"Did you?" Irene spoke1 evenly and quietly, but did not turn her face toward Mrs. Everet.
"Yes. I saw him at my husband's store. Mr. Everet has engaged him to conduct an important suit, in which many thousands of dollars are at stake."
"How does he look?" inquired Irene, without showing any feelings but still keeping her face turned from Mrs Everet.
"Well, I should say, though rather too much frosted for a man of his years."
"Gray, do you mean?" Irene manifested some surprise.
"Yes; his hair and beard are quite sprinkled with time's white snow-flakes."
"He is only forty," remarked Irene.
"I should say fifty, judging from his appearance."
"Only forty." And a faint sigh breathed on the lips of Irene. She did not look around at her friend but sat very still, with her face turned partly away. Mrs. Everet looked at her closely, to read, if possible, what was passing in her mind. But the countenance2 of Irene was too much hidden. Her attitude, however, indicated intentness of thought, though not disturbing thought.
"Rose," she said at length, "I grow less at peace with myself as the years move onward3."
"You speak from some passing state of mind," suggested Mrs. Everet.
"No; from a gradually forming permanent state. Ten years ago I looked back upon the past in a stern, self-sustaining, martyr-spirit. Five years ago all things wore a different aspect. I began to have misgivings4; I could not so clearly make out my case. New thoughts on the subject—and not very welcome ones—began to intrude5. I was self-convicted of wrong; yes, Rose, of a great and an irreparable wrong. I shut my eyes; I tried to look in other directions; but the truth, once seen, could not pass from the range of mental vision. I have never told you that I saw Mr. Emerson five years ago. The effect of that meeting was such that I could not speak of it, even to you. We met on one of the river steamboats—met and looked into each other's eyes for just a moment. It may only be a fancy of mine, but I have thought sometimes that, but for this seemingly accidental meeting, he would have married again."
"Why do you think so?" asked Mrs. Everet.
Irene did not answer for some moments. She hardly dared venture to put what she had seen in words. It was something that she felt more like hiding even from her own consciousness, if that were possible. But, having ventured so far, she could not well hold back. So she replied, keeping her voice into as dead a level as it was possible to assume:
"He was sitting in earnest conversation with a young lady, and from the expression of her face, which I could see, the subject on which he was speaking was evidently one in which more than her thought was interested. I felt at the time that he was on the verge6 of a new life-experiment—was about venturing upon a sea on which he had once made shipwreck7. Suddenly he turned half around and looked at me before I had time to withdraw my eyes—looked at me with a strange, surprised, startled look. In another moment a form came between us; when it passed I was lost from his gaze in the crowd of passengers. I have puzzled myself a great many times over that fact of his turning his eyes, as if from some hidden impulse, just to the spot where I was sitting. There are no accidents—as I have often heard you say—in the common acceptation of the term; therefore this was no accident."
"It was a providence," said Rose.
"And to what end?" asked Irene.
Mrs. Everet shook her head.
"I will not even presume to conjecture8."
Irene sighed, and then sat lost in thought. Recovering herself, she said:
"Since that time I have been growing less and less satisfied with that brief, troubled portion of my life which closed so disastrously9. I forgot how much the happiness of another was involved. A blind, willful girl, struggling in imaginary bonds, I thought only of myself, and madly rent apart the ties which death only should have sundered10. For five years, Rose, I have carried in my heart the expression which looked out upon me from the eyes of Mr. Emerson at that brief meeting. Its meaning was not then, nor is it now, clear. I have never set myself to the work of interpretation11, and believe the task would be fruitless. But whenever it is recalled I am affected12 with a tender sadness. And so his head is already frosted, Rose?"
"Yes."
"Though in years he has reached only manhood's ripened13 state. How I have marred14 his life! Better, far better, would it have been for him if I had been the bride of Death on my wedding-day!"
A shadow of pain darkened her face.
"No," replied Mrs. Everet; "it is better for both you and him that you were not the bride of Death. There are deeper things hidden in the events of life than our reason can fathom15. We die when it is best for ourselves and best for others that we should die—never before. And the fact that we live is in itself conclusive16 that we are yet needed in the world by all who can be affected by our mortal existence."
