This，naturallyenough，tookmecompletelybysurprise。IwaitedeagerlytohearwhyweweretosendtoAmerica。
　　"Itrestswithyou，"heproceeded，"whenyouhearwhatIhavetotellyou，tosaywhetheryouwillgototheexpenseofsendingamantoNewYork，ornot。Icanfindtherightmanforthepurpose；andIestimatetheexpense（includingatelegram）——"
　　"Nevermindtheexpense！"Iinterposed，losingallpatiencewiththeeminentlyScotchviewofthecasewhichputmypurseinthefirstplaceofimportance。"Idon’tcarefortheexpense；Iwanttoknowwhatyouhavediscovered。"
　　Hesmiled。"Shedoesn’tcarefortheexpense，"hesaidtohimself，pleasantly。"Howlikeawoman！"
　　Imighthaveretorted，"Hethinksoftheexpensebeforehethinksofanythingelse。HowlikeaScotchman！"Asitwas，Iwastooanxioustobewitty。Ionlydrummedimpatientlywithmyfingersonthetable，andsaid，"Tellme！tellme！"
　　HetookoutthefaircopyfromBenjamin’snote—bookwhichIhadsenttohim，andshowedmetheseamongDexter’sclosingwords：
　　"Whatabouttheletter？Burnitnow。Nofireinthegrate。Nomatchesinthebox。Housetopsy—turvy。Servantsallgone。"
　　"Doyoureallyunderstandwhatthosewordsmean？"Iasked。
　　"Ilookbackintomyownexperience，"heanswered，"andI
　　understandperfectlywhatthewordsmean。"
　　"Andcanyoumakemeunderstandthemtoo？"
　　"Easily。InthoseincomprehensiblesentencesDexter’smemoryhascorrectlyrecalledcertainfacts。Ihaveonlytotellyouthefacts，andyouwillbeaswiseasIam。AtthetimeoftheTrial，yourhusbandsurprisedanddistressedmebyinsistingontheinstantdismissalofallthehouseholdservantsatGleninch。I
　　wasinstructedtopaythemaquarter’swagesinadvance，togivethemtheexcellentwrittencharacterswhichtheirgoodconductthoroughlydeserved，andtoseethehouseclearofthematanhour’snotice。Eustace’smotiveforthissummaryproceedingwasmuchthesamemotivewhichanimatedhisconducttowardyou。’IfI
　　amevertoreturntoGleninch，’hesaid，’Icannotfacemyhonestservantsaftertheinfamyofhavingstoodmytrialformurder。’
　　Therewashisreason。NothingthatIcouldsaytohim，poorfellow，shookhisresolution。Idismissedtheservantsaccordingly。Atanhour’snotice，theyquittedthehouse，leavingtheirworkforthedayallundone。TheonlypersonsplacedinchargeofGleninchwerepersonswholivedontheoutskirtsofthepark——thatistosay，thelodge—keeperandhiswifeanddaughter。
　　OnthelastdayoftheTrialIinstructedthedaughtertodoherbesttomaketheroomstidy。Shewasagoodgirlenough，butshehadnoexperienceasahousemaid：itwouldneverenterherheadtolaythebedroomfiresreadyforlighting，ortoreplenishtheemptymatch—boxes。ThosechancewordsthatdroppedfromDexterwould，nodoubt，exactlydescribethestateofhisroomwhenhereturnedtoGleninch，withtheprisonerandhismother，fromEdinburgh。Thathetoreupthemysteriousletterinhisbedroom，and（findingnomeansimmediatelyathandforburningit）thathethrewthefragmentsintotheemptygrate，orintothewaste—paperbasket，seemstobethemostreasonableconclusionthatwecandrawfromwhatweknow。Inanycase，hewouldnothavemuchtimetothinkaboutit。Everythingwasdoneinahurryonthatday。
