Pierstonbecamecoldasastone。ThechilltowardsNicholathatthepresenceofthegirl，——sprite，witch，trollthatshewas——broughtwithitcamelikeadoom。Heknewwhatafoolhewas，ashehadsaid。Buthewaspowerlessinthegraspoftheidealizingpassion。HecaredmoreforAvice’sfinger-tipsthanforMrs。Pine-Avon’swholepersonality。
PerhapsNicholasawit，forshesaidmournfully：’NowIhavedoneallIcould！Ifeltthattheonlycounterpoisetomycrueltytoyouinmydrawing-roomwouldbetocomeasasupplianttoyours。’
’Itismosthandsomeandnobleofyou，myverydearfriend！’saidhe，withanemotionofcourtesyratherthanofenthusiasm。
Thenadieuxwerespoken，andshedroveaway。ButPierstonsawonlytheretreatingAvice，andknewthathewashelplessinherhands。ThechurchoftheislandhadrisennearthefoundationsofthePagantemple，andaChristianemanationfromtheformermightbewrathfullytorturinghimthroughtheveryfalsegodstowhomhehaddevotedhimselfbothinhiscraft，likeDemetriusofEphesus，andinhisheart。
PerhapsDivinepunishmentforhisidolatrieshadcome。
2。X。SHEFAILSTOVANISHSTILL
PierstonhadnotturnedfarbacktowardsthecastlewhenhewasovertakenbySomersandthemanwhocarriedhispaintinglumber。Theypacedtogethertothedoor；themandepositedthearticlesandwentaway，andthetwowalkedupanddownbeforeentering。
’Imetanextremelyinterestingwomanintheroadoutthere，’saidthepainter。
’Ah，sheis！Asprite，asylph；Psycheindeed！’
’Iwasstruckwithher。’
’Itshowshowbeautywilloutthroughthehomeliestguise。’
’Yes，itwill；thoughnotalways。Andthiscasedoesn’tproveit，forthelady’sattirewasinthelatestandmostapprovedtaste。’
’Oh，youmeantheladywhowasdriving？’
’Ofcourse。What，wereyouthinkingoftheprettylittlecottage-girloutsidehere？Ididmeether，butwhat’sshe？Verywellforone’spicture，thoughhardlyforone’sfireside。Thislady——’
’IsMrs。Pine-Avon。Akind，proudwoman，who’lldowhatpeoplewithnopridewouldnotcondescendtothinkof。SheisleavingBudmouthto-
morrow，andshedroveacrosstoseeme。Youknowhowthingsseemedtobegoingwithusatonetime？ButIamnogoodtoanywoman。She’sbeenverygeneroustowardsme，whichI’venotbeentoher……
She’llultimatelythrowherselfawayuponsomewretchunworthyofher，nodoubt。’
’Doyouthinkso？’murmuredSomers。Afterawhilehesaidabruptly，’I’llmarryhermyself，ifshe’llhaveme。Ilikethelookofher。’
’Iwishyouwould，Alfred，orrathercould！Shehaslonghadanideaofslippingoutoftheworldoffashionintotheworldofart。Sheisawomanofindividualityandearnestinstincts。Iaminrealtroubleabouther。Iwon’tsayshecanbewon——itwouldbeungenerousofmetosaythat。Buttry。Icanbringyoutogethereasily。’
’I’llmarryher，ifshe’swilling！’Withthephlegmaticdogmatismthatwaspartofhim，Somersadded：’Whenyouhavedecidedtomarry，takethefirstnicewomanyoumeet。Theyareallalike。’
’Well——youdon’tknowheryet，’repliedJocelyn，whocouldgivepraisewherehecouldnotgivelove。
’Butyoudo，andI’lltakeheronthestrengthofyourjudgment。Isshereallyhandsome？——Ihadbutthemerestglance。ButIknowsheis，orshewouldn’thavecaughtyourdiscriminatingeye。’
’Youmaytakemywordforit；shelooksaswellathandasafar。’
’Whatcolourarehereyes？’
’Hereyes？Idon’tgomuchinforcolour，beingprofessionallysworntoform。But，letmesee——grey；andherhairratherlightthandarkbrown。’
’Iwantedsomethingdarker，’saidSomersairily。’TherearesomanyfairmodelsamongnativeEnglishwomen。Still，blondesareusefulproperty！……Well，well；thisisflippancy。ButIlikedthelookofher。’
***
Somershadgonebacktotown。Itwasawetdayonthelittlepeninsula：butPierstonwalkedoutasfarasthegarden-houseofhishiredcastle，wherehesatdownandsmoked。Thiserectionbeingontheboundary-wallofhispropertyhisearcouldnowandthencatchthetonesofAvice’svoicefromheropen-dooredcottageinthelanewhichskirtedhisfence；andhenoticedthattherewerenomodulationsinit。
Heknewwhythatwas。Shewishedtogoout，andcouldnot。Hehadobservedbeforethatwhenshewasplanninganoutingaparticularnotewouldcomeintohervoiceduringtheprecedinghours：adove’sroundnessofsound；nodoubttheeffectuponhervoiceofherthoughtsofherlover，orlovers。Yetthelatteritcouldnotbe。Shewaspureandsinglehearted：halfaneyecouldseethat。Whence，then，thetwomen？Possiblythequarrierwasarelation。
Thereseemedreasoninthiswhen，goingoutintothelane，heencounteredoneoftheredjacketshehadbeenthinkingof。Soldierswereseldomseeninthisouterpartoftheisle：theirbeatfromtheforts，whenonpleasure，wasintheoppositedirection，andthismanmusthavehadaspecialreasonforcominghither。Pierstonsurveyedhim。Hewasaround-faced，good-humouredfellowtolookat，havingtwolittlepiecesofmoustacheonhisupperlip，likeapairofminnowsrampant，andsmallblackeyes，overwhichtheGlengarrycapstraddledflat。Itwasahatefulideathathertendercheekshouldbekissedbythelipsofthisheavyyoungman，whohadneverbeensublimedbyasinglebattle，evenwithdefencelesssavages。
