Ifyouhaveeverbeendisposedtoregrethisabsencedosonolonger。Hopeandpray，rather，thatyouandhemaynevermeetfacetofaceagaininthisworld。Iwriteingreathasteandingreatfearofbeingobserved。TimefailsmetoprepareyouasyououghttobepreparedforwhatIhavenowtodisclose。Imusttellyouplainly，withmuchrespectforyouandsorrowforyourmisfortune，thatyourhusband_hasmarriedanotherwife_。Isawtheceremonyperformed，unknowntohim。IfIcouldnothavespokenofthisinfamousactasaneye—witness，Iwouldnothavespokenofitatall。
\"IdarenotacknowledgewhoIam，forIbelieveMr。JamesSmithwouldstickatnocrimetorevengehimselfonmeifheevercametoaknowledgeofthestepIamnowtaking，andofthemeansbywhichIgotmyinformation；neitherhaveItimetoenterintoparticulars。Isimplywarnyouofwhathashappened，andleaveyoutoactonthatwarningasyouplease。Youmaydisbelievethisletter，becauseitisnotsignedbyanyname。Inthatcase，ifMr。JamesSmithshouldeverventureintoyourpresence，I
recommendyoutoaskhimsuddenlywhathehasdonewithhis_newwife，_andtoseeifhiscountenancedoesnotimmediatelytestifythatthetruthhasbeenspokenby\"YOURUNKNOWNFRIEND。\"
Poorasmyopinionwasofmymaster，Ihadneverbelievedhimtobecapableofsuchvillainyasthis，andIcouldnotbelieveitwhenthelawyerhaddonereadingtheletter。
\"Oh，sir，\"Isaid，\"surelythatissomebaseimposition？Surelyitcannotbetrue？\"
\"ThatiswhatIhavetoldyourmistress，\"heanswered。\"Butshesaysinreturn——\"
\"ThatIfeelittobetrue，\"mymistressbrokein，speakingbehindthehandkerchiefinafaint，smotheredvoice。
\"Weneednotdebatethequestion，\"thelawyerwenton。\"Ourbusinessnowistoprovethetruthorfalsehoodofthisletter。
Thatmustbedoneatonce。Ihavewrittentooneofmyclerks，whoisaccustomedtoconductingdelicateinvestigations，tocometothishousewithoutlossoftime。Heistobetrustedwithanything，andhewillpursuetheneedfulinquiriesimmediately。
Itisabsolutelynecessary，tomakesureofcommittingnomistakes，thatheshouldbeaccompaniedbysomeonewhoiswellacquaintedwithMr。JamesSmith’shabitsandpersonalappearance，andyourmistresshasfixeduponyoutobethatperson。Howeverwelltheinquiryismanaged，itmaybeattendedbymuchtroubleanddelay，maynecessitatealongjourney，andmayinvolvesomepersonaldanger。Areyou，\"saidthelawyer，lookinghardatme，\"readytosufferanyinconvenienceandtorunanyriskforyourmistress’ssake？\"
\"ThereisnothingI_can_do，sir，\"saidI，\"thatIwillnotdo。
IamafraidIamnotcleverenoughtobeofmuchuse；but，sofarastroublesandrisksareconcerned，Iamreadyforanythingfromthismoment。\"
Mymistresstookthehandkerchieffromherface，lookedatmewithhereyesfulloftears，andheldoutherhand。HowIcametodoitIdon’tknow，butIstoopeddownandkissedthehandsheofferedme，feelinghalfstartled，halfashamedatmyownboldnessthemomentafter。
\"Youwilldo，myman，\"saidthelawyer，noddinghishead。\"Don’ttroubleyourselfabouttheclevernessorthecunningthatmaybewanted。Myclerkhasgotheadenoughfortwo。Ihaveonlyonewordmoretosaybeforeyougodownstairsagain。Rememberthatthisinvestigationandthecausethatleadstoitmustbekeptaprofoundsecret。Exceptusthree，andtheclergymanhere（towhomyourmistresshaswrittenwordofwhathashappened），nobodyknowsanythingaboutit。Iwillletmyclerkintothesecretwhenhejoinsus。Assoonasyouandheareawayfromthehouse，youmaytalkaboutit。Untilthen，youwillcloseyourlipsonthesubject。\"
