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flickered； and the plane…tree leaves tap…tapped。
He rose； and crept away stealthily downstairs into the drawing…
room； and through the window at the far end out into the courtyard；
where he had sat that day by the hydrangea； listening to the piano…
organ。 Very dark and cold and eerie it was there； and he hurried
across to his studio。 There； too； it was cold； and dark； and
eerie； with its ghostly plaster presences； stale scent of
cigarettes； and just one glowing ember of the fire he had left when
he rushed out after Nellthose seven hours ago。
He went first to the bureau； turned up its lamp； and taking out
some sheets of paper； marked on them directions for his various
works； for the statuette of Nell； he noted that it should be taken
with his compliments to Mr。 Dromore。 He wrote a letter to his
banker directing money to be sent to Rome； and to his solicitor
telling him to let the house。 He wrote quickly。 If Sylvia woke；
and found him still away； what might she not think？ He took a last
sheet。 Did it matter what he wrote； what deliberate lie； if it
helped Nell over the first shock？
〃DEAR NELL；
〃I write this hastily in the early hours； to say that we are called
out to Italy to my only sister； who is very ill。 We leave by the
first morning boat； and may be away some time。 I will write again。
Don't fret； and God bless you。
〃M。 L。〃
He could not see very well as he wrote。 Poor； loving； desperate
child！ Well； she had youth and strength； and would soon have
Oliver！ And he took yet another sheet。
〃DEAR OLIVER；
〃My wife and I are obliged to go post…haste to Italy。 I watched
you both at the dance the other night。 Be very gentle with Nell；
andgood luck to you！ But don't say again that I told you to be
patient； it is hardly the way to make her love you。
〃M。 LENNAN。〃
That； then； was allyes； all！ He turned out the little lamp； and
groped towards the hearth。 But one thing left。 To say good…bye！
To her； and Youth； and Passion！to the only salve for the aching
that Spring and Beauty bringthe aching for the wild； the
passionate； the new； that never quite dies in a man's heart。 Ah！
well； sooner or later； all men had to say good…bye to that。 All
menall men！
He crouched down before the hearth。 There was no warmth in that
fast…blackening ember； but it still glowed like a dark…red flower。
And while it lived he crouched there； as though it were that to
which he was saying good…bye。 And on the door he heard the girl's
ghostly knocking。 And beside hima ghost among the ghostly
presencesshe stood。 Slowly the glow blackened； till the last
spark had faded out。
Then by the glimmer of the night he found his way back； softly as
he had come； to his bedroom。
Sylvia was still sleeping； and； to watch for her to wake； he sat
down again by the fire； in silence only stirred by the frail tap…
tapping of those autumn leaves； and the little catch in her
breathing now and then。 It was less troubled than when he had bent
over her before； as though in her sleep she knew。 He must not miss
the moment of her waking； must be beside her before she came to
full consciousness； to say： 〃There； there！ It's all over； we are
going away at onceat once。〃 To be ready to offer that quick
solace； before she had time to plunge back into her sorrow； was an
island in this black sea of night； a single little refuge point for
his bereaved and naked being。 Something to dosomething fixed；
real； certain。 And yet another long hour before her waking； he sat
forward in the chair； with that wistful eagerness； his eyes fixed
on her face； staring through it at some vision； some faint；
glimmering lightfar out there beyondas a traveller watches a
star。 。 。 。
End