第17章

Intenminutesmore，Louisa\'smeekknockwassoftlyaudibleoutside。Shewassurprised，onenteringtheroom，tofindnootherlightinitthanthelightofthefire。

“Willyouhavethecandles，ma\'am？“sheinquired，respectfully。

“Wewillhavecandlesifyouwishforthemyourself，“repliedMagdalen；“nototherwise。Ihavesomethingtosaytoyou。WhenIhavesaidit，youshalldecidewhetherwesittogetherinthedarkorinthelight。“

Louisawaitednearthedoor，andlistenedtothosestrangewordsinsilentastonishment。

“Comehere，“saidMagdalen，pointingtotheemptychair；“comehereandsitdown。“

Louisaadvanced，andtimidlyremovedthechairfromitspositionathermistress\'sside。Magdaleninstantlydrewitbackagain。“No！“shesaid。“Comecloser——comeclosebyme。“Afteramoment\'shesitation，Louisaobeyed。

“Iaskyoutositnearme，“pursuedMagdalen，“becauseIwishtospeaktoyouonequalterms。Whateverdistinctionstheremightoncehavebeenbetweenusarenowatanend。Iamalonelywomanthrownhelplessonmyownresources，withoutrankorplaceintheworld。Imayormaynotkeepyouasmyfriend。Asmistressandmaidtheconnectionbetweenusmustcometoanend。“

“Oh，ma\'am，don\'t，don\'tsaythat！“pleadedLouisa，faintly。

Magdalensorrowfullyandsteadilywenton。

“Whenyoufirstcametome，“sheresumed，“IthoughtIshouldnotlikeyou。Ihavelearnedtolikeyou——Ihavelearnedtobegratefultoyou。Fromfirsttolastyouhavebeenfaithfulandgoodtome。TheleastIcandoinreturnisnottostandinthewayofyourfutureprospects。“

“Don\'tsendmeaway，ma\'am！“saidLouisa，imploringly。“Ifyoucanonlyhelpmewithalittlemoneynowandthen，I\'llwaitformywages——Iwill，indeed。“

Magdalentookherhandandwenton，assorrowfullyandassteadilyasbefore。

“Myfuturelifeisalldarkness，alluncertainty，“shesaid。“ThenextstepImaytakemayleadmetomyprosperityormayleadmetomyruin。CanIaskyoutosharesuchaprospectasthis？Ifyourfuturewasasuncertainasmineis——ifyou，too，wereafriendlesswomanthrownontheworld——myconsciencemightbeeasyinlettingyoucastyourlotwithmine。Imightacceptyourattachment，forImightfeelIwasnotwrongingyou。HowcanIfeelthisinyourcase？Youhaveafuturetolookto。Youareanexcellentservant；youcangetanotherplace——afarbetterplacethanmine。Youcanrefertome；andifthecharacterIgiveisnotconsideredsufficient，youcanrefertothemistressyouservedbeforeme——“

Attheinstantwhenthatreferencetothegirl\'slastemployerescapedMagdalen\'slips，Louisasnatchedherhandawayandstartedupaffrightedlyfromherchair。Therewasamoment\'ssilence。Bothmistressandmaidwereequallytakenbysurprise。

Magdalenwasthefirsttorecoverherself。

“Isitgettingtoodark？“sheasked，significantly。“Areyougoingtolightthecandles，afterall？“

Louisadrewbackintothedimmestcorneroftheroom。

“Yoususpectme，ma\'am！“sheansweredoutofthedarkness，inabreathlesswhisper。“Whohastoldyou？Howdidyoufindout——？“Shestopped，andburstintotears。“Ideserveyoursuspicion，“shesaid，strugglingtocomposeherself。“Ican\'tdenyittoyou。Youhavetreatedmesokindly；youhavemademesofondofyou！Forgiveme，Mrs。Vanstone——Iamawretch；Ihavedeceivedyou。“

“Comehereandsitdownbymeagain，“saidMagdalen。“Come——orIwillgetupmyselfandbringyouback。“

Louisaslowlyreturnedtoherplace。Dimasthefire-lightwas，sheseemedtofearit。Sheheldherhandkerchiefoverherface，andshrankfromhermistressassheseatedherselfagaininthechair。

“Youarewronginthinkingthatanyonehasbetrayedyoutome，“saidMagdalen。“AllthatIknowofyouis，whatyourownlooksandwayshavetoldme。Youhavehadsomesecrettroubleweighingonyourmindeversinceyouhavebeeninmyservice。IconfessIhavespokenwiththewishtofindoutmoreofyouandyourpastlifethanIhavefoundoutyet——notbecauseIamcurious，butbecauseIhavemysecrettroublestoo。Areyouanunhappywoman，likeme？Ifyouare，Iwilltakeyouintomyconfidence。Ifyouhavenothingtotellme——ifyouchoosetokeepyoursecret——Idon\'tblameyou；Ionlysay，Letuspart。Iwon\'taskhowyouhavedeceivedme。IwillonlyrememberthatyouhavebeenanhonestandfaithfulandcompetentservantwhileIhaveemployedyou；andIwillsayasmuchinyourfavortoanynewmistressyouliketosendtome。“

Shewaitedforthereply。Foramoment，andonlyforamoment，Louisahesitated。Thegirl\'snaturewasweak，butnotdepraved。Shewashonestlyattachedtohermistress；andshespokewithacouragewhichMagdalenhadnotexpectedfromher。

“Ifyousendmeaway，ma\'am，“shesaid，“Iwon\'ttakemycharacterfromyoutillIhavetoldyouthetruth；Iwon\'treturnyourkindnessbydeceivingyouasecondtime。Didmymasterevertellyouhowheengagedme？“

“No。Ineveraskedhim，andhenevertoldme。“

“Heengagedme，ma\'am，withawrittencharacter——“

“Yes？“

“Thecharacterwasafalseone。“

Magdalendrewbackinamazement。Theconfessionsheheardwasnottheconfessionshehadanticipated。

“Didyourmistressrefusetogiveyouacharacter？“sheasked。“Why？“

Louisadroppedonherkneesandhidherfaceinhermistress\'slap。“Don\'taskme！“shesaid。“I\'mamiserable，degradedcreature；I\'mnotfittobeinthesameroomwithyou！“Magdalenbentoverher，andwhisperedaquestioninherear。Louisawhisperedbacktheonesadwordofreply。

“Hashedesertedyou？“askedMagdalen，afterwaitingamoment，andthinkingfirst。

“No。“

“Doyoulovehim？“

“Dearly。“

TheremembranceofherownlovelessmarriagestungMagdalentothequick。

“ForGod\'ssake，don\'tkneeltome！“shecried，passionately。“Ifthereisadegradedwomaninthisroom，Iamthewoman——notyou！“

Sheraisedthegirlbymainforcefromherknees，andputherbackinthechair。Theybothwaitedalittleinsilence。KeepingherhandonLouisa\'sshoulder，Magdalenseatedherselfagain，andlookedwithunutterablebitternessofsorrowintothedyingfire。“Oh，“shethought，“whathappywomenthereareintheworld！Wiveswholovetheirhusbands！Motherswhoarenotashamedtoowntheirchildren！Areyouquieter？“sheasked，gentlyaddressingLouisaoncemore。“Canyouanswerme，ifIaskyousomethingelse？Whereisthechild？“

“Thechildisoutatnurse。“

“Doesthefatherhelptosupportit？“

“Hedoesallhecan，ma\'am。“

“Whatishe？Isheinservice？Isheinatrade？“

“Hisfatherisamaster-carpenter——heworksinhisfather\'syard。“

“Ifhehasgotwork，whyhashenotmarriedyou？“

“Itishisfather\'sfault，ma\'am——nothis。Hisfatherhasnopityonus。Hewouldbeturnedoutofhouseandhomeifhemarriedme。“

“Canhegetnoworkelsewhere？“

“It\'shardtogetgoodworkinLondon，ma\'am。TherearesomanyinLondon——theytakethebreadoutofeachother\'smouths。Ifwehadonlyhadthemoneytoemigrate，hewouldhavemarriedmelongsince。“

“Wouldhemarryyouifyouhadthemoneynow？“

“Iamsurehewould，ma\'am。HecouldgetplentyofworkinAustralia，anddoubleandtreblethewageshegetshere。Heistryinghard，andIamtryinghard，tosavealittletowardit——IputbyallIcansparefrommychild。Butitissolittle！Ifweliveforyearstocome，thereseemsnohopeforus。IknowIhavedonewrongeveryway——IknowIdon\'tdeservetobehappy。ButhowcouldIletmychildsuffer？——Iwasobligedtogotoservice。Mymistresswashardonme，andmyhealthbrokedownintryingtolivebymyneedle。Iwouldneverhavedeceivedanybodybyafalsecharacter，iftherehadbeenanotherchanceforme。Iwasaloneandhelpless，ma\'am；andIcanonlyaskyoutoforgiveme。“

“AskbetterwomenthanIam，“saidMagdalen，sadly。“Iamonlyfittofeelforyou，andIdofeelforyouwithallmyheart。InyourplaceIshouldhavegoneintoservicewithafalsecharacter，too。Saynomoreofthepast——youdon\'tknowhowyouhurtmeinspeakingofit。Talkofthefuture。IthinkIcanhelpyou，anddoyounoharm。Ithinkyoucanhelpme，anddomethegreatestofallservicesinreturn。Wait，andyoushallhearwhatImean。Supposeyouweremarried——howmuchwoulditcostforyouandyourhusbandtoemigrate？“

LouisamentionedthecostofasteeragepassagetoAustraliaforamanandhiswife。Shespokeinlow，hopelesstones。Moderateasthesumwas，itlookedlikeunattainablewealthinhereyes。

Magdalenstartedinherchair，andtookthegirl\'shandoncemore。

“Louisa！“shesaid，earnestly；“ifIgaveyouthemoney，whatwouldyoudoformeinreturn？“

TheproposalseemedtostrikeLouisaspeechlesswithastonishment。Shetrembledviolently，andsaidnothing。Magdalenrepeatedherwords。

“Oh，ma\'am，doyoumeanit？“saidthegirl。“Doyoureallymeanit？“

“Yes，“repliedMagdalen；“Ireallymeanit。Whatwouldyoudoformeinreturn？“

“Do？“repeatedLouisa。“OhwhatisthereIwouldnotdo！“Shetriedtokisshermistress\'shand；butMagdalenwouldnotpermitit。Sheresolutely，almostroughly，drewherhandaway。

“Iamlayingyouundernoobligation，“shesaid。“Weareservingeachother——thatisall。Sitquiet，andletmethink。“

