SailwithhimtotheMediterraneanthenextday？Passweeksandweeksabsolutelyalonewithhim，inthenarrowlimitsofavessel，withhishorriblesecretpartingusinsympathyfurtherandfurtherfromeachotherdaybyday？Ishudderedatthethoughtofit。
"To—morrowisratherashortnotice，"Isaid。"Willyougivemealittlelongertimetoprepareforthevoyage？"
"Ohyes——takeanytimeyoulike，"heanswered，not（asIthought）
verywillingly。"Whileyouareresting——therearestilloneortwolittlethingstobesettled——IthinkIwillgobacktotheyacht。IsthereanythingIcandoforyou，Valeria，beforeIgo？"
"Nothing——thankyou，Eustace。"
Hehastenedawaytotheharbor。Washeafraidofhisownthoughts，ifhewereleftbyhimselfinthehouse。Wasthecompanyofthesailing—masterandthestewardbetterthannocompanyatall？
Itwasuselesstoask。WhatdidIknowabouthimorhisthoughts？
Ilockedmyselfintomyroom。
CHAPTERV。
THELANDLADY’SDISCOVERY。
ISATdown，andtriedtocomposemyspirits。Noworneverwasthetimetodecidewhatitwasmydutytomyhusbandandmydutytomyselftodonext。
Theeffortwasbeyondme。Wornoutinmindandbodyalike，Iwasperfectlyincapableofpursuinganyregulartrainofthought。I
vaguelyfelt——ifIleftthingsastheywere——thatIcouldneverhopetoremovetheshadowwhichnowrestedonthemarriedlifethathadbegunsobrightly。Wemightlivetogether，soastosaveappearances。Buttoforgetwhathadhappened，ortofeelsatisfiedwithmyposition，wasbeyondthepowerofmywill。Mytranquillityasawoman——perhapsmydearestinterestsasawife——dependedabsolutelyonpenetratingthemysteryofmymother—in—law’sconduct，andondiscoveringthetruemeaningofthewildwordsofpenitenceandself—reproachwhichmyhusbandhadaddressedtomeonourwayhome。
SofarIcouldadvancetowardrealizingmyposition——andnofurther。WhenIaskedmyselfwhatwastobedonenext，hopelessconfusion，maddeningdoubt，filledmymind，andtransformedmeintothemostlistlessandhelplessoflivingwomen。
Igaveupthestruggle。Indull，stupid，obstinatedespair，I
threwmyselfonmybed，andfellfromsheerfatigueintoabroken，uneasysleep。
Iwasawakenedbyaknockatthedoorofmyroom。
Wasitmyhusband？Istartedtomyfeetastheideaoccurredtome。Wassomenewtrialofmypatienceandmyfortitudeathand？
Halfnervously，halfirritably，Iaskedwhowasthere。
Thelandlady’svoiceansweredme。
"CanIspeaktoyouforamoment，ifyouplease？"
Iopenedthedoor。Thereisnodisguisingit——thoughIlovedhimsodearly，thoughIhadlefthomeandfriendsforhissake——itwasarelieftome，atthatmiserabletime，toknowthatEustacehadnotreturnedtothehouse。
Thelandladycamein，andtookaseat，withoutwaitingtobeinvited，closebymyside。Shewasnolongersatisfiedwithmerelyassertingherselfasmyequal。Ascendinganothersteponthesocialladder，shetookherstandontheplatformofpatronage，andcharitablylookeddownonmeasanobjectofpity。
"IhavejustreturnedfromBroadstairs，"shebegan。"IhopeyouwilldomethejusticetobelievethatIsincerelyregretwhathashappened。"
Ibowed，andsaidnothing。
"Asagentlewomanmyself，"proceededthelandlady——"reducedbyfamilymisfortunestoletlodgings，butstillagentlewoman——I
feelsinceresympathywithyou。Iwillevengofurtherthanthat。
IwilltakeitonmyselftosaythatIdon’tblame_you_。No，no。
