第6章

thought，asIclosedthefifth，andopenedthesixthandlastdrawer。

Thesixthdrawerwasatonceasurpriseandadisappointment。Itliterallycontainednothingbutthefragmentsofabrokenvase。

Iwassitting，atthetime，oppositetothecabinet，inalowchair。Inthemomentaryirritationcausedbymydiscoveryoftheemptinessofthelastdrawer，Ihadjustliftedmyfoottopushitbackintoitsplace，whenthedoorcommunicatingwiththehallopened，andMajorFitz—Davidstoodbeforeme。

Hiseyes，afterfirstmeetingmine，traveleddownwardtomyfoot。

TheinstanthenoticedtheopendrawerIsawachangeinhisface。Itwasonlyforamoment；butinthatmomenthelookedatmewithasuddensuspicionandsurprise——lookedasifhehadcaughtmewithmyhandontheclew。

"Praydon’tletmedisturbyou，"saidMajorFitz—David。"Ihaveonlycomeheretoaskyouaquestion。"

"Whatisit，Major？"

"Haveyoumetwithanylettersofmineinthecourseofyourinvestigations？"

"Ihavefoundnoneyet，"Ianswered。"IfIdodiscoveranyletters，Ishall，ofcourse，nottakethelibertyofexaminingthem。"

"Iwantedtospeaktoyouaboutthat，"herejoined。"Itonlystruckmeamomentsince，upstairs，thatmylettersmightembarrassyou。InyourplaceIshouldfeelsomedistrustofanythingwhichIwasnotatlibertytoexamine。IthinkIcansetthismatterright，however，withverylittletroubletoeitherofus。ItisnoviolationofanypromisesorpledgesonmypartifI

simplytellyouthatmyletterswillnotassistthediscoverywhichyouaretryingtomake。Youcansafelypassthemoverasobjectsthatarenotworthexaminingfromyourpointofview。Youunderstandme，Iamsure？"

"Iammuchobligedtoyou，Major——Iquiteunderstand。"

"Areyoufeelinganyfatigue？"

"Nonewhatever，thankyou。"

"Andyoustillhopetosucceed？Youarenotbeginningtobediscouragedalready？"

"Iamnotintheleastdiscouraged。Withyourkindleave，Imeantopersevereforsometimeyet。"

Ihadnotclosedthedrawerofthecabinetwhileweweretalking，andIglancedcarelessly，asIansweredhim，atthefragmentsofthebrokenvase。Bythistimehehadgothisfeelingsunderperfectcommand。He，too，glancedatthefragmentsofthevasewithanappearanceofperfectindifference。Irememberedthelookofsuspicionandsurprisethathadescapedhimonenteringtheroom，andIthoughthisindifferencealittleoveracted。

"_That_doesn’tlookveryencouraging，"hesaid，withasmile，pointingtotheshatteredpiecesofchinainthedrawer。

"Appearancesarenotalwaystobetrusted，"Ireplied。"ThewisestthingIcandoinmypresentsituationistosuspecteverything，evendowntoabrokenvase。"

IlookedhardathimasIspoke。Hechangedthesubject。

"Doesthemusicupstairsannoyyou？"heasked。

"Notintheleast，Major。"

"Itwillsoonbeovernow。Thesinging—masterisgoing，andtheItalianmasterhasjustarrived。Iamsparingnopainstomakemyyoungprimadonnaamostaccomplishedperson。Inlearningtosingshemustalsolearnthelanguagewhichisespeciallythelanguageofmusic。IshallperfectherintheaccentwhenItakehertoItaly。ItistheheightofmyambitiontohavehermistakenforanItalianwhenshesingsinpublic。IsthereanythingIcandobeforeIleaveyouagain？MayIsendyousomemorechampagne？

Pleasesayyes！"

"Athousandthanks，Major。Nomorechampagneforthepresent。"

Heturnedatthedoortokisshishandtomeatparting。AtthesamemomentIsawhiseyeswanderslylytowardthebook—case。Itwasonlyforaninstant。Ihadbarelydetectedhimbeforehewasoutoftheroom。

