第5章

CHAPTERXX。

IHAVEHEARDTHEPASSIONATEGALLOPOFTHOSEFIERY-FOOTEDSTEEDS。

Ellawasstandingwaitingforheroutsidetheopendoorofadrawingroom。Shewaswearingalovelyeveningdresswithacorsageofwhitelacecoveredwithdiamondsandsapphires。Herhair——itwasofthedarkestbrownandwasveryplentiful——wasalsoglitteringwithgemsunderthelightthatflowedthroughtheopendoor。ThesamelightshowedPhyllishowdeathlywhiteElla\'sfaceandneckwere——howtumultuouslyherbosomwasheaving。Shehadonehandpressedtoherside，andtheotheronthehandleofthedoorwhenPhyllismether；

andinthatattitude，eventhoughtheexpanseofwhiteflesh，withitsgraciouscurvesthatforcedoutherbodice，hadnoroseatetintuponit，shelookedlovely——intoxicatingtotheeyesofmen。

Phylliswascertainlysurprised。Thehourwasscarcelyeleven，butEllahadgivennonoticeofherintentiontopayavisittoherfriendthatnight。Whenthegirlraisedherhandswithalaughofadmiration，ofpleasure，Ellagraspedherhandswithbothofherownanddrewherintothedrawingroomwithoutaword。Thenwithacry，——alaughandacrymingled，——sheliterallyflungherselfintothegirl\'sarmsandkissedherconvulsivelyadozentimes，onthethroat，ontheneck，ontheshoulderwhereonherheadlay。

“Mydarling，mydarling！“shecried，——andnowandagainhervoicewasbrokenwithasob，——“mydarlingPhyllis！Ihavecometoyou——Iwanttobewithyou——tobenearyou——tokeepmyarmsaboutyou，sotightlythatnoonecanpluckusasunder。Oh，youdon\'tknowwhatmenare——

theywouldpluckusasunderiftheycould；buttheycan\'tnow。WithyouIamsafe——thatiswhyIhavecometoyou，myPhyllis。Iwanttobesafe——indeedIdo！“

ShehadnowraisedherheadfromPhyllis\'shoulder，butwasstillholdinghertightly——ahandoneachofherarms，andherfacewithinaninchofthegirl\'sface。

Phylliskissedhersoftlyoneachcheek。

“Mypoordear！“shesaid，“whatcanhavehappenedtoyou?“

“Nothing——nothing！Itellyouthatnothinghashappenedtome，“criedElla，withavehemencethatalmostamountedtofiercenessinhervoice。“WouldIbeherewithyounowifanythinghadhappenedtome?

tellmethat。Icametoyou——ah！womenhavenoguardianangels，buttheyhavesisterswhoareequallygoodandpure，andyouaremysister——mysister——betterthanalltheangelsthateversangadirgeoveralostsoulthattheyputforthnohandtosave。Youwillnotletmego，darlingPhyllis，youwillnotletmegoevenifItellyouthatIwanttogo。Don\'tbelieveme，Phyllis；Idon\'twanttogo——Idon\'twanttobelost，andifIleaveyouIamlost。Youwillkeepme，dear，willyounot?“

“Untiltheendoftheworld，“saidPhyllis。“Come，dearestElla，tellmewhatisthematter——whyyouhavecometomeinthatlovelycostume。

Youlookasifyouweredressedforabridal。”

“Abridal——abridal?Whatdoyoumeanbythat?“saidElla，withcuriouseagerness——asuggestionofsuspicionwasinhertone。Shehadloosedherholduponthegirl\'sarms。

Phyllislaughed。SheputahandroundElla\'swaistandledhertoasofa，saying:

“Letussitdownandtalkitallover。ThatisthelaceyoutoldmeyoupickedupatMunich。Whatadesign——lilies！“

“TheVirgin\'sflower——theVirgin\'sflower！Ineverthoughtofthat，“

laughedElla。“Itisforyou——notme，thislace。Ishalltearitoffand——“

“Youshalldonothingofthekind，“criedPhyllis。“Ihaveheapsoflace——morethanIshalleverwear。Whatalovelyideathatisofyours，——I\'msureitisyours，——sewingthediamondsaroundthecupofthelilies，likedewdrops。Ialwaysdidlikediamondsonlace。Somepeoplewouldhaveusbelievethatdiamondsshouldonlybewornwithbluevelvet。Howcommonplace！Wherehaveyoubeento-night?“

“WherehaveIbeen?Ihavebeenathome。Whereshouldagoodwomanbeintheabsenceofherhusband，butathome——hishomeandherhome?“

Ellalaughedloudandlongwithherheadthrownbackonthecushionofthesofa，andthediamondsinherhairgivingbackflashforflashtotheelectriccandlesaboveherhead。“Yes；Iwasathome——Idinedathome，and，Godknowswhy，Iconceivedasuddendesiretogototheopera，——Melbaisthe/Juliet/，——andforgettingthatyouwereengagedtotheEarlscourts——youtoldmelastweekthatyouweregoing，butI

stupidlyforgot，Idroveacrossheretoaskyoutobemycompanion。

Oh，yes，Ihavebeenheresince——sincenine，mindthat！nine——nine——

asktheservants。WhenIheardthatyouwerediningoutIthoughtthatIwaslost——onecannotdriveaboutthestreetsallnight，canone?Ah！

IthoughtthatGodwasagainstmenow，asheeverhasbeen；andasformyguardianangel——ah！ourguardianangelsareworsethantheservantsofnowadayswhohavenosenseofresponsibility。Thompson，yourbutler，isworthawholeheavenfulofangels，foritwashewhoaskedmeifIwouldcomeinandwaitforyourreturn——askhim，ifyoudoubtmyword。”

“GoodHeavens，Ella，whatdoyousay?Doubtyourword——Idoubtyourword?Youwoundmedeeply。”

“Forgiveme，myPhyllis。Idon\'tquiteknowwhatIsaid。Ah，letmenestlehere——here。”ShehadputherheaddowntoPhyllis\'bareneckandwaslookinguptoherfaceasachildmighthavedone。“Thereisnodangerhere。Nowpetme，andsaythatyouforgivemeforhavingsaidwhateverIdidsay。”

Phyllislaughedandputherlipsdownamongthemyriaddiamondsthatglowedamidtheother\'shair，likestarsseenamongthethickfoliageofacopperbeech。

“Iforgiveyouforwhateveryousaid，“shecried。“I，too，haveforgottenwhatitwas；butyoumustneversaysoagain。Buthadyoureallynoengagementforto-nightthatyoutookthatfancyforgoingto\'Romeo\'?“

“Noengagement?HadInoengagement，doyouaskme?“criedElla。“Oh，yes，yes！Ihadanengagement，butIbrokeit——Ibrokeit——Ibrokeit，andthatiswhyIamhere。Whatevermaycomeofit，Iamhere，andhereImeantostay。Iamsafehere。AthomeIamindanger。”

Phylliswonderedgreatlywhathadcometoherfriendtomakehertalkinthiswildstrain。

“Wherewereyouengaged?“sheinquiredcasually。Shehadcometotheconclusionthattherewassafetyinthecommonplace:shewouldnottraveloutoftheregionofcommonplaceswithEllainherpresentstate。

“WherewasIengaged?SurelyItoldyou。Didn\'tIsaysomethingabouttheopera——\'RomeoandJuliet\'?——thatwastobetheplace，butIcametoyouinstead。Ah，whathavewemissed！Wasthereeversuchapoemwrittenas\'RomeoandJuliet\'?WasthereeversuchmusicasGounod\'s?

