第4章

"IsitrashtogotoMajorFitz—David？"Iasked。

"Yes——ifyougobyyourself。Youdon’tknowwhatsortofmanheis；youdon’tknowhowhemayreceiveyou。Letmetryfirst，andpavetheway，asthesayingis。Trustmyexperience，mydear。Inmattersofthissortthereisnothinglikepavingtheway。"

Iconsideredamoment。ItwasduetomygoodfriendtoconsiderbeforeIsaidNo。

Reflectiondecidedmeontakingtheresponsibility，whateveritmightbe，uponmyownshoulders。Goodorbad，compassionateorcruel，theMajorwasaman。Awoman’sinfluencewasthesafestinfluencetotrustwithhim，wheretheendtobegainedwassuchanendasIhadinview。ItwasnoteasytosaythistoBenjaminwithoutthedangerofmortifyinghim。Imadeanappointmentwiththeoldmantocallonmethenextmorningatthehotel，andtalkthematteroveragain。IsitverydisgracefultometoaddthatI

privatelydetermined（ifthethingcouldbeaccomplished）toseeMajorFitz—Davidintheinterval？

"Donothingrash，mydear。Inyourowninterests，donothingrash！"

ThosewereBenjamin’slastwordswhenwepartedfortheday。

IfoundEustacewaitingformeinoursitting—roomatthehotel。

HisspiritsseemedtohaverevivedsinceIhadseenhimlast。Headvancedtomeetmecheerfully，withanopensheetofpaperinhishand。

"Mybusinessissettled，Valeria，soonerthanIhadexpected，"hebegan，gayly。"Areyourpurchasesallcompleted，fairlady？Are_you_freetoo？"

Ihadlearnedalready（Godhelpme！）todistrusthisfitsofgayety。Iasked，cautiously，"Doyoumeanfreeforto—day？"

"Freeforto—day，andto—morrow，andnextweek，andnextmonth——andnextyeartoo，forallIknowtothecontrary，"heanswered，puttinghisarmboisterouslyroundmywaist。"Lookhere！"

HeliftedtheopensheetofpaperwhichIhadnoticedinhishand，andhelditformetoread。Itwasatelegramtothesailing—masteroftheyacht，informinghimthatwehadarrangedtoreturntoRamsgatethatevening，andthatweshouldbereadytosailfortheMediterraneanwiththenexttide。

"Ionlywaitedforyourreturn，"saidEustace，"tosendthetelegramtotheoffice。"

Hecrossedtheroomashespoketoringthebell。Istoppedhim。

"IamafraidIcan’tgotoRamsgateto—day，"Isaid。

"Whynot？"heasked，suddenlychanginghistone，andspeakingsharply。

Idaresayitwillseemridiculoustosomepeople，butitisreallytruethatheshookmyresolutiontogotoMajorFitz—Davidwhenheputhisarmroundme。Evenamerepassingcaressfrom_him_stoleawaymyheart，andsoftlytemptedmetoyield。Buttheominousalterationinhistonemadeanotherwomanofme。I

feltoncemore，andfeltmorestronglythanever，thatinmycriticalpositionitwasuselesstostandstill，andworsethanuselesstodrawback。

"Iamsorrytodisappointyou，"Ianswered。Itisimpossibleforme（asItoldyouatRamsgate）tobereadytosailatamoment’snotice。Iwanttime。"

"Whatfor？"

Notonlyhistone，buthislook，whenheputthatsecondquestion，jarredoneverynerveinme。Herousedinmymind——I

can’ttellhoworwhy——anangrysenseoftheindignitythathehadputuponhiswifeinmarryingherunderafalsename。FearingthatIshouldanswerrashly，thatIshouldsaysomethingwhichmybettersensemightregret，ifIspokeatthatmoment，Isaidnothing。Womenalonecanestimatewhatitcostmetobesilent。

Andmenalonecanunderstandhowirritatingmysilencemusthavebeentomyhusband。

"Youwanttime？"herepeated。"Iaskyouagain——whatfor？"

Myself—control，pushedtoitsextremestlimits，failedme。Therashreplyflewoutofmylips，likeabirdsetfreefromacage。

"Iwanttime，"Isaid，"toaccustommyselftomyrightname。"

Hesuddenlysteppeduptomewithadarklook。

"Whatdoyoumeanbyyour’rightname？’"

