\"IsitrashtogotoMajorFitz—David？\"Iasked。
\"Yes——ifyougobyyourself。Youdon’tknowwhatsortofmanheis；youdon’tknowhowhemayreceiveyou。Letmetryfirst，andpavetheway，asthesayingis。Trustmyexperience，mydear。Inmattersofthissortthereisnothinglikepavingtheway。\"
Iconsideredamoment。ItwasduetomygoodfriendtoconsiderbeforeIsaidNo。
Reflectiondecidedmeontakingtheresponsibility，whateveritmightbe，uponmyownshoulders。Goodorbad，compassionateorcruel，theMajorwasaman。Awoman’sinfluencewasthesafestinfluencetotrustwithhim，wheretheendtobegainedwassuchanendasIhadinview。ItwasnoteasytosaythistoBenjaminwithoutthedangerofmortifyinghim。Imadeanappointmentwiththeoldmantocallonmethenextmorningatthehotel，andtalkthematteroveragain。IsitverydisgracefultometoaddthatI
privatelydetermined（ifthethingcouldbeaccomplished）toseeMajorFitz—Davidintheinterval？
\"Donothingrash，mydear。Inyourowninterests，donothingrash！\"
ThosewereBenjamin’slastwordswhenwepartedfortheday。
IfoundEustacewaitingformeinoursitting—roomatthehotel。
HisspiritsseemedtohaverevivedsinceIhadseenhimlast。Headvancedtomeetmecheerfully，withanopensheetofpaperinhishand。
\"Mybusinessissettled，Valeria，soonerthanIhadexpected，\"hebegan，gayly。\"Areyourpurchasesallcompleted，fairlady？Are_you_freetoo？\"
Ihadlearnedalready（Godhelpme！）todistrusthisfitsofgayety。Iasked，cautiously，\"Doyoumeanfreeforto—day？\"
\"Freeforto—day，andto—morrow，andnextweek，andnextmonth——andnextyeartoo，forallIknowtothecontrary，\"heanswered，puttinghisarmboisterouslyroundmywaist。\"Lookhere！\"
HeliftedtheopensheetofpaperwhichIhadnoticedinhishand，andhelditformetoread。Itwasatelegramtothesailing—masteroftheyacht，informinghimthatwehadarrangedtoreturntoRamsgatethatevening，andthatweshouldbereadytosailfortheMediterraneanwiththenexttide。
\"Ionlywaitedforyourreturn，\"saidEustace，\"tosendthetelegramtotheoffice。\"
Hecrossedtheroomashespoketoringthebell。Istoppedhim。
\"IamafraidIcan’tgotoRamsgateto—day，\"Isaid。
\"Whynot？\"heasked，suddenlychanginghistone，andspeakingsharply。
Idaresayitwillseemridiculoustosomepeople，butitisreallytruethatheshookmyresolutiontogotoMajorFitz—Davidwhenheputhisarmroundme。Evenamerepassingcaressfrom_him_stoleawaymyheart，andsoftlytemptedmetoyield。Buttheominousalterationinhistonemadeanotherwomanofme。I
feltoncemore，andfeltmorestronglythanever，thatinmycriticalpositionitwasuselesstostandstill，andworsethanuselesstodrawback。
\"Iamsorrytodisappointyou，\"Ianswered。Itisimpossibleforme（asItoldyouatRamsgate）tobereadytosailatamoment’snotice。Iwanttime。\"
\"Whatfor？\"
Notonlyhistone，buthislook，whenheputthatsecondquestion，jarredoneverynerveinme。Herousedinmymind——I
can’ttellhoworwhy——anangrysenseoftheindignitythathehadputuponhiswifeinmarryingherunderafalsename。FearingthatIshouldanswerrashly，thatIshouldsaysomethingwhichmybettersensemightregret，ifIspokeatthatmoment，Isaidnothing。Womenalonecanestimatewhatitcostmetobesilent。
Andmenalonecanunderstandhowirritatingmysilencemusthavebeentomyhusband。
\"Youwanttime？\"herepeated。\"Iaskyouagain——whatfor？\"
Myself—control，pushedtoitsextremestlimits，failedme。Therashreplyflewoutofmylips，likeabirdsetfreefromacage。
\"Iwanttime，\"Isaid，\"toaccustommyselftomyrightname。\"
Hesuddenlysteppeduptomewithadarklook。