IthoughtthefirsttimethatIwenttotheoperathatitwouldspoilShakspere——howcoulditdootherwise?Iasked。Couldsupremeperfectionbeimprovedupon?BeforethebalconyscenehadcometoanendIfoundthatIhadneverbeforeunderstoodthegloryofthepoem。

Ah，ifyoucouldunderstandwhatlovemeans，myPhyllis，youwouldappreciatethepoemandthemusic；thenoteofdoomrunsthroughit；

that——thatiswhereinitsgreatnesslies——passionanddoom——passionanddoom——thatismyownlife——thelifeofuswomen。Weliveinawhirlwindofpassion，andfancythatwecanstepoutofthewhirlwindintoacalmatanymoment。Wemarryourhusbandsandwefancythatallthetragedyofhumanpassionisoversofarasweareconcerned。\'Thehavenenteredandthetempestpassed。\'PhilipMarston\'sterriblepoem，——youhavereadit，——\'AChristmasVigil\'?\'Thehavenentered，\'——thewhirlwindofpassionhasbeenleftfaraway，wefancy。Oh，wearefools！Itsweepsdownuponusandthen——doom——doom！“

“Mypoordear，youaretalkingwildly。”

“Ifyouonlyunderstood——perhapsyouwillsomedayunderstand，andthenyouwillknowwhatseemswildinmyspeechisbuttheincoherenceofapoorcreaturewhohasbeenbeatentothegroundbythewhirlwind，andonlysavedfromdestructionbyamiracle。”

Shehadsprungfromherplaceonthesofaandwaspacingtheroom，herdiamondsquivering，luminousasashowerofmeteors——thatwasthefancythatflashedfromhertoPhyllis。Meteors——meteors——whatasplendidpictureshemadeflashingfromplacetoplace！Meteors——ah，surelytherewasthemeteor-birdflashingacrossthedrawingroom！

“Comeandsitdown，mydearElla，“saidPhyllis。“Youare，asyouknow，quiteunintelligibletome。”

“Unintelligibletoyou?Iamunintelligibletomyself，“criedElla。

“WhyshouldIbetrampingupanddownyourroomwhenImightbeatthisverymoment——“SheclutchedPhyllis\'arm。“Iwanttostaywithyouallnight，“shewhispered。“Iwanttosleepinyourbedwithyou，Phyllis。IwanttofeelyourarmsaroundmeasIusedtofeelmymother\'slongago。WhateverImaysay，youwillnotletmego，Phyllis?“

“Iwillloadyouwithchains，“saidPhyllis，pattingherlovelyhair——

itwasnolongersmooth。“Whyshouldyouwanttogoawayfromme?

Cannotwebehappytogetheronceagainasweusedtobelongago?“

“Howlongagothatwas！Andweread\'RomeoandJuliet\'together，andfanciedthatwehadgonedowntotheverydepthsofitsmeaning。Wefanciedthatwehadsoundedtheverydepthsofitspassionandpathos。

Wewereonlygirls。Ah，Phyllis，Itellyou——I，whoknow——I，whohavefounditout，——Itellyouthatthetragedyisthetragedyofallloverswhohaveeverlivedintheworld。Itellyouthatitisthetragedyofloveitself。\'Gallopapace，yefiery-footedsteeds！\'Thatisthepoemthattheheartoftheloversingsallday——allday！Ihaveheardit——myhearthassungit。Ihaveheardthepassionategallopofthosefiery-footedsteeds。Ihavelistenedtothemwhilemyheartbeatinunisonwiththeirfranticcareer——alldaycountingthemomentswithfieryface，andthen——then——somethingthatwasnotpassionforcedmetoflyfromitforthesalvationofmysoul。Iwasafool！WhyamI

here，whenIshouldbewherehe——Whatisthehour?Why，itisscarcelytwelveo\'clock！DidIsaynineinmyletter?Whatdoesitmatter?Iwonderifonthatwonderfulnight——Gounodtranslateditsgloryintomusic——Julietkeptherloverwaitingforthreehours。”

“Whatareyoudoing?“criedPhyllis，rising。

Ellahadpickeduphertheatrewrap——itwasasummercloudbrocadedwithgoldenthreadsofquiveringsunlight，andhadflungitaroundher。

SheheldoutahandtoPhyllis。Phyllisgraspedherroundthewaist。

“Whereareyougoing?“shesaid。

“Tohell！“

Shehadwhisperedthewords，andattheirutterancePhyllisgaveacryofhorrorandcoveredherfacewithherhands。

Hadsheseenasuggestionofthesatyrintheexpressionofthatlovelyfacebeforeher?

Inthepausethatfollowedthesoundoffootstepsuponthestairsoutsidewasheard；thesoundoffootstepsandofmen\'sfriendlylaughter。Somepersonswereintheactofascending。

“MyGod！“whisperedElla。“Hehasfollowedmehere！“

“Hush！“saidPhyllis。“Papaisbringingsomeonetous。”

“Whom——whom?“

Theywerebothstandingtogetherinthemiddleoftheroom，bothhavingtheireyesfixedonthedoor，whenthedooropenedandMr。

Ayrtonappeared，havingbyhissideamanwithiron-grayhairandacuriouslypallidface。

AtthesightofthatmanElla\'shands，thathadbeenholdingherwrapclosetoherthroat，feelingforitssilverclasp，felllimp，andthesplendidmassofwhitebrocadeslippedtothefloorandlayinfoldsaboutherfeet，revealingherlovelyfiguresparklingfromthehemofherdresstothetopofhershapelyhead。

CHAPTERXXI。

THATTOILETSHOULDNOTHAVEBEENWASTED。

Forseveralsecondsthetableauremainedunchanged:thetwowomenstandingsidebyside，thetwomenmotionlessatthehalf-opendoor。

EllawasstaringatthemanwhohadenteredwithMr。Ayrton。Therewassomeapprehensioninhereyes。

Themanhadhiseyesfixeduponher。Buthisfacewaswhollydevoidofexpression。

Phylliswasthefirsttobreakthesilencethatmadeaframe，sotospeak，forthepicture。

“Howdoyoudo，Mr。Linton?“shesaid，takingasteptowardthedoor。

“Iamverywell，thankyou，MissAyrton，“themanreplied，shakinghandswithher。“Ratherasingularhourforavisit，isitnot?“

“Oh，no！onlyElladidn\'ttellmethatyou——“

SheturnedtoElla，andnoticedthattheexpressionofapprehensiononherfacehadincreased。Shewasstillgazingatherhusbandasoneshutupinaroomwithasnakemightgazeatit，waitingforittostrike。

“Elladidn\'ttellyouthatIwascoming?“saidhe。“Shehadthebestofreasonsforherreticence。”

“Ah！“

ThesoundcamefromElla。Therewasalittlescornfulsmileonherface。

“Thebestofreasons?“saidPhyllisinterrogatively。

“Theverybest；shehadnoideathatIwascoming。Iwonderifsheisgladtoseeme。Shehasnotspokenawordtomeyet。”

“Youhavestartledherbyyoursuddenappearance，“saidPhyllis。“Sheisnotcertainwhetheryouarefleshandbloodoraghost。”

ThenEllagavealaugh。

“Oh，yes！“shesaid。“Heismyhusband。Goonwithwhatyouhavetosay，Stephen。Iwillnotrunaway。”

“Runaway?Whatnonsenseisthis，mydear?Runaway?Whosaidanythingaboutyourrunningaway?“

Herhusbandhadadvancedtoherashespoke。Heputahandcaressinglyononeofherbarearmsandtheotheratthebackofherhead。Shesufferedhimtopressherheadforwarduntilheputhislipsuponherforehead。

Whenhehadreleasedher，andhadtakenastepbackfromher，——heseemedabuttoaddressPhyllis，——alittlecryforceditselffromher。

Shecalledhisnametwice，——thesecondtimelouder，——andthrewherselfintohisarms，buryingherfaceonhisshoulder，asshehadburieditonPhyllis\'shoulder。

Inafewmoments，however，shelookedup。Herhusbandwaspattingheronthearm。Shehadacquiredtwonewgemssinceshehadbentherhead。

Theywereshininginhereyes。

“Don\'tgoaway，Phyllisdear，“shesaid。Phyllisandherfatherwerestandingatthe/portiere/betweenthedrawingrooms。Mr。Ayrtonhadahandattheembroiderededgeintheactofraisingit。“Don\'tgoaway。

Iamallrightnow。IwasquitedazedatStephen\'ssuddenappearance。

Ithoughtthatperhapshehad——had——Ah，IscarcelyknowwhatI

thought。Howdidyoucomehere——whydidyoucomehere?“

Shehadturnedtoherhusband。Inspiteofhermanifestationofaffection，——theresultofacertainreliefwhichsheexperiencedatthatmoment，——therewasanoteofsomethingakintoindignationinhervoice。

