Theviewwassuchasurprise，andsuchachangetome，aftermywearyLondonexperienceofbrickandmortarlandscape，thatIseemedtoburstintoanewlifeandanewsetofthoughtsthemomentIlookedatit。A
　　confusedsensationofhavingsuddenlylostmyfamiliaritywiththepast，withoutacquiringanyadditionalclearnessofideainreferencetothepresentorthefuture，tookpossessionofmymind。Circumstancesthatwerebutafewdaysoldfadedbackinmymemory，asiftheyhadhappenedmonthsandmonthssince。Pesca’squaintannouncementofthemeansbywhichhehadprocuredmemypresentemployment；thefarewelleveningIhadpassedwithmymotherandsister；evenmymysteriousadventureonthewayhomefromHampstead——hadallbecomelikeeventswhichmighthaveoccurredatsomeformerepochofmyexistence。Althoughthewomaninwhitewasstillinmymind，theimageofherseemedtohavegrowndullandfaintalready。
　　Alittlebeforenineo’clock，Idescendedtotheground-floorofthehouse。Thesolemnman-servantofthenightbeforemetmewanderingamongthepassages，andcompassionatelyshowedmethewaytothebreakfast-room。
　　Myfirstglanceroundme，asthemanopenedthedoor，disclosedawell-furnishedbreakfast-table，standinginthemiddleofalongroom，withmanywindowsinit。Ilookedfromthetabletothewindowfarthestfromme，andsawaladystandingatit，withherbackturnedtowardsme。Theinstantmyeyesrestedonher，Iwasstruckbytherarebeautyofherform，andbytheunaffectedgraceofherattitude。Herfigurewastall，yetnottootall；comelyandwell-developed，yetnotfat；herheadsetonhershoulderswithaneasy，pliantfirmness；herwaist，perfectionintheeyesofaman，foritoccupieditsnaturalplace，itfilledoutitsnaturalcircle，itwasvisiblyanddelightfullyundeformedbystays。Shehadnotheardmyentranceintotheroom；andIallowedmyselftheluxuryofadmiringherforafewmoments，beforeImovedoneofthechairsnearme，astheleastembarrassingmeansofattractingherattention。Sheturnedtowardsmeimmediately。
　　Theeasyeleganceofeverymovementofherlimbsandbodyassoonasshebegantoadvancefromthefarendoftheroom，setmeinaflutterofexpectationtoseeherfaceclearly。Sheleftthewindow——andIsaidtomyself，Theladyisdark。Shemovedforwardafewsteps——andIsaidtomyself，Theladyisyoung。Sheapproachednearer——andIsaidtomyselfwithasenseofsurprisewhichwordsfailmetoexpress，Theladyisugly！
　　Neverwastheoldconventionalmaxim，thatNaturecannoterr，moreflatlycontradicted——neverwasthefairpromiseofalovelyfiguremorestrangelyandstartlinglybeliedbythefaceandheadthatcrownedit。Thelady’scomplexionwasalmostswarthy，andthedarkdownonherupperlipwasalmostamoustache。Shehadalarge，firm，masculinemouthandjaw；prominent，piercing，resolutebrowneyes；andthick，coal-blackhair，growingunusuallylowdownonherforehead。Herexpression——brightfrank，andintelligent——appeared，whileshewassilent，tobealtogetherwantinginthosefeminineattractionsofgentlenessandpliability，withoutwhichthebeautyofthehandsomestwomanaliveisbeautyincomplete。Toseesuchafaceasthissetonshouldersthatasculptorwouldhavelongedtomodel——tobecharmedbythemodestgracesofactionthroughwhichthesymmetricallimbsbetrayedtheirbeautywhentheymoved，andthentobealmostrepelledbythemasculineformandmasculinelookofthefeaturesinwhichtheperfectlyshapedfigureended——wastofeelasensationoddlyakintothehelplessdiscomfortfamiliartousallinsleep，whenwerecogniseyetcannotreconciletheanomaliesandcontradictionsofadream。
　　`MrHartright？’saidtheladyinterrogatively，herdarkfacelightingupwithasmile，andsofteningandgrowingwomanlythemomentshebegantospeak。`Weresignedallhopeofyoulastnight，andwenttobedasusual。
