thought，asIclosedthefifth，andopenedthesixthandlastdrawer。
Thesixthdrawerwasatonceasurpriseandadisappointment。Itliterallycontainednothingbutthefragmentsofabrokenvase。
Iwassitting，atthetime，oppositetothecabinet，inalowchair。Inthemomentaryirritationcausedbymydiscoveryoftheemptinessofthelastdrawer，Ihadjustliftedmyfoottopushitbackintoitsplace，whenthedoorcommunicatingwiththehallopened，andMajorFitz—Davidstoodbeforeme。
Hiseyes，afterfirstmeetingmine，traveleddownwardtomyfoot。
TheinstanthenoticedtheopendrawerIsawachangeinhisface。Itwasonlyforamoment；butinthatmomenthelookedatmewithasuddensuspicionandsurprise——lookedasifhehadcaughtmewithmyhandontheclew。
"Praydon’tletmedisturbyou，"saidMajorFitz—David。"Ihaveonlycomeheretoaskyouaquestion。"
"Whatisit，Major？"
"Haveyoumetwithanylettersofmineinthecourseofyourinvestigations？"
"Ihavefoundnoneyet，"Ianswered。"IfIdodiscoveranyletters，Ishall，ofcourse，nottakethelibertyofexaminingthem。"
"Iwantedtospeaktoyouaboutthat，"herejoined。"Itonlystruckmeamomentsince，upstairs，thatmylettersmightembarrassyou。InyourplaceIshouldfeelsomedistrustofanythingwhichIwasnotatlibertytoexamine。IthinkIcansetthismatterright，however，withverylittletroubletoeitherofus。ItisnoviolationofanypromisesorpledgesonmypartifI
simplytellyouthatmyletterswillnotassistthediscoverywhichyouaretryingtomake。Youcansafelypassthemoverasobjectsthatarenotworthexaminingfromyourpointofview。Youunderstandme，Iamsure？"
"Iammuchobligedtoyou，Major——Iquiteunderstand。"
"Areyoufeelinganyfatigue？"
"Nonewhatever，thankyou。"
"Andyoustillhopetosucceed？Youarenotbeginningtobediscouragedalready？"
"Iamnotintheleastdiscouraged。Withyourkindleave，Imeantopersevereforsometimeyet。"
Ihadnotclosedthedrawerofthecabinetwhileweweretalking，andIglancedcarelessly，asIansweredhim，atthefragmentsofthebrokenvase。Bythistimehehadgothisfeelingsunderperfectcommand。He，too，glancedatthefragmentsofthevasewithanappearanceofperfectindifference。Irememberedthelookofsuspicionandsurprisethathadescapedhimonenteringtheroom，andIthoughthisindifferencealittleoveracted。
"_That_doesn’tlookveryencouraging，"hesaid，withasmile，pointingtotheshatteredpiecesofchinainthedrawer。
"Appearancesarenotalwaystobetrusted，"Ireplied。"ThewisestthingIcandoinmypresentsituationistosuspecteverything，evendowntoabrokenvase。"
IlookedhardathimasIspoke。Hechangedthesubject。
"Doesthemusicupstairsannoyyou？"heasked。
"Notintheleast，Major。"
"Itwillsoonbeovernow。Thesinging—masterisgoing，andtheItalianmasterhasjustarrived。Iamsparingnopainstomakemyyoungprimadonnaamostaccomplishedperson。Inlearningtosingshemustalsolearnthelanguagewhichisespeciallythelanguageofmusic。IshallperfectherintheaccentwhenItakehertoItaly。ItistheheightofmyambitiontohavehermistakenforanItalianwhenshesingsinpublic。IsthereanythingIcandobeforeIleaveyouagain？MayIsendyousomemorechampagne？
Pleasesayyes！"
"Athousandthanks，Major。Nomorechampagneforthepresent。"
Heturnedatthedoortokisshishandtomeatparting。AtthesamemomentIsawhiseyeswanderslylytowardthebook—case。Itwasonlyforaninstant。Ihadbarelydetectedhimbeforehewasoutoftheroom。
Leftbymyselfagain，Ilookedatthebook—case——lookedatitattentivelyforthefirsttime。
