his conversation with Neelie in the park。 The anxiety that he
should not misjudge her； which the major's daughter had so
earnestly expressed； placed her before Allan's eyes in an
irresistibly attractive characterthe character of the one
person among all his neighbors who had some respect still left
for his good opinion。 Acutely sensible of his social isolation；
now that there was no Midwinter to keep him company in the empty
house； hungering and thirsting in his solitude for a kind word
and a friendly look； he began to think more and more regretfully
and more and more longingly of the bright young face so
pleasantly associated with his first happiest days at Thorpe
Ambrose。 To be conscious of such a feeling as this was； with a
character like Allan's； to act on it headlong； lead him where it
might。 He had gone out on the previous morning to look for Neelie
with a peace…offering of flowers； but with no very distinct idea
of what he should say to her if they met； and failing to find her
on the scene of her customary walks； he had characteristically
persisted the next morning in making a second attempt with
another peace…offering on a larger scale。 Still ignorant of his
friend's return； he was now at some distance from the house；
searching the park in a direction which he had not tried yet。
After walking out a few hundred yards beyond the stables； and
failing to discover any signs of Allan； Midwinter retraced his
steps； and waited for his friend's return； pacing slowly to and
fro on the little strip of garden ground at the back of the
house。
From time to time； as he passed it； he looked in absently at the
room which had formerly been Mrs。 Armadale's； which was now
（through his interposition） habitually occupied by her sonthe
room with the Statuette on the bracket； and the French windows
opening to the ground； which had once recalled to him the Second
Vision of the Dream。 The Shadow of the Man； which Allan had seen
standing opposite to him at the long window； the view over a lawn
and flower…garden； the pattering of the rain against the glass；
the stretching out of the Shadow's arm； and the fall of the
statue in fragments on the floorthese objects and events of the
visionary scene； so vividly present to his memory once； were all
superseded by later remembrances now； were all left to fade as
they might in the dim background of time。 He could pass the room
again and again； alone and anxious； and never once think of the
boat drifting away in the moonlight； and the night's imprisonment
on the Wrecked Ship！
Toward ten o'clock the well…remembered sound of Allan's voice
became suddenly audible in the direction of the stables。 In a
moment more he was visible from the garden。 His second morning's
search for Neelie had ended to all appearance in a second defeat
of his object。 The nosegay was still in his hand； and he was
resignedly making a present of it to one of the coachman's
children。
Midwinter impulsively took a step forward toward the stables； and
abruptly checked his further progress。
Conscious that his position toward his friend was altered already
in relation to Miss Gwilt； the first sight of Allan filled his
mind with a sudden distrust of the governess's influence over
him； which was almost a distrust of himself。 He knew that he had
set forth from the moors on his return to Thorpe Ambrose with the
resolution of acknowledging the passion that had mastered him；
and of insisting； if necessary； on a second and a longer absence
in the interests of the sacrifice which he was bent on making to
the happiness of his friend。 What had become of that resolution
now？ The discovery of Miss Gwilt's altered position； and the
declaration that she had voluntarily made of her indifference to
Allan； had scattered it to the winds。 The first words with which
he would have met his friend； if nothing had happened to him on
the homeward way； were words already dismissed from his lips。 He
drew back as he felt it； and struggled； with an instinctive
loyalty toward Allan； to free himself at the last moment from the
influence of Miss Gwilt。
Having disposed of his useless nosegay； Allan passed on into the
garden； and the instant he entered it recognized Midwinter with a
loud cry of surprise and delight。
〃Am I awake or dreaming？〃 he exclaimed； seizing his friend
excitably by both hands。〃 You dear old Midwinter； have you sprung
up out of the ground； or have you dropped from the clouds？〃
It was not till Midwinter had explained the mystery of his
unexpec ted appearance in every particular that Allan could be
prevailed on to say a word about himself。 When he did speak； he
shook his head ruefully； and subdued the hearty loudness of his
voice； with a preliminary look round to see if the servants were
within hearing。
〃I've learned to be cautious since you went away and left me；〃
said Allan。 〃My dear fellow； you haven't the least notion what
things have happened； and what an awful scrape I'm in at this
very moment！〃
〃You are mistaken； Allan。 I have heard more of what has happened
than you suppose。〃
