CHAPTERXLIII。
　　THEMASTERFULMASSEUSE。
　　Mynextquotationswillsufferaprocessofabridgment。Iintendthemtopresentthesubstanceofthreeletters，reducedasfollows：
　　SecondExtract。
　　Weakashemaybe，Mr。PhilipDunboyneshows（inhissecondletter）thathecanfeelresentment，andthathecanexpresshisfeelings，inreplyingtoMissHelena。Heprotestsagainstsuspicionswhichhehasnotdeserved。ThathedoessometimesthinkofEuniceheseesnoreasontodeny。Heisconsciousoferrorsandmisdeeds，which——traceableastheyaretoHelena’sirresistiblefascinations——mayperhapsbeconsideredratherhismisfortunethanhisfault。Bethatasitmay，hedoesindeedfeelanxioustoheargoodaccountsofEunice’shealth。Ifthishonestavowalexciteshersister’sjealousy，hewillbedisappointedinHelenaforthefirsttime。
　　Histhirdlettershowsthatthisexhibitionofspirithashaditseffect。
　　Theimperiousyoungladyregretsthatshehashurthisfeelings，andisrewardedfortheapologybyreceivingnewsofthemostgratifyingkind。FaithfulPhiliphastoldhisfatherthatheisengagedtobemarriedtoMissHelenaGracedieu，daughterofthecelebratedCongregationalpreacher——andsoon，andsoon。HasMr。
　　Dunboynetheelderexpressedanyobjectiontotheyounglady？
　　Certainlynot！HeknowsnothingoftheotherengagementtoEunice；andhemerelyobjects，onprinciple，tolookingforward。
　　"Howdoweknow，"saysthephilosopher，"whataccidentsmayhappen，orwhatdoubtsandhesitationsmayyetturnup？Iamnottoburdenmymindinthismatter，tillIknowthatImustdoit。
　　Letmehearwhensheisreadytogotochurch，andIwillbereadywiththesettlements。MycomplimentstoMissandherpapa，andletuswaitalittle。"DearestHelena——isn’thefunny？
　　Thenextletterhasbeenalreadymentioned。
　　InthisthereoccursthefirststartlingreferencetoMrs。
　　Tenbruggen，byname。SheisinLondon，findingherwaytolucrativecelebritybytwisting，turning，andpinchingthefleshofcredulouspersons，afflictedwithnervousdisorders；andshehasalreadypaidafewmedicalvisitstooldMr。Dunboyne。HepersistsinporingoverhisbookswhileMrs。Tenbruggenoperates，sometimesonhiscrampedrighthand，sometimes（inthefearthathisbrainmayhavesomethingtodowithit）onthebackofhisneck。Oneofthemfrownsoverherrubbing，andtheotherfrownsoverhisreading。Itwouldbedelightfullyridiculous，butforadrawback；Mr。PhilipDunboyne’sfirstimpressionsofMrs。
　　Tenbruggendonotinclinehimtolookatthatladyfromahumorouspointofview。
　　Helena’sremarksfollow，asusual。ShehasseenMrs。Tenbruggen’snameontheaddressofaletterwrittenbyMissJillgall——whichisquiteenoughtocondemnMrs。Tenbruggen。AsforPhiliphimself，shefeelsnotquitesureofhim，evenyet。NomoredoI。
　　ThirdExtract。
　　Theletterthatfollowsmustbepermittedtospeakforitself：
　　Ihaveflownintoapassion，dearestHelena；andIamafraidI
　　shallmakeyouflyintoapassion，too。BlameMrs。Tenbruggen；
　　don’tblameme。
　　OnthefirstoccasionwhenIfoundmyfatherunderthehandsoftheMedicalRubber，shetooknonoticeofme。Onthesecondoccasion——whenshehadbeenindailyattendanceonhimforaweek，atanexorbitantfee——shesaidinthecoolestmanner："Whoisthisyounggentleman？"Myfatherlaiddownhisbook，foramomentonly："Don’tinterruptmeagain，ma’am。TheyounggentlemanismysonPhilip。"Mrs。TenbruggeneyedmewithanappearanceofinterestwhichIwasatalosstoaccountfor。I
