“”Whatmayyoubewantin”？”sheaskedinaNorthernaccent。
“”Iamyourneighbouroveryonder”saidI，noddingtowards。my
house。”Iseethatyouhaveonlyjustmovedin，soIthoughtthatifI
couldbeofanyhelptoyouinany-”
“”Ay，we”lljustaskyewhenwewantye”saidshe，andshutthe
doorinmyface。Annoyedatthechurlishrebuff，Iturnedmyback
andwalkedhome。Allevening，thoughItriedtothinkofother
thinesmymindwouldstillturntotheapparitionatthewindowand
therudenessofthewoman。Ideterminedtosaynothingaboutthe
formertomywife，forsheisanervous，highlystrungwoman，andI
hadnowishthatsheshouldsharetheunpleasantimpressionwhich
hadbeenproduceduponmyself。Iremarkedtoher，however，beforeI
fellasleep，thatthecottagewasnowoccupied，towhichshe
returnednoreply。
“Iamusuallyanextremelysoundsleeper。Ithasbeenastanding
jestinthefamilythatnothingcouldeverwakemeduringthenight。
Andyetsomehowonthatparticularnight，whetheritmayhavebeenthe
slightexcitementproducedbymylittleadventureornotIknownot，
butIsleptmuchmorelightlythanusual。HalfinmydreamsIwas
dimlyconsciousthatsomethingwasgoingonintheroom，andgradually
becameawarethatmywifehaddressedherselfandwasslippingon
hermantleandherbonnet。Mylipswerepartedtomurmuroutsome
sleepywordsofsurpriseorremonstranceatthisuntimelypreparation，
whensuddenlymyhalf-openedeyesfelluponherface，illuminatedby
thecandle-light，andastonishmentheldmedumb。Sheworean
expressionsuchasIhadneverseenbefore-suchasIshouldhave
thoughtherincapableofassuming。Shewasdeadlypaleandbreathing
fast，glancingfurtivelytowardsthebedasshefastenedhermantleto
seeifshehaddisturbedme。Then，thinkingthatIwasstillasleep，
sheslippednoiselesslyfromtheroom，andaninstantlaterIheard
asharpcreakingwhichcouldonlycomefromthehingesofthefront
door。Isatupinbedandrappedmyknucklesagainsttherailto
makecertainthatIwastrulyawake。ThenItookmywatchfromunder
thepillow。Itwasthreeinthemorning。Whatonthisearthcouldmy
wifebedoingoutonthecountryroadatthreeinthemorning？
“Ihadsatforabouttwentyminutesturningthethingoverinmy
mindandtryingtofindsomepossibleexplanation。ThemoreIthought，
themoreextraordinaryandinexplicablediditappear。Iwasstill
puzzlingoveritwhenIheardthedoorgentlycloseagain，andher
footstepscomingupthestairs。
“”Whereintheworldhaveyoubeen，Effie？”Iaskedassheentered。
“ShegaveaviolentstartandakindofgaspingcrywhenIspoke，
andthatcryandstarttroubledmemorethanalltherest，forthere
wassomethingindescribablyguiltyaboutthem。Mywifehadalwaysbeen
awomanofafrank，opennature，anditgavemeachilltoseeher
slinkingintoherownroomandcryingoutandwincingwhenherown
husbandspoketoher。
“”Youawake，Jack！”shecriedwithanervouslaugh。”Why，I
thoughtthatnothingcouldawakeyou。”
“”Wherehaveyoubeen？”Iasked，moresternly。
“”Idon”twonderthatyouaresurprised”saidshe，andIcould
seethatherfingersweretremblingassheundidthefasteningsofher
mantle。”Why，Ineverrememberhavingdonesuchathinginmylife
before。ThefactisthatIfeltasthoughIwerechokingandhada
perfectlongingforabreathoffreshair。IreallythinkthatI
