Iheldhimdesperately，recklessly。Hiseyes，putmebesidemyself；hiswordsfilledmewithafrenzyofdespair。

"Gowhereyoumay，"Isaid，"Igowithyou！

Friends——reputation——IcarenothingwhoIlose，orwhatIlose！

Oh，Eustace，Iamonlyawoman——don’tmaddenme！Ican’tlivewithoutyou。Imustandwillbeyourwife！"

ThosewildwordswereallIcouldsaybeforethemiseryandmadnessinmeforcedtheirwayoutwardinaburstofsobsandtears。

Heyielded。Hesoothedmewithhischarmingvoice；hebroughtmebacktomyselfwithhistendercaresses。Hecalledthebrightheavenaboveustowitnessthathedevotedhiswholelifetome。

Hevowed——oh，insuchsolemn，sucheloquentwords！——thathisonethought，nightandday，shouldbetoprovehimselfworthyofsuchloveasmine。Andhadhenotnoblyredeemedthepledge？Hadnotthebetrothalofthatmemorablenightbeenfollowedbythebetrothalatthealtar，bythevowsbeforeGod！Ah，whatalifewasbeforeme！Whatmorethanmortalhappinesswasmine！

AgainIliftedmyheadfromhisbosomtotastethedeardelightofseeinghimbymyside——mylife，mylove，myhusband，myown！

Hardlyawakenedyetfromtheabsorbingmemoriesofthepasttothesweetrealitiesofthepresent，Iletmycheektouchhischeek，Iwhisperedtohimsoftly，"Oh，howIloveyou！howIloveyou！"

ThenextinstantIstartedbackfromhim。Myheartstoodstill。I

putmyhanduptomyface。WhatdidIfeelonmycheek？（_I_hadnotbeenweeping——Iwastoohappy。）WhatdidIfeelonmycheek？

Atear！

Hisfacewasstillavertedfromme。Iturnedittowardme，withmyownhands，bymainforce。

Ilookedathim——andsawmyhusband，onourwedding—day，withhiseyesfulloftears。

CHAPTERIII。

RAMSGATESANDS。

EUSTACEsucceededinquietingmyalarm。ButIcanhardlysaythathesucceededinsatisfyingmymindaswell。

Hehadbeenthinking，hetoldme，ofthecontrastbetweenhispastandhispresentlife。Bitterremembranceoftheyearsthathadgonehadriseninhismemory，andhadfilledhimwithmelancholymisgivingsofhiscapacitytomakemylifewithhimahappyone。Hehadaskedhimselfifhehadnotmetmetoolate——ifhewerenotalreadyamansouredandbrokenbythedisappointmentsanddisenchantmentsofthepast？Doubtssuchasthese，weighingmoreandmoreheavilyonhismind，hadfilledhiseyeswiththetearswhichIhaddiscovered——tearswhichhenowentreatedme，bymyloveforhim，todismissfrommymemoryforever。

Iforgavehim，comfortedhim，revivedhim；butthereweremomentswhentheremembranceofwhatIhadseentroubledmeinsecret，andwhenIaskedmyselfifIreallypossessedmyhusband’sfullconfidenceashepossessedmine。

WeleftthetrainatRamsgate。

Thefavoritewatering—placewasempty；theseasonwasjustover。

OurarrangementsfortheweddingtourincludedacruisetotheMediterraneaninayachtlenttoEustacebyafriend。Wewerebothfondofthesea，andwewereequallydesirous，consideringthecircumstancesunderwhichwehadmarried，ofescapingthenoticeoffriendsandacquaintances。Withthisobjectinview，havingcelebratedourmarriageprivatelyinLondon，wehaddecidedoninstructingthesailing—masteroftheyachttojoinusatRamsgate。Atthisport（whentheseasonforvisitorswasatanend）wecouldembarkfarmoreprivatelythanatthepopularyachtingstationssituatedintheIsleofWight。

