CHAPTERXLIII。
　　ATLAST！
　　MYletterfromMr。Playmore，inclosingtheagent’sextraordinarytelegram，wasnotinspiredbythesanguineviewofourprospectswhichhehadexpressedtomewhenwemetatBenjamin’shouse。
　　"Ifthetelegrammeananything，"hewrote，"itmeansthatthefragmentsofthetornletterhavebeencastintothehousemaid’sbucket（alongwiththedust，theashes，andtherestofthelitterintheroom），andhavebeenemptiedonthedust—heapatGleninch。Sincethiswasdone，theaccumulatedrefusecollectedfromtheperiodicalcleansingsofthehouse，duringatermofnearlythreeyears——including，ofcourse，theashesfromthefireskeptburning，forthegreaterpartoftheyear，inthelibraryandthepicture—gallery——havebeenpouredupontheheap，andhaveburiedthepreciousmorselsofpaperdeeperanddeeper，daybyday。Evenifwehaveafairchanceoffindingthesefragments，whathopecanwefeel，atthisdistanceoftime，ofrecoveringthemwiththewritinginastateofpreservation？I
　　shallbegladtohear，byreturnofpostifpossible，howthematterstrikesyou。IfyoucouldmakeitconvenienttoconsultwithmepersonallyinEdinburgh，weshouldsavetime，whentimemaybeofseriousimportancetous。WhileyouareatDoctorStarkweather’syouarewithineasyreachofthisplace。Pleasethinkofit。"
　　Ithoughtofitseriouslyenough。TheforemostquestionwhichI
　　hadtoconsiderwasthequestionofmyhusband。
　　ThedepartureofthemotherandsonfromSpainhadbeensolongdelayed，bythesurgeon’sorders，thatthetravelershadonlyadvancedontheirhomewardjourneyasfarasBordeaux，whenIhadlastheardfromMrs。Macallanthreeorfourdayssince。AllowingforanintervalofreposeatBordeaux，andfortheslowrateatwhichtheywouldbecompelledtomoveafterward，ImightstillexpectthemtoarriveinEnglandsometimebeforealetterfromtheagentinAmericacouldreachMr。Playmore。How，inthispositionofaffairs，IcouldcontrivetojointhelawyerinEdinburgh，aftermeetingmyhusbandinLondon，itwasnoteasytosee。Thewiseandtherightway，asIthought，wastotellMr。
　　PlaymorefranklythatIwasnotmistressofmyOwnmovements，andthathehadbetteraddresshisnextlettertomeatBenjamin’shouse。
　　Writingtomylegaladviserinthissense，Ihadawordofmyowntoaddonthesubjectofthetornletter。
　　Inthelastyearsofmyfather’slifeIhadtraveledwithhiminItaly，andIhadseenintheMuseumatNaplesthewonderfulrelicsofabygonetimediscoveredamongtheruinsofPompeii。BywayofencouragingMr。Playmore，Inowremindedhimthattheeruptionwhichhadoverwhelmedthetownhadpreserved，formorethansixteenhundredyears，suchperishablethingsasthestrawinwhichpotteryhadbeenpacked；thepaintingsonhousewalls；
　　thedresseswornbytheinhabitants；and（mostnoticeableofall，inourcase）apieceofancientpaper，stillattachedtothevolcanicasheswhichhadfallenoverit。Ifthesediscoverieshadbeenmadeafteralapseofsixteencenturies，underalayerofdustandashesonalargescale，surelywemighthopetomeetwithsimilarcasesofpreservation，afteralapseofthreeorfouryearsonly，underalayerofdustandashesonasmallscale。Takingforgranted（whatwasperhapsdoubtfulenough）thatthefragmentsofthelettercouldberecovered，myownconvictionwasthatthewritingonthem，thoughitmightbefaded，wouldcertainlystillbelegible。TheveryaccumulationswhichMr。
　　Playmoredeploredwouldbethemeansofpreservingthemfromtherainandthedamp。WiththesemodesthintsIclosedmyletter；
