`Haveyoudone？’askedmycompanionquietly。
　　`Yes；——Iknowyouhatemeformyimpertinence，butIdon’tcareifitonlyconducestopreserveyoufromthatfatalmistake。’
　　`Well！’returnedhe，witharatherwintrysmile——`I’mgladyouhaveovercome，orforgottenyourownafflictionssofarastobeabletostudysodeeplytheaffairsofothers，andtroubleyourhead，sounnecessarily，aboutthefanciedorpossiblecalamitiesoftheirfuturelife。’
　　Weparted——somewhatcoldlyagain；butstillwedidnotceasetobefriends；andmywell-meantwarning，thoughitmighthavebeenmorejudiciouslydelivered，aswellasmorethankfullyreceived，wasnotwhollyunproductiveofthedesiredeffect：hisvisittotheWilsonswasnotrepeated，and，though，inoursubsequentinterviews，henevermentionedhernametome，norItohim，——Ihavereasontobelieveheponderedmywordsinhismind，eagerlythoughcovertlysoughtinformationrespectingthefairladyfromotherquarters，secretlycomparedmycharacterofherwithwhathehadhimselfobservedandwhatheheardfromothers，andfinallycametotheconclusionthat，allthingsconsidered，shehadmuchbetterremainMissWilsonofRyecoteFarm，thanbetransmutedintoMrs。LawrenceofWoodfordHall。Ibelieve，too，thathesoonlearnedtocontemplatewithsecretamazementhisformerpredilection，andtocongratulatehimselfontheluckyescapehehadmade；butheneverconfessedittome，orhintedonewordofacknowledgmentforthepartIhadhadinhisdeliverance——butthiswasnotsurprisingtoanyonethatknewhimasIdid。
　　AsforJaneWilson，she，ofcourse，wasdisappointedandembitteredbythesuddencoldneglect，andultimatedesertionofherformeradmirer。
　　HadIdonewrongtoblighthercherishedhopes？Ithinknot；andcertainlymyconsciencehasneveraccusedme，fromthatdaytothis，ofanyevildesigninthematter。
　　TheTenantofWildfellHall：Chapter47CHAPTERXLVIISTARTLINGINTELLIGENCEOnemorning，aboutthebeginningofNovember，whileIwasinditingsomebusinessletters，shortlyafterbreakfast，ElizaMillwardcametocalluponmysister。RosehadneitherthediscriminationnorthevirulencetoregardthelittledemonasIdid，andtheystillpreservedtheirformerintimacy。Atthemomentofherarrival，however，therewasnooneintheroombutFergusandmyself，mymotherandsisterbeingbothofthemabsent，`onhouseholdcaresintent；“butIwasnotgoingtolaymyselfoutforheramusement，whoeverelsemightsoincline：Imerelyhonouredherwithacarelesssalutationandafewwordsofcourse，’andthenwentonwithmywriting，leavingmybrothertobemorepoliteifhechose。Butshewantedtoteazeme。
　　`Whatapleasureitistofindyouathome，Mr。Markham！’saidshe，withadisingenuouslymalicioussmile。`Isoseldomseeyounow，foryounevercometothevicarage。PapaisquiteoffendedIcantellyou，’
　　sheaddedplayfully，lookingintomyfacewithanimpertinentlaugh，assheseatedherself，halfbesideandhalfbeforemydesk，offthecornerofthetable。
　　`Ihavehadagooddealtodooflate，’saidI，withoutlookingupfrommyletter。
　　`Haveyouindeed！Somebodysaidyouhadbeenstrangelyneglectingyourbusinesstheselastfewmonths。’
　　`Somebodysaidwrong，for，theselasttwomonthsespecially，Ihavebeenparticularlyploddinganddiligent。’
　　`Ah！Well，there’snothinglikeactiveemployment，Isuppose，toconsoletheafflicted；——and，excuseme，Mr。Markham，butyoulooksoveryfarfromwell，andhavebeen，byallaccounts，somoodyandthoughtfuloflate，——Icouldalmostthinkyouhavesomesecretcarepreyingonyourspirits。Formerly，’saidshetimidly，`Icouldhaveventuredtoaskyouwhatitwas，andwhatIcoulddotocomfortyou：Idarenotdoitnow。’
　　`You’reverykind，MissEliza。WhenIthinkyoucandoanythingtocomfortme，I’llmakeboldtotellyou。’
　　`Praydo——IsupposeImayn’tguesswhatitisthattroublesyou？’
　　`There’snonecessity，forI’lltellyouplainly。Thethingthattroublesmethemostatpresent，isayoungladysittingatmyelbow，andpreventingmefromfinishingmyletter，andthereafter，repairingtomydailybusiness。’
