talkas
if
I
was
clever
.
And
some
people
say
I
am
.
But
,
clever
or
stupid
,
I
am
almost
certain
that
Conny
found
out
only
half
the
secret
;
and
then
on
the
day
when
he
came
of
age
,
that
man
told
him
the
rest
,
either
for
his
own
purposes
,
or
holy
Madonna
knows
why
.
"
"
When
was
your
brother
of
age
?
"
"
Last
Christmas
Eve
.
Do
n't
you
remember
what
I
told
you
at
the
school
of
design
that
day
?
"
"
And
when
is
your
birthday
,
Isola
?
"
"
I
am
sure
I
do
n't
know
,
but
somewhere
about
Midsummer
.
They
never
told
Conny
when
his
was
,
but
he
knew
it
somehow
.
Come
,
he
is
clever
now
,
Clara
,
though
you
do
n't
think
I
am
.
Is
n't
he
now
?
Tell
the
truth
.
"
"
I
am
thinking
of
far
more
important
matters
than
your
rude
brother
's
ability
.
Whence
did
you
come
to
England
and
when
?
"
This
was
quite
a
shot
in
the
dark
.
But
I
had
long
suspected
that
they
were
of
Southern
race
.
"
I
am
sure
I
do
n't
know
.
I
was
quite
a
child
at
the
time
,
and
the
subject
has
been
interdicted
;
but
I
think
we
came
from
Italy
,
and
at
least
ten
years
ago
.
"
"
And
your
brother
speaks
Italian
more
readily
than
English
.
Can
you
tell
me
anything
more
?
"
"
Nothing
.
Only
I
know
that
old
Cora
is
a
Corsican
:
she
boasts
of
it
every
night
,
when
she
comes
to
see
me
in
bed
,
although
she
has
been
forbidden
.
But
what
does
she
care
—
she
asks
—
for
this
dirty
little
English
island
?
And
she
sits
by
my
bed
,
and
sings
droning
songs
,
which
I
hardly
understand
;
but
she
says
they
are
beautiful
nannas
.
"
How
my
heart
was
beating
,
at
every
simple
sentence
.
None
of
this
had
I
heard
before
,
because
she
durst
not
tell
it
.
"
Any
other
questions
,
Donna
?
"
She
was
recovering
her
spirits
,
as
girls
always
do
by
talking
.
"
Why
,
my
darling
,
you
ought
to
have
a
wig
.
You
beat
all
the
senior
sophists
.
"
"
Yes
.
Now
come
and
kiss
me
.
Kiss
me
for
a
pledge
that
you
will
never
leave
me
.
I
am
rich
again
now
:
you
ca
n't
tell
how
rich
I
am
,
and
nothing
to
do
with
my
money
,
and
nobody
likely
to
share
it
.
If
you
were
my
own
sister
,
I
could
not
love
you
more
;
and
most
likely
I
should
not
love
you
a
quarter
as
much
.
And
my
Uncle
longs
to
see
you
so
.
You
shall
come
and
live
with
me
,
and
we
'll
be
two
old
maids
together
.
Now
promise
,
darling
,
promise
.
Kiss
me
,
and
seal
the
bargain
.
"
"
Clara
,
I
would
rather
be
your
servant
than
the
queen
of
the
world
.
Only
promise
first
that
you
will
never
scold
me
.
I
cannot
bear
being
scolded
.
I
never
used
to
be
;
and
it
will
turn
all
my
hair
gray
.
"
"
I
will
promise
never
to
scold
you
,
unless
you
run
away
.
"
She
swept
back
her
beautiful
hair
,
threw
her
arms
round
my
neck
,
looked
in
my
eyes
with
a
well-spring
of
love
,
and
kissed
me
.
Oh
,
traitorous
Clara
,
it
was
not
the
kiss
—
deeply
as
I
loved
her
—
but
the
evidence
I
wanted
.
I
knew
that
with
her
ardent
nature
she
would
breathe
her
soul
upon
me
.
The
exquisite
fragrance
of
her
breath
was
like
the
wind
stealing
over
violets
.
I
had
noticed
it
often
before
.
My
last
weak
doubt
was
scattered
;
yet
I
played
with
her
and
myself
,
one
sweet
moment
longer
.
"
Darling
,
what
scent
do
you
use
?
What
is
it
you
wash
your
teeth
with
?
"
"
Nothing
but
water
,
Clara
;
what
makes
you
ask
in
that
way
?
"
"
And
the
perfume
in
your
hair
—
what
is
it
?
Oh
,
you
little
Rimmel
!
"
"
Nothing
at
all
,
Donna
.
I
never
use
anything
scented
.
Not
even
Eau
de
Cologne
.
I
hate
all
the
stuff
they
sell
.
"
"
How
very
odd
!
Why
,
I
could
have
declared
that
your
lips
and
your
hair
were
sprinkled
with
extract
of
violets
.
"
"
Oh
,
now
I
know
what
you
mean
.
I
never
perceive
it
myself
,
but
numbers
of
people
have
fancied
that
I
use
artificial
perfume
.
But
that
man
—
oh
,
what
shall
I
call
him
?
And
only
this
morning
I
called
him
'
pappy
'
—
he
always
accounts
for
everything
,
you
know
;
and
he
said
it
was
hered
—
herod
—
I
ca
n't
say
it
now
,
the
long
English
word
,
but
I
could
at
college
—
no
matter
,
it
means
something
in
the
family
.
My
mother
,
he
said
,
was
so
well
known
to
possess
it
,
that
she
had
an
Italian
name
among
the
servants
for
it
;
though
her
real
name
was
quite
a
different
flower
.
Clara
,
why
do
you
look
at
me
so
?
And
what
are
you
crying
for
?
"
"
Because
,
my
own
darling
dear
,
I
have
not
loved
you
for
nothing
.
You
are
my
own
flesh
and
blood
.
You
are
my
own
cousin
,
I
tell
you
,
my
dear
Uncle
's
daughter
;
and
your
name
is
Lily
Vaughan
.
"
She
drew
her
arms
from
me
,
and
leaped
up
from
the
sofa
;
she
was
so
amazed
and
frightened
.
She
looked
at
me
most
sadly
,
believing
that
I
was
mad
;
then
she
fainted
again
,
and
fell
back
into
my
arms
.
When
I
had
brought
her
round
,
and
propped
her
up
with
a
pillow
—
for
cushions
were
very
scarce
—
the
strain
of
the
mind
being
over
,
my
brain
began
to
whirl
so
that
I
could
neither
think
nor
act
.
For
a
long
time
I
could
not
have
enough
of
kissing
and
hugging
Idols
.
I
played
with
her
hair
,
as
if
I
had
been
her
lover
;
and
then
patted
and
caressed
her
,
as
if
she
had
been
my
baby
.
And
had
I
no
thought
of
another
,
who
ought
to
be
doing
all
this
to
me
?
Yes
,
I
fear
that
it
lay
in
the
depth
of
my
heart
,
stronger
than
maid
's
love
of
maiden
,
or
even
than
my
delight
at
the
joy
coming
to
my
Uncle
.
Then
I
hated
myself
for
my
selfishness
,
and
caught
up
my
Lily
and
rubbed
her
,
and
made
her
understand
things
.
I
flung
a
decanter
of
water
over
both
her
and
myself
,
which
saved
us
from
hysterics
.
Poor
little
thing
!
She
was
not
like
me
.
Strong
Passion
was
a
stranger
to
her
,
and
she
fell
before
his
blow
.
I
had
fought
with
him
so
long
,
that
I
met
him
like
a
prize-fighter
,
and
countered
at
every
stroke
.
Up
ran
Mrs.
