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house and grounds to let。 They both like the Italian country and
the Italian people； and they are well enough off to please
themselves。 The elder lady has her jointure； and the younger is
in possession of all her father's fortune。
〃The next page of the letter was； in Allan's opinion； far from a
pleasant page to read。
〃After referring； in the most grateful terms； to the kindness
which had left her niece and herself free to leave their old home
at their own time； Mrs。 Blanchard added that Allan's considerate
conduct had produced such a strongly favorable impression among
the friends and dependents of the family that they were desirous
of giving him a public reception on his arrival among them。 A
preliminary meeting of the tenants on the estate and the
principal persons in the neighboring town had already been held
to discuss the arrangements； and a letter might be expected
shortly from the clergyman inquiring when it would suit Mr。
Armadale's convenience to take possession personally and publicly
of his estates in Norfolk。
〃You will now be able to guess the cause of our sudden departure
from the Isle of Man。 The first and foremost idea in your old
pupil's mind； as soon as he had read Mrs。 Blanchard's account of
the proceedings at the meeting； was the idea of escaping the
public reception； and the one certain way he could see of
avoiding it was to start for Thorpe Ambrose before the
clergyman's letter could reach him。
〃I tried hard to make him think a little before he acted an his
first impulse in this matter； but he only went on packing his
portmanteau in his own impenetrably good…humored way。 In ten
minutes his luggage was ready； and in five minutes more he had
given the crew their directions for taking the yacht back to
Somersetshire。 The steamer to Liverpool was alongside of us in
the harbor； and I had really no choice but to go on board with
him or to let him go by himself。 I spare you the account of our
stormy voyage； of our detention at Liverpool； and of the trains
we missed on our journey across the country。 You know that we
have got here safely； and that is enough。 What the servants think
of the new squire's sudden appearance among them； without a word
of warning； is of no great consequence。 What the committee for
arranging the publi c reception may think of it when the news
flies abroad to…morrow is； I am afraid； a more serious matter。
〃Having already mentioned the servants； I may proceed to tell you
that the latter part of Mrs。 Blanchard誷 letter was entirely
devoted to instructing Allan on the subject of the domestic
establishment which she has left behind her。 It seems that all
the servants； indoors and out （with three exceptions）； are
waiting here； on the chance that Allan will continue them in
their places。 Two of these exceptions are readily accounted for：
Mrs。 Blanchard's maid and Miss Blanchard's maid go abroad with
their mistresses。 The third exceptional case is the case of the
upper housemaid； and here there is a little hitch。 In plain
words； the housemaid has been sent away at a moment's notice； for
what Mrs。 Blanchard rather mysteriously describes as 'levity of
conduct with a stranger。'
〃I am afraid you will laugh at me； but I must confess the truth。
I have been made so distrustful （after what happened to us in the
Isle of Man） of even the most trifling misadventures which
connect themselves in any way with Allan's introduction to his
new life and prospects； that I have already questioned one of the
men…servants here about this apparently unimportant matter of the
housemaid's going away in disgrace。
〃All I can learn is that a strange man had been noticed hanging
suspiciously about the grounds； that the housemaid was so ugly a
woman as to render it next to a certainty that he had some
underhand purpose to serve in making himself agreeable to her；
and that he has not as yet been seen again in the neighborhood
since the day of her dismissal。 So much for the one servant who
has been turned out at Thorpe Ambrose。 I can only hope there is
no trouble for Allan brewing in that quarter。 As for the other
servants who remain； Mrs。 Blanchard describes them； both men and
women； as perfectly trustworthy； and they will all； no doubt；
continue to occupy their present places。
〃Having now done with Mrs。 Blanchard's letter； my next duty is to
beg you； in Allan's name and with Allan's love； to come here and
stay with him at the earliest moment when you can leave
Somersetshire。 Although I cannot presume to think that my own
wishes will have any special influence in determining you to
accept this invitation； I must nevertheless acknowledge that I
have a reason of my own for earnestly desiring to see you here。
Allan has innocently caused me a new anxiety about my future
relations with him； and I sorely need your advice to show me the
right way of setting that anxiety at rest。
〃The difficulty which now perplexes me relates to the steward's
place at Thorpe Ambrose。 Before to…day I only knew that Allan had
hit on some plan of his own for dealing with this matter； rather
strangely involving； among other results； the letting of the
cottage which was the old steward's place of abode； in
consequence of the new steward's contemplated residence in the
great house。 A chance word in our conversation on the journey
here led Allan into speaking out more plainly than he had spoken
yet； and I heard to my unutterable astonishment that the person
who was at the bottom of the whole arrangement about the steward
was no other than myself！
〃It is needless to tell you how I felt this new instance of
Allan's kindness。 The first pleasure of hearing from his own lips
that I had deserved the strongest proof he could give of his
confidence in me was soon dashed by the pain which mixes itself
with all pleasureat least； with all that I have ever known。
Never has my past life seemed so dreary to look back on as it
seems now； when I feel how entirely it has unfitted me to take
the place of all others that I should have liked to occupy in my
friend's service。 I mustered courage to tell him that I had none
of the business knowledge and business experience which his
steward ought to possess。 He generously met the objection by
telling me that I could learn； and he has promised to send to
London for the person who has already been employed for the time
being in the steward's office； and who will； therefore； be
perfectly competent to teach me。
〃Do you； too； think I can learn？ If you do； I will work day and
night to instruct myself。 But if （as I am afraid） the steward's
duties are of far too serious a kind to be learned off…hand by a
man so young and so inexperienced as I am； then pray hasten your
journey to Thorpe Ambrose； and exert your influence over Allan
personally。 Nothing less will induce him to pass me over； and to
employ a steward who is really fit to take the place。 Pray； pray
act in this matter as you think best for Allan's interests。
Whatever disappointment I may feel； _he_ shall not see it。
〃Believe me； dear Mr。 Brock；
〃Gratefuly yours；
〃OZIAS MIDWINTER。
〃P。S。I open the envelope again to add one word more。 If yo