\"Iamonlycold，\"shesaid，inahurriedway，withherfaceundertheclothes。
Herangforthemaid，andhadafreshcoveringplacedonthebed。
Observingthatsheseemedunwillingtobedisturbed，hedidnotremovetheclothesfromherfacewhenhewishedhergoodnight，butpressedhislipsonherhead，andpatteditgentlywithhishand。Sheshrankatthetouchasifithurther，lightasitwas，andhewentdownstairs，resolvedtosendforthedoctoragainifshedidnotgettorestonbeingleftquiet。Inlessthanhalfanhourafterwardthemaidcamedownandrelievedhisanxietybyreportingthathermistresswasasleep。
Thenextmorninghefoundherinbetterspirits。Hereyes，shesaid，felttooweaktobearthelight，soshekeptthebedroomdarkened。Butinotherrespectsshehadlittletocomplainof。
Afteransweringherhusband’sfirstinquiries，shequestionedhimabouthisplansfortheday。Hehadletterstowritewhichwouldoccupyhimuntiltwelveo’clock。Attwoo’clockheexpectedthevolumeofthe_Times_toarrive，andheshouldthendevotetherestoftheafternoontohiswork。Afterhearingwhathisplanswere，Mrs。Carlingsuggestedthatheshouldrideoutafterhehaddonehisletters，soastogetsomeexerciseatthefinepartoftheday；andshethenremindedhimthatalongertimethanusualhadelapsedsincehehadbeentoseeacertainoldpensionerofhis，whohadnursedhimasachild，andwhowasnowbedridden，inavillageatsomedistance，calledTringweighton。Althoughtherectorsawnoimmediatenecessityformakingthischaritablevisit，themoreespeciallyastheridetothevillageandback，andtheintermediatetimedevotedtogossip，wouldoccupyatleasttwohoursandahalf，heassentedtohiswife’sproposal，perceivingthatsheurgeditwithunusualearnestness，andbeingunwillingtothwarther，eveninatrifle，atatimewhenshewasill。
Accordingly，hishorsewasatthedoorattwelveprecisely。
Impatienttogetbacktothepreciousvolumeofthe_Times，_herodesomuchfasterthanusual，andsoshortenedhisvisittotheoldwoman，thathewashomeagainbyaquarterpasttwo。
AscertainingfromtheservantwhoopenedthedoorthatthevolumehadbeenleftbyMr。Rambert’smessengerpunctuallyattwo，heranuptohiswife’sroomtotellherabouthisvisitbeforehesecludedhimselffortherestoftheafternoonoverhiswork。Onenteringthebedroomhefounditstilldarkened，andhewasstruckbyasmellofburnedpaperinit。
Hiswife（whowasnowdressedinherwrapperandlyingonthesofa）accountedforthesmellbytellinghimthatshehadfanciedtheroomfeltclose，andthatshehadburnedsomepaper——beingafraidofthecoldairifsheopenedthewindow——tofumigateit。
Hereyeswereevidentlystillweak，forshekeptherhandoverthemwhileshespoke。Afterremainingwithherlongenoughtorelatethefewtrivialeventsofhisride，Mr。Carlingdescendedtohisstudytooccupyhimselfatlastwiththevolumeofthe_Times_。
Itlayonhistableintheshapeofalargeflatbrownpaperpackage。Onproceedingtoundothecovering，heobservedthatithadbeenverycarelesslytiedup。Thestringswerecrookedandlooselyknotted，andthedirectionbearinghisnameandaddress，insteadofbeinginthemiddleofthepaper，wasawkwardlyfoldedoverattheedgeofthevolume。However，hisbusinesswaswiththeinsideoftheparcel；sohetossedawaythecoveringandthestring，andbeganatoncetohuntthroughthevolumefortheparticularnumberofthepaperwhichhewishedfirsttoconsult。
Hesoonfoundit，withthereportofthespeechesdeliveredbythemembersofthedeputation，andtheanswerreturnedbytheminister。Afterreadingthroughthereport，andputtingamarkintheplacewhereitoccurred，heturnedtothenextday’snumberofthepaper，toseewhatfurtherhintsonthesubjectthelettersaddressedtotheeditormighthappentocontain。
