第7章

“Pardonme，“repliedtheincorrigibleWragge。“Youwantalittleinstruction；andIamthemantogiveityou。“

Withthatanswer，heplacedachairforher，andproceededtoexplainhimself。

Shesatdowninsilence。Asullenindifferencebegantoshowitselfinhermanner；hercheeksturnedpaleagain；andhereyeslookedwearilyvacantatthewallbeforeher。CaptainWraggenoticedthesesignsofheart-sicknessanddiscontentwithherself，aftertheeffortshehadmade，andsawtheimportanceofrousingherbyspeaking，foronce，plainlyanddirectlytothepoint。Shehadsetanewvalueonherselfinhismercenaryeyes。Shehadsuggestedtohimaspeculationinheryouth，herbeauty，andhermarkedabilityforthestage，whichhadneverenteredhisminduntilhesawheract。Theoldmilitia-manwasquickathisshifts。HeandhisplanshadbothturnedrightabouttogetherwhenMagdalensatdowntohearwhathehadtosay。

“Mr。Huxtable\'sopinionismyopinion，“hebegan。“Youareabornactress。Butyoumustbetrainedbeforeyoucandoanythingonthestage。Iamdisengaged——Iamcompetent——Ihavetrainedothers——Icantrainyou。Don\'ttrustmyword:trustmyeyetomyowninterests。I\'llmakeitmyinteresttotakepainswithyou，andtobequickaboutit。Youshallpaymeformyinstructionsfromyourprofitsonthestage。Halfyoursalaryforthefirstyear；athirdofyoursalaryforthesecondyear；andhalfthesumyouclearbyyourfirstbenefitinaLondontheater。Whatdoyousaytothat？HaveImadeitmyinteresttopushyou，orhaveInot？“

Sofarasappearanceswent，andsofarasthestagewent，itwasplainthathehadlinkedhisinterestsandMagdalen\'stogether。Shebrieflytoldhimso，andwaitedtohearmore。

“Amonthorsixweeks\'study，“continuedthecaptain，“willgivemeareasonableideaofwhatyoucandobest。Allabilityrunsingrooves；andyourgrooveremainstobefound。Wecan\'tfindithere——forwecan\'tkeepyouacloseprisonerforweekstogetherinRosemaryLane。Aquietcountryplace，securefromallinterferenceandinterruption，istheplacewewantforamonthcertain。TrustmyknowledgeofYorkshire，andconsidertheplacefound。Iseenodifficultiesanywhere，exceptthedifficultyofbeatingourretreatto-morrow。“

“Ithoughtyourarrangementsweremadelastnight？“saidMagdalen。

“Quiteright，“rejoinedthecaptain。“Theyweremadelastnight；andheretheyare。Wecan\'tleavebyrailway，becausethelawyer\'sclerkissuretobeonthelookoutforyouattheYorkterminus。Verygood；wetaketotheroadinstead，andleaveinourowncarriage。Wherethedeucedowegetit？Wegetitfromthelandlady\'sbrother，whohasahorseandchaisewhichheletsoutforhire。ThatchaisecomestotheendofRosemaryLaneatanearlyhourto-morrowmorning。Itakemywifeandmynieceouttoshowthemthebeautiesoftheneighborhood。Wehaveapicnichamperwithus，whichmarksourpurposeinthepubliceye。Youdisfigureyourselfinashawl，bonnet，andveilofMrs。Wragge\'s；weturnourbacksonYork；andawaywedriveonapleasuretripfortheday——youandIonthefrontseat，Mrs。Wraggeandthehamperbehind。Goodagain。Onceonthehighroad，whatdowedo？DrivetothefirststationbeyondYork，northward，southward，oreastward，asmaybehereafterdetermined。Nolawyer\'sclerkiswaitingforyouthere。YouandMrs。Wraggegetout——firstopeningthehamperataconvenientopportunity。InsteadofcontainingchickensandChampagne，itcontainsacarpet-bag，withthethingsyouwantforthenight。Youtakeyourticketsforaplacepreviouslydeterminedon，andItakethechaisebacktoYork。Arrivedoncemoreinthishouse，Icollecttheluggageleftbehind，andsendforthewomandownstairs。\'Ladiessocharmedwithsuchandsuchaplace(wrongplaceofcourse)，thattheyhavedeterminedtostopthere。Prayacceptthecustomaryweek\'srent，inplaceofaweek\'swarning。Goodday。\'IstheclerklookingformeattheYorkterminus？Nothe。Itakemyticketunderhisverynose；Ifollowyouwiththeluggagealongyourlineofrailway——andwhereisthetraceleftofyourdeparture？Nowhere。Thefairyhasvanished；andthelegalauthoritiesareleftinthelurch。“

“Whydoyoutalkofdifficulties？“askedMagdalen。“Thedifficultiesseemtobeprovidedfor。“

“AllbutONE，“saidCaptainWragge，withanominousemphasisonthelastword。“TheGrandDifficultyofhumanityfromthecradletothegrave——Money。“Heslowlywinkedhisgreeneye；sighedwithdeepfeeling；andburiedhisinsolventhandsinhisunproductivepockets。

“Whatisthemoneywantedfor？“inquiredMagdalen。

“Topaymybills，“repliedthecaptain，withatouchingsimplicity。“Prayunderstand！Ineverwas——andnevershallbe——personallydesirousofpayingasinglefarthingtoanyhumancreatureonthehabitableglobe。Iamspeakinginyourinterest，notinmine。“

“Myinterest？“

“Certainly。Youcan\'tgetsafelyawayfromYorkto-morrowwithoutthechaise。AndIcan\'tgetthechaisewithoutmoney。Thelandlady\'sbrotherwilllenditifheseeshissister\'sbillreceipted，andifhegetshisday\'shirebeforehand——nototherwise。Allowmetoputthetransactioninabusinesslight。WehaveagreedthatIamtoberemuneratedformycourseofdramaticinstructionoutofyourfutureearningsonthestage。Verygood。Imerelydrawonmyfutureprospects；andyou，onwhomthoseprospectsdepend，arenaturallymybanker。Formereargument\'ssake，estimatemyshareinyourfirstyear\'ssalaryatthetotallyinadequatevalueofahundredpounds。Halvethatsum；quarterthatsum——“

“Howmuchdoyouwant？“saidMagdalen，impatiently。

CaptainWraggewassorelytemptedtotaketheRewardatthetopofthehandbillsashisbasisofcalculation。Buthefeltthevastfutureimportanceofpresentmoderation；andactuallywantingsometwelveorthirteenpounds，hemerelydoubledtheamount，andsaid，“Five-and-twenty。“

Magdalentookthelittlebagfromherbosom，andgavehimthemoney，withacontemptuouswonderatthenumberofwordswhichhehadwastedonherforthepurposeofcheatingonsosmallascale。IntheolddaysatCombe-Raven，five-and-twentypoundsflowedfromastrokeofherfather\'spenintothehandsofanyoneinthehousewhochosetoaskforit。

CaptainWragge\'seyesdweltonthelittlebagastheeyesofloversdwellontheirmistresses。“Happybag！“hemurmured，assheputitbackinherbosom。Herose；divedintoacorneroftheroom；producedhisneatdispatch-box；andsolemnlyunlockeditonthetablebetweenMagdalenandhimself。

“Thenatureoftheman，mydeargirl——thenatureoftheman，“hesaid，openingoneofhisplumplittlebooksboundincalfandvellum。“Atransactionhastakenplacebetweenus。Imusthaveitdowninblackandwhite。“Heopenedthebookatablankpage，andwroteatthetop，inafinemercantilehand:“MissVanstone，theYounger:InaccountwithHoratioWragge，lateoftheRoyalMilitia。Dr——Cr。Sept。24th，1846。Dr。:ToestimatedvalueofH。Wragge\'sinterestinMissV。\'sfirstyear\'ssalary——say——£；200。Cr。Bypaidonaccount，£；25。“Havingcompletedtheentry——andhavingalsoshown，bydoublinghisoriginalestimateontheDebtorside，thatMagdalen\'seasycompliancewithhisdemandonherhadnotbeenthrownawayonhim——thecaptainpressedhisblotting-paperoverthewetink，andputawaythebookwiththeairofamanwhohaddoneavirtuousaction，andwhowasaboveboastingaboutit。

“Excusemeforleavingyouabruptly，“hesaid。“Timeisofimportance；Imustmakesureofthechaise。IfMrs。Wraggecomesin，tellhernothing——sheisnotsharpenoughtobetrusted。Ifshepresumestoaskquestions，extinguishherimmediately。Youhaveonlytobeloud。Praytakemyauthorityintoyourownhands，andbeasloudwithMrs。WraggeasIam！“Hesnatcheduphistallhat，bowed，smiled，andtrippedoutoftheroom。

Sensibleoflittleelsebutofthereliefofbeingalone；feelingnomoredistinctimpressionthanthevaguesenseofsomeseriouschangehavingtakenplaceinherselfandherposition，Magdalenlettheeventsofthemorningcomeandgolikeshadowsonhermind，andwaitedwearilyforwhatthedaymightbringforth。Afterthelapseofsometime，thedooropenedsoftly。ThegiantfigureofMrs。Wraggestalkedintotheroom，andstoppedoppositeMagdaleninsolemnastonishment。

“WhereareyourThings？“askedMrs。Wragge，withaburstofincontrollableanxiety。“I\'vebeenupstairslookinginyourdrawers。Whereareyournight-gownsandnight-caps？andyourpetticoatsandstockings？andyourhair-pinsandbear\'sgrease，andalltherestofit？“

“Myluggageisleftattherailwaystation，“saidMagdalen。

Mrs。Wragge\'smoon-facebrighteneddimly。TheineradicablefemaleinstinctofCuriositytriedtosparkleinherfadedblueeyes——flickeredpiteously——anddiedout。

“Howmuchluggage？“sheasked，confidentially。“Thecaptain\'sgoneout。Let\'sgoandgetit！“

