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being vented in no cry of any kind。 No； she could not meet
Manston's eye alone； she would only see him in her brother's
company。
Almost delirious with this idea； she ran and locked the door to
prevent all possibility of her intentions being nullified； or a look
or word being flung at her by anybody whilst she knew not what she
was。
8。 HALF…PAST EIGHT O'CLOCK P。M。
Then Cytherea felt her way amid the darkness of the room till she
came to the head of the bed； where she searched for the bell…rope
and gave it a pull。 Her summons was speedily answered by the
landlady herself； whose curiosity to know the meaning of these
strange proceedings knew no bounds。 The landlady attempted to turn
the handle of the door。 Cytherea kept the door locked。 'Please
tell Mr。 Manston when he comes that I am ill；' she said from the
inside； 'and that I cannot see him。'
'Certainly I will； madam；' said the landlady。 'Won't you have a
fire？'
'No； thank you。'
'Nor a light？'
'I don't want one； thank you。'
'Nor anything？'
'Nothing。'
The landlady withdrew； thinking her visitor half insane。
Manston came in about five minutes later； and went at once up to the
sitting…room； fully expecting to find his wife there。 He looked
round； rang； and was told the words Cytherea had said； that she was
too ill to be seen。
'She is in number twelve room；' added the maid。
Manston was alarmed； and knocked at the door。 'Cytherea！'
'I am unwell； I cannot see you；' she said。
'Are you seriously ill； dearest？ Surely not。'
'No； not seriously。'
'Let me come in； I will get a doctor。'
'No； he can't see me either。'
'She won't open the door； sir； not to nobody at all！' said the
chambermaid； with wonder…waiting eyes。
'Hold your tongue； and be off！' said Manston with a snap。
The maid vanished。
'Come； Cytherea； this is foolishindeed it isnot opening the
door。 。 。 。 I cannot comprehend what can be the matter with you。
Nor can a doctor either； unless he sees you。'
Her voice had trembled more and more at each answer she gave； but
nothing could induce her to come out and confront him。 Hating
scenes； Manston went back to the sitting…room； greatly irritated and
perplexed。
And there Cytherea from the adjoining room could hear him pacing up
and down。 She thought； 'Suppose he insists upon seeing mehe
probably mayand will burst open the door！' This notion increased；
and she sank into a corner in a half…somnolent state； but with ears
alive to the slightest sound。 Reason could not overthrow the
delirious fancy that outside her door stood Manston and all the
people in the hotel； waiting to laugh her to scorn。
9。 HALF…PAST EIGHT TO ELEVEN P。M。
In the meantime； Springrove was pacing up and down the arrival
platform of the railway…station。 Half…past eight o'clockthe time
at which Owen's train was duehad come； and passed； but no train
appeared。
'When will the eight…thirty train be in？' he asked of a man who was
sweeping the mud from the steps。
'She is not expected yet this hour。'
'How is that？'
'Christmas…time； you see； 'tis always so。 People are running about
to see their friends。 The trains have been like it ever since
Christmas Eve； and will be for another week yet。'
Edward again went on walking and waiting under the draughty roof。
He found it utterly impossible to leave the spot。 His mind was so
intent upon the importance of meeting with Owen； and informing him
of Cytherea's whereabouts； that he could not but fancy Owen might
leave the station unobserved if he turned his back； and become lost
to him in the streets of the town。
The hour expired。 Ten o'clock struck。 'When will the train be in？'
said Edward to the telegraph clerk。
'In five…and…thirty minutes。 She's now at L。 They have extra
passengers； and the rails are bad to…day。'
At last； at a quarter to eleven； the train came in。
The first to alight from it was Owen； looking pale and cold。 He
casually glanced round upon the nearly deserted platform； and was
hurrying to the outlet； when his eyes fell upon Edward。 At sight of
his friend he was quite bewildered； and could not speak。
'Here I am； Mr。 Graye；' said Edward cheerfully。 'I have seen
Cytherea； and she has been waiting for you these two or three
hours。'
Owen took Edward's hand； pressed it； and looked at him in silence。
Such was the concentration of his mind； that not till many minutes
after did he think of inquiring how Springrove had contrived to be
there before him。
10。 ELEVEN O'CLOCK P。M。
On their arrival at the door of the hotel； it was arranged between
