\"Ientirelyagreewithyou，\"heanswered，withoutaninstant’shesitation。\"Mrs。Beaulyisaninnocentwoman。ThedefenseattheTrialwastherightdefenseafterall。\"
Hefoldedhisarmscomplacently；helookedperfectlysatisfiedtoleavethematterthere。
Iwasnotofhismind。Tomyownamazement，Inowfoundmyselftheleastreasonablepersonofthetwo！
MiserrimusDexter（tousethepopularphrase）hadgivenmemorethanIhadbargainedfor。HehadnotonlydoneallthatIhadanticipatedinthewayoffalsifyingMr。Playmore’sprediction——hehadactuallyadvancedbeyondmylimits。IcouldgothelengthofrecognizingMrs。Beauly’sinnocence；butatthatpointIstopped。IftheDefenseattheTrialweretherightdefense，farewelltoallhopeofassertingmyhusband’sinnocence。IheldtothathopeasIheldtomyloveandmylife。
\"Speakforyourself，\"Isaid。\"MyopinionoftheDefenseremainsunchanged。\"
Hestarted，andknithisbrowsasifIhaddisappointedanddispleasedhim。
\"Doesthatmeanthatyouaredeterminedtogoon？\"
\"Itdoes。\"
Hewasdownrightangrywithme。Hecasthiscustomarypolitenesstothewinds。
\"Absurd！impossible！\"hecried，contemptuously。\"YouhaveyourselfdeclaredthatwewrongedaninnocentwomanwhenwesuspectedMrs。Beauly。Isthereanyoneelsewhomwecansuspect？
Itisridiculoustoaskthequestion。Thereisnoalternativeleftbuttoacceptthefactsastheyare，andtostirnofurtherinthematterofthepoisoningatGleninch。Itischildishtodisputeplainconclusions。Youmustgiveup。\"
\"Youmaybeangrywithmeifyouwill，Mr。Dexter。Neitheryourangernoryourargumentswillmakemegiveup。\"
Hecontrolledhimselfbyaneffort——hewasquietandpoliteagainwhenhenextspoketome。
\"Verywell。PardonmeforamomentifIabsorbmyselfinmyownthoughts。IwanttodosomethingwhichIhavenotdoneyet。\"
\"Whatmaythatbe，Mr。Dexter？\"
\"IamgoingtoputmyselfintoMrs。Beauly’sskin，andtothinkwithMrs。Beauly’smind。Givemeaminute。Thankyou。\"
Whatdidhemean？whatnewtransformationofhimwaspassingbeforemyeyes？Wasthereeversuchapuzzleofamanasthis？
Whothatsawhimnow，intentlypursuinghisnewtrainofthought，wouldhaverecognizedhimasthechildishcreaturewhohadawokesoinnocently，andhadastonishedBenjaminbytheinfantinenonsensewhichhetalked？Itissaid，andsaidtruly，thattherearemanysidestoeveryhumancharacter。Dexter’smanysidesweredevelopingthemselvesatsucharapidrateofprogressthattheywerealreadybeyondmycounting。
Heliftedhishead，andfixedalookofkeeninquiryonme。
\"IhavecomeoutofMrs。Beauly’sskin，\"heannounced。\"AndI
havearrivedatthisresult：Wearetwoimpetuouspeople；andwehavebeenalittlehastyinrushingataconclusion。\"
Hestopped。Isaidnothing。Wastheshadowofadoubtofhimbeginningtoriseinmymind？Iwaited，andlistened。
\"IamasfullysatisfiedaseverofthetruthofwhatLadyClarindatoldyou，heproceeded。\"ButIsee，onconsideration，whatIfailedtoseeatthetime。Thestoryadmitsoftwointerpretations——oneonthesurface，andanotherunderthesurface。Ilookunderthesurface，inyourinterests；andIsay，itisjustpossiblethatMrs。Beaulymayhavebeencunningenoughtoforestallsuspicion，andtosetupanAlibi。\"