Forthenexttenminutestherewassilenceintheroom。AttheendofthattimeMagdalentookoutherwatchandhelditclosetothegrate。Therewasjustfirelightenoughtoshowherthehour。Itwascloseonsixo\'clock。

“Areyoucomposedenoughtogodownstairsanddeliveramessage？“sheasked，risingfromherchairasshespoketoLouisaagain。“Itisaverysimplemessage——itisonlytotelltheboythatIwantacabassoonashecangetmeone。Imustgooutimmediately。Youshallknowwhylaterintheevening。Ihavemuchmoretosaytoyou；butthereisnotimetosayitnow。WhenIamgone，bringyourworkuphere，andwaitformyreturn。Ishallbebackbeforebed-time。“

Withoutanotherwordofexplanation，shehurriedlylitacandleandwithdrewintothebedroomtoputonherbonnetandshawl。

[NextChapter]

[TableofContents]NoName，Scene6，Chapter2CHAPTERII。

BETWEENnineandtenoclockthesameevening，Louisa，waitinganxiously，heardthelong-expectedknockatthehousedoor。Sherandownstairsatonceandlethermistressin。

Magdalen\'sfacewasflushed。Sheshowedfarmoreagitationonreturningtothehousethanshehadshownonleavingit。“Keepyourplaceatthetable，“shesaidtoLouisa，impatiently；“butlayasideyourwork。IwantyoutoattendcarefullytowhatIamgoingtosay。“

Louisaobeyed。Magdalenseatedherselfattheoppositesideofthetable，andmovedthecandles，soastoobtainaclearanduninterruptedviewofherservant\'sface。

“Haveyounoticedarespectableelderlywoman，“shebegan，abruptly，“whohasbeenhereonceortwiceinthelastfortnighttopaymeavisit？“

“Yes，ma\'am；IthinkIletherinthesecondtimeshecame。AnelderlypersonnamedMrs。Attwood？“

“ThatisthepersonImean。Mrs。AttwoodisMr。Loscombe\'shousekeeper；notthehousekeeperathisprivateresidence，butthehousekeeperathisofficesinLincoln\'sInn。Ipromisedtogoanddrinkteawithhersomeeveningthisweek，andIhavebeento-night。Itisstrangeofme，isitnot，tobeonthesefamiliartermswithawomaninMrs。Attwood\'ssituation？“

Louisamadenoanswerinwords。Herfacespokeforher:shecouldhardlyavoidthinkingitstrange。

“IhadamotiveformakingfriendswithMrs。Attwood，“Magdalenwenton。“Sheisawidow，withalargefamilyofdaughters。Herdaughtersareallinservice。Oneofthemisanunder-housemaidintheserviceofAdmiralBartram，atSt。Crux-in-the-Marsh。IfoundthatoutfromMrs。Attwood\'smaster；andassoonasIarrivedatthediscovery，IprivatelydeterminedtomakeMrs。Attwood\'sacquaintance。Strangerstill，isitnot？“

Louisabegantolookalittleuneasy。Hermistress\'smannerwasatvariancewithhermistress\'swords——itwasplainlysuggestiveofsomethingstartlingtocome。

“WhatattractionMrs。Attwoodfindsinmysociety，“Magdalencontinued，“Icannotpresumetosay。Icanonlytellyoushehasseenbetterdays；sheisaneducatedperson；andshemaylikemysocietyonthataccount。Atanyrate，shehasreadilymetmyadvancestowardher。WhatattractionIfindinthisgoodwoman，onmyside，issoontold。Ihaveagreatcuriosity——anunaccountablecuriosity，youwillthink——aboutthepresentcourseofhouseholdaffairsatSt。Crux-in-the-Marsh。Mrs。Attwood\'sdaughterisagoodgirl，andconstantlywritestohermother。Hermotherisproudofthelettersandproudofthegirl，andisreadyenoughtotalkaboutherdaughterandherdaughter\'splace。ThatisMrs。Attwood\'sattractiontome。Youunderstand，sofar？“

Yes——Louisaunderstood。Magdalenwenton。“ThankstoMrs。AttwoodandMrs。Attwood\'sdaughter，“shesaid，“IknowsomecuriousparticularsalreadyofthehouseholdatSt。Crux。Servants\'tonguesandservants\'letters——asIneednottellyou——areofteneroccupiedwiththeirmastersandmistressesthantheirmastersandmistressessuppose。TheonlymistressatSt。Cruxisthehousekeeper。Butthereisamaster——AdmiralBartram。Heappearstobeastrangeoldman，whosewhimsandfanciesamusehisservantsaswellashisfriends。Oneofhisfancies(theonlyoneweneedtroubleourselvestonotice)is，thathehadmenenoughabouthimwhenhewaslivingatsea，andthatnowheislivingonshore，hewillbewaitedonbywomen-servantsalone。Theonemaninthehouseisanoldsailor，whohasbeenallhislifewithhismaster——heisakindofpensioneratSt。Crux，andhaslittleornothingtodowiththehousework。Theotherservants，indoors，areallwomen；andinsteadofafootmantowaitonhimatdinner，theadmiralhasaparlor-maid。Theparlor-maidnowatSt。Cruxisengagedtobemarried，andassoonashermastercansuithimselfsheisgoingaway。ThesediscoveriesImadesomedayssince。ButwhenIsawMrs。Attwoodto-night，shehadreceivedanotherletterfromherdaughterintheinterval，andthatletterhashelpedmetofindoutsomethingmore。Thehousekeeperisatherwits\'endtofindanewservant。Hermasterinsistsonyouthandgoodlooks——heleaveseverythingelsetothehousekeeper——buthewillhavethat。Alltheinquiriesmadeintheneighborhoodhavefailedtoproducethesortofparlor-maidwhomtheadmiralwants。Ifnothingcanbedoneinthenextfortnightorthreeweeks，thehousekeeperwilladvertiseintheTimes，andwillcometoLondonherselftoseetheapplicants，andtomakestrictpersonalinquiryintotheircharacters。“

Louisalookedathermistressmoreattentivelythanever。Theexpressionofperplexityleftherface，andashadeofdisappointmentappearedthereinitsstead。“BearinmindwhatIhavesaid，“pursuedMagdalen；“andwaitaminutemore，whileIaskyousomequestions。Don\'tthinkyouunderstandmeyet——Icanassureyou，youdon\'tunderstandme。Haveyoualwayslivedinserviceaslady\'smaid？“

“No，ma\'am。“

“Haveyoueverlivedasparlor-maid？“

“Onlyinoneplace，ma\'am，andnotforlongthere。“

“Isupposeyoulivedlongenoughtolearnyourduties？“

“Yes，ma\'am。“

“Whatwereyourdutiesbesideswaitingattable？“

“Ihadtoshowvisitorsin。“

“Yes；andwhatelse？“

“Ihadtheplateandtheglasstolookafter；andthetable-linenwasallundermycare。Ihadtoanswerallthebells，exceptinthebedrooms。Therewereotherlittleoddsandendssometimestodo——“

“Butyourregulardutieswerethedutiesyouhavejustmentioned？“

“Yes，ma\'am。“

“Howlongagoisitsinceyoulivedinserviceasaparlor-maid？“

“Alittlebetterthantwoyears，ma\'am。“

“Isupposeyouhavenotforgottenhowtowaitattable，andcleanplate，andtherestofit，inthattime？“

AtthisquestionLouisa\'sattention，whichhadbeenwanderingmoreandmoreduringtheprogressofMagdalen\'sinquiries，wanderedawayaltogether。Hergatheringanxietiesgotthebetterofherdiscretion，andevenofhertimidity。Insteadofansweringhermistress，shesuddenlyandconfusedlyventuredonaquestionofherown。

“Ibegyourpardon，ma\'am，“shesaid。“Didyoumeanmetoofferfortheparlor-maid\'splaceatSt。Crux？“

“You？“repliedMagdalen。“Certainlynot！HaveyouforgottenwhatIsaidtoyouinthisroombeforeIwentout？Imeanyoutobemarried，andgotoAustraliawithyourhusbandandyourchild。YouhavenotwaitedasItoldyou，tohearmeexplainmyself。Youhavedrawnyourownconclusions，andyouhavedrawnthemwrong。Iaskedaquestionjustnow，whichyouhavenotanswered——Iaskedifyouhadforgottenyourparlor-maid\'sduties？“

“Oh，no，ma\'am！“Louisahadrepliedratherunwillinglythusfar。Sheansweredreadilyandconfidentlynow。

“Couldyouteachthedutiestoanotherservant？“askedMagdalen。

“Yes，ma\'am——easily，ifshewasquickandattentive。“

“CouldyouteachthedutiestoMe？“

Louisastarted，andchangedcolor。“You，ma\'am！“sheexclaimed，halfinincredulity，halfinalarm。

“Yes，“saidMagdalen。“Couldyouqualifymetotaketheparlor-maid\'splaceatSt。Crux？“

Plainasthosewordswere，thebewildermentwhichtheyproducedinLouisa\'smindseemedtorenderherincapableofcomprehendinghermistress\'sproposal。“You，ma\'am！“sherepeated，vacantly。

“Ishallperhapshelpyoutounderstandthisextraordinaryprojectofmine，“saidMagdalen，“ifItellyouplainlywhattheobjectofitis。DoyourememberwhatIsaidtoyouaboutMr。Vanstone\'swillwhenyoucameherefromScotlandtojoinme？“

“Yes，ma\'am。Youtoldmeyouhadbeenleftoutofthewillaltogether。I\'msuremyfellow-servantwouldneverhavebeenoneofthewitnessesifshehadknown——“

“Nevermindthatnow。Idon\'tblameyourfellow-servant——IblamenobodybutMrs。Lecount。LetmegoonwithwhatIwassaying。ItisnotatallcertainthatMrs。LecountcandomethemischiefwhichMrs。Lecountintended。Thereisachancethatmylawyer，Mr。Loscombe，maybeabletogainmewhatisfairlymydue，inspiteofthewill。ThechanceturnsonmydiscoveringaletterwhichMr。Loscombebelieves，andwhichIbelieve，tobekeptprivatelyinAdmiralBartram\'spossession。IhavenottheleasthopeofgettingatthatletterifImaketheattemptinmyownperson。Mrs。Lecounthaspoisonedtheadmiral\'smindagainstme，andMr。Vanstonehasgivenhimasecrettokeepfromme。IfIwrotetohim，hewouldnotanswermyletter。IfIwenttohishouse，thedoorwouldbeclosedinmyface。ImustfindmywayintoSt。Cruxasastranger——Imustbeinapositiontolookaboutthehouse，unsuspected——Imustbetherewithplentyoftimeonmyhands。Allthecircumstancesareinmyfavor，ifIamreceivedintothehouseasaservant；andasaservantImeantogo。“

