Washecomparingmewiththevictimofthepoison——withmyhusband’sfirstwife？Hiswordsseemedtojustifytheconclusion。
IfIwereright，thedeadwomanhadevidentlybeenafavoritewithhim。Therewasnomisinterpretingthebrokentonesofhisvoicewhenhespokeofher：hehadadmiredher，living；hemournedher，dead。SupposingthatIcouldprevailuponmyselftoadmitthisextraordinarypersonintomyconfidence，whatwouldbetheresult？ShouldIbethegainerortheloserbytheresemblancewhichhefanciedhehaddiscovered？Wouldthesightofmeconsolehimorpainhim？Iwaitedeagerlytohearmoreonthesubjectofthefirstwife。Notawordmoreescapedhislips。
Anewchangecameoverhim。Heliftedhisheadwithastart，andlookedabouthimasawearymanmightlookifhewassuddenlydisturbedinadeepsleep。
\"WhathaveIdone？\"hesaid。\"HaveIbeenlettingmyminddriftagain？\"Heshudderedandsighed。\"Oh，thathouseofGleninch！\"hemurmured，sadly，tohimself。\"ShallInevergetawayfromitinmythoughts？Oh，thathouseofGleninch！\"
Tomyinfinitedisappointment，Mrs。Macallancheckedthefurtherrevelationofwhatwaspassinginhismind。
Somethinginthetoneandmannerofhisallusiontoherson’scountry—houseseemedtohaveoffendedher。Sheinterposedsharplyanddecisively。
\"Gently，myfriend，gently！\"shesaid。\"Idon’tthinkyouquiteknowwhatyouaretalkingabout。\"
Hisgreatblueeyesflashedatherfiercely。Withoneturnofhishandhebroughthischaircloseatherside。Thenextinstanthecaughtherbythearm，andforcedhertobendtohim，untilhecouldwhisperinherear。Hewasviolentlyagitated。HiswhisperwasloudenoughtomakeitselfheardwhereIwassittingatthetime。
\"Idon’tknowwhatIamtalkingabout？\"herepeated，withhiseyesfixedattentively，notonmymother—in—law，butonme。\"Youshortsightedoldwoman！whereareyourspectacles？Lookather！
Doyouseenoresemblance——thefigure，nottheface！——doyouseenoresemblancetheretoEustace’sfirstwife？\"
\"Purefancy！\"rejoinedMrs。Macallan。\"Iseenothingofthesort。\"
Heshookherimpatiently。
\"Notsoloud！\"hewhispered。\"Shewillhearyou。\"
\"Ihaveheardyouboth，\"Isaid。\"Youneedhavenofear，Mr。
Dexter，ofspeakingbeforeme。Iknowthatmyhusbandhadafirstwife，andIknowhowmiserablyshedied。IhavereadtheTrial。\"
\"Youhavereadthelifeanddeathofamartyr！\"criedMiserrimusDexter。Hesuddenlywheeledhischairmyway；hebentoverme；
hiseyesfilledwithtears。\"Nobodyappreciatedherathertruevalue，\"hesaid，\"butme。Nobodybutme！nobodybutme！\"
Mrs。Macallanwalkedawayimpatientlytotheendoftheroom。
\"Whenyouareready，Valeria，Iam，\"shesaid。\"Wecannotkeeptheservantsandthehorseswaitingmuchlongerinthisbleakplace。\"
IwastoodeeplyinterestedinleadingMiserrimusDextertopursuethesubjectonwhichhehadtouchedtobewillingtoleavehimatthatmoment。IpretendednottohaveheardMrs。Macallan。
Ilaidmyhand，asifbyaccident，onthewheel—chairtokeephimnearme。
\"YoushowedmehowhighlyyouesteemedthatpoorladyinyourevidenceattheTrial，\"Isaid。\"Ibelieve，Mr。Dexter，youhaveideasofyourownaboutthemysteryofherdeath？\"
Hehadbeenlookingatmyhand，restingonthearmofhischair，untilIventuredonmyquestion。Atthathesuddenlyraisedhiseyes，andfixedthemwithafrowningandfurtivesuspiciononmyface。
\"HowdoyouknowIhaveideasofmyown？\"heasked，sternly。
