ofme
.
It
was
you
I
had
cared
for
,
and
your
creed
I
had
held
,
not
for
itself
,
but
because
it
was
yours
.
And
when
your
personal
influence
was
not
near
me
I
grew
careless
and
idle
,
and
worked
for
Liberty
only
by
fits
and
starts
.
It
used
to
seem
too
much
trouble
to
do
things
for
the
cause
.
It
had
been
your
approval
I
cared
for
,
I
think
.
You
are
so
strong
,
I
ca
n't
expect
you
to
understand
the
imbecilities
of
such
a
weak
fool
as
I
am
.
From
the
moment
when
I
ceased
to
spend
all
my
time
and
all
your
money
on
your
work
,
I
seemed
utterly
degraded
in
my
own
eyes
,
and
it
did
not
seem
to
matter
what
I
did
,
so
I
have
gone
on
from
bad
to
worse
,
and
the
principles
you
would
die
for
,
have
only
been
will-o'-the-wisp
lights
to
lead
me
into
direr
troubles
than
I
should
ever
have
known
without
them
.
I
have
not
kept
Michael
Litvinoff
's
name
clean
.
And
the
evil
I
have
done
is
nothing
to
what
I
have
tried
to
do
.
I
sent
Teliaboff
his
money
back
,
but
I
have
never
heard
from
him
.
Have
you
?
Do
you
know
whether
he
is
all
right
?
'
'
Have
n't
you
heard
?
'
Petrovitch
asked
gravely
.
'
Heard
?
No
!
What
?
Anything
wrong
?
'
'
Hanged
,
'
was
the
brief
reply
.
'
Hanged
!
'
'
Yes
,
and
his
little
daughter
—
she
was
fourteen
,
then
,
I
think
—
was
hanged
with
him
.
'
'
For
—
for
helping
me
?
'
gasped
Litvinoff
.
'
No
,
for
having
"
The
Prophetic
Vision
"
in
her
room
.
'
'
My
God
!
'
cried
Litvinoff
,
springing
up
.
'
How
long
will
men
bear
it
?
Let
us
go
back
this
very
day
,
and
kill
and
kill
and
kill
these
fiends
as
long
as
we
have
an
arm
to
strike
or
a
finger
to
pull
a
trigger
.
'
'
We
are
going
back
,
'
Petrovitch
said
quietly
.
'
As
for
that
deed
,
it
is
avenged
.
The
man
who
was
responsible
for
that
murder
got
his
sentence
of
death
and
his
notice
of
it
two
days
later
.
He
lived
through
three
months
of
terror
,
and
then
shot
himself
,
to
escape
execution
at
the
hands
of
some
of
us
.
Do
n't
talk
more
of
him
.
'
The
two
men
sat
silent
for
a
little
while
,
but
Litvinoff
's
eyes
still
blazed
with
excitement
.
Petrovitch
smoked
quietly
.
'
How
was
it
,
'
Litvinoff
asked
presently
,
turning
from
the
other
subject
with
evident
effort
,
'
that
you
did
not
let
me
know
directly
you
came
over
?
'
'
I
did
not
see
any
good
to
be
gained
by
it
,
'
answered
Petrovitch
,
who
did
not
choose
to
tell
his
friend
that
he
had
waited
to
see
with
what
grace
the
Prophet
's
Mantle
was
worn
.
'
I
heard
you
speak
at
the
Agora
.
I
read
your
writings
.
You
seemed
to
be
doing
good
.
Besides
,
it
made
concealment
of
my
purposes
more
easy
not
to
be
known
as
Litvinoff
.
'
'
Then
what
made
you
decide
to
tell
me
now
?
'
was
the
very
natural
question
.
Petrovitch
hesitated
,
but
only
for
a
moment
.
Then
he
said
,
—
'
Frankly
,
because
I
thought
you
were
meditating
an
action
that
would
afterwards
cause
you
more
regret
than
anything
else
you
have
done
,
and
I
wished
to
prevent
it
.
'
'
And
that
action
was
?
'
'
Taking
another
wife
while
your
first
wife
still
lived
and
still
loved
you
.
'
Petrovitch
spoke
slowly
and
distinctly
.
Litvinoff
leaned
forward
in
his
chair
and
looked
at
him
amazedly
.
'
By
Heaven
!
'
he
said
,
leaning
back
with
a
sort
of
sigh
,
'
you
seem
to
know
everything
.
'
'
I
have
made
it
my
business
to
know
.
'
'
Not
quite
everything
in
this
case
,
though
,
'
Litvinoff
added
,
correcting
himself
,
'
for
I
have
no
wife
.
'
Petrovitch
's
eyes
flashed
angrily
.
'
I
was
not
speaking
in
the
phrase
of
your
London
society
.
I
did
not
suppose
that
you
were
going
to
commit
an
illegal
act
.
I
merely
imagined
that
you
had
intended
to
commit
a
crime
.
I
am
not
mistaken
in
supposing
that
you
always
led
the
woman
in
question
to
believe
that
you
looked
upon
her
as
your
wife
?
'
'
You
are
not
mistaken
—
you
are
right
.
I
did
contemplate
a
crime
,
'
he
said
,
walking
over
to
the
bookcase
,
and
standing
so
that
his
face
was
not
to
be
seen
.
'
I
have
no
defence
to
offer
;
but
at
the
time
I
first
contemplated
it
I
deceived
myself
with
the
idea
that
I
had
.
But
my
wife
left
me
.
I
did
not
leave
her
.
I
never
could
have
left
her
;
and
if
she
had
not
left
me
that
vile
idea
of
marrying
another
woman
would
never
have
entered
my
head
.
However
,
that
's
all
at
an
end
now
,
I
'm
thankful
to
say
,
and
I
mean
to
find
my
wife
'
—
there
was
no
hesitation
in
his
voice
this
time
—
'
and
legalise
her
position
with
bell
,
book
,
and
candle
,
and
any
other
rites
that
may
seem
to
her
desirable
.
'
'
Regardless
of
principles
?
'
said
Petrovitch
,
with
the
faintest
possible
sneer
.
'
Damn
principles
!
'
Litvinoff
cried
,
turning
round
,
stung
by
the
tone
.
'
I
would
have
sacrificed
them
for
a
woman
I
merely
admired
,
and
they
sha'
n't
stand
between
me
and
the
woman
I
love
.
'
'
How
do
you
propose
to
find
her
?
'
'
I
have
n't
the
slightest
idea
.
Do
you
know
where
she
is
?
'
he
added
sharply
.
'
Do
you
remember
giving
£
10
to
a
man
named
Hirsch
in
the
autumn
?
'
was
the
counter-question
.
'
I
do
?
'
with
an
inquiring
look
.
'
That
was
for
your
wife
!
'
Litvinoff
drew
a
long
breath
.
'
Go
on
!
'
he
said
,
simply
.
Then
Petrovitch
told
him
all
that
he
knew
of
Alice
,
and
Litvinoff
listened
intently
.
When
Petrovitch
spoke
of
the
night
on
Blackfriars
'
Bridge
,
he
leaned
forward
breathing
heavily
,
then
rose
suddenly
,
and
,
crossing
to
a
couch
,
flung
himself
,
face
downwards
,
on
it
.
Petrovitch
paused
.
'
Go
on
!
Go
on
!
Go
on
!
'
said
an
impatient
,
stifled
voice
from
the
couch
.
So
Petrovitch
resumed
.
When
the
tale
was
told
,
Litvinoff
rose
.
He
was
very
pale
,
his
lips
trembled
a
little
,
and
his
dark
eyes
were
shining
and
wet
.
'
When
can
I
see
you
to-morrow
?