“Butyouarealady，ma\'am，“objectedLouisa，inthegreatestperplexity。“TheservantsatSt。Cruxwouldfindyouout。“

“Iamnotatallafraidoftheirfindingmeout，“saidMagdalen。“Iknowhowtodisguisemyselfinotherpeople\'scharactersmorecleverlythanyousuppose。Leavemetofacethechancesofdiscovery——thatismyrisk。Letustalkofnothingnowbutwhatconcernsyou。Don\'tdecideyetwhetheryouwill，orwillnot，givemethehelpIwant。Wait，andhearfirstwhatthehelpis。Youarequickandcleveratyourneedle。Canyoumakemethesortofgownwhichitisproperforaservanttowear——andcanyoualteroneofmybestsilkdressessoastomakeitfityourself——inaweek\'stime？“

“IthinkIcouldgetthemdoneinaweek，ma\'am。ButwhyamItowear——“

“Waitalittle，andyouwillsee。Ishallgivethelandladyherweek\'snoticeto-morrow。Intheinterval，whileyouaremakingthedresses，Icanbelearningtheparlor-maid\'sduties。Whenthehouse-servantherehasbroughtupthedinner，andwhenyouandIarealoneintheroom——insteadofyourwaitingonme，asusual，Iwillwaitonyou。(Iamquiteserious；don\'tinterruptme！)WhateverIcanlearnbesides，withouthinderingyou，Iwillpracticecarefullyateveryopportunity。Whentheweekisover，andthedressesaredone，wewillleavethisplace，andgointootherlodgings——youasthemistressandIasthemaid。“

“Ishouldbefoundout，ma\'am，“interposedLouisa，tremblingattheprospectbeforeher。“Iamnotalady。“

“AndIam，“saidMagdalen，bitterly。“ShallItellyouwhataladyis？Aladyisawomanwhowearsasilkgown，andhasasenseofherownimportance。Ishallputthegownonyourback，andthesenseinyourhead。YouspeakgoodEnglish；youarenaturallyquietandself-restrained；ifyoucanonlyconqueryourtimidity，Ihavenottheleastfearofyou。Therewillbetimeenoughinthenewlodgingforyoutopracticeyourcharacter，andformetopracticemine。Therewillbetimeenoughtomakesomemoredresses——anothergownforme，andyourwedding-dress(whichImeantogiveyou)foryourself。Ishallhavethenewspapersenteveryday。Whentheadvertisementappears，Ishallanswerit——inanynameIcantakeonthespurofthemoment；inyourname，ifyouliketolendittome；andwhenthehousekeeperasksmeformycharacter，Ishallreferhertoyou。Shewillseeyouinthepositionofmistress，andmeinthepositionofmaid——nosuspicioncanpossiblyenterhermind，unlessyouputitthere。Ifyouonlyhavethecouragetofollowmyinstructions，andtosaywhatIshalltellyoutosay，theinterviewwillbeoverintenminutes。“

“Youfrightenme，ma\'am，“saidLouisa，stilltrembling。“Youtakemybreathawaywithsurprise。Courage！WhereshallIfindcourage？“

“WhereIkeepitforyou，“saidMagdalen——“inthepassage-moneytoAustralia。Lookatthenewprospectwhichgivesyouahusband，andrestoresyoutoyourchild——andyouwillfindyourcouragethere。“

Louisa\'ssadfacebrightened；Louisa\'sfaintheartbeatquick。Asparkofhermistress\'sspiritflewupintohereyesasshethoughtofthegoldenfuture。

“Ifyouacceptmyproposal，“pursuedMagdalen，“youcanbeaskedinchurchatonce，ifyoulike。Ipromiseyouthemoneyonthedaywhentheadvertisementappearsinthenewspaper。Theriskofthehousekeeper\'srejectingmeismyrisk——notyours。Mygoodlooksaresadlygoneoff，Iknow。ButIthinkIcanstillholdmyplaceagainsttheotherservants——IthinkIcanstilllooktheparlor-maidwhomAdmiralBartramwants。Thereisnothingforyoutofearinthismatter；Ishouldnothavementioneditiftherehadbeen。TheonlydangeristhedangerofmybeingdiscoveredatSt。Crux，andthatfallsentirelyonme。BythetimeIamintheadmiral\'shouseyouwillbemarried，andtheshipwillbetakingyoutoyournewlife。“

Louisa\'sface，nowbrighteningwithhope，nowcloudingagainwithfear，showedplainsignsofthestrugglewhichitcosthertodecide。Shetriedtogaintime；sheattemptedconfusedlytospeakafewwordsofgratitude；buthermistresssilencedher。

“Youowemenothanks，“saidMagdalen。“Itellyouagain，weareonlyhelpingeachother。Ihaveverylittlemoney，butitisenoughforyourpurpose，andIgiveityoufreely。Ihaveledawretchedlife；Ihavemadeotherswretchedaboutme。Ican\'tevenmakeyouhappy，exceptbytemptingyoutoanewdeceit。There！there！it\'snotyourfault。Worsewomenthanyouarewillhelpme，ifyourefuse。Decideasyoulike，butdon\'tbeafraidoftakingthemoney。IfIsucceed，Ishallnotwantit。IfIfail——“

Shestopped，roseabruptlyfromherchair，andhidherfacefromLouisabywalkingawaytothefire-place。

“IfIfail，“sheresumed，warmingherfootcarelesslyatthefender，“allthemoneyintheworldwillbeofnousetome。Nevermindwhy——nevermindMe——thinkofyourself。Iwon\'ttakeadvantageoftheconfessionyouhavemadetome；Iwon\'tinfluenceyouagainstyourwill。Doasyouyourselfthinkbest。Butrememberonething——mymindismadeup；nothingyoucansayordowillchangeit。“

Hersuddenremovalfromthetable，thealteredtonesofhervoiceasshespokethelastwords，appearedtorenewLouisa\'shesitation。Sheclaspedherhandstogetherinherlap，andwrungthemhard。“Thishascomeonmeverysuddenly，ma\'am，“saidthegirl。“IamsorelytemptedtosayYes；andyetIamalmostafraid——“

“Takethenighttoconsiderit，“interposedMagdalen，keepingherfacepersistentlyturnedtowardthefire；“andtellmewhatyouhavedecidedtodo，whenyoucomeintomyroomto-morrowmorning。Ishallwantnohelpto-night——Icanundressmyself。YouarenotsostrongasIam；youaretired，Idaresay。Don\'tsituponmyaccount。Good-night，Louisa，andpleasantdreams！“

Hervoicesanklowerandlowerasshespokethosekindwords。Shesighedheavily，and，leaningherarmonthemantel-piece，laidherheadonitwitharecklesswearinessmiserabletosee。Louisahadnotlefttheroom，asshesupposed——Louisacamesoftlytoherside，andkissedherhand。Magdalenstarted；butshemadenoattempt，thistime，todrawherhandaway。Thesenseofherownhorribleisolationsubduedher，atthetouchoftheservant\'slips。Herproudheartmelted；hereyesfilledwithburningtears。“Don\'tdistressme！“shesaid，faintly。“Thetimeforkindnesshasgoneby；itonlyoverpowersmenow。Good-night！“

Whenthemorningcame，theaffirmativeanswerwhichMagdalenhadanticipatedwastheanswergiven。

Onthatdaythelandladyreceivedherweek\'snoticetoquit，andLouisa\'sneedleflewfastthroughthestitchesoftheparlor-maid\'sdress。

THEENDOFTHESIXTHSCENE。

[NextChapter]

[TableofContents]NoName，BetweentheScenesBETWEENTHESCENES。PROGRESSOFTHESTORYTHROUGHTHEPOST。I。FromMissGarthtoMr。Pendril。

“WestmorelandHouse，January3d，1848。

“DEARMR。PENDRIL——Iwrite，asyoukindlyrequested，toreporthowNorahisgoingon，andtotellyouwhatchangesIseeforthebetterinthestateofhermindonthesubjectofhersister。

“IcannotsaythatsheisbecomingresignedtoMagdalen\'scontinuedsilence——Iknowherfaithfulnaturetoowelltosayit。Icanonlytellyouthatsheisbeginningtofindrelieffromtheheavypressureofsorrowandsuspenseinnewthoughtsandnewhopes。Idoubtifshehasyetrealizedthisinherownmind；butIseetheresult，althoughsheisnotconsciousofitherself。Iseeherheartopeningtotheconsolationofanotherinterestandanotherlove。Shehasnotsaidawordtomeonthesubject，norhaveIsaidawordtoher。ButascertainlyasIknowthatMr。GeorgeBartram\'svisitshavelatelygrownmoreandmorefrequenttothefamilyatPortlandPlace——socertainlyIcanassureyouthatNorahisfindingareliefunderhersuspense，whichisnotofmybringing，andahopeinthefuture，whichIhavenottaughthertofeel。

“ItisneedlessformetosaythatItellyouthisinthestrictestconfidence。Godknowswhetherthehappyprospectwhichseemstometobejustdawningwillgrowbrighterornotastimegoeson。TheoftenerIseeMr。GeorgeBartram——andhehascalledonmemorethanonce——thestrongermylikingforhimgrows。Tomypoorjudgmentheseemstobeagentlemaninthehighestandtruestsenseoftheword。IfIcouldlivetoseeNorahhiswife，IshouldalmostfeelthatIhadlivedlongenough。Butwhocandiscernthefuture？WehavesufferedsomuchthatIamafraidtohope。

“HaveyouheardanythingofMagdalen？Idon\'tknowwhyorhowitis；

butsinceIhaveknownofherhusband\'sdeath，myoldtendernessforherseemstoclingtomemoreobstinatelythanever。Alwaysyourstruly，“HARRIETGARTH。“

IIFromMr。PendriltoMissGarth。

“SerleStreet，January4th，1848。

“DEARMISSGARTH——OfMrs。NoelVanstoneherselfIhaveheardnothing。

ButIhavelearned，sinceIsawyou，thatthereportofthepositioninwhichsheisleftbythedeathofherhusbandmaybedependeduponasthetruth。Nolegacyofanykindisbequeathedtoher。Hernameisnotoncementionedinherhusband\'swill。

“Knowingwhatweknow，itisnottobeconcealedthatthiscircumstancethreatensuswithmoreembarrassment，andperhapswithmoredistress。Mrs。

NoelVanstoneisnotthewomantosubmit，withoutadesperateresistance，tothetotaloverthrowofallherschemesandallherhopes。Themerefactthatnothingwhateverhasbeenheardofhersinceherhusband\'sdeathissuggestivetomymindofseriousmischieftocome。Inhersituation，andwithhertemper，thequietersheisnow，themoreinveteratelyI，forone，distrustherinthefuture。Itisimpossibletosaytowhatviolentmeasuresherpresentextremitymaynotdriveher。Itisimpossibletofeelsurethatshemaynotbethecauseofsomepublicscandalthistime，whichmayaffectherinnocentsisteraswellasherself。

