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’Nothing，nothing，’saidhemournfully。’Merewords——aphrasethatwilldoformysermonnextSunday。’ItwastooplainthatLizzywasunawarethathehadseenactualpedestriansplashesupontheskirtsofthetell-taleovercoat，andthatsheimaginedhimtobelieveithadcomedirectfromsomechestordrawer。
Theaspectofthecasewasnowconsiderablydarker。Stockdalewassomuchdepressedbyitthathedidnotchallengeherexplanation，orthreatentogooffasamissionarytobenightedislanders，orreproachherinanywaywhatever。Hesimplypartedfromherwhenshehaddonetalking，andlivedoninperplexity，tillbydegreeshisnaturalmannerbecamesadandconstrained。
ThefollowingThursdaywaschangeable，damp，andgloomy；andthenightthreatenedtobewindyandunpleasant。StockdalehadgoneawaytoKnollseainthemorning，tobepresentatsomecommemorationservicethere，andonhisreturnhewasmetbytheattractiveLizzyinthepassage。Whetherinfluencedbythetideofcheerfulnesswhichhadattendedhimthatday，orbythedrivethroughtheopenair，orwhetherfromanaturaldispositiontoletbygonesalone，heallowedhimselftobefascinatedintoforgetfulnessofthegreatcoatincident，anduponthewholepassedapleasantevening；notsomuchinhersocietyaswithinsoundofhervoice，asshesattalkinginthebackparlourtohermother，tillthelatterwenttobed。
ShortlyafterthisMrs。Newberryretired，andthenStockdalepreparedtogoupstairshimself。Butbeforehelefttheroomheremainedstandingbythedyingembersawhile，thinkinglongofonethingandanother；andwasonlyarousedbytheflickeringofhiscandleinthesocketasitsuddenlydeclinedandwentout。Knowingthattherewereatinder-box，matches，andanothercandleinhisbedroom，hefelthiswayupstairswithoutalight。Onreachinghischamberhelaidhishandoneverypossibleledgeandcornerforthetinderbox，butforalongtimeinvain。Discoveringitatlength，Stockdaleproducedaspark，andwaskindlingthebrimstone，whenhefanciedthatheheardamovementinthepassage。Heblewharderatthelint，thematchflaredup，andlookingbyaidofthebluelightthroughthedoor，whichhadbeenstandingopenallthistime，hewassurprisedtoseeamalefigurevanishingroundthetopofthestaircasewiththeevidentintentionofescapingunobserved。ThepersonageworetheclotheswhichLizzyhadbeenbrushing，andsomethingintheoutlineandgaitsuggestedtotheministerthatthewearerwasLizzyherself。
Buthewasnotsureofthis；and，greatlyexcited，Stockdaledeterminedtoinvestigatethemystery，andtoadopthisownwayfordoingit。Heblewoutthematchwithoutlightingthecandle，wentintothepassage，andproceededontiptoetowardsLizzy’sroom。A
faintgreysquareoflightinthedirectionofthechamber-windowasheapproachedtoldhimthatthedoorwasopen，andatoncesuggestedthattheoccupantwasgone。Heturnedandbroughtdownhisfistuponthehandrailofthestaircase:’Itwasshe；inherlatehusband’scoatandhat！’
Somewhatrelievedtofindthattherewasnointruderinthecase，yetnonethelesssurprised，theministercreptdownthestairs，softlyputonhisboots，overcoat，andhat，an
