wasstillpuzzlingmybrains,andmakingmyheadswimtonopurpose,whenIheardthemendraggingsomethingoutoftheshed。
  Atthesameinstantthatthenoisecaughtmyear,theremembranceflashedacrossmelikelightningofsomebeamsofwoodwhichhadlainintheshedforyearspast。IhadhardlytimetofeelcertainthattheywereremovingoneofthesebeamsbeforeIheardShiftyDicksaytoJerry。
  "Whichdoor?"
  "Thefront,"wastheanswer。"We’vecrackeditalready;we’llhaveitdownnowinnotime。"
  Senseslesssharpenedbydangerthanminewouldhaveunderstoodbuttooeasily,fromthesewords,thattheywereabouttousethebeamasabattering—ramagainstthedoor。Whenthatconvictionovercameme,Ilostcourageatlast。Ifeltthatthedoormustcomedown。NosuchbarricadeasIhadconstructedcouldsupportitformorethanafewminutesagainstsuchshocksasitwasnowtoreceive。
  "Icandonomoretokeepthehouseagainstthem,"Isaidtomyself,withmykneesknockingtogether,andthetearsatlastbeginningtowetmycheeks。"Imusttrusttothenightandthethickdarkness,andsavemylifebyrunningforitwhilethereisyettime。"
  Ihuddledonmycloakandhood,andhadmyhandonthebarofthebackdoor,whenapiteousmewfromthebedroomremindedmeoftheexistenceofpoorPussy。Iranin,andhuddledthecreatureupinmyapron。BeforeIwasoutinthepassageagain,thefirstshockfromthebeamfellonthedoor。
  Theupperhingegaveway。Thechairsandcoal—scuttle,formingthetopofmybarricade,werehurled,rattling,ontothefloor,butthelowerhingeofthedoor,andthechestofdrawersandthetool—cheststillkepttheirplaces。
  "Onemore!"Iheardthevillainscry——"onemorerunwiththebeam,anddownitcomes!"
  Justastheymusthavebeenstartingforthat"onemorerun,"I
  openedthebackdoorandfledintothenight,withthebookfulofbanknotesinmybosom,thesilverspoonsinmypocket,andthecatinmyarms。Ithreadedmywayeasilyenoughthroughthefamiliarobstaclesinthebackyard,andwasoutinthepitchdarknessofthemoorbeforeIheardthesecondshock,andthecrashwhichtoldmethatthewholedoorhadgivenway。
  Inafewminutestheymusthavediscoveredthefactofmyflightwiththepocketbook,forIheardshoutsinthedistanceasiftheywererunningouttopursueme。Ikeptonatthetopofmyspeed,andthenoisesoondiedaway。Itwassodarkthattwentythievesinsteadoftwowouldhavefoundituselesstofollowme。
  HowlongitwasbeforeIreachedthefarmhouse——thenearestplacetowhichIcouldflyforrefuge——Icannottellyou。IrememberthatIhadjustsenseenoughtokeepthewindatmyback(havingobservedinthebeginningoftheeveningthatitblewtowardMoorFarm),andtogoonresolutelythroughthedarkness。InallotherrespectsIwasbythistimehalfcrazedbywhatIhadgonethrough。IfithadsohappenedthatthewindhadchangedafterI
  hadobserveditsdirectionearlyintheevening,Ishouldhavegoneastray,andhaveprobablyperishedoffatigueandexposureonthemoor。Providentially,itstillblewsteadilyasithadblownforhourspast,andIreachedthefarmhousewithmyclotheswetthrough,andmybraininahighfever。WhenImademyalarmatthedoor,theyhadallgonetobedbutthefarmer’seldestson,whowassittinguplateoverhispipeandnewspaper。Ijustmusteredstrengthenoughtogaspoutafewwords,tellinghimwhatwasthematter,andthenfelldownathisfeet,forthefirsttimeinmylifeinadeadswoon。
