\"Very，\"saidtheyoungman；\"butit’stheLord’swill。\"
\"Yes，\"saidTantSannie，andsighed。
\"Shewassuchagoodwife，aunt：I’veknownherbreakachurn—stickoveramaid’sheadforonlylettingdustcomeonamilkcloth。\"
TantSanniefeltatwingeofjealousy。Shehadneverbrokenachurn—stickonamaid’shead。
\"Ihopeyourwifemadeagoodend，\"shesaid。
\"Oh，beautiful，aunt：shesaidupapsalmandtwohymnsandahalfbeforeshedied。\"
\"Didsheleaveanymessages？\"askedTantSannie。
\"No，\"saidtheyoungman；\"butthenightbeforeshediedIwaslyingatthefootofherbed；Ifeltherfootkickme。
\"’Piet，’shesaid。
\"’Annie，myheart，’saidI。
\"’Mylittlebabythatdiedyesterdayhasbeenhere，anditstoodoverthewagon—box，’shesaid。
\"’Whatdiditsay？’Iasked。
\"’ItsaidthatifIdiedyoumustmarryafatwoman。’
\"’Iwill，’Isaid，andIwenttosleepagain。Presentlyshewokeme。
\"’Thelittlebabyhasbeenhereagain，anditsaysyoumustmarryawomanoverthirty，andwho’shadtwohusbands。’
\"Ididn’tgotosleepafterthatforalongtime，aunt；butwhenIdidshewokeme。
\"’Thebabyhasbeenhereagain，’shesaid，’anditsaysyoumustn’tmarryawomanwithamole。’ItoldherIwouldn’t；andthenextdayshedied。\"
\"ThatwasavisionfromtheRedeemer，\"saidTantSannie。
Theyoungmannoddedhisheadmournfully。Hethoughtofayoungersisterofhiswife’swhowasnotfat，andwhohadamole，andofwhomhiswifehadalwaysbeenjealous，andhewishedthelittlebabyhadlikedbetterstayinginheaventhancomingandstandingoverthewagon—chest。
\"Isupposethat’swhyyoucametome，\"saidTantSannie。
\"Yes，aunt。AndpasaidIoughttogetmarriedbeforeshearing—time。Itisbadifthere’snoonetoseeafterthingsthen；andthemaidswastesuchalotoffat。\"
\"Whendoyouwanttogetmarried？\"
\"Nextmonth，aunt，\"saidtheyoungmaninatoneofhopelessresignation。
\"MayIkissyou，aunt？\"
\"Fie！fie！\"saidTantSannie，andthengavehimaresoundingkiss。Come，drawyourchairalittlecloser，\"shesaid，andtheirelbowsnowtouching，theysatonthroughthenight。
Thenextmorningatdawn，asEmpassedthroughTantSannie’sbedroom，shefoundtheBoer—womanpullingoffherbootspreparatorytoclimbingintobed。
\"WhereisPietVanderWalt？\"
\"Justgone，\"saidTantSannie；\"andIamgoingtomarryhimthisdayfourweeks。Iamdeadsleepy，\"sheadded；\"thestupidthingdoesn’tknowhowtotalklove—talkatall，\"andsheclimbedintothefour—poster，clothesandall，anddrewthequiltuptoherchin……
OnthedayprecedingTantSannie’swedding，GregoryRosesatintheblazingsunonthestonewallbehindhisdaub—and—wattlehouse。Itwaswarm，buthewasintentlywatchingasmallbuggythatwasbeingrecklesslydrivenoverthebushesinthedirectionofthefarmhouse。Gregoryneverstirredtillithadvanished；then，findingthestoneshot，heslippeddownandwalkedintothehouse。Hekickedthelittlepailthatlayinthedoorway，andsentitintoonecorner；thatdidhimgood。Thenhesatdownonthebox，andbegancuttinglettersoutofapieceofnewspaper。Findingthatthesnippingslitteredthefloor，hepickedthemupandbeganscribblingonhisblotting—paper。HetriedtheeffectofdifferentinitialsbeforethenameRose：G。Rose，E。Rose，L。Rose，Rose，L。L。，L。L。Rose。Whenhehadcoveredthesheet，helookedatitdiscontentedlyalittlewhile，thensuddenlybegantowritealetter：
\"BelovedSister，\"ItisalongwhilesinceIlastwrotetoyou，butIhavehadnotime。
