\"Youaretalkinghorribly，\"Isaid。\"Atyourageandatmine，havewedonewithloveanddonewithhope？ItisblasphemytoLoveandHopetosayit！\"
\"WaittillyouhavereadtheTrial，\"heanswered。\"Youmeantoreadit，Isuppose？\"
\"Everywordofit！Withamotive，Eustace，whichyouhaveyettoknow。\"
\"Nomotiveofyours，Valeria，noloveandhopeofyours，canaltertheinexorablefacts。Myfirstwifediedpoisoned；andtheverdictofthejuryhasnotabsolutelyacquittedmeoftheguiltofcausingherdeath。Aslongasyouwereignorantofthatthepossibilitiesofhappinesswerealwayswithinourreach。Nowyouknowit，Isayagain——ourmarriedlifeisatanend。\"
\"No，\"Isaid。\"NowIknowit，ourmarriedlifehasbegun——begunwithanewobjectforyourwife’sdevotion，withanewreasonforyourwife’slove！\"
\"Whatdoyoumean？\"
Iwentneartohimagain，andtookhishand。
\"Whatdidyoutellmetheworldhassaidofyou？\"Iasked。\"Whatdidyoutellmemyfriendswouldsayofyou？’NotProvenwon’tdoforus。Ifthejuryhavedonehimaninjustice——ifhe_is_
innocent——lethimproveit。’Thosewerethewordsyouputintothemouthsofmyfriends。Iadoptthemformine！IsayNotProvenwon’tdofor_me。_Proveyourright，Eustace，toaverdictofNotGuilty。Whyhaveyouletthreeyearspasswithoutdoingit？ShallIguesswhy？Youhavewaitedforyourwifetohelpyou。Heresheis，mydarling，readytohelpyouwithallherheartandsoul。
Heresheis，withoneobjectinlife——toshowtheworldandtoshowtheScotchJurythatherhusbandisaninnocentman！\"
Ihadrousedmyself；mypulseswerethrobbing，myvoicerangthroughtheroom。HadIroused_him_？Whatwashisanswer？
\"ReadtheTrial。\"Thatwashisanswer。
Iseizedhimbythearm。InmyindignationandmydespairIshookhimwithallmystrength。Godforgiveme，Icouldalmosthavestruckhimforthetoneinwhichhehadspokenandthelookthathehadcastonme！
\"IhavetoldyouthatImeantoreadtheTrial，\"Isaid。\"Imeantoreadit，linebyline，withyou。Someinexcusablemistakehasbeenmade。Evidenceinyourfavorthatmighthavebeenfoundhasnotbeenfound。Suspiciouscircumstanceshavenotbeeninvestigated。Craftypeoplehavenotbeenwatched。Eustace！theconvictionofsomedreadfuloversight，committedbyyouorbythepersonswhohelpedyou，isfirmlysettledinmymind。TheresolutiontosetthatvileVerdictrightwasthefirstresolutionthatcametomewhenIfirstheardofitinthenextroom。We_will_setitright！We_must_setitright——foryoursake，formysake，forthesakeofourchildrenifweareblessedwithchildren。Oh，myownlove，don’tlookatmewiththosecoldeyes！Don’tanswermeinthosehardtones！Don’ttreatmeasifI
weretalkingignorantlyandmadlyofsomethingthatcanneverbe！\"
StillIneverrousedhim。Hisnextwordswerespokencompassionatelyratherthancoldly——thatwasall。
\"Mydefensewasundertakenbythegreatestlawyersintheland，\"
hesaid。\"Aftersuchmenhavedonetheirutmost，andhavefailed——mypoorValeria，whatcanyou，whatcanI，do？Wecanonlysubmit。\"
\"Never！\"Icried。\"Thegreatestlawyersaremortalmen；thegreatestlawyershavemademistakesbeforenow。Youcan’tdenythat。\"
\"ReadtheTrial。\"Forthethirdtimehesaidthosecruelwords，andsaidnomore。
Inutterdespairofmovinghim———feelingkeenly，bitterly（ifI
