Chapter 25

           Clare,restless,wentoutintotheduskwheneveningdrewon,shewhohadwonhimhavingretiredtoherchamber.

           Thenightwasassultryastheday.Therewasnocoolnessafterdarkunlessonthegrass.Roads,garden-paths,thehouse-fronts,thebarton-wallswerewarmashearths,andreflectedthenoontimetemperatureintothenoctambulist’sface.

           Hesatontheeastgateofthedairy-yard,andknewnotwhattothinkofhimself.Feelinghadindeedsmotheredjudgementthatday.

           Sincethesuddenembrace,threehoursbefore,thetwainhadkeptapart.Sheseemedstilled,almostalarmed,atwhathadoccurred,whilethenovelty,unpremeditation,masteryofcircumstancedisquietedhim—palpitating,contemplativebeingthathewas.Hecouldhardlyrealizetheirtruerelationstoeachotherasyet,andwhattheirmutualbearingshouldbebeforethirdpartiesthenceforward.

           Angelhadcomeaspupiltothisdairyintheideathathistemporaryexistenceherewastobethemerestepisodeinhislife,soonpassedthroughandearlyforgotten;hehadcomeastoaplacefromwhichasfromascreenedalcovehecouldcalmlyviewtheabsorbingworldwithout,and,apostrophizingitwithWaltWhitman—

           Crowdsofmenandwomenattiredintheusualcostumes,

           Howcuriousyouaretome!—

           resolveuponaplanforplungingintothatworldanew.Butbehold,theabsorbingscenehadbeenimportedhither.