　　andthusforonce，thankstomyContinentalexperience，Iwasabletoinstructmylawyer！
　　Anotherdaypassed；andIheardnothingofthetravelers。
　　Ibegantofeelanxious。Imademypreparationsformyjourneysouthwardovernight；andIresolvedtostartforLondonthenextday——unlessIheardofsomechangeinMrs。Macallan’stravelingarrangementsintheinterval。
　　Thepostofthenextmorningdecidedmycourseofaction。Itbroughtmealetterfrommymother—in—law，whichaddedonemoretothememorabledatesinmydomesticcalendar。
　　EustaceandhismotherhadadvancedasfarasParisontheirhomewardjourney，whenacrueldisasterhadbefallenthem。Thefatiguesoftraveling，andtheexcitementofhisanticipatedmeetingwithme，hadprovedtogethertobetoomuchformyhusband。HehadheldoutasfarasPariswiththegreatestdifficulty；andhewasnowconfinedtohisbedagain，struckdownbyarelapse。Thedoctors，thistime，hadnofearforhislife，providedthathispatiencewouldsupporthimthroughalengthenedperiodofthemostabsoluterepose。
　　"Itnowrestswithyou，Valeria，"Mrs。Macallanwrote，"tofortifyandcomfortEustaceunderthisnewcalamity。DonotsupposethathehaseverblamedorthoughtofblamingyouforleavinghimwithmeinSpain，assoonashewasdeclaredtobeoutofdanger。’Itwas_I_wholeft_her，_’hesaidtome，whenwefirsttalkedaboutit；’anditismywife’srighttoexpectthatIshouldgobacktoher。’Thosewerehiswords，mydear；andhehasdoneallhecantoabidebythem。Helplessinhisbed，henowasksyoutotakethewillforthedeed，andtojoinhiminParis。IthinkIknowyouwellenough，mychild，tobesurethatyouwilldothis；andIneedonlyaddonewordofcaution，beforeIclosemyletter。Avoidallreference，notonlytotheTrial（youwilldothatofyourownaccord），buteventoourhouseatGleninch。Youwillunderstandhowhefeels，inhispresentstateofnervousdepression，whenItellyouthatIshouldneverhaveventuredonaskingyoutojoinhimhere，ifyourletterhadnotinformedmethatyourvisitstoDexterwereatanend。Wouldyoubelieveit？——hishorrorofanythingwhichrecallsourpasttroublesisstillsovividthathehasactuallyaskedmetogivemyconsenttosellingGleninch！"
　　SoEustace’smotherwroteofhim。Butshehadnottrustedentirelytoherownpowersofpersuasion。Aslipofpaperwasinclosedinherletter，containingthesetwolines，tracedinpencil——oh，sofeeblyandsowearily！——bymypoordarlinghimself：
　　"Iamtooweaktotravelanyfurther，Valeria。Willyoucometomeandforgiveme？"Afewpencil—marksfollowed；buttheywereillegible。Thewritingofthosetwoshortsentenceshadexhaustedhim。
　　Itisnotsayingmuchformyself，Iknow——but，havingconfesseditwhenIwaswrong，letme，atleast，recorditwhenIdidwhatwasright——Idecidedinstantlyongivingupallfurtherconnectionwiththerecoveryofthetornletter。IfEustaceaskedmethequestion，Iwasresolvedtobeabletoanswertruly："I
　　havemadethesacrificethatassuresyourtranquillity。Whenresignationwashardest，Ihavehumbledmyobstinatespirit，andIhavegivenwayformyhusband’ssake。"
　　TherewashalfanhourtosparebeforeIleftthevicaragefortherailwaystation。InthatintervalIwroteagaintoMr。
　　Playmore，tellinghimplainlywhatmypositionwas，andwithdrawing，atonceandforever，fromallshareininvestigatingthemysterywhichlayhiddenunderthedust—heapatGleninch。
　　CHAPTERXLIV。
　　OURNEWHONEYMOON。
　　ItisnottobedisguisedordeniedthatmyspiritsweredepressedonmyjourneytoLondon。
