The Broad Highway

The chill of dawn was in the air when I awoke, and it was some

few moments before, with a rush, I remembered why I was kneeling

there beside Charmian's bed. Shivering, I rose and walked up and

down to reduce the stiffness in my limbs.

The fire was out and I had no mind to light it, for I was in no

mood to break my fast, though the necessary things stood ready,

as her orderly hands had set them, and the plates and cups and

saucers twinkled at me from the little cupboard I had made to

hold them; a cupboard whose construction she had overlooked with

a critical eye. And I must needs remember how she had insisted

on being permitted to drive in three nails with her own hand--I

could put my finger on those very nails; how she had tapped at

those nails for fear of missing them; how beautiful she had

looked in her coarse apron, and with her sleeves rolled up over

her round white arms--how womanly and sweet; yet I had dared to

think--had dared to call her--a Messalina! Oh, that my tongue

had withered or ever I had coupled one so pure and noble with a

creature so base and common!

So thinking, I sighed and went out into the dawn; as I closed the

door behind me its hollow slam struck me sharply, and I called to

mind how she had called it a bad and ill-fitting door. And

indeed so it was.

With dejected step and hanging head I made my way towards

Sissinghurst (for, since I was up, I might as well work, and

there was much to be done), and, as I went, I heard a distant

clock chime four.

Now, when I reached the village the sun was beginning to rise,

and thus, lifting up my eyes, I beheld one standing before "The

Bull," a very tall man, much bigger and greater than most; a wild

figure in the dawn, with matted hair and beard, and clad in

tattered clothes; yet hair and beard gleamed a red gold where the

light touched them, and there was but one man I knew so tall and

so mighty as this. Wherefore I hurried towards him, all

unnoticed, for his eyes were raised to a certain latticed

casement of the inn.

And, being come up, I reached out and touched this man upon the arm.

"George!" said I, and held out my hand. He turned swiftly, but,

seeing me, started back a pace, staring.

"George!" said I again. "Oh, George!" But George only backed

still farther, passing his hand once or twice across his eyes.