IamashamedtoownthatIdidnotunderstandwhathemeantbythelastword——Alibi。HesawthatIwasnotfollowinghim，andspokeoutmoreplainly。
\"Wasthemaidsomethingmorethanhermistress’spassiveaccomplice？\"hesaid。\"WasshetheHandthathermistressused？
Wassheonherwaytogivethefirstdoseofpoisonwhenshepassedmeinthiscorridor？DidMrs。BeaulyspendthenightinEdinburgh——soastohaveherdefenseready，ifsuspicionfelluponher？\"
MyshadowydoubtofhimbecamesubstantialdoubtwhenIheardthat。HadIabsolvedhimalittletooreadily？WashereallytryingtorenewmysuspicionsofMrs。Beauly，asMr。Playmorehadforetold？ThistimeIwasobligedtoanswerhim。Indoingso，I
unconsciouslyemployedoneofthephraseswhichthelawyerhadusedtomeduringmyfirstinterviewwithhim。
\"Thatsoundsratherfar—fetched，Mr。Dexter，\"Isaid。
Tomyrelief，hemadenoattempttodefendthenewviewthathehadadvanced。
\"Itisfar—fetched，\"headmitted。\"WhenIsaiditwasjustpossible——thoughIdidn’tclaimmuchformyidea——Isaidmoreforitperhapsthanitdeserved。Dismissmyviewasridiculous；whatareyoutodonext？IfMrs。Beaulyisnotthepoisoner（eitherbyherselforbyhermaid），whois？Sheisinnocent，andEustaceisinnocent。Whereistheotherpersonwhomyoucansuspect？Have_I_poisonedher？\"hecried，withhiseyesflashing，andhisvoicerisingtoitshighestnotes。\"Doyou，doesanybody，suspectMe？Ilovedher；Iadoredher；Ihaveneverbeenthesamemansinceherdeath。Hush！Iwilltrustyouwithasecret。（Don’ttellyourhusband；itmightbethedestructionofourfriendship。）Iwouldhavemarriedher，beforeshemetwithEustace，ifshewouldhavetakenme。Whenthedoctorstoldmeshehaddiedpoisoned——askDoctorJeromewhatIsuffered；_he_cantellyou！AllthroughthathorriblenightIwasawake；watchingmyopportunityuntilIfoundmywaytoher。Igotintotheroom，andtookmylastleaveofthecoldremainsoftheangelwhomI
loved。Icriedoverher。Ikissedher。forthefirstandlasttime。Istoleonelittlelockofherhair。Ihaveworniteversince；Ihavekisseditnightandday。Oh，God！theroomcomesbacktome！thedeadfacecomesbacktome！Look！look！\"
Hetorefromitsplaceofconcealmentinhisbosomalittlelocket，fastenedbyaribbonaroundhisneck。HethrewittomewhereIsat，andburstintoapassionoftears。
Amaninmyplacemighthaveknownwhattodo。Beingonlyawoman，Iyieldedtothecompassionateimpulseofthemoment。
Igotupandcrossedtheroomtohim。Igavehimbackhislocket，andputmyhand，withoutknowingwhatIwasabout，onthepoorwretch’sshoulder。\"Iamincapableofsuspectingyou，Mr。
Dexter，\"Isaid，gently。\"Nosuchideaeverenteredmyhead。I
pityyoufromthebottomofmyheart。\"
Hecaughtmyhandinhis，anddevoureditwithkisses。Hislipsburnedmelikefire。Hetwistedhimselfsuddenlyinthechair，andwoundhisarmaroundmywaist。Intheterrorandindignationofthemoment，vainlystrugglingwithhim，Icriedoutforhelp。
Thedooropened，andBenjaminappearedonthethreshold。
Dexterletgohisholdofme。
IrantoBenjamin，andpreventedhimfromadvancingintotheroom。InallmylongexperienceofmyfatherlyoldfriendIhadneverseenhimreallyangryyet。Isawhimmorethanangrynow。
Hewaspale——thepatient，gentleoldmanwaspalewithrage！I
heldhimatthedoorwithallmystrength。
