第14章

Thereweredifficulties，ofcourse，inmyway。ThefirstandgreatestdifficultywastoobtainanintroductiontoMiserrimusDexter。

Thecomposinginfluenceofthefreshairinthegardenhadbythistimemademereadiertoliedownandrestthantooccupymymindinreflectingonmydifficulties。LittlebylittleIgrewtoodrowsytothink——thentoolazytogoonwalking。MybedlookedwonderfullyinvitingasIpassedbytheopenwindowofmyroom。

InfiveminutesmoreIhadacceptedtheinvitationofthebed，andhadsaidfarewelltomyanxietiesandmytroubles。InfiveminutesmoreIwasfastasleep。

Adiscreetlygentleknockatmydoorwasthefirstsoundthatarousedme。IheardthevoiceofmygoodoldBenjaminspeakingoutside。

"Mydear！IamafraidyouwillbestarvedifIletyousleepanylonger。Itishalf—pastoneo’clock；andafriendofyourshascometolunchwithus。"

Afriendofmine？WhatfriendshadI？Myhusbandwasfaraway；

andmyuncleStarkweatherhadgivenmeupindespair。

"Whoisit？"Icriedoutfrommybed，throughthedoor。

"MajorFitz—David，"Benjaminanswered，bythesamemedium。

Isprangoutofbed。TheverymanIwantedwaswaitingtoseeme！

MajorFitz—David，asthephraseis，kneweverybody。Intimatewithmyhusband，hewouldcertainlyknowmyhusband’soldfriend——MiserrimusDexter。

ShallIconfessthatItookparticularpainswithmytoilet，andthatIkepttheluncheonwaiting？Thewomandoesn’tlivewhowouldhavedoneotherwise——whenshehadaparticularfavortoaskofMajorFitz—David。

CHAPTERXXII。

THEMAJORMAKESDIFFICULTIES。

AsIopenedthedining—roomdoortheMajorhastenedtomeetme。

Helookedthebrightestandtheyoungestoflivingelderlygentlemen，withhissmartbluefrock—coat，hiswinningsmile，hisrubyring，andhisreadycompliment。ItwasquitecheeringtomeetthemodernDonJuanoncemore。

"Idon’taskafteryourhealth，"saidtheoldgentleman；"youreyesanswerme，mydearlady，beforeIcanputthequestion。Atyouragealongsleepisthetruebeauty—draught。Plentyofbed——thereisthesimplesecretofkeepingyourgoodlooksandlivingalonglife——plentyofbed！"

"Ihavenotbeensolonginmybed，Major，asyousuppose。Totellthetruth，Ihavebeenupallnight，reading。"

MajorFitz—Davidliftedhiswell—paintedeyebrowsinpolitesurprise。

"Whatisthehappybookwhichhasinterestedyousodeeply？"heasked。

"Thebook，"Ianswered，"istheTrialofmyhusbandforthemurderofhisfirstwife。"

"Don’tmentionthathorridbook！"heexclaimed。"Don’tspeakofthatdreadfulsubject！WhathavebeautyandgracetodowithTrials，Poisonings，Horrors？Why，mycharmingfriend，profaneyourlipsbytalkingofsuchthings？WhyfrightenawaytheLovesandtheGracesthatliehidinyoursmile。HumoranoldfellowwhoadorestheLovesandtheGraces，andwhoasksnothingbetterthantosunhimselfinyoursmiles。Luncheonisready。Letusbecheerful。Letuslaughandlunch。"

Heledmetothetable，andfilledmyplateandmyglasswiththeairofamanwhoconsideredhimselftobeengagedinoneofthemostimportantoccupationsofhislife。Benjaminkepttheconversationgoingintheinterval。

"MajorFitz—Davidbringsyousomenews，mydear，"hesaid。"Yourmother—in—law，Mrs。Macallan，iscomingheretoseeyouto—day。"