“Mrs。Wragge！“criedaterriblevoiceatthedoor。

ForthefirsttimeinMagdalen\'sexperience，Mrs。Wraggewasdeaftothecustomarystimulant。Sheactuallyventuredonafeebleremonstranceinthepresenceofherhusband。

“Oh，doletherhaveherThings！“pleadedMrs。Wragge。“Oh，poorsoul，doletherhaveherThings！“

Thecaptain\'sinexorableforefingerpointedtoacorneroftheroom——droppedslowlyashiswiferetiredbeforeit——andsuddenlystoppedattheregionofhershoes。

“DoIhearaclappingonthefloor！“exclaimedCaptainWragge，withanexpressionofhorror。“Yes；Ido。Downatheelagain！Theleftshoethistime。Pullitup，Mrs。Wragge！pullitup！——Thechaisewillbehereto-morrowmorningatnineo\'clock，“hecontinued，addressingMagdalen。“Wecan\'tpossiblyventureonclaimingyourbox。Thereisnote-paper。Writedownalistofthenecessariesyouwant。Iwilltakeitmyselftotheshop，paythebillforyou，andbringbacktheparcel。Wemustsacrificethebox——wemust，indeed。“

WhileherhusbandwasaddressingMagdalen，Mrs。Wraggehadstolenoutagainfromhercorner，andhadventurednearenoughtothecaptaintohearthewords“shop“and“parcel。“Sheclappedhergreathandstogetherinungovernableexcitement，andlostallcontroloverherselfimmediately。

“Oh，ifit\'sshopping，letmedoit！“criedMrs。Wragge。“She\'sgoingouttobuyherThings！Oh，letmegowithher——pleaseletmegowithher！“

“Sitdown！“shoutedthecaptain。“Straight！moretotheright——morestill。Stopwhereyouare！“

Mrs。Wraggecrossedherhelplesshandsonherlap，andmeltedmeeklyintotears。

“Idosolikeshopping，“pleadedthepoorcreature；“andIgetsolittleofitnow！“

Magdalencompletedherlist；andCaptainWraggeatoncelefttheroomwithit。“Don\'tletmywifeboreyou，“hesaid，pleasantly，ashewentout。“Cuthershort，poorsoul——cuthershort！“

“Don\'tcry，“saidMagdalen，tryingtocomfortMrs。Wraggebypattingherontheshoulder。“Whentheparcelcomesbackyoushallopenit。“

“Thankyou，mydear，“saidMrs。Wragge，meekly，dryinghereyes；“thankyoukindly。Don\'tnoticemyhandkerchief，please。It\'ssuchaverylittleone！Ihadanicelotofthemonce，withlaceborders。They\'reallgonenow。Nevermind！ItwillcomfortmetounpackyourThings。You\'reverygoodtome。Ilikeyou。Isay——youwon\'tbeangry，willyou？Giveusakiss。“

Magdalenstoopedoverherwiththefrankgraceandgentlenessofpastdays，andtouchedherfadedcheek。“Letmedosomethingharmless！“shethought，withapangatherheart——“ohletmedosomethinginnocentandkindforthesakeofoldtimes！“

Shefelthereyesmoistening，andsilentlyturnedaway。

Thatnightnorestcametoher。ThatnighttherousedforcesofGoodandEvilfoughttheirterriblefightforhersoul——andleftthestrifebetweenthemstillinsuspensewhenmorningcame。AstheclockofYorkMinsterstrucknine，shefollowedMrs。Wraggetothechaise，andtookherseatbythecaptain\'sside。InaquarterofanhourmoreYorkwasinthedistance，andthehighroadlaybrightandopenbeforetheminthemorningsunlight。

THEENDOFTHESECONDSCENE。

[NextChapter]

[TableofContents]NoName，BetweentheScenesBETWEENTHESCENES。

CHRONICLEOFEVENTS:PRESERVEDIN

CAPTAINWRAGGE\'SDISPATCH-BOX。

I。

ChronicleforOctober，1846。

IHAVEretiredintothebosomofmyfamily。WeareresidinginthesecludedvillageofRuswarp，onthebanksoftheEsk，abouttwomilesinlandfromWhitby。Ourlodgingsarecomfortable，andwepossesstheadditionalblessingofatidylandlady。Mrs。WraggeandMissVanstoneprecededmehere，inaccordancewiththeplanIlaiddownforeffectingourretreatfromYork。OnthenextdayIfollowedthemalone，withtheluggage。Onleavingtheterminus，Ihadthesatisfactionofseeingthelawyer\'sclerkincloseconfabulationwiththedetectiveofficerwhoseadventIhadprophesied。IlefthiminpeaceablepossessionofthecityofYork，andthewholesurroundingneighborhood。Hehasreturnedthecompliment，andhasleftusinpeaceablepossessionofthevalleyoftheEsk，thirtymilesawayfromhim。

RemarkableresultshavefollowedmyfirsteffortsatthecultivationofMissVanstone\'sdramaticabilities。

Ihavediscoveredthatshepossessesextraordinarytalentasamimic。Shehastheflexibleface，themanageablevoice，andthedramaticknackwhichfitawomanforcharacter-partsanddisguisesonthestage。Allshenowwantsisteachingandpractice，tomakehersureofherownresources。Theexperienceofher，thusgained，hasrevivedanideainmymindwhichoriginallyoccurredtomeatoneofthe“AtHomes“ofthelateinimitableCharlesMathews，comedian。IwasintheWineTradeatthetime，Iremember。WeimitatedtheVintage-processesofNatureinaback-kitchenatBrompton，andproducedadinner-sherry，paleandcurious，tonicincharacter，roundinthemouth，afavoritewiththeCourtofSpain，atnineteen-and-sixpenceadozen，bottlesincluded——VideProspectusoftheperiod。Theprofitsofmyselfandpartnersweresmall；wewereinadvanceofthetastesoftheage，andindebttothebottlemerchant。Beingatmywits\'endforwantofmoney，andseeingwhataudiencesMathewsdrew，theideaoccurredtomeofstartinganimitationofthegreatImitatorhimself，intheshapeofan“AtHome，“givenbyawoman。Theonetriflingobstacleinthewaywasthedifficultyoffindingthewoman。Fromthattimetothis，Ihavehithertofailedtoovercomeit。Ihaveconquereditatlast；Ihavefoundthewomannow。MissVanstonepossessesyouthandbeautyaswellastalent。Trainherintheartofdramaticdisguise；provideherwithappropriatedressesfordifferentcharacters；developheraccomplishmentsinsingingandplaying；giveherplentyofsmarttalkaddressedtotheaudience；advertiseherasaYoungLadyatHome；astonishthepublicbyadramaticentertainmentwhichdependsfromfirsttolastonthatyounglady\'sownsoleexertions；committheentiremanagementofthethingtomycare——andwhatfollowsasanecessaryconsequence？Fameformyfairrelative，andafortuneformyself。

Iputtheseconsiderations，asfranklyasusual，toMissVanstone；offeringtowritetheEntertainment，tomanageallthebusiness，andtosharetheprofits。Ididnotforgettostrengthenmycasebyinformingherofthejealousiesshewouldencounter，andtheobstaclesshewouldmeet，ifshewentonthestage。AndIwoundupbyaneatreferencetotheprivateinquirieswhichsheisinterestedinmaking，andtothepersonalindependencewhichsheisdesirousofsecuringbeforesheactsonherinformation。“Ifyougoonthestage，“Isaid，“yourserviceswillbeboughtbyamanager，andhemayinsistonhisclaimsjustatthetimewhenyouwanttogetfreefromhim。If，onthecontrary，youadoptmyviews，youwillbeyourownmistressandyourownmanager，andyoucansettleyourcoursejustasyoulike。“Thislastconsiderationappearedtostrikeher。Shetookadaytoconsiderit；and，whenthedaywasover，gaveherconsent。

Ihadthewholetransactiondowninblackandwhiteimmediately。Ourarrangementiseminentlysatisfactory，exceptinoneparticular。SheshowsamorbiddistrustofwritinghernameatthebottomofanydocumentwhichIpresenttoher，androundlydeclaresshewillsignnothing。Aslongasitisherinteresttoprovideherselfwithpecuniaryresourcesforthefuture，sheverballyengagestogoon。Whenitceasestobeherinterest，sheplainlythreatenstoleaveoffataweek\'snotice。Adifficultgirltodealwith；shehasfoundoutherownvaluetomealready。Onecomfortis，Ihavethecookingoftheaccounts；andmyfairrelativeshallnotfillherpocketstoosuddenlyifIcanhelpit。

MyexertionsintrainingMissVanstoneforthecomingexperimenthavebeenvariedbythewritingoftwoanonymouslettersinthatyounglady\'sinterests。Findinghertoofidgetyaboutarrangingmatterswithherfriendstopayproperattentiontomyinstructions，Iwroteanonymouslytothelawyerwhoisconductingtheinquiryafterher，recommendinghim，inafriendlyway，togiveitup。TheletterwasinclosedtoafriendofmineinLondon，withinstructionstopostitatCharingCross。AweeklaterIsentasecondletter，throughthesamechannel，requestingthelawyertoinformme，inwriting，whetherheandhisclientshadorhadnotdecidedontakingmyadvice。Idirectedhim，withjocosereferencetothecollisionofinterestsbetweenus，toaddresshisletter:“TitforTat，Post-office，WestStrand。“

Inafewdaystheanswerarrived——privatelyforwarded，ofcourse，toPost-office，Whitby，byarrangementwithmyfriendinLondon。