　　Toresigntheonecherishedpurposeofmylife，whenIhadsufferedsomuchinpursuingit，andwhenIhad（toallappearance）sonearlyreachedtherealizationofmyhopes，wasputtingtoahardtrialawoman’sfortitudeandawoman’ssenseofduty。Still，eveniftheopportunityhadbeenofferedtome，I
　　wouldnothaverecalledmylettertoMr。Playmore。"Itisdone，andwelldone，"Isaidtomyself；"andIhaveonlytowaitadaytobereconciledtoit——whenIgivemyhusbandmyfirstkiss。"
　　IhadplannedandhopedtoreachLondonintimetostartforParisbythenight—mail。ButthetrainwastwicedelayedonthelongjourneyfromtheNorth；andtherewasnohelpforitbuttosleepatBenjamin’svilla，andtodefermydepartureuntilthemorning。
　　Itwas，ofcourse，impossibleformetowarnmyoldfriendofthechangeinmyplans。Myarrivaltookhimbysurprise。Ifoundhimaloneinhislibrary，withawonderfulilluminationoflampsandcandles，absorbedoversomemorselsoftornpaperscatteredonthetablebeforehim。
　　"Whatintheworldareyouabout？"Iasked。
　　Benjaminblushed——Iwasgoingtosay，likeayounggirl；butyounggirlshavegivenupblushingintheselatterdaysoftheagewelivein。
　　"Oh，nothing，nothing！"hesaid，confusedly。"Don’tnoticeit。"
　　Hestretchedouthishandtobrushthemorselsofpaperoffthetable。Thosemorselsraisedasuddensuspicioninmymind。I
　　stoppedhim。
　　"YouhaveheardfromMr。Playmore！"Isaid。"Tellmethetruth，Benjamin。Yesorno？"
　　Benjaminblushedashadedeeper，andanswered，"Yes。"
　　"Whereistheletter？"
　　"Imustn’tshowittoyou，Valeria。"
　　This（needIsayit？）mademedeterminedtoseetheletter。MybestwayofpersuadingBenjamintoshowittomewastotellhimofthesacrificethatIhadmadetomyhusband’swishes。"Ihavenofurthervoiceinthematter，"Iadded，whenIhaddone。"ItnowrestsentirelywithMr。Playmoretogoonortogiveup；andthisismylastopportunityofdiscoveringwhathereallythinksaboutit。Don’tIdeservesomelittleindulgence？HaveInoclaimtolookattheletter？"
　　Benjaminwastoomuchsurprised，andtoomuchpleasedwithme，whenheheardwhathadhappened，tobeabletoresistmyentreaties。Hegavemetheletter。
　　Mr。PlaymorewrotetoappealconfidentiallytoBenjaminasacommercialman。Inthelongcourseofhisoccupationinbusiness，itwasjustpossiblethathemighthaveheardofcasesinwhichdocumentshavebeenputtogetheragainafterhavingbeentornupbydesignorbyaccident。Evenifhisexperiencefailedinthisparticular，hemightbeabletorefertosomeauthorityinLondonwhowouldbecapableofgivinganopiniononthesubject。Bywayofexplaininghisstrangerequest，Mr。PlaymorerevertedtothenoteswhichBenjaminhadtakenatMiserrimusDexter’shouse，andinformedhimoftheseriousimportanceof"thegibberish"whichhehadreportedunderprotest。Theletterclosedbyrecommendingthatanycorrespondencewhichensuedshouldbekeptasecretfromme——onthegroundthatitmightexcitefalsehopesinmymindifIwereinformedofit。
　　Inowunderstoodthetonewhichmyworthyadviserhadadoptedinwritingtome。Hisinterestintherecoveryoftheletterwasevidentlysooverpoweringthatcommonprudencecompelledhimtoconcealitfromme，incaseofultimatefailure。ThisdidnotlookasifMr。Playmorewaslikelytogiveuptheinvestigationonmywithdrawalfromit。IglancedagainatthefragmentsofpaperonBenjamin’stable，withaninterestinthemwhichIhadnotfeltyet。
　　"HasanythingbeenfoundatGleninch？"Iasked。
　　"No，"saidBenjamin。"Ihaveonlybeentryingexperimentswithaletterofmyown，beforeIwrotetoMr。Playmore。"
　　"Oh，youhavetornuptheletteryourself，then？"
