Themoonbegantorise, andIthoughtoftheplacidlookatthewhiteceiling, , andIthoughtofthepressureonmyhandwhenIhadspokenthelastwordshehadheardonearth.
Estellawasthenexttobreakthesilencethatensuedbetweenus.
"Ihaveveryoftenhopedandintendedtocomeback, , pooroldplace!"
Thesilverymistwastouchedwiththefirstraysofthemoonlight, , andsettingherselftogetthebetterofthem, shesaidquietly,—
"Wereyouwondering, asyouwalkedalong, howitcametobeleftinthiscondition?"
"Yes, Estella."
", littlebylittle, ."
"Isittobebuilton?"
"Atlast, ," shesaid, inavoiceoftouchinginteresttoawanderer,—"youliveabroadstill?"
"Still."
"Anddowell, Iamsure?"
"Iworkprettyhardforasufficientliving, andtherefore—yes, Idowell."
"Ihaveoftenthoughtofyou," saidEstella.
"Haveyou?"
"Oflate, , Ihavegivenitaplaceinmyheart."
"Youhavealwaysheldyourplaceinmyheart," Ianswered.
Andweweresilentagainuntilshespoke.
"Ilittlethought," saidEstella, "."
"Gladtopartagain, Estella? Tome, , theremembranceofourlastpartinghasbeenevermournfulandpainful."
"Butyousaidtome," returnedEstella, veryearnestly, "'Godblessyou, Godforgiveyou!' Andifyoucouldsaythattomethen, youwillnothesitatetosaythattomenow,—now, whensufferinghasbeenstrongerthanallotherteaching, , but—Ihope—, andtellmewearefriends."
"Wearefriends," saidI, risingandbendingoverher, assherosefromthebench.
"Andwillcontinuefriendsapart," saidEstella.
Itookherhandinmine, andwewentoutoftheruinedplace; and, asthemorningmistshadrisenlongagowhenIfirstlefttheforge, sotheeveningmistswererisingnow, andinallthebroadexpanseoftranquillighttheyshowedtome, Isawnoshadowofanotherpartingfromher.
TheEnd
