III
　　1
　　Noel’sfirstencounterwithOpiniontookplacethefollowingday。
　　Thebabyhadjustcomeinfromitsairing;shehadseenitcomfortablysnoozing，andwasonherwaydownstairs，whenavoicefromthehallsaid:
　　"Howdoyoudo？"andshesawthekhaki—cladfigureofAdrianLauder，herfather’scurate！Hesitatingjustamoment，shefinishedherdescent，andputherfingersinhis。Hewasaratherheavy，dough—
　　colouredyoungmanofnearlythirty，unsuitedbykhaki，witharoundwhitecollarbuttonedbehind;buthisaspiringeyesredeemedhim，proclaimingthebestintentionsintheworld，andaninclinationtowardssentimentinthepresenceofbeauty。
　　"Ihaven’tseenyouforages，"hesaidratherfatuously，followingherintoherfather’sstudy。
　　"No，"saidNoel。"How——doyoulikebeingattheFront？"
　　"Ah！"hesaid，"they’rewonderful！"Andhiseyesshone。"It’ssonicetoseeyouagain。"
　　"Isit？"
　　Heseemedpuzzledbythatanswer;stammered，andsaid:
　　"Ididn’tknowyoursisterhadababy。Ajollybaby。"
　　"Shehasn’t。"
　　Lauder’smouthopened。’Asillymouth，’shethought。
　　"Oh！"hesaid。"Isitaprotegee——Belgianorsomething？"
　　"No，it’smine;myown。"And，turninground，sheslippedthelittleringoffherfinger。Whensheturnedbacktohim，hisfacehadnotrecoveredfromherwords。Ithadahaplesslook，asofonetowhomsuchathingoughtnottohavehappened。
　　"Don’tlooklikethat，"saidNoel。"Didn’tyouunderstand？It’smine—mine。"Sheputoutherlefthand。"Look！There’snoring。"
　　Hestammered:"Isay，yououghtn’tto——yououghtn’tto——！"
　　"What？"
　　"Jokeabout——aboutsuchthings;oughtyou？"
　　"Onedoesn’tjokeifone’shadababywithoutbeingmarried，youknow。"
　　Lauderwentsuddenlyslack。Ashellmighthaveburstafewpacesfromhim。Andthen，justasonewouldinsuchacase，hemadeaneffort，bracedhimself，andsaidinacuriousvoice，bothstiffandheavy:"Ican’t——onedoesn’t——it’snot——"
　　"Itis，"saidNoel。"Ifyoudon’tbelieveme，askDaddy。"
　　Heputhishanduptohisroundcollar;andwiththewildthoughtthathewasgoingtotearitoff，shecried:"Don’t！"
　　"You！"hesaid。"You！But——"
　　Noelturnedawayfromhimtothewindow:Shestoodlookingout，butsawnothingwhatever。
　　"Idon’twantithidden，"shesaidwithoutturninground，"Iwanteveryonetoknow。It’sstupidasitis——stupid！"andshestampedherfoot。"Can’tyouseehowstupiditis——everybody’smouthfallingopen！"
　　Heutteredalittlesoundwhichhadpaininit，andshefeltarealpangofcompunction。Hehadgrippedthebackofachair;hisfacehadlostitsheaviness。Adullflushcolouredhischeeks。Noelhadafeeling，asifshehadbeenconvictedoftreachery。Itwashissilence，thecuriouslookofanimpersonalpainbeyondpowerofwords;shefeltinhimsomethingmuchdeeperthanmeredisapproval——
　　somethingwhichechoedwithinherself。Shewalkedquicklypasthimandescaped。Sheranupstairsandthrewherselfonherbed。Hewasnothing:itwasnotthat！Itwasinherself，theawfulfeeling，forthefirsttimedevelopedandpoignant，thatshehadbetrayedhercaste，forfeitedtherighttobethoughtalady，betrayedhersecretreserveandrefinement，repaidwithblackingratitudethelovelavishedonherupbringing，bybehavinglikeanyuncared—forcommongirl。Shehadneverfeltthisbefore——notevenwhenGratianfirstheardofit，andtheyhadstoodoneateachendofthehearth，unabletospeak。Thenshestillhadherpassion，andhergriefforthedead。Thatwasgonenowasifithadneverbeen;andshehadnodefence，nothingbetweenherandthiscrushinghumiliationandchagrin。Shehadbeenmad！Shemusthavebeenmad！TheBelgianBarrawasright:"Allalittlemad"inthis"forcing—house"ofawar！
