doubt by the Somersetshire clergyman）； and that Mr。 Midwinter had
been chosen （evidently by the same person） to identify the Miss
Gwilt who had vanished from Brompton with the Miss Gwilt who had
appeared at Thorpe Ambrose。 You foresaw this danger； I remember；
but you could scarcely have imagined that the exposure would
threaten me so soon。
〃I spare you the details of our conversation to come to the end。
Mr。 Midwinter put the matter very delicately； declaring； to my
great surprise； that he felt quite certain himself that I was not
the Miss Gwilt of whom his friend was in search； and that he only
acted as he did out of regard to the anxiety of a person whose
wishes he was bound to respect。 Would I assist him in setting
that anxiety completely at rest； as far as I was concerned； by
kindly answering one plain questionwhich he had no other right
to ask me than the right my indulgence might give him？ The lost
'Miss Gwilt' had been missed on Monday last； at two o'clock； in
the crowd on the platform of the North…western Railway； in Euston
Square。 Would I authorize him to say that on that day； and at
that hour； the Miss Gwilt who was Major Milroy's governess had
never been near the place？
〃I need hardly tell you that I seized the fine opportunity he had
given me of disarming all future suspicion。 I took a high tone on
the spot； and met him with the old lady's letter。 He politely
refused to look at it。 I insisted on his looking at it。 'I don't
choose to be mistaken；' I said； 'for a woman who may be a bad
character； because she happens to bear； or to have assumed； the
same name as mine。 I insist on your reading the first part of
this letter for my satisfaction； if not for your own。' He was
obliged to comply； and there was the proof； in the old lady's
handwriting； that； at two o'clock on Monday last； she and I were
together in Kingsdown Crescent； which any directory would tell
him is a 'crescent' in Bayswater！ I leave you to imagine his
apologies； and the perfect sweetness with which I received them。
〃I might； of course； if I had not preserved the letter； have
referred him to you； or to the major's mother； with similar
results。 As it is； the object has been gained without trouble or
delay。 _I have been proved not to be myself；_ and one of the many
dangers that threatened me at Thorpe Ambrose is a danger blown
over from this moment。 Your house…maid's face may not be a very
handsome one； but there is no denying that it has done us
excellent service。
〃So much for the past； now for the future。 You shall hear how I
get on with the people about me； and you shall judge for yourself
what the chances are for and against my becoming mistress of
Thorpe Ambrose。
〃Let me begin with young Armadalebecause it is beginning with
good news。 I have produced the right impression on him already；
and Heaven knows _that_ is nothing to boast of！ Any moderately
good…looking woman who chose to take the trouble could make him
fall in love with her。 He is a rattle…pated young foolone of
those noisy； rosy； light…haired； good…tempered men whom I
particularly detest。 I had a whole hour alone with him in a boat；
the first day I came here； and I have made good use of my time； I
can tell you； from that day to this。 The only difficulty with him
is the difficulty of concealing my own feelings； especially when
he turns my dislike of him into downright hatred by sometimes
reminding me of his mother。 I really never saw a man whom I could
use so ill； if I had the opportunity。 He will give me the
opportunity； I believe； if no accident happens； sooner than we
calculated on。 I have just returned from a party at the great
house； in celebration of the rent…day dinner； and the squire's
attentions to me； and my modest reluctance to receive them； have
already excited general remark。
〃My pupil； Miss Milroy； comes ne xt。 She； too； is rosy and
foolish； and； what is more； awkward and squat and freckled； and
ill…tempered and ill…dressed。 No fear of _her；_ though she hates
me like poison； which is a great comfort； for I get rid of her
out of lesson time and walking time。 It is perfectly easy to see
that she has made the most of her opportunities with young
Armadale （opportunities； by…the…by； which we never calculated
on）； and that she has been stupid enough to let him slip through
her fingers。 When I tell you that she is obliged； for the sake of
appearances； to go with her father and me to the little
entertainments at Thorpe Ambrose； and to see how young Armadale
admires me； you will understand the kind of place I hold in her
affections。 She would try me past all endurance if I didn't see
that I aggravate her by keeping my temper； so； of course； I keep
it。 If I do break out； it will be over our lessonsnot over our
French； our grammar； history； and globesbut over our music。 No
words can say how I feel for her poor piano。 Half the musical
girls in England ought to have their fingers chopped off in the
interests of society； and； if I had my way； Miss Milroy's fingers
should be executed first。
〃As for the major； I can hardly stand higher in his estimation