Theclerkdidnotkeepuslongwaiting。HecameasfastasthemailfromLondoncouldbringhim。
Ihadexpected，fromhismaster’sdescription，toseeaserious，sedateman，ratherslyinhislooks，andratherreservedinhismanner。Tomyamazement，thispracticedhandatdelicateinvestigationswasabrisk，plump，jollylittleman，withacomfortabledoublechin，apairofverybrightblackeyes，andabigbottle—noseofthetruegroggyredcolor。Heworeasuitofblack，andalimp，dingywhitecravat；tooksnuffperpetuallyoutofaverylargebox；walkedwithhishandscrossedbehindhisback；andlooked，uponthewhole，muchmorelikeaparsonoffree—and—easyhabitsthanalawyer’sclerk。
\"Howd’yedo？\"sayshe，whenIopenedthedoortohim。\"I’mthemanyouexpectfromtheofficeinLondon。JustsayMr。Dark，willyou？I’llsitdownheretillyoucomeback；and，youngman，ifthereissuchathingasaglassofaleinthehouse，Idon’tmindcommittingmyselfsofarastosaythatI’lldrinkit。\"
IgothimthealebeforeIannouncedhim。Hewinkedatmeasheputittohislips。
\"Yourgoodhealth，\"sayshe。\"Ilikeyou。Don’tforgetthatthename’sDark；andjustleavethejugandglass，willyou，incasemymasterkeepsmewaiting。\"
Iannouncedhimatonce，andwastoldtoshowhimintothelibrary。
WhenIgotbacktothehallthejugwasempty，andMr。Darkwascomfortinghimselfwithapinchofsnuff，snortingoveritlikeaperfectgrampus。Hehadswallowedmorethanapintofthestrongestoldaleinthehouse；and，foralltheeffectitseemedtohavehadonhim，hemightjustaswellhavebeendrinkingsomuchwater。
AsIledhimalongthepassagetothelibraryJosephinepassedus。Mr。Darkwinkedatmeagain，andmadeheralowbow。
\"Lady’smaid，\"Iheardhimwhispertohimself。\"Afinewomantolookat，butadamnedbadonetodealwith。\"Iturnedroundonhim，ratherangryathiscoolways，andlookedhardathimjustbeforeIopenedthelibrarydoor。Mr。Darklookedhardatme。
\"Allright，\"sayshe。\"Icanshowmyselfin。\"Andheknocksatthedoor，andopensit，andgoesinwithanotherwickedwink，allinamoment。
Halfanhourlaterthebellrangforme。Mr。Darkwassittingbetweenmymistress（whowaslookingathiminamazement）andthelawyer（whowaslookingathimwithapproval）。Hehadamapopenonhisknee，andapeninhishand。Judgingbyhisface，thecommunicationofthesecretaboutmymasterdidnotseemtohavemadethesmallestimpressiononhim。
\"I’vegotleavetoaskyouaquestion，\"sayshe，themomentI
appeared。\"Whenyoufoundyourmaster’syachtgone，didyouhearwhichwayshehadsailed？WasitnorthwardtowardScotland？Speakup，youngman，speakup！\"
\"Yes，\"Ianswered。\"TheboatmentoldmethatwhenImadeinquiriesattheharbor。\"
\"Well，sir，\"saysMr。Dark，turningtothelawyer，\"ifhesaidhewasgoingtoSweden，heseemstohavestartedontheroadtoit，atallevents。IthinkIhavegotmyinstructionsnow？\"
Thelawyernodded，andlookedatmymistress，whobowedherheadtohim。Hethensaid，turningtome：
\"Packupyourbagfortravelingatonce，andhaveaconveyancegotreadytogotothenearestpost—town。Looksharp，youngman——looksharp！\"
