Thereweredifficulties，ofcourse，inmyway。ThefirstandgreatestdifficultywastoobtainanintroductiontoMiserrimusDexter。
Thecomposinginfluenceofthefreshairinthegardenhadbythistimemademereadiertoliedownandrestthantooccupymymindinreflectingonmydifficulties。LittlebylittleIgrewtoodrowsytothink——thentoolazytogoonwalking。MybedlookedwonderfullyinvitingasIpassedbytheopenwindowofmyroom。
InfiveminutesmoreIhadacceptedtheinvitationofthebed，andhadsaidfarewelltomyanxietiesandmytroubles。InfiveminutesmoreIwasfastasleep。
Adiscreetlygentleknockatmydoorwasthefirstsoundthatarousedme。IheardthevoiceofmygoodoldBenjaminspeakingoutside。
\"Mydear！IamafraidyouwillbestarvedifIletyousleepanylonger。Itishalf—pastoneo’clock；andafriendofyourshascometolunchwithus。\"
Afriendofmine？WhatfriendshadI？Myhusbandwasfaraway；
andmyuncleStarkweatherhadgivenmeupindespair。
\"Whoisit？\"Icriedoutfrommybed，throughthedoor。
\"MajorFitz—David，\"Benjaminanswered，bythesamemedium。
Isprangoutofbed。TheverymanIwantedwaswaitingtoseeme！
MajorFitz—David，asthephraseis，kneweverybody。Intimatewithmyhusband，hewouldcertainlyknowmyhusband’soldfriend——MiserrimusDexter。
ShallIconfessthatItookparticularpainswithmytoilet，andthatIkepttheluncheonwaiting？Thewomandoesn’tlivewhowouldhavedoneotherwise——whenshehadaparticularfavortoaskofMajorFitz—David。
CHAPTERXXII。
THEMAJORMAKESDIFFICULTIES。
AsIopenedthedining—roomdoortheMajorhastenedtomeetme。
Helookedthebrightestandtheyoungestoflivingelderlygentlemen，withhissmartbluefrock—coat，hiswinningsmile，hisrubyring，andhisreadycompliment。ItwasquitecheeringtomeetthemodernDonJuanoncemore。
\"Idon’taskafteryourhealth，\"saidtheoldgentleman；\"youreyesanswerme，mydearlady，beforeIcanputthequestion。Atyouragealongsleepisthetruebeauty—draught。Plentyofbed——thereisthesimplesecretofkeepingyourgoodlooksandlivingalonglife——plentyofbed！\"
\"Ihavenotbeensolonginmybed，Major，asyousuppose。Totellthetruth，Ihavebeenupallnight，reading。\"
MajorFitz—Davidliftedhiswell—paintedeyebrowsinpolitesurprise。
\"Whatisthehappybookwhichhasinterestedyousodeeply？\"heasked。
\"Thebook，\"Ianswered，\"istheTrialofmyhusbandforthemurderofhisfirstwife。\"
\"Don’tmentionthathorridbook！\"heexclaimed。\"Don’tspeakofthatdreadfulsubject！WhathavebeautyandgracetodowithTrials，Poisonings，Horrors？Why，mycharmingfriend，profaneyourlipsbytalkingofsuchthings？WhyfrightenawaytheLovesandtheGracesthatliehidinyoursmile。HumoranoldfellowwhoadorestheLovesandtheGraces，andwhoasksnothingbetterthantosunhimselfinyoursmiles。Luncheonisready。Letusbecheerful。Letuslaughandlunch。\"
Heledmetothetable，andfilledmyplateandmyglasswiththeairofamanwhoconsideredhimselftobeengagedinoneofthemostimportantoccupationsofhislife。Benjaminkepttheconversationgoingintheinterval。
\"MajorFitz—Davidbringsyousomenews，mydear，\"hesaid。\"Yourmother—in—law，Mrs。Macallan，iscomingheretoseeyouto—day。\"
Mymother—in—lawcomingtoseeme！IturnedeagerlytotheMajorforfurtherinformation。
