Insteadofdirectlyreplying，heseizedmyarmandledmetothetable。\"Takeupthatpaper，\"hesaid。\"Thereiswritingonit。
Read——andletHerjudgebetweenus。Yourlifedependsonhowyouanswerme。\"
Wasthereaweaponconcealedintheroom？orhadhegotitinthepocketofhisdressing—gown？Ilistenedforthesoundofthedoctor’sreturningfootstepsinthepassageoutside，andheardnothing。Mylifehadoncedepended，yearssince，onmysuccessinheadingthearrestofanescapedprisoner。Iwasnotconscious，then，offeelingmyenergiesweakenedbyfear。But_that_manwasnotmad；andIwasyounger，inthosedays，byagoodtwentyyearsormore。Atmylatertimeoflife，IcouldshowmyoldfriendthatIwasnotafraidofhim——butIwasconsciousofaneffortindoingit。
Iopenedthepaper。\"AmItoreadthistomyself？\"Iasked。\"OramItoreaditaloud？\"
\"Readitaloud！\"
Intheseterms，hisdaughteraddressedhim：
\"Ihavebeensounfortunate，dearestfather，astodispleaseyou，andIdarenothopethatyouwillconsenttoreceiveme。Whatitismypainfuldutytotellyou，mustbetoldinwriting。
\"GrievedasIamtodistressyou，inyourpresentstateofhealth，Imustnothesitatetorevealwhatithasbeenmymisfortune——Imayevensaymymisery，whenIthinkofmymother——todiscover。
\"Butletmemakesure，insuchaseriousmatterasthisis，thatIamnotmistaken。
\"Inthosehappypastdays，whenIwasstilldeartomyfather，yousaidyouthoughtofwritingtoinviteadearly—valuedfriendtopayavisittothishouse。Youhadfirstknownhim，asI
understood，whenmymotherwasstillliving。Manyinterestingthingsyoutoldmeaboutthisoldfriend，butyounevermentionedthatheknew，orthathehadevenseen，mymother。Iwaslefttosupposethatthosetwohadremainedstrangerstoeachothertothedayofherdeath。
\"Ifthereisanymisinterpretationhereofwhatyousaid，orperhapsofwhatyoumeanttosay，praydestroywhatIhavewrittenwithoutturningtothenextpage；andforgivemeforhavinginnocentlystartledyoubyafalsealarm。\"
Mr。Gracedieuinterruptedme。
\"Putitdown！\"hecried；\"Iwon’twaittillyouhavegottotheend——Ishallquestionyounow。Givemethepaper；itwillhelpmetokeepthismysteryofiniquityclearinmyownmind。\"
Igavehimthepaper。
Hehesitated——andlookedattheportraitoncemore。\"Turnherawayfromme，\"hesaid；\"Ican’tfacemywife。\"
Iplacedthepicturewithitsbacktohim。
Heconsultedthepaper，readingitwithbutlittleoftheconfusionandhesitationwhichmyexperienceofhimhadinducedmetoanticipate。Hadthemadexcitementthatpossessedhimexercisedaninfluenceinclearinghismind，resemblinginsomedegreetheinfluenceexercisedbyastorminclearingtheair？
Whatevertherightexplanationmaybe，IcanonlyreportwhatI
saw。Icouldhardlyhavemasteredwhathisdaughterhadwrittenmorereadily，ifIhadbeenreadingitmyself。
\"Helenatellsme，\"hebegan，\"thatyousaidyouknewherbyherlikenesstohermother。Isthattrue？\"
\"Quitetrue。\"
\"Andyoumadeanexcuseforleavingher——see！hereitis，writtendown。Youmadeanexcuse，andleftherwhensheaskedforanexplanation。\"
\"Idid。\"
Heconsultedthepaperagain。
\"Mydaughtersays——No！Iwon’tbehurriedandIwon’tbeinterrupted——shesaysyouwereconfused。Isthatso？\"
\"Itisso。Letyourquestionswaitforamoment。IwishtotellyouwhyIwasconfused。\"
\"Haven’tIsaidIwon’tbeinterrupted？Doyouthinkyoucanshake_my_resolution？\"Hereferredtothepaperagain。\"Ihavelosttheplace。It’syourfault——finditforme。\"
