第19章

Insteadofdirectlyreplying，heseizedmyarmandledmetothetable。"Takeupthatpaper，"hesaid。"Thereiswritingonit。

Read——andletHerjudgebetweenus。Yourlifedependsonhowyouanswerme。"

Wasthereaweaponconcealedintheroom？orhadhegotitinthepocketofhisdressing—gown？Ilistenedforthesoundofthedoctor’sreturningfootstepsinthepassageoutside，andheardnothing。Mylifehadoncedepended，yearssince，onmysuccessinheadingthearrestofanescapedprisoner。Iwasnotconscious，then，offeelingmyenergiesweakenedbyfear。But_that_manwasnotmad；andIwasyounger，inthosedays，byagoodtwentyyearsormore。Atmylatertimeoflife，IcouldshowmyoldfriendthatIwasnotafraidofhim——butIwasconsciousofaneffortindoingit。

Iopenedthepaper。"AmItoreadthistomyself？"Iasked。"OramItoreaditaloud？"

"Readitaloud！"

Intheseterms，hisdaughteraddressedhim：

"Ihavebeensounfortunate，dearestfather，astodispleaseyou，andIdarenothopethatyouwillconsenttoreceiveme。Whatitismypainfuldutytotellyou，mustbetoldinwriting。

"GrievedasIamtodistressyou，inyourpresentstateofhealth，Imustnothesitatetorevealwhatithasbeenmymisfortune——Imayevensaymymisery，whenIthinkofmymother——todiscover。

"Butletmemakesure，insuchaseriousmatterasthisis，thatIamnotmistaken。

"Inthosehappypastdays，whenIwasstilldeartomyfather，yousaidyouthoughtofwritingtoinviteadearly—valuedfriendtopayavisittothishouse。Youhadfirstknownhim，asI

understood，whenmymotherwasstillliving。Manyinterestingthingsyoutoldmeaboutthisoldfriend，butyounevermentionedthatheknew，orthathehadevenseen，mymother。Iwaslefttosupposethatthosetwohadremainedstrangerstoeachothertothedayofherdeath。

"Ifthereisanymisinterpretationhereofwhatyousaid，orperhapsofwhatyoumeanttosay，praydestroywhatIhavewrittenwithoutturningtothenextpage；andforgivemeforhavinginnocentlystartledyoubyafalsealarm。"

Mr。Gracedieuinterruptedme。

"Putitdown！"hecried；"Iwon’twaittillyouhavegottotheend——Ishallquestionyounow。Givemethepaper；itwillhelpmetokeepthismysteryofiniquityclearinmyownmind。"

Igavehimthepaper。

Hehesitated——andlookedattheportraitoncemore。"Turnherawayfromme，"hesaid；"Ican’tfacemywife。"

Iplacedthepicturewithitsbacktohim。

Heconsultedthepaper，readingitwithbutlittleoftheconfusionandhesitationwhichmyexperienceofhimhadinducedmetoanticipate。Hadthemadexcitementthatpossessedhimexercisedaninfluenceinclearinghismind，resemblinginsomedegreetheinfluenceexercisedbyastorminclearingtheair？

Whatevertherightexplanationmaybe，IcanonlyreportwhatI

saw。Icouldhardlyhavemasteredwhathisdaughterhadwrittenmorereadily，ifIhadbeenreadingitmyself。

"Helenatellsme，"hebegan，"thatyousaidyouknewherbyherlikenesstohermother。Isthattrue？"

"Quitetrue。"

"Andyoumadeanexcuseforleavingher——see！hereitis，writtendown。Youmadeanexcuse，andleftherwhensheaskedforanexplanation。"

"Idid。"

Heconsultedthepaperagain。

"Mydaughtersays——No！Iwon’tbehurriedandIwon’tbeinterrupted——shesaysyouwereconfused。Isthatso？"

"Itisso。Letyourquestionswaitforamoment。IwishtotellyouwhyIwasconfused。"

