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you would have attributed it entirely to the music！
〃No！ you may take my word for it； the harm is done。 _This_ man is
no rattle…pated fool； who changes his fancies as readily as he
changes his clothes。 The fire that lights those big black eyes of
his is not an easy fire； when a woman has once kindled it； for
that woman to put out。 I don't wish to discourage you； I don't
say the changes are against us。 But with Mrs。 Milroy threatening
me on one side； and Mr。 Midwinter on the other； the worst of all
risks to run is the risk of losing time。 Young Armadale has
hinted already； as well as such a lout can hint； at a private
interview！ Miss Milroy's eyes are sharp； and the nurse's eyes are
sharper； and I shall lose my place if either of them find me out。
No matter！ I must take my chance； and give him the interview。
Only let me get him alone； only let me escape the prying eyes of
the women； andif his friend doesn't come between usI answer
for the result！
〃In the meantime； have I anything more to tell you？ Are there any
other people in our way at Thorpe Ambrose？ Not another creature！
None of the resident families call here； young Armadale being；
most fortunately； in bad odor in the neighborhood。 There are no
handsome highly…bred women to come to the house； and no persons
of consequence to protest against his attentions to a governess。
The only guests he could collect at his party to…night were the
lawyer and his family （a wife； a son； and two daughters）； and a
deaf old woman and _her_ sonall perfectly unimportant people；
and all obedient humble servants of the stupid young squire。
〃Talking of obedient humble servants； there is one other person
established here； who is employed in the steward's officea
miserable； shabby； dilapidated old man； named Bashwood。 He is a
perfect stranger to me； and I am evidently a perfect stranger to
him； for he has been asking the house…maid at the cottage who I
am。 It is paying no great compliment to myself to confess it； but
it is not the less true that I produced the most extraordinary
impression on this feeble old creature the first time he saw me。
He turned all manner of colors； and stood trembling and staring
at me； as if there was something perfectly frightful in my face。
I felt quite startled for the moment； for； of all the ways in
which men have looked at me； no man ever looked at me in that way
before。 Did you ever see the boa constrictor fed at the
Zoological Gardens？ They put a live rabbit into his cage； and
there is a moment when the two creatures look at each other。 I
declare Mr。 Bashwood reminded me of the rabbit。
〃Why do I mention this？ I don't know why。 Perhaps I have been
writing too long； and my head is beginning to fail me。 Perhaps
Mr。 Bashwood's manner of admiring me strikes my fancy by its
novelty。 Absurd！ I am exciting myself； and troubling you about
nothing。 Oh； what a weary； long letter I have written！ and how
brightly the stars look at me through the window； and how awfully
quiet the night is！ Send me some more of those sleeping drops；
and write me one of your nice； wicked； amusing letters。 You shall
hear from me again as soon as I know a little better how it is
all likely to end。 Good…night； and keep a corner in your stony
old heart for
L。 G。〃
3。 _From Mrs。 Oldershaw to Miss Gwilt。_
〃Diana Street； Pimlico； Monday。
〃MY DEAR LYDIAI am in no state of mind to write you an amusing
letter。 Your news is very discouraging； and the recklessness of
your tone quite alarms me。 Consider the money I have already
advanced； and the interests we both have at stake。 Whatever else
you are； don't be reckless； for Heaven's sake！
〃What can I do？ I ask myself； as a woman of business； what can I
do to help you？ I can't give you advice； for I am not on the
spot； and I don't know how circumstances may alter from one day
to another。 Situated as we are now； I can only be useful in one
way。 I can discover a new obstacle that threatens you； and I
think I can remove it。
〃You say； with great truth； that there never was a prospect yet
without an ugly place in it； and that there are two ugly places
in your prospect。 My dear； there may be _three_ ugly places； if I
don't bestir myself to prevent it； and the name of the third
place will beBrock！ Is it possible you can refer； as you have
done； to the Somersetshire clergyman； and not see that the
progress you make with young Armadale will be； sooner or later；
reported to him by young Armadale's friend？ Why； now I think of
it； you are doubly at the parson's mercy！ You are at the mercy of
