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thanked me in a most gentlemanly and touching manner for the
pains I have taken to set his mind at ease。 Perfectly gratifying；
perfectly satisfactory； so far！ But there has been a little
hitchnow happily got over…which I think it right to mention
to you before we all retire for the night。〃
Having paved the way in those words （and in Mr。 Bashwood's
hearing） for the statement which he had previously announced his
intention of making； in the event of Allan's dying in the
Sanitarium； the doctor was about to proceed； when his attention
was attracted by a sound below like the trying of a door。
He instantly descended the stairs； and unlocked the door of
communication between the first and second floors； which he had
locked behind him on his way up。 But the person who had tried the
doorif such a person there really had beenwas too quick for
him。 He looked along the corridor； and over the staircase into
the hall； and； discovering nothing； returned to Miss Gwilt； after
securing the door of communication behind him once more。
〃Pardon me；〃 he resumed； 〃I thought I heard something downstairs。
With regard to the little hitch that I adverted to just now；
permit me to inform you that Mr。 Armadale has brought a friend
here with him； who bears the strange name of Midwinter。 Do you
know the gentleman at all？〃 asked the doctor； with a suspicious
anxiety in his eyes； which strangely belied the elaborate
indifference of his tone。
〃I know him to be an old friend of Mr。 Armadale's；〃 she said。
〃Does he？〃 Her voice failed her； and her eyes fell before the
doctor's steady scrutiny。 She mastered the momentary weakness；
and finished her question。 〃Does he； too； stay here to…night？〃
〃Mr。 Midwinter is a person of coarse manners and suspicious
temper；〃 rejoined the doctor； steadily watching her。 〃He was rude
enough to insist on staying here as soon as Mr。 Armadale had
accepted my invitation。〃
He paused to note the effect of those words on her。 Left utterly
in the dark by the caution with which she had avoided mentioning
her husband's assumed name to him at their first interview； the
doctor's distrust of her was necessarily of the vaguest kind。 He
had heard her voice fail herhe had seen her color change。 He
suspected her of a mental reservation on the subject of
Midwinterand of nothing more。
〃Did you permit him to have his way？〃 she asked。 〃In your place；
I should have shown him the door。〃
The impenetrable composure of her tone warned the doctor that her
self…command was not to be further shaken that night。 He resumed
the character of Mrs。 Armadale's medical referee on the subject
of Mr。 Armadale's mental health。
〃If I had only had my own feelings to consult；〃 he said； 〃I don't
disguise from you that I should （as you say） have shown Mr。
Midwinter the door。 But on appealing to Mr。 Armadale； I found he
was himself anxious not to be parted from his friend。 Under those
circumstances； but one alternative was leftthe alternative of
humoring him again。 The responsibility of thwarting himto say
nothing；〃 added the doctor； drifting for a moment toward the
truth； 〃of my natural apprehension； with such a temper as his
friend's； of a scandal and disturbance in the housewas not to
be thought of for a moment。 Mr。 Midwinter accordingly remains
here for the night； and occupies （I ought to say； insists on
occupying） the next room to Mr。 Armadale。 Advise me； my dear
madam； in this emergency；〃 concluded the doctor； with his loudest
emphasis。 〃What rooms shall we put them in； on the first floor？〃
〃Put Mr。 Armadale in Number Four。〃
〃And his friend next to him； in Number Three？〃 said the doctor。
〃Well！ well！ well！ perhaps they _are_ the most comfortable rooms。
I'll give my orders immediately。 Don't hurry away； Mr。 Bashwood；〃
he called out； cheerfully； as he reached the top of the
staircase。 〃I have left the assistant physician's key on the
windowsill yonder； and Mrs。 Armadale can let you out at the
staircase door whenever she pleases。 Don't sit up late； Mrs。
Armadale！ Yours is a nervous system that requires plenty of
sleep。 'Tired nature's sweet restorer； balmy sleep。' Grand line！
God bless yougood…night！〃
Mr。 Bashwood came back from the far end of the corridorstill
pondering； in unutterable expectation； on what was to come with
the night。
〃Am I to go now？〃 he asked。
〃No。 You are to stay。 I said you should know all if you waited
till the morning。 Wait here。〃
He hesitated； and looked about him。 〃The doctor；〃 he faltered。 〃I
thought the doctor said〃
〃The doctor will interfere with nothing that I do in this house
