"Iamonlycold，"shesaid，inahurriedway，withherfaceundertheclothes。
　　Herangforthemaid，andhadafreshcoveringplacedonthebed。
　　Observingthatsheseemedunwillingtobedisturbed，hedidnotremovetheclothesfromherfacewhenhewishedhergoodnight，butpressedhislipsonherhead，andpatteditgentlywithhishand。Sheshrankatthetouchasifithurther，lightasitwas，andhewentdownstairs，resolvedtosendforthedoctoragainifshedidnotgettorestonbeingleftquiet。Inlessthanhalfanhourafterwardthemaidcamedownandrelievedhisanxietybyreportingthathermistresswasasleep。
　　Thenextmorninghefoundherinbetterspirits。Hereyes，shesaid，felttooweaktobearthelight，soshekeptthebedroomdarkened。Butinotherrespectsshehadlittletocomplainof。
　　Afteransweringherhusband’sfirstinquiries，shequestionedhimabouthisplansfortheday。Hehadletterstowritewhichwouldoccupyhimuntiltwelveo’clock。Attwoo’clockheexpectedthevolumeofthe_Times_toarrive，andheshouldthendevotetherestoftheafternoontohiswork。Afterhearingwhathisplanswere，Mrs。Carlingsuggestedthatheshouldrideoutafterhehaddonehisletters，soastogetsomeexerciseatthefinepartoftheday；andshethenremindedhimthatalongertimethanusualhadelapsedsincehehadbeentoseeacertainoldpensionerofhis，whohadnursedhimasachild，andwhowasnowbedridden，inavillageatsomedistance，calledTringweighton。Althoughtherectorsawnoimmediatenecessityformakingthischaritablevisit，themoreespeciallyastheridetothevillageandback，andtheintermediatetimedevotedtogossip，wouldoccupyatleasttwohoursandahalf，heassentedtohiswife’sproposal，perceivingthatsheurgeditwithunusualearnestness，andbeingunwillingtothwarther，eveninatrifle，atatimewhenshewasill。
　　Accordingly，hishorsewasatthedoorattwelveprecisely。
　　Impatienttogetbacktothepreciousvolumeofthe_Times，_herodesomuchfasterthanusual，andsoshortenedhisvisittotheoldwoman，thathewashomeagainbyaquarterpasttwo。
　　AscertainingfromtheservantwhoopenedthedoorthatthevolumehadbeenleftbyMr。Rambert’smessengerpunctuallyattwo，heranuptohiswife’sroomtotellherabouthisvisitbeforehesecludedhimselffortherestoftheafternoonoverhiswork。Onenteringthebedroomhefounditstilldarkened，andhewasstruckbyasmellofburnedpaperinit。
　　Hiswife（whowasnowdressedinherwrapperandlyingonthesofa）accountedforthesmellbytellinghimthatshehadfanciedtheroomfeltclose，andthatshehadburnedsomepaper——beingafraidofthecoldairifsheopenedthewindow——tofumigateit。
　　Hereyeswereevidentlystillweak，forshekeptherhandoverthemwhileshespoke。Afterremainingwithherlongenoughtorelatethefewtrivialeventsofhisride，Mr。Carlingdescendedtohisstudytooccupyhimselfatlastwiththevolumeofthe_Times_。
　　Itlayonhistableintheshapeofalargeflatbrownpaperpackage。Onproceedingtoundothecovering，heobservedthatithadbeenverycarelesslytiedup。Thestringswerecrookedandlooselyknotted，andthedirectionbearinghisnameandaddress，insteadofbeinginthemiddleofthepaper，wasawkwardlyfoldedoverattheedgeofthevolume。However，hisbusinesswaswiththeinsideoftheparcel；sohetossedawaythecoveringandthestring，andbeganatoncetohuntthroughthevolumefortheparticularnumberofthepaperwhichhewishedfirsttoconsult。
　　Hesoonfoundit，withthereportofthespeechesdeliveredbythemembersofthedeputation，andtheanswerreturnedbytheminister。Afterreadingthroughthereport，andputtingamarkintheplacewhereitoccurred，heturnedtothenextday’snumberofthepaper，toseewhatfurtherhintsonthesubjectthelettersaddressedtotheeditormighthappentocontain。
