Shelookedhardatme，undisguisedlyconsideringwithherselfwhetherIwereorwerenotspeakingthetruth。
\"Youseemtobeagoodsort，\"shesaid，makinguphermindatlast。\"There’snothingstuck—upaboutyou。I’llhelpyouifI
can。Ihaverummagedamongthebookshereoverandoveragain，andIknowmoreaboutthemthanyoudo。Whatbookdoyouwant？\"
AssheputthatawkwardquestionshenoticedforthefirsttimeLadyClarinda’snosegaylyingontheside—tablewheretheMajorhadleftit。Instantlyforgettingmeandmybook，thiscuriousgirlpouncedlikeafuryontheflowers，andactuallytrampledthemunderherfeet！
\"There！\"shecried。\"IfIhadLadyClarindahereI’dserveherinthesameway。\"
\"WhatwilltheMajorsay？\"Iasked。
\"WhatdoIcare？DoyousupposeI’mafraidof_him？_OnlylastweekIbrokeoneofhisfinegimcracksupthere，andallthroughLadyClarindaandherflowers！\"
Shepointedtothetopofthebook—case——totheemptyspaceonitclosebythewindow。Myheartgaveasuddenboundasmyeyestookthedirectionindicatedbyherfinger。_She_hadbrokenthevase！
Wasthewaytodiscoveryabouttorevealitselftomethroughthisgirl？Notawordwouldpassmylips；Icouldonlylookather。
\"Yes！\"shesaid。\"Thethingstoodthere。HeknowshowIhateherflowers，andheputhernosegayinthevaseoutofmyway。Therewasawoman’sfacepaintedonthechina，andhetoldmeitwasthelivingimageof_her_face。ItwasnomorelikeherthanI
am。IwasinsucharagethatIupwiththebookIwasreadingatthetimeandshieditatthepaintedface。Overthevasewent，blessyourheart，crashtothefloor。Stopabit！Iwonderwhether_that’s_thebookyouhavebeenlookingafter？Areyoulikeme？DoyoulikereadingTrials？\"
Trials？HadIheardheraright？Yes：shehadsaidTrials。
Iansweredbyanaffirmativemotionofmyhead。Iwasstillspeechless。Thegirlsaunteredinhercoolwaytothefire—place，and，takingupthetongs，returnedwiththemtothebook—case。
\"Here’swherethebookfell，\"shesaid——\"inthespacebetweenthebook—caseandthewall。I’llhaveitoutinnotime。\"
Iwaitedwithoutmovingamuscle，withoututteringaword。
Sheapproachedmewiththetongsinonehandandwithaplainlyboundvolumeintheother。
\"Isthatthebook？\"shesaid。\"Openit，andsee。\"
Itookthebookfromher。
\"Itistremendouslyinteresting，\"shewenton。\"I’vereadittwiceover——Ihave。Mindyou，_I_believehedidit，afterall。\"
Didit？Didwhat？Whatwasshetalkingabout？Itriedtoputthequestiontoher。Istruggled——quitevainly——tosayonlythesewords：\"Whatareyoutalkingabout？\"
Sheseemedtoloseallpatiencewithme。Shesnatchedthebookoutofmyhand，andopeneditbeforemeonthetablebywhichwewerestandingsidebyside。
\"Ideclare，you’reashelplessasababy！\"shesaid，contemptuously。\"There！_Is_thatthebook？\"
Ireadthefirstlinesonthetitle—page——
ACOMPLETEREPORTOFTHETRIALOFEUSTACEMACALLAN。
Istoppedandlookedupather。Shestartedbackfrommewithascreamofterror。Ilookeddownagainatthetitle—page，andreadthenextlines——
FORTHEALLEGEDPOISONINGOFHISWIFE。
There，God’smercyrememberedme。Theretheblackblankofaswoonswallowedmeup。
CHAPTERXI。
THERETURNTOLIFE。
