HalfanhourlaterIwasbackatthehouse，andwasinformingMissHalcombeofallthathadhappened。
　　Shelistenedtomefrombeginningtoendwithasteady，silentattention，which，inawomanofhertemperamentanddisposition，wasthestrongestproofthatcouldbeofferedoftheseriousmannerinwhichmynarrativeaffectedher。
　　`Mymindmisgivesme，’wasallshesaidwhenIhaddone。`Mymindmisgivesmesadlyaboutthefuture。’
　　`Thefuturemaydepend，’Isuggested，`ontheusewemakeofthepresent。ItisnotimprobablethatAnneCatherickmayspeakmorereadilyandunreservedlytoawomanthanshehasspokentome。IfMissFairlie。’
　　`Nottobethoughtofforamoment，’interposedMissHalcombe，inhermostdecidedmanner。
　　`Letmesuggest，then，’Icontinued，`thatyoushouldseeAnneCatherickyourself，anddoallyoucantowinherconfidence。Formyownpart，Ishrinkfromtheideaofalarmingthepoorcreatureasecondtime，asIhavemostunhappilyalarmedheralready。Doyouseeanyobjectiontoaccompanyingmetothefarmhousetomorrow？’
　　`Nonewhatever。IwillgoanywhereanddoanythingtoserveLaura’sinterests。Whatdidyousaytheplacewascalled？’
　　`Youmustknowitwell。ItiscalledTodd’sCorner。’
　　`Certainly。Todd’sCornerisoneofMrFairlie’sfarms。Ourdairymaidhereisthefarmer’sseconddaughter。Shegoesbackwardsandforwardsconstantlybetweenthishouseandherfather’sfarm，andshemayhaveheardorseensomethingwhichitmaybeusefultoustoknow。ShallIascertain，atonce，ifthegirlisdownstairs？’
　　Sherangthebell，andsenttheservantwithhismessage。Hereturned，andannouncedthatthedairymaidwasthenatthefarm。Shehadnotbeenthereforthelastthreedays，andthehousekeeperhadgivenherleavetogohomeforanhourortwothatevening。
　　`Icanspeaktohertomorrow，’saidMissHalcombe，whentheservanthadlefttheroomagain。`Inthemeantime，letmethoroughlyunderstandtheobjecttobegainedbymyinterviewwithAnneCatherick。IstherenodoubtinyourmindthatthepersonwhoconfinedherintheAsylumwasSirPercivalGlyde？’
　　`Thereisnottheshadowofadoubt。Theonlymysterythatremainsisthemysteryofhismotive。Lookingtothegreatdifferencebetweenhisstationinlifeandhers，whichseemstoprecludeallideaofthemostdistantrelationshipbetweenthem，itisofthelastimportance——evenassumingthatshereallyrequiredtobeplacedunderrestraint——toknowwhyheshouldhavebeenthepersontoassumetheseriousresponsibilityofshuttingherup——’
　　`InaprivateAsylum，Ithinkyousaid？’
　　`Yes，inaprivateAsylum，whereasunofmoney，whichnopoorpersoncouldaffordtogive，musthavebeenpaidforhermaintenanceasapatient。’
　　`Iseewherethedoubtlies，MrHartright，andIpromiseyouthatitshallbesetatrest，whetherAnneCatherickassistsustomorrowornot。SirPercivalGlydeshallnotbelonginthishousewithoutsatisfyingMrGilmore，andsatisfyingme。Mysister’sfutureismydearestcareinlife，andIhaveinfluenceenoughoverhertogivemesomepower，wherehermarriageisconcerned，inthedisposalofit。’
　　Wepartedforthenight。
　　Afterbreakfastthenextmorning，anobstacle，whichtheeventsoftheeveningbeforehadputoutofmymemory，interposedtopreventourproceedingimmediatelytothefarm。ThiswasmylastdayatLimmeridgeHouse，anditwasnecessary，assoonasthepostcamein，tofollowMissHalcombe’sadvice，andtoaskMrFairlie’spermissiontoshortenmyengagementbyamonth，inconsiderationofanunforeseennecessityformyreturntoLondon。
　　Fortunatelyfortheprobabilityofthisexcuse，sofarasappearanceswereconcerned，thepostbroughtmetwolettersfromLondonfriendsthatmorning。Itookthemawayatoncetomyownroom，andsenttheservantwithamessagetoMrFairlie，requestingtoknowwhenIcouldseehimonamatterofbusiness。
