`SetoneofMrsMichelson’sopinionsfairlyagainsttheother，’hesaid，`andtrytobereasonableaboutaperfectlyplainmatter。Ifshehadnotbeenwellenoughtobemoveddoyouthinkweshouldanyofushaveriskedlettinghergo？Shehasgotthreecompetentpeopletolookafterher——
　　Foscoandyouraunt，andMrsRubelle，whowentawaywiththemexpresslyforthatpurpose。Theytookawholecarriageyesterday，andmadeabedforherontheseatincaseshefelttired。Today，FoscoandMrsRubellegoonwithherthemselvestoCumberland——’
　　`WhydoesMariangotoLimmeridgeandleavemeherebymyself？’saidherladyship，interruptingSirPercival。
　　`Becauseyourunclewon’treceiveyoutillhehasseenyoursisterfirst，’
　　hereplied。`Haveyouforgottentheletterhewrotetoheratthebeginningofherillness？Itwasshowntoyou，youreadityourself，andyououghttorememberit。’
　　`Idorememberit。’
　　`Ifyoudo，whyshouldyoubesurPrisedatherleavingyou？YouwanttobebackatLimmeridge，andshehasgonetheretogetyouruncle’sleaveforyouonhisownterms。’
　　PoorLadyGlyde’seyesfilledwithtears。
　　`Marianneverleftmebefore，’shesaid，`withoutbiddingmegood-bye。’
　　`Shewouldhavebidyougood-byethistime，’returnedSirPercival，`ifshehadnotbeenafraidofherselfandofyou。Sheknewyouwouldtrytostopher，sheknewyouwoulddistressherbycrying。Doyouwanttomakeanymoreobjections？Ifyoudo，youmustcomedownstairsandaskquestionsinthedining-room。Theseworriesupsetme。Iwantaglassofwine。’
　　Heleftussuddenly。
　　Hismannerallthroughthisstrangeconversationhadbeenveryunlikewhatitusuallywas-Heseemedtobealmostasnervousandfluttered，everynowandthen，ashisladyherself。Ishouldneverhavesupposedthathishealthhadbeensodelicate，orhiscomposuresoeasytoupset。
　　ItriedtoprevailonLadyGlydetogobacktoherroom，butitwasuseless。Shestoppedinthepassage，withthelookofawomanwhosemindwaspanic-stricken。
　　`Somethinghashappenedtomysister！’shesaid。
　　`Remember，mylady，whatsurprisingenergythereisinMissHalcombe，’
　　Isuggested。`Shemightwellmakeaneffortwhichotherladiesinhersituationwouldbeunfitfor。Ihopeandbelievethereisnothingwrong——Idoindeed。’
　　`ImustfollowMarian，’saidherladyship，withthesamepanic-strickenlook。`Imustgowhereshehasgone，Imustseethatsheisaliveandwellwithmyowneyes。Come！comedownwithmetoSirPercival。’
　　Ihesitated，fearingthatmypresencemightbeconsideredanintrusion。
　　Iattemptedtorepresentthistoherladyship，butshewasdeaftome。
　　Sheheldmyarmfastenoughtoforcemetogodownstairswithher，andshestillclungtomewithallthelittlestrengthshehadatthemomentwhenIopenedthedining-roomdoor。
　　SirPercivalwassittingatthetablewithadecanterofwinebeforehim。Heraisedtheglasstohislipsaswewentinanddraineditatadraught。Seeingthathelookedatmeangrilywhenheputitdownagain，Iattemptedtomakesomeapologyformyaccidentalpresenceintheroom。
　　`Doyousupposethereareanysecretsgoingonhere？’hebrokeoutsuddenly；
　　`therearenone——thereisnothingunderhand，nothingkeptfromyouorfromanyone。’Afterspeakingthosestrangewordsloudlyandsternly，hefilledhimselfanotherglassofwineandaskedLadyGlydewhatshewantedofhim。
　　`IfmysisterisSttotravelIamfittotravel，’saidherladyship，withmorefirmnessthanshehadyetshown。`IcometobegyouwillmakeallowancesformyanxietyaboutMarian，andletmefollowheratoncebytheafternoontrain。’
　　`Youmustwaittilltomorrow，’repliedSirPercival，`andthenifyoudon’theartothecontraryyoucango。Idon’tsupposeyouareatalllikelytoheartothecontrary，soIshallwritetoFoscobytonight’spost。’
　　Hesaidthoselastwordsholdinghisglassuptothelight，andlookingatthewineinitinsteadofatLadyGlyde。Indeedheneveroncelookedatherthroughouttheconversation。Suchasingularwantofgoodbreedinginagentlemanofhisrankimpressedme，Iown，verypainfully。
　　`WhyshouldyouwritetoCountFosco？’sheasked，inextremesurprise。
　　`Totellhimtoexpectyoubythemiddaytrain，’saidSirPercival。
　　`HewillmeetyouatthestationwhenyougettoLondon，andtakeyouontosleepatyouraunt’sinStJohn’sWood。’