\"And，whateverhappensinthefuture，\"addedmymistress，herkindvoicetremblingalittle，\"believe，William，thatIshallneverforgettheproofyounowshowofyourdevotiontome。ItisstillsomecomforttoknowthatIhaveyourfidelitytodependoninthisdreadfultrial——yourfidelityandtheextraordinaryintelligenceandexperienceofMr。Dark。\"
Mr。Darkdidnotseemtohearthecompliment。Hewasbusywriting，withhispaperuponthemaponhisknee。
Aquarterofanhourlater，whenIhadorderedthedog—cart，andhadgotdownintothehallwithmybagpacked，Ifoundhimtherewaitingforme。Hewassittinginthesamechairwhichhehadoccupiedwhenhefirstarrived，andhehadanotherjugoftheoldaleonthetablebyhisside。
\"Gotanyfishing—rodsinthehouse？\"sayshe，whenIputmybagdowninthehall。
\"Yes，\"Ireplied，astonishedatthequestion。\"Whatdoyouwantwiththem？\"
\"Packacoupleincasesfortraveling，\"saysMr。Dark，\"withlines，andhooks，andfly—booksallcomplete。Haveadropofthealebeforeyougo——anddon’tstare，William，don’tstare。I’llletthelightinonyouassoonasweareoutofthehouse。Offwithyoufortherods！Iwanttobeontheroadinfiveminutes。\"
WhenIcamebackwiththerodsandtackleIfoundMr。Darkinthedog—cart。
\"Money，luggage，fishing—rods，papersofdirections，copyofanonymousletter，guide—book，map，\"sayshe，runningoverinhismindthethingswantedforthejourney——\"allrightsofar。Driveoff。\"
Itookthereinsandstartedthehorse。AsweleftthehouseI
sawmymistressandJosephinelookingafterusfromtwoofthewindowsonthesecondfloor。Thememoryofthosetwoattentivefaces——onesofairandsogood，theothersoyellowandsowicked——hauntedmymindperpetuallyformanydaysafterward。
\"Now，William，\"saysMr。Dark，whenwewereclearofthelodgegates，\"I’mgoingtobeginbytellingyouthatyoumuststepoutofyourowncharactertillfurthernotice。Youareaclerkinabank，andI’manother。Wehavegotourregularholiday，thatcomes，likeChristmas，onceayear，andwearetakingalittletourinScotlandtoseethecuriosities，andtobreathetheseaair，andtogetsomefishingwheneverwecan。I’mthefatcashierwhodigsholesinadrawerfulofgoldwithacoppershovel，andyou’rethearithmeticalyoungmanwhositsonaperchbehindmeandkeepsthebooks。Scotland’sabeautifulcountry，William。Canyoumakewhisky—toddy？Ican；and，what’smore，unlikelyasthethingmayseemtoyou，Icanactuallydrinkitintothebargain。\"
\"Scotland！\"saysI。\"WhatarewegoingtoScotlandfor？\"
\"Questionforquestion，\"saysMr。Dark。\"Whatarewestartingonajourneyfor？\"
\"Tofindmymaster，\"Ianswered，\"andtomakesureiftheletterabouthimistrue。\"
\"Verygood，\"sayshe。\"Howwouldyousetaboutdoingthat，eh？\"
\"IshouldgoandaskabouthimatStockholminSweden，wherehesaidhislettersweretobesent。\"
\"Shouldyou，indeed？\"saysMr。Dark。\"Ifyouwereashepherd，William，andhadlostasheepinCumberland，wouldyoubeginlookingforitattheLand’sEnd，orwouldyoutryalittlenearerhome？\"
\"You’reattemptingtomakeafoolofmenow，\"saysI。
\"No，\"saysMr。Dark，\"I’monlylettingthelightinonyou，asI
saidIwould。Nowlistentoreason，William，andprofitbyitasmuchasyoucan。Mr。JamesSmithsaysheisgoingonacruisetoSweden，andmakeshiswordgood，atthebeginning，bystartingnorthwardtowardthecoastofScotland。Whatdoeshegoin？A
yacht。Doyachtscarrylivebeastsandabutcheronboard？No。