  Thatswoonwasfollowedbyasevereillness。WhenIgotstrongenoughtolookaboutmeagain,Ifoundmyselfinoneofthefarmhousebeds——myfather,Mrs。Knifton,andthedoctorwereallintheroom——mycatwasasleepatmyfeet,andthepocketbookthatIhadsavedlayonthetablebymyside。
  TherewasplentyofnewsformetohearassoonasIwasfittolistentoit。ShiftyDickandtheotherrascalhadbeencaught,andwereinprison,waitingtheirtrialatthenextassizes。Mr。
  andMrs。KniftonhadbeensoshockedatthedangerIhadrun——forwhichtheyblamedtheirownwantofthoughtfulnessinleavingthepocketbookinmycare——thattheyhadinsistedonmyfather’sremovingfromourlonelyhometoacottageontheirland,whichweweretoinhabitrentfree。Thebank—notesthatIhadsavedweregiventometobuyfurniturewith,inplaceofthethingsthatthethieveshadbroken。Thesepleasanttidingsassistedsogreatlyinpromotingmyrecovery,thatIwassoonabletorelatetomyfriendsatthefarmhousetheparticularsthatIhavewrittenhere。Theywereallsurprisedandinterested,butnoone,asIthought,listenedtomewithsuchbreathlessattentionasthefarmer’seldestson。Mrs。Kniftonnoticedthistoo,andbegantomakejokesaboutit,inherlight—heartedway,assoonaswewerealone。Ithoughtlittleofherjestingatthetime;butwhenIgotwell,andwewenttoliveatournewhome,"theyoungfarmer,"ashewascalledinourparts,constantlycametoseeus,andconstantlymanagedtomeetmeoutofdoors。Ihadmyshareofvanity,likeotheryoungwomen,andIbegantothinkofMrs。Knifton’sjokeswithsomeattention。Tobebrief,theyoungfarmermanagedoneSunday——Inevercouldtellhow——tolosehiswaywithmeinreturningfromchurch,andbeforewefoundouttherightroadhomeagainhehadaskedmetobehiswife。
  Hisrelationsdidalltheycouldtokeepusasunderandbreakoffthematch,thinkingapoorstonemason’sdaughternofitwifeforaprosperousyeoman。Butthefarmerwastooobstinateforthem。
  Hehadoneformofanswertoalltheirobjections。"Aman,ifheisworththename,marriesaccordingtohisownnotions,andtopleasehimself,"heusedtosay。"Mynotionis,thatwhenItakeawifeIamplacingmycharacterandmyhappiness——themostpreciousthingsIhavetotrust——inonewoman’scare。ThewomanI
  meantomarryhadasmallchargeconfidedtohercare,andshowedherselfworthyofitattheriskofherlife。ThatisproofenoughformethatsheisworthyofthegreatestchargeIcanputintoherhands。Rankandrichesarefinethings,butthecertaintyofgettingagoodwifeissomethingbetterstill。I’mofage,Iknowmyownmind,andImeantomarrythestone—mason’sdaughter。"
  Andhedidmarryme。WhetherIprovedmyselfworthyornotofhisgoodopinionisaquestionwhichImustleaveyoutoaskmyhusband。AllthatIhadtorelateaboutmyselfandmydoingsisnowtold。Whateverinterestmyperilousadventuremayexcite,ends,Iamwellaware,withmyescapetothefarmhouse。Ihaveonlyventuredonwritingthesefewadditionalsentencesbecausemymarriageisthemoralofmystory。Ithasbroughtmethechoicestblessingsofhappinessandprosperity,andIowethemalltomynight—adventurein_TheBlackCottage_。
  THESECONDDAY。
  ACLEAR,cloudless,bracingautumnmorning。Irosegayly,withthepleasantconvictiononmymindthatourexperimenthadthusfarbeensuccessfulbeyondourhopes。
  Shortandslightasthefirststoryhadbeen,theresultofitonJessie’smindhadprovedconclusive。BeforeIcouldputthequestiontoher,shedeclaredofherownaccord,andwithhercustomaryexaggeration,thatshehaddefinitelyabandonedallideaofwritingtoherauntuntilourcollectionofnarrativeswasexhausted。