　　Sheburiedherfacedeepinthepillow，tillitalmoststoppedherpowerofbreathing;herheadandcheeksandearsseemedtobeonfire。Ifonlyhehadshowndisgust，donesomethingwhichrousedhertemper，hersenseofjustice，herfeelingthatFatehadbeentoocrueltoher;，buthehadjuststoodthere，bewildermentincarnate，likeacreaturewithsomeverydeepillusionshattered。Itwashorrible！Then，feelingthatshecouldnotstaystill，mustwalk，run，getawaysomehowfromthisfeelingoftreacheryandbetrayal，shesprangup。Allwasquietbelow，andsheslippeddownstairsandout，speedingalongwithnoknowledgeofdirection，takingthewayshehadtakendayafterdaytoherhospital。ItwasthelastofApril，treesandshrubswerelusciouswithblossomandleaf;thedogsrangaily;peoplehadalmosthappyfacesinthesunshine。’IfI
　　couldgetawayfrommyself，Iwouldn’tcare，’shethought。Easytogetawayfrompeople，fromLondon，evenfromEnglandperhaps;butfromoneself——impossible！Shepassedherhospital;andlookedatitdully，attheRedCrossflagagainstitsstuccowall，andasoldierinhisblueslopsandredtie，comingout。Shehadspentmanymiserablehoursthere，butnonequitesomiserableasthis。ShepassedthechurchoppositetotheflatswhereLeilalived，andrunningsuddenlyintoatallmancomingroundthecorner，sawFort。
　　Shebentherhead，andtriedtohurrypast。Buthishandwasheldout，shecouldnothelpputtinghersintoit;andlookinguphardily，shesaid:
　　"Youknowaboutme，don’tyou？"
　　Hisface，naturallysofrank，seemedtoclenchup，asifhewereridingatafence。’He’lltellalie，’shethoughtbitterly。Buthedidnot。
　　"Yes，Leilatoldme。"
　　Andshethought:’Isupposehe’lltryandpretendthatI’venotbeenabeast！’
　　"Iadmireyourpluck，"hesaid。
　　"Ihaven’tany。"
　　"Weneverknowourselves，dowe？Isupposeyouwouldn’twalkmypaceaminuteortwo，wouldyou？I’mgoingthesameway。"
　　"Idon’tknowwhichwayI’mgoing。"
　　"Thatismycase，too。"
　　Theywalkedoninsilence。
　　"IwishtoGodIwerebackinFrance，"saidFortabruptly。"Onedoesn’tfeelcleanhere。"
　　Noel’sheartapplauded。
　　Ah！togetaway——awayfromoneself！Butatthethoughtofherbaby，herheartfellagain。"Isyourlegquitehopeless？"shesaid。
　　"Quite。"
　　"Thatmustbehorrid。"
　　"Hundredsofthousandswouldlookonitassplendidluck;andsoitisifyoucountitbettertobealivethandead，whichIdo，inspiteoftheblues。"
　　"HowisCousinLeila？"
　　"Verywell。Shegoesonpeggingawayatthehospital;she’sabrick。"Buthedidnotlookather，andagaintherewassilence，tillhestoppedbyLord’sCricket—ground。
　　"Imustn’tkeepyoucrawlingalongatthispace。"
　　"Oh，Idon’tmind！"
　　"IonlywantedtosaythatifIcanbeofanyservicetoyouatanytimeinanywaywhatever，pleasecommandme。"
　　Hegaveherhandasqueeze，tookhishatoff;andNoelwalkedslowlyon。Thelittleinterview，withitssuppressions，anditsimplications，hadbutexasperatedherrestlessness，andyet，inaway，ithadsoothedthesorenessofherheart。CaptainFortatalleventsdidnotdespiseher;andhewasintroublelikeherself。Shefeltthatsomehowbythelookofhisface，andthetoneofhisvoicewhenhespokeofLeila。Shequickenedherpace。George’swordscamebacktoher:"Ifyou’renotashamedofyourself，noonewillbeofyou！"Howeasytosay！Theolddays，herschool，thelittlehalfgrown—updancessheusedtogoto，wheneverythingwashappy。Gone！
　　Allgone！
　　ButhermeetingswithOpinionwerenotoverfortheday，forturningagainatlastintothehomeSquare，tiredoutbyherthreehours’