〃What！ the dreadful mess I'm in with Miss Gwilt？ the row with the
major？ the infernal scandal…mongering in the neighborhood？ You
don't mean to say？〃
〃Yes；〃 interposed Midwinter； quietly； 〃I have heard of it all。〃
〃Good heavens！ how？ Did you stop at Thorpe Ambrose on your way
back？ Have you been in the coffee…room at the hotel？ Have you met
Pedgift？ Have you dropped into the Reading Rooms； and seen what
they call the freedom of the press in the town newspaper？〃
Midwinter paused before he answered； and looked up at the sky。
The clouds had been gathering unnoticed over their heads； and the
first rain…drops were beginning to fall。
〃Come in here；〃 said Allan。 〃We'll go up to breakfast this way。 〃
He led Midwinter through the open French window into his own
sitting…room。 The wind blew toward that side of the house； and
the rain followed them in。 Midwinter； who was last； turned and
closed the window。
Allan was too eager for the answer which the weather had
interrupted to wait for it till they reached the breakfast…room。
He stopped close at the window； and added two more to his string
of questions。
〃How can you possibly have heard about me and Miss Gwilt？〃 he
asked。 〃Who told you？〃
〃Miss Gwilt herself；〃 replied Midwinter； gravely。
Allan's manner changed the moment the governess's name passed his
friend's lips。
〃I wish you had heard my story first；〃 he said。 〃Where did you
meet with Miss Gwilt？〃
There was a momentary pause。 They both stood still at the window；
absorbed in the interest of the moment。 They both forgot that
their contemplated place of shelter from the rain had been the
breakfast…room upstairs。
〃Before I answer your question；〃 said Midwinter； a little
constrainedly； 〃I want to ask you something； Allan； on my side。
Is it really true that you are in some way concerned in Miss
Gwilt's leaving Major Milroy's service？〃
There was another pause。 The disturbance which had begun to
appear in Allan's manner palpably increased。
〃It's rather a long story；〃 he began。 〃I have been taken in；
Midwinter。 I've been imposed on by a person； whoI can't help
saying itwho cheated me into promising what I oughtn't to have
promised； and doing what I had better not have done。 It isn't
breaking my promise to tell you。 I can trust in your discretion；
can't I？ You will never say a word； will you？〃
〃Stop！〃 said Midwinter。 〃Don't trust me with any secrets which
are not your own。 If you have given a promise； don't trifle with
it； even in speaking to such an intimate friend as I am。〃 He laid
his hand gently and kindly on Allan's shoulder。 〃I can't help
seeing that I have made you a little uncomfortable；〃 he went on。
〃I can't help seeing that my question is not so easy a one to
answer as I had hoped and supposed。 Shall we wait a little？ Shall
we go upstairs and breakfast first？〃
Allan was far too earnestly bent on presenting his conduct to his
friend in the right aspect to heed Midwinter's suggestion。 He
spoke eagerly on the instant； without moving from the window。
〃My dear fellow； it's a perfectly easy question to answer。
Only〃he hesitated〃only it requires what I'm a bad hand at： it
requires an explanation。〃
〃Do you mean；〃 asked Midwinter； more seriously； but not less
gently than before； 〃that you must first justify yourself； and
then answer my question？〃
〃That's it！〃 said Allan； with an air of relief。 〃You're hit the
right nail on the head； just as usual。〃
Midwinter's face darkened for the first time。 〃I am sorry to hear
it；〃 he said； his voice sinking low； and his eyes dropping to the
ground as he spoke。
The rain was beginning to fall thickly。 It swept across the
garden； straight on the closed windows； and pattered heavily
against the glass。
〃Sorry！〃 repeated Allan。 〃My dear fellow； you haven't heard the
particulars yet。 Wait till I explain the thing first。〃
〃You are a bad hand at explanations；〃 said Midwinter； repeating
Allan's own words。 〃Don't place yourself at a disadvantage。 Don't
explain it。〃
Allan looked at him； in silent perplexity and surprise。
〃You are my friendmy best and dearest friend；〃 Midwinter went
on。 〃I can't bear to let you justify yourself to me as if I was
your judge； or as if I doubted you。〃 He looked up again at Allan
frankly and kindly as he said those words。 〃Besides；〃 he resumed；
〃I think； if I look into my memory； I can anticipate your
explanation。 We had a moment's talk； before I went away； about
some very delicate questions which you proposed putting to Major
Milroy。 I remember I warned you； I remember I had my misgivings。
Should I be guessing right if I guessed that those questions have
been in some way the means of leading you into a false position？
If it is true that you have been concerned in Miss Gwilt's
leaving her situation； is it also trueis it only doing you
justice to believethat any mischief for which you are
responsible has been mischief innocently done？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Allan； speaking； for the first time； a little
constrainedly on his side。 〃It is only doing me justice to say
that。〃 He stopped and began drawing lines absently with his
f