made her appearance here； in my own parish！ She is staying at the
i nn； accompanied by a plausible…looking man； who passes as her
brother。 What this audacious proceeding really meansunless it
marks a new step in the conspiracy against Allan； taken under new
adviceis； of course； more than I can yet find out。
〃My own idea is； that they have recognized the impossibility of
getting at Allan； without finding me （or you） as an obstacle in
their way； and that they are going to make a virtue of necessity
by boldly trying to open their communications through me。 The man
looks capable of any stretch of audacity； and both he and the
woman had the impudence to bow when I met them in the village
half an hour since。 They have been making inquiries already about
Allan's mother here； where her exemplary life may set their
closest scrutiny at defiance。 If they will only attempt to extort
money； as the price of the woman's silence on the subject of poor
Mrs。 Armadale's conduct in Madeira at the time of her marriage；
they will find me well prepared for them beforehand。 I have
written by this post to my lawyers to send a competent man to
assist me； and he will stay at the rectory； in any character
which he thinks it safest to assume under present circumstances。
〃You shall hear what happens in the next day or two。
〃Always truly yours； DECIMUS BROCK。〃
CHAPTER XII。
THE CLOUDING OF THE SKY。
NINE days had passed； and the tenth day was nearly at an end；
since Miss Gwilt and her pupil had taken their morning walk in
the cottage garden。
The night was overcast。 Since sunset； there had been signs in the
sky from which the popular forecast had predicted rain。 The
reception…rooms at the great house were all empty and dark。 Allan
was away； passing the evening with the Milroys； and Midwinter was
waiting his returnnot where Midwinter usually waited； among the
books in the library； but in the little back room which Allan's
mother had inhabited in the last days of her residence at Thorpe
Ambrose。
Nothing had been taken away； but much had been added to the room；
since Midwinter had first seen it。 The books which Mrs。 Armadale
had left behind her； the furniture； the old matting on the floor；
the old paper on the walls； were all undisturbed。 The statuette
of Niobe still stood on its bracket； and the French window still
opened on the garden。 But now； to the relics left by the mother；
were added the personal possessions belonging to the son。 The
wall； bare hitherto； was decorated with water…color
drawingswith a portrait of Mrs。 Armadale supported on one side
by a view of the old house in Somersetshire； and on the other by
a picture of the yacht。 Among the books which bore in faded ink
Mrs。 Armadale's inscriptions； 〃From my father；〃 were other books
inscribed in the same handwriting； in brighter ink； 〃To my son。〃
Hanging to the wall； ranged on the chimney…piece； scattered over
the table； were a host of little objects； some associated with
Allan's past life； others necessary to his daily pleasures and
pursuits； and all plainly testifying that the room which he
habitually occupied at Thorpe Ambrose was the very room which had
once recalled to Midwinter the second vision of the dream。 Here；
strangely unmoved by the scene around him； so lately the object
of his superstitious distrust； Allan's friend now waited
composedly for Allan's return； and here； more strangely still； he
looked on a change in the household arrangements； due in the
first instance entirely to himself。 His own lips had revealed the
discovery which he had made on the first morning in the new
house； his own voluntary act had induced the son to establish
himself in the mother's room。
Under what motives had he spoken the words？ Under no motives
which were not the natural growth of the new interests and the
new hopes that now animated him。
The entire change wrought in his convictions by the memorable
event that had brought him face to face with Miss Gwilt was a
change which it was not in his nature to hide from Allan's
knowledge。 He had spoken openly； and had spoken as it was in his
character to speak。 The merit of conquering his superstition was
a merit which he shrank from claiming； until he had first
unsparingly exposed that superstition in its worst and weakest
aspects to view。
It was only after he had unreservedly acknowledged the impulse
under which he had left Allan at the Mere； that he had taken
credit to himself for the new point of view from which he could
now look at the Dream。 Then； and not till then； he had spoken of
the fulfillment of the first Vision as the doctor at the Isle of
Man might have spoken of it。 He had asked； as the doctor might
have asked； Where was the wonder of their seeing a pool at
sunset； when they had a whole network of pools within a few
hours' drive of them？ and what was there extraordinary in
discovering a woman at the Mere； when there were roads that led
to it； and villages in its neighborhood； and boats employed on
it； and pleasure parties visiting it？ So again； he had waited to
