Thereasongivenformakingthisdemandonmeis，thatmytestimonyiswantedintheinterestsoftruth。AsthewidowofaclergymanoftheChurchofEnglandreducedbymisfortunetothenecessityofacceptingasituation，Ihavebeentaughttoplacetheclaimsoftruthaboveallotherconsiderations。IthereforecomplywitharequestwhichImightotherwise。
　　throughreluctancetoconnectmyselfwithdistressingfamilyaffairs，havehesitatedtogrant。
　　Imadenomemorandumatthetime，andIcannotthereforebesuretoadayofthedate，butIbelieveIamcorrectinstatingthatMissHalcombe’sseriousillnessbeganduringthelastfortnightortendaysinJune。ThebreakfasthourwaslateatBlackwaterPark——sometimesaslateasten，neverearlierthanhalf-pastnine。OnthemorningtowhichIamnowreferring，MissHalcombewhowasusuallythefirsttocomedowndidnotmakeherappearanceatthetable。Afterthefamilyhadwaitedaquarterofanhour，theupperhousemaidwassenttoseeafterher，andcamerunningoutoftheroomdreadfullyfrightened。Imettheservantonthestairs，andwentatoncetoMissHalcombetoseewhatwasthematter。Thepoorladywasincapableoftellingme。Shewaswalkingaboutherroomwithapeninherhand，quitelightheaded，inastateofburningfever。
　　LadyGlydebeingnolongerinSirPercival’sservice，Imay，withoutimpropriety，mentionmyformermistressbyhername，insteadofcallinghermyladywasthefirsttocomeinfromherownbedroom。Shewassodreadfullyalarmedanddistressedthatshewasquiteuseless。TheCountFosco，andhislady，whocameupstairsimmediatelyafterwards，werebothmostserviceableandkind。HerladyshipassistedmetogetMissHalcombetoherbed。HislordshiptheCountremainedinthesitting-room，andhavingsentformymedicine-chest，madeamixtureforMissHalcombe，andacoolinglotiontobeappliedtoherhead，soastolosenotimebeforethedoctorcame。Weappliedthelotion，butwecouldnotgethertotakethemixture。
　　SirPercivalundertooktosendforthedoctor。Hedespatchedagroom，onhorseback，forthenearestmedicalman，MrDawson，ofOakLodge。
　　MrDawsonarrivedinlessthananhour’stime。Hewasarespectableelderlyman，wellknownallroundthecountry，andweweremuchalarmedwhenwefoundthatheconsideredthecasetobeaveryseriousone。
　　HislordshiptheCountaffablyenteredintoconversationwithMrDawson，andgavehisopinionswithajudiciousfreedom。MrDawson，notover-courteously，inquiredifhislordship’sadvicewastheadviceofadoctor，andbeinginformedthatitwastheadviceofonewhohadstudiedmedicineunprofessionally，repliedthathewasnotaccustomedtoconsultwithamateurphysicians。
　　TheCount，withtrulyChristianmeeknessoftemper，smiledandlefttheroom。Beforehewentouthetoldmethathemightbefound，incasehewaswantedinthecourseoftheday，attheboat-houseonthebanksofthelake。Whyheshouldhavegonethere，Icannotsay。Buthedidgo，remainingawaythewholedaytillseveno’clock，whichwasdinner-time。Perhapshewishedtosettheexampleofkeepingthehouseasquietaspossible。Itwasentirelyinhischaractertodoso。Hewasamostconsideratenobleman。
　　MissHalcombepassedaverybadnight，thefevercomingandgoing，andgettingworsetowardsthemorninginsteadofbetter。Nonursefittowaitonherbeingathandintheneighbourhood，herladyshiptheCountessandmyselfundertooktheduty，relievingeachother。LadyGlyde，mostunwisely，insistedonsittingupwithus。ShewasmuchtoonervousandtoodelicateinhealthtobeartheanxietyofMissHalcombe’sillnesscalmly。Sheonlydidherselfharm，withoutbeingoftheleastrealassistance。Amoregentleandaffectionateladyneverlived——butshecried，andshewasfrightened，twoweaknesseswhichmadeherentirelyunfittobepresentinasick-room。