\"Youcan’tlayyourhandonacripple，\"Isaid。Sendforthemanoutsidetotakehimaway。
IdrewBenjaminoutoftheroom，andclosedandlockedthelibrarydoor。Thehousekeeperwasinthedining—room。Isentherouttocallthedriverofthepony—chaiseintothehouse。
Themancamein——theroughmanwhomIhadnoticedwhenwewereapproachingthegardengate。Benjaminopenedthelibrarydoorinsternsilence。Itwasperhapsunworthyofme，butIcould_not_
resistthetemptationtolookin。
MiserrimusDexterhadsunkdowninthechair。Theroughmanliftedhismasterwithagentlenessthatsurprisedme。\"Hidemyface，\"IheardDextersaytohim，inbrokentones。Heopenedhiscoarsepilot—jacket，andhidhismaster’sheadunderit，andsowentsilentlyout——withthedeformedcreatureheldtohisbosom，likeawomanshelteringherchild。
CHAPTERXXXVI。
ARIEL。
IPASSEDasleeplessnight。
Theoutragethathadbeenofferedtomewasbadenoughinitself。
Butconsequenceswereassociatedwithitwhichmightaffectmemoreseriouslystill。InsofarastheattainmentoftheoneobjectofmylifemightyetdependonmypersonalassociationwithMiserrimusDexter，aninsurmountableobstacleappearedtobenowplacedinmyway。Eveninmyhusband’sinterests，oughtItopermitamanwhohadgrosslyinsultedmetoapproachmeagain？
AlthoughIwasnoprude，Irecoiledfromthethoughtofit。
Iaroselate，andsatdownatmydesk，tryingtosummonenergyenoughtowritetoMr。Playmore——andtryinginvain。
Towardnoon（whileBenjaminhappenedtobeoutforalittlewhile）thehousekeeperannouncedthearrivalofanotherstrangevisitoratthegateofthevilla。
\"It’sawomanthistime，ma’am——orsomethinglikeone，\"saidthisworthyperson，confidentially。\"Agreat，stout，awkward，stupidcreature，withaman’shatonandaman’sstickinherhand。Shesaysshehasgotanoteforyou，andshewon’tgiveittoanybody_but_you。I’dbetternotletherin——hadI？\"
Recognizingtheoriginalofthepicture，Iastonishedthehousekeeperbyconsentingtoreceivethemessengerimmediately。
Arielenteredtheroom——instolidsilence，asusual。ButI
noticedachangeinherwhichpuzzledme。Herdulleyeswereredandbloodshot。Tracesoftears（asIfancied）werevisibleonherfat，shapelesscheeks。Shecrossedtheroom，onherwaytomychair，withalessdeterminedtreadthanwascustomarywithher。
CouldAriel（Iaskedmyself）bewomanenoughtocry？WasitwithinthelimitsofpossibilitythatArielshouldapproachmeinsorrowandinfear？
\"Ihearyouhavebroughtsomethingforme？\"Isaid。\"Won’tyousitdown？\"
Shehandedmealetter——withoutansweringandwithouttakingachair。Iopenedtheenvelope。TheletterinsidewaswrittenbyMiserrimusDexter。Itcontainedtheselines：
\"Trytopityme，ifyouhaveanypityleftforamiserableman；
Ihavebitterlyexpiatedthemadnessofamoment。Ifyoucouldseeme——evenyouwouldownthatmypunishmenthasbeenheavyenough。ForGod’ssake，don’tabandonme！IwasbesidemyselfwhenIletthefeelingthatyouhaveawakenedinmegetthebetterofmycontrol。Itshallnevershowitselfagain；itshallbeasecretthatdieswithme。CanIexpectyoutobelievethis？
No。Iwon’taskyoutobelieveme；Iwon’taskyoutotrustmeinthefuture。Ifyoueverconsenttoseemeagain，letitbeinthepresenceofanythirdpersonwhomyoumayappointtoprotectyou。
