e,aIcould.Oh,dontleaveme,dontleaveme."Afitofpassionatesobbingchokedher.Shecrouchedonthefloorlikeawouhing,andDray,withhisbeautifuleyes,lookeddownather,andhischiselledlipscurledinexquisitedisdain.Thereisalwayssomethingridiculousabouttheemotionsofpeoplewhomonehasceasedtolove.SibylVaohimtobeabsurdlymelodramatic.Hertearsandsobsannoyedhim.

    "Iamgoing,"hesaidatlastinhiscalmclearvoice."Idontwishtobeunkind,butItseeyouagain.Youhavedisappointedme."

    Sheweptsilently,andmadenoanswer,butcreptnearer.Herlittlehandsstretchedblindlyout,andappearedtobeseekingforhim.Heturnedonhisheelaheroom.Inafewmomentshewasoutofthetheatre.

    Wherehewenttohehardlyknew.Herememberedwanderingthroughdimlylitstreets,pastgaunt,black-shadowedarchwaysandevil-lookinghouses.Womenwithhoarsevoidharshlaughterhadcalledafterhim.Drunkardshadreeledby,cursingandchatteringtothemselveslikemonstrousapes.Hehadseengrotesquechildrenhuddledupondoor-steps,andheardshrieksandoathsfromgloomycourts.

    Asthedawnwasjustbreaking,hefoundhimselfclosetotGarden.Thedarknesslifted,and,flushedwithfaintfires,theskyholloweditselfintoaperfectpearl.Hugecartsfilledwithnoddingliliesrumbledslowlydownthepolishedemptystreet.Theairwasheavywiththeperfumeoftheflowers,andtheirbeautyseemedthimananodyneforhispain.Hefollowedintothemarketandwatchedthemenunloadingtheirwaggons.Awhite-smockedcarterofferedhimsomecherries.Hethankedhim,wonderedwhyherefusedtoacceptanymoneyforthem,aoeatthemlistlessly.Theyhadbeenpluckedatmidnight