  "Iaminafeverofcuriosityaboutwhatistocome,"shesaid,whenweallpartedforthenight;"and,evenifIwantedtoleaveyou,Icouldnotpossiblygoawaynow,withouthearingthestoriestotheend。"
  Sofar,sogood。AllmyanxietiesfromthistimewereforGeorge’sreturn。Againto—dayIsearchedthenewspapers,andagaintherewerenotidingsoftheship。
  MissJessieoccupiedtheseconddaybyadrivetoourcountytowntomakesomelittlepurchases。Owen,andMorgan,andIwereallhardatwork,duringherabsence,onthestoriesthatstillremainedtobecompleted。Owendespondedaboutevergettingdone;
  Morgangrumbledatwhathecalledtheabsurddifficultyofwritingnonsense。Iworkedonsmoothlyandcontentedly,stimulatedbythesuccessofthefirstnight。
  Weassembledasbeforeinourguest’ssitting—room。Astheclockstruckeightshedrewoutthesecondcard。ItwasNumberTwo。Thelothadfallenonmetoreadnext。
  "Althoughmystoryistoldinthefirstperson,"Isaid,addressingJessie,"youmustnotsupposethattheeventsrelatedinthisparticularcasehappenedtome。Theyhappenedtoafriendofmine,whonaturallydescribedthemtomefromhisownpersonalpointofview。Inproducingmynarrativefromtherecollectionofwhathetoldmesomeyearssince,Ihavesupposedmyselftobelisteningtohimagain,andhavethereforewritteninhischaracter,and,whenevermymemorywouldhelpme,asnearlyaspossibleinhislanguagealso。BythismeansIhopeIhavesucceededingivinganairofrealitytoastorywhichhastruth,atanyrate,torecommendit。ImustaskyoutoexcusemeifI
  enterintonodetailsinofferingthisshortexplanation。
  Althoughthepersonsconcernedinmynarrativehaveceasedtoexist,itisnecessarytoobserveallduedelicacytowardtheirmemories。Whotheywere,andhowIbecameacquaintedwiththem,aremattersofnomoment。Theinterestofthestory,suchasitis,standsinnoneed,inthisinstance,ofanyassistancefrompersonalexplanations。"
  WiththosewordsIaddressedmyselftomytask,andreadasfollows:
  BROTHERGRIFFITH’SSTORY
  ofTHEFAMILYSECRET。
  CHAPTERI。
  WASitanEnglishmanoraFrenchmanwhofirstremarkedthateveryfamilyhadaskeletoninitscupboard?Iamnotlearnedenoughtoknow,butIreverencetheobservation,whoevermadeit。Itspeaksastartlingtruththroughanappropriatelygrimmetaphor——atruthwhichIhavediscoveredbypracticalexperience。Ourfamilyhadaskeletoninthecupboard,andthenameofitwasUncleGeorge。
  Iarrivedattheknowledgethatthisskeletonexisted,andI
  tracedittotheparticularcupboardinwhichitwashidden,byslowdegrees。IwasachildwhenIfirstbegantosuspectthattherewassuchathing,andagrownmanwhenIatlastdiscoveredthatmysuspicionsweretrue。
  Myfatherwasadoctor,havinganexcellentpracticeinalargecountrytown。Ihaveheardthathemarriedagainstthewishesofhisfamily。Theycouldnotobjecttomymotheronthescoreofbirth,breeding,orcharacter——theyonlydislikedherheartily。
  Mygrandfather,grandmother,uncles,andauntsalldeclaredthatshewasaheartless,deceitfulwoman;alldislikedhermanners,heropinions,andeventheexpressionofherface——all,withtheexceptionofmyfather’syoungestbrother,George。
  Georgewastheunluckymemberofourfamily。Therestwereallclever;hewasslowincapacity。Therestwereallremarkablyhandsome;hewasthesortofmanthatnowomaneverlooksattwice。Therestsucceededinlife;hefailed。Hisprofessionwasthesameasmyfather’s,buthenevergotonwhenhestartedinpracticeforhimself。Thesickpoor,whocouldnotchoose,employedhim,andlikedhim。Thesickrich,whocould——especiallytheladies——declinedtocallhiminwhentheycouldgetanybodyelse。Inexperiencehegainedgreatlybyhisprofession;inmoneyandreputationhegainednothing。
