INT R O D U CT IO N .

SI N CE th e begin n ing f
o ti m e m en ha ve bee n ac

cu stom e d to rega rd the e nd o fa ce n tu ry as a pe riod

of decade nce . The wan ing n ine te e n th ce n tu ry is no

m ore fortu n ate than its p re decessors . We a re con

tz nu ally be ing in v ite d to p

s ecu la t e on the signs a rou nd

us o f de cay in politics in ,
re li gion ,
in a rt, in th e

whole social fabric . It is not for us to i nqu ire he re

con ce rn ing th e tru th or the e thics oftha t be lief Bu t ,

as far as lite ratu re is concerne d, it is ve ry ce rtai n

th at th e last ye a rs of th e p rese n t ce n tu ry will be
re m e m bered for the extraordinary tale n t sh own by
a fe w you ng nov elists and dra m a t i sts in m ost o f the

cou n tries o f E u rope In E ngla nd we can poin t to

. .

Mr . R u dya rd ! ipling a n d Mr M Barrie ; in . .

b rance , to !P! . P au l Margu e ritte a nd M ! M arce l

P in Belgiu m , to M !Ma u rice Mae te rlin ch

’

re vost
4 IN TR OD UC TI ON .

i n Ge rm any, to Ge rh a rd H au ptm ann ,

L u dwig Fu lda,
and H e rm ann S u de rm a nn .

The fe w ; and he
’
even ts o f S u de rm ann s life are

h as the good sense to prefer to be known th rough h is

works rathe r than th rough the m ediu m f
o the p ro
fessional i nte rv iewer . Th e facts h e re se t down, h ow
eve r, we owe to the cou rtesy o f S u de rm ann h i m se lf;
a circu m s ta nce tha t le n ds th e m an a dditional in te rest .

H e rm ann S u de rm an n was born S ep te m ber 3 0 ,

1 8 5 7 , at Matz iche n ,
a poor v illage in H eydeh rug, a

district f E ast
o P ru ss ia, s itu a ted on th e R uss ian

frontier . It is not u n like ly th a t th e following

passage tahe n from o ne of h is nove ls bea rs som e

rese m blance to th e place

The estate th a t m y fa the r fa rm e d was situ ated

on a h igh h ill close to th e P russ ia n frontier an

u ncu lti vate d, wild parh slo pi ng ge n tly t owards th e

p
o en fields form e d one s ide of the hill, wh ile th e
othe r sa nh ste eply dow n to a little river . On th e

farther side of th e stre am you cou ld see a dirty little

P olish fron tie r v illage .

Sta nding at the e dge of th e pre cipice y ou looh ed

down on th e ru in ou s sh i ngle roo sf th e s m ohe cam e

up through the rifts in the m . You loohe d gh t

ri i nto
 IN TR OD UCTIO N .
3

t he m idst f the
o m isera ble life o f the dirty stre e ts

where haljl nahed children wallowe d in the filth ,

whe re th e wom en squ a tte d idly on the thresh old,

and whe re the m en i n torn sm ochs, with s ade

p on

sh ou lde r, betooh the m se lves to the aleh ou se s .

The re was noth ing a ttractive ab ou t the tow n ,

a nd the rabble of frontier Cossachs who , gal/ope d

he re a nd the re on th e ir catli/z e , drowsy nags, did not

incre ase the charm .

Su de rm ann bega n h is i
e du ca t on a t the school f
o

E lb ing . Bu t h is pare nts we re in poor circu m stances ,

a n d at the age he fou nd it

f fou rtee n
o necessa ry to

th inh abou t ea rni ng a liv ing, a nd was p

ap rentice d to

a ch e m ist . H e cont in u e d his stu dies in his le isu re

ti m e with such good re su lts tha t he re tu rned to

sch ool, th is t im e at Tilsit . In I 87 5 he we nt to the

u n i ve rs ity f ! onzgsbe rg, a nd in I 8 77 to th at f
'

o o

Be rlin . H is first inte n tion was to becom e a tea che r,

a nd while still p u rsu ing h is stu dies u nde rtoo h for a

fe w m onths the du tie s of tu tor in the h ouse of the

poe t H ans H opfen Bu t in 1 8 8 1 afte r six years.

,

spen t in stu dying history ph ilosophy lite ratu re and , , ,

m ode rn languages Su de rm an n u nderstan ds E nglish

perfectly! he , tu rne d to jou rnalis m , and edite d
 V
q I N TR OD UC TI OI .

th e D e u tsch e s R e ich sb latt, a political w ee h /y . H e

soon th re w aside n e wspape r worh for tr ue li te ra tu re ,

for wh at th e Ge rm ans call b e ll e t ri st ik , a nd h e h as

b ecom e fa m ou s th rough h is n ov e ls , sh ort s tories, a nd

plays . H e is good looh ing w ith

-
. a da rh m e lan choly

and
face th a t ligh ts u p wi th a m ost re m a rha ble

ex ress ive
p sm ile wh e n h e s p e ah s n oth ing cou ld be
'

m ore u n a
fie cted than his m a n n e r, n or m ore ch a rm

i ng th a n h is wh ole pe rsonali ty . As ye t th e re is no

Society for the discu ssion of th e a u th or s

’
S u de rm an n

worh s, b u t in Be rli n , wh e re h e h as m a ny a dm iring

frie nds Su de rm a n n occas ionally re ads to th e m

,
h is

produ ctions wh ile they a re ye t u np u blish e d . The

’

little s tory ca lle d I o l anth e s H och ze i t was first

he a rd in tha t way .

A lth ough Su de rm worh is in its p

’
an n s all a s ects

esse n t ially m ode rn , in dee d all th e con di t ions and

problem s of m ode rn life h a ve th e h ighes t in te res t

for h im ,
he belongs to n o class , ra n es
g h im se lf w ith

ne ithe r re alists n or idealis ts, and b ows to th e y oh e

of no li te rary fash ion . In com m on w ith all gre a t

a rt ists, S u derm an n pa in ts h is own age , b u t while
portraying m en a nd wom en as he h n ows th e m , in
th e n in etee n th ce n tu ry, h e giv es th e m ,
at le ast in his
 IN TR OD UC TIO N .
5

nov e ls a nd tale s, the h u m an na tu re th a t is the sa m e

‘

th rough a ll t i m e . H e h as live d in Be rlin, and h is

dram as
give us life in th a t ci ty both a m ong th e

prole ta ria t and the rich m iddle class . H e h as live d

i n E ast P ru ssi a , a n d th ere is la id th e sce n e of h is

longer n ove ls . H e is fa m iliar with othe r pa rts of Ge r

m a ny , w i th Ita ly, a nd w ith P a ris, and e ve ryw h e re he

h as u sed h is gift o f he e n obse rvation to good p u r pose .

”
A ce rtain m elanch o ly a fe eling of th e
,
“
in e v i table n ess

of things if we ,
m ay be allowe d the p
ex ression , ru ns

th rough all h is writi ngs , and m ay pe rh aps be trace d

h is h igh
'

to the efiect on se nsi t ive and -

s tru ng n a tu re

of the E ast P ru ss ia n la ndscape , am id wh ich h e s pe n t

h is boyh ood . The m e a dow- flats a nd corn -
la nds , th e

m e agre pine -
woods , a nd da rh, lon e ly pools of h is
native di strict, form th e bachgrou nd o f m ost o f h is
tale s . Num e rou s passages m i gh t be qu ote d w h ich
wou ld se rve to sh ow the m e lanch oly a nd lonelin ess
of th e la n dscape . As an exam ple we m ay tahe s

Th ich a nd h e a vy f you cou ld grasp the m

as i

with y ou r ha n ds, th e clou ds sp re ad ove r th e

fla t land .

H e re and th e re th e tru nh of a w illow s tre tc eh d

forth its rugge d h n ots to th e a ir, he a v ily la de n w ith

m oistu re . Th e tre e was soa h e d w i th da m p, an d
6 IN TR OD UC TI ON .

gliste ned with th e drops th at h ad h u ng in rows on

th e bare b oughs . The wh eels s a nh de ep i nto the

b oggy road th at ran be twe e n with ere d reeds and se dge .

te
a t
a

Th e m oon s tood h igh in the hea ve n s a nd s he d

her calm , blu ish ligh t far ov e r the ping h eath

sle e .

Th e clu m ps of alde rs on the m oor bore wrea ths f

o

light, and from the sle n de r silve ry tru nhs f the

o

b irche s which bordere d th e broad straigh t road in

e ndless rows , ca m e a s a rhle
p an d brigh tness that
m ade the road see m as if lost far below in th e
silv ery dis tance .

“
Sile nce all a rou n d . Th e bi rds had long cease d

singing . A s tilln e ss o f th e late su m m er tim e the ,

com place n t stillness of dep a rt ing life la

y ove r the
b road pla in . You s ca rce l
y h e a rd th e s ou nd o f a

criche t in the ditch es, or a field m ou se distu rbe d in

i ts slu m be rs, gliding th rough the ta ll grass with its

low chii p ing wh istle .

Su ch p ictu re s consta n tly m ee t us in the pages f

o

boohs with the i r

’
S u de rm an n s t ah e n i n conn ection

se tting, they a re ofte n o f grea t force and be au ty .

N oth ing, howev e r, is obtru ded the re is no se arch

ing afte r a dra m a t ic backgrou n d, or u ndu e word

 IN TR OD UC TI ON .

pa in ting e verythi ng is in h e ep i ng w ith a nd su b ordi

n a te to th e m a in i n te rest f
o th e ta le .

With su ch su rrou n dings, S u derm a nn cleve rly

assi m ila tes his ch a racte rs . Th ey a re m ost ly the

v ictim s o f ci rcu m stances which th ey a re m ore or less

u na ble to ove rcom e . In som e cases th e fa u lt as w ith .

’
L eo Se lle n th in i n E 5 war, Su de rm ann s la test nove l,

lies in the we ah n ess or s in f ulness of the m an in

oth e rs, in s u rrou ndings a nd e v e n ts

for which the

m an is n ot h im se lf dire ctly p
res onsible . S om e ti m es

u nsel
the n oble fish love a nd devotion of a w om an

m ah e a h appie r sta te o f things poss ible S u de rm a nn

is a firm be lie ve r i n the powe r a nd i nflu e n ce of good

wom en in h u m an life . H is wom e n a re n ot so sh a r
ply
’
ou tlin e d as Ibse n s, bu t he recogn ises i n th e sex,

though m u ch m ore vagu e l

y, lihe possib ilities . For
exa m ple ,
L eon ore i n D ie E h re se es th e folly and

em pti ness of fash ionable life a nd h as the cou ra

ge to
give h e r h an d whe re sh e loves, to a m an wh o, by he r
s e t, w ou ld be conside re d fa r ben ea th h e r . Magda ,

in H e irn at , f
re u s es to dese rt h e r ch ild . A nd h is
you ng girls a re eve n m ore h
c arm ing, m ore n a tu ra l

th an those f Ibse n
o . E age r he a rte d D ina D 077; w ith
-

he r de s ire for a la rge r life in the world ; h a rd

8 IN TR OD UC TI ON .

worh ing P e tra Stoch m an w ith her deligh t in he r

warh a nd her un
flinching tru th and h on esty ; Boie tte
Wangel w ith her desire for h nowledge ,
“
to hnaw

som e th ing a bou t eve ry th i ng are, as e ve ry odyb

h nows,
’
a m on
g Ibse n s m ost deligh tfu l creat ons i .

In E s W ar Su de rm ann
gives us as pe rfect and

n a tu ral a stu dy o f a you ng girl as we h a ve m et w ith

in fiction or the dram a for a ve ry long wh ile .

H e rtha ch erishe s a secre t lov e for a m a n m u ch older

tha n he rself b u t has re ason to fe ar th at his a fiections

a re se t on a m arrie d w om a n, th e w ife f h is best
o

ertha s and u n w orldly m in d

’

frie nd . To H inn oce n t

this is a gre a t pu z z le to her th e sa cre dness o f

love be twee n h u sban d an d w ife see m s a m a tte r o f

Ce rta in ly the beau tifu l wom an was a thousand

tim es lov e lier th an poor H erth a —an d she was ,

m ore

ov er, m u ch cle vere r . Bu t cou ld sh e — and the re in

lay the gre a t p u z z le, th e in v incible contradict ion that

h noche d a ll s u s picion on the he ad—cou ld she as a

m arried w om an possibly be an ob e ct
j f
o lov e to a

m an oth er tha n h er h u sband ? Wives we re love d

by the ir h u sba nds— tha t is why they a re m a rrie d

a nd by no one e lse in th e war!

 I N TR O D UC TI O N .
9

Bu t H e rth a de te rm in es to tah e s u ch m e a ns as a re

with in he r powe r of discov e ring f su ch

i th i ngs a re

possible if su ch th ings exist She first consu lts h e r

,
.

boohs— boohs of cou rse su i te d to a you ng girl s

’

, ,

library . Sh e goes th rough h e r n ove ls, bu t n oth ing

in the m points to the e n orm ity

. Th e n sh e tu rns to

th e classics, to Sch ille r !

A m alie was a you ng gi rl —so w as L u ise — bu t

the n the re w as the qu ee n f Spa in

o H owe v e r , in

that case i t w as cle a r as n oonday h ow little poe ts

dese rv ed to be tru ste d, for tha t a m a n sh ou ld fall in
love wi th his stepm oth e r cou ld on l
y tah e place i n th e
world of im agin a tion where ge n i u s ,
dra w n away

from th e e a rth , i n toxica ted w ith i nsp ira t ion , soa rs

alo ft . N ot in v a in had she , a yea r and a half

before , writte n a sch ool com position on G e n iu s and

e ality, in wh ich sh e had trea ted

’
R th e qu e st ion in
a m ost exh a ustive m an ne r .

Sh e next tries he r frie nd E lly a gi rl of h er own

,

age , bu t m u ch m ore expe rie nce d in th e wa s o

y f th e

L is te n, de a r, I want to ash you a v e ry im por

You
’

qu es tion in love ,
’
ta n t . re a re n t you P
(C ‘
 10 IN TR OD UC TI O N

And you ’
re su re th e m an
’
s i n love w ith you P
Why do you say m an P ash e d E l/y . Cu rt
is my ide al . A little ti m e ago it w as Br un o — an d
Alfred— b u t n ow i t s Cu rt Ye t
’
before th at it was .

’ ’
he s n ot a m a n .

What is h e , the n P

H yo u n g
’ ’
e s a m an .

Oh ! th a t s it N o he
'
is it P i ly
'

, ,
s certa n n ot a

And H
’
sh one : he h n e w w h a t
’
n z an . erth a s eyes s

a
‘

m an looh ed lih e . We ll ,
da rling,
’
sh e we n t on ,

‘
do you th inh th a t a m an , or a you n g m a n —it s
’

a ll th e sa m e — cou ld possibly lov e a m a rrie d wo m an P

Of cou rse—n atu ra lly h e wou ld,

’
re plie d E lly ,
w ith pe r
fe ct calm n e ss .

H e rt ha sm ile d i n du lge n tly a t s u ch wa n t of i n

tellige nce .

N o, sh e sa id I don t
’ '

little
‘
no, one , . m ea n

h is ow n w ife, bu t a w om an wh o is th e wife f
o

a n oth e r P
’
S o do I, re plied E lly .

And th a t see m s to you q u it e a m a tte r o f

’
cou rse ?
My de a r child, I didn t
’
th in k you we re so

’
innoce n t, sa id E lly ; eve rybody h n ows as m u ch as
 IN TR OD UC TI ON . n

that . A n d form erly it was e ve n worse . A tru e

wife it was
’
kn igh t always lov ed anothe r m a n s a

g re at crim e to love his own wife . H e wou ld cu t

stra nge r s sah e , and wou ld

’
of h is righ t h and for the

die for h e r, pressing h er blu e fav ou r to h is lips for

you se e a t th a t ti m e th ey always wore h e r blu e favou r .

’
You ll find it in h istory f literatu re
’
every o .

H e rth a becam e ve ry th ough tfu l .

‘
Ah ! in th ose
days ! sh e sa id, w ith th e gh ost ofa sm ile ; in th ose
days m en w e n t to tou rna m e n ts and sta b bed e ach oth e r

’
in p
s ort w i th th e ir la nces .

And to day,
-
’
whispe re d E lly, m en sh oot e ach

oth e r de a d with pistols .

’

H e rth afe lt as ifshe had be e n sta bbed to the hea rt ,

a nd th e little p in h a n d wh ite da ugh te r of E v e con

tinne d, I thinh it m ust b e qu ite de ligh tfu l wh e n on e

is m a rrie d to know th a t som e one is hope lessly in

love w ith you . It s qu i te
’
ce rta in th at m os t u nh a ppy
love a fiai rs a rise in th at way .
’

Th e n ext day H e rth a qu estion e d h e r gra n dm oth er .

G ra n dm oth e r, I ’
wn n ow , a re n t IP
’
’
m g ro up
Yes— so
’
,
so, a nswe re d th e old lady .

A nd p roba bly I sh all soon be m a rrie d P

You sh ou te d h e r gran dm oth e r, in de adly
 12 IN TR OD UC TI ON .

te rror . D ou btless th e w re tche d ch ild h ad com e to

con fide in h e r the a ddresse s o f som e b ooby o f a

n e ighbou r .

Yes, ina rticu la te ly an d w ith

’
con tin u e d H e rth a,

gre a t h es ita tion w i th my b ig fortu ne I am n ot

’
lih ely to be an old m a zd .

Child ” excla im e d th e ld lady f whom

‘
. o . o a re

you th inhing P
“
H e rth a blu she d to h e r n eck . IP she sta m m e re d,

t ry ing to preserve in difle re nt ton e voice ,

an
f
o f
o
’
n obody .

Oh, then you we re m e re ly talh ing generally P

Of cou rse ; I on ly m e a n t ge n e rally .

’

Well ,
an d what do you wa nt to h now P
I want to h naw —how i t is with—you
s tan d— w ith lov e wh e n on e

Wh en one
We ll wh en, one is m arrie d P

Th e n you go on lov i ng ju s t as you

replie d h e r grandm oth e r, ligh tly .

Yes, I kn ow th a t . Bu t su ppose you love a n oth er

to w h om you a re n t m
’
m an a rrie d P

Wha— t In h e r te rror the old lady le t he r

s ectacle s
p fall of her n ose . Wh at ot he r P
 IN TR OD UC TI ON . 13

H e rtha su dde nl
y fe lt as if she m u st colla se p . Sh e
h ad to su m m on all he r cou rage an d pu ll h erse lf

toge th er in orde r to go on .

Can t it h appe n , gran dm

’
oth e r de ar, th a t som e

wh om you tahes it i n to his

’
on e to re n ot m a rrie d

h e ad
‘
My dea r child,
’

plied th e grandm
re oth e r, ne v e r

com e to m e wi th su c h foolish questions . You ca n n ot

un de rstand su ch th ings . N ow give m e a hiss an d

get you r h n i tting

S o th at pla n did n ot answer . Th e re was st ilt

on e fu rth e r possibility of discovery . H e rth a h ad a

sch ool frie n d w ho had lately got m a rrie d . Sh e wou ld

ash her . S o sh e began
Wives love th eir h usba nds, th a t goes with ou t
saying . Bu t do you thinh i t possible tha t wives can

be love d by oth er m en P
“ ‘
H ow odd you are,
’
re plie d Me ta . You can
’
t

pre ve nt pe ople loving .

’

“ ‘
I h now th at . Bu t a m an, don t you
’
se e , wh o
wou ld
Well , th at sort o f th ing does happen .
’

What is som e one in love w ith you P

Me ta blushe d . I don t bothe r
’
abou t it . It s
’

2
14 IN TR OD UC TION .

qu ite e n ough that H a ns loves m e, a nd o f cou rse I

’
s hou ld ve ry poli tely forbid anything of th e sort .

Th e n people do forbid su ch things P

Ce rta inly if th ey re told of it

’ ’
.
,

What you m i gh t be told P

Som e t im es, if the m an wh o is in love with
’

you is v e ry bold .

Good gracious, said e rtha , sh och e d If any

’
H .

be ha ve d lih e t ha t to hou ld box h is

’
one m e, I s e a rs .

Bu t in gre at a nxie ty sh e con ti n u e d, D o you thinh

w om wh o ha v e
'

it lih ely tha t th e re a re en a difie re n t

opin ion P
Oh yes,
said Me ta .

Wh o— in the e nd re tu rn the bold m an s

’
love P
’

E ve n
’
so .

Th e n Me ta repeats ce rta in gossip th a t con firm s

e rtha s worst fe ars
’
H . Th e wh ole p te r
ch a sh ou ld be
re ad in orde r to app reciate right ly the cha rm an d

p ath os and na tu ralne ss o f th e de ligh tfu l piece of

ch aracte r drawing .

L ih e Ibsen and Z ola, S u de rm a n n does n ot hesi tate to

se t th e tru th before u s e ve n wh e n it is te rrible or b ru ta l
or re volting . Bu t he differs from th e m in h a v ing
a less gloom y ou tlooh , in firm ly belie v ing tha t, at the
16 IN TR OD UC TI ON

cha racte ristics o f E ast P ru ss ia n lan dscape is Frau

So rg e . P a u l, the h e ro, is born ju st at th e m om e n t

difficu lt ies m ah e it
’
whe n h is fath e r s n e cessa ry for
h im to se ll h is h ou se and land this gloom y ci rcu m

s tan ce oversh a dows th e wh ole of P a u l s life

’
. Wh ile
h is b roth ers a n d sis te rs in s p ite of the fa m ily pove rty
a re , in the i r care less , u n thi nh in
g way, h appy a nd

ev e n prospe rou s ,
wilfu lly blin d to th e fact th a t th ey

owe all to th e in du stry a nd con tin u al sel f sacrifice of

-

P a u l, his life is on e long tail a nd s tru

ggle , on e long
to du ty as h e con ce ives it ,
'

fidelity one long efiace m e nt

a nd su ppression of se l f For this h e rece i ves no

th a nhs , no a ch n owle dgm e n t . H is s p irit becom es

cru sh e d, a lm ost extingu ish e d . After long yea rs of
'

toiling, s truggling, and su fie ring , he is re dee m e d

th rough th e love o f a wom an bu t on ly wh e n h e

“
h as sacr ifice d to D am e Ca re all h e h eld m ost

p reciou s ,
an d wh e n the ca acity
p i n hi m for joy a nd

h ope h as bee n we ll -
gh
ni des troye d . Th e ch aracter

portrayed w ith pe rfect a rt is , at the sa m e ti m e,

su ch
faithfu l to natu re : m en a re ra re , pe rh aps , bu t
i t is well th at th e n ov e lis t sh ou ld re m in d us f th eiro

existe nce , an d th u s h elp us to re cogn ise th e pote n cy

for good th a t dwells in m anhin d .

 IN TR OD UC TI ON . 17

Der ! z
at e nst e g is m ore powe rful bu t less a rtistic

th an Frau Sorg e . The Ge rm an critics, howe ver,

consider it to be not onl
y th e m os t i m portant o f
w rit ings, bu t the
’
S u de rm ann s fine st n ov el produ ced
i n Ge rm any du ring this cen tu ry . The ch a racte r o f
the h e roine, R egine , a ve ritable ch ild o f na tu re , in

w hom savagery and lach of inte llige nce an d e du ca

t ion exist s ide by s ide with th e n obility a nd power

of sacrifice of wh ich natu re in the rough is ofte n
,

capa ble form s the m a in in te rest o

, f th e tale a n d is ,

a m a rvellou s a nd origi nal conception Th e re is one .

sce ne th a t for re alism ,

in tens ity, and h orror h as
sca rce ly bee n su r asse d
p in a ny n ove l o f m ode rn tim e s .

Before t u rn ing to th e sh ort tales in wh ich we find

’
som ef Su de rm ann s best and m ost ch a racteristic
o

worh it wou ld be well to p oin t ou t on e of h is ch ief

,

t itles to ge n i us . H e h as th e gift f
o be ing a ble to

describe te rrible and h e art stirri ng

-
sce nes,
joyfu l or

pathe tic or h u m orou s sce nes with the , u tm os t s im

plicity of style In a fe w words of th e

. sim plest sort

he bri ngs before ou r eye s liv i ng p ictu re s . E ach

se n te nce palpita tes with life . A s we rea d, we se e m

to live with the m en and wom en o f h is cre a t ion

th rough the ir agony we fih r

su as they do, an d
18 IN TR OD UC TI ON .

re oice
j with the m wh e n th ey a re gla d : at tim es we

a re bre athless as th ey a re with p

su s ense and exci te

m e nt . And th is is done with ou t any o f th e ana lyti

cal in trospection with wh ich we h ave becom e on ly too
fa m iliar in recen t nov e ls . The characte rs, at le ast in
th e novels and tales, a re not m e re ne rvou s or a n ism s,
g
b u t living, loving, e rring, fe eling, h u m an be ings . The

gift o f terse narra tion join ed to great sim plici ty of

langu age is fou nd in Fre nch writers lihe Fla u bert
an d Maupassant , b u t i t is ne w to G erm any . It is,
th e n , p erhaps Su derm ann s h ighest praise that w e ’
,

ca n say o f h im that he possesses th e strength withou t

th e u nple asan tness o
f th e gre at French write rs of
ou r day, and com bines th e ir a rtistic feeling , the ir

powe r and the ir fine w it with all that is sou ndest

a nd best in the Teu ton ic m in d an d cha racte r .

Many of the sh ort tales a re of a less spe cially

Ge rm an cast, and possess an inte rest th a t is

u n ive rsa l D e r W u nsch
.
(Th e Wish! for , i nstance , is
a powerf ul psych ological stu dy, se t forth w ith
wonderfu l directness and s irri p lici ty . Although th e
tale deals with the old the m e of a wom an wh ofalls
in love with he r sister s
’
h u sband, it is instinct w ith

passion and original i n treatm e nt. Olga love d h er

 IN TR OD UC TI ON . 19

siste r Martha dea rly, and h ad, in de ed, brough t a bou t

Ma rtha s m arriage ’
w ith R obe rt H e llinger alm ost by
own doing h ad h erse m th ough
'

he r fiorts bu t e ,
in so

u nconsciou sl
y falle n ,
in love w i th R obe rt . Ma rtha ,

alwa s fra il a n d delicate after th e birth f h er ch ild,

y ,
o

falls dange rou sly ill . Olga goes to h er to n u rse h e r,

an d love for h er sich s iste r and passion for R obe rt
struggle for m aste ry i n he r sou l . Th us , in to a

ch a racte r e n tire y l good, noble , an d sel

f sacrificing
-
,

the w ish ,
”
ste als if only she we re to die I In th e
e ve n t Martha does die . Th e n R obe rt s
’
ey es a re

o e ne d ;
p h e h nows tha t h e love s— h as all along love d
Olga, an d he ashs h e r to be h is w ife . A t firs t she

f
re u ses, th e n conse n ts bu t the sa m e nigh t ,
h a v i ng

f elt all the wh ile th a t the w ish for Ma rtha s

’
de a th ,
th ough ne ver exp ressed by sign or word, m ah e s h e r in
a se n se h er s iste r’ s m u rde re r, s he p u ts a n e nd to h er

li e . Sh e h e rse lf re late s a ll th e circu m s tan ce s in a

docu m ent w ritte n to expla in h er to h e r old

act .

frie nd
th e physicia n . A cou ple of qu otations w ill giv e
a better idea f Su de rm
o an n s
’
s tyle th a n pages of
critici sm In
. a fe w m a rve llou s stroh es h e pain ts
the
‘
eje ct R obe rt f h is first gh t of Olga s
’
on o si

p
cor se
20 IN TR OD UC TI ON .

When th e e lde r H e llinger e n tere d the room he

sa w a pictu re th at froz e th e blood in h is ve ins.

H is body lay s tre tc e d h the floor In

’
son s on .

falling he m u st h ave clu ng to the posts of the bie r on

wh ich they had placed th e de ad wom an , th u s b ring
i ng down the wh ole e rect ion with him for ,
on top o f
h im —am ong the brohen boa rds— lay th e cor sep in its
long white sh rou d, th e j éned face
st i on h is face the ,

”
ba re a rm s th rown over h is h ead .

Th e sce nes in Ma rtha s ’

s ic h room a re portrayed
w ith an a rt th a t m ahes th e m liv e in ou r m e m or
y .

H e re is one o f the m . Ma rth a lies in be d s ich u n to

death . Olga a nd R obe rt, we aried ou t with sle epless

ni gh ts and with the irterrible anxie ty a re watching he r , .

The re was absolu te sile nce i n the h alf da rh e ne d

-

room only the wind w ith ge n tle ru s tling, s we pt

past the wi ndow , and the m ice scratche d a m on
g th e

ra fte rs of th e ce iling .

R obe rt b u ried h is face in hi s ha n ds a nd li stene d

to Martha s ’
dis m al ra v ings . Gradu ally he see m e d

to grow calm e r ; his b re a th ing becam e slowe r a n d

m ore regu la r now a nd again his h ead inclin ed

to one side , bu t the ne xt m om e n t he dre w it up
a ain.
g
 I N TR OD UC TI O N . 21

Sleep ov e r owe re d
p h im . I wa n ted to persu ade
him to go to be d bu t I w as fe a red at the sou n d o f
m y ow n voice and hept s ilen t .

The ove r m ore a nd

ppe r part of his body
u le ane d
m ore frequ e ntly to one s ide at t im es h is h a ir
tou che d m y ch eeh, and grop ing h e sough t a su pport .

“
And th e n su dde n l
y his h ead san h dow n on m y

sh ou lde r an d re m a ine d the re .

“
My body trem bled as if an incre dible h app iness
had befalle n m e . I was se iz e d w ith an irresistible
des ire to s trohe the b u shy ha ir th at fe ll over my face .

Close t o m y eyes I sa w a fe w s i ve r
l th re ads . H e

is begin n ing to ge t grey, I th ough t, it is h igh ti m

’
e

h n ow wh at h app iness
’
th a t he sh ou ld m e ans, and

th e n I y stroh e d
actu all h is ha ir .

H e ghed in h is
si slee p an d tried to place h is h ead

m ore com fortably .

’
H is lyi ng fortably I sa id to m yse lf,
‘
e u n com ,

’
m u st ge t close to h i m I did so H is shou lde r
‘

you . .

lay aga inst m in e , an d h is he ad sanh down on my

bosom .

You
’
m us t pu t you r arm rou n d h im ,
som e thing

with in m e crie d ou t, oth e rw ise he cannot find

’
re st .
 22 IN TR OD UC TI ON .

Twice, thrice, I trie d to do so, bu t f

as o te n dre w

If Martha shou ld su dde nly wahe Bu t her

eyes sa w nothing, he r e ars he ard n oth ing .

“
And I did it .

The n a w ild joy toah posse ssion of m e, and

ste alth i ly I p ressed h i m to m e som e th in

g with in m e

s hou ted joyou sly Oh h ow I wou ld ch e rish and

protect you h ow I w ou ld h iss a way the fu rrows

m ise ry h as m ade i n y ou r brow, an d the care s from
you r sou l ! H ow I w ou ld toil for you with all m y
you ng stre n
gth , a n d n eve r rest t ill you r eyes were

f ull ofgladness ,
an d you r h e a rt o f su nsh ine . Bu t to

do that
I glance d over at Marth a . Yes, sh e live d,
still live d . H er bosom rose an d sa n h in sh ort, qu ich
sobs. Sh e see m ed m ore aliv e th a n e ve r .

And su dde nly the re fla m e d before m e , and it was

as if I re ad writte n cle a rly on the wall th e words
If only sh e we re to die

Yes, th at was it, tha t w as i t . Oh if onl

y she
we re to die Oh ifonly sh e w e re to die

We h ave only to re ad
je an R ica rd
’
s Se ars,

a novel lately p u blishe d in P a ris, a nd de aling

2 4 IN TR OD UC TI ON

inte resting to note the coincide nce of v ie w of the

Fre nch and G erm an w rite r . P e rhaps Su de r n

v ie ws to wa rds satis actory

f
’
m ann s m ay he lp a

th e - w isp
’
solu tion f
o that e ve r recu rring
-
will -
o -

platon ic afie ction . H is h e roine de clares that to

tu rn friendsh ip into love , or love in to friendsh ip is ,

i m possible , becau se w l e re such a tra nsform ation does

tahe place, th e re m u st, in th e firs t instance , have bee n

e ith er not frie ndsh ip or not love . From the day
on wh ich we re ap lov e whe re w e so wed frie ndsh ip ,

the m agic ch arm wou ld b e brohe n , sh e says. Till

the n I was all a nd e ve ryth ing —the n I shou ld be
"
m e re ly one m ore . An d aga in,
“
L ove begins in

th e intoxication f
o t he se nse s, a nd e n ds in the

pe ace of calm friendsh ip that is m arriage , ,

the

contra ry is not forb idde n bu t it leads—to , th e

’
In I o l anth e s H o ch ze it , S u de rm ann p roves him
se lf th e possessor of the hu m ou r that borde rs on

path os . The little stor

y h as no te n de nc
y, it preaches
no se rm on . Onh el H a nche l, a
good fellow (e in
”
g u te r ! er l ! by p rofession ,
re la tes how he h ad to

live up to the title , an d h ow, at th e m atu re age f

o

forty- seve n, he be cam e, alm ost against his will,

 IN TR OD UC TI ON 25

e ngaged to a you ng girl . H is fe elings at the

we dding ce re m ony, h is h orror and shyn ess at the

f be ing left alone with h i s bride afterwards

n otion o ,

form a m ost de ligh lfu l p iece of com edy P utz a

'

.
,

s u rly grasp ing m iserly rich old m an

, , ,
L oth ar a ,

dash ing you ng lie u te nan t f dragoons the o m a ide n

siste r —
f are p ortraye d
a nd Iolanthe he rsel w ith a

qu a in t h u m ou r o f wh ich th e earlie r worhs ga ve

little in dication, while the vi gou r , si m plicity , and

dire ctn ess o f th e na rra tive fine as e ve r

a re as .

Th e E ast P russian dialect l n ls the original a local

. .

colou r that would be diflicu lt to rep rodu ce in a

t ra nsla tion .

In h is dram as Su de rm an n treats life very m u ch

from the sam e stan dp oi nt as Ibsen does . H is

cha racte rs talh a grea t de al, and do next to nothing .

H e wages war aga inst sh arns, th inhs people sh ou ld

live ou t th e i r own lives a nd develop th e ir i ndiv idu

ality at all h az a rds . H e p rese nts abn orm al ty es, p
m e n an d wom e n who wou ld be abnorm al anywh e re ,

in civilised socie ty or the re ve rse, and wh o m u st n ot

be tah e n as p
re rese n ta tive o f m ode rn life . E ach of
the th re e dram as h e h as as ye t give n us prese nts a

m oral proble m to the cons ide ra t ion o the

f p
s ectators .
26 IN TR OD U C TI ON

D ie E h re w as first pe rform ed at th e L essi ng

Th eatre i n Be rli n, on N ove m ber 27, 1 8 89 , a nd

h ad an im m e nse su ccess . Th e dram atist ru thle ssly

a nd boldly draws aside th e cu rtai n the

from false
ideas of h onou r he ld by h igh a nd low alihe , not

on ly by the m iddle class a nd prole tariat of Be rlin ,

bu t by civili se d m e n in ge neral such social con

ve ntions, according to S u derm ann, te nd to m ahe

m oney -
ge tting the sole a im f the
o citiz e n, and he lp
u nde rm ine the peace an d h app iness
to o f fam ily
life . Th e re velation is u n dou b te dly u n pleasing bu t ,

all the sa m e a gre a t tru th u nde rlies it, and in

th e e nd o f the play th e v i rtu ou s are not sacri ficed
to th e w iche d . In th e s ee ch es o
p f Cou nt Trast, the

good a ngel, the god from the m achine o f the drarrz a ,

it is not perh aps a ltoge th e r fancifu l to see th e

be liefs and o p in ions of Su de rm an n h im se lf: ’

Trast s
con clu sion is that we sh a ll do be tte r to su bstitu te

du ty for the m any a nd v arie d sorts f

o h on ou r
re cogn ised by socie ty .

’
So dom s E n de is a s ta rtli ng play . E ve n the
Be rlin ce nsorsh i p requ ired alte rations before it
cou l d pe rm it the p rodu ction of the dram a on th e

stage of the L essing Th ea tre . It still con ta ins one

 IN TR OD UC TI ON 27

wou ld its
‘
sce ne that e fiectu ally pre vent perform ance
in an E nglish playhouse . The dram a tahes its

na m e from th e title o f a p ictu re pain te d by

Willy janowsh i ,
who b ids fair to be com e a gre at
a rtist . Bu t he has falle n u nder the influ ence of
Adah Barcinowshi ,
a cold, h eartle ss, pleasu re -
lov ing

wom an ,
the w ife of a wealthy stochb rohe r . Th at

conne ction and hi s own weah na tu re have ru ine d

Willy m e n tally, m orally, a nd physically . H e ceases

worh , leads life se lf indu lge nce h eedless of

to a f
o ,

the h u rt h e does to others . The ch a racter u nple asing ,

as it is, is consis te nt ly drawn by th e dra m at is t, for

eve n in the pangs of death Willy does not ce ase to

note the a rti stic pose tah e n by th e f the dead body o

girl he h as inju re d and betrayed N e ve r perh aps has .

, ,

th e worst side o f h i t sect ion of fri volous idle

- socie t
y
”
we a re a ccustom e d to call
“
s m art bee n m ore ab ly
pa in ted : its foolish va pidity its ,
u tter fit tility ,
a nd

its elegant wichedness and s in u ln ess,

f a re boldly
displaye d . Unfortu nately m e n an d wom en w ith ou t
conscie n ce, with ou t com p reh ens ion of da ty, have always

existe d a nd still exist, bu t we dou bt if the ir e v il in

flu e nce is as fa r—
reach ing an d all- i m portant as latter
day n ove lists a nd dram ati sts wou ld h a ve us belie ve .
28 IN TR OD UC TI ON :

In his latest play ,

H i
e m at , produ ced january
7, 1 89 3 , Su derm an n tah es for th e m e th e du ty
owed by the ch ild to th e pa re nt and that du e
,

from pare nt to child . A h igh sp irited -

a nd tale nte d

girl, daugh ter o

f com m on place , conve n tional parents ,

to the sca ndal f all concerne d leaves he r h om e

o ,

to carve for he rse lf a ca re e r i n the world and by ,

reason o f h er fine v oice becom es a cele brated singe r .

After an absence f
o m any years ch ance brings he r
p rofessionally to h er native town , and a very natu ral

desire is awahe ne d i n h er to rev isit her parents

and he r hom e . H er father whose h ealth h ad bee n
,

‘
destroyed th rough th e e j ects of h er form er dis

obedience, wishes h e r to com e bach p rovided she

re nou nces for e ver the life sh e h as be e n le ading .

she has des ire to do, b u t for her fathe r s

’
Th is no

sahe she is n ot all u nw illing to yie ld . Whe n ,

however, she is fu rthe r re qu ired to b re ah with

ce rtain ties ve r
y dea r to h er, sh e f
re u ses, and the

fathe r dies from the sh och . N ow wh e n we care

fu lly re ad the play , or see it acte d by com pe tent

artists, it is clear th at m u ch m i gh t be sa id on both
s ides . Bu t as the re is n oth ing in th e world m ore

beau tiful and holy th a n th e t ie th at binds pare nt

 IN TR OD UC TI ON 29

and ch ild, so is the con tem pla tion of conflict be twee n

the m alw ays u nlove ly . We gran t th a t in t he st orm

a nd s t ess o r f m ode rn life su ch con flict is at ti m e s

’

u na voida ble , bu t it is sca rce l

y th e st ufl of wh ich

worhs of a rt sh ou ld be form e d .

A ne w play ,
a com e dy, Sch m e tte rli n g Sch l ach t
-

(Bu tte rfly Battle! ,

is to be produ ce d sh ortl
y at the

H ofbu rg The a tre in Vie nna . Again a m ora l p roble m

i s to be presen ted to th e cons ide ra tion f
o th e pu blic .

Th e thre e h eroin es, h onest worhing gi rls, pa in t bu t

flies
ter on fans for a liv ing . Tw o of the girls ,
tire d

f be ing sweatea
’
o , gi ve up fa n pa in ting ; they ta he to

pa in ting th e ir faces instead, and practice oth e r

a bom ina tions . The third girl con tin u es h e r warh ,

and re m ains v irtuous Th e play ch iefly cons ists o
.
fa
se ries f
o di scussions be twee n th e girls as to wh ich

way f life
o is prefe ra ble .

L ihe h is con te m pora ries Ibse n and Bjorn son

'

, ,

Z ola a nd Tolstoi, Su de rm a nn w ou ld transfer the

se rm on from the p u lpit to the stage he se ts before

us ce rta in phases o
f life tha t h ave com e u nder h is
notice in all th e i r u
glin ess a nd bru ta lity, a nd wou ld
h ave us forthwith le av e the th ea tre s worn e ne m ies

f the
o ev ils he de nou nces . Bu t h is cha racte rs are
3
30 IN TR OD UC TIO N .

conte nte d to p re ach and discu ss, th ey n e ver fe el that

th ey a re calle d u pon to act . Th us th ey lach life a nd

re ality, we h ave little sym pa thy with th e m ,

an d a re

ne ver p rofou ndly tou che d .

As h igh
’
a w riter ffiction
o ,
h oweve r, S u derm a nn s

position is u nassa ila ble . H e ranhs w ith th e gre a t

m aste rs in all cou n t ries wh o h a v e sough t, and a re

s till see h ing, to se t before us m ode rn life in its

m an i old
f p
as e cts, in i ts com plexity an d its
cu lties, bu t who, u n lih e th e m ore p ronou nced sch ool

’
n a tu ra lists, be r
f
o re m e m jou be rt s m axim th at

u nless
fiction has no bus in ess exist it is
“
to m ore

”
be au t ifu l tha n re ality .

A u gu st ,
1 89 4
.
32 TH E WISH .

th at au ste re m i stre ss wh o h ad for so m any ye ars

,

dri ve n h im forth from h is b e d b e fo re dawn wh e th e r ,

it was c
ne e ssary o r n o t, wo u l d n ot le t him re st e v e n

now .

H e s i gh e d ,
h e yawne d, h e ab u se d h is l az i ne ss ,

an d th e n re a ch e d for th e b e ll stan d n i g on th e

li ttl e tab l e at h is b e dsi de .

H is h ou se k e e p e r, an e q u a lly gre y ,
tu m b l e d own -

s p e ci m e n o fh u m an i ty , a pp e are d o n th e th re sh o l d .

Wh at t i m e is it, Frau L ie b e tre u ? he c all e d

ou t to h e r .

Si n c e t h e day on wh i ch th e you n g ass stan t i

arr ve d i in G rom o wo , th e o ld Bl ac k Fore st c ocl k
h angi ng th e doctor s b e dsi de , an d wh ose l i ng
’
at ratt

l
a aru m h ad o fte n un pl e asan t ly j arre d u p on h is
m o rn n i g sl u m b e rs ,
was no l o n ge r wou n d u p . So
th at I k now th at m y life t oo h e nc e forth stands

st i ll , as h e was wo n t to say .

A qu arte r to e igh t , docto r, th e o ld wo m an

an swe re d, b e gi nn i ng m e an wh il e to b u sy h e rse lf
ab o u t th e sto ve .

"
“
For sh am e ! fo r sh am e ! cr e d
i he , ra s n i i g
h im se lf u p , wh at a l azyb o n e s I am ge tt i ng to b e
”
I say, h ave l
an y e t te rs co m e ?
 TH E WISH .
33

Ye s, a post and o ne th at you n g Mr

fe w b y ,
.

”
H e lli n g e r b ro u gh t h i m se lf two h o u rs ago .

Two h ou rs ago W hy it was dark ye t at th at ,

”
ti m e !

Y e s ; h e sai d h e h ad to driv e o u t t o th e
“

m an or farm an d co u l d wai t no l o ng e r
,
Y e st e r .

day e v e n i n g too wh e n you we re at t h e

, ,
Bl ack
E agl e sir h e call e d an d sat h e re fo r ab o u t t wo
’
, , ,

”
h ou rs .

“
W hy di dn t
’

you se n d for m e ?
”
cr e d
i th e

do cto r, in th e b l u ste ri n g ton e i

o f vo ce o f o ld, goo d
n at u re d gru m b l e rs .

We ll an d h adn t h e fo rb i dde n u s to do so ?
,
’

cri e d h is h ou se k e e p e r in e xact l y th e sam e to n e o f ,

vo i ce wh i ch s e e m e d h o we v e r m o re a n e ch o o fh e r
, , ,

m aste r s m an ne r th an p e rso nal de fi an ce

’
H e was .

si tt i n g in th e stu dy t ill te n o cl o ck — or rath e r h e

’

was no t s i tt i n g h e race d ab ou t lik e a m adm an an d

, ,

l au gh e d an d talk e d to h i m se lf—I h ardly k ne w th e

cal m q u i e t m an ag ai n ; and the n I b rou gh t h im
,

b e e r six b ot tl e s— h e drai ne d t h e m all an d I h ad

-

to dri n k wi th h im As I te ll you h e was q u i te .

,

b e si de h i m se l f .

“
Ah , i nde e d i nde e d , ,
m u t te re d th e o ld m an
34 TH E WISH .

sm il i ng to h i m se lf wi th i f
sat s act o n i . I sh ou ld
say Olga h ad so m e th i ng t o do wi t h t h at . P e rh ap s
a fte r all sh e W e ll , do you i nt e nd b ri ngi n g
m e m y le tte rs to day,
-
or not he su dde n ly
sh ou te d, as if h e we re go o dne ss k no ws how wil d ,

b u t h is face l au gh e d th e wh il e . An d wh e n h is
h ou se k e e p e r h adgru m b li n gl y do ne h is b i ddi ng h e ,

dre w ou t wi t h a su re h and fro m th e li tt l e h e ap o f

l e tte rs o ne wi th ou t a stam p n ot de ign i n g to l o o k ,

at th e o th e rs at all . H is h an ds t re m b l e d wi th
h appy e xci t e m e nt as he un o f l de d p ape r ; and
th e

he re ad, wh il e h is g re y face b e am e d wi t h pl e as ure :

“
D EAR OLD U N CL E ,
-
You sh a ll b e th e fi rst to

k n o w it . If on ly I h ad you wi t h m e, th at I m igh t
p re ss you r de ar o ld h an ds and te l l yo u face t o face

wh at is in m y h e art ! I do no t re a se li it ye t—m y
h e ad wh i rl s wh e n I th i n k o f it U n cl e , yo u we re
at m y si de in th e days of dark e st trou b l e , h e lpi n g
an d p rote ct i n g You . we re th e on ly o ne to t a k e

M arth a s p art wh e n
’
all e ve n m y pare nts
t u rne d th e i r b ack s o n h e r wi th c o l dn e ss an d su s

p icion .

You c o u l d n ot save h e r for m e , u nc e l —th e L o rd

 TH E WISH .
3S

as ke d h e r b ack of m e O
. Bu t wh e n ,
at t h e b e ds i de

of m y de ad wife , m y re aso n th re ate n e d to gi v e

way, you t oo k p oor h e ad b e twe e n you r h ands
m y
an d sp o k e to m e — as a p re ach e r sp e ak s And yo u .

we re rig h t . Of co u rse I do not b e li e v e th at I can

e ve r q u i te re v i ve an d b e co m e ag ai n as I was b e fo re

th e care s o f e xi ste n ce and m y l o n gi n g f o r Marth a

m ade m y h e ad du ll and h e av
y fo r e v e n M arth a
e ve n m
y w if e — cou l d n o t acco m pli sh th at in th e

th re e ye ars o fou r q u i e t h appi ne ss Bu t life se e m s .

ab ou t t o gi v e m e wh ate v e r it h as l e ft f o r m e ye t

ofj o y an d p e ace Yo u k n o w u n cl e h o w in th e
.
, ,

m i dst o f m y so rro w f o r m y de ad w ife I l e arn t t o ,

l o ve h e r si ste r , C o u si n Olga ,
m o re an d m o re . I
co n fe sse d all t o a n d so u gh t co m fo rt wi th yo u
yo u ,
wh e n t o rtu re d b y se lf re p ro ach
-
at th e t h o u gh t

t h at I was b re aki ng m y tro th t o m y wife l

a re ady

in th e ye ar o f m o u rn n i g An d yo u
i d t o m e at
. sa

th at t i m e : I f th e de ad wo m an m igh t se e k a
‘

se co n d m o th e r fo r h e r ch il d wh o m e l se wo u l d sh e,

ch oose b u t t h e si ste r wh o m n e xt t o you sh e l o v e d

, ,

b e st in th e wo rl d ? I was startl e d to th e v e ry
’

de pt h s o f m y sou l fo r I shou l d ne v e r h ave dare d t o

,

rai se m y e ye s to h e r Bu t you n e ve r ce ase d to

.
36 TH E WISH .

c g
e n ou ra e m e , u n t il ,
a we e k ago , I t oo k h e art an d

b e gg e d h e r to sh are m y fo rtu n e s .

You k now sh e re fu se d m e .

Sh e gre w de at h l y p al e — th e n g av e m e he r
h and, and st and n i g u p rigi dly sai d to m e : P u t it ‘

fro m you r t h ou gh t s R o b e rt for I can ne ve r b e

, ,

’
yo ur wife . Th e n I l
s un k a way, an d th ou g h t to
’

yse lf, It igh t for yo u r p re su m p ti on

‘
m se rve s you r .

And n ow, to - day U n cl e , I can not p u t it on

p ap e r — m y h and fail s m e . Th i s h appi ne ss is too
gre at— it cam e so u n e xpe cte dl y , it l
a m o st ov e r

po we rs m e To -
m o rro w, u n c e l —to -
m o rro w I will
t e ll you all .

I h av e to go ou t e ar ly to th e m an or farm . At
m id day
-
I sh a ll re t u rn, an d th e n forth wi th sh a ll
u nde rta e k t h e dre ade d v s i it to m y p are nts . My
m o th e r su s e cts n o th n p i g as ye t . H er p lans h ave
c
on e a a n g i b een
fru strate d an d Ol ga will , h ave t o
su f
fe r h e av il y e n ou gh fo r it I fe ar sh e m . ay e ve n

t urn h e r ou t o f th e h ou se . If on ly I h ad h e r
a re ady u n de r m
l y o wn ro o f!
’
It is th re e k in th e m o rn i n g
o c ocl . E n ou gh for
to day -
. Y ou r grate fu l an d h appy
“
R O BE R T H E LLIN GER .
 TH E WIS H .
37

T he o ld doctor wip e d a t e ar ro m f h is ch e e k .

“
Th e l
c e ar b oy,
”
he m u rm u re d .
“
H ow h is

i
e m o t o n s cro wd e ach ot h e r in h is ove r- h e ate d b rai n ;
an d h ow i pl e h o w h o n e st e ve ryth n i g is to
'

s m ,

the l ast jot In t ru t h , h e de se rve s yo u , m y b rav e ,

p rou d gi rl ; h e is th e l y on e t o wh o m I do n o t
on

g ru dge you . An d n o w I wil l p u t you t o th e te st ,

an d se e if you too p u t co n fi de nce in yo u r o ld

”
u nc e l . Straig h t way I will do it .

L au gh i n g and gro wli n g h e b u rro we d wi th h is

h e ad in th e pill o ws An d t h e n h e
. su dde n ly
sh o u te d w i th a v o i ce re sou ndi n g t h rou g h th e h ou se

lik e t h u nde r

Co n fo u n d it, wh e re are m y trou se rs

Th e t rou se rs we re b ro u gh t, and five m i n u te s
l at e r th e o ld m an stoo d q u i te re ady b e fore h is
gl ass , all e xce p t h is g re yi sh ye ll ow wig -
.

My h at , ,
”
cl oak st i ck ! h e sh ou te d o u t i nto t he

corr i dor .

“
Bu t th e b re akfast ,
th e o ld wo m an sh ou te d

b ack , if possi b l e l o u de r still fro m th e ki tch e n , .

“
W e ll t h e n h u rry u p h e b l u ste re d “ Be fore
, , , .

I h av e re ad th e se l e tte rs I m u st h ave it he re .

W i th an i m p at i e nt o ath he se t to wo rk u p on th e
38 TH E WISH :

li ttl e h e ap th at h ad so far b e e n l yi n g u nn o t i ce d o n
th e pe de stal . O ffe rs of w i n e — p ro fitab le i nv e st
m e nt s —a p oor , b li n d fath e r wi th a n e w- b o rn

i n fant— and th e n su dde n ly he st o pp e d sh o rt ,

wh il e o nce m o re a sat s e d sm
i fi il e o ve rs p re ad h is
fe atu re s .

U p on m y wo rd ! I sh ou l d no t h av e e xpe cte d
th i s , h e g rowl e d co nt e n te dl y, Sh e too cou l d .
, ,

n o t re st wi th ou t co n fidin g h e r h appi n e ss to h e r o ld

u n cl e T h at is n i ce o f yo u ch il dre n ! You sh a ll
.
,

”
h ave you r re ward for th i s .

W i th th e sam e h app y h aste wi th wh i ch h e h ad

o p e ne d l e tt e r he th i s l pe
’
H e llinge r s , tore e n ve o

a su nde r .

