Iheldhimdesperately，recklessly。Hiseyes，putmebesidemyself；hiswordsfilledmewithafrenzyofdespair。
　　"Gowhereyoumay，"Isaid，"Igowithyou！
　　Friends——reputation——IcarenothingwhoIlose，orwhatIlose！
　　Oh，Eustace，Iamonlyawoman——don’tmaddenme！Ican’tlivewithoutyou。Imustandwillbeyourwife！"
　　ThosewildwordswereallIcouldsaybeforethemiseryandmadnessinmeforcedtheirwayoutwardinaburstofsobsandtears。
　　Heyielded。Hesoothedmewithhischarmingvoice；hebroughtmebacktomyselfwithhistendercaresses。Hecalledthebrightheavenaboveustowitnessthathedevotedhiswholelifetome。
　　Hevowed——oh，insuchsolemn，sucheloquentwords！——thathisonethought，nightandday，shouldbetoprovehimselfworthyofsuchloveasmine。Andhadhenotnoblyredeemedthepledge？Hadnotthebetrothalofthatmemorablenightbeenfollowedbythebetrothalatthealtar，bythevowsbeforeGod！Ah，whatalifewasbeforeme！Whatmorethanmortalhappinesswasmine！
　　AgainIliftedmyheadfromhisbosomtotastethedeardelightofseeinghimbymyside——mylife，mylove，myhusband，myown！
　　Hardlyawakenedyetfromtheabsorbingmemoriesofthepasttothesweetrealitiesofthepresent，Iletmycheektouchhischeek，Iwhisperedtohimsoftly，"Oh，howIloveyou！howIloveyou！"
　　ThenextinstantIstartedbackfromhim。Myheartstoodstill。I
　　putmyhanduptomyface。WhatdidIfeelonmycheek？（_I_hadnotbeenweeping——Iwastoohappy。）WhatdidIfeelonmycheek？
　　Atear！
　　Hisfacewasstillavertedfromme。Iturnedittowardme，withmyownhands，bymainforce。
　　Ilookedathim——andsawmyhusband，onourwedding—day，withhiseyesfulloftears。
　　CHAPTERIII。
　　RAMSGATESANDS。
　　EUSTACEsucceededinquietingmyalarm。ButIcanhardlysaythathesucceededinsatisfyingmymindaswell。
　　Hehadbeenthinking，hetoldme，ofthecontrastbetweenhispastandhispresentlife。Bitterremembranceoftheyearsthathadgonehadriseninhismemory，andhadfilledhimwithmelancholymisgivingsofhiscapacitytomakemylifewithhimahappyone。Hehadaskedhimselfifhehadnotmetmetoolate——ifhewerenotalreadyamansouredandbrokenbythedisappointmentsanddisenchantmentsofthepast？Doubtssuchasthese，weighingmoreandmoreheavilyonhismind，hadfilledhiseyeswiththetearswhichIhaddiscovered——tearswhichhenowentreatedme，bymyloveforhim，todismissfrommymemoryforever。
　　Iforgavehim，comfortedhim，revivedhim；butthereweremomentswhentheremembranceofwhatIhadseentroubledmeinsecret，andwhenIaskedmyselfifIreallypossessedmyhusband’sfullconfidenceashepossessedmine。
　　WeleftthetrainatRamsgate。
　　Thefavoritewatering—placewasempty；theseasonwasjustover。
　　OurarrangementsfortheweddingtourincludedacruisetotheMediterraneaninayachtlenttoEustacebyafriend。Wewerebothfondofthesea，andwewereequallydesirous，consideringthecircumstancesunderwhichwehadmarried，ofescapingthenoticeoffriendsandacquaintances。Withthisobjectinview，havingcelebratedourmarriageprivatelyinLondon，wehaddecidedoninstructingthesailing—masteroftheyachttojoinusatRamsgate。Atthisport（whentheseasonforvisitorswasatanend）wecouldembarkfarmoreprivatelythanatthepopularyachtingstationssituatedintheIsleofWight。
　　Threedayspassed——daysofdelicioussolitude，ofexquisitehappiness，nevertobeforgotten，nevertobelivedoveragain，totheendofourlives！