ThisisthefirstmorningIhavebeenathomesinceIdon’tknowwhen。Emalwaysexpectsmetogodowntothefarmhouseinthemorning；butIdidn’tfeelasthoughIcouldstandtheridetoday。
\"Ihavemuchnewsforyou。
\"TantSannie，Em’sBoerstepmother，istobemarriedtomorrow。Sheisgonetotowntoday，andtheweddingfeastistobeatherbrother’sfarm。EmandIaregoingtorideoveronhorseback，buthercousinisgoingtorideinthebuggywiththatGerman。Idon’tthinkI’vewrittentoyousinceshecamebackfromschool。Idon’tthinkyouwouldlikeheratall，Jemima；
there’ssomethingsoproudabouther。Shethinksjustbecauseshe’shandsomethere’snobodygoodenoughtotalktoher，andjustasiftherehadnobodyelsebutherbeentoboarding—schoolbefore。
\"Theyaregoingtohaveagrandaffairtomorrow；alltheBoersaboutarecoming，andtheyaregoingtodanceallnight；butIdon’tthinkIshalldanceatall；for，asEm’scousinsays，theseBoerdancesarelowthings。
IamsureIonlydancedatthelasttopleaseEm。Idon’tknowwhysheisfondofdancing。EmtalkedofourbeingmarriedonthesamedayasTantSannie；butIsaiditwouldbenicerforherifshewaitedtilltheshearingwasover，andItookherdowntoseeyou。Isupposeshewillhavetolivewithus（Em’scousin，Imean），asshehasnotanythingintheworldbutapoorfiftypounds。Idon’tlikeheratall，Jemima，andIdon’tthinkyouwould。She’sgotsuchqueerways；she’salwaysdrivingaboutinagigwiththatlowGerman；andIdon’tthinkit’satallthethingforawomantobegoingaboutwithamanshe’snotengagedto。Doyou？Ifitwasmenow，ofcourse，whoamakindofconnection，itwouldbedifferent。
Thewayshetreatsme，consideringthatIamsosoontobehercousin，isnotatallnice。Itookdownmyalbumtheotherdaywithyourlikenessesinit，andItoldhershecouldlookatit，andputitdownclosetoher；
butshejustsaid，Thankyou，andnevereventouchedit，asmuchastosay—
—Whatareyourrelationstome？
\"Shegetsthewildesthorsesinthatbuggy，andahorridsnappishlittlecurbelongingtotheGermansittinginfront，andthenshedrivesoutalone。Idon’tthinkit’satallproperforawomantodriveoutalone；I
wouldn’tallowitifshewasmysister。Theothermorning，Idon’tknowhowithappened，Iwasgoinginthewayfromwhichshewascoming，andthatlittlebeast——theycallhimDoss——begantobarkwhenhesawme——healwaysdoes，thelittlewretch——andthehorsesbegantospring，andkickedthesplashboardalltopieces。ItwasasighttoseeJemima！ShehasgotthelittlesthandsIeversaw——Icouldholdthembothinoneofmine，andnotknowthatI’dgotanythingexceptthattheyweresosoft；butsheheldthosehorsesinasthoughtheyweremadeofiron。WhenIwantedtohelphershesaid，’Nothankyou：Icanmanagethemmyself。I’vegotapairofbitsthatwouldbreaktheirjawsifIusedthemwell，’andshelaughedanddroveaway。It’ssounwomanly。
\"Tellfathermyhireofthegroundwillnotbeoutforsixmonths，andbeforethatEmandIwillbemarried。Mypairofbirdsisbreedingnow，butIhaven’tbeendowntoseethemforthreedays。Idon’tseemtocareaboutanythinganymore。Idon’tknowwhatitis；I’mnotwell。IfIgointotownonSaturdayIwillletthedoctorexamineme；butperhapsshe’llgoinherself。It’saverystrangething，Jemima，butsheneverwillsendherletterstopostbyme。IfIaskhershehasnone，andtheverynextdayshegoesinandpoststhemherself。Youmustn’tsayanythingaboutit，Jemima，buttwiceI’vebroughtherlettersfromthepostinagentleman’shand，andI’msuretheywerebothfromthesameperson，becauseInoticedeverylittlemark，eventhedottingofthei’s。
