"GodinHeaven！"washerinwardcry。"Godofalltheworlds！Donotlethimdie。`IfyeaskanythinginmynamethatIwilldo。’Christsaidit。InthenameofJesusofNazareth——donotlethimdie！Alltheworldsareyours——allthepower——listentous——listentous。Lord，Ibelieve——helpthoumyunbelief。Ifthisterrorrobsmeoffaith，andIpraymadly——forgive，forgiveme。Donotcountitagainstmeassin。Youmadehim。Hehassufferedandbeenalone。Itisnottime——itisnottimeyetforhimtogo。Hehasknownnojoyandnobrightthing。Donotlethimgooutofthewarmworldlikeablindman。Donotlethimdie。Perhapsthisisnotprayer，butraging。Forgive——forgive！Allpowerisgonefromme。Godoftheworlds，andthegreatwinds，andthemyriadstars——donotlethimdie！"
Sheknewherthoughtswerewild，buttheirtorrentboreherwiththemintoastrange，greatsilence。Shedidnothearthevicar’swords，ortheresponsesofthepeople。Shewasnotwithinthegreystonewalls。Shehadbeendrawnawayasintothedarknessandstillnessofthenight，andnosoulbutherownseemednear。Throughthestillnessandthedarkherprayingseemedtocallandecho，clamouringagainandagain。
ItmustreachSomething——itmustbeheard，becauseshecriedsoloud，thoughtothehumanbeingsabouthersheseemedkneelinginsilence。Shewentonandon，repeatingherwords，changingthem，endingandbeginningagain，pouringforthafloodofappeal。Shethoughtlaterthatthefloodmusthavebeenatitshighesttidewhen，singularly，itwasstemmed。
Withoutwarning，awaveofawepassedoverherwhichstrangelysilencedher——andleftherbowedandkneeling，butcryingoutnomore。Thedarknesshadbecomestill，evenasithadnotbeenstillbefore。Suddenlyshecoweredasshekneltandheldherbreath。Somethinghaddrawnalittlenear。
Nothoughts——nowords——nocrieswereneededasthegreatstillnessgrewandspread，andfoldedherbeingwithinit。
Shewaited——onlywaited。Shedidnotknowhowlongatimepassedbeforeshefeltherselfdrawnbackfromthesilentandshadowyplaces——awakening，asitwere，tothesoundsinthechurch。
"OurFather，"shebegantosay，assimplyasachild。
"OurFatherwhoartinHeaven——hallowedbethyname。"
Therewasastirringamongthecongregation，andsoundsoffeet，asthepeoplebegantomovedowntheaisleinreverentslowness。Shecaughtagaintheoccasionalsoundofasubduedsob。Rosaliegentlytouchedher，andsherose，followingheroutofthebigpewandpassingdowntheaisleafterthevillagers。
Outsidetheentrancethepeoplewaitedasiftheywantedtoseeheragain。Foreheadsweretouchedasbefore，andeyesfollowedher。Shewastothegeneralmindthecentreofthedrama，and"theA’mighty"woulddowelltohearher。Shehadbeendoinghisworkforhim"sameashislordship。"
Theydidnotexpecthertosmileatsuchatime，whenshereturnedtheirgreetings，andshedidnot，buttheysaidafterwards，intheircottages，that"troubleornotshewasawonderforlooks，thatshewas——MissVanderpoel。"
Rosalieslippedahandthroughherarm，andtheywalkedhometogether，veryclosetoeachother。NowandthentherewasaquestioninginRosy’slook。Butneitherofthemspokeonce。
OnanoaktableinthehallaletterfromMr。Penzancewaslying。Itwasbrief，hurried，andanxious。TherumourthatMountDunstanhadbeenailingwastrue，andthattheyhadfelttheymustconcealthematterfromthevillagerswastruealso。Forsomebafflingreasonthefeverhadnotabsolutelydeclareditself，buttheyoungdoctorswerebesetbygraveforebodings。Insuchcasesthemostserioussymptomsmightsuddenlydevelop。Oneneverknew。Mr。Penzancewasevidentlytornbyfearswhichhedesperatelystrovetosuppress。ButBettycouldseetheanguishonhisfineoldface，andbetweenthelinesshereaddreadandwarningnotputintowords。Shebelievedthat，fearingtheworst，hefelthemustpreparehermind。
"Hehaslivedunderagreatstrainformonths，"heended。