　　"Yes。And，tomakeitallthemoredifficulttoputthemtogetheragain，Ishookupthepiecesinabasket。It’sachildishthingtodo，mydear，atmyage——"
　　Hestopped，lookingverymuchashamedofhimself。
　　"Well，"Iwenton；"andhaveyousucceededinputtingyourlettertogetheragain？"
　　"It’snotveryeasy，Valeria。ButIhavemadeabeginning。It’sthesameprincipleastheprincipleinthe’Puzzles’whichweusedtoputtogetherwhenIwasaboy。Onlygetonecentralbitofitright，andtherestofthePuzzlefallsintoitsplaceinalongerorashortertime。Pleasedon’ttellanybody，mydear。
　　PeoplemightsayIwasinmydotage。Tothinkofthatgibberishinmynote—bookhavingameaninginit，afterall！IonlygotMr。
　　Playmore’sletterthismorning；and——Iamreallyalmostashamedtomentionit——Ihavebeentryingexperimentsontornletters，offandon，eversince。Youwon’ttelluponme，willyou？"
　　Iansweredthedearoldmanbyaheartyembrace。Nowthathehadlosthissteadymoralbalance，andhadcaughttheinfectionofmyenthusiasm，Ilovedhimbetterthanever。
　　ButIwasnotquitehappy，thoughItriedtoappearso。StruggleagainstitasImight，IfeltalittlemortifiedwhenI
　　rememberedthatIhadresignedallfurtherconnectionwiththesearchfortheletteratsuchatimeasthis。MyonecomfortwastothinkofEustace。Myoneencouragementwastokeepmymindfixedasconstantlyaspossibleonthebrightchangeforthebetterthatnowappearedinthedomesticprospect。Here，atleast，therewasnodisastertofear；hereIcouldhonestlyfeelthatIhadtriumphed。Myhusbandhadcomebacktomeofhisownfreewill；hehadnotgivenway，underthehardweightofevidence——hehadyieldedtothenoblerinfluencesofhisgratitudeandhislove。AndIhadtakenhimtomyheartagain——notbecauseIhadmadediscoverieswhichlefthimnootheralternativethantolivewithme，butbecauseIbelievedinthebettermindthathadcometohim，andlovedandtrustedhimwithoutreserve。Wasitnotworthsomesacrificetohavearrivedatthisresult！True——mosttrue！AndyetIwasalittleoutofspirits。Ah，well！well！theremedywaswithinaday’sjourney。
　　ThesoonerIwaswithEustacethebetter。
　　EarlythenextmorningIleftLondonforParisbythetidal—train。BenjaminaccompaniedmetotheTerminus。
　　"IshallwritetoEdinburghbyto—day’spost，"hesaid，intheintervalbeforethetrainmovedoutofthestation。"IthinkI
　　canfindthemanMr。Playmorewantstohelphim，ifhedecidestogoon。Haveyouanymessagetosend，Valeria？"
　　"No。Ihavedonewithit，Benjamin；Ihavenothingmoretosay。"
　　"ShallIwriteandtellyouhowitends，ifMr。PlaymoredoesreallytrytheexperimentatGleninch？"
　　Ianswered，asIfelt，alittlebitterly。
　　"Yes，"Isaid"Writeandtellmeiftheexperimentfail。"
　　Myoldfriendsmiled。HeknewmebetterthanIknewmyself。
　　"Allright！"hesaid，resignedly。"Ihavegottheaddressofyourbanker’scorrespondentinParis。Youwillhavetogothereformoney，mydear；andyou_may_findaletterwaitingforyouintheofficewhenyouleastexpectit。Letmehearhowyourhusbandgoeson。Good—by——andGodblessyou！"
　　ThateveningIwasrestoredtoEustace。
　　Hewastooweak，poorfellow，eventoraisehisheadfromthepillow。Ikneltdownatthebedsideandkissedhim。Hislanguid，wearyeyeskindledwithanewlifeasmylipstouchedhis。"I
　　musttrytolivenow，"hewhispered，"foryoursake。"
　　Mymother—in—lawhaddelicatelyleftustogether。WhenhesaidthosewordsthetemptationtotellhimofthenewhopethathadcometobrightenourliveswasmorethanIcouldresist。
