\"Why，havingsuchsecrets。\"Shewasroundlyreadynow。\"SacrificingpoorMay。\"
\"ButYOU，dearlady，sacrificedpoorMay！Itdidn’tstrikeyouashorridTHEN。\"
\"Well，thatwasonly，\"shemaintained，\"becauseyoutalkedmeover。\"
Iletherseethefullprocessofmytaking——ornottaking——thisin。
\"Andwhoisitthenthat——if，asyousay，you’vespokentonoone——has，asImaycallit，talkedyouunder？\"
Shecompleted，onthespot，herstatementofamomentbefore。\"Notacreaturehasspokentome。\"
Ifeltsomehowthewishtomakehersayitinasmanywaysaspossible——I
seemedsotoenjoyhersayingit。Thishelpedmetomakemytoneapproveandencourage。\"You’vecommunicatedsolittlewithanyone！\"Ididn’tevenmakeitaquestion。
Itwasscarceyet，however，quitegoodenough。\"Solittle？I’venotcommunicatedtheleastmite。\"
\"Precisely。Butdon’tthinkmeimpertinentforhavingforamomentwondered。
WhatIshouldsaytoyouifyouhad，youknow，wouldbethatyoujustaccusedme。\"
\"Accusedyou？\"
\"Oftalkingtoomuch。\"
Itcamebacktoherdim。\"Areweaccusingeachother？\"
Hertoneseemedsuddenlytoputusnearertogetherthanwehadeverbeenatall。\"Dearno，\"Ilaughed——\"noteachother；onlywitheachother’shelp，afewofourgoodfriends。\"
\"Afew？\"Shehandsomelydemurred。\"Butoneortwoatthebest。\"
\"Orattheworst！\"——Icontinuedtolaugh。\"Andnoteventhose，itafterallappears，verymuch！\"
Shedidn’tlikemylaughter，butshewasnowgrandlyindulgent。\"Well，Iaccusenoone。\"
Iwassilentalittle；thenIconcurred。\"It’sdoubtlessyourbestline；
andIreallyquitefeel，atallevents，thatwhenyoumentionedawhilesincethatItalktoomuchyouonlymeanttoomuchtoYOU。\"
\"Yes——Iwasn’timputingtoyouthesamedirectappeal。Ididn’tsuppose，\"
sheexplained，\"that——tomatchyourownsuppositionofME——youhadresortedtoMayherself。\"
\"Youdidn’tsupposeIhadaskedher？\"Thepointwaspositivelythatshedidn’t；yetitmadeuslookateachotheralmostashardasifshedid。\"No，ofcourseyoucouldn’thavesupposedanythingsocruel——allthemorethat，asyouknew，Ihadnotadmittedthepossibility。\"
Sheacceptedmyassent；but，oddlyenough，withasuddenqualificationthatshowedherasstillsharplydisposedtomakeuseofanyloosescrapofherembarrassedacuteness。\"Ofcourse，atthesametime，youyourselfsawthatyournotadmittingthepossibilitywouldhavetakentheedgefromyourcruelty。It’snottheinnocent，\"shesuggestivelyremarked，\"thatwefeartofrighten。\"
\"Oh，\"Ireturned，\"Ifear，mostly，Ithink，tofrightenANYone。I’mnotparticularlybrave。Ihaven’t，atallevents，inspiteofmycertitude，interrogatedMrs。Server，andIgiveyoumywordofhonourthatI’venothadanydenialfromhertopropupmydoubt。Itstillstandsonitsownfeet，anditwasitsownbattlethat，whenIcamehereatyoursummons，itwaspreparedtofight。Letmeaccordinglyremindyou，\"Ipursued，\"inconnectionwiththat，oftheonesenseinwhichyouwere，asyouamomentagosaid，talkedoverbyme。IpersuadedyouapparentlythatLong’smetamorphosiswasnottheworkofLadyJohn。Ipersuadedyouofnothingelse。\"