Itwasahandsomepieceoffurnitureinancientcarvedoak，anditstoodagainstthewallwhichranparallelwiththehallofthehouse。Exceptingthespaceoccupiedintheuppercorneroftheroombytheseconddoor，whichopenedintothehall，thebook—casefilledthewholelengthofthewalldowntothewindow。
Thetopwasornamentedbyvases，candelabra，andstatuettes，inpairs，placedinarow。Lookingalongtherow，Inoticedavacantspaceonthetopofthebookcaseattheextremityofitwhichwasnearesttothewindow。Theoppositeextremity，nearesttothedoor，wasoccupiedbyahandsomepaintedvaseofaverypeculiarpattern。Wherewasthecorrespondingvase，whichoughttohavebeenplacedatthecorrespondingextremityofthebook—case？I
returnedtotheopensixthdrawerofthecabinet，andlookedinagain。TherewasnomistakingthepatternonthefragmentswhenI
examinedthemnow。Thevasewhichhadbeenbrokenwasthevasewhichhadstoodintheplacenowvacantonthetopofthebook—caseattheendnearesttothewindow。
Makingthisdiscovery，Itookoutthefragments，downtothesmallestmorseloftheshatteredchina，andexaminedthemcarefullyoneafteranother。
Iwastooignorantofthesubjecttobeabletoestimatethevalueofthevaseortheantiquityofthevase，oreventoknowwhetheritwereofBritishorofforeignmanufacture。Thegroundwasofadelicatecream—color。TheornamentstracedonthiswerewreathsofflowersandCupidssurroundingamedalliononeithersideofthevase。Uponthespacewithinoneofthemedallionswaspaintedwithexquisitedelicacyawoman’shead，representinganymphoragoddess，orperhapsaportraitofsomecelebratedperson——Iwasnotlearnedenoughtosaywhich。Theothermedallioninclosedtheheadofaman，alsotreatedintheclassicalstyle。RecliningshepherdsandshepherdessesinWatteaucostume，withtheirdogsandtheirsheep，formedtheadornmentsofthepedestal。Suchhadthevasebeeninthedaysofitsprosperity，whenitstoodonthetopofthebook—case。Bywhataccidenthaditbecomebroken？AndwhyhadMajorFitz—David’sfacechangedwhenhefoundthatIhaddiscoveredtheremainsofhisshatteredworkofartinthecabinetdrawer？
Theremainsleftthoseseriousquestionsunanswered——theremainstoldmeabsolutelynothing。Andyet，ifmyownobservationoftheMajorweretobetrusted，thewaytotheclewofwhichIwasinsearchlay，directlyorindirectly，throughthebrokenvase。
Itwasuselesstopursuethequestion，knowingnomorethanI
knewnow。Ireturnedtothebook—case。
ThusfarIhadassumed（withoutanysufficientreason）thattheclewofwhichIwasinsearchmustnecessarilyrevealitselfthroughawrittenpaperofsomesort。Itnowoccurredtome——afterthemovementwhichIhaddetectedonthepartoftheMajor——thattheclewmightquiteasprobablypresentitselfintheformofabook。
Ilookedalongthelowerrowsofshelves，standingjustnearenoughtothemtoreadthetitlesonthebacksofthevolumes。I
sawVoltaireinredmorocco，Shakespeareinblue，WalterScottingreen，the"HistoryofEngland"inbrown，the"AnnualRegister"
inyellowcalf。ThereIpaused，weariedanddiscouragedalreadybythelongrowsofvolumes。How（Ithoughttomyself）amItoexamineallthesebooks？AndwhatamItolookfor，evenifIdoexaminethemall？
MajorFitz—Davidhadspokenofaterriblemisfortunewhichhaddarkenedmyhusband’spastlife。Inwhatpossiblewaycouldanytraceofthatmisfortune，oranysuggestivehintofsomethingresemblingit，existinthearchivesofthe"AnnualRegister"orinthepagesofVoltaire？ThebareideaofsuchathingseemedabsurdThemereattempttomakeaseriousexaminationinthisdirectionwassurelyawantonwasteoftime。
