`Yourladyshipwillpardonmyfreedom，’Iremarked，inconclusion，`butitissaid，``bytheirfruitsyeshallknowthem。’’IamsuretheCount’sconstantkindnessandconstantattention，fromtheverybeginningofMissHalcombe’sillness，meritourbestconfidenceandesteem。Evenhislordship’sseriousmisunderstandingwithMrDawsonwasentirelyattributabletohisanxietyonMissHalcombe’saccount。’
　　`Whatmisunderstanding？’inquiredherladyship，withalookofsuddeninterest。
　　IrelatedtheunhappycircumstancesunderwhichMrDawsonhadwithdrawnhisattendance——mentioningthemallthemorereadilybecauseIdisapprovedofSirPercival’scontinuingtoconcealwhathadhappenedashehaddoneinmypresencefromtheknowledgeofLadyGlyde。
　　Herladyshipstartedup，witheveryappearanceofbeingadditionallyagitatedandalarmedbywhatIhadtoldher。
　　`Worse！worsethanIthought！’shesaid，walkingabouttheroom，inabewilderedmanner。`TheCountknewMrDawsonwouldneverconsenttoMarian’stakingajourney——hepurposelyinsultedthedoctortogethimoutofthehouse。’
　　`Oh，mylady！mylady！’Iremonstrated。
　　`MrsMichelson！’shewentonvehemently，`nowordsthateverwerespokenwillpersuademethatmysisterisinthatman’spowerandinthatman’shousewithherownconsent-Myhorrorofhimissuch，thatnothingSirPercivalcouldsay，andnolettersmyunclecouldwrite，wouldinduceme，ifIhadonlymyownfeelingstoconsult，toeat，drink，orsleepunderhisroof。ButmymiseryofsuspenseaboutMariangivesmethecouragetofollowheranywhere，tofollowherevenintoCountFosco’shouse。’
　　Ithoughtitright，atthispoint，tomentionthatMissHalcombehadalreadygoneontoCumberland，accordingtoSirPercival’saccountofthematter。
　　`Iamafraidtobelieveit！’answeredherladyship。`Iamafraidsheisstillinthatman’shouse。IfIamwrong，ifshehasreallygonetoLimmeridgeIamresolvedIwillnotsleeptomorrownightunderCountFosco’sroof。Mydearestfriendintheworld，nexttomysister，livesnearLondon。
　　Youhaveheardme，youhaveheardMissHalcombe，speakofMrsVesey？I
　　meantowrite，andproposetosleepatherhouse。Idon’tknowhowIshallgetthere——Idon’tknowhowIshallavoidtheCount——buttothatrefugeIwillescapeinsomeway，ifmysisterhasgonetoCumberland。AllIaskofyoutodo，istoseeyourselfthatmylettertoMrsVeseygoestoLondontonight，ascertainlyasSirPercival’slettergoestoCountFosco。Ihavereasonsfornottrustingthepost-bagdownstairs。Willyoukeepmysecret，andhelpmeinthis？itisthelastfavour，perhaps，thatIshalleveraskofyou。’
　　Ihesitated，Ithoughtitallverystrange，Ialmostfearedthatherladyship’smindhadbeenalittleaffectedbyrecentanxietyandsuffering。
　　Atmyownrisk，however，Iendedbygivingmyconsent。Iftheletterhadbeenaddressedtoastranger，ortoanyonebutaladysowellknowntomebyreportasMrsVesey，Imighthaverefused。IthankGod——lookingtowhathappenedafterwards——IthankGodIneverthwartedthatwish，oranyother，whichLadyGlydeexpressedtome，onthelastdayofherresidenceatBlackwaterPark。
　　Theletterwaswrittenandgivenintomyhands。Imyselfputitintothepost-boxinthevillagethatevening。
　　WesawnothingmoreofSirPercivalfortherestoftheday。
　　Islept，byLadyGlyde’sowndesire，inthenextroomtohers，withthedooropenbetweenus。Therewassomethingsostrangeanddreadfulinthelonelinessandemptinessofthehouse，thatIwasglad，onmyside，tohaveacompanionnearme。Herladyshipsatuplate，readinglettersandburningthem，andemptyingherdrawersandcabinetsoflittlethingssheprized，asifsheneverexpectedtoreturntoBlackwaterPark。Hersleepwassadlydisturbedwhensheatlastwenttobed——shecriedoutinitseveraltimes，oncesoloudthatshewokeherself。Whateverherdreamswere，shedidnotthinkfittocommunicatethemtome。Perhaps，inmysituation，Ihadnorighttoexpectthatsheshoulddoso。Itmatterslittlenow。
　　Iwassorryforher，Iwasindeedheartilysorryforherallthesame。
　　Thenextdaywasfineandsunny。SirPercivalcameup，afterbreakfast，totellusthatthechaisewouldbeatthedoorataquartertotwelve——thetraintoLondonstoppingatourstationattwentyminutesafter。
　　HeinformedLadyGlydethathewasobligedtogoout，butaddedthathehopedtobebackbeforesheleft。Ifanyunforeseenaccidentdelayedhim，Iwastoaccompanyhertothestation，andtotakespecialcarethatshewasintimeforthetrain。SirPercivalcommunicatedthesedirectionsveryhastily——walkinghereandthereabouttheroomallthetime。Herladyshiplookedattentivelyafterhimwhereverhewent。Heneveroncelookedatherinreturn。
