XV

           Thatnight,asusual,theysaidgood-byeatthewood’sedge.

           Harneywastoleavethenextmorningearly.HeaskedCharitytosaynothingoftheirplanstillhisreturn,and,strangelyeventoherself,shewasgladofthepostponement.Aleadenweightofshamehungonher,benumbingeveryothersensation,andshebadehimgood-byewithhardlyasignofemotion.Hisreiteratedpromisestoreturnseemedalmostwounding.Shehadnodoubtthatheintendedtocomeback;herdoubtswerefardeeperandlessdefinable.

           Sincethefancifulvisionofthefuturethathadflittedthroughherimaginationattheirfirstmeetingshehadhardlyeverthoughtofhismarryingher.Shehadnothadtoputthethoughtfromhermind;ithadnotbeenthere.Ifevershelookedaheadshefeltinstinctivelythatthegulfbetweenthemwastoodeep,andthatthebridgetheirpassionhadflungacrossitwasasinsubstantialasarainbow.Butsheseldomlookedahead;eachdaywassorichthatitabsorbedher....Nowherfirstfeelingwasthateverythingwouldbedifferent,andthatsheherselfwouldbeadifferentbeingtoHarney.Insteadofremainingseparateandabsolute,shewouldbecomparedwithotherpeople,andunknownthingswouldbeexpectedofher.Shewastooproudtobeafraid,butthefreedomofherspiritdrooped....

           Harneyhadnotfixedanydateforhisreturn;hehadsaidhewouldhavetolookaboutfirst,andsettlethings.Hehadpromisedtowriteassoonastherewasanythingdefinitetosay,andhadleftherhisaddress,andaskedhertowritealso.Buttheaddressfrightenedher.