WI LKI E CO LLI NS

T HE

W O M AN IN W HI T E

L I B R A RY E D I T I O N

WI T H A P O R TRAI T

LO N D O N

C H AT T O c? W I N D! S
 B RY A N WA L L E R P R O C T E R
’

F ROM ON E OF HIS YO U N G E R B R E T H R E N I N L I T ERAT U R E

I V H O S I N C ER ELY V ALU ES H I S F R I E N D S H I P

AN D G RA T E F U LL Y R E M E M B ER S

M A N Y I I A P P Y H O U R S S P E N T I N H I S H O U SE
 P REF AC E

T HE W O M A N m W H I T E h as been r ec ei ved with su c h

'

fa v o u r by a very la rge c i r cl e o f rea de rs t ha t th i s ,

scar c ely sta n ds in ne ed o f a n y pr efa to ry i n trod u ctio n

art Al l th a t i t i s n e ce s sary fo r me to sa y ma y be
p .

rds .

by c rrr ec t io n a nd re v i sio n to
a e ful co ,

ld o f a c o n ti n uanc e o f th e
wh ic h h a d esca ped
was w ri ti n g th e bo o k are h e re rect i fi ed N o ne o f .

bl em is h es in th e sl ig h t es t d eg ree in te rfe red wi th

t o f th e n arrativ e— bu t i t wa s as w e ll to r em o ve
o f re spec t to m y re a d e rs

m d in this e di tio n acco rd ingl y th ey e xi st no m o re

, , .

So m e do u bts ha vin g bee n e x p resse d i n ce rta i n ca p tio ns ,

‘
l ua rters a bo u t th e c o rre t p r esen ta ti on o f th e le ga l
,
c
p oi nt s
n cidentaJ to th e st o ry I ma y be p e rmi tted to men ti o n th at
,

l s p a r ed n o pai ns—i n t h is i nsta nc e a s in a ll ot he rs— to p re

.

se rve myse lf fro m un in te n ti o na ll y mis l eading my rea d e rs A .

so li ci to r o f gre at ex pe ri e nce in hi s p ro fes s i o n m o s t k in d ly a n d

zareful ly gu i ded my ste ps w h en eve r the c o u rse o f th e n a rra

,

i v e led m e i n t o the laby ri n th o f th e La w Every d o u btfu l .

l u e st io n w as s ub mi tt ed to t hi s ge n tle ma n be fo re I v e n tu r ed
,

m p utti ng pen to p a pe r ; a nd a ll th e p roo f sh ee ts w hich re -

"
e rred to le gal matt e rs w e re co rre cted by his h an d be fo re the
sto ry was pu bli sh ed [ ca n a dd o n hi gh j u di cia l au th o rity
.
, ,

that th e se p re ca utio n s w e re no t take n i n v a in T h e la w in .

th i s b oo k h a s bee n d i sc u s se d sin ce its pu blic a tio n b y mo re

, ,

th an o n e co mpe ten t tri b u n al a nd h as be e n de ci ded to be

,

so u n d.

O n e wo rd mo re be fo re I con cl ud e in ac kn owl ed gm e n t o f
, ,

th e he a v y deb t o f grati tud e whi ch I o w e to th e readin g p ub li c .

ix 3
 P REF AC E

T HE W O M A N I N W H IT E has be e n received with su ch

marke d favou r by a ve ry large ci rcle of reade rs that thi s ,

volume scarcely stand s in ne ed O f any prefato ry i n troducti o n

o n my part . Al l that i t is n ece s sa ry fo r me to say may b e
sum me d u p in a few wo rds .

I have e n deavou red by careful co rrecti on a n d re vi si on to

, ,

make my sto ry a s wo rthy as I could of a con ti nuan ce of th e

publi c approval . Ce rtai n te ch n ical e rro rs which h ad escape d
me whil e I w a s w ritin g th e b oo k are he re re ctified N on e of .

the se l ittle ble mi she s in the s lighte st degree i nte rfe red with
the i nte res t of the n arrative — b u t i t was as wel l t o re mov e
the m at th e fi rst O ppo rtu nity ou t O f re spect to m y reade rs
,

a nd in thi s edition , acco rdin gly th ey exi st n o m o re

, .

S ome doubts havi n g be e n exp re sse d in ce rtai n c a p tio n s ,

‘
q u arte rs abou t th e co rre ct pre se ntati o n of th e le gal points
,

in ci de n tal to the sto ry I may be pe rmitte d to me n tio n th at

,

I s pare d n o pain s — in thi s i n stan ce as in all othe rs — to p re

,

se rve myse lf fro m u ninte n tion ally misleadin g my reade rs A .

solicito r of great expe ri en ce in h is p rofe ssi on mos t ki ndly an d

carefully guided my ste ps when eve r the cou rse o f the n arra
,

tive l ed m e i nto the labyri nth o f the Law Eve ry d oubtfu l .

questi on was su bmitte d to thi s gentle man befo re I ven tu red ,

o n pu ttin g p en to pape r ; a n d all th e pro of sheets whi ch t e -

fe rred to legal matte rs we re co rre cted by hi s han d befo re th e

sto ry was pu blished I can add o n hi gh j udicial auth ority
.
, ,

that the se p recauti on s we re n ot take n in vain Th e l aw in .

thi s bo ok h as bee n discu sse d sin ce its publicati on by m o re

, ,

than o n e compe te n t tribunal an d has be e n decided to be

,

sound .

O n e word mo re before I conclude in ackn owledgmen t o f

, ,

the he avy debt of gratitude w h ich I owe to th e readin g pub l i c .

ix a
 T H E W O MAN I N W H I T E

I t i s n o affe ctation o n my part to say that th e su cces s o f

thi s b ook h as been e spe ci a ll y w e lcome to me b ecau se i t im ,

p lied the recognition o f a lite rary prin cip l e whi ch has guide d
m e si nce I fi rst add re s sed my reade rs in the charac te r of a
n ovel ist .

I h ave al w ays held the O ld fashi on e d O pi nion that th e -

primary O bj ect of a wo rk O f ficti on sh ou l d b e to tell a story ;

a n d I h ave neve r believe d th at the n oveli st who p rope rly pe r

formed thi s fi rs t condi tion O f hi s art was in dange r o n , ,

th at account O f n egle cting the de l in eati on of characte r— for

,

thi s plai n reason th at the e ff ect produ ce d by any narrative O f

,

eve n ts i s essentia ll y depe n den t n o t o n the eve nts the mselves , ,

but o n the hu man i nte re st which i s di rectl y con ne cted with

the m . I t may be pos sib l e i n n ovel w riting to p rese nt ,
-
,

ch aracte rs su cce ssful l y with ou t te l l in g a story ; b ut it is n ot

p ossible to tell a sto ry su cce s sfully wi th out p re sentin g charac
te rs thei r existe n ce as recogni sab le reali ti es bei n g the sol e
, ,

con diti on o n which th e sto ry c a n be e ff e ctively told Th e .

o nly n arrative w hi ch c a n h ope to lay a strong hold o n the

atten ti on of reade rs i s a n arrative whi ch i n te res ts th em about
,

m en a n d —
wome n for th e pe rfe ctl y O bvi ou s re aso n that they
are m en a n d wo men th emse lves .

‘
Th e recepti o n accorded to Th e Woman in Whi te h as ’

p racti cally c onfi rme d thes e opini on s a n d h as sati sfied m e th at ,

I m ay t rus t to th e m in the futu re H e re is a n ovel whi ch h a s .

met with a ve ry ki nd rece pti on b ecau se i t is a S to ry ; a n d ,

he re i s a sto ry the i nte re st of whi ch — as I kn ow by th e te sti

,

mony v olun tari l y ad dressed to m e of the reade rs the m selve s

, ,

— is never di scon n e cted from the i nte rest of ch aracte r .

‘
Lau ra M iss H al co mbe a n d Ann e C a th eric k
,
’
Cou nt
,
’

F o sco , M r Fai rlie a n d Walte r H a rtrigh t

’
.
,
’
have made
friends fo r me whe reve r they have made th emselve s kn own .

I h op e th e ti me i s n o t far di stant wh en I may me et th os e

frie nds again and wh en I m ay try th rough the medium o f
, ,

n ew characte rs to awake n thei r i n terest in anothe r story

,
.

H A R L EY S T REE T , L O N D O N
F ebr ua ry 1 86 1 .
 C O N T EN T S

T H E F I R ST E PO C H
P AG E

TH E S TO RY B E U N G BY WA LT ER H A R T R I G HT , OF CL E M E N T ’
S

I N N, T E ACH ER O F D RA W I N G

T H E S TO RY C O N T I N UED BY VI N C E N T G I LMO RE ,
O F C HA N C E RY
L A N E S O LI CITO R
,

T H E S TO RY CO N T I N UED BY M A R I A N HAL C O M B E , I N E XT R A C T S
FROM H ER D I A RY

T H E S E C O N D E PO C H

T H E S TO RY C O N TI N UED BY M A R IA N HALCO M B E

THE S TO RY C O N TI N UED BY F REDER I C K FA I R LI E, ES Q

.
, OF

L I M M ER I D G E HO U S E

T H E S TO RY CO N TI N UED BY '
ELIZ A M I C H E L S O N , H O U S E K EE P ER
AT B LA C K WA T ER P A RK

TH E S TO RY CONTI N UED IN S E V ER A L N A RR A T I VE S
I . T h e N a rra tiv e Of H ester P inh o rn , C o o k in th e Serv ice of

C o unt F o sco . 2 . T he Na rrati v e o f th e D o cto r .

3 Th e
.

N arrativ e o f J a ne G ou d l .
4 . T h e N arra ti v e o f th e T o m b »

t
s o ne .
5 . T h e N arra tiv e o f W al ter H a rtrigh t .

xi
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E

T H E T H I R D E PO C H
P AG E

THE S TO RY CO N TI N UED B Y WA LT ER HAR T R I G HT

THE S TO RY C O N TI N UED B Y M RS . C A T H ER I C K

THE ST O RY CONTIN UED B Y W A LT ER H AR T R I G H T

THE S TO RY CO N TI N UE D BY I S I DO R O TTA V I O B A L D A SSA R E

F O SC O

THE S TO RY C O N CL UDED B Y WA LT ER H AR T R I G HT

X1 1
 T HE WO M AN I N W H I T E

m ost closely co n necte d wi th th em at e ach succe ssive stage , ,

relate thei r o w n expe ri en ce word fo r word ,

.

Let Wal te r H a rtrigh t teache r o f drawin g , aged twen ty

,

eight years h e heard fi rst

,
.

I T wa s

fi
th e las t day o f J uly The lon g h o t su mme r w a s
d rawi n g t o a close an d we the w eary pilgrim s o f th e Londo n
,

p ave me nt we re beginn in g t o th in k o f the cloud shadows o n

,

the c o rn elds an d th e autum n b reeze s o n th e seash ore

m on ey as well
,
,

F o r my o w n p oo r p art th e fadin g summe r left m e o u t o f

,
,

h ealth o u t O f spi rits a n d if th e t ruth mu st b e told o u t o f

,

D u rin g th e past year I h ad n ot man age d my

.

,
.

fi
.

p rofession al resou rce s as carefully as u sual a nd my ex tra v a ,

gance n o w lim ited me t o the p rospect o f spe ndin g the autum n

e cono mically betwee n my m other s cottage at H ampste ad ’

an d my o w n chambe rs in town .

Th e evenin g I remembe r wa s sti ll an d cl oudy

, th e ,

Lon do n ai r w a s at i ts h eavi est th e di stan t hu m o f th e

s treet tra i c w a s at its fainte st ; th e s m al l pul se of th e life
w i thi n m e a n d th e great h eart o f th e city a rou nd m e see med
t o be sin ki ng in u nison langu i dly an d mo re languidly wi th
, ,

th e si n ki ng s u n I roused myself fro m th e boo k which I w a s

.

d reamin g ove r rathe r th an readin g an d left my chambe rs t o ,

me et th e cool night ai r in th e su bu rb s I t was o n e o f th e .

two evenin gs in eve ry wee k wh ich I was accu stom ed to S pen d

w i th my mothe r an d my si ste r S O I tu rn e d my step s n orth .

ward i n th e di recti o n o f H ampstead

,
.

Eve n ts wh ich I h ave ye t to relate make i t n ece ssary t o

mentio n in thi s pl ace th at my fath e r h ad b een d ead som e
years at th e pe ri od o f wh ich I am n ow writin g an d that my
siste r S ara h an d I were th e sol e su rvivo rs O f a family O f five
chi ldren . M y fathe r w a s a d rawi ng maste r before m e His - .

e xe rtion s h ad made hi m highly succe ssful in hi s p rofessi on ,

and h is a ff ection ate an xiety to p rovi de fo r the futu re of tho se

wh o we re depe nden t o n hi s l abou rs h ad impell ed him fro m ,

the time o f hi s m ar riage t o d evote to the i n su ri n g o f hi s l ife

,

a much large r p ortio n of hi s i n come than mo st m en co ns ide r

i t n ecessary to set asi de fo r that pu rp ose Than k s t o hi s .

admi rable p ruden ce a nd self den ial my m othe r an d si ste r -

,

we re left afte r hi s death as i ndep enden t o f th e wo rld as they

, ,

h ad bee n d urin g h i s lifetim e I su ccee ded to hi s con n ecti on

.
,

an d had eve ry reaso n to feel grateful for th e p ro sp ec t th a t

await ed me at my startin g in life .

2
 T H E WO MAN I N W H I T E

T h e quiet twilight w a s still tre mblin g th e top most on

ridge s o f th e H eath an d th e vi ew o f Lon don below m e had
,

sun k i nto a black gulf i n th e shadow O f th e C lou dy n igh t ,

whe n I stood befo re the gate o f my m othe r s cottage I had ’

.

h ardly run g th e bel l befo re th e h ou se doo r was O pene d -

violen tly ; my wo rthy I talian fri en d Profess or Pe sca a p , ,

‘
’

p ea red i n th e se rvan t s place an d d arte d o u t j oyously t o re

,

c eiv e m e with a sh rill fo rei gn parody o n an E n glish chee r

, .

O n hi s o w n accou nt and I mu st b e al lowed t o add o n

, , ,

m in e also th e P rofe sso r me rits th e h on ou r o f a fo rmal i ntro

,

d uctio n . Accide n t h a s mad e hi m th e startin g p oi n t o f th e -

stran ge family sto ry which i t i s the pu rp os e o f the s e pages t o

u nfold .

I had fi rst becom e acqu ai nte d with my I tal ian frie n d by

meetin g hi m at ce rtai n great hou se s whe re h e taugh t h is o w n ,

language a n d I taugh t d rawin g All I the n k n ew of th e.

hi sto ry o f h is life was that he h ad o n ce he ld a situati on in th e

U nive rsity O f Padu a ; that h e had left I taly fo r p olitical
reason s (th e n atu re o f which h e u nifo rmly decli ne d to me ntion
to anyon e ) an d that h e had bee n fo r many years re spectably
establish ed in Lon do n as a te ach e r O f lan guage s .

Wi thou t bei n g actually a dwarf— fo r h e w a s pe rfectl y

well p roportio n ed fro m head to foot — Pe sca was I thin k
-
, ,

th e smallest hu man b ein g I eve r s a w o u t O f a sh ow room - .

R e markabl e anywh e re by hi s p e rs on al appearan ce h e w a s ,

stil l furthe r di stingu ishe d amon g th e ran k an d file o f m a n

kind by th e h armless ecc en tric ity o f h i s C h aracte r Th e
'

ruli n g ide a o f hi s life appeare d to be that h e was bou n d to

show his grati tude to th e cou nt ry which had a ff orde d hi m a n
asylum a nd a mean s o f sub si stence by doin g hi s utmost t o
tu rn him self i nto a n E ngli shman N ot co nten t with payin g .

the natio n in ge ne ral th e complimen t o f i nvari ably carryin g

a n u mbrella an d i nvariably weari ng gaite rs a n d a whi te hat
, ,

the Profes so r fu rthe r aspi red to b ecome an E n gli shm an in hi s

habits and am useme n ts as well as in hi s p ersonal appearan ce
,
.

Finding u s di sti ngui sh ed as a n atio n by o u r love o f athleti c

exe rci se s th e littl e man in th e i nn ocen ce O f hi s heart d evoted
, , ,

fi
hi mself i mpromptu to al l o u r E nglish s ports an d pasti me s
whe nev er h e h ad th e O pportunity o f j oi nin g the m fi rmly ,

pe rsuade d that h e c oul d ad opt o u r n ational amu se me nts o f

the fiel d by an e ff ort o f wi ll p recisely as h e h ad adopted o u r
,

n atio nal gai te rs an d o u r nation al whi te h at .

I h ad see n hi m ri s k hi s limb s bli ndly at a fox hu n t a n d i n -

a c ricket eld an d soo n afte rward s I saw hi m ri sk hi s life ,

-
,

j u st as bli ndly in th e sea at B ri ghto n

, .

3
 T H E W O M AN I N W H I T E

We h ad met th ere acci den tally and were b ath in g toge th e r , .

I f we had bee n e ngage d in any exe rcis e pecu liar to my o w n

n ation I sh ou ld o f cou rs e h ave looked afte r Pesca carefully
, , ,

b ut a s foreign ers are ge n e r al ly quite as well able to take care

o f th em selves i n th e wate r as E n gli sh men i t n eve r occu rred ,

to me that th e art o f swimming m ight me rely add o ne m ore

to the l ist O f m anly exe rci se s which th e Professo r be l i eve d
that h e coul d learn i mp romptu S oon afte r we had both .

s truc k o u t from sho re I stopped fi ndin g my friend did n ot ,

gain o n m e an d tu rn ed rou n d to look fo r hi m

,
To my .
‘

h orro r an d amaze men t I sa w n othing b etwee n me an d th e

beach but two little white arm s which s truggled fo r a n ,

i nstant ab ove the su rface of th e wat er an d th e n di sappeared ,

fro m vi ew Whe n I dived for hi m the p oor l ittle man was lyin g
.

quie tly coiled u p at th e bottom in a hol low of shi ngl e lookin g ,

by m any degree s s malle r than I h ad e ve r se en hi m l oo k before .

D u ri n g the few minu te s that elapsed whi le I w a s takin g hi m

i n th e ai r revive d hi m an d h e ascen ded th e steps O f the
,

m achin e with my a ssistan ce Wi th the partial recove ry o f .

h i s animati on cam e th e re tu rn of hi s wonderfu l delusio n o n

th e subj ect O f swi m min g As soon as h is chatte ri ng teeth
.

would let hi m speak h e s mil ed vacantly a n d sai d h e though t

, ,

i t mu st h ave b ee n th e C ramp .

Whe n h e had th orough ly recovered hi msel f an d h ad j oi ned

me o n the beach h i s warm S outhe rn n ature b roke th rough
,

all artificial E ngl ish restrain ts i n a m o m ent H e ove rwh elmed .

me with th e wildest exp re ssi on s o f a ffection — exclaimed p a s

si o n a tely in hi s exagge rated I talian way
, that h e woul d h ol d ,

h i s l ife h e nceforth at my disposal —4 1 nd declare d that h e

sh oul d n eve r b e h appy a ga n u ntil h e h ad fou n d a n o p p o r
I

t u n ity o f p rovi ng h is grati tude by re nde ri n g me some se rvice

which I migh t re me mbe r on my side to th e en d O f my days
, , .

I did my be st to stop th e torren t of h i s tear s an d p rote sta

ti on s by pe rsi sting i n tre ati ng the wh ole adve ntu re as a good
subj ect fo r a j oke an d succe eded at last a s I i magin ed i n
, , ,
’
les senin g Pesca s ove rwh el ming sen se of obligation to me .

Littl e did I th in k th en — l i ttle d id I thi n k afte rwards wh e n ou r ,

p l easan t h oliday h ad d rawn to a n e n d — that the opp ortuni ty

of serving m e fo r wh ich my gratefu l companion s o arden tly
lon ged was s oo n to c ome that h e was eagerly to seize i t o n
,

the instant an d that by s o doi ng h e was t o tu rn th e wh ole

,

cu rre nt O f my exi ste nce i nto a n ew chan nel an d to al te r m e ,

to m y self al mo st past recogn ition .

Ye t s o i t w a s I f I had n ot dived fo r Profe ssor Pe sca

.

wh en h e l ay u nde r w at er o n h i s shin gl e b ed , I sh ould i n all ,

4
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E

human p robabil ity n eve r h ave bee n c on n ecte d wi th th e story

,

whi ch the s e page s wi ll relate — sh ou ld n eve r perhap s have , ,

heard eve n th e n am e o f the wo man wh o has live d i n all my

thou ghts wh o has p osse sse d h e rself o f al l my e n ergie s wh o
, ,

has become the o n e gu i ding i n fl uence that n ow di rects th e

pu rpo se O f my l ife .

P E S C A S face an d m an n e r o n th e eve nin g whe n we c on fro nted

’
,
’
each o the r at my mothe r s gate we re m ore than su ffi cie n t to ,

i nfo rm me that so methi n g extraordi n a ry h ad happe n ed It .

fi
was quite u se le ss h oweve r to as k hi m fo r a n i mmediate
, ,

explan atio n I cou ld o nly c onj ectu re whi le h e was d rag gin g
.
,

me in by b oth h ands that ( kn owing my habits ) h e had come

,

to th e cottage to make su re of meetin g m e that n igh t an d ,

that h e h ad s om e n ews to tel l o f a n u nu su ally agree abl e kind .

We both bou n ce d i nto th e parl ou r in a highly ab rup t a nd

u ndign i ed m an n e r M y mothe r sa t by th e O pe n win dow
.
,

laughing a n d fan ni n he rself Pesca was o n e o f he r e special

g
.

favou rite s an d h is wi ldest ecce ntriciti e s we re always pardon

,

abl e i n h e r eye s Poo r d ear sou l ! fro m the fi rst moment

.

whe n sh e fou nd o u t that the little Profes so r was d eeply an d

gratefully attach ed to he r s o n sh e O pe n ed he r h eart to hi m ,

u n rese rvedly an d took all hi s puzzlin g fo reign p eculi ariti es fo r

,

gran ted without s o much as attemptin g to u nde rstan d any

,

o n e O f them .

My si ste r S arah with al l th e ad vantage s o f youth wa s

, , ,

strangely e nough le s s pli able ,

S h e di d fu l l j u stice t o Pesca s
.
’

excellen t qualitie s o f heart ; bu t sh e cou l d n o t accept hi m

impli citly as my mothe r accepte d him fo r my sake
, Her , .

insular n otion s O f p rop ri ety ro se in p e rpetu al revol t again st

Pesca s con stitutio nal c ontemp t fo r appearan ce s an d sh e w a s
’

’
always more o r le ss u n di sguisedly astonishe d at he r mothe r s
familiarity with th e e ccen tri c little fo rei gn e r I h ave o h .

se rved n o t only i n my siste r s cas e bu t in th e i n stan ce s O f

,
’
,

o thers th at we O f th e youn g gen e ratio n are n othi ng like so

,

hearty and so impulsive as som e o f o u r elde rs I con stantly .

see o ld pe op le fl u she d an d excite d by th e p rospect o f some

anticipated pleasu re wh ich altogethe r fail s to ru ffl e th e tran

quillity o f the i r se ren e grandchild ren Are w e I won de r .
, ,

quite such gen uin e boys an d gi rl s n ow as o ur se nio rs we re i n

thei r time H as the great advance in e du cation taken rathe r
too lon g a stride and are we in th ese m ode rn days j u st th e , ,

le a st tri fl e i n the wo rld to o well b rou ght u p

S
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E

With ou t attempting to an sw er th o s e qu esti on s decisively ,

I m ay at le ast reco rd that I n eve r sa w my mo the r a nd my

si ste r togethe r in Pe sca s s ociety withou t fi n di n g my mothe r
’

m uch th e you nge r wo man o f th e tw o O n thi s occasion fo r .

,

example while th e ol d l ady was lau ghin g heartily over th e

,

b oyish m an n er in which we tu mble d i nto the parlou r S arah ,

was p e rtu rbedly pic ki ng u p th e b roke n piece s o f a teacu p ,

which th e Profe s so r h ad kn oc ked o ff th e table in h is p rec ip i

tate advan ce to mee t m e at th e d oo r .

‘ ’
I do n t kn ow wh at woul d have happen ed Wai ter sai d
’
, ,
‘
my m oth er i f yo u h ad delayed m uch lon ge r
, Pe sca has .

bee n h alf m ad with i mp atien ce ; an d I h ave bee n half m ad

- -

with cu ri osity Th e Profe sso r has b rough t s ome wonde rful

.

n ews wi th hi m i n whi ch h e s ays you are conce rned a n d h e

,

h a s c ruelly refused t o give u s th e s mal lest hi nt o f i t till hi s

’
fri en d Walte r ap peared .

‘ ’
Ve ry p rovokin g ; i t spoil s the S et mutte red S arah to ,

h e rself mou rnfully abs orbe d ove r th e rui n s o f th e b roke n c up

, .

Whi le the s e word s we re bei ng sp oken Pe sca h appily an d , ,

fussily u nc on sci ou s o f the i rre parabl e wron g whi ch th e

crocke ry h ad su ffe re d at his hand s was d raggin g a l arge ,

armchai r to th e O pposite e n d o f th e room so as to comman d ,

u s all th ree i n th e characte r o f a public speake r addressin g

,

a n audi e n ce H avi ng turne d the C h ai r with its bac k toward s

.

u s h e j u mpe d i nto i t o n h is kn ee s and excitably add res se d

, ,

hi s s mall co ngregatio n o f th ree fro m a n im ro m p tu pulpit .

‘ ’
N ow my go od d ears began Pesca wh o always said
, ,
‘ ‘ ‘
good dears whe n h e m ean t wo rthy ’
liste n to
m e The tim e has c ome — I reci te my good n ews — I spe ak
.

at last .
’

H ear h ear ! said my mothe r hu mou ri ng th e j oke

, , .

Th e n ext thi n g h e will b reak mamma whispe re d S arah , ,

’
,
‘ ’
will b e th e bac k o f the b es t a rmchai r .

‘
I go b ac k i n to my life an d I add ress myself to th e ,
’
n oblest o f c re ate d bei ngs con tin ued Pe sca veh eme ntly , ,

apostrophi sin g my u nwo rthy self ove r th e top rai l o f th e chai r .

‘
Wh o fou nd me d ead at th e bottom o f the sea (th rou gh
C ram p) ; an d wh o pulle d m e up to th e to p ; a nd what did I
say whe n I go t i nto my o w n l ife an d my o wn cl othe s agai n
’
M uch m ore than was at all n ecessa ry I an swe red a s , ,

doggedly as possibl e ; fo r the least e n courage me n t in c o n

n ec tio n with thi s subj ect i nvariably let loose the Profe sso r s
’

e motion s in a fl oo d o f tears .

‘ ’ ‘
I said pe rsi sted Pesca that my life b elonged to my
, ,

d ear frie nd Walte r fo r the re st O f my day s— an d so i t do es

, , .

6
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E

I sai d that I shou ld n eve r be h appy agai n till I h ad fou n d th e

oppo rtu n ity o f doi ng a go od S omethin g for VVa lter —and I
have n eve r bee n conte nted with mys elf til l thi s most b less d e

day N o w c rie d th e e nthusi asti c littl e m a n at th e top O f his

.
,
’

‘
voice the ove rfl owin g h appi n e ss bu rsts o ut o f m e at eve ry
,

pore of my ski n like a p ers pi rati on ; fo r o n my faith an d

, ,

soul a n d hon ou r th e s omethin g is do n e at last an d th e only

, , ,

wo rd to say n ow i s — Right all righ t - - .

’

I t m ay b e nece ssary to explai n h e re that Pe sca p ride d

him self o n bei ng a pe rfect E nglishman in hi s l anguage as ,

well as i n hi s dres s m an n e rs and amu seme nts , H avi n g , .

picke d u p a few O f o u r m ost familiar collo qu ial exp re ssi on s h e ,

scatte re d th e m abou t ove r h is co nve rsati on wh en eve r they

happe ne d to occu r to h im tu rn in g th em in h i s high re li sh fo r , ,

thei r soun d an d h is ge n e ral i gno rance o f thei r sen se i nto ,

fi
comp ou n d wo rd s a n d repetition s o f hi s o w n an d always ,

ru n nin g the m i nto each o th e r as if they c on si sted o f o ne ,

long syllable .

‘
Amon g th e fi n e Lo n do n h ou se s w h ere I teach the la n
guage o f my n ative c oun try said the Profe s so r rushin g ,
’
,

i nto hi s l on g defe rre d explan atio n withou t an othe r wo rd o f

-

fi
‘
preface the re i s o ne m ighty n e in th e big place called
, , ,

P o rtlan d Y o u all k n ow whe re that i s ? Y es yes — course

.
,

O f cou rs e
- Th e fi n e hou se my good dears h as got i n side i t
.
, ,

a fi n e family A M am ma fai r a nd fat ; th re e you n g M i sse s

.
, ,

fai r and fat ; two youn g M iste rs fai r a n d fat ; an d a Papa , ,

the fai res t an d th e fatte st O f all wh o i s a mighty m e rchant , ,

u p to hi s eye s in gold — a n e m a n o nce b ut seein g that h e ,

has go t a n aked head a n d two C hi n s fi n e n o l on ge r at th e ,

p resen t time N ow min d ! I teach th e sublim e D ante to th e

.

young M i ss es a n d ah — m y sou l b les s m y s ou l — it i s n o t in

,
- - - -

hu man language t o say how th e su blim e D ante puzzles th e

p retty h eads o f all th re e ! N O m atte r— all in good ti me
a n d th e m ore l e sso n s th e bette r fo r me N ow min d ! .

I magi n e t o you rselve s that I am teachin g the you n g M i sse s

to day as u sual
-
, YVe are all fou r o f u s down togeth e r i n
.

the H el l o f D an te At th e S eventh Ci rcle — bu t n o matte r

.

fo r that al l th e Ci rcle s are alike to th e th re e youn g M iss es ,

fai r an d fat — a t th e S eve nth Ci rcle n eve rth eless my pupil s , ,

are sticki ng fast ; a n d I to set the m goin g again recite , , ,

explain an d bl ow m yself up red h o t with u sele s s e nthu siasm

,
-
,

wh en — a creak of boot s in the p assage ou tside and i n come s ,

th e golde n Papa the mighty me rch ant with th e n aked head

,

a n d th e two chi n s H a ! my goo d dears I am C lo se r than

.
,

y o u th i n k fo r to th e bu si ne s s n ow H ave y o u bee n patien t .

7
 T H E WO M AN I N W H IT E

so far o r h ave you said to you rs elve s

,
D e uce wh at th e - -

d euce Pe sca i s lon g wi nded to night P - -

We declare d that we we re deeply i nte res ted Th e Pro .

fesso r we n t o n
‘
I n h i s h an d the gol de n Papa h as a le tte r ; an d afte r h e
h as m ade h i s excu s e fo r d istu rbin g u s in o u r I nfe rn al Regio n
with th e c om mon m ortal B usi ne s s o f th e h ou se h e addresse s ,

h i mse lf to th e th re e you n g M is se s an d begin s as you , ,

E n glish begi n eve rythin g in thi s blessed worl d that yo u h ave

”
t o sa y with a great 0
, O my dears says th e migh ty
.
, ,

me rch ant I h ave got h e re a lette r fro m my frie nd M r

, ,
.

(th e n ame h as slippe d o u t o f my min d ; bu t n o m atte r ; we

shal l com e bac k t o th at ; ye s yesfi—right all right ) S O th e
,
- -
.

“
Papa s ays I have go t a l ette r from my fri end the M i ste r ;
, ,

an d h e wants a re com me n d fro m me o f a d rawin g maste r t o -

”
go down to h i s h ou s e in the cou ntry M y soul bl es s m y .
- - -

s ou l whe n I h e ard the golde n Papa sa y th o se wo rds i f I had ,

b ee n big e n ough to reach u p to h i m I sh ould have pu t my

a rm s ro un d hi s n e ck an d p re s sed hi m to my bo som i n a l on g
a n d grateful h ug As i t w a s I o nly b oun ce d upo n my chai r
.
,
.

My seat was o n th orn s an d my s ou l was o n fi re to s peak ,

but I h eld my t ongu e a nd l e t Papa go on Pe rhap s yo u .

kn ow says thi s goo d m a n of m on ey twi ddli n g h is frie n d s

, ,
’

lette r thi s way an d that i n h i s golde n fi nge rs a nd thu mb s ,

“
pe rhap s yo u kn ow my dears o f a d rawi ng maste r that I
, ,
-

c a n reco mme n d P The th re e you ng M i ss es all l oo k at e ach

othe r a n d th e n sa y (wi th th e i ndi spen sable gre at 0 to begin )
, ,
“
0 dear n o Papa !
, B ut h e re i s M r Pe sca
, At th e .

me ntio n o f mysel f I can h old n o l on ge r— th e th ou ght of you ,

my goo d cle ars m oun ts li ke b loo d to my head — I start fro m

,

my seat as if a sp i ke h ad grown u p from the grou n d th rough

,

th e b otto m o f my ch ai r— I addres s myself to th e mighty

me rchan t an d I sa y (E ngli sh ph rase )
, D ear si r I have th e , ,

m an Th e fi rst a n d forem ost d rawi n g maste r O f the wo rld -

Rec om me nd h im by th e p ost to n ight a nd s en d him o ff bag -

, ,
— ha l
a n d baggage ( E ngli sh ph rase agai n ) send hi m o ff
”
, ,

bag an d baggage by th e t rai n to m o rrow , S top stop -

, ,
“
s ays Papa i s h e a fo rei gn e r o r a n E ngli sh man
, Eng
” “ ”
li sh to th e b o n e of h is ba c k I an swe r Re spectable ,
? .

“ ”
s ays Papa S ir I say (for thi s l ast ques tio n o f hi s o u t
.
,
“
rage s me an d I have d on e bein g fami liar wi th him )
, Sir , ,

the i mmo rtal fi re o f gen ius b u rn s in th i s E nglish man s bosom ’

,

a n d what i s m o re
, hi s fathe r had i t b efo re hi m
, N eve r
” “
m i nd , says th e go lde n barbari an o f a Papa n eve r mi n d ,

a b o ut h is ge niu s M r Pe sca ; We d on t want gen iu s in th i s ’

.
,

8
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E

obs ervi n g that P esc a was raptu rou sly ki ssin g my mothe r s
hands l ooke d s eri ou s an d re su med h e r seat
, , I f the fam . i

liar little m a n t reats my m othe r i n that way h ow wi ll h e ,

treat m e P Face s someti me s tell truth an d that w a s u nqu es

tio na b ly the th ough t i n S arah s m in d a s sh e sa t d own again
’

, .

Although I mys elf was grate fully se n sibl e o f th e ki n dn e ss

o f Pe sca s m otive s my spi ri ts we re hardly so mu ch e le vated
’
,

as th ey ough t to h ave bee n by th e p rospe ct O f futu re e mpl oy

me n t n o w p lace d before me Whe n th e Profess o r h ad quite .

’
d on e with my mothe r s hand an d wh e n I h ad warmly than ke d ,

h i m fo r h i s i nte rfe ren ce on my beh alf I aske d to b e allowe d ,

to l oo k at the n ote o f te rm s wh ich h is re sp ectabl e patro n

had d rawn u p fo r my i n spe ction .

Pesc a h an de d m e th e pap e r with a t ri um ph an t fl ou ri s h of ,

th e h and .

Read s ai d th e littl e man maj esti cal ly I p ro mi s e you, .

,

my fri en d th e writi n g o f th e golde n Pap a s peaks with a

,

tongu e O f t ru mpets fo r itself .

’

Th e n ote o f te rm s was plai n straigh tfo rward a n d c o m , ,

p reh e n sive at any rate , I t i n fo rmed m e .

,

F i rst That F rede ric k Fai rli e E sq o f L im m eridge H ou se

, , .
, ,

C u mbe rl an d wante d t o en gage th e se rvi ce s o f a th orough ly

,

c omp ete n t d rawi ng master fo r a pe ri od o f fou r m o n th s

-
,

c ertai n .

S eco n dly That th e d utie s which th e m aste r w a s expecte d

,

to p e rfo rm wo uld b e o f a twofold ki nd H e was t o s upe r .

i nten d th e i ns tructi o n O f two youn g ladie s i n th e art o f pai nt

i n g i n wate r colou rs ; a nd h e was t o devote hi s l ei su re tim e
-
,

afte rward s to th e b usi n es s o f repai ri ng a n d m ou ntin g a

,

valuabl e collection O f d rawi n gs wh ic h had been su ff e re d to ,

fal l i nto a co nditi on o f total ne glect .

Thi rdly That th e t erm s O ffe re d to th e pe rso n wh o sh oul d

,

u n de rtak e an d p rop e rly perfo rm th ese duti es we re fou r

guin eas a wee k that h e was to re side at Lim m eridge H ou se ;
an d that h e was to b e treate d the re o n th e footing o f a
gentl eman .

F o u rth ly a nd l astly Th at n o p e rs on n e e d thi nk o f apply

, ,

i ng fo r thi s situ ati o n u nl e ss h e coul d fu rni sh th e m ost u n

exception abl e refe ren ces to ch aracte r an d abilitie s Th e .

refe ren ces we re to be sen t to M r Fairli e s frien d i n London .

’
,

wh o was empowe red to con cl ude all n ece ssary arran gemen ts .

The se in structio n s we re followed by th e n am e an d addre s s O f

Pe sca s employe r in Po rtland place — and the re th e n ote o r
’
-
,

m emo ran dum e n ded ,

.

The p rospe c t wh i c h thi s o ffe r o f an engageme n t h eld o ut

10
 T HE WO MAN I N WH I T E

was ce rtain ly a n attractive o ne Th e employmen t Wa s .

l i kely to b e both easy an d agre eabl e i t was p rop o sed to m e

at the au tum n tim e o f the ye ar wh e n I was l eas t occu pied ; ,

an d the term s j udgin g by my pe rsonal expe ri ence i n my

,

p rofession we re su rpri si ngly libe ral

, I knew th i s I kn ew .

that I ou gh t to co nside r mys elf ve ry fortun ate i f I su cce ede d

i n s ecu rin g the O ff ere d e mpl oyme nt— a nd ye t n o soon er h ad I ,

re ad th e me mo ran dum than I fe l t a n in exp licable u nwi lling

n es s within m e to sti r i n the m atte r I h ad n eve r i n th e .

whol e O f my p reviou s experi e n ce fou n d my du ty an d my

i ncli nati on so p ainfu lly an d s o un accoun tab ly at variance as I
fou nd the m n ow .

‘
O h Wal te r you r fathe r n eve r had su ch a ch an c e as
, ,

thi s s ai d my m othe r whe n sh e had read th e n ot e o f term s ,

an d had han de d i t back to m e .

‘
S uch di sti ngui sh e d p eople to kn ow re marke d S arah ,
’

straightenin g h e rself i n he r chair ; a n d o n such gratifying

te rms o f e qu ality to o
‘
Y es y es ; th e te rm s
,
in every se nse are tem pting , ,
‘
e nou gh I repli ed impatie ntly
,
’
B u t befo re I sen d i n my
, .

te s timon ials I shoul d like a littl e ti m e to c on side r

,
‘
Co n si de r ! exclaime d my m o th e r
’ ‘
W hy Walter .
, ,

what i s th e matte r wi th you

‘ ‘
C on sider ! e ch oe d my si ste r ’
What a very extra .

o rdi nary thin g to sa y u nde r th e c i rcu ms tan ce s ,

Co n side r ! chim ed in th e Profe sso r

’
W hat i s there to .

con side r abou t ? An swe r m e thi s ! H ave yo u no t be en

complain i ng o f you r h eal th a n d h ave y o u n o t bee n l on ging ,

fo r what yo u cal l a s mac k o f th e cou nt ry breeze ? Well !

the re i n you r han d is the pape r that o ff e rs you p e rpetu al
ch okin g m ou thful s o f cou nt ry bre eze for fou r m on ths tim e ,
’
.

I s i t n ot s o ? H a ? Agai n — y o u wan t m on ey Wel l ! I s .

fou r golde n guin eas a wee k n oth ing ? M y sou l ble ss m y - - -

sou l o nly give i t to m e and my b oots sh a l l creak like th e -

gol den Papa s wi th a se n s e o f th e ove rp owering richn es s o f

’

th e m a n wh o wal k s in th e m ! Fou r gu i n eas a wee k an d , ,

m ore th an that the charmi ng s ociety o f two young M i sses

,

and m ore th an th at your bed you r breakfas t you r dinn e r

, , , , ,

you r gorgi ng En glish teas an d lun che s an d drink s o f foamin g

bee r all fo r n othin g— why Wal te r my dear good frie nd
, , ,

deu ce what the deuce —for th e fi rst ti me i n my life I have

- - -

n o t eye s en ough in my h ead to l ook an d wonde r at yo u ,

’
N ei the r my m othe r s eviden t asto nishmen t at my b e
’
h avi ou r n or Pe sca s fe rvi d e nu me ratio n o f th e advantage s
,

o ff e re d to m e by th e new employm ent , had a ny e ff ect in

I I
fi
T H E WO MAN I N W H I T E

shaki n g my u n reason abl e di si ncli n ati o n to go to L im m eridge

H ou se Afte r starting all th e pe tty O bj ectio n s that I coul d
.

th in k o f to going to Cu mb erlan d ; and afte r hearin g th e m

an swe red o ne afte r an othe r to my o wn c omp lete disco m
, ,

tu re I tried to se t u p a last obstacle by as kin g what w a s to

,

become o f my pupil s in London wh ile I w a s teachin g M r , .

’
Fai rli e s young ladie s to sketch fro m n atu re The obviou s .

an swe r to th is was th at the greate r p art O f the m would b e

,

away o n thei r au tu mn travel s an d that th e few wh o remai ned ,

at hom e migh t b e co nfide d to th e care of o n e of my b rothe r

d rawi ng maste rs wh os e pupi ls I had o n ce take n O ff h is h ands
-
,

u n der simil ar ci rcum stances My siste r reminde d m e that .

thi s gen tleman had exp re ssly place d hi s se rvi ces at my

disp osal du ring the p resen t season in case I wi sh e d t o leave
, ,

town my m othe r s e ri ou sly app ealed to m e n o t to le t an i dle

cap rice stan d in th e way O f my o w n i ntere sts a n d m y o w n
he alth ; a n d Pe sca pi teou sly en treated that I would n ot
woun d h i m to th e h eart by rej ecti n g th e fi rs t grateful O ffe r O f
,

se rvice th at h e h ad bee n able to m ake to th e fri en d who had

saved h i s life .

Th e evi den t since rity an d a ff ection wh ich i n spi re d th ese

remo ns trance s wou ld h ave influ ence d any m a n with a n ato m
o f good fe elin g in h i s composition Th ough I coul d n ot .

c onque r my o w n u n accou ntabl e pe rve rsity I h ad at least ,

vi rtu e e nough to b e h eartil y ashame d O f i t an d to e n d the ,

di scu ssi on p leasan tly by iv i n g way and p romising to d o al l

b ,

that was wan ted o f m e .

Th e re st o f th e even ing passe d merrily e n ough i n

h u morou s an ticipation s o f my comin g life wi th th e two youn g
ladi es in Cu mbe rland Pesca in spired by o u r n ation al
.
,

grog which appeare d to ge t i n to his h ead in th e mos t

, ,

marvell ou s man n e r five m inute s afte r i t h ad gon e down h is

,

th roat asse rted hi s claim s to b e c on side re d a complete

,

E ngli sh man by m akin g a se rie s o f speech es i n rapi d su cc es

’
sio n ; p rop os i n g my mo th e r s h ealth my sis te r s health my ’
, ,

h ealth an d the health s in mass o f M r Fai rli e an d the two

, , , .

you n g M i sse s path eti cally re tu rn ing thanks him self im m edi ,

ately afterward s fo r th e wh ole party

, A s ec re t Walter said .
, ,
’

my l ittl e frien d confi den tially as we walked h ome togeth e r , .

I am flush ed by th e recollecti on O f my own eloqu ence My .

s oul bu rsts i tself with ambiti on O n e o f the s e days I go i n to .

,

you r n o ble Parliame n t I t is th e d ream O f my wh ole life to

.

be H on ou rab le Pes ca M P , . .

Th e next m orni n g I sen t my testimon ial s to the Profe ssor s ’

em pl oyer in Po rtlan d p lace Th re e day s p assed ; an d I

-
.
a n an swe r came

serv 1 c es

dia tely
,
,

fi
T H E WO MAN I N W H ITE

conclu ded with secret satisfacti on that my pape rs had n o t

been fou n d su f c i ently explicit O n the fou rth day h oweve r
I t an n ou nced that M r Fair l i e accepte d my
.

an d requ ested me to start for Cumberlan d i mme

All the n ece ssary i n structi on s for my j ou rn ey we re
.
.
,

.
, ,

carefully an d clearly added in a p ostscrip t .

I made my arrange me nts u nwi llingly e nou gh for leavi ng , ,

L o n do n ea rly th e n ext day Towards even in g Pesca l ooked

'

i n on hi s way to a din n e r party to bi d me good bye

,
-
,
-
.

I shall dry my te ars i n you r ab se nce said the Professo r ,

’
,

gaily with thi s gl oriou s th ou ght

,
I t i s my au spici ou s h and .

that has given the fi rs t p ush to you r fo rtu n e in th e world G O .

,

my fri en d Wh e n y ou r su n s hine s in C u mb erlan d (E n glish

p rove rb ) i n th e name of h eave n make you r hay M arry o n e
, , .

o f th e tw o you n g M i sse s ; become H on ou rabl e H a rtrigh t ,

M P. . an d wh e n you a e o n the top o f th e ladde r reme mbe r

r
,

that P e sca at the b ottom h as don e i t al l

, ,

I tried to laugh with my li ttle friend ove r hi s p artin g j est ,

b ut my spi ri ts we re n ot t o be co mman ded S o m eth in g j a rred .

i n me almost pai nful l y wh i l e h e was speaki ng h i s ligh t ,

fare w ell wo rds .

Wh e n I w a s left alo n e agai n n oth in g re mai ne d to b e ,

don e but to wal k to th e H amp stead C o ttage an d bi d my

m othe r an d S arah good bye -
.

T HE he at h ad bee n painfully op pre s sive all day ; an d i t wa s

n ow a close and sul try nigh t .

My moth e r an d si ste r h ad spoke n so many last wo rds ,

an d had begge d me to wait an othe r five m inu te s s o many

ti mes that i t was n early mi dnigh t wh e n th e s e rvan t l ocked
,

the garden gate b ehin d me I wal ked forward a few pace s

- .

o n th e shorte st way back t o Lon don ; the n stoppe d an d

hesitated .

The moon was fu l l a nd b road in th e dark blu e starle ss

sk y ; a n d the broke n grou nd o f th e H eath looke d wild en ough ,

i n the myste ri ou s l ight t o b e hu n dreds O f mile s away from

,

th e great city that l ay be neath i t The i dea O f descen ding .

any soone r th an I coul d help in to th e heat an d gloom o f

Lon don repelle d me The p rospect O f goi ng to b ed in my.

ai rles s chambe rs a n d th e p rospect O f gradual su ff ocation

, ,

se emed i n my p rese nt restles s frame of mi n d an d b ody t o b e

, ,

o n e an d th e same thin g I dete rmi ne d to stroll ho me in th e

.

1
3
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E

pu re r ai r by th e mo st rou ndabou t way I cou ld take ; to

,

follow th e wh ite win din g p ath s across th e l on ely H e ath a n d

t o ap proach Lon don th rou gh i ts m os t O pe n subu rb by stri kin g
i n to th e F in c h ley road a n d so gettin g b ack i n the c ool of
-
, ,

the n ew m orn in g by th e we ste rn side o f th e Regent s Park

,
’
.

I wou n d my way d own sl owly ove r th e H eath e nj oyin g ,

the divi n e sti lln es s o f th e s ce ne an d admi ri n g the soft alte r

,

n ation s o f ligh t a n d sh ade as they foll owe d e ach oth e r ove r

th e broke n grou n d o n eve ry side o f m e S O l on g as I w a s .

p roce edin g th rou gh thi s fi rs t an d p rettie st part of my nigh t

wal k my m in d rem ai ne d passively ope n t o the i mp re s si on s
,

p roduce d by the view ; an d I thought b u t little o n a ny

subj ect— i nde ed so far as m y o w n se n sati on s we re c once rned
, ,

I c a n h ardly sa y th at I th ou gh t at al l .

B ut whe n I had left th e H eath an d h ad tu rne d i nto th e ,

by road whe re the re was le s s t o see th e i deas n atu rally

-
, ,

engen de re d by th e app ro ach in g cha ng e in my h abits a n d

occupati on s grad ually drew m ore an d m o re o f my a tten ti on
e xclu sively t o the mse lve s By the ti m e I h ad arrive d at th e
.

en d of th e road I had be come complete ly ab s orbed i n my

,

o w n fanciful visio n s O f L i m m eri dge H ou se O f M r Fai rlie an d , .

,

O f th e two ladie s who se p ractic e in the art o f wate r-col ou r

p aintin g I w a s s o s oo n to supe ri n te n d .

I h ad n ow arrive d at th at particu lar p oi nt o f my walk

whe re fou r roads m e t — the road to H amps te ad al on g whi ch ,

I h ad re tu rne d ; th e road to Fi nch ley ; th e road t o We st

End ; an d th e road b ack t o Lo n don I h ad m ech anical ly .

tu rn ed in this latte r di re cti o n an d w a s strolli ng al ong th e

,

l on ely h igh road — i dly wo n de ri n g I remembe r wh at th e

-
, ,

Cu mberl an d you ng l adie s woul d l oo k l ike — wh en in o n e ,

m omen t eve ry dro p o f blo od in my body was b rou gh t to a

,

stop by th e touch O f a h an d lai d lightly an d s u dden l y o n my

shoulde r from b ehi n d m e .

I tu rn e d o n th e i n s tan t wi th my fi nge rs tightenin g rou n d

,

th e han dle o f my stick .

The re i n th e m i ddle O f th e b road b righ t hi gh road — th e re

, ,
-
,

as if i t had th at m om en t sp ru ng o u t o f th e e arth o r d roppe d

fro m th e h eave n — stoo d the figu re O f a soli tary Woman ,

d re sse d from head to foo t in w hi te garmen ts he r face ben t

in grave i n qu i ry o n mi n e he r h an d p oi n ti ng to th e dark clou d
,

ove r Lon don as I face d h e r

, .

I w a s far too s e ri ou sly s tartle d by the su dden n e s s wi th

which this ext raordinary app ari tio n stoo d b efo re m e i n th e ,

d ead O f n ight an d i n th at l onely pl ace t o as k wh at sh e wan ted , .

T h e strange woman s p oke fi rst .

14
 T H E W O M AN I N WH ITE

I s that th e road to Lo n do n she s ai d .

I l oo ked a tte n tive ly at he r as she put that s ingula r ,

’
questio n to m e I t was the n n early o n e o cl ock All I coul d
. .

disce rn di sti nctly by th e m oonli ght was a col ou rl es s youth , ,

fu l face m eagre an d sh arp to l oo k at ab ou t th e che eks a nd

, ,

chi n ; large grave wistfully atten tive eye s

, n e rvou s u m
,
-
,

certai n lips ; an d ligh t hai r O f a p al e b rowni sh ye llow hu e ,

-
.

