Justthisfinedishonestyofhereyes，moreover——thelightofaparttoplay，theexcitement（heavenknowswhatitstruckmeasbeing！）ofahappyduplicity——maywellhavebeenwhatcontributedmosttoherpresentgrandair。
Itwasinanycasewhatevokedformemostthecontrastedimage，sofreshwithme，oftheother，thetragiclady——theimagethathadsoembodiedtheunutterableoppositeofeverythingactuallybeforeme。Whatwasactuallybeforemewasthepositiveprideoflifeandexpansion，theamplitudeofconsciousactionanddesign；notthearidchannelforsakenbythestream，butthefull—fedriversweepingtothesea，thevolumeofwater，thestatelycurrent，thefloodedbanksintowhichthesourcehadswelled。TherewasnothingMrs。Serverhadbeenabletorisk，buttherewasarichindifferencetoriskinthemerecarriageofGraceBrissenden’shead。Herreference，forthatmatter，toourdiscussedsubjecthadtheeffectofrelegatingtotherealmofdimshadestheladyrepresentingit，andtherewassmallsoundnessinherglanceatthepossibilityonthepartofthispersonofananxiousprowlback。Therewasindeed——therecouldbe——smallsincerityinanyimmediatedemonstrationfromawomansomarkedlygainingtimeandgettingheradvantagesinhand。Theconnectionsbetweenthetwo，certainly，wereindirectandintricate，butitwaspositivetomethat，forthespiritualear，mycompanion’swordshadthesoundofahardbump，acontactfromtheforceofwhichtheweakervesselmighthavebeenfelttocrack。Atlast，mercifulpowers，itwasinpieces！Theshockofthebrasshadtoldupontheporcelain，andIfanciedmyselfforaninstantfacingMrs。Brissoverthedamage——adamagefromwhichIwasnever，asIknew，toseethepoorbanishedghostrecover。Asstrangeasanythingwasthiseffectalmostofsurpriseformeinthefreedomofhermentionof\"May。\"Forwhathadshecometome，ifforanything，buttoinsistonherviewofMay，andwhataccordinglywasmoretothepointthantomentionher？Yetitwasalmostalreadyasiftomentionherhadbeentogetridofher。Shewasmentioned，however，inevitablyandnonethelesspromptly，anew——evenasifsimplytoreceiveafinalshakebeforebeingquitedropped。Myfriendkeptitup。\"IfyouweresobentonnotlosingwhatImighthavetogiveyouthatyoufortunatelystucktotheship，forpoorBrisstopickyouup，wasn’tthisalso\"——sheroundlyputittome——\"agooddealbecauseyou’vebeennursingalldaythegrievancewithwhichIthismorningsocomfortablyfurnishedyou？\"
Ijustwaited，butfairlyforadmiration。\"Oh，Icertainlyhadmyreasons——asI’venolesscertainlyhadmyluck——fornotindeeddesertingourdearlittlebattered，butstilljustsufficientlybuoyantvessel，fromwhicheveryoneelseappears，Irecognise；tos’etresauve。She’llfloatafewminutesmore！But（beforeshesinks！）doyoumeanbymygrievance——\"
\"Oh，youknowwhatImeanbyyourgrievance！\"SHEhadnointention，Mrs。Briss，ofsinking。\"IwastogiveyoutimetomakeupyourmindthatMrs。Serverwasourlady。Yousoresented，forsomereason，mysuggestingitthatIscarcelybelievedyou’dconsideritatall；onlyIhadn’tforgotten，whenIspoketoyouawhilesince，thatyouhadneverthelesshandsomelypromisedmethatyouwoulddoyourbest。\"