Leftbymyselfagain，Ilookedatthebook—case——lookedatitattentivelyforthefirsttime。

Itwasahandsomepieceoffurnitureinancientcarvedoak，anditstoodagainstthewallwhichranparallelwiththehallofthehouse。Exceptingthespaceoccupiedintheuppercorneroftheroombytheseconddoor，whichopenedintothehall，thebook—casefilledthewholelengthofthewalldowntothewindow。

Thetopwasornamentedbyvases，candelabra，andstatuettes，inpairs，placedinarow。Lookingalongtherow，Inoticedavacantspaceonthetopofthebookcaseattheextremityofitwhichwasnearesttothewindow。Theoppositeextremity，nearesttothedoor，wasoccupiedbyahandsomepaintedvaseofaverypeculiarpattern。Wherewasthecorrespondingvase，whichoughttohavebeenplacedatthecorrespondingextremityofthebook—case？I

returnedtotheopensixthdrawerofthecabinet，andlookedinagain。TherewasnomistakingthepatternonthefragmentswhenI

examinedthemnow。Thevasewhichhadbeenbrokenwasthevasewhichhadstoodintheplacenowvacantonthetopofthebook—caseattheendnearesttothewindow。

Makingthisdiscovery，Itookoutthefragments，downtothesmallestmorseloftheshatteredchina，andexaminedthemcarefullyoneafteranother。

Iwastooignorantofthesubjecttobeabletoestimatethevalueofthevaseortheantiquityofthevase，oreventoknowwhetheritwereofBritishorofforeignmanufacture。Thegroundwasofadelicatecream—color。TheornamentstracedonthiswerewreathsofflowersandCupidssurroundingamedalliononeithersideofthevase。Uponthespacewithinoneofthemedallionswaspaintedwithexquisitedelicacyawoman’shead，representinganymphoragoddess，orperhapsaportraitofsomecelebratedperson——Iwasnotlearnedenoughtosaywhich。Theothermedallioninclosedtheheadofaman，alsotreatedintheclassicalstyle。RecliningshepherdsandshepherdessesinWatteaucostume，withtheirdogsandtheirsheep，formedtheadornmentsofthepedestal。Suchhadthevasebeeninthedaysofitsprosperity，whenitstoodonthetopofthebook—case。Bywhataccidenthaditbecomebroken？AndwhyhadMajorFitz—David’sfacechangedwhenhefoundthatIhaddiscoveredtheremainsofhisshatteredworkofartinthecabinetdrawer？

Theremainsleftthoseseriousquestionsunanswered——theremainstoldmeabsolutelynothing。Andyet，ifmyownobservationoftheMajorweretobetrusted，thewaytotheclewofwhichIwasinsearchlay，directlyorindirectly，throughthebrokenvase。

Itwasuselesstopursuethequestion，knowingnomorethanI

knewnow。Ireturnedtothebook—case。

ThusfarIhadassumed（withoutanysufficientreason）thattheclewofwhichIwasinsearchmustnecessarilyrevealitselfthroughawrittenpaperofsomesort。Itnowoccurredtome——afterthemovementwhichIhaddetectedonthepartoftheMajor——thattheclewmightquiteasprobablypresentitselfintheformofabook。

Ilookedalongthelowerrowsofshelves，standingjustnearenoughtothemtoreadthetitlesonthebacksofthevolumes。I

sawVoltaireinredmorocco，Shakespeareinblue，WalterScottingreen，the"HistoryofEngland"inbrown，the"AnnualRegister"

inyellowcalf。ThereIpaused，weariedanddiscouragedalreadybythelongrowsofvolumes。How（Ithoughttomyself）amItoexamineallthesebooks？AndwhatamItolookfor，evenifIdoexaminethemall？

MajorFitz—Davidhadspokenofaterriblemisfortunewhichhaddarkenedmyhusband’spastlife。Inwhatpossiblewaycouldanytraceofthatmisfortune，oranysuggestivehintofsomethingresemblingit，existinthearchivesofthe"AnnualRegister"orinthepagesofVoltaire？ThebareideaofsuchathingseemedabsurdThemereattempttomakeaseriousexaminationinthisdirectionwassurelyawantonwasteoftime。