"Itbeganlongbeforetheoutbreakofthefever。Iamnotstrongundermysenseofthecrueltyofthings——andIhaveneverlovedhimasIlovehimto—day。"
Bettytookthelettertoherroom，andreadittwoorthreetimes。BecauseshehadaskedintelligentquestionsofthemedicalauthorityshehadconsultedonhervisittoLondon，sheknewsomethingofthefeveranditshabits。Evenherunclericalknowledgewassuchasitwasnotwelltoreflectupon。Sherefoldedtheletterandlaiditaside。
"Imustnotthink。Imustdosomething。Itmaypreventmylistening，"shesaidaloudtothesilenceofherroom。
Shecasthereyesaboutherasifinsearch。Uponherdesklayanotebook。Shetookitupandopenedit。Itcontainedlistsofplants，offlowerseeds，ofbulbs，andshrubs。
Eachlistwasheadedwithanexplanatorynote。
"Yes，thiswilldo，"shesaid。"IwillgoandtalktoKedgers。"
Kedgersandeverymanunderhimhadbeenattheservice，buttheyhadreturnedtotheirrespectiveduties。Kedgers，givingdirectionstosomeundergardenerswhowereclearingflowerbedsandpreparingthemfortheirwinterrest，turnedtomeetherassheapproached。ToKedgersthesightofhercomingtowardshimonagardenpathwasajoyfulthing。
Hehaddonewonders，itistrue，butifshehadnotstoodbyhissidewithinspirationaswellasconfidence，heknewthatthingsmighthave"comeoutdifferent。"
"Youwasbornagardener，miss——bornone，"hehadsaidmonthsago。
Itwasthetimewhenflowerbedsmustbeplannedforthecomingyear。Hernotebookwasfilledwithmemorandaofthethingstheymusttalkabout。
Itwasgood，normal，healthyworktodo。Thescentoftherich，damp，upturnedmouldwasagoodthingtoinhale。Theywalkedfromoneendtoanother，stoodbeforeclumpsofshrubs，andstudiedbitsofwall。Hereamassofbluemightgrow，herelowthingsofwhiteandpaleyellow。Aquickly—climbingrosewouldhangsheetsofbloomoverthisdeadtree。ThisshelteredwallwouldholdwarmthforaMarechalNiel。
"Youmusttakecareofitall——evenifIamnotherenextyear，"MissVanderpoelsaid。
Kedgers’absorbedfacechanged。
"Nothere，miss，"heexclaimed。"Younothere！Thingswouldn’tgrow，miss。"Hecheckedhimself，hisweather—
toughenedskinreddeningbecausehewasafraidhehadperhapstakenaliberty。Andthenmovinghishatuneasilyonhishead，hetookanother。"Butit’strueenough，"lookingdownonthegravelwalk，"we——wecouldn’texpecttokeepyou。"
Shedidnotlookasifshehadnoticedtheliberty，butshedidnotlookquitelikeherself，Kedgersthought。Ifshehadbeenanotheryounglady，andbutforhisestablishedfeelingthatshewassomehowimmunefromallills，hewouldhavethoughtshehadaheadache，orwaslowinhermind。
Shespentanhourortwowithhim，andtogethertheyplannedforthechangingseasonsoftheyeartocome。Howshecouldkeephermindonathing，andwhataheadshehadforplanning，andwhataneyeforcolour！Butyes——therewassomethingabitwrongsomehow。Nowandthenshewouldstopandstandstillforamoment，andsuddenlyitstruckKedgersthatshelookedasifshewerelistening。
"Didyouthinkyouheardsomething，miss？"heaskedheroncewhenshepausedandworethislook。
"No，"sheanswered，"no。"Anddrewhimonquickly——
almostasifshedidnotwanthimtohearwhatshehadseemedlisteningfor。
Whenshelefthimandwentbacktothehouse，allthelovelinessofspring，summerandautumnhadbeenthoughtoutandprovidedfor。Kedgersstoodonthepathandlookedafterheruntilshepassedthroughtheterracedoor。Hechewedhislipuneasily。Thenherememberedsomethingandfeltabitrelieved。Itwastheserviceheremembered。
"Ah！it’sthatthat’supsether——andit’snatural，seeinghowshe’shelpedhimandDunstanvillage。It’sonlynatural。"
Hechewedhislipagain，andnoddedhisheadinoddreflection。
"Ay！Ay！"hesummedherup。"She’sagreatladythat——she’sagreatlady——sameasifshe’dbeenborninacivilisedland。"
