第18章

CHAPTERXLIII。

THEMASTERFULMASSEUSE。

Mynextquotationswillsufferaprocessofabridgment。Iintendthemtopresentthesubstanceofthreeletters，reducedasfollows：

SecondExtract。

Weakashemaybe，Mr。PhilipDunboyneshows（inhissecondletter）thathecanfeelresentment，andthathecanexpresshisfeelings，inreplyingtoMissHelena。Heprotestsagainstsuspicionswhichhehasnotdeserved。ThathedoessometimesthinkofEuniceheseesnoreasontodeny。Heisconsciousoferrorsandmisdeeds，which——traceableastheyaretoHelena’sirresistiblefascinations——mayperhapsbeconsideredratherhismisfortunethanhisfault。Bethatasitmay，hedoesindeedfeelanxioustoheargoodaccountsofEunice’shealth。Ifthishonestavowalexciteshersister’sjealousy，hewillbedisappointedinHelenaforthefirsttime。

Histhirdlettershowsthatthisexhibitionofspirithashaditseffect。

Theimperiousyoungladyregretsthatshehashurthisfeelings，andisrewardedfortheapologybyreceivingnewsofthemostgratifyingkind。FaithfulPhiliphastoldhisfatherthatheisengagedtobemarriedtoMissHelenaGracedieu，daughterofthecelebratedCongregationalpreacher——andsoon，andsoon。HasMr。

Dunboynetheelderexpressedanyobjectiontotheyounglady？

Certainlynot！HeknowsnothingoftheotherengagementtoEunice；andhemerelyobjects，onprinciple，tolookingforward。

"Howdoweknow，"saysthephilosopher，"whataccidentsmayhappen，orwhatdoubtsandhesitationsmayyetturnup？Iamnottoburdenmymindinthismatter，tillIknowthatImustdoit。

Letmehearwhensheisreadytogotochurch，andIwillbereadywiththesettlements。MycomplimentstoMissandherpapa，andletuswaitalittle。"DearestHelena——isn’thefunny？

Thenextletterhasbeenalreadymentioned。

InthisthereoccursthefirststartlingreferencetoMrs。

Tenbruggen，byname。SheisinLondon，findingherwaytolucrativecelebritybytwisting，turning，andpinchingthefleshofcredulouspersons，afflictedwithnervousdisorders；andshehasalreadypaidafewmedicalvisitstooldMr。Dunboyne。HepersistsinporingoverhisbookswhileMrs。Tenbruggenoperates，sometimesonhiscrampedrighthand，sometimes（inthefearthathisbrainmayhavesomethingtodowithit）onthebackofhisneck。Oneofthemfrownsoverherrubbing，andtheotherfrownsoverhisreading。Itwouldbedelightfullyridiculous，butforadrawback；Mr。PhilipDunboyne’sfirstimpressionsofMrs。

Tenbruggendonotinclinehimtolookatthatladyfromahumorouspointofview。

Helena’sremarksfollow，asusual。ShehasseenMrs。Tenbruggen’snameontheaddressofaletterwrittenbyMissJillgall——whichisquiteenoughtocondemnMrs。Tenbruggen。AsforPhiliphimself，shefeelsnotquitesureofhim，evenyet。NomoredoI。

ThirdExtract。

Theletterthatfollowsmustbepermittedtospeakforitself：

Ihaveflownintoapassion，dearestHelena；andIamafraidI

shallmakeyouflyintoapassion，too。BlameMrs。Tenbruggen；

don’tblameme。

OnthefirstoccasionwhenIfoundmyfatherunderthehandsoftheMedicalRubber，shetooknonoticeofme。Onthesecondoccasion——whenshehadbeenindailyattendanceonhimforaweek，atanexorbitantfee——shesaidinthecoolestmanner："Whoisthisyounggentleman？"Myfatherlaiddownhisbook，foramomentonly："Don’tinterruptmeagain，ma’am。TheyounggentlemanismysonPhilip。"Mrs。TenbruggeneyedmewithanappearanceofinterestwhichIwasatalosstoaccountfor。I

hateanimpudentwoman。Myvisitcamesuddenlytoanend。

ThenexttimeIsawmyfather，hewasalone。

IaskedhimhowhegotonwithMrs。Tenbruggen。Asbadlyaspossible，itappeared。"Shetakeslibertieswithmyneck；sheinterruptsmeinmyreading；andshedoesmenogood。Ishallend，Philip，inapplyingamedicalrubbingtoMrs。Tenbruggen。"