　　Iawaitedtheman’sreturn，freefromtheslightestfeelingofanxietyaboutthemannerinwhichhismastermightreceivemyapplication。WithMrFairlie’sleaveorwithoutit，Imustgo。TheconsciousnessofhavingnowtakenthefirststeponthedrearyjourneywhichwashenceforthtoseparatemylifefromMissFairlie’sseemedtohavebluntedmysensibilitytoeveryconsiderationconnectedwithmyself。Ihaddonewithmypoorman’stouchypride——Ihaddonewithallmylittleartistvanities。NoinsolenceofMrFairlie’s，ifhechosetobeinsolent，couldwoundmenow。
　　TheservantreturnedwithamessageforwhichIwasnotunprepared。MrFairlieregrettedthatthestateofhishealth，onthatparticularmorning，wassuchastoprecludeallhopeofhishavingthepleasureofreceivingme。Hebegged，therefore，thatIwouldaccepthisapologies，andkindlycommunicatewhatIhadtosayintheformofaletter。Similarmessagestothishadreachedme，atvariousintervals，duringmythreemonths’residenceinthehouse。ThroughoutthewholeofthatperiodMrFairliehadbeenrejoicedto`possess’me，buthadneverbeenwellenoughtoseemeforasecondtime。TheservanttookeveryfreshbatchofdrawingsthatImountedandrestoredbacktohismasterwithmy`respects，’andreturnedempty-handedwithMrFairlie’s`kindcompliments，’`bestthanks，’and`sincereregrets’thatthestateofhishealthstillobligedhimtoremainasolitaryprisonerinhisownroom。Amoresatisfactoryarrangementtobothsidescouldnotpossiblyhavebeenadopted。Itwouldbehardtosaywhichofus，underthecircumstances，feltthemostgratefulsenseofobligationtoMrFairlie’saccommodatingnerves。
　　Isatdownatoncetowritetheletter，expressingmyselfinitascivilly，asclearly，andasbrieflyaspossible。MrFairliedidnothurryhisreply。Nearlyanhourelapsedbeforetheanswerwasplacedinmyhands。Itwaswrittenwithbeautifulregularityandneatnessofcharacter，inviolet-colouredink，onnote-paperassmoothasivoryandalmostasthickascardboard，anditaddressedmeintheseterms——
　　`MrFairlie’scomplimentstoMrHartright。MrFairlieismoresurprisedanddisappointedthanhecansayinthepresentstateofhishealthbyMrHartright’sapplication。MrFairlieisnotamanofbusiness，buthehasconsultedhissteward，whois，andthatpersonconfirmsMrFairlie’sopinionthatMrHartright’srequesttobeallowedtobreakhisengagementcannotbejustifiedbyanynecessitywhatever，exceptingperhapsacaseoflifeanddeath。Ifthehighly-appreciativefeelingtowardsArtanditsprofessors，whichitistheconsolationandhappinessofMrFairlie’ssufferingexistencetocultivate，couldbeeasilyshaken，MrHartright’spresentproceedingwouldhaveshakenit。Ithasnotdoneso——exceptintheinstanceofMrHartrighthimself。
　　`Havingstatedhisopinion——sofar，thatistosay，asacutenervoussufferingwillallowhimtostateanything——MrFairliehasnothingtoaddbuttheexpressionofhisdecision，inreferencetothehighlyirregularapplicationthathasbeenmadetohim。Perfectreposeofbodyandmindbeingtothelastdegreeimportantinhiscase，MrFairliewillnotsufferMrHartrighttodisturbthatreposebyremaininginthehouseundercircumstancesofanessentiallyirritatingnaturetobothsides。Accordingly，MrFairliewaiveshisrightofrefusal，purelywithaviewtothepreservationofhisowntranquillity——andinformsMrHartrightthathemaygo。’
　　Ifoldedtheletterup，andputitawaywithmyotherpapers。ThetimehadbeenwhenIshouldhaveresenteditasaninsult——Iaccepteditnowasawrittenreleasefrommyengagement。Itwasoffmymind，itwasalmostoutofmymemory，whenIwentdownstairstothebreakfast-room，andinformedMissHalcombethatIwasreadytowalkwithhertothefarm。
　　`HasMrFairliegivenyouasatisfactoryanswer？’sheaskedasweleftthehouse。
　　`Hehasallowedmetogo，MissHalcombe。’
