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knows how that hope has ended； for she knows what I told her
husband this morning。〃
The frown which had been gathering latterly on Mr。 Neal's face
deepened and darkened。 He looked at the doctor as if the doctor
had personally offended him。
〃The more I think of the position you are asking me to take；〃 he
said； 〃the less I like it。 Can you undertake to say positively
that Mr。 Armadale is in his right mind？〃
〃Yes； as positively as words can say it。〃
〃Does his wife sanction your coming here to request my
interference？〃
〃His wife sends me to youthe only Englishman in Wildbadto
write for your dying countryman what he cannot write for himself；
and what no one else in this place but you can write for him。〃
That answer drove Mr。 Neal back to the last inch of ground left
him to stand on。 Even on that inch the Scotchman resisted still。
〃Wait a little！〃 he said。 〃You put it strongly； let us be quite
sure you put it correctly as well。 Let us be quite sure there is
nobody to take this responsibility but myself。 There is a mayor
in Wildbad； to begin witha man who possesses an official
character to justify his interference。〃
〃A man of a thousand；〃 said the doctor。 〃With one faulthe knows
no language but his own。〃
〃There is an English legation at Stuttgart；〃 persisted Mr。 Neal。
〃And there are miles on miles of the forest between this and
Stuttgart；〃 rejoined the doctor。 〃If we sent this moment； we
could get no help from the legation before to…morrow； and it is
as likely as not； in the state of this dying man's articulation；
that to…morrow may find him speechless。 I don't know whether his
last wishes are wishes harmless to his child and to others；
wishes hurtful to his child and to others； but I _do_ know that
they must be fulfilled at once or never； and that you are the
only man that can help him。〃
That open declaration brought the discussion to a close。 It fixed
Mr。 Neal fast between the two alternatives of saying Yes； and
committing an act of imprudence； or of saying No； and committing
an act of inhumanity。 There was a silence of some minutes。 The
Scotchman steadily reflected； and the German steadily watched
him。
The responsibility of saying the next words rested on Mr。 Neal；
and in course of time Mr。 Neal took it。 He rose from his chair
with a sullen sense of injury lowering on his heavy eyebrows； and
working sourly in the lines at the corners of his mouth。
〃My position is forced on me；〃 he said。 〃I have no choice but to
accept it。〃
The doctor's impulsive nature rose in revolt against the
merciless brevity and gracelessness of that reply。 〃I wish to
God；〃 he broke out fervently； 〃I knew English enough to take your
place at Mr。 Armadale's bedside！〃
〃Bating your taking the name of the Almighty in vain；〃 answered
the Scotchman； 〃I entirely agree with you。 I wish you did。〃
Without another word on either side； they left the room
togetherthe doctor leading the way。
CHAPTER III。
THE WRECK OF THE TIMBER SHIP。
NO one answered the doctor's knock when he and his companion
reached the antechamber door of Mr。 Armadale's apartments。 They
entered unannounced； and when they looked into the sitting…room；
the sitting…room was empty。
〃I must see Mrs。 Armadale；〃 said Mr。 Neal。 〃I decline acting in
the matter unless Mrs。 Armadale authorizes my interference with
her own lips。〃
〃Mrs。 Armadale is probably with her husband；〃 replied the doctor。
He approached a door at the inner end of the sitting…room while
he spokehesitatedand； turning round again； looked at his sour
companion anxiously。 〃I am afraid I spoke a little harshly； sir；
when we were leaving your room；〃 he said。 〃I beg your pardon for
it； with all my heart。 Before this poor afflicted lady comes in；
will youwill you excuse my asking your utmost gentleness and
consideration for her？〃
〃No； sir；〃 retorted the other harshly； 〃I won't excuse you。 What
right have I given you to think me wanting in gentleness and
consideration toward anybody？〃
The doctor saw it was useless。 〃I beg your pardon again；〃 he
said； resignedly； and left the unapproachable stranger to
himself。
Mr。 Neal walked to the window； and stood there； with his eyes
mechanically fixed on the prospect； composing his mind for the
coming interview。
It was midday； the sun shone bright and warm； and all the little
world of Wildbad was alive and merry in the genial springtime。
Now and again heavy wagons； with black…faced carters in charge；
rolled by the window； bearing their precious lading of charcoal
from the forest。 Now and again； hurled over the headlong current