　　Tohisinexpressiblevexationandamazement，hefoundthatonenumberofthepaperwasmissing。
　　Hebentthetwosidesofthevolumeback，lookedcloselybetweentheleaves，andsawimmediatelythatthemissingnumberhadbeencutout。
　　Avaguesenseofsomethinglikealarmbegantominglewithhisfirstfeelingofdisappointment。HewroteatoncetoMr。Rambert，mentioningthediscoveryhehadjustmade，andsentthenoteoffbyhisgroom，withorderstothemantowaitforananswer。
　　Thereplywithwhichtheservantreturnedwasalmostinsolentintheshortnessandcoolnessofitstone。Mr。Ramberthadnobooksinhislibrarywhichwerenotinperfectcondition。Thevolumeofthe_Times_hadlefthishouseperfect，andwhateverblamemightattachtothemutilationofitrestedthereforeonothershouldersthanthoseoftheowner。
　　Likemanyotherweakmen，Mr。Carlingwassecretlytouchyonthesubjectofhisdignity。Afterreadingthenoteandquestioninghisservants，whowerecertainthatthevolumehadnotbeentouchedtillhehadopenedit，heresolvedthatthemissingnumberofthe_Times_shouldbeprocuredatanyexpenseandinsertedinitsplace；thatthevolumeshouldbesentbackinstantlywithoutawordofcomment；andthatnomorebooksfromMr。Rambert’slibraryshouldenterhishouse。
　　Hewalkedupanddownthestudyconsideringwhatfirststepheshouldtaketoeffectthepurposeinview。Underthequickeninginfluenceofhisirritation，anideaoccurredtohim，which，ifithadonlyenteredhismindthedaybefore，mightprobablyhaveprovedthemeansofsavinghimfromplacinghimselfunderanobligationtoMr。Rambert。HeresolvedtowriteimmediatelytohisbooksellerandpublisherinLondon（whoknewhimwellasanoldandexcellentcustomer），mentioningthedateofthebacknumberofthe_Times_thatwasrequired，andauthorizingthepublishertoofferanyrewardhejudgednecessarytoanypersonwhomighthavethemeansofprocuringitattheofficeofthepaperorelsewhere。ThisletterhewroteanddispatchedingoodtimefortheLondonpost，andthenwentupstairstoseehiswifeandtotellherwhathadhappened。Herroomwasstilldarkenedandshewasstillonthesofa。Onthesubjectofthemissingnumbershesaidnothing，butofMr。Rambertandhisnoteshespokewiththemostsovereigncontempt。Ofcoursethepompousoldfoolwasmistaken，andtheproperthingtodowastosendbackthevolumeinstantlyandtakenomorenoticeofhim。
　　"Itshallbesentback，"saidMr。Carling，"butnottillthemissingnumberisreplaced。"Andhethentoldherwhathehaddone。
　　TheeffectofthatsimplepieceofinformationonMrs。Carlingwassoextraordinaryandsounaccountablethatherhusbandfairlystoodaghast。Forthefirsttimesincetheirmarriagehesawhertempersuddenlyinaflame。Shestartedupfromthesofaandwalkedabouttheroomasifshehadlosthersenses，upbraidinghimformakingtheweakestofconcessionstoMr。Rambert’sinsolentassumptionthattherectorwastoblame。Ifshecouldonlyhavelaidhandsonthatletter，shewouldhaveconsultedherhusband’sdignityandindependencebyputtingitinthefire！Shehopedandprayedthenumberofthepapermightnotbefound！Infact，itwascertainthatthenumber，afteralltheseyears，couldnotpossiblybehuntedup。Theideaofhisacknowledginghimselftobeinthewronginthatway，whenheknewhimselftobeintheright！Itwasalmostridiculous——no，itwas_quite_
　　ridiculous！Andshethrewherselfbackonthesofa，andsuddenlyburstoutlaughing。
