第19章

"PartTwo；AutobiographicalStyle，"heannounced，withawaveofhishand。"IhoppedalongtheGuests’Corridor，andturnedintotheSouthCorridor。Istoppedatthelittlestudy。Dooropen；

nobodythere。Icrossedthestudytotheseconddoor，communicatingwithMrs。Macallan’sbedchamber。Locked！IlookedthroughthekeyholeWastheresomethinghangingoverit，ontheotherside？Ican’tsay——Ionlyknowtherewasnothingtobeseenbutblankdarkness。Ilistened。Nothingtobeheard。Sameblankdarkness，sameabsolutesilence，insidethelockedseconddoorofMrs。Eustace’sroom，openingonthecorridor。Iwentontoherhusband’sbedchamber。IhadtheworstpossibleopinionofMrs。

Beauly——IshouldnothavebeenintheleastsurprisedifIhadcaughtherinEustace’sroom。Ilookedthroughthekeyhole。Inthiscase，thekeywasoutofit——orwasturnedtherightwayforme——Idon’tknowwhich。Eustace’sbedwasoppositethedoor。Nodiscovery。Icouldseehim，allbyhimself，innocentlyasleep。I

reflectedalittle。Thebackstaircasewasattheendofthecorridor，beyondme。Isliddownthestairs，andlookedaboutmeonthelowerfloor，bythelightofthenight—lamp。Doorsallfastlockedandkeysoutside，sothatIcouldtrythemmyself。

Housedoorbarredandbolted。Doorleadingintotheservants’

officesbarredandbolted。Igotbacktomyownroom，andthoughtitoutquietly。Wherecouldshebe？Certainly_in_thehouse，somewhere。Where？Ihadmadesureoftheotherrooms；thefieldofsearchwasexhausted。ShecouldonlybeinMrs。Macallan’sroom——the_one_roomwhichhadbaffledmyinvestigations；the_only_roomwhichhadnotlentitselftoexamination。Addtothisthatthekeyofthedoorinthestudy，communicatingwithMrs。

Macallan’sroom，wasstatedinthenurse’sevidencetobemissing；anddon’tforgetthatthedearestobjectofMrs。

Beauly’slife（ontheshowingofherownletter，readattheTrial）wastobeEustaceMacallan’shappywife。Putthesethingstogetherinyourownmind，andyouwillknowwhatmythoughtswere，asIsatwaitingforeventsinmychair，withoutmytellingyou。Towardfouro’clock，strongasIam，fatiguegotthebetterofme。Ifellasleep。Notforlong。Iawokewithastartandlookedatmywatch。Twenty—fiveminutespastfour。HadshegotbacktoherroomwhileIwasasleep？Ihoppedtoherdoorandlistened。Notasound。Isoftlyopenedthedoor。Theroomwasempty。Iwentbackagaintomyownroomtowaitandwatch。Itwashardworktokeepmyeyesopen。Idrewupthewindowtoletthecoolairrefreshme；Ifoughthardwithexhaustednature，andexhaustednaturewon。Ifellasleepagain。ThistimeitwaseightinthemorningwhenIawoke。Ihavegoodishears，asyoumayhavenoticed。Iheardwomen’svoicestalkingundermyopenwindow。I

peepedout。Mrs。Beaulyandhermaidincloseconfabulation！Mrs。

Beaulyandhermaidlookingguiltilyaboutthemtomakesurethattheywereneitherseennorheard！’Takecare，ma’am，’Iheardthemaidsay；’thathorriddeformedmonsterisasslyasafox。Mindhedoesn’tdiscoveryou。’Mrs。Beaulyanswered，’Yougofirst，andlookoutinfront；Iwillfollowyou，andmakesurethereisnobodybehindus。’Withthattheydisappearedaroundthecornerofthehouse。InfiveminutesmoreIheardthedoorofMrs。

