Shelookedhardatme，undisguisedlyconsideringwithherselfwhetherIwereorwerenotspeakingthetruth。
　　"Youseemtobeagoodsort，"shesaid，makinguphermindatlast。"There’snothingstuck—upaboutyou。I’llhelpyouifI
　　can。Ihaverummagedamongthebookshereoverandoveragain，andIknowmoreaboutthemthanyoudo。Whatbookdoyouwant？"
　　AssheputthatawkwardquestionshenoticedforthefirsttimeLadyClarinda’snosegaylyingontheside—tablewheretheMajorhadleftit。Instantlyforgettingmeandmybook，thiscuriousgirlpouncedlikeafuryontheflowers，andactuallytrampledthemunderherfeet！
　　"There！"shecried。"IfIhadLadyClarindahereI’dserveherinthesameway。"
　　"WhatwilltheMajorsay？"Iasked。
　　"WhatdoIcare？DoyousupposeI’mafraidof_him？_OnlylastweekIbrokeoneofhisfinegimcracksupthere，andallthroughLadyClarindaandherflowers！"
　　Shepointedtothetopofthebook—case——totheemptyspaceonitclosebythewindow。Myheartgaveasuddenboundasmyeyestookthedirectionindicatedbyherfinger。_She_hadbrokenthevase！
　　Wasthewaytodiscoveryabouttorevealitselftomethroughthisgirl？Notawordwouldpassmylips；Icouldonlylookather。
　　"Yes！"shesaid。"Thethingstoodthere。HeknowshowIhateherflowers，andheputhernosegayinthevaseoutofmyway。Therewasawoman’sfacepaintedonthechina，andhetoldmeitwasthelivingimageof_her_face。ItwasnomorelikeherthanI
　　am。IwasinsucharagethatIupwiththebookIwasreadingatthetimeandshieditatthepaintedface。Overthevasewent，blessyourheart，crashtothefloor。Stopabit！Iwonderwhether_that’s_thebookyouhavebeenlookingafter？Areyoulikeme？DoyoulikereadingTrials？"
　　Trials？HadIheardheraright？Yes：shehadsaidTrials。
　　Iansweredbyanaffirmativemotionofmyhead。Iwasstillspeechless。Thegirlsaunteredinhercoolwaytothefire—place，and，takingupthetongs，returnedwiththemtothebook—case。
　　"Here’swherethebookfell，"shesaid——"inthespacebetweenthebook—caseandthewall。I’llhaveitoutinnotime。"
　　Iwaitedwithoutmovingamuscle，withoututteringaword。
　　Sheapproachedmewiththetongsinonehandandwithaplainlyboundvolumeintheother。
　　"Isthatthebook？"shesaid。"Openit，andsee。"
　　Itookthebookfromher。
　　"Itistremendouslyinteresting，"shewenton。"I’vereadittwiceover——Ihave。Mindyou，_I_believehedidit，afterall。"
　　Didit？Didwhat？Whatwasshetalkingabout？Itriedtoputthequestiontoher。Istruggled——quitevainly——tosayonlythesewords："Whatareyoutalkingabout？"
　　Sheseemedtoloseallpatiencewithme。Shesnatchedthebookoutofmyhand，andopeneditbeforemeonthetablebywhichwewerestandingsidebyside。
　　"Ideclare，you’reashelplessasababy！"shesaid，contemptuously。"There！_Is_thatthebook？"
　　Ireadthefirstlinesonthetitle—page——
　　ACOMPLETEREPORTOFTHETRIALOFEUSTACEMACALLAN。
　　Istoppedandlookedupather。Shestartedbackfrommewithascreamofterror。Ilookeddownagainatthetitle—page，andreadthenextlines——
　　FORTHEALLEGEDPOISONINGOFHISWIFE。
　　There，God’smercyrememberedme。Theretheblackblankofaswoonswallowedmeup。
　　CHAPTERXI。
　　THERETURNTOLIFE。