Threedayspassed——daysofdelicioussolitude，ofexquisitehappiness，nevertobeforgotten，nevertobelivedoveragain，totheendofourlives！

Earlyonthemorningofthefourthday，justbeforesunrise，atriflingincidenthappened，whichwasnoticeable，nevertheless，asbeingstrangetomeinmyexperienceofmyself。

Iawoke，suddenlyandunaccountably，fromadeepanddreamlesssleepwithanall—pervadingsensationofnervousuneasinesswhichIhadneverfeltbefore。IntheolddaysattheVicaragemycapacityasasoundsleeperhadbeenthesubjectofmanyalittleharmlessjoke。FromthemomentwhenmyheadwasonthepillowI

hadneverknownwhatitwastoawakeuntilthemaidknockedatmydoor。AtallseasonsandtimesthelonganduninterruptedreposeofachildwasthereposethatIenjoyed。

AndnowIhadawakened，withoutanyassignablecause，hoursbeforemyusualtime。Itriedtocomposemyselftosleepagain。

Theeffortwasuseless。SucharestlessnesspossessedmethatI

wasnotevenabletoliestillinthebed。Myhusbandwassleepingsoundlybymyside。InthefearofdisturbinghimI

rose，andputonmydressing—gownandslippers。

Iwenttothewindow。Thesunwasjustrisingoverthecalmgraysea。Forawhilethemajesticspectaclebeforemeexercisedatranquilizinginfluenceontheirritableconditionofmynerves。

Buterelongtheoldrestlessnessreturneduponme。Iwalkedslowlytoandfrointheroom，untilIwaswearyofthemonotonyoftheexercise。Itookupabook，andlaiditasideagain。Myattentionwandered；theauthorwaspowerlesstorecallit。Igotonmyfeetoncemore，andlookedatEustace，andadmiredhimandlovedhiminhistranquilsleep。Iwentbacktothewindow，andweariedofthebeautifulmorning。Isatdownbeforetheglassandlookedatmyself。HowhaggardandwornIwasalready，throughawakingbeforemyusualtime！Iroseagain，notknowingwhattodonext。Theconfinementtothefourwallsoftheroombegantobeintolerabletome。Iopenedthedoorthatledintomyhusband’sdressing—room，andenteredit，totryifthechangewouldrelieveme。

ThefirstobjectthatInoticedwashisdressing—case，openonthetoilet—table。

Itookoutthebottlesandpotsandbrushesandcombs，theknivesandscissorsinonecompartment，thewritingmaterialsinanother。Ismelledtheperfumesandpomatums；IbusilycleanedanddustedthebottleswithmyhandkerchiefasItookthemout。

LittlebylittleIcompletelyemptiedthedressing—case。Itwaslinedwithbluevelvet。InonecornerInoticedatinyslipofloosebluesilk。Takingitbetweenmyfingerandthumb，anddrawingitupward，Idiscoveredthattherewasafalsebottomtothecase，formingasecretcompartmentforlettersandpapers。Inmystrangecondition——capricious，idle，inquisitive——itwasanamusementtometotakeoutthepapers，justasIhadtakenouteverythingelse。

Ifoundsomereceiptedbills，whichfailedtointerestme；someletters，whichitisneedlesstosayIlaidasideafteronlylookingattheaddresses；and，underall，aphotograph，facedownward，withwritingonthebackofit。Ilookedatthewriting，andsawthesewords：

"Tomydearson，Eustace。"

