XII
　　WhenNoelfled，Forthadstartedforwardtostopher;then，realisingthatwithhislamenesshecouldnevercatchher，hewentbackandenteredLeila’sbedroom。
　　Shehadtakenoffherdress，andwasstandinginfrontofherglass，withthecigarettestillinhermouth;andtheonlymovementwasthecurlingofitsbluesmoke。Hecouldseeherfacereflected，pale，withalittlespotofredineachcheek，andburningredears。Shehadnotseemedtohearhimcomingin，buthesawhereyeschangewhentheycaughthisreflectioninthemirror。Fromlostandblank，theybecamealiveandsmouldering。
　　"Noel’sgone！"hesaid。
　　Sheanswered，asiftohisreflectionintheglass"Andyouhaven’tgonetoo？Ah，no！Ofcourse——yourleg！Shefled，Isuppose？Itwasratherajar，mycomingin，I’mafraid。"
　　"No;itwasmycominginthatwasthejar。"
　　Leilaturnedround。"Jimmy！Iwonderyoucoulddiscussme。Therest——"Sheshruggedhershoulders——"Butthat！"
　　"Iwasnotdiscussingyou。Imerelysaidyouwerenottobeenviedforhavingme。Areyou？"
　　Themomenthehadspoken，hewassorry。Theangerinhereyeschangedinstantly，firsttosearching，thentomisery。Shecriedout:
　　"Iwastobeenvied。Oh！Jimmy;Iwas！"andflungherselffacedownonthebed。
　　ThroughFort’smindwentthethought:’Atrocious！’Howcouldhesoothe——makeherfeelthathelovedher，whenhedidn’t——thathewantedher，whenhewantedNoel。Hewentuptothebedsideandtouchedhertimidly:
　　"Leila，whatisit？You’reovertired。What’sthematter？I
　　couldn’thelpthechild’sbeinghere。Whydoyouletitupsetyou？
　　She’sgone。It’sallright。Thingsarejustastheywere。"
　　"Yes！"camethestrangledecho;"just！"
　　Hekneltdownandstrokedherarm。Itshiveredunderthetouch，seemedtostopshiveringandwaitforthenexttouch，asifhopingitmightbewarmer;shiveredagain。
　　"Lookatme！"hesaid。"Whatisityouwant？I’mreadytodoanything。"
　　Sheturnedanddrewherselfuponthebed，screwingherselfbackagainstthepillowasifforsupport，withherkneesdrawnunderher。
　　Hewasastonishedatthestrengthofherfaceandfigure，thusentrenched。
　　"MydearJimmy！"shesaid，"Iwantyoutodonothingbutgetmeanothercigarette。Atmyageoneexpectsnomorethanonegets！Sheheldoutherthumbandfinger:"Doyoumind？"
　　Fortturnedawaytogetthecigarette。Withwhatbitterrestraintandcuriouslittlesmileshehadsaidthat！Butnosoonerwasheoutoftheroomandhuntingblindlyforthecigarettes，thanhismindwasfilledwithanachingconcernforNoel，fleeinglikethat，recklessandhurt，withnowheretogo。Hefoundthepolishedbirch—woodboxwhichheldthecigarettes，andmadeadesperateefforttodismisstheimageofthegirlbeforeheagainreachedLeila。Shewasstillsittingthere，withherarmscrossed，inthestillnessofonewhoseeverynerveandfibrewasstretchedtaut。
　　"Haveoneyourself，"shesaid。"Thepipeofpeace。"
　　Fortlitthecigarettes，andsatdownontheedgeofthebed;andhismindatoncewentbacktoNoel。
　　"Yes，"shesaidsuddenly;"Iwonderwhereshe’sgone。Canyouseeher？Shemightdosomethingrecklessasecondtime。PoorJimmy！Itwouldbeapity。Andsothatmonk’sbeenhere，anddrunkchampagne。
　　Goodidea！Getmesome，Jimmy！"
　　AgainFortwent，andwithhimtheimageofthegirl。Whenhecamebackthesecondtime;shehadputonthatdarksilkgarmentinwhichshehadappearedsuddenlyradiantthefatalnightaftertheQueen’sHallconcert。Shetookthewineglass，andpassedhim，goingintothesitting—room。
