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avail； he left Downe with his friends and the young doctor； and once
more hastened back to his own house。
At the door he met Charlson。 'Well！' Barnet said。
'I have just come down；' said the doctor； 'we have done everything；
but without result。 I sympathize with you in your bereavement。'
Barnet did not much appreciate Charlson's sympathy； which sounded to
his ears as something of a mockery from the lips of a man who knew
what Charlson knew about their domestic relations。 Indeed there
seemed an odd spark in Charlson's full black eye as he said the
words； but that might have been imaginary。
'And； Mr。 Barnet；' Charlson resumed； 'that little matter between us…
…I hope to settle it finally in three weeks at least。'
'Never mind that now；' said Barnet abruptly。 He directed the
surgeon to go to the harbour in case his services might even now be
necessary there： and himself entered the house。
The servants were coming from his wife's chamber； looking helplessly
at each other and at him。 He passed them by and entered the room；
where he stood mutely regarding the bed for a few minutes； after
which he walked into his own dressing…room adjoining； and there
paced up and down。 In a minute or two he noticed what a strange and
total silence had come over the upper part of the house； his own
movements； muffled as they were by the carpet； seemed noisy； and his
thoughts to disturb the air like articulate utterances。 His eye
glanced through the window。 Far down the road to the harbour a roof
detained his gaze： out of it rose a red chimney； and out of the red
chimney a curl of smoke； as from a fire newly kindled。 He had often
seen such a sight before。 In that house lived Lucy Savile； and the
smoke was from the fire which was regularly lighted at this time to
make her tea。
After that he went back to the bedroom； and stood there some time
regarding his wife's silent form。 She was a woman some years older
than himself； but had not by any means overpassed the maturity of
good looks and vigour。 Her passionate features； well…defined； firm；
and statuesque in life； were doubly so now： her mouth and brow；
beneath her purplish black hair； showed only too clearly that the
turbulency of character which had made a bear…garden of his house
had been no temporary phase of her existence。 While he reflected；
he suddenly said to himself； I wonder if all has been done？
The thought was led up to by his having fancied that his wife's
features lacked in its complete form the expression which he had
been accustomed to associate with the faces of those whose spirits
have fled for ever。 The effacement of life was not so marked but
that； entering uninformed； he might have supposed her sleeping。 Her
complexion was that seen in the numerous faded portraits by Sir
Joshua Reynolds； it was pallid in comparison with life； but there
was visible on a close inspection the remnant of what had once been
a flush； the keeping between the cheeks and the hollows of the face
being thus preserved； although positive colour was gone。 Long
orange rays of evening sun stole in through chinks in the blind；
striking on the large mirror； and being thence reflected upon the
crimson hangings and woodwork of the heavy bedstead； so that the
general tone of light was remarkably warm； and it was probable that
something might be due to this circumstance。 Still the fact
impressed him as strange。 Charlson had been gone more than a
quarter of an hour： could it be possible that he had left too soon；
and that his attempts to restore her had operated so sluggishly as
only now to have made themselves felt？ Barnet laid his hand upon
her chest； and fancied that ever and anon a faint flutter of
palpitation； gentle as that of a butterfly's wing； disturbed the
stillness thereceasing for a time； then struggling to go on； then
breaking down in weakness and ceasing again。
Barnet's mother had been an active practitioner of the healing art
among her poorer neighbours； and her inspirations had all been
derived from an octavo volume of Domestic Medicine； which at this
moment was lying； as it had lain for many years； on a shelf in
Barnet's dressing…room。 He hastily fetched it； and there read under
the head 'Drowning：'…
'Exertions for the recovery of any person who has not been immersed
for a longer period than half…an…hour should be continued for at
least four hours； as there have been many cases in which returning
life has made itself visible even after a longer interval。
'Should； however； a weak action of any of the organs show itself
when the case seems almost hopeless； our efforts must be redoubled；
the feeble spark in this case requires to be solicited； it will
certainly disappear under a relaxation of labour。'
Barnet looked at his watch； it was now barely two hours and a half
from the time when he had first heard of the accident。 He threw
aside the book and turned quickly to reach a stimulant which had
previously been used。 Pulling up the blind for more light； his eye
glanced out of the window。 There he saw that red chimney still
smoking cheerily； and that roof； and through the roof that somebody。
His mechanical movements stopped； his hand remained on the blind…
cord； and he seemed to become breathless； as if he had suddenly
found himself treading a high rope。
While he stood a sparrow lighted on the windowsill； saw him； and
flew away。 Next a man and a dog walked over one of the green hills
which bulged above the roofs of the town。 But Barnet took no
notice。
We may wonder what were the exact images that passed through his
mind during those minutes of gazing upon Lucy Savile's house； the
sparrow； the man and the dog； and Lucy Savile's house again。 There
are honest men who will not admit to their thoughts； even as idle
hypotheses； views of the future that assume as done a deed which
they would recoil from doing； and there are other honest men for
whom morality ends at the surface of their own heads； who will
deliberate what the first will not so much as suppose。 Barnet had a
wife whose pretence distracted his home； she now lay as in death； by
merely doing nothingby letting the intelligence which had gone
forth to the world lie undisturbedhe would effect such a
deliverance for himself as he had never hoped for； and open up an
opportunity of which till now he had never dreamed。 Whether the
conjuncture had arisen through any unscrupulous； ill…considered
impulse of Charlson to help out of a strait the friend who was so
kind as never to press him for what was due could not be told； there
was nothing to prove it； and it was a question which could never be
asked。 The triangular situationhimselfhis wifeLucy Savile
was the one clear thing。
From Barnet's actions we may infer that he SUPPOSED such and such a
result； for a moment； but did not deliberate。 He withdrew his hazel
eyes from the scene without； calmly turned； rang the bell for
assistance； and vigorously exerted himself to learn if life still
lingered in that motionless frame。 In a short time another surgeon
was in attendance； and then Barnet's surmise proved to be true。 The
slow life timidly heaved a