IknewwhoHEwasnowwithavengeance，becauseIhadlearntpreciselyfromthatwhoSHEwas；andnothingcouldhavebeensharperthantheforcewithwhichitpresseduponmethatIhadreallylearntmorethanIhadbargainedfor。
NothingneedhavehappenedifIhadn’tbeensoabsurdly，sofatallymeditativeaboutpoorLong——anaccidentthatmostpeople，wiserpeople，appearedonthewholetohavesteeredsufficientlyclearof。Comparedwithmyactualsense，thesensewithwhichIsatthere，thatothervisionwasgross，andgrosserstilltheconnectionbetweenthetwo。
SuchweresomeofthereflectionsinwhichIindulgedwhilehereyes——withtheirstrangeintermissionsofdarknessoroflight：whocouldsaywhich？——toldmefromtimetotimethatsheknewwhateverIwasthinkingoftobeforhervirtualadvantage。Itwasprodigiouswhat，inthewayofsuppressedcommunication，passedinthesewonderfulminutesbetweenus。Ourrelationcouldbeatthebestbutanequalconfession，andIremembersayingtomyselfthatifshehadbeenassubtleasI——whichshewasn’t！——shetoowouldhaveputittogetherthatIhaddreadfullytalkedabouther。ShewouldhavetracedinmemydemonstrationtoMrs。Brissthat，whoevershewas，shemustlogicallyhavebeenidiotised。Itwasthespecialpoignancyofhercollapsethat，sofaratleastasIwasconcerned，thiswasaravagetheextentofwhichshehadceasedtotrytoconceal。Shehadbeentrying，andmoreorlesssucceeding，allday：thelittledramaofherpublicunresthadhad，whenonecametoconsider，nootherargument。Ithadbeenterrorthathaddirectedhersteps；theneedconstantlytoshowherselfdetachedandfree，followedbythesterneronenottoshowherself，bythesametoken，limpandempty。Thishadbeenthedistinct，ferociouslogicofherrenewalsandruptures——theanxiousmistrustofherwit，thehauntingknowledgeofthesmalldistanceitwouldtakeheratonce，theconsequentimportanceofherexactlytimingherself，andthequickinstinctofflightbeforethemenaceofdiscovery。Shecouldn’tletsocietyalone，becausethatwouldhaveconstitutedasymptom；yet，forfearoftheappearanceofaworseone，shecouldonlymingleinitwithacomplexdiplomacy。Shewasaccordinglyexposedoneveryside，andtobewithherawhilethusquietlywastoreadbackintoherbehaviourthewholeexplanation，whichwaspositivelysimpletomenow。Totakeupagainthevividanalogy，shehadbeensailingallday，thoughscarceabletokeepafloat，undertheflagofheroldreputationforeasyresponse。Shehadgiventothebreezeanysadscrapofasubstitutefortheplayofmindoncesupposedremarkable。ThelastofallthethingsherstillnesssaidtomewasthatIcouldjudgefromsopoorashowwhathadbecomeofherconversability。WhatIdidjudgewasthatafranticarthadindeedbeenrequiredtomakeherprettysilencespass，fromonecrisistoanother，forprettyspeeches。Halfthisart，doubtless，wastheglitteringdeceitofhersmile，thesublime，patheticoverdonegenialitywhichrepresentedsohershareinanytalkthat，everyothereloquencefailing，therecouldonlybenothingatallfromthemomentitabandoneditsoffice。Therewasnothingatall。Thatwasthetruth；inaccordancewithwhichIfinally——foreverythingitmightmeantomyself——putoutmyhandandboreeversogentlyonherown。Herownrestedlistlesslyonthestoneofourseat。Ofcourse，ithadbeenanimmensethingforherthatshewas，inspiteofeverything，solovely。
