第3章

ForsometimeafterMr。andMrs。ChadwickarrivedattheOpenshaws\'，therewasnoopportunityforwearingthisbrooch；butatlengththeyobtainedanordertoseeBuckinghamPalace，andthespiritofloyaltydemandedthatMrs。Chadwickshouldwearherbestclothesinvisitingtheabodeofhersovereign。Onherreturn，shehastilychangedherdress；forMr。OpenshawhadplannedthattheyshouldgotoRichmond，drinkteaandreturnbymoonlight。Accordingly，aboutfiveo\'clock，Mr。andMrs。OpenshawandMr。andMrs。Chadwicksetoff。

Thehousemaidandcooksatebelow，Norahhardlyknewwhere。Shewasalwaysengrossedinthenursery，intendinghertwochildren，andinsittingbytherestless，excitableAilsietillshefellasleep。

Bye-and-bye，thehousemaidBessytappedgentlyatthedoor。Norahwenttoher，andtheyspokeinwhispers。

"Nurse!there\'ssomeonedown-stairswantsyou。"

"Wantsme!Whoisit?"

"Agentleman——"

"Agentleman?Nonsense!"

"Well!aman，then，andheasksforyou，andherungatthefrontdoorbell，andhaswalkedintothedining-room。"

"Youshouldneverhavelethim，"exclaimedNorah，"masterandmissusout——"

"Ididnotwanthimtocomein；butwhenheheardyoulivedhere，hewalkedpastme，andsatdownonthefirstchair，andsaid，\'Tellhertocomeandspeaktome。\'Thereisnogaslightedintheroom，andsupperisallsetout。"

"He\'llbeoffwiththespoons!"exclaimedNorah，puttingthehousemaid\'sfearintowords，andpreparingtoleavetheroom，first，however，givingalooktoAilsie，sleepingsoundlyandcalmly。

Down-stairsshewent，uneasyfearsstirringinherbosom。Beforesheenteredthedining-roomsheprovidedherselfwithacandle，and，withitinherhand，shewentin，lookingroundherinthedarknessforhervisitor。

Hewasstandingup，holdingbythetable。Norahandhelookedateachother；gradualrecognitioncomingintotheireyes。

"Norah?"atlengthheasked。

"Whoareyou?"askedNorah，withthesharptonesofalarmandincredulity。"Idon\'tknowyou:"trying，byfutilewordsofdisbelief，todoawaywiththeterriblefactbeforeher。

"AmIsochanged?"hesaid，pathetically。"IdaresayIam。But，Norah，tellme!"hebreathedhard，"whereismywife?Isshe——isshealive?"

HecamenearertoNorah，andwouldhavetakenherhand；butshebackedawayfromhim；lookingathimallthetimewithstaringeyes，asifheweresomehorribleobject。Yethewasahandsome，bronzed，good-lookingfellow，withbeardandmoustache，givinghimaforeign-

lookingaspect；buthiseyes!therewasnomistakingthoseeager，beautifuleyes——theverysamethatNorahhadwatchednothalf-an-

hourago，tillsleepstolesoftlyoverthem。

"Tellme，Norah——Icanbearit——Ihavefeareditsooften。Isshedead?"Norahstillkeptsilence。"Sheisdead!"HehungonNorah\'swordsandlooks，asifforconfirmationorcontradiction。

"WhatshallIdo?"groanedNorah。"O，sir!whydidyoucome?howdidyoufindmeout?wherehaveyoubeen?Wethoughtyoudead，wedid，indeed!"Shepouredoutwordsandquestionstogaintime，asiftimewouldhelpher。

"Norah!answermethisquestion，straight，byyesorno——Ismywifedead?"

"No，sheisnot!"saidNorah，slowlyandheavily。

"Owhatarelief!Didshereceivemyletters?Butperhapsyoudon\'tknow。Whydidyouleaveher?Whereisshe?ONorah，tellmeallquickly!"

