Ilivedwithmynewmasterandmistressthreeyears。Theyhadnochildren。AttheendofthatperiodMr。Norcrossdied。Hewassharpenoughtoforeseethathisyoungwidowwouldmarryagain，andhebequeathedhispropertysothatitallwenttoMrs。
Norcrossfirst，andthentoanychildrenshemighthavebyasecondmarriage，and，failingthat，torelationsandfriendsofhisown。Ididnotsufferbymymaster’sdeath，forhiswidowkeptmeinherservice。IhadattendedonMr。Norcrossallthroughhislastillness，andhadmademyselfusefulenoughtowinmymistress’sfavorandgratitude。Besidesmeshealsoretainedhermaidinherservice——aquadroonwomannamedJosephine，whomshebroughtwithherfromtheWestIndies。EvenatthattimeIdislikedthehalf—breed’swheedlingmanners，andhercruel，tawnyface，andwonderedhowmymistresscouldbesofondofherasshewas。TimeshowedthatIwasrightindistrustingthiswoman。IshallhavemuchmoretosayaboutherwhenIgetfurtheradvancedwithmystory。
MeanwhileIhavenexttorelatethatmymistressbrokeuptherestofherestablishment，and，takingmeandthelady’smaidwithher，wenttotravelontheContinent。
AmongotherwonderfulplaceswevisitedParis，Genoa，Venice，Florence，Rome，andNaples，stayinginsomeofthosecitiesformonthstogether。Thefameofmymistress’srichesfollowedherwherevershewent；andtherewereplentyofgentlemen，foreignersaswellasEnglishmen，whowereanxiousenoughtogetintohergoodgracesandtoprevailonhertomarrythem。Nobodysucceeded，however，inproducinganyverystrongorlastingimpressiononher；andwhenwecamebacktoEngland，aftermorethantwoyearsofabsence，Mrs。Norcrosswasstillawidow，andshowednosignsofwantingtochangehercondition。
WewenttothehouseontheYorkshireestatefirst；butmymistressdidnotfancysomeofthecompanyroundabout，sowemovedagaintoDarrockHall，andmadeexcursionsfromtimetotimeinthelakedistrict，somemilesoff。OnoneofthesetripsMrs。Norcrossmetwithsomeoldfriends，whointroducedhertoagentlemanoftheirpartybearingtheverycommonandveryuninterestingnameofMr。JamesSmith。
Hewasatall，fineyoungmanenough，withblackhair，whichgrewverylong，andthebiggest，bushiestpairofblackwhiskersI
eversaw。Altogetherhehadarakish，unsettledlook，andabounceablewayoftalkingwhichmadehimtheprominentpersonincompany。Hewaspoorenoughhimself，asIheardfromhisservant，butwellconnected——agentlemanbybirthandeducation，thoughhismannersweresofree。WhatmymistresssawtolikeinhimI
don’tknow；butwhensheaskedherfriendstostaywithheratDarrock，sheincludedMr。JamesSmithintheinvitation。Wehadafine，gay，noisytimeofitattheHall，thestrangegentleman，inparticular，makinghimselfasmuchathomeasiftheplacebelongedtohim。IwassurprisedatMrs。Norcrossputtingupwithhimasshedid，butIwasfairlythunderstrucksomemonthsafterwardwhenIheardthatsheandherfree—and—easyvisitorwereactuallygoingtobemarried！Shehadrefusedoffersbydozensabroad，fromhigher，andricher，andbetter—behavedmen。
Itseemednexttoimpossiblethatshecouldseriouslythinkofthrowingherselfawayuponsuchahare—brained，headlong，pennilessyounggentlemanasMr。JamesSmith。
Married，nevertheless，theywere，induecourseoftime；and，afterspendingthehoneymoonabroad，theycamebacktoDarrockHall。
