"Youaretalkinghorribly，"Isaid。"Atyourageandatmine，havewedonewithloveanddonewithhope？ItisblasphemytoLoveandHopetosayit！"
"WaittillyouhavereadtheTrial，"heanswered。"Youmeantoreadit，Isuppose？"
"Everywordofit！Withamotive，Eustace，whichyouhaveyettoknow。"
"Nomotiveofyours，Valeria，noloveandhopeofyours，canaltertheinexorablefacts。Myfirstwifediedpoisoned；andtheverdictofthejuryhasnotabsolutelyacquittedmeoftheguiltofcausingherdeath。Aslongasyouwereignorantofthatthepossibilitiesofhappinesswerealwayswithinourreach。Nowyouknowit，Isayagain——ourmarriedlifeisatanend。"
"No，"Isaid。"NowIknowit，ourmarriedlifehasbegun——begunwithanewobjectforyourwife’sdevotion，withanewreasonforyourwife’slove！"
"Whatdoyoumean？"
Iwentneartohimagain，andtookhishand。
"Whatdidyoutellmetheworldhassaidofyou？"Iasked。"Whatdidyoutellmemyfriendswouldsayofyou？’NotProvenwon’tdoforus。Ifthejuryhavedonehimaninjustice——ifhe_is_
innocent——lethimproveit。’Thosewerethewordsyouputintothemouthsofmyfriends。Iadoptthemformine！IsayNotProvenwon’tdofor_me。_Proveyourright，Eustace，toaverdictofNotGuilty。Whyhaveyouletthreeyearspasswithoutdoingit？ShallIguesswhy？Youhavewaitedforyourwifetohelpyou。Heresheis，mydarling，readytohelpyouwithallherheartandsoul。
Heresheis，withoneobjectinlife——toshowtheworldandtoshowtheScotchJurythatherhusbandisaninnocentman！"
Ihadrousedmyself；mypulseswerethrobbing，myvoicerangthroughtheroom。HadIroused_him_？Whatwashisanswer？
"ReadtheTrial。"Thatwashisanswer。
Iseizedhimbythearm。InmyindignationandmydespairIshookhimwithallmystrength。Godforgiveme，Icouldalmosthavestruckhimforthetoneinwhichhehadspokenandthelookthathehadcastonme！
"IhavetoldyouthatImeantoreadtheTrial，"Isaid。"Imeantoreadit，linebyline，withyou。Someinexcusablemistakehasbeenmade。Evidenceinyourfavorthatmighthavebeenfoundhasnotbeenfound。Suspiciouscircumstanceshavenotbeeninvestigated。Craftypeoplehavenotbeenwatched。Eustace！theconvictionofsomedreadfuloversight，committedbyyouorbythepersonswhohelpedyou，isfirmlysettledinmymind。TheresolutiontosetthatvileVerdictrightwasthefirstresolutionthatcametomewhenIfirstheardofitinthenextroom。We_will_setitright！We_must_setitright——foryoursake，formysake，forthesakeofourchildrenifweareblessedwithchildren。Oh，myownlove，don’tlookatmewiththosecoldeyes！Don’tanswermeinthosehardtones！Don’ttreatmeasifI
weretalkingignorantlyandmadlyofsomethingthatcanneverbe！"
StillIneverrousedhim。Hisnextwordswerespokencompassionatelyratherthancoldly——thatwasall。
"Mydefensewasundertakenbythegreatestlawyersintheland，"
hesaid。"Aftersuchmenhavedonetheirutmost，andhavefailed——mypoorValeria，whatcanyou，whatcanI，do？Wecanonlysubmit。"
"Never！"Icried。"Thegreatestlawyersaremortalmen；thegreatestlawyershavemademistakesbeforenow。Youcan’tdenythat。"
"ReadtheTrial。"Forthethirdtimehesaidthosecruelwords，andsaidnomore。
Inutterdespairofmovinghim———feelingkeenly，bitterly（ifI