\"IknowitfromreadingtheTrial，\"Ianswered。\"Thelawyerwhocross—examinedyouspokealmostintheverywordswhichIhavejustused。Ihadnointentionofoffendingyou，Mr。Dexter。\"
Hisfaceclearedasrapidlyasithadclouded。Hesmiled，andlaidhishandonmine。Histouchstruckmecold。Ifelteverynerveinmeshiveringunderit；Idrewmyhandawayquickly。
\"Ibegyourpardon，\"hesaid，\"ifIhavemisunderstoodyou。I
_have_ideasofmyownaboutthatunhappylady。\"Hepausedandlookedatmeinsilenceveryearnestly。\"Have_you_anyideas？\"
heasked。\"Ideasaboutherlife？oraboutherdeath？\"
Iwasdeeplyinterested；Iwasburningtohearmore。ItmightencouragehimtospeakifIwerecandidwithhim。Ianswered，\"Yes。\"
\"Ideaswhichyouhavementionedtoanyone？\"hewenton。
\"Tonolivingcreature，\"Ireplied——\"asyet。\"
\"Thisverystrange！\"hesaid，stillearnestlyreadingmyface。
\"Whatinterestcan_you_haveinadeadwomanwhomyouneverknew？Whydidyouaskmethatquestionjustnow？Haveyouanymotiveincomingheretoseeme？\"
Iboldlyacknowledgedthetruth。Isaid，\"Ihaveamotive。\"
\"IsitconnectedwithEustaceMacallan’sfirstwife？\"
\"Itis。\"
\"Withanythingthathappenedinherlifetime？\"
\"No。\"
\"Withherdeath？\"
\"Yes。\"
Hesuddenlyclaspedhishandswithawildgestureofdespair，andthenpressedthembothonhishead，asifhewerestruckbysomesuddenpain。
\"Ican’thearitto—night！\"hesaid。\"Iwouldgiveworldstohearit，butIdaren’t。IshouldloseallholdovermyselfinthestateIaminnow。Iamnotequaltorakingupthehorrorandthemysteryofthepast；Ihavenotcourageenoughtoopenthegraveofthemartyreddead。Didyouhearmewhenyoucamehere？Ihaveanimmenseimagination。Itrunsriotattimes。Itmakesanactorofme。Iplaythepartsofalltheheroesthateverlived。Ifeeltheircharacters。Imergemyselfintheirindividualities。ForthetimeI_am_themanIfancymyselftobe。Ican’thelpit。I
amobligedtodoit。IfIrestrainedmyimaginationwhenthefitisonme，Ishouldgomad。Iletmyselfloose。Itlastsforhours。Itleavesmewithmyenergieswornout，withmysensibilitiesfrightfullyacute。Rouseanymelancholyorterribleassociationsinmeatsuchtimes，andIamcapableofhysterics，Iamcapableofscreaming。Youheardmescream。Youshall_not_
seemeinhysterics。No，Mrs。Valeria——no，youinnocentreflectionofthedeadandgone——Iwouldnotfrightenyoufortheworld。Willyoucomehereto—morrowinthedaytime？Ihavegotachaiseandapony。Ariel，mydelicateAriel，candrive。SheshallcallatMammaMacallan’sandfetchyou。Wewilltalkto—morrow，whenIamfitforit。Iamdyingtohearyou。Iwillbefitforyouinthemorning。Iwillbecivil，intelligent，communicative，inthemorning。Nomoreofitnow。Awaywiththesubject——thetooexciting，thetoointerestingsubject！Imustcomposemyselformybrainswillexplodeinmyhead。Musicisthetruenarcoticforexcitablebrains。Myharp！myharp！\"
Herushedawayinhischairtothefarendoftheroom，passingMrs。Macallanasshereturnedtome，bentonhasteningourdeparture。
\"Come！\"saidtheoldlady，irritably。\"Youhaveseenhim，andhehasmadeagoodshowofhimself。Moreofhimmightbetiresome。
Comeaway。\"
Thechairreturnedtousmoreslowly。MiserrimusDexterwasworkingitwithonehandonly。IntheotherheheldaharpofapatternwhichIhadhithertoonlyseeninpictures。Thestringswerefewinnumber，andtheinstrumentwassosmallthatIcouldhavehelditeasilyonmylap。ItwastheancientharpofthepicturedMusesandthelegendaryWelshbards。