Afewdayslater，Ifoundthemasterful"Masseuse"torturingthepooroldgentleman’smusclesagain。Shehadtheaudacitytosaytome："Well，Mr。Philip，whenareyougoingtomarryMissEuniceGracedieu？"Myfatherlookedup。"Eunice？"herepeated。"WhenmysontoldmehewasengagedtoMissGracedieu，hesaid’Helena’！

Philip，whatdoesthismean？"Mrs。Tenbruggenwassoobligingastoanswerforme。"Somemistake，sir；it’sEuniceheisengagedto。"IconfessIforgotmyself。"Howthedevildoyouknowthat？"

Iburstout。Mrs。Tenbruggenignoredmeandmylanguage。"Iamsorrytosee，sir，thatyourson’seducationhasbeenneglected；

heseemstobegrosslyignorantofthelawsofpoliteness。"

"Nevermindthelawsofpoliteness，"saysmyfather。"Youappeartobebetteracquaintedwithmyson’smatrimonialprospectsthanheishimself。Howisthat？"Mrs。Tenbruggenfavoredhimwithanotherreadyreply："Myauthorityisaletter，addressedtomebyarelativeofMr。Gracedieu——mydearandintimatefriend，MissJillgall。"Myfather’skeeneyestraveledbackwardandforwardbetweenhisfemalesurgeonandhisson。"WhichamItobelieve？"

heinquired。"Iamsurprisedatyouraskingthequestion，"I

said。Mrs。Tenbruggenpointedtome。"LookatMr。Philip，sir——andyouwillallowhimonemerit。Heiscapableofshowingit，whenheknowshehasdisgracedhimself。"Withoutintendingit，Iamsure，myfatherinfuriatedme；helookedasifhebelievedher。OutcameoneofthesmallestandstrongestwordsintheEnglishlanguagebeforeIcouldstopit："Mrs。Tenbruggen，youlie！"TheillustriousRubberdroppedmyfather’shand——shehadbeenoperatingonhimallthetime——andshowedusthatshecouldassertherdignitywhencircumstancescalledfortheexertion："EitheryoursonorI，sir，mustleavetheroom。Whichisittobe？"Shemethermatchinmyfather。Walkingquietlytothedoor，heopeneditforMrs。Tenbruggenwithalowbow。Shestoppedonherwayout，anddeliveredherpartingwords：

"MessieursDunboyne，fatherandson，Ikeepmytemper，andmerelyregardyouasacoupleofblackguards。"Withthatprettyassertionofheropinion，sheleftus。

Whenwewerealone，therewasbutonecoursetotake；Imademyconfession。Itisimpossibletotellyouhowmyfatherreceivedit——forhesatdownathislibrarytablewithhisbacktome。Thefirstthinghedidwastoaskmetohelphismemory。

"Didyousaythatthefatherofthesegirlswasaparson？"

"Yes——aCongregationalMinister。"

"WhatdoestheMinisterthinkofyou？"

"Idon’tknow，sir。"

"Findout。"

Thatwasall；notanotherwordcouldIextractfromhim。Idon’tpretendtohavediscoveredwhathereallyhasinhismind。Ionlyventureonasuggestion。Ifthereisanyoldfriendinyourtown，whohassomeinfluenceoveryourfather，leavenomeansuntriedofgettingthatfriendtosayakindwordforus。Andthenaskyourfathertowritetomine。Thisis，asIseeit，ouronlychance。

