it!
Now
the
cloud
of
smoke
would
hang
over
Sedgehill
,
and
she
would
not
be
there
to
interpret
its
message
;
and
the
sun
would
set
beyond
the
distant
mountains
,
and
she
would
no
longer
catch
glimpses
of
the
country
over
the
hills
.
Even
the
rustic
seat
,
where
she
and
Christopher
had
sat
so
often
,
would
be
hers
no
longer
;
and
he
and
she
would
never
walk
together
in
the
woods
as
they
had
so
often
walked
as
children
.
And
as
she
cried
softly
to
herself
,
with
no
one
to
comfort
her
,
the
memory
of
Christopher
swept
over
her
,
and
with
it
all
the
old
anger
against
him
.
He
would
be
glad
to
see
her
dethroned
at
last
,
she
supposed
,
as
that
was
what
he
had
striven
for
all
those
years
ago
;
but
,
perhaps
,
when
he
saw
a
stranger
reigning
at
the
Willows
and
the
Osierfield
in
her
stead
,
he
would
be
sorry
to
find
the
new
government
so
much
less
beneficial
to
the
work-people
than
the
old
one
had
been
;
for
Elisabeth
knew
Cecil
quite
well
enough
to
be
aware
that
he
would
spend
all
his
money
on
himself
and
his
own
pleasures
;
and
she
could
not
help
indulging
in
an
unholy
hope
that
,
whereas
she
had
beaten
Christopher
with
whips
,
her
successor
would
beat
him
with
scorpions
.
In
fact
she
was
almost
glad
,
for
the
moment
,
that
Farquhar
was
so
unfit
for
the
position
to
which
he
was
now
called
,
when
she
realized
how
sorely
that
unfitness
would
try
Christopher
.
"
It
will
serve
him
right
for
leaving
me
and
going
off
after
George
Farringdon
's
son
,
"
she
said
to
herself
,
"
to
discover
how
little
worth
the
finding
George
Farringdon
's
son
really
was
!
Christopher
is
so
self-centred
,
that
a
thing
is
never
properly
brought
home
to
him
until
it
affects
himself
;
no
other
person
can
ever
convince
him
that
he
is
in
the
wrong
.
But
this
will
affect
himself
;
he
will
hate
to
serve
under
such
a
man
as
Cecil
;
I
know
he
will
;
because
Cecil
is
just
the
type
of
person
that
Christopher
has
always
looked
down
upon
,
for
Christopher
is
a
gentleman
and
Cecil
is
not
.
Perhaps
when
he
finds
out
how
inferior
an
iron-master
Cecil
is
to
me
,
Christopher
will
wish
that
he
had
liked
me
better
and
been
kinder
to
me
when
he
had
a
chance
.
I
hope
he
will
,
and
that
it
will
make
him
miserable
;
for
those
hard
,
self-righteous
people
really
deserve
to
be
punished
in
the
end
.
"
And
Elisabeth
derived
so
much
comfort
from
the
prospect
of
Christopher
's
coming
trials
,
that
she
almost
forgot
her
own
.
GEORGE
FARRINGDON
'S
SON
I
need
thee
,
Love
,
in
peace
and
strife
;
For
,
till
Time
's
latest
page
be
read
,
No
other
smile
could
light
my
life
Instead
.
And
even
in
that
happier
place
,
Where
pain
is
past
and
sorrow
dead
,
I
could
not
love
an
angel
's
face
Instead
.
That
night
Elisabeth
wrote
to
Christopher
Thornley
,
telling
him
that
she
believed
she
had
found
George
Farringdon
's
son
at
last
,
and
asking
him
to
come
up
to
London
in
order
to
facilitate
the
giving
up
of
her
kingdom
into
the
hands
of
the
rightful
owner
.
And
,
in
so
doing
,
she
was
conscious
of
a
feeling
of
satisfaction
that
Christopher
should
see
for
himself
that
she
was
not
as
mercenary
as
he
had
once
imagined
her
to
be
,
but
that
she
was
as
ready
as
he
had
ever
been
to
enable
the
king
to
enjoy
his
own
again
as
soon
as
that
king
appeared
upon
the
scene
.
To
forsake
the
reigning
queen
in
order
to
search
for
that
king
,
was
,
of
course
,
a
different
matter
,
and
one
about
which
Elisabeth
declined
to
see
eye
to
eye
with
her
manager
even
now
.
Doubtless
he
had
been
in
the
right
all
through
,
and
she
in
the
wrong
,
as
all
honourable
people
could
see
for
themselves
;
but
when
one
happens
to
be
the
queen
one
's
self
,
one
's
perspective
is
apt
to
become
blurred
and
one
's
sense
of
abstract
justice
confused
.
It
is
so
easy
for
all
of
us
to
judge
righteous
judgment
concerning
matters
which
in
no
way
affect
ourselves
.
Elisabeth
was
still
angry
with
Christopher
because
she
had
deliberately
made
the
worst
of
herself
in
his
eyes
.
It
was
totally
unjust
—
and
entirely
feminine
—
to
lay
the
blame
of
this
on
his
shoulders
;
as
a
matter
of
fact
,
he
had
had
nothing
at
all
to
do
with
it
.
She
had
purposely
chosen
a
path
of
life
of
which
she
knew
he
would
disapprove
,
principally
in
order
to
annoy
him
;
and
then
she
had
refused
to
forgive
him
for
feeling
the
annoyance
which
she
had
gone
out
of
her
way
to
inflict
.
From
the
purely
feminine
standpoint
her
behaviour
was
thoroughly
consistent
;
a
man
,
however
,
might
in
his
ignorance
have
accused
her
of
inconsistency
.
But
men
know
so
little
about
some
things
!
The
following
afternoon
Cecil
Farquhar
came
to
see
Elisabeth
,
as
she
had
bidden
him
;
and
she
smiled
grimly
to
herself
as
she
realized
the
difference
between
what
she
had
intended
to
say
to
him
when
she
told
him
to
come
,
and
what
she
was
actually
going
to
say
.
As
for
him
,
he
was
full
of
hope
.
Evidently
Elisabeth
meant
to
marry
him
and
make
him
into
a
rich
man
;
and
money
was
the
thing
he
loved
best
in
the
world
.
Which
of
us
would
not
be
happy
if
we
thought
we
were
about
to
win
the
thing
we
loved
best
?
And
is
it
altogether
our
own
fault
if
the
thing
we
happen
to
love
best
be
unworthy
of
love
,
or
is
it
only
our
misfortune
?
Because
he
was
triumphant
,
Cecil
looked
handsomer
than
usual
,
for
there
are
few
things
more
be
coming
than
happiness
;
and
as
he
entered
the
room
,
radiant
with
that
vitality
which
is
so
irresistibly
attractive
,
Elisabeth
recognised
his
charm
without
feeling
it
,
just
as
one
sees
people
speaking
and
gesticulating
in
the
distance
without
hearing
a
word
of
what
is
said
.
"
My
dear
lady
,
you
are
going
to
say
yes
to
me
;
I
know
that
you
are
;
you
would
not
have
sent
for
me
if
you
were
not
,
for
you
are
far
too
tender-hearted
to
enjoy
seeing
pain
which
you
are
forced
to
give
.
"
Elisabeth
looked
grave
,
and
did
not
take
his
outstretched
hand
.
"
Will
you
sit
down
?
"
she
said
;
"
there
is
much
that
I
want
to
talk
over
with
you
.
"
Cecil
's
face
fell
.
