第16章

Washecomparingmewiththevictimofthepoison——withmyhusband’sfirstwife？Hiswordsseemedtojustifytheconclusion。

IfIwereright，thedeadwomanhadevidentlybeenafavoritewithhim。Therewasnomisinterpretingthebrokentonesofhisvoicewhenhespokeofher：hehadadmiredher，living；hemournedher，dead。SupposingthatIcouldprevailuponmyselftoadmitthisextraordinarypersonintomyconfidence，whatwouldbetheresult？ShouldIbethegainerortheloserbytheresemblancewhichhefanciedhehaddiscovered？Wouldthesightofmeconsolehimorpainhim？Iwaitedeagerlytohearmoreonthesubjectofthefirstwife。Notawordmoreescapedhislips。

Anewchangecameoverhim。Heliftedhisheadwithastart，andlookedabouthimasawearymanmightlookifhewassuddenlydisturbedinadeepsleep。

"WhathaveIdone？"hesaid。"HaveIbeenlettingmyminddriftagain？"Heshudderedandsighed。"Oh，thathouseofGleninch！"hemurmured，sadly，tohimself。"ShallInevergetawayfromitinmythoughts？Oh，thathouseofGleninch！"

Tomyinfinitedisappointment，Mrs。Macallancheckedthefurtherrevelationofwhatwaspassinginhismind。

Somethinginthetoneandmannerofhisallusiontoherson’scountry—houseseemedtohaveoffendedher。Sheinterposedsharplyanddecisively。

"Gently，myfriend，gently！"shesaid。"Idon’tthinkyouquiteknowwhatyouaretalkingabout。"

Hisgreatblueeyesflashedatherfiercely。Withoneturnofhishandhebroughthischaircloseatherside。Thenextinstanthecaughtherbythearm，andforcedhertobendtohim，untilhecouldwhisperinherear。Hewasviolentlyagitated。HiswhisperwasloudenoughtomakeitselfheardwhereIwassittingatthetime。

"Idon’tknowwhatIamtalkingabout？"herepeated，withhiseyesfixedattentively，notonmymother—in—law，butonme。"Youshortsightedoldwoman！whereareyourspectacles？Lookather！

Doyouseenoresemblance——thefigure，nottheface！——doyouseenoresemblancetheretoEustace’sfirstwife？"

"Purefancy！"rejoinedMrs。Macallan。"Iseenothingofthesort。"

Heshookherimpatiently。

"Notsoloud！"hewhispered。"Shewillhearyou。"

"Ihaveheardyouboth，"Isaid。"Youneedhavenofear，Mr。

Dexter，ofspeakingbeforeme。Iknowthatmyhusbandhadafirstwife，andIknowhowmiserablyshedied。IhavereadtheTrial。"

"Youhavereadthelifeanddeathofamartyr！"criedMiserrimusDexter。Hesuddenlywheeledhischairmyway；hebentoverme；

hiseyesfilledwithtears。"Nobodyappreciatedherathertruevalue，"hesaid，"butme。Nobodybutme！nobodybutme！"

Mrs。Macallanwalkedawayimpatientlytotheendoftheroom。

"Whenyouareready，Valeria，Iam，"shesaid。"Wecannotkeeptheservantsandthehorseswaitingmuchlongerinthisbleakplace。"

IwastoodeeplyinterestedinleadingMiserrimusDextertopursuethesubjectonwhichhehadtouchedtobewillingtoleavehimatthatmoment。IpretendednottohaveheardMrs。Macallan。

Ilaidmyhand，asifbyaccident，onthewheel—chairtokeephimnearme。

"YoushowedmehowhighlyyouesteemedthatpoorladyinyourevidenceattheTrial，"Isaid。"Ibelieve，Mr。Dexter，youhaveideasofyourownaboutthemysteryofherdeath？"

Hehadbeenlookingatmyhand，restingonthearmofhischair，untilIventuredonmyquestion。Atthathesuddenlyraisedhiseyes，andfixedthemwithafrowningandfurtivesuspiciononmyface。

