第10章

"He\'stheonlylivingsoulIcangetatwhowasconnectedwithHolmescroft，"Isaid。

"Ah!Livingsoulisgood，"saidM\'Leod。"Atanyrateourlittlegirlwillbepleasedthatyouarestillinterestedinus。Won\'tyoucomedownsomedaythisweek？"

"Howisittherenow？"Iasked。

Hescreweduphisface。"Simplyfrightful!"hesaid。"TheaisatDroitwich。"

"Ishouldlikeitimmensely，butImustcultivateBaxterforthepresent。You\'llbesureandkeephimbusyyourend，won\'tyou？"

Helookedatmewithquietcontempt。"Donotbeafraid。IshallbeagoodJew。Ishallbemyownsolicitor。"

Beforeafortnightwasover，BaxteradmittedruefullythatM\'Leodwasbetterthanmostfirmsinthebusiness:Webuyerswerecoy，argumentative，shockedatthepriceofHolmescroft，inquisitive，andcoldbyturns，butMr。M\'Leodthesellereasilymetandsurpassedus；andMr。Baxterenteredeveryletter，telegram，andconsultationattheproperratesinacinematograph-filmofabill。AttheendofamonthhesaiditlookedasthoughM\'Leod，thankstohim，werereallygoingtolistentoreason。Iwasmanypoundsoutofpocket，butIhadlearnedsomethingofMr。Baxteronthehumanside。Ideservedit。NeverinmylifehaveIworkedtoconciliate，amuse，andflatterahumanbeingasIworkedovermysolicitor。

Itappearedthathegolfed。Therefore，Iwasanenthusiasticbeginner，anxioustolearn。TwiceIinvadedhisofficewithabag(M\'Leodlentit)fullofthespelicansneededinthisdetestablegame，andavocabularytomatch。Thethirdtimetheicebroke，andMr。Baxtertookmetohislinks，quitetenmilesoff，whereinamazeoftramwaylines，railroads，andnursery-maids，weskelpedourdivottedwayroundnineholeslikebargesplungingthroughheadseas。Heplayedvilelyandhadneverexpectedtomeetanyoneworse；butasherealisedmyform，Ithinkhebegantolikeme，forhetookmeinhandbythetwohourstogether。

Afterafortnighthecouldgivemenomorethanastrokeahole，andwhen，withthisallowance，Ioncemanagedtobeathimbyone，hewashonestlyglad，andassuredmethatIshouldbeagolferifIstucktoit。Iwasstickingtoitformyownends，butnowandagainmyconscienceprickedme；forthemanwasaniceman。

Betweengameshesuppliedmewithoddpiecesofevidence，suchasthathehadknowntheMoultriesallhislife，beingtheircousin，andthatMissMary，theeldest，wasanunforgivingwomanwhowouldneverletbygonesbe。Inaturallywonderedwhatshemighthaveagainsthim；andsomehowconnectedhimunfavourablywithmadAgnes。

"Peopleoughttoforgiveandforget，"hevolunteeredonedaybetweenrounds。"Speciallywhere，inthenatureofthings，theycan\'tbesureoftheirdeductions。Don\'tyouthinkso？"

"Italldependsonthenatureoftheevidenceonwhichoneformsone\'sjudgment，"Ianswered。

"Nonsense!"hecried。"I\'mlawyerenoughtoknowthatthere\'snothingintheworldsomisleadingascircumstantialevidence。

Neverwas。"

"Why？Haveyoueverseenmenhangedonit？"

"Hanged？Peoplehavebeensupposedtobeeternallylostonit，"

hisfaceturnedgreyagain。"Idon\'tknowhowitiswithyou，butmyconsolationisthatGodmustknow。Hemust!Thingsthatseemonthefaceof\'emlikemurder，orsaysuicide，mayappeardifferenttoGod。Heh？"

"That\'swhatthemurdererandthesuicidecanalwayshope——I

suppose。"

"Ihaveexpressedmyselfclumsilyasusual。ThefactsasGodknows\'em——maybedifferent——evenafterthemostclinchingevidence。I\'vealwayssaidthat——bothasalawyerandaman，butsomepeoplewon\'t——Idon\'twanttojudge\'em——we\'llsaytheycan\'t——believeit；whereasIsaythere\'salwaysaworkingchance——acertainty——thattheworsthasn\'thappened。"Hestoppedandclearedhisthroat。"Now，let\'scomeon!ThistimenextweekIshallbetakingmyholiday。"

