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course of what I may term an adventurous medical life； I have
been brought more than once into contact with the gentlemen of
the law； and have had opportunities of observing their
proceedings in cases of； let us say； Domestic Jurisprudence。 I am
quite sure I am correct in informing you that the proof which
will be required by Mr。 Armadale's representatives will be the
evidence of a witness present at the marriage who can speak to
the identity of the bride and bridegroom from his own personal
knowledge。'
〃 'But I have already told you；' I said； 'that there was no such
person present。'
〃 'Precisely；' rejoined the doctor。 'In that case； what you now
want； before you can safely stir a step in the matter； isif you
will pardon me the expressiona ready…made witness； possessed of
rare moral and personal resources； who can be trusted to assume
the necessary character； and to make the necessary Declaration
before a magistrate。 Do you know of any such person？' asked the
doctor； throwing himself back in his chair； and looking at me
with the utmost innocence。
〃 'I only know You；' I said。
〃The doctor laughed softly。 'So like a woman！' he remarked； with
the most exasperating good humor。 'The moment she sees her
object； she dashes at it headlong the nearest way。 Oh； the sex！
the sex！'
〃 'Never mind the sex！' I broke out； impatiently。 'I want a
serious answerYes or No？'
〃The doctor rose； and waved his hand with great gravity and
dignity all round the room。 'You see this vast establishment；' he
began； 'you can possibly estimate to some extent the immense
stake I have in its prosperity and success。 Your excellent
natural sense will tell you that the Principal of this Sanitarium
must
be a man of the most unblemished character'
〃 'Why waste so many words；' I said； 'when one word will do？ You
mean No！'
〃The Principal of the Sanitarium suddenly relapsed into the
character of my confidential friend。
〃 'My dear lady；' he said； 'it isn't Yes； and it isn't No； at a
moment's notice。 Give me till to…morrow afternoon。 By that time I
engage to be ready to do one of two thingseither to withdraw
myself from this business at once； or to go into it with you
heart and soul。 Do you agree to that？ Very good； we may drop the
subject； then； till to…morrow。 Where can I call on you when I
have decided what to do？'
〃There was no objection to my trusting him with my address at the
hotel。 I had taken care to present myself there as 'Mrs。
Armadale'； and I had given Midwinter an address at the
neighboring post…office to write to when he answered my letters。
We settled the hour at which the doctor was to call on me； and；
that matter arranged； I rose to go； resisting all offers of
refreshment； and all proposals to show me over the house。 His
smooth persistence in keeping up appearances after we had
thoroughly understood each other disgusted me。 I got away from
him as soon as I could； and came back to my diary and my own
room。
〃We shall see how it ends to…morrow。 My own idea is that my
confidential friend will say Yes。
〃November 24th。The doctor has said Yes； as I supposed； but on
terms which I never anticipated。 The condition on which I have
secured his services amounts to nothing less than the payment to
him； on my stepping into the place of Armadale's widow； of half
my first year's incomein other words； six hundred pounds！
〃I protested against this extortionate demand in every way I
could think of。 All to no purpose。 The doctor met me with the
most engaging frankness。 Nothing； he said； but the accidental
embarrassment of his position at the present time would have
induced him to mix himself up in the matter at all。 He would
honestly confess that he had exhausted his own resources； and the
resources of other persons whom he described as his 'backers；' in
the purchase and completion of the Sanitarium。 Under those
circumstances； six hundred pounds in prospect was an object to
him。 For that sum he would run the serious risk of advising and
assisting me。 Not a farthing less would tempt him； and there he
left it； with his best and friendliest wishes； in my hands！
〃It ended in the only way in which it could end。 I had no choice
but to accept the terms； and to let the doctor settle things on
the spot as he pleased。 The arrangement once made between us； I
must do him the justice to say that he showed no disposition to
let the grass grow under his feet。 He called briskly for pen； ink
and paper； and suggested opening the campaign at Thorpe Ambrose
by to…night's post。
〃We agreed on a form of letter which I wrote； and which he copied
