takewarningbyit。Thewildestwordsthatfellfromhimwere，oneandall，thefaithfulechoofwhathesaidtomeinthebestdaysofhishealthandhisstrength。WhathopehaveIthathewillrecoverwithanalteredmindtowardme？Absencehasnotchangedit；sufferinghasnotchangedit。Inthedeliriumoffever，andinthefullpossessionofhisreason，hehasthesamedreadfuldoubtofme。Iseebutonewayofwinninghimback：I
mustdestroyatitsroothismotiveforleavingme。ItishopelesstopersuadehimthatIbelieveinhisinnocence：Imustshowhimthatbeliefisnolongernecessary；Imustprovetohimthathispositiontowardmehasbecomethepositionofaninnocentman！"
"Valeria！Valeria！youarewastingtimeandwords。Youhavetriedtheexperiment；andyouknowaswellasIdothatthethingisnottobedone。"
Ihadnoanswertothat。IcouldsaynomorethanIhadsaidalready。
"SupposeyougobacktoDexter，outofsheercompassionforamadandmiserablewretchwhohasalreadyinsultedyou，"proceededmymother—in—law。"Youcanonlygobackaccompaniedbyme，orbysomeothertrustworthyperson。Youcanonlystaylongenoughtohumorthecreature’swaywardfancy，andtokeephiscrazybrainquietforatime。Thatdone，allisdone——youleavehim。EvensupposingDextertobestillcapableofhelpingyou，howcanyoumakeuseofhimbutbyadmittinghimtotermsofconfidenceandfamiliarity——bytreatinghim，inshort，onthefootingofanintimatefriend？Answermehonestly：canyoubringyourselftodothat，afterwhathappenedatMr。Benjamin’shouse？"
IhadtoldherofmylastinterviewwithMiserrimusDexter，inthenaturalconfidencethatsheinspiredinmeasrelativeandfellow—traveler；andthiswastheusetowhichsheturnedherinformation！IsupposeIhadnorighttoblameher；Isupposethemotivesanctionedeverything。Atanyrate，Ihadnochoicebuttogiveoffenseortogiveananswer。Igaveit。IacknowledgedthatIcouldneveragainpermitMiserrimusDextertotreatmeontermsoffamiliarityasatrustedandintimatefriend。
Mrs。Macallanpitilesslypressedtheadvantagethatshehadwon。
"Verywell，"shesaid，"thatresourcebeingnolongeropentoyou，whathopeisleft？Whichwayareyoutoturnnext？"
Therewasnomeetingthosequestions，inmypresentsituation，byanyadequatereply。Ifeltstrangelyunlikemyself——Isubmittedinsilence。Mrs。Macallanstruckthelastblowthatcompletedhervictory。
"MypoorEustaceisweakandwayward，"shesaid；"butheisnotanungratefulman。Mychild，youhavereturnedhimgoodforevil——youhaveprovedhowfaithfullyandhowdevotedlyyoulovehim，bysufferingallhardshipsandriskingalldangersforhissake。Trustme，andtrusthim！Hecannotresistyou。Lethimseethedearfacethathehasbeendreamingoflookingathimagainwithalltheoldloveinit，andheisyoursoncemore，mydaughter——yoursforlife。"Sheroseandtouchedmyforeheadwithherlips；hervoicesanktotonesoftendernesswhichIhadneverheardfromheryet。"Sayyes，Valeria，"shewhispered；"andbedearertomeanddearertohimthanever！"
Myheartsidedwithher。Myenergieswerewornout。NoletterhadarrivedfromMr。Playmoretoguideandtoencourageme。Ihadresistedsolongandsovainly；Ihadtriedandsufferedsomuch；
Ihadmetwithsuchcrueldisastersandsuchreiterateddisappointments——andhewasintheroombeneathme，feeblyfindinghiswaybacktoconsciousnessandtolife——howcouldI
resist？Itwasallover。InsayingYes（ifEustaceconfirmedhismother’sconfidenceinhim），Iwassayingadieutotheonecherishedambition，theonedearandnoblehopeofmylife。I
knewit——andIsaidYes。
Andsogood—bytothegrandstruggle！AndsowelcometothenewresignationwhichownedthatIhadfailed。
