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drove to Richmond； and dined there。 After to…day's experience； it
is impossible to deceive myself any longer。 Come what may of it；
I love him。
〃I have fallen into low spirits since he left me。 A persuasion
has taken possession of my mind that the smooth and prosperous
course of my affairs since I have been in London is too smooth
and prosperous to last。 There is something oppressing me
to…night； which is more than the oppression of the heavy London
air。
〃August 2d。Three o'clock。My presentiments； like other
people's； have deceived me often enough； but I am almost afraid
that my presentiment of last night was really prophetic； for once
in a way。
〃I went after breakfast to a milliner's in this neighborhood to
order a few cheap summer things； and thence to Midwinter's hotel
to arrange with him for another day in the country。 I drove to
the milliner's and to the hotel； and part of the way back。 Then；
feeling disgusted with the horrid close smell of the cab
（somebody had been smoking in it； I suppose）； I got out to walk
the rest of the way。 Before I had been two minutes on my feet； I
discovered that I was being followed by a strange man。
〃This may mean nothing but that an idle fellow has been struck by
my figure； and my appearance generally。 My face could have made
no impression on him； for it was hidden as usual by my veil。
Whether he followed me （in a cab； of course） from the milliner's；
or from the hotel； I cannot say。 Nor am I quite certain whether
he did or did not track me to this door。 I only know that I lost
sight of him before I got back。 There is no help for it but to
wait till events enlighten me。 If there is anything serious in
what has happened； I shall soon discover it。
〃Five o'clock。It _is_ serious。 Ten minutes since； I was in my
bedroom； which communicates with the sitting…room。 I was just
coming out； when I heard a strange voice on the landing
outsidea woman's voice。 The next instant the sitting…room door
was suddenly opened； the woman's voice said； 'Are these the
apartments you have got to let？' and though
the landlady； behind her； answered； 'No！ higher up； ma'am；' the
woman came on straight to my bedroom； as if she had not heard。 I
had just time to slam the door in her face before she saw me。 The
necessary explanations and apologies followed between the
landlady and the stranger in the sitting…room； and then I was
left alone again。
〃I have no time to write more。 It is plain that somebody has an
interest in trying to identify me； and that； but for my own
quickness； the strange woman would have accomplished this object
by taking me by surprise。 She and the man who followed me in the
street are； I suspect； in league together； and there is probably
somebody in the background whose interests they are serving。 Is
Mother Oldershaw attacking me in the dark？ or who else can it be？
No matter who it is； my present situation is too critical to be
trifled with。 I must get away from this house to…night； and leave
no trace behind me by which I can be followed to another place。
〃August 3d。Gary Street； Tottenham Court Road。I got away last
night （after writing an excuse to Midwinter； in which 'my invalid
mother' figured as the all…sufficient cause of my disappearance）；
and I have found refuge here。 It has cost me some money； but my
object is attained！ Nobody can possibly have traced me from All
Saints' Terrace to this address。
〃After paying my landlady the necessary forfeit for leaving her
without notice； I arranged with her son that he should take my
boxes in a cab to the cloak…room at the nearest railway station；
and send me the ticket in a letter； to wait my application for it
at the post…office。 While he went his way in one cab； I went mine
in another； with a few things for the night in my little
hand…bag。
〃I drove straight to the milliner's shop； which I had observed；
when I was there yesterday； had a back entrance into a mews； for
the apprentices to go in and out by。 I went in at once； leaving
the cab waiting for me at the door。 'A man is following me；' I
said； 'and I want to get rid of him。 Here is my cab fare； wait
ten minutes before you give it to the driver； and let me out at
once by the back way！' In a moment I was out in the mews； in
another； I was in the next street； in a third； I hailed a passing
omnibus； and was a free woman again。
〃Having now cut off all communication between me and my last
lodgings； the next precaution （in case Midwinter or Armadale are
watched） is to cut off all communication； for some days to come
at least； between me and the hotel。 I have written to
Midwintermaking my supposititious mother once more the
excuseto say that I am tied to my nursing duties； and that we
must communicate by writing only for the present。 Doubtful as I
still am of who my hidden enemy really is； I can do no more to
defend myself than I have done now。
〃August 4th。The two friends at the hotel had both written to
me。 Midwinter expresses his regret at our separation； in the
tenderest terms。 Armadale writes an entreaty for help under very
awkward circumstances。 A letter from Major Milroy has been
forwarded to him from the great house； and he incloses it in his
letter to me。
〃Having left the seaside； and placed his daughter safely at the
school originally chosen for her （in the neighborhood of Ely）；
the major appears to have returned to Thorpe Ambrose at the close
of last week； to have heard then； for the first time； the reports
about Armadale and me； and to have written instantly to Armadale
to tell him so。
〃The letter is stern and short。 Major Milroy dismisses the report
as unworthy of credit； because it is impossible for him to
believe in such an act of 'cold…blooded treachery；' as the
scandal would imply； if the scandal were true。 He simply writes
to warn Armadale that； if he is not more careful in his actions
for the future； he must resign all pretensions to Miss Milroy's
hand。 'I neither expect； nor wish for； an answer to this' （the
letter ends）； 'for I desire to receive no mere protestations in
words。 By your conduct； and by your conduct alone； I shall judge
you as time goes on。 Let me also add that I positively forbid you
to consider this letter as an excuse for violating the terms
agreed on between us； by writing again to my daughter。 You have
no need to justify yourself in her eyes； for I fortunately
removed her from Thorpe Ambrose before this abominable report had
time to reach her； and I shall take good care； for her sake； that
she is not agitated and unsettled by hearing it where she is
now。'
〃Armadale's petition to me； under these circumstances； entreats
（as I am the innocent cause of the new attack on his character）
that I will write to the major to absolve him of all indiscretion
in the matter； and to say that he could not； in common
politeness； do otherwise than accompany me to London。
〃I forgive the impudence of his request； in consideration of the
news that he sends me。 It is certainly another circumstance in my
favor that the scandal at Thorpe Ambrose is not to be allowed to
reach Miss Milroy's ears。 With her temper （if she did hear it）
she might do somet