I
am
going
to
Chislehurst
now
.
I
do
n't
thank
you
;
it
would
be
absurd
.
Thanks
are
idiotic
under
some
circumstances
.
You
saved
my
life
—
which
I
did
n't
care
about
—
and
now
it
seems
you
've
saved
what
I
do
care
for
,
as
much
as
such
a
scamp
as
I
can
care
for
anything
.
But
you
do
n't
need
my
words
.
I
believe
you
understand
me
—
if
any
one
does
.
'
Petrovitch
rose
and
laid
his
hand
on
his
shoulder
.
'
Do
not
go
to-night
,
'
he
said
.
'
She
is
not
strong
yet
,
and
you
are
too
excited
to
meet
her
calmly
.
Wait
till
to-morrow
.
You
may
trust
her
safely
where
she
is
for
another
night
.
Besides
,
there
is
very
,
very
much
to
be
said
between
us
—
both
of
the
past
and
future
.
'
'
Well
,
you
have
a
right
to
command
me
,
'
Litvinoff
answered
,
frowning
and
a
little
stiffly
,
and
then
was
silent
a
moment
.
Then
he
said
suddenly
,
flinging
himself
into
his
chair
with
the
frown
quite
gone
,
'
You
're
right
—
you
always
are
,
and
there
is
much
to
be
said
.
I
wish
to
God
there
could
be
some
way
of
wiping
out
the
past
,
or
rather
of
atoning
for
it
.
Do
you
know
,
it
seems
to
me
that
I
shall
have
a
chance
of
seeing
my
way
to
doing
something
worth
doing
now
you
have
come
back
.
I
could
almost
swear
at
this
moment
that
I
believed
as
heartily
as
ever
in
liberty
,
humanity
,
progress
,
and
all
the
other
things
you
taught
me
to
swear
by
,
but
in
my
soul
I
know
it
is
you
I
believe
in
—
always
have
believed
in
—
I
've
never
believed
in
anything
but
you
for
more
than
three
months
at
a
time
.
Peculiar
,
is
n't
it
?
'
'
You
have
n't
altered
in
the
least
,
'
said
Petrovitch
smiling
.
'
You
were
never
sure
of
your
beliefs
except
when
you
were
fighting
for
them
.
You
should
be
back
in
Russia
.
Persecution
is
a
splendid
antidote
to
religious
doubt
.
Men
like
you
ought
not
to
live
in
England
.
There
is
too
much
freedom
in
the
air
and
it
does
n't
agree
with
you
.
You
get
to
think
there
is
nothing
worth
fighting
for
here
.
There
is
,
though
,
and
some
Englishmen
are
beginning
to
find
it
out
.
'
'
You
are
going
back
to
Russia
?
'
Litvinoff
said
,
interrogatively
.
'
Yes
.
'
'
Let
me
come
with
you
,
'
he
cried
,
impulsively
.
'
Give
your
Secretary
another
chance
.
'
'
Ah
,
my
days
of
quiet
writing
are
over
now
.
The
battle
grows
hot
.
I
do
n't
want
a
Secretary
,
I
want
a
comrade
in
arms
.
Will
you
go
to
Servia
for
me
?
'
'
I
'll
go
to
hell
,
if
you
like
,
'
was
the
direct
reply
.
'
The
two
will
soon
be
synonymous
,
if
all
I
hear
is
correct
.
But
what
about
your
wife
?
'
'
It
used
to
be
one
of
your
principles
,
'
Litvinoff
said
,
using
the
word
,
as
it
were
,
reluctantly
,
'
that
if
a
man
believes
in
anything
enough
to
place
himself
in
danger
for
it
,
he
should
not
hesitate
to
risk
all
he
holds
precious
for
the
same
end
;
and
my
wife
is
not
a
coward
,
she
would
go
with
me
.
'
'
Poor
little
woman
,
'
said
Petrovitch
;
'
but
that
was
and
is
one
of
my
principles
.
If
you
go
to
Servia
under
my
name
I
shall
have
a
far
better
chance
of
getting
back
to
St
Petersburg
under
someone
else
's
.
And
the
risk
to
your
wife
is
of
the
slightest
,
for
it
is
a
peaceful
errand
I
will
send
you
on
.
'
'
I
hate
peaceful
errands
.
'
'
I
dare
say
there
'll
be
a
little
excitement
thrown
in
—
but
do
n't
rush
into
danger
.
There
is
no
need
there
,
and
it
can
do
no
good
.
I
know
hard
fighting
is
the
easiest
;
but
our
business
is
to
do
the
thing
which
has
to
be
done
,
be
it
peace
or
be
it
war
.
'
'
Ah
!
'
said
Litvinoff
,
with
enthusiasm
;
'
to
act
up
to
that
ideal
is
easy
enough
for
men
like
you
,
but
you
must
remember
that
such
men
as
you
are
as
far
above
the
rest
of
us
as
the
Christian
martyrs
are
above
the
average
church-goer
.
You
are
the
Saints
of
the
New
Religion
.
'
'
Do
n't
you
think
we
'd
better
go
and
have
some
dinner
?
'
said
Petrovitch
,
drily
.
'
MY
LITTLE
GIRL
.
'
THE
suggestion
was
a
good
one
,
and
the
dinner
to
which
the
two
sat
down
had
a
steadying
effect
on
the
nerves
of
the
younger
man
.
He
became
calmer
,
and
when
they
returned
to
his
rooms
he
was
able
to
bear
his
part
in
a
long
,
earnest
,
quiet
talk
over
events
past
and
to
come
.
The
talk
lasted
far
into
the
night
,
and
before
they
parted
it
was
settled
that
Litvinoff
should
leave
for
Servia
in
two
days
,
taking
with
him
certain
important
papers
from
Petrovitch
to
another
of
the
Nihilist
leaders
.
That
he
should
there
wait
instructions
,
and
should
enter
Russia
by
the
southern
frontier
,
and
rejoin
the
circle
at
St
Petersburg
,
leaving
his
assumed
name
at
Belgrade
.
That
the
following
imaginative
announcement
should
be
inserted
in
as
many
English
papers
as
possible
for
the
special
edification
of
the
Russian
Embassy
.
'
Count
Michael
Litvinoff
left
London
for
Dover
this
morning
,
en
route
for
Belgrade
.
He
was
accompanied
by
Countess
Litvinoff
,
an
English
lady
to
whom
he
was
secretly
married
some
time
ago
.
Count
Litvinoff
,
so
well
known
to
many
of
our
readers
through
his
"
Social
Enigma
,
"
his
"
Hopes
and
Fears
for
Liberty
,
"
and
his
many
revolutionary
brochures
,
has
never
been
a
familiar
figure
in
London
society
,
his
literary
labours
having
compelled
him
to
live
in
strict
retirement
.
It
will
be
remembered
that
he
was
the
hero
of
an
adventure
on
the
Russian
frontier
some
years
ago
,
was
wounded
,
captured
,
and
sent
to
a
Russian
prison
,
from
which
he
escaped
to
England
.
'
It
was
also
settled
that
the
money
for
the
journey
should
be
taken
from
the
remainder
of
the
Litvinoff
capital
.
When
Litvinoff
began
to
speak
of
the
money
he
had
spent
and
the
debts
he
had
incurred
,
Petrovitch
stopped
him
with
,
—
'
I
'll
see
to
your
debts
—
and
what
is
gone
is
gone
.
Do
n't
let
us
waste
words
over
that
.
'
It
was
arranged
that
Petrovitch
should
seek
out
John
Hatfield
and
his
wife
,
and
should
let
them
know
that
their
daughter
was
happily
married
.