　　Beforeshecouldreplytothisungallantspeech，Roseenteredtheroom；andMissElizarisingtogreether，theybothseatedthemselvesnearthefire，wherethatidlelad，Fergus，wasstanding，leaninghisshoulderagainstthecornerofthechimneypiecewithhislegscrossedandhishandsinhisbreechespockets。
　　`Now，Rose，I’lltellyouapieceofnews——Ihopeyou’venothearditbefore，forgood，badorindifferent，onealwayslikestobethefirsttotell——It’saboutthatsadMrs。Graham`Hush——sh——sh！’whisperedFergus，inatoneofsolemnimport。
　　`“Wenevermentionher；hernameisneverheard。”’Andglancingup，Icaughthimwithhiseyeaskanceonme，andhisfingerpointedtohisforehead；
　　then，winkingattheyoungladywithadolefulshakeofthehead，hewhispered——amonomania——Butdon’tmentionit——allrightbutthat。’
　　`Ishouldbesorrytoinjureanyone’sfeelings，’returnedshe，speakingbelowherbreath，`anothertime，perhaps。’
　　`Speakout，MissEliza！’saidI，notdeigningtonoticetheother’sbuffooneries，`youneedn’tfeartosayanythinginmypresence——thatistrue。’
　　`Well，’answeredshe，`perhapsyouknowalreadythatMrs。Graham’shusbandisnotreallydead，andthatshehadrunawayfromhim？’Istarted，andfeltmyfaceglow；butIbentitovermyletter，andwentonfoldingitupassheproceeded，`butperhapsyoudidnotknowthatsheisnowgonebacktohimagain，andthataperfectreconciliationhastakenplacebetweenthem？Onlythink，’shecontinued，turningtotheconfoundedRose，`whatafoolthemanmustbe！’
　　`Andwhogaveyouthispieceofintelligence，MissEliza？’saidI，interruptingmysister’sexclamations。
　　`Ihaditfromaveryauthenticsource，sir。’
　　`Fromwhom，mayIask？’
　　`FromoneoftheservantsatWoodford。’
　　`Oh！IwasnotawarethatyouwereonsuchintimatetermswithMr。Lawrence’shousehold。’
　　`Itwasnotfromthemanhimself，thatIheardit；buthetolditinconfidencetoourmaidSarah，andSarahtoldittome。’
　　`Inconfidence，Isuppose；andyoutellitinconfidencetous；
　　butIcantellyouthatitisbutalamestoryafterall，andscarcelyonehalfofittrue。’
　　WhileIspoke，Icompletedthesealinganddirectionofmyletters，withasomewhatunsteadyhand，inspiteofallmyeffortstoretaincomposure，andinspiteofmyfirmconvictionthatthestorywasalameone——thatthesupposedMrs。Graham，mostcertainly，hadnotvoluntarilygonebacktoherhusband，ordreamtofareconciliation。Mostlikely，shewasgoneaway，andthetale-bearingservant，notknowingwhatwasbecomeofher，hadconjecturedthatsuchwasthecase，andourfairvisitorhaddetaileditasacertainty，delightedwithsuchanopportunityoftormentingme。Butitwaspossible——rarelypossible，thatsomeonemighthavebetrayedher，andshehadbeentakenawaybyforce。Determinedtoknowtheworst，Ihastilypocketedmytwoletters，andmutteringsomethingaboutbeingtoolateforthepost，lefttheroom，rushedintotheyardandvociferouslycalledformyhorse。Noonebeingthere，Idraggedhimoutofthestablemyself，strappedthesaddleontohisbackandthebridleontohishead，mounted，andspeedilygallopedawaytoWoodford。Ifounditsownerpensivelystrollinginthegrounds。
　　`Isyoursistergone？’weremyfirstwordsasIgraspedhishand，insteadoftheusualenquiryafterhishealth。
　　`Yes；she’sgone，’washisanswer，socalmlyspoken，thatmyterrorwasatonceremoved。
　　`IsupposeImayn’tknowwheresheis？’saidI，asIdidmountedandrelinquishedmyhorsetothegardener，who，beingtheonlyservantwithincall，hadbeensummonedbyhismaster，fromhisemploymentofrakingupthedeadleavesonthelawn，totakehimtothestables。
　　Mycompaniongravelytookmyarm，andleadingmeawaytothegarden，thusansweredmyquestion：——
　　`SheisatGrassdaleManor，in——hire。’
　　`Where？’criedI，withaconvulsivestart。
　　`AtGrassdaleManor。’
　　`Howwasit？’Igasped。`Whobetrayedher？’
　　`Shewentofherownaccord。’
　　`Impossible，Lawrence！！Shecouldnotbesofrantic！’exclaimedI，vehementlygraspinghisarm，asiftoforcehimtounsaythosehatefulwords。