Mymother—in—lawcomingtoseeme！IturnedeagerlytotheMajorforfurtherinformation。

"HasMrs。Macallanheardanythingofmyhusband？"Iasked。"Isshecomingheretotellmeabouthim？"

"Shehasheardfromhim，Ibelieve，"saidtheMajor，"andshehasalsoheardfromyourunclethevicar。OurexcellentStarkweatherhaswrittentoher——towhatpurposeIhavenotbeeninformed。I

onlyknowthatonreceiptofhislettershehasdecidedonpayingyouavisit。Imettheoldladylastnightataparty，andI

triedhardtodiscoverwhethershewerecomingtoyouasyourfriendoryourenemy。Mypowersofpersuasionwerecompletelythrownawayonher。Thefactis，"saidtheMajor，speakinginthecharacterofayouthoffive—and—twentymakingamodestconfession，"Idon’tgetonwellwitholdwomen。Takethewillforthedeed，mysweetfriend。Ihavetriedtobeofsomeusetoyouandhavefailed。"

ThosewordsofferedmetheopportunityforwhichIwaswaiting。I

determinednottoloseit。

"Youcanbeofthegreatestusetome，"Isaid，"ifyouwillallowmetopresume，Major，onyourpastkindness。Iwanttoaskyouaquestion；andImayhaveafavortobegwhenyouhaveansweredme。"

MajorFitz—Davidsetdownhiswine—glassonitswaytohislips，andlookedatmewithanappearanceofbreathlessinterest。

"Commandme，mydearlady——Iamyoursandyoursonly，"saidthegallantoldgentleman。"Whatdoyouwishtoaskme？"

"IwishtoaskifyouknowMiserrimusDexter。"

"GoodHeavens！"criedtheMajor；"that_is_anunexpectedquestion！KnowMiserrimusDexter？IhaveknownhimformoreyearsthanIliketoreckonup。What_can_beyourobject——"

"Icantellyouwhatmyobjectisintwowords，"Iinterposed。"I

wantyoutogivemeanintroductiontoMiserrimusDexter。"

MyimpressionisthattheMajorturnedpaleunderhispaint。

This，atanyrate，iscertain——hissparklinglittlegrayeyeslookedatmeinundisguisedbewildermentandalarm。

"YouwanttoknowMiserrimusDexter？"herepeated，withtheairofamanwhodoubtedtheevidenceofhisownsenses。"Mr。

Benjamin，haveItakentoomuchofyourexcellentwine？AmIthevictimofadelusion——ordidourfairfriendreallyaskmetogiveheranintroductiontoMiserrimusDexter？"

Benjaminlookedatmeinsomebewildermentonhisside，andanswered，quiteseriously，"Ithinkyousaidso，mydear。"

"Icertainlysaidso，"Irejoined。"Whatistheresoverysurprisinginmyrequest？"

"Themanismad！"criedtheMajor。"InallEnglandyoucouldnothavepickedoutapersonmoreessentiallyunfittobeintroducedtoalady——toayoungladyespecially——thanDexter。Haveyouheardofhishorribledeformity？"

"Ihaveheardofit——anditdoesn’tdauntme。"

"Doesn’tdauntyou？Mydearlady，theman’smindisasdeformedashisbody。WhatVoltairesaidsatiricallyofthecharacterofhiscountrymeningeneralisliterallytrueofMiserrimusDexter。

Heisamixtureofthetigerandthemonkey。Atonemomenthewouldfrightenyou，andatthenexthewouldsetyouscreamingwithlaughter。Idon’tdenythatheiscleverinsomerespects——brilliantlyclever，Iadmit。AndIdon’tsaythathehasevercommittedanyactsofviolence，oreverwillinglyinjuredanybody。But，forallthat，heismad，ifeveramanweremadyet。Forgivemeiftheinquiryisimpertinent。WhatcanyourmotivepossiblybeforwantinganintroductiontoMiserrimusDexter？"

"Iwanttoconsulthim？"