Bu t h ardly h ad h e co m m e n e c d re ad n i g wh e n
w i th a low m o an n i g cry he sta gge re d b ac k two
p ace s l i k e, one wh o h as b e e n de al t a t re ach e ro u s
b low . H is gre y face b e cam e ash y p al e ; h is e ye s

st arte d from th e i r so ck e ts and lik e c l aws h is o ld,

wi th e re d fi ng e rs cl u t ch e d th e fl u tte ri n g p ap e r .

W h e n h is h ou se k e e p e r b rou gh t in th e c o ffe e ,

sh e fou nd h e r m aste r si tt i n g as st iff as a lo g in th e

co rn er o f th e so a, f h is fo re h e ad c ove re d wi th g re at
dro p s o f e rs
p p i ratio n ,
an d star n i g wi th fi xe d l u stre
40 TH E WI SH

t h i n g th at h as b e e n t orm e nt n i g m e for so l o ng ,

an d will not le t m e be at re st t ill I fal l l

as e e p fo r

e ve r . On m y b o o k sh e lf, h i dde n b e h i nd so m e

l
vo u m e s o f H i
e ne , yo u will find a b l ue e xe rc se i
b oo k . T ak e it wi th yo u , wi th ou t l e tt i n g th e o th e rs

n o t ce i . An d wh e n yo u h av e re ad a ll, go ou t to m y

g rav e an d t h e re say a p raye r fo r m y so u l .

’
Se e t h at I am l ai d to re st at M arth a s si de .

I l ov e d h e r de arly . It is sh e wh o is ca l li ng m e

to h e r .

Yo u will u nde rstan d all wh e n yo u h av e re ad

m y sto ry P e rh ap s yo u k now m o re of m se cre t

.
y
t h an I su s p e ct I su pp o se I
. m u st po k e n
h ave s

evil wo rds du ri n g th e de li ri u m o f m y il lne ss e l se ,

wh y sh ou l d you h av e se n t away m y re l at i o n s fro m

m y b e dsi de

D id yo u sh u dde r at th e th i n gs th at m y
wre t ch e d t o n g u e b ro u gh t to ligh t ?
“
D o you pi ty m e ? D o you de spi se m e ? No ,

su re l y yo u do not de spi se m e ; or h ow co u ld you

'

h av e b e st o we d so m u ch l o ve u pon m e ? An d n ow

re ad . E v e ryth i n g is se t do wn t h e re . It was no t

or igi nally i nt e nde d for you . I m e an t t o se n d it

f
a te r m any e ars— wh e n we yo u n g too sh ou ld
y o ne s
 TH E WISH .
41

h av e g rown o ld— to th e m an to wh o m m y wh ol e
b e i n g b e l o n g s so t h at h e m igh t k n o w wh y I o n ce
,

de n i e d m yse lf to h im .

“
Th i n g s h av e go n e di ffe re n tl y T o day in a .
-

m o m e n t o f fo rg e tfu l n e ss I t h re w m
yse lf u p o n h is
,

n e ck . T oo l at e I com p re h e n de d t h at n o w e scap e

fro m h im was no l o n ge r p o ssi b l e Bu t rath e r .

,

th an b e h is I will se e k de at h
, .

“
And I h av e ye t an ot h e r re q u e st in m y h e art .

It is th e re q u e st of o n e ab o u t to die —if you can ,

I k n ow yo u will fu lfil it .

“
! ee p se cre t fro m p e ci all y
t he wo rl d, an d es

fro m th e m an I l ov e
t h at I to o k m y o wn life
, .

L e t h im b e li e ve th at m y h appi n e ss kill e d m e .

I sh all de stroy e ve ryth i ng th at m igh t p o i nt to

su i ci de ; t h e re will o n l
y b e i ndi cat i o n s th at I di e d
o f synco p e o r ap o pl e x
y .

Fro m th e de p th s o f m y h e art I i m pl ore yo u to

grant m e th i s o ne l ast fav ou r I die gl adl y an d
.

h av e no fe ar . It is so l o ng s i n ce I s l e p t we ll th at
,

I h ave n e e d o f re st .
“
OLGA BR E ME R .

The o ld m an fe l t him se lf in a stat e o f u tte r

h e lpl e ss ne ss .
42 TH E WISH .

H e sta gge re d cl e n ch e d
,
his fi st s ,
b e at his b ro w,
an d th e n on ce m o re he fe ll b ack in h is ch a ri .

”
Th i s is m adne ss, u tte r m adn e ss, he g ro an e d ,

wip i n g th e co l d p e rspi rati o n fro m h is fore h e ad .

Ch il d, wh at we re yo u th i n ki ng o f? W h at co u ld
l
c ou d you r re aso n lik e th i s ? My p oo r p oo r , ,

”
darli ng ch il d P
Th e n h e o n ce m o re j u m pe d u p an d g ro p e d wi th
t re m b li n g fi n ge rs fo r h is h at an d c o a l k .

”
“
To h e lp ! T o h e lp ! H e m u st wre st th i s
i i fro m de ath h an d ! T h at was
’
v ct m e ve n ye t s

wh at ab so rb e d h is wh o l e m i nd at p re se nt . Fo r a

m o m e nt t h e t h o u gh t cam e t o h im t h at p e rh ap s
f
a te r all sh e h ad n o t carr e d ou t
i he r i
se r o u s in te n

t i o n, b u t h e di sm i sse d it forth wi th H e m u st h av e.

h ad a diffe re n t k n o wl e dge o f h e r ch aracte r t o ,

cre d it h e r wi t h a fe e li n g o f fe ar o r a faili n g o f

e ne r gy .

Bu t p o ss ib y t h e dose h ad t ak e n was t oo
'
sh e

sm a ll p e rh ap s
,
th e l o n g p e ri o d o f t i m e — for it was
m o re th an a ye ar s i n ce M arth a di e d in ch il d b e d -

an d it was th e n h e h ad gi v e n h e r t h e s l e e pi n g
drau gh ts— p e rh ap s t h e l o n g pe ri od o f t i m e th at
h ad e a l p se d si nce t h e n h ad we ak e n e d th e e ffi cacy
 TH E WIS H .
43

of th e p o i so n Ye s ye s
.
, ,
it was so it m u st be so

W he n b adl y p re se rve d ,
m or ph i a de co m pose s an d

b e co m es i n e ffe ctu al .

So fo rward to th e re scu e To sav e wh at can be

sav e d !

H e ran ab ou t th e ro o m in se arch o f so m e th n i g
h e h ardl y k ne w wh at h e was se e ki n g . Th e n o n ce

m o re he graspe d th e l e tte r .

An d wh at do yo u ask o f m e ? Ch il d ,
ch il d ,
do
ligh t m atte r to p e rj u re on e s
su ch a
you t h i n k it is
’

se lf ? T o th ro w asi de lik e ro tt e n e ggs th e du t i e s

t o wh i ch o n e h as b e e n fai th fu l fo r h a lf a ce n tu ry P

C h il d you do not re ali se wh at yo u are aski n g o f

,

an h o n e st m an H e h e l d t h e p ap e r u p cl o se t o
“
h is e ye s an d o n ce m o re re ad th e p assage :
,
It is
th e re q u e st o f o ne ab o u t to die . Fro m the

de p th s of m y h e art I i m pl ore you to g rant m e th i s

”
o ne l ast fav o u r .

H e avy te ars ro ll e d do wn his we ath e r b e ate n -

ch e e ks .

It can n o t be , ch il d ,
it cann o t b e do n e , h owe v e r
we ll yo u k now h o w to pl e ad An d e ve n if I
m ay .

wi sh e d t o do it I sh ou l d b e tray m yse l f I am an
, .

o ld we ak wre ck ; I no l o n g e r h av e su ch co n t ro l
,
44 TH E WIS11 .

o ve r m
y fe atu re s . T h e y wou l d i
n o t ce it at t h e

fi rst gl an ce Bu t so th at yo u m ay n o t h av e ask e d
.

it— o i you r o ld u n cl e —in v ai n — I will— at l e as t

atte m p t it— fo r you r o wn sa ke an d R

’
o b e rt s sa ke
yo u m u st fi rst o f all be sav e d . C o n fou nd it all,

o ld fe ll o w ,
fo r o n ce m o re in you r life b e a m an

yo u m u st save h e r— you m u st— m u st— m u st

And as q u i ckly as h is st o ld
l e gs wou l d carry
iff
h im h e rush e d ou t— p ast h is h ou se k e e p e r wh o
, ,

sto o d li st e n i n g at t h e k e yh o l e — o u t i n to th e wi n tr
y
m o rn n i g air wh i ch a co l d drizzli n g m i st fi ll e d wi th
dam p pri ckl i n g cryst al s
, .
A VER Y pi cture of p e rfe ct se re n i ty and pe ace of
m i nd th e cou pl e H e lli n ge r scu r m ade as th e y sat
.
,

at th e b re akfast t ab l e
-
O u t o f th e sp ou t o f t h e
.

b rass co ffe e m ach i ne o n the b righ t l y p o li sh e d b o dy

- -

o f wh i ch th e fire flam e s p ro du ce d a p u rpl e re fle c

-

t i o n th e re rose u p t h i n b l u i sh ste am wh i ch san k

, ,

do wn to wards th e tab l e in li tt l e c l ou ds cast a film ,

o ve r t h e sil ve r sug ar b asi n and wre at h e d th e co ff

- ee

c u p s wi th de li cate t i ny de wdro p s
, .

Mr H e lli nge r wi th h is snow wh i te care fu lly

.
,
-
,

tri m m e d b e ard and h an dsom e rosy b oyi sh face

, , ,

b e am i n g wi th good natu re and th e pl e asu re o f

li v i n g was l e an i ng b ack co m fortab ly in th e b l u e
,

Ch i nt z arm ch air h is Tu rki sh dre ssi n g gown pu ll e d

,
-

o ve r h is k ne e s and app are n tly await i n g wi th

,

cal m e st re sig n at i o n wh ate v e r fate in th e sh ap e ,

o f h is wife m igh t b e ab ou t t o b e sto w u p o n h im

, .

Sh e (h is wife ! was j u st th ro wi ng a pi n ch o f soda

4 4s
46 TH E WISH .

i nto li t t l e co ffe e p o t wh e re u p on sh e ci rcu m

th e -
,

st an tially w ip e d h e r p o wde ry fi n g e rs o n h e r wh i te

dam ask ap ro n wh i ch was e dg e d in R u ssi an fash i o n

,

wi th b ro ad re d an d m any co l o u re d strip e s H er .

wh i te th e ib b on s of wh i ch we re
’
m at ro n s cap , r

tigh t l y k n otte d t oge th e r lik e a ch i n st ra p u nde r

h e r fl e sh y ch i n h ad sh ift e d so m e wh at
,
t o wards t h e

l e ft e ar and fro m o u t its frill y fram e

,
t h e re sh o n e ,

fu ll o f e ne r gy an d e n te r r se ,p i he r co arse , co m fo rt
ab e , se r e an t-
l g lik e face ,
wh o se fe at u re s we re rath e r

p u ffe d o u t, as is o ft e n o b se rv ab e l in o ld wo m en

wh o lik e sh are t h e i r h u sb an d s gl ass of b randy

’
to .

O ne cou l d se e th at sh e was accu sto m e d to l

ru e

an d t o su b du e , an d e v e n th e sm il e o f co nstant

i nj u re d fe e li ng t h at pl aye d ab o u t h e r b ro ad m ou th
we n t t o p ro v e h o w i nco ns i de rate ly sh e was wo nt to
carry t h ro u g h h e r pl ans .

So th at sh e m igh t n o t sit u n o ccu pi e d wh il e wai t

ing fo r t h e co ffe e t o draw, sh e t oo k u p h e r co arse

woo ll e n k n i tt i n g ,
wh i ch , in h e r ca p aci ty of p re si
of l adi e s so ci e ty an d ’
de nt th e di re ct re ss of th e

ch ari ty o rg an i sati o n was n e v e r , all owe d to l e av e

h e r h an ds and th e n e e dl e s ran
,
w i th re m ark ab l e

ra pi di ty th rou gh h e r b o ny, wo rk -
u se d fi n g e rs .
48 TH E WISH '

su ppose yo u i nto th e b argai n ; pe rh ap s

pi ty h im
”
e ve n yo u h av e b e e n h e lpi n g him o n th e sly ?

H e rai se d u p h is wh i t e we ll k e p t h an ds in p ro ,
-

t e st an d de fe nce o f h i m se lf b u t h e h ad n ot t h e ,

co u rag e to l oo k h e r in th e face .

”
t h re ate n i n gl y,
“
A dal b e rt ,
sh e sa id ,
I m a e k it
a co nd itio n th at su ch a th i n g doe s n ot h app e n
ag ai n . W h ate v e r you gi v e h im , you tak e from us

and fro m ou r o th e r ch il dre n . And if at l e ast he

de se rv e d it b u t h e th at will n ot h e ar adv i ce m u st

su fe r
f . If he is i
ru ne d, w i th h is i
o b st nacy an d

st u b b orn n e ss

“
Al l o w m e, H i
e n r e tt a, he i n te rru p te d he r
t i m i dl y .

“
I a ow
ll n o th n i g A dal b e rt
, , m y de ar, re pli e d
sh e . H e t h at will n ot h e ark e n t o adv i ce m u st

an d
’
su ffe r ! say I ; if t h ro u g h h is ab o m i nab l e
i n g rat i tu de h is p oor m o th e r wh o is o n l y an xi ou s ,

for h is we lfare and wh o b o th e rs an d wo rri e s h e rse lf

,

wh o l e n igh ts t h rou gh t h i n ki n g ,

W i th th e m any- co o u re d l b o rde r o fh e r a p ron sh e

ru b b e d her e ye s as if t h e re we re t e ars th e re to b e

wip e d away .

Bu t H e nri e tta
, , h e b e g an a a ng i .
 TH E WISH .
49

A dal b e rt do , di c t m e ! Y ou k no w
not co ntra

I cl ose an e ye t o all yo u r folli e s I all o w you to .

sit as l o n g as e ve r
you lik e at th e Bl ack E agl e
’

I l e t you dri nk as m u ch as e ve r you can do wi th

o f th at b ad e xp e n si ve,
cl are t I e v e n p u t you r .

su ppe r re ady for you wh e n you co m e hom l ate

e

th ou gh it is h ardly n e ce ss ary th at you sh o u ld o n

su ch occas o ns i u p se t t h re e c h ai rs ,
as
you did
ye ste rday . I c onsi de r al to ge the r t h at yo u hav e
v e ry li tt l e re gard f or t h e fe e li n gs o f you r o ld an d

fai th fu l wife Bu t ye s wh at I was go i n g to say

.
-
,

is—th at o n ce for all I will n ot h ave yo u m e ddl e

, ,

wi th m y pl ans : as it is you u nde rst and n oth i ng

o f su ch m atte rs H av e yo u al tog e th e r any i de a
.
, ,

o fall I h av e do ne al re ady f o r th at g oo d f o r no th i ng - -

R ob e rt ? I h ave ru n ab ou t and dri ve n ab ou t , ,

m ade call s an d wri tte n l e tte rs and H e av e n k n ows

, ,

wh at e l se Fi ve or six we ll to do — n ay ve ry
.
- -
,

we al th y gi rl s I h ave so to say b rou gh t re ady , ,

t o h is h and any of wh o m h e cou l d h ave h ad

,

for th e t aki n g But wh at did h e do ?

. W e ll ,

I sh ou l d th i nk you still re m e m b e r h ow I was

se i z e d wi th convu l si o n s whe n fo u r ye ars ,

ago ,
h e arri ve d wi th th at m i se rab l e de li cate ,
so TH E WISH .

cre at u re , M arth a ? My wh o l e ill ne ss date s fro m

”
th e n .

Bu t H e nri e t ta
,

My de ar A dal b e rt I ,
beg of you , do not a a ng i
h arp u po n th e sam e o ld st r n i g ab o u t h e r b e ing m y
o wn fl e sh an d b l oo d I f sh e wi sh e d to b e a l o v i ng
an d g rat e fu l n i e ce to m e wh y did sh e n ot b ri n g ,

t h e n e ce ssary dowry wi th h e r ? Sh e h ad i g
n o th n

—o f cou rse sh e h ad n o th n i g ! My de p arte d

b roth e r di e d as p oor as a ch u rch m o u se . Is t h at

fi tti n g for one of m y fam il y ? Bu t f

a te r all — he
h ad a r igh t to do as he lik e d wi th h is o wn — wh at
b u s i ne ss is it of m i ne ? O n ly he n e e d n ot h ave
”
sa ddl e d us wi th h is dau gh te r .

W e ll ,
b ut sh e is de ad n o w, re m ar e k d H e rr

H e lli n g e r .

“
Ye s, sh e is de ad ,
re pl i e d sh e , an d fo l de d he r
h an ds . It we re a sin to say, t h an k G o d fo r t h at .

Bu t as o u r L o rd h as so orda n e d i it , I will
l e ast at

p ro fi t b y th e ci rcu m st ance ,
an d e n de av o u r to re ct if
y
h is fo ll y o f th e n W h il e .
yo u we re si tt i n g in th e
Bl ack E agl e , dri n k i n g you r
’
‘
l
c are t, I was o n ce
m ore to ili n g an d m o ili n g an d i n q u i ri n g ro u nd so ,

th at h e h as b u t to pi ck and ch o o se . Th e re is
 TH E WIS H .
5:

t h o u san d cash
G e rtru de L e u z m ann ; will ge t fi fty
do wn and as m u ch m o re wh e n t h e o ld m an di e s .

T h e re l i ttl e
is th at vo n V e rse n ; v e ry yo u n g ye t
ce rt ai n l y— o n l y j u st co n firm e d —b ut sh e w il l ge t
e ve n m ore ! And b e si de s t h e se ,
at l e ast th re e or

fou r o th e rs Bu t wh at do yo u i m agi n e h e will say

t o it all Mo th e r ,
’
h e will say,
‘
if you start th at

th e m g i
e a a n, you will ne ve r m o re se t s igh t on m e .
’

W as e v e r su ch a th i n g h e ard o f H e h as on l y to
m arry th e se co n d s st e r n o w i in pl ace of the o th e r

o ne , t o b ri n g h is goo d o ld m o th e r to h e r grav e !
By th e b y wh e re can th e yo u n g l ady b e t o day ?
-

It is n e ar ly n nei ’
o c oc l k ,
and sh e h as n ot ye t
pp e are d y b roth e r s Boh e m i an
’
a . In m hom e it

m ay v e ry p ro b ab l y h av e b e e n th e fash i on t o lie

a- b e d t ill noon b u t in m y we ll
-
orde re d h o u se h o l d,

I b e g to say, m o st e m ph at i call y an d p o li te ly I ,
will
”
not h ave it , A dal b e rt .

I can no t i de ar
co nce v e , H e n r e tta, i he sa id ,

wh y yo u h e ap re p ro ach e s u pon m e wh i ch are

m e an t fo r yo u r n i e ce
“
I f o n ly for o nce you wou l d n ot t ak e h e r p art ,

A dal b e rt Bu t o f cou rse th e re is n oth i n g l e ft fo r

.
, ,

m e to sa
y I am du p e d an d b e t raye d in m y o wn
.
52 TH E WISII .

h o u se ! H ll v e ry soon p u t an e nd
o we v e r, I sh a

to th e m atte r I h av e k e p t h e r h e re n o w fo r a
.

wh o l e ye ar ; n o w sh e b e gi n s t o b e v e ry m u ch de
t rap .

Bu t doe s in R ob e rt s
’
to il an d il
“
sh e no t m o

h o u se h o l d fro m e arl y m orn t ill l ate at n igh t ?

D oe s a day p ass o n wh i ch sh e doe s n ot b e t ak e

h e rse lf t o t h e m ano r farm ? Do no t be u n u st j

t o wards h e r, H i
e n r e tt a .

Sh e g av e h im a pi tyi n g l oo k .

I f you h ad n o t re m ai n e d su ch a ch il d A dal b e rt
, ,

ig h t talk D o n t yo u th at
’
o ne m re aso n t o yo u . se e

’
t h at is j u st wh e re t h e dan g e r li e s ? D o n t you

i m agi n e th at sh e h as h e r re aso n s fo r fl au nt i n g
ab ou t e ve ry day at th e m ano r an d fo r b e h av i n g

h e rse lf as m i st re ss t h e re b e fo re h im an d th e

se rvan ts ? Ah — sh e — sh e is a de e p one — is m y
i
n e ce O lga Be su re sh e h as do ne h e r p art to wards
.

g e tti n g h i m accu sto m e d to th e i de a th at sh e — an d

sh e a l o n e — h as a rig h t t o th e pl ace o f h e r de ad
si ste r W h at e l se sh o u l d sh e b e l oo ki n g fo r day
.
,

afte r day at t h e m an o r if it is n ot t h at
, ,

I sh o u l d th i n k Marth a s ch il d is su ffi ci e nt ’

ex pl anati o n .
 TH E WI SH .
53

Of co u rse , o f cou rse ! Any nu rse ry t al e is

g oo d e no u gh to i m po se u pon you ! Sh e k n o ws
e xact l y wh y sh e b e h av e s as sh e do e s, an d wh y sh e

is l
a m o st re ady t o e at u p t h e p o o r li tt l e m i te for

v e ry l ov e . Sh e k no ws e xact l y h o w t o find t h e
”
way to its fath e r s h e art !
’

Bu t p e rh ap s sh e do e s n o t l ove h im at all, o ld

H elli nge r i n te rpose d .

Sh e l au gh e d o u t l o u d .

My de ar A dal b e rt a m an wh o o wns an e state

,

j u st ou tsi de t h e t own gate s is al ways l o v e d b y a

-

po o r gi rl and if I do n ot m ak e an e n d n o w and
,

se n d h e r ab ou t h e r b u si n e ss it m ay v e ry p ossi b l
y ,

co m e t o p ass th at o u r de ar R o b e rt will tak e h e r b

y
t h e h an d o ne fin e day and say to u s H e re p ap a , ,

and m am m a n o w b e g oo d e n o u gh t o gi ve u s
, yo u r
b l e ssi n g And rath e r th an li ve to se e th at
’
.
,

A dal b e rt
At t h i s m o m e n t th e so u n d of l u m b e ri n g m al e
s te ps was au d ib le in th e e n trance h a ll ;
-
di re ct l y
f
a te r t h e se cam e a l ou d an d v i o l e n t k n o ck at

th e door .

W e ll !
“ ”
sa i d Mrs . H e lli nge r ,
so m e one is
m aki n g a no i se as if the b ailiffs we re o u ts i de
54 TH E WI SH .

we h av e n ot got as far as th at ye t . And v e ry

”
s ow
l ly and de li b e rate l y sh e sa id , Co m e in .

Th e o ld do ctor st e pp e d i nt o th e ro om . H is
h at sat a wry at t h e b ack o f h is h e ad, h is ne c t e k i
h un g l oose ov e r h is sh ou l de rs , an d h is ch e st

h e av e d as wi th b re ath l e ss ru nn n i g . H e fo rgot
”
h is G ood and o n
“
i g gre e t i n g ly gav e
‘

-
m orn n , a

wil d, se arch n i g gl ance arou n d .

“
G o od h e av e n s, do cto r !
”
cr e i d Mr . H e lli n ge r ,

i g t o wards h im wh y, you b u rst in

“
se n .
,
h aste n n ,

”
u p on us lik e a b u ll i nto a ch n a s i -
hop .

Mrs . H e lli nge r o nce m o re assu m e d he r i nj u re d

air, an d m u tte re d som e th n i g ab ou t p ot -
h o u se

m an n e rs.

Whe n th e o ld doct or sa w the un di stu rb e d

b re akfast tab l e -
an d th e asto n sh e d, i e ve ry— day
face s of fri e n ds h e le t h i m
h is , se lf dro p i nto an

arm ch ai r wi th a s ig h o f re l ie f . T h e n it h ad no t

tak e n pl ace afte r all—th i s te rri b l e th i n g ! Bu t n e xt

m o m e nt his fe ars too k p osse ssi on o fh i m ane w .

“
Wh e re isOlg a ? he fal te re d ,
an d fi xe d h is
g az e on th e doo r as if he m igh t se e he r e nte r th e re

an y m o m e n t .

Olga ? ”
said Mrs . H e lli n ge r , sh ru gg i ng he r
56 TH E WIS H .

m o re gath e re d u p all th e e ne r gy stil l re m a n n i i g in

h is rc i k e ty o ld b o dy, ra se d i him se lf b olt u p righ t ,

”
and Co m e to Olga ,
he i d and do
sa ,
“
not be

t e rrifie d— h o we v e r— yo u m ay— fin d h e r .

O ld H e lli nge r g re w p al e ,
an d h is w ife co m

m e n ce d to scre am an d so b ; sh e l
c un g to th e

h ad
’
do cto r s arm ,
an d w i sh e d to k no w wh at
h app e n e d ; b u t h e s po ke no fu rth e r wo rd .

So th e y all th re e c li m bed up t h e stai rs l e adi n g

Olg a s gab l e in t h e h al l t h e
’
to -
roo m ,
an d e n tran ce -

se rv an t s co ll e cte d an d st are d f
a te r th e m w i th
g re at i nqu i si t iv e
,
e ye s .

Be fo re Olg a s
’
door Mrs . H e l li ng e r was se iz e d
wi th a p aroxysm of de sp ai r .

” “
Y ou k n ock ,
doctor, sh e so b b e d, I can n o t .

The o ld m an k no ck e d .

A ll i
re m a ne d qu ie t .

H e k nock e d ag ai n and p u t h is e ar to th e k e yh o l e
, .

IX s lxfib re

Th e n Mrs . H e lli ng e r b e gan to scre am

Olg a ,
m y b e l ov e d, m y de ar ch il d,
do o pe n
we are h e re — yo u r u nc e l an d au n t an d o ld u n c e l
do cto r are h e re . Y ou m ay o pe n wi th ou t fe ar , m y
”
l ov e .
 TH E WISH .
57

The physi ci an pre sse d th e l atch ; th e doo r was

l o ck e d . H e l o o k e d t h ro u gh th e ke y h o l e ; it was -

sto ppe d u p .

H ave th e l ock sm i th fe tch e d A dal b e rt , , he

No ,
cr e d
i Mrs
lli nge r su dde n l y cast i ng all
. H e ,

so rro w t o t h e w i n ds th at I sh all n ot p e rm i t
“
,

t h at will o n n o acco u n t b e done T h e di sg race .

wou l d b e t oo g re at : I cou l d ne v e r su rv i v e it
su ch a di sg race — su ch a di sg race

T h e doctor g av e h e r a l oo k o f u n m i st ak ab l e

l o ath i n g an d co nte m p t Sh e t oo k li tt l e not i ce o f

.

it.

Yo u are stro n g ,
Hlli g
e sh e sai d
n b e ar
e r, ,
“
up

g i
a a n st th e do o r ; pe rh ap s you m ay su cce e d in
b re aki n g th e l o ck .

Mr .
“

H
lli ng e r was a gi an t H e se t o ne o f h is
e .

p o we rfu l sh ou l de rs ag ai nst th e woo dwork wh i ch ,

at t h e fi rst p re ssu re b e gan t o crack in its j o i nt s .

Bu t so ft l y h is wi fe adm o n i sh e d t h e se rvants
,
”
,

are st an d ni g in th e e n tran ce h all Be -

. of
fw ith you
i nto th e ki tch e n yo u l azy b e ggars !
,
”
sh e sh o u te d

sco l di n g do wn th e stai rs .

D own b e l o w do ors b an ge d . A se co n d p u sh
58 TH E WISH .

o ne o f th e b oards b ro k e r igh t t h rou g h th e m i ddl e .

Th rou gh th e sp lin try ch n i k a b righ t ray o f day

li gh t b rok e th rou g h i n to the se m i -

dark c orri dor .

”
Let m e l oo k th rou gh s ai d th e doctor wh o, ,

no w, in an t i cip ati o n o f th e wo rst was c al m an d ,

co ll e cte d .

H lli ng e r
e b rok e of
f a fe w s pli nte rs , so t h at

th ro u gh th e p
a e rt u re th e wh o l e room c ou l d b e
l ke d
o v e r oo .

O pp osi te the door a fe w p ace s re m ove d from

,

t h e w i ndo w stoo d th e b e d
, T h e c ov e rl e t was .

dragg e d u p and fo rm e d a wh i te h ill ock b e h i n d

,

wh i ch a st r O lg a s lig h t b rown h ai r sh o n e
ip of
’

fo rth A sm all p ort i on o f th e fore h e ad was al so

.

v i s i b l e —wh i te as th e b e d cl o th e s it gl e am e d Th e
-
.

fe e t we re u ncov e re d th e y se e m e d to h ave b e e n
fi rm ly se t agai nst t h e fo ot e nd o f t h e b e d and th e n
t o h av e l
re axe d .

By t h e pil l o w ,
o n a ch a r, i lay h e r c oth e s n e atly
l
fo l de d . H er s ki rts ,
he r s to c ki ng s we re l ai d
, one

up o n th e oth e r in p e rfe ct sym m e try and , on th e

carp e t sto o d h e r s lipp e rs wi th th e i r h e e l s , t u rne d

t o wards th e b e d, so as to be q u i te re ad
y for

s lippi ng i nto on r s n i i g .
 TH E WISH .
59

O n th e m arb e s ab o f
l l th e p e de stal h alf l e an i n g ,

agai nst t h e l am p lay a b oo k st ill o pe n as if it h ad

, , ,

b e e n pl ace d t h e re b e fore e xti n g u i sh i n g th e ligh t .

O ve r e ve ryth i n g the re se e m e d to re st a sh i m m e r
o f th at se re n e u n co nsci ou s p e ace wh i ch i rradi ate s
,

a p ure m aide n s so u l Sh e wh o dwe l t h e re h ad

’
.

fall e n asl e e p ye ste rday wi th a p raye r o n h e r lip s ,

t o awake n to day w i th a s m il e
-
.

Afte r th e ph ysi ci an h ad h e l d sil e nt su rve y h e ,

st e pp e d b ack fro m th e ap e rt u re .

“
P u t you r arm t h ro u gh A dal b e rt h e sai d
, , ,

and t ry to re ach t h e l ock Sh e h as b o l te d th e

.

door fro m th e i n si de .

Bu t Mrs H e lli n ge r sq u e e z e d he rse lf u p ag ai nst

.

th e door and wi th l ou d cri e s i m pl ore d h e r swe e t

,

on e to wak e u p and draw t h e b o l t h e rse l f At .

l ast it was p ossi b l e t o pu sh h e r on o ne si de and ,

t h e door was o p e ne d Th e t h re e st e pp e d u p to
.

th e b e dsi de .

A m arb l e wh ite cou nte n an ce wi th l u st re l e ss

-
, ,

h alf o p e n e ye s an d an e cstat i c s m il e o n its lip s

-
, ,

m e t th e i r gaz e T h e b e au t ifu l h e ad wi th its

.
,

c l assic re fi ne d fe atu re s was sligh tl y b owe d

, ,

t o wards t he l e ft sh ou l de r and t h e u nb o u nd h ai r
,
60 TH E WISH

fe ll do wn in g re at i i g wave s u po n
sh n n th e re g al
b u st , ove r wh i ch t h e n ig h tdre ss was t orn . A
wh i te b u tto n wi th a sh re d o f li n e n att ach e d, wh i ch
h u n g in t h e b u tt on h o l e , was th e on l y sign th at a

st at e o f e xc it e m e nt m u st h av e p re ce de d sl u m b e r .

My swe e t on e , you are s e e l pi n g , are yo u not

so b b e d Mrs . H e lli n ge r .
“
Say t h at you are

l
s ee pi ng ! You can n o t h av e b rou g h t su ch dis
g race u po n you r au n t , you r de ar au n t, wh o care d

for you an d wat ch e d ov e r you lik e he r o wn ch il d .

W i th th at sh e se iz e d t he u n co n sc ou si gi rl s ’
p al e ,

p e ndant wh i te ,
h an d, an d e n de av o u re d to drag h e r

up b y it .

H er t e nde r h e arte d h u sb an d
-
h ad co v e r ed h is
face wi th h is h an ds, an d was we e pi ng . The
ph ysi ci an gav e h im se lf no tim e fo r e m ot o n i . H e

h ad p u ll e d o u t h is i nst ru m e n ts pu sh e d Mrs , .

H e lli ng e r asi de wi th scant p o li te ne ss an d was ,

b e n di n g ove r th e b o so m , wh i ch wi th one ra pi d
to u ch he i l y fre e d of its
e n t re co v e r n i g .

Wh e n he ro se u p , e v e ry dro p of b l o od h ad l e ft
h is face .

“
O ne l ast att e m p t h e sai d and m ade a q u i ck
, ,

i nci si o n straig h t across th e u pp e r arm wh e re an ,

 TH E WI S/I . 61

arte ry wo u ndi tse lf in a b l u ish li ne th rou gh th e

wh i t e gl e am i n g fl e sh
,
. Th e e dge s o f th e wou n d
gape d o pe n wi th o u t filli n g wi th b l ood ; o nl y aft e r
so m e se co nds a f e w s l u ggi sh
,
dark dro p s ooz e d
forth .

Th e n th e o ld m an th re w t h e sh i n i ng li tt l e k nife
far from h im fo l de d h is h ands and—stru ggli n g
,

wi th h is t e ars—u tte re d a p raye r .

O N th e a fte rn oo n of th e s am e day, a ligh t o ne

h o rse cab r o e t i l s pe d ov e r th e co m m o n wh i ch
e xte n ds acro ss co u n t ry fo r se v e ra l m il e s n o rt h

wards of G ro m o wo , and in th e di re cti o n of th e

li tt l e to wn .

D ark an d l owe ri n g if wi th i n
’
,
as re ach o f o ne s

h and, t h e l
c o u ds lay ov e r th e l e v e l pl ai n . H e re

an d t h e re a will o w stu m p st re tch e d it s g n arl e d

e xcre sce nce s i n to th e fo g l ade n
-
air, all satu rate d

wi t h m o stu re an d
i gli ste ni n g w i th t h e drop s wh i ch
h u n g in l on g ro ws on its b are b ran ch e s . Th e
wh e e l s san k de e p i n to the b oggy ro a d, wi n di n g
a onl g b e t we e n wi th e re d re e d -
g rass,
and o t e n th ef
wate r s pl ash e d u p as h igh as th e b o x -
se at .

T he m an wh o h e l d th e i
re n s took li tt l e he e d of

th e su rro u nd n
i g l andscap e ; q u i te l ost in th o u gh t
h e sat h u ddl e d u p o n l y occasi o n all y start i n g u p
,

wh e n th e re i n s th re ate n e d t o s lip fro m h is care l e ss

62
64 TH E WI SH .

e ve n v i c tory wou l d b ri n g h im n o th n i g b ut care and

i
anx e ty . H is th o u gh ts t rav e ll e d b ack ov e r th e

dark t i m es th at lay in th e p ast ,

and th at h ad
h ardl y e ve r been ill u m i ne d by a ray o f light .

It was now six ye ars si n ce h is fath e r h ad sol e m n l y

m ade ove r to h im ,
as e l de st so n, th e o ld fam il y
i nh e ri tance ,
th e m an or, and h ad h i m se lf i d
re t re to

a com fortab l e qu i e t life in t h e li ttl e town . O n th i s

day h is p e ri od o f su ffe ri n g h ad com m e n ce d, for h e
was b u rde ne d wi th a yo k e so h e av y th at e ve n h is
h e rc u l e an sh ou l de rs th re at e n e d to b re ak u n de r its

we igh t ; e ve ryth i ng he
gai ne d b y t h e work of h is
s n e wy
i h ands—e ve ryth i ng o f wh i ch h e p osi ti ve l y
p inch e d lf —
him m e l te d away an d was swall o we d
se

u p b y th e cl ai m s wh i ch h is fam il y l ai d u p o n him .

H e h ad no rig h t t o co m pl ai n W as it not all .

accordi n g t o st ri ct law ? Th e i n h e ri tan c e h ad

be en e xa t c l y div i de d to th e l ast farth i ng

v e ry

am o n g h im an d h is s ix b ro th e rs an d si ste rs n ot ,

cou nt i ng th e re se rve wh i ch h is p are nts c l ai m e d fo r

th e m se l ve s .

E ve ry b ri c k of h is h ou se , l and
e ve ry c o l d of h is ,

was e ncu m b e re d—on e v e ry e ar o f co rn rip e ni ng in

’

h is fi e l ds h is m oth e r s su spi ci ou s g az e was fi xe d for ,

 TH E WISH . 65

sh e k e pt st ri ct watch l e st th e i nte re sts sho u l d co m e

in a m i n u t e l ate And was sh e no t j u st ifi e d in so
.

do i n g ? H ad h e a righ t to cl ai m m o re l ov e fro m
h e r th an sh e g ave t o h e r o th e r ch il dre n ? Th e re
we re b ro th e rs wh o want e d t o m ak e th e i r way in
th e worl d s i s te rs wh o h ad o n l y b e e n m arri e d f or

th e sak e o f th e i r do wry : t h e y all l o o k e d an xi ou sly

a nd e age rl y t o wards h im as th e p ro m o te r a nd
p re
se rv e r o fth e i r h appi n e ss .

T h e i n te re sts ! Th at was th e dre adfu l word th at

h e nce fo rth h ou r b y h o u r dro n e d in h is e ars th at ,

b y n igh t st art l e d him fro m his s l e e p an d fi ll e d h is

dre am s wi th wil d v i si o ns T h e i n t e re sts ! H o w
.

o fte n on th e i r acco u nt h e h ad b e ate n h is b ro w wi th

cl e n ch e d fi st s H o w o fte n h e h ad ru n wi t h o u t
se nse o r fe e li ng th ro u gh t h e l oam
y fi e l ds to e scape,

from t h i s h ost o f gli nt i n g gl e am i n g de v il s ! H o w

,

o fte n in a b li nd fit o f rage h e h ad s m as h e d t o

pi e ce s so m e to o l a pl ou gh sh are a waggo n po l e
, ,
-
,

wi th h is fist as if h e did n o t m i n d wi t h wh at we ap o n
,

he fou gh t th e m Bu t t h e y did n o t l e av e h im . All

t h e m o re t e n aci ou sl y did th e
y fas te n t h e m l
se ve s o n

t o h is h e e l s ; all th e m ore th i rst il y did th e v su c k th e

m arro w fro m his yo u n g b on e s .

66 TH E WIS H .

W h at g ood was it th at h e so m e ti m e s su cce e de d

in m ast e ri ng th e m Th i s h ydra e v e rl ast i n gl y
b rou g h t fo rth n e w h e ads fro m q u arte r to q u arte r
it s too d th e re b e fo re h is te rrifi e d g az e m ore an d
,

m o re m o n strou s m o re an d m o re gigan t i c gro wi n g

, ,

and swe lli n g re ady t o p o u n ce u p o n h im an d cru s h

,

h im wi th th e we ig h t o f its b o dy . T h u s fro m o n e

re p ri e ve to th e n e xt h is life h ad dragg e d al o n g

s i n ce th at day wh i ch was so m e rril y ce l e b rat e d at

Bl ack E agl e
“ ”
h
t e wi th dri n ki n g o f cl are t an d
ch am p ag ne .

I f o n l y h is m oth e r h ad e xe rci se d so m e l e n ie n cy !
Bu t sh e did no t e v e n e xe m p t h im fro m th e stipu
l ate d asp aragu s in sp ri n g no r e v e n fro m th e l o an
,

o f t he carri ag e fo r dri v e s du ri n g h arv e st t i m e -

wh e n th e h orse s we re so b adl y wan te d in th e

fi e l ds .

“
H e th at will no t h e ark e n to adv i ce m u st su ffe r ,

sh e was wo n t to say and h e wo u l d n o t h e a rk e n ;

,

n o i n de e d n o t
,
W i th one sh ort si m pl e ye s h e
,
“

m igh t h av e p u t a s to p t o all h is m i se ry m igh t h av e

,

liv e d in th e lap o f l u xu ry to th e e n d o f h is days ;

an d b e cau se h e wo u l d n ot do it ou t o fsh e e r in co n
, ,

ce iv ab le st u b b o rnn e ss b e cause all h e r wife h u nt i n g

,
-
 TH E WISH . 67

had b e e n to no pu rp ose — th at was wh y h is m o th e r

cou l d not forgi ve h im .

Th u s t wo ye ars passe d away T he n h e b e gan .

to fe e l that su ch a life m ust so o n e r or l ate r m ak e a

wre ck o f h im Th i s an xi e ty an d worry was e x

.

h aus ting h im m ore and m ore ; h e de ci de d to p u t

an e n d t o it all and to de m an d o f fate t h at m o de st

sh are o fh appi ne ss wh i ch was pl e dg e d and p ro m i se d

to him by a p ai r o f faith fu l b lu e e ye s, and a p al e ,

ge n t l e m ou th . Th e n cam e a day wh e n h e b rou g h t

hom e , as wife to his h e arth th e , l ove o f h is you t h ,
wh o h ad sh ortl y b e co m e or p h ane d and h om e l e ss .

It was a dre ary, sad N ov e m b e r day, and dark

c o u ds s
l p e d like b i rds o f ill o m e n across t he sky .

T re m b li ng and p al e in h e r b l ac k m ou rn i ng dre ss
, ,

th e frail de li cate cre at u re h u n g o n h is arm an d

,

qu ake d b e ne ath e ve ry h alf co m p assi onate h alf

-
,

con te m ptu ou s gl ance wi th wh i ch th e stran ge

p e o pl e e xam i ne d h e r .

As for his m o th e r, sh e h ad re ce vei d he r wi th

re p roach e s and m al e di cti o ns and a ye ar h ad ,

e l ap se d b e fore t ol e rab l e re l at i o n s we re e stab li sh e d

b e twe e n t h e t wo .

Martha h ad k e pt up b rav e ly, and in s pi te of he r

68 TH E WISH .

de li cat e h e al th , h ad wo rk e d fro m m om to n ig h t in

o rde r to se t to r igh ts wh at h ad all go n e t o p sy tu rvy -

du ri n g t h e
’
m ast e r s l on g b ach e l o rh o o d .

And wh e n ,
a fte r t h re e ye ars of q u i e t, ch e e r n i g
com p an i o nsh ip ,
H e av e n was ab o u t t o b l e ss th e i r

u n o n , sh e
i h ad— e ve n wh e n h e r co n d iti on a re ady
l
re q u re d
i th e g re ate st care — a l ways been up an d

do i n g, wo rki n g and orde r n i g in ki tch e n ,

i
att c, an d

ce ll ar .

It a m ost se e m e d as
l if th u s b y l ab o u r sh e wante d
to gi ve an e q u iv al e n t fo r h e r m i ssi n g do wry .

T h e n — t wo days a fte r th e b i rth o f a ch il d— Olg a

h ad su dde n l y arri ve d in G ro m o wo . H e h ad not

se e n he r i
s n ce h is i g
m arr a e . At fi rst sigh t o fh e r h e
was al m ost st art e d l . Sh e cam e towards h im wi t h an

ex p re ssi o n o f su ch p ro u d re se rve and b i tte rn e ss ;

sh e h ad b l o sso m e d forth to su ch re g al b e au ty .

An d th i s wo m an h e was to day to -
ca ll h is o wn

Ye t wh at a worl d o f su f
fe r n i g ,
ho w m an y days of

gl oo m i e st b roodi n g an d de sp ai r, h o w m an y n igh ts
fu ll o fh o rr i b le i i
v s o ns lay b e t we e n n o w an d th e n

H e sh u dde re d ; h e did n ot lik e to re ca ll it any

m o re . T o day-
e v e ryth n i g se e m e d t o h av e t u rn e d

ou t we ll Marth a s gl o rifi e d i m age

’
sm il e d down in
 TH E WISH . 69

p e ace and b e ne di cti on an d like a fl owe r spru n g

, ,

fro m h e r g rave h appi ne ss was b l oom i ng ane w fo r

,

h im .

N e are r and n e are r cam e th e li ttl e

tu rre ts o f th e

t o wn h igh e r and h ig h e r t h e y stre tch e d u p b e h i n d

t h e al de r t h i c ke ts And a q u arte r o f an h ou r l ate r
.

th e carri age dro ve i nto th e rou gh ly p a v e d stre e t -

.

Soo n afte r e nte ri n g t h e g ate s R ob e rt m ade th e

di scove ry th at pe o pl e wh o m e t h im to day b e h av e d -

t owards h im in th e m ost p e cu li ar m ann e r So m e .

av o i de d h im o th e rs in e v i de n t co n fu si o n do f
,
fe d
th e i r caps and th e n as q u i ckl y as possi b l e fle d

fro m h is p re se nce O n th e oth e r h and th e wi ndows

.
,

o f e v e ry h o use p ast wh i ch th e carri ag e drov e fill e d ,

wi th he ads th at st are d at h im g rav e l y an d dis

appe are d hu rri e dly b e h i n d t h e cu rtai ns at h is
gre e ti ng .

H e sh oo k h is h e ad do u b t fu lly . Bu t as h is m ind
was so fu ll ofth e app ro ach i n g stru ggl e h e too k no t ,

m u ch no ti ce and h e nce fo rth l oo k e d n e i th e r to th e

,

rig h t nor to the l e ft At th e corne r o fth e m ark e t

.

pl ace wh e re th e re u se d t o b e th e li ttl e e xc i se o ffice

,
-
,

st oo d h is u ncl e s
’
th e doct o r s o ld h ou se k e e p e r
’

, , ,

h o l di ng h e r h ands h i dde n u n de r h e r b l u e ap ron ,

70 TH E WISH .

an d wi th an e x pre ssi o n on he r face lik e t h at o f

an u n de rta ke r
.

As th e carr a i ge a pp ro ach e d ,
sh e s i ne d
g t o h im

t o st o p .

“
We ll Mrs ,
. L ie b e t re u , he sa id ,
am u se d, yo u
at l e ast do n ot t ak e to you r h e e ls at m y a pp roach
t o day
-
.

Th e o ld gaz e d u p at th e sky so t h at sh e
wo m an ,

m igh t n o t h av e t o l o o k h im in th e face .

O h ! yo u n g m aste r sai d sh e — h e was al ways

call e d yo u n g m aste r t o di st i n g u i sh h im fro m
“
,

h is fat h e r t h ou g h h e was l o n g p ast th i rty

,
th e

doctor wi sh e s m e to ask if yo u will ki ndl y j u st

ste p rou n d th e re fi rst ; he h as so m e th i n g to say

”
t o you .

Is wh at h e h as to say p re ssi n g ?
to m e ve ry

Th e wo m an was ve ry m u ch t e rrifi e d f o r sh e ,

t h ou gh t th e u nh app y i nt e llig e n ce wou l d no w fal l

to h e r lot to te ll .

“
O h, g raci o u s m e sh e sa id ; “
he on ly p u t it
”
lik e th at .

W e ll th e n gi v e m y ki nde st re gards to m y
“
, ,

u n cl e th e do ct o r an d th e m e ssag e t h at I o n l y j u st
, ,

wante d fi rst to h ave a li tt l e t alk wi th m y p are nts

72 TH E WISH .

H e fl u ng him se l f i n to a co rne r o f th e so a, and

f
g az e d to wards t h e do or ; fo r h e pri v ate ly h op e d
t h at Olga m igh t h ave n o t ce d i his co n v e yance in

fron t of th e h ou se , an d wou l d c om e do wn to sh ak e
h ands wi th h im .

H e b e gan to ge t i m pat i e nt .
“
Can sh e h av e
g on e out to th e m an or ?
”
he as e dk h im se l f Bu t
.
,

no — sh e wou l d n ot do th at ; for sh e k ne w h e
wou l d com e to s pe ak to h is p are nts .

“
I will k n ock at h e r door and go t u p
, h e de ci de d , .

H e sm il e d an xi ou sl y an d stre tch e d h is m igh ty

,

li m bs . Afte r h av i n g l o n ge d for h e r i nce ssant l y

i
s n ce ye ste rday e ve n n i g ,
n o w, at the m o m e nt of
‘

b e h o l di n g h e r a a n, g i h e was fi ll e d wi th a p e cu li ar
fe ar o f ac n
f i g he r . Th e fe e li ng of h u m b l e re ve r

e n ce , wh i ch al ways t oo k p osse ssi o n o f h im in h e r

p re se nce n o w agai n m ade i tse lf e v i de n t W as it
, .

p ossi b l e th at th i s wo m an h ad ye ste rday h u n g u po n

h is ne ck ? An d wh at if sh e re g re t te d it to day— if -

sh e we nt b ack from h e r wo rd

Bu t at th i s m o m e n t all h is de fi an ce awo ke wi t h

in h im . H e pe ne d h is
o arm s wi de , an d wi th a

sm il e wh i ch re fl e c te d th e m e m ory o f h appy h o u rs

re ce n t ly li v e d t h rou g h ,
he cr e d i
 TH E WISH .
73

L e t h e r b u t dare su ch a th n i g ! W i th t h e se

h ands of m i ne I will lift h e r u p and carry h e r t o m y

h om e ! I f Marth a gi ve s h e r co nse n t I wonde r ,

”
wh o sh ou l d o bj e ct .

O n t ip to e so as n ot t o wak e h is p are n ts h e
-
, ,

c li m b e d u p th e stai rs wh i ch ne v e rth e l e ss cre ake d

,

and g roan e d u n de r th e we ig h t o fhis b o dy .

Be fo re Olg a s door h e starte d b ack fo r h e saw

’

th e gl e am o f ligh t wh i ch fe ll th ro u gh t h e b ro k e n

pan e l o n to th e co rri do r .

N o o n e an swe re d to h is k n o c ki n g Ne ve rth e .

l e ss h e e nte re d
, .

a
:

A l ate r th e wh o l e h o u se tre m b l e d in its

m o m e nt

fou ndat i o ns as if t h e roo f h ad fall e n in

, .

Th e t wo o ld p e o pl e wh o h ad re t i re d to th e i r
,

b e dro o m to pe rate the i r st re n gt h after th o se

re cu

t ryi n g h ou rs o f th e fo re n oo n starte d u p in t e rro r

, .

T h e y call e d t h e m ai ds Bu t t h e se h ad ru n o ff so
.
,

th at t h e t own sh ou l d n o l o n g e r b e k e pt in ign o r

an ce o f th e n e we st de tail s ab o u t t h e sad occu r

re n ce .

Y o u go
“
u p, sai d th e e n e rge t i c wo m an to h e r
h u sb and, an d t re m b li n gl y p u t o u t h e r h an d fo r t h e
74 TH E WISH .

li ttl e b ott l e o f su lp h u ri c e th e r wh i ch sh e a l ways

k e pt at h an d It was . th e fi rst ti m e in h e r life t h at

sh e fe l t frigh te n e d .

Wh e n o ld H e lli n g e r e n te re d t he g ab l e roo m -
,

he saw a s igh t wh i ch fro z e th e b l ood in h is

i
v e ns .

H is b ody lay g rou n d

’
so n s st re t ch e d on th e .

As h e fe ll h e m u st h av e cl u t che d th e su pp orts o f
t h e b i e r o n wh i ch th e de ad gi rl h ad b e e n pl ace d ,

an d dragg e d do wn th e wh o l e e re ct i o n wi th h im

fo r o n t h e top o f h im b e t we e n th e b ro k e n pl an k s, ,

lay t h e corp se in it s l o n g wh i te sh ro u d it s
, ,

i
m o t o n e ss l face u pon his face , its b are d a rm s

th ro wn ov e r h is h e ad .

At th i s m o m e nt he re g ai n e d i
co n sc ou sn e ss, an d

T h e de ad
gi rl s h e ad san k do wn fro m ’
s tart e d u p .

h is an d b u m p e d o n to th e fl o o r
,
.

”
“
R ob e rt m y b oy ! cri e d th e o ld m an and
, ,

ru sh e d to wards h im .

W i th wi de —
o pe n, gl assy e ye s, R o b e rt st are d

ab ou t h im . H e se e m e d n o t ye t to h av e re co v e re d

h is se nse s . Th e n b e p e rce i v e d one of th e a rm s,

wh i ch , as th e b o dy dro pp e d si de wards h ad fall e n

,

rig h t acro ss his ch e st . H is g az e trav e ll e d al o n g it

 TH E WISH .
75

up to t h e sh ou l de r, as far as th e ne ck— as f
ar as

th e wh i te r igi dly sm ili n g face

-
.

Su pp orte d b y t h e o ld m a n s t wo arm he i
’
s, ra se d

h im se lf up . H e t o t te re d on his l e gs lik e a b u ll
t h at h as re ce v e d ai b lo w fro m an axe .

“
G ood G od, b oy, do co m e to you r se nse s !
i
cr e d h is fath e r ,
t aki n g h im b y h is sh ou l de rs .

; we
“
Th e m i sfort u n e h as ta k e n pl ace are m e n,
”
we m u st ke e p ou r co m p osu re .

H is so n l oo k e d at him v acan t ly ,
h e lpl e ssly as a

ch il d . T he n h e b e nt lifte d it o ve r t h e de ad b ody,

u p an d l ai d it across t h e b e d p u sh i n g t h e frag
, ,

m e nt s o fth e b i e r t o o n e si de w i t h h is foo t .

Th e n h e se at e d h im se lf l
c ose to he r on th e

pill ow , i lly wou n d a co il o f h e r flo w

and m e ch an ca

ing h ai r rou nd h is fi n ge r .

Th e o ld m an b e gan t o e n te rt ai n fe ars of h is
’
so n s san i ty .

