silence of the lonely neighborhood； stopped at the iron gates。 In
another minute she saw the cab draw up beneath her； at the house
door。
The earlier night had been cloudy； but the sky was clearing now
and the moon was out。 She opened the window to see and hear more
clearly。 By the light of the moon she saw Allan get out of the
cab； and turn round to speak to some other person inside。 The
answering voice told her； before he appeared in his turn； that
Armadale's companion was her husband。
The same petrifying influence that had fallen on her at the
interview with him of the previous day fell on her now。 She stood
by the window； white and still； and haggard and oldas she had
stood when she first faced him in her widow's weeds。
Mr。 Bashwood； stealing up alone to the second floor to make his
report； knew； the instant he set eyes on her； that the report was
needless。 〃It's not my fault；〃 was all he said； as she slowly
turned her head and looked at him。 〃They met together； and there
was no parting them。〃
She drew a long breath； and motioned him to be silent。 〃Wait a
little；〃 she said； 〃I know all about it。〃
Turning from him at those words； she slowly paced the corridor to
its furthest en d； turned； and slowly came back to him with
frowning brow and drooping headwith all the grace and beauty
gone from her； but the inbred grace and beauty in the movement of
her limbs。
〃Do you wish to speak to me？〃 she asked； her mind far away from
him； and her eyes looking at him vacantly as she put the
question。
He roused his courage as he had never roused it in her presence
yet。
〃Don't drive me to despair！〃 he cried； with a startling
abruptness。 〃Don't look at me in that way； now I have found it
out！〃
〃What have you found out？〃 she asked； with a momentary surprise
on her face； which faded from it again before he could gather
breath enough to go on。
〃Mr。 Armadale is not the man who took you away from me；〃 he
answered。 〃Mr。 Midwinter is the man。 I found it out in your face
yesterday。 I see it in your face now。 Why did you sign your name
'Armadale' when you wrote to me？ Why do you call yourself 'Mrs。
Armadale' still？〃
He spoke those bold words at long intervals； with an effort to
resist her influence over him； pitiable and terrible to see。
She looked at him for the first time with softened eyes。 〃I wish
I had pitied you when we first met；〃 she said； gently； 〃as I pity
you now。〃
He struggled desperately to go on and say the words to her which
he had strung himself to the pitch of saying on the drive from
the terminus。 They were words which hinted darkly at his
knowledge of her past life； words which warned herdo what else
she might； commit what crimes she pleasedto think twice before
she deceived and deserted him again。 In those terms he had vowed
to himself to address her。 He had the phrases picked and chosen；
he had the sentences ranged and ordered in his mind； nothing was
wanting but to make the one crowning effort of speaking
themand； even now； after all he had said and all he had dared；
the effort was more than he could compass！ In helpless gratitude；
even for so little as her pity； he stood looking at her； and wept
the silent； womanish tears that fall from old men's eyes。
She took his hand and spoke to himwith marked forbearance； but
without the slightest sign of emotion on her side。
〃You have waited already at my request；〃 she said。 〃Wait till
to…morrow； and you will know all。 If you trust nothing else that
I have told you； you may trust what I tell you now。 _It will end
to…night。_〃
As she said the words； the doctor's step was heard on the stairs。
Mr。 Bashwood drew back from her； with his heart beating fast in
unutterable expectation。 〃It will end to…night！〃 he repeated to
himself； under his breath； as he moved away toward the far end of
the corridor。
〃Don't let me disturb you； sir；〃 said the doctor； cheerfully； as
they met。 〃I have nothing to say to Mrs。 Armadale but what you or
anybody may hear。〃
Mr。 Bashwood went on； without answering； to the far end of the
corridor； still repeating to himself： 〃It will end to…night！〃 The
doctor； passing him in the opposite direction； joined Miss Gwilt。
〃You have heard； no doubt；〃 he began； in his blandest manner and
his roundest tones； 〃that Mr。 Armadale has arrived。 Permit me to
add； my dear lady； that there is not the least reason for any
nervous agitation on your part。 He has been carefully humored；
and he is as quiet and manageable as his best friends could wish。
I have informed him that it is impossible to allow him an
interview with the young lady to…night； but that he may count on
seeing her （with the proper precautions） at the earliest
propitious hour； after she is awake to…morrow morning。 As there
is no hotel near； and as the propitious hour may occur at a
moment's notice； it was clearly incumbent on me； under the
peculiar circumstances； to offer him the hospitality of the
Sanitarium。 He has accepted it with the utmost gratitude； and has
thanked me in a most gentlemanly and touching manner for the