Inoticedthatyouwereasmuchshockedandsurprisedatyourmother—in—law’sconductasIwas；andthatissayingagreatdeal——agreatdealindeed。However，Ihaveadutytoperform。Itisdisagreeable，butitisnotthelessadutyonthataccount。I
amasinglewoman；notfromwantofopportunitiesofchangingmycondition——Ibegyouwillunderstandthat——butfromchoice。
SituatedasIam，Ireceiveonlythemostrespectablepersonsintomyhouse。Theremustbenomysteryaboutthepositionsof_my_lodgers。Mysteryinthepositionofalodgercarrieswithit——whatshallIsay？Idon’twishtooffendyou——Iwillsay，acertainTaint。Verywell。NowIputittoyourowncommon—sense。
Canapersoninmypositionbeexpectedtoexposeherselfto——Taint？ImaketheseremarksinasisterlyandChristianspirit。Asaladyyourself——Iwillevengothelengthofsayingacruellyusedlady——youwill，Iamsure，understand——"
Icouldendureitnolonger。Istoppedherthere。
"Iunderstand，"Isaid，"thatyouwishtogiveusnoticetoquityourlodgings。Whendoyouwantustogo？"
Thelandladyheldupalong，lean，redhand，inasorrowfulandsisterlyprotest。
"No，"shesaid。"Notthattone；notthoselooks。It’snaturalyoushouldbeannoyed；it’snaturalyoushouldbeangry。Butdo——nowdopleasetryandcontrolyourself。Iputittoyourowncommon—sense（wewillsayaweekforthenoticetoquit）——whynottreatmelikeafriend？Youdon’tknowwhatasacrifice，whatacruelsacrifice，Ihavemade——entirelyforyoursake。
"You？"Iexclaimed。"Whatsacrifice？"
"Whatsacrifice？"repeatedthelandlady。"Ihavedegradedmyselfasagentlewoman。Ihaveforfeitedmyownself—respect。"Shepausedforamoment，andsuddenlyseizedmyhandinaperfectfrenzyoffriendship。"Oh，mypoordear！"criedthisintolerableperson。"Ihavediscoveredeverything。Avillainhasdeceivedyou。YouarenomoremarriedthanIam！"
Isnatchedmyhandoutofhers，androseangrilyfrommychair。
"Areyoumad？"Iasked。
Thelandladyraisedhereyestotheceilingwiththeairofapersonwhohaddeservedmartyrdom，andwhosubmittedtoitcheerfully。
"Yes，"shesaid。"IbegintothinkI_am_mad——madtohavedevotedmyselftoanungratefulwoman，toapersonwhodoesn’tappreciateasisterlyandChristiansacrificeofself。Well，I
won’tdoitagain。Heavenforgiveme——Iwon’tdoitagain！"
"Dowhatagain？"Iasked。
"Followyourmother—in—law，"criedthelandlady，suddenlydroppingthecharacterofamartyr，andassumingthecharacterofavixeninitsplace。"IblushwhenIthinkofit。Ifollowedthatmostrespectablepersoneverystepofthewaytoherowndoor。"
Thusfarmypridehadheldmeup。Itsustainedmenolonger。I
droppedbackagainintomychair，inundisguiseddreadofwhatwascomingnext。
"IgaveyoualookwhenIleftyouonthebeach，"pursuedthelandlady，growinglouderandlouderandredderandredderasshewenton。"Agratefulwomanwouldhaveunderstoodthatlook。Nevermind！Iwon’tdoitagainIovertookyourmother—in—lawatthegapinthecliff。Ifollowedher——oh，howIfeelthedisgraceofit_now！_——IfollowedhertothestationatBroadstairs。ShewentbackbytraintoRamsgate。_I_wentbackbytraintoRamsgate。
Shewalkedtoherlodgings。_I_walkedtoherlodgings。Behindher。Likeadog。Oh，thedisgraceofit！Providentially，asI
