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tact； in a creature who is； to all appearance； possessed of a
skin； and not a hide； and who does； unless my ears deceive me；
talk； and not bray； is really quite incredible when one comes to
think of it。 But it is； for all that； quite true。 He asked mehe
actually asked me； last nighthow many hundreds a year the wife
of a rich man could spend on her dress。 'Don't put it too low；'
the idiot added； with his intolerable grin。 'Neelie shall be one
of the best…dressed women in England when I have married her。'
And this to me； after having had him at my feet； and then losing
him again through Miss Milroy！ This to me； with an alpaca gown
on； and a husband whose income must be helped by a newspaper！
〃I had better not dwell on it any longer。 I had better think and
write of something else。
〃The yacht。 As a relief from hearing about Miss Milroy； I declare
the yacht in the harbor is quite an interesting subject to me！
She （the men call a vessel 'She'； and I suppose； if the women
took an interest in such things； _they_ would call a vessel
'He'）she is a beautiful model； and her 'top…sides' （whatever
they may be） are especially distinguished by being built of
mahogany。 But； with these merits； she has the defect； on the
other hand； of being oldwhich is a sad drawbackand the crew
and the sailing…master have been 'paid off；' and sent home to
Englandwhich is additionally distressing。 Still； if a new crew
and a new sailing…master can be picked up here； such a beautiful
creature （with all her drawbacks）； is not to be despised。 It
might answer to hire her for a cruise； and to see how she
behaves。 （If she is of _my_ mind； her behavior will rather
astonish her new master！） The cruise will determine what faults
she has； and what repairs； through the unlucky circumstance of
her age； she really stands in need of。 And then it will be time
to settle whether to buy her outright or not。 Such is Armadale's
conversation when he is not talking of 'his darling Neelie。' And
Midwinter； who can steal no time from his newspaper work for his
wife； can steal hours for his friend； and can offer them
unreservedly to my irresistible rival； the new yacht。
〃I shall write no more to…day。 If so lady…like a person as I am
could feel a tigerish tingling all over her to the very tips of
her fingers； I should suspect myself of being in that condition
at the present moment。 But； with _my_ manners and
accomplishments； the thing is； of course； out of the question。 We
all know that a lady has no passions。
〃October 17th。A letter for Midwinter this morning from the
slave…ownersI mean the newspaper people in Londonwhich has
set him at work again harder than ever。 A visit at luncheon…time
and another visit at dinner…time from Armadale。 Conversation at
luncheon about the yacht。 Conversation at dinner about Miss
Milroy。 I have been honored； in regard to that young lady； by an
invitation to go with Armadale to…morrow to the Toledo； and help
him to buy some presents for the beloved object。 I didn't fly out
at himI only made an excuse。 Can words express the astonishment
I feel at my own patience？ No words can express it。
〃October 18th。Armadale came to breakfast this morning； by way
of catching Midwinter before he shuts himself up over his work。
〃Conversation the same as yesterday's conversation at lunch。
Armadale has made his bargain with the agent for hiring the
yacht。 The agent （compassionating his total ignorance of the
language） has helped him to find an interpreter； but can't help
him to find a crew。 The interpreter is civil and willing； but
doesn't understand the sea。 Midwinter's assistance is
indispensable； and Midwinter is requested （and consents！） to work
harder than ever； so as to make time for helping his friend。 When
the crew is found； the merits and defects of the vessel are to be
tried by a cruise to Sicily； with Midwinter on board to give his
opinion。 Lastly （in case she should feel lonely）； the ladies'
cabin is most obligingly placed at the disposal of Midwinter's
wife。 All this was settled at the breakfast…table； and it ended
with one of Armadale's neatly…turned compliments； addressed to
myself： 'I mean to take Neelie sailing with me； when we are
married。 And you have such good taste； you will be able to tell
me everything the ladies' cabin wants between that time and
this。'
〃If some women bring such men as this into the world； ought other
women to allow them to live？ It is a matter of opinion。 _I_ think
not。
〃What maddens me is to see； as I do see plainly； that Midwinter
finds in Armadale's company； and in Armadale's new yacht； a
refuge from me。 He is always in better spirits when Armadale is
here。 He forgets me in Armadale almost as completely as he
forgets me in his work。 And I bear it！ What a pattern wife； what
an excellent Christian I am！
〃October 19th。Nothing new。 Yesterday over again。
〃October 20th。One piece of news。 Midwinter is suffering from
nervous headache； and is working in spite of it； to make time for
his holiday with his friend。
〃October 21st。Midwinter is worse。 Angry and wild and unappr
oachable； after two bad nights； and two uninterrupted days at his
desk。 Under any other circumstances he would take the warning and
leave off。 But nothing warns him now。 He is still working as hard
as ever； for Armadale's sake。 How much longer will my patience
last？
〃October 22d。Signs； last night； that Midwinter is taxing his
brains beyond what his brains will bear。 When he did fall asleep；
he was frightfully restless； groaning and talking and grinding
his teeth。 From some of the words I heard； he seemed at one time
to be dreaming of his life when he was a boy； roaming the country
with the dancing dogs。 At another time he was back again with
Armadale； imprisoned all night on the wrecked ship。 Toward the
early morning hours he grew quieter。 I fell asleep； and； waking
after a short interval； found myself alone。 My first glance round
showed me a light burning in Midwinter's dressing…room。 I rose
softly； and went to look at him。
〃He was seated in the great； ugly； old…fashioned chair； which I
ordered to be removed into the dressing…room out of the way when
we first came here。 His head lay back； and one of his hands hung
listlessly over the arm of the chair。 The other hand was on his
lap。 I stole a little nearer； and saw that exhaustion had
overpowered him while he was either reading or writing； for there
were books； pens； ink； and paper on the table before him。 What
had he got up to do secretly； at that hour of the morning？ I
looked closer at the papers on the table。 They were all neatly
folded （as he usually keeps them）； with one exception； and that
exception； lying open on the rest； was Mr。 Brock's letter。
〃I looked round at him again； after making this discovery； and
then noticed for the first time another written paper； lying
under the hand that rested on his lap。 There was no moving it
away without the risk of waking him。 Part of the open manuscript；
however； was not covered by his hand。 I looked at it to see what
he had secretly stolen away to read； besides Mr。 Brock's letter；
and made out enough to tell me that it was the