Shelookeddownalittle，asifagainatatrap。\"Youpersuadedmethatitwastheworkofsomebody。\"Thensheheldupherhead。\"Itcametothesamething。\"
IfIhadcreditthenformytrapitatleastmightserve。\"Thesamethingaswhat？\"
\"Why，asclaimingthatitWASshe。\"
\"PoorMay——’claiming’？WhenIinsisteditwasn’t！\"
Mrs。Brissendenflushed。\"Youdidn’tinsistitwasn’tanybody！\"
\"WhyshouldIwhenIdidn’tbelieveso？I’veleftyouinnodoubt，\"
Iindulgentlysmiled，\"ofmybeliefs。Itwassomebody——anditstillis。\"
Shelookedaboutatthetopoftheroom。\"Themistake’snowyours。\"
Iwatchedheraninstant。\"Canyoutellmethenwhatonedoestorecoverfromsuchmistakes？\"
\"Onethinksalittle。\"
\"Ah，themoreI’vethoughtthedeeperI’vesunk！Andthatseemedtomethecasewithyouthismorning，\"Iadded，\"themoreYOUthought。\"
\"Well，then，\"shefranklydeclared，\"Imusthavestoppedthinking！\"
Itwasaphenomenon，Isufficientlyshowed，thatthoughtonlycouldmeet。\"Couldyoutellmethenatwhatpoint？\"
Shehadtothinkeventodothat。\"Atwhatpoint？\"
\"Whatinparticulardetermined，Imean，yourarrest？Yousurelydidn’t——launchedasyouwere——stopshortallofyourself。\"
Shefrontedme，afterall，stillsobravelythatIbelievedherforaninstantnottobe，onthisarticle，withoutananswershecouldproduce。
Theunexpectedthereforebrokeformewhenshefairlyproducednone。\"I
confessIdon’tmakeout，\"shesimplysaid，\"whyyouseemsolittlepleasedthatIagreewithyou。\"
Ithrewback，indespair，bothheadandhands。\"But，youpoor，dearthing，youdon’tintheLEASTagreewithme！Youflatlycontradictme。
Youdenymymiracle。\"
\"Idon’tbelieveinmiracles，\"shepanted。
\"SoIexactly，atthislatehour，learn。ButIdon’tinsistonthename。
Nothingis，Iadmit，amiraclefromthemomentone’sonthetrackofthecause，whichwasthescentwewerefollowing。Callthethingsimplymyfact。\"
Shegaveherhighheadatoss。\"Ifit’syoursit’snobodyelse’s！\"
\"Ah，there’sjustthequestion——ifwecouldknowall！Butmypointisprecisely，forthepresent，thatyoudodenyit。\"
\"OfcourseIdenyit，\"saidMrs。Briss。
Itookamoment，butmysilenceheldher。\"Your’ofcourse’wouldbewhatIwouldagaincontest，whatIwoulddenounceandbrandasthewordtoomuch——thewordthatspoils，wereitnotthatitseemsbest，thatitinanycaseseemsnecessary，toletallquestionofyourconsistencygo。\"
OnthatIhadpaused，and，asIfeltmyselfstillholdingher，Iwasnotsurprisedwhenmypausehadaneffect。\"Youdoletitgo？\"
Shehadtried，Icouldsee，toputtheinquiryasallironic。Butitwasnotallironic；itwas，infact，littleenoughsotosuggestformesomeintensification——notquite，Itrust，wanton——ofhersuspense。Ishouldbeatalosstosayindeedhowmuchitsuggestedorhalfofwhatittold。
Thesethingsagainalmostviolentlymovedme，andifI，afteraninstant，inmysilence，turnedaway，itwasnotonlytokeepherwaiting，buttomakemyelationmoreprivate。IturnedawaytothattunethatIliterally，forafewminutes，quittedher，availingmyselfthus，superficially，oftheairofweighingaconsequence。Iwanderedofftwentystepsand，whileIpassedmyhandovermytroubledhead，lookedvaguelyatobjectsontablesandsniffedabsentlyatflowersinbowls。Idon’tknowhowlongIsolostmyself，norquitewhy——asImustforsometimehavekeptitup——mycompaniondidn’tnowreallyembraceherpossiblealternativeofruptureandretreat。