thenthought——Idon’tknowwhattothinkofitnow——thelandlordofthehousehappenedtobeafriendofmine，andhappenedtobeathome。Wehavenosecretsfromeachotherwherelodgersareconcerned。Iaminapositiontotellyou，madam，whatyourmother—in—law’snamereallyis。SheknowsnothingaboutanysuchpersonasMrs。Woodville，foranexcellentreason。Hernameis_not_Woodville。Hername（andconsequentlyherson’sname）isMacallan——Mrs。Macallan，widowofthelateGeneralMacallan。Yes！
yourhusbandis_not_yourhusband。Youareneithermaid，wife，norwidow。Youareworsethannothing，madam，andyouleavemyhouse！"
Istoppedherassheopenedthedoortogoout。Shehadroused_my_temperbythistime。Thedoubtthatshehadcastonmymarriagewasmorethanmortalresignationcouldendure。
"GivemeMrs。Macallan’saddress，"Isaid。
Thelandlady’sangerrecededintothebackground，andthelandlady’sastonishmentappearedinitsplace。
"Youdon’tmeantotellmeyouaregoingtotheoldladyherself？"shesaid。
"NobodybuttheoldladycantellmewhatIwanttoknow，"I
answered。"Yourdiscovery（asyoucallit）maybeenoughfor_you_；itisnotenoughfor_me_。HowdoweknowthatMrs。
Macallanmaynothavebeentwicemarried？andthatherfirsthusband’snamemaynothavebeenWoodville？"
Thelandlady’sastonishmentsubsidedinitsturn，andthelandlady’scuriositysucceededastherulinginfluenceofthemoment。Substantially，asIhavealreadysaidofher，shewasagood—naturedwoman。Herfitsoftemper（asisusualwithgood—naturedpeople）wereofthehotandtheshort—livedsort，easilyrousedandeasilyappeased。
"Ineverthoughtofthat，"shesaid。"Lookhere！ifIgiveyoutheaddress，willyoupromisetotellmeallaboutitwhenyoucomeback？"
Igavetherequiredpromise，andreceivedtheaddressinreturn。
"Nomalice，"saidthelandlady，suddenlyresumingallheroldfamiliaritywithme。
"Nomalice，"Ianswered，withallpossiblecordialityonmyside。
IntenminutesmoreIwasatmymother—in—law’slodgings。
CHAPTERVI。
MYOWNDISCOVERY。
FORTUNATELYforme，thelandlorddidnotopenthedoorwhenI
rang。Astupidmaid—of—all—work，whoneverthoughtofaskingmeformyname，letmein。Mrs。Macallanwasathome，andhadnovisitorswithher。Givingmethisinformation，themaidledthewayupstairs，andshowedmeintothedrawing—roomwithoutawordofannouncement。
Mymother—in—lawwassittingalone，nearawork—table，knitting。
ThemomentIappearedinthedoorwayshelaidasideherwork，and，rising，signedtomewithacommandinggestureofherhandtoletherspeakfirst。
"Iknowwhatyouhavecomeherefor，"shesaid。"Youhavecomeheretoaskquestions。Spareyourself，andspareme。IwarnyoubeforehandthatIwillnotansweranyquestionsrelatingtomyson。"
Itwasfirmly，butnotharshlysaid。Ispokefirmlyinmyturn。
"Ihavenotcomehere，madam，toaskquestionsaboutyourson，"I
answered。"Ihavecome，ifyouwillexcuseme，toaskyouaquestionaboutyourself。"
Shestarted，andlookedatmekeenlyoverherspectacles。Ihadevidentlytakenherbysurprise。
"Whatisthequestion？"sheinquired。
"Inowknowforthefirsttime，madam，thatyournameisMacallan，"Isaid。"YoursonhasmarriedmeunderthenameofWoodville。Theonlyhonorableexplanationofthiscircumstance，sofarasIknow，isthatmyhusbandisyoursonbyafirstmarriage。Thehappinessofmylifeisatstake。Willyoukindlyconsidermyposition？Willyouletmeaskyouifyouhavebeentwicemarried，andifthenameofyourfirsthusbandwasWoodville？"
Sheconsideredalittlebeforeshereplied。
"Thequestionisaperfectlynaturaloneinyourposition，"shesaid。"ButIthinkIhadbetternotanswerit。"