“Iknowyouwillnotmisinterpretthemotivewhichhasledmetowritetheselines；IknowyouwillnotthinkthatIaminconsiderateenoughtocauseyouunnecessaryalarm。MysincereanxietytoseethathappyprospectrealizedtowhichyourletteralludeshascausedmetowritefarlessreservedlythanImightotherwisehavewritten。Istronglyurgeyoutouseyourinfluence，oneveryoccasionwhenyoucanfairlyexertit，tostrengthenthatgrowingattachment，andtoplaceitbeyondthereachofanycomingdisasters，whileyouhavetheopportunityofdoingso。WhenItellyouthatthefortuneofwhichMrs。NoelVanstonehasbeendeprivedisentirelybequeathedtoAdmiralBartram；andwhenIaddthatMr。GeorgeBartramisgenerallyunderstoodtobehisuncle\'sheir——youwill，Ithink，acknowledgethatIamnotwarningyouwithoutacause。Yoursmosttruly，“WILLIAMPENDRIL。“

III。FromAdmiralBartramtoMrs。Drake(housekeeperatSt。Crux)。

“St。Crux，January10th，1848。

“MRS。DRAKE——IhavereceivedyourletterfromLondon，statingthatyouhavefoundmeanewparlor-maidatlast，andthatthegirlisreadytoreturnwithyoutoSt。Cruxwhenyourothererrandsintownallowyoutocomeback。

“Thisarrangementmustbealteredimmediately，forareasonwhichI

amheartilysorrytohavetowrite。

“Theillnessofmyniece，Mrs。Girdlestone——whichappearedtobesoslightastoalarmnoneofus，doctorsincluded——hasendedfatally。Ireceivedthismorningtheshockingnewsofherdeath。Herhusbandissaidtobequitefranticwithgrief。Mr。Georgehasalreadygonetohisbrother-in-law\'s，tosuperintendthelastmelancholydutiesandImustfollowhimbeforethefuneraltakesplace。WeproposetotakeMr。Girdlestoneawayafterward，andtotrytheeffectonhimofchangeofplaceandnewscenes。Underthesesadcircumstances，ImaybeabsentfromSt。Cruxamonthorsixweeksatleast；thehousewillbeshutup，andthenewservantwillnotbewanteduntilmyreturn。

“Youwillthereforetellthegirl，onreceivingthisletter，thatadeathinthefamilyhascausedatemporarychangeinourarrangements。

Ifsheiswillingtowait，youmaysafelyengagehertocomehereinsixweeks\'time；Ishallbebackthen，ifMr。Georgeisnot。Ifsherefuses，payherwhatcompensationisright，andsohavedonewithher。Yours，ARTHURBARTRAM。“

IV。FromMrs。DraketoAdmiralBartram。

“January11th。

“HONOREDSIR——Ihopetogetmyerrandsdone，andtoreturntoSt。Cruxto-morrow，butwritetosaveyouanxiety，incaseofdelay。

“TheyoungwomanwhomIhaveengaged(Louisabyname)iswillingtowaityourtime；andherpresentmistress，takinganinterestinherwelfare，willprovideforherduringtheinterval。Sheunderstandsthatsheistoenteronhernewserviceinsixweeksfromthepresentdate——namely，onthetwenty-fifthofFebruarynext。

“Beggingyouwillacceptmyrespectfulsympathyunderthesadbereavementwhichhasbefallenthefamily，“Iremain，honoredsir，yourhumbleservant，“SOPHIADRAKE。“

[NextChapter]

[TableofContents]NoName，Scene7，Chapter1THESEVENTHSCENE。

ST。CRUX-IN-THE-MARSH。

CHAPTERI。

“THISiswhereyouaretosleep。Putyourselftidy，andthencomedownagaintomyroom。Theadmiralhasreturned，andyouwillhavetobeginbywaitingonhimatdinnerto-day。“

Withthosewords，Mrs。Drake，thehousekeeper，closedthedoor；andthenewparlor-maidwasleftaloneinherbed-chamberatSt。Crux。

Thatdaywastheeventfultwenty-fifthofFebruary。InbarelyfourmonthsfromthetimewhenMrs。Lecounthadplacedhermaster\'sprivateInstructionsinhisExecutor\'shands，theonecombinationofcircumstancesagainstwhichithadbeenherfirstandforemostobjecttoprovidewasexactlythecombinationwhichhadnowtakenplace。Mr。NoelVanstone\'swidowandAdmiralBartram\'sSecretTrustweretogetherinthesamehouse。

Thusfar，eventshaddeclaredthemselveswithoutanexceptioninMagdalen\'sfavor。Thusfar，thepathwhichhadledhertoSt。Cruxhadbeenapathwithoutanobstacle:Louisa，whosenameshehadnowtaken，hadsailedthreedayssinceforAustralia，withherhusbandandherchild；shewastheonlylivingcreaturewhomMagdalenhadtrustedwithhersecret，andshewasbythistimeoutofsightoftheEnglishland。Thegirlhadbeencareful，reliableandfaithfullydevotedtohermistress\'sintereststothelast。Shehadpassedtheordealofherinterviewwiththehousekeeper，andhadforgottennoneoftheinstructionsbywhichshehadbeenpreparedtomeetit。Shehadherselfproposedtoturnthesixweeks\'delay，causedbythedeathintheadmiral\'sfamily，togoodaccount，bycontinuingtheall-importantpracticeofthosedomesticlessons，ontheperfectacquirementofwhichhermistress\'sdaringstratagemdependedforitssuccess。Thankstothetimethusgained，whenLouisa\'smarriagewasover，andthedayofpartinghadcome，Magdalenhadlearnedandmastered，inthenicestdetail，everythingthatherformerservantcouldteachher。OnthedaywhenshepassedthedoorsofSt。Cruxsheenteredonherdesperateventure，stronginthereadypresenceofmindunderemergencieswhichherlaterlifehadtaughther，strongerstillinthetrainedcapacitythatshepossessedfortheassumptionofacharacternotherown，strongestofallinhertwomonths\'dailyfamiliaritywiththepracticaldutiesofthepositionwhichshehadundertakentofill。

AssoonasMrs。Drake\'sdeparturehadleftheralone，sheunpackedherbox，anddressedherselffortheevening。

Sheputonalavender-coloredstuff-gown——half-mourningforMrs。Girdlestone；orderedforalltheservants，undertheadmiral\'sinstructions——awhitemuslinapron，andaneatwhitecapandcollar，withribbonstomatchthegown。Inthisservant\'scostume——intheplaingownfasteninghighroundherneck，intheneatlittlewhitecapatthebackofherhead——inthissimpledress，totheeyesofallmen，notlinen-drapers，atoncethemostmodestandthemostalluringthatawomancanwear，thesadchangeswhichmentalsufferinghadwroughtinherbeautyalmostdisappearedfromview。Intheeveningcostumeofalady，withherbosomuncovered，withherfigurearmed，ratherthandressed，inunpliablesilk，theadmiralmighthavepassedherbywithoutnoticeinhisowndrawing-room。Intheeveningcostumeofaservant，noadmirerofbeautycouldhavelookedatheronceandnothaveturnedagaintolookatherforthesecondtime。

Descendingthestairs，onherwaytothehouse-keeper\'sroom，shepassedbytheentrancestotwolongstonecorridors，withrowsofdoorsopeningonthem；onecorridorsituatedonthesecond，andoneonthefirstfloorofthehouse。“Manyrooms！“shethought，asshelookedatthedoors。“WearyworksearchinghereforwhatIhavecometofind！“

Onreachingtheground-floorshewasmetbyaweather-beatenoldman，whostoppedandstaredatherwithanappearanceofgreatinterest。HewasthesameoldmanwhomCaptainWraggehadseeninthebackyardatSt。Crux，atworkonthemodelofaship。Allroundtheneighborhoodhewasknown，farandwide，as“theadmiral\'scoxswain。“HisnamewasMazey。Sixtyyearshadwrittentheirstoryofhardworkatsea，andharddrinkingonshore，ontheveteran\'sgrimandwrinkledface。Sixtyyearshadprovedhisfidelity，andhadbroughthisbatteredoldcarcass，attheendofthevoyage，intoportinhismaster\'shouse。

Seeingnooneelseofwhomshecouldinquire，Magdalenrequestedtheoldmantoshowherthewaythatledtothehousekeeper\'sroom。

“I\'llshowyou，mydear，“saidoldMazey，speakinginthehighandhollowvoicepeculiartothedeaf。“You\'rethenewmaid——eh？Andafine-growngirl，too！Hishonor，theadmiral，likesaparlor-maidwithacleanrunforeandaft。You\'lldo，mydear——you\'lldo。“

“YoumustnotmindwhatMr。Mazeysaystoyou，“remarkedthehousekeeper，openingherdoorastheoldsailorexpressedhisapprovalofMagdalenintheseterms。“Heisprivilegedtotalkashepleases；andheisverytiresomeandslovenlyinhishabits；buthemeansnoharm。“

Withthatapologyfortheveteran，Mrs。DrakeledMagdalenfirsttothepantry，andnexttothelinen-room，installingher，withalldueformality，inherowndomesticdominions。Thisceremonycompleted，thenewparlor-maidwastakenupstairs，andwasshownthedining-room，whichopenedoutofthecorridoronthefirstfloor。Hereshewasdirectedtolaythecloth，andtopreparethetableforonepersononly——Mr。GeorgeBartramnothavingreturnedwithhisuncletoSt。Crux。Mrs。Drake\'ssharpeyeswatchedMagdalenattentivelyassheperformedthisintroductoryduty；andMrs。Drake\'sprivateconvictions，whenthetablewasspread，forcedhertoacknowledge，sofar，thatthenewservantthoroughlyunderstoodherwork。

Anhourlaterthesoup-tureenwasplacedonthetable；andMagdalenstoodalonebehindtheadmiral\'semptychair，waitinghermaster\'sfirstinspectionofherwhenheenteredthedining-room。

Alargebellranginthelowerregions——quick，shamblingfootstepspatteredonthestonecorridoroutside——thedooropenedsuddenly——andatallleanyellowoldman，sharpastohiseyes，shrewdastohislips，fussilyrestlessastoallhismovements，enteredtheroom，withtwohugeLabradordogsathisheels，andtookhisseatinaviolenthurry。Thedogsfollowedhim，andplacedthemselves，withtheutmostgravityandcomposure，oneoneachsideofhischair。ThiswasAdmiralBartram，andthesewerethecompanionsofhissolitarymeal。