Beauly’sroomsoftlyopenedandclosedagain。Threehourslaterthenursemetherinthecorridor，innocentlyonherwaytomakeinquiriesatMrs。EustaceMacallan’sdoor。Whatdoyouthinkofthesecircumstances？WhatdoyouthinkofMrs。Beaulyandhermaidhavingsomethingtosaytoeachother，whichtheydidn’tdaresayinthehouse——forfearofmybeingbehindsomedoorlisteningtothem？WhatdoyouthinkofthesediscoveriesofminebeingmadeontheverymorningwhenMrs。Eustacewastakenill——ontheverydaywhenshediedbyapoisoner’shand？Doyouseeyourwaytotheguiltyperson？AndhasmadMiserrimusDexterbeenofsomeassistancetoyou，sofar？"

Iwastooviolentlyexcitedtoanswerhim。Thewaytothevindicationofmyhusband’sinnocencewasopenedtomeatlast！

"Whereisshe？"Icried。"Andwhereisthatservantwhoisinherconfidence？"

"Ican’ttellyou，"hesaid。"Idon’tknow。"

"WherecanIinquire？Canyoutellmethat？"

Heconsideredalittle。"Thereisonemanwhomustknowwheresheis——orwhocouldfinditoutforyou，"hesaid。

"Whoishe？Whatishisname？"

"HeisafriendofEustace’s。MajorFitz—David。"

"Iknowhim！Iamgoingtodinewithhimnextweek。Hehasaskedyoutodinetoo。"

MiserrimusDexterlaughedcontemptuously。

"MajorFitz—Davidmaydoverywellfortheladies，"hesaid。"Theladiescantreathimasaspeciesofelderlyhumanlap—dog。Idontdinewithlap—dogs；Ihavesaid，No。Yougo。Heorsomeofhisladiesmaybeofusetoyou。Whoaretheguests？Didhetellyou？"

"TherewasaFrenchladywhosenameIforget，"Isaid，"andLadyClarinda——"

"Thatwilldo！SheisafriendofMrs。Beauly’s。SheissuretoknowwhereMrs。Beaulyis。Cometomethemomentyouhavegotyourinformation。Findoutifthemaidiswithher：sheistheeasiesttodealwithofthetwo。Onlymakethemaidopenherlips，andwehavegotMrs。Beauly。Wecrushher，"hecried，bringinghishanddownlikelightningonthelastlanguidflyoftheseason，crawlingoverthearmofhischair——"wecrushherasIcrushthisfly。Stop！Aquestion——amostimportantquestionindealingwiththemaid。Haveyougotanymoney？"

"Plentyofmoney。"

Hesnappedhisfingersjoyously。

"Themaidisours！"hecried。"It’samatterofpounds，shillings，andpencewiththemaid。Wait！Anotherquestion。Aboutyourname？IfyouapproachMrs。BeaulyinyourowncharacterasEustace’swife，youapproachherasthewomanwhohastakenherplace——youmakeamortalenemyofheratstarting。Bewareofthat！"

MyjealousyofMrs。Beauly，smolderinginmeallthroughtheinterview，burstintoflamesatthosewords。Icouldresistitnolonger——Iwasobligedtoaskhimifmyhusbandhadeverlovedher。

"Tellmethetruth，"Isaid。"DidEustacereally——？"

Heburstoutlaughingmaliciously，hepenetratedmyjealousy，andguessedmyquestionalmostbeforeithadpassedmylips。

"Yes，"hesaid，"Eustacedidreallyloveher——andnomistakeaboutit。Shehadeveryreasontobelieve（beforetheTrial）thatthewife’sdeathwouldputherinthewife’splace。ButtheTrialmadeanothermanofEustace。Mrs。Beaulyhadbeenawitnessofthepublicdegradationofhim。ThatwasenoughtopreventhismarryingMrs。Beauly。Hebrokeoffwithheratonceandforever——forthesamereasonpreciselywhichhasledhimtoseparatehimselffromyou。Existencewithawomanwhoknewthathehadbeentriedforhislifeasamurdererwasanexistencethathewasnotheroenoughtoface。Youwantedthetruth。Thereitis！YouhaveneedtobecautiousofMrs。Beauly——youhavenoneedtobejealousofher。Takethesafecourse。ArrangewiththeMajor，whenyoumeetLadyClarindaathisdinner，thatyoumeetherunderanassumedname。"

"Icangotothedinner，"Isaid，"underthenameinwhichEustacemarriedme。Icangoas’Mrs。Woodville。’"