\"Good—night，Dexter，\"saidMrs。Macallan。
Hehelduponehandimperatively。
\"Wait！\"hesaid。\"Letherhearmesing。\"Heturnedtome。\"I
declinetobeindebtedtootherpeopleformypoetryandmymusic，\"hewenton。\"Icomposemyownpoetryandmyownmusic。I
improvise。Givemeamomenttothink。IwillimproviseforYou。\"
Heclosedhiseyesandrestedhisheadontheframeoftheharp。
Hisfingersgentlytouchedthestringswhilehewasthinking。Inafewminutesheliftedhishead，lookedatme，andstruckthefirstnotes——thepreludetothesong。Itwaswild，barbaric，monotonousmusic，utterlyunlikeanymoderncomposition。
SometimesitsuggestedaslowandundulatingOrientaldance。
SometimesitmodulatedintotoneswhichremindedmeofthesevererharmoniesoftheoldGregorianchants。Thewords，whentheyfollowedtheprelude，wereaswild，asrecklesslyfreefromallrestraintofcriticalrules，asthemusic。Theywereassuredlyinspiredbytheoccasion；Iwasthethemeofthestrangesong。Andthus——inoneofthefinesttenorvoicesIeverheard——mypoetsangofme：
\"Whydoesshecome？Sheremindsmeofthelost；Sheremindsmeofthedead：Inherformliketheother，Inherwalkliketheother：Whydoesshecome？
\"DoesDestinybringher？ShallwerangetogetherThemazesofthepast？ShallwesearchtogetherThesecretsofthepast？Shallweinterchangethoughts，surmises，suspicions？DoesDestinybringher？
\"TheFuturewillshow。Letthenightpass；Letthedaycome。I
shallseeintoHermind：ShewilllookintoMine。TheFuturewillshow。\"
Hisvoicesank，hisfingerstouchedthestringsmoreandmorefeeblyasheapproachedthelastlines。Theoverwroughtbrainneededandtookitsreanimatingrepose。Atthefinalwordshiseyesslowlyclosed。Hisheadlaybackonthechair。Hesleptwithhisarmsaroundhisharp，asachildsleepshuggingitslastnewtoy。
Westoleoutoftheroomontiptoe，andleftMiserrimusDexter——poet，composer，andmadman——inhispeacefulsleep。
CHAPTERXXVI。
MOREOFMYOBSTINACY。
ARIELwasdownstairsintheshadowyhall，halfasleep，halfawake，waitingtoseethevisitorsclearofthehouse。Withoutspeakingtous，withoutlookingatus，sheledthewaydownthedarkgardenwalk，andlockedthegatebehindus。\"Good—night，Ariel，\"Icalledouttoheroverthepaling。Nothingansweredmebutthetrampofherheavyfootstepsreturningtothehouse，andthedullthump，amomentafterward，oftheclosingdoor。
Thefootmanhadthoughtfullylightedthecarriagelamps。Carryingoneofthemtoserveasalantern，helightedusoverthewildsofthebrickdesert，andlandedussafelyonthepathbythehigh—road。
\"Well！\"saidmymother—in—law，whenwewerecomfortablyseatedinthecarriageagain。\"YouhaveseenMiserrimusDexter，andIhopeyouaresatisfied。IwilldohimthejusticetodeclarethatI
never，inallmyexperience，sawhimmorecompletelycrazythanhewasto—night。Whatdo_you_say？\"
\"Idon’tpresumetodisputeyouropinion，\"Ianswered。\"But，speakingformyself，I’mnotquitesurethatheismad。\"
\"Notmad！\"criedMrs。Macallan，\"afterthosefranticperformancesinhischair？Notmad，aftertheexhibitionhemadeofhisunfortunatecousin？Notmad，afterthesongthathesanginyourhonor，andthefallingasleepbywayofconclusion？Oh，Valeria！
Valeria！Wellsaidthewisdomofourancestors——therearenonesoblindasthosewhowon’tsee。\"