"Surelyyouknow，"Ianswered。"IoncethoughtIwasMrs。

Woodville。IhavenowdiscoveredthatIamMrs。Macallan。"

HestartedbackatthesoundofhisownnameasifIhadstruckhim——hestartedback，andturnedsodeadlypalethatIfearedhewasgoingtodropatmyfeetinaswoon。Oh，mytongue！mytongue！WhyhadInotcontrolledmymiserable，mischievouswoman’stongue！

"Ididn’tmeantoalarmyou，Eustace，"Isaid。"Ispokeatrandom。Prayforgiveme。"

Hewavedhishandimpatiently，asifmypenitentwordsweretangiblethings——ruffling，worryingthings，likefliesinsummer——whichhewasputtingawayfromhim。

"Whatelsehaveyoudiscovered？"heasked，inlow，sterntones。

"Nothing，Eustace。"

"Nothing？"Hepausedasherepeatedtheword，andpassedhishandoverhisforeheadinawearyway。"Nothing，ofcourse，"heresumed，speakingtohimself，"orshewouldnotbehere。"Hepausedoncemore，andlookedatmesearchingly。"Don’tsayagainwhatyousaidjustnow，"hewenton。"Foryourownsake，Valeria，aswellasformine。"Hedroppedintothenearestchair，andsaidnomore。

Icertainlyheardthewarning；buttheonlywordswhichreallyproducedanimpressiononmymindwerethewordsprecedingit，whichhehadspokentohimself。Hehadsaid："Nothing，ofcourse，_orshecouldnotbehere。"_IfIhadfoundoutsomeothertruthbesidesthetruthaboutthename，wouldithavepreventedmefromeverreturningtomyhusband？Wasthatwhathemeant？Didthesortofdiscoverythathecontemplatedmeansomethingsodreadfulthatitwouldhavepartedusatonceandforever？Istoodbyhischairinsilence，andtriedtofindtheanswertothoseterriblequestionsinhisface。Itusedtospeaktomesoeloquentlywhenitspokeofhislove。Ittoldmenothingnow。

Hesatforsometimewithoutlookingatme，lostinhisownthoughts。Thenheroseonasuddenandtookhishat。

"Thefriendwholentmetheyachtisintown，"hesaid。"I

supposeIhadbetterseehim，andsayourplansarechanged。"Hetoreupthetelegramwithanairofsullenresignationashespoke。"Youareevidentlydeterminednottogotoseawithme，"

heresumed。"Wehadbettergiveitup。Idon’tseewhatelseistobedone。Doyou？"

Histonewasalmostatoneofcontempt。Iwastoodepressedaboutmyself，tooalarmedabout_him，_toresentit。

"Decideasyouthinkbest，Eustace，"Isaid，sadly。"Everyway，theprospectseemsahopelessone。AslongasIamshutoutfromyourconfidence，itmatterslittlewhetherweliveonlandoratsea——wecannotlivehappily。"

"Ifyoucouldcontrolyourcuriosity。"heanswered，sternly，"wemightlivehappilyenough。IthoughtIhadmarriedawomanwhowassuperiortothevulgarfailingsofhersex。Agoodwifeshouldknowbetterthantopryintoaffairsofherhusband’swithwhichshehadnoconcern。"

Surelyitwashardtobearthis？However，Iboreit。

"Isitnoconcernofmine？"Iasked，gently，"whenIfindthatmyhusbandhasnotmarriedmeunderhisfamilyname？IsitnoconcernofminewhenIhearyourmothersay，insomanywords，thatshepitiesyourwife？Itishard，Eustace，toaccusemeofcuriositybecauseIcannotaccepttheunendurablepositioninwhichyouhaveplacedme。Yourcruelsilenceisablightonmyhappinessandathreattomyfuture。Yourcruelsilenceisestrangingusfromeachotheratthebeginningofourmarriedlife。Andyoublamemeforfeelingthis？YoutellmeIampryingintoaffairswhichareyoursonly？Theyare_not_yoursonly：I

havemyinterestinthemtoo。Oh，mydarling，whydoyoutriflewithourloveandourconfidenceineachother？Whydoyoukeepmeinthedark？"

Heansweredwithasternandpitilessbrevity，"Foryourowngood。"