In
a
superficial
way
he
was
wonderfully
quick
in
interpreting
moods
and
reading
character
;
and
he
knew
in
a
moment
that
,
through
some
influence
of
which
he
was
as
yet
in
ignorance
,
such
slight
hold
as
he
had
once
had
upon
Elisabeth
had
snapped
and
broken
since
he
saw
her
last
.
"
Surely
you
are
not
going
to
refuse
to
marry
me
and
so
spoil
my
life
.
Elisabeth
,
you
can
not
be
as
cruel
as
this
,
after
all
that
we
have
been
to
each
other
.
"
"
I
am
going
to
refuse
to
marry
you
,
but
I
am
not
going
to
spoil
your
life
.
Believe
me
,
I
am
not
.
There
are
other
things
in
the
world
besides
love
and
marriage
.
"
Cecil
sank
down
into
a
seat
,
and
his
chin
twitched
.
"
Then
you
have
played
with
me
most
abominably
.
The
world
was
right
when
it
called
you
a
heartless
flirt
,
and
said
that
you
were
too
cold
to
care
for
anything
save
pleasure
and
admiration
.
I
thought
I
knew
you
better
,
more
fool
I
!
But
the
world
was
right
and
I
was
wrong
.
"
"
I
do
n't
think
that
we
need
discuss
my
character
,
"
said
Elisabeth
.
She
was
very
angry
with
herself
that
she
had
placed
herself
in
such
a
position
that
any
man
dared
to
sit
in
judgment
upon
her
;
but
even
then
she
could
not
elevate
Cecil
into
the
object
of
her
indignation
.
He
went
on
like
a
querulous
child
.
"
It
is
desperately
hard
on
me
that
you
have
treated
me
in
this
way
!
You
might
have
snubbed
me
at
once
if
you
had
wished
to
do
so
,
and
not
have
made
me
a
laughing-stock
in
the
eyes
of
the
world
.
I
made
no
secret
of
the
fact
that
I
intended
to
marry
you
;
I
talked
about
it
to
everybody
;
and
now
everybody
will
laugh
at
me
for
having
been
your
dupe
.
"
So
he
had
boasted
to
his
friends
of
the
fortune
he
was
going
to
annex
,
and
had
already
openly
plumed
himself
upon
securing
her
money
!
Elisabeth
understood
perfectly
,
and
was
distinctly
amused
.
She
wondered
if
he
would
remember
to
remind
her
how
she
was
going
to
elevate
him
by
her
influence
,
or
if
the
loss
of
her
money
would
make
him
forget
even
to
simulate
sorrow
at
the
loss
of
herself
.
"
I
do
n't
know
what
I
shall
do
,
"
he
continued
,
with
tears
of
vexation
in
his
eyes
;
"
everybody
is
expecting
our
engagement
to
be
announced
,
and
I
can
not
think
what
excuses
I
shall
invent
.
A
man
looks
such
a
fool
when
he
has
made
too
sure
of
a
woman
!
"
"
Doubtless
.
But
that
is
n't
the
woman
's
fault
altogether
.
"
"
Yes
;
it
is
.
If
the
woman
had
n't
led
him
on
,
the
man
would
n't
have
made
sure
of
her
.
You
have
been
unutterably
cruel
to
me
—
unpardonably
cruel
;
and
I
will
never
forgive
you
as
long
as
I
live
.
"
Elisabeth
winced
at
this
—
not
at
Cecil
's
refusal
to
forgive
her
,
but
at
the
thought
that
she
had
placed
herself
within
the
reach
of
his
forgiveness
.
But
she
was
not
penitent
—
she
was
only
annoyed
.
Penitence
is
the
last
experience
that
comes
to
strong-willed
,
light-hearted
people
,
such
as
Elisabeth
;
they
are
so
sure
they
are
right
at
the
time
,
and
they
so
soon
forget
about
it
afterward
,
that
they
find
no
interval
for
remorse
.
Elisabeth
was
beginning
to
forgive
herself
for
having
fallen
for
a
time
from
her
high
ideal
,
because
she
was
already
beginning
to
forget
that
she
had
so
fallen
;
life
had
taught
her
many
things
,
but
she
took
it
too
easily
even
yet
.
"
I
have
a
story
to
tell
you
,
"
she
said
;
"
a
story
that
will
interest
you
,
if
you
will
listen
.
"
By
this
time
Cecil
's
anger
was
settling
down
into
sulkiness
.
"
I
have
no
alternative
,
I
suppose
.
"
Then
Elisabeth
told
him
,
as
briefly
as
she
could
,
the
story
of
George
Farringdon
's
son
;
and
,
as
she
spoke
,
she
watched
the
sulkiness
in
his
face
give
place
to
interest
,
and
the
interest
to
hope
,
and
the
hope
to
triumph
,
until
the
naughty
child
gradually
grew
once
more
into
the
similitude
of
a
Greek
god
.
"
You
are
right
—
I
am
sure
you
are
right
,
"
he
said
when
she
had
finished
;
"
it
all
fits
in
—
the
date
and
place
of
my
birth
,
my
parents
'
poverty
and
friendlessness
,
and
the
mystery
concerning
them
.
Oh
!
you
can
not
think
what
this
means
to
me
.
To
be
forever
beyond
the
reach
of
poverty
—
to
be
able
to
do
whatever
I
like
for
the
rest
of
my
life
—
to
be
counted
among
the
great
of
the
earth
!
It
is
wonderful
—
wonderful
!
"
And
he
walked
up
and
down
the
room
in
his
excitement
,
while
his
voice
shook
with
emotion
.
"
I
shall
have
such
a
glorious
time
,
"
he
went
on
—
"
the
most
glorious
time
man
ever
had
!
Of
course
,
I
shall
not
live
in
that
horrid
Black
Country
—
nobody
could
expect
me
to
make
such
a
sacrifice
as
that
;
but
I
shall
spend
my
winters
in
Italy
and
my
summers
in
Mayfair
,
and
I
shall
forget
that
the
world
was
ever
cold
and
hard
and
cruel
to
me
.
"
Elisabeth
watched
him
curiously
.
So
he
never
even
thought
of
her
and
of
what
she
was
giving
up
.
That
his
gain
was
her
loss
was
a
matter
of
no
moment
to
him
—
it
did
not
enter
into
his
calculations
.
She
wondered
if
he
even
remembered
Quenelda
,
and
what
this
would
mean
to
her
;
she
thought
not
.
And
this
was
the
man
Elisabeth
had
once
delighted
to
honour
!
She
could
have
laughed
aloud
as
she
realized
what
a
blind
fool
she
had
been
.
Were
all
men
like
this
?
she
asked
herself
;
for
,
if
so
,
she
was
glad
she
was
too
cold
to
fall
in
love
.
It
would
be
terrible
indeed
to
lay
down
one
's
life
at
the
feet
of
a
creature
such
as
this
;
it
was
bad
enough
to
have
to
lay
down
one
's
fortune
there
!
Throughout
the
rest
of
the
interview
Cecil
lived
up
to
the
estimate
that
Elisabeth
had
just
formed
of
his
character
:
he
never
once
remembered
her
—
never
once
forgot
himself
.
She
explained
to
him
that
Christopher
Thornley
was
the
man
who
would
manage
all
the
business
part
of
the
affair
for
him
,
and
give
up
the
papers
,
and
establish
his
identity
;
and
she
promised
to
communicate
with
Cecil
as
soon
as
she
received
an
answer
to
the
letter
she
had
written
to
Christopher
informing
the
latter
that
she
believed
she
had
at
last
discovered
George
Farringdon
's
son
.
