\"Don’tlisten——darling——darling！\"Rosycriedoutinanguish。\"Shutyourears——shutyourears！\"Andshetriedtothrowherarmsaroundthehighblackhead，andstifleallsoundwithherembrace。
\"Idon’twanttoshutthem，\"wastheanswer。\"Alltheunkindnessandmiseryareoverforhim，IoughttothankGod——
butIdon’t。Ishallhear——ORosy，listen！——Ishallhearthattotheendofmydays。\"
Rosyheldhertight，androckedandsobbed。
\"MyBetty，\"shekeptsaying。\"MyBetty，\"andshecouldsaynomore。Whatmorewastheretosay？AtlastBettywithdrewherselffromherarms，andthenRosalienoticedforthefirsttimethatsheworethehabit。
\"Dearest，\"shewhispered，\"whatareyougoingtodo？\"
\"Iwasgoingtoride，andIamgoingtodoitstill。I
mustdosomething。Ishallridealong，longway——andridehard。Youwon’ttrytokeepme，Rosy。Youwillunderstand。\"
\"Yes，\"bitingherlip，andlookingatherwithlarge，awedeyes，asshepattedherarmwithahandthattrembled。\"I
wouldnotholdyouback，Betty，fromanythingintheworldyouchosetodo。\"
Andwithanotherlong，clingingclaspofher，shelethergo。
MasonwasstandingbyChildeHaroldwhenshewentdownthebroadsteps。Healsoworealookofrepressedemotion，andstoodwithbaredheadbent，hiseyesfixedonthegravelofthedrive，listeningtotheheavystrokesofthebellinthechurchtower，ratherasifheweretakingpartinsomesolemnceremony。
Hemountedhersilently，andafterhehadgivenherthebridle，lookedup，andspokeinasomewhathuskyvoice：
\"Theorderwasthatyoudidnotwantme，miss？Wasthatcorrect？\"
\"Yes，Iwishtoridealone。\"
\"Yes，miss。Thankyou，miss。\"
ChildeHaroldwasingoodspirits。Hehelduphishead，andblewthebreaththroughhisdelicate，dilated，rednostrilsashesetoutwithhisfavouritesidling，dancingsteps。Masonwatchedhimdowntheavenue，sawthelodgekeepercomeouttoopenthegate，andcurtsyasherladyship’ssisterpassedthroughit。Afterthathewentslowlybacktothestables，andsatintheharness—roomalongtime，staringatthefloor，asthebellstruckponderouslyonhisear。
ThewomanwhohadopenedthegateforherBettysawhadredeyes。Sheknewwhy。
\"Ayearagotheyallthoughtofhimasanoutcast。Theywouldhavebelievedanyeviltheyhadheardconnectedwithhisname。Now，ineverycottage，thereisweeping——weeping。
Andheliesdeafanddumb，\"washerthought。
Shedidnotwishtopassthroughthevillage，andturneddownasideroad，whichwouldleadhertowhereshecouldcrossthemarshes，andcomeuponlonelyplaces。Themorelonely，thebetter。Everyfewmomentsshecaughtherbreathwithahardshortgasp。Theslowrainfelluponher，biground，crystaldropshungonthehedgerows，anddrippeduponthegrassbanksbelowthem；thetrees，wreathedwithmist，werelikewaitingghostsasshepassedthemby；ChildeHarold’shoofupontheroad，madeahollow，lonelysound。
Athoughtbegantofillherbrain，andmakeinsistentpressureuponit。Shetriednomoretothrustthoughtaway。Thosewholaydeafanddumb，thoseforwhompeoplewept——whereweretheywhentheweepingseemedtosoundthroughalltheworld？Howfarhadtheygone？Wasitfar？Couldtheyhearandcouldtheysee？Ifonepleadwiththemaloud，couldtheydrawneartolisten？Didtheybeginalong，longjourneyassoonastheyhadslippedaway？The\"wonderoftheworld，\"shehadsaid，watchinglifeswellingandburstingtheseedsinKedgers’hothouses！Butthiswasagreaterwonderstill，becauseofitsawesomeness。Thismanhadbeen，andwhodaresayhewasnot——evennow？Thestrengthofhisgreatbody，thelookinhisred—browneyes，thesoundofhisdeepvoice，thestruggle，themeaningofhim，wherewerethey？
