"He'stheonlylivingsoulIcangetatwhowasconnectedwithHolmescroft，"Isaid。
　　"Ah!Livingsoulisgood，"saidM'Leod。"Atanyrateourlittlegirlwillbepleasedthatyouarestillinterestedinus。Won'tyoucomedownsomedaythisweek？"
　　"Howisittherenow？"Iasked。
　　Hescreweduphisface。"Simplyfrightful!"hesaid。"TheaisatDroitwich。"
　　"Ishouldlikeitimmensely，butImustcultivateBaxterforthepresent。You'llbesureandkeephimbusyyourend，won'tyou？"
　　Helookedatmewithquietcontempt。"Donotbeafraid。IshallbeagoodJew。Ishallbemyownsolicitor。"
　　Beforeafortnightwasover，BaxteradmittedruefullythatM'Leodwasbetterthanmostfirmsinthebusiness:Webuyerswerecoy，argumentative，shockedatthepriceofHolmescroft，inquisitive，andcoldbyturns，butMr。M'Leodthesellereasilymetandsurpassedus；andMr。Baxterenteredeveryletter，telegram，andconsultationattheproperratesinacinematograph-filmofabill。AttheendofamonthhesaiditlookedasthoughM'Leod，thankstohim，werereallygoingtolistentoreason。Iwasmanypoundsoutofpocket，butIhadlearnedsomethingofMr。Baxteronthehumanside。Ideservedit。NeverinmylifehaveIworkedtoconciliate，amuse，andflatterahumanbeingasIworkedovermysolicitor。
　　Itappearedthathegolfed。Therefore，Iwasanenthusiasticbeginner，anxioustolearn。TwiceIinvadedhisofficewithabagM'Leodlentitfullofthespelicansneededinthisdetestablegame，andavocabularytomatch。Thethirdtimetheicebroke，andMr。Baxtertookmetohislinks，quitetenmilesoff，whereinamazeoftramwaylines，railroads，andnursery-maids，weskelpedourdivottedwayroundnineholeslikebargesplungingthroughheadseas。Heplayedvilelyandhadneverexpectedtomeetanyoneworse；butasherealisedmyform，Ithinkhebegantolikeme，forhetookmeinhandbythetwohourstogether。
　　Afterafortnighthecouldgivemenomorethanastrokeahole，andwhen，withthisallowance，Ioncemanagedtobeathimbyone，hewashonestlyglad，andassuredmethatIshouldbeagolferifIstucktoit。Iwasstickingtoitformyownends，butnowandagainmyconscienceprickedme；forthemanwasaniceman。
　　Betweengameshesuppliedmewithoddpiecesofevidence，suchasthathehadknowntheMoultriesallhislife，beingtheircousin，andthatMissMary，theeldest，wasanunforgivingwomanwhowouldneverletbygonesbe。Inaturallywonderedwhatshemighthaveagainsthim；andsomehowconnectedhimunfavourablywithmadAgnes。
　　"Peopleoughttoforgiveandforget，"hevolunteeredonedaybetweenrounds。"Speciallywhere，inthenatureofthings，theycan'tbesureoftheirdeductions。Don'tyouthinkso？"
　　"Italldependsonthenatureoftheevidenceonwhichoneformsone'sjudgment，"Ianswered。
　　"Nonsense!"hecried。"I'mlawyerenoughtoknowthatthere'snothingintheworldsomisleadingascircumstantialevidence。
　　Neverwas。"
　　"Why？Haveyoueverseenmenhangedonit？"
　　"Hanged？Peoplehavebeensupposedtobeeternallylostonit，"
　　hisfaceturnedgreyagain。"Idon'tknowhowitiswithyou，butmyconsolationisthatGodmustknow。Hemust!Thingsthatseemonthefaceof'emlikemurder，orsaysuicide，mayappeardifferenttoGod。Heh？"
　　"That'swhatthemurdererandthesuicidecanalwayshope——I
　　suppose。"
　　"Ihaveexpressedmyselfclumsilyasusual。ThefactsasGodknows'em——maybedifferent——evenafterthemostclinchingevidence。I'vealwayssaidthat——bothasalawyerandaman，butsomepeoplewon't——Idon'twanttojudge'em——we'llsaytheycan't——believeit；whereasIsaythere'salwaysaworkingchance——acertainty——thattheworsthasn'thappened。"Hestoppedandclearedhisthroat。"Now，let'scomeon!ThistimenextweekIshallbetakingmyholiday。"