"MayIaskonwhatsubject？"

"Onthesubjectofmyhusband’sTrial。"

MajorFitz—Davidgroaned，andsoughtamomentaryconsolationinhisfriendBenjamin’sclaret。

"Thatdreadfulsubjectagain！"heexclaimed。"Mr。Benjamin，whydoesshepersistindwellingonthatdreadfulsubject？"

"Imustdwellonwhatisnowtheoneemploymentandtheonehopeofmylife，"Isaid。"IhavereasontohopethatMiserrimusDextercanhelpmetoclearmyhusband’scharacterofthestainwhichtheScotchVerdicthasleftonit。Tigerandmonkeyashemaybe，Iamreadytoruntheriskofbeingintroducedtohim。

AndIaskyouagain——rashlyandobstinatelyasIfearyouwillthink——togivemetheintroduction。Itwillputyoutonoinconvenience。Iwon’ttroubleyoutoescortme；alettertoMr。

Dexterwilldo。"

TheMajorlookedpiteouslyatBenjamin，andshookhishead。

BenjaminlookedpiteouslyattheMajor，andshook_his_head。

"Sheappearstoinsistonit，"saidtheMajor。

"Yes，"saidBenjamin。"Sheappearstoinsistonit。"

"Iwon’ttaketheresponsibility，Mr。Benjamin，ofsendingheralonetoMiserrimusDexter。"

"ShallIgowithher，sir？"

TheMajorreflected。Benjamin，inthecapacityofprotector，didnotappeartoinspireourmilitaryfriendwithconfidence。Afteramoment’sconsiderationanewideaseemedtostrikehim。Heturnedtome。

"Mycharmingfriend，"hesaid，"bemorecharmingthanever——consenttoacompromise。LetustreatthisdifficultyaboutDexterfromasocialpointofview。Whatdoyousaytoalittledinner？"

"Alittledinner？"Irepeated，notintheleastunderstandinghim。

"Alittledinner，"theMajorreiterated，"atmyhouse。YouinsistonmyintroducingyoutoDexter，andIrefusetotrustyoualonewiththatcrack—brainedpersonage。Theonlyalternativeunderthecircumstancesistoinvitehimtomeetyou，andtoletyouformyourownopinionofhim——undertheprotectionofmyroof。

Whoshallwehavetomeetyoubesides？"pursuedtheMajor，brighteningwithhospitableintentions。"Wewantaperfectgalaxyofbeautyaroundthetable，asaspeciesofcompensationwhenwehavegotMiserrimusDexterasonetheguests。MadameMirlifloreisstillinLondon。Youwouldbesuretolikeher——sheischarming；shepossessesyourfirmness，yourextraordinarytenacityofpurpose。Yes，wewillhaveMadameMirliflore。Whoelse？ShallwesayLadyClarinda？Anothercharmingperson，Mr。

Benjamin！Youwouldbesuretoadmireher——sheissosympathetic，sheresemblesinsomanyrespectsourfairfriendhere。Yes，LadyClarindashallbeoneofus；andyoushallsitnexttoher，Mr。

Benjamin，asaproofofmysincereregardforyou。Shallwehavemyyoungprimadonnatosingtousintheevening？thinkso。Sheispretty；shewillassistinobscuringthedeformityofDexter。

Verywell；thereisourpartycomplete！Iwillshutmyselfupthiseveningandapproachthequestionofdinnerwithmycook。

Shallwesaythisdayweek，"askedtheMajor，takingouthispocketbook，"ateighto’clock？"

Iconsentedtotheproposedcompromise——butnotverywillingly。

Withaletterofintroduction，ImighthaveseenMiserrimusDexterthatafternoon。Asitwas，the"littledinner"compelledmetowaitinabsoluteinactionthroughawholeweek。However，therewasnohelpforitbuttosubmit。MajorFitz—David，inhispoliteway，couldbeasobstinateasIwas。Hehadevidentlymadeuphismind；andfurtheroppositiononmypartwouldbeofnoservicetome。