　　hateanimpudentwoman。Myvisitcamesuddenlytoanend。
　　ThenexttimeIsawmyfather，hewasalone。
　　IaskedhimhowhegotonwithMrs。Tenbruggen。Asbadlyaspossible，itappeared。"Shetakeslibertieswithmyneck；sheinterruptsmeinmyreading；andshedoesmenogood。Ishallend，Philip，inapplyingamedicalrubbingtoMrs。Tenbruggen。"
　　Afewdayslater，Ifoundthemasterful"Masseuse"torturingthepooroldgentleman’smusclesagain。Shehadtheaudacitytosaytome："Well，Mr。Philip，whenareyougoingtomarryMissEuniceGracedieu？"Myfatherlookedup。"Eunice？"herepeated。"WhenmysontoldmehewasengagedtoMissGracedieu，hesaid’Helena’！
　　Philip，whatdoesthismean？"Mrs。Tenbruggenwassoobligingastoanswerforme。"Somemistake，sir；it’sEuniceheisengagedto。"IconfessIforgotmyself。"Howthedevildoyouknowthat？"
　　Iburstout。Mrs。Tenbruggenignoredmeandmylanguage。"Iamsorrytosee，sir，thatyourson’seducationhasbeenneglected；
　　heseemstobegrosslyignorantofthelawsofpoliteness。"
　　"Nevermindthelawsofpoliteness，"saysmyfather。"Youappeartobebetteracquaintedwithmyson’smatrimonialprospectsthanheishimself。Howisthat？"Mrs。Tenbruggenfavoredhimwithanotherreadyreply："Myauthorityisaletter，addressedtomebyarelativeofMr。Gracedieu——mydearandintimatefriend，MissJillgall。"Myfather’skeeneyestraveledbackwardandforwardbetweenhisfemalesurgeonandhisson。"WhichamItobelieve？"
　　heinquired。"Iamsurprisedatyouraskingthequestion，"I
　　said。Mrs。Tenbruggenpointedtome。"LookatMr。Philip，sir——andyouwillallowhimonemerit。Heiscapableofshowingit，whenheknowshehasdisgracedhimself。"Withoutintendingit，Iamsure，myfatherinfuriatedme；helookedasifhebelievedher。OutcameoneofthesmallestandstrongestwordsintheEnglishlanguagebeforeIcouldstopit："Mrs。Tenbruggen，youlie！"TheillustriousRubberdroppedmyfather’shand——shehadbeenoperatingonhimallthetime——andshowedusthatshecouldassertherdignitywhencircumstancescalledfortheexertion："EitheryoursonorI，sir，mustleavetheroom。Whichisittobe？"Shemethermatchinmyfather。Walkingquietlytothedoor，heopeneditforMrs。Tenbruggenwithalowbow。Shestoppedonherwayout，anddeliveredherpartingwords：
　　"MessieursDunboyne，fatherandson，Ikeepmytemper，andmerelyregardyouasacoupleofblackguards。"Withthatprettyassertionofheropinion，sheleftus。
　　Whenwewerealone，therewasbutonecoursetotake；Imademyconfession。Itisimpossibletotellyouhowmyfatherreceivedit——forhesatdownathislibrarytablewithhisbacktome。Thefirstthinghedidwastoaskmetohelphismemory。
　　"Didyousaythatthefatherofthesegirlswasaparson？"
　　"Yes——aCongregationalMinister。"
　　"WhatdoestheMinisterthinkofyou？"
　　"Idon’tknow，sir。"
　　"Findout。"
　　Thatwasall；notanotherwordcouldIextractfromhim。Idon’tpretendtohavediscoveredwhathereallyhasinhismind。Ionlyventureonasuggestion。Ifthereisanyoldfriendinyourtown，whohassomeinfluenceoveryourfather，leavenomeansuntriedofgettingthatfriendtosayakindwordforus。Andthenaskyourfathertowritetomine。Thisis，asIseeit，ouronlychance。
　　Theretheletterends。Helena’snotesonitshowthatherprideisfiercelyinterestedinsecuringPhilipasahusband。HervictoryoverpoorEunicewill，assheplainlyintimates，beonlycompletewhensheismarriedtoyoungDunboyne。Fortherest，herdesperateresolutiontowinherwaytomygoodgracesissufficientlyintelligible，now。