　　MyfirstremembrancewhenIbegantorecovermysenseswastheremembranceofPain——agonizingpain，asifeverynerveinmybodywerebeingtwistedandtornoutofme。MywholebeingwrithedandquiveredunderthedumbanddreadfulprotestofNatureagainsttheefforttorecallmetolife。Iwouldhavegivenworldstobeabletocryout——toentreattheunseencreaturesaboutmetogivemebacktodeath。HowlongthatspeechlessagonyheldmeIneverknew。Inalongerorshortertimetherestoleovermeslowlyasleepysenseofrelief。Iheardmyownlaboredbreathing。Ifeltmyhandsmovingfeeblyandmechanically，likethehandsofababy。Ifaintlyopenedmyeyesandlookedroundme——asifIhadpassedthroughtheordealofdeath，andhadawakenedtonewsensesinanewworld。
　　ThefirstpersonIsawwasaman——astranger。Hemovedquietlyoutofmysight；beckoning，ashedisappeared，tosomeotherpersonintheroom。
　　SlowlyandunwillinglytheotherpersonadvancedtothesofaonwhichIlay。Afaintcryofjoyescapedme；Itriedtoholdoutmyfeeblehands。Theotherpersonwhowasapproachingmewasmyhusband！
　　Ilookedathimeagerly。Heneverlookedatmeinreturn。Withhiseyesontheground，withastrangeappearanceofconfusionanddistressinhisface，hetoomovedawayoutofmysight。TheunknownmanwhomIhadfirstnoticedfollowedhimoutoftheroom。Icalledafterhimfaintly，"Eustace！"Heneveranswered；
　　heneverreturned。WithaneffortImovedmyheadonthepillow，soastolookroundontheothersideofthesofa。Anotherfamiliarfaceappearedbeforemeasifinadream。MygoodoldBenjaminwassittingwatchingme，withthetearsinhiseyes。
　　Heroseandtookmyhandsilently，inhissimple，kindlyway。
　　"WhereisEustace？"Iasked。"Whyhashegoneawayandleftme？"
　　Iwasstillmiserablyweak。MyeyeswanderedmechanicallyroundtheroomasIputthequestion。IsawMajorFitz—David，Isawthetableonwhichthesinginggirlhadopenedthebooktoshowittome。Isawthegirlherself，sittingaloneinacorner，withherhandkerchieftohereyesasifshewerecrying。Inonemysteriousmomentmymemoryrecovereditspowers。Therecollectionofthatfataltitle—pagecamebacktomeinallitshorror。Theonefeelingthatitrousedinmenowwasalongingtoseemyhusband——tothrowmyselfintohisarms，andtellhimhowfirmlyI
　　believedinhisinnocence，howtrulyanddearlyIlovedhim。I
　　seizedonBenjaminwithfeeble，tremblinghands。"Bringhimbacktome！"Icried，wildly。"Whereishe？Helpmetogetup！"
　　Astrangevoiceanswered，firmlyandkindly："Composeyourself，madam。Mr。Woodvilleiswaitinguntilyouhaverecovered，inaroomcloseby。"
　　Ilookedathim，andrecognizedthestrangerwhohadfollowedmyhusbandoutoftheroom。Whyhadhereturnedalone？WhywasEustacenotwithme，liketherestofthem？Itriedtoraisemyself，andgetonmyfeet。Thestrangergentlypressedmebackagainonthepillow。Iattemptedtoresisthim——quiteuselessly，ofcourse。Hisfirmhandheldmeasgentlyaseverinmyplace。
　　"Youmustrestalittle，"hesaid。"Youmusttakesomewine。Ifyouexertyourselfnowyouwillfaintagain。"
　　OldBenjaminstoopedoverme，andwhisperedawordofexplanation。
　　"It’sthedoctor，mydear。Youmustdoashetellsyou。"
　　Thedoctor！Theyhadcalledthedoctorintohelpthem！Ibegandimlytounderstandthatmyfaintingfitmusthavepresentedsymptomsfarmoreseriousthanthefaintingfitsofwomeningeneral。Iappealedtothedoctor，inahelpless，querulousway，toaccounttomeformyhusband’sextraordinaryabsence。
　　"Whydidyoulethimleavetheroom？"Iasked。"IfIcan’tgotohim，whydon’tyoubringhimheretome？"
