Hetoldhernotonlywhathadhappened，butwhathehadthoughtandfelt，andsketchedforherportraitswhichfascinatedherofwhatothermenandwomenmightbesupposedtobethinkingandfeeling，sothatshebecameveryanxioustogobacktoEngland，whichwasfullofpeople，whereshecouldmerelystandinthestreetsandlookatthem。
　　Accordingtohim，too，therewasanorder，apatternwhichmadelifereasonable，orifthatwordwasfoolish，madeitofdeepinterestanyhow，forsometimesitseemedpossibletounderstandwhythingshappenedastheydid。Norwerepeoplesosolitaryanduncommunicativeasshebelieved。Sheshouldlookforvanity——
　　forvanitywasacommonquality——firstinherself，andtheninHelen，inRidley，inSt。John，theyallhadtheirshareofit——
　　andshewouldfinditintenpeopleoutofeverytwelveshemet；
　　andoncelinkedtogetherbyonesuchtieshewouldfindthemnotseparateandformidable，butpracticallyindistinguishable，andshewouldcometolovethemwhenshefoundthattheywerelikeherself。
　　Ifshedeniedthis，shemustdefendherbeliefthathumanbeingswereasvariousasthebeastsattheZoo，whichhadstripesandmanes，andhornsandhumps；andso，wrestlingovertheentirelistoftheiracquaintances，anddivergingintoanecdoteandtheoryandspeculation，theycametoknoweachother。
　　Thehourspassedquickly，andseemedtothemfulltoleaking-point。
　　Afteranight’ssolitudetheywerealwaysreadytobeginagain。
　　ThevirtueswhichMrs。Ambrosehadoncebelievedtoexistinfreetalkbetweenmenandwomendidintruthexistforbothofthem，althoughnotquiteinthemeasuresheprescribed。
　　Farmorethanuponthenatureofsextheydweltuponthenatureofpoetry，butitwastruethattalkwhichhadnoboundariesdeepenedandenlargedthestrangelysmallbrightviewofagirl。
　　Inreturnforwhathecouldtellhershebroughthimsuchcuriosityandsensitivenessofperception，thathewasledtodoubtwhetheranygiftbestowedbymuchreadingandlivingwasquitetheequalofthatforpleasureandpain。Whatwouldexperiencegiveherafterall，exceptakindofridiculousformalbalance，likethatofadrilleddoginthestreet？Helookedatherfaceandwonderedhowitwouldlookintwentyyears’time，whentheeyeshaddulled，andtheforeheadworethoselittlepersistentwrinkleswhichseemtoshowthatthemiddle-agedarefacingsomethinghardwhichtheyoungdonotsee？Whatwouldthehardthingbeforthem，hewondered？ThenhisthoughtsturnedtotheirlifeinEngland。
　　ThethoughtofEnglandwasdelightful，fortogethertheywouldseetheoldthingsfreshly；itwouldbeEnglandinJune，andtherewouldbeJunenightsinthecountry；andthenightingalessinginginthelanes，intowhichtheycouldstealwhentheroomgrewhot；andtherewouldbeEnglishmeadowsgleamingwithwaterandsetwithstolidcows，andcloudsdippinglowandtrailingacrossthegreenhills。
　　Ashesatintheroomwithher，hewishedveryoftentobebackagaininthethickoflife，doingthingswithRachel。
　　Hecrossedtothewindowandexclaimed，“Lord，howgooditistothinkoflanes，muddylanes，withbramblesandnettles，youknow，andrealgrassfields，andfarmyardswithpigsandcows，andmenwalkingbesidecartswithpitchforks——there’snothingtocomparewiththathere——lookatthestonyredearth，andthebrightbluesea，andtheglaringwhitehouses——howtiredonegetsofit！Andtheair，withoutastainorawrinkle。I’dgiveanythingforaseamist。“
　　Rachel，too，hadbeenthinkingoftheEnglishcountry:theflatlandrollingawaytothesea，andthewoodsandthelongstraightroads，whereonecanwalkformileswithoutseeinganyone，andthegreatchurchtowersandthecurioushousesclusteredinthevalleys，andthebirds，andthedusk，andtherainfallingagainstthewindows。
　　“ButLondon，London’stheplace，“Terencecontinued。Theylookedtogetheratthecarpet，asthoughLondonitselfweretobeseentherelyingonthefloor，withallitsspiresandpinnaclesprickingthroughthesmoke。
　　“Onthewhole，whatIshouldlikebestatthismoment，“
　　Terencepondered，“wouldbetofindmyselfwalkingdownKingsway，bythosebigplacards，youknow，andturningintotheStrand。
　　PerhapsImightgoandlookoverWaterlooBridgeforamoment。
　　ThenI’dgoalongtheStrandpasttheshopswithallthenewbooksinthem，andthroughthelittlearchwayintotheTemple。