Shelfer
,
in
the
height
and
crest
of
the
wave
,
when
backwards
or
forwards
,
crying
or
laughing
,
hung
on
a
puff
of
wind
.
She
came
with
a
commonplace
motive
;
she
thought
we
were
playing
at
cricket
with
her
beloved
sticks
.
Her
arrival
made
a
diversion
,
though
it
had
no
other
effect
,
for
I
walked
the
little
thing
out
,
and
locked
the
door
behind
her
.
Then
I
got
my
darling
new
cousin
into
my
arms
,
and
kissed
her
,
and
marched
her
about
the
room
,
and
made
her
show
her
Vaughan
instep
.
Excuse
the
petty
nonsense
—
what
women
are
quite
free
from
it
?
—
but
for
many
generations
our
feet
have
been
arched
and
pointed
:
of
course
it
does
not
matter
;
still
I
was
glad
that
hers
were
of
the
true
Vaughan
pattern
.
Then
,
as
she
so
hated
all
the
stuffs
they
sell
,
I
showered
over
her
an
entire
bottle
of
the
very
best
Eau
de
Cologne
.
It
was
a
bit
of
bullying
;
but
all
girls
of
high
spirit
are
bullies
.
And
it
made
her
eyes
water
so
dreadfully
,
that
she
cried
as
hard
as
I
did
.
CHAPTER
IV
.
It
must
be
owned
that
my
evidence
at
present
was
very
shadowy
.
Yet
to
myself
I
seemed
slow
of
hand
for
not
having
grasped
it
before
.
To
the
mind
there
was
nothing
conclusive
,
to
the
heart
all
was
irresistible
.
I
have
not
set
down
a
quarter
of
the
thoughts
that
now
dawned
upon
me
;
and
it
would
be
waste
of
time
to
recount
them
,
when
actual
proof
is
forthcoming
.
And
poor
Idols
gave
me
small
chance
of
thinking
clearly
,
in
the
turbulent
flood
of
her
questions
.
"
And
are
you
quite
sure
,
quite
certain
,
Clara
darling
,
that
I
have
a
lawful
father
,
one
who
is
not
ashamed
of
me
,
and
was
not
ashamed
of
my
mother
!
And
why
did
he
never
come
for
me
?
And
do
you
think
he
will
love
me
?
And
is
dear
Conrad
my
own
brother
?
I
do
n't
seem
to
understand
half
that
you
have
told
me
.
"
At
length
I
knelt
down
,
and
thanked
God
—
rather
late
in
the
day
,
I
must
own
—
for
His
wonderful
guidance
to
me
.
While
doing
so
,
and
remembering
,
as
I
always
did
then
,
my
mother
—
revealed
in
sudden
light
I
saw
the
justice
of
God
's
Providence
.
Long
as
I
had
groped
and
groped
,
with
red
revenge
my
leading
star
,
no
breath
of
love
or
mercy
cheering
the
abrupt
steps
of
a
fatalist
,
so
long
had
He
vouchsafed
to
send
me
check
and
warning
,
more
than
guidance
.
By
loss
of
wealth
and
dearest
friends
,
by
blindness
and
desertion
,
and
the
crushing
blow
to
maiden
's
pride
when
her
heart
is
flung
back
in
her
face
,
by
sad
hours
of
watching
and
weeping
over
the
bed
of
sickness
,
by
the
history
of
another
's
wrongs
—
worse
than
my
own
,
and
yet
forgiven
—
by
all
these
means
,
and
perhaps
no
less
by
the
growth
of
the
mind
,
and
wider
views
of
life
,
the
spirit
,
once
so
indomitable
,
had
learned
to
bow
to
its
Maker
.
Stooping
thus
it
saw
the
path
,
which
stiff-necked
pride
could
not
descry
.
Not
first
and
sole
,
as
it
would
have
been
two
years
since
,
but
side
by
side
with
softer
thoughts
,
came
the
strong
belief
that
now
God
had
revealed
to
me
the
man
who
slew
my
father
.
And
what
humiliation
to
all
my
boasted
destiny
!
I
had
grasped
the
hand
that
did
the
deed
,
smiled
to
the
eyes
that
glared
upon
it
,
laughed
at
the
sallies
of
the
mind
that
shaped
it
.
Enough
of
this
;
ere
it
go
too
hard
with
Christian
feeling
.
My
bosom
heaves
,
my
throat
swells
,
and
my
eyes
flash
as
of
old
.
Before
I
had
time
to
resolve
what
next
to
do
(
for
Isola
would
not
let
me
think
)
,
we
had
another
interruption
.
That
girl
had
a
most
ill-regulated
and
illogical
mind
.
And
the
fault
was
fundamental
.
If
the
lovely
senior
sophist
had
ever
got
her
degree
,
and
worn
the
gown
of
a
Maiden
of
Arts
,
it
could
only
have
come
by
favour
,
after
the
manner
of
kissing
.
Her
enthymems
were
quick
enough
,
and
a
great
deal
too
quick
I
believe
;
but
as
for
their
reduction
or
eduction
into
syllogisms
—
we
might
as
well
expect
her
to
make
a
telescope
out
of
her
boot-tags
.
And
now
at
once
she
expected
,
and
would
not
give
me
room
for
a
word
,
that
I
should
minutely
detail
in
two
sentences
,
with
marginal
annotations
,
and
footnotes
,
queries
,
conjectures
,
and
various
readings
,
all
incorporated
into
the
text
,
everything
that
had
ever
,
anywhere
,
or
by
any
means
,
befallen
her
"
genuine
father
.
"
Not
being
Thucydidean
enough
to
omit
the
key-word
in
the
sentence
,
and
mash
ten
thoughts
into
one
verb
,
I
could
not
meet
the
emergency
;
and
my
dear
cousin
lost
her
patience
,
which
was
always
a
very
small
parcel
.
"
At
any
rate
,
Clara
,
tell
me
one
thing
clearly
.
Are
you
quite
certain
that
Conny
and
I
are
not
—
not
—
"
"
Not
base-born
,
"
I
said
—
why
be
mawkish
in
Oscan-English
,
when
Saxon
is
to
be
had
?
—
"
No
,
my
darling
,
you
are
as
lawful
as
I
,
your
cousin
Clara
.
We
Vaughans
are
a
passionate
race
,
but
we
never
make
wrecks
of
women
,
and
scoundrels
of
ourselves
.
That
we
leave
for
Corsicans
,
and
people
brought
up
to
lies
.
"
The
sneer
was
most
unjust
,
and
dreadfully
unkind
,
but
far
too
natural
for
me
,
so
long
pent
in
,
to
resist
it
.
I
saw
that
I
had
grieved
my
pet
,
so
I
begged
her
pardon
,
and
reviled
myself
,
till
all
was
right
again
.
Then
suddenly
she
leaped
up
and
cried
,
with
her
hand
upon
her
bounding
heart
—
every
look
and
gesture
must
have
been
like
her
mother
's
.
"
Let
me
go
now
,
Clara
.
What
am
I
thinking
of
?
Let
me
start
at
once
.
And
you
say
my
own
father
is
very
ill.
He
will
die
without
seeing
me
.
On
with
your
things
,
while
I
run
to
the
cab-stand
.
I
have
money
enough
for
both
.
"
She
wrenched
at
the
door-handle
in
her
hurry
,
forgetting
that
I
had
locked
it
;
rich
colour
leaped
into
her
cheeks
,
and
her
features
and
form
seemed
to
dance
,
like
a
flickering
flame
,
with
excitement
.
No
wonder
her
mother
had
loved
,
and
been
loved
,
with
such
power
of
passion
.