“Ay！ay！ay！here\'sthenewparlor-maid，tobesure！“hebegan，lookingsharply，butnotatallunkindly，atMagdalen。“What\'syourname，mygoodgirl？Louisa，isit？IshallcallyouLucy，ifyoudon\'tmind。Takeoffthecover，mydear——I\'maminuteortwolateto-day。Don\'tbeunpunctualto-morrowonthataccount；Iamasregularasclock-workgenerally。Howareyouafteryourjourney？Didmyspring-cartbumpyouaboutmuchinbringingyoufromthestation？Capitalsoupthis——hotasfire——remindsmeofthesoupweusedtohaveintheWestIndiesintheyearThree。Haveyougotyourhalf-mourningon？Standthere，andletmesee。Ah，yes，veryneat，andnice，andtidy。PoorMrs。Girdlestone！Ohdear，dear，dear，poorMrs。Girdlestone！You\'renotafraidofdogs，areyou，Lucy？Eh？What？Youlikedogs？That\'sright！Alwaysbekindtodumbanimals。Thesetwodogsdinewithmeeveryday，exceptwhenthere\'scompany。ThedogwiththeblacknoseisBrutus，andthedogwiththewhitenoseisCassius。DidyoueverhearwhoBrutusandCassiuswere？AncientRomans？That\'sright——goodgirl。Mindyourbookandyourneedle，andwe\'llgetyouagoodhusbandoneofthesedays。Takeawaythesoup，mydear，takeawaythesoup！“

ThiswasthemanwhosesecretitwasnowtheoneinterestofMagdalen\'slifetosurprise！ThiswasthemanwhosenamehadsupplantedhersinNoelVanstone\'swill！

Thefishandtheroastmeatfollowed；andtheadmiral\'stalkrambledon——nowinsoliloquy，nowaddressedtotheparlor-maid，andnowdirectedtothedogs——asfamiliarlyandasdiscontentedlyasever。Magdalenobservedwithsomesurprisethatthecompanionsoftheadmiral\'sdinnerhad，thusfar，receivednoscrapsfromtheirmaster\'splate。Thetwomagnificentbrutessatsquattedontheirhaunches，withtheirgreatheadsoverthetable，watchingtheprogressofthemeal，withtheprofoundestattention，butapparentlyexpectingnoshareinit。Theroastmeatwasremoved，theadmiral\'splatewaschanged，andMagdalentookthesilvercoversoffthetwomade-dishesoneithersideofthetable。Asshehandedthefirstofthesavorydishestohermaster，thedogssuddenlyexhibitedabreathlesspersonalinterestintheproceedings。Brutusgluttonouslywateredatthemouth；andthetongueofCassius，protrudinginunutterableexpectation，smokedagainbetweenhisenormousjaws。

Theadmiralhelpedhimselfliberallyfromthedish；sentMagdalentotheside-tabletogethimsomebread；and，whenhethoughthereyewasoffhim，furtivelytumbledthewholecontentsofhisplateintoBrutus\'smouth。Cassiuswhinedfaintlyashisfortunatecomradeswallowedthesavorymessatagulp。“Hush！youfool，“whisperedtheadmiral。“Yourturnnext！“

Magdalenpresentedtheseconddish。Oncemoretheoldgentlemanhelpedhimselflargely——oncemorehesentherawaytotheside-table——oncemorehetumbledtheentirecontentsoftheplatedownthedog\'sthroat，selectingCassiusthistime，asbecameaconsideratemasterandanimpartialman。Whenthenextcoursefollowed——consistingofaplainpuddingandanunwholesome“cream“——Magdalen\'ssuspicionofthefunctionofthedogsatthedinner-tablewasconfirmed。Whilethemastertookthesimplepudding，thedogsswallowedtheelaboratecream。Theadmiralwasplainlyafraidofoffendinghiscookontheonehand，andofoffendinghisdigestionontheother——andBrutusandCassiuswerethetwotrainedaccompliceswhoregularlyhelpedhimeverydayoffthehornsofhisdilemma。“Verygood！verygood！“saidtheoldgentleman，withthemosttransparentduplicity。“Tellthecook，mydear，acapitalcream！“

Havingplacedthewineanddessertonthetable，Magdalenwasabouttowithdraw。Beforeshecouldleavetheroom，hermastercalledherback。

“Stop，stop！“saidtheadmiral；“youdon\'tknowthewaysofthehouseyet，Lucy。Putanotherwine-glasshere，atmyrighthand——thelargestyoucanfind，mydear。I\'vegotathirddog，whocomesinatdessert——adrunkenoldsea-dogwhohasfollowedmyfortunes，afloatandashore，forfiftyyearsandmore。Yes，yes，that\'sthesortofglasswewant。You\'reagoodgirl——you\'reaneat，handygirl。Steady，mydear！there\'snothingtobefrightenedat！“

Asuddenthumpontheoutsideofthedoor，followedbyonemightybarkfromeachofthedogs，hadmadeMagdalenstart。“Comein！“shoutedtheadmiral。Thedooropened；thetailsofBrutusandCassiuscheerfullythumpedthefloor；andoldMazeymarchedstraightuptotheright-handsideofhismaster\'schair。Theveteranstoodthere，withhislegswideapartandhisbalancecarefullyadjusted，asifthedining-roomhadbeenacabin，andthehouseashippitchinginasea-way。

Theadmiralfilledthelargeglasswithport，filledhisownglasswithclaret，andraisedittohislips。

“GodblesstheQueen，Mazey，“saidtheadmiral。

“GodblesstheQueen，yourhonor，“saidoldMazey，swallowinghisport，asthedogsswallowedthemade-dishes，atagulp。

“How\'sthewind，Mazey？“

“WestandbyNoathe，yourhonor。“

“Anyreportto-night，Mazey！“

“Noreport，yourhonor。“

“Good-evening，Mazey。“

“Good-evening，yourhonor。“

Theafter-dinnerceremonythuscompleted，oldMazeymadehisbow，andwalkedoutoftheroomagain。BrutusandCassiusstretchedthemselvesontherugtodigestmushroomsandmadegraviesinthelubricatingheatofthefire。“Forwhatwehavereceived，theLordmakeustrulythankful，“saidtheadmiral。“Godownstairs，mygoodgirl，andgetyoursupper。Alightmeal，Lucy，ifyoutakemyadvice——alightmeal，oryouwillhavethenightmare。Earlytobed，mydear，andearlytorise，makesaparlor-maidhealthyandwealthyandwise。That\'sthewisdomofyourancestors——youmustn\'tlaughatit。Good-night。“InthosewordsMagdalenwasdismissed；andsoherfirstday\'sexperienceofAdmiralBartramcametoanend。

Afterbreakfastthenextmorning，theadmiral\'sdirectionstothenewparlor-maidincludedamongthemoneparticularorderwhich，inMagdalen\'ssituation，itwasespeciallyherinteresttoreceive。Intheoldgentleman\'sabsencefromhomethatday，onlocalbusinesswhichtookhimtoOssory，shewasdirectedtomakeherselfacquaintedwiththewholeinhabitedquarterofthehouse，andtolearnthepositionsofthevariousrooms，soastoknowwherethebellscalledherwhenthebellsrang。Mrs。Drakewaschargedwiththedutyofsuperintendingthevoyageofdomesticdiscovery，unlessshehappenedtobeotherwiseengaged——inwhichcaseanyoneoftheinferiorservantswouldbeequallycompetenttoactasMagdalen\'sguide。

AtnoontheadmiralleftforOssory，andMagdalenpresentedherselfinMrs。Drake\'sroom，tobeshownoverthehouse。Mrs。Drakehappenedtobeotherwiseengaged，andreferredhertotheheadhouse-maid。Theheadhouse-maidhappenedonthatparticularmorningtobeinthesameconditionasMrs。Drake，andreferredhertotheunder-house-maids。Theunder-house-maidsdeclaredtheywereallbehindhandandhadnotaminutetospare——theysuggested，nottoocivilly，thatoldMazeyhadnothingonearthtodo，andthatheknewthehouseaswell，orbetter，thanheknewhisABC。Magdalentookthehint，withasecretindignationandcontemptwhichitcostherahardstruggletoconceal。Shehadsuspected，onthepreviousnight，andshewascertainnow，thatthewomen-servantsallincomprehensiblyresentedherpresenceamongthemwiththesamesullenunanimityofdistrust。Mrs。Drake，asshehadseenforherself，wasreallyengagedthatmorningoverheraccounts。Butofalltheservantsunderherwhohadmadetheirexcusesnotonehadevenaffectedtobemoreoccupiedthanusual。Theirlookssaidplainly，“Wedon\'tlikeyou；andwewon\'tshowyouoverthehouse。“

ShefoundherwaytooldMazey，notbythescantydirectionsgivenher，butbythesoundoftheveteran\'scrackedandquaveringvoice，singinginsomedistantseclusionaverseoftheimmortalsea-song——“TomBowling。“Justasshestoppedamongtheramblingstonepassagesonthebasementstoryofthehouse，uncertainwhichwaytoturnnext，sheheardthetunelessoldvoiceinthedistance，singingtheselines:“Hisformwasofthemanliestbeau-u-u-uty，

Hisheartwaski-i-indandsoft；

FaithfulbelowTomdidhisduty，

Butnowhe\'sgonealo-o-o-o-oft——

Butnowhe\'sgo-o-o-onealoft！“

Magdalenfollowedinthedirectionofthequaveringvoice，andfoundherselfinalittleroomlookingoutonthebackyard。TheresatoldMazey，withhisspectacleslowonhisnose，andhisknottyoldhandsblunderingovertheriggingofhismodelship。TherewereBrutusandCassiusdigestingbeforethefireagain，andsnoringasiftheythoroughlyenjoyedit。TherewasLordNelsonononewall，inflamingwatercolors；andthere，ontheother，wasaportraitofAdmiralBartram\'slastflagship，infullsailonaseaofslate，withasalmon-coloredskytocompletetheillusion。

“What，theywon\'tshowyouoverthehouse——won\'tthey？“saidoldMazey。“Iwill，then！Thatheadhouse-maid\'sasourone，mydear——ifevertherewasasouroneyet。You\'retooyoungandgood-lookingtoplease\'em——that\'swhatyouare。“Herose，tookoffhisspectacles，andfeeblymendedthefire。“She\'sasstraightasapoplar，“saidoldMazey，consideringMagdalen\'sfigureindrowsysoliloquy。“Isayshe\'sasstraightasapoplar，andhishonortheadmiralsayssotoo！Comealong，mydear，“heproceeded，addressinghimselftoMagdalenagain。“I\'llteachyouyourPintsoftheCompassfirst。WhenyouknowyourPints，blowhigh，blowlow，you\'llfinditplainsailingalloverthehouse。“