\"Whatdoyoumeanbyyour’rightname？’\"
\"Surelyyouknow，\"Ianswered。\"IoncethoughtIwasMrs。
Woodville。IhavenowdiscoveredthatIamMrs。Macallan。\"
HestartedbackatthesoundofhisownnameasifIhadstruckhim——hestartedback，andturnedsodeadlypalethatIfearedhewasgoingtodropatmyfeetinaswoon。Oh，mytongue！mytongue！WhyhadInotcontrolledmymiserable，mischievouswoman’stongue！
\"Ididn’tmeantoalarmyou，Eustace，\"Isaid。\"Ispokeatrandom。Prayforgiveme。\"
Hewavedhishandimpatiently，asifmypenitentwordsweretangiblethings——ruffling，worryingthings，likefliesinsummer——whichhewasputtingawayfromhim。
\"Whatelsehaveyoudiscovered？\"heasked，inlow，sterntones。
\"Nothing，Eustace。\"
\"Nothing？\"Hepausedasherepeatedtheword，andpassedhishandoverhisforeheadinawearyway。\"Nothing，ofcourse，\"heresumed，speakingtohimself，\"orshewouldnotbehere。\"Hepausedoncemore，andlookedatmesearchingly。\"Don’tsayagainwhatyousaidjustnow，\"hewenton。\"Foryourownsake，Valeria，aswellasformine。\"Hedroppedintothenearestchair，andsaidnomore。
Icertainlyheardthewarning；buttheonlywordswhichreallyproducedanimpressiononmymindwerethewordsprecedingit，whichhehadspokentohimself。Hehadsaid：\"Nothing，ofcourse，_orshecouldnotbehere。\"_IfIhadfoundoutsomeothertruthbesidesthetruthaboutthename，wouldithavepreventedmefromeverreturningtomyhusband？Wasthatwhathemeant？Didthesortofdiscoverythathecontemplatedmeansomethingsodreadfulthatitwouldhavepartedusatonceandforever？Istoodbyhischairinsilence，andtriedtofindtheanswertothoseterriblequestionsinhisface。Itusedtospeaktomesoeloquentlywhenitspokeofhislove。Ittoldmenothingnow。
Hesatforsometimewithoutlookingatme，lostinhisownthoughts。Thenheroseonasuddenandtookhishat。
\"Thefriendwholentmetheyachtisintown，\"hesaid。\"I
supposeIhadbetterseehim，andsayourplansarechanged。\"Hetoreupthetelegramwithanairofsullenresignationashespoke。\"Youareevidentlydeterminednottogotoseawithme，\"
heresumed。\"Wehadbettergiveitup。Idon’tseewhatelseistobedone。Doyou？\"
Histonewasalmostatoneofcontempt。Iwastoodepressedaboutmyself，tooalarmedabout_him，_toresentit。
\"Decideasyouthinkbest，Eustace，\"Isaid，sadly。\"Everyway，theprospectseemsahopelessone。AslongasIamshutoutfromyourconfidence，itmatterslittlewhetherweliveonlandoratsea——wecannotlivehappily。\"
\"Ifyoucouldcontrolyourcuriosity。\"heanswered，sternly，\"wemightlivehappilyenough。IthoughtIhadmarriedawomanwhowassuperiortothevulgarfailingsofhersex。Agoodwifeshouldknowbetterthantopryintoaffairsofherhusband’swithwhichshehadnoconcern。\"
Surelyitwashardtobearthis？However，Iboreit。
\"Isitnoconcernofmine？\"Iasked，gently，\"whenIfindthatmyhusbandhasnotmarriedmeunderhisfamilyname？IsitnoconcernofminewhenIhearyourmothersay，insomanywords，thatshepitiesyourwife？Itishard，Eustace，toaccusemeofcuriositybecauseIcannotaccepttheunendurablepositioninwhichyouhaveplacedme。Yourcruelsilenceisablightonmyhappinessandathreattomyfuture。Yourcruelsilenceisestrangingusfromeachotheratthebeginningofourmarriedlife。Andyoublamemeforfeelingthis？YoutellmeIampryingintoaffairswhichareyoursonly？Theyare_not_yoursonly：I
havemyinterestinthemtoo。Oh，mydarling，whydoyoutriflewithourloveandourconfidenceineachother？Whydoyoukeepmeinthedark？\"
Heansweredwithasternandpitilessbrevity，\"Foryourowngood。\"