“Itisverysimple，mydear，“repliedherhusband。Hiscuriouslysallowfacehadresumeditsusualexpressionlessappearance。“Nothingcouldbemoresimple。IgotatelegramatParisregardingthemine，andIhadtostartatamoment\'snotice。Iwroteoutatelegramtosendtoyou，andthatidioticcourierputitintothepocketofmyovercoatinsteadofsendingit。IfounditinmypocketwhenwehadcomeasfarasCanterbury。Iamnotoneofthosefoolishhusbandswhokeepthesepleasantsurprisesfortheirwives——itisusuallythehusbandwhoreceivesthesurpriseinsuchcases。”

“Andthecoachmantoldyouthathehaddrivenmehere?“saidElla。

“Quiteso，“repliedthehusband。“But，yousee，Ihadsomelittlehesitationincominghereathalf-pastteno\'clocktomakeinquiriesaboutmywife——youmighthavegonetosomeplaceelse，youknow，inwhichcaseIshouldhavelookedatriflefoolish；soIthoughthat，onthewhole，mybestplanwouldbetodropinuponMr。AyrtonattheHouseofCommonsanddriveherewithhimwhenhewascominghomeforthenight。ItookitforgrantedthatevensoearnestalegislatorasMr。Ayrtonallowshimselfhisnights——aftertwelve，ofcourse——athome。I\'mverysorryIstartledyou，Ella。Itshallnotoccuragain。”

“Whattimedidyoureachhome?“inquiredEllacasually——socasuallythatherhusband，whohadaverydiscriminatingear，gavealittleglanceinherdirection。Shewasdisengagingacornerofherlacetrimmingthathadbecomeentangledwithalargesapphireinapendant。

“Ireachedhomeatnine，“hereplied。

“Atnine?“Shespokethewordsafterhiminalittlegasp。Thenshesaid，walkingacrosstheroomtoasofa，“Icouldnothaveleftmanyminutesbeforeyouarrived。Iintendedgoingtotheopera。”

“Thattoiletshouldnothavebeenwasted，“saidhe。“Itisexquisite——

/ravissante/！“

“Itwasaninspiration，yourputtingiton，“saidPhyllis。“Iwonderifshereallyhadnosubtlesuggestionfromherownheartthatyouwereonyourwaytoher，Mr。Linton，“sheadded，turningtothehusband。

“Idaresayitwassomeinwardpromptingofthatmysteriousnature，MissAyrton，“hereplied。“Awoman\'sheartisbarometricinitsnature，itisnot?Itssensitivenessissogreatthatitmovesresponsivetoasuggestionofwhatistocome。Isawoman\'sheartprophetic，Iwonder?“

“Itwouldbearankheresytodoubtit，aftertheexamplewehavehadto-night，“saidMr。Ayrton。“Yes，awoman\'sheartisabarometersuggestingwhatiscomingtoher，andhertoiletisathermometerindicatingthedegreeofexpectancy。”

“Acharmingphrase，“saidMr。Linton；“acharmingprinciple，onlyonethatdemandssomeyearsofclosestudytoberenderedpractical。Forinstance，lookatmywife\'stoilet:itisbridal，andyetwehavebeenmarriedthreeyears。”

“Quiteso；andthattoiletmeansthatyouaretheluckiestfellowintheworld，“saidMr。Ayrton。

“Iadmittheinterpretation，“saidherhusband。“Itoldthehansomtowaitforme。Heisatthedoornow。Youhavehadnooperato-night，mydear?“

“Youwouldnotexpectmetogoalone?PhylliswasdiningattheEarlscourts\'，“saidthewife。

“Youarethesoulofdiscretion，mybeloved，“saidthehusband。“Isyourstockofphrasesequaltoasuggestionastowhatinstrumentisthesoulofawoman，Ayrton?“headded。“Herheartisabarometer，hertoiletathermometer，andhersoul——“

“Thesoulofawomanisnotaninstrument，butaflower——alily，“saidMr。Ayrton。

“Andmywifewearshersouluponhersleeve，“saidMr。Linton，touchingthedesignonthelacethatfellfromhershoulders。

“Butnotfordawstopeckat——thatistheheart，“laughedMr。Ayrton。

“Talkingofwoman\'ssoul，howisLadyEarlscourt?“headded，tohisdaughter。

“IwassosorrythatIwasatthatstupiddinner，“saidPhyllis。“I

mighthaveenjoyedthemusicof\'RomeoandJuliet。\'ButIhadengagedmyselftoLadyEarlscourtafortnightago。”

“YoudidnotseeLordEarlscourt，atanyrate，“saidherfather。

“No；heleftusintheeveningforSouthampton，“saidPhyllis。

“And，curiouslyenough，Idinedwithhimattheclub，“saidherfather。“Yes，hecameinwithHerbertCourtlandathalf-pastseven；hehadmetCourtlandandpersuadedhimtojoinhiminhiscruisetoNorway。Theydinedatmytable，andbythetimewehadfinishedCourtland\'smanhadarrivedwithhisbag。Hehadsentthemanamessagefromtheclubtopack。Theyleftbytheeight-fortytrain，andIexpecttheyarewellunderwaybythistime。”

“That\'squitetoobadofCourtland，“saidMr。Linton。“Iwantedtohaveatalkwithhim——aratherserioustalk。”

EllahadlistenedtoMr。Ayrton\'saccountofthatlittledinnerpartyattheclubwithwhitecheeks——amomentbeforetheyhadbeenred——andwithherlipstightlyclosed。Herhandswereclencheduntilthetipsofthenailswerebitingintoeachofherpalms，beforehehadcometotheendofhisstory——astoryofoneincident。Butwhenherhusbandhadspokenherhandsrelaxed。Theblazethathadcometohereyesforasecondwentoutwithoutaflicker。

“Aserioustalk?“shemurmured。

“Aserioustalk——aboutthemine，“repliedherhusband。

“Aboutthemine，“sherepeated，andamomentafterburstintoalaughthatwasalmoststartlinginitsinsincerity。“Itissoamusing，thischapterofcross-purposes，“shecried。“Whatasightithasbeen！anightofthrillingsurprisestoallofus！ImissPhyllisbyhalfanhourandmyhusbandmissesmebylessthanhalfanhour。HecomesatexpressspeedfromParistohaveatalk，aserioustalk，withMr。

Courtlandaboutthemine，andwhileheisdrivingfromVictoria，Mr。

CourtlandisdrivingtothesamestationwithLordEarlscourt！“

“Whataseriesoffatalities！“saidMr。Ayrton。“ButwhatseemedtomemostamusingwasthepersuasivenessofEarlscourt。HehasonlytospeakhalfadozenwordstoCourtland，andoffhegoestoNorwayatamoment\'snoticewithprobablythemostuncongenialboat\'sloadthatCourtlandeversailedwith，andhemusthavedoneagooddealinthatwayinNewGuineawaters。Now，whyshouldCourtlandtakesuchaturn?“

“Ah，why，indeed！“criedMrs。Linton。“Yes，thatis，asyousay，themostamusingpartofthewholeeveningofcross-purposes。Whyshouldherunawayjustatthistime——to-night——to-night?“

“Whatisthereparticularaboutto-nightthatCourtland\'srunningawayshouldseemdoublyerratic?“askedMr。Linton，afteralittlepause。

Hehadhiseyesfixedcoldlyuponhiswife\'sface。

Sheturnedtohimandlaughedquitemerrily。

“Whatisthereparticularaboutto-night?“sherepeated。“Why，haveyounotarrivedfromParisto-nighttohavethatserioustalkwithhimaboutthemine?Doesn\'titseemtoyoudoublyprovokingthathedidn\'tstayuntilto-morroworthatyoudidn\'tarriveyesterday?Why，why，whydidherunawayto-nightbeforenine?“

“Whybeforenine?“saidherhusband。

“Heavens！Wasnotthatthehourwhenyouarrivedhome?Yousaidsojustnow，“shecried。Thenshepickedupherwrap。PhyllishadthrownitoverachairwhenithadlaininaheaponthefloorasCleopatra\'swrapmayhavelainwhenshewascarriedintothepresenceofherlover。“MydearStephen，don\'tyouthinkthatasitispastnine，andMr。Courtlandisprobablysomemilesoutatseawithhisheadreposingonsomethinghard，——thereisnothingsoftaboutayacht，——weshouldmakeamoveinthedirectionofhome?Itseemsprettyclearthatyouwillhavenoserioustalkwithhimto-night。Alas！myPhyllis，ourdreamofhappinessisover。Wearetobeseparatedbythecrueltyofman，asusual。Good-night，mydear！Good-night，Mr。Ayrton！Prayforgiveusforkeepingyououtofbedsolong；andreceivemythanksforrestoringmylong-losthusbandtomyarms。Didn\'tyousaythatthehansomwaswaiting，Stephen?“