MyfirstremembrancewhenIbegantorecovermysenseswastheremembranceofPain——agonizingpain，asifeverynerveinmybodywerebeingtwistedandtornoutofme。MywholebeingwrithedandquiveredunderthedumbanddreadfulprotestofNatureagainsttheefforttorecallmetolife。Iwouldhavegivenworldstobeabletocryout——toentreattheunseencreaturesaboutmetogivemebacktodeath。HowlongthatspeechlessagonyheldmeIneverknew。Inalongerorshortertimetherestoleovermeslowlyasleepysenseofrelief。Iheardmyownlaboredbreathing。Ifeltmyhandsmovingfeeblyandmechanically，likethehandsofababy。Ifaintlyopenedmyeyesandlookedroundme——asifIhadpassedthroughtheordealofdeath，andhadawakenedtonewsensesinanewworld。
ThefirstpersonIsawwasaman——astranger。Hemovedquietlyoutofmysight；beckoning，ashedisappeared，tosomeotherpersonintheroom。
SlowlyandunwillinglytheotherpersonadvancedtothesofaonwhichIlay。Afaintcryofjoyescapedme；Itriedtoholdoutmyfeeblehands。Theotherpersonwhowasapproachingmewasmyhusband！
Ilookedathimeagerly。Heneverlookedatmeinreturn。Withhiseyesontheground，withastrangeappearanceofconfusionanddistressinhisface，hetoomovedawayoutofmysight。TheunknownmanwhomIhadfirstnoticedfollowedhimoutoftheroom。Icalledafterhimfaintly，\"Eustace！\"Heneveranswered；
heneverreturned。WithaneffortImovedmyheadonthepillow，soastolookroundontheothersideofthesofa。Anotherfamiliarfaceappearedbeforemeasifinadream。MygoodoldBenjaminwassittingwatchingme，withthetearsinhiseyes。
Heroseandtookmyhandsilently，inhissimple，kindlyway。
\"WhereisEustace？\"Iasked。\"Whyhashegoneawayandleftme？\"
Iwasstillmiserablyweak。MyeyeswanderedmechanicallyroundtheroomasIputthequestion。IsawMajorFitz—David，Isawthetableonwhichthesinginggirlhadopenedthebooktoshowittome。Isawthegirlherself，sittingaloneinacorner，withherhandkerchieftohereyesasifshewerecrying。Inonemysteriousmomentmymemoryrecovereditspowers。Therecollectionofthatfataltitle—pagecamebacktomeinallitshorror。Theonefeelingthatitrousedinmenowwasalongingtoseemyhusband——tothrowmyselfintohisarms，andtellhimhowfirmlyI
believedinhisinnocence，howtrulyanddearlyIlovedhim。I
seizedonBenjaminwithfeeble，tremblinghands。\"Bringhimbacktome！\"Icried，wildly。\"Whereishe？Helpmetogetup！\"
Astrangevoiceanswered，firmlyandkindly：\"Composeyourself，madam。Mr。Woodvilleiswaitinguntilyouhaverecovered，inaroomcloseby。\"
Ilookedathim，andrecognizedthestrangerwhohadfollowedmyhusbandoutoftheroom。Whyhadhereturnedalone？WhywasEustacenotwithme，liketherestofthem？Itriedtoraisemyself，andgetonmyfeet。Thestrangergentlypressedmebackagainonthepillow。Iattemptedtoresisthim——quiteuselessly，ofcourse。Hisfirmhandheldmeasgentlyaseverinmyplace。
\"Youmustrestalittle，\"hesaid。\"Youmusttakesomewine。Ifyouexertyourselfnowyouwillfaintagain。\"
OldBenjaminstoopedoverme，andwhisperedawordofexplanation。
\"It’sthedoctor，mydear。Youmustdoashetellsyou。\"
Thedoctor！Theyhadcalledthedoctorintohelpthem！Ibegandimlytounderstandthatmyfaintingfitmusthavepresentedsymptomsfarmoreseriousthanthefaintingfitsofwomeningeneral。Iappealedtothedoctor，inahelpless，querulousway，toaccounttomeformyhusband’sextraordinaryabsence。
\"Whydidyoulethimleavetheroom？\"Iasked。\"IfIcan’tgotohim，whydon’tyoubringhimheretome？\"
