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〃You know best where the things ought to be put in your own
dressing…case；〃 he said； keeping his back turned on Allan。 〃I'll
m ake the place tidy on this side of the cabin； and you shall
make the place tidy on the other。〃
He began setting in order the litter scattered about him on the
cabin table and on the floor。 But it seemed as if fate had
decided that his friend's personal possessions should fall into
his hands that morning； employ them where he might。 One among the
first objects which he took up was Allan's tobacco jar； with the
stopper missing； and with a letter （which appeared by the bulk of
it to contain inclosures） crumpled into the mouth of the jar in
the stopper's place。
〃Did you know that you had put this here？〃 he asked。 〃Is the
letter of any importance？〃
Allan recognized it instantly。 It was the first of the little
series of letters which had followed the cruising party to the
Isle of Manthe letter which young Armadale had briefly referred
to as bringing him 〃more worries from those everlasting lawyers；〃
and had then dismissed from further notice as recklessly as
usual。
〃This is what comes of being particularly careful；〃 said Allan；
〃here is an instance of my extreme thoughtfulness。 You may not
think it but I put the letter there on purpose。 Every time I went
to the jar； you know； I was sure to see the letter； and every
time I saw the letter； I was sure to say to myself； 'This must be
answered。' There's nothing to laugh at； it was a perfectly
sensible arrangement； if I could only have remembered where I put
the jar。 Suppose I tie a knot in my pocket…handkerchief this
time？ You have a wonderful memory； my dear fellow。 Perhaps you'll
remind me in the course of the day； in case I forget the knot
next。〃
Midwinter saw his first chance； since Mr。 Brock's departure； of
usefully filling Mr。 Brock's place。
〃Here is your writing…case；〃 he said； 〃why not answer the letter
at once？ If you put it away again； you may forget it again。〃
〃Very true；〃 returned Allan。 〃But the worst of it is； I can't
quite make up my mind what answer to write。 I want a word of
advice。 Come and sit down here； and I'll tell you all about it。〃
With his loud boyish laughechoed by Midwinter； who caught the
infection of his gayetyhe swept a heap of miscellaneous
incumbrances off the cabin sofa； and made room for his friend and
himself to take their places。 In the high flow of youthful
spirits； the two sat down to their trifling consultation over a
letter lost in a tobacco jar。 It was a memorable moment to both
of them； lightly as they thought of it at the time。 Before they
had risen again from their places； they had taken the first
irrevocable step together on the dark and tortuous road of their
future lives。
Reduced to plain facts； the question on which Allan now required
his friend's advice may be stated as follows：
While the various arrangements connected with the succession to
Thorpe Ambrose were in progress of settlement； and while the new
possessor of the estate was still in London； a question had
necessarily arisen relating to the person who should be appointed
to manage the property。 The steward employed by the Blanchard
family had written； without loss of time； to offer his services。
Although a perfectly competent and trustworthy man； he failed to
find favor in the eyes of the new proprietor。 Acting； as usual；
on his first impulses； and resolved； at all hazards； to install
Midwinter as a permanent inmate at Thorpe Ambrose； Allan had
determined that the steward's place was the place exactly fitted
for his friend； for the simple reason that it would necessarily
oblige his friend to live with him on the estate。 He had
accordingly written to decline the proposal made to him without
consulting Mr。 Brock； whose disapproval he had good reason to
fear； and without telling Midwinter； who would probably （if a
chance were allowed him of choosing） have declined taking a
situation which his previous training had by no means fitted him
to fill。
Further correspondence had followed this decision； and had raised
two new difficulties which looked a little embarrassing on the
face of them； but which Allan； with the assistance of his lawyer；
easily contrived to solve。 The first difficulty； of examining the
outgoing steward's books； was settled by sending a professional
accountant to Thorpe Ambrose； and the second difficulty； of
putting the steward's empty cottage to some profitable use
（Allan's plans for his friend comprehending Midwinter's residence
under his own roof）； was met by placing the cottage on the list