　　"Whatlinks？"Iaskedcarelessly，whiletwinsinaperambulatorgotoutofourlineoffire。
　　"Apottylittlenine-holeaffairatahydrointheMidlands。Mycousinsstaythere。Alwayswill。Notbutwhatthefourthandtheseventhholestakesomedoing。Youcouldmanageit，though，"hesaidencouragingly。"You'redoingmuchbetter。It'sonlyyourapproachshotsthatareweak。"
　　"You'reright。Ican'tapproachfornuts!Ishallgotopieceswhileyou'reaway——withnoonetocoachme，"Isaidmournfully。
　　"Ihaven'ttaughtyouanything，"hesaid，delightedwiththecompliment。
　　"IoweallI'velearnedtoyou，anyhow。Whenwillyoucomeback？"
　　"Lookhere，"hebegan。"Idon'tknow，yourengagements，butI'venoonetoplaywithatBurryMills。Neverhave。Whycouldn'tyoutakeafewdaysoffandjoinmethere？Iwarnyouitwillberatherdull。It'sathroatandgoutplace-baths，massage，electricity，andsoforth。Butthefourthandtheseventhholesreallytakesomedoing。"
　　"I'mforthegame，"Iansweredvaliantly；HeavenwellknowingthatIhatedeverystrokeandwordofit。
　　"That'stheproperspirit。AstheirlawyerImustaskyounottosayanythingtomycousinsaboutHolmescroft。Itupsets'em。
　　Alwaysdid。Butspeakingasmantoman，itwouldbeverypleasantformeifyoucouldseeyourwayto——"
　　Isawitassoonasdecencypermitted，andthankedhimsincerely。
　　Accordingtomynowwell-developedtheoryhehadcertainlymisappropriatedhisagedcousins'moniesunderpowerofattorney，andhadprobablydrivenpoorAgnesMoultrieoutofherwits，butIwishedthathewasnotsogentle，andgood-tempered，andinnocenteyed。
　　BeforeIjoinedhimatBurryMillsHydro，IspentanightatHolmescroft。MissM'LeodhadreturnedfromherHydro，andfirstwemadeverymerryontheopenlawninthesunshineoverthemannersandcustomsoftheEnglishresortingtosuchplaces。Sheknewdozensofhydros，andwarnedmehowtobehaveinthem，whileMr。andMrs。M'Leodstoodasideandadoredher。
　　"Ah!That'sthewayshealwayscomesbacktous，"hesaid。"Pityitwearsoffsosoon，ain'tit？Yououghttohearhersing'Withmirththouprettybird。'"
　　Wehadthehousetofacethroughtheevening，andthereweneitherlaughednorsung。Thegloomfellonusasweentered，anddidnotshifttillteno'clock，whenwecrawledout，asitwere，frombeneathit。
　　"Ithasbeenbadthissummer，"saidMrs。M'Leodinawhisperafterwerealisedthatwewerefreed。"SometimesIthinkthehousewillgetupandcryout——itissobad。"
　　"How？"
　　"Haveyouforgottenwhatcomesafterthedepression？"
　　Sothenwewaitedaboutthesmallfire，andthedeadairintheroompresentlyfilledandpresseddownuponuswiththesensationbutwordsareuselesshereasthoughsomedumbandboundpowerwerestrivingagainstgagandbondtodeliveritssoulofanarticulateword。Itpassedinafewminutes，andIfelltothinkingaboutMr。Baxter'sconscienceandAgnesMoultrie，gonemadinthewell-litbedroomthatwaitedme。ThesereflectionssecuredmeanightduringwhichIrediscoveredhow，frompurelymentalcauses，amancanbephysicallysick；butthesicknesswasblisscomparedtomydreamswhenthebirdswaked。Onmydeparture，M'Leodgavemeabeautifulnarwhal'shorn，muchasanursegivesachildsweetsforbeingbraveatadentist's。
　　"There'snoduplicateofitintheworld，"hesaid，"elseitwouldhavecometooldMaxM'Leod；"andhetuckeditintothemotor。MissM'Leodonthefarsideofthecarwhispered，"Haveyoufoundoutanything，Mr。Perseus？"
　　Ishookmyhead。
　　"ThenIshallbechainedtomyrockallmylife，"shewenton。
　　"Onlydon'ttellpapa。"