"Theverything！"heexclaimed。"WhatwouldInotgivetobepresentwhenLadyClarindaintroducesyoutoMrs。Beauly！Thinkofthesituation。Awomanwithahideoussecrethiddeninherinmostsoul：andanotherwomanwhoknowsofit——anotherwomanwhoisbent，byfairmeansorfoul，ondraggingthatsecretintothelightofday。Whatastruggle！Whataplotforanovel！IaminafeverwhenIthinkofit。IambesidemyselfwhenIlookintothefuture，andseeMrs。Borgia—Beaulybroughttoherkneesatlast。

Don’tbealarmed！"hecried，withthewildlightflashingoncemoreinhiseyes。"Mybrainsarebeginningtoboilagaininmyhead。Imusttakerefugeinphysicalexercise。Imustblowoffthesteam，orIshallexplodeinmypinkjacketonthespot！"

Theoldmadnessseizedonhimagain。Imadeforthedoor，tosecuremyretreatincaseofnecessity——andthenventuredtolookaroundathim。

Hewasoffonhisfuriouswheels——halfman，halfchair——flyinglikeawhirlwindtotheotherendoftheroom。Eventhisexercisewasnotviolentenoughforhiminhispresentmood。Inaninstanthewasdownonthefloor，poisedonhishands，andlookinginthedistancelikeamonstrousfrog。Hoppingdowntheroom，heoverthrew，oneafteranother，allthesmallerandlighterchairsashepassedthem；arrivedattheend，heturned，surveyedtheprostratechairs，encouragedhimselfwithascreamoftriumph，andleapedrapidlyoverchairafterchaironhishands——hislimblessbodynowthrownbackfromtheshoulders，andnowthrownforwardtokeepthebalance——inamanneratoncewonderfulandhorribletobehold。"Dexter’sLeap—frog！"hecried，cheerfully，perchinghimselfwithhisbirdlikelightnessonthelastoftheprostratechairswhenhehadreachedthefurtherendoftheroom。

"I’mprettyactive，Mrs。Valeria，consideringI’macripple。LetusdrinktothehangingofMrs。BeaulyinanotherbottleofBurgundy！"

Iseizeddesperatelyonthefirstexcusethatoccurredtomeforgettingawayfromhim。

"Youforget，"Isaid——"ImustgoatoncetotheMajor。IfIdon’twarnhimintime，hemayspeakofmetoLadyClarindabythewrongname。"

Ideasofhurryandmovementwerejusttheideastotakehisfancyinhispresentstate。HeblewfuriouslyonthewhistlethatsummonedArielfromthekitchenregions，anddancedupanddownonhishandsinthefullfrenzyofhisdelight。

"Arielshallgetyouacab！"hecried。"DriveatagalloptotheMajor’s。Setthetrapforherwithoutlosingamoment。Oh，whatadayofdaysthishasbeen！Oh，whatarelieftogetridofmydreadfulsecret，andshareitwithYou！Iamsuffocatingwithhappiness——IamliketheSpiritoftheEarthinShelley’spoem。"

Hebrokeoutwiththemagnificentlinesin"PrometheusUnbound，"

inwhichtheEarthfeelstheSpiritofLove，andburstsintospeech。"’Thejoy，thetriumph，thedelight，themadness！theboundless，overflowing，burstinggladness！thevaporousexultationnottobeconfined！Ha！ha！theanimationofdelight，whichwrapsmelikeanatmosphereoflight，andbearsmeasacloudisbornebyitsownwind。’That’showIfeel，Valeria！——that’showIfeel！"

Icrossedthethresholdwhilehewasstillspeaking。ThelastI

sawofhimhewaspouringoutthatgloriousfloodofwords——hisdeformedbody，poisedontheoverthrownchair，hisfaceliftedinrapturetosomefantasticheavenofhisownmaking。Islippedoutsoftlyintotheantechamber。EvenasIcrossedtheroom，hechangedoncemore。Iheardhisringingcry；Iheardthesoftthump—thumpofhishandsonthefloor。Hewasgoingdowntheroomagain，in"Dexter’sLeap—frog，"flyingovertheprostratechairs。

