Gentleman    first. Mr Lilly and Maud stood at to

        see ched from her window. She shook his

        O rap took o the

        station at Marlo put back, his

        face our way, his eyes now on hers, now on mine.

        t.

        of sign.    o. . o travel train, t. e o keep to Mauds parlour till midnigo meet us at truck the half.

        t day passed just like all t to o do, and I    slo ime, of course, I    for ake. e sat at lunco t ime we

        , yet t s came togetarted apart, as if stung; but if, like me, s kno look at ood still, like a statue. Only no at able ones. I , I t, to look. ting. It made miing, too.

        t to    to mine. Doairs in t, everyone was gloomy.

        Dohey said.

        Mrs Cakebreads face    let a spoon drop, s arted our di out g at table, and o run from t his .

        ook it very    set on going to London as Mr Riverss man.

        You get bading up, his powder flying. Boy ye, fellow like him, Id be ashamed!

        But e baot for Mr ay nor anyone. akileman s, poliss, bruss. No house in England.

        on tairs and , and     ters. Mr ay    and gave ing. e    against Charless backside, and yelps.

        t put rate it in silence, and ilt, I did not go iles to try to take my pudding. I said I    did. Mrs Stiles looked me over, then looked away.

        your h in London.

        But it o me, w s. I s see , or Mrs Cakebread—ever again.

        I said Good-nig upstairs. Maud, of course, ill il s ogets and pieces o be taken. It    uff dress I left be    in more t it at ttom of my trunk. I left t, too. e could only take bags. Maud    te. tters so bold even I could read thers name, which was like hers.

        I liig one, o save tumbling about and gro in one of e kid glove, tons of pearl. S ond supposed it lost. I meant to keep it, to remind me of her.

        I t my    wo.

        ting    onight!

        I     and take a little, t a    and rubbed at t, greered. ed, I stepped from her.

        tly, .

        S y stuff.    s, I finis    through me like a flame.

        No c out     leave off the cage.

        For t it,    dress at last became a long one, and shan ever. She

        out boots to ouchem, and shook her head.

        Youve done everyt of it all. I s,    you.

        Seful and sad. God knotling do up. t nine. She said,

        til he es.

        S in t I hree weeks.

        e put t in ood at    see t    t of ter lying beyond it, cool and ready, ing like us. e stood for an    notimes s s cold. At last ting began to tell even on me, and I began to fidget. I t I mig    I mig out    ; but I    to    took out all tigrap on a buckle, it broke. t    peris a needle, and serap tig, itc my mouto to bite it, and tasted salt.

        the opening of Mauds door.

        My    gave a jump. I put t of sigood and listened. No sound at all. I    to to tains    t in; but ty, Maud was gone.

        S tiptoed to it and squinted into t tigs of the opening

        and sting of anot I couldnt be sure. I called once, in a , straining my ears, looking    teps into tening again. I put my ogetig I o be , rat it like o go    te    a reason or a word?

        ruck    eleven I called again, and took anoteps along t t caug tripped. S a dle, s so    it rao me. I didnt dare er ook a urning in t never make my    again.

        So I only ed, ting tes. I    back to t out tood at t c t, ter leman, ing closer as I c?

        At last, o a latruck tood and trembled at eag of t one sounded, a as it.—And, as I t it, I    ts—s ts.

        Five me, Sue! s to my uncles library. I ed to see it, a final time. But I couldnt go until I knew he was asleep.

        Sured    and silent, alone among t,    be quick. e here, e on.

        I gave ened up mine. S    all seeto cter. I gave est bag. tood before    a fio h.

        Noeady, I said.

        All my nervousness    me, and I    of my mothe dark and sleeping houses she

        must olen     like wine.

        e    by ts stairs. I eps t particularly creaked; no tart of to trs Stiless pantry, I made op and    and listen. S ; but t, and no sounds from any, t softened our ss    rustle and swish.

        to t t in it: I dre out before I tur, and put a little beef fat to t; and t more fat to ts t faste ttom and top. I    t from Mrs Cakebreads cupboard. t    tounded sort of look. I said softly,

        t would be hard.

        t isfa of t t , t my so t tigo its frame: after t, turned smoots slid in tle as babies.

        tside,    great black seful for t to t , going quickly and softly from oo anot across a er of lao trees beyond. So run. Only once I felt ate, and turned and found    t seemed     a smile. ts in tc, like a    and for almost a mihen pulled her hand.

        No e, I said.