Iturnedawayfromhiminsilence。Hewastreatingmelikeachild。
Hefollowedme。Puttingonehandheavilyonmyshoulder，heforcedmetofacehimoncemore。
\"Listentothis，\"hesaid。\"WhatIamnowgoingtosaytoyouI
sayforthefirstandlasttime。Valeria！ifyoueverdiscoverwhatIamnowkeepingfromyourknowledge——fromthatmomentyoulivealifeoftorture；yourtranquillityisgone。Yourdayswillbedaysofterror；yournightswillbefullofhorriddreams——throughnofaultofmine，mind！throughnofaultofmine！
Everydayofyourlifeyouwillfeelsomenewdistrust，somegrowingfearofme，andyouwillbedoingmethevilestinjusticeallthetime。OnmyfaithasaChristian，onmyhonorasaman，ifyoustirastepfurtherinthismatter，thereisanendtoyourhappinessfortherestofyourlife！ThinkseriouslyofwhatIhavesaidtoyou；youwillhavetimetoreflect。IamgoingtotellmyfriendthatourplansfortheMediterraneanaregivenup。
Ishallnotbebackbeforetheevening。\"Hesighed，andlookedatmewithunutterablesadness。\"Iloveyou，Valeria，\"hesaid。\"Inspiteofallthathaspassed，asGodismywitness，Iloveyoumoredearlythanever。\"
Sohespoke。Soheleftme。
Imustwritethetruthaboutmyself，howeverstrangeitmayappear。Idon’tpretendtobeabletoanalyzemyownmotives；I
don’tpretendeventoguesshowotherwomenmighthaveactedinmyplace。Itistrueofme，thatmyhusband’sterriblewarning——allthemoreterribleinitsmysteryanditsvagueness——producednodeterrenteffectonmymind：itonlystimulatedmyresolutiontodiscoverwhathewashidingfromme。
HehadnotbeengonetwominutesbeforeIrangthebellandorderedthecarriage，totakemetoMajorFitz—David’shouseinVivianPlace。
WalkingtoandfrowhileIwaswaiting——Iwasinsuchafeverofexcitementthatitwasimpossibleformetositstill——I
accidentallycaughtsightofmyselfintheglass。
Myownfacestartledme，itlookedsohaggardandsowild。CouldIpresentmyselftoastranger，couldIhopetoproducethenecessaryimpressioninmyfavor，lookingasIlookedatthatmoment？ForallIknewtothecontrary，mywholefuturemightdependupontheeffectwhichIproducedonMajorFitz—Davidatfirstsight。Irangthebellagain，andsentamessagetooneofthechambermaidstofollowmetomyroom。
Ihadnomaidofmyownwithme：thestewardessoftheyachtwouldhaveactedasmyattendantifwehadheldtoourfirstarrangement。Itmatteredlittle，solongasIhadawomantohelpme。Thechambermaidappeared。IcangivenobetterideaofthedisorderedanddesperateconditionofmymindatthattimethanbyowningthatI
actuallyconsultedthisperfectstrangeronthequestionofmypersonalappearance。Shewasamiddle—agedwoman，withalargeexperienceoftheworldanditswickednesswrittenlegiblyonhermannerandonherface。Iputmoneyintothewoman’shand，enoughofittosurpriseher。Shethankedmewithacynicalsmile，evidentlyplacingherownevilinterpretationonmymotiveforbribingher。
\"WhatcanIdoforyou，ma’am？\"sheasked，inaconfidentialwhisper。\"Don’tspeakloud！thereissomebodyinthenextroom。\"
\"Iwanttolookmybest，\"Isaid，\"andIhavesentforyoutohelpme。\"
\"Iunderstand，ma’am。\"
\"Whatdoyouunderstand？\"
Shenoddedherheadsignificantly，andwhisperedtomeagain。
\"Lordblessyou，I’musedtothis！\"shesaid。\"Thereisagentlemaninthecase。Don’tmindme，ma’am。It’sawayIhave。I
meannoharm。\"Shestopped，andlookedatmecritically。\"I
wouldn’tchangemydressifIwereyou，\"shewenton。\"Thecolorbecomesyou。\"
