CHAPTERI。
　　THEBRIDE’SMISTAKE。
　　"FORafterthismannerintheoldtimetheholywomenalsowhotrustedinGodadornedthemselves，beinginsubjectionuntotheirownhusbands；evenasSarahobeyedAbraham，callinghimlord；
　　whosedaughtersyeareaslongasyedowell，andarenotafraidwithanyamazement。"
　　ConcludingtheMarriageServiceoftheChurchofEnglandinthosewell—knownwords，myuncleStarkweathershutuphisbook，andlookedatmeacrossthealtarrailswithaheartyexpressionofinterestonhisbroad，redface。Atthesametimemyaunt，Mrs。
　　Starkweather，standingbymyside，tappedmesmartlyontheshoulder，andsaid，"Valeria，youaremarried！"
　　Whereweremythoughts？Whathadbecomeofmyattention？Iwastoobewilderedtoknow。Istartedandlookedatmynewhusband。
　　HeseemedtobealmostasmuchbewilderedasIwas。Thesamethoughthad，asIbelieve，occurredtousbothatthesamemoment。Wasitreallypossible——inspiteofhismother’soppositiontoourmarriage——thatwewereManandWife？MyauntStarkweathersettledthequestionbyasecondtaponmyshoulder。
　　"Takehisarm！"shewhispered，inthetoneofawomanwhohadlostallpatiencewithme。
　　Itookhisarm。
　　"Followyouruncle。"
　　Holdingfastbymyhusband’sarm，Ifollowedmyuncleandthecuratewhohadassistedhimatthemarriage。
　　Thetwoclergymenledusintothevestry。ThechurchwasinoneofthedrearyquartersofLondon，situatedbetweentheCityandtheWestEnd；thedaywasdull；theatmospherewasheavyanddamp。Wewereamelancholylittleweddingparty，worthyofthedrearyneighborhoodandthedullday。Norelativesorfriendsofmyhusband’swerepresent；hisfamily，asIhavealreadyhinted，disapprovedofhismarriage。Exceptmyuncleandmyaunt，nootherrelationsappearedonmyside。Ihadlostbothmyparents，andIhadbutfewfriends。Mydearfather’sfaithfuloldclerk，Benjamin，attendedtheweddingto"givemeaway，"asthephraseis。Hehadknownmefromachild，and，inmyforlornposition，hewasasgoodasafathertome。
　　Thelastceremonylefttobeperformedwas，asusual，thesigningofthemarriageregister。Intheconfusionofthemoment（andintheabsenceofanyinformationtoguideme）Icommittedamistake——ominous，inmyauntStarkweather’sopinion，ofeviltocome。Isignedmymarriedinsteadofmymaidenname。
　　"What！"criedmyuncle，inhisloudestandcheeriesttones，"youhaveforgottenyourownnamealready？Well，well！letushopeyouwillneverrepentpartingwithitsoreadily。Tryagain，Valeria——tryagain。"
　　WithtremblingfingersIstruckthepenthroughmyfirsteffort，andwrotemymaidenname，verybadlyindeed，asfollows：
　　ValeriaBrintonWhenitcametomyhusband’sturnInoticed，withsurprise，thathishandtrembledtoo，andthatheproducedaverypoorspecimenofhiscustomarysignature：
　　EustaceWoodvilleMyaunt，onbeingrequestedtosign，compliedunderprotest。"A
　　badbeginning！"shesaid，pointingtomyfirstunfortunatesignaturewiththefeatherendofherpen。"Ihope，mydear，youmaynotlivetoregretit。"
　　Eventhen，inthedaysofmyignoranceandmyinnocence，thatcuriousoutbreakofmyaunt’ssuperstitionproducedacertainuneasysensationinmymind。Itwasaconsolationtometofeelthereassuringpressureofmyhusband’shand。Itwasanindescribablerelieftohearmyuncle’sheartyvoicewishingmeahappylifeatparting。Thegoodmanhadlefthisnorth—countryVicarage（myhomesincethedeathofmyparents）expresslytoreadtheserviceatmymarriage；andheandmyaunthadarrangedtoreturnbythemid—daytrain。Hefoldedmeinhisgreatstrongarms，andhegavemeakisswhichmustcertainlyhavebeenheardbytheidlerswaitingforthebrideandbridegroomoutsidethechurchdoor。
