Evenatthattime,Ihadnotyetconqueredmyaversiontothedrynessofalifeofstudy。Iwouldstillbemerrilydisposedattimes;andasmypleasureswere(tosaytheleast)undignified,andIwasnotonlywellknownandhighlyconsidered,butgrowingtowardstheelderlyman,thisincoherencyofmylifewasdailygrowingmoreunwelcome。ItwasonthissidethatmynewpowertemptedmeuntilIfellinslavery。Ihadbuttodrinkthecup,todoffatoncethebodyofthenotedprofessor,andtoassume,likeathickcloak,thatofEdwardHyde。Ismiledatthenotion;
  itseemedtomeatthetimetobehumorous;andImademypreparationswiththemoststudiouscare。ItookandfurnishedthathouseinSohotowhichHydewastrackedbythepolice;andengagedashousekeeperacreaturewhomIwellknewtobesilentandunscrupulous。Ontheotherside,IannouncedtomyservantsthataMrHyde(whomIdescribed)wastohavefulllibertyandpoweraboutmyhouseinthesquare;and,toparrymishaps,Ievencalledandmademyselfafamiliarobjectinmysecondcharacter。Inextdrewupthatwilltowhichyousomuchobjected;sothatifanythingbefellmeinthepersonofDrJekyll,IcouldenteronthatofEdwardHydewithoutpecuniaryloss。Andthusfortified,asIsupposed,oneveryside,Ibegantoprofitbythestrangeimmunitiesofmyposition。
  Menhavebeforehiredbravostotransacttheircrimes,whiletheirownpersonandreputationsatundershelter。Iwasthefirstthateverdidsoforhispleasures。Iwasthefirstthatcouldthusplodinthepubliceyewithaloadofgenialrespectability,andinamoment,likeaschoolboy,stripofftheselendingsandspringheadlongintotheseaofliberty。Butforme,inmyimpenetrablemantle,thesafetywascomplete。Thinkofit-Ididnotevenexist!Letmebutescapeintomylaboratorydoor,givemebutasecondortwotomixandswallowthedraughtthatIhadalwaysstandingready;and,whateverhehaddone,EdwardHydewouldpassawaylikeastainofbreathuponamirror;andthereinhisstead,quietlyathome,trimmingthemidnightlampinhisstudy,amanwhocouldaffordtolaughatsuspicion,wouldbeHenryJekyll。
  ThepleasureswhichImadehastetoseekinmydisguisewere,asIhavesaid,undignified;Iwouldscarceuseaharderterm。ButinthehandsofEdwardHydetheysoonbegantoturntowardsthemonstrous。WhenIwouldcomebackfromtheseexcursions,Iwasoftenplungedintoakindofwonderatmyvicariousdepravity。ThisfamiliarthatIcalledoutofmyownsoul,andsentforthalonetodohisgoodpleasure,wasabeinginherentlymalignandvillainous;hiseveryactandthoughtcentredonself;drinkingpleasurewithbestialavidityfromanydegreeoftorturetoanother;relentlesslikeamanofstone。HenryJekyllstoodattimesaghastbeforetheactsofEdwardHyde;butthesituationwasapartfromordinarylaws,andinsidiouslyrelaxedthegraspofconscience。ItwasHyde,afterall,andHydealone,thatwasguilty。Jekyllwasnoworse;hewokeagaintohisgoodqualitiesseeminglyunimpaired;hewouldevenmakehaste,whereitwaspossible,toundotheevildonebyHyde。Andthushisconscienceslumbered。
  IntothedetailsoftheinfamyatwhichIthusconnived(forevennowIcanscarcegrantthatIcommittedit)Ihavenodesignofentering。I
  meanbuttopointoutthewarningsandthesuccessivestepswithwhichmychastisementapproached。Imetwithoneaccidentwhich,asitbroughtonnoconsequence,Ishallnomorethanmention。Anactofcrueltytoachildarousedagainstmetheangerofapasserby,whomIrecognizedtheotherdayinthepersonofyourkinsman;thedoctorandthechild'sfamilyjoinedhim;thereweremomentswhenIfearedformylife;andatlast,inordertopacifytheirtoojustresentment,EdwardHydehadtobringthemtothedoor,andpaytheminachequedrawninthenameofHenryJekyll。