　　"Youmusttrytolivenow，Eustace，"Isaid，"forsomeoneelsebesidesme。"
　　Hiseyeslookedwonderinglyintomine。
　　"Doyoumeanmymother？"heasked。
　　Ilaidmyheadonhisbosom，andwhisperedback——"Imeanyourchild。"
　　IhadallmyrewardforallthatIhadgivenup。IforgotMr。
　　Playmore；IforgotGleninch。Ournewhoneymoondates，inmyremembrance，fromthatday。
　　Thequiettimepassed，intheby—streetinwhichwelived。TheouterstirandtumultofParisianliferanitsdailycoursearoundus，unnoticedandunheard。Steadily，thoughslowly，Eustacegainedstrength。Thedoctors，withawordortwoofcaution，lefthimalmostentirelytome。"Youarehisphysician，"
　　theysaid；"thehappieryoumakehim，thesoonerhewillrecover。"Thequiet，monotonousroundofmynewlifewasfarfromwearyingme。I，too，wantedrepose——Ihadnointerests，nopleasures，outofmyhusband’sroom。
　　Once，andonceonly，theplacidsurfaceofourliveswasjustgentlyruffledbyanallusiontothepast。SomethingthatI
　　accidentallysaidremindedEustaceofourlastinterviewatMajorFitz—David’shouse。Hereferred，verydelicately，towhatIhadthensaidoftheVerdictpronouncedonhimattheTrial；andheleftmetoinferthatawordfrommylips，confirmingwhathismotherhadalreadytoldhim，wouldquiethismindatonceandforever。
　　Myanswerinvolvednoembarrassmentsordifficulties；IcouldanddidhonestlytellhimthatIhadmadehiswishesmylaw。Butitwashardlyinwomanhood，Iamafraid，tobesatisfiedwithmerelyreplying，andtoleaveitthere。IthoughtitduetomethatEustacetooshouldconcedesomething，inthewayofanassurancewhichmightquiet_my_mind。Asusualwithme，thewordsfollowedtheimpulsetospeakthem。"Eustace，"Iasked，"areyouquitecuredofthosecrueldoubtswhichoncemadeyouleaveme？"
　　Hisanswer（asheafterwardsaid）mademeblushwithpleasure。
　　"Ah，Valeria，IshouldneverhavegoneawayifIhadknownyouthenaswellasIknowyounow！"
　　Sothelastshadowsofdistrustmeltedawayoutofourlives。
　　TheveryremembranceoftheturmoilandthetroubleofmypastdaysinLondonseemednowtofadefrommymemory。Wewereloversagain；wewereabsorbedagainineachother；wecouldalmostfancythatourmarriagedatedbackoncemoretoadayortwosince。Butonelastvictoryovermyselfwaswantingtomakemyhappinesscomplete。Istillfeltsecretlongings，inthosedangerousmomentswhenIwasleftbymyself，toknowwhetherthesearchforthetornletterhadorhadnottakenplace。Whatwaywardcreaturesweare！Witheverythingthatawomancouldwanttomakeherhappy，IwasreadytoputthathappinessinperilratherthanremainignorantofwhatwasgoingonatGleninch！I
　　actuallyhailedthedaywhenmyemptypursegavemeanexcuseforgoingtomybanker’scorrespondentonbusiness，andsoreceivinganyletterswaitingformewhichmightbeplacedinmyhands。
　　IappliedformymoneywithoutknowingwhatIwasabout；
　　wonderingallthetimewhetherBenjaminhadwrittentomeornot。
　　Myeyeswanderedoverthedesksandtablesintheoffice，lookingforlettersfurtively。Nothingofthesortwasvisible。Butamanappearedfromaninneroffice：anuglyman，whowasyetbeautifultomyeyes，forthissufficientreason——hehadaletterinhishand，andhesaid，"Isthisforyou，ma’am？"
　　AglanceattheaddressshowedmeBenjamin’shandwriting。
　　Hadtheytriedtheexperimentofrecoveringtheletter？andhadtheyfailed？
　　Somebodyputmymoneyinmybag，andpolitelyledmeouttothelittlehiredcarriagewhichwaswaitingformeatthedoor。I