\"Ofcourseit’snothingtome；butforEm’ssakeIcan’thelpfeelinganinterestinher，howevermuchImaydislikehermyself；andIhopeshe’suptonothing。Ipitythemanwhomarriesher；Iwouldn’tbehimforanything。IfIhadawifewithprideI’dmakehergiveitup，sharp。I
don’tbelieveinamanwhocan’tmakeawomanobeyhim。NowEm——I’mveryfondofher，asyouknow——butifItellhertoputonacertaindress，thatdresssheputson；andifItellhertositonacertainseat，onthatseatshesits；andifItellhernottospeaktoacertainindividual，shedoesnotspeaktothem。Ifamanletsawomandowhathedoesn’tlikehe’samuff。
\"Givemylovetomotherandthechildren。Theveldhereislookingprettygood，andthesheeparebettersincewewashedthem。Tellfatherthedipherecommendedisverygood。
\"Emsendsherlovetoyou。Sheismakingmesomewoollenshirts；buttheydon’tfitmesonicelyasthosemothermademe。
\"Writesoonto\"Yourlovingbrother，Gregory。
\"P。S。——Shedrovepastjustnow；Iwassittingonthekraalwallrightbeforehereyes，andsheneverevenbowed。G。N。R。\"
Chapter2。VI。ABoer—wedding。
\"Ididn’tknowbeforeyouweresofondofridinghard，\"saidGregorytohislittlebetrothed。
TheywerecanteringslowlyontheroadtoOomMuller’sonthemorningofthewedding。
\"Doyoucallthisridinghard？\"askedEminsomeastonishment。
\"OfcourseIdo！It’senoughtobreakthehorses’necks，andknockoneupforthewholedaybesides，\"headdedtestily；thentwistedhisheadtolookatthebuggythatcameonbehind。\"IthoughtWaldowassuchamaddriver；
theyaretakingiteasilyenoughtoday，\"saidGregory。\"Onewouldthinktheblackstallionswerelame。\"
\"Isupposetheywanttokeepoutofourdust，\"saidEm。\"See，theystandstillassoonaswedo。\"
Perceivingthistobethecase，Gregoryrodeon。
\"It’sallthathorseofyours：shekicksupsuchaconfoundeddust，I
can’tstanditmyself，\"hesaid。
Meanwhilethecartcameonslowlyenough。
\"Takethereins，\"saidLyndall，and\"andmakethemwalk。Iwanttorestandwatchtheirhoofstoday——nottobeexhilarated；Iamsotired。\"
Sheleanedbackinhercorner，andWaldodroveonslowlyinthegreydawnlightalongthelevelroad。Theypassedtheverymilk—bushbehindwhichsomanyyearsbeforetheoldGermanhadfoundtheKafferwoman。Buttheirthoughtswerenotwithhimthatmorning：theywerethethoughtsoftheyoung，thatrunouttomeetthefuture，andlabourinthepresent。Atlasthetouchedherarm。
\"Whatisit？\"
\"Ifearedyouhadgonetosleepandmightbejoltedout，\"hesaid；\"yousatsoquietly。\"
\"No；donottalktome；Iamnotasleep；\"butafteratimeshesaidsuddenly：\"Itmustbeaterriblethingtobringahumanbeingintotheworld。\"
Waldolookedround；shesatdrawnintothecorner，herbluecloudwoundtightlyabouther，andshestillwatchedthehorses’feet。Havingnocommenttoofferonhersomewhatunexpectedremark，hemerelytoucheduphishorses。
\"Ihavenoconscience，none，\"sheadded；\"butIwouldnotliketobringasoulintothisworld。Whenitsinnedandwhenitsufferedsomethinglikeadeadhandwouldfallonme——’Youdidit，you，foryourownpleasureyoucreatedthisthing！Seeyourwork！’Ifitlivedtobeeightyitwouldalwayshanglikeamillstoneroundmyneck，havetherighttodemandgoodfromme，andcursemeforitssorrow。AparentisonlyliketoGod——ifhisworkturnsoutbad，somuchtheworseforhim；hedarenotwashhishandsofit。Timeandyearscanneverbringthedaywhenyoucansaytoyourchild：’Soul，whathaveItodowithyou？’\"
Waldosaiddreamingly：
\"Itisamarvellousthingthatonesoulshouldhavepowertocauseanother。\"