Thelawyer\'sreplywasshortandsurly:“SIR——Ifmyadvicehadbeenfollowed，youandyouranonymousletterwouldbothbetreatedwiththecontemptwhichtheydeserve。ButthewishesofMissMagdalenVanstone\'seldestsisterhaveclaimsonmyconsiderationwhichIcannotdispute；andatherentreatyIinformyouthatallfurtherproceedingsonmypartarewithdrawn——ontheexpressunderstandingthatthisconcessionistoopenfacilitiesforwrittencommunication，atleast，betweenthetwosisters。AletterfromtheelderMissVanstoneisinclosedinthis。IfIdon\'thearinaweek\'stimethatithasbeenreceived，Ishallplacethematteroncemoreinthehandsofthepolice——WILLIAMPENDRIL。“Asourman，thisWilliamPendril。Icanonlysayofhimwhataneminentnoblemanoncesaidofhissulkyservant——“Iwouldn\'thavesuchatemperasthatfellowhasgotforanyearthlyconsiderationthatcouldbeofferedme！“

Asamatterofcourse，Ilookedintotheletterwhichthelawyerinclosed，beforedeliveringit。MissVanstone，theelder，describedherselfasdistractedatnothearingfromhersister；assuitedwithagoverness\'ssituationinaprivatefamily；asgoingintothesituationinaweek\'stime；andaslongingforalettertocomforther，beforeshefacedthetrialofundertakinghernewduties。Afterclosingtheenvelopeagain，IaccompaniedthedeliveryofthelettertoMissVanstone，theyounger，byawordofcaution。“Areyoumoresureofyourowncouragenow，“Isaid，“thanyouwerewhenImetyou？“Shewasreadywithheranswer。“CaptainWragge，whenyoumetmeontheWallsofYorkIhadnotgonetoofartogoback。Ihavegonetoofarnow。“

Ifshereallyfeelsthis——andIthinkshedoes——hercorrespondingwithhersistercandonoharm。Shewroteatgreatlengththesameday；criedprofuselyoverherownepistolarycomposition；andwasremarkablyill-temperedandsnappishtowardme，whenwemetintheevening。Shewantsexperience，poorgirl——shesadlywantsexperienceoftheworld。HowconsolingtoknowthatIamjustthemantogiveither！

II。

ChronicleforNovember。

WeareestablishedatDerby。TheEntertainmentiswritten；andtherehearsalsareinsteadyprogress。Alldifficultiesareprovidedfor，buttheoneeternaldifficultyofmoney。MissVanstone\'sresourcesstretcheasilyenoughtothelimitsofourpersonalwants；includingpiano-fortehireforpractice，andthepurchaseandmakingofthenecessarydresses。ButtheexpensesofstartingtheEntertainmentarebeyondthereachofanymeanswepossess。Atheatricalfriendofminehere，whomIhadhopedtointerestinourundertaking，proves，unhappily，tobeatacrisisinhiscareer。Thefieldofhumansympathy，outofwhichImighthaveraisedtheneedfulpecuniarycrop，isclosedtomefromwantoftimetocultivateit。Iseenootherresourceleft——ifwearetobereadybyChristmas——thantotryoneofthelocalmusic-sellersinthistown，whoissaidtobeaspeculatingman。Aprivaterehearsalattheselodgings，andabargainwhichwillfillthepocketsofagraspingstranger——sucharethesacrificeswhichdirenecessityimposesonmeatstarting。Well！thereisonlyoneconsolation:I\'llcheatthemusic-seller。

III。

ChronicleforDecember。FirstFortnight。

Themusic-sellerextortsmyunwillingrespect。HeisoneoftheveryfewhumanbeingsIhavemetwithinthecourseofmylifewhoisnottobecheated。Hehastakenamasterlyadvantageofourhelplessness；andhasimposedtermsonus，forperformancesatDerbyandNottingham，withsuchabusiness-likedisregardofallinterestsbuthisownthat——fondasIamofputtingthingsdowninblackandwhite——Ireallycannotprevailuponmyselftorecordthebargain。Itisneedlesstosay，Ihaveyieldedwithmybestgrace；sharingwithmyfairrelativethewretchedpecuniaryprospectsofferedtous。Ourturnwillcome。Inthemeantime，Icordiallyregretnothavingknownthelocalmusic-sellerinearlylife。

Personallyspeaking，IhavenocausetocomplainofMissVanstone。Wehavearrangedthatsheshallregularlyforwardheraddress(atthepost-office)toherfriends，aswemoveaboutfromplacetoplace。Besidescommunicatinginthiswaywithhersister，shealsoreportsherselftoacertainMr。Clare，residinginSomersetshire，whoistoforwardalllettersexchangedbetweenherselfandhisson。CarefulinquiryhasinformedmethatthislatterindividualisnowinChina。Havingsuspectedfromthefirstthattherewasagentlemaninthebackground，itishighlysatisfactorytoknowthatherecedesintotheremoteperspectiveofAsia。Longmayheremainthere！

ThetriflingresponsibilityoffindinganameforourtalentedMagdalentoperformunderhasbeencastonmyshoulders。Shefeelsnointerestwhateverinthispartofthesubject。“Givemeanynameyoulike，“shesaid；“Ihaveasmuchrighttooneastoanother。Makeityourself。“Ihavereadilyconsentedtogratifyherwishes。Theresourcesofmycommerciallibraryincludealistofusefulnamestoassume；andwecanchooseoneatfiveminutes\'notice，whentheadmirablemanofbusinesswhonowoppressesusisreadytoissuehisadvertisements。Onthispointmymindiseasyenough:allmyanxietiescenterinthefairperformer。Ihavenottheleastdoubtshewilldowondersifsheisonlylefttoherselfonthefirstnight。Butiftheday\'spostismischievousenoughtoupsetherbyaletterfromhersister，Itremblefortheconsequences。

IV。

ChronicleforDecember。SecondFortnight。

Mygiftedrelativehasmadeherfirstappearanceinpublic，andhaslaidthefoundationofourfuturefortunes。

OnthefirstnighttheattendancewaslargerthanIhadventuredtohope。Thenoveltyofanevening\'sentertainment，conductedfrombeginningtoendbytheunaidedexertionsofayounglady(seeadvertisement)，rousedthepubliccuriosity，andtheseatsweremoderatelywellfilled。Asgoodluckwouldhaveit，noletteraddressedtoMissVanstonecamethatday。Shewasinfullpossessionofherselfuntilshegotthefirstdressonandheardthebellringforthemusic。Atthatcriticalmomentshesuddenlybrokedown。Ifoundheraloneinthewaiting-room，sobbing，andtalkinglikeachild。“Oh，poorpapa！poorpapa！Oh，myGod，ifhesawmenow！“Myexperienceinsuchmattersatonceinformedmethatitwasacaseofsal-volatile，accompaniedbysoundadvice。Westrungherupinnotimetoconcertpitch；sethereyesinablaze；andmadeherout-blushherownrouge。Thecurtainrosewhenwehadgotherataredheat。Shedashedatitexactlyasshedashedatitinthebackdrawing-roomatRosemaryLane。Herpersonalappearancesettledthequestionofherreceptionbeforesheopenedherlips。Sherushedfullgallopthroughherchangesofcharacter，hersongs，andherdialogue；makingmistakesbythedozen，andneverstoppingtosetthemright；carryingthepeoplealongwithherinaperfectwhirlwind，andneverwaitingfortheapplause。Thewholethingwasovertwentyminutessoonerthanthetimewehadcalculatedon。Shecarrieditthroughtotheend，andfaintedonthewaiting-roomsofaaminuteafterthecurtainwasdown。Themusic-sellerhavingtakenleaveofhissensesfromsheerastonishment，andIhavingnoeveningcostumetoappearin，wesentthedoctortomakethenecessaryapologytothepublic，whowerecallingforhertilltheplacerangagain。Ipromptedourmedicaloratorwithaneatspeechfrombehindthecurtain；andIneverheardsuchapplause，fromsuchacomparativelysmallaudience，beforeinmylife。Ifeltthetribute——Ifeltitdeeply。FourteenyearsagoIscrapedtogetherthewretchedmeansofexistenceinthisverytownbyreadingthenewspaper(withexplanatorycomments)tothecompanyatapublic-house。AndnowhereIamatthetopofthetree。

Itisneedlesstosaythatmyfirstproceedingwastobowloutthemusic-selleronthespot。Hecalledthenextmorning，nodoubtwithaliberalproposalforextendingtheengagementbeyondDerbyandNottingham。Myniecewasdescribedasnotwellenoughtoseehim；and，whenheaskedforme，hewastoldIwasnotup。IhappenedtobeatthatmomentengagedinputtingthecasepatheticallytoourgiftedMagdalen。Heranswerwasinthehighestdegreesatisfactory。Shewouldpermanentlyengageherselftonobody——leastofalltoamanwhohadtakensordidadvantageofherpositionandmine。Shewouldbeherownmistress，andsharetheprofitswithme，whileshewantedmoney，andwhileitsuitedhertogoon。Sofarsogood。Butthereasonsheaddednext，forherflatteringpreferenceofmyself，waslesstomytaste。“Themusic-sellerisnotthemanwhomIemploytomakemyinquiries，“shesaid。“Youaretheman。“Idon\'tlikehersteadilyrememberingthoseinquiries，inthefirstbewildermentofhersuccess。Itlooksillforthefuture；itlooksinfernallyillforthefuture。

V。

ChronicleforJanuary，1847。

Shehasshowntheclovenfootalready。Ibegintobealittleafraidofher。

OntheconclusionoftheNottinghamengagement(theresultsofwhichmorethanequaledtheresultsatDerby)，Iproposedtakingtheentertainmentnext——nowwehadgotitintoourownhands——toNewark。MissVanstoneraisednoobjectionuntilwecametothequestionoftime，whensheamazedmebystipulatingforaweek\'sdelaybeforeweappearedinpublicagain。

“Forwhatpossiblepurpose？“Iasked。

“ForthepurposeofmakingtheinquirieswhichImentionedtoyouatYork，“sheanswered。

Iinstantlyenlargedonthedangerofdelay，puttingalltheconsiderationsbeforeherineveryimaginableform。Sheremainedperfectlyimmovable。Itriedtoshakeheronthequestionofexpenses。SheansweredbyhandingmeoverhershareoftheproceedsatDerbyandNottingham——andthereweremyexpensespaid，attherateofnearlytwoguineasaday。Iwonderwhofirstpickedoutamuleasthetypeofobstinacy？Howlittleknowledgethatmanmusthavehadofwomen！