mustownit），hismercilesssuperioritytoallthatIhadsaidtohiminthehonestfervorofmydevotionandmylove——IthoughtofMajorFitz—Davidasalastresort。Inthedisorderedstateofmymindatthatmoment，itmadenodifferencetomethattheMajorhadalreadytriedtoreasonwithhim，andhadfailed。InthefaceofthefactsIhadablindbeliefintheinfluenceofhisoldfriend，ifhisoldfriendcouldonlybeprevailedupontosupportmyview。
"Waitformeonemoment，"Isaid。"Iwantyoutohearanotheropinionbesidesmine。"
Ilefthim，andreturnedtothestudy。MajorFitz—Davidwasnotthere。Iknockedatthedoorofcommunicationwiththefrontroom。ItwasopenedinstantlybytheMajorhimself。Thedoctorhadgoneaway。Benjaminstillremainedintheroom。
"WillyoucomeandspeaktoEustace？"Ibegan。"IfyouwillonlysaywhatIwantyoutosay——"
BeforeIcouldaddawordmoreIheardthehousedooropenedandclosed。MajorFitz—DavidandBenjaminheardittoo。Theylookedateachotherinsilence。
Iranback，beforetheMajorcouldstopme，totheroominwhichIhadseenEustace。Itwasempty。Myhusbandhadleftthehouse。
CHAPTERXIII。
THEMAN’SDECISION。
MYfirstimpulsewastherecklessimpulsetofollowEustace——openlythroughthestreets。
TheMajorandBenjaminbothopposedthishastyresolutiononmypart。Theyappealedtomyownsenseofself—respect，without（sofarasIrememberit）producingtheslightesteffectonmymind。
Theyweremoresuccessfulwhentheyentreatedmenexttobepatientformyhusband’ssake。InmercytoEustace，theybeggedmetowaithalfanhour。Ifhefailedtoreturninthattime，theypledgedthemselvestoaccompanymeinsearchofhimtothehotel。
InmercytoEustaceIconsentedtowait。WhatIsufferedundertheforcednecessityforremainingpassiveatthatcrisisinmylifenowordsofminecantell。ItwillbebetterifIgoonwithmynarrative。
Benjaminwasthefirsttoaskmewhathadpassedbetweenmyhusbandandmyself。
"Youmayspeakfreely，mydear，"hesaid。"IknowwhathashappenedsinceyouhavebeeninMajorFitz—David’shouse。Noonehastoldmeaboutit；Ifounditoutformyself。Ifyouremember，Iwasstruckbythenameof’Macallan，’whenyoufirstmentionedittomeatmycottage。Icouldn’tguesswhyatthetime。Iknowwhynow。"
Hearingthis，ItoldthembothunreservedlywhatIhadsaidtoEustace，andhowhehadreceivedit。Tomyunspeakabledisappointment，theybothsidedwithmyhusband，treatingmyviewofhispositionasameredream。Theysaidit，ashehadsaidit，"YouhavenotreadtheTrial。"
Iwasreallyenragedwiththem。"Thefactsareenoughfor_me，_"
Isaid。"Weknowheisinnocent。Whyishisinnocencenotproved？
Itoughttobe，itmustbe，itshallbe！IftheTrialtellmeitcan’tbedone，IrefusetobelievetheTrial。Whereisthebook，Major？Letmeseeformyselfifhislawyershaveleftnothingforhiswifetodo。DidtheylovehimasIlovehim？Givemethebook！"
MajorFitz—DavidlookedatBenjamin。
"ItwillonlyadditionallyshockanddistressherifIgiveherthebook，"hesaid。"Don’tyouagreewithme？"
IinterposedbeforeBenjamincouldanswer。
"Ifyourefusemyrequest，"Isaid，"youwillobligeme，Major，togotothenearestbooksellerandtellhimtobuytheTrialforme。Iamdeterminedtoreadit。"
ThistimeBenjaminsidedwithme。
"Nothingcanmakemattersworsethantheyare，sir，"hesaid。"IfImaybepermittedtoadvise，letherhaveherownway。"
TheMajorroseandtookthebookoutoftheItaliancabinet，towhichhehadconsigneditforsafe—keeping。