　　Thedoctorappearedtobeatalosshowtoreplytome。HelookedatBenjamin，andsaid，"WillyouspeaktoMrs。Woodville？"
　　Benjamin，inhisturn，lookedatMajorFitz—David，andsaid，"Will_you？_"TheMajorsignedtothembothtoleaveus。Theyrosetogether，andwentintothefrontroom，pullingthedoortoaftertheminitsgrooves。Astheyleftus，thegirlwhohadsostrangelyrevealedmyhusband’ssecrettomeroseinhercornerandapproachedthesofa。
　　"IsupposeIhadbettergotoo？"shesaid，addressingMajorFitz—David。
　　"Ifyouplease，"theMajoranswered。
　　Hespoke（asIthought）rathercoldly。Shetossedherhead，andturnedherbackonhiminhighindignation。"Imustsayawordformyself！"criedthisstrangecreature，withahystericaloutbreakofenergy。"Imustsayaword，orIshallburst！"
　　Withthatextraordinarypreface，shesuddenlyturnedmywayandpouredoutaperfecttorrentofwordsonme。
　　"YouhearhowtheMajorspeakstome？"shebegan。"Heblamesme——poorMe——foreverythingthathashappened。Iamasinnocentasthenew—bornbabe。Iactedforthebest。Ithoughtyouwantedthebook。Idon’tknownowwhatmadeyoufaintdeadawaywhenI
　　openedit。AndtheMajorblamesMe！Asifitwasmyfault！Iamnotoneofthefaintingsortmyself；butIfeelit，Icantellyou。Yes！Ifeelit，thoughIdon’tfaintaboutit。Icomeofrespectableparents——Ido。MynameisHoighty——MissHoighty。I
　　havemyownself—respect；andit’swounded。Isaymyself—respectiswounded，whenIfindmyselfblamedwithoutdeservingit。Youdeserveit，ifanybodydoes。Didn’tyoutellmeyouwerelookingforabook？Anddidn’tIpresentittoyoupromiscuously，withthebestintentions？Ithinkyoumightsaysoyourself，nowthedoctorhasbroughtyoutoagain。Ithinkyoumightspeakupforapoorgirlwhoisworkedtodeathwithsingingandlanguagesandwhatnot——apoorgirlwhohasnobodyelsetospeakforher。Iamasrespectableasyouare，ifyoucometothat。MynameisHoighty。Myparentsareinbusiness，andmymammahasseenbetterdays，andmixedinthebestofcompany。"
　　ThereMissHoightyliftedherhandkerchiefagaintoherface，andburstmodestlyintotearsbehindit。
　　Itwascertainlyhardtoholdherresponsibleforwhathadhappened。IansweredaskindlyasIcould，andIattemptedtospeaktoMajorFitz—Davidinherdefense。Heknewwhatterribleanxietieswereoppressingmeatthatmoment；and，consideratelyrefusingtohearaword，hetookthetaskofconsolinghisyoungprimadonnaentirelyonhimself。WhathesaidtoherIneitherheardnorcaredtohear：hespokeinawhisper。ItendedinhispacifyingMissHoighty，bykissingherhand，andleadingher（ashemighthaveledaduchess）outoftheroom。
　　"Ihopethatfoolishgirlhasnotannoyedyou——atsuchatimeasthis，"hesaid，veryearnestly，whenhereturnedtothesofa。"I
　　can’ttellyouhowgrievedIamatwhathashappened。Iwascarefultowarnyou，asyoumayremember。Still，ifIcouldonlyhaveforeseen——"
　　Ilethimproceednofurther。Nohumanforethoughtcouldhaveprovidedagainstwhathadhappened。Besides，dreadfulasthediscoveryhadbeen，Iwouldratherhavemadeit，andsufferedunderit，asIwassufferingnow，thanhavebeenkeptinthedark。Itoldhimthis。AndthenIturnedtotheonesubjectthatwasnowofanyinteresttome——thesubjectofmyunhappyhusband。
　　"Howdidhecometothishouse？"Iasked。
　　HecameherewithMr。BenjaminshortlyafterIreturned，"theMajorreplied。
　　"LongafterIwastakenill？"