SheheardherselffollowedbythehollowechoofChildeHarold’shoofs，assherodepastcopseandhedge，andwetspreadingfields。Shewasthishourashehadbeenamonthago。
If，withsomestrangesuddenness，thiswhichwasBettyVanderpoel，slippedfromitsbody————Sheputherhanduptoherforehead。Itwasunthinkablethattherewouldbenomore。
Wherewashenow——wherewashenow？
Thiswasthethoughtthatfilledherbraincellstotheexclusionofallothers。Overtheroad，downthroughby—lanes，outonthemarshes。Wherewashe——wherewashe——WHERE？
ChildeHarold’shoofsbegantobeatitoutasarefrain。Sheheardnothingelse。Shedidnotknowwhereshewasgoinganddidnotaskherself。Shewentdownanyroadorlanewhichlookedemptyoflife，shetookstrangeturnings，withoutcaring；shedidnotknowhowfarshewasafield。
Wherewashenow——thishour——thismoment——wherewashenow？Didheknowtherain，thegreyness，thedesolationoftheworld？
Onceshestoppedherhorseonthelonelinessofthemarshland，andlookedupatthelowcloudsabouther，atthecreepingmist，thedankgrass。Itseemedaplaceinwhichanewly—
releasedsoulmightwanderbecauseitdidnotyetknowitsway。
\"Ifyoushouldbenear，andcometome，youwillunderstand，\"
herclearvoicesaidgravelybetweenthecaughtbreaths，\"whatIgaveyouwasnothingtoyou——butyoutookitwithyou。Perhapsyouknowwithoutmytellingyou。Iwantyoutoknow。Whenamanisdead，everythingmeltsaway。
Ilovedyou。Iwishyouhadlovedme。\"
CHAPTERXLVIII
THEMOMENT
Intheunnaturalunbearablenessofheranguish，shelostsightofobjectsasshepassedthem，shelostallmemoryofwhatshedid。Shedidnotknowhowlongshehadbeenout，orhowfarshehadridden。Whenthethoughtoftimeordistancevaguelyflittedacrosshermind，itseemedthatshehadbeenridingforhours，andmighthavecrossedonecountyandenteredanother。Shehadlongleftfamiliarplacesbehind。
Ridingthroughandinclosedbythemist，she，herself，mighthavebeenawanderingghost，lostinunknownplaces。Wherewashenow——wherewashenow？
Afterwardsshecouldnottellhoworwhenitwasthatshefoundherselfbecomingconsciousoftheevidencesthatherhorsehadbeenriddentoolongandhard，andthathewaswornoutwithfatigue。Shedidnotknowthatshehadriddenroundandroundoverthemarshes，andhadpassedseveraltimesthroughthesamelanes。ChildeHarold，thesureoffoot，actuallystumbled，outofsheerwearinessoflimb。
Perhapsitwasthiswhichbroughtherbacktoearth，andledhertolookaroundherwitheyeswhichsawmaterialobjectswithcomprehension。Shehadreachedthelonelyplaces，indeedandtheeveningwasdrawingon。Shewasattheedgeofthemarsh，andthelandaboutherwasstrangetoheranddesolate。
Atthesideofasteeplane，overgrownwithgrass，andseemingamerecart—path，stoodadeserted—looking，blackandwhite，timberedcottage，whichwashalfaruin。Closetoitwasadrippingspinney，itstreesformingadarklingbackgroundtothetumble—downhouse，whosethatchwasrottingintoholes，anditswallssaggingforwardperilously。Thebitofgardenaboutitwasneglectedanduntidy，hereandtherewindowswerebroken，andstuffedwithpiecesofraggedgarments。
Altogetherasinisterandrepellentplaceenough。
Shelookedatitwithheavyeyes。（Wherewashenow——