They
judged
it
best
not
to
subject
Alice
to
an
interview
which
could
not
but
involve
most
painful
explanations
,
and
they
agreed
that
it
would
be
cruel
both
to
her
and
to
her
parents
to
let
them
meet
,
merely
to
part
again
at
once
.
Of
Clare
Stanley
neither
of
them
spoke
one
word
.
A
new
day
was
some
way
into
its
small
hours
when
they
said
good-bye
.
'
We
meet
in
St
Petersburg
,
then
,
as
soon
as
may
be
,
'
Petrovitch
said
.
'
I
shall
not
see
you
again
till
then
.
'
'
I
hope
by
that
time
I
shall
have
done
something
to
prove
to
you
that
you
have
indeed
brought
me
back
to
the
ranks
of
duty
and
the
Revolution
.
'
'
I
do
n't
need
proof
,
'
said
the
other
with
one
last
hand-pressure
.
And
so
they
parted
.
Next
morning
early
,
Litvinoff
went
down
into
the
City
,
where
he
paid
a
disproportionate
sum
of
money
for
a
paper
which
empowered
him
to
marry
his
wife
at
once
,
instead
of
waiting
three
weeks
for
that
privilege
.
Then
he
went
down
to
Chislehurst
.
The
sky
was
clear
and
pale
and
blue
,
and
the
sun
shone
divinely
.
The
trees
that
had
been
brown
seemed
at
a
little
distance
to
be
wrapped
in
a
grey
gauze
veil
,
as
they
always
do
when
the
green
buds
first
break
out
to
new
life
.
As
Litvinoff
walked
up
the
hill
to
Chislehurst
Common
,
he
tried
to
think
what
he
should
say
to
Alice
,
how
she
would
look
,
how
she
would
speak
to
him
.
With
a
touch
of
ingrained
cynicism
,
he
laughed
at
himself
to
find
that
his
heart
was
beating
tumultuously
,
and
that
his
hands
were
trembling
.
'
And
this
is
the
man
,
'
he
said
contemptuously
to
himself
,
'
who
walked
behind
her
for
half-an-hour
last
autumn
,
and
never
spoke
to
her
!
No
,
not
the
same
man
,
'
he
added
,
after
a
pause
,
'
I
am
purged
of
a
crime
since
then
.
'
The
house
where
he
was
to
seek
Alice
was
a
little
yellow-brick
building
near
the
church
.
He
looked
at
the
pretty
old-fashioned
churchyard
as
he
passed
,
and
then
at
the
building
itself
.
'
I
suppose
,
'
he
said
to
it
,
'
you
will
be
the
balm
the
child
will
choose
to
ease
her
sorrow
—
and
you
will
bring
comfort
to
her
,
as
you
have
to
thousands
of
others
.
I
do
n't
grudge
them
their
comfort
,
but
I
do
grudge
you
your
influence
.
However
,
you
wo
n't
keep
it
much
longer
.
Tant
mieux
.
'
His
hand
was
on
the
garden
gate
—
he
unlatched
it
,
and
walked
up
to
the
smallest
detached
house
he
had
ever
beheld
.
He
raised
the
diminutive
knocker
,
and
assaulted
therewith
the
tiny
brown
door
.
Would
she
open
it
?
She
did
not
.
It
opened
—
and
Litvinoff
at
first
really
thought
it
opened
of
its
own
accord
.
At
anyrate
it
opened
by
some
agency
invisible
to
him
.
He
stood
and
looked
;
but
when
the
door
slowly
began
to
close
again
,
he
thought
it
was
time
for
action
.
He
came
a
step
forward
,
and
addressing
nothing
,
said
,
—
'
Is
Mrs
Litvinoff
in
?
'
Then
a
very
small
girl
in
a
yellow
pinafore
and
a
lilac
frock
showed
herself
from
behind
the
door
;
but
shyness
and
an
incomplete
knowledge
of
her
native
tongue
combined
to
render
her
speechless
.
Litvinoff
,
with
an
impatient
but
perfectly
gentle
movement
,
lifted
her
bodily
from
her
position
as
guard
,
and
placed
her
outside
the
door
.
'
The
air
will
brighten
your
wits
,
mon
petit
chou
,
'
he
said
.
Then
he
walked
straight
into
the
house
,
and
looked
round
the
two
rooms
on
the
ground
floor
.
Empty
.
He
passed
through
the
kitchen
,
whose
proportions
would
have
served
for
those
of
the
corresponding
apartment
in
a
good-sized
doll
's
house
,
and
found
himself
in
a
brick-paved
back
yard
,
where
there
were
a
water-butt
,
a
basket
of
wet
linen
,
some
clothes-lines
,
and
the
lady
of
the
house
.
Regardless
of
her
astonishment
,
he
addressed
himself
to
her
.
'
Oh
,
Mrs
Litvinoff
?
'
she
answered
curiously
,
'
she
is
out
;
she
has
gone
to
Orpington
for
some
butter
for
me
,
sir
,
and
she
wo
n't
be
long
.
'
'
How
long
?
'
'
Perhaps
an
hour
.
'
'
Is
she
alone
?
'
'
Yes
,
sir
.
'
'
If
you
'll
be
kind
enough
to
tell
me
the
way
,
I
think
I
'll
go
and
meet
her
.
'
'
And
who
shall
I
say
called
if
you
should
miss
her
,
and
she
comes
back
first
?
'
'
Say
her
husband
,
'
answered
Litvinoff
.
The
woman
gave
him
profuse
directions
,
for
which
he
thanked
her
with
his
usual
empressement
,
and
turned
at
the
gate
to
raise
his
hat
in
farewell
.
'
My
stars
!
'
said
Mrs
Bowen
,
as
she
watched
him
out
of
sight
,
'
he
's
a
real
gentleman
,
and
no
mistake
.
Poor
little
Mrs
Litvinoff
,
'
she
added
,
with
a
woman
's
instinctive
interest
in
a
romance
,
'
I
hope
they
'll
make
it
up
and
live
happy
ever
after
,
that
I
do
!
'
Litvinoff
walked
along
.
His
heart
was
lighter
than
it
had
been
for
many
a
long
day
.
On
these
delicious
fresh
spring
mornings
—
When
March
makes
sweet
the
weather
With
daffodil
,
and
starling
,
And
hours
of
fruitful
breath
,
just
to
be
alive
is
a
rapture
.
Of
course
it
may
be
cancelled
by
care
like
any
other
joy
.
But
Litvinoff
felt
as
if
he
had
no
cares
.
He
was
going
to
meet
the
woman
he
loved
,
and
the
nearer
he
got
to
her
the
more
he
loved
her
.
In
love
,
as
in
friendship
,
nearness
was
everything
to
him
.
Every
figure
in
the
distance
he
thought
was
her
figure
.
If
you
have
ever
gone
to
meet
a
person
whom
you
very
intensely
wished
to
meet
,
you
will
remember
how
constantly
recurring
is
that
illusion
.
You
will
remember
the
spasm
of
vindictive
hate
which
seizes
on
you
when
the
figure
in
the
distance
is
neared
,
and
dispels
your
illusion
by
being
itself
and
not
the
one
you
wanted
it
to
be
.
Paul
's
Cray
Common
seemed
a
paradise
to
him
.
It
does
make
a
fairly
good
one
under
favourable
circumstances
,
with
its
heather
,
and
gorse
,
and
larch
,
and
oak
saplings
,
and
,
fairest
of
all
,
its
graceful
swaying
silver
birches
.
The
birds
were
singing
madly
,
and
as
he
felt
the
springy
turf
under
his
feet
,
and
the
warm
spring
sun
on
his
shoulders
,
he
began
to
sing
,
too
,
a
tender
little
French
song
,
all
about
green
woodland
paths
,
and
youth
,
and
love
,
and
happiness
.