of the stream that runs through the town； great lengths of
timber； loosely strung together in interminable serieswith the
booted raftsmen； pole in hand； poised watchful at either
endshot swift and serpent…like past the houses on their course
to the distant Rhine。 High and steep above the gabled wooden
buildings on the river…bank； the great hillsides； crested black
with firs； shone to the shining heavens in a glory of lustrous
green。 In and out； where the forest foot…paths wound from the
grass through the trees； from the trees over the grass； the
bright spring dresses of women and children； on the search for
wild flowers； traveled to and fro in the lofty distance like
spots of moving light。 Below； on the walk by the stream side； the
booths of the little bazar that had opened punctually with the
opening season showed all their glittering trinkets； and
fluttered in the balmy air their splendor of m any…colored flags。
Longingly； here the children looked at the show； patiently the
sunburned lasses plied their knitting as they paced the walk；
courteously the passing townspeople； by fours and fives； and the
passing visitors； by ones and twos； greeted each other； hat in
hand； and slowly； slowly； the cripple and the helpless in their
chairs on wheels came out in the cheerful noontide with the rest；
and took their share of the blessed light that cheers； of the
blessed sun that shines for all。
On this scene the Scotchman looked； with eyes that never noted
its beauty； with a mind far away from every lesson that it
taught。 One by one he meditated the words he should say when the
wife came in。 One by one he pondered over the conditions he might
impose before he took the pen in hand at the husband's bedside。
〃Mrs。 Armadale is here；〃 said the doctor's voice； interposing
suddenly between his reflections and himself。
He turned on the instant； and saw before him； with the pure
midday light shining full on her； a woman of the mixed blood of
the European and the African race； with the Northern delicacy in
the shape of her face； and the Southern richness in its colora
woman in the prime of her beauty； who moved with an inbred grace；
who looked with an inbred fascination； whose large； languid black
eyes rested on him gratefully； whose little dusky hand offered
itself to him in mute expression of her thanks； with the welcome
that is given to the coming of a friend。 For the first time in
his life the Scotchman was taken by surprise。 Every
self…preservative word that he had been meditating but an instant
since dropped out of his memory。 His thrice impenetrable armor of
habitual suspicion； habitual self…discipline； and habitual
reserve； which had never fallen from him in a woman's presence
before； fell from him in this woman's presence； and brought him
to his knees； a conquered man。 He took the hand she offered him；
and bowed over it his first honest homage to the sex； in silence。
She hesitated on her side。 The quick feminine perception which；
in happier circumstances； would have pounced on the secret of his
embarrassment in an instant； failed her now。 She attributed his
strange reception of her to pride； to reluctanceto any cause
but the unexpected revelation of her own beauty。 〃I have no words
to thank you；〃 she said； faintly； trying to propitiate him。 〃I
should only distress you if I tried to speak。〃 Her lip began to
tremble； she drew back a little； and turned away her head in
silence。
The doctor； who had been standing apart； quietly observant in a
corner； advanced before Mr。 Neal could interfere； and led Mrs。
Armadale to a chair。 〃Don't be afraid of him；〃 whispered the good
man； patting her gently on the shoulder。 〃He was hard as iron in
my hands； but I think； by the look of him； he will be soft as wax
in yours。 Say the words I told you to say； and let us take him to
your husband's room； before those sharp wits of his have time to
recover themselves。〃
She roused her sinking resolution； and advanced half…way to the
window to meet Mr。 Neal。 〃My kind friend； the doctor； has told
me； sir； that your only hesitation in coming here is a hesitation
on my account；〃 she said； her head drooping a little； and her
rich color fading away while she spoke。 〃I am deeply grateful；
but I entreat you not to think of _me。_ What my husband wishes〃
Her voice faltered； she waited resolutely； and recovered herself。
〃What my husband wishes in his last moments； I wish too。〃
This time Mr。 Neal was composed enough to answer her。 In low；
earnest tones； he entreated her to say no more。 〃I was only
anxious to show you every consideration；〃