\"Pardonme，dearMrs。Macallan，Isaweverythingthatyoumention，andIneverfeltmoresurprisedormoreconfoundedinmylife。ButnowIhaverecoveredfrommyamazement，andcanthinkitoverquietly，Imuststillventuretodoubtwhetherthisstrangemanisreallymadinthetruemeaningoftheword。Itseemstomethatheonlyexpresses——Iadmitinaveryrecklessandboisterousway——thoughtsandfeelingswhichmostofusareashamedofasweaknesses，andwhichwekeeptoourselvesaccordingly。IconfessIhaveoftenfanciedmyselftransformedintosomeotherperson，andhavefeltacertainpleasureinseeingmyselfinmynewcharacter。Oneofourfirstamusementsaschildren（ifwehaveanyimaginationatall）istogetoutofourowncharacters，andtotrythecharactersofotherpersonagesasachange——tofairies，tobequeens，tobeanything，inshort，butwhatwereallyare。Mr。Dexterletsoutthesecretjustasthechildrendo，andifthatismadness，heiscertainlymad。ButI
noticedthatwhenhisimaginationcooleddownhebecameMiserrimusDexteragain——henomorebelievedhimselfthanwebelievedhimtobeNapoleonorShakespeare。Besides，someallowanceissurelytobemadeforthesolitary，sedentarylifethatheleads。Iamnotlearnedenoughtotracetheinfluenceofthatlifeinmakinghimwhatheis；butIthinkIcanseetheresultinanover—excitedimagination，andIfancyIcantracehisexhibitinghispoweroverthepoorcousinandhissingingofthatwonderfulsongtonomoreformidablecausethaninordinateself—conceit。Ihopetheconfessionwillnotlowermeseriouslyinyourgoodopinion；butImustsayIhaveenjoyedmyvisit，and，worsestill，MiserrimusDexterreallyinterestsme。\"
\"DoesthislearneddiscourseonDextermeanthatyouaregoingtoseehimagain？\"askedMrs。Macallan。
\"Idon’tknowhowImayfeelaboutittomorrowmorning，\"Isaid；
\"butmyimpulseatthismomentisdecidedlytoseehimagain。I
hadalittletalkwithhimwhileyouwereawayattheotherendoftheroom，andIbelievehereallycanbeofusetome——\"
\"Ofusetoyouinwhat？\"interposedmymother—in—law。
\"IntheoneobjectwhichIhaveinview——theobject，dearMrs。
Macallan，whichIregrettosayyoudonotapprove。\"
\"Andyouaregoingtotakehimintoyourconfidence？toopenyourwholemindtosuchamanasthemanwehavejustleft？\"
\"Yes，ifIthinkofitto—morrowasIthinkofitto—night。I
daresayitisarisk；butImustrunrisks。IknowIamnotprudent；butprudencewon’thelpawomaninmyposition，withmyendtogain。\"
Mrs。Macallanmadenofurtherremonstranceinwords。Sheopenedacapaciouspocketinfrontofthecarriage，andtookfromitaboxofmatchesandarailwayreading—lamp。
\"Youprovokeme，\"saidtheoldlady，\"intoshowingyouwhatyourhusbandthinksofthisnewwhimofyours。Ihavegothisletterwithme——hislastletterfromSpain。Youshalljudgeforyourself，youpoordeludedyoungcreature，whethermysonisworthyofthesacrifice——theuselessandhopelesssacrifice——whichyouarebentonmakingofyourselfforhissake。
Strikealight！\"
Iwillinglyobeyedher。EversinceshehadinformedmeofEustace’sdeparturetoSpainIhadbeeneagerformorenewsofhim，forsomethingtosustainmyspirits，aftersomuchthathaddisappointedanddepressedme。ThusfarIdidnotevenknowwhethermyhusbandthoughtofmesometimesinhisself—imposedexile。Astothisregrettingalreadytherashactwhichhadseparatedus，itwasstilltoosoontobeginhopingforthat。