Thesoldierwentbeforeherhouse，lookedatthedoor，andmovedondownthecrookedwaytothecliffs，wheretherewasapathbacktotheforts。Buthedidnotadoptit，returningbythewayhehadcome。
Thisshowedhiswishtopassthehouseagain。Shegavenosign，however，andthesoldierdisappeared。
PierstoncouldnotbesatisfiedthatAvicewasinthehouse，andhecrossedovertothefrontofherlittlefreeholdandtappedatthedoor，whichstoodajar。
Nobodycame：hearingaslightmovementwithinhecrossedthethreshold。Avicewastherealone，sittingonalowstoolinadarkcorner，asthoughshewishedtobeunobservedbyanycasualpasser-by。
Shelookedupathimwithoutemotionorapparentsurprise；buthecouldthenseethatshewascrying。Theview，forthefirsttime，ofdistressinanunprotectedyounggirltowardswhomhefeltdrawnbytiesofextraordinarydelicacyandtenderness，movedPierstonbeyondmeasure。Heenteredwithoutceremony。
’Avice，mydeargirl！’hesaid。’Somethingisthematter！’
Shelookedassent，andhewenton：’Nowtellmeallaboutit。PerhapsIcanhelpyou。Come，tellme。’
’Ican’t！’shemurmured。’GrammerStockwoolisupstairs，andshe’llhear！’Mrs。Stockwoolwastheoldwomanwhohadcometolivewiththegirlforcompanysincehermother’sdeath。
’Thencomeintomygardenopposite。Thereweshallbequiteprivate。’
Sherose，putonherhat，andaccompaniedhimtothedoor。Heresheaskedhimifthelanewereempty，andonhisassuringherthatitwasshecrossedoverandenteredwithhimthroughthegarden-wall。
Theplacewasashadyandsecludedone，thoughthroughtheboughstheseacouldbeseenquitenearathand，itsmoaningsbeingdistinctlyaudible。Awater-dropfromatreefellhereandthere，buttherainwasnotenoughtohurtthem。
’Nowletmehearit，’hesaidsoothingly。’Youmaytellmewiththegreatestfreedom。Iwasafriendofyourmother’s，youknow。Thatis，Iknewher；andI’llbeafriendofyours。’
Thestatementwasrisky，ifhewishedhernottosuspecthimofbeinghermother’sfalseone。Butthatlover’snameappearedtobeunknowntothepresentAvice。
’Ican’ttellyou，sir，’sherepliedunwillingly；’exceptthatithastodowithmyownchangeableness。Therestisthesecretofsomebodyelse。’
’Iamsorryforthat，’saidhe。
’IamgettingtocareforoneIoughtnottothinkof，anditmeansruin。Ioughttogetaway！’。
’Youmeanfromtheisland？’
’Yes。’
Pierstonreflected。HispresenceinLondonhadbeendesiredforsometime；yethehaddelayedgoingbecauseofhisnewsolicitudeshere。
Buttogoandtakeherwithhimwouldaffordhimopportunityofwatchingoverher，tendinghermind，anddevelopingit；whileitmightremoveherfromsomeloomingdanger。Itwasasomewhatawkwardguardianshipforhim，asalonelyman，tocarryout；still，itcouldbedone。Heaskedherabruptlyifshewouldreallyliketogoawayforawhile。
’Ilikebesttostayhere，’sheanswered。’Still，Ishouldnotmindgoingsomewhere，becauseIthinkIoughtto。’
’WouldyoulikeLondon？’
Avice’sfacelostitsweepingshape。’Howcouldthatbe？’shesaid。
’Ihavebeenthinkingthatyoucouldcometomyhouseandmakeyourselfusefulinsomeway。Irentjustnowoneofthosenewplacescalledflats，whichyoumayhaveheardof；andIhaveastudioattheback。’
’Ihaven’theardof’em，’shesaidwithoutinterest。
’Well，Ihavetwoservantsthere，andasmymanhasaholidayyoucanhelpthemforamonthortwo。’
’Wouldpolishingfurniturebeanygood？Icandothat。’
’Ihaven’tmuchfurniturethatrequirespolishing。Butyoucanclearawayplasterandclaymessesinthestudio，andchippingsofstone，andhelpmeinmodelling，anddustallmyVenusfailures，andhandsandheadsandfeetandbones，andotherobjects。’
Shewasstartled，yetattractedbythenoveltyoftheproposal。
’Onlyforatime？’shesaid。
’Onlyforatime。Asshortasyoulike，andaslong。’
Thedeliberatemannerinwhich，afterthefirstsurprise，Avicediscussedthearrangementsthathesuggested，mighthavetoldhimhowfarwasanyfeelingforhimselfbeyondfriendship，andpossiblygratitude，fromagitatingherbreast。Yettherewasnothingextravagantinthediscrepancybetweentheirages，andhehoped，aftershapinghertohimself，towinher。Whathadgrievedhertotearsshewouldnotmoreparticularlytell。
Shehadnaturallynotmuchneedofpreparation，butshemadeevenlesspreparationthanhewouldhaveexpectedhertorequire。Sheseemedeagertobeoffimmediately，andnotasoulwastoknowofherdeparture。Why，ifshewereinloveandatfirstaversetoleavetheisland，sheshouldbesoprecipitatenowhefailedtounderstand。
Buthetookgreatcaretocompromiseinnowayagirlinwhomhisinterestwasasprotectiveasitwaspassionate。Heaccordinglylefthertogetoutoftheislandalone，awaitingheratastationafewmilesuptherailway，where，discoveringhimselftoherthroughthecarriage-window，heenteredthenextcompartment，hisframepervadedbyaglowwhichwasalmostjoyathavingforthefirsttimeinhischargeonewhoinheritedthefleshandborethenamesoearlyassociatedwithhisown，andattheprospectofputtingthingsrightwhichhadbeenwrongthroughmanyyears。