  Thereareveryfewofus,howeverdullandunattractivewemaybetooutwardappearance,whohavenotsomestrongpassion,somegermofwhatiscalledromance,hiddenmoreorlessdeeplyinournatures。AllthepassionandromanceinthenatureofmyUncleGeorgelayinhisloveandadmirationformyfather。
  Hesincerelyworshippedhiseldestbrotherasoneofthenoblestofhumanbeings。Whenmyfatherwasengagedtobemarried,andwhentherestofthefamily,asIhavealreadymentioned,didnothesitatetoexpresstheirunfavorableopinionofthedispositionofhischosenwife,UncleGeorge,whohadneverventuredondifferingwithanyonebefore,totheamazementofeverybody,undertookthedefenseofhisfuturesister—in—lawinthemostvehementandpositivemanner。Inhisestimation,hisbrother’schoicewassomethingsacredandindisputable。Theladymight,anddid,treathimwithunconcealedcontempt,laughathisawkwardness,growimpatientathisstammering——itmadenodifferencetoUncleGeorge。Shewastobehisbrother’swife,and,invirtueofthatonegreatfact,shebecame,intheestimationofthepoorsurgeon,averyqueen,who,bythelawsofthedomesticconstitution,coulddonowrong。
  Whenmyfatherhadbeenmarriedalittlewhile,hetookhisyoungestbrothertolivewithhimashisassistant。
  IfUncleGeorgehadbeenmadepresidentoftheCollegeofSurgeons,hecouldnothavebeenprouderandhappierthanhewasinhisnewposition。Iamafraidmyfatherneverunderstoodthedepthofhisbrother’saffectionforhim。AllthehardworkfelltoGeorge’sshare:thelongjourneysatnight,thephysickingofwearisomepoorpeople,thedrunkencases,therevoltingcases——allthedrudging,dirtybusinessofthesurgery,inshort,wasturnedovertohim;anddayafterday,monthaftermonth,hestruggledthroughitwithoutamurmur。Whenhisbrotherandhissister—in—lawwentouttodinewiththecountygentry,itneverenteredhisheadtofeeldisappointedatbeingleftunnoticedathome。Whenthereturndinnersweregiven,andhewasaskedtocomeinattea—time,andlefttositunregardedinacorner,itneveroccurredtohimtoimaginethathewastreatedwithanywantofconsiderationorrespect。Hewaspartofthefurnitureofthehouse,anditwasthebusinessaswellasthepleasureofhislifetoturnhimselftoanyusetowhichhisbrothermightpleasetoputhim。
  SomuchforwhatIhaveheardfromothersonthesubjectofmyUncleGeorge。MyownpersonalexperienceofhimislimitedtowhatIrememberasamerechild。Letmesaysomething,however,firstaboutmyparents,mysisterandmyself。
  Mysisterwastheeldestbornandthebestloved。Ididnotcomeintotheworldtillfouryearsafterherbirth,andnootherchildfollowedme。Caroline,fromherearliestdays,wastheperfectionofbeautyandhealth。Iwassmall,weakly,and,ifthetruthmustbetold,almostasplain—featuredasUncleGeorgehimself。Itwouldbeungraciousandundutifulinmetopresumetodecidewhethertherewasanyfoundationornotforthedislikethatmyfather’sfamilyalwaysfeltformymother。AllIcanventuretosayis,thatherchildrenneverhadanycausetocomplainofher。
