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'Don't you believe what they d' say about her and him？'
'I say nothen about that； but you don't know what I know about his
letters。'
'What about 'em？'
'He d' post all his letters here except those for one person； and
they he d' take to Budmouth。 My son is in Budmouth Post Office； as
you know； and as he d' sit at desk he can see over the blind of the
window all the people who d' post letters。 Mr。 Manston d'
unvariably go there wi' letters for that person； my boy d' know 'em
by sight well enough now。'
'Is it a she？'
''Tis a she。'
'What's her name？'
'The little stunpoll of a fellow couldn't call to mind more than
that 'tis Miss Somebody； of London。 However； that's the woman who
ha' been here； depend upon'ta wicked onesome poor street…wench
escaped from Sodom； I warrant ye。'
'Only to find herself in Gomorrah； seemingly。'
'That may be。'
'No； no； Mrs。 Leat； this is clear to me。 'Tis no miss who came here
to see our steward last nightwhenever she came or wherever she
vanished。 Do you think he would ha' let a miss get here how she
could； go away how she would； without breakfast or help of any
kind？'
Elizabeth shook her headMrs。 Crickett looked at her solemnly。
'I say I know she had no help of any kind； I know it was so； for the
grate was quite cold when I touched it this morning with these
fingers； and he was still in bed。 No； he wouldn't take the trouble
to write letters to a girl and then treat her so off…hand as that。
There's a tie between 'em stronger than feelen。 She's his wife。'
'He married！ The Lord so 's； what shall we hear next？ Do he look
married now？ His are not the abashed eyes and lips of a married
man。'
'Perhaps she's a tame onebut she's his wife still。'
'No； no： he's not a married man。'
'Yes； yes； he is。 I've had three； and I ought to know。'
'Well； well；' said Mrs。 Leat； giving way。 'Whatever may be the
truth on't I trust Providence will settle it all for the best； as He
always do。'
'Ay； ay； Elizabeth；' rejoined Mrs。 Crickett with a satirical sigh；
as she turned on her foot to go home； 'good people like you may say
so； but I have always found Providence a different sort of feller。'
5。 NOVEMBER THE TWENTIETH
It was Miss Aldclyffe's custom； a custom originated by her father；
and nourished by her own exclusiveness； to unlock the post…bag
herself every morning； instead of allowing the duty to devolve on
the butler； as was the case in most of the neighbouring county
families。 The bag was brought upstairs each morning to her
dressing…room； where she took out the contents； mostly in the
presence of her maid and Cytherea； who had the entree of the chamber
at all hours； and attended there in the morning at a kind of
reception on a small scale； which was held by Miss Aldclyffe of her
namesake only。
Here she read her letters before the glass； whilst undergoing the
operation of being brushed and dressed。
'What woman can this be； I wonder？' she said on the morning
succeeding that of the last section。 '〃London； N。！〃 It is the
first time in my life I ever had a letter from that outlandish
place； the North side of London。'
Cytherea had just come into her presence to learn if there was
anything for herself； and on being thus addressed； walked up to Miss
Aldclyffe's corner of the room to look at the curiosity which had
raised such an exclamation。 But the lady； having opened the
envelope and read a few lines； put it quickly in her pocket； before
Cytherea could reach her side。
'O； 'tis nothing；' she said。 She proceeded to make general remarks
in a noticeably forced tone of sang…froid； from which she soon
lapsed into silence。 Not another word was said about the letter：
she seemed very anxious to get her dressing done； and the room
cleared。 Thereupon Cytherea went away to the other window； and a
few minutes later left the room to follow her own pursuits。
It was late when Miss Aldclyffe descended to the breakfast…table and
then she seemed there to no purpose； tea； coffee； eggs； cutlets； and
all their accessories； were left absolutely untasted。 The next that
was seen of her was when walking up and down the south terrace； and
round the flower…beds； her face was pale； and her tread was fitful；
and she crumpled a letter in her hand。
Dinner…time came round as usual； she did not speak ten words； or
indeed seem conscious of the meal； for all that Miss Aldclyffe did
in the way of eating； dinner might have been taken out as intact as
it was taken in。
In her own private apartment Miss Aldclyffe again pulled out the