"Mr。Frank!"saidNorahatlast，almostdriventobaybyherterrorlesthermistressshouldreturnatanymoment，andfindhimthere——

unabletoconsiderwhatwasbesttobedoneorsaid-rushingatsomethingdecisive，becauseshecouldnotendureherpresentstate:

"Mr。Frank!weneverheardalinefromyou，andtheshipownerssaidyouhadgonedown，youandeveryoneelse。Wethoughtyouweredead，ifevermanwas，andpoorMissAliceandherlittlesick，helplesschild!O，sir，youmustguessit，"criedthepoorcreatureatlast，burstingoutintoapassionatefitofcrying，"forindeedI

cannottellit。Butitwasnoone\'sfault。Godhelpusallthisnight!"

Norahhadsatedown。Shetrembledtoomuchtostand。Hetookherhandsinhis。Hesqueezedthemhard，asifbyphysicalpressure，thetruthcouldbewrungout。

"Norah!"Thistimehistonewascalm，stagnantasdespair。"Shehasmarriedagain!"

Norahshookherheadsadly。Thegraspslowlyrelaxed。Themanhadfainted。

Therewasbrandyintheroom。NorahforcedsomedropsintoMr。

Frank\'smouth，chafedhishands，and——whenmereanimallifereturned，beforethemindpouredinitsfloodofmemoriesandthoughts——sheliftedhimup，andrestedhisheadagainstherknees。

Thensheputafewcrumbsofbreadtakenfromthesupper-table，soakedinbrandyintohismouth。Suddenlyhesprangtohisfeet。

"Whereisshe?Tellmethisinstant。"Helookedsowild，somad，sodesperate，thatNorahfeltherselftobeinbodilydanger；buthertimeofdreadhadgoneby。Shehadbeenafraidtotellhimthetruth，andthenshehadbeenacoward。Now，herwitsweresharpenedbythesenseofhisdesperatestate。Hemustleavethehouse。Shewouldpityhimafterwards；butnowshemustrathercommandandupbraid；forhemustleavethehousebeforehermistresscamehome。

Thatonenecessitystoodclearbeforeher。

"Sheisnothere；thatisenoughforyoutoknow。NorcanIsayexactlywheresheis"(whichwastruetotheletterifnottothespirit)。"Goaway，andtellmewheretofindyouto-morrow，andI

willtellyouall。Mymasterandmistressmaycomebackatanyminute，andthenwhatwouldbecomeofmewithastrangemaninthehouse?"

Suchanargumentwastoopettytotouchhisexcitedmind。

"Idon\'tcareforyourmasterandmistress。Ifyourmasterisaman，hemustfeelformepoorshipwreckedsailorthatIam——keptforyearsaprisoneramongstsavages，always，always，alwaysthinkingofmywifeandmyhome——dreamingofherbynight，talkingtoher，thoughshecouldnothear，byday。Ilovedhermorethanallheavenandearthputtogether。Tellmewheresheis，thisinstant，youwretchedwoman，whosalvedoverherwickednesstoher，asyoudotome。"

Theclockstruckten。Desperatepositionsrequiredesperatemeasures。

"Ifyouwillleavethehousenow，Iwillcometoyouto-morrowandtellyouall。Whatismore，youshallseeyourchildnow。Sheliessleepingup-stairs。O，sir，youhaveachild，youdonotknowthatasyet——alittleweaklygirl——withjustaheartandsoulbeyondheryears。Wehaverearedherupwithsuchcare:Wewatchedher，forwethoughtformanyayearshemightdieanyday，andwetendedher，andnohardthinghascomenearher，andnoroughwordhaseverbeensaidtoher。Andnowyou，comeandwilltakeherlifeintoyourhand，andwillcrushit。Strangerstoherhavebeenkindtoher；

butherownfather——Mr。Frank，Iamhernurse，andIloveher，andI

tendher，andIwoulddoanythingforherthatIcould。Hermother\'sheartbeatsashersbeats；and，ifshesuffersapain，hermothertremblesallover。Ifsheishappy，itishermotherthatsmilesandisglad。Ifsheisgrowingstronger，hermotherishealthy:ifshedwindles，hermotherlanguishes。Ifshedies——

well，Idon\'tknow:itisnoteveryonecanliedownanddiewhentheywishit。Comeup-stairs，Mr。Frank，andseeyourchild。

