talking when he met us； and your voice is one among your many
charms； I doubted his remembering your voice； either。 And yet I
felt persuaded that he knew you。 'How？' you will ask。 My dear； as
ill…luck would have it； we were speaking at the time of young
Armadale。 I firmly believe that the name was the first thing that
struck him； and when he heard _that；_； your voice certainly and
your figure perhaps； came back to his memory。 'And what if it
did？' you may say。 Think again； Lydia； and tell me whether the
parson of the place where Mrs。 Armadale lived was not likely to
be Mrs。 Armadale's friend？ If he _was_ her friend； the very first
person to whom she would apply for advice after the manner in
which you frightened her； and after what you most injudiciously
said on the subject of appealing to her son； would be the
clergyman of the parishand the magistrate； too； as the landlord
at the inn himself told you。
〃You will now understand why I left you in that extremely uncivil
manner； and I may go on to what happened next。
〃I followed the old gentleman till he turned into a quiet street；
and then accosted him； with respect for the Church written （I
flatter myself） in every line of my face。
〃 'Will you excuse me；' I said； 'if I venture to inquire； sir；
whether you recognized the lady who was walking with me when you
happened to pass us in the Gardens？'
〃 'Will you excuse my asking； ma'am； why you put that question？'
was all the answer I got。
〃 'I will endeavor to tell you； sir；' I said。 'If my friend is
not an absolute stranger to you； I should wish to request your
attention to a very delicate subject； connected with a lady
deceased； and with her son who survives her。'
〃He was staggered； I could see that。 But he was sly enough at the
same time to hold his tongue and wait till I said something more。
〃 'If I am wrong； sir； in thinking that you recognized my
friend；' I went on； 'I beg to apologize。 But I could hardly
suppose it possible that a gentleman in your profession would
follow a lady home who was a total stranger to him。'
〃There I had him。 He colored up （fancy that； at his age！）； and
owned the truth； in defense of his own precious character。
〃 'I have met with the lady once before； and I acknowledge that I
recognized her in the Gardens；' he said。 'You will excuse me if I
decline entering into the question of whether I did or did not
purposely follow her home。 If you wish to be assured that your
friend is not an absolute stranger to me； you now have that
assurance； and if you have anything particular to say to me； I
leave you to decide whether the time has come to say it。'
〃He waited； and looked about。 I waited； and looked about。 He said
the street was hardly a fit place to speak of a delicate subject
in。 I said the street was hardly a fit place to speak of a
delicate subject in。 He didn't offer to take me to where he
lived。 I didn't offer to take him to where I lived。 Have you ever
seen two strange cats； my dear； nose to nose on the tiles？ If you
have； you have seen the parson and me done to the life。
〃 'Well； ma'am；' he said； at last； 'shall we go on with our
conversation in spite of circumstances？'
〃 'Yes； sir；' I said； 'we are both of us； fortunately； of an age
to set circumstances at defiance' （I had seen the old wretch
looking at my gray hair； and satisfying himself that his
character was safe if he _was_ seen with me）。
〃After all this snapping and snarling； we came to the point at
last。 I began by telling him that I feared his interest in you
was not of the friendly sort。 He admitted that muchof course；
in defense of his own character once more。 I next repeated to him
everything you had told me about your proceedings in
Somersetshire； when we first found that he was following us home。
Don't be alarmed my dearI was acting on principle。 If you want
to make a dish of lies digestible； always give it a garnish of
truth。 Well； having appealed to the reverend gentleman's
confidence in this matter； I next declared that you had become an
altered woman since he had seen you last。 I revived that dead
wretch； your husband （without mentioning names； of course）；
established him （the first place I thought of） in business at the
Brazils； and described a letter which he had written； offering to
forgive his erring wife； if she would repent and go back to him。
I assured the parson that your husband's noble conduct had
softened your obdurate nature； and then； thinking I had produced
the right impression； I came boldly to close quarters with him。 I
said； 'At the very time when you met us； sir； my unhappy friend
was speaking in terms of touching； self…reproach of her conduct
to the late Mrs。 Armadale。 She confided to me her anxiety
to make some atonement； if possible； to Mrs。 Armadale's son； and
it is at her entreaty （for she cannot prevail on herself to face
you） that I now beg to inquire whether Mr。 Armadale is still in
Somersetshire； and whether he would consent to take back in small
installments the sum of money which my friend acknowledges that