“Iexpectthemanhasbeenasleepforthelasthalf-hour，“saidherhusband。

“Ihopenothinghasgoneastraywiththegoldmine，“saidshe。“Hasn\'tsomeonemadeacalculationregardingtheaccumulationofashillinghansomfareatcompoundinterestwhenthedriveriskeptwaiting?Itislikethesumaboutthenailsinthehorse\'sshoe。Weshallberuinedifweremainheremuchlonger。”

“Ah，mydear，“saidMr。Ayrton，whenhehadkissedherhand，andstraightenedthesablecollarofherwrap；“ah，mydear，ahusbandisahusband。”

“Evenwhenhestaysawayfromhiswifeforthreemonthsatatime?“

saidElla。

“Notinspiteofthat，butonaccountofit，“saidMr。Ayrton。“Haveyoubeenmarriedalltheseyearswithoutfindingthatout?“

“Good-night！“saidshe。

CHAPTERXXII。

HEHADEXPLAINEDTOPHYLLISONCETHATHETHOUGHTOFGOD

ONLYASAPRINCIPLE。

Thesoundofthehansomwheelsdiedawaybeforethefatheranddaughterexchangedaword。Mr。Ayrtonwasthefirsttospeak。

“Itseemstohavebeenanightofmischance，“saidhe。

“IamverygladthatMr。Lintonhasreturned，“saidshe。

“What?Now，whyshouldyoubegladofthatveryordinaryincident?“

“Why?Oh，papa，Iamsofondofher！“

“Shemaybefondofhim，afterall。”

Mr。Ayrtonspokemusingly。

“Ofcoursesheis，“saidPhyllis，withapositivenessthatwasdesignedtoconvinceherselfthatshebelievedherownstatement。

“Andhemaybefondofher——yes，attimes，“resumedMr。Ayrton。“Thattoiletofhersseemstohavebeentheonlyhappyelementinthegameofcross-purposeswhichwasplayedto-night。”

“Ah，“whisperedthegirl。

“Yes；itwasininspiration。Shecouldnothaveexpectedherhusbandto-night。Whatadress！Evenahusbandwouldbecompelledtoadmititsfascination。Andshesaidshemeanttowearitattheoperato-night。

Itwasscarcelyanoperatoilet，wasit?“

“Ella\'stasteisneveratfault，papa。”

“Isupposenot。Iwonderifheiscapableofappreciatingthe——the——

letussay，theinspirationofthattoilet。Isthat，Iwonder，thesortofdressthatamanlikeshiswifetowearwhenshewelcomeshimhomeafteranabsenceofsomemonths?Nomatteritwasexquisiteineverydetail。Curious，hercominghereandwaitingaftershehadlearnedthatyouwereout，wasitnot；fromnineo\'clock——thatfatefulhour！——to-night。”

“Ithinkshemusthavefelt——lonely，“saidPhyllis。“Sheseemedsogladtoseeme——sorelieved。Shemeanttostaywithmeallnight，poorthing！Oh，whyshouldherhusbandstayawayfromherformonthsatatime?Itisquitedisgraceful！“

“Ithinkthatwehadbettergotobed，“saidherfather。“Ifwebegintodiscussabstractquestionsoftemperamentwemayabandonallhopeofsleeptonight。WemightaswelltrytofathomHerbertCourtland\'sreasonsforgoingtoyachtwithsouncongenialapartyasLordEarlscourt\'s。Good-night，mydear！“

Hekissedherandwentupstairs。Shedidnotfollowhimimmediately。

Shestoodinthecenteroftheroom，andoverhersweetfaceapuzzledexpressioncrept，asasinglebreathofwindpassesoverthesmoothsurfaceofalakeonadaywhennowindstirsaleaf。

ShethoughtfirstofHerbertCourtland，whichofitselfwasacuriousincident。HowdiditcomethathehadyieldedsoeasilytotheinvitationofLordEarlscourttoaccompanyhimonhiscruiseintheyacht/WaterNymph/?(LordEarlscourt\'simaginationinthedirectionofthenomenclatureofhisboatsaswellashishorseswasnotunlimited。)

Butthiswasjustthequestionwhichherfatherhadsuggestedasanexampleofasubjectofprofitlessdiscussion。Sherememberedthis，andaskedherselfifitwaslikelythatshe，havingathercommandfewerdatathanherfatherbearinguponthiscase，shouldmakeabetterattemptthanhemadeatitssolution。HerfatherhadseenHerbertCourtlandsincehehadagreedtogoonthecruise，andwasthereforeinthebetterpositiontoarriveatareasonableconclusioninregardtothesourceoftheimpulseuponwhichMr。Courtlandhadacted；somuchshethoughtcertain。Andyetherfatherhadsuggestedtheprofitlessnatureofsuchaninvestigation，andherfatherwascertainlyright。

OnlyforasinglemomentdiditoccurtoherthatsomethingshehadsaidtoHerbertCourtlandwhenhewassittingthere，thereinthatchairbesideher，mighthavehaditsinfluenceuponhim——onlyforasinglemoment，however；thensheshookherhead。

No，no！thatsuppositionwastoo，tooridiculoustobeentertainedforamoment。Hehad，tobesure，shownthathefeltdeeplythewordswhichshehadquotedastheycamefromMrs。Haddon；butwhatcouldthosewordshavetodowithhissuddenacceptanceofLordEarlscourt\'sinvitationtogotoNorway?

ShemadeuphermindthatitwasnothingtoherwhatcourseHerbertCourtlandhadpursued，consequentlytheendeavorstofathomhisreasonforadoptingsuchacoursewouldbewhollyprofitless。ButthequestionofthesingularmoodssuggestedbytheconductandthewordsofherfriendEllaLintonstoodonaverydifferentbasis。Ellawasherdearestfriend，andnothingthatshehadsaidordoneshouldbedismissedasprofitless。

WhatonearthhadEllameantbyappearinginthatwonderfulcostumethatnight?Itwasnotatoiletfortheopera，evenonaMelbanight；

evenona“RomeoandJuliet“night，unless，indeed，thewearermeanttoappearonthestageas/Juliet/，wasthethoughtwhichoccurredtothegirl。Herfantasticthought——shethoughtitwasafantasticthought——madehersmile。Unless——

Andthenanotherthoughtcametoherwhich，notbeingfantastic，banishedhersmile。

/Unless/——

Shegottoherfeet——veryslowly——andwalkedveryslowly——acrosstheroom。SheseatedherselfonthesofawhereEllahadsat，andsheremainedmotionlessforsomeminutes。Thenshemadeamotionwithoneofherhandsasifsweepingfrombeforehereyessomeflimsyrepulsiveness——thewebofanuncleanthingflashingintheair。InanotherinstantshehadburiedherfaceinthepillowthatstillboretheimpressofElla\'sface。

“Oh，God——myGod，forgiveme——forgiveme——forgiveme！“washersilent，passionateprayerasshelaytheresobbing。“HowcouldIeverhavesuchathought，soterribleathought。Sheismyfriend——mysister——

andsheputherselfintoherhusband\'sarmsandkissedhim！Oh，God，forgiveme！“

Thatwasherprayerforthegreaterpartofthenightasshelayinherwhitebed。

Shefeltthatshehadsinnedgrievouslyinthoughtagainstherfriend，whensherecalledthewayinwhichherfriendhadthrownherselfintothearmsofherhusband。ThatwastheoneactionwhichthegirlfeltshouldentitleEllaLintontobethesubjectofnosuchhorridthoughtashadbeenforashockinginstantforceduponhermind，whenshereflecteduponthestrangepassionwhichhadtingledthroughElla\'srepetitionofthefierywordsof/Juliet/。

