SailwithhimtotheMediterraneanthenextday？Passweeksandweeksabsolutelyalonewithhim，inthenarrowlimitsofavessel，withhishorriblesecretpartingusinsympathyfurtherandfurtherfromeachotherdaybyday？Ishudderedatthethoughtofit。
\"To—morrowisratherashortnotice，\"Isaid。\"Willyougivemealittlelongertimetoprepareforthevoyage？\"
\"Ohyes——takeanytimeyoulike，\"heanswered，not（asIthought）
verywillingly。\"Whileyouareresting——therearestilloneortwolittlethingstobesettled——IthinkIwillgobacktotheyacht。IsthereanythingIcandoforyou，Valeria，beforeIgo？\"
\"Nothing——thankyou，Eustace。\"
Hehastenedawaytotheharbor。Washeafraidofhisownthoughts，ifhewereleftbyhimselfinthehouse。Wasthecompanyofthesailing—masterandthestewardbetterthannocompanyatall？
Itwasuselesstoask。WhatdidIknowabouthimorhisthoughts？
Ilockedmyselfintomyroom。
CHAPTERV。
THELANDLADY’SDISCOVERY。
ISATdown，andtriedtocomposemyspirits。Noworneverwasthetimetodecidewhatitwasmydutytomyhusbandandmydutytomyselftodonext。
Theeffortwasbeyondme。Wornoutinmindandbodyalike，Iwasperfectlyincapableofpursuinganyregulartrainofthought。I
vaguelyfelt——ifIleftthingsastheywere——thatIcouldneverhopetoremovetheshadowwhichnowrestedonthemarriedlifethathadbegunsobrightly。Wemightlivetogether，soastosaveappearances。Buttoforgetwhathadhappened，ortofeelsatisfiedwithmyposition，wasbeyondthepowerofmywill。Mytranquillityasawoman——perhapsmydearestinterestsasawife——dependedabsolutelyonpenetratingthemysteryofmymother—in—law’sconduct，andondiscoveringthetruemeaningofthewildwordsofpenitenceandself—reproachwhichmyhusbandhadaddressedtomeonourwayhome。
SofarIcouldadvancetowardrealizingmyposition——andnofurther。WhenIaskedmyselfwhatwastobedonenext，hopelessconfusion，maddeningdoubt，filledmymind，andtransformedmeintothemostlistlessandhelplessoflivingwomen。
Igaveupthestruggle。Indull，stupid，obstinatedespair，I
threwmyselfonmybed，andfellfromsheerfatigueintoabroken，uneasysleep。
Iwasawakenedbyaknockatthedoorofmyroom。
Wasitmyhusband？Istartedtomyfeetastheideaoccurredtome。Wassomenewtrialofmypatienceandmyfortitudeathand？
Halfnervously，halfirritably，Iaskedwhowasthere。
Thelandlady’svoiceansweredme。
\"CanIspeaktoyouforamoment，ifyouplease？\"
Iopenedthedoor。Thereisnodisguisingit——thoughIlovedhimsodearly，thoughIhadlefthomeandfriendsforhissake——itwasarelieftome，atthatmiserabletime，toknowthatEustacehadnotreturnedtothehouse。
Thelandladycamein，andtookaseat，withoutwaitingtobeinvited，closebymyside。Shewasnolongersatisfiedwithmerelyassertingherselfasmyequal。Ascendinganothersteponthesocialladder，shetookherstandontheplatformofpatronage，andcharitablylookeddownonmeasanobjectofpity。
\"IhavejustreturnedfromBroadstairs，\"shebegan。\"IhopeyouwilldomethejusticetobelievethatIsincerelyregretwhathashappened。\"
Ibowed，andsaidnothing。
\"Asagentlewomanmyself，\"proceededthelandlady——\"reducedbyfamilymisfortunestoletlodgings，butstillagentlewoman——I
feelsinceresympathywithyou。Iwillevengofurtherthanthat。
IwilltakeitonmyselftosaythatIdon’tblame_you_。No，no。
