very train that was starting； find Manston before he would expect
from the words of the telegram （if he got it） that anybody from
Carriford could be with himcharge him boldly with the crime； and
trust to his consequent confusion （if he were guilty） for a solution
of the extraordinary riddle； and the release of Cytherea！
The ticket…office had been locked up at the expiration of the time
at which the train was due。 Rushing out as the guard blew his
whistle； Edward opened the door of a carriage and leapt in。 The
train moved along； and he was soon out of sight。
Springrove had long since passed that peculiar line which lies
across the course of falling in loveif； indeed； it may not be
called the initial itself of the complete passiona longing to
cherish； when the woman is shifted in a man's mind from the region
of mere admiration to the region of warm fellowship。 At this
assumption of her nature； she changes to him in tone； hue； and
expression。 All about the loved one that said 'She' before； says
'We' now。 Eyes that were to be subdued become eyes to be feared
for： a brain that was to be probed by cynicism becomes a brain that
is to be tenderly assisted； feet that were to be tested in the dance
become feet that are not to be distressed； the once…criticized
accent； manner； and dress； become the clients of a special pleader。
6。 FIVE TO EIGHT O'CLOCK P。M。
Now that he was fairly on the track； and had begun to cool down；
Edward remembered that he had nothing to showno legal authority
whatever to question Manston or interfere between him and Cytherea
as husband and wife。 He now saw the wisdom of the rector in
obtaining a signed confession from the porter。 The document would
not be a death…bed confessionperhaps not worth anything legally
but it would be held by Owen； and he alone； as Cytherea's natural
guardian； could separate them on the mere ground of an unproved
probability； or what might perhaps be called the hallucination of an
idiot。 Edward himself； however； was as firmly convinced as the
rector had been of the truth of the man's story； and paced backward
and forward the solitary compartment as the train wound through the
dark heathery plains； the mazy woods； and moaning coppices； as
resolved as ever to pounce on Manston； and charge him with the crime
during the critical interval between the reception of the telegram
and the hour at which Owen's train would arrivetrusting to
circumstances for what he should say and do afterwards； but making
up his mind to be a ready second to Owen in any emergency that might
arise。
At thirty…three minutes past seven he stood on the platform of the
station at Southamptona clear hour before the train containing
Owen could possibly arrive。
Making a few inquiries here； but too impatient to pursue his
investigation carefully and inductively； he went into the town。
At the expiration of another half…hour he had visited seven hotels
and inns； large and small； asking the same questions at each； and
always receiving the same replynobody of that name； or answering
to that description； had been there。 A boy from the telegraph…
office had called； asking for the same persons； if they recollected
rightly。
He reflected awhile； struck again by a painful thought that they
might possibly have decided to cross the Channel by the night…boat。
Then he hastened off to another quarter of the town to pursue his
inquiries among hotels of the more old…fashioned and quiet class。
His stained and weary appearance obtained for him but a modicum of
civility； wherever he went； which made his task yet more difficult。
He called at three several houses in this neighbourhood； with the
same result as before。 He entered the door of the fourth house
whilst the clock of the nearest church was striking eight。
'Have a tall gentleman named Manston； and a young wife arrived here
this evening？' he asked again； in words which had grown odd to his
ears from very familiarity。
'A new…married couple； did you say？'
'They are； though I didn't say so。'
'They have taken a sitting…room and bedroom； number thirteen。'
'Are they indoors？'
'I don't know。 Eliza！'
'Yes； m'm。'
'See if number thirteen is inthat gentleman and his wife。'
'Yes； m'm。'
'Has any telegram come for them？' said Edward； when the maid had
gone on her errand。
'Nonothing that I know of。'
'Somebody did come and ask if a Mr。 and Mrs。 Masters； or some such
name； were here this evening；' said another voice from the back of
the bar…parlour。
'And did they get the message？'
'Of course they did notthey were not herethey didn't come till
half…an…hour after that。 The man who made inquiries left no
message。 I told them when they came that they； or a name something
like theirs； had been asked for； but they didn't seem to understand
why it should be； and so the matter dropped。'
The chambermaid came back。 'The gentleman is not in； but the lady
is。 Who shall I say？'
'Nobody；' said Edward。 For it now became necessary to reflect upon
his method of proceeding。 His object in finding their whereabouts
