omahorribleandexcruciatih!andyouastmeasifweweremutualstrangers!Atleastshakehands.”

    Heheldouthishand;Igavehimmiookitfirstiheminbothhisown.

    “Youhavesavedmylife:Ihaveapleasureinowingyousoimmenseadebt.Iotsaymore.Nothihathasbeingwouldhavebeentolerabletomeinthecharacterofcreditorforsuobligation:butyou:itisdifferent;—Ifeelyourbesnoburden,Jane.”

    Hepaused;gazedatme:wordsalmostvisibletrembledonhislips,—buthisvoicewaschecked.

    “Good-nightagain,sir.Thereis,be,burden,obligation,inthecase.”

    “Iknew,”hetinued,“youwoulddomegoodinsomeway,atsometime;—IsawitinyoureyeswhenIfirstbeheldyou:theirexpressionandsmiledidnot”—(agaiopped)—“didnot”(heproceededhastily)“strikedelighttomyveryinmostheartsofornothing.Peopletalkofnaturalsympathies;Ihaveheardofgoodgenii:therearegrainsoftruthinthewildestfable.Mycherishedpreserver,goodnight!”

    Strangeenergywasinhisvoice,strangefireinhislook.

    “IamgladIhappeobeawake,”Isaid:andthenIwasgoing.

    “What!youwillgo?”

    “Iamcold,sir.”

    “Cold?Yes,—andstandinginapool!Go,then,Jane;go!”Buthestillretainedmyhand,andIcouldnotfreeit.Ibethoughtmyselfofanexpedient.

    “IthinkIhearMrs.Fairfaxmove,sir,”saidI.

    “Well,leaveme:”herelaxedhisfingers,andIwasgone.

    Iregainedmycouch,buthoughtofsleep.TillmdawnedIwastossedonabuoyantbutusea,wherebillowsoftroublerolledundersurgesofjoy.IthoughtsometimesIsawbeyonditswildwatersashore,sweetasthehillsofBeulah;andnowandthenafresheninggale,wakenedbyhope,boremyspirittriumphantly