Inoticedthatyouwereasmuchshockedandsurprisedatyourmother—in—law’sconductasIwas；andthatissayingagreatdeal——agreatdealindeed。However，Ihaveadutytoperform。Itisdisagreeable，butitisnotthelessadutyonthataccount。I
amasinglewoman；notfromwantofopportunitiesofchangingmycondition——Ibegyouwillunderstandthat——butfromchoice。
SituatedasIam，Ireceiveonlythemostrespectablepersonsintomyhouse。Theremustbenomysteryaboutthepositionsof_my_lodgers。Mysteryinthepositionofalodgercarrieswithit——whatshallIsay？Idon’twishtooffendyou——Iwillsay，acertainTaint。Verywell。NowIputittoyourowncommon—sense。
Canapersoninmypositionbeexpectedtoexposeherselfto——Taint？ImaketheseremarksinasisterlyandChristianspirit。Asaladyyourself——Iwillevengothelengthofsayingacruellyusedlady——youwill，Iamsure，understand——\"
Icouldendureitnolonger。Istoppedherthere。
\"Iunderstand，\"Isaid，\"thatyouwishtogiveusnoticetoquityourlodgings。Whendoyouwantustogo？\"
Thelandladyheldupalong，lean，redhand，inasorrowfulandsisterlyprotest。
\"No，\"shesaid。\"Notthattone；notthoselooks。It’snaturalyoushouldbeannoyed；it’snaturalyoushouldbeangry。Butdo——nowdopleasetryandcontrolyourself。Iputittoyourowncommon—sense（wewillsayaweekforthenoticetoquit）——whynottreatmelikeafriend？Youdon’tknowwhatasacrifice，whatacruelsacrifice，Ihavemade——entirelyforyoursake。
\"You？\"Iexclaimed。\"Whatsacrifice？\"
\"Whatsacrifice？\"repeatedthelandlady。\"Ihavedegradedmyselfasagentlewoman。Ihaveforfeitedmyownself—respect。\"Shepausedforamoment，andsuddenlyseizedmyhandinaperfectfrenzyoffriendship。\"Oh，mypoordear！\"criedthisintolerableperson。\"Ihavediscoveredeverything。Avillainhasdeceivedyou。YouarenomoremarriedthanIam！\"
Isnatchedmyhandoutofhers，androseangrilyfrommychair。
\"Areyoumad？\"Iasked。
Thelandladyraisedhereyestotheceilingwiththeairofapersonwhohaddeservedmartyrdom，andwhosubmittedtoitcheerfully。
\"Yes，\"shesaid。\"IbegintothinkI_am_mad——madtohavedevotedmyselftoanungratefulwoman，toapersonwhodoesn’tappreciateasisterlyandChristiansacrificeofself。Well，I
won’tdoitagain。Heavenforgiveme——Iwon’tdoitagain！\"
\"Dowhatagain？\"Iasked。
\"Followyourmother—in—law，\"criedthelandlady，suddenlydroppingthecharacterofamartyr，andassumingthecharacterofavixeninitsplace。\"IblushwhenIthinkofit。Ifollowedthatmostrespectablepersoneverystepofthewaytoherowndoor。\"
Thusfarmypridehadheldmeup。Itsustainedmenolonger。I
droppedbackagainintomychair，inundisguiseddreadofwhatwascomingnext。
\"IgaveyoualookwhenIleftyouonthebeach，\"pursuedthelandlady，growinglouderandlouderandredderandredderasshewenton。\"Agratefulwomanwouldhaveunderstoodthatlook。Nevermind！Iwon’tdoitagainIovertookyourmother—in—lawatthegapinthecliff。Ifollowedher——oh，howIfeelthedisgraceofit_now！_——IfollowedhertothestationatBroadstairs。ShewentbackbytraintoRamsgate。_I_wentbackbytraintoRamsgate。
Shewalkedtoherlodgings。_I_walkedtoherlodgings。Behindher。Likeadog。Oh，thedisgraceofit！Providentially，asI