\"HasMrs。Macallanheardanythingofmyhusband？\"Iasked。\"Isshecomingheretotellmeabouthim？\"
\"Shehasheardfromhim，Ibelieve，\"saidtheMajor，\"andshehasalsoheardfromyourunclethevicar。OurexcellentStarkweatherhaswrittentoher——towhatpurposeIhavenotbeeninformed。I
onlyknowthatonreceiptofhislettershehasdecidedonpayingyouavisit。Imettheoldladylastnightataparty，andI
triedhardtodiscoverwhethershewerecomingtoyouasyourfriendoryourenemy。Mypowersofpersuasionwerecompletelythrownawayonher。Thefactis，\"saidtheMajor，speakinginthecharacterofayouthoffive—and—twentymakingamodestconfession，\"Idon’tgetonwellwitholdwomen。Takethewillforthedeed，mysweetfriend。Ihavetriedtobeofsomeusetoyouandhavefailed。\"
ThosewordsofferedmetheopportunityforwhichIwaswaiting。I
determinednottoloseit。
\"Youcanbeofthegreatestusetome，\"Isaid，\"ifyouwillallowmetopresume，Major，onyourpastkindness。Iwanttoaskyouaquestion；andImayhaveafavortobegwhenyouhaveansweredme。\"
MajorFitz—Davidsetdownhiswine—glassonitswaytohislips，andlookedatmewithanappearanceofbreathlessinterest。
\"Commandme，mydearlady——Iamyoursandyoursonly，\"saidthegallantoldgentleman。\"Whatdoyouwishtoaskme？\"
\"IwishtoaskifyouknowMiserrimusDexter。\"
\"GoodHeavens！\"criedtheMajor；\"that_is_anunexpectedquestion！KnowMiserrimusDexter？IhaveknownhimformoreyearsthanIliketoreckonup。What_can_beyourobject——\"
\"Icantellyouwhatmyobjectisintwowords，\"Iinterposed。\"I
wantyoutogivemeanintroductiontoMiserrimusDexter。\"
MyimpressionisthattheMajorturnedpaleunderhispaint。
This，atanyrate，iscertain——hissparklinglittlegrayeyeslookedatmeinundisguisedbewildermentandalarm。
\"YouwanttoknowMiserrimusDexter？\"herepeated，withtheairofamanwhodoubtedtheevidenceofhisownsenses。\"Mr。
Benjamin，haveItakentoomuchofyourexcellentwine？AmIthevictimofadelusion——ordidourfairfriendreallyaskmetogiveheranintroductiontoMiserrimusDexter？\"
Benjaminlookedatmeinsomebewildermentonhisside，andanswered，quiteseriously，\"Ithinkyousaidso，mydear。\"
\"Icertainlysaidso，\"Irejoined。\"Whatistheresoverysurprisinginmyrequest？\"
\"Themanismad！\"criedtheMajor。\"InallEnglandyoucouldnothavepickedoutapersonmoreessentiallyunfittobeintroducedtoalady——toayoungladyespecially——thanDexter。Haveyouheardofhishorribledeformity？\"
\"Ihaveheardofit——anditdoesn’tdauntme。\"
\"Doesn’tdauntyou？Mydearlady，theman’smindisasdeformedashisbody。WhatVoltairesaidsatiricallyofthecharacterofhiscountrymeningeneralisliterallytrueofMiserrimusDexter。
Heisamixtureofthetigerandthemonkey。Atonemomenthewouldfrightenyou，andatthenexthewouldsetyouscreamingwithlaughter。Idon’tdenythatheiscleverinsomerespects——brilliantlyclever，Iadmit。AndIdon’tsaythathehasevercommittedanyactsofviolence，oreverwillinglyinjuredanybody。But，forallthat，heismad，ifeveramanweremadyet。Forgivemeiftheinquiryisimpertinent。WhatcanyourmotivepossiblybeforwantinganintroductiontoMiserrimusDexter？\"
\"Iwanttoconsulthim？\"
\"MayIaskonwhatsubject？\"
