Icouldn’thelpjumpingstraightup——Istoodbeforehim。"SothatwhoevermayhaveBEENtheman，themanNOW，theactualman——"
　　"Oh，"saidObert，looking，luminousandstraight，upatmefromhisseat，"themannow，theactualman——！"Buthestoppedshort，withhiseyessuddenlyquittingmeandhiswordsbecomingaformlessejaculation。Thedooroftheroom，towhichmybackwasturned，hadopened，andIquicklylookedround。ItwasBrissendenhimselfwho，tomysupremesurprise，stoodthere，withrapidinquiryinhisattitudeandface。Isaw，assoonashecaughtmine，thatIwaswhathewanted，and，immediatelyexcusingmyselfforaninstanttoObert，Ianticipated，bymovingacrosstheroom，theneed，onpoorBriss’spart，ofmyfurtherdemonstration。Mywholesenseofthesituationblazedupatthetouchofhispresence，andevenbeforeIreachedhimithadrolledovermeinaprodigiouswavethatIhadlostnothingwhatever。Ican’tbegintosayhowthefactofhisappearancecrownedthecommunicationmyinterlocutorhadjustmademe，norinwhatabrightconfusionofmanythingsIfoundmyselffacingpoorBriss。OneofthesethingswaspreciselythathehadneverbeensomuchpoorBrissasatthismoment。Thatministeredtotheconfusionaswellastothebrightness，forifhisbeingthereatallrenewedmysourcesandreplenishedmycurrent——spokeall，inshort，formygain——so，ontheotherhand，inthelightofwhatIhadjusthadfromObert，hisparticularaspectwassomethingofashock。
　　Ican’tpresentthisespecialimpressionbetterthanbythementionofmyinstantcertitudethatwhathehadcomeforwastobringmeamessageandthatsomehow——yes，indubitably——thiscircumstanceseemedtohaveplacedhimagainattheverybottomofhishole。Itwasdowninthatdepththatheletmeseehim——itwasoutofitthathedeliveredhimself。PoorBriss！
　　poorBriss！——IhadaskedmyselfbeforehespokewithwhatkindnessenoughIcouldmeethim。PoorBriss！poorBriss！——IamnotevennowsurethatIdidn’tfirstmeethimbyTHATirrepressiblemurmur。Itwasinitallformethat，thus，atmidnight，hehadtraversedonhiserrandthelengthofthegreatdarkhouse。Itrodwithhim，overthevelvetandthemarble，throughthetwistsandturns，amongthegloomsandglimmersandechoes，everyinchoftheway，andIdon’tknowwhathumiliation，forhim，wasconstitutedthere，betweenus，byhislongpilgrimage。Itwasthefinalexpressionofhissacrifice。
　　"Mywifehassomethingtosaytoyou。"
　　"Mrs。Briss？Good！"——andIcouldonlyhopethecandourofmysurprisewasallItriedtomakeit。"Isshewithyouthere？"
　　"No，butshehasaskedmetosaytoyouthatifyou’llpresentlybeinthedrawing—roomshe’llcome。"
　　Whocoulddoubt，asIlaidmyhandonhisshoulder，fairlypattingit，inspiteofmyself，forapplause——whocoulddoubtwhereIwouldpresentlybe？"It’smostuncommonlygoodofbothofyou。"
　　Therewassomethinginhisinscrutableservicethat，makinghimalmostaugust，gavemydissimulatedeagernessthesoundofaheartlesscompliment。
　　Istoodforthehollowchatterofthevulgarworld，andhe——oh，hewasasseriousashewasconscious；whichwasenough。"Shesaysyou’llknowwhatshewishes——andshewassureI’dfindyouhere。SoImaytellheryou’llcome？"
　　Hiscourtesyhalfbrokemyheart。"Why，mydearman，withallthepleasure——！
　　Somanythousandthanks。I’llbewithher。"
　　"ThankstoYOU。She’llbedown。Good—night。"Helookedroundtheroom——atthetwoorthreeclustersofmen，smoking，engaged，contented，ontheireasyseatsandamongtheirpoppedcorks；helookedoveraninstantatFordObert，whoseeyes，Ithought，hemomentarilyheld。Itwasabsolutelyasif，forme，hewereseekingsuchthings——outofwhatwasclosingoverhim——forthelasttime。Thenheturnedagaintothedoor，which，justnottofailhumanlytoaccompanyhimastep，Ihadopened。OntheothersideofitItookleaveofhim。Thepassage，thoughtherewasalightinthedistance，wasdarkerthanthesmoking—room，andIhaddrawnthedoorto。
