"Ientirelyagreewithyou，"heanswered，withoutaninstant’shesitation。"Mrs。Beaulyisaninnocentwoman。ThedefenseattheTrialwastherightdefenseafterall。"
　　Hefoldedhisarmscomplacently；helookedperfectlysatisfiedtoleavethematterthere。
　　Iwasnotofhismind。Tomyownamazement，Inowfoundmyselftheleastreasonablepersonofthetwo！
　　MiserrimusDexter（tousethepopularphrase）hadgivenmemorethanIhadbargainedfor。HehadnotonlydoneallthatIhadanticipatedinthewayoffalsifyingMr。Playmore’sprediction——hehadactuallyadvancedbeyondmylimits。IcouldgothelengthofrecognizingMrs。Beauly’sinnocence；butatthatpointIstopped。IftheDefenseattheTrialweretherightdefense，farewelltoallhopeofassertingmyhusband’sinnocence。IheldtothathopeasIheldtomyloveandmylife。
　　"Speakforyourself，"Isaid。"MyopinionoftheDefenseremainsunchanged。"
　　Hestarted，andknithisbrowsasifIhaddisappointedanddispleasedhim。
　　"Doesthatmeanthatyouaredeterminedtogoon？"
　　"Itdoes。"
　　Hewasdownrightangrywithme。Hecasthiscustomarypolitenesstothewinds。
　　"Absurd！impossible！"hecried，contemptuously。"YouhaveyourselfdeclaredthatwewrongedaninnocentwomanwhenwesuspectedMrs。Beauly。Isthereanyoneelsewhomwecansuspect？
　　Itisridiculoustoaskthequestion。Thereisnoalternativeleftbuttoacceptthefactsastheyare，andtostirnofurtherinthematterofthepoisoningatGleninch。Itischildishtodisputeplainconclusions。Youmustgiveup。"
　　"Youmaybeangrywithmeifyouwill，Mr。Dexter。Neitheryourangernoryourargumentswillmakemegiveup。"
　　Hecontrolledhimselfbyaneffort——hewasquietandpoliteagainwhenhenextspoketome。
　　"Verywell。PardonmeforamomentifIabsorbmyselfinmyownthoughts。IwanttodosomethingwhichIhavenotdoneyet。"
　　"Whatmaythatbe，Mr。Dexter？"
　　"IamgoingtoputmyselfintoMrs。Beauly’sskin，andtothinkwithMrs。Beauly’smind。Givemeaminute。Thankyou。"
　　Whatdidhemean？whatnewtransformationofhimwaspassingbeforemyeyes？Wasthereeversuchapuzzleofamanasthis？
　　Whothatsawhimnow，intentlypursuinghisnewtrainofthought，wouldhaverecognizedhimasthechildishcreaturewhohadawokesoinnocently，andhadastonishedBenjaminbytheinfantinenonsensewhichhetalked？Itissaid，andsaidtruly，thattherearemanysidestoeveryhumancharacter。Dexter’smanysidesweredevelopingthemselvesatsucharapidrateofprogressthattheywerealreadybeyondmycounting。
　　Heliftedhishead，andfixedalookofkeeninquiryonme。
　　"IhavecomeoutofMrs。Beauly’sskin，"heannounced。"AndI
　　havearrivedatthisresult：Wearetwoimpetuouspeople；andwehavebeenalittlehastyinrushingataconclusion。"
　　Hestopped。Isaidnothing。Wastheshadowofadoubtofhimbeginningtoriseinmymind？Iwaited，andlistened。
　　"IamasfullysatisfiedaseverofthetruthofwhatLadyClarindatoldyou，heproceeded。"ButIsee，onconsideration，whatIfailedtoseeatthetime。Thestoryadmitsoftwointerpretations——oneonthesurface，andanotherunderthesurface。Ilookunderthesurface，inyourinterests；andIsay，itisjustpossiblethatMrs。Beaulymayhavebeencunningenoughtoforestallsuspicion，andtosetupanAlibi。"
