NextmorningIsentapenitentnotetoKitty，imploringhertooverlookmystrangeconductofthepreviousafternoonMyDivinitywasstillverywroth，andapersonalapologywasnecessaryIexplained，withafluencybornofnight-longponderingoverafalsehood，thatIhadbeenattackedwithsuddenpalpitationoftheheart-theresultofindigestionThiseminentlypracticalsolutionhaditseffect；andKittyandIrodeoutthatafternoonwiththeshadowofmyfirstliedividingus。
　　NothingwouldpleasehersaveacanterroundJakkoWithmynervesstillunstrungfromthepreviousnightIfeeblyprotestedagainstthenotion，suggestingObservatoryHill，Jutogh，theBoileaugungeroad-anythingratherthantheJakkoroundKittywasangryandalittlehurt：soIyieldedfromfearofprovokingfurthermisunderstanding，andwesetouttogethertowardChotaSimlaWewalkedagreaterpartoftheway，and，accordingtoourcustom，canteredfromamileorsobelowtheConventtothestretchoflevelroadbytheSanjowlieReservoirThewretchedhorsesappearedtofly，andmyheartbeatquickerandquickeraswenearedthecrestoftheascentMymindhadbeenfullofMrs。
　　Wessingtonalltheafternoon；andeveryinchoftheJakkoroadborewitnesstoouroldtimewalksandtalksThebowlderswerefullofit；thepinessangitaloudoverhead；therain-fedtorrentsgiggledandchuckledunseenovertheshamefulstory；andthewindinmyearschantedtheiniquityaloud。
　　Asafittingclimax，inthemiddleofthelevelmencalltheLadies’
　　MiletheHorrorwasawaitingmeNoother’rickshawwasinsight-onlythefourblackandwhitejhampanies，theyellow-
　　paneledcarriage，andthegoldenheadofthewomanwithin-allapparentlyjustasIhadleftthemeightmonthsandonefortnightago！ForaninstantIfanciedthatKittymustseewhatIsaw-weweresomarvelouslysympatheticinallthingsHernextwordsundeceivedme-’~Notasoulinsight！Comealong，Jack，andI’llraceyoutotheReservoirbuildings！”HerwirylittleArabwasofflikeabird，myWalerfollowingclosebehind，andinthisorderwedashedunderthecliffsHalfaminutebroughtuswithinfiftyyardsofthe’rickshawIpulledmyWalerandfellbackalittleThe’rickshawwasdirectlyinthemiddleoftheroad；andoncemoretheArabpassedthroughit，myhorsefollowing“Jack！Jackdear！
　　Peaseforgiveme。”rangwithawailinmyears，and，afteraninterval：-“It’samistake，ahideousmistake！”
　　IspurredmyhorselikeamanpossessedWhenIturnedmyheadattheReservoirworks，theblackandwhiteliverieswerestillwaiting-patientlywaiting-underthegreyhillside，andthewindbroughtmeamockingechoofthewordsIhadjustheardKittybanteredmeagooddealonmysilencethroughouttheremainderoftherideIhadbeentalkinguptillthenwildlyandatrandom。
　　TosavemylifeIcouldnotspeakafterwardnaturally，andfromSanjowlietotheChurchwiselyheldmytongue。
　　IwastodinewiththeManneringsthatnight，andhadbarelytimetocanterhometodressOntheroadtoElysiumHillIoverheardtwomentalkingtogetherinthedusk-“It’sacuriousthing。”saidone，“howcompletelyalltraceofitdisappearedYouknowmywifewasinsanelyfondofthewoman’nevercouldseeanythinginhermyself，andwantedmetopickupherold’rickshawandcooliesiftheyweretobegotforloveormoneyMorbidsortoffancyIcallit；butI’vegottodowhattheMemsahibtellsme。
　　Wouldyoubelievethatthemanshehireditfromtellsmethatallfourofthemen-theywerebrothers-diedofcholeraonthewaytoHardwar，poordevils，andthe’rickshawhasbeenbrokenupbythemanhimself’ToldmeheneverusedadeadMemsakib’s’rickshaw’SpoiledhisluckQueernotion，wasn’tit？FancypoorlittleMrsWessingtonspoilinganyone’sluckexceptherown！”I
　　laughedaloudatthispoint；andmylaughjarredonmeasIuttereditSotherewereghostsof’rickshawsafterall，andghostlyemploymentsintheotherworld！HowmuchdidMrsWessingtongivehermen？Whatweretheirhours？Wheredidtheygo？
　　AndforvisibleanswertomylastquestionIsawtheinfernalThingblockingmypathinthetwilightThedeadtravelfast，andbyshortcutsunknowntoordinarycooliesIlaughedaloudasecondtimeandcheckedmylaughtersuddenly，forIwasafraidIwasgoingmadMadtoacertainextentImusthavebeen，forIrecollectthatIreinedinmyhorseattheheadofthe’rickshaw，andpolitelywishedMrsWessington“Good-evening。”HeranswerwasoneI