TheevidencewhichwasintendedtoconvictmewastheevidencewhichIwasexpectedtofind！Ipointeditouttohim。
Hisnaturalcourtesyasserteditselfinspiteofhisanger。Hesaid\"Thankyou，\"andquestionedmethemomentafterasfiercelyasever。\"Gobacktothetime，sir，whenwemetinyourroomsattheprison。Didyouknowmywifethen？\"
\"Certainlynot。\"
\"Didyouandsheseeeachother——ha！I’vegotitnow——didyouseeeachotherafterIhadleftthetown？Noprevarication！YouowntotellingHelenathatyouknewherbyherlikenesstohermother。Youmusthaveseenhermother。Where？\"
Imadeanotherefforttodefendmyself。Heagainrefusedfuriouslytohearme。Itwasuselesstopersist。Whateverthedangerthatthreatenedmemightbe，thesooneritshoweditselftheeasierIshouldfeel。ItoldhimthatMrs。Gracedieuhadcalledonme，afterheandhiswifehadleftthetown。
\"Doyoumeantotellme，\"hecried，\"thatShecametoYou？\"
\"Ido。\"
Afterthatanswer，henolongerrequiredthepapertohelphim。
Hethrewitfromhimonthefloor。
\"Andyoureceivedher，\"hesaid，\"withoutinquiringwhetherI
knewofhervisitornot？Guiltydeceptiononyourpart——guiltydeceptiononherpart。Oh，thehideouswickednessofit！\"
WhenhismadsuspicionthatIhadbeenhiswife’sloverbetrayeditselfinthisway，Imadealastattempt，inthefaceofmyownconvictionthatitwashopeless，toplacemyconductandhiswife’sconductbeforehiminthetruelight。
\"Mrs。Gracedieu’sobjectwastoconsultme——\"BeforeIcouldsaythenextwords，Isawhimputhishandintothepocketofhisdressing—gown。
\"Aninnocentman，\"hesternlydeclared，\"wouldhavetoldmethatmywifehadbeentoseehim——youkeptitasecret。Aninnocentwomanwouldhavegivenmeareasonforwishingtogotoyou——shekeptitasecret，whensheleftmyhouse；shekeptitasecretwhenshecameback。\"
\"Mr。Gracedieu，Iinsistonbeingheard！Yourwife’smotive——\"
Hedrewfromhispocketthethingthathehadhiddenfromme。
Thistime，therewasnoconcealment；heletmeseethathewasopeningarazor。Itwasnotimeforassertingmyinnocence；Ihadtothinkofpreservingmylife。Whenamaniswithoutfirearms，whatdefensecanavailagainstarazorinthehandsofamadman？
Achairwasatmyside；itofferedtheonepoormeansofguardingmyselfthatIcouldsee。Ilaidmyhandonit，andkeptmyeyeonhim。
Hepaused，lookingbackwardandforwardbetweenthepictureandme。
\"WhichofthemshallIkillfirst？\"hesaidtohimself。\"Themanwhowasmytrustedfriend？OrthewomanwhomIbelievedtobeanangelonearth？\"Hestoppedoncemore，inastateoffierceself—concentration，debatingwhatheshoulddo。\"Thewoman，\"hedecided。\"Wretch！Fiend！Harlot！HowIlovedher！！！\"
Withayelloffury，hepouncedonthepicture——rippedthecanvasoutoftheframe——andcutitmalignantlyintofragments。Astheydroppedfromtherazoronthefloor，hestampedonthem，andgroundthemunderhisfoot。\"Go，wifeofmybosom，\"hecried，withadreadfulmockeryofvoiceandlook——\"go，andburneverlastinglyintheplaceoftorment！\"Hiseyesglaredatme。
\"Yourturnnow，\"hesaid——andrushedatmewithhisweaponreadyinhishand。Ihurledthechairathisrightarm。Therazordroppedonthefloor。Icaughthimbythewrist。Likeawildanimalhetriedtobiteme。Withmyfreehand——ifIhadknownhowtodefendmyselfinanyotherway，Iwouldhavetakenthatway——withmyfreehandIseizedhimbythethroat；forcedhimback；andheldhimagainstthewall。Mygrasponhisthroatkepthimquiet。Butthedreadofseriouslyinjuringhimsocompletelyovercameme，thatIforgotIwasaprisonerintheroom，andwasonthepointofalarmingthehouseholdbyacryforhelp。
