Asshedidnotimmediatelyanswer，hewenton。
　　“IknowverywellthatIamnot——thatIhavenotmuchtoofferyoueitherinmyselforinmycircumstances。AndIforget；itcannotseemthemiracletoyouthatitdoestome。UntilImetyouI
　　hadgoneoninmyownquietway——wearebothveryquietpeople，mysisterandI——quitecontentwithmylot。MyfriendshipwithArthurwasthemostimportantthinginmylife。NowthatIknowyou，allthathaschanged。Youseemtoputsuchaspiritintoeverything。
　　LifeseemstoholdsomanypossibilitiesthatIhadneverdreamtof。“
　　“That’ssplendid！“Evelynexclaimed，graspinghishand。
　　“Nowyou’llgobackandstartallkindsofthingsandmakeagreatnameintheworld；andwe’llgoonbeingfriends，whateverhappens……we’llbegreatfriends，won’twe？“
　　“Evelyn！“hemoanedsuddenly，andtookherinhisarms，andkissedher。
　　Shedidnotresentit，althoughitmadelittleimpressiononher。
　　Asshesatuprightagain，shesaid，“Ineverseewhyoneshouldn’tgoonbeingfriends——thoughsomepeopledo。Andfriendshipsdomakeadifference，don’tthey？Theyarethekindofthingsthatmatterinone’slife？“
　　Helookedatherwithabewilderedexpressionasifhedidnotreallyunderstandwhatshewassaying。Withaconsiderableefforthecollectedhimself，stoodup，andsaid，“NowIthinkIhavetoldyouwhatIfeel，andIwillonlyaddthatIcanwaitaslongaseveryouwish。“
　　Leftalone，Evelynwalkedupanddownthepath。Whatdidmatterthan？
　　Whatwasthemeaningofitall？
　　Allthateveningthecloudsgathered，untiltheyclosedentirelyovertheblueofthesky。Theyseemedtonarrowthespacebetweenearthandheaven，sothattherewasnoroomfortheairtomoveinfreely；
　　andthewaves，too，layflat，andyetrigid，asiftheywererestrained。
　　Theleavesonthebushesandtreesinthegardenhungcloselytogether，andthefeelingofpressureandrestraintwasincreasedbytheshortchirpingsoundswhichcamefrombirdsandinsects。
　　Sostrangewerethelightsandthesilencethatthebusyhumofvoiceswhichusuallyfilledthedining-roomatmealtimeshaddistinctgapsinit，andduringthesesilencestheclatteroftheknivesuponplatesbecameaudible。Thefirstrollofthunderandthefirstheavydropstrikingthepanecausedalittlestir。
　　“It’scoming！“wassaidsimultaneouslyinmanydifferentlanguages。
　　Therewasthenaprofoundsilence，asifthethunderhadwithdrawnintoitself。Peoplehadjustbeguntoeatagain，whenagustofcoldaircamethroughtheopenwindows，liftingtableclothsandskirts，alightflashed，andwasinstantlyfollowedbyaclapofthunderrightoverthehotel。Therainswishedwithit，andimmediatelytherewereallthosesoundsofwindowsbeingshutanddoorsslammingviolentlywhichaccompanyastorm。
　　Theroomgrewsuddenlyseveraldegreesdarker，forthewindseemedtobedrivingwavesofdarknessacrosstheearth。Nooneattemptedtoeatforatime，butsatlookingoutatthegarden，withtheirforksintheair。Theflashesnowcamefrequently，lightingupfacesasiftheyweregoingtobephotographed，surprisingthemintenseandunnaturalexpressions。Theclapfollowedcloseandviolentlyuponthem。Severalwomenhalfrosefromtheirchairsandthensatdownagain，butdinnerwascontinueduneasilywitheyesuponthegarden。Thebushesoutsidewereruffledandwhitened，andthewindpresseduponthemsothattheyseemedtostooptotheground。Thewaitershadtopressdishesuponthediners’notice；andthedinershadtodrawtheattentionofwaiters，fortheywereallabsorbedinlookingatthestorm。
　　Asthethundershowednosignsofwithdrawing，butseemedmassedrightoverhead，whilethelightningaimedstraightatthegardeneverytime，anuneasygloomreplacedthefirstexcitement。
　　Finishingthemealveryquickly，peoplecongregatedinthehall，wheretheyfeltmoresecurethaninanyotherplacebecausetheycouldretreatfarfromthewindows，andalthoughtheyheardthethunder，theycouldnotseeanything。Alittleboywascarriedawaysobbinginthearmsofhismother。