　　Acceptmyapologiesforourapparentwantofattention；andallowmetointroducemyselfasoneofyourpupils。Shallweshakehands？Isupposewemustcometoitsoonerorlater——andwhynotsooner？’
　　Theseoddwordsofwelcomewerespokeninaclear，ringing，pleasantvoice。Theofferedhand——ratherlarge，butbeautifullyformed——wasgiventomewiththeeasy，unaffectedself-relianceofahighly-bredwoman。
　　Wesatdowntogetheratthebreakfast-tableinascordialandcustomaryamannerasifwehadknowneachotherforyears，andhadmetatLimmeridgeHousetotalkoveroldtimesbypreviousappointment。
　　`Ihopeyoucomeheregood-humouredlydeterminedtomakethehistofyourposition，’continuedthelady。`Youwillhavetobeginthismorningbyputtingupwithnoothercompanyatbreakfastthanmine。Mysisterisinherownroom，nursingthatessentiallyfemininemalady，aslightheadache；
　　andheroldgoverness，MrsVesey，ischaritablyattendingonherwithrestorativetea。Myuncle，MrFairlie，neverjoinsusatanyofourmeals：heisaninvalid，andkeepsbachelorstateinhisownapartments。Thereisnobodyelseinthehousebutme。Twoyoungladieshavebeenstayinghere，buttheywentawayyesterday，indespair；andnowonder。AllthroughtheirvisitinconsequenceofMrfairlie’sinvalidconditionweproducednosuchconvenienceinthehouseasaflirtable，danceable，small-talkablecreatureofthemalesex；andtheconsequencewas，wedidnothingbutquarrel，especiallyatdinner-time。Howcanyouexpectfourwomentodinetogetheraloneeveryday，andnotquarrel？Wearesuchfools，wecan’tentertaineachotherattable。YouseeIdon’tthinkmuchofmyownsex，MrHartright——whichwillyouhave，teaorcoffee？——nowomandoesthinkmuchofherownsex，althoughfewofthemconfessitasfreelyasIdo。Dearme，youlookpuzzled。Why？Areyouwonderingwhatyouwillhaveforbreakfast？
　　orareyousurprisedatmycarelesswayoftalking？lnthefirstcase，Iadviseyou，asafriend，tohavenothingtodowiththatcoldhamatyourelbow，andtowaittilltheomelettecomesin。Inthesecondcase，Iwillgiveyousometeatocomposeyourspirits，anddoallawomancanwhichisverylittle，by-the-byetoholdmytongue。’
　　Shehandedmemycupoftea，laughinggaily。Herlightflowoftalk，andherlivelyfamiliarityofmannerwithatotalstranger，wereaccompaniedbyanunaffectednaturalnessandaneasyinbornconfidenceinherselfandherposition，whichwouldhavesecuredhertherespectofthemostaudaciousmanbreathing。Whileitwasimpossibletobeformalandreservedinhercompany，itwasmorethanimpossibletotakethefaintestvestigeofalibertywithher，eveninthought。Ifeltthisinstinctively，evenwhileIcaughttheinfectionofherownbrightgaietyofspirits——evenwhileIdidmybesttoanswerherinherownfrank，livelyway。
　　`Yes，yes，’shesaid，whenIhadsuggestedtheonlyexplanationIcouldoffer，toaccountformyperplexedlooks，`Iunderstand。Youaresuchaperfectstrangerinthehouse，thatyouarepuzzledbymyfamiliarreferencestotheworthyinhabitants。Naturalenough：Ioughttohavethoughtofitbefore。Atanyrate，Icansetitrightnow。SupposeIbeginwithmyself，soastogetdonewiththatpartofthesubjectassoonaspossible？MynameisMarianHalcombe；andIamasinaccurateaswomenusuallyare，incallingMrfairliemyuncle，andMissFairliemysister。Mymotherwastwicemarried：thefirsttimetoMrHalcombe，myfather；thesecondtimetoMrFairlie，myhalf-sister’sfather。Exceptthatwearebothorphans，weareineveryrespectasunlikeeachotheraspossible。Myfatherwasapoorman，andMissFairlie’sfatherwasarichman。Ihavegotnothing，andshehasafortune。Iamdarkandugly，andsheisfairandpretty。