Th ere was n othin g wild n othin g i mmode st in h e r m ann e r ,

i t was qu ie t an d s elf controlled a li ttle melan ch oly an d a -

,

little touch ed by su spi cio n n o t e xactly the man n e r o f a lady '

,

a nd , at th e s ame ti me n ot th e m ann e r o f a woman in th e ,

h umb l e st ran k o f life Th e voi ce littl e as I h ad y et heard o f

.
,

i t had some th in g c u ri ou sly still an d m ech anical in i ts ton e s

, ,

an d th e u tte ran ce was re markably rapi d S h e hel d a s mall .

bag i n h e r h an d : an d h e r dre ss — bon n et shawl an d gown , ,

all o f wh ite —was so far as I cou ld gue ss ce rtain ly n ot

, ,

c omp ose d o f v ery delicate o r ve ry expen sive material s H er .

figure was slight a nd rathe r above the ave rage h eight — h e r

,

g a it a nd action s fre e fro m th e slighte st app roach to extra

vagan ce Th i s was all that I coul d ob se rve o f he r in th e di m
.
,

light an d u nde r th e pe rplexin gly strange circu m stan ce s o f o u r -

m eetin g Wh at so rt o f a wo man sh e was an d h ow sh e came

.
,

t o b e o u t alon e in th e high road a n h ou r afte r midnight -

, ,

I altogethe r faile d to gu e ss Th e o n e thi n g o f wh ich I fel t .

C e rtai n w a s th at th e gros se st of man ki nd coul d n ot h ave

,

mi scon stru e d h e r motive in speakin g e ve n at that su spiciou sly ,

late hou r an d in th at suspici ously lonely pl ace .

D i d yo u hear me sh e said still quietly an d rapidly , ,

an d withou t th e le ast fretfuln e ss o r impatie nce I aske d i f .

th at was th e way to Lo ndon .

’

’ ’
Ye s I replied that i s th e way : i t le ad s t o S t J ohn s
, , .

’
Woo d an d th e Regen t s Park Y o u mu st excu se my n ot .

answe rin g yo u befo re I w a s rathe r startled by you r sudde n

.

a ppearance in th e road ; a n d I am eve n n ow , quite u nable to ,

’
accou nt fo r i t .

Y o u do n t su spect me o f d oi n g anythin g wron g d o yo u

’
,

I have d on e n othin g wro ng I h ave m et with a n acciden t .

I am ve ry u nfortu nate in bei ng h e re alo ne so late Why do .

yo u su sp ect m e o f doin g wron g ?

S h e sp oke with u n neces sa ry earn estn es s an d agitati on ,

a n d sh ran k bac k fro m me seve ral pace s I di d my b est to .

reassu re h e r .

’
P ray d on t su ppo se that I have any i de a o f su spe ctin g
’
yo u I said
, o r any oth e r wish th an to b e o f assistance t o
,

o u , i f I ca n I on ly won dere d at you r appea ran ce i n th e

y .

I S
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E

road b ecau se i t s eeme d to me to b e e mpty th e i n sta nt befo r e

,
’
I s aw you .

S he turn ed a nd p oi nted bac k to a pl ace at the j u nc ti on O f

,

th e road to Lo ndo n an d th e road to H ampste ad where th ere

'
,

was a gap in th e he dge .

’
I h eard you comin g sh e s aid an d hi d the re to see what
, ,

s ort o f m an yo u we re b efore I ri ske d s peakin g , I doub ted .

an d feare d ab out it till y o u pas se d ; an d the n I was oblige d

’
t o ste al afte r yo u a nd touch y o u ,
.

S teal afte r m e an d touch m e ? Why no t c al l t o me ?

S tran ge t o sa y th e least o f i t
,
.

M ay I t rust you ? sh e asked You d o n t thin k th e .

’

’
wo rse o f m e be cau se I h av e m e t wi th an accide n t ? She
stoppe d in c o nfu sio n sh ifte d he r bag fro m o ne h an d to th e
o the r ; an d sighe d bitte rly .

Th e loneli ness a n d he lpless nes s o f the wom an touche d me .

Th e natu ral i mpul se to assist h e r an d to spare h e r got th e ,

bette r O f th e j udgment th e c auti on the wo rldly tact which

, , ,

a n olde r wise r a n d colde r m a n migh t h ave s u mmon e d to hel p

, ,

h i m in thi s strange e me rge n cy .

You may t rus t me fo r any h armle ss pu rp ose I said ,

’
.

I f i t trouble s yo u to explai n you r st range situati on to me ,

do n t thi n k o f return in g t o the subj ect agai n

’
I h ave n o .

righ t t o ask yo u fo r any explan ati on s Tell me h ow I c a n .

h elp you ; an d if I c a n I wi ll ,
.
’

Y o u are ve ry kin d an d I am ve ry ve ry th an kful to h ave

, ,

met you Th e fi rst touch o f womanly te nder ne ss that I h ad

.
’

heard from h e r trembled in he r voice as she said the words ;

b ut n o tears gliste ne d in tho se large wi stfully atten tive eye s ,
-

o f he rs which we re stil l fixe d o n me

,
I have on ly bee n in .

’
Londo n on ce before sh e wen t o n m o re an d m ore rapidly
, ,

an d I kn ow n othin g ab out th at si de o f i t yon de r C a n I , .

get a fly o r a c arriage O f a ny kin d

,
I s i t too late I don t ’

kn ow I f yo u c oul d sh ow m e where to get a fly— an d i f you

.

wi l l only p romise n o t t o i nterfe re with me and to le t m e ,

le ave yo u whe n an d h ow I ple ase — I h ave a frie n d i n Lon don

,

wh o will b e glad t o rece ive me — I wan t n othin g else — will

y o u promi se
S h e l ooke d anxi ou sly u p a nd down th e road shifted h e r
b a g agai n from o ne h an d to th e othe r ; repeated th e
‘
wo rds Wil l y ou p romise ? and lo oke d hard i n my face
, ,

wi th a pleadin g fear and co nfusion that i t trouble d m e to

see.

’
V v hat
cou ld I do ? I e re w a s a stran ge r utterly an d
helpl essly at my m ercy m

a n d th at strange r a forlorn wo m a n t

16
 TH E YVO M AN IN WH ITE

T o o much astonishe d t o reply , I q u estio ned h er in my tu rn

'

Why d o you as k ?
B ecause I h ope for my o wn sake the re i s on e B arone t , ,
’ ’
that yo u do n t know .

Will you tel l me h i s n ame ?

‘
I c a n t —I dare n t— I forge t myse lf whe n I m en ti on i t
’ ’
, .
’

S he s poke lou dly a n d alm ost fie rcely raise d h e r clenche d han d ,

in the ai r a n d shook i t pas si onately the n o n a su dde n c o n

, , ,

t rolle d he rself agai n a nd adde d i n tone s lowe re d to a wh isp er

, ,

Tell me which O f the m y ou kn ow .

’

I cou ld hardly refu se to humou r he r in suc h a t ri fl e an d ,

I men ti one d th re e n ame s Two the n ame s O f fathe rs o f .

,

familie s whos e daugh te rs I taugh t ; o n e th e n ame of a ,

b achelo r wh o h ad o n ce take n m e a c ruise in hi s yacht t o ,

m ake s ke tch e s fo r h i m .

Ah ! you don t kn ow hi m she said wi th a sigh O f reli ef

’
,
’
, .

Are you a m a n o f ran k an d ti tle you rself ?

’
Far from it I am only a d rawi ng maste r
.
- .

As the reply pas sed my li ps — a littl e bi tte rly pe rhap s — sh e ,

to ok my arm wi th the ab ruptne s s which characte ri se d all he r

acti on s .

‘ ’
N ot a m a n o f ran k a nd ti tle she re peate d to he rsel f , .

Than k G od I may trus t lu m

'
’
.

I h ad hith e rto con trived t o maste r my cu ri osi ty o u t o f

c o nsi de rati o n fo r my compani on b ut i t got the bette r o f me ,

n ow .

‘
I a m afrai d you h ave se ri ou s re ason to complai n of some
? ‘ ’
m an o f ran k a n d ti tle I said I am afrai d th e B arone t .
,

whose n am e yo u are u nwilli ng to me nti o n to me h as d one ,

you some grievou s wron g ? I s h e the c ause o f y ou r bein g

o u t h e re at thi s strange ti me o f n igh t ?

D on t as k m e ; d on t m ake m e tal k o f i t sh e an swe red

’ ’

,
’
.

I m n ot fi t n ow
’
I h ave be e n cruelly u se d a nd cruelly
, .

wronged Y o u will b e ki nde r th an eve r i f you will wal k o n

.
,

fast a n d n ot speak to me
, I sadly wan t to qu ie t mysel f i f I .
,
’
ca n .

We m ove d forward agai n at a quick pace ; a nd fo r half

a n h ou r at least n ot a wo rd passe d o n e ithe r side
, , F rom .

ti me t o ti me be in g forbidde n to make any m ore i n qui rie s I

, ,

s tole a l oo k at he r face I t was always th e s ame the li ps .

close shu t th e b row frowni ng the eye s l ooking straight fo r

ward e age rly an d ye t abse n tly We h ad reached the fi rs t
, ,

, .

house s a n d we re cl ose o n th e n ew We sleyan C ollege befo re

, ,

he r set featu re s relaxe d an d sh e sp oke on ce mo re , .

D O you live in London sh e s aid .

18
 T H E W O M AN I N W H I T E

‘Y es.’ I answe red i t struck me th at sh e m igh t hav e

As ,

forme d some i n tenti on O f appe alin g to me for assistan ce o r

advice an d th at I ought to spare he r a p ossible di sapp oin t
,

me n t by warnin g he r o f my app roachin g absen ce from h ome .

‘
S o I added : B ut to morrow I shal l be away fro m Lon do n -

’
fo r so me time I am goin g i n to th e cou ntry
. .

Whe re sh e as ked N orth o r s outh .

,

N orth — to Cumbe rland .

’

Cumbe rlan d she repeate d the word te nde rly Ah I .

wish I was goin g there to o I was on ce happy in C umbe r .

’
lan d .

I t rie d agai n to lift the veil th at hu n g be twe e n thi s

woman an d me .

‘
Pe rhap s yo u we re b orn I said in the beautiful Lake ,
’
,
’
c ountry .

‘N o ‘
she an swe red
,
’
I was bo rn in H ampshi re ; bu t I .

o n c e w en t to sch ool fo r a littl e while i n Cumbe rland Lake s .

,

I don t re membe r a ny lake s

’
I t s Lim m eridge vi llage an d .
’
,

L im m eridge H ou se I should l ike to se e agai n

’
.
,

I t was my tu rn n ow to stop sudde nly I n th e excite d , ,

.

state o f my cu ri osi ty at that m ome nt the chance re fe re nce , ,

to M r Fairli e s place of residen ce o n th e lips O f my stran ge

’
.
,

com pan ion stagge re d m e with aston ishme nt

,
.

D id you he ar anybody callin g afte r u s s h e asked lo ok ,

ing u p a n d down th e road a ff righ tedly the i n stant I stop pe d , .

N o no I was only S truc k by the name o f L im m eridge

, .

H ou se — I heard i t me nti on e d by some Cu mbe rland pe ople a

few days si nce .
’

Ah n o t my people M rs Fai rlie i s dead a nd he r hu s . .

band i s dead ; an d thei r littl e gi rl may b e married an d gon e

away by thi s ti me I can t say wh o live s at Lim m eridge n ow
.
’
.

I f a ny mo re are left the re o f that name I o nly kn ow I l ove ,

the m for M rs Fai rlie s sake .

’
.
’

S h e seem ed about to say mo re but wh ile sh e was speak

i n g we ca m e withi n view o f th e tu rn pike at th e top o f the
, ,

Ave nue road H e r han d tighten ed rou n d my arm an d sh e

- .
,

looked anxio usly at the gate be fore u s .

I s th e tu rnpi ke m a n looki n g o u t she a ske d .

H e was n o t lo oking o u t n o o ne el se was n ear the place

whe n we passe d th rough th e gate The sigh t O f th e gas .

lamps an d h ouse s seem ed to agitate he r a nd to m ake he r im ,

patien t .

’
Thi s i s Lon don sh e said D o yo u s ee any carriage I
, .

c a n get ? I am tire d an d frighte ned I want to shut myself .

i n , and b e drive n away .

’

I 9
 T H E WO MAN IN YVH I T E

I e xplaine d to he r th at we must wal k a li ttle furthe r to get

to a cab stand u n les s we were fortunate e n ough to mee t with
,

an e mpty vehicl e ; a n d the n tri ed t o re su me th e subj ect O f

C u mb e rland I t was u sele ss The i de a O f shu ttin g he rself
. .

i n a nd bein g drive n away h ad n ow go t full p osse ssi on O f he r

, ,

mi nd S h e coul d thi n k an d tal k o f n othing e lse

. .

We had h ardly p rocee ded a thi rd o f th e way down th e

Ave nu e road wh e n I saw a c a b d raw u p at a h ou se a few
-
,

doo rs below u s o n th e O pposite side o f th e way ,

A gentle .

m a n go t o u t a n d let h imse lf in at th e garde n doo r I hail ed .

th e c a b as th e d rive r m ounte d th e b ox again Whe n we

,
.

c rossed th e road my com pani o n s i mpatie nce i ncrease d to ,

’

such a n exte n t that sh e almost fo rce d m e to ru n .

’
I t s so late she said
’
I am o n ly i n a hu rry b e c au se it s
,
’
.

’
s o late .

I can t take you sir if you re n ot goi ng towards Totte n

’
, ,
’

h am cou rt road sai d the d rive r civilly whe n I O pe n ed th e

- -
,
’
, ,
‘ ’
c a b do o r My h o rse i s de ad beat an d I can t get hi m n o
.
,

furthe r than th e stable .

’

‘ ’
Ye s yes That will do fo r me
,
I m goin g that way
. .

I m goin g that way S he sp oke wi th b reathle s s eage rn e ss

’ ’
.
,

an d pre ssed by me i nto th e cab .

I h ad assu red myself that the m a n was s obe r a s wel l as

civil before I le t he r ente r th e vehicle An d n ow whe n sh e
,
.
,

was seated i n side I e ntreate d he r to l e t me se e he r se t down ,

safely at h er de stinati on .

N o n o n o she said veh emen tly I m quite safe a n d

’ ’
.
, , , , ,

quite happy n o w I f yo u are a ge ntleman reme mbe r you r .

,

p romise Le t hi m drive o n ti ll I stop h i m Than k yo u oh

.
, .
-

th an k y o u than k you ,

M y han d was o n th e c a b d oo r S he cau gh t i t in h e rs .

,

ki ssed i t and pu she d i t away Th e cab drove o ff at th e sam e

, .

m ome nt — I started in to the road with s ome vagu e i dea o f ,

stoppi n g i t again I h ardly kn ew why — he sitate d from dread ,

o f frighte nin g an d distressin g h e r— called at last but n o t , ,

l ou dly en ough to attract th e d rive r s atten ti on The soun d ’

.

o f th e wheel s grew fai nte r in th e di stance — th e c a b melted

i nto th e black shadows o n th e road — th e woman in white was

gone .

T en
minutes o r mo re h ad passed I was still o n th e , , .

same s 1 de o f the way ; n ow mechanically walking fo rward a

few pace s n o w stoppi n g agai n ab se ntly At o n e mome n t I .
,

fou n d myself doubtin g th e reality o f my o w n adven tu re ; at

a n othe r I wa s pe rplexed an d di stressed b an uneasy sen se
,
y
20
 T HE W O M AN I N W H IT E

of havi n g don e wron g which yet left me confus edly igno ran t ,

O f h ow I cou ld h ave don e ri gh t I hardly knew wh e re I w a s .

goi n g o r what I m ean t t o d o n ext I was con sci ou s o f

,

n othi n g but the confusio n o f my o w n th oughts whe n I w a s

'

abrupt l y recalled to myself— awake n ed I might al most say

by th e soun d o f rapidly app roachin g wh eel s cl ose behi n d m e .

I was o n the dark side o f th e road in th e th ic k shadow o f ,

some garde n tree s whe n I stopped to loo k rou n d O n th e

,
.

opp o site and ligh te r side o f th e way a sh ort di stance b elow

, ,

m e a p oliceman was s trollin g al on g in th e di recti o n o f th e

,

Rege nt s Park ’
.

Th e carri age passe d me — a n O pe n chais e d rive n by two

men .

S top crie d o ne The re s a police man L et s a sk hi m

.
’
.
’
.
’

Th e h orse was i n stantly pulle d up a few yard s beyon d th e ,

dark place whe re I stood .

Police man c ri ed th e fi rst speake r H ave yo u see n a .

woman pass thi s way

What s ort of woman sir ,
9
A wo man in a lave nde r c ol ou red gown -

‘
N o n o i nterp osed th e se con d man Th e cl othe s we
’
.
, ,

gave h e r we re fou nd o n h e r b ed S h e mu s t h ave gon e away .

i n the cl othe s sh e wo re whe n sh e came to u s I n white .

,

police man A woman i n wh ite . .

’

’ ’
I have n t see n he r sir , .

I f you o r any o f you r me n me et with th e wom an stop

, ,

h e r an d se n d h e r i n careful keepi ng to th at addre s s

, I l l pay .
’

all expe n se s an d a fai r reward i n to th e bargain

, .
’

Th e p olice man lo oke d at th e card that w a s han de d down

to hi m .

Why are we t o stop h e r si r What h a s sh e do n e ,

’
D on e ! S h e h a s e scape d fro m my Asyl um D o n t fo r .

get a woman in white D rive o n . .

’

S HE has s a e d fro m my Asylum e c p

I can n ot sa y with truth that th e te rrible i n fe ren ce which
th os e word s su gge ste d fl ashe d up on m e li ke a n ew revelati on .

S ome o f th e stran ge qu estion s put to m e by th e woman in

white afte r my i ll con side re d p rom ise to l eave h e r fre e t o
,
-

act as sh e pleased h ad su gge sted th e con clusio n eithe r that

,

sh e was natu rally fl igh ty an d u n settl ed o r that s om e rece n t ,

sh oc k o f te rror had disturbe d the balance o f h e r facultie s .

21
 T H E WO MAN I N W H I TE

B ut th e ide a of
abs olute i nsanity whi ch we al l associate wi th
th e ve ry name O f an Asylum had I c a n h onestly declare , , ,

n eve r occu rre d to m e i n con nexi on wi th he r ,

I h ad see n .

n othin g i n h e r l an guage o r h e r acti on s t o j u stify i t at th e

, ,

ti me ; a n d eve n with the n ew ligh t th rown o n h e r by the

,

words which th e str a nge r h ad add re sse d to th e p oliceman I ,

c ould see n othin g to j u stify i t n ow .

What had I don e ? Assi sted th e victi m o f th e m ost

h orrible o f all false i mprison ments to e scape ; o r cast l oo se
o n the wid e world o f L o ndon a n u nfortunat e c reature wh os e ,

acti on s i t was my duty an d eve ry man s duty mercifully to ,

’
,

c o ntrol ? I tu rned sic k at h eart whe n the questio n occu rred

to m e an d whe n I fel t self rep roachfully that i t was asked
,
-

t oo late .

I n th e disturbe d s tate o f my mi nd i t was u seles s to thi n k ,

o f going to bed whe n I at l ast got bac k to my chambe rs

,

i n Cle me n t s I n n B efore m any h ou rs e lapse d i t would be

’
.

n eces sary to start o n my j ou rn ey to Cu mbe rlan d I sa t .

d own a n d tried fi rst t o sketch th e n to read — but th e

, ,

woman i n white got betwee n me an d my pe ncil bet wee n m e ,

an d my boo k H a d th e forlorn c reatu re com e to any harm

.
_

That was my fi rst though t though I sh ran k selfi shly fro m ,

confronti ng i t O th er thoughts foll owed o n which i t was

.
,

l es s harrowi ng t o dwell Whe re h ad sh e stop pe d th e c a b ? .

What had be come o f he r n ow ? H ad sh e bee n traced and

captu re d by the me n in th e chaise O r was sh e sti ll capabl e
o f controllin g h e r o w n action s ; an d we re we two followin g

o u r widely parte d roads towards on e p oi n t i n th e myste ri ou s

-

fu tu re a t which we we re to mee t o nce m ore

‘

I t was a relief wh e n the h ou r came to l ock my d oo r to ,

bid farewell to Lon do n pu rsuits Lo ndo n pupils an d Londo n , ,

frien ds an d to be I n m ove me n t agai n towards n ew i n tere st s

,

an d a n ew life Eve n the h u stle a n d c on fusi on at th e railway

.

t e rmi n us s o wearis ome a nd bewilderin g at othe r ti me s rou sed

, ,

m e a nd did me go od .

My travelli ng i n st ructio n s di recte d m e to go to Carli sle ,

an d then to diverge by a b ran ch railway whi ch ran in th e

di rectio n o f the coast As a mi sfortu ne to begi n with o u r
.
,

e ngi ne b roke down betwee n Lan caste r a nd C arlisle Th e .

delay occasi on e d by thi s acci dent cau se d me to be too late

for th e branch train by which I was to have go n e o n im
,

m edi ately I had to wait some h ou rs ; an d whe n a late r

.

t rai n fi n ally d ep o sited m e at th e n earest station to L im m eridge

H o use i t was p ast ten an d th e night was so dark that I
, ,

22
 TH E W O MAN I N W H I T E

c ould h ardly s ee my way to th e p ony chai se which M r Fai rli e - .

had o rde re d to be i n waiting fo r me .

The drive r was evid en tly discomposed by the laten e s s o f

my arrival H e was i n that s tate o f hi ghly re s pectful sul ki
.
-

n e s s which i s peculiar t o E ngli sh se rvants We d rove away .

slowly through the darkn es s in pe rfe ct sile n ce The roads .

we re bad an d th e den se O bscu rity o f th e n igh t i nc rease d

,
‘
th e difli c u lty of gettin g ove r th e grou n d quickly I t wa s by .
,

my watch n early a n h ou r a n d a half from th e time o f ou r

,

l eavi n g th e statio n befo re I heard the so un d O f th e se a i n

the distance and th e crunch of o u r wh eel s o n a s mooth
,

gravel d rive We had pas se d o n e gate before e nte rin g th e

.

d rive an d we pas sed an othe r befo re we d rew u p at th e h ou se

, .

I was receive d by a s ole mn man se rvant o u t O f l ive ry was -

,

i nforme d that th e family h ad retire d fo r th e n igh t an d was ,

the n l e d i nto a large an d l ofty roo m whe re my suppe r was

awaitin g me i n a fo rl o rn man ne r at o ne extre mi ty of a l one
, ,

s ome mah ogany wi lderne s s o f di ni ng table - .

I w a s to o ti re d an d o u t o f spi ri ts to e at o r d rin k mu ch ,

e specially with the solem n se rvan t waiti ng o n me a s e lab o

ra tely as i f a s mal l din n er party h ad arrived at th e h ou se
-

i nstead o f a s olitary m a n I n a quarte r of a n h ou r I was

.

ready to b e take n up t o my bedchambe r Th e s ole mn se rvan t .

co nducted me i nto a prettily fu rni shed room — said B reak ,

fast a t n in e o clock sir — lo oke d all rou n d hi m to see that

’
,

eve rythin g was i n i ts prope r place — an d n oi sele s sly with drew

s
.

What shall I se e in my d reams to night ? I thou ght to -

‘
myself as I pu t o u t th e candle ; the woman in wh ite o r
,

the u n known i nhabitants o f thi s Cu mbe rlan d man si on It

was a stran ge se n sati on to b e sle epi ng i n th e h ous e li ke a ,

frie n d o f th e family a n d yet n ot t o kn ow o n e o f th e i n mate s

,

eve n by sight

W H E N I rose th e n ext mornin g a n d d rew u p my bli nd th e ,

se a o pe ne d b efore me j oyously u nde r th e b road Augu st

su nligh t an d th e distant coast of S cotlan d fri nge d th e ho rizo n
,

with its li ne s of me lti ng blue .

Th e V iew was such a su rp ri se an d such a change to me , ,

afte r my weary Londo n expe rie n ce o f b ric k an d m ortar

landscape th at I seemed to bu rst i nto a n ew life an d a n ew
,

set O f th ou ghts th e m omen t I looked at i t A confu se d .

se nsati on o f havin g sudde nly lost my familiarity with th e

p ast with o u t a c qu iri ng any addition al clearne ss of idea in
,

23
 T H E W O MAN I N W H I T E

refe re nce to the p re se nt o r th é future too k po sses si on o f my ,

mi nd . C i rcum stance s th at were bu t a few days o ld fad ed ,

bac k in my memory as i f they h ad happe ne d m onth s an d

,

m onth s si n ce Pe sca s qu ai n t an n ou nceme nt O f th e mean s

.
’

by whi ch h e had p rocu red me my p re se nt employment ; th e

farewell eve nin g I had pas sed wi th my mothe r an d siste r ;
eve n my myste riou s adve n tu re o n th e way h ome fro m H amp
stead— had all become l ike eve nts which migh t h ave occurred
at som e fo rmer epoch O f my e xi sten ce Although th e .

wo man in white was still in my mi nd the image o f he r ,

see med to have grown dull an d fai nt already .

A li ttle befo re n in e O cloc k I de sce nde d to th e grou nd

’

fl o o r of th e h ou se The s ole m n m a n servan t o f th e ni ght

.
-

b efo re met me wande ri n g amon g the pas sage s an d c o m ,

passio nate ly sh owed me the way t o th e breakfast ro om - .

My fi rst glance rou n d m e a s the m a n O pe ne d the doo r , ,

di sclose d a well furni she d b reakfast table standi n g in th e

- -
,

m iddle o f a l on g ro om with many wi ndows i n i t , I l oo ke d .

from the table to the wi ndow farthe st fro m me and sa w ,

a lady standi n g at i t with h e r back tu rn ed toward s m e, .

The i nstant my eye s re ste d o n he r I was st ruck by the rare ,

beauty o f he r fo rm an d by th e u na ff ected grace o f he r

,

attitude . H e r fi gu re was tall yet n ot to o tall co me ly and ,

well developed ye t n o t fat ; he r head set o n he r sh ou lders

-
,

wi th an easy plian t fi rmn es s ; he r wai st pe rfectio n in th e

, ,

eyes O f a m a n fo r i t occupied its n atu ral place i t fi lled ou t

, ,

i ts natu ral ci rcle i t w a s vi si bly and d elightfu lly u n defo rme d

,

by stays S he had n ot heard my e ntrance i nt o the room ;

.

an d I allowe d myself the l uxu ry o f admi rin g h e r fo r a few

m omen ts befo re I m oved o n e o f th e chai rs n ear m e as th e
, ,

least e mbarras si ng m ean s o f attracti n g he r atte n tion She .

tu rn ed toward s me i mmediately Th e easy e legan ce o f .

eve ry m ove me nt o f he r limb s an d body a s s oo n a s sh e be gan

to advan ce from the far e n d o f th e ro om set m e in a fl utte r ,

o f expectati o n t o see h e r face clearly S h e left the wi ndow .

—a nd I said to myself The lady i s dark S he move d

, .

forward a few step s— and I said to myself Th e lady i s ,

youn g S h e approach ed n eare r— an d I s a i d to myself (with

.

a sen se O f surprise which words fai l me to exp res s) The lady ,

is ugly
N eve r was the o ld co nve nti onal maxim that N atu re ,

cann ot e rr mo re flatly c ontradicted —n eve r was the fai r

,

p romise o f a lovely figu re m o re strange ly an d sta rtlingly belied

by the face a nd head that c rown e d i t The lady s complexi on .
’

was alm ost swarthy an d the dark down o n he r upper lip,

24
 T H E W O MAN I N WH ITE

Fai rlie s i nvalid c on diti on ) we p roduce d n o su ch conve n ien c e

’

i n th e h ou se a s a fl irta ble dan ceable s mall tal kabl e c re atu re, ,

-

o f the mal e s ex ; a n d th e con se que n ce was we did n oth i n g ,

bu t quarrel e specially at din n e r time

, H ow c a n you expect -
.

fou r wo men to din e togethe r alon e eve ry day a n d n o t quarrel ,

We are such fo ol s we can t e nte rtai n each othe r at table

,
’
.

Yo u see I don t thi n k much O f my o w n sex M r Ha rtrigh t

’
,
.

which wi ll you h ave tea o r c o ff ee — n o w o man doe s th in k

,

much of he r o w n s ex although few of the m confe ss i t a s,

freely as I do D ea r m e you l ook puzzled Why ? Are

.
, .

you won de rin g wh at you wil l h ave fo r b reakfast ? o r are you

su rp ri se d at my carele s s way o f talkin g ? I n th e fi rs t case ,

I advi s e you a s a frie nd t o have n othin g t o d o wi th that

, ,

c ol d h am at you r el bow a n d t o wait till th e o melette co me s

,

in
. I n the se con d case I will give yo u s om e tea t o c ompo se
,

you r S pi rits a n d d o all a wo man c a n (which i s ve ry little by

, ,

the by) t o h ol d my tongu e

- .
’

S he han ded m e my cup o f tea lau ghi ng gai ly H e r ligh t , .

fl ow of tal k a n d h e r lively familiarity o f man ne r wi th a total

,

strange r we re accom pani e d by an u na ff e cte d n atu ral ne s s an d

,

a n easy i nb orn confi den ce i n h e rse lf a n d he r p o siti on wh ich ,

wou ld h ave secu red h e r th e re sp ect o f th e m ost audacio u s

m a n b reathi ng While i t was imp ossible to b e fo rmal an d
.

re se rve d i n he r company i t was m ore than i mp ossi ble t o take

,

t h e fai nte st ve stige of a li be rty with h e r eve n in th ought ,

.

I felt th i s i n stinctively eve n whi le I caugh t th e i nfecti on of

,

h e r o w n b ri ght gaiety of spi ri ts —e ve n whil e I d id my be st to

an swe r he r in h e r o w n fran k lively way , .

‘ ’
Y es ye s sh e said whe n I h ad s ugge ste d th e only ex
, , ,

p l a n a tio n I c oul d O ff e r t o accoun t fo r my pe rplexe d lo oks

, ,

I u nde rstan d You are such a p e rfect strange r in the ho use

.
,

that yo u are puzzle d by my familiar refe re nce s to th e wo rthy

i nhabitants . N atu ral en ough I ough t to h ave tho u gh t o f i t
b efore At any rate I c a n set i t right n ow S upp ose I
.
, .

begi n with myself so a s to ge t d on e with that part o f th e

,

subj ect as s oon as p o ssi bl e My name i s M arian H alc ombe

a n d I am a s i naccu rate a s wome n u sually are i n callin g M r
, , .

Fairlie my u n cle a n d M i s s Fai rlie my si ste r My m oth e r

, .

was twi ce marri e d : the fi rst ti me to M r H alco mb e my .

,
’
fath e r th e second ti me to M r Fai rlie my half si ste r s fathe r .
,
- .

Except that we are b oth o rphan s we are in e ve ry re spect as ,

unli ke each othe r a s p os si ble My fath e r was a p oo r man .

,

and M iss Fai rli e s fath e r w a s a ri ch m a n I have got n othin g

’
.
,

a n d sh e has a fortun e I am dark an d ugly a n d sh e i s fai r

.
,

a n d p retty . E ve rybody thi nks me c rabbe d and o dd (with

26
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E
‘

p e rfect j ustice ) ; a nd eve ryb ody thin k s he r swee t temp ered -

an d charming (with m o re j u stic e still ) I n sh ort sh e i s a n .

,

angel ; a nd I am Try s ome o f that m armalad e M r , ,

Ha rtrigh t and fin ish th e se nte n ce i n the n ame of fe mal e p ro

, ,

p riety fo r you rself

,
What am I t o tel l you about M r . .

Fai rli e ? Up o n my h on ou r I h ardly k n ow H e i s su re to , .

se n d for yo u afte r b reakfast an d you c a n study hi m fo r you r ,

self I n th e m eanti me I m ay i nfo rm you fi rst th at h e i s

.
, , ,
’
th e late M r Fai rlie s yo un ge r b roth e r ; sec o n dly that h e i s a
.
,

single m an ; a nd th i rdly that h e i s M i s s F ai rli e s guard

'
’

, ,
’
I wo n t li ve without he r an d sh e can t live with ou t m e an d
’
,

that i s h ow I com e t o be at Lim m eridge H ou se My si ste r . .

a n d I are h o ne stly fon d o f each othe r ; which yo u wil l say , ,

i s pe rfectly u naccou n table u n de r th e ci rcum stan ce s a n d I , ,

quite agree with yo u — b ut s o i t i s You mu st p lease bo th o f .

u s M r Ha rtrigh t o r p lease n eith e r o f u s a n d what i s still

, .
, ,

m ore t ryi ng yo u wi ll b e th rown e n ti re ly u po n o u r s ociety

, .

M rs Ve sey i s a n exce lle nt pe rs on wh o p o ss e s se s al l the

.
,

cardinal vi rtue s an d co u nts fo r n othi n g ; an d M r Fai rli e i s

,
.

too great a n invali d to b e a compan io n fo r anybody I d on t .

’

kn ow what i s th e matter with hi m an d th e d octo rs don t ,

’

k n ow what is th e matte r with hi m a n d he doe s n t kn ow ,

’

hi mse lf wh at i s th e matte r with hi m We al l say it s o n th e .

’

n e rve s an d we n o n e o f u s kn ow what we mean wh e n we sa y

,

it
. H oweve r I advi se yo u to h umou r h i s little p ecu liaritie s
, ,

wh e n you see h im to day Admi re h is collecti o n o f coin s - .

,

p ri n ts a nd wate r col ou r d rawi n gs an d you wi ll w in h is

,
-
,

h eart U po n my wo rd i f you c a n b e co nte nted wi th a qu iet

.
,

coun try life I do n t see why you sh oul d n o t ge t o n ve ry wel l

,
’

he re F rom b reakfast t o lu n ch M r Fai rlie s d rawi n gs wi ll

.
, .
’

occupy y o u Afte r l unch M i s s Fai rli e a nd I sh oulde r ou r

.
,

sketch bo oks an d go o u t to mi srep re se n t n atu re u n de r you r

-
, ,

di rection s D rawi ng i s h er favou ri te wh im mi nd n ot m i ne

.
, , .

Wome n can t draw— thei r mi n ds are t oo fl igh ty an d th ei r

’
,

eye s are to o i natte ntive N o matte r— m y si ste r li ke s it ; so .

I waste pai nt and sp oi l pape r fo r he r sake as com po sedly as , ,

an
y woman i n E ngland A s fo r th e eve n in gs I thi n k we ca n
.
,

h elp y o u th rough them M is s Fairlie plays de ligh tfully . For .

my o w n po or part I do n t kn ow o n e n ote o f mu si c fro m th e

,
’

othe r ; but I c a n match you at che s s backgammo n é cart é , , ,

an d (with the i nevitable femal e d rawbacks ) eve n at billiard s

as well What d o yo u thin k o f th e p rogramm e ? C a n yo u
.

recon cil e you rself to ou r quiet regular life o r do you mean ,

t o b e re stle ss an d sec retly thi rst fo r C han ge an d adve ntu re

, ,

i n the h u mdru m atmo sphe re O f L im m eridge H ou se

l
2 7
 T HE W O M AN I N W H I T E

S h e had thu s far in h e r grace fully bante rin g way

ru n o n , ,

with n o othe r i nte rrupti on s o n my p art th an th e u n impo rtan t

re plie s wh ich p oliten e s s requ i re d o f m e Th e tu rn o f th e ex .

p re ssio n h oweve r i n h e r last qu e sti on o r rathe r the o n e

, , ,

chan ce wo rd adven tu re ligh tly a s i t fe ll from h e r li ps

, ,
’
,

re calle d my th ough ts to my m eetin g with the woman in wh ite ,

a n d u rge d me to di scove r th e co n ne cti o n which th e stran ger s

’

o wn refe re n ce to M rs F ai rlie i nfo rme d m e m us t o nce have

.

exi ste d betwee n th e namele ss fu gitive fro m th e Asylu m an d ,

the forme r mi st re s s o f L im m eridge H ou se .

Eve n if I we re th e m ost re stle s s o f m an ki nd I said I ,

’
,

sho uld be in n o dan ge r o f thi rsti n g afte r adve n tu re s fo r s om e

t im e to come Th e ve ry n igh t before I arrive d at th i s h ou se
.
,

I m et with a n adve n tu re an d th e wo n de r an d excitem en t O f

i t I c a n assu re you M i s s H a l com be will last m e fo r th e
, , ,

wh ol e te rm o f my stay in Cu mbe rland i f no t fo r a m uch ,

l onge r pe ri od .
’

Y o u do n t sa y s o M r H a rtrigh t May I hear i t

’
.
,
‘
Y o u h ave a claim to h e ar i t Th e chi ef pe rso n in th e .

adve ntu re was a total stran ge r to m e an d m ay pe rhap s b e ,

a total stran ge r to yo u b ut sh e ce rtain ly m en tio n ed th e name

o f the late M rs Fairli e in te rm s O f th e si n ce rest gratitu d e an d
.

’
regard .

’
M e ntion e d my m oth e r s n ame ! Y o u i n te re st m e i n de
s c riba b l
’

y P ray go o n
. .

I at o nce related th e ci rcu mstan ce s u n de r wh ich I had me t

the woman in wh ite exactly as they had o ccu rre d a nd I re ,

p ea ted wh at sh e had sai d to m e about M rs Fai rlie an d .

Lim m eridge H ou se wo rd fo r wo rd , .

M is s H a lc o m be s b ri gh t re solute eye s l ooked eagerly i nto

’

mi ne fro m th e begi n nin g o f the n arrative to the e nd

, Her .

face e xp re s se d vivi d i nte re st a n d astoni sh men t bu t n othin g ,

more . S h e w a s evide ntly as far fro m kn owin g o f any cl u e to

th e myste ry as I was mysel f .

Are you quite su re o f th ose words refe rrin g to my

Q
m othe r sh e asked .

’
uite su re I replied Wh oeve r sh e may be th e
,
.
,

wom an was onc e at sch ool i n th e vi llage o f Lim m eridge wa s ,

t reated wi th e special ki ndne s s by M rs Fai rlie and i n gratefu l .

, ,

re me mb rance O f th at ki ndne s s feel s a n a ff ecti on ate i nte re st ,

i n a l l su rvivin g membe rs o f th e family S he kn ew that M rs . .

Fai rli e a n d he r hu sban d we re both dead ; an d sh e sp oke o f

M i s s Fai rlie as if they h ad known each ot h e r whe n they we re
’
childre n .

28
 TH E WO MAN I N W H I T E

You said I th in k that sh e de nie d be longi ng t o thi s

, ,

place
Y es sh e told me sh e came from H amp sh i re
’
, .

An d yo u e nti re ly fail ed to fi n d o u t he r name

E nti rely .
’

Very s tran ge I thin k yo u we re quite j u stified M r

.
, .

Ha rtrigh t i n givi n g th e p o or c reatu re he r libe rty fo r sh e

, ,

see ms to h ave d on e n othi n g in you r p re se nce to sh ow he rself

unfit to enj oy i t B u t I wi sh you had bee n a li ttl e m or e
.

fi
re solute about fi ndi n g o u t h e r n ame We m u st really clear -
.

up thi s myste ry i n s om e way Y o u had be tte r n o t sp eak o f

, .

i t ye t to M r Fai rlie o r to my si ste r Th ey are b oth o f them

.
, .
,

I am ce rtain quite as i gno ran t o f wh o th e woman i s an d of

, ,

what he r pas t h is to ry in con nexi on with u s c a n be as I am ,

myse lf B u t they are als o in wi dely di ff e re n t ways rath e r

.
, ,

n e rvou s an d se n si tive ; an d you would only dget o n e a n d

alarm th e othe r t o n o pu rp ose As fo r myse lf I am al l a fl a m e .
,

wi th cu ri osity an d I d evote my wh ol e e ne rgie s to th e bu si ne s s

,

o f di scove ry fro m th i s m ome n t Wh e n my m othe r came he re .

afte r he r se cond marriage sh e ce rtai nly e stabli she d th e ,

lla ge school j ust as i t exi sts at the p re sen t ti me B ut th e .

O l d teache rs are al l dead o r gone e lsewh ere an d n o e n lighte n ,

me n t i s to be h ope d fo r from that q u arte r Th e o nly othe r .

alte rnative I c a n thi n k o f

At thi s p oi n t we we re i nte rrupte d by th e e n tranc e O f th e
se rvant with a me s sage fro m M r Fai rlie i nti matin g that h e
, .
,

woul d be glad to s ee me a s s oo n as I had do n e b re akfast ,

.

‘
Wai t in th e hall sai d M i ss H alcombe an swe ri n g th e ,
’
,

se rvant for me in he r qui ck ready way , M r Ha rtrigh t wil l , . .

’
come o u t di re ctly I was ab ou t to say sh e we n t o n add re s s
.
, ,

in g m e again that my si ste r an d I have a large colle cti on o f

,

my mothe r s lette rs addre sse d t o my fathe r an d to h e rs In

’
.
,

the abse nce o f any othe r mean s o f ge ttin g i nformation I wil l ,

’
pas s th e m o rn i ng in l o oking ove r my m othe r s co rre spon de n ce
with M r Fai rlie . H e was fon d O f London an d was c o n
.
,

sta n tly away from h i s country h ome and sh e w a s accu stomed ,

at su ch time s to write an d rep ort to h i m h o w things we n t o n
,

at Lim m eridge H e r le tte rs a re full o f reference s to th e

.

sch ool i n wh ich sh e too k so stron g an i n te re st an d I thin k

i t mo re than like ly th at I may h ave di scove re d s ometh in g
whe n we meet agai n The lunche on h ou r i s two M r H art .
,
.

righ t I sh a ll h ave th e ple asure o f i ntrodu cin g you to my

.

si ste r by that ti me an d we wi ll occu py the afte rn oo n in dri vin g

,

roun d the n eighb ou rh o od a n d sh owin g yo u all o u r pe t p oi n ts

o f view
’ ’
. Till two o cl ock the n farewe ll , , .

29
 T HE WO N N IN W HIT E
Sh c no dded to mc wil h t
men t o f fnm ilia rity whic h
,

wwards me M and fo nm th e m t oa
fi rst time to th c, prc sencc ol (r F nidic
. .

ll

Mr me 0 9 -5 t
co nductor led A
back to th e bedc ha m bor in wit h l
igh t ; a nd O peni ng th e do o m
n
in 0

l ha ve c r s o rdd sh a t W
'
tn ou
y
J
 S h e n odde d
T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E

to me with th e lively grace th e de lightful re ne

m e nt of familiari ty wh ich characte ri se d all that sh e di d an d
,

all th at sh e said an d di sappeare d by a d oo r at the l owe r e n d

o f th e room As s oon a s she h ad left m e I tu rne d my s tep s
.
,

,
fi
towards the hall an d followe d th e se rvant o n my way , fo r the
,

fi rst ti me to th e pre se nce O f M r Fai rlie

,
. .

M Y conducto r l e d me stai rs i n to a pas sage which too k u s

up-
back to the be dchambe r in whi ch I had slept duri n g the past
n igh t ; a n d ope ni n g the doo r n ext to i t begge d m e to loo k ,

1n .

I h ave my maste r s o rde rs to sh ow you you r o w n si tti n g

’

ro om sir s ai d th e man an d to i n qui re if y ou app rove o f

, ,
’
,
’
the si tuati on an d the light .

I mu s t h ave bee n hard to please i ndee d if I h ad n ot , ,

app rove d O f the ro om a n d o f eve rythi ng about it The b ow

,
.

wi ndow l ooked o u t o n the same l ove ly view which I h ad

admi re d i n the m o rnin g from my bed ro om The furni tu re
, , .

was the pe rfe cti on O f luxu ry an d beauty th e table in the

ce n tre was b righ t wi th gaily boun d boo ks ele gan t c o nv eni ,

en c e s fo r writi ng a n d beautiful flowe rs ; the seco n d tab l e

, n ear ,

the window was Cove re d wi th all the n e ce ssary m ate ri al s fo r

,

m ounting wate r colou r drawi ngs an d h ad a little ease l

-
,

attache d t o i t whi ch I could e xpand o r fold up at will th e

,

walls we re hun g with gaily ti nte d C hintz an d the fl oo r was

sp re ad wi th I n dian m atti ng in maize colou r a n d re d I t was - .

th e p re ttie st a n d m ost luxu ri ous littl e sittin g room I had eve r -

see n a n d I admi re d i t with th e warme st enthu si as m .

Th e s ole mn se rvan t was far to o high ly train ed to betray

the sligh te st sati sfacti on H e bowe d with i cy defe re n ce whe n
.

my te rm s O f eulogy we re al l exhau sted an d sile ntly O pe ned ,

th e doo r for me to go ou t i n to th e passage agai n .

We tu rne d a co rn e r an d e nte red a l ong secon d pas sage

, ,

ascen de d a sh ort fligh t o f stai rs at the e nd c ros sed a small ,

ci rcular u ppe r h all a n d s toppe d i n fron t O f a doo r cove re d

,

wi th dark baize Th e se rvan t O pe ne d thi s door an d le d me

.
,

o n a few yard s to a second O pene d that als o an d discl osed ,

two cu rtai n s o f pale sea gree n sil k han gin g before u s rai se d-

o n e o f them n oi sele ssly s oftly u tte red th e words M r H art , .

’
right an d left me
, .

I foun d myself in a large l ofty room with a m agni fi cen t , ,

carved ce ilin g an d with a carpe t ove r th e fl oo r s o thic k an d

, ,

soft that it felt li ke pi le s o f ve lve t u n de r my fee t O n e si de .

30
 T H E WO MA N I N WH ITE

m o rni ng s expe rien c e o f M i s s H alcombe had p re di sp ose d m e

’

t o be please d with eve rybody in the h ou se ; but my sympa

thies shut them selve s up res olutely at the first sight o f M r .

Fai rli e .

O n app roachi ng n eare r to h im I disc ove re d that h e was n ot

,

s o en ti rely wi th out occupati on as I had at fi rst supposed .

Placed amid th e othe r rare an d beautiful objects o n a large

roun d table n ear him was a dwarf cabi ne t in e bony an d silve r
, ,

c ontain in g coin s o f all sh ape s a n d size s se t o u t i n li ttle ,

d rawers line d wi th dark pu rpl e velvet O n e o f th ese d rawe rs .

lay o n th e smal l table attache d to hi s chai r ; an d near i t we re

s om e ti ny j ewelle rs brush es a washleath e r stump an d
’
, ,
’

a little bott l e o f liqui d al l waiting to be u sed in vari ou s ways

,

fo r th e re moval o f any accide ntal impu ritie s which m igh t be

di scove re d on th e coi n s H i s frail white fin ge rs we re listle ssly
.

toyi ng with s omething wh ich l ooked t o my u ni n structed eyes , ,

li ke a di rty pewte r medal wi th ragged e dge s whe n I advan ced ,

within a re spectful di stan ce o f h i s chai r and s topp ed to m ake ,

my bo w .

S o glad to p os se s s you at L im m eridge M r H a rtrigh t , .

,
’

h e sai d i n a que rul ous c roakin g v oi ce which combi n ed i n

, , ,

anything but a n agreeable mann e r a di sco rdantly high ton e ,

wi th a d rowsily lan gui d u tte rance Pray si t down An d

. .

’
d on t t rou ble you rself to m ove th e ch ai r please I n the , .

wretche d state of my n e rves m ovemen t o f any ki n d i s ex

,

q u i s it ely p ai nful to m e H ave you

. see n you r s tudi o ? Will
it do
I have j ust com e from seein g th e room M r F ai rli e an d , .

I a s su re you
H e stopped m e in th e mi ddle o f th e se nten ce by clo si n g hi s ,

eyes a nd h oldi n g u p o n e of hi s white h and s im ploringly I

, .

pau sed i n aston ishmen t a n d th e croakin g voi ce h onou red me

wi th thi s explanation
Pray excu se m e B u t cou ld yo u co ntrive t o speak in a
.

l owe r key I n th e wretche d state o f my n erves l ou d s oun d ,

o f any kin d i s i nde sc ri bable to rtu re to m e Y o u will pardon .

a n i nvalid I on ly sa y to you what th e lame n table state o f

my health obli ge s m e to say to eve rybody Ye s An d you . .

re ally like th e room

I coul d wi sh fo r n othi ng p rettie r an d n othi n g m ore c o m
’
fo rtable I an swe red d roppi ng my voi ce an d beginn in g to
, , ,
’
di scove r al ready that M r Fai rlie s selfi sh a ffectati on an d M r
. .

’
Fairlie s wretche d n e rve s mean t o n e an d th e same thing .

S o glad Y o u will fi n d you r positi on he re M r H a rtrigh t

.
, .
,

p rope rly recognised The re i s n on e o f the h orrid En glish

.

32
 TH E WO MAN I N W H I T E

barbarity o f feeling about the social p ositi on o f a n arti st in ,

thi s h ou se S o m uch o f my e arly life h a s been passe d abroad

.
,

that I have quite cast my i n sular s ki n in that re spect I wi sh .

I could s ay the sam e o f th e gentry— dete stable wo rd bu t I ,

suppos e I mu st u s e it— o f th e ge nt ry in the n eigh bou rh ood .

They are sa d G oths i n Art M r H a rtrigh t Pe ople I d o , . .

,

a ssu re yo u wh o would h ave ope ne d thei r eye s i n aston i shme nt

, ,

if they had see n Ch arle s the Fifth pic k up Ti tian s b rus h fo r him ’
.

D o you m in d puttin g thi s tray o f coi n s back in th e cabi n e t ,

an d givin g me the n ext on e t o i t I n th e wretche d s tate o f

my ne rve s exe rti on o f any ki n d i s u n sp eakably di sagreeabl e
,

t o me Y es Than k yo u
. . .
’

As a p racti cal commentary o n th e libe ral social th e o ry

which h e h ad j ust favoured me by illu stratin g M r Fai rlie s , .
’

cool reque st rathe r amu sed me I put bac k o n e drawe r an d .

gave him th e othe r wi th all pos si ble p olite ne ss

, H e began .

tri flin g wi th th e ne w set o f coi n s an d the little bru she s i mm e

dia tely languidly loo kin g at the m an d admi rin g the m all th e
tim e he was sp eaking t o me .

A thousan d than ks an d a th ousan d excu se s D o you lik e .

coin s Yes S o glad we have an othe r taste i n commo n

beside s o u r taste for Art N ow about th e pe cuniary arrange .
,

men ts betwee n u s— d o tell m e — are they sati sfactory

M ost satisfacto ry M r Fai rlie , . .
’

S o glad And— what n ext ? Ah ! I re me mbe r Ye s

. . .

I n reference to the c on side rati on whic h yo u are go o d e n ough

t o accept for givi ng m e the be nefi t o f you r accom pli shmen ts
in art my steward wil l wait o n you at th e e n d o f the fi rst wee k
, ,

to asce rtai n you r wi she s An d— w hat n ext ? Cu ri ou s i s i t .

,

n ot I had a great deal m ore to say an d I appe ar t o h ave

quite forgotten i t D o yo u mi n d tou ch in g th e be ll ? I n that
.

’
co rne r Ye s Than k yo u
. . .

I rang an d a n ew se rvan t n oi se le ssl y made h is appe arance

—a fo reigne r with a set smile an d pe rfe ctly b ru she d hai r— a
,

valet eve ry i nch o f him .

L oui s sai d M r Fai rlie d reamily du sti ng th e tip s of his

,
’
.
,
‘
fin ge rs with o ne o f th e ti ny bru she s fo r th e coi n s I made ,

s ome e ntrie s in my tablette s thi s m o rni ng Fi nd my tablette s . .

A thousand pardon s M r H a rtrigh t I m afrai d I bo re you

, .
,
’
.
’

As he wearily clo se d h is eye s agai n befo re I coul d an swe r , ,

a n d as h e did most assu redly bore me I sa t sile nt an d l oo ke d , ,

u p at th e M ado n na an d Chi ld by R aphael I n th e m ean time .

,

the vale t left th e room an d retu rned sh ortly wi th a little ivory

,

book . M r Fai rlie afte r fi rst reli evin g hi mself by a gentl e

.
,

sigh let the b ook d rop ope n with o ne h and an d h eld u p th e

, ,

33 D
 TH E W O MAN I N W H I TE

ti n y b rush with th e othe r as a sign t o th e s e rvan t to w ai t fo r

,

fu rth er orde rs .