　　Earlyonthemorningofthefourthday，justbeforesunrise，atriflingincidenthappened，whichwasnoticeable，nevertheless，asbeingstrangetomeinmyexperienceofmyself。
　　Iawoke，suddenlyandunaccountably，fromadeepanddreamlesssleepwithanall—pervadingsensationofnervousuneasinesswhichIhadneverfeltbefore。IntheolddaysattheVicaragemycapacityasasoundsleeperhadbeenthesubjectofmanyalittleharmlessjoke。FromthemomentwhenmyheadwasonthepillowI
　　hadneverknownwhatitwastoawakeuntilthemaidknockedatmydoor。AtallseasonsandtimesthelonganduninterruptedreposeofachildwasthereposethatIenjoyed。
　　AndnowIhadawakened，withoutanyassignablecause，hoursbeforemyusualtime。Itriedtocomposemyselftosleepagain。
　　Theeffortwasuseless。SucharestlessnesspossessedmethatI
　　wasnotevenabletoliestillinthebed。Myhusbandwassleepingsoundlybymyside。InthefearofdisturbinghimI
　　rose，andputonmydressing—gownandslippers。
　　Iwenttothewindow。Thesunwasjustrisingoverthecalmgraysea。Forawhilethemajesticspectaclebeforemeexercisedatranquilizinginfluenceontheirritableconditionofmynerves。
　　Buterelongtheoldrestlessnessreturneduponme。Iwalkedslowlytoandfrointheroom，untilIwaswearyofthemonotonyoftheexercise。Itookupabook，andlaiditasideagain。Myattentionwandered；theauthorwaspowerlesstorecallit。Igotonmyfeetoncemore，andlookedatEustace，andadmiredhimandlovedhiminhistranquilsleep。Iwentbacktothewindow，andweariedofthebeautifulmorning。Isatdownbeforetheglassandlookedatmyself。HowhaggardandwornIwasalready，throughawakingbeforemyusualtime！Iroseagain，notknowingwhattodonext。Theconfinementtothefourwallsoftheroombegantobeintolerabletome。Iopenedthedoorthatledintomyhusband’sdressing—room，andenteredit，totryifthechangewouldrelieveme。
　　ThefirstobjectthatInoticedwashisdressing—case，openonthetoilet—table。
　　Itookoutthebottlesandpotsandbrushesandcombs，theknivesandscissorsinonecompartment，thewritingmaterialsinanother。Ismelledtheperfumesandpomatums；IbusilycleanedanddustedthebottleswithmyhandkerchiefasItookthemout。
　　LittlebylittleIcompletelyemptiedthedressing—case。Itwaslinedwithbluevelvet。InonecornerInoticedatinyslipofloosebluesilk。Takingitbetweenmyfingerandthumb，anddrawingitupward，Idiscoveredthattherewasafalsebottomtothecase，formingasecretcompartmentforlettersandpapers。Inmystrangecondition——capricious，idle，inquisitive——itwasanamusementtometotakeoutthepapers，justasIhadtakenouteverythingelse。
　　Ifoundsomereceiptedbills，whichfailedtointerestme；someletters，whichitisneedlesstosayIlaidasideafteronlylookingattheaddresses；and，underall，aphotograph，facedownward，withwritingonthebackofit。Ilookedatthewriting，andsawthesewords：
　　"Tomydearson，Eustace。"
　　Hismother！thewomanwhohadsoobstinatelyandmercilesslyopposedherselftoourmarriage！