letter of the morning。 One passage in it ran thus：
'Of course； being his wife； I could publish the fact； and compel him
to acknowledge me at any moment； notwithstanding his threats； and
reasonings that it will be better to wait。 I have waited； and
waited again； and the time for such acknowledgment seems no nearer
than at first。 To show you how patiently I have waited I can tell
you that not till a fortnight ago； when by stress of circumstances I
had been driven to new lodgings； have I ever assumed my married
name； solely on account of its having been his request all along
that I should not do it。 This writing to you； madam； is my first
disobedience； and I am justified in it。 A woman who is driven to
visit her husband like a thief in the night and then sent away like
a street dogleft to get up； unbolt； unbar； and find her way out of
the house as she best mayis justified in doing anything。
'But should I demand of him a restitution of rights； there would be
involved a publicity which I could not endure； and a noisy scandal
flinging my name the length and breadth of the country。
'What I still prefer to any such violent means is that you reason
with him privately； and compel him to bring me home to your parish
in a decent and careful manner； in the way that would be adopted by
any respectable man； whose wife had been living away from him for
some time； by reason； say； of peculiar family circumstances which
had caused disunion； but not enmity； and who at length was enabled
to reinstate her in his house。
'You will； I know； oblige me in this； especially as knowledge of a
peculiar transaction of your own； which took place some years ago；
has lately come to me in a singular way。 I will not at present
trouble you by describing how。 It is enough； that I alone； of all
people living； know ALL THE SIDES OF THE STORY； those from whom I
collected it having each only a partial knowledge which confuses
them and points to nothing。 One person knows of your early
engagement and its sudden termination； another； of the reason of
those strange meetings at inns and coffee…houses； another； of what
was sufficient to cause all this； and so on。 I know what fits one
and all the circumstances like a key； and shows them to be the
natural outcrop of a rational （though rather rash） line of conduct
for a young lady。 You will at once perceive how it was that some at
least of these things were revealed to me。
'This knowledge then； common to； and secretly treasured by us both；
is the ground upon which I beg for your friendship and help； with a
feeling that you will be too generous to refuse it to me。
'I may add that； as yet； my husband knows nothing of this； neither
need he if you remember my request。'
'A threata flat stinging threat！ as delicately wrapped up in words
as the woman could do it； a threat from a miserable unknown creature
to an Aldclyffe； and not the least proud member of the family
either！ A threat on his accountO； O！ shall it be？'
Presently this humour of defiance vanished； and the members of her
body became supple again； her proceedings proving that it was
absolutely necessary to give way； Aldclyffe as she was。 She wrote a
short answer to Mrs。 Manston； saying civilly that Mr。 Manston's
possession of such a near relation was a fact quite new to herself；
and that she would see what could be done in such an unfortunate
affair。
6。 NOVEMBER THE TWENTY…FIRST
Manston received a message the next day requesting his attendance at
the House punctually at eight o'clock the ensuing evening。 Miss
Aldclyffe was brave and imperious； but with the purpose she had in
view she could not look him in the face whilst daylight shone upon
her。
The steward was shown into the library。 On entering it； he was
immediately struck with the unusual gloom which pervaded the
apartment。 The fire was dead and dull； one lamp； and that a
comparatively small one； was burning at the extreme end； leaving the
main proportion of the lofty and sombre room in an artificial
twilight； scarcely powerful enough to render visible the titles of
the folio and quarto volumes which were jammed into the lower tiers
of the bookshelves。
After keeping him waiting for more than twenty minutes （Miss
Aldclyffe knew that excellent recipe for taking the stiffness out of
human flesh； and for extracting all pre…arrangement from human
speech） she entered the room。
Manston sought her eye directly。 The hue of her features was not
discernible； but the calm glance she flung at him； from which all
attempt at returning his scrutiny was absent； awoke him to the
percepti