Icouldn’thelpjumpingstraightup——Istoodbeforehim。\"SothatwhoevermayhaveBEENtheman，themanNOW，theactualman——\"
\"Oh，\"saidObert，looking，luminousandstraight，upatmefromhisseat，\"themannow，theactualman——！\"Buthestoppedshort，withhiseyessuddenlyquittingmeandhiswordsbecomingaformlessejaculation。Thedooroftheroom，towhichmybackwasturned，hadopened，andIquicklylookedround。ItwasBrissendenhimselfwho，tomysupremesurprise，stoodthere，withrapidinquiryinhisattitudeandface。Isaw，assoonashecaughtmine，thatIwaswhathewanted，and，immediatelyexcusingmyselfforaninstanttoObert，Ianticipated，bymovingacrosstheroom，theneed，onpoorBriss’spart，ofmyfurtherdemonstration。Mywholesenseofthesituationblazedupatthetouchofhispresence，andevenbeforeIreachedhimithadrolledovermeinaprodigiouswavethatIhadlostnothingwhatever。Ican’tbegintosayhowthefactofhisappearancecrownedthecommunicationmyinterlocutorhadjustmademe，norinwhatabrightconfusionofmanythingsIfoundmyselffacingpoorBriss。OneofthesethingswaspreciselythathehadneverbeensomuchpoorBrissasatthismoment。Thatministeredtotheconfusionaswellastothebrightness，forifhisbeingthereatallrenewedmysourcesandreplenishedmycurrent——spokeall，inshort，formygain——so，ontheotherhand，inthelightofwhatIhadjusthadfromObert，hisparticularaspectwassomethingofashock。
Ican’tpresentthisespecialimpressionbetterthanbythementionofmyinstantcertitudethatwhathehadcomeforwastobringmeamessageandthatsomehow——yes，indubitably——thiscircumstanceseemedtohaveplacedhimagainattheverybottomofhishole。Itwasdowninthatdepththatheletmeseehim——itwasoutofitthathedeliveredhimself。PoorBriss！
poorBriss！——IhadaskedmyselfbeforehespokewithwhatkindnessenoughIcouldmeethim。PoorBriss！poorBriss！——IamnotevennowsurethatIdidn’tfirstmeethimbyTHATirrepressiblemurmur。Itwasinitallformethat，thus，atmidnight，hehadtraversedonhiserrandthelengthofthegreatdarkhouse。Itrodwithhim，overthevelvetandthemarble，throughthetwistsandturns，amongthegloomsandglimmersandechoes，everyinchoftheway，andIdon’tknowwhathumiliation，forhim，wasconstitutedthere，betweenus，byhislongpilgrimage。Itwasthefinalexpressionofhissacrifice。
\"Mywifehassomethingtosaytoyou。\"
\"Mrs。Briss？Good！\"——andIcouldonlyhopethecandourofmysurprisewasallItriedtomakeit。\"Isshewithyouthere？\"
\"No，butshehasaskedmetosaytoyouthatifyou’llpresentlybeinthedrawing—roomshe’llcome。\"
Whocoulddoubt，asIlaidmyhandonhisshoulder，fairlypattingit，inspiteofmyself，forapplause——whocoulddoubtwhereIwouldpresentlybe？\"It’smostuncommonlygoodofbothofyou。\"
Therewassomethinginhisinscrutableservicethat，makinghimalmostaugust，gavemydissimulatedeagernessthesoundofaheartlesscompliment。
Istoodforthehollowchatterofthevulgarworld，andhe——oh，hewasasseriousashewasconscious；whichwasenough。\"Shesaysyou’llknowwhatshewishes——andshewassureI’dfindyouhere。SoImaytellheryou’llcome？\"
Hiscourtesyhalfbrokemyheart。\"Why，mydearman，withallthepleasure——！
Somanythousandthanks。I’llbewithher。\"
\"ThankstoYOU。She’llbedown。Good—night。\"Helookedroundtheroom——atthetwoorthreeclustersofmen，smoking，engaged，contented，ontheireasyseatsandamongtheirpoppedcorks；helookedoveraninstantatFordObert，whoseeyes，Ithought，hemomentarilyheld。Itwasabsolutelyasif，forme，hewereseekingsuchthings——outofwhatwasclosingoverhim——forthelasttime。Thenheturnedagaintothedoor，which，justnottofailhumanlytoaccompanyhimastep，Ihadopened。OntheothersideofitItookleaveofhim。Thepassage，thoughtherewasalightinthedistance，wasdarkerthanthesmoking—room，andIhaddrawnthedoorto。