　　Ieagerlyturnedthephotograph，expectingtoseeawomanwithastern，ill—tempered，forbiddingcountenance。Tomysurprise，thefaceshowedtheremainsofgreatbeauty；theexpression，thoughremarkablyfirm，wasyetwinning，tender，andkind。Thegrayhairwasarrangedinrowsoflittlequaintold—fashionedcurlsoneithersideofthehead，underaplainlacecap。Atonecornerofthemouththerewasamark，apparentlyamole，whichaddedtothecharacteristicpeculiarityoftheface。Ilookedandlooked，fixingtheportraitthoroughlyinmymind。Thiswoman，whohadalmostinsultedmeandmyrelatives，was，beyondalldoubtordispute，sofarasappearanceswent，apersonpossessingunusualattractions——apersonwhomitwouldbeapleasureandaprivilegetoknow。
　　Ifellintodeepthought。Thediscoveryofthephotographquietedmeasnothinghadquietedmeyet。
　　Thestrikingofaclockdownstairsinthehallwarnedmeoftheflightoftime。Icarefullyputbackalltheobjectsinthedressing—case（beginningwiththephotograph）exactlyasIhadfoundthem，andreturnedtothebedroom。AsIlookedatmyhusband，stillsleepingpeacefully，thequestionforceditselfintomymind，Whathadmadethatgenial，gentlemotherofhissosternlybentonpartingus？soharshlyandpitilesslyresoluteinassertingherdisapprovalofourmarriage？
　　CouldIputmyquestionopenlytoEustacewhenheawoke？No；I
　　wasafraidtoventurethatlength。Ithadbeentacitlyunderstoodbetweenusthatwewerenottospeakofhismother——and，besides，hemightbeangryifheknewthatIhadopenedtheprivatecompartmentofhisdressing—case。
　　Afterbreakfastthatmorningwehadnewsatlastoftheyacht。
　　Thevesselwassafelymooredintheinnerharbor，andthesailing—masterwaswaitingtoreceivemyhusband’sordersonboard。
　　Eustacehesitatedataskingmetoaccompanyhimtotheyacht。Itwouldbenecessaryforhimtoexaminetheinventoryofthevessel，andtodecidequestions，notveryinterestingtoawoman，relatingtochartsandbarometers，provisionsandwater。HeaskedmeifIwouldwaitforhisreturn。Thedaywasenticinglybeautiful，andthetidewasontheebb。Ipleadedforawalkonthesands；andthelandladyatourlodgings，whohappenedtobeintheroomatthetime，volunteeredtoaccompanymeandtakecareofme。ItwasagreedthatweshouldwalkasfaraswefeltinclinedinthedirectionofBroadstairs，andthatEustaceshouldfollowandmeetusonthesands，afterhavingcompletedhisarrangementsonboardtheyacht。
　　InhalfanhourmorethelandladyandIwereoutonthebeach。
　　Thesceneonthatfineautumnmorningwasnothinglessthanenchanting。Thebriskbreeze，thebrilliantsky，theflashingbluesea，thesun—brightcliffsandthetawnysandsattheirfeet，theglidingprocessionofshipsonthegreatmarinehighwayoftheEnglishChannel——itwasallsoexhilarating，itwasallsodelightful，thatIreallybelieveifIhadbeenbymyselfIcouldhavedancedforjoylikeachild。Theonedrawbacktomyhappinesswasthelandlady’suntiringtongue。Shewasaforward，good—natured，empty—headedwoman，whopersistedintalking，whetherIlistenedornot，andwhohadahabitofperpetuallyaddressingmeas"Mrs。Woodville，"whichIthoughtalittleoverfamiliarasanassertionofequalityfromapersoninherpositiontoapersoninmine。
　　Wehadbeenout，Ishouldthink，morethanhalfanhour，whenweovertookaladywalkingbeforeusonthebeach。
　　Justaswewereabouttopassthestrangershetookherhandkerchieffromherpocket，andaccidentallydrewoutwithitaletter，whichfellunnoticedbyher，onthesand。Iwasnearesttotheletter，andIpickeditupandofferedittothelady。
　　Theinstantsheturnedtothankme，Istoodrootedtothespot。