shouldhavefaintedifIhadnotgoneout。Istoodatthedoorfora
fewminutes，andnowIamquitemyselfagain。”
“Allthetimethatshewastellingmethisstorysheneveronce
lookedinmydirection，andhervoicewasquiteunlikeherusual
tones。Itwasevidenttomethatshewassayingwhatwasfalse。Isaid
nothinginreply，butturnedmyfacetothewall，sickatheart，
withmymindfilledwithathousandvenomousdoubtsandsuspicions。
Whatwasitthatmywifewasconcealingfromme？Wherehadshebeen
duringthatstrangeexpedition？IfeltthatIshouldhavenopeace
untilIknew，andyetIshrankfromaskingheragainafteronceshe
hadtoldmewhatwasfalse。AlltherestofthenightItossedand
tumbled，framingtheoryaftertheory，eachmoreunlikelythanthe
last。
“IshouldhavegonetotheCitythatday，butIwastoodisturbedin
mymindtobeabletopayattentiontobusinessmatters。Mywife
seemedtobeasupsetasmyself，andIcouldseefromthelittle
questioningglanceswhichshekeptshootingatmethatshe
understoodthatIdisbelievedherstatement，andthatshewasather
wit”sendwhattodo。Wehardlyexchangedawordduringbreakfast，and
immediatelyafterwardsIwentoutforawalkthatImightthinkthe
matteroutinthefreshmorningair。
“IwentasfarastheCrystalPalace，spentanhourinthe
grounds，andwasbackinNorburybyoneo”clock。Ithappenedthatmy
waytookmepastthecottage，andIstoppedforaninstanttolook
atthewindowsandtoseeifIcouldcatchaglimpseofthestrange
facewhichhadlookedoutatmeonthedaybefore。AsIstoodthere，
imaginemysurprise，Mr。Holmes，whenthedoorsuddenlyopenedand
mywifewalkedout。
“Iwasstruckdumbwithastonishmentatthesightofher，butmy
emotionswerenothingtothosewhichshowedthemselvesuponherface
whenoureyesmet。Sheseemedforaninstanttowishtoshrinkback
insidethehouseagain；andthen，seeinghowuselessallconcealment
mustbe，shecameforward，withaverywhitefaceandfrightened
eyeswhichbeliedthesmileuponherlips。
“”Ah，Jack”shesaid，”IhavejustbeenintoseeifIcanbeof
anyassistancetoournewneighbours。Whydoyoulookatmelikethat，
Jack？Youarenotangrywithme？”
“”So”saidI，”thisiswhereyouwentduringthenight。”
“Whatdoyoumean？”shecried。
“”Youcamehere。Iamsureofit。Whoarethesepeoplethatyou
shouldvisitthematsuchanhour？”
“”Ihavenotbeenherebefore。”
“”Howcanyoutellmewhatyouknowisfalse？”Icried。”Yourvery
voicechangesasyouspeak。WhenhaveIeverhadasecretfromyou？
Ishallenterthatcottage，andIshallprobethemattertothe
bottom。”
“”No，no，Jack，forGod”ssake！”shegaspedinuncontrollable
emotion。Then，asIapproachedthedoor，sheseizedmysleeveand
pulledmebackwithconvulsivestrength。
“”Iimploreyounottodothis，Jack”shecried。”IswearthatI
willtellyoueverythingsomeday，butnothingbutmiserycancome
ofitifyouenterthatcottage。”Then，asItriedtoshakeheroff，
sheclungtomeinafrenzyofentreaty。
“”Trustme，Jack！”shecried。”Trustmeonlythisonce。Youwill
neverhavecausetoregretit。YouknowthatIwouldnothaveasecret
fromyouifitwerenotforyourownsake。Ourwholelivesareat
stakeinthis。Ifyoucomehomewithmeallwillbewell。Ifyouforce
yourwayintothatcottageallisoverbetweenus。”
“Therewassuchearnestness，suchdespair，inhermannerthather
wordsarrestedme，andIstoodirresolutebeforethedoor。