thenthought——Idon’tknowwhattothinkofitnow——thelandlordofthehousehappenedtobeafriendofmine，andhappenedtobeathome。Wehavenosecretsfromeachotherwherelodgersareconcerned。Iaminapositiontotellyou，madam，whatyourmother—in—law’snamereallyis。SheknowsnothingaboutanysuchpersonasMrs。Woodville，foranexcellentreason。Hernameis_not_Woodville。Hername（andconsequentlyherson’sname）isMacallan——Mrs。Macallan，widowofthelateGeneralMacallan。Yes！
yourhusbandis_not_yourhusband。Youareneithermaid，wife，norwidow。Youareworsethannothing，madam，andyouleavemyhouse！\"
Istoppedherassheopenedthedoortogoout。Shehadroused_my_temperbythistime。Thedoubtthatshehadcastonmymarriagewasmorethanmortalresignationcouldendure。
\"GivemeMrs。Macallan’saddress，\"Isaid。
Thelandlady’sangerrecededintothebackground，andthelandlady’sastonishmentappearedinitsplace。
\"Youdon’tmeantotellmeyouaregoingtotheoldladyherself？\"shesaid。
\"NobodybuttheoldladycantellmewhatIwanttoknow，\"I
answered。\"Yourdiscovery（asyoucallit）maybeenoughfor_you_；itisnotenoughfor_me_。HowdoweknowthatMrs。
Macallanmaynothavebeentwicemarried？andthatherfirsthusband’snamemaynothavebeenWoodville？\"
Thelandlady’sastonishmentsubsidedinitsturn，andthelandlady’scuriositysucceededastherulinginfluenceofthemoment。Substantially，asIhavealreadysaidofher，shewasagood—naturedwoman。Herfitsoftemper（asisusualwithgood—naturedpeople）wereofthehotandtheshort—livedsort，easilyrousedandeasilyappeased。
\"Ineverthoughtofthat，\"shesaid。\"Lookhere！ifIgiveyoutheaddress，willyoupromisetotellmeallaboutitwhenyoucomeback？\"
Igavetherequiredpromise，andreceivedtheaddressinreturn。
\"Nomalice，\"saidthelandlady，suddenlyresumingallheroldfamiliaritywithme。
\"Nomalice，\"Ianswered，withallpossiblecordialityonmyside。
IntenminutesmoreIwasatmymother—in—law’slodgings。
CHAPTERVI。
MYOWNDISCOVERY。
FORTUNATELYforme，thelandlorddidnotopenthedoorwhenI
rang。Astupidmaid—of—all—work，whoneverthoughtofaskingmeformyname，letmein。Mrs。Macallanwasathome，andhadnovisitorswithher。Givingmethisinformation，themaidledthewayupstairs，andshowedmeintothedrawing—roomwithoutawordofannouncement。
Mymother—in—lawwassittingalone，nearawork—table，knitting。
ThemomentIappearedinthedoorwayshelaidasideherwork，and，rising，signedtomewithacommandinggestureofherhandtoletherspeakfirst。
\"Iknowwhatyouhavecomeherefor，\"shesaid。\"Youhavecomeheretoaskquestions。Spareyourself，andspareme。IwarnyoubeforehandthatIwillnotansweranyquestionsrelatingtomyson。\"
Itwasfirmly，butnotharshlysaid。Ispokefirmlyinmyturn。
\"Ihavenotcomehere，madam，toaskquestionsaboutyourson，\"I
answered。\"Ihavecome，ifyouwillexcuseme，toaskyouaquestionaboutyourself。\"
Shestarted，andlookedatmekeenlyoverherspectacles。Ihadevidentlytakenherbysurprise。
\"Whatisthequestion？\"sheinquired。
\"Inowknowforthefirsttime，madam，thatyournameisMacallan，\"Isaid。\"YoursonhasmarriedmeunderthenameofWoodville。Theonlyhonorableexplanationofthiscircumstance，sofarasIknow，isthatmyhusbandisyoursonbyafirstmarriage。Thehappinessofmylifeisatstake。Willyoukindlyconsidermyposition？Willyouletmeaskyouifyouhavebeentwicemarried，andifthenameofyourfirsthusbandwasWoodville？\"
Sheconsideredalittlebeforeshereplied。
\"Thequestionisaperfectlynaturaloneinyourposition，\"shesaid。\"ButIthinkIhadbetternotanswerit。\"
