"Thebestthingthatcanhappentothatunhappymanislikelytohappen，"hesaid。"Theonechangeinhimisachangethatthreatensparalysis。YoumayhearofhisdeathbeforeyougetbacktoEngland。"
　　"AndAriel？"Iasked。
　　"Quiteunaltered，"Benjaminanswered。"Perfectlyhappysolongassheiswith’theMaster。’FromallIcanhearofher，poorsoul，shedoesn’treckonDexteramongmoralbeings。Shelaughsattheideaofhisdying；andshewaitspatiently，inthefirmpersuasionthathewillrecognizeheragain。"
　　Benjamin’snewssaddenedandsilencedme。Ilefthimtohisletter。
　　CHAPTERL。
　　THELASTOFTHESTORY。
　　IntendaysmorewereturnedtoEngland，accompaniedbyBenjamin。
　　Mrs。Macallan’shouseinLondonofferedusampleaccommodation。
　　Wegladlyavailedourselvesofherproposal，whensheinvitedustostaywithheruntilourchildwasborn，andourplansforthefuturewerearranged。
　　Thesadnewsfromtheasylum（forwhichBenjaminhadpreparedmymindatParis）reachedmesoonafterourreturntoEngland。
　　MiserrimusDexter’sreleasefromtheburdenoflifehadcometohimbyslowdegrees。Afewhoursbeforehebreathedhislastheralliedforawhile，andrecognizedArielathisbedside。Hefeeblypronouncedhername，andlookedather，andaskedforme。
　　Theythoughtofsendingforme，butitwastoolate。Beforethemessengercouldbedispatched，hesaid，withatouchofhisoldself—importance，"Silence，allofyou！mybrainsareweary；Iamgoingtosleep。"Heclosedhiseyesinslumber，andneverawokeagain。Soforthismantootheendcamemercifully，withoutgrieforpain！Sothatstrangeandmany—sidedlife——withitsguiltanditsmisery，itsfitfulflashesofpoetryandhumor，itsfantasticgayety，cruelty，andvanity——ranitsdestinedcourse，andfadedoutlikeadream！
　　AlasforAriel！ShehadlivedfortheMaster——whatmorecouldshedo，nowtheMasterwasgone？Shecoulddieforhim。
　　TheyhadmercifullyallowedhertoattendthefuneralofMiserrimusDexter——inthehopethattheceremonymightavailtoconvinceherofhisdeath。Theanticipationwasnotrealized；shestillpersistedindenyingthat"theMaster"hadlefther。Theywereobligedtorestrainthepoorcreaturebyforcewhenthecoffinwasloweredintothegrave；andtheycouldonlyremoveherfromthecemeterybythesamemeanswhentheburial—servicewasover。Fromthattimeherlifealternated，forafewweeks，betweenfitsofravingdeliriumandintervalsoflethargicrepose。Attheannualballgivenintheasylum，whenthestrictsuperintendenceofthepatientswasinsomedegreerelaxed，thealarmwasraised，alittlebeforemidnight，thatArielwasmissing。Thenurseinchargehadleftherasleep，andhadyieldedtothetemptationofgoingdownstairstolookatthedancing。
　　Whenthewomanreturnedtoherpost，Arielwasgone。Thepresenceofstrangers，andtheconfusionincidentaltothefestival，offeredherfacilitiesforescapingwhichwouldnothavepresentedthemselvesatanyothertime。Thatnightthesearchforherprovedtobeuseless。Thenextmorningbroughtwithitthelasttouchingandterribletidingsofher。Shehadstrayedbacktotheburial—ground；andshehadbeenfoundtowardsunrise，deadofcoldandexposure，onMiserrimusDexter’sgrave。Faithfultothelast，ArielhadfollowedtheMaster！Faithfultothelast，ArielhaddiedontheMaster’sgrave！
　　Havingwrittenthesesadwords，Iturnwillinglytoalesspainfultheme。
　　EventshadseparatedmefromMajorFitz—David，afterthedateofthedinner—partywhichhadwitnessedmymemorablemeetingwithLadyClarinda。FromthattimeIheardlittleornothingoftheMajor；andIamashamedtosayIhadalmostentirelyforgottenhim——whenIwasremindedofthemodernDonJuanbytheamazingappearanceofwedding—cards，addressedtomeatmymother—in—law’shouse！TheMajorhadsettledinlifeatlast。
　　And，morewonderfulstill，theMajorhadchosenasthelawfulrulerofhishouseholdandhimself——"thefutureQueenofSong，"
　　theround—eyed，overdressedyoungladywiththestridentsopranovoice！
　　Wepaidourvisitofcongratulationindueform；andwereallydidfeelforMajorFitz—David。