"MayIaskwhy？"
"Certainly。IfIansweredyou，Ishouldonlyleadtootherquestions，andIshouldbeobligedtodeclinereplyingtothem。I
amsorrytodisappointyou。IrepeatwhatIsaidonthebeach——I
havenootherfeelingthanafeelingofsympathytoward_you。_Ifyouhadconsultedmebeforeyourmarriage，Ishouldwillinglyhaveadmittedyoutomyfullestconfidence。Itisnowtoolate。
Youaremarried。Irecommendyoutomakethebestofyourposition，andtorestsatisfiedwiththingsastheyare。"
"Pardonme，madam，"Iremonstrated。"Asthingsare，Idon’tknowthatI_am_married。AllIknow，unlessyouenlightenme，isthatyoursonhasmarriedmeunderanamethatisnothisown。HowcanIbesurewhetherIamoramnothislawfulwife？"
"Ibelievetherecanbenodoubtthatyouarelawfullymyson’swife，"Mrs。Macallananswered。"Atanyrateitiseasytotakealegalopiniononthesubject。Iftheopinionisthatyouare_not_lawfullymarried，myson（whateverhisfaultsandfailingsmaybe）isagentleman。Heisincapableofwillfullydeceivingawomanwholovesandtrustshim。Hewilldoyoujustice。Onmyside，Iwilldoyoujustice，too。Ifthelegalopinionisadversetoyourrightfulclaims，Iwillpromisetoansweranyquestionswhichyoumaychoosetoputtome。Asitis，Ibelieveyoutobelawfullymyson’swife；andIsayagain，makethebestofyourposition。Besatisfiedwithyourhusband’saffectionatedevotiontoyou。Ifyouvalueyourpeaceofmindandthehappinessofyourlifetocome，abstainfromattemptingtoknowmorethanyouknownow。"
Shesatdownagainwiththeairofawomanwhohadsaidherlastword。
Furtherremonstrancewouldbeuseless；Icouldseeitinherface；Icouldhearitinhervoice。Iturnedroundtoopenthedrawing—roomdoor。
"Youarehardonme，madam，"Isaidatparting。"Iamatyourmercy，andImustsubmit。"
Shesuddenlylookedup，andansweredmewithaflushonherkindandhandsomeoldface。
"AsGodismywitness，child，Ipityyoufromthebottomofmyheart！"
Afterthatextraordinaryoutburstoffeeling，shetookupherworkwithonehand，andsignedtomewiththeothertoleaveher。
Ibowedtoherinsilence，andwentout。
IhadenteredthehousefarfromfeelingsureofthecourseI
oughttotakeinthefuture。Ileftthehousepositivelyresolved，comewhatmightofit，todiscoverthesecretwhichthemotherandsonwerehidingfromme。Astothequestionofthename，IsawitnowinthelightinwhichIoughttohaveseenitfromthefirst。IfMrs。Macallan_had_beentwicemarried（asI
hadrashlychosentosuppose），shewouldcertainlyhaveshownsomesignsofrecognitionwhensheheardmeaddressedbyherfirsthusband’sname。Whereallelsewasmystery，therewasnomysteryhere。Whateverhisreasonsmightbe，Eustacehadassuredlymarriedmeunderanassumedname。
Approachingthedoorofourlodgings，Isawmyhusbandwalkingbackwardandforwardbeforeit，evidentlywaitingformyreturn。
Ifheaskedmethequestion，IdecidedtotellhimfranklywhereIhadbeen，andwhathadpassedbetweenhismotherandmyself。
Hehurriedtomeetmewithsignsofdisturbanceinhisfaceandmanner。
"Ihaveafavortoaskofyou，Valeria，"hesaid。"DoyoumindreturningwithmetoLondonbythenexttrain？"
Ilookedathim。Inthepopularphrase，Icouldhardlybelievemyownears。
"It’samatterofbusiness，"hewenton，"ofnointeresttoanyonebutmyself，anditrequiresmypresenceinLondon。Youdon’twishtosailjustyet，asIunderstand？Ican’tleaveyouherebyyourself。HaveyouanyobjectiontogoingtoLondonforadayortwo？"