  ButthisdangerwaseasilyeliminatedfromthefuturebyopeninganaccountatanotherbankinthenameofEdwardHydehimself;andwhen,byslopingmyownhandbackwards,Ihadsuppliedmydoublewithasignature,IthoughtIsatbeyondthereachoffate。
  SometwomonthsbeforethemurderofSirDanvers,Ihadbeenoutforoneofmyadventures,hadreturnedatalatehour,andwokethenextdayinbedwithsomewhatoddsensations。ItwasinvainIlookedaboutme;
  invainIsawthedecentfurnitureandtallproportionsofmyroominthesquare;invainthatIrecognizedthepatternofthebedcurtainsandthedesignofthemahoganyframe;somethingstillkeptinsistingthatIwasnotwhereIwas,thatIhadnotwakenedwhereIseemedtobe,butinthelittleroominSohowhereIwasaccustomedtosleepinthebodyofEdwardHyde。Ismiledtomyself,and,inmypsychologicalway,beganlazilytoinquireintotheelementsofthisillusion,occasionally,evenasIdidso,droppingbackintoacomfortablemorningdoze。Iwasstillsoengagedwhen,inoneofmymorewakefulmoments,myeyefelluponmyhand。Now,thehandofHenryJekyll(asyouhaveoftenremarked)wasprofessionalinshapeandsize;itwaslarge,firm,whiteandcomely。ButthehandwhichInowsaw,clearlyenoughintheyellowlightofamid-Londonmorning,lyinghalfshutonthebed-clothes,waslean,corded,knuckly,ofaduskypallor,andthicklyshadedwithaswartgrowthofhair。ItwasthehandofEdwardHyde。
  Imusthavestareduponitfornearhalfaminute,sunkasIwasinthemerestupidityofwonder,beforetenorwokeupinmybreastassuddenandstartlingasthecrashofcymbals;andboundingfrommybed,Irushedtothemirror。Atthesightthatmetmyeyes,mybloodwaschangedintosomethingexquisitelythinandicy。Yes,IhadgonetobedHenryJekyll,IhadawakenedEdwardHyde。Howwasthistobeexplained?Iaskedmyself;
  andthen,withanotherboundofterror-howwasittoberemedied?Itwaswelloninthemorning;theservantswereup;allmydrugswereinthecabinet-alongjourney,downtwopairsofstairs,throughthebackpassage,acrosstheopencourtandthroughtheanatomicaltheatre,fromwhereIwasthenstandinghorror-struck。Itmightindeedbepossibletocovermyface;butofwhatusewasthat,whenIwasunabletoconcealthealterationinmystature?Andthen,withanoverpoweringsweetnessofrelief,itcamebackuponmymindthattheservantswerealreadyusedtothecomingandgoingofmysecondself。Ihadsoondressed,aswellasIwasable,inclothesofmyownsize;hadsoonpassedthroughthehouse,whereBradshawstaredanddrewbackatseeingMrHydeatsuchanhourandinsuchastrangearray;andtenminuteslater,DrJekyllhadreturnedtohisownshapeandwassittingdown,withadarkenedbrow,tomakeafeintofbreakfasting。
  Smallindeedwasmyappetite。Thisinexplicableincident,thisreversalofmypreviousexperience,seemed,liketheBabylonianfingeronthewall,tobespellingoutthelettersofmyjudgment;andIbegantoreflectmoreseriouslythaneverbeforeontheissuesandpossibilitiesofmydoubleexistence。ThatpartofmewhichIhadthepowerofprojectinghadlatelybeenmuchexercisedandnourished;ithadseemedtomeoflateasthoughthebodyofEdwardHydehadgrowninstature,asthough(whenIworethatform)Iwereconsciousofamoregeneroustideofblood;andIbegantospyadangerthat,ifthisweremuchprolonged,thebalanceofmynaturemightbepermanentlyoverthrown,thepowerofvoluntarychangebeforfeited,andthecharacterofEdwardHydebecomeirrevocablymine。Thepowerofthedrughadnotbeenalwaysequallydisplayed。