Unwontedsilencereigned。Hetappedonthenurserydoor。Itwasdeserted;hepassedthroughtoNoel’sroom;butthattoowasempty。
　　Thewardrobestoodopenasifithadbeenhastilyransacked，andherdressing—tablewasbare。Inalarmhewenttothebellandpulleditsharply。Theold—fashionedringofitjingledoutfarbelow。Theparlour—maidcameup。
　　"WhereareMissNoelandNurse，Susan？"
　　"Ididn’tknowyouwerein，sir。MissNoelleftmethisnotetogiveyou。They——I——"
　　Piersonstoppedherwithhishand。"Thankyou，Susan;getmesometea，please。"Withthenoteunopenedinhishand，hewaitedtillshewasgone。Hisheadwasgoinground，andhesatdownonthesideofNoel’sbedtoread:
　　"DARLINGDADDY，"Themanwhocamethismorningtoldmeofwhatisgoingtohappen。I
　　simplywon’thaveit。I’msendingNurseandbabydowntoKestrelatonce，andgoingtoLeila’sforthenight，untilI’vemadeupmymindwhattodo。Iknewitwasamistakemycomingback。Idon’tcarewhathappenstome，butIwon’thaveyouhurt。Ithinkit’shatefulofpeopletotryandinjureyouformyfault。I’vehadtoborrowmoneyfromSusan—sixpounds。Oh！Daddydear，forgiveme。
　　"YourlovingNOLLIE。"
　　Hereaditwithunutterablerelief;atalleventsheknewwhereshewas——poor，wilful，rushing，loving—heartedchild;knewwhereshewas，andcouldgetather。Afterhisbathandsometea，hewouldgotoLeila’sandbringherback。PoorlittleNollie，thinkingthatbyjustleavinghishouseshecouldsettlethisdeepmatter！Hedidnothurry，feelingdecidedlyexhausted，anditwasnearlyeightbeforehesetout，leavingamessageforGratian，whodidnotasarulecomeinfromherhospitaltillpastnine。
　　Thedaywasstillglowing，andnow，inthecoolofevening，hisrefreshedsensessoakedupitsbeauty。’Godhassomadethisworld，’
　　hethought，’that，nomatterwhatourstrugglesandsufferings，it’severajoytolivewhenthesunshines，orthemoonisbright，orthenightstarry。Evenwecan’tspoilit。’InRegent’sParkthelilacsandlaburnumswerestillinbloomthoughJunehadcome，andhegazedattheminpassing，asalovermightathislady。Hisconscienceprickedhimsuddenly。Mrs。Mitchettandthedark—eyedgirlshehadbroughttohimonNewYear’sEve，theverynighthehadlearnedofhisowndaughter’stragedy——hadheeverthoughtofthemsince？Howhadthatpoorgirlfared？Hehadbeentooimpatientofherimpenetrablemood。Whatdidheknowoftheheartsofothers，whenhedidnotevenknowhisown，couldnotrulehisfeelingsofangerandrevolt，hadnotguidedhisowndaughterintothewatersofsafety！
　　AndLeila！Hadhenotbeentoocensoriousinthought？Howpowerful，howstrangewasthisinstinctofsex，whichhoveredandswoopedonlives，seizedthem，borethemaway，thendroppedthemexhaustedanddefenceless！Somemunition—wagons，paintedadullgrey，lumberedpast，drivenbysunburnedyouthsindrab。Life—force，Death—force——
　　wasitallone;thegreatunknowablemomentumfromwhichtherewasbuttheoneescape，inthearmsoftheirHeavenlyFather？Blake’slittleoldstanzascameintohismind:
　　"Andweareputonearthalittlespace，Thatwemaylearntobearthebeamsoflove;
　　AndtheseblackbodiesandthissunburntfaceArebutacloud，andlikeashadygrove。