　　knewonlytoowellIlistenedtotheend；andrepliedthatIhadhearditallbefore，butshouldbedelightedifshehadanythingfurthertosaySomemalignantdevilstrongerthanImusthaveenteredintomethatevening，forIhaveadimrecollectionoftalkingthecommonplacesofthedayforfiveminutestotheThinginfrontofme。
　　“Madasahatter，poordevil-ordrunkMax，tryandgethimtocomehome。”
　　SurelythatwasnotMrsWessington’svoice！Thetwomenhadoverheardmespeakingtotheemptyair，andhadreturnedtolookaftermeTheywereverykindandconsiderate，andfromtheirwordsevidentlygatheredthatIwasextremelydrunkIthankedthemconfusedlyandcanteredawaytomyhotel，therechanged，andarrivedattheMannerings’tenminuteslateIpleadedthedarknessofthenightasanexcuse；wasrebukedbyKittyformyunlover-liketardiness；andsatdown。
　　Theconversationhadalreadybecomegeneral；andundercoverofit，IwasaddressingsometendersmalltalktomysweetheartwhenIwasawarethatatthefurtherendofthetableashortred-
　　whiskeredmanwasdescribing，withmuchbroidery，hisencounterwithamadunknownthatevening。
　　AfewsentencesconvincedmethathewasrepeatingtheincidentofhalfanhouragoInthemiddleofthestoryhelookedroundforapplause，asprofessionalstory-tellersdo，caughtmyeye，andstraightwaycollapsedTherewasamoment’sawkwardsilence，andthered-whiskeredmanmutteredsomethingtotheeffectthathehad“forgottentherest。”therebysacrificingareputationasagoodstory~tellerwhichhehadbuiltupforsixseasonspastIblessedhimfromthebottomofmyheart，and-wentonwithmyfish。
　　Inthefulnessoftimethatdinnercametoanend；andwithgenuineregretItoremyselfawayfromKitty-ascertainasIwasofmyownexistencethatItwouldbewaitingformeoutsidethedoorThered-whiskeredman，whohadbeenintroducedtomeasDoctorHeatherlegh，ofSimla，volunteeredtobearmecompanyasfarasourroadslaytogetherIacceptedhisofferwithgratitude。
　　MyinstincthadnotdeceivedmeItlayinreadinessintheMall，and，inwhatseemeddevilishmockeryofourways，withalightedhead-lampThered-whiskeredmanwenttothepointatonce，inamannerthatshowedhebadbeenthinkingoveritalldinnertime。
　　“Isay，Pansay，whatthedeucewasthematterwithyouthiseveningontheElysiumroad？”ThesuddennessofthequestionwrenchedananswerfrommebeforeIwasaware。
　　“That！。”saidI，pointingtoIt。
　　“ThatmaybeeitherDTorEyesforaughtIknowNowyoudon’tliquorIsawasmuchatdinner，soitcan’tbeDTThere’snothingwhateverwhereyou’repointing，thoughyou’resweatingandtremblingwithfrightlikeascaredponyTherefore，I
　　concludethatit’sEyesAndIoughttounderstandallaboutthem。
　　ComealonghomewithmeI’montheBlessingtonlowerroad。”
　　Tomyintensedelightthe’rickshawinsteadofwaitingforuskeptabouttwentyyardsahead-andthis，toowhetherwewalked，trotted，orcanteredInthecourseofthatlongnightrideIhadtoldmycompanionalmostasmuchasIhavetoldyouhere。
　　“Well，you’vespoiledoneofthebesttalesI’veeverlaidtongueto。”
　　saidhe，“butI’llforgiveyouforthesakeofwhatyou’vegonethroughNowcomehomeanddowhatItellyou；andwhenI’vecuredyou，youngman，letthisbealessontoyoutosteerclearofwomenandindigestiblefoodtillthedayofyourdeath。”
　　The’rickshawkeptsteadyinfront；andmyred-whiskeredfriendseemedtoderivegreatpleasurefrommyaccountofitsexactwhereabouts。
　　“Eyes，Pansay-allEyes，Brain，andStomachAndthegreatestofthesethreeisStomachYou’vetoomuchconceitedBrain，toolittleStomach，andthoroughlyunhealthyEyesGetyourStomachstraightandtherestfollowsAndallthat’sFrenchforaliverpill。
　　I’lltakesolemedicalchargeofyoufromthishour！foryou’retoointerestingaphenomenontobepassedover。”
　　BythistimeweweredeepintheshadowoftheBlessingtonlowerroadandthe’rickshawcametoadeadstopunderapine-clad，over-hangingshalecliffInstinctivelyIhaltedtoo，givingmyreasonHeatherleghrappedoutanoath。
