Washecomparingmewiththevictimofthepoison——withmyhusband’sfirstwife？Hiswordsseemedtojustifytheconclusion。
　　IfIwereright，thedeadwomanhadevidentlybeenafavoritewithhim。Therewasnomisinterpretingthebrokentonesofhisvoicewhenhespokeofher：hehadadmiredher，living；hemournedher，dead。SupposingthatIcouldprevailuponmyselftoadmitthisextraordinarypersonintomyconfidence，whatwouldbetheresult？ShouldIbethegainerortheloserbytheresemblancewhichhefanciedhehaddiscovered？Wouldthesightofmeconsolehimorpainhim？Iwaitedeagerlytohearmoreonthesubjectofthefirstwife。Notawordmoreescapedhislips。
　　Anewchangecameoverhim。Heliftedhisheadwithastart，andlookedabouthimasawearymanmightlookifhewassuddenlydisturbedinadeepsleep。
　　"WhathaveIdone？"hesaid。"HaveIbeenlettingmyminddriftagain？"Heshudderedandsighed。"Oh，thathouseofGleninch！"hemurmured，sadly，tohimself。"ShallInevergetawayfromitinmythoughts？Oh，thathouseofGleninch！"
　　Tomyinfinitedisappointment，Mrs。Macallancheckedthefurtherrevelationofwhatwaspassinginhismind。
　　Somethinginthetoneandmannerofhisallusiontoherson’scountry—houseseemedtohaveoffendedher。Sheinterposedsharplyanddecisively。
　　"Gently，myfriend，gently！"shesaid。"Idon’tthinkyouquiteknowwhatyouaretalkingabout。"
　　Hisgreatblueeyesflashedatherfiercely。Withoneturnofhishandhebroughthischaircloseatherside。Thenextinstanthecaughtherbythearm，andforcedhertobendtohim，untilhecouldwhisperinherear。Hewasviolentlyagitated。HiswhisperwasloudenoughtomakeitselfheardwhereIwassittingatthetime。
　　"Idon’tknowwhatIamtalkingabout？"herepeated，withhiseyesfixedattentively，notonmymother—in—law，butonme。"Youshortsightedoldwoman！whereareyourspectacles？Lookather！
　　Doyouseenoresemblance——thefigure，nottheface！——doyouseenoresemblancetheretoEustace’sfirstwife？"
　　"Purefancy！"rejoinedMrs。Macallan。"Iseenothingofthesort。"
　　Heshookherimpatiently。
　　"Notsoloud！"hewhispered。"Shewillhearyou。"
　　"Ihaveheardyouboth，"Isaid。"Youneedhavenofear，Mr。
　　Dexter，ofspeakingbeforeme。Iknowthatmyhusbandhadafirstwife，andIknowhowmiserablyshedied。IhavereadtheTrial。"
　　"Youhavereadthelifeanddeathofamartyr！"criedMiserrimusDexter。Hesuddenlywheeledhischairmyway；hebentoverme；
　　hiseyesfilledwithtears。"Nobodyappreciatedherathertruevalue，"hesaid，"butme。Nobodybutme！nobodybutme！"
　　Mrs。Macallanwalkedawayimpatientlytotheendoftheroom。
　　"Whenyouareready，Valeria，Iam，"shesaid。"Wecannotkeeptheservantsandthehorseswaitingmuchlongerinthisbleakplace。"
　　IwastoodeeplyinterestedinleadingMiserrimusDextertopursuethesubjectonwhichhehadtouchedtobewillingtoleavehimatthatmoment。IpretendednottohaveheardMrs。Macallan。
　　Ilaidmyhand，asifbyaccident，onthewheel—chairtokeephimnearme。
　　"YoushowedmehowhighlyyouesteemedthatpoorladyinyourevidenceattheTrial，"Isaid。"Ibelieve，Mr。Dexter，youhaveideasofyourownaboutthemysteryofherdeath？"
　　Hehadbeenlookingatmyhand，restingonthearmofhischair，untilIventuredonmyquestion。Atthathesuddenlyraisedhiseyes，andfixedthemwithafrowningandfurtivesuspiciononmyface。
　　"HowdoyouknowIhaveideasofmyown？"heasked，sternly。