\"Yes，and，stillmorehandsomely，thatifIchangedmymind，Iwouldeat，inyourpresence，formyerror，thelargestpossiblesliceofhumblepie。Ifyoudidn’tseethismorning，\"Icontinued，\"quitewhyIshouldhavecaredsomuch，soIdon’tquiteseewhy，inyourdifferentway，youshould；atthesametimethatIdofulljusticetothegoodfaithwithwhichyou’vegivenmemychance。PleasebelievethatifICOULDcandidlyembracethatchanceIshouldfeelallthejoyintheworldinrepayingyou。It’sonly，alas！becauseIclingtomycandourthatIventuretodisappointyou。IfIcaredthismorningitwasreallysimpleenough。Youdidn’tconvinceme，butIshouldhavecaredjustasmuchifyouhad。Ionlydidn’tseewhatyousaw。Ineededmorethanyoucouldthengiveme。Iknew，yousee，whatIneeded——ImeanbeforeIstruck！Itwastheelementofcollateralsupportthatwebothlacked。Icouldn’tdowithoutitasyoucould。ThiswaswhatI，clumsilyenough，triedtoshowyouIfelt。You，onyourside，\"
Ipursued，\"graspedadmirablytheevidenttruththatthatelementCOULD
bepresentonlyinsuchdosesaspracticallytoescapedetection。\"Ikeptitupasshehaddone，andIrememberstrikingmyselfasscarcelessexcitedlyvoluble。IwasconsciousofbeingatapointatwhichIshouldhavetogostraight，togofast，togoit，asthephraseis，blind，inordertogoatall。Iwasalsoconscious——anditcamefromthelookwithwhichshelistenedtomeandthattoldmemorethanshewished——Ifeltsharply，thoughbutinstinctively，infine，thatIshouldstill，whateverIpracticallyhadlost，makemypersonalexperiencemostrichandmostcompletebyputtingitdefinitelytoherthat，sorryasImightbenottoobligeher，Ihad，evenatthishour，nosubmissiontomake。IdoubtedinfactwhethermymakingoneWOULDhaveobligedher；butIfeltthat，forallsomuchhadcomeandgone，Iwasnottheretotake，forherpossibleprofit，anynewtonewithher。Shewouldsufficientlyprofit，attheworst，bytheold。
Myoldmotive——oldwiththeprodigiousantiquitythefewhourshadgivenit——hadquiteleftme；Iseemedtomyselftoknowlittlenowofmydesireto\"protect\"Mrs。Server。Shewascertainly，withMrs。Brissatleast，pastallprotection；andtheconvictionhadgrownwithme，inthesefewminutes，thattherewasnownoragofthequeertruththatMrs。Brisshadn’tsecretly——bywhichImeantmorally——handled。ButInonetheless，onaperfectlysimplereasoning，stoodtomyguns，andwithnosensewhatever，Imustadd，ofnowbreakingmyvowofthemorning。Ihadmadeanothervowsincethen——madeittothepoorladyherselfaswesattogetherinthewood；passedmywordtoHERthattherewasnoapproximationIpretendedeventomyselftohavemade。HowthenwasItopretendtoMrs。Briss，andwhatfactsHADIcollectedonwhichIcouldrespectablygroundanacknowledgmenttoherthatIhadcomeroundtoherbelief？IfIhad\"caught\"ourincriminatedpairtogether——reallytogether——evenforthreeminutes，Iwould，Isincerelyconsidered，havecomeround。ButIwastohaveperformedthisrevolutiononnothingless，asInowwentontoexplaintoher。\"Ofcourseifyou’vegotnewevidenceIshallbedelightedtohearit；andofcourseIcan’thelpwonderingwhetherthepossessionofitandthedesiretooverwhelmmewithitaren’t，together，theonethingyou’vebeennursingtillnow。\"
Oh，howintenselyshedidn’tlikesuchatone！Ifshehadn’tlookedsohandsomeIwouldsayshemadeawryfaceoverit，thoughIdidn’tevenyetseewhereherdislikewouldmakehercomeout。Beforeshecameout，infact，shewaitedasifitwereaquestionofdashingherheadatawall。
Then，atlast，shecharged。\"It’snonsense。I’venothingtotellyou。I
feelthere’snothinginitandI’vegivenitup。\"
Ialmostgaped——bywhichImeanthatIlookedasifIdid——forsurprise。