Iturnedawayfromhiminsilence。Hewastreatingmelikeachild。

Hefollowedme。Puttingonehandheavilyonmyshoulder，heforcedmetofacehimoncemore。

"Listentothis，"hesaid。"WhatIamnowgoingtosaytoyouI

sayforthefirstandlasttime。Valeria！ifyoueverdiscoverwhatIamnowkeepingfromyourknowledge——fromthatmomentyoulivealifeoftorture；yourtranquillityisgone。Yourdayswillbedaysofterror；yournightswillbefullofhorriddreams——throughnofaultofmine，mind！throughnofaultofmine！

Everydayofyourlifeyouwillfeelsomenewdistrust，somegrowingfearofme，andyouwillbedoingmethevilestinjusticeallthetime。OnmyfaithasaChristian，onmyhonorasaman，ifyoustirastepfurtherinthismatter，thereisanendtoyourhappinessfortherestofyourlife！ThinkseriouslyofwhatIhavesaidtoyou；youwillhavetimetoreflect。IamgoingtotellmyfriendthatourplansfortheMediterraneanaregivenup。

Ishallnotbebackbeforetheevening。"Hesighed，andlookedatmewithunutterablesadness。"Iloveyou，Valeria，"hesaid。"Inspiteofallthathaspassed，asGodismywitness，Iloveyoumoredearlythanever。"

Sohespoke。Soheleftme。

Imustwritethetruthaboutmyself，howeverstrangeitmayappear。Idon’tpretendtobeabletoanalyzemyownmotives；I

don’tpretendeventoguesshowotherwomenmighthaveactedinmyplace。Itistrueofme，thatmyhusband’sterriblewarning——allthemoreterribleinitsmysteryanditsvagueness——producednodeterrenteffectonmymind：itonlystimulatedmyresolutiontodiscoverwhathewashidingfromme。

HehadnotbeengonetwominutesbeforeIrangthebellandorderedthecarriage，totakemetoMajorFitz—David’shouseinVivianPlace。

WalkingtoandfrowhileIwaswaiting——Iwasinsuchafeverofexcitementthatitwasimpossibleformetositstill——I

accidentallycaughtsightofmyselfintheglass。

Myownfacestartledme，itlookedsohaggardandsowild。CouldIpresentmyselftoastranger，couldIhopetoproducethenecessaryimpressioninmyfavor，lookingasIlookedatthatmoment？ForallIknewtothecontrary，mywholefuturemightdependupontheeffectwhichIproducedonMajorFitz—Davidatfirstsight。Irangthebellagain，andsentamessagetooneofthechambermaidstofollowmetomyroom。

Ihadnomaidofmyownwithme：thestewardessoftheyachtwouldhaveactedasmyattendantifwehadheldtoourfirstarrangement。Itmatteredlittle，solongasIhadawomantohelpme。Thechambermaidappeared。IcangivenobetterideaofthedisorderedanddesperateconditionofmymindatthattimethanbyowningthatI

actuallyconsultedthisperfectstrangeronthequestionofmypersonalappearance。Shewasamiddle—agedwoman，withalargeexperienceoftheworldanditswickednesswrittenlegiblyonhermannerandonherface。Iputmoneyintothewoman’shand，enoughofittosurpriseher。Shethankedmewithacynicalsmile，evidentlyplacingherownevilinterpretationonmymotiveforbribingher。

"WhatcanIdoforyou，ma’am？"sheasked，inaconfidentialwhisper。"Don’tspeakloud！thereissomebodyinthenextroom。"

"Iwanttolookmybest，"Isaid，"andIhavesentforyoutohelpme。"

"Iunderstand，ma’am。"

"Whatdoyouunderstand？"

Shenoddedherheadsignificantly，andwhisperedtomeagain。

"Lordblessyou，I’musedtothis！"shesaid。"Thereisagentlemaninthecase。Don’tmindme，ma’am。It’sawayIhave。I

meannoharm。"Shestopped，andlookedatmecritically。"I

wouldn’tchangemydressifIwereyou，"shewenton。"Thecolorbecomesyou。"