　　Ialwayslikethequietaftertheuproar。Youhearyourownfootstepssuddenlyquiteloud。TheTemple’sverypleasant。IthinkIshouldgoandseeifIcouldfinddearoldHodgkin——themanwhowritesbooksaboutVanEyck，youknow。WhenIleftEnglandhewasverysadabouthistamemagpie。Hesuspectedthatamanhadpoisonedit。
　　AndthenRusselllivesonthenextstaircase。Ithinkyou’dlikehim。He’sapassionforHandel。Well，Rachel，“heconcluded，dismissingthevisionofLondon，“weshallbedoingthattogetherinsixweeks’time，andit’llbethemiddleofJunethen——andJuneinLondon——myGod！howpleasantitallis！“
　　“Andwe’recertaintohaveittoo，“shesaid。“Itisn’tasifwewereexpectingagreatdeal——onlytowalkaboutandlookatthings。“
　　“Onlyathousandayearandperfectfreedom，“hereplied。
　　“HowmanypeopleinLondond’youthinkhavethat？“
　　“Andnowyou’vespoiltit，“shecomplained。“Nowwe’vegottothinkofthehorrors。“Shelookedgrudginglyatthenovelwhichhadoncecausedherperhapsanhour’sdiscomfort，sothatshehadneveropeneditagain，butkeptitonhertable，andlookedatitoccasionally，assomemedievalmonkkeptaskull，oracrucifixtoremindhimofthefrailtyofthebody。
　　“Isittrue，Terence，“shedemanded，“thatwomendiewithbugscrawlingacrosstheirfaces？“
　　“Ithinkit’sveryprobable，“hesaid。“Butyoumustadmit，Rachel，thatwesoseldomthinkofanythingbutourselvesthatanoccasionaltwingeisreallyratherpleasant。“
　　Accusinghimofanaffectionofcynicismwhichwasjustasbadassentimentalityitself，sheleftherpositionbyhissideandkneltuponthewindowsill，twistingthecurtaintasselsbetweenherfingers。
　　Avaguesenseofdissatisfactionfilledher。
　　“What’ssodetestableinthiscountry，“sheexclaimed，“istheblue——
　　alwaysblueskyandbluesea。It’slikeacurtain——allthethingsonewantsareontheothersideofthat。Iwanttoknowwhat’sgoingonbehindit。Ihatethesedivisions，don’tyou，Terence？Onepersonallinthedarkaboutanotherperson。NowIlikedtheDalloways，“
　　shecontinued，“andthey’regone。Ishallneverseethemagain。
　　Justbygoingonashipwecutourselvesoffentirelyfromtherestoftheworld。IwanttoseeEnglandthere——Londonthere——allsortsofpeople——whyshouldn’tone？whyshouldonebeshutupallbyoneselfinaroom？“
　　Whileshespokethushalftoherselfandwithincreasingvagueness，becausehereyewascaughtbyashipthathadjustcomeintothebay，shedidnotseethatTerencehadceasedtostarecontentedlyinfrontofhim，andwaslookingatherkeenlyandwithdissatisfaction。
　　Sheseemedtobeabletocutherselfadriftfromhim，andtopassawaytounknownplaceswhereshehadnoneedofhim。Thethoughtrousedhisjealousy。
　　“Isometimesthinkyou’renotinlovewithmeandneverwillbe，“
　　hesaidenergetically。Shestartedandturnedroundathiswords。
　　“Idon’tsatisfyyouinthewayyousatisfyme，“hecontinued。
　　“There’ssomethingIcan’tgetholdofinyou。Youdon’twantmeasIwantyou——you’realwayswantingsomethingelse。“
　　Hebeganpacingupanddowntheroom。
　　“PerhapsIasktoomuch，“hewenton。“Perhapsitisn’treallypossibletohavewhatIwant。Menandwomenaretoodifferent。
　　Youcan’tunderstand——youdon’tunderstand——“
　　Hecameuptowhereshestoodlookingathiminsilence。
　　Itseemedtohernowthatwhathewassayingwasperfectlytrue，andthatshewantedmanymorethingsthantheloveofonehumanbeing——
　　thesea，thesky。Sheturnedagainthelookedatthedistantblue，whichwassosmoothandserenewheretheskymetthesea；shecouldnotpossiblywantonlyonehumanbeing。
　　“Orisitonlythisdamnableengagement？“hecontinued。“Let’sbemarriedhere，beforewegoback——orisittoogreatarisk？
　　Arewesurewewanttomarryeachother？“
　　Theybeganpacingupanddowntheroom，butalthoughtheycameveryneareachotherintheirpacing，theytookcarenottotoucheachother。Thehopelessnessoftheirpositionovercamethemboth。
　　Theywereimpotent；theycouldneverloveeachothersufficientlytoovercomeallthesebarriers，andtheycouldneverbesatisfiedwithless。Realisingthiswithintolerablekeennessshestoppedinfrontofhimandexclaimed:
　　“Let’sbreakitoff，then。“
　　Thewordsdidmoretounitethemthananyamountofargument。