\"Youagreethatit’snotshe——？\"Then，assheagainwaited，\"It’sYOUwho’vecomeround？\"Iinsisted。
\"ToyourdoubtofitsbeingMay？Yes——I’vecomeround。\"
\"Ah，pardonme，\"Ireturned；\"whatIexpressedthismorningwas，ifIrememberrightly，notatalla’doubt，’butapositive，intimateconvictionthatwasinconsistentwithANYdoubt。Iwasemphatic——purelyandsimply——thatIdidn’tseeit。\"
Shelooked，however，asifshecaughtmeinaweaknesshere。\"Thenwhydidyousaytomethatifyoushouldreconsider——\"
\"Youshouldhandsomelyhaveitfromme，andmygrounds？Why，asI’vejustremindedyou，asaformofcourtesytoyou——magnanimouslytohelpyou，asitwere，tofeelascomfortableasIconceivedyounaturallywoulddesiretofeelinyourownconviction。Onlyforthat。Andnow，\"Ismiled，\"I’mtounderstandfromyouthat，inspiteofthatimmenseallowance，youHAVEN’T，allthiswhile，feltcomfortable？\"
Shegave，onthis，inawonderful，beautifulway，aslow，simplifyingheadshake。\"Mrs。Serverisn’tinit！\"
Theonlywaythentotakeitfromherwasthatherconcessionwasapreludetosomethingstillbetter；andwhenIhadgivenhertimetoseethisdawnuponmeIhadmyeagernessandIjumpedintothebreathless。
\"You’vemadeoutthenwhoIS？\"
\"Oh，Idon’tmakeout，youknow，\"shelaughed，\"somuchasyou！SHE
isn’t，\"shesimplyrepeated。
Ilookedatit，onmyinspiration，quiteruefully——almostasifInowwished，afterall，shewere。\"Ah，but，doyouknow？itreallystrikesmeyoumakeoutmarvels。YoumadeoutthismorningquitewhatIcouldn’t。
Ihadn’tputtogetheranythingsoextraordinaryasthat——inthetotalabsenceofeverything——itSHOULDhavebeenourfriend。\"
Mrs。Brissappeared，onherside，totakeintheintentionofthis。
\"Whatdoyoumeanbythetotalabsence？WhenImademymistake，\"shedeclaredasifintheinterestofherdignity，\"Ididn’tthinkeverythingabsent。\"
\"Isee，\"Iadmitted。\"Isee，\"Ithoughtfullyrepeated。\"Anddoyou，then，thinkeverythingnow？\"
\"Ihadmyhonestimpressionofthemoment，\"shepursuedasifshehadnotheardme。\"Therewereappearancesthat，asitatthetimestruckme，fitted。\"
\"Precisely\"——andIrecalledforhertheoneshehadmademostof。\"TherewasinespecialtheappearancethatshewasataparticularmomentusingBrissendentoshowwhomshewasnotusing。YoufeltTHEN，\"Iventuredtoobserve，\"theforceofthat。\"
Iventuredlessthan，already，Ishouldhavelikedtoventure；yetI
nonethelessseemedtoseehertryonmetheeffectoftheintimationthatIwasgoingfar。\"Isityourwish，\"sheinquiredwithmuchnobleness，\"toconfrontme，tomyconfusion，withmyinconsistency？\"Hernoblenessoffereditselfsomehowassucharebuketomymerelogicthat，inmymomentaryirritation，Imighthavebeenonthepointofassentingtoherquestion。
Thisimminenceofmyassent，justifiedbymyhorrorofherhugeegotism，butjustifiedbynothingelseandprecipitatingeverything，seemedasmarkedforthesefewsecondsasifweeachhadoureyesonit。ButIsatsotightthatthedangerpassed，leavingmysilencetodowhatitcouldformymanners。
Sheproceededmeanwhiletoaddaveryhandsomeaccountofherown。\"YoushoulddomethejusticetorecognisehowlittleIneedhavespokenanotherwordtoyou，andhowlittle，also，thisamiableexplanationtoyouisintheinterestofone’snaturalpride。ItseemstomeI’vecometoyouherealtogetherintheinterestofYOURS。Youtalkabouthumblepie，butIthinkthat，uponmyword——withallI’vesaidtoyou——it’sIwhohavehadtoeatit。Themagnanimityyouspeakof，\"shecontinuedwithallhergrandeur——\"I