Sheheardthewordsassheheardthebeatingofthehorses’hoofs；herthoughtsranonintheirownline。
\"Theysay，’Godsendsthelittlebabies。’Ofallthedastardlyrevoltingliesmentelltosuitthemselves，Ihatethatmost。Isupposemyfathersaidsowhenheknewhewasdyingofconsumption，andmymotherwhensheknewshehadnothingtosupportmeon，andtheycreatedmetofeedlikeadogfromstrangerhands。MendonotsayGodsendsthebooks，orthenewspaperarticles，orthemachinestheymake；andthensigh，andshrugtheirshouldersandsaytheycan’thelpit。Whydotheysaysoaboutotherthings？Liars！’Godsendsthelittlebabies！’\"Shestruckherfootfretfullyagainstthesplashboard。\"Thesmallchildrensaysoearnestly。
TheytouchthelittlestrangerreverentlywhohasjustcomefromGod’sfarcountry，andtheypeepabouttheroomtoseeifnotonewhitefeatherhasdroppedfromthewingoftheangelthatbroughthim。Ontheirlipsthephrasemeansmuch；onallothersitisadeliberatelie。Noticeable，too，\"
shesaid，droppinginaninstantfromthepassionateintoalow，mockingtone，\"whenpeoplearemarried，thoughtheyshouldhavesixtychildren，theythrowthewholeonusonGod。Whentheyarenot，wehearnothingaboutGod’shavingsentthem。Whentherehasbeennolegalcontractbetweentheparents，whosendsthelittlechildrenthen？Thedevilperhaps！\"Shelaughedherlittlesilvery，mockinglaugh。\"Oddthatsomemenshouldcomefromhellandsomefromheaven，andyetalllooksomuchalikewhentheygethere。\"
Waldowonderedather。Hehadnotthekeytoherthoughts，anddidnotseethestringonwhichtheywerestrung。Shedrewhercloudtighterabouther。
\"Itmustbeverynicetobelieveinthedevil，\"shesaid；\"IwishIdid。
IfitwouldbeofanyuseIwouldpraythreehoursnightandmorningonmybareknees，’God，letmebelieveinSatan。’Heissousefultothosepeoplewhodo。Theymaybeasselfishandassensualastheyplease，and，betweenGod’swillandthedevil’saction，alwayshavesomeonetothrowtheirsinon。Butwe，wretchedunbelievers，webearourownburdens：wemustsay，’Imyselfdidit，I。NotGod，notSatan；Imyself！’Thatisthestingthatstrikesdeep。Waldo，\"shesaidgently，withasuddenandcompletechangeofmanner，\"Ilikeyousomuch，Iloveyou。\"Sherestedhercheeksoftlyagainsthisshoulder。\"WhenIamwithyouIneverknowthatIamawomanandyouareaman；Ionlyknowthatweareboththingsthatthink。OthermenwhenIamwiththem，whetherIlovethemornot，theyaremerebodiestome；butyouareaspirit；Ilikeyou。Look，\"shesaidquickly，sinkingbackintohercorner，\"whataprettypinknessthereisonallthehilltops！Thesunwillriseinamoment。\"
Waldoliftedhiseyestolookroundoverthecircleofgoldenhills；andthehorses，asthefirstsunbeamstouchedthem，shooktheirheadsandchampedtheirbrightbits，tillthebrasssettingsintheirharnessglitteredagain。
Itwaseighto’clockwhentheynearedthefarmhouse：ared—brickbuilding，withkraalstotherightandasmallorchardtotheleft。Alreadythereweresignsofunusuallifeandbustle：onecart，awagon，andacoupleofsaddlesagainstthewallbetokenedthearrivalofafewearlyguests，whosenumberswouldsoonbelargelyincreased。ToaDutchcountryweddingguestsstartupinnumbersastonishingtoonewhohasmerelyriddenthroughtheplainsofsparsely—inhabitedkaroo。