  Herpassionateaffectionformysister,herprideinthechild’sbeauty,Irememberwell,asalsoheruniformkindnessandindulgencetowardme。Mypersonaldefectsmusthavebeenasoretrialtoherinsecret,butneithershenormyfatherevershowedmethattheyperceivedanydifferencebetweenCarolineandmyself。Whenpresentsweremadetomysister,presentsweremadetome。Whenmyfatherandmothercaughtmysisterupintheirarmsandkissedhertheyscrupulouslygavememyturnafterward。
  Mychildishinstincttoldmethattherewasadifferenceintheirsmileswhentheylookedatmeandlookedather;thatthekissesgiventoCarolinewerewarmerthanthekissesgiventome;thatthehandswhichdriedhertearsinourchildishgriefs,touchedhermoregentlythanthehandswhichdriedmine。Butthese,andothersmallsignsofpreferencelikethem,weresuchasnoparentscouldbeexpectedtocontrol。Inoticedthematthetimeratherwithwonderthanwithrepining。Irecallthemnowwithoutaharshthoughteithertowardmyfatherormymother。Bothlovedme,andbothdidtheirdutybyme。IfIseemtospeakconstrainedlyofthemhere,itisnotonmyownaccount。Icanhonestlysaythat,withallmyheartandsoul。
  EvenUncleGeorge,fondashewasofme,wasfonderofmybeautifulchild—sister。
  WhenIusedmischievouslytopullathislank,scantyhair,hewouldgentlyandlaughinglytakeitoutofmyhands,buthewouldletCarolinetugatittillhisdim,wanderinggrayeyeswinkedandwateredagainwithpain。Heusedtoplungeperilouslyaboutthegarden,inawkwardimitationofthecanteringofahorse,whileIsatonhisshoulders;buthewouldneverproceedatanypacebeyondaslowandsafewalkwhenCarolinehadarideinherturn。Whenhetookusoutwalking,Carolinewasalwaysonthesidenextthewall。Whenweinterruptedhimoverhisdirtyworkinthesurgery,heusedtotellmetogoandplayuntilhewasreadyforme;buthewouldputdownhisbottles,andcleanhisclumsyfingersonhiscoarseapron,andleadCarolineoutagain,asifshehadbeenthegreatestladyintheland。Ah!howhelovedher!and,letmebehonestandgrateful,andadd,howhelovedme,too!
  WhenIwaseightyearsoldandCarolinewastwelve,Iwasseparatedfromhomeforsometime。Ihadbeenailingformanymonthspreviously;hadgotbenefitfrombeingtakentothesea—side,andhadshownsymptomsofrelapsingonbeingbroughthomeagaintothemidlandcountyinwhichweresided。Aftermuchconsultation,itwasatlastresolvedthatIshouldbesenttolive,untilmyconstitutiongotstronger,withamaidensisterofmymother’s,whohadahouseatawatering—placeonthesouthcoast。
  Ilefthome,Iremember,loadedwithpresents,rejoicingovertheprospectoflookingattheseaagain,ascarelessofthefutureandashappyinthepresentasanyboycouldbe。UncleGeorgepetitionedforaholidaytotakemetotheseaside,buthecouldnotbesparedfromthesurgery。Heconsoledhimselfandmebypromisingtomakemeamagnificentmodelofaship。
  IhavethatmodelbeforemyeyesnowwhileIwrite。Itisdustywithage;thepaintonitiscracked;theropesaretangled;thesailsaremoth—eatenandyellow。Thehullisalloutofproportion,andtherighasbeensmiledatbyeverynauticalfriendofminewhohaseverlookedatit。Yet,worn—outandfaultyasitis——inferiortothecheapestminiaturevesselnowadaysinanytoy—shopwindow——IhardlyknowapossessionofmineinthisworldthatIwouldnotsoonerpartwiththanUncleGeorge’sship。
