Insteadofdirectlyreplying，heseizedmyarmandledmetothetable。"Takeupthatpaper，"hesaid。"Thereiswritingonit。
　　Read——andletHerjudgebetweenus。Yourlifedependsonhowyouanswerme。"
　　Wasthereaweaponconcealedintheroom？orhadhegotitinthepocketofhisdressing—gown？Ilistenedforthesoundofthedoctor’sreturningfootstepsinthepassageoutside，andheardnothing。Mylifehadoncedepended，yearssince，onmysuccessinheadingthearrestofanescapedprisoner。Iwasnotconscious，then，offeelingmyenergiesweakenedbyfear。But_that_manwasnotmad；andIwasyounger，inthosedays，byagoodtwentyyearsormore。Atmylatertimeoflife，IcouldshowmyoldfriendthatIwasnotafraidofhim——butIwasconsciousofaneffortindoingit。
　　Iopenedthepaper。"AmItoreadthistomyself？"Iasked。"OramItoreaditaloud？"
　　"Readitaloud！"
　　Intheseterms，hisdaughteraddressedhim：
　　"Ihavebeensounfortunate，dearestfather，astodispleaseyou，andIdarenothopethatyouwillconsenttoreceiveme。Whatitismypainfuldutytotellyou，mustbetoldinwriting。
　　"GrievedasIamtodistressyou，inyourpresentstateofhealth，Imustnothesitatetorevealwhatithasbeenmymisfortune——Imayevensaymymisery，whenIthinkofmymother——todiscover。
　　"Butletmemakesure，insuchaseriousmatterasthisis，thatIamnotmistaken。
　　"Inthosehappypastdays，whenIwasstilldeartomyfather，yousaidyouthoughtofwritingtoinviteadearly—valuedfriendtopayavisittothishouse。Youhadfirstknownhim，asI
　　understood，whenmymotherwasstillliving。Manyinterestingthingsyoutoldmeaboutthisoldfriend，butyounevermentionedthatheknew，orthathehadevenseen，mymother。Iwaslefttosupposethatthosetwohadremainedstrangerstoeachothertothedayofherdeath。
　　"Ifthereisanymisinterpretationhereofwhatyousaid，orperhapsofwhatyoumeanttosay，praydestroywhatIhavewrittenwithoutturningtothenextpage；andforgivemeforhavinginnocentlystartledyoubyafalsealarm。"
　　Mr。Gracedieuinterruptedme。
　　"Putitdown！"hecried；"Iwon’twaittillyouhavegottotheend——Ishallquestionyounow。Givemethepaper；itwillhelpmetokeepthismysteryofiniquityclearinmyownmind。"
　　Igavehimthepaper。
　　Hehesitated——andlookedattheportraitoncemore。"Turnherawayfromme，"hesaid；"Ican’tfacemywife。"
　　Iplacedthepicturewithitsbacktohim。
　　Heconsultedthepaper，readingitwithbutlittleoftheconfusionandhesitationwhichmyexperienceofhimhadinducedmetoanticipate。Hadthemadexcitementthatpossessedhimexercisedaninfluenceinclearinghismind，resemblinginsomedegreetheinfluenceexercisedbyastorminclearingtheair？
　　Whatevertherightexplanationmaybe，IcanonlyreportwhatI
　　saw。Icouldhardlyhavemasteredwhathisdaughterhadwrittenmorereadily，ifIhadbeenreadingitmyself。
　　"Helenatellsme，"hebegan，"thatyousaidyouknewherbyherlikenesstohermother。Isthattrue？"
　　"Quitetrue。"
　　"Andyoumadeanexcuseforleavingher——see！hereitis，writtendown。Youmadeanexcuse，andleftherwhensheaskedforanexplanation。"
　　"Idid。"
　　Heconsultedthepaperagain。
　　"Mydaughtersays——No！Iwon’tbehurriedandIwon’tbeinterrupted——shesaysyouwereconfused。Isthatso？"
　　"Itisso。Letyourquestionswaitforamoment。IwishtotellyouwhyIwasconfused。"
　　"Haven’tIsaidIwon’tbeinterrupted？Doyouthinkyoucanshake_my_resolution？"Hereferredtothepaperagain。"Ihavelosttheplace。It’syourfault——finditforme。"