apart from the wish to assist Owenhad been to see Manston； ask him
flatly for an explanation； and confirm the request of the message in
the presence of Cythereaso as to prevent the possibility of the
steward's palming off a story upon Cytherea； or eluding her brother
when he came。 But here were two important modifications of the
expected condition of affairs。 The telegram had not been received；
and Cytherea was in the house alone。
He hesitated as to the propriety of intruding upon her in Manston's
absence。 Besides； the women at the bottom of the stairs would see
himhis intrusion would seem oddand Manston might return at any
moment。 He certainly might call； and wait for Manston with the
accusation upon his tongue； as he had intended。 But it was a
doubtful course。 That idea had been based upon the assumption that
Cytherea was not married。 If the first wife were really dead after
alland he felt sick at the thoughtCytherea as the steward's wife
might in after…yearsperhaps； at oncebe subjected to indignity
and cruelty on account of an old lover's interference now。
Yes； perhaps the announcement would come most properly and safely
for her from her brother Owen； the time of whose arrival had almost
expired。
But； on turning round； he saw that the staircase and passage were
quite deserted。 He and his errand had as completely died from the
minds of the attendants as if they had never been。 There was
absolutely nothing between him and Cytherea's presence。 Reason was
powerless now； he must see herright or wrong； fair or unfair to
Manstonoffensive to her brother or no。 His lips must be the first
to tell the alarming story to her。 Who loved her as he！ He went
back lightly through the hall； up the stairs； two at a time； and
followed the corridor till he came to the door numbered thirteen。
He knocked softly： nobody answered。
There was no time to lose if he would speak to Cytherea before
Manston came。 He turned the handle of the door and looked in。 The
lamp on the table burned low； and showed writing materials open
beside it； the chief light came from the fire； the direct rays of
which were obscured by a sweet familiar outline of head and
shouldersstill as precious to him as ever。
7。 A QUARTER…PAST EIGHT O'CLOCK P。M。
There is an attitudeapproximatively called pensivein which the
soul of a human being； and especially of a woman； dominates
outwardly and expresses its presence so strongly； that the
intangible essence seems more apparent than the body itself。 This
was Cytherea's expression now。 What old days and sunny eves at
Budmouth Bay was she picturing？ Her reverie had caused her not to
notice his knock。
'Cytherea！' he said softly。
She let drop her hand； and turned her head； evidently thinking that
her visitor could be no other than Manston； yet puzzled at the
voice。
There was no preface on Springrove's tongue； he forgot his position…
…hersthat he had come to ask quietly if Manston had other proofs
of being a widowereverythingand jumped to a conclusion。
'You are not his wife； Cythereacome away； he has a wife living！'
he cried in an agitated whisper。 'Owen will be here directly。'
She started up； recognized the tidings first； the bearer of them
afterwards。 'Not his wife？ O； what is itwhatwho is living？'
She awoke by degrees。 'What must I do？ Edward； it is you！ Why did
you come？ Where is Owen？'
'What has Manston shown you in proof of the death of his other wife？
Tell me quick。'
'Nothingwe have never spoken of the subject。 Where is my brother
Owen？ I want him； I want him！'
'He is coming by…and…by。 Come to the station to meet himdo；'
implored Springrove。 'If Mr。 Manston comes； he will keep you from
me： I am nobody；' he added bitterly； feeling the reproach her words
had faintly shadowed forth。
'Mr。 Manston is only gone out to post a letter he has just written；'
she said； and without being distinctly cognizant of the action； she
wildly looked for her bonnet and cloak； and began putting them on；
but in the act of fastening them uttered a spasmodic cry。
'No； I'll not go out with you；' she said； flinging the articles down
again。 Running to the door she flitted along the passage； and
downstairs。
'Give me a private roomquite private；' she said breathlessly to
some one below。
'Number twelve is a single room； madam； and unoccupied；' said some
tongue in astonishment。
Without waiting for any person to show her into it； Cytherea hurried
upstairs again； brushed through the corridor； entered the room
specified； and closed the door。 Edward heard her sob out
'Nobody but Owen shall speak to menobody！'
'He will be here directly；' said Springrove； close against the
panel； and then went towards the stairs。 He had seen her； it was
enough。
He descended； stepped into the street； and hastened to meet Owen at
the railway…station。
As for the poor maiden who had received the news； she knew not what
to think。 She listened till the echo of Edward's footsteps had died
away； then bowed her face upon the bed。 Her sudden impulse had been
to escape from sight。 Her