Imadenoobjection。Itoowaseagertogoback。
InLondonIcouldobtainthelegalopinionwhichwouldtellmewhetherIwerelawfullymarriedtoEustaceornot。InLondonI
shouldbewithinreachofthehelpandadviceofmyfather’sfaithfuloldclerk。IcouldconfideinBenjaminasIcouldconfideinnooneelse。DearlyasIlovedmyuncleStarkweather，Ishrankfromcommunicatingwithhiminmypresentneed。HiswifehadtoldmethatImadeabadbeginningwhenIsignedthewrongnameinthemarriageregister。ShallIownit？Myprideshrankfromacknowledging，beforethehoneymoonwasover，thathiswifewasright。
Intwohoursmorewewereontherailwayagain。Ah，whatacontrastthatsecondjourneypresentedtothefirst！OnourwaytoRamsgateeverybodycouldseethatwewereanewlyweddedcouple。OnourwaytoLondonnobodynoticedus；nobodywouldhavedoubtedthatwehadbeenmarriedforyears。
WewenttoaprivatehotelintheneighborhoodofPortlandPlace。
AfterbreakfastthenextmorningEustaceannouncedthathemustleavemetoattendtohisbusiness。IhadpreviouslymentionedtohimthatIhadsomepurchasestomakeinLondon。Hewasquitewillingtoletmegooutalone，ontheconditionthatIshouldtakeacarriageprovidedbythehotel。
Myheartwasheavythatmorning：Ifelttheunacknowledgedestrangementthathadgrownupbetweenusverykeenly。Myhusbandopenedthedoortogoout，andcamebacktokissmebeforeheleftmebymyself。Thatlittleafter—thoughtoftendernesstouchedme。Actingontheimpulseofthemoment，Iputmyarmroundhisneck，andheldhimtomegently。
"Mydarling，"Isaid，"givemeallyourconfidence。Iknowthatyouloveme。Showthatyoucantrustmetoo。"
Hesighedbitterly，anddrewbackfromme——insorrow，notinanger。
"Ithoughtwehadagreed，Valeria，nottoreturntothatsubjectagain，"hesaid。"Youonlydistressyourselfanddistressme。"
Helefttheroomabruptly，asifhedarenottrusthimselftosaymore。ItisbetternottodwellonwhatIfeltafterthislastrepulse。Iorderedthecarriageatonce。Iwaseagertofindarefugefrommyownthoughtsinmovementandchange。
Idrovetotheshopsfirst，andmadethepurchaseswhichIhadmentionedtoEustacebywayofgivingareasonforgoingout。
ThenIdevotedmyselftotheobjectwhichIreallyhadatheart。
IwenttooldBenjamin’slittlevilla，intheby—waysofSt。
John’sWood。
Assoonashehadgotoverthefirstsurpriseofseeingme，henoticedthatIlookedpaleandcare—worn。IconfessedatoncethatIwasintrouble。Wesatdowntogetherbythebrightfiresideinhislittlelibrary（Benjamin，asfarashismeanswouldallow，wasagreatcollectorofbooks），andthereItoldmyoldfriend，franklyandtruly，allthatIhavetoldhere。
Hewastoodistressedtosaymuch。Heferventlypressedmyhand；
heferventlythankedGodthatmyfatherhadnotlivedtohearwhathehadheard。Then，afterapause，herepeatedmymother—in—law’snametohimselfinadoubting，questioningtone。
"Macallan？"hesaid。"Macallan？WherehaveIheardthatname？Whydoesitsoundasifitwasn’tstrangetome？"
Hegaveuppursuingthelostrecollection，andasked，veryearnestly，whathecoulddoforme。Iansweredthathecouldhelpme，inthefirstplace，toputanendtothedoubt——anunendurabledoubtto_me_——whetherIwerelawfullymarriedornot。Hisenergyoftheolddayswhenhehadconductedmyfather’sbusinessshoweditselfagainthemomentIsaidthosewords。