Orrather，astoheractioninthislastmatter，Iam，andwasonthespot，clear：IknewatthatmomenthowmuchSHEknewshemustnotleavemewithouthavinggotfromme。Itcamebackinwaves，inwiderglimpses，andproducedinsodoingtheexcitementIhadtocontrol。ItcouldNOTbutbeexcitingtotalk，aswetalked，onthebasisofthosesuppressedprocessesandunavowedreferenceswhichmadethemeaningofourmeetingsodifferentfromitsform。Weknewourselves——whatmovedme，thatis，wasthatsheknewme——tomean，ateverypoint，immenselymorethanIsaidorthansheanswered；
justasshesawme，atthesamepoints，measurethespacebywhichheranswersfellshort。ThismademyconversationwithheratotallyotherandafarmoreinterestingthingthananycolloquyIhadeverenjoyed；
ithadevenasharpnessthathadnotbelonged，afewhoursbefore，tomyextraordinaryinterviewwithMrs。Server。Shecouldn’taffordtoquarrelwithmeforcatechisingher；shecouldn’taffordnottohavekept，inherway，faithwithme；shecouldn’tafford，afterinconceivablepassageswithLong，nottotreatmeasanobservertobesquared。Shehadcomedowntosquareme；shewashangingontosquareme；shewassufferingandstammeringandlying；shewasbothcarryingitgrandlyoffandlettingitdesperatelygo：all，alltosquareme。AndIcaughtmoreoverperfectlyhervisionofherway，andIfollowedherwayevenwhileIjudgedit，feelingthattheonlypersonalprivilegeIcould，afterall，savefromthewholebusinesswasthatofunderstanding。Icouldn’tsaveMrs。Server，andIcouldn’tsavepoorBriss；ICOULD，however，guard，tothelastgrainofgold，myprecioussenseoftheirloss，theirdisintegrationandtheirdoom；anditwasforthisIwasnowbargaining。
ItwasofgivingherselfawayjustenoughnottospoilformemybargainovermytreasurethatMrs。Briss’sbribewouldconsist。ShewouldletmeseeasfarasIwouldifshecouldfeelsureIwouldDOnothing；anditwasexactlyinthisquestionofhowmuchImighthavescaredmycoupleintothesenseICOULD\"do\"thatthesavourofmysuspensemostdwelt。
Icouldhavemadethemuneasy，ofcourse，onlybymakingthemfearmyintervention；
andyettheideaoftheirbeinguneasywaslesswonderfulthantheideaofmyhaving，withallmyprecautions，communicatedtothemaconsciousness。
ThiswassothelastthingIhadwantedtodothatIfelt，duringmyswiftexcursion，howmuchtimeIshouldneedinthefutureforrecoveryoftheprocess——allofthefinestwind—blownintimations，wovenofsilenceandsecrecyandair——bywhichtheirsuspicionwouldhavethrobbedintolife。
Icouldonly，provisionallyandsketchily，figureitout，thissuspicion，ashaving，littlebylittle——notwithasuddenstart——feltitselfinthepresenceofmyown，justasmyownnowreturnedthecompliment。Whatcamebacktome，asIhavesaid，inwavesandwiderglimpses，wasthemarveloftheirexchangeofsignals，thephenomenon，scarcetoberepresented，oftheirbreakinggroundwitheachother。Theybothhadtheirtreasuretoguard，andtheyhadlookedtoeachotherwiththeinstinctofhelp。