"Punctuallyateight，Mr。Benjamin，"reiteratedtheMajor。"Putitdowninyourbook。"

Benjaminobeyed——withasidelookatme，whichIwasatnolosstointerpret。Mygoodoldfrienddidnotrelishmeetingamanatdinnerwhowasdescribedas"halftiger，halfmonkey；"andtheprivilegeofsittingnexttoLadyClarindaratherdauntedthandelightedhim。Itwasallmydoing，andhetoohadnochoicebuttosubmit。"Punctuallyateight，sir，"saidpooroldBenjamin，obedientlyrecordinghisformidableengagement。"Pleasetotakeanotherglassofwine。"

TheMajorlookedathiswatch，androse——withfluentapologiesforabruptlyleavingthetable。

"ItislaterthanIthought，"hesaid。"Ihaveanappointmentwithafriend——afemalefriend；amostattractiveperson。Youalittleremindmeofher，mydearlady——youresembleherincomplexion：thesamecreamypaleness。Iadorecreamypaleness。AsIwassaying，Ihaveanappointmentwithmyfriend；shedoesmethehonortoaskmyopiniononsomeveryremarkablespecimensofoldlace。Ihavestudiedoldlace。Istudyeverythingthatcanmakemeusefuloragreeabletoyourenchantingsex。Youwon’tforgetourlittledinner？IwillsendDexterhisinvitationthemomentIgethome。"Hetookmyhandandlookedatitcritically，withhisheadalittleononeside。"Adelicioushand，"hesaid；

"youdon’tmindmylookingatit——youdon’tmindmykissingit，doyou？Adelicioushandisoneofmyweaknesses。Forgivemyweaknesses。Ipromisetorepentandamendoneofthesedays。"

"Atyourage，Major，doyouthinkyouhavemuchtimetolose？"

askedastrangevoice，speakingbehindus。

Weallthreelookedaroundtowardthedoor。Therestoodmyhusband’smother，smilingsatirically，withBenjamin’sshylittlemaid—servantwaitingtoannounceher。

MajorFitz—Davidwasreadywithhisanswer。

Theoldsoldierwasnoteasilytakenbysurprise。

"Age，mydearMrs。Macallan，isapurelyrelativeexpression，"hesaid。"Therearesomepeoplewhoareneveryoung，andthereareotherpeoplewhoareneverold。Iamoneoftheotherpeople。_Aurevoir！_"

WiththatanswertheincorrigibleMajorkissedthetipsofhisfingerstousandwalkedout。Benjamin，bowingwithhisold—fashionedcourtesy，threwopenthedoorofhislittlelibrary，and，invitingMrs。Macallanandmyselftopassin，leftustogetherintheroom。

CHAPTERXXIII

MYMOTHER—IN—LAWSURPRISESME。

ITOOKachairatarespectfuldistancefromthesofaonwhichMrs。Macallanseatedherself。Theoldladysmiled，andbeckonedtometotakemyplacebyherside。Judgingbyappearances，shehadcertainlynotcometoseemeinthecharacterofanenemy。ItremainedtobediscoveredIwhethershewerereallydisposedtobemyfriend。

"Ihavereceivedaletterfromyourunclethevicar，"shebegan。

"Heasksmetovisityou，andIamhappy——forreasonswhichyoushallpresentlyhear——tocomplywithhisrequest。UnderothercircumstancesIdoubtverymuch，mydearchild——strangeastheconfessionmayappear——whetherIshouldhaveventuredintoyourpresence。Mysonhasbehavedtoyousoweakly，and（inmyopinion）soinexcusably，thatIamreally，speakingashismother，almostashamedtofaceyou。"

