shock it will be to those whose existence is such a glorifying of
themselves that they imagine their presence necessary to all about them,
when they learn that their disappearance from the world sent a thrill of
relief through the hearts of those nearest them! To learn how little
they were prized, will one day prove a strong medicine for souls
self-absorbed.

"There is nothing covered that shall not be revealed."




CHAPTER XVI.


FAULT AND NO FAULT.

The next day I kept the house till the evening, and then went walking in
the garden in the twilight. Between the dark alleys and the open
wilderness I flitted and wandered, alternating gloom and gleam outside
me, even as they chased one another within me.

In the wilderness I looked up--and there was John! He stood outside the
fence, just as I had seen him the night before, only now there was no
aureole about his head: the moon had not yet reached the horizon.

My first feeling was anger: he had broken our agreement! I did not
reflect that there was such a thing as breaking a law, or even a promise,
and being blameless. He leaped the fence, and clearing every bush like a
deer, came straight toward me. It was no use trying to escape him. I