Therewasnohelpforit。Itookdownmyinstructionsinblackandwhite，asusual。MyfirstexertionsweretobedirectedtothediscoveryofMr。MichaelVanstone\'saddress:Iwasalsoexpectedtofindouthowlonghewaslikelytolivethere，andwhetherhehadsoldCombe-Ravenornot。Mynextinquiriesweretoinformmeofhisordinaryhabitsoflife；ofwhathedidwithhismoney；ofwhohisintimatefriendswere；andofthesortoftermsonwhichhisson，Mr。NoelVanstone，wasnowlivingwithhim。Lastly，theinvestigationsweretoendindiscoveringwhethertherewasanyfemalerelative，oranywomanexercisingdomesticauthorityinthehouse，whowasknowntohaveaninfluenceovereitherfatherorson。

Ifmylongpracticeincultivatingthefieldofhumansympathyhadnotaccustomedmetoprivateinvestigationsintotheaffairsofotherpeople，Imighthavefoundsomeofthesequeriesratherdifficulttodealwithinthecourseofaweek。Asitwas，Igavemyselfallthebenefitofmyownexperience，andbroughttheanswersbacktoNottinghaminadaylessthanthegiventime。Heretheyare，inregularorder，forconvenienceoffuturereference:

(1。)Mr。MichaelVanstoneisnowresidingatGermanPlace，Brighton，andlikelytoremainthere，ashefindstheairsuitshim。HereachedLondonfromSwitzerlandinSeptemberlast；andsoldtheCombe-Ravenpropertyimmediatelyonhisarrival。

(2。)Hisordinaryhabitsoflifearesecretandretired；heseldomvisits，orreceivescompany。PartofhismoneyissupposedtobeintheFunds，andpartlaidoutinrailwayinvestments，whichhavesurvivedthepanicofeighteenhundredandforty-six，andarerapidlyrisinginvalue。Heissaidtobeaboldspeculator。SincehisarrivalinEnglandhehasinvested，withgreatjudgment，inhouseproperty。HehassomehousesinremotepartsofLondon，andsomehousesincertainwatering-placesontheeastcoast，whichareshowntobeadvancinginpublicrepute。Inallthesecasesheisreportedtohavemaderemarkablygoodbargains。

(3。)Itisnoteasytodiscoverwhohisintimatefriendsare。Twonamesonlyhavebeenascertained。ThefirstisAdmiralBartram；supposedtohavebeenunderfriendlyobligations，inpastyears，toMr。MichaelVanstone。ThesecondisMr。GeorgeBartram，nephewoftheAdmiral，andnowstayingonashortvisitinthehouseatGermanPlace。Mr。GeorgeBartramisthesonofthelateMr。AndrewVanstone\'ssister，alsodeceased。HeisthereforeacousinofMr。NoelVanstone\'s。Thislast——viz。，Mr。NoelVanstone——isindelicatehealth，andislivingonexcellenttermswithhisfatherinGermanPlace。

(4。)ThereisnofemalerelativeinMr。MichaelVanstone\'sfamilycircle。Butthereisahousekeeperwhohaslivedinhisserviceeversincehiswife\'sdeath，andwhohasacquiredastronginfluenceoverbothfatherandson。SheisanativeofSwitzerland，elderly，andawidow。HernameisMrs。Lecount。

OnplacingtheseparticularsinMissVanstone\'shands，shemadenoremark，excepttothankme。Iendeavoredtoinviteherconfidence。Noresults；nothingbutarenewalofcivility，andasuddenshiftingtothesubjectoftheEntertainment。Verygood。Ifshewon\'tgivemetheinformationIwant，theconclusionisobvious——Imusthelpmyself。

Businessconsiderationsclaimtheremainderofthispage。Letmereturntobusiness。

FinancialStatementThirdWeekinJanuaryPlaceVisited，Newark。

Performances，TwoNetReceipts，Inblackandwhite，£；25

NetReceipts，ActuallyRealized，£；3210s。

ApparentDiv。ofProfits，MissV……£；1210

Self……£；1210

ActualDiv。ofProfits，MissV……£；1210

Self……£；2000

PrivateSurplusontheWeek，Orsay，Self-presentedTestimonial，£；710s。

Audited，H。WRAGGE。

Passedcorrect，H。WRAGGE

ThenextstrongholdofBritishsympathywhichwetakebystormisSheffield。WeopenthefirstweekinFebruary。

VI。

ChronicleforFebruary。

PracticehasnowgivenmyfairrelativetheconfidencewhichIpredictedwouldcomewithtime。Herknackofdisguisingherownidentityintheimpersonationofdifferentcharacterssocompletelystaggersheraudiencesthatthesamepeoplecometwiceovertofindouthowshedoesit。ItistheamiabledefectoftheEnglishpublicnevertoknowwhentheyhavehadenoughofagoodthing。Theyactuallytrytoencoreoneofhercharacters——anoldnorth-countrylady；modeledonthathonoredpreceptressinthelateMr。Vanstone\'sfamilytowhomIpresentedmyselfatCombe-Raven。Thisparticularperformancefairlyamazesthepeople。Idon\'twonderatit。Suchanextraordinaryassumptionofagebyagirlofnineteenhasneverbeenseeninpublicbefore，inthewholecourseofmytheatricalexperience。

Ifindmyselfwritinginalowertonethanusual；Imissmyowndashofhumor。Thefactis，Iamdepressedaboutthefuture。Intheveryheightofourprosperitymyperversepupilstickstohertrumperyfamilyquarrel。IfeelmyselfatthemercyofthefirstwhimintheVanstonedirectionwhichmaycomeintoherhead——I，thearchitectofherfortunes。Toobad；uponmysoul，toobad。

Shehasactedalreadyontheinquirieswhichsheforcedmetomakeforher。ShehaswrittentwoletterstoMr。MichaelVanstone。

Tothefirstletternoanswercame。Tothesecondareplywasreceived。HerinfernalclevernessputanobstacleIhadnotexpectedinthewayofmyinterceptingit。Laterintheday，aftershehadherselfopenedandreadtheanswer，Ilaidanothertrapforher。Itjustsucceeded，andnomore。Ihadhalfaminutetolookintotheenvelopeinherabsence。Itcontainednothingbutherownletterreturned。Sheisnotthegirltoputupquietlywithsuchaninsultasthis。Mischiefwillcomeofit——MischieftoMichaelVanstone——whichisofnoearthlyconsequence:mischieftoMe——whichisatrulyseriousmatter。

VII。

ChronicleforMarch。

AfterperformingatSheffieldandManchester，wehavemovedtoLiverpool，Preston，andLancaster。Anotherchangeinthisweathercockofagirl。ShehaswrittennomoreletterstoMichaelVanstone；andshehasbecomeasanxioustomakemoneyasIammyself。Wearerealizinglargeprofits，andweareworkedtodeath。Idon\'tlikethischangeinher:shehasapurposetoanswer，orshewouldnotshowsuchextraordinaryeagernesstofillherpurse。NothingIcando——nocookingofaccounts；noself-presentedtestimonials——cankeepthatpurseempty。ThesuccessoftheEntertainment，andherownsharpnessinlookingafterherinterests，literallyforcemeintoacourseofcomparativehonesty。Sheputsintoherpocketmorethanathirdoftheprofits，indefianceofmymostarduousexertionstopreventher。Andthisatmyage！thisaftermylongandsuccessfulcareerasamoralagriculturist！Marksofadmirationareverylittlethings；buttheyexpressmyfeelings，andIputtheminfreely。

VIII。

ChronicleforAprilandMay。

Wehavevisitedsevenmorelargetowns，andarenowatBirmingham。Consultingmybooks，IfindthatMissVanstonehasrealizedbytheEntertainment，uptothistime，theenormoussumofnearlyfourhundredpounds。Itisquitepossiblethatmyownprofitsmayreachoneortwomiserablehundredmore。ButIwasthearchitectofherfortunes——thepublisher，sotospeak，ofherbook——and，ifanything，Iamunderpaid。

Imadetheabovediscoveryonthetwenty-ninthofthemonth——anniversaryoftheRestorationofmyroyalpredecessorinthefieldofhumansympathies，CharlestheSecond。Ihadbarelyfinishedlockingupmydispatch-box，whentheungratefulgirl，whosereputationIhavemade，cameintotheroomandtoldmeinsomanywordsthatthebusinessconnectionbetweenuswasforthepresentatanend。

Iattemptnodescriptionofmyownsensations:Imerelyrecordfacts。Sheinformedme，withanappearanceofperfectcomposure，thatsheneededrest，andthatshehad“newobjectsinview。“Shemightpossiblywantmetoassistthoseobjects；andshemightpossiblyreturntotheEntertainment。Ineithercaseitwouldbeenoughifweexchangedaddresses，atwhichwecouldwritetoeachotherincaseofneed。Havingnodesiretoleavemetooabruptly，shewouldremainthenextday(whichwasSunday)；andwouldtakeherdepartureonMondaymorning。Suchwasherexplanation，insomanywords。

Remonstrance，asIknewbyexperience，wouldbethrownaway。AuthorityIhadnonetoexert。Myonesensiblecoursetotakeinthisemergencywastofindoutwhichwaymyowninterestspointed，andtogothatwaywithoutamoment\'sunnecessaryhesitation。

Averylittlereflectionhassinceconvincedmethatshehasadeep-laidschemeagainstMichaelVanstoneinview。Sheisyoung，handsome，clever，andunscrupulous；shehasmademoneytoliveon，andhastimeatherdisposaltofindouttheweaksideofanoldman；andsheisgoingtoattackMr。MichaelVanstoneunawareswiththelegitimateweaponsofhersex。Isshelikelytowantmeforsuchapurposeasthis？Doubtful。Isshemerelyanxioustogetridofmeoneasyterms？Probable。AmIthesortofmantobetreatedinthiswaybymyownpupil？Decidedlynot:Iamthemantoseemywaythroughaneatsuccessionofalternatives；andheretheyare:

Firstalternative:Toannouncemycompliancewithherproposal；toexchangeaddresseswithher；andthentokeepmyeyeprivatelyonallherfuturemovements。Secondalternative:toexpressfondanxietyinapaternalcapacity；andtothreatengivingthealarmtohersisterandthelawyer，ifshepersistsinherdesign。Thirdalternative:toturntheinformationIalreadypossesstothebestaccount，bymakingitamarketablecommoditybetweenMr。MichaelVanstoneandmyself。AtpresentIinclinetowardthelastofthesethreecourses。Butmydecisionisfartooimportanttobehurried。To-dayisonlythetwenty-ninth。IwillsuspendmyChronicleofEventsuntilMonday。

May31st——Myalternativesandherplansarebothoverthrowntogether。

Thenewspapercamein，asusual，afterbreakfast。Ilookeditover，anddiscoveredthismemorableentryamongtheobituaryannouncementsoftheday:

“Onthe29thinst。，atBrighton，MichaelVanstone，Esq。，formerlyofZurich，aged77。“

MissVanstonewaspresentintheroomwhenIreadthosetwostartlinglines。Herbonnetwason；herboxeswerepacked；shewaswaitingimpatientlyuntilitwastimetogotothetrain。Ihandedthepapertoher，withoutawordonmyside。Withoutawordonhers，shelookedwhereIpointed，andreadthenewsofMichaelVanstone\'sdeath。

Thepaperdroppedoutofherhand，andshesuddenlypulleddownherveil。Icaughtoneglanceatherfacebeforeshehiditfromme。Theeffectonmymindwasstartlingintheextreme。Toputitwithmycustomarydashofhumor——herfaceinformedmethatthemostsensibleactionwhichMichaelVanstone，Esq。，formerlyofZurich，hadeverachievedinhislifewastheactionheperformedatBrightononthe29thinstant。

Findingthedeadsilenceintheroomsingularlyunpleasantunderexistingcircumstances，IthoughtIwouldmakearemark。Myregardformyowninterestssuppliedmewithasubject。ImentionedtheEntertainment。

“Afterwhathashappened，“Isaid，“Ipresumewegoonwithourperformancesasusual？“

“No，“sheanswered，behindtheveil。“Wegoonwithmyinquiries。“

“Inquiriesafteradeadman？“

“Inquiriesafterthedeadman\'sson。“

“Mr。NoelVanstone？“

“Yes；Mr。NoelVanstone。“

Nothavingaveiltoputdownovermyownface，Istoopedandpickedupthenewspaper。Herdevilishdeterminationquiteupsetmeforthemoment。IactuallyhadtosteadymyselfbeforeIcouldspeaktoheragain。

“Arethenewinquiriesasharmlessastheoldones？“Iasked。

“Quiteasharmless。“

“WhatamIexpectedtofindout？“

“IwishtoknowwhetherMr。NoelVanstoneremainsatBrightonafterthefuneral。“

“Andifnot？“

“Ifnot，Ishallwanttoknowhisnewaddresswhereveritmaybe。“

“Yes。Andwhatnext？“

“Iwishyoutofindoutnextifallthefather\'smoneygoestotheson。“

Ibegantoseeherdrift。Thewordmoneyrelievedme；Ifeltquiteonmyowngroundagain。

“Anythingmore？“Iasked。

“Onlyonethingmore，“sheanswered。“Makesure，ifyouplease，whetherMrs。Lecount，thehousekeeper，remainsornotinMr。NoelVanstone\'sservice。“

HervoicealteredalittleasshementionedMrs。Lecount\'sname；sheisevidentlysharpenoughtodistrustthehousekeeperalready。

“Myexpensesaretobepaidasusual？“Isaid。

“Asusual。“

“WhenamIexpectedtoleaveforBrighton？“

“Assoonasyoucan。“

Sherose，andlefttheroom。Afteramomentarydoubt，Idecidedonexecutingthenewcommission。ThemoreprivateinquiriesIconductformyfairrelativethehardershewillfindittogetridofherstruly，HoratioWragge。

ThereisnothingtopreventmystartingforBrightonto-morrow。Soto-morrowIgo。IfMr。NoelVanstonesucceedstohisfather\'sproperty，heistheonlyhumanbeingpossessedofpecuniaryblessingswhofailstoinspiremewithafeelingofunmitigatedenvy。

IX。

ChronicleforJune。

9th——Ireturnedyesterdaywithmyinformation。Hereitis，privatelynoteddownforconvenienceoffuturereference:

Mr。NoelVanstonehasleftBrighton，andhasremoved，forthepurposeoftransactingbusinessinLondon，tooneofhislatefather\'semptyhousesinVauxhallWalk，Lambeth。ThissingularlymeanselectionofaplaceofresidenceonthepartofagentlemanoffortunelooksasifMr。N。V。andhismoneywerenoteasilyparted。

Mr。NoelVanstonehassteppedintohisfather\'sshoesunderthefollowingcircumstances:Mr。MichaelVanstoneappearstohavedied，curiouslyenough，asMr。AndrewVanstonedied——intestate。Withthisdifference，however，inthetwocases，thattheyoungerbrotherleftaninformalwill，andtheelderbrotherleftnowillatall。Thehardestmenhavetheirweaknesses；andMr。MichaelVanstone\'sweaknessseemstohavebeenaninsurmountablehorrorofcontemplatingtheeventofhisowndeath。Hisson，hishousekeeper，andhislawyer，hadallthreetriedoverandoveragaintogethimtomakeawill；andhadnevershakenhisobstinateresolutiontoputoffperformingtheonlybusinessdutyhewaseverknowntoneglect。Twodoctorsattendedhiminhislastillness；warnedhimthathewastoooldamantohopetogetoverit；andwarnedhiminvain。Heannouncedhisownpositivedeterminationnottodie。Hislastwordsinthisworld(asIsucceededindiscoveringfromthenursewhoassistedMrs。Lecount)were:“I\'mgettingbettereveryminute；sendfortheflydirectlyandtakemeoutforadrive。“ThesamenightDeathprovedtobethemoreobstinateofthetwo；andlefthisson(andonlychild)totakethepropertyinduecourseoflaw。Nobodydoubtsthattheresultwouldhavebeenthesameifawillhadbeenmade。Thefatherandsonhadeveryconfidenceineachother，andwereknowntohavealwayslivedtogetheronthemostfriendlyterms。

Mrs。LecountremainswithMr。NoelVanstone，inthesamehousekeepingcapacitywhichshefilledwithhisfather，andhasaccompaniedhimtothenewresidenceinVauxhallWalk。Sheisacknowledgedonallhandstohavebeenasuffererbytheturneventshavetaken。IfMr。MichaelVanstonehadmadehiswill，thereisnodoubtshewouldhavereceivedahandsomelegacy。SheisnowleftdependentonMr。NoelVanstone\'ssenseofgratitude；andsheisnotatalllikely，Ishouldimagine，toletthatsensefallasleepforwantofalittletimelyjogging。Whethermyfairrelative\'sfutureintentionsinthisquarterpointtowardMischieforMoney，ismorethanIcanyetsay。Ineithercase，IventuretopredictthatshewillfindanawkwardobstacleinMrs。Lecount。

Somuchformyinformationtothepresentdate。ThemannerinwhichitwasreceivedbyMissVanstoneshowedthemostungratefuldistrustofme。Sheconfidednothingtomyprivateearbuttheexpressionofherbestthanks。Asharpgirl——adevilishsharpgirl。Butthereissuchathingasbowlingamanoutoncetoooften；especiallywhenthenameofthatmanhappenstobeWragge。

NotawordmoreabouttheEntertainment；notawordmoreaboutmovingfromourpresentquarters。Verygood。Myrighthandlaysmylefthandawager。Tentoone，onheropeningcommunicationswiththesonassheopenedthemwiththefather。Tentoone，onherwritingtoNoelVanstonebeforethemonthisout。

21st——Shehaswrittenbyto-day\'spost。Alongletter，apparently——forsheputtwostampsontheenvelope。(Privatememorandum，addressedtomyself。Waitfortheanswer。)

22d，23d，24th——(Privatememorandumcontinued。Waitfortheanswer。)

25th——Theanswerhascome。Asanex-militaryman，Ihavenaturallyemployedstratagemtogetatit。Thesuccesswhichrewardsallgenuineperseverancehasrewardedme——andIhavegotatitaccordingly。

Theletteriswritten，notbyMr。NoelVanstone，butbyMrs。Lecount。Shetakesthehighestmoralground，inatoneofspitefulpoliteness。Mr。NoelVanstone\'sdelicatehealthandrecentbereavementpreventhimfromwritinghimself。AnymorelettersfromMissVanstonewillbereturnedunopened。Anypersonalapplicationwillproduceanimmediateappealtotheprotectionofthelaw。Mr。NoelVanstone，havingbeenexpresslycautionedagainstMissMagdalenVanstonebyhislatelamentedfather，hasnotyetforgottenhisfather\'sadvice。Considersitareflectioncastonthememoryofthebestofmen，tosupposethathiscourseofactiontowardtheMissesVanstonecanbeotherthanthecourseofactionwhichhisfatherpursued。ThisiswhathehashimselfinstructedMrs。Lecounttosay。Shehasendeavoredtoexpressherselfinthemostconciliatorylanguageshecouldselect；shehadtriedtoavoidgivingunnecessarypain，byaddressingMissVanstone(asamatterofcourtesy)bythefamilyname；andshetruststheseconcessions，whichspeakforthemselves，willnotbethrownaway——Suchisthesubstanceoftheletter，andsoitends。

Idrawtwoconclusionsfromthislittledocument。First——thatitwillleadtoseriousresults。Secondly——thatMrs。Lecount，withallherpoliteness，isadangerouswomantodealwith。IwishIsawmywaysafebeforeme。Idon\'tseeityet。