Wassheinearnest？Ilistenedtoherandlookedatherinamazement。

"Youruncle’sletter，"pursuedMrs。Macallan，"tellsmehowyouhavebehavedunderyourhardtrial，andwhatyouproposetodonowEustacehasleftyou。DoctorStarkweather，poorman，seemstobeinexpressiblyshockedbywhatyousaidtohimwhenhewasinLondon。Hebegsmetousemyinfluencetoinduceyoutoabandonyourpresentideas，andtomakeyoureturntoyouroldhomeattheVicarage。Idon’tintheleastagreewithyouruncle，mydear。WildasIbelieveyourplanstobe——youhavenottheslightestchanceofsucceedingincarryingthemout——Iadmireyourcourage，yourfidelity，yourunshakenfaithinmyunhappyson，afterhisunpardonablebehaviortoyou。Youareafinecreature，Valeria，andIhavecomeheretotellyousoinplainwords。Givemeakiss，child。Youdeservetobethewifeofahero，andyouhavemarriedoneoftheweakestoflivingmortals。

Godforgivemeforspeakingsoofmyownson；butit’sinmymind，anditmustcomeout！"

ThiswayofspeakingofEustacewasmorethanIcouldsuffer，evenfromhismother。Irecoveredtheuseofmytongueinmyhusband’sdefense。

"Iamsincerelyproudofyourgoodopinion，dearMrs。Macallan，"

Isaid。"Butyoudistressme——forgivemeifIownitplainly——whenIhearyouspeaksodisparaginglyofEustace。I

cannotagreewithyouthatmyhusbandistheweakestoflivingmortals。"

"Ofcoursenot！"retortedtheoldlady。"Youarelikeallgoodwomen——youmakeaheroofthemanyoulove，——whetherhedeserveitornot。Yourhusbandhashostsofgoodqualities，child——andperhapsIknowthembetterthanyoudo。Buthiswholeconduct，fromthemomentwhenhefirstenteredyouruncle’shousetothepresenttime，hasbeen，Isayagain，theconductofanessentiallyweakman。Whatdoyouthinkhehasdonenowbywayofclimax？Hehasjoinedacharitablebrotherhood；andheisofftothewarinSpainwitharedcrossonhisarm，whenheoughttobehereonhisknees，askinghiswifetoforgivehim。Isaythatistheconductofaweakman。Somepeoplemightcallitbyahardername。"

Thisnewsstartledanddistressedme。Imightberesignedtohisleavingmeforatime；butallmyinstinctsasawomanrevoltedathisplacinghimselfinapositionofdangerduringhisseparationfromhiswife。Hehadnowdeliberatelyaddedtomyanxieties。Ithoughtitcruelofhim——butIwouldnotconfesswhatIthoughttohismother。Iaffectedtobeascoolasshewas；andIdisputedherconclusionswithallthefirmnessthatI

couldsummontohelpme。Theterribleoldwomanonlywentonabusinghimmorevehementlythanever。

"WhatIcomplainofinmyson，"proceededMrs。Macallan，"isthathehasentirelyfailedtounderstandyou。Ifhehadmarriedafool，hisconductwouldbeintelligibleenough。Hewouldhavedonewiselytoconcealfromafoolthathehadbeenmarriedalready，andthathehadsufferedthehorridpublicexposureofaTrialforthemurderofhiswife。Then，again，hewouldhavebeenquiteright，whenthissamefoolhaddiscoveredthetruth，totakehimselfoutofherwaybeforeshecouldsuspecthimofpoisoningher——forthesakeofthepeaceandquietofbothparties。Butyouarenotafool。Icanseethat，afteronlyashortexperienceofyou。Whycan’theseeittoo？Whydidn’thetrustyouwithhissecretfromthefirst，insteadofstealinghiswayintoyouraffectionsunderanassumedname？Whydidheplan（asheconfessedtome）totakeyouawaytotheMediterranean，andtokeepyouabroad，forfearofsomeofficiousfriendsathomebetrayinghimtoyouastheprisonerofthefamousTrial？