“ ”
R ob e rt h e sa i d co m i n g cl o se u p to h im
, ,

ag ai n p u ll yo u rse lf to ge t h e r Co m e away fro m

, .

”
h e re ; you cann ot b ri n g h e r b ack t o l ife ag ai n .

T h e n h e b ro k e in t o a l au gh so sh rill and h or
ri b l e t h at it fro z e t h e v e r
y m arrow in h is fathe r s
’
,

b o ne s .
76 TH E WI SH .

All ofa su dde n his stu p o r l e ft h im he j u m pe d

u
p, h is e ye s gl owe d ,
and o n h is t e m pl e s th e v e i n s

swe ll e d up .

“
W h e re is m o th e r ? he s re am e d,
c adv an c ing
t o wards th e old m an .

H e sou ght to pacify h im .

“
G ood h e ave n s ! do h ave p at ie n ce ! W e will
”
t e ll you all .

Th e o ld l ady wh o h ad al re ady
, b ee n stand n i g
fo r a l on g ti m e li ste ni n g on th e i
sta rs, at th i s

m o m e nt p u t in h e r h e ad at th e do o r .

H e ru sh e d past his fath e r and at h e r as if ab ou t

to stran gl e h e r ; b u t h e h ad at l e ast so m u ch
re aso n l e ft as to b e se n s i b l e of th e m onstrou sne ss
o f his p roce e di n g . H is arm s fe ll down li m p at
h is si de s— h e se t h is te e th as if to ch o k e d own
“ ”
h is p e nt -
up ra e g . M o th e r , sa id he , “
you sh all
accou n t to m e fo r th i s . I de m an d an e x pl anati on
o fyo u . \Vh y did she die

Th e o ld wom an cam e t owards h i m wi th te n de r

co m p assi o n ,
and m ade as if sh e wou l d b u rst i nto
t e ars u p on h is ne c k .

Wi th a rou gh m ov e m e n t he sh o o k he r
of
f.
 TH E WISH 77

L e av e th at , m o th e r he sa id ,
“
I l i
c a m he r

fro m you !
“
Bu t ,
R o b e rt, wh i ne d th e o ld wo m an , is

th i s th e way for a so n to t re at h is m o th e r ?
A dal b e rt j u st ,
t e ll h im ho w he ou gh t to tre at
”
h is m o th e r !

to o k h o l d th e o ld m an h ands “
’
H e of s . Yo u
”
ke e p ou t of ga m e fath e r
t he , ,
he sa id .
“
Th e
accou n t wh i ch I h ave t o se t tl e to day wi th-
m y
m o th e r co nce rns u s t wo al o n e . Mo th e r I , as k
”
you o nce m ore : wh y did sh e die ? H e was
l e an i n g agai nst th e wall an d stare d at h e r w i t h
h al fcl ose d b l oo d sh ot e ye s
-
,
-
.

Mrs H e lli nge r h ad m e an wh il e co m m e nce d t o

.

cr
y .

D o yo u
ppose I k no w ? sh e sob b e d ; “ do
su

yo u su pp ose anyb o dy at all k no ws ? W e fo u n d

h e r in h e r b e d th at is all Sh e h as b ro u gh t dis
, .

g race u p on ou r h ou se th e m i se rab l e cre atu re in , ,

re t u rn fo r
“
Do not ab u se h e r, m o th e r, he sa id ,
w il dly,
sp e aki n g in an an g ry u n de rto n e ; you k no w
ve ry we ll th at was b ri de
”
sh e m !
y
H is m o th e r gav e ve nt to a cry o f asto n sh i
6
78 TH E WISH .

m e nt, an d h e r h u sb an d to o m ade a m ov e m e n t o f

su r r sep i .

“
W h at ! you do n ot k no w t h at ? M o th e r h e ,

cr e d,
i an d p re sse d b o th h is fi sts to h is te m pl e s ,

did sh e i g D id sh e
“
say n o th n t o you ? n o t co m e

to you l ast n ig h t ,
and te ll you wh at h ad tak e n
”
pl ace b e t we e n h e r an d m e du ri n g th e day ?
“
H forb i d ! g ro an e d th e o ld wo m an
e ave n
”
.

Scarce a syll ab l e did sh e sp e ak to m e b u t we n t ,

and l o ck e d h e rse lf u
”
p in h e r roo m .

Mo th e r h e sai d an d ste ppe d cl ose u p to

, ,

he r “
W h e n sh e h ad co n fe sse d all to yo u did
.
,

yo u n ot wo rk u pon he r i
co n sc e n ce ? D id yo u no t

i m p re ss it u po n h e r t h at if sh e t ru ly l ove d m e
sh e m u st gi v e m e u p, th at sh e wo u l d b ri n g
m i sfo rtu n e u p on m e, an d H e av e n k nows wh at

b e si de s ! Mo th e r ,
did yo u no t do th i s ?
”

“
My o wn so n doe s no t b e li e v e m e ! My own
"
so n gi v e s m e t h e lie , wh i m pe re d t h e o ld wom an .

T h e se th e t h an k s th at I fro m
“
are ge t m y
”
c h il dre n to day -
.

H e g rasp e d h e r righ t h an d .
“
Moth e r ,
he sa id
,

yo u h av e do n e m e m any a wro n g in all th e se

T h e wo rst an d b i t t e re st I e ve r e x p e ri e n ce d
ye ars .

cam e to m e th rou gh yo u .
80 TH E WI SH

in th e t e nd e r care ss wi th wh i ch sh e fo ndl e d th e

de ad face .

At th i s m o m e n t th e o ld physi ci an cam e ru sh ng i
i n to th e ro o m . H e h ad h o p e d to o ve rt a ke R ob e rt

and p re p are h im for th e worst, an d saw in te rror

th at h e h ad co m e too l ate .

O ld H e lli n ge r h u rri e d towards h im and

wh i sp e re d in h is T ak e h im a way, he is
“
e ar :

ou t o f h is se n se s ! We ca n do n o th n i g wi t h h i m
”
h e re !

R ob e rt stoo d th e re cl u tch i n g at th e bed -

posts ,

h is c h e st h e avi n g ,
h is face as if t u rne d to sto ne

wi th gl oo m y ,
t e arl e ss m i se ry .

Th e o ld doctor ru b b e d h is stu b b l y gre y b e ard

g i
a a n st h is sh ou l de r ,
an d g rowl e d in th at rou g h ly
co m p assi onate way wh i ch g oe s q u i cke st to t he

h e art s o f stron g m e n .

“
Co m away, b oy ; do n t i g
’
e m y do anyth n

foo l ish ; do not di stu rb h e r re st .

R o b e rt starte d an d n odde d se v e ra l tim es .

Th e n ly — as if ove rpo we re d b y h is
su dde n

m i se ry—h e fe ll d o wn in fro nt o f th e b e d and

cri e d o u t
“
W h e re fore di dst th o u die ?
,
WH E R E FO R E h ad sh e di e d P
Th i s q u e s ti o n h e n ce fo rth p u zz le d th e wh o l e

to wn co m pl e t e l y . In th e stre e ts —at th e t e a
tab l e on t h e al e h ou se b e n ch e s— it was th e o n e
,

to pi c f o r di scu ssi o n .P e o pl e i n du lge d in t h e m o st

o u t o f th e wa
y su rm i se s t h e m o st h az ardo u s co n
- - -
,

je ctu re s we re p u t fo rward and st ill n o o ne was

,

o n e wh i t th e wi se r . So m e spo k e o f an un h app y ,

o th e rs o f an o v e r h app
y l o ve affa i r an d o th e rs
-
,

ag ai n de cl are d t h at t h e
y h ad al ways p re di cte d
t h at sh e wou l d n o t co m e to a go o d e n d .

D u ri n g h e r life t i m e al re ady h e r p ro u d t aci tu rn

-

, , ,

re se rve d n atu re h ad b e e n a ri ddl e t o t h e g o od

h o m e l y to w nfo lk ; n o w h e r de ath was a st ill

g re at e r ri ddl e to th e m .

Me an wh ile it h ad go t ab ou t th at th e ph ysi ci an
h ad b e e n t h e fi rst t o re ce i v e n e ws o f t h e su i ci de ,

an d th e o n l y o ne t o wh o m sh e h e rse lf h ad co n fi de d

81
82 TH E WISH

he r i n te n t i o n . P e o pl e cro wde d u p t o h im t he y

a m ost sto rm e d
l h is h o u se ; b u t h e pe rsi ste d in h is
sil e nce W i th all t h e b l u ffn e ss o f wh i ch h e was
.

so p art i cu l arl
y cap ab l e h e se n t th e i m p o rtu n ate ,

q u e st i on e rs ab ou t th e i r b u si ne ss Olga s l e tte r .

he h ad o n th e v e ry sam e day co m m i tte d to t h e

fl am e s for h e fe are d th at a cou rt

, of law m igh t
re q u i re it of h im . As fo r th e re st, th e cau se of

de ath was so ev i de nt th at e ve n a p ost -

m orte m

e xam i nat i o n co u ld b e di sp e n se d wi th . As m igh t

h ave been ex p e cte d , th e de ad gi rl h ad no t

su cce e de d in ab so u te l ly i g
re m o v n e v e ry t race of

h e r de e d . In t h e gl ass st an di n g on he r n ight
t ab l e we re fo u nd ,
adh e r n i g to its s i de s ,
dro p s of

a fl u i d wh ose fl avou r p ro ve d e v e n t o a no n ,

e xp e rt th at h e re
,
a so l u t i o n o f m o rp h i a was in

q u e st i o n Th e ch ai n o f e v i de n ce b e cam e co m
.

p le te wh e n in th e g arde n e m b e dde d u n de r so m e ,

h awth orn b u sh e s, we re fo u nd frag m e nts of gl ass

b o t t l e s to
, t h e n e ck s o f wh i ch a p ort i o n o f t h e

po i so n o u s so l u t i o n st ill adh e re d in wh i t e cr st al
y
lise d k s T h e y h ad e v i de n t l y b e e n th ro wn
st re a .

o u t o f th e wi n dow and st ill b o re l ab e l s gi v i n g th e

“

date o f th e p re scrip t i o n and di re ct i o n s fo r taki n g .

 TH E WISH . 83

As m atte rs stoo d, it wou l d h ave b e e n i pl e

s m

m adn e ss p art if h e h ad dare d t o

’
on th e do cto r s

atte m p t t o h u sh u
p th e su i ci dal i n te n t i on ; fo r
e v e n care l e s sne ss in taki n g th e sl e e pi ng drau g h t

was q u i te o u t of th e q u e st i o n .

N e v e rth e l e ss ,
h e was t orm e nt e d b y th e i de a th at
h e h ad b e e n l gi rl sdyi n g
’
u nab e to carry o u t th e

l ast re q u e st, an d he fai th fu ll y p ro m ise d h i m se lf

th at h e wo u l d all th e m ore t ru l y at l e ast k e e p t h e

se cre t wh i ch sh e h ad wrapp e d ro u n d h e r m o t iv e s
fo r th e ppy de e d
u nh a .

I f o n ly h e h i m se lf cou l d se e h is way cl e ar at
l ast ! Th e days p asse d b y h owe ve r an d st ill h e , ,

co u l d n o t su cce e d in taki n g p osse ssi o n o f th e

l e gacy wh i ch Olga h ad l e ft to h im .

Mrs H e lli n ge r se n i o r m i stru ste d h im ; sh e to l d

.
, ,

h im o p e n ly t o h is face th at h e h ad al ways h ad
so m e se cre t u n de rstand n i g wi th th e de ad gi rl an d
,

b e h i n d h is b ack sh e adde d t h at if h e h ad not

pre scri b e d su ch u n re aso n ab ly stro n g l i

so u t o ns of

m or ph i a Olga wou l d h ave b e e n aliv e and h appy

,

fo r a l o n g t i m e t o co m e She al m o st we n t so far
.

as t o ascri b e t h e b l am e o fh e r n i e ce s de ath to th e i r
’

old fam il y fri e n d .

84 TH E WI SH .

At any rate sh e p e rm i t h im h e nce forth

did n ot
'

to re m ai n for on e se co n d a l on e in th e de ad gi rl s

room Sh e k e p t th e doo r care fu l ly l o ck e d and

.
,

de cl are d sh e wou l d not s u ffe r t h e de ad gi rl s

'

b e l o ngi ng s, wh i ch t o h e r we re sacre d re lics ,

to b e

de file d b y th e tou ch of st ran ge h ands, or by

ge gl an ce s
st ran .

T h u s fro m h ou r t o h ou r th e re was i n cre asi ng

dang e r th at th e b o o k ,
in wh i ch Olga h ad wri tte n
do wn he r c o nfe ssi on s ,
m igh t fall i nto th e o ld

wo m h an ds
’
an s .

Sh e ne e d o n l y tak e it i nto h e r h e ad on e day to

to g
ru m m a e am o n g th elitt l e co ll e c ti on o fv o l u m e s
wh i ch fi ll e d th e b oo k sh e lf an d th e m i sch i e f was
-
,

do ne
A dde d t o th i s an x e ty, i wh i ch dro ve t h e o ld

docto r daily to t h e h is
’
H e llinge rs h ou se , cam e

gro wi ng u ne asi n e ss ab ou t R o b e rt wh o, i s nce th at

di sastro us h ou r h ad fall e n
,
a p re y to b l ank ,
de spai r
ing l e th argy H e se e m e d ab so l u te l y de pri ve d o f
.

th e p owe r o f spe e ch wo u l d e n du re no o ne ne ar
,

him , an d e ve n taci tu rn l y sh u n n e d an d av o i de d him ,

h is o ld fri e n d ; b y day h e ro a m e d ab ou t in th e
 TH E WISH . 85

b y h is ch il d s
’
fi e l ds
,
by n igh t he sat cot, an d stare d

down po n it with b u rn i n g re dde ne d e ye s

u , .

So sai d th e se rvant s wh o th re e t i m e s h ad fo u nd
,

h im in t h e m orni ng in th i s p osi t i on .
TH E ligh ts rou nd Olga s cofli n h ad b u rnt do wn ’ '
.

T h e g u e sts wh o fo r so l on g h ad su rro u n de d th e
,

b i e r in so l e m n s il e n ce b e g an t o m o ve to an d fro
, ,

an d l o o k rou nd for re fre sh m e nts

to .

Mrs H e lli n g e r wh o was re ce i v i n g co n do l e n ce s

.
, ,

and at t h e sam e t i m e wi th a g re at p ro fu si o n o f ,

te ars an d p ock e t h an dk e rch i e fs e xto lli n g t h e v i rtu e s ,

o fth e de ce ase d su dde n l y in th e m i dst o fh e r g ri e f

, , ,

p ro ve d h e rse lf an at te n t v e i an d li b e ral h os te ss .

The gu e sts gav e a s igh o f re li e f wh e n t h e doors of

t h e di n i n g -
roo m we re th rown o pe n , an d fro m th e

re s pl e n de n t t ab l e a s we e t o do u r o f ro ast m e ats,

h e rri n g sa ad l gre e te d
’
com potes an d the m .

Mr . H lli n ge r se n i o r p rai se d t h e L ord an d wi th

e , , ,

a fe w p ri vil e ge d fri e nds dran k th e sp e ci ally fin e ,

l
c are t wh i ch h e se t b e fo re t h e m in h o n o u r of th e

o ccas o ni . T h e y we re not ye t g
a re e d wh e t h e r an

i n n oce nt g am e o f cards wo u l d b e di s p aragi n g to

86
83 TH E WIS H

t u rne d wo ode n c ase b roo di n g wi th

,
h is h e ad in h is
h ands .

yo u do i n g h e re ? he
“
R ob e rt, m y b oy, wh at are

cr e d ou t
i to h im .

“
He ra sei d h is h e ad s owl ly and sa i d, I su pp ose
th e re a re m e rry g o i n gs -
on in th e o th e r p art o f th e

h o use

The p h ysi ci an l ai d his h ands on his sh ou l de rs

I am an x ou s ab ou t
i yo u, m y b oy . Si nce th re e
days yo u gru dge a word t o an y o f u s yo u are o n

”
th e ro ad to m adn e ss, if you go on lik e th i s .

W h at do you wan t answe re d R ob e rt, wi th a

s igh th at b ro k e fro m h im lik e a cry o f an g u i sh .

I am c al m ,
qu ite c al m . Th e n h e o n ce m ore

re st e d h is b u shy h e ad u p on h is two h ands, and fe ll

a gai n to b ro o di n g .

Th e o ld m an sat do wn at h is s i de a nd b e g an to
re m on st rat e wi th h im . H e forgot no s n i gl e th i n g
'
t h at one is wo n t to say in su ch case s, an d ad de d

m any a co m fo rti n g , st re n g th e ni n g word of h is o wn

m a ki n g . R o b e rt sat th e re m o t i o n l e ss h e h ardly ,

g ave an y s ig n o f n te re st
i . Bu t wh e n th e ol d m an

cam e t o no st o p ,
he i nte rru p te d him ,
and sa id
“
L e ave t h at , un c e , l th at is swe e t st u ff fo r l i t tl e
 TH E WIS H . 89

ch il dre n T o th e o ne q u e sti o n o n wh i ch
.
fo r m e

de p e nds life and de ath yo u to o can gi ve

, , ,
m e no

”
an swe r .

W h at q u e sti o n
U ncl e se e I am cal m n o w— wo n de rfu ll y cal m
, ,

no fe v e r no fre n z y is u p o n m e as I s p e ak an d so
, ,

yo u will b e li e ve m e wh e n I te ll yo u th at I do
not

k now— h o w I sh all li ve th ro u gh th i s n igh t !

Fo r G o d s sak e wh at are yo u ab o u t to do ?
’

R o b e rt sh ru gg e d h is sh o u l de rs .

“
I do n ot k now h e sai d wh ate v e r su gge sts
, ,

i tse lf at t h e m o m e nt will do fo r m e I am o n l y .

so rr
y for th e p oor li t t l e m i te t h at will h ave to go
o n li v i n g wi t h o u t a fat h e r— p e rh ap s I sh all t ak e it

wi th m e o n m y j o u rn e y— I do n o t k n o w I o n ly .

k no w th e on e th i ng th at I can no t go o n lik e th i s
,

any l o n g e r !

Th e o ld m an tre m b li ng wi th fe ar in e v e ry li m b
, ,

h e ap e d re p roach e s u p on h im Th at wo u l d b e
.

co wardl y th at wo u l d b e u n m an l y an d o n l y wo rth y
, ,

o f a m i s e rab l e we akli n g .

R ob e rt li ste ne d to h im cal m l y th e n h e sai d ,

“
Yo u wou l d b e righ t u ncl e if it we re h e r
, ,

de ath wh i ch m ade m e de sp ai r o f m yse lf an d o f

90 TH E WISH

m
y h appi n e ss Bu t good h e av e ns
,
— h e l au g h e d
h arsh l y and b i tte rl y “
I h ave lo ng i s nce
accu s

to m ed m yse lf t o lay no cla mi to h a ppi n e ss As .

for m e, I w o u l d q u i e t l y b e ar m y af flictio n — (I ,

h av e e p i
x e r e n ce in th at , as yo u k now , fo r I h av e
l
a re ady l o we re d o n e l o v e d b e i n g i n to th e g rav e ! ,

an d go on ra k in g and scra pi n g m o ne y to ge th e r,

as I h av e b e e n do i n g for so l on g ,
a nd do i ng in

th e m i dst of th e de e p e st so rro w ; fo r th e i n t e re st s ,

yo u k n o w t h e y t ak e li tt l e n o t i ce o f t h e st ate o f
,

o ne s fe e li n g s an d e v e n if o n e s h an d g ro ws n u m b
’ ’

w i th pa i n an d de sp ai r— t h e y h av e t o b e p ai d !

Bu t th at is no t wh at m a k e s m y b rai n so dis

g
o r an se i d — for I am di so rgan i se d you ,
m ay

b e li e v e m e ; b e fo re
park s are con m y e ye s s

stan t ly dan ci n g m y b o dy is co n v u l se d an d m y
, ,

b l o od ru sh e s lik e fire th rou g h m y ve i n s An d .

e t I am q u i te cal m wi th it all an d se e e v e ry
y ,

t h i n g all aro u n d as cl e arl y as if I co u l d l oo k

righ t th ro u g h it O n l y th e o n e th i n g I cann ot
.

co m p re h e n d
— it h au n ts m e lik e a te rri b l e p h an to m
b y day and by igh t and
n ,
wh e n I se e k to g rasp
it, it e sca pe s m e — t h i s o ne t h i ng Wkerefore did

sh e die
 TH E WISH .
9 1

T he o ld m an starte d . H e t h ou gh t of the

l e tte r an d the p rom i se th at th e de ad gi rl h ad

t h e re i n i
re qu re d o f him .

R ob e rt con t nu e d : i “
T h e re is a v o cei wh i ch
co nstan t ly scre am s i n to m y e ars, It is you r

fau l t H ow I do k no w ; fo r h o we v e r
’
! so not

m u ch I p rob e the de pth s of m y sou l I

, find no

w ro ng th e re th at I did h e r ; an d ye t t h e i
vo ce

will not be
il e nce d I t e ll m yse lf
s T h i s is a
.
,

fi xe d i de a I te ll m yse lf You are t orm e nt i ng

.
’
,
‘

ou r se lf o u are a fo ol an d w i ck e d— wi ck e d
y ; y
t o wards you rse lf and yo u r ch il d b u t it is n o
g ood u n cl e — it will n o t b e sil e nced An d afte r
,
.
,

all th e re m ay b e so m e th i n g in it u ncl e ?
, Wou l d ,

Olga n o t b e ali v e ye t if it we re n ot for m e ? I f , ,

o n th e p re ce di n g e ve n i ng th i ng s h ad not h ap ,

p e ne d h

H e sto pp e d ,
sh u d e r n
d i g ,
and co ve re d h is face
wi th h is h ands . T e arl e ss so b s sh oo k h is m i g h ty

fram e . Th e n h e sa id : “
Uncl e I c anno t—I dare,

n ot t h i n k o f it ; it dri v e s m e ou t of m y se nse s .

I fe e l —as if I m ust b re ak and dash to pi e ce s

e ve ryth i ng wi th t h e se fi sts ”
.

“
An d ye t you m ust pu ll you rse lf to ge th e r, m y
92 TH E WISH

b oy, sa id th e o ld m an, a nd t e ll m e e ve ryth n i g

su cce ss v e i ly ; fo r th at is th e on ly way to th ro w
”
li gh t u pon th e m yste ry .

Th e re e n su e d a s il e nce in th e dark ro o m . T he
o ld m an t re m b l e d in e ve ry l im b . H e saw th e

li n e s o f th e m assi v e fig u re
ou t th at sto o d ou t

darkl y ag ai n s t t h e ligh t wi ndo w of th e ch am ber;

he saw t h e h e av i n g of th e ch e st wh i ch ro se and

san k p an t e d an d g ro an e d lik e th e crate r o f

an d

a vo l ca n o ; h e fe l t o n h is ski n th e h ot wav e s

o f b re at h fro m
’
R o b e rt s m o u t h .

P u ll yo u rse lf to g e th e r, y b o y, he p e ate d
“
m re

so ft l y .

R ob e rt wage d a co n fli ct wi th i n h i m se lf. Th e n

he st re t ch e d him se lf as if wi t h ne w ly awa e n n k i g
e ne r gy an d sa id :
A ll righ t ,
u nc e l ; yo u sh a ll k n ow all .

Si n ce t h e day on wh i ch sh e so p rou dly an d

co l dl y re fu se d m y o ffe r I h ad not m et he r g i
a a n .

It is tru e sh e cam e as b e fo re to t h e m an or to

l oo k f
a te r th e ch il d an d th e h ou se h o l d . I k no w
it was for fo r
’
n o w th at M arth a s and n ot m y
sa ke but t h e re was a sil e n t u n de rstan d n i g
b e twe e n u s, so t h at we av o i de d m eet n i g e ach
 TH E WISH 93

o th e r . Sh e ch ose th e h o u rs wh e n sh e k ne w I
was b usy ou t in the sh e ds and stab e s, l an d I did

no t re tu rn to t he h o u se u nt il I h ad se e n he r

di sappe ar th rou gh t h e g at e .

as it h app e n e d I was
“
O n T u e sday, ,
ob l ige d
to go ou t t o th e m ano r farm ; b u t h alf a m il e

o u ts i de th e town, on t h at b ad road, m y axl e

b ro k e . As I h ad ta k e n no dri v e r wi th m e , and

far an d wi de th e re was no one in s igh t I

,
m yse l f
m ou n t e d th e h arn e sse d h o rse and ro de b ack to
fe tch h e lp . At th e m an or t h e ov e rse e r t o l d m e

t h at th e l ady h ad gone h o m e so m e ti m e
you n g
b e fo re It was in fact al re ady b e gi nn i n g t o g ro w
.
, ,

ve ry dark We ll th e n t h e re s no dan ge r I
.
,
’
,
’

t h i n k t o m yse lf an d wa lk i n to the h ouse

, .

“
Wh e n I op e n th e doo r o f th e si tti ng roo m I -
,

se e in th e du sk a dark sh ado w t h at flit s h u r

rie dly o u t of t h e roo m .

Who
‘
m ay th at b e ?
’
I th i n k , and fo ll o w in
pu rsu it .

fin d—lzer—j u st
“ ’
In th e ch il d s roo m I as sh e

is t ryi n g h ard to u nb o lt th e door l e adi n g to th e

co rr i dor wh i ch as yo u k now
, , , is al ways k e p t
l o ck e d on accou nt of th e drau gh t .
94 TH E WISH .

Th e n, u nc e , l it co m e s o ve r m e as if I m u st
ru s h to wards h e r ; b u t j u st in t i m e I re coll e ct
wh o sh e is—an d wh o I am .

“
I h o w h e r h ands b li n g Do
‘
se e are t re m .

’
no t be an gry wi th m e, Olga ,
I sa id ,
st am m e r

in g ;
‘
I did n ot wi sh to do you an y h arm I .

am o n l y h e re b y ch ance I will h e nce forth .

’
arran ge so th at you m ay n e v e r m e e t m e .

“
Th e n sh e l e ts h e r h an ds drop , an d give s m e

a l oo k t h at m ak e s m e fe e l h ot an d co ld all ove r .

’
M arth a ne v e r l oo k e d at m e like th at, I th i n k

t o m yse l f . I want to s p e ak b ut , th e words will

no t c om e, for I am so co n u se d an d e m
f b arrasse d .

Sh e stan ds p re ssi n g h e r tall fig u re c osel up to

t h e door, as if t o t ak e re u f ge th e re fro m m e . I
’
h e ar h e r h e avy, fe ve ri sh b re ath i n g Olga I .
,
say,

‘
it was p re su m p t ion o n m y p art t hat I e ve r

dare d t o th i n k of gai n i n g you r h an d ; I k n ow

v e ry we ll t h at I am not worth y of you . I b eg
of you , fo rg e t all ab o u t it ; I will ne ve r re m i nd
’

you of it.

And at th i s m om e n t , u nc e l — h ow sh a ll I
de scri b e it to —
l e av e m e for a se con d
you
the m e m ory — ye t wh at b oots it -
I will be
96 TH E WI SH .

Bu t n o w, u n c e , fo ll o we d ! W h e n
l h e ar wh at

I se e h e r dark h e ad o f cu rl s l yi n g so su b m is

s iv e ly u p on m y sh ou l de r th e q u e sti o n ari se s
wi t h i n m e : Is t h i s t h e sam e Ol ga wh o , a fe w

days ago , tu rn e d fro m you so l l y and

ca m
fi
p ro u dl y wh e n yo u m o de st ly an d h u m b ly ask e d
’
he r co n se n t ?
’
“
So I sa id to h e r :
‘
O lg a ,
said I ,
‘
h ow co u ld
you to rt u re m e so ? H av e I b e co m e a di f
fe re nt
’
m an in t h i s sh o rt s p ace of ti m e ? Th e n I se e

her g ro w as wh i te as th e ch a lk on t h e w all s, an d

h e ar h e r i
v o ce in m y e ar :
‘
Do n ot q u e sti o n m e ;
’
ke do q u e st i o n
’
fo r G od s sa not m e !
“
A fe e li n g o f te rror awak e ns wi th i n m e l e st I
m ay p e rh ap s l o se h e r to m o rro w— as I -
h ave won
h e r to day -
.

say I ,
‘
if you are so ch an ge ab l e in

you r de ci si o n s, wh o will gi ve m e su re ty

“
I s to p sh o rt, for in h e r face li e s so m e th n i g
wh i ch co m m ands s il e n ce . Sh e t e ars h e rse lf away

fro m m e and fli n gs h e rse lf i n to a ch a r i .

“ ‘
As yo u wi sh to k no w ’

,
sh e says, an d th e

wh il e wi th dark e n i n g b rows stare s u p on th e

g rou nd— ‘
I was a raf i d— I do u b te d you r l o ve ,
 TH E WISH .
97

and th o u gh t you m ight le t m e fe e l t h at I ca m e

to you wi th ou t a pe n ny
“
And wi th th at th e lie m a es k he r face all

aflam e .

I cry out ,
‘
cou ld you th i n k th at of

m e ? D o you re m e m be r W h at I re m i nde d
h e r o f was he r
fath e r s e state wh e n
igh t ’
o ne n on

I cam e woo i n g Marth a and th ou ght to re t urn

sadl y wi th a re fu sal ; f o r M arth a was re ady t o

sacrifi ce h e rse lf an d h e r h appi n e ss so th at I ,

m igh t m arry an o th e r Th e n sh e — Olga—h ad

.

co m e t o m e in t h e m i ddl e of t h e n ig ht an d ,

h ad o p e ne d m y e ye s for m e b li nd foo l t h at I ,

was an d sp o k e n wo rds to m e wo rds fu ll o f co n

, ,

t e m p t for m am m o n wh i ch sou n de d lik e L ov e s

’

so n g o f tri u m p h in m y e ars T/zose wo rds I .

sp o k e to h e r n o w
; fo r e ach o n e was i n de li b l y
st am pe d on m y m e m o ry .

At th at ti m t h e n— yo u h ad su ch b rav e an d
‘
e,

ge ne rou s t h ou g hts— wh e n
yo u sp o k e o n Marth a s
’

b e h a lf I cri e d ou t t o h e r an d no w— wh e n th e y
’ ‘
, ,

appl y to you rse lf I l oo k i nto h e r face ,

wh i ch is t ryi n g to s m il e an d e v e r s m ili n g ; b u t
t h i s sm il e g re w rigi d an d in t h e m i dst o f it sh e
,
98 TH E WISH .

c l ose d h e r e ye s and fe ll down fai nt i ng lik e , a log

o f woo d .

“
It was t rou b l e e n ou gh to b ri n g h e r b ack to

life ; for I did n ot care to ca ll in any h e lp .

Q i te
u a qu arte r o f an h ou r sh e lay th e re — not
m u ch o th e r wi se th an sh e is l yi ng no w —th e n sh e

o p e ne d h e r e ye s, an d for l o n g t i m e g az e d
a

si l e n t l y i n to m y face — so sorrowfu ll y so we aril y ,

and I q u i te t re m b l e d fo r h e r
h o pe l e ssl y, th at .

And th e re u p o n sh e fo l de d h e r h ands and spo k e

u p t o m e so ft l y and i m pl o ri ngl y :

G iv e m e ti m e, R ob e rt ; I h av e o ve rtaxe d m
y
stre n g th . I m u st fi rst g row accu sto m ed to it
“
I , h owe ve r, was so fil le d wi th th e e xub e rance
of m y ne w h appi ne ss th at I b e li e v e d I co u l d b y

force co m pe l h e r too to b e h app y .

‘
I f we l ove
e ach o th e r, Olg a I cr e d,
i de ce ase d
’
an d th e
‘
,

”
“
Ye s an d
“
Am e n i I sh o u ld
”
says to ou r u n on ,

like to se e wh o cou ld o b e ct
j ! T h e re f
o re be
b rave an d f l ch i ld ! Bu t sh e was
’
ch e e r u m
, y
i g b u t b rave
anyt h n or c h e e rfu l . And n ot till

now— wh e n sh e is de ad— h ave I re a se d li h ow

u t te r ly m i se rab l e and b ro k e n do wn sh e was as

sh e lay th e re on th e cu sh o n s i —sh e wh o as a ru e l
1 00 TH E WI SH

Ye s, wi th you I an swe re d and no w, at

’ ‘

, ;
willi n g
’
c
on e , if yo u are .

th ro u gh h e r and
“
The n a sh u dde r ran fram e ,

in a stran ge ly h o arse ton e sh e sa id : H ave

p at i e nce t ill to m -
o rro w ; to -
m o rrow I wi ll do
wh at you wi sh .
’

Ye s,
’
“ ‘
m y de ar, good ch il d I th e n
,
sa id ‘

put
all fool i sh fan ci e s out of you r h e ad b y to
m orrow, and th i n k to you rse lf th at Size is no t

an gry wi th us . We sh a ll ce rt a n i ly n ot forge t
he r ! And m u st no t ou r m u tu a l gri e f for h e r
b i nd us all th e m o re l
c ose ly or t h e
to ge th e r f

wh ol e of o ur li ve s ? H er m e m o ry will a l ways
b e wi th us ; an d do you n ot l
a so b e li e v e that
from h e r wh ol e h e art sh e wou l d b l e ss ou r u n on i
if sh e c ou l d l o o k down u p on us from h e ave n ?
H as sh e n ot l e ft us he r ch il d as a l e g acy , th at

we m ight watch ov e r it t o g e th e r, and no t su r

’
re n de r it t o any st ran g er?

Th e n sh e th re w h e rse lf dow n in front o f the

“

li ttl e cot in wh ich the li ttl e cre atu re lay b li ssfu ll y

,

d oz i ng and p re sse d h e r face ag ai nst its li ttl e h e ad

,
.

“
Th u s sh e lay fo r a l o n g t i m e and I le t ,

he r lie .
 TH E WI SH . 10 1

W he n sh e ro se u p the rigid cal m o nce m ore

,

re ste d u p o n h e r face th at we we re wo nt to se e

Sh e gave m e h e r h an d an d sai d : G o
‘
t h e re . , ,

m y fri e nd ; l e av e m e al o ne And I we nt for I ’

,

was re ady in all th i n g s to do h e r b i ddi n g ; I did

not e ve n em b race h e r .

A q u arte r o f an h ou r l ate r I saw he r cro ss

th e cou rtyard . I wai te d at th e wi ndo w ; but

sh e did not l ook b ack any m o re .

m o rn i ng— we ll you k n o w l how

“
N e xt , , u nc e ,

I fo u nd h e r th e n And at th at m o m e n t I was
.

as if st ru ck b y ligh t n i ng U ncl e I m ay g ro w .
,

o ld and g re y— th at m o m e n t will de s t roy e ve ry

pl e asu re and e ve ry l au g h will die away fro m m y

,

lip s as its co nse qu e n ce Bu t at l e ast I m ig h t

.

li v e I m igh t drag o n th i s m i se rab l e e xi ste n ce

.
,

so th at m y ch il d sh o u l d n o t b e de p ri v e d o f its
m ode st sh are o f h appi ne ss O n l y th at o ne th i n g .

I m u st k now— I m u st b e fre e d fro m th at o ne

h orri b l e i de a e l se I can not go o n —I cann o t
, ,

h owe ve r h ard I t ry E l se I sh all rot away ali ve

. .

So m e o ne m u st ari se e v e n if it b e fro m t h e ,

o th e r s i de o f th e g rave ,
an d m u st te ll m e wh e re
fore sh e di e d
102 TH E WISH .

O nce m ore t h e re was s il e nce in th e dark ro o m .

N oth i n g was au d i b le b u t th e h e av y b re at h i n g of

th e two m en and th e ru st li n g of a rat, wh i ch

h ad wi th th e
’
acco m p an i e d R ob e rt s sto ry m o no

to no u s, h o ll o w m us c o f
i it s g nawi n g .

Th e o ld m an ggl e d h ard wi th i n h i m se l f
stru .

Sh o u l d h e t re ach e ro u sl y di scl ose th e se cre t o f h e r

life as h e h ad l
a re ady b e t raye d th e se cre t o f he r

de at h ? Bu t was th e re n o t, i n th i s case , a g o od
de e d to b e do n e ? D id it not m e an fre e i n g h im

wh om sh e h ad l ov e d ab ov e all t h i n g s fro m ,
th e

t o rm e n ts to wh i ch — e i th e r a m i st ak e n i de a or a

se cre t i
co n sc o u sn e ss of g u il t—conde m ned h im ?
It se e m e d lik e a m i racl e ,
lik e s p e ci al h e av e n l y

g race ,
t h at the m ou t h wh i ch se e m e d c o se d l for

e v e r, sh o u ld o n ce m o re be p e rm i tt e d to o pe n ,
to

b ri n g p e ace to t h e l ov e d o ne .

Th e o ld m an g ave a de e pigh s . H e h ad tak e n

h is l i
re so u t o n .
“
An d su pp osi n g sh e sh o u ld h av e
" “
t ak e n t h o u g h t, R o b e rt, he sa id
,
to gi ve an

accou n t t o you from b e yo n d t h e g rav e

R o b e rt u tt e re d a cry, an d c u tch e d l h is wri st s .

“
Wh at do you m e an b y t hat ,
u nc e l ?
”

I f you h ad n o t b u rro we d in yo u r g ri e f lik e a

10 4 TH E WISH .

Th e y wil l h e ar you do wnstai rs .

The y are j
e n oy n i g th e m se ve s l m u ch t oo

we ll !” ans we re d R ob e rt, an d l au gh e d g ri m l y .

”
Co m e, we will go t o g e th e r .

A nd t h rou gh a b ack doo r, l

a on g th e dark
co rr i dor , up th e cre a ki ng st a rs, i th e two m en

p t lik e
cre t wo th i e v e s wh o h ave com e to tak e

adv an tage o f so m e fe st iv e o ccas o n. i

Op e n i ng th e door p rov e d e ve n e asi e r than th e y
h ad h o p e d T he l o ose n e d h i n ge o f th e l ock
.

m ov e d ou t of its j o i n t s al m o st wi th ou t p re ssu re .

At th e door b o th pp e d ove rc om e wi th
st o ,

i
e m o t o n , as th e dark roo m fai nt l y il l u m i ne d b y
,

t h e st arry cl e arne ss o f t h e n igh t, lay b e fore t h e i r

e ye s . All t race s of de ath h ad b e e n re m o ve d

th e em pty b e d ste ad—who se su pp orts stood o u t

dark ly ag ai nst th e g re y wall —al one i ndi cat e d

th at its o ccu pant h ad sou gh t an oth e r re st ni g

pl ace . Th e od ou r of h e r dre sse s, t h e fai nt sce nt

of he r so a p ,
st ill fill e d th e roo m wi th th e i r

fragran ce . E ve n t h e to we l s on wh i ch sh e h ad

dri e d h e rse l f we re st il l h an gi n g, in fantasti c wh i te

.

ne ss, ne ar th e b l ack D u tch s tov e .

Rob e rt ,
u nab e l to k e e p h i m se lf u p right , dro pp e d
 TH E WISH . 10 5

do wn u p on a ch a r, an d i in ge r b re ath s
l o ng ,
ea ,

wh i ch re se m b le d a so b b i n g h e dran k in th e
,

fragrance of th e ro o m . It was as if h e we re

tryi n g t o ab sorb i nto his b e i ng th e v e ry l as t

trace oflife he r .

A sh ort dazzli ng gl e am o f li gh t
,
darte d th rou gh
t h e roo m dan ce d al o ng t h e wall s
, ,
straye d wi th a

ye ll ow fli ck e r acro ss th e wri t i ng de sk an d m ade -

,

t he wh i t e —drap e d dre ssi n g t ab l e st and o u t fro m -

th e dark ne ss lik e so m e crou ch i n g ph an to m .

T h e o ld m an h ad stru ck a m at ch an d was

gropi ng b y its aid fo r t h e li tt l e gre e n sh ade d -

l am p wh i ch h ad ligh te d Olg a s sl e e pl e ss n igh ts ’

.

It stood o n th e p e de stal in th e sam e pl ace wh e re ,

Olga h ad e xt i ngu i sh e d it wh e n ab o u t to pl u nge

i nto e te rn al n igh t Its gl ass b o wl was ye t n e arl y
.

fu ll o f p e tro l e u m Sh e h ad b e e n in a h u rry to
.

ge t to re st .

Care fu ll y h e lifte d do wn t h e
gl o b e an d ligh te d
th e wi ck W i th a p e ace fu l twiligh t gl o w th e
.

v e il e d fl am e cast its lig ht acro ss th e sil e nt

ch am ber . Th e n h e ste pp e d up to the b oo k
sh e lf
,
wh e re th e gi lde d vol u m es we re ran ge d in
rows an d gl e am e d in th e lig h t . H is h and for a
10 6 TH E WIS H .

li ttl e wh il e grop e d al on g th e wal l and th e n p u ll e d

ou t t o th e ligh t so m e b l u e ro ll e d u p o b j e ct
,
-
.

We h av e it, R o b e rt,
”
he cr e d, i t ri u m p h an t l y ;
co m e away

Th e l at te r sh o o k h is h e ad in s il e nce . Th e o ld

m an ur e d
g h im g i
a a n ; th e n h e sa id : “
We will
h e re — wh e re
”
re ad h e re , u n cle w
sh e wro te it .

“
W h at if any one sh o u ld su r r se p i us ?
”
i
cr e d

th e o ld m an , fe arfu ll y .

R ob e rt sh ru gge d h is sh o u l de rs an d po i n te d to

th e fl oo r
Th e o ld m an was s at s i fied th e y so ftly dre w u p
th e i r ch a rs i wi th i n lig h t o f th e l am p . Afte r th i s

n o th n i g was au d ib le b u t th e ru sh n i g of th e wi nte r

wi n d as it swe pt t h ro u gh th e l e afl e ss li m e -
t o p s,

and t h e m o no t o n o u s l y h o arse v o ce o f i th e re ade r,

acco m p an i e d fro m t i m e to t i m e b y th e ch orus o f

th e fu ne ral p arty— n o w swe lli n g u p l o u dl y now ,

dyi ng away t o a wh i sp e r .
1 08 TH E WI SH .

you , i
s ste r I g re w a stran e r g to yo u— in so rro w

an d m ise r I h av e to t h i n k of an d th e co n
y yo u ,
sciou sn e s s o f g u il t a pp al s m e wh e n th e s ou gh i n g
wi nd wh i sp e rs you r n am e in m y e ar . Be twe e n
us th e re st an ds a wil d p h an to m wi th fl am i n g
e ye s —te rri b l e an d di st o rte d, its h ai r i l
e n c rc e d by

k — stre tch i ng
sn a e s ou t i ts c aw
l -
lik e h an ds towards
m e , and se p arat i ng fro m If
m e
you for e ve r . it
w e re no p h anto m , b ut fl e sh an d b l o o d, if wh at
I co m m i t te d we re a sin a cri m e I wo u l d wre st l e
, ,

wi th it, I wou l d ov e rco m e it wi th th e l ast st re ng th

of m faili n g e n e rgy o r all o w m yse lf t o b e
y ,

stran gl e d in its b loody g rip . Bu t it is i nt an gib l e ,

it m e ts l away i nto em p ty air —a spe ctre th at

k
m oc s m e , a m i st t h at c o u ds m
l y re aso n , and by

its p o i son is sl owl y de stroyi ng m e . A wi sh !

A wi sh — it is no th i n g m o re
I won de r if you re co g n i se d it ? I won de r i f it
was re fl e cte d in yo u r dyi n g gaz e ? I wo nde r if

at you r b e dsi de , wh e n you , g oo d ,

n ob e l sou l ,

gave up th e l ast b re at h of a life t h at was all

l o v e , yo u saw th i s sp e ctre — a s e ctre b o rn o f e n vy p

an d i n g rati tu de wh i ch ,
I— i se rab l e
m cre atu re

dragge d i n to you r p u re h ab i tat i on ?

 TH E WISH . 1 09

I f I h ad st ill m y li spi n g ch il di sh b e li e fs I ,

wo u l d p ou r o u t th e wre tch e dn e ss o f m y sou l

b e fo re G od th e G re at and Me rcifu l ; b u t t h e re
,

is no o n e on e art h o r in h e av e n t o t ak e pi ty o n

m e , n on e b u t you r gl o rifi e d i m age .

“
W oe is m e — th at too t u rn s away fro m m e
, ,

We e pi n g it v e il s i tse lf wh e n yo nde r de m on
, ,

app ro ach e s m y sou l An d ye t was it n ot h u m an ,

t o fe e l as I did ? W h y are we n o t h e ave nl y .

b o di e s vo i d o f de si re p u re an d e th e re al ? W h y
, ,

are we b orn o f du st wh y do we cl e av e to du st
, ,

e at du st an d re t u rn t o du st wh e n we h ave th ro wn

of
f th s i g re at frau d o f life ? T h e g re at frau d o f
m y life I will wri te do wn h e re — th e frau d
t o wards m yse lf— to wards you an d t o wards a ,

t h i rd as we ll wh o was p u re an d g o od— an d wh o
,

ye t was th e cau se of it all .

le
a a
re

I was a q u i e t, l o ne l y ch il d .

H e wh o is a l ways su rro u n de d by l ove ,

an d

wh o h as ne v e r k no wn
i g b u t l ov e o fte n
anyth n ,

l e arns m o st e asil y to su ffi ce to h i m se l f And ye t .

in m y h e art to o t h e re lay an i n e xh au s ti b l e store

, ,

of l ove . I sq u ande re d it on du m b cre at u re s,

8
1 10 TH E WISH .

p e tte d th e dogs, ki sse d th e cat s, an d h u gg e d th e

ge e se . O ne of m y pl ay in th e
p assio n s was t o
st ab l e : th e re I l o ll e d ab ou t o n th e so ft warm ,

st raw, u nde r t h e ve ry h oo fs o f m y sp e ci al p e ts ,

th at n e ve r did m e any h arm ; or I c li m be d i n to

t h e m an g e r, wh e re I cou l d sit for h ou rs an d g az e
l o v i n gl y i nto m y fri e n ds gre at b ro wn e ye s Bu t ’
.

m y favou ri te pl ace was in t h e do g k e n ne l T h e re -

.

th e y o fte n fo u n d m e l
as e e p at m i dday ,
an d it was

n o e asy m at t e r to ge t m e ou t g i
a a n :fo r N e ro ,

wh o was as a ru el so q u ie t an d go o d sh o we d ,

h is t e e th to any on e , e ve n t o his m aste r, wh o

cam e w i th i n re ach o f h is ch a n o n su ch o ccas on s
i i .

My t e n de r af
fe cti o n e xte n de d a sol to th e v e ge

t ab l e ki ngdo m . The rose - tre e s a ppe are d to m e

lik e e n ch an te d p ri nce sse s wh ose fate I b i tte rl y

,

b e wail e d ; th e su n fl o we rs we re C ath o li c p ri e sts

in fu ll can o n ca s, i l an d t h e dah li as P o li sh m a id
se rvants wi th re d h e ad dre sse s
!
. Thu s I su cce e de d

in asse m b li n g aro u n d m e in t h e garde n th e wh o l e

hu m an wo rl d, and fou nd th e cou n te rfe i t p re se nt

m e nt p re fe rab l e to th e or igi n al ,
for it su b m i tte d
in s il e nce wh e n I o rda n e d
i its fate .

9! lt
a if fi
le
1 12 TH E WISH .

m yse l f h o w, b e wi tch e d by all th e se wond e rfu l

i i
v s ons, I sat for h ou rs i
m ot o n e ss o nl th e grass ,

and stare d down u po n th e t h ron g in wh i ch the

figu re s we re no l arge r th an th e woode n do l ls in
m y b ox of toys .

I h ad b e e n fo rb i dde n to go down, nor h ad I

any de si re t o do so , s n ce i I h ad on e c b ee n l
a m ost

c ru sh e d to de ath b e twe e n t wo wh e e l s in the

c rowd o f th e we e kly k
m ar e t t o wh i ch m y fath e r
h ad t ak e n m e .

It was on ly de l ig h t fu l wh e n from up th e re ,

ra se d
i h ig h ab o v e th e di rt an d scre am ing , on e

co u ld g az e down u p on t h i s wo rl d o f an ts, wh i c h
se e m e d so t i ny th at, lik e t h e C re ato r H i m se lf
,
o ne

c ou ld co m m and it wi th a l oo k b u t wh i ch gre w
,

l arge r and l arge r and assu m e d we i rd gi ant

, pro ,

p orti ons th e m ore o ne at te m p te d to pe ne trate

i nto it .

It is k l th at j u st o f th ose p e rsons
re m ar ab e

wh o we re m o st cl ose ly co nn e cte d wi t h m e th rou g h

o u t m y life I h av e p re se rve d b u t a v agu e re col
,

l e ct ion as th e y we re at th at ti m e . P ossi b l y
 TH E WISH . 1 13

b e cau se l ate r i m p re ssi o ns e fface d t h e se li

e ar e st

o ne s .

“
My fath e r was a sm a ll ,
st u r dy m an , o f th c i k
se t stat u re , l wi th
b l ack b e ard an d
c ose - cu t h ai r ,

cl ad in h igh b righ t ly b l ack e d b o ots

,
and a ,

gre yi sh g re e n sh aggy j acke t wh o l au gh e d at m e

-
,

wh e n h e saw m e gave m e a fri e n dl y sl ap o n th e

,

b ack o r pi nche d m y arm

, an d th e n was go n e ,

ag ai n H e was al ways b u sy p oo r p ap a ; as l o n g
.
,

as h e li v e d I ne ve r saw h im gi ve h i m se lf a
’
m o m e n t s re st .

Mam a was th e n l
a re ady v e ry st o u t, was co n

stan tly e at n i g swe e t- st u f

f, an d
l o ve d h e r afte rnoo n
nap ; b u t sh e t o o was at work fro m
, , m o rn i n g

t ill n ig h t th o u gh sh e o n ly re l u ct an tly b e to o k
,

h e rse lf fro m pl ace t o pl ace and did not lik e ,

o ne to h an g o n to h e r o r to b o th e r h e r wi th ,

q u e sti o n s .

“
At th at ti m e an o th e r m e m b e r of th e fam il y
was Cou s i n R ob e rt, wh o h ad b e e n se nt ove r by
o ur P ru ssi an l i
l e arn farm i ng fro m p apa
re at o ns to

a b ig fe ll o w b road sh ou l de re
, d and th i ck n e ck e d
- -
,

wi th fai r t u fts of b e ard wh i ch I was wo nt t o ,

p u ll wh e n h e took m e on h is k ne e to i nst il th e
11 4 TH E WISH .

A B C i nto m e by m e ans of b e nt li q u ori ce

st c i ks . I th i n k we we re al ways good fri e nds ,

t h ou gh h e p rob ab l y was n o m ore to m e th an the

o th e r art i cl e d p u pil s ; for h is pi ctu re as h e was ,

th e n, h as b e com e h azy, e xact ly lik e all th e

o th e rs .

“
O nly o ne c
s e ne do I re m e m b e r di st i n ctl y,
wh e n on a su m m e r e v e n n i g h e h ad cau gh t h ol d

of Marth a fai r pl ai ts and was raci n g

by he r f
a te r

h e r, l au gh i n g and scre am i n g th ro u gh th e , yard,

an d th e h ou se , an d th e g arde n .

Wh at are you up t o wi th M arth a , you ras ca l?

cri e d p ap a t o h im .

Sh e h as b e e n i g m e h e answe re d wi th o u t
ve x n ,
’
,

l e tt i n g go o fh e r, wh il e sh e k e p t o n scre am i n g .

W h e n I was your age I k n e w b e tte r h ow to

’
re v e n ge m yse lf on a gi rl l au gh i ngly sai d p ap a , ,

wh o al ways lik e d to h av e h is li tt l e j ok e .

W e ll h ow ? h e ask e d
,
’
.

re pli e d
’
O h if yo u don t k n o w t h at you rse lf
,

p ap a .

he r a
’
O ne j u st gi ve s ki ss M aste r R ob e rt
, ,
sa id
an old g arde ne r wh o ,
h app e n e d to b e p assi n g wi t h

a wat e ri ng -
can .
1 16 TH E WISH .

am m yse lf p re pari n g fo r th e l o ng ,
sad j ou rn e y ,
at

th e e nd o f wh ch i a l on e ly grav e a wa i ts m e , m ore

l one so m e e ve n th an h e rs .

“
In th o se days I was a ch il d and l ook e d up un

su s
p e ctingly t o h e r, wh o b e cam e m y te ach e r wh e n
sh e h e rse lf h ad h ardl y p u t of
fch il di sh ways .

It was at t h at t i m e t h at our a ffai rs b e gan to tak e

a do wn ward co u rse . P ap a h ad to s tru ggl e ag ai nst

de b ts fail u re of crop s and floods— fo r th re e ye ars ,

in su cce ss i o n— de st ro ye d an y h o p e o f i m p ro ve m e n t ,

an d m o ne tary care s g ath e re d t h i ck e r and t h i ck e r

aro u n d o u r hom e .

“
In th e h ou se h o l d e v e ryth n i g n ot ab so u te l ly
n e ce ssary was di sp e n se d wi th , our i n te rcou rse wi th
th e ne igh b o u ri n g e s tate o wne rs was re st r cte d, an d
i
e ve n th e o ldgov e rne ss wh o h ad e du cate d Marth a
an d was n o w t o h av e fu lfill e d h e r m i ssi o n u p o n m e ,

h ad t o l e av e th e e s tat e .