’
Ye s J ust so ! said M r Fai rli e con sultin g th e tablette s
. .
, .

fi
L oui s take down that p o rtfoli o
,
H e p oi nted as h e sp oke .
’
, ,

t o seve ral p ortfoli o s p lace d n ea r th e wi n dow o n m ahogany ,

stands NO
. N ot the o n e with th e green bac k— that co n
.

tain s my R emb ran dt etchin gs M r H a rtrigh t D o yo u like ,

. .

etchi ngs Ye s S o glad we have an othe r taste i n common .

’
The p o rtfoli o with th e red back Loui s D o n t d rop it You , .

h ave n o i dea o f th e t ortu re s I sh oul d su er M r H a rtrigh t , .

,

Loui s droppe d that p o rtfoli o I s i t safe th e chai r ? Do

if o n .

y ou thin k i t safe M r H a rtri gh t , Ye s ? S o glad . Wi l l .

y o u oblige m e by l ooki n g at th e d rawi n gs if you really th i nk ,

they are quite safe Lou i s go away What an a ss yOu

.
, .

are . D on t you se e m e h oldi n g the tablette s

’
D o yo u
suppo se I w ant to h old them Th e n why n ot reli eve m e o f
the tablette s with out be i ng told A th ou sand pardon s M r , .

H a rtrigh t ; servants are such asses are th ey n ot ? D o tel l ,

fi
me — what do yo u thi n k o f th e drawi ngs ? They have com e
from a sale in a sh ockin g state — I though t they smelt o f
h orrid dealers an d b roke rs fin ge rs whe n I l ooked at the m
’ ’

l ast . C a n yo u u nde rtake the m

Alth ou gh my ne rve s we re n ot de li cate e n ough to detect
th e o dou r of plebeian fi ngers wh ich had o ffe n de d M r Fai rlie s .
’

n ostri ls my taste w a s s u f c ie ntly e ducated to e n able m e to

,

app reciate th e valu e o f th e d rawin gs wh ile I tu rn e d the m ,

ove r Th ey we re fo r th e m ost part really fin e speci men s o f

.
, ,

E nglish wate r colou r Art an d th ey had dese rve d much

-

bette r treatme nt at th e han ds o f th ei r forme r p oss e ss o r than

th ey app eare d t o have received .

‘ ‘
The d rawin gs I an swe red requi re carefu l s trainin g
,
’
,

an d mou nti n g ; a n d in my opi nion th ey are well wo rth , ,

‘ ‘
I be g you r pardon i nte rp o sed M r Fai rlie D o yo u
,
’
. .

min d my cl osin g my eye s whil e yo u speak Even th i s light

i s t oo much fo r them Ye s .

I was ab out to say that th e d rawi ngs are well wo rth all
the ti me an d trouble
M r Fai rli e s udden ly O p ened hi s eye s agai n a nd ro lled the m
wit h a n exp re s si o n o f h elple ss alarm in the di re ctio n o f th e
.
,

wi nd o w .

‘
I e ntreat you t o excus e m e M r H a rtrigh t he said in , .
,
’

a feeble flutte r B u t su rely I h ear s om e h orri d chi ldre n in

.

the ga rde n — m y p rivate garde n — bel ow .

I can t say M r Fai rli e

’
I heard nothi ng myself
, . . .
’

O blige m e— yo u have bee n s o ve ry go od i n hum o u rin g

’

34
 T H E WO M A N I N W H I TE

my p oo r n e rve s o bli ge m e by liftin g u p a co rne r of th e blin d

- .

D o n t le t th e su n i n o n me M r Ha rtrigh t ! H ave yo u got

’
, .

th e bli n d u p ? Ye s ? The n will yo u b e s o ve ry ki n d as to

l oo k i nt o th e garde n an d make quite su re
I c om pli e d with thi s n ew reque st Th e garde n was care .

fully walled i n all round , N ot a h u man c reatu re large o r .

,

small appeared in any p art o f th e s acre d s eclu s ion

, I .

rep o rted that gratifyi n g fact t o M r Fai rlie . .

‘
A th ousan d than ks M y fan cy I sup p o s e The re a re
.
, .

n o chi ldre n than k H eaven in th e h ou s e ; bu t th e se rvan ts

, ,

(pe rs on s bo rn with ou t n e rve s ) wi ll e n cou rage th e chi ldre n

from th e vi llage S u ch b rats o h de ar m e su ch brats !
.
-
, ,

S hall I co nfes s it , M r H a rtrigh t —I s adly want a reform .

in th e co n st ructi on o f ch ildre n
’
N atu re s o n ly i de a seem s t o .

be to make the m mach ine s fo r th e p roducti o n o f i n ce ssan t

’
n oi se . S urely o u r de li ghtfu l Ra ff aell o s con ceptio n i s i nfin itely
p refe rabl e
H e p oi n ted to th e pi ctu re o f the M ado n n a th e u ppe r part ,

o f which rep rese nted th e conve n tio nal ch e ru bs o f I talian A rt ,

celestially p rovi ded wi th sittin g accomm odati o n fo r thei r chi ns ,

Q
o n bal lo o n s o f b u ff colou red cloud - .

’
ui te a m od el fami ly ! sai d M r F ai rlie le e rin g at the .
,

che ru bs S uch n ice roun d face s an d s uch n i ce soft wi n gs

.
, ,

a n d— n oth in g e ls e N O di rty littl e legs to ru n abou t o n an d

.
,

n o n oi sy little lu n gs t o scream with H ow i m m easu rably .

supe ri o r t o the exi sti n g co n structio n ! I wi ll cl os e my eye s

agai n i f you wi ll allow m e An d yo u really can man age the
,
.

drawi n gs ? S o glad I s the re anythi n g e lse t o settle ? if

.

th e re i s I thi n k I have fo rgotte n i t

, S h al l we ri n g fo r Loui s .

agai n
B ei n g , by thi s ti me quite as anxi ou s o n my s ide as M r, , , .

Fairli e evide n tly wa s o n h i s to bri n g th e i nte rvi ew t o a ,

spee dy con clu sion , I though t I wou ld t ry t o re n de r th e

summo ni n g o f th e s ervant u n n ece ssary by O ff e rin g th e ,

requi si te su gge sti o n o n my o w n re spo n si bili ty .

’
Th e o n ly poi nt M r Fai rl ie that remai n s to b e di scu ssed
, .
, ,

I said refe rs I thi n k t o th e i n structi o n in s ketchin g whi ch

, , ,

I am e ngaged t o co mm un icate t o the two you n g ladie s .

’

‘ ‘
Ah ! j u st so sai d M r Fai rli e I wi sh I felt st ron g
’
. .
,

e n ough t o go i nto that part o f th e arran ge m e n t — bu t I do n t ’

.

Th e ladie s wh o p rofit by you r ki n d s e rv ice s M r H a rtrigh t

, ,
.
,

mu st settle an d de ci de an d so o n fo r th e m s elve s
,
My niec e ,
.

i s fo nd o f you r charm in g art S he kn ows j u st e n ou gh about .

i t to be co n scio u s o f h er o w n sad defe cts Please take pai n s .

with he r Ye s . I s the re anythin g el se

. No We quit e .

35 D 2
 T H E W O M AN I N W H IT E

u nde rstan d each don t weothe r—

I have n o righ t to detai n’

o u any longe r from you r delightful pu rsuit — have I ? S o

y
p leasant t o h ave settled everythi ng— such a se n sible relief t o
have don e busi nes s D o you mi n d ri nging fo r Loui s t o carry
.

the po rtfoli o t o you r own room

I will carry i t the re myself M r Fai rlie if yo u will allow
, , .
,

Wi ll yo u really ? Are you s trong e n ough ? H ow n ic e

’
to be so stron g Are you su re yo u won t d rop i t S o glad
to posse s s you at Lim m eridge M r H a rtrigh t I am such a ,
. .

su ff e re r that I hardly dare h ope to e nj oy much o f you r s ociety .

Would yo u m in d takin g gre at pai n s n o t to le t th e d oors ban g ,

a n d n ot t o d rop th e p ortfoli o Than k yo u Ge ntly with th e .

c urtai n s plea se — the slighte st n oise fro m the m goe s th rough

,

fi
m e li ke a kn ife Ye s . G ood m orn in g
.

Whe n th e sea gre e n cu rtai n s we re closed an d whe n the

-
,

tw o baize doors we re shut beh in d me I stoppe d for a m ome n t ,

i n th e little ci rcular hall beyond an d d rew a l on g luxu ri ou s , ,

b reath o f re lief I t was li ke c omin g to th e s u rface o f th e

.

wate r afte r dee p divi ng t o n d myself on ce m o re o n th e o u t

,

s ide o f M r Fai rli e s room

.
’
.

As s oo n as I was c omfortably e stabli sh ed for the m orni n g

i n my p retty little s tu di o th e fi rs t re soluti on at which I arrive d
,

was to tu rn my steps n o m ore in th e di re ctio n o f th e apart

me nts occupi ed by the maste r o f the house excep t in th e ve ry ,

imp robable eve nt o f hi s h on ou ri ng me with a speci al i nvi tati on

t o pay hi m an othe r vi si t H avi n g settled thi s sati sfacto ry
.

plan o f futu re c onduct in refe ren ce to M r Fai rl ie I s oo n

,
.
,

re cove re d th e se renity o f tempe r O f whi ch my e mpl oye r s ’

h aughty famili ari ty an d i mpude n t p oli te n e s s h ad for th e ,

m omen t dep rived m e The re mai nin g h ou rs o f the m orni ng

, .

passed away pleasan tly e n ou gh in l ookin g ove r the d rawin gs , ,

arrangin g the m i n se ts trimmi n g thei r ragge d edge s a nd

, ,

accomplishin g th e othe r n e c e ssary p reparation s in antici pati on

o f th e busi ne ss o f m oun tin g them I ough t perhaps to h ave .
, ,

made m ore p rogre s s than thi s ; b ut as th e lunche on time ,

d rew n ear I grew re stle s s and u ns ettled and fe lt u nable to

, ,

fix my atte nti on o n work eve n th ough that wo rk was only o f

,

the h umble manual kind .

’
At two o cl ock I desce nde d again to the b reakfast room
,
-
,

a little anxi ou sly Expectati on s o f s ome i n te re st we re

.

c o nnecte d with my approachi ng reappearan ce in that part o f

the h ou se . My i ntroductio n to Mi s s Fairli e was n o w close at
h an d an d i f M i ss H a lco m be s search th rough he r moth er s
,
’ ’

36
 T H E W O M AN I N W H IT E

lette rs had p rodu ce d th e re sult wh ich sh e an ti cip ated th e ,

tim e had come fo r clearin g u p th e myste ry o f the woman in

white .

VI I I .

W H E N e nte re d the ro om I fou n d M i ss H al combe an d an ,

e lde rly lady se ate d at the lunche o n table - .

The e lde rly lady whe n I wa s p re se n te d to he r p roved to

, ,

be M i s s Fai rlie s forme r gove rn e s s M rs Ve sey wh o h ad

’
, .
,

bee n b riefly de sc ri be d to m e by my lively c om pani o n at th e

breakfast table as p osse s se d o f all the cardi nal vi rtu e s a nd
-
, ,
’
countin g fo r n othin g I c a n d o little m o re than o ff e r my
.

h um ble testim ony to the t ruthful ne s s o f M i s s H a lc o m be s ’

’
ske tch of the o ld lady s characte r M rs Ve sey looke d th e . .

pe rsonificati o n o f h u man c omp osu re an d fe male amiability , .

A calm enj oyme nt of a cal m exi ste nce beame d in d rowsy

smi le s o n he r plump placi d face ,S om e o f u s ru sh th rough .

life an d s ome o f u s sau nte r th rou gh life

, M rs Ve sey sa t . .

through life S at in the h ou se early an d late ; sa t in th e

.
,

garde n ; sa t in u nexpe cted wi n dow se ats in pas sage s ; sa t -

(o n a camp stool ) whe n he r fri e n d s trie d t o take h e r out walk

-

i n g sat befo re sh e lo oke d at anythi n g befo re sh e talke d o f ,

a nythin g befo re she an swe re d Ye s o r N o to th e c omm on e st

, , , ,

que sti on — always with the sam e se re n e sm ile on he r li ps the ,

same vacan tly atte ntive tu rn o f he r he ad the same sn ugly ,

comfortable p o siti o n o f he r han d s a n d arm s u n de r e ve ry ,

p o ssi ble ch ange o f d ome stic ci rcum stan ce s A mi ld a c o m .

,

plian t a h u n utte rably tranqu il an d harmle s s o ld lady wh o

, ,

n eve r by any chance sugge s te d th e i de a that she had b ee n

actually alive si nce th e hou r o f h e r bi rth N atu re has so .

mu ch to d o in th i s world a n d i s e n gage d in ge ne ratin g such

,

a vast variety o f c o — exi ste nt p roducti on s th at sh e m us t su rely ,

b e n o w an d the n to o flu rri ed a n d co nfu se d to di sti n gui sh

be twe e n th e di ffe re n t proce sse s that sh e i s carryin g o n at th e
same time S tarti n g fro m thi s p oin t o f V iew i t wi ll always
.
,

remain my p rivate pe rsuasion th at N atu re was ab sorbe d i n

makin g cabbage s whe n M rs Ve sey was bo rn an d that th e .
,

good lady su ff e re d the c on se que n ce s o f a ve getabl e p reo c c u

p a tio n i n th e min d o f the M othe r o f u s all .

N ow M rs Ve sey sai d M i s s H alcom be l oo kin g brighte r

,
.
,
’

, ,

sharpe r an d readie r than eve r by cont rast wi th th e u n dem o n

, ,
‘
stra tiv e o l d lady at h e r s ide what wi ll you have ? A ,

cutlet
M rs V e sey cros se d he r dimple d h an d s o n the edg e o f the
.

table smile d p l aci dly ; an d sai d Ye s dear , , .

’

37
 T H E W O MA N I N W H I TE

What is that opp osi te M r H a rtrigh t B oiled chicken .

,

i s i t n ot ? I th ou ght you li ked boiled chi cke n be tte r than

cutle t M rs Ve sey
, .

M rs Ve sey too k h e r di mple d hands o ff th e edge o f th e

.

table and crossed them o n he r lap i n stead ; n odde d c onte m

’
p la tiv ely at the boile d chicke n an d said Ye s dear , , , .

Well but which will you h ave to day

, S hal l M r H art ,
- .

right give you som e ch ic ke n o r sh all I give yo u s ome

cutlet
M rs Ve sey pu t o ne o f he r di mpled han ds back agai n o n
.

th e e dge o f the tabl e he sitate d d rowsily an d said Which ,

y o u please dear
’
.
,
‘ ’
Me rcy o n m e ! i t s a que sti on fo r you r taste my goo d ,

lady n o t fo r mi n e
, S up pose yo u have a little of both ? an d
.

suppose yo u begi n with th e chi cke n b ecau se M r H a rtrigh t , .

l ooks devou red by anxi ety t o carve fo r you .

’

M rs Ve sey put the othe r dimple d han d bac k o n the e dge

.

o f th e table b ri ghten ed di mly on e m omen t ; wen t out agai n , ,

’
the n ext bowe d obe die ntly an d said I f you please sir , , , .

S u rely a mi ld a compliant a n u nutte rably t ran qui l a n d

, ,

harmle ss old lady ? B ut e n ough pe rhap s fo r the p re se nt , o f , ,

M rs Ve sey
. .

Al l thi s tim e the re we re n o sign s o f M i s s Fai rli e

,
We .

fi ni shed o u r lunche on ; an d still sh e n eve r appeared Miss .

fi
H alcombe wh ose qu ic k eye n othi n g e scape d n o tic ed th e
, ,
‘

l oo ks that I cas t fro m time t o tim e i n the di recti on O f th e

, ,

d oo r .

‘
I u nde rstand you M r Ha rtrigh t sh e said ; yo u a re ‘ ’
.
, ,

wonde ri n g what has be come o f you r othe r pupil S he has .

be en down stai rs an d has got ove r he r headach e bu t h as n ot

,

su f c ie ntly recove re d he r appetite to j oi n u s at lun ch I f you .

wi ll put you rself u nde r my charge I thi n k I ca n u nde rt ake t o ,

fi n d he r somewh ere i n the garde n .

’

S he t ook u p a parasol lyi n g o n a chai r n ear he r an d le d

, ,

the way o u t by a l on g win dow at the b ottom o f th e ro om

, ,

which open ed o n to th e lawn I t i s al m ost un n ece ssary t o .

sa y that we left M rs Ve sey still seate d at th e table with h e r

.
, ,

dimpled h an d s s ti ll crossed o n the edge o f it ; appare ntly

settle d i n that p o siti o n fo r th e re st of th e afte rn oon .

As we crossed th e l awn M i ss H alcombe l ooke d at m e ,

sign ifi cantly and sh oo k he r head , .

’
That myste ri ou s adve ntu re o f yo u rs sh e sai d stil l , ,

re main s involve d in i ts o w n approp riate midni gh t darkn es s .

I have bee n all the m o rnin g lo okin g ove r my m o the r s lette rs ’

,
O
0
8
 T H E WO MAN I N WH ITE
lo ssy — that i t nearly m elts he re and the re i nto the sh adow o f
g , ,

th e hat I t i s plainly parted and d rawn bac k ove r h e r ears a n d

.
,

th e li n e o f i t ri pple s natu ra l ly as i t c rosse s h e r forehead The .

eyebrows are rath e r darke r than th e h ai r ; a nd the eye s are o f

that s oft limpid tu rq uoi s e bl ue s o ofte n sung by the poets , s o
, , ,

seldo m see n in real life Lovely eye s i n colou r lovely eye s i n

.
,

fi
fo rm — large an d te nde r an d quietly th oughtful — but beautifu l
above all things in the clear t ruthfulne ss o f loo k that dwells in
thei r i n mo st depth s a n d sh in es th rou gh al l thei r change s o f
,

exp re s sio n with th e light o f a pu re r an d a bette r world Th e .

charm — m o st ge ntly a n d yet m ost di sti n ctly exp re ssed — wh ich

e

they she d ove r th e whole face s o c overs an d tran sfo rm s i ts ,

l ittle n atu ral h uman blemi she s e lsewh e re that it i s dif c ult t o ,

e stimate th e relative me ri ts an d defects of th e othe r featu re s .

I t i s hard to see that th e l owe r part o f the face i s t oo delicately

refi ned away t oward s the ch i n t o be in full an d fai r p rop orti o n
wi th th e u ppe r part ; that th e n ose i n e s capin g the aquilin e ,

be n d (al ways h ard a n d c ruel in a woman n o m atte r h ow ,

abstractedly pe rfect i t may be ) has e rre d a little in th e othe r ,

extreme an d has mi sse d th e i deal straightne s s o f l in e ; an d

,

that th e sweet sen si tive li p s are subj e ct t o a sligh t n e rvou s

,

c on tracti on whe n sh e smile s which d raws the m u pward a

, ,

little at o n e c orne r t oward s th e chee k, I t m ight be p ossi bl e .

’
t o n ote the se bl emish es i n an oth e r woman s face bu t i t i s n ot ,

easy to dwell o n the m i n h e rs s o subtly are they con ne cte d ,

with all that i s i n dividual an d characte ri stic i n he r exp re s si on ,

a n d s o closely doe s th e exp res sion depen d fo r i ts ful l play a n d

l ife in eve ry othe r featu re o n th e m ovin g impul se of the e ye s
, , .

D oe s my p oo r p o rtrait o f he r my fon d patie nt labou r o f , ,

l on g an d happy days sh ow me the se thi ngs , Ah how few ,

o f them are i n the di m mechani cal d rawin g an d h ow many i n ,

the mi nd with which I regard i t ! A fai r delicate gi rl in a , ,

p retty li ght d re s s t rifli n g wi th th e l eave s o f a s ketch bo ok

,
-
,

while she loo ks u p from i t with t ru thful i n n ocen t blu e eye s ,

- that i s all th e d rawi ng c a n sa y all pe rhaps th at eve n th e , ,

d eepe r reac h o f th ough t an d p en can sa y in thei r language ,

e ithe r Th e woman wh o fi rst give s life li ght an d fo rm t o

.
, ,

o u r sh a do wy con cepti on s o f beauty fi ll s a void i n o u r spi ri tual

i
,

n atu re that h as remai ne d un kn own t o u s til l sh e appeared .

S ympathie s th at lie too dee p fo r word s to o deep almost fo r ,

t hou ght s a re touche d at such tim e s by othe r charm s than

, , ,

th ose which the se nse s fee l an d which the re sou rce s o f ex

p re ssi on c a n reali se Th e myste ry whi ch un de rlie s the beauty
.

o f wome n i s neve r rai sed above th e reach o f all expre ssi on

u ntil it h as clai med ki n dred with th e deep er myste ry i n o ur o wn

40
 T H E W O MAN I N W H I T E

s ou l s T he n an d then only h as i t pas se d beyon d th e na rro w

.
, ,

regi on o n wh ich light fall s i n thi s world from th e pe nci l an d

, ,

the pen .

Thi n k o f he r a s you th ough t o f th e fi rst woman wh o

qui cken e d th e pu lse s withi n yo u that th e re st o f he r se x had
n o a rt t o sti r Le t th e kind candid blu e eye s m eet you rs as
.
, ,

they m e t mi ne wi th th e o n e m atch le s s l oo k which we b oth

,

remem be r so we ll Le t he r voi ce speak the mu si c that you

.

onc e l ove d best attune d a s sweetly t o you r ear as t o m in e

, .

Let he r footstep as sh e c om e s an d goe s in the se page s be

, , ,

li ke that othe r footste p t o who s e ai ry fal l you r o w n h ea rt o nce

be at time Ta ke he r as the vi si on ary n u rslin g o f you r o wn
.

fancy ; an d sh e wi ll grow up o n you all the mo re clearly a s , ,

the livin g wom an wh o dwells in mi n e .

Amon g the se n sati on s that c rowde d o n m e wh e n my eye s ,

fi rst l ooke d u po n he r— familiar se n sati on s whi ch we all kn ow ,

which S prin g t o life i n m ost o f o u r h earts di e agai n in so ,

many an d re ne w thei r brigh t exi sten ce i n s o few— the re was

,

o ne that t rouble d an d pe rplexe d m e ; o ne that se e me d

strange ly i n con si ste nt a nd u nacc ountably o u t o f place i n M i s s
Fai rlie s p re se n ce
’
.

M ingli n g with th e vivid i mp re ssi o n p rodu ce d by the charm

o f he r fai r face an d head he r swe et exp re ssi on , an d h e r w in ,

n ing si mplicity o f man ne r was an othe r i mp re s si on which in

, , ,

a sh adowy way suggeste d t o m e th e i de a o f s omethin g

,

wan t i ng At o n e ti me i t see me d l ik e s omethin g wanti ng i n

.

lz er ; at an othe r li ke s ome thi n g wanti ng i n myself which

, ,

hin de re d m e from u nde rstandin g he r as I ought Th e i m .

p re ssi o n was always stronge st i n the m ost cont radicto ry ,

man ne r whe n she lo oke d at me o r i n oth e r wo rd s whe n I

, , ,

was mo st co n sciou s o f the harmony an d charm O f he r face ,

an d yet at the sam e time m ost trouble d by th e se n se o f a n

, ,

i n c omplete ne s s which it was i mpos sible t o di sc ove r S ome .

th ing want i n g somethin g wantin g— an d whe re i t w a s, an d

,

what it w a s I coul d n ot say

, .

The e ffect o f thi s cu ri ou s cap ri ce o f fan cy (a s I th ought i t

th e n ) was n ot o f a n atu re t o set m e at my e ase du ri n g a ,

fi rst i nte rvi ew with M i s s Fai rlie Th e few ki n d wo rd s o f .

we lcome which sh e spoke foun d m e hardly self p os se s se d -

e n ough t o than k he r i n th e customary ph rase s o f reply .

O bse rvin g my he sitati on an d n o d oubt attri butin g i t n atu

, ,

rally e n ough t o s om e m ome ntary shyne ss o n my part M i s s

, ,

H alcombe to ok the bu sine ss o f talkin g as easi ly an d readily ,

a s u sual i nto he r o w n h an ds
, .

‘
Look the re M r H a rtrigh t she sai d poi ntin g t o th e
,
.
,
’
,

4 1
 T H E W O M A N I N W H IT E

sketch b oo k o n the table an d to th e littl e delicate wan de rin g

-
,

han d that was still tri fli n g with it S u re ly yo u wi ll ac kn ow .

ledge that you r m odel pupi l i s fou n d a t last Th e m oment sh e

h ears th at you are i n th e h ou se sh e seize s he r i ne stimable ,

sketch b ook l ook s u n ive rsal N atu re straight i n th e face an d

-
, , .

l on gs t o begi n
M i ss Fai rli e laugh ed with a ready go od hum ou r which -
,

b roke o u t a s bri ghtly as i f i t had bee n pa rt o f th e su n shi n e

above u s ove r he r l ove ly face
,
.

’
I m u st n ot take c redit t o myse lf wh e re n o c re dit i s due ,

sh e sai d he r clea r t ruthfu l blue eye s l ookin g alte rnately at

, ,

M i s s H alcombe an d at me F on d as I am o f d rawi n g I am .
,

s o con sci ou s o f my o w n i gn o rance that I am m o re afrai d than

anxi ou s t o begin N ow I kn ow you are h e re M r H a rtrigh t
.
, .
,

I fi n d mys elf l oo kin g ove r my s ketche s a s I use d to loo k ove r ,

my les s on s whe n I was a littl e gi rl an d wh e n I was sadly ,

afrai d that I shoul d tu rn o u t n o t fit t o b e h ea rd .

’

S he made th e c onfe ssi o n ve ry p rettily an d simply a nd with , ,

quai n t childi sh earn estne s s d re w th e s ketch boo k away cl ose

, ,
-

t o h e r o w n side o f th e tabl e M i ss H alcombe cut th e knot of th e .

little e mbarrass me n t fo rthwith in he r re solu te d own ri ght way , .

G ood bad o r i ndi ffe re nt sh e said the pupi l s s ketche s

, , , ,
’

m u st pas s th rou gh th e fie ry o rdeal of th e maste r s j udgme nt ’

’
a nd the re s a n e n d o f i t S uppose we take the m with u s i n
.

the carriage Lau ra a nd let M r H a rtrigh t see them fo r

, , .
,

th e fi rst tim e u n de r c i rcum stance s o f pe rpetual j oltin g and

,

i nte rru pti on ? I f we can on ly co nfu se hi m all th rou gh the

drive betwee n N atu re as i t is whe n h e l ooks u p at the view
,
~

, ,

an d N ature as it i s n ot wh e n h e l o oks down agai n at o u r ,

s ketch bo oks we shall drive hi m i nto th e last despe rate

-
,

refuge o f payi n g u s c om pli me nts an d shall slip th rough h is ,

p rofe s si onal fi nge rs wi th ou r pet feath ers o f van ity all u n

ru ffl ed
’
.

I h O p e M r Ha rtrigh t wi ll pay me n o complime nts

.
,
’

sai d M i s s Fai rlie as we all left the s umme r h ous e

,
- .

‘
M ay I ve ntu re t o i nqui re why you exp re s s that hope
I aske d .

‘
B ecau s e I shall believe all that yo u say to m e sh e ,
’

an swe red si mply I n th ose few word s sh e u n con sci ou sly

, .

gave m e th e key t o h e r wh ole ch aracte r ; t o that ge ne rou s

t ru st in othe rs which in he r n atu re grew i n n oce ntly o u t of
, ,

the se n s e of h e r o w n truth I on ly knew i t i ntuiti vely then . .

I know it by expe ri e n ce n o w .

We m ere ly waite d to rous e good M rs V e sey from the .

plac e which sh e still occupi e d at the de se rte d lunch eon table , -

42 .
 TH E WO MAN I N VJ H I T E

befo re we e nte re d th e ope n carri age fo r o u r p romi se d d rive

T h e o ld lady an d M is s H alcom b e occu pie d th e back seat ;
an d M i s s Fairli e an d I sa t t ogethe r in fron t with th e s ketch ,

boo k ope n bet w ee n u s fai rly exh ibi te d at last to my p ro

,

fessio n a l eye s A ll se ri ou s c ritici sm o n the d rawi ngs eve n i f

.
,

I had bee n di spo se d t o voluntee r i t was re n de re d i m po ssible ,

by M i ss H al co m b e s lively re soluti o n t o see n othin g but the

’

ri diculou s si d e o f th e Fi n e A rts a s p racti se d by h e rself h e r , ,

si ste r an d ladie s in gen e ral

, I ca n remembe r th e conve rsa .

ti on that passe d far m ore e asily than th e s ketche s that I

mechan i cally l ooke d ove r That part o f the tal k e specially .
, ,

i n wh ich M i s s Fai rli e to o k a ny share i s still as vividly i mp re ssed

o n my me mo ry a s if I had he ard i t on ly a few h ou rs ago .

Ye s let m e ackn owledge that on thi s fi rst day I l et th e , ,

charm o f he r p re se n ce lu re m e from th e recollecti on o f mysel f

an d my p ositi on Th e mo st t ri fli n g o f the que sti on s that sh e
.

pu t to me o n th e subj ect o f u si n g he r pe nci l an d mixin g h e r

,

c olou rs ; th e slightest alte rati on s o f exp re ssion in the lovely

eye s that l ooke d i nto mi ne with such a n e arn est de si re t o ,

le arn all that I cou ld te ach an d t o di scove r all that I cou l d ,

show attracte d mo re of my atte nti o n than the fi ne st view w e

,

passe d th rough o r th e grandest chan ge s o f light an d sh ade

, ,

as they fl owe d i nt o each othe r ove r the wavin g m oo rlan d an d

the leve l beach At any time an d u n de r any ci rcu m stance s
.
,

o f human i nte re st i s i t n ot st ran ge t o see h ow little real h old

,

the obj ect s o f the natu ral wo rld ami d which we live c a n gai n
o n ou r hea rt s a n d mind s We go t o N atu re fo r c omfo rt i n
t rouble an d sym pathy in j oy only in books
, Admirati on , .

o f th ose beautie s o f the i nani mate world which m ode rn ,

p oet ry so large ly an d s o e loquently de scri be s i s n ot eve n in , ,

th e b est o f u s on e o f th e o ri gin al i n stin cts o f ou r natu re As

, .

child re n we n on e o f u s p osses s it
, N o u ni n structe d m a n o r .

woman p os sesses i t Th o se whose live s are m o st exclu sively

.

passe d ami d the eve r chan gi n g won de rs o f se a a n d lan d a re

-

a lso those wh o are m ost u n ive rsally i n se n sible t o eve ry aspect

o f Nature n ot di re ctly as soci ated with th e hum an i nte re st o f

thei r calli ng O u r capacity of app re ciati n g th e beautie s o f
.

the earth we live o n is in t ruth o n e o f th e civi lise d aeco m

, ,

p lish m ents wh ich we al l learn as a n Art ; an d m o re that , , ,

ve ry capacity i s rarely p racti se d by any o f u s except whe n o u r

m in ds are most i ndolen t an d m ost u n occu pied H ow much .

sh are have th e attraction s o f N atu re eve r h ad i n the p leasu rable

o r pai nfu l i nte rest s and e m oti on s of ou rs elve s o r ou r friend s
What space do they eve r occupy in the th ousan d little n arra
ti v es o f pe rsonal expe ri e n ce which pas s eve ry day by wo rd o f
43
 T HE W O M AN IN W H IT E
m outh from o ne o f us t o th e othe r ? All th at o u r min d s c a n
c ompass all that o u r hearts c a n learn can be accompli she d
, ,

with e qual c e rtainty e qual p rofit a n d equal sati sfacti on t o

, ,

ou rselve s in th e p oore st as in the ri ch est p ro spect that th e

,

face o f th e earth c a n sh ow The re i s su rely a reason fo r thi s

.

want o f i n bo rn sympathy betwee n the c reatu re an d th e crea

tio n aroun d i t a reaso n which may p erhap s be fou n d i n th e
,

widely di ff e rin g de sti n ie s o f man an d h is e arthly sphe re Th e .

grande st m ountai n p rospect that th e eye c a n ran ge ove r i s

appoin te d to an nihilati on Th e sm alle st hu man i nte re st th at
.

the pu re h eart c a n fee l i s appointe d t o i mmo rtality .

We had bee n o u t n early thre e h ou rs wh en th e carriage ,

agai n passed th rough th e gate s o f Lim m eridge H ou se .

O n o u r way b ack I had le t th e ladie s se tt l e fo r themselve s

,

the fi rst poi nt o f V iew which they were t o s ketch u nde r my ,

i n structi on s o n the afte rn oo n o f th e n ext day When they

, .

withdrew to d re s s fo r di nne r an d wh e n I was alon e agai n i n ,

my l ittle sitting room my spi rits seemed t o le ave m e o n a

b
-
,

sudde n . I felt i ll at eas e a n d di ssati sfie d with myself I ,

hardly kn ew why Pe rhap s I wa s n ow c on sci ou s fo r the

.
,

fi rst time o f h avin g enj oye d o u r d rive t oo much in th e cha r

,

acte r o f a gue st a n d to o little in the characte r o f a d rawi ng

,

maste r Perh aps that stran ge sen se o f somethin g wantin g

.
,

e ithe r i n M is s Fai rlie o r in myself which had pe rplexed m e ,

whe n I was fi rst i ntroduce d t o he r haunte d m e still Any , .

h ow it was a relief to my spi rits wh e n th e di nn e r h ou r called

,
-

m e o u t o f my solitude an d t ook me back t o th e s ociety o f

,

the ladie s o f the h ou se .

I was st ruck o n e nte ri ng the d rawi ng room by the

,
-
,

c uriou s c ontrast rathe r in m ate rial than in c olou r o f the

, ,

d resse s which they n ow wore While M rs Ve sey an d M is s . .

H alc ombe we re rich ly clad (each i n th e m an ne r m ost be

c omin g t o he r age ) th e fi rst i n silver gray an d the secon d i n
,
-
,

that de li cate p ri m rose ye llow c ol ou r wh ich matche s so well

-

with a dark complexi on an d blac k hai r M iss Fairli e was ,

u np rete ndi ngly an d almost p oorly d re sse d i n plain white

m u slin . I t was sp otle ssly pu re : i t was beautifu l ly put o n ;
but still i t was th e so rt o f d re s s which th e wi fe o r daughte r
o f a poo r man migh t h ave worn an d i t m ade he r so far a s ,

exte rnal s wen t loo k le s s a fflue n t in ci rcumstance s than he r

,

o w n gove rne s s At a late r p e riod whe n I learnt t o kn ow

.
,

m ore o f M is s Fai rlie 8 characte r I di scove red that this cu ri ou s

’
,

c ontrast o n the wron g si de w a s du e t o he r n atu ral delica cy

, ,

o f fe eling an d n atu ral i nte nsity o f ave rsio n t o th e slighte st

pe rsonal di splay o f he r o wn wealth Ne ithe r M rs V e sey n o r . .

44
 T H E WO MAN I N W H IT E

fi
M i ss H alcombe c ou ld eve r in duce he r t o le t th e advantage in -

d re s s d ese rt the two ladie s w h o we re p o o r to lean to th e side ,

o f the o n e lady wh o w a s ri ch .

Whe n th e di n ne r was ove r w e retu rn e d togeth e r to th e ,

d rawin g ro om Althou gh M r Fai rlie (e mulatin g the m agni

- . .

c ent con de sce nsi on o f the m on arch wh o had p icke d u p Titian s

’

b ru sh fo r h im ) had i n structe d h is butle r t o c on sult my wi she s

i n re lati on t o th e win e that I m ight p refe r afte r d in ne r I was ,

re s olu te e n ough t o re si st the tem ptati on o f si ttin g in s olita ry

gran deu r amon g b ottle s o f my o w n ch oosin g an d se n sible ,
’
e n ough t o as k the ladie s pe rmi ssio n t o l eave th e tabl e with
the m habitually o n the civili se d fo reign plan du ri n g th e
, ,

perio d o f my re si den ce at Lim m eridge H ou se .

The d rawing room to which we had n o w wi th drawn fo r

-
,

the re s t o f th e eve n in g was o n th e grou n d fl o o r an d was o f

,
-
,

the sam e shap e an d size a s th e breakfast room Large glas s - .

doo rs at th e l owe r e n d ope ne d o n to a te rrace be au tifully ,

o rnamen te d al on g i ts wh ole len gth wi th a p rofusi o n o f fl owe rs .

The soft hazy twiligh t was j u st sh adin g leaf an d blo ssom

,

ali ke i nt o harm ony with i ts o w n s obe r h ue s as we e nte re d ,

th e room an d th e swee t eve nin g scen t of th e fl ow e rs m et u s

with i ts fragran t w elcome th rough th e ope n glas s do ors .

G ood M rs Ve sey (always the fi rs t o f th e party t o si t d own )

.

took p os se ssion o f an arm chai r in a c orne r an d doze d o ff -

,

comfortably to s leep At my reque st M i s s F ai rli e place d

.
,

he rse lf at th e pian o As I followe d h e r to a se at n ear th e

.
‘

i n st ru ment I saw M i s s H alcomb e reti re i nto a rece s s o f o n e

,

o f th e side win dows to p roceed wi th th e s earch th rough h e r

,
’
m othe r s lette rs by th e l as t qu i e t rays o f th e eve n i n g li ght .

H ow vividly that peacefu l h ome pi ctu re o f th e drawin g -

room come s bac k t o m e wh il e I w rite ! F rom th e place

whe re I sa t I coul d se e M i ss H a lc o m b e s graceful figu re half ’
,

o f i t in s oft ligh t half in myste ri ou s sh ad ow be n din g i n ten tly

, ,

ove r the lette rs in h e r lap ; whi le n eare r t o m e th e fai r , ,

p rofil e o f th e playe r at th e pi an o was j u st deli cately defi n e d

again st the fa i ntly deepen i n g backgrou n d o f th e i n ne r wall o f
th e room O utside o n the te rrace th e cluste rin g fl owe rs an d
.
, ,

l on g grasse s an d creepe rs wave d so ge ntly i n th e ligh t

eve nin g ai r that th e s ou n d o f thei r ru stli ng n eve r reach e d u s
,
.

The sky was withou t a cloud ; an d th e dawn i ng mys te ry o f

m oonligh t began to tre mble al re ady in th e re gi o n o f th e
e aste rn h eave n Th e sen se o f p ea c e an d s eclu s i on s o othe d
.

all though t an d feeli n g i nto a rapt u ne arthly rep o s e ; a n d th e ,

balmy qui et that de ep en ed eve r wi th th e d eep e n i n g ligh t ,

see me d t o h ove r ove r u s wi th a ge ntle r in flue nce s till wh en ,

45
 T H E W O M AN I N W H IT E

the re s tol e u po n i t from th e pian o th e h e ave nly ten de rne s s o f

the mu si c o f M ozart I t was an eve nin g of sights an d soun d s
.

n eve r to fo rget .

We all sat si le n t in the place s we h ad ch o se n — M rs V e sey .

still sleepin g M i s s Fai rlie still p layi n g M i s s H al combe stil l

, ,

readin g— ti ll the li gh t faile d u s By thi s tim e th e m oon had.

s tole n rou n d to th e te rrace a n d s oft myste ri ou s rays o f ligh t

, ,

we re slantin g already ac ro ss th e l owe r e n d O f th e room Th e .

chan ge from th e twi ligh t o bscuri ty was so beautiful that we ,

ban i shed th e l amp s by com mon consen t whe n th e s e rvan t

, ,

b rough t the m in an d kep t the large ro om u n lighted except ,

by th e gli mme r o f th e two can dle s at the pian o .

F o r h alf a n h ou r m ore th e mu si c s till we n t o n

, Afte r .

th at th e beauty o f th e m oonligh t view o n th e te rrace tempte d

,

M i s s Fai rli e ou t to loo k at i t a n d I followe d h e r Whe n th e

, .

candle s at th e pian o had bee n lighted M i s s H al combe had ,

chan ge d he r p lace s o as to co nti nu e he r exami n atio n o f th e

,

lette rs by thei r assi stance We left h e r o n a l ow chai r at

.
, ,

o n e si de o f the i ns trume nt s o abs orbed ove r he r readin g that

,

sh e di d n ot see m to n oti ce whe n we m oved .

We had bee n o u t o n th e te rrace toge the r j us t i n fron t o f ,

th e glas s d oo rs h ardly s o l on g as five mi nute s I shoul d

, ,

thi n k ; an d M i s s Fai rli e was by my advi ce j us t tyi n g he r , ,

wh ite handke rchi ef ove r he r h ead as a p re cauti on again st th e

n igh t ai r— whe n I h eard M i s s H a lc o m b e s voi ce — l ow eage r ’
, ,

an d alte re d from i ts n atu ral live ly ton e — p ron oun ce my n ame .

M r H a rtrigh t sh e said
.
,
’
wi ll yo u come he re for a ,
’
mi nute I wan t t o speak to you .

I e nte re d th e room agai n i mme diately Th e pian o stood .

ab ou t half way down al on g th e i n n e r w all O n th e sid e o f .

th e i n stru me nt farthe st from th e te rrace M i s s H alcom be was ,

sittin g with th e lette rs scatte re d on h e r lap an d with o n e in ,

h e r h an d selecte d from th em an d h el d clos e to th e candle , .

O n th e si de n eare st to the te rrace the re stood a l ow ottoman ,

o n wh ich I to ok my place I n thi s p osi ti on I was n o t fa r

.
,

fro m th e glass doors a n d I could se e M i ss Fai rlie p lai nly as ,

sh e passed a n d repasse d th e ope nin g o n to th e te rrace wal k

i n g slowly from en d to e n d o f i t in the full radian ce o f th e
moon .

I want yo u to li ste n whi le I read th e conclu d in g passage s

‘
in thi s lette r
’
said M i ss H alcombe
, Tell m e if you thin k .

they th row a ny ligh t up on you r strange adve ntu re o n th e road

to London The letter i s addre sse d by my m othe r to h e r
.

s econ d hu sban d M r Fai rli e a n d th e date refers to a p e ri od

, .

o f betwee n eleve n an d twelve year s si n ce At that time M r .

, .

46
 TH E WO MAN I N W H ITE

th e be ne fi t o f atten di ng my s ch ool ; subj ec t t o the c onditi on

o f he r being remove d from i t t o go h ome agai n with he r
m othe r afte r M rs K em pe s death
,
. I con se nte d at on ce an d
’
.
,

wh e n Lau ra an d I we nt o u t fo r o u r walk we took th e littl e ,

girl (wh o i s j us t e leve n ye ars O ld ) t o the sch ool that ve ry ,

O n ce m ore M i ss F airli e s fi gu re b right an d

,
’
, s oft i n i ts
sn owy mu sli n d re ss — h er face p rettily frame d by the white
folds o f th e h an dkerchi e f wh ich sh e h ad ti e d u nde r h e r chin
passe d by u s in the m o onlight O n ce m ore Mi ss .
, H alc ombe
w a ited ti ll sh e was o u t o f sight ; an d the n we n t o n

I h ave take n a vi olen t fan cy Phili p to my n ew scholar , , ,

for a re aso n whi ch I m ean to k ee p til l th e last fo r th e sake o f

s urpri si ng yo u H e r m othe r h avi n g told m e as little abou t
.

th e chi ld as sh e t old m e o f h e rself I wa s left t o di scove r ,

(which I did 0 11 th e fi rs t day whe n we t ri e d he r at le s s on s )

’
that th e p oo r li ttle thin g s i ntelle ct i s n o t developed a s i t
ought t o b e at h e r age S eein g thi s I h ad h e r u p to th e
.
,

h ou se the next day an d p rivate ly arrange d with th e docto r

,

t o come a nd watch he r an d que sti on h e r an d tel l m e what h e ,

th ough t . H i s opin ion i s th at sh e will grow o u t o f i t Bu t .

h e says he r careful b rin gin g u p at sch ool i s a matte r o f great -

i mp ortan ce j ust n ow be caus e he r u nu sual slowne ss i n a c q u ir

,

i ng i de as i mplie s a n u nu sual te nacity i n k e epi n g them whe n ,

th ey are o nce re ceived i nto h e r min d N ow my l ove you .

, ,

mu st n ot i magin e in you r o ff han d way th at I h ave bee n

,
-
,

attachin g myself to a n idi ot Thi s poo r little An n e C a th eric k .

i s a sweet a ff ecti onate grateful gi rl and says th e quai nte st

, , ,

p retti est thi n gs (as you shal l j udge by an i n stan ce ) in th e ,

m ost o ddly su dd en surp ri sed h alf frighten e d way Alth ou gh

, ,
- .

sh e i s dre ssed ve ry n e atly he r clothe s show a sa d want of ,

taste i n c olou r an d patte rn S o I arranged ye ste rday that .

, ,

some o f o u r darlin g Lau ra s ol d white frock s and whi te h at s’

sh oul d b e alte red fo r An n e C a th eric k explai nin g t o h e r that

li ttle girls o f he r c omplexi on l ooke d n eate r an d bette r all i n
white than in anything e lse S he he sitated and seeme d .

p u z zle d fo r a mi nute ; the n flu sh ed u p a nd appeared to ,

u nde rstand H e r little han d cl aspe d m i ne sudden ly

. She .

‘
ki sse d i t Phili p ; an d said (o h so earn estly
, I will always ,

wear wh ite as long a s I live I t will help m e to reme mbe r .

’
you ma am a nd to thi n k that I am pleasi ng y o u still wh e n
, , ,

I go away an d s ee yo u n o more Thi s i s o n ly on e specimen .

’

o f th e quai nt thi ngs she says s o p rettily Poo r littl e s ou l ! .

48
 T HE W O MA N I N W H I TE
S h e shall have a s tock of wh ite frocks , m ade wi th good dee p
tucks t o le t
, o ut fo r he r as sh e grows

M i ss H al combe paused an d lo oked at me ac ro s s th e piano , .

D i d the fo rlorn woman wh om yo u m e t in th e h igh road -

? ’ ‘
see m youn g sh e asked Youn g e n ough to be two or .

th ree a n d twe nty

- -

Ye s M i s s H al comb e as you ng as that

, , .
’

‘
An d she was stran gely d re ssed fro m head to fo ot all in , ,

w hite ?
’
Al l 1 n wh ite .

Wh ile th e an swe r was p assin g my lip s M i s s Fai rli e

fi
,

glided i n to vi ew o n the terrace fo r th e thi rd ti me I n stead , .

o f p roceedin g on h e r wal k she stopped wi th he r back tu rne d

, ,

towards u s ; a n d l ean in g o n th e balu strade o f the te rrace

, ,

l ooke d down i nto th e garde n beyon d My eye s fixe d u po n .

the white gleam o f he r mu slin gown an d head d re s s i n th e -

moon light an d a se nsatio n fo r whi ch I c a n n d n o n ame — a

, ,

se nsatio n that qu ick en ed my p ul se a n d rai se d a fl utte ri n g at ,

my h eart — began t o steal ove r m e .

‘ ‘
Al l i n white M i s s H alcomb e re peated The mo st
’
? .

i mp o rtan t senten ce s i n th e le tte r M r H a rtrigh t are th ose at , .

,

the end wh ich I wi ll read t o yo u immediate l y B ut I can t

,
.
’

help dwelli ng a little u po n th e coi ncide n ce of the white

costume o f the w oman you met an d th e w hite fro ck s which ,

p roduce d that stran ge an swe r fro m my m othe r s l it tle sch olar ’

.

The docto r may h ave b ee n w ron g whe n h e di sc ove re d th e

chi ld s defects o f i ntellect an d p redi cte d that sh e would
’
,
“ ”
grow ou t of them S h e may n eve r have grown o u t o f
.

them ; an d th e o ld grateful fan c y ab out d re ssin g i n white ,

whi ch was a se riou s feeli n g t o the girl may be a se ri ou s ,

’
feelin g to th e woman s til l .

I said a few wo rds i n an swe r— J h ardly kn ow wh at All .

my atte n ti o n w a s co ncentrated o n the wh ite gleam o f Mi s s

Fai rlie s mu sli n d re s s
’
.

‘ ’
Li ste n t o th e las t sente nce s o f th e l ette r said M is s ,

H alcombe I thin k they wil l su rpri se v o u

.

As she rai se d th e lette r to the light o f th e c a n dle M i s s ,

Fai rlie tu rne d from the b a lu st1 a de l ooked d ou btful ly u p an d ,

d own th e te rrace advance d a step towards the glas s d oors

, ,

an d the n stopped faci ng u s ,

.

M eanwhi le M i s s H alc ombe read me th e last se nten ces t o

,

which she had re fe rre d

And no w, my lo v e, .

seeing th at I am at th e end of my
49 E
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E

pape r , n ow fo r th e real reason th e su rpri sin g reason fo r my , ,

fon dne s s for l ittle An ne C a th eric k My dear Phi lip alth ough .
,

she is n ot h alf s o p retty sh e i s n eve rthele s s by o n e o f th ose

, ,

ext raordi nary cap ri ce s o f accidental re semblance whi ch o ne

s ometi me s s ee s the livi ng li kene ss i n h e r h ai r he r c o m
, , ,

p lexi on th e c olou r of he r eye s an d th e shape of he r face

, ,

I s tarted u p from the ottoman befo re M i s s H alcombe ,

c ould p ro n ou n ce th e n ext wo rds A th rill o f the same feelin g .

whi ch ra n th rough m e whe n the touch was l a i d upon my

sh oulde r o n the l one ly h igh road ch illed m e agai n -
,
.

Th e re sto od M i s s Fai rlie a white figu re alon e in th e

, ,

m oonlight ; i n h e r attitude in the tu rn o f he r h ead in he r

, ,

complexion in the shap e o f he r face th e livin g i mage at

, , ,

that di stan ce a nd u n de r th ose ci rcu mstan ce s o f th e woman ,

i n wh ite The d ou bt whi ch had t rou bled my min d for hou rs

an d h ou rs past fl ashe d i nt o convicti o n i n a n i n stan t Th at
, .

s omethin g wantin g was my o w n re cognition o f th e omin ou s

li ke n es s be twee n the fugitive fro m the asylu m a nd my pupi l
at L im m eridge H ou se .

You s ee i t ! sai d M i s s H alcombe S he d ropped the u se .

le ss le tte r an d he r eye s flashe d as they me t mi ne

, Y o u see .

i t n ow as my m oth e r sa w i t eleve n years si n ce

,

I see it— more un wi lli ngly than I ca n say To associ ate .

th at forl o rn frie ndles s l ost woman eve n by an accide ntal li ke

, , ,

n e s s o nly with M is s Fai rlie see ms li ke casti n g a shadow o n

, ,

the futu re o f th e bright c reatu re wh o stan ds l ookin g at u s

n ow . Le t me l os e the impre s si o n again as s oo n as p ossi ble , .

Call he r i n out o f the d reary moonlight — p ray cal l he r i n l

,

M r H a rtrigh t you su rp rise me \V h a tev er wome n may

.
, .

be I th ough t that me n , in th e n i netee nth ce ntu ry we re abov e

, ,

supe rstitio n .
’

Pray call he r in l ’
.

H u sh h u sh ! S he i s c omi n g o f h e r o wn a c co rd
, S ay .

n othi ng i n he r p re sen ce L e t thi s di scove ry of th e li ke ne ss

.

b e kept a se cret betwee n you a nd m e Come i n Lau ra .

,

com e i n an d wake M rs Ves ey with the pian o M r Ha rtrigh t

, . . .

i s petiti oning fo r s ome m o re mu si c an d he want s i t , thi s ti me , ,

o f th e lighte st a n d livelie st ki nd
’
.

So e nded my eve n tful fi rst day at Limm eridge H o us e .

M i s s H alc ombe an d I kept o u r se c ret Afte r the disc o xery .

o f the l i ken e s s n o fre sh light seeme d desti ned t o break ove r

th e myste ry o f the wom an i n whi te At the fi rst safe o pp o r .

50
 T H E WO M A N I N W H IT E

tu nity M i s s H alcombe cautiou sly led h e r half si ste r t o spea k - .

o f thei r mothe r o f o l d time s a n d o f An n e C a th eri c k

, , Miss .