WilljointsofmeatkeepfreshallthewayfromCumberlandtoSweden？No。Dogentlemenlikelivingonsaltprovisions？No。WhatfollowsfromthesethreeNoes？ThatMr。JamesSmithmusthavestoppedsomewhereonthewaytoSwedentosupplyhissea—larderwithfreshprovisions。Where，inthatcase，musthestop？
SomewhereinScotland，supposinghedidn’talterhiscoursewhenhewasoutofsightofyourseaport。WhereinScotland？Northwardonthemainland，orwestwardatoneoftheislands？Mostlikelyonthemainland，wheretheseasideplacesarelargest，andwhereheissureofgettingallthestoreshewants。Next，whatisourbusiness？Nottorisklosingalinkinthechainofevidencebymissinganyplacewherehehasputhisfootonshore。Nottoovershootthemarkwhenwewanttohititinthebull’s—eye。NottowastemoneyandtimebytakingalongtriptoSwedentillweknowthatwemustabsolutelygothere。Whereisourjourneyofdiscoverytotakeustofirst，then？ClearlytothenorthofScotland。Whatdoyousaytothat，Mr。William？Ismycatechismallcorrect，orhasyourstrongalemuddledmyhead？\"
Itwasevidentbythistimethatnoalecoulddothat，andItoldhimso。Hechuckled，winkedatme，and，takinganotherpinchofsnuff，saidhewouldnowturnthewholecaseoverinhismindagain，andmakesurethathehadgotallthebearingsofitquiteclear。
Bythetimewereachedthepost—townhehadaccomplishedthismentalefforttohisownperfectsatisfaction，andwasquitereadytocomparethealeattheinnwiththealeatDarrockHall。
Thedog—cartwaslefttobetakenbackthenextmorningbythehostler。Apost—chaiseandhorseswereorderedout。Aloafofbread，aBolognasausage，andtwobottlesofsherrywereputintothepocketsofthecarriage；wetookourseats，andstartedbrisklyonourdoubtfuljourney。
\"Onewordmoreoffriendlyadvice，\"saysMr。Dark，settlinghimselfcomfortablyinhiscornerofthecarriage。\"Takeyoursleep，William，wheneveryoufeelthatyoucangetit。Youwon’tfindyourselfinbedagaintillwegettoGlasgow。\"
CHAPTERIII。
ALTHOUGHtheeventsthatIamnowrelatinghappenedmanyyearsago，Ishallstill，forcaution’ssake，avoidmentioningbynamethevariousplacesvisitedbyMr。Darkandmyselfforthepurposeofmakinginquiries。ItwillbeenoughifIdescribegenerallywhatwedid，andifImentioninsubstanceonlytheresultatwhichweultimatelyarrived。
OnreachingGlasgow，Mr。Darkturnedthewholecaseoverinhismindoncemore。TheresultwasthathealteredhisoriginalintentionofgoingstraighttothenorthofScotland，consideringitsafertomakesure，ifpossible，ofthecoursetheyachthadtakeninhercruisealongthewesterncoast。
Thecarryingoutofthisnewresolutioninvolvedthenecessityofdelayingouronwardjourneybyperpetuallydivergingfromthedirectroad。ThreetimesweweresentuselesslytowildplacesintheHebridesbyfalsereports。Twicewewanderedawayinland，followinggentlemenwhoansweredgenerallytothedescriptionofMr。JamesSmith，butwhoturnedouttobethewrongmenassoonasweseteyesonthem。Thesevainexcursions——especiallythethreetothewesternislands——consumedtimeterribly。ItwasmorethantwomonthsfromthedaywhenwehadleftDarrockHallbeforewefoundourselvesupattheverytopofScotlandatlast，drivingintoaconsiderablesea—sidetown，withaharborattachedtoit。Thusfarourjourneyhadledtonoresults，andIbegantodespairofsuccess。AsforMr。Dark，henevergottotheendofhissweettemperandhiswonderfulpatience。
\"Youdon’tknowhowtowait，William，\"washisconstantremarkwheneverheheardmecomplaining。\"Ido。\"