Once,veryearlyinmycareer,ithadtotallyfailedme;sincethenIhadbeenobligedonmorethanoneoccasiontodouble,andonce,withinfiniteriskofdeath,totrebletheamount;andtheserareuncertaintieshadcasthithertothesoleshadowonmycontentment。Now,however,andinthelightofthatmorning'saccident,Iwasledtoremarkthatwhereas,inthebeginning,thedifficultyhadbeentothrowoffthebodyofJekyll,ithadoflategraduallybutdecidedlytransferreditselftotheotherside。Allthingsthereforeseemedtopointtothis:thatIwasslowlylosingholdofmyoriginalandbetterself,andbecomingslowlyincorporatedwithmysecondandworse。
  BetweenthesetwoInowfeltIhadtochoose。Mytwonatureshadmemoryincommon,butallotherfacultiesweremostunequallysharedbetweenthem。
  Jekyll(whowasacomposite)nowwiththemostsensitiveapprehensions,nowwithagreedygusto,projectedandsharedinthepleasuresandadventuresofHyde;butHydewasindifferenttoJekyll,orbutrememberedhimasthemountainbanditremembersthecaverninwhichheconcealshimselffrompursuit。Jekyllhadmorethanafather'sinterest;Hydehadmorethanason'sindifference。TocastinmylotwithJekyllwastodietothoseappetiteswhichIhadlongsecretlyindulgedandhadoflatebeguntopamper。TocastitinwithHydewastodietoathousandinterestsandaspirations,andtobecome,atablowandforever,despisedandfriendless。Thebargainmightappearunequal;buttherewasstillanotherconsiderationinthescales;forwhileJekyllwouldsuffersmartinglyinthefiresofabstinence,Hydewouldbenotevenconsciousofallthathehadlost。Strangeasmycircumstanceswere,thetermsofthisdebateareasoldandcommonplaceasman;muchthesameinducementsandalarmscastthedieforanytemptedandtremblingsinner;anditfelloutwithme,asitfallswithsovastamajorityofmyfellows,thatIchosethebetterpartandwasfoundwantinginthestrengthtokeeptoit。
  Yes,Ipreferredtheelderlyanddiscontenteddoctor,surroundedbyfriendsandcherishinghonesthopes;andbadearesolutefarewelltotheliberty,thecomparativeyouth,thelightstep,leapingpulsesandsecretpleasures,thatIhadenjoyedinthedisguiseofHyde。Imadethischoiceperhapswithsomeunconsciousreservation,forIneithergaveupthehouseinSoho,nordestroyedtheclothesofEdwardHyde,whichstilllayreadyinmycabinet。Fortwomonths,however,Iwastruetomydetermination;
  fortwomonthsIledalifeofsuchseverityasIhadneverbeforeattainedto,andenjoyedthecompensationsofanapprovingconscience。Buttimebeganatlasttoobliteratethefreshnessofmyalarm;thepraisesofconsciencebegantogrowintoathingofcourse;Ibegantobetorturedwiththroesandlongings,asofHydestrugglingafterfreedom;andatlast,inanhourofmoralweakness,Ionceagaincompoundedandswallowedthetransformingdraught。
  Idonotsupposethatwhenadrunkardreasonswithhimselfuponhisvice,heisonceoutoffivehundredtimesaffectedbythedangersthatherunsthroughhisbrutishphysicalinsensibility;neitherhadI,longasIhadconsideredmyposition,madeenoughallowanceforthecompletemoralinsensibilityandinsensatereadinesstoevilwhichweretheleadingcharactersofEdwardHyde。YetitwasbythesethatIwaspunished。Mydevilhadbeenlongcaged,hecameoutroaring。Iwasconscious,evenwhenItookthedraught,ofamoreunbridled,amorefuriouspropensitytoill。
  Itmusthavebeenthis,Isuppose,thatstirredinmysoulthattempestofimpatiencewithwhichIlistenedtothecivilitiesofmyunhappyvictim;
  Ideclareatleast,beforeGod,nomanmorallysanecouldhavebeenguiltyofthatcrimeuponsopitifulaprovocation;andthatIstruckinnomorereasonablespiritthanthatinwhichasickchildmaybreakaplay-thing。
