第7章

Shelookedhardatme，undisguisedlyconsideringwithherselfwhetherIwereorwerenotspeakingthetruth。

"Youseemtobeagoodsort，"shesaid，makinguphermindatlast。"There’snothingstuck—upaboutyou。I’llhelpyouifI

can。Ihaverummagedamongthebookshereoverandoveragain，andIknowmoreaboutthemthanyoudo。Whatbookdoyouwant？"

AssheputthatawkwardquestionshenoticedforthefirsttimeLadyClarinda’snosegaylyingontheside—tablewheretheMajorhadleftit。Instantlyforgettingmeandmybook，thiscuriousgirlpouncedlikeafuryontheflowers，andactuallytrampledthemunderherfeet！

"There！"shecried。"IfIhadLadyClarindahereI’dserveherinthesameway。"

"WhatwilltheMajorsay？"Iasked。

"WhatdoIcare？DoyousupposeI’mafraidof_him？_OnlylastweekIbrokeoneofhisfinegimcracksupthere，andallthroughLadyClarindaandherflowers！"

Shepointedtothetopofthebook—case——totheemptyspaceonitclosebythewindow。Myheartgaveasuddenboundasmyeyestookthedirectionindicatedbyherfinger。_She_hadbrokenthevase！

Wasthewaytodiscoveryabouttorevealitselftomethroughthisgirl？Notawordwouldpassmylips；Icouldonlylookather。

"Yes！"shesaid。"Thethingstoodthere。HeknowshowIhateherflowers，andheputhernosegayinthevaseoutofmyway。Therewasawoman’sfacepaintedonthechina，andhetoldmeitwasthelivingimageof_her_face。ItwasnomorelikeherthanI

am。IwasinsucharagethatIupwiththebookIwasreadingatthetimeandshieditatthepaintedface。Overthevasewent，blessyourheart，crashtothefloor。Stopabit！Iwonderwhether_that’s_thebookyouhavebeenlookingafter？Areyoulikeme？DoyoulikereadingTrials？"

Trials？HadIheardheraright？Yes：shehadsaidTrials。

Iansweredbyanaffirmativemotionofmyhead。Iwasstillspeechless。Thegirlsaunteredinhercoolwaytothefire—place，and，takingupthetongs，returnedwiththemtothebook—case。

"Here’swherethebookfell，"shesaid——"inthespacebetweenthebook—caseandthewall。I’llhaveitoutinnotime。"

Iwaitedwithoutmovingamuscle，withoututteringaword。

Sheapproachedmewiththetongsinonehandandwithaplainlyboundvolumeintheother。

"Isthatthebook？"shesaid。"Openit，andsee。"

Itookthebookfromher。

"Itistremendouslyinteresting，"shewenton。"I’vereadittwiceover——Ihave。Mindyou，_I_believehedidit，afterall。"

Didit？Didwhat？Whatwasshetalkingabout？Itriedtoputthequestiontoher。Istruggled——quitevainly——tosayonlythesewords："Whatareyoutalkingabout？"

Sheseemedtoloseallpatiencewithme。Shesnatchedthebookoutofmyhand，andopeneditbeforemeonthetablebywhichwewerestandingsidebyside。

"Ideclare，you’reashelplessasababy！"shesaid，contemptuously。"There！_Is_thatthebook？"

Ireadthefirstlinesonthetitle—page——

ACOMPLETEREPORTOFTHETRIALOFEUSTACEMACALLAN。

Istoppedandlookedupather。Shestartedbackfrommewithascreamofterror。Ilookeddownagainatthetitle—page，andreadthenextlines——

