shillingpieceandtheseragsonmyback。WhatrespectableinnkeeperwouldtakeMEintohishouse？Iwalkedabout，wonderinghowIcouldfindmywayoutoftheworldwithoutdisfiguringmyself，andwithoutsufferingmuchpain。Youhavenoriverintheseparts。Ididn’tseemywayoutoftheworld，tillIheardyouringingatthedoctor’shouse。Igotaglimpseatthebottlesinthesurgery，whenheletyouin，andIthoughtofthelaudanumdirectly。Whatwereyoudoingthere？Whoisthatmedicinefor？
　　Yourwife？“
　　“Iamnotmarried！“
　　Shelaughedagain。“Notmarried！IfIwasalittlebetterdressedtheremightbeachanceforME。Wheredoyoulive？Here？“
　　Wehadarrived，bythistime，atmymother’sdoor。Sheheldoutherhandtosaygood-by。Houselessandhomelessasshewas，sheneveraskedmetogiveherashelterforthenight。ItwasMY
　　proposalthatsheshouldrest，undermyroof，unknowntomymotherandmyaunt。Ourkitchenwasbuiltoutatthebackofthecottage:
　　shemightremainthereunseenandunhearduntilthehouseholdwasastirinthemorning。Iledherintothekitchen，andsetachairforherbythedyingembersofthefire。IdaresayIwastoblame——shamefullytoblame，ifyoulike。IonlywonderwhatYOU
　　wouldhavedoneinmyplace。Onyourwordofhonorasaman，wouldYOUhaveletthatbeautifulcreaturewanderbacktotheshelterofthestonequarrylikeastraydog？Godhelpthewomanwhoisfoolishenoughtotrustandloveyou，ifyouwouldhavedonethat！
　　Ileftherbythefire，andwenttomymother’sroom。
　　Ifyouhaveeverfelttheheartache，youwillknowwhatIsufferedinsecretwhenmymothertookmyhand，andsaid，“Iamsorry，Francis，thatyournight’sresthasbeendisturbedthroughME。“I
　　gaveherthemedicine；andIwaitedbyhertillthepainsabated。
　　MyauntChancewentbacktoherbed；andmymotherandIwereleftalone。Inoticedthatherwriting-desk，movedfromitscustomaryplace，wasonthebedbyherside。Shesawmelookingatit。
　　“Thisisyourbirthday，Francis，“shesaid。“Haveyouanythingtotellme？“IhadsocompletelyforgottenmyDream，thatIhadnonotionofwhatwaspassinginhermindwhenshesaidthosewords。
　　Foramomenttherewasaguiltyfearinmethatshesuspectedsomething。Iturnedawaymyface，andsaid，“No，mother；Ihavenothingtotell。“Shesignedtometostoopdownoverthepillowandkissher。“Godblessyou，mylove！“shesaid；andmanyhappyreturnsoftheday。“Shepattedmyhand，andclosedherwearyeyes，and，littlebylittle，felloffpeaceablyintosleep。
　　Istoledownstairsagain。Ithinkthegoodinfluenceofmymothermusthavefollowedmedown。Atanyrate，thisistrue:Istoppedwithmyhandontheclosedkitchendoor，andsaidtomyself:
　　“SupposeIleavethehouse，andleavethevillage，withoutseeingherorspeakingtohermore？“
　　ShouldIreallyhavefledfromtemptationinthisway，ifIhadbeenlefttomyselftodecide？Whocantell？Asthingswere，I
　　wasnotlefttodecide。Whilemydoubtwasinmymind，sheheardme，andopenedthekitchendoor。Myeyesandhereyesmet。Thatendedit。
　　Weweretogether，unsuspectedandundisturbed，forthenexttwohours。Timeenoughforhertorevealthesecretofherwastedlife。Timeenoughforhertotakepossessionofmeasherown，todowithmeassheliked。Itisneedlesstodwellhereonthemisfortuneswhichhadbroughtherlow；theyaremisfortunestoocommontointerestanybody。
　　HernamewasAliciaWarlock。Shehadbeenbornandbredalady。
　　Shehadlostherstation，hercharacter，andherfriends。Virtueshudderedatthesightofher；andVicehadgotherfortherestofherdays。Shockingandcommon，asItoldyou。ItmadenodifferencetoME。Ihavesaiditalready——Isayitagain——Iwasamanbewitched。Isthereanythingsoverywonderfulinthat？JustrememberwhoIwas。Amongthehonestwomeninmyownstationinlife，wherecouldIhavefoundthelikeofHER？CouldTHEYwalkasshewalked？andlookasshelooked？WhenTHEYgavemeakiss，didtheirlipslingeroveritashersdid？HadTHEYherskin，herlaugh，herfoot，herhand，hertouch？SHEneverhadaspeckofdirtonher:Itellyouherfleshwasaperfume。Whensheembracedme，herarmsfoldedroundmelikethewingsofangels；andhersmilecoveredmesoftlywithitslightlikethesuninheaven。I