Inthehall，Arielwasonthewatchforme。

AsIapproachedher，Ihappenedtobeputtingonmygloves。Shestoppedme；and，takingmyrightarm，liftedmyhandtowardherface。Wasshegoingtokissit？ortobiteit？"Neither。Shesmeltitlikeadog——anddroppeditagainwithahoarsechucklinglaugh。

"Youdon’tsmellofhisperfumes，"shesaid。"You_haven’t_

touchedhisbeard。_Now_Ibelieveyou。Wantacab？"

"Thankyou。I’llwalktillImeetacab。"

Shewasbentonbeingpolitetome——nowIhad_not_touchedhisbeard。

"Isay！"sheburstout，inherdeepestnotes。

"Yes？"

"I’mgladIdidn’tupsetyouinthecanal。Therenow！"

Shegavemeafriendlysmackontheshoulderwhichnearlyknockedmedown——relapsed，theinstantafter，intoherleadenstolidityoflookandmanner———andledthewayoutbythefrontdoor。I

heardherhoarsechucklinglaughasshelockedthegatebehindme。Mystarwasatlastintheascendant！InoneandthesamedayIhadfoundmywayintotheconfidenceofArielandAriel’smaster。

CHAPTERXXXI。

THEDEFENSEOFMRS。BEAULY。

THEdaysthatelapsedbeforeMajorFitz—David’sdinner—partywerepreciousdaystome。

MylonginterviewwithMiserrimusDexterhaddisturbedmefarmoreseriouslythanIsuspectedatthetime。ItwasnotuntilsomehoursafterIhadlefthimthatIreallybegantofeelhowmynerveshadbeentriedbyallthatIhadseenandheardduringmyvisitathishouse。Istartedattheslightestnoises；I

dreamedofdreadfulthings；Iwasreadytocrywithoutreasonatonemoment，andtoflyintoapassionwithoutreasonatanother。

AbsoluterestwaswhatIwanted，and（thankstomygoodBenjamin）

waswhatIgot。Thedearoldmancontrolledhisanxietiesonmyaccount，andsparedmethequestionswhichhisfatherlyinterestinmywelfaremadehimeagertoask。ItwastacitlyunderstoodbetweenusthatallconversationonthesubjectofmyvisittoMiserrimusDexter（ofwhich，itisneedlesstosay，hestronglydisapproved）shouldbedeferreduntilreposehadrestoredmyenergiesofbodyandmind。Isawnovisitors。Mrs。Macallancametothecottage，andMajorFitz—Davidcametothecottage——oneofthemtohearwhathadpassedbetweenMiserrimusDexterandmyself，theothertoamusemewiththelatestgossipabouttheguestsattheforthcomingdinner。Benjamintookitonhimselftomakemyapologies，andtosparemetheexertionofreceivingmyvisitors。Wehiredalittleopencarriage，andtooklongdrivesintheprettycountrylanesstillleftflourishingwithinafewmilesofthenorthernsuburbofLondon。Athomewesatandtalkedquietlyofoldtimes，orplayedatbackgammonanddominoes——andso，forafewhappydays，ledthepeacefulunadventurouslifewhichwasgoodforme。Whenthedayofthedinnerarrived，Ifeltrestoredtomycustomaryhealth。Iwasreadyagain，andeageragain，fortheintroductiontoLadyClarindaandthediscoveryofMrs。Beauly。

BenjaminlookedalittlesadlyatmyflushedfaceaswedrovetoMajorFitz—David’shouse。

"Ah，mydear，"hesaid，inhissimpleway，"Iseeyouarewellagain！Youhavehadenoughofourquietlifealready。"

Myrecollectionofeventsandpersons，ingeneral，atthedinner—party，issingularlyindistinct。

Irememberthatwewereverymerry，andaseasyandfamiliarwithoneanotherasifwehadbeenoldfriends。IrememberthatMadameMirliflorewasunapproachablysuperiortotheotherwomenpresent，intheperfectbeautyofherdress，andintheamplejusticewhichshedidtotheluxuriousdinnersetbeforeus。I

remembertheMajor’syoungprimadonna，moreround—eyed，moreoverdressed，moreshrillandstridentasthecoming"QueenofSong，"thanever。IremembertheMajorhimself，alwayskissingourhands，alwaysluringustoindulgeindaintydishesanddrinks，alwaysmakinglove，alwaysdetectingresemblancesbetweenus，always"underthecharm，"andneveronceoutofhischaracteraselderlyDonJuanfromthebeginningoftheeveningtotheend。