　　"Comeandsitdown，"shesaid。"Isyourleghurtingyou？"
　　"Notmorethanusual，"andhesatdownbesideher。
　　"Won’tyouhavesome？’Invinoveritas;’myfriend。"
　　Heshookhishead，andsaidhumbly:"Iadmireyou，Leila。"
　　"That’slucky。Idon’tknowanyoneelsewho，would。"Andshedrankherchampagneatadraught。
　　"Don’tyouwish，"shesaidsuddenly，"thatIhadbeenoneofthosewonderfulNewWomen，allbrainandgoodworks。HowIshouldhavetalkedtheUniverseupanddown，andthewar，andCauses，drinkingtea，andneverboringyoutotryandloveme。Whatapity！"
　　ButtoForttherehadcomeNoel’swords:"It’sawfullyfunny，isn’tit？"
　　"Leila，"hesaidsuddenly，"something’sgottobedone。Solongasyoudon’twishmeto，I’llpromisenevertoseethatchildagain。"
　　"Mydearboy，she’snotachild。She’sripeforlove;and——I’mtooripeforlove。That’swhat’sthematter，andI’vegottolumpit。"
　　Shewrenchedherhandoutofhisand，droppingtheemptyglass，coveredherface。TheawfulsensationwhichvisitsthetrueEnglishmanwhenascenestareshiminthefacespuninFort’sbrain。
　　Shouldheseizeherhands，dragthemdown，andkissher？Shouldhegetupandleaveheralone？Speak，orkeepsilent;trytoconsole;
　　trytopretend？Andhedidabsolutelynothing。Sofarasamancanunderstandthatmomentinawoman’slifewhensheacceptsthedefeatofYouthandBeauty，heunderstoodperhaps;butitwasonlyaglimmering。Heunderstoodmuchbetterhowshewasrecognisingonceforallthatshelovedwhereshewasnotloved。
　　’AndIcan’thelpthat，’hethoughtdumbly;’simplycan’thelpthat！’
　　Nothinghecouldsayordowouldalterit。Nowordscanconvinceawomanwhenkisseshavelostreality。Then，tohisinfiniterelief，shetookherhandsfromherface，andsaid:
　　"Thisisverydull。Ithinkyou’dbettergo，Jimmy。"
　　Hemadeanefforttospeak，butwastooafraidoffalsityinhisvoice。
　　"Verynearlyascene！"saidLeila。"MyGod！
　　Howmenhatethem！SodoI。I’vehadtoomanyinmytime;nothingcomesofthembutaheadachenextmorning。I’vesparedyouthat，Jimmy。Givemeakissforit。"
　　Hebentdownandputhislipstohers。Withallhishearthetriedtoanswerthepassioninherkiss。Shepushedhimawaysuddenly，andsaidfaintly:
　　"Thankyou;youdidtry！"
　　Fortdashedhishandacrosshiseyes。Thesightofherfacejustthenmovedhimhorribly。Whatabrutehefelt！Hetookherlimphand，putittohislips，andmurmured:
　　"Ishallcomeinto—morrow。We’llgotothetheatre，shallwe？Goodnight，Leila！"
　　But，inopeningthedoor，hecaughtsightofherface，staringathim，evidentlywaitingforhimtoturn;theeyeshadafrightenedlook。Theywentsuddenlysoft，sosoftastogivehisheartasqueeze。
　　Sheliftedherhand，blewhimakiss，andhesawhersmiling。
　　Withoutknowingwhathisownlipsanswered，hewentout。Hecouldnotmakeuphismindtogoaway，but，crossingtotherailings，stoodleaningagainstthem，lookingupatherwindows。Shehadbeenverygoodtohim。Hefeltlikeamanwhohaswonatcards，andsneakedawaywithoutgivingtheloserhisrevenge。Ifonlyshehadn’tlovedhim;andithadbeenasoullesscompanionship，aquitesordidbusiness。Anythingratherthanthis！Englishtothebackbone，hecouldnotdivesthimselfofasenseofguilt。Toseenowayofmakinguptoher，ofstraighteningitout，madehimfeelintenselymean。’ShallIgoupagain？’hethought。Thewindow—curtainmoved。