　　Shelookedupatmequickly，andthen，forthefirsttimesinceIhadknownher，tookmyarmofherownaccord。Nowordscouldhaveexpressedsodelicatelythatsheunderstoodhowthepermissiontoleavemyemploymenthadbeengranted，andthatshegavemehersympathy，notasmysuperior，butasmyfriend。Ihadnotfelttheman’sinsolentletter，butIfeltdeeplythewoman’satoningkindness。
　　OnourwaytothefarmwearrangedthatMissHalcombewastoenterthehousealone，andthatIwastowaitoutside，withincall。Weadoptedthismodeofproceedingfromanapprehensionthatmypresence，afterwhathadhappenedinthechurchyardtheeveningbefore，mighthavetheeffectofrenewingAnneCatherick’snervousdead，andofrenderingheradditionallydistrustfuloftheadvancesofaladywhowasastrangertoher。MissHalcombeleftme，withtheintentionofspeaking，inthefirstinstance，tothefarmer’swifeofwhosefriendlyreadinesstohelpherinanywayshewaswellassured，whileIwaitedforherinthenearneighbourhoodofthehouse。
　　Ihadfullyexpectedtobeleftaloneforsometime。Tomysurprise，however，littlemorethanfiveminuteshadelapsedbeforeMissHalcombereturned。
　　`DoesAnneCatherickrefusetoseeyou？’Iaskedinastonishment。
　　`AnneCatherickisgone，’repliedMissHalcombe。
　　`Gone？’
　　`GonewithMrsClements。Theybothleftthefarmateighto’clockthismorning。’
　　Icouldsaynothing——Icouldonlyfeelthatourlastchanceofdiscoveryhadgonewiththem
　　`AllthatMrsToddknowsaboutherguests，Iknow，’MissHalcombewenton，`anditleavesme，asitleavesher，inthedark。Theybothcamebacksafelastnight，aftertheyleftyou，andtheypassedthefirstpart-oftheeveningwithMrTodd’sfamilyasusual。rustbeforesupper-time，however，AnneCatherickstartledthemallbybeingsuddenlyseizedwithfaintness。Shehadhadasimilarattack，ofalessalarmingkind，onthedayshearrivedatthefarm；andMrsToddhadconnectedit，onthatoccasion，withsomethingshewasreadingatthetimeinourlocalnewspaper，whichlayonthefarmtable，andwhichshehadtakenuponlyaminuteortwobefore。’
　　`DoesMrsToddknowwhatparticularpassageinthenewspaperaffectedherinthatway？’Iinquired。
　　`No，’repliedMissHalcombe。`Shehadlookeditover，andhadseennothinginittoagitateanyone。Iaskedleave，however，tolookitoverinmyturn，adattheveryfirstpageIopenedIfoundthattheeditorhadenrichedhissmallstockofnewsbydrawinguponourfamilyaffairs，andhadpublishedmysister’smarriageengagement，amonghisotherannouncements，copiedfromtheLondonpapers，ofMarriagesinHighLife。IconcludedatoncethatthiswastheparagraphwhichhadsostrangelyaffectedAnneCatherick，andIthoughtIsawinit，also，theoriginoftheletterwhichshesenttoourhousethenextday。’
　　`Therecanbenodoubtineithercase。Butwhatdidyouhearabouthersecondattackoffaintnessyesterdayevening？’
　　`Nothing。Thecauseofitisacompletemystery。Therewasnostrangerintheroom。Theonlyvisitorwasourdairymaid，who，asItoldyou，isoneofMrTodd’sdaughters，andtheonlyconversationwastheusualgossipaboutlocalaffairs。Theyheardhercryout，andsawherturndeadlypale，withouttheslightestapparentreason。MrsToddandMrsClementstookherupstairs，andMrsClementsremainedwithher。Theywereheardtalkingtogetheruntillongaftertheusualbedtime，andearlythismorningMrsClementstookMrsToddaside，andamazedherbeyondallpowerofexpressionbysayingthattheymustgo。TheonlyexplanationMrsToddcouldextractfromherguestwas，thatsomethinghadhappened，whichwasnotthefaultofanyoneatthefarmhouse，butwhichwasseriousenoughtomakeAnneCatherickresolvetoleaveLimmeridgeimmediately。ItwasquiteuselesstopressMrsClementstobemoreexplicit。Sheonlyshookherhead，andsaidthat，forAnne’ssake，shemustbegandpraythatnoonewouldquestionher。