　　IsupposedshewasthinkingoftheyounggentlemanwhospecialisedinSouthAmericanrails，forInoticedaringonthethirdfingerofherlefthand。
　　IwentstraightfromthathousetoBurryMillsHydro，keenforthefirsttimeinmylifeonplayinggolf，whichisguaranteedtooccupythemind。Baxterhadtakenmearoomcommunicatingwithhisown，andafterlunchintroducedmetoatall，horse-headedelderlyladyofdecidedmanners，whomawhite-hairedmaidpushedalonginabath-chairthroughthepark-likegroundsoftheHydro。
　　ShewasMissMaryMoultrie，andshecoughedandclearedherthroatjustlikeBaxter。Shesuffered——shetoldmeitwasaMoultriecastemark——fromsomeobscureformofchronicbronchitis，complicatedwithspasmoftheglottis；and，inadead，flatvoice，withasunkeneyethatlookedandsawnot，toldmewhatwashes，gargles，pastilles，andinhalationsshehadprovedmostbeneficial。FromherIwaspassedontoheryoungersister，MissElizabeth，asmallandwitheredthingwithtwitchinglips，victim，shetoldme，toverymuchthesamesortofthroat，butsecretlydevotedtoanothersetofmedicines。WhenshewentawaywithBaxterandthebath-chair，IfellacrossamajoroftheIndianarmywithgoutinhisglassyeyes，andastomachwhichhehadtakenallroundtheContinent。Helaideverythingbeforeme；
　　andhimIescapedonlytobeconfidedinbyamatronwithatendencytofolliculartonsilitisandeczema。Baxterwaitedhandandfootonhiscousinstillfiveo'clock，trying，asIsaw，toatoneforhistreatmentofthedeadsister。MissMaryorderedhimaboutlikeadog。
　　"Iwarnedyouitwouldbedull，"hesaidwhenwemetinthesmoking-room。
　　"It'stremendouslyinteresting，"Isaid。"Buthowaboutalookroundthelinks？"
　　"Unluckilydampalwaysaffectsmyeldestcousin。I'vegottobuyheranewbronchitis-kettle。Arthursbrokeheroldoneyesterday。"
　　Weslippedouttothechemist'sshopinthetown，andheboughtalargeglitteringtinthingwhoseworkingsheexplained。
　　"I'musedtothissortofwork。Icomeuphereprettyoften，"hesaid。"I'vethefamilythroattoo。"
　　"You'reagoodman，"Isaid。"Averygoodman。"
　　Heturnedtowardsmeintheeveninglightamongthebeeches，andhisfacewaschangedtowhatitmighthavebeenagenerationbefore。
　　"Yousee，"hesaidhuskily，"therewastheyoungest——Agnes。
　　Beforeshefellill，youknow。Butshedidn'tlikeleavinghersisters。Neverwould。"Hehurriedonwithhisodd-shapedloadandleftmeamongtheruinsofmyblacktheories。ThemanwiththatfacehaddoneAgnesMoultrienowrong。
　　Weneverplayedourgame。IwaswakedbetweentwoandthreeinthemorningfrommyhygienicbedbyBaxterinanulsteroverorangeandwhitepyjamas，whichIshouldneverhavesuspectedfromhischaracter。
　　"Mycousinhashadsomesortofaseizure，"hesaid。"Willyoucome？Idon'twanttowakethedoctor。Don'twanttomakeascandal。Quick!"
　　SoIcamequickly，andledbythewhite-hairedArthursinajacketandpetticoat，enteredadouble-beddedroomreekingwithsteamandFriar'sBalsam。Theelectricswereallon。MissMary——I
　　knewherbyherheight——wasattheopenwindow，wrestlingwithMissElizabeth，whogrippedherroundtheknees。
　　MissMary'shandwasatherownthroat，whichwasstreakedwithblood。
　　"She'sdoneit。She'sdoneittoo!"MissElizabethpanted。"Holdher!Helpme!"
　　"Oh，Isay!Womendon'tcuttheirthroats，"Baxterwhispered。
　　"MyGod!Hasshecutherthroat？"themaidcriedout，andwithnowarningrolledoverinafaint。Baxterpushedherunderthewash-basins，andleapedtoholdthegauntwomanwhocrowedandwhistledasshestruggledtowardthewindow。Hetookherbytheshoulder，andshestruckoutwildly:
　　"Allright!She'sonlycutherhand，"hesaid。"Wettowelquick!"