any fresh suspicion which may bring him into the neighborhood
himself at a day's notice； and you are at the mercy of his
interference the moment he hears that the squire is committing
himself with a neighbor's governess。 If I can do nothing else； I
can keep this additional difficulty out of your way。 And oh；
Lydia； with what alacrity I shall exert myself； after the manner
in which the old wretch insulted me when I told him that pitiable
story in the street！ I declare I tingle with pleasure at this new
prospect of making a fool of Mr。 Brock。
〃And how is it to be done？ Just as we have done it already； to be
sure。 He has lost 'Miss Gwilt' （otherwise my house…maid）； hasn't
he？ Very well。 He shall find her again； wherever he is now；
suddenly settled within easy reach of him。 As long as _she_ stops
in the place； _he_ will stop in it； and as we know he is not at
Thorpe Ambrose； there you are free of him！ The old gentleman's
suspicions have given us a great deal of trouble so far。 Let us
turn them to some profitable account at last； let us tie him； by
his suspicions； to my house…maid's apron…string。 Most refreshing。
Quite a moral retribution； isn't it？
〃The only help I need trouble you for is help you can easily
give。 Find out from Mr。 Midwinter where the parson is now； and
let me know by return of post。 If he is in London； I will
personally assist my housemaid in the necessary mystification of
him。 If he is anywhere else； I will send her after him；
accompanied by a person on whose discretion I can implicitly
rely。
〃You shall have the sleeping drops to…morrow。 In the meantime； I
say at the end what I said at the beginningno recklessness。
Don't encourage poetical feelings by looking at the stars； and
don't talk about the night being awfully quiet。 There are people
（in observatories） paid to look at the stars for you； leave it to
them。 And as for the night； do what Providence intended you to do
with the night when Providence provided you with eyelidsgo to
sleep in it。 Affectionately yours；
〃MARIA OLDERSHAW。〃
4。 _From the Reverend Decimus Brock to Ozias Midwinter。_
〃Bascombe Rectory； West Somerset； Thursday； July 8。
〃MY DEAR MIDWINTEROne line before the post goes out； to relieve
you of all sense of responsibility at Thorpe Ambrose； and to make
my apologies to the lady who lives as governess in Major Milroy's
family。
〃_The_ Miss Gwiltor perhaps I ought to say； the woman calling
herself by that namehas； to my unspeakable astonishment； openly
made her appearance here； in my own parish！ She is staying at the
i nn； accompanied by a plausible…looking man； who passes as her
brother。 What this audacious proceeding really meansunless it
marks a new step in the conspiracy against Allan； taken under new
adviceis； of course； more than I can yet find out。
〃My own idea is； that they have recognized the impossibility of
getting at Allan； without finding me （or you） as an obstacle in
their way； and that they are going to make a virtue of necessity
by boldly trying to open their communications through me。 The man
looks capable of any stretch of audacity； and both he and the
woman had the impudence to bow when I met them in the village
half an hour since。 They have been making inquiries already about
Allan's mother here； where her exemplary life may set their
closest scrutiny at defiance。 If they will only attempt to extort
money； as the price of the woman's silence on the subject of poor
Mrs。 Armadale's conduct in Madeira at the time of her marriage；
they will find me well prepared for them beforehand。 I have
written by this post to my lawyers to send a competent man to
assist me； and he will stay at the rectory； in any character
which he thinks it safest to assume under present circumstances。
〃You shall hear what happens in the next day or two。
〃Always truly yours； DECIMUS BROCK。〃
CHAPTER XII。
THE CLOUDING OF THE SKY。
NINE days had passed； and the tenth day was nearly at an end；
since Miss Gwilt and her pupil had taken their morning walk in
the cottage garden。
The night was overcast。 Since sunset； there had been signs in the
sky from which the popular forecast had predicted rain。 The
reception…rooms at the great house were all empty and dark。 Allan
was away； passing the evening with the Milroys； and Midwinter was
waiting his returnnot where Midwinter usually waited； among the
books in the library； but in the little back room which Allan's
mother had inhabited in the last days of her residence at Thorpe
Ambrose。
Nothing had been taken away； but much had been added to the room；
since Midwinter had first seen it。 The books wh