Marth a ,
wh o was se v e n ye ars o l de r th an I and

j u st pre p ari n g to gro w i n to he r fi rst l o n g dre ss,

ste ppe d i nto h e r pl ace . In th i s way, pu re l y si s te rly
l i
re at o n s co u l d not gro w i nto e xi ste nce b e t we e n u s .

Sh e was t h e p ro t e ct re ss an d I was th e ward u n til ,

f
a te r we e xch an ge d ou r 7 07 m .
 TH E WIS H . 1 17

I m ay h ave fou rte e n ye ars o ld wh e n

been ab ou t ,

it st ru ck m e fo r th e fi rst t i m e th at Marth a h ad

strange l y al t e re d in m an ne r an d app e arance I .

o u gh t i n de e d t o h ave n ot i ce d it b e fo re f
, ,
o r I was ,

accu sto m e d t o l oo k ab o u t m e wi th o p e n e ye s b u t
.
,

in t h e sl o w m o n o to ny o f e ve ryday life o ne e asil y

o v e rl o o k s t h e de stru ct i o n t h at so rrow an d t i m e are

worki n g aro u nd u s .

No w I t oo k h e e d, and saw h e r face g ro w th i nne r

and th n ne r, saw t h at t h e
i l
co o u r fade d m o re an d

m ore fro m he r ch e e ks , an d t h at he r e ye s san k

de e p e r an d de e p e r i n to dark h o ll ows . No r did sh e
any l o ng e r si n g , an d he r l au gh h ad ape cu li ar t i re d ,

h o arse sou n d th at h u rt m y e ars so , t h at I was so m e

t im e s th e point o f ca lli n g to h e r Do
‘
on out not
’
l au gh !
“
At t he sam e ti m e sh e b e gan to i k e n ; she
s c

co m pl ai ne d o fh e adache and sp asm s ,

an d o n l
y wi th
di ffi cu l ty dragge d h e rse lf ab ou t th e h ou se Th e n .
,

o f cou rse p ap a and m am a we re b ou n d to n oti ce

,

h e r co ndi ti o n t oo ; th e y p ack e d h e r u p in warm

wrap s and in spi te o fh e r re m o n strance drove wi th
, , ,

h e r t o P ru ssi a to consu l t a doctor H e sh ru gg e d .

h is sh ou l de rs p re scri b e d ste e l pill s an d adv i se d a

,

ch an ge o fair .
1 18 TH E WISH .

Som e th i ng e l se , too, h e m u st h av e adv se d,

i wh i ch
gre at ly d i sturb e d m y p are nts ,
at l e ast papa ; for
m am a, i c
s n e a l ong t i m e al re ady was not t o b e ,

ro u se d from h e r ph l e g m at i c c om p osure Wh e n .

sh e dre am i l y g az e d ou t i n to the distance h e ,

o fte n
l oo k e d at h e r ask ance , sh oo k his h e ad, igh e d
s ,
and

s am m e d
l th e door afte r h im .

Bu t h owe v e r m u ch she m i gh t b e su f
fe r n i g , sh e

wo u ld give u p h e r work As l ong as I can re m e m

not .

b e r I h av e ne v e r se e n h e r i dl e e ve n for a m o m e nt
, .

As a ch il d al re ady sh e stoo d with h e r l e sson b oo k -

at t h e c ook i n g stove o r h ad an e e o n th e wash

y
-
,

ki tch e n wh il e sh e wrote h e r G e rm an c o m posit i o n

,
.

Si nce she was g rown u p sh e com b i ne d the du t i e s ,

o f m y i nst ru c t i on wi th all t h e care s wh i ch a l arge

h o u se h o l d i m p ose s u po n its m anage r M am a .

h ad qu i te i
re t re d in v rtu e o f
i he r age , and a o we d ll
h e r t o do and di s
p ose as sh e pl e ase d , if o n l y th e
and o th e r dai nt i e s won h e r app roval
‘
com potes .

“
I wh o was sp oil t b e yon d m
,
e asu re b y e v e ry o ne

in t h e h ouse , was ash am e d o f m y i nactiv ity , an d

e nde av o u re d to t ak e a p art o fth e re s on s p ib ili ty o ff

M arth a s ’
sh ou l de rs ; b u t wi th ge n t l e re m on st ran ce

sh e di ssu ade d m e .
1 20 TH E WISH .

Wh at do you want ? sh e stam m e re d .

I cl u n g t o h e r ,
an d sob b e d fit t o so fte n th e h e art

o fa st o n e .

Ch il d for H e av e n s sa
’
k e — wh at is th e m atte r

wi th you sh e cr e d i .

“
I was i ncap ab l e o fu tte r n i g a wo rd Sh e , in h e r
.

m o th e r l y way , to o k a l arge woo ll e n sh awl wrapp e d ,

m e in it, an d dre w m e down u pon her k ne e , t h ou g h

I was th e n al re ady b igge r th an sh e .

N ow co n fe ss m y darli n g wh at ail s you

, , sh e

ask e d stro ki n g m y face

, .

I gath e re d u p all m y st re ngth and h i di ng m y ,

face u pon h e r ne ck I so b b e d M arth a—I wan t , ,

h e lp—you
’
to .

A l o n g sil e nce e nsu e d, an d wh e n I rai se d u p my

face I saw an u nu t te rab ly b i tte r, sorro w u f l sm il e

pl ayi n g ab ou t he r lips . And th e n sh e t oo k m y

h e ad b e twe e n h e r h an ds, ki sse d m y b row an d sai d

“ ‘
Co m e, I will pu t yo u to b e d ch il d th e re is ,

n o th n i g th e m at te r wi th m e — b u t you — you s e e m

’
to b e in a pe rfe ct fe v e r .

I ju m p e d u p Fo r sh am e, t h at is h orri d o fyou ,

M arth a I ’
, cr e di ‘
I will n ot b e se nt away like th i s .

I am no t ill ,
no r am I so stu pi d th at I cann ot se e
 TH E WIS H . 12 1

h ow you are pi n i ng away, and h ow e ach day yo u

gu lp down som e ne w so rro w I f yo u h av e n o .

co n fi de n ce in m e I sh all co ncl u de th at you do n o t

,

wi sh to h ave an yth i n g to do wi th m e and all will ,

’
be ove r b e twe e n us
.

“
Sh e fo l de d h e r h an ds in ast o n s i hm e n t ,
an d

l oo k e d at m e .

“
W h at h as p osse sse d you ch il d ? sh e sai d I
‘
,
’
,
‘

do n ot k no w you th u s
’
.

I tu rne d away and b it m y lips de fi an t l y .

C o m e co m e I will p u t yo u to b e d sh e u rg e d
’

, , ,

ag ai n .

I don t wan t— I can go al on e I sai d

“ ’ ’
‘
Th e n ,
.

sh e se e m e d to fe e l t h at a wo rd o f e xpl anat i o n m u st

b e v ou ch safe d to th e ch il d .

’
Se e Olga sh e sai d drawi n g m e do wn to h e r
, , , ,

you are q u i te righ t I h av e m an y a sorro w and if

, ,

yo u we re o l de r an d cou l d u n de rstan d you wo u l d ,

ce rtai n l y b e t h e fi rst in wh o m I sh ou l d con fi de .

Bu t fi rst yo u t oo m u st l e arn t o k n o w life

W h at m o re do you k no w o f li fe th an I ? I
‘ ’

c ri e d st ill de fi an t l
, y .

“
Sh e l y sm il e d It cu t m e to th e h e art th i s
on .
,

h alf p ai nfu l h alf e cstat i c sm il e

-
, A du ll dawn i ng
-
.
1 22 TH E WISH .

p re se n ti m e nt awok e wi th i n m e su ch as one m igh t ,

e xpe ri e n c e in face o f c l ose d te m pl e gate s o r

di st an t p al m wafte d i sl ands
-
And M arth a co n .

t i nn e d

T ill th e n howe v e r— an d th at will b e l ong — I

,

m u st b e ar wh at o pp re sse s m e l
a one . H e arty
t h an k s, si ste r, for you r g ood i n te nti on ; I wou l d l ov e
you t wi ce as m u ch for it if th at we re p ossi b l e ;
,

and n ow go, h av e you r l p

s ee ou t, we h ave m u ch to

m orrow.
’
l e arn to -

W i th th at sh e pu sh e d m e ou t o fth e d oor .

L ik e an e x e il I i de on the l andi ng and

stoo d o u ts

stare d at th e door wh i ch h ad c l ose d b e h i nd m e so

cru e ll
y . T h e n I l e an t m y h e ad ag ai nst the wall
a nd we p t l y an d b i tte rly
il
s e nt .

M arth a was h e n ce fo rt h doub ly k ind and affe c

tio nat e t owards m e b u t I wou ld n ot se e it
,
I gre w .

re se rve d towards h e r, as sh e h ad b e e n towards m e,

an d d e e pe r and de e p e r th e b i tte r fe e lin g b e cam e

g rav e n on m y sou l th at th e worl d did not re q u i re m y
l ove Of cou rse
. it was n o t th s on e occu rre n ce a o ne
i l
wh i ch acte d de ci si v e l y u p o n m y di sp osi ti on . Su ch

a you n g cre atu re as I was ,

is too e as ily carr e di
away b y th e t i de o fn e w i m p re ssi ons to be l ast i ngly
12 4 TH E WISH .

su i te d m y l y de ve l o p e d figu re
e ar -
,
m y b li ss wo u l d
h av e b e e n co m pl e te
O u twardly I was in th ose ye ars an o b sti nate ,

su p e rcili ou s cre at u re wh o was l av i sh wi th rude ,

an swe rs an d fo nd o f g e tt i ng u p fro m t ab l e in th e
,

m i ddl e of a m ea l if anyth n i g did not su it he r

t aste .

pi te o f all th is— o r p e rh aps j ust for th i s

‘

“
In s

re aso n —I was p e tte d b

y all an d m y will in so far , ,

as a ch il d s will
’
can b e t ak e n i nto accou nt, was
co ns i de re d i
au th or t at v e i b y t h e wh ol e h ou se . At
fift e e n I was as t a ll an d as b ig as t o - day, an d

a re ady
l t h e re was fo u nd h e re and t h e re so m e

wo u l d I was
’
gall an t sq u re s i so n wh o say th at

m u ch , m u ch b e tt e r l o o ki n g t h an all th e oth e rs,

es pe ci all y th an Mart ha . T h at m ade m e i ndig nan t ,

for m y v an i ty was not ye t fu ll y de ve l o p e d .

“
A b ou t th at ti m e, I dre am t o ne n ig ht t h at Marth a
h ad di e d . W he n I wo k e , m y pill o ws we re we t

th ro u g h w i th t e a rs . L ik e a cr m i i nal on th at day

I cre pt rou n d m y s st e ri . I fe l t as if I h ad so m e

h e avy of
fe n ce g i
a a n st he r on m y co n sc e n ce i .

Afte r di nn e r sh e h ad go n e t o lie do wn for

“
a

li ttl e on th e f
so a, fo r sh e was su ffe ri n g a gai n fro m
 TH E WISH . 125

h e r h e adach e ; I e nte re d th e ro om and

and wh e n
saw h e r waxe n p al e face wi th cl ose d e ye s h an gi n g
-
,

across t h e so fa l e dge I starte d as if stru ck

-
,
.

I fe l t as i f I re ally saw h e r al re ady as a corp se

b e fore m e .

“
I dropp e d down in fro nt ofthe so fa and cov e re d
h e r lip s and b row wi th ki sse s Q u i te radi ant ly.

sh e o p e n e d h e r e e s an d stare d at m e as if sh e
y ,

saw a v i si on ; on l
y as consci ou sne ss re tu rne d did
h e r face grow se ri ou s an d sad as b e fo re ,
.

“
W e ll we ll m y girl wh at is th e m atte r with
‘
, , ,

sh e sai d T h i s is n ot yo u r u su al
’

yo u ? .

’
b e h av i o u r !
A n d ge ntl y sh e p u sh e d m e away, so th at on ce

m o re I stood al o ne wi th m y o ve r o w n fl i g h e art ;

b u t as I was sli n ki ng away sh e f

cam e a te r m e , an d

wh i sp e re d
“ ‘
l ov e ve ry m u ch , m y darli ng
’
I you siste r !

O n th e i g of the sam e day I noti ce d

e ve n n th at

sh e co n st an t l
y k e p t sm ili n g to h e rse l f P ap a . was
st ru c k b y it too, for as a ru e l it n e v e r o ccu rre d .

H e too k h e r h e ad b e twe e n h is t wo h ands, an d sai d

“
W h at h as c om e o ve r you , Marge ll ? Wh y
you are b l oom i ng lik e a fl o we r to day
-
.
’

Q
1 26 TH E WIS H .

Th e n sh e b l ush e d a de e p re d, wh il e I se cre t ly
clas p e d h e r h an d u nde r th e t ab l e , an d th ou g ht t o

m yse lf,
‘
W e k now v e ry we ll wh at k
m a e s u s so

h ap pyf
“
N e xt m orn n i g p apa cam e to t h e b re akfast- tab l e

wi th an o pe n l e tte r in h is h and .

A stran ge b i rd is ab o u t to fly i nto o u r n e st ,
’

he sai d l au g h i n g
, n o w g u e ss wh at h is nam e is
An d wi th th at h e l oo k e d qu i te pe cu li arl y acro ss at

M arth a . Sh e a ppe are d t o m e t o h av e g rown e ve n

a sh ade p al e r ,
an d th e co ffe e cu p wh i ch-
sh e h e l d in
h e r h an d sh o o k au d i b ly .

th e b i rd b e e n in b e fo re ?
’
H as o u r n e st sh e

as k e d sl o wl y an d so ftly and did not rai se h e r e ye s

, .

I sh o u l d th i n k so i nde e d l au gh e d p apa .

T h e n it is— R o b e rt H e lli ng e r sh e sai d and

’

, ,

sigh e d de e pl y as if afte r a h ard e ffo rt

,
.

U p on m y wo rd gi rl you a re one gu e ss ’
“
, , to ,

sai d p ap a and sh o o k h is fi n g e r at h e r
,
.

Bu t sh e was sil e n t an d walk e d fro m ,

th e roo m

wi th l
s ow, draggi n g st e p s— n o r did sh e a ppe ar
g i
a a n th at m o rn n i g Fo r m y p art I k e pt p re tty
’
coo l ov e r o u r co u si n s app ro ach i n g v i si t . H is
i m age o f form e r days as it di m l y h ov e re d
,
in m y
I2 8 TH E WISH .

I su pp ose yo u are aw u f ll y pl e ase d at the

’
p rosp e ct ? I said ,
an d sli h t l
g y sh rugge d m y
sh o u l de rs .

“ ‘
Wh y sh ou ld I n ot be pl e ase d ? ’
sh e re pli e d.

It is co u si n
‘ ’
ou r .

“ ‘
And no th n i g m o re ?
’
I as ke d ,
sh a ki n g m y
fi n ge r at he r as I h ad se e n p ap a do th e day
b e fore .

“
T h e n sh e su dde n ly l o oke d gre w v e ry grav e ,
and

at m e wi th h e r b ig sad e e s so st ran ge l
y y an d
,

re p ro ach fu l l
y th at I fe l t h ow all th e b l oo d ru sh e d
t o m y face I t u rne d away and as I co u l d n o
.
,

l o n ge r k e e p up m y su p e ri ori ty I , l
s un k o ut of th e

doon
“
From th i s m o m e nt Cou si n R o b e rt cau se d m e

m any a th ou gh t . It se e m e d c e ar l to m e th at th e

two l ov e d e ach o th e r and se iz e d b y th e m yste ri o u s

,

awe wi t h wh i ch th e i de a o fth e g re at U n k nown fill s

h alfg rown ch il dre n o f m y age I b e gan to pi ctu re
-
,

to m yse lf h ow su ch a l o ve m igh t h av e t ak e n sh ap e .

I ran th rou gh the wil d g ro wi n g sh ru b s of th e p ark -

,

an d sai d t o m yse lf H e re th e y e nj oye d t h e i r

‘

se cre t walk s .
’
I s lippe d i n si de t h e du sk y arb o u rs,

id to m yse lf, H in th e lig ht was

‘

an d sa e re m oo n
 TH E WISH . 1 29

th e i r t rysti n gpl ace I san k down u pon th e m ossy

-
.
’

t urf b an k and sai d to m yse lf

-
,
H e re th e y h e l d ,

Th e wh ol e garde n t h e
’
swe e t co nve rse to g e th e r .
,

h ou se th e yard e ve ryth i ng t h at I h ad k no wn si nce

, ,

t h e b e gi nni n g of m y life su dde n l y app e are d re

s pl e n de nt in a ne w ligh t A p u rpl e she e n was .

sp re ad o ve r all Wo ndrou s l i fe se e m e d to h av e
.

a wak e ne d th e re i n I h ad so co m pl e te ly ab sorb e d
.

m yse lf in t he se ph antasi e s th at fi nall y I b e li e v e d ,

th at I m li ve d th rou gh th is l ove Wh e n
yse lf h ad .

I saw M arth a agai n I did not dare t o raise m y

e ye s to h e r as if I ch e ri sh e d th e
,
se cre t in m y

b o so m and sh e we re th e o ne wh o m u st not

g ue ss it .

“
Bu t ne xt m orn n i g wh e n I M arth a re fle c te d th at
h ad p osi t i ve ly e xpe ri e nce d e ve ryth i ng th at I afte r

all h ad o nly dre am t I fe l t qu ite awe d b y the

ab o u t,

th ou gh t and from ou t o f a dark c orne r I conte m

,

pl ate d h e r fi xe dl y wi th sh y i nqu iri ng l ook s as if , ,

sh e we re a b e i ng from so m e st ran ge wo rl d .

“
I was we ll aware th at e v e ry five m i nu te s sh e
fou nd som e th i ng to b u sy h e rse lf ab ou t on th e
v e rand ah from wh e nce one c ou l d l oo k across
,

toward s th e c ou rtyard gate ; b u t to day I t oo k - -

1 30 TH E WI SH .

good care p e rt q u e sti ons to h e r

n ot to p ut any .

No w I fe l t lik e a co nfidant e —lik e an acco m pli ce .

It was a b e au t ifu l cl e ar Se p te m b e r day O ve r .

wo odl an d an d m e ado w was s p re ad a ro sy v e il ,

s il v e r th re ads fl o ate d so ft l y th ro u gh t h e air, th e

i i
r v e r carr e d a co v e r o f v a pou r ,
an d far and wi de
it was as s il e n t as in a ch u rch . I we nt i n to th e

wo od, fo r l d ne v e r h av e e xce ss o f so li tu de t o
I cou

sat i at e m yse lf wi th dre am s In th e b i rch t re e s .

-

fade d l e av e s al re ady ru st l e d th e b rack e n droo pe d

lik e a wou n de d h u m an b e i ng th at can b are l y k e e p
u p righ t .

I g re w ve ry sad . Now t h e re will be a gre at

dyi ng ,
’
I sa id ah , th at o n e m igh t die to o
“
And th e n I re m e m b e re d wh at I h ad h e ard an d

re ad in de ri si on
i l au t u m n th ou gh ts
o f se nt m e n ta .

‘
For sh am e h o w wi ck e d ! I th ou g ht
,
Th e y ’
.
‘

sh all n o t de ri de m e fo r I sh all k now h o w to ,

co n ce al m yse lf an d m y fe e li n gs It is n o o ne s .

b u s i n e ss wh at I do fe e l . And for all I care th e y

m ay th i n k m e co ld an d h e art l e ss, if l y I h ave

on

th e i
con sc ou sne ss th at m y h e art b e ats warm l y an d
’
fu ll o f ov e
l fo r ki n d
m an .

Ye s, th at was a de ligh tfu l fo o li sh ,

day ,
and b li ss
13 2 TH E WISH .

I h ad m ou n te d th e th rone : to M arth a wonde rfu l

j e we ll e ry p ap a an i ro n ch e st fu ll
,
to of go l d ,
an d to

m am a a b o x o fpi n e appl e swe e ts -

.

“
T he c ash n
l i g of l an ce s di e d away in th e

di stance -
an d m y dre am was at an e n d .

N e xt day h e cam e .

Wh e n th e carri age th at b rou gh t h im ro ll e d in

at th e gate Marth a was b u sy in th e
co u rt
yard ,

ki t ch e n I ran to h e r and b e am i ng wi t h pl e asu re

.
,

I wh i sp e re d i n to h e r e ar M arth a I b e lie v e h e is ,
‘
,

h e re .Bu t sh e forthwi th app ri se d m e th at I was

’

n ot he r co n fi dan te . Sh e l oo k e d at m e va gu e l y
for a tim e, th e n as ke d ab se n t ly ,
‘
Wh o m do yo u
’
m e an ?

W h o m e l se b u t o u r cou si n
W hy do you te ll m e t h at in a wh i sp e r ?
’
sh e

ask e d An d wh e n in an swe r I sh ru gge d m y

.
, ,

sh o u l de rs sh e o n ce m o re too k
,
u p th e ki tch e n
sp oo n sh e h ad p u t do wn and we n t o n st i rri n g , .

Is th at th e e xte n t o f you r pl e asu re M arth a ?

’
,

I k
as e d, wh il e I co nte m p tu ou sl y p u rse d m y lip s .

“
Bu t s he p u sh e d m e as i de wi th he r l e ft h an d
 TH E WIS H . 13 3

and sa id ,
m ore passi onate l y th an was h e r wo nt,
Ch il d,
’
‘
I beg of yo u, go !
And th u s it cam e ab ou t th at I re ce ve d i Cou si n
R ob e rt in h e r ste ad .

“
As I ppe d o u t o n to th e ve ran dah h e was
ste ,

j u st alig ht i ng from h is carri age .

’
H e do e s n o t l oo k m u ch b e tte r t h an p ap a ,

th at was m y fi rst th o u gh t A g re at stron g m an .

lik e a gi ant wi th b ro ad ch e st and sh o u l de rs h is

, ,

face su n b u rnt wi th li ttl e b l u e e ye s in it and

-
, ,

fram e d b y a sh aggy b e ard su ch a b e ard as th e ,

‘
lan ce qu e ne ts u se d t o we ar
’
.

“
O nl y
‘
th e i
ch n s tra -
p is want i ng,
’
I th ou gh t to

m yse l f .

“
H e cam e j u m pi ng up th e ste ps l au gh i ng
t o wards m e .

W e ll good m orn i ng M arth a h e cri e d

‘
, , .

And th e n su dde nl y h e sto pp e d sh ort m e asu re d ,

m e fro m h e ad t o foo t and sto o d th e re h alf wa

y up
-
,

t h e st ai rs as if p e trifi e d
, .

“
My nam e is no t Marth a b u t O lg a ! I re
‘
,
’

m ark e d so m e wh at de j e cte dl y
, .

“
Ah th at accou nts for it ! h e cri e d sh aki n g
‘
,
’
,

wi th l au gh te r ste ppe d u p to m e and o ffe re d m e

,
13 4 TH E WISH .

a re d, h o rny h and, q u i te co v e re d wi t h crac ks and

we al s .

“ ‘
W h at an u ncou th fe ll o w ! I th o u gh t in m y ’

o wn m i nd An d wh e n we h ad e nte re d th e roo m
.

h e l o o k e d m e u p an d down ag ai n an d sai d Y o u ,
‘

we re q u i te a li t tl e th i ng ye t O lg a wh e n I we n t , ,

away fro m h e re ; no w it se e m s lik e a wo n de r to

m e t h at yo u sh o u l d b e so lik e M arth a

’
I lik e M arth a th o u gh t I wh e n was I e v e r in
, ,

t h e l e ast lik e Marth a

Bu t no h e con t i n u e d sh e was n o t so t all an d

’
, , ,

h e r h ai r was fai re r an d sh e did n o t stand th e re so

,

h au gh t il y— an d— an d— did n o t m ak e su ch se ri ou s
’
e ye s .

Ah g o o d H e ave n s th o u g h t I, fi rst l o o k
’ ‘
‘
, , you
i nto Marth a s e ye s ’

“
At th i s m o m e n t th e ki tch e n do o r o p e ne d q u i t e ,

q u i te sl o wl y and t h ro u gh a n arro w ap e rtu re sh e

,

sq u e e z e d h e rse lf in Sh e h ad n ot tak e n o ff h e r
.

wh i te a pro n . H er face was as wh i te as th i s a p ro n ,

an d he r lips t re m b l e d .

W e l co m e R o b e rt ,
sh e sa i d so ft l y b e h i n d h is

b ack , fo r h e h ad tu rne d t o wards m e .

“
At th e fi rst so u nd o fh e r v o ce i he v e e re d rou nd
1 36 TH E WISH .

we re n e ce ssar
y for h im to pu t a th ough t i n to
wo rds .

W hy did I ne ve r h e ar th at you we re aili ng ? ’

h e b e g an ag ai n at l e n g th .

T h at I do n ot k no w sh e re pli e d wi th b i tte r
’
, ,

affab ili ty .

Co u l d you n ot wri te t o m e ab o u t it ?
’

Are we in t h e h ab i t o fwri t i n g t o e ach o th e r ?

sh e ask e d in re tu rn .

H e g av e th e t ab l e an an g ry sh ov e .

Bu t if o n e is no t we ll— th e n — th e n h e did

n o t k no w h o w t o p ro ce e d .

I pre sse d m y fi sts tog e t h e r I sh ou l d so h ave .

like d to fi n i sh his se nte n ce fo r h im .

“ ‘
N e v e r m i nd sai d Marth a o ne o fte n k nows
,
’

,
‘

l e ast o ne s se lf wh e n o ne is n o t we ll
’
.
’

‘
I sh ou l d th i n k o ne o u gh t to k now th at b e st
o n e s se lf h e re pli e d
’ ’
.
,

Wh at if o ne doe s n ot th i n k it worth wh il e to
t ak e an y no ti ce o fit Th i s t i m e sh e sp o k e wi th

o u t b i tt e rn e ss m o de st l y an d q u i e t l y as sh e al ways
,

sp o k e an d ye t e v e ry wo rd cu t m e to t h e q u i ck
,
.

O h M arth a wh y did you re p u l se m e ? a vo i ce

’

, ,

wi th i n m e cr e d
i .
!
 TH E WISH . 13 7

An d th e re u po n sh e b rok e i nto a sh o rt l au gh ,

and as e d k h ow th i n g s we re at hom e , and wh e th e r

l
u n c e an d au n t we re we ll .

Fi rst I sh ou l d lik e to k no w h o w m y u ncl e an d

h e sai d an d l o o k e d i n to th e fo u r
’
m y au n t are , ,

co rn e rs o f th e roo m .

I was so gl ad to se e th e strai ne d m oo d giv i n g

way, th at I b u rst i n to a l ou d l au gh at h is co m i cal
se arch .

Bo th l o o k e d at m e in asto n sh m e nt as i if th e y
on l y j ust re m e m b e re d m y pre se n ce .

And wh at do you say to il d

ou r ch ? ’
as e d k
Marth a ,
taki n g m y h an d in m o th e rl y fash i o n ,
‘
doe s
sh e pl e ase yo u
Be t te r no w a re ady,
l ’
he sa id ,
i i i g
scru t n s n m e,

b e fo re , sh e was to o sti ff for

’
m e .

I co u l d h ardl y p u t m y arm s ro u n d yo u r ne c k
at o n ce ?
’
I re pli e d .

“ ‘
W hy no t ?
’
he as ked ,
sm ili ng co m pl ace ntl y ,

do you th i n k th e re is no ro o m fo r yo u th e re ? ’

No,
’
sa id I , to le t h im k no w at on ce h ow t o
ke th at is th e pl ace fo r m e
’
ta m e, room no t .

H
l ook e d at m e qu i te tak e n
e ab ac k , an d th e n

re m ark e d n o ddi ng h is h e ad
,
13 8 TH E WISH .

By ji ngo ,
th e li tt l e wom an is p re tty sh arp .
’

I was g o i ng to re pl y so m e th n i g , b ut at t h at

m o m e nt p ap a e nte re d th e roo m .

“
At t ab l e I co n stan t l y k e pt m y e ye on t h e t wo ,

wi th ou t h owe v e r b e i ng ab e l to i
n o t ce anyt h n i g
su s pi ci ou s .

T h e i r e ye s h ardl y m et .

“ ‘
Afte rwards wh e n th e o ld pe o pl e are taki ng
’
th e i r nap I th o u g h t t o m yse lf
, th e y are su re t o ,

t ry and m ak e t h e i r e scap e But I was m i stak e n

’
. .

Th e y q u i e t l y re m a n e d
i in th e s i tt i n g -
roo m ,
and

did no t e v e n se e m i
an x ou s to ge t m e ou t o f t h e

way . H e sat in th e f
so a- co rn e r sm o ki ng ,
sh e ,

five p ace s away at th e w i n do w, wi th so m e ne e d e l

wo rk .

t h o u g h t,
’
ps t h e y are sh y, I
“ ‘
P e rh a an d
‘
to o
’
are wai ti ng t ill an o pportu n i ty p re se nts i tse l f . I
k
m ar e d a fe w s ig ns and s lipp e d ou t Th e n . fo r

h alf an h ou r I c rou ch e d in m y ro om wi th a
b e at i ng h e art and c o u n te d t h e m i nu te s t ill I m ig h t

go b ac k a a n g i .

Now h e will go
’
up to h e r, I sa id to m yse l f
,

“
will tak e h e r h ands an d l o o k l on g i nto he r e ye s .

D o you st ill l ov e m e ? h e wi l l ask ; an d sh e ,

1 0 4 TH E WI SH .

And wh at did I se e n o w, a fte r all ?

Th e re h e st il l sat in h is f
so a- co rne r as b e fo re ,
an d h ad sm o ke d h is c igar do wn to i
a t ny stu m p
b u t in h e r em b ro i de ry th e re was a fl owe r wh i ch
h ad no t b e e n th e re b e fo re .

Why do yo u sh ru g you r sh o u l de rs so co n
’
t e m p tu ou sly ? as ke d M arth a an d R o b e rt adde d
, ,

I m e e t wi th h e r l adysh ip s
’
It do
‘
se e m s no t

’
g raci ou s pp roval a .

t h ou gh t I fo r all m y ki n dn e ss I ge t ‘
,

sne e rs i nto th e b arg ai n an d we n t o u t sl am m i n g

’

t h e door afte r m e T h at sam e n ig h t I foo li sh

.
, ,

you n g cre at u re th at I was lay awak e t ill n e arl y ,

m o rn n i g ,
an d pi ctu re d t o m yse l f h ow I ,
Olga
Bre m e r, wou l d h av e b e h ave d h ad I b e e n in t h e
pl ace of th ose t wo . Fi rst I w as R o b e rt, th e n

Marth a ; I fe l t I ,
s po ke I ,
acte d fo r th e m ,
an d

t h rou gh th e sil e nce o f m y b e droo m t h e re

so u n de d the p assi o nate wh i sp e ri ngs o f arde n t,

wo rl d de spi si n g
-
l o ve .

“
As th i ngs we re m u ch t oo straig h t fo rward t o

pl e ase I i n v e nte d a nu m b e r o f addi t i o nal

m e,

o b stacl e s
— ou r p are nts re fu sal noctu rnal m e e ti n gs ’

at th e fron t ie r t re n ch , p i
s u r r se b y t h e C ossack s,
 TH E WISH . 1 41

i m p ri so n m e nt p ate rnal ,
l
m a e d ct o n s,i i fligh t ,
and

fi n all y de ath to ge th e r in th e wav e s ; fo r on ly

h e re b y, so it se e m e d to m e , co u ld t ru e l ov e be
w o rt h il y l
se a e d an d co n fi rm ed .

“
W h e n I go t u p in th e m orn i n g m y h e ad
wh i rl e d an d ye ll o w an d g re e n lig h t s da nce d b e fore
,

m y e ye s .

Martha cl aspe d h e r h an ds in h orro r at m y

a ppe arance an d R ob e rt wh o was si tt i ng agai n fo r
, ,

a ch an g e in a so fa co rn e r an d o n ce ag ai n se n di n g
-
,

fo rth cl o u ds o fsm o k e all aro u nd re m ark e d ,

H av e you b e e n cryi ng or dan ci n g all n ig h t ?

’

D anci ng I re pli e d
’
,
o n th e Brock e n wi th ,
‘
,

o th e r wi t ch e s
’
.

“
O ne p osi t i v e l y cann ot ge t a se n si b l e wo rd
‘

’
out o f t h e gi rl h e sai d sh ak i n g h is h e ad
, ,
.

As you cry i nto th e woo d re pli e d I ’

, .

O h ! I am as st ill as a m ou se al re ady h e
’
,

re m ar e d,
k l au gh i n g e l se I sh all ge t su ch a di sh
,

o f asp e rsi o n t o b e gi n th e da
y wi th as I h av e n e ve r ,

swall o we d in all m
y life
’
.

“
Marth a l oo ke d at m e re p ro ach fu ll y an d I ran ,

o ut i nto th e p ark wh e re it was dark e st an d h id m y

b u rn i ng face in th e coo l m ass o f l e av e s .

IO
 4
1 2 TH E WISH .

I was ne ar cry n i g .

So th i s is
’
fate I m o an e d, t o b e m is
‘
m y ,

u nde rst oo d b y t h e wh o l e worl d, t o st an d t h e re

l
a o ne an d de spi se d th o u gh m y h e art is fu ll of

p assi o nate l o ve t o wi th e r u nh e e de d in so m e
,

co rn e r wh il e e v e r
, y o th e r b e i n g fi n ds its co m p an i o n
an d st ill s l o ngi n gs ’
i ts in an arde nt e m b race .

Ye s, I h ad so i i dl y pi ctu re d
v v to m yse lf
’
M arth a s l o ve th at I h ad fi nall y co m e to th i n k

m yse lf t h e h e ro i n e o f it .

Th u s, o f co u rse , di se nch an t m e n t co u ld not fail

to co m e .

“
And if l y th e two h ad m ade so m e fu rth e r
on

ef
fort to k e e p pace wi th th e fligh ts o f m y i m agi na !

tio n ! Bu t th e l o n ge r R o b e rt re m a ne d i in o ur

h ou se , th e
’
m o re I wat ch e d
M arth a s i nte rco u rse
wi th h im , th e m o re did I b e co m e co n v i n ce d t h at

all i nte re st was u nn e ce ssaril y waste d u p o n t h e m .

Sh e — th e typ e of a
i n sipi d h o use wife t i m i d, ,

su b j e ct t o an y fat ali ty o f e v e ry day life -

.

H e —a cl u m sy du ll work a day fe ll o w in , ,
- -

ca p ab l e o f any de g re e of e m ot on i .

“
In th i s i
st ra n I p h il oso p h i se d as l ong as th e
b i tte r fe e li n g t h at I was u n no t i ce d an d su p e rfl uou s
14 4 TH E WISH .

we re as ye t v e ry v a gu e ,
and I did n ot h e si tate to
ascr b e
i th i s dig n i ty to Martha .

“
i de s we ll , I we nt th i n ki n g ;
’
H
‘ ‘
e r on m y
’
p ri n ce co u ld n ot do b e tte r .

An d th e n I gh t m yse lf th rowi n g m yse lf b ack

cau

p rou dl y an d j oyou sl y in m y saddl e swaye d b y an ,

u n de fi ne d se n se of we ll b e i ng th at
-
m ade all m y
n e rv e s t i n gl e .

id n o th n i g ly n ow an d a a n g i t u rne d
“
H e sa , on

t o wards m e an d n o dde d at m e sm ili n gl y ,

as if he

th o u gh t w e ll to se cu re ou r co m p act ane w e v e ry

fiv e m i nu te s It . was l n e e d e ssfo r n oth i n gt rou b l e ,

was fu rth e r fro m m y th ou gh ts th an t o b re ak it .

W h e n we h ad ri dde n fo r h alf an h o u r at a sh arp

t ro t h e p u ll e d u p h is ch e stn u t an d sai d

W e ll li tt l e one ?
‘
,
’

W h at is yo u r pl e asu re b ig o ne ? ,
’

Sh all we tu rn b ack
’
Oh, no .

I was ab so l u te ly no t will e d t o gi v e up so

i ckl wh at fi ll e d m e wi th su ch i n te n se sat s i
q u y
facti o n .

W e ll Illo wo woo ds, he ,

’
“ ‘
,
th e n, to th e id
sa

p o inti n g to t h e b l u i sh wall wh i ch b o rde re d the

di st ant h o riz on .
 TH E WI SH . 1 45

I n o dde d an d
gave m y h orse th e wh ip so th at it ,

re are d u p h ig h an d pl u n g e d a l o n g in wil d b ou n ds .

Ve ry cre di tab l e fo r a yo u n g l ady o f fi fte e n I

’
,

h e ard h is vo i ce b e h i n d m e .

“ ‘ ’
Si xte e n ,
if you pl e ase ! cr e d
i I , h alf tu rni n g
rou n d to wards h im By th e b ye if g i
‘
.
, you a a n

reproach m e wi th m y yo u th , th e re
’
s an e n d to ou r

good fe ll o wsh ip .
’

H e ave n forb i d he l au gh e d ,
an d th e n we ro de

on in sil e nce .

Th e woo d of Illowo is
i n te rse cte d b y a sm al l
ri v u l e t wh o se st e e p b an k s are so cl ose t o ge th e r
,

t h at th e al de r b ranch e s from e i th e r si de i n te rtwi n e

an d fo rm a h igh v au l te d g re e n do m e -
o ve r th e ,

su rface o f th e wate r te rm i nat i n g at e ach b e n d in

,

a de nse wall o f fo li age b e h i n d wh i ch it b u il ds ,

i tse lf u p an e w D own t h e re cl ose to th e wate r s

.
,
’

e dg e I h ad k nown si nce m y ch il dh o od m any a

, , ,

se c u de d n oo
l k wh e re I h ad fte n sat
o for h ou rs,
,

re ad ni g o r dre am i n g to m yse lf wh il e , m y h o rse

p e ace fu ll y graz e d u p in the woo d .

“
As we no w ro de sl owly al on g b e twe e n th e
t re e s, a de si re se iz e d m e to sh o w h im o ne of

m y sanctu ar e s i .
1 46 TH E WISH .

I want to di sm ou n t,
’
I ca ll e d out to h im
h e lp sadd e
’
‘
m e ou t of m y l .

H e j u m pe d o ffhis h o rse an d did as I h ad b id .

W h at do you i n te nd to -
do ?
’
h e th e n as ke d .

You will id I Fi rst o f all, le t

’
se e sh o rt ly,
sa .

th e h orse s go
’
.

Yo u
’
I sh ou l d th i n k so , i n de e d ,
he
l au gh e d .

se e m to b e o ne of th ose wh o catch t h e i r h are s b y

th e i r tail s
’
pu tti ng sa lt on .

“
An d h e se t ab ou t tyi n g t h e b ri dl e s to a tre e .

“
l o o se I co m m ande d h e did
’
L et an d as
‘
, ; n ot

o b e y, I g ave th e h orse s a l ash o f th e wh ip , so th at

b e fore h e t h ou gh t o f catch n i g h o ld o f th e i
re n s

t igh te r, th e y we re l
a re ady g al l o pi n g ab o u t at

li b e rty in th e wood .

Wh at n ow ?
’
said he , an d p u t h is h an ds in h is
p o ck e ts D o you th i n k th e y will le t t h e m l
‘
. se v e s

be cau gh t
No t b y you l au gh e d I ,
fo r I was su re o f m
y
favou ri te s .

“
And wh e n at a low wh i st l e fro m m y lip s th e y

b oth cam e rac n i g a onl g fro m th e di stan ce an d

snu ffle d ab o u t ffe ct i o nate l y at

a m y ne c k wi th
th e i r nostril s, m y h e art swe ll e d wi th p ri de th at
1 48 TH E WISH .

th at h e j u m pe d to h is fe e t and atte m p te d t o lay h ol d

of m e . I walk e d q u i e tl y to m e e t h im and
The n
sai d Th at s righ t no w co m e al o n g
,
‘ ’
An d th e n
,
.
’

I le d him rig h t th rou gh a de n se th i ck e t o f th orn s ,

do wn th e p sl o p e
st e e ,
at the foo t o fwh ch i th e de e p
wate r lay lik e a dark m i rro r . D o wn th e re b ro ad
l e ave d co n vo vu l li an d cre e p e rs h ad fo rm ed a

n atu ra l b o we r ab o ve a p roj e ct i n g b l o ck o f st o ne ,

in wh i ch eve n at h ig h n oo n one cou ld sit l

a m o st

in th e dark .

Th i th e r I le d h im .

’
U po n m y wo rd, it is de lig h tfu l h e re , li tt l e one ,

he sa id ,
an d co m fortab l y st re tch e d h i m se lf u po n
th e st o n e , so t h at h is fe e t h u n g do wn to th e wat e r .

Co m e , sit do wn at i de th e re is
‘
m s ro o m
y ;
b o th
’
fo r us .

I did as h e wi sh e d, b u t se ate d m yse lf so th at I

co u l d l oo k do wn u p o n h im .

H e p re te nde d to be l pi n g and now an d

“
s ee ,

a gai n b li n k e d u p at m e t h ro u g h h alf -
c o se d
l li ds .

“
Th e n t h e th o u g h t su dde n ly cam e to m e, N o w,
wh at sh ou l d yo u do ? an d
’
if you we re M arth a ,
I
was so start e d l b y it th at m y b l ood gu sh e d up

h o tl y i n to m y face .
 TH E WI SH . 1 49

Are yo u
’
e as ily frigh te n e d li ttl e , o ne ? he

as ke d .

y h e ad
“
I sh oo k m .

Th e n co m e h e re
I am h e re at you r si de .
’

’
P l ace you rse lf in fro nt o f m e .

I did so . My fe e t al m ost to uch e d the flat ed eg

o f th e sto n e .

Su dde n l y h e i
ra se d h im se lf ,
l pe d
c as m e as

qu i ck lightn i ng ab ou t t h e wai st an d at th e sam e

as ,

m o m e n t I fe l t m yse lf su sp e n de d in m id air ab ov e -

t h e wate r I l ook e d at h im and l au gh e d

. .

L e t m e t e ll yo u sai d h e th at it is n o t b y
’ ‘
, ,

an y m e ans a l au gh i n g m att e r If I le t yo u .

drop
I sh all b e dro wn e d— so
le t m e drop
’
.

N 0 fi rst you m u st m ak e a con fe ssi on

, to m e .
’

W h at con fe ssi o n
W h y you do not lik e m e .
’

I dre w a de e p b re ath . At th e sam e ti m e I fe l t

t h at th e so e s o f m
l y fe e t we re l
a re ady b e i n g we tte d
b y th e su r ace o ft h e
f wat e r . H e m u st n o t le t m e

i k
s n an y o we r
l . A de li ci ou s fe e l i n g of powe rl e ss
n e ss cam e o ve r m e .
1 50 TH E WISH .

I do like I id
’

you , sa .

Th e n wh y do you giv e m e su ch di sag re e ab l e

’
answe rs ?

Be cau se I am a di sagre e ab l e c re atu re .

’

’
Th at is i l y pl au si b l e l au gh e d h e
ce rta n , ,
and

wi th rapi d swi n g lifte d m e u p l i k e a fe ath e r so t h at

I c am e to st and o nce m ore u p on th e sto ne .

T h e re , n ow sit d own we , will t alk se n s ib ly .

’
Th e n
he took m y h an d and co nt nu e d : i Se e , I
‘
am a

s m i pl e fe ll ow , h ave wo rk e d h ard an d giv e n l it tl e

th oug h t t o sh ar e n n p i g m y wit . Yo u wi th you r
q u i ck l ittl e b rai n a l ways kill m e at t h e ve ry fi rst
t h rust, so th at I h ave g rown p osi ti v e l y afraid of

talki ng t o you . I k n ow you m e an n o h arm , for it

is n ot in ou r b l ood to b e ill -
natu re d ; b u t all th e
sam e , it is n ot th e p rop e r th i n g . I am ne arl y
t we lve ye ars o l de r th an you , an d you al m ost a c h i l d

Am I righ t ?
’

ye t .

“
You are righ t i d I de j e cte dly wonde ri ng
,
’
sa , ,

p ri vate l y wh e re m y de fi ance h ad d e p arte d to .

’
Th e n why did you do it ?
’
Be c au se I wante d to g ai n you r app roval , said
I and dre w a de e p b re ath .

H e l oo ke d i nto m y e ye s am az e d .
152 TH E WISH

My h e art b e at i l
so v o e n t ly th at I c ou l d h ardly
draw m y b re ath . So h e h e,
too k m e i n to h is con

fide nce , h e m ade a co n e de rate

f of m e .I cou ld
h ave em b race d h im th e re an d th e n, so g rate fu l did
I fe e l towards him .

And doe s sh e k no w it ? I i nqu i re d

’
.

re m ar e d
’
I dare say sh e k n o ws it, he k ‘
a

th i n g o ft h at sort c an no t be co n ce a e d l
Wh at—th e n—you h av e n ot— to l d he r ?
’
I
stam m e re d .

“
He sh oo k his h e ad sad ly .

I was awak e n e d fro m all m y ill usi ons So th e .

arb ou rs o fou r g arde n h ad n e ve r aff

o rde d sh e l te r t o

t wo l ove rs ,
th e m oo n as it sh one th rou gh th e

b ranch e s h ad n e ve r b e e n th e w i tne ss of c l ande sti ne

k i sse s And all m y ro m anci n g h ad p ro ve d i tse lf
n o th i ng b u t i dl e i m agi nati o n ? Bu t in th e m i dst o f
m y di sill usi o n a iz e d m e for
de e p co m passi on se

t h i s gi an t crou ch i n g b e si de m e as h e lpl e ss as a
,

ch il d .Su re l y I v o we d to m yse lf h e sh all n ot in

, ,

va n i h ave pu t h is t ru st in m e

Why
’
“ ‘
did you re m a n i s i l e nt ? I i nq u i re d
fu rth e r .

H e l o ok e d so m e wh at su s p ici ousl y at m y im
 TH E WISH . 153

m at u re you th , and th e n b e gan, h e av i ng a de e p

b re ath
“
Yo u se e , at t h at t i m e I was a s ill y you n g
fe ll o w ,
an d co u l d n o t pl u ck up cou ra e g to s p e ak ;
a re ady
l
’
in th e ye ars o f o ne s you th o ne is so

su p re m e l y h appy if o n e can o nl y n o w and agai n

se cu re a se cre t p re ssu re o f t h e h an d th at o n e ,

th i n k s m arri age can h av e n o fu rth e r b li ss t o o ffe r .

Bu t yo u re all y cannot u nde rs tan d all th e se

th i ng s
’
.

W h o k n ows
“
i nnoce nce ; I
re pli e d I ,
in m y
h av e re ad a g re at de al o n th e su b j e ct al re ady
’
.

Th e sh ort and th e l o n g o f it is h e co n ti nu e d
‘ ’
, ,

th at I was t h e n n e arly as fo o li sh as yo u are at

‘

pre se n t And n o w you se e if I sp e ak to h e r n o w

.
, , ,

e ve ry wo rd b i nds m e wi th i ro n fe tte rs t o all e te rn i t

’

y .

And do n t you wi sh to b i nd yo u rse lf ? I ask e d

‘ ’ ’

in aston i sh m e nt .

’
I m ay n ot, he cr e d
i I dare n o t, for I do no t

k no w if I can m ak e h e r h app
y .
’

W e ll ,
o f co u rse , if
k n o w th at sai d you do n ot ,
’

I drawi ng u p m y lips co nte m ptu o u sl y and in m y

, ,

h e art I i nfe rre d fu rth e r : T h e n h e cann ot l ove h e r

e i th e r
’
.
15 4 TH E WISH .

Bu t h e starte d u p wi th s p arkli n g e ye s U nde r

stand m e igh t li ttl e cr e d
i if ly
’
he it
‘
ar , on e , ; on

de p e nde d on m e , I wou l d ask n o th n i g b e tte r all m y

life , th an t o carry h e r in m y arm s, l e st he r fo ot
m igh t dash g i
a a n st a ston e . Bu t— oh , th i s m i se ry
—
th i s m i se ry ! ’
And h e t o re h is h ai r, so th at I
g re w qu i te frigh te ne d of h im . N e ve r sh o u ld I
h ave th ou gh t it p ossi b l e fo r th i s qu i e t ,
re fl e cti ve
m an to b e h ave so p assi o n ate l y .

“ ‘
Co nfide in i d I pl aci n g m y
’
m e, R o b e rt, sa ,

h and h is sh o u l de r ; I o n l y a fo o li sh gi rl
‘

on am ,

you r h e art
’
b u t it will u nb u rde n .

I can no t,
’
he g roane d I ,
‘
cann o t !
W hy n o t ? ’

Be cau se it wou l d b e h u m ili at i ng— fo r yo u to o .

O n l y t h i s m u ch I will te ll you : M arth a is a

de li cate te n de r se ns i ti ve cre atu re
, ,
sh e wo u l d

n e ve r b e ab l e t o h o l d h e r o wn agai nst t h e fl o o d o f

ca re s an d m i sfo rt u n e wh i ch m u st p our do wn u p o n

h e r th e re . Sh e wo u l d b e b ro k e n lik e a we ak b l ade

o f corn at th e fi rst o n se t o f th e sto rm . And wh at

go od wou l d it be, if a fe w ye ars a fte r our we ddi n g
I h ad to carry h e r to h e r g rave
“
A co l d sh u dde r ru n s th ro u g h m e, wh e n I th i n k
15 6 TH E WI S H .

’
you co m e ? as ke d I
k n o ws h ow th i s . H e av e n

two e dge d i de a got i n to m y fo o li sh yo u n g g irl s

’
-

h e ad I fe l t darkl y th at I was com m i tt i ng a

.

cru e l t
y wh e n I p u t it i n to wo rds b u t n ow it was ,

t oo l ate . I saw h o w h is face g re w pal e I fe l t h ow ,

h is b re at h swe ll e d up h o t an d h e av y an d p o u re d

i tse lf fo rth u p o n m e in a s igh .

“ ‘
I h o n e st Olga ’
am an m an, ,
he m u t te re d

b e twe e n h is t e e th ; ‘

you m u st n ot to rtu re m e .

Bu t as you h ave as ke d , you sh a ll h av e an answe r .

I cam e b e cau se I cou ld b e ar life wi th ou t h e r no

l o n ge r , b e cau se by a s ig h t o f h e r I wan te d to

gath e r up s tre n g th an d co m fort for sad days to

co m e , and b e cau se — b e cau se in m y h e art o f h e arts

I st ill ch e r sh e d i th e fai nt h o p e th at th i ngs m igh t

b e di f
fe re n t h e re , th at it m igh t be p ossi b l e fo r h e r
wi t h
’
t o co m e m e .

An d is —
’
it n o t possi b l e ?
No ! Do n o t ask wh y ; le t it su f
fice you th at
’
I say n o .

“
Th e n su dde n ly h e b e n t do wn to wards m e, to o k

h old of b o th m y h an ds, an d sa i d fro m, th e v e ry

de p th s of h is so u l : Se e , Olga , m o re h as co m e o f

o ur goo d fe ll o wsh ip th an we b o th co u l d su sp e ct an
 TH E WIS H . 1 57

h ou r ago . W ill you no w stand by m e fai th fu lly ,

and h e lp li e s in you r powe r ?

m e as m u ch as
’

I will sai d I and fe l t ve ry so l e m n th e wh il e

,
’
,
.

I k now you are n o l o nge r a ch il d h e we nt o n ; ’

,

yo u are a se nsi b l e an d b rav e g i rl and do n o t

‘

swe rve fro m anyth i n g yo u u n de rtak e W ill you .

ke e p watch ove r h e r so th at sh e doe s no t l ose ,

h e art e ve n if I no w go away agai n in sil e nce

, .

W ill you ? ’

I will I re p e ate d .

And will you i

so m e t m e s wri te to m e, to te ll
m e h o w sh e is ? Wh e th e r sh e is we ll , and o f g ood
cou ra ge W ill yo u
?

I will I said fo r th e th i rd ti m e , .

Th e n co m e gi ve m e a ki ss an d le t us b e g ood
, ,

fri e nds no w and al ways And h e ki sse d m e o n

, .
’

m y m ou th .

Fi ve i nu te s l ate r we we re on ou r h orse s and

m

ri di n g h u rri e dl
y towards t h e h o m e farm ; for it
al re ad
y was b e gi nn i n g t o g ro w dark .

“ ‘
You staye d awa
y a l o ng ti m e sai d M arth a
,
’
,

who was stan d n i g in h e r wh i te ap ron on th e

v e ran dah , an d smil e d at u s from afar Wh e n I .

saw h e r, I fe l t as if I cou l d ne ve r find e nou gh

I 58 TH E WISH .

te n de rn e ss to pou r ou t u p on h aste ne d
m y s i ste r . I
t o wards h e r an d k i sse d he r passi o nate l y , but at

th e sam e m o m e nt I re gre tte d it, for it a pp e are d

to m e as if I we re t h e re b y wipi n g h is ki ss fro m
m y lip s .