　　WhileIgotthathepushedherbackward。Herstrengthseemedalmostasgreatashis。IswabbedatherthroatwhenIcould，andfoundnomark；thenhelpedhimtocontrolheralittle。MissElizabethleapedbacktobed，wailinglikeachild。
　　"Tieupherhandsomehow，"saidBaxter。"Don'tletitdripabouttheplace。She"——hesteppedonbrokenglassinhisslippers，"shemusthavesmashedapane。"
　　MissMarylurchedtowardstheopenwindowagain，droppedonherknees，herheadonthesill，andlayquiet，surrenderingthecuthandtome。
　　"Whatdidshedo？"BaxterturnedtowardsMissElizabethinthefarbed。
　　"Shewasgoingtothrowherselfoutofthewindow，"wastheanswer。"Istoppedher，andsentArthursforyou。Oh，wecanneverholdupourheadsagain!"
　　MissMarywrithedandfoughtforbreath。Baxterfoundashawlwhichhethrewoverhershoulders。
　　"Nonsense!"saidhe。"Thatisn'tlikeMary；"buthisfaceworkedwhenhesaidit。
　　"Youwouldn'tbelieveaboutAggie，John。Perhapsyouwillnow!"
　　saidMissElizabeth。"Isawherdoit，andshe'scutherthroattoo!"
　　"Shehasn't，"Isaid。"It'sonlyherhand。"
　　MissMarysuddenlybrokefromuswithanindescribablegrunt，flew，ratherthanran，tohersister'sbed，andthereshookherasonefuriousschoolgirlwouldshakeanother。
　　"Nosuchthing，"shecroaked。"Howdareyouthinkso，youwickedlittlefool？"
　　"Getintobed，Mary，"saidBaxter。"You'llcatchachill。"
　　Sheobeyed，butsatupwiththegreyshawlroundherleanshoulders，glaringathersister。"I'mbetternow，"shepanted。"
　　Arthursletmesitouttoolong。Where'sArthurs？Thekettle。"
　　"NevermindArthurs，"saidBaxter。"Yougetthekettle。"I
　　hastenedtobringitfromthesidetable。"Now，Mary，asGodseesyou，tellmewhatyou'vedone。"
　　Hislipsweredry，andhecouldnotmoisten。themwithhistongue。
　　MissMaryappliedherselftothemouthofthekettle，andbetweenindrawsofsteamsaid:"Thespasmcameonjustnow，whileIwasasleep。Iwasnearlychokingtodeath。SoIwenttothewindowI'vedoneitoftenbefore，without，wakinganyone。Bessie'ssuchanoldmaidaboutdraughts。ItellyouIwaschokingtodeath。I
　　couldn'tmanagethecatch，andInearlyfellout。Thatwindowopenstoolow。Icutmyhandtryingtosavemyself。Whohastieditupinthisfilthyhandkerchief？Iwishyouhadhadmythroat，Bessie。Ineverwasnearerdying!"Shescowledonusallimpartially，whilehersistersobbed。
　　Fromthebottomofthebedweheardaquiveringvoice:"Isshedead？Havetheytookheraway？Oh，Inevercouldbearthesighto'blood!"
　　"Arthurs，"saidMissMary，"youareanhireling。Goaway!"
　　ItismybeliefthatArthurscrawledoutonallfours，butIwasbusypickingupbrokenglassfromthecarpet。
　　ThenBaxter，seatedbythesideofthebed，begantocross-examineinavoiceIscarcelyrecognised。NoonecouldforaninstanthavedoubtedthegenuinerageofMissMaryagainsthersister，hercousin，orhermaid；andthatadoctorshouldhavebeencalledinforshedidmethehonourofcallingmedoctor——wasthelastdrop。Shewaschokingwithherthroat；hadrushedtothewindowforair；hadnearpitchedout，andincatchingatthewindowbarshadcutherhand。OverandovershemadethiscleartotheintentBaxter。Thensheturnedonhersisterandtongue-lashedhersavagely。
　　"Youmustn'tblameme，"MissBessiefalteredatlast。"Youknowwhatwethinkofnightandday。"。
　　"I'mcomingtothat，"saidBaxter。"Listentome。Whatyoudid，Mary，misledfourpeopleintothinkingyou——youmeanttodoawaywithyourself。"
　　"Isn'tonesuicideinthefamilyenough？OhGod，helpandpityus!Youcouldn'thavebelievedthat!"shecried。
　　"Theevidencewascomplete。Now，don'tyouthink，"Baxter'sfingerwaggedunderhernose——"can'tyouthinkthatpoorAggiedidthesamethingatHolmescroftwhenshefelloutofthewindow？"
　　"Shehadthesamethroat，"saidMissElizabeth。"Exactlythesamesymptoms。Don'tyouremember，Mary？"
　　"Whichwasherbedroom？"IaskedofBaxterinanundertone。
　　"Overthesouthverandah，lookingontothetennislawn。"
　　"InearlyfelloutofthatverywindowwhenIwasatHolmescroft——openingittogetsomeair。Thesilldoesn'tcomemuchaboveyourknees，"Isaid。
