felt as an essential loss。 It was felt now with regard to the
maiden。 More； too； after a meeting so pleasant and so enkindling；
she had seemed to imply that they would never come together again。
The young man softly followed her； stood opposite the house and
watched her come into the upper room with the light。 Presently his
gaze was cut short by her approaching the window and pulling down
the blindEdward dwelling upon her vanishing figure with a hopeless
sense of loss akin to that which Adam is said by logicians to have
felt when he first saw the sun set； and thought； in his
inexperience； that it would return no more。
He waited till her shadow had twice crossed the window； when；
finding the charming outline was not to be expected again； he left
the street； crossed the harbour…bridge； and entered his own solitary
chamber on the other side； vaguely thinking as he went （for
undefined reasons）；
'One hope is too like despair
For prudence to smother。'
III。 THE EVENTS OF EIGHT DAYS
1。 FROM THE TWENTY…SECOND TO THE TWENTY…SEVENTH OF JULY
But things are not what they seem。 A responsive love for Edward
Springrove had made its appearance in Cytherea's bosom with all the
fascinating attributes of a first experience； not succeeding to or
displacing other emotions； as in older hearts； but taking up
entirely new ground； as when gazing just after sunset at the pale
blue sky we see a star come into existence where nothing was before。
His parting words； 'Don't forget me；' she repeated to herself a
hundred times； and though she thought their import was probably
commonplace； she could not help toying with them；looking at them
from all points； and investing them with meanings of love and
faithfulness；ostensibly entertaining such meanings only as fables
wherewith to pass the time； yet in her heart admitting； for detached
instants； a possibility of their deeper truth。 And thus； for hours
after he had left her； her reason flirted with her fancy as a kitten
will sport with a dove； pleasantly and smoothly through easy
attitudes； but disclosing its cruel and unyielding nature at crises。
To turn now to the more material media through which this story
moves； it so happened that the very next morning brought round a
circumstance which； slight in itself； took up a relevant and
important position between the past and the future of the persons
herein concerned。
At breakfast time； just as Cytherea had again seen the postman pass
without bringing her an answer to the advertisement； as she had
fully expected he would do； Owen entered the room。
'Well；' he said； kissing her； 'you have not been alarmed； of course。
Springrove told you what I had done； and you found there was no
train？'
'Yes； it was all clear。 But what is the lameness owing to？'
'I don't knownothing。 It has quite gone off now 。 。 。 Cytherea；
I hope you like Springrove。 Springrove's a nice fellow； you know。'
'Yes。 I think he is； except that'
'It happened just to the purpose that I should meet him there；
didn't it？ And when I reached the station and learnt that I could
not get on by train my foot seemed better。 I started off to walk
home； and went about five miles along a path beside the railway。 It
then struck me that I might not be fit for anything today if I
walked and aggravated the bothering foot； so I looked for a place to
sleep at。 There was no available village or inn； and I eventually
got the keeper of a gate…house； where a lane crossed the line； to
take me in。'
They proceeded with their breakfast。 Owen yawned。
'You didn't get much sleep at the gate…house last night； I'm afraid；
Owen；' said his sister。
'To tell the truth； I didn't。 I was in such very close and narrow
quarters。 Those gate…houses are such small places； and the man had
only his own bed to offer me。 Ah； by…the…bye； Cythie； I have such
an extraordinary thing to tell you in connection with this man！by
Jove； I had nearly forgotten it！ But I'll go straight on。 As I was
saying； he had only his own bed to offer me； but I could not afford
to be fastidious； and as he had a hearty manner； though a very queer
one； I agreed to accept it； and he made a rough pallet for himself
on the floor close beside me。 Well； I could not sleep for my life；
and I wished I had not stayed there； though I was so tired。 For one
thing； there were the luggage trains rattling by at my elbow the
early part of the night。 But worse than this； he talked continually
in his sleep； and occasionally struck out with his limbs at
something or another； knocking against the post of the bedstead and
making it tremble。 My condition was altogether so unsatisfactory
that at last I awoke him； and asked him what he had been dreaming
about for the previous hour； for I could get no sleep at all。 He
begged my pardon for disturbing me； but a name I had casually let
fall that evening had led him to think of another stranger he had
once had visit him； who had also accidentally mentioned the same
name； and some very strange incidents connected with that meeting。
