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to her playmates； had usually left her safe and upright on her feet
after the narrowest escape by oscillations and whirls for the
preservation of her balance。 At mixed Christmas parties； when she
numbered but twelve or thirteen years； and was heartily despised on
that account by lads who deemed themselves men； her apt lightness in
the dance covered this incompleteness in her womanhood； and
compelled the self…same youths in spite of resolutions to seize upon
her childish figure as a partner whom they could not afford to
contemn。 And in later years； when the instincts of her sex had
shown her this point as the best and rarest feature in her external
self； she was not found wanting in attention to the cultivation of
finish in its details。
Her hair rested gaily upon her shoulders in curls and was of a
shining corn yellow in the high lights； deepening to a definite nut…
brown as each curl wound round into the shade。 She had eyes of a
sapphire hue； though rather darker than the gem ordinarily appears；
they possessed the affectionate and liquid sparkle of loyalty and
good faith as distinguishable from that harder brightness which
seems to express faithfulness only to the object confronting them。
But to attempt to gain a view of heror indeed of any fascinating
womanfrom a measured category； is as difficult as to appreciate
the effect of a landscape by exploring it at night with a lantern
or of a full chord of music by piping the notes in succession。
Nevertheless it may readily be believed from the description here
ventured； that among the many winning phases of her aspect； these
were particularly striking：
During pleasant doubt； when her eyes brightened stealthily and
smiled （as eyes will smile） as distinctly as her lips； and in the
space of a single instant expressed clearly the whole round of
degrees of expectancy which lie over the wide expanse between Yea
and Nay。
During the telling of a secret； which was involuntarily
accompanied by a sudden minute start； and ecstatic pressure of the
listener's arm； side； or neck； as the position and degree of
intimacy dictated。
When anxiously regarding one who possessed her affections。
She suddenly assumed the last…mentioned bearing in the progress of
the present entertainment。 Her glance was directed out of the
window。
Why the particulars of a young lady's presence at a very mediocre
performance were prevented from dropping into the oblivion which
their intrinsic insignificance would naturally have involvedwhy
they were remembered and individualized by herself and others
through after yearswas simply that she unknowingly stood； as it
were； upon the extreme posterior edge of a tract in her life； in
which the real meaning of Taking Thought had never been known。 It
was the last hour of experience she ever enjoyed with a mind
entirely free from a knowledge of that labyrinth into which she
stepped immediately afterwardsto continue a perplexed course along
its mazes for the greater portion of twenty…nine subsequent months。
The Town Hall； in which Cytherea sat； was a building of brown stone；
and through one of the windows could be seen from the interior of
the room the housetops and chimneys of the adjacent street； and also
the upper part of a neighbouring church spire； now in course of
completion under the superintendence of Miss Graye's father； the
architect to the work。
That the top of this spire should be visible from her position in
the room was a fact which Cytherea's idling eyes had discovered with
some interest； and she was now engaged in watching the scene that
was being enacted about its airy summit。 Round the conical
stonework rose a cage of scaffolding against the blue sky； and upon
this stood five menfour in clothes as white as the new erection
close beneath their hands； the fifth in the ordinary dark suit of a
gentleman。
The four working…men in white were three masons and a mason's
labourer。 The fifth man was the architect； Mr。 Graye。 He had been
giving directions as it seemed； and retiring as far as the narrow
footway allowed； stood perfectly still。
The picture thus presented to a spectator in the Town Hall was
curious and striking。 It was an illuminated miniature； framed in by
the dark margin of the window； the keen…edged shadiness of which
emphasized by contrast the softness of the objects enclosed。
The height of the spire was about one hundred and twenty feet； and
the five men engaged thereon seemed entirely removed from the sphere
and experiences of ordinary human beings。 They appeared little
larger than pigeons； and made their tiny movements with a soft；
spirit…like silentness。 One idea above all others was conveyed to
the mind of a person on the ground by their aspect； namely；
concentration of purpose： that they were indifferent toeven
unconscious ofthe distracted world beneath them； and all that
moved upon it。 They never looked off the scaffolding。
Then one of them turned； it was Mr。 Graye。 Again he stood
motionless； with attention to the operations of the others。 He
appeared to be lost in reflection； and had directed his face towards
a new stone they were lifting。
'Why does he stand like that？' the young lady thought at lengthup
to that moment as listless and careless as one of the ancient
Tarentines； who； on such an afternoon as this； watched from the
Theatre the entry into their Harbour of a power that overturned the
State。
She moved herself uneasily。 'I wish he would come down；' she
whispered； still gazing at the skybacked picture。 'It is so
dangerous to be absent…minded up there。'
When she had done murmuring the words her father indecisively laid
hold of one of the scaffold…poles； as if to test its strength； then
let it go and stepped back。 In stepping； his foot slipped。 An
instant of doubling forward and sideways； and he reeled off into the
air； immediately disappearing downwards。
His agonized daughter rose to her feet by a convulsive movement。
Her lips parted； and she gasped for breath。 She could utter no
sound。 One by one the people about her； unconscious of what had
happened； turned their heads； and inquiry and alarm became visible
upon their faces at the sight of the poor child。 A moment longer；
and she fell to the floor；
The next impression of which Cytherea had any consciousness was of
being carried from a strange vehicle across the pavement to the
steps of her own house by her brother and an older man。
Recollection of what had passed evolved itself an instant later； and
just as they entered the doorthrough which another and sadder
burden had been carried but a few instants beforeher eyes caught
sight of the south…western sky； and； without heeding； saw white
sunlight shining in shaft…like lines from a rift in a slaty cloud。
Emotions will attach themselves to scenes that are simultaneous
however foreign in essence these scenes may beas chemical waters
will crystallize on twigs and wires。 Even after that time any
mental agony brought less vividly to Cytherea's mind the scene from
the Town Hall windows than sunlight streaming in shaft…like lines。
4。 OCTOBER THE NINETEENTH
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