wherewashenow？——Thisrepeatingitselfinthefarchambersofherbrain。）Hersightseemeddimmed，notonlybythemist，butbyasinkingfaintnesswhichpossessedher。Shedidnotrememberhowlittlefoodshehadeatenduringmorethantwenty—fourhours。Herhabitwasheavywithmoisture，andclungtoherbody；shewasconsciousofahottremorpassingoverher，andsawthatherhandsshookastheyheldthebridleonwhichtheyhadlosttheirgrip。Shehadneverfaintedinherlife，andshewasnotgoingtofaintnow——womendidnotfaintinthesedays——butshemustreachthecottageanddismount，torestundershelterforashorttime。Nosmokewasrisingfromthechimney，butsurelysomeonewaslivingintheplace，andcouldtellherwhereshewas，andgiveheratleastwaterforherselfandherhorse。Poorbeast！howwickedlyshemusthavebeenridinghim，inherutterabsorptioninherthoughts。Hewaswet，notalonewithrain，butwithsweat。Hesnortedouthot，smokingbreaths。
Shespoketohim，andhemovedforwardathercommand。
Hewastremblingtoo。Notmorethantwohundredyards，andsheturnedhimintothelane。Butitwaswetandslippery，andstrewnwithstones。Histremblingandheruncertainholdonthebridlecombinedtoproducedisaster。Hesethisfootuponastonewhichslidbeneathit，hestumbled，andshecouldnothelphimtorecover，sohefell，andonlybyHeaven’smercynotuponher，withhiscrushing，big—bonedweight，andshewasabletodragherselffreeofhimbeforehebegantokick，inhishumiliatedeffortstorise。Buthecouldnotrise，becausehewashurt——andwhenshe，herself，gotup，shestaggered，andcaughtatthebrokengate，becauseinherwrenchingleapforsafetyshehadtwistedherankle，andforamomentwasincruelpain。
Whensherecoveredfromhershocksufficientlytobeabletolookatthecottage，shesawthatitwasmoreofaruinthanithadseemed，evenatashortdistance。Itsdoorhungopenonbrokenhinges，nosmokerosefromthechimney，becausetherewasnoonewithinitswallstolightafire。Itwasquiteempty。Everythingabouttheplacelayindeadanduttersilence。Inanormalmoodshewouldhavelikedthemysteryofthesituation，andwouldhavesetaboutplanningherwayoutofherdifficulty。Butnowhermindmadenoeffort，becausenormalinterestinthingshadfallenawayfromher。
ShemightbetwentymilesfromStornham，butthepossiblefactdidnot，atthemoment，seemtoconcernher。（Whereishenow——whereishenow？）ChildeHaroldwastryingtorise，despitehishurt，andhisevidentdeterminationtouchedher。Hewastooproudtolieinthemire。Shelimpedtohim，andtriedtosteadyhimbyhisbridle。Hewasnotbadlyinjured，thoughplainlyinpain。
\"Poorboy，itwasmyfault，\"shesaidtohimasheatlaststruggledtohisfeet。\"IdidnotknowIwasdoingit。Poorboy！\"
Heturnedavelvetdarkeyeuponher，andnosedherforgivinglywithawarmvelvetmuzzle，butitwasplainthat，forthetime，hewasdonefor。Theybothmovedhaltinglytothebrokengate，andBettyfastenedhimtoathorntreenearit，wherehestoodonthreefeet，hisfineheaddrooping。
Shepushedthegateopen，andwentintothehousethroughthedoorwhichhungonitshinges。Onceinside，shestoodstillandlookedabouther。Iftherewassilenceanddesolatenessoutside，therewaswithinthedesertedplaceastillnessliketheunresponseofdeath。Ithadbeenlongsinceanyonehadlivedinthecottage，buttrampsorgipsieshadattimespassedthroughit。Dead，blackenedemberslayonthehearth，abundleofdriedgrasswhichhadbeensleptonwaspiledinthecorner，anemptynailkegandawoodenboxhadbeendrawnbeforethebigchimneyplaceforsomewanderertositonwhentheblackembershadbeenhotandred。