　　Whilethestormcontinued，nooneseemedinclinedtositdown，buttheycollectedinlittlegroupsunderthecentralskylight，wheretheystoodinayellowatmosphere，lookingupwards。
　　Nowandagaintheirfacesbecamewhite，asthelightningflashed，andfinallyaterrificcrashcame，makingthepanesoftheskylightliftatthejoints。
　　“Ah！“severalvoicesexclaimedatthesamemoment。
　　“Somethingstruck，“saidaman’svoice。
　　Therainrusheddown。Therainseemednowtoextinguishthelightningandthethunder，andthehallbecamealmostdark。
　　Afteraminuteortwo，whennothingwasheardbuttherattleofwaterupontheglass，therewasaperceptibleslackeningofthesound，andthentheatmospherebecamelighter。
　　“It’sover，“saidanothervoice。
　　Atatouch，alltheelectriclightswereturnedon，andrevealedacrowdofpeopleallstanding，alllookingwithratherstrainedfacesupattheskylight，butwhentheysaweachotherintheartificiallighttheyturnedatonceandbegantomoveaway。Forsomeminutestheraincontinuedtorattleupontheskylight，andthethundergaveanothershakeortwo；butitwasevidentfromtheclearingofthedarknessandthelightdrummingoftherainupontheroof，thatthegreatconfusedoceanofairwastravellingawayfromthem，andpassinghighoverheadwithitscloudsanditsrodsoffire，outtosea。Thebuilding，whichhadseemedsosmallinthetumultofthestorm，nowbecameassquareandspaciousasusual。
　　Asthestormdrewaway，thepeopleinthehallofthehotelsatdown；
　　andwithacomfortablesenseofrelief，begantotelleachotherstoriesaboutgreatstorms，andproducedinmanycasestheiroccupationsfortheevening。Thechess-boardwasbroughtout，andMr。Elliot，whoworeastockinsteadofacollarasasignofconvalescence，butwasotherwisemuchasusual，challengedMr。Peppertoafinalcontest。
　　Roundthemgatheredagroupofladieswithpiecesofneedlework，orindefaultofneedlework，withnovels，tosuperintendthegame，muchasiftheywereinchargeoftwosmallboysplayingmarbles。
　　Everynowandthentheylookedattheboardandmadesomeencouragingremarktothegentlemen。
　　Mrs。Paleyjustroundthecornerhadhercardsarrangedinlongladdersbeforeher，withSusansittingneartosympathisebutnottocorrect，andthemerchantsandthemiscellaneouspeoplewhohadneverbeendiscoveredtopossessnameswerestretchedintheirarm-chairswiththeirnewspapersontheirknees。Theconversationinthesecircumstanceswasverygentle，fragmentary，andintermittent，buttheroomwasfulloftheindescribablestiroflife。Everynowandthenthemoth，whichwasnowgreyofwingandshinyofthorax，whizzedovertheirheads，andhitthelampswithathud。
　　Ayoungwomanputdownherneedleworkandexclaimed，“Poorcreature！
　　itwouldbekindertokillit。“Butnobodyseemeddisposedtorousehimselfinordertokillthemoth。Theywatcheditdashfromlamptolamp，becausetheywerecomfortable，andhadnothingtodo。
　　Onthesofa，besidethechess-players，Mrs。ElliotwasimpartinganewstitchinknittingtoMrs。Thornbury，sothattheirheadscameveryneartogether，andwereonlytobedistinguishedbytheoldlacecapwhichMrs。Thornburyworeintheevening。
　　Mrs。Elliotwasanexpertatknitting，anddisclaimedacomplimenttothateffectwithevidentpride。
　　“Isupposewe’reallproudofsomething，“shesaid，“andI’mproudofmyknitting。Ithinkthingslikethatruninfamilies。Weallknitwell。
　　Ihadanunclewhoknittedhisownsockstothedayofhisdeath——
　　andhediditbetterthananyofhisdaughters，dearoldgentleman。
　　NowIwonderthatyou，MissAllan，whouseyoureyessomuch，don’ttakeupknittingintheevenings。You’dfinditsucharelief，Ishouldsay——sucharesttotheeyes——andthebazaarsaresogladofthings。“Hervoicedroppedintothesmoothhalf-conscioustoneoftheexpertknitter；thewordscamegentlyoneafteranother。
　　“AsmuchasIdoIcanalwaysdisposeof，whichisacomfort，forthenIfeelthatIamnotwastingmytime——“
