XIII
　　GladasAgneswaswhenherloverreturnedforlunch，shewasatthesametimeratherdismayed:sheknewthatMrs。Failingwouldnotlikeherplansaltered。Andherdismaywasjustified。Theirhostesswasalittlestiff，andaskedwhetherStephenhadbeenobnoxious。
　　"Indeedhehasn’t。Hespentthewholetimelookingafterme。"
　　"FromwhichIconcludehewasmoreobnoxiousthanusual。"
　　Rickiepraisedhimdiligently。Buthiscandidnatureshowedeverythingthrough。Hisauntsoonsawthattheyhadnotgoton。
　　Shehadexpectedthis——almostplannedit。Neverthelesssheresentedit，andherresentmentwastofallonhim。
　　Thestormgatheredslowly，andmanyotherthingswenttoswellit。Weaklypeople，iftheyarenotcareful，hateoneanother，andwhentheweaknessishereditarythetemptationincreases。Elliotshadnevergotonamongthemselves。Theytalkedof"TheFamily，"
　　buttheyalwaysturnedoutwardstothehealthandbeautythatliesopromiscuouslyabouttheworld。Rickie’sfatherhadturned，foratimeatallevents，tohismother。RickiehimselfwasturningtoAgnes。AndMrs。Failingnowwasirritable，andunfairtothenephewwhowaslamelikeherhorriblebrotherandlikeherself。
　　Shethoughthiminvertebrateandconventional。Shewasenviousofhishappiness。Shedidnottroubletounderstandhisart。Shelongedtoshatterhim，butknowingasshedidthatthehumanthunderboltoftenreboundsandstrikesthewielder，sheheldherhand。
　　Agneswatchedtheapproachingclouds。Rickiehadwarnedher;nowshebegantowarnhim。Asthevisitworeawaysheurgedhimtobepleasanttohisaunt，andsoconvertitintoasuccess。
　　Hereplied，"Whyneeditbeasuccess？"——areplyinthemannerofAnsell。
　　Shelaughed。"Oh，that’ssolikeyoumen——alltheory！Whataboutyourgreattheoryofhatingnoone？Assoonasitcomesinusefulyoudropit。"
　　"Idon’thateAuntEmily。Honestly。ButcertainlyIdon’twanttobenearherorthinkabouther。Don’tyouthinktherearetwogreatthingsinlifethatweoughttoaimat——truthandkindness？
　　Let’shavebothifwecan，butlet’sbesureofhavingoneortheother。Myauntgivesupbothforthesakeofbeingfunny。"
　　"AndStephenWonham，"pursuedAgnes。"There’sanotherpersonyouhate——ordon’tthinkabout，ifyoupreferitputlikethat。"
　　"Thetruthis，I’mchanging。I’mbeginningtoseethattheworldhasmanypeopleinitwhodon’tmatter。Ihadtimeforthemonce。
　　Notnow。"Therewasonlyonegatetothekingdomofheavennow。
　　Agnessurprisedhimbysaying，"ButtheWonhamboyisevidentlyapartofyouraunt’slife。Shelaughsathim，butsheisfondofhim。"
　　"What’sthattodowithit？"
　　"Yououghttobepleasanttohimonaccountofit。"
　　"Whyonearth？"
　　Sheflushedalittle。"I’mold—fashioned。Oneoughttoconsiderone’shostess，andfallinwithherlife。Afterweleaveit’sanotherthing。ButwhilewetakeherhospitalityIthinkit’sourduty。"
　　Hergoodsensetriumphed。HenceforthhetriedtofallinwithAuntEmily’slife。AuntEmilywatchedhimtrying。Thestormbroke，asstormssometimesdo，onSunday。
　　SundaychurchwasafunctionatCadover，thoughastrangeone。
　　Thepompouslandaurolleduptothehouseataquartertoeleven。
　　ThenMrs。Failingsaid，"WhyamIbeinghurried？"andafteranintervaldescendedthestepsinherordinaryclothes。Sheregardedthechurchasasortofsitting—room，andrefusedeventowearabonnetthere。Thevillagewasshocked，butatthesametimealittleproud;itwouldpointoutthecarriagetostrangersandgossipaboutthepalesmilingladywhosatinit，alwaysalone，alwayslate，herhairalwaysdrapedinanexpensiveshawl。
