Sheseemedtohaveaconfuseddesiretokeepmefromleavingherafterthedoorhadclosedbehindus；butIbrokeawayandrandownstairstothesurgery，togoandcryformylostplaymatewiththesharerofallourgames，UncleGeorge。
　　Iopenedthesurgerydoorandcouldseenobody。Idriedmytearsandlookedallroundtheroom——itwasempty。IranupstairsagaintoUncleGeorge’sgarretbedroom——hewasnotthere；hischeaphairbrushandoldcast—offrazor—casethathadbelongedtomygrandfatherwerenotonthedressing—table。Hadhegotsomeotherbedroom？Iwentoutonthelandingandcalledsoftly，withanunaccountableterrorandsinkingatmyheart：
　　"UncleGeorge！"
　　Nobodyanswered；butmyauntcamehastilyupthegarretstairs。
　　"Hush！"shesaid。"Youmustnevercallthatnameouthereagain！"
　　Shestoppedsuddenly，andlookedasifherownwordshadfrightenedher。
　　"IsUncleGeorgedead？"Iasked。Myauntturnedredandpale，andstammered。
　　Ididnotwaittohearwhatshesaid。Ibrushedpasther，downthestairs。Myheartwasbursting——myfleshfeltcold。Iranbreathlesslyandrecklesslyintotheroomwheremyfatherandmotherhadreceivedme。Theywerebothsittingtherestill。Iranuptothem，wringingmyhands，andcryingoutinapassionoftears：
　　"IsUncleGeorgedead？"
　　Mymothergaveascreamthatterrifiedmeintoinstantsilenceandstillness。Myfatherlookedatherforamoment，rangthebellthatsummonedthemaid，thenseizedmeroughlybythearmanddraggedmeoutoftheroom。
　　Hetookmedownintothestudy，seatedhimselfinhisaccustomedchair，andputmebeforehimbetweenhisknees。Hislipswereawfullywhite，andIfelthistwohands，astheygraspedmyshoulders，shakingviolently。
　　"YouarenevertomentionthenameofUncleGeorgeagain，"hesaid，inaquick，angry，tremblingwhisper。"Nevertome，nevertoyourmother，nevertoyouraunt，nevertoanybodyinthisworld！Never——never——never！"
　　Therepetitionofthewordterrifiedmeevenmorethanthesuppressedvehemencewithwhichhespoke。HesawthatIwasfrightened，andsoftenedhismanneralittlebeforehewenton。
　　"YouwillneverseeUncleGeorgeagain，"hesaid。"YourmotherandIloveyoudearly；butifyouforgetwhatIhavetoldyou，youwillbesentawayfromhome。Neverspeakthatnameagain——mind，never！Nowkissme，andgoaway。"
　　Howhislipstrembled——andoh，howcoldtheyfeltonmine！
　　Ishrunkoutoftheroomthemomenthehadkissedme，andwentandhidmyselfinthegarden。
　　"UncleGeorgeisgone。Iamnevertoseehimanymore；Iamnevertospeakofhimagain"——thosewerethewordsIrepeatedtomyself，withindescribableterrorandconfusion，themomentIwasalone。TherewassomethingunspeakablyhorribletomyyoungmindinthismysterywhichIwascommandedalwaystorespect，andwhich，sofarasIthenknew，Icouldneverhopetoseerevealed。
　　Myfather，mymother，myaunt，allappearedtobeseparatedfrommenowbysomeimpassablebarrier。HomeseemedhomenolongerwithCarolinedead，UncleGeorgegone，andaforbiddensubjectoftalkperpetuallyandmysteriouslyinterposingbetweenmyparentsandme。
　　ThoughIneverinfringedthecommandmyfatherhadgivenmeinhisstudy（hiswordsandlooks，andthatdreadfulscreamofmymother’s，whichseemedtobestillringinginmyears，weremorethanenoughtoinsuremyobedience），IalsoneverlostthesecretdesiretopenetratethedarknesswhichcloudedoverthefateofUncleGeorge。
　　FortwoyearsIremainedathomeanddiscoverednothing。IfI
