Iwastheoffender，andIknewitThatknowledgetransformedmypityintopassiveendurance，and，eventually，intoblindhat~thesameinstinct，Isuppose，whichpromptsamantosavagelystamponthespiderhehasbuthalfkilledAndwiththishateinmybosomtheseasonof1882cametoanend。
　　NextyearwemetagainatSimla-shewithhermonotonousfaceandtimidattemptsatreconciliation，andIwithloathingofherineveryfibreofmyframeSeveraltimesIcouldnotavoidmeetingheralone；andoneachoccasionherwordswereidenticallythesameStilltheunreasoningwailthatitwasalla“mistake“；andstillthehopeofeventually“makingfriends。”ImighthaveseenhadIcaredtolook，thatthathopeonlywaskeepingheraliveShegrewmorewanandthinmonthbymonthYouwillagreewithme，atleast，thatsuchconductwouldhavedrivenanyonetodespairItwasuncalledfor；childish；unwomanlyImaintainthatshewasmuchtoblameAndagain，sometimes，intheblack，fever-strickennight-watches，IhavebeguntothinkthatImighthavebeenalittlekindertoherButthatreallyisa“delusion。”I
　　couldnothavecontinuedpretendingtoloveherwhenIdidn’t；
　　couldI？Itwouldhavebeenunfairtousboth。
　　Lastyearwemetagain-onthesametermsasbeforeThesamewearyappeal，andthesamecurtanswersfrommylipsAtleastI
　　wouldmakeherseehowwhollywrongandhopelesswereherattemptsatresumingtheoldrelationshipAstheseasonworeon，wefellapart-thatistosay，shefounditdifficulttomeetme，forI
　　hadotherandmoreabsorbingintereststoattendtoWhenIthinkitoverquietlyinmysick-room，theseasonof1884seemsaconfusednightmarewhereinlightandshadewerefantasticallyintermingled-mycourtshipoflittleKittyMannering；myhopes，doubts，andfears；ourlongridestogether；mytremblingavowalofattachment；
　　herreply；andnowandagainavisionofawhitefaceflittingbyinthe’rickshawwiththeblackandwhiteliveriesIoncewatchedforsoearnestly；thewaveofMrsWessington’sglovedhand；and，whenshemetmealone，whichwasbutseldom，theirksomemonotonyofherappealIlovedKittyMannering；honestly，heartilylovedher，andwithmyloveforhergrewmyhatredforAgnesInAugustKittyandIwereengagedThenextdayImetthoseaccursed“magpie“jhampaniesatthebackofJakko，and，movedbysomepassingsentimentofpity，stoppedtotellMrs。
　　WessingtoneverythingSheknewitalready。
　　“SoIhearyou’reengaged，Jackdear。”Then，withoutamoment’spause-“I’msureit’sallamistake-ahideousmistakeWeshallbeasgoodfriendssomeday，Jack，asweeverwere。”
　　MyanswermighthavemadeevenamanwinceItcutthedyingwomanbeforemeliketheblowof’awhip“Pleaseforgiveme，Jack；Ididn’tmeantomakeyouangry；butit’strue，it’strue！”
　　AndMrsWessingtonbrokedowncompletelyIturnedawayandlefthertofinishherjourneyinpeace，feeling，butonlyforamomentortwo，thatIhadbeenanunutterablymeanhoundI
　　lookedback，andsawthatshehadturnedher’rickshawwiththeidea，Isuppose，ofovertakingme。
　　Thesceneanditssurroundingswerephotographedonmymemory。
　　Therain-sweptskywewereattheendofthewetweather，thesodden，dingypines，themuddyroad，andtheblackpowder-rivencliffsformedagloomybackgroundagainstwhichtheblackandwhiteliveriesofthejhampanies，theyellow-paneled’rickshawandMrsWessington’sdown-bowedgoldenheadstoodoutclearly。
　　Shewasholdingherhandkerchiefinherlefthandandwasleaninghackexhaustedagainstthe’rickshawcushionsIturnedmyhorseupabypathneartheSanjowlieReservoirandliterallyranaway。
　　OnceIfanciedIheardafaintcallof“Jack！”ThismayhavebeenimaginationIneverstoppedtoverifyitTenminuteslaterIcameacrossKittyonhorseback；and，inthedelightofalongridewithher，forgotallabouttheinterview。