　　"Youhearthat，Mary？Mary，doyouhearWhatthisgentlemansays？
　　Won'tyoubelievethatwhatnearlyhappenedtoyoumusthavehappenedtopoorAggiethatnight？ForGod'ssake——forhersake——Mary，won'tyoubelieve？"
　　Therewasalongsilencewhilethesteamkettlepuffed。
　　"IfIcouldhaveproof——ifIcouldhaveproof，"saidshe，andbrokeintomosthorribletears。
　　Baxtermotionedtome，andIcreptawaytomyroom，andlayawaketillmorning，thinkingmorespeciallyofthedumbThingatHolmescroftwhichwishedtoexplainitself。IhatedMissMaryasperfectlyasthoughIhadknownherfortwentyyears，butIfeltthat，aliveordead，Ishouldnotlikehertocondemnme。
　　Yetatmid-day，whenIsawMissMaryinherbathchair，ArthursbehindandBaxterandMissElizabethoneitherside，inthepark-likegroundsoftheHydro，Ifounditdifficulttoarrangemywords。
　　"Nowthatyouknowallaboutit，"saidBaxteraside，afterthefirststrangenessofourmeetingwasover，"it'sonlyfairtotellyouthatmypoorcousindidnotdieinHolmescroftatall。
　　Shewasdeadwhentheyfoundherunderthewindowinthemorning。
　　Justdead。"
　　"Underthatlaburnumoutsidethewindow？"Iasked，forIsuddenlyrememberedthecrookedevilthing。
　　"Exactly。Shebrokethetreeinfalling。Butnodeathhasevertakenplaceinthehouse，sofaraswewereconcerned。Youcanmakeyourselfquiteeasyonthatpoint。Mr。M'Leod'sextrathousandforwhatyoucalledthe'cleanbillofhealth'wassomethingtowardmycousins'estatewhenwesold。Itwasmydutyastheirlawyertogetitforthem——atanycosttomyownfeelings。"
　　IknowbetterthantoarguewhentheEnglishtalkabouttheirduty。SoIagreedwithmysolicitor。
　　"Theirsister'sdeathmusthavebeenagreatblowtoyourcousins，"Iwenton。Thebath-chairwasbehindme。
　　"Unspeakable，"Baxterwhispered。"Theybroodedonitdayandnight。Nowonder。IftheirtheoryofpoorAggiemakingawaywithherselfwascorrect，shewaseternallylost!"
　　"Doyoubelievethatshemadeawaywithherself？"
　　"No，thankGod!Neverhave!AndafterwhathappenedtoMarylastnight，IseeperfectlywhathappenedtopoorAggie。Shehadthefamilythroattoo。Bytheway，Marythinksyouareadoctor。
　　Otherwiseshewouldn'tlikeyourhavingbeeninherroom。"
　　"Verygood。Issheconvincednowabouthersister'sdeath？"
　　"She'dgiveanythingtobeabletobelieveit，butshe'sahardwoman，andbroodingalongcertainlinesmakesonegroovy。Ihavesometimesbeenafraidofherreason——onthereligiousside，don'tyouknow。Elizabethdoesn'tmatter。Brainofahen。Alwayshad。"
　　HereArthurssummonedmetothebath-chair，andtheravagedface，beneathitsknittedShetlandwoolhood，ofMissMaryMoultrie。
　　"Ineednotremindyou，Ihope，ofthesealofsecrecy——absolutesecrecy——inyourprofession，"shebegan。"Thankstomycousin'sandmysister'sstupidity，youhavefoundout"sheblewhernose。
　　"Pleasedon'texciteher，sir，"saidArthursattheback。
　　"But，mydearMissMoultrie，IonlyknowwhatI'veseen，ofcourse，butitseemstomethatwhatyouthoughtwasatragedyinyoursister'scase，turnsout，onyourownevidence，sotospeak，tohavebeenanaccident——adreadfullysadone——butabsolutelyanaccident。"
　　"Doyoubelievethattoo？"shecried。"Orareyouonlysayingittocomfortme？"
　　"Ibelieveitfromthebottomofmyheart。ComedowntoHolmescroftforanhour——forhalfanhourandsatisfyyourself。"
　　"Ofwhat？Youdon'tunderstand。Iseethehouseeveryday-everynight。Iamalwaysthereinspirit——wakingorsleeping。I
　　couldn'tfaceitinreality。"
　　"Butyoumust，"Isaid。"Ifyougothereinthespiritthegreaterneedforyoutogothereintheflesh。Gotoyoursister'sroomoncemore，andseethewindow——Inearlyfelloutofitmyself。It's——it'sawfullylowanddangerous。Thatwouldconvinceyou，"Ipleaded。
　　"YetAggiehadsleptinthatroomforyears，"sheinterrupted。
　　"You'vesleptinyourroomhereforalongtime，haven'tyou？Butyounearlyfelloutofthewindowwhenyouwerechoking。"