Itwastoolatetoresentthewoman’simpertinence。Therewasnohelpforitbuttomakeuseofher。Besides，shewasrightaboutthedress。Itwasofadelicatemaize—color，prettilytrimmedwithlace。Icouldwearnothingwhichsuitedmebetter。Myhair，however，stoodinneedofsomeskilledattention。Thechambermaidrearrangeditwithareadyhandwhichshowedthatshewasnobeginnerintheartofdressinghair。Shelaiddownthecombsandbrushes，andlookedatme；thenlookedatthetoilet—table，searchingforsomethingwhichsheapparentlyfailedtofind。

"Wheredoyoukeepit？"sheasked。

"Whatdoyoumean？"

"Lookatyourcomplexion，ma’am。Youwillfrightenhimifheseesyoulikethat。Atouchofcoloryou_must_have。Wheredoyoukeepit？What！youhaven’tgotit？youneveruseit？Dear，dear，dearme！"

Foramomentsurprisefairlydeprivedherofherself—possession。

Recoveringherself，shebeggedpermissiontoleavemeforaminute。Ilethergo，knowingwhathererrandwas。Shecamebackwithaboxofpaintandpowders；andIsaidnothingtocheckher。

Isaw，intheglass，myskintakeafalsefairness，mycheeksafalsecolor，myeyesafalsebrightness——andInevershrankfromit。No！Ilettheodiousconceitgoon；Ievenadmiredtheextraordinarydelicacyanddexteritywithwhichitwasalldone。

"Anything"（Ithoughttomyself，inthemadnessofthatmiserabletime）"solongasithelpsmetowintheMajor’sconfidence！

Anything，solongasIdiscoverwhatthoselastwordsofmyhusband’sreallymean！"

Thetransformationofmyfacewasaccomplished。Thechambermaidpointedwithherwickedforefingerinthedirectionoftheglass。

"Bearinmind，ma’am，whatyoulookedlikewhenyousentforme，"

shesaid。"Andjustseeforyourselfhowyoulooknow。You’retheprettiestwoman（ofyourstyle）inLondon。Ahwhatathingpearl—powderis，whenoneknowshowtouseit！"

CHAPTERVIII。

THEFRIENDOFTHEWOMEN。

IFINDitimpossibletodescribemysensationswhilethecarriagewastakingmetoMajorFitz—David’shouse。Idoubt，indeed，ifIreallyfeltorthoughtatall，inthetruesenseofthosewords。

FromthemomentwhenIhadresignedmyselfintothehandsofthechambermaidIseemedinsomestrangewaytohavelostmyordinaryidentity——tohavesteppedoutofmyowncharacter。Atothertimesmytemperamentwasofthenervousandanxioussort，andmytendencywastoexaggerateanydifficultiesthatmightplacethemselvesinmyway。Atothertimes，havingbeforemetheprospectofacriticalinterviewwithastranger，Ishouldhaveconsideredwithmyselfwhatitmightbewisetopassover，andwhatitmightbewisetosay。NowInevergavemycominginterviewwiththeMajorathought；Ifeltanunreasoningconfidenceinmyself，andablindfaithin_him_。Nowneitherthepastnorthefuturetroubledme；Ilivedunreflectinglyinthepresent。Ilookedattheshopsaswedrovebythem，andattheothercarriagesastheypassedmine。Inoticed——yes，andenjoyed——theglancesofadmirationwhichchancefoot—passengersonthepavementcastonme。Isaidtomyself，"ThislookswellformyprospectofmakingafriendoftheMajor！"WhenwedrewupatthedoorinVivianPlace，itisnoexaggerationtosaythatI

hadbutoneanxiety——anxietytofindtheMajorathome。

Thedoorwasopenedbyaservantoutoflivery，anoldmanwholookedasifhemighthavebeenasoldierinhisearlierdays。Heeyedmewithagraveattention，whichrelaxedlittlebylittleintoslyapproval。IaskedforMajorFitz—David。Theanswerwasnotaltogetherencouraging：themanwasnotsurewhetherhismasterwereathomeornot。

Igavehimmycard。Mycards，beingpartofmyweddingoutfit，necessarilyhadthefalsenameprintedonthem——_Mrs。EustaceWoodville_。Theservantshowedmeintoafrontroomontheground—floor，anddisappearedwithmycardinhishand。

Lookingaboutme，Inoticedadoorinthewalloppositethewindow，communicatingwithsomeinnerroom。Thedoorwasnotoftheordinarykind。Itfittedintothethicknessofthepartitionwall，andworkedingrooves。Lookingalittlenearer，Isawthatithadnotbeenpulledoutsoascompletelytoclosethedoorway。