Bettygaveoneglancearoundherandsatdownupontheboxstandingonthebarehearth，herheadsinkingforward，herhandsfallingclaspedbetweenherknees，hereyesonthebrickfloor。
\"Whereishenow？\"brokefromherinaloudwhisper，whosesoundwasmechanicalandhollow。\"Whereishenow？\"
Andshesattherewithoutmoving，whilethegreymistfromthemarshescreptcloseaboutthedoorandthroughitandstoleaboutherfeet。
Soshesatlong——long——inaheavy，far—offdream。
Alongtheroadamanwasridingwithalowering，frettedface。Hehadcomeacrosscountryonhorseback，becausetotravelbytrainmeantwearisomestopsandchangesandendlesslyslowjourneying，annoyingbeyondendurancetothosewhohavenotpatiencetospare。Hisridewouldhavebeenpleasantenoughbutfortheslowmist—likerain。Alsohehadtakenawrongturning，becausehedidnotknowtheroadshetravelled。Thelastsignposthehadpassed，however，hadgivenhimhiscueagain，andhebegantofeelsomethingofsecurity。
Confoundtherain！Thebestroadwasslipperywithit，andthehazeofitmadeaman’smindfeelbefoggedandloweredhisspiritshorribly——discouragedhim——wouldworryhimintoanillhumourevenifhehadreasontobeinagoodone。
Asforhim，hehadnoreasonforcheerfulness——heneverhadforthematterofthat，andjustnow————！Whatwasthematterwithhishorse？Hewasliftinghisheadandsniffingthedampairrestlessly，asifhescentedorsawsomething。Beastsoftenseemedtohaveasortofsecondsight——horsesparticularly。
Whatailedhimthatheshouldprickuphisearsandsnortafterhissniffingthemist！Didhehearanything？Yes，hedid，itseemed。Hegaveforthsuddenlyaloudshrillwhinny，turninghisheadtowardsaroughlanetheywereapproaching，andimmediatelyfromthevicinityofadeserted—lookingcottagebehindahedgecameasharpbutmournful—soundingneighinanswer。
\"Whathorseisthat？\"saidNigelAnstruthers，drawinginattheentrancetothelaneandlookingdownit。\"Thereisafinebrutewithaside—saddleon，\"headdedsharply。\"Heiswaitingforsomeone。Whatisawomandoingthereatthistime？Isitarendezvous？Agoodplace————\"
Hebrokeoffshortandrodeforward。\"I’mhangedifitisnotChildeHarold，\"hebrokeout，andhehadnosoonerassuredhimselfofthefactthanhethrewhimselffromhissaddle，tetheredhishorseandstrodeupthepathtothebroken—
hingeddoor。
Hestoodonthethresholdandstared。Whataholeitwas——
whatahole！AndthereSHEsat——alone——eighteenortwentymilesfromhome——onaturned—upboxneartheblackembers，herhandsclaspedlooselybetweenherknees，herfaceratherawful，hereyesstaringatthefloor，asifshedidnotseeit。
\"Whereishenow？\"heheardherwhispertoherselfwithsoftweirdness。\"Whereishenow？\"
SirNigelsteppedintotheplaceandstoodbeforeher。Hehadsmiledwithawryunpleasantnesswhenhehadheardherevidentlyunconsciouswords。
\"Mygoodgirl，\"hesaid，\"IamsureIdonotknowwhereheis——butitisveryevidentthatheoughttobehere，sinceyouhaveamiablyputyourselftosuchtrouble。ItisfortunateforyouperhapsthatIamherebeforehim。Whatdoesthismean？\"
thequestionbreakingfromhimwithsavageauthority。
Hehaddraggedherbacktoearth。Shesatuprightandrecognisedhimwithahideoussenseofshock，buthedidnotgivehertimetospeak。Hisinstinctofmalefuryleapedwithinhim。