　　Myownimpressionsvary。Philiprathergainsuponme；heappearstohavesomecapacityforfeelingashamedofhimself。Ontheotherhand，IregardthediscoveryofanintimatefriendshipexistingbetweenMrs。TenbruggenandMissJillgallwiththegloomiestviews。IsthisformidableMasseuselikelytoplyhertradeinthecountrytowns？Andisitpossiblethatshemaycometothistown？Godforbid！
　　Oftheotherlettersinthecollection，Ineedtakenospecialnotice。IreturnedthewholecorrespondencetoHelena，andwaitedtohearfromher。
　　TheonerecenteventinMr。Gracedieu’sfamily，worthyofrecord，isofamelancholynature。Afterpayinghisvisitto—day，thedoctorhasleftwordthatnobodybutthenurseistogoneartheMinister。Thisseemstoindicate，buttoosurely，achangefortheworse。
　　HelenahasbeenawayalltheeveningattheGirls’School。Sheleftalittlenote，informingmeofherwishes："Ishallexpecttobefavoredwithyourdecisionto—morrowmorning，inmyhousekeepingroom。"
　　Atbreakfasttime，thereportofthepoorMinisterwasstilldiscouraging。InoticedthatHelenawasabsentfromthetable。
　　MissJillgallsuspectedthatthecausewasbadnewsfromMr。
　　PhilipDunboyne，arrivingbythatmorning’spost。"Ifyouwillexcusetheuseofstronglanguagebyalady，"shesaid，"Helenalookedperfectlydevilishwhensheopenedtheletter。Sherushedaway，andlockedherselfupinherownshabbyroom。Aseriousobstacle，asIsuspect，inthewayofhermarriage。Cheering，isn’tit？"Asusual，goodSelinaexpressedhersentimentswithoutreserve。
　　Ihadtokeepmyappointment；andthesoonerHelenaGracedieuandIunderstoodeachotherthebetter。
　　Iknockedatthedoor。Itwasloudlyunlocked，andviolentlythrownopen。Helena’stemperhadrisentoboilingheat；shestammeredwithragewhenshespoketome。
　　"Imeantocometothepointatonce，"shesaid。
　　"Iamgladtohearit，MissHelena。"
　　"MayIcountonyourinfluencetohelpme？Iwantapositiveanswer。"
　　Igaveherwhatshewanted。Isaid："Certainlynot。"
　　Shetookacrumpledletterfromherpocket，openedit，andsmootheditoutonthetablewithablowofheropenhand。
　　"Lookatthat，"shesaid。
　　Ilooked。ItwastheletteraddressedtoMr。Dunboynetheelder，whichIhadwrittenforMr。Gracedieu——withtheoneobjectofpreventingHelena’smarriage。
　　"Ofcourse，Icandependonyoutotellmethetruth？"shecontinued。
　　"Withoutfearorfavor，"Ianswered，"youmaydependon_that。_"
　　"Thesignaturetotheletter，Mr。Governor，iswrittenbymyfather。Buttheletteritselfisinadifferenthand。Doyou，byanychance，recognizethewriting？"
　　"Ido。"
　　"Whosewritingisit？"
　　"Mine。"
　　CHAPTERXLIV。
　　THERESURRECTIONOFTHEPAST。
　　AFTERhavingidentifiedmyhandwriting，IwaitedwithsomecuriositytoseewhetherHelenawouldletherangerhonestlyshowitself，orwhethershewouldkeepitdown。Shekeptitdown。
　　"Allowmetoreturngoodforevil。"（Theevilwasuppermost，nevertheless，whenMissGracedieuexpressedherselfintheseself—denyingterms。）"YouarenodoubtanxioustoknowifPhilip’sfatherhasbeenwonovertoserveyourpurpose。HereisPhilip’sownaccountofit：thelastofhislettersthatIshalltroubleyoutoread。"
　　Ilookeditover。ThememorandumfollowswhichImadeformyownuse：