Theretheletterends。Helena’snotesonitshowthatherprideisfiercelyinterestedinsecuringPhilipasahusband。HervictoryoverpoorEunicewill，assheplainlyintimates，beonlycompletewhensheismarriedtoyoungDunboyne。Fortherest，herdesperateresolutiontowinherwaytomygoodgracesissufficientlyintelligible，now。

Myownimpressionsvary。Philiprathergainsuponme；heappearstohavesomecapacityforfeelingashamedofhimself。Ontheotherhand，IregardthediscoveryofanintimatefriendshipexistingbetweenMrs。TenbruggenandMissJillgallwiththegloomiestviews。IsthisformidableMasseuselikelytoplyhertradeinthecountrytowns？Andisitpossiblethatshemaycometothistown？Godforbid！

Oftheotherlettersinthecollection，Ineedtakenospecialnotice。IreturnedthewholecorrespondencetoHelena，andwaitedtohearfromher。

TheonerecenteventinMr。Gracedieu’sfamily，worthyofrecord，isofamelancholynature。Afterpayinghisvisitto—day，thedoctorhasleftwordthatnobodybutthenurseistogoneartheMinister。Thisseemstoindicate，buttoosurely，achangefortheworse。

HelenahasbeenawayalltheeveningattheGirls’School。Sheleftalittlenote，informingmeofherwishes："Ishallexpecttobefavoredwithyourdecisionto—morrowmorning，inmyhousekeepingroom。"

Atbreakfasttime，thereportofthepoorMinisterwasstilldiscouraging。InoticedthatHelenawasabsentfromthetable。

MissJillgallsuspectedthatthecausewasbadnewsfromMr。

PhilipDunboyne，arrivingbythatmorning’spost。"Ifyouwillexcusetheuseofstronglanguagebyalady，"shesaid，"Helenalookedperfectlydevilishwhensheopenedtheletter。Sherushedaway，andlockedherselfupinherownshabbyroom。Aseriousobstacle，asIsuspect，inthewayofhermarriage。Cheering，isn’tit？"Asusual，goodSelinaexpressedhersentimentswithoutreserve。

Ihadtokeepmyappointment；andthesoonerHelenaGracedieuandIunderstoodeachotherthebetter。

Iknockedatthedoor。Itwasloudlyunlocked，andviolentlythrownopen。Helena’stemperhadrisentoboilingheat；shestammeredwithragewhenshespoketome。

"Imeantocometothepointatonce，"shesaid。

"Iamgladtohearit，MissHelena。"

"MayIcountonyourinfluencetohelpme？Iwantapositiveanswer。"

Igaveherwhatshewanted。Isaid："Certainlynot。"

Shetookacrumpledletterfromherpocket，openedit，andsmootheditoutonthetablewithablowofheropenhand。

"Lookatthat，"shesaid。

Ilooked。ItwastheletteraddressedtoMr。Dunboynetheelder，whichIhadwrittenforMr。Gracedieu——withtheoneobjectofpreventingHelena’smarriage。

"Ofcourse，Icandependonyoutotellmethetruth？"shecontinued。

"Withoutfearorfavor，"Ianswered，"youmaydependon_that。_"

"Thesignaturetotheletter，Mr。Governor，iswrittenbymyfather。Buttheletteritselfisinadifferenthand。Doyou，byanychance，recognizethewriting？"

"Ido。"

"Whosewritingisit？"

"Mine。"

CHAPTERXLIV。

THERESURRECTIONOFTHEPAST。

AFTERhavingidentifiedmyhandwriting，IwaitedwithsomecuriositytoseewhetherHelenawouldletherangerhonestlyshowitself，orwhethershewouldkeepitdown。Shekeptitdown。

"Allowmetoreturngoodforevil。"（Theevilwasuppermost，nevertheless，whenMissGracedieuexpressedherselfintheseself—denyingterms。）"YouarenodoubtanxioustoknowifPhilip’sfatherhasbeenwonovertoserveyourpurpose。HereisPhilip’sownaccountofit：thelastofhislettersthatIshalltroubleyoutoread。"