　　ThisSunday，thoughlateasusual，shewasnotalone。MissPembroke，engrandetoilette，satbyherside。Rickie，lookingplainanddevout，perchedopposite。AndStephenactuallycametoo，murmuringthatitwouldbetheBenedicite，whichhehadneverminded。TherewasalsotheLitany，whichdrovehimintotheairagain，muchtoMrs。Failing’sdelight。Sheenjoyedthissortofthing。ItamusedherwhenherProtegeleftthepew，lookingbored，athletic，anddishevelled，andgropingmostobviouslyforhispipe。Shelikedtokeepathoroughbredpagantoshockpeople。
　　"He’sgonetoworshipNature，"shewhispered。Rickiedidnotlookup。"Don’tyouthinkhe’scharming？"Hemadenoreply。
　　"Charming，"whisperedAgnesoverhishead。
　　Duringthesermonsheanalysedherguests。MissPembroke——
　　undistinguished，unimaginative，tolerable。Rickie——intolerable。
　　"Andhowpedantic！"shemused。"HesmellsoftheUniversitylibrary。Ifhewasstupidintherightwayhewouldbeadon。"
　　Shelookedroundthetinychurch;atthewhitewashedpillars，thehumblepavement，thewindowfullofmagentasaints。Therewasthevicar’swife。AndMrs。Wilbraham’sbonnet。Ugh！Therestofthecongregationwerepoorwomen，withflat，hopelessfaces——shesawthemSundayafterSunday，butdidnotknowtheirnames——
　　diversifiedwithafewreluctantplough—boys，andthevilelittleschoolchildrenrowuponrow。"Ugh！whatahole，"thoughtMrs。
　　Failing，whoseChristianitywasthetypebestdescribedas"cathedral。""Whataholeforaculturedwoman！Idon’tthinkithasbluntedmysensations，though;Istillseeitssqualorasclearlyasever。Andmynephewpretendsheisworshipping。Pah！
　　thehypocrite。"Aboveherthevicarspokeofthedangerofhurryingfromonedissipationtoanother。Shetreasuredhiswords，andcontinued:"Icannotstandsmugness。Itistheone，theunpardonablesin。Freshair！ThefreshairthathasmadeStephenWonhamfreshandcompanionableandstrong。Evenifitkills，Iwillletinthefreshair。"
　　ThusreasonedMrs。Failing，inthefacileveinofIbsenism。Sheimaginedherselftobeacold—eyedScandinavianheroine。ReallyshewasanEnglisholdlady，whodidnotmindgivingotherpeopleachillprovideditwasnotinfectious。
　　Agnes，onthewayback，notedthatherhostesswasalittlesnappish。Butoneissohungryaftermorningservice，andeithersohotorsocold，thathewouldbeasaintindeedwhobecomesasaintatonce。Mrs。Failing，afterassertingvindictivelythatitwasimpossibletomakealivingoutofliterature，wascourteouslyleftalone。Roast—beefandmosellemightyetworkmiracles，andAgnesstillhopedfortheintroductions——theintroductionstocertaineditorsandpublishers——onwhichherwholediplomacywasbent。Rickiewouldnotpushhimself。Itwashisbesettingsin。Wellforhimthathewouldhaveawife，andalovingwife，whoknewthevalueofenterprise。
　　Unfortunatelylunchwasaquarterofanhourlate，andduringthatquarterofanhourtheauntandthenephewquarrelled。Shehadbeeninveighingagainstthemorningservice，andhequietlyanddeliberatelyreplied，"Iforganizedreligionisanything——anditissomethingtome——itwillnotbewreckedbyaharmoniumandadullsermon。"
　　Mrs。Failingfrowned。"Ienvyyou。Itisagreatthingtohavenosenseofbeauty。"
　　"IthinkIhaveasenseofbeauty，whichleadsmeastrayifIamnotcareful。"