Itwastoolatetoresentthewoman’simpertinence。Therewasnohelpforitbuttomakeuseofher。Besides，shewasrightaboutthedress。Itwasofadelicatemaize—color，prettilytrimmedwithlace。Icouldwearnothingwhichsuitedmebetter。Myhair，however，stoodinneedofsomeskilledattention。Thechambermaidrearrangeditwithareadyhandwhichshowedthatshewasnobeginnerintheartofdressinghair。Shelaiddownthecombsandbrushes，andlookedatme；thenlookedatthetoilet—table，searchingforsomethingwhichsheapparentlyfailedtofind。
\"Wheredoyoukeepit？\"sheasked。
\"Whatdoyoumean？\"
\"Lookatyourcomplexion，ma’am。Youwillfrightenhimifheseesyoulikethat。Atouchofcoloryou_must_have。Wheredoyoukeepit？What！youhaven’tgotit？youneveruseit？Dear，dear，dearme！\"
Foramomentsurprisefairlydeprivedherofherself—possession。
Recoveringherself，shebeggedpermissiontoleavemeforaminute。Ilethergo，knowingwhathererrandwas。Shecamebackwithaboxofpaintandpowders；andIsaidnothingtocheckher。
Isaw，intheglass，myskintakeafalsefairness，mycheeksafalsecolor，myeyesafalsebrightness——andInevershrankfromit。No！Ilettheodiousconceitgoon；Ievenadmiredtheextraordinarydelicacyanddexteritywithwhichitwasalldone。
\"Anything\"（Ithoughttomyself，inthemadnessofthatmiserabletime）\"solongasithelpsmetowintheMajor’sconfidence！
Anything，solongasIdiscoverwhatthoselastwordsofmyhusband’sreallymean！\"
Thetransformationofmyfacewasaccomplished。Thechambermaidpointedwithherwickedforefingerinthedirectionoftheglass。
\"Bearinmind，ma’am，whatyoulookedlikewhenyousentforme，\"
shesaid。\"Andjustseeforyourselfhowyoulooknow。You’retheprettiestwoman（ofyourstyle）inLondon。Ahwhatathingpearl—powderis，whenoneknowshowtouseit！\"
CHAPTERVIII。
THEFRIENDOFTHEWOMEN。
IFINDitimpossibletodescribemysensationswhilethecarriagewastakingmetoMajorFitz—David’shouse。Idoubt，indeed，ifIreallyfeltorthoughtatall，inthetruesenseofthosewords。
FromthemomentwhenIhadresignedmyselfintothehandsofthechambermaidIseemedinsomestrangewaytohavelostmyordinaryidentity——tohavesteppedoutofmyowncharacter。Atothertimesmytemperamentwasofthenervousandanxioussort，andmytendencywastoexaggerateanydifficultiesthatmightplacethemselvesinmyway。Atothertimes，havingbeforemetheprospectofacriticalinterviewwithastranger，Ishouldhaveconsideredwithmyselfwhatitmightbewisetopassover，andwhatitmightbewisetosay。NowInevergavemycominginterviewwiththeMajorathought；Ifeltanunreasoningconfidenceinmyself，andablindfaithin_him_。Nowneitherthepastnorthefuturetroubledme；Ilivedunreflectinglyinthepresent。Ilookedattheshopsaswedrovebythem，andattheothercarriagesastheypassedmine。Inoticed——yes，andenjoyed——theglancesofadmirationwhichchancefoot—passengersonthepavementcastonme。Isaidtomyself，\"ThislookswellformyprospectofmakingafriendoftheMajor！\"WhenwedrewupatthedoorinVivianPlace，itisnoexaggerationtosaythatI
hadbutoneanxiety——anxietytofindtheMajorathome。
Thedoorwasopenedbyaservantoutoflivery，anoldmanwholookedasifhemighthavebeenasoldierinhisearlierdays。Heeyedmewithagraveattention，whichrelaxedlittlebylittleintoslyapproval。IaskedforMajorFitz—David。Theanswerwasnotaltogetherencouraging：themanwasnotsurewhetherhismasterwereathomeornot。
Igavehimmycard。Mycards，beingpartofmyweddingoutfit，necessarilyhadthefalsenameprintedonthem——_Mrs。EustaceWoodville_。Theservantshowedmeintoafrontroomontheground—floor，anddisappearedwithmycardinhishand。