        Surned    look agai, along a damp and tangled pat at tures leapt in t    trample t o t t brig me and took out    us t, te fast at our backs.

        No of ttle freer. e set doood still in truck ts. t er, tleman. e ened, and    t all tars t . More stars tural. t Maud. S    o ook my ook it, not to be led by me, not to be forted; only to , because it was mine.

        In tar moved, and uro c.

        ts luck, I said.

        truck.    t air made it s    t rose anotler sound—epped apart—it er against    t. I sater s of moonlig a sile glided toleman .    see us,    see us; but it    me wepped forward

        first, it iffly to ters edge, took t tugging of t, until t eady.

        I dont remember if Gentleman spoke. I dont believe    me, except, once    landing-place, to give me ten planks. I t all in silence. I kno s bulged as —for, ook up to turn us, er filling all t Maud sat steady. I saleman looking ill no-one spoke,    all in a moment, and t moved quick. tream e, trees instead. Maud sat    looking.

        e    very carefully. t ill. Gentlema as close as o trees . But t, to ear to t up and dark. Once, opped t us glide in silence; but still no-one o look. ter t, ts. t, tlemans e of his cheek above his whisker.

        e did not keep upon t a spot upon t. tarted from.    a . er, sat Maud upon trapped her bags beside her. he said,

        e must go anot ans be brave. e are very close now.

        t me and nodded. e started off—iff upon it, me    no-one. Again I looked at tars. You never saars s he sky was never so dark and so clear.

        ts    of the road.

        e    rat be s and made sick. S last to t tages, and a great dark carted barking. Gentleman kicked it and made it yelp. o ttage t    t, and tern. ting. t t stretco get a good look at Maud. Sleman a curtsey. tever you call y ed shaving. he said,

        Good-nigo you. Good-nigo you, miss. And , for an escapade!

        Gentleman said only, Is everyt o Maud, to    epped ao me, but stood aloill studied udying ,    s of fear. Perleman , o age, if it came to a c to seem t    miscarried, later.

        I , I t, for five hundred more.

        I t t, even as I stood c

        Maud and ing ; even as I ed myself, for t. ther bow.

        Alls ready indeed, sir, tle matter of— In ligances—

        Yes, yes, said Gentleman. ook t -book. tossed its    from one of ttages a boy o lead it a to me, and it was me ouco. Of course,    seen    e a lady; and sood in suc she maid.

        S see it. S    under ogeto cume? So visit    once?

        ell do it at once, said Gentleman, before anyone else could anstle    ood very stiff. I    to    tled ter folds; and t look at me.    tens, miss.—For I kne, bee kid gloves. I said, You ter go to your tens.

        S me draood and crossed o me, No flo Gentleman. he shrugged.

        S anshe absence of a flower. Now, sir, if you will—

        I said, You mig least get    one floo church!

        I    t of it until t; but now—ohe

        cruelty of taking    a bloom, to be    once a frig bear it. My voice came out sounding almost leman gazed at me and frourned o me and said slowly,

        I s oo.

        it seemed to grotle stranger. Gentlema out o look about    of     of t. e stood in a muddy kind of green, o the woman,

        you not take?    you a flo? S a miepped nimbly bato tage; and    last alks t looked ready to snap.

        It ood and gazed at it, and no-oook talks and divided to me, but keeping t for leman lit up a cigarette and took t, t a stayed gloo took up tern, and led us te and along a patilting gravesto tleman, and o be nesses. her name was Mrs Cream.

        e far? she said.

        I did not answer.

        t and, even , looked quite black. I e uro yello, about tar and t t try to sit, but    straigo tar, and tood

        before us    tood and    tding at Gentlemans side, igo oue t only to ruin her.

        S to be married, and h. And soon no-one would love her, ever again.

        I saleman look at    to t of t asked if anybody to w be married; and ill.

        I hing.

        So t on, looking at Maud and at Gentleman, asking t, on t to give up all ts of ts; and ter give t.

        Again there was a silence.

        So turo Gentleman. ill you,    of it—ill you have her and honour her, for as long as you live?

        I leman.

        tated, then spoke.

        I will, she said.

        tleman stood a little easier. tret c.

        o be married? he said.

        I kept quite still, till Gentleman turo me; and tured    and stood at Mauds side, and t take    to to put it into Gentlemans. I , t anyt

        iff and cold as fingers made of leman o ook    seemed to rise like smoke into to vanish.

        tleman broug, and ook    time repeating t    seemed gold in t, but—I sa later—it was bad.

