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They had crossed the road dividing the Gardens from the Park； and； seeing that Mr。 Stone had already seen the water where he was about to bathe； and would now see nothing else； Hilary stopped beside a little lonely birch…tree。 This wild； small； graceful visitor； who had long bathed in winter； was already draping her bare limbs in a scarf of green。 Hilary leaned against her cool； pearly body。 Below were the chilly waters； now grey； now starch…blue； and the pale forms of fifteen or twenty bathers。 While he stood shivering in the frozen wind； the sun； bursting through the hail…cloud； burned his cheeks and hands。 And suddenly he heard； clear； but far off； the sound which； of all others； stirs the hearts of men： 〃Cuckoo； cuckoo！〃
Four times over came the unexpected call。 Whence had that ill… advised； indelicate grey bird flown into this great haunt of men and shadows？ Why had it come with its arrowy flight and mocking cry to pierce the heart and set it aching？ There were trees enough outside the town； cloud…swept hollows； tangled brakes of furze just coming into bloom； where it could preside over the process of Spring。 What solemn freak was this which made it come and sing to one who had no longer any business with the Spring？
With a real spasm in his heart Hilary turned away from that distant bird； and went down to the water's edge。 Mr。 Stone was swimming； slower than man had ever swum before。 His silver head and lean arms alone were visible； parting the water feebly； suddenly he disappeared。 He was but a dozen yards from the shore； and Hilary； alarmed at not seeing him reappear； ran in。 The water was not deep。 Mr。 Stone； seated at the bottom； was doing all he could to rise。 Hilary took him by his bathing…dress； raised him to the surface； and supported him towards the land。 By the time they reached the shore he could just stand on his legs。 With the assistance of a policeman； Hilary enveloped him in garments and got him to a cab。 He had regained some of his vitality； but did not seem aware of what had happened。
〃I was not in as long as usual；〃 he mused； as they passed out into the high road。
〃Oh； I think so； sir。〃
Mr。 Stone looked troubled。
〃It is odd；〃 he said。 〃I do not recollect leaving the water。〃
He did not speak again till he was being assisted from the cab。
〃I wish to recompense the man。 I have half a crown indoors。〃
〃I will get it； sir；〃 said Hilary。
Mr。 Stone； who shivered violently now that he was on his feet； turned his face up to the cabman。
〃Nothing is nobler than the horse；〃 he said； 〃take care of him。〃
The cabman removed his hat。 〃I will； sir；〃 he answered。
Walking by himself； but closely watched by Hilary； Mr。 Stone reached his room。 He groped about him as though not distinguishing objects too well through the crystal clearness of the fundamental flux。
〃If I might advise you；〃 said Hilary； 〃I would get back into bed for a few minutes。 You seem a little chilly。〃
Mr。 Stone； who was indeed shaking so that he could hardly stand； allowed Hilary to assist him into bed and tuck the blankets round him。
〃I must be at work by ten o'clock；〃 he said。
Hilary； who was also shivering； hastened to Bianca's room。 She was just coming down； and exclaimed at seeing him all wet。 When he had told her of the episode she touched his shoulder。
〃What about you？〃
〃A hot bath and drink will set me right。 You'd better go to him。〃
He turned towards the bathroom； where Miranda stood； lifting a white foot。 Compressing her lips； Bianca ran downstairs。 Startled by his tale； she would have taken his wet body in her arms； if the ghosts of innumerable moments had not stood between。 So this moment passed too； and itself became a ghost。
Mr。 Stone； greatly to his disgust； had not succeeded in resuming work at ten o'clock。 Failing simply because he could not stand on his legs； he had announced his intention of waiting until half…past three； when he should get up； in preparation for the coming of the little girl。 Having refused to see a doctor； or have his temperature taken； it was impossible to tell precisely what degree of fever he was in。 In his cheeks； just visible over the blankets； there was more colour than there should have been； and his eyes； fixed on the ceiling； shone with suspicious brilliancy。 To the dismay of Bianca who sat as far out of sight as possible； lest he should see her； and fancy that she was doing him a servicehe pursued his thoughts aloud：
〃Wordswordsthey have taken away brotherhood！〃 Bianca shuddered； listening to that uncanny sound。 〃'In those days of words they called it deathpale deathmors pallida。 They saw that word like a gigantic granite block suspended over them； and slowly coming down。 Some； turning up their faces at the sight； trembled painfully； awaiting their obliteration。 Others； unable； while they still lived； to face the thought of nothingness； inflated by some spiritual wind； and thinking always of their individual forms； called out unceasingly that those selves of theirs would and must survive this wordthat in some fashion； which no man could understand； each self…conscious entity reaccumulated after distribution。 Drunk with this thought； these； too； passed away。 Some waited for it with grim； dry eyes； remarking that the process was molecular； and thus they also met their so…called death。'〃
His voice ceased； and in place of it rose the sound of his tongue moistening his palate。 Bianca； from behind； placed a glass of barley…water to his lips。 He drank it with a slow； clucking noise； then； seeing that a hand held the glass； said： 〃Is that you？ Are you ready for me？ Follow。 'In those days no one leaped up to meet pale riding Death； no one saw in her face that she was brotherhood incarnate； no one with a heart as light as gossamer kissed her feet； and； smiling； passed into the Universe。'〃 His voice died away； and when next he spoke it was in a quick； husky whisper： 〃I mustI must I must…〃 There was silence； then he added： 〃Give me my trousers。〃
Bianca placed them by his bed。 The sight seemed to reassure him。 He was once more silent。
For more than an hour after this he was so absolutely still that Bianca rose continually to look at him。 Each time； his eyes； wide open； were fixed on a little dark mark across the ceiling； his face had a look of the most singular determination； as though his spirit were slowly； relentlessly； regaining mastery over his fevered body。 He spoke suddenly：
〃Who is there？〃
〃Bianca。〃
〃Help me out of bed！〃
The flush had left his face； the brilliance had faded from his eyes； he looked just like a ghost。 With a sort of terror Bianca helped him out of bed。 This weird display of mute white will…power was unearthly。
When he was dressed in his woollen gown and seated before the fire； she gave him a cup of strong beef…tea； with brandy。 He swallowed it with great avidity。
〃I should like some more of that；〃 he said； and fell asleep。
While he was asleep Cecilia came； and the two sisters watched his slumber； and； watching it； felt nearer to each other than they had for many years。 Before she went away Cecilia whispered
〃B。 if he seems to want that little girl while