　　leaveyoutolaughatme，ortocryoverme，justasyourtempermayincline。Iamnottryingtoexcusemyself——Iamtryingtoexplain。Youaregentle-folks；whatdazzledandmaddenedME，iseverydayexperiencetoYOU。Fallenornot，angelordevil，itcametothis——shewasalady；andIwasagroom。
　　Beforethehousewasastir，Igotherawaybytheworkmen’strain
　　toalargemanufacturingtowninourparts。
　　Here——withmysavingsinmoneytohelpher——shecouldgetheroutfitofdecentclothesandherlodgingamongstrangerswhoaskednoquestionssolongastheywerepaid。Here——nowononepretenseandnowonanother——Icouldvisither，andwecouldbothplantogetherwhatourfuturelivesweretobe。IneednottellyouthatIstoodpledgedtomakehermywife。Amaninmystationalwaysmarriesawomanofhersort。
　　DoyouwonderifIwashappyatthistime？Ishouldhavebeenperfectlyhappybutforonelittledrawback。Itwasthis:Iwasneverquiteatmyeaseinthepresenceofmypromisedwife。
　　Idon’tmeanthatIwasshywithher，orsuspiciousofher，orashamedofher。TheuneasinessIamspeakingofwascausedbyafaintdoubtinmymindwhetherIhadnotseenhersomewhere，beforethemorningwhenwemetatthedoctor’shouse。Overandoveragain，Ifoundmyselfwonderingwhetherherfacedidnotremindmeofsomeotherface——whatotherInevercouldtell。Thisstrangefeeling，thisonequestionthatcouldneverbeanswered，vexedmetoadegreethatyouwouldhardlycredit。Itcamebetweenusatthestrangesttimes——oftenest，however，atnight，whenthecandleswerelit。Youhaveknownwhatitistotryandrememberaforgottenname——andtofail，searchasyoumay，tofinditinyourmind。Thatwasmycase。Ifailedtofindmylostface，justasyoufailedtofindyourlostname。
　　Inthreeweekswehadtalkedmattersover，andhadarrangedhowI
　　wastomakeacleanbreastofitathome。ByAlicia’sadvice，I
　　wastodescribeherashavingbeenoneofmyfellowservantsduringthetimeIwasemployedundermykindmasterandmistressinLondon。Therewasnofearnowofmymothertakinganyharmfromtheshockofagreatsurprise。Herhealthhadimprovedduringthethreeweeks’interval。Onthefirsteveningwhenshewasabletotakeheroldplaceatteatime，Isummonedmycourage，andtoldherIwasgoingtobemarried。Thepoorsoulflungherarmsroundmyneck，andburstoutcryingforjoy。“Oh，Francis！“shesays，“IamsogladyouwillhavesomebodytocomfortyouandcareforyouwhenIamgone！“AsformyauntChance，youcananticipatewhatSHE
　　did，withoutbeingtold。Ah，me！Iftherehadreallybeenanypropheticvirtueinthecards，whataterriblewarningtheymighthavegivenusthatnight！ItwasarrangedthatIwastobringmypromisedwifetodinneratthecottageonthenextday。
　　IownIwasproudofAliciawhenIledherintoourlittleparlorattheappointedtime。Shehadnever，tomymind，lookedsobeautifulasshelookedthatday。Inevernoticedanyotherwoman’sdress——InoticedhersascarefullyasifIhadbeenawomanmyself！Sheworeablacksilkgown，withplaincollarandcuffs，andamodestlavender-coloredbonnet，withonewhiteroseinitplacedattheside。Mymother，dressedinherSundaybest，roseup，allinaflutter，towelcomeherdaughter-in-lawthatwastobe。Shewalkedforwardafewsteps，halfsmiling，halfintears——
　　shelookedAliciafullintheface——andsuddenlystoodstill。Hercheeksturnedwhiteinaninstant；hereyesstaredinhorror；herhandsdroppedhelplesslyathersides。Shestaggeredback，andfellintothearmsofmyaunt，standingbehindher。Itwasnoswoon——shekepthersenses。HereyesturnedslowlyfromAliciatome。“Francis，“shesaid，“doesthatwoman’sfaceremindyouofnothing？“
　　BeforeIcouldanswer，shepointedtoherwriting-deskonthetableatthefireside。“Bringit！“shecried，“bringit！“
　　AtthesamemomentIfeltAlicia’shandonmyshoulder，andsawAlicia’sfaceredwithanger——andnowonder！
　　“Whatdoesthismean？“sheasked。“Doesyourmotherwanttoinsultme？“
　　Isaidafewwordstoquiether；whattheywereIdon’tremember——I
　　wassoconfusedandastonishedatthetime。BeforeIhaddone，I
　　heardmymotherbehindme。