Heledthewaytothedoor——stopped，andsuddenlybethinkinghimselfofhisminiatureship，wentbacktoputhismodelawayinanemptycupboard——ledthewaytothedooragain——stoppedoncemore——rememberedthatsomeoftheroomswerechilly——andpotteredabout，swearingandgrumbling，andlookingforhishat。Magdalensatdownpatientlytowaitforhim。Shegratefullycontrastedhistreatmentofherwiththetreatmentshehadreceivedfromthewomen。Resistitasfirmly，despiseitasproudlyaswemay，allstudiedunkindness——nomatterhowcontemptibleitmaybe——hasastingingpowerinitwhichreachestothequick。Magdalenonlyknewhowshehadfeltthesmallmaliceofthefemaleservants，bytheeffectwhichtheroughkindnessoftheoldsailorproducedonherafterward。Thedumbwelcomeofthedogs，whenthemovementsintheroomhadrousedthemfromtheirsleep，touchedhermoreacutelystill。Brutuspushedhismightymuzzlecompanionablyintoherhand；andCassiuslaidhisfriendlyfore-pawonherlap。Herheartyearnedoverthetwocreaturesasshepattedandcaressedthem。ItseemedonlyyesterdaysincesheandthedogsatCombe-Ravenhadroamedthegardentogether，andhadidledawaythesummermorningsluxuriouslyontheshadylawn。

OldMazeyfoundhishatatlast，andtheystartedontheirexploringexpedition，withthedogsafterthem。

Leavingthebasementstoryofthehouse，whichwasentirelydevotedtotheservants\'offices，theyascendedtothefirstfloor，andenteredthelongcorridor，withwhichMagdalen\'slastnight\'sexperiencehadalreadymadeheracquainted。“Putyourbackag\'inthiswall，“saidoldMazey，pointingtothelongwall——piercedatirregularintervalswithwindowslookingoutoveracourtyardandfish-pond——whichformedtheright-handsideofthecorridor，asMagdalennowstood。“Putyourbackhere，“saidtheveteran，“andlookstraightaforeyou。Whatdoyousee？“——“Theoppositewallofthepassage，“saidMagdalen——“Ay！ay！whatelse？“——“Thedoorsleadingintotherooms。“——“Whatelse？“——“Iseenothingelse。“OldMazeychuckled，winked，andshookhisknottyforefingeratMagdalen，impressively。“YouseeoneofthePintsoftheCompass，mydear。Whenyou\'vegotyourbackag\'inthiswall，andwhenyoulookstraightaforeyou，youlookNoathe。Ifyouevergetlosthereaway，putyourbackag\'inthewall，lookoutstraightaforeyou，andsaytoyourself:\'IlookNoathe！\'Youdothatlikeagoodgirl，andyouwon\'tloseyourbearings。“

Afteradministeringthispreliminarydoseofinstruction，oldMazeyopenedthefirstofthedoorsontheleft-handsideofthepassage。Itledintothedining-room，withwhichMagdalenwasalreadyfamiliar。Thesecondroomwasfittedupasalibrary；andthethird，asamorning-room。Thefourthandfifthdoors——bothbelongingtodismantledanduninhabitedrooms，andbothlocked——broughtthemtotheendofthenorthwingofthehouse，andtotheopeningofasecondandshorterpassage，placedatarightangletothefirst。HereoldMazey，whohaddividedhistimeprettyequallyduringtheinvestigationoftherooms，intalkingof“hishonortheAdmiral，“andwhistlingtothedogs，returnedwithallpossibleexpeditiontothepointsofthecompass，andgravelydirectedMagdalentorepeattheceremonyofputtingherbackagainstthewall。Sheattemptedtoshortentheproceedings，bydeclaring(quitecorrectly)thatinherpresentpositionsheknewshewaslookingeast。“Don\'tyoutalkabouttheeast，mydear，“saidoldMazey，proceedingunmovedwithhisownsystemofinstruction，“tillyouknowtheeastfirst。Putyourbackag\'inthiswall，andlookstraightaforeyou。Whatdoyousee？“Theremainderofthecatechismproceededasbefore。Whentheendwasreached，Magdalen\'sinstructorwassatisfied。Hechuckledandwinkedatheroncemore。“Nowyoumaytalkabouttheeast，mydear，“saidtheveteran，“fornowyouknowit。“

Theeastpassage，afterleadingthemonforafewyardsonly，terminatedinavestibule，withahighdoorinitwhichfacedthemastheyadvanced。Thedooradmittedthemtoalargeandloftydrawing-room，decorated，likealltheotherapartments，withvaluableold-fashionedfurniture。Leadingthewayacrossthisroom，Magdalen\'sconductorpushedbackaheavysliding-door，oppositethedoorofentrance。“Putyourapronoveryourhead，“saidoldMazey。“WearecomingtotheBanqueting-Hallnow。Thefloor\'smortalcold，andthedampstickstotheplacelikecockroachestoacollier。HishonortheadmiralcallsittheArcticPassage。I\'vegotmynameforit，too——Icallit，Freeze-your-Bones。“

Magdalenpassedthroughthedoorway，andfoundherselfintheancientBanqueting-HallofSt。Crux。

Onherlefthandshesawarowofloftywindows，setdeepinembrasures，andextendingoverafrontageofmorethanahundredfeetinlength。Onherrighthand，rangedinonelongrowfromendtoendoftheoppositewall，hungadismalcollectionofblack，begrimedoldpictures，rottingfromtheirframes，andrepresentingbattle-scenesbyseaandland。Belowthepictures，midwaydownthelengthofthewall，yawnedahugecavernofafireplace，surmountedbyatoweringmantel-pieceofblackmarble。Theoneobjectoffurniture(iffurnitureitmightbecalled)visiblefarornearinthevastemptinessoftheplace，wasagauntancienttripodofcuriouslychasedmetal，standinglonelyinthemiddleofthehall，andsupportingawidecircularpan，filleddeepwithashesfromanextinctcharcoalfire。Thehighceiling，oncefinelycarvedandgilt，wasfoulwithdirtandcobwebs；thenakedwallsateitherendoftheroomwerestainedwithdamp；andthecoldofthemarblefloorstruckthroughthenarrowstripofmattinglaiddown，parallelwiththewindows，asafoot-pathforpassengersacrossthewildernessoftheroom。NobetternameforitcouldhavebeendevisedthanthenamewhicholdMazeyhadfound。“Freeze-your-Bones“accuratelydescribed，inthreewords，theBanqueting-HallatSt。Crux。

“Doyouneverlightafireinthisdismalplace？“askedMagdalen。

“ItalldependsonwhichsideofFreeze-your-Boneshishonortheadmirallives，“saidoldMazey。“Hishonorlikestoshifthisquarters，sometimestoonesideofthehouse，sometimestotheother。IfhelivesNoatheofFreeze-your-Bones——whichiswhereyou\'vejustcomefrom——wedon\'twasteourcoalshere。IfhelivesSouthofFreeze-your-Bones——whichiswherewearegoingtonext——welightthefireinthegrateandthecharcoalinthepan。Everynight，whenwedothat，thedampgetsthebetterofus:everymorning，weturntoagain，andgetthebetterofthedamp。“

Withthisremarkableexplanation，oldMazeyledthewaytothelowerendoftheHall，openedmoredoors，andshowedMagdalenthroughanothersuiteofrooms，fourinnumber，allofmoderatesize，andallfurnishedinmuchthesamemannerastheroomsinthenorthernwing。Shelookedoutofthewindows，andsawtheneglectedgardensofSt。Crux，overgrownwithbramblesandweeds。Hereandthere，atnogreatdistanceinthegrounds，thesmoothlycurvinglineofoneofthetidalstreamspeculiartothelocalitywounditsway，gleaminginthesunlight，throughgapsinthebramblesandtrees。Themoredistantviewrangedovertheflateastwardcountrybeyond，speckledwithitsscatteredlittlevillages；crossedandrecrossedbyitsnetworkof“back-waters“；andterminatedabruptlybythelongstraightlineofsea-wallwhichprotectsthedefenselesscoastofEssexfrominvasionbythesea。

“Havewemoreroomsstilltosee？“askedMagdalen，turningfromtheviewofthegarden，andlookingaboutherforanotherdoor。

“Nomore，mydear——we\'verunagroundhere，andwemayaswellwearroundandputbackagain，“saidoldMazey。“There\'sanothersideofthehouse——duesouthofyouasyoustandnow——whichisalltumblingaboutourears。Youmustgooutintothegardenifyouwanttoseeit；it\'sbuiltofffromusbyabrickbulkhead，t\'othersideofthiswallhere。Themonkslivedduesouthofus，mydear，hundredsofyearsaforehishonortheadmiralwasbornorthoughtof，andafinetimeofittheyhad，asI\'veheard。Theysanginthechurchallthemorning，anddrankgrogintheorchardalltheafternoon。Theysleptofftheirgrogonthebestoffeather-beds，andtheyfattenedontheneighborhoodalltheyearround。Luckybeggars！luckybeggars！“

Apostrophizingthemonksintheseterms，andevidentlyregrettingthathehadnotlivedhimselfinthosegoodoldtimes，theveteranledthewaybackthroughtherooms。Onthereturnpassageacross“Freeze-your-Bones，“Magdalenprecededhim。“She\'sasstraightasapoplar，“mumbledoldMazeytohimself，hobblingalongafterhisyouthfulcompanion，andwagginghisvenerableheadincordialapproval。“Ineverwasparticularwhatnationtheybelongedto；butIalwaysdidlike\'emstraightandfinegrown，andIalwaysshalllike\'emstraightandfinegrown，tomydyingday。“

“Aretheremoreroomstoseeupstairs，onthesecondfloor？“askedMagdalen，whentheyhadreturnedtothepointfromwhichtheyhadstarted。

Thenaturallyclear，distincttonesofhervoicehadhithertoreachedtheoldsailor\'simperfectsenseofhearingeasilyenough。Rathertohersurprise，hebecamestonedeafonasudden，toherlastquestion。

“AreyousureofyourPintsoftheCompass？“heinquired。“Ifyou\'renotsure，putyourbackag\'inthewall，andwe\'llgoallover\'emagain，mydear，beginningwiththeNoathe。“

Magdalenassuredhimthatshefeltquitefamiliar，bythistime，withallthepoints，the“Noathe“included；andthenrepeatedherquestioninloudertones。Theveteranobstinatelymatchedherbybecomingdeaferthanever。

