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           Atsuchanearlyhourtheheatwasnotexhausting;therewasafaint,heavystirringintheair,andastealingoflanguorousperfumesfromboroniaandroses,theheavenlystillnessonlytropicalandsubtropicallatitudescaneverknow.Oh,God,tobealive,tobereallyalive!Toembracethenight,andliving,andbefree!

           Hestoppedonthefarsideofthelawnandstoodlookingupatthesky,aninstinctiveaerialsearchingforGod.Yes,uptheresomewhere,betweenthewinkingpointsoflightsopureandunearthly;whatwasitaboutthenightsky?Thatthebluelidofdaywaslifted,amanpermittedglimpsesofeternity?NothingsavewitnessingthestrewnvistaofthestarscouldconvinceamanthattimelessnessandGodexisted.

           She’sright,ofcourse.Asham,atotalsham.Nopriest,noman.

           Onlysomeonewhowishesheknewhowtobeeither.No!Noteither!Priestandmancannotcoexist—tobeamanistobenopriest.WhydidIevertanglemyfeetinherweb?Herpoisonisstrong,perhapsstrongerthanIguess.What’sintheletter?HowlikeMarytobaitme!Howmuchdoessheknow,howmuchdoesshesimplyguess?Whatistheretoknow,orguess?Onlyfutility,andloneliness.Doubt,pain.Alwayspain.Yetyou’rewrong,Mary.Icangetitup.It’sjustthatIdon’tchooseto,thatI’vespentyearsprovingtomyselfitcanbecontrolled,dominated,subjugated.Forgettingitupistheactivityofaman,andIamapriest.

           Someonewasweepinginthecemetery.Meggie,ofcourse.Nooneelsewouldthinkofit.