Hismother！thewomanwhohadsoobstinatelyandmercilesslyopposedherselftoourmarriage！

Ieagerlyturnedthephotograph，expectingtoseeawomanwithastern，ill—tempered，forbiddingcountenance。Tomysurprise，thefaceshowedtheremainsofgreatbeauty；theexpression，thoughremarkablyfirm，wasyetwinning，tender，andkind。Thegrayhairwasarrangedinrowsoflittlequaintold—fashionedcurlsoneithersideofthehead，underaplainlacecap。Atonecornerofthemouththerewasamark，apparentlyamole，whichaddedtothecharacteristicpeculiarityoftheface。Ilookedandlooked，fixingtheportraitthoroughlyinmymind。Thiswoman，whohadalmostinsultedmeandmyrelatives，was，beyondalldoubtordispute，sofarasappearanceswent，apersonpossessingunusualattractions——apersonwhomitwouldbeapleasureandaprivilegetoknow。

Ifellintodeepthought。Thediscoveryofthephotographquietedmeasnothinghadquietedmeyet。

Thestrikingofaclockdownstairsinthehallwarnedmeoftheflightoftime。Icarefullyputbackalltheobjectsinthedressing—case（beginningwiththephotograph）exactlyasIhadfoundthem，andreturnedtothebedroom。AsIlookedatmyhusband，stillsleepingpeacefully，thequestionforceditselfintomymind，Whathadmadethatgenial，gentlemotherofhissosternlybentonpartingus？soharshlyandpitilesslyresoluteinassertingherdisapprovalofourmarriage？

CouldIputmyquestionopenlytoEustacewhenheawoke？No；I

wasafraidtoventurethatlength。Ithadbeentacitlyunderstoodbetweenusthatwewerenottospeakofhismother——and，besides，hemightbeangryifheknewthatIhadopenedtheprivatecompartmentofhisdressing—case。

Afterbreakfastthatmorningwehadnewsatlastoftheyacht。

Thevesselwassafelymooredintheinnerharbor，andthesailing—masterwaswaitingtoreceivemyhusband’sordersonboard。

Eustacehesitatedataskingmetoaccompanyhimtotheyacht。Itwouldbenecessaryforhimtoexaminetheinventoryofthevessel，andtodecidequestions，notveryinterestingtoawoman，relatingtochartsandbarometers，provisionsandwater。HeaskedmeifIwouldwaitforhisreturn。Thedaywasenticinglybeautiful，andthetidewasontheebb。Ipleadedforawalkonthesands；andthelandladyatourlodgings，whohappenedtobeintheroomatthetime，volunteeredtoaccompanymeandtakecareofme。ItwasagreedthatweshouldwalkasfaraswefeltinclinedinthedirectionofBroadstairs，andthatEustaceshouldfollowandmeetusonthesands，afterhavingcompletedhisarrangementsonboardtheyacht。

InhalfanhourmorethelandladyandIwereoutonthebeach。

Thesceneonthatfineautumnmorningwasnothinglessthanenchanting。Thebriskbreeze，thebrilliantsky，theflashingbluesea，thesun—brightcliffsandthetawnysandsattheirfeet，theglidingprocessionofshipsonthegreatmarinehighwayoftheEnglishChannel——itwasallsoexhilarating，itwasallsodelightful，thatIreallybelieveifIhadbeenbymyselfIcouldhavedancedforjoylikeachild。Theonedrawbacktomyhappinesswasthelandlady’suntiringtongue。Shewasaforward，good—natured，empty—headedwoman，whopersistedintalking，whetherIlistenedornot，andwhohadahabitofperpetuallyaddressingmeas"Mrs。Woodville，"whichIthoughtalittleoverfamiliarasanassertionofequalityfromapersoninherpositiontoapersoninmine。

Wehadbeenout，Ishouldthink，morethanhalfanhour，whenweovertookaladywalkingbeforeusonthebeach。

Justaswewereabouttopassthestrangershetookherhandkerchieffromherpocket，andaccidentallydrewoutwithitaletter，whichfellunnoticedbyher，onthesand。Iwasnearesttotheletter，andIpickeditupandofferedittothelady。

Theinstantsheturnedtothankme，Istoodrootedtothespot。

Therewastheoriginalofthephotographicportraitinthedressing—case！therewasmyhusband’smother，standingfacetofacewithme！Irecognizedthequaintlittlegraycurls，thegentle，genialexpression，themoleatthecornerofthemouth。