　　IamashamedtoownthatIdidnotunderstandwhathemeantbythelastword——Alibi。HesawthatIwasnotfollowinghim，andspokeoutmoreplainly。
　　"Wasthemaidsomethingmorethanhermistress’spassiveaccomplice？"hesaid。"WasshetheHandthathermistressused？
　　Wassheonherwaytogivethefirstdoseofpoisonwhenshepassedmeinthiscorridor？DidMrs。BeaulyspendthenightinEdinburgh——soastohaveherdefenseready，ifsuspicionfelluponher？"
　　MyshadowydoubtofhimbecamesubstantialdoubtwhenIheardthat。HadIabsolvedhimalittletooreadily？WashereallytryingtorenewmysuspicionsofMrs。Beauly，asMr。Playmorehadforetold？ThistimeIwasobligedtoanswerhim。Indoingso，I
　　unconsciouslyemployedoneofthephraseswhichthelawyerhadusedtomeduringmyfirstinterviewwithhim。
　　"Thatsoundsratherfar—fetched，Mr。Dexter，"Isaid。
　　Tomyrelief，hemadenoattempttodefendthenewviewthathehadadvanced。
　　"Itisfar—fetched，"headmitted。"WhenIsaiditwasjustpossible——thoughIdidn’tclaimmuchformyidea——Isaidmoreforitperhapsthanitdeserved。Dismissmyviewasridiculous；whatareyoutodonext？IfMrs。Beaulyisnotthepoisoner（eitherbyherselforbyhermaid），whois？Sheisinnocent，andEustaceisinnocent。Whereistheotherpersonwhomyoucansuspect？Have_I_poisonedher？"hecried，withhiseyesflashing，andhisvoicerisingtoitshighestnotes。"Doyou，doesanybody，suspectMe？Ilovedher；Iadoredher；Ihaveneverbeenthesamemansinceherdeath。Hush！Iwilltrustyouwithasecret。（Don’ttellyourhusband；itmightbethedestructionofourfriendship。）Iwouldhavemarriedher，beforeshemetwithEustace，ifshewouldhavetakenme。Whenthedoctorstoldmeshehaddiedpoisoned——askDoctorJeromewhatIsuffered；_he_cantellyou！AllthroughthathorriblenightIwasawake；watchingmyopportunityuntilIfoundmywaytoher。Igotintotheroom，andtookmylastleaveofthecoldremainsoftheangelwhomI
　　loved。Icriedoverher。Ikissedher。forthefirstandlasttime。Istoleonelittlelockofherhair。Ihaveworniteversince；Ihavekisseditnightandday。Oh，God！theroomcomesbacktome！thedeadfacecomesbacktome！Look！look！"
　　Hetorefromitsplaceofconcealmentinhisbosomalittlelocket，fastenedbyaribbonaroundhisneck。HethrewittomewhereIsat，andburstintoapassionoftears。
　　Amaninmyplacemighthaveknownwhattodo。Beingonlyawoman，Iyieldedtothecompassionateimpulseofthemoment。
　　Igotupandcrossedtheroomtohim。Igavehimbackhislocket，andputmyhand，withoutknowingwhatIwasabout，onthepoorwretch’sshoulder。"Iamincapableofsuspectingyou，Mr。
　　Dexter，"Isaid，gently。"Nosuchideaeverenteredmyhead。I
　　pityyoufromthebottomofmyheart。"
　　Hecaughtmyhandinhis，anddevoureditwithkisses。Hislipsburnedmelikefire。Hetwistedhimselfsuddenlyinthechair，andwoundhisarmaroundmywaist。Intheterrorandindignationofthemoment，vainlystrugglingwithhim，Icriedoutforhelp。
　　Thedooropened，andBenjaminappearedonthethreshold。
　　Dexterletgohisholdofme。
　　IrantoBenjamin，andpreventedhimfromadvancingintotheroom。InallmylongexperienceofmyfatherlyoldfriendIhadneverseenhimreallyangryyet。Isawhimmorethanangrynow。
　　Hewaspale——thepatient，gentleoldmanwaspalewithrage！I
　　heldhimatthedoorwithallmystrength。