Theyhadfelt，oneitherside，thevictimpossiblyslip，andtheyhadconnectedthepossibilitywithaninterestdiscerniblyinspiredinmebythispersonage，andwitharelationdiscoverablyestablishedbythatinterest。Itwouldn’thavebeenadanger，perhaps，ifthetwovictimshadn’tslippedtogether；
andmoreamazing，doubtless，thananythingelsewastherecognitionbymysacrificingcoupleoftheopportunitydrawnbymysacrificedfrombeingconjoinedinmycharity。Howcouldtheyknow，GilbertLongandMrs。Briss，thatactivelytocommunicateaconsciousnesstomyotherfriendshadnopartinmyplan？ThemostIhaddreamedof，Icouldhonourablyfeel，wastoassuremyselfoftheirindependentpossessionofone。Thesethingswerewithmewhile，asIhavenoted，ImadeGraceBrissendenwait，anditwasalsowithmethat，thoughIcondonedherdeviation，shemusttakeitfrommeasacharity。Ihadpresentlyachievedanotherofmyfullrevolutions，andIfacedheragainwithaviewofherovertureandmyanswertoherlastquestion。Thetermswerenotaltogetherwhatmypitycouldhavewished，butIsufficientlykepteverythingtogethertohavetoseethattherewerelimitstomychoice。\"Yes，Iletitgo，yourchangeoffront，thoughitvexesmealittle——andI’llinamomenttellyouwhy——tohaveto。Butletusputitthatit’sonacondition。\"
\"Changeoffront？\"shemurmuredwhileshelookedatme。\"Yourexpressionsarenotofthehappiest。\"
ButIsawitwasonlyagaintocoveradoubt。Mycondition，forher，wasquestionable，andIfeltitwouldbestillmoresoonherhearingwhatitwas。Meanwhile，however，inspiteofherqualificationofit，Ihadfallenback，onceandforall，onpurebenignity。\"ItscarcemattersifI’mclumsywhenyou’repracticallysobland。Iwonderifyou’llunderstand，\"
Icontinued，\"ifImakeyouanexplanation。\"
\"Mostprobably，\"sheanswered，ashandsomeasever，\"not。\"
\"Letmeatalleventstryyou。It’smoreovertheoneIjustpromised；
whichwasnomoreindeedthanthedevelopmentofafeelingI’vealreadypermittedmyselftoshowyou。Ilose\"——Ibroughtitout——\"byyouragreeingwithme！\"
\"’Lose’？\"
\"Yes；becausewhilewedisagreedyouwere，inspiteofthat，ontherightside。\"
\"Andwhatdoyoucalltherightside？\"
\"Well\"——Ibroughtitoutagain——\"onthesamesideasmyimagination。\"
Butitgaveheratleastachance。\"Oh，yourimagination！\"
\"Yes——Iknowwhatyouthinkofit；you’vesufficientlyhintedhowlittlethatis。Butit’spreciselybecauseyouregarditasrubbishthatInowappealtoyou。\"
Shecontinuedtoguardherselfbyhersurprises。\"Appeal？Ithoughtyouwereontheground，rather，\"shebeautifullysmiled，\"ofdictation。\"
\"Well，I’mthattoo。Idictatemyterms。Butmytermsareinthemselvestheappeal。\"Iwasingeniousbutpatient。\"See？\"
\"HowintheworldcanIsee？\"
\"Voyons，then。Lightordarkness，myimaginationridesme。Butofcourseifit’sallwrongIwanttogetridofit。Youcan’t，naturally，helpmetodestroythefacultyitself，butyoucanaidinthedefeatofitsapplicationtoaparticularcase。Itwasbecauseyousosmiled，before，onthatapplication，thatIvaluedevenmyminordifferencewithyou；andwhatIrefertoasmylossisthefactthatyourfrownleavesmestrugglingalone。Thebestthingforme，accordingly，asIfeel，istogetridaltogetheroftheobsession。