"Myyoungfriendtellsmethatsheinformedyouofherregrettableoutbreakoftemperafewdayssince，"hesaidashehandedmethevolume。"Iwasnotawareatthetimewhatbookshehadinherhandwhenshesofarforgotherselfastodestroythevase。WhenIleftyouinthestudy，IsupposedtheReportoftheTrialtobeinitscustomaryplaceonthetopshelfofthebook—case，andIownIfeltsomecuriositytoknowwhetheryouwouldthinkofexaminingthatshelf。Thebrokenvase——itisneedlesstoconcealitfromyounow——wasoneofapairpresentedtomebyyourhusbandandhisfirstwifeonlyaweekbeforethepoorwoman’sterribledeath。IfeltmyfirstpresentimentthatyouwereonthebrinkofdiscoverywhenIfoundyoulookingatthefragments，andIfancyIbetrayedtoyouthatsomethingofthesortwasdisturbingme。Youlookedasifyounoticedit。"
"Ididnoticeit，Major。AndItoohadavagueideathatIwasonthewaytodiscovery。Willyoulookatyourwatch？Havewewaitedhalfanhouryet？"
Myimpatiencehadmisledme。Theordealofthehalf—hourwasnotyetatanend。
Slowlyandmoreslowlytheheavyminutesfollowedeachother，andstilltherewerenosignsofmyhusband’sreturn。Wetriedtocontinueourconversation，andfailed。Nothingwasaudible；nosoundsbuttheordinarysoundsofthestreetdisturbedthedreadfulsilence。TryasImighttorepelit，therewasoneforebodingthoughtthatpressedcloserandcloseronmymindastheintervalofwaitingworeitswearywayon。IshudderedasI
askedmyselfifourmarriedlifehadcometoanend——ifEustacehadreallyleftme。
TheMajorsawwhatBenjamin’sslowerperceptionhadnotyetdiscovered——thatmyfortitudewasbeginningtosinkundertheunrelievedoppressionofsuspense。
"Come！"hesaid。"Letusgotothehotel。"
Itthenwantednearlyfiveminutestothehalf—hour。I_looked_
mygratitudetoMajorFitz—Davidforsparingmethoselastminutes：IcouldnotspeaktohimortoBenjamin。Insilencewethreegotintoacabanddrovetothehotel。
Thelandladymetusinthehall。NothinghadbeenseenorheardofEustace。Therewasaletterwaitingformeupstairsonthetableinoursitting—room。Ithadbeenleftatthehotelbyamessengeronlyafewminutessince。
Tremblingandbreathless，Iranupthestairs，thetwogentlemenfollowingme。Theaddressoftheletterwasinmyhusband’shandwriting。MyheartsankinmeasIlookedatthelines；therecouldbebutonereasonforhiswritingtome。Thatclosedenvelopeheldhisfarewellwords。Isatwiththeletteronmylap，stupefied，incapableofopeningit。
Kind—heartedBenjaminattemptedtocomfortandencourageme。TheMajor，withhislargerexperienceofwomen，warnedtheoldmantobesilent。
"Wait！"Iheardhimwhisper。"Speakingtoherwilldonogoodnow。Givehertime。"
Actingonasuddenimpulse，Iheldoutthelettertohimashespoke。Evenmomentsmightbeofimportance，ifEustacehadindeedleftme。Togivemetimemightbetolosetheopportunityofrecallinghim。
"Youarehisoldfriend，"Isaid。"Openhisletter，Major，andreaditforme。"
MajorFitz—Davidopenedtheletterandreaditthroughtohimself。Whenhehaddonehethrewitonthetablewithagesturewhichwasalmostagestureofcontempt。
"Thereisbutoneexcuseforhim，"hesaid。"Themanismad。"
Thosewordstoldmeall。Iknewtheworst；and，knowingit，I
couldreadtheletter。Itranthus：
"MYBELOVEDVALERIA——Whenyoureadtheselinesyoureadmyfarewellwords。Ireturntomysolitaryunfriendedlife——mylifebeforeIknewyou。
"Mydarling，youhavebeencruellytreated。Youhavebeenentrappedintomarryingamanwhohasbeenpubliclyaccusedofpoisoninghisfirstwife——andwhohasnotbeenhonorablyandcompletelyacquittedofthecharge。Andyouknowit！