Amidst
all
her
sorrow
at
the
anticipation
of
giving
up
her
kingdom
into
the
hands
of
so
unfitting
a
ruler
as
Cecil
,
there
lurked
a
pleasurable
consciousness
that
at
last
Christopher
would
recognise
her
worth
,
when
he
found
how
inferior
her
successor
was
to
herself
.
It
was
strange
how
this
desire
to
compel
the
regard
which
she
had
voluntarily
forfeited
,
had
haunted
Elisabeth
for
so
many
years
.
Christopher
had
offended
her
past
all
pardon
,
she
said
to
herself
;
nevertheless
it
annoyed
her
to
feel
that
the
friendship
,
which
she
had
taken
from
him
for
punitive
purposes
,
was
but
a
secondary
consideration
in
his
eyes
after
all
.
She
had
long
ago
succeeded
in
convincing
herself
that
the
grapes
of
his
affection
were
too
sour
to
be
worth
fretting
after
;
but
she
still
wanted
to
make
him
admire
her
in
spite
of
himself
,
and
to
realize
that
Miss
Elisabeth
Farringdon
of
the
Osierfield
was
a
more
important
personage
than
he
had
considered
her
to
be
.
Half
the
pleasure
of
her
success
as
an
artist
had
lain
in
the
thought
that
this
at
last
would
convince
Christopher
of
her
right
to
be
admired
and
obeyed
;
but
she
was
never
sure
that
it
had
actually
done
so
.
Through
all
her
triumphal
progress
he
had
been
the
Mordecai
at
her
gates
.
She
did
not
often
see
him
,
it
is
true
;
but
when
she
did
,
she
was
acutely
conscious
that
his
attitude
toward
her
was
different
from
the
attitude
of
the
rest
of
the
world
,
and
that
—
instead
of
offering
her
unlimited
praise
and
adulation
—
he
saw
her
weaknesses
as
clearly
now
she
was
a
great
lady
as
he
had
done
when
she
was
a
little
girl
.
And
herein
Elisabeth
's
intuition
was
not
at
fault
;
her
failings
were
actually
more
patent
to
Christopher
than
to
the
world
at
large
.
But
here
her
perception
ended
;
and
she
did
not
see
,
further
,
that
it
was
because
Christopher
had
formed
such
a
high
ideal
of
her
,
that
he
minded
so
much
when
she
fell
short
of
it
.
She
had
not
yet
grasped
the
truth
that
whereas
the
more
a
woman
loves
a
man
the
easier
she
finds
it
to
forgive
his
faults
,
the
more
a
man
loves
a
woman
the
harder
he
finds
it
to
overlook
her
shortcomings
.
A
woman
merely
requires
the
man
she
loves
to
be
true
to
her
;
while
a
man
demands
that
the
woman
he
loves
shall
be
true
to
herself
—
or
,
rather
,
to
that
ideal
of
her
which
in
his
own
mind
he
has
set
up
and
worshipped
.
Her
consciousness
of
Christopher
's
disapproval
of
the
easy-going
,
Bohemian
fashion
in
which
she
had
chosen
to
walk
through
life
,
made
Elisabeth
intensely
angry
;
though
she
would
have
died
rather
than
let
him
know
it
.
How
dared
this
one
man
show
himself
superior
to
her
,
when
she
had
the
world
at
her
feet
?
It
was
insupportable
!
She
said
but
little
to
him
,
and
he
said
still
less
to
her
,
and
what
they
did
say
was
usually
limited
to
the
affairs
of
the
Osierfield
;
nevertheless
Elisabeth
persistently
weighed
herself
in
Christopher
's
balances
,
and
measured
herself
according
to
Christopher
's
measures
;
and
,
as
she
did
so
,
wrote
Tekel
opposite
her
own
name
.
And
for
this
she
refused
to
forgive
him
.
She
assured
herself
that
his
balances
were
false
,
and
his
measures
impossible
,
and
his
judgments
hard
in
the
extreme
;
and
when
she
had
done
so
,
she
began
to
try
herself
thereby
again
,
and
hated
him
afresh
because
she
fell
so
far
short
of
them
.
But
now
he
was
going
to
see
her
in
a
new
light
;
if
he
declined
to
admire
her
in
prosperity
,
he
should
be
compelled
to
respect
her
in
adversity
;
for
she
made
up
her
mind
she
would
bear
her
reverses
like
a
Spartan
,
if
only
for
the
sake
of
proving
to
him
that
she
was
made
of
better
material
than
he
,
in
his
calm
superiority
,
had
supposed
.
When
he
saw
for
himself
how
plucky
she
could
be
,
and
how
little
she
really
cared
for
outside
things
,
he
might
at
last
discover
that
she
was
not
as
unworthy
of
his
regard
as
he
had
once
assumed
,
and
might
even
want
to
be
friends
with
her
again
;
and
then
she
would
throw
his
friendship
back
again
in
his
face
,
as
he
had
once
thrown
hers
,
and
teach
him
that
it
was
possible
even
for
self-righteous
people
to
make
mistakes
which
were
past
repairing
.
It
would
do
him
a
world
of
good
,
Elisabeth
thought
,
to
find
out
—
too
late
—
that
he
had
misjudged
her
,
and
that
other
people
besides
himself
had
virtues
and
excellences
;
and
it
comforted
her
,
in
the
midst
of
her
adversities
,
to
contemplate
the
punishment
which
was
being
reserved
for
Christopher
,
when
George
Farringdon
's
son
came
into
his
own
.
And
she
never
guessed
—
how
could
she
?
—
that
when
at
last
George
Farringdon
's
son
did
come
into
his
own
,
there
would
be
no
Christopher
Thornley
serving
under
him
at
the
Osierfield
;
and
that
the
cup
of
remorse
,
which
she
was
so
busily
preparing
,
was
for
her
own
drinking
and
not
for
Christopher
's
.
Christopher
's
expected
answer
to
her
epistle
was
,
however
,
not
forthcoming
.
The
following
morning
Elisabeth
received
a
letter
from
one
of
the
clerks
at
the
Osierfield
,
informing
her
that
Mr.
Thornley
returned
from
his
tour
in
Germany
a
week
ago
;
and
that
immediately
on
his
return
he
was
seized
with
a
severe
attack
of
pneumonia
—
the
result
of
a
neglected
cold
—
and
was
now
lying
seriously
ill
at
his
house
in
Sedgehill
.
In
order
to
complete
the
purchase
of
a
piece
of
land
for
the
enlargement
of
the
works
,
which
Mr.
Thornley
had
arranged
to
buy
before
he
went
away
,
it
was
necessary
(
the
clerk
went
on
to
say
)
to
see
the
plans
of
the
Osierfield
;
and
these
were
locked
up
in
the
private
safe
at
the
manager
's
house
,
to
which
only
Christopher
and
Elisabeth
possessed
keys
.
Therefore
,
as
the
manager
was
delirious
and
quite
incapable
of
attending
to
business
of
any
kind
,
the
clerk
begged
Miss
Farringdon
to
come
down
at
once
and
take
the
plans
out
of
the
safe
;
as
the
negotiations
could
not
be
completed
until
this
was
done
.
For
an
instant
the
old
instinct
of
tenderness
toward
any
one
who
was
weak
or
suffering
welled
up
in
Elisabeth
's
soul
,
and
she
longed
to
go
to
her
old
playmate
and
help
and
comfort
him
;
but
then
came
the
remembrance
of
how
once
before
,
long
ago
,
she
had
been
ready
to
help
and
comfort
Christopher
,
and
he
had
wanted
neither
her
help
nor
her
comfort
;
so
she
hardened
her
heart
against
him
,
and
proudly
said
to
herself
that
if
Christopher
could
do
without
her
she
could
do
without
Christopher
.