Alice
Hatfield
's
heart
was
very
sad
,
but
it
was
a
quiet
sadness
,
that
did
not
shut
out
the
charm
of
the
spring
.
Under
the
influence
of
the
young
life
blood
of
the
year
that
seemed
to
be
throbbing
through
that
perfect
day
,
she
had
felt
strong
,
and
had
walked
with
more
swiftness
than
usual
,
and
now
,
as
she
was
returning
with
a
basket
,
in
which
her
butter
lay
,
under
cool
green
leaves
,
she
began
to
walk
more
slowly
and
to
consider
two
pounds
of
butter
heavier
than
she
had
thought
it
before
.
She
had
been
revelling
among
the
primroses
and
dog
violets
,
and
had
filled
up
her
basket
with
the
pale
,
yellow
primrose
stars
and
the
delicate
pink
and
white
wind-flowers
.
She
was
tired
,
certainly
,
and
she
turned
aside
and
sat
down
on
a
felled
tree
,
in
a
certain
little
pine
copse
that
runs
along
by
the
road-side
.
The
pine
needles
lay
brown
,
and
soft
,
and
thick
under
her
feet
.
A
little
bright-eyed
,
red-brown
squirrel
came
half-way
down
one
of
the
trees
to
look
at
her
,
but
seemed
to
find
her
not
quite
as
nice
as
he
had
expected
,
for
he
whisked
his
tail
with
undisguised
contempt
,
and
went
back
to
his
home
with
a
lightning-like
spiral
scramble
.
He
must
have
been
a
squirrel
hard
to
please
,
for
it
is
a
fact
that
,
in
spite
of
illness
and
trouble
,
Alice
was
far
prettier
now
than
when
her
sweet
face
had
first
caught
Count
Litvinoff
's
eyes
on
the
Birkenhead
Ferry
.
She
sat
quietly
gazing
through
the
pine
trees
,
with
her
head
turned
from
the
road
.
Presently
she
stooped
to
attempt
the
capture
of
a
very
young
and
very
yellow
frog
which
had
hopped
close
to
her
feet
,
regardless
of
the
pine
needles
.
As
she
did
so
her
heart
stood
still
,
for
her
ears
caught
the
tramp
,
tramp
of
a
man
's
footstep
,
and
the
ringing
sound
of
a
man
's
voice
,
a
voice
she
knew
,
—
'
Viens
,
suivons
les
sentiers
ombreux
,
Ou
s'égarent
les
amoureux
Le
printemps
nous
appelle
,
Viens
!
Soyons
heureux
!
'
She
rose
to
her
feet
,
and
involuntarily
uttered
a
low
cry
.
She
dared
not
turn
her
head
.
The
singing
stopped
abruptly
,
there
was
a
crash
through
the
brambles
,
and
in
a
moment
a
pair
of
strong
arms
were
round
her
,
and
lips
close
to
her
ear
murmured
,
—
'
My
little
girl
!
'
She
rested
on
his
arm
for
one
moment
Then
she
said
,
in
a
choked
sort
of
voice
,
as
she
tried
to
release
herself
,
—
'
It
's
no
use
,
I
cannot
come
back
.
You
have
not
come
here
to
ask
me
back
.
Do
,
do
leave
me
alone
!
'
He
held
her
fast
.
'
My
darling
,
'
he
whispered
,
'
do
you
think
I
could
leave
you
now
I
have
found
you
?
I
have
come
to
ask
you
to
come
back
to
me
.
I
have
come
to
ask
you
to
marry
me
.
You
will
not
send
me
away
.
I
cannot
do
without
my
little
one
any
longer
.
You
love
me
still
?
'
he
added
,
a
sudden
doubt
striking
him
at
her
continued
silence
,
and
he
raised
her
chin
with
his
hand
till
he
could
look
in
her
face
.
She
shrank
from
his
hand
,
and
hid
her
face
against
his
neck
.
'
You
know
,
'
she
answered
,
'
you
know
.
'
So
it
came
about
that
Alice
married
her
love
who
had
not
been
true
,
and
forgave
him
with
all
her
heart
;
when
she
was
leaving
the
church
,
leaning
on
her
husband
's
arm
,
with
a
new
world
of
love
and
joy
opening
before
her
,
and
Litvinoff
was
looking
down
at
her
with
eyes
in
which
love
deepened
every
moment
,
her
father
lay
dead
at
the
bottom
of
the
tank
in
Thornsett
Mill
.
The
Litvinoffs
left
England
at
once
,
and
to
this
day
Alice
does
not
know
of
her
father
's
death
,
and
her
husband
does
not
know
of
the
dire
disaster
that
followed
on
his
double
dealing
.
I
doubt
if
they
will
ever
learn
it
now
.
There
is
a
good
deal
more
that
Alice
does
not
know
.
It
is
perhaps
as
well
.
Wives
are
none
the
happier
for
knowing
too
much
of
their
husbands
'
past
.
As
it
is
,
Alice
will
follow
him
to
the
world
's
end
,
believing
in
him
unquestioningly
.
'
HAND
IN
HAND
.
'
'
Cannon
Street
Hotel
,
9.30
p.m.
DEAR
MR
PETROVITCH
,
—
We
were
married
this
morning
at
St
Nicholas
Cole
Abbey
,
and
we
are
leaving
London
by
the
night
mail
.
I
cannot
go
without
thanking
you
with
my
whole
heart
for
all
you
have
done
for
me
—
for
both
of
us
.
No
words
can
ever
tell
you
how
much
I
feel
what
we
owe
to
you
.
My
husband
says
he
owes
more
to
you
than
I
do
,
but
I
cannot
think
that
.
Good-bye
until
we
see
you
in
Russia
.
Oh
!
Heaven
bless
you
,
Mr
Petrovitch
,
for
all
you
have
done
for
us
.
—
Yours
always
gratefully
,
Alice
Litvinoff
.
'
In
the
same
envelope
was
a
letter
from
Alice
's
husband
,
and
it
did
not
begin
in
the
same
way
as
hers
.
It
ran
thus
,
—
'
My
dear
Litvinoff
,
—
I
ca
n't
write
to
you
under
any
but
your
own
name
,
nor
can
I
sign
any
other
than
my
own
.
I
kept
yours
as
you
wished
,
and
Alice
believes
herself
to
be
Countess
Litvinoff
.
I
shall
tell
her
all
that
part
of
my
story
later
,
but
I
shall
never
tell
her
of
my
villainous
and
insensate
desire
for
a
rich
wife
,
and
for
a
life
of
ease
which
would
have
driven
me
mad
in
three
months
.
Alice
and
a
life
of
adventure
are
worth
all
the
broad
acres
in
creation
.
Nor
shall
I
tell
her
that
I
knew
her
father
.
One
thing
more
I
must
ask
you
to
do
for
me
.
Write
to
Richard
Ferrier
and
let
him
know
that
we
are
married
.
I
think
I
've
used
him
rather
badly
.
Alice
wishes
you
to
say
good-bye
for
her
to
her
good
friends
Mr
and
Mrs
Toomey
.
Some
kind
fate
certainly
kept
watch
over
my
wife
while
I
was
playing
the
fool
and
dangling
after
another
woman
.
And
Fate
has
been
a
thousand
times
better
to
me
than
I
deserve
.
With
my
dear
wife
,
and
the
prospect
of
meeting
you
soon
in
Russia
,
I
feel
all
the
old
enthusiasm
re-awakening
.
Vive
la
Révolution
!
—
Your
old
secretary
and
friend
,
Armand
Percival
.
