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I heartily and willingly forget everythingand forgive everything。
You will do the same； as your actions show。
'〃There will be plenty of opportunity for me to explain the few
facts relating to my escape on the night of the fire。 I will only
give the heads in this hurried note。 I was grieved at your not
coming to fetch me； more grieved at your absence from the station；
most of all by your absence from home。 On my journey to the inn I
writhed under a passionate sense of wrong done me。 When I had been
shown to my room I waited and hoped for you till the landlord had
gone upstairs to bed。 I still found that you did not come； and then
I finally made up my mind to leave。 I had half undressed； but I put
on my things again； forgetting my watch （and I suppose dropping my
keys； though I am not sure where） in my hurry； and slipped out of
the house。 The〃'
'Well； that's a rum story；' said Mr。 Dickson； interrupting。
'What's a rum story？' said Manston hastily； and flushing in the
face。
'Forgetting her watch and dropping her keys in her hurry。'
'I don't see anything particularly wonderful in it。 Any woman might
do such a thing。'
'Any woman might if escaping from fire or shipwreck； or any such
immediate danger。 But it seems incomprehensible to me that any
woman in her senses； who quietly decides to leave a house； should be
so forgetful。'
'All that is required to reconcile your seeming with her facts is to
assume that she was not in her senses； for that's what she did
plainly； or how could the things have been found there？ Besides；
she's truthful enough。' He spoke eagerly and peremptorily。
'Yes； yes； I know that。 I merely meant that it seemed rather odd。'
'O yes。' Manston read on：
'〃and slipped out of the house。 The rubbish…heap was burning up
brightly； but the thought that the house was in danger did not
strike me； I did not consider that it might be thatched。
'〃I idled in the lane behind the wood till the last down…train had
come in； not being in a mood to face strangers。 Whilst I was there
the fire broke out； and this perplexed me still more。 However； I
was still determined not to stay in the place。 I went to the
railway…station； which was now quiet； and inquired of the solitary
man on duty there concerning the trains。 It was not till I had left
the man that I saw the effect the fire might have on my history。 I
considered also； though not in any detailed manner； that the event；
by attracting the attention of the village to my former abode； might
set people on my track should they doubt my death； and a sudden
dread of having to go back again to Knapwatera place which had
seemed inimical to me from first to lastprompted me to run back
and bribe the porter to secrecy。 I then walked on to Anglebury；
lingering about the outskirts of the town till the morning train
came in； when I proceeded by it to London； and then took these
lodgings； where I have been supporting myself ever since by
needlework； endeavouring to save enough money to pay my passage home
to America； but making melancholy progress in my attempt。 However；
all that is changedcan I be otherwise than happy at it？ Of course
not。 I am happy。 Tell me what I am to do； and believe me still to
be your faithful wife； EUNICE。
'〃My name here is （as before）
'〃MRS。 RONDLEY； and my address；
79 ADDINGTON STREET；
LAMBETH。'〃
The name and address were written on a separate slip of paper。
'So it's to be all right at last then；' said Manston's friend。 'But
after all there's another woman in the case。 You don't seem very
sorry for the little thing who is put to such distress by this turn
of affairs？ I wonder you can let her go so coolly。' The speaker
was looking out between the mullions of the windownoticing that
some of the lights were glazed in lozenges； some in squaresas he
said the words； otherwise he would have seen the passionate
expression of agonized hopelessness that flitted across the
steward's countenance when the remark was made。 He did not see it；
and Manston answered after a short interval。 The way in which he
spoke of the young girl who had believed herself his wife； whom； a
few short days ago； he had openly idolized； and whom； in his secret
heart； he idolized still； as far as such a form of love was
compatible with his nature； showed that from policy or otherwise； he
meant to act up to the requirements of the position into which fate
appeared determined to drive him。
'That's neither here nor there；' he said； 'it is a point of honour
to do as I am doing； and there's an end of it。'