IrememberdearoldBenjamin，completelybewildered，shrinkingintocorners，blushingwhenhewaspersonallydrawnintotheconversation，frightenedatMadameMirliflore，bashfulwithLadyClarinda，submissivetotheMajor，sufferingunderthemusic，andfromthebottomofhishonestoldheartwishinghimselfhomeagain。Andthere，astothemembersofthatcheerfullittlegathering，mymemoryfindsitslimits——withoneexception。TheappearanceofLadyClarindaisaspresenttomeasifIhadmetheryesterday；andofthememorableconversationwhichwetwoheldtogetherprivately，towardthecloseoftheevening，itisnoexaggerationtosaythatIcanstillcalltomindalmosteveryword。

Iseeherdress，Ihearhervoiceagain，whileIwrite。

Shewasattired，Iremember，withthatextremeassumptionofsimplicitywhichalwaysdefeatsitsownendbyirresistiblysuggestingart。Sheworeplainwhitemuslin，overwhitesilk，withouttrimmingorornamentofanykind。Herrichbrownhair，dressedindefianceoftheprevailingfashion，wasthrownbackfromherforehead，andgatheredintoasimpleknotbehind——withoutadornmentofanysort。Alittlewhiteribbonencircledherneck，fastenedbytheonlyarticleofjewelrythatshewore——atinydiamondbrooch。Shewasunquestionablyhandsome；

butherbeautywasofthesomewhathardandangulartypewhichissooftenseeninEnglishwomenofherrace：thenoseandchintooprominentandtoofirmlyshaped；thewell—openedgrayeyesfullofspiritanddignity，butwantingintendernessandmobilityofexpression。Hermannerhadallthecharmwhichfinebreedingcanconfer——exquisitelypolite，easilycordial；showingthatperfectyetunobtrusiveconfidenceinherselfwhich（inEngland）seemstobethenaturaloutgrowthofpre—eminentsocialrank。Ifyouhadacceptedherforwhatshewas，onthesurface，youwouldhavesaid，Hereisthemodelofanoblewomanwhoisperfectlyfreefrompride。Andifyouhadtakenalibertywithher，onthestrengthofthatconviction，shewouldhavemadeyourememberittotheendofyourlife。

Wegotontogetheradmirably。Iwasintroducedas"Mrs。

Woodville，"bypreviousarrangementwiththeMajor——effectedthroughBenjamin。Beforethedinnerwasoverwehadpromisedtoexchangevisits。NothingbuttheopportunitywaswantingtoleadLadyClarindaintotalking，asIwantedhertotalk，ofMrs。

Beauly。

Lateintheeveningtheopportunitycame。

IhadtakenrefugefromtheterriblebravurasingingoftheMajor’sstridentprimadonnainthebackdrawing—room。AsIhadhopedandanticipated，afterawhileLadyClarinda（missingmefromthegrouparoundthepiano）cameinsearchofme。Sheseatedherselfbymyside，outofsightandoutofhearingofourfriendsinthefrontroom；and，tomyinfinitereliefanddelight，touchedonthesubjectofMiserrimusDexterofherownaccord。SomethingIhadsaidofhim，whenhisnamehadbeenaccidentallymentionedatdinner，remainedinhermemory，andledus，byperfectlynaturalgradations，intospeakingofMrs。

Beauly。"Atlast，"Ithoughttomyself，"theMajor’slittledinnerwillbringmemyreward！"

Andwhatarewarditwas，whenitcame！Myheartsinksinmeagain——asitsankonthatnever—to—be—forgottenevening——whileI

sitatmydeskthinkingofit。

"SoDexterreallyspoketoyouofMrs。Beauly！"exclaimedLadyClarinda。"Youhavenoideahowyousurpriseme。"

"MayIaskwhy？"