　　AweeklaterMrsWessingtondied，andtheinexpressibleburdenofherexistencewasremovedfrommylifeIwentPlainswardperfectlyhappyBeforethreemonthswereoverIhadforgottenallabouther，exceptthatattimesthediscoveryofsomeofheroldlettersremindedmeunpleasantlyofourbygonerelationshipByJanuaryIhaddisinterredwhatwasleftofourcorrespondencefromamongmyscatteredbelongingsandhadburneditAtthebeginningofAprilofthisyear，1885，IwasatSimla-semi-desertedSimla-oncemore，andwasdeepinlover’stalksandwalkswithKittyItwasdecidedthatweshouldbemarriedattheendofJune。
　　Youwillunderstand，therefore，that，lovingKittyasIdid，IamnotsayingtoomuchwhenIpronouncemyselftohavebeen，atthattime，thehappiestmaninIndia。
　　FourteendelightfuldayspassedalmostbeforeInoticedtheirflight。
　　Then，arousedtothesenseofwhatwasproperamongmortalscircumstancedaswewere，IpointedouttoKittythatanengagementringwastheoutwardandvisiblesignofherdignityasanengagedgirl；andthatshemustforthwithcometoHamilton’stobemeasuredforoneUptothatmoment，Igiveyoumyword，wehadcompletelyforgottensotrivialamatterToHamilton’sweaccordinglywentonthe15thofApril，1885Rememberthat-whatevermydoctormaysaytothecontrary-Iwastheninperfecthealth，enjoyingawell-balancedmindandanabsolutetranquilspiritKittyandIenteredHamilton’sshoptogether，andthere，regardlessoftheorderofaffairs，ImeasuredKittyfortheringinthepresenceoftheamusedassistantTheringwasasapphirewithtwodiamondsWethenrodeoutdowntheslopethatleadstotheCombermereBridgeandPeliti’sshop。
　　WhilemyWalerwascautiouslyfeelinghiswayoverthelooseshale，andKittywaslaughingandchatteringatmyside-whileallSimla，thatistosayasmuchofitashadthencomefromthePlains，wasgroupedroundtheReading-roomandPeliti’sveranda，-Iwasawarethatsomeone，apparentlyatavastdistance，wascallingmebymyChristiannameItstruckmethatIhadheardthevoicebefore，butwhenandwhereIcouldnotatoncedetermineIntheshortspaceittooktocovertheroadbetweenthepathfromHamilton’sshopandthefirstplankoftheComber-mereBridgeIhadthoughtoverhalfadozenpeoplewhomighthavecommittedsuchasolecism，andhadeventuallydecidedthatitmusthavebeensinginginmyearsImmediatelyoppositePeliti’sshopmyeyewasarrestedbythesightoffourjharnpaniesin“magpie“livery，pullingayellow-paneled，cheap，bazar’rickshaw。
　　InamomentmymindflewbacktothepreviousseasonandMrs。
　　WessingtonwithasenseofirritationanddisgustWasitnotenoughthatthewomanwasdeadanddonewith，withoutherblackandwhiteservitorsreappearingtospoiltheday’shappiness？
　　WhoeveremployedthemnowIthoughtIwouldcallupon，andaskasapersonalfavortochangeherJhampanies’liveryIwouldhirethemenmyself，and，ifnecessary，buytheircoatsfromofftheirbacksItisimpossibletosayherewhatafloodofundesirablememoriestheirpresenceevoked。
　　“Kitty。”Icried，“therearepoorMrsWessington’sjhampaniesturnedupagain！Iwonderwhohasthemnow？”
　　KittyhadknownMrsWessingtonslightlylastseason，andhadalwaysbeeninterestedinthesicklywoman。
　　“What？Where？”sheasked“Ican’tseethemanywhere。”
　　Evenasshespokeherhorse，swervingfromaladenmule，threwhimselfdirectlyinfrontoftheadvancing’rickshawIhadscarcelytimetoutterawordofwarningwhen，tomyunutterablehorror，horseandriderpassedthroughmenandcarriageasiftheyhadbeenthinair。
　　“What’sthematter？”criedKitty；“whatmadeyoucalloutsofoolishly，Jack？IfIamengagedIdon’twantallcreationtoknowaboutitTherewaslotsofspacebetweenthemuleandtheveranda；and，ifyouthinkIcan’tride-There！”