　　"Good—night，Brissenden。Ishallbegonetomorrowbeforeyoushow。"
　　Ishallneverforgetthewaythat，struckbymyword，helethiswhitefacefixmeinthedusk。"’Show’？WHATdoIshow？"
　　Ihadtakenhishandforfarewell，and，inevitablylaughing，butasthefalsestofnotes，Igaveitashake。"Youshownothing！You’remagnificent。"
　　Heletmekeephishandwhilethingsunspokenanduntouched，unspeakableanduntouchable，everythingthathadbeenbetweenusinthewoodafewhoursbefore，werebetweenusagain。Butsowecouldonlyleavethem，and，withashort，sharp"Good—bye！"hecompletelyreleasedhimself。WithmyhandonthelatchofthecloseddoorIwatchedaminutehisretreatalongthepassage，andIrememberthereflectionthat，beforerejoiningObert，Imadeonit。Iseemedperpetually，atNewmarch，tobetakinghismeasurefrombehind。
　　FordOberthassincetoldmethatwhenIcamebacktohimthereweretearsinmyeyes，andIdidn’tknowatthemomenthowmuchthewordswithwhichhemetmetookforgrantedmyconsciousnessofthem。"Helooksahundredyearsold！"
　　"Oh，butyoushouldseehisshoulders，always，ashegoesoff！TWOcenturies——ten！
　　Isn’titamazing？"
　　Itwassoamazingthat，foralittle，itmadeusreciprocallystare。
　　"Ishouldhavethought，"hesaid，"thathewouldhavebeenonthecontrary——"
　　"Visiblyrejuvenated？SoshouldI。Imustmakeitout，"Iadded。"I
　　SHALL。"
　　ButObert，withlesstogoupon，couldn’twait。Itwaswonderful，forthatmatter——andforallIhadtogoupon——howImyselfcould。Ididso，atthismoment，inmyrefreshedintensity，bythehelpofconfusedlylightinganothercigarette，whichIshouldhavenotimetosmoke。"Ishouldhavethought，"myfriendcontinued，"thathetoomighthavechangedback。"
　　Itookin，formyself，somuchmoreofitthanIcouldsay！"Certainly。
　　Youwouldn’thavethoughthewouldhavechangedforward。"ThenwithanimpulsethatbridgedoveranabyssofconnectionsIjumpedtoanotherplace。
　　"WaswhatyoumostsawwhileyouweretherewithHER——wasthisthathermisery，themiseryyoufirstphrasedtome，hasdropped？"
　　"Dropped，yes。"Hewasclearaboutit。"IcalledherbeastlyunhappytoyouthoughIeventhenknewthatbeastlyunhappinesswasn’tquiteallofit。Itwaspartofit，itwasenoughofit；forshewas——well，nodoubtyoucouldtellME。Justnow，atallevents"——andrecalling，reflecting，deciding，heused，withthestrongesteffect，ashesooftendidinpainting，thesimplestterm——"justnowshe’sallright。"
　　"Allright？"
　　Hecouldn’tknowhowmuchmorethanwaspossiblemyquestiongavehimtoanswer。Butheanswereditonwhathehad；herepeated："Allright。"
　　Iwondered，inspiteofthecomfortItook，asIhadmorethanonceinlifehadoccasiontotakeitbefore，atthesightofthepainter—sensedeeplyapplied。MywondercamefromthefactthatLadyJohnhadalsofoundMrs。Serverallright，andLadyJohnhadavisionasclosedasObert’swasopen。Itdidn’tsuitmybookforboththeseobserverstohavebeenaffectedinthesameway。"Youmeanyousawnothingwhateverinherthatwastheleastbitstrange？"
　　"Oh，Iwon’tsayasmuchasthat。ButnothingthatwasmorestrangethanthatsheSHOULDbe——well，afterall，allright。"
　　"Allthere，eh？"Iafteraninstantrisked。
　　Icouldn’tputittohimmoredefinitelythanthat，thoughtherewasatemptationtotrytodoso。ForOberttohavefoundherallthereanhourortwoafterIhadfoundherallabsent，mademeagain，inmynervousness，feelevennowatriflemenaced。ThingsHAD，fromsteptostep，tohangtogether，andjustheretheyseemed——withallallowances——tohangalittleapart。Mywholesuperstructure，Icouldonlyremember，reareditselfonmyviewofMrs。Server’scondition；butitwaspartofmypredicament——reallyequalinitswaytoherown——thatIcouldn’twithoutdishonouringmyselfgivemyinterlocutorapracticallead。Thequestionofherhappinesswasessentiallysubordinate；whatIstoodorfellbywasthatofherfaculty。