Isoonfoundthatmynewmasterhadaveryvariabletemper。Thereweresomedayswhenhewasaseasy，andfamiliar，andpleasantwithhisservantsasanygentlemanneedbe。Atothertimessomedevilwithinhimseemedtogetpossessionofhiswholenature。Heflewintoviolentpassions，andtookwrongideasintohishead，whichnoreasoningorremonstrancecouldremove。Itratheramazedme，consideringhowgayhewasinhistastes，andhowrestlesshishabitswere，thatheshouldconsenttoliveatsuchaquiet，dullplaceasDarrock。Thereasonforthis，however，sooncameout。Mr。JamesSmithwasnotmuchofasportsman；hecarednothingforindooramusements，suchasreading，music，andsoforth；andhehadnoambitionforrepresentingthecountyinparliament。Theonepursuitthathewasreallyfondofwasyachting。Darrockwaswithinsixteenmilesofasea—porttown，withanexcellentharbor，andtothisaccidentofpositiontheHallwasentirelyindebtedforrecommendingitselfasaplaceofresidencetoMr。JamesSmith。
Hehadsuchanuntiringenjoymentanddelightincruisingaboutatsea，andallhisideasofpleasureseemedtobesocloselyconnectedwithhisremembranceofthesailingtripshehadtakenonboarddifferentyachtsbelongingtohisfriends，thatIverilybelievehischiefobjectinmarryingmymistresswastogetthecommandofmoneyenoughtokeepavesselforhimself。Bethatasitmay，itiscertainthatheprevailedonher，sometimeaftertheirmarriage，tomakehimapresentofafineschooneryacht，whichwasbroughtroundfromCowestoourcoast—town，andkeptalwayswaitingreadyforhimintheharbor。
Hiswiferequiredsomelittlepersuasionbeforeshecouldmakeuphermindtolethimhavethevessel。Shesufferedsomuchfromsea—sicknessthatpleasure—sailingwasoutofthequestionforher；and，beingveryfondofherhusband，shewasnaturallyunwillingthatheshouldengageinanamusementwhichtookhimawayfromher。However，Mr。JamesSmithusedhisinfluenceoverhercleverly，promisingthathewouldnevergoawaywithoutfirstaskingherleave，andengagingthathistermsofabsenceatseashouldneverlastformorethanaweekortendaysatatime。Accordingly，mymistress，whowasthekindestandmostunselfishwomanintheworld，putherownfeelingsaside，andmadeherhusbandhappyinthepossessionofavesselofhisown。
Whilemymasterwasawaycruising，mymistresshadadulltimeofitattheHall。Thefewgentlefolkstherewereinourpartofthecountylivedatadistance，andcouldonlycometoDarrockwhentheywereaskedtostaythereforsomedaystogether。Asforthevillagenearus，therewasbutonepersonlivinginitwhommymistresscouldthinkofaskingtotheHall，andthatpersonwastheclergymanwhodiddutyatthechurch。
Thisgentleman’snamewasMr。Meeke。Hewasasingleman，veryyoung，andverylonelyinhisposition。Hehadamild，melancholy，pasty—lookingface，andwasasshyandsoft—spokenasalittlegirl——altogether，whatonemaycall，withoutbeingunjustorsevere，apoor，weakcreature，and，outofallsight，theveryworstpreacherIeversatunderinmylife。Theonethinghedid，which，asIheard，hecouldreallydowell，wasplayingonthefiddle。Hewasuncommonlyfondofmusic——somuchsothatheoftentookhisinstrumentoutwithhimwhenhewentforawalk。Thistasteofhiswashisgreatrecommendationtomymistress，whowasawonderfullyfineplayeronthepiano，andwhowasdelightedtogetsuchaperformerasMr。Meeketoplayduetswithher。Besideslikinghissocietyforthisreason，shefeltforhiminhislonelyposition；naturallyenough，Ithink，consideringhowoftenshewasleftinsolitudeherself。Mr。
Meeke，onhisside，whenhegotoverhisfirstshyness，wasonlytoogladtoleavehislonesomelittleparsonageforthefinemusic—roomattheHall，andforthecompanyofahandsome，kind—heartedlady，whomademuchofhim，andadmiredhisfiddle—playingwithallherheart。Thusithappenedthat，whenevermymasterwasawayatsea，mymistressandMr。Meekewerealwaystogether，playingduetsasiftheyhadtheirlivingtogetbyit。Amoreharmlessconnectionthantheconnectionbetweenthosetwoneverexistedinthisworld；andyet，innocentasitwas，itturnedouttobethefirstcauseofallthemisfortunesthatafterwardhappened。