Fai rli e s recollectio n s o f th e littl e sch olar at Lim m eridge we re

’

h oweve r on ly o f th e m ost vague an d ge ne ral ki n d

, S he re .

membe re d the li ke ne s s betwee n h e rself a n d he r m othe r s ’

favou rite pu pil as somethin g which had bee n supp ose d t o

,

exi st i n p ast ti me s ; bu t sh e di d n ot refe r t o the gift of th e

wh ite d re sse s o r to th e sin gular form o f wo rds i n whi ch the
,

child h ad artle ssly expre sse d h e r gratitude fo r them S he .

re membe re d that Ann e had remain e d at L im m eridge fo r a few

m onth s on ly a nd had then left i t to go bac k to he r h om e i n
,

H ampshi re ; b ut sh e could n o t sa y wheth e r the m othe r an d

daughte r had eve r retu rn ed o r h ad eve r bee n he ard o f afte r
,

wards N o furthe r sea rch o n M i s s H a lc o m be s pa rt th rough

.
,
’

,
’
th e fe w lette rs o f M rs Fai rli e s writin g wh ich sh e had left
.

un read assi ste d in clearin g u p th e u nce rtai nties still left t o

,

pe rplex u s We had i dentifie d th e unhappy woman wh om I

.

h ad m e t in th e night ti me with An n e C a th eric k— we had

-
,

m ad e s ome advan ce at least t oward s c onn ectin g th e p rob

, ,

ably defective conditi o n o f the p o o r c reatu re s i ntellect wi th ’

th e peculiarity of he r bein g d re s se d all i n white an d wi th the ,

c ontinuan ce i n he r matu re r years o f h e r ch ildi sh gratitude

, ,

t oward s M rs Fai rli e — and the re so far a s we k n ew at that

.
,

time o u r discove rie s h ad e nded

, .

Th e days passe d o n th e w ee k s passe d on a nd th e track

,

o f th e golde n a u tumn woun d i ts b ri gh t way visi bly th rough

th e gree n summe r o f th e tre e s Peaceful fast fl o w ing h appy .
,
-
,

ti me ! my story glide s by yo u n ow a s swiftly a s you on ce ,

glided by me O f all th e treasu re s o f e nj oym en t that you

.

p ou re d s o freely i nto my heart h ow much i s left m e that has ,

pu rpo se a n d value e n ough to b e writte n o n thi s page

N oth ing b ut th e sadde st o f all confessi on s that a man c a n
make — th e c o nfe ssi o n of hi s o w n folly .

Th e secre t which that c onfe ssi on di scl ose s sh ould b e t old

with little e ff ort for i t h as i ndi rectly e scape d m e alre ady Th e
,
.

p oor weak word s which have faile d to de scri b e M i s s Fai rli e ,

have succee de d in betrayin g th e sen sati on s sh e awake n ed in

me . I t i s s o with u s all O u r wo rds are giants whe n they
.

d o u s an inj u ry an d dwarfs whe n they do u s a service

,
.

I love d h e r .

Ah h ow we ll I kn ow all th e sadne s s a nd all th e m ocke ry

th at i s containe d in th ose th re e w ords I can sigh ove r my .

m ou rn ful con fes sion with th e t ende rest woman wh o reads i t

and pitie s me I c a n lau gh at i t as b itte rly as th e harde st
.

51
 THE W O MA N I N W H IT E
ma n wh o tosse s from him in con tem pt
it I l ove d he r Fe e l .

fo r me o r de sp ise me I c onfe ss i t w i th th e s am e i mm ovable

, ,

re solutio n t o o w n th e tru th .

Was the re n o excu se fo r m e Th e re was s ome excu se t o

b e fou nd s urely i n the c on diti o n s u nde r wh ich my te rm o f
, ,

h i re d se rvice was passe d at Lim m eridge H ou se .

My m orni ng hou rs su cceede d each othe r calmly in th e

qui et a n d seclusio n of my own ro om I h ad j u st work e n ough .

t o do in mounti ng my e mp loye r s d rawings to keep my han ds

,
’

an d eye s pleasu rably e mployed while my mi n d was l eft fre e ,

to e nj oy th e dange rou s luxu ry o f its o w n u nb ri dled th oughts .

A pe ri lous solitu de fo r it lasted lon g en ou gh t o e ne rvate n ot

, ,

l on g e n ough t o fo rtify m e A pe rilou s solitude fo r i t w a s fol

.
,

l owed by afte rn oon s and even ings spe nt day afte r day and wee k ,

afte r week al o ne in the s oci ety o f two women o ne o f wh om

, ,

p o sses sed all th e accomplishme nts o f grace wi t an d h igh , ,

b reedi ng th e othe r all the charm s o f beauty ge ntle ne s s an d

, , ,

simpl e truth that c a n pu rify and subdu e the hea rt o f man

,
.

N o t a day pas sed i n that dan ge rou s i nti macy o f teache r an d

,

pu pi l in which my hand was n o t close to M i ss Fai rlie s my

,
’

che ek as we be n t t ogeth e r ove r h e r s ketch boo k alm os t

,
-
,

t ouchi ng h e rs Th e m ore attentively sh e watched e ve ry

.

m oveme n t o f my b ru sh th e m ore closely I was b reathin g the

,

p e rfume o f h e r hai r a n d th e warm fragran ce o f he r breath

, .

I t was part o f my se rvi ce to live i n the ve ry ligh t of he r eye s ,

— a t o ne time to be ben din g ove r he r so clos e to he r b os om ,

a s t o tremble at th e though t o f touchin g i t ; at an oth e r t o ,

feel he r be ndi n g ove r m e ben ding so close t o see wh at I was ,

abou t that h e r v oi ce san k low whe n sh e spoke t o m e and

, ,

he r ribbon s b ru she d my chee k in th e wi n d befo re sh e could

d raw the m back .

The evenin gs which followed th e s ketchin g excu rsi on s o f

th e afte rnoon varied rathe r than ch e cked the se i nn ocen t
, , , ,

the se i nevitable familiariti e s My natu ral fon dn ess fo r the .

mu si c which sh e p laye d with su ch ten de r feelin g su ch d elicate ,

womanly tast e an d he r n atu ral enj oymen t o f givi n g m e bac k

, ,

by th e p ractice o f he r art th e pleasu re which I had offe red t o,

h e r by th e p ractic e o f min e on ly wove anothe r ti e whi ch d re w ,

u s clo se r a n d close r t o o n e an o the r The acci de nts o f con .

ve rsati o n ; th e simple h abits which regulate d eve n such a

little thin g as th e po siti on o f o u r place s at table ; th e pl a y
of M i s s H a lc o m be s eve r ready raille ry always di recte d
’
-
,

agai n st m y a n x iety as teache r whi le i t sp arkled ove r he r

'

, ,

e nthu siasm as pupi l ; the harml es s exp res si on o f po o r M rs .

V esey s d rowsy app roval whi ch con nect ed M is s F ai rli e a n d

’

re
 T H E W O M AN I N W H I T E

me as two m odel yo ung pe ople wh o n ev er d istu rbed h e r

eve ry o n e o f the se trifl es a nd many m ore c ombi n e d t o fol d
, ,

u s togethe r i n th e sam e dome sti c atmo sphe re a n d to lead u s ,

both i n se n si bly to the sam e h ope le s s en d .

I sh oul d h ave re membe re d my p ositi on an d have p u t ,

myself se cretly o n my guard I di d s o ; bu t n ot till i t was

.

t oo late . All th e di screti on all the exp e ri e nce which had

, ,

av ai le d m e wi th othe r women an d s ecu re d m e agai n st othe r

,

te mp tati on s faile d m e with he r I t had bee n my p rofe ssi on

,
.
,

fo r years past t o be i n th i s clos e co ntact with you ng gi rl s o f

,

al l age s a n d o f all o rde rs of beauty

, I h ad accepte d the .

p ositi on as part of my calli ng i n l ife ; I had trai ne d myself t o

leave all th e sympathie s natu ral to my age i n m y e mploye r s ’

o ute r hall as coolly as I left my um brella the re befo re I

,

we n t u p stairs
- I had lon g si nce learn t to u nde rsta n d c o m
.
,

p o sedly a n d as a matte r o f cou rse that my situatio n in life ,

was con side re d a guarante e agai n st a ny o f my fe mal e pupil s

fee l i n g m o re than th e m ost ordinary i nte re st i n me an d that ,

I was admitte d amo ng beautifu l an d captivatin g women ,

much as a h armle s s dome stic an imal i s admitte d amon g them .

Thi s guardi an expe ri en ce I h ad gai ne d early ; thi s guardian

expe ri en ce had stern ly an d strictly guide d m e straigh t al on g
my o w n p o o r n arrow path with out o nce letting m e stray
,

aside t o th e righ t h an d o r t o th e left And n o w I an d my

,
.
,

t ru sty tali s man we re parted fo r th e fi rs t time Y es my hardly .

,

e arn e d self con trol was as c omp letely lo st to m e a s if I ha d

-

n eve r p o ssesse d i t l ost t o me as i t i s l os t eve ry day to othe r

,

me n in othe r cri tical si tuati on s whe re wo men are co nce rn ed I

, ,
.

kn ow n ow that I sh ould have qu e stio ne d myself from th e fi rst

, , .

I should have aske d why any ro om i n th e h ou s e was bette r

than h ome t o m e wh e n sh e ente re d it a nd barre n as a de se rt ,

whe n sh e we nt ou t agai n — why I always n otice d an d rem em

be re d the littl e change s in he r d re ss that I had n otice d an d
re membe re d in n o oth e r woman s b efo re — why I sa w he r ’
,

h eard h e r an d touched he r (whe n we sh oo k h an ds at nigh t

,

and m orn i ng ) a s I h ad n eve r seen h eard an d tou ched any , ,

othe r woman in my l ife I should have l oo ke d i nto my o w n

heart an d fou n d th is n ew growth sp rin gi ng u p the re a nd
, ,

p luc ke d i t o u t while i t w a s you ng Why was thi s easi e st .

,

simplest work of self cultu re always to o much fo r m e

- The
e xplanati on has bee n writte n alre ady i n th e th re e word s that
we re many e no ugh a nd plai n e nough fo r my c onfe ssi on
, I ,
.

l oved he r .

Th e days passed th e week s passed ; i t was app roachin g

,

the thi r d m onth o f my stay i n Cumbe rland T h e d elici o us .

53
 T H E WO M AN I N WH ITE

m on otony life i n o u r cal m seclu si on fl owe d o n with m e

of ,

li ke a sm ooth s tream with a swim me r wh o glide s d own the

cu rre n t All mem o ry o f th e p ast all th ou gh t o f the futu re
. , ,

all s e n s e o f th e falsene s s a n d h ope les sn es s of my own p osition ,

la y h u sh e d withi n m e i nto deceitful rest Lulled by th e .

S yre n — s on g th at my o w n h e art su n g t o m e with eye s shu t to ,

a l l si ght a n d e ars cl ose d to al l s oun d o f da n ger I d rifted

, ,

n eare r an d ne are r t o th e fatal rock s Th e warnin g that .

arou se d m e at last an d startled m e i nto sudden self accusin g

, ,
-

c on sci ousne ss o f my o w n weakn e s s was the plai n est th e , ,

true st th e ki nde st o f all warn in gs fo r it came sil en tly fro m h er

, , .

We had pa rte d o ne ni ght as u sual N o wo rd h ad falle n

,
.

from my lip s at that ti me o r at a ny time befo re i t that could

, ,

b etray m e o r startle he r i nto sud de n kn owledge of th e truth .

B u t whe n we m et agai n in th e m o rnin g a ch an ge h ad come

, ,

ove r h e r— a chan ge that tol d m e all .

I sh ran k the n — I sh ri n k sti ll — from i nvadi n g th e i n nermo st

san ctuary of h e r h eart a n d layi ng i t ope n to othe rs a s l have
, ,

lai d op e n my own Let i t b e e n ough to sa y that th e time

.

wh en sh e fi rst su rp ri se d my secret wa s I firm ly believe th e , , ,

time wh e n sh e fi rst su rp ri se d h e r o w n a n d the ti me also , , ,

whe n sh e change d towa rd s m e in th e i n terval o f o n e n igh t .

H e r n atu re too t ruthful to d eceive oth e rs was to o n oble to

, ,

decei ve itself Whe n th e d oubt that I had h u sh ed asleep

.
,

fi rst lai d i ts wea ry weigh t o n he r heart th e t ru e face owne d ,

all an d sai d in its o w n fran k si mple language — I am s orry

, ,

fo r hi m I am s orry fo r mysel f .

I t sai d thi s an d m o re wh ich I c oul d n ot the n i nte rp re t

, , .

I u n de rsto od bu t to o well the chan ge in h e r mann e r to ,

greate r ki nd n es s an d qui cke r readi n ess i n i nte rp reti n g al l my

wi sh e s before oth e rs — to c on strai n t an d sadn es s an d n e rvou s
, ,

anx ie ty t o ab so rb h e rself i n th e fi rst occupati on sh e c ou ld seize

o n wh en eve r we happen ed to b e left togethe r alon e
, I un de r .

s tood why the sweet sen sitive lip s smil ed so rarely an d so

re strain ed ly n ow an d why th e clear blu e eyes l ooked at m e ,

someti me s with th e pity o f an angel s ometime s wi th th e ,

i n n oce n t pe rpl exity of a child B ut the ch an ge m ean t m ore .

than thi s The re wa s a coldn e s s i n he r han d th ere was an

.
,

u n n atu ral i mmobility in h e r face the re was i n all he r move ,

m en ts th e mu te exp re ssi on o f c on stant fear an d clinging self

rep roach Th e se n sati on s that I could trace to he rself an d to
.

m e th e un ackn owledged se n sation s that we we re feelin g in

,

c omm on we re n ot the se The re we re ce rtain eleme nts o f the

, .

chan ge in h e r that we re still secretly drawin g u s togethe r ,

an d othe rs that we re as secretly begin ning to d rive u s apart

, , .

54
 T H E WO M AN IN '
W HI T E
a few mi nute s M i ss H al combe e nte red
In , S h e h ad a .

p reoccupie d l ook an d sh e made he r ap ol ogie s fo r being late

, ,

rathe r absently .

’
I h ave bee n detai n ed sh e said by a con sul tati on with , ,

M r Fai rlie o n a dom esti c matte r whi ch h e wishe d to sp eak t o

.

’
m e about .

M i ss Fai rlie came in from th e garden a nd th e u sual

m o rni ng greeti n g pas sed betwee n u s H e r hand s truc k .

colde r to min e than eve r S h e did n o t l ook at m e ; an d sh e

.

was ve ry pale Eve n M rs Ve sey n oti ce d i t when sh e e nte red

. .
,

the ro om a m omen t afte r .

I supp ose it i s the change in th e wi nd said th e o ld lady ,

’
.

The wi nte r i s co min g— ah my love th e wi n te r is comi n g , ,

s oo n ! ’

I n he r h eart an d in mi n e i t had com e al ready

O u r m o rni ng meal — once s o full of pl easan t good hu m ou red -

di scu ssi on of the plan s fo r th e day— was sh ort a nd sile n t .

M i ss Fai rli e seem e d t o feel th e O pp re s si o n o f th e l on g pau se s

i n th e co nve rsati on a n d l ook e d appea l i ngly t o h e r sis te r to fill
them u p M i s s H alc ombe afte r o n ce o r twice he sitatin g a nd
.
,

che ckin g h e rsel f in a m ost u ncharacte ri stic man ne r sp oke at

, ,

last .

‘ ’
I h ave see n you r u n c l e thi s m o rnin g Lau ra sh e said , , .

H e thi n k s th e p u rple room i s th e on e that ough t to be got

ready ; an d h e confi rm s what I told you M on day i s th e day .

’
n ot Tue sday .

Whi le the se wo rd s we re bei ng S p ok en M i ss Fai rli e l ooked ,

d own at the table be neath h e r H e r finge rs m ove d n e rvously .

am ong th e c rumb s that we re s catte re d o n the cloth The .

p alen e ss o n h e r che ek s sp read to he r li p s an d the lip s them ,

selve s tre mbl e d v i sibly I was n ot th e on ly p e rs o n p re sen t

.

wh o n oti ced thi s M i ss H al com be sa w i t to o ; an d at on ce

.
,

s et u s the examp le o f ri sin g from tabl e

M rs Ve sey an d M i s s Fai rlie left th e room togethe r The

. .

ki n d s o rrowful blue eye s l ooked at m e fo r a m omen t with , ,

th e p re scie n t sad ne ss o f a comin g an d a l on g farewell I felt .

the an swe ri n g pan g in my o w n heart — th e pang that told m e

I mu st l ose he r s oo n a nd love he r th e m o re unchangeably fo r
,

the l os s .

I tu rne d towards the garden whe n th e d oo r had close d on ,

he r M is s H alcom be was stan di ng with he r hat i n he r h and

.
,

an d he r shawl ove r h e r arm by th e large wi n dow that le d o ut ,

t o th e lawn an d was l ookin g at m e atten tively

, .

H ave yo u any lei su re time to spare sh e asked , befor e ,

’

y o u begi n to work i n you r o w n room ?

56
 T H E WO MAN I N W H IT E

C e rtain ly , M i ss H alcombe . I have always tim e at you r

se rvice .
’

I wan t to say a wo rd to you 1 11 pr i vate M r H a rtrigh t , . .

G e t you r hat an d come o u t i nto th e garde n We are n ot li kely

, .

to be distu rbe d the re at th i s hou r in the m o rn in g .

’

As we steppe d o u t o n t o th e lawn o n e o f the u n de r gar ,

-

den ers— a m ere lad passe d u s o n hi s way to the house with ,

a lette r in his hand M i ss H alcombe stoppe d him . .

I s that lette r fo r m e sh e asked .

’
N ay mi ss it s j u st s ai d to be fo r M i s s Fai rlie an swe re d
,
’

the lad h oldi n g o u t the lette r as h e s poke

, .

M i s s H alcom be took i t from h im an d l ooked a t th e ,

addre s s .

A stran ge han dwri tin g sh e sai d to he rse lf Wh o c a n ,

’

’
Lau ra s c orre spon den t be ? Whe re di d you ge t thi s ? sh e
c on ti n ued addressin g th e garden e r
, .

’
Well mis s sai d th e lad I j us t got i t from a woman
, ,
’
, .

What woman
’
A woman wel l stri cke n in age .

O h a n o ld woman Any on e you k new

, .

I can n a tak i t o n mysel to sa y that sh e was othe r than

’ ’ ’

a s trange r to m e .
’

Which way di d sh e go
’
That gate sai d th e u nde r garde ne r tu rn in g wi th great
,
-
,

deli be rati o n towa rd s th e south a n d em braci n g th e wh ole o f ,

that part o f E n glan d wi th o n e c o m p reh e n sive swe ep o f hi s

arm .

’
C uri ou s said M i s s H alcombe , I supp ose i t mu st b e a
beggin g lette r Th e re sh e adde d handin g th e lette r bac k to
-
.
,
’
,

th e lad take i t to th e h ou se an d give i t to on e o f th e se rvan ts

, ,
.

An d n ow M r H a rtrigh t if you have n o obj ecti on let u s wal k

, .
, ,

th is way .
’

S h e le d m e ac ros s the lawn alon g the same path by which ,

I h ad followe d h e r o n th e day afte r my arrival at Lim m eridge .

At th e little s umme r h ou se i n which Lau ra Fai rli e an d I h ad -

fi rst se en each othe r sh e stoppe d a n d broke th e sile nce which , ,

sh e had steadily mai ntai ne d whil e we we re walkin g togeth e r .

Wh at I have t o say to you I c a n sa y h e re ,

.
’

Wi th th ose wo rds sh e e nte re d th e summe r h ou se took ,

-
,

o n e of the ch ai rs at th e little rou n d tabl e i n side an d si gne d to ,

m e to take th e o the r I s uspe cted wh at was c omi n g wh e n .

sh e spoke to m e i n the b reakfast ro om I felt ce rtai n o f i t -

n ow .

M r H a rtrigh t sh e said I am goi ng to begi n by makin g

.
,
’
,

fra k
n a ov w l to o u I am goi ng to sa — w i th out ph rase
a a y y .

57
 T H E WO M AN I N WH I T E

m aki ng whi ch I de tes t o r paying c ompliments wh ich I

, ,

he artily d espise th at I h ave come i n th e cours e o f you r resi

-
,

de nc e with u s to feel a s trong friendly regard for you

, I was .

p redi sp ose d i n you r favou r whe n you fi rst told m e o f you r

c on duct toward s that u nhappy woman wh om you me t un de r
s uch re markable ci rcumstances You r man agemen t o f th e .

a ff ai r migh t n ot have been p ruden t ; bu t i t sh owe d th e self

c ontrol th e delicacy and th e compassio n of a m a n wh o was
, ,

n atu rally a ge ntle man I t made m e expect go od thi ngs from

.

you ; a n d you have n ot di sappointed my expe ctation s .

’

S he pau se d — but held u p he r han d at th e same time as a ,

si gn that she awaite d n o an swe r from m e before sh e p ro ceeded .

Whe n I e ntered th e su mme r h ou se n o th ou ght was i n me o f -

,

th e woman in white B ut n o w M i ss Ha lc o m b e s o wn wo rd s
.
, ,
’

h ad put the me mo ry O f my adve ntu re back in my min d It .

re maine d there th rough out th e i nterview —remained an d n ot ,

wi thout a result .

’
As you r fri end sh e p roceeded I am goi ng to tel l you
, , ,

at once in my o w n plain blu nt d own righ t language that I

, , , ,

h ave di scove re d you r sec ret — with out hel p o r hin t mi n d from , , ,

a ny o n e els e M r H a rtrigh t you have th oughtle s sly allowe d

. .
,

you rself to form a n attach ment — a s eri ou s an d devote d attach

me nt I am afrai d — to my siste r Lau ra
, I don t put yo u to , .
’

th e pai n o f c onfe s si n g i t in so many wo rds becau se I see an d

, ,
’
k n ow that you are to o h one st to de ny i t I don t eve n blame .

you I pity you fo r ope ni ng you r heart to a hopele s s a ff ecti on

- .

You have n ot atte mpte d to tak e a ny u nde rhan d advantage “

you have n o t sp oke n t o my si ste r in secret You are guilty .

o f we ak n ess an d want o f attentio n to you r o w n best i n te re sts ,

but o f n othin g worse I f yo u had acted i n any si ngl e re spect

.
, ,

fi
le s s deli cately an d le ss m ode stly I sh oul d h ave told yo u t o ,
’ ’
leave th e h ouse with out a n i nstant s n oti ce o r a n in stan t s
, ,

con sultati on o f anybody As i t i s I blame the mi sfortu n e o f

.
,

you r ye ars a nd you r p osition — I don t blame y ou S hake ’

.

han ds— I have give n you pai n I am goin g to give yo u m ore

bu t the re i s n o help fo r it— shake h an ds with you r fri end ,

M arian H alcombe rst , .

’

The sudde n ki ndn es s— the warm high min ded fearle s s ,

-
,

sym pathy which me t me o n such m e rcifully equ al te rm s which -

,

appealed with s uch delicate an d ge n e rou s abrup tne s s straigh t

t o my h eart my h o n ou r an d my cou rage ove rcam e m e in
, , ,

an i nstant . I tried to l ook at h e r whe n sh e took my h an d , ,

but my eyes we re dim I tried t o than k he r bu t my voice

.
,

failed me .

L i ste n to me sh e sai d con side rately avoidi ng all n otic e

,
’
,

5 8
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E

of
‘
my l os s o f self co nt rol - Li ste n to m e a nd le t us get i t
.
,

ove r at on ce . I t i s a real t ru e reli ef t o me that I am n ot

obliged in wh at I have n ow to say t o e nte r i nto the que stion
, ,

the hard an d crue l que sti on as I thin k it— o f social i nequa lities .

Ci rcu m stance s which will t ry y ou t o th e quick spare m e the ,

u ngraci ou s n ece ssity o f pai nin g a m a n wh o has live d in friendly

i ntimacy un der the sam e roof wi th myself by any humili atin g
re fe re n c e t o m atte rs o f ran k an d station Y o u mu st leave .

L im m eridge H ou se M r H a rtrigh t befo re mo re harm i s done

, .
, .

I t i s my duty to sa y that t o you an d i t woul d b e e qually my

duty t o say i t u nde r p reci sely the same se riou s n ece ssity i f
, ,

y o u we re th e rep re sentative o f the olde s t an d wealthie st

family in E ngland Y o u mu st leave u s n o t be cau se yo u are
.
.
,

a teache r o f d rawi ng
S he waite d a m ome nt ; tu rn e d he r face full o n me ; and ,

reach in g acros s th e table laid he r h an d fi rmly o n my arm

, .

N ot becaus e you a re a teache r o f d rawin g she repeated ,

’
,

but be cau se Lau ra Fai rli e i s e ngage d to be marri ed .

’

The last word we nt like a bullet to my heart My arm .

lo st all sen sati o n o f th e han d that grasped it I neve r m ove d .

an d neve r spoke Th e sharp autum n b reeze that s catte red

.

th e dead leave s at o u r feet cam e as cold to me o n a sudden , , ,

as if my o w n mad h ope s were dead leave s t oo whi rle d away by , ,

the wi n d like th e rest H ope s B etrothed o r n ot betrothed

. -
, ,

sh e wa s e qually far from m e Wou l d othe r m en have rem em .

bered that in my pl ace N o t if th ey had l oved he r as I did .

Th e pang passed an d n othin g but th e dul l n umbin g pai n

o f it remained . I felt M i ss H a lc o m be s han d ag a in tightening ’
,

i ts hold o n my arm — I rai se d my head an d l ooked at he r ,

.

H e r large b lack eye s we re roote d o n me watchin g the white ,

chan ge o n my fa ce which I felt an d which sh e saw

, , .

‘
C rush i t ! she said
’
H e re wh e re you fi rst saw he r
.
, ,

c rush i t ! D on t sh rin k u nde r i t l ike a woman Tear i t o u t

’
.

trample i t u n de r foot like a m a n

Th e supp re sse d vehemen ce with whic h sh e sp oke ; th e
stre n gth which he r wi ll — conce ntrated in th e look s he fixed o n
me an d in th e h old o n my arm that sh e had n ot ye t relin
,

q u is h ed — commu nicate d to min e s teadied me We both ,

.
’

waite d fo r a mi nute i n si len ce At the e n d o f that time I had

,
.
,

j u stified he r ge ne rou s faith in my man hood I had ou twardly ,

a t least recove re d my self control

,
- .

Are yo u you rsel f agai n

E nough myself M i ss H alcombe to a sk you r pardon an d
, ,

h e rs E n ough myself to b e gu ided by you r advice a nd to

.
, ,
’
p rove my gratitude i n that way if I c a n p rove i t i n n o othe r ,
.

59
 T H E W O MAN I N W H I TE
’
Y ou have p roved i t al ready sh e an swe re d by th os e , ,

words . M r H a rtrigh t co n ce alme n t is at a n e n d be twee n u s

.
,
.

I can no t a ff ect t o h ide fro m y ou wh at my si ste r h as u nc o n ,

sc io u sly shown to m e Y o u mu st leave u s fo r he r sake as

.
,

wel l as fo r you r o w n You r p re se n ce he re you r n ece ssa ry

.
,

i nti macy with u s harmle ss as i t has been G od kn ows in all

, , ,

o the r respe cts h as u n ste adi e d he r an d m ade h er wre tched

,
.

I wh o love he r bette r than my o w n life — I wh o h ave

, ,

l earn t t o believe in that pure n oble i nn oce nt natu re as I ,

beli eve in my religi on — kn ow b ut to o well th e s ec re t mi se ry

o f se lf re p roach that she has b ee n su ff e rin g si nce the fi rst
-
,

shad ow o f a feeling dislo ya l to he r marriage en gagement e nte re d

h e r heart i n spi te o f h e r I d on t sa y— it would be u se le ss t o .
’

attempt to say i t afte r wh at h as happe ned — th at he r e n gage

,

me n t has eve r h ad a stron g h old o n he r a ff ecti on s I t is an .

en gage me nt of h on ou r n ot o f love — h e r fathe r sancti on ed i t

,

on hi s death bed two years sin ce — sh e he rself n eithe r

-
,

fi
welc ome d i t n o r sh ran k from it— sh e w a s c onte nt to make i t
, .

Ti ll you cam e h e re sh e was i n th e p osi ti on o f hu ndre ds o f

,

o the r women wh o marry m e n with ou t be ing gre atly attracted

,

t o the m o r greatly repelle d by them an d wh o learn to love ,

them (when they d on t lea rn t o hate ’

afte r m arriage i n stead ,

o f befo re . I h op e mo re e arne stly than wo rds c a n sa y— an d

you sh ould h ave the self sa c ri c ing c ou rage to h ope to o — that -

the n ew though ts an d fee li ngs which h ave di stu rbe d the o ld

calm ne s s a nd the o ld c on ten t have n o t take n ro ot too deeply ,

to be eve r rem ove d You r absence (if I had le s s belief in you r

.

h o nou r an d you r cou rage an d you r se n se I shoul d n ot t ru st

, , ,

t o the m as I am t rusti n g n o w ) — you r ab se n ce will h elp my

e ff orts an d ti me wil l help u s al l th ree I t i s so meth ing to kn ow .

that my fi rst confiden ce i n yo u was n ot all misplaced I t i s some .

thing to kn o w that you will n o t be le ss hon e st le s s m an ly le ss , ,

con side rate towards th e pu pi l wh os e rel ati o n t o you rse lf you

have had the m i sfo rtu n e t o fo rget than t oward s the st ran ge r ,

an d the outcast wh ose app eal to yo u was n o t made i n vai n .

’

Agai n the ch anc e refe re n ce to th e woman i n white Was

the re n o p os sibility o f speaki n g o f M i s s Fai rlie an d o f me
with out rai si ng the me m ory O f Ann e C a th eric k and se tting ,

h e r be twee n u s like a fatality that i t was h opeles s t o avoi d

Tell me what ap ol ogy I can m ak e t o M r Fai rlie fo r break .

i ng my engagem ent I said

’
Tell m e when t o go afte r that
, .

apology i s accepted I p romi se implicit obedience to yo u an d

.

t o you r advice .
’

Tim e is ev ery way o f imp ortanc e sh e answered

,
.
Y ou
, ,
’
.

h eard me refe r t h i s m o rnin g to M on d ay n ext and to the ,

60
 TH E WO MA N I N W H IT E
necessi ty o f settin g the pu rp le roo m in o rde r Th e vi sit o r .

wh om we exp ect o n M on day

I cou ld n ot wai t fo r he r t o be m ore e xplicit K n owin g what .

I kn ew n ow th e m em o ry o f M is s Fai r l ie s l ook a nd m an ne r
,
’

at the breakfast table told m e that th e expecte d vi sito r at

-

L im m eridge H ous e was he r futu re hu s ban d I t rie d to force .

i t back bu t s omethi ng ros e withi n me at that m omen t

stronge r than my o w n w i ll ; an d I inte rrupted M is s
H alcom be .

‘ ’
Le t me go to da y I said bitte rly Th e so one r th e
-
, , .

’
bette r .

N o ; n o t to day sh e replie d -
Th e only reason you c a n
,
’
.

assign to M r Fai rli e fo r you r departu re befo re th e e n d o f

.
,

you r en gage me nt mu st be that a n u nfore se e n n e ces si ty co m

,

pels you to as k hi s pe rmi s sio n to retu rn at onc e t o Lon don .

Y o u mu st wai t till t o mo rrow t o tell h i m that at the ti me -

,

whe n the pos t come s in becau se h e will the n u n de rstan d th e ,

su dde n chan ge in you r plan s by as soci ati ng i t with th e arrival ,

o f a lette r from Lon don I t i s mi se rabl e and sicke n in g to de.

sce nd to decei t eve n of th e m ost harmle ss kin d —but I kn ow

,

M r Fai rlie an d if yo u o n ce exci te hi s su spici o n s that you are

.
,

t riflin g w i th h im h e wi ll refu se to releas e you

, S peak to hi m .

o n Fri day m o rn in g occu py you rself afte rward s (fo r th e sake

of you r o w n i ntere sts with you r e mploye r ) in leavin g you r ,

u nfi ni she d work in a s little c onfu si o n as p o s sible ; a n d quit

thi s place o n S atu rday I t will be time e n ough then M r .
'

, , .

H a rtrigh t fo r yo u a n d fo r all of u s
’
.
, ,

B efore I c ould assu re h e r that sh e mi gh t d epen d o n my

acti n g in th e stricte st acco rdan ce with he r wi she s we w e re ,

both startle d by advan ci ng fo otstep s in th e sh rubbe ry .

S ome o n e wa s comin g from the hou s e t o see k fo r u s I fe lt

th e blood ru sh i nt o my cheek s an d the n leave them agai n , .

Could the thi rd pe rs o n wh o was fast app roachi n g u s at s uch ,

a ti me a n d u n de r s uch ci rcu mstan ce s be M i s s Fai rlie ,

I t was a re lief— so sadly s o hopele s sly was my positi on ,

toward s he r chan ge d already— it was ab solutely a re lief to

m e whe n th e p e rso n who had di stu rbe d u s appe ared at th e
,

e ntrance o f the summe r h ou se an d p rove d t o be only M is s -

,

Fai rlie s m aid ’

.

Could I sp eak t o you for a mome nt mi s s ? sai d th e ,

’

girl in rathe r a flu rri ed u n settle d man ne r

, , .

M i ss H alcombe de scen de d th e step s i nto th e sh rubbe ry ,

a n d wal ke d aside a few pace s with th e mai d .

Left by myself my mi n d reve rted with a sen se o f forlorn

, ,

wretchedne s s whi ch i t i s n ot i n any wo rd s that I ca n fin d to

61
 T H E W O M A N I N W H IT E

d e scri be to my app roachi n g retu rn to th e s olitud e an d th e

,

despai r o f my lon ely Lo n do n h ome Th oughts o f my ki n d .

o l d m o the r a n d of my si ster
,
wh o h ad rej oi ce d with he r s o ,

i nn ocen tly ove r my p rospects in Cumbe rland — thoughts whos e

l on g ban i shme nt from my h eart i t was n ow my shame an d my
rep roach to realis e fo r th e fi rst time — came bac k to m e with
th e lovi n g m ou rn ful ne s s o f o ld n egle cte d frie n ds My , .

m othe r an d my s i ste r what wou ld they feel wh e n I retu rn e d

,

t o the m from my b roke n e n g agemen t with the confe s sion o f ,

my m i serable secret —they wh o had parte d from m e so h op e

fully o n that last happy n igh t in th e H amp stead cott age
‘
An n e C a th eri c k agai n Eve n th e m em ory o f th e farewell
eve ni ng wi th my mothe r an d my siste r c oul d n ot retu rn t o
m e n ow u ncon n ecte d with that o the r memory o f th e m oon
,

light wal k back to Lon don What di d i t mean We re that

.

woman a nd I to meet o nce m ore ? I t w a s p ossi ble at th e ,

least D i d sh e kn ow that I live d in Lon don ? Ye s ; I h ad

.

told he r so e ithe r before o r afte r that stran ge que sti on o f

,

h e rs whe n sh e had aske d m e s o distrustfully if I knew many

,

m en o f th e ran k o f B aronet E ithe r befo re o r afte r— m y .

m in d was n ot calm e n ough then t o re membe r wh i ch , , .

A few m inute s e lapse d before M i ss H alcombe d ismisse d

th e maid an d cam e bac k to me S he too , l ooke d fl u rried .
,

an d u n settled n ow , .

We have arr a n ge d all th at i s necessary M r Ha rtrigh t , .

,
’

sh e said We have u nderstood each othe r a s frie nds

.
,

s hou ld an d we m ay go bac k at on ce to the h ous e To tell .

you th e truth I am u n easy ab ou t Lau ra S he has se n t t o

, .

say sh e wan ts t o see m e di rectly an d th e mai d reports

that h e r mis tres s i s appare ntly ve ry much agitated by a lette r
that sh e has rece ived this m ornin g— the s ame lette r n o doubt , ,

wh ich I s e n t o n t o th e h ous e before we came h e re .

’

We retraced o u r s te ps togethe r has tily alon g th e sh ru b

b e ry path Alth ough M iss H alcombe had e nded all that sh e
.

th ought i t n eces sary to s ay o n h e r s ide I had n o t e nded all

, ,

that I wante d t o s ay o n min e F ro m th e m oment when I had .

dis covere d that th e expected vi sito r a t Lim m eridge was M is s

’
Fairlie s futu re husband I had felt a bitte r cu ri os ity a burn
, ,

i n g enviou s eagern ess t o kn ow wh o he was ,I t was p ossible .

that a futu re O pportun ity o f puttin g th e questi on might n ot

e as ily o ff e r ; so I ri s ked askin g i t o n ou r way bac k to th e
h ous e .

N ow that yo u are ki nd en ough t o tell m e we have u nde r

stood e ach othe r M iss H alcomb e I said , n ow th at you are ,
’

su re o f my
g ratitude fo r you r fo rbearan ce an d my O bedience
62
 T HE W O MA N I N W H I T E
A n d yet I di d con n ec t hi m with them
, . W a s i t be cau se h e h a d
n ow becom e as sociate d i n my mind with M i s s Fai rlie M i ss
Fai rli e bei n g in he r tu rn associate d with An ne C a th eric k
, , ,

sin ce th e nigh t wh e n I h ad d iscove re d the omi nou s like ne s s

betwee n them H ad the eve nt s o f th e m o rn i ng so u nne rve d
m e al ready that I w a s at th e m e rcy o f any delu si on wh ich
comm o n chan ce s a n d c omm on c oi nci den ce s might sugges t to
my i magin ati on I mp os sibl e t o sa y I could o nly fee l that .

what had pa sse d be twee n M i s s H alc ombe a n d myself o n o u r ,

way from the summe r h ouse h ad affecte d m e ve ry strangely

-
, .

Th e fo re bodin g of s om e undiscove rable dange r lyin g hi d fro m

u s all i n the dark ne s s of th e futu re was st ron g o n m e The
, .

dou bt whethe r I was n ot l in ke d alre ady to a chai n o f eve n ts

which eve n my app roaching departu re from Cu mbe rlan d
woul d be powe rle ss t o snap asun de r— th e d oubt whethe r we
a n y o f u s s aw th e e n d as th e e n d would re ally b e— gathe re d

m ore and m o re darkly ove r my mi nd Poi gnant a s i t w a s th e .

,

se n se o f su ff e rin g cau sed by th e mi se rable e n d o f my brie f ,

p re sumptu ou s l ove se em ed to be blun ted an d deade n ed by th e

,

s till stron ge r se n se o f s o methin g o bscu rely i mpen din g s ome ,

thin g i nvi si bly th reate ning that Tim e w a s h oldin g ove r o u r

,

h ead s.

I had bee n e ngaged with th e d rawin gs l ittle m o re than

half a n h ou r when the re was a kn ock at th e do o r I t op ened
, .
,

o n my an swe ring ; a n d to my su rpri se M i ss H alcombe e nte re d

, ,

the room .

H e r man n e r w a s an gry a n d agi tated S he caugh t u p a .

chai r fo r h e rself befo re I c ould give he r o ne an d sa t down i n

i t cl ose at my side
, .

M r H a rtrigh t sh e said
.
,
’
I had h oped that all painfu l
,

subj ects o f conversati on we re exhau sted be twee n u s fo r to ,

day a t l east B ut i t i s n ot to be so Th e re i s s om e u nde r

. .

h an d vi llainy at work t o frighte n my si ste r about h e r app roach

i n g marriage Y o u sa w me se n d th e gardene r on to th e
.

fi
house w ith a letter addre ssed in a stran ge handwritin g to
,
.

, ,

M i s s Fai rli e
Ce rtai nly .
’

Th e lette r is an an onym ou s lette r— a vi le attempt to

i nju re S i r Pe rcival G lyde in my siste r s esti mati on I t h a s so ’
.

agitated an d alarm ed he r that I have h ad the greates t p ossi ble

d i f c ulty in c omp osin g he r spi ri ts s u flflc ien tly to allow m e to
leave he r ro om an d c ome h e re I kn ow thi s i s a family matte r
.

o n which I ought n ot t o c on su lt you an d i n which you can ,

feel n o con ce rn o r i nte re st

‘
I beg you r pardon Mi s s H alcomb e I feel th e strongest ,
, .

64
 T HE W O MAN I N W H IT E

possi bl e on ce rn an d i nte rest in anything th at a ff ects M is s

c
’
Fai rlie s happi n es s o r you rs
’
.

I am glad t o h ear you sa y so You are the only pe rs on .

in th e h ou se o r out of it wh o c a n advis e me
, M r Fai rlie in , . .
,

h is state o f health an d with h is h o rror of di ffi cu lti e s a n d mys

te rles O f all kind s i s n ot to be th ou ght of Th e cle rgyman i s
, .

a good weak man wh o kn ows n othin g ou t o f the routi n e of hi s

, ,

dutie s an d ou r n eighb ou rs are ju st th e s o rt of comfortable ,

j og t rot acquain tance s wh om o n e can n ot di stu rb i n ti me s o f

-

trou ble a n d dan ge r What I wan t t o kn ow is this ought I .

,

at o nce to take su ch s teps as I c a n t o di scove r the wri te r o f

,

th e le tte r o r ou gh t I t o wait an d apply t o M r Fai rlie s legal , .

’

advise r to m o rrow ? I t i s a que sti on — p e rhaps a ve ry im

-

p ortan t o n e— o f gai nin g o r l osin g a day Tel l me What yo u .

think M r H a rtrigh t I f necessity h ad n ot already oblige d

, . .

m e t o take yo u int o my c onfidence u nde r ve ry delicate c i rcu m

stan ce s eve n my h elpless s ituati on would p erh aps be n o
, , ,

excu se fo r m e B ut as th in gs are I can n ot su rely be wron g

.
, , ,

afte r all that h a s passed betwee n u s in fo rgetti n g that you ,

’ ’
are a friend o f o nly th re e m onths stan din g .

S he gave m e th e lette r I t began ab ruptly , wi th o u t any .

p relimi nary fo rm o f address as follows ,

Do you be li eve in d reams I h op e fo r you r own s ake , ,

that you d o S ee wh at S criptu re says about d ream s and

.

thei r fulfilment (Gen esi s x 1 8 x l i 2 5 D an iel iv 1 8 2 5 )

‘

. .
-
, .

and take the warn in g I s en d you befo re it i s to o late .

Last night I d reamed about you M is s Fai rli e

, I , .

d reame d that I was stan din g i n sid e th e c ommu n i on rails o f a

chu rch I o n o ne side o f the alt a r table an d th e cle rgyman -
, ,

with his su rpli ce and hi s p raye r b o ok o n th e othe r -

, .

Afte r a time the re walke d t owards u s down the ai sle o f

, ,

th e chu rch a man a n d a woman comin g t o be m arried You

, , .

we re th e woman Y o u l ooke d so p retty an d i n n oce nt in you r

.

beautiful wh ite s ilk dre ss an d you r l ong white lace veil that , ,

my heart fe lt for you a n d the tears came i nto my eyes .

They we re tears o f pi ty youn g lady that heave n ble sse s ; , ,

a n d i n stead o f falli ng fro m my eye s li ke th e eve ry day tears

,
-

that we al l o f u s sh ed they tu rne d i nto two rays o f ligh t which,

slante d neare r a n d ne are r to th e m an standing at the altar

with you till they touche d hi s b re ast The two rays sp ran g
,
.

i n arche s li ke two rainb ows be twee n m e an d him I lo oke d , .

alon g the m an d I saw d own i nt o hi s i n mo st heart .

The outside of th e m a n you we re marryin g was fai r

e nou gh to se e H e wa s neithe r tall n o r sh ort — h e was a
.
,

6 F
5
 fifi T H E WO M AN

l i ttl e be low th e middle size A ligh t active high spi ri te d

man — abou t v e an d forty years old to lo ok at
-

pale face an d was bald ove r th e forehead but had dark hai r
,

o n th e re st o f hi s h ead
H e had a
.

H i s be ard was sh ave n o n h is ch in

bu t w a s le t to grow o f a ne ri ch b rown o n hi s chee ks an d
,
.
I N \V HI T E

,
,

,
,

.
-

hi s uppe r lip H is eye s we re b rown t oo an d ve ry b right ;

.
,

hi s n os e s trai ght an d han dsom e an d deli cate e nou gh to h ave

d on e fo r a woman s H i s hand s th e same
’
. H e was troubled .

from tim e t o t ime with a d ry hac kin g c ough a nd wh en h e

pu t u p h is wh ite right han d t o hi s m o n th h e sh owed the ,

red s car o f a n O ld woun d ac ros s th e bac k of i t H ave I .

d re amt o f th e righ t man ? Y o u know be st M is s Fai rli e ; ,

a n d you c a n say if I was de c e ive d o r n ot Read n ext what .

,

I sa w b en eath the o u ts1 de— I e ntreat yo u re ad an d p rofi t , , .

‘
I looked al on g th e tw o rays o f light ; an d I sa w d own
i nt o h i s i nm os t heart I t was blac k as n ight ; and o n i t we re
.

writte n in th e re d fl amin g l ette rs whi ch are th e h an dwri tin g

,
“
o f th e falle n an ge l With out pity an d with out remors e
. .

H e has strewn with m i se ry th e path s o f oth e rs and h e will ,

live to strew wi th mi se ry th e path o f thi s woman by hi s si de .

I read that ; a n d the n th e rays o f li gh t shifted an d p oi nted

ove r h i s sh oulde r ; a n d the re behin d h im st ood a fie n d , , ,

laughi ng An d th e rays o f ligh t shifte d once m ore an d

.
,

p oi nted ove r you r sh ou lde r a nd th e re behi n d yo u stood a n , ,

ange l weepin g An d th e rays o f li gh t shifted fo r the thi rd

.

time an d p ointed st raigh t betwee n you and that man They

, .

widen ed an d wide ned th rusti ng you b oth asu nde r o ne from

, ,

th e othe r An d the cle rgyman lo oked for the marriage service

.
-

in vain : i t w a s gon e o u t o f th e bo ok an d h e shu t u p th e ,

l eaves an d p ut i t from hi m i n despai r An d I woke with my

, .

eyes full O f tears a nd my h eart beating— for I b elieve i n

d ream s .

‘
B elieve too M i s s F airli e — I beg o f you fo r you r o wn
, , ,

s ake beli eve a s I d o J oseph an d D an iel an d othe rs i n

, .
,

S criptu re believe d i n d reams

, I nqui re i nto th e pas t life o f .

that m a n with the s car o n h is han d before yo u say th e wo rds ,

that m ake you hi s mi se rable wife I d on t give you thi s .

’

warn ing o n my accou n t but o n you rs I have a n i nte rest in

, .

you r well be ing that wi ll live as l ong as I d raw b reath You r .

m oth e r s daughte r h as a tende r p lace in my heart — for you r

’

m othe r was my fi rs t my best my only frie nd , , .

’

The re th e extraordinary lette r ended w ith out si gnatu re o f

, ,

any s ort .

T h e han dwritin g a ff o rded n o p ros pec t o f a c l ue I t wa s .

66
 T H E WO M AN I N W H ITE

t raced o n rule d li ne s in th e cramped conve nti onal c opyb oo k

, , ,

characte r t ech nica l ly te rme d s mall hand

, I t was feeble an d .
’

fai nt an d defaced by b lots bu t had oth e rwis e n othin g t o

, ,

d istin guish it .

’
That i s n ot a n illiterate lette r said Mis s H alcomb e a nd , , ,

at th e same ti me i t i s s u rely to o i ncoh eren t t o be the lette r

,

of an educated pe rs o n in the highe r ran ks o f life Th e refe r .

e n ce to the bridal dre s s an d vei l a n d othe r little expres si on s , ,

see m to p oi nt t o it as th e prod ucti on of s om e wom an \V h a t .

d o yo u thin k M r H a rtrigh t
, .

I thi n k so to o I t seem s t o m e t o b e n ot on ly th e lette r

.

o f a woman but o f a woman wh os e min d must b e

,

D erange d s uggeste d M iss H alcomb e I t struc k me .

i n that light t oo
’
, .

I did n ot an swe r Wh ile I w a s speakin g my eyes rested

.
,

o n f ‘
the las t s e nte nce o the lette r : You r m othe r s daughte r ’

h as a te nder place in my heart — for you r m othe r w a s my fi rst ,

my best my on ly fri en d
, Th ose word s an d th e d oubt which
.
’

had j ust es caped me a s t o the sa nity o f th e write r O f the letter ,

acti n g togethe r o n my m ind suggested an i dea which I was , ,

lite ral l y afraid t o expre ss ope nly o r eve n t o e ncou rage se cretly , .

I began t o d oubt wh ethe r my o w n facultie s we re n ot in dange r

o f losin g thei r balance I t seem ed almost li ke a m on omania
.

t o be tracin g bac k eve ryth in g strange that h ap pe n ed eve ry ,

thin g u n expe cte d that was s aid always t o the same hidde n ,

s ou rce a nd th e s am e sinis te r i nfluen ce I res olve d this time .

, ,

in defen ce of my own c ou rage an d my o w n s ense t o c om e t o ,

n o d ec is i on th at plai n fact di d n ot warrant a n d t o turn my ,

bac k res olute ly o n eve rythi ng that temp te d me in th e shape

o f su rmis e .

I f we h ave any chance o f t racin g th e pe rson wh o h a s

writte n th i s I said retu rnin g th e lette r to M i ss H alcombe
,
’
, ,

the re c a n be n o harm in seizin g o u r opp o rtuni ty the m oment

i t o ff e rs
. I thi n k we ought to speak t o th e garden e r agai n
about th e e lde rly woman wh o gave hi m th e lette r an d the n ,

to con ti nu e o u r i nqui rie s in the village B ut fi rst le t m e as k .

a que sti on You me nti on ed j u st n ow th e alte rn ative o f c o n

.

’
su l tin g M r F airlie s legal advi se r to m orrow
. I s th e re n o - .

fi
p os sibility o f commun icati ng with hi m earlie r Why n ot to
day
‘ ’
I can o nly explain replie d Mi s s H alcombe by e nterin g
, ,

i nto ce rtain parti culars con nected with my si ste r s marriage,

’

e n gagemen t wh ich I d id n ot thin k i t n e ce ssary o r desi rabl e

,
’
t o m entio n t o you thi s m orn in g O ne of S i r Pe rcival G lyde s .

obj ects i n c omin g he re , o n M on day i s to x the pe ri od o f ,

67 F 2
 T HE W O M A N I N W H I T E

h is marriage , wh i ch h as h ith e rto bee n left quite u n settled .

H e i s anxi ou s that th e eve n t sh ou ld take place before th e e nd

O f th e year .
’

D oe s M i ss Fairlie k n ow o f th at wi sh I asked e age rly , .

S he h as n o suspici on o f i t a nd afte r what h a s ,

happe ned I sh all n ot take th e resp on si bility upon myself o f

,

e nlightenin g he r S i r Pe rcival h a s only me ntione d h i s views

.

t o M r Fai rlie wh o h a s told m e hi mself that h e i s ready an d

.
,

anxiou s as Lau ra s guardian t o forward them

,
’
H e has , .

writte n to Lon don t o th e family solicito r M r Gilmo re , , . .

M r Gilmore h appe n s t o be away in G lasgow on bu sine ss ;

.

a nd h e has repli ed by p roposin g t o stop at L im m eridge

H ou se o n hi s way b ack t o town
,
H e w i ll arrive t o m o rrow .
-
,

a n d wi ll stay with u s a few days so as to allow S i r Pe rcival ,

ti me t o ple ad hi s o w n cau se I f h e succee ds M r Gilmo re .

, .

wi ll th e n retu rn t o London takin g with h i m hi s i n structi on s ,

fo r my si ste r s m arri age settlemen t Y o u u nde rstan d n ow

’
- .
,

M r H a rtrigh t why I speak o f waitin g t o take legal advice

.
,

u nti l to m orrow
-
M r G ilm o re i s th e o ld an d tri e d frie n d o f
.

two ge n e ration s o f F ai rlie s ; a n d w e c a n t ru st him a s we ,

’
coul d t rus t n o o n e el se .