\"Onthesubjectofmyhusband’sTrial。\"
MajorFitz—Davidgroaned，andsoughtamomentaryconsolationinhisfriendBenjamin’sclaret。
\"Thatdreadfulsubjectagain！\"heexclaimed。\"Mr。Benjamin，whydoesshepersistindwellingonthatdreadfulsubject？\"
\"Imustdwellonwhatisnowtheoneemploymentandtheonehopeofmylife，\"Isaid。\"IhavereasontohopethatMiserrimusDextercanhelpmetoclearmyhusband’scharacterofthestainwhichtheScotchVerdicthasleftonit。Tigerandmonkeyashemaybe，Iamreadytoruntheriskofbeingintroducedtohim。
AndIaskyouagain——rashlyandobstinatelyasIfearyouwillthink——togivemetheintroduction。Itwillputyoutonoinconvenience。Iwon’ttroubleyoutoescortme；alettertoMr。
Dexterwilldo。\"
TheMajorlookedpiteouslyatBenjamin，andshookhishead。
BenjaminlookedpiteouslyattheMajor，andshook_his_head。
\"Sheappearstoinsistonit，\"saidtheMajor。
\"Yes，\"saidBenjamin。\"Sheappearstoinsistonit。\"
\"Iwon’ttaketheresponsibility，Mr。Benjamin，ofsendingheralonetoMiserrimusDexter。\"
\"ShallIgowithher，sir？\"
TheMajorreflected。Benjamin，inthecapacityofprotector，didnotappeartoinspireourmilitaryfriendwithconfidence。Afteramoment’sconsiderationanewideaseemedtostrikehim。Heturnedtome。
\"Mycharmingfriend，\"hesaid，\"bemorecharmingthanever——consenttoacompromise。LetustreatthisdifficultyaboutDexterfromasocialpointofview。Whatdoyousaytoalittledinner？\"
\"Alittledinner？\"Irepeated，notintheleastunderstandinghim。
\"Alittledinner，\"theMajorreiterated，\"atmyhouse。YouinsistonmyintroducingyoutoDexter，andIrefusetotrustyoualonewiththatcrack—brainedpersonage。Theonlyalternativeunderthecircumstancesistoinvitehimtomeetyou，andtoletyouformyourownopinionofhim——undertheprotectionofmyroof。
Whoshallwehavetomeetyoubesides？\"pursuedtheMajor，brighteningwithhospitableintentions。\"Wewantaperfectgalaxyofbeautyaroundthetable，asaspeciesofcompensationwhenwehavegotMiserrimusDexterasonetheguests。MadameMirlifloreisstillinLondon。Youwouldbesuretolikeher——sheischarming；shepossessesyourfirmness，yourextraordinarytenacityofpurpose。Yes，wewillhaveMadameMirliflore。Whoelse？ShallwesayLadyClarinda？Anothercharmingperson，Mr。
Benjamin！Youwouldbesuretoadmireher——sheissosympathetic，sheresemblesinsomanyrespectsourfairfriendhere。Yes，LadyClarindashallbeoneofus；andyoushallsitnexttoher，Mr。
Benjamin，asaproofofmysincereregardforyou。Shallwehavemyyoungprimadonnatosingtousintheevening？thinkso。Sheispretty；shewillassistinobscuringthedeformityofDexter。
Verywell；thereisourpartycomplete！Iwillshutmyselfupthiseveningandapproachthequestionofdinnerwithmycook。
Shallwesaythisdayweek，\"askedtheMajor，takingouthispocketbook，\"ateighto’clock？\"
Iconsentedtotheproposedcompromise——butnotverywillingly。
Withaletterofintroduction，ImighthaveseenMiserrimusDexterthatafternoon。Asitwas，the\"littledinner\"compelledmetowaitinabsoluteinactionthroughawholeweek。However，therewasnohelpforitbuttosubmit。MajorFitz—David，inhispoliteway，couldbeasobstinateasIwas。Hehadevidentlymadeuphismind；andfurtheroppositiononmypartwouldbeofnoservicetome。