mustownit），hismercilesssuperioritytoallthatIhadsaidtohiminthehonestfervorofmydevotionandmylove——IthoughtofMajorFitz—Davidasalastresort。Inthedisorderedstateofmymindatthatmoment，itmadenodifferencetomethattheMajorhadalreadytriedtoreasonwithhim，andhadfailed。InthefaceofthefactsIhadablindbeliefintheinfluenceofhisoldfriend，ifhisoldfriendcouldonlybeprevailedupontosupportmyview。
\"Waitformeonemoment，\"Isaid。\"Iwantyoutohearanotheropinionbesidesmine。\"
Ilefthim，andreturnedtothestudy。MajorFitz—Davidwasnotthere。Iknockedatthedoorofcommunicationwiththefrontroom。ItwasopenedinstantlybytheMajorhimself。Thedoctorhadgoneaway。Benjaminstillremainedintheroom。
\"WillyoucomeandspeaktoEustace？\"Ibegan。\"IfyouwillonlysaywhatIwantyoutosay——\"
BeforeIcouldaddawordmoreIheardthehousedooropenedandclosed。MajorFitz—DavidandBenjaminheardittoo。Theylookedateachotherinsilence。
Iranback，beforetheMajorcouldstopme，totheroominwhichIhadseenEustace。Itwasempty。Myhusbandhadleftthehouse。
CHAPTERXIII。
THEMAN’SDECISION。
MYfirstimpulsewastherecklessimpulsetofollowEustace——openlythroughthestreets。
TheMajorandBenjaminbothopposedthishastyresolutiononmypart。Theyappealedtomyownsenseofself—respect，without（sofarasIrememberit）producingtheslightesteffectonmymind。
Theyweremoresuccessfulwhentheyentreatedmenexttobepatientformyhusband’ssake。InmercytoEustace，theybeggedmetowaithalfanhour。Ifhefailedtoreturninthattime，theypledgedthemselvestoaccompanymeinsearchofhimtothehotel。
InmercytoEustaceIconsentedtowait。WhatIsufferedundertheforcednecessityforremainingpassiveatthatcrisisinmylifenowordsofminecantell。ItwillbebetterifIgoonwithmynarrative。
Benjaminwasthefirsttoaskmewhathadpassedbetweenmyhusbandandmyself。
\"Youmayspeakfreely，mydear，\"hesaid。\"IknowwhathashappenedsinceyouhavebeeninMajorFitz—David’shouse。Noonehastoldmeaboutit；Ifounditoutformyself。Ifyouremember，Iwasstruckbythenameof’Macallan，’whenyoufirstmentionedittomeatmycottage。Icouldn’tguesswhyatthetime。Iknowwhynow。\"
Hearingthis，ItoldthembothunreservedlywhatIhadsaidtoEustace，andhowhehadreceivedit。Tomyunspeakabledisappointment，theybothsidedwithmyhusband，treatingmyviewofhispositionasameredream。Theysaidit，ashehadsaidit，\"YouhavenotreadtheTrial。\"
Iwasreallyenragedwiththem。\"Thefactsareenoughfor_me，_\"
Isaid。\"Weknowheisinnocent。Whyishisinnocencenotproved？
Itoughttobe，itmustbe，itshallbe！IftheTrialtellmeitcan’tbedone，IrefusetobelievetheTrial。Whereisthebook，Major？Letmeseeformyselfifhislawyershaveleftnothingforhiswifetodo。DidtheylovehimasIlovehim？Givemethebook！\"
MajorFitz—DavidlookedatBenjamin。
\"ItwillonlyadditionallyshockanddistressherifIgiveherthebook，\"hesaid。\"Don’tyouagreewithme？\"
IinterposedbeforeBenjamincouldanswer。
\"Ifyourefusemyrequest，\"Isaid，\"youwillobligeme，Major，togotothenearestbooksellerandtellhimtobuytheTrialforme。Iamdeterminedtoreadit。\"
ThistimeBenjaminsidedwithme。
\"Nothingcanmakemattersworsethantheyare，sir，\"hesaid。\"IfImaybepermittedtoadvise，letherhaveherownway。\"
TheMajorroseandtookthebookoutoftheItaliancabinet，towhichhehadconsigneditforsafe—keeping。