　　"IknowitfromreadingtheTrial，"Ianswered。"Thelawyerwhocross—examinedyouspokealmostintheverywordswhichIhavejustused。Ihadnointentionofoffendingyou，Mr。Dexter。"
　　Hisfaceclearedasrapidlyasithadclouded。Hesmiled，andlaidhishandonmine。Histouchstruckmecold。Ifelteverynerveinmeshiveringunderit；Idrewmyhandawayquickly。
　　"Ibegyourpardon，"hesaid，"ifIhavemisunderstoodyou。I
　　_have_ideasofmyownaboutthatunhappylady。"Hepausedandlookedatmeinsilenceveryearnestly。"Have_you_anyideas？"
　　heasked。"Ideasaboutherlife？oraboutherdeath？"
　　Iwasdeeplyinterested；Iwasburningtohearmore。ItmightencouragehimtospeakifIwerecandidwithhim。Ianswered，"Yes。"
　　"Ideaswhichyouhavementionedtoanyone？"hewenton。
　　"Tonolivingcreature，"Ireplied——"asyet。"
　　"Thisverystrange！"hesaid，stillearnestlyreadingmyface。
　　"Whatinterestcan_you_haveinadeadwomanwhomyouneverknew？Whydidyouaskmethatquestionjustnow？Haveyouanymotiveincomingheretoseeme？"
　　Iboldlyacknowledgedthetruth。Isaid，"Ihaveamotive。"
　　"IsitconnectedwithEustaceMacallan’sfirstwife？"
　　"Itis。"
　　"Withanythingthathappenedinherlifetime？"
　　"No。"
　　"Withherdeath？"
　　"Yes。"
　　Hesuddenlyclaspedhishandswithawildgestureofdespair，andthenpressedthembothonhishead，asifhewerestruckbysomesuddenpain。
　　"Ican’thearitto—night！"hesaid。"Iwouldgiveworldstohearit，butIdaren’t。IshouldloseallholdovermyselfinthestateIaminnow。Iamnotequaltorakingupthehorrorandthemysteryofthepast；Ihavenotcourageenoughtoopenthegraveofthemartyreddead。Didyouhearmewhenyoucamehere？Ihaveanimmenseimagination。Itrunsriotattimes。Itmakesanactorofme。Iplaythepartsofalltheheroesthateverlived。Ifeeltheircharacters。Imergemyselfintheirindividualities。ForthetimeI_am_themanIfancymyselftobe。Ican’thelpit。I
　　amobligedtodoit。IfIrestrainedmyimaginationwhenthefitisonme，Ishouldgomad。Iletmyselfloose。Itlastsforhours。Itleavesmewithmyenergieswornout，withmysensibilitiesfrightfullyacute。Rouseanymelancholyorterribleassociationsinmeatsuchtimes，andIamcapableofhysterics，Iamcapableofscreaming。Youheardmescream。Youshall_not_
　　seemeinhysterics。No，Mrs。Valeria——no，youinnocentreflectionofthedeadandgone——Iwouldnotfrightenyoufortheworld。Willyoucomehereto—morrowinthedaytime？Ihavegotachaiseandapony。Ariel，mydelicateAriel，candrive。SheshallcallatMammaMacallan’sandfetchyou。Wewilltalkto—morrow，whenIamfitforit。Iamdyingtohearyou。Iwillbefitforyouinthemorning。Iwillbecivil，intelligent，communicative，inthemorning。Nomoreofitnow。Awaywiththesubject——thetooexciting，thetoointerestingsubject！Imustcomposemyselformybrainswillexplodeinmyhead。Musicisthetruenarcoticforexcitablebrains。Myharp！myharp！"
　　Herushedawayinhischairtothefarendoftheroom，passingMrs。Macallanasshereturnedtome，bentonhasteningourdeparture。
　　"Come！"saidtheoldlady，irritably。"Youhaveseenhim，andhehasmadeagoodshowofhimself。Moreofhimmightbetiresome。
　　Comeaway。"
　　Thechairreturnedtousmoreslowly。MiserrimusDexterwasworkingitwithonehandonly。IntheotherheheldaharpofapatternwhichIhadhithertoonlyseeninpictures。Thestringswerefewinnumber，andtheinstrumentwassosmallthatIcouldhavehelditeasilyonmylap。ItwastheancientharpofthepicturedMusesandthelegendaryWelshbards。