\"MayIaskwhy？\"
\"Certainly。IfIansweredyou，Ishouldonlyleadtootherquestions，andIshouldbeobligedtodeclinereplyingtothem。I
amsorrytodisappointyou。IrepeatwhatIsaidonthebeach——I
havenootherfeelingthanafeelingofsympathytoward_you。_Ifyouhadconsultedmebeforeyourmarriage，Ishouldwillinglyhaveadmittedyoutomyfullestconfidence。Itisnowtoolate。
Youaremarried。Irecommendyoutomakethebestofyourposition，andtorestsatisfiedwiththingsastheyare。\"
\"Pardonme，madam，\"Iremonstrated。\"Asthingsare，Idon’tknowthatI_am_married。AllIknow，unlessyouenlightenme，isthatyoursonhasmarriedmeunderanamethatisnothisown。HowcanIbesurewhetherIamoramnothislawfulwife？\"
\"Ibelievetherecanbenodoubtthatyouarelawfullymyson’swife，\"Mrs。Macallananswered。\"Atanyrateitiseasytotakealegalopiniononthesubject。Iftheopinionisthatyouare_not_lawfullymarried，myson（whateverhisfaultsandfailingsmaybe）isagentleman。Heisincapableofwillfullydeceivingawomanwholovesandtrustshim。Hewilldoyoujustice。Onmyside，Iwilldoyoujustice，too。Ifthelegalopinionisadversetoyourrightfulclaims，Iwillpromisetoansweranyquestionswhichyoumaychoosetoputtome。Asitis，Ibelieveyoutobelawfullymyson’swife；andIsayagain，makethebestofyourposition。Besatisfiedwithyourhusband’saffectionatedevotiontoyou。Ifyouvalueyourpeaceofmindandthehappinessofyourlifetocome，abstainfromattemptingtoknowmorethanyouknownow。\"
Shesatdownagainwiththeairofawomanwhohadsaidherlastword。
Furtherremonstrancewouldbeuseless；Icouldseeitinherface；Icouldhearitinhervoice。Iturnedroundtoopenthedrawing—roomdoor。
\"Youarehardonme，madam，\"Isaidatparting。\"Iamatyourmercy，andImustsubmit。\"
Shesuddenlylookedup，andansweredmewithaflushonherkindandhandsomeoldface。
\"AsGodismywitness，child，Ipityyoufromthebottomofmyheart！\"
Afterthatextraordinaryoutburstoffeeling，shetookupherworkwithonehand，andsignedtomewiththeothertoleaveher。
Ibowedtoherinsilence，andwentout。
IhadenteredthehousefarfromfeelingsureofthecourseI
oughttotakeinthefuture。Ileftthehousepositivelyresolved，comewhatmightofit，todiscoverthesecretwhichthemotherandsonwerehidingfromme。Astothequestionofthename，IsawitnowinthelightinwhichIoughttohaveseenitfromthefirst。IfMrs。Macallan_had_beentwicemarried（asI
hadrashlychosentosuppose），shewouldcertainlyhaveshownsomesignsofrecognitionwhensheheardmeaddressedbyherfirsthusband’sname。Whereallelsewasmystery，therewasnomysteryhere。Whateverhisreasonsmightbe，Eustacehadassuredlymarriedmeunderanassumedname。
Approachingthedoorofourlodgings，Isawmyhusbandwalkingbackwardandforwardbeforeit，evidentlywaitingformyreturn。
Ifheaskedmethequestion，IdecidedtotellhimfranklywhereIhadbeen，andwhathadpassedbetweenhismotherandmyself。
Hehurriedtomeetmewithsignsofdisturbanceinhisfaceandmanner。
\"Ihaveafavortoaskofyou，Valeria，\"hesaid。\"DoyoumindreturningwithmetoLondonbythenexttrain？\"
Ilookedathim。Inthepopularphrase，Icouldhardlybelievemyownears。
\"It’samatterofbusiness，\"hewenton，\"ofnointeresttoanyonebutmyself，anditrequiresmypresenceinLondon。Youdon’twishtosailjustyet，asIunderstand？Ican’tleaveyouherebyyourself。HaveyouanyobjectiontogoingtoLondonforadayortwo？\"