2。XI。THEIMAGEPERSISTS
Itwasdarkwhenthefour-wheeledcabwhereinhehadbroughtAvicefromthestationstoodattheentrancetothepileofflatsofwhichPierstonoccupiedonefloor——rarerthenasresidencesinLondonthantheyarenow。LeavingAvicetoalightandgettheluggagetakeninbytheporterPierstonwentupstairs。Tohissurprisehisfloorwassilent，andonenteringwithalatchkeytheroomswereallindarkness。
Hedescendedtothehall，whereAvicewasstandinghelplessbesidetheluggage，whiletheporterwasoutsidewiththecabman。
’Doyouknowwhathasbecomeofmyservants？’askedJocelyn。
’What——andain’ttheythere，saur？Ah，thenmybeliefisthatwhatI
suspectedisthrue！Youdidn’tleaveyourwine-cellarunlocked，didyou，saur，bynomistake？’
Pierstonconsidered。Hethoughthemighthaveleftthekeywithhiselderservant，whomhehadbelievedhecouldtrust，especiallyasthecellarwasnotwellstocked。
’Ah，thenitwasso！She’sbeenveryqueer，saur，thislastweekortwo。Oyes，sendingmessagesdownthespakin’-tubewhichwerelikemadnessitself，andorderingusthisandthat，tillwewouldtakenonoticeatall。Iseethembothgooutlastnight，andpossiblytheywentforaholidaynotexpectingye，ormaybeforgood！Shure，ifye’dwritten，saur，I’dha’gottheplaceready，yebeingoutofaman，too，thoughit’snotmedutyatall！’
WhenPierstongottohisflooragainhefoundthatthecellardoorwasopen；somebottleswerestandingemptythathadbeenfull，andmanyabstractedaltogether。Allotherarticlesinthehouse，however，appearedtobeintact。Hislettertohishousekeeperlayintheboxasthepostmanhadleftit。
Bythistimetheluggagehadbeensentupinthelift；andAvice，likesomuchmoreluggage，stoodatthedoor，thehall-porterbehindofferinghisassistance。
’Comehere，Avice，’saidthesculptor。’Whatshallwedonow？Here’saprettystateofaffairs！’
Avicecouldsuggestnothing，tillshewasstruckwiththebrightthoughtthatsheshouldlightafire。
’Lightafire？——ah，yes……Iwonderifwecouldmanage。Thisisanoddcoincidence——andawkward！’hemurmured。’Verywell，lightafire。’
’Isthisthekitchen，sir，allmixedupwiththeparlours？’
’Yes。’
’ThenIthinkIcandoallthat’swantedhereforabit；atanyrate，tillyoucangethelp，sir。Atleast，IcouldifIcouldfindthefuel-house。’TisnosuchbigplaceasIthought！’
’That’sright：takecourage！’saidhewithatendersmile。’Now，I’lldineoutthisevening，andleavetheplaceforyoutoarrangeasbestyoucanwiththehelpoftheporter’swifedownstairs。’
ThisPierstonaccordinglydid，andsotheircommonresidencebegan。
Feelingmoreandmorestronglythatsomedangerawaitedherinhernativeislandhedeterminednottosendherbacktilltheloverorloverswhoseemedtotroublehershouldhavecooledoff。Hewasquitewillingtotaketheriskofhisactionthusfarinhissolicitousregardforher。
***
Itwasadualsolitude，indeed；for，thoughPierstonandAviceweretheonlytwopeopleintheflat，theydidnotkeepeachothercompany，theformerbeingasscrupulouslyfearfulofgoingnearhernowthathehadtheopportunityashehadbeenprompttoseekherwhenhehadnone。
Theylivedinsilence，hismessagestoherbeingfrequentlywrittenonscrapsofpaperdepositedwhereshecouldseethem。Itwasnotwithoutapangthathenotedherunconsciousnessoftheirisolatedposition——apositiontowhich，hadsheexperiencedanyreciprocityofsentiment，shewouldreadilyhavebeenalive。
Consideringthat，thoughnotprofound，shewashardlyamatter-of-factgirlasthatphraseiscommonlyunderstood，shewasexasperatinginthematter-of-factqualityofherresponsestothefriendlyremarkswhichwouldescapehiminspiteofhimself，aswellasinhergeneralconduct。Wheneverheformedsomeculinaryexcuseforwalkingacrossthefewyardsoftessellatedhallwhichseparatedhisroomfromthekitchen，andspokethroughthedoorwaytoher，sheanswered，’Yes，sir，’or’No，sir，’withoutturninghereyesfromtheparticularworkthatshewasengagedin。
Intheusualcoursehewouldhaveobtainedacoupleofproperlyqualifiedservantsimmediately；buthelivedonwiththeone，orratherthelessthanone，thatthiscottage-girlafforded。Ithadbeenhisalmostinvariablecustomtodineatoneofhisclubs。Nowhesatathomeoverthemiserablechoporsteaktowhichhelimitedhimselfindreadlestsheshouldcomplainoftherebeingtoomuchworkforoneperson，anddemandtobesenthome。Acharwomancameeverytwoorthreedays，effectinganextraordinaryconsumptionoffoodandalcoholicliquids：yetitwasnotforthisthatPierstondreadedherpresence，butlest，inconversingwithAvice，sheshouldopenthegirl’seyestotheoddityofhersituation。Avicecouldseeforherselfthattheremusthavebeentwoorthreeservantsintheflatduringhisformerresidencethere：buthisreasonsfordoingwithoutthemseemednevertostrikeher。