29th——MissVanstonehasabandonedmyprotection；andthewholelucrativefutureofthedramaticentertainmenthasabandonedmewithher。Iamswindled——I，thelastmanunderheavenwhocouldpossiblyhaveexpectedtowriteinthosedisgracefultermsofmyself——IAMSWINDLED！

Letmechronicletheevents。Theyexhibitme，forthetimebeing，inasadlyhelplesspointofview。Butthenatureofthemanprevails:Imusthavetheeventsdowninblackandwhite。

Theannouncementofherapproachingdeparturewasintimatedtomeyesterday。AfteranothercivilspeechabouttheinformationIhadprocuredatBrighton，shehintedthattherewasanecessityforpushingourinquiriesalittlefurther。Iimmediatelyofferedtoundertakethem，asbefore。“No，“shesaid；“theyarenotinyourwaythistime。Theyareinquiriesrelatingtoawoman；andImeantomakethemmyself！“FeelingprivatelyconvincedthatthisnewresolutionpointedstraightatMrs。Lecount，Itriedafewinnocentquestionsonthesubject。Shequietlydeclinedtoanswerthem。Iaskednextwhensheproposedtoleave。Shewouldleaveonthetwenty-eighth。Forwhatdestination？London。Forlong？Probablynot。Byherself？No。Withme？No。Withwhomthen？WithMrs。Wragge，ifIhadnoobjection。Goodheavens！forwhatpossiblepurpose？Forthepurposeofgettingarespectablelodging，whichshecouldhardlyexpecttoaccomplishunlessshewasaccompaniedbyanelderlyfemalefriend。AndwasI，inthecapacityofelderlymalefriend，tobeleftoutofthebusinessaltogether？Impossibletosayatpresent。WasInoteventoforwardanyletterswhichmightcomeforheratourpresentaddress？No:shewouldmakethearrangementherselfatthepost-office；andshewouldaskme，atthesametime，foranaddress，atwhichIcouldreceivealetterfromher，incaseofnecessityforfuturecommunication。Furtherinquiries，afterthislastanswer，couldleadtonothingbutwasteoftime。Isavedtimebyputtingnomorequestions。

ItwascleartomethatourpresentpositiontowardeachotherwaswhatourpositionhadbeenpreviouslytotheeventofMichaelVanstone\'sdeath。Ireturned，asbefore，tomychoiceofalternatives。Whichwaydidmyprivateinterestspoint？Towardtrustingthechanceofherwantingmeagain？Towardthreateningherwiththeinterferenceofherrelativesandfriends？OrtowardmakingtheinformationwhichIpossessedamarketablecommoditybetweenthewealthybranchofthefamilyandmyself？ThelastofthethreewasthealternativeIhadchoseninthecaseofthefather。Ichoseitoncemoreinthecaseoftheson。

ThetrainstartedforLondonnearlyfourhourssince，andtookherawayinit，accompaniedbyMrs。Wragge。

Mywifeistoogreatafool，poorsoul，tobeactivelyvaluableinthepresentemergency；butshewillbepassivelyusefulinkeepingupMissVanstone\'sconnectionwithme——and，inconsiderationofthatcircumstance，Iconsenttobrushmyowntrousers，shavemyownchin，andsubmittotheotherinconveniencesofwaitingonmyselfforalimitedperiod。AnyfaintglimmeringsofsensewhichMrs。Wraggemayhaveformerlypossessedappeartohavenowfinallytakentheirleaveofher。OnreceivingpermissiontogotoLondon，shefavoredusimmediatelywithtwoinquiries。Mightshedosomeshopping？andmightsheleavethecookery-bookbehindher？MissVanstonesaidYestoonequestion，andIsaidYestotheother——andfromthatmoment，Mrs。Wraggehasexistedinastateofperpetuallaughter。Iamstillhoarsewithvainlyrepeatedapplicationsofvocalstimulant；andIleftherintherailwaycarriage，tomyinexpressibledisgust，withbothshoesdownatheel。

Underordinarycircumstancestheseabsurdparticularswouldnothavedweltonmymemory。But，asmattersactuallystand，myunfortunatewife\'simbecilitymay，inherpresentposition，leadtoconsequenceswhichwenoneofusforesee。Sheisnothingmoreorlessthanagrown-upchild；andIcanplainlydetectthatMissVanstonetrustsher，asshewouldnothavetrustedasharperwoman，onthatveryaccount。Iknowchildren，littleandbig，ratherbetterthanmyfairrelativedoes；andIsay——bewareofallformsofhumaninnocence，whenithappenstobeyourinteresttokeepasecrettoyourself。

Letmereturntobusiness。HereIam，attwoo\'clockonafinesummer\'safternoon，leftentirelyalone，toconsiderthesafestmeansofapproachingMr。NoelVanstoneonmyownaccount。Myprivatesuspicionsofhismiserlycharacterproducenodiscouragingeffectonme。Ihaveextractedcheeringpecuniaryresultsinmytimefrompeoplequiteasfondoftheirmoneyashecanbe。TherealdifficultytocontendwithistheobstacleofMrs。Lecount。IfIamnotmistaken，thisladymeritsalittleseriousconsiderationonmypart。Iwillclosemychronicleforto-day，andgiveMrs。Lecountherdue。

Threeo\'clock——Iopenthesepagesagaintorecordadiscoverywhichhastakenmeentirelybysurprise。

Aftercompletingthelastentry，acircumstancerevivedinmymemorywhichIhadnoticedonescortingtheladiesthismorningtotherailway。IthenremarkedthatMissVanstonehadonlytakenoneofherthreeboxeswithher——anditnowoccurredtomethataprivateinvestigationoftheluggageshehadleftbehindmightpossiblybeattendedwithbeneficialresults。Having，atcertainperiodsofmylifebeeninthehabitofcultivatingfriendlytermswithstrangelocks，IfoundnodifficultyinestablishingmyselfonafamiliarfootingwithMissVanstone\'sboxes。Oneofthetwopresentednothingtointerestme。Theother——devotedtothepreservationofthecostumes，articlesoftoilet，andotherpropertiesusedinthedramaticEntertainment——provedtobebetterworthexamining:foritledmestraighttothediscoveryofoneofitsowner\'ssecrets。

Ifoundallthedressesintheboxcomplete——withoneremarkableexception。Thatexceptionwasthedressoftheoldnorth-countrylady；thecharacterwhichIhavealreadymentionedasthebestofallmypupil\'sdisguises，andasmodeledinvoiceandmanneronheroldgoverness，MissGarth。Thewig；theeyebrows；thebonnetandveil；thecloak，paddedinsidetodisfigureherbackandshoulders；thepaintsandcosmeticsusedtoageherfaceandalterhercomplexion——wereallgone。Nothingbutthegownremained；agaudily-floweredsilk，usefulenoughfordramaticpurposes，buttooextravagantincolorandpatterntobearinspectionbydaylight。Theotherpartsofthedressaresufficientlyquiettopassmuster；thebonnetandveilareonlyold-fashioned，andthecloakisofasobergraycolor。Butoneplaininferencecanbedrawnfromsuchadiscoveryasthis。AscertainlyasIsithere，sheisgoingtoopenthecampaignagainstNoelVanstoneandMrs。Lecountinacharacterwhichneitherofthosetwopersonscanhaveanypossiblereasonforsuspectingattheoutset——thecharacterofMissGarth。

WhatcourseamItotakeunderthesecircumstances？Havinggothersecret，whatamItodowithit？Theseareawkwardconsiderations；Iamratherpuzzledhowtodealwiththem。

Itissomethingmorethanthemerefactofherchoosingtodisguiseherselftoforwardherownprivateendsthatcausesmypresentperplexity。Hundredsofgirlstakefanciesfordisguisingthemselves；andhundredsofinstancesofitarerelatedyearafteryearinthepublicjournals。Butmyex-pupilisnottobeconfoundedforonemomentwiththeaverageadventuressofthenewspapers。Sheiscapableofgoingalongwaybeyondthelimitofdressingherselflikeaman，andimitatingaman\'svoiceandmanner。ShehasanaturalgiftforassumingcharacterswhichIhaveneverseenequaledbyawoman；andshehasperformedinpublicuntilshehasfeltherownpower，andtrainedhertalentfordisguisingherselftothehighestpitch。Agirlwhotakesthesharpestpeopleunawaresbyusingsuchacapacityasthistohelpherownobjectsinprivatelife，andwhosharpensthatcapacitybyadeterminationtofightherwaytoherownpurpose，whichhasbeatendowneverythingbeforeit，uptothistime——isagirlwhotriesanexperimentindeception，newenoughanddangerousenoughtolead，onewayortheother，toveryseriousresults。Thisismyconviction，foundedonalargeexperienceintheartofimposingonmyfellow-creatures。Isayofmyfairrelative\'senterprisewhatIneversaidorthoughtofittillIintroducedmyselftotheinsideofherbox。ThechancesforandagainstherwinningthefightforherlostfortunearenowsoevenlybalancedthatIcannotforthelifeofmeseeonwhichsidethescaleinclines。AllIcandiscernis，thatitwill，toadeadcertainty，turnonewayortheotheronthedaywhenshepassesNoelVanstone\'sdoorsindisguise。

Whichwaydomyinterestspointnow？Uponmyhonor，Idon\'tknow。

Fiveo\'clock——Ihaveeffectedamasterlycompromise；IhavedecidedonturningmyselfintoaJack-on-both-sides。

Byto-day\'spostIhavedispatchedtoLondonananonymousletterforMr。NoelVanstone。ItwillbeforwardedtoitsdestinationbythesamemeanswhichIsuccessfullyadoptedtomystifyMr。Pendril；anditwillreachVauxhallWalk，Lambeth，bytheafternoonofto-morrowatthelatest。