DuringtherestofthedaythelookofquestioninRosalie’seyeschangedinitsnature。Whenhersisterwasnearhershefoundherselfglancingatherwithanewfeeling。Itwasagrowingfeeling，whichgraduallybecame——anxiousness。
Bettypresentedtohertheaspectofonewithdrawnintosomeremotespace。Shewasnotlivingthisdayasherdayswereusuallylived。Shedidnotsitstillorstrollaboutthegardensquietly。Theconsecutivenessofheractionseemedbroken。Shedidonethingafteranother，asifshemustfilleachmoment。ThiswasnotherBetty。LadyAnstrutherswatchedandthoughtuntil，intheend，anewpainedfearbegantocreepslowlyintohermind，andmakeherfeelasifshewereslightlytremblingthoughherhandsdidnotshake。
Shedidnotdaretoallowherselftothinkthethingsheknewshewasonthebrinkofthinking。Shethrustitawayfromher，andtriednottothinkatall。HerBetty——hersplendidBetty，whomnothingcouldhurt——whocouldnotbetouchedbyanyawfulthing——herdearBetty！
Intheafternoonshesawherwritenotessteadilyforanhour，thenshewentoutintothestablesandvisitedthehorses，talkedtothecoachmanandtoherowngroom。Shewasverykindtoavillageboywhohadbeenrecentlytakenonasanadditionalassistantinthestable，andwhowasratherfrightenedandshy。Sheknewhismother，whohadalargefamily，andshehad，indeed，giventheboyhisplacethathemightbetrainedunderthegreatMr。Buckham，whowascoachmanandheadofthestables。Shesaidencouragingthingswhichquitecheeredhim，andshespokeprivatelytoMr。Buckhamabouthim。Thenshewalkedintheparkalittle，butnotforlong。WhenshecamebackRosaliewaswaitingforher。
"Iwanttotakealongdrive，"shesaid。"Ifeelrestless。
Willyoucomewithme，Betty？"Yes，shewouldgowithher，soBuckhambroughtthelandauwithitspairofbighorses，andtheyrolleddowntheavenue，andintothesmooth，whitehighroad。Hetookthemfar——pastthegreatmarshes，betweenmilesofbaredhedges，pastfarmsandscatteredcottages。Sometimesheturnedintolanes，wherethehedgeswereclosertoeachother，andwhere，hereandthere，theycaughtsightofnewpointsofviewbetweentrees。BettywasgladtofeelRosy’sslimbodynearherside，andshewasconsciousthatitgraduallyseemedtodrawcloserandcloser。ThenRosy’shandslippedintohersandhelditsoftlyonherlap。
Whentheydrovetogetherinthiswaytheywereusuallybothofthemrathersilentandquiet，butnowRosaliespokeofmanythings——ofUghtred，ofNigel，oftheDunholms，ofNewYork，andtheirfatherandmother。
"IwanttotalkbecauseI’mnervous，Ithink，"shesaidhalfapologetically。"Idonotwanttositstillandthinktoomuch——offather’scoming。Youdon’tmindmytalking，doyou，Betty？"
"No，"Bettyanswered。"Itisgoodforyouandforme。"
AndshemetthepressureofRosy’shandhalfway。
ButRosywastalking，notbecauseshedidnotwanttositstillandthink，butbecauseshedidnotwantBettytodoso。
Andallthetimeshewastryingtothrustawaythethoughtgrowinginhermind。
Theyspenttheeveningtogetherinthelibrary，andBettyreadaloud。Shereadalongtime——untilquitelate。Shewishedtotireherselfaswellastoforceherselftostoplistening。
Whentheysaidgood—nighttoeachotherRosyclungtoherasdesperatelyasshehadclungonthenightafterherarrival。
Shekissedheragainandagain，andthenhungherheadandexcusedherself。
"Forgivemeforbeing——nervous。I’mashamedofmyself，"
shesaid。"PerhapsintimeIshallgetoverbeingacoward。"
Butshesaidnothingofthefactthatshewasnotacowardforherself，butthroughaslowlyformulatingandstruggled——
againstfear，whichchilledherveryheart，andwhichshecouldbestcoverbyapretenceofbeingapoltroon。