Thedoctorappearedtobeatalosshowtoreplytome。HelookedatBenjamin，andsaid，\"WillyouspeaktoMrs。Woodville？\"
Benjamin，inhisturn，lookedatMajorFitz—David，andsaid，\"Will_you？_\"TheMajorsignedtothembothtoleaveus。Theyrosetogether，andwentintothefrontroom，pullingthedoortoaftertheminitsgrooves。Astheyleftus，thegirlwhohadsostrangelyrevealedmyhusband’ssecrettomeroseinhercornerandapproachedthesofa。
\"IsupposeIhadbettergotoo？\"shesaid，addressingMajorFitz—David。
\"Ifyouplease，\"theMajoranswered。
Hespoke（asIthought）rathercoldly。Shetossedherhead，andturnedherbackonhiminhighindignation。\"Imustsayawordformyself！\"criedthisstrangecreature，withahystericaloutbreakofenergy。\"Imustsayaword，orIshallburst！\"
Withthatextraordinarypreface，shesuddenlyturnedmywayandpouredoutaperfecttorrentofwordsonme。
\"YouhearhowtheMajorspeakstome？\"shebegan。\"Heblamesme——poorMe——foreverythingthathashappened。Iamasinnocentasthenew—bornbabe。Iactedforthebest。Ithoughtyouwantedthebook。Idon’tknownowwhatmadeyoufaintdeadawaywhenI
openedit。AndtheMajorblamesMe！Asifitwasmyfault！Iamnotoneofthefaintingsortmyself；butIfeelit，Icantellyou。Yes！Ifeelit，thoughIdon’tfaintaboutit。Icomeofrespectableparents——Ido。MynameisHoighty——MissHoighty。I
havemyownself—respect；andit’swounded。Isaymyself—respectiswounded，whenIfindmyselfblamedwithoutdeservingit。Youdeserveit，ifanybodydoes。Didn’tyoutellmeyouwerelookingforabook？Anddidn’tIpresentittoyoupromiscuously，withthebestintentions？Ithinkyoumightsaysoyourself，nowthedoctorhasbroughtyoutoagain。Ithinkyoumightspeakupforapoorgirlwhoisworkedtodeathwithsingingandlanguagesandwhatnot——apoorgirlwhohasnobodyelsetospeakforher。Iamasrespectableasyouare，ifyoucometothat。MynameisHoighty。Myparentsareinbusiness，andmymammahasseenbetterdays，andmixedinthebestofcompany。\"
ThereMissHoightyliftedherhandkerchiefagaintoherface，andburstmodestlyintotearsbehindit。
Itwascertainlyhardtoholdherresponsibleforwhathadhappened。IansweredaskindlyasIcould，andIattemptedtospeaktoMajorFitz—Davidinherdefense。Heknewwhatterribleanxietieswereoppressingmeatthatmoment；and，consideratelyrefusingtohearaword，hetookthetaskofconsolinghisyoungprimadonnaentirelyonhimself。WhathesaidtoherIneitherheardnorcaredtohear：hespokeinawhisper。ItendedinhispacifyingMissHoighty，bykissingherhand，andleadingher（ashemighthaveledaduchess）outoftheroom。
\"Ihopethatfoolishgirlhasnotannoyedyou——atsuchatimeasthis，\"hesaid，veryearnestly，whenhereturnedtothesofa。\"I
can’ttellyouhowgrievedIamatwhathashappened。Iwascarefultowarnyou，asyoumayremember。Still，ifIcouldonlyhaveforeseen——\"
Ilethimproceednofurther。Nohumanforethoughtcouldhaveprovidedagainstwhathadhappened。Besides，dreadfulasthediscoveryhadbeen，Iwouldratherhavemadeit，andsufferedunderit，asIwassufferingnow，thanhavebeenkeptinthedark。Itoldhimthis。AndthenIturnedtotheonesubjectthatwasnowofanyinteresttome——thesubjectofmyunhappyhusband。
\"Howdidhecometothishouse？\"Iasked。
HecameherewithMr。BenjaminshortlyafterIreturned，\"theMajorreplied。
\"LongafterIwastakenill？\"