Ideservethat——Iwillsubmittoit；Iwillwaittilltimehascomposedyourangryfeelingagainstme。AllIasknowisleavetohope。SaytoAriel，’Iforgivehim；andonedayIwilllethimseemeagain。’Shewillrememberit，forloveofme。Ifyousendherbackwithoutamessage，yousendmetothemad—house。Askher，ifyoudon’tbelieveme。
\"MISERRIMUSDEXTER。\"
Ifinishedthestrangeletter，andlookedatAriel。
Shestoodwithhereyesonthefloor，andheldouttomethethickwalking—stickwhichshecarriedinherhand。
\"Takethestick\"werethefirstwordsshesaidtome。
\"WhyamItotakeit？\"Iasked。
Shestruggledalittlewithhersluggishlyworkingmind，andslowlyputherthoughtsintowords。
\"You’reangrywiththeMaster，\"shesaid。\"TakeitoutonMe。
Here’sthestick。Beatme。\"
\"Beatyou！\"Iexclaimed。
\"Myback’sbroad，\"saidthepoorcreature。\"Iwon’tmakearow。
I’llbearit。Dratyou，takethestick！Don’tvex_him。_Whackitoutonmyback。Beat_me。_\"
Sheroughlyforcedthestickintomyhand；sheturnedherpoorshapelessshoulderstome；waitingfortheblow。Itwasatoncedreadfulandtouchingtoseeher。Thetearsroseinmyeyes。I
tried，gentlyandpatiently，toreasonwithher。Quiteuseless！
TheideaoftakingtheMaster’spunishmentonherselfwastheoneideainhermind。\"Don’tvex_him，_\"sherepeated。\"Beat_me。_\"
\"Whatdoyoumeanby’vexinghim’？\"Iasked。
Shetriedtoexplain，andfailedtofindthewords。Sheshowedmebyimitation，asasavagemighthaveshownme，whatshemeant。
Stridingtothefire—place，shecrouchedontherug，andlookedintothefirewithahorriblevacantstare。Thensheclaspedherhandsoverherforehead，androckedslowlytoandfro，stillstaringintothefire。\"There’showhesits！\"shesaid，withasuddenburstofspeech。\"Hoursonhours，there’showhesits！
Noticesnobody。Criesabout_you。_\"
ThepictureshepresentedrecalledtomymemorytheReportofDexter’shealth，andthedoctor’splainwarningofperilwaitingforhiminthefuture。
EvenifIcouldhaveresistedAriel，Imusthaveyieldedtothevaguedreadofconsequenceswhichnowshookmeinsecret。
\"Don’tdothat！\"Icried。Shewasstillrockingherselfinimitationofthe\"Master，\"andstillstaringintothefirewithherhandstoherhead。\"Getup，pray！Iamnotangrywithhimnow。Iforgivehim。\"
Sheroseonherhandsandknees，andwaited，lookingupintentlyintomyface。Inthatattitude——morelikeadogthanahumanbeing——sherepeatedhercustomarypetitionwhenshewantedtofixwordsthatinterestedherinhermind。
\"Sayitagain！\"
Ididasshebademe。Shewasnotsatisfied。
\"Sayitasitisintheletter，\"shewenton。\"SayitastheMastersaidittoMe。\"
Ilookedbackattheletter，andrepeatedtheformofmessagecontainedinthelatterpartofit，wordforword：
\"Iforgivehim；andonedayIwilllethimseemeagain。\"
Shesprangtoherfeetatabound。Forthefirsttimesinceshehadenteredtheroomherdullfacebegantobreakslowlyintolightandlife。
\"That’sit！\"shecried。\"HearifIcansayit，too；hearifI’vegotitbyheart。\"
TeachingherexactlyasIshouldhavetaughtachild，Islowlyfastenedthemessage，wordbyword，onhermind。
\"Nowrestyourself，\"Isaid；\"andletmegiveyousomethingtoeatanddrinkafteryourlongwalk。\"