　　Thentheshredsoflightuptherevanished。’She’sgonetobed，’hethought。’Ishouldonlyupsetherworse。WhereisNoel，now，I
　　wonder？Ishallneverseeheragain，Isuppose。Altogetherabadbusiness。MyGod，yes！Abad—badbusiness！’
　　And，painfully，forhislegwashurtinghim，hewalkedaway。
　　Leilawasonlytoowellawareofatruththatfeelingsarenolessreal，poignant，andimportanttothoseoutsidemorality’sringfencethantothosewithin。Herfeelingswere，indeed，probablyevenmorerealandpoignant，justasawildfruit’sflavourissharperthanthatofthetameproduct。Opinion——sheknew——wouldsay，thathavingwilfullychosenapositionoutsidemoralityshehadnothalfthecaseforbrokenheartednessshewouldhavehadifForthadbeenherhusband:Opinion——sheknew——wouldsayshehadnoclaimonhim，andthesooneranillegaltiewasbroken，thebetter！Butshefeltfullyaswretchedasifshehadbeenmarried。Shehadnotwantedtobeoutsidemorality;neverinherlifewantedtobethat。Shewaslikethosewhobyconfessionshedtheirsinsandstartagainwithaclearconscience。Shenevermeanttosin，onlytolove，andwhenshewasinlove，nothingelsematteredforthemoment。But，thoughagambler，shehadalwayssofarpaidup。Only，thistimethestakesweretheheaviestawomancanputdown。Itwasherlastthrow;andsheknewit。Solongasawomanbelievedinherattraction，therewashope，evenwhenthecurtainfellonalove—affair！ButforLeilathelampofbeliefhadsuddenlygoneout，andwhenthisnextcurtaindroppedshefeltthatshemustsitinthedarkuntiloldagemadeherindifferent。Andbetweenforty—fourandrealoldageagulfisfixed。Thiswasthefirsttimeamanhadtiredofher。Why！hehadbeentiredbeforehebegan，orsoshefelt。Inoneswiftmomentasofadrowningperson，shesawagainallthepassagesoftheircompanionship，knewwithcertaintythatithadneverbeenagenuineflame。Shameran，consuming，inherveins。Sheburiedherfaceinthecushions。Thisgirlhadpossessedhisrealheartallthetime。
　　Withalaughshethought:’Iputmymoneyonthewronghorse;IoughttohavebackedEdward。Icouldhaveturnedthatpoormonk’shead。
　　IfonlyIhadneverseenJimmyagain;ifIhadtornhisletterup，I
　　couldhavemadepoorEdwardloveme！’Ifs！Whatfolly！Thingshappenedastheymust！
　　And，startingup，shebegantoroamthelittleroom。WithoutJimmyshewouldbewretched，withhimshewouldbewretchedtoo！’Ican’tbeartoseehisface，’shethought;’andIcan’tliveherewithouthim！It’sreallyfunny！’Thethoughtofherhospitalfilledherwithloathing。Togotheredayafterdaywiththisdespaireatingatherheart——shesimplycouldnot。Shewentoverherresources。Shehadmoremoneythanshethought;JimmyhadgivenheraChristmaspresentoffivehundredpounds。Shehadwantedtotearupthecheque，orforcehimtotakeitback;buttherealitiesofthepreviousfiveyearshadprevailedwithher，andshehadbankedit。
　　Shewasgladnow。Shehadnottoconsidermoney。Hermindsoughttoescapeinthepast。Shethoughtofherfirsthusband，RonnyFane;oftheirmosquito—curtainedroomsinthatghastlyMadrasheat。PoorRonny！Whatapale，cynicalyoungghoststartedupunderthatname。