"CanyouliveontermsofmutualconfidenceandmutualesteemwithmewhenIhavecommittedthisfraud，andwhenIstandtowardyouinthisposition？Itwaspossibleforyoutolivewithmehappilywhileyouwereinignoranceofthetruth。Itis_not_
possible，nowyouknowall。
"No！theoneatonementIcanmakeis——toleaveyou。Youronechanceoffuturehappinessistobedisassociated，atonceandforever，frommydishonoredlife。Iloveyou，Valeria——truly，devotedly，passionately。Butthespecterofthepoisonedwomanrisesbetweenus。ItmakesnodifferencethatIaminnocentevenofthethoughtofharmingmyfirstwife。Myinnocencehasnotbeenproved。Inthisworldmyinnocencecanneverbeproved。Youareyoungandloving，andgenerousandhopeful。Blessothers，Valeria，withyourrareattractionsandyourdelightfulgifts。
Theyareofnoavailwith_me。_Thepoisonedwomanstandsbetweenus。Ifyoulivewithmenow，youwillseeherasIseeher。
_That_tortureshallneverbeyours。Iloveyou。Ileaveyou。
"Doyouthinkmehardandcruel？Waitalittle，andtimewillchangethatwayofthinking。Astheyearsgoonyouwillsaytoyourself，’Baselyashedeceivedme，therewassomegenerosityinhim。Hewasmanenoughtoreleasemeofhisownfreewill。’
"Yes，Valeria，Ifully，freelyreleaseyou。Ifitbepossibletoannulourmarriage，letitbedone。Recoveryourlibertybyanymeansthatyoumaybeadvisedtoemploy；andbeassuredbeforehandofmyentireandimplicitsubmission。Mylawyershavethenecessaryinstructionsonthissubject。Yourunclehasonlytocommunicatewiththem，andIthinkhewillbesatisfiedofmyresolutiontodoyoujustice。TheoneinterestthatIhavenowleftinlifeismyinterestinyourwelfareandyourhappinessinthetimetocome。YourwelfareandyourhappinessarenolongertobefoundinyourunionwithMe。
"Icanwritenomore。Thisletterwillwaitforyouatthehotel。
Itwillbeuselesstoattempttotraceme。Iknowmyownweakness。Myheartisallyours：ImightyieldtoyouifIletyouseemeagain。
"Showtheselinestoyouruncle，andtoanyfriendswhoseopinionsyoumayvalue。Ihaveonlytosignmydishonoredname，andeveryonewillunderstandandapplaudmymotiveforwritingasIdo。Thenamejustifies——amplyjustifies——theletter。Forgiveandforgetme。Farewell。
"EUSTACEMACALLAN。"
Inthosewordshetookhisleaveofme。Wehadthenbeenmarried——sixdays。
CHAPTERXIV。
THEWOMAN’SANSWER。
THUSfarIhavewrittenofmyselfwithperfectfrankness，and，I
thinkImayfairlyadd，withsomecourageaswell。MyfranknessfailsmeandmycouragefailsmewhenIlookbacktomyhusband’sfarewellletter，andtrytorecallthestormofcontendingpassionsthatitrousedinmymind。No！Icannottellthetruthaboutmyself——Idarenottellthetruthaboutmyself——atthatterribletime。Men！consultyourobservationofwomen，andimaginewhatIfelt；women！lookintoyourownhearts，andseewhatIfelt，foryourselves。
WhatI_did，_whenmymindwasquietagain，isaneasiermattertodealwith。Iansweredmyhusband’sletter。Myreplytohimshallappearinthesepages。Itwillshow，insomedegree，whateffect（ofthelastingsort）hisdesertionofmeproducedonmymind。Itwillalsorevealthemotivesthatsustainedme，thehopesthatanimatedme，inthenewandstrangelifewhichmynextchaptersmustdescribe。
Iwasremovedfromthehotelinthecareofmyfatherlyoldfriend，Benjamin。Abedroomwaspreparedformeinhislittlevilla。ThereIpassedthefirstnightofmyseparationfrommyhusband。Towardthemorningmywearybraingotsomerest——I
