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 have answered the advertisement； and when we may expect
the major's inquiries to be made in a few days' time。
〃Surely； here is a terrible situation for two women to find
themselves in？ A fiddlestick's end for the situation！ We have got
an easy way out of itthanks； Mother Oldershaw； to what I myself
forced you to do； not three hours before the Somersetshire
clergyman met with us。
〃Has that venomous little quarrel of ours this morningafter we
had pounced on the major's advertisement in the newspaperquite
slipped out of your memory？ Have you forgotten how I persisted in
my opinion that you were a great deal too well known in London to
appear safely as my reference in your own name； or to receive an
inquiring lady or gentleman （as you were rash enough to propose）
in your own house？ Don't you remember what a passion you were in
when I brought our dispute to an end by declining to stir a step
in the matter； unless I could conclude my application to Major
Milroy by referring him to an address at which you were totally
unknown； and to a name which might be anything you pleased； as
long as it was not yours？ What a look you gave me when you found
there was nothing for it but to drop the whole speculation or to
let me have my own way！ How you fumed over the lodging hunting on
the other side of the Park！ and how you groaned when you came
back； possessed of furnished apartments in respectable Bayswater；
over the useless expense I had put you to！
〃What do you think of those furnished apartments _now；_ you
obstinate old woman？ Here we are； with discovery threatening us
at our very door； and with no hope of escape unless we can
contrive to disappear from the parson in the dark。 And there are
the lodgings in Bayswater； to which no inquisitive strangers have
traced either you or me； ready and waiting to swallow us upthe
lodgings in which we can escape all further molestation； and
answer the major's inquiries at our ease。 Can you see； at last； a
little further than your poor old nose？ Is there anything in the
world to prevent your safe disappearance from Pimlico to…night；
and your safe establishment at the new lodgings； in the character
of my respectable reference； half an hour afterward？ Oh； fie；
fie； Mother Oldershaw！ Go down on your wicked old knees； and
thank your stars that you had a she…devil like me to deal with
this morning！
〃Suppose we come now to the only difficulty worth mentioning_
my_ difficulty。 Watched as I am in this house； how am I to join
you without bringing the parson or the parson's servant with me
at my heels？
〃Being to all intents and purposes a prisoner here； it seems to
me that I have no choice but to try the old prison plan of
escapea change of clothes。 I have been looking at your
house…maid。 Excep t that we are both light； her face and hair and
my face and hair are as unlike each other as possible。 But she is
as nearly as can be my height and size； and （if she only knew how
to dress herself； and had smaller feet） her figure is a very much
better one than it ought to be for a person in her station in
life。
〃My idea is； to dress her in the clothes I wore in the Gardens
to…day； to send her out； with our reverend enemy in full pursuit
of her； and； as soon as the coast is clear； to slip away myself
and join you。 The thing would be quite impossible； of course； if
I had been seen with my veil up； but； as events have turned out；
it is one advantage of the horrible exposure which followed my
marriage that I seldom show myself in public； and never； of
course； in such a populous place as London； without wearing a
thick veil and keeping that veil down。 If the house…maid wears my
dress； I don't really see why the house…maid may not be counted
on to represent me to the life。
〃The one question is； Can the woman be trusted？ If she can； send
me a line； telling her； on your authority； that she is to place
herself at my disposal。 I won't say a word till I have heard from
you first。
〃Let me have my answer to…night。 As long as we were only talking
about my getting the governess's place； I was careless enough how
it ended。 But now that we have actually answered Major Milroy's
advertisement； I am in earnest at last。 I mean to be Mrs。
Armadale of Thorpe Ambrose； and woe to the man or woman who tries
to stop me！ Yours；
〃LYDIA GWILT。
〃P。S。I open my letter again to say that you need have no fear
of your messenger being followed on his return to Pimlico。 He
will drive to a public…house where he is known； will dismiss the
cab at the door； and will go out again by a back way which is
only used by the landlord and his friends。L。 G。〃
3。 _From Mrs。 Oldershaw to Miss Gwilt。_
〃Diana Street； 10 o'clock。
〃MY DEAR LYDIAYou have written me a heartless letter。 If you
had been in my trying position； harassed as I was when I wrote to
you； I should have made allowances for my friend when I found my
friend not so sharp as usual。 But the vice of the present age is
a want of consideration for persons in the decline of life。