of an active house agent in the neighboring county town。 In this
state the arrangements had been left when Allan quitted London。
He had heard and thought nothing more of the matter； until a
letter from his lawyers had followed him to the Isle of Man；
inclosing two proposals to occupy the cottage； both received on
the same day； and requesting to hear； at his earliest
convenience； which of the two he was prepared to accept。
Finding himself； after having conveniently forgotten the subject
for some days past； placed face to face once more with the
necessity for decision； Allan now put the two proposals into his
friend's hands； and； after a rambling explanation of the
circumstances of the case； requested to be favored with a word of
advice。 Instead of examining the proposals； Midwinter
unceremoniously put them aside； and asked the two very natural
and very awkward questions of who the new steward was to be； and
why he was to live in Allan's house？
〃I'll tell you who； and I'll tell you why； when we get to Thorpe
Ambrose；〃 said Allan。 〃In the meantime we'll call the steward X。
Y。 Z。； and we'll say he lives with me； because I'm devilish
sharp； and I mean to keep him under my own eye。 You needn't look
surprised。 I know the man thoroughly well； he requires a good
deal of management。 If I offered him the steward's place
beforehand； his modesty would get in his way； and he would say
'No。' If I pitch him into it neck and crop； without a word of
warning and with nobody at hand to relieve him of the situation；
he'll have nothing for it but to consult my interests； and say
'Yes。' X。 Y。 Z。 is not at all a bad fellow； I can tell you。
You'll see him when we go to Thorpe Ambrose； and I rather think
you and he will get on uncommonly well together。〃
The humorous twinkle in Allan's eye； the sly significance in
Allan's voice； would have betrayed his secret to a prosperous
man。 Midwinter was as far from suspecting it as the carpenters
who were at work above them on the deck of the yacht。
〃Is there no steward now on the estate？〃 he asked； his face
showing plainly that he was far from feeling satisfied with
Allan's answer。 〃Is the business neglected all this time？〃
〃Nothing of the sort！〃 returned Allan。 〃The business is going
with 'a wet sheet and a flowing sea； and a wind that follows
free。' I'm not joking； I'm only metaphorical。 A regular
accountant has poked his nose into the books； and a steady…going
lawyer's clerk attends at the office once a week。 That doesn't
look like neglect； does it？ Leave the new steward alone for the
present； and just tell me which of those two tenants you would
take； if you were in my place。〃
Midwinter opened the proposals； and read them attentively。
The first proposal was from no less a person than the solicitor
at Thorpe Ambrose； who had first informed Allan at Paris of the
large fortune that had fallen into his hands。 This gentleman
wrote personally to say that he had long admired the cottage；
which was charmingly situated within the limits of the Thorpe
Ambrose grounds。 He was a bachelor； of studious habits； desirous
of retiring to a country seclusion after the wear and tear of his
business hours； and he ventured to say that Mr。 Armadale； in
accepting him as a tenant； might count on securing an unobtrusive
neighbor； and on putting the cottage into responsible and careful
hands。
The second proposal came through the house agent； and proceeded
from a total stranger。 The tenant who offered for the cottage； in
this case； was a retired officer in the armyone Major Milroy。
His family merely consisted of an invalid wife and an only
childa young lady。 His references were unexceptionable； and he；
too； was especially anxious to secure the cottage； as the perfect
qui et of the situation was exactly what was required by Mrs。
Milroy in her feeble state of health。
〃Well； which profession shall I favor？〃 asked Allan。 〃The army or
the law？〃
〃There seems to me to be no doubt about it；〃 said Midwinter。 〃The
lawyer has been already in correspondence with you； and the
lawyer's claim is； therefore； the claim to be preferred。〃 〃I knew
you would say that。 In all the thousands of times I have asked
other people for advice； I never yet got the advice I wanted。
Here's this business of letting the cottage as an instance。 I'm
all on the other side myself。 I want to have the major。〃
〃Why？〃
Young Armadale laid his forefinger on that part of the agent's
letter which enumerated Major Milroy's family； and which
contained the three words〃a young lady。〃
〃A bachelor of studious habits walking ab