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may be of serious importance to us。 While you are at Doctor
Starkweather's you are within easy reach of this place。 Please
think of it。〃
I thought of it seriously enough。 The foremost question which I
had to consider was the question of my husband。
The departure of the mother and son from Spain had been so long
delayed； by the surgeon's orders； that the travelers had only
advanced on their homeward journey as far as Bordeaux； when I had
last heard from Mrs。 Macallan three or four days since。 Allowing
for an interval of repose at Bordeaux； and for the slow rate at
which they would be compelled to move afterward； I might still
expect them to arrive in England some time before a letter from
the agent in America could reach Mr。 Playmore。 How； in this
position of affairs； I could contrive to join the lawyer in
Edinburgh； after meeting my husband in London； it was not easy to
see。 The wise and the right way； as I thought； was to tell Mr。
Playmore frankly that I was not mistress of my
Own movements； and that he had better address his next letter to
me at Benjamin's house。
Writing to my legal adviser in this sense； I had a word of my own
to add on the subject of the torn letter。
In the last years of my father's life I had traveled with him in
Italy； and I had seen in the Museum at Naples the wonderful
relics of a bygone time discovered among the ruins of Pompeii。 By
way of encouraging Mr。 Playmore； I now reminded him that the
eruption which had overwhelmed the town had preserved； for more
than sixteen hundred years； such perishable things as the straw
in which pottery had been packed； the paintings on house walls；
the dresses worn by the inhabitants； and （most noticeable of all；
in our case） a piece of ancient paper； still attached to the
volcanic ashes which had fallen over it。 If these discoveries had
been made after a lapse of sixteen centuries； under a layer of
dust and ashes on a large scale； surely we might hope to meet
with similar cases of preservation； after a lapse of three or
four years only； under a layer of dust and ashes on a small
scale。 Taking for granted （what was perhaps doubtful enough） that
the fragments of the letter could be recovered； my own conviction
was that the writing on them； though it might be faded； would
certainly still be legible。 The very accumulations which Mr。
Playmore deplored would be the means of preserving them from the
rain and the damp。 With these modest hints I closed my letter；
and thus for once； thanks to my Continental experience； I was
able to instruct my lawyer！
Another day passed； and I heard nothing of the travelers。
I began to feel anxious。 I made my preparations for my journey
southward overnight； and I resolved to start for London the next
dayunless I heard of some change in Mrs。 Macallan's traveling
arrangements in the interval。
The post of the next morning decided my course of action。 It
brought me a letter from my mother…in…law； which added one more
to the memorable dates in my domestic calendar。
Eustace and his mother had advanced as far as Paris on their
homeward journey； when a cruel disaster had befallen them。 The
fatigues of traveling； and the excitement of his anticipated
meeting with me； had proved together to be too much for my
husband。 He had held out as far as Paris with the greatest
difficulty； and he was now confined to his bed again； struck down
by a relapse。 The doctors； this time； had no fear for his life；
provided that his patience would support him through a lengthened
period of the most absolute repose。
〃It now rests with you； Valeria；〃 Mrs。 Macallan wrote； 〃to
fortify and comfort Eustace under this new calamity。 Do not
suppose that he has ever blamed or thought of blaming you for
leaving him with me in Spain； as soon as he was declared to be
out of danger。 'It was _I_ who left _her；_' he said to me； when
we first talked about it； 'and it is my wife's right to expect
that I should go back to her。' Those were his words； my dear； and
he has done all he can to abide by them。 Helpless in his bed； he
now asks you to take the will for the deed； and to join him in
Paris。 I think I know you well enough； my child； to be sure that
you will do this； and I need only add one word of caution； before
I close my letter。 Avoid all reference； not only to the Trial
（you will do that of your own accord）； but even to our house at
Gleninch。 You will understand how he feels； in his present state
of nervous depression； when I tell you that I should never have
ventured on asking you to join him here； if your letter had not