Mymother—in—lawandIslepttogetherundertheonlyshelterthattheinncouldoffertous——asortofloftatthetopofthehouse。Thenightthatfollowedourconversationwasbitterlycold。Wefeltthechillytemperature，inspiteoftheprotectionofourdressing—gownsandourtraveling—wrappers。Mymother—in—lawslept，butnorestcametome。Iwastooanxiousandtoowretched，thinkingovermychangedposition，anddoubtinghowmyhusbandwouldreceiveme，tobeabletosleep。
Somehours，asIsuppose，musthavepassed，andIwasstillabsorbedinmyownmelancholythoughts，whenIsuddenlybecameconsciousofanewandstrangesensationwhichastonishedandalarmedme。Istartedupinthebed，breathlessandbewildered。
ThemovementawakenedMrs。Macallan。"Areyouill？"sheasked。
"Whatisthematterwithyou？"Itriedtotellher，aswellasI
could。SheseemedtounderstandmebeforeIhaddone；shetookmetenderlyinherarms，andpressedmetoherbosom。"Mypoorinnocentchild，"shesaid，"isitpossibleyoudon’tknow？MustI
reallytellyou？"Shewhisperedhernextwords。ShallIeverforgetthetumultoffeelingswhichthewhisperarousedinme——thestrangemedleyofjoyandfear，andwonderandrelief，andprideandhumility，whichfilledmywholebeing，andmadeanewwomanofmefromthatmoment？Now，forthefirsttime，Iknewit！IfGodsparedmeforafewmonthsmore，themostenduringandthemostsacredofallhumanjoysmightbemine——thejoyofbeingamother。
Idon’tknowhowtherestofthenightpassed。Ionlyfindmymemoryagainwhenthemorningcame，andwhenIwentoutbymyselftobreathethecrispwintryairontheopenmoorbehindtheinn。
IhavesaidthatIfeltlikeanewwoman。Themorningfoundmewithanewresolutionandanewcourage。WhenIthoughtofthefuture，Ihadnotonlymyhusbandtoconsidernow。Hisgoodnamewasnolongerhisownandmine——itmightsoonbecomethemostpreciousinheritancethathecouldleavetohischild。WhathadI
donewhileIwasinignoranceofthis？Ihadresignedthehopeofcleansinghisnamefromthestainthatrestedonit——astainstill，nomatterhowlittleitmightlookintheeyeoftheLaw。
Ourchildmightlivetohearmalicioustonguessay，"Yourfatherwastriedforthevilestofallmurders，andwasneverabsolutelyacquittedofthecharge。"CouldIfacethegloriousperilsofchildbirthwiththatpossibilitypresenttomymind？No！notuntilIhadmadeonemoreefforttolaytheconscienceofMiserrimusDexterbaretomyview！notuntilIhadonceagainrenewedthestruggle，andbroughtthetruththatvindicatedthehusbandandthefathertothelightofday！
Iwentbacktothehouse，withmynewcouragetosustainme。I
openedmyhearttomyfriendandmother，andtoldherfranklyofthechangethathadcomeovermesincewehadlastspokenofEustace。
Shewasmorethandisappointed——shewasalmostoffendedwithme。
Theonethingneedfulhadhappened，shesaid。Thehappinessthatmightsooncometouswouldformanewtiebetweenmyhusbandandme。Everyotherconsiderationbutthisshetreatedaspurelyfanciful。IfIleftEustacenow，Ididaheartlessthingandafoolishthing。Ishouldregret，totheendofmydays，havingthrownawaytheonegoldenopportunityofmymarriedlife。
Itcostmeahardstruggle，itoppressedmewithmanyapainfuldoubt；butIheldfirmthistime。Thehonorofthefather，theinheritanceofthechild——Ikeptthesethoughtsasconstantlyaspossiblebeforemymind。Sometimestheyfailedme，andleftmenothingbetterthanapoorfoolwhohadsomefitfulburstsofcrying，andwasalwaysashamedofherselfafterward。Butmynativeobstinacy（asMrs。Macallansaid）carriedmethrough。NowandthenIhadapeepatEustace，whilehewasasleep；andthathelpedmetoo。Thoughtheymademyheartacheandshookmesadlyatthetimesthosefurtivevisitstomyhusbandfortifiedmeafterward。Icannotexplainhowthishappened（itseemssocontradictory）；Icanonlyrepeatitasoneofmyexperiencesatthattroubledtime。