　　Therewastheoriginalofthephotographicportraitinthedressing—case！therewasmyhusband’smother，standingfacetofacewithme！Irecognizedthequaintlittlegraycurls，thegentle，genialexpression，themoleatthecornerofthemouth。
　　Nomistakewaspossible。Hismotherherself！
　　Theoldlady，naturallyenough，mistookmyconfusionforshyness。
　　Withperfecttactandkindnesssheenteredintoconversationwithme。InanotherminuteIwaswalkingsidebysidewiththewomanwhohadsternlyrepudiatedmeasamemberofherfamily；feeling，Iown，terriblydiscomposed，andnotknowingintheleastwhetherIoughtoroughtnottoassumetheresponsibility，inmyhusband’sabsence，oftellingherwhoIwas。
　　Inanotherminutemyfamiliarlandlady，walkingontheothersideofmymother—in—law，decidedthequestionforme。IhappenedtosaythatIsupposedwemustbythattimebeneartheendofourwalk——thelittlewatering—placecalledBroadstairs。"Ohno，Mrs。
　　Woodville！criedtheirrepressiblewoman，callingmebymyname，asusual；"nothinglikesonearasyouthink！"
　　Ilookedwithabeatingheartattheoldlady。
　　Tomyunutterableamazement，notthefaintestgleamofrecognitionappearedinherface。OldMrs。WoodvillewentontalkingtoyoungMrs。Woodvillejustascomposedlyasifshehadneverheardherownnamebeforeinherlife！
　　MyfaceandmannermusthavebetrayedsomethingoftheagitationthatIwassuffering。Happeningtolookatmeattheendofhernextsentence，theoldladystarted，andsaid，inherkindlyway，"Iamafraidyouhaveoverexertedyourself。Youareverypale——youarelookingquiteexhausted。Comeandsitdownhere；
　　letmelendyoumysmelling—bottle。"
　　Ifollowedher，quitehelplessly，tothebaseofthecliff。Somefallenfragmentsofchalkofferedusaseat。Ivaguelyheardthevolublelandlady’sexpressionsofsympathyandregret；I
　　mechanicallytookthesmelling—bottlewhichmyhusband’smotherofferedtome，afterhearingmyname，asanactofkindnesstoastrangerIfIhadonlyhadmyselftothinkof，IbelieveIshouldhaveprovokedanexplanationonthespot。ButIhadEustacetothinkof。Iwasentirelyignorantoftherelations，hostileorfriendly，whichexistedbetweenhismotherandhimself。WhatcouldIdo？
　　Inthemeantimetheoldladywasstillspeakingtomewiththemostconsideratesympathy。Shetoowasfatigued。shesaid。ShehadpassedawearynightatthebedsideofanearrelativestayingatRamsgate。Onlythedaybeforeshehadreceivedatelegramannouncingthatoneofhersisterswasseriouslyill。
　　ShewasherselfthankGod，stillactiveandstrong，andshehadthoughtitherdutytostartatonceforRamsgate。Towardthemorningthestateofthepatienthadimproved。"Thedoctorassuresmema’am，thatthereisnoimmediatedanger；andI
　　thoughtitmightreviveme，aftermylongnightatthebedside，ifItookalittlewalkonthebeach。"
　　Iheardthewords——Iunderstoodwhattheymeant——butIwasstilltoobewilderedandtoointimidatedbymyextraordinarypositiontobeabletocontinuetheconversation。Thelandladyhadasensiblesuggestiontomake——thelandladywasthenextpersonwhospoke。
　　"Hereisagentlemancoming，"shesaidtome，pointinginthedirectionofRamsgate。Youcanneverwalkback。ShallweaskhimtosendachaisefromBroadstairstothegapinthecliff？"
　　Thegentlemanadvancedalittlenearer。