Imightaswellhavespokentooneofthechairs。Shesnatchedupherstickfromthefloor，andburstoutwithahoarseshoutofjoy。\"I’vegotitbyheart！\"shecried。\"ThiswillcooltheMaster’shead！Hooray！\"Shedashedoutintothepassagelikeawildanimalescapingfromitscage。Iwasjustintimetoseehertearopenthegardengate，andsetforthonherwalkbackatapacewhichmadeithopelesstoattempttofollowandstopher。
Ireturnedtothesitting—room，ponderingonaquestionwhichhasperplexedwiserheadsthanmine。CouldamanwhowashopelesslyandentirelywickedhaveinspiredsuchdevotedattachmenttohimasDexterhadinspiredinthefaithfulwomanwhohadjustleftme？intheroughgardenerwhohadcarriedhimoutsogentlyonthepreviousnight？Whocandecide？Thegreatestscoundrellivingalwayshasafriend——inawomanoradog。
Isatdownagainatmydesk，andmadeanotherattempttowritetoMr。Playmore。
Recalling，forthepurposeofmyletter，allthatMiserrimusDexterhadsaidtome，mymemorydweltwithspecialinterestonthestrangeoutbreakoffeelingwhichhadledhimtobetraythesecretofhisinfatuationforEustace’sfirstwife。Isawagaintheghastlysceneinthedeath—chamber——thedeformedcreaturecryingoverthecorpseinthestillnessofthefirstdarkhoursofthenewday。Thehorriblepicturetookastrangeholdonmymind。Iarose，andwalkedupanddown，andtriedtoturnmythoughtssomeotherway。Itwasnottobedone：thescenewastoofamiliartometobeeasilydismissed。Ihadmyselfvisitedtheroomandlookedatthebed。IhadmyselfwalkedinthecorridorwhichDexterhadcrossedonhiswaytotakehislastleaveofher。
Thecorridor？Istopped。Mythoughtssuddenlytookanewdirection，uninfluencedbyanyeffortofmywill。
WhatotherassociationbesidestheassociationwithDexterdidI
connectwiththecorridor？WasitsomethingIhadseenduringmyvisittoGleninch？No。WasitsomethingIhadread？IsnatcheduptheReportoftheTrialtosee。Itopenedatapagewhichcontainedthenurse’sevidence。Ireadtheevidencethroughagain，withoutrecoveringthelostremembranceuntilIcametotheselinescloseattheend：
\"Beforebed—timeIwentupstairstopreparetheremainsofthedeceasedladyforthecoffin。Theroominwhichshelaywaslocked；thedoorleadingintoMr。Macallan’sroombeingsecured，aswellasthedoorleadingintothecorridor。ThekeyshadbeentakenawaybyMr。Gale。Twoofthemen—servantswerepostedoutsidethebedroomtokeepwatch。Theyweretoberelievedatfourinthemorning——thatwasalltheycouldtellme。\"
Therewasmylostassociationwiththecorridor！TherewaswhatIoughttohaverememberedwhenMiserrimusDexterwastellingmeofhisvisittothedead！
Howhadhegotintothebedroom——thedoorsbeinglocked，andthekeysbeingtakenawaybyMr。Gale？TherewasbutoneofthelockeddoorsofwhichMr。Galehadnotgotthekey——thedoorofcommunicationbetweenthestudyandthebedroom。Thekeywasmissingfromthis。Haditbeenstolen？AndwasDexterthethief？
Hemighthavepassedbythemenonthewatchwhiletheywereasleep，orhemighthavecrossedthecorridorinanunguardedintervalwhilethemenwerebeingrelieved。Buthowcouldhehavegotintothebedchamberexceptbywayofthelockedstudydoor？