　　Eustaceandhismother，accompaniedbyDexter，leftforEnglandthesameeveningbythenighttrain。Imyselflockedupthehouse，andgavethekeystothelodge—keeper。Itwasunderstoodthathewastolookafterthepreservationofthereception—roomsontheground—floor；andthathiswifeanddaughterweretoperformthesameservicebetweenthemintheroomsupstairs。Onreceivingyourletter，IdroveatoncetoGleninchtoquestiontheoldwomanonthesubjectofthebedrooms，andofDexter’sroomespecially。Sherememberedthetimewhenthehousewasshutupbyassociatingitwiththetimewhenshewasconfinedtoherbedbyanattackofsciatica。Shehadnotcrossedthelodgedoor，shewassure，foratleastaweek（ifnotlongerafterGleninchhadbeenleftinchargeofherhusbandandherself。Whateverwasdoneinthewayofkeepingthebedroomsairedandtidyduringherillnesswasdonebyherdaughter。She，andsheonly，musthavedisposedofanyletterwhichmighthavebeenlyingaboutinDexter’sroom。Notavestigeoftornpaper，asIcanmyselfcertify，istobediscoveredinanypartoftheroomnow。Wheredidthegirlfindthefragmentsoftheletter？andwhatdidshedowiththem？Thosearethequestions（ifyouapproveofit）
　　whichwemustsendthreethousandmilesawaytoask——forthissufficientreason，thatthelodge—keeper’sdaughterwasmarriedmorethanayearsince，andthatsheissettledwithherhusbandinbusinessatNewYork。Itrestswithyoutodecidewhatistobedone。Don’tletmemisleadyouwithfalsehopes！Don’tletmetemptyoutothrowawayyourmoney！Evenifthiswomandoesrememberwhatshedidwiththetornpaper，thechances，atthisdistanceoftime，areenormouslyagainstoureverrecoveringasinglemorselofit。Beinnohastetodecide。Ihavemyworktodointhecity——Icangiveyouthewholedaytothinkitover。"
　　"SendthemantoNewYorkbythenextsteamer，"Isaid。"Thereismydecision，Mr。Playmore，withoutkeepingyouwaitingforit！"
　　Heshookhishead，ingravedisapprovalofmyimpetuosity。Inmyformerinterviewwithhimwehadneveroncetouchedonthequestionofmoney。Iwasnow，forthefirsttime，tomakeacquaintancewithMr。PlaymoreonthepurelyScotchsideofhischaracter。
　　"Why，youdon’tevenknowwhatitwillcostyou！"heexclaimed，takingouthispocket—bookwiththeairofamanwhowasequallystartledandscandalized。"WaittillItotitup，"hesaid，"inEnglishandAmericanmoney。"
　　"Ican’twait！Iwanttomakemorediscoveries！"
　　Hetooknonoticeofmyinterruption；hewentonimpenetrablywithhiscalculations。
　　"Themanwillgosecond—class，andwilltakeareturn—ticket。
　　Verywell。Histicketincludeshisfood；and（being，thankGod，ateetotaler）hewon’twasteyourmoneyinbuyingliquoronboard。
　　ArrivedatNewYork，hewillgotoacheapGermanhouse，wherehewill，asIamcrediblyinformed，beboardedandlodgedattherate——"
　　Bythistime（mypatiencebeingcompletelywornout）Ihadtakenmycheck—bookfromthetable—drawer，hadsignedmyname，andhadhandedtheblankcheckacrossthetabletomylegaladviser。
　　"Fillitinwithwhateverthemanwants，"Isaid。"AndforHeaven’ssakeletusgetbacktoDexter！"
　　Mr。Playmorefellbackinhischair，andliftedhishandsandeyestotheceiling。Iwasnotintheleastimpressedbythatsolemnappealtotheunseenpowersofarithmeticandmoney。I
　　insistedpositivelyonbeingfedwithmoreinformation。
　　"Listentothis，"Iwenton，readingfromBenjamin’snotes。"WhatdidDextermeanwhenhesaid，’NumberNine，Caldershaws。AskforDandie。Youshan’thavetheDiary。Asecretinyourear。TheDiarywillhanghim？’HowcameDextertoknowwhatwasinmyhusband’sDiary？Andwhatdoeshemeanby’NumberNine，Caldershaws，’andtherestofit？Factsagain？"
　　"Factsagain！"Mr。Playmoreanswered，"muddleduptogether，asyoumaysay——butpositivefactsforallthat。Caldershaws，youmustknow，isoneofthemostdisreputabledistrictsinEdinburgh。Oneofmyclerks（whomIaminthehabitofemployingconfidentially）volunteeredtoinquirefor’Dandie’at’NumberNine。’Itwasaticklishbusinessineveryway；andmymanwiselytookapersonwithhimwhowasknownintheneighborhood。’NumberNine’turnedouttobe（ostensibly）ashopforthesaleofragsandoldiron；and’Dandie’wassuspectedoftradingnowandthen，additionally，asareceiverofstolengoods。Thankstotheinfluenceofhiscompanion，backedbyabank—note（whichcanberepaid，bytheway，outofthefundfortheAmericanexpenses），myclerksucceededismakingthefellowspeak。Nottotroubleyouwithneedlessdetails，theresultinsubstancewasthis：A