AndyettheMajorhadcertainlystolenalookatthebook—case。
Andagain，thebrokenvasehadoncestoodonthebook—case。Didthesecircumstancesjustifymeinconnectingthevaseandthebook—caseastwinlandmarksonthewaythatledtodiscovery？Thequestionwasnotaneasyonetodecideonthespurofthemoment。
Ilookedupatthehighershelves。
Herethecollectionofbooksexhibitedagreatervariety。Thevolumesweresmaller，andwerenotsocarefullyarrangedasonthelowershelves。Somewereboundincloth，somewereonlyprotectedbypapercovers；oneortwohadfallen，andlayflatontheshelves。HereandthereIsawemptyspacesfromwhichbookshadbeenremovedandnotreplaced。Inshort，therewasnodiscouraginguniformityinthesehigherregionsofthebook—case。
Theuntidytopshelveslookedsuggestiveofsomeluckyaccidentwhichmightunexpectedlyleadthewaytosuccess。Idecided，ifI
didexaminethebook—caseatall，tobeginatthetop。
Wherewasthelibraryladder？
Ihadleftitagainstthepartitionwallwhichdividedthebackroomfromtheroominfront。Lookingthatway，Inecessarilylookedalsotowardthedoorthatraningrooves——theimperfectlycloseddoorthroughwhichIheardMajorFitz—DavidquestionhisservantonthesubjectofmypersonalappearancewhenIfirstenteredthehouse。Noonehadmovedthisdoorduringthetimeofmyvisit。Everybodyenteringorleavingtheroomhadusedtheotherdoor，whichledintothehall。
AtthemomentwhenIlookedroundsomethingstirredinthefrontroom。Themovementletthelightinsuddenlythroughthesmallopenspaceleftbythepartiallycloseddoor。Hadsomebodybeenwatchingmethroughthechink？Isteppedsoftlytothedoor，andpusheditbackuntilitwaswideopen。TherewastheMajor，discoveredinthefrontroom！Isawitinhisface——hehadbeenwatchingmeatthebook—case！
Hishatwasinhishand。Hewasevidentlygoingout；andhedexterouslytookadvantageofthatcircumstancetogiveaplausiblereasonforbeingsonearthedoor。
"IhopeIdidn’tfrightenyou，"hesaid。
"Youstartledmealittle，Major。"
"Iamsosorry，andsoashamed！Iwasjustgoingtoopenthedoor，andtellyouthatIamobligedtogoout。Ihavereceivedapressingmessagefromalady。Acharmingperson——Ishouldsolikeyoutoknowher。Sheisinsadtrouble，poorthing。Littlebills，youknow，andnastytradespeoplewhowanttheirmoney，andahusband——oh，dearme，ahusbandwhoisquiteunworthyofher！A
mostinterestingcreature。Youremindmeofheralittle；youbothhavethesamecarriageofthehead。Ishallnotbemorethanhalfanhourgone。CanIdoanythingforyou？Youarelookingfatigued。Prayletmesendforsomemorechampagne。No？Promisetoringwhenyouwantit。That’sright！_Aurevoir_，mycharmingfriend——_aurevoir！_"
Ipulledthedoortoagainthemomenthisbackwasturned，andsatdownforawhiletocomposemyself。
Hehadbeenwatchingmeatthebook—case！Themanwhowasinmyhusband’sconfidence，themanwhoknewwheretheclewwastobefound，hadbeenwatchingmeatthebook—case！Therewasnodoubtofitnow。MajorFitz—Davidhadshownmethehiding—placeofthesecretinspiteofhimself！
Ilookedwithindifferenceattheotherpiecesoffurniture，rangedagainstthefourthwall，whichIhadnotexaminedyet。I
surveyed，withouttheslightestfeelingofcuriosity，allthelittleeleganttriflesscatteredonthetablesandonthechimney—piece，eachoneofwhichmighthavebeenanobjectofsuspiciontomeunderothercircumstances。Eventhewater—colordrawingsfailedtointerestmeinmypresentframeofmind。I