　　ShethoughtofLynch，hishorsey，matter—of—factsolidity。Shehadlovedthemboth——foratime。Shethoughtoftheveldt，ofConstantia，andtheloomofTableMountainunderthestars;andthefirstsightofJimmy，hisstraightlook，thecurveofhiscrisphead，thekind，fighting—schoolboyfranknessofhisface。Evennow，afterallthosemonthsoftheircompanionship，thatlong—agoeveningatgrapeharvest，whenshesangtohimunderthescentedcreepers，wasthememoryofhimmostchargedwithrealfeeling。Thatoneeveningatanyratehehadlongedforher，eleven:yearsago，whenshewasinherprime。Shecouldhaveheldherownthen;Noelwouldhavecomeinvain。Tothinkthatthisgirlhadstillfifteenyearsbeforeshewouldbeeveninherprime。Fifteenyearsofwitchery;andthenanothertenbeforeshewasontheshelf。Why！ifNoelmarriedJimmy，hewouldbeanoldmandotingonherstill，bythetimeshehadreachedthisfatalageofforty—four:Shefeltasifshemustscream，and;stuffingherhandkerchiefintohermouth，turnedoutthelight。
　　Darknesscooledher，alittle。Shepulledasidethecurtains，andletinthemoonlight。Jimmyandthatgirlwereoutinitsomewhere，seekingeachother，ifnotinbody，theninthought。Andsoon，somehow，somewhere，theywouldcometogether——cometogetherbecauseFatemeantthemto！Fatewhichhadgivenheryoungcousinalikenesstoherself;placedher，too，injustsuchahopelesspositionasappealedtoJimmy，andgavehimachanceagainstyoungermen。Shesawitwithbittersurety。Goodgamblerscuttheirlosses！
　　Yes，andproudwomendidnotkeepunwillinglovers！Ifshehadevenanoutsidechance，shewouldtrailherpride，dragitthroughthemud，throughthorns！Butshehadnot。Andsheclenchedherfist，andstruckoutatthenight，asthoughatthefaceofthatFatewhichonecouldneverreach——impalpable，remorseless，surroundingFatewithitsfaintmockingsmile，devoidofallhumanwarmth。Nothingcouldsetbacktheclock，andgiveherwhatthisgirlhad。Timehad"doneherin，"asit"didin"everywoman，onebyone。Andshesawherselfgoingdowntheyears，powderingalittlemore，paintingalittlemore，touchingupherhair，tillitwasallartifice，holdingonbyeverylittledevice——andall，towhatend？Toseehisfacegetcolderandcolder，hearhisvoicemoreandmoreconstrainedtogentleness;andknowthatunderneath，aversionwasgrowingwiththethought’Youarekeepingmefromlife，andlove！’tilloneevening，insheernerve—break，shewouldsayordosomefearfulthing，andhewouldcomenomore。’No，Jimmy！’shethought;’findher，andstaywithher。You’renotworthallthat！’Andpuffingtothecurtains，asthoughwiththatgestureshecouldshutouthercreepingfate，sheturnedupthelightandsatdownatherwritingtable。Shestayedsomeminutesmotionless，herchinrestingonherhands，thedarksilkfallendownfromherarms。Alittlemirror，framedincuriouslycarvedivory，pickedupbyherinanIndianbazaartwenty—fiveyearsago，hungonalevelwithherfaceandgavethatfacebacktoher。
　　’I’mnotugly，’shethoughtpassionately，’I’mnot。Istillhavesomelooksleft。Ifonlythatgirlhadn’tcome。Anditwasallmydoing。Oh，whatmademewritetobothofthem，EdwardandJimmy？’
　　Sheturnedthemirroraside，andtookupapen。
　　"MYDEARJIMMY，"shewrote:"Itwillbebetterforusbothifyoutakeaholidayfromhere。Don’tcomeagaintillIwriteforyou。
　　I’msorryImadeyousomuchdisturbanceto—night。Haveagoodtime，andagoodrest;anddon’tworry。
　　"Your——"