Iwasstillstrugglingtopreservemyself—control，whenthesoundoffootstepsbrokethesilenceoutside。Iheardthekeyturninthelock，andsawthedoctorattheopendoor。
CHAPTERXLVI。
THECUMBERSOMELADIES。
ICANNOTprevailuponmyselftodwellatanylengthontheeventsthatfollowed。
Wesecuredmyunhappyfriend，andcarriedhimtohisbed。Itwasnecessarytohavemeninattendancewhocouldperformthedutyofwatchinghim。Thedoctorsentforthem，whileIwentdownstairstomakethebestIcouldofthemiserablenewswhichitwasimpossibleentirelytoconceal。
AllthatIcoulddotospareMissJillgall，Idid。Iwasobligedtoacknowledgethattherehadbeenanoutbreakofviolence，andthattheportraitoftheMinister’swifehadbeendestroyedbytheMinisterhimself。OfHelena’srevengeonmeIsaidnothing。
Ithadledtoconsequenceswhichevenhermercilessmalicecouldnothavecontemplated。Therewerenoobstaclesinthewayofkeepingsecrettheattemptonmylife。ButIwascompelledtoownthatMr。Gracedieuhadtakenadisliketome，whichrendereditnecessarythatmyvisitshouldbebroughttoanend。IhastenedtoaddthatIshouldgotothehotel，andshouldwaitthereuntilthenextday，inthehopeofhearingbetternews。
OfthemultitudeofquestionswithwhichpoorMissJillgalloverwhelmedme——ofthewildwordsofsorrowandalarmthatescapedher——ofthedesperatemannerinwhichsheheldbymyarm，andimploredmenottogoaway，whenImustseeformyselfthat\"shewasapersonentirelydestituteofpresenceofmind\"——I
shallsaynothing。Theundeservedsufferingthatisinflictedoninnocentpersonsbythesinsofothersdemandssilentsympathy；
and，tothatextentatleast，IcansaythatIhonestlyfeltformyquaintandpleasantlittlefriend。
Intheeveningthedoctorcalledonmeatthehotel。Themedicaltreatmentofhispatienthadsucceededincalmingthemaddenedbrainundertheinfluenceofsleep。Ifthenightpassedquietly，betternewsmightbehopedforinthemorning。
OnthenextdayIhadarrangedtodrivetothefarm，beingresolvednottodisappointEunice。ButIshrankfromtheprospectofhavingtodistressherasIhadalreadydistressedMissJillgall。Theonlyalternativeleftwastorepeatthesadstoryinwriting，subjecttotheconcealmentswhichIhadalreadyobserved。ThisIdid，andsenttheletterbymessenger，overnight，sothatEunicemightknowwhentoexpectme。
Themedicalreport，inthemorning，justifiedsomehope。Mr。
Gracedieuhadsleptwell，andtherehadbeennoreappearanceofinsaneviolenceonhiswaking。Butthedoctor’sopinionwasfarfromencouragingwhenwespokeofthefuture。HedidnotanticipatethecruelnecessityofplacingtheMinisterunderrestraint——unlesssomenewprovocationledtoanewoutbreak。Themisfortunetobefearedwasimbecility。
IwasjustleavingthehoteltokeepmyappointmentwithEunice，whenthewaiterannouncedthearrivalofayoungladywhowishedtospeakwithme。BeforeIcouldaskifshehadmentionedhername，theyoungladyherselfwalkedin——HelenaGracedieu。
Sheexplainedherobjectincallingonme，withtheexasperatingcomposurewhichwaspeculiarlyherown。Noparalleltoitoccurstomeinmyofficialexperienceofshamelesswomen。