observedlanguidlythattheyweremostofthemportraitsofladies——fairidols，nodoubt，oftheMajor’sfacileadoration——andIcaredtonoticenomore。_My_businessinthatroom（Iwascertainofitnow！）beganandendedwiththebook—case。Ileftmyseattofetchthelibraryladder，determiningtobegintheworkofinvestigationonthetopshelves。
OnmywaytotheladderIpassedoneofthetables，andsawthekeyslyingonitwhichMajorFitz—Davidhadleftatmydisposal。
Thesmallerofthetwokeysinstantlyremindedmeofthecupboardsunderthebookcase。Ihadstrangelyoverlookedthese。A
vaguedistrustofthelockeddoorsavaguedoubtofwhattheymightbehidingfromme，stoleintomymind。Ilefttheladderinitsplaceagainstthewall，andsetmyselftoexaminethecontentsofthecupboardsfirst。
Thecupboardswerethreeinnumber。AsIopenedthefirstofthemthesingingupstairsceased。Foramomenttherewassomethingalmostoppressiveinthesuddenchangefromnoisetosilence。I
supposemynervesmusthavebeenoverwrought。Thenextsoundinthehouse——nothingmoreremarkablethanthecreakingofaman’sbootsdescendingthestairs——mademeshudderallover。Themanwasnodoubtthesinging—master，goingawayaftergivinghislesson。Iheardthehousedoorcloseonhim，andstartedatthefamiliarsoundasifitweresomethingterriblewhichIhadneverheardbefore。Thentherewassilenceagain。IrousedmyselfaswellasIcould，andbeganmyexaminationofthefirstcupboard。
Itwasdividedintotwocompartments。
Thetopcompartmentcontainednothingbutboxesofcigars，rangedinrows，oneonanother。Theundercompartmentwasdevotedtoacollectionofshells。Theywereallhuddledtogetheranyhow，theMajorevidentlysettingafarhighervalueonhiscigarsthanonhisshells。Isearchedthislowercompartmentcarefullyforanyobjectinterestingtomewhichmightbehiddeninit。Nothingwastobefoundinanypartofitbesidestheshells。
AsIopenedthesecondcupboarditstruckmethatthelightwasbeginningtofail。
Ilookedatthewindow：itwashardlyeveningyet。Thedarkeningofthelightwasproducedbygatheringclouds。Rain—dropspatteredagainsttheglass；theautumnwindwhistledmournfullyinthecornersofthecourtyard。ImendedthefirebeforeI
renewedmysearch。Mynerveswereinfaultagain，Isuppose。I
shiveredwhenIwentbacktothebook—case。Myhandstrembled：I
wonderedwhatwasthematterwithme。
Thesecondcupboardrevealed（intheupperdivisionofit）somereallybeautifulcameos——notmounted，butlaidoncotton—woolinneatcardboardtrays。Inonecorner，halfhiddenunderoneofthetrays，therepeepedoutthewhiteleavesofalittlemanuscript。
Ipouncedoniteagerly，onlytomeetwithanewdisappointment：
themanuscriptprovedtobeadescriptivecatalogueofthecameos——nothingmore！
Turningtothelowerdivisionofthecupboard，IfoundmorecostlycuriositiesintheshapeofivorycarvingsfromJapanandspecimensofraresilkfromChina。IbegantofeelwearyofdisinterringtheMajor’streasures。ThelongerIsearched，thefartherIseemedtoremovemyselffromtheoneobjectthatIhaditathearttoattain。Afterclosingthedoorofthesecondcupboard，Ialmostdoubtedwhetheritwouldbeworthmywhiletoproceedfartherandopenthethirdandlastdoor。
Alittlereflectionconvincedmethatitwouldbeaswell，nowthatIhadbegunmyexaminationofthelowerregionsofthebook—case，togoonwithittotheend。Iopenedthelastcupboard。
Ontheuppershelfthereappeared，insolitarygrandeur，oneobjectonly——agorgeouslyboundbook。