　　Atthefirstwordofremonstrancewhichfellfromherhusband’slipshermoodchangedagaininaninstant。Shespranguponcemore，kissedhimpassionately，withthetearsstreamingfromhereyes，andimploredhimtoleaveheralonetorecoverherself。Hequittedtheroomsoseriouslyalarmedaboutherthatheresolvedtogotothedoctorprivatelyandquestionhimonthespot。Therewasanunspeakabledreadinhismindthatthenervousattackfromwhichshehadbeenpronouncedtobesufferingmightbeamerephraseintendedtopreparehimforthefuturedisclosureofsomethinginfinitelyandindescribablyworse。
　　Thedoctor，onhearingMr。Carling’sreport，exhibitednosurpriseandheldtohisopinion。Hernervoussystemwasoutoforder，andherhusbandhadbeenneedlesslyfrightenedbyahystericalparoxysm。Ifshedidnotgetbetterinaweek，changeofscenemightthenbetried。Inthemeantime，therewasnottheleastcauseforalarm。
　　Onthenextdayshewasquieter，butshehardlyspokeatall。Atnightshesleptwell，andMr。Carling’sfaithinthemedicalmanrevivedagain。
　　ThemorningafterwasthemorningwhichwouldbringtheanswerfromthepublisherinLondon。Therector’sstudywasonthegroundfloor，andwhenheheardthepostman’sknock，beingespeciallyanxiousthatmorningabouthiscorrespondence，hewentoutintothehalltoreceivehislettersthemomenttheywereputonthetable。
　　Itwasnotthefootmanwhohadansweredthedoor，asusual，butMrs。Carling’smaid。Shehadtakenthelettersfromthepostman，andshewasgoingawaywiththemupstairs。
　　Hestoppedher，andaskedherwhyshedidnotputthelettersonthehalltableasusual。Themaid，lookingverymuchconfused，saidthathermistresshaddesiredthatwhateverthepostmanhadbroughtthatmorningshouldbecarrieduptoherroom。Hetookthelettersabruptlyfromthegirl，withoutaskinganymorequestions，andwentbackintohisstudy。
　　Uptothistimenoshadowofasuspicionhadfallenonhismind。
　　Hithertotherehadbeenasimpleobviousexplanationforeveryunusualeventthathadoccurredduringthelastthreeorfourdays；butthislastcircumstanceinconnectionwiththeletterswasnottobeaccountedfor。Nevertheless，evennow，itwasnotdistrustofhiswifethatwasbusyathismind——hewastoofondofherandtooproudofhertofeelit——thesensationwasmorelikeuneasysurprise。Helongedtogoandquestionher，andgetasatisfactoryanswer，andhavedonewithit。Buttherewasavoicespeakingwithinhimthathadnevermadeitselfheardbefore——avoicewithapersistentwarninginit，thatsaid，Wait；andlookatyourlettersfirst。
　　Hespreadthemoutonthetablewithhandsthattrembledheknewnotwhy。Amongthemwasthebacknumberofthe_Times_forwhichhehadwrittentoLondon，withaletterfromthepublisherexplainingthemeansbywhichthecopyhadbeenprocured。
　　Heopenedthenewspaperwithavaguefeelingofalarmatfindingthatthoseletterstotheeditorwhichhehadbeensoeagertoread，andthatperfectingofthemutilatedvolumewhichhehadbeensoanxioustoaccomplish，hadbecomeobjectsofsecondaryimportanceinhismind。Aninexplicablecuriosityaboutthegeneralcontentsofthepaperwasnowtheonemovinginfluencewhichasserteditselfwithinhim，hespreadopenthebroadsheetonthetable。
　　Thefirstpageonwhichhiseyefellwasthepageontheright—handside。Itcontainedthoseveryletters——threeinnumber——whichhehadoncebeensoanxioustosee。Hetriedtoreadthem，butnoeffortcouldfixhiswanderingattention。Helookedasidetotheoppositepage，onthelefthand。Itwasthepagethatcontainedtheleadingarticles。
　　Theywerethreeinnumber。Thefirstwasonforeignpolitics；thesecondwasasarcasticcommentaryonarecentdivisionintheHouseofLords；thethirdwasoneofthosearticlesonsocialsubjectswhichhavegreatlyandhonorablyhelpedtoraisethereputationofthe_Times_aboveallcontestandallrivalry。