　　"No。Ihadjustsentforthedoctor——feelingseriouslyalarmedaboutyou。"
　　"Whatbroughthimhere？Didhereturntothehotelandmissme？"
　　"Yes。Hereturnedearlierthanhehadanticipated，andhefeltuneasyatnotfindingyouatthehotel。"
　　"Didhesuspectmeofbeingwithyou？Didhecomeherefromthehotel？"
　　"No。HeappearstohavegonefirsttoMr。Benjamintoinquireaboutyou。WhatheheardfromyouroldfriendIcannotsay。I
　　onlyknowthatMr。Benjaminaccompaniedhimwhenhecamehere。"
　　Thisbriefexplanationwasquiteenoughforme——Iunderstoodwhathadhappened。EustacewouldeasilyfrightensimpleoldBenjaminaboutmyabsencefromthehotel；and，oncealarmed，BenjaminwouldbepersuadedwithoutdifficultytorepeatthefewwordswhichhadpassedbetweenusonthesubjectofMajorFitz—David。
　　Myhusband’spresenceintheMajor’shousewasperfectlyexplained。ButhisextraordinaryconductinleavingtheroomattheverytimewhenIwasjustrecoveringmysensesstillremainedtobeaccountedfor。MajorFitz—DavidlookedseriouslyembarrassedwhenIputthequestiontohim。
　　"Ihardlyknowhowtoexplainittoyou，"hesaid。"Eustacehassurprisedanddisappointedme。"
　　Hespokeverygravely。Hislookstoldmemorethanhiswords：hislooksalarmedme。
　　"Eustacehasnotquarreledwithyou？"Isaid。
　　"Ohno！"
　　"Heunderstandsthatyouhavenotbrokenyourpromisetohim？"
　　"Certainly。Myyoungvocalist（MissHoighty）toldthedoctorexactlywhathadhappened；andthedoctorinherpresencerepeatedthestatementtoyourhusband。"
　　"DidthedoctorseetheTrial？"
　　"NeitherthedoctornorMr。BenjaminhasseentheTrial。Ihavelockeditup；andIhavecarefullykepttheterriblestoryofyourconnectionwiththeprisonerasecretfromallofthem。Mr。
　　Benjaminevidentlyhashissuspicions。Butthedoctorhasnoidea，andMissHoightyhasnoidea，ofthetruecauseofyourfaintingfit。Theybothbelievethatyouaresubjecttoseriousnervousattacks，andthatyourhusband’snameisreallyWoodville。AllthatthetruestfriendcoulddotospareEustaceI
　　havedone。Hepersists，nevertheless，inblamingmeforlettingyouentermyhouse。Andworse，farworsethanthis，hepersistsindeclaringtheeventofto—dayhasfatallyestrangedyoufromhim。’Thereisanendofourmarriedlife，’hesaidtome，’nowsheknowsthatIamthemanwhowastriedatEdinburghforpoisoningmywife！"’
　　Irosefromthesofainhorror。
　　"GoodGod！"Icried，"doesEustacesupposethatIdoubthisinnocence？"
　　"Hedeniesthatitispossibleforyouorforanybodytobelieveinhisinnocence，"theMajorreplied。
　　"Helpmetothedoor，"Isaid。"Whereishe？Imustandwillseehim！"
　　IdroppedbackexhaustedonthesofaasIsaidthewords。MajorFitz—Davidpouredoutaglassofwinefromthebottleonthetable，andinsistedonmydrinkingit。
　　"Youshallseehim，"saidtheMajor。"Ipromiseyouthat。Thedoctorhasforbiddenhimtoleavethehouseuntilyouhaveseenhim。Onlywaitalittle！Mypoor，dearlady，wait，ifitisonlyforafewminutes，untilyouarestronger。"
　　Ihadnochoicebuttoobeyhim。Oh，thosemiserable，helplessminutesonthesofa！Icannotwriteofthemwithoutshudderingattherecollection——evenatthisdistanceoftime。
　　"Bringhimhere！"Isaid。"Pray，praybringhimhere！"
　　"Whoistopersuadehimtocomeback？"askedtheMajor，sadly。