'
In
signing
that
name
I
feel
as
though
I
were
writing
with
my
left
hand
,
it
is
so
awkward
to
me
after
all
these
years
.
'
Petrovitch
sighed
as
he
replaced
the
letters
in
their
envelope
.
He
had
given
himself
up
wholly
to
the
cause
he
served
,
and
he
had
suffered
for
it
,
and
was
prepared
to
suffer
more
,
and
generally
he
was
contented
,
even
glad
,
that
it
should
be
so
.
But
sometimes
a
sudden
sense
of
the
utter
loneliness
of
his
life
came
over
him
,
saddening
and
oppressing
him
.
Then
he
seemed
to
himself
to
be
not
a
man
with
a
life
of
his
own
to
live
and
hopes
of
his
own
to
cherish
,
but
a
power
passing
through
the
lives
of
others
,
helping
,
guiding
,
saving
,
and
always
after
a
while
fading
out
of
those
lives
.
He
had
brought
these
two
together
,
and
they
were
all
in
all
to
each
other
,
and
he
was
much
to
them
perhaps
,
but
mainly
because
he
had
brought
them
together
.
Now
he
felt
that
they
were
lost
to
him
,
and
he
had
loved
them
both
—
Alice
with
the
love
of
a
strong
man
for
a
child
,
and
the
other
with
a
deep
attachment
which
dated
from
the
first
moment
of
their
meeting
,
and
which
had
unaccountably
withstood
all
the
other
's
shortcomings
.
Unaccountably
?
No
?
the
essence
of
love
is
its
boundless
capacity
for
pardon
;
the
unaccountable
part
of
it
was
that
he
should
ever
have
loved
him
at
all
.
And
they
were
gone
;
and
gone
,
as
Petrovitch
knew
well
enough
,
to
begin
a
life
whose
end
,
sooner
or
later
,
must
be
the
scaffold
or
the
death-in-life
of
perpetual
imprisonment
.
He
had
led
many
a
man
and
many
a
woman
into
that
path
,
knowing
all
that
it
meant
,
and
he
was
not
sorry
.
Was
it
not
the
path
he
had
himself
chosen
as
being
the
noblest
that
any
man
's
feet
could
tread
—
the
path
of
utter
self-renunciation
?
But
though
he
was
never
sorry
he
was
often
sad
,
and
sadder
than
usual
on
the
day
when
his
two
friends
bade
farewell
to
safety
and
English
soil
.
He
felt
lonely
and
desolate
.
But
Michael
Petrovitch
never
felt
his
own
moral
pulse
for
more
than
half
a
minute
at
a
time
.
He
sighed
,
raised
his
hand
to
his
chin
,
and
smiled
at
finding
himself
reminded
that
the
gesture
of
passing
his
hand
over
his
beard
,
which
had
grown
into
a
settled
habit
with
him
in
moments
of
annoyance
or
excitement
,
was
no
longer
possible
.
He
turned
to
his
table
and
wrote
half-a-dozen
letters
.
There
were
many
arrangements
still
to
make
for
his
journey
.
Then
he
rose
,
put
on
his
hat
,
and
started
for
Marlborough
Villa
.
He
had
not
cared
to
face
that
dinner
where
he
was
to
have
met
his
fellow
revolutionist
.
He
had
written
a
hasty
note
of
excuse
,
and
had
spent
the
evening
and
the
best
part
of
the
night
in
conference
with
his
morose
friend
Hirsch
,
who
was
a
little
more
morose
even
than
usual
on
this
occasion
,
owing
to
what
he
thought
the
absurd
and
unjust
leniency
with
which
the
pseudo
Litvinoff
had
been
treated
.
He
would
have
been
much
better
satisfied
had
some
sudden
and
awful
judgment
overtaken
the
adventurer
who
had
dared
to
personate
his
hero
—
even
had
that
judgment
come
in
the
form
of
a
trial
for
forgery
at
the
Old
Bailey
;
which
fact
showed
that
he
was
but
a
weaker
brother
in
the
faith
that
teaches
that
crime
is
a
disease
to
be
cured
,
not
an
offence
to
be
punished
.
In
that
conversation
with
Hirsch
the
date
of
Petrovitch
's
departure
had
been
finally
settled
,
and
now
he
had
a
few
farewell
visits
to
pay
.
One
must
certainly
be
to
Mrs
Quaid
—
he
had
a
fancy
that
he
would
try
to
make
his
parting
with
Miss
Stanley
something
more
than
it
could
be
in
the
presence
of
that
estimable
lady
.
He
thought
that
Clare
would
not
hesitate
to
say
good-bye
to
him
without
her
hostess
's
surveillance
.
At
any
rate
,
a
chance
of
being
alone
with
her
to
say
his
farewell
was
what
he
was
bent
on
trying
for
.
At
Marlborough
Villa
he
was
shown
into
the
morning-room
.
It
was
empty
,
but
in
a
moment
Clare
came
in
.
He
was
standing
with
his
back
to
the
window
.
When
she
saw
him
she
started
visibly
,
and
,
with
an
unmistakable
gesture
of
annoyance
,
was
turning
to
leave
the
room
,
when
he
made
a
step
forward
,
and
she
paused
and
looked
at
him
,
and
,
turning
with
a
complete
change
of
expression
,
held
out
her
hand
.
'
How
could
I
have
been
so
absurd
?
'
she
said
.
'
Do
you
know
for
the
moment
I
really
thought
it
was
Count
Litvinoff
.
'
'
I
do
n't
wonder
at
your
not
quite
recognising
me
.
You
see
I
had
to
sacrifice
my
beard
.
I
am
going
back
to
Russia
next
week
.
Disguise
will
be
de
rigeur
,
and
beards
and
disguises
are
incompatible
.
'
'
Going
back
to
Russia
next
week
?
'
she
repeated
slowly
,
'
and
I
had
so
much
to
say
—
to
ask
—
'
'
Do
you
still
need
advice
?
'
he
said
,
smiling
.
'
Yes
,
'
she
said
,
speaking
quickly
and
eagerly
,
'
more
than
ever
,
for
now
I
have
made
up
my
mind
.
I
am
quite
certain
that
my
money
ought
to
go
—
not
to
simply
alleviating
the
miseries
that
wring
one
's
heart
,
but
to
helping
to
overthrow
the
system
that
causes
them
.
I
have
felt
it
a
strong
temptation
to
help
first
the
individual
sorrows
that
I
know
of
;
but
I
know
that
the
right
thing
to
do
is
to
help
not
those
,
but
the
revolution
that
will
render
them
impossible
.
I
am
right
,
am
I
not
?
'
'
Yes
,
'
he
answered
.
They
were
standing
by
the
window
.
This
was
not
the
sort
of
thing
that
one
settles
comfortably
into
chairs
to
'
talk
over
.
'
'
But
now
you
are
going
,
'
she
said
,
with
a
saddened
falling
cadence
in
her
voice
,
that
made
music
for
the
man
at
her
side
,
'
and
I
shall
have
no
one
to
tell
me
what
to
do
.
Why
need
you
go
?
Is
there
nothing
for
you
to
do
here
?
Is
Russia
so
dear
that
it
pushes
all
other
claims
out
of
sight
?
'
'
It
is
not
that
I
am
a
patriot
.
I
love
Russia
,
I
love
my
people
,
but
I
love
England
and
her
people
too
.
But
better
than
either
do
I
love
Liberty
,
and
I
must
be
where
her
enemies
are
strongest
,
where
the
battle
is
hottest
.
'
'
If
that
is
so
,
'
she
said
,
reflectively
,
with
her
eyes
downcast
,
'
everyone
who
loves
Liberty
best
should
be
in
front
of
the
battle
too
?
