Ifyouhaveeverbeendisposedtoregrethisabsencedosonolonger。Hopeandpray，rather，thatyouandhemaynevermeetfacetofaceagaininthisworld。Iwriteingreathasteandingreatfearofbeingobserved。TimefailsmetoprepareyouasyououghttobepreparedforwhatIhavenowtodisclose。Imusttellyouplainly，withmuchrespectforyouandsorrowforyourmisfortune，thatyourhusband_hasmarriedanotherwife_。Isawtheceremonyperformed，unknowntohim。IfIcouldnothavespokenofthisinfamousactasaneye—witness，Iwouldnothavespokenofitatall。
　　"IdarenotacknowledgewhoIam，forIbelieveMr。JamesSmithwouldstickatnocrimetorevengehimselfonmeifheevercametoaknowledgeofthestepIamnowtaking，andofthemeansbywhichIgotmyinformation；neitherhaveItimetoenterintoparticulars。Isimplywarnyouofwhathashappened，andleaveyoutoactonthatwarningasyouplease。Youmaydisbelievethisletter，becauseitisnotsignedbyanyname。Inthatcase，ifMr。JamesSmithshouldeverventureintoyourpresence，I
　　recommendyoutoaskhimsuddenlywhathehasdonewithhis_newwife，_andtoseeifhiscountenancedoesnotimmediatelytestifythatthetruthhasbeenspokenby"YOURUNKNOWNFRIEND。"
　　Poorasmyopinionwasofmymaster，Ihadneverbelievedhimtobecapableofsuchvillainyasthis，andIcouldnotbelieveitwhenthelawyerhaddonereadingtheletter。
　　"Oh，sir，"Isaid，"surelythatissomebaseimposition？Surelyitcannotbetrue？"
　　"ThatiswhatIhavetoldyourmistress，"heanswered。"Butshesaysinreturn——"
　　"ThatIfeelittobetrue，"mymistressbrokein，speakingbehindthehandkerchiefinafaint，smotheredvoice。
　　"Weneednotdebatethequestion，"thelawyerwenton。"Ourbusinessnowistoprovethetruthorfalsehoodofthisletter。
　　Thatmustbedoneatonce。Ihavewrittentooneofmyclerks，whoisaccustomedtoconductingdelicateinvestigations，tocometothishousewithoutlossoftime。Heistobetrustedwithanything，andhewillpursuetheneedfulinquiriesimmediately。
　　Itisabsolutelynecessary，tomakesureofcommittingnomistakes，thatheshouldbeaccompaniedbysomeonewhoiswellacquaintedwithMr。JamesSmith’shabitsandpersonalappearance，andyourmistresshasfixeduponyoutobethatperson。Howeverwelltheinquiryismanaged，itmaybeattendedbymuchtroubleanddelay，maynecessitatealongjourney，andmayinvolvesomepersonaldanger。Areyou，"saidthelawyer，lookinghardatme，"readytosufferanyinconvenienceandtorunanyriskforyourmistress’ssake？"
　　"ThereisnothingI_can_do，sir，"saidI，"thatIwillnotdo。
　　IamafraidIamnotcleverenoughtobeofmuchuse；but，sofarastroublesandrisksareconcerned，Iamreadyforanythingfromthismoment。"
　　Mymistresstookthehandkerchieffromherface，lookedatmewithhereyesfulloftears，andheldoutherhand。HowIcametodoitIdon’tknow，butIstoopeddownandkissedthehandsheofferedme，feelinghalfstartled，halfashamedatmyownboldnessthemomentafter。
　　"Youwilldo，myman，"saidthelawyer，noddinghishead。"Don’ttroubleyourselfabouttheclevernessorthecunningthatmaybewanted。Myclerkhasgotheadenoughfortwo。Ihaveonlyonewordmoretosaybeforeyougodownstairsagain。Rememberthatthisinvestigationandthecausethatleadstoitmustbekeptaprofoundsecret。Exceptusthree，andtheclergymanhere（towhomyourmistresshaswrittenwordofwhathashappened），nobodyknowsanythingaboutit。Iwillletmyclerkintothesecretwhenhejoinsus。Assoonasyouandheareawayfromthehouse，youmaytalkaboutit。Untilthen，youwillcloseyourlipsonthesubject。"