AndyettheMajorhadcertainlystolenalookatthebook—case。

Andagain，thebrokenvasehadoncestoodonthebook—case。Didthesecircumstancesjustifymeinconnectingthevaseandthebook—caseastwinlandmarksonthewaythatledtodiscovery？Thequestionwasnotaneasyonetodecideonthespurofthemoment。

Ilookedupatthehighershelves。

Herethecollectionofbooksexhibitedagreatervariety。Thevolumesweresmaller，andwerenotsocarefullyarrangedasonthelowershelves。Somewereboundincloth，somewereonlyprotectedbypapercovers；oneortwohadfallen，andlayflatontheshelves。HereandthereIsawemptyspacesfromwhichbookshadbeenremovedandnotreplaced。Inshort，therewasnodiscouraginguniformityinthesehigherregionsofthebook—case。

Theuntidytopshelveslookedsuggestiveofsomeluckyaccidentwhichmightunexpectedlyleadthewaytosuccess。Idecided，ifI

didexaminethebook—caseatall，tobeginatthetop。

Wherewasthelibraryladder？

Ihadleftitagainstthepartitionwallwhichdividedthebackroomfromtheroominfront。Lookingthatway，Inecessarilylookedalsotowardthedoorthatraningrooves——theimperfectlycloseddoorthroughwhichIheardMajorFitz—DavidquestionhisservantonthesubjectofmypersonalappearancewhenIfirstenteredthehouse。Noonehadmovedthisdoorduringthetimeofmyvisit。Everybodyenteringorleavingtheroomhadusedtheotherdoor，whichledintothehall。

AtthemomentwhenIlookedroundsomethingstirredinthefrontroom。Themovementletthelightinsuddenlythroughthesmallopenspaceleftbythepartiallycloseddoor。Hadsomebodybeenwatchingmethroughthechink？Isteppedsoftlytothedoor，andpusheditbackuntilitwaswideopen。TherewastheMajor，discoveredinthefrontroom！Isawitinhisface——hehadbeenwatchingmeatthebook—case！

Hishatwasinhishand。Hewasevidentlygoingout；andhedexterouslytookadvantageofthatcircumstancetogiveaplausiblereasonforbeingsonearthedoor。

"IhopeIdidn’tfrightenyou，"hesaid。

"Youstartledmealittle，Major。"

"Iamsosorry，andsoashamed！Iwasjustgoingtoopenthedoor，andtellyouthatIamobligedtogoout。Ihavereceivedapressingmessagefromalady。Acharmingperson——Ishouldsolikeyoutoknowher。Sheisinsadtrouble，poorthing。Littlebills，youknow，andnastytradespeoplewhowanttheirmoney，andahusband——oh，dearme，ahusbandwhoisquiteunworthyofher！A

mostinterestingcreature。Youremindmeofheralittle；youbothhavethesamecarriageofthehead。Ishallnotbemorethanhalfanhourgone。CanIdoanythingforyou？Youarelookingfatigued。Prayletmesendforsomemorechampagne。No？Promisetoringwhenyouwantit。That’sright！_Aurevoir_，mycharmingfriend——_aurevoir！_"

Ipulledthedoortoagainthemomenthisbackwasturned，andsatdownforawhiletocomposemyself。

Hehadbeenwatchingmeatthebook—case！Themanwhowasinmyhusband’sconfidence，themanwhoknewwheretheclewwastobefound，hadbeenwatchingmeatthebook—case！Therewasnodoubtofitnow。MajorFitz—Davidhadshownmethehiding—placeofthesecretinspiteofhimself！

Ilookedwithindifferenceattheotherpiecesoffurniture，rangedagainstthefourthwall，whichIhadnotexaminedyet。I

surveyed，withouttheslightestfeelingofcuriosity，allthelittleeleganttriflesscatteredonthetablesandonthechimney—piece，eachoneofwhichmighthavebeenanobjectofsuspiciontomeunderothercircumstances。Eventhewater—colordrawingsfailedtointerestmeinmypresentframeofmind。I

observedlanguidlythattheyweremostofthemportraitsofladies——fairidols，nodoubt，oftheMajor’sfacileadoration——andIcaredtonoticenomore。_My_businessinthatroom（Iwascertainofitnow！）beganandendedwiththebook—case。Ileftmyseattofetchthelibraryladder，determiningtobegintheworkofinvestigationonthetopshelves。