Mymaster’streatmentofMr。Meekewas，fromthefirst，theveryoppositeofmymistress’s。Therestless，rackety，bounceableMr。
JamesSmithfeltacontemptfortheweak，womanish，fiddlinglittleparson，and，whatwasmore，didnotcaretoconcealit。
Forthisreason，Mr。Meeke（whowasdreadfullyfrightenedbymymaster’sviolentlanguageandroughways）veryseldomvisitedattheHallexceptwhenmymistresswasalonethere。Meaningnowrong，andthereforestoopingtonoconcealment，sheneverthoughtoftakinganymeasurestokeepMr。Meekeoutofthewaywhenhehappenedtobewithheratthetimeofherhusband’scominghome，whetheritwasonlyfromaridingexcursionintheneighborhoodorfromacruiseintheschooner。Inthiswayitsoturnedoutthatwhenevermymastercamehome，afteralongorshortabsence，inninecasesoutoftenhefoundtheparsonattheHall。
Atfirstheusedtolaughatthiscircumstance，andtoamusehimselfwithsomecoarsejokesattheexpenseofhiswifeandhercompanion。But，afterawhile，hisvariabletemperchanged，asusual。Hegrewsulky，rude，angry，and，atlast，downrightjealousofMr。Meeke。Thoughtooproudtoconfessitinsomanywords，hestillshowedthestateofhismindclearlyenoughtomymistresstoexciteherindignation。Shewasawomanwhocouldbeledanywherebyanyoneforwhomshehadaregard，buttherewasafirmspiritwithinherthatroseattheslightestshowofinjusticeoroppression，andthatresentedtyrannicalusageofanysortperhapsalittletoowarmly。Thebaresuspicionthatherhusbandcouldfeelanydistrustofhersetherallinaflame，andshetookthemostunfortunate，andyet，atthesametime，themostnaturalwayforawoman，ofresentingit。TheruderherhusbandwastoMr。Meekethemorekindlyshebehavedtohim。Thisledtoseriousdisputesanddissensions，andthence，intime，toaviolentquarrel。Icouldnotavoidhearingthelastpartofthealtercationbetweenthem，forittookplaceinthegarden—walk，outsidethedining—roomwindow，whileIwasoccupiedinlayingthetableforlunch。
Withoutrepeatingtheirwords——whichIhavenorighttodo，havingheardbyaccidentwhatIhadnobusinesstohear——Imaysaygenerally，toshowhowseriousthequarrelwas，thatmymistresschargedmymasterwithhavingmarriedfrommercenarymotives，withkeepingoutofhercompanyasmuchashecould，andwithinsultingherbyasuspicionwhichitwouldbehardevertoforgive，andimpossibleevertoforget。Herepliedbyviolentlanguagedirectedagainstherself，andbycommandinghernevertoopenthedoorsagaintoMr。Meeke；she，onherside，declaringthatshewouldneverconsenttoinsultaclergymanandagentlemaninordertosatisfythewhimofatyrannicalhusband。
Uponthat，hecalledout，withagreatoath，tohavehishorsesaddleddirectly，declaringthathewouldnotstopanotherinstantunderthesameroofwithawomanwhohadsethimatdefiance，andwarninghiswifethathewouldcomeback，ifMr。
Meekeenteredthehouseagain，andhorsewhiphim，inspiteofhisblackcoat，allthroughthevillage。
Withthosewordshelefther，androdeawaytothesea—portwherehisyachtwaslying。Mymistresskeptupherspirittillhewasoutofsight，andthenburstintoadreadfulscreamingpassionoftears，whichendedbyleavinghersoweakthatshehadtobecarriedtoherbedlikeawomanwhowasatthepointofdeath。
Thesameeveningmymaster’shorsewasriddenbackbyamessenger，whobroughtascrapofnotepaperwithhimaddressedtome。Itonlycontainedtheselines：
"Packupmyclothesanddeliverthemimmediatelytothebearer。
YoumaytellyourmistressthatIsailto—nightateleveno’clockforacruisetoSweden。Forwardmyletterstothepost—office，Stockholm。"
