III

hedwithdelightanddrankthecoffee,gritsandall.Oh,theblessedfreedomofbeinginsignificant.Itwasasgood,shethought,asgettingridofyourbodyaltogetherandgoingaboutaninvisiblespirit.Shesatonthedeckoftheapparentlymotionlessturbineandthoughtgleefullyofpastjourneys,nowforeverdonewithofthegrandducaltrain,ofherselfdroopinginsideitaswearilyastheinevitablebouquetsdroopingonthetables,ofthecrowdsofstarersoneveryplatform,ofthebowingofficialswhereveryoureyechancedtoturn.TheCountessDisthal,ofcourse,hadbeenalwaysatherelbow,andwhenshehadtogotothewindowanddothegraciousheranxietylestsheshouldbestowonesmiletoofewhadonlybeensurpassedbytheCountess'sanxietylestsheshouldbestowonesmiletoomany.Well,thatwasdonewithnowasmuchdonewithasanightmare,grislystaleness,isdonewithwhenyouwaketoafairspringmorningandthesmellofdew.Andshehadnofears.Shewassure,knowinghimasshedid,thatwhentheGrandDukefoundoutshehadrunawayhewouldmakenoattempttofetchherback,butwouldsimplydrawalinethroughhisremembranceofher,rubheroutofhismind,(hisheart,sheknew,wouldneednorubbing,becauseshehadneverbeeninit,)andafterthefirstfurywasover,furysolelyonaccountofthescandal,hewouldbeashehadbeenbefore,whileshe—ohwonderfulnewlife!—shewouldbebornagaintoallthecharities. NowhowcanI,weakvesselwhoseonlyballastisacargoofinterrogationspastwhichlifeswirlswithathunderofderisivelycontradictoryreplies,pretendtosaywhetherPriscillaoughttohavehadconscience-qualmsornot?AmInotdeafenedbytheroarofanswers,allseeminglysorightyetallsodifferent,thatthesimplestquestionbrings?Andwouldnottheansweringroartoanythingsocomplicatedasaquestionaboutconscience-qualmsdeafenmeforever?IshallleavethePrincess,then,torunawayfromherhomeandherparentifshechooses,andmakenoefforttowhitewashanypartofherconductthatmayseemblack.Ishallchronicle,andnotcomment.Ishalltryto,thatis,forcommentsareverydeartome.IndeedIseeIcannotmoveonevennowtillIhavepointedoutthatthoughPriscillawasgettingasfarasshecouldfromtheGrandDukeshewasalsogettingasnearasshecouldtothepossessionofhersouland