slept。
Atbreakfast—timeMajorFitz—Davidcalledtoinquireaboutme。Hehadkindlyvolunteeredtogoandspeakformetomyhusband’slawyersontheprecedingday。TheyhadadmittedthattheyknewwhereEustacehadgone，buttheydeclaredatthesametimethattheywerepositivelyforbiddentocommunicatehisaddresstoanyone。Inotherrespectstheir"instructions"inrelationtothewifeoftheirclientwere（astheywerepleasedtoexpressit）
"generoustoafault。"Ihadonlytowritetothem，andtheywouldfurnishmewithacopybyreturnofpost。
ThiswastheMajor’snews。Herefrained，withthetactthatdistinguishedhim，fromputtinganyquestionstomebeyondquestionsrelatingtothestateofmyhealth。Theseanswered，hetookhisleaveofmeforthatday。HeandBenjaminhadalongtalktogetherafterwardinthegardenofthevilla。
IretiredtomyroomandwrotetomyuncleStarkweather，tellinghimexactlywhathadhappened，andinclosinghimacopyofmyhusband’sletter。Thisdone，Iwentoutforalittlewhiletobreathethefreshairandtothink。Iwassoonweary，andwentbackagaintomyroomtorest。MykindoldBenjaminleftmeatperfectlibertytobealoneaslongasIpleased。TowardtheafternoonIbegantofeelalittlemorelikemyoldselfagain。I
meanbythisthatIcouldthinkofEustacewithoutburstingoutcrying，andcouldspeaktoBenjaminwithoutdistressingandfrighteningthedearoldman。
ThatnightIhadalittlemoresleep。ThenextmorningIwasstrongenoughtoconfrontthefirstandforemostdutythatInowowedtomyself——thedutyofansweringmyhusband’sletter。
Iwrotetohiminthesewords：
"Iamstilltooweakandweary，Eustace，towritetoyouatanylength。Butmymindisclear。Ihaveformedmyownopinionofyouandyourletter；andIknowwhatImeantodonowyouhaveleftme。Somewomen，inmysituation，mightthinkthatyouhadforfeitedallrighttotheirconfidence。Idon’tthinkthat。SoI
writeandtellyouwhatisinmymindintheplainestandfewestwordsthatIcanuse。
"Yousayyouloveme——andyouleaveme。Idon’tunderstandlovingawomanandleavingher。Formypart，inspiteofthehardthingsyouhavesaidandwrittentome，andinspiteofthecruelmannerinwhichyouhaveleftme，Iloveyou——andIwon’tgiveyouup。
No！AslongasIliveImeantoliveyourwife。
"Doesthissurpriseyou？Itsurprises_me。_Ifanotherwomanwroteinthismannertoamanwhohadbehavedtoherasyouhavebehaved，Ishouldbequiteatalosstoaccountforherconduct。
Iamquiteatalosstoaccountformyownconduct。Ioughttohateyou，andyetIcan’thelplovingyou。Iamashamedofmyself；butsoitis。
"Youneedfeelnofearofmyattemptingtofindoutwhereyouare，andofmytryingtopersuadeyoutoreturntome。Iamnotquitefoolishenoughtodothat。Youarenotinafitstateofmindtoreturntome。Youareallwrong，allover，fromheadtofoot。Whenyougetrightagain，Iamvainenoughtothinkthatyouwillreturntomeofyourownaccord。AndshallIbeweakenoughtoforgiveyou？Yes！Ishallcertainlybeweakenoughtoforgiveyou。
"Buthowareyoutogetrightagain？
"Ihavepuzzledmybrainsoverthisquestionbynightandbyday，andmyopinionisthatyouwillnevergetrightagainunlessI
helpyou。
"HowamItohelpyou？
"Thatquestioniseasilyanswered。WhattheLawhasfailedtodoforyou，yourWifemustdoforyou。DoyourememberwhatIsaidwhenweweretogetherinthebackroomatMajorFitz—David’shouse？Itoldyouthatthefirstthoughtthatcametome，whenI
