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had not built a stout sea…boat was seriously tested for the first
time。 All that night； after trying vainly to bear up for
Holyhead； the little vessel kept the sea； and stood her trial
bravely。 The next morning the Isle of Man was in view； and the
yacht was safe at Castletown。 A survey by daylight of hull and
rigging showed that all the damage done might be set right again
in a week's time。 The cruising party had accordingly remained at
Castletown； Allan being occupied in superintending the repairs；
Mr。 Brock in exploring the neighborhood； and Midwinter in making
daily pilgrimages on foot to Douglas and back to inquire for
letters。
The first of the cruising party who received a letter was Allan。
〃More worries from those everlasting lawyers；〃 was all he said；
when he had read the letter； and had crumpled it up in his
pocket。 The rector's turn came next； before the week's sojourn at
Castletown had expired。 On the fifth day he found a letter from
Somersetshire waiting for him at the hotel。 It had been brought
there by Midwinter； and it contained news which entirely
overthrew all Mr。 Brock's holiday plans。 The clergyman who had
undertaken to do duty for him in his absence had been
unexpectedly summoned home again； and Mr。 Brock had no choice
（the day of the week being Friday） but to cross the next morning
from Douglass to Liverpool； and get back by railway on Saturday
night in time for Sunday's service。
Having read his letter； and resigned himself to his altered
circumstances as patiently as he might； the rector passed next to
a question that pressed for serious consideration in its turn。
Burdened with his heavy responsibility toward Allan； and
conscious of his own undiminished distrust of Allan's new friend；
how was he to act； in the emergency that now beset him； toward
the two young men who had been his companions on the cruise？
Mr。 Brock had first asked himself that awkward question on the
Friday afternoon； and he was still trying vainly to answer it；
alone in his own room； at one o'clock on the Saturday morning。 It
was then only the end of May； and the residence of the ladies at
Thorpe Ambrose （unless they chose to shorten it of their own
accord） would not expire till the middle of June。 Even if the
repairs of the yacht had been completed （which was not the case）；
there was no possible pretense for hurrying Allan back to
Somersetshire。 But one other alternative remainedto leave him
where he was。 In other words； to leave him； at the turning…point
of his life； under the sole influence of a man whom he had first
met with as a castaway at a village inn； and who was still； to
all practical purposes； a total stranger to him。
In despair of obtaining any better means of enlightenment to
guide his decision； Mr。 Brock reverted to the impression which
Midwinter had produced on his own mind in the familiarity of the
cruise。
Young as he was； the ex…usher had evidently lived a varied life。
He could speak of books like a man who had really enjoyed them；
he could take his turn at the helm like a sailor who knew his
duty； he could cook； and climb the rigging； and lay the cloth for
dinner； with an odd delight in the exhibition of his own
dexterity。 The display of these； and other qualities like them；
as his spirits rose with the cruise； had revealed the secret of
his attraction for Allan plainly enough。 But had all disclosures
rested there？ Had the man let no chance light in on his character
in the rector's presence？ Very little； and that little did not
set him forth in a morally alluring aspect。 His way in the world
had lain evidently in doubtful places； familiarity with the small
villainies of vagabonds peeped out of him now and then； and； more
significant still； he habitually slept the light； suspicious
sleep of a man who has been accustomed to close his eyes in doubt
of the company under the same roof with him。 Down to the very
latest moment of the rector's experience of himdown to that
present Friday nighthis conduct had been persistently secret
and unaccountable to the very last。 After bringing Mr。 Brock's
letter to the hotel； he had mysterious disappeared from the house
without leaving any message for his companions； and without
letting anybody see whether he had or had not received a letter
himself。 At nightfall he had come back stealthily in the
darkness； had been caught on the stairs by Allan； eager to tell
him of the change in the rector's plans； had listened to the news
without a word of remark！ and had ended by sulkily locking