E m b arrasse d, I de si ste d, an d s u n l k away . At

su ppe r I co n stan t ly h u ng u p on h is e ye s, for I
t h ou g h t h e m u st m a e k k nown o u r se cre t u nde r
stan d n i g by so m e sig n Bu t h e did no t th i n k o f
.

an y su ch th i n g . O n l y wh e n we sh oo k h an ds f
a te r

th e m ea l he p re sse d m i ne in q u i te a p e cu li ar way ,

as h e h ad n e ve r do ne b e fo re . I was as pl e ase d
as if I h ad re ce ve d so m e
i v a u ab e
l l p re se nt .

O n th at e ve n n i g I co u l d h ardl y awai t th e ti m e

wh e n igh t go t o b e d and p u t ou t th e lig h t ;

I m

t h e n I was o ft e n wo n t to stare f or an h ou r at

a ti m e i n to th e dark ne ss dre am i ng t o m yse l f , .

It was in m y p o we r to k e e p awak e as l o n g as I
wi sh e d an d to go to s l e e p as soo n as I th o u gh t it
,

ti m e .I h ad o n ly t o b u ry m y h e ad in th e pill ows
an d I was o ff T o day I stre tch e d m yse lf in m y
.
-

b e d wi th a se n se o f we l l b e i n g su ch as I h ad -

n e v e r b e fo re in m y life e xp e ri e n ce d I fe l t as if .

e v e ry wi sh o f m y life h ad b e e n fu lfill e d My .
1 60 TH E WISH .

No, h e h ad not de cl are d h i m se lf ; that I saw

at th e fi rst gl an ce b u t h e h ad ,
sp o k e n o f t h e

fu tu re , an d p ro b ab l y i n te rsp e rse d m any a l i tt l e

word o f m o de st h o pe .

Be fo re he st e ppe d i n to th e i g
carr a e , it so

h app e ne d t h at h e was fo r a fe w m o m e nts l

a on e

wi th m e . T h e n h e t o o k my h an d an d wh i sp e re d
You will n ot b e tray o n e s n i gl e wo rd, will you ?
I de p e nd po n ’
can u it ?
“
I no dde d e a e r g ly .

And you will wri te to m e soo n

’
Ce rtai n l y .

Wh e re sh a ll I se n d th e an swe r ? ’

I starte d. I h ad no t in th e re m ote st de g re e
th ou g h t of t h at . Bu t as th e m o m e nt p re sse d I ,

m e n t on e d
i at h ap h az ard t h e n am e o f an old

i nspe ctor wh o h ad a l ways been sp e ci ally attach e d

to m e.

Tim e passe d . fo ll o we d anothe r in

O n e day

th e o ld way, an d ye t n o w h o w di f fe re nt ly h ow ,

pe cu li arl y . th e wo rl d h ad sh ap e d i tse lf fo r m e .

I l o n ge r h ad any n e e d t o stu dy l ove from

“
no
 TH E WISH 16 1

b o o k s, an d se arch for it a ar o f
f f; pp e d it h ad st e

b odil y i n t o m y e x i ste nce its swe e t m yste ri e s

,

pl aye d arou n d m e and I— oh joy — ,

I was j o i n
,

in g in t h e gam e I was e n tan gl e d h e ad ov e r e ars

.

in th e i nt rig u e th at was t o lay t h e b asi s o f m y

si ste r s h appi n e ss
’
.

It was lik e a m i racl e to se e h ow aft e r e ach o f

’
R ob e rt s v i si ts sh e re v i v e d and g ai ne d fre sh stre n g th
an d co l ou r an d h e al th L ik e an i nv ig orat i n g b ath
.

t h ose f e w days o f th e i r i n t e rcou rse h ad act e d u p o n

h e r an d m o re e ve n t h an th e y p rob ab l y th at
, , ,

m i racu l o u s fo u n tai n o f h o p e fro m wh i ch sh e h ad

dru n k a l o n g and fu rti v e drau gh t .

“
Ce rtai n ly th e su nny ch e e rfu l n e ss o f oth e r days
did n o t re tu rn to h e r ag ai n t h at se e m e d irre trie v
,

ab l y l o st in th o se se v e n ye ars o f we a ry wai t i n g ;

n o so n g n o l au g h te r e v e r i ssu e d fro m
, h e r lip s b u t ,

o v e r h e r fe at u re s t h e re lay spre ad a so ft warm gl o w ,

as if a lig h t fro m wi th i n h e r sou l i rradi ate d t h e m .

No r did sh e any l o n ge r drag h e rse lf ab o u t t h e h o u se

wi t h l aggi n g we ary ste p s an d wh o e ve r app ro ach e d
, ,

h e r was su re o fa fri e n dly s m il e .

And as h e r h appi n e ss m ust n e e ds fin d ve nt in

l ove , sh e a so attach e d
l h e rse lf m o re l
c ose l y to m e,
1 62 TH E WISH

an d tri e d to i nsigh t i nto

g ai n an m y h i dde n an d

l one l y th ou gh ts . I l ove d h e r th e m ore de arl y for

it all th e m ore o t e n i nv o k e d G od s b l e ssi ng u p o n
’
. I f
h e r, b u t I did no t give he r m y co n fi de n ce .

Be fo re sh e , o f h e r own accord, o pe ne d ou t he r
wh o l e h e art to m e, I cou ld not and wo u l d n ot

co n e ss f h ow far I h ad al re ady gaz e d i nto its de pth s .

“
So m e t i m es I cau gh t m yse l f l o oki ng across at

h e r wi th l fe e li n g—if I m ay call it so
a m o th e r y

for si nce I c arri e d on an ac t iv e co rre sp o nde nce

wi th R ob e rt I i m agi n e d th at it was I who h e l d
,

h e r h appi n e ss in m y h an ds .

“
My v an i ty m ade of m e a good ge ni u s cl ad in ,

wh ite i
ra m e nt, wh ose h and b ore a p al m b ranch
-

and wh o se sm il e di sp e nse d b l e ssi n gs . And m e an

wh il e I cou n te d th e days t ill l e tte r fro m R ob e rt

a

cam e , an d ran ab ou t wi t h gl owi n g ch e e k s whe n at

l e ngth I carr e d i it ne ar m y h e art .

Th e se l e tte rs h z d b e co m e su ch a n e ce ss ity to
m e t hat I cou l d h ardly i m agi ne h ow I sh o u l d e ve r
be lab e t o e x st i wi th ou t t h e m . U nde r p re te xt of
te lli ng h im all ab ou t M arth a I , m ost cu nn i ngl y

un d e rstoo d h ow to p rattl e away th e care s th at

fi ll e d h is h e art—ch il di sh ly and fo ol i sh ly (as m en

164 TH E I/ VIS H .

an d adde d t h e
q u e sti on wh e th e r h e h ad pe rh aps
h e ld ou t an y hope of h is co m i ng at th s i p art i cu l ar
ti m e ; fo r Marth a s ’
wh o l e co n d i t i o n se e m e d t o
m e to b e p rodu ce d th rou gh p ai n fu ll y o ve rwro ugh t
e xp e ctati on .

I h ad e v e ry re aso n to b e sat s i fie d wi th th e
sh re wdne ss of se v e n t e e e n fo r
m y ye ars, m y
o b se rv at o n s i p rov e d co rre ct .

“
D e e pl y co n t r i te ,
h e wro t e to m e th at h e h ad

i n de e d at p art i n g e xp re sse d a h o pe o fb e i ng ab l e to
re tu rn wi th a ch e e rfu l face in t h e fo ll o wi n g au tu m n ,

b u t t h at h e h ad de ce i v e d h i m se lf ,
t h at h e was m o re

e n cu m b e re d b y care s an d de b ts t h an e ve r b e fore ,

th at h e was wo rki n g lik e a co m m o n l ab o ure r , and

did n o t se e a ray o fh o pe anywh e re .

The n at l e ast l
re e ase he r fro m th e to rtu re o f

w ai t i n g , I wro te b ack to h im and cau t o u s i ly

’
,

h o w you
’
i n fo rm ou r p are n ts are pl ace d .

H e did so l ate r al re ady p ap a in a

two days , ,

b ad h u m o u r b ro u g h t th e l e tte r al o n g wh i ch I— o u
, ,

acco u n t o fm y ch il di sh want o fj u dg m e n t
— was n o t
a ll o we d to re ad .

O n M arth a it o p e rate d in a way wh i ch te rrifi e d

an d de e ply m ov e d m e . T he e xc i te m e n t o f th e
 TH E WI SH 1 65

l ast we e k s the re and th e n di sapp e are d In its

pl ace th e re sh o we d i tse lf agai n th at de sp ai ri ng li st
l e ssne ss wh i ch once b e fore in th e days p re ce di ng ,

R ob e rt s co m i ng h ad wo rn h e r to a sh ado w once
’

m ore sh e fe ll away ; o nce m ore de e p b l u e ri ng s

appe are d ro u nd h e r e ye s o nce m o re an o dour o f

v al e ri an p roce e de d fro m h e r m ou th wh il e sh e o fte n

wri th e d in p ai n Adde d t o
. th i s was t h e co nstan t

de si re to we e p wh i ch at t h e
,
sm a ll e st p ro v ocat i on ,

fou nd v e nt in a torre nt o fte ars .

T h i s t i m e p ap a did no t se n d for a docto r He .

"

c ou l d m ak e th e di ag n osi s h i m se l f E ve n m am a .

su ffe re d wi t h the p oo r gi rl as f ar as h e r ph l e g m ati c

,

natu re pe rm i tte d and it did n ot p e rm i t h e r to sti r

,

fro m h e r ch i m ne y c o rne r t o t e nde r h e lp t o h e r

-

s i ck e n i n g dau g h te r As fo r m e I no w for th e fi rst

.
,

t i m e fou n d an opp ortu n i ty o fp rov i ng to m y fam ily

t hat I was no l onge r a ch il d an d t h at e ve n in ,

se ri ou s m att e rs m y will cl ai m e d co n si de rat i o n

,
I .

t oo k th e b u rde n of h ou se k e e pi ng u p on m y sh o u l
d e rs , an d th o u gh th e y all sm il e d and re m o n s trat e d,

and t h o u gh M artha de cl are d t i m e f

a te r t m e i th at

sh e wou ld ne ve r su ffe r m e, th e you n ge r o ne , to

u su r p he r pl ace I, had st ill in a fortn igh t ,

so far
1 66 TH E WISH .

gai ne d m y p oi nt th at th e i
e nt re h o use h o l d d ance d
to m y pipe .

“
Th at was th e ly t i m e wh e n M arth a
on and I
e ve r c am e to h ard words b u t g radu al ly sh e ne ces

s aril p e rce i ve d th at wh at I did was o nl y done fo r

y
h e r sak e and fi n al ly sh e was t h e fi rst to fe e l g rate fu l
,

to m e In se ve ral oth e r th i n gs t oo sh e l e arnt to

.
,

su b m i t to m e b u t sh e sou g h t to de ce ive h e rse lf as

t o m y i n fl u e nce b y re m arki n g th at o ne m u st gi v e

way t o il dre nch .

T h rou gh m y i nte rco u rse wi th R ob e rt I no w ,

l e arnt for th e fi rst th at on e m ay te ll li e s fo r l ove s ’

sak e . I co nce al e d fro m h im th e sad e ffe cts of h is

l e tt e r , yes, I e ve n u nb u sh n
l i gly wrote to h im th at

i g was as we ll as c ou l d b e I acte d thu s

e ve ryth n .
,

b e cau se I re fle cte d th at t h e tru th wou l d pl u nge h im

i nto a th ou sand ne w care s and anxi e t ie s wh i ch ,

m u st ab so l u te l y cru sh h i m as h e was p o we rl e ss t o
,

h e lp .Bu t it was v e ry h ard for m e to k e e p u p m y

ligh t ch atty to ne , and f
o te n som e j ok e se e m e d to

fre e ze in m y pe n .

An d th i n g s g re w m o re an d m ore t rou b l e d .

P ap a was de sp on de nt b e cause fail u re o f cro p s h ad

de stroye d h is b e st p rosp e cts , m am a gru m b l e d
168 TH E WI SH .

re pl y ,
for th at g u il t wh i ch I cou l d
co n sc o u sn e ss o f
i ,

n ot g rasp was gn awi n g at m

, y sou l W h e n I was .

al one in m y roo m I th ou gh t to m yse lf Th e re ‘

, , ,

now will Ch ri st m
’
ce e b rate
l I too k R ob e rt s ’
yo u as .

l e tte rs ou t o f th e drawe r wh e re I k e pt th e m c are

fu lly h i dd e n an d , de te rm i ne d to re ad at th e m far
i nto th e n igh t .

Th e sto rm ratt e d l m y sh u tt e rs, snow- flake s

drifte d w i th g ai nst th e wi ndo w pane s

f
a so t ru st e a l -
,

an d ab o ve th e re p e ace fu ll y gl e am e d the g re e n
,

sh ade d h an gi n g l am p .

“
T h e n as I co m fo rtab l y sp re ad ou t th e li ttl e
,

h e ap l
o f e tte rs in fron t o fm e , I h e ard ne xt door, in
M arth a s roo m a dull th u d an d th e re u p on an i ndi s
’
,

t i n ct no i se th at so u nde d to m e lik e p rayi n g and

sob b n i g .

’
Th at is h ow sfie ce e b rate s
l Ch ri stm as, I said ,

i n vol u ntarily fo l di n g m y h an ds, an d a a n g i I fe l t

t h at p an g at m y h e art, as if I we re act n i g de ce i t

fu lly and h e art l e ssl y towards m y si ste r .

And I b ro ode d o ve r it agai n t il l it b e cam e cl e ar

to m e th at th e l e tte rs we re to b l am e .

“ ‘
Do I no t w ri te and k e e p s il e nce all fo r h e r
g ood ? ’
I as e d m
k yse lf ; b u t m y co nsc e n e i c wou l d
 TH E WIS H . 1 69

No
’
not b e b ri b e d it answe re d fl am e s o f . L ik e
fire m y b l ood sh ot u p i n to m y face fo r I re cog ni se d ,

wi t h wh at pl e asu re m y o wn h e art h u ng u p o n t h o se
l e tte rs .Wh at wou l d sh e n o t g i ve for o ne ofth e se
p ape rs I we nt o n th i n ki n g She who p e rh ap s n o
,
‘

l o nge r b e li e ve s in h is l o ve wh o is wre stli ng wi th th e

,

fe ar th at h e onl y did not co m e b e cau se he m e an t to

t e ar asunde r th e t i e s t h at b i n d h im to h e r h e art
’
.

An d you h e ar h e r sob b i ng th e voi ce wi th i n m e

co nt i n u e d you l e av e h e r in h e r an g u i sh an d
‘
, ,

m e an wh il e co m fo rt
you rse lf wi th t h e k no wl e dg e
t h at you sh are a se cre t wi th him wi th h im wh o ,

b e l o ngs to h e r al one ?
“
I cl aspe d m y h ands b e fo re m y face ; sh am e so
powe rfu lly p osse sse d m e th at I was afrai d o f th e
,

ligh t wh i ch sho ne down u po n m e .

G i v e h e r th e l e tte rs ! t h e vo i ce cri e d su dde n l y

’

an d cri e d so l ou dl y and di st i nctl

y th at I th ou gh t
th e st orm m u st h ave sh o u t e d th e words in m e ars
y .

“
The n I fou gh t a h ard b attl e ; b u t e ach t i m e
m y g oo d i nte nti o n wave re d h ard p re sse d b
, y th e
fe ar o fb re aki ng m y word to h im and b y th e wi sh ,

to re m ai n st ill l onge r in se cre t corre spo nde n ce wi t h

him h e r sob b i ng and p rayi ng re ach e d m e m ore

,
1 70 TH E WI SH

di st i nct l y an d co n u se d m f y se nse s so , th at I fe lt
lik e fl e e i n g t o th e e nds o fth e e arth in o rde r to h e ar

n o m ore .

“
And l e ngth I h ad m ade u p m y m i n d I
at .

care fu lly p ack e d t h e l e tte rs to g e t h e r in a n e at li t tl e

h e ap t i e d t h e m ro u n d wi th a s ilk ri b b on and se t
, ,

ab ou t carr n i g th e m acro ss to h e r
y .

T h at sh all b e you r C h ri st m p re se n t id I
’
as , sa ,

for I re m e m b e re d th at th i s ye ar I h ad no t been
ab e to
l em b ro i de r o r cro ch e t anyth n i g fo r h e r, as

h ad ll y b e e n th e cu sto m b e twe e n u s
u su a . And as

he wh o gi v e s lik e s to cl oth e h is do i ng s in th e atri cal

garb in o rde r to h i de h is fl
ov e r o w n i g h e art , I
de te rm i ne d fi rst to act a li tt l e co m e dy wi th
he r .

I cre pt ,
h alf dre sse d
-
as I was do wn,
i n to th e

si tt i n g -
roo m , wh e re p re se n ts we re sp re ad u n de r
our

th e Ch ri st m as t re e g ro p e d in th e dark f
,
or h e r

pl ate g ath e re d
,
u p wh at lay b e s i de it an d o n th e ,

t o p o fall pl ace d t h e li tt l e p ack e t o f l e tte rs . Th u s

l ade n I cam e to h e r do o r an d k no ck e d
, .

“
I h e ard a so u nd lik e so m e o n e draggi ng him

se lf up fro m fl oorth e ,
an d a te r a
f l o ng wh il e
sh e was p rob ab l y dryi ng her e ye s firs t —h e r v o i ce
172 TH E WISH .

T a k e th e m ,
t ak e th e m sa id I .

Sh e st re tch e d o u t h e r h an d, b u t it shran k b ack

as at th e t ou ch o fre d- h o t i ron .

Se e
M arth a sai d I wi th th e de si re to
, ,
re v e n ge
m yse lf f
or h e r s il e n ce an d at th e sam e t i m e,
to b rag
l itt l e yo u h ad fi de n ce in
‘
a ,
no co n m e ; you co n

s ide re d m e to o ch il di sh ,
b ut I saw t h rou g h e v e ry

t h i ng, an d wh il e you we re fre tti n g I , was up an d

’
do i n g . St ill i
sh e co n t n u e d to st are at m e , wi th ou t
p o we r o f co m p re h e n si o n .
‘
Yo u i m agi n e t h at h e

n o l o ng e r care s I wh il e all
’
ab ou t we n t
‘
o n,
you ,
th e t i m e I h av e h ad to gi ve h im re g u l ar acco u nt

of you r do i n g s an d o f the state of yo u r h e al th .

E v e ry we e k
“
She st a gge re d b ack ,
se iz e d h e r h e ad wi th b oth

h e r h an ds, an d th e n su dde n ly a sh u dde r se e m e d to

p ass th rou gh h e r fram e . Sh e ste pp e d cl ose up to

m e, grasp e d m y t wo h an ds and wi th a pe cu li arl y ,

h o arse v o i ce sh e sai d L o o k m e in th e face O lg a !

‘
, ,

W h i ch o fyou two wrote th e fi rst l e tte r ? ’

sai d I asto n i sh e d f o r I did n o t ye

,
t k n ow ,

wh at sh e was dri v i ng at .

“ ‘
And you —yo u b e traye d to h im th e st ate of

s— yo u — o
f
j
’
m fe e li n g e red m e, O lga ?
y
 TH E WISH . 17 3

W h at pu t s su ch an i de a i n to you r h e ad sai d
I.
‘
H e h i m se lf co n fe sse d e v e ryth i n g t o m e wh e n
’

h e w as h e re . O h h e k ne w m e b e tte r t h an you I
, ,

adde d,f o r I cou l d n o t le t th i s sm all t ru m p s lip b y .

’
H e was n ot ash am e d to co n fi de in m e .

Th an k G od sh e m u rm u re d wi th a de e p sig h ,

an d fo l de d h e r h an ds .

Bu t n o w co m e M arth a sai d I l e adi n g h e r

’
, , ,

’
t o t h e t ab l e ,
n o w we w ill ce l e b rate C h ri st m as .

An d th e n we re ad th e l e tte rs to ge th e r one afte r,

th e ot h e r and fro m o ne an d all h is h e art faith fu l

, ,

an d t ru e as g o l d sh o n e fo rth th ro u gh t h e si m pl e
, ,

awk ward wo rds an d sp re ad a warm gl o w so th at

, ,

o u r h e av il y o ppre sse d so u l s g re w lig h te r and m o re

ch e e rfu l
,
t h at we l au gh e d and cri e d wi th ch e e k

p re sse d to ch e e k and al m o st squ e e z e d ou r h ands

,

of f in t h e m u t u al at t e m pt to m ak e e ach o th e r fe e l
th e p re ssu re wh i ch h is warm re d fist was wo n t to

gi ve.

“
An d t h e n su dde n l y— it was at o n e pl ace wh e re
h e spe ci ally i m p re sse d u p on m e t o b e su re an d

tak e g re at care o f h e r an d wat ch o ve r h e r an d

p ro te ct h e r fo r h is sak e — h e r h appi ne ss o ve r
wh e l m e d h e r an d— I b l u sh to wri te it down
,

12
 17 4 TH E WISH

sh e fe ll on he r k ne e s b e fo re m e an d p re sse d he r
lips to m y h and .

“
Bu t ,
t h o u gh I was m u ch start e d,
l I no l onge r
fe l t anyt h n i g of th at p ri cki n g an d gn awi n g wh ich
a li tt l e wh il e b e fo re , u n de r t h e C h ri st m as t re e , h ad

so so re ly b e se t m y b oso m . I k ne w th at m y gu il t
was b l o tte d o u t, an d wi th a fre e ligh t h e art I
v o we d to m i nde e d to watch like a
yse lf now

g u ardi an ange l o ve r m y si st e r wh o was so m u ch ,

m o re fe e b l e an d in wan t o f di re ct i o n th an I th e ,

foo li sh an d im m atu re ch il d . And sh e fe l t th i s

h e rse lf, fo r u n re s st ni i gl y s h e , wh o h ad h i th e rto

tre ate d m e as a ch il d ,
su b m i tte d to m y gu i dance .

“
At l ast I h ad att a ne d
i th e de si re of m
y h e art .

I h ad a hu m an b e i n g wh o m I cou ld pe t an d s p oil
as m u ch as I pl e ase d and no w th at e v e ry b arrie r
,

u s h ad fall e n I l av i sh e d u po n m
b e t we e n , y si ste r
all th e te n de rn e ss wh i ch h ad fo r so l on g been
s to re d u p u n u se d wi t h i n m e .

Fath e r and m o th e r we re n ot a li tt l e p i
su r r se d

at th e n e wly awak e n e d -
co rd ai li ty o f o u r l i
re at o ns

to e ach o th e r, th at j u st l atte rl y h ad l e ft m u ch to

b e de s i re d, and Marth a h e rse lf co u ld h ardly g row

accu sto m e d to t h e ch an ge . Sh e co n te m pl ate d m e
1 76 TH E WISH .

W i n te r an d s p ri ng p asse d by sw ift l y ,
and th e

tim e cam e fo r st o ri n g th e sh e av e s in th e b arns .

“
As so o n as th e h arve st was ov e r he i nte nde d to
co m e ; b u t b e fo re th e n, h e wro te , th e re was m any a

h ardsh ip t o b e su rm o u n te d .

O ne day p ap a appe are d in th e ki tch e n wh e re ,

we we re wi th an a pp are n t l y i ndiffe re nt air sn u ffle d

, ,

ab ou t fo r a wh il e am o n g t h e p o t s and p an s an d ,

m e anwh il e k e p t o n s l ash i n g at t h e l o n g l e ggi n g s o f

h is wat e r b oo t s wi t h h is
-
r i di ng -
wh ip .

“ ‘
W hy yo u h ave b e co m e a P au l P ry to day, -

p ap a ? ’
sa id I .

“
H g ave a sh o rt l au gh and re m ar e d, k Ye s, I
‘
e

h av e b e co m e a P au l P ry .
’
And wh e n h e h ad for
so m e ti m e l onge r bee n ru n n n i g b ack wards and

fo rwards w i th ou t sp e aki n g h e ,
su dde n ly s to pp e d
in front o f M arth a and sai d
If yo u sh o u l d j u st h av e t i m ch il d you
“ ‘
e, m y ,

m igh t co m e i n to th e ro o m for a m o m e nt . M am a
so m e th n
’
an d I h ave i g to say to yo u .

Ah I
’
sai d I th at is th e for th i s
‘
,
se e , , re aso n

l o n g p re li m i nary . May I co m e to o ?
’
 TH E WISH 17 7

No ,
’
he re pli e d
. You re m a n i in th e
’
ki tch e n .

“
M arth a gave m e a onl g l oo k ,
to o k fh e r a
of pro n ,

and we nt wi th h im to th e itti ng room s - .

For a wh i l e all re m ai ne d qu ie t in th e re R o u nd .

ab ou t m e t h e ste am was h i ssi ng th e p ots we re ,

b ro ili ng an d o ne o f th e m ai ds was m aki ng a g re at

,

cl atte r cl e an i n g k n i v e s b u t all th i s no i se was su d

de n ly p e ne trate d b y a sh ort pi e rc i n g cry wh i ch ,

’
co u l d on l y p roc e e d fro m M arth a s lips .

Tre m b li n g I li ste ne d and at th e sam e m o m e nt

,

p apa cam e ru sh i n g i nto th e ki tch e n calli ng for ,

Wate r ! I h u rri e d past h im an d fou nd m y si ste r

’
,

lyi n g fai nt i n g o n th e gro u nd wi th h e r h e ad in

’
m am a s lap .

“
W h at h av e you b e e n do i n g to M artha ? I ’

crie d , t h ro wi ng m yse l f on m y k ne e s b e si de h e r .

“
No o ne answe re d m e . M am a , as h e lpl e ss as

a ch il d was wri n gi ng
, h e r h ands, an d p ap a was
c he wi ng h is m ou st ache ,
t o su pp re ss h is t e ars, as it
se e m e d . T h e n,
I b e nt down ove r th e p oor
as

cre atu re I saw a b l u e spe ckl e d sh e e t o f pape r

,
-

l yi ng b e si de h e r o n th e fl oor wh i ch I i m m e di ate l y , ,

an d u nob se rve d b y any on e appro p ri ate d , .

17 8 TH E WISH

Th e re u p o n I q u i ckly did wh at was m ost p re s

i g: I
s n ll e d my si ste r to co n sci ou sn e ss and le d
re ca ,

h e r, wh il e sh e gaz e d ab ou t wi th v acant e ye s u p to ,

her roo m .

“
Th e re I l ai d h e r u p o n he r b ed . Sh e stare d u p

at th e ce ili n g ,
an d fro m t i m e to t i m e want e d to

dri n k . H er s pi ri t did n ot ye t se e m to h ave

awa k e ne d agai n at all .

“
I m e anwh il e se cre t l y dre w t h e l e tte r fro m m y
p ock e t an d re ad wh at I h e re re co rd v e rb all y ;
,
fo r
I h av e care u f ll y p re se rve d th i s m o nu m e n t of

m o th e r ly an d s st e r i l y affe ct i o n

Mv BE L O VE D BR O TH ER ! D EAR E ST SISTER
IN -
L AW -
A ci rcu m stance o f a v e ry p ai n fu l n atu re

co m pe l s m e to wri te to you to- day . Yo u are , I

am fu ll y conv i n ce d h ow m u ch I l ove you and
su re , ,

h ow m u ch m y h e art l ong s t o b e in th e cl ose st

p ossi b l e re l at i o n to you an d yo u r ch il dre n All .

t h ro u gh m y life I h av e on ly sho wn yo u ki ndne ss

and a ffe ct i o n ,
an d re ce ve d i th e sam e fro m yo u .

R e lyi ng on th i s aff
e ct i o n I to day addre ss
-
a re

qu e st to yo u , wh i ch is prom p te d b y th e an x e ty o f
i
a m oth e r s h e art To day R ob e rt
'
.
-
m y so n cam e to
1 80 TH E WIS H .

m o rt gage s wh i ch we st ill h o l d u pon it and b y th e ,

i nte re sts o f wh i ch we an d m y o th e r ch il dre n h av e

to li ve — so th at m arri age wi t h a p o o r gi rl wou l d

i pl y m
s m e an i t o h im
ru n .

I do n o t t ak e i n to accou n t t h at yo u r dau g h te r

M arth a m u st— acco rdi n g t o you r le tt e rs — be a m

we akl y an d de li cate cre at u re , an d th e re fo re app e ars

to m e u tt e r ly un fit t o t ak e ch e e r u f ll y u p o n h e rse l f
th e care s of th i s l arge h o u se h o l d an d to re nde r

m y so n R o b e rt h appy ; th e i de a th at sh e wou l d
co m e i n to h is h ou se w i t h em pty h an ds is in i tse lf
de ci si v e fo r m e , an d su ffi ce s to i
con v n ce m e th at

sh e h e rse lf m u st b e co m e u nh a ppy and m ake him

so .

If you r dau gh te r Marth a tru l y l ov e s m y so n

R ob e rt , it w ill n ot p ro ve h ard for h e r to re no u n ce

all t h ou gh ts o fa m arri age wi th h im in th e i n te re sts

o fh is we lfare p rov i de d o f co u rse h e sh ou l d still
, , ,

h av e th e co u rag e to p ro p ose t o h e r in spi te o f h is

pare nt s o pp osi t i o n— al t h o u gh I do n ot e xpe ct su ch
’

fi l i al di so b e di e n ce fro m h im and ab so l u te l y cann ot

,

i m agi n e su ch a th i ng I am co nv i nce d m y de ar
.
,

l i th at you r b ro th e rly an d si ste rl y aff

re at o n s, e ct i on

will p ro m p t you to j o i n wi th m e in re fu si ng you r

 TH E WISH . 18 1

conse nt, n o w and for e v e r, t o su ch a pe rn i ci o u s and

u nnatu ra l i
u n o n,

Y o u rs, wi th i
s n ce re l ove ,

! O H AN NA H E LLINGE R
“
.

P S —H ow
. . h av e you r cro p s tu rne d ou t
W i n te r rye wi th us is g o od ,
b u t th e p otatoe s sh o w

m uch di se ase
’
.

R age at th i s m e an pi e ce o f
and h yp ocri t i cal
wri t i ng so p osse sse d m e t h at l ou dly l au gh i ng I , ,

cru m pl e d th e sh e e t o f p ap e r b e n e ath m y fe e t .

“
My l au ghte r p rob ab l y h u rt M arth a fo r it was ,

h e r m o an i ng wh i ch at l e n g th b rou g h t m e b ack to
m y se nse s Th e re sh e lay no w h e lpl e ssly sm i tte n
.
,

do wn as if sh atte re d b y t h e b l ow wh i ch sh ou l d
,

h ave ste e l e d h e r st re n g th fo r e nh an ce d re si stance .

And as I g az e d do wn u p o n h e r tortu re d b y th e ,

consc o usn e ss o f
i b e i ng co n de m ne d to l oo k on i dl y,

th e re on ce g i
a a n b ro k e forth fro m m y sou l th at

igh o f o rm e r
f ti O h , th at yo u we re —she !
‘ ’
s m es :

Bu t wh at i g it conce al e d Wh at th e n
n e w m e an n

h ad b e e n fo lly and ch il di sh ne ss h ad now de ve l o p e d ,

i nto se riou sne ss o fpu rpo se ,

re ad
y se lf sacrifice
-

, an d

c onsc i ou sne ss o fstre n gth .

182 TH E WISH .

I de te rm i n e d to act as l o n g as e v e r th e re was
ti m e ye t . Fi rst o f all I wou l d go t o m y p are n ts
, ,

t e ll t h e m wh at I h ad do ne , an d th at f
or a l o ng ti m e
l
a re ady I h ad b e e n i n i t i ate d i nto e v e ryt h i n g— an d

fi n all y de m an d o f th e m t o assig n t o m e at l e ngth

t h at p osi t i on in th e fam il y co u n cil wh i ch in spi te ,

ofm y you th , was du e to m e .

“
Bu t I j
re e cte d th i s i de a agai n . As soo n as I
p arti cipate d in th e de li b e rat i o n s of m y fam ily , it

b e cam e m y du ty n o t t o act co n t ra ry to wh ate v e r

t h e y th o u g h t goo d and on l y if I
, ppare n tl y too k
a

no he ed o f an yth i n g cou l d I b e
, wo rki ng fo r th e
l
sa v at o n i of m y p oor si ste r accordi ng t o m y o wn

pl ans an d m y o wn j u dg m e n t .

“
I v e ry soo n saw h ow m at te rs lay . E ach o ne

h ad re ad in t h e l e tte r wh at m ost a pp e al e d t o h is

n at u re .
’
“
P ap a, q u i te p osse sse d by a p o or m an s p ri de ,

wo u l d, afte r t h i s, h av e t h o u gh t it a di sgrace to le t

h is ch il d e nt e r a fam ily wh e re sh e wou l d b e l ook e d

at di sp aragi n gl y . M am a, for h e r p art ,
h ad b e e n

tou ch e d b y th e i nte rspe rse d p ro fe ssi o ns o faffe ct i on ,

th o u gh t th at h e r s i st e r in l aw s co nfi de nce
’
an d
- -

ou gh t not to b e ab u se d .
18 4 TH E WISH .

I h e ard h e r p ronou nce th e se de sp ai ri ng an d h op e

l e ss wo rds as ca m pose dl y as if th e y
l ly an d co m

we re a fo rm u l a of th e m u l t ipli cat i on tab le Do .

‘

’
n o t g ai n sa
y m e sh e co nt i nu e d ; not o n l y si n ce
‘
,

t o day do I k no w t h i s— I h av e al ways fe l t so m e
-

t h i n g o ft h e k i nd ,
and o u gh t by r ights not to h ave
b ee n start e d
l to day ; b u t it
-
ce rtai nl y doe s p se t
u

o ne , whe n o ne so u ne x pe cte dl y se e s in wri ti n g

b e fo re
’
o ne s e ye s the de ath se nte nce wh i ch h i th e rto
h as c l y dare d t o su gg e st to o n e s o wn
’
o ne scar e
’
i
co n sc e n ce .

“
As l q u e nt ly
e o as I p ossi b l y co u ld I
,
re m o n

strat e d wi th he r . I co ns igne d ou r au nt to t h e

b l ack e st de p th s ofh e ll , an d p rove d to a n ce ty t h at

i
sh e (M arth a! al o ne was b orn to b e co m e th e good
ang e l in R ob e rt s h ou se
’
Bu t it was no good h e r
.
,

fait h in h e rse lf wou l d not b e re v i ve d th e b l ow h ad

fall e n u p on h e r too h e av il y And fi nally sh e e x
.

pe cte d it of m e to wri t e no fu rth e r l e tte r t o h im ,

an d t o b re ak o f f our i nte rcou rse once and fo r a ll .

I was al arm e d to th e de pths o f m y sou l n o l e ss ,

for m y own t h an for h e r sak e I re fu se d too wi th

.
, ,

all th e e n e rgy o f wh i ch I was c ap ab l e ; b u t sh e

e rsi st e d in h e r de te rm i n at i o n and as sh e e v e n
p ,
 TH E WISH . 185

th re ate n e d to b e tray ou r co rre s ponde nce to ou r

p are nts I , was at l e ngth force d to co m pl y wh e th e r ,

I wo u l d or no .

T ro u b l e d days we re in M artha sl u n k sto re .

ab ou t th e h o u se lik e a gh o st P ap a rode lik e wil d

.

t h rou gh th e woo ds s taye d away at m e al t i m e s an d

,
-
,

h ad n ot a goo d word fo r an y o f u s Mam a o u r .

,

good fat m am a sat k n i tti n g in h e r corne r an d

, , ,

fro m t i m e to t i m e wip e d th e te ars o u t o f h e r e ye s ,

wh il e sh e l oo k e d ro u nd an xi o u sl y l e st an y o n e ,

sh ou l d n o t i ce it Y e s it was a sad t i m e
.
,

“
Two u rge n t l e tte rs fro m R ob e rt h ad arri v e d .

H e wrot e th at h e was in g re at tro u b l e an d I was ,

t o se n d him t i di n gs forth wi th I to l d M arth a .

n o th i n g o fth e m b u t I k e p t m y p ro m i se
, .

“
A we e k h ad p asse d b y wh e n I n oti ce d th at o u r
,

pare nts we re di scu ssi n g wh at answe r th e y wou l d

se n d t o au n t In o rde r to e xcl u de any su spi ci on
.

o fsne aki ng i nto a m arri age p ap a h ad th e i nt e n t i o n

,

o f b i n di n g h i m se lf b y a fi nal p ro m i se an d m am a ,

sai d ye s as sh e s ai d ye s t o e v e ryth i n g t h at did

‘ ’
,

not con ce rn j e lli e s and swe e ts .

Th e sam e day Marth a de cl are d th at sh e fe l t

186 TH E WIS H .

un fit to l e av e h e r b e d—th at sh e h ad no pai n ,
b ut
th at h e r li m b s wou l d no t carry h e r .

Th u s I saw m i sfortu ne gath e ri ng m ore and

m o re darkly I dare d n ot h e si tate any l o nge r
. .

Co m e ! R e d e e m you r p rom ise b e fore it is too

T h e se words And
’
l at e I wrote to h im . to b e

q u i te su re , I m yse lf ran down i n to th e to wn, and

h ande d the l e tte r to th e p ostilli on wh o was j u st

p re p ari ng to start fo r P ru ssi a .

“
At the m o m e nt wh e n th e e n ve o l pe l e ft m y
h ands, I fe l t a p ang at m y h e art as if I h ad th e re b y
su rre nde re d b y sou l to st ran ge powe rs .

I was o n th e p oi nt of re t u rni n g to
T h re e t i m es

ask m y l e tte r b ack b u t wh e n I did so in goo d

,

e arn e st t h e post illi o n was al re ady far away .

Wh e n I cli m b e d u p th e sl ope l e adi ng to th e

“

m an or h o use I hid m yse lf in th e b ush e s and we p t

b i tte rl y .

From th at h ou r an a gi tat i o n posse sse d m e , such

as I h ad ne ve r b e fore in m y life e x e r e n ce d
p i . I
fe l t as if fe ve r we re b u rn i n g in m y li m b s—at n igh ts
I ran ab ou t m y room re st l e ssly all day l on g I was ,

o n th e l ook -
ou t , and e v e ry a pp roach i ng carr a e i g
drov e all th e b l o o d t o m y h e art .
 1 88 TH E WIS H .

on ly ne ve r agai n t o h av e to face th at p ai r o f e ye s
for wh ose co m i n g I ye t h ad so l o ngi n gl y wai t e d .

An d th e n I pi ctu re d to m yse lf wh at du ri n g th e se ,

m o m e n ts was m o st p ro b ab l y t aki n g pl ace in th e

,

h ou se P ap a was su re to h av e b e e n so m e wh at
.

h e lpl e ss at s igh t of h im ,
fo r h e ce rta n i l y st ill fe l t
th e e ffe cts o f th at wi ck e d l e t te r ; h e was su re a so l
to h ave i
re s ste d a li tt l e wh e n h e h e ard h im u tte r

h is p ro po sal b u t th e n Marth a h ad app e are d— h o w

q u i ckl y sh e h as fou nd her st re n g th g i
a a n, poor
a ili n g cre atu re wh o b u t a ,
fe w m o m e nt s a o
g lay
t i re d t o de ath o n t h e so f a , h o w q u i ckly sh e will
h av e fo rgo tt e n e v e ryth i n g t h at th e ye ars h av e
b rou gh t o f so rro w and sadn e ss -
and n o w th e y will

e ach o t h e r s e m b race
’
lie in an d not re m e m ber m e .

And th e n su dde n ly a dark fe e li n g of de fi an ce

awo ke wi th i n m e.
‘
Why do yo u h i de away ? ’

i
cr e d a v o ce i . H av e yo u not do ne you r du ty ?

yo u r wo rk ?
’
Is n o t all th s i
W i th a su dde n je rk I i
ra se d m yse lf u p,

s m o ot h e d b ack m y tu m b l e d h ai r fro m m y fore

h e ad, an d wi th firm t re ad an d se t lip s I walk e d
t o wards th e h ou se . No so u nd o f re j o i ci n g g re e te d

m y e ars . All was q u i e t— q u i e t as t h e g rave . In

 TH E WISH . 1 89

t h e di n i ng -roo m I fou nd l
m am a a o ne . Sh e h ad
fo l de d h e r h ands and was h e av i ng de e p igh s s ,

wh il e g re at t e ars ro ll e d down as far as h e r wh i te

doub l e c h in .

th ou gh t
’
“ ‘
Th at is th e re su lt o f he r i
e m o t o n, I
to m yse lf, and sat do wn faci ng he r.

“ ‘
Wh e re ve r Olga ? sh e
h av e you b e e n h i di n g,
’

sai d th i s t i m e dryi n g h e r e ye s q u i te l e i su re l y
,
.

‘
You m u st h ave a fe w you n g fowl s kill e d fo r
su ppe r and se t th e good M o se ll e in a c o l d pl ace
,
.

Cou si n R ob e rt h as co m e
’
.

“
Ah i nde e d said I ve ry cal m l y wh e re m ay
‘
,
’
, , ,

he b e
’
H e is
ki ng to pap a in his st u dy
S eap .

And whe re is M arth a ? I ask e d sm ili n g , .

Sh e g ave m e a di sapprov i n g l o o k for m y p re

cocio u sne ss and th e n sai d Sh e is in th ere t oo
’
, , , .

Th e n I su pp ose I can go at once and o ffe r m y

’
c o n gratu l ati ons I re m ark e d , .

’
Sau cy gi rl ,
i d sh e
sa .

Bu t b e fore I c o u l d carry o u t m y pu rp ose th e

doo r of th e adj o i ni n g ro o m pe ne d and in walk e d

o

s o w y, as s o w
l l l l y as if he cam e fro m a se p u l c h re ,

R ob e rt— Cou si n R ob e rt, wi th ash

y pal e face and
i s
19 ° TH E WISH .

gre at drop s of pe rspi rat i on I fe l t on h is b ro w .

h ow, at sigh t o f h im all m y b l oo d t o o l e ft m y

, , ,

face . A p re se n t i m e nt o f e v il awo ke wi th i n
m e .

‘
W h e re is M arth a I cr e d, i h ast e n i n g t o wards

’
I do no t k no w . H e s poke as if e ve ry wo rd
ch o k e d h im . H e did n o t e v e n sh a ke h ands .

And th e n p ap a cam e t o o, aft e r him .

M am a h ad go t up an d all t h re e stoo d th e re

and s il e nt l y sh o o k h ands lik e at a fu n e ral .

W h e re is M arth a ? I ’
cr e d on ce m o re
i .

an d h e r,
’
Go l oo k a te r f sa i d p ap a ,
‘
sh e will
’
want you .

I ru sh e d o u t , u p t h e stai rs to h e r roo m . It was

l ock e d .

“ ‘
Marth a ,
o pe n the do o r ! It is I .
’

N o th i n g st rre d
i .

I I i m pl ore d I p ro m i se d to m ake
b e gg e d, ,

e ve ryth i n g rig h t ag ai n I l av i sh e d e nde ari ng .

e pi th e ts u p o n h e r—th at ,
t o o, was in va n i . N oth i ng
was au d ib le e xce pt fro m t i m e to t i m e a de e p
b re ath wh i ch sou n de d lik e a g asp fro m a h alf
t h rott l e d th ro at .
 19 2 TH E WISH .

we we re ab o u t to se p arate ,
e ach one t o go t o h is

roo m ,
R o b e rt se iz e d b o th m y h ands an d dre w m e

i n to a co rn e r.

My th an k s
Olga h e sai d wh il e h is lips
to yo u ,
’
, ,

t wi tch e d f
or h av i ng so fa i t h fu ll y tak e n m y p art
, .

N o w we will m ark a l on g p au se at t h e e n d o f our

’
l e tte rs .

For h e av e n s ke R o b e rt, I
’ ’
sa , stam m e re d,

h owe v e r did t h i s
’
ab o u t
‘
. co m e ?
“
H e sh ru
gge d his sh o u l de rs I su ppo se I k e pt .

he r
’
wai t i n g t oo l o ng h e th e n sai d sh e h as ,

’
g rown t i re d of m e .

I was ab o u t Th at is tru e — th at
‘
to cry o u t not

is no t t ru e b u t b e h ind u s stoo d m y fathe r and

i n fo rm e d h im th at, acco rd n i g t o his wi sh , th e co n

v e yance wou l d b e re ady at dayb re ak .

‘
Th e n I I i
’
am n ot to se e you any m o re ? cr e d,

a arm e d
l .

H e sh o o k his h e ad . We h ad b e tte r b id e ach

’
o th e r goo d b ye -
n o w, he sai d an d sq u e e z e d m
, y
h and .

“
W i th i n m e a vo ce i cr e d i th at h e m u st n ot

de p art th u s, th at I m u st s e a p k to him at any p ri ce .

Bu t I b rave l y su pp re sse d th e words t h at we re

 TH E WIS H . 19 3

l
ne ar y ch o kin g m e . And so we o nce m ore sh o o k
h an ds parate d
an d se .

I h ad se v e ral th i ngs to do ye t in th e h ou se and ,

wh il e I pu t o u t so m e co ffe e and we igh e d ou t fl o u r

or ne xt m orn i ngs m e al t h e wo rds we re
’
an d b aco n f ,

co nstan tl y in m y e ars Yo u m u st sp e ak to h im
’
.

T h e n as I we nt wi th m y can dl e in m y h an d
, , ,

u p to m y ro o m I m ade a de tou r p ast h is doo r fo r

, ,

I h o pe d I m igh t pe rh ap s m e e t h im o n th e l andi ng
b u t th at was e m p ty and h is door was cl o se d O nly
, .

th e sou nd o f h is h e avy fo o tste ps i n si de t he ro o m

was au di b l e th ro u gh ou t t h e h ou se .

“
In M arth a s ’
ro o m it was il
as s e nt as de ath . I
p ut m y e ar to th e k e yh o l e ; n o th n i g was au d i b le .

Sh e m igh t as we ll h av e b e e n de ad or fl o wn .

Te rro r ize d m e
se I k n e l t do wn in front o f.

th e k e yh o l e b e gge d and i m pl ore d and fi nally

, ,

th re ate ne d to fe tch ou r p are nt s if sh e st ill p e rs i st e d

in gi v i ng n o sig n o flife .

“
Th e n at l e n gt h sh e vo u ch sa e d m e f an answe r .

I h e ard a v o ce :i ‘
Sp are m e, ch il d j u st
, for to day -

s p are m e And th i s i
v o ce sou nde d so stran ge
th at I h ardly re co gni se d it .

I we nt on m y way n o w, b ut m y fe ar i ncre ase d

19 4 TH E WISH .

l e st he m igh t se t forth wi th ange r an d di sappo i n t

m e nt in h is h e a rt wi th ou t a word o f e xpl anati on
, ,

wi th ou t e v e r h av i n g su sp e cte d t h e g re atne ss o f
Marth a s l o ve ’
.

A v e ry fe ve r b u rn t wi th i n m y b rai n, an d e v e ry

pu l sat i o n of m y ve nsi c ri e d ou t to m e : You m u st

s pe ak to h im — you m u st s p e ak to h im

I h alf u n dre sse d an d t h re w m yse lf o n th e sofa .

Th e l
c oc k stru c k e l e v e n— it stru ck h alf -
p ast e l e ve n .

St ill h is fo otste ps re so u n de d th ro u gh t h e h ou se .

Bu t th e l at e r it was, th e m o re did it gro w im pos

s ib le fo r m e to carry ou t m y re so ve l .

W h at if a se rv ant sh ou l d spy u p on m e — shou l d

se e m e st e ali n g i n to o u r g ue st s roo m ! My h e art ’

s to o d st ill at th e th ou g h t .

T h e cl o ck stru ck t we l v e I o pe ne d the .

wi ndo w and l o o k e d o u t u p on th e wo rl d E v e ry .

’
t h i ng se e m e d as l e e p e v e n from R ob e rt s and
,

Marth a s roo m s n o lig h t sho n e fo rth Bo th we re

’
.

b u ryi n g th e i r so rro w an d an g u i sh in th e lap of

dark ne ss .

W i th th e n igh t wi n d th at b e at agai nst th e

“

e ase m e n t, th e wo rds dro n e d in m y e a rs :

‘
Yo u
m u st —yo u m u st And lik e a so ft swe e t m e o dy l
19 6 TH E WISH .

Th e n I fe l t c u t ch e d
l — fe l t h ot
b o th m y h an ds a

wav e o f b re at h ne ar m y fo re h e ad .

“
At th e fi rst m o m e nt th e m ad i de a m ay h av e
darte d th rou gh h is b rai n, th at Marth a h ad in su ch

i m p e tu o u s m ann e r b e th o u gh t h e rse lf of he r o ld

l ov e — in th e n e xt h e h ad a re ady re co
l g n i se d m e .

Fo r H wh ate v e r
’
ke ch il d he cr e d, i
’ ‘
e av e n s sa , ,

h as po sse sse d yo u ? W hat b ri n gs you to m e ?

H as n o o ne p ossi b l y se e n yo u , say — h as n o o ne

se e n you ?
“
sh oo
I k m y h e ad . H e st ill ev i de ntl y th i n k s

you v e ry stu pi d I , th ou gh t to m yse lf, an d dre w a

de e p b re at h , fo r I fe l t th e t e rro rs of m y v e ntu re

we re di sapp e ari n g from m y so u l .

fre e an d h ast e ne d to k light

“
H e se t m e m a e a .

I gro p e d m y way to th e f
so a, an d droppe d down

in a co rn e r .

“
Th e ligh t of the can d e l fl are d up — it dazzl e d
m e . I tu rn e d t o wards t h e wall and co v e re d m y
face .A fe e li n g o f we ak n e ss a l o n gi n g t o cli ng ,

to so m e t h i n g h ad co m e o v e r m e
,
I was so gl ad .

t o b e w i th h im , t h at I fo rgo t all e l se .

“ ‘
O lg a m y
,
de ar, g oo d ch il d h e ,
’
g
u r e d,
‘
s p e ak
t e ll m e wh at yo u wan t of m e
’
ou t, ?
 TH E WISH . 197

I l ooke d u p at h im I saw h is swarth y .

,

’
se ri ous fac e in wh i ch th e day s trou b l e h ad g rav e n
,

de e p fu rrows and b e cam e l ost in its co n te m pl a

,

t ion .

W h at do you wan t D o you b ri n g m e ne ws

o f Marth a ?
’

‘
Ye s, o f cou rse , Marth a ! ’
I p u ll e d m yse l f
t oge th e r A way wi th th i s
. se n t i m e n t al se lf

ab ando n ! In m y li m b s I once m ore fe l t t h e

firm stre n gth o f wh i ch I was so p rou d L i ste n .
,

R ob e rt said I you will n ot se t ou t at dayb re ak

’
, ,

’
al re ady .

W hy sho u ld I not do so ? sai d h e se tt i ng his ’

,

Be cau se I do n ot wi sh it
All due
p e ct to you r wi sh e s
re s , m y de ar
ch il d I re pli e d h e wi th a b i tte r l au gh
’

, ,
‘
b u t th e y
al te r n o th i n g in m y re so l ve
’
.

So l ose Martha for e ve r ?

you want to
’

N o w I fe l t m yse lf o nce m ore so stro n g and

j oyo u s in m y 7 518 of gu ardi an t hat I wou l d h av e ,

ta k e n u p figh t wi th th e wh o l e worl d to b ri n g t h e se

two t oge th e r Fooli sh u n susp e ct i n g c re atu re t h at

.
,

I was
19 8 TH E WISH

H a ve I l
n o t a re ady l o st her he re pli e d , an d

st are d i n to v acan c
y .

W h at did sh e say t o yo u to -
day
W hy sh o u ld I re p e at it ? Sh e s p ok e ve ry

w i se l y an d v e ry sta i dl y,
as o ne can on l y spe ak if
’
one h as ce ase d to l ov e a p e rso n .

An d yo u re a ll y b e li e v e t h at ?
’
I as e d k .

Mu st I n ot b e li e v e it ? And a te r all,
f wh at
doe s it sign ify ? E ve n if sh e h ad re t a n e d i a

re m nan t of he r a ffe ct i o n for m e , sh e did we ll t o

ge t rid o f it th o rou gh l y on th i s o ccas o n i ; it is

b e tte r th u s, fo r h e r as we ll as fo r m e . I h av e
n oth n i g to o ffe r he r ; no h appi ne ss, no joy ,
n ot

e v e n so m e li t t l e p al try pl e asu re no th i n g b u t work , ,

t ro u b l e an d an xi e t y— fro m
’
an d , ye ar s e nd to

ye ar s
’
e nd . An d adde d t o t h at, a m o th e r -
in law -

wh o is h o st il e t o h e r, wh o wo u l d m a ke he r fe e l it
’
k e e n ly , t h at sh e h ad co m e wi th em p ty h an ds .

I fe l t how m y b l ood ru sh e d to m y face I . was

ash am e d, b ut no t for M arth a or m yse lf— for I was

o f cou rse j u st as p oor as sh e ; no , fo r h im ,

t hat

he sh ou l d h av e to s p e ak th u s of h is o wn m ot h e r .

And no w say yo u rse lf, gi rl h e we nt

’
m y ,
o n,

‘
is sh e no t wi se r, wi th su ch p rospe cts b e fo re h e r,
2 00 TH E WISH .

Se e , R o b e rt , I l to ge th e r I
id t aki n g
’ ‘
sa ,
m e a ,

am a foo li sh cre atu re Bu t as re gards l ove I do .