　　Thelinesofthisthirdarticlewhichfirstcaughthiseyecomprisedtheopeningsentenceofthesecondparagraph，andcontainedthesewords：
　　Itappears，fromthenarrativewhichwillbefoundinanotherpartofourcolumns，thatthisunfortunatewomanmarried，inthespringoftheyear18——，oneMr。FergusDuncan，ofGlendarn，intheHighlandsofScotland……
　　Thelettersswamandmingledtogetherunderhiseyesbeforehecouldgoontothenextsentence。Hiswifeexhibitedasanobjectforpubliccompassioninthe_Times_newspaper！Onthebrinkofthedreadfuldiscoverythatwasadvancingonhim，hismindreeledback，andadeadlyfaintnesscameoverhim。Therewaswateronaside—table——hedrankadeepdraughtofit——rousedhimself——seizedonthenewspaperwithbothhands，asifithadbeenalivingthingthatcouldfeelthedesperateresolutionofhisgrasp，andreadthearticlethrough，sentencebysentence，wordbyword。
　　ThesubjectwastheLawofDivorce，andtheexamplequotedwastheexampleofhiswife。
　　AtthattimeEnglandstooddisgracefullyaloneastheonecivilizedcountryintheworldhavingadivorcelawforthehusbandwhichwasnotalsoadivorcelawforthewife。Thewriterinthe_Times_boldlyandeloquentlyexposedthisdiscreditableanomalyintheadministrationofjustice；hinteddelicatelyattheunutterablewrongssufferedbyMrs。Duncan；andplainlyshowedthatshewasindebtedtotheaccidentofhavingbeenmarriedinScotland，andtoherconsequentrightofappealtotheScotchtribunals，forafullandfinalreleasefromthetiethatboundhertothevilestofhusbands，whichtheEnglishlawofthatdaywouldhavemercilesslyrefused。
　　Hereadthat。OthermenmighthavegoneontothenarrativeextractedfromtheScotchnewspaper。Butatthelastwordofthearticle_he_stopped。
　　Thenewspaper，andtheunreaddetailswhichitcontained，lostallholdonhisattentioninaninstant，andintheirstead，livingandburningonhismind，liketheLettersofDoomonthewallsofBelshazzar，thereroseupinjudgmentagainsthimthelastwordsofaverseintheGospelofSaintLuke——
　　_"Whosoevermarriethherthatisputawayfromherhusband，commitethadultery。"_
　　Hehadpreachedfromthesewords，hehadwarnedhishearers，withthewholestrengthofthefanaticalsinceritythatwasinhim，tobewareofprevaricatingwiththeprohibitionwhichthatversecontained，andtoacceptitasliterally，unreservedly，finallyforbiddingthemarriageofadivorcedwoman。Hehadinsistedonthatplaininterpretationofplainwordsintermswhichhadmadehiscongregationtremble。Andnowhestoodaloneinthesecrecyofhisownchamberself—convictedofthedeadlysinwhichhehaddenounced——hestood，ashehadtoldthewickedamonghishearersthattheywouldstandattheLastDay，beforetheJudgmentSeat。
　　Hewasunconsciousofthelapseoftime；heneverknewwhetheritwasmanyminutesorfewbeforethedoorofhisroomwassuddenlyandsoftlyopened。Itdidopen，andhiswifecamein。
　　Inherwhitedress，withawhiteshawlthrownoverhershoulders；
　　herdarkhair，soneatandglossyatothertimes，hangingtangledabouthercolorlesscheeks，andheighteningtheglassybrightnessofterrorinhereyes——sohesawher；thewomanputawayfromherhusband——thewomanwhoselovehadmadehislifehappyandhadstainedhissoulwithadeadlysin。
　　Shecameontowithinafewpacesofhimwithoutawordoratear，orashadowofchangepassingoverthedreadfulrigidityofherface。Shelookedathimwithastrangelook；shepointedtothenewspapercrumpledinhishandwithastrangegesture；shespoketohiminastrangevoice。