Thewaytodothat，clearly，sinceYOU’VEdoneit，isjusttoquenchthefire。BythefireImeantheflameofthefancythatblazedsoforusthismorning。Whatthedeucehaveyou，foryourself，pouredonit？Tellme，\"
Ipleaded，\"andteachme。\"
Equallywithhervoiceherfaceechoedmeagain。\"Teachyou？\"
\"Toabandonmyfalsegods。LeadmebacktopeacebythestepsYOU’VE
trod。Bysomuchastheymusthaveremainedtraceabletoyou，shallIfindthemofinterestandprofit。Theymustinfactbemostremarkable：won’ttheyeven——forwhatimayfindinthem——bemoreremarkablethanthoseweshouldnowbetakingtogetherifwehadn’tseparated，ifwehadn’tpulledup？\"ThatwasapropositionIcouldpresenttoherwithcandour，butbeforeherabsenceofprecipitationhadpermittedhermuchtoconsideritIhadalreadyfollowediton。\"You’lljusttellme，however，thatsinceIdopullupandturnbackwithyouweshalljusthaveNOTseparated。Well，then，somuchthebetter——Iseeyou’reright。ButIwant，\"Iearnestlydeclared，\"nottoloseaninchofthejourney。\"
ShewatchedmenowasaRomanladyatthecircusmayhavewatchedanexemplaryChristian。\"Thejourneyhasbeenaverysimpleone，\"shesaidatlast。\"Withmymindmadeuponasinglepoint，itwastakenatastride。\"
Iwasallinterest。\"Onasinglepoint？\"Then，as，almostexcessivelydeliberate，shestillkeptme：\"YoumeanthestillcommonplacecharacterofLong’s——a——consciousness？\"
Shehadtakenatlastagainthetimesherequired。\"DoyouknowwhatIthink？\"
\"It’sexactlywhatI’mpressingyoutomakeintelligible。\"
\"Well，\"saidMrs。Briss，\"Ithinkyou’recrazy。\"
Itnaturallystruckme。\"Crazy？\"
\"Crazy。\"
Iturneditover。\"Butdoyoucallthatintelligible？\"
Shediditjustice。\"No：Idon’tsupposeitCANbesoforyouifyouAREinsane。\"
Iriskedthelonglaughwhichmighthaveseemedthatofmadness。\"’IfIam’islovely！\"Andwhetherornotitwasthespecialsound，inmyear，ofmyhilarity，IrememberjustwonderingifperhapsImightn’tbe。\"Dearwoman，it’sthepointatissue！\"
Butitwasasifshetoohadbeenaffected。\"It’snotatissueformenow。\"
Igaveherthenthebenefitofmystirredspeculation。\"Italwayshappens，ofcourse，thatoneisone’sselfthelasttoknow。You’reperfectlyconvinced？\"
Shenotungracefully，foraninstant，faltered；butsinceIreallywouldhaveit——！\"Oh，sofaraswhatwe’vetalkedofisconcerned，perfectly！\"
\"Andit’sactuallywhatyou’vecomedownthentotellme？\"
\"Justexactlywhat。Andifit’sasurprisetoyou，\"sheadded，\"thatISHOULDhavecomedown——why，IcanonlysayIwaspreparedforanything。\"
\"Anything？\"Ismiled。
\"Inthewayofasurprise。\"
Ithought；butherpreparationwasnatural，thoughinamomentIcouldmatchit。\"Doyouknowthat’swhatIwastoo？\"
\"Prepared——？\"
\"Foranythinginthewayofasurprise。ButonlyFROMyou，\"Iexplained。
\"Andofcourse——yes，\"Imused，\"I’vegotit。IfIAMcrazy，\"Iwenton——\"it’sindeedsimple。\"