　　"Good—night，Dexter，"saidMrs。Macallan。
　　Hehelduponehandimperatively。
　　"Wait！"hesaid。"Letherhearmesing。"Heturnedtome。"I
　　declinetobeindebtedtootherpeopleformypoetryandmymusic，"hewenton。"Icomposemyownpoetryandmyownmusic。I
　　improvise。Givemeamomenttothink。IwillimproviseforYou。"
　　Heclosedhiseyesandrestedhisheadontheframeoftheharp。
　　Hisfingersgentlytouchedthestringswhilehewasthinking。Inafewminutesheliftedhishead，lookedatme，andstruckthefirstnotes——thepreludetothesong。Itwaswild，barbaric，monotonousmusic，utterlyunlikeanymoderncomposition。
　　SometimesitsuggestedaslowandundulatingOrientaldance。
　　SometimesitmodulatedintotoneswhichremindedmeofthesevererharmoniesoftheoldGregorianchants。Thewords，whentheyfollowedtheprelude，wereaswild，asrecklesslyfreefromallrestraintofcriticalrules，asthemusic。Theywereassuredlyinspiredbytheoccasion；Iwasthethemeofthestrangesong。Andthus——inoneofthefinesttenorvoicesIeverheard——mypoetsangofme：
　　"Whydoesshecome？Sheremindsmeofthelost；Sheremindsmeofthedead：Inherformliketheother，Inherwalkliketheother：Whydoesshecome？
　　"DoesDestinybringher？ShallwerangetogetherThemazesofthepast？ShallwesearchtogetherThesecretsofthepast？Shallweinterchangethoughts，surmises，suspicions？DoesDestinybringher？
　　"TheFuturewillshow。Letthenightpass；Letthedaycome。I
　　shallseeintoHermind：ShewilllookintoMine。TheFuturewillshow。"
　　Hisvoicesank，hisfingerstouchedthestringsmoreandmorefeeblyasheapproachedthelastlines。Theoverwroughtbrainneededandtookitsreanimatingrepose。Atthefinalwordshiseyesslowlyclosed。Hisheadlaybackonthechair。Hesleptwithhisarmsaroundhisharp，asachildsleepshuggingitslastnewtoy。
　　Westoleoutoftheroomontiptoe，andleftMiserrimusDexter——poet，composer，andmadman——inhispeacefulsleep。
　　CHAPTERXXVI。
　　MOREOFMYOBSTINACY。
　　ARIELwasdownstairsintheshadowyhall，halfasleep，halfawake，waitingtoseethevisitorsclearofthehouse。Withoutspeakingtous，withoutlookingatus，sheledthewaydownthedarkgardenwalk，andlockedthegatebehindus。"Good—night，Ariel，"Icalledouttoheroverthepaling。Nothingansweredmebutthetrampofherheavyfootstepsreturningtothehouse，andthedullthump，amomentafterward，oftheclosingdoor。
　　Thefootmanhadthoughtfullylightedthecarriagelamps。Carryingoneofthemtoserveasalantern，helightedusoverthewildsofthebrickdesert，andlandedussafelyonthepathbythehigh—road。
　　"Well！"saidmymother—in—law，whenwewerecomfortablyseatedinthecarriageagain。"YouhaveseenMiserrimusDexter，andIhopeyouaresatisfied。IwilldohimthejusticetodeclarethatI
　　never，inallmyexperience，sawhimmorecompletelycrazythanhewasto—night。Whatdo_you_say？"
　　"Idon’tpresumetodisputeyouropinion，"Ianswered。"But，speakingformyself，I’mnotquitesurethatheismad。"
　　"Notmad！"criedMrs。Macallan，"afterthosefranticperformancesinhischair？Notmad，aftertheexhibitionhemadeofhisunfortunatecousin？Notmad，afterthesongthathesanginyourhonor，andthefallingasleepbywayofconclusion？Oh，Valeria！
　　Valeria！Wellsaidthewisdomofourancestors——therearenonesoblindasthosewhowon’tsee。"