"Yourcarriageisatthedoor，mydear，"heanswered。"Comewithmetomyownlawyer，withoutwastinganothermoment。"
WedrovetoLincoln’sInnFields。
AtmyrequestBenjaminputmycasetothelawyerasthecaseofafriendinwhomIwasinterested。Theanswerwasgivenwithouthesitation。Ihadmarried，honestlybelievingmyhusband’snametobethenameunderwhichIhadknownhim。Thewitnessestomymarriage——myuncle，myaunt，andBenjamin——hadacted，asIhadacted，inperfectgoodfaith。Underthosecircumstances，therewasnodoubtaboutthelaw。Iwaslegallymarried。MacallanorWoodville，Iwashiswife。
Thisdecisiveanswerrelievedmeofaheavyanxiety。Iacceptedmyoldfriend’sinvitationtoreturnwithhimtoSt。John’sWood，andtomakemyluncheonathisearlydinner。
OnourwaybackIrevertedtotheoneothersubjectwhichwasnowuppermostinmymind。IreiteratedmyresolutiontodiscoverwhyEustacehadnotmarriedmeunderthenamethatwasreallyhisown。
Mycompanionshookhishead，andentreatedmetoconsiderwellbeforehandwhatIproposeddoing。Hisadvicetome——sostrangelydoextremesmeet！——wasmymother—in—law’sadvice，repeatedalmostwordforword。"Leavethingsastheyare，mydear。Intheinterestofyourownpeaceofmindbesatisfiedwithyourhusband’saffection。Youknowthatyouarehiswife，andyouknowthathelovesyou。Surelythatisenough？"
Ihadbutoneanswertothis。Life，onsuchconditionsasmygoodfriendhadjuststated，wouldbesimplyunendurabletome。
Nothingcouldaltermyresolution——forthisplainreason，thatnothingcouldreconcilemetolivingwithmyhusbandonthetermsonwhichwewerelivingnow。ItonlyrestedwithBenjamintosaywhetherhewouldgiveahelpinghandtohismaster’sdaughterornot。
Theoldman’sanswerwasthoroughlycharacteristicofhim。
"Mentionwhatyouwantofme，mydear，"wasallhesaid。
WewerethenpassingastreetintheneighborhoodofPortmanSquare。Iwasonthepointofspeakingagain，whenthewordsweresuspendedonmylips。Isawmyhusband。
Hewasjustdescendingthestepsofahouse——asifleavingitafteravisit。Hiseyeswereontheground：hedidnotlookupwhenthe—carriagepassed。Astheservantclosedthedoorbehindhim，InoticedthatthenumberofthehousewasSixteen。AtthenextcornerIsawthenameofthestreet。ItwasVivianPlace。
"DoyouhappentoknowwholivesatNumberSixteenVivianPlace？"
Iinquiredofmycompanion。
Benjaminstarted。Myquestionwascertainlyastrangeone，afterwhathehadjustsaidtome。
"No，"hereplied。"Whydoyouask？"
"IhavejustseenEustaceleavingthathouse。"
"Well，mydear，andwhatofthat？"
"Mymindisinabadway，Benjamin。EverythingmyhusbanddoesthatIdon’tunderstandrousesmysuspicionnow。"
Benjaminliftedhiswitheredoldhands，andletthemdroponhiskneesagaininmutelamentationoverme。
"Itellyouagain，"Iwenton，"mylifeisunendurabletome。I
won’tanswerforwhatImaydoifIamleftmuchlongertoliveindoubtoftheonemanonearthwhomIlove。Youhavehadexperienceoftheworld。SupposeyouwereshutoutfromEustace’sconfidence，asIam？SupposeyouwereasfondofhimasIam，andfeltyourpositionasbitterlyasIfeelit——whatwouldyoudo？"
Thequestionwasplain。Benjaminmetitwithaplainanswer。
"IthinkIshouldfindmyway，mydear，tosomeintimatefriendofyourhusband’s，"hesaid，"andmakeafewdiscreetinquiriesinthatquarterfirst。"
Someintimatefriendofmyhusband’s？Iconsideredwithmyself。