　　Aneccentricphilosopherisascapableasthemostcommonplacehumanbeinginexistenceofbehavinglikeanhonorableman。Mr。
　　DunboynereadtheletterwhichboretheMinister’ssignature，andhandedittohisson。"Canyouanswerthat？"wasallhesaid。
　　Philip’ssilenceconfessedthathewasunabletoanswerit——andPhiliphimself，Imayadd，roseaccordinglyinmyestimation。Hisfatherpointedtothewriting—desk。"Imustsparemycrampedhand，"thephilosopherresumed，"andImustanswerMr。
　　Gracedieu’sletter。Write，andleaveaplaceformysignature。"
　　Hebegantodictatehisreply。"Sir——MysonPhiliphasseenyourletter，andhasnodefensetomake。InthisrespecthehassetanexampleofcandorwhichIproposetofollow。Thereisnoexcuseforhim。WhatIcandotoshowthatIfeelforyou，andagreewithyou，shallbedone。Attheagewhichthisyoungmanhasreached，thelawsofEnglandabolishtheauthorityofhisfather。
　　Ifheissufficientlyinfatuatedtoplacehishonorandhishappinessatthemercyofalady，whohasbehavedtohersisterasyourdaughterhasbehavedtoMissEunice，Iwarnthemarriedcouplenottoexpectafarthingofmymoney，eitherduringmylifetimeoraftermydeath。Yourfaithfulservant，DUNBOYNE，SENIOR。"Havingperformedhisdutyassecretary，Philipreceivedhisdismissal："Youmaysendmyreplytothepost，"hisfathersaid；"andyoumaykeepMr。Gracedieu’sletter。Morallyspeaking，Iregardthatlastdocumentasaspeciesofmirror，inwhichayounggentlemanlikeyourselfmayseehowuglyhelooks。"This，Philipdeclared，washisfather’sformoffarewell。
　　IhandedbackthelettertoHelena。Notawordpassedbetweenus。
　　Insinistersilencesheopenedthedoorandleftmealoneintheroom。
　　ThatMrs。GracedieuandIhadmetinthebygonetime，and——thiswastheonlyseriouspartofit——hadmetinsecret，wouldnowbemadeknowntotheMinister。WasItoblameforhavingshrunkfromdistressingmygoodfriend，bytellinghimthathiswifehadprivatelyconsultedmeonthemeansofremovinghisadoptedchildfromhishouse？And，evenifIhadbeencruelenoughtodothis，wouldhehavebelievedmystatementagainstthepositivedenialwithwhichthewomanwhomhelovedandtrustedwouldhavecertainlymetit？No！lettheconsequencesofthecomingdisclosurebewhattheymight，Ifailedtoseeanyvalidreasonforregrettingmyconductinthepasttime。
　　IfoundMissJillgallwaitinginthepassagetoseemecomeout。
　　BeforeIcouldtellherwhathadhappened，therewasaringatthehouse—bell。ThevisitorprovedtobeMr。Wellwood，thedoctor。IwasanxioustospeaktohimonthesubjectofMr。
　　Gracedieu’shealth。MissJillgallintroducedme，asanoldanddearfriendoftheMinister，andleftustogetherinthedining—room。
　　"WhatdoIthinkofMr。Gracedieu？"hesaid，repeatingthefirstquestionthatIput。"Well，sir，Ithinkbadlyofhim。"
　　Enteringintodetails，afterthatominousreply，Mr。Wellwooddidnothesitatetosaythathispatient’snerveswerecompletelyshattered。Diseaseofthebrainhad，ashefeared，beenalreadysetup。"Astothecauseswhichhaveproducedthislamentablebreak—down，"thedoctorcontinued，"Mr。GracedieuhasbeeninthehabitofpreachingextemporetwiceadayonSundays，andsometimesintheweekaswell——andhasuniformlyrefusedtosparehimselfwhenhewasinmosturgentneedofrest。Ifyouhaveeverattendedhischapel，youhaveseenamaninastateoffieryenthusiasm，feelingintenselyeverywordthatheutters。Thinkofsuchexhaustionasthatimpliesgoingonforyearstogether，andaccumulatingitswastinginfluencesonasensitivelyorganizedconstitution。Addthatheistormentedbypersonalanxieties，whichheconfessestonoone，noteventohisownchildrenandthesumofitallisthataworsecaseofitskind，Iamgrievedtosay，hasneveroccurredinmyexperience。"