　　MissAllan，beingthusaddressed，shuthernovelandobservedtheothersplacidlyforatime。Atlastshesaid，“Itissurelynotnaturaltoleaveyourwifebecauseshehappenstobeinlovewithyou。Butthat——asfarasIcanmakeout——iswhatthegentlemaninmystorydoes。“
　　“Tut，tut，thatdoesn’tsoundgood——no，thatdoesn’tsoundatallnatural，“murmuredtheknittersintheirabsorbedvoices。
　　“Still，it’sthekindofbookpeoplecallveryclever，“MissAllanadded。
　　“_Maternity_——byMichaelJessop——Ipresume，“Mr。Elliotputin，forhecouldneverresistthetemptationoftalkingwhileheplayedchess。
　　“D’youknow，“saidMrs。Elliot，afteramoment，“Idon’tthinkpeople_do_writegoodnovelsnow——notasgoodastheyusedto，anyhow。“
　　Noonetookthetroubletoagreewithherortodisagreewithher。
　　ArthurVenningwhowasstrollingabout，sometimeslookingatthegame，sometimesreadingapageofamagazine，lookedatMissAllan，whowashalfasleep，andsaidhumorously，“Apennyforyourthoughts，MissAllan。“
　　Theotherslookedup。Theyweregladthathehadnotspokentothem。
　　ButMissAllanrepliedwithoutanyhesitation，“Iwasthinkingofmyimaginaryuncle。Hasn’teveryonegotanimaginaryuncle？“
　　shecontinued。“Ihaveone——amostdelightfuloldgentleman。
　　He’salwaysgivingmethings。Sometimesit’sagoldwatch；
　　sometimesit’sacarriageandpair；sometimesit’sabeautifullittlecottageintheNewForest；sometimesit’satickettotheplaceImostwanttosee。“
　　Shesetthemallthinkingvaguelyofthethingstheywanted。
　　Mrs。Elliotknewexactlywhatshewanted；shewantedachild；
　　andtheusuallittlepuckerdeepenedonherbrow。
　　“We’resuchluckypeople，“shesaid，lookingatherhusband。
　　“Wereallyhavenowants。“Shewasapttosaythis，partlyinordertoconvinceherself，andpartlyinordertoconvinceotherpeople。
　　ButshewaspreventedfromwonderinghowfarshecarriedconvictionbytheentranceofMr。andMrs。Flushing，whocamethroughthehallandstoppedbythechess-board。Mrs。Flushinglookedwilderthanever。
　　Agreatstrandofblackhairloopeddownacrossherbrow，hercheekswerewhippedadarkbloodred，anddropsofrainmadewetmarksuponthem。
　　Mr。Flushingexplainedthattheyhadbeenontheroofwatchingthestorm。
　　“Itwasawonderfulsight，“hesaid。“Thelightningwentrightoutoverthesea，andlitupthewavesandtheshipsfaraway。
　　Youcan’tthinkhowwonderfulthemountainslookedtoo，withthelightsonthem，andthegreatmassesofshadow。It’sallovernow。“
　　Hesliddownintoachair，becominginterestedinthefinalstruggleofthegame。
　　“Andyougobackto-morrow？“saidMrs。Thornbury，lookingatMrs。Flushing。
　　“Yes，“shereplied。
　　“Andindeedoneisnotsorrytogoback，“saidMrs。Elliot，assuminganairofmournfulanxiety，“afterallthisillness。“
　　“Areyouafraidofdyin’？“Mrs。Flushingdemandedscornfully。
　　“Ithinkweareallafraidofthat，“saidMrs。Elliotwithdignity。
　　“Isupposewe’reallcowardswhenitcomestothepoint，“
　　saidMrs。Flushing，rubbinghercheekagainstthebackofthechair。
　　“I’msureIam。“
　　“Notabitofit！“saidMr。Flushing，turninground，forMr。Peppertookaverylongtimetoconsiderhismove。“It’snotcowardlytowishtolive，Alice。It’stheveryreverseofcowardly。
　　Personally，I’dliketogoonforahundredyears——granted，ofcourse，thatIhadthefulluseofmyfaculties。Thinkofallthethingsthatareboundtohappen！““ThatiswhatIfeel，“Mrs。Thornburyrejoined。
　　“Thechanges，theimprovements，theinventions——andbeauty。
　　D’youknowIfeelsometimesthatIcouldn’tbeartodieandceasetoseebeautifulthingsaboutme？“
　　“ItwouldcertainlybeverydulltodiebeforetheyhavediscoveredwhetherthereislifeinMars，“MissAllanadded。
　　“Doyoureallybelievethere’slifeinMars？“askedMrs。Flushing，turningtoherforthefirsttimewithkeeninterest。“Whotellsyouthat？Someonewhoknows？D’youknowamancalled——？“
　　HereMrs。Thornburylaiddownherknitting，andalookofextremesolicitudecameintohereyes。
　　“ThereisMr。Hirst，“shesaidquietly。