“”Iwilltrustyouononecondition，andononeconditiononly”
saidIatlast。”Itisthatthismysterycomestoanendfromnow。You
areatlibertytopreserveyoursecret，butyoumustpromisemethat
thereshallbenomorenightlyvisits，nomoredoingswhicharekept
frommyknowledge。Iamwillingtoforgetthosewhicharepastif
youwillpromisethatthereshallbenomoreinthefuture。”
“”Iwassurethatyouwouldtrustme”shecriedwithagreatsigh
ofrelief。”Itshallbejustasyouwish。Comeaway-oh，comeawayup
tothehouse。”
“Stillpullingatmysleeve，sheledmeawayfromthecottage。Aswe
wentIglancedback，andtherewasthatyellowlividfacewatching
usoutoftheupperwindow。Whatlinkcouldtherebebetweenthat
creatureandmywife？Orhowcouldthecoarse，roughwomanwhomI
hadseenthedaybeforebeconnectedwithher？Itwasastrange
puzzle，andyetIknewthatmymindcouldneverknoweaseagain
untilIhadsolvedit。
“FortwodaysafterthisIstayedathome，andmywifeappearedto
abideloyallybyourengagement，for，asfarasIknow，shenever
stirredoutofthehouse。onthethirdday，however，Ihadample
evidencethathersolemnpromisewasnotenoughtoholdherback
fromthissecretinfluencewhichdrewherawayfromherhusbandand
herduty。
“Ihadgoneintotownonthatday，butIreturnedbythe2：40
insteadofthe3：36，whichismyusualtrain。AsIenteredthehouse
themaidranintothehallwithastartledface。
“”Whereisyourmistress？”Iasked。
“”Ithinkthatshehasgoneoutforawalk”sheanswered。
“Mymindwasinstantlyfilledwithsuspicion。Irushedupstairsto
makesurethatshewasnotinthehouse。AsIdidsoIhappenedto
glanceoutofoneoftheupperwindowsandsawthemaidwithwhomI
hadjustbeenspeakingrunningacrossthefieldinthedirectionof
thecottage。ThenofcourseIsawexactlywhatitallmeant。Mywife
hadgoneoverthereandhadaskedtheservanttocallherifI
shouldreturn。Tinglingwithanger，Irusheddownandhurried
across，determinedtoendthematteronceandforever。Isawmywife
andthemaidhurryingbackalongthelane，butIdidnotstoptospeak
withthem。Inthecottagelaythesecretwhichwascastingashadow
overmylife。Ivowedthat，comewhatmight，itshouldbeasecret
nolonger。IdidnotevenknockwhenIreachedit，butturnedthe
handleandrushedintothepassage。
“Itwasallstillandquietuponthegroundfloor。Inthekitchen
akettlewassingingonthefire，andalargeblackcatlaycoiled
upinthebasket；buttherewasnosignofthewomanwhomIhadseen
before。Iranintotheotherroom，butitwasequallydeserted。ThenI
rushedupthestairsonlytofindtwootherroomsemptyanddeserted
atthetop。Therewasnooneatallinthewholehouse。The
furnitureandpictureswereofthemostcommonandvulgardescription，
saveintheonechamberatthewindowofwhichIhadseenthe
strangeface。Thatwascomfortableandelegant，andallmy
suspicionsroseintoafierce，bitterflamewhenIsawthatonthe
mantelpiecestoodacopyofafull-lengthphotographofmywife，which
hadbeentakenatmyrequestonlythreemonthsago。
“Istayedlongenoughtomakecertainthatthehousewas
absolutelyempty。ThenIleftit，feelingaweightatmyheartsuchas
Ihadneverhadbefore。MywifecameoutintothehallasIenteredmy
house；butIwastoohurtandangrytospeakwithher，and，pushing
pasther，Imademywayintomystudy。Shefollowedme，however，