　　"Butthisisagreatrelieftome。Ithoughtthepresentdayyoungmanwasanagnostic！Isn’tagnosticismallthethingatCambridge？"
　　"Nothingisthe’thing’atCambridge。Ifafewmenareagnosticthere，itisforsomegravereason，notbecausetheyareirritatedwiththewaytheparsonsayshisvowels。"
　　Agnesintervened。"Well，IsidewithAuntEmily。Ibelieveinritual。"
　　"Don’t，mydear，sidewithme。Hewillonlysayyouhavenosenseofreligioneither。"
　　"Excuseme，"saidRickie，perhapshetoowasalittlehungry，——"I
　　neversuggestedsuchathing。Ineverwouldsuggestsuchathing。
　　Whycannotyouunderstandmyposition？Ialmostfeelitisthatyouwon’t。"
　　"Itrytounderstandyourpositionnightanddaydear——whatyoumean，whatyoulike，whyyoucametoCadover，andwhyyoustopherewhenmypresenceissoobviouslyunpleasingtoyou。"
　　"Luncheonisserved，"saidLeighton，buthesaidittoolate。
　　Theydiscussedthebeefandthemoselleinsilence。Theairwasheavyandominous。EventheWonhamboywasaffectedbyit，shiveredattimes，chokedonce，andhastenedanewintothesun。
　　Hecouldnotunderstandcleverpeople。
　　Agnes，inabriefanxiousinterview，advisedtheculprittotakeasolitarywalk。ShewouldstopnearAuntEmily，andpavethewayforanapology。
　　"Don’tworrytoomuch。Itdoesn’treallymatter。"
　　"Isupposenot，dear。Butitseemsapity，consideringwearesoneartheendofourvisit。"
　　"RudenessandGrossnessmatter，andI’veshownboth，andalreadyI’msorry，andIhopeshe’llletmeapologize。Butfromtheselfishpointofviewitdoesn’tmatterastraw。She’snomoretousthantheWonhamboyorthebootboy。"
　　"Whichwaywillyouwalk？"
　　"Ithinktothatentrenchment。Lookatit。"Theyweresittingonthesteps。HestretchedouthishandtoCadsburyRings，andthenletitrestforamomentonhershoulder。"You’rechangingme，"
　　hesaidgently。"Godblessyouforit。"
　　Heenjoyedhiswalk。Cadfordwasacharmingvillageandforatimehehungoverthebridgebythemill。Soclearwasthestreamthatitseemednotwateratall，butsomeinvisiblequintessenceinwhichthehappyminnowsandtheweedswerevibrating。AndhepausedagainattheRomancrossing，andthoughtforamomentoftheunknownchild。Thelinecurvedsuddenly:certainlyitwasdangerous。Thenheliftedhiseyestothedown。Theentrenchmentshowedliketherimofasaucer，andoveritsnarrowlinepeepedthesummitofthecentraltree。Itlookedinteresting。Hehurriedforward，withthewindbehindhim。
　　TheRingswerecuriousratherthanimpressive。Neitherembankmentwasovertwelvefeethigh，andthegrassonthemhadnottheexquisitegreenofOldSarum，butwasgreyandwiry。ButNature（ifshearrangesanything）hadarrangedthatfromthem，atallevents，thereshouldbeaview。ThewholesystemofthecountrylayspreadbeforeRickie，andhegainedanideaofitthathenevergotinhiselaborateride。HesawhowallthewaterconvergesatSalisbury;howSalisburyliesinashallowbasin，justatthechangeofthesoil。HesawtothenorththePlain，andthestreamoftheCadflowingdownfromit，withatributarythatbrokeoutsuddenly，asthechalkstreamsdo:onevillagehadclusteredroundthesourceandclotheditselfwithtrees。HesawOldSarum，andhintsoftheAvonvalley，andthelandaboveStoneHenge。Andbehindhimhesawthegreatwoodbeginningunobtrusively，asifthedowntooneededshaving;andintoittheroadtoLondonslipped，coveringthebusheswithwhitedust。