　　St。Johnhadjustcomethroughtheswingdoor。Hewasratherblownaboutbythewind，andhischeekslookedterriblypale，unshorn，andcavernous。Aftertakingoffhiscoathewasgoingtopassstraightthroughthehallanduptohisroom，buthecouldnotignorethepresenceofsomanypeopleheknew，especiallyasMrs。Thornburyroseandwentuptohim，holdingoutherhand。
　　Buttheshockofthewarmlamp-litroom，togetherwiththesightofsomanycheerfulhumanbeingssittingtogetherattheirease，afterthedarkwalkintherain，andthelongdaysofstrainandhorror，overcamehimcompletely。HelookedatMrs。Thornburyandcouldnotspeak。
　　Everyonewassilent。Mr。Pepper’shandstayeduponhisKnight。
　　Mrs。Thornburysomehowmovedhimtoachair，satherselfbesidehim，andwithtearsinherowneyessaidgently，“Youhavedoneeverythingforyourfriend。“
　　Heractionsetthemalltalkingagainasiftheyhadneverstopped，andMr。PepperfinishedthemovewithhisKnight。
　　“Therewasnothingtobedone，“saidSt。John。Hespokeveryslowly。
　　“Itseemsimpossible——“
　　Hedrewhishandacrosshiseyesasifsomedreamcamebetweenhimandtheothersandpreventedhimfromseeingwherehewas。
　　“Andthatpoorfellow，“saidMrs。Thornbury，thetearsfallingagaindownhercheeks。
　　“Impossible，“St。Johnrepeated。
　　“Didhehavetheconsolationofknowing——？“Mrs。Thornburybeganverytentatively。
　　ButSt。Johnmadenoreply。Helaybackinhischair，half-seeingtheothers，half-hearingwhattheysaid。Hewasterriblytired，andthelightandwarmth，themovementsofthehands，andthesoftcommunicativevoicessoothedhim；theygavehimastrangesenseofquietandrelief。Ashesatthere，motionless，thisfeelingofreliefbecameafeelingofprofoundhappiness。WithoutanysenseofdisloyaltytoTerenceandRachelheceasedtothinkabouteitherofthem。Themovementsandthevoicesseemedtodrawtogetherfromdifferentpartsoftheroom，andtocombinethemselvesintoapatternbeforehiseyes；hewascontenttositsilentlywatchingthepatternbuilditselfup，lookingatwhathehardlysaw。
　　Thegamewasreallyagoodone，andMr。PepperandMr。Elliotwerebecomingmoreandmoresetuponthestruggle。Mrs。Thornbury，seeingthatSt。Johndidnotwishtotalk，resumedherknitting。
　　“Lightningagain！“Mrs。Flushingsuddenlyexclaimed。Ayellowlightflashedacrossthebluewindow，andforasecondtheysawthegreentreesoutside。Shestrodetothedoor，pusheditopen，andstoodhalfoutintheopenair。
　　Butthelightwasonlythereflectionofthestormwhichwasover。
　　Therainhadceased，theheavycloudswereblownaway，andtheairwasthinandclear，althoughvapourishmistswerebeingdrivenswiftlyacrossthemoon。Theskywasoncemoreadeepandsolemnblue，andtheshapeoftheearthwasvisibleatthebottomoftheair，enormous，dark，andsolid，risingintothetaperingmassofthemountain，andprickedhereandthereontheslopesbythetinylightsofvillas。
　　Thedrivingair，thedroneofthetrees，andtheflashinglightwhichnowandagainspreadabroadilluminationovertheearthfilledMrs。Flushingwithexultation。Herbreastsroseandfell。
　　“Splendid！Splendid！“shemutteredtoherself。Thensheturnedbackintothehallandexclaimedinaperemptoryvoice，“Comeoutsideandsee，Wilfrid；it’swonderful。“
　　Somehalf-stirred；somerose；somedroppedtheirballsofwoolandbegantostooptolookforthem。
　　“Tobed——tobed，“saidMissAllan。
　　“ItwasthemovewithyourQueenthatgaveitaway，Pepper，“
　　exclaimedMr。Elliottriumphantly，sweepingthepiecestogetherandstandingup。Hehadwonthegame。
　　“What？Pepperbeatenatlast？Icongratulateyou！“saidArthurVenning，whowaswheelingoldMrs。Paleytobed。
　　AllthesevoicessoundedgratefullyinSt。John’searsashelayhalf-asleep，andyetvividlyconsciousofeverythingaroundhim。
　　Acrosshiseyespassedaprocessionofobjects，blackandindistinct，thefiguresofpeoplepickinguptheirbooks，theircards，theirballsofwool，theirwork-baskets，andpassinghimoneafteranotherontheirwaytobed。
　　End