\"Idon’twishtospeakofwhathappenedyesterday，sofarasI
knowanythingaboutit，\"shebegan。\"Itisquiteenoughformethatyouhavebeenobligedtoleavethehouseandtotakerefugeinthishotel。Ihavecometosayawordaboutthefuture。Areyouhonoringmewithyourattention？\"
Isignedtohertogoon。IfIhadansweredinwords，Ishouldhavetoldhertoleavetheroom。
\"Atfirst，\"sheresumed，\"Ithoughtofwriting；butitoccurredtomethatyoumightkeepmyletter，andshowittoPhilip，bywayofloweringmeinhisgoodopinion，asyouhaveloweredmeinthegoodopinionofhisfather。Myobjectincominghereistogiveyouawordofwarning。IfyouattempttomakemischiefnextbetweenPhilipandmyself，Ishallhearofit——andyouknowwhattoexpect，whenyouhaveMeforanenemy。Itisnotworthwhiletosayanymore。Weunderstandeachother，Ihope？\"
Shewasdeterminedtohaveareply——andshegotit。
\"Notquiteyet，\"Isaid。\"Ihavebeenhitherto，asbecomesagentleman，alwaysmindfulofawoman’sclaimstoforbearance。Youwilldowellnottotemptmeintoforgettingthat_you_areawoman，byprolongingyourvisit。Now，MissHelenaGracedieu，weunderstandeachother。\"Shemademealowcurtsey，andansweredinherfinesttoneofirony：\"Ionlydesiretowishyouapleasantjourneyhome。\"
Irangforthewaiter。\"Showthisladyout，\"Isaid。
Eventhisfailedtohavetheslightesteffectonher。Shesaunteredtothedoor，asperfectlyathereaseasiftheroomhadbeenhers——notmine。
Ihadthoughtofdrivingtothefarm。ShallIconfessit？MytemperwassocompletelyupsetthatactivemovementofsomekindofferedtheonemeansofreliefinwhichIcouldfindrefuge。Thefarmwasnotmorethanfivemilesdistant，andIhadbeenagoodwalkerallmylife。Aftermakingtheneedfulinquiries，IsetforthtovisitEuniceonfoot。
Mywaythroughthetownledmepastthe，Minister’shouse。Ihadleftthedoorsomefiftyyardsbehindme，whenIsawtwoladiesapproaching。Theywerewalking，inthefriendliestmanner，arminarm。Astheycamenearer，IdiscoveredMissJillgall。Hercompanionwasthemiddle—agedladywhohaddeclinedtogivehername，whenwemetaccidentallyatMr。Gracedieu’sdoor。
Hystericallyimpulsive，MissJillgallseizedbothmyhands，andoverwhelmedmewithentreatiesthatIwouldgobackwithhertothehouse。Ilistenedratherabsently。Themiddle—agedladyhappenedtobenearertomenowthanoneitheroftheformeroccasionsonwhichIhadseenher。Therewassomethingintheexpressionofhereyeswhichseemedtobefamiliartome。ButtheeffortofmymemorywasnothelpedbywhatIobservedintheotherpartsofherface。Theiron—grayhair，thebaggylowereyelids，thefatcheeks，thecoarsecomplexion，andthedoublechin，werefeatures，andverydisagreeablefeatures，too，whichI
hadneverseenatanyformertime。
\"Dopraycomebackwithus，\"MissJillgallpleaded。\"Wewerejusttalkingofyou。Iandmyfriend——\"Thereshestopped，evidentlyonthepointofblurtingoutthenamewhichshehadbeenforbiddentoutterinmyhearing。
Theladysmiled；herprovokinglyfamiliareyesrestedonmewithahumorousenjoymentofthescene。
\"Mydear，\"shesaidtoMissJillgall，\"cautionceasestobeavirtuewhenitceasestobeofanyuse。TheGovernorisbeginningtorememberme，andtheinevitablerecognition——with_his_
