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luckily for society； can't always keep up appearances； and； in
their case； Rogues and Retribution do occasionally come into
collision with each other。〃
CHAPTER II。
MIDWINTER。
THE spring had advanced to the end of April。 It was the eve of
Allan's wedding…day。 Midwinter and he had sat talking together at
the great house till far into the nighttill so far that it had
struck twelve long since； and the wedding day was already some
hours old。
For the most part the conversation had turned on the bridegroom's
plans and projects。 It was not till the two friends rose to go to
rest that Allan insisted on making Midwinter speak of himself。
〃We have had enough； and more than enough； of _my_ future；〃 he
began； in his bluntly straightforward way。 〃Let's say something
now； Midwinter； about yours。 You have promised me； I know； that；
if you take to literature； it shan't part us； and that； if you go
on a sea…voyage； you will remember； when you come back； that my
house is your home。 But this is the last chance we have of being
together in our old way； and I own I should like to know〃 His
voice faltered； and his eyes moistened a little。 He left the
sentence unfinished。
Midwinter took his hand and helped him； as he had often helped
him to the words that he wanted in the by…gone time。
〃You would like to know； Allan；〃 he said； 〃that I shall not bring
an aching heart with me to your wedding day？ If you will let me
go back for a moment to the past； I think I can satisfy you。〃
They took their chairs again。 Allan saw that Midwinter was moved。
〃Why distress yourself？〃 he asked； kindly〃why go back to the
past？〃
〃For two reasons； Allan。 I ought to have thanked you long since
for the silence you have observed； for my sake； on a matter that
must have seemed very strange to you。 You know what the name is
which appears on the register of my marriage； and yet you have
forborne to speak of it； from the fear of distressing me。 Before
you enter on your new life； let us come to a first and last
understanding about this。 I ask youas one more kindness to
meto accept my assurance （strange as the thing may seem to you）
that I am blameless in this matter； and I entreat you to believe
that the reasons I have for leaving it unexplained are reasons
which； if Mr。 Brock was living； Mr。 Brook himself would approve。〃
In those words he kept the secret of the two names； and left the
memory of Allan's mother； what he had found it； a sacred memory
in the heart of her son。
〃One word more；〃 he went on〃a word which will take us； this
time； from past to future。 It has been said； and truly said； that
out of Evil may come Good。 Out of the horror and the misery of
that night you know of has come the silencing of a doubt which
once made my life miserable with groundless anxiety about you and
about myself。 No clouds raised by my superstition will ever come
between us again。 I can't honestly tell you that I am more
willing now than I was when we were in the Isle of Man to take
what is called the rational view of your Dream。 Though I know
what extraordinary coincidences are perpetually happening in the
experience of all of us； still I cannot accept coincidences as
explaining the fulfillment of the Visions which our own eyes have
seen。 All I can sincerely say for myself is； what I think it will
satisfy you to know； that I have learned to view the purpose of
the Dream with a new mind。 I once believed that it was sent to
rouse your distrust of the friendless man whom you had taken as a
brother to your heart。 I now _know_ that it came to you as a
timely warning to take him closer still。 Does this help to
satisfy you that I； too； am standing hopefully on the brink of a
new life； and that while we live； brother； your love and mine
will never be divided again？〃
They shook hands in silence。 Allan was the first to recover
himself。 He answered in the few words of kindly assurance which
were the best words that he could address to his friend。
〃I have heard all I ever want to hear about the past；〃 he said；
〃and I know what I most wanted to know about the future。
Everybody says； Midwinter； you have a career before you； and I
believe that everybody is right。 Who knows what great things may
happen before you and I are many years older？〃
〃Who _need_ know？〃 said Midwinter； calmly。 〃Happen what may； God
is all…merciful； God is all…wise。 In those words your dear old
friend once wrote to me。 In that faith I can look back without
murmuring at the years that are past； and can look on without
doubting to the years that are to come。〃
He rose； and walked to the window。 While they had been speaking
together the darkness had passed。 The first light of the new day
met him as he looked out； and rested tenderly on his face。
APPENDIX。
NOTEMy readers will perceive that I have purposely left them；
with reference to the Dream in this story； in the position which
they would occupy in the case of a dream in real life： they are
free to interpret it by the natural or the supernatural theory；
as the bent of their own minds may incline them。 Persons disposed
to take the rational view may； under these circumstances； be
interested in hearing of a coincidence relating to the present
story； which actually happened； and which in the matter of
〃extravagant improbability〃 sets anything of the same kind that a
novelist could imagine at flat defiance。
In November； 1865； that is to say； when thirteen monthly parts of
〃Armadale〃 had been published； and； I may add； when more than a
year and a half had elapsed since the end of the story； as it now
appears； was first sketched in my notebooka vessel lay in the
Huskisson Dock at Liverpool which was looked after by one man；
who slept on board； in the capacity of shipkeeper。 On a certain
day in the week this man was found dead in the deck…house。 On the
next day a second man； who had taken his place； was carried dying
to the Northern Hospital。 On the third day a third ship…keeper
was appointed； and was found dead in the deck…house which had
already proved fatal to the other two。 _The name of that ship was
〃The Armadale。〃_ And the proceedings at the Inquest proved that
the three men had been all suffocated _by sleeping in poisoned
air！_
I am indebted for these particulars to the kindness of the
reporters at Liverpool； who sent me their statement of the facts。
The case found its way into most of the newspapers。 It was
noticedto give two instances in which I can cite the datesin
the _Times_ of November 30th； 1865； and was more fully described
in the _Daily News_ of November 28th； in the same year。
Before taking leave of 〃Armadale；〃 I may perhaps be allowed to
mention； for the benefit of any readers who may be curious on
such points； that the 〃Norfolk Broads〃 are here described after
personal investigation of them。 In this； as in other cases； I
have spared no pains to instruct myself on matters of fact。
Wherever the story touches on questions connected with Law；
Medicine； or Chemistry； it has been submitted before publication
to the experience of professional men。 The kindness of a friend
supplied me with a plan of the doctor's apparatus； and I