\"No。Ihadjustsentforthedoctor——feelingseriouslyalarmedaboutyou。\"
\"Whatbroughthimhere？Didhereturntothehotelandmissme？\"
\"Yes。Hereturnedearlierthanhehadanticipated，andhefeltuneasyatnotfindingyouatthehotel。\"
\"Didhesuspectmeofbeingwithyou？Didhecomeherefromthehotel？\"
\"No。HeappearstohavegonefirsttoMr。Benjamintoinquireaboutyou。WhatheheardfromyouroldfriendIcannotsay。I
onlyknowthatMr。Benjaminaccompaniedhimwhenhecamehere。\"
Thisbriefexplanationwasquiteenoughforme——Iunderstoodwhathadhappened。EustacewouldeasilyfrightensimpleoldBenjaminaboutmyabsencefromthehotel；and，oncealarmed，BenjaminwouldbepersuadedwithoutdifficultytorepeatthefewwordswhichhadpassedbetweenusonthesubjectofMajorFitz—David。
Myhusband’spresenceintheMajor’shousewasperfectlyexplained。ButhisextraordinaryconductinleavingtheroomattheverytimewhenIwasjustrecoveringmysensesstillremainedtobeaccountedfor。MajorFitz—DavidlookedseriouslyembarrassedwhenIputthequestiontohim。
\"Ihardlyknowhowtoexplainittoyou，\"hesaid。\"Eustacehassurprisedanddisappointedme。\"
Hespokeverygravely。Hislookstoldmemorethanhiswords：hislooksalarmedme。
\"Eustacehasnotquarreledwithyou？\"Isaid。
\"Ohno！\"
\"Heunderstandsthatyouhavenotbrokenyourpromisetohim？\"
\"Certainly。Myyoungvocalist（MissHoighty）toldthedoctorexactlywhathadhappened；andthedoctorinherpresencerepeatedthestatementtoyourhusband。\"
\"DidthedoctorseetheTrial？\"
\"NeitherthedoctornorMr。BenjaminhasseentheTrial。Ihavelockeditup；andIhavecarefullykepttheterriblestoryofyourconnectionwiththeprisonerasecretfromallofthem。Mr。
Benjaminevidentlyhashissuspicions。Butthedoctorhasnoidea，andMissHoightyhasnoidea，ofthetruecauseofyourfaintingfit。Theybothbelievethatyouaresubjecttoseriousnervousattacks，andthatyourhusband’snameisreallyWoodville。AllthatthetruestfriendcoulddotospareEustaceI
havedone。Hepersists，nevertheless，inblamingmeforlettingyouentermyhouse。Andworse，farworsethanthis，hepersistsindeclaringtheeventofto—dayhasfatallyestrangedyoufromhim。’Thereisanendofourmarriedlife，’hesaidtome，’nowsheknowsthatIamthemanwhowastriedatEdinburghforpoisoningmywife！\"’
Irosefromthesofainhorror。
\"GoodGod！\"Icried，\"doesEustacesupposethatIdoubthisinnocence？\"
\"Hedeniesthatitispossibleforyouorforanybodytobelieveinhisinnocence，\"theMajorreplied。
\"Helpmetothedoor，\"Isaid。\"Whereishe？Imustandwillseehim！\"
IdroppedbackexhaustedonthesofaasIsaidthewords。MajorFitz—Davidpouredoutaglassofwinefromthebottleonthetable，andinsistedonmydrinkingit。
\"Youshallseehim，\"saidtheMajor。\"Ipromiseyouthat。Thedoctorhasforbiddenhimtoleavethehouseuntilyouhaveseenhim。Onlywaitalittle！Mypoor，dearlady，wait，ifitisonlyforafewminutes，untilyouarestronger。\"
Ihadnochoicebuttoobeyhim。Oh，thosemiserable，helplessminutesonthesofa！Icannotwriteofthemwithoutshudderingattherecollection——evenatthisdistanceoftime。
\"Bringhimhere！\"Isaid。\"Pray，praybringhimhere！\"
\"Whoistopersuadehimtocomeback？\"askedtheMajor，sadly。