　　TheordealofmarriagehadsochangedmygayandgallantadmirerofformertimesthatIhardlyknewhimagain。Hehadlostallhispretensionstoyouth：hehadbecome，hopelesslyandundisguisedly，anoldman。Standingbehindthechaironwhichhisimperiousyoungwifesatenthroned，helookedathersubmissivelybetweeneverytwowordsthatheaddressedtome，asifhewaitedforherpermissiontoopenhislipsandspeak。Wheneversheinterruptedhim——andshedidit，overandoveragain，withoutceremony——hesubmittedwithaseniledocilityandadmiration，atonceabsurdandshockingtosee。
　　"Isn’tshebeautiful？"hesaidtome（inhiswife’shearing！）。
　　"Whatafigure，andwhatavoice！Yourememberhervoice？It’saloss，mydearlady，anirretrievableloss，totheoperaticstage！
　　Doyouknow，whenIthinkwhatthatgrandcreaturemighthavedone，IsometimesaskmyselfifIreallyhadanyrighttomarryher。Ifeel，uponmyhonorIfeel，asifIhadcommittedafraudonthepublic！"
　　Asforthefavoredobjectofthisquaintmixtureofadmirationandregret，shewaspleasedtoreceivemegraciously，asanoldfriend。WhileEustacewastalkingtotheMajor，thebridedrewmeasideoutoftheirhearing，andexplainedhermotivesformarrying，withacandorwhichwaspositivelyshameless。
　　"Youseewearealargefamilyathome，quiteunprovidedfor！"
　　thisodiousyoungwomanwhisperedinmyear。"It’sallverywellaboutmybeinga’QueenofSong’andtherestofit。Lordblessyou，Ihavebeenoftenenoughtotheopera，andIhavelearnedenoughofmymusic—master，toknowwhatittakestomakeafinesinger。Ihaven’tthepatiencetoworkatitasthoseforeignwomendo：aparcelofbrazen—facedJezebels——Ihatethem！No！
　　no！betweenyouandme，itwasagreatdealeasiertogetthemoneybymarryingtheoldgentleman。HereIam，providedfor——andthere’sallmyfamilyprovidedfor，too——andnothingtodobuttospendthemoney。Iamfondofmyfamily；I’magooddaughterandsister——_I_am！SeehowI’mdressed；lookatthefurniture：I
　　haven’tplayedmycardsbadly，haveI？It’sagreatadvantagetomarryanoldman——youcantwisthimroundyourlittlefinger。
　　Happy？Oh，yes！I’mquitehappy；andIhopeyouare，too。Whereareyoulivingnow？Ishallcallsoon，andhavealonggossipwithyou。Ialwayshadasortoflikingforyou，and（nowI’masgoodasyouare）Iwanttobefriends。"
　　Imadeashortandcivilreplytothis；determininginwardlythatwhenshedidvisitmesheshouldgetnofurtherthanthehouse—door。Idon’tscrupletosaythatIwasthoroughlydisgustedwithher。Whenawomansellsherselftoaman，thatvilebargainisnonethelessinfamous（tomymind）becauseithappenstobemadeunderthesanctionoftheChurchandtheLaw。
　　AsIsitatthedeskthinking，thepictureoftheMajorandhiswifevanishesfrommymemory——andthelastsceneinmystorycomesslowlyintoview。
　　Theplaceismybedroom。Thepersons（both，ifyouwillbepleasedtoexcusethem，inbed）aremyselfandmyson。Heisalreadythreeweeksold；andheisnowlyingfastasleepbyhismother’sside。MygoodUncleStarkweatheriscomingtoLondontobaptizehim。Mrs。Macallanwillbehisgodmother；andhisgodfatherswillbeBenjaminandMr。Playmore。Iwonderwhethermychristeningwillpassoffmoremerrilythanmywedding？
　　Thedoctorhasjustleftthehouse，insomelittleperplexityaboutme。Hehasfoundmerecliningasusual（latterly）inmyarm—chair；butonthisparticulardayhehasdetectedsymptomsofexhaustion，whichhefindsquiteunaccountableunderthecircumstances，andwhichwarnhimtoexerthisauthoritybysendingmebacktomybed。
　　ThetruthisthatIhavenottakenthedoctorintomyconfidence。
　　Therearetwocausesforthosesignsofexhaustionwhichhavesurprisedmymedicalattendant——andthenamesofthemare——AnxietyandSuspense。
　　OnthisdayIhaveatlastsummonedcourageenoughtoperformthepromisewhichImadetomyhusbandinParis。Heisinformed，bythistime，howhiswife’sConfessionwasdiscovered。Heknows（onMr。Playmore’sauthority）thatthelettermaybemadethemeans，ifhesowillit，ofpubliclyvindicatinghisinnocenceinaCourtofLaw。And，lastandmostimportantofall，heisnowawarethattheConfessionitselfhasbeenkeptasealedsecretfromhim，outofcompassionateregardforhisownpeaceofmind，aswellasforthememoryoftheunhappywomanwhowasoncehiswife。