FORTHEALLEGEDPOISONINGOFHISWIFE。

There，God’smercyrememberedme。Theretheblackblankofaswoonswallowedmeup。

CHAPTERXI。

THERETURNTOLIFE。

MyfirstremembrancewhenIbegantorecovermysenseswastheremembranceofPain——agonizingpain，asifeverynerveinmybodywerebeingtwistedandtornoutofme。MywholebeingwrithedandquiveredunderthedumbanddreadfulprotestofNatureagainsttheefforttorecallmetolife。Iwouldhavegivenworldstobeabletocryout——toentreattheunseencreaturesaboutmetogivemebacktodeath。HowlongthatspeechlessagonyheldmeIneverknew。Inalongerorshortertimetherestoleovermeslowlyasleepysenseofrelief。Iheardmyownlaboredbreathing。Ifeltmyhandsmovingfeeblyandmechanically，likethehandsofababy。Ifaintlyopenedmyeyesandlookedroundme——asifIhadpassedthroughtheordealofdeath，andhadawakenedtonewsensesinanewworld。

ThefirstpersonIsawwasaman——astranger。Hemovedquietlyoutofmysight；beckoning，ashedisappeared，tosomeotherpersonintheroom。

SlowlyandunwillinglytheotherpersonadvancedtothesofaonwhichIlay。Afaintcryofjoyescapedme；Itriedtoholdoutmyfeeblehands。Theotherpersonwhowasapproachingmewasmyhusband！

Ilookedathimeagerly。Heneverlookedatmeinreturn。Withhiseyesontheground，withastrangeappearanceofconfusionanddistressinhisface，hetoomovedawayoutofmysight。TheunknownmanwhomIhadfirstnoticedfollowedhimoutoftheroom。Icalledafterhimfaintly，"Eustace！"Heneveranswered；

heneverreturned。WithaneffortImovedmyheadonthepillow，soastolookroundontheothersideofthesofa。Anotherfamiliarfaceappearedbeforemeasifinadream。MygoodoldBenjaminwassittingwatchingme，withthetearsinhiseyes。

Heroseandtookmyhandsilently，inhissimple，kindlyway。

"WhereisEustace？"Iasked。"Whyhashegoneawayandleftme？"

Iwasstillmiserablyweak。MyeyeswanderedmechanicallyroundtheroomasIputthequestion。IsawMajorFitz—David，Isawthetableonwhichthesinginggirlhadopenedthebooktoshowittome。Isawthegirlherself，sittingaloneinacorner，withherhandkerchieftohereyesasifshewerecrying。Inonemysteriousmomentmymemoryrecovereditspowers。Therecollectionofthatfataltitle—pagecamebacktomeinallitshorror。Theonefeelingthatitrousedinmenowwasalongingtoseemyhusband——tothrowmyselfintohisarms，andtellhimhowfirmlyI

believedinhisinnocence，howtrulyanddearlyIlovedhim。I

seizedonBenjaminwithfeeble，tremblinghands。"Bringhimbacktome！"Icried，wildly。"Whereishe？Helpmetogetup！"

Astrangevoiceanswered，firmlyandkindly："Composeyourself，madam。Mr。Woodvilleiswaitinguntilyouhaverecovered，inaroomcloseby。"

Ilookedathim，andrecognizedthestrangerwhohadfollowedmyhusbandoutoftheroom。Whyhadhereturnedalone？WhywasEustacenotwithme，liketherestofthem？Itriedtoraisemyself，andgetonmyfeet。Thestrangergentlypressedmebackagainonthepillow。Iattemptedtoresisthim——quiteuselessly，ofcourse。Hisfirmhandheldmeasgentlyaseverinmyplace。

"Youmustrestalittle，"hesaid。"Youmusttakesomewine。Ifyouexertyourselfnowyouwillfaintagain。"

OldBenjaminstoopedoverme，andwhisperedawordofexplanation。

"It’sthedoctor，mydear。Youmustdoashetellsyou。"

Thedoctor！Theyhadcalledthedoctorintohelpthem！Ibegandimlytounderstandthatmyfaintingfitmusthavepresentedsymptomsfarmoreseriousthanthefaintingfitsofwomeningeneral。Iappealedtothedoctor，inahelpless，querulousway，toaccounttomeformyhusband’sextraordinaryabsence。

"Whydidyoulethimleavetheroom？"Iasked。"IfIcan’tgotohim，whydon’tyoubringhimheretome？"