"Haven’tIsaidIwon’tbeinterrupted？Doyouthinkyoucanshake_my_resolution？"Hereferredtothepaperagain。"Ihavelosttheplace。It’syourfault——finditforme。"

TheevidencewhichwasintendedtoconvictmewastheevidencewhichIwasexpectedtofind！Ipointeditouttohim。

Hisnaturalcourtesyasserteditselfinspiteofhisanger。Hesaid"Thankyou，"andquestionedmethemomentafterasfiercelyasever。"Gobacktothetime，sir，whenwemetinyourroomsattheprison。Didyouknowmywifethen？"

"Certainlynot。"

"Didyouandsheseeeachother——ha！I’vegotitnow——didyouseeeachotherafterIhadleftthetown？Noprevarication！YouowntotellingHelenathatyouknewherbyherlikenesstohermother。Youmusthaveseenhermother。Where？"

Imadeanotherefforttodefendmyself。Heagainrefusedfuriouslytohearme。Itwasuselesstopersist。Whateverthedangerthatthreatenedmemightbe，thesooneritshoweditselftheeasierIshouldfeel。ItoldhimthatMrs。Gracedieuhadcalledonme，afterheandhiswifehadleftthetown。

"Doyoumeantotellme，"hecried，"thatShecametoYou？"

"Ido。"

Afterthatanswer，henolongerrequiredthepapertohelphim。

Hethrewitfromhimonthefloor。

"Andyoureceivedher，"hesaid，"withoutinquiringwhetherI

knewofhervisitornot？Guiltydeceptiononyourpart——guiltydeceptiononherpart。Oh，thehideouswickednessofit！"

WhenhismadsuspicionthatIhadbeenhiswife’sloverbetrayeditselfinthisway，Imadealastattempt，inthefaceofmyownconvictionthatitwashopeless，toplacemyconductandhiswife’sconductbeforehiminthetruelight。

"Mrs。Gracedieu’sobjectwastoconsultme——"BeforeIcouldsaythenextwords，Isawhimputhishandintothepocketofhisdressing—gown。

"Aninnocentman，"hesternlydeclared，"wouldhavetoldmethatmywifehadbeentoseehim——youkeptitasecret。Aninnocentwomanwouldhavegivenmeareasonforwishingtogotoyou——shekeptitasecret，whensheleftmyhouse；shekeptitasecretwhenshecameback。"

"Mr。Gracedieu，Iinsistonbeingheard！Yourwife’smotive——"

Hedrewfromhispocketthethingthathehadhiddenfromme。

Thistime，therewasnoconcealment；heletmeseethathewasopeningarazor。Itwasnotimeforassertingmyinnocence；Ihadtothinkofpreservingmylife。Whenamaniswithoutfirearms，whatdefensecanavailagainstarazorinthehandsofamadman？

Achairwasatmyside；itofferedtheonepoormeansofguardingmyselfthatIcouldsee。Ilaidmyhandonit，andkeptmyeyeonhim。

Hepaused，lookingbackwardandforwardbetweenthepictureandme。

"WhichofthemshallIkillfirst？"hesaidtohimself。"Themanwhowasmytrustedfriend？OrthewomanwhomIbelievedtobeanangelonearth？"Hestoppedoncemore，inastateoffierceself—concentration，debatingwhatheshoulddo。"Thewoman，"hedecided。"Wretch！Fiend！Harlot！HowIlovedher！！！"

Withayelloffury，hepouncedonthepicture——rippedthecanvasoutoftheframe——andcutitmalignantlyintofragments。Astheydroppedfromtherazoronthefloor，hestampedonthem，andgroundthemunderhisfoot。"Go，wifeofmybosom，"hecried，withadreadfulmockeryofvoiceandlook——"go，andburneverlastinglyintheplaceoftorment！"Hiseyesglaredatme。