Ilookeditover。ThememorandumfollowswhichImadeformyownuse：

Aneccentricphilosopherisascapableasthemostcommonplacehumanbeinginexistenceofbehavinglikeanhonorableman。Mr。

DunboynereadtheletterwhichboretheMinister’ssignature，andhandedittohisson。"Canyouanswerthat？"wasallhesaid。

Philip’ssilenceconfessedthathewasunabletoanswerit——andPhiliphimself，Imayadd，roseaccordinglyinmyestimation。Hisfatherpointedtothewriting—desk。"Imustsparemycrampedhand，"thephilosopherresumed，"andImustanswerMr。

Gracedieu’sletter。Write，andleaveaplaceformysignature。"

Hebegantodictatehisreply。"Sir——MysonPhiliphasseenyourletter，andhasnodefensetomake。InthisrespecthehassetanexampleofcandorwhichIproposetofollow。Thereisnoexcuseforhim。WhatIcandotoshowthatIfeelforyou，andagreewithyou，shallbedone。Attheagewhichthisyoungmanhasreached，thelawsofEnglandabolishtheauthorityofhisfather。

Ifheissufficientlyinfatuatedtoplacehishonorandhishappinessatthemercyofalady，whohasbehavedtohersisterasyourdaughterhasbehavedtoMissEunice，Iwarnthemarriedcouplenottoexpectafarthingofmymoney，eitherduringmylifetimeoraftermydeath。Yourfaithfulservant，DUNBOYNE，SENIOR。"Havingperformedhisdutyassecretary，Philipreceivedhisdismissal："Youmaysendmyreplytothepost，"hisfathersaid；"andyoumaykeepMr。Gracedieu’sletter。Morallyspeaking，Iregardthatlastdocumentasaspeciesofmirror，inwhichayounggentlemanlikeyourselfmayseehowuglyhelooks。"This，Philipdeclared，washisfather’sformoffarewell。

IhandedbackthelettertoHelena。Notawordpassedbetweenus。

Insinistersilencesheopenedthedoorandleftmealoneintheroom。

ThatMrs。GracedieuandIhadmetinthebygonetime，and——thiswastheonlyseriouspartofit——hadmetinsecret，wouldnowbemadeknowntotheMinister。WasItoblameforhavingshrunkfromdistressingmygoodfriend，bytellinghimthathiswifehadprivatelyconsultedmeonthemeansofremovinghisadoptedchildfromhishouse？And，evenifIhadbeencruelenoughtodothis，wouldhehavebelievedmystatementagainstthepositivedenialwithwhichthewomanwhomhelovedandtrustedwouldhavecertainlymetit？No！lettheconsequencesofthecomingdisclosurebewhattheymight，Ifailedtoseeanyvalidreasonforregrettingmyconductinthepasttime。

IfoundMissJillgallwaitinginthepassagetoseemecomeout。

BeforeIcouldtellherwhathadhappened，therewasaringatthehouse—bell。ThevisitorprovedtobeMr。Wellwood，thedoctor。IwasanxioustospeaktohimonthesubjectofMr。

Gracedieu’shealth。MissJillgallintroducedme，asanoldanddearfriendoftheMinister，andleftustogetherinthedining—room。

"WhatdoIthinkofMr。Gracedieu？"hesaid，repeatingthefirstquestionthatIput。"Well，sir，Ithinkbadlyofhim。"

Enteringintodetails，afterthatominousreply，Mr。Wellwooddidnothesitatetosaythathispatient’snerveswerecompletelyshattered。Diseaseofthebrainhad，ashefeared，beenalreadysetup。"Astothecauseswhichhaveproducedthislamentablebreak—down，"thedoctorcontinued，"Mr。GracedieuhasbeeninthehabitofpreachingextemporetwiceadayonSundays，andsometimesintheweekaswell——andhasuniformlyrefusedtosparehimselfwhenhewasinmosturgentneedofrest。Ifyouhaveeverattendedhischapel，youhaveseenamaninastateoffieryenthusiasm，feelingintenselyeverywordthatheutters。Thinkofsuchexhaustionasthatimpliesgoingonforyearstogether，andaccumulatingitswastinginfluencesonasensitivelyorganizedconstitution。Addthatheistormentedbypersonalanxieties，whichheconfessestonoone，noteventohisownchildrenandthesumofitallisthataworsecaseofitskind，Iamgrievedtosay，hasneveroccurredinmyexperience。"