'
'
I
think
so
;
but
each
must
think
for
himself
,
'
he
was
beginning
,
when
they
both
turned
at
the
sudden
opening
of
the
door
.
Cora
Quaid
came
in
;
her
fresh
face
quite
pale
;
a
newspaper
in
her
hands
.
'
Oh
,
how
do
you
do
,
Mr
Petrovitch
.
I
did
not
know
you
were
here
.
Clare
,
such
a
terrible
thing
has
happened
,
dear
;
mamma
has
just
seen
it
in
the
paper
.
'
She
held
out
the
sheet
and
pointed
to
a
paragraph
headed
,
'
Shocking
accident
at
Firth
Vale
.
'
The
paragraph
told
briefly
of
the
death
of
Richard
Ferrier
,
and
of
the
discovery
of
Hatfield
's
body
in
the
great
tank
,
and
concluded
thus
:
'
The
brother
of
the
deceased
,
Mr
Richard
Ferrier
,
states
that
his
brother
went
out
for
a
stroll
on
the
previous
night
in
his
usual
spirits
.
There
is
no
clue
to
any
explanation
of
the
catastrophe
,
save
that
the
man
Hatfield
was
formerly
employed
in
this
mill
,
and
had
been
heard
to
say
that
he
considered
himself
personally
aggrieved
at
the
closing
of
it
.
He
was
supposed
to
be
in
the
south
of
England
,
and
it
is
rumoured
that
he
secretly
returned
to
wreak
vengeance
on
the
young
masters
of
the
mill
for
the
part
they
had
taken
in
closing
it
.
'
Clare
read
it
through
;
her
face
grew
white
,
and
she
passed
it
to
Petrovitch
.
He
read
it
silently
,
his
brow
contracting
.
When
he
laid
the
paper
down
he
looked
at
Clare
.
She
had
sunk
into
a
chair
,
her
arms
stretched
out
over
her
knees
to
their
full
length
,
and
her
hands
clasped
.
'
Poor
fellow
!
poor
Dick
!
'
she
said
;
'
but
,
oh
,
Cora
!
poor
Mrs
Hatfield
!
How
will
she
bear
it
?
Oh
!
how
cruel
life
is
to
some
people
.
First
her
daughter
,
and
now
her
husband
,
and
she
is
alone
in
some
strange
place
,
where
no
one
can
get
to
her
to
help
her
to
bear
it
!
'
'
How
could
you
help
her
if
you
knew
where
she
was
?
'
asked
Petrovitch
.
'
I
could
tell
her
myself
.
I
have
had
grief
to
bear
—
I
know
,
'
she
answered
.
'
I
would
save
her
from
hearing
it
from
some
careless
stranger
.
I
could
go
to
her
—
'
She
broke
off
.
Her
hazel
eyes
were
full
of
tears
.
Cora
laid
her
hand
on
her
friend
's
shoulder
with
a
sympathetic
touch
.
'
I
happen
to
know
where
this
Mrs
Hatfield
is
,
'
said
Petrovitch
,
reflectively
,
'
and
I
agree
with
you
,
Miss
Stanley
,
that
it
would
be
right
for
you
to
go
to
her
.
'
Clare
rose
instantly
.
As
she
did
so
the
tears
brimmed
over
,
and
two
fell
from
her
long
lashes
.
'
I
will
go
now
,
'
she
said
,
'
if
you
will
tell
me
where
she
is
.
'
'
I
will
take
you
to
her
now
,
if
you
like
,
'
said
Petrovitch
.
Cora
looked
at
him
a
little
curiously
.
'
We
had
better
speak
to
mamma
,
I
think
,
'
she
said
;
'
perhaps
we
can
come
with
you
,
Clare
.
'
The
two
girls
left
the
room
,
and
Petrovitch
,
for
once
,
did
not
take
up
a
book
,
but
stood
rapt
in
thought
through
the
ten
minutes
that
passed
before
the
door
opened
again
.
Clare
came
in
alone
.
She
was
still
dressed
in
black
,
of
course
,
and
had
a
little
close
crape
bonnet
that
seemed
to
enhance
the
prettiness
of
the
face
it
framed
.
'
I
am
quite
ready
,
'
she
said
.
'
Mrs
Quaid
and
Cora
cannot
come
.
They
have
some
people
coming
to
lunch
,
and
I
am
not
sorry
,
for
poor
Mrs
Hatfield
ought
not
to
be
bothered
by
strangers
.
'
'
Come
,
then
,
'
he
said
,
and
they
went
out
together
.
As
soon
as
they
were
outside
he
offered
her
his
arm
,
as
a
matter
of
course
,
and
she
took
it
.
'
How
did
you
know
her
address
?
'
asked
Clare
,
as
they
walked
along
.
'
Ah
!
that
involves
explanations
,
'
he
answered
;
'
to
begin
with
,
I
must
tell
you
that
I
met
Count
Litvinoff
two
days
ago
.
It
was
from
him
I
had
Mrs
Hatfield
's
address
.
'
'
I
remember
he
and
poor
Hatfield
used
to
be
friends
.
'
'
He
gave
me
the
address
for
a
special
reason
and
for
a
special
purpose
.
He
has
married
Alice
Hatfield
,
and
he
wished
to
let
her
people
know
.
'
'
Alice
Hatfield
!
But
—
how
long
ago
?
How
did
he
know
her
?
'
'
He
married
her
yesterday
,
and
they
have
gone
to
Servia
together
.
Miss
Stanley
,
it
was
with
Count
Litvinoff
that
Alice
left
her
home
.
'
Clare
held
her
peace
for
a
moment
.
Her
bewilderment
would
not
let
her
find
words
.
Then
she
went
on
,
'
But
he
acted
as
though
he
believed
Roland
had
taken
her
away
.
Oh
,
how
could
he
have
been
so
base
and
—
'
'
Do
not
judge
him
,
'
Petrovitch
interrupted
;
'
no
one
knows
how
he
may
have
been
tempted
,
and
he
has
repented
and
atoned
for
his
fault
in
as
far
as
he
could
.
'
'
There
are
some
things
that
cannot
be
atoned
for
,
'
said
Clare
,
compressing
her
lips
.
'
If
it
had
not
been
for
him
this
tragedy
would
never
have
happened
.
Oh
,
when
I
think
—
'
She
broke
off
suddenly
.
'
When
you
think
that
he
would
have
married
you
,
owing
all
to
Alice
Hatfield
,
you
can
find
no
words
to
speak
of
his
baseness
.
Is
it
not
so
?
'
She
looked
at
him
in
mute
inquiry
.
How
did
he
know
so
much
?
'
Years
ago
,
'
he
said
,
'
he
and
I
were
friends
,
and
I
love
him
still
.
He
has
told
me
much
that
has
happened
since
last
autumn
.
And
I
say
,
judge
no
man
's
actions
,
for
of
his
temptations
you
cannot
judge
.
'
Then
they
were
both
silent
,
and
when
Clare
spoke
again
it
was
to
inquire
how
the
trains
went
,
and
so
on
.
'
I
wish
you
would
tell
me
—
'
Clare
began
,
when
they
were
in
the
train
en
route
for
Dartford
.
'
There
is
much
I
would
wish
to
tell
you
,
'
he
interrupted
,
'
but
not
to-day
,
when
you
are
going
on
an
errand
of
kindness
and
mercy
.
You
do
not
want
to
talk
now
,
you
want
to
think
;
and
besides
,
I
want
to
see
you
again
.
Will
you
write
to
me
to-night
,
and
tell
me
when
and
where
I
can
see
you
alone
to-morrow
.
'
'
Yes
,
if
you
wish
it
,
'
she
said
.