　　ThelandladyandIrecognizedhimatthesamemoment。ItwasEustacecomingtomeetus，aswehadarranged。Theirrepressiblelandladygavethefreestexpressiontoherfeelings。Oh，Mrs。
　　Woodville，ain’titlucky？hereisMr。Woodvillehimself。"
　　OncemoreIlookedatmymother—in—law。Oncemorethenamefailedtoproducetheslightesteffectonher。Hersightwasnotsokeenasours；shehadnotrecognizedhersonyet。Hehadyoungeyeslikeus，andherecognizedhismother。Foramomenthestoppedlikeamanthunderstruck。Thenhecameon——hisruddyfacewhitewithsuppressedemotion，hiseyesfixedonhismother。
　　"Youhere！"hesaidtoher。
　　"Howdoyoudo，Eustace？"shequietlyrejoined。"Have_you_heardofyouraunt’sillnesstoo？DidyouknowshewasstayingatRamsgate？"
　　Hemadenoanswer。Thelandlady，drawingtheinevitableinferencefromthewordsthatshehadjustheard，lookedfrommetomymother—in—lawinastateofamazement，whichparalyzedevenhertongue。Iwaitedwithmyeyesonmyhusband，toseewhathewoulddo。Ifhehaddelayedacknowledgingmeanothermoment，thewholefuturecourseofmylifemighthavebeenaltered——Ishouldhavedespisedhim。
　　Hedid_not_delay。Hecametomysideandtookmyhand。
　　"Doyouknowwhothisis？"besaidtohismother。
　　Sheanswered，lookingatmewithacourteousbendofherhead：
　　"AladyImetonthebeach，Eustace，whokindlyrestoredtomealetterthatIdropped。IthinkIheardthename"（sheturnedtothelandlady）：Mrs。Woodville，wasitnot？"
　　Myhusband’sfingersunconsciouslyclosedonmyhandwithagraspthathurtme。Hesethismotherright，itisonlyjusttosay，withoutonecowardlymomentofhesitation。
　　"Mother，"hesaidtoher，veryquietly，"thisladyismywife。"
　　Shehadhithertokeptherseat。Shenowroseslowlyandfacedhersoninsilence。Thefirstexpressionofsurprisepassedfromherface。ItwassucceededbythemostterriblelookofmingledindignationandcontemptthatIeversawinawoman’seyes。
　　"Ipityyourwife，"shesaid。
　　Withthosewordsandnomore，liftingherhandshewavedhimbackfromher，andwentonherwayagain，aswehadfirstfoundher，alone。
　　CHAPTERIV。
　　ONTHEWAYHOME。
　　LEFTbyourselves，therewasamomentofsilenceamongus。
　　Eustacespokefirst。
　　"Areyouabletowalkback？"hesaidtome。"OrshallwegoontoBroadstairs，andreturntoRamsgatebytherailway？"
　　Heputthosequestionsascomposedly，sofarashismannerwasconcerned，asifnothingremarkablehadhappened。Buthiseyesandhislipsbetrayedhim。Theytoldmethathewassufferingkeenlyinsecret。Theextraordinaryscenethathadjustpassed，farfromdeprivingmeofthelastremainsofmycourage，hadstrungupmynervesandrestoredmyself—possession。Imusthavebeenmoreorlessthanwomanifmyself—respecthadnotbeenwounded，ifmycuriosityhadnotbeenwroughttothehighestpitch，bytheextraordinaryconductofmyhusband’smotherwhenEustacepresentedmetoher。Whatwasthesecretofherdespisinghim，andpityingme？Wherewastheexplanationofherincomprehensibleapathywhenmynamewastwicepronouncedinherhearing？Whyhadsheleftus，asifthebareideaofremaininginourcompanywasabhorrenttoher？Theforemostinterestofmylifewasnowtheinterestofpenetratingthesemysteries。Walk？I
　　wasinsuchafeverofexpectationthatIfeltasifIcouldhavewalkedtotheworld’send，ifIcouldonlykeepmyhusbandbymyside，andquestionhimontheway。
　　"Iamquiterecovered，"Isaid。"Letusgoback，aswecame，onfoot。"