Theletterisshort，andtothepurpose。ItwarnsMr。NoelVanstone，inthemostalarminglanguage，thatheisdestinedtobecomethevictimofaconspiracy；andthattheprimemoverofitisayoungladywhohasalreadyheldwrittencommunicationwithhisfatherandhimself。Itoffershimtheinformationnecessarytosecurehisownsafety，onconditionthathemakesitworththewriter\'swhiletoruntheseriouspersonalriskwhichsuchadisclosurewillentailonhim。AnditendsbystipulatingthattheanswershallbeadvertisedintheTimes；shallbeaddressedto“AnUnknownFriend“；andshallstateplainlywhatremunerationMr。NoelVanstoneoffersforthepricelessservicewhichitisproposedtorenderhim。

Unlesssomeunexpectedcomplicationoccurs，thisletterplacesmeexactlyinthepositionwhichitismypresentinteresttooccupy。Iftheadvertisementappears，andiftheremunerationofferedislargeenoughtojustifymeingoingovertothecampoftheenemy，overIgo。Ifnoadvertisementappears，orifMr。NoelVanstoneratesmyinvaluableassistanceattoolowafigure，hereIremain，bidingmytimetillmyfairrelativewantsme，ortillImakeherwantme，whichcomestothesamething。Iftheanonymousletterfallsbyanyaccidentintoherhands，shewillfinddisparagingallusionsinittomyself，purposelyintroducedtosuggestthatthewritermustbeoneofthepersonswhomIaddressedwhileconductingherinquiries。IfMrs。Lecounttakesthebusinessinhandandlaysatrapforme——Ideclinehertemptinginvitationbybecomingtotallyignorantofthewholeaffairtheinstantanysecondpersonappearsinit。Lettheendcomeasitmay，hereIamreadytoprofitbyit:hereIam，facingbothways，withperfecteaseandsecurity——amoralagriculturist，withhiseyeontwocropsatonce，andhisswindler\'ssicklereadyforanyemergency。

Forthenextweektocome，thenewspaperwillbemoreinterestingtomethanever。IwonderwhichsideIshalleventuallybelongto？

[NextChapter]

[TableofContents]NoName，Scene3，Chapter1THETHIRDSCENE。

VAUXHALLWALK，LAMBETH。

CHAPTERI。

THEoldArchiepiscopalPalaceofLambeth，onthesouthernbankoftheThames——withitsBishop\'sWalkandGarden，anditsterracefrontingtheriver——isanarchitecturalrelicoftheLondonofformertimes，precioustoallloversofthepicturesque，intheutilitarianLondonofthepresentday。SouthwardofthisvenerablestructureliesthestreetlabyrinthofLambeth；andnearlymidway，inthatpartofthemazeofhouseswhichisplacednearesttotheriver，runsthedingydoublerowofbuildingsnow，asinformerdays，knownbythenameofVauxhallWalk。

Thenetworkofdismalstreetsstretchingoverthesurroundingneighborhoodcontainsapopulationforthemostpartofthepoorerorder。Inthethoroughfareswhereshopsabound，thesordidstrugglewithpovertyshowsitselfunreservedlyonthefilthypavement；gathersitsforcesthroughtheweek；and，strengtheningtoatumultonSaturdaynight，seestheSundaymorningdawninmurkygaslight。Miserablewomen，whosefacesneversmile，hauntthebutchers\'shopsinsuchLondonlocalitiesasthese，withrelicsofthemen\'swagessavedfromthepublic-houseclutchedfastintheirhands，witheyesthatdevourthemeattheydarenotbuy，witheagerfingersthattouchitcovetously，asthefingersoftheirrichersisterstouchapreciousstone。Inthisdistrict，asinotherdistrictsremotefromthewealthyquartersofthemetropolis，thehideousLondonvagabond——withthefilthofthestreetoutmatchedinhisspeech，withthemudofthestreetoutdirtiedinhisclothes——lounges，loweringandbrutal，atthestreetcornerandthegin-shopdoor；thepublicdisgraceofhiscountry，theunheededwarningofsocialtroublesthatareyettocome。Here，theloudself-assertionofModernProgress——whichhasreformedsomuchinmanners，andalteredsolittleinmen——meetstheflatcontradictionthatscattersitspretensionstothewinds。Here，whilethenationalprosperityfeasts，likeanotherBelshazzar，onthespectacleofitsownmagnificence，istheWritingontheWall，whichwarnsthemonarch，Money，thathisgloryisweighedinthebalance，andhispowerfoundwanting。

Situatedinsuchaneighborhoodasthis，VauxhallWalkgainsbycomparison，andestablishesclaimstorespectabilitywhichnoimpartialobservationcanfailtorecognize。AlargeproportionoftheWalkisstillcomposedofprivatehouses。Inthescatteredsituationswhereshopsappear，thoseshopsarenotbesiegedbythecrowdsofmorepopulousthoroughfares。Commerceisnotturbulent，noristhepublicconsumerbesiegedbyloudinvitationsto“buy。“Bird-fanciershavesoughtthecongenialtranquillityofthescene；andpigeonscoo，andcanariestwitter，inVauxhallWalk。Second-handcartsandcabs，bedsteadsofacertainage，detachedcarriage-wheelsforthosewhomaywantonetomakeupaset，arealltobefoundhereinthesamerepository。Onetributarystream，inthegreatfloodofgaswhichilluminatesLondon，tracksitsparentsourcetoWorksestablishedinthislocality。HerethefollowersofJohnWesleyhavesetupatemple，builtbeforetheperiodofMethodistconversiontotheprinciplesofarchitecturalreligion。Andhere——moststrikingobjectofall——onthesitewherethousandsoflightsoncesparkled；wheresweetsoundsofmusicmadenighttunefultillmorningdawned；wherethebeautyandfashionofLondonfeastedanddancedthroughthesummerseasonsofacentury——spreads，atthisday，anawfulwildernessofmudandrubbish；thedeserteddeadbodyofVauxhallGardensmoulderingintheopenair。

OnthesamedaywhenCaptainWraggecompletedthelastentryinhisChronicleofEvents，awomanappearedatthewindowofoneofthehousesinVauxhallWalk，andremovedfromtheglassaprintedpaperwhichhadbeenwaferedtoitannouncingthatApartmentsweretobelet。Theapartmentsconsistedoftworoomsonthefirstfloor。Theyhadjustbeentakenforaweekcertainbytwoladieswhohadpaidinadvance——thosetwoladiesbeingMagdalenandMrs。Wragge。

Assoonasthemistressofthehousehadlefttheroom，Magdalenwalkedtothewindow，andcautiouslylookedoutfromitattherowofbuildingsopposite。TheywereofsuperiorpretensionsinsizeandappearancetotheotherhousesintheWalk:thedateatwhichtheyhadbeenerectedwasinscribedononeofthem，andwasstatedtobetheyear1759。Theystoodbackfromthepavement，separatedfromitbylittlestripsofgarden-ground。Thispeculiarityofposition，addedtothebreadthoftheroadwayinterposingbetweenthemandthesmallerhousesopposite，madeitimpossibleforMagdalentoseethenumbersonthedoors，ortoobservemoreofanyonewhomightcometothewindowsthanthebaregeneraloutlineofdressandfigure。Nevertheless，thereshestood，anxiouslyfixinghereyesononehouseintherow，nearlyoppositetoher——thehouseshehadlookedforbeforeenteringthelodgings；thehouseinhabitedatthatmomentbyNoelVanstoneandMrs。Lecount。

Afterkeepingwatchatthewindowinsilencefortenminutesormore，shesuddenlylookedbackintotheroom，toobservetheeffectwhichherbehaviormighthaveproducedonhertravelingcompanion。

Nottheslightestcauseappearedforanyapprehensioninthatquarter。Mrs。Wraggewasseatedatthetableabsorbedinthearrangementofaseriesofsmartcircularsandtemptingprice-lists，issuedbyadvertisingtrades-people，andflunginatthecab-windowsastheylefttheLondonterminus。“I\'veoftenheardtelloflightreading，“saidMrs。Wragge，restlesslyshiftingthepositionsofthecircularsasachildrestlesslyshiftsthepositionofanewsetoftoys。“Here\'slightreading，printedinprettycolors。Here\'salltheThingsI\'mgoingtobuywhenI\'moutshoppingto-morrow。Lendusapencil，please——youwon\'tbeangry，willyou？Idosowanttomark\'emoff。“ShelookedupatMagdalen，chuckledjoyfullyoverherownalteredcircumstances，andbeathergreathandsonthetableinirrepressibledelight。“Nocookery-book！“criedMrs。Wragge。“NoBuzzinginmyhead！nocaptaintoshaveto-morrow！I\'malldownatheel；mycap\'sononeside；andnobodybawlsatme。Myheartalive，hereisaholidayandnomistake！“Herhandsbegantodrumonthetablelouderthanever，untilMagdalenquietedthembypresentingherwithapencil。Mrs。Wraggeinstantlyrecoveredherdignity，squaredherelbowsonthetable，andplungedintoimaginaryshoppingfortherestoftheevening。

Magdalenreturnedtothewindow。Shetookachair，seatedherselfbehindthecurtain，andsteadilyfixedhereyesoncemoreonthehouseopposite。

Theblindsweredownoverthewindowsofthefirstfloorandthesecond。Thewindowoftheroomontheground-floorwasuncoveredandpartlyopen，butnolivingcreaturecamenearit。Doorsopened，andpeoplecameandwent，inthehousesoneitherside；childrenbythedozenpouredoutonthepavementtoplay，andinvadedthelittlestripsofgarden-groundtorecoverlostballsandshuttlecocks；streamsofpeoplepassedbackwardandforwardperpetually；heavywagonspiledhighwithgoodslumberedalongtheroadontheirwayto，ortheirwayfrom，therailwaystationnear；allthedailylifeofthedistrictstirredwithitsceaselessactivityineverydirectionbutone。Thehourspassed——andtherewasthehouseoppositestillshutup，stillvoidofanysignsofhumanexistenceinsideorout。TheoneobjectwhichhaddecidedMagdalenonpersonallyventuringherselfinVauxhallWalk——theobjectofstudyingthelooks，mannersandhabitsofMrs。Lecountandhermasterfromapostofobservationknownonlytoherself——wasthusfarutterlydefeated。Afterthreehours\'watchingatthewindow，shehadnotevendiscoveredenoughtoshowherthatthehousewasinhabitedatall。

