aware that Helena, dressed as Datchery, is really absent at
Cloisterham. However, next day, Helena is in her brother's rooms.
Moreover, it is really a sufficient explanation of Grewgious's
doubt that Jasper is lurking around, and that not till next day is
a PRIVATE way of communication arranged between Neville and his
friends. In any case, next day, Helena is in her brother's rooms,
and, by aid of a Mr. Tartar's rooms, she and Rosa can meet
privately. There is a good deal of conspiring to watch Jasper when
he watches Neville, and in this new friend, Mr. Tartar, a lover is
provided for Rosa. Tartar is a miraculously agile climber over
roofs and up walls, a retired Lieutenant of the navy, and a handy
man, being such a climber, to chase Jasper about the roof of the
Cathedral, when Jasper's day of doom arrives.


JASPER'S OPIUM VISIONS


In July, Jasper revisits the London opium den, and talks under
opium, watched by the old hag. He speaks of a thing which he often
does in visions: "a hazardous and perilous journey, over abysses
where a slip would be destruction. Look down, look down! You see
what lies at the bottom there?" He enacts the vision and says,
"There was a fellow traveller." He "speaks in a whisper, and as if
in the dark." The vision is, in this case, "a poor vision: no
struggle, no consciousness of peril, no entreaty." Edwin, in the
reminiscent vision, dies very easily and rapidly. "When it comes
to be real at last, it is so short that it seems unreal for the
first time." "And yet I never saw THAT before. Look what a poor
miserable mean thing it is. THAT must be real. It's over."