SherecalledeverystrangeelementintheincidentofElla\'sappearanceinthedrawingroom:thewayinwhichEllahadkissedherandclungtoherasachildmighthavedoneonfindingsomeonetoprotectit；sherecalledthewildwordswhichEllahaduttered，and，finally，theterribleexpressionwhichhadappearedonherfaceasshewhisperedthatrecklessanswertoPhyllis\'question，whenshehadpickedupherwrapandflungitaroundherjustbeforethesoundoffootstepshadcometotheirears。AllthatsherecalledinconnectionwiththatextraordinaryvisitofElla\'swasquiteintelligibletoher；

butthemysteryofallwasmorethanneutralizedbyherrecollectionofthewayEllahadthrownherselfintoherhusband\'sarms。Thatactionshould，shefelt，beregardedastheoneimportantfactor，asitwere，inthesolutionoftheproblemofElla\'smood——Ella\'sseriesofmoods。Nothingelsethatshehaddone，nothingthatshehadsaid，wasworthyofbeingtakenaccountof，alongsidethatdominantactofthetruewife。

Thelittlewhisperwhichsuggestedtoherthattherewasagooddealthatwasmysteriousintheincidentofherfriend\'svisitsherefusedtoregardasrenderingitlessobligatoryonher——Phyllis——topraythatshemightbeforgiventhathorridsuspicionwhich，foraninstant，hadcometoher；andsoshefellasleepprayingtoGodtoforgiveherforhersin(inthought)againstherfriend。

AndwhilePhylliswasprayingherprayer，herfriend，theTrueWife，wasprayingwithherfacedownuponherpillow，andherbarearmsstretchedoutoverthewhitelaceofthebed:

“Forgiveme，OGod；forgiveme！andkeephimawayfromme——foreverandeverandever。Amen。”

Andwhileboththeseprayerswerebeingprayed，HerbertCourtlandwassittingononeofthedeckstoolsoftheyacht/WaterNymph/，lookingbackatthemanylightsthatgleamedinclustersalongthesoutherncoastofEngland，nowfarastern；foralightbreezewassendingtheboatalongwithacreaming，quiveringwake。Inthebowsayouthwasmakingthenighthideousthroughtheagencyofabanjoandashamnegromelody。Amidships，LordEarlscourtandtwoothermenwereplaying，bythelightofalanternslungfromthebackstay，agamecalledpoker；LordEarlscourt，ateveryfreshdeal，tryingtomaketherestunderstandhowgreatlytheworryofbeingheldresponsible，asthepatronofthelivingofSt。Chad\'s，fortheeccentricitiesofhisrector，hadaffectedhisnerves——amatteruponwhichhisfriendsassuredhim，withvarieddegreesofemphasis，theywereinnowayinterested。

WithinafewfeetofthesecongenialshipmatesHerbertCourtlandsatlookingacrosstheshiningripplestotheshininglightsofthecoast；

wonderinghowhecametobeontheseainsteadofontheshore。Wasthisindeedthenightoverwhichhisimaginationhadgloatedformonths?Wasitindeedpossiblethatthiswastheverynightfollowingtheday——Thursday——forwhichhehadengagedhimselfinaccordancewiththeletterthathestillcarriedinhispocket?

Howonearthdiditcomethathewassittingwithhisarmoverthebulwarksofayachtinsteadof——Oh，thethingwasamiracle——amiracle！Hecouldthinkofitinnootherlightthanthatofamiracle。

Well，ifitwereamiracle，ithadbeentheworkofGod，andGodhadtobethankedforit。HehadexplainedtoPhyllisoncethathethoughtofGodonlyasaPrinciple——asthePrinciplewhichworkedinoppositiontotheprincipleofnature。ThatwascertainlytheGodwhichhadbeenevolvedoutofmoderncivilization。Thepagangodshadbeenjusttheopposite。Theyhadbeenfoundedonnaturalprinciples。

TheHebrewtraditionthatGodhadmademaninhisownimagewasthereverseoftheschemeofthepaganmanwhohadmadeGodafterhisownimage；intheimageofmancreatedheGod。

Butholdingthetheorythatheheld——thatGodwasthesometimessuccessfulopponenttotheprinciplesofnature(whichhecalledtheDevil)——HerbertCourtlandfeltthatthiswastheveryGodtowhomhisthanksweredueforthemiraclethathadbeenperformedonhisbehalf。

“ThankGod——thankGod——thankGod！“hemurmured，lookingoutovertheripplingwaters，steelgrayinthesoftshadowofthesummer\'snight。

Butthenheheldthat“thankGod“wasbutafigureofspeech。

“Tinky-tink，tinky-tink，tinky-tinky-tinky-tinky-tinky-tinky-tink，“

wenttheyouthwiththebanjointhebows。

CHAPTERXXIII。

ITSMOUTHINGSOFTHEPASTHADBECOMEITSMUMBLINGSOFTHEPRESENT。

Itwasverydistressing——verydisappointing！ThebishopwouldneitherinstituteproceedingsagainsttherectorofSt。Chad\'snorstateplainlyifitwashisintentiontoproceedagainstthatclergyman。

Whensomepeoplesuggestedverydelicately——thewayordinarypeoplewouldsuggestanythingtoabishop——thatitwassurelynotinsympathywiththeorganizationoftheChurchforanyclergymantotakeadvantageofhispositionandhispulpittocastsometimesridicule，sometimesabuse，uponcertain“scripturalcharacters“——thatwastheirphrase——whohadhithertoalwaysbeenregardedassacred，comparativelysacred，thebishophadbroughtthetipsofthefingersofonehandinimmediate，oralmostimmediate，contactwiththetipsofthefingersofhisotherhand，andhadshakenhishead——mournfully，sadly。Thesesignsofacquiescence，triflingthoughtheywere，hadencouragedthedeputationthatoncewaitedonhislordship——twomilitarymen(retiredontheageclause)，anofficerofengineers(ontheactivelist)，asolicitor(retired)，andamemberoftheLondonCountyCouncil(byoccupationanironmonger)，toexpressthedirectopinionthatthescandalwhichhadbeencreatedbythedissemination——theunrebukeddissemination——ofthedoctrinesheldbytherectorofSt。Chad\'swasaffordingthefriendsofDisestablishmentanadditionalargumentinfavoroftheirpolicyofspoliation。Atthisstatementhislordshiphadnoddedhisheadthreetimeswithagravitythatdeeplyimpressedthespokesmanofthedeputation。HewonderedifhislordshiphadeverbeforeheardthatphraseaboutthefurnishingofanadditionalargumenttothefriendsofDisestablishment。(Asamatteroffacthislordshiphadhearditbefore。)

Afteranexpressionofthedeputation\'sopinionthatimmediatestepsshouldbetakentomaketherectorofSt。Chad\'samenabletothelawsoftheChurch，Hislordshipreplied。

(ItwashisfacilityinmakingconciliatoryrepliesthathadbroughtabouthiselevationintheChurch):

Hereferredto(1)hisdeepappreciationofthesincerityofthedeputation；(2)hisownsenseofresponsibilityinregardtothefeelingsoftheweakerbrethren；(3)hisappreciationofthevalueofthecounselofpracticalmeninmanyaffairsoftheChurch；(4)theexistingpositionoftheChurchinregardtothelaity；(5)thefriendlyrelationsthathadalwaysexistedbetweenhimselfpersonallyandtheclergyofhisextensivediocese；(6)hisearnestandprayerfuldesirethattheserelationsmightbestrengthened；(7)theinsecurityofahousedividedagainstitself；(8)theprogressofsocialism；(9)

theimpossibilityofsocialismcommendingitselftoEnglishmen；(10)

therecentanarchistoutrages；(11)thepurityoftheCourtofherMajestytheQueen；(12)theunionofallChristianChurches；(13)theimpossibilityofsuchunioneverbecomingpermanent；(14)thevalueofHolyScriptureindailylife；(15)hisfirmbeliefintheachievementofEngland\'sgreatnessbymeansoftheopenBible；(16)thenoteofpessimisminmodernlife；(17)thenecessityfortheChurch\'scombatingmodernpessimism；(18)theChurch\'spositionasapurveyorofhealthyliteraturefortheyoung；(19)hisreluctancetotakeupanymoreoftheirvaluabletime，and(20)hisassurancethattheremarksoftheirspokesmanwouldhavehisearnestandprayerfulattention。