　　askedtheservantsaboutmyuncle，theycouldonlytellmethatonemorninghedisappearedfromthehouse。Ofthemembersofmyfather’sfamilyIcouldmakenoinquiries。Theylivedfaraway，andnevercametoseeus；andtheideaofwritingtothem，atmyageandinmyposition，wasoutofthequestion。Myauntwasasunapproachablysilentasmyfatherandmother；butIneverforgothowherfacehadalteredwhenshereflectedforamomentafterhearingofmyextraordinaryadventurewhilegoinghomewiththeservantoverthesandsatnight。ThemoreIthoughtofthatchangeofcountenanceinconnectionwithwhathadoccurredonmyreturntomyfather’shouse，themorecertainIfeltthatthestrangerwhohadkissedmeandweptovermemusthavebeennootherthanUncleGeorge。
　　AttheendofmytwoyearsathomeIwassenttoseainthemerchantnavybymyownearnestdesire。IhadalwaysdeterminedtobeasailorfromthetimewhenIfirstwenttostaywithmyauntatthesea—side，andIpersistedlongenoughinmyresolutiontomakemyparentsrecognizethenecessityofaccedingtomywishes。
　　Mynewlifedelightedme，andIremainedawayonforeignstationsmorethanfouryears。WhenIatlengthreturnedhome，itwastofindanewafflictiondarkeningourfireside。MyfatherhaddiedontheverydaywhenIsailedformyreturnvoyagetoEngland。
　　AbsenceandchangeofscenehadinnorespectweakenedmydesiretopenetratethemysteryofUncleGeorge’sdisappearance。Mymother’shealthwassodelicatethatIhesitatedforsometimetoapproachtheforbiddensubjectinherpresence。WhenIatlastventuredtorefertoit，suggestingtoherthatanyprudentreservewhichmighthavebeennecessarywhileIwasachild，neednolongerbepersistedinnowthatIwasgrowingtobeayoungman，shefellintoaviolentfitoftrembling，andcommandedmetosaynomore。Ithadbeenmyfather’swill，shesaid，thatthereservetowhichIreferredshouldbealwaysadoptedtowardme；
　　hehadnotauthorizedher，beforehedied，tospeakmoreopenly；
　　and，nowthathewasgone，shewouldnotsomuchasthinkofactingonherownunaidedjudgment。MyauntsaidthesamethingineffectwhenIappealedtoher。Determinednottobediscouragedevenyet，Iundertookajourney，ostensiblytopaymyrespectstomyfather’sfamily，butwiththesecretintentionoftryingwhatIcouldlearninthatquarteronthesubjectofUncleGeorge。
　　Myinvestigationsledtosomeresults，thoughtheywerebynomeanssatisfactory。Georgehadalwaysbeenlookeduponwithsomethinglikecontemptbyhishandsomesistersandhisprosperousbrothers，andhehadnotimprovedhispositioninthefamilybyhiswarmadvocacyofhisbrother’scauseatthetimeofmyfather’smarriage。Ifoundthatmyuncle’ssurvivingrelativesnowspokeofhimslightinglyandcarelessly。Theyassuredmethattheyhadneverheardfromhim，andthattheyknewnothingabouthim，exceptthathehadgoneawaytosettle，astheysupposed，insomeforeignplace，afterhavingbehavedverybaselyandbadlytomyfather。HehadbeentracedtoLondon，wherehehadsoldoutofthefundsthesmallshareofmoneywhichhehadinheritedafterhisfather’sdeath，andhehadbeenseenonthedeckofapacketboundforFrancelateronthesameday。Beyondthisnothingwasknownabouthim。Inwhattheallegedbasenessofhisbehaviorhadconsistednoneofhisbrothersandsisterscouldtellme。Myfatherhadrefusedtopainthembygoingintoparticulars，notonlyatthetimeofhisbrother’sdisappearance，butafterward，wheneverthesubjectwasmentioned。Georgehadalwaysbeentheblacksheepoftheflock，andhemusthavebeenconsciousofhisownbaseness，orhewouldcertainlyhavewrittentoexplainandtojustifyhimself。