　　Sofarshehadwrittenwhenateardroppedonthepage，andshehadtotearitupandbeginagain。Thistimeshewrotetotheend—"YourLeila。"’Imustpostitnow，’shethought，’orhemaynotgetitbeforeto—morrowevening。Icouldn’tgothroughwiththisagain。’
　　Shehurriedoutwithitandslippeditinapillarbox。Thenightsmelledofflowers;and，hasteningback，shelaydown，andstayedawakeforhours，tossing，andstaringatthedark。
　　XIII
　　1
　　Leilahadpluck，butlittlepatience。HeronethoughtwastogetawayandsheatoncebegansettlingupheraffairsandgettingapermittoreturntoSouthAfrica。Theexcitementsofpurchaseandpreparationwereasgoodananodyneasshecouldhavetaken。Theperilsoftheseawereatfulljustthen，andtheprospectofdangergaveherasortofpleasure。’IfIgodown，’shethought，’allthebetter;brisk，insteadoflonganddreary。’Butwhenshehadthepermitandhercabinwasbooked，theirrevocabilityofherstepcametoherwithfullforce。Shouldsheseehimagainorno？Herboatstartedinthreedays，andshemustdecide。Ifincompunctionheweretobeaffectionate，sheknewshewouldneverkeeptoherdecision，andthenthehorrorwouldbeginagain，tillagainshewasforcedtothissameaction。Sheletthehoursgoandgotilltheverydaybefore，whentheachetoseehimandthedreadofithadbecomesounbearablethatshecouldnotkeepquiet。Latethatafternoon——everything，tothelastlabel，ready——shewentout，stillundecided。Anitchtoturnthedaggerinherwound，toknowwhathadbecomeofNoel，tookhertoEdward’shouse。Almostunconsciouslyshehadputonherprettiestfrock，andspentanhourbeforetheglass。
　　Afeverishnessofsoul，morethanofbody，whichhadhungabouthereversincethatnight，gavehercolour。Shelookedherprettiest;
　　andsheboughtagardeniaatashopinBakerStreetandfasteneditinherdress。ReachingtheoldSquare，shewasastonishedtoseeaboardupwiththewords:"Tolet，"thoughthehousestilllookedinhabited。Sherang，andwasshownintothedrawing—room。Shehadonlytwicebeeninthishousebefore;andforsomereason，perhapsbecauseofherownunhappiness，theold，rathershabbyroomstruckheraspathetic，asifinhabitedbythepast。’Iwonderwhathiswifewaslike，’shethought:Andthenshesaw，hangingagainstastripofblackvelvetonthewall，thatfadedcoloursketchoftheslenderyoungwomanleaningforward，withherhandscrossedinherlap。Thecolouringwaslavenderandoldivory，withfainttouchesofrose。Theeyes，soliving，werealittlelikeGratian’s;thewholefacedelicate，eager，good。’Yes，’shethought，’hemusthavelovedyouverymuch。Tosaygood—byemusthavebeenhard。’ShewasstillstandingbeforeitwhenPiersoncamein。
　　"That’sadearface，Edward。I’vecometosaygood—bye。I’mleavingforSouthAfricato—morrow。"And，asherhandtouchedhis，shethought:’ImusthavebeenmadtothinkIcouldeverhavemadehimloveme。’
　　"Areyou——areyouleavinghim？"
　　Leilanodded:
　　"That’sverybrave，andwonderful。"
　　"Oh！no。Needsmustwhenthedevildrives——that’sall。Idon’tgiveuphappinessofmyownaccord。That’snotwithinahundredmilesofthetruth。WhatIshallbecome，Idon’tknow，butnothingbetter，youmaybesure。IgiveupbecauseIcan’tkeep，andyouknowwhy。
　　WhereisNoel？"
　　"Downatthesea，withGeorgeandGratian。"
　　Hewaslookingatherinwonder;andthepained，puzzledexpressiononhisfaceangeredher。