Onlythemerestchinkwasleft；butitwasenoughtoconveytomyearsallthatpassedinthenextroom。

"Whatdidyousay，Oliver，whensheaskedforme？"inquiredaman’svoice，pitchedcautiouslyinalowkey。

"IsaidIwasnotsureyouwereathome，sir，"answeredthevoiceoftheservantwhohadletmein。

Therewasapause。ThefirstspeakerwasevidentlyMajorFitz—Davidhimself。Iwaitedtohearmore。

"IthinkIhadbetternotseeher，Oliver，"theMajor’svoiceresumed。

"Verygood，sir。"

"SayIhavegoneout，andyoudon’tknowwhenIshallbebackagain。Begtheladytowrite，ifshehasanybusinesswithme。"

"Yes，sir。"

"Stop，Oliver！"

Oliverstopped。Therewasanotherandlongerpause。Thenthemasterresumedtheexaminationoftheman。

"Issheyoung，Oliver？"

"Yes，sir。"

"And——pretty？"

"Betterthanpretty，sir，tomythinking。"

"Aye？aye？Whatyoucallafinewoman——eh，Oliver？"

"Certainly，sir。"

"Tall？"

"NearlyastallasIam，Major。"

"Aye？aye？aye？Agoodfigure？"

"Asslimasasapling，sir，andasuprightasadart。"

"Onsecondthoughts，Iamathome，Oliver。Showherin！showherin！"

Sofar，onethingatleastseemedtobeclear。Ihaddonewellinsendingforthechambermaid。WhatwouldOliver’sreportofmehavebeenifIhadpresentedmyselftohimwithmycolorlesscheeksandmyill—dressedhair？

Theservantreappeared，andconductedmetotheinnerroom。MajorFitz—Davidadvancedtowelcomeme。WhatwastheMajorlike？

Well，hewaslikeawell—preservedoldgentlemanof，say，sixtyyearsold，littleandlean，andchieflyremarkablebytheextraordinarylengthofhisnose。Afterthisfeature，Inoticednexthisbeautifulbrownwig；hissparklinglittlegrayeyes；hisrosycomplexion；hisshortmilitarywhisker，dyedtomatchhiswig；hiswhiteteethandhiswinningsmile；hissmartbluefrock—coat，withacamelliainthebutton—hole；andhissplendidring，aruby，flashingonhislittlefingerashecourteouslysignedtometotakeachair。

"DearMrs。Woodville，howverykindofyouthisis！Ihavebeenlongingtohavethehappinessofknowingyou。Eustaceisanoldfriendofmine。IcongratulatedhimwhenIheardofhismarriage。

MayImakeaconfession？——IenvyhimnowIhaveseenhiswife。"

Thefutureofmylifewasperhapsinthisman’shands。Istudiedhimattentively：Itriedtoreadhischaracterinhisface。

TheMajor’ssparklinglittlegrayeyessoftenedastheylookedatme；theMajor’sstrongandsturdyvoicedroppedtoitslowestandtenderesttoneswhenhespoketome；theMajor’smannerexpressed，fromthemomentwhenIenteredtheroom，ahappymixtureofadmirationandrespect。Hedrewhischairclosetomine，asifitwereaprivilegetobenearme。Hetookmyhandandliftedmyglovetohislips，asifthatglovewerethemostdeliciousluxurytheworldcouldproduce。"DearMrs。Woodville，"

hesaid，ashesoftlylaidmyhandbackonmylap，"bearwithanoldfellowwhoworshipsyourenchantingsex。Youreallybrightenthisdullhouse。Itis_such_apleasuretoseeyou！"

Therewasnoneedfortheoldgentlemantomakehislittleconfession。Women，children，anddogsproverbiallyknowbyinstinctwhothepeoplearewhoreallylikethem。Thewomenhadawarmfriend——perhapsatonetimeadangerouslywarmfriend——inMajorFitz—David。IknewasmuchofhimasthatbeforeIhadsettledmyselfinmychairandopenedmylipstoanswerhim。

"Thankyou，Major，foryourkindreceptionandyourprettycompliment，"Isaid，matchingmyhost’seasytoneascloselyasthenecessaryrestraintsonmysidewouldpermit。"Youhavemadeyourconfession。MayImakemine？"