heardwhattheScotchjuryhaddone，wasthethoughtofsettingtheirvileVerdictright。Well！Yourletterhasfixedthisideamorefirmlyinmymindthanever。TheonlychancethatIcanseeofwinningyoubacktome，inthecharacterofapenitentandlovinghusband，istochangethatunderhandScotchVerdictofNotProvenintoanhonestEnglishVerdictofNotGuilty。
"Areyousurprisedattheknowledgeofthelawwhichthiswayofwritingbetraysinanignorantwoman？Ihavebeenlearning，mydear：theLawandtheLadyhavebegunbyunderstandingoneanother。InplainEnglish，IhavelookedintoOgilvie’s’ImperialDictionary，’andOgilvietellsme，’AverdictofNotProvenonlyindicatesthat，intheopinionofthejury，thereisadeficiencyintheevidencetoconvicttheprisoner。AverdictofNotGuiltyimportsthejury’sopinionthattheprisonerisinnocent。’
Eustace，thatshallbetheopinionoftheworldingeneral，andoftheScotchjuryinparticular，inyourcase。TothatoneobjectIdedicatemylifetocome，ifGodspareme！
"Whowillhelpme，whenIneedhelp，ismorethanIyetknow。
TherewasatimewhenIhadhopedthatweshouldgohandinhandtogetherindoingthisgoodwork。Thathopeisatanend。Inolongerexpectyou，oraskyou，tohelpme。Amanwhothinksasyouthinkcangivenohelptoanybody——itishismiserableconditiontohavenohope。Sobeit！Iwillhopefortwo，andwillworkfortwo；andIshallfindsomeonetohelpme——neverfear——ifIdeserveit。
"Iwillsaynothingaboutmyplans——IhavenotreadtheTrialyet。ItisquiteenoughformethatIknowyouareinnocent。
Whenamanisinnocent，there_must_beawayofprovingit：theonethingneedfulistofindtheway。Soonerorlater，withorwithoutassistance，Ishallfindit。Yes！beforeIknowanysingleparticularoftheCase，Itellyoupositively——Ishallfindit！
"Youmaylaughoverthisblindconfidenceonmypart，oryoumaycryoverit。Idon’tpretendtoknowwhetherIamanobjectforridiculeoranobjectforpity。OfonethingonlyIamcertain：I
meantowinyouback，amanvindicatedbeforetheworld，withoutastainonhischaracterorhisname——thankstohiswife。
"Writetome，sometimes，Eustace；andbelieveme，throughallthebitternessofthisbitterbusiness，yourfaithfulandloving"VALERIA。"
Therewasmyreply！Poorenoughasacomposition（Icouldwriteamuchbetterletternow），ithad，ifImaypresumetosayso，onemerit。ItwasthehonestexpressionofwhatIreallymeantandfelt。
IreadittoBenjamin。Hehelduphishandswithhiscustomarygesturewhenhewasthoroughlybewilderedanddismayed。"Itseemstherashestletterthateverwaswritten，"saidthedearoldman。
"Ineverheard，Valeria，ofawomandoingwhatyouproposetodo。
Lordhelpus！thenewgenerationisbeyondmyfathoming。IwishyouruncleStarkweatherwashere：Iwonderwhathewouldsay？Oh，dearme，whataletterfromawifetoahusband！Doyoureallymeantosendittohim？"
Iaddedimmeasurablytomyoldfriend’ssurprisebynotevenemployingthepost—office。Iwishedtoseethe"instructions"
whichmyhusbandhadleftbehindhim。SoItookthelettertohislawyersmyself。
Thefirmconsistedoftwopartners。Theybothreceivedmetogether。Onewasasoft，leanman，withasoursmile。Theotherwasahard，fatman，withill—temperedeyebrows。Itookagreatdisliketobothofthem。Ontheirside，theyappearedtofeelastrongdistrustofme。Webeganbydisagreeing。Theyshowedmemyhusband’s"instructions，"providing，amongotherthings，forthepaymentofoneclearhalfofhisincomeaslongashelivedtohiswife。Ipositivelyrefusedtotouchafarthingofhismoney。
