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precautions that had been adopted up to the morning of the 8th。
On that date the irritation of continued suspense had produced a
change for the worse in Miss Gwilt's variable temper； which was
perceptible to every one about her； and which； strangely enough；
was reflected by an equally marked change in the doctor's manner
when he came to pay his usual visit。 By a coincidence so
extraordinary that his enemies might have suspected it of not
being a coincidence at all； the morning on which Miss Gwilt lost
her patience proved to be also the morning on which the doctor
lost his confidence for the first time。
〃No news； of course；〃 he said； sitting down with a heavy sigh。
〃Well！ well！〃
Miss Gwilt looked up at him irritably from her work。
〃You seem strangely depressed this morning；〃 she said。 〃What are
you afraid of now？〃
〃The imputation of being afraid； madam；〃 answered the doctor；
solemnly； 〃is not an imputation to cast rashly on any maneven
when he belongs to such an essentially peaceful profession as
mine。 I am not afraid。 I am （as you more correctly put it in the
first instance） strangely depressed。 My nature is； as you know；
naturally sanguine； and I only see to…day what but for my
habitual hopefulness I might have seen； and ought to have seen； a
week since。〃
Miss Gwilt impatiently threw down her work。 〃If words cost
money；〃 she said； 〃the luxury of talking would be rather an
expensive luxury in your case！〃
〃Which I might have seen； and ought to have seen；〃 reiterated the
doctor； without taking the slightest notice of the interruption；
〃a week since。 To put it plainly； I feel by no means so certain
as I did that Mr。 Armadale will consent； without a struggle； to
the terms which it is my interest （and in a minor degree yours）
to impose on him。 Observe！ I don't question our entrapping him
successfully into the Sanitarium： I only doubt whether he will
prove quite as manageable as I originally anticipated when we
have got him there。 Say；〃 remarked the doctor； raising his eyes
for the first time； and fixing them in steady inquiry on Miss
Gwilt〃say that he is bold； obstinate； what you please； and that
he holds outholds out for weeks together； for months together；
as men in similar situations to his have held out before him。
What follows？ The risk of keeping him forcibly in concealmentof
suppressing him； if I may so express myselfincreases at
compound interest； and becomes Enormous！ My house is at this
moment virtually ready for patients。 Patients may present
themselves in a week's time。 Patients may communicate with Mr。
Armadale； or Mr。 Armadale may communicate with patients。 A note
may be smuggled out of the house； and may reach the Commissioners
in Lunacy。 Even in the case of an unlicensed establishment like
mine； those gentlemenno！ those chartered despots in a land of
libertyhave only to apply to the Lord Chancellor for an order；
and to enter （by heavens； to enter My Sanitarium！） and search the
house from top to bottom at a moment's notice！ I don't wish to
despond； I don't wish to alarm you； I don't pretend to say that
the means we are taking to secure your own safety are any other
than the best means at our disposal。 All I ask you to do is to
imagine the Commissioners in the houseand then to conceive the
consequences。 The consequences！〃 repeated the doctor； getting
sternly on his feet； and taking up his hat as if he meant to
leave the room。
〃Have you anything more to say？〃 asked Miss Gwilt。
〃Have you any remarks；〃 rejoined the doctor； 〃to offer on your
side？〃
He stood； hat in hand； waiting。 For a full minute the two looked
at each other in silence。
Miss Gwilt spoke first。
〃I think I understand you；〃 she said； suddenly recovering her
composure。
〃I beg your pardon；〃 returned the doctor； with his hand to his
ear。 〃What did you say？〃
〃Nothing。〃
〃Nothing？〃
〃If you happened to catch another fly this morning；〃 said Miss
Gwilt； with a bitterly sarcastic emphasis on the words； 〃I might
be capable of shocking you by another 'little joke。' 〃
The doctor held up both hands； in polite deprecation； and looked
as if he was beginning to recover his good humor again。
〃Hard；〃 he murmured； gently； 〃not to have forgiven me that
unlucky blunder of mine； even yet！〃
〃What else have you to say？ I am waiting for you；〃 said Miss
Gwilt。 She turned her chair to the window scornfully； and took up
her work again； as she spoke。
The doctor came behind her； and put his hand on the back of her
chair。
〃I have a question to ask； in the first place；〃 he said； 〃and a
measure of necessary precaution to suggest； in the second。 If you
will honor me with your attention； I will put the question
first。〃
〃I am listening。〃
〃You know that Mr。 Armadale is alive；〃 pursued the doctor； 〃and
you know that he is coming back to England。 Why do you continue
to wear your widow's dress？〃
She answered him without an instant's hesitation； steadily going
on with her work。
〃Because I am of a sanguine disposition； like you。 I mean to
trust to the chapter of accidents to the very last。 Mr。 Armadale
may die yet； on his way home。〃
〃And suppose he gets home alivewhat then？〃
〃Then there is another chance still left。〃
〃What is it； pray？〃
〃He may die in your Sanitarium。〃
〃Madam！〃 remonstrated the doctor； in the deep bass which he
reserved for his outbursts of virtuous indignation。 〃Wait！ you
spoke of the chapter of accidents；〃 he resumed； gliding back into
his softer conversational tones。 〃Yes！ yes！ of course。 I
understand you this time。 Even the healing art is at the mercy of
accidents； even such a Sanitarium as mine is liable to be
surprised by Death。 Just so！ just so！〃 said the doctor； conceding
the question with the utmost impartiality。 〃There _is_ the
chapter of accidents； I admit if you choose to trust to it。
Mind！ I say emphatically； _if_ you choose to trust to it。〃
There was another moment of silencesilence so profound that
nothing was audible in the room but the rapid _click_ of Miss
Gwilt's needle through her work。
〃Go on；〃 she said； 〃you haven't done yet。〃
〃True！〃 said the doctor。 〃Having put my question； I have my
measure of precaution to impress on you next。 You will see； my
dear madam； that I am not disposed to trust to the chapter of
accidents on my side。 Reflection has convinced me that you and I
are not （logically speaking） so conveniently situated as we might
be in case of emergency。 Cabs are； as yet； rare in this rapidly
improving neighborhood。 I am twenty minutes' walk from you； you
are twenty minutes' walk from me。 I know nothing of Mr。
Armadale's character； you know it well。 It might be
necessaryvitally necessaryto appeal to your superior
knowledge of him at a moment's notice。 And how am I to do that
unless we are within easy reach of each other； under the same
roof？ In both our interests； I beg to invite you； my dear madam；
to become for a limited period an inmate of My Sanitarium。〃
Miss Gwilt's rapid needle suddenly stopped。 〃I understand you；〃
she said again； as quietly as before。
〃I beg your pardon；〃 said the doctor； with another attack of
deafness； and with his hand once more at his e