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adorationand I cared to notice no more。 _My_ business in that
room （I was certain of it now！） began and ended with the
book…case。 I left my seat to fetch the library ladder；
determining to begin the work of investigation on the top
shelves。
On my way to the ladder I passed one of the tables； and saw the
keys lying on it which Major Fitz…David had left at my disposal。
The smaller of the two keys instantly reminded me of the
cupboards under the bookcase。 I had strangely overlooked these。 A
vague distrust of the locked doors a vague doubt of what they
might be hiding from me； stole into my mind。 I left the ladder in
its place against the wall； and set myself to examine the
contents of the cupboards first。
The cupboards were three in number。 As I opened the first of them
the singing upstairs ceased。 For a moment there was something
almost oppressive in the sudden change from noise to silence。 I
suppose my nerves must have been overwrought。 The next sound in
the housenothing more remarkable than the creaking of a man's
boots descending the stairsmade me shudder all over。 The man
was no doubt the singing…master； going away after giving his
lesson。 I heard the house door close on him； and started at the
familiar sound as if it were something terrible which I had never
heard before。 Then there was silence again。 I roused myself as
well as I could； and began my examination of the first cupboard。
It was divided into two compartments。
The top compartment contained nothing but boxes of cigars； ranged
in rows； one on another。 The under compartment was devoted to a
collection of shells。 They were all huddled together anyhow； the
Major evidently setting a far higher value on his cigars than on
his shells。 I searched this lower compartment carefully for any
object interesting to me which might be hidden in it。 Nothing was
to be found in any part of it besides the shells。
As I opened the second cupboard it struck me that the light was
beginning to fail。
I looked at the window： it was hardly evening yet。 The darkening
of the light was produced by gathering clouds。 Rain…drops
pattered against the glass； the autumn wind whistled mournfully
in the corners of the courtyard。 I mended the fire before I
renewed my search。 My nerves were in fault again； I suppose。 I
shivered when I went back to the book…case。 My hands trembled： I
wondered what was the matter with me。
The second cupboard revealed （in the upper division of it） some
really beautiful cameosnot mounted； but laid on cotton…wool in
neat cardboard trays。 In one corner； half hidden under one of the
trays； there peeped out the whit e leaves of a little manuscript。
I pounced on it eagerly； only to meet with a new disappointment：
the manuscript proved to be a descriptive catalogue of the
cameosnothing more！
Turning to the lower division of the cupboard； I found more
costly curiosities in the shape of ivory carvings from Japan and
specimens of rare silk from China。 I began to feel weary of
disinterring the Major's treasures。 The longer I searched； the
farther I seemed to remove myself from the one object that I had
it at heart to attain。 After closing the door of the second
cupboard； I almost doubted whether it would be worth my while to
proceed farther and open the third and last door。
A little reflection convinced me that it would be as well； now
that I had begun my examination of the lower regions of the
book…case； to go on with it to the end。 I opened the last
cupboard。
On the upper shelf there appeared； in solitary grandeur； one
object onlya gorgeously bound book。
It was of a larger size than usual； judging of it by comparison
with the dimensions of modern volumes。 The binding was of blue
velvet； with clasps of silver worked in beautiful arabesque
patterns； and with a lock of the same precious metal to protect
the book from prying eyes。 When I took it up； I found that the
lock was not closed。
Had I any right to take advantage of this accident； and open the
book？ I have put the question since to some of my friends of both
sexes。 The women all agree that I was perfectly justified；
considering the serious interests that I had at stake； in taking
any advantage of any book in the Major's house。 The men differ
from this view； and declare that I ought to have put back the
volume in blue velvet unopened； carefully guarding myself from
any after…temptation to look at it again by locking the cupboard
door。 I dare say the men are right。
Being a woman； however； I opened the book without a moment's
hesitation。