　　"Iwishyouhealthandhappiness，mylove，withallmyheart。Youareoldenoughtochooseforyourself，and——nooffense，Mr。
　　Woodville，youandIarenewfriends——andIprayGod，Valeria，itmayturnoutthatyouhavechosenwell。Ourhousewillbedrearyenoughwithoutyou；butIdon’tcomplain，mydear。Onthecontrary，ifthischangeinyourlifemakesyouhappier，I
　　rejoice。Come，come！don’tcry，oryouwillsetyourauntoff——andit’snojokeathertimeoflife。Besides，cryingwillspoilyourbeauty。Dryyoureyesandlookintheglassthere，andyouwillseethatIamright。Good—by，child——andGodblessyou！"
　　Hetuckedmyauntunderhisarm，andhurriedout。Myheartsankalittle，dearlyasIlovedmyhusband，whenIhadseenthelastofthetruefriendandprotectorofmymaidendays。
　　ThepartingwitholdBenjamincamenext。"Iwishyouwell，mydear；don’tforgetme，"wasallhesaid。Buttheolddaysathomecamebackonmeatthosefewwords。BenjaminalwaysdinedwithusonSundaysinmyfather’stime，andalwaysbroughtsomelittlepresentwithhimforhismaster’schild。Iwasverynearto"spoilingmybeauty"（asmyunclehadputit）whenIofferedtheoldmanmycheektokiss，andheardhimsightohimself，asifhetoowerenotquitehopefulaboutmyfuturelife。
　　Myhusband’svoicerousedme，andturnedmymindtohappierthoughts。
　　"Shallwego，Valeria？"heasked。
　　Istoppedhimonourwayouttotakeadvantageofmyuncle’sadvice；inotherwords，toseehowIlookedintheglassoverthevestryfireplace。
　　Whatdoestheglassshowme？
　　Theglassshowsatallandslenderyoungwomanofthree—and—twentyyearsofage。Sheisnotatallthesortofpersonwhoattractsattentioninthestreet，seeingthatshefailstoexhibitthepopularyellowhairandthepopularpaintedcheeks。Herhairisblack；dressed，intheselaterdays（asitwasdressedyearssincetopleaseherfather），inbroadripplesdrawnbackfromtheforehead，andgatheredintoasimpleknotbehind（likethehairoftheVenusdeMedicis），soastoshowtheneckbeneath。Hercomplexionispale：exceptinmomentsofviolentagitationthereisnocolortobeseeninherface。Hereyesareofsodarkabluethattheyaregenerallymistakenforblack。Hereyebrowsarewellenoughinform，buttheyaretoodarkandtoostronglymarked。Hernosejustinclinestowardtheaquilinebend，andisconsideredalittletoolargebypersonsdifficulttopleaseinthematterofnoses。Themouth，herbestfeature，isverydelicatelyshaped，andiscapableofpresentinggreatvarietiesofexpression。Astothefaceingeneral，itistoonarrowandtoolongatthelowerpart，toobroadandtoolowinthehigherregionsoftheeyesandthehead。Thewholepicture，asreflectedintheglass，representsawomanofsomeelegance，rathertoopale，andrathertoosedateandseriousinhermomentsofsilenceandrepose——inshort，apersonwhofailstostriketheordinaryobserveratfirstsight，butwhogainsingeneralestimationonasecond，andsometimesonathirdview。Asforherdress，itstudiouslyconceals，insteadofproclaiming，thatshehasbeenmarriedthatmorning。Shewearsagraycashmeretunictrimmedwithgraysilk，andhavingaskirtofthesamematerialandcolorbeneathit。Onherheadisabonnettomatch，relievedbyaquillingofwhitemuslinwithonedeepredrose，asamorselofpositivecolor，tocompletetheeffectofthewholedress。