Beforethedoctorleftmetogotohispatient，Iaskedleavetooccupyaminutemoreofhistime。Myobjectwas，ofcourse，tospeakaboutEunice。

ThechangeofsubjectseemedtobeagreeabletoMr。Wellwood。Hesmiledgood—humoredly。

"Youneedfeelnoalarmaboutthehealthofthatinterestinggirl，"hesaid。"Whenshecomplainedtome——atherage！——ofnotbeingabletosleep，IshouldhavetakenitmoreseriouslyifI

hadbeentoldthatshetoohadhertroubles，poorlittlesoul。

Love—troubles，mostlikely——butdon’tforgetthatmyprofessionallimitskeepmeinthedark！Haveyouheardthatshetooksomecomposingmedicine，whichIhadprescribedforherfather？Theeffect（certain，inanycase，tobeinjurioustoayounggirl）

wasconsiderablyaggravatedbythestateofhermindatthetime。

Adreamthatfrightenedher，andsomethingresemblingdelirium，seemstohavefollowed。Andshemademattersworse，poorchild，bywritinginherdiaryaboutthevisionsandsupernaturalappearancesthathadterrifiedher。Iwasafraidoffever，onthedaywhentheyfirstsentforme。Weescapedthatcomplication，andIwasatlibertytotrythebestofallremedies——quietandchangeofair。IhavenofearsforMissEunice。"

WiththatcheeringreplyhewentuptotheMinister’sroom。

AllthatIhadfoundperplexinginEunicewasnowmadeclear。I

understoodhowheragonyatthelossofherlover，andherkeensenseofthewrongthatshehadsuffered，hadbeenstrengthenedintheirdisastrousinfluencebyherexperimentonthesleepingdraughtintendedforherfather。Inmindandbody，both，thepoorgirlwasintheconditionwhichoffereditsopportunitytothelurkinghereditarytaint。Itwasterribletothinkofwhatmighthavehappened，iftheall—powerfulcounter—influencehadnotbeenpresenttosaveher。

BeforeIhadbeenlongalonetheservant—maidcamein，andsaidthedoctorwantedtoseeme。

Mr。Wellwoodwaswaitinginthepassage，outsidetheMinister’sbedchamber。Heaskedifhecouldspeaktomewithoutinterruption，andwithoutthefearofbeingoverheard。IledhimatoncetotheroomwhichIoccupiedasaguest。

"AttheverytimewhenitismostimportanttokeepMr。Gracedieuquiet，"hesaid，"somethinghashappenedtoexcite——Imightalmostsaytoinfuriatehim。Hehaslefthisbed，andiswalkingupanddowntheroom；and，Idon’tscrupletosay，heisonthevergeofmadness。Heinsistsonseeingyou。Beingwhollyunabletocontrolhiminanyotherway，Ihaveconsentedtothis。ButI

mustnotallowyoutoplaceyourselfinwhatmaybeadisagreeableposition，withoutawordofwarning。Judgingbyhistonesandhislooks，heseemstohavenoveryfriendlymotiveforwishingtoseeyou。"

Knowingperfectlywellwhathadhappened，andbeingoneofthoseimpatientpeoplewhocanneverenduresuspense——IofferedtogoatoncetoMr。Gracedieu’sroom。Thedoctoraskedleavetosayonewordmore。

"Praybecarefulthatyouneithersaynordoanythingtothwarthim，"Mr。Wellwoodresumed。"Ifheexpressesanopinion，agreewithhim。Ifheisinsolentandoverbearing，don’tanswerhim。Inthestateofhisbrain，theonehopefulcoursetotakeistolethimhavehisownway。Prayrememberthat。Iwillbewithincall，incaseofyourwantingme。"