The leaves were of the finest vellum； with tastefully designed
illuminations all round them。 And what did these highly
ornamental pages contain？ To my unutterable amazement and
disgust； they contained locks of hair； let neatly into the center
of each page； with inscriptions beneath； which proved them to be
love…tokens from various ladies who had touched the Major's
susceptible heart at different periods of his life。 The
inscriptions were written in other languages besides English； but
they appeared to be all equally devoted to the same curious
purpose； namely； to reminding the Major of the dates at which his
various attachments had come to an untimely end。 Thus the first
page exhibited a lock of the lightest flaxen hair； with these
lines beneath： 〃My adored Madeline。 Eternal constancy。 Alas； July
22； 1839！〃 The next page was adorned by a darker shade of hair；
with a French inscription under it： 〃Clemence。 Idole de mon 鈓e。
Toujours fidele。 Helas； 2me Avril； 1840。〃 A lock of red hair
followed； with a lamentation in Latin under it； a note being
attached to the date of dissolution of partnership in this case；
stating that the lady was descended from the ancient Romans； and
was therefore mourned appropriately in Latin by her devoted
Fitz…David。 More shades of hair and more inscriptions followed；
until I was weary of looking at them。 I put down the book；
disgusted with the creatures who had assisted in filling it； and
then took it up again； by an afterthought。 Thus far I had
thoroughly searched everything that had presented itself to my
notice。 Agreeable or not agreeable； it was plainly of serious
importance to my own interests to go on as I had begun； and
thoroughly to search the book。
I turned over the pages until I came to the first blank leaf。
Seeing that they were all blank leaves from this place to the
end； I lifted the volume by the back； and； as a last measure of
precaution； shook it so as to dislodge any loose papers or cards
which might have escaped my notice between the leaves。
This time my patience was rewarded by a discovery which
indescribably irritated and distressed me。
A small photograph； mounted on a card； fell out of the book。 A
first glance showed me that it represented the portraits of two
persons。
One of the persons I recognized as my husband。
The other person was a woman。
Her face was entirely unknown to me。 She was not young。 The
picture represented her seated on a chair； with my husband
standing behind； and bending over her； holding one of her hands
in his。 The woman's face was hard…featured and ugly； with the
marking lines of strong passions and resolute self…will plainly
written on it。 Still； ugly as she was； I felt a pang of jealousy
as I noticed the familiarly affectionate action by which the
artist （with the permission of his sitters； of course） had
connected the two figures in a group。 Eustace had briefly told
me； in the days of our courtship； that he had more than once
fancied himself to be in love before he met with me。 Could this
very unattractive woman have been one of the early objects of his
admiration？ Had she been near enough and dear enough to him to be
photographed with her hand in his？ I looked and looked at the
portraits until I could endure them no longer。 Women are strange
creaturesmysteries even to themselves。 I threw the photograph
from me into a corner of the cupboard。 I was savagely angry with
my husband； I hatedyes； hated with all my heart and soul！the
woman who had got his hand in hersthe unknown woman with the
self…willed； hard…featured face。
All this time the lower shelf of the cupboard was still waiting
to be looked over。
I knelt down to examine it； eager to clear my mind； if I could；
of the degrading jealousy that had got possession of me。
Unfortunately； the lower shelf contained nothing but relics of
the Major's military life； comprising his sword and pistols； his
epaulets； his sash； and other minor accouterments。 None of these
objects excited the slightest interest in me。 My eyes wandered
back to the upper shelf； and； like the fool I was （there is no
milder word that can fitly describe me at that moment）； I took
the photograph out again； and enraged myself uselessly by another
look at it。 This time I observed； what I had not noticed before；
that there were some lines of writing （in a woman's hand） at the
back of the portraits。 The lines ran thus：
'To Major Fitz…David； with two vases。 From his friends； S。 and E。
M。〃
Was one of those two vases the vase that had been broken？ And was
the change that I had noticed in Major Fitz…David's face produced
by some pas