　　Eustaceglancedatthelandlady。Thelandladyunderstoodhim。
　　"Iwon’tintrudemycompanyonyou，sir，"shesaid，sharply。"I
　　havesomebusinesstodoatBroadstairs，and，nowIamsonear，I
　　mayaswellgoon。Good—morning，Mrs。Woodville。"
　　Shelaidamarkedemphasisonmyname，andsheaddedonesignificantlookatparting，which（inthepreoccupiedstateofmymindatthatmoment）Ientirelyfailedtocomprehend。Therewasneithertimenoropportunitytoaskherwhatshemeant。Withastifflittlebow，addressedtoEustace，sheleftusashismotherhadleftustakingthewaytoBroadstairs，andwalkingrapidly。
　　Atlastwewerealone。
　　Ilostnotimeinbeginningmyinquiries；Iwastednowordsinprefatoryphrases。IntheplainesttermsIputthequestiontohim：
　　"Whatdoesyourmother’sconductmean？"
　　Insteadofanswering，heburstintoafitoflaughter——loud，coarse，hardlaughter，soutterlyunlikeanysoundIhadeveryetheardissuefromhislips，sostrangelyandshockinglyforeigntohischaracteras_I_understoodit，thatIstoodstillonthesandsandopenlyremonstratedwithhim。
　　"Eustace！youarenotlikeyourself，"Isaid。Youalmostfrightenme。"
　　Hetooknonotice。Heseemedtobepursuingsomepleasanttrainofthoughtjuststartedinhismind。
　　"Solikemymother！"heexclaimed，withtheairofamanwhofeltirresistiblydivertedbysomehumorousideaofhisown。"Tellmeallaboutit，Valeria！"
　　"Tell_you_！"Irepeated。"Afterwhathashappened，surelyitisyourdutytoenlighten_me_。"
　　"Youdon’tseethejoke，"hesaid。
　　"Inotonlyfailtoseethejoke，"Irejoined，"Iseesomethinginyourmother’slanguageandyourmother’sbehaviorwhichjustifiesmeinaskingyouforaseriousexplanation。"
　　"MydearValeria，ifyouunderstoodmymotheraswellasIdo，aseriousexplanationofherconductwouldbethelastthingintheworldthatyouwouldexpectfromme。Theideaoftakingmymotherseriously！"Heburstoutlaughingagain。"Mydarling，youdon’tknowhowyouamuseme。"
　　Itwasallforced：itwasallunnatural。He，themostdelicate，themostrefinedofmen——agentlemaninthehighestsenseoftheword——wascoarseandloudandvulgar！Myheartsankunderasuddensenseofmisgivingwhich，withallmyloveforhim，itwasimpossibletoresist。InunutterabledistressandalarmIaskedmyself，"Ismyhusbandbeginningtodeceiveme？isheactingapart，andactingitbadly，beforewehavebeenmarriedaweek？"I
　　setmyselftowinhisconfidenceinanewway。Hewasevidentlydeterminedtoforcehisownpointofviewonme。Idetermined，onmyside，toaccepthispointofview。
　　"YoutellmeIdon’tunderstandyourmother，"Isaid，gently。
　　"Willyouhelpmetounderstandher？"
　　"Itisnoteasytohelpyoutounderstandawomanwhodoesn’tunderstandherself，"heanswered。"ButIwilltry。Thekeytomypoordearmother’scharacteris，inoneword——Eccentricity。"
　　IfhehadpickedoutthemostinappropriatewordinthewholedictionarytodescribetheladywhomIhadmetonthebeach，"Eccentricity"wouldhavebeenthatword。AchildwhohadseenwhatIsaw，whohadheardwhatIheardwouldhavediscoveredthathewastrifling——grossly，recklesslytrifling——withthetruth"BearinmindwhatIhavesaid，"heproceeded；"andifyouwanttounderstandmymother，dowhatIaskedyoutodoaminutesince——tellmeallaboutit。Howcameyoutospeaktoher，tobeginwith？"