　　WhereuponwilfulKittysetoff，herdaintylittleheadintheair，atahand-gallopinthedirectionoftheBandstand；fullyexpecting，assheherselfafterwardtoldme，thatIshouldfollowherWhatwasthematter？NothingindeedEitherthatIwasmadordrunk，orthatSimlawashauntedwithdevilsIreinedinmyimpatientcob，andturnedroundThe’rickshawhadturnedtoo，andnowstoodimmediatelyfacingme，neartheleftrailingoftheComber-mereBridge。
　　“Jack！Jack，darling！”Therewasnomistakeaboutthewordsthistime：theyrangthroughmybrainasiftheyhadbeenshoutedinmyear。“It’ssomehideousmistake，I’msurePleaseforgiveme，jack，andlet’sbefriendsagain。”
　　The’rickshaw-hoodhadfallenback，andinside，asIhopeandpraydailyforthedeathIdreadbynight，satMrsKeith-Wessington，handkerchiefinhand，andgoldenheadbowedonherbreast。
　　HowlongIstaredmotionlessIdonotknowFinally，IwasarousedbymyyscetakingtheWaler’sbridleandaskingwhetherI
　　wasillFromthehorribletothecommonplaceisbutastepI
　　tumbledoffmyhorseanddashed，halffainting，intoPeliti’sforaglassofcherry-brandyTheretwoorthreecouplesweregatheredroundthecoffee-tablesdiscussingthegossipofthedayTheirtrivialitiesweremorecomfortingtomejustthenthantheconsolationsofreligioncouldhavebeenIplungedintothemidstoftheconversationatonce；chatted，laughed，andjestedwithafacewhenIcaughtaglimpseofitinamirroraswhiteanddrawnasthatofacorpseThreeorfourmemnoticedmycondition；and，evidentlysettingitdowntotheresultsofover-manypegs，charitablyendeavouredtodrawmeapartfromtherestoftheloungersButIrefusedtobeledawayIwantedthecompanyofmykind-asachildrushesintothemidstofthedinner-partyafterafrightinthedarkImusthavetalkedforabouttenminutesorso，thoughitseemedaneternitytome，whenIheardKitty’sclearvoiceoutsideinquiringformeInanotherminuteshehadenteredtheshop，preparedtoroundlyupbraidmeforfailingsosignallyinmydutiesSomethinginmyfacestoppedher。
　　“Why，Jack。”shecried，“whathaveyoubeendoing？Whathashappened？Areyouill？”Thusdrivenintoadirectlie，IsaidthatthesunhadbeenalittletoomuchformeItwascloseuponfiveo’clockofacloudyAprilafternoon，andthesunhadbeenhiddenalldayIsawmymistakeassoonasthewordswereoutofmymouth：attemptedtorecoverit；blunderedhopelesslyandfollowedKittyinaregalrage，outofdoors，amidthesmilesofmyacquaintancesImadesomeexcuseIhaveforgottenwhatonthescoreofmyfeelingfaint；andcanteredawaytomyhotel，leavingKittytofinishtheridebyherself。
　　InmyroomIsatdownandtriedcalmlytoreasonoutthematter。
　　HerewasI，TheobaldJackPansay，awell-educatedBengalCivilianintheyearofgrace，1885，presumablysane，certainlyhealthy，driveninterrorfrommysweetheart’ssidebytheapparitionofawomanwhohadbeendeadandburiedeightmonthsagoThesewerefactsthatIcouldnotblinkNothingwasfurtherfrommythoughtthananymemoryofMrsWessingtonwhenKittyandIleftHamilton’sshopNothingwasmoreutterlycommonplacethanthestretchofwalloppositePeliti’sItwasbroaddaylightTheroadwasfullofpeople；andyethere，lookyou，indefianceofeverylawofprobability，indirectoutrageofNature’sordinance，therehadappearedtomeafacefromthegrave。
　　Kitty’sArabhadgonethroughthe’rickshaw：sothatmyfirsthopethatsomewomanmarvelouslylikeMrsWessingtonhadhiredthecarriageandthecoolieswiththeiroldliverywaslostAgainandagainIwentroundthistreadmillofthought；andagainandagaingaveupbaffledandindespairThevoicewasasinexplicableastheapparitionIhadoriginallysomewildnotionofconfidingitalltoKitty；ofbegginghertomarrymeatonce；andinherarmsdefyingtheghostlyoccupantofthe’rickshaw“Afterall。”I
　　argued，“thepresenceofthe’rickshawisinitselfenoughtoprovetheexistenceofaspectralillusionOnemayseeghostsofmenandwomen，butsurelyneverofcooliesandcarriagesThewholethingisabsurdFancytheghostofahill-man！”