　　SuchweretheparticularswhichIgleanedduringmyvisittomyfather’sfamily。Tomymind，theytendedrathertodeepenthantorevealthemystery。Thatsuchagentle，docile，affectionatecreatureasUncleGeorgeshouldhaveinjuredthebrotherhelovedbywordordeedatanyperiodoftheirintercourse，seemedincredible；butthatheshouldhavebeenguiltyofanactofbasenessattheverytimewhenmysisterwasdyingwassimplyandplainlyimpossible。AndyettherewastheincomprehensiblefactstaringmeinthefacethatthedeathofCarolineandthedisappearanceofUncleGeorgehadtakenplaceinthesameweek！
　　NeverdidIfeelmoredauntedandbewilderedbythefamilysecretthanafterIhadheardalltheparticularsinconnectionwithitthatmyfather’srelativeshadtotellme。
　　Imaypassovertheeventsofthenextfewyearsofmylifebrieflyenough。
　　Mynauticalpursuitsfilledupallmytime，andtookmefarawayfrommycountryandmyfriends。But，whateverIdid，andwhereverIwent，thememoryofUncleGeorge，andthedesiretopenetratethemysteryofhisdisappearance，hauntedmelikefamiliarspirits。Often，inthelonelywatchesofthenightatsea，didI
　　recallthedarkeveningonthebeach，thestrangeman’shurriedembrace，thestartlingsensationoffeelinghistearsonmycheeks，thedisappearanceofhimbeforeIhadbreathorself—possessionenoughtosayaword。OftendidIthinkovertheinexplicableeventsthatfollowed，whenIhadreturned，aftermysister’sfuneral，tomyfather’shouse；andoftenerstilldidI
　　puzzlemybrainsvainly，intheattempttoformsomeplanforinducingmymotherormyaunttodisclosethesecretwhichtheyhadhithertokeptfrommesoperseveringly。MyonlychanceofknowingwhathadreallyhappenedtoUncleGeorge，myonlyhopeofseeinghimagain，restedwiththosetwonearanddearrelatives。
　　Idespairedofevergettingmymothertospeakontheforbiddensubjectafterwhathadpassedbetweenus，butIfeltmoresanguineaboutmyprospectsofultimatelyinducingmyaunttorelaxinherdiscretion。Myanticipations，however，inthisdirectionwerenotdestinedtobefulfilled。OnmynextvisittoEnglandIfoundmyauntprostratedbyaparalyticattack，whichdeprivedherofthepowerofspeech。Shediedsoonafterwardinmyarms，leavingmehersoleheir。Isearchedanxiouslyamongherpapersforsomereferencetothefamilymystery，butfoundnoclewtoguideme。Allmymother’sletterstohersisteratthetimeofCaroline’sillnessanddeathhadbeendestroyed。
　　CHAPTERIII。
　　MOREyearspassed；mymotherfollowedmyaunttothegrave，andstillIwasasfaraseverfrommakinganydiscoveriesinrelationtoUncleGeorge。Shortlyaftertheperiodofthislastafflictionmyhealthgaveway，andIdeparted，bymydoctor’sadvice，totrysomebathsinthesouthofFrance。
　　Itraveledslowlytomydestination，turningasidefromthedirectroad，andstoppingwhereverIpleased。Oneevening，whenI
　　wasnotmorethantwoorthreedays’journeyfromthebathstowhichIwasbound，Iwasstruckbythepicturesquesituationofalittletownplacedonthebrowofahillatsomedistancefromthemainroad，andresolvedtohaveanearerlookattheplace，withaviewtostoppingthereforthenight，ifitpleasedme。I
　　foundtheprincipalinncleanandquiet——orderedmybedthere——and，afterdinner，strolledouttolookatthechurch。NothoughtofUncleGeorgewasinmymindwhenIenteredthebuilding；andyet，atthatverymoment，chancewasleadingmetothediscoverywhich，forsomanyyearspast，Ihadvainlyendeavoredtomake——thediscoverywhichIhadgivenupashopelesssincethedayofmymother’sdeath。