"Whatlinks？"Iaskedcarelessly，whiletwinsinaperambulatorgotoutofourlineoffire。

"Apottylittlenine-holeaffairatahydrointheMidlands。Mycousinsstaythere。Alwayswill。Notbutwhatthefourthandtheseventhholestakesomedoing。Youcouldmanageit，though，"hesaidencouragingly。"You\'redoingmuchbetter。It\'sonlyyourapproachshotsthatareweak。"

"You\'reright。Ican\'tapproachfornuts!Ishallgotopieceswhileyou\'reaway——withnoonetocoachme，"Isaidmournfully。

"Ihaven\'ttaughtyouanything，"hesaid，delightedwiththecompliment。

"IoweallI\'velearnedtoyou，anyhow。Whenwillyoucomeback？"

"Lookhere，"hebegan。"Idon\'tknow，yourengagements，butI\'venoonetoplaywithatBurryMills。Neverhave。Whycouldn\'tyoutakeafewdaysoffandjoinmethere？Iwarnyouitwillberatherdull。It\'sathroatandgoutplace-baths，massage，electricity，andsoforth。Butthefourthandtheseventhholesreallytakesomedoing。"

"I\'mforthegame，"Iansweredvaliantly；HeavenwellknowingthatIhatedeverystrokeandwordofit。

"That\'stheproperspirit。AstheirlawyerImustaskyounottosayanythingtomycousinsaboutHolmescroft。Itupsets\'em。

Alwaysdid。Butspeakingasmantoman，itwouldbeverypleasantformeifyoucouldseeyourwayto——"

Isawitassoonasdecencypermitted，andthankedhimsincerely。

Accordingtomynowwell-developedtheoryhehadcertainlymisappropriatedhisagedcousins\'moniesunderpowerofattorney，andhadprobablydrivenpoorAgnesMoultrieoutofherwits，butIwishedthathewasnotsogentle，andgood-tempered，andinnocenteyed。

BeforeIjoinedhimatBurryMillsHydro，IspentanightatHolmescroft。MissM\'LeodhadreturnedfromherHydro，andfirstwemadeverymerryontheopenlawninthesunshineoverthemannersandcustomsoftheEnglishresortingtosuchplaces。Sheknewdozensofhydros，andwarnedmehowtobehaveinthem，whileMr。andMrs。M\'Leodstoodasideandadoredher。

"Ah!That\'sthewayshealwayscomesbacktous，"hesaid。"Pityitwearsoffsosoon，ain\'tit？Yououghttohearhersing\'Withmirththouprettybird。\'"

Wehadthehousetofacethroughtheevening，andthereweneitherlaughednorsung。Thegloomfellonusasweentered，anddidnotshifttillteno\'clock，whenwecrawledout，asitwere，frombeneathit。

"Ithasbeenbadthissummer，"saidMrs。M\'Leodinawhisperafterwerealisedthatwewerefreed。"SometimesIthinkthehousewillgetupandcryout——itissobad。"

"How？"

"Haveyouforgottenwhatcomesafterthedepression？"

Sothenwewaitedaboutthesmallfire，andthedeadairintheroompresentlyfilledandpresseddownuponuswiththesensation(butwordsareuselesshere)asthoughsomedumbandboundpowerwerestrivingagainstgagandbondtodeliveritssoulofanarticulateword。Itpassedinafewminutes，andIfelltothinkingaboutMr。Baxter\'sconscienceandAgnesMoultrie，gonemadinthewell-litbedroomthatwaitedme。ThesereflectionssecuredmeanightduringwhichIrediscoveredhow，frompurelymentalcauses，amancanbephysicallysick；butthesicknesswasblisscomparedtomydreamswhenthebirdswaked。Onmydeparture，M\'Leodgavemeabeautifulnarwhal\'shorn，muchasanursegivesachildsweetsforbeingbraveatadentist\'s。

"There\'snoduplicateofitintheworld，"hesaid，"elseitwouldhavecometooldMaxM\'Leod；"andhetuckeditintothemotor。MissM\'Leodonthefarsideofthecarwhispered，"Haveyoufoundoutanything，Mr。Perseus？"

Ishookmyhead。

"ThenIshallbechainedtomyrockallmylife，"shewenton。

"Onlydon\'ttellpapa。"

IsupposedshewasthinkingoftheyounggentlemanwhospecialisedinSouthAmericanrails，forInoticedaringonthethirdfingerofherlefthand。