Hisintentionhadbeentokeepheroccupiedexclusivelyatthestudio，butaccidenthadmodifiedthis。However，hesentherroundonemorning，andenteringhimselfshortlyafterfoundherengagedinwipingthelayersofdustfromthecastsandmodels。
Thecolourofthedustneverceasedtoamazeher。’ItisliketheholdofaBudmouthcollier，’shesaid，’andthebeautifulfacesoftheseclaypeoplearequitespoiltbyit。’
’Isupposeyou’llmarrysomeday，Avice？’remarkedPierston，asheregardedherthoughtfully。
’Somedoandsomedon’t，’shesaid，withareservedsmile，stillattendingtothecasts。’
’Youareveryoffhand，’saidhe。
Shearchlyweighedthatremarkwithoutfurtherspeech。Itwastantalizingconductinthefaceofhisinstincttocherishher；
especiallywhenheregardedthecharmofherbendingprofile；thewell-
characterizedthoughsoftlylinednose，theroundchinwith，asitwere，asecondleapinitscurvetothethroat，andthesweepoftheeyelashesovertherosycheekduringthesedulouslyloweredglance。
Howfutilelyhehadlabouredtoexpressthecharacterofthatfaceinclay，and，whilecatchingitinsubstance，hadyetlostsomethingthatwasessential！
Thateveningafterdusk，inthestressofwritingletters，hesentheroutforstamps。Shehadbeenabsentsomequarterofanhourwhen，suddenlydrawinghimselfupfromoverhiswriting-table，itflasheduponhimthathehadabsolutelyforgottenhertotalignoranceofLondon。
Theheadpost-office，towhichhehadsentherbecauseitwaslate，wastwoorthreestreetsoff，andhehadmadehisrequestinthemostgeneralmanner，whichshehadaccededtowithalacrityenough。Howcouldhehavedonesuchanunreflectingthing？
Pierstonwenttothewindow。Itwashalf-pastnineo’clock，andowingtoherabsencetheblindswerenotdown。Heopenedthecasementandsteppedoutuponthebalcony。Thegreenshadeofhislampscreeneditsraysfromthegloomwithout。Overtheoppositesquarethemoonhung，andtotherighttherestretchedalongstreet，filledwithadiminishingarrayoflamps，somesingle，someinclusters，amongthemanoccasionalblueorredone。Fromacornercamethenotesofapiano-organstrummingoutastirringmarchofRossini’s。Theshadowyblackfiguresofpedestriansmovedup，down，andacrosstheembrownedroadway。Abovetheroofswasabankoflividmist，andhigheragreenish-bluesky，inwhichstarswerevisible，thoughitslowerpartwasstillpalewithdaylight，againstwhichrosechimney-potsintheformofelbows，prongs，andfists。
Fromthewholesceneproceededagroundrumble，milesinextent，uponwhichindividualrattles，voices，atinwhistle，thebarkofadog，rodelikebubblesonasea。Thewholenoiseimpressedhimwiththesensethatnooneinitsenormousmasseverrequiredrest。
Inthisillimitableoceanofhumanitytherewasaunitofexistence，hisAvice，wanderingalone。
Pierstonlookedathiswatch。Shehadbeengonehalfanhour。Itwasimpossibletodistinguishheratthisdistance，evenifsheapproached。
Hecameinside，andputtingonhishatdeterminedtogooutandseekher。Hereachedtheendofthestreet，andtherewasnothingofhertobeseen。Shehadtheoptionoftwoorthreeroutesfromthispointtothepost-office；yetheplungedatrandomintoone，tillhereachedtheofficetofinditquitedeserted。Almostdistractednowbyhisanxietyforherheretreatedasrapidlyashehadcome，regaininghomeonlytofindthatshehadnotreturned。
Herecollectedtellingherthatifsheshouldeverloseherwayshemustcallacabanddrivehome。Itoccurredtohimthatthiswaswhatshewoulddonow。Heagainwentoutuponthebalcony；thedignifiedstreetinwhichhelivedwasalmostvacant，andthelampsstoodlikeplacedsentinelsawaitingsomeprocessionwhichtarriedlong。Atapointunderhimwheretheroadwastornuptherestoodaredlight，andatthecornertwomenweretalkinginleisurelyrepose，asifsunningthemselvesatnoonday。Loversofafelinedisposition，whowereneverseenbydaylight，jokedanddartedateachotherinandoutofareagates。
Hisattentionwasfixedonthecabs，andheheldhisbreathasthehollowclapofeachhorse’shoofsdrewnearthefrontofthehouse，onlytogoonwardintothesquare。Thetwolampsofeachvehicleafardilatedwithitsnearapproach，andseemedtoswervetowardshim。ItwasAvicesurely？No，itpassedby。
Almostfranticheagaindescendedandlethimselfoutofthehouse，movingtowardsamorecentralpart，wheretheroarstillcontinued。
Beforeemergingintothenoisythoroughfareheobservedasmallfigureapproachingleisurelyalongtheoppositeside，andhastenedacrosstofinditwasshe。
2。XII。AGRILLEDESCENDSBETWEEN
’OAvice！’hecried，withthetenderlysubduedscoldingofamother。
’Whatisthisyouhavedonetoalarmmeso！’
Sheseemedunconsciousofhavingdoneanything，andwasaltogethersurprisedathisanxiety。Inhisreliefhedidnotspeakfurthertillheaskedhersuddenlyifshewouldtakehisarmsinceshemustbetired。