　　Sheonlyspokewhenhehaddone，andthenshestoppedhimasheapproachedthedoor，byholdingoutherhand。
　　`Ishallseeyounomore，’shesaid。inaverymarkedmanner。`Thisisourparting——ourparting，itmaybeforever。Willyoutrytoforgiveme，Percival，asheartilyasIforgiveyou？’
　　Hisfaceturnedofanawfulwhitenessallover，andgreatbeadsofperspirationbrokeoutonhisbaldforehead。`Ishallcomeback，’hesaid，andmadeforthedoor，ashastilyasifhiswife’sfarewellwordshadfrightenedhimoutoftheroom。
　　IhadneverlikedSirPercival，butthemannerinwhichheleftLadyGlydemademefeelashamedofhavingeatenhisbreadandlivedinhisservice。
　　IthoughtofsayingafewcomfortingandChristianwordstothepoorlady，buttherewassomethinginherface，asshelookedafterherhusbandwhenthedoorclosedonhim，thatmademealtermymindandkeepsilenceAtthetimenamedthechaisedrewupatthegates。Herladyshipwasright——SirPercivalnevercameback。Iwaitedforhimtillthelastmoment，andwaitedinvain。
　　Nopositiveresponsibilitylayonmyshoulders，andyetIdidnotfeeleasyinmymind。`Itisofyourownfreewill，’Isaid，asthechaisedrovethroughthelodge-gates，`thatyourladyshipgoestoLondon？’
　　`Iwillgoanywhere，’sheanswered，`toendthedreadfulsuspensethatIamsufferingatthismoment。’
　　ShehadmademefeelalmostasanxiousandasuncertainaboutMissHalcombeasshefeltherself。Ipresumedtoaskhertowritemealine，ifallwentwellinLondon。Sheanswered，`Mostwillingly，MrsMichelson。’
　　`Weallhaveourcrossestobear，mylady，’Isaid，seeinghersilentandthoughtful，aftershehadpromisedtowrite。
　　Shemadenoreply——sheseemedtobetoomuchwrappedupinherownthoughtstoattendtome。
　　`Ifearyourladyshiprestedbadlylastnight，’Iremarked，afterwaitingalittle。
　　`Yes，’shesaid，Iwasterriblydisturbedbydreams。’
　　`Indeed，mylady？’Ithoughtshewasgoingtotellmeherdreams，butno，whenshespokenextitwasonlytoaskaquestion。
　　`YoupostedthelettertoMrsVeseywithyourownhands？’
　　`Yes，myLady。’
　　`DidSirPercivalsay，yesterday，thatCountFoscowastomeetmeattheterminusinLondon？’
　　`Hedid，mylady。’
　　ShesighedheavilywhenIansweredthatlastquestion，andsaidnomore。
　　Wearrivedatthestation，withhardlytwominutestospare。Thegardenerwhohaddrivenusmanagedabouttheluggage，whileItooktheticket。
　　ThewhistleofthetrainwassoundingwhenIjoinedherladyshipontheplatform。Shelookedverystrangely，andpressedherhandoverherheart，asifsomesuddenpainorfrighthadovercomeheratthatmoment。
　　`Iwishyouweregoingwithme！’shesaid，catchingeagerlyatmyarmwhenIgavehertheticket。
　　Iftherehadbeentime，ifIhadfeltthedaybeforeasIfeltthen，Iwouldhavemademyarrangementstoaccompanyher，eventhoughthedoingsohadobligedmetogiveSirPercivalwarningonthespot。Asitwas，herwishes，expressedatthelastmomentonly，wereexpressedtoolateformetocomplywiththem。SheseemedtounderstandthisherselfbeforeIcouldexplainit，anddidnotrepeatherdesiretohavemeforatravellingcompanion。Thetraindrewupattheplatform。Shegavethegardenerapresentforhischildren，andtookmyhand，inhersimpleheartymanner，beforeshegotintothecarriage。
　　`Youhavebeenverykindtomeandtomysister，’shesaid——`kindwhenwewerebothfriendless。Ishallrememberyougratefully，aslongasIlivetorememberanyone。Good-bye——andGodblessyou！’
　　Shespokethosewordswithatoneandalookwhichbroughtthetearsintomyeyes——shespokethemasifshewasbiddingmefarewellforever。
　　`Good-bye，mylady，’Isaid，puttingherintothecarriage，andtryingtocheerher；`good-bye，forthepresentonly；good-bye，withmybestandkindestwishesforhappiertimes。’
　　Sheshookherhead，andshudderedasshesettledherselfinthecarriage。
　　Theguardclosedthedoor。`Doyoubelieveindreams？’shewhisperedtomeatthewindow。`Mydreams，lastnight，weredreamsIhaveneverhadbefore。Theterrorofthemishangingovermestill。’ThewhistlesoundedbeforeIcouldanswer，andthetrainmoved。Herpalequietfacelookedatmeforthelasttime——lookedsorrowfullyandsolemnlyfromthewindow。
　　Shewavedherhand，andIsawhernomore。
　　Towardsfiveo’clockontheafternoonofthatsameday，havingalittletimetomyselfinthemidstofthehouseholddutieswhichnowpresseduponme，Isatdownaloneinmyownroom，totryandcomposemymindwiththevolumeofmyhusband’sSermons。ForthefirsttimeinmylifeIfoundmyattentionwanderingoverthosepiousandcheeringwords。ConcludingthatLadyGlyde’sdeparturemusthavedisturbedmefarmoreseriouslythanI