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ATTHETERMINUS。
ONthenightofthe2dofDecember，Mr。BashwoodtookuphispostofobservationattheterminusoftheSouth-easternRailwayforthefirsttime。Itwasanearlierdate，bysixdays，thanthedatewhichAllanhadhimselffixedforhisreturn。Butthedoctor，takingcounselofhismedicalexperience，hadconsidereditjustprobablethat“Mr。Armadalemightbeperverseenough，athisenviableage，torecoversoonerthanhismedicaladvisersmighthaveanticipated。”Forcaution’ssake，therefore，Mr。
Bashwoodwasinstructedtobeginwatchingthearrivalofthetidaltrainsonthedayafterhehadreceivedhisemployer’sletter。
Fromthe2dtothe7thofDecember，thestewardwaitedpunctuallyontheplatform，sawthetrainscomein，andsatisfiedhimself，eveningafterevening，thatthetravelerswereallstrangerstohim。Fromthe2dtothe7thofDecember，MissGwilt(toreturntothenameunderwhichsheisbestknowninthesepages)receivedhisdailyreport，sometimesdeliveredpersonally，sometimessentbyletter。Thedoctor，towhomthereportswerecommunicated，receivedtheminhisturnwithunabatedconfidenceintheprecautionsthathadbeenadopteduptothemorningofthe8th。
OnthatdatetheirritationofcontinuedsuspensehadproducedachangefortheworseinMissGwilt’svariabletemper，whichwasperceptibletoeveryoneabouther，andwhich，strangelyenough，wasreflectedbyanequallymarkedchangeinthedoctor’smannerwhenhecametopayhisusualvisit。Byacoincidencesoextraordinarythathisenemiesmighthavesuspecteditofnotbeingacoincidenceatall，themorningonwhichMissGwiltlostherpatienceprovedtobealsothemorningonwhichthedoctorlosthisconfidenceforthefirsttime。
“Nonews，ofcourse。”hesaid，sittingdownwithaheavysigh。
“Well！well！“
MissGwiltlookedupathimirritablyfromherwork。
“Youseemstrangelydepressedthismorning。”shesaid。“Whatareyouafraidofnow？”
“Theimputationofbeingafraid，madam。”answeredthedoctor，solemnly，“isnotanimputationtocastrashlyonanyman——evenwhenhebelongstosuchanessentiallypeacefulprofessionasmine。Iamnotafraid。Iam(asyoumorecorrectlyputitinthefirstinstance)strangelydepressed。Mynatureis，asyouknow，naturallysanguine，andIonlyseeto-daywhatbutformyhabitualhopefulnessImighthaveseen，andoughttohaveseen，aweeksince。”
MissGwiltimpatientlythrewdownherwork。“Ifwordscostmoney。”shesaid，“theluxuryoftalkingwouldberatheranexpensiveluxuryinyourcase！“
“WhichImighthaveseen，andoughttohaveseen。”reiteratedthedoctor，withouttakingtheslightestnoticeoftheinterruption，“aweeksince。Toputitplainly，IfeelbynomeanssocertainasIdidthatMr。Armadalewillconsent，withoutastruggle，tothetermswhichitismyinterest(andinaminordegreeyours)
toimposeonhim。Observe！Idon’tquestionourentrappinghimsuccessfullyintotheSanitarium:IonlydoubtwhetherhewillprovequiteasmanageableasIoriginallyanticipatedwhenwehavegothimthere。Say。”remarkedthedoctor，raisinghiseyesforthefirsttime，andfixingtheminsteadyinquiryonMissGwilt——“saythatheisbold，obstinate，whatyouplease;andthatheholdsout——holdsoutforweekstogether，formonthstogether，asmeninsimilarsituationstohishaveheldoutbeforehim。
Whatfollows？Theriskofkeepinghimforciblyinconcealment——ofsuppressinghim，ifImaysoexpressmyself——increasesatcompoundinterest，andbecomesEnormous！Myhouseisatthismomentvirtuallyreadyforpatients。Patientsmaypresentthemselvesinaweek’stime。PatientsmaycommunicatewithMr。