　　HaveIsucceededorfailedindescribingthepictureofmyselfwhichIseeintheglass？Itisnotformetosay。Ihavedonemybesttokeepclearofthetwovanities——thevanityofdepreciatingandthevanityofpraisingmyownpersonalappearance。Fortherest，wellwrittenorbadlywritten，thankHeavenitisdone！
　　AndwhomdoIseeintheglassstandingbymyside？
　　IseeamanwhoisnotquitesotallasIam，andwhohasthemisfortuneoflookingolderthanhisyears。Hisforeheadisprematurelybald。Hisbigchestnut—coloredbeardandhislongoverhangingmustacheareprematurelystreakedwithgray。Hehasthecolorinthefacewhichmyfacewants，andthefirmnessinhisfigurewhichmyfigurewants。Helooksatmewiththetenderestandgentlesteyes（ofalightbrown）thatIeversawinthecountenanceofaman。Hissmileisrareandsweet；hismanner，perfectlyquietandretiring，hasyetalatentpersuasivenessinitwhichis（towomen）irresistiblywinning。Hejusthaltsalittleinhiswalk，fromtheeffectofaninjuryreceivedinpastyears，whenhewasasoldierservinginIndia，andhecarriesathickbamboocane，withacuriouscrutchhandle（anoldfavorite），tohelphimselfalongwheneverhegetsonhisfeet，indoorsorout。Withthisonelittledrawback（ifitisadrawback），thereisnothinginfirmoroldorawkwardabouthim；
　　hisslightlimpwhenhewalkshas（perhapstomypartialeyes）acertainquaintgraceofitsown，whichispleasantertoseethantheunrestrainedactivityofothermen。Andlastandbestofall，Ilovehim！Ilovehim！Ilovehim！Andthereisanendofmyportraitofmyhusbandonourwedding—day。
　　TheglasshastoldmeallIwanttoknow。Weleavethevestryatlast。
　　Thesky，cloudysincethemorning，hasdarkenedwhilewehavebeeninthechurch，andtherainisbeginningtofallheavily。
　　Theidlersoutsidestareatusgrimlyundertheirumbrellasaswepassthroughtheirranksandhastenintoourcarriage。Nocheering；nosunshine；noflowersstrewninourpath；nograndbreakfast；nogenialspeeches；nobridesmaids；nofathersormother’sblessing。Adrearywedding——thereisnodenyingit——and（ifAuntStarkweatherisright）abadbeginningaswell！
　　A_coup_hasbeenreservedforusattherailwaystation。Theattentiveporter，onthelook—outforhisfeepullsdowntheblindsoverthesidewindowsofthecarriage，andshutsoutallpryingeyesinthatway。Afterwhatseemstobeaninterminabledelaythetrainstarts。Myhusbandwindshisarmroundme。"Atlast！"hewhispers，withloveinhiseyesthatnowordscanutter，andpressesmetohimgently。Myarmstealsroundhisneck；myeyesanswerhiseyes。Ourlipsmeetinthefirstlong，lingeringkissofourmarriedlife。
　　Oh，whatrecollectionsofthatjourneyriseinmeasIwrite！Letmedrymyeyes，andshutupmypaperfortheday。
　　CHAPTERII。
　　THEBRIDE’STHOUGHTS。
　　WEhadbeentravelingforalittlemorethananhourwhenachangepassedinsensiblyoverusboth。
　　Stillsittingclosetogether，withmyhandinhis，withmyheadonhisshoulder，littlebylittlewefellinsensiblyintosilence。Hadwealreadyexhaustedthenarrowyeteloquentvocabularyoflove？Orhadwedeterminedbyunexpressedconsent，afterenjoyingtheluxuryofpassionthatspeaks，totrythedeeperandfinerraptureofpassionthatthinks？Icanhardlydetermine；Ionlyknowthatatimecamewhen，undersomestrangeinfluence，ourlipswereclosedtowardeachother。Wetraveledalong，eachofusabsorbedinourownreverie。Washethinkingexclusivelyofme——asIwasthinkingexclusivelyofhim？Beforethejourney’sendIhadmydoubts；atalittlelatertimeIknewforcertainthathisthoughts，wanderingfarawayfromhisyoungwife，wereallturnedinwardonhisownunhappyself。