'
I
had
so
much
to
ask
you
;
and
just
now
it
seems
as
though
I
could
think
of
nothing
but
that
man
,
lying
dead
far
north
,
and
his
poor
wife
here
alone
.
'
'
Then
it
is
a
promise
.
We
are
comrades
,
since
we
serve
in
the
same
ranks
;
and
between
comrades
a
special
farewell
is
necessary
.
Now
,
we
will
not
talk
,
since
you
do
not
desire
it
.
'
Clare
leaned
back
in
her
corner
,
and
wondered
how
she
should
break
the
news
to
that
poor
widow
.
But
when
they
reached
Earl
's
Terrace
,
and
found
out
the
house
where
she
was
,
they
found
,
too
,
that
there
was
no
need
to
break
the
news
to
her
.
She
knew
it
already
,
as
Clare
saw
in
a
moment
.
Petrovitch
did
not
come
in
,
and
the
two
women
met
alone
.
What
Clare
said
to
her
?
It
is
beyond
us
to
write
that
down
;
and
if
the
words
were
set
down
here
,
despoiled
of
the
tender
tones
,
the
eloquent
gesture
,
the
heart-warm
tenderness
of
the
young
girl
,
who
had
herself
felt
grief
,
what
would
they
be
worth
?
In
the
presence
of
sorrow
some
women
are
inspired
,
but
not
with
words
that
will
bear
reporting
.
Mrs
Hatfield
's
grief
was
not
violent
.
She
wept
,
but
not
bitterly
.
'
It
is
the
Lord
's
will
,
'
she
said
,
and
she
believed
her
words
.
When
she
heard
of
her
daughter
's
marriage
she
said
simply
,
'
Thank
God
for
a
'
His
mercies
!
I
doubt
He
's
been
ower
good
to
we
i
'
mony
ways
,
an
'
we
mun
bear
what
He
's
pleased
to
lay
upo
'
us
.
'
Clare
would
have
been
more
at
ease
to
have
seen
her
weep
freely
,
but
she
seemed
crushed
.
This
last
blow
had
mercifully
benumbed
her
senses
.
Not
her
gratitude
,
though
,
for
when
Clare
rose
to
go
she
rose
too
,
and
,
taking
the
girl
's
hands
in
hers
,
looked
at
her
and
said
,
—
'
An
'
thee
came
a
'
th
'
way
fro
'
Lunnon
to
help
an
old
wife
to
bear
her
burdens
.
Eh
!
but
thee'rt
a
bonnie
lass
,
and
as
good
as
thee'rt
comely
.
Thee
'll
be
the
light
o
'
some
honest
lad
's
e'en
some
day
,
and
may
thee
ha
'
as
good
a
man
as
mine
were
.
'
Clare
kissed
the
faded
face
.
She
had
not
so
kissed
many
faces
.
She
put
her
young
,
round
,
soft
arms
round
the
woman
's
neck
,
and
said
'
Good-bye
.
'
'
You
'll
see
me
again
,
or
hear
,
'
she
said
.
'
There
's
some
words
as
Alice
were
fond
o
'
saying
time
agone
,
and
I
'll
say
'
em
to
thee
,
my
lass
,
for
I
'll
not
see
thee
agen
,
m'appen
,
and
they
say
my
meanin
'
clearer
nor
talk
o
'
mine
.
"
The
Lord
bless
thee
and
keep
thee
,
the
Lord
make
His
face
to
shine
upon
thee
and
be
gracious
unto
thee
,
the
Lord
lift
up
the
light
of
His
countenance
upon
thee
,
and
give
thee
peace
.
"
'
Mrs
Hatfield
opened
the
gate
for
Clare
to
pass
out
.
Petrovitch
did
not
seem
to
see
her
,
yet
when
Clare
was
on
his
arm
again
he
said
,
—
'
That
woman
is
marked
by
Death
.
She
will
not
live
three
months
.
Her
heart
is
broken
.
'
It
was
.
His
words
came
true
.
When
the
two
were
once
more
in
the
train
Clare
's
silent
mood
had
passed
.
She
would
gladly
have
talked
,
but
the
carriage
was
full
,
and
her
companion
's
place
being
on
the
opposite
side
of
the
carriage
,
anything
but
an
occasional
word
was
impossible
.
She
sat
gazing
out
of
the
window
,
and
he
sat
in
the
opposite
corner
looking
at
her
fixedly
.
As
they
were
passing
over
the
bridge
to
the
London
terminus
he
leaned
forward
suddenly
,
and
she
,
anticipating
some
words
from
his
movement
,
withdrew
her
eyes
from
the
sun-bathed
,
rippling
river
and
fixed
them
on
his
.
There
she
met
such
a
look
of
passion
,
and
love
,
and
longing
as
she
had
never
seen
in
any
man
's
eyes
before
;
and
as
she
gazed
,
startled
,
spell-bound
,
his
voice
whispered
these
words
,
in
a
tone
too
low
for
any
ears
but
hers
,
and
yet
distinct
enough
for
every
word
to
be
plainly
heard
by
her
,
and
to
make
her
heart
bound
responsively
.
Only
these
words
,
—
'
Whatever
happens
,
I
shall
always
love
you
.
'
Then
he
leaned
back
again
.
Clare
drew
a
deep
breath
,
and
the
train
stopped
at
the
Charing
Cross
platform
.
No
other
word
was
said
between
them
till
he
had
called
a
cab
and
placed
her
in
it
.
Then
he
said
,
'
Do
not
write
to
me
:
I
will
write
to
you
.
'
He
pressed
her
hand
,
drew
back
,
and
the
cab
was
driven
off
.
As
Petrovitch
walked
back
to
his
lodgings
the
sky
grew
quickly
cloudy
.
It
seemed
as
though
the
sunshine
had
gone
away
with
Clare
Stanley
.
By
the
time
he
reached
Osnaburgh
Street
the
rain
was
beginning
to
fall
in
big
heavy
splashes
on
the
dusty
pavement
.
He
strode
up
the
stairs
to
his
room
,
locked
the
door
,
and
flung
himself
down
in
the
elbow-chair
by
the
fireless
grate
.
The
rising
wind
blew
the
rain
in
gusts
against
the
uncurtained
window
,
and
the
large
drops
chased
each
other
down
the
panes
and
obscured
the
view
of
the
high
houses
opposite
.
All
the
sweetness
had
gone
out
of
the
weather
.
Petrovitch
noticed
it
,
and
felt
glad
that
it
was
so
.
He
sat
quite
still
and
quite
silent
,
his
elbow
on
the
arm
of
his
chair
,
and
his
forehead
on
his
hand
.
Now
indeed
the
dark
hour
was
upon
Saul
.
For
six
months
his
dream
,
his
hope
,
his
ambition
had
been
to
return
to
Russia
.
Now
he
was
going
at
last
,
and
the
thought
of
it
was
maddening
.
He
had
known
that
he
loved
Clare
,
but
he
had
not
known
how
much
he
loved
her
until
that
moment
in
the
train
,
and
then
his
sudden
knowledge
of
the
strength
of
his
own
passion
had
broken
down
all
his
resolutions
.
How
could
he
have
been
such
a
fool
as
ever
to
speak
the
words
which
made
it
impossible
for
him
to
see
her
again
?
He
had
not
meant
to
speak
them
.
He
could
not
understand
how
he
had
come
to
speak
them
.
Their
utterance
was
the
first
unguarded
action
he
had
been
guilty
of
for
the
last
ten
years
.
And
he
had
thought
with
some
reason
that
he
could
rely
on
his
own
cool-headedness
and
self-restraint
.
Now
it
seemed
he
was
mistaken
.