\"HowcanI，howcananybody，prevailwithaman——amadmanIhadalmostsaid！——whocouldleaveyouatthemomentwhenyoufirstopenedyoureyesonhim？IsawEustacealoneinthenextroomwhilethedoctorwasinattendanceonyou。Itriedtoshakehisobstinatedistrustofyourbeliefinhisinnocenceandofmybeliefinhisinnocencebyeveryargumentandeveryappealthatanoldfriendcouldaddresstohim。Hehadbutoneanswertogiveme。ReasonasImight，andpleadasImight，hestillpersistedinreferringmetotheScotchVerdict。\"
\"TheScotchVerdict？\"Irepeated。\"Whatisthat？\"
TheMajorlookedsurprisedatthequestion。
\"HaveyoureallyneverheardoftheTrial？\"hesaid。
\"Never。\"
\"Ithoughtitstrange，\"hewenton，\"whenyoutoldmeyouhadfoundoutyourhusband’struename，thatthediscoveryappearedtohavesuggestednopainfulassociationtoyourmind。ItisnotmorethanthreeyearssinceallEnglandwastalkingofyourhusband。Onecanhardlywonderathistakingrefuge，poorfellow，inanassumedname。Wherecouldyouhavebeenatthetime？\"
\"Didyousayitwasthreeyearsago？\"Iasked。
\"Yes。\"
\"IthinkIcanexplainmystrangeignoranceofwhatwassowellknowntoeveryoneelse。Threeyearssincemyfatherwasalive。I
waslivingwithhiminacountry—houseinItaly——upinthemountains，nearSienna。WeneversawanEnglishnewspaperormetwithanEnglishtravelerforweeksandweekstogether。ItisjustpossiblethattheremighthavebeensomereferencemadetotheTrialinmyfather’slettersfromEngland。Iftherewere，henevertoldmeofit。Or，ifhedidmentionthecase，Ifeltnointerestinit，andforgotitagaindirectly。Tellme——whathastheVerdicttodowithmyhusband’shorribledoubtofus？Eustaceisafreeman。TheVerdictwasNotGuilty，ofcourse？\"
MajorFitz—Davidshookhisheadsadly。
\"EustacewastriedinScotland，\"hesaid。\"ThereisaverdictallowedbytheScotchlaw，which（sofarasIknow）isnotpermittedbythelawsofanyothercivilizedcountryonthefaceoftheearth。Whenthejuryareindoubtwhethertocondemnoracquittheprisonerbroughtbeforethem，theyarepermitted，inScotland，toexpressthatdoubtbyaformofcompromise。Ifthereisnotevidenceenough，ontheonehand，tojustifytheminfindingaprisonerguilty，andnotevidenceenough，ontheotherhand，tothoroughlyconvincethemthataprisonerisinnocent，theyextricatethemselvesfromthedifficultybyfindingaverdictofNotProven。\"
\"WasthattheVerdictwhenEustacewastried？\"Iasked。
\"Yes。\"
\"Thejurywerenotquitesatisfiedthatmyhusbandwasguilty？
andnotquitesatisfiedthatmyhusbandwasinnocent？IsthatwhattheScotchVerdictmeans？\"
\"ThatiswhattheScotchVerdictmeans。Forthreeyearsthatdoubtabouthiminthemindsofthejurywhotriedhimhasstoodonpublicrecord。\"
Oh，mypoordarling！myinnocentmartyr！Iunderstooditatlast。
Thefalsenameinwhichhehadmarriedme；theterriblewordshehadspokenwhenhehadwarnedmetorespecthissecret；thestillmoreterribledoubtthathefeltofmeatthatmoment——itwasallintelligibletomysympathies，itwasallcleartomyunderstanding，now。Igotupagainfromthesofa，stronginadaringresolutionwhichtheScotchVerdicthadsuddenlykindledinme——aresolutionatoncetoosacredandtoodesperatetobeconfided，inthefirstinstance，toanyotherthanmyhusband’sear。
\"TakemetoEustace！\"Icried。\"Iamstrongenoughtobearanythingnow。\"
Afteronesearchinglookatme，theMajorsilentlyofferedmehisarm，andledmeoutoftheroom。