\"Punctuallyateight，Mr。Benjamin，\"reiteratedtheMajor。\"Putitdowninyourbook。\"
Benjaminobeyed——withasidelookatme，whichIwasatnolosstointerpret。Mygoodoldfrienddidnotrelishmeetingamanatdinnerwhowasdescribedas\"halftiger，halfmonkey；\"andtheprivilegeofsittingnexttoLadyClarindaratherdauntedthandelightedhim。Itwasallmydoing，andhetoohadnochoicebuttosubmit。\"Punctuallyateight，sir，\"saidpooroldBenjamin，obedientlyrecordinghisformidableengagement。\"Pleasetotakeanotherglassofwine。\"
TheMajorlookedathiswatch，androse——withfluentapologiesforabruptlyleavingthetable。
\"ItislaterthanIthought，\"hesaid。\"Ihaveanappointmentwithafriend——afemalefriend；amostattractiveperson。Youalittleremindmeofher，mydearlady——youresembleherincomplexion：thesamecreamypaleness。Iadorecreamypaleness。AsIwassaying，Ihaveanappointmentwithmyfriend；shedoesmethehonortoaskmyopiniononsomeveryremarkablespecimensofoldlace。Ihavestudiedoldlace。Istudyeverythingthatcanmakemeusefuloragreeabletoyourenchantingsex。Youwon’tforgetourlittledinner？IwillsendDexterhisinvitationthemomentIgethome。\"Hetookmyhandandlookedatitcritically，withhisheadalittleononeside。\"Adelicioushand，\"hesaid；
\"youdon’tmindmylookingatit——youdon’tmindmykissingit，doyou？Adelicioushandisoneofmyweaknesses。Forgivemyweaknesses。Ipromisetorepentandamendoneofthesedays。\"
\"Atyourage，Major，doyouthinkyouhavemuchtimetolose？\"
askedastrangevoice，speakingbehindus。
Weallthreelookedaroundtowardthedoor。Therestoodmyhusband’smother，smilingsatirically，withBenjamin’sshylittlemaid—servantwaitingtoannounceher。
MajorFitz—Davidwasreadywithhisanswer。
Theoldsoldierwasnoteasilytakenbysurprise。
\"Age，mydearMrs。Macallan，isapurelyrelativeexpression，\"hesaid。\"Therearesomepeoplewhoareneveryoung，andthereareotherpeoplewhoareneverold。Iamoneoftheotherpeople。_Aurevoir！_\"
WiththatanswertheincorrigibleMajorkissedthetipsofhisfingerstousandwalkedout。Benjamin，bowingwithhisold—fashionedcourtesy，threwopenthedoorofhislittlelibrary，and，invitingMrs。Macallanandmyselftopassin，leftustogetherintheroom。
CHAPTERXXIII
MYMOTHER—IN—LAWSURPRISESME。
ITOOKachairatarespectfuldistancefromthesofaonwhichMrs。Macallanseatedherself。Theoldladysmiled，andbeckonedtometotakemyplacebyherside。Judgingbyappearances，shehadcertainlynotcometoseemeinthecharacterofanenemy。ItremainedtobediscoveredIwhethershewerereallydisposedtobemyfriend。
\"Ihavereceivedaletterfromyourunclethevicar，\"shebegan。
\"Heasksmetovisityou，andIamhappy——forreasonswhichyoushallpresentlyhear——tocomplywithhisrequest。UnderothercircumstancesIdoubtverymuch，mydearchild——strangeastheconfessionmayappear——whetherIshouldhaveventuredintoyourpresence。Mysonhasbehavedtoyousoweakly，and（inmyopinion）soinexcusably，thatIamreally，speakingashismother，almostashamedtofaceyou。\"
Wassheinearnest？Ilistenedtoherandlookedatherinamazement。