,

k no w ab ou t th at n o t o n l y th ro u gh th e poe ts ; I
,

h av e fe l t it in m yse lf fo r a l o n g t i m e
’
.

’
D o you l ov e som e o n e th e n ? he as e d k .

I b l u sh e d an d sh oo k m y h e ad .

H ow l fe e l it w i th in you ?
’
e se can yo u he
we n t on .

“ ‘
It i n spi rat i o n fro m I
’
cam e as an H e av e n,

re pli e d l o we ri n g
, m y g az e to t h e grou nd ,
‘
b ut I
k n ow I wo u l d n ot l ov e lik e you t wo . I wou l d not
b e do wn cast , I wou l d n o t ste a l away as you are
”
do i ng an d say :
“
It is b e tte r so ! I wou l d
co m pe l h e r wi th t h e ardou r o f m y so u l ; I wou l d
co n q u e r h e r wi th th e st re n g th O f m y arm s ; I
wou l d c asl p h e r to m y b re ast an d carry he r away

wi t h m e , n o m att e r wh i th e r ! Out i nt o th e n ight,

i n to th e de se rt, if n o su n wou l d sh i ne u po n u s, no

h o u se gi v e u s sh e l te r . I wou l d starv e w i th h e r at

th e ro ads i de ,
rath e r t h an gi v e fai r words to th e
worl d — th e worl d t h at
p arate m e so u ght to se

from h e r Th u s R o b e rt I wo u l d act if I we re
.
, ,

yo u and if I we re sh e I wou l d l au gh i n gl y throw ,

m yse lf u p o n you r b re ast an d wo u l d say t o you : ,

 TH E WI SH 20 1

Co m e, I will go a-
be ggi ng for you if you h ave
no b re ad, m y lap sh all b e you r re sti n g pl ac e if -

you h av e no b e d, you r wou nds I will h e al wi th

m y te ars
—I will su f
fer a th ou sand de ath s for you r
sa ke ,
an d than k G od th at it isf to m e v ou ch sa e d

Yo u se e R o b e rt th at is h o w I i m agi ne
”
to do so .
, ,

love an d not p aste d to g e th e r ou t o f fe ar o f

,

’
m oth e rs in law and u npai d i n te re s ts
- -
.

“
I h ad talke d m yse lf i nto a p assi on I fe l t .

h ow m y ch e e k s we re a gl o w an d th e n su dde nl y -
,

sh am e o ve rwh e l m e d m e at th e th o u g h t th at I h ad

t h u s l aid b are t o h im m y i nn e rm ost b e i n g I .

p re sse d m y h ands to m y fac e and struggl e d wi th ,

m y te ars .

Wh e n I dare d to l oo k u p agai n h e was stand ,

in g b e fore m e wi th gli ste n i ng e ye s and stari ng at

m e.
’
Ch il d, he sa id,
‘
wh e re in all th e worl d did

you ge t th at from ? Why it sou nde d lik e th e

Songs
’
Son g of .

“
I se t m y te e th and was s il e nt . I did n ot

know m yse lf ho w it had co m e to m e .

H e th e n se ate d h im se lf at m y s i de an d se ize d
b oth m y h ands .
2 02 TH E WISH .

h e we n t wh at you
’
Olg a, o n,
‘
j u st id was sa

n ot e xact l y p ract i cal ,

b u t it was b e au t ifu l and
t ru e , an d h as i
st rre d u p th e v e ry de p th s of m
y
so u l . It se e m e d to m e as if I we re li ste n i n g to a

i
v o ce fro m so m e o th e r worl d , an d I am l
a m ost

ash am e d of h av i n g b e en fai nt -
h e arte d an d

co ward ly . Bu t e ve n if I b race d m yse lf up and

th ou gh t as yo u do : wh at good wo u l d it all b e,
’
se e n i g th at sh e no l o n ge r care s for m e ?

cr e d,
’
Sh e fo r yo u ? I i sh e will die
‘
n o t care

of it, if yo u l e ave h e r, R ob e rt !

I sa w h ow a j o yful dou b t ill u m i ne d his

co u n te n ance , an d I fe l t as if a stran ge h and we re

g rippi n g at m y th roat ; b u t I wo u l d not le t

m yse lf b e de te rre d fro m m y p u rpose and gath e r ,

g e th e r all y de fi I co nt nu e d : i I
‘
ing to m an ce ,

k n ow ,
R o b e rt, th at yo u will de spi se m e whe n you
h ave h e ard wh at I am ab o u t to te ll you ; b u t I
m u st do it, so th at yo u m ay u n de rstan d t hat

yo u can not de p art . I h av e pl aye d a fal se gam e

t o wards you , R o b e rt, I h ave b e traye d you r co n fi

’
de nce .

“
An d wi th b ate d b re ath , g as pi n g fo rth th e
20 4 TH E WISH .

on l y fe l t m y h e ad su dde n l y fall h e av il y g i
a a n st th e

so a- e d e
f l g . Th e n th e p ai n awa k e ne d m e as fro m
a de e p , de e p dre am .

m o t o n e ss an d
“
I lay t h e re i l gasp e d for b re ath .

H e n o t ce d i it an d cr e i d in l
a arm ,
‘
You are grow
in g q u i te p al e ,
ch il d h av e you h u rt you rse lf ?
’

I n o dde d, an d re m ar e d k th at it was n o th n i g ,

an d wou l d so o n pass o ve r . Ah ! I k ne w too we ll

t h at it wou l d n o t p ass o ve r, th at it wo u l d b e grave n
in fl am i ng l e tte rs u p on m y h e art an d u p o n m y se nse s ,

th at o n m any a l on g ,
co ld ,
wi nte r s
’
n ight I sh ou ld
find warm th in t h e gl o w of th i s m o m e nt, in t h i s
gl ow wh i ch was on ly th e re fl e ct i on of l ov e for

an o th e r .

“
I k n e w all th at ,
an d fe l t as if I m u st su ccu m b

b e ne ath th e we igh t of th i s i
co n sc ou sne ss, b ut I

b race d m yse lf up, fo r I h ad su ffi ci e n tl y l e arnt to

ke e p m yse lf u n de r co ntro l
id I I want of
’
R o b e rt, sa , to giv e you a pi e ce
adv ce , and th e n
i le t m e go , fo r I am t i re d !

wil l b li ndly do
’
Sp e ak , p e ak ! he cr e d, i I
“ ‘ ‘
s

’
wh ate v e r you wi sh .

“
Th e n, I l oo k e d at h im it m ade m e sigh wi th
as ,

m i ngl e d pai n and b liss fo r th e th o u g h t ke p t co m i ng

,
 TH E WISH . 205

’
H e h as he l d you in h is I sh ou ld
‘
to m e : arm s.

h av e lik e d b e st of all to si nk b ack o nce m ore wi th

cl o se d e ye s i nto th e so fa co rn e r and si m u l ate fai n t
-

ing a li tt l e l o ng e r b u t I p u ll e d m yse lf toge th e r an d

,

sai d : I am p re tty ce rtai n th at M arth a will n o t

‘

cl ose h e r e ye s to n ig h t b u t b e o n th e watch t o se e
-
,

yo u go Sh e will want to l oo k afte r you and as

.

h e r roo m li e s towards th e garde n sh e will e i th e r go

i n to you rs or th e o ne adj o i n i ng W he n yo u ge t .

do wnstai rs wai t a li tt l e wh il e and th e n do as if ,

yo u h ad forgo tte n so m e th i ng and the n — an d ,

th e n I co u l d n o t go o n for all too m igh ty ,

wi th i n m e was th e sob b i n g an d re j oi ci ng H e h as
h e l d you in h is arm s .
’

“
I fe are d t h at I sh o u
l d no l onge r b e ab l e to
m aste r m
y e xci te m e n t— wi th o u t a word o f fare
we ll I t urne d to tak e to fligh t p re cipi tate ly Wh e n .

I o pe ne d th e door—M arth a stood b e fore m e . Sh e

stoo d t he re , b are foo te d, h alf dre sse d, -
as p al e as

de ath , an d tre m b li n g . She was u n ab e l to st r i ;

her stre n gth p rob ab l y fail e d he r .

“
And at the sam e m o m e nt I h e ard b e h i nd m e

a gl ad cry saw h im ru sh past

, m e and c l asp he r
to tte ri n g form in h is arm s .

1 4
206 TH E WISH .

Th an k G od, now I h av e you T h at was the

l ast I h e ard th e n I fle d t o m y roo m as if p u rsu e d
by fu ri e s lo c ke d and
, b o l te d e v e ryth ng, and i we pt,
we pt b itte rly .

O ve r th e d ays th at now fo ll o we d with the i r

,

crush n i g b l ows o f ate ,f wi th th e i r li n ge ri ng sorrow ,

I will p ass wi th ra pi d str i de . In th e m I b e c am e

m atu re d : I b e c am e a wo m an .

“
E igh t m o nth s afte r th at n igh t p apa was carri e d

h om e on a waggon -
rac k . H e h ad
fall e n from h is
h o rse and s st a n e d
u i grav e i nte rn al i nj uri e s Th re e .

days l ate r h e die d . In th e m i se ry th at now b e se t

th e h ou se h old , I was t h e o n l y o n e wh o k e pt a cl e ar
h e ad . M arth a b ro k e down fe e b l y and m am a ,

oh , ou r p oo r de ar m am a ! Sh e h ad b e e n s i tti ng
for so m any ye ars co m fo rtab l y an d pl acidly in th e

ch i m ne y- corne r, k n it t i n g sto cki n gs and che w n i g

fru it j uj u b e s
-
th e wh il e th at sh e wou l d
,
not and

cou ld n ot re a se li t h at it m u st b e di f
fe re nt n ow.

Sh e s p ok e n ot i gl e word sh e
a s n , h ardly she d a

t e ar, b u t i nte rnall y th e so re sp re ad , and e ve n h ad

th e b rai n fe v e r wh i ch
,
at tac e d k he r fou r we e ks
208 TH E WISH

O n e day h e h i m se lf arr ve di . N ow I h ave

com e to fe tch you h om e,
’
he cr e d o u t
i to M artha .

Sh e k u p on h is b re ast an d t h e re we pt h e r fill
san .

Th e h app y cre at u re ! I m e an wh il e cre p t away i n to

th e dark e st arb ou r an d wo n de re d wh e th e r m y h e art

,

wo u l d e ve r fin d a hom e p re p are d fo r it , wh e re it

m igh t t ak e re u f ge in h o u rs of tro u b l e or h o u rs of

h appi n e ss ! I v e ry we ll fe l t th at th e se we re i dl e
dre am s, for th e on l y pl ace in t h e wo rl d—in sh o rt,

a fe e li n g of de fi an ce awo ke wi t h i n m e , of b i tte r
ne ss so g re at ,
so galli ng to m y wh o l e natu re , th at I
h arsh l y an d gl oo m il y fle d m y de ar o ne s
’
em b race ,
an d gre w co l d an d re se rv e d in so li tary sadne ss .

I was to go wi th th e m ,
was to sh are th e re m

n an t o f h a ppi n e ss th at st ill re m a ne d i fo r th e m ,
and

to m a e k a pe rm an e nt h om e for m yse lf at m y
b ro th e r in - -
l aw s h e arth
’
b ut co l dl y and ob sti nate l y
I re pu di ate d h is O ffe r .

In v ai n b o th o f t h e m st ro v e to l
so v e th e ri ddl e
of m y b e h av i o u r, an d Martha , wh o fre tte d b e cause

n o ne o fh e r h appi ne ss was t o fall to m y sh are , o fte n

cam e at n igh ts to m y b e ds i de an d we p t u pon m y
ash am e d o fm
ne c k . T he n I fe l t y h ard di sp o si ti on,
sp o k e t o h e r care ssi n gl y as to a ch il d
,
an d did no t
 TH E WISH 2 09

a owll h e r to l e ave m e t ill a sm il e o f h ope b ro k e

t h rou g h h e r trou b l e .

Fo r a we e k R ob e rt wo rk e d h ard in e v e ry di rce
t i o n t o di sp o se o f o u r b e l o n gi n gs an d find p u r

ch ase rs f o r t he m Ve ry li ttl e re m ai ne d o v e r for u s

.

b u t th e n we did n o t re qu i re anyth i n g .

T h e n q u i te q u i e t ly th e we ddi n g to o k pl ace
, ,
I .

an d t h e o ld h e ad i n sp e cto r we re t h e wi tn e sse s an d
-
,

i n ste ad o f a we ddi ng b re akfast we we n t ou t t o th e

ch u rch yard an d b ade fare we ll to th e n e wl y m ade -

grave s wh ose ye ll ow sand th e iv y was b e gi nn i n g

,

to cov e r scan t il y wi th th i n trail s .

D u ri n g th e l ast we e k s I h ad b e e n loo ki n g ou t

fo r a s u i tab l e si tu at i o n I h ad re ce i ve d se ve ral
.

of fe rs ; I h ad o nl y to ch oose And wh e n R ob e rt .
,

wi th g rave and so l e m n l oo k s pl ace d h i m se lf in ,

fro n t o f m e and so li ci tou sly aske d W h at is to ,

‘

b e co m e o f you n ow ch il d ? w i th a cal m sm il e I
’
,

di scl ose d to him m y pl an s for th e fu tu re so t h at ,

h e cl app e d h is h an ds in adm i rat i o n an d cri e d

‘
U pon m y word I e n vy yo u you u nde rstan d h o w
to m ak e yo u r way
’
.

“
And M arth a t oo e nv e d m e ,
i th at I cou l d se e by
th e sad l oo ks wh i ch sh e faste ne d on m e and
2 10 TH E WIS H

R ob e rt . Sh e h e rse lf w i sh e d th at sh e m igh t o nce

m o re h av e all m y u n b ro ke n , yo u th fu l stre n gth to

lay it u p on his a tar o f sacr

l ifi ce . I ki sse d h e r and
to l d h e r to ke e p up he r spi ri ts , an d h e r e ye s wi t h
wh i ch sh e l ook e d i m pl o ri n gly up at R ob e rt said
I giv e you all t h at I am forgi ve m e th at it is n ot

’
m o re .

Ne xt m orn n i g we se t fo rth ; t h e you ng cou pl e

to th e i r n e w h o m e —I to go am on g st ran ge rs .

a
le 5?

Of th e n e xt th re e ye ars I will say n o th n i g

at all . W hat I su f
fe re d du ri n g th at t i m e in th e

way of m o rtificatio n and hum ili at i o n is g rav e n

wi th i nde li b l e li ne s u pon m y so u l ; it h as fi nally
i h arde n i ng an d
ach e v e d the of m y di s posi t i o n,
m ade m e co l d and su spi ciou s to wards e v e ry li v i n g
hum an b e i ng I h av e l e arn t to de spi se t h e i r
.

h at re d an d st ill m o re th e i r l o ve I hav e l e arnt .

to sm il e wh e n an gu i sh was t e ari n g wi th i ro n grip

at m y so u l . I h av e l e arn t to carry m y h e ad
e re ct, wh e n I co u ld h av e h i dde n it in th e du st

for ve ry sh am e .

“
The l e ade n h e avi ne ss o f dre ary, l ove l e ss days,
2 12 TH E WISH .

Aunt H e lli n ge r I h ate d wi th m y m ost arde nt

h atre d, th e o ld p h ysi ci an I l o ve d with m y m ost

arde n t l ov e , the i nsipi d se t o f P h ili st i ne s who h ad
su ch a s pi te fu l way of l o oki n g at e ve ryth i n g and ,

so e xact l y re ck o n e d o u t o n th e i r fi n ge rs th e

p ro gre ss o f de cay o n R ob e rt s e state I h e l d in ’

i ci e st co nt e m pt O h th at I we re in h e r pl ace !
‘ ’
.

I o fte n m u tte re d b e twe e n m y se t te e th wh e n ,

M arth a pl ai nt i ve l y de scri b e d t h e li tt l e tri al s o f

th e i r so ci al i n te rco u rse h o w I wo u l d se n d th e m
,
‘

ab o u t t h e i r b u s i n e ss th e se co l d h au gh ty sh o p
, ,

k e e pe rs h o w th e y sh ou l d crawl in th e du st b e fore
m e , su b due d by m y sco rn an d m o c e ry k
“
Bu t h e r li tt l e j oys I l
a so sh are d wi th h e r . I
saw he r o rde r n i g an d di sp osi n g as m i stre ss in

and ou t of th e h o use , saw the li ttl e b and o f

willi n g se rva nts aro u n d h e r, and wi she d I cou l d

h av e b e e n ill ge ntl e r an d
st m ore h e lpfu l th an

sh e —th i s ang e l in h u m an sh a e p . I saw he r

se at e d on th e su nny b al con y, b e ndi ng ove r he r

l
n e e d e wo r k . I saw f h e r t aki ng h e r a t e rn oo n re st

u nde r t h e g re at b ran ch e s o f th e li m e s in the

g arde n I saw h e r as sh e sat wai ti ng for his
. ,

app e aran ce dre am ily g azi n g o u t u p o n th e wh i rl ing

,
 TH E WISH . 2 13

sno w- flake s, wh e n, o u ts id e h is ,
de e p i
v o ce re

so u nde d c
a ross t he cou rtyard, and i nsi de , th e

c offe e -
m ach n e
i ily h u m m i n g
was co s .

T h u s I li v e d th e i r li fe wi th th e m wh il e fo r ,

m e o ne l one l y and j oyl e ss day j o i ne d o n to the

n e xt lik e th e i ro n li n k s o f an e n dl e ss ch ai n .

“
It was in th e th i rd ye ar th at M art h a co n
fe sse d to m e t hat R ob e rt s arde nt wish and h e r ’

o wn s il e nt p raye r was t o b e f u lfille d—th at sh e

was to b e c o m e a m o th e r Bu t at th e sam e ti m e
.

h e r te rro r g re w l e st h e r we ak fra il b ody sh ou l d

, ,

n ot b e e qu al t o t h e tri al wh i ch was in store f or

he r . I h op e d and fe are d with h e r and p e rh ap s ,

m ore th an sh e for l one li ne ss an d di stan ce dis

,
-

tot te d th e v i si on s of m y i m agi n at i on Many a .

n igh t I wo ke u p b ath e d in te ars ; for in m y

dre am s I h ad al re ady se e n h e r as a c orp se b e fore
m e . A m e m o ry of m y e arli e st gi rlh oo d re turne d
to m e wh e n I h ad fou nd h e r one day rigi d and
, ,

p al e lik e one de ad u p on th e sofa

, , .

“
Th i s v i si on did not l e ave m e Th e ne are r the .

de ci si v e te rm app roach e d the m o re was I co n

,

su m e d wi th an xi e ty I b e gan to su ffe r b odily

.

from th e m i sg i vi n gs ofm y b rai n an d the strange rs ,

21 4 TH E WISH

am o n g wh o m I dwe l t— I will n o t m e nt o n i th e m

by nam e , for th e y are n ot worth nam i ng in th e se

pag e s— gre w to b e m e re ph anto m s fo r m e .

’
M arth a s l ast l e tte rs so u nde d p rou d and fu ll
of j oyfu l h o p e H e r fe ar se e m e d to h ave dis
.

a ppe are d ; sh e al re ady re ve ll e d in th e de ligh ts of

a pp ro ach i n g m at e rn i t
y .

Th e n fo ll o we d th re e days in wh i ch I re m a ne d i
wi th ou t ne ws, th re e days o f fe v e ri sh an x e ty, an d
i
th e n at l e ngth cam e a te l e gram fro m m y b roth e r
in law
-
Marth a sa e f ly de li v e re d of a b oy, wants
’

you . Com e qu i ckl y .

W i th th e
“
te l e g ram in m y h an d , I h aste n e d to

m y m i st re ss and as ke d fo r th e n e ce ssary l e ave

o f ab se nce . It was re u se d
f m e . I ,
in wil dly

aro u se d fu ry fl u ng
,
m y n ot ce i to qu it in h e r face ,

an d de m ande d m yfre e do m i nstan tl y .

Th e y t ri e d to find e xcu se s sai d I ,

cou l d not be

s pare d j u st th e n , th at I m u st at le ast m a e k up

m y accou nts, an d form all y h an d ov e r m y m ana e g

m e nt th e l ong an d th e sh ort o f it was th at ,
by

m e an s o f de spi cab l e p re te x ts th e y de l aye d m e fo r

t wo days, as if to m ak e th e de p e ndant, wh o h ad

al ways b e h ave d so p rou dly fe e l ,

o n ce m o re to th e

fu ll th e de g radat i o n o fh e r hu m b le p osi ti o n .
2 16 TH E WISH .

stan d ni g g ossipi n g and p e opl e ou t for a walk

,

sau n te re d l e i su re l y to wards m e At m y app roach .

t h e y sto pp e d sh ort stari n g at m e lik e at so m e

,

wo nde rfu l b i rd ; an d wh e n I h ad p asse d lo w ,

wh i sp e rs an d giggl e s sou nde d b e h i nd m e . A

h orror iz e d m e at th i s m i se rab l e P h ili st i ni sm
se .

No t u ntil I saw th e t own g ate wi th its to we r

lik e wall s ri se u p b e fore m e did m y m i nd g ro w ,

e asi e r .I k ne w it q u i te we ll Marth a in h e r l e tte rs

.

was won t t o call it t h e G ate o f H e ll fo r th ro u g h

’
,

it sh e h ad to p ass wh e n an i n v i t at i o n fro m h e r

m o th e r- in - law su m m o n e d he r i nto th e t o wn .

“
As I walk e d th rou gh th e dark v au l t i ng ,
I
su dde n ly saw o n th e oth e r s i de o f t he archway,

fram e d as it we re in a b l ack fram e ,

th e
‘
Man or ’

b e fo re m y e ye s .

“
It lay h ardl y a th ou san d p ace s away from m e .

T he wh i te wall s Of th e
gl e am e d
m an or h ou se

acro ss wav i n g b u sh e s fl oo de d b y t h e p u rpl e rays

,

o ft h e s e tt i ng su n T h e zi nc cov e re d roo f gli st e n e d

.
-

as if a cascade O f fo am i n g wate r we re gli di n g do wn

ove r it . Fro m th e wi n do ws fl am e s se e m e d to b e

b u rst i ng, an d a sto rm -

c ou d
l h u ng lik e a can o py
of b l ack cu rd n li g sm o ke ov e r th e co pi n g .
 TH E WIS H . 2 17

I pre sse d m y h ands to m y h e art ; it s b e at i ng

al m os t t oo k m y b re ath ,
so de e pl y did th e s igh t
affe ct m e . For a m o m e nt I h ad a fe e li n g as if I
m u st tu rn b ack th e re an d t h e n, an d h ast e n away

p re cipi t ate l y from th i s pl ace ne ve r stoppi ng o r,

st ayi n g t ill th e di stance g av e m e sh e l te r All m y .

anxi e ty f o r M arth a was swall owe d u p i n t h i s

m yste ri o us fe ar wh i ch al m ost stran gl e d m e

,
I .

re b u k e d m
yse lf for b e i n g foo li sh and cowardl y ,

an d gath e ri ng t o ge th e r all m y stre ngth

, I p ro ,

ce e de d al o ng t he c ou nt r ro ad in wh i ch h al f dri e d
y
-

u p p u ddl e s gl e am e d
- lik e m i rrors in th e cart
ru ts . Th rou gh th e cr e sts o f th e p opl ars ab ove

m e th e re p asse d a h o arse rust li ng wh i ch ae co m ,

p an ie d m e t ill I re ach e d t h e courtyard g at e !u st .

as I e nte re d it th e l ast su nb e am
, di sappe are d
b e h i n d th e wall s of th e m an o r and t h e dark ne ss

of the ighty li m e tre e s wh i ch sp re ad fro m

m , th e

p ark across th e p ath so su dde n l y e n ve l o p e d

, m e

t h at I t h o u gh t n igh t h ad co m e on .

To th e igh t and l e ft tu m b l e down b ri ckwork

r -
,

ov e rgro wn wi th h alf wi th e re d ce l andi ne j u tte d ou t

-
,

ab o v e ragge d th o rn b u sh e s— th e re m ai ns o f th e
-

o ld cas t l e u p o n t h e ru i n s o f wh i ch th e
, m an o r
2 18 TH E WISH .

h ouse h ad b e e n e re cte d. An atm o s p h e re Of de ath

and de cay se e m e d t o lie o v e r it all .

I s pi e d fe arfu ll y acro ss th e v ast co u rtyard,

wh i ch t h e du s k of e ve n n i g was b e gi nn i n g to c oa l k
in b l ue m i sts . At e v e ry so u n d I starte d I fe l t
;
if R ob e rt s igh ty vo i ce m u st sh o u t a we l co m e
’
as m

to m e . Th e cou rtyard was em p ty , th e s il e nce of

th e ve sp e r h ou r re ste d u po n it O n l y fro m . o ne of

th e stab l e doo rs th e re cam e t h e p e cu li ar

-
h i ss i n g

sou n d wh i ch t h e sh ar e n n
p i g o f a scyth e pro du ce s .

A sce nt o f n e w- m o wn h ay fi ll e d th e air wi th its

p e cu li arl y swe e t, p u n ge n t aro m a .

“
Sl o wl y and t i m i dly, lik e an i ntru de r I ,
cre pt
l
a on g th e garde n ra il i ngs t o wards th e m an or h ouse ,

t h at se e m e d to look do wn p on m e g ri m ly an d
u

fo rb i ddi n gl y ,
wi th it s g ran i te pill ars and its we ath e r
b e ate n t u rre ts an d gab l e s . H e re an d th e re th e

stu cco h ad cru m b l e d away, an d th e b l acki sh b ri ck s

o f th e wall ppe are d b e ne ath it It l oo k e d as if

a .

ti m e, lik e a l o ng ill n e ss h ad cove re d th i s ve n e rab l e

,

b ody wi th scars . Th e fro n t do or stoo d a ar j . A

l arge dark h all pe ne d b e fore m e fro m wh i ch a
o ,

pe cu li ar o dou r o f fre sh ch alk an d dam p fu n g i

stre am e d t owards m e — th rou gh sm a ll c o l ou re d

2 20 TH E WISH .

Who th e de u ce is th e re ?
’
he cr e d o nce
i m o re ,

wh il e h e va n i ly t ri e d to pi e rce th e dark n e ss wi th
h is e ye s .

“
I gat h e re d up all m y de fi an ce . Cal m l y an d

pro u dly ,
as I h ad b id h im fare we ll ye ars b e fo re ,
wou l d I m ee t h im a g ai n to - day . W h at ne e d fo r
h im to k now h o w m u ch I h ad su ffe re d si nce t h e n !
“ ‘
Olg a —re all y— Olg a— is it
yo u ? T h e su p
’

p re sse d de ligh t th at pe ne trate d th rou gh h is wo rds

gave m e a warm th rill o f pl e asu re I fe l t fo r a .

m o m e n t as if I m u st t h ro w m yse lf u p on h is b re ast

an d we e p ou t m y h e art t h e re , b ut I ke p t m y
co m p o su re .

We re yo u n ot e x p e cti n g m e ?
’
I as ke d,
m e

ch an ically stre t ch n i g ou t m y h an d to h im .

“
O h , ye s -
o f co u rse — we h av e b e e n ex p e ct i n g
yo u e ve ry h o u r fo r t h e l ast t wo days— th at is, we

b e g an t o t h i n k

H e h ad c as l pe d m y h an d in b o th h is, an d was

t ryi n g to l oo k i nto m y face . A p e cu li ar m i xtu re

o f co rd a
i li ty an d awk wardn e ss lay in h is m ann e r .

It se e m e d as if h e we re v ai n ly t ryi n g t o di scove r
trace s o fhis fo rm e r go o d fri e n d in m e .

H o w is Marth a ? I ask e d
’
.
 TH E WISH 221

You will se e I do
for you rse lf, h e
’
re plie d .

not u n de rst an d t he se th i ng s T o m e sh e app e ars .

so we ak and so fragile t h at I te ll m yse lf it will b e

a m i rac l e if she surviv e s it Bu t th e doctor says .

sh e is g e t ti n g o n we ll and I su pp o se h e m u st k no w
,

”
b e st .

And th e ch il d ? I k fu rthe r ’
as e d .

A lo w su pp re sse d l au gh so un de d do wn to m e
,

th ro u gh th e se m i O b scu ri ty -
.

“
T h e ch il d—h m —th e ch i ld and i n ste ad
’

o f co m pl e t i n g h is se nte n ce h e g ave th e do g s a ,

ki ck wh i ch se nt th e m te ari ng ou t o f th e h ouse
,

forth wi th .

h e th e n sai d I will sh ow you th e ,

‘

way
’
.

“
We we nt u p st ai rs sile ntl y wi th ou t l ooki ng
, , at

e ach o th e r .

You h av e
grown a st range r to h im I th o u gh t

to m yse lf and te rro r arose wi th i n m e

, , as if I h ad
l ost so m e l on g ch e ri she d h appi ne ss
-
.

“ ‘
Wai t ’
he
i d poi nti ng to o ne of
a m o m e nt, sa ,

th e n e are st doors I sh o u l d lik e to say a word to

.

h e r to p re p are h e r ; th e e xci te m e nt e l se m ig ht , ,

’
h urt h e r .
222 TH E WI SH .

Ne xt m o m e nt I stoo d al o ne in a dark h igh ,

v au l te d co rri dor at t h e fu rth e r e n d o f wh i ch t h e

,

ra
ys of th e de p arti ng day sh o ne in dark gl owi n g
fl am e s ,
an d cast a l ong st re a k of ligh t u po n the

sh n n
i i g fl ags of th e floo ri n g . U nde fi ne d sou n ds,

lik e t h e si ngi ng o f a ch il d s i fl oate d p ast

’
v o ce , m y
e ars, wh e n t h e drau gh t cau gh t in t h e arch e s .

“
A lo w cry of joy, wh i ch pe ne trate d to m e

th rou gh th e do or, m ade m e st art u p . My b l oo d

we ll e d h ot l y to m y h e art : I fe l t as if its ru sh n i g
ch o ke T h e n th e door o p e ne d, R o b e rt
’
m u st m e . s

h an d g ro pe d for m e in th e dark ne ss .
Qu ite daz e d,
I a ll owe d m yse lf t o b e pu ll e d fo rward ,
an d o n ly
re co v e re d m yse lf wh e n I h ad dro pp e d on m y
k ne e s at a b e dsi de , b u ryi n g m y face in t h e

pill o ws , wh il e i h ot h and l ov i ngly stro ke d

a m o st,

m y h e ad . A fe e li n g o fh o m e li ne ss so ft and sooth ,

ing, su ch as I h ad n o t k no wn f o r ye ars caj o l e d m

y ,

se n se s . I fe are d to rai se m y e ye s for I , th ou g h t it

m u st all b e l ost to m e agai n if I did .

L ik e a b e ss n
l i g fro m ab o v e t h e h an d re ste d u p on
m y h e ad . Su p re m
grati tu de fill e d m y b re ast I
e .

se i z e d th e h and wh i ch tre m b l e d in m i n e and p re sse d

m y lip s u p o n it l o n g and p assi o nate l y .

 22 4 TH E WISH .

’
D o h e lp m e to e ntre at h e r, R ob e rt, sh e b e gan

an e w .

I starte d . I h ad i l y forgotte n him and

e nt re ,

n ow h is pre se nce acte d u po n m e like a re p ro ach .

co n si de r it—t ill m o rro w,

’
G ive m e ti m e to to -

I sa id ,
i i g
ra s n m yse lf up . A dark p re se nti m e nt
awo k e wi th i n m e th at h e re wo u l d b e no ab idi n g
pl ac e for m e for l o ng Su ch h appi ne ss wou l d h ave.

b e e n t oo g re at for m e u nh appy b e i n g wh om fate , ,

m e rc il e ssl y drov e am on g stran ge rs .

saw t h at M arth a was

“
I an x ou s i to sp are m y
fe e li ngs .

o rrow,
’
T i ll to m -
th e n, sh e sa id so ft ly and
,

squ e e z e d m y h an d and to- m orrow you will h av e

fou nd out h ow ne ce ssary you are to us, and th at

we sh ou ld be c razy if we le t yo u go away a a n g i ;
’
it R ob e rt ?
’
i sn t so,

Of cou rse —why ,

o fco u rse he sa id ,
an d wi th
th at b u rst l au gh wh i ch sou nd e d to m e
i nto a

stran ge l y fo rce d H e e v i de n t l y did n ot fe e l co m

.

fo rt ab le in the pre se nce o fu s two And soo n afte r .

h e took up h is cap an d sh o we d s igns of go i ng O ff

q u ie t l y .

“‘
Won t ’

yo u sh o w he r our c h il d ? ’
wh i spe re d
 TH E WISH . 22 5

M arth a an d a sm il e o f u nu t te rab e l b l i ss s re ad
p
,

ove r h e r waste d fe atu re s .

’
Co m id l ps in th e
’
he it ne xt roo m
‘
e, sa ,
s ee .

H pre ce de d m e W i th di fficu l ty h e pu sh e d
e .

h is h u ge fig u re t h ro u gh th e h alf O p e n doo r -
.

“
Th e re sto od th e cradle lit u p b y th e re d ,

rays o f th e se tt i n g su n Fro m am o ng th e pill o ws .

t h e re pe e p e d a li tt le co ppe r co l ou re d h e ad h ardl y -
,

l arge r t han an appl e Th e wri n kl e d e ye lids we re

.

cl o se d an d in th e li tt l e m o u th was stu ck o n e o f
,

th e t i n y fi sts it s fi n ge rs c o ntracte d as if in a
, ,

cram p .

My gl ance trave ll e d ste al th ily u p from th e ch il d

to its fath e r H e h ad fo l de d h is h an ds
. D e v ou t ly .

he l oo k e d do wn
pon th i s li tt l e h u m an b e i n g
u .

An u nce rtai n sm ile h alf pl e as e d h alf e m b arras se d

,
-
,
-
,

pl aye d ab ou t h is lips .

“
No w, fo r th efi rst ti m e I was ab l e to co n ,

t e m pl ate h im cal m ly T h e p urpl e e ve n i n g rays

.

lay b righ t u p o n h is face an d b ro u gh t to ligh t , ,

pl ai n ly and di st i n ct l y th e fu rro ws and wri n kle s

,

wh i ch th e th re e l ast ye ars h ad grav e n u po n it

.

Sh ades of gl o o m y care re ste d u po n h is b ro w ,

h is
e ye s h ad l ost th e i r l ustre and ro u nd ab ou t , h is
2 26 TH E WISH

m ou th a t wi tch i n g se e m e d to s p e ak t o m e of du ll
su b m i ssi o n i m po te nt de fi an ce
an d .

U n u tt e rab l e pi ty we ll e d u p wi th i n m e . I fe l t
as if I m u st grasp h is h an ds an d say to h im ,

C o n fide in e — I am st ro n g ; le t sh are
‘
m m e you r
T h e n, wh e n h e ra se d
’
t ro u b l e . i h is e ye s, I was
t e rrifi e d l e st he sh ou ld h av e n o t ce d m
i y gl ance ,

an d h astil y k ne e li ng down in fron t o f th e crad e ,l

I p re sse d m y lip s u po n th e li tt l e face wh i ch ,

starte d as if in p ai n at m y tou ch .

W he n I got u p I saw t hat h e h ad l e ft th e room .

Marth a s e ye s sh o ne in anxi ou s e xpe ctati o n wh e n

’

sh e saw m e Sh e wan te d to h e ar h e r ch il d adm i re d

. .

I sn t it p re tty sh e wh i sp e re d an d stre t ch e d
’

ou t h e r we ak arm s to wards m e .

And wh e n h e r m oth e r s h e art was sati ate d

’

wi th p ri de sh e b ade m e sit down b e si de h e r o n

,

t h e pill o ws an d n e s t l e d wi th h e r h e ad u p t o m y

k n e e so th at it al m ost cam e to lie in m y lap

, .

’
‘
O h h o w coo l th at is ! sh e m u rm u re d cl ose d
, ,

h e r e ye s and b re ath e d de e pl y and q u i e t ly as if

,

as l e e p W i th m y h an dk e rch i e f I wipe d th e p e rs
.

irat io n fro m h e r fo re h e ad
p .

“
Sh e no dde d g rate fu lly an d sai d I am j u st ‘
:

,
2 28 TH E WISH

Yo u wh i sp e re d,
’
se e , fe e l it t oo ! sh e
yo u
and l oo k e d gre at frigh te ne d e ye s
up at m e wi th .

Yo u are foo li sh I sai d an d fo rce d m yse lf to

’
, ,

l au gh ; b u t th e ch ill ne ss did n ot l e ave m y li m b s .

A dark su s pi ci on to l d m e th at p e rh aps sh e m igh t

be r igh t . Bu t no w it was for m e to co m fo rt he r !
H owe v e r ld
cou you give way to su ch s ill y
’
se lf-
tortu re ? I cri e d .
‘
D oe s not h is b e h av i ou r at

all t m e si p ro ve to yo u h ow wro n g you are

‘
I k no w ,
wh at I k now ,
’
sh e an swe re d, so t f ly ;
wi th th at o b st n acy o f e n du ran ce
i wh i ch is giv e n as

a we ap on to th e we a k .
‘
And wh at I am n o w te lli n g
you , doe s n ot date fro m t o - day —the fe ar is ye ars
o ld ; I h ad it in m y h e art a re ady
l b e fore I was

en g age d t o h im ,
an d I qu i te we ll k ne w at th at

h im — for
’
tim e wh y I re u s e d
f ve ry l o ve !
’
M arth a ,
M arth a ! I i
cr e d, re p ro ach fu ll y ‘
it

se e m s to m e t h at you co n ce al e d a gre at de al fro m

’
m e .

At th at
’
‘
ti m e I did te ll yo u e v e ryth n i g ,
sh e

re pli e d .
‘
Yo u on ly wo u l d n ot b e li e ve m e ; you
wan te d to m a e k m e h appy b y fo rce ,
an d l at e r
wh y sh o u l d I say anyth n i g? On pape r e ve ryth i n g
so u nds so di ffe re n t fro m wh at o ne m e ans ; yo u
 TH E WISH . 22 9

m ight e ve n h ave th o u gh t you di scov e re d a re

p roach agai nst h im o r e v e n agai n st you rse lf an d ,

n atu rall y I co u l d n ot ri sk such a m i su n de rstan di n g

growi n g u p My m i se ry al re ady b e gan o n th e

.

fi rst day wh e n we arri ve d h e re I saw h o w h e .

and h is m o th e r fe ll ou t an d a v o i ce wi th i n m e,

”
cri e d : You are t h e cause o f it I saw h o w .

h e g re w sadde r an d gl oo m i e r from day to day an d ,

a a n an d a a n Y ou
“
g i g i I sa i d in m y h e art : are

th e cau se of it . At
igh ts I lay awak e at h is
n

s i de an d t o rtu re d m yse lf wi th th e th o u gh t : wh
, y
are yo u so du ll an d so de p re ssi n g and wh y can ,

yo u do n o th i n g b u t cli n g to h im we e pi n g an d ,

su ff e r dou b l y wh e n
yo u se e him su ffe ri n g ? W h y
h ave yo u not l e arnt to g re e t h im wi th a so ng as
soon as h e co m e s in and wi th a l au gh t o ki ss
,

away t h e wri n kl e s fro m h is b row ? An d m o re

th an th i s W hy are you not pro u d and stron g

.
, ,

and wi se ,
an d wh y can yo u no t say to h im : T ak e
re uf ge wi th m e, wh e n you are fai n th e arte d—fro m
m e you sh a ll de ri v e ne w stre ng th and I will t ak e
,

care th at you do not st u m b le . T h i s is h o w yo u

wou l d h ave done , i
s ste r —no —do no t con trad ct i
m e ; o fte n e nou gh I h ave i m agi ne d h ow you wou l d
2 30 TH E WISH .

h ave s to o d th e re wi th you r tall figu re , an d wou l d

h ave o p e ne d o u t you r arm s t o h im so
-
th at h e

m igh t se e k sh e l te r wi th i n t h e m lik e in a , h arb ou r

wh e re st o rm s do no t dare to e nt e r . Bu t l oo k
at m e , — an d
’
sh e cast a pi tiab l e gl ance at he r poo r ,

de li cate fram e ,
th e h aggard ou t li ne s of wh i ch
we re trace ab l e b e ne ath th e co v e r e t l wo u l d it not

so u nd r i di cu l o u s if I we re to say anyth n i g of the

so rt ? I , wh o am a m ost su b m e r e d
l g in h is arm s,

so sm a ll an d we ak am I,—I am on ly h e re to se e k
sh e l te r ; to gi v e sh e l te r is no t in m y p owe r .

D o you se e ; all t h s i I h ave th o u gh t ou t in th e

l o n g,dark n igh ts ,
an d h ave g ro wn m o re an d m o re

de sp on de nt . And in th e m orn n i gs I fo rce d m yse lf

to l au gh and t ri e d to p ass fo r
,
a so rt o f ch e e r u f l ,

h app y li t tl e b i rd for t h i s 7 07 8 I , ,
th o u g h t t o m yse lf ,

is th e m o st su t ab e i l one fo r yo u , an d is m o st like ly
to pl e ase h im b ut so n g an d l au gh te r st u c k in m y
th roat, an d I dare say h e cou ld se e it to o , fo r h e

sm il e d pi t ifu ll y to it all, so t h at I fe l t dou b ly

’
ash am e d .

Sh e sto pp e d e xh au ste d ,
an d h id h e r face in m y
dre ss, th e n sh e co nt n u e d i
And as th at wo u l d n ot do , I tri e d at l e ast to
23 2 TH E WISH .

sp e ll b ou nd u p on m y lips an d fro m t i m e to ti m e a,

fe e b l e s igh e scap e d h e r .

O h if I h ad al ways h ad you n e ar m e ! sh e
‘ ’
,

cri e d s t ro ki n g m y h ands
,
Bu t th e n a fre sh i de a .

se e m e d to m a k e h e r de s p o n de nt agai n I u rge d .

h e r, b u t sh e wou l d n ot p ut it i nto words , u nt il at

l e n g th it cam e o u t w i th stu tte r n i g an d stam m e r n i g .

You will do e v e ryth n i g th ou sand t i m

“ ‘
a es

b e tte r th an I yo u will sh o w h im wh at h e m igh t

h av e h ad, an d wh at h e Iz aS . Th rou gh you h e wil l
wh at
’
fi nall y re ali se a m i se rab l e cre atu re I am .

I was al arm e d th e n I fe l t pl ai nl y : m y dre am

“

o f p osse ssi ng a h o m e was al re ady dre am e d o u t .

H o w co u ld I re m a ni pl ace wh e n m y o wn
in th i s ,

i
s ste r was con su m i ng h e rse lf wi th j e al ou s anxi e ty
on m y acco u nt

fe l t h e rse l f th at sh e h ad p ai ne d m e ;
Sh e
stre tch i n g u p h e r t h i n arm s t o m y ne ck sh e sai d ,

‘
Yo u i su n de rstand m e Olga W h at
m u st n ot m , .

I fe e l is not j e al o u sy ; I am so li tt l e j e al ou s th at ,

I h ave no m o re arde n t wi sh th an t h at yo u t wo
sh o u l d b e co m e u n i te d afte r m y de ath an d
’

“
Afte r you r de ath ! I cri e d in ho rror M artha
‘ ’
,
.
‘
,

yo u are s nn n i i g ag ai nst you rse lf !

 TH E WISH . 2 33

Sh e sm il e d in m ou rn u f l re s ig nat i on .

I k now th at b e tte r th an you sh e said ‘ My ,

’
.

v i tal st re ngth h as b e e n b ro k e n f or a l o ng t i m e .

T h e lon g wai t i ng in th ose days al re ady u n di d m e .

No w o f cou rse I th ou gh t t h at wi th th i s b i rth all

, ,

wo u l d b e n i ce l y at an e n d and th at is wh y I ,

l onge d so for you b e cau se I wante d fi rst to,

arrang e e ve ryth i ng cl e arl y b e twe e n you t wo Bu t .

,

h o we ve r th i ngs m ay t u rn ou t it wo n t b e l o n g
’

b e fore I h ave to give in an d die and b e fore t h e n I ,

want t o fe e l su re th at I a m l e av i ng him and t h e

ch il d in g ood k e e pi ng
’
.

I sh u dde re d and th e n a su dde n l assi tude cam e

,

ove r m e I fe l t as if I m u st th row m yse lf down at

.

t he b e dsi de and we e p an d we e p —we e p m y ve ry

,

h e art ou t Th e n from th e n e xt room cam e th e

.

cryi n g o fth e ch il d wh i ch h ad wo k e u
, p and want e d
it s n u rse I dre w a de e p b re ath and b e th ou gh t
.
,

m yse lf of t he du ty wh i ch was i m pose d u po n

m e .

“ ‘
D o you h e ar, M arth a ? I c ri e d You
’ ‘
are

re ady to de spai r wh e n H e av e n h as b e stowe d on

you th e gre ate st b l e ssi ng t h at a wo m an can k now ?

Th rou gh your ch il d you w ill rai se you rse lf u p
23 4 TH E WISH .

an e w ; its you n g life will l

a so b ri ng n e w stre n gth
’
to yo u rs .

H e r e ye s s h o n e for an i nstan t th e n sh e san k

,

b ack an d sm ili n gl y cl ose d h e r li ds Th e fe e li ng

.

o f m o th e rh oo d was th e on ly o ne ca ab e p l of w n i g
in g h e r h op e .

O nce m ore sh e op e ne d h e r lips and m u rm u re d ,

so m e t h i n g I b e nt down to h e r an d ask e d : Wh at
.
,

is it si ste r ?
’
,

’
‘
I sh ou l d like to b e o f so m e u se in th e worl d,

sh e sa id wi th a sigh , and wi th th i s t h ou gh t sh e

fe ll l
as e e p .

It h ad g ro wn pi tch dark wh e n R o b e rt e nte re d

th e roo m . In su dde n frigh t I starte d up . A

fe e li n g se iz e d m e as if I m u st h i de away ,
and fle e

fro m h im t o th e e n ds of th e e arth H e m u st n o t
’
find yo u ; h e sh all not fin d you I a vo ce i wi th i n

m e cr e d i . My ch e e ks we re fl am i n g and a , v a ue g
fe ar aro se in m e l e st th e i r te ll tal e gl ow
-
m igh t
gl e am th rou gh th e dark ne ss .

H e a pp ro ach e d t h e b e d, li ste ne d for a wh il e t o

M arth a s q u i e t b re ath i n g, an d the n id ft l y
’
sa so

Co m e, Olga ! Yo u are t re d
i e at so m e th n i g , an d
’

go to re st, to o .
2 36 TH E WI SH .

She to rt u re s h e rse l
A l ook O f rapi d u nde rstan di n g fle w ac ross to
m e a l oo k wh i ch sai d : D o you al so k now t h at
‘
,

al re ady ? Th e n h e rai se d h is fist stre tch e d him ,

se lf and s igh e d . H is b u sh y h ai r h ad fall e n ov e r

h is fo re h e ad . T h e b i t te r li ne s ab ou t h is m o u th

g re w de e p e r .

“
I was l
a arm e d—al arm e d at m yse l f . D id n ot

wh at I h ad j u st sai d sou n d lik e an accu sat i on

ag ai n st M arth a ; did it n ot p ro vo k e an ac cusat i o n
agai nst h e r ?
’
“
Sh e
l o ve s you m u ch too m u ch , I re pli e d ,

b i t i n g m y lip s . I k ne w I sh ou l d p ai n him , and

I m e ant to do so .

starte d and for wh il e in

“
H e l oo k e d at m e a

o pe n ast o n sh m e nt
i ; th e n he n o dde d se ve ra l
t im e s to h i m lf and sa id You i ght wi th
‘
se ,
are r

re p roach sh e doe s l o ve m e m uch t oo

you r ,

’
m u ch .

“
Th e n I sh ou l d al re ady h av e lik e d t o ask his

fo rg i ve ne ss aga n i . Su re ly h e did n ot de se rve m y

m a l i ce ! H is sou l was p u re and l
c e ar as th e

su n l i gh t and ,
it was on ly wi th i n m e th at th e re
was dark ne ss . I fe l t as i f I m u st c h o k e wi th
 TH E WISH . 23 7

Su ppre sse d te ars . I saw th at I cou ld n ot c o ntai n

m yse lf l ge r and rose q u i ckly
an y o n ,
.

G oo d n ig h t R o b e rt I sai d wi th o u t gi v i n g
’
“ ‘ -
, , ,

h im m y h and ; I am o ve rt i re d— m u st go to b e d
‘

—l e ave m e — o ne of th e se rvan ts will sh o w m e

L e av e m e — I te ll yo u !
’
m y way .

I scre am e d o u t th e l ast wo rds as if in an ge r ,

so th at h e ppe d pe rt u rb e d In t he coo l se m i
sto .
,

o b scu re co rri do r I b e g an t o fe e l cal m e r For a .

t i m e I walk e d u p an d down b re ath i n g h e av il y ,

t h e n I fe t ch e d o n e o f th e m ai ds t o sh o w m e

th e way
“ ‘
Mi stre ss arran ge d e ve ryth n i g in th e roo m

h e rse lf ye t, gav e o rde rs th at no o ne was to

and

’
t o u ch it T h e re is a l e tte r t o o fo r yo u m i ss
.
, , , .

“
W h e n I was al o ne I h e l d su rve y My good , .
,

de ar si ste r ! She h ad fai t h fu ll y re m e m b e re d m y

s ligh te st wi sh e s e v e ry o n e ,
o f m y li t tl e h ab i t s
o f form e rl y an d h ad t h ou g h t ou t e v e ryth i n g
,

t h at cou l d m ak e m y roo m as cosy and h o m e l y

as p o ssi b l e N o th i n g was want i n g o f th e th i n gs

.

wh i ch I p riz e d in t h o se days O ve r t h e b e d .

h u n g a re d flo we re d cu rtai n e xactl y lik e th e o n e

-

b e ne ath t i e h angi n gs o f wh i ch I h ad dre am e d

Ig
23 8 TH E WISH .

m y fi rst g i rli sh dre am s ; on th e wi n dow -

s il l sto o d
ge ran i u m s an d l
cyc am e n , su ch as I h ad a l ways
t e n de d, on th e wall s h u ng th e sam e pi ctu re s
up o n wh i ch m y gl ance h ad b e e n wo nt to re st at

waki n g on ,
th e sh e l v e s stoo d th e sam e b oo k s
from wh i c h m y sou l h ad de ri ve d its fi rst food of

l ove .

I ph ige n i a wh i ch in th ose b righ t cal m days

’

h ad b e e n m y fav ou ri te p oe m lay O p e n o n t he ,

tab l e Ah g o od h e ave n s ! h ow l o ng it al re ady

.
,

was i
s nce I h ad re ad in it, for h ow l ong l
a re ady

h ad I p asse d it b y, b e cause th e l
ca m dig n i ty of

th e h o l y p ri e ste ss p ai ne d m y sou l .

“
Be t we e n th e l e ave s was pl ace d th e le tte r of
wh i ch th e gi rl h ad to l d m e A g e ntle p re se nti
.

m e n t, ap re se n t i m e nt o f n e w u nde se rve d l ove ,

cam e o ve r m e as I to re o p e n th e e n ve l o p e an d

re ad

My D AR L IN G SISTE R ,— Wh en
you e n te r th i s

room I sh all n o t b e ab l e to b id you we l co m e .

I sh all th e n b e l yi n g ill and p e rh aps e ve n m y ,

lips w ill b e cl o se d for e ve r You will find e ve ry .

th i n g as yo u u se d to h av e it at h o m e It h as .
240 TH E WISH .

in stre am s . H u sh n i g -
up an d co n ce a m e nt l we re
no l o ng e r possi b l e ; t h e v ag u e ch arm o f dawni n g
i m p re ssi o ns th e swe e t ab an don to th e i ntoxi c ati on
,

o f yo u th we re t h i ng s o f th e p ast ; th e b are
, ,

gl ari ng ligh t of m at u re d k no wl e dge ,

th e r ig i d
b arri e rs o f st r ct i se lf re strai nt
-
h ad tak e n th e i r
pl ac e . I l o ve d h im l ov e d h im wi th such
Ye s, ,

ardo ur su ch p ai n as on l y a h e art can l o ve wh i ch

, ,

h as b e e n ste e l e d b y t h e gl o w o f h atre d an d

su ffe ri n g And n ot si nce to day no t si nc e ye ste r

.
-
,

day ! I h ad g ro wn u p wi th th i s l o ve I h ad c l u ng ,

to it in se c re t h e art s de si re m y wh o l e b e i ng h ad
’

de ri ve d it s st re ngt h fro m it wi th it I stood and ,

fe ll , in it lay m y life an d m y de ath .

Wh at did I care wh e th e r h e de se rve d it,

wh e th e r h e u nde rstoo d m e ! H e was no t i nte nde d
to u nde rstand it . And
I wh o m u st no t h e , it was
gai n a righ t t o th i s l ov e I k n e w too we l l at th i s .

h ou r th at I sh o u l d n e v e r b e ab l e to b ani sh it from
m y h e art Th e q u e sti o n was t o su b m i t to it as
.
,

o ne su b m i ts to e t e rnal fat e ; b ut it m u st no t

b e com e a sin . It sh ou l d li v e on p u re l y ,
in a p ure
h e art .