Armadale，orMr。Armadalemaycommunicatewithpatients。Anotemaybesmuggledoutofthehouse，andmayreachtheCommissionersinLunacy。Eveninthecaseofanunlicensedestablishmentlikemine，thosegentlemen——no！thosechartereddespotsinalandofliberty——haveonlytoapplytotheLordChancellorforanorder，andtoenter(byheavens，toenterMySanitarium！)andsearchthehousefromtoptobottomatamoment’snotice！Idon’twishtodespond;Idon’twishtoalarmyou;Idon’tpretendtosaythatthemeanswearetakingtosecureyourownsafetyareanyotherthanthebestmeansatourdisposal。AllIaskyoutodoistoimaginetheCommissionersinthehouse——andthentoconceivetheconsequences。Theconsequences！“repeatedthedoctor，gettingsternlyonhisfeet，andtakinguphishatasifhemeanttoleavetheroom。
“Haveyouanythingmoretosay？”askedMissGwilt。
“Haveyouanyremarks。”rejoinedthedoctor，“toofferonyourside？”
Hestood，hatinhand，waiting。Forafullminutethetwolookedateachotherinsilence。
MissGwiltspokefirst。
“IthinkIunderstandyou。”shesaid，suddenlyrecoveringhercomposure。
“Ibegyourpardon。”returnedthedoctor，withhishandtohisear。“Whatdidyousay？”
“Nothing。”
“Nothing？”
“Ifyouhappenedtocatchanotherflythismorning。”saidMissGwilt，withabitterlysarcasticemphasisonthewords，“Imightbecapableofshockingyoubyanother’littlejoke。’“
Thedoctorheldupbothhands，inpolitedeprecation，andlookedasifhewasbeginningtorecoverhisgoodhumoragain。
“Hard。”hemurmured，gently，“nottohaveforgivenmethatunluckyblunderofmine，evenyet！“
“Whatelsehaveyoutosay？Iamwaitingforyou。”saidMissGwilt。Sheturnedherchairtothewindowscornfully，andtookupherworkagain，asshespoke。
Thedoctorcamebehindher，andputhishandonthebackofherchair。
“Ihaveaquestiontoask，inthefirstplace。”hesaid;“andameasureofnecessaryprecautiontosuggest，inthesecond。Ifyouwillhonormewithyourattention，Iwillputthequestionfirst。”
“Iamlistening。”
“YouknowthatMr。Armadaleisalive。”pursuedthedoctor，“andyouknowthatheiscomingbacktoEngland。Whydoyoucontinuetowearyourwidow’sdress？”
Sheansweredhimwithoutaninstant’shesitation，steadilygoingonwithherwork。
“BecauseIamofasanguinedisposition，likeyou。Imeantotrusttothechapterofaccidentstotheverylast。Mr。Armadalemaydieyet，onhiswayhome。”
“Andsupposehegetshomealive——whatthen？”
“Thenthereisanotherchancestillleft。”
“Whatisit，pray？”
“HemaydieinyourSanitarium。”
“Madam！“remonstratedthedoctor，inthedeepbasswhichhereservedforhisoutburstsofvirtuousindignation。“Wait！youspokeofthechapterofaccidents。”heresumed，glidingbackintohissofterconversationaltones。“Yes！yes！ofcourse。I
understandyouthistime。Eventhehealingartisatthemercyofaccidents;evensuchaSanitariumasmineisliabletobesurprisedbyDeath。Justso！justso！“saidthedoctor，concedingthequestionwiththeutmostimpartiality。“There_is_thechapterofaccidents，Iadmit——ifyouchoosetotrusttoit。
Mind！Isayemphatically，_if_youchoosetotrusttoit。”
Therewasanothermomentofsilence——silencesoprofoundthatnothingwasaudibleintheroombuttherapid_click_ofMissGwilt’sneedlethroughherwork。
“Goon。”shesaid;“youhaven’tdoneyet。”
“True！“saidthedoctor。“Havingputmyquestion，Ihavemymeasureofprecautiontoimpressonyounext。Youwillsee，mydearmadam，thatIamnotdisposedtotrusttothechapterofaccidentsonmyside。ReflectionhasconvincedmethatyouandI
arenot(logicallyspeaking)soconvenientlysituatedaswemightbeincaseofemergency。Cabsare，asyet，rareinthisrapidlyimprovingneighborhood。Iamtwentyminutes’walkfromyou;youaretwentyminutes’walkfromme。IknownothingofMr。