CHAPTERXII。
THESCOTCHVERDICT。
Wewalkedtothefarendofthehall。MajorFitz—Davidopenedthedoorofalong，narrowroombuiltoutatthebackofthehouseasasmoking—room，andextendingalongonesideofthecourtyardasfarasthestablewall。
Myhusbandwasaloneintheroom，seatedatthefurtherendofit，nearthefire—place。HestartedtohisfeetandfacedmeinsilenceasIentered。TheMajorsoftlyclosedthedooronusandretired。Eustaceneverstirredasteptomeetme。Irantohim，andthrewmyarmsroundhisneckandkissedhim。Theembracewasnotreturned；thekisswasnotreturned。Hepassivelysubmitted——nothingmore。
\"Eustace！\"Isaid，\"IneverlovedyoumoredearlythanIloveyouatthismoment！IneverfeltforyouasIfeelforyounow！\"
Hereleasedhimselfdeliberatelyfrommyarms。Hesignedtomewiththemechanicalcourtesyofastrangertotakeachair。
\"Thankyou，Valeria，\"heanswered，incold，measuredtones。\"Youcouldsaynolesstome，afterwhathashappened；andyoucouldsaynomore。Thankyou。\"
Wewerestandingbeforethefire—place。Heleftme，andwalkedawayslowlywithhisheaddown，apparentlyintendingtoleavetheroom。
Ifollowedhim——Igotbeforehim——Iplacedmyselfbetweenhimandthedoor。
\"Whydoyouleaveme？\"Isaid。\"Whydoyouspeaktomeinthiscruelway？Areyouangry，Eustace？Mydarling，ifyou_are_
angry，Iaskyoutoforgiveme。\"
\"ItisIwhooughttoask_your_pardon，\"hereplied。\"Ibegyoutoforgiveme，Valeria，forhavingmadeyoumywife。\"
Hepronouncedthosewordswithahopeless，heart—brokenhumilitydreadfultosee。Ilaidmyhandonhisbosom。Isaid，\"Eustace，lookatme。\"
Heslowlyliftedhiseyestomyface——eyescoldandclearandtearless——lookingatmeinsteadyresignation，inimmovabledespair。Intheutterwretchednessofthatmoment，Iwaslikehim；Iwasasquietandascoldasmyhusband。Hechilled，hefrozeme。
\"Isitpossible，\"Isaid，\"thatyoudoubtmybeliefinyourinnocence？\"
Heleftthequestionunanswered。Hesighedbitterlytohimself。
\"Poorwoman！\"hesaid，asastrangermighthavesaid，pityingme。
\"Poorwoman！\"
Myheartswelledinmeasifitwouldburst。Iliftedmyhandfromhisbosom，andlaiditonhisshouldertosupportmyself。
\"Idon’taskyoutopityme，Eustace；Iaskyoutodomejustice。
Youarenotdoingmejustice。Ifyouhadtrustedmewiththetruthinthedayswhenwefirstknewthatwelovedeachother——ifyouhadtoldmeall，andmorethanallthatIknownow——asGodismywitnessIwouldstillhavemarriedyou！_Now_doyoudoubtthatIbelieveyouareaninnocentman！\"
\"Idon’tdoubtit，\"hesaid。\"Allyourimpulsesaregenerous，Valeria。Youarespeakinggenerouslyandfeelinggenerously。
Don’tblameme，mypoorchild，ifIlookonfurtherthanyoudo：
ifIseewhatistocome——toosurelytocome——inthecruelfuture。\"
\"Thecruelfuture！\"Irepeated。\"Whatdoyoumean？\"
\"Youbelieveinmyinnocence，Valeria。Thejurywhotriedmedoubtedit——andhaveleftthatdoubtonrecord。Whatreasonhave_you_forbelieving，inthefaceoftheVerdict，thatIamaninnocentman？\"
\"Iwantnoreason！Ibelieveinspiteofthejury——inspiteoftheVerdict。\"