ImadeoneconcessiontoMrs。Macallan——IconsentedtowaitfortwodaysbeforeItookanystepsforreturningtoEngland，onthechancethatmymindmightchangeintheinterval。
ItwaswellformethatIyieldedsofar。Ontheseconddaythedirectorofthefield—hospitalsenttothepost—officeatournearesttownforlettersaddressedtohimortohiscare。Themessengerbroughtbackaletterforme。IthoughtIrecognizedthehandwriting，andIwasright。Mr。Playmore’sanswerhadreachedmeatlast！
IfIhadbeeninanydangerofchangingmymind，thegoodlawyerwouldhavesavedmeinthenickoftime。Theextractthatfollowscontainsthepithofhisletter；andshowshowheencouragedmewhenIstoodinsoreneedofafewcheeringandfriendlywords。
"Letmenowtellyou，"hewrote，"whatIhavedonetowardverifyingtheconclusiontowhichyourletterpoints。
"IhavetracedoneoftheservantswhowasappointedtokeepwatchinthecorridoronthenightwhenthefirstMrs。EustacediedatGleninch。ThemanperfectlyremembersthatMiserrimusDextersuddenlyappearedbeforehimandhisfellow—servantlongafterthehousewasquietforthenight。Dextersaidtothem，’I
supposethereisnoharminmygoingintothestudytoread？I
can’tsleepafterwhathashappened；Imustrelievemymindsomehow。’Themenhadnoorderstokeepanyoneoutofthestudy。
Theyknewthatthedoorofcommunicationwiththebedchamberwaslocked，andthatthekeysofthetwootherdoorsofcommunicationwereinthepossessionofMr。Gale。TheyaccordinglypermittedDextertogointothestudy。Heclosedthedoor（thedoorthatopenedonthecorridor），andremainedabsentforsometime——inthestudyasthemensupposed；inthebedchamberasweknowfromwhatheletoutathisinterviewwithyou。Nowhecouldenterthatroom，asyourightlyimagine，inbutoneway——bybeinginpossessionofthemissingkey。HowlongheremainedthereI
cannotdiscover。Thepointisoflittleconsequence。Theservantremembersthathecameoutofthestudyagain’aspaleasdeath，’
andthathepassedonwithoutawordonhiswaybacktohisownroom。
"Thesearefacts。Theconclusiontowhichtheyleadisseriousinthelastdegree。ItjustifieseverythingthatIconfidedtoyouinmyofficeatEdinburgh。Yourememberwhatpassedbetweenus。I
saynomore。
"Astoyourselfnext。YouhaveinnocentlyarousedinMiserrimusDexterafeelingtowardyouwhichIneednotattempttocharacterize。Thereisacertainsomething——Isawitmyself——inyourfigure，andinsomeofyourmovements，whichdoesrecallthelateMrs。Eustacetothosewhoknewherwell，andwhichhasevidentlyhaditseffectonDexter’smorbidmind。Withoutdwellingfurtheronthissubject，letmeonlyremindyouthathehasshownhimself（asaconsequenceofyourinfluenceoverhim）
tobeincapable，inhismomentsofagitation，ofthinkingbeforehespeakswhileheisinyourpresence。Itisnotmerelypossible，itishighlyprobable，thathemaybetrayhimselffarmoreseriouslythanhehasbetrayedhimselfyetifyougivehimtheopportunity。Ioweittoyou（knowingwhatyourinterestsare）toexpressmyselfplainlyonthispoint。IhavenosortofdoubtthatyouhaveadvancedonestepnearertotheendwhichyouhaveinviewinthebriefintervalsinceyouleftEdinburgh。I