\"Good—night，Brissenden。Ishallbegonetomorrowbeforeyoushow。\"
Ishallneverforgetthewaythat，struckbymyword，helethiswhitefacefixmeinthedusk。\"’Show’？WHATdoIshow？\"
Ihadtakenhishandforfarewell，and，inevitablylaughing，butasthefalsestofnotes，Igaveitashake。\"Youshownothing！You’remagnificent。\"
Heletmekeephishandwhilethingsunspokenanduntouched，unspeakableanduntouchable，everythingthathadbeenbetweenusinthewoodafewhoursbefore，werebetweenusagain。Butsowecouldonlyleavethem，and，withashort，sharp\"Good—bye！\"hecompletelyreleasedhimself。WithmyhandonthelatchofthecloseddoorIwatchedaminutehisretreatalongthepassage，andIrememberthereflectionthat，beforerejoiningObert，Imadeonit。Iseemedperpetually，atNewmarch，tobetakinghismeasurefrombehind。
FordOberthassincetoldmethatwhenIcamebacktohimthereweretearsinmyeyes，andIdidn’tknowatthemomenthowmuchthewordswithwhichhemetmetookforgrantedmyconsciousnessofthem。\"Helooksahundredyearsold！\"
\"Oh，butyoushouldseehisshoulders，always，ashegoesoff！TWOcenturies——ten！
Isn’titamazing？\"
Itwassoamazingthat，foralittle，itmadeusreciprocallystare。
\"Ishouldhavethought，\"hesaid，\"thathewouldhavebeenonthecontrary——\"
\"Visiblyrejuvenated？SoshouldI。Imustmakeitout，\"Iadded。\"I
SHALL。\"
ButObert，withlesstogoupon，couldn’twait。Itwaswonderful，forthatmatter——andforallIhadtogoupon——howImyselfcould。Ididso，atthismoment，inmyrefreshedintensity，bythehelpofconfusedlylightinganothercigarette，whichIshouldhavenotimetosmoke。\"Ishouldhavethought，\"myfriendcontinued，\"thathetoomighthavechangedback。\"
Itookin，formyself，somuchmoreofitthanIcouldsay！\"Certainly。
Youwouldn’thavethoughthewouldhavechangedforward。\"ThenwithanimpulsethatbridgedoveranabyssofconnectionsIjumpedtoanotherplace。
\"WaswhatyoumostsawwhileyouweretherewithHER——wasthisthathermisery，themiseryyoufirstphrasedtome，hasdropped？\"
\"Dropped，yes。\"Hewasclearaboutit。\"IcalledherbeastlyunhappytoyouthoughIeventhenknewthatbeastlyunhappinesswasn’tquiteallofit。Itwaspartofit，itwasenoughofit；forshewas——well，nodoubtyoucouldtellME。Justnow，atallevents\"——andrecalling，reflecting，deciding，heused，withthestrongesteffect，ashesooftendidinpainting，thesimplestterm——\"justnowshe’sallright。\"
\"Allright？\"
Hecouldn’tknowhowmuchmorethanwaspossiblemyquestiongavehimtoanswer。Butheanswereditonwhathehad；herepeated：\"Allright。\"
Iwondered，inspiteofthecomfortItook，asIhadmorethanonceinlifehadoccasiontotakeitbefore，atthesightofthepainter—sensedeeplyapplied。MywondercamefromthefactthatLadyJohnhadalsofoundMrs。Serverallright，andLadyJohnhadavisionasclosedasObert’swasopen。Itdidn’tsuitmybookforboththeseobserverstohavebeenaffectedinthesameway。\"Youmeanyousawnothingwhateverinherthatwastheleastbitstrange？\"
\"Oh，Iwon’tsayasmuchasthat。ButnothingthatwasmorestrangethanthatsheSHOULDbe——well，afterall，allright。\"
\"Allthere，eh？\"Iafteraninstantrisked。
Icouldn’tputittohimmoredefinitelythanthat，thoughtherewasatemptationtotrytodoso。ForOberttohavefoundherallthereanhourortwoafterIhadfoundherallabsent，mademeagain，inmynervousness，feelevennowatriflemenaced。ThingsHAD，fromsteptostep，tohangtogether，andjustheretheyseemed——withallallowances——tohangalittleapart。Mywholesuperstructure，Icouldonlyremember，reareditselfonmyviewofMrs。Server’scondition；butitwaspartofmypredicament——reallyequalinitswaytoherown——thatIcouldn’twithoutdishonouringmyselfgivemyinterlocutorapracticallead。Thequestionofherhappinesswasessentiallysubordinate；whatIstoodorfellbywasthatofherfaculty。