Thedoctorappearedtobeatalosshowtoreplytome。HelookedatBenjamin，andsaid，"WillyouspeaktoMrs。Woodville？"

Benjamin，inhisturn，lookedatMajorFitz—David，andsaid，"Will_you？_"TheMajorsignedtothembothtoleaveus。Theyrosetogether，andwentintothefrontroom，pullingthedoortoaftertheminitsgrooves。Astheyleftus，thegirlwhohadsostrangelyrevealedmyhusband’ssecrettomeroseinhercornerandapproachedthesofa。

"IsupposeIhadbettergotoo？"shesaid，addressingMajorFitz—David。

"Ifyouplease，"theMajoranswered。

Hespoke（asIthought）rathercoldly。Shetossedherhead，andturnedherbackonhiminhighindignation。"Imustsayawordformyself！"criedthisstrangecreature，withahystericaloutbreakofenergy。"Imustsayaword，orIshallburst！"

Withthatextraordinarypreface，shesuddenlyturnedmywayandpouredoutaperfecttorrentofwordsonme。

"YouhearhowtheMajorspeakstome？"shebegan。"Heblamesme——poorMe——foreverythingthathashappened。Iamasinnocentasthenew—bornbabe。Iactedforthebest。Ithoughtyouwantedthebook。Idon’tknownowwhatmadeyoufaintdeadawaywhenI

openedit。AndtheMajorblamesMe！Asifitwasmyfault！Iamnotoneofthefaintingsortmyself；butIfeelit，Icantellyou。Yes！Ifeelit，thoughIdon’tfaintaboutit。Icomeofrespectableparents——Ido。MynameisHoighty——MissHoighty。I

havemyownself—respect；andit’swounded。Isaymyself—respectiswounded，whenIfindmyselfblamedwithoutdeservingit。Youdeserveit，ifanybodydoes。Didn’tyoutellmeyouwerelookingforabook？Anddidn’tIpresentittoyoupromiscuously，withthebestintentions？Ithinkyoumightsaysoyourself，nowthedoctorhasbroughtyoutoagain。Ithinkyoumightspeakupforapoorgirlwhoisworkedtodeathwithsingingandlanguagesandwhatnot——apoorgirlwhohasnobodyelsetospeakforher。Iamasrespectableasyouare，ifyoucometothat。MynameisHoighty。Myparentsareinbusiness，andmymammahasseenbetterdays，andmixedinthebestofcompany。"

ThereMissHoightyliftedherhandkerchiefagaintoherface，andburstmodestlyintotearsbehindit。

Itwascertainlyhardtoholdherresponsibleforwhathadhappened。IansweredaskindlyasIcould，andIattemptedtospeaktoMajorFitz—Davidinherdefense。Heknewwhatterribleanxietieswereoppressingmeatthatmoment；and，consideratelyrefusingtohearaword，hetookthetaskofconsolinghisyoungprimadonnaentirelyonhimself。WhathesaidtoherIneitherheardnorcaredtohear：hespokeinawhisper。ItendedinhispacifyingMissHoighty，bykissingherhand，andleadingher（ashemighthaveledaduchess）outoftheroom。

"Ihopethatfoolishgirlhasnotannoyedyou——atsuchatimeasthis，"hesaid，veryearnestly，whenhereturnedtothesofa。"I

can’ttellyouhowgrievedIamatwhathashappened。Iwascarefultowarnyou，asyoumayremember。Still，ifIcouldonlyhaveforeseen——"

Ilethimproceednofurther。Nohumanforethoughtcouldhaveprovidedagainstwhathadhappened。Besides，dreadfulasthediscoveryhadbeen，Iwouldratherhavemadeit，andsufferedunderit，asIwassufferingnow，thanhavebeenkeptinthedark。Itoldhimthis。AndthenIturnedtotheonesubjectthatwasnowofanyinteresttome——thesubjectofmyunhappyhusband。

"Howdidhecometothishouse？"Iasked。

HecameherewithMr。BenjaminshortlyafterIreturned，"theMajorreplied。

"LongafterIwastakenill？"