"
Idols
,
take
it
easily
,
or
I
wo
n't
let
you
go
at
all
.
I
rather
fancy
,
we
must
have
some
evidence
,
before
my
Uncle
owns
a
little
chit
picked
up
in
London
.
He
is
a
clever
and
cautious
man
,
and
will
expect
something
more
convincing
than
your
beautiful
eyes
and
sweet
breath
.
Do
you
expect
,
you
impetuous
jumper
,
that
he
will
know
you
by
instinct
?
"
Poor
little
thing
,
how
her
face
fell
,
and
how
the
roses
faded
out
of
it
!
That
look
of
hers
went
to
my
heart
;
but
I
knew
what
the
mother
had
died
of
,
and
feared
lest
her
image
and
picture
should
perish
in
the
same
manner
.
So
I
said
again
:
"
Did
you
suppose
,
my
dear
,
that
your
father
would
know
you
by
instinct
?
"
"
Well
,
perhaps
I
did
,
Clara
;
if
I
thought
about
it
at
all
.
I
am
sure
I
should
know
him
so
.
"
At
this
moment
,
two
heavy
knocks
,
like
a
postman
's
,
but
not
so
quick
,
sounded
through
the
house
.
I
knew
what
they
meant
,
one
was
Balaam
,
the
other
was
Balak
.
Isola
clung
to
me
,
and
turned
pale
;
she
thought
it
was
some
one
pursuing
her
.
I
told
her
hastily
whom
I
expected
,
and
sent
her
to
Mrs.
Shelfer
's
room
.
My
heart
beat
high
,
when
with
many
a
scrape
and
bow
,
the
worthy
but
not
ornamental
pair
sidled
heavily
into
the
room
.
To
my
greetings
they
answered
me
never
a
word
;
but
Balaam
stood
solemnly
at
the
end
of
the
little
table
,
and
beckoned
to
his
partner
to
fasten
the
door
.
This
being
done
with
some
pantomime
,
which
meant
"
By
your
leave
,
if
you
please
,
Miss
,
"
the
two
men
,
who
looked
none
the
leaner
for
their
arduous
exertions
,
stood
side
by
side
before
me
.
Tired
of
this
nonsense
I
exclaimed
impatiently
,
"
Be
quick
,
if
you
please
;
what
is
it
you
have
found
out
?
"
Balaam
winked
at
Balak
,
and
receiving
a
ponderous
nod
,
began
to
digest
it
leisurely
.
"
Have
you
brought
me
to
London
for
nothing
?
What
do
you
mean
by
all
this
mummery
?
I
shall
ring
the
bell
in
a
moment
,
and
have
you
both
shown
out
.
"
Balaam
's
tongue
revolved
in
his
mouth
,
but
burst
not
the
bonds
of
speech
,
and
he
tried
to
look
straight
at
both
windows
,
—
till
my
hand
was
on
the
bell-pull
.
"
Balak
,
I
told
you
so
.
Lor
,
how
much
better
it
be
for
you
to
take
my
advice
,
than
for
me
to
take
yourn
!
Balak
said
,
Miss
,
as
we
come
along
,
the
young
lady
would
be
sure
to
know
what
was
right
,
and
turn
up
handsome
afore
she
asked
us
nothing
.
Now
,
says
I
,
that
ai
n't
the
carakter
of
my
experience
,
the
women
most
always
wants
—
"
"
Here
,
quick
,
how
much
do
you
want
,
before
I
know
what
you
have
to
tell
?
"
Here
a
long
interchange
of
signals
took
place
,
and
even
whispering
behind
a
hat
.
"
Well
,
Miss
,
I
say
ten
,
and
that
quite
enough
till
you
has
time
to
judge
.
But
Balak
say
nothing
under
twenty
,
considering
all
the
beer
,
and
some
of
it
country
brewers
'
—
"
"
Your
advice
is
better
than
Balak
's
;
I
agree
with
you
on
that
point
;
and
I
will
take
it
in
preference
.
Here
are
ten
pounds
.
"
He
looked
rather
taken
aback
,
but
could
not
well
get
out
of
it
.
Balak
smiled
grimly
at
him
.
"
If
what
you
tell
me
proves
really
valuable
,
I
will
give
you
a
cheque
for
another
ninety
ere
long
,
and
the
residue
hereafter
:
but
not
another
farthing
,
if
you
keep
me
in
this
suspense
.
Do
I
look
likely
to
cheat
people
of
your
class
?
"
"
No
,
Miss
,
we
hopes
not
;
nor
of
any
other
class
,
I
dare
say
.
Still
there
be
so
many
rogues
in
the
world
—
"
"
You
have
taken
my
money
;
speak
on
.
"
What
they
told
me
at
wearisome
length
,
and
with
puzzling
divergence
,
and
quantities
of
self-praise
,
need
not
occupy
many
lines
.
They
had
traced
the
Jelly-corses
,
as
they
called
Della
Croce
,
from
Somers
Town
to
Lisson
Grove
,
where
they
stayed
but
a
very
short
time
,
Lepardo
Della
Croce
,
under
some
fictitious
name
,
giving
lessons
in
French
,
Spanish
,
and
Italian
,
at
schools
in
Portland
Town
and
St.
John
's
Wood
.
But
he
only
seemed
to
play
with
his
work
,
though
he
never
broke
any
engagement
to
which
he
really
pledged
himself
.
He
was
always
reserved
and
silent
,
accepted
no
invitations
,
and
gathered
his
real
subsistence
by
night
at
chess-clubs
and
billiard-rooms
,
where
his
skill
was
unequalled
.
His
only
friends
were
Italian
refugees
,
his
only
diversion
the
vivisection
of
animals
.
It
must
have
been
about
this
time
that
he
saw
the
newspaper
paragraph
,
and
did
what
he
did
to
me
.
Then
he
changed
his
name
again
,
and
lived
awhile
in
Kensington
;
he
had
been
in
London
years
before
,
and
seemed
to
know
it
well
.
Here
a
nobleman
,
whom
he
had
taught
some
new
device
at
billiards
,
took
him
up
and
introduced
him
to
a
higher
class
of
pupils
,
and
obtained
him
some
back-door
palace
appointment
.
He
dubbed
himself
"
Professor
,
"
and
started
as
Dr.
Ross
.
But
still
he
missed
the
excitement
and
change
of
his
once
adventurous
life
,
and
several
times
he
broke
loose
,
and
left
his
household
,
for
weeks
and
months
together
.
Then
the
two
lovely
children
,
whom
all
admired
but
none
were
allowed
to
notice
,
were
attended
wherever
they
went
,
by
a
dark-browed
Italian
woman
.
Suddenly
they
all
left
Kensington
,
and
went
to
live
at
Ball
's
Pond
;
the
reason
being
some
threatened
exposure
of
the
Professor
's
cat-skinning
propensities
.
His
love
of
vivisection
had
become
the
master-passion
,
and
he
would
gratify
it
at
all
hazards
.
There
is
to
some
natures
a
strange
fascination
in
the
horrible
cruelties
perpetrated
under
the
name
of
science
.
Through
its
influence
he
even
relaxed
his
strict
reserve
a
little
,
and
formed
the
acquaintance
of
a
gentleman
connected
with
the
college
at
Camden
Town
;
to
which
suburb
after
a
while
he
removed
,
because
he
found
it
impossible
to
pursue
his
inhuman
researches
under
his
own
roof
comfortably
.
Here
,
by
means
of
his
new
ally
,
who
could
not
help
admiring
his
infinitely
superior
skill
,
he
was
appointed
lecturer
at
several
schools
for
young
ladies
,
where
smatterings
of
science
were
dealt
in
.