That
summer
's
day
was
one
which
Elisabeth
could
never
forget
as
long
as
she
lived
;
it
stood
out
from
the
rest
of
her
life
,
and
would
so
stand
out
forever
.
We
all
know
such
days
as
this
—
days
which
place
a
gulf
,
that
can
never
be
passed
over
,
between
their
before
and
after
.
She
travelled
down
to
Sedgehill
by
a
morning
train
;
and
her
heart
was
heavy
within
her
as
she
saw
how
beautiful
the
country
looked
in
the
summer
sunshine
,
and
realized
that
the
home
she
loved
was
to
be
taken
away
from
her
and
given
to
another
.
Somehow
life
had
not
brought
her
all
that
she
had
expected
from
it
,
and
yet
she
did
not
see
wherein
she
herself
had
been
to
blame
.
She
had
neither
loved
nor
hoarded
her
money
,
but
had
used
it
for
the
good
of
others
to
the
best
of
her
knowledge
;
yet
it
was
to
be
taken
from
her
.
She
had
not
hidden
her
talent
in
a
napkin
,
but
had
cultivated
it
to
the
height
of
her
powers
;
yet
her
fame
was
cold
and
dreary
to
her
,
and
her
greatness
turned
to
ashes
in
her
hands
.
She
had
been
ready
to
give
love
in
full
measure
and
running
over
to
any
one
who
needed
it
;
yet
her
heart
had
asked
in
vain
for
something
to
fill
it
,
and
in
spite
of
all
its
longings
had
been
sent
empty
away
.
She
had
failed
all
along
the
line
to
get
the
best
out
of
life
;
and
yet
she
did
not
see
how
she
could
have
acted
differently
.
Surely
it
was
Fate
,
and
not
herself
,
that
was
to
blame
for
her
failure
.
When
she
arrived
at
Sedgehill
she
drove
straight
to
Christopher
's
house
,
and
learned
from
the
nurse
who
was
attending
him
how
serious
his
illness
was
—
not
so
much
on
account
of
the
violence
of
the
cold
which
he
had
taken
in
Germany
,
as
from
the
fact
that
his
vitality
was
too
feeble
to
resist
it
.
But
she
could
not
guess
—
and
there
was
no
one
to
tell
her
—
that
his
vitality
had
been
lowered
by
her
unkindness
to
him
,
and
that
it
was
she
who
had
deliberately
snapped
the
mainspring
of
Christopher
's
life
.
It
was
no
use
anybody
's
seeing
him
,
the
nurse
said
,
as
he
was
delirious
and
knew
no
one
;
but
if
he
regained
consciousness
,
she
would
summon
Miss
Farringdon
at
once
.
Then
Elisabeth
went
alone
into
the
big
,
oak-panelled
dining-room
,
with
the
crape
masks
before
its
windows
,
and
opened
the
safe
.
She
could
not
find
the
plans
at
once
,
as
she
did
not
know
exactly
where
to
look
for
them
;
and
as
she
was
searching
for
them
among
various
papers
,
she
came
upon
a
letter
addressed
to
herself
in
Christopher
's
handwriting
.
She
opened
it
with
her
usual
carelessness
,
without
perceiving
that
it
bore
the
inscription
"
Not
to
be
given
to
Miss
Farringdon
until
after
my
death
"
;
and
when
she
had
begun
to
read
it
,
she
could
not
have
left
off
to
save
her
life
—
being
a
woman
.
And
this
was
what
she
read
:
"
My
Darling
—
for
so
I
may
call
you
at
last
,
since
you
will
not
read
this
letter
until
after
I
am
dead
;
"
There
are
two
things
that
I
want
to
tell
you
.
First
,
that
I
love
you
,
and
always
have
loved
you
,
and
always
shall
love
you
to
all
eternity
.
But
how
could
I
say
this
to
you
,
sweetheart
,
in
the
days
when
my
love
spelled
poverty
for
us
both
?
And
how
could
I
say
it
when
you
became
one
of
the
richest
women
in
Mershire
,
and
I
only
the
paid
manager
of
your
works
?
Nevertheless
I
should
have
said
it
in
time
,
when
you
had
seen
more
of
the
world
and
were
capable
of
choosing
your
own
life
for
yourself
,
had
I
thought
there
was
any
chance
of
your
caring
for
me
;
for
no
man
has
ever
loved
you
as
I
have
loved
you
,
Elisabeth
,
nor
ever
will
.
You
had
a
right
to
know
what
was
yours
,
when
you
were
old
enough
to
decide
what
to
do
with
it
,
and
to
take
or
leave
it
as
you
thought
fit
;
and
no
one
else
had
the
right
to
decide
this
for
you
.
But
when
you
so
misjudged
me
about
my
journey
to
Australia
,
I
understood
that
it
was
I
myself
,
and
not
my
position
,
that
stood
between
us
;
and
that
your
nature
and
mine
were
so
different
,
and
our
ideas
so
far
apart
,
that
it
was
not
in
my
power
to
make
you
happy
,
though
I
would
have
died
to
do
so
.
So
I
went
out
of
your
life
,
for
fear
I
should
spoil
it
;
and
I
have
kept
out
of
your
life
ever
since
,
because
I
know
you
are
happier
without
me
;
for
I
do
so
want
you
to
be
happy
,
dear
.
"
There
is
one
other
thing
I
have
to
tell
you
:
I
am
George
Farringdon
's
son
.
I
should
n't
have
bothered
you
with
this
,
only
I
feel
it
is
necessary
—
after
I
am
gone
—
for
you
to
know
the
truth
,
lest
any
impostor
should
turn
up
and
take
your
property
from
you
.
Of
course
,
as
long
as
I
am
alive
I
can
keep
the
secret
,
and
yet
take
care
that
no
one
else
comes
forward
in
my
place
;
and
I
have
made
a
will
leaving
everything
I
possess
to
you
.
But
when
I
am
gone
,
you
must
hold
the
proofs
of
who
was
really
the
person
who
stood
between
you
and
the
Farringdon
property
.
I
never
found
it
out
until
my
uncle
died
;
I
believed
,
as
everybody
else
believed
,
that
the
lost
heir
was
somewhere
in
Australia
.
But
on
my
uncle
's
death
I
found
a
confession
from
him
—
which
is
in
this
safe
,
along
with
my
parents
'
marriage
certificate
and
all
the
other
proofs
of
my
identity
—
saying
how
his
sister
told
him
on
her
death-bed
that
,
when
George
Farringdon
ran
away
from
home
,
he
married
her
,
and
took
her
out
with
him
to
Australia
.
They
had
a
hard
life
,
and
lost
all
their
children
except
myself
;
and
then
my
father
died
,
leaving
my
poor
mother
almost
penniless
.
She
survived
him
only
long
enough
to
come
back
to
England
,
and
give
her
child
into
her
brother
's
charge
.
My
uncle
went
on
to
say
that
he
kept
my
identity
a
secret
,
and
called
me
by
an
assumed
name
,
as
he
was
afraid
that
Miss
Farringdon
would
send
both
him
and
me
about
our
business
if
she
knew
the
truth
;
as
in
those
days
she
was
very
bitter
against
the
man
who
had
jilted
her
,
and
would
have
been
still
bitterer
had
she
known
he
had
thrown
her
over
for
the
daughter
of
her
father
's
manager
.