IwentstraightfromthathousetoBurryMillsHydro，keenforthefirsttimeinmylifeonplayinggolf，whichisguaranteedtooccupythemind。Baxterhadtakenmearoomcommunicatingwithhisown，andafterlunchintroducedmetoatall，horse-headedelderlyladyofdecidedmanners，whomawhite-hairedmaidpushedalonginabath-chairthroughthepark-likegroundsoftheHydro。

ShewasMissMaryMoultrie，andshecoughedandclearedherthroatjustlikeBaxter。Shesuffered——shetoldmeitwasaMoultriecastemark——fromsomeobscureformofchronicbronchitis，complicatedwithspasmoftheglottis；and，inadead，flatvoice，withasunkeneyethatlookedandsawnot，toldmewhatwashes，gargles，pastilles，andinhalationsshehadprovedmostbeneficial。FromherIwaspassedontoheryoungersister，MissElizabeth，asmallandwitheredthingwithtwitchinglips，victim，shetoldme，toverymuchthesamesortofthroat，butsecretlydevotedtoanothersetofmedicines。WhenshewentawaywithBaxterandthebath-chair，IfellacrossamajoroftheIndianarmywithgoutinhisglassyeyes，andastomachwhichhehadtakenallroundtheContinent。Helaideverythingbeforeme；

andhimIescapedonlytobeconfidedinbyamatronwithatendencytofolliculartonsilitisandeczema。Baxterwaitedhandandfootonhiscousinstillfiveo\'clock，trying，asIsaw，toatoneforhistreatmentofthedeadsister。MissMaryorderedhimaboutlikeadog。

"Iwarnedyouitwouldbedull，"hesaidwhenwemetinthesmoking-room。

"It\'stremendouslyinteresting，"Isaid。"Buthowaboutalookroundthelinks？"

"Unluckilydampalwaysaffectsmyeldestcousin。I\'vegottobuyheranewbronchitis-kettle。Arthursbrokeheroldoneyesterday。"

Weslippedouttothechemist\'sshopinthetown，andheboughtalargeglitteringtinthingwhoseworkingsheexplained。

"I\'musedtothissortofwork。Icomeuphereprettyoften，"hesaid。"I\'vethefamilythroattoo。"

"You\'reagoodman，"Isaid。"Averygoodman。"

Heturnedtowardsmeintheeveninglightamongthebeeches，andhisfacewaschangedtowhatitmighthavebeenagenerationbefore。

"Yousee，"hesaidhuskily，"therewastheyoungest——Agnes。

Beforeshefellill，youknow。Butshedidn\'tlikeleavinghersisters。Neverwould。"Hehurriedonwithhisodd-shapedloadandleftmeamongtheruinsofmyblacktheories。ThemanwiththatfacehaddoneAgnesMoultrienowrong。

Weneverplayedourgame。IwaswakedbetweentwoandthreeinthemorningfrommyhygienicbedbyBaxterinanulsteroverorangeandwhitepyjamas，whichIshouldneverhavesuspectedfromhischaracter。

"Mycousinhashadsomesortofaseizure，"hesaid。"Willyoucome？Idon\'twanttowakethedoctor。Don\'twanttomakeascandal。Quick!"

SoIcamequickly，andledbythewhite-hairedArthursinajacketandpetticoat，enteredadouble-beddedroomreekingwithsteamandFriar\'sBalsam。Theelectricswereallon。MissMary——I

knewherbyherheight——wasattheopenwindow，wrestlingwithMissElizabeth，whogrippedherroundtheknees。

MissMary\'shandwasatherownthroat，whichwasstreakedwithblood。

"She\'sdoneit。She\'sdoneittoo!"MissElizabethpanted。"Holdher!Helpme!"

"Oh，Isay!Womendon\'tcuttheirthroats，"Baxterwhispered。

"MyGod!Hasshecutherthroat？"themaidcriedout，andwithnowarningrolledoverinafaint。Baxterpushedherunderthewash-basins，andleapedtoholdthegauntwomanwhocrowedandwhistledasshestruggledtowardthewindow。Hetookherbytheshoulder，andshestruckoutwildly:

"Allright!She\'sonlycutherhand，"hesaid。"Wettowelquick!"