Shortlyaftersixo\'clock，thelandladydisturbedMrs。Wragge\'sstudiesbyspreadingtheclothfordinner。Magdalenplacedherselfatthetableinapositionwhichstillenabledhertocommandtheviewfromthewindow。Nothinghappened。Thedinnercametoanend；Mrs。Wragge(lulledbythenarcoticinfluenceofannotatingcirculars，andeatinganddrinkingwithanappetitesharpenedbythecaptain\'sabsence)withdrewtoanarm-chair，andfellasleepinanattitudewhichwouldhavecausedherhusbandtheacutestmentalsuffering；seveno\'clockstruck；theshadowsofthesummereveninglengthenedstealthilyonthegraypavementandthebrownhouse-walls——andstillthecloseddooroppositeremainedshut；stilltheonewindowopenshowednothingbuttheblackblankoftheroominside，lifelessandchangelessasifthatroomhadbeenatomb。

Mrs。Wragge\'smeeksnoringdeepenedintone；theeveningworeondrearily；itwascloseoneighto\'clock——whenaneventhappenedatlast。Thestreetdooroppositeopenedforthefirsttime，andawomanappearedonthethreshold。

WasthewomanMrs。Lecount？No。Asshecamenearer，herdressshowedhertobeaservant。Shehadalargedoor-keyinherhand，andwasevidentlygoingouttoperformanerrand。Rousedpartlybycuriosity，partlybytheimpulseofthemoment，whichurgedherimpetuousnatureintoactionafterthepassiveenduranceofmanyhourspast，Magdalensnatchedupherbonnet，anddeterminedtofollowtheservanttoherdestination，whereveritmightbe。

Thewomanledhertothegreatthoroughfareofshopscloseathand，calledLambethWalk。Afterproceedingsomelittledistance，andlookingaboutherwiththehesitationofapersonnotwellacquaintedwiththeneighborhood，theservantcrossedtheroadandenteredastationer\'sshop。Magdalencrossedtheroadafterherandfollowedherin。

TheinevitabledelayinenteringtheshopunderthesecircumstancesmadeMagdalentoolatetohearwhatthewomanaskedfor。Thefirstwordsspoken，however，bythemanbehindthecounterreachedherears，andinformedherthattheservant\'sobjectwastobuyarailwayguide。

“DoyoumeanaGuideforthismonthoraGuideforJuly？“askedtheshopman，addressinghiscustomer。

“Masterdidn\'ttellmewhich，“answeredthewoman。“AllIknowis，he\'sgoingintothecountrythedayafterto-morrow。“

“Thedayafterto-morrowisthefirstofJuly，“saidtheshopman。“TheGuideyourmasterwantsistheGuideforthenewmonth。Itwon\'tbepublishedtillto-morrow。“

Engagingtocallagainonthenextday，theservantlefttheshop，andtookthewaythatledbacktoVauxhallWalk。

Magdalenpurchasedthefirsttrifleshesawonthecounter，andhastilyreturnedinthesamedirection。Thediscoveryshehadjustmadewasofveryseriousimportancetoher；andshefeltthenecessityofactingonitwithaslittledelayaspossible。

OnenteringthefrontroomatthelodgingsshefoundMrs。Wraggejustawake，lostindrowsybewilderment，withhercapfallenoffonhershoulders，andwithoneofhershoesmissingaltogether。Magdalenendeavoredtopersuadeherthatshewastiredafterherjourney，andthatherwisestproceedingwouldbetogotobed。Mrs。Wraggewasperfectlywillingtoprofitbythissuggestion，providedshecouldfindhershoefirst。Inlookingfortheshoe，sheunfortunatelydiscoveredthecirculars，putbyonaside-table，andforthwithrecoveredherrecollectionoftheearlierproceedingsoftheevening。

“Giveusthepencil，“saidMrs。Wragge，shufflingthecircularsinaviolenthurry。“Ican\'tgotobedyet——Ihaven\'thalfdonemarkingdownthethingsIwant。Let\'ssee；wheredidIleaveoff？TryFinch\'sfeeding-bottleforInfants。No！there\'sacrossagainstthat:thecrossmeansIdon\'twantit。ComfortintheField。Buckler\'sIndestructibleHunting-breeches。Ohdear，dear！I\'velosttheplace。No，Ihaven\'t。Hereitis；here\'smymarkagainstit。ElegantCashmereRobes；strictlyOriental，verygrand；reducedtoonepoundnineteen-and-sixpence。Beintime。Onlythreeleft。Onlythree！Oh，dolendusthemoney，andlet\'sgoandgetone！“

“Notto-night，“saidMagdalen。“Supposeyougotobednow，andfinishthecircularstomorrow？Iwillputthembythebedsideforyou，andyoucangoonwiththemassoonasyouwakethefirstthinginthemorning。“

ThissuggestionmetwithMrs。Wragge\'simmediateapproval。Magdalentookherintothenextroomandputhertobedlikeachild——withhertoysbyherside。Theroomwassonarrow，andthebedwassosmall；andMrs。Wragge，arrayedinthewhiteapparelproperfortheoccasion，withhermoon-faceframedroundbyaspacioushaloofnight-cap，lookedsohugelyanddisproportionatelylarge，thatMagdalen，anxiousasshewas，couldnotrepressasmileontakingleaveofhertravelingcompanionforthenight。

“Aha！“criedMrs。Wragge，cheerfully；“we\'llhavethatCashmereRobeto-morrow。Comehere！Iwanttowhispersomethingtoyou。Justyoulookatme——I\'mgoingtosleepcrooked，andthecaptain\'snotheretobawlatme！“

Thefrontroomatthelodgingscontainedasofa-bedsteadwhichthelandladyarrangedbetimesforthenight。Thisdone，andthecandlesbroughtin，Magdalenwasleftalonetoshapethefuturecourseasherownthoughtscounseledher。

Thequestionsandanswerswhichhadpassedinherpresencethateveningatthestationer\'sshopledplainlytotheconclusionthatonedaymorewouldbringNoelVanstone\'spresenttermofresidenceinVauxhallWalktoanend。Herfirstcautiousresolutiontopassmanydaystogetherinunsuspectedobservationofthehouseoppositebeforesheventuredherselfinsidewasentirelyfrustratedbytheturneventshadtaken。Shewasplacedinthedilemmaofrunningallrisksheadlongonthenextday，orofpausingforafutureopportunitywhichmightneveroccur。Therewasnomiddlecourseopentoher。UntilshehadseenNoelVanstonewithherowneyes，andhaddiscoveredtheworsttherewastofearfromMrs。Lecount——untilshehadachievedthisdoubleobject，withtheneedfulprecautionofkeepingherownidentitycarefullyinthedark——notastepcouldsheadvancetowardtheaccomplishmentofthepurposewhichhadbroughthertoLondon。

Oneafteranothertheminutesofthenightpassedaway；oneafteranotherthethrongingthoughtsfollowedeachotheroverhermind——andstillshereachednoconclusion；stillshefalteredanddoubted，withahesitationnewtoherinherexperienceofherself。Atlastshecrossedtheroomimpatientlytoseekthetrivialreliefofunlockinghertrunkandtakingfromitthefewthingsthatshewantedforthenight。CaptainWragge\'ssuspicionshadnotmisledhim。There，hiddenbetweentwodresses，werethearticlesofcostumewhichhehadmissedfromherboxatBirmingham。Sheturnedthemoveronebyone，tosatisfyherselfthatnothingshewantedhadbeenforgotten，andreturnedoncemoretoherpostofobservationbythewindow。

Thehouseoppositewasdarkdowntotheparlor。Theretheblind，previouslyraised，wasnowdrawnoverthewindow:thelightburningbehinditshowedherforthefirsttimethattheroomwasinhabited。Hereyesbrightened，andhercolorroseasshelookedatit。

“Thereheis！“shesaidtoherself，inalow，angrywhisper。“Therehelivesonourmoney，inthehousethathisfather\'swarninghasclosedagainstme！“Shedroppedtheblindwhichshehadraisedtolookout，returnedtohertrunk，andtookfromitthegraywigwhichwaspartofherdramaticcostumeinthecharacteroftheNorth-countrylady。Thewighadbeencrumpledinpacking；sheputitonandwenttothetoilet-tabletocombitout。“HisfatherhaswarnedhimagainstMagdalenVanstone，“shesaid，repeatingthepassageinMrs。Lecount\'sletter，andlaughingbitterly，asshelookedatherselfintheglass。“IwonderwhetherhisfatherhaswarnedhimagainstMissGarth？To-morrowissoonerthanIbargainedfor。Nomatter:to-morrowshallshow。“

[NextChapter]

[TableofContents]NoName，Scene3，Chapter2CHAPTERII。

THEearlymorning，whenMagdalenroseandlookedout，wascloudyandovercast。Butastimeadvancedtothebreakfasthourthethreateningofrainpassedaway；andshewasfreetoprovide，withouthinderancefromtheweather，forthefirstnecessityoftheday——thenecessityofsecuringtheabsenceofhertravelingcompanionfromthehouse。

Mrs。Wraggewasdressed，armedatallpointswithhercollectionofcirculars，andeagertobeawaybyteno\'clock。AtanearlierhourMagdalenhadprovidedforherbeingproperlytakencareofbythelandlady\'seldestdaughter——aquiet，well-conductedgirl，whoseinterestintheshoppingexpeditionwasreadilysecuredbyalittlepresentofmoneyforthepurchase，onherownaccount，ofaparasolandamuslindress。Shortlyafterteno\'clockMagdalendismissedMrs。Wraggeandherattendantinacab。Shethenjoinedthelandlady——whowasoccupiedinsettingtheroomsinorderupstairs——withtheobjectofascertaining，byalittlewell-timedgossip，whatthedailyhabitsmightbeoftheinmatesofthehouse。