Chapter 6

           TheSpringwithoutaleaftotoss,bareandbrightlikeavirginfierceinherchastity,scornfulinherpurity,waslaidoutonfieldswide-eyedandwatchfulandentirelycarelessofwhatwasdoneorthoughtbythebeholders.[PrueRamsay,leaningonherfather’sarm,wasgiveninmarriage.What,peoplesaid,couldhavebeenmorefitting?And,theyadded,howbeautifulshelooked!]

           Assummerneared,astheeveningslengthened,therecametothewakeful,thehopeful,walkingthebeach,stirringthepool,imaginationsofthestrangestkind—offleshturnedtoatomswhichdrovebeforethewind,ofstarsflashingintheirhearts,ofcliff,sea,cloud,andskybroughtpurposelytogethertoassembleoutwardlythescatteredpartsofthevisionwithin.Inthosemirrors,themindsofmen,inthosepoolsofuneasywater,inwhichcloudsforeverturnandshadowsform,dreamspersisted,anditwasimpossibletoresistthestrangeintimationwhicheverygull,flower,tree,manandwoman,andthewhiteearthitselfseemedtodeclare(butifquestionedatoncetowithdraw)thatgoodtriumphs,happinessprevails,orderrules;ortoresisttheextraordinarystimulustorangehitherandthitherinsearchofsomeabsolutegood,somecrystalofintensity,remotefromtheknownpleasuresandfamiliarvirtues,somethingalientotheprocessesofdomesticlife,single,hard,bright,likeadiamondinthesand,whichwouldrenderthepossessorsecure.