she received by practicing on Mrs。 Armadale's fears。' Those were
my very words。 A neater story （accounting so nicely for
everything） was never told； it was a story to melt a stone。 But
this Somersetshire parson is harder than stone itself。 I blush
for _him；_ my dear； when I assure you that he was evidently
insensible enough to disbelieve every word I said about your
reformed character； your husband in the Brazils； and your
penitent anxiety to pay the money back。 It is really a disgrace
that such a man should be in the Church； such cunning as his is
in the last degree unbecoming in a member of a sacred profession。
〃 'Does your friend propose to join her husband by the next
steamer？' was all he condescended to say； when I had done。
〃I acknowledge I was angry。 I snapped at him。 I said； 'Yes； she
does。'
〃 'How am I to communicate with her？' he asked。
〃I snapped at him again。 'By letterthrough me。'
〃 'At what address； ma'am？'
〃There； I had him once more。 'You have found my address out for
yourself； sir；' I said。 'The directory will tell you my name； if
you wish to find that out for yourself also； otherwise； you are
welcome to my card。'
〃 'Many thanks； ma'am。 If your friend wishes to communicate with
Mr。 Armadale； I will give you _my_ card in return。'
〃 'Thank you； sir。'
〃 'Thank you； ma'am。'
〃 'Good…afternoon； sir。'
〃 'Good…afternoon； ma'am。'
〃So we parted。 I went my way to an appointment at my place of
business； and he went his in a hurry； which is of itself
suspicious。 What I can't get over is his heartlessness。 Heaven
help the people who send for _him_ to comfort them on their
death…beds！
〃The next consideration is； What are we to do？ If we don't find
out the right way to keep this old wretch in the dark； he may be
the ruin of us at Thorpe Ambrose just as we are within easy reach
of our end in view。 Wait up till I come to you； with my mind
free； I hope； from the other difficulty which is worrying me
here。 Was there ever such ill luck as ours？ Only think of that
man deserting his congregation； and coming to London just at the
very time when we have answered Major Milroy's advertisement； and
may expect the inquiries to be made next week！ I have no patience
with him； his bishop ought to interfere。
〃Affectionately yours；
〃MARIA OLDERSHAW。〃
2。 _From Miss Gwilt to Mrs。 Oldershaw。_
〃West Place； June 20th。
〃MY POOR OLD DEARHow very little you know of my sensitive
nature； as you call it！ Instead of feeling offended when you left
me； I went to your piano； and forgot all about you till your
messenger came。 Your letter is irresistible； I have been laughing
over it till I am quite out of breath。 Of all the absurd stories
I ever read； the story you addressed to the Somersetshire
clergyman is the most ridiculous。 And as for your interview with
him in the street； it is a perfect sin to keep it to ourselves。
The public ought really to enjoy it in the form of a farce at one
of the theaters。
〃Luckily for both of us （to come to serious matters）； your
messenger is a prudent person。 He sent upstairs to know if there
was an answer。 In the midst of my merriment I had presence of
mind enough to send downstairs and say 'Yes。'
〃Some brute of a man says； in some book which I once read； that
no woman can keep two separate trains of ideas in her mind at the
same time。 I declare you have almost satisfied me that the man is
right。 What！ when you have escaped unnoticed to your place of
business； and when you suspect this house to be watched； you
propose to come back here； and to put it in the parson's power to
recover the lost trace of you！ What madness！ Stop where you are；
and when you have got over your difficulty at Pimlico （it is some
woman's business； of course； what worries women are！）； be so good
as to read what I have got to say about our difficulty at
Brompton。
〃In the first place； the house （as you supposed） is watched。
〃Half an hour after you left me； loud voices in the street
interrupted me at the piano； and I went to the window。 There was
a cab at the house opposite； where they let lodgings； and an old
man； who looked like a respectable servant； was wrangling with
the driver about his fare。 An elderly gentleman came out of the
house； and stopped them。 An elderly gentleman returned into the
house； and appeared cautiously at the front drawing…room window。
You know him； you worthy creature； he had the bad taste； some few
hours since； to doubt whether you were telling him the truth。
Don't be afraid； he didn't see me。 When he looked up； after
settling with the cab driver； I was behind the curtain。 I have
been behind the curtain once or twice since； and I have seen
enough to satisfy me that he and his servant will relieve each
other at the window； so as never to lose sight of your house
here； night or day。 That the parson suspects the real truth is of
course impossible。 But that he firmly believes I mean some
mischief to young Armadale； and that you have entirely confirmed
him in that conviction； is as plain as that two and two make
four。 And this has happened （as you helplessly remind me） just
when we ha