seeinyourletter（andinmydiscoveries）irresistibleevidencethatDextermusthavebeeninsecretcommunicationwiththedeceasedlady（innocentcommunication，Iamcertain，sofaras_she_wasconcerned），notonlyatthetimeofherdeath，butperhapsforweeksbeforeit。Icannotdisguisefrommyselforfromyou，myownstrongpersuasionthatifyousucceedindiscoveringthenatureofthiscommunication，inallhumanlikelihoodyouproveyourhusband’sinnocencebythediscoveryofthetruth。Asanhonestman，Iamboundnottoconcealthis。And，asanhonestmanalso，Iamequallyboundtoaddthat，notevenwithyourrewardinview，canIfinditinmyconsciencetoadviseyoutoriskwhatyoumustriskifyouseeMiserrimusDexteragain。InthisdifficultanddelicatematterIcannotandwillnottaketheresponsibility：thefinaldecisionmustrestwithyourself。OnefavoronlyIentreatyoutogrant——letmehearwhatyouresolvetodoassoonasyouknowityourself。"
Thedifficultieswhichmyworthycorrespondentfeltwerenodifficultiestome。IdidnotpossessMr。Playmore’sjudicialmind。MyresolutionwassettledbeforeIhadreadhisletterthrough。
ThemailtoFrancecrossedthefrontierthenextday。Therewasaplaceforme，undertheprotectionoftheconductor，ifIchosetotakeit。Withoutconsultingalivingcreature——rashasusual，headlongasusual——Itookit。
CHAPTERXXXVIII。
ONTHEJOURNEYBACK。
IFIhadbeentravelinghomewardinmyowncarriage，theremainingchaptersofthisnarrativewouldneverhavebeenwritten。BeforewehadbeenanhourontheroadIshouldhavecalledtothedriver，andshouldhavetoldhimtoturnback。
Whocanbealwaysresolute？
Inaskingthatquestion，Ispeakofthewomen，notofthemen。I
hadbeenresoluteinturningadeafeartoMr。Playmore’sdoubtsandcautions；resoluteinholdingoutagainstmymother—in—law；
resoluteintakingmyplacebytheFrenchmail。Untiltenminutesafterwehaddrivenawayfromtheinnmycourageheldout——andthenitfailedme；thenIsaidtomyself，"Youwretch，youhavedesertedyourhusband！"Forhoursafterward，ifIcouldhavestoppedthemail，Iwouldhavedoneit。Ihatedtheconductor，thekindestofmen。IhatedtheSpanishponiesthatdrewus，thecheeriestanimalsthateverjingledastringofbells。Ihatedthebrightdaythat_would_makethingspleasant，andthebracingairthatforcedmetofeeltheluxuryofbreathingwhetherI
likeditornot。Neverwasajourneymoremiserablethanmysafeandeasyjourneytothefrontier。Butonelittlecomforthelpedmetobearmyheart—acheresignedly——astolenmorselofEustace’shair。Wehadstartedatanhourofthemorningwhenhewasstillsoundasleep。Icouldcreepintohisroom，andkisshim，andcryoverhimsoftly，andcutoffastraylockofhishair，withoutdangerofdiscovery。HowIsummonedresolutionenoughtoleavehimis，tothishour，notcleartomymind。Ithinkmymother—in—lawmusthavehelpedme，withoutmeaningtodoit。Shecameintotheroomwithanerectheadandacoldeye；shesaid，withanunmercifulemphasisontheword，"Ifyou_mean_togo，Valeria，thecarriageishere。"Anywomanwithasparkofspiritinherwouldhave"meant"itunderthosecircumstances。Imeantit——anddidit。
AndthenIwassorryforit。Poorhumanity！Timehasgotallthecreditofbeingthegreatconsolerofafflictedmortals。Inmyopinion，Timehasbeenoverratedinthismatter。Distancedoesthesamebeneficentworkfarmorespeedily，and（whenassistedbyChange）farmoreeffectuallyaswell。OntherailroadtoParis，I
becamecapableoftakingasensibleviewofmyposition。Icouldnowremindmyselfthatmyhusband’sreceptionofme——afterthefirstsurpriseandthefirsthappinesshadpassedaway——mightnothavejustifiedhismother’sconfidenceinhim。AdmittingthatI