　　Formethesecretpleasureoffillingmymindwithhim，whileI
　　felthimbymyside，wasaluxuryinitself。
　　Ipicturedinmythoughtsourfirstmeetingintheneighborhoodofmyuncle’shouse。
　　Ourfamousnorth—countrytroutstreamwounditsflashingandfoamingwaythrougharavineintherockymoorland。Itwasawindy，shadowyevening。Aheavilycloudedsunsetlaylowandredinthewest。Asolitaryanglerstoodcastinghisflyataturninthestreamwherethebackwaterlaystillanddeepunderanoverhangingbank。Agirl（myself）standingonthebank，invisibletothefishermanbeneath，waitedeagerlytoseethetroutrise。
　　Themomentcame；thefishtookthefly。
　　Sometimesonthelittlelevelstripofsandatthefootofthebank，sometimes（whenthestreamturnedagain）intheshallowerwaterrushingoveritsrockybed，theanglerfollowedthecapturedtrout，nowlettingthelinerunoutandnowwindingitinagain，inthedifficultanddelicateprocessof"playing"thefish。AlongthebankIfollowedtowatchthecontestofskillandcunningbetweenthemanandthetrout。IhadlivedlongenoughwithmyuncleStarkweathertocatchsomeofhisenthusiasmforfieldsports，andtolearnsomething，especially，oftheangler’sart。Stillfollowingthestranger，withmyeyesintentlyfixedoneverymovementofhisrodandline，andwithnotsomuchasachancefragmentofmyattentiontosparefortheroughpathalongwhichIwaswalking，Isteppedbychanceonthelooseoverhangingearthattheedgeofthebank，andfellintothestreaminaninstant。
　　Thedistancewastrifling，thewaterwasshallow，thebedoftheriverwas（fortunatelyforme）ofsand。BeyondthefrightandthewettingIhadnothingtocomplainof。InafewmomentsIwasoutofthewaterandupagain，verymuchashamedofmyself，onthefirmground。Shortastheintervalwas，itprovedlongenoughtofavortheescapeofthefish。Theanglerhadheardmyfirstinstinctivecryofalarm，hadturned，andhadthrownasidehisrodtohelpme。Weconfrontedeachotherforthefirsttime，Ionthebankandheintheshallowwaterbelow。Oureyesencountered，andIverilybelieveourheartsencounteredatthesamemoment。
　　ThisIknowforcertain，weforgotourbreedingasladyandgentleman：welookedateachotherinbarbaroussilence。
　　Iwasthefirsttorecovermyself。WhatdidIsaytohim？
　　Isaidsomethingaboutmynotbeinghurt，andthensomethingmore，urginghimtorunbackandtryifhemightnotyetrecoverthefish。
　　Hewentbackunwillingly。Hereturnedtome——ofcoursewithoutthefish。Knowinghowbitterlydisappointedmyunclewouldhavebeeninhisplace，Iapologizedveryearnestly。Inmyeagernesstomakeatonement，Ievenofferedtoshowhimaspotwherehemighttryagain，lowerdownthestream。
　　Hewouldnothearofit；heentreatedmetogohomeandchangemywetdress。Icarednothingforthewetting，butIobeyedhimwithoutknowingwhy。
　　Hewalkedwithme。MywaybacktotheVicaragewashiswaybacktotheinn。Hehadcometoourparts，hetoldme，forthequietandretirementasmuchasforthefishing。Hehadnoticedmeonceortwicefromthewindowofhisroomattheinn。HeaskedifI