　　Beforethedoctorleftmetogotohispatient，Iaskedleavetooccupyaminutemoreofhistime。Myobjectwas，ofcourse，tospeakaboutEunice。
　　ThechangeofsubjectseemedtobeagreeabletoMr。Wellwood。Hesmiledgood—humoredly。
　　"Youneedfeelnoalarmaboutthehealthofthatinterestinggirl，"hesaid。"Whenshecomplainedtome——atherage！——ofnotbeingabletosleep，IshouldhavetakenitmoreseriouslyifI
　　hadbeentoldthatshetoohadhertroubles，poorlittlesoul。
　　Love—troubles，mostlikely——butdon’tforgetthatmyprofessionallimitskeepmeinthedark！Haveyouheardthatshetooksomecomposingmedicine，whichIhadprescribedforherfather？Theeffect（certain，inanycase，tobeinjurioustoayounggirl）
　　wasconsiderablyaggravatedbythestateofhermindatthetime。
　　Adreamthatfrightenedher，andsomethingresemblingdelirium，seemstohavefollowed。Andshemademattersworse，poorchild，bywritinginherdiaryaboutthevisionsandsupernaturalappearancesthathadterrifiedher。Iwasafraidoffever，onthedaywhentheyfirstsentforme。Weescapedthatcomplication，andIwasatlibertytotrythebestofallremedies——quietandchangeofair。IhavenofearsforMissEunice。"
　　WiththatcheeringreplyhewentuptotheMinister’sroom。
　　AllthatIhadfoundperplexinginEunicewasnowmadeclear。I
　　understoodhowheragonyatthelossofherlover，andherkeensenseofthewrongthatshehadsuffered，hadbeenstrengthenedintheirdisastrousinfluencebyherexperimentonthesleepingdraughtintendedforherfather。Inmindandbody，both，thepoorgirlwasintheconditionwhichoffereditsopportunitytothelurkinghereditarytaint。Itwasterribletothinkofwhatmighthavehappened，iftheall—powerfulcounter—influencehadnotbeenpresenttosaveher。
　　BeforeIhadbeenlongalonetheservant—maidcamein，andsaidthedoctorwantedtoseeme。
　　Mr。Wellwoodwaswaitinginthepassage，outsidetheMinister’sbedchamber。Heaskedifhecouldspeaktomewithoutinterruption，andwithoutthefearofbeingoverheard。IledhimatoncetotheroomwhichIoccupiedasaguest。
　　"AttheverytimewhenitismostimportanttokeepMr。Gracedieuquiet，"hesaid，"somethinghashappenedtoexcite——Imightalmostsaytoinfuriatehim。Hehaslefthisbed，andiswalkingupanddowntheroom；and，Idon’tscrupletosay，heisonthevergeofmadness。Heinsistsonseeingyou。Beingwhollyunabletocontrolhiminanyotherway，Ihaveconsentedtothis。ButI
　　mustnotallowyoutoplaceyourselfinwhatmaybeadisagreeableposition，withoutawordofwarning。Judgingbyhistonesandhislooks，heseemstohavenoveryfriendlymotiveforwishingtoseeyou。"
　　Knowingperfectlywellwhathadhappened，andbeingoneofthoseimpatientpeoplewhocanneverenduresuspense——IofferedtogoatoncetoMr。Gracedieu’sroom。Thedoctoraskedleavetosayonewordmore。
　　"Praybecarefulthatyouneithersaynordoanythingtothwarthim，"Mr。Wellwoodresumed。"Ifheexpressesanopinion，agreewithhim。Ifheisinsolentandoverbearing，don’tanswerhim。Inthestateofhisbrain，theonehopefulcoursetotakeistolethimhavehisownway。Prayrememberthat。Iwillbewithincall，incaseofyourwantingme。"