Th e marri age settlemen t ! The m e re h eari n g o f th ose

-

two wo rd s stun g m e with a j ealou s de spai r that was poi so n

t o my highe r an d bette r i n stin cts I began t o thi nk — it i s .

hard t o c onfe s s thi s bu t I mu st supp re s s n othi ng from ,

begi nnin g t o en d o f th e terri bl e sto ry th at I n ow stan d com

m itted t o reveal — I began t o think wi th a hateful eage rn es s ,

o f h ope o f th e vague
, charge s a gain st S i r Pe rcival Glyd e
which th e an onym ou s lette r contai n ed What i f th ose wild .

accu sati on s re sted o n a foun dati on o f t ruth What if the i r

t ruth could be p rove d befo re th e fatal wo rds of c on sen t we re
spok en an d th e m arriage settlemen t was d rawn ? I h ave
,
-

t rie d t o thi n k si n ce th at th e feelin g wh ich th e n animated m e

, ,

b egan an d ended in pu re devoti on t o M i s s F ai rlie s i nte rests ’

.

B ut I have n eve r succe eded in deceivi ng myse lf i nto beli evin g

i t ; an d I mu st n o t n ow attempt t o de ceive othe rs Th e .

feelin g b egan an d ended in reckles s vi ndictive h op ele s s , ,

h atred o f the m a n wh o was t o marry h e r .

I f we are to fi nd o u t anythin g I said speakin g u n de r ,

’
,
‘
th e n ew i nfluen ce which was n ow di recting m e we had ,

bette r n ot let an oth e r m i nute slip by u s u nemp l oyed I can .

only sugge st on ce m ore th e p rop riety o f questioning th e

, ,

garden e r a seco n d time an d o f in qui ring in the village ,

i mmediately afte rwards .

’

I thi nk I may be o f h elp t o yo u in both case s said M is s ,

’

68
 T H E WO M AN I N W H IT E

H alcombe ri sin g Le t u s go M r Ha rtrigh t at on ce a nd

, .
,
.
, ,
’
d o th e best we c a n togeth e r .

I h ad th e d oo r in my han d to ope n i t for he r— but I

fi
stopped o n a sudden to as k an imp o rtan t qu e sti on before

fi
, ,

we set forth .

O n e of th e paragraph s o f th e anonym ou s lette r I said ,

’
,
‘
con tain s s om e senten ce s o f min ute p e rs onal de scripti on .

Si r Pe rcival G lyde s n am e i s n ot m enti on ed I kn ow— but

’
,

doe s that de scripti on at all rese mble hi m

Accurately eve n in stati n g h i s age to b e forty v e -

F orty v e ; an d sh e was n ot yet twe nty on e ! M en o f

- -

h i s age marrie d wive s o f he r age every day an d expe ri ence

h ad sh own tho se marriage s t o be ofte n th e happiest one s .

I k new that — a n d ye t eve n th e menti on O f hi s age whe n I

e

contrasted it with h e rs adde d t o my bli n d hatre d an d dis ,

trust o f him .

‘ ‘
Accu rately M i ss H alco mb e conti nued
, eve n t o th e ,

scar o n h i s right h a n d which i s th e scar o f a wou n d that h e

,

receive d ye ars si nce whe n h e was t ravelli n g in I taly The re .

ca n b e n o doubt that eve ry peculiari ty o f hi s pe rson al

appe arance i s th o roughly wel l kn own t o th e write r of the
’
letter .

Eve n a cough that he i s t ro uble d w ith i s mentione d i f I ,

remembe r right
‘Ye s
a n d me ntione d co rrectly
,
H e t reats i t lightly hi m .

s elf th ough it s ometime s m ake s h is fri en d s anxi ou s abou t

,
’
him .

‘
I supp o se n o whi spe rs h ave eve r bee n h eard agai ns t hi s
ch aracte r
M r H a rtrigh t ! I h ope yo u are n ot u nj ust e n ough to
.

let th at i nfamou s lette r in fluen ce you

I felt the bloo d rush i nto my cheeks fo r I kn ew th at i t ,

h a d i nflue nce d me .

‘ ‘
I hope n ot I an swe red c on fusedly ,
’
Pe rhap s I h ad , .

’
n o right t o a sk th e que sti on .

’
I am n o t sor ry you aske d i t sh e s aid fo r i t en able s m e , ,
’
t o d o j u stice to S i r Pe rcival s reputati o n N o t a whi spe r .
,

M r H a rtrigh t h as eve r reach ed me o r my fami ly agains t

.
, , ,

him . H e has fough t su cce ssfully two c ontested election s ;

an d has com e o u t o f th e o rdeal u n scathe d A m a n wh o .

c a n do that in En gl a nd i s a m a n wh ose characte r i s e stab

, ,

fishe d }
I open e d th e doo r for he r in sile nce an d foll owed he r o ut , .

S he had n ot co nvin ce d m e I f th e recordin g an gel had com e .

down from h eav en t o confirm he r an d h ad ope ne d hi s boo k ,

69
 T H E W O MAN I N W H I T E

to my m o rt al eye s , th e recordi ng angel wo u ld n ot h ave

convi nce d m e .

We fou n d th e gardene r at wo rk as u sual N o amoun t o f .

que sti on in g could extract a single an swe r o f any im po rtan ce

fro m th e l ad s i mp en etrabl e stupidity Th e woman wh o had
’
.

give n hi m th e lette r was a n elde rly wom an ; sh e h ad n ot

spoke n a wo rd to hi m ; an d sh e h ad gon e away towards th e
s outh in a great hu rry That was all th e garde ne r c ould tel l
.

u s.
The vi llage lay s outhward of th e h ouse . S o t o th e village
we we n t n ext .

O! R i nqui ri e s at L im m eridge were p atie n tly pu rsu e d in all

di re cti on s an d am on g all s orts an d cond iti on s o f pe op le
,
.

B ut n othin g cam e o f the m Th ree o f th e vi llage rs di d

.

ce rtai nly assu re u s th at th ey had see n th e woman ; but a s

they we re quite u nabl e t o descri be h e r a n d quite i ncapabl e o f ,

agreein g about the exact di recti on i n which sh e was p rocee d

i n g whe n they last saw h e r the se th re e b righ t excep tion s t o
,

the gene ral rule o f total ign o rance affo rded n o m o re real
assistance to u s than th e mass of the i r u nhelpfu l a nd u no b

fi
se rvant n eighbou rs .

The cou rs e o f o u r u sele s s i nve stigati on s b rou gh t u s in ,

tim e to the en d o f th e village at whi ch the sch ool s e stablishe d

,

by M rs Fai rli e we re situated As we p as se d th e side o f th e

. .

buildi ng app rop riated t o the u se o f the boys I su gge sted th e ,

p rop riety of maki ng a last i n qui ry o f the s cho olmaste r wh om ,

we might p res ume t o be i n vi rtue o f hi s o f c e the m os t

, ,

i ntellige n t man in th e place

b
.

‘
I am afraid th e sch oolmaste r mu st have bee n o ccupie d
‘
wi th h i s s ch olars sai d M i s s H alcombe j u st at th e tim e
,
’
,

whe n th e woman passe d th rough the vi llage an d retu rne d ,

’
again H oweve r we c a n bu t try
. .

We e nte re d th e p laygroun d e ncl osu re an d walke d by th e ,

s choolroo m wi nd ow t o ge t rou n d t o th e d oo r which was

, ,

situated at th e bac k o f th e buildin g I stoppe d for a m o men t .

at th e wi n dow an d lo oked in .

The sch oolm aste r was sitti n g at his h igh de sk with hi s ,

back t o me apparently h arangui n g th e pupil s wh o we re all

'

, ,

gathered togethe r in fron t o f him with o n e excepti on Th e , .

o n e excepti on was a sturdy white h e aded b oy stan di n g apart -

,

from all the rest o n a stool in a co rne r— a forl o rn little Cru soe ,

i solated 1 n hi s o w n dese rt i sland o f s olitary pe n al di sgrace .

The doo r , when we go t ro u n d to i t was aj ar an d th e ,

70
 TH E WO M AN I N W H ITE

no t have thought it p ossible that any o f the b oys had imagin a

ti on e nough t o see a gh ost Thi s i s a n ew acce ssi on indeed .

t o th e hard labou r o f fo rmin g the youthfu l min d at Limme

ridge — an d I heartily wi sh yo u well th rough i t M r D emp ste r , . .

I n the mean time let m e explai n why you see m e he re an d

, ,

what i t i s I wan t .
’

S he the n put the same qu esti o n t o the sch oolmaste r which ,

we had as ked already o f almost eve ry o ne els e i n th e vi llage .

I t was m et by the same discou ragi ng an swe r M r D empste r

fi
. .

had n o t s et eye s o n the strange r of wh om we we re in search .

‘
We m ay as wel l retu rn t o th e house M r H a rtrigh t , .
,
’

sai d M iss H alcombe ; th e i nformation we wan t i s evidently

n ot to b e fou n d .
’

S h e h ad bowe d t o M r D empste r a n d wa s abou t t o leave .

,

th e sch ool room whe n the forlo rn p ositi on of J ac ob Postle

,

thwaite piteously s ni f n g o n the s tool o f pen iten ce attracted

, ,

he r atten ti o n as sh e passed him an d made h e r stop good ,

h u m o u redly t o speak a word t o th e little p ri s on e r before sh e

open ed th e d oo r .

Y o u foolish b oy
9
sh e said why d o n t you beg M r ’
.
, ,

D e mpste r s pardon an d h old you r tongu e ab ou t th e gho st ?

’
,

Eh but I sa w t ghai st pe rsisted J ac ob P ostlethwaite

-
’
,
’
,

with a stare Of te rror an d a bu rs t o f tea 1 s .

S tu ff an d n on sen se ! Y o u sa w n othin g o f th e ki nd .

Ghost i n deed What gh ost

I be g yo u r p ard on M i ss H alcombe i nte rp osed th e , ,
’

sch o olmaste r a little u n easily

, bu t I thi n k you had bette r
n o t que sti o n th e b oy Th e o bsti nat e folly o f hi s sto ry i s b e
.

yo n d all belief ; an d you mi ght lead h im i nt o i gno rantly

I gn o rantly what ? i n qui re d Mi s s H alcom be sharply
, , .

I gn orantly sh ocki ng you r feeli ngs sai d M r D emp ste r ,

’
.
,

l ooki n g ve ry m uch di scompo se d .

Up on my wo rd M r D emp ste r yo u pay my feelings a

,
.
,

great complime n t i n thi n ki ng the m weak e nough t o be

shocke d by such an u rchi n a s that ! S he turn ed wi th an ai r
o f satiri cal defiance to little J acob an d began to que stio n ,

h im directly C om e sh e sai d ; I mean t o kn ow all about

.

thi s Y o u naughty b oy whe n di d yo u se e th e ghost

.
,
’ ’
Ye ster e en at the gloamin g rep lie d J acob
, , .

O h ! you saw i t yeste rday eve n i n g i n the twilig ht ? ,

An d what was i t li ke ?
Arl 1 n wh ite — as a ghaist sh ould be an swe red the gh o st ,
’

see r with a confiden ce bey on d h is years

, .

An d whe re was i t ?
A way yande r , i n t ki rkyard— whe re a ghai st ou ght to be
’
.
’

72
 T H E WO MAN I N WH I TE
‘
As a ghai st “
sh ould be— wh ere a
ghai st ought to “ ”

be—why yo u little fool you tal k as if th e man ne rs an d

, ,

cu stom s of gh osts had be e n familiar t o y o u from you r i nfan cy

You have got you r sto ry at you r fin gers e n ds at a ny rate ’

, .

I supp os e I shall h e ar next that you c a n actually tell m e

w h os e gh ost i t w a s
’
E h bu t I j ust c an replie d J acob n oddin g h is head with
, ,

a n ai r of gloomy triu mph .

M r D empste r had al ready t ri e d seve ral ti me s t o speak

.
,

while M i ss H alcombe was exami ni ng h i s p upi l ; an d he n ow

i nte rp ose d re solutely e n ough t o make hi m se lf h eard .

‘
Excu se me M i ss H alcombe he sai d i f I ve ntu re t o say
, ,
’

that you are on ly e ncou ragi ng the boy by as ki n g hi m the s e

’
que stio n s .

‘
I wi ll me rely as k o n e m ore M r D emp ste r an d the n I , .
,
’
shall be quite sati sfied Well sh e c ontin ued tu rni n g to the .
, ,

b oy a n d wh o se gh ost was i t
,
‘ ’
T ghais t of M i stre ss Fai rli e an swe re d J acob in a
’

whi spe r .

Th e e ff ect w h ich thi s extrao rdi nary rep ly p roduced o n

M i s s H alcombe fully j u stifi ed the anxi ety which the sch ool
,

maste r had sh own to p reve n t he r from hearin g it H e r fa ce

c rim so ne d with i ndign ati o n — sh e tu rn ed up o n littl e Jacob with
a n angry sudde n n es s whi ch te rrifie d hi m i nto a fresh bu rst

of tears — ope ne d he r lip s t o speak t o hi m— the n controlle d

he rself— a n d add re ssed th e maste r i n ste ad o f th e boy .

‘ ‘
I t i s u seless sh e said t o hol d such a child as that
,
’
,

re sp on sible fo r what h e says I have little doubt that th e

.
.

idea has bee n put i nto h i s head by others I f the re are .

people i n thi s vi l lage M r D e mp ste r wh o have fo rgotte n , .

,

the respe ct a n d grati tude du e fro m eve ry s ou l in it to my

m othe r s memo ry I will fi n d the m o u t ; an d if I h ave any
’

, ,

i nflue n ce with M r F ai rlie they shall s u ff e r for it

.
, .
’

‘
I hope — i nde ed I am su re M i s s H al combe — that yo u
, ,
‘
are mi stake n sai d the schoolmaste r
,
’
Th e matte r be gi n s .

an d e nds with the boy s o wn pe rve rsity an d folly H e sa w ’

.
,

o r thought h e sa w a woman in white ye ste rday eve n in g as

, , ,

h e was passi ng th e chu rchyard ; an d the fi gu re rea l o r ,

fancied w a s standing by the marble c ross which h e a n d

, ,

eve ry o n e e l se i n Lim m eridge knows to b e the m onume nt

ove r M rs Fairlie s grave . These two ci rcum stan ce s a re
’
.

su rely su fli c ient to h ave suggested t o the boy him self th e

an swe r whi ch has s o natu ra ll y sh ocked you
Although M i ss H alcombe di d n ot see m t o b e convi nced ,

sh e evide ntl y fe lt that th e sch oolmaste r s st a teme nt of th e

’

73
 TH E W O M AN ’

IN W H IT E

c ase was to o se n sible to be ope nly combated S h e me re ly .

replie d by thanki n g h im fo r h i s atten ti on an d by p romi sin g ,

t o se e h im agai n whe n he r d oubt s we re sati sfied Thi s sai d .

,

she b owed and le d the way o u t o f the sch ool room

,
.

Th rough out the wh ole o f thi s strange scen e I had stood ,

apart li ste nin g attentively an d d rawi n g my o w n con clusi on s

, ,
.

As s o on as we we re alo ne again M i ss H al combe asked me i f ,

I had fo rmed any O pi nion o n what I had heard .

A ve ry st ron g O pi nion I an swe red ’

th e b oy s story as
,
’
,

I beli eve has a fou ndatio n in fact

,
I co nfes s I am anxi ou s .

to see th e m onume n t ove r M rs F ai rli e s grave an d t o ’

.
,
’
e xamin e th e grou nd about it .

Y o u shall see the grave

’
.

S he pau se d afte r maki n g that reply an d re fl e cted a littl e ,

as we walke d o n Wh at has happe ned i n th e sch ool room

.
,
’

sh e re su m e d has so completely di stracted my attenti on from

,

th e subject o f th e lette r that I feel a little bewi lde red wh e n I

,

t ry t o retu rn to i t M u st we give up al l ide a o f maki ng any

.

furthe r in qui rie s a nd wait to p lace th e thin g i n M r Gilmo re s

, .
’

han d s to m o rrow ?
,
-

By n o mean s M i ss H alcombe What h a s h appene d in

, .

th e sch oolro om e n cou rage s me t o p e rseve re i n th e i nve sti ga

’
ti on.

Why doe s i t e ncou rage you

B ecau s e i t stre ngthen s a suspici o n I felt whe n yo u gave ,

m e th e lette r to read .
’

‘
I supp os e you had you r reason s M r Ha rtrigh t fo r , .
,

c on ceali ng that suspi ci on from me till thi s m ome nt

I wa s afrai d t o e ncou rage i t in myself I thou ght i t was .

u tte rly p repo ste rou s — I distru ste d i t as th e re sult o f s om e

pe rve rsity i n my o w n i magi nati on B ut I c a n d o so n o l onge r . .

N ot on ly th e b oy s o w n an swe rs t o yo u r q ue sti on s but eve n

’

a chan ce exp re s si o n that d roppe d from th e scho olmaste r s ’

l ip s in explain in g h is story h ave forced th e i de a back i n to ,

my mi nd .Even ts may yet p rove that idea t o be a delu si on ,

M i s s H alcomb e but the beli ef i s st ron g i n me at thi s m ome nt , ,

th at th e fancie d gh ost in the chu rchyard an d th e write r o f ,

the an o nymou s lette r a re o n e an d th e same person

, .
’

S h e stopped tu rne d pale an d l ooked me e age rly i n th e

, ,

fac e
.

What p ers on
‘
The scho olmaste r u n con sci ou sly t old you Whe n h e .

s pok e o f the fi gu re that th e b oy sa w in the chu rchyard he ,

cal le d it a woman in white .

N o t An ne C a th eric k
74
‘
 T H E W O M AN I N W H IT E

Yes Ann e C a th eric k

,
.
’

S h e put he r han d th ro ugh my arm , an d leane d o n i t

h eavily .

I d on t k now why sh e said in l ow to nes b u t th e re i s

’
,
’
, ,

someth in g in th i s su spicion o f you rs that see m s to startle an d

u n ne rve me I fee l S he stopp ed an d tri ed t o l augh i t
.
,

o ff
.
‘M r H a rtrigh t sh e we n t o n ‘ ’
I will sh ow you the
.
, ,

grave an d the n go back at o n ce to the h ou se

, I had b ette r .

n ot le ave Lau ra t oo l on g al one I had bette r go back , a nd .

si t with h e r .
’

We we re cl ose t o the chu rchyard whe n sh e sp oke The .

chu rch a d reary buildin g of gray ston e was situate d in a

, ,

li ttl e valley s o as t o b e she lte re d fro m th e b leak W i nds bl ow

,

i n g ove r the mo orlan d all rou n d i t T h e bu rial grou n d .

-

advan ce d fro m th e s ide o f the chu rch a little way u p the

, ,

sl op e o f the hill I t was su rrou n ded by a rough l ow stone

.
,

wall and was b are a n d O pe n t o th e sky e xcep t at o ne

, ,

extremity whe re a brook tri ckle d down th e s tony h ill side

, ,

an d a clump o f dwarf tre e s th re w th ei r n arrow sh adows

ove r the sh ort meagre grass J u s t b eyon d the b ro ok an d
, .

the tree s an d n ot far from o n e o f th e th re e ston e sti les which

,

afforde d e ntrance at variou s p oi nts t o the chu rchyard rose

, , ,
’
th e white m arbl e c ros s that dis ti n gui she d M rs F airlie s grave .

from the humble r mo nu me n ts s catte re d about i t .

‘
I n ee d go n o farthe r with y o u s aid M is s H alcom be ,
’
,
‘
p ointi ng to the grave You w ill l et m e kn ow if you fi n d
’

anythin g to c onfi rm th e i dea you h ave j u st menti one d to me .

Le t u s mee t agai n at the h ou se .

’

S he left me I de sce nde d at o nce to th e chu rchyard an d

.
,

c ros se d th e stile wh ich le d di rectly to M rs F ai rli e s grave .

’
.

Th e gras s abou t i t was too sh ort an d th e groun d t o o ,

h ard to sh ow a ny marks o f footste ps

, D isappoi nte d thu s .

far I n ext l ooke d atte ntively at th e cross an d at the square

, ,

b lock o f marb le be low i t o n whi ch the i n scri pti on was c u t ,

.

Th e n atu ral wh ite ne s s o f the c ros s was a little clou ded ,

h e re an d the re by weathe r stai n s an d rathe r m ore th an o n e

,
-

h alf o f the squ are block be neath i t o n th e sid e whi ch b ore ,

th e i n scripti on w a s in the s ame co ndi tio n Th e othe r h alf

, .
,

h oweve r attracte d my atte n ti on at o n ce by i ts singular fre e

,

d om from stai n o r impurity of any ki nd I looke d close r .

,

a n d saw that i t had bee n cle ane d — recently cle an ed in a ,

downward directi on from top to b ottom Th e b ou ndary li n e .

be twee n th e part th at had bee n cleaned an d th e part that h ad

n o t was traceable whe reve r th e i n scripti on left a blan k space
,

o f marbl e— sharp ly tra c eabl e as a li n e that had bee n p ro d u ce d

75
 T H E WO M AN I N WH ITE

by artificial means Wh o had be gu n the cle an si n g of th e

.

m arble an d wh o h ad left i t u nfini shed

,

I l ooke d ab ou t m e won de rin g h o w th e qu e stio n was to

,

be solve d .N O si gn o f a h abi tati on coul d b e dis ce rne d fro m

the p oi n t at w hich I w a s s tan din g : th e bu rial groun d was -

left in the lo nely p osse ssi on of th e dead I retu n ed to th e .

r

chu rch a n d walke d rou n d i t ti ll I came t o th e back o f th e

,

b uilding th e n crosse d th e b oun dary wall beyond by an othe r ,

o f th e s tone s tiles ; an d fou n d myself at th e head o f a path

fi
l eadin g down i n to a des erte d ston e quarry Again st o n e .

si de of the quarry a little two room c ottage was bui lt ; a nd

just outsi de the do o r a n O ld woman was en gaged in washin g .

I walke d u p t o he r an d e nte red i n to conve rs ati on ab out

,

th e chu rch a n d bu ria l gro u nd S he was ready e n ou gh to

- .

talk ; a nd almos t the fi rs t wo rd s sh e said i nforme d me that

h e r h usban d fille d th e two o f c e s of cle rk an d se xton I said .

a few words n ext in p rai se o f M rs F airlie s m on umen t The .

’
.

o l d woman sh o ok h e r head an d told m e I h ad n ot see n i t at

,

i ts be st . I t w a s he r h u sb and s busin e ss to l ook afte r i t bu t

’

h e had bee n s o ailin g an d weak for m ont h s an d m onth s past , ,

that h e h ad h ardly bee n abl e to crawl i nto chu rch o n S u n days

t o d o his duty ; a nd the m onu men t h ad bee n n eglecte d i n
c on sequen ce H e was ge ttin g a littl e bette r n o w ; and i n a
.
,

wee k o r ten days time h e h ope d t o be stron g e n ou gh t o set

’
,

t o work an d clean i t .

Thi s info rmati on — e xt racte d from a l on g ramblin g an swe r ,

i n th e b roade s t Cu mbe rlan d dialect— told m e all th at I m os t

wante d to kn ow I gave the p oo r woman a tri fl e an d
.
,

re tu rne d at once t o Lim m eridge H ouse .

Th e partial clean sin g o f th e mo nume n t h ad eviden tly be en

acc omplishe d by a stran ge hand Con nectin g wh at I h ad .

discove red thu s far with wh at I had su specte d afte r h earin g

, ,

the story of th e gh ost se e n at twilight I wante d n othin g ,

m ore to c onfi rm my re sol uti on t o watch M rs Fairli e s grave .

’
,

i n secre t that eve ning ; re tu rni ng to i t at su n se t an d wait

, ,

i n g withi n sigh t o f i t till the nigh t fell Th e wo rk o f clean .

s in g the m onu me nt h ad bee n left u nfini she d an d the pe rs on

by wh om i t had be e n begu n migh t re tu rn to com plete i t .

O n ge tting back to the h ou se I i nforme d M i ss H alc omb e ,

o f what I i nten de d t o do S h e looked su rp rise d a n d u neasy

.
,

while I was explainin g my pu rpose but sh e made n o p ositive

‘
obj ecti on t o the executi on o f i t S he only s aid I h ope i t .
,
’
may e n d well J ust as she was leavi ng me again I stoppe d
.
,

h e r to i n qui re as cal mly as I c ould afte r M i s s Fai rlie s

, ,
’

heal th Sh e wa s i n b ette r spi rits

. a nd M i ss H al co mb e
7 6
 THE WO M A N I N W H IT E
h ope d sh e migh t b e i n duced to take a littl e walki ng exe rcise
while the afte rn oon su n lasted .

I retu rne d to my o w n room to re su me s etti n g the d raw ,

i n gs in o rde r . I t was ne ce ssary t o d o thi s a n d doubly n ec es ,

sary t o keep my mi n d e mpl oye d o n anyth in g th at w ou l d hel p

t o distract my attenti o n fro m myse lf an d fro m th e h ope l ess ,

future th at lay b efo re m e F rom time to ti m e I pau sed i n

.
,

my work to l ook o u t of wi ndow an d watch th e sk y a s the

su n san k n eare r an d n eare r t o th e h orizon O n o n e o f thos e .

fi
occasi on s I saw a fi gu re on th e b road grave l wal k u n de r my
win dow . I t w a s M is s F ai rli e .

I h ad n ot see n h e r si nce the morni n g an d I had h ardly

spoke n t o h e r the n An othe r day at Lim m eridge was al l that
.

re mai n ed t o m e ; a n d afte r that day my eye s m ight n eve r

l oo k o n h e r agai n Th is th ought was e n ough to h old me at
.

th e win d ow . I h ad su f c ie n t c on side ratio n for h er t o ,

rra n e th e bli n d s o th at sh e migh t n ot see me if sh e l ooke d

g
u p b ut I h ad n o st re ngth t o resis t th e te mptati on of le tti n g
my eye s at le ast foll ow he r a s far a s they cou ld o n he r wal k
, ,
.

S he was d re sse d in a b rown cloak with a plain b lack sil k ,

gown u nde r i t O n he r head was th e s ame simple straw hat

.

w hich sh e h ad worn o n the m orni n g wh en we fi rst m et A .

vei l was attache d to i t n ow wh ich hi d he r face fro m m e

, By .

h e r si de trotted a littl e I ta l i an greyh ou nd th e pe t compani on

, ,

of all h e r walk s s martly dre sse d i n a scarlet cloth w rappe r

, ,

t o kee p th e sh arp ai r fro m h i s deli cate sk in S h e did n ot .

see m t o n otice th e d og S h e walke d strai gh t forward with

.
,

h e r h ead d roopin g a little an d h e r arm s folde d in he r cl oak

,
.

The dead l eave s which had whi rled i n th e wi n d b efore m e ,

whe n I had heard of he r marriage en gage me n t in the mo rni n g ,

whirled i n th e win d b efore h e r an d rose an d fell a n d scat ,

tered the mselve s at h e r fee t as sh e walke d o n in th e pal e

,

wanin g sun li gh t Th e d og shive re d an d trembled an d

.
,

p re ssed agai n st h e r d re s s impati ently fo r n oti ce an d en c o u r

a
gem en t . B ut she n eve r heeded him S h e walke d o n .
,

farth e r an d farthe r away fro m me with th e dead le ave s ,

whi rli ng ab ou t h e r o n th e path — walke d o n till my achin g ,

eye s c ould se e he r n o m ore an d I was left alon e again w ith

,

my o w n heavy h eart .

I n an othe r h ou r s ti me I h ad don e m y w ork an d the

’
, ,

su n set was at h an d I go t my hat an d coat in the h all an d

.
,

slippe d o u t o f th e h ou se with out meetin g anyone .

The cloud s we re wi ld in th e we ste rn he ave n an d the win d ,

blew chil l from th e sea Far as the sh ore w a s the soun d of

.
,

th e su rf swep t ove r the i nte rve n in g m oorlan d an d beat ,

77
 TH E WO MAN I N W H IT E

d reari ly in my e ars wh e n I entere d th e ch u rchyard N o t a

,
.

l ivi n g creatu re was in sight Th e place l ooke d l on eli e r th an .

eve r as I ch ose my p osi ti on an d waite d an d watched with

, , ,
’
my eye s o n th e white cros s th at ros e ove r M rs F ai rlie s .

grave .

XI I I .

T H E expose d situation o f th e ch u rchyard h ad oblige d m e to

b e cauti ous in ch o osin g th e p ositi on t hat I w a s to occupy .

Th e m ain e ntran ce to th e ch u rch was 0 11 the si de next t o

th e bu rial grou n d ; a n d the doo r was scre e ne d by a p orch
-

walled i n o n eith e r si de Afte r s om e little h e sitatio n c au se d

.
,

by n atu ral rel uctan ce to c onceal myself i n di spe n sabl e as that ,

c on ceal m en t was t o th e O bj e ct in vi ew I had resolve d o n ,

e nte rin g th e p orch A l oophol e wi n dow w a s pie rce d in each

.

o f its side wa l l s Th rou gh o ne of the se wi ndows I could se e

.

M rs F airlie s grave Th e othe r l ooked t owards th e ston e

’
. .

quarry in whi ch th e sexton s cottage was bui lt B efore me’

.
,

frontin g th e p orch e ntrance was a patch o f bare bu rial ,

groun d a li n e o f l ow ston e wal l an d a strip o f l on ely b rown

, ,

h ill with th e s u n set cloud s sai lin g h e avily ove r i t before th e

,

s tron g ste ady wi n d

,
N o l ivi ng cre atu re w a s vi sibl e o r
.

au dible — n o bi rd fl ew by me n o dog barke d from the sexton s ’

cottage Th e p au se s in th e dull be atin g o f the su rf we re

.

fi lle d u p b y th e d reary ru stlin g of th e dwarf t re e s n ear th e

grave a n d th e col d fai n t bubble o f th e b rook ove r i ts stony
,

b e d A dreary sce n e an d a d reary h ou r My spi ri ts san k

. .

fast as I c ounte d o u t the min ute s o f the even ing i n my hiding

pl ace u n de r th e chu rch p orch .

I t was n ot twiligh t yet — th e ligh t of th e setting su n stil l

l in ge re d in the h eaven s an d little m ore than th e fi rst h alf ,

h ou r o f my s olitary watch h ad e lap se d — whe n I h eard foo t

s te ps a n d a voice Th e footsteps we re app roachi ng fro m
,
.

’
th e othe r side of th e ch u rch a n d th e voice was a woman s .

D on t you fret my cl ear ab ou t th e l ette r said th e voice

’
, , ,
’
.

I gave i t t o th e lad quite safe an d th e lad h e to ok i t from me ,

wi th ou t a w o rd H e we n t h i s way a n d I we n t mi n e ; an d
'

n ot a livin g s oul followe d m e afte rward s — that I l l warrant ,

’
.
’

The s e w o rdsjstrun g u p my atte ntio n to a pi tch o f expectati on

that was almost painful The re was a pau se o f silen ce bu t .
,

the footstep s sti ll advan ce d I n an oth e r m omen t tw o pe rso n s .

, ,

b oth wome n passe d with in my ran ge o f V i ew from th e po rch

,

wi ndow Th ey we re wal ki ng straigh t towards th e grave ;

.

a nd the refore they had thei r backs tu rne d toward s me .

7 8
 T HE W O MA N IN W H ITE
li ttle stre am ra n i nto the chu rchyard u nde r a ti ny archway in
th e botto m of the wall an d ra n ou t agai n afte r a win din g
, ,

c ou rse o f a few doze n yards u nde r a si milar ope nin g S h e ,

. .

di ppe d the cloth i n th e wate r an d retu rne d to th e grave ,I .

saw h e r ki ss th e white c ros s ; th e n k neel d own before th e

'

i n scripti on an d apply h e r we t cloth t o the clean si ng of i t

, .

Afte r con sideri n g h ow I coul d sh ow myse lf with th e least

p ossi ble ch anc e o f frighte ni ng h e r I re solved to cros s th e ,

wal l befo re m e t o ski rt rou n d i t ou tsid e an d to e nte r th e

, ,

chu rchyard again by th e stile n ear the grave in orde r th at ,

s h e might see m e a s I app ro ache d S he was s o abs orbe d .

ove r he r e mployme n t that sh e did n ot hear m e c omin g u n til I

h ad stepped ove r the stile The n sh e l ooked u p started t o
.
,

h e r feet with a fai nt cry an d stood facin g me in speechle s s

,

and moti onle s s te rro r .

’
D o n t b e frighte ned I said ‘ ’
S u rely you re me mbe r .
, ,
’
me ?
I stoppe d whi le I sp ok e — the n advan ced a few step s
— —
ge ntly the n stoppe d agai n an d so app roached by little
a n d little till I was close to h e r I f th e re h ad bee n any
, .

d oubt still left in my mi nd i t must h ave bee n n ow se t at ,

rest Th e re speaki n g a ff righte dly fo r i tsel f— th ere w a s th e

.
,

sam e face confron ting m e ove r M rs F ai rlie s grave which .

’

h ad fi rst l ooked i n to mi n e o n th e h igh road by n ight - .

You re me mb e r m e I sai d We met ve ry late an d I .

,

h elped yo u t o fi n d th e w a y to London S u rely you have n ot .

forgotte n that
H e r featu re s relaxe d an d sh e d rew a h eavy b reath o f
,

reli ef I sa w th e n ew life o f recogniti o n stirrin g slowly

.

u nde r th e d eathlike sti lln e ss which fear h ad s et o n h e r face .

‘
D o n t atte mpt t o sp eak to m e j u st yet I we n t o n
’
, ,
’
.

‘
Take tim e to recove r yourself take ti me to feel quite -

’
ce rtai n th at I am a frie n d .

‘ ‘
You are ve ry ki n d t o m e sh e mu rmured A s kin d ,
’
.

’
n o w as y o u we re the n
,
.

S h e stopp ed a n d I kep t silen ce o n my side I w a s n ot

, .

grantin g ti me fo r comp osu re to h e r on ly I was gainin g time ,

als o fo r myself U n de r the w a n wi ld evening light that

.
,

woman a n d I we re met together agai n a grave betwee n u s ,

th e dead ab o u t u s th e l on esom e h ill s closi ng u s roun d o n

,

eve ry side The time the p lace the ci rcu mstan ce s u n de r

.
, ,

wh ich w e n ow stood face t o face in the even ing stilln es s o f

that d reary valley th e life lon g i n te rests which might han g
-

s uspe n de d o n th e n ext ch an ce wo rds that passe d betwee n

us ; th e se n se that , for aught I kn ew to th e contrary th e ,

80 »
 T H E WO MAN I N W H IT E

wh ol e futu re of L au ra Fairli e s life m ight be d ete rmin ed fo r

’

goo d o r for evil by my win ning o r losin g th e c onfiden ce o f

,

the forlorn creatu re wh o stood t rem bl in g by he r m othe r s grave ’

—al l th reate ne d t o shake the steadin es s an d the s elf c ontrol -

o n wh ich eve ry in ch o f th e p rogres s I mi ght ye t make n ow

depe nded . I tried hard as I felt this t o p os ses s mys elf o f

, ,

all my re s ou rces I did my u tm os t t o tu rn th e few m oments

fo r reflection to th e be st accou nt .

Are yo u calm e r no w ? I said as s o on as I though t i t

,
’
,

tim e t o speak agai n C a n you talk t o m e wi th ou t feeling

.
,

frighten ed an d with out forgettin g that I am a fri e n d

,

H ow d id yo u com e h ere sh e asked with out n oti cin g ,

what I h ad j us t sai d to h e r .

’
D o n t yo u remembe r my tellin g you whe n we last me t , ,

that I was goin g t o C um berlan d I have bee n i n Cu mbe r

land eve r s in ce I have bee n s tayi n g all the time at Lim
m eridge H ouse .

‘
At L im m eridge H ouse ! ’
H e r pale face brighte ned as
s h e repeate d the wo rds ; he r wande rin g eye s fi xed o n m e
‘
w i th a sudde n i nte re st Ah h ow happy yo u must h ave
.
,

bee n she said lookin g at m e eage rly with ou t a sh ad ow

,

o f its forme r distrust left in he r expre ssi on .

I to ok advantage o f he r n ewly aroused confiden ce in m e -

,

to obse rve h e r face with a n attenti on a n d a cu ri osity which

,

I h ad h ithe rto rest rai ned myself from sh owin g fo r cauti on s ,

’

sake I looke d at h e r with my mind full o f that oth e r l ovely

.
,

face which had s o omi nously recalle d he r t o my me m ory o n

the te rrace by m oonlight I h ad s ee n An n e C a th eric k s
.
’

liken ess in M is s Fai rlie I n ow sa w M is s Fairli e s liken ess ’

in Ann e C a th eric k fi
.

-
sa w it all th e m o re clearly becaus e th e
p oints o f diss imilarity betwe en th e two we re p re sented t o m e
as wel l as the p oi nts o f re semblance I n th e ge n eral outlin e .

o f th e cou nten ance and gene ral p rop o rt ion o f th e feature s ;

in th e colou r of the hai r and in th e l ittle n e rvou s u nce rtainty

ab out th e lips in th e heigh t an d size o f th e figu re an d th e ,

carri age o f th e head and body th e like nes s appeared eve n ,

more startling than I had eve r felt it to be yet B ut there .

the resemblan ce en ded an d the d issi milari ty in d etails began

, , , .

The delicate beauty o f M iss Fai rli e s c omplexion th e trans ’

,

p are nt cle arne s s o f he r eyes th e s m ooth pu rity o f h e r skin

, ,

the ten de r bl oom o f c olou r o n h e r lips we re al l mis sin g from ,

t h e worn we ary face that was no w tu rne d toward s min e

,
.

Alth ough I hate d mys elf eve n fo r thinkin g su ch a th in g stil l , ,

wh ile I looked at th e woman befo re me the ide a would fo rc e ,

i tself i nto my mi nd that o ne sa d ch an ge i n the future was , ,

8 1 G
 T H E W O M A N I N W H ITE

all that was wan tin g t o mak e th e like ne ss c omplete which I

“

n ow saw to b e s o i mpe rfect in detai l I f eve r s o rrow a nd . -

s u ff e ri n g set thei r p rofanin g m arks o n th e youth an d beauty

o f M iss Fai rli e s face the n a nd the n only Ann e C a th eric k
’
, , ,

a nd sh e would be the twi n s iste rs o f chan ce resemblance the

-
,

livin g reflexi on s o f o n e an oth e r .

I shu dde re d at the though t The re w a s s omethin g .

ho rri ble in the bli n d u n re as oni n g distru st o f th e futu re which

the me re p as s a e o f i t th rough my mi n d seemed to imply
g .

I t was a welcom e i nterrupti o n to be rouse d by feelin g Ann e

C a th eric k s h and l ai d o n my sh oulde r Th e to uch was a s
’
.

stealthy an d as s udde n as that othe r tou ch which h ad ,

p etrifie d m e from head to foot on th e n igh t wh en w e fi rs t

m et .

Y o u are lookin g at m e a n d yo u are thi nkin g o f s ome

thing she said with he r strange bre ath les s rapidity of

,
’
,

ut te ran ce Wh at i s i t
.

N othin g extraordi nary I answered I was o nly 9

'

wonde ri n g h ow you came he re .

’

‘
I cam e with a frien d w h o i s ve ry go od to m e I ha ve .

o nly bee n he re two days .

’

An d you fou n d yo u r way to thi s place ye ste rday

H ow d o you kn ow that ?
’
I on ly guesse d i t .

S he tu rn e d from m e a n d knelt down befo re th e insc rip,

t1 o n on ce m o re .

Whe re sh ould I go if n ot h e re sh e said ,

The fri en d .

wh o was bette r than a m othe r to me i s the only frie n d I h ave ,

to vis i t at Lim m eridge Oh i t make s my h ea rt ach e t o se e a

.
,

s tai n o n he r tomb ! I t ought to b e kept wh ite as sn ow fo r ,

he r s ake I was tempted t o begi n c lea n in g it ye ste rday an d

.

’
I can t help comi ng back to go o n with i t to day I s there - .

anythi ng wron g in th at ? I h ope n ot S urely n othing c an .

be wrong that I d o fo r M rs Fai rli e s s ake .

’

Th e O ld grateful s e n se o f he r b e nefactress s kin dne s s was ’

evidently the rulin g ide a still in th e p oo r c re ature s min d — th e ’

n arrow m in d which h ad but too plai nly open e d to n o othe r

lasting imp ressio n sin ce that fi rs t i mp re ss ion o f he r youn ge r
a n d happie r d ays I saw that my bes t chan ce of wi nni ng her
.

c onfi de nce lay i n e n cou ragi ng he r to p roceed wi th th e artle ss

employme n t which sh e h ad come in to th e buri al grou nd to -

pu rsue S h e resum e d i t at on ce o n my telling he r sh e migh t

.
,

d o s o ; touchi ng th e hard marble a s ten derly as if i t h ad

bee n a sen tien t thing and whi spe ri ng the words o f th e ,

in scripti on to h e rself ove r an d ove r again as if th e l ost days

, ,

82
 T H E WO M AN I N W H ITE
.

‘
th e hard pa rt sh e we n t 0 11 a l ittle vacantly
,
’
I t was e asy ,
.

t o es cape or I shou ld n ot h ave go t away They neve r

,
.

suspe cte d m e as they su specte d th e o the rs I w a s s o quie t .

,

an d so obe die n t an d s o easily frighte n ed ,

Th e fin din g .

Lon don was th e h ard p art an d the re you h elpe d me D id I .

’
than k you at th e tim e I than k you n ow ve ry k indly , .

W a s the Asylu m far from whe re you met m e Com e

sh ow that you believe m e t o be you r frien d and te ll m e ,

whe re i t w a s .
’

S h e m entione d th e place — a p rivate Asylum as i ts ,

si tuati on i nformed me ; a p rivate Asylum n ot ve ry far from

fi
th e sp ot whe re I had seen h en— a n d then with eviden t su s ,

p i c io n of th e u se to which I m igh t pu t he r an swe r ,

anxiou sly repeated h e r fo rme r i n qui ry : You d on t thi n k I ’

ough t to b e take n back do yo u ,

‘
O n ce again I am glad you e sc a ped ; I am gl ad you
,

p rospe re d well afte r yo u left m e I an swe red

, Y o u s ai d ,
’
.

you had a frien d i n London to go to D i d you nd the fri end .

‘
Ye s I t was ve ry late ; b ut the re was a gi rl u p at
.

n eedlework in th e h ou se a n d sh e hel ped m e to rouse M rs ,

.

Cleme nts M rs Clemen ts is my frie nd

. . A good ki nd .
,

woman but n ot like M rs Fai rlie Ah n o n ob ody i s like

, . .
, ,

M rs Fairlie !
.
’

‘
I s M rs C leme nts a n o ld frie n d o f you rs ? H ave you
.

k n own h e r a long time

Y es ; sh e w a s a n eighbo u r o f ou rs on ce at hom e i n , ,

H ampshi re an d like d me an d took c are of m e when I w a s a ,

l i ttle gi rl Years a go whe n sh e w e n t away from u s sh e

.
, ,

wrote down i n my praye r bo ok for m e where sh e was going -

,

t o live i n Lon don an d sh e said I f yo u are eve r i n trouble

, , ,

An n e c om e t o me
, I h ave n o h usband alive to sa y m e n ay
.
,
”
an d n o childre n to l ook afte r ; an d I wi l l take care o f yo u .

K in d wo rds we re they n ot ? I su ppo se I remembe r the m

,

becau se they we re ki nd I t s li ttle enough I remembe r .

’

be sides — littl e e n ough li ttle e n ough ,

H ad you n o fathe r o r m othe r to take care of yo u

Fathe r I n eve r saw h i m I n eve r h eard mothe r speak
o f h im Father Ah dear he i s dead I supp o se ’
.
, .

And your mother

‘
I d o n t get o n w el l w i th h er Vv e are a trouble an d a
’ '

fe a r t o each other .
’

A t rou ble a n d a fear to each other At those words th e ,

su sp 1 c 1 o n c rossed my min d for th e fi rst time that h e r m othe r , ,

mi ght be th e pe rs on wh o had place d he r u nde r re strai n t .

D on t ask me ab out mothe r sh e wen t o n

’
I d rathe r ,
’
.
’

84
 T HE W O M AN I N W H ITE
tal k of M rs C l eme nts M rs Clemen ts is li ke y o u sh e
. . .
,

d oe sn t thin k th a t I ought to be back in th e Asylu m an d sh e

’

i s as glad a s you are th at I e scape d fro m i t S he crie d ove r .

my mi sfo rtu n e an d sai d i t mu st be kep t s ec ret from eve ry

,

b o dy f
‘
H e r misfo rtun e I n what sen s e was sh e u si n g th at
.

wo rd I n a sen se which migh t explain h e r m otive in writi ng

th e an onym ou s le tte r ? I n a sen se wh ich migh t sh ow it t o
b e th e to o commo n an d too custom ary m otive that has le d
m any a woman to inte rp os e an onym ou s h i ndrance s t o th e
marriage of th e m a n wh o has ruin e d he r ? I re s olve d t o
attemp t the clearin g up o f thi s d oubt befo re m ore wo rd s ,

passed betwee n u s o n e i th e r side .

What mi sfo rtun e ? I asked .

‘
Th e mi sfortun e o f my bein g shu t u p she an swe red ,
’
,

wi th eve ry appearanc e o f feelin g su rpri se d at my qu estion .

What othe r m isfortun e could the re be

I dete rm in e d t o pe rsist as delicately an d fo rb earingly a s ,

p ossi ble I t was of ve ry great i mp o rtan ce that I shou ld b e

.

absolute ly s u re o f eve ry step in the i nve sti gati on which I n ow

gained i n advan ce .

‘ ’
The re I S anothe r mi sfortune I said to whi ch a wom an
may be liable an d by which sh e may S tiff e r life lon g s orrow
, ,

a n d shame
’
.

What i s i t s he asked eage rly , .

‘
The m isfortu ne o f believin g to o i n no ce n tly in h e r o wn
'

vi rtue an d in th e fai th an d h on ou r o f the m a n sh e l ove s I

, ,
’

an swe red .

S he looke d u p at m e wi th the artle ss bewilde rmen t o f a

,

chi ld N o t th e sli ghtes t co nfusi on o r ch an ge o f col ou r n ot

.

the fainte st trace o f any se c ret con sci ou sn es s o f sh am e

strugglin g to th e su rface appe are d i n h e r face — that face ,

wh ich betraye d eve ry othe r e motion with such t ran sparen t

clearne ss N o word s that eve r we re spoke n co uld h ave
.

assu red m e as he r look a n d m an ne r n ow as su red m e that

, ,

the m otive which I h ad as si gne d for he r writin g th e lette r a n d

sendin g i t to M i ss F ai rlie was p lain ly an d di stinctly th e
wron g o ne That doub t at any rate was n ow set at re st ;
.
, ,

b ut the very rem oval o f i t ope ne d a n ew p ro spect o f n u

ce rtain ty Th e lette r as I kn ew from p ositive te stimony
.
, ,

p ointe d at S i r Pe rcival Glyde th ough i t di d n o t name him ,

.

S he mu st have h ad some strong m otive o rigin a tin g i n so m e deep ,

sen se o f inj u ry fo r se cretly den ou ncin g hi m to M i ss Fai rli e

, ,

in such te rm s as she had employe d — an d that m otive was

un questi onably n o t to be trace d t o th e los s of he r in n oce n c e
“

85
 T H E WO MAN I N W H ITE

and h er ch aracte r Whateve r wron g h e migh t have in fl icte d

.

o n her w a s n o t o f th at n atu re O f wh at n ature could it be .

I do n t u nde rstan d you sh e said afte r evidently t ying

’
-
,
’
,
r

h ard and t rying in vain to disc o v er th e me an ing o f the

,

wo rds I h ad last sai d to he r .

0

N e ve r m i nd I an swered L e t u s go o n wi th wh at w e
,
’
.

we r e talki ng abou t Tell me h ow l on g you staye d with M rs . .

C lemen ts i n Lon don an d h o w yo u came he re ,

.
’

H o w long ? sh e repeated I staye d with M rs . .

’
C le me nts till we b oth came to thi s place two days ago ,
.

‘You are l ivi n g i n th e village th en ? ‘ ’

I said It is ,
.

stran ge I sh oul d n ot h ave heard o f you th ough yo u h ave ,

o nly b ee n h e re two days ’

N o n o ; n ot in th e vill age Th ree m iles away at a farm

D o you kno wth e farm ? They call i t Todd s C orne r
. .
,
’ ’
.

I re me mb ere d th e place pe rfectly we had ofte n passe d by

i t i n ou r d rive s I t was o n e of th e oldest farms in the n eigh
.

b o u rh o o d s ituated in a s olitary sh el te re d spot , i nlan d at the

, ,

j u ncti o n o f two h ills .

They are relation s o f M rs Cle me nts at Todd s Co rn e r .

’

,
’

‘
sh e wen t 0 11 an d they h ad ofte n asked he r to go an d see
,

them .S he sai d sh e would go an d t a ke m e with he r for the , ,

qui e t a n d th e fre sh ai r I t was ve ry kind was i t n ot ? I .

,

would h ave gone anywhe re t o b e qu ie t a n d safe and out o f , ,

th e way B ut whe n I heard that Todd s C orn e r was hear

.
’

L im m eridge o h ! I w a s so happy I wou ld h ave wal ked all

-

the way barefoot to ge t th ere a n d see the sch ools and the ,

village a n d L im m eridge H ouse again They are ve ry good .

p eople at Todd s C o rne r I h ope I shall s tay the re a long

’
.

time The re i s on ly o ne thing I d on t like ab out them an d

.
’

d on t li ke ab out M rs Cle me nts

’
.

What i s i t
They will teas e me ab out d re ssing all i n white — they sa y
i t l ooks s o particular H ow d o they kn ow ? M rs Fai rlie . .

k new best M rs Fai rli e would n eve r have m ade me we ar

. .

thi s ugly b lue cloak ! Ah ! sh e was fon d o f wh ite 1 n he r life

time and h e re i s wh ite ston e about he r grave — an d I am
m akin g it white r for h e r sake S he often wore whi te he rsel f
'
.
,

an d sh e always d re ssed he r littl e dau gh ter i n white I s M is s .

‘

Fai rlie well a n d h ap py ? D oe s sh e we ar white n ow a s sh e ,

u se d whe n she was a gi rl ?

H e r voice san k wh en sh e pu t the que sti on s ab out M iss
F ai rlie an d she tu rn ed h er h ead farthe r an d farthe r away
from me I th ought I detected i n th e al terati on O f he r
.
,

man ne r , a n uneasy con sci ousn e ss o f the ris k she had run i n
86
 THE W O M AN I N W H I T E
for you r s ak e ! O h M rs Fairli e ! M rs F ai rli e tel l me h o w
, . .

to save he r B e m y darlin g an d my m oth e r once m ore an d

.
'

tell m e wh at t o do fo r th e be st .
’

I heard he r lip s k issi ng the s tone : I sa w h er han d s

beatin g o n i t passi on ately Th e s ou n d an d the sight deeply .

a ff ecte d me I stoope d d own a n d took the poo r h elples s

.
,

han ds te nde rly in min e an d trie d to s ooth e he r , .

I t was u sele ss S he s natche d he r h an d s fro m m e an d

.
,

n eve r m oved h e r face from the ston e S e eing th e u rge n t .

n ece ssity o f quietin g he r at any h azard an d by any means I ,

appeale d to the on ly anxiety that she appeare d to fe e l in c o n ,

n ex io n with me an d with my O pi ni o n of h e r the anxiety t o -

c onvi n ce m e o f he r fitne ss t o be mistre ss o f he r o w n acti on s .