"HowdoyouknowIhaveideasofmyown？"heasked，sternly。

"IknowitfromreadingtheTrial，"Ianswered。"Thelawyerwhocross—examinedyouspokealmostintheverywordswhichIhavejustused。Ihadnointentionofoffendingyou，Mr。Dexter。"

Hisfaceclearedasrapidlyasithadclouded。Hesmiled，andlaidhishandonmine。Histouchstruckmecold。Ifelteverynerveinmeshiveringunderit；Idrewmyhandawayquickly。

"Ibegyourpardon，"hesaid，"ifIhavemisunderstoodyou。I

_have_ideasofmyownaboutthatunhappylady。"Hepausedandlookedatmeinsilenceveryearnestly。"Have_you_anyideas？"

heasked。"Ideasaboutherlife？oraboutherdeath？"

Iwasdeeplyinterested；Iwasburningtohearmore。ItmightencouragehimtospeakifIwerecandidwithhim。Ianswered，"Yes。"

"Ideaswhichyouhavementionedtoanyone？"hewenton。

"Tonolivingcreature，"Ireplied——"asyet。"

"Thisverystrange！"hesaid，stillearnestlyreadingmyface。

"Whatinterestcan_you_haveinadeadwomanwhomyouneverknew？Whydidyouaskmethatquestionjustnow？Haveyouanymotiveincomingheretoseeme？"

Iboldlyacknowledgedthetruth。Isaid，"Ihaveamotive。"

"IsitconnectedwithEustaceMacallan’sfirstwife？"

"Itis。"

"Withanythingthathappenedinherlifetime？"

"No。"

"Withherdeath？"

"Yes。"

Hesuddenlyclaspedhishandswithawildgestureofdespair，andthenpressedthembothonhishead，asifhewerestruckbysomesuddenpain。

"Ican’thearitto—night！"hesaid。"Iwouldgiveworldstohearit，butIdaren’t。IshouldloseallholdovermyselfinthestateIaminnow。Iamnotequaltorakingupthehorrorandthemysteryofthepast；Ihavenotcourageenoughtoopenthegraveofthemartyreddead。Didyouhearmewhenyoucamehere？Ihaveanimmenseimagination。Itrunsriotattimes。Itmakesanactorofme。Iplaythepartsofalltheheroesthateverlived。Ifeeltheircharacters。Imergemyselfintheirindividualities。ForthetimeI_am_themanIfancymyselftobe。Ican’thelpit。I

amobligedtodoit。IfIrestrainedmyimaginationwhenthefitisonme，Ishouldgomad。Iletmyselfloose。Itlastsforhours。Itleavesmewithmyenergieswornout，withmysensibilitiesfrightfullyacute。Rouseanymelancholyorterribleassociationsinmeatsuchtimes，andIamcapableofhysterics，Iamcapableofscreaming。Youheardmescream。Youshall_not_

seemeinhysterics。No，Mrs。Valeria——no，youinnocentreflectionofthedeadandgone——Iwouldnotfrightenyoufortheworld。Willyoucomehereto—morrowinthedaytime？Ihavegotachaiseandapony。Ariel，mydelicateAriel，candrive。SheshallcallatMammaMacallan’sandfetchyou。Wewilltalkto—morrow，whenIamfitforit。Iamdyingtohearyou。Iwillbefitforyouinthemorning。Iwillbecivil，intelligent，communicative，inthemorning。Nomoreofitnow。Awaywiththesubject——thetooexciting，thetoointerestingsubject！Imustcomposemyselformybrainswillexplodeinmyhead。Musicisthetruenarcoticforexcitablebrains。Myharp！myharp！"

Herushedawayinhischairtothefarendoftheroom，passingMrs。Macallanasshereturnedtome，bentonhasteningourdeparture。

"Come！"saidtheoldlady，irritably。"Youhaveseenhim，andhehasmadeagoodshowofhimself。Moreofhimmightbetiresome。

Comeaway。"