　　ramble，shemetanoldladywhomsheandGratianhadknownfrombabyhood——ahandsomedame，thewidowofanofficial，whospentherdays，whichshowednosymptomofdeclining，inadmirableworks。Herdaughter，thewidowofanofficerkilledattheMarne，waswithher，andthetwogreetedNoelwithashowerofcordialquestions:Soshewasbackfromthecountry，andwasshequitewellagain？Andworkingatherhospital？Andhowwasherdearfather？Theyhadthoughthimlookingverythinandworn。ButnowGratianwasathome——Howdreadfullythewarkepthusbandsandwivesapart！Andwhosewasthedearlittlebabytheyhadinthehouse？
　　"Mine，"saidNoel，walkingstraightpastthemwithherheadup。Ineveryfibreofherbeingshecouldfeelthehurt，startled，utterlybewilderedlooksofthosefirmfriendlypersonsleftthereonthepavementbehindher;couldfeelthewaytheywouldgatherthemselvestogether，andwalkon，perhapswithoutaword，andthenroundthecornerbegin:"WhathascometoNoel？Whatdidshemean？"Andtakingthelittlegoldhoopoutofherpocket，sheflungitwithallhermightintotheSquareGarden。Theactionsavedherfromabreakdown;andshewentincalmly。Lunchwaslongover，butherfatherhadnotgoneout，forhemetherinthehallanddrewherintothedining—room。
　　"Youmusteat，mychild，"hesaid。Andwhileshewasswallowingdownwhathehadcausedtobekeptbackforher，hestoodbythehearthinthatfavouriteattitudeofhis，onefootonthefender，andonehandgripping。themantel—shelf。
　　"You’vegotyourwish，Daddy，"shesaiddully:"Everybodyknowsnow。
　　I’vetoldMr。Lauder，andMonsieur，andtheDinnafords。"
　　Shesawhisfingersuncrisp，thengriptheshelfagain。"I’mglad，"
　　hesaid。
　　"AuntThirzagavemearingtowear，butI’vethrownitaway。"
　　"Mydearestchild，"hebegan，butcouldnotgoon，forthequiveringofhislips。
　　"Iwantedtosayoncemore，Daddy，thatI’mfearfullysorryaboutyou。AndIamashamedofmyself;IthoughtIwasn’t，butIam——only，Ithinkitwascruel，andI’mnotpenitenttoGod;andit’snogoodtryingtomakeme。"
　　Piersonturnedandlookedather。Foralongtimeafter，shecouldnotgetthatlookoutofhermemory。
　　JimmyForthadturnedawayfromNoelfeelingparticularlywretched。
　　EversincethedaywhenLeilahadtoldhimofthegirl’smisfortunehehadbeenawarethathisliaisonhadnodecentfoundation，saveasortofpity。Oneday，inaqueeraccessofcompunction，hehadmadeLeilaanofferofmarriage。Shehadrefused;andhehadrespectedherthemore，realisingbythequiverinhervoiceandthelookinhereyesthatsherefusedhim，notbecauseshedidnotlovehimwellenough，butbecauseshewasafraidoflosinganyofhisaffection。
　　Shewasawomanofgreatexperience。
　　To—dayhehadtakenadvantageoftheluncheonintervaltobringhersomeflowers，withanotetosaythathecouldnotcomethatevening。
　　Lettinghimselfinwithhislatchkey，hehadcarefullyputthoseJapaneseazaleasinthebowl"FamilleRose，"takingwaterfromherbedroom。Thenhehadsatdownonthedivanwithhisheadinhishands。
　　Thoughhehadrolledsomuchabouttheworld，hehadneverhadmuchtodowithwomen。AndtherewasnothinginhimoftheFrenchman，whotakeswhatlifeputsinhiswayassomuchenjoymentonthecreditside，andacceptstheendsofsuchaffairsastheynaturallyandratherrapidlyarrive。Ithadbeenapleasure，andwasnolongerapleasure;butthisapparentlydidnotdissolveit，orabsolvehim。
　　Hefelthimselfboundbyanobscurebutdeepinstincttogoonpretendingthathewasnottiredofher，solongasshewasnottiredofhim。Andhesattheretryingtorememberanysign，howeversmall，ofsuchaconsummation，quitewithoutsuccess。Onthecontrary，hehadeventhewretchedfeelingthatifonlyhehadlovedher，shewouldhavebeenmuchmorelikelytohavetiredofhimbynow。Forherhewasstilltheunconquered，inspiteofhisloyalendeavourtoseemconquered。Hehadmadeafatalmistake，thateveningaftertheconcertatQueen’sHall，tolethimselfgo，onamixedtideofdesireandpity！