　　werenotthevicar’sdaughter。
　　Isethimright。Itoldhimthatthevicarhadmarriedmymother’ssister，andthatthetwohadbeenfatherandmothertomesincethedeathofmyparents。HeaskedifhemightventuretocallonDoctorStarkweatherthenextday，mentioningthenameofafriendofhis，withwhomhebelievedthevicartobeacquainted。Iinvitedhimtovisitus，asifithadbeenmyhouse；Iwasspell—boundunderhiseyesandunderhisvoice。I
　　hadfancied，honestlyfancied，myselftohavebeeninloveoftenandoftenbeforethistime。Neverinanyotherman’scompanyhadIfeltasInowfeltinthepresenceof_this_man。Nightseemedtofallsuddenlyovertheeveninglandscapewhenheleftme。I
　　leanedagainsttheVicaragegate。Icouldnotbreathe，Icouldnotthink；myheartflutteredasifitwouldflyoutofmybosom——andallthisforastranger！Iburnedwithshame；butoh，inspiteofitall，Iwassohappy！
　　Andnow，whenlittlemorethanafewweekshadpassedsincethatfirstmeeting，Ihadhimbymyside；hewasmineforlife！I
　　liftedmyheadfromhisbosomtolookathim。Iwaslikeachildwithanewtoy——Iwantedtomakesurethathewasreallymyown。
　　Henevernoticedtheaction；henevermovedinhiscornerofthecarriage。Washedeepinhisownthoughts？andweretheythoughtsofMe？
　　Ilaiddownmyheadagainsoftly，soasnottodisturbhim。Mythoughtswanderedbackwardoncemore，andshowedmeanotherpictureinthegoldengalleryofthepast。
　　ThegardenattheVicarageformedthenewscene。Thetimewasnight。Wehadmettogetherinsecret。Wewerewalkingslowlytoandfro，outofsightofthehouse，nowintheshadowypathsoftheshrubbery，nowinthelovelymoonlightontheopenlawn。
　　Wehadlongsinceownedourloveanddevotedourlivestoeachother。Alreadyourinterestswereone；alreadywesharedthepleasuresandthepainsoflife。Ihadgoneouttomeethimthatnightwithaheavyheart，toseekcomfortinhispresenceandtofindencouragementinhisvoice。HenoticedthatIsighedwhenhefirsttookmeinhisarms，andhegentlyturnedmyheadtowardthemoonlighttoreadmytroubleinmyface。Howoftenhehadreadmyhappinessthereintheearlierdaysofourlove！
　　"Youbringbadnews，myangel，"hesaid，liftingmyhairtenderlyfrommyforeheadashespoke。"Iseethelinesherewhichtellmeofanxietyanddistress。IalmostwishIlovedyoulessdearly，Valeria。"
　　"Why？"
　　"Imightgiveyoubackyourfreedom。Ihaveonlytoleavethisplace，andyourunclewouldbesatisfied，andyouwouldberelievedfromallthecaresthatarepressingonyounow。"
　　"Don’tspeakofit，Eustace！Ifyouwantmetoforgetmycares，sayyoulovememoredearlythanever。"
　　Hesaiditinakiss。Wehadamomentofexquisiteforgetfulnessofthehardwaysoflife——amomentofdeliciousabsorptionineachother。Icamebacktorealitiesfortifiedandcomposed，rewardedforallthatIhadgonethrough，readytogothroughitalloveragainforanotherkiss。Onlygiveawomanlove，andthereisnothingshewillnotventure，suffer，anddo。
　　"No，theyhavedonewithobjecting。TheyhaverememberedatlastthatIamofage，andthatIcanchooseformyself。Theyhavebeenpleadingwithme，Eustace，togiveyouup。Myaunt，whomI
　　thoughtratherahardwoman，hasbeencrying——forthefirsttimeinmyexperienceofher。Myuncle，alwayskindandgoodtome，hasbeenkinderandbetterthanever。HehastoldmethatifI