reallydon’tsee，either，whoseitisbutmine。Idon’tseewhataccountofanythingI’minanywayobligedtogive。\"
Igranteditquicklyandwithoutreserve。\"You’renotobligedtogiveany——you’requiteright：youdoitonlybecauseyou’resuchalarge，splendidcreature。Iquitefeelthat，besideyou\"——Idid，atleast，treatmyselftotheamusementofsaying——\"Imoveinatinycircle。Still，Iwon’thaveit\"——Icouldalso，again，keepitup——\"thatouroccasionhasnothingforyoubutthetasteofabasement。Yougulpyourmouthfuldown，buthasn’titbeenservedongoldplate？You’vehadamagnificentday——abrimmingcupoftriumph，andyou’remorebeautifulandfresh，afteritall，andatanhourwhenfatiguewouldbealmostpositivelygraceful，thanyouwereeventhismorning，whenyoumetmeasadaughterofthedawn。That’sthesortofsense，\"Ilaughed，\"thatmustsustainawoman！\"AndIwounduponacompleterecoveryofmygood—humour。\"No，no。Ithankyou——thankyouimmensely。ButIdon’tpityyou。Youcanaffordtolose。\"Iwantedherperplexity——thepropersharpdoseofit——toresultbothfromherknowingandhernotknowingsufficientlywhatImeant；andwhenIinfactsawhowperplexedshecouldbeandhowlittle，again，shecouldenjoyit，Ifeltanewmyprivatewonderatherhavingcaredanddaredtomeetme。WhereWASenjoyment，forher，wheretheinsolenceofsuccess，ifthebreathofironycouldchillthem？Why，sinceshewasbold，shouldshebesusceptible，andhow，sinceshewassusceptible，couldshebebold？Iscarceknowwhat，atthismoment，determinedthedivination；buteverything，thedistinctandthedimalike，hadclearedupthenextinstantatthetouchoftherealtruth。Thecertitudeofthesourceofmypresentopportunityhadrolledovermebeforeweexchangedanotherword。ThesourcewassimplyGilbertLong，andshewastherebecausehehaddirectedit。Thisconnectionhookeditself，likeasuddenpictureandwithaclickthatfairlyresoundedthroughouremptyrooms，intothearrayoftheotherconnections，totheimmenseenrichment，asitwaseasytofeel，oftheoccasion，andtotheimmenseconfirmationoftheveryideathat，inthecourseoftheevening，Ihadcomeneardismissingfrommymindastoofantasticevenfortherestofthecompanyitshouldenjoythere。WhatInowwassureofflashedback，atanyrate，everysyllableofsenseIcouldhavedesiredintothesuggestionIhad，afterthemusic，caughtfromthejuxtapositionofthesetwo。Thussolidified，thisconviction，itspreadandspreadtoadistancegreaterthanIcouldjustthentraverseunderMrs。Briss’seyes，butwhich，exactlyforthatreasonperhaps，quickenedmyprideinthekingdomofthoughtI
hadwon。Iwasreallynottohavefeltmore，inthewholebusiness，thanIfeltatthismomentthatbymyownrighthandIhadgainedthekingdom。
Longandsheweretogether，andIwasalonethusinfaceofthem，buttherewasnonethelessnotasingleflowerofthegardenthatmywovenwreathshouldlack。