WhileIgotthathepushedherbackward。Herstrengthseemedalmostasgreatashis。IswabbedatherthroatwhenIcould，andfoundnomark；thenhelpedhimtocontrolheralittle。MissElizabethleapedbacktobed，wailinglikeachild。

"Tieupherhandsomehow，"saidBaxter。"Don\'tletitdripabouttheplace。She"——hesteppedonbrokenglassinhisslippers，"shemusthavesmashedapane。"

MissMarylurchedtowardstheopenwindowagain，droppedonherknees，herheadonthesill，andlayquiet，surrenderingthecuthandtome。

"Whatdidshedo？"BaxterturnedtowardsMissElizabethinthefarbed。

"Shewasgoingtothrowherselfoutofthewindow，"wastheanswer。"Istoppedher，andsentArthursforyou。Oh，wecanneverholdupourheadsagain!"

MissMarywrithedandfoughtforbreath。Baxterfoundashawlwhichhethrewoverhershoulders。

"Nonsense!"saidhe。"Thatisn\'tlikeMary；"buthisfaceworkedwhenhesaidit。

"Youwouldn\'tbelieveaboutAggie，John。Perhapsyouwillnow!"

saidMissElizabeth。"Isawherdoit，andshe\'scutherthroattoo!"

"Shehasn\'t，"Isaid。"It\'sonlyherhand。"

MissMarysuddenlybrokefromuswithanindescribablegrunt，flew，ratherthanran，tohersister\'sbed，andthereshookherasonefuriousschoolgirlwouldshakeanother。

"Nosuchthing，"shecroaked。"Howdareyouthinkso，youwickedlittlefool？"

"Getintobed，Mary，"saidBaxter。"You\'llcatchachill。"

Sheobeyed，butsatupwiththegreyshawlroundherleanshoulders，glaringathersister。"I\'mbetternow，"shepanted。"

Arthursletmesitouttoolong。Where\'sArthurs？Thekettle。"

"NevermindArthurs，"saidBaxter。"Yougetthekettle。"I

hastenedtobringitfromthesidetable。"Now，Mary，asGodseesyou，tellmewhatyou\'vedone。"

Hislipsweredry，andhecouldnotmoisten。themwithhistongue。

MissMaryappliedherselftothemouthofthekettle，andbetweenindrawsofsteamsaid:"Thespasmcameonjustnow，whileIwasasleep。Iwasnearlychokingtodeath。SoIwenttothewindowI\'vedoneitoftenbefore，without，wakinganyone。Bessie\'ssuchanoldmaidaboutdraughts。ItellyouIwaschokingtodeath。I

couldn\'tmanagethecatch，andInearlyfellout。Thatwindowopenstoolow。Icutmyhandtryingtosavemyself。Whohastieditupinthisfilthyhandkerchief？Iwishyouhadhadmythroat，Bessie。Ineverwasnearerdying!"Shescowledonusallimpartially，whilehersistersobbed。

Fromthebottomofthebedweheardaquiveringvoice:"Isshedead？Havetheytookheraway？Oh，Inevercouldbearthesighto\'blood!"

"Arthurs，"saidMissMary，"youareanhireling。Goaway!"

ItismybeliefthatArthurscrawledoutonallfours，butIwasbusypickingupbrokenglassfromthecarpet。

ThenBaxter，seatedbythesideofthebed，begantocross-examineinavoiceIscarcelyrecognised。NoonecouldforaninstanthavedoubtedthegenuinerageofMissMaryagainsthersister，hercousin，orhermaid；andthatadoctorshouldhavebeencalledinforshedidmethehonourofcallingmedoctor——wasthelastdrop。Shewaschokingwithherthroat；hadrushedtothewindowforair；hadnearpitchedout，andincatchingatthewindowbarshadcutherhand。OverandovershemadethiscleartotheintentBaxter。Thensheturnedonhersisterandtongue-lashedhersavagely。

"Youmustn\'tblameme，"MissBessiefalteredatlast。"Youknowwhatwethinkofnightandday。"。

"I\'mcomingtothat，"saidBaxter。"Listentome。Whatyoudid，Mary，misledfourpeopleintothinkingyou——youmeanttodoawaywithyourself。"

"Isn\'tonesuicideinthefamilyenough？OhGod，helpandpityus!Youcouldn\'thavebelievedthat!"shecried。

"Theevidencewascomplete。Now，don\'tyouthink，"Baxter\'sfingerwaggedunderhernose——"can\'tyouthinkthatpoorAggiedidthesamethingatHolmescroftwhenshefelloutofthewindow？"

"Shehadthesamethroat，"saidMissElizabeth。"Exactlythesamesymptoms。Don\'tyouremember，Mary？"

"Whichwasherbedroom？"IaskedofBaxterinanundertone。

"Overthesouthverandah，lookingontothetennislawn。"