MajorFitz—Davidliftedmyhandagainfrommylapanddrewhischairascloseaspossibletomine。Ilookedathimgravelyandtriedtoreleasemyhand。MajorFitz—Daviddeclinedtoletgoofit，andproceededtotellmewhy。

"Ihavejustheardyouspeakforthefirsttime，"hesaid。"Iamunderthecharmofyourvoice。DearMrs。Woodville，bearwithanoldfellowwhoisunderthecharm！Don’tgrudgememyinnocentlittlepleasures。Lendme——IwishIcouldsay_give_me——thisprettyhand。Iamsuchanadmirerofprettyhands！Icanlistensomuchbetterwithaprettyhandinmine。Theladiesindulgemyweakness。Pleaseindulgemetoo。Yes？Andwhatwereyougoingtosay？"

"Iwasgoingtosay，Major，thatIfeltparticularlysensibleofyourkindwelcomebecause，asithappens，Ihaveafavortoaskofyou。"

Iwasconscious，whileIspoke，thatIwasapproachingtheobjectofmyvisitalittletooabruptly。ButMajorFitz—David’sadmirationrosefromoneclimaxtoanotherwithsuchalarmingrapiditythatIfelttheimportanceofadministeringapracticalchecktoit。Itrustedtothoseominouswords，"afavortoaskofyou，"toadministerthecheck，andIdidnottrustinvain。Myagedadmirergentlydroppedmyhand，and，withallpossiblepoliteness，changedthesubject。

"Thefavorisgranted，ofcourse！"hesaid。"Andnow，tellme，howisourdearEustace？"

"Anxiousandoutofspirits。"Ianswered。

"Anxiousandoutofspirits！"repeatedtheMajor。"TheenviablemanwhoismarriedtoYouanxiousandoutofspirits？Monstrous！

Eustacefairlydisgustsme。Ishalltakehimoffthelistofmyfriends。"

"Inthatcase，takemeoffthelistwithhim，Major。Iaminwretchedspiritstoo。Youaremyhusband’soldfriend。Imayacknowledgeto_you_thatourmarriedlifeisjustnownotquiteahappyone。"

MajorFitz—Davidliftedhiseyebrows（dyedtomatchhiswhiskers）

inpolitesurprise。

"Already！"heexclaimed。"WhatcanEustacebemadeof？Hashenoappreciationofbeautyandgrace？Ishethemostinsensibleoflivingbeings？"

"Heisthebestanddearestofmen，"Ianswered。"Butthereissomedreadfulmysteryinhispastlife——"

Icouldgetnofurther；MajorFitz—Daviddeliberatelystoppedme。

Hediditwiththesmoothestpoliteness，onthesurface。ButI

sawalookinhisbrightlittleeyeswhichsaid，plainly，"Ifyou_will_ventureondelicateground，madam，don’taskmetoaccompanyyou。"

"Mycharmingfriend！"heexclaimed。"MayIcallyoumycharmingfriend？Youhave——amongathousandotherdelightfulqualitieswhichIcanseealready——avividimagination。Don’tletitgettheupperhand。Takeanoldfellow’sadvice；don’tletitgettheupperhand！WhatcanIofferyou，dearMrs。Woodville？Acupoftea？"

"Callmebymyrightname，sir，"Ianswered，boldly。"Ihavemadeadiscovery。IknowaswellasyoudothatmynameisMacallan。"

TheMajorstarted，andlookedatmeveryattentively。Hismannerbecamegrave，histonechangedcompletely，whenhespokenext。

"MayIask，"hesaid，"ifyouhavecommunicatedtoyourhusbandthediscoverywhichyouhavejustmentionedtome？"

"Certainly！"Ianswered。"Iconsiderthatmyhusbandowesmeanexplanation。Ihaveaskedhimtotellmewhathisextraordinaryconductmeans——andhehasrefused，inlanguagethatfrightensme。

Ihaveappealedtohismother——and_she_hasrefusedtoexplain，inlanguagethathumiliatesme。DearMajorFitz—David，Ihavenofriendstotakemypart：Ihavenobodytocometobutyou！Domethegreatestofallfavors——tellmewhyyourfriendEustacehasmarriedmeunderafalsename！"