Iobeyedtheordersgiventomeexceptthatrelatingtomymistress。Thedoctorhadbeensentfor，andwasstillinthehouse。Iconsultedhimupontheproprietyofmydeliveringthemessage。Hepositivelyforbademetodosothatnight，andtoldmetogivehimtheslipofpaper，andleaveittohisdiscretiontoshowittoherornotthenextmorning。
ThemessengerhadhardlybeengoneanhourwhenMr。Meeke’shousekeepercametotheHallwitharollofmusicformymistress。Itoldthewomanofmymaster’ssuddendeparture，andofthedoctorbeinginthehouse。ThisnewsbroughtMr。MeekehimselftotheHallinagreatflutter。
Ifeltsoangrywithhimforbeingthecause——innocentashemightbe——oftheshockingscenewhichhadtakenplace，thatI
exceededtheboundsofmyduty，andtoldhimthewholetruth。Thepoor，weak，wavering，childishcreatureflushedupredintheface，thenturnedaspaleasashes，anddroppedintooneofthehallchairscrying——literallycryingfittobreakhisheart。"Oh，William，"sayshe，wringinghislittlefrail，tremblingwhitehandsashelplessasababy，"oh，William，whatamItodo？"
"Asyouaskmethatquestion，sir，"saysI，"youwillexcuseme，Ihope，if，beingaservant，Iplainlyspeakmymindnotwithstanding。Iknowmystationwellenoughtobeawarethat，strictlyspeaking，Ihavedonewrong，andfarexceededmyduty，intellingyouasmuchasIhavetoldyoualready；butIwouldgothroughfireandwater，sir，"saysI，feelingmyowneyesgettingmoist，"formymistress’ssake。Shehasnorelationherewhocanspeaktoyou；anditisevenbetterthataservantlikemeshouldriskbeingguiltyofanimpertinence，thanthatdreadfulandlastingmischiefshouldarisefromtherightremedynotbeingappliedattherighttime。ThisiswhatIshoulddo，sir，inyourplace。Savingyourpresence，Ishouldleaveoffcrying；andgobackhomeandwritetoMr。JamesSmith，sayingthatIwouldnot，asaclergyman，givehimrailingforrailing，butwouldprovehowunworthilyhehadsuspectedmebyceasingtovisitattheHallfromthistimeforth，ratherthanbeacauseofdissensionbetweenmanandwife。Ifyouwillputthatintoproperlanguage，sir，andwillhavetheletterreadyformeinhalfanhour’stime，Iwillcallforitonthefastesthorseinourstables，and，atmyownrisk，willgiveittomymasterbeforehesailsto—night。Ihavenothingmoretosay，sir，excepttoaskyourpardonforforgettingmyproperplace，andformakingboldtospeakonaveryseriousmatterasequaltoequal，andasmantoman。"
TodoMr。Meekejustice，hehadaheart，thoughitwasaverysmallone。Heshookhandswithme，andsaidheacceptedmyadviceastheadviceofafriend，andsowentbacktohisparsonagetowritetheletter。InhalfanhourIcalledforitonhorseback，butitwasnotreadyforme。Mr。Meekewasridiculouslyniceabouthowheshouldexpresshimselfwhenhegotapenintohishand。Ifoundhimwithhisdesklitteredwithroughcopies，inaperfectagonyabouthowtoturnhisphrasesdelicatelyenoughinreferringtomymistress。Everyminutebeingprecious，IhurriedhimasmuchasIcould，withoutstandingonanyceremony。Ittookhalfanhourmore，withallmyefforts，beforehecouldmakeuphismindthattheletterwoulddo。Istartedoffwithitatagallop，andneverdrewreintillIgottothesea—porttown。
Theharbor—clockchimedthequarterpastelevenasIrodebyit，andwhenIgotdowntothejettytherewasnoyachttobeseen。
Shehadbeencastofffromhermooringstenminutesbeforeeleven，andastheclockstruckshehadsailedoutoftheharbor。
Iwouldhavefollowedinaboat，butitwasafinestarlightnight，withafreshwindblowing，andthesailorsonthepierlaughedatmewhenIspokeofrowingafteraschooneryachtwhichhadgotaquarterofanhour’sstartofus，withthewindabeamandthetideinherfavor。