Thechairreturnedtousmoreslowly。MiserrimusDexterwasworkingitwithonehandonly。IntheotherheheldaharpofapatternwhichIhadhithertoonlyseeninpictures。Thestringswerefewinnumber，andtheinstrumentwassosmallthatIcouldhavehelditeasilyonmylap。ItwastheancientharpofthepicturedMusesandthelegendaryWelshbards。

"Good—night，Dexter，"saidMrs。Macallan。

Hehelduponehandimperatively。

"Wait！"hesaid。"Letherhearmesing。"Heturnedtome。"I

declinetobeindebtedtootherpeopleformypoetryandmymusic，"hewenton。"Icomposemyownpoetryandmyownmusic。I

improvise。Givemeamomenttothink。IwillimproviseforYou。"

Heclosedhiseyesandrestedhisheadontheframeoftheharp。

Hisfingersgentlytouchedthestringswhilehewasthinking。Inafewminutesheliftedhishead，lookedatme，andstruckthefirstnotes——thepreludetothesong。Itwaswild，barbaric，monotonousmusic，utterlyunlikeanymoderncomposition。

SometimesitsuggestedaslowandundulatingOrientaldance。

SometimesitmodulatedintotoneswhichremindedmeofthesevererharmoniesoftheoldGregorianchants。Thewords，whentheyfollowedtheprelude，wereaswild，asrecklesslyfreefromallrestraintofcriticalrules，asthemusic。Theywereassuredlyinspiredbytheoccasion；Iwasthethemeofthestrangesong。Andthus——inoneofthefinesttenorvoicesIeverheard——mypoetsangofme：

"Whydoesshecome？Sheremindsmeofthelost；Sheremindsmeofthedead：Inherformliketheother，Inherwalkliketheother：Whydoesshecome？

"DoesDestinybringher？ShallwerangetogetherThemazesofthepast？ShallwesearchtogetherThesecretsofthepast？Shallweinterchangethoughts，surmises，suspicions？DoesDestinybringher？

"TheFuturewillshow。Letthenightpass；Letthedaycome。I

shallseeintoHermind：ShewilllookintoMine。TheFuturewillshow。"

Hisvoicesank，hisfingerstouchedthestringsmoreandmorefeeblyasheapproachedthelastlines。Theoverwroughtbrainneededandtookitsreanimatingrepose。Atthefinalwordshiseyesslowlyclosed。Hisheadlaybackonthechair。Hesleptwithhisarmsaroundhisharp，asachildsleepshuggingitslastnewtoy。

Westoleoutoftheroomontiptoe，andleftMiserrimusDexter——poet，composer，andmadman——inhispeacefulsleep。

CHAPTERXXVI。

MOREOFMYOBSTINACY。

ARIELwasdownstairsintheshadowyhall，halfasleep，halfawake，waitingtoseethevisitorsclearofthehouse。Withoutspeakingtous，withoutlookingatus，sheledthewaydownthedarkgardenwalk，andlockedthegatebehindus。"Good—night，Ariel，"Icalledouttoheroverthepaling。Nothingansweredmebutthetrampofherheavyfootstepsreturningtothehouse，andthedullthump，amomentafterward，oftheclosingdoor。

Thefootmanhadthoughtfullylightedthecarriagelamps。Carryingoneofthemtoserveasalantern，helightedusoverthewildsofthebrickdesert，andlandedussafelyonthepathbythehigh—road。

"Well！"saidmymother—in—law，whenwewerecomfortablyseatedinthecarriageagain。"YouhaveseenMiserrimusDexter，andIhopeyouaresatisfied。IwilldohimthejusticetodeclarethatI

never，inallmyexperience，sawhimmorecompletelycrazythanhewasto—night。Whatdo_you_say？"

"Idon’tpresumetodisputeyouropinion，"Ianswered。"But，speakingformyself，I’mnotquitesurethatheismad。"

