kesanyoneelse.Shetalksofyoutinually:thereisnosubjectsheenjoyssomuchortouchesuponsooften.”

    “Itisverypleasanttohearthis,”hesaid—“very:goonforanotherquarterofanhour.”Auallytookouthiswatdlaiditupoabletomeasurethetime.

    “Butwhereistheuseofgoingon,”Iasked,“whenyouareprobablypreparingsomeironblowoftradi,afreshtofetteryourheart?”

    “Don’timaginesuchhardthings.Fancymeyieldingaing,asIamdoing:humanloverisinglikeafreshlyopenedfountaininmymindandoverflowingwithsweetinundationallthefieldIhavesocarefullyandwithsuchlabourprepared—soassiduouslysownwiththeseedsofgoodiions,ofself-denyingplans.Andnowitisdelugedwithaarousflood—theyounggermssed—deliciouspoisonkeringthem:nowIseemyselfstretchedonanottomaninthedrawing-roomatValeHallatmybrideRosamondOliver’sfeet:sheistalkingtomewithhersweetvoice—gazingdowhthoseeyesyourskilfulhandhascopiedsowell—smilingatmewiththesecorallips.Sheismine—Iamhers—thispresentlifeandpassingworldsuffie.Hush!saynothing—myheartisfullofdelight—mysensesareentranced—letthetimeImarkedpassinpeace.”

    Ihumouredhim:thewatchtickedon:hebreathedfastandlow:Istoodsilent.Amidstthishushthequartetsped;hereplacedthewatch,laidthepicturedown,rose,andstoodonthehearth.

    “Now,”saidhe,“thatlittlespacewasgiventodeliriumanddelusioedmytemplesonthebreastoftemptation,andputmyneckvoluntarilyunderheryokeofflowers.Itastedhercup.Thepillowwasburning:thereisanaspinthegarland:thewinehasabittertaste:herpromisesarehollow—heroffersfalse:Iseeandknowallthis.”

    Igazedathiminwonder.