　　"Pardonme，dearMrs。Macallan，Isaweverythingthatyoumention，andIneverfeltmoresurprisedormoreconfoundedinmylife。ButnowIhaverecoveredfrommyamazement，andcanthinkitoverquietly，Imuststillventuretodoubtwhetherthisstrangemanisreallymadinthetruemeaningoftheword。Itseemstomethatheonlyexpresses——Iadmitinaveryrecklessandboisterousway——thoughtsandfeelingswhichmostofusareashamedofasweaknesses，andwhichwekeeptoourselvesaccordingly。IconfessIhaveoftenfanciedmyselftransformedintosomeotherperson，andhavefeltacertainpleasureinseeingmyselfinmynewcharacter。Oneofourfirstamusementsaschildren（ifwehaveanyimaginationatall）istogetoutofourowncharacters，andtotrythecharactersofotherpersonagesasachange——tofairies，tobequeens，tobeanything，inshort，butwhatwereallyare。Mr。Dexterletsoutthesecretjustasthechildrendo，andifthatismadness，heiscertainlymad。ButI
　　noticedthatwhenhisimaginationcooleddownhebecameMiserrimusDexteragain——henomorebelievedhimselfthanwebelievedhimtobeNapoleonorShakespeare。Besides，someallowanceissurelytobemadeforthesolitary，sedentarylifethatheleads。Iamnotlearnedenoughtotracetheinfluenceofthatlifeinmakinghimwhatheis；butIthinkIcanseetheresultinanover—excitedimagination，andIfancyIcantracehisexhibitinghispoweroverthepoorcousinandhissingingofthatwonderfulsongtonomoreformidablecausethaninordinateself—conceit。Ihopetheconfessionwillnotlowermeseriouslyinyourgoodopinion；butImustsayIhaveenjoyedmyvisit，and，worsestill，MiserrimusDexterreallyinterestsme。"
　　"DoesthislearneddiscourseonDextermeanthatyouaregoingtoseehimagain？"askedMrs。Macallan。
　　"Idon’tknowhowImayfeelaboutittomorrowmorning，"Isaid；
　　"butmyimpulseatthismomentisdecidedlytoseehimagain。I
　　hadalittletalkwithhimwhileyouwereawayattheotherendoftheroom，andIbelievehereallycanbeofusetome——"
　　"Ofusetoyouinwhat？"interposedmymother—in—law。
　　"IntheoneobjectwhichIhaveinview——theobject，dearMrs。
　　Macallan，whichIregrettosayyoudonotapprove。"
　　"Andyouaregoingtotakehimintoyourconfidence？toopenyourwholemindtosuchamanasthemanwehavejustleft？"
　　"Yes，ifIthinkofitto—morrowasIthinkofitto—night。I
　　daresayitisarisk；butImustrunrisks。IknowIamnotprudent；butprudencewon’thelpawomaninmyposition，withmyendtogain。"
　　Mrs。Macallanmadenofurtherremonstranceinwords。Sheopenedacapaciouspocketinfrontofthecarriage，andtookfromitaboxofmatchesandarailwayreading—lamp。
　　"Youprovokeme，"saidtheoldlady，"intoshowingyouwhatyourhusbandthinksofthisnewwhimofyours。Ihavegothisletterwithme——hislastletterfromSpain。Youshalljudgeforyourself，youpoordeludedyoungcreature，whethermysonisworthyofthesacrifice——theuselessandhopelesssacrifice——whichyouarebentonmakingofyourselfforhissake。
　　Strikealight！"
　　Iwillinglyobeyedher。EversinceshehadinformedmeofEustace’sdeparturetoSpainIhadbeeneagerformorenewsofhim，forsomethingtosustainmyspirits，aftersomuchthathaddisappointedanddepressedme。ThusfarIdidnotevenknowwhethermyhusbandthoughtofmesometimesinhisself—imposedexile。Astothisregrettingalreadytherashactwhichhadseparatedus，itwasstilltoosoontobeginhopingforthat。