Thelawyerswereunaffectedlyshockedandastonishedatthisdecision。Nothingofthesorthadeverhappenedbeforeinthewholecourseoftheirexperience。Theyarguedandremonstratedwithme。Thepartnerwiththeill—temperedeyebrowswantedtoknowwhatmyreasonswere。ThepartnerwiththesoursmileremindedhiscolleaguesatiricallythatIwasalady，andhadthereforenoreasonstogive。Ionlyanswered，"Besogoodastoforwardmyletter，gentlemen，"andleftthem。
IhavenowishtoclaimanycredittomyselfinthesepageswhichIdonothonestlydeserve。ThetruthisthatmyprideforbademetoaccepthelpfromEustace，nowthathehadleftme。Myownlittlefortune（eighthundredayear）hadbeensettledonmyselfwhenImarried。IthadbeenmorethanIwantedasasinglewoman，andIwasresolvedthatitshouldbeenoughformenow。Benjaminhadinsistedonmyconsideringhiscottageasmyhome。Underthesecircumstances，theexpensesinwhichmydeterminationtoclearmyhusband’scharactermightinvolvemeweretheonlyexpensesforwhichIhadtoprovide。Icouldaffordtobeindependent，andindependentIresolvedthatIwouldbe。
WhileIamoccupiedinconfessingmyweaknessandmyerrors，itisonlyrighttoaddthat，dearlyasIstilllovedmyunhappy，misguidedhusband，therewasonelittlefaultofhiswhichI
founditnoteasytoforgive。
Pardoningotherthings，Icouldnotquitepardonhisconcealingfrommethathehadbeenmarriedtoafirstwife。WhyIshouldhavefeltthissobitterlyasIdid，atcertaintimesandseasons，Iamnotabletoexplain。Jealousywasatthebottomofit，Isuppose。AndyetIwasnotconsciousofbeingjealous——especiallywhenIthoughtofthepoorcreature’smiserabledeath。Still，Eustaceoughtnottohavekept_that_
secretfromme，Iusedtothinktomyself，atoddtimeswhenI
wasdiscouragedandoutoftemper。Whatwould_he_havesaidifI
hadbeenawidow，andhadnevertoldhimofit？
ItwasgettingontowardeveningwhenIreturnedtothecottage。
Benjaminappearedtohavebeenonthelookoutforme。BeforeI
couldringatthebellheopenedthegardengate。
"Prepareyourselfforasurprise，mydear，"hesaid。"Youruncle，theReverendDoctorStarkweather，hasarrivedfromtheNorth，andiswaitingtoseeyou。Hereceivedyourletterthismorning，andhetookthefirsttraintoLondonassoonashehadreadit。"
Inanotherminutemyuncle’sstrongarmswereroundme。Inmyforlornposition，Ifeltthegoodvicar’skindness，intravelingallthewaytoLondontoseeme，verygratefully。Itbroughtthetearsintomyeyes——tears，withoutbitterness，thatdidmegood。
"Ihavecome，mydearchild，totakeyoubacktoyouroldhome，"
hesaid。"NowordscantellhowferventlyIwishyouhadneverleftyourauntandme。Well！well！wewon’ttalkaboutit。Themischiefisdone，andthenextthingistomenditaswellaswecan。IfIcouldonlygetwithinarm’s—lengthofthathusbandofyours，Valeria——There！there！Godforgiveme，IamforgettingthatIamaclergyman。WhatshallIforgetnext，Iwonder？
By—the—by，yourauntsendsyouherdearestlove。Sheismoresuperstitiousthanever。Thismiserablebusinessdoesn’tsurpriseherabit。Shesaysitallbeganwithyourmakingthatmistakeaboutyournameinsigningthechurchregister。Youremember？Wasthereeversuchstuff？Ah，she’safoolishwoman，thatwifeofmine！Butshemeanswell——agoodsoulatbottom。ShewouldhavetraveledallthewayherealongwithmeifIwouldhavelether。