CHAPTERXLV。

THEFATALPORTRAIT。

IKNOCKEDatthebedroomdoor。

"Who’sthere？"

Onlytwowords——butthevoicethatutteredthem，hoarseandperemptory，wasalteredalmostbeyondrecognition。IfIhadnotknownwhoseroomitwas，ImighthavedoubtedwhethertheMinisterhadreallyspokentome。

AttheinstantwhenIansweredhim，Iwasallowedtopassin。

Havingadmittedme，heclosedthedoor，andplacedhimselfwithhisbackagainstit。Thecustomarypallorofhisfacehaddarkenedtoadeepred；therewasanexpressionofferociousmockeryinhiseyes。Helena’svengeancehadhurtherunhappyfatherfarmoreseverelythanitseemedlikelytohurtme。Thedoctorhadsaidhewasonthevergeofmadness。Tomythinking，hehadalreadypassedtheboundaryline。

Hereceivedmewithaboisterousaffectationofcordiality。

"Myexcellentfriend！Myadmirable，honorable，welcomeguest，youdon’tknowhowgladIamtoseeyou。Standalittlenearertothelight；Iwanttoadmireyou。"

Rememberingthedoctor’sadvice，Iobeyedhiminsilence。

"Ah，youwereahandsomefellowwhenIfirstknewyou，"hesaid，"andyouhavesomeremainsofitstillleft。Doyourememberthetimewhenyouwereafavoritewiththeladies？Oh，don’tpretendtobemodest；don’tturnyourback，nowyouareold，onwhatyouwereintheprimeofyourlife。DoyouownthatIamright？"

Whathisobjectmightbeinsayingthis——if，indeed，hehadanobject——itwasimpossibletoguess。Thedoctor’sadviceleftmenoalternative；Ihastenedtoownthathewasright。AsImadethatanswer，Iobservedthatheheldsomethinginhishandwhichwashalfhiddenupthesleeveofhisdressing—gown。WhatthenatureoftheobjectwasIfailedtodiscover。

"AndwhenIhappenedtospeakofyousomewhere，"hewenton，"I

forgetwhere——amemberofmycongregation——Idon’trecollectwhoitwas——toldmeyouwereconnectedwiththearistocracy。Howwereyouconnected？"

Hesurprisedme；but，howeverhehadgothisinformation，hehadnotbeendeceived。ItoldhimthatIwasconnected，throughmymother，withthefamilytowhichhehadalluded。

"Thearistocracy！"herepeated。"Araceofpeoplewhoarerichwithoutearningtheirmoney，andnoblebecausetheirgreat—grandfatherswerenoblebeforethem。Theyliveinidlenessandluxury——profligateswhogratifytheirpassionswithoutshameandwithoutremorse。Deny，ifyoudare，thatthisisatruedescriptionofthem。"

Itwasreallypitiable。Heartilysorryforhim，Ipacifiedhimagain。

"Anddon’tsupposeIforgetthatyouareoneofthem。Doyouhearme，mynoblefriend？"

Therewasnohelpforit——Imadeanotherconciliatoryreply。

"Sofar，"heresumed，"Idon’tcomplainofyou。Youhavenotattemptedtodeceiveme——yet。AbsolutesilenceiswhatIrequirenext。Thoughyoumaynotsuspectit，mymindisinaferment；I

musttrytothink。"

Tosomeextentatleast，histhoughtsbetrayedthemselvesinhisactions。HeputtheobjectthatIhadhalfseeninhishandintothepocketofhisdressing—gown，andmovedtothetoilet—table。

Openingoneofthedrawers，hetookfromitafoldedsheetofpaper，andcamebacktome。

"AministeroftheGospel，"hesaid，"isasacredman，andhasahorrorofcrime。Youaresafe，sofar——providedyouobeyme。I

haveasolemnandterribledutytoperform。Thisisnottherightplaceforit。Followmedownstairs。"