’Ono，sir！’sheassuredhim，’Iamnotabittired，andIdon’trequireanyhelpatall，thankyou。’
Theywentupstairswithoutusingthelift，andheletherandhimselfinwithhislatchkey。Sheenteredthekitchen，andhe，following，satdowninachairthere。
’Wherehaveyoubeen？’hesaid，withalmostangeredconcernonhisface。’Yououghtnottohavebeenabsentmorethantenminutes。’
’Iknewtherewasnothingformetodo，andthoughtIshouldliketoseealittleofLondon，’sherepliednaively。’SowhenIhadgotthestampsIwentonintothefashionablestreets，whereladiesareallwalkingaboutjustasifitweredaytime！’TwasforalltheworldlikecominghomebynightfromMartinmasFairattheStreeto’Wells，onlymoregenteel。’
’OAvice，Avice，youmustnotgooutlikethis！Don’tyouknowthatI
amresponsibleforyoursafety？Iamyour——well，guardian，infact，andamboundbylawandmorals，andIdon’tknowwhat-all，todeliveryouuptoyournativeislandwithoutascratchorblemish。Andyetyouindulgeinsuchamidnightvagaryasthis！’
’ButIamsure，sir，thegentlemeninthestreetweremorerespectablethantheyareanywhereathome！Theyweredressedinthelatestfashion，andwouldhavescornedtodomeanyharm；andastotheirlove-making，Ineverheardanythingsopolitebefore。’
’Well，youmustnotdoitagain。I’lltellyousomedaywhy。What’sthatyouhaveinyourhand？’
’Amouse-trap。Therearelotsofmiceinthiskitchen——sootymice，notcleanlikeours——andIthoughtI’dtrytocatchthem。ThatwaswhatI
wentsofartobuy，astherewerenoshopsopenjustabouthere。I’llsetitnow。’
Sheproceededatoncetodoso，andPierstonremainedinhisseatregardingtheoperation，whichseemedentirelytoengrossher。Itwasextraordinary，indeed，toobservehowshewilfullylimitedherinterests；withwhatcontentshereceivedtheordinarythingsthatlifeoffered，andpersistentlyrefusedtobeholdwhataninfinitelyextendedlifelayopentoherthroughhim。Ifshehadonlysaidthewordhewouldhavegotalicenceandmarriedherthenextmorning。Wasitpossiblethatshedidnotperceivethistendencyinhim？Shecouldhardlybeawomanifshedidnot；andinherairy，elusive，offhanddemeanourshewasverymuchofawomanindeed。
’Itonlyholdsonemouse，’hesaidabsently。
’ButIshallhearitthrowinthenight，andsetitagain。’
Hesighedandlefthertoherownresourcesandretiredtorest，thoughhefeltnotendencytosleep。Atsomesmallhourofthedarkness，owing，possibly，tosomeinterveningdoorbeingleftopen，heheardthemouse-trapclick。Anotherlightsleepermusthaveheardittoo，foralmostimmediatelyafterthepit-patofnakedfeet，accompaniedbythebrushingofdrapery，wasaudiblealongthepassagetowardsthekitchen。
Afterherabsenceinthatapartmentlongenoughtoresetthetrap，hewasstartledbyascreamfromthesamequarter。Pierstonsprangoutofbed，jumpedintohisdressing-gown，andhastenedinthedirectionofthecry。
Avice，barefootedandwrappedinashawl，wasstandinginachair；themouse-traplayonthefloor，themouserunningroundandroundinitsneighbourhood。
’Iwastryingtotakeenout，’saidsheexcitedly，’andhegotawayfromme！’
Pierstonsecuredthemousewhilesheremainedstandingonthechair。
Then，havingsetthetrapanew，hisfeelingburstoutpetulantly——
’Agirllikeyoutothrowyourselfawayuponsuchacommonplacefellowasthatquarryman！Whydoyoudoit！’
Hermindwassointentlyfixeduponthematterinhandthatitwassomemomentsbeforeshecaughthisirrelevantsubject。’BecauseIamafoolishgirl，’shesaidquietly。
’What！Don’tyoulovehim？’saidJocelyn，withasurprisedstareupatherasshestood，inherconcernappearingtheveryAvicewhohadkissedhimtwentyyearsearlier。
’Itisnotmuchusetotalkaboutthat，’saidshe。
’Then，isitthesoldier？’
’Yes，thoughIhaveneverspokentohim。’
’Neverspokentothesoldier？’
’Never。’
’Haseitheronetreatedyoubadly——deceivedyou？’
’No。Certainlynot。’
’Well，Ican’tmakeyouout；andIdon’twishtoknowmorethanyouchoosetotellme。Come，Avice，whynottellmeexactlyhowthingsare？’
’Notnow，sir！’shesaid，herprettypinkfaceandbrowneyesturnedinsimpleappealtohimfromherpedestal。’Iwilltellyouallto-
morrow；anthatIwill！’
Heretreatedtohisownroomandlaydownmeditating。Somequarterofanhouraftershehadretreatedtohersthemouse-trapclickedagain，andPierstonraisedhimselfonhiselbowtolisten。Theplacewassostillandthejerry-builtdoor-panelssothinthathecouldhearthemousejumpingaboutinsidethewiresofthetrap。Butheheardnofootstepthistime。Ashewaswakefulandrestlessheagainarose，proceededtothekitchenwithalight，andremovingthemouseresetthetrap。Returninghelistenedoncemore。HecouldseeinthefardistancethedoorofAvice’sroom；butthatthoughtfulhousewifehadnotheardthesecondcapture。Fromtheroomcameasoftbreathinglikethatofaninfant。
Heenteredhisownchamberandreclinedhimselfgloomilyenough。Herlackofallconsciousnessofhim，theaspectofthedesertedkitchen，thecoldgrate，impressedhimwithadeepersenseoflonelinessthanhehadeverfeltbefore。