And
now
he
was
highly
respected
by
people
who
did
not
know
him
,
and
idolised
by
young
ladies
too
clever
to
care
for
pet
parsons
.
Of
course
he
became
conceited
;
for
his
nature
was
but
a
shallow
one
,
and
his
cunning
,
though
sharp
and
poisonous
,
had
no
solid
barb
at
the
end
.
So
he
sneered
,
and
grimaced
,
and
sniggered
,
and
before
an
ignorant
audience
made
learned
men
stammer
and
stutter
,
amazed
at
his
bold
assumptions
,
and
too
honest
and
large
of
mind
to
suspect
them
,
at
short
notice
.
But
the
skill
of
his
hands
was
genuine
,
and
his
power
of
sight
most
wonderful
.
I
have
since
been
told
—
though
I
do
not
believe
it
possible
—
that
he
once
withdrew
and
bottled
nearly
half
the
lungs
of
a
dog
,
tubercular
after
distemper
,
while
the
poor
sufferer
still
gasped
on
,
and
tried
to
lick
his
face
.
Oh
that
I
were
a
man
!
How
can
I
hear
such
things
and
not
swear
?
All
animals
,
except
one
,
hated
him
by
instinct
.
The
only
one
,
not
sagacious
enough
to
know
him
,
was
his
fellow-man
.
Men
,
or
at
any
rate
women
,
thought
him
a
handsome
,
lively
,
playful
,
and
brilliant
being
.
And
yet
,
upon
the
honour
of
a
lady
I
declare
—
let
those
who
know
nothing
of
honour
despise
it
as
an
after-thought
—
that
when
he
first
entered
my
room
,
in
his
graceful
and
elegant
way
,
there
ran
through
me
such
a
shudder
as
first
turns
the
leaves
towards
autumn
,
such
a
chill
of
the
spinal
marrow
as
makes
the
aura
of
epilepsy
.
Darling
Judy
hated
him
from
every
bristle
of
his
body
,
not
only
through
instinct
,
but
for
certain
excellent
reasons
.
The
monster
's
most
intimate
friend
was
a
gallant
Polish
patriot
,
who
had
sacrificed
all
for
his
country
,
and
lived
here
in
dignified
poverty
.
This
gentleman
and
his
wife
could
only
afford
one
luxury
;
and
that
,
by
denying
themselves
many
a
little
comfort
.
They
had
the
finest
dog
in
London
,
one
who
had
saved
his
master
's
life
from
the
squat-nosed
sons
of
the
Czar
.
This
glorious
fellow
,
of
Maltese
family
,
was
the
father
of
my
Giudice
—
whom
in
his
puppy
days
the
Polish
exile
gave
to
Conrad
and
pretty
girl
Isola
.
Slowski
,
now
an
ancient
dog
,
had
a
wen
behind
his
shoulder
,
which
grew
and
grew
until
the
Professor
could
scarcely
keep
his
hands
from
it
.
But
he
knew
that
any
operation
,
in
so
severe
a
case
,
was
nearly
sure
to
kill
a
dog
so
old
and
weather-beaten
.
The
owner
too
knew
this
,
and
would
not
have
it
meddled
with
.
Lepardo
Della
Croce
swore
at
last
that
he
would
taste
no
food
until
he
had
traced
the
roots
of
that
wen
.
Judy
,
then
a
pretty
pup
,
gambolled
into
the
room
and
saw
his
poor
papa
—
but
I
will
not
describe
what
a
dog
cannot
even
bear
to
think
of
.
Poor
Slowski
died
that
night
,
and
the
Pole
knocked
down
the
surviving
brute
,
who
shot
him
next
day
upon
Hampstead
Heath
.
However
,
the
gentleman
slowly
recovered
;
but
during
his
illness
the
frenzied
wife
overstepped
the
bounds
of
honour
—
according
to
their
ideas
;
she
took
advantage
of
Cora
,
in
the
absence
of
Lepardo
,
and
learned
some
of
his
previous
crimes
,
by
practising
on
the
poor
woman
's
superstition
.
Then
she
found
,
through
the
firm
of
Green
,
Vowler
,
and
Green
,
that
my
Uncle
was
still
alive
,
traced
out
the
history
of
the
atrocious
deed
,
and
wrote
the
letter
which
had
brought
me
to
London
.
Soon
afterwards
,
when
her
husband
recovered
,
she
was
sorry
for
what
she
had
done
,
and
opened
her
lips
on
the
subject
no
more
;
at
least
in
this
country
,
which
they
soon
forsook
for
America
.
In
this
brief
epitome
,
I
have
told
,
for
the
purpose
of
saving
trouble
,
a
great
deal
more
than
I
learned
at
the
time
,
a
great
deal
more
than
Balaam
and
Balak
would
have
found
out
in
a
twelvemonth
.
But
it
makes
no
difference
:
for
my
conclusions
and
actions
were
just
the
same
as
they
would
have
been
,
if
I
had
known
all
the
above
.
"
And
so
you
see
,
Miss
"
—
was
Balaam
's
peroration
—
"
we
have
had
a
downy
cove
to
deal
with
,
for
all
his
furious
temper
.
Lor
now
,
I
never
believe
any
Bobby
would
have
discovered
him
;
but
we
has
ways
,
Miss
,
what
with
the
carpets
and
the
sofys
,
and
always
knowing
the
best
pump
at
the
bar
,
gentlemen
of
our
profession
has
ways
that
no
Peeler
would
ever
dream
of
.
And
now
,
Miss
,
the
ink
is
on
the
table
,
and
both
of
us
wishes
you
joy
—
did
n't
you
say
so
,
Balak
?
—
if
you
only
think
we
has
earned
that
cheque
for
90
*
l
.
*
,
and
the
rest
,
please
God
,
when
the
gentleman
feel
Jack
Ketch
.
"
"
You
shall
have
the
money
soon
,
if
not
now
.
For
I
believe
you
have
deserved
it
.
But
I
must
trouble
you
first
to
write
down
briefly
what
you
have
told
me
,
and
to
sign
it
in
full
.
It
is
not
for
myself
.
I
remember
every
word
.
It
is
for
the
satisfaction
of
a
gentleman
who
cannot
see
you
.
"
Balaam
and
Balak
looked
very
blank
,
and
declared
it
would
take
them
a
week
to
write
out
half
they
had
told
me
.
This
objection
I
soon
removed
,
by
offering
to
make
an
abstract
of
it
,
which
I
could
do
from
memory
,
and
then
let
them
read
and
sign
it
.
By
this
time
they
were
both
afflicted
with
thirst
,
which
I
sent
them
away
to
quench
,
while
I
drew
up
a
rough
deposition
.
But
first
I
called
darling
Idols
,
and
told
her
that
now
I
had
evidence
which
would
satisfy
even
a
sceptical
father
.
"
And
surely
,
my
pet
,
you
yourself
must
have
something
;
some
relic
,
or
token
,
to
help
us
.
"
"
No
,
cousin
Clara
,
I
ca
n't
think
of
anything
,
except
this
little
charm
,
which
has
been
round
my
neck
for
years
,
and
which
I
have
shown
you
before
:
but
I
fear
it
is
not
uncommon
.
He
took
it
away
from
me
once
,
but
I
managed
to
steal
it
back
again
.
"
The
charm
was
a
piece
of
chalcedony
,
ground
into
some
resemblance
which
I
could
not
recognise
then
,
and
very
highly
polished
.
She
said
it
had
been
her
brother
Conrad
's
,
and
he
had
given
it
to
her
;
hearing
which
I
ceased
to
examine
it
.
Presently
the
bailiffs
returned
,
in
very
high
spirits
indeed
,
and
ready
to
sign
almost
anything
.