  ButIhadvoluntarilystrippedmyselfofallthosebalancinginstinctsbywhicheventheworstofuscontinuestowalkwithsomedegreeofsteadinessamongtemptations;andinmycase,tobetempted,howeverslightly,wastofall。
  Instantlythespiritofhellawokeinmeandraged。Withatransportofglee,Imauledtheunresistingbody,tastingdelightfromeveryblow;
  anditwasnottillwearinesshadbeguntosucceedthatIwassuddenly,inthetopfitofmydelirium,struckthroughtheheartbyacoldthrilloftenor。Amistdispersed;Isawmylifetobeforfeit;andfledfromthesceneoftheseexcesses,atoncegloryingandtrembling,mylustofevilgratifiedandstimulated,myloveoflifescrewedtothetopmostpeg。
  IrantothehouseinSoho,and(tomakeassurancedoublysure)destroyedmypapers;thenceIsetoutthroughthelamplitstreets,inthesamedividedecstasyofmind,gloatingonmycrime,light-headedlydevisingothersinthefuture,andyetstillhasteningandstillharkeninginmywakeforthestepsoftheavenger。Hydehadasonguponhislipsashecompoundedthedraught,andashedrankitpledgedthedeadman。Thepangsandtransformationhadnotdonetearinghim,beforeHenryJekyll,withstreamingtearsofgratitudeandremorse,hadfallenuponhiskneesandliftedhisclaspedhandstoGod。Theveilofself-indulgencewasrentfromheadtofoot,I
  sawmylifeasawhole:Ifolloweditupfromthedaysofchildhood,whenIhadwalkedwithmyfather'shand,andthroughtheself-denyingtoilsofmyprofessionallife,toarriveagainandagain,withthesamesenseofunreality,atthedamnedhorrorsoftheevening。Icouldhavescreamedaloud;Isoughtwithtearsandprayerstosmotherdownthecrowdofhideousimagesandsoundswithwhichmymemoryswarmedagainstme;andstill,betweenthepetitions,theuglyfaceofmyiniquitystaredintomysoul。Astheacutenessofthisremorsebegantodieaway,itwassucceededbyasenseofjoy。Theproblemofmyconductwassolved。Hydewashenceforthimpossible;
  whetherIwouldornot,Iwasnowconfinedtothebetterpartofmyexistence;
  and,oh,howIrejoicedtothinkit!withwhatwillinghumilityIembracedanewtherestrictionsofnaturallife!withwhatsincererenunciationI
  lockedthedoorbywhichIhadsooftengoneandcome,andgroundthekeyundermyheel!
  Thenextdaycamethenewsthatthemurderhadbeenoverlooked,thattheguiltofHydewaspatenttotheworld,andthatthevictimwasamanhighinpublicestimation。Itwasnotonlyacrime,ithadbeenatragicfolly。IthinkIwasgladtoknowit;IthinkIwasgladtohavemybetterimpulsesthusbuttressedandguardedbytheterrorsofthescaffold。Jekyllwasnowmycityofrefuge;butletHydepeepoutaninstant,andthehandsofallmenwouldberaisedtotakeandslayhim。
  Iresolvedinmyfutureconducttoredeemthepast;andIcansaywithhonestythatmyresolvewasfruitfulofsomegood。YouknowyourselfhowearnestlyinthelastmonthsoflastyearIlabouredtorelievesuffering;
  youknowthatmuchwasdoneforothers,andthatthedayspassedquietly,almosthappilyformyself。NorcanItrulysaythatIweariedofthisbeneficentandinnocentlife;IthinkinsteadthatIdailyenjoyeditmorecompletely;
  butIwasstillcursedwithmydualityofpurpose;andasthefirstedgeofmypenitenceworeoff,thelowersideofme,solongindulged,sorecentlychaineddown,begantogrowlforlicence。NotthatIdreamedofresuscitatingHyde;thebareideaofthatwouldstartlemetofrenzyno,itwasinmyownpersonthatIwasoncemoretemptedtotriflewithmyconscience;anditwasasanordinarysecretsinnerthatIatlastfellbeforetheassaultsoftemptation。