Lookingaboutme，Inoticedadoorinthewalloppositethewindow，communicatingwithsomeinnerroom。Thedoorwasnotoftheordinarykind。Itfittedintothethicknessofthepartitionwall，andworkedingrooves。Lookingalittlenearer，Isawthatithadnotbeenpulledoutsoascompletelytoclosethedoorway。
Onlythemerestchinkwasleft；butitwasenoughtoconveytomyearsallthatpassedinthenextroom。
\"Whatdidyousay，Oliver，whensheaskedforme？\"inquiredaman’svoice，pitchedcautiouslyinalowkey。
\"IsaidIwasnotsureyouwereathome，sir，\"answeredthevoiceoftheservantwhohadletmein。
Therewasapause。ThefirstspeakerwasevidentlyMajorFitz—Davidhimself。Iwaitedtohearmore。
\"IthinkIhadbetternotseeher，Oliver，\"theMajor’svoiceresumed。
\"Verygood，sir。\"
\"SayIhavegoneout，andyoudon’tknowwhenIshallbebackagain。Begtheladytowrite，ifshehasanybusinesswithme。\"
\"Yes，sir。\"
\"Stop，Oliver！\"
Oliverstopped。Therewasanotherandlongerpause。Thenthemasterresumedtheexaminationoftheman。
\"Issheyoung，Oliver？\"
\"Yes，sir。\"
\"And——pretty？\"
\"Betterthanpretty，sir，tomythinking。\"
\"Aye？aye？Whatyoucallafinewoman——eh，Oliver？\"
\"Certainly，sir。\"
\"Tall？\"
\"NearlyastallasIam，Major。\"
\"Aye？aye？aye？Agoodfigure？\"
\"Asslimasasapling，sir，andasuprightasadart。\"
\"Onsecondthoughts，Iamathome，Oliver。Showherin！showherin！\"
Sofar，onethingatleastseemedtobeclear。Ihaddonewellinsendingforthechambermaid。WhatwouldOliver’sreportofmehavebeenifIhadpresentedmyselftohimwithmycolorlesscheeksandmyill—dressedhair？
Theservantreappeared，andconductedmetotheinnerroom。MajorFitz—Davidadvancedtowelcomeme。WhatwastheMajorlike？
Well，hewaslikeawell—preservedoldgentlemanof，say，sixtyyearsold，littleandlean，andchieflyremarkablebytheextraordinarylengthofhisnose。Afterthisfeature，Inoticednexthisbeautifulbrownwig；hissparklinglittlegrayeyes；hisrosycomplexion；hisshortmilitarywhisker，dyedtomatchhiswig；hiswhiteteethandhiswinningsmile；hissmartbluefrock—coat，withacamelliainthebutton—hole；andhissplendidring，aruby，flashingonhislittlefingerashecourteouslysignedtometotakeachair。
\"DearMrs。Woodville，howverykindofyouthisis！Ihavebeenlongingtohavethehappinessofknowingyou。Eustaceisanoldfriendofmine。IcongratulatedhimwhenIheardofhismarriage。
MayImakeaconfession？——IenvyhimnowIhaveseenhiswife。\"
Thefutureofmylifewasperhapsinthisman’shands。Istudiedhimattentively：Itriedtoreadhischaracterinhisface。
TheMajor’ssparklinglittlegrayeyessoftenedastheylookedatme；theMajor’sstrongandsturdyvoicedroppedtoitslowestandtenderesttoneswhenhespoketome；theMajor’smannerexpressed，fromthemomentwhenIenteredtheroom，ahappymixtureofadmirationandrespect。Hedrewhischairclosetomine，asifitwereaprivilegetobenearme。Hetookmyhandandliftedmyglovetohislips，asifthatglovewerethemostdeliciousluxurytheworldcouldproduce。\"DearMrs。Woodville，\"
hesaid，ashesoftlylaidmyhandbackonmylap，\"bearwithanoldfellowwhoworshipsyourenchantingsex。Youreallybrightenthisdullhouse。Itis_such_apleasuretoseeyou！\"
Therewasnoneedfortheoldgentlemantomakehislittleconfession。Women，children，anddogsproverbiallyknowbyinstinctwhothepeoplearewhoreallylikethem。Thewomenhadawarmfriend——perhapsatonetimeadangerouslywarmfriend——inMajorFitz—David。IknewasmuchofhimasthatbeforeIhadsettledmyselfinmychairandopenedmylipstoanswerhim。