ranariskingoingbacktoMiserrimusDexter，shouldInothavebeenequallyrash，inanotherway，ifIhadreturned，uninvited，toahusbandwhohaddeclaredthatourconjugalhappinesswasimpossible，andthatourmarriedlifewasatanend？Besides，whocouldsaythattheeventsofthefuturemightnotyetjustifyme——notonlytomyself，buttohim？Imightyethearhimsay，"Shewasinquisitivewhenshehadnobusinesstoinquire；shewasobstinatewhensheought；tohavelistenedtoreason；sheleftmybedsidewhenotherwomenwouldhaveremained；butintheendsheatonedforitall——sheturnedouttoberight！"
IrestedadayatParisandwrotethreeletters。
OnetoBenjamin，tellinghimtoexpectmethenextevening。OnetoMr。Playmore，warninghim，ingoodtime，thatImeanttomakealastefforttopenetratethemysteryatGleninch。OnetoEustace（ofafewlinesonly），owningthatIhadhelpedtonursehimthroughthedangerouspartofhisillness；confessingtheonereasonwhichhadprevailedwithmetoleavehim；andentreatinghimtosuspendhisopinionofmeuntiltimehadprovedthatI
lovedhimmoredearlythanever。ThislastletterIinclosedtomymother—in—law，leavingittoherdiscretiontochoosetherighttimeforgivingittoherson。IpositivelyforbadeMrs。
Macallan，however，totellEustaceofthenewtiebetweenus。
Althoughhe_had_separatedhimselffromme，Iwasdeterminedthatheshouldnothearitfromotherlipsthanmine。Nevermindwhy。TherearecertainlittlematterswhichImustkeeptomyself；andthisisoneofthem。
Mylettersbeingwritten，mydutywasdone。Iwasfreetoplaymylastcardinthegame——thedarklydoubtfulgamewhichwasneitherquiteformenorquiteagainstmeasthechancesnowstood。
CHAPTERXXXIX。
ONTHEWAYTODEXTER。
"IDECLAREtoHeaven，Valeria，Ibelievethatmonster’smadnessisinfectious——andyouhavecaughtit！"
ThiswasBenjamin’sopinionofme（onmysafearrivalatthevilla）afterIhadannouncedmyintentionofreturningMiserrimusDexter’svisit，inhiscompany。
Beingdeterminedtocarrymypoint，Icouldaffordtotrytheinfluenceofmildpersuasion。Ibeggedmygoodfriendtohavealittlepatiencewithme。"AnddorememberwhatIhavealreadytoldyou，"Iadded。"ItisofseriousimportancetometoseeDexteragain。"
Ionlyheapedfuelonthefire。"Seehimagain？"Benjaminrepeatedindignantly。"Seehim，afterhegrosslyinsultedyou，undermyroof，inthisveryroom？Ican’tbeawake；Imustbeasleepanddreaming！"
Itwaswrongofme，Iknow。ButBenjamin’svirtuousindignationwassoveryvirtuousthatitletthespiritofmischieflooseinme。Ireallycouldnotresistthetemptationtooutragehissenseofproprietybytakinganaudaciouslyliberalviewofthewholematter。
"Gently，mygoodfriend，gently，"Isaid。"WemustmakeallowancesforamanwhosuffersunderDexter’sinfirmities，andlivesDexter’slife。Andreallywemustnotletourmodestyleadusbeyondreasonablelimits。IbegintothinkthatItookratheraprudishviewofthethingmyselfatthetime。Awomanwhorespectsherself，andwhosewholeheartiswithherhusband，isnotsoveryseriouslyinjuredwhenawretchedcrippledcreatureisrudeenoughtoputhisarmaroundherwaist。Virtuousindignation（ifImayventuretosayso）issometimesverycheapindignation。Besides，Ihaveforgivenhim——andyoumustforgivehimtoo。Thereisnofearofhisforgettinghimselfagain，whileyouarewithme。Hishouseisquiteacuriosity——itissuretointerestyou；thepicturesaloneareworththejourney。Iwillwritetohimto—day，andwewillgoandseehimtogetherto—morrow。Weoweittoourselves（ifwedon’toweittoMr。
Dexter）topaythisvisit。Ifyouwilllookaboutyou，Benjamin，youwillseethatbenevolencetowardeverybodyisthegreatvirtueofthetimewelivein。PoorMr。Dextermusthavethebenefitoftheprevailingfashion。Come，come，marchwiththeage！Openyourmindtothenewideas！"
