emywhip;itliesthereuhehedge.”

    Isoughtitandfoundit.

    “Thankyou;nowmakehastewiththelettertoHay,aurnasfastasyou.”

    Atouchofaspurredheelmadehishorsefirststartandrear,andthenboundaway;thedogrushedinhistraces;allthreevanished,

    “Likeheaththat,inthewilderness,

    Thehirlsaway.”

    Itookupmymuffandwalkedon.Theihadoccurredandwasgoneforme:itwasaniofnomoment,noromanoiinaseitmarkedwithgeonesinglehourofamonotonouslife.Myhelphadbeenneededandclaimed;Ihadgivenit:Ileasedtohavedonesomething;trivial,transitorythoughthedeedwas,itwasyetanactivething,andIwaswearyofaenceallpassive.Thenewface,too,waslikeanewpictureintroducedtothegalleryofmemory;anditwasdissimilartoalltheothershangingthere:firstly,becauseitwasmase;and,sedly,becauseitwasdark,strong,andstern.IhaditstillbeforemewheeredHay,andslippedtheletterintothepost-office;IsawitasIwalkedfastdown-hillallthewayhome.WhenIcametothestile,Istoppedaminute,lookedroundandlistened,withahatahorse’shoofsmightringonthecausewayagain,andthatariderinacloak,andaGytrash-likeNewfoundlanddog,mightbeagainapparent:Isawonlythehedgeandapollardwillowbeforeme,risingupstillandstraighttomeetthemoonbeams;IheardonlythefaiwaftofwindroamingfitfulamoreesroundThornfield,amiledistant;andwhenIglanceddowninthedireofthemurmur,myeye,traversingthehall-front,caughtalightkindlinginawindow:itremihatIwaslate,andIhurriedon.

    Ididnotlikere-enteringThoropassitsthresholdwastoreturntostagnation;tocrossthesilenthall,toasdthedarksomestaircase,toseekmyownlonelyl