　　"Iseethehouseistolet。Who’dhavethoughtachildlikethatcouldrootuptwofossilslikeus？Nevermind，Edward，there’sthesamebloodinus。We’llkeepourendsupinourownways。Whereareyougoing？"
　　"They’llgivemeachaplaincyintheEast，Ithink。"
　　ForawildmomentLeilathought:’ShallIoffertogowithhim——thetwolostdogstogether？’
　　"Whatwouldhavehappened，Edward，ifyouhadproposedtomethatMayweek，whenwewere——alittlebitinlove？Whichwouldithavebeen，worstfor，youorme？"
　　"Youwouldn’thavetakenme，Leila。"
　　"Oh，oneneverknows。Butyou’dneverhavebeenapriestthen，andyou’dneverhavebecomeasaint。"
　　"Don’tusethatsillyword。Ifyouknew——"
　　"Ido;Icanseethatyou’vebeenhalfburnedalive;halfburnedandhalfburied！Well，youhaveyourreward，whateveritis，andImine。
　　Good—bye，Edward！"Shetookhishand。"Youmightgivemeyourblessing;Iwantit。"
　　Piersonputhisotherhandonhershoulderand，bendingforward，kissedherforehead。
　　ThetearsrushedupinLeila’seyes。"Ahme！"shesaid，"it’sasadworld！"Andwipingthequiveringoffherlipswiththebackofherglovedhand，shewentquicklypasthimtothedoor。Shelookedbackfromthere。Hehadnotstirred，buthislipsweremoving。’He’sprayingforme！’shethought。’Howfunny！’
　　2
　　Themomentshewasoutside，sheforgothim;thedreadfulacheforFortseemedtohavebeenwhippedupwithinher，asifthatfigureoflifelongrepressionhadinfuriatedtheloveoflifeandpleasureinher。ShemustandwouldseeJimmyagain，ifshehadtowaitandseekforhimallnight！Itwasnearlyseven，hewouldsurelyhavefinishedattheWarOffice;hemightbeathisCluborathisrooms。
　　Shemadeforthelatter。
　　ThelittlestreetnearBuckinghamGate，wherenowaghadchalked"Peace"onthedoorsfornearlyayearnow，hadanaridlookafterahotday’ssun。Thehair—dresser’sshopbelowhisroomswasstillopen，andtheprivatedoorajar:’Iwon’tring，’shethought;’I’llgostraightup。’Whileshewasmountingthetwoflightsofstairs，shestoppedtwice，breathless，fromapaininherside。Sheoftenhadthatpainnow，asifthelonginginherheartstraineditphysically。Onthemodestlandingatthetop，outsidehisrooms，shewaited，leaningagainstthewall，whichwascoveredwitharedpaper。
　　Awindowatthebackwasopenandtheconfusedsoundofsingingcamein——achorus"Vive—la，vive—la，vive—lave。Vivelacompagnie。"Soitcametoher。’OGod！’shethought:’Lethimbein，lethimbenicetome。It’sthelasttime。’And，sickfromanxiety，sheopenedthedoor。Hewasin——lyingonawicker—couchagainstthewallinthefarcorner，withhisarmscrossedbehindhishead，andapipeinhismouth;hiseyeswereclosed，andheneithermoved，noropenedthem，perhapssupposinghertobetheservant。Noiselessasacat，Leilacrossedtheroomtillshestoodabovehim。Andwaitingforhimtocomeoutofthatdefiantlethargy，shetookherfillofhisthin，bonyface，healthyandhollowatthesametime。Withteethclenchedonthepipeithadalookofhardresistance，asofamanwithhisheadback，hisarmspinionedtohissides，stiffenedagainstsomecreature，clingingandclimbingandtryingtodraghimdown。Thepipewasalive，anddribbledsmoke;andhisleg，theinjuredone，wriggledrestlessly，asifworryinghim;buttherestofhimwasasutterlyandobstinatelystillasthoughhewereasleep。Hishairgrewthickandcrisp，notathreadofgreyinit，theteethwhichheldthepipeglintedwhiteandstrong。Hisfacewasyoung;somuchyoungerthanhers。Whydidsheloveit——thefaceofamanwhocouldn’tloveher？Forasecondshefeltasifshecouldseizethecushionwhichhadslippeddownoffthecouch，andsmotherhimashelaythere，refusing，soitseemedtoher，tocometoconsciousness。