　　"Yourmothertoldyou，Eustace。Iwaswalkingjustbehindher，whenshedroppedaletterbyaccident——"
　　"Noaccident，"heinterposed。"Theletterwasdroppedonpurpose。"
　　"Impossible！"Iexclaimed。"Whyshouldyourmotherdroptheletteronpurpose？"
　　"Usethekeytohercharacter，mydear。Eccentricity！Mymother’soddwayofmakingacquaintancewithyou。"
　　"Makingacquaintancewithme？IhavejusttoldyouthatIwaswalkingbehindher。ShecouldnothaveknownoftheexistenceofsuchapersonasmyselfuntilIspoketoherfirst。"
　　"Soyousuppose，Valeria。"
　　"Iamcertainofit。"
　　"Pardonme——youdon’tknowmymotherasIdo。"
　　Ibegantoloseallpatiencewithhim。
　　"Doyoumeantotellme，"Isaid，"thatyourmotherwasoutonthesandsto—dayfortheexpresspurposeofmakingacquaintancewithMe？"
　　"Ihavenottheslightestdoubtofit，"heanswered，coolly。
　　"Why，shedidn’tevenrecognizemyname！"Iburstout。"TwiceoverthelandladycalledmeMrs。Woodvilleinyourmother’shearing，andtwiceover，Ideclaretoyouonmywordofhonor，itfailedtoproducetheslightestimpressiononher。Shelookedandactedasifshehadneverheardherownnamebeforeinherlife。"
　　"’Acted’istherightword，"hesaid，justascomposedlyasbefore。"Thewomenonthestagearenottheonlywomenwhocanact。Mymother’sobjectwastomakeherselfthoroughlyacquaintedwithyou，andtothrowyouoffyourguardbyspeakinginthecharacterofastranger。Itisexactlylikehertotakethatroundaboutwayofsatisfyinghercuriosityaboutadaughter—in—lawshedisapprovesof。IfIhadnotjoinedyouwhenIdid，youwouldhavebeenexaminedandcross—examinedaboutyourselfandaboutme，andyouwouldinnocentlyhaveansweredundertheimpressionthatyouwerespeakingtoachanceacquaintance。Thereismymotherallover！Sheisyourenemy，remember——notyourfriend。Sheisnotinsearchofyourmerits，butofyourfaults。Andyouwonderwhynoimpressionwasproducedonherwhensheheardyouaddressedbyyourname！Poorinnocent！
　　Icantellyouthis——youonlydiscoveredmymotherinherowncharacterwhenIputanendtothemystificationbypresentingyoutoeachother。Yousawhowangryshewas，andnowyouknowwhy。"
　　Ilethimgoonwithoutsayingaword。Ilistened——oh！withsuchaheavyheart，withsuchacrushingsenseofdisenchantmentanddespair！Theidolofmyworship，thecompanion，guide，protectorofmylife——hadhefallensolow？couldhestooptosuchshamelessprevaricationasthis？
　　Wasthereonewordoftruthinallthathehadsaidtome？Yes！
　　IfIhadnotdiscoveredhismother’sportrait，itwascertainlytruethatIshouldnothaveknown，notevenhavevaguelysuspected，whoshereallywas。Apartfromthis，therestwaslying，clumsylying，whichsaidonethingatleastforhim，thathewasnotaccustomedtofalsehoodanddeceit。GoodHeavens！ifmyhusbandwastobebelieved，hismothermusthavetrackedustoLondon，trackedustothechurch，trackedustotherailwaystation，trackedustoRamsgate！ToassertthatsheknewmebysightasthewifeofEustace，andthatshehadwaitedonthesandsanddroppedherletterfortheexpresspurposeofmakingacquaintancewithme，wasalsotoasserteveryoneofthesemonstrousprobabilitiestobefactsthathadactuallyhappened！
　　Icouldsaynomore。Iwalkedbyhissideinsilence，feelingthemiserableconvictionthattherewasanabyssintheshapeofafamilysecretbetweenmyhusbandandme。Inthespirit，ifnotinthebody，wewereseparated，afteramarriedlifeofbarelyfourdays。