Sheappeared，however，tofeel，fromtheinfluenceofmypresenttone，theimpulse，incourtesy，toattenuate。\"Oh，Idon’tpretendit’ssimple！\"
\"No？Ithoughtthatwasjustwhatyoudidpretend。\"
\"Ididn’tsuppose，\"saidMrs。Briss，\"thatyou’dlikeit。Ididn’tsupposethatyou’dacceptitorevenlistentoit。ButIowedittoyou——\"Shehesitated。
\"Youowedittometoletmeknowwhatyouthoughtofmeevenshoulditproveverydisagreeable？\"
Thatperhapswasmorethanshecouldadopt。\"Iowedittomyself，\"sherepliedwithatouchofausterity。
\"ToletmeknowI’mdemented？\"
\"ToletyouknowI’mNOT。\"Weeachlooked，Ithink，whenshehadsaidit，asifshehaddonewhatshesaid。\"That’sall。\"
\"All？\"Iwailed。\"Ah，don’tspeakasifitweresolittle。It’smuch。
It’severything。\"
\"It’sanythingyouwill！\"saidMrs。Brissimpatiently。\"Good—night。\"
\"Good—night？\"Iwasaghast。\"Youleavemeonit？\"
Sheappearedtoprofessforaninstantallthefreshnessofherownthatshewaspledgedtoguard。\"Imustleaveyouonsomething。Icouldn’tcometospendawholehour。\"
\"Butdoyouthinkit’ssoquicklydonetopersuadeamanhe’scrazy？\"
\"Ihaven’texpectedtopersuadeyou。\"
\"Onlytothrowoutthehint？\"
\"Well，\"sheadmitted，\"itwouldbegoodifitcouldworkinyou。ButI’vetoldyou，\"sheaddedasiftowindupandhavedone，\"whatdeterminedme。\"
\"Ibegyourpardon\"——oh，Iprotested！\"That’sjustwhatyou’venottoldme。Thereasonofyourchange——\"
\"I’mnotspeaking，\"shebrokein，\"ofmychange。\"
\"Ah，butiam！\"Ideclaredwithasharpnessthatthrewherbackforaminuteonherreserves。\"It’syourchange，\"Iagaininsisted，\"that’stheinterestingthing。IfI’mcrazy，Imustoncemoreremindyou，youweresimplycrazyWITHme；andhowcanIthereforebeindifferenttoyourrecoveryofyourwitorletyougowithouthavingwonfromyouthesecretofyourremedy？\"Ishookmyheadwithkindness，butwithdecision。\"Youmustn’tleavemetillyou’veplaceditinmyhand。\"
ThereservesIhadspokenofwerenot，however，tofailher。\"Ithoughtyoujustsaidthatyouletmyinconsistencygo。\"
\"Yourmoralresponsibilityforit——perfectly。ButhowcanIshowagreaterindulgencethanbypositivelydesiringtoenterintoitshistory？It’sinthatsensethat，asIsay，\"Ideveloped，\"Idospeakofyourchange。
Theremusthavebeenagivenmomentwhentheneedofit——orwhen，inotherwords，thetruthofmypersonalstate——dawneduponyou。Thatmomentisthekeytoyourwholeposition——themomentforustofix。\"
\"Fixit，\"saidpoorMrs。Briss，\"whenyoulike！\"
\"Ihadmuchrather，\"Iprotested，\"fixitwhenYOUlike。Iwant——yousurelymustunderstandifIwantanythingofitatall——togetitabsolutelyright。\"Thenasthispleaseemedstillnottomoveher，Ioncemorecompressedmypalms。\"YouWON’Thelpme？\"
Shebridledatlastwithahighertoss。\"Itwasn’twithsuchviewsI
came。Idon’tbelieve，\"shewentonashademorepatiently，\"Idon’tbelieveifyouwanttoknowthereason——thatyou’rereallysincere。\"
Hereindeedwasanaffair。\"Notsincere——i？\"
\"Notproperlyhonest。Imeaningivingup。\"
\"Givingupwhat？\"
\"Why，everything。\"
\"Everything？Isitaquestion\"——Istared——\"ofTHAT？\"