"No。Ihadjustsentforthedoctor——feelingseriouslyalarmedaboutyou。"

"Whatbroughthimhere？Didhereturntothehotelandmissme？"

"Yes。Hereturnedearlierthanhehadanticipated，andhefeltuneasyatnotfindingyouatthehotel。"

"Didhesuspectmeofbeingwithyou？Didhecomeherefromthehotel？"

"No。HeappearstohavegonefirsttoMr。Benjamintoinquireaboutyou。WhatheheardfromyouroldfriendIcannotsay。I

onlyknowthatMr。Benjaminaccompaniedhimwhenhecamehere。"

Thisbriefexplanationwasquiteenoughforme——Iunderstoodwhathadhappened。EustacewouldeasilyfrightensimpleoldBenjaminaboutmyabsencefromthehotel；and，oncealarmed，BenjaminwouldbepersuadedwithoutdifficultytorepeatthefewwordswhichhadpassedbetweenusonthesubjectofMajorFitz—David。

Myhusband’spresenceintheMajor’shousewasperfectlyexplained。ButhisextraordinaryconductinleavingtheroomattheverytimewhenIwasjustrecoveringmysensesstillremainedtobeaccountedfor。MajorFitz—DavidlookedseriouslyembarrassedwhenIputthequestiontohim。

"Ihardlyknowhowtoexplainittoyou，"hesaid。"Eustacehassurprisedanddisappointedme。"

Hespokeverygravely。Hislookstoldmemorethanhiswords：hislooksalarmedme。

"Eustacehasnotquarreledwithyou？"Isaid。

"Ohno！"

"Heunderstandsthatyouhavenotbrokenyourpromisetohim？"

"Certainly。Myyoungvocalist（MissHoighty）toldthedoctorexactlywhathadhappened；andthedoctorinherpresencerepeatedthestatementtoyourhusband。"

"DidthedoctorseetheTrial？"

"NeitherthedoctornorMr。BenjaminhasseentheTrial。Ihavelockeditup；andIhavecarefullykepttheterriblestoryofyourconnectionwiththeprisonerasecretfromallofthem。Mr。

Benjaminevidentlyhashissuspicions。Butthedoctorhasnoidea，andMissHoightyhasnoidea，ofthetruecauseofyourfaintingfit。Theybothbelievethatyouaresubjecttoseriousnervousattacks，andthatyourhusband’snameisreallyWoodville。AllthatthetruestfriendcoulddotospareEustaceI

havedone。Hepersists，nevertheless，inblamingmeforlettingyouentermyhouse。Andworse，farworsethanthis，hepersistsindeclaringtheeventofto—dayhasfatallyestrangedyoufromhim。’Thereisanendofourmarriedlife，’hesaidtome，’nowsheknowsthatIamthemanwhowastriedatEdinburghforpoisoningmywife！"’

Irosefromthesofainhorror。

"GoodGod！"Icried，"doesEustacesupposethatIdoubthisinnocence？"

"Hedeniesthatitispossibleforyouorforanybodytobelieveinhisinnocence，"theMajorreplied。

"Helpmetothedoor，"Isaid。"Whereishe？Imustandwillseehim！"

IdroppedbackexhaustedonthesofaasIsaidthewords。MajorFitz—Davidpouredoutaglassofwinefromthebottleonthetable，andinsistedonmydrinkingit。

"Youshallseehim，"saidtheMajor。"Ipromiseyouthat。Thedoctorhasforbiddenhimtoleavethehouseuntilyouhaveseenhim。Onlywaitalittle！Mypoor，dearlady，wait，ifitisonlyforafewminutes，untilyouarestronger。"

Ihadnochoicebuttoobeyhim。Oh，thosemiserable，helplessminutesonthesofa！Icannotwriteofthemwithoutshudderingattherecollection——evenatthisdistanceoftime。

"Bringhimhere！"Isaid。"Pray，praybringhimhere！"