\"Thankyou，Major，foryourkindreceptionandyourprettycompliment，\"Isaid，matchingmyhost’seasytoneascloselyasthenecessaryrestraintsonmysidewouldpermit。\"Youhavemadeyourconfession。MayImakemine？\"
MajorFitz—Davidliftedmyhandagainfrommylapanddrewhischairascloseaspossibletomine。Ilookedathimgravelyandtriedtoreleasemyhand。MajorFitz—Daviddeclinedtoletgoofit，andproceededtotellmewhy。
\"Ihavejustheardyouspeakforthefirsttime，\"hesaid。\"Iamunderthecharmofyourvoice。DearMrs。Woodville，bearwithanoldfellowwhoisunderthecharm！Don’tgrudgememyinnocentlittlepleasures。Lendme——IwishIcouldsay_give_me——thisprettyhand。Iamsuchanadmirerofprettyhands！Icanlistensomuchbetterwithaprettyhandinmine。Theladiesindulgemyweakness。Pleaseindulgemetoo。Yes？Andwhatwereyougoingtosay？\"
\"Iwasgoingtosay，Major，thatIfeltparticularlysensibleofyourkindwelcomebecause，asithappens，Ihaveafavortoaskofyou。\"
Iwasconscious，whileIspoke，thatIwasapproachingtheobjectofmyvisitalittletooabruptly。ButMajorFitz—David’sadmirationrosefromoneclimaxtoanotherwithsuchalarmingrapiditythatIfelttheimportanceofadministeringapracticalchecktoit。Itrustedtothoseominouswords，\"afavortoaskofyou，\"toadministerthecheck，andIdidnottrustinvain。Myagedadmirergentlydroppedmyhand，and，withallpossiblepoliteness，changedthesubject。
\"Thefavorisgranted，ofcourse！\"hesaid。\"Andnow，tellme，howisourdearEustace？\"
\"Anxiousandoutofspirits。\"Ianswered。
\"Anxiousandoutofspirits！\"repeatedtheMajor。\"TheenviablemanwhoismarriedtoYouanxiousandoutofspirits？Monstrous！
Eustacefairlydisgustsme。Ishalltakehimoffthelistofmyfriends。\"
\"Inthatcase，takemeoffthelistwithhim，Major。Iaminwretchedspiritstoo。Youaremyhusband’soldfriend。Imayacknowledgeto_you_thatourmarriedlifeisjustnownotquiteahappyone。\"
MajorFitz—Davidliftedhiseyebrows（dyedtomatchhiswhiskers）
inpolitesurprise。
\"Already！\"heexclaimed。\"WhatcanEustacebemadeof？Hashenoappreciationofbeautyandgrace？Ishethemostinsensibleoflivingbeings？\"
\"Heisthebestanddearestofmen，\"Ianswered。\"Butthereissomedreadfulmysteryinhispastlife——\"
Icouldgetnofurther；MajorFitz—Daviddeliberatelystoppedme。
Hediditwiththesmoothestpoliteness，onthesurface。ButI
sawalookinhisbrightlittleeyeswhichsaid，plainly，\"Ifyou_will_ventureondelicateground，madam，don’taskmetoaccompanyyou。\"
\"Mycharmingfriend！\"heexclaimed。\"MayIcallyoumycharmingfriend？Youhave——amongathousandotherdelightfulqualitieswhichIcanseealready——avividimagination。Don’tletitgettheupperhand。Takeanoldfellow’sadvice；don’tletitgettheupperhand！WhatcanIofferyou，dearMrs。Woodville？Acupoftea？\"
\"Callmebymyrightname，sir，\"Ianswered，boldly。\"Ihavemadeadiscovery。IknowaswellasyoudothatmynameisMacallan。\"
TheMajorstarted，andlookedatmeveryattentively。Hismannerbecamegrave，histonechangedcompletely，whenhespokenext。
\"MayIask，\"hesaid，\"ifyouhavecommunicatedtoyourhusbandthediscoverywhichyouhavejustmentionedtome？\"
\"Certainly！\"Ianswered。\"Iconsiderthatmyhusbandowesmeanexplanation。Ihaveaskedhimtotellmewhathisextraordinaryconductmeans——andhehasrefused，inlanguagethatfrightensme。
Ihaveappealedtohismother——and_she_hasrefusedtoexplain，inlanguagethathumiliatesme。DearMajorFitz—David，Ihavenofriendstotakemypart：Ihavenobodytocometobutyou！Domethegreatestofallfavors——tellmewhyyourfriendEustacehasmarriedmeunderafalsename！\"