Foolishhewas，indeed，tobesodevotedtothisyoungwoman。Herdefencelessness，herfreedomfromtheleastthoughtthattherelurkedadangerintheirpropinquity，wereinfactsecondarysafeguards，notmuchlessstrongthanthatofherbeinghermother’simage，againstrisktoherfromhim。Yetitwasoutofthisthathisdepressioncame。
AtsightofherthenextmorningPierstonfeltthathemustputanendtosuchastateofthings。HesentAviceofftothestudio，wrotetoanagentforacoupleofservants，andthenwentroundtohiswork。
Avicewasbusyrightingallthatshewasallowedtotouch。Itwasthegirl’sdelighttobeoccupiedamongthemodelsandcasts，whichforthefirsttimesheregardedwiththewistfulinterestofasoulstrugglingtoreceiveideasofbeautyvaguelydiscernedyetevereludingher。
Thatbrightnessinhermother’smindwhichmighthavedescendedtothesecondAvicewiththematernalfaceandform，hadbeendimmedbyadmixturewiththemediocrityofherfather’s，andbyonewhorememberedlikePierstonthedualorganizationtheoppositescouldbeoftenseenwrestlinginternally。
Theywerealoneinthestudio，andhisfeelingsfoundvent。Puttinghisarmsroundherhesaid，’Mydarling，sweetlittleAvice！Iwanttoaskyousomething——surelyyouguesswhat？Iwanttoknowthis：willyoubemarriedtome，andliveherewithmealwaysandever？’
’O，Mr。Pierston，whatnonsense！’
’Nonsense？’saidhe，shrinkingsomewhat。
’Yes，sir。’
’Well，why？AmItooold？Surelythere’snoseriousdifference？’
’Ono——Ishouldnotmindthatifitcametomarrying。Thedifferenceisnotmuchforhusbandandwife，thoughitisrathermuchforkeepingcompany。’
Shestruggledtogetfree，andwheninthemovementsheknockeddowntheEmpressFaustina’sheadhedidnottrytoretainher。Hesawthatshewasnotonlysurprisedbutalittlealarmed。
’Youhaven’tsaidwhyitisnonsense！’heremarkedtartly。
’Why，Ididn’tknowyouwasthinkingofmelikethat。Ihadn’tanythoughtofit！Andallalonehere！WhatshallIdo？’
’Sayyes，myprettyAvice！We’llthengooutandbemarriedatonce，andnobodybeanythewiser。’
Sheshookherhead。’Icouldn’t，sir。’
’Itwouldbewellforyou。Youdon’tlikeme，perhaps？’
’YesIdo——verymuch。Butnotinthatsortofway——quite。Still，I
mighthavegottoloveyouintime，if——’
’Well，then，try，’hesaidwarmly。’Yourmotherdid！’
NosoonerhadthewordsslippedoutthanPierstonwouldhaverecalledthem。Hehadfeltinamomentthattheyjeopardizedhiscause。
’Motherlovedyou？’saidAvice，incredulouslygazingathim。
’Yes，’hemurmured。
’Youwerenotherfalseyoungman，surely？Thatonewho——’
’Yes，yes！Saynomoreaboutit。’
’Whoranawayfromher？’
’Almost。’
’ThenIcanNEVER，NEVERlikeyouagain！Ididn’tknowitwasagentleman——I——Ithought——’
’Itwasn’tagentleman，then。’
’O，sir，pleasegoaway！Ican’tbearthesightof’eeatthismoment！
PerhapsIshallgetto——tolikeyouasIdid；but——’
’No；I’md————difI’llgoaway！’saidPierston，thoroughlyirritated。
’Ihavebeencandidwithyou；yououghttobethesamewithme！’
’Whatdoyouwantmetotell？’
’Enoughtomakeitcleartomewhyyoudon’tacceptthisoffer。
Everythingyouhavesaidyetisareasonforthereverse。Now，mydear，Iamnotangry。’
’Yesyouare。’
’NoI’mnot。Nowwhatisyourreason？’
’ThenameofitisIsaacPierston，downhome。’
’How？’
’Imeanhecourtedme，andledmeontoislandcustom，andthenIwenttochapelonemorningandmarriedhiminsecret，becausemotherdidn’tcareabouthim；andIdidn’teitherbythattime。Andthenhequarrelledwithme；andjustbeforeyouandIcametoLondonhewentawaytoGuernsey。ThenIsawasoldier；Ineverknewhisname，butI
fellinlovewithhimbecauseIamsoquickatthat！Still，asitwaswrong，Itriednottothinkofhim，andwouldn’tlookathimwhenhepassed。ButitmademecryverymuchthatImustn’t。Iwasthenverymiserable，andyouaskedmetocometoLondon。Ididn’tcarewhatI
didwithmyself，andIcame。’
’Heavenaboveus！’saidPierston，hispaleanddistressedfaceshowingwithwhatashockthisannouncementhadcome。’Whyhaveyoudonesuchextraordinarythings？Or，rather，whydidn’tyoutellmeofthisbefore？Then，atthepresentmomentyouarethewifeofamanwhoisinGuernsey，whomyoudonotloveatall；butinsteadofhimloveasoldierwhomyouhaveneverspokento；whileIhavenearlybroughtscandaluponusbothbyyourlettingmeloveyou。Really，youareaverywickedwoman！’
’No，Iamnot！’shepouted。
Still，Avicelookedpaleandratherfrightened，anddidnotlifthereyesfromthefloor。’Isaiditwasnonsenseinyoutowanttohaveme！’shewenton，’and，evenifIhadn’tbeenmarriedtothathorridIsaacPierston，Icouldn’thavemarriedyouafteryoutoldmethatyouwasthemanwhoranawayfrommymother。’
’Ihavepaidthepenalty！’hesaidsadly。’Menofmysortalwaysgettheworstofitsomehow。ThoughIneverdidyourmotheranyharm。
Now，Avice——I’llcallyoudearAviceforyourmother’ssakeandnotforyourown——ImustseewhatIcandotohelpyououtofthedifficultythatunquestionablyyouarein。Whycan’tyouloveyourhusbandnowyouhavemarriedhim？’