Thelamphavingbeenlighted，andfixedinitsplacebetweenthetwofrontwindowsofthecarriage，Mrs。Macallanproducedherson’sletter。Thereisnofollylikethefollyoflove。Itcostmeahardstruggletorestrainmyselffromkissingthepaperonwhichthedearhandhadrested。
\"There！\"saidmymother—in—law。\"Beginonthesecondpage，thepagedevotedtoyou。Readstraightdowntothelastlineatthebottom，and，inGod’sname，comebacktoyoursenses，child，beforeitistoolate！\"
Ifollowedmyinstructions，andreadthesewords：
\"CanItrustmyselftowriteofValeria？I_must_writeofher。
Tellmehowsheis，howshelooks，whatsheisdoing。Iamalwaysthinkingofher。NotadaypassesbutImournthelossofher。
Oh，ifshehadonlybeencontentedtoletmattersrestastheywere！Oh，ifshehadneverdiscoveredthemiserabletruth！
\"ShespokeofreadingtheTrialwhenIsawherlast。Hasshepersistedindoingso？Ibelieve——Isaythisseriously，mother——I
believetheshameandthehorrorofitwouldhavebeenthedeathofmeifIhadmetherfacetofacewhenshefirstknewoftheignominythatIhavesuffered，oftheinfamoussuspicionofwhichIhavebeenpubliclymadethesubject。Thinkofthosepureeyeslookingatamanwhohasbeenaccused（andneverwhollyabsolved）ofthefoulestandthevilestofallmurders，andthenthinkofwhatthatmanmustfeelifhehaveanyheartandanysenseofshameleftinhim。IsickenasIwriteofit。
\"Doesshestillmeditatethathopelessproject——theoffspring，poorangel，ofherartless，unthinkinggenerosity？Doesshestillfancythatitisin_her_powertoassertmyinnocencebeforetheworld？Oh，mother（ifshedo），useyourutmostinfluencetomakehergiveuptheidea！Spareherthehumiliation，thedisappointment，theinsult，perhaps，towhichshemayinnocentlyexposeherself。Forhersake，formysake，leavenomeansuntriedtoattainthisrighteous，thismercifulend。
\"Isendhernomessage——Idarenotdoit。Saynothing，whenyouseeher，whichcanrecallmetohermemory。Onthecontrary，helphertoforgetmeassoonaspossible。ThekindestthingIcando——theoneatonementIcanmaketoher——istodropoutofherlife。\"
Withthosewretchedwordsitended。Ihandedhisletterbacktohismotherinsilence。Shesaidbutlittleonherside。
\"If_this_doesn’tdiscourageyou，\"sheremarked，slowlyfoldinguptheletter，\"nothingwill。Letusleaveitthere，andsaynomore。\"
Imadenoanswer——Iwascryingbehindmyveil。Mydomesticprospectlookedsodreary！myunfortunatehusbandwassohopelesslymisguided，sopitiablywrong！Theonechanceforbothofus，andtheoneconsolationforpoorMe，wastoholdtomydesperateresolutionmorefirmlythanever。IfIhadwantedanythingtoconfirmmeinthisview，andtoarmmeagainsttheremonstrancesofeveryoneofmyfriends，Eustace’sletterwouldhaveprovedmorethansufficienttoanswerthepurpose。Atleasthehadnotforgottenme；hethoughtofme，andhemournedthelossofmeeverydayofhislife。Thatwasencouragementenough——forthepresent。\"IfArielcallsformeinthepony—chaiseto—morrow，\"Ithoughttomyself，\"withArielIgo。\"
Mrs。MacallansetmedownatBenjamin’sdoor。