ButIcouldn’t，ontheotherhand——andremain\"straight\"——insisttomyfriendonthewhereaboutsofthisstolenproperty。Ifhehadn’tmisseditinherforhimselfImightn’tputhimonthetrackofit；since，withthedemonstrationhehadbeforemyeyesreceivedoftherateatwhichLongwas，asonehadtocallit，intellectuallyliving，nothingwouldbemorenaturalthanthatheshouldmakethecasesfit。Nowmypersonalproblem，unalteredintheleastparticularbyanything，wasformetohaveworkedtotheendwithoutbreathinginanotherearthatLonghadbeenherlover。
Thatwastheonlythinginthewholebusinessthatwassimple。Itmademeclinganinstantthemore，bothforblissandbale，tothebearingofthisfactofObert’sinsistence。Evenasasequeltohisvisionofherchange，almosteverythingwaswrongforherbeingallrightexcepttheonefactofmyrecentview，fromthewindow，ofthemanunnamed。Isawhimagainsharplyintheseseconds，andtonoticehowhestillkeptclearofourcompanywasalmosttoaddcertitudetothepresumptionofhisrarereasons。Mrs。Server’sbeingnow，byawonderfulturn，allrightwouldatleastdecidedlyoffertothesereasonsabasis。ItwouldbesomethingLong’sabsencewouldfit。Itwouldsupplyground，inshort，forthepossibilitythat，byaprocessnotlesswonderful，hehimselfwasallwrong。IfheWASallwrongmylastimpressionofhimwouldbeamplyaccountedfor。Ifhewasallwrong——ifhe，inanycase，felthimselfgoingso——whatmoreconsequentthanthatheshouldhavewishedtohideit，andthatthemostimmediatewayforthisshouldhaveseemedtohim，markedlygregariousasheusuallywas，tokeepawayfromthesmokers？ItcametomeunspeakablythatheWASstillhidingitandWASkeepingaway。How，accordingly，musthenot——andmustnotMrs。Briss——havebeeninthespiritofthisfromthemomentthat，whileItalkedwithLadyJohn，thesightofthesetwoseatedtogetherhadgivenmeitsmessage！ButObert’sanswertomyguardedchallengehadmeanwhilecome。\"Oh，whenawoman’ssoclever——！\"
Thatwasall，withitstouchofexperienceanditshintofphilosophy；
butitwasstupefying。Shewasalreadythenpositivelyagain\"soclever？\"
ThiswasreallymorethanIcouldasyetprovideanexplanationfor，butIwaspressed；Brissendenwouldhavereachedhiswife’sroomagain，andItemporised。\"ItwasherclevernessthatheldyousothatwhenIpassedyoucouldn’tlookatme？\"
Helookedatmeatpresentwellenough。\"Iknewyouwerepassing，butIwantedpreciselytomarkforyouthedifference。Ifyoureallywanttoknow，\"thepoormanconfessed，\"Iwasalittleashamedofmyself。Ihadgivenherawaytoyou，youknow，rather，before。\"
\"Andyouwereboundyouwouldn’tdoitagain？\"
Hesmiledinhisnowcompletecandour。\"Ah，therewasnoreason。\"Thenheused，happily，torighthimself，myownexpression。\"Shewasallthere。\"
\"Isee——Isee。\"YetIreallydidn’tseeenoughnottohaveforaninstanttoturnaway。
\"Whereareyougoing？\"heasked。
\"TodowhatBrissendencametomefor。\"
\"ButIdon’tKNOW，yousee，whatBrissendencametoyoufor。\"
\"Well，withamessage。Shewastohaveseenmethisevening，but，asshegavemenochance，IwasafraidIhadlostitandthat，soratherawkwardlylate，shedidn’tventure。Butwhathearrivedforjustnow，atherrequest，wastosayshedoesventure。\"
Mycompanionstared。\"Atthisextraordinaryhour？\"
\"Ah，thehour，\"Ilaughed，\"isnomoreextraordinarythananyotherpartofthebusiness：nomoreso，forinstance，thanthispresenttalkofyoursandmine。Whatpartofthebusinessisn’textraordinary？Ifitis，atallevents，remarkablylate，that’sHERfault。\"