　　HisfollycametohimwithincreasedpoignancyafterhehadpartedfromNoel。Howcouldhehavebeensuchabasefool，astohavecommittedhimselftoLeilaonaneveningwhenhehadactuallybeeninthecompanyofthatchild？Wasitthevague，unseizablelikenessbetweenthemwhichhadpushedhimovertheedge？’I’vebeenanass，’
　　hethought;’ahorribleass。’IwouldalwayshavegiveneveryhourI’veeverspentwithLeila，foronerealsmilefromthatgirl。’
　　ThissuddensightofNoelaftermonthsduringwhichhehadtriedloyallytoforgetherexistence，andnotsucceededatall，madehimrealiseasheneverhadyetthathewasinlovewithher;soverymuchinlovewithherthatthethoughtofLeilawasbecomenauseating。Andyettheinstinctsofagentlemanseemedtoforbidhimtobetraythatsecrettoeitherofthem。Itwasanaccursedcoil！Hehailedacab，forhewaslate;andallthewaybacktotheWarOfficehecontinuedtoseethegirl’sfigureandherfacewithitsshorthair。Andafearfultemptationrosewithinhim。Wasitnotshewhowasnowtherealobjectforchivalryandpity？Hadhenottherighttoconsecratehimselftochampionshipofoneinsuchadeplorableposition？Leilahadlivedherlife;butthischild’slife——prettywellwrecked——wasallbeforeher。Andthenhegrinnedfromsheerdisgust。ForheknewthatthiswasJesuitry。Notchivalrywasmovinghim，butlove！Love！Loveoftheunattainable！
　　Andwithaheavyheart，indeed，heenteredthegreatbuilding，where，inasmallroom，companionedbythetelephone，andsurroundedbysheetsofpapercoveredwithfigures，hepassedhisdays。Thewarmadeeverythingseemdreary，hopeless。Nowonderhehadcaughtatanydistractionwhichcamealong——caughtatit，tillithadcaughthim！
　　IV
　　1
　　Tofindouttheworstis，forhumannature，onlyaquestionoftime。
　　Butwherethe"worst"isattachedtoafamilyhaloed，asitwere，bytheauthorityandreputationofaninstitutionliketheChurch，theprocessofdiscoveryhastobreakthroughmanyalittlehedge。Sheerunlikelihood，genuinerespect，thedefensiveinstinctinthoseidentifiedwithaninstitution，whowillthemselvesfeelweakerifitsstrengthbediminished，thefeelingthatthescandalistoogoodtobetrue——alltheselittlehedges，andmore，hadtobebrokenthrough。TotheDinnafords，theunholyimportanceofwhatNoelhadsaidtothemwouldhavecontinuedtokeepthemdumb，outofself—
　　protection;butitsmonstrosityhadgiventhemthefeelingthattheremustbesomemistake，thatthegirlhadbeenovertakenbyawilddesireto"pulltheirlegs"asdearCharliewouldsay。Withthehopeofgettingthisviewconfirmed，theylayinwaitfortheoldnursewhotookthebabyout，andobtainedtheinformation，shortlyimparted:"Oh，yes;MissNoel’s。Her’usbandwaskilled——poorlamb！"
　　Andtheyfeltrewarded。Theyhadbeensuretherewassomemistake。
　　Thereliefofhearingthatword"’usband"wasintense。Oneofthesehastywarmarriages，ofwhichthedearVicarhadnotapproved，andsoithadbeenkeptdark。Quiteintelligible，butsosad！Enoughmisgivinghoweverremainedintheirminds，topreventtheirgoingtocondolewiththedearVicar;butnotenoughtopreventtheirroundlycontradictingtherumoursandgossipalreadycomingtotheirears。
　　Andthenoneday，whentheirfriendMrs。Curtishadsaidtoopositively:"Well，shedoesn’twearawedding—ring，thatI’llswear，becauseItookverygoodcaretolook！"theydeterminedtoaskMr。
　　Lauder。Hewould——indeedmust——know;and，ofcourse，wouldnottellastory。Whentheyaskedhimitwassomanifestthathedidknow，thattheyalmostwithdrewthequestion。Thepooryoungmanhadgonethecolourofatomato。