OnmywaytotheladderIpassedoneofthetables，andsawthekeyslyingonitwhichMajorFitz—Davidhadleftatmydisposal。

Thesmallerofthetwokeysinstantlyremindedmeofthecupboardsunderthebookcase。Ihadstrangelyoverlookedthese。A

vaguedistrustofthelockeddoorsavaguedoubtofwhattheymightbehidingfromme，stoleintomymind。Ilefttheladderinitsplaceagainstthewall，andsetmyselftoexaminethecontentsofthecupboardsfirst。

Thecupboardswerethreeinnumber。AsIopenedthefirstofthemthesingingupstairsceased。Foramomenttherewassomethingalmostoppressiveinthesuddenchangefromnoisetosilence。I

supposemynervesmusthavebeenoverwrought。Thenextsoundinthehouse——nothingmoreremarkablethanthecreakingofaman’sbootsdescendingthestairs——mademeshudderallover。Themanwasnodoubtthesinging—master，goingawayaftergivinghislesson。Iheardthehousedoorcloseonhim，andstartedatthefamiliarsoundasifitweresomethingterriblewhichIhadneverheardbefore。Thentherewassilenceagain。IrousedmyselfaswellasIcould，andbeganmyexaminationofthefirstcupboard。

Itwasdividedintotwocompartments。

Thetopcompartmentcontainednothingbutboxesofcigars，rangedinrows，oneonanother。Theundercompartmentwasdevotedtoacollectionofshells。Theywereallhuddledtogetheranyhow，theMajorevidentlysettingafarhighervalueonhiscigarsthanonhisshells。Isearchedthislowercompartmentcarefullyforanyobjectinterestingtomewhichmightbehiddeninit。Nothingwastobefoundinanypartofitbesidestheshells。

AsIopenedthesecondcupboarditstruckmethatthelightwasbeginningtofail。

Ilookedatthewindow：itwashardlyeveningyet。Thedarkeningofthelightwasproducedbygatheringclouds。Rain—dropspatteredagainsttheglass；theautumnwindwhistledmournfullyinthecornersofthecourtyard。ImendedthefirebeforeI

renewedmysearch。Mynerveswereinfaultagain，Isuppose。I

shiveredwhenIwentbacktothebook—case。Myhandstrembled：I

wonderedwhatwasthematterwithme。

Thesecondcupboardrevealed（intheupperdivisionofit）somereallybeautifulcameos——notmounted，butlaidoncotton—woolinneatcardboardtrays。Inonecorner，halfhiddenunderoneofthetrays，therepeepedoutthewhiteleavesofalittlemanuscript。

Ipouncedoniteagerly，onlytomeetwithanewdisappointment：

themanuscriptprovedtobeadescriptivecatalogueofthecameos——nothingmore！

Turningtothelowerdivisionofthecupboard，IfoundmorecostlycuriositiesintheshapeofivorycarvingsfromJapanandspecimensofraresilkfromChina。IbegantofeelwearyofdisinterringtheMajor’streasures。ThelongerIsearched，thefartherIseemedtoremovemyselffromtheoneobjectthatIhaditathearttoattain。Afterclosingthedoorofthesecondcupboard，Ialmostdoubtedwhetheritwouldbeworthmywhiletoproceedfartherandopenthethirdandlastdoor。

Alittlereflectionconvincedmethatitwouldbeaswell，nowthatIhadbegunmyexaminationofthelowerregionsofthebook—case，togoonwithittotheend。Iopenedthelastcupboard。

Ontheuppershelfthereappeared，insolitarygrandeur，oneobjectonly——agorgeouslyboundbook。