Allshecouldrepeat，witheveryappearanceofbeingseriouslyagitatedherself，wasthatAnnemustgo，thatshemustgowithher，andthatthedestinationtowhichtheymightbothbetakethemselvesmustbekeptasecretfromeverybody。IspareyoutherecitalofMrsTodd’shospitableremonstrancesandrefusals。Itendedinherdrivingthembothtotheneareststation，morethanthreehourssince。Shetriedhardonthewaytogetthemtospeakmoreplainly，butwithoutsuccess；andshesetthemdownoutsidethestation-door，sohurtandoffendedbytheunceremoniousabruptnessoftheirdepartureandtheirunfriendlyreluctancetoplacetheleastconfidenceinher，thatshedroveawayinanger，withoutsomuchasstoppingtobidthemgood-bye。Thatisexactlywhathastakenplace。Searchyourownmemory，MrHartright，andtellmeifanythinghappenedintheburial-groundyesterdayeveningwhichcanatallaccountfortheextraordinarydepartureofthosetwowomenthismorning。’
　　`Ishouldliketoaccountfirst，MissHalcombe，forthesuddenchangeinAnneCatherickwhichalarmedthematthefarmhouse，hoursaftersheandIhadparted，andwhentimeenoughhadelapsedtoquietanyviolentagitationthatImighthavebeenunfortunateenoughtocause。Didyouinquireparticularlyaboutthegossipwhichwasgoingonintheroomwhensheturnedfaint？’
　　`Yes。ButMrsTodd’shouseholdaffairsseemtohavedividedherattentionthateveningwiththetalkinthefarmhouseparlour。Shecouldonlytellmethatitwas``justthenews，’’——meaning，Isuppose，thattheyalltalkedasusualabouteachother。’
　　`Thedairymaid’smemorymaybebetterthanhermother’s，’Isaid。`Itmaybeaswellforyoutospeaktothegirl，MissHalcombe，assoonaswegetback。’
　　Mysuggestionwasactedonthemomentwereturnedtothehouse。MissHalcombeledmeroundtotheservants’offices，andwefoundthegirlinthedairy，withhersleevestuckeduptohershoulders，cleaningalargemilk-panandsingingblithelyoverherwork。
　　`Ihavebroughtthisgentlemantoseeyourdairy，Hannah，’saidMissHalcombe。`Itisoneofthesightsofthehouse，anditalwaysdoesyoucredit。’
　　Thegirlblushedandcurtseyed，andsaidshylythatshehopedshealwaysdidherbesttokeepthingsneatandclean。
　　`Wehavejustcomefromyourfather’s，’MissHalcombecontinued。`Youwerethereyesterdayevening，Ihear，andyoufoundvisitorsatthehouse？’
　　`Yes，miss。’
　　`Oneofthemwastakenfaintandill，Iamtold？Isupposenothingwassaidordonetofrightenher？Youwerenottalkingofanythingveryterrible，wereyou？’
　　`Ohno，miss！’saidthegirl，laughing。`Wewereonlytalkingofthenews。’
　　`YoursisterstoldyouthenewsatTodd’sCorner，Isuppose？’
　　Yes，miss。
　　`AndyoutoldthemthenewsatLimmeridgeHouse？’
　　`Yes，miss。AndI’mquitesurenothingwassaidtofrightenthepoorthing，forIwastalkingwhenshewastakenill。Itgavemequiteaturn，miss，toseeit，neverhavingbeentakenfaintmyself。’
　　Beforeanymorequestionscouldbeputtoher，shewascalledawaytoreceiveabasketofeggsatthedairydoor。AssheleftusIwhisperedtoMissHalcombe——
　　`Askherifshehappenedtomention，lastnight，thatvisitorswereexpectedatLimmeridgeHouse。’
　　MissHalcombeshowedme，byalook，thatsheunderstood，andputthequestionassoonasthedairymaidreturnedtous。
　　`Ohyes，miss，Imentionedthat，’saidthegirlsimply。`Thecompanycoming，andtheaccidenttothebrindledcow，wasallthenewsIhadtotaketothefarm。’
　　`Didyoumentionnames？DidyoutellthemthatSirPercivalGlydewasexpectedonMonday？’
　　`Yes，miss——ItoldthemSirPercivalGlydewascoming。Ihopetherewasnoharminit——IhopeIdidn’tdowrong。’
　　`Ohno，noharm。Come，MrHartright，Hannahwillbegintothinkusintheway，ifweinterruptheranylongeroverherwork。’
　　Westoppedandlookedatoneanotherthemomentwewerealoneagain。
　　`Isthereanydoubtinyourmind，now，MissHalcombe？’
　　`SirPercivalGlydeshallremovethatdoubt，MrHartright——orLauraFairlieshallneverbehiswife。’