C ome c ome I said gently

, , Try to c omp ose you rself
’
, .
,

o r you wi ll make me al te r my O pi ni on o f D o n t le t m e ’

y o u .

thi n k that th e pe rs on wh o pu t you in th e Asylum migh t h ave ,

had s ome excuse

The next word s die d away o n my lip s The i n stan t I .

ri ske d that chan ce refe ren ce to th e pe rson wh o had pu t he r

i n th e Asylum sh e sp rang u p on h e r kn ee s
, A m os t extra .

o rdin ary a nd s tartli n g change passe d ove r he r H e r face at .

,

all ordin ary time s so touchi n g to l ook at in i ts n e rvou s ,

s ensitivene s s weakne ss an d u n ce rtain ty be cam e suddenly

, , ,

darken e d by an exp ressi on of m ani acally i nte n se h atre d a nd

fear which commu nicated a wild u n n atu ral fo rce t o eve ry
, ,

featu re . H e r eye s di lated in the dim eve ning ligh t li ke the ,

eye s o f a wil d ani mal S he cau gh t u p the cloth th at had

.

falle n at he r si de a s i f i t h ad bee n a l iving creatu re th at she

,

coul d ki ll a n d c ru she d i t i n both h e r han ds wi th su ch con

,

vulsiv e stre n gth th at th e few d rop s o f m oistu re l eft in i t

t ri ckled down o n th e stone b eneath h e r .

‘
Tal k o f somethin g el se sh e sai d whi spe rin g th rough ,
’
,

he r tee th . I shall l os e myself if you talk o f that .

’

Eve ry vestige o f th e gentle r thoughts which h ad filled h er

mind h ardly a mi nu te s in c e seeme d to b e swept fro m i t n o w .

’
I t was evi den t th at the impressi o n left by M rs Fai rlie s .

ki n dne s s was n ot as I had su pp os ed th e only stron g i mp re s

, ,

sion on her mem o ry With th e grateful re memb rance of h e r

.

school days at L im m eridge th ere existe d th e vi ndictive

-
,

re me mb rance o f th e wron g inflicte d o n her by h er confi ne men t

in the Asylu m Wh o h ad don e that wron g
. Cou ld i t really
b e h e r mothe r
I t was h ard to give u p pu rsuing th e i nqui ry to that fi n al
p oi nt bu t I force d myse lf to aban don al l i de a o f conti nu in g
it S eeing h e r as I s aw h er n ow i t W ou l d have b ee n cru el to
.
,

88
 TH E W O M AN I N W H IT E
thin k o f anythin g bu t th e n ece ssity a nd the h u manity o f
restorin g he r c omp osu re .

I wil l tal k of n othin g to di stres s yo u I sa id soothi n gly ,

’
, .

‘ ’
Y o u want s omethin g sh e an swe red sharply an d s us , ,

p ic i o u sly D. on t loo k at me li ke th
’
at S p eak to m e ; tel l .

’
me what yo u want .

‘
I only wan t you to quie t you rself an d wh e n you a re , ,

calme r to thin k ove r what I have said

,
.
’

S aid ? S he pau sed ; twi sted the cloth in h e r h an ds

’
,

backwards a n d fo rwards ; a n d whi spe re d to he rself What ,

i s it h e sai d S he tu rne d agai n towards m e an d sh oo k he r ,

head impatie ntly Why d o n t you hel p me

. sh e asked with ’

angry su dden nes s .

‘ ‘
Ye s ye s I said ; I wi ll help yo u ; an d yo u will s oo n
, ,
’

reme mbe r I aske d you to see M i s s Fai rlie to morrow and

.
-
,

to tel l he r th e truth ab out th e lette r .

’

fi
Ah M i s s Fai rlie — Fai rlie — Fai rli e
Th e me re utteran ce o f th e love d famili ar n ame see me d t o ,

quiet he r H e r face s oftene d an d grew l ike its elf agai n

. .

‘
You n ee d h ave n o fear o f M i s s Fai rlie I conti n ue d ; ,
’

an d n o fear o f gettin g in to troub le th rough th e lette r She .

knows so m uch about i t al ready that yo u will h ave n o ,

di f c ul ty i n tellin g h e r all The re c a n b e l ittle n ece ssity fo r .

co nceal men t whe re the re i s h ardly anyth in g l eft t o co nce al .

You me nti on n o n ame s in the lette r bu t M iss Fai rli e

kn ows that th e pe rs on y o u write o f 1 8 S i r Pe rcival Glyde
Th e i nstan t I p ron oun ced th at n ame sh e started to he r
fee t ; an d a scream b u rst from he r th at ran g th rough th e
ch u rchyard an d made my he art l eap in m e wi th th e te rror
of it . Th e dark deformity o f th e exp re s si o n which had
j u st left h e r fac e lowe re d o n it on ce m o re with double d an d
, ,

trebled inten sity Th e sh rie k at the name th e reite rate d

.
,

lo ok o f h atred an d fear that i n stantly followed told all N ot , .

even a last d oubt n ow re mai n ed H e r m othe r was guiltles s .

o f imp ris on in g he r i n the Asylum A man had shut h e r u p .

—a n d that m an w a s S i r Pe rcival Glyd e .

The sc ream had reach e d oth e r ears than m in e O n o ne .

side I h eard th e do or o f the sext on s c ott age ope n ; o n th e

,
’

othe r I heard the voice of he r c ompan i on th e woman in th e

, ,

shawl th e woman wh om sh e had sp oken o f as M rs

, .

Clements .

’ ’
I m comin g I m comin g c ri ed th e voic e fro m beh in d
the clump of dwarf t ree s .

I n a mome nt m ore M rs Cleme nt s h urrie d i nto view , . .

‘ ’
Who are yo u ? sh e cried facing me res olutely as sh e , ,

89
 T H E WO M AN I N W H IT E

se t he r foot o n th e stile H ow dare yo u frighte n a p oor .

h elples s woman like th at

S h e was at Ann e C a th eric k s side an d had put o n e arm ’

arou n d h e r before I c ould an swe r

,
What is it my dear .
,

sh e said What has h e don e to you ?

.

N othi ng th e p oo r c reatu re an swe red ’ ‘ N othi ng Im . .

’

,
’
o nly frightened .

M rs Clem ents tu rne d o n m e with a fearle ss i ndignation ,

.

for which I respected h e r .

I sh ould b e he artily ash ame d o f mys elf if I de se rved that

‘
angry look I s aid B ut I d o n ot dese rve i t
,
’
I h ave
. .

u nfortu nately startled h e r wi th ou t i nten din g i t Th is i s n ot , .

th e fi rs t time sh e has see n me As k h e r you rse lf a nd sh e .

,

will te ll you that I am i n capable o f willingly h armin g h er o r

’
any woman .

I sp oke d istin ctly so that Ann e C a th eric k m igh t h ear and ,

u nde rstand m e a n d I sa w that th e wo rds an d th ei r m eanin g

h ad reach ed h e r .

‘
Yes yes sh e said ;
, h e w a s good t o m e on ce ;
,
’

’
h e h elp ed me S h e wh isp e red th e res t in to h e r frie nd s
ear .

S trange i ndeed ! said M rs Clements with a l ook o f

, .
,
‘ ’
pe rplexity I t m ake s all th e di ff e ren ce th ough
. I m , .

s orry I sp oke so rough to you s ir but you mu s t o w n that ,

appearance s l ooke d su spiciou s to a stran ge r I t s m ore my .

’

fault than you rs for hum ouri ng h e r whi ms an d lettin g h e r

, ,

b e alone in s uch a place as thi s C om e my dear c ome .

,
-

’
h ome n ow .

I th o u gh t th e go od woman l ook ed a little u n easy at th e

p rospect o f the walk back an d I o ffe red t o go with them ,

u ntil they we re both withi n sight o f h ome M rs Cle men ts . .

thanke d me c ivi lly a nd decl in ed S h e sai d th ey we re su re t o

, . .

meet s om e o f th e farm labou re rs as s oo n as they go t t o the -

,

moor .

‘
Try to forgive me I said whe n An n e C a th eric k to ok ,
’
,
’
h e r frie nd s arm t o go away I nn oce nt as I had bee n o f any .

i ntention t o te rrify an d agitate he r my h eart sm ote m e as I ,

l ooked at th e p oo r pale frightene d fac e , , .

‘ ’
I will try sh e an swe red B ut y o u kn ow too much ;
, .

’
I m afraid you ll always frigh ten m e n o w
’
.
’

M rs Clemen ts glance d at m e a n d sh ook he r h ead

.
,

p ityingly .

Go od n ight si r h e said
‘ ’
Y o u could n t hel p i t
’
s , , .
,

I kn ow but I wish it was me you had frightened and n ot ,

’
her .

90
 T H E WO M AN I N W H ITE
’
O u r dai rymaid he re i s the farme r s secon d daughte r S h e .

goe s backward s an d fo rwards co nstant l y betwe en this h ous e ,

an d h e r fathe r s farm ; an d sh e may h ave heard o r s ee n

’

s o methin g wh ich i t may be u sefu l to u s t o kn ow S hall I

'

asce rtai n at o nce if th e gi rl i s d own s tai rs

, ,

S he rang th e bell an d se n t the s e rvant wi th hi s me ssage

,
.

H e retu rned a nd an n o unce d th at the d ai rym aid was the n at

,

th e farm . S he had n ot b ee n the re fo r th e last th ree days

a n d the h ousekeeper h ad give n h e r leave to go h ome fo r a n ,

h ou r o r two that even ing , .

‘ ’
I ca n s peak t o h e r to morrow said M is s H alcombe -
, ,
‘
whe n the se rvan t h ad left the ro om agai n I n th e m ean .

tim e let m e thorou ghly u n de rstan d th e obj ect t o b e gai ned

,

by my i nte rview with An n e C a th eric k I s the re n o d oubt in .

your min d that th e pe rs o n wh o confin e d h e r in the Asylu m

w a s S i r Pe rcival Glyd e
The re i s n o t th e s hadow o f a doubt Th e only myste ry .

that re main s i s th e myste ry o f hi s m oti v e Lo okin g t o th e

, .

great di ff e ren ce be twee n hi s station in life an d hers wh ich ,

see ms t o p reclud e all idea of th e m ost distant relati ons hip

betwee n the m i t i s o f th e last imp o rtan ce — eve n assumin g
,

that she re ally requ i red t o be p lace d u nde r restraint —to kn ow

w h y h e s houl d h ave bee n th e pe rs on t o assum e th e s e rious
responsibility of shuttin g he r up
I n a p rivate Asylum I thi nk yo u said ,

Ye s in a p rivate Asylum whe re a sum o f m on ey wh ich

, ,

n o poo r p e rs on could a ff ord to give mu st have been paid for ,

he r mai nte nance as a patient .

’

I se e whe re th e d oubt lies M r Ha rtrigh t ; and I promi se , .

you th at it sh all b e set at rest wh ethe r Ann e C a th eric k assists ,

-

u s to m orrow o r n ot S i r Pe rcival Glyd e shall n ot be lon g in

- .

th i s h ouse with ou t satisfyi n g M r Gi lm ore an d sati sfyin g m e .

, .

’
My si ster s futu re i s my deare s t care in life ; an d I h ave
i n fl u en ce e n ough ove r he r to give me s ome p owe r whe re h e r ,

m arriage i s con ce rn ed in th e dispo sal of i t , .

’

We parted for the night .

Afte r b re akfas t the n ext m o rnm g an obstacle whi ch th e

, , ,

eve nts o f the eve nin g before had put o u t o f my memo ry ,

i nterp osed to p reven t o u r p roceedin g i mmediately t o th e

farm Thi s was my l ast day at Lim m eridge H ous e and it
.

was necessary as s oon as th e p os t came in to foll ow M is s

, ,

H a lc o m b e s advice an d to as k M r Fairli e s pe rmissi on to

’ ’
, .

shorte n my en gageme nt by a m onth in con siderati on o f a n ,

u nforesee n n ec ess1 ty fo r my return to L on don .

92
 T H E WO M A N I N W H IT E

Fo rtu n ately for the p robabili ty o f thi s excu se so far a s ,

appearan ce s we re conce rn ed th e po s t b rought m e tw o ,

lette rs fro m Lon do n frie nds that m o rni ng I took the m , .

a w ay at on ce t o my o w n room ; an d se n t the se rvan t wi th

a message t o M r Fai rli e requ e stin g to kn ow wh e n I cou ld
.
,

s ee hi m 0 11 a m atte r o f bu si ne ss .

I awaite d th e man s retu rn fre e fro m th e sligh test feelin g

’

of anxie ty abou t the man n e r in which hi s maste r might

’
rece ive my applicati on With M r F ai rlie s le ave o r withou t . .

it I mu st go
, Th e c on sci ousn e ss o f h avin g n o w take n th e
.

fi rs t step o n th e d reary j ou rney wh ich was h e n ceforth to

separate my life fro m M is s Fai rlie s see med to have blunte d ’

my se n sibility to eve ry c on side rati o n co n n ecte d with myself .

I h ad don e with my po o r man s tou chy p ri de ; I had d on e ’

with al l my l ittle arti st vani ties N o i n so len c e o f M r Fai rlie s . .

’

if h e ch os e to b e i n sole n t could wou n d m e n ow , .

Th e se rvan t retu rn ed wi th a m e ssage fo r whi ch I was n ot

un prepare d M r Fai rli e regre tted that th e s tate o f hi s
. .

h ealth o n that particu la r m o rni n g was such as t o p reclud e

, ,

all h op e o f hi s havi n g th e pleasu re o f re ceivi n g m e H e .

begged the refore that I wou ld accept h i s ap ologies an d

, , ,

ki ndly c ommu n icate wh at I had to say i n th e form of a ,

le tte r S imilar mes sage s to thi s had reache d me at vari ou s

.
,
’
in te rvals du ri ng my th re e m onth s re side nc e in th e h ou se
, .

Th rough out the wh ole o f that p e ri od M r Fai rli e had bee n , .

rej oice d to po s ses s m e but had n eve r be e n wel l e n ough t o ,

se e me fo r a secon d ti me Th e se rvan t to ok eve ry fre sh .

batch o f d rawin gs that I m ou nte d an d re sto red back to his ,

‘
maste r with my re spe cts ; a nd retu rn e d e mpty handed
,
’
-

‘ ‘
wi th M r Fairli e s ki n d c ompli men ts
.
’
bes t than ks and ,
’
,
’

si ncere regrets th at th e state of hi s h ealth still obli ge d hi m

to re mai n a s olitary p ri so ne r in h i s o w n ro om A more .

sati sfactory arrangemen t to both side s cou ld n ot possibly

'

h ave bee n adopted I t would be hard to say wh ich o f u s

.
,

u nde r th e ci rcu mstan ce s fel t th e mo st grateful se ns e o f ,

obligation to M r Fai rli e s accom modating ne rve s

.
’
.

I sat down at o nc e to wri te the le tte r exp re ssi n g myself ,

in i t a s civilly a s clearly and as b ri efly as p os sible

, Mr , . .

F airlie di d no t hu rry hi s reply N early a n h ou r e lapsed .

before the answe r wa s placed i n my hands I t was w ri tte n .

with beau tiful regulari ty an d n eatnes s o f ch aracte r in violet ,

colou re d i n k o n n ote pape r a s s mo oth as ivo ry an d almost

,
-

a s thick as cardboard a n d i t addre s se d m e i n the se te rm s

M r Fai rlie s c om pl imen ts to M r Ha rtrigh t M r Fai rlie

’
. . . .

93
 T H E WO M AN I N W H ITE

i s more su rp ri se d an d di sapp oi nted than h e c a n sa y (in th e

p resen t state o f h is h ealth ) by M r H a rtrigh t s application .
’
.

M r F airlie i s n o t a m a n o f b usi ne ss bu t h e has con sulted

.
,

h i s s teward wh o 1 5 an d that pe rso n c onfi rm s M r Fai rlie 5

, ,
.
’

opi n io n that M r H a rtrigh t s reques t t o be allowe d t o b re ak

.
’

hi s e ngageme nt can n ot be j ustifie d by any n ece ssity wh ateve r ,

e xceptin g pe rhaps a case o f life a n d death I f the highly .

appreci ative feeli ng towards Art an d its p rofesso rs wh ich i t ,

i s the con solati o n an d happi ne s s of M r Fai rli e s s u ff e rin g .

’

exis te n ce to cu ltivate cou ld be easily shake n M r H a rtrigh t s

, , .
’

p re se nt p roceedin g would hav e sh ake n i t I t has n o t don e .

so — except in th e i n stance o f M r H a rtrigh t hi mself . .

‘
H avi n g stated h i s opi ni o n — so far that i s to sa y a s , ,

acu te ne rvo us su ff e rin g wi l l al low hi m to state anythin g

M r Fai rlie h a s n othin g to add bu t th e exp re ssion of hi s
.

d eci si on in refe re nce to th e h ighly i rre gular applicati on that

,

h as be e n made to him Pe rfect rep os e o f b ody an d m in d

.

bein g to th e l as t degree i mpo rtan t i n hi s case M r Fairli e , .

wil l n ot s u ff e r M r H a rtrigh t to di stu rb that re pose by

.

remaini ng in th e hou se u nde r ci rcu mstance s o f a n es se ntially

i rritatin g natu re t o both side s Acco rdin gly M r F ai rli e .
, .

waive s hi s righ t o f refu sal pu rely with a vi e w to th e ,

p re servati on o f h i s o wn tran qu illity — a nd i nform s M r H art .

righ t that h e m ay go .
’

I fol de d th e l ette r u p an d pu t i t away wi th my oth e r

,

pape rs The ti me h ad b een whe n I sh ould have re sente d i t

.

a s a n i nsu lt : I a cce pte d i t n ow a s a w ri tte n re lease fro m , ,

my e ngage me n t I t w a s O ff my mi nd i t was alm ost ou t o f

.
,

my me mo ry whe n I we n t down stai rs to th e breakfast room

,
-
,

a n d i nfo rme d M is s H alcombe th at I w a s ready to w al k with

h er t o th e farm .

H as M r Fai rli e give n you a s atisfacto ry an swe r ? sh e

.

a sked as we left the h ou se

, .

H e h as allowed m e to go M i s s H alcombe , .
’

S he lo oke d u p at m e quickly an d the n fo r the fi rst ,

time si nce I had kn own h e r took my arm O f he r o w n acco rd , .

N o wo rds could h ave exp re ssed so de li cately that sh e u nde r

s tood h ow the pe rm issi on t o le ave my e mploymen t had bee n
gran ted an d that sh e gave m e he r sympathy n ot as my
, ,

supe ri or but as my frien d

, I h ad n ot felt the m a n s i n s olen t
.
’

lette r bu t I felt deeply the woma n s aton ing kin dn e ss ’

.

O n o u r way to the farm we a rran ge d that Mi ss H alcomb e

w a s to e nte r th e h ou se alone an d that I was to wait o utsi de , ,

with in call We adopte d thi s m ode o f p roceedin g from a n

.

94
 T H E W O M AN I N W H IT E

The re c a n b e n o dou bt in ei the r case B ut what di d yo u .

hear ab ou t he r secon d attack of fai ntne s s ye ste rday e ve ni ng ?

N othin g The cause o f i t i s a comple te myste ry The re
. .

was n o strange r in the room Th e on ly vi sito r was o u r .

’
dai rymaid w h o as I told you i s o n e of M r Todd s daughte rs ;
, , , .

an d the on ly c o nve rsati on was the u sual gos si p ab ou t l ocal

a ffai rs They he ard h e r c ry o u t an d sa w he r tu rn deadly
.
,

pale wi th ou t th e slighte st appare n t reason

,
M rs Todd and . .

M rs Cleme nt s took h e r u p stai rs ; an d M rs Cle me nts re

.
- .

maine d wi th he r They we re h eard talkin g togethe r u n ti l

.

l on g afte r th e u sual bedtime ; and early thi s m o rn in g M rs , , .

Cle me n ts to ok M rs To dd asi de a n d amaze d h e r beyon d all

.
,

p owe r o f expre ssion by sayin g th at th ey mu st go Th e only, .

explanatio n M rs Todd cou ld e xt ract fro m he r gue s t was

.
,

that s ome thing h ad happe ne d whi ch w a s n o t th e fault of ,

any o ne at the farm ho use b u t whi ch was se ri ou s e n ough to

-
,

m ake An n e C a th eric k re solve to le ave L im m eridge i mme

dia tely I t w a s qu ite u se le s s to p re s s M rs Cleme nts to be
. .

m o re explici t S he o nly s hoo k he r he ad a n d said that fo r

.
, ,

An ne s sake sh e m us t beg a nd p ray that n o o ne would qu es

’
,

tio n he r All sh e could repeat wi th eve ry appearan ce o f

.
,

bein g se riou sly agitate d h e rse lf was that An n e mu s t go that , ,

she mus t go wi th he r a n d that the de sti natio n to which they ,

m igh t b oth b etake th em se lve s mu s t be kep t a sec ret fro m

eve rybody I spare yo u the reci tal O f M rs Todd s h o spitable
. .
’

re mon strances an d refu sal s I t e nde d i n he r d ri vi n g th em .

b oth to th e n eare st stati on m o re than th re e h ou rs si n ce Sh e , .

t ried h ard o n the way t o ge t them to spe ak mo re plai nly

, ,

b ut wi thout succe s s An d she set the m d own outside th e .

stati on doo r s o h u rt an d o ffe nd ed by the un ce re m on i ou s

-
,

ab ru ptne s s o f thei r de partu re an d thei r u nfrien dly rel uctance

to place th e least confide nce in he r that she d rove away in ,

an ge r wi th ou t s o mu ch as s toppi n g to bid the m good by

,
- .

That i s exactly what h a s take n pl a ce S e arch you r o w n .

m emory M r H a rtrigh t a n d tell me i f anythi ng h appe ned i n

, .
,

the b urial grou n d yes te rday eve nin g which c a n at all accou n t
-

for the extrao rdi nary departu re o f those two wome n thi s
m o rn m g
’
.

‘
I sh ould like to accoun t fi rst M i ss H alcombe fo r the , ,

s udde n change in An ne C a th erick which alarmed the m at th e

farm h ouse hou rs afte r sh e a nd I h ad parte d an d whe n ti me
-
, ,

e n ough had e lap sed to qui e t any vi ole n t agitati on that I migh t
h ave bee n u nfortunate e n ou gh to cau se Di d yo u i nqui re .

p articularly abou t the go ssip w hich was goin g o n i n th e room

w he n she tu rned fain t
96
 T H E WO MAN I N W H I T E
‘ B ut M rs Todd s h ouseh old a ff ai rs see m t o have ’
Y es . .

divide d h e r atten tion that eve nin g with the talk in th e farm , ,

h ou se parlou r S he coul d only te l l m e that i t was j u st th e

.

n ews —mean i ng I suppose that they all talke d as u sual

, ,

fi
’
abou t each othe r .

’ ’
The dai rymai d s me mory may be be tte r th an he r m othe r s
’
,

I sai d . I t may b e as well fo r yo u to speak to the gi rl M i s s ,

’
H alcomb e as s oon as we get back
,
.

My sugge stio n was acte d o n the m omen t we re tu rne d to

th e h ou se M i ss H alcombe le d m e rou n d to th e se rvan t s
.
’

o f c e s a n d we fou n d th e gi rl in the dai ry wi th he r sleeve s

, ,

tucke d up to he r shoulde rs cleani n g a large m ilk -pan an d , ,

singing bl ith ely ove r he r work .

I h ave b rought thi s gen tle man to see you r dai ry ,

‘
H an nah sai d M i ss H a l combe
,
’
I t i s o ne o f the si ghts o f .

th e h ou se a n d i t always doe s yo u credit

, .
’

The gi rl blushe d an d cu rtseyed a n d said shyly that sh e , , ,

hope d sh e always di d he r b e st to kee p thin gs n e at a n d c lean .

We h ave j ust come fro m you r fathe r s M is s H alcomb e ’

,
’

con ti nu ed Yo u we re the re yeste rday even in g I h ear ; a n d

.
,

you foun d vi sito rs at th e h ou se

Ye s mi s s , .
’

O n e of the m was take n fai n t an d i ll I am told I su p ,

p ose n othin g w a s sai d o r don e to frighte n h e r ? Y o u were

n o t ta l king o f anythin g ve ry te rrible we re you
Oh n o mi ss
, said th e girl l aughin g
, We we re on ly , .

talkin g o f the n ews .

’

’
You r siste rs tol d yo u th e n ews at Todd s Co rne r I ,
’
suppos e ?
’
Ye s miss , .

‘
An d yo u told the m th e n ews at L im m eridge H o us e
Yes mis s An d I m quite su re n othin g was said t o
, .
’

frighte n the po o r thing for I w a s talki n g whe n sh e was take n ,

ill
. I t gave m e qu ite a tu rn miss to see it n eve r h avin g b ee n , , ,

take n fain t myself .

’

B efo re any mo re que stion s c ould b e put to h e r sh e was ,

called away to receive a b aske t o f e ggs at th e dairy doo r .

As sh e left u s I whi spe re d to M is s H alcomb e

,
‘
Ask he r if she h appene d to mention las t n ight that , ,

visito rs we re expecte d at Lim m eridge H ouse .

’

M is s H alcomb e sh owe d me by a l ook that sh e u n de rstood , , ,

an d pu t the qu estio n as s oon as the dai rymai d retu e d t o u s rn .

‘
Oh yes mi s s ; I me ntione d th at sai d th e girl simply
, , ,
’
.

The company c omi n g an d th e acci den t to th e bri n dle d c o w , ,

was all the news I had to take to th e farm .

’

97
 VV O M AN
‘
TH E I N W H ITE
'

‘
Did you m ention n ames ? D i d you t ell them th at S i r
Pe rcival Glyde was expected o n M on day
‘
Ye s mi ss — I told th em S i r Pe rcival Glyde was comin g
,
.

’ ’
I hope the re was n o h arm in i t ; I h op e I did n t d o w ro n g .

‘
O h n o n o harm , Come M r H a rtrigh t ; H an n ah will
.
,
.

begi n to thin k u s in th e way if we i n terrup t h e r any longe r

,
’
ove r h e r work .

We s toppe d an d l o oked at o ne an o the r th e momen t w e ,

we re al one again :
I s the re any doub t i n you r min d n ow M i s s H alcomb e , ,
‘
S i r Pe rcival G lyde sh al l rem ove th at doubt M r H art , .

righ t— o r Lau ra Fai rlie shall n eve r b e hi s wife

, .
’

As we wal ke d roun d t o th e fron t o f th e h ou se a fl y fro m th e ,

railway app roache d u s alon g the d rive M is s H al comb e .

waite d o n th e d oo r ste ps u ntil th e fly d rew u p ; a n d the n

advan ce d to sh ake h an ds wi th a n o ld ge ntle man wh o got ,

o u t b ris kly th e m ome n t the step s we re le t d own Mr ° .

Gi lmo re h ad arrive d .

I looke d at h im wh en we we re in trodu ce d to each o the r

fi
, ,

w i th a n i nte re st an d a cu ri osity wh ich I cou ld h ardly conceal .

Thi s o ld ma n was to re mai n at L im m eridge H ou se afte r I

h ad left it ; h e w a s t o h ear S i r Pe rcival G lyde s explanation ’

a n d was to give M is s H alcomb e the assi stance o f h i s ex

p erien c e i n fo rming he r j udgmen t ; h e was to wai t u nti l th e

qu esti on o f th e marriage was s et at res t a n d h is han d if th at ,

que sti on we re decide d i n th e af r mative was to d raw th e ,

settle me n t which b ou nd M is s Fai rlie i rrevocably t o h e r eu

a em en t Eve n the n whe n I kn ew n othin g by c ompariso n
g g .
,

wi th what I k n ow n o w I l o o k ed at th e family lawye r with

,

a n i nte res t wh ich I h ad n eve r fel t b efo re i n th e p rese nce o f

any m a n b re athin g wh o was a total s trange r t o me .

I n exte rn al appearan ce M r Gilm ore w a s th e exact oppo

, .

site o f the conve nti on al i de a o f a n o ld lawyer H i s c o m .

p lexio n was fl orid h is w hi te h ai r was wo rn rathe r lon g an d

kept careful ly b rush e d ; h i s b lac k coat waistcoat a nd , ,

t rou s ers fi tte d hi m with p e rfect n eatn es s ; h i s white c ravat

,

was carefully tie d ; and hi s l ave nde r col ou re d ki d glove s -

migh t h ave adorn e d the h ands O f a fashi on able cle rgyman ,

withou t fear a n d with ou t rep roach H i s m an ne rs we re plea

.

sa ntly marked by th e form al grace an d refi nemen t o f th e o l d

s ch ool O f p oliten es s quicken e d by th e i nvigoratin g sharp ness

,

98
 T H E W O M AN I N W H IT E

V iew wh ich we had so O ften admi re d in th e ha ppie r time It .

was cold an d barre n — it w a s n o lon ge r th e v i ew th at I re

m embe re d The su n shi ne o f he r p rese n ce was far from m e
.

th e charm o f he r voi ce n o longe r m u rmu re d i n my ear S he .

h ad talked to m e o n the spot from whi ch I n ow l ooke d down

, ,

o f he r fathe r wh o was he r last s u rvivin g paren t ; h ad told

,

m e h o w fon d o f each oth e r they h ad be en an d h ow sadly sh e ,

m i sse d him still whe n sh e e n te red ce rtai n roo ms i n th e h ou se

, ,

an d wh en she took u p forgotte n occupati on s a n d amu se me n ts

with which h e h ad b ee n as sociate d Was th e view that I h ad .

se e n while liste nin g t o th ose wo rd s th e view that I sa w n ow

, , ,

stan din g o n the hill top by myself ? I tu rn ed an d left i t ; I

-
,

woun d my way back again ove r th e m oo r an d rou nd th e , ,

sandhills down to th e beach The re w a s th e wh ite rage of

,
.

the su rf a nd the multi tudi n ous glo ry o f th e leapin g wave s

,

but whe re was th e place o n whi ch she had on ce d rawn i dle

figu re s with h e r parasol in the san d th e place whe re we had
sat toge the r while sh e talked t o m e abou t myself an d my
,

h ome while sh e a ske d m e a woman s mi nu te ly ob se rvant

,
’

que sti on s ab ou t my m othe r an d my s i ste r a nd i n n oce n tly ,

wondere d whe the r I sh ould eve r le ave my lonely ch ambe rs

a n d h ave a wife an d a h ou se o f my o w n ? Wi n d an d wave had

lon g sin ce smoothed o u t th e trace o f he r which sh e h ad left

i n th o s e marks o n the sand I l ooked ove r th e wi de mon otony
.

o f th e sea side p rospect an d the place i n whi ch we two had

-
,

i dle d away th e su nny hou rs was a s l ost t o m e as i f I had ,

n eve r kn own i t as stran ge t o me as if I s too d alre ady o n a

,

forei gn sh ore .

Th e e mpty silen ce o f th e beach struck cold t o my h eart .

I retu rne d to th e hous e an d th e garden whe re trace s we re ,

left to spe ak o f he r at eve ry tu rn .

O n the we st te rrace walk I me t M r Gilmo re H e was , . .

evi den tly in search O f m e fo r he quicke ne d hi s p ace whe n we

,

caugh t sigh t o f e ach othe r T h e state O f my spi rits little .

fi tted me for the s ocie ty o f a stran ge r B u t the meetin g was .

i n evitable and I resign ed myself to mak e th e bes t o f i t .

Y o u are th e ve ry pe rso n I wanted t o see sai d th e o ld

’
,
‘
ge ntlem an I had two word s t o sa y t o you my dear si r ;
.
,

and if you have n o O bj ection I will avai l myself o f the p re sen t

, ,

oppo rtun ity T o pu t i t plainly M i ss H al combe an d I have

.
,

bee n tal ki ng ove r family a ffai rs — a ff ai rs which are th e cau s e

o f my bein g he re — and in the cou rs e o f o u r conve rsatio n sh e
, ,

was n atu rally led to te ll me o f thi s un pleasan t m atte r c o n

n ec ted with the anonym ou s lette r an d o f th e share which you ,

h ave most c re ditably and p rope rly take n i n the proce edin gs
I OO
 T H E WO M AN I N W H IT E

so far Th at sh are I quite u nde rstand give s you a n m terest

.
, ,

which yo u might n ot othe rwi se have fe lt i n kn owi ng th at th e ,

futu re m anageme n t o f th e i nve stigati on which you h ave ,

begun wil l be place d i n safe hands

,
M y dear si r make .
,

you rse lf qu ite e asy o n that p oi nt— it wi l l be place d in my

han ds }
Y o u a re i n eve ry way M r Gilmore much fi tte r t o advi se
, , .
,

an d t o a c t i n the matte r than I am I s i t an i n di screti on o n .

,

my part to ask if you h ave deci de d ye t o n a cou rse o f p ro

,

c eedi n g

S o far a s i t i s possi ble to de ci de M r H a rtrigh t I have , .

,

deci ded I m ea n t o sen d a C opy of th e le tte r accompanie d

.
,

by a stateme nt o f the ci rc umstance s t o S i r Pe rcival G ly de s ,

’

s olici to r in Lo ndon with wh om I h ave s o m e acquai ntance

, .

Th e lette r i tself I shall keep he re to sh ow to S i r Pe rcival as

, ,

s oon a s h e arrive s Th e tracin g o f the two women I h ave

.
,

already p rovide d fo r by se ndi ng on e o f M r F ai rli e s se rvan ts

,
.
’

—a confide n tial pe rso n — to the station t o make i n qui rie s th e

m a n has hi s m on ey an d hi s di recti on s a n d h e will follow th e ,

wome n i n th e eve n t o f hi s fi ndi ng any clue Th i s i s all that .

c a n be d on e u nti l S i r Pe rcival come s on M onday I h ave n o .

doubt myself that e ve ry explan ation which c a n b e expe cte d

from a ge ntlem an a nd a m a n o f h on ou r he w ill re adily give , .

S i r Pe rcival stan ds ve ry high si r— a n e mi ne n t p o sition a , ,

re putati on ab ove su spicio n — I fee l qui te easy abou t re sults ;

qui te e asy I am rej oi ce d to assu re yo u Thi ngs o f th i s s ort
,
“

happe n con stan tly in my expe rie nce Anonymou s le tte rs .

unfortu nate woman — sa d state of society I do n t deny that .

’

there are pe culia r complication s in thi s case ; but the case

i tself i s m ost unhappi ly common — comm o n
, ,
.
’

I am afraid M r Gi lmore I h ave th e misfo rtun e to di ff e r

, .
,

from yo u i n the vi ew I take o f the case .

’

‘
J u st so my dear sir— j u st so
, I am a n old m a n ; an d I .

take th e p racti cal view Y o u are a youn g m a n ; a n d y o u .

take the roman tic vi ew Le t u s n o t di spu te ab ou t o u r views . .

I live p rofe ssi o nally in a n atmosphe re O f disputati on M r

, , , .

H a rtrigh t a n d I am only too glad to e scape fro m it as I am ,

escap in g he re We wil l wait fo r eve n ts — ye s ye s ye s ; we

.
, ,

will wait fo r events Charmin g place thi s Go od sh ootin g ?

.
, .

Probably n ot— no n e o f M r Fai rlie s lan d i s p re se rved I th in k .

’
, .

Charming place though ; an d de ligh tfu l people Y o u d raw

, .

an d pai nt I h ea r M r Ha rtrigh t
, E nviable accomp li shme nt
, . .

What style ?
We droppe d i n to ge ne ral conve rsati on — o r ra th e r M r , ,
.

Gilmo re talk ed , and I listened My atte n tion wa s far from .

101
 T H E WO M AN I N W H ITE

h i m an d from the topi cs o n whi ch h e discou rse d s o fl ue ntly

, .

Th e solita ry walk o f th e last tw o h ou rs had wrought it s e ff ect

o n m e —i t had se t the i dea in my mi n d o f h aste n in g my de

partu re from L im m eridge H ou se Why should I p rolon g th e .

hard t rial o f sayi n g farewell by on e u n n ece ssary min ute ?

Wh at fu rthe r se rvice w a s re qui red o f me by a ny o n e The re
was n o u seful pu rp ose t o be se rve d by my stay i n Cu mbe r
lan d ; the re was n o re stricti on o f time i n the pe rmi ssi on t o
leave which my e mploye r had gran te d to me Why n o t e n d .

i t the re an d the n
,

I dete rmi ne d to e n d i t The re we re s ome h ou rs o f day .

li ght stil l left there was n o reaso n why my j ou rney bac k to

-

Lo ndon sh oul d n o t begi n o n that afte rn oon I made the fi rst .

civi l excu se t hat occu rre d t o m e for leavin g M r Gi lm ore ; .

an d re tu rne d at o nce t o th e h ou se .

O n my way u p t o my o wn room I met M i s s H alcombe ,

o n the stai rs S he s a w by th e h u r ry o f my m ove me nts and

.
,

the chan ge in my manne r th at I h ad s ome n ew pu rpo se in ,

vi ew an d aske d what had happe ned .

I t old h e r th e reason s whi ch i n duce d m e t o thin k o f

hasteni n g my departure exactly as I have t old the m he re , .

‘ ’ ‘
N o n o sh e said e arn e stly a nd ki ndly leave u s like a
, , , ,

frie nd ; b reak b read with u s on ce m ore S tay he re a n d .

di ne ; stay he re a nd help u s t o spe n d o u r last even in g with

you as happily as like o u r fi rst eve nin gs as w e c a n I t is
, , .

my i nvitation ; M rs V esey s i nvitati on s h e hesi tate d a

.
’

li ttle an d the n added Lau ra s i nvitati on as well

, ,
’
.
’

I p rom ised t o re mai n G o d knows I had n o wis h to leave .

e en the shad ow o f a so rrowful im p re ssi on with any o n e of

—

tg
r

em .

My o wn room was the be st place fo r me ti ll th e di nn e r

b ell ran g I waite d the re ti ll i t was ti me to go d own stai rs
. .

I had n ot spoke n t o M i ss Fai rlie — I had n ot eve n seen he r

—all that day The fi rst m eeti n g with he r whe n I e nte re d
.
,

the d rawing ro om was a hard tri al t o he r self control an d to

-
,
-

min e .S he to o had don e he r be st to make o u r last eve nin g

, ,

ren ew the golde n bygon e time — the time that could n eve r
c ome again S he h ad p ut o n the d re s s which I u se d t o
.

admi re m ore than any othe r that she pos ses sed — a dark blue
silk t ri mme d quai ntly an d prettily with o ld fashi on ed lace ;
,
-

she came forward t o m eet m e with h e r fo rme r readi ne s s sh e

gave m e he r han d with the frank i n n ocen t goo d wi ll of ,

happie r days The cold fin ge rs that tremble d roun d min e ;

.

th e pale chee ks with a bri ght re d spot bu rn in g in the mi dst

o f the m ; th e fai nt smile that st ruggle d to live o u her lip s an d
~

1 02
 T H E W O M AN l\ . V HI T E

W e retu rn e d to th e d ra 1vi 1; -
r1 1 —tl 1 e
roo m i n wh ic h
the happiest even ings o f my life ve e n
p as s ed th e ro o m
which afte r this last n ight I “ a .
s w e t o see ag ai n I ts .

aspect was alte re d si nce the duh :1d sh o rte n ed an d t h e

weathe r had grown cold T h e . do o rs o n th e te rra c e
side were clo se d an d hidden b y ,
c cu rt a i n s I n ste ad o f .

the s oft twi ligh t obscu rity i n 1 1 l1 e u s ed to sit t h e b n gh t

'

. ,

radiant glow O f lampli ght n o w u . d mv eve s A l l wa s .

changed — in doo rs and o u t a l l 1 1

- a n ged . . . .

M i s s H alcombe an d M r G i l a 1 sa t d o wn t ogeth er at.

-
1

th e card table ; M rs Y a sev t o o l ; 11 r 1 sto m a ry chai r Th ere

- . : .

was n o re straint 0 11 the d i spo a l r eve ni n g ; an d I felt

'

s 1 1 1

the re strai n t 0 11 the di s pos a l o f m i a ll the m o re pai n fully .

”
from O b se rvi ng it I sa w M i . I l i e l i n geri n g n ea r th e x

mu si c s tan d The time had b u n 1 1 311 I mi ght h a v e j o i n ed

.

he r the re I w aited i rreso lu teh

. l l c w n eit h e r w h e re to go
n or what to d o n ext S he c a t o n e a l ek glance a t m e t oo k
. s
,

a piece o f mu si c su ddenlv fro m th e 11 d a nd c a m e t o wa rd s ,

me o f he r o w n acco rd .

S hal l I play some o f th m me l odi e s o f M o z a rt s ’

,

whi ch you u se d t o li ke s o 11 he ask ed o pen i n g th e .

mu si c n e rvou sly an d l ooki n g

,
n i t w hile she s po k e 1 .

B efore I c ou l d thank h e r s h n eed to th e pian o T h e

. .

chai r n ear it w h ich I had 11 11 1 11 ) l‘ k a cc u st omed to o c c u py

,
s t ,

stood e mpty S h e st ruck a fe w

. ls— t h e n g l an ced ro u nd t

—
at m e th en looked bac k ag i n I n mus ic a .

’
Won t you take you r o ld p la c she said speaki n g ve ry t
,

ab ru ptly an d in ve ry lo w t one
,
s

‘
I may take it o n the last 11 1 : l1 t an swe red 1
.
’

S he did n o t reply : sh e k e p h r ttentio n riv et ed o n th e . t

music —mu sic w h ich sh e kn e w b y e m o ry wh ich she h a d ,

played ove r and ove r agai n i n 11 1 er ti m e s w ith o u t th e .

,

bo ok . I only kne w that sh e had li m d m e I o n l y kn e w that ,

sh e was aware of my bei ng c l o w 1 her b y see i n g th e red ,

s pot o n th e ch eek that 1 1 a s n a r m e fade o u t a nd th e t t s

, ,

face grow pale al l ove r .

‘
I am ve ry s orry yo u a re gc ir sh e said h e r v o ic e ,
’
,

alm o st sm k m g to a w hisper ; h e r ves l o o ki n g m o re a nd

m ore m ten tly at the m usi c ; he r fi n rs fl yi n g ove r th e k eys ..

o f the pian o wi th a st ran ge feve ri s h t er wh ich I h d n e ve

gy a r
n oticed i n he r befo re .

‘
I s hall remembe r th ose k ind “rds M i s s Fai rli e l on , ,
o '

afte r to m orrow has c ome and gon e

-
.

The palen ess grew white r o n h e face a nd sh e t urned it ,

farth e r away from me .

1 04
 Even M rs .

a t th e sudden ces sa t i o n o f

a sk ed Miss
a t th e p la c e
l o c cu p ed
i .

sh e was r i gh t ; and I
As I l eft pia n o ,
th e
usic , a nd to uch ed th e

y to p la y th e

the do o r, a nd th e fi rs t t o

M r Hartrigh t sa id th e old
’
. ,

a re go i ng a wa y Y o u ha v e.

and an o ld woma n , li k e m e,
 T HE W O M AN I N W H IT E
W e retu rn e d t o th e d rawi ng room tl 1 e room in which - -

the happie st even ings o f my life had bee n passed ; th e room

whi ch afte r thi s last night I was n eve r t o s ee agai n
, , Its .

asp ect was alte re d since th e days had sh o rtened an d th e

weathe r had grown cold Th e glass doors o n the terrace .

si de we re clo sed an d hi dden by thick cu rtai n s

,
I nstead o f .

the s oft twi light obscu rity i n which we u se d to sit the b righ t
, ,

radiant glow o f lamplight n ow dazzle d my eye s All was .

change d — in doo rs a nd o u t all was ch an ge d

-
, .

M i ss H alcombe a nd M r Gilmo re sat d own t ogethe r at .

th e card table ; M rs Vesey to ok he r cu stomary chai r The re

- . .

was n o restrai n t o n th e di spo sal o f th ei r eveni ng ; an d I fel t

the re strai nt o n the di sposal o f mi ne all th e m o re pai nfully
fro m ob se rvi n g i t I saw M is s Fai rli e l in ge rin g n ear th e
.

mu si c stand The tim e had b ee n whe n I mi ght have j oine d

.

he r the re I waite d i rre solutely — I kn ew n eithe r whe re t o go

.

n o r wh at t o do n ext S he cast o ne quick glance at me t ook

.
,

a piece o f m u si c suddenly from the stan d an d c ame t oward s ,

m e o f he r o wn acco rd .

S hall I play som e o f th ose little m elodi e s o f M o z art s ’

,

wh i ch y o u u se d t o like s o m uch ? sh e asked ope nin g th e ,

m usi c n e rvou sly an d looki n g d own at i t while sh e spoke

, .

B efore I c ou ld than k h e r sh e haste ned t o th e p ian o The, .

chai r n ear it wh ich I had always bee n accustomed t o occupy

, ,

s tood empty S h e struck a few ch ords — the n glan ced roun d

.

at m e — the n looked back agai n at he r musi c .

Won t yo u tak e you r o ld p lace

’
sh e said speakin g ve ry ,

abru ptly an d in ve ry l ow t ones

, .

I may take it o n the l ast n ight I answe red ,

’
.

S h e did n ot reply : sh e kep t h e r attenti on riveted o n th e

music — mu si c which she kn e w by m emory which sh e had ,

p laye d ove r an d ove r again in forme r times with ou t th e , ,

bo ok . I only k new that sh e h ad h eard me I only kn ew that ,

sh e was aware o f m y bei ng close t o he r by seeing th e re d ,

s pot o n the cheek that was n eare st t o m e , fa de o u t and th e ,

face grow pal e al l ove r .

‘
I am ve ry s orry you are going sh e s aid he r voic e ,
’
,

almost sin king t o a whispe r ; he r eyes lookin g m ore an d

m o re i nte ntly at th e musi c ; he r fi nge rs fl yin g ove r th e keys
o f the pian o with a st range feve rish e n ergy wh ich I had n eve r

n otice d m h er befo re .

‘
I shall remembe r thos e kin d words M is s Fairlie long , ,

afte r to m orrow h a s come a nd gon e

-
.
’

The palen ess grew white r o n he r face , and sh e t urn ed it

farth er away f ro m me .

1 04
 T H E W O M AN I N W H ITE

feels kindnes s an d atte nti on I wish yo u happy si r— I wish .

,

o u a kin d good by
’
-
y .

M r Gilmore came n ext

. .

‘
I h op e We shall have a futu re O ppo rt unity o f bette r i ng
o u r acquai ntance M r H a rtrigh t Y o u quite u nde rstand
, . .

about that little m atte r o f busin ess bein g safe i n my han ds

Yes yes o f cou rse
,
B less m e h ow c old i t is ! D on t le t
,
.
,
’

me kee p you at th e doo r B o n voyage my dear sir— bo n .

,

voyage a s th e F ren ch sa y
,
.
’

M is s H alcombe followed .

’
H alf pas t s even to morrow m orn in g sh e s aid ; then
- -
,

added in a wh ispe r
,
I have h eard an d s ee n m ore than yo u ,

thin k You r c on duct t o n ight has mad e me you r frie nd fo r

.
-

life
.
’

M is s Fairli e came last I c ould n ot t rust myself to l ook .

at h e r whe n I t ook h e r hand an d whe n I th ought of th e

, ,

next m orn i ng .

‘ ’
My departu re must be a ve ry early o n e I said I ,
.

shall be gon e M iss Fairlie befo re yo u , ,

‘
N o n o sh e i nte rp osed hastily
, ,
’
n ot befo re I am o u t ,

o f my room I shall be d own to b reakfast with M arian

. I .

am n ot so u ngrateful n ot s o fo rgetful of th e past th ree ,

m on th s
H e r v oice failed h e r h e r hand cl osed ge ntly roun d m in e
"
the n droppe d i t suddenly B efore I could sa y Go od n ight .
, ,

she was gon e .

Th e e n d c ome s fast t o m eet me — comes i n evitably as th e ,

light of th e last m ornin g cam e at L im m eridge H ou se .

I t w a s barely half past seve n whe n I we nt down stai rs -

but I fou nd th e m b oth at th e b reakfast table waitin g fo r m e - .

I n t he chill ai r i n th e di m light in the gloomy m orn ing silen ce

, ,

o f the h ous e we th re e sat d own togethe r an d tried to eat trie d

, , ,

t o talk The struggle t o p rese rv e appeara n ce s was h opeles s

.

an d u se l ess ; and I ros e t o e n d i t .

As I held o u t m y hand as M is s H alcombe wh o was , ,

n eare st to m e to ok i t M i ss Fairlie t urn ed away suddenly

, , ,

a n d h urried from th e roo m .

’
B ette r s o sai d M is s H alcombe when the d oo r had
, ,

cl os ed bette r s o fo r you a nd for he r , .

’

I waited a m ome nt befo re I could speak — it w a s h ard to

l ose he r without a partin g word o r a partin g look
, I co n , .

trolle d myself ; I tried to take leave o f M i ss H alcomb e i n

fi ttin g terms but all th e farewel l words I wo uld fain hav e
s p ok en , dwindle d to o ne s entence .

1 06
 T H E W O M AN I N W H ITE

H ave I deserved that you s hould wri te to me Wa s all

I could s ay .

‘You have n obly d ese rved eve rythin g th at I can d o for

o

you a s l on g as we both live Whateve r the end 1 5 yo u sh all

, . ,
’
kn ow it .

An d if I c a n eve r b e o f help again at a ny futu re t un e , ,

l on g afte r the me mory o f my p re sumpti on a n d my folly l S

fo rgotte n
I c ould add n o m ore My voice faltered my eye s
.
,

m oi s te n ed i n S p ite of me
,
.

S he caught m e by both hands — sh e p ress ed the m with th e

—
stron g steady grasp o f a m a n he r dark eye s glitte red he r —
,

b rown complexio n fl ushed d eep the force a n d en e r gy o f he r -

face glowed a n d grew beautiful wi th th e pu re i n ne r ligh t of

h e r gen e ro sity an d h e r p ity .

"
I wi ll trust yo u — if eve r th e ti me comes I wi ll trust you ,
’
as my frien d a nd 126 7 fri en d a s my broth e r an d 126 ? b rothe r .

S h e stoppe d d rew m e n eare r t o he r th e fearles s n oble -

,

c reature — touch ed my foreh ead siste r li ke wi t h h er lip s ,

-
,
‘
a nd called m e by my Ch ris tian n am e G od ble ss y ou .
,

Walte r sh e said Wait h ere al on e a nd comp os e you rse lf

.
,
— I h ad better n ot s tay for b oth o u r s akes I had bette r se e
you go fro m th e balcony u pstairs .
’

S he left the room I turn e d away t owards th e wi nd ow

.
,

whe re n othin g face d me bu t the l o n ely autum n lan ds cape I —

turn e d away to maste r myse lf before I too left the room in , , ,

my tu rn an d left i t fo r eve r
, .

A min ute passe d — it c ou ld hardly have bee n more — whe n

I h ea rd th e d oor ope n again softly ; an d th e rustlin g of a
’
woman s dre ss o n th e carpe t m oved towards m e , My heart .

b eat vi ole ntly as I turne d rou n d M is s Fairli e was approach .

i ng m e from th e farther en d of th e roo m .

S h e stopp ed an d h es itated whe n o u r eye s m et an d wh e n

, ,

sh e saw that we we re alon e The n with that cou rage .

,

wh ich wo me n los e s o often in th e s ma l l e me rgen cy a n d so ,

s eldo m i n th e gre at sh e cam e o n n eare r t o m e stran gely pal e

, ,

a n d strangely quiet d rawin g o n e h an d afte r h e r alon g th e

,

table by which sh e walked an d h ol di ng s ometh in g at h e r ,

s i de in the othe r which was hidden by th e folds of he r dres s

, , .

‘ ‘
I only wen t i nto th e d rawin g ro om sh e said to l oo k -
,
’
,

for th is I t may remind you o f you r vi si t he re an d o f th e

.
,

frien ds you leave behind you Y o u told m e I had i mprove d .

'

ve ry much whe n I di d it— a n d I thought you migh t like

S h e tu rn e d he r h ead away an d offere d m e a littl e s ketch
,

d rawn th rough ou t by he r o w n pe ncil , of th e summe r hous e -

10 7 .
 T H E WO M AN I N W H IT E
in whi ch we h ad fi rst m et The pape r trembled in h e r han d .
-

as sh e hel d it o ut t o m e — tremble d in mi ne as I t o ok i t from ,

he r.