to…night。 I tell you to stay。 There are empty rooms on the floor
above this。 Take one of them。〃
Mr。 Bashwood felt the trembling fit coming on him again as he
looked at her。 〃May I ask？〃 he began。
〃Ask nothing。 I want you。〃
〃Will you please to tell me？〃
〃I will tell you nothing till the night is over and the morning
has come。〃
His curiosity conquered his fear。 He persisted。
〃Is it something dreadful？〃 he whispered。 〃Too dreadful to tell
me？〃
She stamped her foot with a sudden outbreak of impatience。 〃Go！〃
she said； snatching the key of the staircase door from the
window…sill。 〃You do quite right to distrust meyou do quite
right to follow me no further in the dark。 Go before the house is
shut up。 I can do without you。〃 She led the way to the stairs；
with the key in one hand； and the candle in the other。
Mr。 Bashwood followed her in silence。 No one； knowing what he
knew of her earlier life； could have failed to perceive that she
was a woman driven to the last extremity； and standing
consciously on the brink of a Crime。 In the first terror of the
discovery； he broke free from the hold she had on him： he thought
and acted like a man who had a will of his own again。
She put the key in the door； and turned to him before she opened
it； with the light of the candle on her face。 〃Forget me； and
forgive me；〃 she said。 〃We meet no more。〃
She opened the door； and； standing inside it； after he had passed
her； gave him her hand。 He had resisted her look； he had resisted
her words； but the magnetic fascination of her touch conquered
him at the final moment。 〃I can't leave you！〃 he said； holding
helplessly by the hand she had given him。 〃What must I do？〃
〃Come and see；〃 she answered； without allowing him an instant to
reflect。
Closing her hand firmly on his； she led him along the first floor
corridor to the room numbered Four。 〃Notice that room；〃 she
whispered。 After a look over the stairs to see that they were
alone； she retraced her steps with him to the opposite extremity
of the corridor。 Here； facing the window which lit the place at
the other end； was one little room； with a narrow grating in the
higher part of the door； intended for the sleeping apartment of
the doctor's deputy。 From the position of this room； the grating
commanded a view of the bed…chambers down each side of the
corridor； and so enabled the deputy…physician to inform himself
of any irregular proceedings on the part of the patients under
his care； with little or no chance of being detected in watching
them。 Miss Gwilt opened the door and led the way into the empty
room。
〃Wait here；〃 she said； 〃while I go back upstairs； and lock
yourself in； if you like。 You will be in the dark； but the gas
will be burning in the corridor。 Keep at the grating； and make
sure that Mr。 Armadale goes into the room I have just pointed out
to you； and that he doesn't leave it afterward。 If you lose sight
of the room for a single moment before I come back； you will
repent it to the end of your life。 If you do as I tell you； you
shall see me to…morrow； and claim your own reward。 Quick with
your answer！ Is it Yes or No？〃
He could make no reply in words。 He raised her hand to his lips；
and kissed it rapturously。 She left him in the room。 From his
place at the grating he saw her glide down the corridor to the
staircase door。 She passed through it； and locked it。 Then there
was silence。
The next sound was the sound of the women…servants' voices。 Two
of them came up to put the sheets on the beds in Number Three and
Number Four。 The women were in high good…humor； laughing and
talking to each other through the open doors of the rooms。 The
master's customers were coming in at last； they said； with a
vengeance； the house would soon begin to look cheerful； if things
went on like this。
After a little； the beds were got ready and the women returned to
the kitchen floor； on which the sleeping…rooms of the domestic
servants were all situated。 Then there was silence again。
The next sound was the sound of the doctor's voice。 He appeared
at the end of the corridor； showing Allan and Midwinter the way
to their rooms。 They all went together into Number Four。 After a
little； the doctor came out first。 He waited till Midwinter
joined him； and pointed with a formal bow to the door of Number
Three。 Midwinter entered the room without speaking； and shut
himself in。 The doctor； left alone； withdrew to the staircase
door and unlocked it； then waited in the corridor； whistling to
himself softly； under his breath。
Voices pitched cautiously low became audible in