　　remembernothingdistinctlyuntilIopenedtheletteronmywayhome。Thefirstwordstoldmethatthedust—heaphadbeenexamined，andthatthefragmentsofthetornletterhadbeenfound。
　　CHAPTERXLV。
　　THEDUST—HEAPDISTURBED。
　　Myheadturnedgiddy。Iwasobligedtowaitandletmyoverpoweringagitationsubside，beforeIcouldreadanymore。
　　Lookingattheletteragain，afteraninterval，myeyesfellaccidentallyonasentenceneartheend，whichsurprisedandstartledme。
　　Istoppedthedriverofthecarriage，attheentrancetothestreetinwhichourlodgingsweresituated，andtoldhimtotakemetothebeautifulparkofParis——thefamousBoisdeBoulogne。
　　Myobjectwastogaintimeenough，inthisway，toreadthelettercarefullythroughbymyself，andtoascertainwhetherI
　　oughtoroughtnottokeepthereceiptofitasecretbeforeI
　　confrontedmyhusbandandhismotherathome。
　　Thisprecautiontaken，IreadthenarrativewhichmygoodBenjaminhadsowiselyandsothoughtfullywrittenforme。
　　Treatingthevariousincidentsmethodically，hebeganwiththeReportwhichhadarrived，induecourseofmail，fromouragentinAmerica。
　　Ourmanhadsuccessfullytracedthelodgekeeper’sdaughterandherhusbandtoasmalltowninoneoftheWesternStates。Mr。
　　Playmore’sletterofintroductionatoncesecuredhimacordialreceptionfromthemarriedpair，andapatienthearingwhenhestatedtheobjectofhisvoyageacrosstheAtlantic。
　　Hisfirstquestionsledtonoveryencouragingresults。Thewomanwasconfusedandsurprised，andwasapparentlyquiteunabletoexerthermemorytoanyusefulpurpose。Fortunately，herhusbandprovedtobeaveryintelligentman。Hetooktheagentprivatelyaside，andsaidtohim，"Iunderstandmywife，andyoudon’t。
　　Tellmeexactlywhatitisyouwanttoknow，andleaveittometodiscoverhowmuchsheremembersandhowmuchsheforgets。"
　　Thissensiblesuggestionwasreadilyaccepted。Theagentwaitedforeventsadayandanight。
　　Earlythenextmorningthehusbandsaidtohim，"Talktomywifenow，andyou’llfindshehassomethingtotellyou。Onlymindthis。Don’tlaughatherwhenshespeaksoftrifles。Sheishalfashamedtospeakoftrifles，eventome。Thinksmenareabovesuchmatters，youknow。Listenquietly，andlethertalk——andyouwillgetatitallinthatway。"
　　Theagentfollowedhisinstructions，and"gotatit"asfollows：
　　Thewomanremembered，perfectlywell，beingsenttocleanthebedroomsandputthemtidy，afterthegentlefolkshadallleftGleninch。Hermotherhadabadhipatthetime，andcouldnotgowithherandhelpher。Shedidnotmuchfancybeingaloneinthegreathouse，afterwhathadhappenedinit。Onherwaytoherworkshepassedtwoofthecottagers’childrenintheneighborhoodatplayinthepark。Mr。Macallanwasalwayskindtohispoortenants，andneverobjectedtotheyoungonesroundabouthavingarunonthegrass。Thetwochildrenidlyfollowedhertothehouse。Shetooktheminside，alongwithher——notlikingtheplace，asalreadymentioned，andfeelingthattheywouldbecompanyinthesolitaryrooms。
　　ShebeganherworkintheGuests’Corridor——leavingtheroomintheothercorridor，inwhichthedeathhadhappened，tothelast。
　　Therewasverylittletodointhetwofirstrooms。Therewasnotlitterenough，whenshehadsweptthefloorsandcleanedthegrates，toevenhalffillthehousemaid’sbucketwhichshecarriedwithher。Thechildrenfollowedherabout；and，allthingsconsidered，were"verygoodcompany"inthelonelyplace。