　　LadyGlyde’shandbegantotrembleviolentlyroundmyarm——whyIcouldnotimagine。
　　`ThereisnonecessityforCountFoscotomeetme，’shesaid。`IwouldrathernotstayinLondontosleep。’
　　`Youmust。Youcan’ttakethewholejourneytoCumberlandinoneday。
　　YoumustrestanightinLondon——andIdon’tchooseyoutogobyyourselftoanhotel。Foscomadetheoffertoyouruncletogiveyouhouse-roomonthewaydown，andyourunclehasaccepted。Here！hereisaletterfromhimaddressedtoyourself。Ioughttohavesentitupthismorning，butIforgot。ReaditandseewhatMrFairliehimselfsaystoyou。’
　　LadyGlydelookedattheletterforamomentandthenplaceditinmyhands。
　　`Readit，’shesaidfaintly。`Idon’tknowwhatisthematterwithme。
　　Ican’treaditmyself。’
　　Itwasanoteofonlyfourlines——soshortandsocarelessthatitquitestruckme。IfIremembercorrectlyitcontainednomorethanthesewords——
　　`DearestLaura，Pleasecomewheneveryoulike。Breakthejourneybysleepingatyouraunt’shouse。GrievedtohearofdearMarian’sillness。
　　Affectionatelyyours，FrederickFairlie。’
　　`Iwouldrathernotgothere——IwouldrathernotstayanightinLondon，’
　　saidherladyship，breakingouteagerlywiththosewordsbeforeIhadquitedonereadingthenote，shortasitwas。`Don’twritetoCountFosco！Pray，praydon’twritetohim！’
　　SirPercivalfilledanotherglassfromthedecantersoawkwardlythatheupsetitandspiltallthewineoverthetable。`Mysightseemstobefailingme，’hemutteredtohimself，inanodd，muffledvoice。Heslowlysettheglassupagain，refilledit，anddraineditoncemoreatadraught。
　　Ibegantofear，fromhislookandmanner，thatthewinewasgettingintohishead。
　　`Praydon’twritetoCountFosco，’persistedLadyGlyde，moreearnestlythanever。
　　`Whynot，Ishouldliketoknow？’criedSirPercival，withasuddenburstofangerthatstartledusboth。`WherecanyoustaymoreproperlyinLondonthanattheplaceyourunclehimselfchoosesforyou——atyouraunt’shouse？AskMrsMichelson。
　　Thearrangementproposedwassounquestionablytherightandtheproperone，thatIcouldmakenopossibleobjectiontoit。MuchasIsympathisedwithLadyGlydeinotherrespects，IcouldnotsympathisewithherinherunjustprejudicesagainstCountFosco。Ineverbeforemetwithanyladyofherrankandstationwhowassolamentablynarrow-mindedonthesubjectofforeigners。Neitherheruncle’snotenorSirPercival’sincreasingimpatienceseemedtohavetheleasteffectonher。ShestillobjectedtostayinganightinLondon，shestillimploredherhusbandnottowritetotheCount。
　　`Dropit！’saidSirPercival，rudelyturninghisbackonus。`Ifyouhaven’tsenseenoughtoknowwhatisbestforyourselfotherpeoplemustknowforyou。Thearrangementismade，andthereisanendofit。YouareonlywantedtodowhatMissHalcombehasdonebeforeyou——’
　　`Marian？’repeatedherladyship，inabewilderedmanner；`MariansleepinginCountFosco’shouse！’
　　`Yes，inCountFosco’shouse。Sheslepttherelastnighttobreakthejourney，andyouaretofollowherexample，anddowhatyouruncletellsyou。YouaretosleepatFosco’stomorrownight，asyoursisterdid，tobreakthejourney。Don’tthrowtoomanyobstaclesinmyway！don’tmakemerepentoflettingyougoatall！’
　　Hestartedtohisfeet，andsuddenlywalkedoutintotheverandahthroughtheopenglassdoors。
　　`Willyourladyshipexcuseme，’Iwhispered，`ifIsuggestthatwehadbetternotwaitheretillSirPercivalcomesback？Iamverymuchafraidheisover-excitedwithwine。’
　　Sheconsentedtoleavetheroominaweary，absentmanner。
　　Assoonasweweresafeupstairsagain，IdidallIcouldtocomposeherladyship’sspirits。IremindedherthatMrFairlie’sletterstoMissHalcombeandtoherselfdidcertainlysanction，andevenrendernecessary，soonerorlater，thecoursethathadbeentaken。Sheagreedtothis，andevenadmitted，ofherownaccord，thatbothletterswerestrictlyincharacterwithheruncle’speculiardisposition——butherfearsaboutMissHalcombe，andherunaccountabledreadofsleepingattheCount’shouseinLondon，stillremainedunshakeninspiteofeveryconsiderationthatIcouldurge。
　　IthoughtitmydutytoprotestagainstLadyGlyde’sunfavourableopinionofhislordship，andIdidso，withbecomingforbearanceandrespect。