　　"HowcanI，howcananybody，prevailwithaman——amadmanIhadalmostsaid！——whocouldleaveyouatthemomentwhenyoufirstopenedyoureyesonhim？IsawEustacealoneinthenextroomwhilethedoctorwasinattendanceonyou。Itriedtoshakehisobstinatedistrustofyourbeliefinhisinnocenceandofmybeliefinhisinnocencebyeveryargumentandeveryappealthatanoldfriendcouldaddresstohim。Hehadbutoneanswertogiveme。ReasonasImight，andpleadasImight，hestillpersistedinreferringmetotheScotchVerdict。"
　　"TheScotchVerdict？"Irepeated。"Whatisthat？"
　　TheMajorlookedsurprisedatthequestion。
　　"HaveyoureallyneverheardoftheTrial？"hesaid。
　　"Never。"
　　"Ithoughtitstrange，"hewenton，"whenyoutoldmeyouhadfoundoutyourhusband’struename，thatthediscoveryappearedtohavesuggestednopainfulassociationtoyourmind。ItisnotmorethanthreeyearssinceallEnglandwastalkingofyourhusband。Onecanhardlywonderathistakingrefuge，poorfellow，inanassumedname。Wherecouldyouhavebeenatthetime？"
　　"Didyousayitwasthreeyearsago？"Iasked。
　　"Yes。"
　　"IthinkIcanexplainmystrangeignoranceofwhatwassowellknowntoeveryoneelse。Threeyearssincemyfatherwasalive。I
　　waslivingwithhiminacountry—houseinItaly——upinthemountains，nearSienna。WeneversawanEnglishnewspaperormetwithanEnglishtravelerforweeksandweekstogether。ItisjustpossiblethattheremighthavebeensomereferencemadetotheTrialinmyfather’slettersfromEngland。Iftherewere，henevertoldmeofit。Or，ifhedidmentionthecase，Ifeltnointerestinit，andforgotitagaindirectly。Tellme——whathastheVerdicttodowithmyhusband’shorribledoubtofus？Eustaceisafreeman。TheVerdictwasNotGuilty，ofcourse？"
　　MajorFitz—Davidshookhisheadsadly。
　　"EustacewastriedinScotland，"hesaid。"ThereisaverdictallowedbytheScotchlaw，which（sofarasIknow）isnotpermittedbythelawsofanyothercivilizedcountryonthefaceoftheearth。Whenthejuryareindoubtwhethertocondemnoracquittheprisonerbroughtbeforethem，theyarepermitted，inScotland，toexpressthatdoubtbyaformofcompromise。Ifthereisnotevidenceenough，ontheonehand，tojustifytheminfindingaprisonerguilty，andnotevidenceenough，ontheotherhand，tothoroughlyconvincethemthataprisonerisinnocent，theyextricatethemselvesfromthedifficultybyfindingaverdictofNotProven。"
　　"WasthattheVerdictwhenEustacewastried？"Iasked。
　　"Yes。"
　　"Thejurywerenotquitesatisfiedthatmyhusbandwasguilty？
　　andnotquitesatisfiedthatmyhusbandwasinnocent？IsthatwhattheScotchVerdictmeans？"
　　"ThatiswhattheScotchVerdictmeans。Forthreeyearsthatdoubtabouthiminthemindsofthejurywhotriedhimhasstoodonpublicrecord。"
　　Oh，mypoordarling！myinnocentmartyr！Iunderstooditatlast。
　　Thefalsenameinwhichhehadmarriedme；theterriblewordshehadspokenwhenhehadwarnedmetorespecthissecret；thestillmoreterribledoubtthathefeltofmeatthatmoment——itwasallintelligibletomysympathies，itwasallcleartomyunderstanding，now。Igotupagainfromthesofa，stronginadaringresolutionwhichtheScotchVerdicthadsuddenlykindledinme——aresolutionatoncetoosacredandtoodesperatetobeconfided，inthefirstinstance，toanyotherthanmyhusband’sear。
　　"TakemetoEustace！"Icried。"Iamstrongenoughtobearanythingnow。"
　　Afteronesearchinglookatme，theMajorsilentlyofferedmehisarm，andledmeoutoftheroom。