Asthemorningadvances，ridersonmanyshadesofsteedsappearfromalldirections，andaddtheirsaddlestothelongrowsagainstthewalls，shakehands，drinkcoffee，andstandaboutoutsideingroupstowatchthearrivingcartsandox—wagons，astheyareunburdenedoftheirheavyfreightofmassiveTantesandcomelydaughters，followedbyswarmsofchildrenofallsizes，dressedinallmannerofprintandmoleskin，whoaretakencareofbyHottentot，Kaffer，andhalf—castenurses，whosemany—shadedcomplexions，rangingfromlightyellowuptoebonyblack，addvarietytotheanimatedscene。
Everywhereisexcitementandbustle，whichgraduallyincreasesasthetimeforthereturnofthewedding—partyapproaches。Preparationsforthefeastareactivelyadvancinginthekitchen；coffeeisliberallyhandedround，andamidaprofoundsensation，andthefiringofguns，thehorse—wagondrawsup，andthewedding—partyalight。Brideandbridegroom，withtheirattendants，marchsolemnlytothemarriage—chamber，wherebedandboxaredeckedoutinwhite，withendsofribbonandartificialflowers，andwhereonarowofchairsthepartysolemnlyseatthemselves。Afteratimebridesmaidandbestmanrise，andconductinwithceremonyeachindividualguest，towishsuccessandtokissbrideandbridegroom。
Thenthefeastissetonthetable，anditisalmostsunsetbeforethedishesareclearedaway，andthepleasureofthedaybegins。Everythingisremovedfromthegreatfrontroom，andthemudfloor，wellrubbedwithbullock’sblood，glistenslikepolishedmahogany。Thefemaleportionoftheassemblyflockintotheside—roomstoattirethemselvesfortheevening；andre—issuecladinwhitemuslin，andgaywithbrightribbonsandbrassjewelry。Thedancingbeginsasthefirsttallowcandlesarestuckupaboutthewalls，themusiccomingfromacoupleoffiddlersinacorneroftheroom。Brideandbridegroomopentheball，andthefloorissooncoveredwithwhirlingcouples，andeveryone’sspiritsrise。Thebridalpairminglefreelyinthethrong，andhereandthereamusicalmansingsvigorouslyashedragshispartnerthroughtheBlueWaterorJohnSperiwig；
boysshoutandapplaud，andtheenjoymentandconfusionareintense，tilleleveno’clockcomes。Bythistimethechildrenwhoswarmintheside—
roomsarenottobekeptquietlonger，evenbyhunchesofbreadandcake；
thereisageneralhowlandwail，thatrisesyethigherthanthescrapingoffiddles，andmothersrushfromtheirpartnerstoknocksmallheadstogether，andcufflittlenursemaids，andforcethewailersdownintounoccupiedcornersofbeds，undertablesandbehindboxes。Inhalfanhoureveryvarietyofchildishsnoreisheardonallsides，andithasbecomeperiloustoraiseorsetdownafootinanyoftheside—roomslestasmallheadorhandshouldbecrushed。
Nowtoothebusyfeethavebrokenthesolidcoatingofthefloor，andacloudoffinedustarises，thatmakesayellowhaloroundthecandles，andsetsasthmaticpeoplecoughing，andgrowsdenser，tilltorecogniseanyoneontheoppositesideoftheroombecomesimpossible，andapartner’sfaceisseenthroughayellowmist。
Attwelveo’clockthebrideisledtothemarriage—chamberandundressed；
thelightsareblownout，andthebridegroomisbroughttothedoorbythebestman，whogiveshimthekey；thenthedoorisshutandlocked，andtherevelsrisehigherthanever。Thereisnothoughtofsleeptillmorning，andnounoccupiedspotwheresleepmaybefound。
ItwasatthisstageoftheproceedingsonthenightofTantSannie’sweddingthatLyndallsatnearthedoorwayinoneoftheside—rooms，towatchthedancersastheyappearedanddisappearedintheyellowcloudofdust。Gregorysatmoodilyinacornerofthelargedancing—room。Hislittlebetrothedtouchedhisarm。