　　"Youknowit！"shesaid。
　　Hiseyesmethers——sheshrankfromthem——turned——andlaidherarmsandherheadheavilyagainstthewall。
　　"Oh，Alfred，"shesaid，"Iwassolonelyintheworld，andIwassofondofyou！"
　　Thewoman’sdelicacy，thewoman’stremblingtendernesswelledupfromherheart，andtouchedhervoicewithatoneofitsoldsweetnessasshemurmuredthosesimplewords。
　　Shesaidnomore。Herconfessionofherfault，herappealtotheirpastloveforpardon，werebothpouredforthinthatonesentence。Sheleftittohisownhearttotellhimtherest。Howanxiouslyhervigilantlovehadfollowedhiseverywordandtreasureduphiseveryopinioninthedayswhentheyfirstmet；
　　howweaklyandfalsely，andyetwithhowtrueanaffectionforhim，shehadshrunkfromthedisclosurewhichsheknewbuttoowellwouldhaveseparatedthemevenatthechurchdoor；howdesperatelyshehadfoughtagainstthecomingdiscoverywhichthreatenedtotearherfromthebosomsheclungto，andtocastheroutintotheworldwiththeshadowofherownshametodarkenherlifetotheend——allthisshelefthimtofeel；forthemomentwhichmightpartthemforeverwasthemomentwhensheknewbesthowtruly，howpassionatelyhehadlovedher。
　　Hislipstrembledashestoodlookingatherinsilence，andtheslow，burningtearsdroppedheavily，onebyone，downhischeeks。
　　Thenaturalhumanremembranceofthegoldendaysoftheircompanionship，ofthenightsandnightswhenthatdearhead——turnedawayfromhimnowinunutterablemiseryandshame——hadnestleditselfsofondlyandsohappilyonhisbreast，foughthardtosilencehisconscience，torootouthisdreadfulsenseofguilt，totearthewordsofJudgmentfromtheirruthlessholdonhismind，toclaimhiminthesweetnamesofPityandofLove。Ifshehadturnedandlookedathimatthatmoment，theirnextwordswouldhavebeenspokenineachother’sarms。Buttheoppressionofherdespairunderhissilencewastooheavyforher，andshenevermoved。
　　Heforcedhimselftolookawayfromher；hestruggledhardtobreakthesilencebetweenthem。
　　"Godforgiveyou，Emily！"hesaid。
　　Ashernamepassedhislips，hisvoicefailedhim，andthetortureathisheartburstitswayoutinsobs。Hehurriedtothedoortosparehertheterriblereproofofthegriefthathadnowmasteredhim。Whenhepassedhersheturnedtowardhimwithafaintcry。
　　Hecaughtherasshesankforward，andsavedherfromdroppingonthefloor。Forthelasttimehisarmsclosedroundher。Forthelasttimehislipstouchedhers——coldandinsensibletohimnow。
　　Helaidheronthesofaandwentout。
　　Oneofthefemaleservantswascrossingthehall。Thegirlstartedasshemethim，andturnedpaleatthesightofhisface。
　　Hecouldnotspeaktoher，buthepointedtothestudydoor。Hesawhergointotheroom，andthenleftthehouse。
　　Heneverentereditmore，andheandhiswifenevermetagain。
　　Lateronthatlastday，asisterofMr。Carling’s——amarriedwomanlivinginthetown——cametotherectory。Shebroughtanopennotewithher，addressedtotheunhappymistressofthehouse。Itcontainedthesefewlines，blottedandstainedwithtears：
　　MayGodgrantusboththetimeforrepentance！IfIhadlovedyouless，Imighthavetrustedmyselftoseeyouagain。Forgiveme，andpityme，andremembermeinyourprayers，asIshallforgive，andpity，andrememberyou。
　　Hehadtriedtowritemore，butthepenhaddroppedfromhishand。Hissister’sentreatieshadnotmovedhim。Aftergivingherthenotetodeliver，hehadsolemnlychargedhertobegentleincommunicatingthetidingsthatshebore，andhaddepartedaloneforLondon。Heheardallremonstranceswithpatience。Hedidnotdenythatthedeceptionofwhichhiswifehadbeenguiltywasthemostpardonableofallconcealmentsofthetruth，becauseitsprangfromherloveforhim；buthehadthesamehopelessanswerforeveryonewhotriedtopleadwithhim——theversefromtheGospelofSaintLuke。