Avicelookedasideatthestatuaryasifthesubtletiesofherorganizationwerenotveryeasytodefine。
’Washethatblack-beardedtypicallocalcharacterIsawyouwalkingwithoneSunday？Thesamesurnameasmine；though，ofcourse，youdon’tnoticethatinaplacewherethereareonlyhalf-a-dozensurnames？’
’Yes，thatwasIke。Itwasthateveningwedisagreed。Hescoldedme，andIansweredhim（youmusthaveheardus）；andthenextdayhewentaway。’
’Well，asIsay，Imustconsiderwhatitwillbebesttodoforyouinthis。Thefirstthing，itseemstome，willbetogetyourhusbandhome。’
Sheimpatientlyshruggedhershoulders。’Idon’tlikehim！’
’Thenwhydidyoumarryhim？’
’Iwasobligedto，afterwe’dprovedeachotherbyislandcustom。’
’Youshouldn’thavethoughtofsuchathing。Itisridiculousandoutofdatenowadays。’
’Ah，he’ssoold-fashionedinhisnotionsthathedoesn’tthinklikethat。However，he’sgone。’
’Ah——itisonlyatiffbetweenyou，Idaresay。I’llstarthiminbusinessifhe’llcome……Isthecottageathomestillinyourhands？’
’Yes，itismyfreehold。GrammerStockwoolistakingcareo’itforme。’
’Good。Andbackthereyougostraightway，myprettymadam，andwaittillyourhusbandcomestomakeitupwithyou。’
’Iwon’tgo！——Idon’twanthimtocome！’shesobbed。’Iwanttostayherewithyou，oranywhere，exceptwherehecancome！’
’Youwillgetoverthat。Now，gobacktotheflat，there’sadearAvice，andbereadyinonehour，waitinginthehallforme。’
’Idon’twantto！’
’ButIsayyoushall！’
Shefounditwasnousetodisobey。Preciselyatthemomentappointedhemethertherehimself，burdenedonlywithavaliseandumbrella，shewithaboxandotherthings。DirectingtheportertoputAviceandherbelongingsintoafour-wheeledcabfortherailway-station，hewalkedonwardfromthedoor，andkeptlookingbehind，tillhesawthecabapproaching。Hethenenteredbesidetheastonishedgirl，andonwardtheywenttogether。
Theysatoppositeeachotherinanemptycompartment，andthetediousrailwayjourneybegan。Regardinghercloselynowbythelightofherrevelationhewonderedathimselfforneverdivininghersecret。
Wheneverhelookedatherthegirl’seyesgrewrebellious，andatlastshewept。
’Idon’twanttogotohim！’shesobbedinamiserablevoice。
Pierstonwasalmostasmuchdistressedasshe。’Whydidyouputyourselfandmeinsuchaposition？’hesaidbitterly。’Itisnousetoregretitnow！AndIcan’tsaythatIdo。Itaffordsmeawayoutofatryingposition。Evenifyouhadnotbeenmarriedtohimyouwouldnothavemarriedme！’
’Yes，Iwould，sir。’
’What！Youwould？Yousaidyouwouldn’tnotlongago。’
’Ilikeyoubetternow！Ilikeyoumoreandmore！’
Pierstonsighed，foremotionallyhewasnotmucholderthanshe。Thathitchinhisdevelopment，renderinghimthemostlopsidedofGod’screatures，washisstandingmisfortune。Aproposaltoherwhichcrossedhismindwasdismissedasdisloyalty，particularlytoaninexperiencedfellow-islanderandonewhowasbyraceandtraditionsalmostakinswoman。
Littlemorepassedbetweenthetwainonthatwretched，never-to-be-
forgottenday。Aphrodite，Ashtaroth，Freyja，orwhoeverthelove-queenofhisislemighthavebeen，waspunishinghimsharply，assheknewbuttoowellhowtopunishhervotarieswhentheyrevertedfromtheephemeraltothestablemood。Whenwasittoend——thiscurseofhisheartnotageingwhilehisframemovednaturallyonward？Perhapsonlywithlife。
Hisfirstactthedayafterdepositingherinherownhousewastogotothechapelwhere，byherstatement，themarriagehadbeensolemnized，andmakesureofthefact。Perhapshefeltanillogicalhopethatshemightbefree，eventhen，inthetarnishedconditionwhichsuchfreedomwouldhaveinvolved。However，therestoodthewordsdistinctly：IsaacPierston，AnnAviceCaro，sonanddaughterofSo-
and-so，marriedonsuchaday，signedbythecontractingparties，theofficiatingminister，andthetwowitnesses。
2。XIII。SHEISENSHROUDEDFROMSIGHT
Oneeveninginearlywinter，whentheairwasdryandgusty，thedarklittlelanewhichdividedthegroundsofSylvaniaCastlefromthecottageofAvice，andleddowntotheadjoiningruinofRed-KingCastle，waspacedbyasolitaryman。Thecottagewasthecentreofhisbeat；itswesternlimitbeingthegatesoftheformerresidence，itseasternthedrawbridgeoftheruin。Thefewothercottagesthereabout——
allasifcarvedfromthesolidrock——wereindarkness，butfromtheupperwindowofAvice’stinyfreeholdglimmeredalight。Itsrayswererepeatedfromthefar-distantseabythelightshiplyingmooredoverthemysteriousShamblesquicksand，whichbroughttamelessnessanddomesticityintoduepositionasbalancedopposites。
Theseamoaned——morethanmoaned——amongthebouldersbelowtheruins，athroeofitstidebeingtimedtoregularintervals。Thesesoundswereaccompaniedbyanequallyperiodicmoanfromtheinteriorofthecottagechamber；sothatthearticulateheaveofwaterandthearticulateheaveoflifeseemedbutdifferingutterancesoftheselfsametroubledterrestrialBeing——whichinonesensetheywere。