Imadenoobjection。Itoowaseagertogoback。
InLondonIcouldobtainthelegalopinionwhichwouldtellmewhetherIwerelawfullymarriedtoEustaceornot。InLondonI
shouldbewithinreachofthehelpandadviceofmyfather’sfaithfuloldclerk。IcouldconfideinBenjaminasIcouldconfideinnooneelse。DearlyasIlovedmyuncleStarkweather，Ishrankfromcommunicatingwithhiminmypresentneed。HiswifehadtoldmethatImadeabadbeginningwhenIsignedthewrongnameinthemarriageregister。ShallIownit？Myprideshrankfromacknowledging，beforethehoneymoonwasover，thathiswifewasright。
Intwohoursmorewewereontherailwayagain。Ah，whatacontrastthatsecondjourneypresentedtothefirst！OnourwaytoRamsgateeverybodycouldseethatwewereanewlyweddedcouple。OnourwaytoLondonnobodynoticedus；nobodywouldhavedoubtedthatwehadbeenmarriedforyears。
WewenttoaprivatehotelintheneighborhoodofPortlandPlace。
AfterbreakfastthenextmorningEustaceannouncedthathemustleavemetoattendtohisbusiness。IhadpreviouslymentionedtohimthatIhadsomepurchasestomakeinLondon。Hewasquitewillingtoletmegooutalone，ontheconditionthatIshouldtakeacarriageprovidedbythehotel。
Myheartwasheavythatmorning：Ifelttheunacknowledgedestrangementthathadgrownupbetweenusverykeenly。Myhusbandopenedthedoortogoout，andcamebacktokissmebeforeheleftmebymyself。Thatlittleafter—thoughtoftendernesstouchedme。Actingontheimpulseofthemoment，Iputmyarmroundhisneck，andheldhimtomegently。
\"Mydarling，\"Isaid，\"givemeallyourconfidence。Iknowthatyouloveme。Showthatyoucantrustmetoo。\"
Hesighedbitterly，anddrewbackfromme——insorrow，notinanger。
\"Ithoughtwehadagreed，Valeria，nottoreturntothatsubjectagain，\"hesaid。\"Youonlydistressyourselfanddistressme。\"
Helefttheroomabruptly，asifhedarenottrusthimselftosaymore。ItisbetternottodwellonwhatIfeltafterthislastrepulse。Iorderedthecarriageatonce。Iwaseagertofindarefugefrommyownthoughtsinmovementandchange。
Idrovetotheshopsfirst，andmadethepurchaseswhichIhadmentionedtoEustacebywayofgivingareasonforgoingout。
ThenIdevotedmyselftotheobjectwhichIreallyhadatheart。
IwenttooldBenjamin’slittlevilla，intheby—waysofSt。
John’sWood。
Assoonashehadgotoverthefirstsurpriseofseeingme，henoticedthatIlookedpaleandcare—worn。IconfessedatoncethatIwasintrouble。Wesatdowntogetherbythebrightfiresideinhislittlelibrary（Benjamin，asfarashismeanswouldallow，wasagreatcollectorofbooks），andthereItoldmyoldfriend，franklyandtruly，allthatIhavetoldhere。
Hewastoodistressedtosaymuch。Heferventlypressedmyhand；
heferventlythankedGodthatmyfatherhadnotlivedtohearwhathehadheard。Then，afterapause，herepeatedmymother—in—law’snametohimselfinadoubting，questioningtone。
\"Macallan？\"hesaid。\"Macallan？WherehaveIheardthatname？Whydoesitsoundasifitwasn’tstrangetome？\"
Hegaveuppursuingthelostrecollection，andasked，veryearnestly，whathecoulddoforme。Iansweredthathecouldhelpme，inthefirstplace，toputanendtothedoubt——anunendurabledoubtto_me_——whetherIwerelawfullymarriedornot。Hisenergyoftheolddayswhenhehadconductedmyfather’sbusinessshoweditselfagainthemomentIsaidthosewords。
