proxy。 Mr。 Armadale had never seen his West Indian property。 He
lived in England； and； after sending me the customary godfather's
present； he held no further communication with my parents for
years afterward。 I was just twenty…one before we heard again from
Mr。 Armadale。 On that occasion my mother received a letter from
him asking if I was still alive； and offering no less （if I was）
than to make me the heir to his West Indian property。
〃This piece of good fortune fell to me entirely through the
misconduct of Mr。 Armadale's son； an only child。 The young man
had disgraced himself beyond all redemption； had left his home an
outlaw； and had been thereupon renounced by his father at once
and forever。 Having no other near male relative to succeed him；
Mr。 Armadale thought of his cousin's son and his own godson； and
he offered the West Indian estate to me； and my heirs after me；
on one conditionthat I and my heirs should take his name。 The
proposal was gratefully accepted； and the proper legal measures
were adopted for changing my name in the colony and in the mother
country。 By the next mail information reached Mr。 Armadale that
his condition had been complied with。 The return mail brought
news from the lawyers。 The will had been altered in my favor； and
in a week afterward the death of my benefactor had made me the
largest proprietor and the richest man in Barbadoes。
〃This was the first event in the chain。 The second event followed
it six weeks afterward。
〃At that time there happened to be a vacancy in the clerk's
office on the estate； and there came to fill it a young man about
my own age who had recently arrived in the island。 He announced
himself by the name of Fergus Ingleby。 My impulses governed me in
everything； I knew no law but the law of my own caprice； and I
took a fancy to the stranger the moment I set eyes on him。 He had
the manners of a gentleman； and he possessed the most attractive
social qualities which； in my small experience； I had ever met
with。 When I heard that the written references to character which
he had brought with him were pronounced to be unsatisfactory； I
interfered； and insisted that he should have the place。 My will
was law； and he had it。
〃My mother disliked and distrusted Ingleby from the first。 When
she found the intimacy between us rapidly ripening； when she
found me admitting this inferior to the closest companionship and
confidence （I had lived with my inferiors all my life； and I
liked it）； she made effort after effort to part us； and failed in
one and all。 Driven to her last resources； she resolved to try
the one chance leftthe chance of persuading me to take a voyage
which I had often thought ofa voyage to England。
〃Before she spoke to me on the subject； she resolved to interest
me in the idea of seeing England； as I had never been interested
yet。 She wrote to an old friend and an old admirer of hers； the
late Stephen Blanchard； of Thorpe Ambrose； in Norfolka
gentleman of landed estate； and a widower with a grown…up family。
After…discoveries informed me that she must have alluded to their
former attachment （which was checked； I believe； by the parents
on either side）； and that； in asking Mr。 Blanchard's welcome for
her son when he came to England； she made inquiries about his
daughter； which hinted at the chance of a marriage uniting the
two families； if the young lady and I met and liked one another。
We were equally matched in every respect； and my mother's
recollection of her girlish attachment to Mr。 Blanchard made the
prospect of my marrying her old admirer's daughter the brightest
and happiest prospect that her eyes could see。 Of all this I knew
nothing until Mr。 Blanchard's answer arrived at Barbadoes。 Then
my mother showed me the letter； and put the temptation which was
to separate me from Fergus Ingleby openly in my way。
〃Mr。 Blanchard's letter was dated from the Island of Madeira。 He
was out of health； and he had been ordered there by the doctors
to try the climate。 His daughter was with him。 After heartily
reciprocating all my mother's hopes and wishes； he proposed （if I
intended leaving Barbadoes shortly） that I should take Madeira on
my way to England； and pay him a visit at his temporary residence
in the island。 If this could not be； he mentioned the time at
which he expected to be back in England； when I might be sure of
finding a welcome at his own house of Thorpe Ambrose。 In
conclusion； he apologized for not writing at greater length；
explaining that his sight was affected； and that he had disobeyed
the doctor's orders by yielding to the temptation of writing to
his old friend with his own hand。
〃Kindly as it was expressed； the letter itself might have had
little influence on me。 But there was something else besides the
letter； there was inclosed in it a miniature portrait of Miss
Blanchard。 At the back of the portrait； her father had written；
half…jestingly； half…tenderly； 'I can't ask my daughter to spare
my eyes as usual； without telling her of your inquiries； and
putting a young lady's diffidence to the blush。 So I send her in