Irodebackwithaheavyheart。AllIcoulddonowwastosendthelettertothepost—office，Stockholm。
Thenextdaythedoctorshowedmymistressthescrapofpaperwiththemessageonitfrommymaster，andanhourortwoafterthat，aletterwassenttoherinMr。Meeke’shandwriting，explainingthereasonwhyshemustnotexpecttoseehimattheHall，andreferringtomeintermsofhighpraiseasasensibleandfaithfulmanwhohadspokentherightwordattherighttime。
Iamabletorepeatthesubstanceoftheletter，becauseIheardallaboutitfrommymistress，underveryunpleasantcircumstancessofarasIwasconcerned。
Thenewsofmymaster’sdeparturedidnotaffectherasthedoctorhadsupposeditwould。Insteadofdistressingher，itrousedherspiritandmadeherangry；herpride，asIimagine，beingwoundedbythecontemptuousmannerinwhichherhusbandhadnotifiedhisintentionofsailingtoSwedenattheendofamessagetoaservantaboutpackinghisclothes。Findingherinthattemperofmind，theletterfromMr。Meekeonlyirritatedherthemore。Sheinsistedongettingup，andassoonasshewasdressedanddownstairs，sheventedherviolenthumoronme，reproachingmeforimpertinentinterferenceintheaffairsofmybetters，anddeclaringthatshehadalmostmadeuphermindtoturnmeoutofmyplaceforit。Ididnotdefendmyself，becauseIrespectedhersorrowsandtheirritationthatcamefromthem；
also，becauseIknewthenaturalkindnessofhernaturewellenoughtobeassuredthatshewouldmakeamendstomeforherharshnessthemomenthermindwascomposedagain。TheresultshowedthatIwasright。Thatsameeveningshesentformeandbeggedmetoforgiveandforgetthehastywordsshehadspokeninthemorningwithagraceandsweetnessthatwouldhavewontheheartofanymanwholistenedtoher。
Weekspassedafterthis，tillitwasmorethanamonthsincethedayofmymaster’sdeparture，andnoletterinhishandwritingcametoDarrockHall。
Mymistress，takingthistreatmentmoreangrilythansorrowfully，wenttoLondontoconsulthernearestrelations，wholivedthere。
Onleavinghomeshestoppedthecarriageattheparsonage，andwentin（asIthought，ratherdefiantly）tosaygood—bytoMr。
Meeke。Shehadansweredhisletter，andreceivedothersfromhim，andhadansweredthemlikewise。Shehadalso，ofcourse，seenhimeverySundayatchurch，andhadalwaysstoppedtospeaktohimaftertheservice；butthiswasthefirstoccasiononwhichshehadvisitedhimathishouse。Asthecarriagestopped，thelittleparsoncameout，ingreathurryandagitation，tomeetheratthegardengate。
"Don’tlookalarmed，Mr。Meeke，"saysmymistress，gettingout。
"ThoughyouhaveengagednottocomeneartheHall，Ihavemadenopromisetokeepawayfromtheparsonage。"Withthosewordsshewentintothehouse。
Thequadroonmaid，Josephine，wassittingwithmeintherumbleofthecarriage，andIsawasmileonhertawnyfaceastheparsonandhisvisitorwentintothehousetogether。HarmlessasMr。Meekewas，andinnocentofallwrongasIknewmymistresstobe，Iregrettedthatsheshouldbesorashastodespiseappearances，consideringthesituationshewasplacedin。Shehadalreadyexposedherselftobethoughtofdisrespectfullybyherownmaid，anditwashardtosaywhatworseconsequencesmightnothappenafterthat。
Halfanhourlaterwewereawayonourjourney。MymistressstayedinLondontwomonths。Throughoutallthatlongtimenoletterfrommymasterwasforwardedtoherfromthecountryhouse。
CHAPTERII。
WHENthetwomonthshadpassedwereturnedtoDarrockHall。
Nobodytherehadreceivedanynewsinourabsenceofthewhereaboutsofmymasterandhisyacht。
