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his chair； sat the poor broken…down； nervous wretch； in his worn
black garments； with his watery eyes； his honest old outspoken
wig； his miserable mohair stock； and his false teeth that were
incapable of deceiving anybodythere he sat； politely ill at
ease； now shrinking in the glare of the lamp； now wincing under
the shock of Allan's sturdy voice； a man with the wrinkles of
sixty years in his face； and the manners of a child in the
presence of strangers； an object of pity surely； if ever there
was a pitiable object yet！
〃Whatever else you're afraid of； Mr。 Bashwood；〃 cried
Allan； pouring out a glass of wine； 〃don't be afraid of that！
There isn't a headache in a hogshead of it！ Make yourself
comfortable； I'll leave you and Mr。 Midwinter to talk your
business over by yourselves。 It's all in Mr。 Midwinter's hands；
he acts for me； and settles everything at his own discretion。〃
He said those words with a cautious choice of expression very
uncharacteristic of him； and； without further explanation； made
abruptly for the door。 Midwinter； sitting near it； noticed his
face as he went out。 Easy as the way was into Allan's favor； Mr。
Bashwood； beyond all kind of doubt； had in some unaccountable
manner failed to find it！
The two strangely assorted companions were left togetherparted
widely； as it seemed on the surface； from any possible
interchange of sympathy； drawn invisibly one to the other；
nevertheless； by those magnetic similarities of temperament which
overleap all difference of age or station； and defy all apparent
incongruities of mind and character。 From the moment when Allan
left the room； the hidden Influence that works in darkness began
slowly to draw the two men together； across the great social
desert which had lain between them up to this day。
Midwinter was the first to approach the subject of the interview。
〃May I ask；〃 he began； 〃if you have been made acquainted with my
position here； and if you know why it is that I require your
assistance？〃
Mr。 Bashwoodstill hesitating and still timid； but manifestly
relieved by Allan's departuresat further back in his chair； and
ventured on fortifying himself with a modest little sip of wine。
〃Yes； sir；〃 he replied； 〃Mr。 Pedgift informed me of allat least
I think I may say soof all the circumstances。 I am to instruct；
or perhaps； I ought to say to advise〃
〃No； Mr。 Bashwood； the first word was the best word of the two。 I
am quite ignorant of the duties which Mr。 Armadale's kindness has
induced him to intrust to me。 If I understand right； there can be
no question of your capacity to instruct me； for you once filled
a steward's situation yourself。 May I inquire where it was？〃
〃At Sir John Mellowship's； sir； in West Norfolk。 Perhaps you
would likeI have got it with meto see my testimonial？ Sir
John might have dealt more kindly with me； but I have no
complaint to make； it's all done and over now！〃 His watery eyes
looked more watery still； and the trembling in his hands spread
to his lips as he produced an old dingy letter from his
pocket…book and laid it open on the table。
The testimonial was very briefly and very coldly expressed； but
it was conclusive as far as it went。 Sir John considered it only
right to say that he had no complaint to make of any want of
capacity or integrity in his steward。 If Mr。 Bashwood's domestic
position had been compatible with the continued performance of
his duties on the estate； Sir John would have been glad to keep
him。 As it was； embarrassments caused by the state of Mr。
Bashwood's personal affairs had rendered it undesirable that he
should continue in Sir John's service； and on that ground； and
that only； his employer and he had parted。 Such was Sir John's
testimony to Mr。 Bashwood's character。 As Midwinter read the last
lines； he thought of another testimonial； still in his own
possessionof the written character which they had given him at
the school； when they turned their sick usher adrift in the
world。 His superstition （distrusting all new events and all new
faces at Thorpe Ambrose） still doubted the man before him as
obstinately as ever。 But when he now tried to put those doubts
into words； his heart upbraided him； and he laid the letter on
the table in silence。
The sudden pause in the conversation appeared to startle Mr。
Bashwood。 He comforted himself with another little sip of wine；
and； leaving the letter untouched； burst irrepressibly into
words； as if the silence was quite unendurable to him。
〃I am ready to answer any question； sir；〃 he began。 〃Mr。 Pedgift
told me that I must answer questions； because I was applying for
a place of trust。 Mr。 Pedgift said neither you nor Mr。 Armadale
was likely to think the testimonial sufficient of itself。 Sir
John doesn't sayhe might have put it more kindly； but I don't
complainSir John doesn't say what the troubles were that lost
me my place。 Perhaps you might wish to know〃 He stopped
confusedly； looked at the testimonial； and said no more。
〃If no interests but mine were concerned in the matter；〃 rejoined
Midwinter； 〃the testimonial would； I assure you； be quite enough
to satisfy me。 But while I am learning my new duties； the person
who teaches me will be really and truly the steward of my
friend's estate。 I am very unwilling to ask you to speak on what
may be a painful subject； and I am sadly inexperienced in putting
such questions as I ought to put； but； perhaps； in Mr。 Armadale's
interests； I ought to know something more； either from yourself；
or from Mr。 Pedgift； if you prefer it〃 He； too； stopped
confusedly； looked at the testimonial； and said no more。
There was another moment of silence。 The night was warm； and Mr。
Bashwood； among his other misfortunes； had the deplorable
infirmity of perspiring in the palms of the hands。 He took out a
miserable little cotton pocket…handkerchief； rolled it up into a
ball； and softly dabbed it to and fro； from one hand to the
other； with the regularity of a pendulum。 Performed by other men；
under other circumstances； the action might have been ridiculous。
Performed by this man； at the crisis of the interview； the action
was horrible。
〃Mr。 Pedgift's time is too valuable； sir； to be wasted on me；〃 he
said。 〃I will mention what ought to be mentioned myselfif you
will please to allow me。 I have been unfortunate in my family。 It
is very hard to bear； though it seems not much to tell。 My
wife〃 One of his hands closed fast on the pocket…handkerchief；
he moistened his dry lips； struggled with himself； and went on。
〃My wife； sir；〃 he resumed； 〃stood a little in my way； she did me
（I am afraid I must confess） some injury with Sir John。 Soon
after I got the steward's situation； she contractedshe
tookshe fell into habits （I hardly know how to say it） of
drinking。 I couldn't break her of it； and I couldn't always
conceal it from Sir John's knowledge。 She broke out； andand
tried his patience once or twice； when he came to my office on
business。 Sir John excused it； not very kindly； but still he
excused it。 I don't complain of Sir John！ I don't complain now of
my wife。〃 He pointed a trembling finger at his miserable
crape…covered beaver hat on