Yethenotunnaturally，inspiteofmyexplanation，continuedtowonder。
\"And——a——whereisitthenyoumeet？\"
\"Oh，inthedrawing—roomorthehall。Sogood—night。\"
Hegotuptoit，movingwithmetothedoor；buthismystification，littleasIcould，onthewhole，sootheit，stillkeptme。\"Thehouseholdsitsupforyou？\"
Iwonderedmyself，butfoundanassurance。\"Shemusthavesquaredthehousehold！Anditwon’tprobablytakeusverylong。\"
Hismystificationfranklyconfesseditself，atthis，plaincuriosity。
Thegroundofsuchaconference，forallthepointIhadgivenhisingenuity，simplybaffledhim。\"Doyoumeanyouproposetodiscusswithher——？\"
\"Mydearfellow，\"Ismiledwithmyhandonthedoor，\"it’sSHE——don’tyousee？——whoproposes。\"
\"Butwhatintheworld——？\"
\"Oh，THATIshallhavetowaittotellyou。\"
\"Withalltheotherthings？\"Hisface，whilehesoundedmine，seemedtosaythatImustthentakehisexpectationasserious。Butitseemedtosayalsothathewas——definitely，yes——moreatalossthanconsortedwithbeingquitesureofme。\"Well，itwillmakealot，really——！\"Buthebrokeoff。\"Youdo，\"hesighedwithaneffortatresignation，\"knowmorethanI！\"
\"Andhaven’tIadmittedthat？\"
\"I’llbehangedifyouDON’Tknowwhoheis！\"thepoorfellow，forallanswer，nowproduced。
HesaiditasifIhad，afterall，notbeenplayingfair，anditmademeforaninstanthesitate。\"No，Ireallydon’tknow。Butit’sexactlywhatIshallperhapsnowlearn。\"
\"YoumeanthatwhatshehasproposedistoTELLyou？\"
HisdarknesshadsodeepenedthatIsawonlynowwhatIshouldhaveseensooner——themisconceptionthat，inmyexcessiveestimateofthedistancehehadcomewithme，Ihadnotatfirstcaught。Butitwasamisconceptionthatonlyenrichedhistestimony；itinvolvedsuchaconvictionofthenewlinkbetweenourtwosacrificedfriendsthatitimmediatelyconstitutedformethestrongestlighthewould，inourwholetalk，havethrown。Yes，hehadnotyetthrownsomuchasinthiserroneoussuppositionofthesourceofmysummons。Ittookmeofcourse，atthesametime，butafewsecondstoremindmyselfagainoftheinnumerablestepshehadnecessarilymissed。
Hisquestionmeanwhile，rightlyappliedbymyownthought，broughtbacktothatthought，bywayofanswer，animmensesuggestion，whichmoreover，forhimtoo，wastemporarilyanswerenough。\"She’lltellmewhoheWON’T
havebeen！\"
Helookedvague。\"Ah，butTHAT——\"
\"That，\"Ideclared，\"willbeluminous。\"
Hemadeitout。\"Asasign，youthink，thathemustbetheveryoneshedenies？\"
\"Theveryone！\"Ilaughed；andIlefthimunderthissimpleandsecureimpressionthatmyappointmentwaswithMrs。Server。
Chapter12
Iwentfromoneroomtotheother，buttofindonly，atfirst，asonmypreviouscircuit，adesertonwhichthesunhadstillnotset。Mrs。
Brissendenwasnowhere，butthewholeplacewaitedaswehadleftit，withseatsdisplacedandflowersdispetalled，afanforgottenonatable，abooklaiddownuponachair。ItcameovermeasIlookedaboutthatifsheHAD\"squared\"thehousehold，solargeanorder，astheysaid，wasasignsufficientofwhatIwastohavefromher。Ihadquiteratheritwereherdoing——notmine；butitshowedwitheloquencethatshehadafteralljudgedsomeeffortorothertobeworthherwhile。Herreneweddelaymoreoveraddedtomyimpatienceofmindinrespecttothenatureofthiseffortbystrikingmeasalreadypartofit。What，Iaskedmyself，couldbesomuchworthherwhileastohavetobepaidforbysomuchapparentreluctance？