TherewasbutonefriendofhiswhomIknewof——myuncle’scorrespondent，MajorFitz—David。Myheartbeatfastasthenamerecurredtomymemory。SupposeIfollowedBenjamin’sadvice？
SupposeIappliedtoMajorFitz—David？Evenifhe，too，refusedtoanswermyquestions，mypositionwouldnotbemorehelplessthanitwasnow。Ideterminedtomaketheattempt。Theonlydifficultyintheway，sofar，wastodiscovertheMajor’saddress。IhadgivenbackhislettertoDoctorStarkweather，atmyuncle’sownrequest。IrememberedthattheaddressfromwhichtheMajorwrotewassomewhereinLondon——andIrememberednomore。
"Thankyou，oldfriend；youhavegivenmeanideaalready，"I
saidtoBenjamin。"HaveyougotaDirectoryinyourhouse？"
"No，mydear，"herejoined，lookingverymuchpuzzled。"ButIcaneasilysendoutandborrowone。"
Wereturnedtothevilla。Theservantwassentatoncetotheneareststationer’stoborrowaDirectory。Shereturnedwiththebookjustaswesatdowntodinner。SearchingfortheMajor’snameundertheletterF，Iwasstartledbyanewdiscovery。
"Benjamin！"Isaid。"Thisisastrangecoincidence。Lookhere！"
HelookedwhereIpointed。MajorFitz—David’saddresswasNumberSixteenVivianPlace——theveryhousewhichIhadseenmyhusbandleavingaswepassedinthecarriage！
CHAPTERVII。
ONTHEWAYTOTHEMAJOR。
"YES，saidBenjamin。"It_is_acoincidencecertainly。Still——"
Hestoppedandlookedatme。HeseemedalittledoubtfulhowI
mightreceivewhathehaditinhismindtosaytomenext。
"Goon，"Isaid。
"Still，mydear，Iseenothingsuspiciousinwhathashappened，"
heresumed。"Tomyminditisquitenaturalthatyourhusband，beinginLondon，shouldpayavisittooneofhisfriends。Andit’sequallynaturalthatweshouldpassthroughVivianPlaceonourwaybackhere。Thisseemstobethereasonableview。Whatdo_you_say？"
"IhavetoldyoualreadythatmymindisinabadwayaboutEustace，"Ianswered。"_I_saythereissomemotiveatthebottomofhisvisittoMajorFitz—David。Itisnotanordinarycall。I
amfirmlyconvinceditisnotanordinarycall！"
"Supposewegetonwithourdinner？"saidBenjamin，resignedly。
"Hereisaloinofmutton，mydear——anordinaryloinofmutton。
Isthereanythingsuspiciousin_that？_Verywell，then。Showmeyouhaveconfidenceinthemutton；pleaseeat。There’sthewine，again。Nomystery，Valeria，inthatclaret——I’lltakemyoathit’snothingbutinnocentjuiceofthegrape。Ifwecan’tbelieveinanythingelse，let’sbelieveinjuiceofthegrape。Yourgoodhealth，mydear。"
Iadaptedmyselftotheoldman’sgenialhumorasreadilyasI
could。Weateandwedrank，andwetalkedofby—gonedays。ForalittlewhileIwasalmosthappyinthecompanyofmyfatherlyoldfriend。WhywasInotoldtoo？WhyhadInotdonewithlove，withitscertainmiseries，itstransientdelights，itscruellosses，itsbitterlydoubtfulgains？Thelastautumnflowersinthewindowbaskedbrightlyinthelastoftheautumnsunlight。
Benjamin’slittledogdigestedhisdinnerinperfectcomfortonthehearth。Theparrotinthenexthousescreechedhisvocalaccomplishmentscheerfully。Idon’tdoubtthatitisagreatprivilegetobeahumanbeing。Butmayitnotbethehappierdestinytobeananimaloraplant？
Thebriefrespitewassoonover；allmyanxietiescameback。I
wasoncemoreadoubting，discontented，depressedcreaturewhenI
rosetosaygood—by。
"Promise，mydear，youwilldonothingrash，"saidBenjamin，asheopenedthedoorforme。