than I stand already。 I am always ready to make his breakfast；
and his daughter is not。 I can always find things for him when he
loses them； and his daughter can't。 I never yawn when he proses；
and his daughter does。 I like the poor dear harmless old
gentleman； so I won't say a word more about him。
〃Well； here is a fair prospect for the future surely？ My good
Oldershaw； there never was a prospect yet without an ugly place
in it。 _My_ prospect has two ugly places in it。 The name of one
of them is Mrs。 Milroy； and the name of the other is Mr。
Midwinter。
〃Mrs。 Milroy first。 Before I had been five minutes in the
cottage； on the day of my arrival； what do you think she did？ She
sent downstairs and asked to see me。 The message startled me a
little； after hearing from the old lady； in London； that her
daughter…in…law was too great a sufferer to see anybody； but； of
course； when I got her message； I had no choice but to go up
stairs to the sick…room。 I found her bedridden with an incurable
spinal complaint； and a really horrible object to look at； but
with all her wits about her； and； if I am not greatly mistaken；
as deceitful a woman； with as vile a temper； as you could find
anywhere in all your long experience。 Her excessive politeness；
and her keeping her own face in the shade of the bed…curtains
while she contrived to keep mine in the light； put me on my guard
the moment I entered the room。 We were more than half an hour
together； without my stepping into any one of the many clever
little traps she laid for me。 The only mystery in her behavior；
which I failed to see through at the time； was her perpetually
asking me to bring her things （things she evidently did not want）
from different parts of the room。
〃Since then events have enlightened me。 My first suspicions were
raised by overhearing some of the servants' gossip； and I have
been confirmed in my opinion by the conduct of Mrs。 Milroy's
nurse。
〃On the few occasions when I have happened to be alone with the
major； the nurse has also happened to want something of her
master； and has invariably forgotten to announce her appearance
by knocking； at the door。 Do you understand now why Mrs。 Milroy
sent for me the moment I got into the house； and what she wanted
when she kept me going backward and forward； first for one thing
and then for another？ There is hardly an attractive light in
which my face and figure can be seen； in which that woman's
jealous eyes have not studied them already。 I am no longer
puzzled to know why the father and daughter started； and looked
at each other； when I was first presented to them； or why the
servants still stare at me with a mischievous expectation in
their eyes when I ring the bell and ask them to do anything。 It
is useless to disguise the truth； Mother Oldershaw； between you
and me。 When I went upstairs into that sickroom； I marched
blindfold into the clutches of a jealous woman。 If Mrs。 Milroy
_can_ turn me out of the house； Mrs。 Milroy _will；_ and； morning
and night； she has nothing else to do in that bed prison of hers
but to find out the way。
〃In this awkward position； my own cautious conduct is admirably
seconded by the dear old major's perfect insensibility。 His
wife's jealousy of him is as monstrous a delusion as any that
could be found in a mad…house； it is the growth of her own vile
temper； under the aggravation of an incurable illness。 The poor
man hasn't a thought beyond his mechanical pursuits； and I don't
believe he knows at this moment whether I am a handsome woman or
not。 With this chance to help me； I may hope to set the nurse's
intrusions and the mistress's contrivances at defiancefor a
time； at any rate。 But you know what a jealous woman is； and I
think I know what Mrs。 Milroy is； and I own I shall breathe more
freely on the day when young Armadale opens his foolish lips to
some purpose； and sets the major advertising for a new governess。
〃Armadale's name reminds me of Armadale's friend。 There is more
danger threatening in that quarter； and； what is worse； I don't
feel half as well armed beforehand against Mr。 Midwinter as I do
against Mrs。 Milroy。
〃Everything about this man is more or less mysterious； which I
don't like； to begin with。 How does he come to be in the
confidence of the Somersetshire clergyman？ How much has that
clergyman told him？ How is it that he was so firmly persuaded；
when he spoke to me in the park； that I was not the Miss Gwilt of
whom his friend was in search？ I haven't the ghost of an answer
to give to any of those three questions。 I can't even discover
who he is； or how he and young Armadale first became acquainted。
I hate him。 No； I don't； I only want to find out about him。 He is
very young； little and lean； and active and dark； with bright
black eyes which say to me plainly； 'We belong to a man with
brains in his head and a will of his own； a man who hasn't always
been hanging about a country house； in attendance on a fool。'
Yes； I am positively certain Mr。 Midwinter has done something or
suffered something in his past life； young as he is； and I