　　Theclerkdidnotkeepuslongwaiting。HecameasfastasthemailfromLondoncouldbringhim。
　　Ihadexpected，fromhismaster’sdescription，toseeaserious，sedateman，ratherslyinhislooks，andratherreservedinhismanner。Tomyamazement，thispracticedhandatdelicateinvestigationswasabrisk，plump，jollylittleman，withacomfortabledoublechin，apairofverybrightblackeyes，andabigbottle—noseofthetruegroggyredcolor。Heworeasuitofblack，andalimp，dingywhitecravat；tooksnuffperpetuallyoutofaverylargebox；walkedwithhishandscrossedbehindhisback；andlooked，uponthewhole，muchmorelikeaparsonoffree—and—easyhabitsthanalawyer’sclerk。
　　"Howd’yedo？"sayshe，whenIopenedthedoortohim。"I’mthemanyouexpectfromtheofficeinLondon。JustsayMr。Dark，willyou？I’llsitdownheretillyoucomeback；and，youngman，ifthereissuchathingasaglassofaleinthehouse，Idon’tmindcommittingmyselfsofarastosaythatI’lldrinkit。"
　　IgothimthealebeforeIannouncedhim。Hewinkedatmeasheputittohislips。
　　"Yourgoodhealth，"sayshe。"Ilikeyou。Don’tforgetthatthename’sDark；andjustleavethejugandglass，willyou，incasemymasterkeepsmewaiting。"
　　Iannouncedhimatonce，andwastoldtoshowhimintothelibrary。
　　WhenIgotbacktothehallthejugwasempty，andMr。Darkwascomfortinghimselfwithapinchofsnuff，snortingoveritlikeaperfectgrampus。Hehadswallowedmorethanapintofthestrongestoldaleinthehouse；and，foralltheeffectitseemedtohavehadonhim，hemightjustaswellhavebeendrinkingsomuchwater。
　　AsIledhimalongthepassagetothelibraryJosephinepassedus。Mr。Darkwinkedatmeagain，andmadeheralowbow。
　　"Lady’smaid，"Iheardhimwhispertohimself。"Afinewomantolookat，butadamnedbadonetodealwith。"Iturnedroundonhim，ratherangryathiscoolways，andlookedhardathimjustbeforeIopenedthelibrarydoor。Mr。Darklookedhardatme。
　　"Allright，"sayshe。"Icanshowmyselfin。"Andheknocksatthedoor，andopensit，andgoesinwithanotherwickedwink，allinamoment。
　　Halfanhourlaterthebellrangforme。Mr。Darkwassittingbetweenmymistress（whowaslookingathiminamazement）andthelawyer（whowaslookingathimwithapproval）。Hehadamapopenonhisknee，andapeninhishand。Judgingbyhisface，thecommunicationofthesecretaboutmymasterdidnotseemtohavemadethesmallestimpressiononhim。
　　"I’vegotleavetoaskyouaquestion，"sayshe，themomentI
　　appeared。"Whenyoufoundyourmaster’syachtgone，didyouhearwhichwayshehadsailed？WasitnorthwardtowardScotland？Speakup，youngman，speakup！"
　　"Yes，"Ianswered。"TheboatmentoldmethatwhenImadeinquiriesattheharbor。"
　　"Well，sir，"saysMr。Dark，turningtothelawyer，"ifhesaidhewasgoingtoSweden，heseemstohavestartedontheroadtoit，atallevents。IthinkIhavegotmyinstructionsnow？"
　　Thelawyernodded，andlookedatmymistress，whobowedherheadtohim。Hethensaid，turningtome：
　　"Packupyourbagfortravelingatonce，andhaveaconveyancegotreadytogotothenearestpost—town。Looksharp，youngman——looksharp！"
　　"And，whateverhappensinthefuture，"addedmymistress，herkindvoicetremblingalittle，"believe，William，thatIshallneverforgettheproofyounowshowofyourdevotiontome。ItisstillsomecomforttoknowthatIhaveyourfidelitytodependoninthisdreadfultrial——yourfidelityandtheextraordinaryintelligenceandexperienceofMr。Dark。"