　　SirPercivalandtheCountcameinthemorningtomaketheirinquiries。
　　SirPercivalfromdistress。Ipresume，athislady’saffliction。andatHissHalcombe’sillnessappearedmuchconfusedandunsettledinhismind。Hislordshiptestified，onthecontrary，abecomingcomposureandinterest。Hehadhisstrawhatinonehand，andhisbookintheother，andhementionedtoSirPercivalinmyhearingthathewouldgooutagainandstudyatthelake。`Letuskeepthehousequiet，’hesaid。`Letusnotsmokeindoors，myfriend，nowMissHalcombeisill。Yougoyourway，andIwillgomine。WhenIstudyIliketobealone。Goodmorning，MrsMichelson。’
　　SirPercivalwasnotcivilenough——perhapsIoughtinjusticetosay，notcomposedenough——totakeleaveofmewiththesamePoliteattention。
　　Theonlypersoninthehouse，indeed，whotreatedme，atthattimeoratanyother，onthefootingofaladyindistressedcircumstances，wastheCount。Hehadthemannersofatruenobleman——hewasconsideratetowardseveryone。EventheyoungpersonFannybynamewhoattendedonLadyGlydewasnotbeneathhisnotice。WhenshewassentawaybySirPercival，hislordshipshowingmehissweetlittlebirdsatthetimewasmostkindlyanxioustoknowwhathadbecomeofher，whereshewastogothedaysheleftBlackwaterPark，andsoon。Itisinsuchlittledelicateattentionsthattheadvantagesofaristocraticbirthalwaysshowthemselves。Imakenoapologyforintroducingtheseparticulars——theyarebroughtforwardinjusticetohislordship，whosecharacter，Ihavereasontoknow，isviewedratherharshlyincertainquarters。Anoblemanwhocanrespectaladyindistressedcircumstances，andcantakeafatherlyinterestinthefortunesofanhumbleservantgirl，showsprinciplesandfeelingsoftoohighanordertobelightlycalledinquestion。Iadvancenoopinions——
　　Iofferfactsonly。MyendeavourthroughlifeistojudgenotthatIbenotjudged。Oneofmybelovedhusband’sfinestsermonswasonthattext。
　　Ireaditconstantly——inmyowncopyoftheeditionprintedbysubscription，inthefirstdaysofmywidowhood——andateveryfreshperusalIderiveanincreaseofspiritualbenefitandedification。
　　TherewasnoimprovementinMissHalcombe，andthesecondnightwasevenworsethanthefirst。MrDawsonwasconstantinhisattendance。ThepracticaldutiesofnursingwerestilldividedbetweentheCountessandmyself，LadyGlydepersistinginsittingupwithus，thoughwebothentreatedhertotakesomerest。`MyplaceisbyMarian’sbedside，’washeronlyanswer。`WhetherIamill，orwell，nothingwillinducemetolosesightofher。’
　　TowardsmiddayIwentdownstairstoattendtosomeofmyregularduties。
　　Anhourafterwards，onmywaybacktothesickroom，IsawtheCountwhohadgoneoutagainearly，forthethirdtimeenteringthehall，toallappearanceinthehighestgoodspirits。SirPercival，atthesamemoment，puthisheadoutofthelibrarydoor，andaddressedhisnoblefriend，withextremeeagerness，inthesewords——
　　`Haveyoufoundher？’
　　Hislordship’slargefacebecamedimpledalloverwithplacidsmiles，buthemadenoreplyinwords。AtthesametimeSirPercivalturnedhishead，observedthatIwasapproachingthestairs，andlookedatmeinthemostrudelyangrymannerpossible`Comeinhereandtellmeaboutit，’hesaidtotheCount。`Whenevertherearewomeninahousethey’realwayssuretobegoingupordownstairs。’