　　’Now，ifyouthinkI’mgoingtospendacoldnightonthehillsideforthesakeofastomach-cum-Brain-cum-EyeillusionLord，ha’mercy！What’sthat？”
　　Therewasamuffledreport，ablindingsmotherofdustjustinfrontofus，acrack，thenoiseofrentboughs，andabouttenyardsofthecliff-side-pines。，undergrowth，andall-sliddownintotheroadbelow，completelyblockingitupTheuprootedtreesswayedandtotteredforamomentlikedrunkengiantsinthegloom，andthenfellproneamongtheirfellowswithathunderouscrashOurtwohorsesstoodmotionlessandsweatingwithfearAssoonastherattleoffallingearthandstonehadsubsided，mycompanionmuttered：-“Man，ifwe’dgoneforwardweshouldhavebeentenfeetdeepinourgravesbynow’Therearemorethingsinheavenandearth。’Comehome，Pansay，andthankGodIwantapegbadly。”
　　WeretracedourwayovertheChurchRidge，andIarrivedatDr。
　　Heatherlegh’shouseshortlyaftermidnight。
　　Hisattemptstowardmycurecommencedalmostimmediately，andforaweekIneverlefthissightManyatimeinthecourseofthatweekdidIblessthegood-fortunewhichhadthrownmeincontactwithSimla’sbestandkindestdoctorDaybydaymyspiritsgrewlighterandmoreequableDaybyday，too，IbecamemoreandmoreinclinedtofallinwithHeatherlegh’s“spectralillusion“
　　theory，implicatingeyes，brain，andstomachIwrotetoKitty，tellingherthataslightspraincausedbyafallfrommyhorsekeptmeindoorsforafewdays；andthatIshouldberecoveredbeforeshehadtimetoregretmyabsence。
　　Heatherlegh’streatmentwassimpletoadegreeItconsistedofliverpills，cold-waterbaths，andstrongexercise，takenintheduskoratearlydawn-for，ashesagelyobserved：-“Amanwithasprainedankledoesn’twalkadozenmilesaday，andyouryoungwomanmightbewonderingifshesawyou。”
　　Attheendoftheweek，aftermuchexaminationofpupilandpulse，andstrictinjunction’astodietandpedestrianism，HeatherleghdismissedmeasbrusquelyashehadtakenchargeofmeHereishispartingbenediction：-“Man，Icancertifytoyourmentalcure，andthat’sasmuchastosayI’vecuredmostofyourbodilyailmentsNow，getyour’trapsoutofthisassoonasyoucan；andbeofftomakelovetoMissKitty。”
　　IwasendeavoringtoexpressmythanksforhiskindnessHecutmeshort。
　　“Don’tthinkIdidthisbecauseIlikeyouIgatherthatyou’vebehavedlikeablackguardallthroughBut，allthesame，youreaphenomenon，andasqueeraphenomenonasyouareablackguard。
　　No！”-checkingmeasecondtime“notarupeepleaseGooutandseeifyoucanfindtheeyes-brain-and-stomachbusinessagainI’llgiveyoualakhforeachtimeyouseeit。”
　　HalfanhourlaterIwasintheMannerings’drawing-roomwithKitty-drunkwiththeintoxicationofpresenthappinessandthefore-knowledgethatIshouldnevermorebetroubledwithItshideouspresenceStronginthesenseofmynew-foundsecurity，I
　　proposedarideatonce；and，bypreference，acanterroundJakko。
　　NeverhadIfeltsowell，sooverladenwithvitalityandmereanimalspirits，asIdidontheafternoonofthe30thofAprilKittywasdelightedatthechangeinmyappearance，andcomplimentedmeonitinherdelightfullyfrankandoutspokenmannerWelefttheMannerings’housetogether，laughingandtalking，andcanteredalongtheChotaSimlaroadasofold。
　　IwasinhastetoreachtheSanjowlieReservoirandtheremakemyassurancedoublysureThehorsesdidtheirbest，butseemedalltooslowtomyimpatientmindKittywasastonishedatmyboisterousness“Why，Jack！”shecriedatlast，“youarebehavinglikeachildWhatareyoudoing？”
　　WewerejustbelowtheConvent，andfromsheerwantonnessIwasmakingmyWalerplungeandcurvetacrosstheroadasItickleditwiththeloopofmyriding-whip。
　　“Doing？”Ianswered；“nothing，dearThat’sjustitIfyou’dbeendoingnothingforaweekexceptlieup，you’dbeasriotousasI。”
　　“’Singingandmurmuringinyourfeastfulmirth，Joyingtofeelyourselfalive；
　　LordoverNature，LordofthevisibleEarth，Lordofthesensesfive。’“
　　MyquotationwashardlyoutofmylipsbeforewehadroundedthecornerabovetheConvent；andafewyardsfurtheroncouldseeacrosstoSanjowlieInthecentreofthelevelroadstoodtheblackandwhiteliveries，theyellow-paneled’rickshaw，andMrs。