　　Myaunthadfetchedherdesk。Shehadopenedit；shehadtakenapaperfromit。Stepbystep，helpingherselfalongbythewall，shecamenearerandnearer，withthepaperinherhand。Shelookedatthepaper——shelookedinAlicia’sface——sheliftedthelong，loosesleeveofhergown，andexaminedherhandandarm。IsawfearsuddenlytaketheplaceofangerinAlicia’seyes。Sheshookherselffreeofmymother’sgrasp。“Mad！“shesaidtoherself，“andFrancisnevertoldme！“Withthosewordssheranoutoftheroom。
　　Iwashasteningoutafterher，whenmymothersignedtometostop。
　　Shereadthewordswrittenonthepaper。Whiletheyfellslowly，onebyone，fromherlips，shepointedtowardtheopendoor。
　　“Lightgrayeyes，withadroopinthelefteyelid。Flaxenhair，withagold-yellowstreakinit。Whitearms，withadownuponthem。Little，lady’shand，witharosy-redlookaboutthefingernails。TheDreamWoman，Francis！TheDreamWoman！“
　　Somethingdarkenedtheparlorwindowasthosewordswerespoken。I
　　lookedsidelongattheshadow。AliciaWarlockhadcomeback！Shewaspeeringinatusoverthelowwindowblind。Therewasthefatalfacewhichhadfirstlookedatmeinthebedroomofthelonelyinn。There，restingonthewindowblind，wasthelovelylittlehandwhichhadheldthemurderousknife。IHADseenherbeforewemetinthevillage。TheDreamWoman！TheDreamWoman！
　　XI
　　IexpectnobodytoapproveofwhatIhavenexttotellofmyself。
　　InthreeweeksfromthedaywhenmymotherhadidentifiedherwiththeWomanoftheDream，ItookAliciaWarlocktochurch，andmadehermywife。Iwasamanbewitched。AgainandagainIsayit——I
　　wasamanbewitched！
　　Duringtheintervalbeforemymarriage，ourlittlehouseholdatthecottagewasbrokenup。Mymotherandmyauntquarreled。Mymother，believingintheDream，entreatedmetobreakoffmyengagement。Myaunt，believinginthecards，urgedmetomarry。
　　Thisdifferenceofopinionproducedadisputebetweenthem，inthecourseofwhichmyauntChance——quiteunconsciousofhavinganysuperstitiousfeelingsofherown——actuallysetoutthecardswhichprophesiedhappinesstomeinmymarriedlife，andaskedmymotherhowanybodybut“ablindedheathencouldbefuleenough，afterseeingthosecairds，tobelieveinadream！“Thiswas，naturally，toomuchformymother’spatience；hardwordsfollowedoneitherside；Mrs。ChancereturnedindudgeontoherfriendsinScotland。
　　Sheleftmeawrittenstatementofmyfutureprospects，asrevealedbythecards，andwithitanaddressatwhichapost-officeorderwouldreachher。“Thedaywasnotthatfaroff，“sheremarked，“whenFranciemightrememberwhatheowedtohisauntChance，maintainingherainunbleemishedwidowhoodonthrattypundsayear。“
　　Havingrefusedtogivehersanctiontomymarriage，mymotheralsorefusedtobepresentatthewedding，ortovisitAliciaafterwards。Therewasnoangeratthebottomofthisconductonherpart。BelievingasshedidinthisDream，shewassimplyinmortalfearofmywife。Iunderstoodthis，andImadeallowancesforher。Notacrosswordpassedbetweenus。Myonehappyremembrancenow——thoughIdiddisobeyherinthematterofmymarriage——isthis:Ilovedandrespectedmygoodmothertothelast。
　　Asformywife，sheexpressednoregretattheestrangementbetweenhermother-in-lawandherself。Bycommonconsent，weneverspokeonthatsubject。WesettledinthemanufacturingtownwhichIhavealreadymentioned，andwekeptalodging-house。Mykindmaster，atmyrequest，grantedmealumpsuminplaceofmyannuity。Thisputusintoagoodhouse，decentlyfurnished。Forawhilethingswentwellenough。Imaydescribemyselfatthistimeofmylifeasahappyman。
　　Mymisfortunesbeganwithareturnofthecomplaintwithwhichmymotherhadalreadysuffered。Thedoctorconfessed，whenIaskedhimthequestion，thattherewasdangertobedreadedthistime。
　　Naturally，afterhearingthis，Iwasagooddealawayatthecottage。Naturallyalso，Ileftthebusinessoflookingafterthehouse，inmyabsence，tomywife。Littlebylittle，Ifoundherbeginningtoaltertowardme。Whilemybackwasturned，sheformedacquaintanceswithpeopleofthedoubtfulanddissipatedsort。Oneday，Iobservedsomethinginhermannerwhichforcedthesuspiciononmethatshehadbeendrinking。Beforetheweekwasout，mysuspicionwasacertainty。Fromkeepingcompanywithdrunkards，shehadgrowntobeadrunkardherself。