quicknessofperception——islikelytobeamatterofminutesnow。\"Sheturnedtome。\"Inmorewaysthanone，sir，womenarehardlyusedbyNature。Astheyadvanceinyearstheylosemoreinpersonalappearancethanthemendo。Youarewhite—haired，and（prayexcuseme）youaretoofat；and（allowmetotakeanotherliberty）youstoopattheshoulders——butyouhavenotentirelylostyourgoodlooks。_I_amnolongerrecognizable。Allowmetopromptyou，astheysayonthestage。IamMrs。Tenbruggen。\"
Asamanoftheworld，Ioughttohavebeencapableofconcealingmyastonishmentanddismay。Shestruckmedumb。
Mrs。Tenbruggeninthetown！TheonewomanwhoseappearanceMr。
Gracedieuhaddreaded，andjustlydreaded，stoodbeforeme——free，asafriendofhiskinswoman，toenterhishouse，attheverytimewhenhewasahelplessman，guardedbywatchersathisbedside。Myfirstclearideawastogetawayfromboththewomen，andconsiderwhatwastobedonenext。Ibowed——andbeggedtobeexcused——andsaidIwasinahurry，allinabreath。
Hearingthis，thebestofgenialoldmaidswasunabletorestrainhercuriosity。\"Whereareyougoing？\"sheasked。
Tooconfusedtothinkofanexcuse，IsaidIwasgoingtothefarm。
\"ToseemydearEuneece？\"MissJillgallburstout。\"Oh，wewillgowithyou！\"Mrs。Tenbruggen’spolitenessaddedimmediately，\"Withthegreatestpleasure。\"
CHAPTERXLVII。
THEJOURNEYTOTHEFARM。
MYfirstungratefulimpulsewastogetridofthetwocumbersomeladieswhohadofferedtobemycompanions。Itwasneedlesstocalluponmyinventionforanexcuse；thetruth，asIgladlyperceived，wouldservemypurpose。IhadonlytotellthemthatI
hadarrangedtowalktothefarm。
Lean，wiry，andimpetuous，MissJillgallreceivedmyexcusewiththesincerestapprovalofit，asanewidea。\"Nothingcouldbemoreagreeabletome，\"shedeclared；\"Ihavebeenawonderfulwalkerallmylife。\"Sheturnedtoherfriend。\"Wewillgowithhim，mydear，won’twe？\"
Mrs。Tenbruggen’sreceptionofthisproposalinspiredmewithhope；sheaskedhowfaritwastothefarm。\"Fivemiles！\"sherepeated。\"Andfivemilesbackagain，unlessthefarmerlendsusacart。MydearSelina，youmightaswellaskmetowalktotheNorthPole。Youhavegotridofoneofus，Mr。Governor，\"sheadded，pleasantly；\"andtheother，ifyouonlywalkfastenough，youwillleavebehindyouontheroad。IfIbelievedinluck——whichIdon’t——Ishouldcallyouafortunateman。\"
ButcompanionableSelinawouldnothearofaseparation。Sheasked，inhermostirresistiblemanner，ifIobjectedtodrivinginsteadofwalking。Herheart’sdearestwish，shesaid，wastomakeherbosomfriendandmyselfbetteracquaintedwitheachother。Toconclude，sheremindedmethattherewasacab—standinthenextstreet。
PerhapsImighthavebeeninfluencedbymydistrustofMrs。
Tenbruggen，orperhapsbymyanxietytoprotectEunice。ItstruckmethatImightwarnthedefenselessgirltobeonherguardwithMrs。Tenbruggentobetterpurpose，ifEunicewasinapositiontorecognizeherinanyfutureemergencythatmightoccur。Tomymind，thisdangerouswomanwasdoublyformidable——andforagoodreason；shewasthebosomfriendofthatinnocentandunwaryperson，MissJillgall。
SoIamiablyconsentedtoforegomywalk，yieldingtothesuperiorattractionofMrs。Tenbruggen’scompany。Onthatdaythesunshinewastemperedbyadelightfulbreeze。Ifwehadbeeninthebiggestandworst—governedcityonthecivilisedearth，weshouldhavefoundnopublicvehicle，opentotheair，whichcouldofferaccommodationtothreepeople。Beingonlyinacountrytown，wehadalightfour—wheeledchaiseatourdisposal，asamatterofcourse。