　　"Forwhenoursoulshavelearnedtheheattobear，Thecloudwillvanish，weshallhearHisvoice，Saying:Comeoutfromthegrove，myloveandcare，Androundmygoldententlikelambsrejoice！"
　　Learnedtheheattobear！Thoselambshehadwatchedinafieldthatafternoon，theirsuddenlittleleapsandrushes，theirfunnyquiveringwrigglingtails，theirtinynuzzlingblacksnouts——whatlittlemiraclesofcarelessjoyamongthemeadowflowers！Lambs，andflowers，andsunlight！Famine，lust，andthegreatgreyguns！A
　　maze，awilderness;andbutforfaith，whatissue，whatpathformantotakewhichdidnotkeephimwanderinghopeless，initsthicket？
　　’Godpreserveourfaithinlove，incharity，andthelifetocome！’
　　hethought。Andablindmanwithadog，towhoseneckwastiedalittledeepdishforpennies，groundahurdy—gurdyashepassed。
　　Piersonputashillinginthedish。Themanstoppedplaying，hiswhitisheyeslookedup。"Thankyoukindly，sir;I’llgohomenow。
　　Comeon，Dick！"Hetappedhiswayroundthecorner，withhisdogstraininginfront。Ablackbirdhiddenamongtheblossomsofanacacia，burstintoeveningsong，andanothergreatgreymunition—
　　wagonrumbledoutthroughtheParkgate。
　　2
　　TheChurch—clockwasstrikingninewhenhereachedLeila’sflat，wentup，andknocked。Soundsfrom—apianoceased;thedoorwasopenedbyNoel。Sherecoiledwhenshesawwhoitwas，andsaid:
　　"Whydidyoucome，Daddy？Itwasmuchbetternot。"
　　"Areyoualonehere？"
　　"Yes;Leilagavemeherkey。Shehastobeatthehospitaltilltento—night"
　　"Youmustcomehomewithme，mydear。"
　　Noelclosedthepiano，andsatdownonthedivan。HerfacehadthesameexpressionaswhenhehadtoldherthatshecouldnotmarryCyrilMorland。
　　"Come，Nollie，"hesaid;"don’tbeunreasonable。Wemustseethisthroughtogether。"
　　"No。"
　　"Mydear，that’schildish。Doyouthinkthemereaccidentofyourbeingornotbeingathomecanaffectmydecisionastowhatmydutyis？"
　　"Yes;it’smybeingtherethatmatters。Thosepeopledon’tcare，solongasitisn’tanopenscandal"
　　"Nollie！"
　　"Butitisso，Daddy。Ofcourseit’sso，andyouknowit。IfI’mawaythey’lljustpityyouforhavingabaddaughter。Andquiterighttoo。Iamabaddaughter。"
　　Piersonsmiled。"Justlikewhenyouwereatiny。"
　　"IwishIwereatinyagain，ortenyearsolder。It’sthishalfage——ButI’mnotcomingbackwithyou，Daddy;soit’snogood。"
　　Piersonsatdownbesideher。
　　"I’vebeenthinkingthisoverallday，"hesaidquietly。"PerhapsinmyprideImadeamistakewhenIfirstknewofyourtrouble。PerhapsIoughttohaveacceptedtheconsequencesofmyfailure，then，andhavegivenup，andtakenyouawayatonce。Afterall，ifamanisnotfittohavethecareofsouls，heshouldhavethegracetoknowit。"
　　"Butyouarefit，"criedNoelpassionately;"Daddy，youarefit！"
　　"I’mafraidnot。Thereissomethingwantinginme，Idon’tknowexactlywhat;butsomethingverywanting。"
　　"Thereisn’t。It’sonlythatyou’retoogood——that’swhy！"
　　Piersonshookhishead。"Don’t，Nollie！"
　　"Iwill，"criedNoel。"You’retoogentle，andyou’retoogood。
　　You’recharitable，andyou’resimple，andyoubelieveinanotherworld;that’swhat’sthematterwithyou，Daddy。Doyouthinktheydo，thosepeoplewhowanttochaseusout？Theydon’tevenbegintobelieve，whatevertheysayorthink。Ihatethem，andsometimesI