Nomistakewaspossible。Hismotherherself！

Theoldlady，naturallyenough，mistookmyconfusionforshyness。

Withperfecttactandkindnesssheenteredintoconversationwithme。InanotherminuteIwaswalkingsidebysidewiththewomanwhohadsternlyrepudiatedmeasamemberofherfamily；feeling，Iown，terriblydiscomposed，andnotknowingintheleastwhetherIoughtoroughtnottoassumetheresponsibility，inmyhusband’sabsence，oftellingherwhoIwas。

Inanotherminutemyfamiliarlandlady，walkingontheothersideofmymother—in—law，decidedthequestionforme。IhappenedtosaythatIsupposedwemustbythattimebeneartheendofourwalk——thelittlewatering—placecalledBroadstairs。"Ohno，Mrs。

Woodville！criedtheirrepressiblewoman，callingmebymyname，asusual；"nothinglikesonearasyouthink！"

Ilookedwithabeatingheartattheoldlady。

Tomyunutterableamazement，notthefaintestgleamofrecognitionappearedinherface。OldMrs。WoodvillewentontalkingtoyoungMrs。Woodvillejustascomposedlyasifshehadneverheardherownnamebeforeinherlife！

MyfaceandmannermusthavebetrayedsomethingoftheagitationthatIwassuffering。Happeningtolookatmeattheendofhernextsentence，theoldladystarted，andsaid，inherkindlyway，"Iamafraidyouhaveoverexertedyourself。Youareverypale——youarelookingquiteexhausted。Comeandsitdownhere；

letmelendyoumysmelling—bottle。"

Ifollowedher，quitehelplessly，tothebaseofthecliff。Somefallenfragmentsofchalkofferedusaseat。Ivaguelyheardthevolublelandlady’sexpressionsofsympathyandregret；I

mechanicallytookthesmelling—bottlewhichmyhusband’smotherofferedtome，afterhearingmyname，asanactofkindnesstoastrangerIfIhadonlyhadmyselftothinkof，IbelieveIshouldhaveprovokedanexplanationonthespot。ButIhadEustacetothinkof。Iwasentirelyignorantoftherelations，hostileorfriendly，whichexistedbetweenhismotherandhimself。WhatcouldIdo？

Inthemeantimetheoldladywasstillspeakingtomewiththemostconsideratesympathy。Shetoowasfatigued。shesaid。ShehadpassedawearynightatthebedsideofanearrelativestayingatRamsgate。Onlythedaybeforeshehadreceivedatelegramannouncingthatoneofhersisterswasseriouslyill。

ShewasherselfthankGod，stillactiveandstrong，andshehadthoughtitherdutytostartatonceforRamsgate。Towardthemorningthestateofthepatienthadimproved。"Thedoctorassuresmema’am，thatthereisnoimmediatedanger；andI

thoughtitmightreviveme，aftermylongnightatthebedside，ifItookalittlewalkonthebeach。"

Iheardthewords——Iunderstoodwhattheymeant——butIwasstilltoobewilderedandtoointimidatedbymyextraordinarypositiontobeabletocontinuetheconversation。Thelandladyhadasensiblesuggestiontomake——thelandladywasthenextpersonwhospoke。

"Hereisagentlemancoming，"shesaidtome，pointinginthedirectionofRamsgate。Youcanneverwalkback。ShallweaskhimtosendachaisefromBroadstairstothegapinthecliff？"

Thegentlemanadvancedalittlenearer。

ThelandladyandIrecognizedhimatthesamemoment。ItwasEustacecomingtomeetus，aswehadarranged。Theirrepressiblelandladygavethefreestexpressiontoherfeelings。Oh，Mrs。

Woodville，ain’titlucky？hereisMr。Woodvillehimself。"