　　Ifoundnothingworthnoticeinthechurch，andwasabouttoleaveitagain，whenIcaughtaglimpseofaprettyviewthroughasidedoor，andstoppedtoadmireit。
　　Thechurchyardformedtheforeground，andbelowitthehill—sideslopedawaygentlyintotheplain，overwhichthesunwassettinginfullglory。Thecureofthechurchwasreadinghisbreviary，walkingupanddownagravel—paththatpartedtherowsofgraves。
　　InthecourseofmywanderingsIhadlearnedtospeakFrenchasfluentlyasmostEnglishmen，andwhenthepriestcamenearmeI
　　saidafewwordsinpraiseoftheview，andcomplimentedhimontheneatnessandprettinessofthechurchyard。Heansweredwithgreatpoliteness，andwegotintoconversationtogetherimmediately。
　　Aswestrolledalongthegravel—walk，myattentionwasattractedbyoneofthegravesstandingapartfromtherest。Thecrossattheheadofitdifferedremarkably，insomepointsofappearance，fromthecrossesontheothergraves。Whilealltheresthadgarlandshungonthem，thisonecrosswasquitebare；and，moreextraordinarystill，nonamewasinscribedonit。
　　Thepriest，observingthatIstoppedtolookatthegrave，shookhisheadandsighed。
　　"Acountrymanofyoursisburiedthere，"hesaid。"Iwaspresentathisdeath。Hehadbornetheburdenofagreatsorrowamongus，inthistown，formanywearyyears，andhisconducthadtaughtustorespectandpityhimwithallourhearts。"
　　"Howisitthathisnameisnotinscribedoverhisgrave？"I
　　inquired。
　　"Itwassuppressedbyhisowndesire，"answeredthepriest，withsomelittlehesitation。"Heconfessedtomeinhislastmomentsthathehadlivedhereunderanassumedname。Iaskedhisrealname，andhetoldittome，withtheparticularsofhissadstory。Hehadreasonsfordesiringtobeforgottenafterhisdeath。Almostthelastwordshespokewere，’Letmynamediewithme。’AlmostthelastrequesthemadewasthatIwouldkeepthatnameasecretfromalltheworldexceptingonlyoneperson。"
　　"Somerelative，Isuppose？"saidI。
　　"Yes——anephew，"saidthepriest。
　　Themomentthelastwordwasoutofhismouth，myheartgaveastrangeansweringbound。IsupposeImusthavechangedcoloralso，forthecurelookedatmewithsuddenattentionandinterest。
　　"Anephew，"thepriestwenton，"whomhehadlovedlikehisownchild。Hetoldmethatifthisnephewevertracedhimtohisburial—place，andaskedabouthim，IwasfreeinthatcasetodiscloseallIknew。’IshouldlikemylittleCharleytoknowthetruth，’hesaid。’Inspiteofthedifferenceinourages，CharleyandIwereplaymatesyearsago。’"
　　Myheartbeatfaster，andIfeltachokingsensationatthethroatthemomentIheardthepriestunconsciouslymentionmyChristiannameinmentioningthedyingman’slastwords。
　　AssoonasIcouldsteadymyvoiceandfeelcertainofmyself—possession，Icommunicatedmyfamilynametothecure，andaskedhimifthatwasnotpartofthesecretthathehadbeenrequestedtopreserve。
　　Hestartedbackseveralsteps，andclaspedhishandsamazedly。
　　"Canitbe？"hesaid，inlowtones，gazingatmeearnestly，withsomethinglikedreadinhisface。
　　Igavehimmypassport，andlookedawaytowardthegrave。Thetearscameintomyeyesastherecollectionsofpastdayscrowdedbackonme。HardlyknowingwhatIdid，Ikneltdownbythegrave，andsmoothedthegrassoveritwithmyhand。Oh，UncleGeorge，whynothavetoldyoursecrettoyouroldplaymate？Whyleavehimtofindyou_here？_
