finding the very help he wanted； at the time when he needed it
most。
〃At noon to…day he was on the Mole； it seems； with his
interpreter； trying vainly to make himself understood by the
vagabond population of the water…side。 Just as he was giving it
up in despair； a stranger standing by （Manuel had followed him； I
suppose； to the Mole from his hotel） kindly interfered to put
things right。 He said； 'I speak your language and their language；
sir。 I know Naples well； and I have been professionally
accustomed to the sea。 Can I help you？' The inevitable result
followed。 Armadale shifted all his difficulties on to the
shoulders of the polite stranger； in his usual helpless； headlong
way。 His new friend； however； insisted； in the most honorable
manner； on complying with the customary formalities before he
would consent to take the matter into his own hands。 He begged
leave to wait on Mr。 Armadale； with his testimonials to character
and capacity。 The same afternoon he had come by appointment to
the hotel； with all his papers； and with 'the saddest story' of
his sufferings and privations as 'a political refugee' that
Armadale had ever heard。 The interview was decisive。 Manuel left
the hotel； commissioned to find a crew for the yacht； and to fill
the post of sailing…master on the trial cruise。
〃I watched Midwinter anxiously； while Armadale was telling us
these particulars； and afterward； when he produced the new
sailing…master's testimonials； which he had brought with him for
his friend to see。
〃For the moment； Midwinter's superstitious misgivings seemed to
be all lost in his natural anxiety for his friend。 He examined
the stranger' s papersafter having told me that the sooner
Armadale was in the hands of strangers the better！with the
closest scrutiny and the most business…like distrust。 It is
needless to say that the credentials were as perfectly regular
and satisfactory as credentials could be。 When Midwinter handed
them back； his color rose： he seemed to feel the inconsistency of
his conduct； and to observe for the first time that I was present
noticing it。 'There is nothing to object to in the testimonials；
Allan： I am glad you have got the help you want at last。' That
was all he said at parting。 As soon as Armadale's back was
turned； I saw no more of him。 He has locked himself up again for
the night； in his own room。
〃There is nowso far as I am concernedbut one anxiety left。
When the yacht is ready for sea； and when I decline to occupy the
lady's cabin； will Midwinter hold to his resolution； and refuse
to sail without me？
〃October 26th。Warnings already of the coming ordeal。 A letter
from Armadale to Midwinter； which Midwinter has just sent in to
me。 Here it is：
〃 'DEAR MIDI am too busy to come to…day。 Get on with your work；
for Heaven's sake！ The new sailing…master is a man of ten
thousand。 He has got an Englishman whom he knows to serve as mate
on board already； and he is positively certain of getting the
crew together in three or four days' time。 I am dying for a whiff
of the sea； and so are you； or you are no sailor。 The rigging is
set up； the stores are coming on board； and we shall bend the
sails to…morrow or next day。 I never was in such spirits in my
life。 Remember me to your wife； and tell her she will be doing me
a favor if she will come at once； and order everything she wants
in the lady's cabin。 Yours affectionately； A。 A。'
〃Under this was written； in Midwinter's hand： 'Remember what I
told you。 Write （it will break it to him more gently in that
way）； and beg him to accept your apologies； and to excuse you
from sailing on the trial cruise。'
〃I have written without a moment's loss of time。 The sooner
Manuel knows （which he is certain to do through Armadale） that
the promise not to sail in the yacht is performed already； so far
as I am concerned； the safer I shall feel。
〃October 27th。A letter from Armadale； in answer to mine。 He is
full of ceremonio us regrets at the loss of my company on the
cruise； and he politely hopes that Midwinter may yet induce me to
alter my mind。 Wait a little； till he finds that Midwinter won't
sail with him either！ 。 。 。 。
〃October 30th。Nothing new to record until to…day。 To…day the
change in our lives here has come at last！
〃Armadale presented himself this morning； in his noisiest high
spirits； to announce that the yacht was ready for sea； and to ask
when Midwinter would be able to go on board。 I told him to make
the inquiry himself in Midwinter's room。 He left me； with a last
request that I would consider my refusal to sail with him。 I
answered by a last apology for persisting in my resolution； and
then took a chair alone at the window to wait the event of the
interview in the next room。
〃My whole future depended now on what passed between Midwinter
and his friend！ Everything had gone smoothly up to this time。 The
one danger to dread was the danger of Midwinter's resolution； or
rather of Midwinter's fatalism； giving way at the last moment。 If
he allowed himself to be persuaded into accompanying Armadale on