informed me that your visits to Dexter were at an end。 Would you
believe it？his horror of anything which recalls our past
troubles is still so vivid that he has actually asked me to give
my consent to selling Gleninch！〃
So Eustace's mother wrote of him。 But she had not trusted
entirely to her own powers of persuasion。 A slip of paper was
inclosed in her letter； containing these two lines； traced in
penciloh； so feebly and so wearily！by my poor darling
himself：
〃I am too weak to travel any further； Valeria。 Will you come to
me and forgive me？〃 A few pencil…marks followed； but they were
illegible。 The writing of those two short sentences had exhausted
him。
It is not saying much for myself； I knowbut； having confessed
it when I was wrong； let me； at least； record it when I did what
was rightI decided instantly on giving up all further
connection with the recovery of the torn letter。 If Eustace asked
me the question； I was resolved to be able to answer truly： 〃I
have made the sacrifice that assures your tranquillity。 When
resignation was hardest； I have humbled my obstinate spirit； and
I have given way for my husband's sake。〃
There was half an hour to spare before I left the vicarage for
the railway station。 In that interval I wrote again to Mr。
Playmore； telling him plainly what my position was； and
withdrawing； at once and forever； from all share in investigating
the mystery which lay hidden under the dust…heap at Gleninch。
CHAPTER XLIV。
OUR NEW HONEYMOON。
It is not to be disguised or denied that my spirits were
depressed on my journey to London。
To resign the one cherished purpose of my life； when I had
suffered so much in pursuing it； and when I had （to all
appearance） so nearly reached the realization of my hopes； was
putting to a hard trial a woman's fortitude and a woman's sense
of duty。 Still； even if the opportunity had been offered to me； I
would not have recalled my letter to Mr。 Playmore。 〃It is done；
and well done；〃 I said to myself； 〃and I have only to wait a day
to be reconciled to itwhen I give my husband my first kiss。〃
I had planned and hoped to reach London in time to start for
Paris by the night…mail。 But the train was twice delayed on the
long journey from the North； and there was no help for it but to
sleep at Benjamin's villa； and to defer my departure until the
morning。
It was； of course； impossible for me to warn my old friend of the
change in my plans。 My arrival took him by surprise。 I found him
alone in his library； with a wonderful illumination of lamps and
candles； absorbed over some morsels of torn paper scattered on
the table before him。
〃What in the world are you about？〃 I asked。
Benjamin blushedI was going to say； like a young girl； but
young girls have given up blushing in these latter days of the
age we live in。
〃Oh； nothing； nothing！〃 he said； confusedly。 〃Don't notice it。〃
He stretched out his hand to brush the morsels of paper off the
table。 Those morsels raised a sudden suspicion in my mind。 I
stopped him。
〃You have heard from Mr。 Playmore！〃 I said。 〃Tell me the truth；
Benjamin。 Yes or no？〃
Benjamin blushed a shade deeper； and answered； 〃Yes。〃
〃Where is the letter？〃
〃I mustn't show it to you； Valeria。〃
This （need I say it？） made me determined to see the letter。 My
best way of persuading Benjamin to show it to me was to tell him
of the sacrifice that I had made to my husband's wishes。 〃I have
no further voice in the matter；〃 I added； when I had done。 〃It
now rests entirely with Mr。 Playmore to go on or to give up； and
this is my last opportunity of discovering what he really thinks
about it。 Don't I deserve some little indulgence？ Have I no claim
to look at the letter？〃
Benjamin was too much surprised； and too much pleased with me；
when he heard what had happened； to be able to resist my
entreaties。 He gave me the letter。
Mr。 Playmore wrote to appeal confidentially to Benjamin as a
commercial man。 In the long course of his occupation in business；
it was just possible that he might have heard of cases in which
documents have been put together again after having been torn up
by design or by accident。 Even if his experience failed in this
particular； he might be able to refer to some authority in London
who would be capable of giving an opinion on the subject。 By way
of explaining his strange request； Mr。 Playmore reverted to the
notes which Benjamin had taken at Miserrimus Dexter's house； and
informed him of the serious importance of 〃the gibberish〃 which
he had reported under protest。 The letter closed by recommending
tha