"Yourturnnow，"hesaid——andrushedatmewithhisweaponreadyinhishand。Ihurledthechairathisrightarm。Therazordroppedonthefloor。Icaughthimbythewrist。Likeawildanimalhetriedtobiteme。Withmyfreehand——ifIhadknownhowtodefendmyselfinanyotherway，Iwouldhavetakenthatway——withmyfreehandIseizedhimbythethroat；forcedhimback；andheldhimagainstthewall。Mygrasponhisthroatkepthimquiet。Butthedreadofseriouslyinjuringhimsocompletelyovercameme，thatIforgotIwasaprisonerintheroom，andwasonthepointofalarmingthehouseholdbyacryforhelp。

Iwasstillstrugglingtopreservemyself—control，whenthesoundoffootstepsbrokethesilenceoutside。Iheardthekeyturninthelock，andsawthedoctorattheopendoor。

CHAPTERXLVI。

THECUMBERSOMELADIES。

ICANNOTprevailuponmyselftodwellatanylengthontheeventsthatfollowed。

Wesecuredmyunhappyfriend，andcarriedhimtohisbed。Itwasnecessarytohavemeninattendancewhocouldperformthedutyofwatchinghim。Thedoctorsentforthem，whileIwentdownstairstomakethebestIcouldofthemiserablenewswhichitwasimpossibleentirelytoconceal。

AllthatIcoulddotospareMissJillgall，Idid。Iwasobligedtoacknowledgethattherehadbeenanoutbreakofviolence，andthattheportraitoftheMinister’swifehadbeendestroyedbytheMinisterhimself。OfHelena’srevengeonmeIsaidnothing。

Ithadledtoconsequenceswhichevenhermercilessmalicecouldnothavecontemplated。Therewerenoobstaclesinthewayofkeepingsecrettheattemptonmylife。ButIwascompelledtoownthatMr。Gracedieuhadtakenadisliketome，whichrendereditnecessarythatmyvisitshouldbebroughttoanend。IhastenedtoaddthatIshouldgotothehotel，andshouldwaitthereuntilthenextday，inthehopeofhearingbetternews。

OfthemultitudeofquestionswithwhichpoorMissJillgalloverwhelmedme——ofthewildwordsofsorrowandalarmthatescapedher——ofthedesperatemannerinwhichsheheldbymyarm，andimploredmenottogoaway，whenImustseeformyselfthat"shewasapersonentirelydestituteofpresenceofmind"——I

shallsaynothing。Theundeservedsufferingthatisinflictedoninnocentpersonsbythesinsofothersdemandssilentsympathy；

and，tothatextentatleast，IcansaythatIhonestlyfeltformyquaintandpleasantlittlefriend。

Intheeveningthedoctorcalledonmeatthehotel。Themedicaltreatmentofhispatienthadsucceededincalmingthemaddenedbrainundertheinfluenceofsleep。Ifthenightpassedquietly，betternewsmightbehopedforinthemorning。

OnthenextdayIhadarrangedtodrivetothefarm，beingresolvednottodisappointEunice。ButIshrankfromtheprospectofhavingtodistressherasIhadalreadydistressedMissJillgall。Theonlyalternativeleftwastorepeatthesadstoryinwriting，subjecttotheconcealmentswhichIhadalreadyobserved。ThisIdid，andsenttheletterbymessenger，overnight，sothatEunicemightknowwhentoexpectme。

Themedicalreport，inthemorning，justifiedsomehope。Mr。

Gracedieuhadsleptwell，andtherehadbeennoreappearanceofinsaneviolenceonhiswaking。Butthedoctor’sopinionwasfarfromencouragingwhenwespokeofthefuture。HedidnotanticipatethecruelnecessityofplacingtheMinisterunderrestraint——unlesssomenewprovocationledtoanewoutbreak。Themisfortunetobefearedwasimbecility。

IwasjustleavingthehoteltokeepmyappointmentwithEunice，whenthewaiterannouncedthearrivalofayoungladywhowishedtospeakwithme。BeforeIcouldaskifshehadmentionedhername，theyoungladyherselfwalkedin——HelenaGracedieu。

Sheexplainedherobjectincallingonme，withtheexasperatingcomposurewhichwaspeculiarlyherown。Noparalleltoitoccurstomeinmyofficialexperienceofshamelesswomen。

