Chapter 35

           Hernarrativeended;evenitsre-assertionsandsecondaryexplanationsweredone.Tess’svoicethroughouthadhardlyrisenhigherthanitsopeningtone;therehadbeennoexculpatoryphraseofanykind,andshehadnotwept.

           Butthecomplexionevenofexternalthingsseemedtosuffertransmutationasherannouncementprogressed.Thefireinthegratelookedimpish—demoniacallyfunny,asifitdidnotcareintheleastaboutherstrait.Thefendergrinnedidly,asifittoodidnotcare.Thelightfromthewater-bottlewasmerelyengagedinachromaticproblem.Allmaterialobjectsaroundannouncedtheirirresponsibilitywithterribleiteration.Andyetnothinghadchangedsincethemomentswhenhehadbeenkissingher;orrather,nothinginthesubstanceofthings.Buttheessenceofthingshadchanged.

           Whensheceasedtheauricularimpressionsfromtheirpreviousendearmentsseemedtohustleawayintothecorneroftheirbrains,repeatingthemselvesasechoesfromatimeofsupremelypurblindfoolishness.

           Clareperformedtheirrelevantactofstirringthefire;theintelligencehadnotevenyetgottothebottomofhim.Afterstirringtheembersherosetohisfeet;alltheforceofherdisclosurehadimparteditselfnow.Hisfacehadwithered.Inthestrenuousnessofhisconcentrationhetreadledfitfullyonthefloor.Hecouldnot,byanycontrivance,thinkcloselyenough;thatwasthemeaningofhisvaguemovement.Whenhespokeitwasinthemostinadequate,commonplacevoiceofthemanyvariedtonesshehadheardfromhim.

           “Tess!”

           “Yes,dearest.