"Whoistopersuadehimtocomeback？"askedtheMajor，sadly。

"HowcanI，howcananybody，prevailwithaman——amadmanIhadalmostsaid！——whocouldleaveyouatthemomentwhenyoufirstopenedyoureyesonhim？IsawEustacealoneinthenextroomwhilethedoctorwasinattendanceonyou。Itriedtoshakehisobstinatedistrustofyourbeliefinhisinnocenceandofmybeliefinhisinnocencebyeveryargumentandeveryappealthatanoldfriendcouldaddresstohim。Hehadbutoneanswertogiveme。ReasonasImight，andpleadasImight，hestillpersistedinreferringmetotheScotchVerdict。"

"TheScotchVerdict？"Irepeated。"Whatisthat？"

TheMajorlookedsurprisedatthequestion。

"HaveyoureallyneverheardoftheTrial？"hesaid。

"Never。"

"Ithoughtitstrange，"hewenton，"whenyoutoldmeyouhadfoundoutyourhusband’struename，thatthediscoveryappearedtohavesuggestednopainfulassociationtoyourmind。ItisnotmorethanthreeyearssinceallEnglandwastalkingofyourhusband。Onecanhardlywonderathistakingrefuge，poorfellow，inanassumedname。Wherecouldyouhavebeenatthetime？"

"Didyousayitwasthreeyearsago？"Iasked。

"Yes。"

"IthinkIcanexplainmystrangeignoranceofwhatwassowellknowntoeveryoneelse。Threeyearssincemyfatherwasalive。I

waslivingwithhiminacountry—houseinItaly——upinthemountains，nearSienna。WeneversawanEnglishnewspaperormetwithanEnglishtravelerforweeksandweekstogether。ItisjustpossiblethattheremighthavebeensomereferencemadetotheTrialinmyfather’slettersfromEngland。Iftherewere，henevertoldmeofit。Or，ifhedidmentionthecase，Ifeltnointerestinit，andforgotitagaindirectly。Tellme——whathastheVerdicttodowithmyhusband’shorribledoubtofus？Eustaceisafreeman。TheVerdictwasNotGuilty，ofcourse？"

MajorFitz—Davidshookhisheadsadly。

"EustacewastriedinScotland，"hesaid。"ThereisaverdictallowedbytheScotchlaw，which（sofarasIknow）isnotpermittedbythelawsofanyothercivilizedcountryonthefaceoftheearth。Whenthejuryareindoubtwhethertocondemnoracquittheprisonerbroughtbeforethem，theyarepermitted，inScotland，toexpressthatdoubtbyaformofcompromise。Ifthereisnotevidenceenough，ontheonehand，tojustifytheminfindingaprisonerguilty，andnotevidenceenough，ontheotherhand，tothoroughlyconvincethemthataprisonerisinnocent，theyextricatethemselvesfromthedifficultybyfindingaverdictofNotProven。"

"WasthattheVerdictwhenEustacewastried？"Iasked。

"Yes。"

"Thejurywerenotquitesatisfiedthatmyhusbandwasguilty？

andnotquitesatisfiedthatmyhusbandwasinnocent？IsthatwhattheScotchVerdictmeans？"

"ThatiswhattheScotchVerdictmeans。Forthreeyearsthatdoubtabouthiminthemindsofthejurywhotriedhimhasstoodonpublicrecord。"

Oh，mypoordarling！myinnocentmartyr！Iunderstooditatlast。

Thefalsenameinwhichhehadmarriedme；theterriblewordshehadspokenwhenhehadwarnedmetorespecthissecret；thestillmoreterribledoubtthathefeltofmeatthatmoment——itwasallintelligibletomysympathies，itwasallcleartomyunderstanding，now。Igotupagainfromthesofa，stronginadaringresolutionwhichtheScotchVerdicthadsuddenlykindledinme——aresolutionatoncetoosacredandtoodesperatetobeconfided，inthefirstinstance，toanyotherthanmyhusband’sear。

"TakemetoEustace！"Icried。"Iamstrongenoughtobearanythingnow。"