Itwasofalargersizethanusual，judgingofitbycomparisonwiththedimensionsofmodernvolumes。Thebindingwasofbluevelvet，withclaspsofsilverworkedinbeautifularabesquepatterns，andwithalockofthesamepreciousmetaltoprotectthebookfrompryingeyes。WhenItookitup，Ifoundthatthelockwasnotclosed。

HadIanyrighttotakeadvantageofthisaccident，andopenthebook？Ihaveputthequestionsincetosomeofmyfriendsofbothsexes。ThewomenallagreethatIwasperfectlyjustified，consideringtheseriousintereststhatIhadatstake，intakinganyadvantageofanybookintheMajor’shouse。Themendifferfromthisview，anddeclarethatIoughttohaveputbackthevolumeinbluevelvetunopened，carefullyguardingmyselffromanyafter—temptationtolookatitagainbylockingthecupboarddoor。Idaresaythemenareright。

Beingawoman，however，Iopenedthebookwithoutamoment’shesitation。

Theleaveswereofthefinestvellum，withtastefullydesignedilluminationsallroundthem。Andwhatdidthesehighlyornamentalpagescontain？Tomyunutterableamazementanddisgust，theycontainedlocksofhair，letneatlyintothecenterofeachpage，withinscriptionsbeneath，whichprovedthemtobelove—tokensfromvariousladieswhohadtouchedtheMajor’ssusceptibleheartatdifferentperiodsofhislife。TheinscriptionswerewritteninotherlanguagesbesidesEnglish，buttheyappearedtobeallequallydevotedtothesamecuriouspurpose，namely，toremindingtheMajorofthedatesatwhichhisvariousattachmentshadcometoanuntimelyend。Thusthefirstpageexhibitedalockofthelightestflaxenhair，withtheselinesbeneath："MyadoredMadeline。Eternalconstancy。Alas，July22，1839！"Thenextpagewasadornedbyadarkershadeofhair，withaFrenchinscriptionunderit："Clemence。Idoledemon鈓e。

Toujoursfidele。Helas，2meAvril，1840。"Alockofredhairfollowed，withalamentationinLatinunderit，anotebeingattachedtothedateofdissolutionofpartnershipinthiscase，statingthattheladywasdescendedfromtheancientRomans，andwasthereforemournedappropriatelyinLatinbyherdevotedFitz—David。Moreshadesofhairandmoreinscriptionsfollowed，untilIwaswearyoflookingatthem。Iputdownthebook，disgustedwiththecreatureswhohadassistedinfillingit，andthentookitupagain，byanafterthought。ThusfarIhadthoroughlysearchedeverythingthathadpresenteditselftomynotice。Agreeableornotagreeable，itwasplainlyofseriousimportancetomyownintereststogoonasIhadbegun，andthoroughlytosearchthebook。

IturnedoverthepagesuntilIcametothefirstblankleaf。

Seeingthattheywereallblankleavesfromthisplacetotheend，Iliftedthevolumebytheback，and，asalastmeasureofprecaution，shookitsoastodislodgeanyloosepapersorcardswhichmighthaveescapedmynoticebetweentheleaves。

Thistimemypatiencewasrewardedbyadiscoverywhichindescribablyirritatedanddistressedme。

Asmallphotograph，mountedonacard，felloutofthebook。A

firstglanceshowedmethatitrepresentedtheportraitsoftwopersons。

OneofthepersonsIrecognizedasmyhusband。

Theotherpersonwasawoman。

Herfacewasentirelyunknowntome。Shewasnotyoung。Thepicturerepresentedherseatedonachair，withmyhusbandstandingbehind，andbendingoverher，holdingoneofherhandsinhis。Thewoman’sfacewashard—featuredandugly，withthemarkinglinesofstrongpassionsandresoluteself—willplainlywrittenonit。Still，uglyasshewas，IfeltapangofjealousyasInoticedthefamiliarlyaffectionateactionbywhichtheartist（withthepermissionofhissitters，ofcourse）hadconnectedthetwofiguresinagroup。Eustacehadbrieflytoldme，inthedaysofourcourtship，thathehadmorethanoncefanciedhimselftobeinlovebeforehemetwithme。Couldthisveryunattractivewomanhavebeenoneoftheearlyobjectsofhisadmiration？Hadshebeennearenoughanddearenoughtohimtobephotographedwithherhandinhis？IlookedandlookedattheportraitsuntilIcouldendurethemnolonger。Womenarestrangecreatures——mysterieseventothemselves。Ithrewthephotographfrommeintoacornerofthecupboard。Iwassavagelyangrywithmyhusband；Ihated——yes，hatedwithallmyheartandsoul！——thewomanwhohadgothishandinhers——theunknownwomanwiththeself—willed，hard—featuredface。