Pierston——forthemaninthelanewashe——wouldlookfromlightshiptocottagewindow；thenbackagain，ashewaitedtherebetweenthetravailoftheseawithout，andthetravailofthewomanwithin。Soonaninfant’swailoftheveryfeeblestwasalsoaudibleinthehouse。Hestartedfromhiseasypacing，andwentagainwestward，standingattheelbowofthelanealongtime。Thenthepeaceofthesleepingvillagewhichlaythatwaywasbrokenbylightwheelsandthetrotofahorse。
Pierstonwentbacktothecottagegateandawaitedthearrivalofthevehicle。
Itwasalightcart，andamanjumpeddownasitstopped。Hewasinabroad-brimmedhat，underwhichnomoreofhimcouldbeperceivedthanthatheworeablackbeardclippedlikeayewfence——atypicalaspectintheisland。
’YouareAvice’shusband？’askedthesculptorquickly。
Themanrepliedthathewas，inthelocalaccent。’I’vejustcomeinbyto-day’sboat，’headded。’Icouldn’tgithereavore。IhadcontractedforthejobatPeter-Port，andhadtoseeto’ttotheend。’
’Well，’saidPierston，’yourcomingmeansthatyouarewillingtomakeitupwithher？’
’Ay，Idon’tknowbutIbe，’saidtheman。’Midsowelldothatasanythingelse！’
’Ifyoudo，thoroughly，agoodbusinessinyouroldlineawaitsyouhereintheisland。’
’Wi’allmyheart，then，’saidtheman。Hisvoicewasenergetic，and，thoughslightlytouchy，itshowed，onthewhole，adispositiontosetthingsright。
Thedriverofthetrapwaspaidoff，andJocelynandIsaacPierston——
undoubtedlyscionsofacommonstockinthisisleofintermarriages，thoughtheyhadnoproofofit——enteredthehouse。Nobodywasintheground-floorroom，inthecentreofwhichstoodasquaretable，inthecentreofthetablealittlewoolmat，andinthecentreofthematalamp，theapartmenthavingtheappearanceofbeingrigidlysweptandsetinorderforaneventofinterest。
ThewomanwholivedinthehousewithAvicenowcamedownstairs，andtotheinquiryofthecomerssherepliedthatmatterswereprogressingfavourably，butthatnobodycouldbeallowedtogoupstairsjustthen。
Afterplacingchairsandviandsforthemsheretreated，andtheysatdown，thelampbetweenthem——theloverofthesuffererabove，whohadnorighttoher，andthemanwhohadeveryrighttoher，butdidnotloveher。Engagingindesultoryandfragmentaryconversationtheylistenedtothetramplingoffeetonthefloor-boardsoverhead——
Pierstonfullofanxietyandattentiveness，Ikeawaitingthecourseofnaturecalmly。
Soontheyheardthefeeblebleatsrepeated，andthenthelocalpractitionerdescendedandenteredtheroom。
’Howisshenow？’saidPierston，themoretaciturnIkelookingupwithhimfortheanswerthathefeltwouldservefortwoaswellasforone。
’Doingwell，remarkablywell，’repliedtheprofessionalgentleman，withamannerofhavingsaiditinotherplaces；andhisvehiclenotbeingatthedoorhesatdownandsharedsomerefreshmentwiththeothers。
WhenhehaddepartedMrs。Stockwoolagainsteppeddown，andinformedthemthatIke’spresencehadbeenmadeknowntohiswife。
Thetruantquarrierseemedratherinclinedtostaywherehewasandfinishthemugofale，butPierstonquickenedhim，andheascendedthestaircase。AssoonasthelowerroomwasemptyPierstonleantwithhiselbowsonthetable，andcoveredhisfacewithhishands。
Ikewasabsentnogreattime。Descendingwithaproprietarymienthathadbeenlackingbefore，heinvitedJocelyntoascendlikewise，sinceshehadstatedthatshewouldliketoseehim。Jocelynwentupthecrookedoldsteps，thehusbandremainingbelow。
Avice，thoughwhiteasthesheets，lookedbrighterandhappierthanhehadexpectedtofindher，andwasapparentlyverymuchfortifiedbythepinklittlelumpatherside。Sheheldoutherhandtohim。
’Ijustwantedtotell’ee，’shesaid，strivingagainstherfeebleness，’Ithoughtitwouldbenoharmtoseeyou，though’tisrathersoon——totell’eehowverymuchIthankyouforgettingmesettledagainwithIke。Heisverygladtocomehomeagain，too，hesays。Yes，you’vedoneagoodmanykindthingsforme，sir。’
Whethershewerereallyglad，orwhetherthewordswereexpressedasamatterofduty，Pierstondidnotattempttolearn。
Hemerelysaidthathevaluedherthanks。’Now，Avice，’headdedtenderly，’Iresignmyguardianshipofyou。Ihopetoseeyourhusbandinasoundlittlebusinesshereinaveryshorttime。’
’Ihopeso——forbaby’ssake，’shesaid，withabrightsigh。’Wouldyou——liketoseeher，sir？’
’Thebaby？Oyes——YOURbaby！YoumustchristenherAvice。’
’Yes——soIwill！’shemurmuredreadily，anddisclosedtheinfantwithsometimidity。’Ihopeyouforgiveme，sir，forconcealingmythoughtlessmarriage！’
’Ifyouforgivemeformakinglovetoyou。’
’Yes。Howwereyoutoknow！Iwish——’
Pierstonbadehergood-bye，kissingherhand；turnedfromherandtheincipientbeingwhomhewastomeetagainunderveryalteredconditions，andleftthebed-chamberwithatearinhiseye。
’Hereendeththatdream！’saidhe。