But
I
took
good
care
to
inform
them
that
,
however
hard
they
had
laboured
,
I
had
made
the
discovery
before
them
;
which
they
said
was
permiscuous
,
and
not
to
be
thought
nothing
of
.
All
the
forms
being
quickly
despatched
,
I
found
a
few
minutes
to
think
what
was
next
to
be
done
.
It
is
too
late
in
my
journey
for
dalliance
and
embarrassment
with
the
heavy
luggage
of
motives
,
and
the
bandboxes
of
reflections
,
when
we
are
past
the
last
station
,
and
flying
to
our
terminus
:
enough
that
I
resolved
to
take
poor
little
Isola
home
at
once
to
the
house
at
Vaughan
St.
Mary
,
and
the
arms
of
her
longing
father
,
that
he
might
see
her
before
he
died
.
I
hoped
he
might
live
for
years
,
but
I
feared
he
might
die
to-morrow
;
so
hangs
over
every
one
's
mind
that
fatal
third
stroke
of
paralysis
.
Her
own
entreaties
and
coaxing
told
much
upon
my
resolution
;
if
none
could
resist
her
when
happy
,
who
could
withstand
her
distress
?
So
Balaam
and
Balak
were
ordered
most
strictly
to
watch
that
demon
's
abode
,
and
at
any
risk
give
him
in
charge
if
he
made
attempt
at
departure
.
To
ensure
due
vigilance
,
I
reclaimed
the
90
*
l
.
*
cheque
,
and
gave
one
payable
three
days
afterwards
.
They
grumbled
and
did
not
like
it
;
but
in
the
course
of
all
my
rough
usage
,
I
had
learned
one
great
maxim
—
Never
trust
,
beyond
the
length
of
a
cork
,
any
man
who
is
slave
to
the
bottle
.
CHAPTER
V.
Eager
as
Isola
was
to
see
her
true
father
at
last
,
she
pressed
me
strongly
to
call
at
her
brother
's
lodgings
on
our
way
to
Paddington
,
and
take
him
with
us
if
possible
;
or
at
any
rate
learn
where
he
was
,
and
how
long
he
would
be
absent
.
But
I
refused
to
do
anything
of
the
kind
.
Though
not
half
so
proud
as
of
old
,
I
could
not
quite
stoop
to
that
.
"
You
know
,
dear
,
"
she
continued
,
"
Conny
will
think
it
unfair
of
me
to
get
such
a
start
of
him
with
the
real
good
Papa
;
and
it
would
be
so
much
nicer
to
have
him
there
to
help
.
And
I
am
terribly
frightened
,
though
of
course
you
ca
n't
understand
it
.
"
"
Isola
,
no
more
nonsense
.
For
your
sake
,
and
my
poor
Uncle
's
,
I
would
do
anything
honest
and
proper
:
but
neither
can
I
travel
with
your
brother
Conrad
,
nor
can
I
go
near
his
lodgings
.
I
am
not
quite
reduced
to
that
,
however
I
am
trampled
on
.
"
"
But
,
darling
,
they
need
not
see
you
.
And
you
know
he
has
made
some
wonderful
mistake
.
"
Of
course
I
knew
it
,
and
told
myself
so
fifty
times
in
a
minute
;
but
it
was
a
likely
thing
that
I
would
tell
his
sister
so
.
"
He
has
,
indeed
,
a
very
grave
mistake
,
if
he
ever
thinks
I
will
forgive
him
.
No
mistake
ever
made
by
man
can
be
pleaded
for
what
he
has
done
.
Even
if
he
believed
,
by
some
excess
of
absurdity
,
that
my
father
had
murdered
his
,
instead
of
his
murdering
mine
(
which
was
much
nearer
the
mark
)
,
would
even
that
justify
his
rudeness
,
low
rudeness
,
and
personal
violence
to
a
lady
?
What
he
did
I
never
told
you
;
and
he
,
I
should
hope
,
was
too
much
ashamed
to
speak
of
it
:
why
he
actually
pushed
me
;
thrust
me
,
Clara
Vaughan
,
away
from
him
,
till
I
almost
fell
on
the
floor
!
"
"
Oh
,
Donna
,
how
your
eyes
flash
!
And
you
call
me
excitable
!
Let
me
put
your
hair
back
.
There
now
,
give
me
a
kiss
.
I
am
so
sorry
for
Conny
.
He
loves
you
with
all
his
heart
,
and
you
look
as
if
you
could
kill
him
.
But
no
doubt
the
new
good
papa
will
put
every
thing
to
rights
.
"
"
Will
he
indeed
?
Let
us
go
and
see
.
"
We
got
to
Paddington
just
in
time
to
catch
the
two
o'clock
train
,
having
telegraphed
first
to
my
Uncle
that
I
was
coming
to
take
his
advice
,
before
doing
anything
more
.
This
was
true
,
so
far
as
it
went
,
and
as
much
of
the
truth
as
I
then
dared
to
administer
.
This
message
was
sent
,
not
for
the
sake
of
finding
the
carriage
at
Gloucester
,
but
in
order
to
break
the
suddenness
of
our
arrival
.
Through
all
my
joy
I
dreaded
what
was
to
come
,
and
knew
not
how
to
manage
it
.
Idols
talked
fast
enough
all
the
way
down
the
line
.
As
yet
she
had
seen
scarcely
anything
of
our
quiet
,
rich
English
scenery
;
and
although
the
Great
Western
exhibits
it
rather
flatly
,
some
parts
there
are
,
below
Swindon
,
which
fill
the
mind
with
content
.
But
our
minds
could
not
be
so
filled
,
being
full
of
excitement
already
.
Near
Stroud
poor
Idols
was
in
the
greatest
ecstasy
,
and
expected
me
to
know
the
owner
of
every
pretty
meadow
.
But
after
we
entered
my
Uncle
's
carriage
—
or
mine
,
I
suppose
,
it
should
now
be
called
—
dear
Isola
fell
away
into
the
deepest
silence
.
She
stored
her
wonder
inwardly
,
nor
showed
the
sweet
depths
of
her
eyes
,
until
she
sprang
out
at
the
foot
of
the
old
stone
steps
,
trodden
by
so
many
hundreds
of
her
ancestors
.
Then
she
looked
up
at
the
long
gray
house
,
with
the
dusk
of
July
around
it
,
and
bats
of
three
varieties
flitting
about
the
gables
;
and
I
saw
beneath
her
dark
eye-lashes
the
tremulous
light
of
a
tear
.
After
leading
my
sweet
new
cousin
—
whom
everybody
stared
at
,
and
who
feared
to
look
at
the
pavement
—
to
my
own
snug
quarters
,
I
left
her
there
under
kind
Mrs.
Fletcher
's
charge
,
and
ran
to
my
Uncle
's
favourite
room
.
Already
my
breath
was
short
,
and
my
heart
up
and
down
with
excitement
,
and
I
had
but
the
presence
of
mind
to
know
that
I
was
sure
to
make
a
mistake
of
it
.
I
saw
a
great
change
in
him
,
even
since
the
Monday
;
but
he
was
the
first
to
speak
.
"
My
dear
child
,
kiss
me
again
.
You
are
nearly
as
tall
as
I
am
,
since
my
upright
ways
have
departed
.
From
the
moment
you
went
away
,
I
have
done
nothing
but
miss
you
,
every
hour
and
every
minute
;
and
last
night
I
slept
never
a
single
wink
.
Let
us
give
it
up
,
my
darling
.
God
has
sent
you
to
me
to
make
up
for
both
daughter
and
son
.
"
"
Well
,
Uncle
,
that
's
all
very
fine
,
but
I
doubt
it
strongly
.