Tohisinexpressiblevexationandamazement，hefoundthatonenumberofthepaperwasmissing。
Hebentthetwosidesofthevolumeback，lookedcloselybetweentheleaves，andsawimmediatelythatthemissingnumberhadbeencutout。
Avaguesenseofsomethinglikealarmbegantominglewithhisfirstfeelingofdisappointment。HewroteatoncetoMr。Rambert，mentioningthediscoveryhehadjustmade，andsentthenoteoffbyhisgroom，withorderstothemantowaitforananswer。
Thereplywithwhichtheservantreturnedwasalmostinsolentintheshortnessandcoolnessofitstone。Mr。Ramberthadnobooksinhislibrarywhichwerenotinperfectcondition。Thevolumeofthe_Times_hadlefthishouseperfect，andwhateverblamemightattachtothemutilationofitrestedthereforeonothershouldersthanthoseoftheowner。
Likemanyotherweakmen，Mr。Carlingwassecretlytouchyonthesubjectofhisdignity。Afterreadingthenoteandquestioninghisservants，whowerecertainthatthevolumehadnotbeentouchedtillhehadopenedit，heresolvedthatthemissingnumberofthe_Times_shouldbeprocuredatanyexpenseandinsertedinitsplace；thatthevolumeshouldbesentbackinstantlywithoutawordofcomment；andthatnomorebooksfromMr。Rambert’slibraryshouldenterhishouse。
Hewalkedupanddownthestudyconsideringwhatfirststepheshouldtaketoeffectthepurposeinview。Underthequickeninginfluenceofhisirritation，anideaoccurredtohim，which，ifithadonlyenteredhismindthedaybefore，mightprobablyhaveprovedthemeansofsavinghimfromplacinghimselfunderanobligationtoMr。Rambert。HeresolvedtowriteimmediatelytohisbooksellerandpublisherinLondon（whoknewhimwellasanoldandexcellentcustomer），mentioningthedateofthebacknumberofthe_Times_thatwasrequired，andauthorizingthepublishertoofferanyrewardhejudgednecessarytoanypersonwhomighthavethemeansofprocuringitattheofficeofthepaperorelsewhere。ThisletterhewroteanddispatchedingoodtimefortheLondonpost，andthenwentupstairstoseehiswifeandtotellherwhathadhappened。Herroomwasstilldarkenedandshewasstillonthesofa。Onthesubjectofthemissingnumbershesaidnothing，butofMr。Rambertandhisnoteshespokewiththemostsovereigncontempt。Ofcoursethepompousoldfoolwasmistaken，andtheproperthingtodowastosendbackthevolumeinstantlyandtakenomorenoticeofhim。
\"Itshallbesentback，\"saidMr。Carling，\"butnottillthemissingnumberisreplaced。\"Andhethentoldherwhathehaddone。
TheeffectofthatsimplepieceofinformationonMrs。Carlingwassoextraordinaryandsounaccountablethatherhusbandfairlystoodaghast。Forthefirsttimesincetheirmarriagehesawhertempersuddenlyinaflame。Shestartedupfromthesofaandwalkedabouttheroomasifshehadlosthersenses，upbraidinghimformakingtheweakestofconcessionstoMr。Rambert’sinsolentassumptionthattherectorwastoblame。Ifshecouldonlyhavelaidhandsonthatletter，shewouldhaveconsultedherhusband’sdignityandindependencebyputtingitinthefire！Shehopedandprayedthenumberofthepapermightnotbefound！Infact，itwascertainthatthenumber，afteralltheseyears，couldnotpossiblybehuntedup。Theideaofhisacknowledginghimselftobeinthewronginthatway，whenheknewhimselftobeintheright！Itwasalmostridiculous——no，itwas_quite_
ridiculous！Andshethrewherselfbackonthesofa，andsuddenlyburstoutlaughing。