pains I have taken to set his mind at ease。 Perfectly gratifying；
perfectly satisfactory； so far！ But there has been a little
hitchnow happily got over…which I think it right to mention
to you before we all retire for the night。〃
Having paved the way in those words （and in Mr。 Bashwood's
hearing） for the statement which he had previously announced his
intention of making； in the event of Allan's dying in the
Sanitarium； the doctor was about to proceed； when his attention
was attracted by a sound below like the trying of a door。
He instantly descended the stairs； and unlocked the door of
communication between the first and second floors； which he had
locked behind him on his way up。 But the person who had tried the
doorif such a person there really had beenwas too quick for
him。 He looked along the corridor； and over the staircase into
the hall； and； discovering nothing； returned to Miss Gwilt； after
securing the door of communication behind him once more。
〃Pardon me；〃 he resumed； 〃I thought I heard something downstairs。
With regard to the little hitch that I adverted to just now；
permit me to inform you that Mr。 Armadale has brought a friend
here with him； who bears the strange name of Midwinter。 Do you
know the gentleman at all？〃 asked the doctor； with a suspicious
anxiety in his eyes； which strangely belied the elaborate
indifference of his tone。
〃I know him to be an old friend of Mr。 Armadale's；〃 she said。
〃Does he？〃 Her voice failed her； and her eyes fell before the
doctor's steady scrutiny。 She mastered the momentary weakness；
and finished her question。 〃Does he； too； stay here to…night？〃
〃Mr。 Midwinter is a person of coarse manners and suspicious
temper；〃 rejoined the doctor； steadily watching her。 〃He was rude
enough to insist on staying here as soon as Mr。 Armadale had
accepted my invitation。〃
He paused to note the effect of those words on her。 Left utterly
in the dark by the caution with which she had avoided mentioning
her husband's assumed name to him at their first interview； the
doctor's distrust of her was necessarily of the vaguest kind。 He
had heard her voice fail herhe had seen her color change。 He
suspected her of a mental reservation on the subject of
Midwinterand of nothing more。
〃Did you permit him to have his way？〃 she asked。 〃In your place；
I should have shown him the door。〃
The impenetrable composure of her tone warned the doctor that her
self…command was not to be further shaken that night。 He resumed
the character of Mrs。 Armadale's medical referee on the subject
of Mr。 Armadale's mental health。
〃If I had only had my own feelings to consult；〃 he said； 〃I don't
disguise from you that I should （as you say） have shown Mr。
Midwinter the door。 But on appealing to Mr。 Armadale； I found he
was himself anxious not to be parted from his friend。 Under those
circumstances； but one alternative was leftthe alternative of
humoring him again。 The responsibility of thwarting himto say
nothing；〃 added the doctor； drifting for a moment toward the
truth； 〃of my natural apprehension； with such a temper as his
friend's； of a scandal and disturbance in the housewas not to
be thought of for a moment。 Mr。 Midwinter accordingly remains
here for the night； and occupies （I ought to say； insists on
occupying） the next room to Mr。 Armadale。 Advise me； my dear
madam； in this emergency；〃 concluded the doctor； with his loudest
emphasis。 〃What rooms shall we put them in； on the first floor？〃
〃Put Mr。 Armadale in Number Four。〃
〃And his friend next to him； in Number Three？〃 said the doctor。
〃Well！ well！ well！ perhaps they _are_ the most comfortable rooms。
I'll give my orders immediately。 Don't hurry away； Mr。 Bashwood；〃
he called out； cheerfully； as he reached the top of the
staircase。 〃I have left the assistant physician's key on the
windowsill yonder； and Mrs。 Armadale can let you out at the
staircase door whenever she pleases。 Don't sit up late； Mrs。
Armadale！ Yours is a nervous system that requires plenty of
sleep。 'Tired nature's sweet restorer； balmy sleep。' Grand line！
God bless yougood…night！〃
Mr。 Bashwood came back from the far end of the corridorstill
pondering； in unutterable expectation； on what was to come with
the night。
〃Am I to go now？〃 he asked。
〃No。 You are to stay。 I said you should know all if you waited
till the morning。 Wait here。〃
He hesitated； and looked about him。 〃The doctor；〃 he faltered。 〃I
thought the doctor said〃
〃The doctor will interfere with nothing that I do in this house
to…night。 I tell you to stay。 There are empty rooms on the floor
above this。 Take one of them。〃
Mr。 Bashwood felt the trembling fit coming on him again as he
looked at her。 〃May I ask？〃 he began。
〃Ask nothing。 I want you。〃
〃Will you please to tell me？〃
〃I will tell you nothing till the night is over and the morning
has come。〃
His curiosity conquered his fear。 He persisted。
〃Is it something dreadful？〃 he whispered。 〃Too dreadful to tell
me？〃
She stamped her foot with a sudden outbreak of impatience。 〃Go！〃
she said； snatching the key of the staircase door from the
window…sil