　　Chalkmadethedustwhite，chalkmadethewaterclear，chalkmadethecleanrollingoutlinesoftheland，andfavouredthegrassandthedistantcoronalsoftrees。Hereistheheartofourisland:theChilterns，theNorthDowns，theSouthDownsradiatehence。ThefibresofEnglanduniteinWiltshire，anddidwecondescendtoworshipher，hereweshoulderectournationalshrine。
　　Peopleatthattimeweretryingtothinkimperially，Rickiewonderedhowtheydidit，forhecouldnotimagineaplacelargerthanEngland。AndotherpeopletalkedofItaly，thespiritualfatherlandofusall。PerhapsItalywouldprovemarvellous。Butatpresentheconceiveditassomethingexotic，tobeadmiredandreverenced，butnottobelovedliketheseunostentatiousfields。
　　Hedrewoutabook，itwasnaturalforhimtoreadwhenhewashappy，andtoreadoutloud，——andforalittletimehisvoicedisturbedthesilenceofthatgloriousafternoon。ThebookwasShelley，anditopenedatapassagethathehadcherishedgreatlytwoyearsbefore，andmarkedas"verygood。"
　　"IneverwasattachedtothatgreatsectWhosedoctrineisthateachoneshouldselectOutoftheworldamistressorafriend，Andalltherest，thoughfairandwise，commendTocoldoblivion，——thoughitisthecodeOfmodernmorals，andthebeatenroadWhichthosepoorslaveswithwearyfootstepstreadWhotraveltotheirhomeamongthedeadBythebroadhighwayoftheworld，——andsoWithonesadfriend，perhapsajealousfoe，Thedreariestandthelongestjourneygo。"
　　Itwas"verygood"——finepoetry，and，inasense，true。Yethewassurprisedthathehadeverselecteditsovehemently。Thisafternoonitseemedalittleinhuman。Halfamileofftwoloverswerekeepingcompanywhereallthevillagerscouldseethem。Theycaredfornooneelse;theyfeltonlythepressureofeachother，andsoprogressed，silentandoblivious，acrosstheland。HefeltthemtobenearerthetruththanShelley。Eveniftheysufferedorquarrelled，theywouldhavebeennearerthetruth。HewonderedwhethertheywereHenryAdamsandJessicaThompson，bothofthisparish，whosebannshadbeenaskedforthesecondtimeinthechurchthismorning。Whycouldhenotmarryonfifteenshillingsa—week？Andbelookedatthemwithrespect，andwishedthathewasnotacumbersomegentleman。
　　Presentlyhesawsomethinglesspleasant——hisaunt’sponycarriage。Ithadcrossedtherailway，andwasadvancinguptheRomanroadalongbythestrawsacks。Hisimpulsewastoretreat，butsomeonewavedtohim。ItwasAgnes。Shewavedcontinually，asmuchastosay，"Waitforus。"Mrs。Failingherselfraisedthewhipinanonchalantway。StephenWonhamwasfollowingonfoot，somewaybehind。HeputtheShelleybackintohispocketandwaitedforthem。Whenthecarriagestoppedbysomehurdleshewentdownfromtheembankmentandhelpedthemtodismount。Hefeltrathernervous。
　　Hisauntgavehimoneofherdisquietingsmiles，butsaidpleasantlyenough，"Aren’ttheRingsalittleimmense？AgnesandIcameherebecausewewantedanantidotetothemorningservice。"
　　"Pang！"saidthechurchbellsuddenly;"pang！pang！"Itsoundedpettyandludicrous。Theyalllaughed。Rickieblushed，andAgnes，withaglancethatsaid"apologize，"dartedawaytotheentrenchment，asthoughunabletorestrainhercuriosity。
　　"Theponywon’tmove，"saidMrs。Failing。"LeavehimforStephentotieup。Willyouwalkmetothetreeinthemiddle？Booh！I’mtired。Givemeyourarm——unlessyou’retiredaswell。"
　　"No。Icameoutpartlyinthehopeofhelpingyou。"