　　fortnightormorebeforethedateofMrs。Eustace’sdeath，’Dandie’madetwokeysfromwaxmodelssuppliedtohimbyanewcustomer。ThemysteryobservedinthematterbytheagentwhomanageditexcitedDandie’sdistrust。Hehadthemanprivatelywatchedbeforehedeliveredthekeys；andheendedindiscoveringthathiscustomerwas——MiserrimusDexter。Waitalittle！Ihavenotdoneyet。AddtothisinformationDexter’sincomprehensibleknowledgeofthecontentsofyourhusband’sdiary，andtheproductis——thatthewaxmodelssenttotheold—ironshopinCaldershawsweremodelstakenbytheftfromthekeyoftheDiaryandthekeyofthetable—drawerinwhichitwaskept。Ihavemyownideaoftherevelationsthatarestilltocomeifthismatterisproperlyfollowedup。Nevermindgoingintothatatpresent。
　　Dexter（Itellyouagain）isanswerableforthelateMrs。
　　Eustace’sdeath。_How_heisanswerableIbelieveyouareinafairwayoffindingout。And，morethanthat，Isaynow，whatI
　　couldnotventuretosaybefore——itisadutytowardJustice，aswellasadutytowardyourhusband，tobringthetruthtolight。
　　Asforthedifficultiestobeencountered，Idon’tthinktheyneeddauntyou。Thegreatestdifficultiesgivewayintheend，whentheyareattackedbytheunitedallianceofpatienceresolution——_and_economy。"
　　Withastrongemphasisonthelastwords，myworthyadviser，mindfuloftheflightoftimeandtheclaimsofbusiness，rosetotakehisleave。
　　"Onewordmore，"Isaid，asheheldouthishand。"CanyoumanagetoseeMiserrimusDexterbeforeyougobacktoEdinburgh？Fromwhatthegardenertoldme，hisbrothermustbewithhimbythistime。Itwouldbearelieftometohearthelatestnewsofhim，andtohearitfromyou。"
　　"ItispartofmybusinessinLondontoseehim，"saidMr。
　　Playmore。"Butmind！Ihavenohopeofhisrecovery；Ionlywishtosatisfymyselfthathisbrotherisableandwillingtotakecareofhim。Sofaras_we_areconcerned，Mrs。Eustace，thatunhappymanhassaidhislastwords。"
　　Heopenedthedoor——stopped——considered——andcomebacktome。
　　"WithregardtothatmatterofsendingtheagenttoAmerica，"heresumed——"Iproposetohavethehonorofsubmittingtoyouabriefabstract——"
　　"Oh，Mr。Playmore！"
　　"Abriefabstractinwriting，Mrs。Eustace，oftheestimatedexpensesofthewholeproceeding。Youwillbegoodenoughmaturelytoconsiderthesame，makinganyremarksonit，tendingtoeconomy，whichmaysuggestthemselvestoyourmindatthetime。Andyouwillfurtherobligeme，ifyouapproveoftheabstract，byyourselffillingintheblankspaceonyourcheckwiththeneedfulamountinwordsandfigures。No，madam！Ireallycannotjustifyittomyconsciencetocarryaboutmypersonanysuchlooseandrecklessdocumentasablankcheck。There’satotaldisregardofthefirstclaimsofprudenceandeconomyimpliedinthissmallslipofpaperwhichisnothinglessthanaflatcontradictionoftheprinciplesthathavegovernedmywholelife。Ican’tsubmittoflatcontradiction。Good—morning，Mrs。
　　Eustace——good—morning。"
　　Helaidmycheckonthetablewithalowbow，andleftme。Amongthecuriousdevelopmentsofhumanstupiditywhichoccasionallypresentthemselvestoview，surelytheleastexcusableisthestupiditywhich，tothisday，persistsinwonderingwhytheScotchsucceedsowellinlife！
　　CHAPTERXLII。
　　MORESURPRISES。
　　ThesameeveningIreceivedmy"abstract"bythehandsofaclerk。
　　Itwasanintenselycharacteristicdocument。Myexpenseswereremorselesslycalculateddownwardtoshillingsandeventopence；