Allthistimethelowershelfofthecupboardwasstillwaitingtobelookedover。

Ikneltdowntoexamineit，eagertoclearmymind，ifIcould，ofthedegradingjealousythathadgotpossessionofme。

Unfortunately，thelowershelfcontainednothingbutrelicsoftheMajor’smilitarylife，comprisinghisswordandpistols，hisepaulets，hissash，andotherminoraccouterments。Noneoftheseobjectsexcitedtheslightestinterestinme。Myeyeswanderedbacktotheuppershelf；and，likethefoolIwas（thereisnomilderwordthatcanfitlydescribemeatthatmoment），Itookthephotographoutagain，andenragedmyselfuselesslybyanotherlookatit。ThistimeIobserved，whatIhadnotnoticedbefore，thatthereweresomelinesofwriting（inawoman’shand）atthebackoftheportraits。Thelinesranthus：

’ToMajorFitz—David，withtwovases。Fromhisfriends，S。andE。

M。"

Wasoneofthosetwovasesthevasethathadbeenbroken？AndwasthechangethatIhadnoticedinMajorFitz—David’sfaceproducedbysomepastassociationinconnectionwithit，whichinsomewayaffectedme？Itmightormightnotbeso。Iwaslittledisposedtoindulgeinspeculationonthistopicwhilethefarmoreseriousquestionoftheinitialsconfrontedmeonthebackofthephotograph。

"S。andE。M。？"Thoselasttwolettersmightstandfortheinitialsofmyhusband’sname——histruename——EustaceMacallan。

Inthiscasethefirstletter（"S。"）inallprobabilityindicated_her_name。Whatrighthadshetoassociateherselfwithhiminthatmanner？Iconsideredalittle——mymemoryexerteditself——I

suddenlycalledtomindthatEustacehadsisters。Hehadspokenofthemmorethanonceinthetimebeforeourmarriage。HadI

beenmadenoughtotorturemyselfwithjealousyofmyhusband’ssister？Itmightwellbeso；"S。"mightstandforhissister’sChristianname。Ifeltheartilyashamedofmyselfasthisnewviewofthematterdawnedonme。WhatawrongIhaddonetothembothinmythoughts！Iturnedthephotograph，sadlyandpenitently，toexaminetheportraitsagainwithakinderandtruerappreciationofthem。

Inaturallylookednowforafamilylikenessbetweenthetwofaces。Therewasnofamilylikeness；onthecontrary，theywereasunlikeeachotherinformandexpressionasfacescouldbe。

_Was_shehissister，afterall？Ilookedatherhands，asrepresentedintheportrait。HerrighthandwasclaspedbyEustace；herlefthandlayonherlap。Onthethirdfinger，distinctlyvisible，therewasawedding—ring。Wereanyofmyhusband’ssistersmarried？Ihadmyselfaskedhimthequestionwhenhementionedthemtome，andIperfectlyrememberedthathehadrepliedinthenegative。

Wasitpossiblethatmyfirstjealousinstincthadledmetotherightconclusionafterall？Ifithad，whatdidtheassociationofthethreeinitiallettersmean？Whatdidthewedding—ringmean？GoodHeavens！wasIlookingattheportraitofarivalinmyhusband’saffections——andwasthatrivalhisWife？