Morally speaking； you are in a sad state； my dear； and you stand
much in need of a good example。 You shall have a good exampleI
forgive you。
〃Having now relieved my mind by the performance of a good action；
suppose I show you next （though I protest against the vulgarity
of the expression） that I _can_ see a little further than my poor
old nose？
〃I will answer your question about the house…maid first。 You may
trust her implicitly。 She has had her troubles； and has learned
discretion。 She also looks your age； though it is only her due to
say that； in this particular； she has some years the advantage of
you。 I inclose the necessary directions which will place her
entirely at your disposal。
〃And what comes next？
〃Your plan for joining me at Bayswater comes next。 It is very
well as far as it goes； but it stands sadly in need of a little
judicious improvement。 There is a serious necessity （you shall
know why presently） for deceiving the parson far more completely
than you propose to deceive him。 I want him to see the
house…maid's face under circumstances which will persuade him
that it is _your_ face。 And then； going a step further； I want
him to see the house…maid leave London； under the impression that
he has seen _you_ start on the first stage of your journey to the
Brazils。 He didn't believe in that journey when I announced it to
him this afternoon in the street。 He may believe in it yet； if
you follow the directions I am now going to give you。
〃To…morrow is Saturday。 Send the housemaid out in your walking
dress of to…day； just as you propose； but don't stir out
yourself； and don't go near the window。 Desire the woman to keep
her veil down； to take half an hour's walk （quite unconscious； of
course； of the parson or his servant at her heels）； and then to
come back to you。 As soon as she appears； send her instantly to
the open window； instructing her to lift her veil carelessly and
look out。 Let her go away again after a minute or two； take off
her bonnet and shawl； and then appear once more at the window；
or； better still； in the balcony outside。 She may show herself
again occasionally （not too often） later in the day。 And
to…morrowas we have a professional gentleman to deal withby
all means send her to church。 If these proceedings don't persuade
the parson that the house…maid's face is your face； and if they
don't make him readier to believe in your reformed character than
he was when I spoke to him； I have lived sixty years； my love； in
this vale of tears to mighty little purpose。
〃The next day is Monday。 I have looked at the shipping
advertisements； and I find that a steamer leaves Liverpool for
the Brazils on Tuesday。 Nothing could be more convenient； we will
start you on your voyage under the parson's own eyes。 You may
manage it in this way：
〃At one o'clock send out the man who cleans the knives and forks
to get a cab； and when he has brought it up to the door； let him
go back and get a second cab； which he is to wait in himself；
round the corner； in the square。 Let the house…maid （still in
your dress） drive off； with the necessary boxes； in the first cab
to the North…western Railway。 When she is gone； slip out yourself
to the cab waiting round the corner； and come to me at Bayswater。
They may be prepared to follow the house…maid's cab； because they
have seen it at the door； but they won't be prepared to follow
your cab； because it has been hidden round the corner。 When the
house…maid has got to the station； and has done her best to
disappear in the crowd （I have chosen the mixed train at 2：10； so
as to give her every chance）； you will be safe with me； and
whether they do or do not find out that she does not really start
for Liverpool won't matter by that time。 They will have lost all
trace of you； and they may follow the house…maid half over
London； if they like。 She has my instructions （inclosed） to leave
the empty boxes to find their way to the lost luggage office and
to go to her friends in the City； and stay there till I write
word that I want her again。
〃And what is the object of all this？
〃My dear Lydia； the object is your future security （and mine）。 We
may succeed or we may fail； in persuading the parson that you
have actually gone to the Brazils。 If we succeed； we are relieved
of all fear of him。 If we fail； he will warn young Armadale to be
careful _of a woman like my house…maid； and not of a woman like
you。_ This last gain is a very important one； for we don't know
that Mrs。 Armadale may not have told him your maiden name。 In
that event； the 'Miss Gwilt' whom he will describe as having
slipped through his fingers here will be so entirely unlike the
'Miss Gwilt' established at Thorpe Ambrose； as to satisfy
everybody that it is not a case of similarity of persons； but
only a case of similarity of names。
〃What do you say now to my improvement on your idea？ Are my
brains not quite so addled as you thought them when you wrote？
Don't suppose I'm at all overboastful about my own ingenuity。
Cleverer tricks than