"
I
was
forced
to
be
flippant
a
little
,
for
fear
of
breaking
down
.
"
It
is
my
firm
belief
that
proud
Clara
will
still
have
to
wash
at
the
pump
.
"
He
knew
what
I
meant
;
it
was
an
old
tale
,
in
our
neighbourhood
,
of
a
nobleman
's
second
wife
who
would
not
allow
her
step-children
even
the
use
of
a
yellow
basin
.
"
What
!
do
you
mean
to
say
"
—
and
he
began
to
tremble
exceedingly
—
"
that
you
have
found
any
trace
,
any
clue
even
,
to
my
poor
darlings
?
"
"
Yes
,
thank
God
,
I
have
.
Oh
,
Uncle
,
I
am
so
glad
!
"
And
I
threw
myself
into
his
arms
:
his
head
fell
heavily
on
my
shoulder
,
and
I
felt
that
I
had
been
too
sudden
.
He
could
not
speak
,
but
fetched
one
long
sob
.
I
parted
his
white
hair
,
and
looked
at
him
as
if
in
surprise
at
his
hastiness
.
"
Dear
Uncle
,
we
must
not
be
certain
yet
.
I
mean
that
I
have
found
something
,
or
fancy
I
have
found
something
,
which
—
which
—
I
mean
if
properly
followed
up
—
may
lead
in
time
—
but
you
know
how
sanguine
I
am
.
"
"
Clara
,
you
are
playing
with
me
.
It
is
a
mistake
to
do
so
.
I
cannot
bear
it
,
child
.
But
the
sudden
shock
I
can
bear
.
Let
me
know
all
at
once
.
Are
they
alive
or
dead
?
"
"
Alive
,
I
think
,
dear
Uncle
;
and
I
hope
to
find
them
soon
,
if
you
will
calmly
advise
me
.
"
"
You
have
found
them
.
No
more
fencing
.
I
know
it
by
your
eyes
.
All
the
truth
this
moment
,
unless
you
wish
to
kill
me
.
"
He
stood
up
as
if
to
seize
me
,
for
I
had
withdrawn
from
his
grasp
,
but
his
poor
legs
would
not
carry
him
;
so
I
was
obliged
to
seize
him
instead
.
He
fell
sideways
on
a
chair
,
and
vainly
tried
to
speak
;
but
his
eyes
never
faltered
from
mine
.
"
Dearest
Uncle
,
I
tell
you
the
truth
.
Of
course
I
cannot
be
certain
yet
,
and
it
wo
n't
do
to
make
a
mistake
;
and
so
I
want
more
evidence
.
"
"
I
want
no
more
.
Only
let
me
see
them
.
"
He
spoke
very
slowly
,
and
the
muscles
of
his
face
twitched
at
every
word
.
"
Now
,
keep
your
mind
calm
and
clear
,
to
help
me
,
my
dear
Uncle
;
for
I
know
not
what
to
do
.
Have
you
anything
,
any
tokens
at
all
,
of
their
beloved
mother
?
"
My
object
was
to
divert
his
mind
,
for
I
saw
the
approach
of
coma
,
and
now
trembled
more
than
he
did
.
With
a
feeble
smile
at
the
folly
of
my
question
,
after
such
a
love
as
his
,
he
answered
in
great
exhaustion
,
"
Take
the
key
from
my
neck
.
You
know
the
large
black
box
in
—
in
—
"
Here
his
chin
fell
on
his
breast
,
and
he
could
not
lift
the
key
,
but
his
eyes
still
shone
with
intelligence
,
and
followed
me
everywhere
.
Ribbon
and
all
I
took
the
key
,
and
rang
the
bell
for
Jane
,
the
most
careful
and
kind
of
nurses
.
I
ordered
her
,
in
a
whisper
,
to
give
my
Uncle
a
glass
of
very
strong
brandy
and
water
,
if
she
could
get
him
to
swallow
it
;
and
away
I
ran
upstairs
,
hoping
to
relieve
him
.
Then
suddenly
it
struck
me
that
I
had
no
right
to
open
that
box
,
without
the
presence
of
a
competent
witness
.
I
knew
at
once
what
box
it
was
,
from
the
constant
anxiety
my
poor
Uncle
had
shown
about
it
.
Who
had
such
right
to
be
my
witness
as
his
darling
daughter
?
So
back
I
flew
to
my
own
rooms
,
and
dragged
the
bewildered
Isola
down
the
broad
corridor
.
The
poor
little
thing
was
frightened
so
that
she
could
hardly
breathe
.
I
had
no
especial
object
in
opening
that
old
box
,
at
that
particular
moment
,
much
as
I
had
often
longed
to
know
what
its
contents
were
.
My
presence
of
mind
was
lost
,
and
all
I
could
think
of
was
,
that
I
might
find
something
there
to
break
that
awful
suspension
of
life
,
so
likely
to
end
in
death
.
The
box
was
in
a
panelled
closet
by
the
head
of
my
Uncle
's
bed
.
When
I
handed
Idols
the
light
to
hold
,
she
took
it
as
if
in
a
dream
;
her
cheeks
were
as
white
and
transparent
as
the
wax
,
and
she
held
the
candle
so
that
a
hot
flake
splashed
on
my
neck
.
The
lock
of
the
long
box
turned
most
easily
,
and
the
hinges
moved
without
creaking
:
most
likely
it
had
been
pored
over
every
day
,
for
many
years
.
The
lid
was
arched
and
hollow
,
with
straps
of
faded
web
inside
it
.
In
beautiful
order
,
so
fair
that
I
hardly
dared
to
touch
them
,
lay
the
clothes
and
trinkets
,
the
letters
and
little
relics
,
the
gloves
and
pocket-handkerchiefs
,
the
fairy
slippers
,
the
wedding-dress
,
the
coquettish
veil
,
and
saucy
hat
of
the
dead
.
I
am
not
over
sensitive
,
thank
God
,
or
I
should
not
be
living
now
;
but
the
sight
of
those
things
upset
me
more
than
any
distress
of
my
own
.
The
small
parcels
of
silver
paper
,
screwed
at
the
end
and
pinned
in
the
middle
,
the
pins
put
stupidly
as
men
always
put
them
,
the
light
gay
dresses
made
for
some
sweet
figure
,
folded
with
such
care
,
and
yet
quite
out
of
the
plaits
,
and
labelled
with
the
dates
when
last
the
dear
one
wore
them
,
even
a
withered
fern-wreath
and
a
sprig
of
shrivelled
myrtle
—
I
could
not
thrust
my
commonplace
hands
into
these
holy
treasures
;
if
I
could
I
should
never
deserve
to
be
myself
so
remembered
.
But
one
thing
struck
me
,
as
thoughts
profane
always
strike
us
crookedly
;
if
the
poor
lady
could
have
been
wept
to
life
again
,
how
much
better
would
she
have
found
all
her
things
arranged
,
than
she
had
ever
kept
them
!
That
is
to
say
if
she
resembled
her
wondering
and
crying
daughter
,
who
knelt
down
and
wanted
to
kiss
every
article
in
the
box
.
Her
little
white
hands
were
as
busy
as
mice
among
them
;
and
long-drawn
sobs
were
tumbled
with
interjections
.
"
Now
,
my
dearest
Idols
,
you
must
not
disturb
these
things
.
Your
father
will
be
so
vexed
.
"
Would
he
though
?
—
said
I
to
myself
—
not
if
he
knew
whose
hand
it
was
that
did
it
.
She
paid
no
attention
to
me
.
"
Now
just
put
back
that
silver
knife
,
with
the
bit
of
peach-skin
upon
it
:
and
leave
the
stone
as
it
was
.
