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separate herself from all her old associations； to leave behind
her every possession； even to the most trifling thing she had；
that could remind her of the miserable past； and to date her new
life in the future from the birthday of the child who had been
spared to console herwho was now the one earthly object that
could still speak to her of love and hope。 So the old story of
passionate feeling that finds comfort in phrases rather than not
find comfort at all was told once again。 So the poem in the faded
ink faded away to its end。
Midwinter put the book back with a heavy sigh； and opened no
other volume on the shelves。 〃Here in the country house； or there
on board the wreck；〃 he said； bitterly； 〃the traces of my
father's crime follow me； go where I may。〃 He advanced toward the
window； stopped； and looked back into the lonely； neglected
little room。 〃Is _this_ chance？〃 he asked himself。 〃The place
where his mother suffered is the place he sees in the Dream； and
the first morning in the new house is the morning that reveals
it； not to _him；_ but to me。 Oh； Allan！ Allan！ how will it end？〃
The thought had barely passed through his mind before he heard
Allan's voice； from the paved walk at the side of the house；
calling to him by his name。 He hastily stepped out into the
garden。 At the same moment Allan came running round the corner；
full of voluble apologies for having forgotten； in the society of
his new neighbors； what was due to the laws of hospitality and
the claims of his friend。
〃I really haven't missed you；〃 said Midwinter； 〃and I am very；
very glad to hear that the new neighbors have produced such a
pleasant impression on you already。〃
He tried； as he spoke； to lead the way back by the outside of the
house； but Allan's flighty attention had been caught by the open
window and the lonely little room。 He stepped in immediately。
Midwinter followed； and watched him in breathless anxiety as he
looked round。 Not the slightest recollection of the Dream
troubled Allan's easy mind。 Not the slightest reference to it
fell from the silent lips of his friend。
〃Exactly the sort of place I should have expected you to hit on！〃
exclaimed Allan； gayly。 〃Small and snug and unpretending。 I know
you； Master Midwinter！ You'll be slipping off here when the
county families come visiting； and I rather think on those
dreadful occasions you won't find me far behind you。 What's the
matter？ You look ill and out of spirits。 Hungry？ Of course you
are！ unpardonable of me to have kept you waiting。 This door leads
somewhere； I suppose； let's try a short cut into the house。 Don't
be afraid of my not keeping you company at breakfast。 I didn't
eat much at the cottage； I feasted my eyes on Miss Milroy； as the
poets say。 Oh； the darling！ the darling！ she turns you
topsy…turvy the moment you look at her。 As for her father； wait
till you see his wonderful clock！ It's twice the size of the
famous clock at Strasbourg； and the most tremendous striker ever
heard yet in the memory of man！〃
Singing the praises of his new friends in this strain at the top
of his voice； Allan hurried Midwinter along the stone passages on
the basement floor； which led； as he had rightly guessed； to a
staircase communicating with the hall。 They passed the servants'
offices on the way。 At the sight of the cook and the roaring
fire； disclosed through the open kitchen door； Allan's mind went
off at a tangent； and Allan's dignity scattered itself to the
four winds of heaven； as usual。
〃Aha； Mrs。 Gripper； there you are with your pots and pans； and
your burning fiery furnace！ One had need be Shadrach； Meshach；
and the other fellow to stand over that。 Breakfast as soon as
ever you like。 Eggs； sausages； bacon； kidneys； marmalade；
water…cresses； coffee； and so forth。 My friend and I belong to
the select few whom it's a perfect privilege to cook for。
Voluptuaries； Mrs。 Gripper； voluptuaries； both of us。 You'll
see；〃 continued Allan； as they went on toward the stairs； 〃I
shall make that worthy creature young again； I'm better than a
doctor for Mrs。 Gripper。 When she laughs； she shakes her fat
sides； and when she shakes her fat sides； she exerts her muscular
system； and when she exerts her muscular system Ha！ here's
Susan again。 Don't squeeze yourself flat against the banisters；
my dear； if you don't mind hustling _me_ on the stairs； I rather
like hustling _you。_ She looks like a full…blown rose when she
blushes； doesn't she？ Stop； Susan！ I've orders to give。 Be very
particular with Mr。 Midwinter's room： shake up his bed like mad；
and dust his furniture till those nice round arms of yours ache
again。 Nonsense； my dear fellow！ I'm not too familiar with them；
I'm only keeping them up to their work。 Now； then； Richard！ where
do we breakfast？ Oh； here。 Between ourselves； Midwinter； these
splendid rooms of mine are a size too large for me； I don't feel
as if I should ever be on intimate terms with my own furniture。
My views in life are of the snug and slovenly sorta kitchen
chair； you know； and a low ceiling。 Man wants but little here
below； and wants that little long。 That's not exactly the right
quotation； but it expresses my meaning； and we'll let alone
correcting it till the next opportunity。〃
〃I beg your pardon；〃 interposed Midwinter； 〃here is something
waiting for you which you have not noticed yet。〃
As he spoke； he pointed a little impatiently to a letter lying on
the breakfast…table。 He could conceal the ominous discovery which
he had made that morning； from Allan's knowledge； but he could
not conquer the latent distrust of circumstances which was now
raised again in his superstitious naturethe instinctive
suspicion of everything that happened； no matter how common or
how trifling the event； on the first memorable day when the new
life began in the new house。
Allan ran his eye over the letter； and tossed it across the table
to his friend。 〃I can't make head or tail of it；〃 he said； 〃can
you？〃
Midwinter read the letter； slowly； aloud。 〃SirI trust you will
pardon the liberty I take in sending these few lines to wait your
arrival at Thorpe Ambrose。 In the event of circumstances not
disposing you to place your law business in the hands of Mr。
Darch〃 He suddenly stopped at that point； and considered a
little。
〃Darch is our friend the lawyer；〃 said Allan； supposing Midwinter
had forgotten the name。 〃Don't you remember our spinning the
half…crown on the cabin table； when I got the two offers for the
cottage？ Heads； the major； tails； the lawyer。 This is the
lawyer。〃
Without making any reply； Midwinter resumed reading the letter。
〃In the event of circumstances not disposing you to place your
law business in the hands of Mr。 Darch； I beg to say that I shall
be happy to take charge of your interests； if you feel willing to
honor me with your confidence。 Inclosing a reference （should you
desire it） to my agents in London； and again apologizing for this
intrusion； I beg to remain； sir； respectfully yours； A。 PEDGIFT；
Sen。〃
〃Circumstances？〃 repeated Midwinter； as he laid the letter down。
〃What circumstances can possibly indispose you to give your law
business to Mr。 Da