'Yes。 Only I thought you used not to care overmuch about your first
bargain。'
'I certainly did not at one time。 One is apt to feel rather weary
of wives when they are so devilish civil under all aspects； as she
used to be。 But anything for a changeAbigail is lost； but Michal
is recovered。 You would hardly believe it； but she seems in fancy
to be quite another bridein fact； almost as if she had really
risen from the dead； instead of having only done so virtually。'
'You let the young pink one know that the other has come or is
coming？'
'Cui bono？' The steward meditated critically； showing a portion of
his intensely wide and regular teeth within the ruby lips。
'I cannot say anything to her that will do any good；' he resumed。
'It would be awkwardeither seeing or communicating with her again。
The best plan to adopt will be to let matters take their course
she'll find it all out soon enough。'
Manston found himself alone a few minutes later。 He buried his face
in his hands； and murmured； 'O my lost one！ O my Cytherea！ That it
should come to this is hard for me！ 'Tis now all darkness〃a land
of darkness as darkness itself； and of the shadow of death without
any order； and where the light is as darkness。〃'
Yes； the artificial bearing which this extraordinary man had adopted
before strangers ever since he had overheard the conversation at the
inn； left him now； and he mourned for Cytherea aloud。
4。 THE TWELFTH OF FEBRUARY
Knapwater Park is the pictureat eleven o'clock on a muddy； quiet；
hazy； but bright morninga morning without any blue sky； and
without any shadows； the earth being enlivened and lit up rather by
the spirit of an invisible sun than by its bodily presence。
The local Hunt had met for the day's sport on the open space of
ground immediately in front of the steward's residencecalled in
the list of appointments； 'Old House； Knapwater'the meet being
here once every season； for the pleasure of Miss Aldclyffe and her
friends。
Leaning out from one of the first…floor windows； and surveying with
the keenest interest the lively picture of pink and black coats；
rich…coloured horses； and sparkling bits and spurs； was the returned
and long…lost woman； Mrs。 Manston。
The eyes of those forming the brilliant group were occasionally
turned towards her； showing plainly that her adventures were the
subject of conversation equally with or more than the chances of the
coming day。 She did not flush beneath their scrutiny； on the
contrary； she seemed rather to enjoy it； her eyes being kindled with
a light of contented exultation； subdued to square with the
circumstances of her matronly position。
She was； at the distance from which they surveyed her； an attractive
womancomely as the tents of Kedar。 But to a close observer it was
palpable enough that God did not do all the picture。 Appearing at
least seven years older than Cytherea； she was probably her senior
by double the number； the artificial means employed to heighten the
natural good appearance of her face being very cleverly applied。
Her form was full and round； its voluptuous maturity standing out in
strong contrast to the memory of Cytherea's lissom girlishness。
It seems to be an almost universal rule that a woman who once has
courted； or who eventually will court； the society of men on terms
dangerous to her honour cannot refrain from flinging the meaning
glance whenever the moment arrives in which the glance is strongly
asked for； even if her life and whole future depended upon that
moment's abstinence。
Had a cautious； uxorious husband seen in his wife's countenance what
might now have been seen in this dark…eyed woman's as she caught a
stray glance of flirtation from one or other of the red…coated
gallants outside； he would have passed many days in an agony of
restless jealousy and doubt。 But Manston was not such a husband；
and he was； moreover； calmly attending to his business at the other
end of the manor。
The steward had fetched home his wife in the most matter…of…fact way
a few days earlier； walking round the village with her the very next
morningat once putting an end； by this simple solution； to all the
riddling inquiries and surmises that were rank in the village and
its neighbourhood。 Some men said that this woman was as far
inferior to Cytherea as earth to heaven； others； older and sager；
thought Manston better off with such a wife than he would have been
with one of Cytherea's youthful impulses； and inexperience in
household management。 All felt their curiosity dying out of them。
It was the