Atthefirstwordofremonstrancewhichfellfromherhusband’slipshermoodchangedagaininaninstant。Shespranguponcemore，kissedhimpassionately，withthetearsstreamingfromhereyes，andimploredhimtoleaveheralonetorecoverherself。Hequittedtheroomsoseriouslyalarmedaboutherthatheresolvedtogotothedoctorprivatelyandquestionhimonthespot。Therewasanunspeakabledreadinhismindthatthenervousattackfromwhichshehadbeenpronouncedtobesufferingmightbeamerephraseintendedtopreparehimforthefuturedisclosureofsomethinginfinitelyandindescribablyworse。
Thedoctor，onhearingMr。Carling’sreport，exhibitednosurpriseandheldtohisopinion。Hernervoussystemwasoutoforder，andherhusbandhadbeenneedlesslyfrightenedbyahystericalparoxysm。Ifshedidnotgetbetterinaweek，changeofscenemightthenbetried。Inthemeantime，therewasnottheleastcauseforalarm。
Onthenextdayshewasquieter，butshehardlyspokeatall。Atnightshesleptwell，andMr。Carling’sfaithinthemedicalmanrevivedagain。
ThemorningafterwasthemorningwhichwouldbringtheanswerfromthepublisherinLondon。Therector’sstudywasonthegroundfloor，andwhenheheardthepostman’sknock，beingespeciallyanxiousthatmorningabouthiscorrespondence，hewentoutintothehalltoreceivehislettersthemomenttheywereputonthetable。
Itwasnotthefootmanwhohadansweredthedoor，asusual，butMrs。Carling’smaid。Shehadtakenthelettersfromthepostman，andshewasgoingawaywiththemupstairs。
Hestoppedher，andaskedherwhyshedidnotputthelettersonthehalltableasusual。Themaid，lookingverymuchconfused，saidthathermistresshaddesiredthatwhateverthepostmanhadbroughtthatmorningshouldbecarrieduptoherroom。Hetookthelettersabruptlyfromthegirl，withoutaskinganymorequestions，andwentbackintohisstudy。
Uptothistimenoshadowofasuspicionhadfallenonhismind。
Hithertotherehadbeenasimpleobviousexplanationforeveryunusualeventthathadoccurredduringthelastthreeorfourdays；butthislastcircumstanceinconnectionwiththeletterswasnottobeaccountedfor。Nevertheless，evennow，itwasnotdistrustofhiswifethatwasbusyathismind——hewastoofondofherandtooproudofhertofeelit——thesensationwasmorelikeuneasysurprise。Helongedtogoandquestionher，andgetasatisfactoryanswer，andhavedonewithit。Buttherewasavoicespeakingwithinhimthathadnevermadeitselfheardbefore——avoicewithapersistentwarninginit，thatsaid，Wait；andlookatyourlettersfirst。
Hespreadthemoutonthetablewithhandsthattrembledheknewnotwhy。Amongthemwasthebacknumberofthe_Times_forwhichhehadwrittentoLondon，withaletterfromthepublisherexplainingthemeansbywhichthecopyhadbeenprocured。
Heopenedthenewspaperwithavaguefeelingofalarmatfindingthatthoseletterstotheeditorwhichhehadbeensoeagertoread，andthatperfectingofthemutilatedvolumewhichhehadbeensoanxioustoaccomplish，hadbecomeobjectsofsecondaryimportanceinhismind。Aninexplicablecuriosityaboutthegeneralcontentsofthepaperwasnowtheonemovinginfluencewhichasserteditselfwithinhim，hespreadopenthebroadsheetonthetable。
Thefirstpageonwhichhiseyefellwasthepageontheright—handside。Itcontainedthoseveryletters——threeinnumber——whichhehadoncebeensoanxioustosee。Hetriedtoreadthem，butnoeffortcouldfixhiswanderingattention。Helookedasidetotheoppositepage，onthelefthand。Itwasthepagethatcontainedtheleadingarticles。
Theywerethreeinnumber。Thefirstwasonforeignpolitics；thesecondwasasarcasticcommentaryonarecentdivisionintheHouseofLords；thethirdwasoneofthosearticlesonsocialsubjectswhichhavegreatlyandhonorablyhelpedtoraisethereputationofthe_Times_aboveallcontestandallrivalry。