  Therecomesanendtoallthings;themostcapaciousmeasureisfilledatlast;andthisbriefcondescensiontomyevilfinallydestroyedthebalanceofmysoul。AndyetIwasnotalarmed;thefallseemednatural,likeareturntotheolddaysbeforeIhadmademydiscovery。Itwasafine,clearJanuaryday,wetunderfootwherethefrosthadmelted,butcloudlessoverhead;andtheRegentsParkwasfullofwinterchirrupingsandsweetwithSpringodours。Isatinthesunonabench;theanimalwithinmelickingthechopsofmemory;thespiritualsidealittledrowsed,promisingsubsequentpenitence,butnotyetmovedtobegin。Afterall,Ireflected,Iwaslikemyneighbours;andthenIsmiled,comparingmyselfwithothermen,comparingmyactivegoodwillwiththelazycrueltyoftheirneglect。
  Andattheverymomentofthatvaingloriousthought,aqualmcameoverme,ahorridnauseaandthemostdeadlyshuddering。Thesepassedaway,andleftmefaint;andthenasinitsturnthefaintnesssubsided,Ibegantobeawareofachangeinthetemperofmythoughts,agreaterboldness,acontemptofdanger,asolutionofthebondsofobligation。Ilookeddown;
  myclotheshungformlesslyonmyshrunkenlimbs;thehandthatlayonmykneewascordedandhairy。IwasoncemoreEdwardHyde。AmomentbeforeIhadbeensafeofallmen'srespect,wealthy,beloved-theclothlayingformeinthedining-roomathome;andnowIwasthecommonquarryofmankind,hunted,houseless,aknownmurderer,thralltothegallows。
  Myreasonwavered,butitdidnotfailmeutterly。Ihavemorethanonceobservedthat,inmysecondcharacter,myfacultiesseemedsharpenedtoapointandmyspiritsmoretenselyelastic;thusitcameaboutthat,whereJekyllperhapsmighthavesuccumbed,Hyderosetotheimportanceofthemoment。Mydrugswereinoneofthepressesofmycabinet:howwasItoreachthem?Thatwastheproblemthat(crushingmytemplesinmyhands)
  Isetmyselftosolve。ThelaboratorydoorIhadclosed。IfIsoughttoenterbythehouse,myownservantswouldconsignmetothegallows。I
  sawImustemployanotherhand,andthoughtofCanyon。Howwashetobereached?howpersuaded?SupposingthatIescapedcaptureinthestreets,howwasItomakemywayintohispresence?andhowshouldI,anunknownanddispleasingvisitor,prevailonthefamousphysiciantoriflethestudyofhiscolleague,DrJekyll?ThenIrememberedthatofmyoriginalcharacter,onepartremainedtome:Icouldwritemyownhand;andonceIhadconceivedthatkindlingspark,thewaythatImustfollowbecamelightedupfromendtoend。
  Thereupon,IarrangedmyclothesasbestIcould,andsummoningapassinghansom,drovetoanhotelinPortlandStreet,thenameofwhichIchancedtoremember。Atmyappearance(whichwasindeedcomicalenough,howevertragicafactthesegarmentscovered,-thedrivercouldnotconcealhismirth。Ignashedmyteethuponhimwithagustofdevilishfury;andthesmilewitheredfromhisface-happilyforhimyetmorehappilyformyself,forinanotherinstantIhadcertainlydraggedhimfromhisperch。Attheinn,asIentered,Ilookedaboutmewithsoblackacountenanceasmadetheattendantstremble;notalookdidtheyexchangeinmypresence;butobsequiouslytookmyorders,ledmetoaprivateroom,andbroughtmewherewithaltowrite。Hydeindangerofhislifewasacreaturenewtome:shakenwithinordinateanger,strungtothepitchofmurder,lustingtoinflictpain。
  Yetthecreaturewasastute;masteredhisfurywithagreateffortofthewill;composedhistwoimportantletters,onetoCanyonandonetoPoole,and,thathemightreceiveactualevidenceoftheirbeingposted,sentthemoutwithdirectionsthattheyshouldberegistered。