Seeingherwilldogoodtoyourpoorheart。Thengoaway，inGod\'sname，justthisonenight-to-morrow，ifneedbe，youcandoanything——killusallifyouwill，orshowyourself——agreatgrandman，whomGodwillblessforeverandever。Come，Mr。Frank，thelookofasleepingchildissuretogivepeace。"

Sheledhimup-stairs；atfirstalmosthelpinghissteps，tilltheycamenearthenurserydoor。ShehadalmostforgottentheexistenceoflittleEdwin。Itstruckuponherwithaffrightastheshadedlightfellupontheothercot；butsheskilfullythrewthatcorneroftheroomintodarkness，andletthelightfallonthesleepingAilsie。Thechildhadthrowndownthecoverings，andherdeformity，asshelaywithherbacktothem，wasplainlyvisiblethroughherslightnight-gown。Herlittleface，deprivedofthelustreofhereyes，lookedwanandpinched，andhadapatheticexpressioninit，evenassheslept。Thepoorfatherlookedandlookedwithhungry，wistfuleyes，intowhichthebigtearscameswellingupslowly，anddroppedheavilydown，ashestoodtremblingandshakingallover。

Norahwasangrywithherselfforgrowingimpatientofthelengthoftimethatlonglingeringgazelasted。Shethoughtthatshewaitedforfullhalf-an-hourbeforeFrankstirred。Andthen——insteadofgoingaway——hesankdownonhiskneesbythebedside，andburiedhisfaceintheclothes。LittleAilsiestirreduneasily。Norahpulledhimupinterror。Shecouldaffordnomoretimeevenforprayerinherextremityoffear；forsurelythenextmomentwouldbringhermistresshome。Shetookhimforciblybythearm；but，ashewasgoing，hiseyelightedontheotherbed:hestopped。Intelligencecamebackintohisface。Hishandsclenched。

"Hischild?"heasked。

"Herchild，"repliedNorah。"Godwatchesoverhim，"saidsheinstinctively；forFrank\'slooksexcitedherfears，andsheneededtoremindherselfoftheProtectorofthehelpless。

"Godhasnotwatchedoverme，"hesaid，indespair；histhoughtsapparentlyrecoilingonhisowndesolate，desertedstate。ButNorahhadnotimeforpity。To-morrowshewouldbeascompassionateasherheartprompted。Atlengthsheguidedhimdownstairsandshuttheouterdoorandboltedit——asifbyboltstokeepoutfacts。

Thenshewentbackintothedining-roomandeffacedalltracesofhispresenceasfarasshecould。Shewentupstairstothenurseryandsatethere，herheadonherhand，thinkingwhatwastocomeofallthismisery。Itseemedtoherverylongbeforetheydidreturn；

yetitwashardlyeleveno\'clock。Shesoheardtheloud，heartyLancashirevoicesonthestairs；and，forthefirsttime，sheunderstoodthecontrastofthedesolationofthepoormanwhohadsolatelygoneforthinlonelydespair。

ItalmostputheroutofpatiencetoseeMrs。Openshawcomein，calmlysmiling，handsomelydressed，happy，easy，toinquireafterherchildren。

"DidAilsiegotosleepcomfortably?"shewhisperedtoNorah。

"Yes。"

Hermotherbentoverher，lookingatherslumberswiththesofteyesoflove。Howlittleshedreamedwhohadlookedonherlast!ThenshewenttoEdwin，withperhapslesswistfulanxietyinhercountenance，butmoreofpride。Shetookoffherthings，togodowntosupper。Norahsawhernomorethatnight。

Besidethedoorintothepassage，thesleeping-nurseryopenedoutofMr。andMrs。Openshaw\'sroom，inorderthattheymighthavethechildrenmoreimmediatelyundertheirowneyes。EarlythenextsummermorningMrs。OpenshawwasawakenedbyAilsie\'sstartledcallof"Mother!mother!"Shesprangup，putonherdressing-gown，andwenttoherchild。Ailsiewasonlyhalfawake，andinanotuncommonstateofterror。

"Whowashe，mother?Tellme!"