I was afraid t o sa y what I fel t — I only an swe red It

shall n eve r leave m e all my life l on g i t sh all b e the t re asu re
that I p rize m ost I am ve ry gratefu l fo r it ve ry grate ful to
.
-

’
y o u
, for n o t lettin g me go away with out biddin g you good by - .

Oh sh e said i n n oce ntly h ow cou ld I let you go afte r

, , ,

we h av e passed so m any h ap py days toge th e r

Th ose days may n eve r re turn Mi s s Fai rlie — m y way o f ,

l ife an d you rs are ve ry far apart B ut if a tim e sh ould c ome .

,

w hen th e d ev o tio n o f my wh ol e heart an d s ou l an d stren gth

will give you a m ome nt s happine ss o r S pare you a m omen t s ’

,
’

s orrow wi ll y o u t ry t o remembe r th e p oor d rawin g maste r

,
-

wh o has taugh t y o u M i ss H alcombe h as p romi sed to tru st

m e — will you p romi se too P ,

The farewell sad ne s s in th e ki n d blu e eye s sh one dimly

th rough h e r gath e rin g tears .

I p romi s e it sh e sai d i n b roke n t on es

,
’
Oh d on t look
, .
,
’

at m e l i ke th at I p romise i t with all my heart .

’

I ven tu re d a little n eare r t o h e r an d h eld o u t my h an d , .

Y o u h ave m any frie n ds wh o l ove you M iss Fai rli e , .

You r happy future i s th e de ar obj ect o f m any h ope s M ay .

I say at partin g th at i t i s th e dear obj ect o f my h o pe s t oo

, ,

Th e tears fl owed fast down h e r cheek s S he re ste d o n e .

trembli ng h an d o n th e table to steady he rse lf whi le sh e gave ,

m e th e oth e r I took i t in mi ne — I h eld i t fast

. My head .

d roope d ove r i t my t ears fe ll On i t my lip s p re sse d i t— n ot in

, ,

l ove o h n o t in l ove at that last m o men t but i n th e agony

, , ,

n d the s elf ab andon men t o f de spai r

- .

F o r G od s sake leav e m e I sh e s aid fai ntly

’

, .

Th e confe ssi on o f he r h eart s s ecre t bu rst from h er in th os e ’

p leadin g words I had n o righ t to h ear them n o righ t to

.
,

an swe r th em they we re the wo rds that bani shed me ,

i n th e n am e o f h e r sac red weakn es s fro m th e room It , .

was al l ove r I d rop pe d he r hand ; I sa id n o m ore

. Th e .
.

blinding tears shu t h e r o u t fro m my eyes an d I dash ed ,

th em away t o l ook at he r for th e las t ti me On e look a s .

she san k in to a chai r as he r arm s fel l o n th e tab le a s h e r

, ,

fai r he ad droppe d on them we arily O n e farewell look a nd .

— ‘
th e d oo r had clo s e d up on h e r th e gre at gulf o f separati on had
ope ned be twe en u s— th e image of Lau ra Fai rlie was a mem ory
o f the past alre ady

Th e End of H a r i n g/i f s N a rra ti v e .

1 08
 T H E W O M AN I N W H ITE

I did n ot see M i ss Fai rli e u ntil late r in the day , at dinne r

t ime S he was n o t lookin g well an d I was so rry t o ob se rve
.
,

i t S h e i s a sweet l o v a ble girl as amiable a n d attentive t o

.
,
‘

eve ry o n e ab out h e r as he r excellen t mothe r u sed to be

though pe rs on ally speaki ng sh e take s afte r he r fathe r
, ,
.

M rs Fai rli e h ad dark eye s a n d hai r an d he r elde r daughte r

.
,

M i s s H alcombe st ron gly remi n ds m e o f he r M is s Fai rlie

,
.

playe d t o u s in th e eve nin g— n ot so wel l as u sual I th ou ght , .

We had a rubbe r at whi st ; a m e re p rofan ati on so fa r a s ,

play was c once rned o f th at n oble game , I h ad been .

fav ou rably i mp re ssed by M r H a rtrigh t o n o u r fi rst i nt ro .

,

ducti on t o o n e an oth e r ; bu t I soon discove re d that h e was

n o t fre e from th e s ocial failings in cidental t o his age The re .

are th re e th ings that n o n e o f th e youn g m en o f th e p re se nt

gen e rati o n c a n do They can t sit ove r thei r wi n e ; they
.
’

’
c an t play at whi st a n d they can t pay a l ady a c ompli me nt
’
.

M r H a rtrigh t was n o exceptio n t o th e gen e ral rule O the r

. .

wi se eve n in those early days a n d o n that sh ort acquai ntan ce

, ,

h e struck m e a s bein g a m ode st a nd ge ntlem anli ke young

man .

S o the F riday pas se d I say n othi ng ab out th e m o re .

se ri ou s matte rs which en gage d m y atte nti o n o n that day

th e an onymou s lette r to M i ss Fai rli e th e measu res I th o u gh t
i t righ t to adop t wh en th e m a tte r was me ntio ned t o m e a nd
the co nvicti o n I e nte rtai ne d that eve ry p ossi ble explan ati o n o f
th e ci rcumstance s would b e re adily a ffo rde d by S i r Pe rcival
Glyde havi ng all bee n fully n oticed as I u n de rstand i n the
, , ,

n arrative w hich p recede s this .

O n th e S atu rday M r H a rtrigh t h ad left before I got

, .

d own to b reakfast M iss Fairlie kept h e r room all day an d

.

M i ss H al comb e appe are d t o m e to b e o ut o f spiri ts The .

h ou se was n ot wh at it u se d to be i n th e ti me of M r an d M rs . .

Philip Fai rlie I too k a walk by myself i n th e fo ren oo n an d

.

looked abou t at s om e o f the p lace s wh ich I fi rst sa w whe n I

was stayi n g at Lim m eridge t o tran sact fami ly bu sin es s m o re ,

th an thi rty ye ars si nce They we re n ot wh at they u sed to be .

e ithe r .

At two o clo ck M r Fairli e se n t to say h e was well e n ough

’
.

t o se e me H e had n ot alte red at any rate sin ce I fi rs t

.
, ,

k new h im H is tal k was to the sam e pu rpo se as u sual — all

.

ab ou t h im self an d hi s ailme n ts hi s wonde rfu l coi n s an d hi s , ,

m atchles s Re mbrandt etchin gs Th e m omen t I tri ed to spe .

o f th e bu sin es s th at h ad brough t m e to h is h ou se h e shu t a k ,

eye s and said I upset him I pe rsi ste d i n u psetting h i m by .

retu rni ng ag a in and again t o the subj ect All I c ould asc er .

1 10
 T H E WO M AN I N W H IT E
’
tai n was that he lo oke d o n hi s n iece s m arriage as a settle d
thing that he r fathe r had sanctione d i t that be san ction ed i t
, ,

himself that i t was a desi rable marriage an d that h e should

, ,

be pe rs onally rej oice d whe n the worry o f it was ove r As t o .

the settleme nts if I wou ld con sult hi s niece and afte r ward s
, ,

dive as deeply a s I pleased i nto my o w n k n owledge o f th e

family a ff ai rs and get eve rythi n g ready an d limi t h is share
, ,

i n the busin e ss as guardian to sayi ng Ye s at th e right

, , , ,

m ome n t — why o f c ou rse h e would mee t my views and eve ry ,

body e lse s views with i nfini te ple asu re

’

, I n the me an time .
,

t he re I saw him a helples s su ff e re r confin e d to hi s room

, , .

D id I thi n k he l ooked as if he wanted teasing ? N o The n .

why te ase hi m
I might pe rhaps h ave bee n a little aston ished at thi s
, ,

extrao rdi nary abse nc e o f all s elf as se rtion o n M r Fai rlie s - .

’

part in th e characte r o f guardian if my kn owledge o f the

, ,

family a ff ai rs had n o t bee n su ffi cien t t o rem in d m e that h e

was a si ngle man a n d th at he had n othin g m o re than a life
,

i nte res t i n the L im m eridge prope rty A s matte rs stood .

,

the refore I was n ei the r su rp ri sed n o r disappoi nted at the

,

resu lt o f th e i nte rvi ew M r Fairli e had simply j u stified my . .

expectation s — and the re was an en d of i t .

S unday was a dull day o u t o f d oors a n d in A lette r , .

arrive d fo r m e from S i r Pe rcival G ly de s s olici to r acknow ’

,

ledging th e receipt o f my c opy of th e an onym ou s le tte r an d ,

my accompanyin g stateme n t o f the case M i s s Fai rlie j oine d .

u s i n the afte rn oon l ookin g pale a n d dep re s sed an d alto

, ,

gethe r u nli ke herself I had s ome tal k with he r a n d ven tu re d

.
,

o n a deli cate allusi o n to S i r Pe rcival S he li ste n ed an d said .

,

n othin g All othe r subje cts sh e pu rsue d wi llin gly ; but thi s
.

subj ect she allowe d t o drop I be gan to d oub t whe the r sh e .

migh t n o t be repe ntin g of he r e ngagem en t — j ust as you ng

ladi e s ofte n do when repen tan ce come s too late
, .

O n M on day S i r Pe rcival Glyde arrive d .

I foun d h i m to b e a m os t p rep os se ssi n g m a n s o fa r a s ,

man ne rs an d appearan ce we re con ce rn ed H e looked rathe r .

olde r than I had expected hi s head be ing bald ove r th e fo re

head an d h is face somewhat m arke d an d wo rn
, B ut hi s .

m ove me n ts we re as active an d hi s spi rits as high as a you ng

man s His me eting with M i ss H alcombe was delightfully
’
.

h earty an d un a ff e cte d ; an d hi s re cepti on o f me u pon m y ,

bein g p re sented to hi m was so easy an d p leasan t that we ,

got o n t ogethe r li ke o ld frie nds M i ss F ai rli e was n ot w i th .

u s whe n h e arrived bu t sh e en te re d th e room about ten ,

mi nute s afte rwards S i r P e rcival rose a nd p ai d hi s comp li

.

11 1
 TH E WO MAN I N WH I T E

m e nts with pe rfect grace H i s eviden t conce rn O n seei ng the

.

ch ange fo r the worse in th e youn g l ady s l ooks w a s exp re sse d ’

wi th a mixtu re O f ten de rne s s a n d respe ct wi th an u nassuming ,

de licacy O f tone voice an d man ne r which di d equal cre dit to

, , ,

hi s good breedi ng an d hi s good se nse I was rathe r .

su rp ri sed u nde r the se ci rcumstan ce s t o se e that M i ss Fai rli e

“

, ,

c o n tinued to be con strai ne d an d u n easy in h i s p rese nce an d ,

that she too k th e fi rst O pp ortun ity O f leavin g th e room again .

S i r Pe rcival neithe r n oti ce d the restrain t in he r re ception O f

h im no r he r sudde n withd rawal fro m o u r s ocie ty H e had
,
.

n ot obtrude d hi s atte nti on s o n h e r while sh e was p rese nt an d ,

h e di d n ot e mbarrass M i ss H alcombe by a ny allusi on to he r

d eparture wh e n she was gone H i s tact an d taste we re n eve r
.

at fault o n thi s or o n a ny othe r occasi on while I was in hi s

c ompany at Lim m eridge H ou se .

As so on as M i ss Fairli e had left th e room h e spare d u s all ,

e mbarrassme nt o n the subject O f the anonym ou s l ette r by ,

adve rti ng to i t O f h is o w n accord H e had s topp ed i n Lon do n

.

o n hi s way from H amp shi re had see n h is s olici to r had

read the documen ts forwarded by me an d had t ravelled o n
to Cumbe rlan d anxi ous to sati sfy o u r min ds by the s peedie s t
,

an d the fulle st explan ati on that words c oul d convey O n .

hearing h im exp re ss hi mself to thi s e ffect I O ffe re d him th e ,

o riginal lette r which I h ad kept fo r h i s i nspe cti on He .

th an ke d m e an d d ecli ne d to lo ok at i t saying that h e had

,

see n th e copy an d that h e was quite wi llin g t o l eave the

,

o riginal in o u r han ds .

The s tateme nt i tself o n wh ich h e i mmediately e ntered

, ,

was as si mple a nd sati sfactory as I had all al on g anti cipate d

i t wou ld be .

M rs C a th eric k h e i nformed u s h ad i n past years lai d

.
, , , ,

him u n de r s om e O bligati on s for faithful se rvice s re nde re d t o

h i s family con n exion s a nd to him self S he h ad bee n dou bly .

u nfo rtunate i n being marri ed to a hu sband wh o had dese rte d

he r and in havin g an o nly chi ld wh ose men tal faculti e s had
,

bee n i n a di stu rbed con diti on from a ve ry early age Although

‘

h e r marriage h ad rem ove d he r to a part O f H amp shi re fa r

di stan t from the n eigh bou rh o od in which S i r Pe rcival s ’

p rop erty was si tuate d he had take n care n o t to l os e sight O f

,

he r hi s friendly re elin g towards the poor woman in con side r ,

ation O f he r past se rvi ce s h avi ng bee n greatly stren gthe ne d

,

by hi s admi a ti on O f th e patie n ce an d cou rage with which sh e

r

supporte d he r calamitie s I n c ou rs e O f time the symp tom s

.
,

O f me ntal a fflicti on i n he r u n happy daughte r i ncrease d to su ch

a serious e xte n t as to make it a matte r O f nece ssity to plac e
,

1 12
 . T H E WO M AN . I N W H I TE

h esita tio n fo f manne r h oweve r wh ich th e ci rc u mstan c e s did

’ ‘

, ,

n ot seem t o m e to warrant _ I am unabl e t o say p ositively .

, ,

whethe r S i r Pe rcival n oti ce d th i s o r n ot

~

—
My O pi nio n i s that .

he di d seeing that h e poin tedly re sumed th e subj ect alth ough

‘

h e might n o w with all p ropriety have allowed i t to d rop

, , , .

I f my plai n s tateme n t o f facts had only bee n add re ssed

to M r Gilm ore h e said
. I sh ould con si de r any furth e r
,
’
,

refe ren ce t o thi s u nhappy matte r as u n nece ssa ry I may .

fairly expect M r Gilmore a s a gen tleman to beli eve m e o n

.
, ,

my word a nd whe n he has don e m e that j ustice al l di scu s si o n ,

O f the subj ect betwee n u s h as come t o a n en d B u t my posi ti on .

with a lady i s n o t th e sa me I o w e t o he r wh at I would .

,

c oncede to n o man alive — a p roof o f th e t ruth O f my asse rti on .

Y o u cann ot a sk for that p roof M is s H alcombe ; a n d i t i s ,

the refore my duty t o you a n d stil l m o re t o M is s Fai rlie to , ,

o ffe r i t M ay I be g that y o u wi l l write at on ce t o the m oth e r

.

o f thi s u nfortunate woman — to M rs C a th eri c k— t o a sk for .

n e r te stim ony i n supp ort o f the explan ati on wh ich I have

j ust O ff e re d t o you .
’

I saw M i s s H alcombe change c olou r a n d look a little u n ,

e asy S i r Pe rcival s suggesti on p o l i tely as i t was exp re s sed

.
’
, ,

app eare d to he r as i t appe are d to m e to p oi n t ve ry deli cately

, , , ,

at the he sitati on which h e r man ne r had betraye d a m ome nt o r

two since .

‘
I h ope S i r Pe rcival yo u d on t d o me th e i nj ustice to
, ,
’

suppose that I distru st you sh e said qu ickly ,

’
, .

Ce rt a i nly n ot Mi ss H alcombe I make my p roposal

, .

pu rely as a n act O f atten ti on to y ou Wi ll you excu se my .

obsti n acy if I still ve ntu re to p res s i t

H e walked to the writi ng table as h e sp oke d rew a chai r -
,

t o i t a n d ope ne d the pape r case .

’
Le t m e beg you t o write the n ote h e sai d a s a favou r , ,

t o m e I t nee d n ot occupy you m ore than a few mi nute s

. .

You have only t o ask M rs C a th eric k two qu e stion s Fi rst if . .

,

he r d aughte r was place d in th e Asylu m wi th h e r k nowledge

an d app roval S econ dly if the share I took i n th e matte r
.
,

w a s such as t o me ri t th e exp re ssion of h e r grati tude towards

’
myself ? M r Gilm ore s m i n d i s at ease o n thi s unpleasant
.

subject ; an d you r mi n d i s at ease — pray s et my m ind at

ease also by writing the n ote
, .
’

Y o u oblige m e to gran t you r reque st S i r Pe rcival wh e n , ,

I woul d much rath er refu se i t With th ose wo rds M i s s .

’

H alcomb e ro se from he r p lace an d wen t t o the writi ng tabl e - .

S i r Pe rcival thanke d he r handed he r a pen an d th e n walked , ,

a way t oward s the fi re place M is s F ai rli e s little I talian grey ’

.

1 14
 TH E W O M A N I N W H I TE
h oun d wa s lyi n g on th e rug H e he ld o ut h i s hand , and
'

calle d t o the dog good h u m o u redly - .

’
C ome N in a h e said ; we remembe r e ach othe r d on t
, , ,
’

The little beast cowardly an d cross grai n ed as pet dog ,

- -

u sually are l ooke d up at him sharply sh ran k away from h is

, ,

outstretch ed hand whi ned sh ive red a nd h i d itself u nd e r a

, , ,

sofa I t was scarcely p os sible that he could have be e n pu t o u t

.

by such a trifl e as a dog s rece ption o f hi m — bu t I ob se rved ’

n eve rthele ss that he walke d away towards th e wi ndow ve ry

,

sudden ly P erh a p s h is tempe r i s i rritable at ti me s

’

. I f so I ,

c a n sympathi se with h im My tempe r i s i rritable at t ime s .

,

to o .

M i ss H al comb e was no t l ong in writin g the n ote Whe n -

.

i t was d one sh e rose from th e writin g table a nd hande d the

,
-
,

O pe n sheet O f pape r t o S i r Pe rcival

“

H e b owe d ; took i t .

from h e r ; folde d it u p im mediately with out look in g at the ,

conten ts seale d i t wrote th e addre ss an d h an de d i t back

to he r in si le nce I neve r sa w anythin g m ore gracefully
.

a nd m ore becomi ngly done i n my life , .

Y o u i n si st on my p osting thi s lette r S ir P e rcival sai d ,

M i s s H alcombe .

‘
I be g you wi ll p ost i t h e an swe red An d n ow th at i t ,
’
.

i s writte n an d se aled u p allow m e to ask on e o r two last ,

questi on s about the u nhappy woman t o wh om i t refe rs I .

have read the c ommunicati on which M r Gilm ore ki ndly ad .

d res se d to my s olicitor d escribi ng th e ci rcu mstan ce s u n de r ,

which the write r O f the anonymou s lette r was i dentified B ut .

the re are ce rtai n p oint s to which that statemen t d oe s n ot refe r .

D i d Ann e C a th eric k se e M i ss Fairlie

Ce rtainly n ot re plied M is s H alcombe ,
’
.

D i d she se e you
’
NO .

S h e saw n ob ody from th e h ou se then except a ce rtai n , ,

M r Ha rtrigh t w h o acciden tally met wi th h er in th e chu rch

.
,

yard h e re P
’
N obody else .

fi
M r Ha rtrigh t wa s employe d a t Lim meridge a s a d raw
.

i ng maste r I be li eve
-
I s he a me mbe r O f o ne o f th e Wate r
,

Col ou r S oci etie s

‘ ’
I believe h e is answe re d M i s s H alcombe , .

H e paused for a m oment as if h e was th inkin g ove r th e ,

l ast an swe r an d the n adde d ,

D id you nd o u t whe re An n e C a th eric k was livin g whe n ,

"

sh e wa s i n thi s neigh bou rhood ?

1 1 5
 T HE W O MA N I N W H I TE
’ ’
Y es At a farm o n the m oo r called Todd s Corn e r
.
, .

I t i s a duty we all owe t o the p oo r c reatu re he rs elf t o t rac e

he r c onti nued S i r Percival
,
’
S he may have said s omethin g .

at Todd s Co rne r which m ay help u s to fi n d h e r

’
I will go .

t he re an d make i nqui ries o n the chance

,
I n the mean time .
,

as I can not p revail o n myself t o discu ss thi s painful subj ect

with M is s Fairli e m ay I beg M is s H alcombe that you will
, , ,

kin dly u nde rtak e t o give he r the n ece ssary explan ation d e ,

ferri ng it o f cours e u nti l you have received th e rep ly t o that

n ote .
’

M iss H alcombe p romised to comply with h is re quest H e .

thanke d he r— n odde d pleasantly— an d left us t o go and ,

establi sh h im self i n hi s o w n room As he ope n ed the do o r .

,

the cross grai ned greyh oun d p oked o u t he r sharp muzzle from
-

u n de r th e s ofa an d barked an d snapped at h im

,
.

A good m orning s work M iss H alcombe I said as ’

, ,
’
,

s oon as we we re alon e H ere i s an anxiou s day well e nded

.

already .
’

‘ ’ ‘
Y es sh e an swe red ; n o d ou bt
, I am ve ry glad you r .

mi nd i s satisfie d .
’

‘
My mind ! S u rely with that n ote in you r hand you r , ,

min d i s at eas e to o ,
‘
O h yes — h ow c a n i t b e othe rwis e ? I kn ow th e thin g
,
’
could n o t be sh e we n t o n speakin g m ore t o h erse lf than t o
, ,

m e ; but I almost wi sh Walte r H a rtrigh t h ad staye d here

lon g e n ough to be p re sen t at th e explanati on and t o hear th e ,

p roposal t o m e to write thi s n ote .

’

I w a s a little su rp rise d — pe rhaps a little pi qued also by , ,

th ese last words .

Even ts i t is tru e con necte d M r H a rtrigh t ve ry remark

, , .

‘
ably with the affai r o f th e lette r I said ; a n d I readi l y admit ,
’

that he c ondu cted h imself all thing s con side red with great , ,

delicacy an d discretion B ut I am quite at a los s t o u nde r .

stan d what u seful i nflue n ce h is pre sen ce could have exe rcised
in relatio n t o the e ff ect o f S i r Percival s statement o n you r min d ’

o r mine
’
.

‘ ‘
w
I t a s only a fancy she said abse ntly The re 1 3 n o ’

fi
.
, ,

n eed t o discu ss it M r Gilmore You r expe r i e nce ou ght to be

, . .
,

and I S the best guid e I c a n de sire

, .
’

I did n ot altogethe r like he r th ru stin gthe wh ole resp on si

b ility 1 n thi s marke d m a n ne r o n my sh ou lde rs
, I f M r Fai rlie , . .

h ad d one it I shou ld n o t have bee n su rp ri sed

, B ut resolute .
,

clear m in ded M is s H alcombe was the ve ry last pe rs on in th e

-
,

world whom I sh ou ld have exp ected t o nd sh r1 nk 1 n from th e cr

exp ressw n O f an opini on o f he r o wn .

1 16
 TH E WO M AN I N W H IT E

he r i nto the c onve rsati on , h e n ever lost the slighte st chance

sh e gave him o f l ettin g he r d rift i nto i t by acciden t a nd o f ,

s aying th e words to he r u nde r thos e favou rable circums tance s , ,

which a m a n with le ss tact and de licacy would have pointedly

addressed t o he r the m omen t they occurred t o h im R athe r t o .

my su rpri se M is s Fai rli e appeared t o be sen sibl e O f h is atte n

,

t ion s wi th ou t be ing m ove d by th em

,
Sh e wa s a li ttle c o n .

fused from time to time when h e l ooked at he r o r spoke to , ,

h e r but s he n eve r warme d toward s h im Ran k fortu n e good .

, ,

b reedi ng good looks the respect O f a ge ntle man an d th e

, , ,

d evo ti on o f a love r were all hu mbly place d at h e r feet a nd s o , ,

far as ap pearances wen t we re all O ff e red in vain , .

O n th e next d ay th e Tuesday S i r Pe rcival we n t in th

, ,

m orn ing (taking o n e o f the servants with him as a guide ) to

Todd s C orn er H is i nqui rie s as I afte rward s heard le d to n o
’
.
, ,

re su lts O n h is re turn h e had a n i nte rvi ew with M r F ai rlie

.
,
.

a n d i n th e afte rn o on h e an d M is s H alc ombe rode o u t togethe r .

N othin g else h appe ne d wo rthy O f record Th e even ing pas se d .

zb

as u su al There was n o change in S i r Pe rcival an d n o

.
,

chan ge in M i s s Fairlie .

Th e Wednesday s po st brou ght wi th i t an even t— th e reply

.
’

from M rs C a th eric k . I t ook a copy O f the d ocum en t which I

.
,

have p rese rved an d which I may as well p rese n t i n this place

, .

I t ran as follows z

fi
M A D AM I beg t o ackn owledge th e recei pt o f you r lette r
,
-
,

i nquiri n g whethe r my d aughte r An ne was plac ed u nde r , ,

m edical supe rin tenden ce with my kn owledge and approval ,

a n d whethe r the share t ake n i n the m atte r by S ir Pe rcival

G lyd e was su ch a s t o m e ri t the expressio n o f my gratitude

towards that ge ntle man B e pleased to accept my answe r i n .

the a i rm a tiv e t o b oth those questi on s an d believe m e t o ,

remain y ou r obedie nt s e rvant

, ,
‘ ’
J ANE AN N E C AT HER I C K .

S hort sharp an d t o the p oi n t : i n form rathe r a busin es s

'

, , ,

like lette r for a vvo m a n t o wr i te in substance as plai n a ,

confi rmati on as cou ld b e des ired O f S i r Pe rcival Glyde 5 state ’

ment Th i s was my opini on and wi th ce rtai n min or rese rva

.
,

tion s M is s H a lco m be s O pini on also

,
’
S i r Pe rcival whe n th e .
,

lette r was shown to h im di d n ot appear to b e str uck by th e

'

sharp short t on e o f i t
, H e told u s that M rs C a th eric k was . .

a woman O f few words a clear h eaded s traightforward u m ,

-
, ,

i magin ative pers on wh o wrote b rie fl y an d plain ly j ust a s she

, ,

sp ok e .
 T H E WO MAN I N W H IT E
.
The n ext duty to be accomplished n ow th at th e a nswe r ,

h a d bee n rece ive d was to acquaint M is s Fai rlie wit h S i r ,

Pe rci val s explanati on ’

M is s H alc omb e had u nde rtake n t o .

do thi s an d had left the room to go to he r siste r w h en sh e

, ,

sudde nly returne d again an d sat down by the easy chai r in ,

-

which I was readin g th e n ewspaper S ir P e rcival had go ne

'

o u t a m inute before to look at the s tables an d n o o n e was in , ,

th e room but ou rselves .

I su ppos e we h ave really an d t ru ly d on e all we c a n P sh e

s aid tu rn in g a nd twisting M rs C a th eric k s lette r in he r
, .
’

hand .

‘
I f we are friends o f S i r Pe rc ival s wh o kn ow hi m an d ’
,

trus t him w e h ave don e all an d m o re than all that i s n ec es

, , ,

sary I answe red a little an n oyed by thi s retu rn O f he r hesita

,
’
,

tion . B ut if we are ene mie s wh o suspect h i m

That alte rn ative 1 5 n ot even t o be th ou gh t o f she i nte r ,
’

‘
pose d We are S i r Pe rcival s friends and if ge ne rosity
.
’

a nd forbearance c a n add to o u r rega 1 d fo r him we ought t o ,

’
be S i r Pe rc ival s admi re rs as well Y o u kn ow that h e s aw .

M r Fairlie ye sterday an d that h e afte rwards wen t o ut wi th

.
,

me ”
’
Yes I saw you ridin g away t ogethe r
. .

We began the ride by talkin g abou t Ann e C a th eric k an d ,

about th e s ingular m an ne r in which M r H a rtrigh t met with .

he r B ut we s oo n dropped that subj ect ; an d S ir Pe rcival

.

spoke n ext i n the m ost u nse lfish te rms o f h i s e n gageme n t

, ,

with Lau ra H e said he had O bse rved that sh e was o u t O f

.

s pirits a nd h e was willing i f n ot i nforme d to the contra ry t o

, , ,

attrib ute t o that cau s e th e alterati on in he r m an ne r toward s

hi m du rin g hi s p resen t vi sit I f h oweve r there was any .
, ,
-

m ore seri ous reas on for th e ch ange h e wou ld entreat that n o ,

constrain t might b e place d o n he r in cli nation s e ithe r by M r .

Fairli e o r by m e All he as ked in that cas e was that sh e .

, ,

w ould recal l to mind for the last tim e wh at th e ci rcu m stan ce s , ,

we re u nde r wh ic h the e ngagement betwe en the m was made ,

a nd what h is c ond uct had be en from th e begin ning o f th e

c ou rtship t o th e p resent ti me I f afte r due reflect ion o n th os e .

,

tw o subj ects she s eri ously desi red that h e s h ould wi thd raw
,

h i s p reten sion s to th e hon ou r O f becoming h e r hu sban d — an d

if sh e would tell h i m so plainly with he r o w n li ps — h e wou ld ,

s ac rifice himself by leaving he r pe rfectly fre e to withd raw fro m

’
th e eng a ge me nt .

N o m a n c ould s ay more than t h at M i ss H alcombe As , .

to my experie nce few me n in hi s situa tio n wo u ld h ave s aid

‘

,
’
as m uch .

1 19
 T HE WO M AN IN W H IT E

S he pau sed afte r I had spoke n thos e wo rd s a nd l o oke d at ,

m e with a singular expre ssio n O f pe rplexity a nd di st res s .

‘
I accuse n obody an d I suspect n othin g she b roke o u t ,
’
,
‘
ab ruptly . B ut I can n ot an d will n ot accept the respo ns ibility
o f pe rsuading L a u ra to thi s marriage
’

That is exactly the c ours e which S i r Pe rcival Glyd e has

’
himself requeste d you to take I replied in aston ishmen t , , .

H e h a sbegged you n ot t o force h e r i ncli n ati on s .

’

And h e indirectly obliges m e to force them if I give her

'

hi s message .

H ow c a n that p ossi bly be ?

Consult you r o w n kn owledge o f Lau ra M r Gilm ore , . .

If I te l l he r t o reflect o n the ci rcumstances of h er en gagemen t ,

I at once appeal t o two O f the stron ge st fee l in gs m h e r n atu re

—to he r love fo r he r fathe r s me mo ry an d t o he r s trict regard
’
,

for tru th Y o u kn ow that sh e n eve r brok e a promise in he r

.

life yo u kn ow that sh e e nte red o n thi s e ngagem en t at the

’
beginning o f he r fathe r s fatal illn es s and that h e s poke ,

h opefully a nd happi ly o f h e r marriage to S i r Pe rcival Glyd e o n

hi s death bed .

I o wn that I was a little sh ocked at th is view O f th e c as e .

‘
S u rel y I said you don t mean t o i nfe r that whe n S i r
,
’
,
’

Pe rcival spoke to yo u yeste rday h e speculated o n such a result ,

as yo u have j u st me ntion ed P
H e r fran k fearless face answe red for h e r before sh e
,

sp oke .

D O yo u th in k I would remai n an i nstan t i n th e company

o f a ny m a n whom I suspected o f s uch bas en ess as that P sh e
as ked angrily
, .

I liked to fee l h e r h earty indi gn ati on flash o u t o n m e in

that way We se e s o much malice a nd s o little indign ati on
.

in my p rofes si on .

‘
'

I n th at case I said excus e m e if I tell yo u i m ou r legal

,
’
, ,

ph ras e th at you are travelling o u t o f th e rec ord Whateve r

, .

the conse que nce s m ay b e S i r Pe rcival h a s a righ t to ex pect

,

th at you r siste r sh ould carefully co n side r h e r engagement

fro m eve ry reas on able p oi nt o f view before sh e clai ms h e r
releas e from it I f that u nlucky lette r h a s p rej udi ce d h er
.

against him go at once and tell he r th at h e h as cleare d h im

, ,

se lf m you r eye s an d m mine What O bjecti on c a n sh e u rge .

agai nst h im after that P What excuse c a n she p os si bly have

_

fo r ch angi ng he r min d ab out a m a n whom sh e h ad vi rtual ly

accepte d for h e r husban d more than tw o years ago P .

I n the eye s o f law a n d reason M r Gilmore n o excuse I , .

, ,

d a re say I f sh e s till he sitate s an d if I still h esit ate yo u

.
, ,

1 20
 ‘

T HE WO M AN I N WH IT E

thi s I told h er that I m ust abs olutely speak t o h e r siste r b efore ,

I left L im m eridge ; an d i t was the refo re arrange d th at I "

, ,

sh ould se e M is s Fairli e i n h e r o w n si tti ng room th e next -

,

m orni ng S he did n o t come d own to din ne r o r j oin u s in

.
,

the eve ning I ndisp osition was the e xcuse ; an d I thought

.

S i r Pe rc ival looked as well h e might a little ann oyed whe n , ,

h e heard o f i t .

Th e n ext m orning b
a s s oon as breakfast was ove r I we nt
, ,

up t o M i ss F a irlie s sittin g roo m The poo r girl l ooke d s o

’
- .

pale an d s ad a nd came forward to welcom e m e s o readi ly

,

a n d p rettily that th e res olutio n to lecture he r o n h e r cap ri ce

,

an d i n decisi on which I had be en fo rmin g all th e way u p

,

s tai rs fai led me o n th e sp ot

, I l ed he r back t o the chair .

from which sh e had risen a nd placed myself o pposite t o h e r ,

.

H e r cross grai ned pet g reyh oun d was in the ro om a n d I fully

-
,

expected a barkin g a n d s nappin g reception S tran ge t o sa y .

,

the whimsical little brute falsifie d my expectati on s by j umping

i nto my lap an d poking i ts sharp muzzle familiarly i nto my
,

h an d the m ome n t I sat d own .

You u sed often t o si t o n my k ne e wh en you we re a

’
child my d ear I said
,
‘

an d n ow you r li ttle d og s eems

, ,

d ete rmin ed to s ucceed you in th e vacan t th ron e I s that .

pretty d rawin g you r doin g ? 0'

I p oi nted to a little albu m wh ich l ay o n the tabl e by he r

_ ,

s ide an d which she had evide ntly bee n l ookin g ove r whe n I
,

came i n Th e page that lay O pe n had a s mall wate r c olou r

.
-

landsca pe very n eatly m ounte d o n i t Thi s was the d r awin g .

whi ch had sugge sted my questi on a n i dle questi on en ough “

b ut h ow could I begi n t o talk O f busin ess to he r th e m ome n t

I O p en ed my lips P
’
N o sh e said looki ng away from the d rawin g rathe r co n
, ,
‘
fu sedly i t i s n ot my d oi ng ’
.

H e r finge rs had a restles s habit which I remembe red in ,

he r a s a child of always playi ng with th e fi rst thing that came

,

t o hand wh en eve r a ny o n e was talki ng to he r

, O n this .

occasi on they w a n dered to the a lbum a n d toyed absently ’

about th e margi n o f the little wate r colou r d rawin g Th e ex - .

p res sion O f melan ch oly deepe ned on he r face S he did n ot .

l ook at the drawi n g o r l ook at m e H e r eyes moved u neasily

, .

from obj ect to obj ect i n th e ro om ; betrayin g plai nly that she
suspected wh at my p u r pose was i n com i ng to speak t o he r .

S eei ng that I th ought i t be s t t o get to the pu rp os e w i th a s

,

l ittle d elay as pos si bl e .

O n e o f the e rran ds my dear whi ch brings me here 1 3 to , ,

‘
bi d yo u go od by I began I mu st get back to L on do n
, .

1 22
 T H E WO M AN I N W H IT E

t o day : a nd before I leave I wan t to h ave a word wi th yo u

, ,

o n the subj ect O f you r own a ff ai rs

’
.

‘
I am ve ry s orry you are go in g lM r Gi lm o re she said , .
,
’
,
‘
l ookin g at me kindly I t 1 5 like th e happy o ld tim e s to h av e
.

’
you he re .

‘
I h ope I may b e able t o com e back an d recall th os e ,
’
pleasant me mo rie s on ce m o re I conti nue d ; b ut as the re i s ,

s om e un ce rtainty about th e futu re I must take my o pp o r ,

tu n ity whe n I c a n get i t an d speak to you n ow I am yo u r

, .

O ld lawyer an d you r O ld fri en d ; an d I m ay re mi n d you I am ,

su re withou t o ff e nce o f th e p ossi bility of you r marrying S i r

, ,

P e rcival Glyde
’
.

S he took he r h an d O ff the li ttle albu m a s su ddenly as i f i t

h ad tu rn ed ho t a nd burn t h e r H er fi nge rs twi n e d togethe r .

n e rvou sly in he r lap ; he r eye s l ooked d own agai n at th e .

fl O Or ; and a n exp re ssi on O f c on strai n t settle d o n he r face

whi ch l o o ke d almost like a n exp res si on o f pai n .

I s i t ab solutely n ece ssary t o speak of my m arriage

e ngageme nt P sh e aske d i n l ow t one s , .

‘ ‘
I t i s ne ce ssary to refe r t o it I an swe red ; but n o t t o ,
’

dwell on i t Le t u s me rely say that you m ay m ar ry o r th at

.
,

y o u may n ot marry I n th e fi rst case I m u st b e p rep ared

.
, ,

befo reh and to d raw you r settle me n t an d I ough t n o t to do

,

that with out as a matte r o f p olite ne s s fi rst con su ltin g you

, , .

Thi s may be my on ly chanc e of h eari n g what you r wi she s

are . Le t u s th e refo re su pp os e the cas e o f you r m a r ryin g
, , ,

and let me i nform you i n as few w o rds a s p os sible what

" '

, ,

you r p ositi on i s n ow an d wh at you may mak e it , if yo u ,

’
please i n the futu re
, .

I explaine d t o h e r th e O bj ect o f a m arri a e settlemen t ; g -

a nd the n told he r exactly what he r p rospe cts we re — in th e

fi rst place o n he r com in g of age an d in th e se con d pl ace
, , , ,

o n the decease O f he r u n cle — markin g the disti ncti on betwee n

the p ro p erty in which sh e h ad a life i n te res t o n ly a n d the

‘

p rope rty whi ch w as left at he r o wn con trol S h e listen ed .

'

atte ntively with th e c on straine d ex pressi on still o n he r face

, ,

and he r h ands still ne rvously clasp ed togethe r in he r lap .

An d n o w I sai d in conclusi on tell me i f yo u c a n th ink

,
’
, ,

o f any conditi on whi ch in the cas e we h ave s uppose d , you ,

would wi sh m e t o make for yo u— subj ect o f cou rse t o you r , ,

’
guardian s approv al as you are n o t ye t O f age
’
, . .

S h e move d u neasily i n he r ch ai r— the n lo oke d i n my fac e ,

o n a sudde n ve ry e arne stly .

‘
I f it doe s happen sh e began fai ntly if I a m ’
,
’
I f you are married I added h elpin g he r o u t , , .

1 23
 T HE W O MAN I N W H I T E
’
D on t let h im p art m e from M ari an sh e cried with a
’
, ,
‘
su dde n outbre ak O f e ne rgy Oh M r Gilmore p ray mak e .
, .
,

i t law that M arian i s to live with m e

U nde r othe r ci rcu mstance s I might pe rh aps h ave bee n
amu se d at thi s e ssenti ally femi nin e i nte rp retati on o f my
q ue sti on an d o f th e lon g explanati on which had p recede d it
, .

B ut he r l ooks an d tone s when sh e sp oke we re O f a kin d t o

, ,

make m e more than se ri ou s — they di st ressed m e Her .

wo rds few as they we re betraye d a de spe rate clingi ng to

, ,

the past which b oded ill fo r the futu re .

‘
You r havin g M arian H a lcombe to live with you c a n ,
‘ ’
e asily b e settle d by p rivate arrangemen t I said Y ou , .

h ardly u nde rstood my que sti on I thi nk I t refe rre d to you r , .

o w n p rope rty — to th e di sposal o f yo u r money S upp osing .

yo u we re t o m ak e a wi ll whe n you c ome of age wh o woul d, ,

you li ke the m on ey to go t o P
M arian h as bee n m othe r an d si ste r b oth to me said th e ,
’

good a ff ection ate gi rl he r p retty blue eye s glistenin g while

, ,

sh e spoke M ay I l eave it to M arian M r Gi lm ore P

.
, .

’
Ce rtainly my love I an swe red
, Bu t reme mbe r wh at
, .

a large su m it i s Would yo u like i t all t o go t o M i s s

.

H alcomb e P
S he hesi tate d h e r c olou r came an d went and h e r h and
stole back agai n t o th e little album .

’
N ot all of i t sh e said , The re i s s ome on e else be side s .
,

Marian
S h e stopped ; h e r colou r h ei ghten ed ; and th e fi nge rs o f
th e han d that re ste d up on th e albu m beat gently o n th e
margi n O f th e d rawing as i f he r mem o ry h ad se t the m ,

goi ng mech anically with the re membran ce O f a favou rite tun e .

‘
Y o u mean som e othe r m ember O f the fami ly be side s
’
M is s H alcombe ? I su gge sted seei ng h e r at a los s t o ,

p roce ed .

The h eighteni n g colou r sp read to he r forehead and he r

n eck an d th e ne rvou s fin ge rs su ddenly clasp ed themselve s
,

fast rou n d the e dge o f th e bo ok .

‘ ’
The re i s s om e o ne else sh e said n ot n oticin g my last , ,

words th ough sh e had evid en tly h eard the m

, the re i s s ome
o n e e lse wh o migh t li ke a little keep sake if if I might leave ,
-

i t The re wou ld be n o h arm if I sh ou ld die fi rst

.
,

S he paused again The colou r that h ad spread ove r he r

.

cheeks sudden ly a s sudden ly left the m The h an d o n th e

, .

albu m re sign ed its h old trembled a little an d m ove d th e , ,

b ook away from he r S he looke d at m e for an in stant — the n

.

t urned he r head a sid e i n th e chai r Her h andk erchie f fell to .

1 24
 TH E W O M A N I N W H IT E

di sm ay at the p ros pect o f he r marria g an d ye t sh e h ad c o n e —

triv ed to w in m e over to he r s id e o f th e que stion I n eithe r ,

kn ew h o w n or why ; I had ente red th e ro om fe eling that S i r ,

Pe rcival Glyde had fai r reas on to complai n o f the man ne r in

wh ich sh e was treatin g him I left i t s ecretly h oping that .
,

m atte rs might e n d i n he r taki ng hi m at his word and clai m

ing h er releas e A man O f my age an d expe rie nce ought t o
.

h ave kn own bette r than t o vacillate i n thi s u n reason able

man ne r I c a n ma ke n o e xcus e for mys elf ; I can only tell
.

the t ruth an d say— so i t was

, .

The h ou r for my departu re was no w d rawin g n ear I .

se nt to M r Fai rli e to say that I w ou ld wait o n h im t o take

.

leave if h e li ked but that h e must excu s e my bein g rathe r in

,

a hurry H e sen t a m e ssage back writte n in pe n cil on a sli p

.
,

O f pape r : K in d love an d b est wishes d ear G ilm ore H u rry ,

.

o f any kind i s i nexp res sibly inju rious t o me Pray take care .

O f you rself G ood by .

-
.
’

J u st before I left I s aw M iss H alcombe for a moment

" ‘ '

, , ,

alon e .

H ave yo u sai d all you wanted t o Lau ra P sh e asked . .

Yes I replied
,
’ ‘
S he 1 5 ve ry weak a nd ne rvou s —I am
.

glad she h as you to take care O f h er ’

M iss H alco mbe s sharp eye s studied my face atte ntively

’
.

‘
Y o u are alte rin g you r O pi nio n abou t Lau ra sh e said
'

’
.
,

Y o u are readie r to make allowan ce s for he r th an you were

~

yeste rday .
’

N o sen sibl em a n eve r en gages u np repared in a fe nci ng , ,

m atch of wo rds wi th a woman I on ly an swe red .

Le t m e k no w what happe ns I wi ll d o n othin g till I .

h ear from you .

’

S he still looked h ard in my face I wish i t w a s all ove r .

,

an d wel l ove r M r G ilmore — an d so d o you

, _
. With th os e .
’

words sh e left m e .

S i r Pe rcival mos t p olitely i ns isted o n s eein g me t o th e

carri age d oo r .

’
I f y o n are eve r i n my n eighb ou rh ood h e said p ray d on t ,
’

fo rget th a t I am si ncerely anxious t o i mp rove o u r acquaint

ance Th e tri ed a n d t ruste d O ld fri en d o f thi s fam ily wi ll be
.

always a welcom e vi sitor in any hous e o f mi n e .

’

A really i rre sisti ble m a n cou rte ous c on side rate delight -
, ,

fully fre e from p ride — a ge ntle m a n eve ry i nch o f h im As I , .

d rove away t o th e station I felt as if I cou ld chee rfully d o ,

anythi ng to prom ote the inte rests o f S i r Pe rcival G ylde— a ny

thi ng 1 n the world , except d rawin g th e marriage settlement o f -

h is W ife .

1 26
 THE W O MAN I N W H I T E

A WE E K passed afte r my retu rn to London wi thout the recei pt

, ,

of any co mmu ni cation from M is s H alcombe .

fi
O n th e eighth day a lette r in he r han dwriti n g was p laced
,

amon g the othe r lette rs o n m y table .

I t an nou n ce d that S i r Pe rciv a l G ylde h ad bee n de fi nitely

accepted an d that th e marriage was t o take place as h e had
, ,

o rigi nally desi red before th e en d O f the year I n al l p ro ba bil ity

, .

the ce remony wou ld be perfo rme d du rin g th e las t fortn igh t

i n D ecembe r M i s s Fai rlie s twentyé rst bir th day w a s late
.
’

i n March . S h e would the refore by thi s arran ge men t becom e

, , ,
’
S ir Pe rcival s wife abou t thre e m on th s befo re sh e was o f age .

I o u gh t n ot t o have bee n su rpri sed I ought n ot t o have ,

bee n s o rry ; bu t I wa s su rp rised a nd so rry n eve rtheless , .

S ome little di sappoi ntment cau se d by th e u n satisfactory ,

sho rtne s s O f M i ss Ha lco m be s lette r mingle d i tself with these ’

,

feelings an d c ontributed its share towards u pse ttin g my

,

s e r e nity fo r th e day I n sixlines my co rresponde nt ann oun ced

.

th e propose d m arria e ; i n th re e m ore sh e told m e that S i r

g
,

Percival h ad left Cumbe rland to 1 etu rn t o hi s h ous e in

H ampshi re ; an d m two concluding se nten ce s sh e i nfo rme d
me fi rst th at Lau ra was sadly 1 n want O f change a n d chee r
, ,

ful s ociety secondly that she had res olve d t o t ry th e e ff ect

,

o f s om e such ch ange forthwi th by takin g he r s iste r away ,

with he r o n a vis it to ce rtai n O ld frie nds in Yo rkshi re The re .

the letter e nded with ou t a wo rd t o explai n what th e ci rcum

,

stance s were which had deci ded M i ss Fai rlie to accept S i r

Pe rcival Gly de in o ne sh ort wee k fro m the ti me whe n I had
last see n he r .

At a late r pe ri od th e cau se o f thi s sudde n d ete rm in ation

,

was fully explain e d to me I t i s n o t my b usin es s t o re late

.

i t i mpe rfectly o n hearsay evi dence The ci rcu mstan ce s cam e

,
.

wi thi n the person al experi ence O f M i ss H alcomb e ; an d whe n

her n arrative succeeds mi n e she wi ll de scri be the mi n eve ry
,

particular exactly as they happe ned

,
I n the m ean time th e .
,

plai n duty fo r m e t o pe rform — before I i n my tu rn lay d own my , ,

pen and wi thd raw from th e sto ry— i s to relate th e o n e remai n

ing even t con n ecte d with M i ss Fairlie s p rop ose d marriage in
’

wh ich I was con cern ed namely th e drawi n g o f th e se ttleme nt, , .

I t i s i mp o ssi ble to refe r i ntelligibly to th i s docume nt wi th ,

o u t fi rst ente rin g i nt o ce rtai n parti cu l ars i n relati on t o th e ,

b ride s p ecun iary a ff ai rs

’
I wi ll try to mak e my explan atio n
.

briefly an d plain ly an d t o keep i t fre e from p rofe ssi onal O h

,

scurities and t ech ni calitie s The matte r i s o f th e u tmost im

.

12
7
 T HE W O MA N IN WH I TE
p ortance I warn al l reade rs O f the se line s that M i ss Fai rlie s
.
’

’
i nhe ritance i s a ve ry s eri ou s part O f M i s s Fai rli e s st ory ; a nd
that M r Gilm ore s expe rie nce i n thi s particular mu st b e
.
’
, ,

thei r expe rie nce als o if they wi sh t o u nderstan d th e n arrative s

,

which are yet to come .

M i s s Fai rlie s expectati on s th en were of a twofold ki n d

’
, ,

c omp ri sin g he r p ossible i nhe ritance O f real prope rty o r lan d , ,

whe n he r u ncle di ed an d he r ab solute inh e ritan ce o f pe rsonal

,

prope rty o r m on ey whe n sh e came o f age

, , .

Let u s take the lan d fi rst .

I n th e time o f M i ss Fairlie s pate rnal gran dfathe r (wh om

’

we wi ll call M r Fai rli e th e elde r ) th e e ntailed succe ssi on to

.
,

th e L im m eridge estate sto od thu s

M r F ai rli e th e elde r di ed an d left th re e s on s Phili p
.
, , , ,

F re de ri ck an d Arth u r As eldest so n Phili p su cce ede d t o th e

, .
,

estate . I f he died with out l eavin g a s on th e p rope rty iv ent ,

to th e secon d b rothe r F rede rick An d i f F rede ri ck di ed al s o

, .

with ou t l eavi ng a s on the p rope rty we nt to th e thi rd b rothe r , ,

Arthu r .

As eve nts tu rn ed o u t M r Phi lip Fai rlie died leavin g a n , .

O nly daughte r th e Lau ra o f thi s story ; an d th e e state i n c o n

, ,

seque n ce wen t in c ou rse o f l aw t o th e sec on d b rothe r

, , , ,

F rede ri ck a sin gle man The t hi rd brothe r Arthu r h ad died

,
.
, ,

many ye ars before th e decease of Phi l i p le avi ng a so n an d a ,

daughte r The so n at th e age o f ei gh teen was d rown e d at

.
, ,

O xfo rd H is death left Lau ra the d aughte r o f M r Phili p

.
, .

Fai rlie p re su mptive h ei re s s t o the e state with eve ry chan ce

,

o f succe edin g to i t i n th e o rdi nary cou rse o f n ature

, o n he r ,

Un cle F rede rick s d eath i f the said F rede ri ck d ied with out
’

leavin g male i ssue .

0

’
Except i n th e event then o f M r F rede ri ck Fai rlie s ,
.

, .

marryi ng an d leavi ng a n hei r (the two ve ry last thin gs i n th e

world that h e was like ly to d o ) h i s niece Lau ra would h av e , , ,

th e p rope rty o n hi s death po sse ssi ng i t mu st be reme mbe red , ,

n othin g m ore than a life i n te re st i n i t I f she died si ngle o r - .