OncemoreIlookedatmymother—in—law。Oncemorethenamefailedtoproducetheslightesteffectonher。Hersightwasnotsokeenasours；shehadnotrecognizedhersonyet。Hehadyoungeyeslikeus，andherecognizedhismother。Foramomenthestoppedlikeamanthunderstruck。Thenhecameon——hisruddyfacewhitewithsuppressedemotion，hiseyesfixedonhismother。

"Youhere！"hesaidtoher。

"Howdoyoudo，Eustace？"shequietlyrejoined。"Have_you_heardofyouraunt’sillnesstoo？DidyouknowshewasstayingatRamsgate？"

Hemadenoanswer。Thelandlady，drawingtheinevitableinferencefromthewordsthatshehadjustheard，lookedfrommetomymother—in—lawinastateofamazement，whichparalyzedevenhertongue。Iwaitedwithmyeyesonmyhusband，toseewhathewoulddo。Ifhehaddelayedacknowledgingmeanothermoment，thewholefuturecourseofmylifemighthavebeenaltered——Ishouldhavedespisedhim。

Hedid_not_delay。Hecametomysideandtookmyhand。

"Doyouknowwhothisis？"besaidtohismother。

Sheanswered，lookingatmewithacourteousbendofherhead：

"AladyImetonthebeach，Eustace，whokindlyrestoredtomealetterthatIdropped。IthinkIheardthename"（sheturnedtothelandlady）：Mrs。Woodville，wasitnot？"

Myhusband’sfingersunconsciouslyclosedonmyhandwithagraspthathurtme。Hesethismotherright，itisonlyjusttosay，withoutonecowardlymomentofhesitation。

"Mother，"hesaidtoher，veryquietly，"thisladyismywife。"

Shehadhithertokeptherseat。Shenowroseslowlyandfacedhersoninsilence。Thefirstexpressionofsurprisepassedfromherface。ItwassucceededbythemostterriblelookofmingledindignationandcontemptthatIeversawinawoman’seyes。

"Ipityyourwife，"shesaid。

Withthosewordsandnomore，liftingherhandshewavedhimbackfromher，andwentonherwayagain，aswehadfirstfoundher，alone。

CHAPTERIV。

ONTHEWAYHOME。

LEFTbyourselves，therewasamomentofsilenceamongus。

Eustacespokefirst。

"Areyouabletowalkback？"hesaidtome。"OrshallwegoontoBroadstairs，andreturntoRamsgatebytherailway？"

Heputthosequestionsascomposedly，sofarashismannerwasconcerned，asifnothingremarkablehadhappened。Buthiseyesandhislipsbetrayedhim。Theytoldmethathewassufferingkeenlyinsecret。Theextraordinaryscenethathadjustpassed，farfromdeprivingmeofthelastremainsofmycourage，hadstrungupmynervesandrestoredmyself—possession。Imusthavebeenmoreorlessthanwomanifmyself—respecthadnotbeenwounded，ifmycuriosityhadnotbeenwroughttothehighestpitch，bytheextraordinaryconductofmyhusband’smotherwhenEustacepresentedmetoher。Whatwasthesecretofherdespisinghim，andpityingme？Wherewastheexplanationofherincomprehensibleapathywhenmynamewastwicepronouncedinherhearing？Whyhadsheleftus，asifthebareideaofremaininginourcompanywasabhorrenttoher？Theforemostinterestofmylifewasnowtheinterestofpenetratingthesemysteries。Walk？I

wasinsuchafeverofexpectationthatIfeltasifIcouldhavewalkedtotheworld’send，ifIcouldonlykeepmyhusbandbymyside，andquestionhimontheway。

"Iamquiterecovered，"Isaid。"Letusgoback，aswecame，onfoot。"

Eustaceglancedatthelandlady。Thelandladyunderstoodhim。

"Iwon’tintrudemycompanyonyou，sir，"shesaid，sharply。"I

havesomebusinesstodoatBroadstairs，and，nowIamsonear，I

mayaswellgoon。Good—morning，Mrs。Woodville。"