"InearlyfelloutofthatverywindowwhenIwasatHolmescroft——openingittogetsomeair。Thesilldoesn\'tcomemuchaboveyourknees，"Isaid。

"Youhearthat，Mary？Mary，doyouhearWhatthisgentlemansays？

Won\'tyoubelievethatwhatnearlyhappenedtoyoumusthavehappenedtopoorAggiethatnight？ForGod\'ssake——forhersake——Mary，won\'tyoubelieve？"

Therewasalongsilencewhilethesteamkettlepuffed。

"IfIcouldhaveproof——ifIcouldhaveproof，"saidshe，andbrokeintomosthorribletears。

Baxtermotionedtome，andIcreptawaytomyroom，andlayawaketillmorning，thinkingmorespeciallyofthedumbThingatHolmescroftwhichwishedtoexplainitself。IhatedMissMaryasperfectlyasthoughIhadknownherfortwentyyears，butIfeltthat，aliveordead，Ishouldnotlikehertocondemnme。

Yetatmid-day，whenIsawMissMaryinherbathchair，ArthursbehindandBaxterandMissElizabethoneitherside，inthepark-likegroundsoftheHydro，Ifounditdifficulttoarrangemywords。

"Nowthatyouknowallaboutit，"saidBaxteraside，afterthefirststrangenessofourmeetingwasover，"it\'sonlyfairtotellyouthatmypoorcousindidnotdieinHolmescroftatall。

Shewasdeadwhentheyfoundherunderthewindowinthemorning。

Justdead。"

"Underthatlaburnumoutsidethewindow？"Iasked，forIsuddenlyrememberedthecrookedevilthing。

"Exactly。Shebrokethetreeinfalling。Butnodeathhasevertakenplaceinthehouse，sofaraswewereconcerned。Youcanmakeyourselfquiteeasyonthatpoint。Mr。M\'Leod\'sextrathousandforwhatyoucalledthe\'cleanbillofhealth\'wassomethingtowardmycousins\'estatewhenwesold。Itwasmydutyastheirlawyertogetitforthem——atanycosttomyownfeelings。"

IknowbetterthantoarguewhentheEnglishtalkabouttheirduty。SoIagreedwithmysolicitor。

"Theirsister\'sdeathmusthavebeenagreatblowtoyourcousins，"Iwenton。Thebath-chairwasbehindme。

"Unspeakable，"Baxterwhispered。"Theybroodedonitdayandnight。Nowonder。IftheirtheoryofpoorAggiemakingawaywithherselfwascorrect，shewaseternallylost!"

"Doyoubelievethatshemadeawaywithherself？"

"No，thankGod!Neverhave!AndafterwhathappenedtoMarylastnight，IseeperfectlywhathappenedtopoorAggie。Shehadthefamilythroattoo。Bytheway，Marythinksyouareadoctor。

Otherwiseshewouldn\'tlikeyourhavingbeeninherroom。"

"Verygood。Issheconvincednowabouthersister\'sdeath？"

"She\'dgiveanythingtobeabletobelieveit，butshe\'sahardwoman，andbroodingalongcertainlinesmakesonegroovy。Ihavesometimesbeenafraidofherreason——onthereligiousside，don\'tyouknow。Elizabethdoesn\'tmatter。Brainofahen。Alwayshad。"

HereArthurssummonedmetothebath-chair，andtheravagedface，beneathitsknittedShetlandwoolhood，ofMissMaryMoultrie。

"Ineednotremindyou，Ihope，ofthesealofsecrecy——absolutesecrecy——inyourprofession，"shebegan。"Thankstomycousin\'sandmysister\'sstupidity，youhavefoundout"sheblewhernose。

"Pleasedon\'texciteher，sir，"saidArthursattheback。

"But，mydearMissMoultrie，IonlyknowwhatI\'veseen，ofcourse，butitseemstomethatwhatyouthoughtwasatragedyinyoursister\'scase，turnsout，onyourownevidence，sotospeak，tohavebeenanaccident——adreadfullysadone——butabsolutelyanaccident。"

"Doyoubelievethattoo？"shecried。"Orareyouonlysayingittocomfortme？"

"Ibelieveitfromthebottomofmyheart。ComedowntoHolmescroftforanhour——forhalfanhourandsatisfyyourself。"

"Ofwhat？Youdon\'tunderstand。Iseethehouseeveryday-everynight。Iamalwaysthereinspirit——wakingorsleeping。I

couldn\'tfaceitinreality。"