"Who，mydarling?Nooneishere。Youhavebeendreaminglove。

Wakenupquite。See，itisbroaddaylight。"

"Yes，"saidAilsie，lookingroundher；thenclingingtohermother，said，"butamanwashereinthenight，mother。"

"Nonsense，littlegoose。Nomanhasevercomenearyou!"

"Yes，hedid。Hestoodthere。JustbyNorah。Amanwithhairandabeard。Andhekneltdownandsaidhisprayers。Norahknowshewashere，mother"(halfangrily，asMrs。Openshawshookherheadinsmilingincredulity)。

"Well!wewillaskNorahwhenshecomes，"saidMrs。Openshaw，soothingly。"Butwewon\'ttalkanymoreabouthimnow。Itisnotfiveo\'clock；itistooearlyforyoutogetup。ShallIfetchyouabookandreadtoyou?"

"Don\'tleaveme，mother，"saidthechild，clingingtoher。SoMrs。

OpenshawsateonthebedsidetalkingtoAilsie，andtellingherofwhattheyhaddoneatRichmondtheeveningbefore，untilthelittlegirl\'seyesslowlyclosedandsheoncemorefellasleep。

"Whatwasthematter?"askedMr。Openshaw，ashiswifereturnedtobed。"Ailsiewakenedupinafright，withsomestoryofamanhavingbeenintheroomtosayhisprayers，——adream，Isuppose。"

Andnomorewassaidatthetime。

Mrs。Openshawhadalmostforgottenthewholeaffairwhenshegotupaboutseveno\'clock。But，bye-and-bye，sheheardasharpaltercationgoingoninthenursery。NorahspeakingangrilytoAilsie，amostunusualthing。BothMr。andMrs。Openshawlistenedinastonishment。

"Holdyourtongue，AilsieIletmehearnoneofyourdreams；neverletmehearyoutellthatstoryagain!"Ailsiebegantocry。

Mr。Openshawopenedthedoorofcommunicationbeforehiswifecouldsayaword。

"Norah，comehere!"

Thenursestoodatthedoor，defiant。Sheperceivedshehadbeenheard，butshewasdesperate。

"Don\'tletmehearyouspeakinthatmannertoAilsieagain，"hesaidsternly，andshutthedoor。

Norahwasinfinitelyrelieved；forshehaddreadedsomequestioning；

andalittleblameforsharpspeakingwaswhatshecouldwellbear，ifcross-examinationwasletalone。

Down-stairstheywent，Mr。OpenshawcarryingAilsie；thesturdyEdwincomingstepbystep，rightfootforemost，alwaysholdinghismother\'shand。Eachchildwasplacedinachairbythebreakfast-

table，andthenMr。andMrs。Openshawstoodtogetheratthewindow，awaitingtheirvisitors\'appearanceandmakingplansfortheday。

Therewasapause。SuddenlyMr。OpenshawturnedtoAilsie，andsaid:

"Whatalittlegoosysomebodyiswithherdreams，wakinguppoor，tiredmotherinthemiddleofthenightwithastoryofamanbeingintheroom。"

"Father!I\'msureIsawhim，"saidAilsie，halfcrying。"Idon\'twanttomakeNorahangry；butIwasnotasleep，forallshesaysI

was。Ihadbeenasleep，——andIawakenedupquitewideawakethoughIwassofrightened。Ikeptmyeyesnearlyshut，andIsawthemanquiteplain。Agreatbrownmanwithabeard。Hesaidhisprayers。

AndthenhelookedatEdwin。AndthenNorahtookhimbythearmandledhimaway，aftertheyhadwhisperedabittogether。"

"Now，mylittlewomanmustbereasonable，"saidMr。Openshaw，whowasalwayspatientwithAilsie。"Therewasnomaninthehouselastnightatall。Nomancomesintothehouseasyouknow，ifyouthink；muchlessgoesupintothenursery。Butsometimeswedreamsomethinghashappened，andthedreamissolikereality，thatyouarenotthefirstperson，littlewoman，whohasstoodoutthatthethinghasreallyhappened。"