Shecouldnotsleepwhenshewenttobed。Thenightseemedcrowdedwithstrange，terrifiedthoughts。TheywereallofBetty，thoughsometimesshethoughtofherfather’scoming，ofhermotherinNewYork，andofBetty’ssteadyworkingthroughouttheday。Sometimesshecried，twistingherhandstogether，andsometimesshedroppedintoafeverishsleep，anddreamedthatshewaswatchingBetty’sface，yetwasafraidtolookatit。
Sheawakenedsuddenlyfromoneofthesedreams，andsatuprightinbedtofindthedawnbreaking。Sheroseandthrewonadressing—gown，andwenttohersister’sroombecauseshecouldnotbeartostayaway。
Thedoorwasnotlocked，andshepusheditopengently。
Oneofthewindowshaditsblinddrawnup，andlookedlikeapatchofdullgrey。Bettywasstandinguprightnearit。
Shewasinhernight—gown，andalongblackplaitofhairhungoveroneshoulderheavily。Shelookedallblackandwhiteinstrongcontrast。Thegreylightsetherforthasatallghost。
LadyAnstruthersslidforward，feelingatightnessinherchest。
"Thedawnwakenedmetoo，"shesaid。
"Ihavebeenwaitingtoseeitcome，"answeredBetty。"Itisgoingtobeadull，drearyday。"
CHAPTERXLVII
"IHAVENOWORDORLOOKTOREMEMBER"
Itwasadullanddrearyday，asBettyhadforeseenitwouldbe。Heavyraincloudshungandthreatened，andtheatmospherewasdampandchill。ItwasoneofthosedaysoftheEnglishautumnwhichspeakonlyoftheendofthings，bereavingoneofthepowertoremembernextyear’sspringandsummer，which，afterall，mustsurelycome。Skyisgrey，treesaregrey，deadleavesliedampbeneaththefeet，sunlightandbirdsseemforgottenthings。Allthathasbeensadandtoberegrettedorfearedhangsheavyintheairandswaysallthought。Inthepassingofthesehoursthereisnohopeanywhere。Bettyappearedatbreakfastinshortdressandclosehat。Sheworethicklittleboots，asifforwalking。
"Iamgoingtomakevisitsinthevillage，"shesaid。"I
wantabasketofgoodthingstotakewithme。Stourton’schildrenneedfeedingaftertheirmeasles。TheylookedverythinwhenIsawthemplayingintheroadyesterday。"
"Yes，dear，"Rosalieanswered。"Mrs。Noakesshallpreparethebasket。Goodchickenbroth，andjelly，andnourishingthings。Jennings，"tothebutler，"youknowthekindofbasketMissVanderpoelwants。SpeaktoMrs。Noakes，please。"
"Yes，mylady，"JenningsknewthekindofbasketandsodidMrs。Noakes。BelowstairsastrongsympathywithMissVanderpoel’smovementshaddeveloped。Nooneresentedthepreparationofbaskets。Somehowtheywerealwaysmanaged，evenifaskedforatuntimelyhours。
Bettywassittingsilent，lookingoutintothegreynessoftheautumn—smittenpark。
"Are——areyoulisteningforanything，Betty？"LadyAnstruthersaskedratherfalteringly。"Youhaveasortoflisteninglookinyoureyes。"
Bettycamebacktotheroom，asitwere。
"HaveI，"shesaid。"Yes，IthinkIwaslisteningfor——
something。"
AndRosaliedidnotaskherwhatshelistenedfor。Shewasafraidsheknew。
ItwasnotonlytheStourtonsBettyvisitedthismorning。
Shepassedfromonecottagetoanother——toseeoldwomen，andoldmen，aswellasyoungones，whoforonereasonoranotherneededhelpandencouragement。Byonebedsideshereadaloud；byanothershesatandtoldcheerfulstories；
shelistenedtotalkinlittlekitchens，andinonehousewelcomedanewbornthing。Asshewalkedsteadilyovergreyroadanddowngreylanesdampmistroseandhungabouther。Andshedidnotwalkalone。Fearwalkedwithher，andanguish，agreyghostbyherside。Onceshefoundherselfstandingquitestillonasidepath，coveringherfacewithherhands。Shefilledeverymomentofthemorning，andwalkeduntilshewastired。Beforeshewenthomeshecalledatthepostoffice，andMr。Tewsongreetedherwithasolemnface。Hedidnotwaittobequestioned。
"There’sbeennonewsto—day，miss，sofar，"hesaid。"Andthatseemsasiftheymightbesogivenuptohardworkatadreadfultimethatthere’sbeennochanceforanythingtogetout。Whenpeople’shangingoveraman’sbedattheend，it’sasifeverythingstoppedbutthat——that’sstoppingforalltime。"