Shelaidamarkedemphasisonmyname，andsheaddedonesignificantlookatparting，which（inthepreoccupiedstateofmymindatthatmoment）Ientirelyfailedtocomprehend。Therewasneithertimenoropportunitytoaskherwhatshemeant。Withastifflittlebow，addressedtoEustace，sheleftusashismotherhadleftustakingthewaytoBroadstairs，andwalkingrapidly。

Atlastwewerealone。

Ilostnotimeinbeginningmyinquiries；Iwastednowordsinprefatoryphrases。IntheplainesttermsIputthequestiontohim：

"Whatdoesyourmother’sconductmean？"

Insteadofanswering，heburstintoafitoflaughter——loud，coarse，hardlaughter，soutterlyunlikeanysoundIhadeveryetheardissuefromhislips，sostrangelyandshockinglyforeigntohischaracteras_I_understoodit，thatIstoodstillonthesandsandopenlyremonstratedwithhim。

"Eustace！youarenotlikeyourself，"Isaid。Youalmostfrightenme。"

Hetooknonotice。Heseemedtobepursuingsomepleasanttrainofthoughtjuststartedinhismind。

"Solikemymother！"heexclaimed，withtheairofamanwhofeltirresistiblydivertedbysomehumorousideaofhisown。"Tellmeallaboutit，Valeria！"

"Tell_you_！"Irepeated。"Afterwhathashappened，surelyitisyourdutytoenlighten_me_。"

"Youdon’tseethejoke，"hesaid。

"Inotonlyfailtoseethejoke，"Irejoined，"Iseesomethinginyourmother’slanguageandyourmother’sbehaviorwhichjustifiesmeinaskingyouforaseriousexplanation。"

"MydearValeria，ifyouunderstoodmymotheraswellasIdo，aseriousexplanationofherconductwouldbethelastthingintheworldthatyouwouldexpectfromme。Theideaoftakingmymotherseriously！"Heburstoutlaughingagain。"Mydarling，youdon’tknowhowyouamuseme。"

Itwasallforced：itwasallunnatural。He，themostdelicate，themostrefinedofmen——agentlemaninthehighestsenseoftheword——wascoarseandloudandvulgar！Myheartsankunderasuddensenseofmisgivingwhich，withallmyloveforhim，itwasimpossibletoresist。InunutterabledistressandalarmIaskedmyself，"Ismyhusbandbeginningtodeceiveme？isheactingapart，andactingitbadly，beforewehavebeenmarriedaweek？"I

setmyselftowinhisconfidenceinanewway。Hewasevidentlydeterminedtoforcehisownpointofviewonme。Idetermined，onmyside，toaccepthispointofview。

"YoutellmeIdon’tunderstandyourmother，"Isaid，gently。

"Willyouhelpmetounderstandher？"

"Itisnoteasytohelpyoutounderstandawomanwhodoesn’tunderstandherself，"heanswered。"ButIwilltry。Thekeytomypoordearmother’scharacteris，inoneword——Eccentricity。"

IfhehadpickedoutthemostinappropriatewordinthewholedictionarytodescribetheladywhomIhadmetonthebeach，"Eccentricity"wouldhavebeenthatword。AchildwhohadseenwhatIsaw，whohadheardwhatIheardwouldhavediscoveredthathewastrifling——grossly，recklesslytrifling——withthetruth"BearinmindwhatIhavesaid，"heproceeded；"andifyouwanttounderstandmymother，dowhatIaskedyoutodoaminutesince——tellmeallaboutit。Howcameyoutospeaktoher，tobeginwith？"

"Yourmothertoldyou，Eustace。Iwaswalkingjustbehindher，whenshedroppedaletterbyaccident——"

"Noaccident，"heinterposed。"Theletterwasdroppedonpurpose。"