“
And su re ly I h ad no t b ee n ca ll e d in va ni to
 TH E WISH . 2 41

th i s h ou se ! A m i ssi o n a gre at h o ly m i ssi on

,

awa i te d m e . M arth a sh ou l d p e rce iv e fo rth wit h

th at a b e ne fice nt ge n i u s was watch i ng ov e r he r
hom e . T h ro u g h m e s he sh o u l d l e arn act v e i ly
to ili se th e l ove b y wh i ch she was co nsu m e d
ut ,

fo r th e go od o f h e r l ov e d o ne ; th ro u g h m e h e r

co u rag e sh o u l d b e re v i ve d an d h e r so u l re ce i ve

n e w stre n g th H o w I wo u l d su pp o rt an d co m fort
.

h e r in dark de sp on de n t h o u rs ! H ow I wo u l d fo rce
m yse lf to l au gh wh e n a te arfu l m o od tro u b l e d

th e at m o sp h e re ! H ow I wo u l d b an i sh t he cl ou ds

fro m th e i r gl oo m y b rows wi th dari ng j e sts an d ,

an xi ou sly t ak e care t h at th e re sh o u l d al ways

re m ai n a l ast li t t l e re m nant o f su nsh i n e wi t h i n

th e se wall s !
“
My life sh o u l d pass away vo i d o f de si re h appy ,

on ly i n th e h appi ne ss o f m y l ov e d o ne s di scre e t , ,

igne d and fai th fu l I ne e d no l o ng e r se e k to

re s .

avo i d I p h ige n i a s i m age f

’
o r th e h o l
y and dig n ifi e d
,

Offi ce o f pri e ste ss was awai t i ng m e al so .

“
W i th th is pi ou s th ou gh t th e re v o l t in m y sou l
di sapp e are d wi th it I fe ll asle epu
“
Wh e n I awo ke on th e fi rst m orn i n g I fe l t
,

con te nte d, a m ost l h app y . A h o l y cal m h ad com e

242 TH E WISH .

ov e r m e, su ch as I h ad n ot k no wn i
s nce tim e

im m e m or a i l . I kne w th at h e n ce fo rth I sh o u ld
not h av e t o fe ar e ve n i g Mm
m eet n .

M arth a was
“
st ill asl e e p W h e n I l oo k e d
.

th ro u g h t h e ch i n k of th e door i nto he r roo m ,

I saw h e r l yi ng wi th h e r h e ad th ro wn far b ack

on th e pill o w ,
an d h e ard he r sh ort h e avy
b re ath i n g .

“
I cre pt away, q u i te e asy in m y m i nd , t o t ak e

up m y o f ce as
fi h o u se k e e p e r fo rth wi th .

“ ‘
sh a wo rk h e rse lf
’
Sh e ll no l o n ge r to de ath ,

I sa id to j im an d re o ce d
in m y h e art
yse lf, I .

s p e nt fu lly an h ou r go i ng th e rou nd o f th e
p re m i se s du ri n g wh i ch I fo rm all y took th e
,

m an ag e m e n t i nto m y h an ds T h e O ld h o u se .

k e e p e r sh owe d h e rse lf willi n g and th e se rvan ts ,

t re ate d m e wi th re s p e ct I sh ou l d anyh o w soo n .

h av e f
e n o rce d it fo r m yse lf .

“
At th e b re akfast -
t ab l e I m et R ob e rt A sligh t
.

p alpi tati o n wh i ch o v e rcam e m e o n e n te ri n g ce ase d ,

,

forth wi th wh e n I b e th ou gh t m yse lf o f m y ye ste r

day s v o w C al m l y fi rm ly l o o ki ng i nto h is e ye s
’
.
, ,

I st e pp e d u p to h im an dgav e h im m y h an d .

’
Is M arth a still asl e e p ? I ask e d .
2 44 TH E WISH .

wh isp e re d,
’ ’
c ove r , sh e I am i
sh v e r n i g so . I d id
as she b ade m e , an d o nce m o re sat down at he r
s i de . Sh e l
c u t ch e d m y h an ds, as if to warm h e r
se lf b y th e m .

H av e you l pt
s e we ll sh e as ke d , in the sam e

h o arse fal se tto v o ce i wh i ch was q u i te stran e g to

m e in h e r . I no dde d, an d fe l t a h ot se n se of

sh am e W h at was m y grand
b u rn wi th i n m e .

u nse lfi sh re so l ve co m p are d wi th t h i s sort o f nob l e

,

se lf forge t fu l ne ss wh i ch was e v i de nt in e ve ry act

-
, ,

h o we ve r g re at or sm all and was i n spi re d b y th e ,

sam e l ove f or e v e ryth i n g ? An d I e ve n p ri de d

m yse lf o n m y l o fty se n ti m e n t s co nc e i te d e g ot i st ,

th at I was .

H ow did yo u lik e th e arran ge m e nt of you r

sh e ask e d o nce m o re wh il e a gl e am o f
’
roo m ? ,

slig h t pl ayfu l ne ss b ro k e fro m h e r m il d sad e ye s ,

.

“
In li e u o f answe r I i m p ri nte d a g rate fu l , ,

h u m b l e k i ss u p on h e r lip s .

’
“
Ye s k iss m e ! ! i ss m e o nce m ore ! sh e
‘
,

sai d You r m ou th is so n i ce and h ot it warm s

.
‘
,

o ne s b o dy an d sou l th rou gh
’
And agai n sh e .
’

sh i ve re d wi th c o ld .

A li ttl e l ate r R ob e rt cam e in .

 TH E WISH . 2 45

G e t yo urse lf re ady, m y ch il d ,
’
he sa id , stro ki n g
Marth a s ’
ch e e ks ,
o u r u nc e , l th e doctor, is h e re .
’

“
T h e n h e b e ck o n e d to m e an d I fo ll owe d him

ou t o f t h e roo m . By t h e crad e l of th e ne w- b o rn

b ab e I fo u nd g re y stu b b l y
an o ld m an, wi th a

b e ard a re d sn u b no se an d a p ai r o f cl e v e r sh arp
, , ,

e ye s wi th wh i ch h e e x am i n e d m e sm ili n gly
,

th ro u gh h is sh i n i ng sp e ctacl e s .

‘
So th i s is sh e he id an d gave h is
’
? sa ,
m e

h an d . My b l o od ru sh e d to m y h e art at fi rst th e

gl ance I saw th at h e re was so m e o n e wh o fe l t as

a fri e n d t o wards m e, in wh o m I m igh t pl ace

i m pli ci t co nfi de n ce .

Go d g ran t t h at you h av e good

‘
co m e at a
’
m o m e nt , he co n t n u e d, i ‘
and we sh a ll se e at o n ce

if su ch is th e case . T ak e m e t o h e r, R ob e rt ; I
’
don t su pp ose it is so b ad .
’

I was l e ft al on e wi th th e n u rse an d th e ch il d ,

wh i ch re st l e ssl
y m ov e d its li tt l e fi sts ab o u t .

‘
T o yo u r h appi ne ss a so l I will e arn a cl ai m ,
’

I th o u gh t to m yse lf, an d st ro k e d th e ro u nd b are

li ttl e h e ad, on wh i ch a fe w h ardl y i ib le

v s s ilky
h ai rs tre m b l e d . Y e ste rday I had h ardly h ad a

gl an c e fo r th e li ttl e b e i ng, to day, -

as I gaze d at
2 46 TH E WISH .

it, m y h e art swe ll e d wi th u nu t te rab e l t e n de rn e ss .

‘
Th u s p ure r and b e tte r h ave you grown
m u ch

si n ce ye ste rda
y I sai d to m yse l f
’
.
,

A l on g t i m e an al arm i n gl y l o ng t i m e e l ap se d
,

b e fo re th e door of th e j i i g
ad o n n ro o m o p e ne d
a gai n . It was th e doctor wh o cam e o u t from it

he l
a one . H e l ook e d ste m an d forb i ddi ng , an d

h is j aws we re wo rki n g as if h e h ad so m e th n i g to

gri nd b e twe e n th e m .

’
‘
I h ave se n t h im away, he sa id,
m u st s p e ak
’
to you a onel . T h e n h e t oo k m e b y th e h an d
an d le d m e to th e di ni ng -
ro o m ,
wh e re th e co ffe e
m ach n e i was st ill ste am i ng .

h ave fo r yo u ,
’
I g re at re s p e ct l ady m y you n g ,

he b e g an , an d wip e d th e dro p s o f p e rspi rat i o n

fro m h is fore h e ad ; accordi n g to e v e ryth i n g I

‘

h av e h e ard ab o u t you , yo u m u st be a ca pi tal

fe ll o w ,
an d ca ab e p l of b e ari n g t h e pai n if ,
a ce r

’
t ai n cl o ve n h oo f gi v e s you a t re ach e ro u s k ick .

’
L e av e th e p re face if , you pl e ase ,
do c tor ,
sa id
I fe e li n g
,
how I gre w p al e .

‘
Ve ry we ll ! P re face s are n ot to m y taste
’
e i th e r . Y ou r i
s ste r an d n o w, a fte r all, he

h e si tate d .
2 48 TH E WIS H .

a pp are nt l y cal m l y ,
u tt e re d th e g ru e so m e wo rds, I
su dde n ly s aw o nce m o re b e fo re m y e ye s, w i th
t e rri b l e v v i i dne ss , th at i i
v s on of m y gi rli sh days,
wh e n I h ad fo u nd M arth a l yi n g lik e a cor se o np
th e so fa I fe l t as if th e n ail s o f a
. de ad h and
we re diggi n g t h e m l
se v e s i nto m y b re ast— b e fo re
m y e ye s I saw b l oody st re ak s— I u tte re d a cr
y
th e n I fe l t as if a v o i ce call e d o u t to m e H e lp ,
s av e , gi ve you r o wn life to p re se rve h e rs ! ’
W i th
a su dde n j e rk I pu ll e d m yse l f t o g e th e r ; I h ad

o n ce m o re fo u nd m y stre n g th .

I id if sh e di e s, I l ose th e ly
’
D octo r,
‘
sa ,
on

th i n g I p osse ss in th e wo rl d, an d l ose m yse lf wi th

he r . Bu t as l ong as yo u can m a ke u se of m e I
will ne v e r fli n ch . T h e re fo re co n ce a l n o th n i g from
’
m e . I m u st h av e ce rta n ty i .

’
Ce rtai nty, m y de ar ch il d, h e re pli e d graspi n g
,

i th e re will b e t ill h e r
y h an ds, ce rt a n t y n ot
‘
m

l
co nv a e sce n ce or he r l ast m o m e n ts . E ve n at th e

wo rst p o i nt th e re m ay a l ways be a ch an ge fo r t h e

b e t te r ye t, h o w m u ch m o re th e n no w, wh e n t h e
ill ne ss is st ill in its fi rst st a ge ! Of co u rse sh e

h as n ot m u ch v i tal stre n gth l e ft to sta e k

th at is th e sadde st p art of it . Bu t p e rh ap s we
 TH E WISH . 2 49

sh a ll su cce e d in m aste r n i g th e ev il at it s

co m m e n ce m e nt , an d th e n e ve ryth n i g wou l d be

wo n
’
.

Wh at can I do to h e lp ?
’
I cr e d, i an d

stre t ch e d l p ed
ou th a ndsmt o wards h im
c as
y .

Ask o f m e wh at yo u will ! E v e n if I co u l d o n l y
sav e h e r wi th m y o wn life I sh ou l d still h ave ,

’
m u ch to m ak e am e n ds f or to wards h e r .

H e l oo k e d at m e in asto n i sh m e nt
“
H ow .

sh o u ld h e h av e b e e n ab e l to u nde rst an d m e !

And no w I h ave co m e t o t h e h arde st p art of

m y task . Si nce we e k
I k e e p sne aki n g ro u n d
a

t h e se p age s wi th o u t ve n tu ri n g to t ak e u p m y
,

pe n H orro r se iz e s m e wh e n I consi de r wkat is

.
,

awai t i ng m e An d ye t it will b e sal u tary fo r m e

.

o n ce m ore to re call to m y m e m o ry t h ose fe arfu l

th re e days an d n igh t s e s p e ci all y n o w wh e n so m e

, ,

th i n g of a so fte r t e nde re r
fe e li n g se e m s to b e
,

taki n g roo t in m y h e art A way wi th it ! A way .

wi th e ve ry caj o li n g th o u gh t wh i ch sp e ak s to m e
of h appi ne ss and p e ace I am de st i ne d for so li
.

tu de and re s ign at i o n an d if I sh ou l d e v e r forg e t

,
2 50 TH E WISH

th i s, th e h i story of t h o se t h re e days sh a ll o n ce

m ore re m i nd m e o f it .

W h e n I p u l l e d m y ch ai r u p to m y siste rs ‘

b e dsi de to t ak e u p m y p ost as nu rse I fou nd sh e ,

h ad dro pp e d off to sl e e p Bu t th i s was n ot th e .

s eel p wh i ch i nv ig orate s a nd p re p are s t he way for

co n v a e sce ncel l i ke a n igh t m are it se e m e d to lie

u po n he r an d to p re ss do wn h e r e ye li ds b y force .

H er b o som rose an d fe ll as if i m p e ll e d fro m wi th i n

an d re p e ll e d from wi th ou t . T he li tt l e waxe n pal e -

,

b l ue -
li n e d face lay h alf b u ri e d in the p i ll ows across ,

wh i ch h e r sc anty fai r pl ai ts cre pt lik e sm a ll sna ke s .

I co v e re d m y face wi th m y h ands . I c ou l d n ot

b e ar th e igh t
s .

T h e h ou rs p asse d b y
o fth e day Sh e s l e p t
a n d s l e p t and did n ot t h i n k o fwaki n g u p .

’
From t i m e to t i m e I h e ard th e se rv ants fo o t
s te p s as th e y so ft ly cre p t p ast ou tsi de
—e ve ryth i n g
e l se was q u i e t an d l o n e l y O f R ob e rt no trace
. .

At m id day
- I fe l t I m u st ask a fte r him . Th e y

h ad se e n him go ou t in th e m orn n i g i nto the fi e l ds ,

wi t h h is d ogs foll o wi n g h im . So fo r h ou rs h e h ad
b een wande ri ng ab o u t in th e i
ra n .
2 52 TH E WISH .

p oi nt of h u rryi n g ou t in orde r to t u rn away t h i s

di stu rb e r o f p e ace ,
but l
a re ady at th e o p e ne d d oor
I c am e i nto co llis i on wi th h e r .

At th e fi rst gl ance I re co g ni se d th is re d b l oate d ,

face th e se l i tt l e m al i cio u s e ye s Wh o e l se cou ld

, .

it h ave b e e n b u t sh e , th e b e st o f all au nts and

m oth e rs

“ ‘
At l e ngth ,
’
a vo cei wi th i n m e cr e d i at

l e ngth I sh a ll face wi th you I

stan d face to
’

“ ’
So you are Olg a sh e cri e d al ways in
‘
, , th e

sam e sh rill wh i n i n g t o n e s wh i ch se e m e d to
, , ye ll
th rou gh th e wh o l e h o u se . H ow do yo u do, m y
li ttl e de ar ? Ah wh at , i sfo rtu ne ! Is it re ally
a m

t rue ? I am q u i te b e si de m yse lf
“ ‘
de ar au nt sai d I fo l di n g m y
’
I beg o f yo u , , ,

to b e b e si de you rse lf so m e wh e re l b ut
‘
arm s, e se ,

’
to m od ify you r v o ce i in t h e s c i k ro o m .

Sh e ppe d sh ort In all life I sh a ll

“
sto . m y
ne v e r forge t th e v e no m o u s lo o k wh i ch sh e gave
m e

Bu t now she k n e w wi th wh o m sh e h ad to de al .

Sh e too k th e gau n t l e t at o n ce It is
‘
up to o . ve ry
’
g oo d of ou , m y ch il d sh e sa id an d he r
i vo ce
y , ,

su dde n ly sou nde d as m e ta lli c as a war t ru m p e t

-
,
 TH E WISH . 2 53

th at you anx o u s ab ou t
i p oo r ili ng
‘
are so m y ,
a

dau gh te r ; b u t no w — yo u h ave b e co m e
you can go
’
su p e rfl u o u s I sh a ll stay h e re m yse l f .

“
W ai t ; you ll soo n k no w th at you h av e
sh a

fou n d you r m atch I i nwardly cri e d ; and draw

,
’
,

in g m yse lf u p to m y fu ll h e ig h t I re pli e d wi th , ,

m y m ost fre e zi n g sm il e : Y ou are m i stak e n de ar

‘

au n t ; e v e ry strange r h as b e e n st ri ctl y p ro h i b i te d

fro m v i si ti ng m y si ste r 5 0 I m u st b e g o f you

.

’
t o wi th draw to th e n e xt roo m .

“
H e r face g re w ash y p al e h e r fi nge rs t wi tch e d ,

co n vu l si v e l y I th i n k sh e cou l d h av e strangl e d
.

m e o n th e sp o t ; b u t sh e we n t an d go o d l ack a , ,

daisical u n cl e wh o was al ways dan gli n g th re e

,

pace s b e h i nd h e r we n t wi th h e r
, .

“
In sh e e r t ri u m p h I l au gh e d o u t l o u d : W h at ‘

sh o u l d yo u wan t you me rce n ary sou l s in th i s

, ,

te m pl e of p ai n ? O u t wi th yo u

It gre w n ig h t. L ik e a st re a k of fire t h e l ast

re d rays o f th e se t t n i g su n lay o ve r th e t o wn , th e

t owe rs of wh i ch stoo d ou t b l ack an d

po i n te d in
th e gl o w . Fo r a l o ng ti m e I watch e d the fi e ry
17
2 54 TH E WISH .

c l ou ds ,
t ill dark ne ss h ad b u ri e d th e m a so l in its

lap .

Th e l
c oc k st ru c k n ne i . T h e n th e o ld docto r

cam e . H e l o ng t i m e in sil e nce o n m y

sat fo r a

ch ai r stro k e d m
, y h an d at p arti n g an d sai d : ,

Co nt i n u e — carb o li c— all n ig h t ! In an swe r to

‘ ’

m y an x o u si ly q u e st i o n i n g l ook ,
he h ad n o th n
i g
b ut a do u b t fu l sh ru g of th e sh ou l de rs .

“
Fro m so m e wh e re , t wo or t h re e ro o m s a way,

I h e ard R o b e rt s i t alki n g at t h e
’
v o ce o ld m an .

T h i s was th e fi rst s ig n t h at h e too was in th e

p roxi m i ty of W h y e ve r doe s h e
the i k
s c -
bed .
‘

st ay ou tsi de ?
’
I ask e d m yse lf ; it re all y al m ost ‘

’
se e m s as if adm i ss i o n we re p ro h i b i te d .

Sil e nce all arou nd

“
Th e cl ock stru ck t e n . .

T h e h ou se h o l d se e m e d gone to re st .

“
T h e wi n d ratt l e d at th e garde n raili ngs It .

so u nde d as if so m e l ate gu e st wi sh e d to e n te r .

W as de ath a re ady
l cre e pi ng rou n d th e h ou se ?
W as he l
a re ady co u n t n i g th e grain s o f sand in

h is h ou r -
gl ass ?
D e sp e rat e de fi ance W i th ou t k now
se iz e d m e .

ing wh at I did I rush e d to wards t h e do or as if t o

, ,

th row m yse lf in th e p ath o fth e th re ate n i n g de m on .

2 56 TH E WI SH .

lik e a st ran ge ,
rad ant i b e ing fro m so m e di stant,

sh n n
i i g pl an e t .

Th e fo o tste p s g re w l e ss di st i n ct . H e h ad go ne
b ack t o h is roo m .

‘
W ill he re tu rn a gai n ? I ’
as k e d m yse lf pu tt i ng,

to th e k e yh o l e In he
‘
m y e ar . any case can no t

s eel p .
’
An d I st art e d j oyfu ll y wh e n th e so u nd

o n ce m o re i n cre ase d .

“
And th e n th e t h ou gh t cam e to m e,
‘
Wh at
co n ce rn is it of yo u rs wh e th e r h e re t u rn s o r n o t ?
Are yo u h e re in th i s pl ace for h is sa ke ? Is no t

you r h appi n e ss, you r life , you r all, l yi ng h e re

’
b e fo re you ?
“
I fe ll do wn b y th e b e dsi de , and, co v e r n i g
Marth a s ’
h ands wi t h ki sse s ,
I i m pl o re d h e r to

h av e m e rcy— t h at I wan te d to pe ak to h e r— th at
s

it was b u rst i n g m y h e art

-
st ri ng s— th at it was st ifli ng

m e— th at I l d su ffocate
sh ou .

Bu t she did n ot wak e D oub le d . up wi th p ai n

sh e lay th e re , a m i se rab l e li tt l e h e ap o fb o n e s . On
he r ch e e k -
b one s we re li tt l e fl am i ng spo ts H e r .

b re ath p ante d . O n ce sh e m ov e d he r lips as if to

s pe ak ,
b u t t h e words di e d away in a ton e l e ss

gu rgli ng .
 TH E WI SH . 2 57

W h at a te rri b l e sil e n ce all aro u n d Th e cl o ck

t i ck e d al on g th e wall b y th e e ase m e n t th e wi n d
,

p asse d so ft l y m oan i ng and fro m th e oth e r roo m

,

sou nde d t h e m u f fl e d t ram p o f th e wande re r— all

e l se st ill .

“
And su dde n l y it se e m e d to m e as if in th i s
st ill n e ss I h e ard th e b l oo d in m y o wn b o dy se e t h

ing an d b o ili ng . I li ste ne d E v i de nt l y th at was

.

m y b l o o d ru sh i n g wil dl y t h ro u gh m y v e i n s .

“
W hy is its flow not q u i e t and we ll b e h av e d -
,
’

I ask e d m yse l f in acco rdance w ith m y gre at

,
‘

re so l v e ? Is n o t th i s sin torn ou t wi th all its

ro ots—b u rnt ou t b y a t h o u sand pu rif i n g fi re s ?
y
D o I no t stand h e re as th e p ri e ste ss vo i d o fde si re
, ,

p u re an d b l e sse d
“
And ag ai n I li ste ne d ! Th e se are h all uci na
t i o ns I to l d m yse lf an d ye t I gre w a frai d at t h e
, ,

gu sh i n g and ru sh i n g wh i ch se e m e d to i ncre ase

,

wi th e ve ry m i n u te .I saw a stre am wh i ch carri e d

m e away in its t orre n ts— a st re am o f b l o o d ! A
ro ck wi t h sh e e r p o i n ts j u tt e d o u t fro m it T h e re on
.

a wo rd sto o d wri tte n wi th fl am i n g l e tte rs t h e word ,

Bl oodgu il ti ne ss .
’

Th e footste p s g re w l o u de r I j u m pe d up
. .
2 58 TH E WIS H .

H e cam e , se ate d h im se lf on pill ow wipe d th e

th e ,

p e rspi rat i o n fro m h e r fo re h e ad wi th th e flat of

h is h an d an d p asse d ,
h is fi n ge rs th ro u gh h e r

h ai r .

“
St e alth ily I watch e d him . I h ardl y dare d t o

b re ath e any m ore . H is e ye s gl e am ed b l o odsh ot in

th e i r soc e ts k . H is lip s we re p re sse d t og e th e r in

b i tte r p ro ach
re . H e sat th e re as if p e trifi e d wi th
u n u t te re d p ai n . T h e de si re to app ro ach him sh o o k

m e lik e a fit o fagu e Bu t wh e n I was on th e p oi n t .

o f ri s i n g it was as if two i ro n fi sts l ai d t h e m se l ve s

,

u p o n m y sh ou l de rs an d force d m e b ack o n to m y

ch a r i .

“
At l e ngth I sp o k e h is n am e , an d was st art e d,
l
so st ran ge ,
so we i rd did th e sou n d of m y o wn

vo cei appe ar to m e . H e t u rne d ro u n d an d stare d

at m e .

R ob e rt,
’
I sa id ,
‘
wh y do you p
no t s e a k to m e ?

You will fe e l e as e r i if you le t so m e o ne e se sh are

l
’
wh at is pp re ssi n g yo u
o .

“
The n h e j u m p e d u p g rasp e d b oth m y an d

h an ds . H is tou ch m ade m e fe e l h o t and co l d

all ov e r . Bu t I fo rce d m yse lf to k e e p m y g rou n d ,

an d fi rm ly l o o k e d i nto h is face .
2 60 TH E WIS H

t ak e n ab o u t m e . I n e ve r b o re you any ill -

will .

O n ly I h av e g rown re se rv e d and de fi ant am o ng

st ran g e rs Yo u m u st h av e p at i e n ce wi th m e
.

m u st t ru st W ill yo u ?
m e .
’

Th e n it b ro k e fro m h is e ye s lik e su n sh i ne . I
h ave so m u ch to t h an k yo u fo r al re ady Olga he
’

, ,

sai d h o w cou l d I do o th e rwi se th an co n ti n u e to

t ru st you ? Yo u k no w ,
i
s n ce th at day wh e n we

ro de woo d, do yo u
’
t o ge t h e r i n to th e re m e m b e r?
ah , did I re m e m ber i nde e d — si n ce ‘
t h at day I h ave
l o ve d yo u lik e a i
s st e r, ye s, m o re th an all m y
i
s ste rs. And at th e sam e ti m e I l oo k e d u p to yo u

an d re ve re d you lik e m y gu ardi an spi ri t . Th at is

i nde e d wh at you h av e b e e n to m e . You will b e so

’ ’
in fu tu re ,
too, won t you ?

I n o dde d s il e nt l y ,
an d p re sse d b o th m y h an ds
t o m y b oso m th e n, wh e n h e n o ti ce d it, I le t t h e m

dro p , b u t gge re d b ack th re e p ace s ; it

I st a was a

m i racl e th at I ke p t m yse lf u p right .

H e ste pp e d u p to m e in al arm I am t i re d,
‘ ’
.

I sa id ,
an d fo rce d m yse lf t o sm il e . Co m e, we will
’
sit down th e n ig h t is l o ng ye t .

So we b oth sat o pp osi te e ach o th e r at th e foo t

of th e b e d, wi th th e narrow b e dst e ad b e twe e n u s,
 TH E WISH 26 1

re ste d ou r arm s o n th e l e dge ,

and l oo k e d acro ss at
l
M arth a s face wh i ch m ove d w ith cram p lik e twi tch
’

,
-

i n gs H e r e ye li ds se e m e d cl ose d de e p sh ado ws
.
,

from h e r l ash e s fe ll acro ss h e r ch e e k s ; b u t o n ,

b e n di ng down one cou l d se e th e wh i te s of th e

,

e ye s gl e am i ng wi th a fai nt she e n lik e m oth e r o f ,

-

p e arl in th e i r dark sock e ts

,
H e ob se rv e d it .

too .

“
As i f sh e h ad al re ady di e d h e
’
m u rm u re d, an d
‘
,

b u ri e d his h e ad in h is h ands . And if sh e di e s h e ,

’

co n t n u e d,
i ‘
sh e will no t die th rou gh th e chil d not
,

th rou gh th i s wre tch e d

fe v e r ; th rou gh m y fau l t

al o n e Olga sh e will p e ri sh !
’
, ,

’ ’
Fo r G od s sak e wh at are you sayi ng ? I cri e d
, ,

stre t ch i n g ou t m y arm s t o wards him .

H e nodde d and s m il e d b i tte rl y .

“
I h ave se e n it v e ry we ll Olga all th rou gh
‘
, ,

t h e se t h re e ye ars ; o v e r an d ove r a a n
g i it is m y
fau l t Fi rst I l e ft h e r l on gi ng and fe ari ng b e twe e n
.
,

h o p e and de spai r fo r se ve n l ong ye ars t ill th e ,

s tre ng th was drai ne d in t h i s wa

y from h e r b o dy
an d sou l — h e ave n k n o ws sh e n e ve r h ad m u ch t o

sp are ; and th e n I dragg e d h e r wi th h e r s i ckl

y
b ody and b ro k e n s pi ri t h e re i nto th i s m i se ry ,
2 62 TH E WISH .

wh e re all we re h ost il e to h e r, an d th ose m ost

h ost il e wh o sh ou l d h av e h e l d h e r m o st de ar . And
I m yse lf — ye s if I m yse l f h ad b e e n b rave and of
,

good ch e e r if I co u l d h ave g u arde d h e r that h e r

,

foo t m igh t not dash agai n st any sto ne if I h ad ,

s p re ad su nsh i ne across he r p at h , th e n p e rh aps she

m igh t h av e fl ou ri sh e d at m y s i de . Bu t I was ofte n
rou gh and su r y, st orm e d an d ra e d
l g in the house
an d th e farm ,
ne v e r t h n i ki n g h ow e ve ry ou d
l word
m ade he r start, so t h at she l
a re ady gre w p al e if I
on l y frowne d . L oo k at th i s li ttl e h andfu l of life ,

h ow it l ie s h e re ; an d t h e n l oo k at m e , the gre at ,

u n cou th , co arse - grai n e d gi ant ! So m e t i m es in th e

n igh t wh e n I wo k e I ,
was f i d l e st I
a ra m igh t pos
sib ly cru sh h e r in m y arm s . And ,
f
a te r all, I h ave
c ru sh e d h e r ! Wh at I re qu i re d was a wife , strong
and

H e sto pp e d sh o rt, t e rrifi e d, an d c ast a gl ance ,

wh i ch e o l q u e ntly pl e ade d for forgive ne ss , to wards

M arth a s face ’
,
b ut I co m pl e te d h is se nte nce for
m yse l f .

“
Wh e n h e h ad l e ft th e fe e li ng of
ro o m a wi ld

joy se iz e d m e . It ru sh e d th rou gh m y h e ad lik e a

wh i rl wi nd ; it co n fuse d m y se n se s ; m
y p ri de m y ,
26 4 TH E WISH

wi th its fe ve ri sh p angs o f co n sci e n ce

t u rm o il and ,

waxe d dim W h at I h ad e xpe ri e nce d and fe l t

.

b e cam e a dre am A l e ade n we ari n e ss t oo k p osse s

.

s i o n o f m e ; I cl ose d m
y e ye s an d t h ou g h t ab o ut
n ot h i n g .

“
An d th e n cam e a b li ssfu l h ou r . It was towards
’
te n o c oc l k wh e n M artha su dde n ly O p e n e d he r
fai th fu l b l u e e ye s and l oo k e d u p at m e co n sc ou s i ly
and b righ t l
y .

I fe l t as if G o d s e ye h ad tu rne d fu ll of pi ty
’

an d fo rgi v e n e ss to wards m e th e si nne r

,
A pu re , .
,

h o ly joy st re am ed th rou gh m e . I fe ll across m y

b ody,
’
i
s st e r s and h id m y face at her ne c k .

“
In th e i dst o f h e r p ai n sh e b e gan to sm il e
m ,

wi th an e ffo rt pl ace d h e r h an d u p o n m y h e ad and ,

m u rm u re d, wi th h ardly au d ib le v o ce ,i I su pp ose I
’
h av e b e e n gi v i n g yo u all a g re at frigh t ?
“
Th e b re at h of h e r wo rds e n ve l o p e d m e like a

p e ace -
b ri n gi n g ch an t , and for a m om e n t I fe l t as if
t h e b u rde n at m y h e art m u st gi v e way— b u t I was

u nab e l to we e p .

’
H ow do you fe e l ? I ask e d .

W e ll q u i te ,
’
we ll ! sh e re pli e d ,
on ly th e

sh e e t we ig h s so h e av il y u p o n m e ! ’
 TH E WISH . 26 5

It was th e lighte st I h ad b e en ab e l to find .

I told h e r so ; th e n sh e igh e d and

s sa id sh e

k ne w she was a fidge t, and I was to h ave

p ati e nce wi th he r .

“
And th e n sh e lay aga n i qu i te st i ll ,
and co n

stan t ly l ooke d at m e if in
as a dre am . At
l e ngth sh e no dde d se ve ral t i m e s and re m ar e d k
we ll th us— q u i te we ll !
’
It is
‘

“
Wh at is we ll ? ”
I as e d
k .

Th e n sh e sm il e d ag ai n and was s i l e nt . And

th e n th e p ai ns re tu rn e d . She sh oo k all o ve r

and c e nch e d l h e r te e th, b u t sh e did no t u t te r a

co m pl ai nt .

’
“
Sh all I c all
‘
for R ob e rt ? I k d
as e ,
for te rror

o ve rwh e l m e d m e an e w .

“
Sh e n odde d . And b ri n g th e ch il d too ,
’
she

m u rm u re d .

h ad b id Sh e h ad th e
“
I did as sh e . l i tt le
cre at u re l ai d on th e b e d b e si de h e r, and l oo k e d
do wn at it for a l on g tim e . Sh e a sol m ade

an atte m pt to ki ss it, b ut sh e was too we ak

to do so .

E ve n b e fore R ob e rt cam e sh e h ad re a l p se d
i nto h e r sl e e p .
2 66 TH E WISH

H e gave m e a re p ro ach fu l l oo k ,
and re m ar e k d ,

W hy did yo u n ot se nd fo r m e soo ne r ? ’

Be li e ve m e it is b e tte r th us I answe re d
, ,
’

‘
it wou l d h ave e xci t e d h e r too m u ch to se e
’
yo u .

“‘
Yo u a l ways k now wh at is b e st
se e m to ,
’

sa id he , an d we n t o u t fo rtu nate ly wi th o u t n otic

,

ing t he gl o w wh i ch su ffuse d m y face at h is

p rai se .

“
Now sh e lay t he re g i
a a n u nco n sc ou s i —h er

ch e e ks re d, and fo re h e ad we t wi th pe rspira
he r
tio n . And adde d to th at th e gru e so m e pl ay of
,

h e r lip s ! k e p t on t wi tch i ng and sm acki ng

The y .

To wards o n e o c l ock t h e doc tor cam e to ok

“ ’
,

h e r te m pe rat u re and ce rt ifi e d a di m i nu t i on of
,

fe ve r .

“ ‘
Th at w ill go up an d down m any a ti m e

y e t,
’
he sa id ; no r did h e e nte r i n to o ur joy
k i g Do s p e ak he r
‘
ov e r he r awa e n n . n ot to
’
gai n s i he u r e d,
g an d
‘
wh e n sh e re co n sc ou sne ss,

ab ove all, do n ot a l low he r to sp e ak h e rse lf . Sh e

n e e ds e ve ry at o m o fh e r st re n gth .
’

Be fo re h e l e ft h e fi xe d his ,
e ye s o n m e for

a l ong ti m e ,
an d sh o o k his h e ad dou b tfu lly . I
2 68 TH E WISH

My e ye s igh t se e m e d di m m ed by a re d ve il ,

I cl e n ch e d m y fists—I all b u t fl u ng th e accu sati on

in h e r face An d as I stoo d in front of h e r
.
,

st ill q u i t e p e trifi e d b y t h e th o u gh t sh e too k h o l d ,

of m y arm , an d tri e d, w i th ou t m u ch ado , to

p u sh m e as i de , so th at sh e m ight pl ant h e rse lf

at Marth a s pill o w ’
. P e rh ap s sh e h op e d to in
t im idate m e b y th i s u n ce re m o n ous i p roce e di ng .

“ ‘
D e ar au n t,
’
sa id I ,
re m ov n i g h e r h an d fro m
m y arm ,
I h av e p o i n te d ou t to you b e fo re

a re ady
l th at th i s is m y pl ace ,
and t h at n o on e

in t h e worl d sh all di sp u te it wi th m e . I g
u r e nt ly
b eg of you t o re str ct i yo ur v s i it to th e o th e r

’
ro o m s .

I nde e d ? We will j u st wait and se e , m y

li tt l e scre e ch e d, we will j u st ask th e
’
sh e
‘
o ne ,

m aste r o f th e h ou se , wh o h as m ore to say h e re ,

h is g o od o ld m oth e r, or yo u, va ab o nd
g P o li sh
’
cre w ?

And still sc re e ch i ng ,
sh ed e parte d .

“
In a v e ry fe ve r of rage I p ace d th e ro o m .

E ve n I sh o u ld not h av e i m agi ne d th at th is
so rro w n i g m oth e r cou l d so q u i c kl y and th orou gh l y
ch ange b ac k g i
a a n i n to a fu ry It on l y re
.
 TH E WI SH . 269

i
m a ne d for h e r to gi ve ex p re ssi o n to h e r i nne r

m ost wi sh e s .

cr e d, and h orror
’
‘
Oh, if it sh o u ld b e tru e , I i
’
posse sse d m e .
‘
T o wi sh for M arth a s de ath !
M arth a do you ,
h e ar, to wi sh for you r de ath !
Wh o m h av e you e ve r h u rt ? In wh ose way
h av e you W h o li ve s in th e worl d
e v e r sto o d ?

wh o h as e ve r re ce i v e d au gh t b u t l ove and forgi ve

ne ss fro m yo u ? I f it we re t ru e if any h u m an ,

b e i ng sh ou l d re ally b e so de p rave d and st ill ,

wande r Up on e arth wi th i m p u ni ty—v e ril y it ,

wou l d m ak e on e de sp ai r o f G o d and o f e ve ry
’
th i ng g ood .

“
Th us I spo k e and co u l d n ot h e ap e no u gh
sh am e an d co nt u m e l y u p o n th e o ld wo m an s
’

h e ad .

And th e n it stru c k m e th at I h ad b e e n talki n g

m yse lf i nto a m o st u n wo rth y passi on .

Bu t I fe l t i
e as e r th rou gh it , I dare d to b re athe
m ore fre e l y and wh e n I saw p oo r ill tre ate d
, ,
-

’
I p hige ni a l yi n g in the du st I we n t and pi ck e d ,

it up .

“ ‘
Wh at cr m e i h av e I ,
fte r all co m m i tte d ?
a ,
’

I sa i d to m yse lf, th at
‘
I sh ou l d n e e d to h i de away
18
27 ° TH E WISH

fro m m y i de al ? H av e I don e anyth n i g b u t b ri ng

co m fo rt to o ne in de sp ai r ? H as a si n gl e l oo k ,

a s i n gl e word b e e n e xch an g e d wh i ch m y si ste r ,

m igh t n o t h ave se e n an d h e ard ? I f it se e th e s

an d b u rn s in m y b re ast, wh at co nce rn is th at
o f an y o ne , as l o ng as I ke e p it care u f lly to
’
m yse lf ?
and i de re d
“
Thu s I s poke to m yse lf, co ns

j u st ifi e d b e fo re o wn
m yse lf l
a m ost ,
e ve n m y
co n sc e n ce i . Bli nd cre atu re th at I was !

An d o n ce m ore th e gl oam i n g cam e , o nce

m o re th e se tt n i g su n cast its re d light th rou gh

th e wi ndows .

M arth a s face was b ath e d in p u rpl e gl o w

’
a ,

in h e r h ai r li ttl e ligh ts sp arkl e d and th e h an d ,

t h at lay on t h e co ve rl e t l o o k e d as th ou gh ill u m i ne d

fro m wi th i n .

“ I dre w th e bed -
scre e n l
c o se r arou nd h e r,

so th at th e flim m e ring rays sh o u ld n ot trou b l e

he r .

“
The n I saw h an gi n g on th e wall a wi th e re d

ivy wre ath, wh i ch I h ad no t n o t ce d

i b e fore , a
27 2 TH E WISH

m e , no p o we r on e arth wou l d h ave m o ve d m e to

cro ss th e t h re sh o l d l
“
No w I dre w a de e p b re ath as I ste pp e d o u t
i nt o th e co u rtyard. Th e e ve n n i g air re fre sh e d

m e lik e a coo li n g b ath . The l ast gl e am of day

l igh t was v an sh n
i i g , an d v e il e d in b l u i sh va o u rsp
th e au tu m n n igh t san k do wn u pon th e e arth .

“
T h e t wo h u n t i ng do g s s p ran g to wards m e,

an d th e n race d o f
ft owards th e old cast e ru ns l i .

U n co nsci o u sly I fo ll o we d in th e i r t rack,

walk i ng h alf in m y s ee l p , for th e at m os ph e re

o f th e s c i k ro o m was st il l act n i g u p on m y se nse s .

A m ou l de ri ng sce nt of fadi n g we e d s and

we ath e r b e ate n
-
sto ne s wafte d towards m e fro m
th e b ri ck work . An o ld porch s p re ad its arch

ov e r m e . I s tepp e d i n to th e i n te ri o r . Th e wall s

t o we re d u p b l ack all ro u nd m e t h e ,
dark s ky

l oo k e d do wn u p o n th e m wi th its b l u i sh ligh ts .

Th e n n o t far fro m m I saw a dark fig u re th e

“
e ,

ou t li ne s of wh i ch I re co g n i se d at o n ce , crou ch n i g
a m on g th el oo se sto ne s .

R ob e rt I call ou t ,
asto n she d i .

’
He j u m pe d up .
‘
Olg a ? he cr e d i in an swe r .

D o yo u b ri n g b ad n e ws
 TH E WISH .
2 73

N ot so ,
’
say I ,
‘
l t h e do cto r se nt
you r u nc e , ,

m e ou t, and th e n su dde n l y I fe e l as if th e

g rou nd we re giv i n g way b e ne ath m y fe e t .

“
T ak e care ! I h e ar h is warn i ng v o i ce
‘ ’
, b ut

l
a re ady I am i ki ng
s n , to geth e r wi th th e cru m b li n g

st o n e s, ab ou t a m an s
’
l e ngth down i nto th e dark

ne ss .

“ ‘
Fo r H k e do n o t st i r ! h e sh ou ts
e av e n s
’
sa ,
’

’
afte r m e e l se yo u w ill fall s till fu rth e r do wn
,
.

H alf daz e d I l e an ag ai nst th e si de of t h e p it

-
, .

At fe e t gl e am s a n arro w strip o f e arth o n

m y ,

wh i ch I am st an di n g ; b e yo n d t h at it goe s down
i nto b l ack u nfat h o m ab l e de p th s
, .

“
I se e h im ne ar m e cli m b i n g do wn afte r m e ,

sl owl y an d care fu ll y o n t h e ste p s o f a flig h t o f

s tai rs as it se e m s .

W h e re are yo u h e sh o u ts and at th e sam e ,

I fe e l his h and gro pi n g for m e .

T h e n I th ro w m yse lf t o wards him and cli ng to ,

h is ne ck At th e sam e m om e n t I fe e l m yse lf li fte d

.

h i gh u p and re st i n g u po n h is b re ast It app e are d .

t o m e as if m y v e i n s h ad b e e n o p e n e d as if in ,

de ligh t fu l l assi tu de I fe l t m y warm life s b l ood

’

fl owi ng away o ve r m e .
27 4 TH E WISH

H is b re ath wafte d h o t l y i nto m fac e For a

y .

m om e n t it se e m e d to m e as if he h ad so ft ly k i sse d
m y fore h e ad . Th e n we re t u rn e d t o th e m anor

h ou se wi th ou t s p e ak i ng . I m ove d away ro m f his

s i de as far as I cou ld , b u t in m y h e art was th e
j ub il ant th ou gh t , H e h as h e l d m e in his arm s .
’

“
O n th e t h re shold of th e s c i k room t he o ld

physi ci an c am e t owards u s, g av e us b oth h is h and s

and sa i d She ,
is k e e pi ng u
p b e tte r, ch ildre n , th an
h ad e xp e c te d
’
I .

“
W i th i n m y h e art was j i i g
re o c n , H e h as h e l d
’
m e in his arm s .

An d no w th at n igh t E ve n no w e ve ry m i nu te
stan ds u p like a fu ry b e fore m e and gl are s at m e
,

wi th fi e ry e ye s ! Th at n ig h t will I conj u re u p as
o ne ca pi ri ts fro m the grave t hat th e i r
ll s up s ,

wi t ne ss m ay an i m ate ane w l o n g forgotte n b l oo d

gu il t i ne ss ! Wh at c ri m e did I co m m i t ? N one .

My h and s are c e an l . An d on th at gre at m o rn n i g ,

wh e n our work s sh a ll b e tri e d in th e b alance , l

igh t fe arl e ssl y st e p up to th e Th ro ne o fth e M ost
m

H i gh an d say, Cl oth e m e in th e wh i te st ra m e nt,

i
2 76 TH E WISII '

c e ar, au d
l ib le v o ce , i I m u st re a ll y ge t u p no w

it is too b ad

At fi rst jo y su ffu se d m y face fo r I th oug ht sh e ,

h ad
’
gai n e d consci ou sne ss
re . M arth a ! I j u m pe d
up and g rasp e d h e r h an d .

“ ‘
I h ave p u t e v e ryth n i g ou t in i
re ad ne ss —sh i rts
an d stoc ki n gs and sh o e s, so t h at a b li n d m an co u ld
fin d th e m in h is l p And you n e e d not tak e
s ee .

any m e asu re m e nts e i th e r— m ak e no co m pli m e n t s

m a e k no co m pli m e n ts .
’
And all th e ti m e sh e

s tare d at m e wi th gl assy e ye s, as if sh e saw a

g h ost th e n su dde n l y sh e u tte re d a pi e rci n g sh ri e k
an d c ri e d ,
R o ll th e st o n e s away fro m m y b ody
t h e y are c ru sh i n g m e . Wh y h ave yo u b u ri e d m e

u n de r stone s

“
I t ook th e t h i nn e st s he e t I co u ld find an d

s p re ad it o ve r h e r in pl ace of th e cove r e t l but

e ve n th at b rou gh t h e r no re lie f . She scre am e d

an d i nce ssantl y and b e twe e n wh il e s sh e

t alke d ,

m u tte re d e age rl y to h e rse lf lik e o ne wh o is l e arn ,

ing som e th i ng fb y
of h e art .

L i k e th i s an h ou r m u st h ave p asse d . I sat in

fron t of m y t ab l e and stare d at h e r ; for I was in

a fe rm e nt of te rror l e st any m o m e nt m i gh t b ri n g
 TH E WISH . 27 7

so m e n e w, st ill m o re h orri b l e de v e l o p m e nt . Fro m

ti m e to t i m e, wh e n sh e ca m e d l down a li ttl e I fe l t
,

m y li m b s re l ax ; th e n I cl ose d m y e ye s an d le t
m yse lf si n k b ack an d e ach t i m e I h ad th e se nsa
,

t i o n as if I we re si n ki n g i n to R o b e rt s arm s Bu t
’
.

t h e re h ardl y re m ai ne d e v e n a du ll fe e li n g as if I ,

we re th e re b y co m m i tt i n g any wro ng ; m y we ari

n e ss was to o i n t e n se I al so h ad a se n sat i o n as
.

if b u b b l e s we re b u rsti n g in m y h e ad an d ro se s ,

o p e ni n g o u t an d al ways pu tti n g fo rth n e w wre ath s

o fb l osso m s t h e n ag ai n th e re was a h i ss i n g sou nd

fro m o ne e ar to th e oth e r as if so m e o n e h ad ru n
,

a fu se righ t th rou g h m
y h e ad an d lig h t e d it .

“
In th i s con di ti o n of n e rvou s ov e r e xci te m e nt -

t osse d h i th e r an d th i t he r b e t we e n te rrifi e d start i n g

u p an d re l axat i o n R ob e rt fou nd m e wh e n to wards

, , ,

m i dn ight ,
he e n te re d th e roo m . H e h ad i nte nde d
to lie do wn on h is b e d for a sh ort t i m e , and th e n

to watch fo r t h e re st of th e n igh t to ge th e r wi th

b ut M arth a s ’
m e scre am s h ad scare d h im too .

“
W he n I saw h im ,
all m
y e x h au st o n i was as if
wip e d away ; I fe l t h ow a n e w st re am of b l o od
sh o t th rou g h m y b o dy, an d I j um pe d up to go

towards h im .
27 3 TH E WI SH .

T ry t o l ittl e h e sai d l ooki n g down at

’
re st a , ,

m e wi th t i re d , swo ll e n e ye s ; you will re qu i re all

“

’
you r st re n gth .

“
I sh oo k m y h e ad and p oi nte d to m y si ste r,

wh o was j u st fl i ngi ng h e r h ands ab o u t, as i f in

h e r de l i ri u m sh e we re tryi ng to te ar m e from h is
s i de .

You are r ight ,

’
he co nt nu e i d . Wh o cou l d b e
ca m l e n ou gh to re st wi th th i s p i ctu re b e fore h is
e ye s .
’
And th e n h e pl an te d h im se lf wi th l pe d
c as

h an d s in front of th e b e d b e n t , down to wards h e r

an d i m p ri nte d a soft ki ss u p on h e r wax -
l i ke fore
h e ad .

T h at is h ow h e ki sse d m e too a v o cei wi th i n

m e cri e d .

T h e re u p o n he fo o t o f th e b e d
sat do wn at th e ,

so c l o se t o m y c h ai r th at th e arm wh i ch h e re ste d

u p o n th e s l ab o f th e t ab l e al m ost t ouche d m y

sh o u l de r .

W i th th e gl oom y b rooding of e s d p ai r h e stare d

across at he r .

“ ‘
Com e to you rse l f, R o b e rt 1 I wh i sp e re d to
’
h im ,
‘
all m ay b e we ll ye t .

“
He l au g he d g ri m ly .
‘
W h at do you m e an by
2 80 TH E WISH

A de si re d arte d th ro u gh m e to th row m yse lf

down in front o f h im ,
and to cry ou t to h im ,
Do
wi th m e wh at you w ill : sa r c ifi ce m e , t re ad m e

u n de r- oo t , f le t m e die fo r you ; b u t b e b rav e an d

h av e ne w fai th in yo u r h appi ne ss th e n su d

de n ly from M arth a s l i ps k p on
’
a m o an struc u m y
e ars, so pl ai nti v e ,
so pi ti ab l e th at I starte d as if
stru c k b y th e l ash o fa wh ip .

“
I fe l t re ady to scre am ,
b ut fe ar o f h im ch o ke d
m y u tte ran ce — o n ly a gro an e sca e d m p y b re ast ,
wh i ch I forci b l y su pp re sse d ,
wh e n I i
n ot ce d h ow

i
an x o u s l y h e was l o oki n g i n to m y e ye s .

T a k e n o h e e d of m e ! I sai d forci ng
,
m yse lf

to sm il e ; th e ch i e f th i n g
‘
is for h e r to ge t
’
b e tte r .

H e c rosse d his arm s ov e r h is k ne e and n o dde d

a fe w t i m es b i t te rly to h i m se lf. And th e n a a n g i

th e m o an n i g c e ase d .

Sh e h ad b owe d h e r h e ad u p on h e r b re ast, an d

h alf l
c o se d he r e ye s . O ne m l ight h av e a m ost

th ou gh t h e r asl e e p ; b u t th e m u tte ri ng an d ch at

te ri n g i
co n t n u e d . T h e re was u tte r sil e nce in th e

h alf dark e ne d
- room . O nl y th e wi nd s ed
p p ast
th e wi nd ow with lo w sou gh i n g , an d b e twe e n
 TH E WISH . 28 1

th e pl ank s of th e ce ili n g th e m i ce scam p e re d

ab o u t

R ob e rt had b u ri e d his h e ad in h is h ands, and

“

was liste n i n g to M art ha s we i rd talki n g G radu all y

’
.

he se e m e d to grow q u i e te r h is b re ath cam e m ore

,

reg ul arl y and sl owly n o w and agai n h is h e ad

,

dro pp e d to one si de an d ne xt m o m e n t j e rk e d u p
,

g i
a a n .

H is s eel pi ne ss h ad I wan te d p
o v e r owe re d h im .

to u rge h im t o go to re st ; b u t I was afrai d of

th e sou nd o f m y o wn v o i ce and th e re fore was ,

il
s e nt .

M ore and m o re oppe r p art o f

fte n did th e u

h is b ody sway t o one n o w and ag ai n h is h ai r

si de ,

tou ch e d m y ch e e k — an d h e g ro p e d ab ou t se e ki ng

to find som e su ppo rt .

“
And th e n su dde n l y h is h e ad fe ll u p on m y
, ,

sh o u l de r wh e re
,
it re m ai n e d lyi n g My wh o l e .

b o dy t re m b l e d as if I h ad e xp e ri e nce d som e g re at
h appi ne ss .

“
An i nv i n ci b l e de si re p osse sse d m e to stro ke
th e b u shy h ai r t hat fe ll across mface
y C l ose .

to m y e ye s I saw a fe w s il v e r th re ads gl e am i n g .

It is a re ady
l b e gi n n i n g t o ge t gre y I th ou gh t
’
,
2 82 TH E WISH .

to m yse lf, ‘
it is h igh t i m e th at h e sh o u ld taste

wh at h appi ne ss is lik e And th e n I lly strok e d

’
. re a

h im .

H e igh e d
s in h is l
s ee p an d so u gh t to ne stl e

l
c o se r wi t h h is h e ad .

H is l yi ng
’
e u n co m fo rtab l y, I said to m yse lf ;
to h im
’

yo u m u st m o v e u
p n e are r .

I did so . H is sh o u l de r l e ant agai nst m i ne , and

his h e ad fe ll u p on m y b re ast .

“
Yo u i
’
ro u n d him
‘
m u st pu t you r arm , a v o ce

wi th i n m e i
cr e d,
‘
o th e rw se i h e will st ill n ot fin d
’
re st .

Twi ce or th re e t i m es I atte m p te d ,
and as o te n f
I dre w b ack .