　　ButIcouldn’t，ontheotherhand——andremain"straight"——insisttomyfriendonthewhereaboutsofthisstolenproperty。Ifhehadn’tmisseditinherforhimselfImightn’tputhimonthetrackofit；since，withthedemonstrationhehadbeforemyeyesreceivedoftherateatwhichLongwas，asonehadtocallit，intellectuallyliving，nothingwouldbemorenaturalthanthatheshouldmakethecasesfit。Nowmypersonalproblem，unalteredintheleastparticularbyanything，wasformetohaveworkedtotheendwithoutbreathinginanotherearthatLonghadbeenherlover。
　　Thatwastheonlythinginthewholebusinessthatwassimple。Itmademeclinganinstantthemore，bothforblissandbale，tothebearingofthisfactofObert’sinsistence。Evenasasequeltohisvisionofherchange，almosteverythingwaswrongforherbeingallrightexcepttheonefactofmyrecentview，fromthewindow，ofthemanunnamed。Isawhimagainsharplyintheseseconds，andtonoticehowhestillkeptclearofourcompanywasalmosttoaddcertitudetothepresumptionofhisrarereasons。Mrs。Server’sbeingnow，byawonderfulturn，allrightwouldatleastdecidedlyoffertothesereasonsabasis。ItwouldbesomethingLong’sabsencewouldfit。Itwouldsupplyground，inshort，forthepossibilitythat，byaprocessnotlesswonderful，hehimselfwasallwrong。IfheWASallwrongmylastimpressionofhimwouldbeamplyaccountedfor。Ifhewasallwrong——ifhe，inanycase，felthimselfgoingso——whatmoreconsequentthanthatheshouldhavewishedtohideit，andthatthemostimmediatewayforthisshouldhaveseemedtohim，markedlygregariousasheusuallywas，tokeepawayfromthesmokers？ItcametomeunspeakablythatheWASstillhidingitandWASkeepingaway。How，accordingly，musthenot——andmustnotMrs。Briss——havebeeninthespiritofthisfromthemomentthat，whileItalkedwithLadyJohn，thesightofthesetwoseatedtogetherhadgivenmeitsmessage！ButObert’sanswertomyguardedchallengehadmeanwhilecome。"Oh，whenawoman’ssoclever——！"
　　Thatwasall，withitstouchofexperienceanditshintofphilosophy；
　　butitwasstupefying。Shewasalreadythenpositivelyagain"soclever？"
　　ThiswasreallymorethanIcouldasyetprovideanexplanationfor，butIwaspressed；Brissendenwouldhavereachedhiswife’sroomagain，andItemporised。"ItwasherclevernessthatheldyousothatwhenIpassedyoucouldn’tlookatme？"
　　Helookedatmeatpresentwellenough。"Iknewyouwerepassing，butIwantedpreciselytomarkforyouthedifference。Ifyoureallywanttoknow，"thepoormanconfessed，"Iwasalittleashamedofmyself。Ihadgivenherawaytoyou，youknow，rather，before。"
　　"Andyouwereboundyouwouldn’tdoitagain？"
　　Hesmiledinhisnowcompletecandour。"Ah，therewasnoreason。"Thenheused，happily，torighthimself，myownexpression。"Shewasallthere。"
　　"Isee——Isee。"YetIreallydidn’tseeenoughnottohaveforaninstanttoturnaway。
　　"Whereareyougoing？"heasked。
　　"TodowhatBrissendencametomefor。"
　　"ButIdon’tKNOW，yousee，whatBrissendencametoyoufor。"
　　"Well，withamessage。Shewastohaveseenmethisevening，but，asshegavemenochance，IwasafraidIhadlostitandthat，soratherawkwardlylate，shedidn’tventure。Butwhathearrivedforjustnow，atherrequest，wastosayshedoesventure。"
　　Mycompanionstared。"Atthisextraordinaryhour？"
　　"Ah，thehour，"Ilaughed，"isnomoreextraordinarythananyotherpartofthebusiness：nomoreso，forinstance，thanthispresenttalkofyoursandmine。Whatpartofthebusinessisn’textraordinary？Ifitis，atallevents，remarkablylate，that’sHERfault。"