\"YOU！\"hecriedout。\"Ittakesawomanlikeyoutocomeandhideherselfinaplaceofthissort，likeatrollopinggipsywench！IttakesaNewYorkmillionairessoraRomanempressoroneofCharlestheSecond’sduchessestoplungeasdeepasthis。You，withyourgoldenpedestal——you，withyourostentatiousairsandgraces——you，withyourcondescendingtogiveamanachancetorepenthissinsandturnoveranewleaf！
Damnit，\"risingtoasortoffrenzy，\"whatareyoudoingwaitinginaholelikethis——inthisweather——atthishour——you——you！\"
Thefool’sflameleapedhighenoughtomakehimstartforward，asiftoseizeherbytheshoulderandshakeher。
Butsheroseandsteppedbacktoleanagainstthesideofthechimney——tobraceherselfagainstit，sothatshecouldstandinherlamefoot’sdespite。Everydropofbloodhadbeensweptfromherface，andhereyeslookedimmense。Hiscomingwasagoodthingforher，thoughshedidnotknowit。Itbroughtherbackfromunearthlyplaces。Allherchildhatredwokeandblazedinher。Neverhadshehatedathingso，anditsetherslow，coldbloodrunninglikesomethingmolten。
\"Holdyourtongue！\"shesaidinaclear，awfulyoungvoiceofwarning。\"Andtakecarenottotouchme。Ifyoudo——Ihavemywhiphere——Ishalllashyouacrossyourmouth！\"
Hebrokeintoribaldlaughter。Acertainsuddenthoughtwhichhadcutintohimlikeaknifethrustintofleshdrovehimon。
\"Do！\"hecried。\"IshouldliketocarryyourmarkbacktoStornham——andtellpeoplewhyitwasgiven。Iknowwhoyouareherefor。Onlysuchfellowsasksuchthingsofwomen。
Buthewasdeterminedtobesafe，ifyouhidinaditch。YouarehereforMountDunstan——andhehasfailedyou！\"
Butsheonlystoodandstaredathim，holdingherwhipbehindher，knowingthatatanymomenthemightsnatchitfromherhand。Andsheknewhowpooraweaponitwas。Tostrikeoutwithitwouldonlyinfuriatehimandmakehimawildbeast。Anditwasbecominganagonytostanduponherfoot。
Andevenifithadnotbeenso——ifshehadbeenstrongenoughtomakealeapanddashpasthim，herhorsestoodoutsidedisabled。
NigelAnstruthers’eyesranoverherfromheadtofoot，downthesideofhermud—stainedhabit，whileacuriouslightdawnedinthem。
\"Youhavehadafallfromyourhorse，\"heexclaimed。\"Youarelame！\"Thenquickly，\"ThatwaswhyChildeHaroldwastremblingandstandingonthreefeet！ByJove！\"
Thenhesatdownonthenailkegandbegantolaugh。Helaughedforafullminute，butshesawhedidnottakehiseyesfromher。
\"Youareinasunpleasantasituationasayoungwomancanwellbe，\"hesaid，whenhestopped。\"Youcametoadirtyholetobealonewithamanwhofeltitsafestnottokeephisappointment。Yourhorsestumbledanddisabledhimselfandyou。Youaretwentymilesfromhomeinadesertedcottageinalanenoonepassesdowneveningoodweather。Youarefrightenedtodeathandyouhavegivenmeevenabetterstorytoplaywiththanyoursistergaveme。ByJove！\"
Hisfacewasanunholythingtolookupon。Thesituationandherpowerlessnesswereexcitinghim。
\"No，\"sheanswered，keepinghereyesonhis，asshemighthavekeptthemonsomewildanimal’s，\"Iamnotfrightenedtodeath。\"
Hisuglydarkflushrose。
\"Well，ifyouarenot，\"hesaid，\"don’ttellmeso。Thatkindofdefianceisnotyourbestlinejustnow。YouhavebeendisdainingmefrommagnificentNewYorkheightsforsometime。DoyouthinkthatIamnotenjoyingthis？\"
\"Icannotimagineanyoneelsewhowouldenjoyitsomuch。\"
