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torn sheets of paper。 Turn from them which way he would； the old
times still came back and faced him reproachfully。 The spacious
bed…chamber in which he sat； narrowed； in spite of him； to the
sick usher誷 garret at the west…country inn。 The kind hand that
had once patted him on the shoulder touched him again； the kind
voice that had cheered him spoke unchangeably in the old friendly
tones。 He flung his arms on the table and dropped his head on
them in tearless despair。 The parting words that his tongue was
powerless to utter his pen was powerless to write。 Mercilessly in
earnest； his superstition pointed to him to go while the time was
his own。 Mercilessly in earnest； his love for Allan held him back
till the farewell plea for pardon and pity was written。
He rose with a sudden resolution； and rang for the servant； 〃When
Mr。 Armadale returns；〃 he said； 〃ask him to excuse my coming
downstairs； and say that I am trying to get to sleep。〃 He locked
the door and put out the light； and sat down alone in the
darkness。 〃The night will keep us apart；〃 he said； 〃and time may
help me to write。 I may go in the early morning； I may go
while〃 The thought died in him uncompleted； and the sharp agony
of the struggle forced to his lips the first cry of suffering
that had escaped him yet。
He waited in the darkness。
As the time stole on； his senses remained mechanically awake； but
his mind began to sink slowly under the heavy strain that had now
been laid on it for some hours past。 A dull vacancy possessed
him； he made no attempt to kindle the light and write once more。
He never started； he never moved to the open window； when the
first sound of approaching wheels broke in on the silence of the
night。 He heard the carriages draw up at the door； he heard the
horses champing their bits； he heard the voices of Allan and
young Pedgift on the steps； and still he sat quiet in the
darkness； and still no interest was aroused in him by the sounds
that reached his ear from outside。
The voices remained audible after the carriages had been driven
away； the two young men were evidently lingering on the steps
before they took leave of each other。 Every word they said
reached Midwinter through the open window。 Their one subject of
conversation was the new governess。 Allan's voice was loud in her
praise。 He had never passed such an hour of delight in his life
as the hour he had spent with Miss Gwilt in the boat； on the way
from Hurle Mere to the picnic party waiting at the other Broad。
Agreeing； on his side； with all that his client said in praise of
the charming stranger； young Pedgift appeared to treat the
subject； when it fell into his hands； from a different point of
view。 Miss Gwilt's attractions had not so entirely absorbed his
attention as to prevent him from noticing the impression which
the new governess had produced on her employer and her pupil。
〃There's a screw loose somewhere； sir； in Major Milroy's family；〃
said the voice of young Pedgift。 〃Did you notice how the major
and his daughter looked when Miss Gwilt made her excuses for
being late at the Mere？ You don't remember？ Do you remember what
Miss Gwilt said？〃
〃Something about Mrs。 Milroy； wasn't it？〃 Allan rejoined。
Young Pedgift's voice dropped mysteriously a note lower。
〃Miss Gwilt reached the cottage this afternoon； sir； at the time
when I told you she would reach it； and she would have joined us
at the time I told you she would come； but for Mrs。 Milroy。 Mrs。
Milroy sent for her upstairs as soon as she entered the house；
and kept her upstairs a good half…hour and more。 That was Miss
Gwilt's excuse； Mr。 Armadale； for being late at the Mere。〃
〃Well； and what then？〃
〃You seem to forget； sir； what the whole neighborhood has heard
about Mrs。 Milroy ever since the major first settled among us。 We
have all been told； on the doctor's own authority； that she is
too great a sufferer to see strangers。 Isn't it a little odd that
she should have suddenly turned out well enough to see Miss Gwilt
（in her husband's absence） the moment Miss Gwilt entered the
house？〃
〃Not a bit of it！ Of course she was anxious to make acquaintance
with her daughter's governess。〃
〃Likely enough； Mr。 Armadale。 But the major and Miss Neelie don't
see it in that light； at any rate。 I had my eye on them both when
the governess told them that Mrs。 Milroy had sent for her。 If
ever I saw a girl look thoroughly frightened； Miss Milroy was
that girl； and （if I may be allowed； in the strictest confidence；
to libel a gallant soldier） I should say that the major himself
was much in the same condition。 Take my word for it； sir； there's
something wrong upstairs in that pretty cottage of yours； and
Miss Gwilt is mixed up in it already！〃
There was a minute of silence。 When the voices were next heard by
Midwinter； they were further away from the houseAllan was
probably accompanying young Pedgift a few steps on his way back。
After a while； Allan's voice was audible once more under the
portico； making inquiries after his friend； answered by the
servant's voice giving Midwinter's message。 This brief
interruption over； the silence was not broken again till the time
came for shutting up the house。 The servants' footsteps passing
to and fro； the clang of closing doors； the barking of a
disturbed dog in the stable…yardthese sounds warned Midwinter
it was getting late。 He rose mechanically to kindle a light。 But
his head was giddy； his hand trembled； he laid aside the
match…box； and returned to his chair。 The conversation between
Allan and young Pedgift had ceased to occupy his attention the
instant he ceased to hear it； and now again； the sense that the
precious time was failing him became a lost sense as soon as the
house noises which had awakened it had passed away。 His energies
of body and mind were both alike worn out； he waited with a
stolid resignation for the trouble that was to come to him with
the coming day。
An interval passed； and the silence was once more disturbed by
voices outside； the voices of a man and a woman this time。 The
first few words exchanged between them indicated plainly enough a
meeting of the clandestine kind； and revealed the man as one of
the servants at Thorpe Ambrose； and the woman as one of the
servants at the cottage。
Here again； after the first greetings were over； the subject of
the new governess became the all…absorbing subject of
conversation。
The major's servant was brimful of forebodings （inspired solely
by Miss Gwilt's good looks） which she poured out irrepressibly on
her 〃sweetheart；〃 try as he might to divert her to other topics。
Sooner or later； let him mark her words； there would be an awful
〃upset〃 at the cottage。 Her master； it might be mentioned in
confidence； led a dreadful life with her mistress。 The major was
the best of men； he hadn't a thought in his heart beyond his
daughter and his everlasting clock。 But only let a nice…looking
woman come near the place； and Mrs。 Milroy was jealous of
herraging jealous； like a woman possessed； on that miserable
sick…bed of hers。 If Miss Gwilt （who was certainly good…looking；
in spite of her hideous hair） didn't blow t