\"Myyoungfriendtellsmethatsheinformedyouofherregrettableoutbreakoftemperafewdayssince，\"hesaidashehandedmethevolume。\"Iwasnotawareatthetimewhatbookshehadinherhandwhenshesofarforgotherselfastodestroythevase。WhenIleftyouinthestudy，IsupposedtheReportoftheTrialtobeinitscustomaryplaceonthetopshelfofthebook—case，andIownIfeltsomecuriositytoknowwhetheryouwouldthinkofexaminingthatshelf。Thebrokenvase——itisneedlesstoconcealitfromyounow——wasoneofapairpresentedtomebyyourhusbandandhisfirstwifeonlyaweekbeforethepoorwoman’sterribledeath。IfeltmyfirstpresentimentthatyouwereonthebrinkofdiscoverywhenIfoundyoulookingatthefragments，andIfancyIbetrayedtoyouthatsomethingofthesortwasdisturbingme。Youlookedasifyounoticedit。\"
\"Ididnoticeit，Major。AndItoohadavagueideathatIwasonthewaytodiscovery。Willyoulookatyourwatch？Havewewaitedhalfanhouryet？\"
Myimpatiencehadmisledme。Theordealofthehalf—hourwasnotyetatanend。
Slowlyandmoreslowlytheheavyminutesfollowedeachother，andstilltherewerenosignsofmyhusband’sreturn。Wetriedtocontinueourconversation，andfailed。Nothingwasaudible；nosoundsbuttheordinarysoundsofthestreetdisturbedthedreadfulsilence。TryasImighttorepelit，therewasoneforebodingthoughtthatpressedcloserandcloseronmymindastheintervalofwaitingworeitswearywayon。IshudderedasI
askedmyselfifourmarriedlifehadcometoanend——ifEustacehadreallyleftme。
TheMajorsawwhatBenjamin’sslowerperceptionhadnotyetdiscovered——thatmyfortitudewasbeginningtosinkundertheunrelievedoppressionofsuspense。
\"Come！\"hesaid。\"Letusgotothehotel。\"
Itthenwantednearlyfiveminutestothehalf—hour。I_looked_
mygratitudetoMajorFitz—Davidforsparingmethoselastminutes：IcouldnotspeaktohimortoBenjamin。Insilencewethreegotintoacabanddrovetothehotel。
Thelandladymetusinthehall。NothinghadbeenseenorheardofEustace。Therewasaletterwaitingformeupstairsonthetableinoursitting—room。Ithadbeenleftatthehotelbyamessengeronlyafewminutessince。
Tremblingandbreathless，Iranupthestairs，thetwogentlemenfollowingme。Theaddressoftheletterwasinmyhusband’shandwriting。MyheartsankinmeasIlookedatthelines；therecouldbebutonereasonforhiswritingtome。Thatclosedenvelopeheldhisfarewellwords。Isatwiththeletteronmylap，stupefied，incapableofopeningit。
Kind—heartedBenjaminattemptedtocomfortandencourageme。TheMajor，withhislargerexperienceofwomen，warnedtheoldmantobesilent。
\"Wait！\"Iheardhimwhisper。\"Speakingtoherwilldonogoodnow。Givehertime。\"
Actingonasuddenimpulse，Iheldoutthelettertohimashespoke。Evenmomentsmightbeofimportance，ifEustacehadindeedleftme。Togivemetimemightbetolosetheopportunityofrecallinghim。
\"Youarehisoldfriend，\"Isaid。\"Openhisletter，Major，andreaditforme。\"
MajorFitz—Davidopenedtheletterandreaditthroughtohimself。Whenhehaddonehethrewitonthetablewithagesturewhichwasalmostagestureofcontempt。
\"Thereisbutoneexcuseforhim，\"hesaid。\"Themanismad。\"
Thosewordstoldmeall。Iknewtheworst；and，knowingit，I
couldreadtheletter。Itranthus：
\"MYBELOVEDVALERIA——Whenyoureadtheselinesyoureadmyfarewellwords。Ireturntomysolitaryunfriendedlife——mylifebeforeIknewyou。
\"Mydarling，youhavebeencruellytreated。Youhavebeenentrappedintomarryingamanwhohasbeenpubliclyaccusedofpoisoninghisfirstwife——andwhohasnotbeenhonorablyandcompletelyacquittedofthecharge。Andyouknowit！