　　persistinbecomingyourwife，Ishallnotbedesertedonmywedding—day。Whereverwemaymarry，hewillbetheretoreadtheservice，andmyauntwillgotothechurchwithme。ButheentreatsmetoconsiderseriouslywhatIamdoing——toconsenttoaseparationfromyouforatime——toconsultotherpeopleonmypositiontowardyou，ifIamnotsatisfiedwithhisopinion。Oh，mydarling，theyareasanxioustopartusasifyouweretheworstinsteadofthebestofmen！"
　　"Hasanythinghappenedsinceyesterdaytoincreasetheirdistrustofme？"heasked。
　　"Yes，"
　　"Whatisit？"
　　"Yourememberreferringmyuncletoafriendofyoursandofhis？"
　　"Yes。ToMajorFitz—David。"
　　"MyunclehaswrittentoMajorFitz—David"
　　"Why？"
　　Hepronouncedthatonewordinatonesoutterlyunlikehisnaturaltonethathisvoicesoundedquitestrangetome。
　　"Youwon’tbeangry，Eustace，ifItellyou？"Isaid。"Myuncle，asIunderstoodhim，hadseveralmotivesforwritingtothemajor。Oneofthemwastoinquireifheknewyourmother’saddress。"
　　Eustacesuddenlystoodstill。
　　Ipausedatthesamemoment，feelingthatIcouldventurenofurtherwithouttheriskofoffendinghim。
　　Tospeakthetruth，hisconduct，whenhefirstmentionedourengagementtomyuncle，hadbeen（sofarasappearanceswent）alittleflightyandstrange。Thevicarhadnaturallyquestionedhimabouthisfamily。Hehadansweredthathisfatherwasdead；
　　andhehadconsented，thoughnotveryreadily，toannouncehiscontemplatedmarriagetohismother。Informingusthatshetoolivedinthecountry，hehadgonetoseeher，withoutmoreparticularlymentioningheraddress。IntwodayshehadreturnedtotheVicaragewithaverystartlingmessage。Hismotherintendednodisrespecttomeormyrelatives，butshedisapprovedsoabsolutelyofherson’smarriagethatshe（andthemembersofherfamily，whoallagreedwithher）wouldrefusetobepresentattheceremony，ifMr。WoodvillepersistedinkeepinghisengagementwithDr。Starkweather’sniece。Beingaskedtoexplainthisextraordinarycommunication，Eustacehadtoldusthathismotherandhissisterswerebentonhismarryinganotherlady，andthattheywerebitterlymortifiedanddisappointedbyhischoosingastrangertothefamily。Thisexplanationwasenoughforme；itimplied，sofarasIwasconcerned，acomplimenttomysuperiorinfluenceoverEustace，whichawomanalwaysreceiveswithpleasure。Butitfailedtosatisfymyuncleandmyaunt。ThevicarexpressedtoMr。Woodvilleawishtowritetohismother，ortoseeher，onthesubjectofherstrangemessage。Eustaceobstinatelydeclinedtomentionhismother’saddress，onthegroundthatthevicar’sinterferencewouldbeutterlyuseless。Myuncleatoncedrewtheconclusionthatthemysteryabouttheaddressindicatedsomethingwrong。HerefusedtofavorMr。
　　Woodville’srenewedproposalformyhand，andhewrotethesamedaytomakeinquiriesofMr。Woodville’sreferenceandofhisownfriendMajorFitz—David。
　　Undersuchcircumstancesasthese，tospeakofmyuncle’smotiveswastoventureonverydelicateground。EustacerelievedmefromfurtherembarrassmentbyaskingaquestiontowhichIcouldeasilyreply。
　　"HasyourunclereceivedanyanswerfromMajorFitz—David？"heinquired。
　　"Yes。
　　"Wereyouallowedtoreadit？"Hisvoicesankashesaidthosewords；hisfacebetrayedasuddenanxietywhichitpainedmetosee。
　　"Ihavegottheanswerwithmetoshowyou，"Isaid。
　　Healmostsnatchedtheletteroutofmyhand；heturnedhisbackonmetoreaditbythelightofthemoon。Theletterwasshortenoughtobesoonread。Icouldhaverepeateditatthetime。I