　　andourunfortunatemessenger’sinstructionsinrespecttohisexpenditurewerereducedtoanicetywhichmusthavemadehislifeinAmericanothinglessthanaburdentohim。Inmercytotheman，Itooktheliberty，whenIwrotebacktoMr。Playmore，ofslightlyincreasingtheindicatedamountofthefigureswhichweretoappearonthecheck。IoughttohavebetterknownthecorrespondentwhomIhadtodealwith。Mr。Playmore’sreply（informingmethatouremissaryhadstartedonhisvoyage）
　　returnedareceiptindueform，andthewholeofthesurplusmoney，tothelastfarthing！
　　Afewhurriedlinesaccompaniedthe"abstract，"andstatedtheresultofthelawyer’svisittoMiserrimusDexter。
　　Therewasnochangeforthebetter——therewasnochangeatall。
　　Mr。Dexter，thebrother，hadarrivedatthehouseaccompaniedbyamedicalmanaccustomedtothechargeoftheinsane。Thenewdoctordeclinedtogiveanydefiniteopiniononthecaseuntilhehadstudieditcarefullywithplentyoftimeathisdisposal。IthadbeenaccordinglyarrangedthatheshouldremoveMiserrimusDextertotheasylumofwhichhewastheproprietorassoonasthepreparationsforreceivingthepatientcouldbecompleted。
　　Theonedifficultythatstillremainedtobemetrelatedtothedisposalofthefaithfulcreaturewhohadneverlefthermaster，nightorday，sincethecatastrophehadhappened。Arielhadnofriendsandnomoney。Theproprietoroftheasylumcouldnotbeexpectedtoreceiveherwithoutthecustomarypayment；andMr。
　　Dexter’sbrother"regrettedtosaythathewasnotrichenoughtofindthemoney。"Aforcibleseparationfromtheonehumanbeingwhomsheloved，andaremovalinthecharacterofapaupertoapublicasylum——suchwastheprospectwhichawaitedtheunfortunatecreatureunlesssomeoneinterferedinherfavorbeforetheendoftheweek。
　　Underthesesadcircumstances，goodMr。Playmore——passingovertheclaimsofeconomyinfavoroftheclaimsofhumanity——suggestedthatweshouldprivatelystartasubscription，andofferedtoheadthelistliberallyhimself。
　　ImusthavewrittenallthesepagestoverylittlepurposeifitisnecessaryformetoaddthatIinstantlysentalettertoMr。
　　Dexter，thebrother，undertakingtobeanswerableforwhatevermoneywastoberequiredwhilethesubscriptionswerebeingcollected，andonlystipulatingthatwhenMiserrimusDexterwasremovedtotheasylum，Arielshouldaccompanyhim。Thiswasreadilyconceded。ButseriousobjectionswereraisedwhenI
　　furtherrequestedthatshemightbepermittedtoattendonhermasterintheasylumasshehadattendedonhiminthehouse。Therulesoftheestablishmentforbadeit，andtheuniversalpracticeinsuchcasesforbadeit，andsoon，andsoon。However，bydintofperseveranceandpersuasion，Isofarcarriedmypointastogainareasonableconcession。Duringcertainhoursintheday，andundercertainwiserestrictions，ArielwastobeallowedtheprivilegeofwaitingontheMasterinhisroom，aswellasofaccompanyinghimwhenhewasbroughtoutinhischairtotaketheairinthegarden。Forthehonorofhumanity，letmeaddthattheliabilitywhichIhadundertakenmadenoveryseriousdemandsonmyresources。PlacedinBenjamin’scharge，oursubscription—listprospered。Friends，andevenstrangerssometimes，openedtheirheartsandtheirpurseswhentheyheardAriel’smelancholystory。
　　ThedaywhichfollowedthedayofMr。Playmore’svisitbroughtmenewsfromSpain，inaletterfrommymother—in—law。TodescribewhatIfeltwhenIbrokethesealandreadthefirstlinesissimplyimpossible。LetMrs。Macallanbeheardonthisoccasioninmyplace。
　　Thusshewrote：
　　"Prepareyourself，mydearestValeria，foradelightfulsurprise。Eustacehasjustifiedmyconfidenceinhim。WhenhereturnstoEngland，hereturns——ifyouwilllethim——tohiswife。
　　"Thisresolution，letmehastentoassureyou，hasnotbeenbroughtaboutbyanypersuasionsofmine。Itisthenaturaloutgrowthofyourhusband’sgratitudeandyourhusband’slove。