"Butyoumust，"Isaid。"Ifyougothereinthespiritthegreaterneedforyoutogothereintheflesh。Gotoyoursister\'sroomoncemore，andseethewindow——Inearlyfelloutofitmyself。It\'s——it\'sawfullylowanddangerous。Thatwouldconvinceyou，"Ipleaded。

"YetAggiehadsleptinthatroomforyears，"sheinterrupted。

"You\'vesleptinyourroomhereforalongtime，haven\'tyou？Butyounearlyfelloutofthewindowwhenyouwerechoking。"

"Thatistrue。Thatisonethingtrue，"shenodded。"AndImighthavebeenkilledas——perhapsAggiewaskilled。"

"Inthatcaseyourownsisterandcousinandmaidwouldhavesaidyouhadcommittedsuicide，MissMoultrie。ComedowntoHolmescroft，andgoovertheplacejustonce。"

"Youarelying，"shesaidquitequietly。"Youdon\'twantmetocomedowntoseeawindow。Itissomethingelse。IwarnyouweareEvangelicals。Wedon\'tbelieveinprayersforthedead。\'Asthetreefalls——\'"

"Yes。Idaresay。Butyoupersistinthinkingthatyoursistercommittedsuicide"

"No!No!IhavealwaysprayedthatImighthavemisjudgedher。"

Arthursatthebath-chairspokeup:"Oh，MissMary!youwould\'aveitfromthefirstthatpoorMissAggie\'admadeawaywithherself；an\'，ofcourse，MissBessietookthenotionfromyou:

OnlyMaster——MisterJohnstoodout，-and——andI\'d\'avetakenmyBibleoathyouwasmakingawaywithyourselflastnight。"

MissMaryleanedtowardsme，onefingeronmysleeve。

"IfgoingtoHolmescroftkillsme，"shesaid，"youwillhavethemurderofafellow-creatureonyourconscienceforalleternity。"

"I\'llriskit，"Ianswered。RememberingwhattormentthemerereflectionofhertormentshadcastonHolmescroft，andremembering，aboveall，thedumbThingthatfilledthehousewithitsdesiretospeak，Ifeltthattheremightbeworsethings。

Baxterwasamazedattheproposedvisit，butatanodfromthatterriblewomanwentofftomakearrangements。ThenIsentatelegramtoM\'LeodbiddinghimandhisvacateHolmescroftforthatafternoon。MissMaryshouldbealonewithherdead，asIhadbeenalone。

Iexpecteduntoldtroubleintransportingher，buttodoherjustice，thepromisegivenforthejourney，sheunderwentitwithoutmurmur，spasm，orunnecessaryword。MissBessie，pressedinacornerbythewindow，weptbehindherveil，andfromtimetotimetriedtotakeholdofhersister\'shand。Baxterwrappedhimselfinhisnewlyfoundhappinessasselfishlyasabridegroom，forhesatstillandsmiled。

"SolongasIknowthatAggiedidn\'tmakeawaywithherself，"heexplained，"ItellyoufranklyIdon\'tcarewhathappened。She\'sashardasarock——Mary。Alwayswas。Shewon\'tdie。"

Weledheroutontotheplatformlikeablindwoman，andsogotherintothefly。Thehalf-hourcrawltoHolmescroftwasthemostrackingexperienceoftheday。M\'Leodhadobeyedmyinstructions。

Therewasnoonevisibleinthehouseorthegardens；andthefrontdoorstoodopen。

MissMaryrosefrombesidehersister，steppedforthfirst，andenteredthehall。

"Come，Bessie，"shecried。

"Idaren\'t。Oh，Idaren\'t。"

"Come!"Hervoicehadaltered。IfeltBaxterstart。"There\'snothingtobeafraidof。"

"Goodheavens!"saidBaxter。"She\'srunningupthestairs。We\'dbetterfollow。"

"Let\'swaitbelow。She\'sgoingtotheroom。"

WeheardthedoorofthebedroomIknewopenandshut，andwewaitedinthelemon-colouredhall，heavywiththescentofflowers。

"I\'veneverbeenintoitsinceitwassold，"Baxtersighed。"Whatalovely，restfulplateitis!PoorAggieusedtoarrangetheflowers。"

"Restful？"Ibegan，butstoppedofasudden，forIfeltallovermybruisedsoulthatBaxterwasspeakingtruth。Itwasalight，spacious，airyhouse，fullofthesenseofwell-beingandpeace——aboveallthings，ofpeace。Iventuredintothedining-roomwherethethoughtfulM\'Leod\'shadleftasmallfire。