　　Everybodythinksmecrabbedandoddwithperfectjustice；andeverybodythinkshersweet-temperedandcharmingwithmorejusticestill。Inshort，sheisanangel；andIam——Trysomeofthatmarmalade，MrHartright，andfinishthesentence，inthenameoffemalepropriety，foryourself。
　　WhatamItotellyouaboutMrFairlie？Uponmyhonour，Ihardlyknow。
　　Heissuretosendforyouafterbreakfast，andyoucanstudyhimforyourself。
　　Inthemeantime，Imayinformyou，first，thatheisthelateMrFairlie’syoungerbrother；secondly，thatheisasingleman；andthirdly，thatheisMissFairlie’sguardian。Iwon’tlivewithouther，andshecan’tlivewithoutme；andthatishowIcometobeatLimmeridgeHouse。MysisterandIarehonestlyfondofeachother；which，youwillsay，isperfectlyunaccountable，underthecircumstances，andIquiteagreewithyou——butsoitis。Youmustpleasebothofus，MrHartright，orpleaseneitherofus：and，whatisstillmoretrying，youwillbethrownentirelyuponoursociety。MrsVeseyisanexcellentperson，whopossessesallthecardinalvirtues，andcountsfornothing；andMrFairlieistoogreataninvalidtobeacompanionforanybody。Idon’tknowwhatisthematterwithhim，andthedoctorsdon’tknowwhatisthematterwithhim，andhedoesn’tknowhimselfwhatisthematterwithhim。Weallsayit’sonthenerves，andwenoneofusknowwhatwemeanwhenwesayit。However，Iadviseyoutohumourhislittlepeculiarities，whenyouseehimtoday。Admirehiscollectionofcoins，prints，andwater-colourdrawings，andyouwillwinhisheart。Uponmyword，ifyoucanbecontentedwithaquietcountrylife，Idon’tseewhyyoushouldnotgetonverywellhere。frombreakfasttolunch，Mrfairlie’sdrawingswilloccupyyou。Afterlunch，MissFairlieandIshoulderoursketch-books，andgoouttomisrepresentNature，underyourdirections。Drawingisherfavouritewhim，mind，notmine。Womencan’tdraw——theirmindsaretooflighty，andtheireyesaretooinattentive。
　　Nomatter——mysisterlikesit；soIwastepaintandspoilTaper，forhersake，ascomposedlyasanywomaninEngland。Asfortheevenings，I
　　thinkwecanhelpyouthroughthem。MissFairlieplaysdelightfully。Formyownpoorpart，Idon’tknowonenoteofmusicfromtheother；butI
　　canmatchyouatchess，backgammon，é；carté；，andwiththeinevitablefemaledrawbacksevenatbilliardsaswell。Whatdoyouthinkoftheprogramme？Canyoureconcileyourselftoourquiet，regularlife？
　　ordoyoumeantoberestless，andsecretlythirstforchangeandadventure，inthehumdrumatmosphereofLimmeridgeHouse？’
　　Shehadrunonthusfar，inhergracefullybanteringway，withnootherinterruptionsonmypartthantheunimportantreplieswhichpolitenessrequiredofme。Theturnoftheexpression，however，inherlastquestion，orrathertheonechanceword，`adventure，’lightlyasitfellfromherlips，recalledmythoughtstomymeetingwiththewomaninwhite，andurgedmetodiscovertheconnectionwhichthestranger’sownreferencetoMrsFairlieinformedmemustoncehaveexistedbetweenthenamelessfugitivefromtheAsylum，andtheformermistressofLunmeridgeHouse。
　　`EvenifIwerethemostrestlessofmankind，’Isaid，`Ishouldbeinnodangerofthirstingafteradventuresforsometimetocome。TheverynightbeforeIarrivedatthishouse，Imetwithanadventure；andthewonderandexcitementofit，Icanassureyou，MissHalcombe，willlastmeforthewholetermofmystayinCumberland，ifnotforamuchlongerperiod。’
　　`Youdon’tsayso，MrHartright！MayIhearit？’
　　`Youhaveaclaimtohearit。Thechiefpersonintheadventurewasatotalstrangertome，andmayperhapsbeatotalstrangertoyou；butshecertainlymentionedthenameofthelateMrsFairlieintermsofthesincerestgratitudeandregard。’
　　`Mentionedmymother’sname！Youinterestmeindescribably。Praygoon。’