ImusthavelookedqueertomyfriendasIgrinnedtomyselfoverthisvow；butmyrelishofthewayIwaskeepingthingstogethermademeperhapsfortheinstantundulyrash。Icautionedmyself，however，fortunately，beforeitcouldleaveher——scaredalittle，allthesame，evenwithLongbehindher——anadvantagetotake，and，ininfinitelylesstimethanIhaveneededtotellit，Ihadachievedmyflightintoluminousetherand，alightinggracefullyonmyfeet，reportedmyselfatmypost。IhadinotherwordstakeninboththefullprodigyoftheententebetweenMrs。Server’sloverandpoorBriss’swife，andthefinerstrengthitgavethelast—namedastherepresentativeoftheirinterest。ImayaddtoothatIhadeventakentimefairlynottodecidewhichofthesetwobranchesofmyvision——thatofthetermsoftheirintercourse，orthatoftheirneedofit——waslikelytoprove，indelectableretrospect，themoreexquisite。Allthis，Iadmit，wasagooddealtohavecomeandgonewhilemyprivilegetrembled，initsveryessence，inthescale。Mrs。Brisshadbutabacktoturn，andeverythingwasover。Shehad，instrictness，alreadyutteredwhatsavedherhonour，andherrevengeonimpertinencemighteasilybeherwithdrawingwithoneofhersweeps。Icouldn’tcertainlyinthatcasehurryafterherwithoutspillingmycards。Asmyaccumulationsoflucidity，however，werenowsuchastodefyallleakage，Ipromptlyrecognisedthefacilitiesinvolvedinasuperficialsacrifice；andwithonemoreglanceatthebeautifulfactthatsheknewthestrengthofLong’shand，Iagainwentsteadilyandstraight。
Shewasactingnotonlyforherself，andsinceshehadanotheralsotoserveand，asIwassure，reportto，Ishouldsufficientlyholdher。I
knewmoreoverthatIheldherassoonasIhadbegunafresh。\"Idon’tmeanthatanythingaltersthefactthatyoulosegracefully。ItISawfullycharming，yourthusgivingyourselfup，andyet，justifiedasIambyit，Ican’thelpregrettingalittletheexcitementIfounditthismorningtopulladifferentwayfromyou。ShallItellyou，\"itsuddenlycametometoputtoher，\"what，forsomereason，amanfeelsawareof？\"Andthenas，guarded，stilluneasy，shewouldcommitherselftonopermission：\"Thatpullingagainstyoualsohaditsthrill。Youdefendedyourcause。Oh，\"
Iquicklyadded，\"Iknow——whoshouldknowbetter？——thatitwasbad。Only——whatshallIsay？——YOUweren’tbad，andonehadtofight。Andthentherewaswhatonewasfightingfor！Well，you’renotbadnow，either；sothatyoumayaskme，ofcourse，whatmoreIwant。\"Itriedtothinkamoment。\"Itisn’tthat，thrownbackonthecomparativedullnessofsecurity，Ifind——aspeoplehavebeenknownto——myowncauselessgood：no，itisn’tthat。\"
AfterwhichIhadmyillumination。\"I’lltellyouwhatitis：it’sthecome—downofceasingtoworkwithyou！\"
Shelookedasifshewerequiteexcusablefornotfollowingme。\"To’work’？\"
Iimmediatelyexplained。\"Evenfightingwasworking，forwestruck，you’llremember，sparks，andsparkswerewhatwewanted。Therewearethen，\"
Icheerfullywenton。\"Sparksarewhatwestillwant，andyou’venotcometome，Itrust，withamerespentmatch。Idependuponitthatyou’veanothertostrike。\"IshowedherwithoutfearallItookforgranted。\"Who，then，HAS？\"
Shewassuperbinhercoldness，butherstarewaspartlyblank。\"Whothenhaswhat？\"
\"Why，doneit。\"Andasevenatthisshedidn’tlightIgavehersomethingofajog。\"Youhaven’t，withtheforceofyourrevulsion，Ihope，literallylostourthread。\"Butas，inspiteofmythuswaitingforhertopickitupshedidnothing，Iofferedmyselfasfairlystoopingtothecarpetforitandputtingitbackinherhand。\"Donewhatwespentthemorningwonderingat。Whothen，ifitisn’t，certainly，Mrs。Server，ISthewomanwhohasmadeGilbertLong——well，whatyouknow？\"
