WhileIacknowledgethatIwasnotstrongenoughtokeepmymotivesabovethereachofthisinstinctofrevenge，Icanhonestlysaysomethinginmyownfavourontheotherside。NobasespeculationonthefuturerelationsofLauraandmyself，andontheprivateandpersonalconcessionswhichImightforcefromSirPercivalifIoncehadhimatmymercy，everenteredmymind。Ineversaidtomyself，`IfIdosucceed，itshallbeoneresultofmysuccessthatIputitoutofherhusband’spowertotakeherfrommeagain。’Icouldnotlookatherandthinkofthefuturewithsuchthoughtsasthose。Thesadsightofthechangeinherfromherformerself，madetheoneinterestofmyloveaninterestoftendernessandcompassionwhichherfatherorherbrothermighthavefelt，andwhichIfelt，Godknows，inmyinmostheart。Allmyhopeslookednofartheronnowthantothedayofherrecovery。There，tillshewasstrongagainandhappyagain——there，tillshecouldlookatmeasshehadoncelooked，andspeaktomeasshehadoncespoken——thefutureofmyhappiestthoughtsandmydearestwishesended。
Thesewordsarewrittenundernopromptingofidleself-contemplation。
Passagesinthisnarrativearesoontocomewhichwillsetthemindsofothersinjudgmentonmyconduct。Itisrightthatthebestandtheworstofmeshouldbefairlybalancedbeforethattime。
OnthemorningaftermyreturnfromHampshireItookMarianupstairsintomyworking-room，andtherelaidbeforehertheplanthatIhadmaturedthusfar，formasteringtheoneassailablepointinthelifeofSirPercivalGlyde。
ThewaytotheSecretlaythroughthemystery，hithertoimpenetrabletoallofus，ofthewomaninwhite。TheapproachtothatinitsturnmightbegainedbyobtainingtheassistanceofAnneCatherick’smother，andtheonlyascertainablemeansofprevailingonMrsCathericktoactortospeakinthematterdependedonthechanceofmydiscoveringlocalparticularsandfamilyparticularsfirstofallfromMrsClements。Afterthinkingthesubjectovercarefully，IfeltcertainthatIcouldonlybeginthenewinquiriesbyplacingmyselfincommunicationwiththefaithfulfriendandprotectressofAnneCatherick。