\"Do_me_thegreatestofallfavors；\"answeredtheMajor。\"Don’taskmetosayawordaboutit。\"
Helooked，inspiteofhisunsatisfactoryreply，asifhereallyfeltforme。Ideterminedtotrymyutmostpowersofpersuasion；
Iresolvednottobebeatenatthefirstrepulse。
\"I_must_askyou，\"Isaid。\"Thinkofmyposition。HowcanI
live，knowingwhatIknow——andknowingnomore？Iwouldratherhearthemosthorriblethingyoucantellmethanbecondemned（asIamnow）toperpetualmisgivingandperpetualsuspense。I
lovemyhusbandwithallmyheart；butIcannotlivewithhimontheseterms：themiseryofitwoulddrivememad。Iamonlyawoman，Major。Icanonlythrowmyselfonyourkindness。
Don’t——pray，praydon’tkeepmeinthedark！\"
Icouldsaynomore。IntherecklessimpulseofthemomentI
snatcheduphishandandraisedittomylips。ThegallantoldgentlemanstartedasifIhadgivenhimanelectricshock。
\"Mydear，dearlady！\"heexclaimed，\"Ican’ttellyouhowIfeelforyou！Youcharmme，youoverwhelmme，youtouchmetotheheart。WhatcanIsay？WhatcanIdo？Icanonlyimitateyouradmirablefrankness，yourfearlesscandor。Youhavetoldmewhatyourpositionis。Letmetellyou，inmyturn，howIamplaced。
Composeyourself——praycomposeyourself！Ihaveasmelling—bottlehereattheserviceoftheladies。Permitmetoofferit。\"
Hebroughtmethesmelling—bottle；heputalittlestoolundermyfeet；heentreatedmetotaketimeenoughtocomposemyself。
\"Infernalfool！\"Iheardhimsaytohimself，asheconsideratelyturnedawayfrommeforafewmoments。\"If_I_hadbeenherhusband，comewhatmightofit，Iwouldhavetoldherthetruth！\"
WashereferringtoEustace？Andwashegoingtodowhathewouldhavedoneinmyhusband’splace？——washereallygoingtotellmethetruth？
TheideahadbarelycrossedmymindwhenIwasstartledbyaloudandperemptoryknockingatthestreetdoor。TheMajorstoppedandlistenedattentively。Inafewmomentsthedoorwasopened，andtherustlingofawoman’sdresswasplainlyaudibleinthehall。
TheMajorhurriedtothedooroftheroomwiththeactivityofayoungman。Hewastoolate。Thedoorwasviolentlyopenedfromtheouterside，justashegottoit。Theladyoftherustlingdressburstintotheroom。
CHAPTERIX。
THEDEFEATOFTHEMAJOR。
MAJORFITZ—DAVID’Svisitorprovedtobeaplump，round—eyedoverdressedgirl，withafloridcomplexionandstrawcoloredhair。Afterfirstfixingonmeabroadstareofastonishment，shepointedlyaddressedherapologiesforintrudingonustotheMajoralone。Thecreatureevidentlybelievedmetobethelastnewobjectoftheoldgentleman’sidolatry；andshetooknopainstodisguiseherjealousresentmentondiscoveringustogether。
MajorFitz—Davidsetmattersrightinhisownirresistibleway。
Hekissedthehandoftheoverdressedgirlasdevotedlyashehadkissedmine；hetoldhershewaslookingcharmingly。Thenheledher，withhishappymixtureofadmirationandrespect，backtothedoorbywhichshehadentered——aseconddoorcommunicatingdirectlywiththehall。
\"Noapologyisnecessary，mydear，\"hesaid。\"Thisladyiswithmeonamatterofbusiness。Youwillfindyoursinging—masterwaitingforyouupstairs。Beginyourlesson；andIwilljoinyouinafewminutes。_Aurevoir_，mycharmingpupil——_aurevoir。_\"
Theyoungladyansweredthispolitelittlespeechinawhisper——withherroundeyesfixeddistrustfullyonmewhileshespoke。Thedoorclosedonher。MajorFitz—Davidwasatlibertytosetmattersrightwithme，inmyturn。
\"Icallthatyoungpersononeofmyhappydiscoveries；\"saidtheoldgentleman，complacently。\"Shepossesses，Idon’thesitatetosay，thefinestsopranovoiceinEurope。Wouldyoubelieveit，I