"Notmad！"criedMrs。Macallan，"afterthosefranticperformancesinhischair？Notmad，aftertheexhibitionhemadeofhisunfortunatecousin？Notmad，afterthesongthathesanginyourhonor，andthefallingasleepbywayofconclusion？Oh，Valeria！

Valeria！Wellsaidthewisdomofourancestors——therearenonesoblindasthosewhowon’tsee。"

"Pardonme，dearMrs。Macallan，Isaweverythingthatyoumention，andIneverfeltmoresurprisedormoreconfoundedinmylife。ButnowIhaverecoveredfrommyamazement，andcanthinkitoverquietly，Imuststillventuretodoubtwhetherthisstrangemanisreallymadinthetruemeaningoftheword。Itseemstomethatheonlyexpresses——Iadmitinaveryrecklessandboisterousway——thoughtsandfeelingswhichmostofusareashamedofasweaknesses，andwhichwekeeptoourselvesaccordingly。IconfessIhaveoftenfanciedmyselftransformedintosomeotherperson，andhavefeltacertainpleasureinseeingmyselfinmynewcharacter。Oneofourfirstamusementsaschildren（ifwehaveanyimaginationatall）istogetoutofourowncharacters，andtotrythecharactersofotherpersonagesasachange——tofairies，tobequeens，tobeanything，inshort，butwhatwereallyare。Mr。Dexterletsoutthesecretjustasthechildrendo，andifthatismadness，heiscertainlymad。ButI

noticedthatwhenhisimaginationcooleddownhebecameMiserrimusDexteragain——henomorebelievedhimselfthanwebelievedhimtobeNapoleonorShakespeare。Besides，someallowanceissurelytobemadeforthesolitary，sedentarylifethatheleads。Iamnotlearnedenoughtotracetheinfluenceofthatlifeinmakinghimwhatheis；butIthinkIcanseetheresultinanover—excitedimagination，andIfancyIcantracehisexhibitinghispoweroverthepoorcousinandhissingingofthatwonderfulsongtonomoreformidablecausethaninordinateself—conceit。Ihopetheconfessionwillnotlowermeseriouslyinyourgoodopinion；butImustsayIhaveenjoyedmyvisit，and，worsestill，MiserrimusDexterreallyinterestsme。"

"DoesthislearneddiscourseonDextermeanthatyouaregoingtoseehimagain？"askedMrs。Macallan。

"Idon’tknowhowImayfeelaboutittomorrowmorning，"Isaid；

"butmyimpulseatthismomentisdecidedlytoseehimagain。I

hadalittletalkwithhimwhileyouwereawayattheotherendoftheroom，andIbelievehereallycanbeofusetome——"

"Ofusetoyouinwhat？"interposedmymother—in—law。

"IntheoneobjectwhichIhaveinview——theobject，dearMrs。

Macallan，whichIregrettosayyoudonotapprove。"

"Andyouaregoingtotakehimintoyourconfidence？toopenyourwholemindtosuchamanasthemanwehavejustleft？"

"Yes，ifIthinkofitto—morrowasIthinkofitto—night。I

daresayitisarisk；butImustrunrisks。IknowIamnotprudent；butprudencewon’thelpawomaninmyposition，withmyendtogain。"

Mrs。Macallanmadenofurtherremonstranceinwords。Sheopenedacapaciouspocketinfrontofthecarriage，andtookfromitaboxofmatchesandarailwayreading—lamp。

"Youprovokeme，"saidtheoldlady，"intoshowingyouwhatyourhusbandthinksofthisnewwhimofyours。Ihavegothisletterwithme——hislastletterfromSpain。Youshalljudgeforyourself，youpoordeludedyoungcreature，whethermysonisworthyofthesacrifice——theuselessandhopelesssacrifice——whichyouarebentonmakingofyourselfforhissake。

Strikealight！"

Iwillinglyobeyedher。EversinceshehadinformedmeofEustace’sdeparturetoSpainIhadbeeneagerformorenewsofhim，forsomethingtosustainmyspirits，aftersomuchthathaddisappointedanddepressedme。ThusfarIdidnotevenknowwhethermyhusbandthoughtofmesometimesinhisself—imposedexile。Astothisregrettingalreadytherashactwhichhadseparatedus，itwasstilltoosoontobeginhopingforthat。