Ithrewthephotographfrommewithacryofhorror。ForoneterriblemomentIfeltasifmyreasonwasgivingway。Idon’tknowwhatwouldhavehappened，orwhatIshouldhavedonenext，ifmyloveforEustacehadnottakentheuppermostplaceamongthecontendingemotionsthattorturedme。Thatfaithfullovesteadiedmybrain。Thatfaithfulloverousedtherevivinginfluencesofmybetterandnoblersense。WasthemanwhomIhadenshrinedinmyheartofheartscapableofsuchbasewickednessasthebareideaofhismarriagetoanotherwomanimplied？No！

Minewasthebaseness，minethewickedness，inhavingevenforamomentthoughtitofhim！

Ipickedupthedetestablephotographfromthefloor，andputitbackinthebook。Ihastilyclosedthecupboarddoor，fetchedthelibraryladder，andsetitagainstthebook—case。Myoneideanowwastheideaoftakingrefugeinemploymentofanysortfrommyownthoughts。Ifeltthehatefulsuspicionthathaddegradedmecomingbackagaininspiteofmyeffortstorepelit。Thebooks！

thebooks！myonlyhopewastoabsorbmyself，bodyandsoul，inthebooks。

Ihadonefootontheladder，whenIheardthedooroftheroomopen——thedoorwhichcommunicatedwiththehall。

Ilookedaround，expectingtoseetheMajor。IsawinsteadtheMajor’sfutureprimadonnastandingjustinsidethedoor，withherroundeyessteadilyfixedonme。

"Icanstandagooddeal，"thegirlbegan，coolly，"butIcan’tstand_this_anylonger？"

"Whatisitthatyoucan’tstandanylonger？"Iasked。

"Ifyouhavebeenhereaminute，youhavebeenheretwogoodhours，"shewenton。"AllbyyourselfintheMajor’sstudy。Iamofajealousdisposition——Iam。AndIwanttoknowwhatitmeans。"Sheadvancedafewstepsnearertome，withaheighteningcolorandathreateninglook。"Ishegoingtobring_you_outonthestage？"sheasked，sharply。

"Certainlynot。"

"Heain’tinlovewithyou，ishe？"

UnderothercircumstancesImighthavetoldhertoleavetheroom。Inmypositionatthatcriticalmomentthemerepresenceofahumancreaturewasapositiverelieftome。Eventhisgirl，withhercoarsequestionsandheruncultivatedmanners，wasawelcomeintruderonmysolitude：sheofferedmearefugefrommyself。

"Yourquestionisnotverycivillyput，"Isaid。"However，I

excuseyou。YouareprobablynotawarethatIamamarriedwoman。"

"Whathasthatgottodowithit？"sheretorted。"Marriedorsingle，it’sallonetotheMajor。Thatbrazen—facedhussywhocallsherselfLadyClarindaismarried，andshesendshimnosegaysthreetimesaweek！NotthatIcare，mindyou，abouttheoldfool。ButI’velostmysituationattherailway，andI’vegotmyownintereststolookafter，andIdon’tknowwhatmayhappenifIletotherwomencomebetweenhimandme。That’swheretheshoepinches，don’tyousee？I’mnoteasyinmymindwhenIseehimleavingyoumistressheretodojustwhatyoulike。Nooffense！Ispeakout——Ido。Iwanttoknowwhatyouareaboutallbyyourselfinthisroom？HowdidyoupickupwiththeMajor？I

neverheardhimspeakofyoubeforeto—day。"

Underallthesurfaceselfishnessandcoarsenessofthisstrangegirltherewasacertainfranknessandfreedomwhichpleadedinherfavor——tomymind，atanyrate。Iansweredfranklyandfreelyonmyside。

"MajorFitz—Davidisanoldfriendofmyhusband’s，"Isaid，"andheiskindtomeformyhusband’ssake。Hehasgivenmepermissiontolookinthisroom——"

Istopped，atalosshowtodescribemyemploymentintermswhichshouldtellhernothing，andwhichshouldatthesametimesuccessfullysetherdistrustofmeatrest。

"Tolookaboutinthisroom——forwhat？"sheasked。Hereyefellonthelibraryladder，besidewhichIwasstillstanding。"Forabook？"sheresumed。

"Yes，"Isaid，takingthehint。"Forabook。"

"Haven’tyoufoundityet？"

"No。"