\"CanyouliveontermsofmutualconfidenceandmutualesteemwithmewhenIhavecommittedthisfraud，andwhenIstandtowardyouinthisposition？Itwaspossibleforyoutolivewithmehappilywhileyouwereinignoranceofthetruth。Itis_not_
possible，nowyouknowall。
\"No！theoneatonementIcanmakeis——toleaveyou。Youronechanceoffuturehappinessistobedisassociated，atonceandforever，frommydishonoredlife。Iloveyou，Valeria——truly，devotedly，passionately。Butthespecterofthepoisonedwomanrisesbetweenus。ItmakesnodifferencethatIaminnocentevenofthethoughtofharmingmyfirstwife。Myinnocencehasnotbeenproved。Inthisworldmyinnocencecanneverbeproved。Youareyoungandloving，andgenerousandhopeful。Blessothers，Valeria，withyourrareattractionsandyourdelightfulgifts。
Theyareofnoavailwith_me。_Thepoisonedwomanstandsbetweenus。Ifyoulivewithmenow，youwillseeherasIseeher。
_That_tortureshallneverbeyours。Iloveyou。Ileaveyou。
\"Doyouthinkmehardandcruel？Waitalittle，andtimewillchangethatwayofthinking。Astheyearsgoonyouwillsaytoyourself，’Baselyashedeceivedme，therewassomegenerosityinhim。Hewasmanenoughtoreleasemeofhisownfreewill。’
\"Yes，Valeria，Ifully，freelyreleaseyou。Ifitbepossibletoannulourmarriage，letitbedone。Recoveryourlibertybyanymeansthatyoumaybeadvisedtoemploy；andbeassuredbeforehandofmyentireandimplicitsubmission。Mylawyershavethenecessaryinstructionsonthissubject。Yourunclehasonlytocommunicatewiththem，andIthinkhewillbesatisfiedofmyresolutiontodoyoujustice。TheoneinterestthatIhavenowleftinlifeismyinterestinyourwelfareandyourhappinessinthetimetocome。YourwelfareandyourhappinessarenolongertobefoundinyourunionwithMe。
\"Icanwritenomore。Thisletterwillwaitforyouatthehotel。
Itwillbeuselesstoattempttotraceme。Iknowmyownweakness。Myheartisallyours：ImightyieldtoyouifIletyouseemeagain。
\"Showtheselinestoyouruncle，andtoanyfriendswhoseopinionsyoumayvalue。Ihaveonlytosignmydishonoredname，andeveryonewillunderstandandapplaudmymotiveforwritingasIdo。Thenamejustifies——amplyjustifies——theletter。Forgiveandforgetme。Farewell。
\"EUSTACEMACALLAN。\"
Inthosewordshetookhisleaveofme。Wehadthenbeenmarried——sixdays。
CHAPTERXIV。
THEWOMAN’SANSWER。
THUSfarIhavewrittenofmyselfwithperfectfrankness，and，I
thinkImayfairlyadd，withsomecourageaswell。MyfranknessfailsmeandmycouragefailsmewhenIlookbacktomyhusband’sfarewellletter，andtrytorecallthestormofcontendingpassionsthatitrousedinmymind。No！Icannottellthetruthaboutmyself——Idarenottellthetruthaboutmyself——atthatterribletime。Men！consultyourobservationofwomen，andimaginewhatIfelt；women！lookintoyourownhearts，andseewhatIfelt，foryourselves。
WhatI_did，_whenmymindwasquietagain，isaneasiermattertodealwith。Iansweredmyhusband’sletter。Myreplytohimshallappearinthesepages。Itwillshow，insomedegree，whateffect（ofthelastingsort）hisdesertionofmeproducedonmymind。Itwillalsorevealthemotivesthatsustainedme，thehopesthatanimatedme，inthenewandstrangelifewhichmynextchaptersmustdescribe。
Iwasremovedfromthehotelinthecareofmyfatherlyoldfriend，Benjamin。Abedroomwaspreparedformeinhislittlevilla。ThereIpassedthefirstnightofmyseparationfrommyhusband。Towardthemorningmywearybraingotsomerest——I
