ghtjustbeaswewere—hewiththechildheloved,youandIandHarrietsafeoutoftheplace—andthatImightneverseehimorspeaktohimagain.Icouldhavepulledthroughthen—thethingwasonlycomingnear,likeawreathofsmokeithadn’twrappedmeround.”
“Butthroughmyfault,”saidPhilipsolemnly,“heispartedfromthechildheloves.Andbecausemylifewasindangeryoucameandsawhimandspoketohimagain.”Forthethingwasevengreaterthansheimagined.Nobodybuthimselfwouldeverseerounditnow.Andtoseeroundithewasstandingatanimmensedistance.Hecouldevenbegladthatshehadonceheldthebelovedinherarms.
“Don’ttalkof‘faults.’You’remyfriendforever,Mr.Herriton,Ithink.Onlydon’tbecharitableandshiftortaketheblame.GetoversupposingI’mrefined.That’swhatpuzzlesyou.Getoverthat.”
Ashespokesheseemedtobetransfigured,andtohaveindeednopartwithrefinementorunrefinementanylonger.Outofthiswrecktherewasrevealedtohimsomethingindestructible—somethingwhichshe,whohadgivenit,couldnevertakeaway.
“Isayagain,don’tbecharitable.Ifhehadaskedme,Imighthavegivenmyselfbodyandsoul.Thatwouldhavebeentheendofmyrescueparty.Butallthroughhetookmeforasuperiorbeing—agoddess.Iwhowasworshippingeveryinchofhim,andeverywordhespoke.Andthatsavedme.”
Philip’seyeswerefixedontheCampanileofAirolo.ButhesawinsteadthefairmythofEndymion.Thiswomanwasagoddesstotheend.Forhernolovecouldbedegrading:shestoodoutsidealldegradation.Thisepisode,whichshethoughtsosordid,andwhichwassotragicforhim,remainedsupremelybeautiful.Tosuchaheightwashelifted,thatwithoutregrethecouldnowhavetoldherthathewasherworshippertoo.Butwhatwastheuseoftellingher?Forallthewonderfulthingshadhappened.
“Thankyou,”wasallthathepermittedhimself.“Thankyouforeverything.”
Shelookedathimwithgreatfriendliness,forhehadmadeherlifeendurable.AtthatmomentthetrainenteredtheSanGothardtunnel.TheyhurriedbacktothecarriagetoclosethewindowslestthesmutsshouldgetintoHarriet’seyes.