　　Thepriestraisedmegently，andbeggedmetogowithhimintohisownhouse。Onourwaythere，ImentionedpersonsandplacesthatIthoughtmyunclemighthavespokenof，inordertosatisfymycompanionthatIwasreallythepersonIrepresentedmyselftobe。Bythetimewehadenteredhislittleparlor，andhadsatdownaloneinit，wewerealmostlikeoldfriendstogether。
　　IthoughtitbestthatIshouldbeginbytellingallthatIhaverelatedhereonthesubjectofUncleGeorge，andhisdisappearancefromhome。Myhostlistenedwithaverysadface，andsaid，whenIhaddone：
　　"IcanunderstandyouranxietytoknowwhatIamauthorizedtotellyou，butpardonmeifIsayfirstthattherearecircumstancesinyouruncle’sstorywhichitmaypainyoutohear——"Hestoppedsuddenly。
　　"Whichitmaypainmetohearasanephew？"Iasked。
　　"No，"saidthepriest，lookingawayfromme，"asason。"
　　Igratefullyexpressedmysenseofthedelicacyandkindnesswhichhadpromptedmycompanion’swarning，butIbeggedhim，atthesametime，tokeepmenolongerinsuspenseandtotellmethesterntruth，nomatterhowpainfullyitmightaffectmeasalistener。
　　"IntellingmeallyouknewaboutwhatyoutermtheFamilySecret，"saidthepriest，"youhavementionedasastrangecoincidencethatyoursister’sdeathandyouruncle’sdisappearancetookplaceatthesametime。Didyoueversuspectwhatcauseitwasthatoccasionedyoursister’sdeath？"
　　"Ionlyknewwhatmyfathertoldme，andwhatallourfriendsbelieved——thatshehadatumorintheneck，or，asIsometimeshearditstated，fromtheeffectonherconstitutionofatumorintheneck。"
　　"Shediedunderanoperationfortheremovalofthattumor，"saidthepriest，inlowtones；"andtheoperatorwasyourUncleGeorge。"
　　Inthosefewwordsallthetruthburstuponme。
　　"Consoleyourselfwiththethoughtthatthelongmartyrdomofhislifeisover，"thepriestwenton。"Herests；heisatpeace。Heandhislittledarlingunderstandeachother，andarehappynow。
　　Thatthoughtborehimuptothelastonhisdeath—bed。Healwaysspokeofyoursisterashis’littledarling。’Hefirmlybelievedthatshewaswaitingtoforgiveandconsolehimintheotherworld——andwhoshallsayhewasdeceivedinthatbelief？"
　　NotI！Notanyonewhohaseverlovedandsuffered，surely！
　　"Itwasoutofthedepthsofhisself—sacrificingloveforthechildthathedrewthefatalcouragetoundertaketheoperation，"
　　continuedthepriest。"Yourfathernaturallyshrankfromattemptingit。Hismedicalbrethrenwhomheconsultedalldoubtedtheproprietyoftakinganymeasuresfortheremovalofthetumor，intheparticularconditionandsituationofitwhentheywerecalledin。Yourunclealonedifferedwiththem。Hewastoomodestamantosayso，butyourmotherfounditout。Thedeformityofherbeautifulchildhorrifiedher。Shewasdesperateenoughtocatchatthefaintesthopeofremedyingitthatanyonemightholdouttoher；andshepersuadedyouruncletoputhisopiniontotheproof。Herhorroratthedeformityofthechild，andherdespairattheprospectofitslastingforlife，seemtohaveutterlyblindedhertoallnaturalsenseofthedangeroftheoperation。Itishardtoknowhowtosayittoyou，herson，butitmustbetold，nevertheless，thatoneday，whenyourfatherwasout，sheuntrulyinformedyourunclethathisbrotherhadconsentedtotheperformanceoftheoperation，andthathehadgonepurposelyoutofthehousebecausehehadnotnerveenoughtostayandwitnessit。Afterthat，yourunclenolongerhesitated。Hehadnofearofresults，providedhecouldbecertainofhisowncourage。Allhedreadedwastheeffectonhimofhisloveforthechildwhenhefirstfoundhimselffacetofacewiththedreadfulnecessityoftouchingherskinwiththeknife。"