　　Thefirstwordshesaidtome，whenhewasabletospeak，werethese：’IfIlivetoreturntoEngland，andifIgotoValeria，doyouthinkshewillforgiveme？’Wecanonlyleaveittoyou，mydear，togivetheanswer。Ifyouloveus，answerusbyreturnofpost。
　　"HavingnowtoldyouwhathesaidwhenIfirstinformedhimthatyouhadbeenhisnurse——andremember，ifitseemverylittle，thatheisstilltooweaktospeakexceptwithdifficulty——I
　　shallpurposelykeepmyletterbackforafewdays。Myobjectistogivehimtimetothink，andtofranklytellyouofitiftheintervalproduceanychangeinhisresolution。
　　"Threedayshavepassed，andthereisnochange。Hehasbutonefeelingnow——helongsforthedaywhichistounitehimagaintohiswife。
　　"ButthereissomethingelseconnectedwithEustacethatyououghttoknow，andthatIoughttotellyou。
　　"Greatlyastimeandsufferinghavealteredhiminmanyrespects，thereisnochange，Valeria，intheaversion——thehorrorImayevensay——withwhichheviewsyourideaofinquiringanewintothecircumstanceswhichattendedthelamentabledeathofhisfirstwife。Itmakesnodifferencetohimthatyouareonlyanimatedbyadesiretoservehisinterests。’Hasshegivenupthatidea？Areyoupositivelysureshehasgivenupthatidea？’
　　Overandoveragainhehasputthesequestionstome。Ihaveanswered——whatelsecouldIdointhemiserablyfeeblestateinwhichhestilllies？——Ihaveansweredinsuchamannerastosootheandsatisfyhim。Ihavesaid，’Relieveyourmindofallanxietyonthatsubject：Valeriahasnochoicebuttogiveuptheidea；theobstaclesinherwayhaveprovedtobeinsurmountable——theobstacleshaveconqueredher。’This，ifyouremember，waswhatIreallybelievedwouldhappenwhenyouandI
　　spokeofthatpainfultopic；andIhaveheardnothingfromyousincewhichhastendedtoshakemyopinioninthesmallestdegree。IfIamright（asIprayGodImaybe）intheviewthatI
　　take，youhaveonlytoconfirmmeinyourreply，andallwillbewell。Intheotherevent——thatistosay，ifyouarestilldeterminedtopersevereinyourhopelessproject——thenmakeupyourmindtofacetheresult。SetEustace’sprejudicesatdefianceinthisparticular，andyouloseyourholdonhisgratitude，hispenitence，andhislove——youwill，inmybelief，neverseehimagain。
　　"Iexpressmyselfstrongly，inyourowninterests，mydear，andforyourownsake。Whenyoureply，writeafewlinestoEustace，inclosedinyourlettertome。
　　"Asforthedateofourdeparture，itisstillimpossibleformetogiveyouanydefiniteinformation。Eustacerecoversveryslowly；thedoctorhasnotyetallowedhimtoleavehisbed；andwhenwedotravelwemustjourneybyeasystages。Itwillbeatleastsixweeks，attheearliest，beforewecanhopetobebackagainindearOldEngland。
　　"Affectionatelyyours，"CATHERINEMACALLAN。"
　　Ilaiddowntheletter，anddidmybest（vainlyenoughforsometime）tocomposemyspirits。TounderstandthepositioninwhichInowfoundmyself，itisonlynecessarytorememberonecircumstance：themessengertowhomwehadcommittedourinquirieswasatthatmomentcrossingtheAtlanticonhiswaytoNewYork。
　　Whatwastobedone？
　　Ihesitated。Shockingasitmayseemtosomepeople，Ihesitated。
　　Therewasreallynoneedtohurrymydecision。Ihadthewholedaybeforeme。
　　Iwentoutandtookawretched，lonelywalk，andturnedthematteroverinmymind。Icamehomeagain，andturnedthematteroveroncemorebythefireside。Tooffendandrepelmydarlingwhenhewasreturningtome，penitentlyreturningofhisownfreewill，waswhatnowomaninmyposition，andfeelingasIdid，couldunderanyearthlycircumstanceshavebroughtherselftodo。