　　hatetheChurch;eitherit’shardandnarrow，orelseit’sworldly。"
　　Shestoppedattheexpressiononherfather’sface，themoststrangelookofpain，andhorror，asifanunspokentreacheryofhisownhadbeendraggedforthforhisinspection。
　　"You’retalkingwildly，"hesaid，buthislipsweretrembling。"Youmustn’tsaythingslikethat;they’reblasphemousandwicked。"
　　Noelbitherlips，sittingverystiffandstill，againstahighbluecushion。Thensheburstoutagain:
　　"You’veslavedforthosepeopleyearsandyears，andyou’vehadnopleasureandyou’vehadnolove;andtheywouldn’tcarethatifyoubrokeyourheart。Theydon’tcareforanything，solongasitallseemsproper。Daddy，ifyouletthemhurtyou，Iwon’tforgiveyou！"
　　"Andwhatifyouhurtmenow，Nollie？"
　　Noelpressedhishandagainstherwarmcheek。
　　"Oh，no！Oh，no！Idon’t——Iwon’t。Notagain。I’vedonethatalready。"
　　"Verywell，mydear！thencomehomewithme，andwe’llseewhat’sbesttobedone。Itcan’tbesettledbyrunningaway。"
　　Noeldroppedhishand。"No。TwiceI’vedonewhatyouwanted，andit’sbeenamistake。IfIhadn’tgonetoChurchonSundaytopleaseyou，perhapsitwouldneverhavecometothis。Youdon’tseethings，Daddy。Icouldtell，thoughIwassittingrightinfront。Iknewwhattheirfaceswerelike，andwhattheywerethinking。"
　　"Onemustdoright，Nollie，andnotmind。"
　　"Yes;butwhatisright？It’snotrightformetohurtyou，andI’mnotgoingto。"
　　Piersonunderstoodallatoncethatitwasuselesstotryandmoveher。
　　"Whatareyougoingtodo，then？"
　　"IsupposeIshallgotoKestrelto—morrow。Auntiewillhaveme，I
　　know;IshalltalktoLeila。"
　　"Whateveryoudo，promisetoletmeknow。"
　　Noelnodded。
　　"Daddy，you——lookawfully，awfullytired。I’mgoingtogiveyousomemedicine。"Shewenttoalittlethree—corneredcupboard，andbentdown。Medicine！Themedicinehewantedwasnotforthebody;
　　knowledgeofwhathisdutywas——thatalonecouldhealhim！
　　Theloudpoppingofacorkrousedhim。"Whatareyoudoing，Nollie？"
　　Noelrosewithaflushedface，holdinginonehandaglassofchampagne，intheotherabiscuit。
　　"You’retotakethis;andI’mgoingtohavesomemyself。"
　　"Mydear，"saidPiersonbewildered;"it’snotyours。"
　　"Drinkit;Daddy！Don’tyouknowthatLeilawouldneverforgivemeifIletyougohomelookinglikethat。Besides，shetoldmeIwastoeat。Drinkit。Youcansendheranicepresent。Drinkit！"Andshestampedherfoot。
　　Piersontooktheglass，andsattherenibblingandsipping。Itwasnice，very！Hehadnotquiterealisedhowmuchheneededfoodanddrink。Noelreturnedfromthecupboardasecondtime;shetoohadaglassandabiscuit。
　　"There，youlookbetteralready。Nowyou’retogohomeatonce，inacabifyoucangetone;andtellGratiantomakeyoufeedup，oryouwon’thaveabodyatall;youcan’tdoyourdutyifyouhaven’tone，youknow。"
　　Piersonsmiled，andfinishedthechampagne。
　　Noeltooktheglassfromhim。"You’remychildto—night，andI’mgoingtosendyoutobed。Don’tworry，Daddy;it’llallcomeright。"
　　And，takinghisarm，shewentdownstairswithhim，andblewhimakissfromthedoorway。