　　Lovedespised！Humiliation！Shenearlyturnedandstoleaway。Thenthroughthedoor，leftopen，behindher，thesoundofthatchorus:
　　"Vive—la，vive—la，vive—lave！"cameinandjoltedhernervesunbearably。Tearingthegardeniafromherbreast，sheflungitontohisupturnedface。
　　"Jimmy！"
　　Fortstruggledup，andstaredather。Hisfacewascomicfrombewilderment，andshebrokeintoalittlenervouslaugh。
　　"Youweren’tdreamingofme，dearJimmy，that’scertain。Inwhatgardenwereyouwandering？"
　　"Leila！You！How——howjolly！"
　　"How——howjolly！Iwantedtoseeyou，soIcame。AndIhaveseenyou，asyouare，whenyouaren’twithme。Ishallrememberit;itwasgoodforme——awfullygoodforme。"
　　"Ididn’thearyou。"
　　"Far，faraway，mydear。Putmygardeniain，yourbuttonhole。Stop，I’llpinitin。Haveyouhadagoodrestallthisweek？Doyoulikemydress？It’snew。Youwouldn’thavenoticedit，wouldyou？"
　　"Ishouldhavenoticed。Ithinkit’scharming。
　　"Jimmy，Ibelievethatnothing——nothingwillevershakeyourchivalry。"
　　"Chivalry？Ihavenone。"
　　"Iamgoingtoshutthedoor，doyoumind？"Buthewenttothedoorhimself，shutit，andcamebacktoher。Leilalookedupathim。
　　"Jimmy，ifeveryoulovedmealittlebit，benicetometoday。AndifIsaythings——ifI’mbitter——don’tmind;don’tnoticeit。
　　Promise！"
　　"Ipromise。"
　　Shetookoffherhatandsatleaningagainsthimonthecouch，sothatshecouldnotseehisface。Andwithhisarmroundher，sheletherselfgo，deepintothewatersofillusion;down—down，tryingtoforgettherewasasurfacetowhichshemustreturn;likealittlegirlsheplayedthatgameofmake—believe。’Helovesme—helovesme—
　　helovesme！’Toloseherselflikethatfor，justanhour，onlyanhour;shefeltthatshewouldgivetherestofthetimevouchsafedtoher;giveitallandwillingly。Herhandclaspedhisagainstherheart，sheturnedherfacebackward，uptohis，closinghereyessoasstillnottoseehisface;thescentofthegardeniainhiscoathurther，sosweetandstrongitwas。
　　3
　　Whenwithherhatonshestoodreadytogo，itwasgettingdark。Shehadcomeoutofherdreamnow，wasplayingatmake—believenomore。
　　Andshestoodwithastonysmile，inthehalf—dark，lookingbetweenherlashesatthemortifiedexpressiononhisunconsciousface。
　　"PoorJimmy！"shesaid;"I’mnotgoingtokeepyoufromdinneranylonger。No，don’tcomewithme。I’mgoingalone;anddon’tlightup，forheaven’ssake。"
　　Sheputherhandonthelapelofhiscoat。"Thatflower’sgonebrownattheedges。Throwitaway;Ican’tbearfadedflowers。Norcanyou。Getyourselfafreshonetomorrow。"
　　Shepulledtheflowerfromhisbuttonholeand，crushingitinherhand，heldherfaceup。
　　"Well，kissmeoncemore;itwon’thurtyou。"