The affair had occurred years and years ago； but what I had said had
made him think and dream about it as if it were but yesterday。 What
was the word？ I said。 〃Cytherea；〃 he said。 What was the story？ I
asked then。 He then told me that when he was a young man in London
he borrowed a few pounds to add to a few he had saved up； and opened
a little inn at Hammersmith。 One evening； after the inn had been
open about a couple of months； every idler in the neighbourhood ran
off to Westminster。 The Houses of Parliament were on fire。
'Not a soul remained in his parlour besides himself； and he began
picking up the pipes and glasses his customers had hastily
relinquished。 At length a young lady about seventeen or eighteen
came in。 She asked if a woman was there waiting for herselfMiss
Jane Taylor。 He said no； asked the young lady if she would wait；
and showed her into the small inner room。 There was a glass…pane in
the partition dividing this room from the bar to enable the landlord
to see if his visitors； who sat there； wanted anything。 A curious
awkwardness and melancholy about the behaviour of the girl who
called； caused my informant to look frequently at her through the
partition。 She seemed weary of her life； and sat with her face
buried in her hands； evidently quite out of her element in such a
house。 Then a woman much older came in and greeted Miss Taylor by
name。 The man distinctly heard the following words pass between
them：
'〃Why have you not brought him？〃
'〃He is ill； he is not likely to live through the night。〃
'At this announcement from the elderly woman； the young lady fell to
the floor in a swoon； apparently overcome by the news。 The landlord
ran in and lifted her up。 Well； do what they would they could not
for a long time bring her back to consciousness； and began to be
much alarmed。 〃Who is she？〃 the innkeeper said to the other woman。
〃I know her；〃 the other said； with deep meaning in her tone。 The
elderly and young woman seemed allied； and yet strangers。
'She now showed signs of life； and it struck him （he was plainly of
an inquisitive turn）； that in her half…bewildered state he might get
some information from her。 He stooped over her； put his mouth to
her ear； and said sharply； 〃What's your name？〃 〃To catch a woman
napping is difficult； even when she's half dead； but I did it；〃 says
the gatekeeper。 When he asked her her name； she said immediately
'〃Cytherea〃and stopped suddenly。'
'My own name！' said Cytherea。
'Yesyour name。 Well； the gateman thought at the time it might be
equally with Jane a name she had invented for the occasion； that
they might not trace her； but I think it was truth unconsciously
uttered； for she added directly afterwards： 〃O； what have I said！〃
and was quite overcome againthis time with fright。 Her vexation
that the woman now doubted the genuineness of her other name was
very much greater than that the innkeeper did； and it is evident
that to blind the woman was her main object。 He also learnt from
words the elderly woman casually dropped； that meetings of the same
kind had been held before； and that the falseness of the soi…disant
Miss Jane Taylor's name had never been suspected by this dependent
or confederate till then。
'She recovered； rested there for an hour； and first sending off her
companion peremptorily （which was another odd thing）； she left the
house； offering the landlord all the money she had to say nothing
about the circumstance。 He has never seen her since； according to
his own account。 I said to him again and again； 〃Did you find any
more particulars afterwards？〃 〃Not a syllable；〃 he said。 O； he
should never hear any more of that！ too many years had passed since
it happened。 〃At any rate； you found out her surname？〃 I said。
〃Well； well； that's my secret；〃 he went on。 〃Perhaps I should never
have been in this part of the world if it hadn't been for that。 I
failed as a publican； you know。〃 I imagine the situation of gateman
was given him and his debts paid off as a bribe to silence； but I
can't say。 〃Ah； yes！〃 he said； with a long breath。 〃I have never
heard that name mentioned since that time till to…night； and then
there instantly rose to my eyes the vision of that young lady lying
in a fainting fit。〃 He then stopped talking and fell asleep。
Telling the story must have relieved him as it did the Ancient
Mariner； for he did not move a muscle or make another sound for the
remainder of the night。 Now isn't that an odd story？'
'It is indeed；' Cytherea murmured。 'Very； very strange。'
'Why should she have said your most uncommon name？' continued Owen。
'The man was evidently truthful； for there was not motive sufficient
for his invention of such a tale； and he could not have done it
either。'
Cytherea looked long at her brother。 'Don't you recognize anything
else in connection with the story？' she said。
'What？' he asked。
'Do you remember what poor papa once let dropthat Cytherea was the
name of his first sweetheart in Bloomsbury； who so mysteriously
renounced him？ A sort of intuition tells me that this was t