\"IwishyouwouldgoandaskLyndalltodancewithyou，\"shesaid；\"shemustbesotired；shehassatstillthewholeevening。\"
\"Ihaveaskedherthreetimes，\"repliedherlovershortly。\"I’mnotgoingtobeherdog，andcreeptoherfeet，justtogiveherthepleasureofkickingme——notforyou，Em，norforanybodyelse。\"
\"Oh，Ididn’tknowyouhadaskedher，Greg，\"saidhislittlebetrothed，humbly；andshewentawaytopouroutcoffee。
Nevertheless，sometimeafterGregoryfoundhehadshiftedsofarroundtheroomastobeclosetothedoorwhereLyndallsat。Afterstandingforsometimeheinquiredwhetherhemightnotbringheracupofcoffee。
Shedeclined；butstillhestoodon（whyshouldhenotstandthereaswellasanywhereelse？），andthenhesteppedintothebedroom。
\"MayInotbringyouastove，MissLyndall，toputyourfeeton？\"
\"Thankyou。\"
Hesoughtforone，andputitunderherfeet。
\"Thereisadraughtfromthatbrokenwindow：shallIstuffsomethinginthepane？\"
\"No，wewantair。\"
Gregorylookedround，butnothingelsesuggestingitself，hesatdownonaboxontheoppositesideofthedoor。Lyndallsatbeforehim，herchinrestinginherhand；hereyes，steel—greybyday，butblackbynight，lookedthroughthedoorwayintothenextroom。Afteratimehethoughtshehadentirelyforgottenhisproximity，andhedaredtoinspectthelittlehandsandneckasheneverdaredwhenhewasinmomentarydreadoftheeyesbeingturneduponhim。
Shewasdressedinblack，whichseemedtotakeheryetfurtherfromthewhite—clad，gewgawedwomenabouther；andthelittlehandswerewhite，andthediamondringglittered。Wherehadshegotthatring？Hebentforwardalittleandtriedtodeciphertheletters，butthecandle—lightwastoofaint。Whenhelookeduphereyeswerefixedonhim。Shewaslookingathim——not，Gregoryfelt，asshehadeverlookedathimbefore；notasthoughhewereastumporastonethatchancehadthrowninherway。Tonight，whetheritwerecritically，orkindly，orunkindly，hecouldnottell，butshelookedathim，attheman，GregoryRose，withattention。Avagueelationfilledhim。Heclinchedhisfisttighttothinkofsomegoodideahemightexpresstoher；butofallthoseprofoundthingshehadpicturedhimselfassayingtoher，whenhesataloneinthedaub—and—wattlehouse，notonecame。Hesaid，atlast：
\"TheseBoerdancesareverylowthings；\"andthen，assoonasithadgonefromhim，hethoughtitwasnotacleverremark，andwisheditback。
BeforeLyndallrepliedEmlookedinatthedoor。
\"Oh，come，\"shesaid；\"theyaregoingtohavethecushion—dance。Idonotwanttokissanyofthesefellows。Takemequickly。\"
SheslippedherhandintoGregory’sarm。
\"Itissodusty，Em；doyoucaretodanceanymore？\"heasked，withoutrising。
\"Oh，Idonotmindthedust，andthedancingrestsme。\"
Buthedidnotmove。
\"Ifeeltired；IdonotthinkIshalldanceagain，\"hesaid。
Emwithdrewherhand，andayoungfarmercametothedoorandboreheroff。
\"Ihaveoftenimagined，\"remarkedGregory——butLyndallhadrisen。
\"Iamtired，\"shesaid。\"IwonderwhereWaldois；hemusttakemehome。
Thesepeoplewillnotleaveofftillmorning，Isuppose；itisthreealready。\"
Shemadeherwaypastthefiddlers，andabenchfulloftireddancers，andpassedoutatthefrontdoor。Onthestoepagroupofmenandboysweresmoking，peepinginatthewindows，andcrackingcoarsejokes。Waldowascertainlynotamongthem，andshemadeherwaytothecartsandwagonsdrawnupatsomedistancefromthehomestead。
\"Waldo，\"shesaid，peeringintoalargecart，\"isthatyou？Iamsodazedwiththetallowcandles，Iseenothing。\"