Wedroveintothetowntowardeveninginamodestlittlegig，andputup，accordingtoourusualcustom，atoneoftheinferiorinns。
\"Wemustbeginatthebottom，\"Mr。Darkusedtosay。\"Highcompanyinacoffee—roomwon’tbefamiliarwithus；lowcompanyinatap—roomwill。\"Andhecertainlyprovedthetruthofhisownwords。ThelikeofhimformakingintimatefriendsoftotalstrangersattheshortestnoticeIhavenevermetwithbeforeorsince。CautiousastheScotchare，Mr。Darkseemedtohavetheknackoftwistingthemroundhisfingerashepleased。Hevariedhiswayartfullywithdifferentmen，buttherewerethreestandingopinionsofhiswhichhemadeapointofexpressinginallvarietiesofcompanywhilewewereinScotland。Inthefirstplace，hethoughttheviewofEdinburghfromArthur’sSeatthefinestintheworld。Inthesecondplace，heconsideredwhiskytobethemostwholesomespiritintheworld。Inthethirdplace，hebelievedhislatebelovedmothertobethebestwomanintheworld。Itmaybeworthyofnotethat，wheneverheexpressedthislastopinioninScotland，heinvariablyaddedthathermaidennamewasMacleod。
Well，weputupatamodestlittleinnneartheharbor。Iwasdeadtiredwiththejourney，andlaydownonmybedtogetsomerest。Mr。Dark，whomnothingeverfatigued，leftmetotakehistoddyandpipeamongthecompanyinthetaproom。
Idon’tknowhowlongIhadbeenasleepwhenIwasrousedbyashakeonmyshoulder。Theroomwaspitchdark，andIfeltahandsuddenlyclappedovermymouth。Thenastrongsmellofwhiskyandtobaccosalutedmynostrils，andawhisperstoleintomyear——
\"William，wehavegottotheendofourjourney。\"
\"Mr。Dark，\"Istammeredout，\"isthatyou？What，inHeaven’sname，doyoumean？\"
\"Theyachtputinhere，\"wastheanswer，stillinawhisper，\"andyourblackguardofamastercameashore——\"
\"Oh，Mr。Dark，\"Ibrokein，\"don’ttellmethattheletteristrue！\"
\"Everywordofit，\"sayshe。\"Hewasmarriedhere，andwasoffagaintotheMediterraneanwithNumberTwoagoodthreeweeksbeforeweleftyourmistress’shouse。Hush！don’tsayaword，Gotosleepagain，orstrikealight，ifyoulikeitbetter。Doanythingbutcomedownstairswithme。I’mgoingtofindoutalltheparticularswithoutseemingtowanttoknowoneofthem。
Yoursisaverygood—lookingface，William，butit’ssoinfernallyhonestthatIcan’ttrustitinthetap—room。I’mmakingfriendswiththeScotchmenalready。TheyknowmyopinionofArthur’sSeat；they_see_whatIthinkofwhisky；andIratherthinkitwon’tbelongbeforetheyhearthatmymother’smaidennamewasMacleod。\"
Withthosewordsheslippedoutoftheroom，andleftme，ashehadfoundme，inthedark。
IwasfartoomuchagitatedbywhatIhadheardtothinkofgoingtosleepagain，soIstruckalight，andtriedtoamusemyselfaswellasIcouldwithanoldnewspaperthathadbeenstuffedintomycarpetbag。Itwasthennearlyteno’clock。Twohourslater，whenthehouseshutup，Mr。Darkcamebacktomeagaininhighspirits。
\"Ihavegotthewholecasehere，\"sayshe，tappinghisforehead——\"thewholecase，asneatandcleanasifitwasdrawninabrief。Thatmasterofyoursdoesn’tstickatatrifle，William。It’smyopinionthatyourmistressandyouhavenotseenthelastofhimyet。\"
Weweresleepingthatnightinadouble—beddedroom。AssoonasMr。Darkhadsecuredthedooranddisposedhimselfcomfortablyinhisbed，heenteredonadetailednarrativeoftheparticularscommunicatedtohiminthetap—room。Thesubstanceofwhathetoldmemayberelatedasfollows：
