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before they awoke。 But it was hardly likely a body would be
completely burnt to ashes as this was assumed to be； though nobody
seemed to see it at the time。 And how positive the surgeon was too；
about those bits of bone！ Why he should have been so； nobody can
tell。 I cannot help saying that if it has ever been possible to
find pure stupidity incarnate； it was in that jury of Carriford。
There existed in the mass the stupidity of twelve and not the
penetration of one。'
'Is she quite well？' said Springrove。
'Who？O； my sister； Cytherea。 Thank you； nearly well； now。 I'll
call her。'
'Wait one minute。 I have a word to say to you。'
Owen sat down again。
'You know； without my saying it； that I love Cytherea as dearly as
ever。 。 。 。 I think she loves me too；does she really？'
There was in Owen enough of that worldly policy on the subject of
matchmaking which naturally resides in the breasts of parents and
guardians； to give him a certain caution in replying； and； younger
as he was by five years than Edward； it had an odd effect。
'Well； she may possibly love you still；' he said； as if rather in
doubt as to the truth of his words。
Springrove's countenance instantly saddened； he had expected a
simple 'Yes；' at the very least。 He continued in a tone of greater
depression
'Supposing she does love me； would it be fair to you and to her if I
made her an offer of marriage； with these dreary conditions
attachedthat we lived for a few years on the narrowest system；
till a great debt； which all honour and duty require me to pay off；
shall be paid？ My father； by reason of the misfortune that befell
him； is under a great obligation to Miss Aldclyffe。 He is getting
old； and losing his energies。 I am attempting to work free of the
burden。 This makes my prospects gloomy enough at present。
'But consider again；' he went on。 'Cytherea has been left in a
nameless and unsatisfactory； though innocent state； by this
unfortunate； and now void； marriage with Manston。 A marriage with
me； though under themateriallyuntoward conditions I have
mentioned； would make us happy； it would give her a locus standi。
If she wished to be out of the sound of her misfortunes we would go
to another part of Englandemigratedo anything。'
'I'll call Cytherea；' said Owen。 'It is a matter which she alone
can settle。' He did not speak warmly。 His pride could not endure
the pity which Edward's visit and errand tacitly implied。 Yet； in
the other affair； his heart went with Edward； he was on the same
beat for paying off old debts himself。
'Cythie； Mr。 Springrove is here；' he said； at the foot of the
staircase。
His sister descended the creaking old steps with a faltering tread；
and stood in the firelight from the hearth。 She extended her hand
to Springrove； welcoming him by a mere motion of the lip； her eyes
averteda habit which had engendered itself in her since the
beginning of her illness and defamation。 Owen opened the door and
went outleaving the lovers alone。 It was the first time they had
met since the memorable night at Southampton。
'I will get a light；' she said； with a little embarrassment。
'Nodon't； please； Cytherea；' said Edward softly； 'Come and sit
down with me。'
'O yes。 I ought to have asked YOU to；' she returned timidly。
'Everybody sits in the chimney…corner in this parish。 You sit on
that side。 I'll sit here。'
Two recessesone on the right； one on the left handwere cut in
the inside of the fireplace； and here they sat down facing each
other； on benches fitted to the recesses； the fire glowing on the
hearth between their feet。 Its ruddy light shone on the underslopes
of their faces； and spread out over the floor of the room with the
low horizontality of the setting sun； giving to every grain of sand
and tumour in the paving a long shadow towards the door。
Edward looked at his pale love through the thin azure twines of
smoke that went up like ringlets between them； and invested her； as
seen through its medium； with the shadowy appearance of a phantom。
Nothing is so potent for coaxing back the lost eyes of a woman as a
discreet silence in the man who has so lost themand thus the
patient Edward coaxed hers。 After lingering on the hearth for half
a minute； waiting in vain for another word from him； they were
lifted into his face。
He was ready primed to receive them。 'Cytherea； will you marry me？'
he said。
He could not wait in his original position till the answer came。
Stepping across the front of the fire to her own side of the chimney
corner； he reclined at her feet； and searched for her hand。 She
continued in silence awhile。
'Edward； I can never be anybody's wife；' she then said sadly； and
with firmness。
'Think of it in every light；' he pleaded； 'the light of love； first。
Then； when you have done that； see how wise a step it would be。 I
can only offer you poverty as yet； but I wantI do so long to
secure you from the intrusion of that unpleasant past； which will
often and always be thrust before you as long as you live the
shrinking solitary life you do nowa life which purity chooses； it
may be； but to the outside world it appears like the enforced
loneliness of neglect and scornand tongues are busy inventing a
reason for it which does not exist。'
'I know all about it；' she said hastily； 'and those are the grounds
of my refusal。 You and Owen know the whole truththe two I love
best on earthand I am content。 But the scandal will be
continually repeated； and I can never give any one the opportunity
of saying to youthatyour wife 。 。 。 。' She utterly broke down
and wept。
'Don't； my own darling！' he entreated。 'Don't； Cytherea！'
'Please to leave mewe will be friends； Edwardbut don't press me…
…my mind is made upI cannotI will not marry you or any man under
the present ambiguous circumstancesnever will II have said it：
never！'
They were both silent。 He listlessly regarded the illuminated
blackness overhead； where long flakes of soot floated from the sides
and bars of the chimney…throat like tattered banners in ancient
aisles； whilst through the square opening in the midst one or two
bright stars looked down upon them from the grey March sky。 The
sight seemed to cheer him。
'At any rate you will love me？' he murmured to her。
'Yesalwaysfor ever and for ever！'
He kissed her once； twice； three times； and arose to his feet；
slowly withdrawing himself from her side towards the door。 Cytherea
remained with her gaze fixed on the fire。 Edward went out grieving；
but hope was not extinguished even now。
He smelt the fragrance of a cigar； and immediately afterwards saw a
small red star of fire against the darkness of the hedge。 Graye was
pacing up and down the lane； smoking as he walked。 Springrove told
him the result of the interview。
'You are a good fellow； Edward；' he said； 'but I think my sister is
right。'
'I wish you would believe Manston a villain； as I do；' said
Springrove。
'It would be absurd of me to say that I like him nowfamily feeling
prevents it； but I cannot in honesty say deliberately that he is a
bad man。'
Edward could keep the secret of Manston's coercion of