vindicate the firmer resolution with which he looked to the
future； until he had first revealed all that he now saw himself
of the errors of the past。 The abandonment of his friend's
interests； the unworthiness of the confidence that had given him
the steward's place； the forgetfulness of the trust that Mr。
Brock had reposed in him all implied in the one idea of leaving
Allanwere all pointed out。 The glaring self…contradictions
betrayed in accepting the Dream as the revelation of a fatality；
and in attempting to escape that fatality by an exertion of
free…willin toiling to store up knowledge of the steward's
duties for the future； and in shrinking from letting the future
find him in Allan's housewere； in their turn； unsparingly
exposed。 To every error； to every inconsistency； he resolutely
confessed； before he ventured on the last simple appeal which
closed all； 〃Will you trust me in the future？ Will you forgive
and forget the past？〃
A man who could thus open his whole heart； without one lurking
reserve inspired by consideration for himself； was not a man to
forget any minor act of concealment of which his weakness might
have led him to be guilty toward his friend。 It lay heavy on
Midwinter's conscience that he had kept secret from Allan a
discovery which he ought in Allan's dearest interests to have
revealedthe discovery of his mother's room。
But one doubt still closed his lipsthe doubt whether Mrs。
Armadale's conduct in Madeira had been kept secret on her return
to England。
Careful inquiry； first among the servants； then among the
tenantry； careful consideration of the few reports current at the
time； as repeated to him by the few persons left who remembered
them； convinced him at last that the family secret had been
successfully kept within the family limits。 Once satisfied that
whatever inquiries the son might make would lead to no disclosure
which could shake his respect for his mother's memory； Midwinter
had hesitated no longer。 He had taken Allan into the room； and
had shown him the books on the shelves； and all that the writing
in the books disclosed。 He had said plainly； 〃My one motive for
not telling you this before sprang from my dread of interesting
you in the room which I looked at with horror as the second of
the scenes pointed at in the Dream。 Forgive me this also； and you
will have forgiven me all。〃
With Allan's love for his mother's memory； but one result could
follow such an avowal as this。 He had liked the little room from
the first； as a pleasant contrast to the oppressive grandeur of
the other rooms at Thorpe Ambrose； and； now that he knew what
associations were connected with it； his resolution was at once
taken to make it especially his own。 The same day； all his
personal possessions were collected and arranged in his mother's
roomin Midwinter's presence； and with Midwinter's assistance
given to the work。
Under those circumstances had the change now wrought in the
household arrangements been produced； and in this way had
Midwinter's victory over his own fatalismby making Allan the
daily occupant of a room which he might otherwise hardly ever
have enteredactually favored the fulfillment of the Second
Vision of th e Dream。
The hour wore on quietly as Allan's friend sat waiting for
Allan's return。 Sometimes reading； sometimes thinking placidly；
he whiled away the time。 No vexing cares； no boding doubts；
troubled him now。 The rent…day； which he had once dreaded； had
come and gone harmlessly。 A friendlier understanding had been
established between Allan and his tenants； Mr。 Bashwood had
proved himself to be worthy of the confidence reposed in him； the
Pedgifts； father and son； had amply justified their client's good
opinion of them。 Wherever Midwinter looked； the prospect was
bright； the future was without a cloud。
He trimmed the lamp on the table beside him and looked out at the
night。 The stable clock was chiming the half…hour past eleven as
he walked to the window； and the first rain…drops were beginning
to fall。 He had his hand on the bell to summon the servant； and
send him over to the cottage with an umbrella； when he was
stopped by hearing the familiar footstep on the walk outside。
〃How late you are！〃 said Midwinter； as Allan entered through the
open French window。 〃Was there a party at the cottage？〃
〃No！ only ourselves。 The time slipped away somehow。〃 He answered
in lower tones than usual； and sighed as he took his chair。
〃You seem to be out of spirits？〃 pursued Midwinter。 〃What's the
matter？〃
Allan hesitated。 〃I may as well tell you；〃 he said； after a
moment。 〃It's nothing to be ashamed of； I only wonder you haven't
noticed it before！ There's a woman in it； as usualI'm in love。〃
Midwinter laughed。 〃Has Miss Milroy been more charming to…night
than ever？〃 he asked； gayly。
〃Miss Milroy！〃 repeated Allan。 〃What are you thinking of！ I'm not
in love with Miss Milroy。〃
〃Who is it； then？〃
〃Who is it！ What a question to ask！ Who can it be but Miss
Gwilt？〃
There was a sudden silence。 Allan sat listlessly； with his hands
in his pockets； looking out through the open window a