TheyachthadhadawonderfulrunallthewaytoCapeWrath。Onroundingthatheadlandshehadmetthewindnearlydeadagainsther，andhadbeateneveryinchofthewaytothesea—porttown，whereshehadputintogetasupplyofprovisions，andtowaitforachangeinthewind。
Mr。JamesSmithhadgoneashoretolookabouthim，andtoseewhethertheprincipalhotelwasthesortofhouseatwhichhewouldliketostopforafewdays。Inthecourseofhiswanderingaboutthetown，hisattentionhadbeenattractedtoadecenthouse，wherelodgingsweretobelet，bythesightofaveryprettygirlsittingatworkattheparlorwindow。Hewassostruckbyherfacethathecamebacktwicetolookatit，determining，thesecondtime，totryifhecouldnotmakeacquaintancewithherbyaskingtoseethelodgings。Hewasshowntheroomsbythegirl’smother，averyrespectablewoman，whomhediscoveredtobethewifeofthemasterandpartownerofasmallcoastingvessel，thenawayatsea。Withalittlemaneuveringhemanagedtogetintotheparlorwherethedaughterwasatwork，andtoexchangeafewwordswithher。Hervoiceandmannercompletedtheattractionofherface。Mr。JamesSmithdecided，inhisheadlongway，thathewasviolentlyinlovewithher，and，withouthesitatinganotherinstant，hetookthelodgingsonthespotforamonthcertain。
Itisunnecessarytosaythathisdesignsonthegirlwereofthemostdisgracefulkind，andthatherepresentedhimselftothemotheranddaughterasasingleman。Helpedbyhisadvantagesofmoney，position，andpersonalappearance，hehadmadesurethattheruinofthegirlmightbeeffectedwithverylittledifficulty；buthesoonfoundthathehadundertakennoeasyconquest。
Themother’swatchfulnessneverslept，andthedaughter’spresenceofmindneverfailedher。SheadmiredMr。JamesSmith’stallfigureandsplendidwhiskers；sheshowedthemostencouragingpartialityforhissociety；shesmiledathiscompliments，andblushedwheneverhelookedather；but，whetheritwascunningorwhetheritwasinnocence，sheseemedincapableofunderstandingthathisadvancestowardherwereofanyotherthananhonorablekind。Attheslightestapproachtounduefamiliarity，shedrewbackwithakindofcontemptuoussurpriseinherface，whichutterlyperplexedMr。JamesSmith。Hehadnotcalculatedonthatsortofresistance，andhecouldnotseehiswaytoovercomingit。Theweekspassed；themonthforwhichhehadtakenthelodgingsexpired。Timehadstrengthenedthegirl’sholdonhimtillhisadmirationforheramountedtodownrightinfatuation，andhehadnotadvancedonestepyettowardthefulfillmentoftheviciouspurposewithwhichhehadenteredthehouse。
Atthistimehemusthavemadesomefreshattemptonthegirl’svirtue，whichproduced：acoolnessbetweenthem；for，insteadoftakingthelodgingsforanotherterm，heremovedtohisyacht，intheharbor，andsleptonboardfortwonights。
Thewindwasnowfair，andthestoreswereonboard，buthegavenoorderstothesailing—mastertoweighanchor。Onthethirdday，thecauseofthecoolness，whateveritwas，appearstohavebeenremoved，andhereturnedtohislodgingsonshore。Someofthemoreinquisitiveamongthetownspeopleobservedsoonafterward，whentheymethiminthestreet，thathelookedratheranxiousanduneasy。Theconclusionhadprobablyforceditselfuponhismind，bythistime，thathemustdecideonpursuingoneoftwocourses：eitherhemustresolvetomakethesacrificeofleavingthegirlaltogether，orhemustcommitthevillainyofmarryingher。