Nowisemanexpectstobemercifullytreated，whenheisshutintoacarriagewithamaturesinglelady，inflamedbycuriosity。
IwasnotunpreparedforMissJillgallwhenshealluded，forthesecondtime，tothesadeventswhichhadhappenedinthehouseonthepreviousday——andespeciallytothedestructionbyMr。
Gracedieuoftheportraitofhiswife。
\"Whydidn’thedestroysomethingelse？\"shepleaded，piteously。
\"ItissuchadisappointmenttoMe。Ineverlikedthatpicturemyself。OfcourseIoughttohaveadmiredtheportraitofthewifeofmybenefactor。Butno——thatdisagreeablepaintedfacewastoomuchforme。Ishouldhavefeltinexpressiblyrelieved，ifI
couldhaveshownittoElizabeth，andheardhersaythatsheagreedwithme。\"
\"PerhapsIsawitwhenIcalledonyou，\"Mrs。Tenbruggensuggested。\"Wheredidthepicturehang？\"
\"Mydear！Ireceivedyouinthedining—room，andtheportraithunginMr。Gracedieu’sstudy。\"
Whattheysaidtoeachothernextescapedmyattention。Quiteunconsciously，MissJillgallhadrevealedtomeadangerwhichneithertheMinisternorIhaddiscovered，thoughithadconspicuouslythreatenedusbothonthewallofthestudy。Theactofmaddestructionwhich，ifIhadpossessedthemeansofsafelyinterfering，Ishouldcertainlyhaveendeavoredtoprevent，nowassumedanewandstartlingaspect。IfMrs。
Tenbruggenreallyhadsomemotiveofherownforendeavoringtoidentifytheadoptedchild，thepreservationofthepicturemusthaveledherstraighttotheendinview。ThemostcasualopportunityofcomparingHelenawiththeportraitofMrs。
Gracedieuwouldhaverevealedthelikenessbetweenmotheranddaughter——and，thatresultattained，theidentificationofEunicewiththeinfantwhomthe\"MissChance\"ofthosedayshadbroughttotheprisonmustinevitablyhavefollowed。ItwasperhapsnaturalthatMr。Gracedieu’sinfatuateddevotiontothememoryofhiswifeshouldhaveblindedhimtothebetrayalofHelena’sparentage，whichmethiseyeseverytimeheenteredhisstudy。
ButthatIshouldhavebeentoostupidtodiscoverwhathehadfailedtosee，wasawounddealttomyself—esteemwhichIwasvainenoughtofeelacutely。
Mrs。Tenbruggen’svoice，cheeryandhumorous，brokeinonmyreflections，withanoddquestion：
\"Mr。Governor，doyouevercondescendtoreadnovels？\"
\"It’snoteasytosay，Mrs。Tenbruggen，howgratefulIamtothewritersofnovels。\"
\"Ah！Ireadnovels，too。ButIblushtoconfess——doI
blush？——thatIneverthoughtoffeelinggratefultillyoumentionedit。SelinaandIdon’tcomplainofyourpreferringyourownreflectionstoourcompany。Onthecontrary，youhaveremindedusagreeablyoftheheroesoffiction，whentheauthordescribesthemasbeing’absorbedinthought。’Forsomeminutes，Mr。Governor，youhavebeenahero；absorbed，asIventuretoguess，inunpleasantremembrancesofthetimewhenIwasasinglelady。YouhavenotforgottenhowbadlyIbehaved，andwhatshockingthingsIsaid，inthosebygonedays。AmIright？\"
\"Youareentirelywrong。\"
ItispossiblethatImayhavespokenalittletoosharply。
Anyway，faithfulSelinaintercededforherfriend。\"Oh，dearsir，don’tbehardonElizabeth！Shealwaysmeanswell。\"Mrs。