Afterluncheontherainbegantofallsoftly，slowly，andwithasuggestionofendlessness。Itwasasortofmistitself，andbecameadampshadowamongthebarebranchesoftreeswhichsoonbegantodrip。
"Youhavebeenwalkingaboutallmorning，andyouaretired，dear，"LadyAnstrutherssaidtoher。"Won’tyougotoyourroomandrest，Betty？"
Yes，shewouldgotoherroom，shesaid。SomenewbookshadarrivedfromLondonthismorning，andshewouldlookoverthem。Shetalkedalittleabouthervisitsbeforeshewent，andwhen，asshetalked，Ughtredcameovertoherandstoodclosetohersideholdingherhandandstrokingit，shesmiledathimsweetly——thesmileheadored。Hestrokedthehandandsoftlypattedit，watchingherwistfully。Suddenlyheliftedittohislips，andkisseditagainandagainwithasortofpassion。
"Iloveyousomuch，AuntBetty，"hecried。"Webothloveyousomuch。Somethingmakesmeloveyouto—daymorethaneverIdidbefore。Italmostmakesmecry。Iloveyouso。"
Shestoopedswiftlyanddrewhimintoherarmsandkissedhimcloseandhard。Heheldhisheadbackalittleandlookedintotheblueunderherlashes。
"Iloveyoureyes，"hesaid。"Anyonewouldloveyoureyes，AuntBetty。Butwhatisthematterwiththem？Youarenotcryingatall，but——oh！whatisthematter？"
"No，Iamnotcryingatall，"shesaid，andsmiled——almostlaughed。
Butaftershehadkissedhimagainshetookherbooksandwentupstairs。
Shedidnotliedown，andshedidnotreadwhenshewasaloneinherroom。Shedrewalongchairbeforethewindowandwatchedtheslowfallingoftherain。Thereisnothinglikeit——thatslowweepingoftherainonanEnglishautumnday。
Softandlightthoughitwas，theparkbegantolooksodden。
Thebaretreesheldouttheirbrancheslikeimploringarms，thebrowngardenbedswereneatandbare。Thesamerainwasdrip—drippingatMountDunstan——uponthedesolategreathouse——uponthevillage——uponthemoundsandancientstonetombsinthechurchyard，sinkingintotheearth——sinkingdeep，suckedinbytheclaybeneath——thecolddampclay。
Sheshookherselfshudderingly。Whyshouldthethoughtcometoher——thecolddampclay？Shewouldnotlistentoit，shewouldthinkofNewYork，ofitsroaringstreetsandcrashofsound，oftherushoffiercelifethere——ofherfatherandmother。ShetriedtoforceherselftocalluppicturesofBroadway，swarmingwithcrowdsofblackthings，which，seenfromthewindowsofitsmonstrousbuildings，seemedlikeswarmsofants，burstoutofant—hills，outofathousandant—
hills。Shetriedtoremembershopwindows，thethingsinthem，thethrongsgoingby，andthethrongspassinginandoutofgreat，swingingglassdoors。ShedraggedupbeforeheravisionofRosalie，drivingwithhermotherandherself，lookingaboutheratthenewbuildingsandchangedstreets，flushedandmaderadiantbytheacceleratedpaceandexcitementofherbelovedNewYork。But，oh，theslow，penetratingrainfall，and——thecolddampclay！
Sherose，makinganinvoluntarysoundwhichwashalfamoan。Thelongmirrorsetbetweentwowindowsshowedhermomentarilyanawfulyoungfigure，throwingupitsarms。
WasthatBettyVanderpoel——that？
"Whatdoesonedo，"shesaid，"whentheworldcomestoanend？Whatdoesonedo？"
Allherdaysshehaddonethings——therehadalwaysbeensomethingtodo。Nowtherewasnothing。Shewentsuddenlytoherbellandrangforhermaid。Thewomanansweredthesummonsatonce。
"SendwordtothestablethatIwantChildeHarold。I
donotwantMason。Ishallridealone。"
"Yes，miss，"Amblestonanswered，withoutanyexteriorsignofemotion。Shewastoowell—trainedapersontoexpressanyshadeofherinternalamazement。Aftershehadtransmittedtheordertothepropermanagershereturnedandchangedhermistress’scostume。