　　"Howsweetofyou。"ShecontrastedhisblatantunselfishnesswiththehardnessofStephen。Stephennevercameouttohelpyou。
　　Butifyougotholdofhimhewassomegood。Hedidn’twobbleandbendatthecriticalmoment。HerfancycomparedRickietothecrackedchurchbellsendingforthitsmessageof"Pang！pang！"tothecountryside，andStephentotheyoungpaganswhoweresaidtolieunderthisfieldguardingtheirpagangold。
　　"Thisplaceisfullofghosties，"sheremarked;"haveyouseenanyyet？"
　　"I’vekeptontheouterrimsofar。"
　　"Let’sgotothetreeinthecentre。"
　　"Here’sthepath。"Thebankofgrasswherehehadsatwasbrokenbyagap，throughwhichchariotshadentered，andfarmcartsenterednow。Thetrack，followingtheancienttrack，ledstraightthroughturnipstoasimilargapinthesecondcircle，andthencecontinued，throughmoreturnips，tothecentraltree。
　　"Pang！"saidthebell，astheypausedattheentrance。
　　"Youneedn’tunharness，"shoutedMrs。Failing，forStephenwasapproachingthecarriage。
　　"Yes，Iwill，"heretorted。
　　"Youwill，willyou？"shemurmuredwithasmile。"Iwishyourbrotherwasn’tquitesouppish。Let’sgeton。Doesn’tthatchurchdistractyou？"
　　"It’ssofainthere，"saidRickie。Anditsoundedfainterinside，thoughtheearthworkwasneitherthicknortall;andtheview，thoughnothidden，wasgreatlydiminished。HewasremindedforaminuteofthatchalkpitnearMadingley，whoserampartsexcludedthefamiliarworld。Agneswashere，asshehadoncebeenthere。
　　Shestoodonthefartherbarrier，waitingtoreceivethemwhentheyhadtraversedtheheartofthecamp。
　　"Admiremymangel—wurzels，"saidMrs。Failing。"Theyaresaidtogrowsosplendidlyonaccountofthedeadsoldiers。Isn’titasweetthought？NeedIsayitisyourbrother’s？"
　　"Wonham’s？"hesuggested。Itwasthesecondtimethatshehadmadethelittleslip。Shenodded，andheaskedherwhatkindofghostieshauntedthiscuriousfield。
　　"TheD。，"washerpromptreply。"Heleansagainstthetreeinthemiddle，especiallyonSundayafternoonsandalltheworshippersrisethroughtheturnipsanddanceroundhim。"
　　"Oh，theseweredecentpeople，"hereplied，lookingdownwards——
　　"soldiersandshepherds。Theyhavenoghosts。TheyworshippedMarsorPan—Erdaperhaps;notthedevil。"
　　"Pang！"wentthechurch，andwassilent，fortheafternoonservicehadbegun。Theyenteredthesecondentrenchment，whichwasinheight，breadth，andcomposition，similartothefirst，andexcludedstillmoreoftheview。Hisauntcontinuedfriendly。
　　Agnesstoodwatchingthem。
　　"Soldiersmayseemdecentinthepast，"shecontinued，"butwaittilltheyturnintoTommiesfromBulfordCamp，whorobthechickens。"
　　"Idon’tmindBulfordCamp，"saidRickie，looking，thoughinvain，forsignsofitssnowytents。"Thementherearethesonsofthemenhere，andhavecomebacktotheoldcountry。War’shorrible，yetonelovesallcontinuity。Andnoonecouldmindashepherd。"
　　"Indeed！Whataboutyourbrother——ashepherdifevertherewas？
　　Lookhowheboresyou！Don’tbesosentimental。"
　　"But——oh，youmean——"
　　"YourbrotherStephen。"
　　Heglancedathernervously。Hehadneverknownhersoqueerbefore。Perhapsitwassomeliteraryallusionthathehadnotcaught;butherfacedidnotatthatmomentsuggestliterature。
　　Inthedifferentialtonesthatoneusestoanoldandinfirmpersonhesaid"StephenWonhamisn’tmybrother，AuntEmily。"
　　"Mydear，you’rethatprecise。Onecan’tsay’half—brother’everytime。"