　　Thethirdroom（thatistosay，thebedchamberwhichhadbeenoccupiedbyMiserrimusDexterwasinamuchworsestatethantheothertwo，andwantedagreatdealoftidying。Shedidnotmuchnoticethechildrenhere，beingoccupiedwithherwork。Thelitterwassweptupfromthecarpet，andthecindersandashesweretakenoutofthegrate，andthewholeofitwasinthebucket，whenherattentionwasrecalledtothechildrenbyhearingoneofthemcry。
　　Shelookedabouttheroomwithoutatfirstdiscoveringthem。
　　Afreshoutburstofcryingledherintherightdirection，andshowedherthechildrenunderatableinacorneroftheroom。
　　Theyoungestofthetwohadgotintoawaste—paperbasket。Theeldesthadfoundanoldbottleofgum，withabrushfixedinthecork，andwasgravelypaintingthefaceofthesmallerchildwithwhatlittleremainedofthecontentsofthebottle。Somenaturalstruggles，onthepartofthelittlecreature，hadendedintheoverthrowofthebasket，andtheusualoutburstofcryinghadfollowedasamatterofcourse。
　　Inthisstateofthingstheremedywassoonapplied。Thewomantookthebottleawayfromtheeldestchild，andgaveita"boxontheear。"Theyoungeroneshesetonitslegsagain，andsheputthetwo"inthecorner"tokeepthemquiet。Thisdone，shesweptupsuchfragmentsofthetornpaperinthebasketashadfallenonthefloor；threwthembackagainintothebasket，alongwiththegum—bottle；fetchedthebucket，andemptiedthebasketintoit；andthenproceededtothefourthandlastroominthecorridor，whereshefinishedherworkforthatday。
　　Leavingthehouse，withthechildrenafterher，shetookthefilledbuckettothedust—heap，andemptieditinahollowplaceamongtherubbish，abouthalf—wayupthemound。Thenshetookthechildrenhome；andtherewasanendofitfortheday。
　　Suchwastheresultoftheappealmadetothewoman’smemoryofdomesticeventsatGleninch。
　　TheconclusionatwhichMr。Playmorearrived，fromthefactssubmittedtohim，wasthatthechanceswerenowdecidedlyinfavoroftherecoveryoftheletter。Thrownin，nearlymidwaybetweenthecontentsofthehousemaid’sbucket，thetornmorselswouldbeprotectedaboveaswellasbelow，whentheywereemptiedonthedust—heap。
　　Succeedingweeksandmonthswouldaddtothatprotection，byaddingtotheaccumulatedrefuse。Intheneglectedconditionofthegrounds，thedust—heaphadnotbeendisturbedinsearchofmanure。Thereithadstood，untouched，fromthetimewhenthefamilyleftGleninchtothepresentday。Andthere，hiddendeepsomewhereinthemound，thefragmentsofthelettermustbe。
　　Suchwerethelawyer’sconclusions。HehadwrittenimmediatelytocommunicatethemtoBenjamin。And，thereupon，whathadBenjamindone？
　　Afterhavingtriedhispowersofreconstructiononhisowncorrespondence，theprospectofexperimentingonthemysteriousletteritselfhadprovedtobeatemptationtoopowerfulfortheoldmantoresist。"Ialmostfancy，mydear，thisbusinessofyourshasbewitchedme，"hewrote。"YouseeIhavethemisfortunetobeanidleman。Ihavetimetospareandmoneytospare。AndtheendofitisthatIamhereatGleninch，engagedonmyownsoleresponsibility（withgoodMr。Playmore’spermission）insearchingthedust—heap！"
　　Benjamin’sdescriptionofhisfirstviewofthefieldofactionatGleninchfollowedthesecharacteristiclinesofapology。
　　Ipassedoverthedescriptionwithoutceremony。Myremembranceofthescenewastoovividtorequireanypromptingofthatsort。I
　　sawagain，inthedimeveninglight，theunsightlymoundwhichhadsostrangelyattractedmyattentionatGleninch。IheardagainthewordsinwhichMr。Playmorehadexplainedtomethecustomofthedust—heapinScotchcountry—houses。WhathadBenjaminandMr。Playmoredone？WhathadBenjaminandMr。