Thedeputationthenthankedhislordshipandwithdrew。

Butstillthebishopmadenomoveinthematter，andthefriendsoftheRev。GeorgeHollandfeltgrievouslydisappointed。Theyhadcountedonthebishop\'satleastwritingaletterofremonstrancetotherectorofSt。Chad\'s，anduponthepublicationoftheletter，withtherector\'sreplyinthenewspapers；butnowquitetwomonthshadpassedsincetheappearanceof“RevisedVersions，“thebishophadreturnedfromtheEngadine，andstilltherewerenoindicationsofhisintentiontomaketheRev。GeorgeHollandresponsibletotherighttribunal——whateverthatwas——forhisdoctrines。Theycountedonhismartyrdomwithinsixmonths；and，consequently，uponhiselectiontoapositionofdistinctionintheeyesofhisfellow-country-men——or，atleast，ofhiscountry-women。Butthebishoptheyfoundtobeapoorthingafterall。Theyfeltsurethatwhatthepeoplesaidabouthisbeingquitehumbleinthepresenceofhiswifewasnotwithoutsomefoundation；andtheythoughtthat，afterall，therewasagreatdealtobesaidinfavorofthecelibacyofpriestscompulsoryintheChurchofRome。IfthebishopsoftheChurchofEnglandwerenotverycareful，theymightbethemeansofsuchagoingovertoRomeashadneverpreviouslybeenwitnessedinEngland。

GeorgeHollandmayhavebeendisappointed，orhemayhavebeenpleasedattheinactivityofthebishop。Hemadenosignonewayortheother。

Ofcoursehewasnomorethanhuman:hewouldhaveregardedaletterofremonstrancefromthebishopasapersonalcompliment；hehadcertainlyexpectedsuchaletter，forhehadalreadyputtogethertheheadsofthereplyhewouldmake——andpublish——toanyofficialremonstrancethatmightbeofferedtohim。Stillhemadenosign。HepreachedatleastonesermoneverySundaymorning，andwheneveritwasknownthathewouldpreach，St。Chad\'swascrowdedandtheoffertorywasallthatcouldbedesired。Thebishop\'schaplainnolongerheldawatchingbriefinregardinregardtothosesermons。Hedidnotthinkitworthwhiletodosomuch，GeorgeHolland\'sfriendssaid，shakingtheirheadsandpursingouttheirlips。Oh，yes！therecouldbenodoubtthatthebishopwasaveryweaksortofman。

Butthensuddenlythereappearedinthenewnumberofthe/ZeitGeistReview/anarticleabovethesignatureofGeorgeHolland，entitled“TheEnemytoChristianity，“andinamomentitbecameprettyplainthatGeorgeHollandhadnotinhis“RevisedVersions，“saidthelastwordthathehadtosayregardingtheattitudeoftheChurchofEnglandinrespectofthenon-church-goersoftheday。Whenpeoplereadthearticletheyasked“WhoistheEnemytoChristianityreferredtobythewriter?“andtheywereforcedtoconcludethattheanswerwhichwasmadetosuchaninquirybythearticleitselfwas，“TheChurch。”

HepointedouttheinfatuationwhichpossessedtheheadsoftheChurchofEnglandinexpectingtoappealwithsuccesstotheeducatedpeopleofthepresentday，whilestilldecliningtomovewiththecourseofthoughtofthepeople。Alreadythebrayingofatromboneoutoftune，andthebarbarousjingleofatambourine，hadabsorbedsomehundredthousandofpossiblechurch-goers；andthough，ofcourse，itwasimpossibleforsensiblemenandwomen——thepeoplewhomtheChurchshouldendeavortograppletoitssoulwithhooksofsteel——tolook，exceptwithamusedsadness，attheludicrousmethodsandvulgarineptitudeoftheSalvationArmy，stilltheChurchwasmakingnoefforttoprovidethesensible，thinking，educatedpeopleofEnglandwithanequivalentassuitabletotheirrequirementsastheSalvationArmywastotherequirementsofthefoolish，thehysterical，theunthinkingpeoplewhoplayedthetambourinesandbrayedonthetunelesstrombones。Thusitisthatonemansaystoanothernowadays，whenhehasgotnothingbettertotalkabout，“Areyouamanofintelligence，ordoyougotochurch?“

Menofintelligencedonotgotochurchnowadays，Mr。Hollandannouncedinthatarticleofhisinthe/ZeitGeist/；manywomenofintelligencerefrainfromgoing，headded，thoughmanybeautifullydressedwomenwerestillfrequentattenders。TherewasnoblinkingthefactthatthecrassstupidityoftheChurchhadmadechurch-goingunpopular——almostimpossible——withintelligentmenandwomen。TheChurchinsultedtheintelligencebytryingtoreconciletheteachingsofJudaismwiththeteachingsofChristianity，whenthetwowereabsolutelyirreconcilable。ItwasthecrassstupidityoftheChurchthathadcausedit——foritsself-protection，itfancied——tobitterlyopposeeverytruththatwasrevealedtoman。TheChurchhadtorturedandburnedatthestakethegreatmentowhomGodhadrevealedthegreatfactsofnature\'sworkings——themotionoftheearthandtheotherplanets。Butthesefacts，beingDivineTruth，becameacceptedbytheworldinspiteofthethumb-screwsandthefagots——theargumentsoftheChurchagainstDivineTruth。ThelistoftheDivineTruthswhichtheChurchhadbitterlyopposedwasasickeningdocument。

Geography，Geology，Biology——theprogressofallhad，evenwithinrecentyears，beenbitterlyopposedbytheChurch，andyettheself-

constitutedarbitersbetweenTruthandfalsehoodhadbeencompelledtoeattheirownwords——todevourtheirowndenunciationswhentheyfoundthattheTruthwasacceptedbytheintelligenceofthepeopleinspiteoftheanathemasoftheChurch。

TheintelligenceoftheChurchwasequalonlytothedutyofburningwitches。Itburnedthembythethousand，simplybecauseancientJudaismhadaprofoundbeliefinthewitchandbecauseablood-thirstyJewishmurderer-monarchhadorganizedawitchhunt。

Andyetwithsucharecordagainstit——arecordofthemurderofinnocentmenandwomenwhoendeavoredtopromulgatetheDivineTruthsofnature——theChurchstillarrogatedtoitselftherighttolaydownaruleoflifeforintelligentpeople——aruleoflifefoundeduponthatimpossibleamalgamationofJudaismandChristianity。ThescienceoftheChurchwasnotequaltothetaskofamalgamatingtwosuchdeadlyopponents。

Wasitanywonder，then，thatchurch-goinghadbecomepracticallyobsoleteamongintelligentmenandwomen?thewriterasked。

HethenwentontorefertothenatureoftheexistingservicesoftheChurchofEngland。HedealtonlycasuallywiththemockeryoftheresponseofthecongregationtothereadingoutoftheFourthCommandmentbythepriest，whennooneintheChurchpaidtheleastrespecttotheSeventhDay。ThiswasadditionalproofoftheabsurdityoftheattemptedamalgamationofJudaismandChristianity。Butwhathedealtmostfullywithwastheindiscriminateselectionofwhatwereveryproperlytermedthe“Lessons“fromtheHebrewBible。Itwas，hesaid，farfromedifyingtohearsomechaptersreadoutfromthelecternwithoutcomment；thoughfortunatelythereaderswereasarulesoimperfectlytrainedthatthemostobjectionablepassageshadtheirpotentialityofmischiefminimized。HeconcludedhisindictmentbyareferencetoasermonpreachedbytheaverageclergymanoftheChurchofEngland。Thiswas，usually，hesaid，eitheratheologicalessayfoundeduponanobsoletesystemoftheology，oraseriesofplatitudesofmoralitydeliveredbyanunpracticalman。Thefirstwasaninsulttotheintelligenceofanaverageman；thesecondwasaninsulttotheintelligenceofanaverageschoolgirl。

HissummingupofthewholecaseagainsttheChurchwasaslogicalasitwastrenchant。TheChurchhadsurelybecome，hesaid，likeuntotheGiantPaganin“ThePilgrim\'sProgress，“who，whenincapableofdoingmischief，satmumblingatthemouthofhiscaveontheroadside。TheChurchhadbecometoothless，decrepiteitherforevilorforgood。Itsmouthingsofthepasthadbecomeitsmumblingsofthepresent。Thecaveatthemouthofwhichthistoothlessgiantsatwasverydark；andintelligentpeoplewentbywithagood-naturedandtolerantlaugh。

Thisarticlewaspublishedinthe/Review/onTuesday。Phyllisreaditontheeveningofthatday。OnWednesdaythenewspaperswerefullofthisfurtherdevelopmentofthetheoriesofthewriter，andonThursdayafternoonthewriterpaidavisittoPhyllis。