　　"Youcan’tlayyourhandonacripple，"Isaid。Sendforthemanoutsidetotakehimaway。
　　IdrewBenjaminoutoftheroom，andclosedandlockedthelibrarydoor。Thehousekeeperwasinthedining—room。Isentherouttocallthedriverofthepony—chaiseintothehouse。
　　Themancamein——theroughmanwhomIhadnoticedwhenwewereapproachingthegardengate。Benjaminopenedthelibrarydoorinsternsilence。Itwasperhapsunworthyofme，butIcould_not_
　　resistthetemptationtolookin。
　　MiserrimusDexterhadsunkdowninthechair。Theroughmanliftedhismasterwithagentlenessthatsurprisedme。"Hidemyface，"IheardDextersaytohim，inbrokentones。Heopenedhiscoarsepilot—jacket，andhidhismaster’sheadunderit，andsowentsilentlyout——withthedeformedcreatureheldtohisbosom，likeawomanshelteringherchild。
　　CHAPTERXXXVI。
　　ARIEL。
　　IPASSEDasleeplessnight。
　　Theoutragethathadbeenofferedtomewasbadenoughinitself。
　　Butconsequenceswereassociatedwithitwhichmightaffectmemoreseriouslystill。InsofarastheattainmentoftheoneobjectofmylifemightyetdependonmypersonalassociationwithMiserrimusDexter，aninsurmountableobstacleappearedtobenowplacedinmyway。Eveninmyhusband’sinterests，oughtItopermitamanwhohadgrosslyinsultedmetoapproachmeagain？
　　AlthoughIwasnoprude，Irecoiledfromthethoughtofit。
　　Iaroselate，andsatdownatmydesk，tryingtosummonenergyenoughtowritetoMr。Playmore——andtryinginvain。
　　Towardnoon（whileBenjaminhappenedtobeoutforalittlewhile）thehousekeeperannouncedthearrivalofanotherstrangevisitoratthegateofthevilla。
　　"It’sawomanthistime，ma’am——orsomethinglikeone，"saidthisworthyperson，confidentially。"Agreat，stout，awkward，stupidcreature，withaman’shatonandaman’sstickinherhand。Shesaysshehasgotanoteforyou，andshewon’tgiveittoanybody_but_you。I’dbetternotletherin——hadI？"
　　Recognizingtheoriginalofthepicture，Iastonishedthehousekeeperbyconsentingtoreceivethemessengerimmediately。
　　Arielenteredtheroom——instolidsilence，asusual。ButI
　　noticedachangeinherwhichpuzzledme。Herdulleyeswereredandbloodshot。Tracesoftears（asIfancied）werevisibleonherfat，shapelesscheeks。Shecrossedtheroom，onherwaytomychair，withalessdeterminedtreadthanwascustomarywithher。
　　CouldAriel（Iaskedmyself）bewomanenoughtocry？WasitwithinthelimitsofpossibilitythatArielshouldapproachmeinsorrowandinfear？
　　"Ihearyouhavebroughtsomethingforme？"Isaid。"Won’tyousitdown？"
　　Shehandedmealetter——withoutansweringandwithouttakingachair。Iopenedtheenvelope。TheletterinsidewaswrittenbyMiserrimusDexter。Itcontainedtheselines：
　　"Trytopityme，ifyouhaveanypityleftforamiserableman；
　　Ihavebitterlyexpiatedthemadnessofamoment。Ifyoucouldseeme——evenyouwouldownthatmypunishmenthasbeenheavyenough。ForGod’ssake，don’tabandonme！IwasbesidemyselfwhenIletthefeelingthatyouhaveawakenedinmegetthebetterofmycontrol。Itshallnevershowitselfagain；itshallbeasecretthatdieswithme。CanIexpectyoutobelievethis？
　　No。Iwon’taskyoutobelieveme；Iwon’taskyoutotrustmeinthefuture。Ifyoueverconsenttoseemeagain，letitbeinthepresenceofanythirdpersonwhomyoumayappointtoprotectyou。