"Gray hairs at forty!" This seemed to haunt the mind of Irene.
"It may be constitutional," suggested Mrs. Everet; "some heads begin to whiten at thirty."
"Possibly."
But the tone expressed no conviction.
"How was his face?" asked Irene.
"Grave and thoughtful. At least so it appeared to me."
"At forty." It was all Irene said.
Mrs. Everet might have suggested that a man of his legal position would naturally be grave and thoughtful, but she did not.
"It struck me," said Mrs. Everet, "as a true, pure, manly17 face. It was intellectual and refined; delicate, yet firm about the mouth and expansive in the upper portions. The hair curled softly away from his white temples and forehead."
"Worthy18 of a better fate!" sighed Irene. "And it is I who have marred his whole life! How blind is selfish passion! Ah, my friend, the years do not bring peace to my soul. There have been times when to know that he had sought refuge from a lonely life in marriage would have been a relief to me. Were this the case, the thought of his isolation19, of his imperfect life, would not be for ever rebuking20 me. But now, while no less severely21 rebuked22 by this thought, I feel glad that he has not ventured upon an act no clear sanction for which is found in the Divine law. He could not, I feel, have remained so true and pure a man as I trust he is this day. God help him to hold on, faithful to his highest intuitions, even unto the end."
Mrs. Everet looked at Irene wonderingly as she spoke. She had never before thus unveiled her thoughts.
"He struck me," was her reply, "as a man who had passed through years of discipline and gained the mastery of himself."
"I trust that it may be so," Irene answered, rather as if speaking to herself than to another.
"As I grow older," she added, after a long pause, now looking with calm eyes upon her friend, "and life-experiences correct my judgment23 and chasten my feelings, I see all things in a new aspect. I understand my own heart better—its needs, capacities and yearnings; and self-knowledge is the key by which we unlock the mystery of other souls. So a deeper self-acquaintance enables me to look deeper into the hearts of all around me. I erred24 in marrying Mr. Emerson. We were both too hasty, self-willed and tenacious25 of rights and opinions to come together in a union so sacred and so intimate. But, after I had become his wife, after I had taken upon myself such holy vows26, it was my duty to stand fast. I could not abandon my place and be innocent before God and man. And I am not innocent, Rose."
The face of Irene was strongly agitated27 for some moments; but she recovered herself and went on:
"I am speaking of things that have hitherto been secrets of my own heart. I could not bring them out even for you to look at, my dearest, truest, best of friends. Now it seems as if I could not bear the weight of my heavy thoughts alone; as if, in admitting you beyond the veil, I might find strength to suffer, if not ease from pain. There is no such thing as living our lives over again and correcting their great errors. The past is an irrevocable fact. Ah, if conscience would sleep, if struggles for a better life would make atonement for wrong—then, as our years progress, we might lapse28 into tranquil29 states. But gradually clearing vision increases the magnitude of a fault like mine, for its fatal consequences are seen in broader light. There is a thought which has haunted me for a year past like a spectre. It comes to me unbidden; sometimes to disturb the quiet of my lonely evenings, sometimes in the silent night-watches to banish30 sleep from my pillow; sometimes to place silence on my lips as I sit among cherished friends. I never imagined that I would put this thought in words for any mortal ear; yet it is coming to my lips now, and I feel impelled31 to go on. You believe that there are, as you call them 'conjugal32 partners,' or men and women born for each other, who, in a true marriage of souls, shall become eternally one. They do not always meet in this life; nay33, for the sake of that discipline which leads to purification, may form other and uncongenial ties in the world, and live unhappily; but in heaven they will draw together by a divinely-implanted attraction, and be there united for ever. I have felt that something like this must be true; that every soul must have its counterpart. The thought which has so haunted me is, that Hartley Emerson and unhappy I were born for each other."
She paused and looked with a half-startled air upon Mrs. Everet to mark the effect of this revelation. But Rose made no response and showed no surprise, however she might have been affected by the singular admission of her friend.