ButatlastIsawherthroughavistaofopendoors，andasIforthwithwenttoher——shetooknosteptomeetme——Iwasdoubtlessimpressedafreshwiththe\"pull\"thatinsocialintercourseawomanalwayshas。Shewasabletoassumeonthespotbymereattitudeandairtheappearanceofhavingbeenreadyandthereforeinconvenienced。Oh，Isawsoonenoughthatshewasreadyandthatoneoftheformsofherreadinesswouldbepreciselytoofferherselfashavingactedentirelytoobligeme——togiveme，asasequeltowhathadalreadypassedbetweenus，theopportunityforwhichshehadassuredmeIshouldthankherbeforeIhaddonewithher。Yet，asIfeltsure，atthesametime，thatshehadtakenaline，Iwascuriousastohow，inherinterest，oursituationcouldbeworked。WhatithadoriginallyleftuswithwasherknowingIwaswrong。Ihadpromisedher，onmyhonour，tobecandid，butevenifIweredisposedtoceasetocontestheridentificationofMrs。ServerIwasscarcetobelookedtoforsuchanexhibitionofgratitudeasmightbeheldtorepayherforstayingsolongoutofbed。TherewereinshortelementsinthebusinessthatIcouldn’tquiteclearlyseehandledasfavourstome。Herdressgave，withfelicity，nosignwhateverofpreparationforthenight，andif，sinceourlastwords，shehadstoodwithanyanxietywhateverbeforeherglass，ithadnotbeentoremoveajewelortoaltertheplaceofaflower。Shewasasmuchunderarmsasshehadbeenondescendingtodinner——asfreshinherarrayasifthatbanquetwerestilltocome。Shemetmeinfactasadmirably——thatwasthetruththatcoveredeveryother——asifshehadbeenabletoguessthemostparticularcuriositywithwhich，frommyendoftheseriesofrooms，Iadvanceduponher。
Apartofthemixtureofmythoughtsduringthesesecondshadbeenthepossibility——absurd，preposterousthoughitlookswhenphrasedhere——ofsomechangeinherpersonthatwouldcorrespond，formetotheotherchangesIhadhadsuchkeenmomentsofflatteringmyselfIhadmadeout。Ihadjusthadthemoverinthesmoking—room，someofthesedifferences，andthenhadhadtimetoaskmyselfifIwerenotnowtobetreatedtothevisionofthegreatest，themostwonderful，ofall。Ihadalready，onfacingher，aftermylastmomentswithLadyJohn，seendifferencepeepoutatme，andIhadseentheimpressionofitconfirmedbywhathadafterwardshappened。Ithadbeeninherwayofturningfrommeafterthatbriefpassage；
ithadbeeninhergoinguptobedwithoutseeingmeagain；ithadbeenoncemoreinherthinking，forreasonsofherown，betterofthat；andithadbeenmostofallinhersendingherhusbanddowntome。Well，wouldn’titfinallybe，stillmorethanmostofall——？ButIscarcehadknown，atthispoint，whatgrossnessorwhatfinenessofmaterialcorrespondencetoforecast。Ionlyhadwaitedtherewiththesegeneralsymptomssopresentthatalmostanyfurtherdevelopmentofthemoccurredtomeasconceivable。
Somuchasthiswastrue，butIwasafteramomenttobecomeawareofsomethingbywhichIwasasstronglyaffectedasifIhadbeenquiteunprepared。
Yes，literally，thatfinalnote，inthesmoking—room，thenotestruckinObert’sejaculationonpoorBriss’shundredyears，hadfailedtoachieveformeaworthyimplication。Iwasforced，afterlookingatGraceBrissendenaminute，torecognisethatmyimaginationhadnotrisentoitsopportunity。
Thefullimpressiontookaminute——aminuteduringwhichshesaidnothing；
thenitleftmedeeplyandaboveall，asIfelt，discerniblyconsciousoftheprodigiousthing，thething，Ihadnotthoughtof。Thisitwasthatgavehersuchabeautifulchancenottospeak：shewassoquitesufficientlyoccupiedwithseeingwhatIhadn’tthoughtof，andwithseeingme，tomakeupforlosttime，breathlesslythinkofitwhileshewatchedme。
AllIhadatfirsttakeninwas，asIsay，heruntouchedsplendour；
Idon’tknowwhythatshouldhaveimpressedme——asifithadbeenprobableshewouldhaveappearedinherdressing—gown；itwastheonlythingtohaveexpected。Anditinfactplumedandenhancedherassurance，sustainedherpropriety，lentourbelatedinterviewthenaturalandcasualnote。