　　CHAPTERXII。
　　THESCOTCHVERDICT。
　　Wewalkedtothefarendofthehall。MajorFitz—Davidopenedthedoorofalong，narrowroombuiltoutatthebackofthehouseasasmoking—room，andextendingalongonesideofthecourtyardasfarasthestablewall。
　　Myhusbandwasaloneintheroom，seatedatthefurtherendofit，nearthefire—place。HestartedtohisfeetandfacedmeinsilenceasIentered。TheMajorsoftlyclosedthedooronusandretired。Eustaceneverstirredasteptomeetme。Irantohim，andthrewmyarmsroundhisneckandkissedhim。Theembracewasnotreturned；thekisswasnotreturned。Hepassivelysubmitted——nothingmore。
　　"Eustace！"Isaid，"IneverlovedyoumoredearlythanIloveyouatthismoment！IneverfeltforyouasIfeelforyounow！"
　　Hereleasedhimselfdeliberatelyfrommyarms。Hesignedtomewiththemechanicalcourtesyofastrangertotakeachair。
　　"Thankyou，Valeria，"heanswered，incold，measuredtones。"Youcouldsaynolesstome，afterwhathashappened；andyoucouldsaynomore。Thankyou。"
　　Wewerestandingbeforethefire—place。Heleftme，andwalkedawayslowlywithhisheaddown，apparentlyintendingtoleavetheroom。
　　Ifollowedhim——Igotbeforehim——Iplacedmyselfbetweenhimandthedoor。
　　"Whydoyouleaveme？"Isaid。"Whydoyouspeaktomeinthiscruelway？Areyouangry，Eustace？Mydarling，ifyou_are_
　　angry，Iaskyoutoforgiveme。"
　　"ItisIwhooughttoask_your_pardon，"hereplied。"Ibegyoutoforgiveme，Valeria，forhavingmadeyoumywife。"
　　Hepronouncedthosewordswithahopeless，heart—brokenhumilitydreadfultosee。Ilaidmyhandonhisbosom。Isaid，"Eustace，lookatme。"
　　Heslowlyliftedhiseyestomyface——eyescoldandclearandtearless——lookingatmeinsteadyresignation，inimmovabledespair。Intheutterwretchednessofthatmoment，Iwaslikehim；Iwasasquietandascoldasmyhusband。Hechilled，hefrozeme。
　　"Isitpossible，"Isaid，"thatyoudoubtmybeliefinyourinnocence？"
　　Heleftthequestionunanswered。Hesighedbitterlytohimself。
　　"Poorwoman！"hesaid，asastrangermighthavesaid，pityingme。
　　"Poorwoman！"
　　Myheartswelledinmeasifitwouldburst。Iliftedmyhandfromhisbosom，andlaiditonhisshouldertosupportmyself。
　　"Idon’taskyoutopityme，Eustace；Iaskyoutodomejustice。
　　Youarenotdoingmejustice。Ifyouhadtrustedmewiththetruthinthedayswhenwefirstknewthatwelovedeachother——ifyouhadtoldmeall，andmorethanallthatIknownow——asGodismywitnessIwouldstillhavemarriedyou！_Now_doyoudoubtthatIbelieveyouareaninnocentman！"
　　"Idon’tdoubtit，"hesaid。"Allyourimpulsesaregenerous，Valeria。Youarespeakinggenerouslyandfeelinggenerously。
　　Don’tblameme，mypoorchild，ifIlookonfurtherthanyoudo：
　　ifIseewhatistocome——toosurelytocome——inthecruelfuture。"
　　"Thecruelfuture！"Irepeated。"Whatdoyoumean？"
　　"Youbelieveinmyinnocence，Valeria。Thejurywhotriedmedoubtedit——andhaveleftthatdoubtonrecord。Whatreasonhave_you_forbelieving，inthefaceoftheVerdict，thatIamaninnocentman？"
　　"Iwantnoreason！Ibelieveinspiteofthejury——inspiteoftheVerdict。"