When
Maria
Farringdon
died
and
showed
,
by
her
will
,
that
at
last
she
had
forgiven
her
old
lover
,
my
uncle
's
mind
was
completely
gone
;
and
it
was
not
until
after
his
death
that
I
discovered
the
papers
which
put
me
in
possession
of
the
facts
of
the
case
.
"
By
that
time
I
had
learned
,
beyond
all
disputing
,
that
I
was
too
dull
and
stupid
ever
to
win
your
love
.
I
only
cared
for
money
that
it
might
enable
me
to
make
you
happy
;
and
if
you
could
be
happier
without
me
than
with
me
,
who
was
I
that
I
should
complain
?
At
any
rate
,
it
was
given
to
me
to
insure
your
happiness
;
and
that
was
enough
for
me
.
And
you
said
that
I
did
n't
care
what
became
of
you
,
as
long
as
I
laid
up
for
myself
a
nice
little
nest-egg
in
heaven
!
Sweetheart
,
I
think
you
did
me
an
injustice
.
So
be
happy
,
my
dearest
,
with
the
Willows
and
the
Osierfield
and
all
the
dear
old
things
which
you
and
I
have
loved
so
well
;
and
remember
that
you
must
never
pity
me
.
I
wanted
you
to
be
happy
more
than
I
wanted
anything
else
in
the
world
,
and
no
man
is
to
be
pitied
who
has
succeeded
in
getting
what
he
wanted
most
.
"
Yours
,
my
darling
,
for
time
and
eternity
,
Christopher
Farringdon
.
"
Then
at
last
Elisabeth
's
eyes
were
opened
,
and
for
the
first
time
in
her
life
she
saw
clearly
.
So
Christopher
had
loved
her
all
along
;
she
knew
the
truth
at
last
,
and
with
it
she
also
knew
that
she
had
always
loved
him
;
that
throughout
her
life
's
story
there
never
had
been
—
never
could
be
—
any
man
but
Christopher
.
Until
he
told
her
that
he
loved
her
,
her
love
for
him
had
been
a
fountain
sealed
;
but
at
his
word
it
became
a
well
of
living
water
,
flooding
her
whole
soul
and
turning
the
desert
of
her
life
into
a
garden
.
At
first
she
was
overpowered
with
the
joy
of
it
;
she
was
upheld
by
that
strange
feeling
of
exaltation
which
comes
to
all
of
us
when
we
realize
for
a
moment
our
immortality
,
and
feel
that
even
death
itself
is
powerless
to
hurt
us
.
Christopher
was
dying
,
but
what
did
that
signify
?
He
loved
her
—
that
was
the
only
thing
that
really
mattered
—
and
they
would
have
the
whole
of
eternity
in
which
to
tell
their
love
.
For
the
second
time
in
her
life
she
came
face
to
face
with
the
fact
that
there
was
a
stronger
Will
than
her
own
guiding
and
ruling
her
;
that
,
in
spite
of
all
her
power
and
ability
and
self-reliance
,
the
best
things
in
her
life
were
not
of
herself
but
were
from
outside
.
As
long
ago
in
St.
Peter
's
Church
she
had
learned
that
religion
was
God
's
Voice
calling
to
her
,
she
now
learned
that
love
was
Christopher
's
voice
calling
to
her
;
and
that
her
own
strength
and
cleverness
,
of
which
she
had
been
so
proud
,
counted
for
less
than
nothing
.
To
her
who
longed
to
give
,
was
given
;
she
who
desired
to
love
,
was
beloved
;
she
who
aspired
to
teach
,
had
been
taught
.
That
strong
will
of
hers
,
which
had
once
been
so
dominant
,
had
suddenly
fallen
down
powerless
;
she
no
longer
wanted
to
have
her
own
way
—
she
wanted
to
have
Christopher
's
.
Her
warfare
against
him
was
at
last
accomplished
.
To
the
end
of
her
days
she
knew
she
would
go
on
weighing
herself
in
his
balances
,
and
measuring
herself
according
to
his
measures
;
but
now
she
would
do
so
willingly
,
choosing
to
be
guided
by
his
wisdom
rather
than
her
own
,
for
she
no
more
belonged
to
herself
but
to
him
.
The
feeling
of
unrest
,
which
had
oppressed
her
for
so
many
years
,
now
fell
from
her
like
a
cast-off
garment
.
Christopher
was
the
answer
to
her
life
's
problem
,
the
fulfilment
of
her
heart
's
desire
;
and
although
she
might
be
obliged
to
go
down
again
into
the
valley
of
the
shadow
,
she
could
never
forget
that
she
had
once
stood
upon
the
mountain-top
and
had
beheld
the
glory
of
the
promised
land
.
And
she
never
remembered
that
now
her
fortune
was
secured
to
her
,
and
that
the
Willows
and
the
Osierfield
would
always
be
hers
;
even
these
were
henceforth
of
no
moment
to
her
,
save
as
monuments
of
Christopher
's
love
.
So
in
the
dingy
dining-room
,
on
that
hot
summer
's
afternoon
,
Elisabeth
Farringdon
became
a
new
creature
.
The
old
domineering
arrogance
passed
away
forever
;
and
from
its
ashes
there
arose
another
Elisabeth
,
who
out
of
weakness
was
made
stronger
than
she
had
ever
been
in
her
strength
—
an
Elisabeth
who
had
attained
to
the
victory
of
the
vanquished
,
and
who
had
tasted
the
triumph
of
defeat
.
But
in
all
her
exaltation
she
knew
—
though
for
the
moment
the
knowledge
could
not
hurt
her
—
that
her
heart
would
be
broken
by
Christopher
's
death
.
Through
the
long
night
of
her
ignorance
and
self-will
and
unsatisfied
idealism
she
had
wrestled
with
the
angel
that
she
might
behold
the
Best
,
and
had
prayed
that
it
might
be
granted
unto
her
to
see
the
Vision
Beautiful
.
At
last
she
had
prevailed
;
and
the
day
for
which
she
had
so
longed
was
breaking
,
and
transfiguring
the
common
world
with
its
marvellous
light
.
But
the
angel-hand
had
touched
her
,
and
she
no
longer
stood
upright
and
self-reliant
,
but
was
bound
to
halt
and
walk
lamely
on
her
way
until
she
stood
by
Christopher
's
side
again
.
This
exalted
mood
did
not
last
for
long
.
As
she
sat
in
the
gloomy
room
and
watched
the
blazing
sunshine
forcing
its
way
through
the
darkened
windows
,
her
eye
suddenly
fell
upon
two
notches
cut
in
the
doorway
,
where
she
and
Christopher
had
once
measured
themselves
when
they
were
children
;
and
the
familiar
sight
of
these
two
little
notches
,
made
by
Christopher
's
knife
so
long
ago
,
awoke
in
her
heart
the
purely
human
longing
for
him
as
the
friend
and
comrade
she
had
known
and
looked
up
to
all
her
life
.
And
with
this
longing
came
the
terrible
thought
of
how
she
had
hurt
and
misunderstood
and
misjudged
him
,
and
of
how
it
was
now
too
late
for
her
to
make
up
to
him
in
this
life
for
all
the
happiness
of
which
she
had
defrauded
him
in
her
careless
pride
.
Then
,
for
the
first
time
since
she
was
born
,
Elisabeth
put
her
lips
to
the
cup
of
remorse
,
and
found
it
very
bitter
to
the
taste
.
She
had
been
so
full
of
plans
for
comforting
mankind
and
helping
the
whole
world
;
yet
she
had
utterly
failed
toward
the
only
person
whom
it
had
been
in
her
power
actually
to
help
and
comfort
;
and
her
heart
echoed
the
wail
of
the
most
beautiful
love-song
ever
written
—
"
They
made
me
the
keeper
of
the
vineyards
;
but
mine
own
vineyard
have
I
not
kept
.