　　CHAPTERXLV。
　　THEFATALPORTRAIT。
　　IKNOCKEDatthebedroomdoor。
　　"Who’sthere？"
　　Onlytwowords——butthevoicethatutteredthem，hoarseandperemptory，wasalteredalmostbeyondrecognition。IfIhadnotknownwhoseroomitwas，ImighthavedoubtedwhethertheMinisterhadreallyspokentome。
　　AttheinstantwhenIansweredhim，Iwasallowedtopassin。
　　Havingadmittedme，heclosedthedoor，andplacedhimselfwithhisbackagainstit。Thecustomarypallorofhisfacehaddarkenedtoadeepred；therewasanexpressionofferociousmockeryinhiseyes。Helena’svengeancehadhurtherunhappyfatherfarmoreseverelythanitseemedlikelytohurtme。Thedoctorhadsaidhewasonthevergeofmadness。Tomythinking，hehadalreadypassedtheboundaryline。
　　Hereceivedmewithaboisterousaffectationofcordiality。
　　"Myexcellentfriend！Myadmirable，honorable，welcomeguest，youdon’tknowhowgladIamtoseeyou。Standalittlenearertothelight；Iwanttoadmireyou。"
　　Rememberingthedoctor’sadvice，Iobeyedhiminsilence。
　　"Ah，youwereahandsomefellowwhenIfirstknewyou，"hesaid，"andyouhavesomeremainsofitstillleft。Doyourememberthetimewhenyouwereafavoritewiththeladies？Oh，don’tpretendtobemodest；don’tturnyourback，nowyouareold，onwhatyouwereintheprimeofyourlife。DoyouownthatIamright？"
　　Whathisobjectmightbeinsayingthis——if，indeed，hehadanobject——itwasimpossibletoguess。Thedoctor’sadviceleftmenoalternative；Ihastenedtoownthathewasright。AsImadethatanswer，Iobservedthatheheldsomethinginhishandwhichwashalfhiddenupthesleeveofhisdressing—gown。WhatthenatureoftheobjectwasIfailedtodiscover。
　　"AndwhenIhappenedtospeakofyousomewhere，"hewenton，"I
　　forgetwhere——amemberofmycongregation——Idon’trecollectwhoitwas——toldmeyouwereconnectedwiththearistocracy。Howwereyouconnected？"
　　Hesurprisedme；but，howeverhehadgothisinformation，hehadnotbeendeceived。ItoldhimthatIwasconnected，throughmymother，withthefamilytowhichhehadalluded。
　　"Thearistocracy！"herepeated。"Araceofpeoplewhoarerichwithoutearningtheirmoney，andnoblebecausetheirgreat—grandfatherswerenoblebeforethem。Theyliveinidlenessandluxury——profligateswhogratifytheirpassionswithoutshameandwithoutremorse。Deny，ifyoudare，thatthisisatruedescriptionofthem。"
　　Itwasreallypitiable。Heartilysorryforhim，Ipacifiedhimagain。
　　"Anddon’tsupposeIforgetthatyouareoneofthem。Doyouhearme，mynoblefriend？"
　　Therewasnohelpforit——Imadeanotherconciliatoryreply。
　　"Sofar，"heresumed，"Idon’tcomplainofyou。Youhavenotattemptedtodeceiveme——yet。AbsolutesilenceiswhatIrequirenext。Thoughyoumaynotsuspectit，mymindisinaferment；I
　　musttrytothink。"
　　Tosomeextentatleast，histhoughtsbetrayedthemselvesinhisactions。HeputtheobjectthatIhadhalfseeninhishandintothepocketofhisdressing—gown，andmovedtothetoilet—table。
　　Openingoneofthedrawers，hetookfromitafoldedsheetofpaper，andcamebacktome。
　　"AministeroftheGospel，"hesaid，"isasacredman，andhasahorrorofcrime。Youaresafe，sofar——providedyouobeyme。I
　　haveasolemnandterribledutytoperform。Thisisnottherightplaceforit。Followmedownstairs。"
　　Heledthewayout。Thedoctor，waitinginthepassage，wasnotnearthestairs，andsoescapednotice。"Whatisit？"Mr。W