Thelinesofthisthirdarticlewhichfirstcaughthiseyecomprisedtheopeningsentenceofthesecondparagraph，andcontainedthesewords：
Itappears，fromthenarrativewhichwillbefoundinanotherpartofourcolumns，thatthisunfortunatewomanmarried，inthespringoftheyear18——，oneMr。FergusDuncan，ofGlendarn，intheHighlandsofScotland……
Thelettersswamandmingledtogetherunderhiseyesbeforehecouldgoontothenextsentence。Hiswifeexhibitedasanobjectforpubliccompassioninthe_Times_newspaper！Onthebrinkofthedreadfuldiscoverythatwasadvancingonhim，hismindreeledback，andadeadlyfaintnesscameoverhim。Therewaswateronaside—table——hedrankadeepdraughtofit——rousedhimself——seizedonthenewspaperwithbothhands，asifithadbeenalivingthingthatcouldfeelthedesperateresolutionofhisgrasp，andreadthearticlethrough，sentencebysentence，wordbyword。
ThesubjectwastheLawofDivorce，andtheexamplequotedwastheexampleofhiswife。
AtthattimeEnglandstooddisgracefullyaloneastheonecivilizedcountryintheworldhavingadivorcelawforthehusbandwhichwasnotalsoadivorcelawforthewife。Thewriterinthe_Times_boldlyandeloquentlyexposedthisdiscreditableanomalyintheadministrationofjustice；hinteddelicatelyattheunutterablewrongssufferedbyMrs。Duncan；andplainlyshowedthatshewasindebtedtotheaccidentofhavingbeenmarriedinScotland，andtoherconsequentrightofappealtotheScotchtribunals，forafullandfinalreleasefromthetiethatboundhertothevilestofhusbands，whichtheEnglishlawofthatdaywouldhavemercilesslyrefused。
Hereadthat。OthermenmighthavegoneontothenarrativeextractedfromtheScotchnewspaper。Butatthelastwordofthearticle_he_stopped。
Thenewspaper，andtheunreaddetailswhichitcontained，lostallholdonhisattentioninaninstant，andintheirstead，livingandburningonhismind，liketheLettersofDoomonthewallsofBelshazzar，thereroseupinjudgmentagainsthimthelastwordsofaverseintheGospelofSaintLuke——
_\"Whosoevermarriethherthatisputawayfromherhusband，commitethadultery。\"_
Hehadpreachedfromthesewords，hehadwarnedhishearers，withthewholestrengthofthefanaticalsinceritythatwasinhim，tobewareofprevaricatingwiththeprohibitionwhichthatversecontained，andtoacceptitasliterally，unreservedly，finallyforbiddingthemarriageofadivorcedwoman。Hehadinsistedonthatplaininterpretationofplainwordsintermswhichhadmadehiscongregationtremble。Andnowhestoodaloneinthesecrecyofhisownchamberself—convictedofthedeadlysinwhichhehaddenounced——hestood，ashehadtoldthewickedamonghishearersthattheywouldstandattheLastDay，beforetheJudgmentSeat。
Hewasunconsciousofthelapseoftime；heneverknewwhetheritwasmanyminutesorfewbeforethedoorofhisroomwassuddenlyandsoftlyopened。Itdidopen，andhiswifecamein。
Inherwhitedress，withawhiteshawlthrownoverhershoulders；
herdarkhair，soneatandglossyatothertimes，hangingtangledabouthercolorlesscheeks，andheighteningtheglassybrightnessofterrorinhereyes——sohesawher；thewomanputawayfromherhusband——thewomanwhoselovehadmadehislifehappyandhadstainedhissoulwithadeadlysin。
Shecameontowithinafewpacesofhimwithoutawordoratear，orashadowofchangepassingoverthedreadfulrigidityofherface。Shelookedathimwithastrangelook；shepointedtothenewspapercrumpledinhishandwithastrangegesture；shespoketohiminastrangevoice。