“Yes，mydear，“hesaid，“you\'reright；itischillyinthesepassages；andunlessIgobacktomyfire，myfire\'llgoout——won\'tit？Ifyoudon\'tfeelsureofyourPintsoftheCompass，comeintomeandI\'llputyourightagain。“Hewinkedbenevolently，whistledtothedogs，andhobbledoff。Magdalenheardhimchuckleoverhisownsuccessinbalkinghercuriosityonthesubjectofthesecondfloor。“Iknowhowtodealwith\'em！“saidoldMazeytohimself，inhightriumph。“Tallandshort，nativeandforeign，sweetheartsandwives——Iknowhowtodealwith\'em！“

Leftbyherself，Magdalenexemplifiedtheexcellenceoftheoldsailor\'smethodoftreatment，inherparticularcase，byascendingthestairsimmediately，tomakeherownobservationsonthesecondfloor。Thestonepassageherewasexactlysimilar，exceptthatmoredoorsopenedoutofit，tothepassageonthefirstfloor。Sheopenedthetwonearestdoors，oneafteranother，ataventure，anddiscoveredthatbothroomswerebed-chambers。Thefearofbeingdiscoveredbyoneofthewoman-servantsinapartofthehousewithwhichshehadnoconcern，warnedhernottopushherinvestigationsonthebedroomfloortoofaratstarting。Shehurriedlywalkeddownthepassagetoseewhereitended，discoveredthatitcametoitsterminationinalumber-room，answeringtothepositionofthevestibuledownstairs，andretracedherstepsimmediately。

Onherwaybackshenoticedanobjectwhichhadpreviouslyescapedherattention。Itwasalowtruckle-bed，placedparallelwiththewall，andclosetooneofthedoorsonthebedroomside。Inspiteofitsstrangeandcomfortlesssituation，thebedwasapparentlyoccupiedatnightbyasleeper；thesheetswereonit，andtheendofathickredfisherman\'scappeepedoutfromunderthepillow。Sheventuredonopeningthedoornearwhichthebedwasplaced，andfoundherself，assheconjecturedfromcertainsignsandtokens，intheadmiral\'ssleepingchamber。Amoment\'sobservationoftheroomwasallshedaredrisk，and，softlyclosingthedooragain，shereturnedtothekitchenregions。

Thetruckle-bed，andthestrangepositioninwhichitwasplaced，dweltonhermindallthroughtheafternoon。Whocouldpossiblysleepinit？Theremembranceoftheredfisherman\'scap，andtheknowledgeshehadalreadygainedofMazey\'sdog-likefidelitytohismaster，helpedhertoguessthattheoldsailormightbetheoccupantofthetruckle-bed。Butwhy，withbedroomsenoughandtospare，shouldheoccupythatcoldandcomfortlesssituationatnight？Whyshouldhesleeponguardoutsidehismaster\'sdoor？Wastheresomenocturnaldangerinthehouseofwhichtheadmiralwasafraid？Thequestionseemedabsurd，andyetthepositionofthebedforceditirresistiblyonhermind。

Stimulatedbyherownungovernablecuriosityonthissubject，Magdalenventuredtoquestionthehousekeeper。Sheacknowledgedhavingwalkedfromendtoendofthepassageonthesecondfloor，toseeifitwasaslongasthepassageonthefirst；andshementionedhavingnoticedwithastonishmentthepositionofthetruckle-bed。Mrs。Drakeansweredherimpliedinquiryshortlyandsharply。“Idon\'tblameayounggirllikeyou，“saidtheoldlady，“forbeingalittlecuriouswhenshefirstcomesintosuchastrangehouseasthis。Butremember，forthefuture，thatyourbusinessdoesnotlieonthebedroomstory。Mr。Mazeysleepsonthatbedyounoticed。Itishishabitatnighttosleepoutsidehismaster\'sdoor。“WiththatmeagerexplanationMrs。Drake\'slipsclosed，andopenednomore。

LaterinthedayMagdalenfoundanopportunityofapplyingtooldMazeyhimself。Shediscoveredtheveteraninhighgoodhumor，smokinghispipe，andwarmingatinmugofaleathisownsnugfire。

“Mr。Mazey，“sheasked，boldly，“whydoyouputyourbedinthatcoldpassage？“

“What！youhavebeenupstairs，youyoungjade，haveyou？“saidoldMazey，lookingupfromhismugwithaleer。

Magdalensmiledandnodded。“Come！come！tellme，“shesaid，coaxingly。“Whydoyousleepoutsidetheadmiral\'sdoor？“

“Whydoyoupartyourhairinthemiddle，mydear？“askedoldMazey，withanotherleer。

“Isuppose，becauseIamaccustomedtodoit，“answeredMagdalen。

“Ay！ay！“saidtheveteran。“That\'swhy，isit？Well，mydear，thereasonwhyyoupartyourhairinthemiddleisthereasonwhyIsleepoutsidetheadmiral\'sdoor。Iknowhowtodealwith\'em！“chuckledoldMazey，lapsingintosoliloquy，andstirringuphisaleinhightriumph。“Tallandshort，nativeandforeign，sweetheartsandwives——Iknowhowtodealwith\'em！“

Magdalen\'sthirdandlastattemptatsolvingthemysteryofthetruckle-bedwasmadewhileshewaswaitingontheadmiralatdinner。Theoldgentleman\'squestionsgaveheranopportunityofreferringtothesubject，withoutanyappearanceofpresumptionordisrespect；butheprovedtobequiteasimpenetrable，inhisway，asoldMazeyandMrs。Drakehadbeenintheirs。“Itdoesn\'tconcernyou，mydear，“saidtheadmiral，bluntly。“Don\'tbecurious。LookinyourOldTestamentwhenyougodownstairs，andseewhathappenedintheGardenofEdenthroughcuriosity。Beagoodgirl，anddon\'timitateyourmotherEve。“

Lateatnight，asMagdalenpassedtheendofthesecond-floorpassage，proceedingaloneonherwayuptoherownroom，shestoppedandlistened。Ascreenwasplacedattheentranceofthecorridor，soastohideitfromtheviewofpersonspassingonthestairs。Thesnoringsheheardontheothersideofthescreenencouragedhertosliproundit，andtoadvanceafewsteps。Shadingthelightofhercandlewithherhand，sheventuredclosetotheadmiral\'sdoor，andsaw，tohersurprise，thatthebedhadbeenmovedsinceshehadseenitintheday-time，soastostandexactlyacrossthedoor，andtobarthewayentirelytoanyonewhomightattempttoentertheadmiral\'sroom。Afterthisdiscovery，oldMazeyhimself，snoringlustily，withtheredfisherman\'scappulleddowntohiseyebrows，andtheblanketsdrawnuptohisnose，becameanobjectofsecondaryimportanceonly，bycomparisonwithhisbed。Thattheveterandidactuallysleeponguardbeforehismaster\'sdoor，andthatheandtheadmiralandthehousekeeperwereinthesecretofthisunaccountableproceeding，wasnowbeyondalldoubt。

“Astrangeend，“thoughtMagdalen，ponderingoverherdiscoveryasshestoleupstairstoherownsleeping-room——“astrangeendtoastrangeday！“

[NextChapter]

[TableofContents]NoName，Scene7，Chapter2CHAPTERII。

THEfirstweekpassed，thesecondweekpassed，andMagdalenwas，toallappearance，nonearertothediscoveryoftheSecretTrustthanonthedaywhenshefirstenteredonherserviceatSt。Crux。

Butthefortnight，uneventfulasitwas，hadnotbeenafortnightlost。Experiencehadalreadysatisfiedherononeimportantpoint——experiencehadshownthatshecouldsettherooteddistrustoftheotherservantssafelyatdefiance。Timehadaccustomedthewomentoherpresenceinthehouse，withoutshakingthevagueconvictionwhichpossessedthemallalike，thatthenewcomerwasnotoneofthemselves。AllthatMagdalencoulddoinherowndefensewastokeeptheinstinctivefemalesuspicionofherconfinedwithinthosepurelynegativelimitswhichithadoccupiedfromthefirst，andthissheaccomplished。

Dayafterdaythewomenwatchedherwiththeuntiringvigilanceofmaliceanddistrust，anddayafterdaynotthevestigeofadiscoveryrewardedthemfortheirpains。Silently，intelligently，andindustriously——withanever-presentremembranceofherselfandherplace——thenewparlor-maiddidherwork。HeronlyintervalsofrestandrelaxationweretheintervalspassedoccasionallyinthedaywitholdMazeyandthedogs，andthepreciousintervalofthenightduringwhichshewassecurefromobservationinthesolitudeofherroom。Thankstothesuperfluityofbed-chambersatSt。Crux，eachoneoftheservantshadthechoice，ifshepleased，ofsleepinginaroomofherown。Aloneinthenight，Magdalenmightdaretobeherselfagain——mightdreamofthepast，andwakefromthedream，encounteringnocuriouseyestonoticethatshewasintears——mightponderoverthefuture，andberousedbynowhisperingsincorners，whichtaintedherwiththesuspicionof“havingsomethingonhermind。“

Satisfied，thusfar，oftheperfectsecurityofherpositioninthehouse，sheprofitednextbyasecondchanceinherfavor，which——beforethefortnightwasatanend——relievedhermindofalldoubtontheformidablesubjectofMrs。Lecount。

Partlyfromtheaccidentalgossipofthewomenatthetableintheservants\'hall；partlyfromamarkedparagraphinaSwissnewspaper，whichshehadfoundonemorninglyingopenontheadmiral\'seasy-chair——shegainedthewelcomeassurancethatnodangerwastobedreaded，thistime，fromthehousekeeper\'spresenceonthescene。Mrs。Lecounthad，asitappeared，passedaweekormoreatSt。Cruxafterthedateofhermaster\'sdeath，andhadthenleftEngland，toliveontheinterestofherlegacy，inhonorableandprosperousretirement，inhernativeplace。TheparagraphintheSwissnewspaperdescribedthefulfillmentofthislaudableproject。Mrs。LecounthadnotonlyestablishedherselfatZurich，but(wiselymindfuloftheuncertaintyoflife)hadalsosettledthecharitableusestowhichherfortunewastobeappliedafterherdeath。Onehalfofitwastogotothefoundingofa“LecompteScholarship“forpoorstudentsintheUniversityofGeneva。TheotherhalfwastobeemployedbythemunicipalauthoritiesofZurichinthemaintenanceandeducationofacertainnumberoforphangirls，nativesofthecity，whoweretobetrainedfordomesticserviceinlaterlife。TheSwissjournalistadvertedtothesephilanthropicbequestsintermsofextravaganteulogy。ZurichwascongratulatedonthepossessionofaParagonofpublicvirtue；andWilliamTell，inthecharacterofbenefactortoSwitzerland，wascompareddisadvantageouslywithMrs。Lecount。