　　Ideservethat——Iwillsubmittoit；Iwillwaittilltimehascomposedyourangryfeelingagainstme。AllIasknowisleavetohope。SaytoAriel，’Iforgivehim；andonedayIwilllethimseemeagain。’Shewillrememberit，forloveofme。Ifyousendherbackwithoutamessage，yousendmetothemad—house。Askher，ifyoudon’tbelieveme。
　　"MISERRIMUSDEXTER。"
　　Ifinishedthestrangeletter，andlookedatAriel。
　　Shestoodwithhereyesonthefloor，andheldouttomethethickwalking—stickwhichshecarriedinherhand。
　　"Takethestick"werethefirstwordsshesaidtome。
　　"WhyamItotakeit？"Iasked。
　　Shestruggledalittlewithhersluggishlyworkingmind，andslowlyputherthoughtsintowords。
　　"You’reangrywiththeMaster，"shesaid。"TakeitoutonMe。
　　Here’sthestick。Beatme。"
　　"Beatyou！"Iexclaimed。
　　"Myback’sbroad，"saidthepoorcreature。"Iwon’tmakearow。
　　I’llbearit。Dratyou，takethestick！Don’tvex_him。_Whackitoutonmyback。Beat_me。_"
　　Sheroughlyforcedthestickintomyhand；sheturnedherpoorshapelessshoulderstome；waitingfortheblow。Itwasatoncedreadfulandtouchingtoseeher。Thetearsroseinmyeyes。I
　　tried，gentlyandpatiently，toreasonwithher。Quiteuseless！
　　TheideaoftakingtheMaster’spunishmentonherselfwastheoneideainhermind。"Don’tvex_him，_"sherepeated。"Beat_me。_"
　　"Whatdoyoumeanby’vexinghim’？"Iasked。
　　Shetriedtoexplain，andfailedtofindthewords。Sheshowedmebyimitation，asasavagemighthaveshownme，whatshemeant。
　　Stridingtothefire—place，shecrouchedontherug，andlookedintothefirewithahorriblevacantstare。Thensheclaspedherhandsoverherforehead，androckedslowlytoandfro，stillstaringintothefire。"There’showhesits！"shesaid，withasuddenburstofspeech。"Hoursonhours，there’showhesits！
　　Noticesnobody。Criesabout_you。_"
　　ThepictureshepresentedrecalledtomymemorytheReportofDexter’shealth，andthedoctor’splainwarningofperilwaitingforhiminthefuture。
　　EvenifIcouldhaveresistedAriel，Imusthaveyieldedtothevaguedreadofconsequenceswhichnowshookmeinsecret。
　　"Don’tdothat！"Icried。Shewasstillrockingherselfinimitationofthe"Master，"andstillstaringintothefirewithherhandstoherhead。"Getup，pray！Iamnotangrywithhimnow。Iforgivehim。"
　　Sheroseonherhandsandknees，andwaited，lookingupintentlyintomyface。Inthatattitude——morelikeadogthanahumanbeing——sherepeatedhercustomarypetitionwhenshewantedtofixwordsthatinterestedherinhermind。
　　"Sayitagain！"
　　Ididasshebademe。Shewasnotsatisfied。
　　"Sayitasitisintheletter，"shewenton。"SayitastheMastersaidittoMe。"
　　Ilookedbackattheletter，andrepeatedtheformofmessagecontainedinthelatterpartofit，wordforword：
　　"Iforgivehim；andonedayIwilllethimseemeagain。"
　　Shesprangtoherfeetatabound。Forthefirsttimesinceshehadenteredtheroomherdullfacebegantobreakslowlyintolightandlife。
　　"That’sit！"shecried。"HearifIcansayit，too；hearifI’vegotitbyheart。"
　　TeachingherexactlyasIshouldhavetaughtachild，Islowlyfastenedthemessage，wordbyword，onhermind。
　　"Nowrestyourself，"Isaid；"andletmegiveyousomethingtoeatanddrinkafteryourlongwalk。"
