ed Cottage; we were all four there;
I had not spoken for a while; the thing I had to say weighed me
down. I said it suddenly, "I am going back to Florence; I shall
leave Graysmill on Monday."

Richard Norton cried, "What?" and Jane cried, "Emilia!" It was only
Gabriel that said nothing.

He sprang up, and looked at me in silence. Thank Heaven, my back was
to the window, for I could not take my eyes away from his. I thought
he grew a little pale; I even thought his lips moved a little. Then
he spoke.

"No, no; who said that? We cannot spare you. Emilia, Emilia, you
must never leave us!"

That is how the dream goes. I put my head down on the table.

"God knows," I said, "I do not want to leave you."

There was a long silence; I sat there bowed, struggling with my
tears; I think I heard footsteps and a closing door. Then a hand was
laid upon my shoulder,--I knew whose hand it was, and I shook
beneath it.

I only know one thing more that I can tell you. I heard a voice. It
was not a loud voice, but it rang through the darkness; it swept the
world away.

"Emilia!" it said, "Emilia, you must not leave us! Stay with me,--I
love you!"

And then some cloud fell upon us.

Good night, dear, good night.

LETTER XXIX.

THE THATCHED COTTAGE, February 19th.

Gabriel and I are sitting in the study; we have your letter before
us. These few lines are to thank you, if we can, for your most
precious words. Now nothing fails us.

Your most loving, grateful,
EMILIA FLETCHER.

Your servant,
GABRIEL NORTON.

P.S. The blot is Gabriel's.

P.S. 2. In answer to yours. Gabriel is not so inconsistent as you
suppose, nor is Emilia. We have made a provision to which you,
Constance Norris, shall bear witness. Namely this: that, in
accordance with the absolute Sincerity and Truthfulness which we
believe to be not only possible, but necessary to the Conduct of a
Noble Life, we have solemnly promised each other to confess the
truth, should we at any future period--through altered Love or other
causes--consider Mutual Life inconsistent with perfect Honesty.

There! We have worded that beautifully, I think, although Gabriel
insists that "Mutual Life" is an incorrect expression. I don't care;
it says what I mean. Needless to add tha