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letter of entreaty could wring from her any explanation。 She begged
him not to follow her； and the most bewildering point was that her
father and mother appeared； from the tone of a letter Graye received
from them； as vexed and sad as he at this sudden renunciation。 One
thing was plain： without admitting her reason as valid； they knew
what that reason was； and did not intend to reveal it。
A week from that day Ambrose Graye left his friend Huntway's house
and saw no more of the Love he mourned。 From time to time his
friend answered any inquiry Graye made by letter respecting her。
But very poor food to a lover is intelligence of a mistress filtered
through a friend。 Huntway could tell nothing definitely。 He said
he believed there had been some prior flirtation between Cytherea
and her cousin； an officer of the line； two or three years before
Graye met her； which had suddenly been terminated by the cousin's
departure for India； and the young lady's travelling on the
Continent with her parents the whole of the ensuing summer； on
account of delicate health。 Eventually Huntway said that
circumstances had rendered Graye's attachment more hopeless still。
Cytherea's mother had unexpectedly inherited a large fortune and
estates in the west of England by the rapid fall of some intervening
lives。 This had caused their removal from the small house in
Bloomsbury； and； as it appeared； a renunciation of their old friends
in that quarter。
Young Graye concluded that his Cytherea had forgotten him and his
love。 But he could not forget her。
2。 FROM 1843 TO 1861
Eight years later； feeling lonely and depresseda man without
relatives； with many acquaintances but no friendsAmbrose Graye met
a young lady of a different kind； fairly endowed with money and good
gifts。 As to caring very deeply for another woman after the loss of
Cytherea； it was an absolute impossibility with him。 With all； the
beautiful things of the earth become more dear as they elude
pursuit； but with some natures utter elusion is the one special
event which will make a passing love permanent for ever。
This second young lady and Graye were married。 That he did not；
first or last； love his wife as he should have done； was known to
all； but few knew that his unmanageable heart could never be weaned
from useless repining at the loss of its first idol。
His character to some extent deteriorated； as emotional
constitutions will under the long sense of disappointment at having
missed their imagined destiny。 And thus； though naturally of a
gentle and pleasant disposition； he grew to be not so tenderly
regarded by his acquaintances as it is the lot of some of those
persons to be。 The winning and sanguine receptivity of his early
life developed by degrees a moody nervousness； and when not
picturing prospects drawn from baseless hope he was the victim of
indescribable depression。 The practical issue of such a condition
was improvidence； originally almost an unconscious improvidence； for
every debt incurred had been mentally paid off with a religious
exactness from the treasures of expectation before mentioned。 But
as years revolved； the same course was continued from the lack of
spirit sufficient for shifting out of an old groove when it has been
found to lead to disaster。
In the year 1861 his wife died； leaving him a widower with two
children。 The elder； a son named Owen； now just turned seventeen；
was taken from school； and initiated as pupil to the profession of
architect in his father's office。 The remaining child was a
daughter； and Owen's junior by a year。
Her christian name was Cytherea； and it is easy to guess why。
3。 OCTOBER THE TWELFTH； 1863
We pass over two years in order to reach the next cardinal event of
these persons' lives。 The scene is still the Grayes' native town of
Hocbridge； but as it appeared on a Monday afternoon in the month of
October。
The weather was sunny and dry； but the ancient borough was to be
seen wearing one of its least attractive aspects。 First on account
of the time。 It was that stagnant hour of the twenty…four when the
practical garishness of Day； having escaped from the fresh long
shadows and enlivening newness of the morning； has not yet made any
perceptible advance towards acquiring those mellow and soothing
tones which grace its decline。 Next； it was that stage in the
progress of the week when businesswhich； carried on under the
gables of an old country place； is not devoid of a romantic sparkle…
…was well…nigh extinguished。 Lastly； the town was intentionally
bent upon being attractive by exhibiting to an influx of visitors
the local talent for dramatic recitation； and provincial towns
trying to be lively are the dullest of dull things。
Little towns are like little children in this respect； that they
interest most when they are enacting native peculiarities
unconscious of beholders。 Discovering themselves to be watched they
attempt to be entertaining by putting on an antic； and produce
disagreeable caricatures which spoil them。
The weather…stained clock…face in the low church tower standing at
the intersection of the three chief streets was expressing half…past
two to the Town Hall opposite； where the much talked…of reading from
Shakespeare was about to begin。 The doors were open； and those
persons who had already assembled within the building were noticing
the entrance of the new…comerssilently criticizing their dress
questioning the genuineness of their teeth and hairestimating
their private means。
Among these later ones came an exceptional young maiden who glowed
amid the dulness like a single bright…red poppy in a field of brown
stubble。 She wore an elegant dark jacket； lavender dress； hat with
grey strings and trimmings； and gloves of a colour to harmonize。
She lightly walked up the side passage of the room； cast a slight
glance around； and entered the seat pointed out to her。
The young girl was Cytherea Graye； her age was now about eighteen。
During her entry； and at various times whilst sitting in her seat
and listening to the reader on the platform； her personal appearance
formed an interesting subject of study for several neighbouring
eyes。
Her face was exceedingly attractive； though artistically less
perfect than her figure； which approached unusually near to the
standard of faultlessness。 But even this feature of hers yielded
the palm to the gracefulness of her movement； which was fascinating
and delightful to an extreme degree。
Indeed； motion was her speciality； whether shown on its most
extended scale of bodily progression； or minutely； as in the
uplifting of her eyelids； the bending of her fingers； the pouting of
her lip。 The carriage of her headmotion within motiona glide
upon a glidewas as delicate as that of a magnetic needle。 And
this flexibility and elasticity had never been taught her by rule；
nor even been acquired by observation； but； nullo cultu； had
naturally developed itself with her years。 In childhood； a stone or
stalk in the way； which had been the inevitable occasion of a fall
to her playmates； had usually left her safe and upright on her feet
after th