  Mylifeatthesea—sidewasaveryhappyone。Iremainedwithmyauntmorethanayear。MymotheroftencametoseehowIwasgoingon,andatfirstalwaysbroughtmysisterwithher;butduringthelasteightmonthsofmystayCarolineneveronceappeared。Inoticedalso,atthesameperiod,achangeinmymother’smanner。Shelookedpalerandmoreanxiousateachsucceedingvisit,andalwayshadlongconferencesinprivatewithmyaunt。Atlastsheceasedtocomeandseeusaltogether,andonlywrotetoknowhowmyhealthwasgettingon。Myfather,too,whohadattheearlierperiodsofmyabsencefromhometraveledtothesea—sidetowatchtheprogressofmyrecoveryasoftenashisprofessionalengagementswouldpermit,nowkeptawaylikemymother。EvenUncleGeorge,whohadneverbeenallowedaholidaytocomeandseeme,butwhohadhithertooftenwrittenandbeggedmetowritetohim,brokeoffourcorrespondence。
  Iwasnaturallyperplexedandamazedbythesechanges,andpersecutedmyaunttotellmethereasonofthem。Atfirstshetriedtoputmeoffwithexcuses;thensheadmittedthattherewastroubleinourhouse;andfinallysheconfessedthatthetroublewascausedbytheillnessofmysister。WhenIinquiredwhatthatillnesswas,myauntsaiditwasuselesstoattempttoexplainittome。Inextappliedtotheservants。Oneofthemwaslesscautiousthanmyaunt,andansweredmyquestion,butintermsthatIcouldnotcomprehend。Aftermuchexplanation,Iwasmadetounderstandthat"somethingwasgrowingonmysister’sneckthatwouldspoilherbeautyforever,andperhapskillher,ifitcouldnotbegotridof。"HowwellIremembertheshudderofhorrorthatranthroughmeatthevagueideaofthisdeadly"something"!Afearful,awe—struckcuriositytoseewhatCaroline’sillnesswaswithmyowneyestroubledmyinmostheart,andIbeggedtobeallowedtogohomeandhelptonurseher。Therequestwas,itisalmostneedlesstosay,refused。
  Weekspassedaway,andstillIheardnothing,exceptthatmysistercontinuedtobeill。OnedayIprivatelywrotealettertoUncleGeorge,askinghim,inmychildishway,tocomeandtellmeaboutCaroline’sillness。
  Iknewwherethepost—officewas,andslippedoutinthemorningunobservedanddroppedmyletterinthebox。Istolehomeagainbythegarden,andclimbedinatthewindowofabackparloronthegroundfloor。Theroomabovewasmyaunt’sbedchamber,andthemomentIwasinsidethehouseIheardmoansandloudconvulsivesobsproceedingfromit。Myauntwasasingularlyquiet,composedwoman。Icouldnotimaginethattheloudsobbingandmoaningcamefromher,andIrandownterrifiedintothekitchentoasktheservantswhowascryingsoviolentlyinmyaunt’sroom。
  Ifoundthehousemaidandthecooktalkingtogetherinwhisperswithseriousfaces。TheystartedwhentheysawmeasifIhadbeenagrown—upmasterwhohadcaughtthemneglectingtheirwork。
  "He’stooyoungtofeelitmuch,"Iheardonesaytotheother。
  "Sofarasheisconcerned,itseemslikeamercythatithappenednolater。"
  Inafewminutestheyhadtoldmetheworst。Itwasindeedmyauntwhohadbeencryinginthebedroom。Carolinewasdead。
  Ifelttheblowmoreseverelythantheservantsoranyoneelseaboutmesupposed。StillIwasachildinyears,andIhadtheblessedelasticityofachild’snature。IfIhadbeenolderI
  mighthavebeentoomuchabsorbedingrieftoobservemyauntsocloselyasIdid,whenshewascomposedenoughtoseemelaterintheday。
  Iwasnotsurprisedbytheswollenstateofhereyes,thepalenessofhercheeks,orthefreshburstoftearsthatcamefromherwhenshetookmeinherarmsatmeeting。ButIwasbothamazedandperplexedbythelookofterrorthatIdetectedinherface。Itwasnaturalenoughthatsheshouldgrieveandweepovermysister’sdeath,butwhyshouldshehavethatfrightenedlookasifsomeothercatastrophehadhappened?