Thelamphavingbeenlighted，andfixedinitsplacebetweenthetwofrontwindowsofthecarriage，Mrs。Macallanproducedherson’sletter。Thereisnofollylikethefollyoflove。Itcostmeahardstruggletorestrainmyselffromkissingthepaperonwhichthedearhandhadrested。

"There！"saidmymother—in—law。"Beginonthesecondpage，thepagedevotedtoyou。Readstraightdowntothelastlineatthebottom，and，inGod’sname，comebacktoyoursenses，child，beforeitistoolate！"

Ifollowedmyinstructions，andreadthesewords：

"CanItrustmyselftowriteofValeria？I_must_writeofher。

Tellmehowsheis，howshelooks，whatsheisdoing。Iamalwaysthinkingofher。NotadaypassesbutImournthelossofher。

Oh，ifshehadonlybeencontentedtoletmattersrestastheywere！Oh，ifshehadneverdiscoveredthemiserabletruth！

"ShespokeofreadingtheTrialwhenIsawherlast。Hasshepersistedindoingso？Ibelieve——Isaythisseriously，mother——I

believetheshameandthehorrorofitwouldhavebeenthedeathofmeifIhadmetherfacetofacewhenshefirstknewoftheignominythatIhavesuffered，oftheinfamoussuspicionofwhichIhavebeenpubliclymadethesubject。Thinkofthosepureeyeslookingatamanwhohasbeenaccused（andneverwhollyabsolved）ofthefoulestandthevilestofallmurders，andthenthinkofwhatthatmanmustfeelifhehaveanyheartandanysenseofshameleftinhim。IsickenasIwriteofit。

"Doesshestillmeditatethathopelessproject——theoffspring，poorangel，ofherartless，unthinkinggenerosity？Doesshestillfancythatitisin_her_powertoassertmyinnocencebeforetheworld？Oh，mother（ifshedo），useyourutmostinfluencetomakehergiveuptheidea！Spareherthehumiliation，thedisappointment，theinsult，perhaps，towhichshemayinnocentlyexposeherself。Forhersake，formysake，leavenomeansuntriedtoattainthisrighteous，thismercifulend。

"Isendhernomessage——Idarenotdoit。Saynothing，whenyouseeher，whichcanrecallmetohermemory。Onthecontrary，helphertoforgetmeassoonaspossible。ThekindestthingIcando——theoneatonementIcanmaketoher——istodropoutofherlife。"

Withthosewretchedwordsitended。Ihandedhisletterbacktohismotherinsilence。Shesaidbutlittleonherside。

"If_this_doesn’tdiscourageyou，"sheremarked，slowlyfoldinguptheletter，"nothingwill。Letusleaveitthere，andsaynomore。"

Imadenoanswer——Iwascryingbehindmyveil。Mydomesticprospectlookedsodreary！myunfortunatehusbandwassohopelesslymisguided，sopitiablywrong！Theonechanceforbothofus，andtheoneconsolationforpoorMe，wastoholdtomydesperateresolutionmorefirmlythanever。IfIhadwantedanythingtoconfirmmeinthisview，andtoarmmeagainsttheremonstrancesofeveryoneofmyfriends，Eustace’sletterwouldhaveprovedmorethansufficienttoanswerthepurpose。Atleasthehadnotforgottenme；hethoughtofme，andhemournedthelossofmeeverydayofhislife。Thatwasencouragementenough——forthepresent。"IfArielcallsformeinthepony—chaiseto—morrow，"Ithoughttomyself，"withArielIgo。"