　　"Valeria，"heasked，"haveyounothingtosaytome？"
　　"Nothing。"
　　"Areyounotsatisfiedwithmyexplanation？"
　　Idetectedaslighttremorinhisvoiceasheputthatquestion。
　　Thetonewas，forthefirsttimesincewehadspokentogether，atonethatmyexperienceassociatedwithhimincertainmoodsofhiswhichIhadalreadylearnedtoknowwell。Amongthehundredthousandmysteriousinfluenceswhichamanexercisesoverawomanwholoveshim，Idoubtifthereisanymoreirresistibletoherthantheinfluenceofhisvoice。Iamnotoneofthosewomenwhoshedtearsonthesmallestprovocation：itisnotinmytemperament，Isuppose。ButwhenIheardthatlittlenaturalchangeinhistonemymindwentback（Ican’tsaywhy）tothehappydaywhenIfirstownedthatIlovedhim。Iburstoutcrying。
　　Hesuddenlystoodstill，andtookmebythehand。Hetriedtolookatme。
　　Ikeptmyheaddownandmyeyesontheground。Iwasashamedofmyweaknessandmywantofspirit。Iwasdeterminednottolookathim。
　　Inthesilencethatfollowedhesuddenlydroppedonhiskneesatmyfeet，withacryofdespairthatcutthroughmelikeaknife。
　　"Valeria！Iamvile——Iamfalse——Iamunworthyofyou。Don’tbelieveawordofwhatIhavebeensaying——lies，lies，cowardly，contemptiblelies！Youdon’tknowwhatIhavegonethrough；youdon’tknowhowIhavebeentortured。Oh，mydarling，trynottodespiseme！ImusthavebeenbesidemyselfwhenIspoketoyouasIdid。Youlookedhurt；youlookedoffended；Ididn’tknowwhattodo。Iwantedtospareyouevenamoment’spain——Iwantedtohushitup，andhavedonewithit。ForGod’ssakedon’taskmetotellyouanymore！Mylove！myangel！it’ssomethingbetweenmymotherandme；it’snothingthatneeddisturbyou；it’snothingtoanybodynow。Iloveyou，Iadoreyou；mywholeheartandsoulareyours。Besatisfiedwiththat。Forgetwhathashappened。Youshallneverseemymotheragain。Wewillleavethisplaceto—morrow。Wewillgoawayintheyacht。Doesitmatterwherewelive，solongasweliveforeachother？Forgiveandforget！Oh，Valeria，Valeria，forgiveandforget！"
　　Unutterablemiserywasinhisface；unutterablemiserywasinhisvoice。Rememberthis。AndrememberthatIlovedhim。
　　"Itiseasytoforgive，"Isaid，sadly。"Foryoursake，Eustace，Iwilltrytoforget。"
　　IraisedhimgentlyasIspoke。Hekissedmyhandswiththeairofamanwhowastoohumbletoventureonanymorefamiliarexpressionofhisgratitudethanthat。ThesenseofembarrassmentbetweenusasweslowlywalkedonagainwassounendurablethatI
　　actuallycastaboutinmymindforasubjectofconversation，asifIhadbeeninthecompanyofastranger！Inmercyto_him_，I
　　askedhimtotellmeabouttheyacht。
　　Heseizedonthesubjectasadrowningmanseizesonthehandthatrescueshim。
　　Onthatonepoorlittletopicoftheyachthetalked，talked，talked，asifhislifedependeduponhisnotbeingsilentforaninstantontherestofthewayback。Tomeitwasdreadfultohearhim。Icouldestimatewhathewassufferingbytheviolencewhichhe——ordinarilyasilentandthoughtfulman——wasnowdoingtohistruenature，andtotheprejudicesandhabitsofhislife。
　　WiththegreatestdifficultyIpreservedmyself—controluntilwereachedthedoorofourlodgings。ThereIwasobligedtopleadfatigue，andaskhimtoletmerestforalittlewhileinthesolitudeofmyownroom。
　　"Shallwesailto—morrow？"hecalledaftermesuddenly，asI
　　ascendedthestairs。