　　Thelamphavingbeenlighted，andfixedinitsplacebetweenthetwofrontwindowsofthecarriage，Mrs。Macallanproducedherson’sletter。Thereisnofollylikethefollyoflove。Itcostmeahardstruggletorestrainmyselffromkissingthepaperonwhichthedearhandhadrested。
　　"There！"saidmymother—in—law。"Beginonthesecondpage，thepagedevotedtoyou。Readstraightdowntothelastlineatthebottom，and，inGod’sname，comebacktoyoursenses，child，beforeitistoolate！"
　　Ifollowedmyinstructions，andreadthesewords：
　　"CanItrustmyselftowriteofValeria？I_must_writeofher。
　　Tellmehowsheis，howshelooks，whatsheisdoing。Iamalwaysthinkingofher。NotadaypassesbutImournthelossofher。
　　Oh，ifshehadonlybeencontentedtoletmattersrestastheywere！Oh，ifshehadneverdiscoveredthemiserabletruth！
　　"ShespokeofreadingtheTrialwhenIsawherlast。Hasshepersistedindoingso？Ibelieve——Isaythisseriously，mother——I
　　believetheshameandthehorrorofitwouldhavebeenthedeathofmeifIhadmetherfacetofacewhenshefirstknewoftheignominythatIhavesuffered，oftheinfamoussuspicionofwhichIhavebeenpubliclymadethesubject。Thinkofthosepureeyeslookingatamanwhohasbeenaccused（andneverwhollyabsolved）ofthefoulestandthevilestofallmurders，andthenthinkofwhatthatmanmustfeelifhehaveanyheartandanysenseofshameleftinhim。IsickenasIwriteofit。
　　"Doesshestillmeditatethathopelessproject——theoffspring，poorangel，ofherartless，unthinkinggenerosity？Doesshestillfancythatitisin_her_powertoassertmyinnocencebeforetheworld？Oh，mother（ifshedo），useyourutmostinfluencetomakehergiveuptheidea！Spareherthehumiliation，thedisappointment，theinsult，perhaps，towhichshemayinnocentlyexposeherself。Forhersake，formysake，leavenomeansuntriedtoattainthisrighteous，thismercifulend。
　　"Isendhernomessage——Idarenotdoit。Saynothing，whenyouseeher，whichcanrecallmetohermemory。Onthecontrary，helphertoforgetmeassoonaspossible。ThekindestthingIcando——theoneatonementIcanmaketoher——istodropoutofherlife。"
　　Withthosewretchedwordsitended。Ihandedhisletterbacktohismotherinsilence。Shesaidbutlittleonherside。
　　"If_this_doesn’tdiscourageyou，"sheremarked，slowlyfoldinguptheletter，"nothingwill。Letusleaveitthere，andsaynomore。"
　　Imadenoanswer——Iwascryingbehindmyveil。Mydomesticprospectlookedsodreary！myunfortunatehusbandwassohopelesslymisguided，sopitiablywrong！Theonechanceforbothofus，andtheoneconsolationforpoorMe，wastoholdtomydesperateresolutionmorefirmlythanever。IfIhadwantedanythingtoconfirmmeinthisview，andtoarmmeagainsttheremonstrancesofeveryoneofmyfriends，Eustace’sletterwouldhaveprovedmorethansufficienttoanswerthepurpose。Atleasthehadnotforgottenme；hethoughtofme，andhemournedthelossofmeeverydayofhislife。Thatwasencouragementenough——forthepresent。"IfArielcallsformeinthepony—chaiseto—morrow，"Ithoughttomyself，"withArielIgo。"
　　Mrs。MacallansetmedownatBenjamin’sdoor。