　　"Iprefernottoanswer，"hesaid。Therestofaveryshortinterviewwaspassedinexquisitediscomfort。Indeeddiscomfort，exquisiteandotherwise，withinafewweeksofNoel’sreturn，hadbeguntopervadeallthehabitualcongregationofPierson’schurch。
　　ItwasnoticedthatneitherofthetwosistersattendedServicenow。
　　CertainpeoplewhowentinthesincerehopeofseeingNoel，onlyfelloffagainwhenshedidnotappear。Afterall，shewouldnothavetheface！AndGratianwastooashamed，nodoubt。ItwasconstantlyremarkedthattheVicarlookedverygraveandthin，evenforhim。Astherumourshardenedintocertainty，thefeelingtowardshimbecameacuriousmedleyofsympathyandcondemnation。TherewasaboutthewholebusinessthatwhichEnglishpeopleespeciallyresent。BytheveryfactofhispresencebeforethemeverySunday，andhispublicministrations，hewasexhibitingtothem，asitwere，theseamedandblushingfaceofhisdaughter’sprivatelife，besidesaffordingonelongandglaringdemonstrationofthefailureoftheChurchtoguideitsflock:Ifamancouldnotkeephisowndaughterinthestraightpath——whomcouldhe？Resign！Thewordbegantobethoughtabout，butnotyetspoken。Hehadbeentheresolong;hehadspentsomuchmoneyonthechurchandtheparish;hisgentledreamymannerwasgreatlyliked。Hewasagentleman;andhadhelpedmanypeople;and，thoughhisloveofmusicandvestmentshadalwayscausedheart—
　　burnings，yetithadgivenacertaincachettothechurch。Thewomen，atanyrate，werealwaysgladtoknowthatthechurchtheywenttowascapableofdrawingtheirfellowwomenawayfromotherchurches。Besides，itwaswar—time，andmoraldelinquencywhichintimeofpeacewouldhavebulkedtoolargetoneglect，wasnowlessinsistentlydwelton，bymindspreoccupiedbyfoodandair—raids。
　　Things，ofcourse，couldnotgoonastheywere;butasyettheydidgoon。
　　Thetalked—aboutisalwaysthelasttohearthetalk;andnothingconcreteortangiblecamePierson’sway。Hewentabouthisusualroutinewithoutseemingchange。Andyettherewasachange，secretandcreeping。Woundedalmosttodeathhimself，hefeltasthoughsurroundedbyonegreatwoundinothers;butitwassomeweeksbeforeanythingoccurredtorousewithinhimtheweaponofangerortheprotectiveimpulse。
　　Andthenonedayalittleswiftbrutalityshookhimtotheverysoul。
　　Hewascominghomefromalongparishround，andhadturnedintotheSquare，whenalowvoicebehindhimsaid:
　　"Wotpricethelittlebarstard？"
　　Acold，sickfeelingstifledhisverybreathing;hegasped，andspunround，toseetwobigloutishboyswalkingfastaway。Withswiftandstealthypassionhesprangafterthem，andputtinghishandsontheirtwoneighbouringshoulders，wrenchedthemroundsothattheyfacedhim，withmouthsfallenopeninalarm。Shakingthemwithallhisforce，hesaid:
　　"Howdareyou——howdareyouusethatword？"Hisfaceandvoicemusthavebeenratherterrible，forthescareintheirfacesbroughthimtosuddenconsciousnessofhisownviolence，andhedroppedhishands。Intwosecondstheywereatthecorner。Theystoppedthereforasecond;oneofthemshouted"Gran’pa";thentheyvanished。Hewasleftwithlipsandhandsquivering，andafeelingthathehadnotknownforyears——theweakwhiteemptyfeelingonehasafteryieldingutterlytosuddenmurderousrage。Hecrossedover，andstoodleaningagainsttheGardenrailings，withthethought:’Godforgiveme！I