　　Yethenotunnaturally，inspiteofmyexplanation，continuedtowonder。
　　"And——a——whereisitthenyoumeet？"
　　"Oh，inthedrawing—roomorthehall。Sogood—night。"
　　Hegotuptoit，movingwithmetothedoor；buthismystification，littleasIcould，onthewhole，sootheit，stillkeptme。"Thehouseholdsitsupforyou？"
　　Iwonderedmyself，butfoundanassurance。"Shemusthavesquaredthehousehold！Anditwon’tprobablytakeusverylong。"
　　Hismystificationfranklyconfesseditself，atthis，plaincuriosity。
　　Thegroundofsuchaconference，forallthepointIhadgivenhisingenuity，simplybaffledhim。"Doyoumeanyouproposetodiscusswithher——？"
　　"Mydearfellow，"Ismiledwithmyhandonthedoor，"it’sSHE——don’tyousee？——whoproposes。"
　　"Butwhatintheworld——？"
　　"Oh，THATIshallhavetowaittotellyou。"
　　"Withalltheotherthings？"Hisface，whilehesoundedmine，seemedtosaythatImustthentakehisexpectationasserious。Butitseemedtosayalsothathewas——definitely，yes——moreatalossthanconsortedwithbeingquitesureofme。"Well，itwillmakealot，really——！"Buthebrokeoff。"Youdo，"hesighedwithaneffortatresignation，"knowmorethanI！"
　　"Andhaven’tIadmittedthat？"
　　"I’llbehangedifyouDON’Tknowwhoheis！"thepoorfellow，forallanswer，nowproduced。
　　HesaiditasifIhad，afterall，notbeenplayingfair，anditmademeforaninstanthesitate。"No，Ireallydon’tknow。Butit’sexactlywhatIshallperhapsnowlearn。"
　　"YoumeanthatwhatshehasproposedistoTELLyou？"
　　HisdarknesshadsodeepenedthatIsawonlynowwhatIshouldhaveseensooner——themisconceptionthat，inmyexcessiveestimateofthedistancehehadcomewithme，Ihadnotatfirstcaught。Butitwasamisconceptionthatonlyenrichedhistestimony；itinvolvedsuchaconvictionofthenewlinkbetweenourtwosacrificedfriendsthatitimmediatelyconstitutedformethestrongestlighthewould，inourwholetalk，havethrown。Yes，hehadnotyetthrownsomuchasinthiserroneoussuppositionofthesourceofmysummons。Ittookmeofcourse，atthesametime，butafewsecondstoremindmyselfagainoftheinnumerablestepshehadnecessarilymissed。
　　Hisquestionmeanwhile，rightlyappliedbymyownthought，broughtbacktothatthought，bywayofanswer，animmensesuggestion，whichmoreover，forhimtoo，wastemporarilyanswerenough。"She’lltellmewhoheWON’T
　　havebeen！"
　　Helookedvague。"Ah，butTHAT——"
　　"That，"Ideclared，"willbeluminous。"
　　Hemadeitout。"Asasign，youthink，thathemustbetheveryoneshedenies？"
　　"Theveryone！"Ilaughed；andIlefthimunderthissimpleandsecureimpressionthatmyappointmentwaswithMrs。Server。
　　Chapter12
　　Iwentfromoneroomtotheother，buttofindonly，atfirst，asonmypreviouscircuit，adesertonwhichthesunhadstillnotset。Mrs。
　　Brissendenwasnowhere，butthewholeplacewaitedaswehadleftit，withseatsdisplacedandflowersdispetalled，afanforgottenonatable，abooklaiddownuponachair。ItcameovermeasIlookedaboutthatifsheHAD"squared"thehousehold，solargeanorder，astheysaid，wasasignsufficientofwhatIwastohavefromher。Ihadquiteratheritwereherdoing——notmine；butitshowedwitheloquencethatshehadafteralljudgedsomeeffortorothertobeworthherwhile。Herreneweddelaymoreoveraddedtomyimpatienceofmindinrespecttothenatureofthiseffortbystrikingmeasalreadypartofit。What，Iaskedmyself，couldbesomuchworthherwhileastohavetobepaidforbysomuchapparentreluctance？