Buttherewasanotherserviceitstillmorerenderedher：itsocovered，atthefirstblush，therealmessageofheraspect，thatsheenjoyedtheluxury——andIfeltherenjoyit——ofseeingmyperceptioninarrest。Amazing，whenIthinkofit，thenumberofthingsthatoccurredinthesestayedsecondsofoursilence；buttheyareperhapsbestrepresentedbythetwomostmarkedintensitiesofmyownsensation：thefirstthecertitudethatshehadatnomomentsincehermarriagesotriumphantlyassertedherdefeatoftime，andthesecondtheconvictionthatI，losingwithherwhile，asitwere，weclosed，acertainadvantageIshouldneverrecover，hadatnomomentsincethedaybeforemadesopoorafigureonmyownground。
Ah，itmayhavebeenonlyforsixsecondsthatshecaughtmegapingatherrenewedbeauty；butsixseconds，itwasinevitabletofeel，werequiteenoughforeverypurposewithwhichshehadcomedowntome。Shemighthavebeenalarge，fair，rich，prosperouspersonoftwenty—five；shewasatanyratenearenoughtoittoputmeforeverinmyplace。Itwasasuccess，onherpart，that，thoughIcouldn’tasyetfullymeasureit，therecouldbenodoubtofwhatever，anymorethanofmysomehowpayingforit。Herbeingthereatall，atsuchanhour，insuchconditions，became，eachmoment，onthewholebusiness，moreandmoreapartofheradvantage；
thecaseforherwasreallyinalmostanyaspectshecouldnowmakeitweartomyimagination。Mywealthofthatfaculty，neversostimulated，wasthus，inamanner，herstrength；bywhichImeantheimpossibilityofmyindifferencetothemereimmensesuggestivenessofourcircumstances。
HowcanItellnowtowhattunethesenseofalltheseplayedintomymind？——thehugeoddityofthenamelessideaonwhichweforegathered，theabsenceandhushofeverythingexceptthatidea，somagnifiedinconsequenceandyetstill，afterall，altogetherfantastic。Thereremainedforher，therespokeforhertoo，hervividly\"unconventional\"step，thebraveryofherrustling，onanunderstandingsodifficulttogiveanaccountof，throughplacesandtimesonlymadesafebythesleepoftheunsuspecting。Myimagination，inshort，sinceIhavespokenofit，couldn’tdootherthanworkforherfromthemomentshehad，sosimplyyetsowonderfully，notfailedme。Thereforeitwasallwithmeagain，thevisionofherreasons。Theywereinfactsufficientlyinthesoundofwhatshepresentlysaid。\"Perhapsyoudon’tknow——butImentionedintheproperquarterthatIshouldsitupalittle。
They’reofakindnesshere，luckily——！Soit’sallright。\"Itwasallright，obviously——shemadeitso；butshemadeitsoaswellthat，inspiteofthesplendoursheshowedme，sheshouldbealittlenervous。\"Weshallonlytakemoreover，\"sheadded，\"aminute。\"
IshouldperhapshavewonderedmorewhatsheproposedtodoinaminutehadInotfeltitasalreadymoreorlessdone。Yes，shemighthavebeentwenty—five，anditwasashorttimeforTHATtohavetaken。However，whatIclutchedat，whatIclungto，wasthatitwasanervoustwenty—five。
Imightpayforherassurance，butwasn’ttheresomethingofmineforwhichSHEmightpay？Iwasnervousalso，but，asItookinagain，withaglancethroughourgreatchainofchambers，thewonderfulconditionsthatprotectedus，IdidmybesttofeelsurethatitwasonlybecauseIwassoamused。
That——insohighaform——waswhatitcametointheend。\"Isupposed，\"
Ireplied，\"thatyou’dhavearranged；for，inspiteofthewaythingsweregoing，Ihadn’tgivenyouup。Ihaven’tunderstood，Iconfess，\"Iwenton，\"whyyou’vepreferredaconferencesointenselynocturnal——ofwhichIquitefeel，however，that，ifithashappenedtosuityou，itisn’tformetocomplain。ButIfeltsureofyou——thatwasthegreatthing——fromthemoment，halfanhourago，yousokindlyspoketome。Igaveyou，yousee，\"Ilaughed，\"what’scalled’rope。’\"