　　Itriedhardtocontrolmyself，butIcouldnotrepressashudderatthosewords。
　　"Itisuselesstoshockyoubygoingintoparticulars，"saidthepriest，considerately。"LetitbeenoughifIsaythatyouruncle’sfortitudefailedtosupporthimwhenhewanteditmost。
　　Hisloveforthechildshookthefirmhandwhichhadnevertrembledbefore。Inaword，theoperationfailed。Yourfatherreturned，andfoundhischilddying。Thefrenzyofhisdespairwhenthetruthwastoldhimcarriedhimtoexcesseswhichitshocksmetomention——excesseswhichbeganinhisdegradinghisbrotherbyablow，whichendedinhisbindinghimselfbyanoathtomakethatbrothersufferpublicpunishmentforhisfatalrashnessinacourtoflaw。Yourunclewastooheartbrokenbywhathadhappenedtofeelthoseoutragesassomemenmighthavefeltthem。Helookedforonemomentathissister—in—law（Idonotliketosayyourmother，consideringwhatIhavenowtotellyou），toseeifshewouldacknowledgethatshehadencouragedhimtoattempttheoperation，andthatshehaddeceivedhiminsayingthathehadhisbrother’spermissiontotryit。Shewassilent，andwhenshespoke，itwastojoinherhusbandindenouncinghimasthemurdereroftheirchild。Whetherfearofyourfather’sanger，orrevengefulindignationagainstyourunclemostactuatedher，Icannotpresumetoinquireinyourpresence。Icanonlystatefacts。"
　　Thepriestpausedandlookedatmeanxiously。Icouldnotspeaktohimatthatmoment——Icouldonlyencouragehimtoproceedbypressinghishand。
　　Heresumedintheseterms：
　　"Meanwhile，youruncleturnedtoyourfather，andspokethelastwordshewasevertoaddresstohiseldestbrotherinthisworld。
　　Hesaid，’Ihavedeservedtheworstyourangercaninflictonme，butIwillspareyouthescandalofbringingmetojusticeinopencourt。Thelaw，ifitfoundmeguilty，couldattheworstbutbanishmefrommycountryandmyfriends。Iwillgoofmyownaccord。GodismywitnessthatIhonestlybelievedIcouldsavethechildfromdeformityandsuffering。Ihaveriskedallandlostall。Myheartandspiritarebroken。Iamfitfornothingbuttogoandhidemyself，andmyshameandmisery，fromalleyesthathaveeverlookedonme。Ishallnevercomeback，neverexpectyourpityorforgiveness。IfyouthinklessharshlyofmewhenIamgone，keepsecretwhathashappened；letnootherlipssayofmewhatyoursandyourwife’shavesaid。Ishallthinkthatforbearanceatonementenough——atonementgreaterthanIhavedeserved。Forgetmeinthisworld。Maywemeetinanother，wherethesecretsofallheartsareopened，andwherethechildwhoisgonebeforemaymakepeacebetweenus！’Hesaidthosewordsandwentout。Yourfatherneversawhimorheardfromhimagain。"
　　Iknewthereasonnowwhymyfatherhadneverconfidedthetruthtoanyone，hisownfamilyincluded。Mymotherhadevidentlyconfessedalltohersisterunderthesealofsecrecy，andtherethedreadfuldisclosurehadbeenarrested。
　　"Youruncletoldme，"thepriestcontinued，"thatbeforeheleftEnglandhetookleaveofyoubystealth，inaplaceyouwerestayingatbythesea—side。Tiehadnotthehearttoquithiscountryandhisfriendsforeverwithoutkissingyouforthelasttime。Hefollowedyouinthedark，andcaughtyouupinhisarms，andleftyouagainbeforeyouhadachanceofdiscoveringhim。