Allthiswasquiteconsistentwithitseventuallycomingbacktomethat，thoughshetookfrommewithappreciationwhatwasexpressedinthegestureIhavenoted，itwascertainlyinquestofastilldeeperreliefthatshehadagaincomeforth。ThemoreIconsideredherface——andmostofall，sopermittedly，inherpassive，consciouspresence——themoreI
wassureofthisandthefurtherIcouldgointheimaginationofherbeautifulduplicity。IendedbydiviningthatifIwasassuredlygoodforher，becausethequestionofkeepingupwithmehadsocompletelydropped，andiftheserviceIsorenderedherwasnotlessdistincttoherthantomyself——I
endedbydiviningthatshehadnonethelessherobscurevisionofastillsofterease。GuyBrissendenhadbecomeinthesefewhoursherpositiveneed——astillgreaterneedthanIhadlatelyamusedmyselfwithmakingoutthathehadfoundher。Eachhad，bytheirunprecedentedplight，somethingfortheother，someintimacyofunspeakableconfidence，thatnooneelseintheworldcouldhaveforeither。Theyhadbeenfeelingtheirwaytoit，butattheendoftheirfitfuldaytheyhadgrownconfusedly，yetbeneficentlysure。Theexplanationhereagainwassimple——theyhadthesenseofacommonfate。Theyhadn’ttonameitortophraseit——possiblyevencouldn’thadtheytried；peaceandsupportcametothem，withoutthat，inthesimplerevelationofeachother。Oh，howImadeitoutthatifitwasindeedverywellforthepoorladytofeelthusinMYcompanythatherburdenwaslifted，mycompanywouldbeafterallbutaroughsubstituteforGuy’s！Hewasastillbetterfriend，littleashecouldhavetoldthereason；andifIcouldinthisconnectionhaveputthewordsintohermouth，herefollowssomethingofthesensethatIshouldhavemadethemform。
\"Yes，mydearman，Idounderstandyou——quiteperfectlynow，and（byIknownotwhatmiracle）I’vereallydonesotosomeextentfromthefirst。
Deepistherestoffeelingwithyou，inthisway，thatI’mwatched，forthetime，onlyasyouwatchme。Ithasallstopped，andicanstop。HowcanImakeyouunderstandwhatitisformethatthereisn’tatlastacreatureanymoreinsight，thatthewooddarkensaboutme，thatthesoundsdropandthereliefgoeson；whatcanitmeanforyoueventhatI’vegivenmyselfuptonotcaringwhetherorno，amongstothers，I’mmissedandspokenof？Itdoeshelpmystrangecase，infine，asyousee，toletyoukeepmehere；butIshouldhavefoundstillmorewhatIwasinneedofifI
hadonlyfound，insteadofyou，himwhomIhadinmind。Heisasmuchbetterthanyouasyouarethaneveryoneelse。\"Ifinallyfelt，inaword，soqualifiedtoattributetomycompanionsomesuchmuteaddressasthat，thatitcouldonlyhave，asthenextconsequence，adeterminingeffectonme——aneffectundertheinfluenceofwhichIspoke。\"Ipartedwithhim，somewayfromhere，sometimeago。IhadfoundhiminoneofthegardenswithLadyJohn；afterwhichwecameawayfromhertogether。Westrolledalittleandtalked，butIknewwhathereallywanted。Hewantedtofindyou，andItoldhimhewouldprobablydosoatteaontheterrace。Itwasvisiblywiththatidea——toreturntothehouse——thatheleftme。\"
Shelookedatmeforsometimeonthis，takingitin，yetstillafraidofit。\"YoufoundhimwithLadyJohn？\"sheatlastasked，andwithanoteinhervoicethatmademeseewhat——astherewasaprecautionIhadneglected——shefeared。