　　ButatlastIsawherthroughavistaofopendoors，andasIforthwithwenttoher——shetooknosteptomeetme——Iwasdoubtlessimpressedafreshwiththe"pull"thatinsocialintercourseawomanalwayshas。Shewasabletoassumeonthespotbymereattitudeandairtheappearanceofhavingbeenreadyandthereforeinconvenienced。Oh，Isawsoonenoughthatshewasreadyandthatoneoftheformsofherreadinesswouldbepreciselytoofferherselfashavingactedentirelytoobligeme——togiveme，asasequeltowhathadalreadypassedbetweenus，theopportunityforwhichshehadassuredmeIshouldthankherbeforeIhaddonewithher。Yet，asIfeltsure，atthesametime，thatshehadtakenaline，Iwascuriousastohow，inherinterest，oursituationcouldbeworked。WhatithadoriginallyleftuswithwasherknowingIwaswrong。Ihadpromisedher，onmyhonour，tobecandid，butevenifIweredisposedtoceasetocontestheridentificationofMrs。ServerIwasscarcetobelookedtoforsuchanexhibitionofgratitudeasmightbeheldtorepayherforstayingsolongoutofbed。TherewereinshortelementsinthebusinessthatIcouldn’tquiteclearlyseehandledasfavourstome。Herdressgave，withfelicity，nosignwhateverofpreparationforthenight，andif，sinceourlastwords，shehadstoodwithanyanxietywhateverbeforeherglass，ithadnotbeentoremoveajewelortoaltertheplaceofaflower。Shewasasmuchunderarmsasshehadbeenondescendingtodinner——asfreshinherarrayasifthatbanquetwerestilltocome。Shemetmeinfactasadmirably——thatwasthetruththatcoveredeveryother——asifshehadbeenabletoguessthemostparticularcuriositywithwhich，frommyendoftheseriesofrooms，Iadvanceduponher。
　　Apartofthemixtureofmythoughtsduringthesesecondshadbeenthepossibility——absurd，preposterousthoughitlookswhenphrasedhere——ofsomechangeinherpersonthatwouldcorrespond，formetotheotherchangesIhadhadsuchkeenmomentsofflatteringmyselfIhadmadeout。Ihadjusthadthemoverinthesmoking—room，someofthesedifferences，andthenhadhadtimetoaskmyselfifIwerenotnowtobetreatedtothevisionofthegreatest，themostwonderful，ofall。Ihadalready，onfacingher，aftermylastmomentswithLadyJohn，seendifferencepeepoutatme，andIhadseentheimpressionofitconfirmedbywhathadafterwardshappened。Ithadbeeninherwayofturningfrommeafterthatbriefpassage；
　　ithadbeeninhergoinguptobedwithoutseeingmeagain；ithadbeenoncemoreinherthinking，forreasonsofherown，betterofthat；andithadbeenmostofallinhersendingherhusbanddowntome。Well，wouldn’titfinallybe，stillmorethanmostofall——？ButIscarcehadknown，atthispoint，whatgrossnessorwhatfinenessofmaterialcorrespondencetoforecast。Ionlyhadwaitedtherewiththesegeneralsymptomssopresentthatalmostanyfurtherdevelopmentofthemoccurredtomeasconceivable。
　　Somuchasthiswastrue，butIwasafteramomenttobecomeawareofsomethingbywhichIwasasstronglyaffectedasifIhadbeenquiteunprepared。
　　Yes，literally，thatfinalnote，inthesmoking—room，thenotestruckinObert’sejaculationonpoorBriss’shundredyears，hadfailedtoachieveformeaworthyimplication。Iwasforced，afterlookingatGraceBrissendenaminute，torecognisethatmyimaginationhadnotrisentoitsopportunity。
　　Thefullimpressiontookaminute——aminuteduringwhichshesaidnothing；
　　thenitleftmedeeplyandaboveall，asIfelt，discerniblyconsciousoftheprodigiousthing，thething，Ihadnotthoughtof。Thisitwasthatgavehersuchabeautifulchancenottospeak：shewassoquitesufficientlyoccupiedwithseeingwhatIhadn’tthoughtof，andwithseeingme，tomakeupforlosttime，breathlesslythinkofitwhileshewatchedme。
　　AllIhadatfirsttakeninwas，asIsay，heruntouchedsplendour；
　　Idon’tknowwhythatshouldhaveimpressedme——asifithadbeenprobableshewouldhaveappearedinherdressing—gown；itwastheonlythingtohaveexpected。Anditinfactplumedandenhancedherassurance，sustainedherpropriety，lentourbelatedinterviewthenaturalandcasualnote。