"Idon’twishtospeakofwhathappenedyesterday，sofarasI

knowanythingaboutit，"shebegan。"Itisquiteenoughformethatyouhavebeenobligedtoleavethehouseandtotakerefugeinthishotel。Ihavecometosayawordaboutthefuture。Areyouhonoringmewithyourattention？"

Isignedtohertogoon。IfIhadansweredinwords，Ishouldhavetoldhertoleavetheroom。

"Atfirst，"sheresumed，"Ithoughtofwriting；butitoccurredtomethatyoumightkeepmyletter，andshowittoPhilip，bywayofloweringmeinhisgoodopinion，asyouhaveloweredmeinthegoodopinionofhisfather。Myobjectincominghereistogiveyouawordofwarning。IfyouattempttomakemischiefnextbetweenPhilipandmyself，Ishallhearofit——andyouknowwhattoexpect，whenyouhaveMeforanenemy。Itisnotworthwhiletosayanymore。Weunderstandeachother，Ihope？"

Shewasdeterminedtohaveareply——andshegotit。

"Notquiteyet，"Isaid。"Ihavebeenhitherto，asbecomesagentleman，alwaysmindfulofawoman’sclaimstoforbearance。Youwilldowellnottotemptmeintoforgettingthat_you_areawoman，byprolongingyourvisit。Now，MissHelenaGracedieu，weunderstandeachother。"Shemademealowcurtsey，andansweredinherfinesttoneofirony："Ionlydesiretowishyouapleasantjourneyhome。"

Irangforthewaiter。"Showthisladyout，"Isaid。

Eventhisfailedtohavetheslightesteffectonher。Shesaunteredtothedoor，asperfectlyathereaseasiftheroomhadbeenhers——notmine。

Ihadthoughtofdrivingtothefarm。ShallIconfessit？MytemperwassocompletelyupsetthatactivemovementofsomekindofferedtheonemeansofreliefinwhichIcouldfindrefuge。Thefarmwasnotmorethanfivemilesdistant，andIhadbeenagoodwalkerallmylife。Aftermakingtheneedfulinquiries，IsetforthtovisitEuniceonfoot。

Mywaythroughthetownledmepastthe，Minister’shouse。Ihadleftthedoorsomefiftyyardsbehindme，whenIsawtwoladiesapproaching。Theywerewalking，inthefriendliestmanner，arminarm。Astheycamenearer，IdiscoveredMissJillgall。Hercompanionwasthemiddle—agedladywhohaddeclinedtogivehername，whenwemetaccidentallyatMr。Gracedieu’sdoor。

Hystericallyimpulsive，MissJillgallseizedbothmyhands，andoverwhelmedmewithentreatiesthatIwouldgobackwithhertothehouse。Ilistenedratherabsently。Themiddle—agedladyhappenedtobenearertomenowthanoneitheroftheformeroccasionsonwhichIhadseenher。Therewassomethingintheexpressionofhereyeswhichseemedtobefamiliartome。ButtheeffortofmymemorywasnothelpedbywhatIobservedintheotherpartsofherface。Theiron—grayhair，thebaggylowereyelids，thefatcheeks，thecoarsecomplexion，andthedoublechin，werefeatures，andverydisagreeablefeatures，too，whichI

hadneverseenatanyformertime。

"Dopraycomebackwithus，"MissJillgallpleaded。"Wewerejusttalkingofyou。Iandmyfriend——"Thereshestopped，evidentlyonthepointofblurtingoutthenamewhichshehadbeenforbiddentoutterinmyhearing。

Theladysmiled；herprovokinglyfamiliareyesrestedonmewithahumorousenjoymentofthescene。