"
As
she
was
sitting
,
bowed
down
in
utter
anguish
of
spirit
while
the
waves
of
remorse
flooded
her
soul
,
the
door
opened
and
the
nurse
came
in
.
"
Mr.
Thornley
is
conscious
now
,
and
is
asking
for
you
,
Miss
Farringdon
,
"
she
said
.
Elisabeth
started
up
,
her
face
aglow
with
new
hope
.
It
was
so
natural
to
her
not
to
be
cast
down
for
long
.
"
Oh
!
I
am
so
glad
.
I
want
dreadfully
to
see
him
,
I
have
so
much
to
say
to
him
.
But
I
'll
promise
not
to
tire
or
excite
him
.
Tell
me
,
how
long
may
I
stay
with
him
,
Nurse
,
and
how
quiet
must
I
be
?
"
The
nurse
smiled
sadly
.
"
It
wo
n't
matter
how
long
you
stay
or
what
you
say
,
Miss
Farringdon
;
I
do
n't
think
it
is
possible
for
anything
to
hurt
or
help
him
now
;
for
I
am
afraid
,
whatever
happens
,
he
can
not
possibly
recover
.
"
As
she
went
upstairs
Elisabeth
kept
saying
to
herself
,
"
I
am
going
to
see
the
real
Christopher
for
the
first
time
"
;
and
she
felt
the
old
,
shy
fear
of
him
that
she
had
felt
long
ago
when
Richard
Smallwood
was
stricken
.
But
when
she
entered
the
room
and
saw
the
worn
,
white
face
on
the
pillow
,
with
the
kind
smile
she
knew
so
well
,
she
completely
forgot
her
shyness
,
and
only
remembered
that
Christopher
was
in
need
of
her
,
and
that
she
would
gladly
give
her
life
for
his
if
she
could
.
"
Kiss
me
,
my
darling
,
"
he
said
,
holding
out
his
arms
;
and
she
knew
by
the
look
in
his
eyes
that
every
word
of
his
letter
was
true
.
"
I
am
too
tired
to
pretend
any
more
that
I
do
n't
love
you
.
And
it
ca
n't
matter
now
whether
you
know
or
not
,
it
is
so
near
the
end
.
"
Elisabeth
put
her
strong
arms
round
him
,
and
kissed
him
as
he
asked
.
"
Chris
,
dear
,
"
she
whispered
,
"
I
want
to
tell
you
that
I
love
you
,
and
that
I
've
always
loved
you
,
and
that
I
always
shall
love
you
;
but
I
've
only
just
found
it
out
.
"
Christopher
was
silent
for
a
moment
,
and
clasped
her
very
close
.
But
he
was
not
so
much
surprised
as
he
would
have
been
had
Elisabeth
made
such
an
astounding
revelation
to
him
in
the
days
of
his
health
.
When
one
is
drawing
near
to
the
solution
of
the
Great
Mystery
,
one
loses
the
power
of
wondering
at
anything
.
"
How
did
you
find
it
out
,
my
dearest
?
"
he
asked
at
last
.
"
Through
finding
out
that
you
loved
me
.
It
seems
to
me
that
my
love
was
always
lying
in
the
bank
at
your
account
,
but
until
you
gave
a
cheque
for
it
you
could
n't
get
at
it
.
And
the
cheque
was
my
knowing
that
you
cared
for
me
.
"
"
And
how
did
you
find
that
out
,
Betty
?
"
"
I
was
rummaging
in
the
safe
just
now
for
the
plans
of
the
Osierfield
,
and
I
came
upon
your
letter
.
"
"
I
did
n't
mean
you
to
read
that
while
I
was
alive
;
but
,
all
the
same
,
I
think
I
am
rather
glad
that
you
did
.
"
"
And
I
am
glad
,
too
.
I
wish
I
had
n't
always
been
so
horrid
to
you
,
Chris
;
but
I
believe
I
should
have
loved
you
all
the
time
,
if
only
you
had
given
me
the
chance
.
Still
,
I
was
horrid
—
dreadfully
horrid
;
and
now
it
is
too
late
to
make
it
up
to
you
.
"
And
Elisabeth
's
eyes
filled
with
tears
.
"
Do
n't
cry
,
my
darling
—
please
do
n't
cry
.
And
,
besides
,
you
have
made
it
up
to
me
by
loving
me
now
.
I
am
glad
you
understand
at
last
,
Betty
;
I
did
so
hope
you
would
some
day
.
"
"
And
you
forgive
me
for
having
been
so
vile
?
"
"
There
is
nothing
to
forgive
,
sweetheart
;
it
was
my
fault
for
not
making
you
understand
;
but
I
did
it
for
the
best
,
though
I
seem
to
have
made
a
mess
of
it
.
"
"
And
you
like
me
just
the
same
as
you
did
before
I
was
unkind
to
you
?
"
"
My
dear
,
do
n't
you
know
?
"
"
You
see
,
Chris
,
I
was
wanting
you
to
be
nice
to
me
all
the
time
—
nothing
else
satisfied
me
instead
of
you
.
And
when
you
seemed
not
to
like
me
any
longer
,
but
to
care
for
doing
your
duty
more
than
for
being
with
me
,
I
got
sore
and
angry
,
and
decided
to
punish
you
for
making
a
place
for
yourself
in
my
heart
and
then
refusing
to
fill
it
.
"
"
Well
,
you
did
what
you
decided
,
as
you
generally
do
;
there
is
no
doubt
of
that
.
You
were
always
very
prone
to
administer
justice
and
to
maintain
truth
,
Elisabeth
,
and
you
certainly
never
spared
the
rod
as
far
as
I
was
concerned
.
"
"
But
now
I
see
that
I
was
wrong
;
I
understand
that
it
was
because
you
cared
so
much
for
abstract
right
,
that
you
were
able
to
care
so
much
for
me
;
a
lower
nature
would
have
given
me
a
lower
love
;
and
if
only
we
could
go
through
it
all
again
,
I
should
want
you
to
go
to
Australia
after
George
Farringdon
's
son
.
"
Christopher
's
thin
fingers
wandered
over
Elisabeth
's
hair
;
and
as
they
did
so
he
remembered
,
with
tender
amusement
,
how
often
he
had
comforted
her
on
account
of
her
dark
locks
.
Now
one
or
two
gray
hairs
were
beginning
to
show
through
the
brown
ones
,
and
it
struck
him
with
a
pang
that
he
would
no
longer
be
here
to
comfort
her
on
account
of
those
;
for
he
knew
that
Elisabeth
was
the
type
of
woman
who
would
require
consolation
on
that
score
,
and
that
he
was
the
man
who
could
effectually
have
administered
it
.
"
I
can
see
now
,
"
Elisabeth
went
on
,
"
how
much
more
important
it
is
what
a
man
is
than
what
a
man
says
,
though
I
used
to
think
that
words
were
everything
,
and
that
people
did
n't
feel
what
they
did
n't
talk
about
.
You
used
to
disappoint
me
because
you
said
so
little
;
but
,
all
the
same
,
your
character
influenced
me
without
my
knowing
it
;
and
whatever
good
there
is
in
me
,
comes
from
my
having
known
you
and
seen
you
live
up
to
your
own
ideals
.
