AdayortwoaftertheservantsallleftIwasagainsentfortoseeSirPercival。Theundeservedslurwhichhehadcastonmymanagementofthehouseholddidnot，Iamhappytosay，preventmefromreturninggoodforeviltothebestofmyability，bycomplyingwithhisrequestasreadilyandrespectfullyasever。Itcostmeastrugglewiththatfallennature，whichweallshareincommon，beforeIcouldsuppressmyfeelings。Beingaccustomedtoself-discipline，Iaccomplishedthesacrifice。IfoundSirPercivalandCountFoscosittingtogetheragain。Onthisoccasionhislordshipremainedpresentattheinterview，andassistedinthedevelopmentofSirPercival’sviews。ThesubjecttowhichtheynowrequestedmyattentionrelatedtothehealthychangeofairbywhichweallhopedthatMissHalcombeandLadyGlydemightsoonbeenabledtoprofit。SirPercivalmentionedthatboththeladieswouldprobablypasstheautumnbyinvitationofFrederickFairlie，EsquireatLimmeridgeHouse，Cumberland。Butbeforetheywentthere，itwashisopinion，confirmedbyCountFoscowhoheretookuptheconversationandcontinuedittotheend。thattheywouldbenefitbyashortresidencefirstinthegenialclimateofTorquay。Thegreatobject，therefore，wastoengagelodgingsatthatplace，affordingallthecomfortsandadvantagesofwhichtheystoodinneed，andthegreatdifficultywastofindanexperiencedpersoncapableofchoosingthesortofresidencewhichtheywanted。InthisemergencytheCountbeggedtoinquire，onSirPercival’sbehalf，whetherIwouldobjecttogivetheladiesthebenefitofmyassistance，byproceedingmyselftoTorquayintheirinterests。Itwasimpossibleforapersoninmysituationtomeetanyproposal，madeintheseterms，withapositiveobjection。IcouldonlyventuretorepresenttheseriousinconvenienceofmyleavingBlackwaterParkintheextraordinaryabsenceofalltheindoorservants，withtheoneexceptionofMargaretPorcher。ButSirPercivalandhislordshipdeclaredthattheywerebothwillingtoputupwithinconvenienceforthesakeoftheinvalids。InextrespectfullysuggestedwritingtoanagentatTorquay，butIwasmetherebybeingremindedoftheimprudenceoftakinglodgingswithoutfirstseeingthem。IwasalsoinformedthattheCountesswhowouldotherwisehavegonetoDevonshireherselfcouldnot，inLadyGlyde’spresentcondition，leaveherniece，andthatSirPercivalandtheCounthadbusinesstotransacttogetherwhichwouldobligethemtoremainatBlackwaterPark。Inshort，itwasclearlyshownmethatifIdidnotundertaketheerrand，nooneelsecouldbetrustedwithit。Underthesecircumstances，IcouldonlyinformSirPercivalthatmyserviceswereatthedisposalofMissHalcombeandLadyGlyde。
　　ItwasthereuponarrangedthatIshouldleavethenextmorning，thatIshouldoccupyoneortwodaysinexaminingallthemostconvenienthousesinTorquay，andthatIshouldreturnwithmyreportassoonasIconvenientlycould。Amemorandumwaswrittenformebyhislordship，statingtherequisiteswhichtheplaceIwassenttotakemustbefoundtopossess，andanoteofthepecuniarylimitassignedtomewasaddedbySirPercival。
　　Myownideaonreadingovertheseinstructionswas，thatnosuchresidenceasIsawdescribedcouldbefoundatanywatering-placeinEngland，andthat，evenifitcouldbychancebediscovered，itwouldcertainlynotbepartedwithforanyperiodonsuchtermsasIwaspermittedtooffer。
　　Ihintedatthesedifficultiestoboththegentlemen，butSirPercivalwhoundertooktoanswermedidnotappeartofeelthem。Itwasnotformetodisputethequestion。Isaidnomore，butIfeltaverystrongconvictionthatthebusinessonwhichIwassentawaywassobesetbydifficultiesthatmyerrandwasalmosthopelessatstarting。
　　BeforeIleftItookcaretosatisfymyselfthatMissHalcombewasgoingonfavourably。
　　Therewasapainfulexpressionofanxietyinherfacewhichmademefearthathermind，onfirstrecoveringitself，wasnotatease。ButshewascertainlystrengtheningmorerapidlythanIcouldhaveventuredtoanticipate，andshewasabletosendkindmessagestoLadyGlyde，sayingthatshewasfastgettingwell，andentreatingherladyshipnottoexertherselfagaintoosoon。IleftherinchargeofMrsRubelle，whowasstillasquietlyindependentofeveryoneelseinthehouseasever。WhenIknockedatLadyGlyde’sdoorbeforegoingaway，Iwastoldthatshewasstillsadlyweakanddepressed，myinformantbeingtheCountess，whowasthenkeepinghercompanyinherroom。SirPercivalandtheCountwerewalkingontheroadtothelodgeasIwasdrivenbyinthechaise。Ibowedtothemandquittedthehouse，withnotalivingsoulleftintheservants’officesbutMargaretPorcher。
　　Every。onemustfeelwhatIhavefeltmyselfsincethattime，almostsuspicious。Letme，however，sayagainthatitwasimpossibleforme，inmydependentposition，toactotherwisethanIdid。
　　TheresultofmyerrandatTorquaywasexactlywhatIhadfore-seen。