“
W h at if M arth a sh o u l d su dde n ly wak e ! Bu t
e ve n the n h e r e ye s saw n o th i n g— h e r e ars h e ard

n o th n i g .

“
An d I did it .

Th e n a joy se iz e d m e : se cre tl y I pre sse d

wil d

h im to m e — an d wi t h i n m e t h e re aro se th e j u b il an t

th o u g h t
‘
Ah h o w I wo u l d care fo r yo u and watch
,

o ve r yo u h ow I wou l d ki ss th o se wi ck e d fu rro ws
fro m an d th e t ro u b e s l fro m you r
away you r b ro w,
so u l! H ow I wou l d fig h t fo r yo u wi th m y v i rgi n
D R AWIN G a d ee p b re ath, th e p hysic i an sto pp e d
sh o rt, and wip e d t h e p e rspi rati on from h is fo re
h e ad .

R ob e rt h ad j um p e d u p stare d for a m om e nt at
,

th e fl am i ng orb o f th e l am p as if daz zl e d b y th e
,

lig h t ,
an d th e n rush e d t owards th e old m an as if
t o te ar t h e p ap e r ou t o f h is h an ds .

Th at doe s i nde e d st and t h e re ? he st a m

m e re d .

R e ad for you rse lf ! sa i d th e o th e r

.

A l o n g sil e nce e nsu e d .

Th e l am p b u rnt wi th its q u i e t ch e e ry ligh t as if ,

it we re ill u m i ni ng a de e d o f b righte st gl adso m e

n e ss, an d so ftly ,
as if wi th l p aws t h e wi nd
v e ve ty ,

t o u ch e d th e wi ndo ws . D o wnstai rs e ve ryth i n g

se e m e d to be g ro wi n g q u i e te r T h e i n te rv al s
.

b e t we e n t h e b u rsts of l au gh te r g re w l o n ge r an d
l o nge r—th e b ab e l of v o ce s ch an
i ge d to a ste ady,

2 84
 TH E WI SH . 285

du ll b u zz . Th e pe o pl e we re ge tti n g t i re d— th e y
we re dig e sti n g .

Th e physi ci an l oo k e d ro u nd fo r R o b e rt H e .

h ad dro pp e d down o nce m o re u p on th e l e dge o f

th e e m p ty b e dst e ad h ad b u ri e d h is face in h is
,

h an ds, an d was ab so u t e
l ly m o t o n e ssi l .

O n ly his h e av i n g b re ath , wh i ch e sca pe d h is

b re ast in sh o rt, i rre gu l ar gasps ,
t e st ifi e d t o th e

t u rm o il th at was
gi n g wi th i n h im
ra .

”
Com e to you rse lf m y b oy sai d th e p h ysi ci an
, , ,

’
l ayi ng his h an d o n R ob e rt s sh o u l de r .

“
Un cl e o f cou rse it goe s wi th o u t sayi n g— sh e
,

was n ot in he r r igh t m i nd wh e n sh e wro te

”
th i s ?

“
Sh e was n e v e r m o re in h e r r igh t m i nd t h an

at th at m o m e n t

H ow dare you af
firm s u ch a th i n g ? Do no t

i nsu l t th e de ad
“
N o th i n g is
fu rth e r fro m m y th o u gh ts de ar ,

b oy . Wh o sh all p re su m e to cast the fi rst sto ne at

he r ? Bu t if you h ave b e e n li st e n i n g atte nt i ve l y ,

yo u will ce rta n i l y u nde rstand t h at h e r wh o l e life

was n o th n i g m ore th an th e m atu r n i g of th i s

m om e n t Al re ady in h e r gi rli sh dre am s th e se e ds

2 86 TH E WISH

of th i s cr m i i nal wi sh lay b u ri e d ; t he y p u t fo rth

su dde n sh o o ts in th e wood,
on yo n de r sto n e an d

cam e i n to b l o sso m at th e v e ry h o u r wh e n sh e

"
cre pt i nto yo u r roo m t o u n i te you wi th M arth a .

“
W hy did sh e do t h at, if sh e h e rse lf wi sh e d to
st e p i n to M artha s pl ace ’
?
“
Sh e was no t co nsc o u s o f i wh at sh e wi sh e d .

All her e fforts to m ak e yo u and Marth a h appy

we re i g fu rth e r th an th e se cre t st ru ggl e
no t h n

wh i ch h e r pu re h o ne st natu re was wagi n g wi t h

t h e wi sh g ro wi n g u p w i th i n h e r sin ce t h at day ,

of gi rl h ood wh e n sh e h ad se e n you agai n

he r .

Bu t sh e did n ot k now it E ve n h e r l ove for yo u .

did n o t b e co m e cl e ar to h e r t ill sh e e n te re d you r

h o u se H o w m u ch l e ss th e n co u l d sh e su sp e ct
.

wh at was sl u m b e ri n g as th e fru i t o f t h i s l ove

, ,

wi th i n h e r sou l .

“
An d y e t yo u say sh e fough t agai nst it an d
”
t ri e d to i nate it ?
e xte rm

No t spi ri tu all y not co nsci ou sl y H e r th ou gh t

,
.

re m ai ne d p u re t ill th at te rri b l e m i dn igh t h ou r It .

was on l y h e r i nst i nct ggl e d agai nst th e

wh i ch stru

po i so n Th at dre w ne w re sou rce s dail y fro m th e

.

h e al th y de pth s of h e r stro n g natu re b y wh i ch to ,

2 88 TH E WISH !

of
m ore i g for
co n v n c n i m y view th e m atte r, th an

t h i s v e ry i n dig n at i o n . To fre e he r o wn co n sc e n ce i
fro m t h e b u rde n wh i ch sh e fe l t re st n i g u p on it, sh e
cast e v e ry sto ne wh i ch sh e co u ld t ak e h o ld of
,
at

you r m o th e r . It was te rror at h e r o wn sin wh i ch

drov e h e r to it .

“
An d th e n o b e , se
l lf sacrificing
-
re so v el wh i ch
”
sh e form e d o n l y a fe w days b e o re ? f
’
O ve r th e o ld m an s we ath e r b e ate n
-
fe atu re s
t h e re flitt e d a sm il e fu ll o f u n de rstan d n i g and

fo rgiv e ne ss .

“
The n h e sa id,
Th e o ld p rov e rb ab o u t the

g ood i nt e n t i o ns wi th wh i ch th e p ath to H e ll is
pav e d m ay h ol d good h e re too b u t it on l y tou che s
,

th e f
su r ace of th e m at te r . Th i s re so ve l was a

l ast i atte m p t t o u n i te s i ste rl y l ov e wi t h

ab o rt ve

h e r l o ngi n g for yo u to m ak e a p act b e t we e n h e r

,

p owe rfu l b u rn i n g de si re fo r h appi ne ss and t h e

,

i m p u l se to k e e p fai th to wards h e r i
s ste r . It was

th e m ost u nn at u ra l th i n g sh e coul d hit u po n ,

fo r

s il e nt re sig nat i o n was n o t in h e r li n e . It was a

p articu l arl y cru e l fate wh i ch do om ed h e r, wi th h e r

n ob e l di sp osi t i o n and p owe rfu l will , t o b e force d

i nto a sin wh i ch is th e m ost co m m o n an d m ost
 TH E WISH . 2 89

co ward l y on e arth a sin wh i ch I h ave fou nd

,

l u rki ng o n cou n tl e ss face s wh e n I stoo d at th e

,

b e ds i de o f p e o pl e se ri o u sl y ill Th i s m y b oy is
.
, ,

o n e o f th e dark e st sp o ts in h u m an natu re a ,

re m n an t o f b e sti ali ty wh i ch h as m an ag e d to fin d

its way i n to o u r tam e d wo rl d e ve n su ch se n si t i v e

n atu re s as Olg a m ay fall a p re

y to it th o u gh o f ,

co u rse th e y p e ri sh th ro u gh it wh il e co arse r so u l s
,

i pl y co nce al an d su pp re ss wh at is st ru ggli n g to
s m

appe ar from th e dark e st de p th s o f th e i r b e i n gs .

W ai t I will Spe ak m o re pl ai n l y I on ce cam e to

, .

t h e b e dsi de o f a ri ch o ld m an a l andowne r wh ose , ,

l ast b re at h was no t far o ff At the h e ad o f h is.

b e d stoo d h is e l de st son a m an o f ab o u t forty

, ,

wh o fo r l o n g ye ars h ad h e l d th e p ost o f i n sp e cto r

o n strang e e st ate s and wh o se i n te n de d b ri de was
,

b e gi nn i n g to g row o ld an d fade d wi th wai t i n g .

T h e so n was a good h o ne st fe ll o w wh o wou l d n o t

,

h ave h u rt a fly wh o l o v e d h is fath e r wi th all h is

,

h e art an d wou l d ce rt ai nl y h ave b e e n ash am e d to

,

wi sh h is de adli e st e ne m
y any ill ; b u t in th e
ste al thy t e rrifi e d gl an ce with wh i ch h e watch e d m e
,
,

wh il e I b e nt down m y e ar towards th e o ld m an s ’

b re ast, I di sti nc t l y re ad th e wi sh ! ‘
O h , th at h e
29 0 TH E WISH .

m ight die !
A noth e r t i m e I was call e d in to a
’

wo m an wh o was v e ry h appy in se cond m arri age .

O nl y one cl ou d t roub l e d h e r ne w h appi ne ss H e r .

h u sb and cou ld n ot b e fri e n d h i m se lf wi th th e ch ild

of he r fi rst m arr a e i g . H e k n i tte d h is b ro ws at

th e m e re m e nt on i of th e
l i ttl e cre atu re and as ,

sh e l ov e d h im p assi on ate ly sh e fe are d h e m ight

,

to h at e h e r
’
com e on th e ch il d s acco u nt ,
and hid
it away fro m h im as m u ch as e v e r sh e c ou l d
.

The ch il d got scar e t l fe v e r 1 fou nd the m o th e r

.

k ne e l i n g at its b edsi de and we e pi n g b i tte rl y .

Sh e tre m b l e d in fe ar for th e fe e b l e li ttl e life .

H ad sh e n ot h e rse lf b ro u ght it forth ! Th e n h e r

h u sb and e n te re d th e ro om —she start e d —and in

th e l
re st e ss, wav e ri n g gl ance wh i ch she c ast
towards th e crad e , l th e re stood c l e arl y and l e gi b l y

wri tte n : It wou l d b e for m y h appi ne ss, if you di e d

‘ ’
.

I c ou l d gi ve you i nnu m e rab l e e xam pl e s wh e re

j e al ousy cove tou sne ss de si re for i nde pe nde n ce
, , ,

l
re st e ssne ss, i m pu l se for lib e rty ,
am o rou s l ongi n g ,

h ave m atu re d t h i s te rri b l e , c ri m i nal wi sh , wh i ch

su dde n ly ri se s u p dark an d gigant i c wi th i n th e

hu m an b re ast, in wh i ch h i th e rto on ly l ove and

l i gh t h ave fo u nd a pl ace . H a ppily no wadays it

29 2 TH E WI SH .

h im wh o m sh e l ov e d gu il ty o f
m o st, wh at sh e was ,

rai se s h e r ab o ve th e o th e rs Fo r th i s wi sh o f .
,

wh i ch we are sp e aki n g as it is th e m ost h i de ou s

,

spi ri tu al sin o f wh i ch th e h u m an sou l can b e co m e

gu il ty ,
so it is l
a so th e m o st se cre t . N0 fri e nd co n
fide s it to a fri e nd ,
no h u sb and wh i sp e rs it in th e

dark ne ss of th e n o ctu rna l cou ch to h is wife , no

pe n i te nt dare s t o co n e ss f it to h is s pi ri t u al i
adv se r,

e ve n th e praye r th at st ru ggl e s u p wards to h e av e n

ou t o f th e de pt h s o f co n t ri t i o n p asse s it o v e r in ,

hyp ocri t i cal sil e nce G od m ay h av e k no wl e dge o f

.

e v e ryth n i g ,
on ly n ot of th i s b ase n e ss . L e t th i s
p e ri sh in sh am e an d s il e n ce ,
as it was b ro u gh t
fo rth in nigh t and h o rror And m o re th an th i s ! .

Th i s wi sh is th e o n l y cri m e fo r wh i ch th e re is co m

m o n ly no e xpi at i o n n o p u n i sh m e n t e i th e r b e fo re
,

wo rl d,
’
t h e t ri b u n al o f th e ou t e r or o n e s o wn co n

i
sc e nce . Th i s is a case in wh i ch e ve n th at m e rc i
l e ss j u dge wh i ch a m an carr e s ab ou t i wi th i n h im
prov e s am e nab l e t o b ri b e ry . Th o u san ds of p e opl e
wh o h av e o n ce b ee n g u il ty o f th i s b ase n e ss go o n
li v i n g h appily, pu t o n fl e sh in p e rfe ct p e ace o fso u l ,

an d re o ce j i in th e fu lfil m e n t o f th e i r wi sh wh i ch ,

th e y th e m l
se v e s fo rge t as sp e e dil y as po ssi b l e as ,
 TH E l/VISH Z 29 3

so o n as e ve r fu lfill e d It b e co m e s ab so rb e d
it is .

i nto th e sou l j u st as a ge rm o f di se ase b e co m e s

,

ab so rb e d as so o n as th e st i m u l ant o f di se ase h as

di sapp e are d . It is l o st wi t h o u t an y t race , it is

ab so u tel ly b l o t te d ou t by an ab u n dance o f soc a i l
an d pe rsonal v irt u e s
. I on no acco u nt say t h at

I co nde m n t h e se p e o pl e . W h at wou l d b e co m e of

t h e worl d if e ve ry o n e wh o on l o o ki n g i nto th e

gl ass di scove re d a wart on his face we re to cu t h is ,

t h ro at in de sp ai r at t h e fact ? T h e p e o pl e I h ave

de scri b e d to you are t h e h e al th y e ve ry day p e o pl e -

,

wh o se so call e d go od co n st i tu t i o n can stand a b l o w

-
,

an d wh o care n o t a rap if n ow an d ag ai n so m e th i n g

o b j e ct i onab l e st i ck s to t h e m Olga was m ou l de d.

o f fi n e r cl ay h e r n e rvo us syste m
, was se ns i b l e to
l e sse r sh ock s and wh at o n l y cau se d o th e rs a sligh t
,

i rri tat i o n was to h e r al re ady a l ash of th e wh ip

, .

Su ch natu re s are o fte n so m e wh at m o rb i d th e y ,

incli n e t owards m e l an ch o l y an d h yste ri a and th e i r ,

sou l life is g o ve rne d b

y i m agi n at i o ns wh i ch in th e
-

, ,

e ye s o f o th e rs, are ap t to assu m e t h e ch aracte r of

fi xe d ide as An d ye t e ve ryth i n g ab ou t t h e m is
.

stri ctl
y norm al i nde e d th e i r o rg an i s m work s e v e n
,

m ore accu rate l y th an th at o f th e o rdi nar

y ave rage ,
29 4 TH E WISH .

hum an b e i n g, an d if
pl ace th e m like
o ne we re t o ,

de li cate ch e m i cal scal e s u nde r a gl ass case o ne ,

m ig h t se e t h e m work wo n de rs As a ru l e a ce rtai n .

we ak ne ss o f pu rp ose cl e av e s to t h i s cl ass o f se n si

t iv e p e o pl e , wh i ch m a es k th e m sh y l y re tre at i n to
th e m l
se v e s at th e sligh te st e xt ran e ou s t o u ch— an d

t h i s is l u cky for th e m for th us th e y are sav e d all

i l
v o e nt co llis i on wi t h th e ou te r wo rl d, t o wh i ch
th e y wo u l d n o t, a fte r all, p rov e e qu a l . Bu t wo e to

th ose am on g th e m wh o are dri v e n b y so m e im

p e tu ou s de si re , so m e m igh ty passi on ,
igh t
st ra

am o n g roc ks an d t h o rn s ! Th e n it is v e ry p ossi b l e

th at an adh e r n i g th orn , wh i ch o th e rs wo u l d h ardl y

h av e i
n o t ce d, m ay b e co m e to th e m a p o i sone d
arro w, an d co rro de th e i r b ody an d sou l t ill th e y

p e ri sh in co nse q u e n ce . T h e re , n o w, I h ave talke d

e nou g h . H e re lie t wo or t h re e m o re sh e e ts .

L i ste n ! H e re we sh a ll l e arn h ow o ne m ay be
”
i
ru ne d by a wi sh .
29 6 TH E WISH .

is th at su dde n ly th e doctor s de ar
’
o ld face was
b e ndi n g o ve r m e , th at I h ad to dri n k so m e th n i g
th at t ast e d b i tte r, an d— th e n I k n ow noth i n g m o re .

n
a: a
:

Wh e n I awo ke th e p al e ligh t o f dawn gl e am e d

th rou gh t h e wi n do ws . My h e ad ach e d, I l ook e d
arou n d daz e d, and th e n it se e m e d if I as saw

wri tte n on th e wh i te wash e d wall O pp osi te ,

t he

wo rds
’
O h , th at sh e igh t die !
‘
: m

“
I sh u dde re d, an d th e n t h e th ou gh t ro se wi t h i n
m e No w ,
if sh e di e s, it will b e yo u r wi sh wh i ch
’
h as m u rde re d he r .

I p u ll e d m yse lf to g e th e r, an d walk e d u p to th e
l o o ki ng— gl ass .

So th i s is wh at a wom l oo k s lik e wh o wi sh e s an

h e r si ste r m igh t die sai d I wh il e m y ash e n p al e ,

-

face stare d b ack at m e and se ize d wi th a su dde n ,

l oath i n g I h it at th e gl ass wi th m y fist My

,
.

k n u ckl e s b l e d b u t it did not b re ak Fo o l th at I

,
.

was, not to k no w th at h e n ce fo rth all th e worl d

wo u l d on ly b e th e re t o h o l d up a m i rror to m y

i
cr m e !
su dde n
’
“ ‘
Bu t p e rh ap s sh e m ay n o t die ! it ly
darte d th ro u gh Su ch rad ance se e m e d
m y b rai n . i
 TH E WISH . 29 7

to b u rst forth from th i s th o u gh t th at I cl o se d m y ,

e ye s as if dazzl e d .

An d th e n agai n it cri e d alo ud wi th i n m e : Sh e

will die you r wish has m u rde re d h e r ! I gro u nd
m y t e e th and g ro pi ng al on g b y th e wall s I cre pt
, ,

i n to th e si ck ro om .

“
Wh e n I stood at t h e doo r and n o l onge r h e ard ,

an y sou nd fro m wi t h i n th e i de a to o k p osse ss i o n o f

,

m e :

Y o u will find he r as a co r se p .
’

N0 ,
she
ill live d st ,
b u t de ath h ad al re ady se t h is
m ark u p on h e r face .

“
Th e b ri dge o f th e n ose h ad b e com e m o re p ro
m i ne n t , h e r lip s no l o nge r cl ose d o ve r h e r i rre g u l ar
te e th , h e r e ye s se e m e d t o h av e su n k right do w n
i nto th e i r dark soc e ts k .

“
At h e r fe e t sto o d o b e rt an d
'

R th e o ld do ct or .

R ob e rt h ad p re sse d his h an ds to h is face So b s

.

sh o o k h is
fram e Th e o ld m an . scru ti n i se d m e

wi th a p e ne trat i ng gl an ce Agai n for a m o m e n t .

, ,

I fe l t as i f h e we re l oo ki n g m e th rou gh a nd
t h rou gh as if m y g u il t we re o p e n l e xp ose d b e fo re
,
y
h im . Bu t th e n, as h e h aste ne d t owards m e, wh o
was t o tte ri n g, and he l d m e u p ri ght in h is arm s, I
29 8 TH E WISH .

re co g n i se d th at it was on l y th e ph ysi ci an s gl ance ’

w i th wh i ch h e h ad e xam i ne d m e .

H ow will
’
l on g sh e li ve ye t ? I k
as e d, c o s n l i g
m y e ye s .

Sh e is dyi n g !
At th at m o m e n t so m e t h n i g wi th i n m e g re w
rigi d ,
tu rne d to sto ne . At t h at m om e n t h op e di e d
wi th i n m e, an d wi th it m y fai th in m yse lf, in
h appi n e ss, in goo dne ss A g re at cal m cam e ov e r .

m e . D e at h wh i ch h ov e re d ov e r th i s b e d h ad
, ,

s p re ad its dark pi n i on s arou nd m y b ody too .

W i th th e cl e ar v i si o n o f a pro ph e te ss I saw wh at ,

ye t re m a ne d i to m e of life , s p re ad ou t u n ve il e d
b e fore m y e ye s . L ik e one de ad I sh o u ld h e n ce

fo rth h av e to wan de r u p on e arth lik e o ne de ad I ,

sh o u l d h ave to cli n g t o life lik e o n e de ad se e th at ,

h appi n e ss app ro ach m e wh i ch was fo r e ve r l ost to ,

m e . R o b e rt ste pp e d u p to m e and e m b race d m e .

I cal m l y fe re d
su f it , I fe l t n ot h n i g m o re .

’
“
The n I sat do wn l
c ose to m y i
s ste r s b e dsi de ,

an d l oo k e d at h e r wai t i n g for h e r de ath

,
.

A tte nt i v e l y I fo ll owe d e ve ry sym p to m of he r

l
s ow e x pi ri n g I fe l t as if m y co nsci ou sne ss h ad
.

se p arate d i tse lf fro m m e as if I cou l d se e m yse lf ,

300 TH E WISH .

wh o h ad ye ste rday sh o wn ly p ri de and m y au n t on

con t e m p t to da
y ki sse d h e r h an d in h u m ili at i o n
-
, .

T h i s was t h e b e gi n ni n g o f th e p e na nce wh i ch I
h ad i n fli cte d u p o n m yse lf at M arth a s de ath b e d
’
-
,

and wh i ch sh all e n du re as l o n g as I li v e .

E ve n i ng cam e on . M arth a st ill co nt nu e d

i to

b re ath e . W i th wi de -
o pe n m o u th , h e r de ad e ye s

c ov e re d wi th a film ,
sh e st are d at m e . H er b ody
se e m e d to ge t sm a ll e r and sm a e r, ll qu i te sh ru n k
to ge th e r sh e lay th e re . It l
a m o st l o ok e d as if in

de ath sh e did no t ve ntu re to t ak e up e ve n the

sm a ll p c
s a e wh i ch sh e h ad o cc u pi e d duri ng he r

life ti m e .

A u nt fi ll e d th e h o u se wi th h e r l o ath som e so b

b i n g, an d t h e o th e rs, t o o, we re we e pi ng ; I a o ne l
re m a ne di wi th ou t t e ars .

Wh e n to wards e l e ve n o cl ock sh e h ad drawn

’

he r l ast b re ath I fe ll i n to a de li ri u m
,
.

!:
a

u st no w I h av e re tu rn e d fro m th e m an or
j
“
.

H e was goo d and ki n d to wards m e and in his ,

e ye s th e re gl e am e d a h alf h i dde n b ash fu l t e n de r

-
,

ne ss, wh i ch m y sou l dran k in e ag e rly I fe e l as if .

a ne w s p ring t i m e
-
m ust be c o m i ng ,
m y h e art is fu ll
 TH E WISH . 30 1

o f sm il e s an d l au gh te r ,
and wh e n I cl o se m y e ye s
go l de n su n ligh t rays se e m to b e dan ci n g rou n d

ab o u t m e . Bu t now away wi t h th i s e ne rv ati n g

dre am ppi ne ss !
o fh a

I f h e sh ou l d l e arn to l ov e m e all th e wo rse fo r,

h im ! I gav e h im no occasi o n— no i nde e d no t ! ,

I sh o u l d fe e l I m u st de spi se m yse lf lik e a v e ry

p ro sti tu te if I h ad do ne so Si nce m y co nval .

e sce n ce I h av e m anage d h is h ou se h ol d fo r h im
t ru l y an d fai th fu ll y for m o re th an a ye ar wi th ou t
, ,

cl ai m i n g h is app ro val wi th o u t wi sh i n g to g ro w
,

i n di sp e nsab l e to h im E v e n m y de ar au n t h as
.

h ad t o re co g n i se th at wh o al m o st fo rce s h e r h o spi
,

t ali ty u p on m e in spi t e of m y b e i n g p e rso n all y so

,

h ate fu l t o h e r Sh e is m uch too go o d a h ou se

.

k e e pe r h e rse lf n ot to k no w th at b u t for m e th e , ,

h o u se h o l d wou l d h av e go n e t o rack and ru i n in

t h ose days wh e n R o b e rt forg o t e v e ryt h i n g in
,

gl o om y m ou rn i ng fo r h is de ad— not e ve n taki n g

an y i n te re st in th e ch il d wh i ch sh e h ad l e ft h im
,

as a pl e dg e Bu t for m e t h e p o or li tt l e t h i n g
.
,

wo u l d b e lyi ng u n de r th e g ro u n d l o n g ago I will .

n o t e n u m e rate all I did an d wo rk e d du ri ng t h i s t i m e .

It is su re l y not m e e t for m e t o pl ay th e P h ari se e .

20
3 02 TH E WIS H .

N o r will pi ati o n H ow po m pou s

I spe ak o fe x .

th e wo rd so u n ds an d wh at m i se rab l e se lf de ce p t i on
,
-

ge ne rall y h i de s b e h i nd it H o w sh all I wash away

wh at de file s m e ? O ne m ay e xpi ate so m e t ragi c
g u il t ,
o n e can e ve n e xpi at e so m e g re at cr m e ,i b ut
a pi e ce o fb ase ne ss su ch as I co m m i tte d cl e av e s
, to

th e so u l fo r e ve r ! Ah if I did
, n ot k n ow wh at
se cre t de s i re l u rk s in th e de p th s o fm y h e art
“
W hy e l se sh o u l d I re qu i re to stand t h e re ab so l v e d
b e fore m y o wn co nsci e n ce if not in orde r th at I ,

m ig h t o n e day b e co m e h is As if e ve rl ast i n g fate

i tse lf h ad n o t re are d u p a wall b e twe e n us re ach i n g ,

u p fro m t h e de p th s o f lze r g rave as h ig h as th e

stars .

And if so m e de m o n sh ou l de ve r wh i spe r i n to h is
e ar, adv s n i i g h im to stre tch ou t h is h an d fo r m e,

wh at l
e se co u ld I do b u t re p u l se h im ,
as if fo r h is

au dac ty ? i Bu t h e w ill n e ve r do su ch a th i n g . I
h av e su cce e de d in k e e pi ng h im at a di stan ce . Let

h im b e li e v e t h at I h av e a p oor O pi n i o n of him ,
le t

him b e li e ve th at I am h au g h t y an d un eef li n g
th ro u gh se lf l ove
-
. I sh a ll k n o w h o w to g u ard m y
’
h e art s se cre t .

I f o n l y o ne th i n g we re n o t so !
3 04 TH E WISH .

th at h e m igh t l o ve m e, M arth a h ad fi rst to pe ri sh ,

I m yse lf h ad t o i k
s n down i n to an ab yss o f gu il t
and sh am e fro m wh i ch no po we r in h e ave n or on

e arth can sav e m e .

I am de ad . D e ad sh all b e m y de si re s and m y
h o p e s, and m y re b e lli o u s b l ood, wh i ch we ll s up

se e th n i g at th ou gh t o f h im . I will so o n co m pe l it
to b e ca m l an d if not
O h h o w h e st ood b e fo re t i m i dl y stam m e ri n g
“
,
m e,

forth wo rd b y wo rd . H o w sh y l y an d i m pl ori ngly

h is e ye so u gh t m i ne ,
an d ye t h o w h e h ardly dare d

to ra se gl ance fro m th e g rou nd

i h is . H o w, in h is

awk wardn e ss h e t wi s te d th e e nds

,
of h is b e ard

ro u nd h is fi n ge rs ,
an d stam pe d h is foo t wh e n h e
cou l d not find t h e r igh t word Oh, m y p oor de ar ,

b ig ch il d, did yo u n o t se e how m y e v e ry li m b was

t re m b li n g wi th t h e de si re to rush to wards yo u an d

h o l d yo u t igh t fo r all e te rni ty, did yo u n o t se e how

m lip s we re twi tch i ng wi t h t h e te m p tat i o n to p re ss

y
t h e m se l v e s u p o n you rs an d to h an g th e re t ill t h e i r
,

l ast b re at h
D id yo u n o t se e all th i s

D id you re a l l y b e li e ve th e wo rds, wh i ch h alf

u nco nsc o u s i ly I spo k e t o you ? My h e art k n o ws

 TH E WISH .
305

no th n i g of th e m ,
t h at I s we ar to yo u . I h ave
l ov e d you e ve r si nce I can re m e m b e r I k now th at .

m y l ast b re ath will u tt e r yo u r n am e .

And sham e o n yo u if yo u re ally h ad fai th in m y

,

p re te xts ! I le av e you for a ri ch gi rl ! You for ,

wh om I wo u l d gl adly b e g in th e stre e ts fo r wh o m ,

I wou l d work t ill m y e ye s gre w dim and m y

fi nge rs sore if yo u n e e de d it !
,

“
D o yo u re m e m b e r t h at n ig h t in ou r p are nts
’

h ou se wh e n you we re woo i n g M arth a ? D o you

,

re m e m b e r it and dare to i n su l t m e b y p u tti n g fai th

in m y m i se rab l e e xcu se s
And wh e n at p art i n g I g ave you m y h and wh y ,

did you l ook i nto m y e ye s so s adly and h u m b l y ?

D id yo u k now th at now th at l oo k will
n ot h au n t
m e day and n ig h t lik e th e re p ro ach o f so m e h e avy
cri m e I h ave com m i tte d t o wards yo u
N0, frie nd you are t h e on ly o ne on e arth
m y ,

wh o h ave no th i n g to re pro ach m e wi th T o wards .

you I h av e a c te d h o n e s t l —
y an d m ost h o n e stl y
to day e ve n th ou gh yo u we re n e v e r so u nu t te rab l
-
, y
de ce i ve d as to day ! I f o n l y I m igh t t e ll you h o w
-

m uch I l ov e yo u H o w gl adl y wo ul d I die in t h at

se lf sam e h o ur
-
O n l y once to lie u p on yo ur b re ast
.
3 06 TH E WISH .

— nlyo o n ce to h i de m y h e ad u po n you r sh o u l de r
and we e p , we e p —we e p b l oo d and t e ars

Y ou m u st n e ve r a gai n l oo k at m e lik e th at m y ,

gi ant , as if I h ad h ad a righ t t o de spi se you as if ,

yo u we re too i pl e
s m and n o t goo d e no u gh for m e .

I do not k no w wh at I m ig ht no t do in that case !

H e ave n p rote ct yo u fro m m e and m y l o ve !
at
: a:

A wee k late r .

And n ow I h av e do n e it a fter all ! I h av e

th ro wn m yse lf u po n h is ne c k I h ave i
sat at e d m y
se lf wi th h is ki sse s ; I h av e we p t m y fi ll in h is arm s !

I am cal m — qu i te ca m l . I h av e t aste d wh ate ve r

o fh a ppi ne ss life h ad l e ft to o f
fe r m e, t he i
s nne r .

Bu t wh at n ow

Si nce h o u rs I h av e b e e n face to face wi th th e

’
l ast gre at q u e st i o n Sh all I fle e or die ?

O ne or th e oth e r I m u st do t h i s v e ry n igh t for

to m -
o rro w h e will co m e to l e ad m e to M arth a s ’

g rav e .

R ath e r th an foll o w h im th i th e r, I will die

Bu t I wi ll e v e n assu m e th at I cou ld be e no u gh
of a h yp ocri te no t t o dro p down b e si de th e grav e
f
an d co n e ss all to h im , I will assu m e th at I sh o u l d
30 3 TH E WISH .

re m a n n i i g to m e, h av e t h e i r fou ndati o n in h im
l
a on e .

So I m u st die ! Th e b ott l e s of m o r p h i a stand ,

we ll p re se rv e d ,
in t h e co rn e r o f m
y cu p b o ard I .

h ad so m e su s pi ci o n t h at I m ig h t want th e m ,
wh e n,

in de fi ance of th e o ld docto r, I se cre t l y save d u p

th e i r co nte n ts . T h e fe w h o u rs o f sl e e p wh i ch I

t h e re b y l o st ,
will now be am ply co m p e nsate d
for .

O n l y a l e t te r y u n cl e t h e docto r ; h e
“
ye t to m

sh a ll be m y h e ir an d m y co n fi dan t . P e rh aps h e

can h e lp m e to wip e away all t race s o fm y de e d, so

t h at R o b e rt m ay su s p e ct n o th n i g . No t a g re e t i n g
t o h im . T h at is t h e h arde st o f all, b u t it m u st

be so .

>l<

I h av e ru n ou t se cre t l y and poste d th e l e tte r .

T he watch m an was sig nalli n g m i dn ig h t H ow .

em p ty ,
h o w dark is t h e wh o l e wo rl d ! In th e

li m e - t re e s th e wi n d is so u gh i n g . H e re an d th e re

a ligh t is sa gl e am i n g as if to ill u m i ne h i dde n

dl y

so rro ws .
A dru n k e n fe ll o w cam e sh ou ti n g al o ng
the ro ad and m ade as if t o attack m e. D ark ne ss,

p o ve rty ,
an d b ru tali ty ou t th e re — in h e re gu il t an d
 TH E WISH .
3 09

u na pp e asab l e l o ngi n g —th at wou l d b e m y fu tu re .

Ve rily th i s life h as no th n i g m o re t o o ffe r m e .

P e o pl e ta lk and wri te so m u c h ab ou t t h e te rror

o fde ath . I fe e l n o th ni g of it . I am co n t e n t, fo r
I h ave we p t m y fi ll
. Th ose su pp re sse d t e ars

we ig h e d h e av ily u pon m e ; an d we e pi n g
G oo d -
n igh t
 N O VE L S BY H ALL C AIN E .

M AN X M AN
T By H
H E . AL L C AIN E . rz m o.

Cloth ,
t“
A v l u d t ic i t i ty d i i th i c l
s ory of m ar e o i gh s f c ram a n e ns an n ts e a m e an n as a or e
c p b l ly H wth
om ara e onSc l t L tt B t
to B a o rn e s
'
ar e e
,

e r.
’
- os on e acon .

A w k f p w wh i ch i or th —t
o dd d th f u d ti f d u i g f
o er s an o e r s on e a e to e o n a on o e n rn am e
t wh i ch M C i ly ddi g P bl Op i i ”
i y
'

o r. a ne s e ar a n . u zc n on .

A w d fu ll
“
t g tudy f ch ct ; p w ful ly i f th l
on er y s ron st o ara er a o er ana ss o ose e e m e n s
wh i ch g k up h t g th d w k
o to m a f e wh i ch fi c w f
t e s re n an ea ne ss o a m an , are at er e ar are
wi th i h n tb t c t di g g i t ch th
e sam e re as it w h i hi
on e n n a a ns ea o e r, as e re , t e on e to ra se m
f
to am e an dp w h th d g hi d w
o d g d ti
e r, t d h
e o N v er i to ra m o n to e ra a on an s am e e er n
g f li t tu h v w t uggl b tw th f c f
.

th wh l
e o e ran h e o e ra re a e e se e n t e s r e e e en e se or e s or
u p cy v h p w fully li ti c lly d li t d th M C i
pi ctu i —B t H
s re m a o er t e m an m ore o er , m ore re a s a e ne a e , an r . a ne
"
re s t
.
y l os on om e ou m a .

Th M x i e ft ant t bl v l f h y
m an d i u qu ti
s one o he m os no a e no e s o t e e ar, an s n es on
ably d ti d p p tu t th f
es ne f H ll C i
to f y
er e y c a e — Ph l e am e o a a ne or m an a e ar to om e .
" '

ra
'

d lp h
e T l g fh
za e e ra .

uth xh ibi t y f th l t lp i f lif th t pl c

t w i t f fi ct i —
Th e a or e t s a m as e rhi o e e em e n a ass on s o e a a es m
h i gh g h f
am o n t fp t e P hil d lp hi I q i
ore m o s o rese n r e rs o on . a e a n u re r.

D E E M S TE R A R f th e I sle f
T
H E . om ance o o

Man . By H ALL CAI NE . 1 2m o . C loth ,

ll C i h l dy gi v
H a a ne v y t g d fi w k d Th
as a re a en us so m e er s ro n an ne or , an
‘
e

D t i
e e m s er t y fu u u l p w
'
s C t i p g d ch p t h v
a s or o n s a o e r. e ra n assa e s an a e rs a e an

i t
n e n sel y d ti c g p d h ld h f ci t d d wi th f c
ram a ras ly xci t d an o t e as na e re a e r a or e rare e e

w d y i li t tu —Th C i ti
,
"
r c.

d y —
no a a s n e ra re . e

O “
f th ne t g t v l wh i ch h pp d f
o e s ro ny S es F no e s as a e are or m an a a . an ra n

i
c s co Ch i l ron c e .

F ci t th i d lik th g th i g d bu ti g f t I ll t t d
n e a er n an rs n o a s orm us ra e
!

as na e s e m e .

L d
on N w on e s.

D v t b k d
e se r e s g th k bl o v l f th d y Ch i g
e ran e am o n e re m ar a e no e s o e a . ca o

R k b l y p w ful
e m ar a d i u d ubt dly f h t— g t w k fficti f
o er an s n o e on e o t e s ron es or s o on o

our ti It c c p t i
m e . d x cut i s b th v y f
on te l d lp l I g
o n an
,

e e on are o er m e.
”
a e rza n u z re r.

AP T N
’
D A VY S
'
H ON E YM O O N . A M anx
Yam .
cloth
By H AL L C AI NE . 1 2m 0 . P ape r, 5 0 ct s. ; ,

A w d p tu b y th i
“
ne uth U lik hi p vi u w k th i li ttl t l i
e ar re s a or. n e s re o s or s, s e a e s

l t wh ll y h u
a m os
u wi th h w v
o cur t f p th d th
m oro
It s, o e e r, a re n o a os u n e rn e a . i s n ot

a
l w y th t uth
a s
ucc d qu lly w ll t g dy d c— dy but i t l k
a an a o r can s
,

ee e a e in ra e an
_

in om e , oo s

as
th u gh M H ll C i w uld b
o
f th
r. xc p ti La
a L it y a ne o e one o e e e ons. on
’
on e ra r

I i pl tt
t s t h uth f T h D
e as an t i b igh tly h u u lihttl f
o m ee t e a or o
‘
e e em s e r
'
n a r m oro s e

t y li k th i It h w th ob v ti f M x ch ct d uc s o s e sam e se r a on o an ara e r, an m o

ti ti c kill —P h l d lphi T
s or e s. '

ra e a i m es .
th e sam e ar s s .

Ne w Yo k : r D . AP P L E T O N CO ., 7 2 Fi th A f ve nue .
 AP P L ETO N C O S P UBLIC ATIO NS
’
D . . .

N O VE L S BY MAAR T E N MAAR T E N S .

H E G R E A TE R GL OR Y A Story of H igh L ife . .

" “
By MAART EN MAAR TE NS, au th or of G o d s Fool
'
! oos t ,

Ave ling
”
h e tc Iz m o Cloth ,, . .

U n ti l th e Apple ton s di sco v e re d th e m e ri ts of Maarte n Maarte n s th e fore m os t of ,

D utch li t i t i d ubtful if y A i c
n o ve s s, d k w th t th w D ut h
s o m an m e r an re a e rs ne a e re e re c
i li t H i G d F l d ! t A li gh
nove s s. s d f hi
o A
’
i c p ut
s oo an
‘
oos ve n m a e or m an m er an re a
ti i d thi ju t p ub li h d w k f hi i hi b t H i t f
p ph t i i igh t —B t Ad ti
on .T o ou r m n s s s e or o s s s es . e s a m as e r o

e pig ram i t i d c ip ti
, t s
an ar n es r o n, a ro e n ns . o.r o n ve r se r.

It w u ld t k v l c l u t gi v y d qu t id f th u p b w y i
o a e se e ra o m ns o e an a e a e ea o e s er a n
wh i ch t h D utch v li t h d v l p d h i th
e d w u gh t
no e s f h t as e e o e s em e an ro o u t on e o t e m os
i p i v t i f th p i d It b l g th ll c l f v l whi ch
gl ct —S F i Ch i l
m re ss e s or e s o e er o e on s to e sm a as s o no e s

f d t
.

"
on e ca n not f a or o ne e . an ra nc s co ron c e .

M t M t aar e n at d h d d h uld —b v th v g v li t f th
aar e ns s n s ea an s o e rs a o e e a e ra e no e s o e
day i i t ll ctu l ubtl ty di gi ti v p w "
n n e e a sB t B e an m a na e o er . os o n e acon .

OD S F OOL
’
. By MAAR T E N MAAR T E N S . ram o .

Cloth ,
u gh ut th i
Thro p ig i f c wh i ch w uld t bl l
k p l a
l d ftly t ld —L d S t d y R i w
o e re s an e rarn m at c or e o m a e aa e a e ss
i t ti g t y fh u liv ”
n e re s n s or o m an e s or o ne ess e o . on on a u r a ev e .

P f ctl y y g c ful h u u uth k ill i ch ct d wi g

—L d Ch i l
'
er e Th
e as ra e m oro s. e a or s s n ara e r- ra n
i u d i bl
, ,
”
s n en a e . on oh ron c e .

A k b l w k —N w Y k Ti
re m ar a e or . e or m es.

M t M aar e n h cu d fi f ti g i h ddi fcu —

aarte ns t li t tu as se re a rm oo n n t e e es o rre n e ra re .
P th d p i t t g d y i th th illi g t y f G d F l t d l
’ ’

t
’
a os ee e ns n o ra e n e r n s or o o s oo . a e

fh i L dg
a e e r.

I “
p fc l t p h uth f th l di g E gli h v li t f
t d y —
ts re a e a one s am s t e a or as one o e ea n n s no e s s o
"
o- a B t
. D ily A d ti os on a o e r z re r.
“
Th t ry i w d fully b illi t
e s o Th i t s t v l g h tyl i
on er r an e n e re s ne er a s ; t e s e s
d th c t tly u d lyi g cu t f ubtl h u "
.

li i
rea st c an d i m te n se ; an e re s a o ns an n er n rre n o s e m o r.
h t b k wh i c h tu d t f d li t tu h uld f il d
_ _

I
—B t Ti
t is, In s or , a oo no s en o m o e rn e ra re s o a to re a .

o: o n m es

t d p i t —N w Y k Ob
.

A t y f s or k bl i t o re m ar a e n e re s an o n . e or se rve r.

A VE L I N G H . By MA AR T E N MAAR T E N S .

IZ m o . Clo th ,
u i t k b ly g d
So nm i d uc h h th t cqu i t c wi th h D utch
s a a oo
—L d M i g
as to n e t e o ne a an a a n an e t e
i c ti bc g l g "

i t
ff
te rat ure o y on m a soo n e om e m ore e n e ra am on us . on on orn n
ar .

I c c ly y f h
n s ar e ti l v l f h d y will th
an o d fid t e se nsa ona no e s o t e a e re a e r n m ore
na tu hu
re o r m ore tu L d St d d m an n a re .
”
on on an a r .

A v l
—L d L it y W
"
f v y h igh
no e At o c t gl
a y li t
eric d p w full y id l e. on e s ron re a s an o er ea
t
is i c. on on e ra r or

Fu ll f l c l c l o d i ch i q i t ph
o a l gy d u gg ti —L d
o or an r n ua n ras e o o an s es o n. on on
T l g fih
e e ra .

M t M i c pi t l t y t ll "—P ll M ll G tt
l k th i l u l —
aar e n aarte ns s a a a s or -
e er . a a az e e.

O E gli h w i t ffi cti wli l h v Bi

’

ur n s r e rs o gh on a e to oo to e r a re s . rm zn am
 Book s BY MR S . EV E R AR D C orns (SA A ! AN E TT R E N E D UN C AN! .

A UN T Wi th m any Ill u st rat i ons

l E R N ON S
’
. .

1 2m o . Clo t h ,
H er ch ct ara e rs, e v en b dl b u
wh e n roa y a s rd, are a ways ons s e n w h l c i t t i t th em .

se lv
e s, an d h t t e s ream off
u n flows na t u r
ally on, har !y e er flaggln or orce d v ‘
g f d
'

do n A th e ne um .

D A U GH TE R OF T O—DAY . A N o ve l . Iz m o .

C lo th ,

Th e b
ll w th th tt ti i t d
ook d d if th c vi cti t l t
is we or e a en on e m an s, an e on on a as
l wly d w u p th d th t i t c t i p u p i t i
s o a ns on wh i ch h b e re a e r
p a on a ns a r ose , s one as een ro
duce d b y th i v i t b l l w f cti e d i c l v ly
ne —
ip ul t d L d
a e a o re a o n, an s e er m an a e .
"
on on
A th e ne u m .

Th i v l i t g d i u pi c— fw k ;
s no e f ki d th t i g tti g t
s a s ron an se r o s e e o or o ne o a n a s e n oo
rare i th d y fu i v al k
n es e B t
a s o C i n e rs cran m e ss. os on ou r e r .

A w d c pi tal t y 5 11 f qu i t h ppy t uch

ne an fh a —P hfl d lj hi s or , 1 o e , a o es o um or.
”
a e a

S OCI AL D E P AR T UR E : H ow Orthodocia and I

Wen t R ou n d the World by Ou rse lves W i h I t ! Illu strations. t
NSEND
by F H . c . c t T OW . Iz m o P ape r, 7 5 e n ts ; lo h ,
.

id ly d d b th id fth Atl i c nd P cific wi th c

an f ra se on o s es o e an t a a s ores o

ill u t ti wh i ch fi t1p ti xtd x ctl y d h w h i d f ti t d w i t i u i

e re a , "
t e m n o ar s an
—N w Y h E i g P t
s ra o ns t e e e a an s o r er n n son .

“
e or v en n os .

“
b d ubt d wh th th b k b f d th u g hl y u i g
d —
I i t s to e o e e e r an o er oo can e oun so oro am sn

from b gi i g e B t
nn n D ily A d ti to e n .
"
os on a oer se r .

A b igh t
“
i r ti ly ch i g b k w uld b i d d diffi cu l t t
e r, m e rr e r m ore e n re arm n oo o e, n ee , o

find .
"
- s r L ou i s R
. e ubp lic .

N AME R I CAN G I R L I N L ON D O IV . Wi t h 8 0
Illu stra i on s b y F H t . . TOW N SEND . rz m o . P ape r, 7 5 c e n ts ;
clo h , t
O ne t i v d t t i i g b k f th
ofth e
—N w Y k 06
m os na e an e n e ra n n oo s o e season . e or

S p igh tly b k thi lif i L d b v d by A i c h s, o n e n on on as o ser e an m er an, as

v b f b w i tt —t l d lph i B ll ti
o s r a oo as
'

a e a u e n.

d g d wi ll —
ne er e ore een r e n.

O v u i g wi th cl v
“
e rr nn n N w Y k C i l Ad e e rness an oo - .
"
e or om m e rc a yer

H E SI MP L E AD VE N T UR ES OF A ME M
SAH IB . W i th 3 7 Illustrat i ons b y F H . . T O W NSEN D . 1 2 m o.

C loth ,
lik t v l i g wi th t l vi g
It is e a
r e n ou a n
'
on e s arm ch i t d it Mi s D u h
a r o re a . s ncan as

th e d p ti v d
i
e scr ti gift i l ge an narra ve n ar e m
e u d h b
as re , an g dly b f s e nn s t e ore us
t c i t i th h ld gly q u ti v th g y n f th .

gli h c l y —
O

th e rm e e r na es, e a e es o e
th e stre e s e n es , e n e r or
s, e em
"
P hx l d lph i T l g p h
'

En s o on . a e a e e ra .

N e w York : D . AP P L ETO N CO .
, 7 2 Fi th Av e nu e
f .
 D AP P L ETO N C O S P UBL IC ATIO NS
’
. . .

WO R L D S
A j O UR N E Y I N A Ro O TH E R .
.

m n e f th e F u tu re a By !O H N !ACO B AST O R
e o W i th 9 fu ll .
.

p ge Illu strat i on s b y D an Be ard

a 1 2m o C lo th . .
,

A i t nti g d cl v ly d vi d b k
n e re s n N l ck f i
an gi ti e er e se oo . O a o m a na on.

Sh w o k illfu l
sa s d wid cqu i at c wi th ci tifi c f ct —N w Y k H ld
an e a a n n e s en a s . e or e ra .

Th uth p cul t cl v ly d d i gly th ci tifi c d v c fth th

e a or s e a es e er an ar n on e s en a an e o e e ar ,

an dh v l i th phy i c l l uxu i c f ju pi t but h l l t hi i gi ti

e re e s n e s a r an e o e r; e a so e s s m a na on

t v l th u gh pi i tu l l
ra e ro d vid tl y d ligh m i
s r y ti c p cul ti
a qu i t
re a m s, an e en e n m s s e a on e as

m uch i ci tifi c i v tig ti Ifh i f ll w f! u l V

a n s en n h h es tf g t a on . e s a o o er o es e rn e , e as n o or o

t l t
e n a so tu dy th ph il ph —N w Y k T ib
o s e oso e rs . e or r u n e.

A b ut ifu l x pl f typ g ph i c l d th b k k r kill

'
ea e am e o o ra a art an e oo m a e s s .

a pp ci t th t y
re a e u t d i —N w Y k C
e s or i l Ad
one m ti s re a t .
"
e' or om m e rc a ver se r .

Th d t f th
e v t a et d i thi b k i u pp d b
o e e A Th
e n s n arra e n s oo s s ose to e 2 000 . D. e

i h b i t t f N th A i c h v i c d igh til y i u b
n a an s o or d p w
m er d a a e n re ase m n n m e rs an o er an

k wl dg
no eIt i g e f. v l u ci tfii c tt i
s an t Flyi g ch i h v
s a e o m ar e o s s en a a nm e n . n m a nes a e

l g b i c
on een d fi lly
n w p w
om m o ni di c v d c ll d u se ,
p gy an na a ne o er s s o e re a e
‘
a er ,
’

th e v re fg vi t ti
e rse b y wh i ch p pl
o bl t fly ffi t p c i y di c
ra a on, eo e are a e o o n o s a e n an r o

ti on, and t wh t p d th y pl a —N w Y k S
a s ee e e ase . e or un.

Th ci t ifi c e s c by ! h ! c b A t i
en th li k ly t cu di
rom an e o n a o s or s m ore an e o se re a s

ti ct p p ul ucc
n o d ch i v wid p
ar s d v g u b th
e ss, an ui g di t t a e e es re a o e o as an am s n an n e re s

es ti g t y d th u gh tful d v t p ph y
n s or , an a f h t i u p h wh i ch c i c
o en ea or o ro es so m e o t e r m s s en e

i d ti d t w i b y th y
s es ne o Th b k h n b w i tt wi th p u pe d
e ar 2 000 . e oo as e en r en a r o se , an

th t h igh
a a th th pi i g f h igh ly i gi it v y
e r on e an M At h e m e re s nn n o a m a na e arn . r . s or as

b een g g d u p th b k f v tw y
en a e d h
on b u gh t t b u p i t
e oo or O er o e ars, an as ro o e ar on a

g t d l fh d w k i th w y f ci tifi c
re a ea o ar ch fwh i ch h h b v y f d
or n e a o s en re se ar , o e as een er on

e v i c h t d H v d It i d i b ly ill u t t d b y D B d —M il d
er s n e e e n e re ar ar . s a m ra s ra e an e ar . a an

E xp r e ss .

Mr As t or h as
. qu li t i i gi bl f k i g th ci c f
h i m se l f l a m os all th e t a es m a na e or m a n e s en e o

t
as rono my p p ul H k w h l o d p f th t l g
ar .
H k ew h no s t e e arn e m a s o e as ro o e rs . e no s t e

w k fC p
or oi cu H h o d c l cul ti
e rn d b v ti
s. H i th u i tic
e as m a e a a on s an o se r a ons . e s en s as ,

an d h p ct cu l d
t e s e t f igh t hi a
—N w Y k Tiar oe s n o r en m .
"
e or m es.

Th w k will i d h
e d v y uch f ! u l V i i g
or re m l pl t
n t e re a e r er m o es e rn e n ts e n e ra an o

u i g ci tifi c f ct d p cul ti
s n s en k l t a wh i ch h
s ang h ti c s e a on as a s e e on on to an t e ro m an

a d v tu f h c t l fig
en re s o wh h v ll h d i g i g u i ty
t e e n rad l uck fM u res , o a e a t e ar n n en an o r .

V h
e rne s
'
M At u hi t y
e roe s p i t wh t i h i pi i ci c y
. r . s or se s s or to o n ou t a n s o n on s en e m a

b xp ct d cc pli h I i
e e e e c wi th p u p
to a om Ch i g I t O s . t s a rom an e a r ose .
"
- ca o n e r- ce a n .

Th c c at i
e y w
ro m an ed t i ki g d v l p t f th p ib ili i
on ns m an ne an s r n e e o m en s o e oss t m

o f ci c h
s ft
en e t b x pl d but h v l u i i t l y i t it g b th
e re a er o e e ore , t e o m e s n e nse n e re s n , o as a

p d uct f i gi ti
ro d o ill u t ti f th i g i u d igi l ppli c ti f
m a na on an an s ra on o e n en o s an or na a a on o

s ci c —R h t H ld
en e . oc es e r e ra .