He_must_havehadthekey！Andhe_must_havesecreteditweeksbeforeMrs。EustaceMacallan’sdeath！WhenthenursefirstarrivedatGleninch，ontheseventhofthemonth，herevidencedeclaredthekeyofthedoorofcommunicationtobethenmissing。
Towhatconclusiondidtheseconsiderationsanddiscoveriespoint？HadMiserrimusDexter，inamomentofungovernableagitation，unconsciouslyplacedtheclewinmyhands？WasthepivotonwhichturnedthewholemysteryofthepoisoningatGleninchthemissingkey？
Iwentbackforthethirdtimetomydesk。TheonepersonwhomightbetrustedtofindtheanswertothosequestionswasMr。
Playmore。Iwrotehimafullandcarefulaccountofallthathadhappened；Ibeggedhimtoforgiveandforgetmyungraciousreceptionoftheadvicewhichhehadsokindlyofferedtome；andIpromisedbeforehandtodonothingwithoutfirstconsultinghisopinioninthenewemergencywhichnowconfrontedme。
Thedaywasfineforthetimeofyear；andbywayofgettingalittlewholesomeexerciseafterthesurprisesandoccupationsofthemorning，ItookmylettertoMr。Playmoretothepost。
Returningtothevilla，Iwasinformedthatanothervisitorwaswaitingtoseeme：acivilizedvisitorthistime，whohadgivenhername。Mymother—in—law——Mrs。Macallan。
CHAPTERXXXVII。
ATTHEBEDSIDE。
BEFOREshehadutteredaword，Isawinmymother—in—law’sfacethatshebroughtbadnews。
\"Eustace？\"Isaid。
Sheansweredmebyalook。
\"Letmehearitatonce！\"Icried。\"Icanbearanythingbutsuspense。\"
Mrs。Macallanliftedherhand，andshowedmeatelegraphicdispatchwhichshehadhithertokeptconcealedinthefoldsofherdress。
\"Icantrustyourcourage，\"shesaid。\"Thereisnoneed，mychild，toprevaricatewithyou。Readthat。\"
Ireadthetelegram。Itwassentbythechiefsurgeonofafield—hospital；anditwasdatedfromavillageinthenorthofSpain。
\"Mr。Eustaceseverelywoundedinaskirmishbyastrayshot。Notindanger，sofar。Everycaretakenofhim。Waitforanothertelegram。\"
Iturnedawaymyface，andboreasbestImightthepangthatwrungmewhenIreadthosewords。IthoughtIknewhowdearlyI
lovedhim：Ihadneverknownittillthatmoment。
Mymother—in—lawputherarmroundme，andheldmetohertenderly。Sheknewmewellenoughnottospeaktomeatthatmoment。
Iralliedmycourage，andpointedtothelastsentenceinthetelegram。
\"Doyoumeantowait？\"Iasked。
\"Notaday！\"sheanswered。\"IamgoingtotheForeignOfficeaboutmypassport——Ihavesomeinterestthere：theycangivemeletters；theycanadviseandassistme。Ileaveto—nightbythemailtraintoCalais。\"
\"_You_leave？\"Isaid。\"DoyousupposeIwillletyougowithoutme？Getmypassportwhenyougetyours。AtseventhiseveningI
willbeatyourhouse。\"
Sheattemptedtoremonstrate；shespokeoftheperilsofthejourney。AtthefirstwordsIstoppedher。\"Don’tyouknowyet，mother，howobstinateIam？TheymaykeepyouwaitingattheForeignOffice。Whydoyouwastetheprecioushourshere？\"
Sheyieldedwithagentlenessthatwasnotinhereverydaycharacter。\"WillmypoorEustaceeverknowwhatawifehehasgot？\"Thatwasallshesaid。Shekissedme，andwentawayinhercarriage。
Myremembrancesofourjourneyarestrangelyvagueandimperfect。