Insteadofacceptingthispoliteinvitation，worthyoldBenjaminflewattheagewelivedinlikeabullataredcloth。
"Oh，thenewideas！thenewideas！Byallmannerofmeans，Valeria，letushavethenewideas！Theoldmorality’sallwrong，theoldwaysareallwornout。Let’smarchwiththeagewelivein。Nothingcomesamisstotheagewelivein。ThewifeinEnglandandthehusbandinSpain，marriedornotmarriedlivingtogetherornotlivingtogether——it’sallonetothenewideas。
I’llgowithyou，Valeria；I’llbeworthyofthegenerationI
livein。WhenwehavedonewithDexter，don’tlet’sdothingsbyhalves。Let’sgoandgetcrammedwithreadymadescienceatalecture——let’shearthelastnewprofessor，themanwhohasbeenbehindthescenesatCreation，andknowstoaThowtheworldwasmade，andhowlongittooktomakeit。There’stheotherfellow，too：mindwedon’tforgetthemodernSolomon，whohaslefthisproverbsbehindhim——thebrand—newphilosopherwhoconsiderstheconsolationsofreligioninthelightofharmlessplaythings，andwhoiskindenoughtosaythathemighthavebeenallthehappierifhecouldonlyhavebeenchildishenoughtoplaywiththemhimself。Oh，thenewideas！thenewideas！——whatconsoling，elevating，beautifuldiscoverieshavebeenmadebythenewideas！
Wewereallmonkeysbeforeweweremen，andmoleculesbeforeweweremonkeys！andwhatdoesitmatter？Andwhatdoesanythingmattertoanybody？I’mwithyou，Valeria，I’mready。Thesoonerthebetter。CometoDexter！CometoDexter！"
"Iamsogladyouagreewithme，"Isaid。"Butletusdonothinginahurry。Threeo’clockto—morrowwillbetimeenoughforMr。
Dexter。Iwillwriteatonceandtellhimtoexpectus。Whereareyougoing？"
"Iamgoingtoclearmymindofcant，"saidBenjamin，sternly。"I
amgoingintothelibrary。"
"Whatareyougoingtoread？"
"Iamgoingtoread——PussinBoots，andJackandtheBean—stalk，andanythingelseIcanfindthatdoesn’tmarchwiththeagewelivein。"
Withthatpartingshotatthenewideas，myoldfriendleftmeforatime。
Havingdispatchedmynote，Ifoundmyselfbeginningtorevert，withacertainfeelingofanxiety，tothesubjectofMiserrimusDexter’shealth。HowhadhepassedthroughtheintervalofmyabsencefromEngland？Couldanybody，withinmyreach，tellmenewsofhim？ToinquireofBenjaminwouldonlybetoprovokeanewoutbreak。WhileIwasstillconsidering，thehousekeeperenteredtheroomonsomedomesticerrand。Iasked，ataventure，ifshehadheardanythingmore，whileIhadbeenawayoftheextraordinarypersonwhohadsoseriouslyalarmedheronaformeroccasion。
Thehousekeepershookherhead，andlookedasifshethoughtitinbadtastetomentionthesubjectatall。
"Aboutaweekafteryouhadgoneawayma’am，"shesaid，withextremeseverityofmanner，andwithexcessivecarefulnessinherchoiceofwords，"thePersonyoumentionhadtheimpudencetosendalettertoyou。Themessengerwasinformed，bymymaster’sorders，thatyouhadgoneabroad，andheandhisletterwerebothsentabouttheirbusinesstogether。Notlongafterward，ma’am，I
happened，whiledrinkingteawithMrs。Macallan’shousekeeper，tohearofthePersonagain。Hehimselfcalledinhischaise，atMrs。Macallan’s，toinquireaboutyouthere。Howhecancontrivetosit，withoutlegstobalancehim，isbeyondmyunderstanding——butthatisneitherherenorthere。Legsornolegs，thehousekeepersawhim，andshesays，asIsay，shewillneverforgethimtoherdyingday。Shetoldhim（assoonassherecoveredherself）ofMr。Eustace’sillness，andofyouandMrs。