Armadale’scharacter;youknowitwell。Itmightbenecessary——vitallynecessary——toappealtoyoursuperiorknowledgeofhimatamoment’snotice。AndhowamItodothatunlesswearewithineasyreachofeachother，underthesameroof？Inbothourinterests，Ibegtoinviteyou，mydearmadam，tobecomeforalimitedperiodaninmateofMySanitarium。”
MissGwilt’srapidneedlesuddenlystopped。“Iunderstandyou。”
shesaidagain，asquietlyasbefore。
“Ibegyourpardon。”saidthedoctor，withanotherattackofdeafness，andwithhishandoncemoreathisear。
Shelaughedtoherself——alow，terriblelaugh，whichstartledeventhedoctorintotakinghishandoffthebackofherchair。
“AninmateofyourSanitarium？”sherepeated。“Youconsultappearancesineverythingelse;doyouproposetoconsultappearancesinreceivingmeintoyourhouse？”
“Mostassuredly！“repliedthedoctor，withenthusiasm。“Iamsurprisedatyouraskingmethequestion！Didyoueverknowamanofanyeminenceinmyprofessionwhosetappearancesatdefiance？
Ifyouhonormebyacceptingmyinvitation，youenterMySanitariuminthemostunimpeachableofallpossiblecharacters——inthecharacterofaPatient。”
“Whendoyouwantmyanswer？”
“Canyoudecideto-day？”
“To-morrow？”
“Yes。Haveyouanythingmoretosay？”
’’Nothingmore。”
“Leaveme，then。_I_don’tkeepupappearances。Iwishtobealone，andIsayso。Good-morning。”
“Oh，thesex！thesex！“saidthedoctor，withhisexcellenttemperinperfectworkingorderagain。“Sodelightfullyimpulsive！socharminglyrecklessofwhattheysayorhowtheysayit！’Oh，woman，inourhoursofease，uncertain，coy，andhardtoplease！’There！there！there！Good-morning！“
MissGwiltroseandlookedafterhimcontemptuouslyfromthewindow，whenthestreetdoorhadclosed，andhehadleftthehouse。
“Armadalehimselfdrovemetoitthefirsttime。”shesaid。
“Manueldrovemetoitthesecondtime——Youcowardlyscoundrel！
shallIlet_you_drivemetoitforthethirdtime，andthelast？”
Sheturnedfromthewindow，andlookedthoughtfullyatherwidow’sdressintheglass。
Thehoursofthedaypassed——andshedecidednothing。Thenightcame——andshehesitatedstill。Thenewmorningdawned——andtheterriblequestionwasstillunanswered。
Bytheearlyposttherecamealetterforher。ItwasMr。
Bashwood’susualreport。AgainhehadwatchedforAllan’sarrival，andagaininvain。
“I’llhavemoretime！“shedetermined，passionately。“NomanaliveshallhurrymefasterthanIlike！“
Atbreakfastthatmorning(themorningofthe9th)thedoctorwassurprisedinhisstudybyavisitfromMissGwilt。
“Iwantanotherday。”shesaid，themomenttheservanthadclosedthedooronher。
Thedoctorlookedatherbeforeheanswered，andsawthedangerofdrivinghertoextremitiesplainlyexpressedinherface。
“Thetimeisgettingon。”heremonstrated，inhismostpersuasivemanner。“Forallweknowtothecontrary，Mr。Armadalemaybehereto-night。”
“Iwantanotherday！“sherepeated，loudlyandpassionately。
“Granted！“saidthedoctor，lookingnervouslytowardthedoor。
“Don’tbetooloud——theservantsmayhearyou。Mind！“headded，“Idependonyourhonornottopressmeforanyfurtherdelay。”
“Youhadbetterdependonmydespair。”shesaid，andlefthim。
Thedoctorchippedtheshellofhisegg，andlaughedsoftly。
“Quiteright，mydear！“hethought。“Irememberwhereyourdespairledyouinpasttimes;andIthinkImaytrustittoleadyouthesamewaynow。”