Afteronesearchinglookatme，theMajorsilentlyofferedmehisarm，andledmeoutoftheroom。

CHAPTERXII。

THESCOTCHVERDICT。

Wewalkedtothefarendofthehall。MajorFitz—Davidopenedthedoorofalong，narrowroombuiltoutatthebackofthehouseasasmoking—room，andextendingalongonesideofthecourtyardasfarasthestablewall。

Myhusbandwasaloneintheroom，seatedatthefurtherendofit，nearthefire—place。HestartedtohisfeetandfacedmeinsilenceasIentered。TheMajorsoftlyclosedthedooronusandretired。Eustaceneverstirredasteptomeetme。Irantohim，andthrewmyarmsroundhisneckandkissedhim。Theembracewasnotreturned；thekisswasnotreturned。Hepassivelysubmitted——nothingmore。

"Eustace！"Isaid，"IneverlovedyoumoredearlythanIloveyouatthismoment！IneverfeltforyouasIfeelforyounow！"

Hereleasedhimselfdeliberatelyfrommyarms。Hesignedtomewiththemechanicalcourtesyofastrangertotakeachair。

"Thankyou，Valeria，"heanswered，incold，measuredtones。"Youcouldsaynolesstome，afterwhathashappened；andyoucouldsaynomore。Thankyou。"

Wewerestandingbeforethefire—place。Heleftme，andwalkedawayslowlywithhisheaddown，apparentlyintendingtoleavetheroom。

Ifollowedhim——Igotbeforehim——Iplacedmyselfbetweenhimandthedoor。

"Whydoyouleaveme？"Isaid。"Whydoyouspeaktomeinthiscruelway？Areyouangry，Eustace？Mydarling，ifyou_are_

angry，Iaskyoutoforgiveme。"

"ItisIwhooughttoask_your_pardon，"hereplied。"Ibegyoutoforgiveme，Valeria，forhavingmadeyoumywife。"

Hepronouncedthosewordswithahopeless，heart—brokenhumilitydreadfultosee。Ilaidmyhandonhisbosom。Isaid，"Eustace，lookatme。"

Heslowlyliftedhiseyestomyface——eyescoldandclearandtearless——lookingatmeinsteadyresignation，inimmovabledespair。Intheutterwretchednessofthatmoment，Iwaslikehim；Iwasasquietandascoldasmyhusband。Hechilled，hefrozeme。

"Isitpossible，"Isaid，"thatyoudoubtmybeliefinyourinnocence？"

Heleftthequestionunanswered。Hesighedbitterlytohimself。

"Poorwoman！"hesaid，asastrangermighthavesaid，pityingme。

"Poorwoman！"

Myheartswelledinmeasifitwouldburst。Iliftedmyhandfromhisbosom，andlaiditonhisshouldertosupportmyself。

"Idon’taskyoutopityme，Eustace；Iaskyoutodomejustice。

Youarenotdoingmejustice。Ifyouhadtrustedmewiththetruthinthedayswhenwefirstknewthatwelovedeachother——ifyouhadtoldmeall，andmorethanallthatIknownow——asGodismywitnessIwouldstillhavemarriedyou！_Now_doyoudoubtthatIbelieveyouareaninnocentman！"

"Idon’tdoubtit，"hesaid。"Allyourimpulsesaregenerous，Valeria。Youarespeakinggenerouslyandfeelinggenerously。

Don’tblameme，mypoorchild，ifIlookonfurtherthanyoudo：

ifIseewhatistocome——toosurelytocome——inthecruelfuture。"

"Thecruelfuture！"Irepeated。"Whatdoyoumean？"

"Youbelieveinmyinnocence，Valeria。Thejurywhotriedmedoubtedit——andhaveleftthatdoubtonrecord。Whatreasonhave_you_forbelieving，inthefaceoftheVerdict，thatIamaninnocentman？"

"Iwantnoreason！Ibelieveinspiteofthejury——inspiteoftheVerdict。"