　　Imightaswellhavespokentooneofthechairs。Shesnatchedupherstickfromthefloor，andburstoutwithahoarseshoutofjoy。"I’vegotitbyheart！"shecried。"ThiswillcooltheMaster’shead！Hooray！"Shedashedoutintothepassagelikeawildanimalescapingfromitscage。Iwasjustintimetoseehertearopenthegardengate，andsetforthonherwalkbackatapacewhichmadeithopelesstoattempttofollowandstopher。
　　Ireturnedtothesitting—room，ponderingonaquestionwhichhasperplexedwiserheadsthanmine。CouldamanwhowashopelesslyandentirelywickedhaveinspiredsuchdevotedattachmenttohimasDexterhadinspiredinthefaithfulwomanwhohadjustleftme？intheroughgardenerwhohadcarriedhimoutsogentlyonthepreviousnight？Whocandecide？Thegreatestscoundrellivingalwayshasafriend——inawomanoradog。
　　Isatdownagainatmydesk，andmadeanotherattempttowritetoMr。Playmore。
　　Recalling，forthepurposeofmyletter，allthatMiserrimusDexterhadsaidtome，mymemorydweltwithspecialinterestonthestrangeoutbreakoffeelingwhichhadledhimtobetraythesecretofhisinfatuationforEustace’sfirstwife。Isawagaintheghastlysceneinthedeath—chamber——thedeformedcreaturecryingoverthecorpseinthestillnessofthefirstdarkhoursofthenewday。Thehorriblepicturetookastrangeholdonmymind。Iarose，andwalkedupanddown，andtriedtoturnmythoughtssomeotherway。Itwasnottobedone：thescenewastoofamiliartometobeeasilydismissed。Ihadmyselfvisitedtheroomandlookedatthebed。IhadmyselfwalkedinthecorridorwhichDexterhadcrossedonhiswaytotakehislastleaveofher。
　　Thecorridor？Istopped。Mythoughtssuddenlytookanewdirection，uninfluencedbyanyeffortofmywill。
　　WhatotherassociationbesidestheassociationwithDexterdidI
　　connectwiththecorridor？WasitsomethingIhadseenduringmyvisittoGleninch？No。WasitsomethingIhadread？IsnatcheduptheReportoftheTrialtosee。Itopenedatapagewhichcontainedthenurse’sevidence。Ireadtheevidencethroughagain，withoutrecoveringthelostremembranceuntilIcametotheselinescloseattheend：
　　"Beforebed—timeIwentupstairstopreparetheremainsofthedeceasedladyforthecoffin。Theroominwhichshelaywaslocked；thedoorleadingintoMr。Macallan’sroombeingsecured，aswellasthedoorleadingintothecorridor。ThekeyshadbeentakenawaybyMr。Gale。Twoofthemen—servantswerepostedoutsidethebedroomtokeepwatch。Theyweretoberelievedatfourinthemorning——thatwasalltheycouldtellme。"
　　Therewasmylostassociationwiththecorridor！TherewaswhatIoughttohaverememberedwhenMiserrimusDexterwastellingmeofhisvisittothedead！
　　Howhadhegotintothebedroom——thedoorsbeinglocked，andthekeysbeingtakenawaybyMr。Gale？TherewasbutoneofthelockeddoorsofwhichMr。Galehadnotgotthekey——thedoorofcommunicationbetweenthestudyandthebedroom。Thekeywasmissingfromthis。Haditbeenstolen？AndwasDexterthethief？
　　Hemighthavepassedbythemenonthewatchwhiletheywereasleep，orhemighthavecrossedthecorridorinanunguardedintervalwhilethemenwerebeingrelieved。Buthowcouldhehavegotintothebedchamberexceptbywayofthelockedstudydoor？
