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〃We can't leave you here alone； sir；〃 he said； protesting eagerly
in a whisper。 〃Let the major take care of the ladies； and let me
keep you company at the Mere。〃
〃No； no！〃 said Allan； pressing him back。 〃They're all in low
spirits on board。 If you want to be of service to me； stop like a
good fellow where you are； and do your best to keep the thing
going。〃
He waved his hand； and the men pushed the boat off from the
shore。 The others all waved their hands in return except the
major's daughter； who sat apart from the rest； with her face
hidden under her parasol。 The tears stood thick in Neelie's eyes。
Her last angry feeling against Allan died out； and her heart went
back to him penitently the moment he left the boat。 〃How good he
is to us all！〃 she thought； 〃and what a wretch I am！〃 She got up
with every generous impulse in her nature urging her to make
atonement to him。 She got up； reckless of appearances and looked
after him with eager eyes and flushed checks； as he stood alone
on the shore。 〃Don't be long； Mr。 Armadale！〃 she said； with a
desperate disregard of what the rest of the company thought of
her。
The boat was already far out in the water； and with all Neelie's
resolution the words were spoken in a faint little voice； which
failed to reach Allan's ears。 The one sound he heard； as the boat
gained the opposite extremity of the Mere； and disappeared slowly
among the reeds； was the sound of the concertina。 The
indefatigable Pedgift was keeping things goingevidently under
the auspices of Mrs。 Pentecostby performing a sacred melody。
Left by himself； Allan lit a cigar； and took a turn backward and
forward on the shore。 〃She might have said a word to me at
parting！〃 he thought。 〃I've done everything for the best； I've as
good as told her how fond of her I am； and this is the way she
treats me！〃 He stopped； and stood looking absently at the sinking
sun； and the fast…darkening waters of the Mere。 Some inscrutable
influence in the scene forced its way stealthily into his mind；
and diverted his thoughts from Miss Milroy to his absent friend。
He started； and looked about him。
The reed…cutters had gone back to their retreat behind the angle
of the wall； not a living creature was visible； not a sound rose
anywhere along the dreary shore。 Even Allan's spirits began to
get depressed。 It was nearly an hour after the time when
Midwinter had promised to be at Hurle Mere。 He had himself
arranged to walk to the pool （with a stable…boy from Thorpe
Ambrose as his guide）； by lanes and footpaths which shortened the
distance by the road。 The boy knew the country well； and
Midwinter was habitually punctual at all his appointments。 Had
anything gone wrong at Thorpe Ambrose？ Had some accident happened
on the way？ Determined to remain no longer doubting and idling by
himself； Allan made up his mind to walk inland from the Mere； on
the chance of meeting his friend。 He went round at once to the
angle in the wall； and asked one of the reedcutters to show him
the footpath to Thorpe Ambrose。
The man led him away from the road； and pointed to a barely
perceptible break in the outer trees of the plantation。 After
pausing for one more useless look around him； Allan turned his
back on the Mere and made for the trees。
For a few paces； the path ran straight through the plantation。
Thence it took a sudden turn； and the water and the open country
became both lost to view。 Allan steadily followed the grassy
track before him； seeing nothing and hearing nothing； until he
came to another winding of the path。 Turning in the new
direction； he saw dimly a human figure sitting alone at the foot
of one of the trees。 Two steps nearer were enough to make the
figure familiar to him。 〃Midwinter！〃 he exclaimed； in
astonishment。 〃This is not the place where I was to meet you！
What are you waiting for here？〃
Midwinter rose； without answering。 The evening dimness among the
trees； which obscured his face； made his silence doubly
perplexing。
Allan went on eagerly questioning him。 〃Did you come here by
yourself？〃 he asked。 〃I thought the boy was to guide you？〃
This time Midwinter answered。 〃When we got as far as these
trees；〃 he said； 〃I sent the boy back。 He told me I was close to
the place； and couldn't miss it。〃
〃What made you stop here when he left you？〃 reiterated Allan。
〃Why didn't you walk on？〃
〃Don't despise me；〃 answered the other。 〃I hadn't the courage！〃
〃Not the courage？〃 repeated Allan。 He paused a moment。 〃Oh； I
know！〃 he resumed； putting his hand gayly on Midwinter's
shoulder。 〃You're still shy of the Milroys。 What nonsense； when I
told you myself that your peace was made at the cottage！〃
〃I wasn't thinking； Allan； of your friends at the cottage。 The
truth is； I'm hardly myself to…day。 I am ill and unnerved；
trifles startle me。〃 He stopped； and shrank away； under the
anxious scrutiny of Allan's eyes。 〃If you _will_ have it；〃 he
burst out； abruptly； 〃the horror of that night on board the Wreck
has got me again； there's a dreadful op pression on my head；
there's a dreadful sinking at my heart。 I am afraid of something
happening to us； if we don't part before the day is out。 I can't
break my promise to you； for God's sake； release me from it； and
let me go back！〃
Remonstrance； to any one who knew Midwinter； was plainly useless
at that moment。 Allan humored him。 〃Come out of this dark；
airless place；〃 he said； 〃and we will talk about it。 The water
and the open sky are within a stone's throw of us。 I hate a wood
in the evening； it even gives _me_ the horrors。 You have been
working too hard over the steward's books。 Come and breathe
freely in the blessed open air。〃
Midwinter stopped； considered for a moment； and suddenly
submitted。
〃You're right；〃 he said； 〃and I'm wrong； as usual。 I'm wasting
time and distressing you to no purpose。 What folly to ask you to
let me go back！ Suppose you had said yes？〃
〃Well？〃 asked Allan。
〃Well；〃 repeated Midwinter； 〃something would have happened at the
first step to stop me； that's all。 Come on。〃
They walked together in silence on the way to the Mere。
At the last turn in the path Allan's cigar went out。 While he
stopped to light it again； Midwinter walked on before him； and
was the first to come in sight of the open ground。
Allan had just kindled the match； when； to his surprise； his
friend came back to him round the turn in the path。 There was
light enough to show objects more clearly in this part of the
plantation。 The match； as Midwinter faced him； dropped on the
instant from Allan's hand。
〃Good God！〃 he cried； starting back； 〃you look as you looked on
board the Wreck！〃
Midwinter held up his band for silence。 He spoke with his wild
eyes riveted on Allan's face； with his white lips close at
Allan's ear。
〃You remember how I _looked；_〃 he answered； in a whisper。 〃Do you
remember what I _said_ when you and the doctor were talking of
the Dream？〃
〃I have forgotten the Dream；〃 said Allan。
As he made that answer； Midwinter took his hand； and led him
round the last turn in the path。
〃Do you remember it now？〃 he asked； and pointed to the Mere。
The sun was sinking in the