Andsheknewtheanswerwasdaring，butwouldhavemadeitifhehadheldaknife’spointatherthroat。
Hegotup，andwalkingtothedoordrewitbackonitscrazyhingesandmanagedtoshutitclose。Therewasabigwoodenboltinsideandheforceditintoitssocket。
\"PresentlyIshallgoandputthehorsesintothecowshed，\"
hesaid。\"IfIleavethemstandingoutsidetheywillattractattention。Idonotintendtobedisturbedbyanygipsytrampwhowantsshelter。Ihaveneverhadyouquitetomyselfbefore。\"
Hesatdownagainandnursedhiskneegracefully。
\"AndIhaveneverseenyoulookasattractive，\"bitinghisunderlipincynicalenjoyment。\"To—day’sadventurehasrousedyouremotionsandactuallybeautifiedyou——whichwasnotnecessary。Idaresayyouhavebeenfuriousandhavecried。
Youreyesdonotlooklikemereeyes，butlikesplendidbluepoolsoftears。Perhaps_I_shallmakeyoucrysometime，mydearBetty。\"
\"No，youwillnot。\"
\"Don’ttemptme。Womenalwayscrywhenmenannoythem。Theyrage，buttheycryaswell。\"
\"Ishallnot。\"
\"It’struethatmostwomenwouldhavebeguntocrybeforethis。Thatiswhatstimulatesme。Youwillswaggertotheend。Youputthedevilintome。HalfanhouragoIwasjoggingalongtheroad，languidandboredtoextinction。Andnow————\"Helaughedoutrightinactualexultation。\"ByJove！\"hecriedout。\"Thingslikethisdon’thappentoamaninthesedulldays！There’snosuchluckgoingabout。
We’vegonebackfivehundredyears，andwe’vetakenNewYorkwithus。\"Hislaughshutoffinthemiddle，andhegotuptothrusthisheavy，congestedfaceclosetohers。\"Hereyouare，assafeasifyouwereinafeudalcastle，andhereisyourancientenemygivenhischance——givenhischance。Doyouthink，bytheLord，heisgoingtogiveitup？No。Toquoteyourownwords，`youmayplaceentireconfidenceinthat。’\"
Exaggeratedasitallwas，somehowthemelodramadroppedawayfromitandleftbare，simple，hideousfactforhertoconfront。Theevilinhimhadrisenrampantandmadehimlosehishead。Hemightseehissenselessfollyto—morrowandknowhemustpayforit，buthewouldnotseeitto—day。Theplacewasnotafeudalcastle，butwhathesaidwasinsurmountabletruth。Aruinedcottageontheedgeofmilesofmarshland，aseldom—troddenroad，andnightuponthem！Awindwasrisingonthemarshesnow，andmakinglow，steadymoan。Horriblethingshadhappenedtowomenbefore，oneheardofthemwithshudderswhentheywererecordedinthenewspapers。OnlytwodaysagoshehadrememberedthatsometimesthereseemedblunderingsinthegreatSchemeofthings。Wasallthisreal，orwasshedreamingthatshestoodhereatbay，herbackagainstthechimney—wall，andthisdegenerateexultingoverher，whileRosywaswaitingforheratStornham——andatthisveryhourherfatherwasplanninghisjourneyacrosstheAtlantic？
\"Whydidyounotbehaveyourself？\"demandedNigelAnstruthers，shakingherbytheshoulder。\"WhydidyounotrealisethatIshouldgetevenwithyouoneday，assureasyouwerewomanandIwasman？\"
Shedidnotshrinkback，thoughthepupilsofhereyesdilated。
Wasitthewildestthingintheworldwhichhappenedtoher——
orwasitnot？Withoutwarning——thesuddenrushofathought，immenseandstrange，sweptoverherbodyandsoulandpossessedher——sopossessedherthatitchangedherpallortowhiteflame。ItwasactuallyAnstrutherswhoshrankbackashadebecause，forthemoment，shelookedsonearunearthly。
\"Iamnotafraidofyou，\"shesaid，inaclear，unshakenvoice。