\"Yourcarriageisatthedoor，mydear，\"heanswered。\"Comewithmetomyownlawyer，withoutwastinganothermoment。\"
WedrovetoLincoln’sInnFields。
AtmyrequestBenjaminputmycasetothelawyerasthecaseofafriendinwhomIwasinterested。Theanswerwasgivenwithouthesitation。Ihadmarried，honestlybelievingmyhusband’snametobethenameunderwhichIhadknownhim。Thewitnessestomymarriage——myuncle，myaunt，andBenjamin——hadacted，asIhadacted，inperfectgoodfaith。Underthosecircumstances，therewasnodoubtaboutthelaw。Iwaslegallymarried。MacallanorWoodville，Iwashiswife。
Thisdecisiveanswerrelievedmeofaheavyanxiety。Iacceptedmyoldfriend’sinvitationtoreturnwithhimtoSt。John’sWood，andtomakemyluncheonathisearlydinner。
OnourwaybackIrevertedtotheoneothersubjectwhichwasnowuppermostinmymind。IreiteratedmyresolutiontodiscoverwhyEustacehadnotmarriedmeunderthenamethatwasreallyhisown。
Mycompanionshookhishead，andentreatedmetoconsiderwellbeforehandwhatIproposeddoing。Hisadvicetome——sostrangelydoextremesmeet！——wasmymother—in—law’sadvice，repeatedalmostwordforword。\"Leavethingsastheyare，mydear。Intheinterestofyourownpeaceofmindbesatisfiedwithyourhusband’saffection。Youknowthatyouarehiswife，andyouknowthathelovesyou。Surelythatisenough？\"
Ihadbutoneanswertothis。Life，onsuchconditionsasmygoodfriendhadjuststated，wouldbesimplyunendurabletome。
Nothingcouldaltermyresolution——forthisplainreason，thatnothingcouldreconcilemetolivingwithmyhusbandonthetermsonwhichwewerelivingnow。ItonlyrestedwithBenjamintosaywhetherhewouldgiveahelpinghandtohismaster’sdaughterornot。
Theoldman’sanswerwasthoroughlycharacteristicofhim。
\"Mentionwhatyouwantofme，mydear，\"wasallhesaid。
WewerethenpassingastreetintheneighborhoodofPortmanSquare。Iwasonthepointofspeakingagain，whenthewordsweresuspendedonmylips。Isawmyhusband。
Hewasjustdescendingthestepsofahouse——asifleavingitafteravisit。Hiseyeswereontheground：hedidnotlookupwhenthe—carriagepassed。Astheservantclosedthedoorbehindhim，InoticedthatthenumberofthehousewasSixteen。AtthenextcornerIsawthenameofthestreet。ItwasVivianPlace。
\"DoyouhappentoknowwholivesatNumberSixteenVivianPlace？\"
Iinquiredofmycompanion。
Benjaminstarted。Myquestionwascertainlyastrangeone，afterwhathehadjustsaidtome。
\"No，\"hereplied。\"Whydoyouask？\"
\"IhavejustseenEustaceleavingthathouse。\"
\"Well，mydear，andwhatofthat？\"
\"Mymindisinabadway，Benjamin。EverythingmyhusbanddoesthatIdon’tunderstandrousesmysuspicionnow。\"
Benjaminliftedhiswitheredoldhands，andletthemdroponhiskneesagaininmutelamentationoverme。
\"Itellyouagain，\"Iwenton，\"mylifeisunendurabletome。I
won’tanswerforwhatImaydoifIamleftmuchlongertoliveindoubtoftheonemanonearthwhomIlove。Youhavehadexperienceoftheworld。SupposeyouwereshutoutfromEustace’sconfidence，asIam？SupposeyouwereasfondofhimasIam，andfeltyourpositionasbitterlyasIfeelit——whatwouldyoudo？\"
Thequestionwasplain。Benjaminmetitwithaplainanswer。
\"IthinkIshouldfindmyway，mydear，tosomeintimatefriendofyourhusband’s，\"hesaid，\"andmakeafewdiscreetinquiriesinthatquarterfirst。\"
Someintimatefriendofmyhusband’s？Iconsideredwithmyself。