himself into his own room。 What was there in his favor to set
against such revelations of his character as theseagainst his
wandering eyes； his obstinate reserve with the rector； his
ominous silence on the subject of family and friends？ Little or
nothing： the sum of all his merits began and ended with his
gratitude to Allan。
Mr。 Brock left his seat on the side of the bed； trimmed his
candle； and； still lost in his own thoughts； looked out absently
at the night。 The change of place brought no new ideas with it。
His retrospect over his own past life had amply satisfied him
that his present sense of responsibility rested on no merely
fanciful grounds； and； having brought him to that point； had left
him there； standing at the window； and seeing nothing but the
total darkness in his own mind faithfully reflected by the total
darkness of the night。
〃If I only had a friend to apply to！〃 thought the rector。 〃If I
could only find some one to help me in this miserable place！〃
At the moment when the aspiration crossed his mind； it was
suddenly answered by a low knock at the door； and a voice said
softly in the passage outside； 〃Let me come in。〃
After an instant's pause to steady his nerves； Mr。 Brock opened
the door； and found himself； at one o'clock in the morning；
standing face to face on the threshold of his own bedroom with
Ozias Midwinter。
〃Are you ill？〃 asked the rector； as soon as his astonishment
would allow him to speak。
〃I have come here to make a clean breast of it！〃 was the strange
answer。 〃Will you let me in？〃
With those words he walked into the room； his eyes on the ground；
his lips ashy pale； and his han d holding something hidden behind
him。
〃I saw the light under your door；〃 he went on； without looking
up； and without moving his hand； 〃and I know the trouble on your
mind which is keeping you from your rest。 You are going away
to…morrow morning； and you don't like leaving Mr。 Armadale alone
with a stranger like me。〃
Startled as he was； Mr。 Brock saw the serious necessity of being
plain with a man who had come at that time； and had said those
words to him。
〃You have guessed right；〃 he answered。 〃I stand in the place of a
father to Allan Armadale； and I am naturally unwilling to leave
him； at his age； with a man whom I don't know。〃
Ozias Midwinter took a step forward to the table。 His wandering
eyes rested on the rector's New Testament； which was one of the
objects lying on it。
〃You have read that Book； in the years of a long life； to many
congregations；〃 he said。 〃Has it taught you mercy to your
miserable fellow…creatures？〃
Without waiting to be answered； he looked Mr。 Brock in the face
for the first time； and brought his hidden hand slowly into view。
〃Read that；〃 he said； 〃and； for Christ's sake； pity me when you
know who I am。〃
He laid a letter of many pages on the table。 It was the letter
that Mr。 Neal had posted at Wildbad nineteen years since。
CHAPTER II。
THE。 MAN REVEALED。
THE first cool breathings of the coming dawn fluttered through
the open window as Mr。 Brock read the closing lines of the
Confession。 He put it from him in silence； without looking up。
The first shock of discovery had struck his mind； and had passed
away again。 At his age； and with his habits of thought； his grasp
was not strong enough to hold the whole revelation that had
fallen on him。 All his heart。 when he closed the manuscript； was
with the memory of the woman who had been the beloved friend of
his later and happier life； all his thoughts were busy with the
miserable secret of her treason to her own father which the
letter had disclosed。
He was startled out of the narrow limits of his own little grief
by the vibration of the table at which he sat； under a hand that
was laid on it heavily。 The instinct of reluctance was strong in
him； but he conquered it； and looked up。 There； silently
confronting him in the mixed light of the yellow candle flame and
the faint gray dawn； stood the castaway of the village innthe
inheritor of the fatal Armadale name。
Mr。 Brock shuddered as the terror of the present time and the
darker terror yet of the future that might be coming rushed back
on him at the sight of the man's face。 The man saw it； and spoke
first。
〃Is my father's crime looking at you out of my eyes？〃 he asked。
〃Has the ghost of the drowned man followed me into the room？〃
The suffering and the passion that he was forcing back shook the
hand that he still kept on the table； and stifled the voice in
which he spoke until it sank to a whisper。
〃I have no wish to treat you otherwise than justly and kindly；〃
answered Mr。 Brock。 〃Do me ju