\"Youruncle’sletter，\"pursuedMrs。Macallan，\"tellsmehowyouhavebehavedunderyourhardtrial，andwhatyouproposetodonowEustacehasleftyou。DoctorStarkweather，poorman，seemstobeinexpressiblyshockedbywhatyousaidtohimwhenhewasinLondon。Hebegsmetousemyinfluencetoinduceyoutoabandonyourpresentideas，andtomakeyoureturntoyouroldhomeattheVicarage。Idon’tintheleastagreewithyouruncle，mydear。WildasIbelieveyourplanstobe——youhavenottheslightestchanceofsucceedingincarryingthemout——Iadmireyourcourage，yourfidelity，yourunshakenfaithinmyunhappyson，afterhisunpardonablebehaviortoyou。Youareafinecreature，Valeria，andIhavecomeheretotellyousoinplainwords。Givemeakiss，child。Youdeservetobethewifeofahero，andyouhavemarriedoneoftheweakestoflivingmortals。
Godforgivemeforspeakingsoofmyownson；butit’sinmymind，anditmustcomeout！\"
ThiswayofspeakingofEustacewasmorethanIcouldsuffer，evenfromhismother。Irecoveredtheuseofmytongueinmyhusband’sdefense。
\"Iamsincerelyproudofyourgoodopinion，dearMrs。Macallan，\"
Isaid。\"Butyoudistressme——forgivemeifIownitplainly——whenIhearyouspeaksodisparaginglyofEustace。I
cannotagreewithyouthatmyhusbandistheweakestoflivingmortals。\"
\"Ofcoursenot！\"retortedtheoldlady。\"Youarelikeallgoodwomen——youmakeaheroofthemanyoulove，——whetherhedeserveitornot。Yourhusbandhashostsofgoodqualities，child——andperhapsIknowthembetterthanyoudo。Buthiswholeconduct，fromthemomentwhenhefirstenteredyouruncle’shousetothepresenttime，hasbeen，Isayagain，theconductofanessentiallyweakman。Whatdoyouthinkhehasdonenowbywayofclimax？Hehasjoinedacharitablebrotherhood；andheisofftothewarinSpainwitharedcrossonhisarm，whenheoughttobehereonhisknees，askinghiswifetoforgivehim。Isaythatistheconductofaweakman。Somepeoplemightcallitbyahardername。\"
Thisnewsstartledanddistressedme。Imightberesignedtohisleavingmeforatime；butallmyinstinctsasawomanrevoltedathisplacinghimselfinapositionofdangerduringhisseparationfromhiswife。Hehadnowdeliberatelyaddedtomyanxieties。Ithoughtitcruelofhim——butIwouldnotconfesswhatIthoughttohismother。Iaffectedtobeascoolasshewas；andIdisputedherconclusionswithallthefirmnessthatI
couldsummontohelpme。Theterribleoldwomanonlywentonabusinghimmorevehementlythanever。
\"WhatIcomplainofinmyson，\"proceededMrs。Macallan，\"isthathehasentirelyfailedtounderstandyou。Ifhehadmarriedafool，hisconductwouldbeintelligibleenough。Hewouldhavedonewiselytoconcealfromafoolthathehadbeenmarriedalready，andthathehadsufferedthehorridpublicexposureofaTrialforthemurderofhiswife。Then，again，hewouldhavebeenquiteright，whenthissamefoolhaddiscoveredthetruth，totakehimselfoutofherwaybeforeshecouldsuspecthimofpoisoningher——forthesakeofthepeaceandquietofbothparties。Butyouarenotafool。Icanseethat，afteronlyashortexperienceofyou。Whycan’theseeittoo？Whydidn’thetrustyouwithhissecretfromthefirst，insteadofstealinghiswayintoyouraffectionsunderanassumedname？Whydidheplan（asheconfessedtome）totakeyouawaytotheMediterranean，andtokeepyouabroad，forfearofsomeofficiousfriendsathomebetrayinghimtoyouastheprisonerofthefamousTrial？