"Do_me_thegreatestofallfavors；"answeredtheMajor。"Don’taskmetosayawordaboutit。"

Helooked，inspiteofhisunsatisfactoryreply，asifhereallyfeltforme。Ideterminedtotrymyutmostpowersofpersuasion；

Iresolvednottobebeatenatthefirstrepulse。

"I_must_askyou，"Isaid。"Thinkofmyposition。HowcanI

live，knowingwhatIknow——andknowingnomore？Iwouldratherhearthemosthorriblethingyoucantellmethanbecondemned（asIamnow）toperpetualmisgivingandperpetualsuspense。I

lovemyhusbandwithallmyheart；butIcannotlivewithhimontheseterms：themiseryofitwoulddrivememad。Iamonlyawoman，Major。Icanonlythrowmyselfonyourkindness。

Don’t——pray，praydon’tkeepmeinthedark！"

Icouldsaynomore。IntherecklessimpulseofthemomentI

snatcheduphishandandraisedittomylips。ThegallantoldgentlemanstartedasifIhadgivenhimanelectricshock。

"Mydear，dearlady！"heexclaimed，"Ican’ttellyouhowIfeelforyou！Youcharmme，youoverwhelmme，youtouchmetotheheart。WhatcanIsay？WhatcanIdo？Icanonlyimitateyouradmirablefrankness，yourfearlesscandor。Youhavetoldmewhatyourpositionis。Letmetellyou，inmyturn，howIamplaced。

Composeyourself——praycomposeyourself！Ihaveasmelling—bottlehereattheserviceoftheladies。Permitmetoofferit。"

Hebroughtmethesmelling—bottle；heputalittlestoolundermyfeet；heentreatedmetotaketimeenoughtocomposemyself。

"Infernalfool！"Iheardhimsaytohimself，asheconsideratelyturnedawayfrommeforafewmoments。"If_I_hadbeenherhusband，comewhatmightofit，Iwouldhavetoldherthetruth！"

WashereferringtoEustace？Andwashegoingtodowhathewouldhavedoneinmyhusband’splace？——washereallygoingtotellmethetruth？

TheideahadbarelycrossedmymindwhenIwasstartledbyaloudandperemptoryknockingatthestreetdoor。TheMajorstoppedandlistenedattentively。Inafewmomentsthedoorwasopened，andtherustlingofawoman’sdresswasplainlyaudibleinthehall。

TheMajorhurriedtothedooroftheroomwiththeactivityofayoungman。Hewastoolate。Thedoorwasviolentlyopenedfromtheouterside，justashegottoit。Theladyoftherustlingdressburstintotheroom。

CHAPTERIX。

THEDEFEATOFTHEMAJOR。

MAJORFITZ—DAVID’Svisitorprovedtobeaplump，round—eyedoverdressedgirl，withafloridcomplexionandstrawcoloredhair。Afterfirstfixingonmeabroadstareofastonishment，shepointedlyaddressedherapologiesforintrudingonustotheMajoralone。Thecreatureevidentlybelievedmetobethelastnewobjectoftheoldgentleman’sidolatry；andshetooknopainstodisguiseherjealousresentmentondiscoveringustogether。

MajorFitz—Davidsetmattersrightinhisownirresistibleway。

Hekissedthehandoftheoverdressedgirlasdevotedlyashehadkissedmine；hetoldhershewaslookingcharmingly。Thenheledher，withhishappymixtureofadmirationandrespect，backtothedoorbywhichshehadentered——aseconddoorcommunicatingdirectlywiththehall。

"Noapologyisnecessary，mydear，"hesaid。"Thisladyiswithmeonamatterofbusiness。Youwillfindyoursinging—masterwaitingforyouupstairs。Beginyourlesson；andIwilljoinyouinafewminutes。_Aurevoir_，mycharmingpupil——_aurevoir。_"

Theyoungladyansweredthispolitelittlespeechinawhisper——withherroundeyesfixeddistrustfullyonmewhileshespoke。Thedoorclosedonher。MajorFitz—Davidwasatlibertytosetmattersrightwithme，inmyturn。

"Icallthatyoungpersononeofmyhappydiscoveries；"saidtheoldgentleman，complacently。"Shepossesses，Idon’thesitatetosay，thefinestsopranovoiceinEurope。Wouldyoubelieveit，I