　　Foronemomentherlipsclungtohiswithalltheirmight。Shewrenchedthemaway，feltforthehandleblindly，openedthedoor，and，shuttingitinhisface，wentslowly，swayingalittle，downthestairs。Shetrailedaglovedhandalongthewall，asifitssoliditycouldhelpher。Atthelasthalf—landing，whereacurtainhung，dividingoffbackpremises，shestoppedandlistened。Therewasn’tasound。’IfIstandherebehindthiscurtain，’shethought，’Ishallseehimagain。’Sheslippedbehindthecurtain，closedrawnbutforalittlechink。Itwassodarktherethatshecouldnotseeherownhand。Sheheardthedooropen，andhisslowfootstepscomingdownthestairs。Hisfeet，knees，wholefigurecameintosight，hisfacejustadimblur。Hepassed，smokingacigarette。Shecrammedherhandagainsthermouthtostopherselffromspeakingandthecrushedgardeniafilledhernostrilswithitscold，fragrantvelvet。Hewasgone，thedoorbelowwasshut。Awild，half—stupidlongingcameonhertogoupagain，waittillhecamein，throwherselfuponhim，tellhimshewasgoing，beghimtokeepherwithhim。Ah！andhewould！Hewouldlookatherwiththathaggardpityshecouldnotbear，andsay，"Ofcourse，Leila，ofcourse。"No！ByGod，no！"Iamgoingquietlyhome，"shemuttered;"justquietlyhome！Comealong，bebrave;don’tbeafool！Comealong！"Andshewentdownintothestreet:AttheentrancetotheParkshesawhim，fiftyyardsinfront，dawdlingalong。And，asifshehadbeenhisshadowlengthenedouttothatfardistance，shemovedbehindhim。Slowly，alwaysatthatdistance，shefollowedhimundertheplane—trees，alongtheParkrailings，pastSt。James’sPalace，intoPallMall。Hewentupsomesteps，andvanishedintohisClub。Itwastheend。Shelookedupatthebuilding;amonstrousgranitetomb，alldark。Anemptiedcabwasjustmovingfromthedoor。Shegotin。"CamelotMansions，St。
　　John’sWood。"Andbracedagainstthecushions，panting，andclenchingherhands，shethought:’Well，I’veseenhimagain。Hardcrust’sbetterthannobread。Oh，God！Allfinished——notacrumb，notacrumb！Vive—la，vive—la，vive—lave。Vive—lacompagnie！’
　　XIV
　　Forthadbeenlyingthereaboutanhour，sleepingandawake，beforethatvisit:Hehaddreamedacuriousandwonderfullyemotionalisingdream。Alonggreyline，inadimlight，neitherofnightnormorning，thewholelengthofthebattle—frontinFrance，charginginshortdrives，whichcarriedthelinealittleforward，withjustatinypauseandsuck—back;thenonagainirresistibly，onandon;andateachrush，everyvoice，hisownamongthem，shouted"Hooray！theEnglish！Hooray！theEnglish！"Thesensationofthatadvancingtideofdimfiguresingreylight，thethrobandroar，thewonderful，rhythmicsteadydriveofit，nomoretobestoppedthanthewavesofanincomingtide，wasgloriouslyfascinating;lifewasnothing，deathnothing。"Hooray，theEnglish！"Inthatdream，hewashiscountry，hewaseveryoneofthatlongchargingline，drivingforwardin。
　　thosegreatheavingpulsations，irresistible，onandon。Outoftheverycentreofthisintoxicatingdreamhehadbeendraggedbysomestreetnoise，andhadclosedhiseyesagain，inthevainhopethathemightdreamitontoitsend。Butitcamenomore;andlightinghispipe，helaytherewonderingatitsfervid，fantasticrealism。Deathwasnothing，ifhiscountrylivedandwon。Inwakinghoursheneverhadquitethatsingle—heartedknowledgeofhimself。Andwhatmarvellouslyrealtouchesgotmixedintothefantasticstuffofdreams，asifsomethingwereatworktoconvincethedreamerinspiteofhimself——"Hooray！"not"Hurrah！"Justcommon"Hooray！"And"theEnglish，"nottheliterary"British。"Andthenthesoftflowerhadstruckhisforehead，andLeila’svoicecried:"Jimmy！"