　　Buttherewasanotherserviceitstillmorerenderedher：itsocovered，atthefirstblush，therealmessageofheraspect，thatsheenjoyedtheluxury——andIfeltherenjoyit——ofseeingmyperceptioninarrest。Amazing，whenIthinkofit，thenumberofthingsthatoccurredinthesestayedsecondsofoursilence；buttheyareperhapsbestrepresentedbythetwomostmarkedintensitiesofmyownsensation：thefirstthecertitudethatshehadatnomomentsincehermarriagesotriumphantlyassertedherdefeatoftime，andthesecondtheconvictionthatI，losingwithherwhile，asitwere，weclosed，acertainadvantageIshouldneverrecover，hadatnomomentsincethedaybeforemadesopoorafigureonmyownground。
　　Ah，itmayhavebeenonlyforsixsecondsthatshecaughtmegapingatherrenewedbeauty；butsixseconds，itwasinevitabletofeel，werequiteenoughforeverypurposewithwhichshehadcomedowntome。Shemighthavebeenalarge，fair，rich，prosperouspersonoftwenty—five；shewasatanyratenearenoughtoittoputmeforeverinmyplace。Itwasasuccess，onherpart，that，thoughIcouldn’tasyetfullymeasureit，therecouldbenodoubtofwhatever，anymorethanofmysomehowpayingforit。Herbeingthereatall，atsuchanhour，insuchconditions，became，eachmoment，onthewholebusiness，moreandmoreapartofheradvantage；
　　thecaseforherwasreallyinalmostanyaspectshecouldnowmakeitweartomyimagination。Mywealthofthatfaculty，neversostimulated，wasthus，inamanner，herstrength；bywhichImeantheimpossibilityofmyindifferencetothemereimmensesuggestivenessofourcircumstances。
　　HowcanItellnowtowhattunethesenseofalltheseplayedintomymind？——thehugeoddityofthenamelessideaonwhichweforegathered，theabsenceandhushofeverythingexceptthatidea，somagnifiedinconsequenceandyetstill，afterall，altogetherfantastic。Thereremainedforher，therespokeforhertoo，hervividly"unconventional"step，thebraveryofherrustling，onanunderstandingsodifficulttogiveanaccountof，throughplacesandtimesonlymadesafebythesleepoftheunsuspecting。Myimagination，inshort，sinceIhavespokenofit，couldn’tdootherthanworkforherfromthemomentshehad，sosimplyyetsowonderfully，notfailedme。Thereforeitwasallwithmeagain，thevisionofherreasons。Theywereinfactsufficientlyinthesoundofwhatshepresentlysaid。"Perhapsyoudon’tknow——butImentionedintheproperquarterthatIshouldsitupalittle。
　　They’reofakindnesshere，luckily——！Soit’sallright。"Itwasallright，obviously——shemadeitso；butshemadeitsoaswellthat，inspiteofthesplendoursheshowedme，sheshouldbealittlenervous。"Weshallonlytakemoreover，"sheadded，"aminute。"
　　IshouldperhapshavewonderedmorewhatsheproposedtodoinaminutehadInotfeltitasalreadymoreorlessdone。Yes，shemighthavebeentwenty—five，anditwasashorttimeforTHATtohavetaken。However，whatIclutchedat，whatIclungto，wasthatitwasanervoustwenty—five。
　　Imightpayforherassurance，butwasn’ttheresomethingofmineforwhichSHEmightpay？Iwasnervousalso，but，asItookinagain，withaglancethroughourgreatchainofchambers，thewonderfulconditionsthatprotectedus，IdidmybesttofeelsurethatitwasonlybecauseIwassoamused。
　　That——insohighaform——waswhatitcametointheend。"Isupposed，"
　　Ireplied，"thatyou’dhavearranged；for，inspiteofthewaythingsweregoing，Ihadn’tgivenyouup。Ihaven’tunderstood，Iconfess，"Iwenton，"whyyou’vepreferredaconferencesointenselynocturnal——ofwhichIquitefeel，however，that，ifithashappenedtosuityou，itisn’tformetocomplain。ButIfeltsureofyou——thatwasthegreatthing——fromthemoment，halfanhourago，yousokindlyspoketome。Igaveyou，yousee，"Ilaughed，"what’scalled’rope。’"