　　TheevidencewhichwasintendedtoconvictmewastheevidencewhichIwasexpectedtofind！Ipointeditouttohim。
　　Hisnaturalcourtesyasserteditselfinspiteofhisanger。Hesaid"Thankyou，"andquestionedmethemomentafterasfiercelyasever。"Gobacktothetime，sir，whenwemetinyourroomsattheprison。Didyouknowmywifethen？"
　　"Certainlynot。"
　　"Didyouandsheseeeachother——ha！I’vegotitnow——didyouseeeachotherafterIhadleftthetown？Noprevarication！YouowntotellingHelenathatyouknewherbyherlikenesstohermother。Youmusthaveseenhermother。Where？"
　　Imadeanotherefforttodefendmyself。Heagainrefusedfuriouslytohearme。Itwasuselesstopersist。Whateverthedangerthatthreatenedmemightbe，thesooneritshoweditselftheeasierIshouldfeel。ItoldhimthatMrs。Gracedieuhadcalledonme，afterheandhiswifehadleftthetown。
　　"Doyoumeantotellme，"hecried，"thatShecametoYou？"
　　"Ido。"
　　Afterthatanswer，henolongerrequiredthepapertohelphim。
　　Hethrewitfromhimonthefloor。
　　"Andyoureceivedher，"hesaid，"withoutinquiringwhetherI
　　knewofhervisitornot？Guiltydeceptiononyourpart——guiltydeceptiononherpart。Oh，thehideouswickednessofit！"
　　WhenhismadsuspicionthatIhadbeenhiswife’sloverbetrayeditselfinthisway，Imadealastattempt，inthefaceofmyownconvictionthatitwashopeless，toplacemyconductandhiswife’sconductbeforehiminthetruelight。
　　"Mrs。Gracedieu’sobjectwastoconsultme——"BeforeIcouldsaythenextwords，Isawhimputhishandintothepocketofhisdressing—gown。
　　"Aninnocentman，"hesternlydeclared，"wouldhavetoldmethatmywifehadbeentoseehim——youkeptitasecret。Aninnocentwomanwouldhavegivenmeareasonforwishingtogotoyou——shekeptitasecret，whensheleftmyhouse；shekeptitasecretwhenshecameback。"
　　"Mr。Gracedieu，Iinsistonbeingheard！Yourwife’smotive——"
　　Hedrewfromhispocketthethingthathehadhiddenfromme。
　　Thistime，therewasnoconcealment；heletmeseethathewasopeningarazor。Itwasnotimeforassertingmyinnocence；Ihadtothinkofpreservingmylife。Whenamaniswithoutfirearms，whatdefensecanavailagainstarazorinthehandsofamadman？
　　Achairwasatmyside；itofferedtheonepoormeansofguardingmyselfthatIcouldsee。Ilaidmyhandonit，andkeptmyeyeonhim。
　　Hepaused，lookingbackwardandforwardbetweenthepictureandme。
　　"WhichofthemshallIkillfirst？"hesaidtohimself。"Themanwhowasmytrustedfriend？OrthewomanwhomIbelievedtobeanangelonearth？"Hestoppedoncemore，inastateoffierceself—concentration，debatingwhatheshoulddo。"Thewoman，"hedecided。"Wretch！Fiend！Harlot！HowIlovedher！！！"
　　Withayelloffury，hepouncedonthepicture——rippedthecanvasoutoftheframe——andcutitmalignantlyintofragments。Astheydroppedfromtherazoronthefloor，hestampedonthem，andgroundthemunderhisfoot。"Go，wifeofmybosom，"hecried，withadreadfulmockeryofvoiceandlook——"go，andburneverlastinglyintheplaceoftorment！"Hiseyesglaredatme。
　　"Yourturnnow，"hesaid——andrushedatmewithhisweaponreadyinhishand。Ihurledthechairathisrightarm。Therazordroppedonthefloor。Icaughthimbythewrist。Likeawildanimalhetriedtobiteme。Withmyfreehand——ifIhadknownhowtodefendmyselfinanyotherway，Iwouldhavetakenthatway——withmyfreehandIseizedhimbythethroat；forcedhimback；andheldhimagainstthewall。Mygrasponhisthroatkepthimquiet。Butthedreadofseriouslyinjuringhimsocompletelyovercameme，thatIforgotIwasaprisonerintheroom，andwasonthepointofalarmingthehouseholdbyacryforhelp。
