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Part the Second。
THE MARCH OF TIME。
V。
ADVANCING from time past to time present； the Prologue leaves the
date last attained （the summer of eighteen hundred and
fifty…five）； and travels on through an interval of twelve
yearstells who lived； who died； who prospered； and who failed
among the persons concerned in the tragedy at the Hampstead
villaand； this done； leaves the reader at the opening of THE
STORY in the spring of eighteen hundred and sixty…eight。
The record begins with a marriagethe marriage of Mr。 Vanborough
and Lady Jane Parnell。
In three months from the memorable day when his solicitor had
informed him that he was a free man； Mr。 Vanborough possessed the
wife he desired； to grace the head of his table and to push his
fortunes in the worldthe Legislature of Great Britain being the
humble servant of his treachery； and the respectable accomplice
of his crime。
He entered Parliament。 He gave （thanks to his wife） six of the
grandest dinners； and two of the most crowded balls of the
season。 He made a successful first speech in the House of
Commons。 He endowed a church in a poor neighborhood。 He wrote an
article which attracted attention in a quarterly review。 He
discovered； denounced； and remedied a crying abuse in the
administration of a public charity。 He r eceived （thanks once
more to his wife） a member of the Royal family among the visitors
at his country house in the autumn recess。 These were his
triumphs； and this his rate of progress on the way to the
peerage； during the first year of his life as the husband of Lady
Jane。
There was but one more favor that Fortune could confer on her
spoiled childand Fortune bestowed it。 There was a spot on Mr。
Vanborough's past life as long as the woman lived whom he had
disowned and deserted。 At the end of the first year Death took
herand the spot was rubbed out。
She had met the merciless injury inflicted on her with a rare
patience； with an admirable courage。 It is due to Mr。 Vanborough
to admit that he broke her heart； with the strictest attention to
propriety。 He offered （through his lawyer ） a handsome provision
for her and for her child。 It was rejected； without an instant's
hesitation。 She repudiated his moneyshe repudiated his name。 By
the name which she had borne in her maiden daysthe name which
she had made illustrious in her Artthe mother and daughter were
known to all who cared to inquire after them when they had sunk
in the world。
There was no false pride in the resolute attitude which she thus
assumed after her husband had forsaken her。 Mrs。 Silvester （as
she was now called） gratefully accepted for herself； and for Miss
Silvester； the assistance of the dear old friend who had found
her again in her affliction； and who remained faithful to her to
the end。 They lived with Lady Lundie until the mother was strong
enough to carry out the plan of life which she had arranged for
the future； and to earn her bread as a teacher of singing。 To all
appearance she rallied； and became herself again； in a few
months' time。 She was making her way； she was winning sympathy；
confidence； and respect every wherewhen she sank suddenly at
the opening of her new life。 Nobody could account for it。 The
doctors themselves were divided in opinion。 Scientifically
speaking； there was no reason why she should die。 It was a mere
figure of speechin no degree satisfactory to any reasonable
mindto say； as Lady Lundie said； that she had got her
death…blow on the day when her husband deserted her。 The one
thing certain was the factaccount for it as you might。 In spite
of science （which meant little）； in spite of her own courage
（which meant much）； the woman dropped at her post and died。
In the latter part of her illness her mind gave way。 The friend
of her old school…days； sitting at the bedside； heard her talking
as if she thought herself back again in the cabin of the ship。
The poor soul found the tone； almost the look； that had been lost
for so many yearsthe tone of the past time when the two girls
had gone their different ways in the world。 She said； 〃we will
meet； darling； with all the old love between us；〃 just as she had
said almost a lifetime since。 Before the end her mind rallied。
She surprised the doctor and the nurse by begging them gently to
leave the room。 When they had gone she looked at Lady Lundie； and
woke； as it seemed； to consciousness from a dream。
〃Blanche；〃 she said； 〃you will take care of my child？〃
〃She shall be _my_ child； Anne； when you are gone。〃
The dying woman paused； and thought for a little。 A sudden
trembling seized her。
〃Keep it a secret！〃 she said。 〃I am afraid for my child。〃
〃Afraid？ After what I have promised you？〃
She solemnly repeated the words； 〃I am afraid for my child。〃
〃Why？〃
〃My Anne is my second selfisn't she？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃She is as fond of your child as I was of you？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃She is not called by her father's nameshe is called by mine。
She is Anne Silvester as I was。 Blanche！ _Will she end like Me？_〃
The question was put with the laboring breath； with the heavy
accents which tell that death is near。 It chilled the living
woman who heard it to the marrow of her bones。
〃Don't think that！〃 she cried； horror…struck。 〃For God's sake；
don't think that！〃
The wildness began to appear again in Anne Silvester's eyes。 She
made feebly impatient signs with her hands。 Lady Lundie bent over
her； and heard her whisper； 〃Lift me up。〃
She lay in her friend's arms； she looked up in her friend's face；
she went back wildly to her fear for her child。
〃Don't bring her up like Me！ She must be a governessshe must
get her bread。 Don't let her act！ don't let her sing！ don't let
her go on the stage！〃 She stoppedher voice suddenly recovered
its sweetness of toneshe smiled faintlyshe said the old
girlish words once more； in the old girlish way； 〃Vow it；
Blanche！〃 Lady Lundie kissed her； and answered； as she had
answered when they parted in the ship； 〃I vow it； Anne！〃
The head sank； never to be lifted more。 The last look of life
flickered in the filmy eyes and went out。 For a moment afterward
her lips moved。 Lady Lundie put her ear close to them； and heard
the dreadful question reiterated； in the same dreadful words：
〃She is Anne Silvesteras I was。 _Will she end like Me？_〃
VI。
Five years passedand the lives of the three men who had sat at
the dinner…table in the Hampstead villa began； in their altered
aspects； to reveal the progress of time and change。
Mr。 Kendrew； Mr。 Delamayn； Mr。 Vanborough。 Let the order in which
they are here named be the order in which their lives are
reviewed； as seen once more after a lapse of five years。
How the husband's friend marked his sense of the husband's
treachery has been told already。 How he felt the death of the
deserted wife is still left to tell。 Report； which sees the
inmost hearts of men； and delights in turning them outward to the
public view； had always declared that Mr。 Kendrew's life had its
secret； and that the secret was a hopeless passion for the
beautiful woman who had married his friend。 Not a hint ever
dropped to any living soul； not a word ever spoken to the woman
herself； could be produced in proof of the assertion while the
woman lived。 When she died Report started up again more
confidently than ever； and appealed to the man's own conduct as
proof against the man himself。
He attended the funeralthough he was no relation。 He took a few
blades of grass from the turf with which they covered her
gravewhen he thought that nobody was looking at him。 He
disappeared from his club。 He traveled。 He came back。 He admitted
that he was weary of England。 He applied for； and obtained； an
appointment in one of the colonies。 To what conclusion did all
this point？ Was it not plain that his usual course of life had
lost its attraction for him； when the object of his infatuation
had ceased to exist？ It might have been soguesses less likely
have been made at the truth； and have hit the mark。 It is； at any
rate； certain that he left England； never to return again。
Another man lost； Report said。 Add to that； a man in