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Basil went； but not to his desolate home。 He had a private key to the vestry in his church； and in its darkness and solitude he faced the first shock of his ruined life； for he knew well all was over。 All had been。 He sank to the floor at the foot of the large cross which hung on its bare white walls。 Grief's illimitable wave went over him； and like a drowning man he uttered an inarticulate cry of agony the cry of a soul that had wronged its destiny。 Love had betrayed him to ruin。 All he had done must be abandoned。 All he had won must be given up。 Sin and shame indeed it would be if in his person a sacrament of the Church should be dragged through a divorce court。 All other considerations paled before this disgrace。 He must resign his curacy； strip himself of the honorable livery of heaven； obliterate his person and his name。 It was a kind of death。
After awhile he rose； drank some water； lifted the shade and let the moonlight in。 Then about that little room he walked with God through the long night； telling Him his sorrow and perplexity。 And there is a depth in our own nature where the divine and human are one。 That night Basil Stanhope found it； and henceforward knew that the bitterness of death was behind him； not before。 〃I made my nest too dear on earth；〃 he sighed； 〃and it has been swept barethat is； that I may build in heaven。
Now； the revelation of sorrow is the clearest of all revelations。 Stanhope understood that hour what he must do。 No doubts weakened his course。 He went back to the house Dora called 〃hers；〃 took away what he valued； and while the servants were eating their breakfast and talking over his marital troubles； he passed across its threshold for the last time。 He told no one where he was going； he dropped as silently and dumbly out of the life that had known him as a stone dropped into mid…ocean。
Ethel considered herself fortunate in being from home at the time this disastrous culmination of Basil Stanhope's married life was reached。 On that same morning the Judge； accompanied by Ruth and herself； had gone to Lenox to spend the holidays with some old friends； and she was quite ignorant of the matter when she returned after the New Year。 Bryce was her first informant。 He called specially to give her the news。 He said his sister had been too ill and too busy to write。 He had no word of sympathy for the unhappy pair。 He spoke only of the anxiety it had caused him。 〃He was now engaged；〃 he said； 〃to Miss Caldwell； and she was such an extremely proper； innocent lady； and a member of St。 Jude's； it had really been a trying time for her。〃 Bryce also reminded Ethel that he had been against Basil Stanhope from the first。 〃He had always known how that marriage would end；〃 and so on。
Ethel declined to give any opinion。 〃She must hear both sides；〃 she said。 〃Dora had been so reasonable lately； she had appeared happy。〃
〃Oh； Dora is a little fox；〃 he replied； 〃she doubles on herself always。〃
Ruth was properly regretful。 She wondered 〃if any married woman was really happy。〃 She did not apparently concern herself about Basil。 The Judge rather leaned to Basil's consideration。 He understood that Dora's overt act had shattered his professional career as well as his personal happiness。 He could feel for the man there。 〃My dears；〃 he said； with his dilettante air； 〃the goddess Calamity is delicate； and her feet are tender。 She treads not upon the ground； but makes her path upon the hearts of men。〃 In this non…committal way he gave his comment； for he usually found a bit of classical wisdom to fit modern emergencies； and the habit had imparted an antique bon…ton to his conversation。 Ethel could only wonder at the lack of real sympathy。
In the morning she went to see her grandmother。 The old lady had 〃heard〃 all she wanted to hear about Dora and Basil Stanhope。 If men would marry a fool because she was young and pretty； they must take the consequences。 〃And why should Stanhope have married at all？〃 she asked indignantly。 〃No man can serve God and a woman at the same time。 He had to be a bad priest and a good husband； or a bad husband and a good priest。 Basil Stanhope was honored； was doing good； and he must needs be happy also。 He wanted too much； and lost everything。 Serve him right。〃
〃All can now find some fault in poor Basil Stanhope；〃 said Ethel。 〃Bryce was bitter against him because Miss Caldwell shivers at the word ‘divorce。'〃
〃What has Bryce to do with Jane Caldwell？〃
〃He is going to marry her； he says。〃
〃Like enough； she's a merry miss of two… score； and rich。 Bryce's marriage with anyone will be a well…considered affaira marriage with all the advantages of a good bargain。 I'm tired of the whole subject。 If women will marry they should be as patient as Griselda； in case there ever was such a woman； if not； there's an end of the matter。〃
〃There are no Griseldas in this century； grandmother。〃
〃Then there ought to be no marriages。 Basil Stanhope was a grand man in public。 What kind of a man was he in his home？ Measure a man by his home conduct； and you'll not go wrong。 It's the right place to draw your picture of him； I can tell you that。〃
〃He has no home now； poor fellow。〃
〃Whose fault was it？ God only knows。 Where is his wife？〃
〃She has gone to Paris。〃
〃She has gone to the right place if she wants to play the fool。 But there； now； God forbid I should judge her in the dark。 Women should stand by womenconsidering。〃
〃Considering？〃
〃What they may have to put up with。 It is easy to see faults in others。 I have sometimes met with people who should see faults in themselves。 They are rather uncommon； though。〃
〃I am sure Basil Stanhope will be miserable all his life。 He will break his heart； I do believe。〃
〃Not so。 A good heart is hard to break； it grows strong in trouble。 Basil Stanhope's body will fail long before his heart does； and even so an end must come to life； and after that peace or what God wills。〃
This scant sympathy Ethel found to be the usual tone among her acquaintances。 St。 Jude's got a new rector and a new idol； and the Stanhope affair was relegated to the limbo of things 〃it was proper to forget。〃
So the weeks of the long winter went by； and Ethel in the joy and hope of her own love…life naturally put out of her mind the sorrow of lives she could no longer help or influence。 Indeed； as to Dora； there were frequent reports of her marvelous social success in Paris； and Ethel did not doubt Stanhope had found some everlasting gospel of holy work to comfort his desolation。 And then also
〃Each day brings its petty dust； Our soon…choked souls to fill； And we forget because we must； And not because we will。〃
One evening when May with heavy clouds and slant rains was making the city as miserable as possible； Ethel had a caller。 His card bore a name quite unknown； and his appearance gave no clew to his identity。
〃Mr。 Edmonds？〃 she said interrogatively。
〃Are you Miss Ethel Rawdon？〃 he asked。
〃Yes。〃
〃Mr。 Basil Stanhope told me to put this parcel in your hands。〃
〃Oh； Mr。 Stanhope！ I am glad to hear from him。 Where is he now？〃
〃We buried him yesterday。 He died last Sunday as the bells were ringing for church pneumonia；