Scoundrelashewas，hehesitatedatencounteringtherisk——perhaps，also，atbeingguiltyofthecrime——involvedinthislastalternative。Whilehewasstillindoubt，thefather’scoastingvesselsailedintotheharbor，andthefather’spresenceonthescenedecidedhimatlast。Howthisnewinfluenceacteditwasimpossibletofindoutfromtheimperfectevidenceofpersonswhowerenotadmittedtothefamilycouncils。Thefact，however，wascertainthatthedateofthefather’sreturnandthedateofMr。JamesSmith’sfirstwickedresolutiontomarrythegirlmightbothbefixed，asnearlyaspossible，atoneandthesametime。
Havingoncemadeuphismindtothecommissionofthecrime，heproceededwithallpossiblecoolnessandcunningtoprovideagainstthechancesofdetection。
ReturningonboardhisyachtheannouncedthathehadgivenuphisintentionofcruisingtoSwedenandthatheintendedtoamusehimselfbyalongfishingtourinScotland。Afterthisexplanation，heorderedthevesseltobelaidupintheharbor，gavethesailing—masterleaveofabsencetoreturntohisfamilyatCowes，andpaidoffthewholeofthecrewfromthematetothecabin—boy。Bythesemeansheclearedthescene，atoneblow，oftheonlypeopleinthetownwhoknewoftheexistenceofhisunhappywife。Afterthatthenewsofhisapproachingmarriagemightbemadepublicwithoutriskofdiscovery，hisowncommonnamebeingofitselfasufficientprotectionincasetheeventwasmentionedintheScotchnewspapers。Allhisfriends，evenhiswifeherself，mightreadareportofthemarriageofMr。JamesSmithwithouthavingtheslightestsuspicionofwhothebridegroomreallywas。
Afortnightafterthepayingoffofthecrewhewasmarriedtothemerchant—captain’sdaughter。Thefatherofthegirlwaswellknownamonghisfellow—townsmenasaselfish，graspingman，whowastooanxioustosecurearichson—in—lawtoobjecttoanyproposalsforhasteningthemarriage。Heandhiswife，andafewintimaterelationshadbeenpresentattheceremony；andafterithadbeenperformedthenewly—marriedcoupleleftthetownatonceforahoneymoontriptotheHighlandlakes。
Twodayslater，however，theyunexpectedlyreturned，announcingacompletechangeintheirplans。Thebridegroom（thinking，probably，thathewouldbesaferoutofEnglandthaninit）hadbeenpleasingthebride’sfancybyhisdescriptionsoftheclimateandthesceneryofsouthernparts。ThenewMrs。JamesSmithwasallcurositytoseeSpainandItaly；and，havingoftenprovedherselfanexcellentsailoronboardherfather’svessel，wasanxioustogototheMediterraneanintheeasiestwaybysea。
Heraffectionatehusband，havingnownootherobjectinlifethantogratifyherwishes，hadgivenuptheHighlandexcursion，andhadreturnedtohavehisyachtgotreadyforseaimmediately。Inthisexplanationtherewasnothingtoawakenthesuspicionsofthelady’sparents。ThemotherthoughtMr。JamesSmithamodelamongbridegrooms。Thefatherlenthisassistancetomantheyachtattheshortestnoticewithassmartacrewascouldbepickedupaboutthetown。Principallythroughhisexertions，thevesselwasgotreadyforseawithextraordinarydispatch。Thesailswerebent，theprovisionswereputonboard，andMr。JamesSmithsailedfortheMediterraneanwiththeunfortunatewomanwhobelievedherselftobehiswife，beforeMr。DarkandmyselfsetforthtolookafterhimfromDarrockHall。