\"Idon’tsupposeyoumean，\"sheexclaimed，\"formetohangmyself！——forthat，Iassureyou，isnotatallwhatI’mpreparedfor。\"Thensheseemedagaintogivemethemagnificenceofheryouth。Itwasn’t，throughout，Iwastofeel，thatsheatallhadabyssesofirony，forsheinfacthappilyneedednone。Hertriumphwasinitselfironicenough，andallherpointinhersenseofherfreshness。\"Wereyoureallysoimpatient？\"ButasI
inevitablyhungfirealittleshecontinuedbeforeIcouldanswer；whichsomewhathelpedmeindeedbyshowingtheoneflawinherconfidence。Moreextraordinaryperhapsthananythingelse，moreover，wasjustmyperceptionofthis；whichgivesthevalueofallthateachofussovisiblyfelttheothertohaveputtogether，tohavebeenmakingoutandgatheringin，sinceweparted，ontheterrace，afterseeingMrs。ServerandBrisscomeupfromundertheirtree。WeHAD，ofatruth，arrivedatourresults——thoughminewerenaturallytheonesformetobelievein；anditwasprodigiousthatweopenlymetnotatallwherewehadlastlefteachother，butexactlyonwhatoursubsequentsuppressedprocesseshadachieved。Wehadn’tnamedthem——hadn’talludedtothem，andwecouldn’t，nodoubt，havedoneeither；
buttheywerenonethelessintenselytherebetweenus，withthewholebright，emptyscenegivenuptothem。Onlyshehadhershrewdsensethatmine，forreasons，mighthavebeenstillmoreoccultthanherown。Hadn’tIpossiblyburrowedthedeeper——tocomeoutinsomeuncalculatedplacebehindherback？Thatwastheflawinherconfidence。Shehadinspiteofitherfirmground，andIcouldfeel，todoherjustice，howdifferentacomplacencyitwasfromsuchsmugignoranceasLadyJohn’s。IfIdidn’tfeartoseemtodrivelaboutmyownknowledgeIshouldsaythatshehad，inadditiontoalltherestofher\"pull，\"thebenefitofstrikingmeasworthyofme。ShewasINthemysticcircle——notoneofusmore；sheknewthesizeofit；anditwasournowbeinginitalonetogether，witheveryoneelseoutandwiththesizegreaterthanithadyetbeenatall——itwasthisthatgavethehour，infine，sosharpastamp。
Butshehadmeanwhiletakenupmyallusiontoherhavingpreferredsotowait。\"Iwantedtoseeyouquietly；whichwaswhatItried——notaltogethersuccessfully，itratherstruckmeatthemoment——tomakeyouunderstandwhenIletyouknowaboutit。YoustaredsothatIdidn’tquiteknowwhatwasthematter。Nothingcouldbequiet，Isaw，tillthegoingtobedwasover，andIfeltitcomingoffthenfromoneminutetotheother。Ididn’twishpubliclytobecalledawayforitfromthisputtingofourheadstogether，and，thoughyoumaythinkmeabsurd，IhadadisliketohavingourquestionofMayupsolongasshewashangingabout。Iknewofcoursethatshewouldhangabouttilltheverylastmoment，andthatwaswhatIperhapsalittleclumsily——ifitwasmyownfault！——madetheefforttoconveytoyou。Shemaybehangingaboutstill，\"Mrs。Brisscontinued，withherlargerlookround——herlooksroundwerenowimmense；\"butatanyrateIshallhavedonewhatIcould。Ihadafeeling——perfectlypreposterous，Iadmit！——againstherseeingustogether；butifshecomesdownagain，asI’vesoboldlydone，andfindsus，she’llhavenoonebutherselftothank。It’safunnyhouse，forthatmatter，\"myfriendrambledon，\"andI’mnotsurethatanyoneHASgonetobed。Onedoeswhatonelikes；I’manoldwoman，atanyrate，andido！\"Sheexplainednow，sheexplainedtoomuch，sheabounded，talkingherselfstoutlyintoanyassurancethatfailedher。Ihadmeanwhilewitheverywordsheutteredasharpersenseofthepressure，behindthemall，ofanewconsciousness。Itwasfullofeverythingshedidn’tsay，andwhatshesaidwasnorepresentationwhateverofwhatwasmostinhermind。Wehadindeedtakenajumpsincenoon——wehadindeedcomeoutfurtheron。