beforeIcouldclosethedoor。
“”IamsorrythatIbrokemypromise，Jack”saidshe，”butifyou
knewallthecircumstancesIamsurethatyouwouldforgiveme。”
“”Tellmeeverything，then”saidI。
“”Icannot，Jack，Icannot”shecried。
“”Untilyoutellmewhoitisthathasbeenlivinginthat
cottage，andwhoitistowhomyouhavegiventhatphotograph，there
canneverbeanyconfidencebetweenus”saidI，andbreakingaway
fromherIleftthehouse。Thatwasyesterday，Mr。Holmes，andI
havenotseenhersince，nordoIknowanythingmoreaboutthis
strangebusiness。Itisthefirstshadowthathascomebetweenus，and
ithassoshakenmethatIdonotknowwhatIshoulddoforthe
best。Suddenlythismorningitoccurredtomethatyouwerethemanto
adviseme，soIhavehurriedtoyounow，andIplacemyself
unreservedlyinyourhands。IfthereisanypointwhichIhavenot
madeclear，prayquestionmeaboutit。But，aboveall，tellmequickly
whatIamtodo，forthismiseryismorethanIcanbear。”
HolmesandIhadlistenedwiththeutmostinteresttothis
extraordinarystatement，whichhadbeendeliveredinthejerky，broken
fashionofamanwhoisundertheinfluenceofextremeemotion。My
companionsatsilentnowforsometime，withhischinuponhishand，
lostinthought。
“Tellme，“saidheatlast，“couldyouswearthatthiswasaman”s
facewhichyousawatthewindow？“
“EachtimethatIsawitIwassomedistanceawayfromit，sothat
itisimpossibleformetosay。”
“Youappear，however，tohavebeendisagreeablyimpressedbyit。”
“Itseemedtobeofanunusualcolourandtohaveastrangerigidity
aboutthefeatures。WhenIapproacheditvanishedwithajerk。”
“Howlongisitsinceyourwifeaskedyouforahundredpounds？“
“Nearlytwomonths。”
“Haveyoueverseenaphotographofherfirsthusband？“
“No，therewasagreatfireatAtlantaveryshortlyafterhisdeath，
andallherpapersweredestroyed。”
“Andyetshehadacertificateofdeath。Yousaythatyousawit。”
“Yes，shegotaduplicateafterthefire。”
“DidyouevermeetanyonewhoknewherinAmerica？“
“No。”
“Didsheevertalkofrevisitingtheplace？“
“No。”
“Orgetlettersfromit？“
“No。”
“Thankyou。Ishouldliketothinkoverthematteralittlenow。
Ifthecottageisnowpermanentlydesertedwemayhavesome
difficulty。If，ontheotherhand，asIfancyismorelikely，the
inmateswerewarnedofyourcomingandleftbeforeyouentered
yesterday，thentheymaybebacknow，andweshouldclearitallup
easily。Letmeadviseyou，then，toreturntoNorburyandtoexamine
thewindowsofthecottageagain。Ifyouhavereasontobelievethat
itisinhabited，donotforceyourwayin，butsendawiretomy
friendandme。Weshallbewithyouwithinanhourofreceivingit，
andweshallthenverysoongettothebottomofthebusiness。”
“Andifitisstillempty？“
“InthatcaseIshallcomeoutto-morrowandtalkitoverwith
you。Good-bye，and，aboveall，donotfretuntilyouknowthatyou
reallyhaveacauseforit。”
“Iamafraidthatthisisabadbusiness，Watson，“saidmycompanion
ashereturnedafteraccompanyingMr。GrantMunrotothedoor。“What
doyoumakeofit？“
“Ithadanuglysound，“Ianswered。
“Yes。There”sblackmailinit，orIammuchmistaken。”
“Andwhoistheblackmailer？“
“Well，itmustbethecreaturewholivesintheonlycomfortable
roomintheplaceandhasherphotographabovehisfireplace。Upon