　　Iwasstillstrugglingtopreservemyself—control，whenthesoundoffootstepsbrokethesilenceoutside。Iheardthekeyturninthelock，andsawthedoctorattheopendoor。
　　CHAPTERXLVI。
　　THECUMBERSOMELADIES。
　　ICANNOTprevailuponmyselftodwellatanylengthontheeventsthatfollowed。
　　Wesecuredmyunhappyfriend，andcarriedhimtohisbed。Itwasnecessarytohavemeninattendancewhocouldperformthedutyofwatchinghim。Thedoctorsentforthem，whileIwentdownstairstomakethebestIcouldofthemiserablenewswhichitwasimpossibleentirelytoconceal。
　　AllthatIcoulddotospareMissJillgall，Idid。Iwasobligedtoacknowledgethattherehadbeenanoutbreakofviolence，andthattheportraitoftheMinister’swifehadbeendestroyedbytheMinisterhimself。OfHelena’srevengeonmeIsaidnothing。
　　Ithadledtoconsequenceswhichevenhermercilessmalicecouldnothavecontemplated。Therewerenoobstaclesinthewayofkeepingsecrettheattemptonmylife。ButIwascompelledtoownthatMr。Gracedieuhadtakenadisliketome，whichrendereditnecessarythatmyvisitshouldbebroughttoanend。IhastenedtoaddthatIshouldgotothehotel，andshouldwaitthereuntilthenextday，inthehopeofhearingbetternews。
　　OfthemultitudeofquestionswithwhichpoorMissJillgalloverwhelmedme——ofthewildwordsofsorrowandalarmthatescapedher——ofthedesperatemannerinwhichsheheldbymyarm，andimploredmenottogoaway，whenImustseeformyselfthat"shewasapersonentirelydestituteofpresenceofmind"——I
　　shallsaynothing。Theundeservedsufferingthatisinflictedoninnocentpersonsbythesinsofothersdemandssilentsympathy；
　　and，tothatextentatleast，IcansaythatIhonestlyfeltformyquaintandpleasantlittlefriend。
　　Intheeveningthedoctorcalledonmeatthehotel。Themedicaltreatmentofhispatienthadsucceededincalmingthemaddenedbrainundertheinfluenceofsleep。Ifthenightpassedquietly，betternewsmightbehopedforinthemorning。
　　OnthenextdayIhadarrangedtodrivetothefarm，beingresolvednottodisappointEunice。ButIshrankfromtheprospectofhavingtodistressherasIhadalreadydistressedMissJillgall。Theonlyalternativeleftwastorepeatthesadstoryinwriting，subjecttotheconcealmentswhichIhadalreadyobserved。ThisIdid，andsenttheletterbymessenger，overnight，sothatEunicemightknowwhentoexpectme。
　　Themedicalreport，inthemorning，justifiedsomehope。Mr。
　　Gracedieuhadsleptwell，andtherehadbeennoreappearanceofinsaneviolenceonhiswaking。Butthedoctor’sopinionwasfarfromencouragingwhenwespokeofthefuture。HedidnotanticipatethecruelnecessityofplacingtheMinisterunderrestraint——unlesssomenewprovocationledtoanewoutbreak。Themisfortunetobefearedwasimbecility。
　　IwasjustleavingthehoteltokeepmyappointmentwithEunice，whenthewaiterannouncedthearrivalofayoungladywhowishedtospeakwithme。BeforeIcouldaskifshehadmentionedhername，theyoungladyherselfwalkedin——HelenaGracedieu。
　　Sheexplainedherobjectincallingonme，withtheexasperatingcomposurewhichwaspeculiarlyherown。Noparalleltoitoccurstomeinmyofficialexperienceofshamelesswomen。