Itwasofalargersizethanusual，judgingofitbycomparisonwiththedimensionsofmodernvolumes。Thebindingwasofbluevelvet，withclaspsofsilverworkedinbeautifularabesquepatterns，andwithalockofthesamepreciousmetaltoprotectthebookfrompryingeyes。WhenItookitup，Ifoundthatthelockwasnotclosed。
HadIanyrighttotakeadvantageofthisaccident，andopenthebook？Ihaveputthequestionsincetosomeofmyfriendsofbothsexes。ThewomenallagreethatIwasperfectlyjustified，consideringtheseriousintereststhatIhadatstake，intakinganyadvantageofanybookintheMajor’shouse。Themendifferfromthisview，anddeclarethatIoughttohaveputbackthevolumeinbluevelvetunopened，carefullyguardingmyselffromanyafter—temptationtolookatitagainbylockingthecupboarddoor。Idaresaythemenareright。
Beingawoman，however，Iopenedthebookwithoutamoment’shesitation。
Theleaveswereofthefinestvellum，withtastefullydesignedilluminationsallroundthem。Andwhatdidthesehighlyornamentalpagescontain？Tomyunutterableamazementanddisgust，theycontainedlocksofhair，letneatlyintothecenterofeachpage，withinscriptionsbeneath，whichprovedthemtobelove—tokensfromvariousladieswhohadtouchedtheMajor’ssusceptibleheartatdifferentperiodsofhislife。TheinscriptionswerewritteninotherlanguagesbesidesEnglish，buttheyappearedtobeallequallydevotedtothesamecuriouspurpose，namely，toremindingtheMajorofthedatesatwhichhisvariousattachmentshadcometoanuntimelyend。Thusthefirstpageexhibitedalockofthelightestflaxenhair，withtheselinesbeneath："MyadoredMadeline。Eternalconstancy。Alas，July22，1839！"Thenextpagewasadornedbyadarkershadeofhair，withaFrenchinscriptionunderit："Clemence。Idoledemon鈓e。
Toujoursfidele。Helas，2meAvril，1840。"Alockofredhairfollowed，withalamentationinLatinunderit，anotebeingattachedtothedateofdissolutionofpartnershipinthiscase，statingthattheladywasdescendedfromtheancientRomans，andwasthereforemournedappropriatelyinLatinbyherdevotedFitz—David。Moreshadesofhairandmoreinscriptionsfollowed，untilIwaswearyoflookingatthem。Iputdownthebook，disgustedwiththecreatureswhohadassistedinfillingit，andthentookitupagain，byanafterthought。ThusfarIhadthoroughlysearchedeverythingthathadpresenteditselftomynotice。Agreeableornotagreeable，itwasplainlyofseriousimportancetomyownintereststogoonasIhadbegun，andthoroughlytosearchthebook。
IturnedoverthepagesuntilIcametothefirstblankleaf。
Seeingthattheywereallblankleavesfromthisplacetotheend，Iliftedthevolumebytheback，and，asalastmeasureofprecaution，shookitsoastodislodgeanyloosepapersorcardswhichmighthaveescapedmynoticebetweentheleaves。
Thistimemypatiencewasrewardedbyadiscoverywhichindescribablyirritatedanddistressedme。
Asmallphotograph，mountedonacard，felloutofthebook。A
firstglanceshowedmethatitrepresentedtheportraitsoftwopersons。
OneofthepersonsIrecognizedasmyhusband。
Theotherpersonwasawoman。
Herfacewasentirelyunknowntome。Shewasnotyoung。Thepicturerepresentedherseatedonachair，withmyhusbandstandingbehind，andbendingoverher，holdingoneofherhandsinhis。Thewoman’sfacewashard—featuredandugly，withthemarkinglinesofstrongpassionsandresoluteself—willplainlywrittenonit。Still，uglyasshewas，IfeltapangofjealousyasInoticedthefamiliarlyaffectionateactionbywhichtheartist（withthepermissionofhissitters，ofcourse）hadconnectedthetwofiguresinagroup。