  Thenceforward,hesatalldayoverthefireintheprivateroom,gnawinghisnails;therehedined,sittingalonewithhisfears,thewaitervisiblyquailingbeforehiseye;andthence,whenthenightwasfullycome,hesetforthinthecornerofaclosedcab,andwasdriventoandfroaboutthestreetsofthecity。He,IsayIcannotsay,I。ThatchildofHellhadnothinghuman;nothinglivedinhimbutfearandhatred。Andwhenatlast,thinkingthedriverhadbeguntogrowsuspicious,hedischargedthecabandventuredonfoot,attiredinhismisfittingclothes,anobjectmarkedoutforobservation,intothemidstofthenocturnalpassengers,thesetwobasepassionsragedwithinhimlikeatempest。Hewalkedfast,huntedbyhisfears,chatteringtohimself,skulkingthroughthelessfrequentedthoroughfares,countingtheminutesthatstilldividedhimfrommidnight。
  Onceawomanspoketohim,offering,Ithink,aboxoflights。Hesmoteherintheface,andshefled。
  WhenIcametomyselfatCanyon's,thehorrorofmyoldfriendperhapsaffectedmesomewhat:Idonotknow;itwasatleastbutadropintheseatotheabhorrencewithwhichIlookedbackuponthesehours。Achangehadcomeoverme。Itwasnolongerthefearofthegallows,itwasthehorrorofbeingHydethatrackedme。IreceivedCanyon'scondemnationpartlyinadream;itwaspartlyinadreamthatIcamehometomyownhouseandgotintobed。Isleptaftertheprostrationoftheday,withastringentandprofoundslumberwhichnoteventhenightmaresthatwrungmecouldavailtobreak。Iawokeinthemorningshaken,weakened,butrefreshed。
  Istillhatedandfearedthethoughtofthebrutethatsleptwithinme,andIhadnotofcourseforgottentheappallingdangersofthedaybefore;
  butIwasoncemoreathome,inmyownhouseandclosetomydrugs;andgratitudeformyescapeshonesostronginmysoulthatitalmostrivalledthebrightnessofhope。
  Iwassteppingleisurelyacrossthecourtafterbreakfast,drinkingthechilloftheairwithpleasure,whenIwasseizedagainwiththoseindescribablesensationsthatheraldedthechange;andIhadbutthetimetogaintheshelterofmycabinet,beforeIwasonceagainragingandfreezingwiththepassionsofHyde。Ittookonthisoccasionadoubledosetorecallmetomyself;andalas,sixhoursafter,asIsatlookingsadlyinthefire,thepangsreturned,andthedrughadtobere-administered。Inshort,fromthatdayforthitseemedonlybyagreateffortasofgymnastics,andonlyundertheimmediatestimulationofthedrug,thatIwasabletowearthecountenanceofJekyll。AtallhoursofthedayandnightIwouldbetakenwiththepremonitoryshudder;aboveall,ifIslept,orevendozedforamomentinmychair,itwasalwaysaHydethatIawakened。UnderthestrainofthiscontinuallyimpendingdoomandbythesleeplessnesstowhichInowcondemnedmyself,ay,evenbeyondwhatIhadthoughtpossibletoman,Ibecame,inmyownperson,'creatureeatenupandemptiedbyfever,languidlywealbothinbodyandmind,andsolelyoccupiedbyonethought:
  thehorrorofmyotherself。ButwhenIslept,orwhenthevirtueofthemedicineworeoff,Iwouldleadalmostwithouttransition(forthepangsoftransformationgrewdailylessmarked)intothepossessionofafancybrimmingwithimagesofterror,asoulboilingwithcauselesshatreds,andabodythatseemednotstrongenoughtocontaintheragingenergiesoflife。Thepower:ofHydeseemedtohavegrownwiththesicklinessofJekyll。Andcertainlythehatethatnowdividedthemwasequaloneachside。WithJekyll,itwasathingofvitalinstinct。Hehadnowseenthefulldeformityofthatcreaturethatsharedwithhimsomeofthephenomenaofconsciousness,andwasco-heirwithhimtodeath:andbeyondtheselinksofcommunity,whichinthemselves:madethemostpoignantpartofhisdistress,hethoughofHyde,forallhisenergyoflife,asofsomethingnotonlyhellishbutinorganic。