"
To
my
surprise
she
began
to
suck
the
stone
,
which
her
mother
perhaps
had
sucked
,
eighteen
years
ago
.
Inside
the
paper
was
written
,
"
Knife
and
peach-stone
found
in
my
Lily
's
pocket
.
The
stone
was
meant
for
me
to
set
.
I
will
plant
it
,
when
I
have
found
her
children
.
E.V.
,
January
,
1834.
"
"
Now
,
you
foolish
child
,
you
are
really
too
bad
.
"
And
with
that
I
gave
her
a
little
push
.
In
her
heedless
way
,
she
fell
almost
into
the
box
,
and
her
light
form
lay
amongst
her
mother
's
dresses
.
A
sudden
thought
flashed
across
me
.
"
Isola
,
off
with
that
nasty
dark
frock
!
"
"
Nasty
,
indeed
,
Clara
!
Why
you
said
this
morning
how
very
pretty
it
was
.
"
"
What
has
that
to
do
with
it
?
Pull
it
off
,
or
I
'll
tear
it
.
Now
,
out
with
the
other
arm
.
"
In
a
moment
or
two
,
I
had
all
her
beauty
gleaming
in
white
before
me
;
and
carefully
taking
from
the
box
a
frock
of
pale
blue
silk
,
I
lifted
it
over
her
head
,
and
drew
her
dimpled
arms
through
the
sleeves
;
then
I
fixed
it
in
front
with
the
turquoise
buttons
,
and
buckled
the
slender
zone
.
Her
blue
eyes
looked
on
in
amazement
,
like
violets
at
a
snow-storm
.
Then
I
led
her
to
the
mirror
,
and
proud
as
we
both
had
always
been
of
her
beauty
,
the
same
thought
struck
us
now
.
I
saw
it
in
the
mirror
,
by
the
toss
of
her
pointed
chin
and
the
coy
bend
of
her
neck
:
she
saw
it
there
as
clearly
,
by
the
flash
of
my
tear-bright
eyes
.
Neither
of
us
had
ever
seen
that
loveliest
of
all
girls
look
half
so
lovely
before
.
The
glow
of
pride
and
beauty
's
glory
mantled
in
her
cheeks
;
and
her
eyes
were
softly
beaming
down
the
avenue
of
lashes
,
from
clearest
depths
of
azure
.
I
never
saw
such
eyes
as
she
had
,
among
all
our
English
beauties
.
Some
perhaps
are
as
fine
of
colour
,
and
as
liquid
,
though
not
so
lustrous
:
but
the
exquisite
arch
of
the
upper
lid
,
and
the
rich
short
fringe
of
the
lower
,
cast
a
tremulous
light
and
shade
,
which
dull
Anglo-Saxons
feel
not
.
Like
moonbeams
playing
through
a
mantled
bridge
.
The
dress
fitted
her
exactly
.
It
had
been
made
for
a
slender
,
buoyant
figure
,
as
graceful
and
pure
as
a
snow-wreath
,
yet
full
of
warm
motion
and
richness
.
Indeed
,
I
must
confess
,
that
,
although
correct
enough
for
the
time
and
clime
of
the
owner
,
it
showed
too
much
of
the
lifting
snow
for
our
conceptions
of
maidenhood
:
so
I
drew
a
gauzy
scarf
—
perhaps
a
true
fazoletto
—
over
the
velvet
slope
of
the
shoulders
,
and
imprisoned
it
in
the
valley
.
This
being
nicely
arranged
,
I
hung
her
chalcedony
charm
from
her
neck
,
and
fastened
it
to
her
waist-band
.
Then
I
caught
up
her
clustering
hair
,
nearly
as
thick
and
long
as
my
own
,
after
the
Corsican
fashion
,
snooded
it
close
in
ripples
with
a
pink
and
white-striped
mandile
,
and
told
her
to
love
herself
in
the
glass
,
while
I
ran
off
to
the
hot-house
for
a
truss
of
Stephanotis
.
This
,
with
a
glossy
sprig
of
Gardenia
leaves
to
back
it
,
I
fastened
cleverly
into
the
clear
mandile
,
on
the
curve
of
her
elegant
head
,
and
my
darling
was
complete
.
Then
I
kissed
her
sweet
lips
,
and
admired
her
,
more
than
she
admired
herself
.
"
Clara
,
it
does
not
matter
how
much
trouble
you
take
;
you
ca
n't
make
me
look
a
quarter
so
well
as
you
do
.
"
"
Not
quite
so
tall
,
my
darling
,
nor
anything
like
so
naughty
;
but
a
thousand
times
more
lovely
.
"
"
Well
,
I
wish
I
could
think
so
.
I
am
always
longing
to
change
with
you
.
"
"
Do
n't
talk
nonsense
,
my
pretty
;
if
I
were
a
man
I
should
die
for
you
.
Now
I
glory
in
you
as
a
Vaughan
.
Come
along
.
"
I
led
her
through
the
gallery
and
to
the
door
of
her
father
's
room
,
before
she
had
time
to
think
.
She
did
not
know
but
what
I
was
taking
her
back
to
my
own
rooms
,
along
another
passage
.
At
the
sick
man
's
door
I
left
her
,
while
I
went
in
to
see
how
much
might
be
safely
ventured
.
My
Uncle
was
leaning
back
in
his
deep
reclining
chair
,
with
his
weak
eyes
fixed
most
eagerly
on
the
door
.
In
vain
he
strove
to
hide
his
disappointment
,
and
to
look
at
me
with
gratitude
.
The
wandering
mind
too
plainly
hoped
for
something
dearer
than
a
brother
's
child
.
Dismissing
Jane
through
the
other
room
,
that
she
might
not
encounter
Isola
,
I
sat
down
to
examine
him
.
The
brandy
and
water
had
rallied
his
vital
power
,
but
made
him
hot
and
feverish
.
He
kissed
my
hand
to
atone
for
some
sharp
and
impatient
expressions
,
and
I
saw
that
the
moment
was
favourable
.
"
Uncle
dear
,
what
will
you
say
to
me
?
I
have
brought
you
another
new
visitor
,
the
loveliest
girl
in
London
.
You
know
her
well
by
name
.
You
have
often
longed
to
see
my
sweet
darling
Isola
.
And
she
wants
to
see
you
so
much
.
Only
you
must
promise
me
one
thing
honourably
.
Be
gay
and
sprightly
with
her
;
she
is
timid
in
this
old
house
.
"
"
My
dear
,
I
ca
n't
see
her
to-night
.
You
do
n't
mean
that
of
course
.
Give
her
my
best
apologies
.
You
say
she
is
very
sweet-tempered
;
I
am
sure
she
will
excuse
me
.
"
"
If
she
would
,
I
will
not
.
Nor
would
you
excuse
her
,
if
you
knew
whom
she
resembles
.
"
"
What
do
you
mean
?
Have
you
locked
my
box
again
?
"
"
Yes
,
and
here
is
the
key
.
I
found
a
portrait
of
a
lady
"
—
I
had
not
shown
this
to
my
cousin
—
"
very
like
beautiful
Isola
.
"
He
began
to
tremble
again
,
so
I
thought
the
quicker
the
better
.
Placing
the
lamp-shade
so
that
a
dim
light
fell
on
the
door
,
I
ran
out
to
fetch
his
daughter
.
"
Now
,
do
n't
be
a
baby
,
Isola
.
Remember
how
ill
he
is
.
Keep
as
much
in
the
shadow
as
possible
;
and
if
he
should
guess
who
you
are
,
pretend
not
to
care
a
bit
for
him
.
"
"
I
will
try
my
very
best
,
Clara
.