Eustacehadbrieflytoldme，inthedaysofourcourtship，thathehadmorethanoncefanciedhimselftobeinlovebeforehemetwithme。Couldthisveryunattractivewomanhavebeenoneoftheearlyobjectsofhisadmiration？Hadshebeennearenoughanddearenoughtohimtobephotographedwithherhandinhis？IlookedandlookedattheportraitsuntilIcouldendurethemnolonger。Womenarestrangecreatures——mysterieseventothemselves。Ithrewthephotographfrommeintoacornerofthecupboard。Iwassavagelyangrywithmyhusband；Ihated——yes，hatedwithallmyheartandsoul！——thewomanwhohadgothishandinhers——theunknownwomanwiththeself—willed，hard—featuredface。
Allthistimethelowershelfofthecupboardwasstillwaitingtobelookedover。
Ikneltdowntoexamineit，eagertoclearmymind，ifIcould，ofthedegradingjealousythathadgotpossessionofme。
Unfortunately，thelowershelfcontainednothingbutrelicsoftheMajor’smilitarylife，comprisinghisswordandpistols，hisepaulets，hissash，andotherminoraccouterments。Noneoftheseobjectsexcitedtheslightestinterestinme。Myeyeswanderedbacktotheuppershelf；and，likethefoolIwas（thereisnomilderwordthatcanfitlydescribemeatthatmoment），Itookthephotographoutagain，andenragedmyselfuselesslybyanotherlookatit。ThistimeIobserved，whatIhadnotnoticedbefore，thatthereweresomelinesofwriting（inawoman’shand）atthebackoftheportraits。Thelinesranthus：
’ToMajorFitz—David，withtwovases。Fromhisfriends，S。andE。
M。"
Wasoneofthosetwovasesthevasethathadbeenbroken？AndwasthechangethatIhadnoticedinMajorFitz—David’sfaceproducedbysomepastassociationinconnectionwithit，whichinsomewayaffectedme？Itmightormightnotbeso。Iwaslittledisposedtoindulgeinspeculationonthistopicwhilethefarmoreseriousquestionoftheinitialsconfrontedmeonthebackofthephotograph。
"S。andE。M。？"Thoselasttwolettersmightstandfortheinitialsofmyhusband’sname——histruename——EustaceMacallan。
Inthiscasethefirstletter（"S。"）inallprobabilityindicated_her_name。Whatrighthadshetoassociateherselfwithhiminthatmanner？Iconsideredalittle——mymemoryexerteditself——I
suddenlycalledtomindthatEustacehadsisters。Hehadspokenofthemmorethanonceinthetimebeforeourmarriage。HadI
beenmadenoughtotorturemyselfwithjealousyofmyhusband’ssister？Itmightwellbeso；"S。"mightstandforhissister’sChristianname。Ifeltheartilyashamedofmyselfasthisnewviewofthematterdawnedonme。WhatawrongIhaddonetothembothinmythoughts！Iturnedthephotograph，sadlyandpenitently，toexaminetheportraitsagainwithakinderandtruerappreciationofthem。
Inaturallylookednowforafamilylikenessbetweenthetwofaces。Therewasnofamilylikeness；onthecontrary，theywereasunlikeeachotherinformandexpressionasfacescouldbe。
_Was_shehissister，afterall？Ilookedatherhands，asrepresentedintheportrait。HerrighthandwasclaspedbyEustace；herlefthandlayonherlap。Onthethirdfinger，distinctlyvisible，therewasawedding—ring。Wereanyofmyhusband’ssistersmarried？Ihadmyselfaskedhimthequestionwhenhementionedthemtome，andIperfectlyrememberedthathehadrepliedinthenegative。
Wasitpossiblethatmyfirstjealousinstincthadledmetotherightconclusionafterall？Ifithad，whatdidtheassociationofthethreeinitiallettersmean？Whatdidthewedding—ringmean？GoodHeavens！wasIlookingattheportraitofarivalinmyhusband’saffections——andwasthatrivalhisWife？
