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everywhere pervasive； yet； too； so transitory and intangible； that；
as in the case of the poet Wordsworth and the Wandering Voice；
though she felt it present； she could never find it。 As a foil to
heighten its effect； he occasionally spoke philosophically of the
evanescence of female beautythe worthlessness of mere appearance。
'Handsome is that handsome does' he considered a proverb which
should be written on the looking…glass of every woman in the land。
'Your form； your motions； your heart have won me；' he said； in a
tone of playful sadness。 'They are beautiful。 But I see these
things； and it comes into my mind that they are doomed； they are
gliding to nothing as I look。 Poor eyes； poor mouth； poor face；
poor maiden！ 〃Where will her glories be in twenty years？〃 I say。
〃Where will all of her be in a hundred？〃 Then I think it is cruel
that you should bloom a day； and fade for ever and ever。 It seems
hard and sad that you will die as ordinarily as I； and be buried； be
food for roots and worms； be forgotten and come to earth； and grow
up a mere blade of churchyard…grass and an ivy leaf。 Then； Miss
Graye； when I see you are a Lovely Nothing； I pity you； and the love
I feel then is better and sounder； larger and more lasting than that
I felt at the beginning。' Again an ardent flash of his handsome
eyes。
It was by this route that he ventured on an indirect declaration and
offer of his hand。
She implied in the same indirect manner that she did not love him
enough to accept it。
An actual refusal was more than he had expected。 Cursing himself
for what he called his egregious folly in making himself the slave
of a mere lady's attendant； and for having given the parish； should
they know of her refusal； a chance of sneering at himcertainly a
ground for thinking less of his standing than beforehe went home
to the Old House； and walked indecisively up and down his back…yard。
Turning aside； he leant his arms upon the edge of the rain…water…
butt standing in the corner； and looked into it。 The reflection
from the smooth stagnant surface tinged his face with the greenish
shades of Correggio's nudes。 Staves of sunlight slanted down
through the still pool； lighting it up with wonderful distinctness。
Hundreds of thousands of minute living creatures sported and tumbled
in its depth with every contortion that gaiety could suggest；
perfectly happy； though consisting only of a head； or a tail； or at
most a head and a tail； and all doomed to die within the twenty…four
hours。
'Damn my position！ Why shouldn't I be happy through my little day
too？ Let the parish sneer at my repulses； let it。 I'll get her； if
I move heaven and earth to do it！'
Indeed； the inexperienced Cytherea had； towards Edward in the first
place； and Manston afterwards； unconsciously adopted bearings that
would have been the very tactics of a professional fisher of men who
wished to have them each successively dangling at her heels。 For if
any rule at all can be laid down in a matter which； for men
collectively； is notoriously beyond regulation； it is that to snub a
petted man； and to pet a snubbed man； is the way to win in suits of
both kinds。 Manston with Springrove's encouragement would have
become indifferent。 Edward with Manston's repulses would have
sheered off at the outset； as he did afterwards。 Her supreme
indifference added fuel to Manston's ardourit completely disarmed
his pride。 The invulnerable Nobody seemed greater to him than a
susceptible Princess。
4。 FROM THE TWENTY…FIRST OF JUNE TO THE END OF JULY
Cytherea had in the meantime received the following letter from her
brother。 It was the first definite notification of the enlargement
of that cloud no bigger than a man's hand which had for nearly a
twelvemonth hung before them in the distance； and which was soon to
give a colour to their whole sky from horizon to horizon。
'BUDMOUTH REGIS；
Saturday。
'DARLING SIS；I have delayed telling you for a long time of a
little matter which； though not one to be seriously alarmed about；
is sufficiently vexing； and it would be unfair in me to keep it from
you any longer。 It is that for some time past I have again been
distressed by that lameness which I first distinctly felt when we
went to Lulstead Cove； and again when I left Knapwater that morning
early。 It is an unusual pain in my left leg； between the knee and
the ankle。 I had just found fresh symptoms of it when you were here
for that half…hour about a month agowhen you said in fun that I
began to move like an old man。 I had a good mind to tell you then；
but fancying it would go off in a few days； I thought it was not
worth while。 Since that time it has increased； but I am still able
to work in the office； sitting on the stool。 My great fear is that
Mr。 G。 will have some out…door measuring work for me to do soon； and
that I shall be obliged to decline it。 However； we will hope for
the best。 How it came； what was its origin； or what it tends to； I
cannot think。 You shall hear again in a day or two； if it is no
better。 。 。Your loving brother； OWEN。'
This she answered； begging to know the worst； which she could bear；
but suspense and anxiety never。 In two days came another letter
from him； of which the subjoined paragraph is a portion：
'I had quite decided to let you know the worst； and to assure you
that it was the worst； before you wrote to ask it。 And again I give
you my word that I will conceal nothingso that there will be no
excuse whatever for your wearing yourself out with fears that I am
worse than I say。 This morning then； for the first time； I have
been obliged to stay away from the office。 Don't be frightened at
this； dear Cytherea。 Rest is all that is wanted； and by nursing
myself now for a week； I may avoid an illness of six months。'
After a visit from her he wrote again：
'Dr。 Chestman has seen me。 He said that the ailment was some sort
of rheumatism； and I am now undergoing proper treatment for its
cure。 My leg and foot have been placed in hot bran； liniments have
been applied； and also severe friction with a pad。 He says I shall
be as right as ever in a very short time。 Directly I am I shall run
up by the train to see you。 Don't trouble to come to me if Miss
Aldclyffe grumbles again about your being away； for I am going on
capitally。 。 。 。 You shall hear again at the end of the week。'
At the time mentioned came the following：
'I am sorry to tell you； because I know it will be so disheartening
after my last letter； that I am not so well as I was then； and that
there has been a sort of hitch in the proceedings。 After I had been
treated for rheumatism a few days longer （in which treatment they
pricked the place with a long needle several times；） I saw that Dr。
Chestman was in doubt about something； and I requested that he would
call in a brother professional man to see me as well。 They
consulted together and then told me that rheumatism was not the
disease after all； but erysipelas。 They then began treating it
differently； as became a different matter。 Blisters； flour； and
starch； seem to