myword，Watson，thereissomethingveryattractiveaboutthatlivid
faceatthewindow，andIwouldnothavemissedthecaseforworlds。”
“Youhaveatheory？“
“Yes，aprovisionalone。ButIshallbesurprisedifitdoesnot
turnouttobecorrect。Thiswoman”sfirsthusbandisinthat
cottage。”
“Whydoyouthinkso？“
“Howelsecanweexplainherfrenziedanxietythathersecondone
shouldnotenterit？Thefacts，asIreadthem，aresomethinglike
this：ThiswomanwasmarriedinAmerica。Herhusbanddevelopedsome
hatefulqualities，orshallwesayhecontractedsomeloathsome
diseaseandbecamealeperoranimbecile？Shefliesfromhimatlast，
returnstoEngland，changeshername，andstartsherlife，asshe
thinks，afresh。Shehasbeenmarriedthreeyearsandbelievesthather
positionisquitesecure，havingshownherhusbandthedeath
certificateofsomemanwhosenameshehasassumed，whensuddenly
herwhereaboutsisdiscoveredbyherfirsthusband，or，wemay
suppose，bysomeunscrupulouswomanwhohasattachedherselftothe
invalid。Theywritetothewifeandthreatentocomeandexposeher。
Sheasksforahundredpoundsandendeavourstobuythemoff。They
comeinspiteofit，andwhenthehusbandmentionscasuallytothe
wifethattherearenewcomersinthecottage，sheknowsinsomeway
thattheyareherpursuers。Shewaitsuntilherhusbandisasleep，and
thensherushesdowntoendeavourtopersuadethemtoleaveherin
peace。Havingnosuccess，shegoesagainnextmorning，andherhusband
meetsher，ashehastoldus，asshecomesout。Shepromiseshim
thennottogothereagain，buttwodaysafterwardsthehopeof
gettingridofthosedreadfulneighbourswastoostrongforher，and
shemadeanotherattempt，takingdownwithherthephotographwhich
hadprobablybeendemandedfromher。Inthemidstofthisinterview
themaidrushedintosaythatthemasterhadcomehome，onwhich
thewife，knowingthathewouldcomestraightdowntothecottage，
hurriedtheinmatesoutatthebackdoor，intothegroveoffir-trees，
probably，whichwasmentionedasstandingnear。Inthiswayhefound
theplacedeserted。Ishallbeverymuchsurprised，however，ifit
isstillsowhenhereconnoitresitthisevening。Whatdoyouthinkof
mytheory？“
“Itisallsurmise。”
“Butatleastitcoversallthefacts。Afternewfactscometoour
knowledgewhichcannotbecoveredbyit，itwillbetimeenoughto
reconsiderit。Wecandonothingmoreuntilwehaveamessagefromour
friendatNorbury。”
Butwehadnotaverylongtimetowaitforthat。Itcamejustaswe
badfinishedourtea。
Thecottageisstilltenanted[itsaid]。Haveseentheface
againatthewindow。Willmeettheseven-o”clocktrainandwilltake
nostepsuntilyouarrive。
Hewaswaitingontheplatformwhenwesteppedout，andwecouldsee
inthelightofthestationlampsthathewasverypale，andquivering
withagitation。
“Theyarestillthere，Mr。Holmes，“saidhe，layinghishandhard
uponmyfriend”ssleeve。“IsawlightsinthecottageasIcame
down。Weshallsettleitnowonceandforall。”
“Whatisyourplan，then？“askedHolmesashewalkeddownthedark
tree-linedroad。
“Iamgoingtoforcemywayinandseeformyselfwhoisinthe
house。Iwishyoubothtobethereaswitnesses。”
“Youarequitedeterminedtodothisinspiteofyourwife”swarning
thatitisbetterthatyoushouldnotsolvethemystery？“
“Yes，Iamdetermined。”
“Well，Ithinkthatyouareintheright。Anytruthisbetterthan