        It    hen raised his hands and closed his eyes.

        t God oget no man put in sunder.

        And t .

        they were married.

        Gentleman kissed ood and swayed, as if dazed. Mrs Cream said in a murmur,

        S knoer— plum feller like him. heh heh.

        I did not turn to    ar to t ter. leman e o be Mrs Rivers—e    ours beleman o e Smit still, I e it clumsily and tered—pers. I sa things should swoop.

        Gentleman took , and t    off.    fast, and as ook —o snuff    like a ligook us to her

        cottage. Sern, and    of tilting stairs too narros, and to a landing, about as big as a cupboard,    for a moment and t laid upon tern and was singed.

        to ttle bedrooms of t ratress on a pallet on tleman and Maud. S into it, and stood    not.    to took , one by one, and put t cleman ste. It icoat but    Mauds sogs,    afraid. he said,

        ell, I ste doairs. Sue, youll make table up here?

        I did not anss sounding loud as taircase trembling. I side triking a match.

        I looked at Maud. Sill alks of y. Sook a step towards me and said quickly,

        If I s to you later, will you e?

        I took t t; It e.

        S        still . Sen to me, I mean it. Never mind o you, say youll e. Ill give you money for it.

        range.    gripped me    of hing was awful. I said,

        er    take your drops and they will make you sleep.

        Sleep? s    to sleep, on my ?

        Sood at o undress aken    I turned and said, quietly,

        You ter use t. You ter wash ys, before he es.

        I t c er. to stand at, and o to able, no box, no portrait, no lig out her hand as if blind.

        ts and pulled t . Against te of t I k alking toget light showed.

        I looked at Maud. S my gaze.    gleamed like glass. ill you look aill? surn my urned back. I could not , t errible to see. Gentleman talked on. Some breeze got into till shen she spoke again.

        e here, she said.

        I s again. I s t to    softly to ed o    mout ears; and I could not    kiss    my , no, and noer, running, from t of her lips.

        But t oo    hers; and she seized my hand

        and took it, first to o hey burned.

        t feeling uro somet you do it? sly, reacer me. Didnt you do it before, for t? t you leave me to ouco ter?—Dont go! S, before. You said I dreamed you. Im not dreaming no Briar again!

        ood, clasping and unclasping my    s s cry out, loud enougleman or Mrs Cream to    I had kissed her.

        o    be different. You are a —

        I fell silent. Sed    aken up and moved. Gentlemans boots came loud again upon tairs. I ep, tate at to knock at Briar. At last    o tch, and came in.

        Are you ready? he said.

        t in    say anoto o    look at    to my otress; and all I ime I , tle creatures trah my cheek.

        In tleman came to my room. sleeves.

        Ss you, to dress her, he said.

        ook    doairs. Maud    up a tray, e upon it. te    touc very still, in t once     dark about ttered. S me, as s everyte of eggs, to place over , odd, distant kind of gaze; and ened, aion, and t of    making tly surprising and strange.

        I dressed    again beside t    at t, tly lifted, as if even to let t against t stuff of    migo    them.

        S a tilt. I t s be listening for t Briar. But sioned    all.

        I took    aied it, in t t of tairs Mrs Cream came to me. S over her arm. She said,

        Mr Rivers says the bed needs ging.

        So    gaze at o let ten about t. I    sloairs and ssey, t to ts. ts of dark blood t ood and looked at t my eye—as muco say, ell, I s . Quite a little love-matcer all! Maud sat gazing out of tairs came tlemans knife on e. Mrs Cream raised t, to see if ttress under , and t pleased her.

        I , to tsey, and seen Mauds queer, soft gaze.

        took it hard, have she? she whispered. Maybe missing her ma?

        I said not first. t, and o ter, I t drearily, to make it ood on ttle landing ly,

        t. trouble, up es on    bear gossip— o t place, ry air will calm her.

        Calm    likely to break out—turn t the place afire?

        No, no, I said. Soo mu her head.

        Poor lady, said Mrs Cream. But I could see    bargained on    a tray up t Maud a do bitten.

        S like me, said Maud, after s times; and I s like you?    an idea!    like you?

        I t say, sly, looking do her hands.

        Later Gentleman , too; and t me on my os good,    tood. t ime to call in tor.

        a    t ay a day; but on t her and said,

        quite    to stay a little longer, until your strengto you.

        Stay longer? s t o your house in London?

        I really t well enough.

        Not , I am quite    only ask Sue. Sue,    you tell Mr Rivers how well I am?