"But，indeeditwasnotadream!"saidAilsie，beginningtocry。

JustthenMr。andMrs。Chadwickcamedown，lookinggraveanddiscomposed。Allduringbreakfasttimetheyweresilentanduncomfortable。Assoonasthebreakfastthingsweretakenaway，andthechildrenhadbeencarriedup-stairs，Mr。Chadwickbeganinanevidentlypreconcertedmannertoinquireifhisnephewwascertainthatallhisservantswerehonest；for，thatMrs。Chadwickhadthatmorningmissedaveryvaluablebrooch，whichshehadwornthedaybefore。SherememberedtakingitoffwhenshecamehomefromBuckinghamPalace。Mr。Openshaw\'sfacecontractedintohardlines:

grewlikewhatitwasbeforehehadknownhiswifeandherchild。

Herangthebellevenbeforehisunclehaddonespeaking。Itwasansweredbythehousemaid。

"Mary，wasanyoneherelastnightwhilewewereaway?"

"Aman，sir，cametospeaktoNorah。"

"TospeaktoNorah!Whowashe?Howlongdidhestay?"

"I\'msureIcan\'ttell，sir。Hecame——perhapsaboutnine。IwentuptotellNorahinthenursery，andshecamedowntospeaktohim。

Shelethimout，sir。Shewillknowwhohewas，andhowlonghestayed。"

Shewaitedamomenttobeaskedanymorequestions，butshewasnot，soshewentaway。

AminuteafterwardsOpenshawmadeasthoughheweregoingoutoftheroom；buthiswifelaidherhandonhisarm:

"Donotspeaktoherbeforethechildren，"shesaid，inherlow，quietvoice。"Iwillgoupandquestionher。"

"No!Imustspeaktoher。Youmustknow，"saidhe，turningtohisuncleandaunt，"mymissushasanoldservant，asfaithfulaseverwomanwas，Idobelieve，asfaraslovegoes，——but，atthesametime，whodoesnotalwaysspeaktruth，aseventhemissusmustallow。Now，mynotionis，thatthisNorahofourshasbeencomeoverbysomegood-for-nothinchap(forshe\'satthetimeo\'lifewhentheysaywomenprayforhusbands——\'any，goodLord，any，\')andhaslethimintoourhouse，andthechaphasmadeoffwithyourbrooch，andm\'appenmanyanotherthingbeside。It\'sonlysayingthatNorahissoft-hearted，anddoesnotstickatawhitelie——

that\'sall，missus。"

Itwascurioustonoticehowhistone，hiseyes，hiswholefacechangedashespoketohiswife；buthewastheresolutemanthroughall。Sheknewbetterthantoopposehim；soshewentup-stairs，andtoldNorahhermasterwantedtospeaktoher，andthatshewouldtakecareofthechildreninthemeanwhile。

Norahrosetogowithoutaword。Herthoughtswerethese:

"Iftheytearmetopiecestheyshallneverknowthroughme。Hemaycome，——andthenjustLordhavemercyuponusall:forsomeofusaredeadfolktoacertainty。Butheshalldoit；notme。"

Youmayfancy，now，herlookofdeterminationasshefacedhermasteraloneinthedining-room；Mr。andMrs。Chadwickhavinglefttheaffairintheirnephew\'shands，seeingthathetookitupwithsuchvehemence。

"Norah!Whowasthatmanthatcametomyhouselastnight?"