　　"Idon’twishtospeakofwhathappenedyesterday，sofarasI
　　knowanythingaboutit，"shebegan。"Itisquiteenoughformethatyouhavebeenobligedtoleavethehouseandtotakerefugeinthishotel。Ihavecometosayawordaboutthefuture。Areyouhonoringmewithyourattention？"
　　Isignedtohertogoon。IfIhadansweredinwords，Ishouldhavetoldhertoleavetheroom。
　　"Atfirst，"sheresumed，"Ithoughtofwriting；butitoccurredtomethatyoumightkeepmyletter，andshowittoPhilip，bywayofloweringmeinhisgoodopinion，asyouhaveloweredmeinthegoodopinionofhisfather。Myobjectincominghereistogiveyouawordofwarning。IfyouattempttomakemischiefnextbetweenPhilipandmyself，Ishallhearofit——andyouknowwhattoexpect，whenyouhaveMeforanenemy。Itisnotworthwhiletosayanymore。Weunderstandeachother，Ihope？"
　　Shewasdeterminedtohaveareply——andshegotit。
　　"Notquiteyet，"Isaid。"Ihavebeenhitherto，asbecomesagentleman，alwaysmindfulofawoman’sclaimstoforbearance。Youwilldowellnottotemptmeintoforgettingthat_you_areawoman，byprolongingyourvisit。Now，MissHelenaGracedieu，weunderstandeachother。"Shemademealowcurtsey，andansweredinherfinesttoneofirony："Ionlydesiretowishyouapleasantjourneyhome。"
　　Irangforthewaiter。"Showthisladyout，"Isaid。
　　Eventhisfailedtohavetheslightesteffectonher。Shesaunteredtothedoor，asperfectlyathereaseasiftheroomhadbeenhers——notmine。
　　Ihadthoughtofdrivingtothefarm。ShallIconfessit？MytemperwassocompletelyupsetthatactivemovementofsomekindofferedtheonemeansofreliefinwhichIcouldfindrefuge。Thefarmwasnotmorethanfivemilesdistant，andIhadbeenagoodwalkerallmylife。Aftermakingtheneedfulinquiries，IsetforthtovisitEuniceonfoot。
　　Mywaythroughthetownledmepastthe，Minister’shouse。Ihadleftthedoorsomefiftyyardsbehindme，whenIsawtwoladiesapproaching。Theywerewalking，inthefriendliestmanner，arminarm。Astheycamenearer，IdiscoveredMissJillgall。Hercompanionwasthemiddle—agedladywhohaddeclinedtogivehername，whenwemetaccidentallyatMr。Gracedieu’sdoor。
　　Hystericallyimpulsive，MissJillgallseizedbothmyhands，andoverwhelmedmewithentreatiesthatIwouldgobackwithhertothehouse。Ilistenedratherabsently。Themiddle—agedladyhappenedtobenearertomenowthanoneitheroftheformeroccasionsonwhichIhadseenher。Therewassomethingintheexpressionofhereyeswhichseemedtobefamiliartome。ButtheeffortofmymemorywasnothelpedbywhatIobservedintheotherpartsofherface。Theiron—grayhair，thebaggylowereyelids，thefatcheeks，thecoarsecomplexion，andthedoublechin，werefeatures，andverydisagreeablefeatures，too，whichI
　　hadneverseenatanyformertime。
　　"Dopraycomebackwithus，"MissJillgallpleaded。"Wewerejusttalkingofyou。Iandmyfriend——"Thereshestopped，evidentlyonthepointofblurtingoutthenamewhichshehadbeenforbiddentoutterinmyhearing。
　　Theladysmiled；herprovokinglyfamiliareyesrestedonmewithahumorousenjoymentofthescene。
　　"Mydear，"shesaidtoMissJillgall，"cautionceasestobeavirtuewhenitceasestobeofanyuse。TheGovernorisbeginningtorememberme，andtheinevitablerecognition——with_his_