Whatistheplainanswertoallthesequestions？Whatistheonepossibleexplanationofthisotherwiseunaccountableconduct？

Thereisonlyoneanswer，andoneexplanation。Mypoor，wretchedson——hetakesafterhisfather；heisn’ttheleastlikeme！——isweak：weakinhiswayofjudging，weakinhiswayofacting，and，likeallweakpeople，headstrongandunreasonabletothelastdegree。Thereisthetruth！Don’tgetredandangry。Iamasfondofhimasyouare。Icanseehismeritstoo。Andoneofthemisthathehasmarriedawomanofspiritandresolution——sofaithfulandsofondofhimthatshewon’tevenlethisownmothertellherofhisfaults。Goodchild！Ilikeyouforhatingme！"

"Dearmadam，don’tsaythatIhateyou！"Iexclaimed（feelingverymuchasifIdidhateher，though，forallthat）。"Ionlypresumetothinkthatyouareconfusingadelicate—mindedmanwithaweak—mindedman。OurdearunhappyEustace——"

"Isadelicate—mindedman，"saidtheimpenetrableMrs。Macallan，finishingmysentenceforme。"Wewillleaveitthere，mydear，andgetontoanothersubject。Iwonderwhetherweshalldisagreeaboutthattoo？"

"Whatisthesubject，madam？"

"Iwon’ttellyouifyoucallmemadam。Callmemother。Say，’Whatisthesubject，mother？’"

"Whatisthesubject，mother？"

"YournotionofturningyourselfintoaCourtofAppealforanewTrialofEustace，andforcingtheworldtopronounceajustverdictonhim。Doyoureallymeantotryit？"

"Ido！"

Mrs。Macallanconsideredforamomentgrimlywithherself。

"YouknowhowheartilyIadmireyourcourage，andyourdevotiontomyunfortunateson，"shesaid。"Youknowbythistimethat_I_

don’tcant。ButIcannotseeyouattempttoperformimpossibilities；Icannotletyouuselesslyriskyourreputationandyourhappinesswithoutwarningyoubeforeitistoolate。Mychild，thethingyouhavegotitinyourheadtodoisnottobedonebyyouorbyanybody。Giveitup。"

"Iamdeeplyobligedtoyou，Mrs。Macallan——"

"’Mother！’"

"Iamdeeplyobligedtoyou，mother，fortheinterestthatyoutakeinme，butIcannotgiveitup。Rightorwrong，riskornorisk，ImustandIwilltryit！"

Mrs。Macallanlookedatmeveryattentively，andsighedtoherself。

"Oh，youth，youth！"shesaidtoherself，sadly。"Whatagrandthingitistobeyoung！"Shecontrolledtherisingregret，andturnedonmesuddenly，almostfiercely，withthesewords："What，inGod’sname，doyoumeantodo？"

Attheinstantwhensheputthequestion，theideacrossedmymindthatMrs。Macallancouldintroduceme，ifshepleased，toMiserrimusDexter。Shemustknowhim，andknowhimwell，asaguestatGleninchandanoldfriendofherson。

"ImeantoconsultMiserrimusDexter，"Ianswered，boldly。

Mrs。Macallanstartedbackfrommewithaloudexclamationofsurprise。

"Areyououtofyoursenses？"sheasked。

Itoldher，asIhadtoldMajorFitz—David，thatIhadreasontothinkMr。Dexter’sadvicemightbeofrealassistancetomeatstarting。

"AndI，"rejoinedMrs。Macallan，"havereasontothinkthatyourwholeprojectisamadone，andthatinaskingDexter’sadviceonityouappropriatelyconsultamadman。Youneedn’tstart，child！

Thereisnoharminthecreature。Idon’tmeanthathewillattackyou，orberudetoyou。Ionlysaythatthelastpersonwhomayoungwoman，placedinyourpainfulanddelicateposition，oughttoassociateherselfwithisMiserrimusDexter。"