　　Imentionedtoheratparting——Istoodsufficientlyinaweofhertoputitofftillthelastmoment——thatMiserrimusDexterhadarrangedtosendhiscousinandhispony—chaisetoherresidenceonthenextday；andIinquiredthereuponwhethermymother—in—lawwouldpermitmetocallatherhousetowaitfortheappearanceofthecousin，orwhethershewouldprefersendingthechaiseontoBenjamin’scottage。Ifullyexpectedanexplosionofangertofollowthisboldavowalofmyplansforthenextday。Theoldladyagreeablysurprisedme。Sheprovedthatshehadreallytakenalikingtome：shekepthertemper。
　　"IfyoupersistingoingbacktoDexter，youcertainlyshallnotgotohimfrommydoor，"shesaid。"ButIhopeyouwill_not_
　　persist。Ihopeyouwillawakeawiserwomanto—morrowmorning。"
　　Themorningcame。Alittlebeforenoonthearrivalofthepony—chaisewasannouncedatthedoor，andaletterwasbroughtintomefromMrs。Macallan。
　　"Ihavenorighttocontrolyourmovements，"mymother—in—lawwrote。"IsendthechaisetoMr。Benjamin’shouse；andI
　　sincerelytrustthatyouwillnottakeyourplaceinit。IwishI
　　couldpersuadeyou，Valeria，howtrulyIamyourfriend。Ihavebeenthinkingaboutyouanxiouslyinthewakefulhoursofthenight。_How_anxiously，youwillunderstandwhenItellyouthatInowreproachmyselffornothavingdonemorethanIdidtopreventyourunhappymarriage。Andyet，whatmoreIcouldhavedoneIdon’treallyknow。Mysonadmittedtomethathewascourtingyouunderanassumedname，buthenevertoldmewhatthenamewas。Orwhoyouwere，orwhereyourfriendslived。PerhapsI
　　oughttohavetakenmeasurestofindthisout。Perhaps，ifIhadsucceeded，Ioughttohaveinterferedandenlightenedyou，evenatthesadsacrificeofmakinganenemyofmyownson。IhonestlythoughtIdidmydutyinexpressingmydisapproval，andinrefusingtobepresentatthemarriage。WasItooeasilysatisfied？Itistoolatetoask。WhydoItroubleyouwithanoldwoman’svainmisgivingsandregrets？Mychild，ifyoucometoanyharm，Ishallfeel（indirectly）responsibleforit。Itisthisuneasystateofmindwhichsetsmewriting，withnothingtosaythatcaninterestyou。Don’tgotoDexter！ThefearhasbeenpursuingmeallnightthatyourgoingtoDexterwillendbadly。
　　Writehimanexcuse。Valeria！Ifirmlybelieveyouwillrepentitifyoureturntothathouse。"
　　Waseverawomanmoreplainlywarned，morecarefullyadvised，thanI？Andyetwarningandadvicewereboththrownawayonme。
　　LetmesayformyselfthatIwasreallytouchedbythekindnessofmymother—in—law’sletter，thoughIwasnotshakenbyitinthesmallestdegree。AslongasIlived，moved，andthought，myonepurposenowwastomakeMiserrimusDexterconfidetomehisideasonthesubjectofMrs。EustaceMacallan’sdeath。TothoseideasIlookedasmyguidingstarsalongthedarkwayonwhichI
　　wasgoing。IwrotebacktoMrs。Macallan，asIreallyfeltgratefullyandpenitently。AndthenIwentouttothechaise。
　　CHAPTERXXVII。
　　MR。DEXTERATHOME。
　　IFOUNDalltheidleboysintheneighborhoodcollectedaroundthepony—chaise，expressing，intheoccultlanguageofslang，theirhighenjoymentandappreciationattheappearanceof"Ariel"inherman’sjacketandhat。Theponywasfidgety——_he_
　　felttheinfluenceofthepopularuproar。Hisdriversat，whipinhand，magnificentlyimpenetrabletothegibesandjeststhatwereflyingaroundher。Isaid"Good—morning"ongettingintothechaise。Arielonlysaid"Geeup！"andstartedthepony。
　　Imadeupmymindtoperformthejourneytothedistantnorthernsuburbinsilence。Itwasevidentlyuselessformetoattempttospeak，andexperienceinformedmethatIneednotexpecttohearawordfallfromthelipsofmycompanion。Experience，however，isnotalwaysinfallible。Afterdrivingforhalfanhourinstolidsilence，Arielastoundedmebysuddenlyburstingintospeech。