Whatistheplainanswertoallthesequestions？Whatistheonepossibleexplanationofthisotherwiseunaccountableconduct？
Thereisonlyoneanswer，andoneexplanation。Mypoor，wretchedson——hetakesafterhisfather；heisn’ttheleastlikeme！——isweak：weakinhiswayofjudging，weakinhiswayofacting，and，likeallweakpeople，headstrongandunreasonabletothelastdegree。Thereisthetruth！Don’tgetredandangry。Iamasfondofhimasyouare。Icanseehismeritstoo。Andoneofthemisthathehasmarriedawomanofspiritandresolution——sofaithfulandsofondofhimthatshewon’tevenlethisownmothertellherofhisfaults。Goodchild！Ilikeyouforhatingme！\"
\"Dearmadam，don’tsaythatIhateyou！\"Iexclaimed（feelingverymuchasifIdidhateher，though，forallthat）。\"Ionlypresumetothinkthatyouareconfusingadelicate—mindedmanwithaweak—mindedman。OurdearunhappyEustace——\"
\"Isadelicate—mindedman，\"saidtheimpenetrableMrs。Macallan，finishingmysentenceforme。\"Wewillleaveitthere，mydear，andgetontoanothersubject。Iwonderwhetherweshalldisagreeaboutthattoo？\"
\"Whatisthesubject，madam？\"
\"Iwon’ttellyouifyoucallmemadam。Callmemother。Say，’Whatisthesubject，mother？’\"
\"Whatisthesubject，mother？\"
\"YournotionofturningyourselfintoaCourtofAppealforanewTrialofEustace，andforcingtheworldtopronounceajustverdictonhim。Doyoureallymeantotryit？\"
\"Ido！\"
Mrs。Macallanconsideredforamomentgrimlywithherself。
\"YouknowhowheartilyIadmireyourcourage，andyourdevotiontomyunfortunateson，\"shesaid。\"Youknowbythistimethat_I_
don’tcant。ButIcannotseeyouattempttoperformimpossibilities；Icannotletyouuselesslyriskyourreputationandyourhappinesswithoutwarningyoubeforeitistoolate。Mychild，thethingyouhavegotitinyourheadtodoisnottobedonebyyouorbyanybody。Giveitup。\"
\"Iamdeeplyobligedtoyou，Mrs。Macallan——\"
\"’Mother！’\"
\"Iamdeeplyobligedtoyou，mother，fortheinterestthatyoutakeinme，butIcannotgiveitup。Rightorwrong，riskornorisk，ImustandIwilltryit！\"
Mrs。Macallanlookedatmeveryattentively，andsighedtoherself。
\"Oh，youth，youth！\"shesaidtoherself，sadly。\"Whatagrandthingitistobeyoung！\"Shecontrolledtherisingregret，andturnedonmesuddenly，almostfiercely，withthesewords：\"What，inGod’sname，doyoumeantodo？\"
Attheinstantwhensheputthequestion，theideacrossedmymindthatMrs。Macallancouldintroduceme，ifshepleased，toMiserrimusDexter。Shemustknowhim，andknowhimwell，asaguestatGleninchandanoldfriendofherson。
\"ImeantoconsultMiserrimusDexter，\"Ianswered，boldly。
Mrs。Macallanstartedbackfrommewithaloudexclamationofsurprise。
\"Areyououtofyoursenses？\"sheasked。
Itoldher，asIhadtoldMajorFitz—David，thatIhadreasontothinkMr。Dexter’sadvicemightbeofrealassistancetomeatstarting。
\"AndI，\"rejoinedMrs。Macallan，\"havereasontothinkthatyourwholeprojectisamadone，andthatinaskingDexter’sadviceonityouappropriatelyconsultamadman。Youneedn’tstart，child！
Thereisnoharminthecreature。Idon’tmeanthathewillattackyou，orberudetoyou。Ionlysaythatthelastpersonwhomayoungwoman，placedinyourpainfulanddelicateposition，oughttoassociateherselfwithisMiserrimusDexter。\"