indefinitedoubt。Wehadbettergoupatonce。Ofcourse，legally，
weareputtingourselveshopelesslyinthewrong；butIthinkthat
itisworthit。”
Itwasaverydarknight，andathinrainbegantofallasweturned
fromthehighroadintoanarrowlane，deeplyrutted，withhedgeson
eitherside。Mr。GrantMunropushedimpatientlyforward，however，
andwestumbledafterhimasbestwecould。
“Therearethelightsofmyhouse，“hemurmured，pointingtoa
glimmeramongthetrees。“AndhereisthecottagewhichIamgoing
toenter。”
Weturnedacornerinthelaneashespoke，andtherewasthe
buildingclosebesideus。Ayellowbarfallingacrosstheblack
foregroundshowedthatthedoorwasnotquiteclosed，andonewindow
intheupperstorywasbrightlyilluminated。Aswelooked，wesawa
darkblurmovingacrosstheblind。
“Thereisthatcreature！“criedGrantMunro。“Youcanseefor
yourselvesthatsomeoneisthere。Nowfollowme，andweshallsoon
knowall。”
Weapproachedthedoor，butsuddenlyawomanappearedoutofthe
shadowandstoodinthegoldentrackofthelamplight。Icouldnotsee
herfaceinthedarkness，butherarmswerethrownoutinan
attitudeofentreaty。
“ForGod”ssake，don”t，Jack！“shecried。“Ihadapresentimentthat
youwouldcomethisevening。Thinkbetterofit，dear！Trustmeagain，
andyouwillneverhavecausetoregretit。”
“Ihavetrustedyoutoolong，Effie，“hecriedsternly。“Leavegoof
me！Imustpassyou。MyfriendsandIaregoingtosettlethis
matteronceandforever！“Hepushedhertooneside，andwefollowed
closelyafterhim。Ashethrewthedooropenanoldwomanranoutin
frontofhimandtriedtobarhispassage，buthethrustherback，and
aninstantafterwardswewerealluponthestairs。GrantMunro
rushedintothelightedroomatthetop，andweenteredathisheels。
Itwasacosy，well-furnishedapartment，withtwocandlesburning
uponthetableandtwouponthemantelpiece。Inthecorner，stooping
overadesk，theresatwhatappearedtobealittlegirl。Herfacewas
turnedawayasweentered，butwecouldseethatshewasdressedin
aredfrock，andthatshehadlongwhitegloveson。Asshewhisked
roundtous，Igaveacryofsurpriseandhorror。Thefacewhichshe
turnedtowardsuswasofthestrangestlividtint，andthefeatures
wereabsolutelydevoidofanyexpression。Aninstantlaterthemystery
wasexplained。Holmes，withalaugh，passedhishandbehindthe
child”sear，amaskpeeledofffromhercountenance，andtherewasa
littlecoal-blacknegress，withallherwhiteteethflashingin
amusementatouramazedfaces。Iburstoutlaughing，outofsympathy
withhermerriment；butGrantMunrostoodstaring，withhishand
clutchinghisthroat。
“MyGod！“hecried。“Whatcanbethemeaningofthis？“
“Iwilltellyouthemeaningofit，“criedthelady，sweepinginto
theroomwithaproud，setface。“Youhaveforcedme，againstmyown
judgment，totellyou，andnowwemustbothmakethebestofit。My
husbanddiedatAtlanta。Mychildsurvived。”
“Yourchild？“
Shedrewalargesilverlocketfromherbosom。“Youhavenever
seenthisopen。”
“Iunderstoodthatitdidnotopen。”
Shetouchedaspring，andthefronthingedback。Therewasa
portraitwithinofamanstrikinglyhandsomeand
intelligent-looking，butbearingunmistakablesignsuponhis
featuresofhisAfricandescent。
“ThatisJohnHebron，ofAtlanta，“saidthelady，“andanobler