　　ThesenecessarydisclosuresIhavecommunicatedtomyhusband——notbywordofmouth；whenthetimecame，Ishrankfromspeakingtohimpersonallyofhisfirstwife——butbyawrittenstatementofthecircumstances，takenmainlyoutofmylettersreceivedinParisfromBenjaminandMr。Playmore。HehasnowhadampletimetoreadallthatIhavewrittentohim，andtoreflectonitintheretirementofhisownstudy。Iamwaiting，withthefatalletterinmyhand——andmymother—in—lawiswaitinginthenextroomtome——tohearfromhisownlipswhetherhedecidestobreakthesealornot。
　　Theminutespass；andstillwefailtohearhisfootsteponthestairs。MydoubtsastowhichwayhisdecisionmayturnaffectmemoreandmoreuneasilythelongerIwait。Theverypossessionoftheletter，inthepresentexcitedstateofmynerves，oppressesandrevoltsme。Ishrinkfromtouchingitorlookingatit。I
　　moveitaboutrestlesslyfromplacetoplaceonthebed，andstillIcannotkeepitoutofmymind。Atlast，anoddfancystrikesme。Iliftuponeofthebaby’shands，andputtheletterunderit——andsoassociatethatdreadfulrecordofsinandmiserywithsomethinginnocentandprettythatseemstohallowandtopurifyit。
　　Theminutespass；thehalf—hourlongerstrikesfromtheclockonthechimney—piece；andatlastIhearhim！Heknockssoftly，andopensthedoor。
　　Heisdeadlypale：IfancyIcandetecttracesoftearsonhischeeks。Butnooutwardsignsofagitationescapehimashetakeshisseatbymyside。Icanseethathehaswaiteduntilhecouldcontrolhimself——formysake。
　　Hetakesmyhand，andkissesmetenderly。
　　"Valeria！"hesays；"letmeoncemoreaskyoutoforgivewhatI
　　saidanddidinthebygonetime。IfIunderstandnothingelse，mylove，Iunderstandthis：Theproofofmyinnocencehasbeenfound；andIoweitentirelytothecourageandthedevotionofmywife！"
　　Iwaitalittle，toenjoythefullluxuryofhearinghimsaythosewords——torevelintheloveandthegratitudethatmoistenhisdeareyesastheylookatme。ThenIrousemyresolution，andputthemomentousquestiononwhichourfuturedepends。
　　"Doyouwishtoseetheletter，Eustace？"
　　Insteadofansweringdirectly，hequestionsmeinhisturn。
　　"Haveyougottheletterhere？"
　　"Yes。"
　　"Sealedup？"
　　"Sealedup。"
　　Hewaitsalittle，consideringwhatheisgoingtosaynextbeforehesaysit，"LetmebesurethatIknowexactlywhatitisIhavetodecide，"
　　heproceeds。"SupposeIinsistonreadingtheletter——？"
　　ThereIinterrupthim。Iknowitismydutytorestrainmyself。
　　ButIcannotdomyduty。
　　"Mydarling，don’ttalkofreadingtheletter！Pray，prayspareyourself——"
　　Heholdsuphishandforsilence。
　　"Iamnotthinkingofmyself，"hesays。"Iamthinkingofmydeadwife。IfIgiveupthepublicvindicationofmyinnocence，inmyownlifetime——ifIleavethesealoftheletterunbroken——doyousay，asMr。Playmoresays，thatIshallbeactingmercifullyandtenderlytowardthememoryofmywife？"
　　"Oh，Eustace，therecannotbetheshadowofadoubtofit！"
　　"ShallIbemakingsomelittleatonementforanypainthatImayhavethoughtlesslycausedhertosufferinherlifetime？"
　　"Yes！yes！"
　　"And，Valeria——shallIpleaseYou？"
　　"Mydarling，youwillenchantme！"
　　"Whereistheletter？"
　　"Inyourson’shand，Eustace。"
　　Hegoesaroundtotheothersideofthebed，andliftsthebaby’slittlepinkhandtohislips。Forawhilehewaitsso，insadandsecretcommunionwithhimself。Iseehismothersoftlyopenthedoor，andwatchhimasIamwatchinghim。Inamomentmoreoursuspenseisatanend。Withaheavysigh，helaysthechild’shandbackagainonthesealedletter；andbythatonelittleactionsays（asifinwords）tohisson——"IleaveittoYou！"
　　Andsoitended！NotasIthoughtitwouldend；notperhapsasyouthoughtitwouldend。Whatdoweknowofourownlives？Whatdoweknowofthefulfillmentofourdearestwishes？Godknows——andthatisbest。
　　MustIshutupthepaper？Yes。Thereisnothingmoreforyoutoreadorformetosay。
　　Exceptthis——asapostscript。Don’tbearhardly，goodpeople，onthefolliesandtheerrorsofmyhusband’slife。Abuse_me_asmuchasyouplease。ButpraythinkkindlyofEustaceformysake。
　　End