　　Andyet。ontheotherhand，howinHeaven’snamecouldIgiveupmygrandenterpriseattheverytimewhenevenwiseandprudentMr。Playmoresawsuchaprospectofsucceedinginitthathehadactuallyvolunteeredtohelpme？Placedbetweenthosetwocruelalternatives，whichcouldIchoose？Thinkofyourownfrailties，andhavesomemercyonmine。Iturnedmybackonboththealternatives。Thosetwoagreeablefiends，PrevaricationandDeceit，tookme，asitwere，softlybythehand："Don’tcommityourselfeitherway，mydear，"theysaid，intheirmostpersuasivemanner。"Writejustenoughtocomposeyourmother—in—lawandtosatisfyyourhusband。Youhavegottimebeforeyou。WaitandseeifTimedoesn’tstandyourfriend，andgetyououtofthedifficulty。"
　　Infamousadvice！AndyetItookit——I，whohadbeenwellbroughtup，andwhooughttohaveknownbetter。Youwhoreadthisshamefulconfessionwouldhaveknownbetter，Iamsure。_You_arenotincluded，inthePrayer—bookcategory，amongthe"miserablesinners。"
　　Well！well！letmehavevirtueenoughtotellthetruth。Inwritingtomymother—in—law，IinformedherthatithadbeenfoundnecessarytoremoveMiserrimusDextertoanasylum——andI
　　lefthertodrawherownconclusionsfromthatfact，unenlightenedbysomuchasonewordofadditionalinformation。
　　Inthesameway，Itoldmyhusbandapartofthetruth，andnomore。IsaidIforgavehimwithallmyheart——andIdid！Isaidhehadonlytocometome，andIwouldreceivehimwithopenarms——andsoIwould！Asfortherest，letmesaywithHamlet——"Therestissilence。"
　　Havingdispatchedmyunworthyletters，Ifoundmyselfgrowingrestless，andfeelingthewantofachange。ItwouldbenecessarytowaitatleasteightorninedaysbeforewecouldhopetohearbytelegraphfromNewYork。IbadefarewellforatimetomydearandadmirableBenjamin，andbetookmyselftomyoldhomeintheNorth，atthevicarageofmyuncleStarkweather。MyjourneytoSpaintonurseEustacehadmademypeacewithmyworthyrelatives；wehadexchangedfriendlyletters；andIhadpromisedtobetheirguestassoonasitwaspossibleformetoleaveLondon。
　　Ipassedaquietand（allthingsconsidered）ahappytimeamongtheoldscenes。Ivisitedoncemorethebankbytheriver—side，whereEustaceandIhadfirstmet。Iwalkedagainonthelawnandloiteredthroughtheshrubbery——thosefavoritehauntsinwhichwehadsooftentalkedoverourtroubles，andsooftenforgottentheminakiss。Howsadlyandstrangelyhadourlivesbeenpartedsincethattime！Howuncertainstillwasthefortunewhichthefuturehadinstoreforus！
　　TheassociationsamidwhichIwasnowlivinghadtheirsofteningeffectonmyheart，theirelevatinginfluenceovermymind。I
　　reproachedmyself，bitterlyreproachedmyself，fornothavingwrittenmorefullyandfranklytoEustace。WhyhadIhesitatedtosacrificetohimmyhopesandmyinterestsinthecominginvestigation？_He_hadnothesitated，poorfellow——_his_firstthoughtwasthethoughtofhiswife！
　　IhadpassedafortnightwithmyuncleandauntbeforeIheardagainfromMr。Playmore。Whenaletterfromhimarrivedatlast，itdisappointedmeindescribably。Atelegramfromourmessengerinformedusthatthelodge—keeper’sdaughterandherhusbandhadleftNewYork，andthathewasstillinsearchofatraceofthem。
　　Therewasnothingtobedonebuttowaitaspatientlyaswecould，onthechanceofhearingbetternews。IremainedintheNorth，byMr。Playmore’sadvice，soastobewithinaneasyjourneytoEdinburgh——incaseitmightbenecessaryformetoconsulthimpersonally。Threemoreweeksofwearyexpectationpassedbeforeasecondletterreachedme。Thistimeitwasimpossibletosaywhetherthenewsweregoodorbad。Itmighthavebeeneither——itwassimplybewildering。EvenMr。Playmorehimselfwastakenbysurprise。Thesewerethelastwonderfulwords——limitedofcoursebyconsiderationsofeconomy——whichreachedus（bytelegram）fromouragentinAmerica：
　　"Openthedust—heapatGleninch。"