slept。
Atbreakfast—timeMajorFitz—Davidcalledtoinquireaboutme。Hehadkindlyvolunteeredtogoandspeakformetomyhusband’slawyersontheprecedingday。TheyhadadmittedthattheyknewwhereEustacehadgone，buttheydeclaredatthesametimethattheywerepositivelyforbiddentocommunicatehisaddresstoanyone。Inotherrespectstheir\"instructions\"inrelationtothewifeoftheirclientwere（astheywerepleasedtoexpressit）
\"generoustoafault。\"Ihadonlytowritetothem，andtheywouldfurnishmewithacopybyreturnofpost。
ThiswastheMajor’snews。Herefrained，withthetactthatdistinguishedhim，fromputtinganyquestionstomebeyondquestionsrelatingtothestateofmyhealth。Theseanswered，hetookhisleaveofmeforthatday。HeandBenjaminhadalongtalktogetherafterwardinthegardenofthevilla。
IretiredtomyroomandwrotetomyuncleStarkweather，tellinghimexactlywhathadhappened，andinclosinghimacopyofmyhusband’sletter。Thisdone，Iwentoutforalittlewhiletobreathethefreshairandtothink。Iwassoonweary，andwentbackagaintomyroomtorest。MykindoldBenjaminleftmeatperfectlibertytobealoneaslongasIpleased。TowardtheafternoonIbegantofeelalittlemorelikemyoldselfagain。I
meanbythisthatIcouldthinkofEustacewithoutburstingoutcrying，andcouldspeaktoBenjaminwithoutdistressingandfrighteningthedearoldman。
ThatnightIhadalittlemoresleep。ThenextmorningIwasstrongenoughtoconfrontthefirstandforemostdutythatInowowedtomyself——thedutyofansweringmyhusband’sletter。
Iwrotetohiminthesewords：
\"Iamstilltooweakandweary，Eustace，towritetoyouatanylength。Butmymindisclear。Ihaveformedmyownopinionofyouandyourletter；andIknowwhatImeantodonowyouhaveleftme。Somewomen，inmysituation，mightthinkthatyouhadforfeitedallrighttotheirconfidence。Idon’tthinkthat。SoI
writeandtellyouwhatisinmymindintheplainestandfewestwordsthatIcanuse。
\"Yousayyouloveme——andyouleaveme。Idon’tunderstandlovingawomanandleavingher。Formypart，inspiteofthehardthingsyouhavesaidandwrittentome，andinspiteofthecruelmannerinwhichyouhaveleftme，Iloveyou——andIwon’tgiveyouup。
No！AslongasIliveImeantoliveyourwife。
\"Doesthissurpriseyou？Itsurprises_me。_Ifanotherwomanwroteinthismannertoamanwhohadbehavedtoherasyouhavebehaved，Ishouldbequiteatalosstoaccountforherconduct。
Iamquiteatalosstoaccountformyownconduct。Ioughttohateyou，andyetIcan’thelplovingyou。Iamashamedofmyself；butsoitis。
\"Youneedfeelnofearofmyattemptingtofindoutwhereyouare，andofmytryingtopersuadeyoutoreturntome。Iamnotquitefoolishenoughtodothat。Youarenotinafitstateofmindtoreturntome。Youareallwrong，allover，fromheadtofoot。Whenyougetrightagain，Iamvainenoughtothinkthatyouwillreturntomeofyourownaccord。AndshallIbeweakenoughtoforgiveyou？Yes！Ishallcertainlybeweakenoughtoforgiveyou。
\"Buthowareyoutogetrightagain？
\"Ihavepuzzledmybrainsoverthisquestionbynightandbyday，andmyopinionisthatyouwillnevergetrightagainunlessI
helpyou。
\"HowamItohelpyou？
\"Thatquestioniseasilyanswered。WhattheLawhasfailedtodoforyou，yourWifemustdoforyou。DoyourememberwhatIsaidwhenweweretogetherinthebackroomatMajorFitz—David’shouse？Itoldyouthatthefirstthoughtthatcametome，whenI