　　"Thatistrue。Thatisonethingtrue，"shenodded。"AndImighthavebeenkilledas——perhapsAggiewaskilled。"
　　"Inthatcaseyourownsisterandcousinandmaidwouldhavesaidyouhadcommittedsuicide，MissMoultrie。ComedowntoHolmescroft，andgoovertheplacejustonce。"
　　"Youarelying，"shesaidquitequietly。"Youdon'twantmetocomedowntoseeawindow。Itissomethingelse。IwarnyouweareEvangelicals。Wedon'tbelieveinprayersforthedead。'Asthetreefalls——'"
　　"Yes。Idaresay。Butyoupersistinthinkingthatyoursistercommittedsuicide"
　　"No!No!IhavealwaysprayedthatImighthavemisjudgedher。"
　　Arthursatthebath-chairspokeup:"Oh，MissMary!youwould'aveitfromthefirstthatpoorMissAggie'admadeawaywithherself；an'，ofcourse，MissBessietookthenotionfromyou:
　　OnlyMaster——MisterJohnstoodout，-and——andI'd'avetakenmyBibleoathyouwasmakingawaywithyourselflastnight。"
　　MissMaryleanedtowardsme，onefingeronmysleeve。
　　"IfgoingtoHolmescroftkillsme，"shesaid，"youwillhavethemurderofafellow-creatureonyourconscienceforalleternity。"
　　"I'llriskit，"Ianswered。RememberingwhattormentthemerereflectionofhertormentshadcastonHolmescroft，andremembering，aboveall，thedumbThingthatfilledthehousewithitsdesiretospeak，Ifeltthattheremightbeworsethings。
　　Baxterwasamazedattheproposedvisit，butatanodfromthatterriblewomanwentofftomakearrangements。ThenIsentatelegramtoM'LeodbiddinghimandhisvacateHolmescroftforthatafternoon。MissMaryshouldbealonewithherdead，asIhadbeenalone。
　　Iexpecteduntoldtroubleintransportingher，buttodoherjustice，thepromisegivenforthejourney，sheunderwentitwithoutmurmur，spasm，orunnecessaryword。MissBessie，pressedinacornerbythewindow，weptbehindherveil，andfromtimetotimetriedtotakeholdofhersister'shand。Baxterwrappedhimselfinhisnewlyfoundhappinessasselfishlyasabridegroom，forhesatstillandsmiled。
　　"SolongasIknowthatAggiedidn'tmakeawaywithherself，"heexplained，"ItellyoufranklyIdon'tcarewhathappened。She'sashardasarock——Mary。Alwayswas。Shewon'tdie。"
　　Weledheroutontotheplatformlikeablindwoman，andsogotherintothefly。Thehalf-hourcrawltoHolmescroftwasthemostrackingexperienceoftheday。M'Leodhadobeyedmyinstructions。
　　Therewasnoonevisibleinthehouseorthegardens；andthefrontdoorstoodopen。
　　MissMaryrosefrombesidehersister，steppedforthfirst，andenteredthehall。
　　"Come，Bessie，"shecried。
　　"Idaren't。Oh，Idaren't。"
　　"Come!"Hervoicehadaltered。IfeltBaxterstart。"There'snothingtobeafraidof。"
　　"Goodheavens!"saidBaxter。"She'srunningupthestairs。We'dbetterfollow。"
　　"Let'swaitbelow。She'sgoingtotheroom。"
　　WeheardthedoorofthebedroomIknewopenandshut，andwewaitedinthelemon-colouredhall，heavywiththescentofflowers。
　　"I'veneverbeenintoitsinceitwassold，"Baxtersighed。"Whatalovely，restfulplateitis!PoorAggieusedtoarrangetheflowers。"
　　"Restful？"Ibegan，butstoppedofasudden，forIfeltallovermybruisedsoulthatBaxterwasspeakingtruth。Itwasalight，spacious，airyhouse，fullofthesenseofwell-beingandpeace——aboveallthings，ofpeace。Iventuredintothedining-roomwherethethoughtfulM'Leod'shadleftasmallfire。
　　Therewasnoterrorthere，presentorlurking；andinthedrawing-room，whichforgoodreasonswehadnevercaredtoenter，thesunandthepeaceandthescentoftheflowersworkedtogetherasisfitinaninhabitedhouse。WhenIreturnedtothehall，Baxterwassweetlyasleeponacouch，lookingmostunlikeamiddle-agedsolicitorwhohadspentabrokennightwithanexactingcousin。
　　Therewasampletimeformetoreviewitall——tofelicitatemyselfuponmymagnificentacumenbarringsomeerrorsaboutBaxterasathiefandpossiblyamurderer，beforethedooraboveopened，andBaxter，evidentlyalightsleeper，sprangawake。
　　"I'vehadaheavenlylittlenap，"hesaid，rubbinghiseyeswiththebacksofhishandslikeachild。"GoodLord!That'snottheirstep!"