"Impossible！"Iexclaimed。"Whyshouldyourmotherdroptheletteronpurpose？"

"Usethekeytohercharacter，mydear。Eccentricity！Mymother’soddwayofmakingacquaintancewithyou。"

"Makingacquaintancewithme？IhavejusttoldyouthatIwaswalkingbehindher。ShecouldnothaveknownoftheexistenceofsuchapersonasmyselfuntilIspoketoherfirst。"

"Soyousuppose，Valeria。"

"Iamcertainofit。"

"Pardonme——youdon’tknowmymotherasIdo。"

Ibegantoloseallpatiencewithhim。

"Doyoumeantotellme，"Isaid，"thatyourmotherwasoutonthesandsto—dayfortheexpresspurposeofmakingacquaintancewithMe？"

"Ihavenottheslightestdoubtofit，"heanswered，coolly。

"Why，shedidn’tevenrecognizemyname！"Iburstout。"TwiceoverthelandladycalledmeMrs。Woodvilleinyourmother’shearing，andtwiceover，Ideclaretoyouonmywordofhonor，itfailedtoproducetheslightestimpressiononher。Shelookedandactedasifshehadneverheardherownnamebeforeinherlife。"

"’Acted’istherightword，"hesaid，justascomposedlyasbefore。"Thewomenonthestagearenottheonlywomenwhocanact。Mymother’sobjectwastomakeherselfthoroughlyacquaintedwithyou，andtothrowyouoffyourguardbyspeakinginthecharacterofastranger。Itisexactlylikehertotakethatroundaboutwayofsatisfyinghercuriosityaboutadaughter—in—lawshedisapprovesof。IfIhadnotjoinedyouwhenIdid，youwouldhavebeenexaminedandcross—examinedaboutyourselfandaboutme，andyouwouldinnocentlyhaveansweredundertheimpressionthatyouwerespeakingtoachanceacquaintance。Thereismymotherallover！Sheisyourenemy，remember——notyourfriend。Sheisnotinsearchofyourmerits，butofyourfaults。Andyouwonderwhynoimpressionwasproducedonherwhensheheardyouaddressedbyyourname！Poorinnocent！

Icantellyouthis——youonlydiscoveredmymotherinherowncharacterwhenIputanendtothemystificationbypresentingyoutoeachother。Yousawhowangryshewas，andnowyouknowwhy。"

Ilethimgoonwithoutsayingaword。Ilistened——oh！withsuchaheavyheart，withsuchacrushingsenseofdisenchantmentanddespair！Theidolofmyworship，thecompanion，guide，protectorofmylife——hadhefallensolow？couldhestooptosuchshamelessprevaricationasthis？

Wasthereonewordoftruthinallthathehadsaidtome？Yes！

IfIhadnotdiscoveredhismother’sportrait，itwascertainlytruethatIshouldnothaveknown，notevenhavevaguelysuspected，whoshereallywas。Apartfromthis，therestwaslying，clumsylying，whichsaidonethingatleastforhim，thathewasnotaccustomedtofalsehoodanddeceit。GoodHeavens！ifmyhusbandwastobebelieved，hismothermusthavetrackedustoLondon，trackedustothechurch，trackedustotherailwaystation，trackedustoRamsgate！ToassertthatsheknewmebysightasthewifeofEustace，andthatshehadwaitedonthesandsanddroppedherletterfortheexpresspurposeofmakingacquaintancewithme，wasalsotoasserteveryoneofthesemonstrousprobabilitiestobefactsthathadactuallyhappened！

Icouldsaynomore。Iwalkedbyhissideinsilence，feelingthemiserableconvictionthattherewasanabyssintheshapeofafamilysecretbetweenmyhusbandandme。Inthespirit，ifnotinthebody，wewereseparated，afteramarriedlifeofbarelyfourdays。

"Valeria，"heasked，"haveyounothingtosaytome？"

"Nothing。"