Ihadneededthemomenttotakeinthespecialshadeofinnocenceshewasbythistimepreparedtoshowme。Itwasaninnocence，inparticular，inrespecttotherelationofanyone，inallthevastimproprietyofthings，toanyone。\"I’mafraidIknownothing。\"
Ireallywonderedaninstanthowshecouldexpecthelpfromsuchextravagance。
\"ButIthoughtyoujustrecognisedthatyoudoenjoythesenseofyourpardonablemistake。Youknewsomethingwhenyouknewenoughtoseeyouhadmadeit。\"
Shefacedmeaswiththefrankperceptionthat，ofwhateverelseonemightbeaware，Iaboundedintraps，andthatthiswouldprobablybeoneofmyworst。\"Oh，Ithinkonegenerallyknowswhenonehasmadeamistake。\"
\"That’sallthenIinviteyou——Amistake，asyouproperlycallit——toallowmetoimputetoyou。I’mnotaccusingyouofhavingmadefifty。Youmadenonewhatever，Ihold，whenyouagreedwithmewithsucheagernessaboutthestrikingchangeinhim。\"
Sheaffectedmeasaskingherselfalittle，onthis，whethervagueness，thefailureofmemory，therejectionofnonsense，mightn’tstillserveher。Butshesawthenextmomentabetterway。Itallcamebacktoher，butfromsoveryfaroff。\"Thechange，doyoumean，inpoorMr。Long？\"
\"Ofwhatotherchange——except，asyoumaysay，yourown——haveyoumetmeheretospeakof？Yourown，Ineedn’tremindyou，ispartandparcelofLong’s。\"
\"Oh，myown，\"shepresentlyreturned，\"isamuchsimplermattereventhanthat。MyownistherecognitionthatIjustexpressedtoyouandthatIcan’tconsent，ifyouplease，toyourtwistingintotherecognitionofanythingelse。It’stherecognitionthatIknownothingofanyotherchange。
Istick，ifyou’llallowme，tomyignorance。\"
\"I’llallowyouwithjoy，\"Ilaughed，\"ifyou’llletmesticktoitWITHyou。Yourownchangeisquitesufficient——itgivesusallweneed。
Itwillgiveus，ifweretracethestepsofit，everything，everything！\"
Mrs。Brissconsidered。\"Idon’tquitesee，doI？why，atthishourofthenight，weshouldbegintoretracesteps。\"
\"Simplybecauseit’sthehourofthenightyou’vehappened，inyourgenerosityandyourdiscretion，tochoose。I’mstruck，Iconfess，\"Ideclaredwithastillsharperconviction，\"withthewonderfulcharmofitforourpurpose。\"
\"And，pray，whatdoyoucallwithsuchsolemnity，\"sheinquired，\"ourpurpose？\"
Ihadfairlyrecoveredatlast——sofarfrombeingsolemn——anappropriategaiety。\"Icanonly，withpositiveness，answerformine！Thathasremainedalldaythesame——togetatthetruth：not，thatis，torelaxmygraspofthattipofthetailofitwhichyousohelpedmethismorningtofastento。Ifyou’veceasedtoCAREtohelpme，\"Ipursued，\"that’sadifferenceindeed。Butwhy，\"Icandidly，pleadinglyasked，\"SHOULDyouceasetocare？\"
Itwasmoreandmoreofacomforttofeelherimprisonedinherinabilityreallytoexplainherbeingthere。Toshowherselfasshewasexplaineditonlysofarasshecouldexpressthat；whichwasjustthefreedomshecouldleasttake。\"Whatonearthisbetweenus，anyhow，\"Iinsisted，\"butourconfoundedinterest？That’sonlyquickened，forme，don’tyousee？
bythecharmingwayyou’vecomeround；andIdon’tseehowitcanlogicallybeanythinglessthanquickenedforyourself。We’relikethemessengersandheraldsinthetaleofCinderella，andIprotest，Iassureyou，againstanysacrificeofourdenoument。We’vestilltheglassshoetofit。\"
Itookpleasureatthemomentinmymetaphor；butthiswasnotthecase，Isoonenoughperceived，withmycompanion。\"HowcanItell，please，\"shedemanded，\"whatyouconsideryou’retalkingabout？\"