"Mydear，"shesaidtoMissJillgall，"cautionceasestobeavirtuewhenitceasestobeofanyuse。TheGovernorisbeginningtorememberme，andtheinevitablerecognition——with_his_

quicknessofperception——islikelytobeamatterofminutesnow。"Sheturnedtome。"Inmorewaysthanone，sir，womenarehardlyusedbyNature。Astheyadvanceinyearstheylosemoreinpersonalappearancethanthemendo。Youarewhite—haired，and（prayexcuseme）youaretoofat；and（allowmetotakeanotherliberty）youstoopattheshoulders——butyouhavenotentirelylostyourgoodlooks。_I_amnolongerrecognizable。Allowmetopromptyou，astheysayonthestage。IamMrs。Tenbruggen。"

Asamanoftheworld，Ioughttohavebeencapableofconcealingmyastonishmentanddismay。Shestruckmedumb。

Mrs。Tenbruggeninthetown！TheonewomanwhoseappearanceMr。

Gracedieuhaddreaded，andjustlydreaded，stoodbeforeme——free，asafriendofhiskinswoman，toenterhishouse，attheverytimewhenhewasahelplessman，guardedbywatchersathisbedside。Myfirstclearideawastogetawayfromboththewomen，andconsiderwhatwastobedonenext。Ibowed——andbeggedtobeexcused——andsaidIwasinahurry，allinabreath。

Hearingthis，thebestofgenialoldmaidswasunabletorestrainhercuriosity。"Whereareyougoing？"sheasked。

Tooconfusedtothinkofanexcuse，IsaidIwasgoingtothefarm。

"ToseemydearEuneece？"MissJillgallburstout。"Oh，wewillgowithyou！"Mrs。Tenbruggen’spolitenessaddedimmediately，"Withthegreatestpleasure。"

CHAPTERXLVII。

THEJOURNEYTOTHEFARM。

MYfirstungratefulimpulsewastogetridofthetwocumbersomeladieswhohadofferedtobemycompanions。Itwasneedlesstocalluponmyinventionforanexcuse；thetruth，asIgladlyperceived，wouldservemypurpose。IhadonlytotellthemthatI

hadarrangedtowalktothefarm。

Lean，wiry，andimpetuous，MissJillgallreceivedmyexcusewiththesincerestapprovalofit，asanewidea。"Nothingcouldbemoreagreeabletome，"shedeclared；"Ihavebeenawonderfulwalkerallmylife。"Sheturnedtoherfriend。"Wewillgowithhim，mydear，won’twe？"

Mrs。Tenbruggen’sreceptionofthisproposalinspiredmewithhope；sheaskedhowfaritwastothefarm。"Fivemiles！"sherepeated。"Andfivemilesbackagain，unlessthefarmerlendsusacart。MydearSelina，youmightaswellaskmetowalktotheNorthPole。Youhavegotridofoneofus，Mr。Governor，"sheadded，pleasantly；"andtheother，ifyouonlywalkfastenough，youwillleavebehindyouontheroad。IfIbelievedinluck——whichIdon’t——Ishouldcallyouafortunateman。"

ButcompanionableSelinawouldnothearofaseparation。Sheasked，inhermostirresistiblemanner，ifIobjectedtodrivinginsteadofwalking。Herheart’sdearestwish，shesaid，wastomakeherbosomfriendandmyselfbetteracquaintedwitheachother。Toconclude，sheremindedmethattherewasacab—standinthenextstreet。

PerhapsImighthavebeeninfluencedbymydistrustofMrs。

Tenbruggen，orperhapsbymyanxietytoprotectEunice。ItstruckmethatImightwarnthedefenselessgirltobeonherguardwithMrs。Tenbruggentobetterpurpose，ifEunicewasinapositiontorecognizeherinanyfutureemergencythatmightoccur。Tomymind，thisdangerouswomanwasdoublyformidable——andforagoodreason；shewasthebosomfriendofthatinnocentandunwaryperson，MissJillgall。

SoIamiablyconsentedtoforegomywalk，yieldingtothesuperiorattractionofMrs。Tenbruggen’scompany。Onthatdaythesunshinewastemperedbyadelightfulbreeze。Ifwehadbeeninthebiggestandworst—governedcityonthecivilisedearth，weshouldhavefoundnopublicvehicle，opentotheair，whichcouldofferaccommodationtothreepeople。Beingonlyinacountrytown，wehadalightfour—wheeledchaiseatourdisposal，asamatterofcourse。