on the spot。 I entered into no particulars at starting。 I simply
asserted that I was the widow of the deceased Mr。 Armadale； that
I had been privately married to him； that I had returned to
England on his sailing in the yacht from Naples； and that I
begged to inclose a copy of my marriage certificate； as a matter
of form with which I presumed it was customary to comply。 The
letter was addressed to 'The Representatives of the late Allan
Armadale； Esq。； Thorpe Ambrose； Norfolk。' And the doctor himself
carried it away； and put it in the post。
〃I am not so excited and so impatient for results as I expected
to be； now that the first step is taken。 The thought of Midwinter
haunts me like a ghost。 I have been writing to him againas
before； to keep up appearances。 It will be my last letter； I
think。 My courage feels shaken； my spirits get depressed； when my
thoughts go back to Turin。 I am no more capable of facing the
consideration of Midwinter at this moment than I was in the
by…gone time； The day of reckoning with him； once distant and
doubtful； is a day that may come to me now； I know not how soon。
And here I am； trusting myself blindly to the chapter of
Accidents still！
〃November 25th。At two o'clock to…day the doctor called again by
appointment。 He has been to his lawyers （of course without taking
them into our confidence） to put the case simply of proving my
marriage。 The result confirms what he has already told me。 The
pivot on which the whole matter will turn； if my claim is
disputed； will be the question of identity； and it may be
necessary for the witness to make his Declaration in the
magistrate's presence before the week is out。
〃In this position of affairs； the doctor thinks it important that
we should be within easy reach of each other； and proposes to
find a quiet lodging for me in his neighborhood。 I am quite
willing to go anywhere； for； among the other strange fancies that
have got possession of me； I have an idea that I shall feel more
completely lost to Midwinter if I move out of the neighborhood in
which his letters are addressed to me。 I was awake and thinking
of him again last night This morning I have finally decided to
write to him no more。
〃After staying half an hour； the doctor left me； having first
inquired whether I would like to accompany him to Hampstead to
look for lodgings。 I informed him that I had some business of my
own which would keep me in London。 He inquired what the business
was。 'You will see；' I said； 'to…morrow or next day。'
〃I had a moment's nervous trembling when I was by myself again。
My business in London； besides being a serious business in a
woman's eyes； took my mind back to Midwinter in spite of me。 The
prospect of removing to my new lodging had reminded me of the
necessity of dressing in my new character。 The time had come now
for getting _my widow's weeds。_
〃My first proceeding； after putting my bonnet on； was to provide
myself with money。 I got what I wanted to fit me out for the
character of Armadale's widow by nothing less than the sale of
Armadale's own present to me on my marriagethe ruby ring！ It
proved to be a more valuable jewel than I had supposed。 I am
likely to be spared all money anxieties for some time to come。
〃On leaving the jeweler's； I went to the great mourning shop in
Regent Street。 In four…and…twenty hours （if I can give them no
more） they have engaged to dress me in my widow's costume from
head to foot。 I had another feverish moment when I left the shop；
and； by way of further excitement on this agitating day； I found
a surprise in store for me on my return to the hotel。 An elderly
gentleman was announced to be waiting to see me。 I opened my
sitting…room door； and there was old Bashwood！
〃He had got my letter that morning； and had started for London by
the next train to answer it in person。 I had expected a great
deal from him； but I had certainly not expected _that。_ It
flattered me。 For the moment； I declare it flattered me！
〃I pass over the wretched old creature's raptures and reproaches；
and groans and tears； and weary long prosings about the lonely
months he had passed at Thorpe Ambrose； brooding over my
desertion of him。 He was quite eloquent at times； but I don't
want his eloquence here。 It is needless to say that I put myself
right with him； and consulted his feelings before I asked him for
his news。 What a blessing a woman's vanity is sometimes！ I almost
forgot my risks and responsibilities in my anxieties to be
charming。 For a minute or two I felt a warm little flutter of
triumph。 And it w