"Hehatesher！ThelasttimeIsawhimhewouldn’tallowmetomentionhername。Itisoneofhisinnumerableoddities。Ifanysuchfeelingassympathyisapossiblefeelinginsuchanatureashis，heoughttolikeHelenaBeauly。SheisthemostcompletelyunconventionalpersonIknow。Whenshedoesbreakout，poordear，shesaysthingsanddoesthingswhicharealmostrecklessenoughtobeworthyofDexterhimself。Iwonderwhetheryouwouldlikeher？"

"Youhavekindlyaskedmetovisityou，LadyClarinda。PerhapsI

maymeetheratyourhouse？"

"Ihopeyouwillnotwaituntilthatislikelytohappen，"shesaid。"Helena’slastwhimistofancythatshehasgot——thegout，ofallthemaladiesintheworld！SheisawayatsomewonderfulbathsinHungaryorBohemia（Idon’trememberwhich）——andwhereshewillgo，orwhatshewilldonext，itisperfectlyimpossibletosay。——DearMrs。Woodville！istheheatofthefiretoomuchforyou？Youarelookingquitepale。"

I_felt_thatIwaslookingpale。ThediscoveryofMrs。Beauly’sabsencefromEnglandwasashockforwhichIwasquiteunprepared。Foramomentitunnervedme。

"Shallwegointotheotherroom？"askedLadyClarinda。

Togointotheotherroomwouldbetodroptheconversation。I

wasdeterminednottoletthatcatastrophehappen。ItwasjustpossiblethatMrs。Beauly’smaidmighthavequittedherservice，ormighthavebeenleftbehindinEngland。MyinformationwouldnotbecompleteuntilIknewwhathadbecomeofthemaid。I

pushedmychairbackalittlefromthefire—place，andtookahand—screenfromatablenearme；itmightbemadeusefulinhidingmyface，ifanymoredisappointmentswereinstoreforme。

"Thankyou，LadyClarinda；Iwasonlyalittletoonearthefire。

Ishalldoadmirablyhere。YousurprisemeaboutMrs。Beauly。

FromwhatMr。Dextersaidtome，Ihadimagined——"

"Oh，youmustnotbelieveanythingDextertellsyou！"interposedLadyClarinda。"Hedelightsinmystifyingpeople；andhepurposelymisledyou，Ihavenodoubt。IfallthatIhearistrue，_he_oughttoknowmoreofHelenaBeauly’sstrangefreaksandfanciesthanmostpeople。Heallbutdiscoveredherinoneofheradventures（downinScotland），whichremindsmeofthestoryinAuber’scharmingopera——whatisitcalled？Ishallforgetmyownnamenext！Imeantheoperainwhichthetwonunsslipoutoftheconvent，andgototheball。Listen！Howveryodd！Thatvulgargirlissingingthecastanetsonginthesecondactatthismoment。Major！whatoperaistheyoungladysingingfrom？"

TheMajorwasscandalizedatthisinterruption。Hebustledintothebackroom——whispered，"Hush！hush！mydearlady；the’DominoNoir’"——andbustledbackagaintothepiano。

"Ofcourse！"saidLadyClarinda。"Howstupidofme！The’DominoNoir。’Andhowstrangethatyoushouldforgetittoo！"

Ihadremembereditperfectly；butIcouldnottrustmyselftospeak。If，asIbelieved，the"adventure"mentionedbyLadyClarindawasconnected，insomeway，withMrs。Beauly’smysteriousproceedingsonthemorningofthetwenty—firstofOctober，Iwasonthebrinkoftheverydiscoverywhichitwastheoneinterestofmylifetomake！Iheldthescreensoastohidemyface；andIsaid，inthesteadiestvoicethatIcouldcommandatthemoment，"Praygoon！——praytellmewhattheadventurewas！"

LadyClarindawasquiteflatteredbymyeagerdesiretohearthecomingnarrative。

"Ihopemystorywillbeworthyoftheinterestwhichyouaresogoodastofeelinit，"shesaid。"IfyouonlyknewHelena——itis_so_likeher！Ihaveit，youmustknow，fromhermaid。ShehastakenawomanwhospeaksforeignlanguageswithhertoHungaryandshehasleftthemaidwithme。Aperfecttreasure！IshouldbeonlytoogladifIcouldkeepherinmyservice：shehasbutonedefect，anameIhate——Phoebe。Well！PhoebeandhermistresswerestayingataplacenearEdinburgh，called（Ithink）