　　quicknessofperception——islikelytobeamatterofminutesnow。"Sheturnedtome。"Inmorewaysthanone，sir，womenarehardlyusedbyNature。Astheyadvanceinyearstheylosemoreinpersonalappearancethanthemendo。Youarewhite—haired，and（prayexcuseme）youaretoofat；and（allowmetotakeanotherliberty）youstoopattheshoulders——butyouhavenotentirelylostyourgoodlooks。_I_amnolongerrecognizable。Allowmetopromptyou，astheysayonthestage。IamMrs。Tenbruggen。"
　　Asamanoftheworld，Ioughttohavebeencapableofconcealingmyastonishmentanddismay。Shestruckmedumb。
　　Mrs。Tenbruggeninthetown！TheonewomanwhoseappearanceMr。
　　Gracedieuhaddreaded，andjustlydreaded，stoodbeforeme——free，asafriendofhiskinswoman，toenterhishouse，attheverytimewhenhewasahelplessman，guardedbywatchersathisbedside。Myfirstclearideawastogetawayfromboththewomen，andconsiderwhatwastobedonenext。Ibowed——andbeggedtobeexcused——andsaidIwasinahurry，allinabreath。
　　Hearingthis，thebestofgenialoldmaidswasunabletorestrainhercuriosity。"Whereareyougoing？"sheasked。
　　Tooconfusedtothinkofanexcuse，IsaidIwasgoingtothefarm。
　　"ToseemydearEuneece？"MissJillgallburstout。"Oh，wewillgowithyou！"Mrs。Tenbruggen’spolitenessaddedimmediately，"Withthegreatestpleasure。"
　　CHAPTERXLVII。
　　THEJOURNEYTOTHEFARM。
　　MYfirstungratefulimpulsewastogetridofthetwocumbersomeladieswhohadofferedtobemycompanions。Itwasneedlesstocalluponmyinventionforanexcuse；thetruth，asIgladlyperceived，wouldservemypurpose。IhadonlytotellthemthatI
　　hadarrangedtowalktothefarm。
　　Lean，wiry，andimpetuous，MissJillgallreceivedmyexcusewiththesincerestapprovalofit，asanewidea。"Nothingcouldbemoreagreeabletome，"shedeclared；"Ihavebeenawonderfulwalkerallmylife。"Sheturnedtoherfriend。"Wewillgowithhim，mydear，won’twe？"
　　Mrs。Tenbruggen’sreceptionofthisproposalinspiredmewithhope；sheaskedhowfaritwastothefarm。"Fivemiles！"sherepeated。"Andfivemilesbackagain，unlessthefarmerlendsusacart。MydearSelina，youmightaswellaskmetowalktotheNorthPole。Youhavegotridofoneofus，Mr。Governor，"sheadded，pleasantly；"andtheother，ifyouonlywalkfastenough，youwillleavebehindyouontheroad。IfIbelievedinluck——whichIdon’t——Ishouldcallyouafortunateman。"
　　ButcompanionableSelinawouldnothearofaseparation。Sheasked，inhermostirresistiblemanner，ifIobjectedtodrivinginsteadofwalking。Herheart’sdearestwish，shesaid，wastomakeherbosomfriendandmyselfbetteracquaintedwitheachother。Toconclude，sheremindedmethattherewasacab—standinthenextstreet。
　　PerhapsImighthavebeeninfluencedbymydistrustofMrs。
　　Tenbruggen，orperhapsbymyanxietytoprotectEunice。ItstruckmethatImightwarnthedefenselessgirltobeonherguardwithMrs。Tenbruggentobetterpurpose，ifEunicewasinapositiontorecognizeherinanyfutureemergencythatmightoccur。Tomymind，thisdangerouswomanwasdoublyformidable——andforagoodreason；shewasthebosomfriendofthatinnocentandunwaryperson，MissJillgall。
　　SoIamiablyconsentedtoforegomywalk，yieldingtothesuperiorattractionofMrs。Tenbruggen’scompany。Onthatdaythesunshinewastemperedbyadelightfulbreeze。Ifwehadbeeninthebiggestandworst—governedcityonthecivilisedearth，weshouldhavefoundnopublicvehicle，opentotheair，whichcouldofferaccommodationtothreepeople。Beingonlyinacountrytown，wehadalightfour—wheeledchaiseatourdisposal，asamatterofcourse。