　　Hewalkedawayinasortofdream。Daylightwasnotquitegone，butthemoonwasup，justpastitsfull，andthesearch—lightshadbeguntheirnightlywanderings。Itwasaskyofghostsandshadows，fittingtothethoughtwhichcametohim。ThefingerofProvidencewasinallthis，perhaps！WhyshouldhenotgoouttoFrance！Atlast;whynot？Somebetterman，whounderstoodmen’shearts，whoknewtheworld，wouldtakehisplace;andhecouldgowheredeathmadeallthingssimple，andhecouldnotfail。Hewalkedfasterandfaster，fullofanintoxicatingrelief。ThirzaandGratianwouldtakecareofNolliefarbetterthanhe。Yes，surelyitwasordained！
　　Moonlighthadthetownnow;andallwassteelblue，theveryairsteel—blue;adream—cityofmarvellousbeauty，throughwhichhepassed，exalted。Soonhewouldbewherethatpoorboy，andamillionothers，hadgiventheirlives;withthemudandtheshellsandthescarredgreyground，andthejaggedtrees，whereChristwasdailycrucified——therewherehehadsooftenlongedtobethesethreeyearspast。Itwasordained！
　　Andtwowomenwhomhemetlookedateachotherwhenhehadgoneby，andthosewords’theblightedcrow’whichtheyhadbeenabouttospeak，diedontheirlips。
　　VIII
　　Noelfeltlight—heartedtoo，asifshehadwonavictory。Shefoundsomepottedmeat，spreaditonanotherbiscuit，ateitgreedily，andfinishedthepintbottleofchampagne。Thenshehuntedforthecigarettes，andsatdownatthepiano。Sheplayedoldtunes——"ThereisaTavernintheTown，""OnceILovedaMaidenFair，""MowingtheBarley，""Clementine，""Lowlands，"andsangtothemsuchwordsassheremembered。Therewasadeliciousrunninginherveins，andonceshegotupanddanced。Shewaskneelingatthewindow，lookingout，whensheheardthedooropen，andwithoutgettingup，criedout:
　　"Isn’titagorgeousnight！I’vehadDaddyhere。Igavehimsomeofyourchampagne，anddranktherest——"thenwasconsciousofafigurefartootallforLeila，andaman’svoicesaying:
　　"I’mawfullysorry。It’sonlyI，JimmyFort。"
　　Noelscrambledup。"Leilaisn’tin;butshewillbedirectly——it’spastten。"
　　Hewasstandingstock—stillinthemiddleoftheroom。
　　"Won’tyousitdown？Oh！andwon’tyouhaveacigarette？"
　　"Thanks。"
　　Bytheflashofhisbriquetteshesawhisfaceclearly;thelookonitfilledherwithasortofmaliciousglee。
　　"I’mgoingnow，"shesaid。"WouldyoumindtellingLeilathatI
　　foundIcouldn’tstop？"Shemadetowardsthedivantogetherhat。
　　Whenshehadputiton，shefoundhimstandingjustinfrontofher。
　　"Noel—ifyoudon’tmindmecallingyouthat？"
　　"Notabit。"
　　"Don’tgo;I’mgoingmyself。"
　　"Oh，no！Notforworlds。"Shetriedtoslippast，buthetookholdofherwrist。
　　"Please;justoneminute！"
　　Noelstayedmotionless，lookingathim，whilehishandstillheldherwrist。Hesaidquietly:
　　"Doyoumindtellingmewhyyoucamehere？"
　　"Oh，justtoseeLeila。"
　　"Thingshavecometoaheadathome，haven’tthey？"
　　Noelshruggedhershoulders。
　　"Youcameforrefuge，didn’tyou？"
　　"Fromwhom？"
　　"Don’tbeangry;fromtheneedofhurtingyourfather。"
　　Shenodded。
　　"Iknewitwouldcometothat。Whatareyougoingtodo？"
　　"Enjoymyself。"Shewassayingsomethingfatuous，yetshemeantit。
　　"That’sabsurd。Don’tbeangry！You’requiteright。Only，youmustbeginattherightend，mustn’tyou？Sitdown！"