　　HispurposeintravelingtoLondonwastomakethenecessaryarrangementsforhiswife’sfutureexistence，andthentogetemploymentwhichwouldseparatehimfromhishomeandfromallitsassociations。AmissionaryexpeditiontooneofthePacificIslandsacceptedhimasavolunteer。Brokeninbodyandspirit，hislastlookofEnglandfromthedeckoftheshipwashislastlookatland。Afortnightafterward，hisbrethrenreadtheburial—serviceoverhimonacalm，cloudlesseveningatsea。
　　Beforehewascommittedtothedeep，hislittlepocketBible，whichhadbeenapresentfromhiswife，was，inaccordancewithhisdyingwishes，placedopenonhisbreast，sothattheinscription，"TomydearHusband，"mightrestoverhisheart。
　　Hisunhappywifestilllives。Whenthefarewelllinesofherhusband’swritingreachedhershewasincapableofcomprehendingthem。Thementalprostrationwhichhadfollowedthepartingscenewassooncomplicatedbyphysicalsuffering——byfeveronthebrain。Tothesurpriseofallwhoattendedher，shelivedthroughtheshock，recoveringwiththecompletelossofonefaculty，which，inhersituation，poorthing，wasamercyandagaintoher——thefacultyofmemory。Fromthattimetothisshehasneverhadtheslightestgleamofrecollectionofanythingthathappenedbeforeherillness。Inherhappyoblivion，theveriesttriflesareasnewandasinterestingtoherasifshewasbeginningherexistenceagain。Underthetendercareofthefriendswhonowprotecther，shelivescontentedlythelifeofachild。Whenherlasthourcomes，mayshediewithnothingonhermemorybuttherecollectionoftheirkindness！
　　THEEIGHTHDAY。
　　THEwindthatIsawintheskyyesterdayhascome。Itsweepsdownourlittlevalleyinangryhowlinggusts，anddrivestheheavyshowersbeforeitingreatsheetsofspray。
　　Therearesomepeoplewhofindastrangelyexcitingeffectproducedontheirspiritsbythenoise，andrush，andtumultoftheelementsonastormyday。Ithasneverbeensowithme，anditislesssothanevernow。Icanhardlybeartothinkofmysonatseainsuchatempestasthis。WhileIcanstillgetnonewsofhisship，morbidfanciesbesetmewhichIvainlytrytoshakeoff。Iseethetreesthroughmywindowbendingbeforethewind。
　　Arethemastsofthegoodshipbendinglikethematthismoment？
　　Ihearthewashofthedrivingrain。Is_he_hearingthethunderoftheragingwaves？Ifhehadonlycomebacklastnight！——itisvaintodwellonit，butthethoughtwillhauntme——ifhehadonlycomebacklastnight！
　　ItriedtospeakcautiouslyabouthimagaintoJessie，asOwenhadadvisedme；butIamsooldandfeeblenowthatthisill—omenedstormhasupsetme，andIcouldnotfeelsureenoughofmyownself—controltoventureonmatchingmyselfto—dayagainstalight—hearted，livelygirl，withallherwitsabouther。ItissoimportantthatIshouldnotbetrayGeorge——itwouldbesoinexcusableonmypartifhisinterestssuffered，evenaccidentally，inmyhands。
　　Thiswasatryingdayforourguest。Herfewtriflingindoorresourceshad，asIcouldsee，beguntolosetheirattractionsforheratlast。Ifwewerenotnowgettingtotheendofthestories，andtotheend，therefore，oftheTenDaysalso，ourchanceofkeepinghermuchlongerattheGlenTowerwouldbeaverypoorone。
　　Itwas，Ithink，agreatreliefforusalltobesummonedtogetherthiseveningforadefinitepurpose。Thewindhadfallenalittleasitgotontowarddusk。Tohearitgrowinggraduallyfainterandfainterinthevalleybelowaddedimmeasurablytothecomfortinginfluenceoftheblazingfireandthecheerfullightswhentheshutterswereclosedforthenight。