        S and s a day or tleman. Until you are rested. Until you are calm. Pero keep more to the bed—?

        So o    made    tears at my    to see you like t it    to you, of course I sake you to London at once—I s? But do you look at yourself noill tell me you are well?

        I dont kne here. Im afraid, Richard—

        And    it be stranger, in London? And s you be frigs so loud and croable—

        Mrs Cream es me.

        es you? Oo t; and Sue s you, Sue? I    ansoo, tleman took her head in his hands and kissed her brow.

        t us . ell stay anotil t paleness is driven from your c again!

        day. On tern o mean to disappoint o make , , and said he loved her.

        After t, s ask o stay tayed dull. Gentleman told Mrs Cream to make    she

        broug made t none of it. I ate it instead—sinebody must. I ate it, and s beside t, turning tretd of h.

        let me    in travelled from Briar in, t    t gown—a silk one—so me. She said,

        , . You ter , t it lie in the press.

        Our fioucepped apart. Sried to kiss me, after t first night.

        I took t o pass ttiing out t; and so like to c. , and put it on and stood befe. s off your eyes ay—arent you? And I am plain—dont you think?

        I    tle looking-glass from Mrs Cream. S it up in rembling    before our faces. I remembered time sers; and o stand before leman. No! I sa, in te slyness of o see    it meant     her.

        I could old     her anyway.

        No kno    I did it all in a trance, s and feeling—I , as sleman, to do ice, seemed troubled on . o

        kiss or bully tle ime    in Mrs Creams parlour, ligtes—to mix , t, ts on t    tir at Briar, no-one knee and at a fe ttle, in t t to stretctes, but co ep, as if    bear the feel of azes on his back.

        t nigling mattress.

        I so do it to     ened     t    like o do, now    h.

        And every m, o    before; and    my eye less, and plucked at his whiskers, his swagger all gone.

        least knehe bloody villain.

        At last    for tor to e.

        I ing tter in Mrs Creams parlour. tor o t ty.    in olemans plot. Gentleman    o cut th him.

        Besides, tory oo sound. And to back it. Maud he

        leman, and    t been married an arted to turn queer.

        I tor    one did, lemans story, and seeing Maud, and me, as hen.

        or, ant. You ors o put a lady aters and, on its back, spikes. t to take Maud, t t time; only to study aking came later.

        Gentleman told o care. S me le er, and tidy    t to are, and begin to breattle quicker—and I ot doleman    quickly out to talk    toget our window.

        tleman came back, aing. airs. ogether and smiling. he said,

        ell, ie, e doo visit from London. You remember, Maud, I spoke to you of t believe t me really married! to see themselves.

        Still    look at him.

        S, dear, o you? I    th Mrs Cream.

        I could alking in loions t ansleman ed for Maud to speak and, w me. he said,

        Sue, ?

        ure er us, blinking. I    o t my back.

        I tly, whey

        go to c keeps oo calm,    her.

        I said, Do her.

        laugo keep tics safe. ts if t     too, and a sdal    to look at alk to o talk to you. Youll know o answer, of course.

        I made a face. ill I? I said.

        make game of me, Sue. Not noo say?

        I sill sulky. I think so.

        Good girl. I s to you.

        o put    and stepped a to my little room, aors came after a moment. Gentleman came ood before it, his eyes on my face.

        tall men, like out. ts aic boots.    cseyed.

        Aor quietly,    questions? e are friends of Mr Riverss, and very curious to    his marriage, and his new wife.

        Yes, I said. You mean, my mistress.

        Aress. Now, refresh my memory. ho is she?

        Mrs Rivers, I said. t was Miss Lilly.

        Mrs Rivers, t was Miss Lilly. Ah.

        doctraves—took out a pencil and a book. t one    on:

        Your mistress. And you are—?

        her maid, sir.

        Of course. And w is your name?

        Dr Graves o e. Gentleman caugh, sir, I said.

        Dr Cie looked at me o ate,    is your name, you are quite sure?

        I should say I know my own name! I said.

        Of course.

        still beat . o grow kind. he said,

        ell, Miss Smitell us now, ress . . .?

        It ime, at Lant Street, leman and    me ter. I told t Lady Aliayfair, alemans old nurse, and my dead mot Maud. I said so like Mr Rivers but noer , she was grown very sad and careless of herself, and made me afraid.

        Dr Graves e it all down. Dr Cie said,

        Afraid. Do you mean, for your own sake?

        I said, Not for mine, sir. For    harm herself, she is so miserable.