\"YouwouldifyouWEREhonest。\"
\"Everything？\"Irepeated。
Againshestoodtoit。\"Everything。\"
\"ButisthatquitethereadinessI’veprofessed？\"
\"Ifitisn’tthen，whatis？\"
Ithoughtalittle。\"Why，isn’titsimplyamatterratheroftherenunciationofaconfidence？\"
\"Inyoursenseandyourtruth？\"This，sheindicated，wasallsheasked。
\"Well，whatisthatbuteverything？\"
\"Perhaps，\"Ireflected，\"perhaps。\"Infact，itnodoubtwas。\"We’lltakeitthenforeverything，andit’sassotakingitthatIrenounce。
Ikeepnothingatall。NowdoyoubelieveI’mhonest？\"
Shehesitated。\"Well——yes，ifyousayso。\"
\"Ah，\"Isighed，\"Iseeyoudon’t！WhatcanIdo，\"Iasked，\"toproveit？\"
\"Youcaneasilyproveit。Youcanletmego。\"
\"Doesitstrikeyou，\"Iconsidered，\"thatIshouldtakeyourgoingasasignofyourbelief？\"
\"Ofwhatelse，then？\"
\"Why，surely，\"Ipromptlyreplied，\"myassenttoyourleavingourdiscussionwhereitstandswouldconstituteaverydifferentsymptom。Wouldn’titmuchratherrepresent，\"Iinquired，\"afailureofbeliefonmyownpartinYOURhonesty？Ifyoucanjudgeme，inshort，asonlypretending——\"
\"Whyshouldn’tyou，\"sheputinforme，\"alsojudgeME？WhathaveI
togainbypretending？\"
\"I’lltellyou，\"Ireturned，laughing，\"ifyou’lltellmewhatihave。\"
Sheappearedtoaskherselfifshecould，andthentodecideinthenegative。\"IfIdon’tunderstandyouinanyway，ofcourseIdon’tinthat。
Putit，atanyrate，\"shenowratherwearilyquavered，\"thatoneofushasaslittletogainastheother。Ibelieveyou，\"sherepeated。\"There！\"
\"Thanks，\"Ismiled，\"forthewayyousayit。Ifyoudon’t，asyousay，understandme，\"Iinsisted，\"it’sbecauseyouthinkmecrazy。AndifyouthinkmecrazyIdon’tseehowyouCANleaveme。\"
Shepresentlymetthis。\"IfIbelieveyou’resincereinsayingyougiveupIbelieveyou’verecovered。AndifIbelieveyou’verecoveredIdon’tthinkyoucrazy。It’ssimpleenough。\"
\"Thenwhyisn’titsimpletounderstandme？\"
Sheturnedabout，andthereweremomentsinherembarrassment，now，fromwhichshefairlydrewbeauty。Herawkwardnesswassomehownoble；hersenseofherpredicamentwasinitselfyoung。\"IsitEVER？\"shecharminglythrewout。
IfeltshemustseeatthisjuncturehowwonderfulIfoundher，andeventhatthatimpression——one’swholeconsciousnessofherpersonalvictory——wasaforcethat，inthelastresort，wasallonherside。\"Itwasquiteworthyourwhile，thissittinguptothishour，toshowafellowhowyoubloomwhenotherwomenarefagged。Ifthatwasreally，withthetruththatwe’resopullingaboutlaidbare，whatyoudidmostwanttoshow，why，then，you’vesplendidlytriumphed，andIcongratulateandthankyou。No，\"Iquicklywenton，\"Idaresay，todoyoujustice，theinterpretationofmytropesandfiguresISN’T’ever’perfectlysimple。YoudoubtlessHAVEdrivenmeintoacornerwithmydangerousexplosive，andmyonlyfaircoursemustbethereforetositonittillyougetoutoftheroom。I’msittingonitnow；andIthinkyou’llfindyoucangetoutassoonasyou’vetoldmeTHIS。Wasthemomentyourchangeofviewdawneduponyouthemomentofourexchangingawhileago，inthedrawing—room，ourfewwords？\"