Thethirdweekbegan，andMagdalenwasnowatlibertytotakeherfirststepforwardonthewaytothediscoveryoftheSecretTrust。

SheascertainedfromoldMazeythatitwashismaster\'scustom，duringthewinterandspringmonths，tooccupytheroomsinthenorthwing；andduringthesummerandautumntocrosstheArcticpassageof“Freeze-your-Bones，“andliveintheeastwardapartmentswhichlookedoutonthegarden。WhiletheBanqueting-Hallremained——owingtotheadmiral\'sinadequatepecuniaryresources——initsdampanddismantledstate，andwhiletheinteriorofSt。Cruxwasthuscomfortlesslydividedintotwoseparateresidences，nomoreconvenientarrangementthanthiscouldwellhavebeendevised。Nowandthen(asMagdalenunderstoodfromherinformant)thereweredays，bothinwinterandsummer，whentheadmiralbecameanxiousabouttheconditionoftheroomswhichhewasnotoccupyingatthetime，andwhenheinsistedoninvestigatingthestateofthefurniture，thepictures，andthebookswithhisowneyes。Ontheseoccasions，insummerasinwinter，ablazingfirewaskindledforsomedayspreviouslyinthelargegrate，andthecharcoalwaslightedinthetripod-pan，tokeeptheBanqueting-Hallaswarmascircumstanceswouldadmit。Assoonastheoldgentleman\'sanxietiesweresetatresttheroomswereshutupagain，and“Freeze-your-Bones“wasoncemoreabandonedforweeksandweekstogethertodamp，desolation，anddecay。Thelastofthesetemporarymigrationshadtakenplaceonlyafewdayssince；theadmiralhadsatisfiedhimselfthattheroomsintheeastwingwerenonetheworsefortheabsenceoftheirmaster，andhemightnowbesafelyreckonedonassettledinthenorthwingforweeks，andperhaps，iftheseasonwascold，formonthstocome。

Triflingastheymightbeinthemselves，theseparticularswereofseriousimportancetoMagdalen，fortheyhelpedhertofixthelimitsofthefieldofsearch。Assumingthattheadmiralwaslikelytokeepallhisimportantdocumentswithineasyreachofhisownhand，shemightnowfeelcertainthattheSecretTrustwassecuredinoneorotheroftheroomsinthenorthwing。

Inwhichroom？Thatquestionwasnoteasytoanswer。

Ofthefourinhabitableroomswhichwereallattheadmiral\'sdisposalduringtheday——thatistosay，ofthedining-room，thelibrary，themorning-room，andthedrawing-roomopeningoutofthevestibule——thelibraryappearedtobetheapartmentinwhich，ifhehadapreference，hepassedthegreaterpartofhistime。Therewasatableinthisroom，withdrawersthatlocked；therewasamagnificentItaliancabinet，withdoorsthatlocked；therewerefivecupboardsunderthebook-cases，everyoneofwhichlocked。Therewerereceptaclessimilarlysecuredintheotherrooms；andinalloranyofthesepapersmightbekept。

Shehadansweredthebell，andhadseenhimlockingandunlocking，nowinoneroom，nowinanother，butoftenestinthelibrary。Shehadnoticedoccasionallythathisexpressionwasfretfulandimpatientwhenhelookedroundatherfromanopencabinetorcupboardandgavehisorders；andsheinferredthatsomethinginconnectionwithhispapersandpossessions——itmightormightnotbetheSecretTrust——irritatedandannoyedhimfromtimetotime。Shehadheardhimmorethanoncelocksomethingupinoneoftherooms，comeoutandgointoanotherroom，waitthereafewminutes，thenreturntothefirstroomwithhiskeysinhishand，andsharplyturnthelocksandturnthemagain。Thisfidgetyanxietyabouthiskeysandhiscupboardsmightbetheresultoftheinbredrestlessnessofhisdisposition，aggravatedinanaturallyactivemanbytheaimlessindolenceofalifeinretirement——alifedriftingbackwardandforwardamongtrifles，withnoregularemploymenttosteadyitatanygivenhouroftheday。Ontheotherhand，itwasjustasprobablethatthesecomingsandgoings，theselockingsandunlockings，mightbeattributabletotheexistenceofsomeprivateresponsibilitywhichhadunexpectedlyintrudeditselfintotheoldman\'seasyexistence，andwhichtormentedhimwithasenseofoppressionnewtotheexperienceofhislateryears。Eitheroneoftheseinterpretationsmightexplainhisconductasreasonablyandasprobablyastheother。Whichwastherightinterpretationofthetwo，itwas，inMagdalen\'sposition，impossibletosay。

Theonecertaindiscoveryatwhichshearrivedwasmadeinherfirstday\'sobservationofhim。Theadmiralwasarigidlycarefulmanwithhiskeys。

Allthesmallerkeyshekeptonaringinthebreast-pocketofhiscoat。Thelargerhelockeduptogether；generally，butnotalways，inoneofthedrawersofthelibrarytable。Sometimesheleftthemsecuredinthiswayatnight；sometimeshetookthemuptothebedroomwithhiminalittlebasket。Hehadnoregulartimesforleavingthemorfortakingthemawaywithhim；hehadnodiscoverablereasonfornowsecuringtheminthelibrary-tabledrawer，andnowagainlockingthemupinsomeotherplace。Theinveteratewillfulnessandcapriceofhisproceedingsintheseparticularsdefiedeveryefforttoreducethemtoasystem，andbaffledallattemptsatcalculatingonthembeforehand。

Thehopeofgainingpositiveinformationtoacton，bylayingartfulsnaresforhimwhichhemightfallintoinhistalk，proved，fromtheoutset，tobeutterlyfutile。

InMagdalen\'ssituationallexperimentsofthissortwouldhavebeeninthelastdegreedifficultanddangerouswithanyman。Withtheadmiraltheyweresimplyimpossible。Histendencytoveeraboutfromonesubjecttoanother；hishabitofkeepinghistongueperpetuallygoing，solongastherewasanybody，nomatterwhom，withinreachofthesoundofhisvoice；hiscomicalwantofalldignityandreservewithhisservants，promised，inappearance，much，andperformedinrealitynothing。NomatterhowdiffidentlyorhowrespectfullyMagdalenmightpresumeonhermaster\'sexample，andonhermaster\'sevidentlikingforher，theoldmaninstantlydiscoveredtheadvanceshewasmakingfromherproperposition，andinstantlyputherbackinitagain，withaquaintgoodhumorwhichinflictednopain，butwithabluntstraightforwardnessofpurposewhichpermittednoescape。Contradictoryasitmaysound，AdmiralBartramwastoofamiliartobeapproached；hekeptthedistancebetweenhimselfandhisservantmoreeffectuallythanifhehadbeentheproudestmaninEngland。Thesystematicreserveofasuperiortowardaninferiormaybeoccasionallyovercome——thesystematicfamiliaritynever。

Slowlythetimedraggedon。Thefourthweekcame；andMagdalenhadmadenonewdiscoveries。Theprospectwasdepressinginthelastdegree。Evenintheapparentlyhopelesseventofherdevisingameansofgettingattheadmiral\'skeys，shecouldnotcountonretainingpossessionofthemunsuspectedmorethanafewhours——hourswhichmightbeutterlywastedthroughhernotknowinginwhatdirectiontobeginthesearch。TheTrustmightbelockedupinanyoneofsometwentyreceptaclesforpapers，situatedinfourdifferentrooms；andwhichroomwasthelikeliesttolookin，whichreceptaclewasthemostpromisingtobeginwith，whichpositionamongotherheapsofpaperstheonepaperneedfulmightbeexpectedtooccupy，wasmorethanshecouldsay。Hemmedinbyimmeasurableuncertaintiesoneveryside；condemned，asitwere，towanderblindfoldontheverybrinkofsuccess，shewaitedforthechancethatnevercame，fortheeventthatneverhappened，withapatiencewhichwassinkingalreadyintothepatienceofdespair。

Nightafternightshelookedbackoverthevanisheddays，andnotaneventroseonhermemorytodistinguishthemonefromtheother。TheonlyinterruptionstothewearyuniformityofthelifeatSt。CruxwerecausedbythecharacteristicdelinquenciesofoldMazeyandthedogs。

Atcertainintervals，theoriginalwildnessbrokeoutinthenaturesofBrutusandCassius。Themodestcomfortsofhome，thesavorycharmsofmadedishes，thedecorousjoyofdigestionsaccomplishedonhearth-rugs，lostalltheirattractions，andthedogsungratefullyleftthehousetoseekdissipationandadventureintheouterworld。Ontheseoccasionstheestablishedafter-dinnerformulaofquestionandanswerbetweenoldMazeyandhismastervariedalittleinoneparticular。“GodblesstheQueen，Mazey，“and“How\'sthewind，Mazey？“werefollowedbyanewinquiry:“Wherearethedogs，Mazey？““Outontheloose，yourhonor，andbedamnedto\'em，“wastheveteran\'sunvaryinganswer。Theadmiralalwayssighedandshookhisheadgravelyatthenews，asifBrutusandCassiushadbeensonsofhisown，whotreatedhimwithawantofproperfilialrespect。Intwoorthreedays\'timethedogsalwaysreturned，lean，dirty，andheartilyashamedofthemselves。Forthewholeofthenextdaytheywereinvariablytiedupindisgrace。Onthedayaftertheywerescrubbedclean，andwereformallyre-admittedtothedining-room。There，Civilization，actingthroughthesubtlemediumoftheSaucepan，recovereditsholdonthem；andtheadmiral\'stwoprodigalsons，whentheysawthecoversremoved，wateredatthemouthascopiouslyasever。

OldMazey，inhisway，provedtobejustasdisreputablyinclinedoncertainoccasionsasthedogs。Atintervals，theoriginalwildnessinhisnaturebrokeout；he，too，lostallrelishforthecomfortsofhome，andungratefullyleftthehouse。Heusuallydisappearedintheafternoon，andreturnedatnightasdrunkasliquorcouldmakehim。Hewasbymanydegreestooseasonedavesseltomeetwithanydisastersontheseoccasions。Hiswickedoldlegsmighttakeroundaboutmethodsofprogression，buttheyneverfailedhim；hiswickedoldeyesmightseedouble，buttheyalwaysshowedhimthewayhome。Tryashardastheymight，theservantscouldneversucceedinpersuadinghimthathewasdrunk；healwaysscornedtheimputation。Heevendeclinedtoadmittheideaprivatelyintohismind，untilhehadfirsttestedhisconditionbyaninfalliblecriterionofhisown。