Mrs。MacallansetmedownatBenjamin’sdoor。

Imentionedtoheratparting——Istoodsufficientlyinaweofhertoputitofftillthelastmoment——thatMiserrimusDexterhadarrangedtosendhiscousinandhispony—chaisetoherresidenceonthenextday；andIinquiredthereuponwhethermymother—in—lawwouldpermitmetocallatherhousetowaitfortheappearanceofthecousin，orwhethershewouldprefersendingthechaiseontoBenjamin’scottage。Ifullyexpectedanexplosionofangertofollowthisboldavowalofmyplansforthenextday。Theoldladyagreeablysurprisedme。Sheprovedthatshehadreallytakenalikingtome：shekepthertemper。

"IfyoupersistingoingbacktoDexter，youcertainlyshallnotgotohimfrommydoor，"shesaid。"ButIhopeyouwill_not_

persist。Ihopeyouwillawakeawiserwomanto—morrowmorning。"

Themorningcame。Alittlebeforenoonthearrivalofthepony—chaisewasannouncedatthedoor，andaletterwasbroughtintomefromMrs。Macallan。

"Ihavenorighttocontrolyourmovements，"mymother—in—lawwrote。"IsendthechaisetoMr。Benjamin’shouse；andI

sincerelytrustthatyouwillnottakeyourplaceinit。IwishI

couldpersuadeyou，Valeria，howtrulyIamyourfriend。Ihavebeenthinkingaboutyouanxiouslyinthewakefulhoursofthenight。_How_anxiously，youwillunderstandwhenItellyouthatInowreproachmyselffornothavingdonemorethanIdidtopreventyourunhappymarriage。Andyet，whatmoreIcouldhavedoneIdon’treallyknow。Mysonadmittedtomethathewascourtingyouunderanassumedname，buthenevertoldmewhatthenamewas。Orwhoyouwere，orwhereyourfriendslived。PerhapsI

oughttohavetakenmeasurestofindthisout。Perhaps，ifIhadsucceeded，Ioughttohaveinterferedandenlightenedyou，evenatthesadsacrificeofmakinganenemyofmyownson。IhonestlythoughtIdidmydutyinexpressingmydisapproval，andinrefusingtobepresentatthemarriage。WasItooeasilysatisfied？Itistoolatetoask。WhydoItroubleyouwithanoldwoman’svainmisgivingsandregrets？Mychild，ifyoucometoanyharm，Ishallfeel（indirectly）responsibleforit。Itisthisuneasystateofmindwhichsetsmewriting，withnothingtosaythatcaninterestyou。Don’tgotoDexter！ThefearhasbeenpursuingmeallnightthatyourgoingtoDexterwillendbadly。

Writehimanexcuse。Valeria！Ifirmlybelieveyouwillrepentitifyoureturntothathouse。"

Waseverawomanmoreplainlywarned，morecarefullyadvised，thanI？Andyetwarningandadvicewereboththrownawayonme。

LetmesayformyselfthatIwasreallytouchedbythekindnessofmymother—in—law’sletter，thoughIwasnotshakenbyitinthesmallestdegree。AslongasIlived，moved，andthought，myonepurposenowwastomakeMiserrimusDexterconfidetomehisideasonthesubjectofMrs。EustaceMacallan’sdeath。TothoseideasIlookedasmyguidingstarsalongthedarkwayonwhichI

wasgoing。IwrotebacktoMrs。Macallan，asIreallyfeltgratefullyandpenitently。AndthenIwentouttothechaise。

CHAPTERXXVII。

MR。DEXTERATHOME。

IFOUNDalltheidleboysintheneighborhoodcollectedaroundthepony—chaise，expressing，intheoccultlanguageofslang，theirhighenjoymentandappreciationattheappearanceof"Ariel"inherman’sjacketandhat。Theponywasfidgety——_he_

felttheinfluenceofthepopularuproar。Hisdriversat，whipinhand，magnificentlyimpenetrabletothegibesandjeststhatwereflyingaroundher。Isaid"Good—morning"ongettingintothechaise。Arielonlysaid"Geeup！"andstartedthepony。

