In Prison

           Thecellswereallcrowded;sothetwofriendswerechainedinalargeroomwherepersonschargedwithtriflingoffenceswerecommonlykept.Theyhadcompany,forthereweresometwentymanacledandfetteredprisonershere,ofbothsexesandofvaryingages,—anobsceneandnoisygang.TheKingchafedbitterlyoverthestupendousindignitythusputuponhisroyalty,butHendonwasmoodyandtaciturn.Hewasprettythoroughlybewildered;hehadcomehome,ajubilantprodigal,expectingtofindeverybodywildwithjoyoverhisreturn;andinsteadhadgotthecoldshoulderandajail.Thepromiseandthefulfilmentdifferedsowidelythattheeffectwasstunning;hecouldnotdecidewhetheritwasmosttragicormostgrotesque.Hefeltmuchasamanmightwhohaddancedblithelyouttoenjoyarainbow,andgotstruckbylightning.

           Butgraduallyhisconfusedandtormentingthoughtssettleddownintosomesortoforder,andthenhismindcentreditselfuponEdith.Heturnedherconductover,andexamineditinalllights,buthecouldnotmakeanythingsatisfactoryoutofit.Didsheknowhim—ordidn’tsheknowhim?Itwasaperplexingpuzzle,andoccupiedhimalongtime;butheended,finally,withtheconvictionthatshedidknowhim,andhadrepudiatedhimforinterestedreasons.Hewantedtoloadhernamewithcursesnow;butthisnamehadsolongbeensacredtohimthathefoundhecouldnotbringhistonguetoprofaneit.

           Wrappedinprisonblanketsofasoiledandtatteredcondition,HendonandtheKingpassedatroublednight.