　　Noeltriedtofreeherwrist。
　　"No;sitdown，please。"
　　Noelsatdown;butasheloosedherwrist，shelaughed。ThiswaswherehesatwithLeila，wheretheywouldsitwhenshewasgone。
　　"It’sawfullyfunny，isn’tit？"shesaid。
　　"Funny？"hemutteredsavagely。"Mostthingsare，inthisfunnyworld。"
　　Thesoundofataxistoppingnotfaroffhadcometoherears，andshegatheredherfeetunderher，plantingthemfirmly。Ifshesprangup，couldsheslipbyhimbeforehecaughtherarmagain，andgetthattaxi？
　　"IfIgonow，"hesaid，"willyoupromisemetostoptillyou’veseenLeila？"
　　"No。"
　　"That’sfoolish。Come，promise！"
　　Noelshookherhead。Shefeltaperversepleasureathisembarrassment。
　　"Leila’slucky，isn’tshe？Nochildren，nohusband，nofather，noanything。Lovely！"
　　Shesawhisarmgoupasiftowardoffablow。"PoorLeila！"hesaid。
　　"Whyareyousorryforher？Shehasfreedom！Andshehasyou！"
　　Sheknewitwouldhurt;butshewantedtohurthim。
　　"Youneedn’tenvyherforthat。"
　　Hehadjustspoken，whenNoelsawafigureoverbythedoor。
　　Shejumpedup，andsaidbreathlessly:
　　"Oh，hereyouare，Leila！Father’sbeenhere，andwe’vehadsomeofyourchampagne！"
　　"Capital！Youareinthedark！"
　　Noelfeltthebloodrushintohercheeks。Thelightleapedup，andLeilacameforward。Shelookedextremelypale，calm，andself—
　　contained，inhernurse’sdress;herfulllipsweretightlypressedtogether，butNoelcouldseeherbreastheavingviolently。Aturmoilofshameandwoundedpridebeganraginginthegirl。Whyhadshenotflownlongago？Whyhadsheletherselfbetrappedlikethis？Leilawouldthinkshehadbeenmakinguptohim！Horrible！Disgusting！
　　Whydidn’the——whydidn’tsomeone，speak？ThenLeilasaid:
　　"Ididn’texpectyou，Jimmy;I’mgladyouhaven’tbeendull。Noelisstayinghereto—night。Givemeacigarette。Sitdown，bothofyou。
　　I’mawfullytired！"
　　Shesankintoachair，leaningback，withherkneescrossed;andatthatmomentNoeladmiredher。Shehadsaiditbeautifully;shelookedsocalm。Fortwaslightinghercigarette;hishandwasshaking，hisfaceallsorryandmortified。
　　"GiveNoelone，too，anddrawthecurtains，Jimmy。Quick！Notthatitmakesanydifference;it’saslightasday。Sitdown，dear。"
　　ButNoelremainedstanding。
　　"Whathaveyoubeentalkingof？LoveandChineselanterns，oronlyme？"
　　AtthosewordsFort，whowasdrawingthelastcurtain，turnedround;
　　histallfigurewaspoisedawkwardlyagainstthewall，hisface，unsuitedtodiplomacy，hadalookasoffleshbeingbeaten。Ifwealshadstartedupacrossit，Noelwouldnothavebeensurprised。
　　Hesaidwithpainfulslowness:
　　"Idon’texactlyknow;wehadhardlybegun，hadwe？"
　　"Thenightisyoung，"saidLeila。"GoonwhileIjusttakeoffmythings。"
　　Sherosewiththecigarettebetweenherlips，andwentintotheinnerroom。Inpassing，shegaveNoelalook。Whattherewasinthatlook，thegirlcouldnevermakecleareventoherself。Perhapsacreatureshotwouldgazelikethat，withasortofprofoundanddistantquestioning，reproach，andanger，withasortofpride，andthequiverofdeath。Asthedoorclosed，Fortcamerightacrosstheroom。
　　"Gotoher;"criedNoel;"shewantsyou。Can’tyousee，shewantsyou？"