Ismiled；itwassoquitethequestionFordObert，inthesmoking—room，hadbegunbyputtingme。Ihadn’ttotaketimetoremindmyselfhowIhaddealtwithHIM。\"Andyouknew，\"Isighed，\"sobeautifully，youglowedoveritso，thismorning！\"Shecontinuedtogiveme，ineveryway，herdisconnectionfromthismorning，sothatIhadonlytoproceed：\"You’venotavailedyourselfofthisoccasiontopretendtomethatpoorMr。Long，asyoucallhim，is，afterall，thesamelimitedperson——\"
\"Thathealwayswas，andthatyou，yesterday，sosuddenlydiscoveredhimtohaveceasedtobe？\"——forwiththisshehadwakedup。Butshewasstillthinkinghowshecouldturnit。\"Youseetoomuch。\"
\"Oh，IknowIdo——eversomuchtoomuch。AndmuchasIsee，Iexpressonlyhalfofit——soyoumayjudge！\"Ilaughed。\"Butwhatwillyouhave？
IseewhatIsee，andthismorning，foragoodbit，youdidmethehonourtodothesame。Ireturned，also，thecompliment，didn’tI？byseeingsomethingofwhatYOUsaw。Weputit，thewholething，together，andweshookthebottlehard。I’mtotakefromyou，afterthis，\"Iwoundup，\"thatwhatitcontainsisaperfectlycolourlessfluid？\"
Ipausedforareply，butitwasnottocomesohappilyasfromObert。
\"Youtalktoomuch！\"saidMrs。Briss。
Imetitwithamazement。\"Why，whomhaveItold？\"
Ilookedathersohardwithitthathercolourbegantorise，whichmademepromptlyfeelthatshewouldn’tpressthatpoint。\"Imeanyou’recarriedaway——you’reabusedbyafinefancy：sothat，withyourartofputtingthings，onedoesn’tknowwhereoneis——nor，ifyou’llallowmetosayso，doIquitethinkYOUalwaysdo。OfcourseIdon’tdenyyou’reawfullyclever。Butyoubuildup，\"shebroughtoutwitharegretsoindulgentandareluctancesomarkedthatsheforsomesecondsfairlyheldtheblow——\"youbuilduphousesofcards。\"
Ihadbeenimpatienttolearnwhat，and，frankly，Iwasdisappointed。
Thisbrokefromme，afteraninstant，doubtless，withabitternessnottobemistaken。\"LongISN’Twhatheseems？\"
\"Seemstowhom？\"sheaskedsturdily。
\"Well，callit——forsimplicity——toME。Foryousee\"——andIspokeastoshowWHATitwastosee——\"itallstandsorfallsbythat。\"
Theexplanationpresentlyappearedalittletohavesoftenedher。IfitallstoodorfellonlybyTHAT，itstoodorfellbysomethingthat，forhercomfort，mightbenotsounsuccessfullydisposedof。Sheexhaled，withtheswellofherfineperson，acomparativeblandness——seemedtoplaywiththeideaofasmile。Shehad，inshort，herownexplanation。\"Thetroublewithyouisthatyouover—estimatethepenetrationofothers。Howcanitapproachyourown？\"
\"Well，yourshadforawhile，Ishouldsay，distinctmomentsofkeepingupwithit。Nothingismorepossible，\"Iwenton，\"thanthatIdotalktoomuch；butI’vedoneso——aboutthequestionindisputebetweenus——onlytoYOU。Ihaven’t，asIconceivedwewereabsolutelynottodo，mentionedittoanyoneelse，norgivenanyoneaglimpseofourdifference。Ifyou’venotunderstoodyourselfaspledgedtothesamereserve，andhaveconsequently，\"
Iwenton，\"appealedtothelightofotherwisdom，itshowsatleastthat，inspiteofmyintellectualpace，youmustmoreorlesshavefollowedme。
WhatamINOT，infine，tothinkofyourintelligence，\"Iasked，\"if，decidingforaresorttoheadquarters，you’veputthequestiontoLonghimself？\"
\"Thequestion？\"Shewasstraightouttoseaagain。
\"Oftheidentityofthelady。\"
Sheslowly，atthis，headedabout。\"ToLonghimself？\"