　　He_must_havehadthekey！Andhe_must_havesecreteditweeksbeforeMrs。EustaceMacallan’sdeath！WhenthenursefirstarrivedatGleninch，ontheseventhofthemonth，herevidencedeclaredthekeyofthedoorofcommunicationtobethenmissing。
　　Towhatconclusiondidtheseconsiderationsanddiscoveriespoint？HadMiserrimusDexter，inamomentofungovernableagitation，unconsciouslyplacedtheclewinmyhands？WasthepivotonwhichturnedthewholemysteryofthepoisoningatGleninchthemissingkey？
　　Iwentbackforthethirdtimetomydesk。TheonepersonwhomightbetrustedtofindtheanswertothosequestionswasMr。
　　Playmore。Iwrotehimafullandcarefulaccountofallthathadhappened；Ibeggedhimtoforgiveandforgetmyungraciousreceptionoftheadvicewhichhehadsokindlyofferedtome；andIpromisedbeforehandtodonothingwithoutfirstconsultinghisopinioninthenewemergencywhichnowconfrontedme。
　　Thedaywasfineforthetimeofyear；andbywayofgettingalittlewholesomeexerciseafterthesurprisesandoccupationsofthemorning，ItookmylettertoMr。Playmoretothepost。
　　Returningtothevilla，Iwasinformedthatanothervisitorwaswaitingtoseeme：acivilizedvisitorthistime，whohadgivenhername。Mymother—in—law——Mrs。Macallan。
　　CHAPTERXXXVII。
　　ATTHEBEDSIDE。
　　BEFOREshehadutteredaword，Isawinmymother—in—law’sfacethatshebroughtbadnews。
　　"Eustace？"Isaid。
　　Sheansweredmebyalook。
　　"Letmehearitatonce！"Icried。"Icanbearanythingbutsuspense。"
　　Mrs。Macallanliftedherhand，andshowedmeatelegraphicdispatchwhichshehadhithertokeptconcealedinthefoldsofherdress。
　　"Icantrustyourcourage，"shesaid。"Thereisnoneed，mychild，toprevaricatewithyou。Readthat。"
　　Ireadthetelegram。Itwassentbythechiefsurgeonofafield—hospital；anditwasdatedfromavillageinthenorthofSpain。
　　"Mr。Eustaceseverelywoundedinaskirmishbyastrayshot。Notindanger，sofar。Everycaretakenofhim。Waitforanothertelegram。"
　　Iturnedawaymyface，andboreasbestImightthepangthatwrungmewhenIreadthosewords。IthoughtIknewhowdearlyI
　　lovedhim：Ihadneverknownittillthatmoment。
　　Mymother—in—lawputherarmroundme，andheldmetohertenderly。Sheknewmewellenoughnottospeaktomeatthatmoment。
　　Iralliedmycourage，andpointedtothelastsentenceinthetelegram。
　　"Doyoumeantowait？"Iasked。
　　"Notaday！"sheanswered。"IamgoingtotheForeignOfficeaboutmypassport——Ihavesomeinterestthere：theycangivemeletters；theycanadviseandassistme。Ileaveto—nightbythemailtraintoCalais。"
　　"_You_leave？"Isaid。"DoyousupposeIwillletyougowithoutme？Getmypassportwhenyougetyours。AtseventhiseveningI
　　willbeatyourhouse。"
　　Sheattemptedtoremonstrate；shespokeoftheperilsofthejourney。AtthefirstwordsIstoppedher。"Don’tyouknowyet，mother，howobstinateIam？TheymaykeepyouwaitingattheForeignOffice。Whydoyouwastetheprecioushourshere？"
　　Sheyieldedwithagentlenessthatwasnotinhereverydaycharacter。"WillmypoorEustaceeverknowwhatawifehehasgot？"Thatwasallshesaid。Shekissedme，andwentawayinhercarriage。
　　Myremembrancesofourjourneyarestrangelyvagueandimperfect。