Sixmorewearyweekselapsed，andinthattimebutoneeventhappenedattheHalltovarythedismalmonotonyoftheliveswenowledinthesolitaryplace。OnemorningJosephinecamedownafterdressingmymistresswithherfacedownrightlividtolookat，exceptononecheck，wheretherewasamarkasredasburningfire。Iwasinthekitchenatthetime，andIaskedwhatwasthematter。
"Thematter！"saysshe，inhershrillvoiceandherhalf—foreignEnglish。"Useyourowneyes，ifyouplease，andlookatthischeekofmine。What！haveyoulivedsolongatimewithyourmistress，anddon’tyouknowthemarkofherhandyet？"
Iwasatalosstounderstandwhatshemeant，butshesoonexplainedherself。Mymistress，whosetemperhadbeensadlyalteredfortheworsebythetrialsandhumiliationsshehadgonethrough，hadgotupthatmorningmoreoutofhumorthanusual，and，inanswertohermaid’sinquiryastohowshehadpassedthenight，hadbeguntalkingaboutherweary，miserablelifeinanunusuallyfretfulanddesperateway。Josephine，intryingtocheerherspirits，hadventured，mostimproperly，onmakingalight，jestingreferencetoMr。Meeke，whichhadsoenragedmymistressthatsheturnedroundsharponthehalf—breedandgaveher——tousethecommonphrase——asmartboxontheear。Josephineconfessedthat，themomentaftershehaddonethis，herbettersenseappearedtotellherthatshehadtakenamostimproperwayofresentingunduefamiliarity。Shehadimmediatelyexpressedherregretforhavingforgottenherself，andhadprovedthesincerityofitbyagiftofhalfadozencambrichandkerchiefs，presentedasapeace—offeringonthespot。AfterthatIthoughtitimpossiblethatJosephinecouldbearanymaliceagainstamistresswhomshehadservedeversinceshehadbeenagirl，andIsaidasmuchtoherwhenshehaddonetellingmewhathadhappenedupstairs。
"I！Malice！"criesMissJosephine，inherhard，sharp，snappishway。"Andwhy，andwherefore，ifyouplease？Ifmymistresssmacksmycheekwithonehand，shegivesmehandkerchiefstowipeitwiththeother。Mygoodmistress，mykindmistress，myprettymistress！I，theservant，bearmaliceagainsther，themistress！
Ah！youbadman，eventothinkofsuchathing！Ah！fie，fie！I
amquiteashamedofyou！"
Shegavemeonelook——thewickedestlookIeversaw，andburstoutlaughing——theharshestlaughIeverheardfromawoman’slips。Turningawayfrommedirectlyafter，shesaidnomore，andneverreferredtothesubjectagainonanysubsequentoccasion。
Fromthattime，however，InoticedanalterationinMissJosephine；notinherwayofdoingherwork，forshewasjustassharpandcarefulaboutitasever，butinhermannersandhabits。Shegrewamazinglyquiet，andpassedalmostallherleisuretimealone。Icouldbringnochargeagainstherwhichauthorizedmetospeakawordofwarning；but，forallthat，I
couldnothelpfeelingthatifIhadbeeninmymistress’splace，Iwouldhavefollowedupthepresentofthecambrichandkerchiefsbypayingheramonth’swagesinadvance，andsendingherawayfromthehousethesameevening。
Withtheexceptionofthislittledomesticmatter，whichappearedtriflingenoughatthetime，hutwhichledtoveryseriousconsequencesafterward，nothinghappenedatalloutoftheordinarywayduringthesixwearyweekstowhichIhavereferred。
Atthebeginningoftheseventhweek，however，aneventoccurredatlast。
OnemorningthepostmanbroughtalettertotheHalladdressedtomymistress。Itookitupstairs，andlookedatthedirectionasI
putitonthesalver。Thehandwritingwasnotmymaster’s；wasnot，asitappearedtome，thehandwritingofanywell—educatedperson。Theoutsideoftheletterwasalsoverydirty，andthesealacommonoffice—sealoftheusuallattice—workpattern。
"Thismustbeabegging—letter，"IthoughttomyselfasIenteredthebreakfast—roomandadvancedwithittomymistress。