Strange！HerewastheMajor’swarningrepeatedbyMrs。Macallan，almostintheMajor’sownwords。Well！Itsharedthefateofmostwarnings。Itonlymadememoreandmoreeagertohavemyownway。

"Yousurprisemeverymuch，"Isaid。"Mr。Dexter’sevidence，givenattheTrial，seemsasclearandreasonableasevidencecanbe。"

"Ofcourseitis！"answeredMrs。Macallan。"Theshorthandwritersandreportersputhisevidenceintopresentablelanguagebeforetheyprintedit。Ifyouhadheardwhathereallysaid，asIdid，youwouldhavebeeneitherverymuchdisgustedwithhimorverymuchamusedbyhim，accordingtoyourwayoflookingatthings。

Hebegan，fairlyenough，withamodestexplanationofhisabsurdChristianname，whichatoncecheckedthemerrimentoftheaudience。Butashewentonthemadsideofhimshoweditself。Hemixedupsenseandnonsenseinthestrangestconfusion；hewascalledtoorderoverandoveragain；hewaseventhreatenedwithfineandimprisonmentforcontemptofCourt。Inshort，hewasjustlikehimself——amixtureofthestrangestandthemostoppositequalities；atonetimeperfectlyclearandreasonable，asyousaidjustnow；atanotherbreakingoutintorhapsodiesofthemostoutrageouskind，likeamaninastateofdelirium。A

moreentirelyunfitpersontoadviseanybody，Itellyouagain，neverlived。Youdon’texpectMetointroduceyoutohim，I

hope？"

"Ididthinkofsuchathing，"Ianswered。"Butafterwhatyouhavesaid，dearMrs。Macallan，Igiveuptheidea，ofcourse。Itisnotagreatsacrifice——itonlyobligesmetowaitaweekforMajorFitz—David’sdinner—party。HehaspromisedtoaskMiserrimusDextertomeetme。"

"ThereistheMajorallover！"criedtheoldlady。"Ifyoupinyourfaithonthatman，Ipityyou。Heisasslipperyasaneel。

IsupposeyouaskedhimtointroduceyoutoDexter？"

"Yes。"

"Exactly！Dexterdespiseshim，mydear。HeknowsaswellasIdothatDexterwon’tgotohisdinner。Andhetakesthatroundaboutwayofkeepingyouapart，insteadofsayingNotoyouplainly，likeanhonestman。

Thiswasbadnews。ButIwas，asusual，tooobstinatetoownmyselfdefeated。

"Iftheworstcomestotheworst，"Isaid，"IcanbutwritetoMr。Dexter，andbeghimtograntmeaninterview。"

"Andgotohimbyyourself，ifhedoesgrantit？"inquiredMrs。

Macallan。

"Certainly。Bymyself。"

"Youreallymeanit？"

"Ido，indeed。"

"Iwon’tallowyoutogobyyourself。"

"MayIventuretoask，ma’amhowyouproposetopreventme？"

"Bygoingwithyou，tobesure，youobstinatehussy！Yes，yes——I

canbeasheadstrongasyouarewhenIlike。Mind！Idon’twanttoknowwhatyourplansare。Idon’twanttobemixedupwithyourplans。MysonisresignedtotheScotchVerdict。IamresignedtotheScotchVerdict。Itisyouwhowon’tletmattersrestastheyare。Youareavainandfoolhardyyoungperson。But，somehow，Ihavetakenalikingtoyou，andIwon’tletyougotoMiserrimusDexterbyyourself。Putonyourbonnet！"

"Now？"Iasked。

"Certainly！Mycarriageisatthedoor。Andthesoonerit’soverthebetterIshallbepleased。Getready——andbequickaboutit！"

Irequirednosecondbidding。IntenminutesmorewewereonourwaytoMiserrimusDexter。

Suchwastheresultofmymother—in—law’svisit！

CHAPTERXXIV。

MISERRIMUSDEXTER——FIRSTVIEW。