Theperceptionofthis，initsturn，operatedwithmeforaninstantalmostastherarestoftemptations。Ihadpuzzledouteverythingandputeverythingtogether；IwasasmorallyconfidentandasintellectuallytriumphantasIhavefranklyheredescribedmyself；buttherewasnoobjectivetesttowhichIhadyetexposedmytheory。Thechancetoapplyone——anditwouldbeinfallible——hadsuddenlycroppedup。Therewouldbeexcitement，amusement，discernmentinit；itwouldbeindeedbutamoreroundaboutexpressionofinterestandsympathy。Itwould，aboveall，packthequestionIhadforsomanyhoursbeenoccupiedwithintothecompassofaneedle—point。
Iwasdazzledbymyopportunity。Shehadhadanuncertainty，inotherwords，astowhomImeant，andthatitkeptherforsomesecondsontherackwasatriflecomparedtomychance。Shewouldgiveherselfawaysupremelyifsheshowedshesuspectedmeofplacingmyfingeronthespot——ifsheunderstoodthepersonIhadnotnamedtobenameableasGilbertLong。Whathadcreatedherperil，ofcourse，wasmynamingLadyJohn。Well，howcanIsayinanysufficientwayhowmuchtheextraordinarybeautyofhereyesduringthisbrevityofsuspensehadtodowiththeevent？Ithadeverything——foritwaswhatcausedmetobetouchedbeyondevenwhatIhadalreadybeen，andIcouldliterallybearnomoreofthat。Ithereforetooknoadvantage，ortookonlytheadvantageIhadspokenwiththeintentionoftaking。I
laughedoutdoubtlesstoonervously，butitdidn’tcompromisemytact。
\"Don’tyouknowhowshe’sperpetuallypouncingonhim？\"
Still，however，Ihadnotnamedhim——whichwaswhatprolongedthetension。
\"Doyoumean——a——doyoumean？\"Withwhichshebrokeoffonasmallweaktitterandastillweakerexclamation。\"TherearesoMANYgentlemen！\"
Therewassomethinginitthatmightinotherconditionshavebeenastrivialasthegiggleofahousemaid；butithadinfactformyearthesilverringofpoetry。ItoldherinstantlywhomImeant。\"PoorBriss，youknow，\"Isaid，\"isalwaysinherclutches。\"
Oh，howitletheroff！Andyet，nosoonerhaditdonesoandhadI
therebytastedontheinstantthesweetnessofmywisdom，thanIbecameawareofsomethingmuchmoreextraordinary。Itletheroff——sheshowedmethisforaminute，inspiteofherself；butthenextminutesheshowedmesomethingquitedifferent，whichwas，mostwonderfulofall，thatshewishedmetoseeherasnotquitefeelingwhyIshouldsomuchtakeforgrantedthepersonIHADnamed。\"PoorBriss？\"herfaceandmannerappearedsuddenlytorepeat——quite，moreover（anditwasthedrollest，saddestpart），asifallourfriendshadstoodaboutustolisten。WhereindidpoorBrisssointimatelyconcernher？What，pray，wasmygroundforsuchfreereferencetopoorBriss？ShequiterepudiatedpoorBriss。Sheknewnothingatallabouthim，andthewholeairystructureIhaderectedwithhisaidmighthavecrumbledatthetouchshethusadministeredifitssolidityhaddependedonlyonthat。Ihadaminuteofsurprisewhich，haditlastedanotherminuteassurprisepureandsimple，mightalmostasquicklyhaveturnedtosomethinglikechagrin。FortunatelyitturnedinsteadintosomethingevenmorelikeenthusiasmthananythingIhadyetfelt。ThestrokeWASextraordinary，butextraordinaryforitsnobleness。Iquicklysawinit，fromthemomentIhadgotmypointofview，morefinethingsthanever。Isawforinstancethat，magnificently，shewishednottoincriminatehim。Allthathadpassedbetweenushadpassedinsilence，butitwasadifferentmatterforwhatmightpassinsound。Welookedateachotherthereforewithastrainedsmileoveranyquestionofidentities。Itwasasifithadbeenonething——toherconfused，relaxedintensity——togiveherselfuptome，butquiteanotherthingtogiveupsomebodyelse。