the cruise； Manuel's exasperation against me would hesitate at
nothinghe would remember that I had answered to him for
Armadale's sailing from Naples alone； and he would be capable of
exposing my whole past life to Midwinter before the vessel left
the port。 As I thought of this； and as the slow minutes followed
each other； and nothing reached my ears but the hum of voices in
the next room； my suspense became almost unendurable。 It was vain
to try and fix my attention on what was going on in the street。 I
sat looking mechanically out of the window； and seeing nothing。
〃SuddenlyI can't say in how long or how short a timethe hum
of voices ceased； the door opened； and Armadale showed himself on
the threshold； alone。
〃 'I wish you good…by；' he said； roughly。 'And I hope； when I am
married； my wife may never cause Midwinter the disappointment
that Midwinter's wife has caused _me！_'
〃He gave me an angry look； and made me an angry bow； and； turning
sharply； left the room。
〃I saw the people in the street again！ I saw the calm sea； and
the masts of the shipping in the harbor where the yacht lay！ I
could think； I could breathe freely once more！ The words that
saved me from Manuelthe words that might be Armadale's sentence
of deathhad been spoken。 The yacht was to sail without
Midwinter； as well as without Me！
〃My first feeling of exultation was almost maddening。 But it was
the feeling of a moment only。 My heart sank in me again when I
thought of Midwinter alone in the next room。
〃I went out into the passage to listen； and heard nothing。 I
tapped gently at his door； and got no answer。 I opened the door
and looked in。 He was sitting at the table； with his face hidden
in his hands。 I looked at him in silence； and saw the glistening
of the tears as they trickled through his fingers。
〃 'Leave me；' he said； without moving his hands。 'I must get over
it by myself。'
〃I went back into the sitting…room。 Who can understand women？ we
don't even understand ourselves。 His sending me away from him in
that manner cut me to the heart。 I don't believe the most
harmless and most gentle woman living could have felt it more
acutely than I felt it。 And this； after what I have been doing！
this； after what I was thinking of； the moment before I went into
his room！ Who can account for it？ NobodyI least of all！
〃Half an hour later his door opened； and I heard him hurrying
down the stairs。 I ran on without waiting to think； and asked if
I might go with him。 He neither stopped nor answered。 I went back
to the window； and saw him pass； walking rapidly away； with his
back turned on Naples and the sea。
〃I can understand now that he might not have heard me。 At the
time I thought him inexcusably and brutally unkind to me。 I put
on my bonnet； in a frenzy of rage with him； I sent out for a
carriage； and told the man to take me where he liked。 He took me；
as he took other strangers； to the Museum to see the statues and
the pictures。 I flounced from room to room； with my face in a
flame； and the people all staring at me。 I came to myself again；
I don't know how。 I returned to the carriage； and made the man
drive me back in a violent hurry； I don't know why。 I tossed off
my cloak and bonnet； and sat down once more at the window。 The
sight of the sea cooled me。 I forgot Midwinter； and thought of
Armadale and his yacht。 There wasn't a breath of wind； there
wasn't a cloud in the sky； the wide waters of the Bay were as
smooth as the surface of a glass。
〃The sun sank； the short twilight came and went。 I had some tea；
and sat at the table thinking and dreaming over it。 When I roused
myself and went back to the window； the moon was up； but the
quiet sea was as quiet as ever。
〃I was still looking out； when I saw Midwinter in the street
below； coming back。 I was composed enough by this time to
remember his habits； and to guess that he had been trying to
relieve the oppression on his mind by one of his long solitary
walks。 When I heard him go into his own room； I was too prudent
to disturb him again： I waited his pleasure where I was。
〃Before long I heard his window opened； and I saw him； from my
window； step into the balcony； and； after a look at the sea； hold
up his hand to the air。 I was too stupid； for the moment； to
remember that he had once been a sailor； and to know what this
meant。 I waited； and wondered what would happen next。
〃He went in again； and； after an interval； came out once more；
and held up his hand as before to the air。 This time he waited；
leaning on the balcony rail； and looking out steadily； with all
his attention absorbed by the sea。
〃For a long； long time he never moved。 Then； on a sudden； I saw
him start。 The next moment he sank on his knees； with his clasped
hands resting on the balcony rail。 'God Almighty bless and keep
you； Allan！' he said； fervently。 'Good…by； forever！'
〃I looked out to the sea。 A soft； steady breeze was blowing； and
the rippled surface of the water was sparkling in the quiet
moonlight。 I looked again； and there passed slowly； between me
and the track of the moon； a long black vessel with tall