"Man，sir!"Asifinfinitely；surprisedbutitwasonlytogaintime。

"Yes；themanwhomMaryletin；whomshewentup-stairstothenurserytotellyouabout；whomyoucamedowntospeakto；thesamechap，Imakenodoubt，whomyoutookintothenurserytohaveyourtalkoutwith；whomAilsiesaw，andafterwardsdreamedabout；

thinking，poorwench!shesawhimsayhisprayers，whennothing，I\'llbebound，wasfartherfromhisthoughts；whotookMrs。

Chadwick\'sbrooch，valuetenpounds。Now，Norah!Don\'tgooff!I

amassureasthatmyname\'sThomasOpenshaw，thatyouknewnothingofthisrobbery。ButIdothinkyou\'vebeenimposedon，andthat\'sthetruth。Somegood-for-nothingchaphasbeenmakinguptoyou，andyou\'vebeenjustlikeallotherwomen，andhaveturnedasoftplaceinyourhearttohim；andhecamelastnighta-lovyering，andyouhadhimupinthenursery，andhemadeuseofhisopportunities，andmadeoffwithafewthingsonhiswaydown!Come，now，Norah:

it\'snoblametoyou，onlyyoumustnotbesuchafoolagain。Tellus，"hecontinued，"whatnamehegaveyou，Norah?I\'llbebounditwasnottherightone；butitwillbeaclueforthepolice。"

Norahdrewherselfup。"Youmayaskthatquestion，andtauntmewithmybeingsingle，andwithmycredulity，asyouwill，MasterOpenshaw。You\'llgetnoanswerfromme。Asforthebrooch，andthestoryoftheftandburglary；ifanyfriendevercametoseeme(whichIdefyyoutoprove，anddeny)，he\'dbejustasmuchabovedoingsuchathingasyouyourself，Mr。Openshaw，andmoreso，too；

forI\'mnotatallsureaseverythingyouhaveisrightlycomeby，orwouldbeyourslong，ifeverymanhadhisown。"Shemeant，ofcourse，hiswife；butheunderstoodhertorefertohispropertyingoodsandchattels。

"Now，mygoodwoman，"saidhe，"I\'lljusttellyoutruly，Inevertrustedyououtandout；butmywifelikedyou，andIthoughtyouhadmanyagoodpointaboutyou。Ifyouoncebegintosauceme，I\'llhavethepolicetoyou，andgetoutthetruthinacourtofjustice，ifyou\'llnottellitmequietlyandcivillyhere。Nowthebestthingyoucandoisquietlytotellmewhothefellowis。Lookhere!amancomestomyhouse；asksforyou；youtakehimup-stairs，avaluablebroochismissingnextday；weknowthatyou，andMary，andcook，arehonest；butyourefusetotelluswhothemanis。

Indeedyou\'vetoldoneliealreadyabouthim，sayingnoonewasherelastnight。NowIjustputittoyou，whatdoyouthinkapolicemanwouldsaytothis，oramagistrate?Amagistratewouldsoonmakeyoutellthetruth，mygoodwoman。"

"There\'sneverthecreaturebornthatshouldgetitoutofme，"saidNorah。"NotunlessIchoosetotell。"

"I\'veagreatmindtosee，"saidMr。Openshaw，growingangryatthedefiance。Then，checkinghimself，hethoughtbeforehespokeagain:

"Norah，foryourmissus\'ssakeIdon\'twanttogotoextremities。

Beasensiblewoman，ifyoucan。It\'snogreatdisgrace，afterall，tohavebeentakenin。Iaskyouoncemore——asafriend——whowasthismanwhomyouletintomyhouselastnight?"

Noanswer。Herepeatedthequestioninanimpatienttone。Stillnoanswer。Norah\'slipsweresetindeterminationnottospeak。

"Thenthereisbutonethingtobedone。Ishallsendforapoliceman。"

"Youwillnot，"saidNorah，startingforwards。"Youshallnot，sir!

Nopolicemanshalltouchme。Iknownothingofthebrooch，butI

knowthis:eversinceIwasfour-and-twentyIhavethoughtmoreofyourwifethanofmyself:eversinceIsawher，apoormotherlessgirlputuponinheruncle\'shouse，Ihavethoughtmoreofservingherthanofservingmyself!Ihavecaredforherandherchild，asnobodyevercaredforme。Idon\'tcastblameonyou，sir，butIsayit\'sillgivingupone\'slifetoanyone；for，attheend，theywillturnrounduponyou，andforsakeyou。Whydoesnotmymissuscomeherselftosuspectme?Maybesheisgoneforthepolice?ButI

don\'tstayhere，eitherforpolice，ormagistrate，ormaster。

You\'reanunluckylot。Ibelievethere\'sacurseonyou。I\'llleaveyouthisveryday。Yes!IleavethatpoorAilsie，too。I

will!Nogoodwillevercometoyou!"

