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it desirable to hire a larger vessel。 His friend thought
otherwise。 I left them arguing the question。 It was quite enough
for me to have made sure； in the first place； that Armadale will
not return to Thorpe Ambrose； and to have decided him； in the
second place； on going abroad。 He may go how he likes。 I should
prefer the small yacht myself； for there seems to be a chance
that the small yacht might do me the inestimable service of
drowning him。 。 。 。
〃Five o'clock。The excitement of feeling that I had got
Armadale's future movements completely under my own control made
me so restless； when I returned to my lodgings； that I was
obliged to go out again； and do something。 A new interest to
occupy me being what I wanted； I went to Pimlico to have it out
with Mother Oldershaw。
〃I walked； and made up my mind； on the way； that I would begin by
quarreling with her。
〃One of my notes of hand being paid already； an d Midwinter being
willing to pay the other two when they fall due； my present
position with the old wretch is as independent a one as I could
desire。 I always get the better of her when it comes to a
downright battle between us； and find her wonderfully civil and
obliging the moment I have made her feel that mine is the
strongest will of the two。 In my present situation； she might be
of use to me in various ways； if I could secure her assistance；
without trusting her with secrets which I am now more than ever
determined to keep to myself。 That was my idea as I walked to
Pimlico。 Upsetting Mother Oldershaw's nerves； in the first place；
and then twisting her round my little finger； in the second；
promised me； as I thought； an interesting occupation for the rest
of the afternoon。
〃When I got to Pimlico； a surprise was in store for we。 The house
was shut upnot only on Mrs。 Oldershaw's side； but on Doctor
Downward's as well。 A padlock was on the shop door； and a man was
hanging about on the watch； who might have been an ordinary idler
certainly； but who looked； to my mind； like a policeman in
disguise。
〃Knowing the risks the doctor runs in his particular form of
practice； I suspected at once that something serious had
happened； and that even cunning Mrs。 Oldershaw was compromised
this time。 Without stopping； or making any inquiry； therefore； I
called the first cab that passed me； and drove to the post…office
to which I had desired my letters to be forwarded if any came for
me after I left my Thorpe Ambrose lodging。
〃On inquiry a letter was produced for 'Miss Gwilt。' It was in
Mother Oldershaw's handwriting； and it told me （as I had
supposed） that the doctor had got into a serious difficultythat
she was herself most unfortunately mixed up in the matter； and
that they were both in hiding for the present。 The letter ended
with some sufficiently venomous sentences about my conduct at
Thorpe Ambrose； and with a warning that I have not heard the last
of Mrs。 Oldershaw yet。 It relieved me to find her writing in this
wayfor she would have been civil and cringing if she had had
any suspicion of what I have really got in view。 I burned the
letter as soon as the candles came up。 And there； for the
present； is an end of the connection between Mother Jezebel and
me。 I must do all my own dirty work now； and I shall be all the
safer； perhaps； for trusting nobody's hands to do it but my own。
〃July 31st。More useful information for me。 I met Midwinter
again in the Park （on the pretext that my reputation might suffer
if he called too often at my lodgings）； and heard the last news
of Armadale since I left the hotel yesterday。
〃After he had written to Miss Milroy； Midwinter took the
opportunity of speaking to him about the necessary business
arrangements during his absence from the great house。 It was
decided that the servants should be put on board wages； and that
Mr。 Bashwood should be left in charge。 （Somehow； I don't like
this re…appearance of Mr。 Bashwood in connection with my present
interests； but there is no help for it。） The next questionthe
question of moneywas settled at once by Mr。 Armadale himself。
All his available ready…money （a large sum） is to be lodged by
Mr。 Bashwood in Coutts's Bank； and to be there deposited in
Armadale's name。 This； he said； would save him the worry of any
further letter…writing to his steward； and would enable him to
get what he wanted； when he went abroad； at a moment's notice。
The plan thus proposed； being certainly the simplest and the
safest； was adopted with Midwinter's full concurrence； and here
the business discussion would have ended； if the everlasting Mr。
Bashwood had not turned up again in the conversation； and
prolonged it in an entirely new direction。
〃On reflection； it seems to have struck Midwinter that the whole
responsibility at Thorpe Ambrose ought not to rest on Mr。
Bashwood's shoulders。 Without in the least distrusting him；
Midwinter felt； nevertheless； that he ought to have somebody set
over him； to apply to in case of emergency。 Armadale made no
objection to this； he only asked； in his helpless way； who the
person was to be？
〃The answer was not an easy one to arrive at。
〃Either of the two solicitors at Thorpe Ambrose might have been
employed； but Armadale was on bad terms with both of them。 Any
reconciliation with such a bitter enemy as the elder lawyer； Mr。
Darch； was out of the question； and reinstating Mr。 Pedgift in
his former position implied a tacit sanction on Armadale's part
of the lawyer's abominable conduct toward _me；_ which was
scarcely consistent with the respect and regard that he felt for
a lady who was soon to be his friend's wife。 After some further
discussion； Midwinter hit on a new suggestion which appeared to
meet the difficulty。 He proposed that Armadale should write to a
respectable solicitor at Norwich； stating his position in general
terms； and requesting that gentleman to act as Mr。 Bashwood's
adviser and superintendent when occasion required。 Norwich being
within an easy railway ride of Thorpe Ambrose； Armadale saw no
objection to the proposal； and promised to write to the Norwich
lawyer。 Fearing that he might make some mistake if he wrote
without assistance； Midwinter had drawn him out a draft of the
necessary letter； and Armadale was now engaged in copying the
draft； and also in writing to Mr。 Bashwood to lodge the money
immediately in Coutts's Bank。
〃These details are so dry and uninteresting in themselves that I
hesitated at first about putting them down in my diary。 But a
little reflection has convinced me that they are too important to
be passed over。 Looked at from my point of view； they mean
thisthat Armadale's own act is now cutting him off from all
communication with Thorpe Ambrose； even by letter。 _He is as good
as dead already to everybody he leaves behind him。_ The causes
which have led to such a result as that are causes which
certainly claim the best place I can give them in these pages。
〃August 1st。Nothing to record； but that I have had a long；
quiet； happy day with Midwinter。 He hired a carriage； and we
drove to Richmond； and dined there。 After to…day's experience； it
is impossible to deceive myself any lo