　　"Willyourfriendsagreewithyou？Whenyouruncleandauntknowwhathashappened——andsoonerorlatertheymustknowit——whatwilltheysay？Theywillsay，’Hebeganbadly；heconcealedfromourniecethathehadbeenweddedtoafirstwife；hemarriedournieceunderafalsename。Hemaysayheisinnocent；butwehaveonlyhiswordforit。WhenhewasputonhisTrial，theVerdictwasNotProven。NotProvenwon’tdoforus。Ifthejuryhavedonehimaninjustice——ifhe_is_innocent——lethimproveit。’Thatiswhattheworldthinksandsaysofme。Thatiswhatyourfriendswillthinkandsayofme。Thetimeiscoming，Valeria，whenyou——evenYou——willfeelthatyourfriendshavereasontoappealtoontheirside，andthatyouhavenoreasononyours。"
　　"Thattimewillnevercome！"Ianswered，warmly。"Youwrongme，youinsultme，inthinkingitpossible！"
　　Heputdownmyhandfromhim，anddrewbackastep，withabittersmile。
　　"Wehaveonlybeenmarriedafewdays，Valeria。Yourloveformeisnewandyoung。Time，whichwearsawayallthings，willwearawaythefirstfervorofthatlove。"
　　"Never！never！"
　　Hedrewbackfrommealittlefurtherstill。
　　"Lookattheworldaroundyou，"hesaid。"Thehappiesthusbandsandwiveshavetheiroccasionalmisunderstandingsanddisagreements；thebrightestmarriedlifehasitspassingclouds。
　　Whenthosedayscomefor_us，_thedoubtsandfearsthatyoudon’tfeelnowwillfindtheirwaytoyouthen。Whenthecloudsrisein_our_marriedlife——whenIsaymyfirstharshword，whenyoumakeyourfirsthastyreply——then，inthesolitudeofyourownroom，inthestillnessofthewakefulnight，youwillthinkofmyfirstwife’smiserabledeath。YouwillrememberthatIwasheldresponsibleforit，andthatmyinnocencewasneverproved。
　　Youwillsaytoyourself，’Diditbegin，in_her_time，withaharshwordfromhimandwithahastyreplyfromher？Willitonedayendwithmeasthejuryhalffearedthatitendedwithher？’
　　Hideousquestionsforawifetoaskherself！Youwillstiflethem；youwillrecoilfromthem，likeagoodwoman，withhorror。
　　Butwhenwemeetthenextmorningyouwillbeonyourguard，andIshallseeit，andknowinmyheartofheartswhatitmeans。
　　Imbitteredbythatknowledge，mynextharshwordmaybeharsherstill。Yournextthoughtsofmemayremindyoumorevividlyandmoreboldlythatyourhusbandwasoncetriedasapoisoner，andthatthequestionofhisfirstwife’sdeathwasneverproperlyclearedup。Doyouseewhatmaterialsforadomestichellareminglingforushere？WasitfornothingthatIwarnedyou，solemnlywarnedyou，todrawback，whenIfoundyoubentondiscoveringthetruth？CanIeverbeatyourbedsidenow，whenyouareill，andnotremindyou，inthemostinnocentthingsI
　　do，ofwhathappenedatthatotherbedside，inthetimeofthatotherwomanwhomImarriedfirst？IfIpouroutyourmedicine，I
　　commitasuspiciousaction——theysayIpoisoned_her_inhermedicine。IfIbringyouacupoftea，Irevivetheremembranceofahorriddoubt——theysaidIputthearsenicin_her_cupoftea。IfIkissyouwhenIleavetheroom，Iremindyouthattheprosecutionaccusedmeofkissing_her，_tosaveappearancesandproduceaneffectonthenurse。Canwelivetogetheronsuchtermsasthese？Nomortalcreaturescouldsupportthemiseryofit。ThisverydayIsaidtoyou，’Ifyoustirastepfurtherinthismatter，thereisanendofyourhappinessfortherestofyourlife。’Youhavetakenthatstepandtheendhascometoyourhappinessandtomine。Theblightthatcankersandkillsisonyouandonmefortherestofourlives！"
　　SofarIhadforcedmyselftolistentohim。Atthoselastwordsthepictureofthefuturethathewasplacingbeforemebecametoohideoustobeendured。Irefusedtohearmore。