Nowisemanexpectstobemercifullytreated，whenheisshutintoacarriagewithamaturesinglelady，inflamedbycuriosity。

IwasnotunpreparedforMissJillgallwhenshealluded，forthesecondtime，tothesadeventswhichhadhappenedinthehouseonthepreviousday——andespeciallytothedestructionbyMr。

Gracedieuoftheportraitofhiswife。

"Whydidn’thedestroysomethingelse？"shepleaded，piteously。

"ItissuchadisappointmenttoMe。Ineverlikedthatpicturemyself。OfcourseIoughttohaveadmiredtheportraitofthewifeofmybenefactor。Butno——thatdisagreeablepaintedfacewastoomuchforme。Ishouldhavefeltinexpressiblyrelieved，ifI

couldhaveshownittoElizabeth，andheardhersaythatsheagreedwithme。"

"PerhapsIsawitwhenIcalledonyou，"Mrs。Tenbruggensuggested。"Wheredidthepicturehang？"

"Mydear！Ireceivedyouinthedining—room，andtheportraithunginMr。Gracedieu’sstudy。"

Whattheysaidtoeachothernextescapedmyattention。Quiteunconsciously，MissJillgallhadrevealedtomeadangerwhichneithertheMinisternorIhaddiscovered，thoughithadconspicuouslythreatenedusbothonthewallofthestudy。Theactofmaddestructionwhich，ifIhadpossessedthemeansofsafelyinterfering，Ishouldcertainlyhaveendeavoredtoprevent，nowassumedanewandstartlingaspect。IfMrs。

Tenbruggenreallyhadsomemotiveofherownforendeavoringtoidentifytheadoptedchild，thepreservationofthepicturemusthaveledherstraighttotheendinview。ThemostcasualopportunityofcomparingHelenawiththeportraitofMrs。

Gracedieuwouldhaverevealedthelikenessbetweenmotheranddaughter——and，thatresultattained，theidentificationofEunicewiththeinfantwhomthe"MissChance"ofthosedayshadbroughttotheprisonmustinevitablyhavefollowed。ItwasperhapsnaturalthatMr。Gracedieu’sinfatuateddevotiontothememoryofhiswifeshouldhaveblindedhimtothebetrayalofHelena’sparentage，whichmethiseyeseverytimeheenteredhisstudy。

ButthatIshouldhavebeentoostupidtodiscoverwhathehadfailedtosee，wasawounddealttomyself—esteemwhichIwasvainenoughtofeelacutely。

Mrs。Tenbruggen’svoice，cheeryandhumorous，brokeinonmyreflections，withanoddquestion：

"Mr。Governor，doyouevercondescendtoreadnovels？"

"It’snoteasytosay，Mrs。Tenbruggen，howgratefulIamtothewritersofnovels。"

"Ah！Ireadnovels，too。ButIblushtoconfess——doI

blush？——thatIneverthoughtoffeelinggratefultillyoumentionedit。SelinaandIdon’tcomplainofyourpreferringyourownreflectionstoourcompany。Onthecontrary，youhaveremindedusagreeablyoftheheroesoffiction，whentheauthordescribesthemasbeing’absorbedinthought。’Forsomeminutes，Mr。Governor，youhavebeenahero；absorbed，asIventuretoguess，inunpleasantremembrancesofthetimewhenIwasasinglelady。YouhavenotforgottenhowbadlyIbehaved，andwhatshockingthingsIsaid，inthosebygonedays。AmIright？"

"Youareentirelywrong。"

ItispossiblethatImayhavespokenalittletoosharply。

Anyway，faithfulSelinaintercededforherfriend。"Oh，dearsir，don’tbehardonElizabeth！Shealwaysmeanswell。"Mrs。