　　ThenextdayhequittedEngland。"
　　"Forthisplace？"Iasked。
　　"Yes。HehadspentaweekhereoncewithastudentfriendatthetimewhenhewasapupilintheHotelDieu，andtothisplacehereturnedtohide，tosuffer，andtodie。Weallsawthathewasamancrushedandbrokenbysomegreatsorrow，andwerespectedhimandhisaffliction。Helivedalone，andonlycameoutofdoorstowardevening，whenheusedtositonthebrowofthehillyonder，withhisheadonhishand，lookingtowardEngland。Thatplaceseemedafavoritewithhim，andheisburiedclosebyit。
　　Herevealedthestoryofhispastlifetonolivingsoulherebutme，andtomeheonlyspokewhenhislasthourwasapproaching。
　　Whathehadsufferedduringhislongexilenomancanpresumetosay。I，whosawmoreofhimthananyone，neverheardawordofcomplaintfallfromhislips。Hehadthecourageofthemartyrswhilehelived，andtheresignationofthesaintswhenhedied。
　　Justatthelasthismindwandered。Hesaidhesawhislittledarlingwaitingbythebedsidetoleadhimaway，andhediedwithasmileonhisface——thefirstIhadeverseenthere。"
　　Thepriestceased，andwewentouttogetherinthemournfultwilight，andstoodforalittlewhileonthebrowofthehillwhereUncleGeorgeusedtosit，withhisfaceturnedtowardEngland。HowmyheartachedforhimasIthoughtofwhathemusthavesufferedinthesilenceandsolitudeofhislongexile！WasitwellformethatIhaddiscoveredtheFamilySecretatlast？I
　　havesometimesthoughtnot。IhavesometimeswishedthatthedarknesshadneverbeenclearedawaywhichoncehidfrommethefateofUncleGeorge。
　　THETHIRDDAY。
　　FINEagain。Ourguestrodeout，withherraggedlittlegroom，asusual。Therewasnonewsyetinthepaper——thatistosay，nonewsofGeorgeorhisship。
　　OnthisdayMorgancompletedhissecondstory，andintwoorthreedaysmoreIexpectedtofinishthelastofmyowncontributions。Owenwasstillbehindhandandstilldespondent。
　　Thelotdrawingto—nightwasFive。ThisprovedtobethenumberofthefirstofMorgan’sstories，whichhehadcompletedbeforewebeganthereadings。Hissecondstory，finishedthisday，beingstilluncorrectedbyme，couldnotyetbeaddedtothecommonstock。
　　Onbeinginformedthatithadcometohisturntooccupytheattentionofthecompany，Morganstartledusbyimmediatelyobjectingtothetroubleofreadinghisowncomposition，andbycoollyhandingitovertome，onthegroundthatmynumerouscorrectionshadmadeit，toallintentsandpurposes，mystory。
　　OwenandIbothremonstrated；andJessie，mischievouslypersistinginherfavoritejestatMorgan’sexpense，entreatedthathewouldread，ifitwasonlyforhersake。Findingthatwewerealldetermined，andallagainsthim，hedeclaredthat，ratherthanhearourvoicesanylonger，hewouldsubmittotheminorinconvenienceoflisteningtohisown。Accordingly，hetookhismanuscriptbackagain，and，withanairofsurlyresignation，spreaditopenbeforehim。
　　"Idon’tthinkyouwilllikethisstory，miss，"hebegan，addressingJessie，"butIshallreadit，nevertheless，withthegreatestpleasure。Itbeginsinastable——itgropesitswaythroughadream——itkeepscompanywithahostler——anditstopswithoutanend。Whatdoyouthinkofthat？"
　　Afterfavoringhisaudiencewiththispromisingpreface，Morganindulgedhimselfinachuckleofsupremesatisfaction，andthenbegantoread，withoutwastinganotherpreliminarywordonanyoneofus。
　　BROTHERMORGAN’SSTORY
　　ofTHEDREAM—WOMAN。