　　Mr。Darkdidnotseemtohearthecompliment。Hewasbusywriting，withhispaperuponthemaponhisknee。
　　Aquarterofanhourlater，whenIhadorderedthedog—cart，andhadgotdownintothehallwithmybagpacked，Ifoundhimtherewaitingforme。Hewassittinginthesamechairwhichhehadoccupiedwhenhefirstarrived，andhehadanotherjugoftheoldaleonthetablebyhisside。
　　"Gotanyfishing—rodsinthehouse？"sayshe，whenIputmybagdowninthehall。
　　"Yes，"Ireplied，astonishedatthequestion。"Whatdoyouwantwiththem？"
　　"Packacoupleincasesfortraveling，"saysMr。Dark，"withlines，andhooks，andfly—booksallcomplete。Haveadropofthealebeforeyougo——anddon’tstare，William，don’tstare。I’llletthelightinonyouassoonasweareoutofthehouse。Offwithyoufortherods！Iwanttobeontheroadinfiveminutes。"
　　WhenIcamebackwiththerodsandtackleIfoundMr。Darkinthedog—cart。
　　"Money，luggage，fishing—rods，papersofdirections，copyofanonymousletter，guide—book，map，"sayshe，runningoverinhismindthethingswantedforthejourney——"allrightsofar。Driveoff。"
　　Itookthereinsandstartedthehorse。AsweleftthehouseI
　　sawmymistressandJosephinelookingafterusfromtwoofthewindowsonthesecondfloor。Thememoryofthosetwoattentivefaces——onesofairandsogood，theothersoyellowandsowicked——hauntedmymindperpetuallyformanydaysafterward。
　　"Now，William，"saysMr。Dark，whenwewereclearofthelodgegates，"I’mgoingtobeginbytellingyouthatyoumuststepoutofyourowncharactertillfurthernotice。Youareaclerkinabank，andI’manother。Wehavegotourregularholiday，thatcomes，likeChristmas，onceayear，andwearetakingalittletourinScotlandtoseethecuriosities，andtobreathetheseaair，andtogetsomefishingwheneverwecan。I’mthefatcashierwhodigsholesinadrawerfulofgoldwithacoppershovel，andyou’rethearithmeticalyoungmanwhositsonaperchbehindmeandkeepsthebooks。Scotland’sabeautifulcountry，William。Canyoumakewhisky—toddy？Ican；and，what’smore，unlikelyasthethingmayseemtoyou，Icanactuallydrinkitintothebargain。"
　　"Scotland！"saysI。"WhatarewegoingtoScotlandfor？"
　　"Questionforquestion，"saysMr。Dark。"Whatarewestartingonajourneyfor？"
　　"Tofindmymaster，"Ianswered，"andtomakesureiftheletterabouthimistrue。"
　　"Verygood，"sayshe。"Howwouldyousetaboutdoingthat，eh？"
　　"IshouldgoandaskabouthimatStockholminSweden，wherehesaidhislettersweretobesent。"
　　"Shouldyou，indeed？"saysMr。Dark。"Ifyouwereashepherd，William，andhadlostasheepinCumberland，wouldyoubeginlookingforitattheLand’sEnd，orwouldyoutryalittlenearerhome？"
　　"You’reattemptingtomakeafoolofmenow，"saysI。
　　"No，"saysMr。Dark，"I’monlylettingthelightinonyou，asI
　　saidIwould。Nowlistentoreason，William，andprofitbyitasmuchasyoucan。Mr。JamesSmithsaysheisgoingonacruisetoSweden，andmakeshiswordgood，atthebeginning，bystartingnorthwardtowardthecoastofScotland。Whatdoeshegoin？A
　　yacht。Doyachtscarrylivebeastsandabutcheronboard？No。
　　WilljointsofmeatkeepfreshallthewayfromCumberlandtoSweden？No。Dogentlemenlikelivingonsaltprovisions？No。WhatfollowsfromthesethreeNoes？ThatMr。JamesSmithmusthavestoppedsomewhereonthewaytoSwedentosupplyhissea—larderwithfreshprovisions。Where，inthatcase，musthestop？