AsItrytorecallthem，thememoryofthosemorerecentandmoreinterestingeventswhichoccurredaftermyreturntoEnglandgetsbetweenmeandmyadventuresinSpain，andseemstoforcetheselastintoashadowybackground，untiltheylooklikeadventuresthathappenedmanyyearssince。Iconfusedlyrecollectdelaysandalarmsthattriedourpatienceandourcourage。Irememberourfindingfriends（thankstoourlettersofrecommendation）inaSecretarytotheEmbassyandinaQueen’sMessenger，whoassistedandprotectedusatacriticalpointinthejourney。Irecalltomindalongsuccessionofmeninouremploymentastravelers，allequallyremarkablefortheirdirtycloaksandtheircleanlinen，fortheirhighlycivilizedcourtesytowomenandtheirutterlybarbarouscrueltytohorses。Last，andmostimportantofall，I
seeagain，moreclearlythanIcanseeanythingelse，theonewretchedbedroomofasqualidvillageinninwhichwefoundourpoordarling，prostratebetweenlifeanddeath，insensibletoeverythingthatpassedinthenarrowlittleworldthatlayaroundhisbedside。
Therewasnothingromanticorinterestingintheaccidentwhichhadputmyhusband’slifeinperil。
Hehadventuredtoonearthesceneoftheconflict（amiserableaffair）torescueapoorladwholaywoundedonthefield——mortallywounded，astheeventproved。Arifle—bullethadstruckhiminthebody。Hisbrethrenofthefield—hospitalhadcarriedhimbacktotheirquartersattheriskoftheirlives。Hewasagreatfavoritewithallofthem；patientandgentleandbrave；onlywantingalittlemorejudgmenttobethemostvaluablerecruitwhohadjoinedthebrotherhood。
Intellingmethis，thesurgeonkindlyanddelicatelyaddedawordofwarningaswell。
Thefevercausedbythewoundhadbroughtwithitdelirium，asusual。Mypoorhusband’smind，insofarashiswanderingwordsmightinterpretit，wasfilledbytheoneimageofhiswife。Themedicalattendanthadheardenoughinthecourseofhisministrationsatthebedside，tosatisfyhimthatanysuddenrecognitionofmebyEustace（ifherecovered）mightbeattendedbythemostlamentableresults。Asthingswereatthatsadtime，Imighttakemyturnatnursinghim，withouttheslightestchanceofhisdiscoveringme，perhapsforweeksandweekstocome。Butonthedaywhenhewasdeclaredoutofdanger——ifthathappydayeverarrived——Imustresignmyplaceathisbedside，andmustwaittoshowmyselfuntilthesurgeongavemeleave。
Mymother—in—lawandIrelievedeachotherregularly，dayandnight，inthesick—room。
Inthehoursofhisdelirium——hoursthatrecurredwithapitilessregularity——mynamewasalwaysonmypoordarling’sfeveredlips。
TherulingideainhimwasthefinedreadfulideawhichIhadvainlycombatedatourlastinterview。InthefaceoftheverdictpronouncedattheTrial，itwasimpossibleevenforhiswifetobereallyandtrulypersuadedthathewasaninnocentman。Allthewildpictureswhichhisdistemperedimaginationdrewwereequallyinspiredbythatoneobstinateconviction。Hefanciedhimselftobestilllivingwithmeunderthosedreadedconditions。Dowhathemight，Iwasalwaysrecallingtohimtheterribleordealthroughwhichhehadpassed。Heactedhispart，andheactedmine。Hegavemeacupoftea；andIsaidtohim，\"Wequarreledyesterday，Eustace。Isitpoisoned？\"Hekissedme，intokenofourreconciliation；andIlaughed，andsaid，\"It’smorningnow，mydear。ShallIdiebynineo’clockto—night？\"I