\"Youknowit！\"shesaid。
Hiseyesmethers——sheshrankfromthem——turned——andlaidherarmsandherheadheavilyagainstthewall。
\"Oh，Alfred，\"shesaid，\"Iwassolonelyintheworld，andIwassofondofyou！\"
Thewoman’sdelicacy，thewoman’stremblingtendernesswelledupfromherheart，andtouchedhervoicewithatoneofitsoldsweetnessasshemurmuredthosesimplewords。
Shesaidnomore。Herconfessionofherfault，herappealtotheirpastloveforpardon，werebothpouredforthinthatonesentence。Sheleftittohisownhearttotellhimtherest。Howanxiouslyhervigilantlovehadfollowedhiseverywordandtreasureduphiseveryopinioninthedayswhentheyfirstmet；
howweaklyandfalsely，andyetwithhowtrueanaffectionforhim，shehadshrunkfromthedisclosurewhichsheknewbuttoowellwouldhaveseparatedthemevenatthechurchdoor；howdesperatelyshehadfoughtagainstthecomingdiscoverywhichthreatenedtotearherfromthebosomsheclungto，andtocastheroutintotheworldwiththeshadowofherownshametodarkenherlifetotheend——allthisshelefthimtofeel；forthemomentwhichmightpartthemforeverwasthemomentwhensheknewbesthowtruly，howpassionatelyhehadlovedher。
Hislipstrembledashestoodlookingatherinsilence，andtheslow，burningtearsdroppedheavily，onebyone，downhischeeks。
Thenaturalhumanremembranceofthegoldendaysoftheircompanionship，ofthenightsandnightswhenthatdearhead——turnedawayfromhimnowinunutterablemiseryandshame——hadnestleditselfsofondlyandsohappilyonhisbreast，foughthardtosilencehisconscience，torootouthisdreadfulsenseofguilt，totearthewordsofJudgmentfromtheirruthlessholdonhismind，toclaimhiminthesweetnamesofPityandofLove。Ifshehadturnedandlookedathimatthatmoment，theirnextwordswouldhavebeenspokenineachother’sarms。Buttheoppressionofherdespairunderhissilencewastooheavyforher，andshenevermoved。
Heforcedhimselftolookawayfromher；hestruggledhardtobreakthesilencebetweenthem。
\"Godforgiveyou，Emily！\"hesaid。
Ashernamepassedhislips，hisvoicefailedhim，andthetortureathisheartburstitswayoutinsobs。Hehurriedtothedoortosparehertheterriblereproofofthegriefthathadnowmasteredhim。Whenhepassedhersheturnedtowardhimwithafaintcry。
Hecaughtherasshesankforward，andsavedherfromdroppingonthefloor。Forthelasttimehisarmsclosedroundher。Forthelasttimehislipstouchedhers——coldandinsensibletohimnow。
Helaidheronthesofaandwentout。
Oneofthefemaleservantswascrossingthehall。Thegirlstartedasshemethim，andturnedpaleatthesightofhisface。
Hecouldnotspeaktoher，buthepointedtothestudydoor。Hesawhergointotheroom，andthenleftthehouse。
Heneverentereditmore，andheandhiswifenevermetagain。
Lateronthatlastday，asisterofMr。Carling’s——amarriedwomanlivinginthetown——cametotherectory。Shebroughtanopennotewithher，addressedtotheunhappymistressofthehouse。Itcontainedthesefewlines，blottedandstainedwithtears：
MayGodgrantusboththetimeforrepentance！IfIhadlovedyouless，Imighthavetrustedmyselftoseeyouagain。Forgiveme，andpityme，andremembermeinyourprayers，asIshallforgive，andpity，andrememberyou。
Hehadtriedtowritemore，butthepenhaddroppedfromhishand。Hissister’sentreatieshadnotmovedhim。Aftergivingherthenotetodeliver，hehadsolemnlychargedhertobegentleincommunicatingthetidingsthatshebore，andhaddepartedaloneforLondon。Heheardallremonstranceswithpatience。Hedidnotdenythatthedeceptionofwhichhiswifehadbeenguiltywasthemostpardonableofallconcealmentsofthetruth，becauseitsprangfromherloveforhim；buthehadthesamehopelessanswerforeveryonewhotriedtopleadwithhim——theversefromtheGospelofSaintLuke。