Therewasnoterrorthere，presentorlurking；andinthedrawing-room，whichforgoodreasonswehadnevercaredtoenter，thesunandthepeaceandthescentoftheflowersworkedtogetherasisfitinaninhabitedhouse。WhenIreturnedtothehall，Baxterwassweetlyasleeponacouch，lookingmostunlikeamiddle-agedsolicitorwhohadspentabrokennightwithanexactingcousin。

Therewasampletimeformetoreviewitall——tofelicitatemyselfuponmymagnificentacumen(barringsomeerrorsaboutBaxterasathiefandpossiblyamurderer)，beforethedooraboveopened，andBaxter，evidentlyalightsleeper，sprangawake。

"I\'vehadaheavenlylittlenap，"hesaid，rubbinghiseyeswiththebacksofhishandslikeachild。"GoodLord!That\'snottheirstep!"

Butitwas。IhadneverbeforebeenprivilegedtoseetheShadowturnedbackwardonthedial——theyearsrippedbodilyoffpoorhumanshoulders——oldsunkeneyesfilledandalight——harshlipsmoistenedandhuman。

"John，"MissMarycalled，"Iknownow。Aggiedidn\'tdoit!"and"Shedidn\'tdoit!"echoedMiss"Ididnotthinkitwrongtosayaprayer，"MissMarycontinued。

"Notforhersoul，butforourpeace。ThenIwasconvinced。"

"Thenwegotconviction，"theyoungersisterpiped。

"We\'vemisjudgedpoorAggie，John。ButIfeelsheknowsnow。

Whereversheis，sheknowsthatweknowsheisguiltless。"

"Yes，sheknows。Ifeltittoo，"saidMissElizabeth。，"Ineverdoubted，"saidJohn\'Baxter，whosefacewasbeautifulatthathour。"Notfromthefirst。Neverhave!"

"Youneverofferedmeproof，John。Now，thankGod，itwillnotbethesameanymore。IcanthinkhenceforwardofAggiewithoutsorrow。"Shetripped，absolutelytripped，acrossthehall。"WhatideastheseJewshaveofarrangingfurniture!"ShespiedmebehindabigCloisonneevase。"I\'veseenthewindow，"shesaidremotely。"Youtookagreatriskinadvisingmetoundertakesuchajourney。However，asitturnsout……Iforgiveyou，andIprayyoumayneverknowwhatmentalanguishmeans!Bessie!Lookatthispeculiarpiano!Doyousuppose，Doctor，thesepeoplewouldofferonetea？Imissmine。"

"Iwillgoandsee，"Isaid，andexploredM\'Leod\'snew-builtservants\'wing。Itwasintheservants\'hallthatIunearthedtheM\'Leodfamily，burstingwithanxiety。

"Teaforthree，quick，"Isaid。"Ifyouaskmeanyquestionsnow，Ishallhaveafit!"SoMrs。M\'Leodgotit，andIwasbutler，amidmurmuredapologiesfromBaxter，stillsmilingandself-absorbed，andthecolddisapprovalofMissMary，whothoughtthepatternofthechinavulgar。However，sheatewell，andevenaskedmewhetherIwouldnotlikeacupofteaformyself。

Theywentawayinthetwilight——thetwilightthatIhadoncefeared。TheyweregoingtoanhotelinLondontorestafterthefatiguesoftheday，andastheirflyturneddownthedrive，I

caperedonthedoorstep，withtheall-darkenedhousebehindme。

ThenIheardtheuncertainfeetoftheM\'Leodsandbadethemnottoturnonthelights，buttofeel——tofeelwhatIhaddone；fortheShadowwasgone，withthedumbdesireintheair。Theydrewshort，butafterwardsdeeper，breaths，likebathersenteringchillwater，separatedonefromtheother，movedaboutthehall，tiptoedupstairs，raceddown，andthenMissM\'Leod，andIbelievehermother，thoughshedeniesthis，embracedme。IknowM\'Leoddid。

Itwasadisgracefulevening。Tosayweriotedthroughthehouseistoputitmildly。WeplayedasortofBlindMan\'sBuffalongthedarkestpassages，intheunlighteddrawing-room，andlittledining-room，callingcheerilytoeachotheraftereachexplorationthathere，andhere，andhere，thetrouble-hadremoveditself。Wecameuptothebedroom——mineforthenightagain——andsat，thewomenonthebed，andwemenonchairs，drinkinginblesseddraughtsofpeaceandcomfortandcleanlinessofsoul，whileItoldthemmytaleinfull，andreceivedfreshpraise，thanks，andblessings。