TherewasbutonefriendofhiswhomIknewof——myuncle’scorrespondent，MajorFitz—David。Myheartbeatfastasthenamerecurredtomymemory。SupposeIfollowedBenjamin’sadvice？
SupposeIappliedtoMajorFitz—David？Evenifhe，too，refusedtoanswermyquestions，mypositionwouldnotbemorehelplessthanitwasnow。Ideterminedtomaketheattempt。Theonlydifficultyintheway，sofar，wastodiscovertheMajor’saddress。IhadgivenbackhislettertoDoctorStarkweather，atmyuncle’sownrequest。IrememberedthattheaddressfromwhichtheMajorwrotewassomewhereinLondon——andIrememberednomore。
\"Thankyou，oldfriend；youhavegivenmeanideaalready，\"I
saidtoBenjamin。\"HaveyougotaDirectoryinyourhouse？\"
\"No，mydear，\"herejoined，lookingverymuchpuzzled。\"ButIcaneasilysendoutandborrowone。\"
Wereturnedtothevilla。Theservantwassentatoncetotheneareststationer’stoborrowaDirectory。Shereturnedwiththebookjustaswesatdowntodinner。SearchingfortheMajor’snameundertheletterF，Iwasstartledbyanewdiscovery。
\"Benjamin！\"Isaid。\"Thisisastrangecoincidence。Lookhere！\"
HelookedwhereIpointed。MajorFitz—David’saddresswasNumberSixteenVivianPlace——theveryhousewhichIhadseenmyhusbandleavingaswepassedinthecarriage！
CHAPTERVII。
ONTHEWAYTOTHEMAJOR。
\"YES，saidBenjamin。\"It_is_acoincidencecertainly。Still——\"
Hestoppedandlookedatme。HeseemedalittledoubtfulhowI
mightreceivewhathehaditinhismindtosaytomenext。
\"Goon，\"Isaid。
\"Still，mydear，Iseenothingsuspiciousinwhathashappened，\"
heresumed。\"Tomyminditisquitenaturalthatyourhusband，beinginLondon，shouldpayavisittooneofhisfriends。Andit’sequallynaturalthatweshouldpassthroughVivianPlaceonourwaybackhere。Thisseemstobethereasonableview。Whatdo_you_say？\"
\"IhavetoldyoualreadythatmymindisinabadwayaboutEustace，\"Ianswered。\"_I_saythereissomemotiveatthebottomofhisvisittoMajorFitz—David。Itisnotanordinarycall。I
amfirmlyconvinceditisnotanordinarycall！\"
\"Supposewegetonwithourdinner？\"saidBenjamin，resignedly。
\"Hereisaloinofmutton，mydear——anordinaryloinofmutton。
Isthereanythingsuspiciousin_that？_Verywell，then。Showmeyouhaveconfidenceinthemutton；pleaseeat。There’sthewine，again。Nomystery，Valeria，inthatclaret——I’lltakemyoathit’snothingbutinnocentjuiceofthegrape。Ifwecan’tbelieveinanythingelse，let’sbelieveinjuiceofthegrape。Yourgoodhealth，mydear。\"
Iadaptedmyselftotheoldman’sgenialhumorasreadilyasI
could。Weateandwedrank，andwetalkedofby—gonedays。ForalittlewhileIwasalmosthappyinthecompanyofmyfatherlyoldfriend。WhywasInotoldtoo？WhyhadInotdonewithlove，withitscertainmiseries，itstransientdelights，itscruellosses，itsbitterlydoubtfulgains？Thelastautumnflowersinthewindowbaskedbrightlyinthelastoftheautumnsunlight。
Benjamin’slittledogdigestedhisdinnerinperfectcomfortonthehearth。Theparrotinthenexthousescreechedhisvocalaccomplishmentscheerfully。Idon’tdoubtthatitisagreatprivilegetobeahumanbeing。Butmayitnotbethehappierdestinytobeananimaloraplant？
Thebriefrespitewassoonover；allmyanxietiescameback。I
wasoncemoreadoubting，discontented，depressedcreaturewhenI
rosetosaygood—by。
\"Promise，mydear，youwilldonothingrash，\"saidBenjamin，asheopenedthedoorforme。