heardwhattheScotchjuryhaddone，wasthethoughtofsettingtheirvileVerdictright。Well！Yourletterhasfixedthisideamorefirmlyinmymindthanever。TheonlychancethatIcanseeofwinningyoubacktome，inthecharacterofapenitentandlovinghusband，istochangethatunderhandScotchVerdictofNotProvenintoanhonestEnglishVerdictofNotGuilty。
\"Areyousurprisedattheknowledgeofthelawwhichthiswayofwritingbetraysinanignorantwoman？Ihavebeenlearning，mydear：theLawandtheLadyhavebegunbyunderstandingoneanother。InplainEnglish，IhavelookedintoOgilvie’s’ImperialDictionary，’andOgilvietellsme，’AverdictofNotProvenonlyindicatesthat，intheopinionofthejury，thereisadeficiencyintheevidencetoconvicttheprisoner。AverdictofNotGuiltyimportsthejury’sopinionthattheprisonerisinnocent。’
Eustace，thatshallbetheopinionoftheworldingeneral，andoftheScotchjuryinparticular，inyourcase。TothatoneobjectIdedicatemylifetocome，ifGodspareme！
\"Whowillhelpme，whenIneedhelp，ismorethanIyetknow。
TherewasatimewhenIhadhopedthatweshouldgohandinhandtogetherindoingthisgoodwork。Thathopeisatanend。Inolongerexpectyou，oraskyou，tohelpme。Amanwhothinksasyouthinkcangivenohelptoanybody——itishismiserableconditiontohavenohope。Sobeit！Iwillhopefortwo，andwillworkfortwo；andIshallfindsomeonetohelpme——neverfear——ifIdeserveit。
\"Iwillsaynothingaboutmyplans——IhavenotreadtheTrialyet。ItisquiteenoughformethatIknowyouareinnocent。
Whenamanisinnocent，there_must_beawayofprovingit：theonethingneedfulistofindtheway。Soonerorlater，withorwithoutassistance，Ishallfindit。Yes！beforeIknowanysingleparticularoftheCase，Itellyoupositively——Ishallfindit！
\"Youmaylaughoverthisblindconfidenceonmypart，oryoumaycryoverit。Idon’tpretendtoknowwhetherIamanobjectforridiculeoranobjectforpity。OfonethingonlyIamcertain：I
meantowinyouback，amanvindicatedbeforetheworld，withoutastainonhischaracterorhisname——thankstohiswife。
\"Writetome，sometimes，Eustace；andbelieveme，throughallthebitternessofthisbitterbusiness，yourfaithfulandloving\"VALERIA。\"
Therewasmyreply！Poorenoughasacomposition（Icouldwriteamuchbetterletternow），ithad，ifImaypresumetosayso，onemerit。ItwasthehonestexpressionofwhatIreallymeantandfelt。
IreadittoBenjamin。Hehelduphishandswithhiscustomarygesturewhenhewasthoroughlybewilderedanddismayed。\"Itseemstherashestletterthateverwaswritten，\"saidthedearoldman。
\"Ineverheard，Valeria，ofawomandoingwhatyouproposetodo。
Lordhelpus！thenewgenerationisbeyondmyfathoming。IwishyouruncleStarkweatherwashere：Iwonderwhathewouldsay？Oh，dearme，whataletterfromawifetoahusband！Doyoureallymeantosendittohim？\"
Iaddedimmeasurablytomyoldfriend’ssurprisebynotevenemployingthepost—office。Iwishedtoseethe\"instructions\"
whichmyhusbandhadleftbehindhim。SoItookthelettertohislawyersmyself。
Thefirmconsistedoftwopartners。Theybothreceivedmetogether。Onewasasoft，leanman，withasoursmile。Theotherwasahard，fatman，withill—temperedeyebrows。Itookagreatdisliketobothofthem。Ontheirside，theyappearedtofeelastrongdistrustofme。Webeganbydisagreeing。Theyshowedmemyhusband’s\"instructions，\"providing，amongotherthings，forthepaymentofoneclearhalfofhisincomeaslongashelivedtohiswife。Ipositivelyrefusedtotouchafarthingofhismoney。