Heledthewayout。Thedoctor，waitinginthepassage，wasnotnearthestairs，andsoescapednotice。"Whatisit？"Mr。W

ellwoodwhispered。Inthesameguardedway，Isaid："Hehasnottoldmeyet；Ihavebeencarefulnottoirritatehim。"Whenwedescendedthestairs，thedoctorfollowedusatasafedistance。

HemendedhispacewhentheMinisteropenedthedoorofthestudy，andwhenhesawusbothpassin。Beforehecouldfollow，thedoorwasclosedandlockedinhisface。Mr。Gracedieutookoutthekeyandthrewitthroughtheopenwindow，intothegardenbelow。

Turningbackintotheroom，helaidthefoldedsheetofpaperonthetable。Thatdone，hespoketome。

"Idistrustmyownweakness，"hesaid。"Adreadfulnecessityconfrontsme——Imightshrinkfromthehorrididea，and，ifI

couldopenthedoor，mighttrytogetaway。Escapeisimpossiblenow。Weareprisonerstogether。Butdon’tsupposethatwearealone。Thereisathirdpersonpresent，whowilljudgebetweenyouandme。Lookthere！"

Hepointedsolemnlytotheportraitofhiswife。Itwasasmallpicture，verysimplyframed；representingthefaceina"three—quarter"view，andpartofthefigureonly。Asaworkofartitwascontemptible；but，asalikeness，itanswereditspurpose。Myunhappyfriendstoodbeforeit，inanattitudeofdejection，coveringhisfacewithhishands。

Intheintervalofsilencethatfollowed，Iwasremindedthatanunseenfriendwaskeepingwatchoutside。

Alarmedbyhavingheardthekeyturnedinthelock，andrealizingtheembarrassmentofthepositioninwhichIwasplaced，thedoctorhaddiscoveredadiscreetwayofcommunicatingwithme。Heslippedoneofhisvisiting—cardsunderthedoor，withthesewordswrittenonit："HowcanIhelpyou？"

Itookthepencilfrommypocketbook，andwroteontheblanksideofthecard："Hehasthrownthekeyintothegarden；lookforitunderthewindow。"AglanceattheMinister，beforeIreturnedmyreply，showedthathisattitudewasunchanged。Withoutbeingseenorsuspected，I，inmyturn，slippedthecardunderthedoor。

Theslowminutesfollowedeachother——andstillnothinghappened。

Myanxietytoseehowthedoctor’ssearchforthekeywassucceeding，temptedmetoapproachthewindow。Onmywaytoit，thetailofmycoatthrewdownalittletraycontainingpensandpencils，whichhadbeenleftclosetotheedgeofthetable。

Slightasthenoiseofthefallwas，itdisturbedMr。Gracedieu。

Helookedroundvacantly。

"Ihavebeencomfortedbyprayer，"hetoldme。"TheweaknessofpoorhumanityhasfoundstrengthintheLord。"Hepointedtotheportraitoncemore："Myhandsmustnotpresumetotouchit，whileIamstillindoubt。Takeitdown。"

Iremovedthepictureandplacedit，byhisdirections，onachairthatstoodmidwaybetweenus。Tomysurprisehistonesfaltered；Isawtearsrisinginhiseyes。"Youmaythinkyouseeapicturethere，"hesaid。"Youarewrong。Youseemywifeherself。Standhere，andlookatmywifewithme。"

Westoodtogether，withoureyesfixedontheportrait。

Withoutanythingsaidordoneonmyparttoirritatehim，hesuddenlyturnedtomeinastateoffuriousrage。"Notasignofsorrow！"heburstout。"Notablushofshame！Wretch，youstandcondemnedbytheatrociouscomposurethatIseeinyourface！"

AfirstdiscoveryoftheodioussuspicionofwhichIwastheobject，dawnedonmymindatthatmoment。Mycapacityforrestrainingmyselfcompletelyfailedme。Ispoketohimasifhehadbeenanaccountablebeing。"Onceforall，"Isaid，"tellmewhatIhavearighttoknow。Yoususpectmeofsomething。Whatisit？"