People
wonder
that
worldly
things
attract
me
so
little
,
and
that
my
successes
have
n't
turned
my
head
;
so
they
would
have
done
,
probably
,
if
I
had
never
met
you
;
but
having
once
seen
in
you
what
the
ideal
life
is
,
I
could
n't
help
despising
lower
things
,
though
I
tried
my
hardest
not
to
despise
them
.
Nobody
who
had
once
been
with
you
,
and
looked
even
for
a
minute
at
life
through
your
eyes
,
could
ever
care
again
for
anything
that
was
mean
or
sordid
or
paltry
.
Darling
,
do
n't
you
understand
that
my
knowing
you
made
me
better
than
I
tried
to
be
—
better
even
than
I
wanted
to
be
;
and
that
all
my
life
I
shall
be
a
truer
woman
because
of
you
?
"
But
by
that
time
the
stupendous
effort
which
Christopher
had
made
for
Elisabeth
's
sake
had
exhausted
itself
,
and
he
fell
back
upon
his
pillows
,
white
to
the
lips
,
and
too
weak
to
say
another
word
.
Yet
not
even
the
great
Shadow
could
cloud
the
love
that
shone
in
his
eyes
,
as
he
looked
at
Elisabeth
's
eager
face
,
and
listened
to
the
voice
for
which
his
soul
had
hungered
so
long
.
The
sight
of
his
weakness
brought
her
down
to
earth
again
more
effectually
than
any
words
could
have
done
;
and
with
an
exceeding
bitter
cry
she
hid
her
face
in
her
arms
and
sobbed
aloud
—
"
Oh
!
my
darling
,
my
darling
,
come
back
to
me
;
I
love
you
so
that
I
can
not
let
you
go
.
The
angels
can
do
quite
well
without
you
in
heaven
,
but
I
can
not
do
without
you
here
.
Oh
!
Chris
,
do
n't
go
away
and
leave
me
,
just
now
that
we
've
learned
to
understand
one
another
.
I
'll
be
good
all
my
life
,
and
do
everything
that
you
tell
me
,
if
only
you
wo
n't
go
away
.
My
dearest
,
I
love
you
so
—
I
love
you
so
;
and
I
've
nobody
in
the
world
but
you
.
"
Christopher
made
another
great
effort
to
take
her
in
his
arms
and
comfort
her
;
but
it
was
too
much
for
him
,
and
he
fainted
away
.
THE
OTHER
SIDE
OF
THE
HILLS
Shall
I
e'er
love
thee
less
fondly
than
now
,
dear
?
Tell
me
if
e'er
my
devotion
can
die
?
Never
until
thou
shalt
cease
to
be
thou
,
dear
;
Never
until
I
no
longer
am
I
.
Whether
the
doctors
were
right
when
they
talked
of
the
renewed
desire
to
live
producing
fresh
vitality
,
or
whether
the
wise
man
knew
best
after
all
when
he
said
that
love
is
stronger
than
death
,
who
can
say
?
Anyway
,
the
fact
remained
that
Christopher
responded
—
as
he
had
ever
responded
—
to
Elisabeth
's
cry
for
help
,
and
came
back
from
the
very
gates
of
the
grave
at
her
bidding
.
He
had
never
failed
her
yet
,
and
he
did
not
fail
her
now
.
The
days
of
his
recovery
were
wonderful
days
to
Elisabeth
.
It
was
so
strange
and
new
to
her
to
be
doing
another
person
's
will
,
and
thinking
another
person
's
thoughts
,
and
seeing
life
through
another
person
's
eyes
;
it
completely
altered
the
perspective
of
everything
.
And
there
was
nothing
strained
about
it
,
which
was
a
good
thing
,
as
Elisabeth
was
too
light-hearted
to
stand
any
strain
for
long
;
the
old
comradeship
still
existed
between
them
,
giving
breadth
to
a
love
which
the
new
relationship
had
made
so
deep
.
And
it
was
very
wonderful
to
Christopher
,
also
,
to
find
himself
in
the
sunshine
at
last
after
so
many
years
of
shadowland
.
At
first
the
light
almost
dazzled
him
,
he
was
so
unaccustomed
to
it
;
but
as
he
gradually
became
used
to
the
new
feeling
of
being
happy
,
his
nature
responded
to
the
atmosphere
of
warmth
and
brightness
,
and
opened
as
a
flower
in
the
sun
.
As
it
was
strange
to
Elisabeth
to
find
herself
living
and
moving
and
having
her
being
in
another
's
personality
,
so
it
was
strange
to
Christopher
to
find
another
's
personality
merged
in
his
.
He
had
lived
so
entirely
for
other
people
that
it
was
a
great
change
to
find
another
person
living
entirely
for
him
;
and
it
was
a
change
that
was
wholly
beneficial
.
As
his
nature
deepened
Elisabeth
's
,
so
her
nature
expanded
his
;
and
each
was
the
better
for
the
influence
of
the
other
,
as
each
was
the
complement
of
the
other
.
So
after
a
time
Christopher
grew
almost
as
light-hearted
as
Elisabeth
,
while
Elisabeth
grew
almost
as
tender-hearted
as
Christopher
.
For
both
of
them
the
former
things
had
passed
away
,
and
all
things
were
made
new
.
It
was
beautiful
weather
,
too
,
which
helped
to
increase
their
happiness
;
that
still
,
full
,
green
weather
,
which
sometimes
comes
in
the
late
summer
,
satisfying
men
's
souls
with
its
peaceful
perfectness
;
when
the
year
is
too
old
to
be
disturbed
by
the
restless
hope
of
spring
,
too
young
to
be
depressed
by
the
chilling
dread
of
autumn
,
and
so
just
touches
the
fringe
of
that
eternity
which
has
no
end
neither
any
beginning
.
The
fine
weather
hastened
Christopher
's
recovery
;
and
,
as
he
gained
strength
,
he
and
Elisabeth
spent
much
time
in
the
old
garden
,
looking
toward
the
Welsh
mountains
.
"
So
we
have
come
to
the
country
on
the
other
side
of
the
hills
at
last
,
"
she
said
to
him
,
as
they
were
watching
one
of
the
wonderful
Mershire
sunsets
and
drinking
in
its
beauty
.
"
I
always
knew
it
was
there
,
but
sometimes
I
gave
up
all
hope
of
ever
finding
it
for
myself
.
"
Christopher
took
her
hand
and
began
playing
with
the
capable
artist-fingers
.
"
And
is
it
as
nice
a
country
as
you
expected
,
sweetheart
?
"
"
As
nice
as
I
expected
?
I
should
just
think
it
is
.
I
knew
that
in
the
country
over
the
hills
I
should
find
all
the
beautiful
things
I
had
imagined
as
a
child
and
all
the
lovely
things
I
had
longed
for
as
a
woman
;
and
that
,
if
only
I
could
reach
it
,
all
the
fairy-tales
would
come
true
.
But
now
that
I
have
reached
it
,
I
find
that
the
fairy-tales
fell
far
short
of
the
reality
,
and
that
it
is
a
million
times
nicer
than
I
ever
imagined
anything
could
be
.
"
"
Darling
,
I
am
glad
you
are
so
happy
.
But
it
beats
me
how
such
a
stupid
fellow
as
I
am
can
make
you
so
.
"
"
Well
,
you
do
,
and
that
's
all
that
matters
.
Nobody
can
tell
how
they
do
things
;
they
only
know
that
they
can
do
them
.
I
do
n't
know
how
I
can
paint
pictures
any
more
than
you
know
how
you
can
turn
smoky
ironworks
into
the
country
over
the
hills
.
But
we
can
,
and
do
;
which
shows
what
clever
people
we
are
,
in
spite
of
ourselves
.