Imadeupmymindtoperformthejourneytothedistantnorthernsuburbinsilence。Itwasevidentlyuselessformetoattempttospeak，andexperienceinformedmethatIneednotexpecttohearawordfallfromthelipsofmycompanion。Experience，however，isnotalwaysinfallible。Afterdrivingforhalfanhourinstolidsilence，Arielastoundedmebysuddenlyburstingintospeech。

"Doyouknowwhatwearecomingto？"sheasked，keepinghereyesstraightbetweenthepony’sears。

"No，"Ianswered。"Idon’tknowtheroad。Whatarewecomingto？"

"Wearecomingtoacanal。"

"Well？"

"Well，Ihavehalfamindtoupsetyouinthecanal。"

Thisformidableannouncementappearedtorequiresomeexplanation。Itookthelibertyofaskingforit。

"Whyshouldyouupsetme？"Iinquired。

"BecauseIhateyou，"wasthecoolandcandidreply。

"WhathaveIdonetooffendyou？"Iaskednext。

"WhatdoyouwantwiththeMaster？"Arielasked，inherturn。

"DoyoumeanMr。Dexter？"

"Yes。"

"IwanttohavesometalkwithMr。Dexter。"

"Youdon’t！Youwanttotakemyplace。Youwanttobrushhishairandoilhisbeard，insteadofme。Youwretch！"

Inowbegantounderstand。TheideawhichMiserrimusDexterhadjestinglyputintoherhead，inexhibitinghertousonthepreviousnight，hadbeenripeningslowlyinthatdullbrain，andhadfounditswayoutwardintowords，aboutfifteenhoursafterward，undertheirritatinginfluenceofmypresence！

"Idon’twanttotouchhishairorhisbeard，"Isaid。"Ileavethatentirelytoyou。"

Shelookedaroundatme，herfatfaceflushing，herdulleyesdilating，withtheunaccustomedefforttoexpressherselfinspeech，andtounderstandwhatwassaidtoherinreturn。

"Saythatagain，"sheburstout。"Andsayitslowerthistime。"

Isaiditagain，andIsaiditslower。

"Swearit！"shecried，gettingmoreandmoreexcited。

Ipreservedmygravity（thecanalwasjustvisibleinthedistance），andsworeit。

"Areyousatisfiednow？"Iasked。

Therewasnoanswer。Herlastresourcesofspeechwereexhausted。

Thestrangecreaturelookedbackagainstraightbetweenthepony’sears，emittedhoarselyagruntofrelief，andnevermorelookedatme，nevermorespoketome，fortherestofthejourney。Wedrovepastthebanksofthecanal，andIescapedimmersion。Werattled，inourjinglinglittlevehicle，throughthestreetsandacrossthewastepatchesofground，whichIdimlyrememberedinthedarkness，andwhichlookedmoresqualidandmorehideousthaneverinthebroaddaylight。Thechaiseturneddownalane，toonarrowforthepassageofanylargervehicle，andstoppedatawallandagatethatwerenewobjectstome。

Openingthegatewithherkey，andleadingthepony，ArielintroducedmetothebackgardenandyardofMiserrimusDexter’srottenandramblingoldhouse。Theponywalkedoffindependentlytohisstable，withthechaisebehindhim。Mysilentcompanionledmethroughableakandbarrenkitchen，andalongastonepassage。Openingadoorattheend，sheadmittedmetothebackofthehall，intowhichMrs。MacallanandIhadpenetratedbythefrontentrancetothehouse。HereArielliftedawhistlewhichhungaroundherneck，andblewtheshrilltrillingnoteswiththesoundofwhichIwasalreadyfamiliarasthemeansofcommunicationbetweenMiserrimusDexterandhisslave。Thewhistlingover，theslave’sunwillinglipsstruggledintospeechforthelasttime。

"WaittillyouheartheMaster’swhistle，"shesaid；"thengoupstairs。"

So！Iwastobewhistledforlikeadog！And，worsestill，therewasnohelpforitbuttosubmitlikeadog。HadArielanyexcusestomake？Nothingofthesort。

Sheturnedhershapelessbackonmeandvanishedintothekitchenregionofthehouse。