Springrove and Graye that the latter only should enter； Edward
waiting outside。 Owen had remembered continually what his friend
had frequently overlooked； that there was yet a possibility of his
sister being Manston's wife； and the recollection taught him to
avoid any rashness in his proceedings which might lead to bitterness
hereafter。
Entering the room； he found Manston sitting in the chair which had
been occupied by Cytherea on Edward's visit； three hours earlier。
Before Owen had spoken； Manston arose； and stepping past him closed
the door。 His face appeared harassedmuch more troubled than the
slight circumstance which had as yet come to his knowledge seemed to
account for。
Manston could form no reason for Owen's presence； but intuitively
linked it with Cytherea's seclusion。 'Altogether this is most
unseemly；' he said； 'whatever it may mean。'
'Don't think there is meant anything unfriendly by my coming here；'
said Owen earnestly； 'but listen to this； and think if I could do
otherwise than come。'
He took from his pocket the confession of Chinney the porter； as
hastily written out by the vicar； and read it aloud。 The aspects of
Manston's face whilst he listened to the opening words were strange；
dark； and mysterious enough to have justified suspicions that no
deceit could be too complicated for the possessor of such impulses；
had there not overridden them all； as the reading went on； a new and
irrepressible expressionone unmistakably honest。 It was that of
unqualified amazement in the steward's mind at the news he heard。
Owen looked up and saw it。 The sight only confirmed him in the
belief he had held throughout； in antagonism to Edward's suspicions。
There could no longer be a shadow of doubt that if the first Mrs。
Manston lived； her husband was ignorant of the fact。 What he could
have feared by his ghastly look at first； and now have ceased to
fear； it was quite futile to conjecture。
'Now I do not for a moment doubt your complete ignorance of the
whole matter； you cannot suppose for an instant that I do；' said
Owen when he had finished reading。 'But is it not best for both
that Cytherea should come back with me till the matter is cleared
up？ In fact； under the circumstances； no other course is left open
to me than to request it。'
Whatever Manston's original feelings had been； all in him now gave
way to irritation； and irritation to rage。 He paced up and down the
room till he had mastered it； then said in ordinary tones
'Certainly； I know no more than you and others knowit was a
gratuitous unpleasantness in you to say you did not doubt me。 Why
should you； or anybody； have doubted me？'
'Well； where is my sister？' said Owen。
'Locked in the next room。'
His own answer reminded Manston that Cytherea must； by some
inscrutable means； have had an inkling of the event。
Owen had gone to the door of Cytherea's room。
'Cytherea； darling'tis Owen；' he said； outside the door。 A
rustling of clothes； soft footsteps； and a voice saying from the
inside； 'Is it really you； Owen；is it really？'
'It is。'
'O； will you take care of me？'
'Always。'
She unlocked the door； and retreated again。 Manston came forward
from the other room with a candle in his hand； as Owen pushed open
the door。
Her frightened eyes were unnaturally large； and shone like stars in
the darkness of the background； as the light fell upon them。 She
leapt up to Owen in one bound； her small taper fingers extended like
the leaves of a lupine。 Then she clasped her cold and trembling
hands round his neck and shivered。
The sight of her again kindled all Manston's passions into activity。
'She shall not go with you；' he said firmly； and stepping a pace or
two closer； 'unless you prove that she is not my wife； and you can't
do it！'
'This is proof；' said Owen； holding up the paper。
'No proof at all；' said Manston hotly。 ''Tis not a death…bed
confession； and those are the only things of the kind held as good
evidence。'
'Send for a lawyer；' Owen returned； 'and let him tell us the proper
course to adopt。'
'Never mind the lawlet me go with Owen！' cried Cytherea； still
holding on to him。 'You will let me go with him； won't you； sir？'
she said； turning appealingly to Manston。
'We'll have it all right and square；' said Manston； with more
quietness。 'I have no objection to your brother sending for a
lawyer； if he wants to。'
It was getting on for twelve o'clock； but the proprietor of the
hotel had not yet gone to bed on account of the mystery on the first
floor； which was an occurrence unusual in