But
I
do
n't
think
I
can
do
that
.
"
She
shook
so
much
that
I
was
obliged
to
support
her
,
as
she
had
supported
me
that
evening
when
first
we
met
.
Stiffly
I
brought
her
in
,
and
began
to
introduce
her
,
holding
her
back
all
the
time
.
"
Uncle
Edgar
,
this
is
my
dearest
friend
,
of
whom
you
have
heard
so
often
,
Miss
Isola
"
—
Ross
I
could
not
say
.
"
Why
,
Uncle
—
why
,
Idols
,
darling
—
"
It
was
all
in
vain
;
I
might
as
well
have
spared
my
devices
.
From
the
moment
she
crossed
the
threshold
,
his
eyes
had
been
leaping
towards
her
.
The
paralysed
man
bounded
forward
,
as
if
with
galvanic
life
.
His
daughter
met
him
as
wildly
.
"
My
Lily
,
my
Lily
,
"
was
all
he
could
sob
,
"
my
own
Lily
come
from
the
grave
!
"
With
a
father
's
strength
he
clasped
her
,
and
her
dark
locks
were
showered
with
silver
.
As
for
tears
—
but
I
left
them
together
when
I
had
seen
both
safe
on
the
sofa
.
CHAPTER
VI
.
To
our
surprise
and
delight
,
the
genuine
Papa
,
instead
of
being
worse
the
next
day
,
looked
more
like
himself
than
he
had
done
at
any
time
since
the
fever
.
But
in
spite
of
added
importance
,
and
the
sense
of
parental
dignity
,
he
sat
hand
in
hand
with
his
beautiful
daughter
by
the
hour
together
,
playing
with
her
cheeks
and
hair
,
as
little
girls
do
with
dollies
.
And
all
the
time
he
was
talking
to
her
about
her
darling
mother
,
and
made
her
answer
him
in
Italian
,
and
made
her
kiss
him
every
other
minute
;
and
found
out
a
thousand
times
,
as
a
novelty
every
time
,
that
she
was
the
very
image
and
model
of
her
mother
,
and
yet
he
was
not
sure
that
her
smile
was
quite
so
sweet
;
then
to
make
up
for
depreciation
he
needs
must
kiss
her
again
,
and
say
,
yes
,
he
thought
it
was
,
though
it
was
quite
impossible
for
any
other
to
be
so
—
and
thus
they
went
on
,
till
I
thought
there
never
would
be
an
end
of
it
;
albeit
I
did
my
utmost
to
keep
away
from
them
both
.
Knowing
that
I
was
in
their
way
,
and
feeling
rather
out
of
spirits
,
I
went
my
old
accustomed
round
of
places
,
sacred
in
my
memory
to
a
certain
father
and
mother
of
my
own
.
How
long
I
wept
at
their
simple
graves
,
how
I
knelt
to
their
God
and
mine
,
thanking
Him
from
my
desolate
heart
for
the
light
now
shed
upon
me
,
and
how
I
prayed
that
they
might
both
be
looking
down
on
me
now
and
craving
heavenly
guidance
for
me
through
the
peril
yet
to
come
—
these
,
and
the
rest
of
my
doings
there
,
cannot
well
be
told
except
to
the
ears
of
orphans
.
The
clouds
of
an
overcast
existence
seemed
to
be
opening
rapidly
,
and
though
they
could
never
disclose
my
sun
and
moon
again
,
some
happiness
it
was
to
know
even
how
those
had
set
.
And
more
than
all
,
the
foul
aspersion
upon
my
father
's
memory
,
which
all
the
while
I
scorned
it
so
,
had
lain
heavily
on
my
thoughts
,
this
was
now
proved
liar
's
spittle
,
and
my
sweet
darling
father
had
offended
not
even
a
villain
.
A
thousand
times
I
implored
his
pardon
for
the
splash
having
ever
descended
upon
the
hem
of
my
garment
,
though
shaken
off
straight-way
with
loathing
.
In
the
midst
of
my
dreamy
thoughts
,
and
while
I
sat
between
the
two
low
headstones
,
upon
the
very
spot
where
I
hope
my
own
head
may
lie
,
the
tremulous
beauty
of
the
Golden
Thuja
,
which
I
had
planted
there
,
was
pushed
aside
too
carelessly
,
and
something
far
more
beautiful
planted
itself
in
front
.
It
was
my
cousin
Lily
.
I
have
been
strictly
forbidden
ever
to
call
her
"
Isola
,
"
or
even
"
Idols
,
"
again
,
as
savouring
of
the
evil
one
.
Lily
Vaughan
was
beaming
with
young
delight
and
happiness
:
the
fresh
west
country
air
,
sweet
from
the
tropic
gulf-stream
,
had
crowned
the
April
of
her
cheeks
with
a
June
of
roses
.
"
Oh
,
Donna
,
I
am
so
glad
I
have
found
you
at
last
.
What
makes
you
run
away
from
me
and
my
Papa
?
I
have
lost
my
way
all
over
the
world
.
What
a
lovely
world
it
is
,
Donna
!
"
"
Do
n't
call
me
that
name
here
.
Do
you
not
see
where
you
stand
?
"
She
glanced
at
the
headstones
engraved
with
initials
and
dates
,
and
at
once
understood
it
all
.
For
a
long
time
she
was
silent
,
a
long
time
I
mean
for
her
;
and
her
soft
eyes
glistened
at
once
with
awe
and
pity
.
At
last
,
she
crept
close
to
me
,
looked
at
the
ground
,
and
whispered
with
a
deep
sigh
:
"
How
you
must
hate
me
,
Clara
.
"
"
Hate
you
,
my
darling
!
What
for
?
"
"
Oh
,
because
I
have
got
such
a
dear
Papa
,
and
you
have
none
at
all
.
And
much
worse
than
that
,
because
—
because
—
oh
,
I
do
n't
know
how
to
tell
you
.
"
"
Tell
me
all
you
mean
.
Let
there
be
no
misunderstanding
between
us
.
"
"
Because
my
mother
and
my
father
seem
somehow
to
have
killed
—
though
I
am
sure
they
would
rather
have
killed
themselves
—
your
poor
papa
and
mamma
.
"
And
she
leaned
on
my
mother
's
headstone
,
and
sobbed
till
I
feared
for
her
heart
.
I
put
my
arm
around
her
waist
,
drew
her
towards
me
,
and
sat
on
my
father
's
grave
,
with
his
niece
upon
my
lap
.
"
Dearest
,
I
could
not
be
the
child
of
those
who
sleep
beneath
us
,
if
it
were
in
my
nature
now
to
feel
as
you
imagine
.
Years
ago
,
I
might
have
done
so
;
though
I
hope
not
even
then
.
Orphan
as
I
am
and
helpless
,
already
I
perceive
that
I
have
not
lived
for
nothing
.
My
father
,
I
believe
,
my
mother
,
I
am
sure
,
would
have
laid
down
life
with
pleasure
to
see
me
led
from
wayward
childhood
even
to
what
I
am
.
Oh
,
Lily
,
you
ca
n't
think
how
they
loved
me
.
"
And
at
the
tender
memory
,
came
tears
,
the
voice
of
silence
.
Lily
said
not
a
word
,
but
gathered
and
plaited
a
wreath
of
flowers
,
wherewith
,
as
in
a
nuptial
tie
,
she
bound
the
white
headstones
together
—
anything
so
as
not
to
disturb
me
just
then
.
Even
that
trifle
,
a
graceful
idea
born
of
her
Southern
origin
,
even
that
for
the
moment
touched
me
deeply
.
Times
there
are
when
our
souls
seem
to
have
taken
hot
baths
in
the
springs
of
memory