　　SomewhereinScotland，supposinghedidn’talterhiscoursewhenhewasoutofsightofyourseaport。WhereinScotland？Northwardonthemainland，orwestwardatoneoftheislands？Mostlikelyonthemainland，wheretheseasideplacesarelargest，andwhereheissureofgettingallthestoreshewants。Next，whatisourbusiness？Nottorisklosingalinkinthechainofevidencebymissinganyplacewherehehasputhisfootonshore。Nottoovershootthemarkwhenwewanttohititinthebull’s—eye。NottowastemoneyandtimebytakingalongtriptoSwedentillweknowthatwemustabsolutelygothere。Whereisourjourneyofdiscoverytotakeustofirst，then？ClearlytothenorthofScotland。Whatdoyousaytothat，Mr。William？Ismycatechismallcorrect，orhasyourstrongalemuddledmyhead？"
　　Itwasevidentbythistimethatnoalecoulddothat，andItoldhimso。Hechuckled，winkedatme，and，takinganotherpinchofsnuff，saidhewouldnowturnthewholecaseoverinhismindagain，andmakesurethathehadgotallthebearingsofitquiteclear。
　　Bythetimewereachedthepost—townhehadaccomplishedthismentalefforttohisownperfectsatisfaction，andwasquitereadytocomparethealeattheinnwiththealeatDarrockHall。
　　Thedog—cartwaslefttobetakenbackthenextmorningbythehostler。Apost—chaiseandhorseswereorderedout。Aloafofbread，aBolognasausage，andtwobottlesofsherrywereputintothepocketsofthecarriage；wetookourseats，andstartedbrisklyonourdoubtfuljourney。
　　"Onewordmoreoffriendlyadvice，"saysMr。Dark，settlinghimselfcomfortablyinhiscornerofthecarriage。"Takeyoursleep，William，wheneveryoufeelthatyoucangetit。Youwon’tfindyourselfinbedagaintillwegettoGlasgow。"
　　CHAPTERIII。
　　ALTHOUGHtheeventsthatIamnowrelatinghappenedmanyyearsago，Ishallstill，forcaution’ssake，avoidmentioningbynamethevariousplacesvisitedbyMr。Darkandmyselfforthepurposeofmakinginquiries。ItwillbeenoughifIdescribegenerallywhatwedid，andifImentioninsubstanceonlytheresultatwhichweultimatelyarrived。
　　OnreachingGlasgow，Mr。Darkturnedthewholecaseoverinhismindoncemore。TheresultwasthathealteredhisoriginalintentionofgoingstraighttothenorthofScotland，consideringitsafertomakesure，ifpossible，ofthecoursetheyachthadtakeninhercruisealongthewesterncoast。
　　Thecarryingoutofthisnewresolutioninvolvedthenecessityofdelayingouronwardjourneybyperpetuallydivergingfromthedirectroad。ThreetimesweweresentuselesslytowildplacesintheHebridesbyfalsereports。Twicewewanderedawayinland，followinggentlemenwhoansweredgenerallytothedescriptionofMr。JamesSmith，butwhoturnedouttobethewrongmenassoonasweseteyesonthem。Thesevainexcursions——especiallythethreetothewesternislands——consumedtimeterribly。ItwasmorethantwomonthsfromthedaywhenwehadleftDarrockHallbeforewefoundourselvesupattheverytopofScotlandatlast，drivingintoaconsiderablesea—sidetown，withaharborattachedtoit。Thusfarourjourneyhadledtonoresults，andIbegantodespairofsuccess。AsforMr。Dark，henevergottotheendofhissweettemperandhiswonderfulpatience。
　　"Youdon’tknowhowtowait，William，"washisconstantremarkwheneverheheardmecomplaining。"Ido。"