　　Nowisemanexpectstobemercifullytreated，whenheisshutintoacarriagewithamaturesinglelady，inflamedbycuriosity。
　　IwasnotunpreparedforMissJillgallwhenshealluded，forthesecondtime，tothesadeventswhichhadhappenedinthehouseonthepreviousday——andespeciallytothedestructionbyMr。
　　Gracedieuoftheportraitofhiswife。
　　"Whydidn’thedestroysomethingelse？"shepleaded，piteously。
　　"ItissuchadisappointmenttoMe。Ineverlikedthatpicturemyself。OfcourseIoughttohaveadmiredtheportraitofthewifeofmybenefactor。Butno——thatdisagreeablepaintedfacewastoomuchforme。Ishouldhavefeltinexpressiblyrelieved，ifI
　　couldhaveshownittoElizabeth，andheardhersaythatsheagreedwithme。"
　　"PerhapsIsawitwhenIcalledonyou，"Mrs。Tenbruggensuggested。"Wheredidthepicturehang？"
　　"Mydear！Ireceivedyouinthedining—room，andtheportraithunginMr。Gracedieu’sstudy。"
　　Whattheysaidtoeachothernextescapedmyattention。Quiteunconsciously，MissJillgallhadrevealedtomeadangerwhichneithertheMinisternorIhaddiscovered，thoughithadconspicuouslythreatenedusbothonthewallofthestudy。Theactofmaddestructionwhich，ifIhadpossessedthemeansofsafelyinterfering，Ishouldcertainlyhaveendeavoredtoprevent，nowassumedanewandstartlingaspect。IfMrs。
　　Tenbruggenreallyhadsomemotiveofherownforendeavoringtoidentifytheadoptedchild，thepreservationofthepicturemusthaveledherstraighttotheendinview。ThemostcasualopportunityofcomparingHelenawiththeportraitofMrs。
　　Gracedieuwouldhaverevealedthelikenessbetweenmotheranddaughter——and，thatresultattained，theidentificationofEunicewiththeinfantwhomthe"MissChance"ofthosedayshadbroughttotheprisonmustinevitablyhavefollowed。ItwasperhapsnaturalthatMr。Gracedieu’sinfatuateddevotiontothememoryofhiswifeshouldhaveblindedhimtothebetrayalofHelena’sparentage，whichmethiseyeseverytimeheenteredhisstudy。
　　ButthatIshouldhavebeentoostupidtodiscoverwhathehadfailedtosee，wasawounddealttomyself—esteemwhichIwasvainenoughtofeelacutely。
　　Mrs。Tenbruggen’svoice，cheeryandhumorous，brokeinonmyreflections，withanoddquestion：
　　"Mr。Governor，doyouevercondescendtoreadnovels？"
　　"It’snoteasytosay，Mrs。Tenbruggen，howgratefulIamtothewritersofnovels。"
　　"Ah！Ireadnovels，too。ButIblushtoconfess——doI
　　blush？——thatIneverthoughtoffeelinggratefultillyoumentionedit。SelinaandIdon’tcomplainofyourpreferringyourownreflectionstoourcompany。Onthecontrary，youhaveremindedusagreeablyoftheheroesoffiction，whentheauthordescribesthemasbeing’absorbedinthought。’Forsomeminutes，Mr。Governor，youhavebeenahero；absorbed，asIventuretoguess，inunpleasantremembrancesofthetimewhenIwasasinglelady。YouhavenotforgottenhowbadlyIbehaved，andwhatshockingthingsIsaid，inthosebygonedays。AmIright？"
　　"Youareentirelywrong。"
　　ItispossiblethatImayhavespokenalittletoosharply。
　　Anyway，faithfulSelinaintercededforherfriend。"Oh，dearsir，don’tbehardonElizabeth！Shealwaysmeanswell。"Mrs。