　　"Doyouknowwhatwearecomingto？"sheasked，keepinghereyesstraightbetweenthepony’sears。
　　"No，"Ianswered。"Idon’tknowtheroad。Whatarewecomingto？"
　　"Wearecomingtoacanal。"
　　"Well？"
　　"Well，Ihavehalfamindtoupsetyouinthecanal。"
　　Thisformidableannouncementappearedtorequiresomeexplanation。Itookthelibertyofaskingforit。
　　"Whyshouldyouupsetme？"Iinquired。
　　"BecauseIhateyou，"wasthecoolandcandidreply。
　　"WhathaveIdonetooffendyou？"Iaskednext。
　　"WhatdoyouwantwiththeMaster？"Arielasked，inherturn。
　　"DoyoumeanMr。Dexter？"
　　"Yes。"
　　"IwanttohavesometalkwithMr。Dexter。"
　　"Youdon’t！Youwanttotakemyplace。Youwanttobrushhishairandoilhisbeard，insteadofme。Youwretch！"
　　Inowbegantounderstand。TheideawhichMiserrimusDexterhadjestinglyputintoherhead，inexhibitinghertousonthepreviousnight，hadbeenripeningslowlyinthatdullbrain，andhadfounditswayoutwardintowords，aboutfifteenhoursafterward，undertheirritatinginfluenceofmypresence！
　　"Idon’twanttotouchhishairorhisbeard，"Isaid。"Ileavethatentirelytoyou。"
　　Shelookedaroundatme，herfatfaceflushing，herdulleyesdilating，withtheunaccustomedefforttoexpressherselfinspeech，andtounderstandwhatwassaidtoherinreturn。
　　"Saythatagain，"sheburstout。"Andsayitslowerthistime。"
　　Isaiditagain，andIsaiditslower。
　　"Swearit！"shecried，gettingmoreandmoreexcited。
　　Ipreservedmygravity（thecanalwasjustvisibleinthedistance），andsworeit。
　　"Areyousatisfiednow？"Iasked。
　　Therewasnoanswer。Herlastresourcesofspeechwereexhausted。
　　Thestrangecreaturelookedbackagainstraightbetweenthepony’sears，emittedhoarselyagruntofrelief，andnevermorelookedatme，nevermorespoketome，fortherestofthejourney。Wedrovepastthebanksofthecanal，andIescapedimmersion。Werattled，inourjinglinglittlevehicle，throughthestreetsandacrossthewastepatchesofground，whichIdimlyrememberedinthedarkness，andwhichlookedmoresqualidandmorehideousthaneverinthebroaddaylight。Thechaiseturneddownalane，toonarrowforthepassageofanylargervehicle，andstoppedatawallandagatethatwerenewobjectstome。
　　Openingthegatewithherkey，andleadingthepony，ArielintroducedmetothebackgardenandyardofMiserrimusDexter’srottenandramblingoldhouse。Theponywalkedoffindependentlytohisstable，withthechaisebehindhim。Mysilentcompanionledmethroughableakandbarrenkitchen，andalongastonepassage。Openingadoorattheend，sheadmittedmetothebackofthehall，intowhichMrs。MacallanandIhadpenetratedbythefrontentrancetothehouse。HereArielliftedawhistlewhichhungaroundherneck，andblewtheshrilltrillingnoteswiththesoundofwhichIwasalreadyfamiliarasthemeansofcommunicationbetweenMiserrimusDexterandhisslave。Thewhistlingover，theslave’sunwillinglipsstruggledintospeechforthelasttime。
　　"WaittillyouheartheMaster’swhistle，"shesaid；"thengoupstairs。"
　　So！Iwastobewhistledforlikeadog！And，worsestill，therewasnohelpforitbuttosubmitlikeadog。HadArielanyexcusestomake？Nothingofthesort。
　　Sheturnedhershapelessbackonmeandvanishedintothekitchenregionofthehouse。