　　couldhavekilledthem——Icouldhavekilledthem！’Therehadbeenadevilinhim。Ifhehadhadsomethinginhishand，hemightnowhavebeenamurderer:Howawful！Onlyonehadspoken;buthecouldhavekilledthemboth！Andthewordwastrue，andwasinallmouths——alllowcommonmouths，dayafterday，ofhisowndaughter’schild！Theghastlinessofthisthought，broughthomesoutterly，madehimwrithe，andgrasptherailingsasifhewouldhavebentthem。
　　>Fromthatdayon，acreepingsensationofbeingrejectedofmen，neverlefthim;thesenseofidentificationwithNoelandhertinyoutcastbecameevermorepoignant，morereal;thedesiretoprotectthemevermorepassionate;andthefeelingthatroundabouttherewerewhisperingvoices，pointingfingers，andagrowingmalevolencewasevermoresickening。Hewasbeginningtootorealisethedeepandhiddentruth:Howeasilythebreathofscandaldestroystheinfluenceandsanctityofthoseendowedtherewithbyvocation;howinvaluableitistofeeluntarnished，andhowdifficulttofeelthatwhenothersthinkyoutarnished。
　　HetriedtobewithNoelasmuchaspossible;andintheeveningstheysometimeswentwalkstogether，withoutevertalkingofwhatwasalwaysintheirminds。BetweensixandeightthegirlwasgivingsittingstoLavendieinthedrawing—room，andsometimesPiersonwouldcomethereandplaytothem。HewasalwayspossessednowbyasenseofthedangerNoelranfromcompanionshipwithanyman。Onthreeoccasions，JimmyFortmadehisappearanceafterdinner。Hehadsolittletosaythatitwasdifficulttounderstandwhyhecame;but，sharpenedbythisnewdreadforhisdaughter，Piersonnoticedhiseyesalwaysfollowingher。’Headmiresher，’hethought;andoftenhewouldtryhisutmosttograspthecharacterofthisman，whohadlivedsucharovinglife。’Ishe——canhebethesortofmanIwouldtrustNollieto？’hewouldthink。’Oh，thatIshouldhavetohopelikethisthatsomegoodmanwouldmarryher——mylittleNollie，achildonlytheotherday！’
　　Inthesesad，painful，lonelyweekshefoundaspotofsomethinglikerefugeinLeila’ssitting—room，andwouldgothereoftenforhalfanhourwhenshewasbackfromherhospital。Thatlittleblack—walledroomwithitsJapaneseprintsanditsflowers，soothedhim。AndLeilasoothedhim，innocentashewasofanyknowledgeofherlatestaberration，andperhapsconsciousthatsheherselfwasnottoohappy。
　　Towatchherarrangingflowers，singingherlittleFrenchsongs，ortofindherbesidehim，listeningtohisconfidences，wastheonlyrealpleasureheknewinthesedays。AndLeila，inturn，wouldwatchhimandthink:’PoorEdward！Hehasneverlived;andneverwill;
　　now！’Butsometimesthethoughtwouldshootthroughher:’Perhapshe’stobeenvied。Hedoesn’tfeelwhatIfeel，anyway。WhydidI
　　fallinloveagain？’
　　TheydidnotspeakofNoelasarule，butoneeveningsheexpressedherviewsroundly。
　　"ItwasagreatmistaketomakeNoelcomeback。Edward。ItwasQuixotic。You’llbeluckyifrealmischiefdoesn’tcomeofit。
　　She’snotapatientcharacter;onedayshe’lldosomethingrash。
　　And，mindyou，she’llbemuchmorelikelytobreakoutifsheseestheworldtreatingyoubadlythanifithappenstoherself。Ishouldsendherbacktothecountry，beforeshemakesbadworse。"
　　"Ican’tdothat，Leila。Wemustliveitdowntogether。"
　　"Wrong，Edward。Youshouldtakethingsastheyare。"
　　WithaheavysighPiersonanswered:
　　"IwishIcouldseeherfuture。She’ssoattractive。Andherdefencesaregone。She’slostfaith，andbeliefinallthatagoodwomanshouldbe。Thedayaftershecamebackshetoldmeshewasashamedofherself。Butsince——she’snotgivenasign。She’ssoproud——mypoorlittleNollie。Iseehowmenadmireher，too。OurBelgianfriendispaintingher。He’sagoodman;buthefindsherbeautiful，andwhocanwonder。AndyourfriendCaptainFort。
　　Fathersaresupposedtobeblind，buttheyseeveryclearsometimes。"