　　Theyapproachedthecentraltree。
　　"Howyoudopuzzleme，"hesaid，droppingherarmandbeginningtolaugh。"HowcouldIhaveahalf—brother？"
　　Shemadenoanswer。
　　Thenahorrorleaptstraightathim，andhebeatitbackandsaid，"Iwillnotbefrightened。"Thetreeinthecentrerevolved，thetreedisappeared，andhesawaroom——theroomwherehisfatherhadlivedintown。"Gently，"hetoldhimself，"gently。"Stilllaughing，hesaid，"I，withabrother—youngerit’snotpossible。"Thehorrorleaptagain，andheexclaimed，"It’safoullie！"
　　"Mydear，mydear！"
　　"It’safoullie！Hewasn’t——Iwon’tstand——"
　　"Mydear，beforeyousayseveralnoblethings，rememberthatit’sworseforhimthanforyou——worseforyourbrother，foryourhalf—brother，foryouryoungerbrother。"
　　Butheheardhernolonger。Hewasgazingatthepast，whichhehadpraisedsorecently，whichgapedeverwider，likeanunhallowedgrave。Turnwherehewould，itencircledhim。Ittookvisibleform:itwasthisdoubleentrenchmentoftheRings。Hismouthwentcold，andheknewthathewasgoingtofaintamongthedead。Hestartedrunning，missedtheexit，stumbledontheinnerbarrier，fellintodarkness——
　　"Gethisheaddown，"saidavoice。"Getthebloodbackintohim。
　　That’sallhewants。Leavehimtome。Elliot！"——thebloodwasreturning——"Elliot，wakeup！"
　　Hewokeup。Theearthhehaddreadedlayclosetohiseyes，andseemedbeautiful。Hesawthestructureoftheclods。Atinybeetleswungonthegrassblade。Onhisownneckahumanhandpressed，guidingthebloodbacktohisbrain。
　　Therebrokefromhimacry，notofhorrorbutofacceptance。Foroneshortmomentheunderstood。"Stephen——"hebegan，andthenheheardhisownnamecalled:"Rickie！Rickie！"Agneshurriedfromherpostonthemargin，and，asifunderstandingalso，caughthimtoherbreast。
　　Stephenofferedtohelpthemfurther，butfindingthathemadethingsworse，hesteppedasidetoletthempassandthensaunteredinwards。Thewholefield，withconcentriccircles，wasvisible，andthebroadleavesoftheturnipsrustledinthegatheringwind。MissPembrokeandElliotweremovingtowardstheCadoverentrance。Mrs。Failingstoodwatchinginherturnontheoppositebank。Hewasnotaninquisitiveboy;butasheleantagainstthetreehewonderedwhatitwasallabout，andwhetherhewouldeverknow。
　　XIV
　　Onthewayback——atthatverylevel—crossingwherehehadpausedonhisupwardroute——Rickiestoppedsuddenlyandtoldthegirlwhyhehadfainted。Hithertoshehadaskedhiminvain。Histonehadgonefromhim，andhetoldherharshlyandbrutally，sothatshestartedawaywithahorrifiedcry。Thenhismanneraltered，andheexclaimed:"Willyoumind？Areyougoingtomind？"
　　"OfcourseImind，"shewhispered。Sheturnedfromhim，andsawuponthesky—linetwofiguresthatseemedtobeofenormoussize。
　　"They’rewatchingus。Theystandontheedgewatchingus。Thiscountry’ssoopen——you——youcan’ttheywatchuswhereverwego。
　　Ofcourseyoumind。"
　　Theyheardtherumbleofthetrain，andshepulledherselftogether。"Come，dearest，weshallberunovernext。We’resayingthingsthathavenosense。"Butonthewaybackherepeated:
　　"Theycanstillseeus。Theycanseeeveryinchofthisroad。
　　Theywatchusforever。"Andwhentheyarrivedatthestepsthere，sureenough，werestillthetwofiguresgazingfromtheoutercircleoftheRings。
　　Shemadehimgotohisroomatonce:hewasalmosthysterical。