Tenbruggen，asfacetiousasever，madeagratefulreturnforasmallcompliment。ShechuckedMissJillgallunderthechin，withtheairofanamorousoldgentlemanexpressinghisapprovalofaprettyservant—girl。Itwasimpossibletolookatthetwo，intheirrelativesituations，withoutlaughing。ButMrs。Tenbruggenfailedtocheatmeintoalteringmyopinionofher。InnocentMissJillgallclappedheruglyhands，andsaid："Isn’tshegoodcompany？"

Mrs。Tenbruggen’ssocialresourceswerenotexhaustedyet。Shesuddenlyshiftedtotheserioussideofhercharacter。

"PerhapsIhaveimprovedalittle，"shesaid，"asIhaveadvancedinyears。Thesorrowsofanunhappymarriedlifemayhavehadapurifyinginfluenceonmynature。MyhusbandandIbeganbadly。

Mr。TenbruggenthoughtIhadmoney；andIthoughtMr。Tenbruggenhadmoney。Hewastakeninbyme；andIwastakeninbyhim。Whenherepeatedthewordsofthemarriageservice（mostimpressivelyreadbyyourfriendtheChaplain）：’WithallmyworldlygoodsI

theeendow’——hiseloquentvoicesuggestedoneofthelargestincomesinEurope。WhenIpromisedandvowed，inmyturn，thedelightfulprospectofsquanderingmyrichhusband’smoneymadequiteanewwomanofme。Ideclaresolemnly，whenIsaidIwouldlove，honor，andobeyMr。T。，IlookedasifIreallymeantit。

Whereverheisnow，poordear，heischeatingsomebody。Suchahandsome，gentleman—likeman，Selina！And，oh，Mr。Governor，suchablackguard！"

Havingdescribedherhusbandinthoseterms，shegottiredofthesubject。Wewerenowfavoredwithanotherviewofthismany—sidedwoman。Sheappearedinherprofessionalcharacter。

"Ah，whatadeliciousbreezeisblowing，outhereinthecountry！"shesaid。"WillyouexcusemeifItakeoffmygloves？

Iwanttoairmyhands。"Sheheldupherhandstothebreeze；

firm，muscular，deadlywhitehands。"Inmyprofessionaloccupation，"sheexplained，"Iamalwaysrubbing，tickling，squeezing，tapping，kneading，rolling，strikingthemusclesofpatients。Selina，doyouknowthemovementsofyourownjoints？

Flexion，extension，abduction，adduction，rotation，circumduction，pronation，supination，andthelateralmovements。

Beproudofthoseaccomplishments，mydear，butbewareofattemptingtobecomeaMasseuse。Therearedrawbacksinthatvocation——andIamconsciousofoneofthematthismoment。"Sheliftedherhandstohernose。"Pah！myhandssmellofotherpeople’sflesh。Thedeliciouscountryairwillblowitaway——theluxuryofpurification！"Herfingerstwistedandquivered，andgotcrookedatonemomentandstraightagainatanother，andshowedthemselvesinsuccessionsingly，andflewintoeachotherfiercelyinterlaced，andthenspreadoutagainlikethesticksofafan，untilitreallymademegiddytolookatthem。AsforMissJillgall，sheliftedherpoorlittlesunkeneyesrapturouslytothesky，asifshecalledthehomiestsunlighttowitnessthatthiswasthemostlovablewomanonthefaceoftheearth。

Butelderlyfemalefascinationoffersitsallurementsinvaintotheroughanimal，man。SuspicionofMrs。Tenbruggen’smotiveshadestablisheditselffirmlyinmymind。WhyhadthePopularMasseuseabandonedherbrilliantcareerinLondon，andplungedintotheobscurityofacountrytown？Anopportunityofclearingupthedoubtthussuggestedseemedtohavepresenteditselfnow。

"Isitindiscreettoask，"Isaid，"ifyouarehereinyourprofessionalcapacity？"

Hercunningseizeditsadvantageandputaslyquestiontome。

"Doyouwishtobeoneofmypatientsyourself？"

"Thatis，unfortunately，impossible，"Ireplied"IhavearrangedtoreturntoLondon。"

"Immediately？"

"To—morrowatthelatest。"