　　canrepeatitnow。
　　"DEARVICAR——Mr。EustaceWoodvilleisquitecorrectinstatingtoyouthatheisagentlemanbybirthandposition，andthatheinherits（underhisdeceasedfather’swill）anindependentfortuneoftwothousandayear。
　　"Alwaysyours，"LAWRENCEFITZ—DAVID。"
　　"Cananybodywishforaplaineranswerthanthat？"Eustaceasked，handingtheletterbacktome。
　　"If_I_hadwrittenforinformationaboutyou，"Ianswered，"itwouldhavebeenplainenoughforme。"
　　"Isitnotplainenoughforyouruncle？"
　　"No。"
　　"Whatdoeshesay？"
　　"Whyneedyoucaretoknow，mydarling？"
　　"Iwanttoknow，Valeria。Theremustbenosecretbetweenusinthismatter。Didyourunclesayanythingwhenheshowedyouthemajor’sletter？"
　　"Yes。"
　　"Whatwasit？"
　　"Myuncletoldmethathisletterofinquiryfilledthreepages，andhebademeobservethatthemajor’sanswercontainedonesentenceonly。Hesaid，’IvolunteeredtogotoMajorFitz—Davidandtalkthematterover。Youseehetakesnonoticeofmyproposal。IaskedhimfortheaddressofMr。Woodville’smother。
　　Hepassesovermyrequest，ashehaspassedovermyproposal——hestudiouslyconfineshimselftotheshortestpossiblestatementofbarefacts。Useyourcommon—sense，Valeria。Isn’tthisrudenessratherremarkableonthepartofamanwhoisagentlemanbybirthandbreeding，andwhoisalsoafriendofmine？’"
　　Eustacestoppedmethere。
　　"Didyouansweryouruncle’squestion？"heasked。
　　"No，"Ireplied。"IonlysaidthatIdidnotunderstandthemajor’sconduct。"
　　"Andwhatdidyourunclesaynext？Ifyouloveme，Valeria，tellmethetruth。"
　　"Heusedverystronglanguage，Eustace。Heisanoldman；youmustnotbeoffendedwithhim。"
　　"Iamnotoffended。Whatdidhesay？"
　　"Hesaid，’Markmywords！ThereissomethingunderthesurfaceinconnectionwithMr。Woodville，orwithhisfamily，towhichMajorFitz—Davidisnotatlibertytoallude。Properlyinterpreted，Valeria，thatletterisawarning。ShowittoMr。Woodville，andtellhim（ifyoulike）whatIhavejusttoldyou——’"
　　Eustacestoppedmeagain。
　　"Youaresureyourunclesaidthosewords？"heasked，scanningmyfaceattentivelyinthemoonlight。
　　"Quitesure。ButIdon’tsaywhatmyunclesays。Praydon’tthinkthat！"
　　Hesuddenlypressedmetohisbosom，andfixedhiseyesonmine。
　　Hislookfrightenedme。
　　"Good—by，Valeria！"hesaid。"Tryandthinkkindlyofme，mydarling，whenyouaremarriedtosomehappierman。"
　　Heattemptedtoleaveme。Iclungtohiminanagonyofterrorthatshookmefromheadtofoot。
　　"Whatdoyoumean？"Iasked，assoonasIcouldspeak。"Iamyoursandyoursonly。WhathaveIsaid，whathaveIdone，todeservethosedreadfulwords？"
　　"Wemustpart，myangel，"heanswered，sadly。"Thefaultisnoneofyours；themisfortuneisallmine。MyValeria！howcanyoumarryamanwhoisanobjectofsuspiciontoyournearestanddearestfriends？Ihaveledadrearylife。Ihaveneverfoundinanyotherwomanthesympathywithme，thesweetcomfortandcompanionship，thatIfindinyou。Oh，itishardtoloseyou！itishardtogobackagaintomyunfriendedlife！Imustmakethesacrifice，love，foryoursake。Iknownomorewhythatletteriswhatitisthanyoudo。Willyourunclebelieveme？willyourfriendsbelieveme？Onelastkiss，Valeria！Forgivemeforhavinglovedyou——passionately，devotedlylovedyou。Forgiveme——andletmego！"