　　Andbeforehecouldmove，shewasatthedoor。Sheflewdownstairs，andoutintothemoonlight。Thetaxi，alittlewayoff，wasjustbeginningtomoveaway;sherantowardsit，callingout:
　　"Anywhere！Piccadilly！"andjumpingin，blottedherselfagainstthecushionsinthefarcorner。
　　Shedidnotcometoherself，asitwere，forseveralminutes，andthenfeelingshe’couldnolongerbearthecab，stoppedit，andgotout。Wherewasshe？BondStreet！Shebegan，idly，wanderingdownitsnarrowlength;thefulleststreetbyday，theemptiestbynight。
　　Oh！ithadbeenhorrible！Nothingsaidbyanyofthem——nothing，andyeteverythingdraggedout——ofhim，ofLeila，ofherself！Sheseemedtohavenoprideordecencyleft，asifshehadbeencaughtstealing。
　　Allherhappyexhilarationwasgone，leavingamiserablerecklessness。Nothingshedidwasright，nothingturnedoutwell，sowhatdiditallmatter？Themoonlightfloodingdownbetweenthetallhousesgaveherapeculiarheadyfeeling。"Fey"herfatherhadcalledher。Shelaughed。’ButI’mnotgoinghome，’shethought。
　　Boredwiththestreet’slength;sheturnedoff，andwassuddenlyinHanoverSquare。TherewastheChurch，grey—white，whereshehadbeenbridesmaidtoasecondcousin，whenshewasfifteen。Sheseemedtoseeitallagain——herfrock，theliliesinherhand，thesurplicesofthechoir，thebride’sdress，allmoonlight—coloured，andunreal。
　　’Iwonderwhat’sbecomeofher！’shethought。’He’sdead，Iexpect，likeCyril！’Shesawherfather’sfaceashewasmarryingthem，heardhisvoice:"Forbetter，forworse，forricher，forpoorer，insicknessandinhealth，tilldeathdoyoupart。"AndthemoonlightontheChurchseemedtoshiftandquiver—somepigeonsperhapshadbeendisturbedupthere。Theninsteadofthatweddingvision，shesawMonsieurBarra，sittingonhischair，gazingatthefloor，andChicanursingherdoll。"Allmad，mademoiselle，alittlemad。
　　Millionsofmenwithwhitesouls，butallalittletinybitmad，youknow。"ThenLeila’sfacecamebeforeher，withthatlookinhereyes。ShefeltagainthehotclaspofFort’sfingersonherwrist，andwalkedon，rubbingitwiththeotherhand。SheturnedintoRegentStreet。ThewidecurveoftheQuadrantsweptintoaskyofunrealblue，andtheorange—shadedlampsmerelyaddedtotheunreality。’LoveandChineselanterns！Ishouldlikesomecoffee，’
　　shethoughtsuddenly。ShewasquiteclosetotheplacewhereLavendiehadtakenher。Shouldshegointhere？Whynot？Shemustgosomewhere。Sheturnedintotherevolvingcageofglass。ButnosoonerwassheimprisonedtherethaninaflashLavendie’sfaceofdisgust;andthered—lippedwomen，thegreenstuffthatsmelledofpeppermintcameback，fillingherwitharushofdismay。Shemadethefullcircleintherevolvingcage;andcameoutintothestreetagainwithalaugh。Atallyoungmaninkhakistoodthere:"Hallo！"
　　hesaid。"Comeinanddance！"Shestarted，recoiledfromhimandbegantowalkawayasfastasevershecould。Shepassedawomanwhoseeyesseemedtoscorchher。Awomanlikeaswiftvisionofruinwiththoseeyes，andthicklypowderedcheeks，andlooseredmouth。
