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sense of relief； so far as his literary anxieties were concerned；
Mr。 Carling went home early to see what the quieting medicine had
done for his wife。
She had dozed a little； but had not slept。 However； she was
evidently better； for she was able to take an interest in the
sayings and doings at the dinner…party； and questioned her
husband about the guests and the conversation with all a woman's
curiosity about the minutest matters。 She lay with her face
turned toward him and her eyes meeting his； until the course of
her inquiries drew an answer from him； which informed her of his
fortunate discovery in relation to Mr。 Rambert's library； and of
the prospect it afforded of his resuming his labors the next day。
When he mentioned this circumstance； she suddenly turned her head
on the pillow so that her face was hidden from him； and he cou ld
see through the counterpane that the shivering； which he had
observed when her illness had seized her in the morning； had
returned again。
〃I am only cold；〃 she said； in a hurried way； with her face under
the clothes。
He rang for the maid； and had a fresh covering placed on the bed。
Observing that she seemed unwilling to be disturbed； he did not
remove the clothes from her face when he wished her goodnight；
but pressed his lips on her head； and patted it gently with his
hand。 She shrank at the touch as if it hurt her； light as it was；
and he went downstairs； resolved to send for the doctor again if
she did not get to rest on being left quiet。 In less than half an
hour afterward the maid came down and relieved his anxiety by
reporting that her mistress was asleep。
The next morning he found her in better spirits。 Her eyes； she
said； felt too weak to bear the light； so she kept the bedroom
darkened。 But in other respects she had little to complain of。
After answering her husband's first inquiries； she questioned him
about his plans for the day。 He had letters to write which would
occupy him until twelve o'clock。 At two o'clock he expected the
volume of the _Times_ to arrive； and he should then devote the
rest of the afternoon to his work。 After hearing what his plans
were； Mrs。 Carling suggested that he should ride out after he had
done his letters； so as to get some exercise at the fine part of
the day； and she then reminded him that a longer time than usual
had elapsed since he had been to see a certain old pensioner of
his； who had nursed him as a child； and who was now bedridden； in
a village at some distance； called Tringweighton。 Although the
rector saw no immediate necessity for making this charitable
visit； the more especially as the ride to the village and back；
and the intermediate time devoted to gossip； would occupy at
least two hours and a half； he assented to his wife's proposal；
perceiving that she urged it with unusual earnestness； and being
unwilling to thwart her； even in a trifle； at a time when she was
ill。
Accordingly； his horse was at the door at twelve precisely。
Impatient to get back to the precious volume of the _Times；_ he
rode so much faster than usual； and so shortened his visit to the
old woman； that he was home again by a quarter past two。
Ascertaining from the servant who opened the door that the volume
had been left by Mr。 Rambert's messenger punctually at two； he
ran up to his wife's room to tell her about his visit before he
secluded himself for the rest of the afternoon over his work。 On
entering the bedroom he found it still darkened； and he was
struck by a smell of burned paper in it。
His wife （who was now dressed in her wrapper and lying on the
sofa） accounted for the smell by telling him that she had fancied
the room felt close； and that she had burned some paperbeing
afraid of the cold air if she opened the windowto fumigate it。
Her eyes were evidently still weak； for she kept her hand over
them while she spoke。 After remaining with her long enough to
relate the few trivial events of his ride； Mr。 Carling descended
to his study to occupy himself at last with the volume of the
_Times_。
It lay on his table in the shape of a large flat brown paper
package。 On proceeding to undo the covering； he observed that it
had been very carelessly tied up。 The strings were crooked and
loosely knotted； and the direction bearing his name and address；
instead of being in the middle of the paper； was awkwardly folded
over at the edge of the volume。 However； his business was with
the inside of the parcel； so he tossed away the covering and the
string； and began at once to hunt through the volume for the
particular number of the paper which he wished first to consult。
He soon found it； with the report of the speeches delivered by
the members of the deputation； and the answer returned by the
minister。 After reading through the report； and putting a mark in
the place where it occurred； he turned to the next day's number
of the paper； to see what further hints on the subject the
letters addressed to the editor might happen to contain。
To his inexpressible vexation and amazement； he found that one
number of the paper was missing。
He bent the two sides of the volume back； looked closely between
the leaves； and saw immediately that the missing number had been
cut out。
A vague sense of something like alarm began to mingle with his
first feeling of disappointment。 He wrote at once to Mr。 Rambert；
mentioning the discovery he had just made； and sent the note off
by his groom； with orders to the man to wait for an answer。
The reply with which the servant returned was almost insolent in
the shortness and coolness of its tone。 Mr。 Rambert had no books
in his library which were not in perfect condition。 The volume of
the _Times_ had left his house perfect； and whatever blame might
attach to the mutilation of it rested therefore on other
shoulders than those of the owner。
Like many other weak men； Mr。 Carling was secretly touchy on the
subject of his dignity。 After reading the note and questioning
his servants； who were certain that the volume had not been
touched till he had opened it； he resolved that the missing
number of the _Times_ should be procured at any expense and
inserted in its place； that the volume should be sent back
instantly without a word of comment； and that no more books from
Mr。 Rambert's library should enter his house。
He walked up and down the study considering what first step he
should take to effect the purpose in view。 Under the quickening
influence of his irritation； an idea occurred to him； which； if
it had only entered his mind the day before； might probably have
proved the means of saving him from placing himself under an
obligation to Mr。 Rambert。 He resolved to write immediately to
his bookseller and publisher in London （who knew him well as an
old and excellent customer）； mentioning the date of the back
number of the _Times_ that was required； and authorizing the
publisher to offer any reward he judged necessary to any person
who might have the means of procuring it at the office of the
paper or elsewhere。 This letter he wrote and dispatched in good
time for the London post； and then went upstairs to see his wife
and to tell her what had happened。 Her room was still darkened
and she was still on the sofa。 On the subject of the missing
number she said nothing； but of Mr。 Rambert and his note she
spoke with the most sovereign contempt。 Of course the pompous old
fool was mistaken； and the proper thing to do was to send back
the volume instantly and take no more notice of him。
〃It shall be sent back；〃 said Mr。 Carling； 〃but not till the
missing number is replaced。〃 And he then told her what he had
done。
The effect of that simple piece of information on Mrs。 Carling
was so extraordinary and so unaccountable that her husband fairly
stood aghast。 For the first time since their marriage he saw her
temper suddenly in a flame。 She started up from the sofa and
walked about the room as if she had lost her senses； upbraiding
him for making the weakest of concessions to Mr。 Rambert's
insolent assumption that the rector was to blame。 If she could
only have laid hands on that letter； she would have consulted her
husband's dignity and independence by putting it in the fire！ She
hoped and prayed the number of the paper might not be found！ In
fact； it was certain that the number； after all these years；
could not possibly be hunted up。 The idea of his acknowledging
himself to be in the wrong in that way； when he knew himself to
be in the right！ It was almost ridiculousno； it was _quite_
ridiculous！ And she threw herself back on the sofa； and suddenly
burst out laughing。
At the first word of remonstrance which fell from her husband's
lips her mood changed again in an instant。 She sprang up once
more； kissed him passionately； with the tears streaming from her
eyes； and implored him to leave her alone to recover herself。 He
quitted the room so seriously alarmed about her that he resolved
to go to the doctor privately and question him on the spot。 There
was an unspeakable dread in his mind that the ner vous attack
from which she had been pronounced to be suffering might be a
mere phrase intended to prepare him