"Willyourfriendsagreewithyou？Whenyouruncleandauntknowwhathashappened——andsoonerorlatertheymustknowit——whatwilltheysay？Theywillsay，’Hebeganbadly；heconcealedfromourniecethathehadbeenweddedtoafirstwife；hemarriedournieceunderafalsename。Hemaysayheisinnocent；butwehaveonlyhiswordforit。WhenhewasputonhisTrial，theVerdictwasNotProven。NotProvenwon’tdoforus。Ifthejuryhavedonehimaninjustice——ifhe_is_innocent——lethimproveit。’Thatiswhattheworldthinksandsaysofme。Thatiswhatyourfriendswillthinkandsayofme。Thetimeiscoming，Valeria，whenyou——evenYou——willfeelthatyourfriendshavereasontoappealtoontheirside，andthatyouhavenoreasononyours。"

"Thattimewillnevercome！"Ianswered，warmly。"Youwrongme，youinsultme，inthinkingitpossible！"

Heputdownmyhandfromhim，anddrewbackastep，withabittersmile。

"Wehaveonlybeenmarriedafewdays，Valeria。Yourloveformeisnewandyoung。Time，whichwearsawayallthings，willwearawaythefirstfervorofthatlove。"

"Never！never！"

Hedrewbackfrommealittlefurtherstill。

"Lookattheworldaroundyou，"hesaid。"Thehappiesthusbandsandwiveshavetheiroccasionalmisunderstandingsanddisagreements；thebrightestmarriedlifehasitspassingclouds。

Whenthosedayscomefor_us，_thedoubtsandfearsthatyoudon’tfeelnowwillfindtheirwaytoyouthen。Whenthecloudsrisein_our_marriedlife——whenIsaymyfirstharshword，whenyoumakeyourfirsthastyreply——then，inthesolitudeofyourownroom，inthestillnessofthewakefulnight，youwillthinkofmyfirstwife’smiserabledeath。YouwillrememberthatIwasheldresponsibleforit，andthatmyinnocencewasneverproved。

Youwillsaytoyourself，’Diditbegin，in_her_time，withaharshwordfromhimandwithahastyreplyfromher？Willitonedayendwithmeasthejuryhalffearedthatitendedwithher？’

Hideousquestionsforawifetoaskherself！Youwillstiflethem；youwillrecoilfromthem，likeagoodwoman，withhorror。

Butwhenwemeetthenextmorningyouwillbeonyourguard，andIshallseeit，andknowinmyheartofheartswhatitmeans。

Imbitteredbythatknowledge，mynextharshwordmaybeharsherstill。Yournextthoughtsofmemayremindyoumorevividlyandmoreboldlythatyourhusbandwasoncetriedasapoisoner，andthatthequestionofhisfirstwife’sdeathwasneverproperlyclearedup。Doyouseewhatmaterialsforadomestichellareminglingforushere？WasitfornothingthatIwarnedyou，solemnlywarnedyou，todrawback，whenIfoundyoubentondiscoveringthetruth？CanIeverbeatyourbedsidenow，whenyouareill，andnotremindyou，inthemostinnocentthingsI

do，ofwhathappenedatthatotherbedside，inthetimeofthatotherwomanwhomImarriedfirst？IfIpouroutyourmedicine，I

commitasuspiciousaction——theysayIpoisoned_her_inhermedicine。IfIbringyouacupoftea，Irevivetheremembranceofahorriddoubt——theysaidIputthearsenicin_her_cupoftea。IfIkissyouwhenIleavetheroom，Iremindyouthattheprosecutionaccusedmeofkissing_her，_tosaveappearancesandproduceaneffectonthenurse。Canwelivetogetheronsuchtermsasthese？Nomortalcreaturescouldsupportthemiseryofit。ThisverydayIsaidtoyou，’Ifyoustirastepfurtherinthismatter，thereisanendofyourhappinessfortherestofyourlife。’Youhavetakenthatstepandtheendhascometoyourhappinessandtomine。Theblightthatcankersandkillsisonyouandonmefortherestofourlives！"

SofarIhadforcedmyselftolistentohim。Atthoselastwordsthepictureofthefuturethathewasplacingbeforemebecametoohideoustobeendured。Irefusedtohearmore。