Mr。Openshawwasutterlyastonishedatthisspeech；mostofwhichwascompletelyunintelligibletohim，asmayeasilybesupposed。

Beforehecouldmakeuphismindwhattosay，orwhattodo，Norahhadlefttheroom。Idonotthinkhehadeverreallyintendedtosendforthepolicetothisoldservantofhiswife\'s；forhehadneverforamomentdoubtedherperfecthonesty。Buthehadintendedtocompelhertotellhimwhothemanwas，andinthishewasbaffled。Hewas，consequently，muchirritated。Hereturnedtohisuncleandauntinastateofgreatannoyanceandperplexity，andtoldthemhecouldgetnothingoutofthewoman；thatsomemanhadbeeninthehousethenightbefore；butthatsherefusedtotellwhohewas。Atthismomenthiswifecamein，greatlyagitated，andaskedwhathadhappenedtoNorah；forthatshehadputonherthingsinpassionatehaste，andhadleftthehouse。

"Thislookssuspicious，"saidMr。Chadwick。"Itisnotthewayinwhichanhonestpersonwouldhaveacted。"

Mr。Openshawkeptsilence。Hewassorelyperplexed。ButMrs。

OpenshawturnedroundonMr。Chadwickwithasuddenfiercenessnooneeversawinherbefore。

"Youdon\'tknowNorah，uncle!Sheisgonebecausesheisdeeplyhurtatbeingsuspected。O，IwishIhadseenher——thatIhadspokentohermyself。Shewouldhavetoldmeanything。"Alicewrungherhands。

"Imustconfess，"continuedMr。Chadwicktohisnephew，inalowervoice，"Ican\'tmakeyouout。Youusedtobeawordandablow，andoftenesttheblowfirst；andnow，whenthereiseverycauseforsuspicion，youjustdonought。Yourmissusisaverygoodwoman，I

grant；butshemayhavebeenputuponaswellasotherfolk，I

suppose。Ifyoudon\'tsendforthepolice，Ishall。"

"Verywell，"repliedMr。Openshaw，surlily。"Ican\'tclearNorah。

Shewon\'tclearherself，asIbelieveshemightifshewould。OnlyIwashmyhandsofit；forIamsurethewomanherselfishonest，andshe\'slivedalongtimewithmywife，andIdon\'tlikehertocometoshame。"

"Butshewillthenbeforcedtoclearherself。That，atanyrate，willbeagoodthing。"

"Verywell，verywell!Iamheart-sickofthewholebusiness。

Come，Alice，comeuptothebabiesthey\'llbeinasoreway。Itellyou，uncle!"hesaid，turningroundoncemoretoMr。Chadwick，suddenlyandsharply，afterhiseyehadfallenonAlice\'swan，tearful，anxiousface；"I\'llhavenonesendingforthepoliceafterall。I\'llbuymyaunttwiceashandsomeabroochthisveryday；butI\'llnothaveNorahsuspected，andmymissusplagued。There\'sforyou。"

Heandhiswifelefttheroom。Mr。Chadwickquietlywaitedtillhewasoutofhearing，andthenaidtohiswife；"ForallTom\'sheroics，I\'mjustquietlygoingforadetective，wench。Thouneed\'stknownoughtaboutit。"

Hewenttothepolice-station，andmadeastatementofthecase。HewasgratifiedbytheimpressionwhichtheevidenceagainstNorahseemedtomake。Themenallagreedinhisopinion，andstepsweretobeimmediatelytakentofindoutwhereshewas。Mostprobably，astheysuggested，shehadgoneatoncetotheman，who，toallappearance，washerlover。WhenMr。Chadwickaskedhowtheywouldfindherout?theysmiled，shooktheirheads，andspokeofmysteriousbutinfalliblewaysandmeans。Hereturnedtohisnephew\'shousewithaverycomfortableopinionofhisownsagacity。