　　AsItrytorecallthem，thememoryofthosemorerecentandmoreinterestingeventswhichoccurredaftermyreturntoEnglandgetsbetweenmeandmyadventuresinSpain，andseemstoforcetheselastintoashadowybackground，untiltheylooklikeadventuresthathappenedmanyyearssince。Iconfusedlyrecollectdelaysandalarmsthattriedourpatienceandourcourage。Irememberourfindingfriends（thankstoourlettersofrecommendation）inaSecretarytotheEmbassyandinaQueen’sMessenger，whoassistedandprotectedusatacriticalpointinthejourney。Irecalltomindalongsuccessionofmeninouremploymentastravelers，allequallyremarkablefortheirdirtycloaksandtheircleanlinen，fortheirhighlycivilizedcourtesytowomenandtheirutterlybarbarouscrueltytohorses。Last，andmostimportantofall，I
　　seeagain，moreclearlythanIcanseeanythingelse，theonewretchedbedroomofasqualidvillageinninwhichwefoundourpoordarling，prostratebetweenlifeanddeath，insensibletoeverythingthatpassedinthenarrowlittleworldthatlayaroundhisbedside。
　　Therewasnothingromanticorinterestingintheaccidentwhichhadputmyhusband’slifeinperil。
　　Hehadventuredtoonearthesceneoftheconflict（amiserableaffair）torescueapoorladwholaywoundedonthefield——mortallywounded，astheeventproved。Arifle—bullethadstruckhiminthebody。Hisbrethrenofthefield—hospitalhadcarriedhimbacktotheirquartersattheriskoftheirlives。Hewasagreatfavoritewithallofthem；patientandgentleandbrave；onlywantingalittlemorejudgmenttobethemostvaluablerecruitwhohadjoinedthebrotherhood。
　　Intellingmethis，thesurgeonkindlyanddelicatelyaddedawordofwarningaswell。
　　Thefevercausedbythewoundhadbroughtwithitdelirium，asusual。Mypoorhusband’smind，insofarashiswanderingwordsmightinterpretit，wasfilledbytheoneimageofhiswife。Themedicalattendanthadheardenoughinthecourseofhisministrationsatthebedside，tosatisfyhimthatanysuddenrecognitionofmebyEustace（ifherecovered）mightbeattendedbythemostlamentableresults。Asthingswereatthatsadtime，Imighttakemyturnatnursinghim，withouttheslightestchanceofhisdiscoveringme，perhapsforweeksandweekstocome。Butonthedaywhenhewasdeclaredoutofdanger——ifthathappydayeverarrived——Imustresignmyplaceathisbedside，andmustwaittoshowmyselfuntilthesurgeongavemeleave。
　　Mymother—in—lawandIrelievedeachotherregularly，dayandnight，inthesick—room。
　　Inthehoursofhisdelirium——hoursthatrecurredwithapitilessregularity——mynamewasalwaysonmypoordarling’sfeveredlips。
　　TherulingideainhimwasthefinedreadfulideawhichIhadvainlycombatedatourlastinterview。InthefaceoftheverdictpronouncedattheTrial，itwasimpossibleevenforhiswifetobereallyandtrulypersuadedthathewasaninnocentman。Allthewildpictureswhichhisdistemperedimaginationdrewwereequallyinspiredbythatoneobstinateconviction。Hefanciedhimselftobestilllivingwithmeunderthosedreadedconditions。Dowhathemight，Iwasalwaysrecallingtohimtheterribleordealthroughwhichhehadpassed。Heactedhispart，andheactedmine。Hegavemeacupoftea；andIsaidtohim，"Wequarreledyesterday，Eustace。Isitpoisoned？"Hekissedme，intokenofourreconciliation；andIlaughed，andsaid，"It’smorningnow，mydear。ShallIdiebynineo’clockto—night？"I