\"Iamnotafraid。Somethingisnearmewhichwillstandbetweenus——somethingwhichDIEDto—day。\"
Healmostgaspedbeforethestrangenessofit，butcaughtbackhisbreathandrecoveredhimself。
\"Diedto—day！That’srecentenough，\"hejeered。\"Letushearaboutit。Whowasit？\"
\"ItwasMountDunstan，\"sheflungathim。\"Thechurch—
bellsweretollingforhimwhenIrodeaway。Icouldnotstaytohearthem。Itkilledme——Ilovedhim。Youwererightwhenyousaidit。Ilovedhim，thoughheneverknew。I
shallalwayslovehim——thoughheneverknew。Heknowsnow。
ThosewhodiedcannotgoawaywhenTHATisholdingthem。
Theymuststay。BecauseIlovedhim，hemaybeinthisplace。
Icallonhim————\"raisingherclearvoice。\"Icallonhimtostandbetweenus。\"
Hebackedawayfromher，staringanevil，enrapturedstare。
\"What！Thereisthatmuchtemperamentinyou？\"hesaid。
\"ThatwaswhatIhalf—suspectedwhenIsawyoufirst。Butyouhavehiddenitwell。Nowitburstsforthinspiteofyou。
GoodLord！Whatluck——whatluck！\"
Hemovedtothedoorandopenedit。
\"Iamaverymodernman，andIenjoythistotheutmost，\"
hesaid。\"WhatIlikebestisthemelodramaofit——inconnectionwithFifthAvenue。Iamperfectlyawarethatyouwillnotdiscussthisincidentinthefuture。Youareacleverenoughyoungwomantoknowthatitwillbemoretoyourinterestthantominethatitshallbekeptexceedinglyquiet。\"
Thewhitefirehadnotdiedoutofherandshestoodstraight。
\"WhatIhavecalledonwillbenearme，andwillstandbetweenus，\"shesaid。
Oldthoughitwas，thedoorwasmassiveandheavytolift。
Toopenitcosthimsomemusculareffort。
\"Iamgoingtothehorsesnow，\"heexplainedbeforehedraggeditbackintoitsframeandshutherin。\"Itissafeenoughtoleaveyouhere。Youwillstaywhereyouare。\"
Hefelthimselfsecureinleavingherbecausehebelievedshecouldnotmove，andbecausehisarrogancemadeitimpossibleforhimtocountonstrengthandendurancegreaterthanhisown。Ofenduranceheknewnothingandinhiskeenandcynicalexultancehisdevilmadeafoolofhim。
Assheheardhimwalkdownthepathtothegate，Bettystoodamazedathislackofcomprehensionofher。
\"HethinksIwillstayhere。HeabsolutelythinksIwillwaituntilhecomesback，\"shewhisperedtotheemptinessofthebareroom。
Beforehehadarrivedshehadloosenedherboot，andnowshestoopedandtouchedherfoot。
\"IfIweresafeathomeIshouldthinkIcouldnotwalk，butIcanwalknow——Ican——Ican——becauseIwillbearthepain。\"
Insuchcottagesthereisalwaysadooropeningoutsidefromthelittlebrickedkitchen，wherethecopperstands。Shewouldreachthat，and，passingthrough，wouldcloseitbehindher。AfterthatSOMETHINGwouldtellherwhattodo——somethingwouldleadher。
Sheputherlamefootuponthefloor，andrestedsomeofherweightuponit——notall。Ajaggedpainshotupfromitthroughherwholesideitseemed，and，foraninstant，sheswayedandgroundherteeth。
\"Thatisbecauseitisthefirststep，\"shesaid。\"ButifI
amtobekilled，Iwilldieintheopen——Iwilldieintheopen。\"
Thesecondandthirdstepsbroughtcoldsweatoutuponher，butshetoldherselfthatthefourthwasnotquitesounbearable，andshestiffenedherwholebody，andmutteredsomewordswhileshetookafifthandsixthwhichcarriedherintothetinybackkitchen。
\"Father，\"shesaid。\"Father，thinkofmenow——thinkofme！Rosy，loveme——lovemeandpraythatImaycomehome。
You——youwhohavedied，standverynear！\"