Hewasmetbyhiswifewithapenitentface:

"Omaster，I\'vefoundmybrooch!Itwasjuststickingbyitspinintheflounceofmybrownsilk，thatIworeyesterday。Itookitoffinahurry，anditmusthavecaughtinit；andIhungupmygowninthecloset。Justnow，whenIwasgoingtofolditup，therewasthebrooch!I\'mveryvexed，butIneverdreamtbutwhatitwaslost!"

Herhusbandmutteringsomethingverylike"Confoundtheeandthybroochtoo!IwishI\'dnevergivenitthee，"snatcheduphishat，andrushedbacktothestation；hopingtobeintimetostopthepolicefromsearchingforNorah。Butadetectivewasalreadygoneoffontheerrand。

WherewasNorah?Halfmadwiththestrainofthefearfulsecret，shehadhardlysleptthroughthenightforthinkingwhatmustbedone。UponthisterriblestateofmindhadcomeAilsie\'squestions，showingthatshehadseentheMan，astheunconsciouschildcalledherfather。Lastlycamethesuspicionofherhonesty。Shewaslittlelessthancrazyassheranup-stairsanddashedonherbonnetandshawl；leavingallelse，evenherpurse，behindher。Inthathouseshewouldnotstay。Thatwasallshekneworwasclearabout。

Shewouldnotevenseethechildrenagain，forfearitshouldweakenher。ShefearedaboveeverythingMr。Frank\'sreturntoclaimhiswife。Shecouldnottellwhatremedytherewasforasorrowsotremendous，forhertostaytowitness。Thedesireofescapingfromthecomingeventwasastrongermotiveforherdeparturethanhersorenessaboutthesuspicionsdirectedagainsther；althoughthislasthadbeenthefinalgoadtothecourseshetook。Shewalkedawayalmostatheadlongspeed；sobbingasshewent，asshehadnotdaredtododuringthepastnightforfearofexcitingwonderinthosewhomighthearher。Thenshestopped。AnideacameintohermindthatshewouldleaveLondonaltogether，andbetakeherselftohernativetownofLiverpool。Shefeltinherpocketforherpurse，asshedrewneartheEustonSquarestationwiththisintention。Shehadleftitathome。Herpoorheadaching，hereyesswollenwithcrying，shehadtostandstill，andthink，aswellasshecould，wherenextsheshouldbendhersteps。SuddenlythethoughtflashedintohermindthatshewouldgoandfindoutpoorMr。Frank。Shehadbeenhardlykindtohimthenightbefore，thoughherhearthadbledforhimeversince。Sherememberedhistellingherassheinquiredforhisaddress，almostasshehadpushedhimoutofthedoor，ofsomehotelinastreetnotfardistantfromEustonSquare。

Thithershewent:withwhatintentionshehardlyknew，buttoassuageherconsciencebytellinghimhowmuchshepitiedhim。Inherpresentstateshefeltherselfunfittocounsel，orrestrain，orassist，ordooughtelsebutsympathiseandweep。Thepeopleoftheinnsaidsuchapersonhadbeenthere；hadarrivedonlythedaybefore；hadgoneoutsoonafterhisarrival，leavinghisluggageintheircare；buthadnevercomeback。Norahaskedforleavetositdown，andawaitthegentleman\'sreturn。Thelandlady——prettysecureinthedepositofluggageagainstanyprobableinjury——showedherintoaroom，andquietlylockedthedoorontheoutside。Norahwasutterlywornout，andfellasleep——ashivering，starting，uneasyslumber，whichlastedforhours。

Thedetective，meanwhile，hadcomeupwithhersometimebeforesheenteredthehotel，intowhichhefollowedher。Askingthelandladytodetainherforanhourorso，withoutgivinganyreasonbeyondshowinghisauthority(whichmadethelandladyapplaudherselfagooddealforhavinglockedherin)，hewentbacktothepolice-