effigy （without her knowledge） to answer for herself。 It is a
good likeness of a good girl。 If she likes your sonand if I
like him； which I am sure I shallwe may yet live； my good
friend； to see our children what we might once have been
ourselvesman and wife。' My mother gave me the miniature with
the letter。 The portrait at once struck meI can't say why； I
can't say howas nothing of the kind had ever struck me before。
〃Harder intellects than mine might have attributed the
extraordinary impression produced on me to the disordered
condition of my mind at that time； to the weariness of my own
base pleasures which had been gaining on me for months past； to
the undefined longing which that weariness implied for newer
interests and fresher hopes than any that had possessed me yet。 I
attempted no such sober self…examination as this： I believed in
destiny then； I believe in destiny now。 It was enough for me to
knowas I did knowthat the first sense I had ever felt of
something better in my nature than my animal self was roused by
that girl's face looking at me from her picture as no woman's
face had ever looked at me yet。 In those tender eyesin the
chance of making that gentle creature my wifeI saw my destiny
written。 The portrait which had come into my hands so strangely
and so unexpectedly was the silent messenger of happiness close
at hand； sent to warn； to encourage； to rouse me before it was
too late。 I put the miniature under my pillow at night； I looked
at it again the next morning。 My conviction of the day before
remained as strong as ever； my superstition （if you please to
call it so） pointed out to me irresistibly the way on which I
should go。 There was a ship in port which was to sail for England
in a fortnight； touching at Madeira。 In that ship I took
my passage。〃
Thus far the reader had advanced with no interruption to disturb
him。 But at the last words the tones of another voice； low and
broken； mingled with his own。
〃Was she a fair woman；〃 asked the voice； 〃or dark； like me？〃
Mr。 Neal paused； and looked up。 The doctor was still at the bed
head； with his fingers mechanically on the patient's pulse。 The
child； missing his midday sleep； was beginning to play languidly
with his new toy。 The father's eyes were watching him with a rapt
and ceaseless attention。 But one great change was visible in the
listeners since the narrative had begun。 Mrs。 Armadale had
dropped her hold of her husband's hand； and sat with her face
steadily turned away from him The hot African blood burned red in
her dusky cheeks as she obstinately repeated the question： 〃Was
she a fair woman； or dark； like me？〃
〃Fair；〃 said her husband； without looking at her。
Her hands； lying clasped together in her lap； wrung each other
hardshe said no more。 Mr。 Neal's overhanging eyebrows lowered
ominously as he returned to the narrative。 He had incurred his
own severe displeasurehe had caught himself in the act of
secretly pitying her。
〃I have said〃the letter proceeded〃that Ingleby was admitted
to my closest confidence。 I was sorry to leave him； and I was
distressed by his evident surprise and mortification when he
heard that I was going away。 In my own justification； I showed
him the letter and the likeness； and told him the truth。 His
interest in the portrait seemed to be hardly inferior to my own。
He asked me about Miss Blanchard's family and Miss Blanchard's
fortune with the sympathy of a true friend； and he strengthened
my regard for him； and my belief in him； by putting himself out
of the question； and by generously encouraging me to persist in
my new purpose。 When we parted； I was in high health and spirits。
Before we met again the next day； I was suddenly struck by an
illness which threatened both my reason and my life。
〃I have no proof against Ingleby。 There was more than one woman
on the island whom I had wronged beyond all forgiveness； and
whose vengeance might well have reached me at that time。 I can
accuse nobody。 I can only say that my life was saved by my old
black nurse； and that the woman afterward acknowledged having
used the known negro antidote to a known negro poison in those
parts。 When my first days of convalescence came； the ship in
which my passage had been taken had long since sailed。 When I
asked for Ingleby； he was gone。 Proofs of his unpardonable
misconduct in his situation were placed before me； which not even
my partiality for him could resist。 He had been turned out of the
office in the first days of my illness； and nothing more was
known of him but that he had left the island。
〃All through my sufferings the portrait had been under my pillow。
All through my convalescence it was my one consolation when I
remembered the past； and my one encouragement when I thought of
the future。 No words can describe the hold that first fancy had
now taken of mewith time and solitude and suffering to help it。
My mother； with all her interest in the match； was startled by
the unexpected success of her own project。 She had written to
tell Mr。 Blanchard of my illness； but had received no reply。 S