　　Noelshudderedandfledalong，feelingthatheronlysafetylayinspeed。Butshecouldnotwalkaboutallnight。TherewouldbenotrainforKestreltillthemorning——anddidshereallywanttogothere，andeatherheartout？SuddenlyshethoughtofGeorge。Whyshouldshenotgodowntohim？Hewouldknowwhatwasbestforhertodo。AtthefootofthestepsbelowtheWaterlooColumnshestoodstill。Allwasquietthereandempty，thegreatbuildingswhitened，thetreesblurredandblue;andsweeterairwascomingacrosstheirfloweringtops。Thequeer"fey"moonysensationwasstillwithher;
　　sothatshefeltsmallandlight，asifshecouldhavefloatedthrougharing。FaintrimsoflightshowedroundthewindowsoftheAdmiralty。Thewar！Howeverlovelythenight，howeversweetthelilacsmelt—thatneverstopped！Sheturnedawayandpassedoutunderthearch，makingforthestation。Thetrainofthewoundedhadjustcomein，andshestoodinthecheeringcrowdwatchingtheambulancesrunout。Tearsofexcitedemotionfilledhereyes，andtrickleddown。Steady，smooth，grey，oneaftertheothertheycamegliding，withalittleburstofcheersgreetingeachone。Allweregonenow，andshecouldpassin。Shewenttothebuffetandgotalargecupofcoffee，andabun。Then，havingnotedthetimeofherearlymorningtrain，shesoughttheladies’waiting—room，andsittingdowninacorner，tookoutherpurseandcountedhermoney。Twopoundsfifteen—enoughtogotothehotel，ifsheliked。But，withoutluggage——itwassoconspicuous，andshecouldsleepinthiscornerallright，ifshewanted。Whatdidgirlsdowhohadnomoney，andnofriendstogoto？Tuckedawayinthecornerofthatempty，heavy，varnishedroom，sheseemedtoseethecrueltyandhardnessoflifeasshehadneverbeforeseenit，notevenwhenfacingherconfinement。
　　Howluckyshehadbeen，andwas！Everyonewasgoodtoher。Shehadnorealwantordangers，toface。But，forwomen——yes，andmentoo——
　　whohadnoonetofallbackon，nothingbuttheirownhandsandhealthandluck，itmustbeawful。Thatgirlwhoseeyeshadscorchedher——perhapsshehadnoone——nothing。Andpeoplewhowerebornill，andthemillionsofpoorwomen，likethosewhomshehadgonevisitingwithGratiansometimesinthepoorerstreetsofherfather’sparish——
　　forthefirsttimesheseemedtoreallyknowandfeelthesortoflivestheyled。Andthen，Leila’sfacecamebacktoheroncemore——
　　Leilawhomshehadrobbed。Andtheworstofitwas，that，alongsideherremorsefulsympathy，shefeltasortofsatisfaction。ShecouldnothelphisnotlovingLeila，shecouldnothelpitifhelovedherself！Andhedid——sheknewit！Tofeelthatanyonelovedherwassocomforting。Butitwasallawful！Andshe——thecauseofit！Andyet——shehadneverdoneorsaidanythingtoattracthim。No！Shecouldnothavehelpedit。
　　Shehadbeguntofeeldrowsy，andclosedhereyes。Andgraduallytherecameonheracoseysensation，asifshewereleaningupagainstsomeonewithherheadtuckedinagainsthisshoulder，asshehadsooftenleanedasachildagainstherfather，comingbackfromsomelongdarkeningdriveinWalesorScotland。SheseemedeventofeelthewetsoftWesterlyaironherfaceandeyelids，andtosniffthescentofafriezecoat;tohearthejogofhoofsandtherollingofthewheels;tofeeltheclosinginofthedarkness。Then，sodimlyanddrowsily，sheseemedtoknowthatitwasnotherfather，butsomeone——someone——thennomore，nomoreatall。