  IaskediftherewasanymoredreadfulnewsfromhomebesidesthenewsofCaroline’sdeath。
  Myaunt,saidNoinastrange,stifledvoice,andsuddenlyturnedherfacefromme。Wasmyfatherdead?No。Mymother?No。UncleGeorge?MyaunttrembledalloverasshesaidNotothatalso,andbademeceaseaskinganymorequestions。Shewasnotfittobearthemyetshesaid,andsignedtotheservanttoleadmeoutoftheroom。
  ThenextdayIwastoldthatIwastogohomeafterthefuneral,andwastakenouttowardeveningbythehousemaid,partlyforawalk,partlytobemeasuredformymourningclothes。Afterwehadleftthetailor’s,Ipersuadedthegirltoextendourwalkforsomedistancealongthesea—beach,tellingher,aswewent,everylittleanecdoteconnectedwithmylostsisterthatcametenderlybacktomymemoryinthosefirstdaysofsorrow。ShewassointerestedinhearingandIinspeakingthatweletthesungodownbeforewethoughtofturningback。
  Theeveningwascloudy,anditgotonfromdusktodarkbythetimeweapproachedthetownagain。Thehousemaidwasrathernervousatfindingherselfalonewithmeonthebeach,andonceortwicelookedbehindherdistrustfullyaswewenton。Suddenlyshesqueezedmyhandhard,andsaid:
  "Let’sgetuponthecliffasfastaswecan。"
  ThewordswerehardlyoutofhermouthbeforeIheardfootstepsbehindme——amancameroundquicklytomyside,snatchedmeawayfromthegirl,and,catchingmeupinhisarmswithoutaword,coveredmyfacewithkisses。Iknewhewascrying,becausemycheekswereinstantlywetwithhistears;butitwastoodarkformetoseewhohewas,orevenhowhewasdressed。Hedidnot,I
  shouldthink,holdmehalfaminuteinhisarms。Thehousemaidscreamedforhelp。Iwasputdowngentlyonthesand,andthestrangemaninstantlydisappearedinthedarkness。
  Whenthisextraordinaryadventurewasrelatedtomyaunt,sheseemedatfirstmerelybewilderedathearingofit;butinamomentmoretherecameachangeoverherface,asifshehadsuddenlyrecollectedorthoughtofsomething。Sheturneddeadlypale,andsaid,inahurriedway,veryunusualwithher:
  "Nevermind;don’ttalkaboutitanymore。Itwasonlyamischievoustricktofrightenyou,Idaresay。Forgetallaboutit,mydear——forgetallaboutit。"
  Itwaseasiertogivethisadvicethantomakemefollowit。Formanynightsafter,Ithoughtofnothingbutthestrangemanwhohadkissedmeandcriedoverme。
  Whocouldhebe?Somebodywholovedmeverymuch,andwhowasverysorry。Mychildishlogiccarriedmetothatlength。ButwhenItriedtothinkoverallthegrown—upgentlemenwholovedmeverymuch,Icouldnevergeton,tomyownsatisfaction,beyondmyfatherandmyUncleGeorge。
  CHAPTERII。
  Iwastakenhomeontheappointeddaytosufferthetrial——ahardoneevenatmytenderyears——ofwitnessingmymother’spassionategriefandmyfather’smutedespair。IrememberthatthesceneofourfirstmeetingafterCaroline’sdeathwaswiselyandconsideratelyshortenedbymyaunt,whotookmeoutoftheroom。