CHAPTER XL. A STRANGE INTERVIEW, WHICH IS A SEQUEL TO THE LAST CHAMBER

kingorpassingatanysettledperiodfromthistime?” “Willyoupromisemethatyouwillhavemysecretstrictlykept,andcomealone,orwiththeonlyotherpersonthatknowsitandthatIshallnotbewatchedorfollowed?”askedthegirl. “Ipromiseyousolemnly,”answeredRose. “EverySundaynight,fromelevenuntiltheclockstrikestwelve,”saidthegirlwithouthesitation,“IwillwalkonLondonBridgeifIamalive.” “Stayanothermoment,”interposedRose,asthegirlmovedhurriedlytowardsthedoor.“Thinkonceagainonyourowncondition,andtheopportunityyouhaveofescapingfromit.Youhaveaclaimonme:notonlyasthevoluntarybearerofthisintelligence,butasawomanlostalmostbeyondredemption.Willyoureturntothisgangofrobbers,andtothisman,whenawordcansaveyou?Whatfascinationisitthatcantakeyouback,andmakeyouclingtowickednessandmisery?Oh!istherenochordinyourheartthatIcantouch!Istherenothingleft,towhichIcanappealagainstthisterribleinfatuation!” “Whenladiesasyoung,andgood,andbeautifulasyouare,”repliedthegirlsteadily,“giveawayyourhearts,lovewillcarryyoualllengths—evensuchasyou,whohavehome,friends,otheradmirers,everything,tofillthem.WhensuchasI,whohavenocertainroofbutthecoffinlid,andnofriendinsicknessordeathbutthehospitalnurse,setourrottenheartsonanyman,andlethimfilltheplacethathasbeenablankthroughallourwretchedlives,whocanhopetocureus?Pityus,lady—pityusforhavingonlyonefeelingofthewomanleft,andforhavingthatturned,byaheavyjudgment,fromacomfortandapride,intoanewmeansofviolenceandsuffering.” “Youwill,”saidRose,afterapause,“takesomemoneyfromme,whichmayenableyoutolivewithoutdishonesty—atalleventsuntilwemeetagain?” “Notapenny,”repliedthegirl,wavingherhand. “Donotcloseyourheartagainstallmyeffortstohelpyou,”saidRose,steppinggentlyforward.“Iwishtoserveyouindeed.” “Youwouldservemebest,lady,”repliedthegirl,wringingherhands,“ifyoucouldtakemylifeatonceforIhavefeltmoregrieftothinkofwhatIam,to-night,thanIeverdidbefore,anditwouldbesomethingnottodieinthehellinwhichIhavelived.Godblessyou,sweetlady,andsendasmuchhappinessonyourheadasIhavebroughtshameonmine!” Thusspeaking,andsobbingaloud,theunhappycreatureturnedawaywhileRoseMaylie,overpoweredbythisextraordinaryinterview,whichhadmorethesemblanceofarapiddreamthananactualoccurrence,sankintoachair,andendeavouredtocollectherwanderingthoughts.