Sheheldupherhandbeforesheopeneditasasigntomethatshehadsomeordertogive，andthatIwasnottoleavetheroomtillIhadreceivedit。Thenshebrokethesealandbegantoreadtheletter。
Hereyeshadhardlybeenonitamomentbeforeherfaceturnedaspaleasdeath，andthepaperbegantotrembleinherfingers。Shereadontotheend，andsuddenlyturnedfrompaletoscarlet，startedoutofherchair，crumpledtheletterupviolentlyinherhand，andtookseveralturnsbackwardandforwardintheroom，withoutseemingtonoticemeasIstoodbythedoor。"Youvillain！youvillain！youvillain！"Iheardherwhispertoherselfmanytimesover，inaquick，hissing，fierceway。Thenshestopped，andsaidonasudden，"Canitbetrue？"Thenshelookedup，and，seeingmestandingatthedoor，startedasifI
hadbeenastranger，changedcoloragain，andtoldme，inastifledvoice，toleaveherandcomebackagaininhalfanhour。
Iobeyed，feelingcertainthatshemusthavereceivedsomeverybadnewsofherhusband，andwondering，anxiouslyenough，whatitmightbe。
WhenIreturnedtothebreakfast—roomherfacewasasmuchdiscomposedasever。Withoutspeakingawordshehandedmetwosealedletters：one，anotetobeleftforMr。Meekeattheparsonage；theother，alettermarked"Immediate，"andaddressedtohersolicitorinLondon，whowasalso，Ishouldadd，hernearestlivingrelative。
Ileftoneoftheselettersandpostedtheother。WhenIcamebackIheardthatmymistresshadtakentoherroom。Sheremainedthereforfourdays，keepinghernewsorrow，whateveritwas，strictlytoherself。OnthefifthdaythelawyerfromLondonarrivedattheHall。Mymistresswentdowntohiminthelibrary，andwasshutuptherewithhimfornearlytwohours。Attheendofthattimethebellrangforme。
"Sitdown，William，"saidmymistress，whenIcameintotheroom。
"IfeelsuchentireconfidenceinyourfidelityandattachmentthatIamabout，withthefullconcurrenceofthisgentleman，whoismynearestrelativeandmylegaladviser，toplaceaveryserioussecretinyourkeeping，andtoemployyourservicesonamatterwhichisasimportanttomeasamatteroflifeanddeath。"
Herpooreyeswereveryred，andherlipsquiveredasshespoketome。IwassostartledbywhatshehadsaidthatIhardlyknewwhichchairtositin。Shepointedtooneplacednearherselfatthetable，andseemedabouttospeaktomeagain，whenthelawyerinterfered。
"Letmeentreatyou，"hesaid，"nottoagitateyourselfunnecessarily。Iwillputthispersoninpossessionofthefacts，and，ifIomitanything，youshallstopmeandsetmeright。"
Mymistressleanedbackinherchairandcoveredherfacewithherhandkerchief。Thelawyerwaitedamoment，andthenaddressedhimselftome。
"Youarealreadyaware，"hesaid，"ofthecircumstancesunderwhichyourmasterleftthishouse，andyoualsoknow，Ihavenodoubt，thatnodirectnewsofhimhasreachedyourmistressuptothistime？"
IbowedtohimandsaidIknewofthecircumstancessofar。
"Doyouremember，"hewenton，"takingalettertoyourmistressfivedaysago？"
"Yes，sir，"Ireplied；"aletterwhichseemedtodistressandalarmherveryseriously。"
"Iwillreadyouthatletterbeforewesayanymore，"continuedthelawyer。"Iwarnyoubeforehandthatitcontainsaterriblechargeagainstyourmaster，which，however，isnotattestedbythewriter’ssignature。Ihavealreadytoldyourmistressthatshemustnotattachtoomuchimportancetoananonymousletter；
andInowtellyouthesamething。"
Sayingthat，hetookupaletterfromthetableandreaditaloud。Ihadacopyofitgiventomeafterward，whichIlookedatoftenenoughtofixthecontentsoftheletterinmymemory。I
cannowrepeatthem，Ithink，wordforword。
"MADAM——Icannotreconcileittomyconsciencetoleaveyouintotalignoranceofyourhusband’satrociousconducttowardyou。