"Areyounotsatisfiedwithmyexplanation？"

Idetectedaslighttremorinhisvoiceasheputthatquestion。

Thetonewas，forthefirsttimesincewehadspokentogether，atonethatmyexperienceassociatedwithhimincertainmoodsofhiswhichIhadalreadylearnedtoknowwell。Amongthehundredthousandmysteriousinfluenceswhichamanexercisesoverawomanwholoveshim，Idoubtifthereisanymoreirresistibletoherthantheinfluenceofhisvoice。Iamnotoneofthosewomenwhoshedtearsonthesmallestprovocation：itisnotinmytemperament，Isuppose。ButwhenIheardthatlittlenaturalchangeinhistonemymindwentback（Ican’tsaywhy）tothehappydaywhenIfirstownedthatIlovedhim。Iburstoutcrying。

Hesuddenlystoodstill，andtookmebythehand。Hetriedtolookatme。

Ikeptmyheaddownandmyeyesontheground。Iwasashamedofmyweaknessandmywantofspirit。Iwasdeterminednottolookathim。

Inthesilencethatfollowedhesuddenlydroppedonhiskneesatmyfeet，withacryofdespairthatcutthroughmelikeaknife。

"Valeria！Iamvile——Iamfalse——Iamunworthyofyou。Don’tbelieveawordofwhatIhavebeensaying——lies，lies，cowardly，contemptiblelies！Youdon’tknowwhatIhavegonethrough；youdon’tknowhowIhavebeentortured。Oh，mydarling，trynottodespiseme！ImusthavebeenbesidemyselfwhenIspoketoyouasIdid。Youlookedhurt；youlookedoffended；Ididn’tknowwhattodo。Iwantedtospareyouevenamoment’spain——Iwantedtohushitup，andhavedonewithit。ForGod’ssakedon’taskmetotellyouanymore！Mylove！myangel！it’ssomethingbetweenmymotherandme；it’snothingthatneeddisturbyou；it’snothingtoanybodynow。Iloveyou，Iadoreyou；mywholeheartandsoulareyours。Besatisfiedwiththat。Forgetwhathashappened。Youshallneverseemymotheragain。Wewillleavethisplaceto—morrow。Wewillgoawayintheyacht。Doesitmatterwherewelive，solongasweliveforeachother？Forgiveandforget！Oh，Valeria，Valeria，forgiveandforget！"

Unutterablemiserywasinhisface；unutterablemiserywasinhisvoice。Rememberthis。AndrememberthatIlovedhim。

"Itiseasytoforgive，"Isaid，sadly。"Foryoursake，Eustace，Iwilltrytoforget。"

IraisedhimgentlyasIspoke。Hekissedmyhandswiththeairofamanwhowastoohumbletoventureonanymorefamiliarexpressionofhisgratitudethanthat。ThesenseofembarrassmentbetweenusasweslowlywalkedonagainwassounendurablethatI

actuallycastaboutinmymindforasubjectofconversation，asifIhadbeeninthecompanyofastranger！Inmercyto_him_，I

askedhimtotellmeabouttheyacht。

Heseizedonthesubjectasadrowningmanseizesonthehandthatrescueshim。

Onthatonepoorlittletopicoftheyachthetalked，talked，talked，asifhislifedependeduponhisnotbeingsilentforaninstantontherestofthewayback。Tomeitwasdreadfultohearhim。Icouldestimatewhathewassufferingbytheviolencewhichhe——ordinarilyasilentandthoughtfulman——wasnowdoingtohistruenature，andtotheprejudicesandhabitsofhislife。

WiththegreatestdifficultyIpreservedmyself—controluntilwereachedthedoorofourlodgings。ThereIwasobligedtopleadfatigue，andaskhimtoletmerestforalittlewhileinthesolitudeofmyownroom。

"Shallwesailto—morrow？"hecalledaftermesuddenly，asI

ascendedthestairs。