　　`MydearPercival，’observedhislordshipkindly，`MrsMichelsonhasduties。PrayrecogniseheradmirableperformanceofthemassincerelyasIdo！Howisthesufferer，MrsMichelson？’
　　`Nobetter，mylord，Iregrettosay。’
　　`Sad——mostsad！’remarkedtheCount。`Youlookfatigued，MrsMichelson。
　　Itiscertainlytimeyouandmywifehadsomehelpinnursing。IthinkImaybethemeansofofferingyouthathelp。CircumstanceshavehappenedwhichwillobligeMadameFoscototraveltoLondoneithertomorroworthedayafter。Shewillgoawayinthemorningandreturnatnight，andshewillbringbackwithher，torelieveyou，anurseofexcellentconductandcapacity，whoisnowdisengaged。Thewomanisknowntomywifeasapersontobetrusted。Beforeshecomesheresaynothingabouther，ifyouplease，tothedoctor，becausehewilllookwithanevileyeonanynurseofmyproviding。Whensheappearsinthishouseshewillspeakforherself，andMrDawsonwillbeobligedtoacknowledgethatthereisnoexcusefornotemployingher。LadyGlydewillsaythesame。PraypresentmybestrespectsandsympathiestoLadyGlyde。’
　　Iexpressedmygratefulacknowledgmentsforhislordship’skindconsideration。
　　SirPercivalcutthemshortbycallingtohisnoblefriendusing，regrettosay，aprofaneexpressiontocomeintothelibrary，andnottokeephimwaitingthereanylonger。
　　Iproceededupstairs。Wearepoorerringcreatures，andhoweverwellestablishedawoman’sprinciplesmaybeshecannotalwayskeeponherguardagainstthetemptationtoexerciseanidlecuriosity。Iamashamedtosaythatanidlecuriosity，onthisoccasion，gotthebetterofmyprinciples，andmademeundulyinquisitiveaboutthequestionwhichSirPercivalhadaddressedtohisnoblefriendatthelibrarydoor。WhowastheCountexpectedtofindinthecourseofhisstudiousmorningramblesatBlackwaterPark？
　　Awoman，itwastobepresumed，fromthetermsofSirPercival’sinquiry。
　　IdidnotsuspecttheCountofanyimpropriety——Iknewhismoralcharactertoowell。TheonlyquestionIaskedmyselfwas——Hadhefoundher？
　　[NextChapter][TableofContents]WomaninWhite：Chapter24[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]Chapter24Toresume。ThenightpassedasusualwithoutproducinganychangeforthebetterinMissHalcombe。Thenextdaysheseemedtoimprovealittle。ThedayafterthatherladyshiptheCountess，withoutmentioningtheobjectofherjourneytoanyoneinmyhearing，proceededbythemorningtraintoLondon——hernoblehusband，withhiscustomaryattention，accompanyinghertothestation。
　　IwasnowleftinsolechargeofMissHalcombe，witheveryapparentchance，inconsequenceofhersister’sresolutionnottoleavethebedside，ofhavingLadyGlydeherselftonursenext。
　　TheonlycircumstanceofanyimportancethathappenedinthecourseofthedaywastheoccurrenceofanotherunpleasantmeetingbetweenthedoctorandtheCount。
　　Hislordship，onreturningfromthestation，steppedupintoMissHalcombe’ssitting-roomtomakehisinquiries。Iwentoutfromthebedroomtospeaktohim，MrDawsonandLadyGlydebeingbothwiththepatientatthetime。
　　TheCountaskedmemanyquestionsaboutthetreatmentandthesymptoms。
　　Iinformedhimthatthetreatmentwasofthekinddescribedas`saline，’
　　andthatthesymptoms，betweentheattacksoffever，werecertainlythoseofincreasingweaknessandexhaustion。rustasIwasmentioningtheselastparticulars，MrDawsoncameoutfromthebedroom。