"It has been all in vain," continued Irene "that I have pushed the thought aside—called it absurd, insane, impossible—back it would come and take its old place. And, stranger still, out of facts that I educed34 to prove its fallacy would come corroborative35 suggestions. I think it is well for my peace of mind that I have not been in the way of hearing about him or of seeing him. Since we parted it has been as if a dark curtain had fallen between us; and, so far as I am concerned, that curtain has been lifted up but once or twice, and then only for a moment of time. So all my thoughts of him are joined to the past. Away back in that sweet time when the heart of girlhood first thrills with the passion of love are some memories that haunt my soul like dreams from Elysium. He was, in my eyes, the impersonation of all that was lovely and excellent; his presence made my sense of happiness complete; his voice touched my ears as the blending of all rich harmonies. But there fell upon him a shadow; there came hard discords36 in the music which had entranced my soul; the fine gold was dimmed. Then came that period of mad strife37, of blind antagonism38, in which we hurt each other by rough contact. Finally, we were driven far asunder39, and, instead of revolving40 together around a common centre, each has moved in a separate orbit. For years that dark period of pain has held the former period of brightness in eclipse; but of late gleams from that better time have made their way down to the present. Gradually the shadows are giving away. The first state is coming to be felt more and more as the true state—as that in best agreement with what we are in relation to each other. It was the evil in us that met in such fatal antagonism—not the good; it was something that we must put off if we would rise from natural and selfish life into spiritual and heavenly life. It was our selfishness and passion that drove us asunder. Thus it is, dear Rose, that my thoughts have been wandering about in the maze41 of life that entangles42 me. In my isolation I have time enough for mental inversion—for self-exploration—for idle fancies, if you will. And so I have lifted the veil for you; uncovered my inner life; taken you into the sanctuary43 over whose threshold no foot but my own had ever passed."
There was too much in all this for Mrs. Everet to venture upon any reply that involved suggestion or advice. It was from a desire to look deeper into the heart of her friend that she had spoken of her meeting with Mr. Emerson. The glance she obtained revealed far more than her imagination had ever reached.
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1
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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2
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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misgivings
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧 | |
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intrude
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| vi.闯入；侵入；打扰，侵扰 | |
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verge
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| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
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shipwreck
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| n.船舶失事，海难 | |
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conjecture
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| n./v.推测，猜测 | |
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disastrously
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| ad.灾难性地 | |
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10
sundered
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| v.隔开，分开( sunder的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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interpretation
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| n.解释，说明，描述；艺术处理 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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ripened
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| v.成熟，使熟( ripen的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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marred
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| adj. 被损毁, 污损的 | |
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fathom
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| v.领悟，彻底了解 | |
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conclusive
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| adj.最后的，结论的；确凿的，消除怀疑的 | |
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manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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isolation
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| n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离 | |
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rebuking
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| 责难或指责( rebuke的现在分词 ) | |
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severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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rebuked
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| 责难或指责( rebuke的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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erred
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| 犯错误，做错事( err的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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tenacious
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| adj.顽强的，固执的，记忆力强的，粘的 | |
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vows
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| 誓言( vow的名词复数 )； 郑重宣布，许愿 | |
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agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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lapse
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| n.过失，流逝，失效，抛弃信仰，间隔；vi.堕落，停止，失效，流逝；vt.使失效 | |
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tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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banish
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| vt.放逐，驱逐；消除，排除 | |
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impelled
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| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32
conjugal
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| adj.婚姻的，婚姻性的 | |
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33
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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educed
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| v.引出( educe的过去式和过去分词 )；唤起或开发出（潜能）；推断（出）；从数据中演绎（出） | |
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corroborative
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| adj.确证（性）的，确凿的 | |
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36
discords
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| 不和（discord的复数形式） | |
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strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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antagonism
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| n.对抗，敌对，对立 | |
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asunder
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| adj.分离的，化为碎片 | |
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40
revolving
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| adj.旋转的，轮转式的；循环的v.（使）旋转( revolve的现在分词 )；细想 | |
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41
maze
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| n.迷宫，八阵图，混乱，迷惑 | |
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42
entangles
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| v.使某人（某物/自己）缠绕，纠缠于（某物中），使某人（自己）陷入（困难或复杂的环境中）( entangle的第三人称单数 ) | |
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43
sanctuary
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| n.圣所，圣堂，寺庙；禁猎区，保护区 | |
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