AsheenteredthedrawingroomhefoundhimselffacetofacewithHerbertCourtland，whowasintheactofleaving。

CHAPTERXXIV。

SHEWASAWIFE，ANDSHEHADALOVERWHODISAPPOINTEDHER。

TheprayerofEllaLintonhadnotbeenanswered。Shehadprayed，notthatherheartwherewithshelovedHerbertCourtlandmightbechanged——thatsheknewwouldbedifficult；notthatherloveforHerbertCourtlandmightcease——thatshebelievedtobeimpossible；butsimplythatHerbertCourtlandmightbekeptawayfromher——thatsheknewtobethemostsensiblecourseherschemeofimplorationcouldtake。

ShewaswellawareofthefactthatGodhadgivenherstrengthtorunawayfromHerbertCourtland，andforthatshewassincerelythankful；

shedidnotpausetoanalyzeherfeelings，toaskherselfifherthankswereduetoherreflectionuponthecircumstanceofherhusband\'sreturn，attheveryhourwhenshehadappointedtomeetHerbertCourtland；sheonlyfeltthatGodhadbeengoodtoheringivinghersufficientstrengthtorunawayfromthatappointment。Thenitwasthatshehadprayedthathemightbekeptawayfromher。SurelyGodwouldfinditeasytodothat，shethought。SurelyshemightassumethatGodwasonherside，andthathewouldnotleavehisworkhalfdone。

ButwhenshebegantothinkofthethoroughmannerinwhichGoddoeshisworkshebegantowishthatshehadnotprayedquitesoearnestly。

SupposingthatGodshouldthinkitfittokeephimawayfromherbysendingablastfromheaventocapsizethatyachtinthedeepsea，whatwouldshethinkofthefervencyofherprayerthen?

Theterrorofherreflectionuponthepossibilityofthisoccurrenceflungherfromherbedandsentherpacing，withbarefeetandflyinglace，thefloorofherbedroominthefirstpearlylightofdawn，justasshehadpacedthefloorofPhyllis\'drawingroombeneaththeglowoftheelectriclights。

Shewishedthatshehadnotprayedquitesoearnestlythathemightbekeptapartfromher。Butonecannotprayhotandcold；shefeltthatshehadnorightnowtolaydownanyconditionstoHeaveninthematterofkeepingHerbertCourtlandawayfromher。Shehadprayedherprayer；only，ifheweredrownedbeforeshesawhimagain，shewouldneversayanotherprayer。

ThisfeelingthatshewouldbeevenwithHeaven，sotospeak，hadtheeffectofsoothingher。Shethrewherselfuponherbedoncemoreandwasabletofallasleep；shehadaconsiderableamountofconfidenceinthediscriminationofHeaven。

Butbeforeshehadcomedowntothebreakfastroomwhereherhusbandwasreadinganewspaperinthemorning，shehadthoughtagooddealuponanothermatterthatdisquietedherinsomedegree。Shehadbeenexuberant(shethought)athavinghadsufficientstrengthgiventohertorunawayfromherlover；butthenshehadnotdweltupontheratherimportantcircumstancethatalltherunningawayhadnotbeenonherside。WhatwerethefactsasrevealedbythenarrativeofMr。Ayrton?

Why，simply，thatwhileshewasputtingonthatsupremetoiletwhichshehadpreparedforthedelightoftheeyesofherlover(feelingherselftobeamodernCleopatra)，thatloverofherswassittingonthecushionsofafirst-classcarriage，flyingalongtoSouthampton；

andwhileshehadbeenlyingamongthecushionsofherdrawingroom，waitingtremulously，nervously，ecstatically，forthedrearyminutestocrawlonuntiltheclockshouldchimethehourofnine，hewasprobablylightinghisfirstpipeaboardtheyacht/WaterNymph/。WhatdiditmatterthatshehadliftedherhotfacefromhercushionsandhadfledinwildhastetothearmsofPhyllisAyrton?Thefactremainedthesame；itwashewhohadrunawayfromher。

Thatwasaterriblereflection。Hithertoshehadneverfelthumiliated。Shehadnotfeltthathehadinsultedherbyhiskisses；

shehadgivenhimkissforkiss。Shehadbuttoholdupherfingerandhewasreadytoobeyher。Butnow——whatwasshetothinkofhim?Hadevermansohumiliatedwoman?Shehadofferedhim，notherheartbuthersoul——hadhenottoldherafewdaysbeforethathemeanthertogivehimhersoul?andwhenshehadlaidheartandsoulathisfeet——

thatwashowsheputittoherself——hehadnotconsidereditworthhiswhiletotakethepricelessgiftthatsheofferedtohim。

“Hewillanswertomeforthat，“shesaid，asshethoughtoverherhumiliation，infrontofherdressing-glassthatmorning，whilehermaidwasabsentfromtheroom。

Herwishwasnownotthatherprayerhadbeenlessearnest，butthatithadnotbeenutteredatall。ItwasnecessaryforhertomeethimagaininorderthathemightexplaintoherhowitcamethathehadpreferredtheattractionsincidentaltoacruisewithLordEarlscourtandhisfriendstoallthatshehadwrittentoofferhim。

Andyetwhenherhusband，afterhavingquitefinishedwithhispaper，said:

“It\'sveryawkwardthatHerbertCourtlandisnotintown，“

Shemerelyraisedhershouldersaninch，saying:

“Isupposethathehasarighttotakeaholidaynowandthen。Ifyoudidn\'ttelegraphtohimfromParis，youcannotcomplain。”

“IfeltcertainthatIshouldfindhimhere，“saidthehusband。

“Here?“saidthewife，raisinghereyebrowsandcastinganoffendedglanceatherhusband。“Here?“

Hesmiledinthefaceofheroffendedglance。

“Here——inLondon，Imean，ofcourse。Heavens，Ella！didyoufancyforamomentthatImeant——Ah，bytheway，youhaveseenhimrecently?“

“Oh，yes；quiterecently——onTuesday，Ithinkitwas，wemetattheAyrton\'sdinnerparty——yes，itwasTuesday。Therewassomefuss，orattemptedfuss，abouthisadventuresinNewGuinea，andaquestionwasbeingaskedaboutthematterintheHouseofCommons。Mr。Ayrtongotridofsomeofhissuperfluousclevernessinputtingacounterquestion——youknowtheway。”

“Oh，perfectlywell！AndthatishowyoumetonTuesday——ifitwasTuesday?“

“Yes；hewenttothankMr。Ayrton，andMr。Ayrtonaskedhimtodinner。

Itwasasmallparty，andnotverybrilliant。Herbertcameherewithmeafterward——forfiveminutes。”

“Ah！Togetthetasteofthepartyoffhismouth，Isuppose?Hedidn\'tsayanythingtoyouthenaboutbeingtiredofhisLondonseason?“

“Notaword。Heseemedtiredofthedinnerparty。Heyawned。”

“AndI\'msurethatyouyawnedinsympathy。Whenamansofarforgetshimselfastoyawninthepresenceofawoman，sheneverfailstorespondwithoneofmoreamplecircumference。Whenawomansofarremembersherselfastoyawninthepresenceofaman，hetriestosaysomethingwitty。”

“Yes，whenthewomanisnothiswife。Ifsheishiswife，heasksherifshedoesn\'tthinkit\'sabouttimeshewasinbed。”

“Idaresayyou\'reright；youhaveobservedmen——andwomen，forthatmatter——muchmorecloselythanIhavehadtimetodo。It\'sveryawkwardthatheisn\'there。Imustbringhimbackatonce。”

Shefeltalittlemovementatherheart；butsheonlysaid:

“Iwouldn\'tdothat，ifIwereyou。Whyshouldn\'thebeallowedtoenjoyhisholidayinpeace?“

“It\'samatterofbusiness；themine，Itoldyou。”

“What\'swrongwiththeminethatcouldbesetrightbyhiscomingbackatonce?Areyounotmakingenoughoutofit?“

“We\'remakingquiteasmuchasisgoodforusoutofit。Butifwecangetahundredandfiftythousandpoundsforafewyardsofourclaimfurthereast，withoutdamagingtheprospectsofthemineitself，I

don\'tthinkweshouldrefuseit——atanyrate，Idon\'tthinkthatweshouldrefusetoconsidertheoffer。”