HispurposeintravelingtoLondonwastomakethenecessaryarrangementsforhiswife’sfutureexistence，andthentogetemploymentwhichwouldseparatehimfromhishomeandfromallitsassociations。AmissionaryexpeditiontooneofthePacificIslandsacceptedhimasavolunteer。Brokeninbodyandspirit，hislastlookofEnglandfromthedeckoftheshipwashislastlookatland。Afortnightafterward，hisbrethrenreadtheburial—serviceoverhimonacalm，cloudlesseveningatsea。
Beforehewascommittedtothedeep，hislittlepocketBible，whichhadbeenapresentfromhiswife，was，inaccordancewithhisdyingwishes，placedopenonhisbreast，sothattheinscription，\"TomydearHusband，\"mightrestoverhisheart。
Hisunhappywifestilllives。Whenthefarewelllinesofherhusband’swritingreachedhershewasincapableofcomprehendingthem。Thementalprostrationwhichhadfollowedthepartingscenewassooncomplicatedbyphysicalsuffering——byfeveronthebrain。Tothesurpriseofallwhoattendedher，shelivedthroughtheshock，recoveringwiththecompletelossofonefaculty，which，inhersituation，poorthing，wasamercyandagaintoher——thefacultyofmemory。Fromthattimetothisshehasneverhadtheslightestgleamofrecollectionofanythingthathappenedbeforeherillness。Inherhappyoblivion，theveriesttriflesareasnewandasinterestingtoherasifshewasbeginningherexistenceagain。Underthetendercareofthefriendswhonowprotecther，shelivescontentedlythelifeofachild。Whenherlasthourcomes，mayshediewithnothingonhermemorybuttherecollectionoftheirkindness！
THEEIGHTHDAY。
THEwindthatIsawintheskyyesterdayhascome。Itsweepsdownourlittlevalleyinangryhowlinggusts，anddrivestheheavyshowersbeforeitingreatsheetsofspray。
Therearesomepeoplewhofindastrangelyexcitingeffectproducedontheirspiritsbythenoise，andrush，andtumultoftheelementsonastormyday。Ithasneverbeensowithme，anditislesssothanevernow。Icanhardlybeartothinkofmysonatseainsuchatempestasthis。WhileIcanstillgetnonewsofhisship，morbidfanciesbesetmewhichIvainlytrytoshakeoff。Iseethetreesthroughmywindowbendingbeforethewind。
Arethemastsofthegoodshipbendinglikethematthismoment？
Ihearthewashofthedrivingrain。Is_he_hearingthethunderoftheragingwaves？Ifhehadonlycomebacklastnight！——itisvaintodwellonit，butthethoughtwillhauntme——ifhehadonlycomebacklastnight！
ItriedtospeakcautiouslyabouthimagaintoJessie，asOwenhadadvisedme；butIamsooldandfeeblenowthatthisill—omenedstormhasupsetme，andIcouldnotfeelsureenoughofmyownself—controltoventureonmatchingmyselfto—dayagainstalight—hearted，livelygirl，withallherwitsabouther。ItissoimportantthatIshouldnotbetrayGeorge——itwouldbesoinexcusableonmypartifhisinterestssuffered，evenaccidentally，inmyhands。
Thiswasatryingdayforourguest。Herfewtriflingindoorresourceshad，asIcouldsee，beguntolosetheirattractionsforheratlast。Ifwewerenotnowgettingtotheendofthestories，andtotheend，therefore，oftheTenDaysalso，ourchanceofkeepinghermuchlongerattheGlenTowerwouldbeaverypoorone。
Itwas，Ithink，agreatreliefforusalltobesummonedtogetherthiseveningforadefinitepurpose。Thewindhadfallenalittleasitgotontowarddusk。Tohearitgrowinggraduallyfainterandfainterinthevalleybelowaddedimmeasurablytothecomfortinginfluenceoftheblazingfireandthecheerfullightswhentheshutterswereclosedforthenight。