　　Leilaroseanddrewdownablind。
　　"Thissun，"shesaid。"DoesJimmyFortcometoyou——often？"
　　"Oh！no;veryseldom。Butstill——Icansee。"
　　’Youbat——youblunderer！’thoughtLeila:’See！Youcan’tevenseethisbesideyou！’
　　"Iexpecthe’ssorryforher，"shesaidinaqueervoice。
　　"Whyshouldhebesorry？Hedoesn’tknow:"
　　"Oh，yes！Heknows;Itoldhim。"
　　"Youtoldhim！"
　　"Yes，"Leilarepeatedstubbornly;"andhe’ssorryforher。"
　　Andeventhen"thismonk"besideherdidnotsee，andwentblunderingon。
　　"No，no;it’snotmerelythathe’ssorry。Bythewayhelooksather，IknowI’mnotmistaken。I’vewondered——whatdoyouthink，Leila。He’stoooldforher;butheseemsanhonourable，kindman。"
　　"Oh！amosthonourable，kindman。"Butonlybypressingherhandagainstherlipshadshesmotheredaburstofbitterlaughter。He，whosawnothing，couldyetnoticeFort’seyeswhenhelookedatNoel，andbepositivethathewasinlovewithher！Howplainlythoseeyesmustspeak！Hercontrolgaveway。
　　"Allthisisveryinteresting，"shesaid，spurningherwordslikeNoel，"consideringthathe’smorethanmyfriend，Edward。"Itgaveherasortofpleasuretoseehimwince。’Theseblindbats！’shethought，terriblystungthatheshouldsoclearlyassumeheroutoftherunning。Thenshewassorry，hisfacehadbecomesostillandwistful。Andturningaway，shesaid:
　　"Oh！Ishan’tbreakmyheart;I’magoodloser。AndI’magoodfighter，too;perhapsIshan’tlose。"Andsnappingoffasprigofgeranium，shepressedittoherlips。
　　"Forgiveme，"saidPiersonslowly;"Ididn’tknow。I’mstupid。I
　　thoughtyourloveforyourpoorsoldiershadleftnoroomforotherfeelings。"
　　Leilautteredashrilllaugh。"Whathavetheytodowitheachother？
　　Didyouneverhearofpassion，Edward？Oh！Don’tlookatmelikethat。Doyouthinkawomancan’tfeelpassionatmyage？Asmuchasever，morethanever，becauseit’sallslippingaway。"
　　Shetookherhandfromherlips，butageraniumpetalwasleftclingingthere，likeabloodstain。"Whathasyourlifebeenalltheseyears，"shewentonvehemently——"suppressionofpassion，nothingelse！YoumonkstwistNatureupwithholywords，andtrytodisguisewhattheeeriestsimpletoncansee。Well，Ihaven’tsuppressedpassion，Edward。That’sall。"
　　"Andareyouhappierforthat？"
　　"Iwas;andIshallbeagain。"
　　AlittlesmilecurledPierson’slips。"Shallbe？"hesaid。"Ihopeso。It’sjusttwowaysoflookingatthings，Leila。"
　　"Oh，Edward！Don’tbesogentle！Isupposeyoudon’tthinkapersonlikemecaneverreallylove？"
　　Hewasstandingbeforeherwithhisheaddown，andasensethat，naiveandbat—likeashewas，therewassomethinginhimshecouldnotreachorunderstand，madehercryout:
　　"I’venotbeennicetoyou。Forgiveme，Edward！I’msounhappy。"
　　"TherewasaGreekwhousedtosay:’Godisthehelpingofmanbyman。’Itisn’ttrue，butit’sbeautiful。Good—bye，dearLeila，anddon’tbesorrowful"
　　Shesqueezedhishand，andturnedtothewindow。
　　Shestoodtherewatchinghisblackfigurecrosstheroadinthesunshine，andpassroundthecornerbytherailingsofthechurch。
　　Hewalkedquickly，veryupright;therewassomethingunseeingevenaboutthatbackviewofhim;orwasitthathesaw—anotherworld？
　　Shehadneverlostthementalhabitsofherorthodoxgirlhood，andinspiteofallimpatience，recognisedhissanctity。Whenhehaddisappearedshewentintoherbedroom。Whathehadsaid，indeed，wasnodiscovery。Shehadknown。Oh！Shehadknown。’Whydidn’tI
　　acceptJimmy’soffer？Whydidn’tImarryhim？Isittoolate？’shethought。’CouldI？Wouldhe——evennow？’Butthenshestartedawayfromherownthought。Marryhim！knowinghisheartwaswiththisgirl？