"
"
I
think
the
cleverness
lies
with
you
in
both
cases
—
in
your
wonderful
powers
of
imagination
,
my
dear
.
"
"
Do
you
?
Then
that
shows
how
little
you
know
about
it
.
"
Christopher
put
his
arm
round
her
.
"
I
always
was
stupid
,
you
know
;
you
have
told
me
so
with
considerable
frequency
.
"
"
Oh
!
so
you
were
;
but
you
were
never
worse
than
stupid
.
"
"
That
's
a
good
thing
;
for
stupidity
is
a
misfortune
rather
than
a
fault
.
"
"
Now
I
was
worse
than
stupid
—
much
worse
,
"
continued
Elisabeth
gravely
;
"
but
I
never
was
actually
stupid
.
"
"
Were
n't
you
?
Do
n't
be
too
sure
of
that
.
I
do
n't
wish
to
hurt
your
feelings
,
sweetheart
,
or
to
make
envious
rents
in
your
panoply
of
wisdom
;
but
,
do
you
know
,
you
struck
me
now
and
again
as
being
a
shade
—
we
will
not
say
stupid
,
but
dense
?
"
"
When
I
thought
you
did
n't
like
me
because
you
went
to
Australia
,
you
mean
?
"
"
That
was
one
of
the
occasions
when
your
acumen
seemed
to
be
slightly
at
fault
.
And
there
were
others
.
"
Elisabeth
looked
thoughtful
.
"
I
really
did
think
you
did
n't
like
me
then
.
"
"
Denseness
,
my
dear
Elisabeth
—
distinct
denseness
.
It
would
be
gross
flattery
to
call
it
by
any
other
name
.
"
"
But
you
never
told
me
you
liked
me
.
"
"
If
I
had
,
and
you
had
then
thought
I
did
not
,
you
would
have
been
suffering
from
deafness
,
not
denseness
.
You
are
confusing
terms
.
"
"
Well
,
then
,
I
'll
give
in
and
say
I
was
dense
.
But
I
was
worse
than
that
:
I
was
positively
horrid
as
well
.
"
"
Not
horrid
,
Betty
;
you
could
n't
be
horrid
if
you
tried
.
Perhaps
you
were
a
little
hard
on
me
;
but
it
's
all
over
and
done
with
now
,
and
you
need
n't
bother
yourself
any
more
about
it
.
"
"
But
I
ought
to
bother
about
it
if
I
intend
to
make
a
trustworthy
step-ladder
out
of
my
dead
selves
to
upper
storeys
.
"
"
A
trustworthy
fire-escape
,
you
mean
;
but
I
wo
n't
have
it
.
You
sha'
n't
have
any
dead
selves
,
my
dear
,
because
I
shall
insist
on
keeping
them
all
alive
by
artificial
respiration
,
or
restoration
from
drowning
,
or
something
of
that
kind
.
Not
one
of
them
shall
die
with
my
permission
;
remember
that
.
I
'm
much
too
fond
of
them
.
"
"
You
silly
boy
!
You
'll
never
train
me
and
discipline
me
properly
if
you
go
on
in
this
way
.
"
"
Hang
it
all
,
Betty
!
Who
wants
to
train
and
discipline
you
?
Certainly
not
I
.
I
am
wise
enough
to
let
well
—
or
rather
perfection
—
alone
.
"
Elisabeth
nestled
up
to
Christopher
.
"
But
I
'm
not
perfection
,
Chris
;
you
know
that
as
well
as
I
do
.
"
"
Probably
I
should
n't
love
you
so
much
if
you
were
;
so
please
do
n't
reform
,
dear
.
"
"
And
you
like
me
just
as
I
am
?
"
"
Precisely
.
I
should
break
my
heart
if
you
became
in
any
way
different
from
what
you
are
now
.
"
"
But
you
must
n't
break
your
heart
;
it
belongs
to
me
,
and
I
wo
n't
have
you
smashing
up
my
property
.
"
"
I
gave
it
to
you
,
it
is
true
;
but
the
copyright
is
still
mine
.
The
copyright
of
letters
that
I
wrote
to
you
is
mine
;
and
I
believe
the
law
of
copyright
is
the
same
with
regard
to
hearts
as
to
letters
.
"
"
Well
,
anyhow
,
I
've
written
my
name
all
over
it
.
"
"
I
know
you
have
;
and
it
was
very
untidy
of
you
,
my
dearest
.
Once
would
have
been
enough
to
show
that
it
belonged
to
you
;
but
you
were
n't
content
with
that
:
you
scribbled
all
over
every
available
space
,
until
there
was
no
room
left
even
for
advertisements
;
and
now
nobody
else
will
ever
be
able
to
write
another
name
upon
it
as
long
as
I
live
.
"
"
I
'm
glad
of
that
;
I
would
n't
have
anybody
else
's
name
upon
it
for
anything
.
And
I
'm
glad
that
you
like
me
just
as
I
am
,
and
do
n't
want
me
to
be
different
.
"
"
Heaven
forbid
!
"
"
But
still
I
was
horrid
to
you
once
,
Chris
,
however
you
may
try
to
gloss
it
over
.
My
dear
,
my
dear
,
I
do
n't
know
how
I
ever
could
have
been
unkind
to
you
;
but
I
was
.
"
"
Never
mind
,
sweetheart
;
it
is
ancient
history
now
,
and
who
bothers
about
ancient
history
?
Did
you
ever
meet
anybody
who
fretted
over
the
overthrow
of
Carthage
,
or
made
a
trouble
of
the
siege
of
Troy
?
"
"
No
,
"
Elisabeth
truthfully
replied
;
"
and
I
'm
really
nice
to
you
now
,
whatever
I
may
have
been
before
.
Do
n't
you
think
I
am
?
"
"
I
should
just
think
you
are
,
Betty
;
a
thousand
times
nicer
than
I
deserve
,
and
I
am
becoming
most
horribly
conceited
in
consequence
.
"
"
And
,
after
all
,
I
agree
with
the
prophet
Ezekiel
that
if
people
are
nice
at
the
end
,
it
does
n't
much
matter
how
disagreeable
they
have
been
in
the
meantime
.
He
does
n't
put
it
quite
in
that
way
,
but
the
sentiment
is
the
same
.
I
suit
you
down
to
the
ground
now
,
do
n't
I
,
Chris
?
"
"
You
do
,
my
darling
;
and
up
to
the
sky
,
and
beyond
.
"
And
Christopher
drew
her
still
closer
to
him
and
kissed
her
.
After
a
minute
's
silence
Elisabeth
whispered
—
"
When
one
is
as
divinely
happy
as
this
,
is
n't
it
difficult
to
realize
that
the
earth
will
ever
be
earthy
again
,
and
the
butter
turnipy
,
and
things
like
that
?
Yet
they
will
be
.
"
"
But
never
quite
as
earthy
or
quite
as
turnipy
as
they
were
before
;
that
's
just
the
difference
.
"
After
playing
for
a
few
minutes
with
Christopher
's
watch-chain
,
Elisabeth
suddenly
remarked
—
"
You
never
really
appreciated
my
pictures
,
Chris
.
You
never
did
me
justice
as
an
artist
,
though
you
did
me
far
more
than
justice
as
a
woman
.
Why
was
that
?
"
"
Did
n't
I
?
I
'm
sorry
.
Nevertheless
,
I
'm
not
sure
that
you
are
right
.
I
was
always
intensely
interested
in
your
pictures
because
they
were
yours
,
quite
apart
from
their
own
undoubted
merits
.
"
"
That
was
just
it
;
you