Thelightthat，undermylastassurances，hadsoconsiderablyrevivedfadedinheralittleasshesawmeagaintacklethethemeofherinconstancy；
buttheprospectofgettingridofmeonthesetermsmademyinquiry，nonetheless，worthtryingtoface。\"Thatmoment？\"Sheshowedtheefforttothinkback。
Igavehereveryassistance。\"Itwaswhen，afterthemusic，IhadbeentalkingtoLadyJohn。Youwereonasofa，notfarfromus，withGilbertLong；andwhen，onLadyJohn’sdroppingme，Imadeaslightmovementtowardyou，youmostgraciouslymetitbyrisingandgivingmeachancewhileMr。Longwalkedaway。\"
ItwasasifIhadhungthepicturebeforeher，sothatshehadfairlytolookatit。Butthepointthatshefirst，inhereffort，tookupwasnot，superficially，themostsalient。\"Mr。Longwalkedaway？\"
\"Oh，Idon’tmeantosaythatthathadanythingtodowithit。\"
Shecontinuedtothink。\"Todowithwhat？\"
\"Withthewaythesituationcomesbacktomenowaspossiblymarkingyourcrisis。\"
Shewondered。\"Wasita’situation’？\"
\"That’sjustwhatI’maskingyou。WASit？WasitTHEsituation？\"
Butshehadquitefallenawayagain。\"Irememberthemomentyoumean——itwaswhenIsaidIwouldcometoyouhere。Butwhyshouldithavestruckyouasacrisis？\"
\"Itdidn’tintheleastatthetime，forIdidn’tthenknowyouwerenolonger’with’me。ButinthelightofwhatI’vesincelearnedfromyouIseemtorecoveranimpressionwhich，onthespot，wasonlyvague。Theimpression，\"Iexplained，\"ofyourtakingadecisionthatpresentedsomedifficulty，butthatwasdeterminedbysomethingthathadthen——andevenperhapsalittlesuddenly——comeupforyou。That’sthepoint\"——Icontinuedtounfoldmycase——\"onwhichmyquestionbears。WASthis’something’yourconclusion，thenandthere，thatthere’snothinginanything？\"
Shekeptherdistance。\"’Inanything’？\"
\"AndthatIcouldonlybe，accordingly，outofmymind？Come，\"Ipatientlypursued；\"suchaperceptionasthathad，atsomeinstantorother，toBEGIN；
andI’monlytryingtoaidyoutorecollectwhenthedevilitdid！\"
\"Doesitparticularlymatter？\"Mrs。Brissinquired。
Ifeltmychin。\"Thatdependsalittle——doesn’tit？——onwhatyoumeanby’matter’！Itmattersforyourmeetingmycuriosity，andthatmatters，initsturn，aswejustarranged，formyreleasingyou。Youmayaskofcourseifmycuriosityitselfmatters；buttothat，fortunately，myreplycanonlybeoftheclearest。Thesatisfactionofmycuriosityisthepacificationofmymind。We’vegranted，we’veaccepted，Iagainpressuponyou，inrespecttothatprecariousquantity，itstopsy—turvystate。Onlygivemealead；
Idon’taskyouformore。Letmeforaninstantseeplaybeforemeanyfeeblereflectionwhateveroftheflashofnewtruththatunsettledyou。\"
Ithoughtforamomentthat，inherdespair，shewouldfindsomethingthatwoulddo。Butsheonlyfound：\"Itdidn’tcomeinaflash。\"
Iremainedallpatience。\"Itcamelittlebylittle？ItbeganthenperhapsearlierinthedaythanthemomenttowhichIallude？Andyet，\"Icontinued，\"wewereprettywellonintheday，Imustkeepinmind，whenIhadyourlastnewsofyourcredulity。\"
\"Mycredulity？\"