　　Wedroveintothetowntowardeveninginamodestlittlegig，andputup，accordingtoourusualcustom，atoneoftheinferiorinns。
　　"Wemustbeginatthebottom，"Mr。Darkusedtosay。"Highcompanyinacoffee—roomwon’tbefamiliarwithus；lowcompanyinatap—roomwill。"Andhecertainlyprovedthetruthofhisownwords。ThelikeofhimformakingintimatefriendsoftotalstrangersattheshortestnoticeIhavenevermetwithbeforeorsince。CautiousastheScotchare，Mr。Darkseemedtohavetheknackoftwistingthemroundhisfingerashepleased。Hevariedhiswayartfullywithdifferentmen，buttherewerethreestandingopinionsofhiswhichhemadeapointofexpressinginallvarietiesofcompanywhilewewereinScotland。Inthefirstplace，hethoughttheviewofEdinburghfromArthur’sSeatthefinestintheworld。Inthesecondplace，heconsideredwhiskytobethemostwholesomespiritintheworld。Inthethirdplace，hebelievedhislatebelovedmothertobethebestwomanintheworld。Itmaybeworthyofnotethat，wheneverheexpressedthislastopinioninScotland，heinvariablyaddedthathermaidennamewasMacleod。
　　Well，weputupatamodestlittleinnneartheharbor。Iwasdeadtiredwiththejourney，andlaydownonmybedtogetsomerest。Mr。Dark，whomnothingeverfatigued，leftmetotakehistoddyandpipeamongthecompanyinthetaproom。
　　Idon’tknowhowlongIhadbeenasleepwhenIwasrousedbyashakeonmyshoulder。Theroomwaspitchdark，andIfeltahandsuddenlyclappedovermymouth。Thenastrongsmellofwhiskyandtobaccosalutedmynostrils，andawhisperstoleintomyear——
　　"William，wehavegottotheendofourjourney。"
　　"Mr。Dark，"Istammeredout，"isthatyou？What，inHeaven’sname，doyoumean？"
　　"Theyachtputinhere，"wastheanswer，stillinawhisper，"andyourblackguardofamastercameashore——"
　　"Oh，Mr。Dark，"Ibrokein，"don’ttellmethattheletteristrue！"
　　"Everywordofit，"sayshe。"Hewasmarriedhere，andwasoffagaintotheMediterraneanwithNumberTwoagoodthreeweeksbeforeweleftyourmistress’shouse。Hush！don’tsayaword，Gotosleepagain，orstrikealight，ifyoulikeitbetter。Doanythingbutcomedownstairswithme。I’mgoingtofindoutalltheparticularswithoutseemingtowanttoknowoneofthem。
　　Yoursisaverygood—lookingface，William，butit’ssoinfernallyhonestthatIcan’ttrustitinthetap—room。I’mmakingfriendswiththeScotchmenalready。TheyknowmyopinionofArthur’sSeat；they_see_whatIthinkofwhisky；andIratherthinkitwon’tbelongbeforetheyhearthatmymother’smaidennamewasMacleod。"
　　Withthosewordsheslippedoutoftheroom，andleftme，ashehadfoundme，inthedark。
　　IwasfartoomuchagitatedbywhatIhadheardtothinkofgoingtosleepagain，soIstruckalight，andtriedtoamusemyselfaswellasIcouldwithanoldnewspaperthathadbeenstuffedintomycarpetbag。Itwasthennearlyteno’clock。Twohourslater，whenthehouseshutup，Mr。Darkcamebacktomeagaininhighspirits。
　　"Ihavegotthewholecasehere，"sayshe，tappinghisforehead——"thewholecase，asneatandcleanasifitwasdrawninabrief。Thatmasterofyoursdoesn’tstickatatrifle，William。It’smyopinionthatyourmistressandyouhavenotseenthelastofhimyet。"
　　Weweresleepingthatnightinadouble—beddedroom。AssoonasMr。Darkhadsecuredthedooranddisposedhimselfcomfortablyinhisbed，heenteredonadetailednarrativeoftheparticularscommunicatedtohiminthetap—room。Thesubstanceofwhathetoldmemayberelatedasfollows：