He
was
as
much
the
slave
of
impulse
as
another
—
as
much
as
the
man
who
had
assumed
his
name
.
It
was
incomprehensible
to
him
.
He
quite
failed
to
understand
the
full
force
of
this
new
over-mastering
emotion
.
Clare
!
Clare
!
The
world
seemed
to
mean
nothing
but
Clare
.
He
thought
of
her
apart
from
all
the
other
facts
and
circumstances
of
life
,
of
herself
,
her
face
,
her
eyes
,
her
hair
,
her
voice
,
her
way
of
holding
her
head
,
the
movement
of
her
hands
when
she
spoke
,
and
it
was
a
rapture
to
think
of
her
like
this
,
and
to
let
the
thought
of
her
rush
over
and
sweep
away
all
other
thoughts
,
even
of
his
own
life
's
aim
.
Then
slowly
came
back
to
him
the
remembrance
of
all
the
realities
of
his
life
,
and
he
cursed
what
seemed
to
him
his
degradation
.
What
sort
of
patriotism
was
it
that
the
touch
of
a
girl
's
hand
could
wither
?
What
principles
were
they
that
the
look
in
a
girl
's
eyes
could
destroy
?
It
was
an
utterly
new
experience
for
him
,
and
he
felt
as
though
his
patriotism
and
his
faith
were
dead
within
him
.
In
that
hour
he
was
man
first
,
patriot
after
.
But
the
hour
of
weakness
was
,
after
all
,
a
brief
one
.
His
patriotism
was
not
dead
.
It
had
been
his
master-passion
too
long
for
such
an
easy
death
to
be
possible
,
and
as
the
dusk
fell
and
deepened
into
night
it
rose
up
and
met
that
other
passion
in
the
field
and
vanquished
it
.
It
was
late
when
he
rose
and
lighted
his
lamp
.
It
shone
upon
a
face
white
with
the
struggle
he
had
gone
through
,
but
set
and
determined
.
He
turned
to
his
table
and
wrote
,
—
'
I
love
you
!
I
told
you
so
to-day
.
I
did
not
mean
to
tell
you
,
and
I
cannot
account
for
or
excuse
the
impulse
that
made
me
do
so
.
'
But
,
having
done
so
,
I
cannot
ask
you
to
meet
me
again
as
comrades
meet
.
It
would
be
embarrassing
for
you
,
and
for
me
impossible
.
I
know
you
do
not
love
me
.
Perhaps
you
will
even
despise
me
when
you
learn
what
has
been
the
temptation
I
have
undergone
.
To
give
up
Russia
—
the
Cause
—
the
Revolution
—
everything
—
and
to
stay
at
peace
in
England
,
and
give
my
whole
soul
to
the
effort
to
win
your
love
.
I
am
glad
to
think
I
am
not
so
unworthy
of
you
as
I
should
have
been
had
I
yielded
to
this
—
the
strongest
temptation
of
my
life
.
I
shall
leave
London
to-morrow
morning
;
I
cannot
stay
so
near
you
without
seeing
you
.
'
You
will
think
me
ungenerous
in
leaving
you
without
any
advice
on
the
subject
you
desire
to
be
advised
on
.
You
shall
hear
from
me
before
long
.
Perhaps
when
I
am
further
from
you
I
shall
be
better
able
to
write
you
the
sort
of
letter
you
will
care
to
have
from
me
.
For
those
who
love
Liberty
,
life
is
made
up
of
renunciations
,
but
no
renunciation
could
be
so
difficult
,
so
bitter
,
as
is
to
me
the
renouncing
of
this
least
faint
ghost
of
a
chance
of
winning
you
.
Michael
.
'
He
went
out
and
posted
the
letter
,
and
when
he
came
in
again
did
not
indulge
in
any
more
reflections
.
He
busied
himself
with
packing
up
his
belongings
,
paying
his
rent
,
and
making
all
his
arrangements
for
leaving
London
the
next
morning
.
But
when
the
next
morning
came
,
with
a
fresh
radiance
of
blue
skies
and
sunlight
,
all
his
plans
were
overturned
,
all
his
thought
unsettled
,
by
this
telegram
,
'
Clare
Stanley
,
Marlborough
Villa
,
N.W.
,
to
Michael
Petrovitch
,
37
,
Osnaburgh
Street
,
N.W.
—
You
are
not
going
without
good-bye
.
Please
be
in
the
Guildhall
at
twelve
.
'
Most
men
in
his
position
would
have
been
there
at
eleven
at
the
latest
.
But
the
clock
was
on
the
first
stroke
of
twelve
as
he
walked
through
the
crowd
of
fat
pigeons
,
who
,
as
usual
,
were
busily
eating
more
than
was
good
for
them
in
the
Guildhall
yard
.
He
passed
through
the
arched
entrance
and
stood
in
the
doorway
.
No
one
would
have
guessed
by
his
face
that
he
was
keeping
an
appointment
made
by
the
woman
he
loved
.
He
looked
white
and
haggard
,
wretched
and
weary
.
His
glance
travelled
round
the
large
hall
.
In
front
of
the
statue
of
the
Earl
of
Chatham
stood
the
graceful
black
figure
he
looked
for
.
He
walked
across
to
her
.
As
his
footsteps
sounded
on
the
stone
floor
she
turned
her
head
,
but
did
not
move
to
meet
him
.
When
he
was
quite
close
to
her
she
held
out
her
hand
in
silence
.
He
took
it
,
pressed
it
,
and
let
it
fall
at
once
.
He
spoke
almost
sternly
.
'
Why
did
you
bring
me
here
?
I
told
you
it
was
impossible
for
us
to
meet
on
the
old
terms
.
'
'
I
asked
you
to
meet
me
here
,
'
she
said
,
'
because
I
had
to
come
into
the
City
on
money
affairs
;
and
for
the
other
,
I
have
not
asked
you
to
do
the
impossible
.
'
She
,
too
,
was
very
pale
,
and
spoke
with
what
seemed
like
an
effort
at
lightness
.
'
It
is
unworthy
of
you
,
'
he
went
on
,
hardly
noticing
her
answer
,
'
to
make
my
renunciation
so
much
harder
for
me
.
'
'
There
are
enough
inevitable
renunciations
in
life
for
us
without
our
making
others
by
misunderstandings
,
'
she
said
,
her
eyelids
downcast
.
He
looked
at
her
silently
,
as
a
man
might
in
a
dream
which
he
feared
to
break
by
a
word
.
At
last
he
spoke
,
in
a
very
low
voice
,
with
his
eyes
still
on
her
face
.
'
This
is
glory
to
know
,
'
he
said
,
'
but
do
you
think
it
makes
the
sacrifice
more
easy
?
Before
it
was
only
a
chance
I
gave
up
—
now
it
is
your
very
self
I
must
renounce
.
'
'
Why
?
'
Her
voice
trembled
a
little
now
.
'
Because
I
must
return
to
Russia
.
My
place
is
there
,
and
where
I
go
—
'
'
I
,
too
,
will
go
,
'
she
interrupted
.
He
caught
her
wrist
.
'
But
if
you
go
with
me
you
go
to
almost
certain
death
.
'
Does
that
matter
?
'
she
said
,
and
looked
full
in
his
eyes
.
His
fingers
had
closed
on
hers
,
and
so
they
went
out
together
into
the
bright
English
sunshine
.
Not
more
serenely
,
not
more
gladly
,
than
they
would
hereafter
go
,
hand
in
hand
,
into
the
black
darkness
and
oblivion
that
waits
to
swallow
those
who
dare
to
set
themselves
against
the
bitter
tyranny
of
Russia
.
To
each
of
them
that
day
had
given