Imentionedtoheratparting——Istoodsufficientlyinaweofhertoputitofftillthelastmoment——thatMiserrimusDexterhadarrangedtosendhiscousinandhispony—chaisetoherresidenceonthenextday；andIinquiredthereuponwhethermymother—in—lawwouldpermitmetocallatherhousetowaitfortheappearanceofthecousin，orwhethershewouldprefersendingthechaiseontoBenjamin’scottage。Ifullyexpectedanexplosionofangertofollowthisboldavowalofmyplansforthenextday。Theoldladyagreeablysurprisedme。Sheprovedthatshehadreallytakenalikingtome：shekepthertemper。
\"IfyoupersistingoingbacktoDexter，youcertainlyshallnotgotohimfrommydoor，\"shesaid。\"ButIhopeyouwill_not_
persist。Ihopeyouwillawakeawiserwomanto—morrowmorning。\"
Themorningcame。Alittlebeforenoonthearrivalofthepony—chaisewasannouncedatthedoor，andaletterwasbroughtintomefromMrs。Macallan。
\"Ihavenorighttocontrolyourmovements，\"mymother—in—lawwrote。\"IsendthechaisetoMr。Benjamin’shouse；andI
sincerelytrustthatyouwillnottakeyourplaceinit。IwishI
couldpersuadeyou，Valeria，howtrulyIamyourfriend。Ihavebeenthinkingaboutyouanxiouslyinthewakefulhoursofthenight。_How_anxiously，youwillunderstandwhenItellyouthatInowreproachmyselffornothavingdonemorethanIdidtopreventyourunhappymarriage。Andyet，whatmoreIcouldhavedoneIdon’treallyknow。Mysonadmittedtomethathewascourtingyouunderanassumedname，buthenevertoldmewhatthenamewas。Orwhoyouwere，orwhereyourfriendslived。PerhapsI
oughttohavetakenmeasurestofindthisout。Perhaps，ifIhadsucceeded，Ioughttohaveinterferedandenlightenedyou，evenatthesadsacrificeofmakinganenemyofmyownson。IhonestlythoughtIdidmydutyinexpressingmydisapproval，andinrefusingtobepresentatthemarriage。WasItooeasilysatisfied？Itistoolatetoask。WhydoItroubleyouwithanoldwoman’svainmisgivingsandregrets？Mychild，ifyoucometoanyharm，Ishallfeel（indirectly）responsibleforit。Itisthisuneasystateofmindwhichsetsmewriting，withnothingtosaythatcaninterestyou。Don’tgotoDexter！ThefearhasbeenpursuingmeallnightthatyourgoingtoDexterwillendbadly。
Writehimanexcuse。Valeria！Ifirmlybelieveyouwillrepentitifyoureturntothathouse。\"
Waseverawomanmoreplainlywarned，morecarefullyadvised，thanI？Andyetwarningandadvicewereboththrownawayonme。
LetmesayformyselfthatIwasreallytouchedbythekindnessofmymother—in—law’sletter，thoughIwasnotshakenbyitinthesmallestdegree。AslongasIlived，moved，andthought，myonepurposenowwastomakeMiserrimusDexterconfidetomehisideasonthesubjectofMrs。EustaceMacallan’sdeath。TothoseideasIlookedasmyguidingstarsalongthedarkwayonwhichI
wasgoing。IwrotebacktoMrs。Macallan，asIreallyfeltgratefullyandpenitently。AndthenIwentouttothechaise。
CHAPTERXXVII。
MR。DEXTERATHOME。
IFOUNDalltheidleboysintheneighborhoodcollectedaroundthepony—chaise，expressing，intheoccultlanguageofslang，theirhighenjoymentandappreciationattheappearanceof\"Ariel\"inherman’sjacketandhat。Theponywasfidgety——_he_
felttheinfluenceofthepopularuproar。Hisdriversat，whipinhand，magnificentlyimpenetrabletothegibesandjeststhatwereflyingaroundher。Isaid\"Good—morning\"ongettingintothechaise。Arielonlysaid\"Geeup！\"andstartedthepony。
Imadeupmymindtoperformthejourneytothedistantnorthernsuburbinsilence。Itwasevidentlyuselessformetoattempttospeak，andexperienceinformedmethatIneednotexpecttohearawordfallfromthelipsofmycompanion。Experience，however，isnotalwaysinfallible。Afterdrivingforhalfanhourinstolidsilence，Arielastoundedmebysuddenlyburstingintospeech。