　　TheyachthadhadawonderfulrunallthewaytoCapeWrath。Onroundingthatheadlandshehadmetthewindnearlydeadagainsther，andhadbeateneveryinchofthewaytothesea—porttown，whereshehadputintogetasupplyofprovisions，andtowaitforachangeinthewind。
　　Mr。JamesSmithhadgoneashoretolookabouthim，andtoseewhethertheprincipalhotelwasthesortofhouseatwhichhewouldliketostopforafewdays。Inthecourseofhiswanderingaboutthetown，hisattentionhadbeenattractedtoadecenthouse，wherelodgingsweretobelet，bythesightofaveryprettygirlsittingatworkattheparlorwindow。Hewassostruckbyherfacethathecamebacktwicetolookatit，determining，thesecondtime，totryifhecouldnotmakeacquaintancewithherbyaskingtoseethelodgings。Hewasshowntheroomsbythegirl’smother，averyrespectablewoman，whomhediscoveredtobethewifeofthemasterandpartownerofasmallcoastingvessel，thenawayatsea。Withalittlemaneuveringhemanagedtogetintotheparlorwherethedaughterwasatwork，andtoexchangeafewwordswithher。Hervoiceandmannercompletedtheattractionofherface。Mr。JamesSmithdecided，inhisheadlongway，thathewasviolentlyinlovewithher，and，withouthesitatinganotherinstant，hetookthelodgingsonthespotforamonthcertain。
　　Itisunnecessarytosaythathisdesignsonthegirlwereofthemostdisgracefulkind，andthatherepresentedhimselftothemotheranddaughterasasingleman。Helpedbyhisadvantagesofmoney，position，andpersonalappearance，hehadmadesurethattheruinofthegirlmightbeeffectedwithverylittledifficulty；buthesoonfoundthathehadundertakennoeasyconquest。
　　Themother’swatchfulnessneverslept，andthedaughter’spresenceofmindneverfailedher。SheadmiredMr。JamesSmith’stallfigureandsplendidwhiskers；sheshowedthemostencouragingpartialityforhissociety；shesmiledathiscompliments，andblushedwheneverhelookedather；but，whetheritwascunningorwhetheritwasinnocence，sheseemedincapableofunderstandingthathisadvancestowardherwereofanyotherthananhonorablekind。Attheslightestapproachtounduefamiliarity，shedrewbackwithakindofcontemptuoussurpriseinherface，whichutterlyperplexedMr。JamesSmith。Hehadnotcalculatedonthatsortofresistance，andhecouldnotseehiswaytoovercomingit。Theweekspassed；themonthforwhichhehadtakenthelodgingsexpired。Timehadstrengthenedthegirl’sholdonhimtillhisadmirationforheramountedtodownrightinfatuation，andhehadnotadvancedonestepyettowardthefulfillmentoftheviciouspurposewithwhichhehadenteredthehouse。
　　Atthistimehemusthavemadesomefreshattemptonthegirl’svirtue，whichproduced：acoolnessbetweenthem；for，insteadoftakingthelodgingsforanotherterm，heremovedtohisyacht，intheharbor，andsleptonboardfortwonights。
　　Thewindwasnowfair，andthestoreswereonboard，buthegavenoorderstothesailing—mastertoweighanchor。Onthethirdday，thecauseofthecoolness，whateveritwas，appearstohavebeenremoved，andhereturnedtohislodgingsonshore。Someofthemoreinquisitiveamongthetownspeopleobservedsoonafterward，whentheymethiminthestreet，thathelookedratheranxiousanduneasy。Theconclusionhadprobablyforceditselfuponhismind，bythistime，thathemustdecideonpursuingoneoftwocourses：eitherhemustresolvetomakethesacrificeofleavingthegirlaltogether，orhemustcommitthevillainyofmarryingher。