“Whatisahundredandfiftythousandpounds?“saidshe。

“Iwonderwhyyoudressedyourselfasyoudidlastnight?“saidhe。

Thesuddennessofthewordsdidnotcausehertoquailastheguiltywifequails——yes，underaproperlymanagedlime-light。Shedidnotevencolor。Butthen，ofcourse，shewasnotaguiltywife。

Shelaybackonherchairandlaughed。

Hewatchedher——noteagerly，butpleasantly，admiringly。

“MydearStephen，ifyoucouldunderstandwhyIdressedmyselfthatwayyouwouldbeabletogivemeavaluablehintastowheretheconnectionliesbetweenyourmineandmytoilet——Ineedsuchahint，now，Icanassureyou。”

Shewassittingupnowlookingathimwithlovelylaughingeyes。

(Afterall，shewasnoguiltywife。)

“What，youcan\'tseetheconnection?“hesaidslowly。“Youcansewoveryourdressaboutfiftythousandpounds\'worthofdiamonds，andyetyoudon\'tseetheconnectionbetweenthewearingofthatdressandthedevelopmentofagoldminebyyourhusband?“

“IthinkIseeitnow——somethingofaconnection。ButIdon\'twantanymorediamonds；Idon\'tcareifyoutakeallthataresewedaboutthedressandthrowthemintotheriver。That\'showIfeelthismorning。”

“Iheardsometimeagoofawomanwhohadsomethingofyourmooduponheroneday。Shehadsomeexcellentdiamonds，andinoneofhermoods，sheflungthemintotheriver。Shewasawifeandshehadaloverwhodisappointedher。Thestoryreadsverysmoothlyinverse。”

Shelaughed。

“Ihavenolover，“shesaid——wasitmournfully?“Ihaveahusband，itistrue；butheisnotexactlyofthetypeofKingArthur——norSirGalahad，forthatmatter。IhopeyoufoundParisasenjoyableasever?“

“Quite。IneversawatParisamoreenrapturingtoiletthanyoursoflastnight。Youare，Iknow，thehandsomestwomanofmyacquaintance，andyoulookedhandsomerthanIhadeverbeforeseenyouinthatcostume。Iwonderwhyyouputiton。”

“Didn\'tsomeone——wasitPhyllis?——suggestthatitwasanactofinspiration；thatIhadasecret，mysteriouspromptingtoputitontoachievetheobjectwhich——well，whichIdidachieve。”

“Object?Whatobject?“

“Tomakemyhusbandfallinlovewithmeagain。”

“Ah！Inlovethereisnoagain。IwonderwhereatelegramwouldfindHerbert。”

“Don\'tworryyourselfabouthim。Lethimenjoyhisholiday。”

“DoyoufancyheisenjoyinghimselfwithEarlscourtandhisbooncompanions?They\'llbeplayingpokerfrommorningtillnight——

certainlyfromnighttillmorning。”

“Whyshouldhegoonthecruiseifhewasnotcertaintoenjoyhimself?“

“Ah，thatquestionistoomuchforme。Thinkoverityourselfandletmeknowifyoucometoasolution，mydear。”

Heroseandlefttheroombeforeshecouldmakeanyanswer——beforeshecouldmakeanattempttofindoutinwhatdirectionhisthoughtsregardingthedepartureofHerbertCourtlandweremoving。

ShewonderedifhehadanysuspicioninregardtoHerbertandherself。

Hewasnotamangiventosuspicion，oratanyrate，giventoallowingwhateversuspicionhemayhavefelt，tobeapparent。HehadallowedhertodriveandtoridewithHerbertCourtlandduringthefourmonthstheyhadbeentogether，firstatEgypt，thenatFlorence，Vienna，Munich，andParis，andhecouldnothavebutseenthatHerbertandshehadagoodmanysympathiesincommon。Notawordhadbeenbreathed，however，ofasuspicionthattheyweremorethangoodfriendstoeachother。

(Asamatteroffact，theyhadnotbeenmorethangoodfriendstoeachother；butthensomehusbandsaregiventounworthysuspicions。)

Coulditbepossible，sheaskedherself，thatsomepeoplewithnastymindshadsuggestedtohiminParisthatsheandHerbertweretogetheragreatdealinLondon，andthathehadbeenledtomakethissuddenvisit，thissurprisevisittoLondon，withaviewofsatisfyinghimselfastothetruthofthenastyreports——thedisgracefulcalumnieswhichhadreachedhisears?

Ifhehaddoneso，allthatcouldbesaidwasthathehadbeensingularlyunfortunateinregardtohisvisit。“Unfortunate“wasthewordwhichwasinhermind，though，ofcourse/“fortunate“/wasthewordwhichshouldhaveoccurredtoher。Itwascertainlyafortunateresultofhisvisit——thattableauinthedrawingroomofMr。Ayrton:

Ellaandherdearestfriendstandingsidebyside，handinhand，asheentered。Asurprisevisit，itmayhavebeen，butassuredlythesurprisewasapleasantoneforthehusband，ifhehadlistenedtothevoiceofcalumny。

Andthen，afterponderinguponthiswithasmilingface，hersmilesuddenlyvanished。Shewasoverwhelmedwiththethoughtofwhatmighthavebeentheresultofthatsurprisevisit——yes，ifshehadnothadthestrengthtorunawaytothesideofPhyllis；yes，ifHerberthadnothadtheweaknesstojointhatpartyofpoker-playersaboardtheyacht。

Shebegantowonderwhatherhusbandwouldhavedoneifhehadenteredthehousebytheaidofhislatch-key，andhadfoundhersittinginthatlovelycostumebythesideofHerbertCourtland?Wouldhehavethoughtheraguiltywoman?WouldhehavethoughtHerbertafalsefriend?Wouldhehavekilledher，orwouldhehavekilledHerbert?

Herbertwould，shethought，takeagooddealofkillingfromamanofthecaliberofherhusband；butwhatcouldshehavedone?

Well，whatshedid，astheforceofthatthoughtcrushedherbackuponherchair，wastobringherhandstogetherinapassionateclasp，andtocryinapassionategasp:

“ThankGod——thankGod——thankGod！“

Shedinedalonewithherhusbandthatnight，andthoughtitwelltoappearinanothereveningtoilet——onethatwasquiteaslovely，thoughscarcelysostriking，asthatwhichherhusbandhadsoadmiredthepreviousnight。Heclearlyappreciatedhereffortstomaintainherlovelinessinhiseyes，andtheirlittledinnerwasaverypleasantone。

Hetoldherthathehadlearnedthattheyacht/WaterNymph/wouldputintoLeithbeforecrossingtheNorthSea，andthathehadwrittentoHerbertCourtlandatthatporttoreturnwithoutdelay。

“Youdidwrong，“saidshe；andshefeltthatshewasspeakingthetruth。

“Idon\'tthinkso，“hereplied。“Atanyrate，youmayrestperfectlycertainthatHerbertwillreceivemyletterwithgratitude。”

AndMr。Linton\'sjudgmentonthispointwasnotinerror。HerbertCourtlandreceived，ontheeveningofthethirddayafterleavingSouthampton，theletterwhichcalledhimbacktoLondon，andhecontrivedtoconcealwhateveremotionhemayhavefeltattheprospectofpartingfromhisshipmates。Theyaccompaniedhimashore，however——

theyhadwornoutsixpacksofcardsalready，andwereabouttobuyanotherdozenortwo，toseethemsafelythroughtheimposingsceneryoftheHardangerFjord。

ThenextdayhewasinLondon，anditwasontheeveningofthatsamedaythathecamefacetofacewiththeRev。GeorgeHollandoutsideMissAyrton\'sdrawingroom。

CHAPTERXXV。

LIES！LIES！LIES！

“Youshouldhavecomealittlesooner，“saidPhyllisquitepleasantly。

“Mr。Courtlandwasgivingmesuchanamusingaccountofhislatestvoyage。Willyouhaveteaoricedcoffee?“

“Tea，ifyouplease，“saidGeorgeHolland，alsoquitepleasantly。“HasMr。Courtlandbeenonanothervoyageofdiscovery?Whathashelefthimselftodiscoverintheworldofwaters?“

“Ithinkthatwhathediscoveredonhislatestvoyagewastheeffectofabanjoonthehumanmind，“laughedPhyllis。“HewasaboardLordEarlscourt\'syacht，the/WaterNymph/。Someothermenweretherealso。