　　"Idon’tsupposeyoumean，"sheexclaimed，"formetohangmyself！——forthat，Iassureyou，isnotatallwhatI’mpreparedfor。"Thensheseemedagaintogivemethemagnificenceofheryouth。Itwasn’t，throughout，Iwastofeel，thatsheatallhadabyssesofirony，forsheinfacthappilyneedednone。Hertriumphwasinitselfironicenough，andallherpointinhersenseofherfreshness。"Wereyoureallysoimpatient？"ButasI
　　inevitablyhungfirealittleshecontinuedbeforeIcouldanswer；whichsomewhathelpedmeindeedbyshowingtheoneflawinherconfidence。Moreextraordinaryperhapsthananythingelse，moreover，wasjustmyperceptionofthis；whichgivesthevalueofallthateachofussovisiblyfelttheothertohaveputtogether，tohavebeenmakingoutandgatheringin，sinceweparted，ontheterrace，afterseeingMrs。ServerandBrisscomeupfromundertheirtree。WeHAD，ofatruth，arrivedatourresults——thoughminewerenaturallytheonesformetobelievein；anditwasprodigiousthatweopenlymetnotatallwherewehadlastlefteachother，butexactlyonwhatoursubsequentsuppressedprocesseshadachieved。Wehadn’tnamedthem——hadn’talludedtothem，andwecouldn’t，nodoubt，havedoneeither；
　　buttheywerenonethelessintenselytherebetweenus，withthewholebright，emptyscenegivenuptothem。Onlyshehadhershrewdsensethatmine，forreasons，mighthavebeenstillmoreoccultthanherown。Hadn’tIpossiblyburrowedthedeeper——tocomeoutinsomeuncalculatedplacebehindherback？Thatwastheflawinherconfidence。Shehadinspiteofitherfirmground，andIcouldfeel，todoherjustice，howdifferentacomplacencyitwasfromsuchsmugignoranceasLadyJohn’s。IfIdidn’tfeartoseemtodrivelaboutmyownknowledgeIshouldsaythatshehad，inadditiontoalltherestofher"pull，"thebenefitofstrikingmeasworthyofme。ShewasINthemysticcircle——notoneofusmore；sheknewthesizeofit；anditwasournowbeinginitalonetogether，witheveryoneelseoutandwiththesizegreaterthanithadyetbeenatall——itwasthisthatgavethehour，infine，sosharpastamp。
　　Butshehadmeanwhiletakenupmyallusiontoherhavingpreferredsotowait。"Iwantedtoseeyouquietly；whichwaswhatItried——notaltogethersuccessfully，itratherstruckmeatthemoment——tomakeyouunderstandwhenIletyouknowaboutit。YoustaredsothatIdidn’tquiteknowwhatwasthematter。Nothingcouldbequiet，Isaw，tillthegoingtobedwasover，andIfeltitcomingoffthenfromoneminutetotheother。Ididn’twishpubliclytobecalledawayforitfromthisputtingofourheadstogether，and，thoughyoumaythinkmeabsurd，IhadadisliketohavingourquestionofMayupsolongasshewashangingabout。Iknewofcoursethatshewouldhangabouttilltheverylastmoment，andthatwaswhatIperhapsalittleclumsily——ifitwasmyownfault！——madetheefforttoconveytoyou。Shemaybehangingaboutstill，"Mrs。Brisscontinued，withherlargerlookround——herlooksroundwerenowimmense；"butatanyrateIshallhavedonewhatIcould。Ihadafeeling——perfectlypreposterous，Iadmit！——againstherseeingustogether；butifshecomesdownagain，asI’vesoboldlydone，andfindsus，she’llhavenoonebutherselftothank。It’safunnyhouse，forthatmatter，"myfriendrambledon，"andI’mnotsurethatanyoneHASgonetobed。Onedoeswhatonelikes；I’manoldwoman，atanyrate，andido！"Sheexplainednow，sheexplainedtoomuch，sheabounded，talkingherselfstoutlyintoanyassurancethatfailedher。Ihadmeanwhilewitheverywordsheutteredasharpersenseofthepressure，behindthemall，ofanewconsciousness。Itwasfullofeverythingshedidn’tsay，andwhatshesaidwasnorepresentationwhateverofwhatwasmostinhermind。Wehadindeedtakenajumpsincenoon——wehadindeedcomeoutfurtheron。