　　Asiftheystoodontheedgeofaprecipicetheyclungtogether。
　　Theyknewthattheycouldnotseparate；painfulandterribleitmightbe，buttheywerejoinedforever。Theylapsedintosilence，andafteratimecrepttogetherinsilence。Merelytobesoclosesoothedthem，andsittingsidebysidethedivisionsdisappeared，anditseemedasiftheworldwereoncemoresolidandentire，andasif，insomestrangeway，theyhadgrownlargerandstronger。
　　Itwaslongbeforetheymoved，andwhentheymoveditwaswithgreatreluctance。Theystoodtogetherinfrontofthelooking-glass，andwithabrushtriedtomakethemselveslookasiftheyhadbeenfeelingnothingallthemorning，neitherpainnorhappiness。
　　Butitchilledthemtoseethemselvesintheglass，forinsteadofbeingvastandindivisibletheywerereallyverysmallandseparate，thesizeoftheglassleavingalargespaceforthereflectionofotherthings。
　　Butnobrushwasabletoeffacecompletelytheexpressionofhappiness，sothatMrs。Ambrosecouldnottreatthemwhentheycamedownstairsasiftheyhadspentthemorninginawaythatcouldbediscussednaturally。
　　Thisbeingso，shejoinedintheworld’sconspiracytoconsiderthemforthetimeincapacitatedfromthebusinessoflife，struckbytheirintensityoffeelingintoenmityagainstlife，andalmostsucceededindismissingthemfromherthoughts。
　　Shereflectedthatshehaddoneallthatitwasnecessarytodoinpracticalmatters。Shehadwrittenagreatmanyletters，andhadobtainedWilloughby’sconsent。ShehaddweltsooftenuponMr。Hewet’sprospects，hisprofession，hisbirth，appearance，andtemperament，thatshehadalmostforgottenwhathewasreallylike。Whensherefreshedherselfbyalookathim，sheusedtowonderagainwhathewaslike，andthen，concludingthattheywerehappyatanyrate，thoughtnomoreaboutit。
　　Shemightmoreprofitablyconsiderwhatwouldhappeninthreeyears’
　　time，orwhatmighthavehappenedifRachelhadbeenlefttoexploretheworldunderherfather’sguidance。Theresult，shewashonestenoughtoown，mighthavebeenbetter——whoknows？
　　ShedidnotdisguisefromherselfthatTerencehadfaults。Shewasinclinedtothinkhimtooeasyandtolerant，justashewasinclinedtothinkherperhapsatriflehard——no，itwasratherthatshewasuncompromising。InsomewaysshefoundSt。Johnpreferable；
　　butthen，ofcourse，hewouldneverhavesuitedRachel。
　　HerfriendshipwithSt。Johnwasestablished，foralthoughshefluctuatedbetweenirritationandinterestinawaythatdidcredittothecandourofherdisposition，shelikedhiscompanyonthewhole。
　　Hetookheroutsidethislittleworldofloveandemotion。
　　Hehadagraspoffacts。Supposing，forinstance，thatEnglandmadeasuddenmovetowardssomeunknownportonthecoastofMorocco，St。Johnknewwhatwasatthebackofit，andtohearhimengagedwithherhusbandinargumentaboutfinanceandthebalanceofpower，gaveheranoddsenseofstability。Sherespectedtheirargumentswithoutalwayslisteningtothem，muchassherespectedasolidbrickwall，oroneofthoseimmensemunicipalbuildingswhich，althoughtheycomposethegreaterpartofourcities，havebeenbuiltdayafterdayandyearafteryearbyunknownhands。Shelikedtositandlisten，andevenfeltalittleelatedwhentheengagedcouple，aftershowingtheirprofoundlackofinterest，slippedfromtheroom，andwereseenpullingflowerstopiecesinthegarden。Itwasnotthatshewasjealousofthem，butshedidundoubtedlyenvythemtheirgreatunknownfuturethatlaybeforethem。Slippingfromonesuchthoughttoanother，shewasatthedining-roomwithfruitinherhands。Sometimesshestoppedtostraightenacandlestoopingwiththeheat，ordisturbedsometoorigidarrangementofthechairs。
　　ShehadreasontosuspectthatChaileyhadbeenbalancingherselfonthetopofaladderwithawetdusterduringtheirabsence，andtheroomhadneverbeenquitelikeitselfsince。Returningfromthedining-roomforthethirdtime，sheperceivedthatoneofthearm-chairswasnowoccupiedbySt。John。Helaybackinit，withhiseyeshalfshut，looking，ashealwaysdid，curiouslybuttonedupinaneatgreysuitandfencedagainsttheexuberanceofaforeignclimatewhichmightatanymomentproceedtotakelibertieswithhim。
　　Hereyesrestedonhimgentlyandthenpassedonoverhishead。
　　Finallyshetookthechairopposite。