Macallanbeinginforeignpartsnursinghim。Hewentaway，sothehousekeepertoldme，withtearsinhiseyes，andoathsandcursesonhislips——asightshockingtosee。That’sallIknowaboutthePerson，ma’am，andIhopetobeexcusedifIventuretosaythatthesubjectis（forgoodreasons）extremelydisagreeabletome。"
Shemadeaformalcourtesy，andquittedtheroom。
Leftbymyself，IfeltmoreanxiousandmoreuncertainthaneverwhenIthoughtoftheexperimentthatwastobetriedonthenextday。Makingdueallowanceforexaggeration，thedescriptionofMiserrimusDexteronhisdeparturefromMrs。Macallan’shousesuggestedthathehadnotenduredmylongabsenceverypatiently，andthathewasstillasfaraseverfromgivinghisshatterednervoussystemitsfairchanceofrepose。
ThenextmorningbroughtmeMr。Playmore’sreplytotheletterwhichIhadaddressedtohimfromParis。
Hewroteverybriefly，neitherapprovingnorblamingmydecision，butstronglyreiteratinghisopinionthatIshoulddowelltochooseacompetentwitnessasmycompanionatmycominginterviewwithDexter。Themostinterestingpartoftheletterwasattheend。"Youmustbeprepared，"Mr。Playmorewrote，"toseeachangefortheworseinDexter。Afriendofminewaswithhimonamatterofbusinessafewdayssince，andwasstruckbythealterationinhim。Yourpresenceissuretohaveitseffect，onewayoranother。Icangiveyounoinstructionsformanaginghim——youmustbeguidedbythecircumstances。YourowntactwilltellyouwhetheritiswiseornottoencouragehimtospeakofthelateMrs。Eustace。Thechancesofhisbetrayinghimselfallrevolve（asIthink）roundthatonetopic：keephimtoitifyoucan。"Tothiswasadded，inapostscript："AskMr。BenjaminifhewerenearenoughtothelibrarydoortohearDextertellyouofhisenteringthebedchamberonthenightofMrs。EustaceMacallan’sdeath。"
IputthequestiontoBenjaminwhenwemetattheluncheon—tablebeforesettingforthforthedistantsuburbinwhichMiserrimusDexterlived。Myoldfrienddisapprovedofthecontemplatedexpeditionasstronglyasever。Hewasunusuallygraveandunusuallysparingofhiswordswhenheansweredme。
"Iamnolistener，"hesaid。"Butsomepeoplehavevoiceswhichinsistonbeingheard。Mr。Dexterisoneofthem。"
"Doesthatmeanthatyouheardhim？"Iasked。
"Thedoorcouldn’tmufflehim，andthewallcouldn’tmufflehim，"
Benjaminrejoined。"Iheardhim——andIthoughtitinfamous。
There！"
"Imaywantyoutodomorethanhearhimthistime，"Iventuredtosay。"ImaywantyoutomakenotesofourconversationwhileMr。Dexterisspeakingtome。Youusedtowritedownwhatmyfathersaid，whenhewasdictatinghisletterstoyou。Haveyougotoneofyourlittlenote—bookstospare？"
Benjaminlookedupfromhisplatewithanaspectofsternsurprise。
"It’sonething，"hesaid，"towriteunderthedictationofagreatmerchant，conductingavastcorrespondencebywhichthousandsofpoundschangehandsinduecourseofpost。Andit’sanotherthingtotakedownthegibberishofamaunderingmadmonsterwhooughttobekeptinacage。Yourgoodfather，Valeria，wouldneverhaveaskedmetodothat。"
"Forgiveme，Benjamin；Imustreallyaskyoutodoit。Youmaybeofthegreatestpossibleusetome。Come，givewaythisonce，dear，formysake。"
Benjaminlookeddownagainathisplate，witharuefulresignationwhichtoldmethatIhadcarriedmypoint。
"Ihavebeentiedtoherapron—stringallmylife，"Iheardhimgrumbletohimself；"andit’stoolateinthedaytogetloosefromherhow。"Helookedupagainatme。"IthoughtIhadretiredfrombusiness，"hesaid；"butitseemsImustturnclerkagain。
Well？Whatisthenewstrokeofworkthat’sexpectedfrommethistime？"
Thecabwasannouncedtobewaitingforusatthegateasheaskedthequestion。Iroseandtookhisarm，andgavehimagratefulkissonhisrosyoldcheek。