Gleninch。ThehousebelongedtothatMr。Macallanwhowasafterwardtried——yourememberit，ofcourse？——forpoisoninghiswife。Adreadfulcase；butdon’tbealarmed——mystoryhasnothingtodowithit；mystoryhastodowithHelenaBeauly。Oneevening（whileshewasstayingatGleninch）shewasengagedtodinewithsomeEnglishfriendsvisitingEdinburgh。Thesamenight——alsoinEdinburgh——therewasamaskedball，givenbysomebodywhosenameIforget。Theball（almostanunparalleledeventinScotland！）

wasreportedtobenotatallareputableaffair。Allsortsofamusingpeopleweretobethere。Ladiesofdoubtfulvirtue，youknow，andgentlemenontheoutlyinglimitsofsociety，andsoon。

Helena’sfriendshadcontrivedtogetcards，andweregoing，inspiteoftheobjections——inthestrictestincognito，ofcourse，trustingtotheirmasks。AndHelenaherselfwasbentongoingwiththem，ifshecouldonlymanageitwithoutbeingdiscoveredatGleninch。Mr。Macallanwasoneofthestrait—lacedpeoplewhodisapprovedoftheball。Nolady，hesaid，couldshowherselfatsuchanentertainmentwithoutcompromisingherreputation。Whatstuff！Well，Helena，inoneofherwildestmoments，hitonawayofgoingtotheballwithoutdiscoverywhichwasreallyasingeniousasaplotinaFrenchplay。ShewenttothedinnerinthecarriagefromGleninch，havingsentPhoebetoEdinburghbeforeher。Itwasnotagranddinner——alittlefriendlygathering：noeveningdress。WhenthetimecameforgoingbacktoGleninch，whatdoyouthinkHelenadid？Shesenthermaidbackinthecarriage，insteadofherself！Phoebewasdressedinhermistress’scloakandbonnetandveil。Shewasinstructedtorunupstairsthemomentshegottothehouse，leavingonthehalltablealittlenoteofapology（writtenbyHelena，ofcourse！），pleadingfatigueasanexcusefornotsayinggood—nighttoherhost。Themistressandthemaidwereaboutthesameheight；andtheservantsnaturallyneverdiscoveredthetrick。Phoebegotuptohermistress’sroomsafelyenough。There，herinstructionsweretowaituntilthehousewasquietforthenight，andthentostealuptoherownroom。Whileshewaswaiting，thegirlfellasleep。Sheonlyawokeattwointhemorning，orlater。Itdidn’tmuchmatter，asshethought。Shestoleoutontiptoe，andclosedthedoorbehindher。Beforeshewasattheendofthecorridor，shefanciedsheheardsomething。Shewaiteduntilshewassafeontheupperstory，andthenshelookedoverthebanisters。TherewasDexter——solikehim！——hoppingaboutonhishands（didyoueverseeit？themostgrotesquelyhorribleexhibitionyoucanimagine！）——therewasDexter，hoppingabout，andlookingthroughkeyholes，evidentlyinsearchofthepersonwhohadleftherroomattwointhemorning；andnodoubttakingPhoebeforhermistress，seeingthatshehadforgottentotakehermistress’scloakoffhershoulders。Thenextmorning，early，HelenacamebackinahiredcarriagefromEdinburgh，withahatandmantleborrowedfromherEnglishfriends。Sheleftthecarriageintheroad，andgotintothehousebywayofthegarden——withoutbeingdiscovered，thistime，byDexterorbyanybody。Cleveranddaring，wasn’tit？And，asIsaidjustnow，quiteanewversionofthe’DominoNoir。’Youwillwonder，asIdid，howitwasthatDexterdidn’tmakemischiefinthemorning？Hewouldhavedoneitnodoubt。Butevenhewassilenced（asPhoebetoldme）bythedreadfuleventthathappenedinthehouseonthesameday。MydearMrs。Woodville！theheatofthisroomiscertainlytoomuchforyou，takemysmelling—bottle。Letmeopenthewindow。"

Iwasjustabletoanswer，"Praysaynothing！Letmeslipoutintotheopenair！"