Ataquartertoeighto’clockthatnightMr。Bashwoodtookuphispostofobservation，asusual，ontheplatformoftheterminusatLondonBridge。Hewasinthehighestgoodspirits;hesmiledandsmirkedinirrepressibleexultation。ThesensethatheheldinreserveameansofinfluenceoverMissGwilt，invirtueofhisknowledgeofherpastcareer，hadhadnoshareineffectingthetransformationthatnowappearedinhim。IthadupheldhiscourageinhisforlornlifeatThorpeAmbrose，andithadgivenhimthatincreasedconfidenceofmannerwhichMissGwiltherselfhadnoticed;but，fromthemomentwhenhehadregainedhisoldplaceinherfavor，ithadvanishedasamotivepowerinhim，annihilatedbytheelectricshockofhertouchandherlook。Hisvanity——thevanitywhichinmenathisageisonlydespairindisguise——hadnowliftedhimtotheseventhheavenoffatuoushappinessoncemore。Hebelievedinheragainashebelievedinthesmartnewwinterovercoatthathewore——ashebelievedinthedaintylittlecane(appropriatetothedawningdandyismofladsintheirteens)thatheflourishedinhishand。Hehummed！Theworn-outoldcreature，whohadnotsungsincehischildhood，hummed，ashepacedtheplatform，thefewfragmentshecouldrememberofaworn-outoldsong。
Thetrainwasdueasearlyaseighto’clockthatnight。Atfiveminutespastthehourthewhistlesounded。Inlessthanfiveminutesmorethepassengersweregettingoutontheplatform。
Followingtheinstructionsthathadbeengiventohim，Mr。
Bashwoodmadehisway，aswellasthecrowdwouldlethim，alongthelineofcarriages，and，discoveringnofamiliarfaceonthatfirstinvestigation，joinedthepassengersforasecondsearchamongtheminthecustom-housewaiting-roomnext。
Hehadlookedroundtheroom，andhadsatisfiedhimselfthatthepersonsoccupyingitwereallstrangers，whenheheardavoicebehindhim，exclaiming:“CanthatbeMr。Bashwood！“Heturnedineagerexpectation，andfoundhimselffacetofacewiththelastmanunderheavenwhomhehadexpectedtosee。
ThemanwasMIDWINTER。
CHAPTERII。
INTHEHOUSE。
NOTICINGMr。Bashwood’sconfusion(afteramoment’sglanceatthechangeinhispersonalappearance)，Midwinterspokefirst。
“IseeIhavesurprisedyou。”hesaid。“Youarelooking，I
suppose，forsomebodyelse？HaveyouheardfromAllan？Isheonhiswayhomeagainalready？”
TheinquiryaboutAllan，thoughitwouldnaturallyhavesuggesteditselftoanyoneinMidwinter’spositionatthatmoment，addedtoMr。Bashwood’sconfusion。Notknowinghowelsetoextricatehimselffromthecriticalpositioninwhichhewasplaced，hetookrefugeinsimpledenial。
“IknownothingaboutMr。Armadale——ohdear，no，sir，IknownothingaboutMr。Armadale。”heanswered，withneedlesseagernessandhurry。“WelcomebacktoEngland，sir。”hewenton，changingthesubjectinhisnervouslytalkativemanner。“Ididn’tknowyouhadbeenabroad。It’ssolongsincewehavehadthepleasure——sinceIhavehadthepleasure。Haveyouenjoyedyourself，sir，inforeignparts？Suchdifferentmannersfromours——yes，yes，yes——suchdifferentmannersfromours！DoyoumakealongstayinEngland，nowyouhavecomeback？”
“Ihardlyknow。”saidMidwinter。“Ihavebeenobligedtoaltermyplans，andtocometoEnglandunexpectedly。”Hehesitatedalittle;hismannerchanged，andheadded，inlowertones:“A
seriousanxietyhasbroughtmeback。Ican’tsaywhatmyplanswillbeuntilthatanxietyissetatrest。”
Thelightofalampfellonhisfacewhilehespoke，andMr。
Bashwoodobserved，forthefirsttime，thathelookedsadlywornandchanged。
“I’msorry，sir——I’msureI’mverysorry。IfIcouldbeofanyuse——“suggestedMr。Bashwood，speakingundertheinfluenceinsomedegreeofhisnervouspoliteness，andinsomedegreeofhisremembranceofwhatMidwinterhaddoneforhimatThorpeAmbroseintheby-gonetime。