　　Tenbruggen，asfacetiousasever，madeagratefulreturnforasmallcompliment。ShechuckedMissJillgallunderthechin，withtheairofanamorousoldgentlemanexpressinghisapprovalofaprettyservant—girl。Itwasimpossibletolookatthetwo，intheirrelativesituations，withoutlaughing。ButMrs。Tenbruggenfailedtocheatmeintoalteringmyopinionofher。InnocentMissJillgallclappedheruglyhands，andsaid："Isn’tshegoodcompany？"
　　Mrs。Tenbruggen’ssocialresourceswerenotexhaustedyet。Shesuddenlyshiftedtotheserioussideofhercharacter。
　　"PerhapsIhaveimprovedalittle，"shesaid，"asIhaveadvancedinyears。Thesorrowsofanunhappymarriedlifemayhavehadapurifyinginfluenceonmynature。MyhusbandandIbeganbadly。
　　Mr。TenbruggenthoughtIhadmoney；andIthoughtMr。Tenbruggenhadmoney。Hewastakeninbyme；andIwastakeninbyhim。Whenherepeatedthewordsofthemarriageservice（mostimpressivelyreadbyyourfriendtheChaplain）：’WithallmyworldlygoodsI
　　theeendow’——hiseloquentvoicesuggestedoneofthelargestincomesinEurope。WhenIpromisedandvowed，inmyturn，thedelightfulprospectofsquanderingmyrichhusband’smoneymadequiteanewwomanofme。Ideclaresolemnly，whenIsaidIwouldlove，honor，andobeyMr。T。，IlookedasifIreallymeantit。
　　Whereverheisnow，poordear，heischeatingsomebody。Suchahandsome，gentleman—likeman，Selina！And，oh，Mr。Governor，suchablackguard！"
　　Havingdescribedherhusbandinthoseterms，shegottiredofthesubject。Wewerenowfavoredwithanotherviewofthismany—sidedwoman。Sheappearedinherprofessionalcharacter。
　　"Ah，whatadeliciousbreezeisblowing，outhereinthecountry！"shesaid。"WillyouexcusemeifItakeoffmygloves？
　　Iwanttoairmyhands。"Sheheldupherhandstothebreeze；
　　firm，muscular，deadlywhitehands。"Inmyprofessionaloccupation，"sheexplained，"Iamalwaysrubbing，tickling，squeezing，tapping，kneading，rolling，strikingthemusclesofpatients。Selina，doyouknowthemovementsofyourownjoints？
　　Flexion，extension，abduction，adduction，rotation，circumduction，pronation，supination，andthelateralmovements。
　　Beproudofthoseaccomplishments，mydear，butbewareofattemptingtobecomeaMasseuse。Therearedrawbacksinthatvocation——andIamconsciousofoneofthematthismoment。"Sheliftedherhandstohernose。"Pah！myhandssmellofotherpeople’sflesh。Thedeliciouscountryairwillblowitaway——theluxuryofpurification！"Herfingerstwistedandquivered，andgotcrookedatonemomentandstraightagainatanother，andshowedthemselvesinsuccessionsingly，andflewintoeachotherfiercelyinterlaced，andthenspreadoutagainlikethesticksofafan，untilitreallymademegiddytolookatthem。AsforMissJillgall，sheliftedherpoorlittlesunkeneyesrapturouslytothesky，asifshecalledthehomiestsunlighttowitnessthatthiswasthemostlovablewomanonthefaceoftheearth。
　　Butelderlyfemalefascinationoffersitsallurementsinvaintotheroughanimal，man。SuspicionofMrs。Tenbruggen’smotiveshadestablisheditselffirmlyinmymind。WhyhadthePopularMasseuseabandonedherbrilliantcareerinLondon，andplungedintotheobscurityofacountrytown？Anopportunityofclearingupthedoubtthussuggestedseemedtohavepresenteditselfnow。
　　"Isitindiscreettoask，"Isaid，"ifyouarehereinyourprofessionalcapacity？"
　　Hercunningseizeditsadvantageandputaslyquestiontome。
　　"Doyouwishtobeoneofmypatientsyourself？"
　　"Thatis，unfortunately，impossible，"Ireplied"IhavearrangedtoreturntoLondon。"
　　"Immediately？"
　　"To—morrowatthelatest。"