　　`Shedid，’persistedheinthesamegrave，collectedmannerasbefore`andnotwithoutreason，’hecontinued，gentlydisengaginghimselffrommygrasp：`Mr。Huntingdonisill。’
　　`Andsoshewenttonursehim？’
　　`Yes。’
　　`Fool！’Icouldnothelpexclaiming——andLawrencelookedupwitharatherreproachfulglance。`Ishedyingthen？’
　　`Ithinknot，Markham。’
　　`Andhowmanymorenurseshashe？——Howmanyladiesaretherebesides，totakecareofhim？’
　　`None：hewasalone，orshewouldnothavegone。’
　　`Oh，confoundit！thisisintolerable！’
　　`Whatis？Thatheshouldbealone？’
　　Iattemptednoreply，forIwasnotsurethatthiscircumstancedidnotpartlyconducetomydistraction。Ithereforecontinuedtopacethewalkinsilentanguish，withmyhandpressedtomyforehead；thensuddenlypausingandturningtomycompanion，Iimpatientlyexclaimed，`Whydidshetakethisinfatuatedstep？Whatfiendpersuadedhertoit？’
　　`Nothingpersuadedherbutherownsenseofduty。’
　　`Humbug！’
　　`Iwashalfinclinedtosaysomyself，Markham，atfirst。Iassureyouitwasnotbymyadvicethatshewent，forIdetestthatmanasferventlyasyoucando——except，indeed，thathisreformationwouldgivememuchgreaterpleasurethanhisdeath：——ButallIdidwastoinformherofthecircumstanceofhisillnesstheconsequenceofafallfromhishorseinhunting，andtotellherthatthatunhappyperson，MissMyers，hadlefthimsometimeago。
　　`Itwasilldone！Now，whenhefindstheconvenienceofherpresence，hewillmakeallmanneroflyingspeechesandfalse，fairpromisesforthefuture，andshewillbelievehim，andthenherconditionwillbetentimesworseandtentimesmoreirremediablethanbefore。’
　　`Theredoesnotappeartobemuchgroundforsuchapprehensionsatpresent，’saidhe，producingaletterfromhispocket：`fromtheaccountIreceivedthismorning，Ishouldsay——’
　　Itwasherwriting！Byanirresistibleimpulse，Iheldoutmyhand，andthewords——`Letmeseeit，’involuntarilypassedmylips。
　　Hewasevidentlyreluctanttogranttherequest，butwhilehehesitated，Isnatcheditfromhishand。Recollectingmyself，however，theminuteafter，Iofferedtorestoreit。
　　`Here，takeit，’saidI，`ifyoudon’twantmetoreadit。’
　　`No，’repliedhe，`youmayreaditifyoulike。’
　　Ireaditandsomayyou。
　　Grassdale，Nov。4th。
　　DearFrederick，Iknowyouwillbeanxioustohearfromme：andIwilltellyouallIcan。Mr。Huntingdonisveryill，butnotdying，orinanyimmediatedanger；andheisratherbetteratpresentthanhewaswhenIcame。Ifoundthehouseinsadconfusion：Mrs。Greaves，Benson，everydecentservanthadleft，andthosethatwerecometosupplytheirplaceswereanegligent，disorderlyset，tosaynoworse——ImustchangethemagainifIstay。A
　　professionalnurse，agrim，hardoldwoman，hadbeenhiredtoattendthewretchedinvalid。Hesuffersmuch，andhasnofortitudetobearhimthrough。
　　Theimmediateinjurieshesustainedfromtheaccident，however，werenotverysevere，andwould，asthedoctorsays，havebeenbuttriflingtoamanoftemperatehabits；butwithhimitisverydifferent。Onthenightofmyarrival，whenIfirstenteredhisroom，hewaslyinginakindofhalfdelirium。HedidnotnoticemetillIspoke；andthen，hemistookmeforanother。
　　`Isityou，Alice，comeagain？’hemurmured。`Whatdidyouleavemefor？’
　　`ItisI，Arthur——itisHelen，yourwife，’ireplied。
　　`Mywife！’saidhe，withastart——`ForHeaven’ssake，don’tmentionher——Ihavenone。deviltakeher，’hecried，amomentafter，——`andyoutoo！Whatdidyoudoitfor？’
　　Isaidnomore；butobservingthathekeptgazingtowardsthefootofthebed，Iwentandsatthere，placingthelightsoastoshinefulluponme；forIthoughthemightbedying，andIwantedhimtoknowme。Foralongtime，helaysilentlylookinguponme，firstwithavacantstare，thenwithafixedgazeofstrange，growingintensity。Atlasthestartledmebysuddenlyraisinghimselfonhiselbowanddemandinginahorrifiedwhisper，withhiseyesstillfixeduponme，——`Whoisit？’