Hehadmadehimselfaplacebetweenthetwoseats。Sheclimbedupandsatontheslopingfloorinfront。
\"IthoughtIshouldfindyouhere，\"shesaid，drawingherskirtupabouthershoulders。\"Youmusttakemehomepresently，butnotnow。\"
Sheleanedherheadontheseatneartohis，andtheylistenedinsilencetothefitfultwangingofthefiddlesasthenight—windboreitfromthefarmhouse，andtotheceaselessthudofthedancers，andthepealsofgrosslaughter。Shestretchedoutherlittlehandtofeelforhis。
\"Itissonicetoliehereandhearthatnoise，\"shesaid。\"Iliketofeelthatstrangelifebeatingupagainstme。Iliketorealiseformsoflifeutterlyunlikemine。\"Shedrewalongbreath。\"Whenmyownlifefeelssmall，andIamoppressedwithit，Iliketocrushtogether，andseeitinapicture，inaninstant，amultitudeofdisconnectedunlikephasesofhumanlife——amediaevalmonkwithhisstringofbeadspacingthequietorchard，andlookingupfromthegrassathisfeettotheheavyfruit—
trees；littleMalayboysplayingnakedonashiningsea—beach；aHindoophilosopheraloneunderhisbanyantree，thinking，thinking，thinking，sothatinthethoughtofGodhemaylosehimself；atroopofBacchanaliansdressedinwhite，withcrownsofvine—leaves，dancingalongtheRomanstreets；amartyronthenightofhisdeathlookingthroughthenarrowwindowtothesky，andfeelingthatalreadyhehasthewingsthatshallbearhimup\"（shemovedherhanddreamilyoverherface）；\"anepicureandiscoursingataRomanbathtoaknotofhisdisciplesonthenatureofhappiness；aKafferwitchdoctorseekingforherbsbymoonlight，whilefromthehutsonthehillsidecomethesoundofdogsbarking，andthevoicesofwomenandchildren；amothergivingbread—and—milktoherchildreninlittlewoodenbasinsandsingingtheeveningsong。Iliketoseeitall；I
feelitrunthroughme——thatlifebelongstome；itmakesmylittlelifelarger，itbreaksdownthenarrowwallsthatshutmein。\"
Shesighed，anddrewalongbreath。
\"Haveyoumadeanyplans？\"sheaskedhimpresently。
\"Yes，\"hesaid，thewordscominginjets，withpausesbetween；\"Iwilltakethegreymare——Iwilltravelfirst——Iwillseetheworld——thenIwillfindwork。\"
\"Whatwork？\"
\"Idonotknow。\"
Shemadealittleimpatientmovement。
\"Thatisnoplan；travel——seetheworld——findwork！Ifyougointotheworldaimless，withoutadefiniteobject，dreaming——dreaming，youwillbedefinitelydefeated，bamboozled，knockedthiswayandthat。Intheendyouwillstandwithyourbeautifullifeallspent，andnothingtoshow。Theytalkofgenius——itisnothingbutthis，thatamanknowswhathecandobest，anddoesit，andnothingelse。Waldo，\"shesaid，knittingherlittlefingerscloseramonghis，\"IwishIcouldhelpyou；IwishIcouldmakeyouseethatyoumustdecidewhatyouwillbeanddo。Itdoesnotmatterwhatyouchoose——beafarmer，businessman，artist，whatyouwill——butknowyouraim，andliveforthatonething。Wehaveonlyonelife。Thesecretofsuccessisconcentration；wherevertherehasbeenagreatlife，oragreatwork，thathasgonebefore。Tasteeverythingalittle，lookateverythingalittle；butliveforonething。Anythingispossibletoamanwhoknowshisendandmovesstraightforit，andforitalone。IwillshowyouwhatImean，\"shesaid，concisely；\"wordsaregastillyoucondensethemintopictures。\"
\"Supposeawoman，young，friendlessasIam，theweakestthingonGod’searth。Butshemustmakeherwaythroughlife。Whatshewouldbeshecannotbebecausesheisawoman；soshelookscarefullyatherselfandtheworldabouther，toseewhereherpathmustbemade。