Shehadcontemplatedhertask，andwasstandingbehindMissVanderpoel’schair，puttingthelasttouchtoherveil，whenshebecameconsciousofaslightstiffeningoftheneckwhichheldsowellthehandsomehead，thentheheadslowlyturnedtowardsthewindowgivinguponthefrontpark。MissVanderpoelwaslisteningtosomething，listeningsointentlythatAmblestonfeltthat，forafewmoments，shedidnotseemtobreathe。Themaid’shandsfellfromtheveil，andshebegantolistenalso。Shehadbeenattheservicethedaybefore。
MissVanderpoelrosefromherchairslowly——veryslowly，andtookastepforward。Thenshestoodstillandlistenedagain。
"Openthatwindow，ifyouplease，"shecommanded——"asifastoneimagewasspeaking"——Amblestonsaidlater。Thewindowwasthrownopen，andforafewsecondstheybothstoodstillagain。WhenMissVanderpoelspoke，itwasasifshehadforgottenwhereshewas，orasifshewereinadream。
"Itistheringers，"shesaid。"Theyaretollingthepassingbell。"
Theservingwomanwassoftofheart，andhadherfeminineemotions。Therehadbeenmuchtalkofthisthingintheservant’shall。SheturneduponBetty，andforgotallrulesandtraining。
"Oh，miss！"shecried。"He’sgone——he’sgone！Thatgoodman——outofthishardworld。Oh，miss，excuseme——
do！"Andassheburstintowildtears，sheranoutoftheroom……
Rosaliehadbeensittinginthemorningroom。Shealsohadstriventooccupyherselfwithwork。Shehadwrittentohermother，shehadread，shehadembroidered，andthenreadagain。WhatwasBettydoing——whatwasshethinkingnow？
Shelaidherbookdowninherlap，andcoveringherfacewithherhands，breathedadesperatelittleprayer。Thatlifeshouldbepainandemptinesstoherself，seemedsomehownaturalsinceshehadmarriedNigel——butpainandemptinessforBetty——No！No！No！NotforBetty！Piteoussorrowpoureduponherlikeaflood。Shedidnotknowhowthetimepassed。Shesat，huddledtogetherinherchair，withhiddenface。Shecouldnotbeartolookattherainandghostmistoutofdoors。Oh，ifhermotherwereonlyhere，andshemightspeaktoher！Andasherlovingtearsbrokeforthafresh，sheheardthedooropen。
"Ifyouplease，mylady——Ibegyourpardon，mylady，"asshestartedanduncoveredherface。
"Whatisit，Jennings？"
Thefigureatthedoorwasthatoftheserious，elderlybutler，andheworearespectfullygraveair。
"Asyourladyshipissittinginthisroom，wethoughtitlikelyyouwouldnothear，thewindowsbeingclosed，andwefeltsure，mylady，thatyouwouldwishtoknow————"
LadyAnstruthers’handsshookastheyclungtothearmsofherchair。
"Toknow————"shefaltered。"Hearwhat？"
"Thepassingbellistolling，mylady。Ithasjustbegun。
ItisforLordMountDunstan。There’snotadryeyedownstairs，yourladyship，notone。"
Heopenedthewindows，andshestoodup。Jenningsquietlylefttheroom。Theslow，heavyknellstruckponderouslyonthedampair，andshestoodandshivered。
Amomentortwolatersheturned，becauseitseemedasifshemust。
Betty，inherridinghabit，wasstandingmotionlessagainstthedoor，herwonderfuleyesstillasdeath，gazingather，gazinginanawful，simplesilence。
Oh，whatwastheuseofbeingafraidtospeakatsuchatimeasthis？InonemomentRosywaskneelingatherfeet，clingingaboutherknees，kissingherhands，theveryclothofherhabit，andsobbingaloud。
"Oh，mydarling——mylove——myownBetty！Idon’tknow——andIwon’task——butspeaktome——speakjustaword——mydearestdear！"
Bettyraisedherupanddrewherwithintheroom，closingthedoorbehindthem。
"KindlittleRosy，"shesaid。"Icametospeak——becausewetwoloveeachother。Youneednotask，Iwilltellyou。
Thatbellistollingforthemanwhotaughtme——toKNOW。
Heneverspoketomeoflove。Ihavenotonewordorlooktoremember。Andnow————Oh，listen——listen！Ihavebeenlisteningsincethemorningofyesterday。"Itwasanawfulthing——herwhiteface，withalltheflameoflifesweptoutofit。