Thiswastheshockingthing;thattheslimeofthepitseemedtouttercriesandvoices;thattheamorphousdustgesticulatedandsinned;thatwhatwasdead,andhadnoshape,shouldusurptheofficesoflife。Andthisagain,thatthatinsurgenthorrorwasknittohimcloserthanawife,closerthananeye;laycagedinhiflesh,wherehehearditmutterandfeltitstruggletobeborn;andateveryhourofweakness,andintheconfidencesofslumber,prevailedagainsthim,anddeposedhimoutoflife。ThehatredofHydeforJekyllwasofdifferentorder。Histerrorofthegallowsdrovehimcontinuallytocommittemporarysuicide,andreturntohissubordinatestationofapartinsteadofaperson;butheloathedthenecessity,heloathedthedespondencyintowhichJekyllwasnowfallen,andheresentedthedislikewithwhichhewashimselfregarded。
  Hencetheape-liketricksthathewouldplayme,scrawlinginmyownhandblasphemiesonthepagesofmybooks,burningthelettersanddestroyingtheportraitofmyfather;andindeed,haditnotbeenforhisfearofdeath,hewouldlongagohaveruinedhimselfinordertoinvolvemeintheruin。Buthisloveoflifeiswonderful;Igofurther:I,whosickenandfreezeatthemerethoughtofhim,whenIrecalltheabjectionandpassionofthisattachment,andwhenIknowhowhefearsmypowertocuthimoffbysuicide,Ifinditinmyhearttopityhim。
  Itisuseless,andthetimeawfullyfailsme,toprolongthisdescription:
  noonehaseversufferedsuchtorments,letthatsuffice;andyeteventothese,habitbrought-no,notalleviation-butacertaincallousnessofsoul,acertainacquiescenceofdespair;andmypunishmentmighthavegoneonforyears,butforthelastcalamitywhichhasnowfallen,andwhichhasfinallyseveredmefrommyownfaceandnature。Myprovisionofthesalt,whichhadneverbeenrenewedsincethedateofthefirstexperiment,begantorunlow。Isentoutforafreshsupply,andmixedthedraught;
  theebullitionfollowed,andthefirstchangeofcolour,notthesecond;
  Idrankit,anditwaswithoutefficiency。YouwilllearnfromPoolehowIhavehadLondonransacked;itwasinvain;andIamnowpersuadedthatmyfirstsupplywasimpure,andthatitwasthatunknownimpuritywhichlentefficacytothedraught。
  Aboutaweekhaspassed,andIamnowfinishingthisstatementundertheinfluenceofthelastoftheoldpowders。This,then,isthelasttime,shortofamiracle,thatHenryJekyllcanthinkhisownthoughtsorseehisownface(nowhowsadlyaltered!)intheglass。NormustIdelaytoolongtobringmywritingtoanend;forifmynarrativehashithertoescapeddestruction,ithasbeenbyacombinationofgreatprudenceandgreatgoodluck。Shouldthethroesofchangetakemeintheactofwritingit,Hydewilltearitinpieces;butifsometimeshallhaveelapsedafterIhavelaiditby,hiswonderfulselfishnessandcircumscriptiontothemomentwillprobablysaveitonceagainfromtheactionofhisape-likespite。
  Andindeedthedoomthatisclosingonusbothhasalreadychangedandcrushedhim。Halfanhourfromnow,whenIshallagainandforeverreinduethathatedpersonality,IknowhowIshallsitshudderingandweepinginmychair,orcontinue,withthemoststrainedandfearstruckecstasyoflistening,topaceupanddownthisroom(mylastearthlyrefuge)andgiveeartoeverysoundofmenace。WillHydedieuponthescaffold?orwillhefindthecouragetoreleasehimselfatthelastmoment?Godknows;I
  amcareless;thisismytruehourofdeath,andwhatistofollowconcernsanotherthanmyself。Here,then,asIlaydownthepen,andproceedtosealupmyconfession,IbringthelifeofthatunhappyHenryJekylltoanend。