　　Leightonbroughtoutsometeaforher，andshesatdrinkingitonthelittleterrace。Ofcoursesheminded。
　　Againshewasmenacedbytheabnormal。Allhadseemedsofairandsosimple，soinaccordancewithherideas;andthen，likeacorpse，thishorrorroseuptothesurface。Shesawthetwofiguresdescendandpausewhileoneofthemharnessedthepony;
　　shesawthemdrivedownward，andknewthatbeforelongshemustfacethemandtheworld。Sheglancedatherengagementring。
　　WhenthecarriagedroveupMrs。Failingdismounted，butdidnotspeak。ItwasStephenwhoinquiredafterRickie。She，scarcelyknowingthesoundofherownvoice，repliedthathewasalittletired。
　　"Goandputupthepony，"saidMrs。Failingrathersharply。
　　"Agnes，givemesometea。"
　　"Itisratherstrong，"saidAgnesasthecarriagedroveoffandleftthemalone。ThenshenoticedthatMrs。Failingherselfwasagitated。Herlipsweretrembling，andshesawtheboydepartwithmanifestrelief。
　　"Doyouknow，"shesaidhurriedly，asiftalkingagainsttime——
　　"DoyouknowwhatupsetRickie？"
　　"Idoindeedknow。"
　　"Hashetoldanyoneelse？"
　　"Ibelievenot。"
　　"Agnes——haveIbeenafool？"
　　"Youhavebeenveryunkind，"saidthegirl，andhereyesfilledwithtears。
　　ForamomentMrs。Failingwasannoyed。"Unkind？Idonotseethatatall。Ibelieveinlookingfactsintheface。Rickiemustknowhisghostssometime。Whynotthisafternoon？"
　　Sherosewithquietdignity，buthertearscamefaster。"Thatisnotso。Youtoldhimtohurthim。Icannotthinkwhatyoudiditfor。Isupposebecausehewasrudetoyouafterchurch。Itisamean，cowardlyrevenge。
　　"What——whatifit’salie？"
　　"Then，Mrs。Failing，itissickeningofyou。Thereisnootherword。Sickening。Iamsorry——anobodylikemyself——tospeaklikethis。HowCOULDyou，oh，howcouldyoudemeanyourself？Why，notevenapoorperson——Herindignationwasfineandgenuine。Buthertearsfellnolonger。Nothingmenacedheriftheywerenotreallybrothers。
　　"Itisnotalie，myclear;sitdown。Iwillswearsomuchsolemnly。Itisnotalie，but——"
　　Agneswaited。
　　"——wecancallitalieifwechoose。"
　　"Iamnotsochildish。Youhavesaidit，andwemustallsuffer。
　　Youhavehadyourfun:Iconcludeyoudiditforfun。Youcannotgoback。He——"Shepointedtowardsthestables，andcouldnotfinishhersentence。
　　"Ihavenotbeenafooltwice。"
　　Agnesdidnotunderstand。
　　"Mydenselady，can’tyoufollow？IhavenottoldStephenonesingleword，neitherbeforenornow。"
　　Therewasalongsilence。
　　Indeed，Mrs。Failingwasinanawkwardposition。
　　Rickiehadirritatedher，and，inherdesiretoshockhim，shehadimperilledherownpeace。Shehadfeltsounconventionaluponthehillside，whensheloosedthehorroragainsthim;butnowitwasdartingatheraswell。Supposethescandalcameout。
　　Stephen，whowasabsolutelywithoutdelicacy，wouldtellittothepeopleassoonastellthemthetime。Hispaganismwouldbetooassertive;itmightevenbeinbadtaste。Afterall，shehadaprominentpositionintheneighbourhood;shewastalkedabout，respected，lookedupto。Afterall，shewasgrowingold。Andtherefore，thoughshehadnotrueregardforRickie，norforAgnes，norforStephen，norforStephen’sparents，inwhosetragedyshehadassisted，yetshedidfeelthatifthescandalreviveditwoulddisturbtheharmonyofCadover，andthereforetriedtoretracehersteps。Itiseasytosayshockingthings:itissodifferenttobeconnectedwithanythingshocking。Lifeanddeathwerenotinvolved，butcomfortanddiscomfortwere。