Strange！HerewastheMajor’swarningrepeatedbyMrs。Macallan，almostintheMajor’sownwords。Well！Itsharedthefateofmostwarnings。Itonlymadememoreandmoreeagertohavemyownway。
\"Yousurprisemeverymuch，\"Isaid。\"Mr。Dexter’sevidence，givenattheTrial，seemsasclearandreasonableasevidencecanbe。\"
\"Ofcourseitis！\"answeredMrs。Macallan。\"Theshorthandwritersandreportersputhisevidenceintopresentablelanguagebeforetheyprintedit。Ifyouhadheardwhathereallysaid，asIdid，youwouldhavebeeneitherverymuchdisgustedwithhimorverymuchamusedbyhim，accordingtoyourwayoflookingatthings。
Hebegan，fairlyenough，withamodestexplanationofhisabsurdChristianname，whichatoncecheckedthemerrimentoftheaudience。Butashewentonthemadsideofhimshoweditself。Hemixedupsenseandnonsenseinthestrangestconfusion；hewascalledtoorderoverandoveragain；hewaseventhreatenedwithfineandimprisonmentforcontemptofCourt。Inshort，hewasjustlikehimself——amixtureofthestrangestandthemostoppositequalities；atonetimeperfectlyclearandreasonable，asyousaidjustnow；atanotherbreakingoutintorhapsodiesofthemostoutrageouskind，likeamaninastateofdelirium。A
moreentirelyunfitpersontoadviseanybody，Itellyouagain，neverlived。Youdon’texpectMetointroduceyoutohim，I
hope？\"
\"Ididthinkofsuchathing，\"Ianswered。\"Butafterwhatyouhavesaid，dearMrs。Macallan，Igiveuptheidea，ofcourse。Itisnotagreatsacrifice——itonlyobligesmetowaitaweekforMajorFitz—David’sdinner—party。HehaspromisedtoaskMiserrimusDextertomeetme。\"
\"ThereistheMajorallover！\"criedtheoldlady。\"Ifyoupinyourfaithonthatman，Ipityyou。Heisasslipperyasaneel。
IsupposeyouaskedhimtointroduceyoutoDexter？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Exactly！Dexterdespiseshim，mydear。HeknowsaswellasIdothatDexterwon’tgotohisdinner。Andhetakesthatroundaboutwayofkeepingyouapart，insteadofsayingNotoyouplainly，likeanhonestman。
Thiswasbadnews。ButIwas，asusual，tooobstinatetoownmyselfdefeated。
\"Iftheworstcomestotheworst，\"Isaid，\"IcanbutwritetoMr。Dexter，andbeghimtograntmeaninterview。\"
\"Andgotohimbyyourself，ifhedoesgrantit？\"inquiredMrs。
Macallan。
\"Certainly。Bymyself。\"
\"Youreallymeanit？\"
\"Ido，indeed。\"
\"Iwon’tallowyoutogobyyourself。\"
\"MayIventuretoask，ma’amhowyouproposetopreventme？\"
\"Bygoingwithyou，tobesure，youobstinatehussy！Yes，yes——I
canbeasheadstrongasyouarewhenIlike。Mind！Idon’twanttoknowwhatyourplansare。Idon’twanttobemixedupwithyourplans。MysonisresignedtotheScotchVerdict。IamresignedtotheScotchVerdict。Itisyouwhowon’tletmattersrestastheyare。Youareavainandfoolhardyyoungperson。But，somehow，Ihavetakenalikingtoyou，andIwon’tletyougotoMiserrimusDexterbyyourself。Putonyourbonnet！\"
\"Now？\"Iasked。
\"Certainly！Mycarriageisatthedoor。Andthesoonerit’soverthebetterIshallbepleased。Getready——andbequickaboutit！\"
Irequirednosecondbidding。IntenminutesmorewewereonourwaytoMiserrimusDexter。
Suchwastheresultofmymother—in—law’svisit！
CHAPTERXXIV。
MISERRIMUSDEXTER——FIRSTVIEW。