Ithrewthephotographfrommewithacryofhorror。ForoneterriblemomentIfeltasifmyreasonwasgivingway。Idon’tknowwhatwouldhavehappened，orwhatIshouldhavedonenext，ifmyloveforEustacehadnottakentheuppermostplaceamongthecontendingemotionsthattorturedme。Thatfaithfullovesteadiedmybrain。Thatfaithfulloverousedtherevivinginfluencesofmybetterandnoblersense。WasthemanwhomIhadenshrinedinmyheartofheartscapableofsuchbasewickednessasthebareideaofhismarriagetoanotherwomanimplied？No！
Minewasthebaseness，minethewickedness，inhavingevenforamomentthoughtitofhim！
Ipickedupthedetestablephotographfromthefloor，andputitbackinthebook。Ihastilyclosedthecupboarddoor，fetchedthelibraryladder，andsetitagainstthebook—case。Myoneideanowwastheideaoftakingrefugeinemploymentofanysortfrommyownthoughts。Ifeltthehatefulsuspicionthathaddegradedmecomingbackagaininspiteofmyeffortstorepelit。Thebooks！
thebooks！myonlyhopewastoabsorbmyself，bodyandsoul，inthebooks。
Ihadonefootontheladder，whenIheardthedooroftheroomopen——thedoorwhichcommunicatedwiththehall。
Ilookedaround，expectingtoseetheMajor。IsawinsteadtheMajor’sfutureprimadonnastandingjustinsidethedoor，withherroundeyessteadilyfixedonme。
"Icanstandagooddeal，"thegirlbegan，coolly，"butIcan’tstand_this_anylonger？"
"Whatisitthatyoucan’tstandanylonger？"Iasked。
"Ifyouhavebeenhereaminute，youhavebeenheretwogoodhours，"shewenton。"AllbyyourselfintheMajor’sstudy。Iamofajealousdisposition——Iam。AndIwanttoknowwhatitmeans。"Sheadvancedafewstepsnearertome，withaheighteningcolorandathreateninglook。"Ishegoingtobring_you_outonthestage？"sheasked，sharply。
"Certainlynot。"
"Heain’tinlovewithyou，ishe？"
UnderothercircumstancesImighthavetoldhertoleavetheroom。Inmypositionatthatcriticalmomentthemerepresenceofahumancreaturewasapositiverelieftome。Eventhisgirl，withhercoarsequestionsandheruncultivatedmanners，wasawelcomeintruderonmysolitude：sheofferedmearefugefrommyself。
"Yourquestionisnotverycivillyput，"Isaid。"However，I
excuseyou。YouareprobablynotawarethatIamamarriedwoman。"
"Whathasthatgottodowithit？"sheretorted。"Marriedorsingle，it’sallonetotheMajor。Thatbrazen—facedhussywhocallsherselfLadyClarindaismarried，andshesendshimnosegaysthreetimesaweek！NotthatIcare，mindyou，abouttheoldfool。ButI’velostmysituationattherailway，andI’vegotmyownintereststolookafter，andIdon’tknowwhatmayhappenifIletotherwomencomebetweenhimandme。That’swheretheshoepinches，don’tyousee？I’mnoteasyinmymindwhenIseehimleavingyoumistressheretodojustwhatyoulike。Nooffense！Ispeakout——Ido。Iwanttoknowwhatyouareaboutallbyyourselfinthisroom？HowdidyoupickupwiththeMajor？I
neverheardhimspeakofyoubeforeto—day。"
Underallthesurfaceselfishnessandcoarsenessofthisstrangegirltherewasacertainfranknessandfreedomwhichpleadedinherfavor——tomymind，atanyrate。Iansweredfranklyandfreelyonmyside。
"MajorFitz—Davidisanoldfriendofmyhusband’s，"Isaid，"andheiskindtomeformyhusband’ssake。Hehasgivenmepermissiontolookinthisroom——"
Istopped，atalosshowtodescribemyemploymentintermswhichshouldtellhernothing，andwhichshouldatthesametimesuccessfullysetherdistrustofmeatrest。
"Tolookaboutinthisroom——forwhat？"sheasked。Hereyefellonthelibraryladder，besidewhichIwasstillstanding。"Forabook？"sheresumed。
"Yes，"Isaid，takingthehint。"Forabook。"
"Haven’tyoufoundityet？"
"No。"