uldhemoveitaside,afterall?Whystaythere?Whatwastheuseofknowing.?Ifthethingwastrue,itwasterrible.Ifitwasnottrue,whytroubleaboutit?Butwhatif,bysomefateordeadlierce,eyesotherthanhisspiedbehindandsawthehorriblege?WhatshouldhedoifBasilHallwardcameandaskedtolookathisownpicture?Basilwouldbesuretodothat.No;thethinghadtobeexamined,andatonythingwouldbebetterthanthisdreadfulstateofdoubt.

    Hegotupandlockedbothdoors.Atleasthewouldbealonewhenhelookeduponthemaskofhisshame.Thenhedrewthesasideandsawhimselffacetoface.Iterfectlytrue.Theportraithadaltered.

    Asheoftenrememberedafterwards,andalwayswithnosmallwonder,hefoundhimselfatfirstgazingattheportraitwithafeelingofalmoststifiterest.Thatsuchageshouldhavetakenplacewasincredibletohim.Awasafact.Wastheresomesubtleaffinitybetweenthechemicalatomsthatshapedthemselvesintoformandcolouronthevasandthesoulthatwaswithinhim?Coulditbethatwhatthatsoulthought,theyrealized?--thatwhatitdreamed,theymadetrue?Orwastheresomeother,moreterriblereason?Heshuddered,aafraid,and,goingbacktothecouch,laythere,gazingatthepictureinsiedhorror.

    Ohing,however,hefeltthatithaddoneforhim.Ithadmadehimscioushowunjust,howcruel,hehadbeentoSibylVawasnottoolatetomakereparationforthat.Shecouldstillbehiswife.Hisunrealandselfishlovewouldyieldtosomehigherinfluence,wouldbetransformedintosomenoblerpassion,araitthatBasilHallwardhadpaintedofhimwouldbeaguidetohimthroughlife,wouldbetohimwhatholinessistosome,andscetoothers,andthefearofGodtousall.Therewereopiatesforremorse,drugsthatc