Chapter13
IhadfeltIcouldrisksuchdirectnessonlybymakingitextravagant——bysuggestingitasbarelyimaginablethatshecouldsohaveplayedourgame；
andduringtheinstantforwhichIhadnowpulledherupIcouldjudgeIhadbeenright。Itwasaninstantthatsettledeverything，forIsawher，withintensity，withgallantrytoo，surprisedbutnotreallyembarrassed，recognisethatofcourseshemustsimplylie。Ihadbeenjustifiedbymakingitsopossibleforhertolie。\"Itwouldhavebeenashortcut，\"Isaid，\"andevenmorestrikinglyperhaps——todoitjustice——abolddeed。Butitwouldhavebeen，instrictness，adeparture——wouldn’tit？——fromoursodistinguishedlittlecompact。YetwhileIlookatyou，\"Iwenton，\"Iwonder。
Bolddeedsare，afterall，quiteinyourline；andI’mnotsureIdon’tratherwantnottohavemissedsomuchpossiblecomedy。’IhaveitforyoufromMr。Longhimselfthat，everyappearancetothecontrarynotwithstanding，hisstupidityisunimpaired’——isn’tthat，forthebeautyofit，afterall，whatyou’veveraciouslytogiveme？\"Westoodfacetofaceamoment，andIlaughedout。\"Thebeautyofitwouldbegreat！\"
Ihadgivenhertime；Ihadseenhersafelytoshore。ItwasquitewhatIhadmeanttodo，butshenowtookstillbetteradvantagethanIhadexpectedofheropportunity。Shenotonlyscrambledupthebank，sherecoveredbreathandturnedround。\"Doyouimaginehewouldhavetoldme？\"
Itwasmagnificent，butIfeltshewasstilltobetteritshouldIgiveheranewchance。\"Whotheladyreallyis？Well，hardly；andthat’swhy，asyousoacutelysee，thequestionofyourhavingriskedsuchastephasoccurredtomeonlyasajest。Fancyindeed\"——Ipileditup——\"yoursayingtohim：’We’reallnoticingthatyou’resomuchlessofanidiotthanyouusedtobe，andwe’vedifferentviewsofthemiracle’！\"
Ihadbeengoingon，butIwascheckedwithoutawordfromher。Herlookalonediditfor，thoughitwasalookthatpartlyspoiledherlie，it——bythatveryfact——sufficedtomyconfidence。\"I’venotspokentoacreature。\"
Itwasbeautifullysaid，butIfeltagaintheabyssesthatthemeresayingofitcovered，andthesenseofthesewonderfulthingswasnotalittle，nodoubt，inmyimmediatecheer。\"Ah，then，we’reallright！\"I
couldhaverubbedmyhandsoverit。\"Imean，however，\"Iquicklyadded，\"onlyasfarasthat。Idon’tatallfeelcomfortableaboutyournewtheoryitself，whichputsmesowretchedlyinthewrong。\"
\"Rather！\"saidMrs。Brissalmostgaily。\"Wretchedlyindeedinthewrong！\"
\"Yetonly——equallyofcourse，\"Ireturnedafterabriefbrooding，\"ifIcomewithinaconceivabilityofacceptingit。Areyouconsciousthat，indefaultofLong’sownwordequivocalasthatwordwouldbe——youpressituponmewithouttheleastotherguarantee？\"
\"Andpray，\"sheasked，\"whatguaranteehadYOU？\"
\"Forthetheorywithwhichwestarted？Why，ourrecognisedfact。Thechangeintheman。Youmaysay，\"Ipursued，\"thatIwasthefirsttospeakforhim；butbeingthefirstdidn’t，inyourview，constituteaweaknesswhenitcametoyourspeakingyourselfforMrs。Server。BywhichImean，\"
Iadded，\"speakingagainsther。\"
Sheremembered，butnotformybenefit。\"Well，youthenaskedmemywarrant。AndasregardsMr。LongandyourspeakingagainstHIM——\"
\"DoyoudescribewhatIsayas’against’him？\"Iimmediatelybrokein。
Ittookherbutaninstant。\"Surely——tohavemadehimouthorrid。\"
Icouldonlywanttofixit。\"’Horrid’——？\"