　　NosuchlodgingsasIwasinstructedtotakecouldbefoundinthewholeplace，andthetermsIwaspermittedtogiveweremuchtoolowforthepurpose，evenifIhadbeenabletodiscoverwhatIwanted。IaccordinglyreturnedtoBlackwaterPark，andinformedSirPercival，whometmeatthedoor，thatmyjourneyhadbeentakeninvain。Heseemedtoomuchoccupiedwithsomeothersubjecttocareaboutthefailureofmyerrand，andhisfirstwordsinformedmethatevenintheshorttimeofmyabsenceanotherremarkablechangehadtakenplaceinthehouse。
　　TheCountandCountessFoscohadleftBlackwaterParkfortheirnewresidenceinStJohn’sWood。
　　Iwasnotmadeawareofthemotiveforthissuddendeparture——IwasonlytoldthattheCounthadbeenveryparticularinleavinghiskindcomplimentstome。WhenIventuredonaskingSirPercivalwhetherLadyGlydehadanyonetoattendtohercomfortsintheabsenceoftheCountess，herepliedthatshehadMargaretPorchertowaitonher，andheaddedthatawomanfromthevillagehadbeensentfortodotheworkdownstairs。
　　Theanswerreallyshockedme——therewassuchaglaringimproprietyinpermittinganunder-housemaidtofilltheplaceofconfidentialattendantonLadyGlyde。Iwentupstairsatonce，andmetMargaretonthebedroomlanding。Herserviceshadnotbeenrequirednaturallyenough，hermistresshavingsufficientlyrecoveredthatmorningtobeabletoleaveherbed。
　　IaskednextafterMissHalcombe，butIwasansweredinaslouching，sulkyway，whichleftmenowiserthanIwasbefore。Ididnotchoosetorepeatthequestion，andperhapsprovokeanimpertinentreply。ItwasineveryrespectmorebecomingtoapersoninmypositiontopresentmyselfimmediatelyinLadyGlyde’sroom。
　　Ifoundthatherladyshiphadcertainlygainedinhealthduringthelastfewdays。Althoughstillsadlyweakandnervous，shewasabletogetupwithoutassistance，andtowalkslowlyaboutherroom，feelingnoworseeffectfromtheexertionthanaslightsensationoffatigue。ShehadbeenmadealittleanxiousthatmorningaboutMissHalcombe，throughhavingreceivednonewsofherfromanyone。IthoughtthisseemedtoimplyablamablewantofattentiononthepartofMrsRubelle，butIsaidnothing，andremainedwithLadyGlydetoassisthertodress。WhenshewasreadywebothlefttheroomtogethertogotoMissHalcombe。
　　WewerestoppedinthepassagebytheappearanceofSirPercival。Helookedasifhehadbeenpurposelywaitingtheretoseeus。
　　`Whereareyougoing？’hesaidtoLadyGlyde。
　　`ToMarian’sroom，’sheanswered。
　　`Itmayspareyouadisappointment，’remarkedSirPercival，`ifItellyouatoncethatyouwillnotfindherthere。’
　　`Notfindherthere！’
　　`No。SheleftthehouseyesterdaymorningwithFoscoandhiswife。’
　　LadyGlydewasnotstrongenoughtobearthesurpriseofthisextraordinarystatement。Sheturnedfearfullypale，andleanedbackagainstthewall，lookingatherhusbandindeadsilence。
　　IwassoastonishedmyselfthatIhardlyknewwhattosay。IaskedSirPercivalifhereallymeantthatMissHalcombehadleftBlackwaterPark。
　　`Icertainlymeanit，’heanswered。
　　`Inherstate，SirPercival！WithoutmentioningherintentionstoLadyGlyde！’
　　Beforehecouldreplyherladyshiprecoveredherselfalittleandspoke。
　　`Impossible！’shecriedoutinaloud，frightenedmanner，takingasteportwoforwardfromthewall。`Wherewasthedoctor？wherewasMrDawsonwhenMarianwentaway？’
　　`MrDawsonwasn’twanted，andwasn’there，’saidSirPercival。`Heleftofhisownaccord，whichisenoughofitselftoshowthatshewasstrongenoughtotravel。Howyoustare！Ifyoudon’tbelieveshehasgone，lookforyourself。Openherroomdoor，andalltheotherroomdoorsifyoulike。’
　　Shetookhimathisword，andIfollowedher。TherewasnooneinMissHalcombe’sroombutMargaretPorcher，whowasbusysettingittorights。
　　Therewasnooneinthespareroomsorthedressing-roomswhenwelookedintothemafterwards。SirPercivalstillwaitedforusinthepassage。
　　AswewereleavingthelastroomthatwehadexaminedLadyGlydewhispered，`Don’tgo，MrsMichelson！don’tleaveme，forGod’ssake！’BeforeIcouldsayanythinginreturnshewasoutagaininthepassage，speakingtoherhusband。
　　`Whatdoesitmean，SirPercival？Iinsist——Ibegandprayyouwilltellmewhatitmeans。’
　　`Itmeans，’heanswered，`thatMissHalcombewasstrongenoughyesterdaymorningtositupandbedressed，andthatsheinsistedontakingadvantageofFosco’sgoingtoLondontogotheretoo。’
　　`ToLondon！’
　　`Yes——onherwaytoLimmeridge。’
　　LadyGlydeturnedandappealedtome。
　　`YousawMissHalcombelast，’shesaid。`Tellmeplainly，MrsMichelson，didyouthinkshelookedfittotravel？’
　　`Notinmyopinion，yourladyship。’
　　SirPercival，onhisside，instantlyturnedandappealedtomealso。
　　`Beforeyouwentaway，’hesaid，`didyou，ordidyounot，tellthenursethatMissHalcombelookedmuchstrongerandbetter？’
　　`Icertainlymadetheremark，SirPercival。’
　　HeaddressedherladyshipagainthemomentIofferedthatreply。