Tenbruggen，asfacetiousasever，madeagratefulreturnforasmallcompliment。ShechuckedMissJillgallunderthechin，withtheairofanamorousoldgentlemanexpressinghisapprovalofaprettyservant—girl。Itwasimpossibletolookatthetwo，intheirrelativesituations，withoutlaughing。ButMrs。Tenbruggenfailedtocheatmeintoalteringmyopinionofher。InnocentMissJillgallclappedheruglyhands，andsaid：\"Isn’tshegoodcompany？\"
Mrs。Tenbruggen’ssocialresourceswerenotexhaustedyet。Shesuddenlyshiftedtotheserioussideofhercharacter。
\"PerhapsIhaveimprovedalittle，\"shesaid，\"asIhaveadvancedinyears。Thesorrowsofanunhappymarriedlifemayhavehadapurifyinginfluenceonmynature。MyhusbandandIbeganbadly。
Mr。TenbruggenthoughtIhadmoney；andIthoughtMr。Tenbruggenhadmoney。Hewastakeninbyme；andIwastakeninbyhim。Whenherepeatedthewordsofthemarriageservice（mostimpressivelyreadbyyourfriendtheChaplain）：’WithallmyworldlygoodsI
theeendow’——hiseloquentvoicesuggestedoneofthelargestincomesinEurope。WhenIpromisedandvowed，inmyturn，thedelightfulprospectofsquanderingmyrichhusband’smoneymadequiteanewwomanofme。Ideclaresolemnly，whenIsaidIwouldlove，honor，andobeyMr。T。，IlookedasifIreallymeantit。
Whereverheisnow，poordear，heischeatingsomebody。Suchahandsome，gentleman—likeman，Selina！And，oh，Mr。Governor，suchablackguard！\"
Havingdescribedherhusbandinthoseterms，shegottiredofthesubject。Wewerenowfavoredwithanotherviewofthismany—sidedwoman。Sheappearedinherprofessionalcharacter。
\"Ah，whatadeliciousbreezeisblowing，outhereinthecountry！\"shesaid。\"WillyouexcusemeifItakeoffmygloves？
Iwanttoairmyhands。\"Sheheldupherhandstothebreeze；
firm，muscular，deadlywhitehands。\"Inmyprofessionaloccupation，\"sheexplained，\"Iamalwaysrubbing，tickling，squeezing，tapping，kneading，rolling，strikingthemusclesofpatients。Selina，doyouknowthemovementsofyourownjoints？
Flexion，extension，abduction，adduction，rotation，circumduction，pronation，supination，andthelateralmovements。
Beproudofthoseaccomplishments，mydear，butbewareofattemptingtobecomeaMasseuse。Therearedrawbacksinthatvocation——andIamconsciousofoneofthematthismoment。\"Sheliftedherhandstohernose。\"Pah！myhandssmellofotherpeople’sflesh。Thedeliciouscountryairwillblowitaway——theluxuryofpurification！\"Herfingerstwistedandquivered，andgotcrookedatonemomentandstraightagainatanother，andshowedthemselvesinsuccessionsingly，andflewintoeachotherfiercelyinterlaced，andthenspreadoutagainlikethesticksofafan，untilitreallymademegiddytolookatthem。AsforMissJillgall，sheliftedherpoorlittlesunkeneyesrapturouslytothesky，asifshecalledthehomiestsunlighttowitnessthatthiswasthemostlovablewomanonthefaceoftheearth。
Butelderlyfemalefascinationoffersitsallurementsinvaintotheroughanimal，man。SuspicionofMrs。Tenbruggen’smotiveshadestablisheditselffirmlyinmymind。WhyhadthePopularMasseuseabandonedherbrilliantcareerinLondon，andplungedintotheobscurityofacountrytown？Anopportunityofclearingupthedoubtthussuggestedseemedtohavepresenteditselfnow。
\"Isitindiscreettoask，\"Isaid，\"ifyouarehereinyourprofessionalcapacity？\"
Hercunningseizeditsadvantageandputaslyquestiontome。
\"Doyouwishtobeoneofmypatientsyourself？\"
\"Thatis，unfortunately，impossible，\"Ireplied\"IhavearrangedtoreturntoLondon。\"
\"Immediately？\"
\"To—morrowatthelatest。\"