\"Willyourfriendsagreewithyou？Whenyouruncleandauntknowwhathashappened——andsoonerorlatertheymustknowit——whatwilltheysay？Theywillsay，’Hebeganbadly；heconcealedfromourniecethathehadbeenweddedtoafirstwife；hemarriedournieceunderafalsename。Hemaysayheisinnocent；butwehaveonlyhiswordforit。WhenhewasputonhisTrial，theVerdictwasNotProven。NotProvenwon’tdoforus。Ifthejuryhavedonehimaninjustice——ifhe_is_innocent——lethimproveit。’Thatiswhattheworldthinksandsaysofme。Thatiswhatyourfriendswillthinkandsayofme。Thetimeiscoming，Valeria，whenyou——evenYou——willfeelthatyourfriendshavereasontoappealtoontheirside，andthatyouhavenoreasononyours。\"
\"Thattimewillnevercome！\"Ianswered，warmly。\"Youwrongme，youinsultme，inthinkingitpossible！\"
Heputdownmyhandfromhim，anddrewbackastep，withabittersmile。
\"Wehaveonlybeenmarriedafewdays，Valeria。Yourloveformeisnewandyoung。Time，whichwearsawayallthings，willwearawaythefirstfervorofthatlove。\"
\"Never！never！\"
Hedrewbackfrommealittlefurtherstill。
\"Lookattheworldaroundyou，\"hesaid。\"Thehappiesthusbandsandwiveshavetheiroccasionalmisunderstandingsanddisagreements；thebrightestmarriedlifehasitspassingclouds。
Whenthosedayscomefor_us，_thedoubtsandfearsthatyoudon’tfeelnowwillfindtheirwaytoyouthen。Whenthecloudsrisein_our_marriedlife——whenIsaymyfirstharshword，whenyoumakeyourfirsthastyreply——then，inthesolitudeofyourownroom，inthestillnessofthewakefulnight，youwillthinkofmyfirstwife’smiserabledeath。YouwillrememberthatIwasheldresponsibleforit，andthatmyinnocencewasneverproved。
Youwillsaytoyourself，’Diditbegin，in_her_time，withaharshwordfromhimandwithahastyreplyfromher？Willitonedayendwithmeasthejuryhalffearedthatitendedwithher？’
Hideousquestionsforawifetoaskherself！Youwillstiflethem；youwillrecoilfromthem，likeagoodwoman，withhorror。
Butwhenwemeetthenextmorningyouwillbeonyourguard，andIshallseeit，andknowinmyheartofheartswhatitmeans。
Imbitteredbythatknowledge，mynextharshwordmaybeharsherstill。Yournextthoughtsofmemayremindyoumorevividlyandmoreboldlythatyourhusbandwasoncetriedasapoisoner，andthatthequestionofhisfirstwife’sdeathwasneverproperlyclearedup。Doyouseewhatmaterialsforadomestichellareminglingforushere？WasitfornothingthatIwarnedyou，solemnlywarnedyou，todrawback，whenIfoundyoubentondiscoveringthetruth？CanIeverbeatyourbedsidenow，whenyouareill，andnotremindyou，inthemostinnocentthingsI
do，ofwhathappenedatthatotherbedside，inthetimeofthatotherwomanwhomImarriedfirst？IfIpouroutyourmedicine，I
commitasuspiciousaction——theysayIpoisoned_her_inhermedicine。IfIbringyouacupoftea，Irevivetheremembranceofahorriddoubt——theysaidIputthearsenicin_her_cupoftea。IfIkissyouwhenIleavetheroom，Iremindyouthattheprosecutionaccusedmeofkissing_her，_tosaveappearancesandproduceaneffectonthenurse。Canwelivetogetheronsuchtermsasthese？Nomortalcreaturescouldsupportthemiseryofit。ThisverydayIsaidtoyou，’Ifyoustirastepfurtherinthismatter，thereisanendofyourhappinessfortherestofyourlife。’Youhavetakenthatstepandtheendhascometoyourhappinessandtomine。Theblightthatcankersandkillsisonyouandonmefortherestofourlives！\"
SofarIhadforcedmyselftolistentohim。Atthoselastwordsthepictureofthefuturethathewasplacingbeforemebecametoohideoustobeendured。Irefusedtohearmore。