　　Scoundrelashewas，hehesitatedatencounteringtherisk——perhaps，also，atbeingguiltyofthecrime——involvedinthislastalternative。Whilehewasstillindoubt，thefather’scoastingvesselsailedintotheharbor，andthefather’spresenceonthescenedecidedhimatlast。Howthisnewinfluenceacteditwasimpossibletofindoutfromtheimperfectevidenceofpersonswhowerenotadmittedtothefamilycouncils。Thefact，however，wascertainthatthedateofthefather’sreturnandthedateofMr。JamesSmith’sfirstwickedresolutiontomarrythegirlmightbothbefixed，asnearlyaspossible，atoneandthesametime。
　　Havingoncemadeuphismindtothecommissionofthecrime，heproceededwithallpossiblecoolnessandcunningtoprovideagainstthechancesofdetection。
　　ReturningonboardhisyachtheannouncedthathehadgivenuphisintentionofcruisingtoSwedenandthatheintendedtoamusehimselfbyalongfishingtourinScotland。Afterthisexplanation，heorderedthevesseltobelaidupintheharbor，gavethesailing—masterleaveofabsencetoreturntohisfamilyatCowes，andpaidoffthewholeofthecrewfromthematetothecabin—boy。Bythesemeansheclearedthescene，atoneblow，oftheonlypeopleinthetownwhoknewoftheexistenceofhisunhappywife。Afterthatthenewsofhisapproachingmarriagemightbemadepublicwithoutriskofdiscovery，hisowncommonnamebeingofitselfasufficientprotectionincasetheeventwasmentionedintheScotchnewspapers。Allhisfriends，evenhiswifeherself，mightreadareportofthemarriageofMr。JamesSmithwithouthavingtheslightestsuspicionofwhothebridegroomreallywas。
　　Afortnightafterthepayingoffofthecrewhewasmarriedtothemerchant—captain’sdaughter。Thefatherofthegirlwaswellknownamonghisfellow—townsmenasaselfish，graspingman，whowastooanxioustosecurearichson—in—lawtoobjecttoanyproposalsforhasteningthemarriage。Heandhiswife，andafewintimaterelationshadbeenpresentattheceremony；andafterithadbeenperformedthenewly—marriedcoupleleftthetownatonceforahoneymoontriptotheHighlandlakes。
　　Twodayslater，however，theyunexpectedlyreturned，announcingacompletechangeintheirplans。Thebridegroom（thinking，probably，thathewouldbesaferoutofEnglandthaninit）hadbeenpleasingthebride’sfancybyhisdescriptionsoftheclimateandthesceneryofsouthernparts。ThenewMrs。JamesSmithwasallcurositytoseeSpainandItaly；and，havingoftenprovedherselfanexcellentsailoronboardherfather’svessel，wasanxioustogototheMediterraneanintheeasiestwaybysea。
　　Heraffectionatehusband，havingnownootherobjectinlifethantogratifyherwishes，hadgivenuptheHighlandexcursion，andhadreturnedtohavehisyachtgotreadyforseaimmediately。Inthisexplanationtherewasnothingtoawakenthesuspicionsofthelady’sparents。ThemotherthoughtMr。JamesSmithamodelamongbridegrooms。Thefatherlenthisassistancetomantheyachtattheshortestnoticewithassmartacrewascouldbepickedupaboutthetown。Principallythroughhisexertions，thevesselwasgotreadyforseawithextraordinarydispatch。Thesailswerebent，theprovisionswereputonboard，andMr。JamesSmithsailedfortheMediterraneanwiththeunfortunatewomanwhobelievedherselftobehiswife，beforeMr。DarkandmyselfsetforthtolookafterhimfromDarrockHall。