　　wasillinbed，andhegavememymedicine。Ilookedathimwithadoubtingeye。Isaidtohim，"Youareinlovewithanotherwoman。Isthereanythinginthemedicinethatthedoctordoesn’tknowof？"Suchwasthehorribledramawhichnowperpetuallyacteditselfinhismind。HundredsandhundredsoftimesIheardhimrepeatit，almostalwaysinthesamewords。Onotheroccasionshisthoughtswanderedawaytomydesperateprojectofprovinghimtobeaninnocentman。Sometimeshelaughedatit。Sometimeshemournedoverit。Sometimeshedevisedcunningschemesforplacingunsuspectedobstaclesinmyway。Hewasespeciallyhardonmewhenhewasinventinghispreventivestratagems——hecheerfullyinstructedthevisionarypeoplewhoassistedhimnottohesitateatoffendingordistressingme。"Nevermindifyoumakeherangry；nevermindifyoumakehercry。It’sallforhergood；
　　it’salltosavethepoorfoolfromdangersshedoesn’tdreamof。
　　Youmustn’tpityherwhenshesaysshedoesitformysake。See！
　　sheisgoingtobeinsulted；sheisgoingtobedeceived；sheisgoingtodisgraceherselfwithoutknowingit。Stopher！stopher！"Itwasweakofme，Iknow；Ioughttohavekepttheplainfactthathewasoutofhissensesalwayspresenttomymind：
　　stillitistruethatmyhourspassedatmyhusband’spillowweremanyofthemhoursofmortificationandmiseryofwhichhe，poordear，wastheinnocentandonlycause。
　　Theweekspassed；andhestillhoveredbetweenlifeanddeath。
　　Ikeptnorecordofthetime，andIcannotnowrecalltheexactdateonwhichthefirstfavorablechangetookplace。Ionlyrememberthatitwastowardsunriseonafinewintermorningwhenwewererelievedatlastofourheavyburdenofsuspense。Thesurgeonhappenedtobebythebedsidewhenhispatientawoke。Thefirstthinghedid，afterlookingatEustace，wastocautionmebyasigntobesilentandtokeepoutofsight。Mymother—in—lawandIbothknewwhatthismeant。WithfullheartswethankedGodtogetherforgivingusbackthehusbandandtheson。
　　Thesameevening，beingalone，weventuredtospeakofthefuture——forthefirsttimesincewehadlefthome。
　　"Thesurgeontellsme，"saidMrs。Macallan，"thatEustaceistooweaktobecapableofbearinganythinginthenatureofasurpriseforsomedaystocome。Wehavetimetoconsiderwhetherheisorisnottobetoldthatheoweshislifeasmuchtoyourcareastomine。Canyoufinditinyourhearttoleavehim，Valeria，nowthatGod’smercyhasrestoredhimtoyouandtome？"
　　"IfIonlyconsultedmyownheart，"Ianswered，"Ishouldneverleavehimagain。"
　　Mrs。Macallanlookedatmeingravesurprise。
　　"Whatelsehaveyoutoconsult？"sheasked。
　　"Ifwebothlive，"Ireplied，"Ihavetothinkofthehappinessofhislifeandthehappinessofmineintheyearsthataretocome。Icanbearagreatdeal，mother，butIcannotendurethemiseryofhisleavingmeforthesecondtime。"
　　"Youwronghim，Valeria——Ifirmlybelieveyouwronghim——inthinkingitpossiblethathecanleaveyouagain。"
　　"DearMrs。Macallan，haveyouforgottenalreadywhatwehavebothheardhimsayofmewhilewehavebeensittingbyhisbedside？"
　　"Wehaveheardtheravingsofamanindelirium。ItissurelyhardtoholdEustaceresponsibleforwhathesaidwhenhewasoutofhissenses。"
　　"Itisharderstill，"Isaid，"toresisthismotherwhensheispleadingforhim。Dearestandbestoffriends！Idon’tholdEustaceresponsibleforwhathesaidinthefever——butI_do_