wasillinbed，andhegavememymedicine。Ilookedathimwithadoubtingeye。Isaidtohim，\"Youareinlovewithanotherwoman。Isthereanythinginthemedicinethatthedoctordoesn’tknowof？\"Suchwasthehorribledramawhichnowperpetuallyacteditselfinhismind。HundredsandhundredsoftimesIheardhimrepeatit，almostalwaysinthesamewords。Onotheroccasionshisthoughtswanderedawaytomydesperateprojectofprovinghimtobeaninnocentman。Sometimeshelaughedatit。Sometimeshemournedoverit。Sometimeshedevisedcunningschemesforplacingunsuspectedobstaclesinmyway。Hewasespeciallyhardonmewhenhewasinventinghispreventivestratagems——hecheerfullyinstructedthevisionarypeoplewhoassistedhimnottohesitateatoffendingordistressingme。\"Nevermindifyoumakeherangry；nevermindifyoumakehercry。It’sallforhergood；
it’salltosavethepoorfoolfromdangersshedoesn’tdreamof。
Youmustn’tpityherwhenshesaysshedoesitformysake。See！
sheisgoingtobeinsulted；sheisgoingtobedeceived；sheisgoingtodisgraceherselfwithoutknowingit。Stopher！stopher！\"Itwasweakofme，Iknow；Ioughttohavekepttheplainfactthathewasoutofhissensesalwayspresenttomymind：
stillitistruethatmyhourspassedatmyhusband’spillowweremanyofthemhoursofmortificationandmiseryofwhichhe，poordear，wastheinnocentandonlycause。
Theweekspassed；andhestillhoveredbetweenlifeanddeath。
Ikeptnorecordofthetime，andIcannotnowrecalltheexactdateonwhichthefirstfavorablechangetookplace。Ionlyrememberthatitwastowardsunriseonafinewintermorningwhenwewererelievedatlastofourheavyburdenofsuspense。Thesurgeonhappenedtobebythebedsidewhenhispatientawoke。Thefirstthinghedid，afterlookingatEustace，wastocautionmebyasigntobesilentandtokeepoutofsight。Mymother—in—lawandIbothknewwhatthismeant。WithfullheartswethankedGodtogetherforgivingusbackthehusbandandtheson。
Thesameevening，beingalone，weventuredtospeakofthefuture——forthefirsttimesincewehadlefthome。
\"Thesurgeontellsme，\"saidMrs。Macallan，\"thatEustaceistooweaktobecapableofbearinganythinginthenatureofasurpriseforsomedaystocome。Wehavetimetoconsiderwhetherheisorisnottobetoldthatheoweshislifeasmuchtoyourcareastomine。Canyoufinditinyourhearttoleavehim，Valeria，nowthatGod’smercyhasrestoredhimtoyouandtome？\"
\"IfIonlyconsultedmyownheart，\"Ianswered，\"Ishouldneverleavehimagain。\"
Mrs。Macallanlookedatmeingravesurprise。
\"Whatelsehaveyoutoconsult？\"sheasked。
\"Ifwebothlive，\"Ireplied，\"Ihavetothinkofthehappinessofhislifeandthehappinessofmineintheyearsthataretocome。Icanbearagreatdeal，mother，butIcannotendurethemiseryofhisleavingmeforthesecondtime。\"
\"Youwronghim，Valeria——Ifirmlybelieveyouwronghim——inthinkingitpossiblethathecanleaveyouagain。\"
\"DearMrs。Macallan，haveyouforgottenalreadywhatwehavebothheardhimsayofmewhilewehavebeensittingbyhisbedside？\"
\"Wehaveheardtheravingsofamanindelirium。ItissurelyhardtoholdEustaceresponsibleforwhathesaidwhenhewasoutofhissenses。\"
\"Itisharderstill，\"Isaid，\"toresisthismotherwhensheispleadingforhim。Dearestandbestoffriends！Idon’tholdEustaceresponsibleforwhathesaidinthefever——butI_do_