manneverwalkedtheearth。Icutmyselfofffrommyraceinorder
towedhim，butneveroncewhileheliveddidIforaninstant
regretit。Itwasourmisfortunethatouronlychildtookafterhis
peopleratherthanmine。Itisoftensoinsuchmatches，andlittle
Lucyisdarkerfarthaneverherfatherwas。Butdarkorfair，she
ismyowndearlittlegirlie，andhermother”spet。”Thelittle
creatureranacrossatthewordsandnestledupagainstthelady”s
dress。“WhenIleftherinAmerica，“shecontinued，“itwasonly
becauseherhealthwasweak，andthechangemighthavedoneher
harm。ShewasgiventothecareofafaithfulScotchwomanwhohad
oncebeenourservant。NeverforaninstantdidIdreamofdisowning
herasmychild。Butwhenchancethrewyouinmyway，Jack，andI
learnedtoloveyou，Ifearedtotellyouaboutmychild。God
forgiveme，IfearedthatIshouldloseyou，andIhadnotthecourage
totellyou。Ihadtochoosebetweenyou，andinmyweaknessI
turnedawayfrommyownlittlegirl。ForthreeyearsIhavekepther
existenceasecretfromyou，butIheardfromthenurse，andIknew
thatallwaswellwithher。Atlast，however，therecamean
overwhelmingdesiretoseethechildoncemore。Istruggledagainst
it，butinvain。ThoughIknewthedanger，Ideterminedtohavethe
childover，ifitwerebutforafewweeks。Isentahundredpoundsto
thenurse，andIgaveherinstructionsaboutthiscottage，sothatshe
mightcomeasaneighbour，withoutmyappearingtobeinanyway
connectedwithher。Ipushedmyprecautionssofarastoorderher
tokeepthechildinthe。phouseduringthedaytime，andtocoverup
herlittlefaceandhandssothateventhosewhomightseeherat
thewindowshouldnotgossipabouttherebeingablackchildinthe
neighbourhood。IfIhadbeenlesscautiousImighthavebeenmore
wise，butIwashalfcrazywithfearthatyoushouldlearnthetruth。
“Itwasyouwhotoldmefirstthatthecottagewasoccupied。I
shouldhavewaitedforthemorning，butIcouldnotsleepfor
excitement，andsoatlastIslippedout，knowinghowdifficultit
istoawakeyou。Butyousawmego，andthatwasthebeginningofmy
troubles。Nextdayyouhadmysecretatyourmercy，butyounobly
refrainedfrompursuingyouradvantage。Threedayslater，however，the
nurseandchildonlyjustescapedfromthebackdoorasyourushed
inatthefrontone。Andnowto-nightyouatlastknowall，andI
askyouwhatistobecomeofus，mychildandme？“Sheclaspedher
handsandwaitedforananswer。
ItwasalongtenminutesbeforeGrantMunrobrokethesilence，
andwhenhisanswercameitwasoneofwhichIlovetothink。He
liftedthelittlechild，kissedher，andthen，stillcarryingher，
heheldhisotherhandouttohiswifeandturnedtowardsthedoor。
“Wecantalkitovermorecomfortablyathome，“saidhe。“Iamnota
verygoodman，Effie，butIthinkthatIamabetteronethanyouhave
givenmecreditforbeing。”
HolmesandIfollowedthemdownthelane，andmyfriendpluckedat
mysleeveaswecameout。
“Ithink，“saidhe，“thatweshallbeofmoreuseinLondonthan
inNorbury。”
Notanotherworddidhesayofthecaseuntillatethatnight，
whenhewasturningaway，withhislightedcandle，forhisbedroom。
“Watson，“saidhe，“ifitshouldeverstrikeyouthatIamgettinga
littleoverconfidentinmypowers，orgivinglesspainstoacasethan
itdeserves，kindlywhisper”Norbury”inmyear，andIshallbe
infinitelyobligedtoyou。”
THEEND