\"Doyouknowwhatwearecomingto？\"sheasked，keepinghereyesstraightbetweenthepony’sears。
\"No，\"Ianswered。\"Idon’tknowtheroad。Whatarewecomingto？\"
\"Wearecomingtoacanal。\"
\"Well？\"
\"Well，Ihavehalfamindtoupsetyouinthecanal。\"
Thisformidableannouncementappearedtorequiresomeexplanation。Itookthelibertyofaskingforit。
\"Whyshouldyouupsetme？\"Iinquired。
\"BecauseIhateyou，\"wasthecoolandcandidreply。
\"WhathaveIdonetooffendyou？\"Iaskednext。
\"WhatdoyouwantwiththeMaster？\"Arielasked，inherturn。
\"DoyoumeanMr。Dexter？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"IwanttohavesometalkwithMr。Dexter。\"
\"Youdon’t！Youwanttotakemyplace。Youwanttobrushhishairandoilhisbeard，insteadofme。Youwretch！\"
Inowbegantounderstand。TheideawhichMiserrimusDexterhadjestinglyputintoherhead，inexhibitinghertousonthepreviousnight，hadbeenripeningslowlyinthatdullbrain，andhadfounditswayoutwardintowords，aboutfifteenhoursafterward，undertheirritatinginfluenceofmypresence！
\"Idon’twanttotouchhishairorhisbeard，\"Isaid。\"Ileavethatentirelytoyou。\"
Shelookedaroundatme，herfatfaceflushing，herdulleyesdilating，withtheunaccustomedefforttoexpressherselfinspeech，andtounderstandwhatwassaidtoherinreturn。
\"Saythatagain，\"sheburstout。\"Andsayitslowerthistime。\"
Isaiditagain，andIsaiditslower。
\"Swearit！\"shecried，gettingmoreandmoreexcited。
Ipreservedmygravity（thecanalwasjustvisibleinthedistance），andsworeit。
\"Areyousatisfiednow？\"Iasked。
Therewasnoanswer。Herlastresourcesofspeechwereexhausted。
Thestrangecreaturelookedbackagainstraightbetweenthepony’sears，emittedhoarselyagruntofrelief，andnevermorelookedatme，nevermorespoketome，fortherestofthejourney。Wedrovepastthebanksofthecanal，andIescapedimmersion。Werattled，inourjinglinglittlevehicle，throughthestreetsandacrossthewastepatchesofground，whichIdimlyrememberedinthedarkness，andwhichlookedmoresqualidandmorehideousthaneverinthebroaddaylight。Thechaiseturneddownalane，toonarrowforthepassageofanylargervehicle，andstoppedatawallandagatethatwerenewobjectstome。
Openingthegatewithherkey，andleadingthepony，ArielintroducedmetothebackgardenandyardofMiserrimusDexter’srottenandramblingoldhouse。Theponywalkedoffindependentlytohisstable，withthechaisebehindhim。Mysilentcompanionledmethroughableakandbarrenkitchen，andalongastonepassage。Openingadoorattheend，sheadmittedmetothebackofthehall，intowhichMrs。MacallanandIhadpenetratedbythefrontentrancetothehouse。HereArielliftedawhistlewhichhungaroundherneck，andblewtheshrilltrillingnoteswiththesoundofwhichIwasalreadyfamiliarasthemeansofcommunicationbetweenMiserrimusDexterandhisslave。Thewhistlingover，theslave’sunwillinglipsstruggledintospeechforthelasttime。
\"WaittillyouheartheMaster’swhistle，\"shesaid；\"thengoupstairs。\"
So！Iwastobewhistledforlikeadog！And，worsestill，therewasnohelpforitbuttosubmitlikeadog。HadArielanyexcusestomake？Nothingofthesort。
Sheturnedhershapelessbackonmeandvanishedintothekitchenregionofthehouse。