Thenumberdrawnhappenedtobethelastoftheseries——Ten——andthelastalsoofthestorieswhichIhadwritten。Therewerenowbuttwonumbersleftinthebowl。OwenandMorganhadeachonereadingmoretoaccomplishbeforeourguest’sstaycametoanend，andthemanuscriptsinthePurpleVolumewereallexhausted。
\"Thisnewstoryofmine，\"Isaid，\"isnot，likethestoryIlastread，anarrativeofadventurehappeningtomyself，butofadventuresthathappenedtoaladyofmyacquaintance。Iwasbroughtintocontact，inthefirstinstance，withoneofhermalerelatives，and，inthesecondinstance，withtheladyherself，bycertainprofessionalcircumstanceswhichIneednotparticularlydescribe。Theyinvolvedadryquestionofwillsandtitle—deedsinnowayconnectedwiththisstory，butsufficientlyimportanttointerestmeasalawyer。ThecasecametotrialattheAssizesonmycircuit，andIwonitinthefaceofsomeverystrongpoints，verywellput，ontheotherside。Iwasinpoorhealthatthetime，andmyexertionssocompletelyknockedmeupthatIwasconfinedtobedinmylodgingsforaweekormore——\"
\"Andthegratefulladycameandnursedyou，Isuppose，\"saidtheQueenofHearts，inhersmart，off—handway。
\"Thegratefulladydidsomethingmuchmorenaturalinherposition，andmuchmoreusefulinmine，\"Ianswered——\"shesentherservanttoattendonme。Hewasanelderlyman，whohadbeeninherservicesincethetimeofherfirstmarriage，andhewasalsooneofthemostsensibleandwell—informedpersonswhomI
haveevermetwithinhisstationoflife。Fromhintswhichhedroppedwhilehewasatmybedside，Idiscoveredforthefirsttimethathismistresshadbeenunfortunateinhersecondmarriage，andthatthetroublesofthatperiodofherlifehadendedinoneofthemostsingulareventswhichhadhappenedinthatpartofEnglandformanyalongdaypast。Itishardlynecessarytosaythat，beforeIallowedthemantoenterintoanyparticulars，Istipulatedthatheshouldobtainhismistress’sleavetocommunicatewhatheknew。Havinggainedthis，andhavingfurthersurprisedmebymentioningthathehadbeenhimselfconnectedwithallthecircumstances，hetoldmethewholestoryinthefullestdetail。IhavenowtriedtoreproduceitasnearlyasIcouldinhisownlanguage。Imagine，therefore，thatIamjustlanguidlyrecoveringinbed，andthatarespectableelderlyman，inquietblackcostume，issittingatmypillowandspeakingtomeintheseterms——\"
Thusendingmylittlepreface，Iopenedthemanuscriptandbeganmylaststory。
BROTHERGRIFFITH’SSTORY
ofAPLOTINPRIVATELIFE。
CHAPTERI。
THEfirstplaceIgotwhenIbegangoingouttoservicewasnotaveryprofitableone。Icertainlygainedtheadvantageoflearningmybusinessthoroughly，butIneverhadmydueinthematterofwages。Mymasterwasmadeabankrupt，andhisservantssufferedwiththerestofhiscreditorsMysecondsituation，however，amplycompensatedmeformywantofluckinthefirst。IhadthegoodfortunetoentertheserviceofMr。andMrs。Norcross。Mymasterwasaveryrichgentleman。HehadtheDarrockhouseandlandsinCumberland，anestatealsoinYorkshire，andaverylargepropertyinJamaica，whichproduced，atthattimeandforsomeyearsafterward，agreatincome。OutintheWestIndieshemetwithaprettyyounglady，agovernessinanEnglishfamily，and，takingaviolentfancytoher，marriedher，thoughshewasagoodfive—and—twentyyearsyoungerthanhimself。AftertheweddingtheycametoEngland，anditwasatthistimethatIwasluckyenoughtobeengagedbythemasaservant。