　　Thenumberdrawnhappenedtobethelastoftheseries——Ten——andthelastalsoofthestorieswhichIhadwritten。Therewerenowbuttwonumbersleftinthebowl。OwenandMorganhadeachonereadingmoretoaccomplishbeforeourguest’sstaycametoanend，andthemanuscriptsinthePurpleVolumewereallexhausted。
　　"Thisnewstoryofmine，"Isaid，"isnot，likethestoryIlastread，anarrativeofadventurehappeningtomyself，butofadventuresthathappenedtoaladyofmyacquaintance。Iwasbroughtintocontact，inthefirstinstance，withoneofhermalerelatives，and，inthesecondinstance，withtheladyherself，bycertainprofessionalcircumstanceswhichIneednotparticularlydescribe。Theyinvolvedadryquestionofwillsandtitle—deedsinnowayconnectedwiththisstory，butsufficientlyimportanttointerestmeasalawyer。ThecasecametotrialattheAssizesonmycircuit，andIwonitinthefaceofsomeverystrongpoints，verywellput，ontheotherside。Iwasinpoorhealthatthetime，andmyexertionssocompletelyknockedmeupthatIwasconfinedtobedinmylodgingsforaweekormore——"
　　"Andthegratefulladycameandnursedyou，Isuppose，"saidtheQueenofHearts，inhersmart，off—handway。
　　"Thegratefulladydidsomethingmuchmorenaturalinherposition，andmuchmoreusefulinmine，"Ianswered——"shesentherservanttoattendonme。Hewasanelderlyman，whohadbeeninherservicesincethetimeofherfirstmarriage，andhewasalsooneofthemostsensibleandwell—informedpersonswhomI
　　haveevermetwithinhisstationoflife。Fromhintswhichhedroppedwhilehewasatmybedside，Idiscoveredforthefirsttimethathismistresshadbeenunfortunateinhersecondmarriage，andthatthetroublesofthatperiodofherlifehadendedinoneofthemostsingulareventswhichhadhappenedinthatpartofEnglandformanyalongdaypast。Itishardlynecessarytosaythat，beforeIallowedthemantoenterintoanyparticulars，Istipulatedthatheshouldobtainhismistress’sleavetocommunicatewhatheknew。Havinggainedthis，andhavingfurthersurprisedmebymentioningthathehadbeenhimselfconnectedwithallthecircumstances，hetoldmethewholestoryinthefullestdetail。IhavenowtriedtoreproduceitasnearlyasIcouldinhisownlanguage。Imagine，therefore，thatIamjustlanguidlyrecoveringinbed，andthatarespectableelderlyman，inquietblackcostume，issittingatmypillowandspeakingtomeintheseterms——"
　　Thusendingmylittlepreface，Iopenedthemanuscriptandbeganmylaststory。
　　BROTHERGRIFFITH’SSTORY
　　ofAPLOTINPRIVATELIFE。
　　CHAPTERI。
　　THEfirstplaceIgotwhenIbegangoingouttoservicewasnotaveryprofitableone。Icertainlygainedtheadvantageoflearningmybusinessthoroughly，butIneverhadmydueinthematterofwages。Mymasterwasmadeabankrupt，andhisservantssufferedwiththerestofhiscreditorsMysecondsituation，however，amplycompensatedmeformywantofluckinthefirst。IhadthegoodfortunetoentertheserviceofMr。andMrs。Norcross。Mymasterwasaveryrichgentleman。HehadtheDarrockhouseandlandsinCumberland，anestatealsoinYorkshire，andaverylargepropertyinJamaica，whichproduced，atthattimeandforsomeyearsafterward，agreatincome。OutintheWestIndieshemetwithaprettyyounglady，agovernessinanEnglishfamily，and，takingaviolentfancytoher，marriedher，thoughshewasagoodfive—and—twentyyearsyoungerthanhimself。AftertheweddingtheycametoEngland，anditwasatthistimethatIwasluckyenoughtobeengagedbythemasaservant。