　　Butitwas。IhadneverbeforebeenprivilegedtoseetheShadowturnedbackwardonthedial——theyearsrippedbodilyoffpoorhumanshoulders——oldsunkeneyesfilledandalight——harshlipsmoistenedandhuman。
　　"John，"MissMarycalled，"Iknownow。Aggiedidn'tdoit!"and"Shedidn'tdoit!"echoedMiss"Ididnotthinkitwrongtosayaprayer，"MissMarycontinued。
　　"Notforhersoul，butforourpeace。ThenIwasconvinced。"
　　"Thenwegotconviction，"theyoungersisterpiped。
　　"We'vemisjudgedpoorAggie，John。ButIfeelsheknowsnow。
　　Whereversheis，sheknowsthatweknowsheisguiltless。"
　　"Yes，sheknows。Ifeltittoo，"saidMissElizabeth。，"Ineverdoubted，"saidJohn'Baxter，whosefacewasbeautifulatthathour。"Notfromthefirst。Neverhave!"
　　"Youneverofferedmeproof，John。Now，thankGod，itwillnotbethesameanymore。IcanthinkhenceforwardofAggiewithoutsorrow。"Shetripped，absolutelytripped，acrossthehall。"WhatideastheseJewshaveofarrangingfurniture!"ShespiedmebehindabigCloisonneevase。"I'veseenthewindow，"shesaidremotely。"Youtookagreatriskinadvisingmetoundertakesuchajourney。However，asitturnsout……Iforgiveyou，andIprayyoumayneverknowwhatmentalanguishmeans!Bessie!Lookatthispeculiarpiano!Doyousuppose，Doctor，thesepeoplewouldofferonetea？Imissmine。"
　　"Iwillgoandsee，"Isaid，andexploredM'Leod'snew-builtservants'wing。Itwasintheservants'hallthatIunearthedtheM'Leodfamily，burstingwithanxiety。
　　"Teaforthree，quick，"Isaid。"Ifyouaskmeanyquestionsnow，Ishallhaveafit!"SoMrs。M'Leodgotit，andIwasbutler，amidmurmuredapologiesfromBaxter，stillsmilingandself-absorbed，andthecolddisapprovalofMissMary，whothoughtthepatternofthechinavulgar。However，sheatewell，andevenaskedmewhetherIwouldnotlikeacupofteaformyself。
　　Theywentawayinthetwilight——thetwilightthatIhadoncefeared。TheyweregoingtoanhotelinLondontorestafterthefatiguesoftheday，andastheirflyturneddownthedrive，I
　　caperedonthedoorstep，withtheall-darkenedhousebehindme。
　　ThenIheardtheuncertainfeetoftheM'Leodsandbadethemnottoturnonthelights，buttofeel——tofeelwhatIhaddone；fortheShadowwasgone，withthedumbdesireintheair。Theydrewshort，butafterwardsdeeper，breaths，likebathersenteringchillwater，separatedonefromtheother，movedaboutthehall，tiptoedupstairs，raceddown，andthenMissM'Leod，andIbelievehermother，thoughshedeniesthis，embracedme。IknowM'Leoddid。
　　Itwasadisgracefulevening。Tosayweriotedthroughthehouseistoputitmildly。WeplayedasortofBlindMan'sBuffalongthedarkestpassages，intheunlighteddrawing-room，andlittledining-room，callingcheerilytoeachotheraftereachexplorationthathere，andhere，andhere，thetrouble-hadremoveditself。Wecameuptothebedroom——mineforthenightagain——andsat，thewomenonthebed，andwemenonchairs，drinkinginblesseddraughtsofpeaceandcomfortandcleanlinessofsoul，whileItoldthemmytaleinfull，andreceivedfreshpraise，thanks，andblessings。
　　Whentheservants，returnedfromtheirday'souting，gaveusasupperofcoldfriedfish，M'Leodhadsenseenoughtoopennowine。Wehadbeenpracticallydrunksincenightfall，andgrewincoherentonwaterandmilk。