Whentheservants，returnedfromtheirday\'souting，gaveusasupperofcoldfriedfish，M\'Leodhadsenseenoughtoopennowine。Wehadbeenpracticallydrunksincenightfall，andgrewincoherentonwaterandmilk。

"IlikethatBaxter，"saidM\'Leod。"He\'sasharpman。Thedeathwasn\'tinthehouse，butheranitprettyclose，ain\'tit？"

"AndthejokeofitisthathesupposesIwanttobuytheplacefromyou，"Isaid。"Areyouselling？"

"NotfortwicewhatIpaidforit——now，"saidM\'Leod。"I\'llkeepyouinfursallyourlife，butnotourHolmescroft。"

"No——neverourHolmescroft，"saidMissM\'Leod。"We\'llaskhimhereonTuesday，mamma。"Theysqueezedeachother\'shands。

"Nowtellme，"saidMrs。M\'Leod——"thattallone，Isawoutofthescullerywindow——didshetellyoushewasalwayshereinthespirit？Ihateher。Shemadeallthistrouble。Itwasnotherhouseaftershehadsoldit。Whatdoyouthink？"

"Isuppose，"Ianswered，"shebroodedoverwhatshebelievedwashersister\'ssuicidenightandday——sheconfessedshedid——andherthoughtsbeingconcentratedonthisplace，theyfeltlikea——likeaburningglass。"

"Burningglassisgood，"saidM\'Leod。

"Isaiditwaslikealightofblacknessturnedonus，"criedthegirl，twiddlingherring。"Thatmusthavebeenwhenthetallonethoughtworstabouthersisterandthehouse。"

"Ah，thepoorAggie!"saidMrs。M\'Leod。"ThepoorAggie，tryingtotelleveryoneitwasnotso!NowonderwefeltSomethingwishedtosaySomething。Thea，Max，doyourememberthatnight"

"Weneednotrememberanymore，"M\'Leodinterrupted。"Itisnotourtrouble。Theyhavetoldeachothernow。"

"Doyouthink，then，"saidMissM\'Leod，"thatthosetwo，thelivingones，wereactuallytoldsomething——upstairs——inyourintheroom？"

"Ican\'tsay。Atanyratetheyweremadehappy，andtheyateabigteaafterwards。Asyourfathersays，itisnotourtroubleanylonger——thankGod!"

"Amen!"saidM\'Leod。"Now，Thea，letushavesomemusicafterallthesemonths。\'Withmirth，thouprettybird，\'ain\'tit？Yououghttohearthat。"

Andinthehalf-lightedhall，TheasanganoldEnglishsongthatIhadneverheardbefore。

Withmirth，thouprettybird，rejoiceThyMaker\'spraiseenhanced；

Liftupthyshrillandpleasantvoice，ThyGodishighadvanced!

ThyfoodbeforeHedidprovide，Andgivesitinafittingside，Wherewithbethousufficed!

Whyshouldstthounowunpleasantbe，ThywrathagainstGodventing，ThatHealittlebirdmadethee，Thysillyheadtormenting，BecauseHemadetheenotaman？

Oh，Peace!Hehathwellthoughtthereon，Therewithbethousufficed!

THERABBI\'SSONG

IFTHOUGHTcanreachtoHeaven，OnHeavenletitdwell，ForfearthatThoughtbegivenLikepowertoreachtoHell。

ForfearthedesolationAnddarknessofthymind，PerplexanhabitationWhichthouhastleftbehind。

Letnothinglingerafter——

Nowhisperingghostremain，Inwall，orbeam，orrafter，Ofanyhateorpain:

Cleanseandcallhomethyspirit，Denyherleavetocast，Onaughtthyheirsinherit，Theshadowofherpast。

Forthink，inallthysadness，Whatroadourgriefsmaytake；

Whosebrainreflectourmadness，Orwhomourterrorsshake。

Forthink，lestanylanguishBycauseofthydistressThearrowsofouranguishFlyfartherthanweguess。

Ourlives，ourtears，aswater，Arespilledupontheground；

Godgivethnomanquarter，YetGodameanshathfound；

Thoughfaithandhopehavevanished，Andevenlovegrowsdim；

AmeanswherebyHisbanishedBenotexpelledfromHim!