　　ellwoodwhispered。Inthesameguardedway，Isaid："Hehasnottoldmeyet；Ihavebeencarefulnottoirritatehim。"Whenwedescendedthestairs，thedoctorfollowedusatasafedistance。
　　HemendedhispacewhentheMinisteropenedthedoorofthestudy，andwhenhesawusbothpassin。Beforehecouldfollow，thedoorwasclosedandlockedinhisface。Mr。Gracedieutookoutthekeyandthrewitthroughtheopenwindow，intothegardenbelow。
　　Turningbackintotheroom，helaidthefoldedsheetofpaperonthetable。Thatdone，hespoketome。
　　"Idistrustmyownweakness，"hesaid。"Adreadfulnecessityconfrontsme——Imightshrinkfromthehorrididea，and，ifI
　　couldopenthedoor，mighttrytogetaway。Escapeisimpossiblenow。Weareprisonerstogether。Butdon’tsupposethatwearealone。Thereisathirdpersonpresent，whowilljudgebetweenyouandme。Lookthere！"
　　Hepointedsolemnlytotheportraitofhiswife。Itwasasmallpicture，verysimplyframed；representingthefaceina"three—quarter"view，andpartofthefigureonly。Asaworkofartitwascontemptible；but，asalikeness，itanswereditspurpose。Myunhappyfriendstoodbeforeit，inanattitudeofdejection，coveringhisfacewithhishands。
　　Intheintervalofsilencethatfollowed，Iwasremindedthatanunseenfriendwaskeepingwatchoutside。
　　Alarmedbyhavingheardthekeyturnedinthelock，andrealizingtheembarrassmentofthepositioninwhichIwasplaced，thedoctorhaddiscoveredadiscreetwayofcommunicatingwithme。Heslippedoneofhisvisiting—cardsunderthedoor，withthesewordswrittenonit："HowcanIhelpyou？"
　　Itookthepencilfrommypocketbook，andwroteontheblanksideofthecard："Hehasthrownthekeyintothegarden；lookforitunderthewindow。"AglanceattheMinister，beforeIreturnedmyreply，showedthathisattitudewasunchanged。Withoutbeingseenorsuspected，I，inmyturn，slippedthecardunderthedoor。
　　Theslowminutesfollowedeachother——andstillnothinghappened。
　　Myanxietytoseehowthedoctor’ssearchforthekeywassucceeding，temptedmetoapproachthewindow。Onmywaytoit，thetailofmycoatthrewdownalittletraycontainingpensandpencils，whichhadbeenleftclosetotheedgeofthetable。
　　Slightasthenoiseofthefallwas，itdisturbedMr。Gracedieu。
　　Helookedroundvacantly。
　　"Ihavebeencomfortedbyprayer，"hetoldme。"TheweaknessofpoorhumanityhasfoundstrengthintheLord。"Hepointedtotheportraitoncemore："Myhandsmustnotpresumetotouchit，whileIamstillindoubt。Takeitdown。"
　　Iremovedthepictureandplacedit，byhisdirections，onachairthatstoodmidwaybetweenus。Tomysurprisehistonesfaltered；Isawtearsrisinginhiseyes。"Youmaythinkyouseeapicturethere，"hesaid。"Youarewrong。Youseemywifeherself。Standhere，andlookatmywifewithme。"
　　Westoodtogether，withoureyesfixedontheportrait。
　　Withoutanythingsaidordoneonmyparttoirritatehim，hesuddenlyturnedtomeinastateoffuriousrage。"Notasignofsorrow！"heburstout。"Notablushofshame！Wretch，youstandcondemnedbytheatrociouscomposurethatIseeinyourface！"
　　AfirstdiscoveryoftheodioussuspicionofwhichIwastheobject，dawnedonmymindatthatmoment。Mycapacityforrestrainingmyselfcompletelyfailedme。Ispoketohimasifhehadbeenanaccountablebeing。"Onceforall，"Isaid，"tellmewhatIhavearighttoknow。Yoususpectmeofsomething。Whatisit？"