Midwinterthankedhimandturnedawaysadly。“Iamafraidyoucanbeofnouse，Mr。Bashwood——butIamobligedtoyouforyouroffer，allthesame。”Hestopped，andconsideredalittle，“Supposesheshould_not_beill？Supposesomemisfortuneshouldhavehappened？”heresumed，speakingtohimself，andturningagaintowardthesteward。“Ifshehaslefthermother，sometraceofher_might_befoundbyinquiringatThorpeAmbrose。”
Mr。Bashwood’scuriositywasinstantlyaroused。Thewholesexwasinterestingtohimnow，forthesakeofMissGwilt。
“Alady，sir？”heinquired。“Areyoulookingforalady？”
“Iamlooking。”saidMidwinter，simply，“formywife。”
“Married，sir！“exclaimedMr。Bashwood。“MarriedsinceIlasthadthepleasureofseeingyou！MightItakethelibertyofasking——？”
Midwinter’seyesdroppeduneasilytotheground。
“Youknewtheladyinformertimes。”hesaid。“IhavemarriedMissGwilt。”
Thestewardstartedbackashemighthavestartedbackfromaloadedpistolleveledathishead。Hiseyesglaredasifhehadsuddenlylosthissenses，andthenervoustremblingtowhichhewassubjectshookhimfromheadtofoot。
“What’sthematter？”saidMidwinter。Therewasnoanswer。“Whatistheresoverystartling。”hewenton，alittleimpatiently，“inMissGwilt’sbeingmywife？”
“_Your_wife？”repeatedMr。Bashwood，helplessly。“Mrs。
Armadale——！“Hecheckedhimselfbyadesperateeffort，andsaidnomore。
ThestuporofastonishmentwhichpossessedthestewardwasinstantlyreflectedinMidwinter’sface。Thenameinwhichhehadsecretlymarriedhiswifehadpassedthelipsofthelastmanintheworldwhomhewouldhavedreamedofadmittingintohisconfidence！HetookMr。Bashwoodbythearm，andledhimawaytoaquieterpartoftheterminusthanthepartofitinwhichtheyhadhithertospokentoeachother。
“Youreferredtomywifejustnow。”hesaid;“andyouspokeof_Mrs。Armadale_inthesamebreath。Whatdoyoumeanbythat？”
Againtherewasnoanswer。Utterlyincapableofunderstandingmorethanthathehadinvolvedhimselfinsomeseriouscomplicationwhichwasacompletemysterytohim，Mr。Bashwoodstruggledtoextricatehimselffromthegraspthatwaslaidonhim，andstruggledinvain。
Midwintersternlyrepeatedthequestion。“Iaskyouagain。”hesaid，“whatdoyoumeanbyit？”
“Nothing，sir！Igiveyoumywordofhonor，Imeantnothing！“Hefeltthehandonhisarmtighteningitsgrasp;hesaw，evenintheobscurityoftheremotecornerinwhichtheystood，thatMidwinter’sfierytemperwasrising，andwasnottobetrifledwith。Theextremityofhisdangerinspiredhimwiththeonereadycapacitythatatimidmanpossesseswhenheiscompelledbymainforcetofaceanemergency——thecapacitytolie。“Ionlymeanttosay，sir。”heburstout，withadesperateefforttolookandspeakconfidently，“thatMr。Armadalewouldbesurprised——“
“Yousaid_Mrs。_Armadale！“
“No，sir——onmywordofhonor，onmysacredwordofhonor，youaremistaken——youare，indeed！Isaid_Mr。_Armadale——howcouldI
sayanythingelse？Pleasetoletmego，sir——I’mpressedfortime。IdoassureyouI’mdreadfullypressedfortime！“
ForamomentlongerMidwintermaintainedhishold，andinthatmomenthedecidedwhattodo。
HehadaccuratelystatedhismotiveforreturningtoEnglandasproceedingfromanxietyabouthiswife——anxietynaturallycaused(aftertheregularreceiptofaletterfromhereveryother，oreverythirdday)bythesuddencessationofthecorrespondencebetweenthemonhersideforawholeweek。Thefirstvaguelyterriblesuspicionofsomeotherreasonforhersilencethanthereasonofaccidentorofillness，towhichhehadhithertoattributedit，hadstruckthroughhimlikeasuddenchilltheinstantheheardthestewardassociatethenameof“Mrs。
Armadale“withtheideaofhiswife。Littleirregularitiesinhercorrespondencewithhim，whichhehadthusfaronlythoughtstrange，nowcamebackonhismind，andprocla