        I see, ress. You ell me t care do you tress ougo    er?

        I said, I think—

        Yes?

        I wish—

        he nodded. Go on.

        I wiscouc her—

        My    seemed all at once , and my voice ears. Gentleman still he

        doctor took my , close about t, in a familiar way.

        t not be so distressed. Your mistress so , as you!

        ted and smoot it go.    tlemans eye, and nodded. Very good,    just show us—?

        Of course, said Gentleman quickly. Of course. turo me and all moved off. I d    say if it ook a step and called out after them.

        S like eggs, sir! I called. Dr Cie urned. I ed my    it fall. S like eggs, I said more feebly, in any kind of dish.

        It    in a e—or preteo e— in    care fs. Gentlemao Mauds room. to me.

        Youll keep il theyve seen her? he said.

        I did not ans t, caugors questions; ter a minute or so, came tears.

        t stay    to leman anding be o ened and said,

        Look, Sue, at your mistress. Dont you ttle brighter?

        t,    of ears still in t the rims.

        Are you well, miss? I said.

        Sleman. I tie and Graves, e deligell me, Sue, o flourislemans delight?

        Surle    ood    loepped away.

        a fool Ive been, o me. Ive asked Mrs Rivers to gr, in t place, tness y. Graves and Cie sa, too. to    Cie is giving us to leave tomorroo t?

        Surned o ted o tle blood struggled into e cheeks.

        tomorrow? s?

        omorroo a great    rooms, and good servants in it, t s t for you.

        day s    of eggs a aside, as usual; but even I could    it. I dressed    looking at    of ill, t ained    let me c of it, even for travelling, t would crease.

        I t of    ba t believe t I     was dark.

        I packed    slo , a brus ake to to t everyt    ioned, did I keep to one side; and , ly, i.

        to tilting staircase, and

        sepped out of ttage s tig to    of to feel t air    slapped her.

        I put my fingers over hers.

        God bless you, maam! cried Mrs Cream,    our    first nigo see us leaving; and one or to stare, and to stand at t t ed out black. t tened s upon t teps doleman    my eye.

        Noime for se.

        S and leaned    beside    opposite. to to a safe: , t t.

        ravel? asked Maud.

        he said, An hour.

        It seemed lo seemed like a life. truck t made t, but t to open—I suppose, so a lunatic s o leap out. At last Gentleman pulled a cord to make t jolting in t and t speaking. In time I began to gro, but could not see if    her hands before her, clasped.

        Gentleman fidgeted,    c imes ook out ime to to peer t

        slo to a stop, and began to turn:    straigigie.

        e are almost there, he said.

        Maud turned o    moved t tart of a green lane, one ard, be, iron gates. A man il     like at Briar, ter. Its windows co see w s back    be I saw a rising kind of knowledge or dread.

        Dont be afraid, said Gentleman.

        t o o me. turn, and stopped. Dr Graves and Dr Cie ing for us,    stout    up t tleman put ie made a bow.

        Good day, h. Mrs Rivers, you remember me of course?

        his hand.

        to me.

        t stillness. I looked at leman leaned and caug at first    to keep me in my seat; tood t rying to press me from it. tor took my ot me to my feet. My s upon teps. I said,

        ait!    are you doing? —?

        Dont struggle, Mrs Rivers, said tor. e are o care for you.

        he woman came forward. I said,

        Its not me you !    are you doing? Mrs Rivers? Im Susan Smitlemalemahem!

        Dr Cie shook his head.

        Still keeping up tion? o Gentleman.

        Gentleman nodded and said notoo uno speak. I urned and took doie ige of reet, Mayfair? Dont you kno. And ing it, t take us a year. No t so, Mrs Rivers! You are spoiling your handsome dress.

        I ruggled against     my sleeve of silk, and at my o    plump and smoot t my feet, s letters of brass—the L.

        It    sed t I guessed, at last, trick t Gentleman had played on me.

        I howled.

        You bloody sing again, and pulling towards er! Oh!

        ood in t tilt. tripped me ern.

        those in my house, Mrs Rivers, he said.

        You sod, I said to    you see ? It aint me you , its—

        I still pulled, and ill    no o tleman    in bars upon    Maud. s dress. ears starting in t beyond tears, her gaze was hard. hard as marble, hard as brass.

        t lies i.

        Dr Cie saw me looking.

        Now, ware? hink?

        I could not speak. Srembling voiot her own:

        My oress. O is breaking!

        You t    bit tart.
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