　　"IlikethatBaxter，"saidM'Leod。"He'sasharpman。Thedeathwasn'tinthehouse，butheranitprettyclose，ain'tit？"
　　"AndthejokeofitisthathesupposesIwanttobuytheplacefromyou，"Isaid。"Areyouselling？"
　　"NotfortwicewhatIpaidforit——now，"saidM'Leod。"I'llkeepyouinfursallyourlife，butnotourHolmescroft。"
　　"No——neverourHolmescroft，"saidMissM'Leod。"We'llaskhimhereonTuesday，mamma。"Theysqueezedeachother'shands。
　　"Nowtellme，"saidMrs。M'Leod——"thattallone，Isawoutofthescullerywindow——didshetellyoushewasalwayshereinthespirit？Ihateher。Shemadeallthistrouble。Itwasnotherhouseaftershehadsoldit。Whatdoyouthink？"
　　"Isuppose，"Ianswered，"shebroodedoverwhatshebelievedwashersister'ssuicidenightandday——sheconfessedshedid——andherthoughtsbeingconcentratedonthisplace，theyfeltlikea——likeaburningglass。"
　　"Burningglassisgood，"saidM'Leod。
　　"Isaiditwaslikealightofblacknessturnedonus，"criedthegirl，twiddlingherring。"Thatmusthavebeenwhenthetallonethoughtworstabouthersisterandthehouse。"
　　"Ah，thepoorAggie!"saidMrs。M'Leod。"ThepoorAggie，tryingtotelleveryoneitwasnotso!NowonderwefeltSomethingwishedtosaySomething。Thea，Max，doyourememberthatnight"
　　"Weneednotrememberanymore，"M'Leodinterrupted。"Itisnotourtrouble。Theyhavetoldeachothernow。"
　　"Doyouthink，then，"saidMissM'Leod，"thatthosetwo，thelivingones，wereactuallytoldsomething——upstairs——inyourintheroom？"
　　"Ican'tsay。Atanyratetheyweremadehappy，andtheyateabigteaafterwards。Asyourfathersays，itisnotourtroubleanylonger——thankGod!"
　　"Amen!"saidM'Leod。"Now，Thea，letushavesomemusicafterallthesemonths。'Withmirth，thouprettybird，'ain'tit？Yououghttohearthat。"
　　Andinthehalf-lightedhall，TheasanganoldEnglishsongthatIhadneverheardbefore。
　　Withmirth，thouprettybird，rejoiceThyMaker'spraiseenhanced；
　　Liftupthyshrillandpleasantvoice，ThyGodishighadvanced!
　　ThyfoodbeforeHedidprovide，Andgivesitinafittingside，Wherewithbethousufficed!
　　Whyshouldstthounowunpleasantbe，ThywrathagainstGodventing，ThatHealittlebirdmadethee，Thysillyheadtormenting，BecauseHemadetheenotaman？
　　Oh，Peace!Hehathwellthoughtthereon，Therewithbethousufficed!
　　THERABBI'SSONG
　　IFTHOUGHTcanreachtoHeaven，OnHeavenletitdwell，ForfearthatThoughtbegivenLikepowertoreachtoHell。
　　ForfearthedesolationAnddarknessofthymind，PerplexanhabitationWhichthouhastleftbehind。
　　Letnothinglingerafter——
　　Nowhisperingghostremain，Inwall，orbeam，orrafter，Ofanyhateorpain:
　　Cleanseandcallhomethyspirit，Denyherleavetocast，Onaughtthyheirsinherit，Theshadowofherpast。
　　Forthink，inallthysadness，Whatroadourgriefsmaytake；
　　Whosebrainreflectourmadness，Orwhomourterrorsshake。
　　Forthink，lestanylanguishBycauseofthydistressThearrowsofouranguishFlyfartherthanweguess。
　　Ourlives，ourtears，aswater，Arespilledupontheground；
　　Godgivethnomanquarter，YetGodameanshathfound；
　　Thoughfaithandhopehavevanished，Andevenlovegrowsdim；
　　AmeanswherebyHisbanishedBenotexpelledfromHim!