Thelawyerswereunaffectedlyshockedandastonishedatthisdecision。Nothingofthesorthadeverhappenedbeforeinthewholecourseoftheirexperience。Theyarguedandremonstratedwithme。Thepartnerwiththeill—temperedeyebrowswantedtoknowwhatmyreasonswere。ThepartnerwiththesoursmileremindedhiscolleaguesatiricallythatIwasalady，andhadthereforenoreasonstogive。Ionlyanswered，\"Besogoodastoforwardmyletter，gentlemen，\"andleftthem。
IhavenowishtoclaimanycredittomyselfinthesepageswhichIdonothonestlydeserve。ThetruthisthatmyprideforbademetoaccepthelpfromEustace，nowthathehadleftme。Myownlittlefortune（eighthundredayear）hadbeensettledonmyselfwhenImarried。IthadbeenmorethanIwantedasasinglewoman，andIwasresolvedthatitshouldbeenoughformenow。Benjaminhadinsistedonmyconsideringhiscottageasmyhome。Underthesecircumstances，theexpensesinwhichmydeterminationtoclearmyhusband’scharactermightinvolvemeweretheonlyexpensesforwhichIhadtoprovide。Icouldaffordtobeindependent，andindependentIresolvedthatIwouldbe。
WhileIamoccupiedinconfessingmyweaknessandmyerrors，itisonlyrighttoaddthat，dearlyasIstilllovedmyunhappy，misguidedhusband，therewasonelittlefaultofhiswhichI
founditnoteasytoforgive。
Pardoningotherthings，Icouldnotquitepardonhisconcealingfrommethathehadbeenmarriedtoafirstwife。WhyIshouldhavefeltthissobitterlyasIdid，atcertaintimesandseasons，Iamnotabletoexplain。Jealousywasatthebottomofit，Isuppose。AndyetIwasnotconsciousofbeingjealous——especiallywhenIthoughtofthepoorcreature’smiserabledeath。Still，Eustaceoughtnottohavekept_that_
secretfromme，Iusedtothinktomyself，atoddtimeswhenI
wasdiscouragedandoutoftemper。Whatwould_he_havesaidifI
hadbeenawidow，andhadnevertoldhimofit？
ItwasgettingontowardeveningwhenIreturnedtothecottage。
Benjaminappearedtohavebeenonthelookoutforme。BeforeI
couldringatthebellheopenedthegardengate。
\"Prepareyourselfforasurprise，mydear，\"hesaid。\"Youruncle，theReverendDoctorStarkweather，hasarrivedfromtheNorth，andiswaitingtoseeyou。Hereceivedyourletterthismorning，andhetookthefirsttraintoLondonassoonashehadreadit。\"
Inanotherminutemyuncle’sstrongarmswereroundme。Inmyforlornposition，Ifeltthegoodvicar’skindness，intravelingallthewaytoLondontoseeme，verygratefully。Itbroughtthetearsintomyeyes——tears，withoutbitterness，thatdidmegood。
\"Ihavecome，mydearchild，totakeyoubacktoyouroldhome，\"
hesaid。\"NowordscantellhowferventlyIwishyouhadneverleftyourauntandme。Well！well！wewon’ttalkaboutit。Themischiefisdone，andthenextthingistomenditaswellaswecan。IfIcouldonlygetwithinarm’s—lengthofthathusbandofyours，Valeria——There！there！Godforgiveme，IamforgettingthatIamaclergyman。WhatshallIforgetnext，Iwonder？
By—the—by，yourauntsendsyouherdearestlove。Sheismoresuperstitiousthanever。Thismiserablebusinessdoesn’tsurpriseherabit。Shesaysitallbeganwithyourmakingthatmistakeaboutyournameinsigningthechurchregister。Youremember？Wasthereeversuchstuff？Ah，she’safoolishwoman，thatwifeofmine！Butshemeanswell——agoodsoulatbottom。ShewouldhavetraveledallthewayherealongwithmeifIwouldhavelether。