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enough； in the interval of expectation before governess and pupil
reached the end of the walk； to open Mr。 Brock's letter； and to
fortify his memory by a last look at the paragraph which
described her face。
He was still absorbed over the description when he heard the
smooth rustle of the dresses traveling toward him again。 Standing
in the shadow of the summer…house； he waited while she lessened
the distance between them。 With her written portrait vividly
impressed on his mind； and with the clear light of the morning to
help him； his eyes questioned her as she came on； and these were
the answers that her face gave him back。
The hair in the rector's description was light brown and not
plentiful。 This woman's hair； superbly luxuriant in its growth；
was of the one unpardonably remarkable shade of color which the
prejudice of the Northern nations never entirely forgivesit was
_red！_ The forehead in the rector's description was high； narrow；
and sloping backward from the brow； the eyebrows were faintly
marked； and the eyes small； and in color either gray or hazel。
This woman's forehead was low； upright； and broad toward the
temples； her eyebrows； at once strongly and delicately marked；
were a shade darker than her hair； her eyes； large； bright； and
well opened； were of that purely blue color； without a tinge in
it of gray or green； so often presented to our admiration in
pictures and books； so rarely met with in the living face。 The
nose in the rector's description was aquiline。 The line of this
woman's nose bent neither outward nor inward： it was the
straight； delicately molded nose （with the short upper lip
beneath） of the ancient statues and busts。 The lips in the
rector's description were thin and the upper lip long； the
complexion was of a dull； sickly paleness； the chin retreating
and the mark of a mole or a scar on the left side of it。 This
woman's lips were full； rich； and sensual。 Her complexion was the
lovely complexion which accompanies such hair as hersso
delicately bright in its rosier tints； so warmly and softly white
in its gentler gradations of color on the forehead and the neck。
Her chin； round and dimpled； was pure of the slightest blemish in
every part of it； and perfectly in line with her forehead to the
end。 Nearer and nearer； and fairer and fairer she came； in the
glow of the morning lightthe most startling； the most
unanswerable contradiction that eye could see or mind conceive to
the description in the rector's letter。
Both governess and pupil were close to the summer…house before
they looked that way； and noti ced Midwinter standing inside。 The
governess saw him first。
〃A friend of yours； Miss Milroy？〃 she asked； quietly； without
starting or betraying any sign of surprise。
Neelie recognized him instantly。 Prejudiced against Midwinter by
his conduct when his friend had introduced him at the cottage；
she now fairly detested him as the unlucky first cause of her
misunderstanding with Allan at the picnic。 Her face flushed and
she drew back from the summerhouse with an expression of
merciless surprise。
〃He is a friend of Mr。 Armadale's；〃 she replied sharply。 〃I don't
know what he wants； or why he is here。〃
〃A friend of Mr。 Armadale's！〃 The governess's face lighted up
with a suddenly roused interest as she repeated the words； She
returned Midwinter's look； still steadily fixed on her； with
equal steadiness on her side。
〃For my part；〃 pursued Neelie； resenting Midwinter's
insensibility to her presence on the scene； 〃I think it a great
liberty to treat papa's garden as if it were the open park！〃
The governess turned round； and gently interposed。
〃My dear Miss Milroy；〃 she remonstrated； 〃there are certain
distinctions to be observed。 This gentleman is a friend of Mr。
Armadale's。 You could hardly express yourself more strongly if he
was a perfect stranger。〃
〃I express my opinion；〃 retorted Neelie； chafing under the
satirically indulgent tone in which the governess addressed her。
〃It's a matter of taste； Miss Gwilt； and tastes differ。〃 She
turned away petulantly； and walked back by herself to the
cottage。
〃She is very young；〃 said Miss Gwilt； appealing with a smile to
Midwinter's forbearance； 〃and； as you must see for yourself； sir；
she is a spoiled child。〃 She pausedshowed； for an instant only；
her surprise at Midwinter's strange silence and strange
persistency in keeping his eyes still fixed on herthen set
herself； with a charming grace and readiness； to help him out of
the false position in which he stood。 〃As you have extended your
walk thus far；〃 she resumed； 〃perhaps you will kindly favor me；
on your return； by taking a message to your friend？ Mr。 Armadale
has been so good as to invite me to see the Thorpe Ambrose
gardens this morning。 Will you say that Major Milroy permits me
to accept the invitation （in company with Miss Milroy） between
ten and eleven o'clock？〃 For a moment her eyes rested； with a
renewed look of interest； on Midwinter's face。 She waited； still
in vain； for an answering word from himsmiled； as if his
extraordinary silence amused rather than angered herand
followed her pupil back to the cottage。
It was only when the last trace of her had disappeared that
Midwinter roused himself； and attempted to realize the position
in which he stood。 The revelation of her beauty was in no respect
answerable for the breathless astonishment which had held him
spell…bound up to this moment。 The one clear impression she had
produce on him thus far began and ended with his discovery of the
astounding contradiction that her face offered； in one feature
after another； to the description in Mr。 Brock's letter。 All
beyond this was vague and mistya dim consciousness of a tall；
elegant woman； and of kind words； modestly and gracefully spoken
to him； and nothing more。
He advanced a few steps into the garden without knowing
whystopped； glancing hither and thither like a man
lostrecognized the summer…house by an effort； as if years had
elapsed since he had seen itand made his way out again； at
last； into the park。 Even here； he wandered first in one
direction； then in another。 His mind was still reeling under the
shock that had fallen on it； his perceptions were all confused。
Something kept him mechanically in action； walking eagerly
without a motive； walking he knew not where。
A far less sensitively organized man might have been overwhelmed；
as he was overwhelmed now； by the immense； the instantaneous
revulsion of feeling which the event of the last few minutes had
wrought in his mind。
At the memorable instant when he had opened the door of the
summer…house； no confusing influence troubled his faculties。 In
all that related to his position toward his friend； he had
reached an absolutely definite conclusion by an absolutely
definite process of thought。 The whole strength of the motive
which had driven him into the resolution to part from Allan
rooted itself in the belief that he had seen at Hurle Mere the
fatal fulfillment of the first Vision of the Dream。 And this
belief； in its turn； rested； necessarily； on the conviction that
the woman who was the one survivor of the trag