,

died childle ss the e state wou ld reve rt t o h e r cou si n Magdale n

, ,

the daughte r o f M r Arthu r Fai rlie I f sh e ma rried with a

. .
,

prope r settlemen t— o r in othe r words with th e settleme nt I , ,

meant to make fo r he r— the i nc ome from the e state (a good

th ree th ou san d a ye ar ) would du rin g he r lifetime be at he r , ,

o w n di sposal I f she d ied before h e r hu sband he wou ld natu r

.
,

ally expect t o be left in th e enj oymen t o f th e i n come for h is ,

l ifetime I f she h ad a so n that so n would b e the h ei r to th e

.
, ,

exclusi on o f h e r cou si n M agdalen Thu s S i r Pe rcival s p ros ’ ’

.
,

r ryin g M is s Fai rlie (so far as hi s wife s exp e ctati on s

’

p e et s i n ma
1 28
 T H E WO MAN I N W H ITE

giving the i n come o f th e money to hi s daughte r for life an d ,

the m oney i tself if he r aunt die d before he r to he r c ousin

, ,

M agdalen Consideri ng the re lative age s O f the tw o ladi es ,

.

th e au nt s chan ce in the o rdinary cou rse o f n atu re O f rec eiv

’
, ,

i n g th e ten th ou sand p ounds wa s thu s ren de red d oubtful in ,

th e extreme an d M adame F osco rese nte d he r b rothe r s treat ’

m ent o f h e r as u nj ustly as u sual i n s u ch case s by refusing to ,

’
s ee h e r n i ece a n d decli nin g t o b eli eve that M i s s Fai rli e s
,

i nte rce ssi o n had eve r been exerte d to restore he r n am e t o M r .

Fai rlie s will

’
.

S uch was th e history o f the ten th ou san d pou n ds H e re .

agai n n o di fficulty could ari se with S i r Pe rci val s le gal advi s e r ’

.

fi
Th e i ncome would be at th e wi fe s disp osal a nd th e p rin cipal ’
,

w ould go to he r au nt o r h er c ousin o n h er death , , .

All p relimin ary explan ation s bei ng n ow cleared o u t O f th e

way I com e at last t o th e real kn ot o f th e ca se — to the
, , ,

twenty th ousan d p oun ds .

Thi s su m was abs olutely M is s Fairli e s o w n o n h e r c o m ’

,

p l et i ng h er twen ty rst year a n d th e wh ole futu re di spositi on

-

o f i t depended i n th e fi rst i nstanc e o n th e conditi on s I could

, ,

obtai n fo r h e r i n h e r marriage settle men t Th e oth e r clause s - .

c on tain ed in th at docu me nt we re o f a formal ki nd an d n eed ,

n o t b e re cite d he re B ut th e clause relati n g t o th e m on ey is

.

to o i mp ortan t to be passed ove r A few li nes wi ll b e s u ffi cient .

t o give th e n ecessary abstract o f it .

My stipulati on in regard to the twen ty th ou sand p oun ds ,

was si mply thi s The wh ole amount was to b e settle d so as

t o give th e in com e t o the lady for he r life afte rward s t o S i r
Pe rcival for hi s life a n d th e p ri ncipal t o the childre n o f the
marriage I n defau lt of i ssue the prin cipal w a s t o be di sp osed
.
,

O f as the lady might by he r w il l di re ct fo r wh ich pu rp ose I ,

reserve d t o he r the righ t o f making a will The e ff ect of .

thes e con dition s may be thu s s umme d u p I f Lady G lyd e .

die d without le avi n g children h e r h alf siste r M i ss H alcombe ,

-
,

an d any othe r relatives or frien ds wh om she migh t be anxious

’
t o benefit would o n he r h usban d s death divi de amon g them
, , ,

s uch share s O f he r m on ey as sh e desire d th e m t o have If .

,

o n the othe r h and sh e died leavi ng child ren the n thei r

, , ,

i nterest n atu rally a n d n ecessa ri ly supe rseded all othe r

'

, ,

i nte rests whats oeve r Thi s was th e claus e an d n o o n e wh o

.

reads i t c a n fai l I think t o agre e with me that i t m eted ou t

, , ,

e qual j u stice t o all parties .

We shall se e h o w my p rop osal s we re met o n th e hu sban d s ’

S ide.

At th e tim e when Miss Ha lc o mbe s lett er r each e d me I

'

’
,
.

1 30
 TH E W O M A N I N W H ITE

wa s eve n m ore busi ly occupi ed th an usual B ut I contrive d .

to make leisu re for the settlemen t I had d rawn it a n d had .

,

se nt i t for app roval t o S i r Pe rcival s s olicito r in le ss th an a ’

,

wee k from the ti me whe n M is s H alcomb e had i nforme d m e

O f th e p roposed marriage .

Afte r a lapse of two days the d ocumen t was returne d t o ,

m e wi th n ote s a n d remarks of th e baron et s lawye r H is

,
’
.

obj ecti on s in gene ral p roved t o b e o f th e m os t t rifli n g a nd

, ,

tech nical ki nd u nti l h e came t o th e claus e relati n g t o th e

,

twenty th ousand p ounds Agai ns t thi s the re were double .

,

lin e s d rawn i n red in k an d th e following n ote was appen de d

,

t o the m
‘
N ot admi ssible The p ri nc ipa l t o go t o S i r Pe rcival
.

Glyde in th e eve n t O f hi s survivin g Lady Glyde a nd th e re

, ,

bei ng n o i ssu e .
’

That i s to sa y n o t o n e farthing o f the twe nty th ousand

,

p ou nds was to go t o M i ss H alc ombe o r t o a ny othe r relative ,

o r frien d O f Lady G l de s Th e wh ole s um i f she left n o

’

y .
,

c hild ren w a s t o slip into the pocket s o f he r hu sband

, .

Th e an swe r I wrote t o this audaci ou s p rop osal wa s as

‘
sh ort a nd sharp as I c ould make i t My dear sir M i s s . .

Fai rli e s settlemen t

’
I m ai ntai n th e claus e to whi ch you
.

O bj ect exactly as i t stand s You rs t ruly

, The rej oinde r
. .
’

fi
‘
came back i n a quarte r O f a n h ou r My dear si r M is s . .

’
Fai rlie s s ettle me nt I mai ntai n th e re d i nk t o which you
.

O bj ect exactly as i t stands You rs tru ly

, I n th e detes table
. .
’

’
slang o f th e day w e we re n ow b oth at a d ead lock and
, ,

n othi n g was left fo r i t bu t t o re f er to o u r cli ents o n ei the r side .

As matte rs sto od my clien t — M i ss Fai rli e n ot h avi ng ye t

,

c omplete d he r twenty rst ye ar —M r F rede ri ck F airlie was

- .
,

h e1 guardian I wrote by that day s p ost a n d pu t the cas e ’

.

befo re hi m exactly as i t stood n ot on ly u rgin g eve ry argu

men t I could thi n k o f to i n duce hi m to m ai ntai n the claus e as
I had drawn i t but stati ng t o hi m plainly the me rcen ary m otive
,

w hich was at th e b ottom O f th e O pp ositi on t o my s ettle men t

o f th e twenty th ou san d p ou nds The k n owledge o f S i r .

Pe rcival s a ff ai rs w h ic h I had n ece s sarily gai ne d whe n th e

’

p rovi si on s o f th e dee d o n lais s ide we re submitted i n du e

cou rs e to my e xaminati on h ad bu t t oo p lai nly i nfo rmed m e ,

that th e d ebts o n his estate we re e n orm ous and th a thi s in c o m e , ,

th ough n om inally a large o n e was vi rtually for a m a n in h is , , ,

p osition n ext t o n othin g The wan t o f ready mon ey was th e

, .

p ractical n ece ssity O f S i r Pe rcival s exi ste n ce and h is lawye r s ’ ’

n ote o n th e clau se in th e settle me n t wa s n oth ing b ut th e

frankly se l fi sh exp re ssion o f i t .

1 31
 T HE W O M AN I N W H IT E

fi
Mr Fairli e s an swe r r eached m e by retu rn o f p ost a nd
.
’
,

p roved t o be wande ring an d i rrelevan t in th e extreme Tu rne d .

i nto plain E nglish i t p ractically expre ssed itself to thi s e ff ect

,

Would dear Gilm ore be so ve ry O bliging as n ot t o worry h is

frie n d and clien t about such a t rifle as a remote c ontin ge ncy P
Was it likely that a youn g woman o f twe nty on e wou ld die -

before a m a n o f forty v e a n d d ie without child ren P O n the-

,

othe r hand in such a m ise rable world as this w a s i t p o s

, ,

si bl e to ove r estimate the value O f peace and quietnes s P I f

-

th ose two heaven ly blessi ngs we re O ffe red i n exchange fo r

su ch a n earthly t rifl e as a rem ote chance o f twe nty thou san d
p oun ds was it n o t a fai r bargai n ? S u rely yes Th en why
, , .

n o t mak e it P

I th rew th e lette r away in disgu st J us t as it had fluttered .

t o the groun d the re was a k nock at my door , an d S i r

Pe rcival s s oli cito r M r M erriman was sh own in The re are
’

, .
,
.

m any varietie s o f sharp p ractiti on e rs i n this world but I think , , ,

the hardest O f all to deal w ith are th e men wh o ove rreach yo u

u nde r th e di sgu ise o f inveterate good hu m ou r A fat well fed .
,
-
,

s mili ng frien dly m a n O f busine ss i s o f al l parties t o a bargain

,

th e m ost h opeles s t o deal with M r M e rriman w a s o ne O f . .

this clas s .

And h o w i s good M r Gilm ore P h e began all in a gl ow .

,
‘
with the warmth o f h is o w n amiability Glad t o see you .
,

s i r in such excelle nt h ealth

, I w a s passi n g you r d oor ; an d .

I th ou ght I wou ld l ook in i n case you migh t have s omethin g ,

t o say t o m e D O — n ow p ray d o let u s s ettle thi s little dif

.

fe ren ce o f ou rs by word o f m outh if we c a n H ave you ,

heard from you r clien t yet P

Ye s H ave you heard from you rs P
.

My dear good sir I wi sh I had h eard from him to any

,

pu rp ose — I wish with al l my heart th e re spon sibility was

, ,

O ff my sh ou lde rs ; bu t he i s obsti nate — O r let m e rathe r say , ,

resolute — an d h e w on t take it o ff ’
M e rriman I l eave de .
,

tails t o yo u D O what yo u think right fo r my i nte rests and

.

con side r m e as havin g pe rso n ally withd rawn from the bu sines s
”
u ntil i t i s all ove r Th ose we re S i r Pe rcival s w o rds a fo rt
.
’

n igh t ago and all I c a n get h im t o d o n ow i s t o repeat them .

I am n o t a hard m an M r Gilmo re as yo u kn ow ,
Pe rsonally .
, .

an d p rivately I d o assu re you I sh o u ld like t o s ponge o u t

, ,

that n ote o f min e at thi s ve ry m ome nt Bu t if S i r Pe rcival .

won t go into th e matte r i f S i r Pe rcival w ill bli nd l y leave a l l

’

his i nte rests in my s ole care wh at cou rse c a n I p ossi bly take ,

except th e cou rse of asse rtin g them P My hands are b ou nd

’
d on t yo u see , my dear si r m y hand s are boun d -
.
’

1 32
 T H E WO MAN IN W H IT E

We don t h ap pen to h ave laid hands o n the O ld woma n yet

’
.

O u r S omebody i s a man We have got hi m c lose u nde r o u r .

eye he re in London : a n d we stro ngly su sp ec t h e had s ome th in g

t o d o with h elping he r in the fi rst i nstance t o e scape fro m th e

Q
Asylum S i r Pe rcival wante d to question hi m at on ce bu t I
.
, ,

s aid ,
No uesti oning hi m wi ll only pu t him o n hi s gu ard
.

”
watch him an d wait ,
We sh all s ee what h appe n s
. A .

dange rou s woman t o be at large M r Gilmore ; n obody kn ows , .

what she may d o n ext I wi sh you go od m orn in g si r

. On , .

Tu esday n ext I shall h ope for the pleasu re o f h eari ng from

H e s mile d amiably a n d went o u t
’

y o u
. .

My min d h ad been rathe r absen t du rin g th e latte r pa rt o f

th e co nve rsati on with my legal friend I was s o anxi ou s .

about the m a tte r o f th e s ettlement th at I had little atte n ti o n ,

t o give to a ny othe r subj ect ; and the mome n t I was left ,

al on e agai n I began to think ove r what my n ext p roceed in g

,

ought t o be .

I n th e cas e o f a ny other clie nt I sh ould have acted o n my ,

i nstructi on s h oweve r pe rs on ally distasteful t o m e and have

, ,

give n u p the p oin t about th e twe nty th ou sand p ou nds o n the

s pot B u t I could n ot act with thi s busin es s l ike i ndi ffe rence
.
-

towards M i ss Fai rl ie I had a n h ones t fee lin g O f a ff ection

.

and admiratio n fo r h e r ; I remembe re d gratefully that he r

fathe r h ad bee n the ki ndest pat ro n an d frien d to m e that eve r
man h ad ; I h ad felt toward s he r wh ile I was d rawi ng the ,

s ettlement as I might have felt if I had n ot bee n a n O ld

, ,

bachelor t owards a dau ghte r O f my o w n an d I was dete rmin ed

,

t o spare n o pe rs on al sacrific e in he r service an d wh e re h e r

i nte re sts we re con ce rned Writin g a seco nd time to M r . .

Fai rli e was n o t to be th ough t o f ; i t would only b e giving him

a s econ d op portu nity o f slippin g th rou gh my fi nge rs S eein g .

h i m an d p e rso nally rem on strati ng with him m igh t p ossibly ,

b e o f m ore u se Th e n ext day was S atu rday I dete rmin ed t o

. .

take a retu rn ticket an d j olt my O ld bone s down to Cum be r

,

land O n the chance O f persuadi ng him t o ad opt th e j u st th e

, ,

i ndependen t an d th e h on ou rable c ou rs e
, I t w as a p oo r .

ch ance e n ough n o d oubt ; but wh e n I had t rie d i t my c o n

, , ,

s ci en ce wou l d b e at ease I sh ould the n have don e all that a

.

m a n i n my positi on cou ld do t o s erve the i nte re sts o f my O ld

frie nd s on ly child
’
.

Th e weathe r o n S atu rday was beau tiful a we st wi n d and ,

a bright su n H avi n g felt latte rly a retu rn of that fuln e ss and

.

oppres sio n O f th e head again st which my doctor warn e d m e s o

,

se riou sly m ore than two years sin ce I resolved t o tak e th e ,

opportun ity O f gettin g a littl e extra exe rcise by sendi ng my bag ,

1 34
 T H E WO MAN I N W H IT E
.

on befo re m e a nd walking to the te rminu s in Eu ston s quare

,
- .

As I came o u t i nto H olb orn a ge ntleman walkin g by rapi dly , ,

stopped an d s poke to m e I t was M r Walte r H a rtrigh t . . .

I f h e had n ot bee n th e fi rst t o greet me I shoul d ce rtai nl y ,

h ave passe d hi m H e w a s so changed that I h ardly kn ew hi m

.

a ai n
g
H i s face looked pale a n d haggard — h is m anne r was
.
_

hu rried and u nce rtai n — a nd h is d ress which I remem bere d as ,

n eat an d ge ntlemanli ke when I saw hi m at L im m eridge was ,

s o sloven ly n o w that I should really have bee n ashame d O f th e

appearan ce o f it o n o n e O f my o w n cle rks .

H ave y o u bee n long back from Cu mbe rlan d P he as ked b

.

‘
I heard fro m M i ss H a lc o m b e lately I am aware that S i r .

Pe rcival G lyde s explanati on has bee n co nside re d sati sfactory

’
.

Will th e m arriage tak e place s oon P D o you happe n t o k now ,

M r Gilm ore P
.

H e sp oke so fas t an d c rowded hi s qu es tio s toge ther s o,

n

strang e ly an d confusedly that I c ou ld h ardly follow h im l

'

H oweve r accidentally i n ti mate h e m ight h ave bee n with th e

family at L i m m eridge I cou ld n o t see that he had any ri ght ,

t o expect i nfo rmation o n the i r p rivate a ff ai rs a n d I d ete rmin e d

to drop him as e asily as might b e 0 11 th e su bj ect of M i s s
, ,

Fai rli e s marriage ’

.

Ti me will s how M r H artrigh t I said — 5 time w ill sh ow , .

,
’
.

I dare say if we lo ok ou t fo r th e marriage in th e pape rs we

sh all n o t b e far w ron g E xcu se my n oticin g it— bu t I am s o rr y
.

to s ee you n o t lookin g s o we ll as yo u we re wh en w e la s t

A m ome ntary n ervou s c ontractio n q u iv e red ab out his up s

an d eyes an d mad e m e half rep roach myself fo r 11 v ing
,
a

answe red hi m i n such a s i gn ifi can tly guarde d mann e r .

’
I h ad n o righ t t o as k about he r marriage h e s aid b i tte rly , ,
.

‘
I mus t wai t to se e i t i n th e n ewspape rs like oth e r pe ople .

Ye s h e we n t o n befo re I c ou ld mak e a ny apologies I h ave

,
’
, ,

n ot been well la te ly I am goi ng t o an othe r cou ntry to try a

.
,

chan ge O f s ce n e a nd occu pati on M i s s H alcomb e h as ki nd ly .

assiste d me with he r i nflue nce a nd my testim on ials have bee n ,

fou n d s atisfactory I t i s a long distance O ff— bu t I do n t care

.
’

‘
’
w he re I go what th e climate 1 5 o r h O v lo ng I am away
,
He ,
.

looke d ab ou t him while h e sai d thi s at the thron g o f strange rs

, ,

passi ng u s by on eithe r side i n a stran ge suspic iou s mann e r , , ,

as if he th ought that s ome o f them might b e watch ing u s .

’
I wi sh yo u wel l th rough it a n d safe back agai n I said , ,
’
an d th en added so as n o t to keep hi m altoge the r at arm s
,
‘
len gth o n the subj ect o f th e F ai rlies I am goin g d own to ,

Lim m eridge to day o n busin es s M is s H alcomb e an d M iss

- .

1 35
 T H E WO M AN I N W H ITE

F airlie are away j u st n ow o n a visit to s ome frien ds in ,

Yorkshi re .
’

H i s eye s bright e ned a n d he se emed about to sa y som ethi n g

,

in answe r bu t th e same m omentary ne rvou s spasm c ros sed his

face again H e took my hand pressed i t hard and d isappeared
.
, ,

among the crowd without saying anothe r word Th ough h e

, .

was little more th an a strange r to m e I waited for a m ome nt , ,

l ookin g afte r h im almos t with a feelin g o f regret I had .

gained in my profes sion su ffi cie nt experi en ce O f you ng men

, , ,

t o know what the ou tward signs and token s we re o f thei r

begi nn ing to go wrong ; and whe n I resumed my walk t o the ,

railway I am s orry t o s ay I felt m ore than dou btful abou t

,

M r H a rtrigh t s future
.
’
.

L E AV I N G by a n early train I got to Limm eridge in time fo r ,

dinne r The h ouse was oppress ively e mpty a nd dull

. I had .

expecte d that good M rs Vesey wou ld h ave b ee n company for .

m e in the absen ce O f th e you ng ladies bu t sh e w a s c onfined to

he r ro om by a c old The se rvants were s o s u rprise d at seein g
.

m e that they hu rri ed and bu stled absu rd ly and made all s orts ,

o f an noyin g mistakes Eve n th e butle r who was O ld e n ough

.
,

t o have kn own bette r brought m e a bottle O f p o rt that was

,

chilled The re ports o f M r Fairli e s health we re j ust as u sual

. .
’

an d whe n I se nt u p a mes sage t o an noun ce my arrival I was ,

t old that he wou ld be delighted to se e me the n ext m orni n g ,

but that the sudde n n ews o f my appearance h ad p rostrate d

h im with palpitati ons for th e rest o f th e eve ning Th e win d .

h owled dismally all night an d st range c rackin g an d groanin g

‘

n oi ses s ou nde d he re the re and eve rywhe re in th e e mpty h ouse

, , .

I slep t as wretchedly as p ossi ble ; and got u p in a mighty bad ,

h umou r t o breakfast by mys elf the n ext morn in g

,
.

At ten O clock I was conducte d t o M r Fairlie s apart

’
.
’

m e nts . H e was in hi s u sual room h i s u sual chai r an d hi s , ,

u sual aggravati ng state O f m in d an d body Whe n I we nt i n .

,

h i s valet was standi ng befo re hi m h oldin g u p fo r i n spe ction a ,

h eavy volume o f etchi ngs as l ong a nd as b road as my o ffi ce ,

writi ng de sk Th e m ise rable foreigne r gri nn ed i n the most

- .

abj ect m an n e r and l ooked ready t o d rop with fatigue while

, ,

h i s maste r c omp o s edly tu rn ed ove r th e e tchings and brought ,

thei r h idde n b eauti e s t o light with the help of a magnifying

glass .

You ve ry best o r go od O ld frie n ds said M r Fai rlie ,

’
.
,

leani ng ba c k la z i l y b efor e he could loo k at m e are yo u quite ,

1
36
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E
'

‘t o
said ,
se rve th e i nte rests o f you r n iece a n d you r family
l
a nd I thin k I h ave e stabli shed some 5 ight claim t o be
’
favou red with you r atte n ti on i n re tu rn .

‘D on t bully m e ’
! e xclaime d M r Fai rlie fallin g back ’
.
,
’
helple s sly in th e chai r a nd cl osing hi s eye s f Please d on t ,
.

’
bully m e I m n ot st ron g en ough
.
’
.

I w a s dete rmi ne d n ot t o let hi m provoke me fo r Lau ra ,

Fai rlie s sake’

.

‘ ‘
My obj ect I we n t o n i s t o e nt re at you t o rec on side r
,
’
,

you r lette r a nd n ot to fo rce m e to aband on th e j us t rights o f

,

you r n iece an d o f all wh o belon g to he r Le t me state the

, . .

’
cas e t o you once m ore an d fo r th e last ti me ,
.

M r Fairli e sh ook hi s head and sighed pite ously

. .

Thi s i s h eartless of you G ilmo re — ve ry heartle ss he said , ,

’
.

’
N eve r mi n d go o n .

I put al l the p oin ts t o hi m carefully ; I se t th e matte r

befo re hi m in eve ry con ceivable light H e lay back in th e .

chai r th e wh ole time I w a s speaki ng with hi s eye s clo sed , .

Whe n I had d on e h e ope ne d them i nd olently t o ok h i s silve r

, ,

s melli ng bottl e fro m the table a n d s n iffed at it with a n ai r o f

-
,

gen tle relish .

G ood Gilmore ! h e said b etwee n th e sniffs h ow ve ry ‘ ’

, ,

n ice thi s i s of yo u H o w yo u rec oncile on e to h u man

natu re
Give m e a plain answe r to a plai n que stion M r Fai rli e , . .

I tell you again S i r Pe rcival Glyde h a s n o shadow o f a claim

,

t o expect m ore than the i nco me o f th e m o ney The m oney .

i tself i f you r n iece has n o chi ld re n ought to be u n de r he r

, ,

co ntrol a n d to return t o he r family

, I f you s tan d fi rm S i r .
,

Pe rcival mu st gi ve way— h e mu st give way I tell you o r h e , ,

exposes h imself t o th e base i mputatio n o f marryin g M is s

Fai rlie enti rely from m erce na ry m otive s .
’

M r Fairli e shook th e s ilve r smellin g bottle at m e play

.
-

You
d ear o ld Gilm ore h ow you d o hate rank an d family ,
’
d on t you ? H ow you dete st Glyde be cau se he happen s t o ,

be a b aronet What a R adi cal yo u are — o h de ar me wha t

.
, ,

a Radical you are

A Radical I I could put ti p wi th a good deal o f p rovo
c ati on but afte r h oldin g th e s oun dest Con servative p ri nciple s
, ,

all my life I c ould no t p ut up wi th bei ng called a Radical

, .

My blood boi led at it— I s tarte d o u t of my chai r — I was

s peechless with i ndignati on .

’
D on t shake the ro om cried M r Fairlie for H eaven s .
’

’
sa k e d on t shake the room
,
-
Worthi est o f a ll p ossib le
1 38
 T H E WO MAN I N W H I TE

Gilmores I m ean t n o o ff ence

, My o wn views are s o ex .
~

trem ely l i b e ral that I thi n k I am a R adical mys elf Ye s . .

’ ’
We are a p ai r o f Radicals Pleas e don t be angry I can t . .

quarrel — I have n t stami n a en ough S hall we d rop th e s ub

’
.

j e ct ? Ye s C om e and look
. at thes e sweet etch in gs D o .

let me teach you to u nde rstand the heavenly p ea rline ss o f

these li nes D o n ow the re s a good Gilm ore
.
, ,
’

Whil e h e was m au nde rin g o n in thi s way I was for ,

tu n a tely fo r my o w n self respect retu rn ing t o my s e n se s -

, .

When I sp oke agai n I was compose d e n ough t o treat h i s

impe rtinence wi th th e s ile n t contempt that i t dese rved .

‘ ‘
Y o u are enti rely w ron g s i r I said in supp osin g that , ,
’
,

I sp ea k from any p rej udice a gainst S i r Pe rcival Glyd e I .

may regre t th at h e h as so u n re se rvedly re signe d h ims elf i n

thi s matte r to hi s lawye r s d i rection as to make a ny appeal ’

to hi mse lf imp ossible ; but I am n ot p rejudi ce d agains t h im .

What I h ave sai d would equ ally apply t o a ny oth e r m a n in

h is s ituati on high o r l ow Th e p ri nciple I mai ntai n i s a
, .

recognised p ri n ciple I f yo u were t o apply at th e n eares t

.

town h ere t o th e fi rst respectable s olicito r you could fi nd h e

, ,

would tell you as a stran ge r what I tel l you as a frie nd

, , ,
.

H e would i nfo rm yo u th at it i s again st al l rul e to aban don th e

lady s m oney e nti re ly to th e m a n sh e marri es
’
H e woul d .

declin e o n grounds o f c ommo n legal caution t o give th e

, ,

h us band u nde r a ny ci rcu m stances whateve r a n i nte re st o f

, ,

twen ty thousand pou n ds in h i s wife s death ’

.
’

‘ ‘
Would he re ally G i lmore ? sai d M r F ai rlie If he
,
’
. .

sai d anything half s o h o rrid I do assu r e you I s houl d ti nkl e

my bell fo r Loui s an d have h im sen t o u t o f th e h ou s e,

i mmedi ately .
’

Y o u sh a ll n ot i rritate me Mr F ai rli e — Jo r you r n ie ce s

’
.
,

s ake an d for he r fathe r s s ake you shall n ot i rritate me ’

,
.

Y o u shall take th e whole respon si bility o f th i s discredi tab le

settlement o n you r o wn sh oulde rs befo re I leave the
’
ro om .

‘D o n t — ‘ ’ ’
! n ow please don t ! s ai d M r Fairli e Th in k
’
. .

’
h ow p reci ou s you r time i s Gi lmo re ; an d do n t th row i t away ,
.

I w o u ld dispute with you if I could but I can t — I h ave n t

’ ’

stamin a e n ou gh You wan t to u pset me t o u pset you rself

.
, ,

to upset Glyde an d to upset Lau ra an d oh dear me — — al l

, ,

for the sake o f the ve ry last thing in the world that i s li ke ly

to happe n N o dear friend — in th e i nte rests o f pe ace and
.
,

quietne ss positively N o ,

I am to u n de rstand then that yo u hold by the det ermin a , ,

tion expre ssed in you r lette r 9

 T H E WO MAN I N W H ITE
‘ please S o glad we u nderstand e ach oth er at last
Y es, . .

S it down again — do
I walke d at o nce to th e door a n d M r Fairlie resign edly .

tinkle d hi s hand bell B efo re I left th e room I turne d

- .

roun d and addres se d hi m fo r the last time .

’
Whateve r happen s in th e futu re si r I s aid remembe r , , ,

th at my plain d uty of warning you h a s been pe rforme d As .

th e faithfu l frie nd and se rvant o f you r family I te ll you at , ,

parti ng that n o daughte r o f mi n e sh ou ld b e m arrie d t o any

,

m a n alive u nde r such a settleme n t as yo u are fo rcing m e to

’
m ake fo r M i ss F ai rlie .

Th e d oo r ope n e d beh in d me an d the valet stood waiting ,

o n the th re shold .

‘
Lou i s said M r Fai rlie
,
’
sh ow M r G i lm ore o u t a nd
.
, .
,

the n c ome b ack an d h old u p my etchings fo r m e agai n .

M ake them give yo u a good lu n ch down s tai rs D o Gi lmore .

, ,

m ake my i dle beasts of s ervant s give you a good lu nch

I was t oo mu ch disgu sted t o re ply I turne d o n my h eel ,

an d left hi m in silence The re was a n up t rai n at two o cl ock

.
’

i n th e afte rn oon and by that trai n I retu rned t o London .

O n the T u esda y I sent in th e alte red settle me nt wh ich ,

practically di sinh e rite d th e ve ry person s wh om M i ss Fai rli e s ’

o w n lips had in formed me sh e was m ost anxi ou s to be nefit .

I h ad n o ch oice Anothe r lawye r wou ld h ave d rawn u p the

.

dee d if I had refused t o u nde rtake i t .

My task i s d one My pe rs onal share in th e eve nts o f th e

.

family sto ry extends n o farthe r th an the poin t which I h ave

j u st reached O the r pe n s than min e will de scribe the stran ge
.

ci rcu mstances wh ich are n ow sh o rtly t o follow S e riou sly .

a n d so rrowfully I cl ose thi s b ri ef reco rd S eri ou sly a nd

, .

s o rrowfully I repeat h e re th e p arti ng words that I spoke at

,

L im m eridge H ou se — N o daughte r o f mi n e sh ould have bee n

marrie d to a ny m a n alive u nd e r such a settlement as I w a s
c om pelled t o mak e for Lau ra Fai rlie .

T11 6 E 11 d f Gi lm ore s A’a rf a tz’vc

’
o 171 r .
'
 T H E WO MA N I N W H ITE

little book o f Ha rtrigh t s d rawin gs — the fatal bo ok that sh e ’

will dream ove r wh en eve r she i s al one — was i n o n e o f h e r

hands . I began by ge ntly an d fi rmly takin g it from he r an d ,

puttin g it o u t o f sight o n a side table - .

’
Tell m e quietly my darlin g what yo u wish t o do I said
, , , .

H as M r Gilmore bee n advising yo u

.

S he sh ook he r head N o n o t in what I am thi nking o f

.
, _

n ow H e was ve ry kin d and go od to me M ari an — an d I am

.
, ,

ashamed to say I distres sed hi m by cryi ng I am mise rably .

helpless ; I c a n t control myself F o r my o w n s ake and fo r

’
.

’
all o u r s ake s I mus t hav e c ou rage e n ough t o end it
,
.

D o yo u mean c ou rage en ough t o claim you r release I

asked .

’ ’
N o sh e said simply
, Cou rage dear t o tell the tru th
, .
, ,
.

S h e put h e r arm s rou nd my n eck an d reste d he r h ead ,

qu ietly o n my b osom O n th e opp osite wall hun g th e mi nia

.

tu re port rait o f he r fathe r I be n t o v e r h e r an d saw that sh e .

,

wa s lookin g at i t while he r h ead lay o n my b reast .

I c a n n eve r clai m my release from my engagement sh e ,

’

‘
went o n Whateve r way i t e nds it mu st e n d wretchedly
.
,

fo r m e . A l l I c a n d o Marian i s n o t t o add the rememb ran ce

, ,
’
t hat I have b roke n my p rom is e and forgotte n my fathe r s
dyi ng w o rds t o mak e that wretch ednes s wo rse
, .
’

What i s i t you propos e th e n I asked , .

To t ell Sir Pe rcival Glyde th e t ruth with my o wn lips , ,

’

sh e an swe red an d to let h im releas e m e i f h e w i ll n ot

, ,

becaus e I a sk him bu t be caus e h e k n ows all , .

Wh a t d o yo u mean Lau ra by all P S i r Pe rcival w ill

, ,

k n ow en ou gh (he has told m e so himself) i f h e kn ows that th e

e ngageme nt is op posed t o you r o w n wishes .
’

C a n I tell him that wh e n the e ngagement was m a de fo r m e

,

by my fathe r with my own con se nt

,
I sh ould have kept my
p romi se n ot happily I a m afraid but still con tente dly—J , ,

she stopped tu rne d he r face to m e an d laid he r chee k

, ,

cl os e again st min e I sh ould have kept my e ngagement ,

M ari an i f an oth e r l ove had n ot grown u p in my heart which

, ,

w a s n ot the re when I fi rs t p romi sed to b e S i r Pe rcival s wife

’ ’
.

Lau ra you will n eve r l owe r you rself by making a c o n

fessio n t o hi m
I shall l owe r mys elf i ndeed i f I gai n my re lease by , ,

hiding from hi m what h e has a ri ght to k n o w .

’

H e has n ot th e shad ow o f a right to know it I

Wrong Marian wron g I ough t t o deceive n o o ne
, ,

l east of a ll the m a n to wh om my fath er gave me and to wh om ,

I gav e m yself S h e put he r lips to m ine , and kis sed me

.
’
.
 T H E W O MA N I N W H IT E
‘
My o wn love sh e sai d s oftly yo u are so much to o fon d
,
’
, ,

o f me an d so much t oo p roud o f m e that yo u fo rget i n my , ,

case what you would reme mbe r in you r o wn B ette r that S i r

, .

Pe rcival s houl d doubt my m otive s a n d m isjudge my c onduct i f

h e will than th a t I sh ould b e fi rs t fals e t o hi m in th ou ght
, ,

a n d th e n mean e n ough t o se rve my o w n i nte rests by hidin g

th e falseh ood .
’

I h eld he r away from m e in astonishme n t Fo r th e fi rst .

time i n o u r lives we had change d place s ; th e res oluti on was

,

all o n he r side the he sitati on all on min e

, I looked i nto the .

pale quie t resigne d youn g face ; I sa w th e pu re i nn oce nt

, , ,

heart in the l ovi ng eye s that l ooked back at me — an d th e

,

poo r wo rldl y cautio n s a n d obj ecti ons that ros e t o my lips ,

dwi ndled an d die d away i n thei r o wn empti ness I hun g my .

head i n s ilen ce I n he r p lace th e de spicably sm all p rid e which

.
,

m ake s so m any wom e n d ece itful w ou ld have bee n my p ride , ,

and would have m ade m e de ceitful t oo , .

D on t b e angry w i th me M arian sh e said mi staking my

’
, ,
’
,

si len ce .

I on ly an swe red by d rawin g he r clos e to me agai n I wa s .

afraid of cryi n g if I sp oke M y tears d o n o t Ho w so e asi ly as

.

th ey o ught — they come almost like me n s tears wi th s obs ’

,

t hat se em t o te ar me in piece s an d that frigh te n eve ry o n e ,

about me .

’
I h ave th ough t o f th is love for m any days sh e we nt o n
, , , ,

t w i ni n g an d t wi sti n g my hai r with t hat chi ldi sh re stles sn e s s

in he r finge rs whi ch p oo r M rs Ve sey still tri e s s o p atie ntly
, .

— ‘
a n d so v a i nly t o cu re he r o f I have th ou ght o f i t ve ry
se ri ou sly a n d I can be s u re o f my cou rage wh e n my o w n
, ,

c on scie n ce tells m e I am ri ght Le t m e s peak t o hi m t o .

m orrow— in you r p resen ce M arian I will say n oth in g that

, .

i s wron g n othi ng that you o r I n eed be asham ed o f— b ut o h i

, , ,

will ease my h eart so t o en d this mis e rable c on cealment !

O nly let m e kn ow an d fee l that I have n o de cepti on t o an swe r
fo r o n m y s ide a n d then whe n h e h as heard what I h ave t o
,

say let hi m act toward s me as he wi ll

, .
’

S h e sigh ed a n d pu t he r h ead back i n its o ld p os iti on o n

,

my bos om S ad m is gi vi ngs about what th e e n d wou ld be

.
,

ghe d u p on my m i nd ; but still distru stin g myself I told , ,

he r that I v ould d o as sh e w ished S he thanke d m e an d w e .

,

p assed gradually i nto talking of othe r things .

At di nn e r sh e j oined u s agai n a n d was m ore easy an d ,

m ore he rself with S i r Pe rcival than I have s ee n h e r yet ,

In .

the eveni ng sh e wen t t o th e pi an o ch oosing n ew musi c o f th e ,

dext ero u s , t u nel ess , fl ori d kind The l o vely o ld m elodi es o f .

I 43
 T HE W O MAN IN ,
W H ITE
M o z a rt which po or H a rtrigh t was so fo n d of sh e h a s never
'

, ,

playe d si n ce he left The book i s n o l o n ger i n th e musi c stan d

.
- .

S he took th e volu me away hers elf s o that n ob ody might find , .

i t o u t a nd ask h er to play from i t .

I had n o oppo rtu nity o f discove ring whethe r he r pu rpose

o f the morni ng had changed o r n ot u nti l she wished S ir ,

Pe rcival good n ight — and the n her o w n words i nforme d m e

-

that i t was u n alte red S he said ve ry qui etly that sh e wished

.
, ,

to speak t o hi m afte r b re akfast an d th at he w ou ld fin d h e r

, ,

i n he r s itting roo m with me H e chan ged c olou r at those

- .

word s an d I fe lt h i s h an d tre mblin g a li ttle wh en i t cam e t o

,

my tu rn to take it The event o f the n ex t m orn in g would

.

fi
d ecide hi s futu re life an d h e evide ntly knew it .

I w en t i n a s u sual th rough th e door b etwee n o u r two

, ,

bed room s t o bid Lau ra good ni ght before she we nt to slee p

-
,
-
.

I n stoopi ng over h e r to kis s h e r I saw th e l ittle b ook o f ,

H a rtrigh t s drawings half hidde n u nde r he r p illow j ust i n the

’
,

plac e wh ere sh e u se d to hide he r favou ri te toys wh en sh e was

a ch ild . I could n ot n d i t in my heart to say anythi ng but
I pointed to the b ook an d sh ook my head S h e reache d both .

h ands u p to my cheeks an d drew my face d own to hers till ,

o u r lips me t .

’
Leave i t the re to night sh e wh ispe red to m orrow may
-
,
-

be cruel and may make me say good by t o it for eve r

,
- .
’

th — The fi rst even t o f the m ornin g was n ot o f a ki nd t o

9 .

raise my s pirits ; a lette r arrived for m e from poor Walte r ,

H a rtrigh t I t i s the answe r t o min e describi ng the man ne r

.
,

i n which S i r Percival cleared h i mself o f the suspici on s raise d

by An ne C a th eric k s lette r H e writes sh ortly an d bitterly
’
.

about S i r Pe rcival s explanations o nly sayin g that he has n o

’

right to o ff e r a n O pi ni on o n the con duct of those wh o are above

h im Thi s i s sad ; bu t h is occasi on al referen ce s to hi mself
.

grieve me still m ore H e s ays that th e effort to retu rn to hi s

.

o ld habits an d pu rsu its grows h arde r in stead o f easi e r to him

, ,

eve ry day ; and h e i mp l ore s me i f I h ave any i nte rest t o , ,

exert i t t o get h i m employme n t that wi ll n ecessitate hi s a h

sen ce from En gland an d take hi m amon g n ew s ce n es and ,

n ew people I have bee n m ade all th e readier to comply with

.

thi s re que st by a passage at the e n d o f h i s lette r w hich

, ,

has almost alarmed me .

Afte r me nti oni ng that he has ne ithe r se en n o r h eard any

thin g o f An ne C a th eric k h e sudden ly bre aks o ff an d hi nts i n , ,

th e m ost abru pt mysteri ou s manne r that h e has bee n pe r

, ,

etu a lly watched an d followed by stran ge me n eve r si nce b e

p
1 44
.
 T HE W O MAN I N W H ITE

s ubj ec t that i s ve ry important to u s both My s iste r i s he re .

,

becau se he r p rese nc e h elps me a nd give s m e confiden ce S he ,

.

has n ot su gge ste d o n e word o f what I a m goin g to sa y : I

speak from my o wn th oughts n ot from he rs I am su re ,
.

yo u will be k i n d e n o u gh t o u n de rstand th at befo re I go any ,

farthe r P
S i r Pe rcival b owed S he h ad p roceed ed thu s far with pe r
.
,

fe et ou tward tranquillity and pe rfect p ropriety o f man n er S h e ,

.

l ooked at him a nd h e l ooked at he r They s ee med at th e

,
.
,

ou tset at least res olved to u nde rstan d o ne an othe r plain ly

,
.

‘
I have h eard from M arian sh e w ent o n th at I have ,
’
,

o nly to claim my releas e fro m ou r engagement t o obtai n that ,

releas e from you I t was fo rbeari ng an d ge ne rou s o n you r

.

part S i r Pe rciva l to sen d m e such a message

, , I t i s only .

d oing yo u ju stice t o sa y that I am grateful fo r th e o ff e r ;

a n d I hope an d believe that i t i s only d oing mys elf j ustice

t o tell you that I declin e t o accept it .

’

H is atte n tive face relaxed a l ittle B ut I sa w o ne o f h i s .

fe et s oftly quie tly in ce ssan tly beatin g o n th e carpe t un de r

, , ,

t he table a nd I felt that he w a s s ecretly as an xi ous as

eve n
‘ I
I h ave n ot fo rgotten sh e said that y o u as ked my , ,

father s pe rmission before you h on oured me with a p rop osal o f

’

marriage Pe rhaps you have n ot forgotten e ithe r what I

.
, , ,

said when I con sented t o our e ngagem ent P I ventu red t o tell
you that my fathe r s i nfluence a n d advi ce h ad main l y decided
’

m e t o give you my promi se I w a s guided by my fath e r .

,

because I had always foun d hi m the t rues t of al l advi se rs th e ,

be st and fondes t o f al l p rotectors a n d fr ends I have lost hi m i .

n o w ; I have only h is memo ry t o l ove

~
but my faith i n that
dear dead frien d h a s n eve r be en shaken I believe at thi s .
,

m oment as truly as I eve r believed that he knew wh at was

, ,

be st and that h is h ope s a nd wish e s ough t t o be my h ope s and

“

wish es too .
’

H e r voi ce tre mbled fo r th e fi rst time H e r re stless fingers

,
.

stole thei r way i nto my lap a n d h eld fast by o n e o f my hand s , .

The re was an othe r m omen t o f s ilence and then S i r Pe rcival

spoke .

‘
M a y I ask he said ’
if I have eve r p rove d mys elf u n
, ,

w o rthy o f the tru st which i t has bee n hitherto my gre ate st

,

h onou r an d greates t happin es s t o posse ss P

I have foun d n oth in g i n you r c on duct to bl ame sh e a n ,
’

sw ered You have always t reated m e with the same deli cacy
.

a n d the same forbearance You have dese rved my trus t and .

,

what i s o f far m o re imp ortance in my e sti mation you have ,

1 46
 T H E W O MAN I N W H I TE

dese rved my father s t rust o u t o f which m in e grew Y o u

’
, .

have give n m e n o excuse eve n if I had wante d to find on e fo r , ,

asking t o be released from my pledge What I have s aid s o .

far h as bee n s poke n with the wi sh t o ackn owledge my whol e

,

ob l igati on to you My regard fo r that obligati on my regar

.
,

fo r my father s memo ry a nd my regard for my o w n p romi se

’
, ,

all forbid m e to se t the example o n my side o f with drawi n g , ,

from o u r p re sen t p osition The breaki ng o f ou r e ngageme nt .

mu st be e nti rely you r wish an d you r act S i r P e rc iv al— n ot ,

min e .
’

The u n easy beating o f his foot s uddenly stopped an d h e

lean ed forward eage rly acro ss the table .

My act P h e said ‘What reason c a n the re be o n my

'

.
,

s ide fo r withdrawin g P
,

I heard h e r breath qui cke ni ng ; I felt h e r h an d growin g

cold . I n sp te o f what she had said to m e whe n w e we re
i ,

alon e I began to be afraid o f he r I w a s wron g

, . .

A reas on that it i s ve ry hard to tell yo u sh e ans w e red ,

’
.

‘The re i s a change
in me S i r Pe rc ival — a chan ge which i s ,

se ri ou s e n ough to justify you to you rse lf an d to me in b reak , ,

i ng o ff ou r e ngage me nt .
’

H is face tu rn ed s o pale agai n that eve n h is lips l ost th ei r ,

col ou r H e raised th e arm which l ay o n th e table tu rned a

.

little away in hi s chai r ; a n d supporte d h is h ead o n hi s h and ,

s o that hi s p rofile on ly was p res e nted t o u s .

Wh at change P he as ked The ton e in wh ich h e pu t th e .

question j arre d on m e — the re was s omethin g painful l y su p

p resse d i n i t .

S he sighed heavily and leane d towards m e a l ittle s o a s

, ,

to res t he r s houlde r agai nst min e I fel t he r tre mb l in g a nd .

,

t ried t o spare he r by speaki ng myself S he s toppe d m e by a .

warning pres su re of he r hand an d th e n ad dre sse d S i r Pe rcival ,

on ce m ore ; bu t th is time with out look in g at him

, , .

’
I have h eard sh e s aid an d I beli eve i t that the fon des t
, , ,

a nd t rue st o f all a ff ection s i s th e a ffecti on wh ich a wo man

ought to bear to he r husband Whe n o u r e ngage men t began .

,

that a ff ection was mi ne to give if I could and you rs to wi n , , ,

if you could Will you p ardo n m e a nd s pare me S ir Pe rcival

.
, , ,

i f I ackn owledge th at i t i s n ot so any l onge r P

A few te a rs gath ere d in he r eye s an d dropped ove r h e r ,

che eks sl owly as sh e paused a nd wait ed fo r hi s an swe r H e

, .

did n ot utte r a word At th e begin ni ng of h e r reply h e had

.
,

m oved the h an d o n whi ch hi s head rested s o th at i t h id h is ,

face . I sa w n othin g but the uppe r part o f hi s figu re at th e

tabl e N o t a mu scle of h im m oved Th e fin ge rs of th e h and
. .

L 2
 T H E W O M AN I N WH IT E

which supp o rted hi s head we re dented dee p in h is h a i r They .

might h ave expres sed hidden ange r o r h idde n grief— it was ,

hard t o say Which — the re w a s n o signifi cant tre m b lin g i n

them The re was n othin g ab solute l y n othing t o tell th e
.
,

secret o f h i s th oughts at that momen t — th e m omen t whi ch

was the c ri sis o f hi s life and th e c risi s o f he rs .

I was dete rmi ned to make him declare him self fo r Lau ra s ,
’

sake .

S i r Pe rc ival ! I inte rp o sed sharply have you n oth in g , ,

t o say whe n my siste r has s aid so much ? M ore i n my

, ,

opi ni on I added my u nlucky tempe r getti ng th e be tte r o f

,
’
,

m e than any m a n alive in you r posi tion has a right to hear

, , ,

from he r .
’

That last rash se ntence ope ned a way fo r him by whi ch t o

e scape m e if h e ch ose a nd h e i n stantly took advantage of i t .

‘ ’
Pardo n m e M is s H alcombe h e said sti ll keepin g hi s
, , ,

h an d ove r hi s face pardon me if I remi nd you that I have ,

c laimed n o su c h righ t .
’

Th e few plain wo rds which would have brought h i m back

to the poi nt from which h e had wande red we re j ust o n my ,

lip s whe n Lau ra checked me by spe aking again

,
.

‘
I h ope I have n o t made my painfu l ackn owledgme nt in
‘
vain she co nti nued
,
’
I h O p e i t h a s secu red me you r e nti re
.

confidence in what I have stil l to sa y P

Pray be assu red o f it H e made that brief reply warmly .
’
,

d ropping h is h an d o n the table while he spoke and tu rnin g , ,

t owards u s again Whateve r outward chan ge had passed .

ove r hi m w a s gone n ow H i s face was eage r and expectant

, .

— it expre ssed n othing bu t the mos t i nten se anxiety t o hear

h e r n ext word s .

I w i sh yo u to u nde rstan d that I have n ot sp oke n from

any selfish m otive sh e said I f you leave m e S i r Pe rcival
,
’
.
, ,

afte r what you have j u st heard yo u d o n o t le ave me t o marry ,

another m a n— y o u o nly allow m e to remai n a single woman

fo r the rest o f my life My fau l t toward s yo u has begu n a nd .

e nded in my o w n thoughts I t c a n neve r go a ny farthe r . .

N o word has passed S he h esitated in doubt abou t the ,

exp res sio n sh e sh ould u se n ext ; hesitated i n a mome ntary ,

confusion which i t was very sad and very pai nful to see .

N o wo rd h a s passed sh e patie ntly a nd re solutely re sumed ,

’
,

betwee n myself an d th e pe rso n t o wh om I am n o w refe rring

for th e fi rst and last ti me i n you r p resence of my feelings
t oward s him o r o f hi s feelings toward s me — n o wo rd eve r
,

c a n pass — neithe r he n o r I are li ke ly i n th i s wo rld to m ee t , ,

a gain I earne stly beg you t o spare me from saying any

.

1 48
 T H E WO M AN I N W H IT E

her . I trie d hard to feel that S i r Pe rcival was to blame a nd ,

t o say so ; but my womanho od would pity him in spite of ,

myse l f.

‘ ’
I gratefully accept you r faith an d truth h e said T he , .

l east th at y ou c a n o ff e r i s more to me than th e u tmos t that I

c ould h ope fo r from a ny oth e r woman in th e world .
’

H e r left hand still h eld min e ; bu t he r righ t han d hu n g

listle ssly at her side H e rai sed i t ge ntly t o hi s li ps — touched
.

i t with them rath er than kissed it— bowed t o m e — a n d then

, ,

with pe rfe ct delicacy a n d discretion sile ntly qu itte d th e ro om , .

Sh e n eith e r m oved n or said a word whe n h e was gon e , ,

sh e sat by me cold and sti l l with he r eye s fixe d o n th e ,

ground . I saw i t was h ope le s s a n d u sele ss to speak ; an d I ‘

only put my arm roun d he r a n d hel d h e r t o me i n silence , .

We remain ed togethe r so for wh at see med a l ong an d weary ,

time — so long an d so weary that I grew u neasy an d spoke ,

t o he r softly i n th e h ep e of produci ng a change

, .

The sou nd o f my voic e seemed t o startle h e r i nto c o n

sc io u sn ess Sh e sudden ly d rew he rself away from me and
.
,

rose t o he r feet .

’
I mu st submit M arian a s wel l as I can sh e said
, My , , .

n ew l ife h a s i ts hard duti e s an d o ne of th em begin s t o day -

.
’

As she spoke sh e we nt t o a side table n ear th e wi nd ow

,
-
,

o n which he r sketch in g mate rials we re placed gathe re d

the m t ogethe r carefully ; a n d pu t th em i n a d rawe r o f he r
cabinet . S he locke d th e drawe r a n d b rought the key to m e , .

‘ ’
I mu st part from eve ryth ing that remin ds m e o f him ,

sh e said . K eep the key whe reve r you please — I shall neve r
want it agai n .
’

Befo re I c ould sa y a wo rd sh e had tu rned away to h e r ,

b ookcase an d had take n from i t th e albu m that c ontaine d

,

Walte r H a rtrigh t s d rawi n gs S he he sitated fo r a m oment

’
.
,

h oldi ng the little volume fondly in he r h an d s— the n lifted i t t o

h e r lips an d ki sse d it .

Oh Lau ra ! Lau a
, I said n ot angrily n ot rep rovingly.
, ,
—with n othin g bu t s o rrow in my voice an d n othi ng b u t ,

s orrow in my h eart .

‘
I t the last time Marian sh e pleaded
I S I am biddin g
, ,
’
.

i t go od bye fo r eve r
- .
’

S h e lai d th e boo k o n th e table an d d rew o ut th e comb ,

that fasten e d he r hai r I t fell in i ts matchless beauty ove r .

, ,

h e r back a nd sh oulde rs an d d ropped round he r fa r below , ,

he r waist S h e separated o n e long thi n lock fro m th e rest

.
, ,

c u t it o ff an d pi nn ed i t carefu l ly i n th e fo rm o f a ci rcle o n
, , ,

the fi rst blank page of the album Th e moment i t was fas .

1 50
 Vv H I T E
’
TH E WO M AN I N

tened , sh e closed the volu me hu rriedly , a nd p lace d i t in my

hands .

‘
Y ou write t o hi m a n d h e write s to you she said
, ,
.

While I am alive if he as k s afte r me always tel l hi m I am

, ,

well and n eve r say I am u nhappy D o n t di stre ss him

, .
’
,

M arian for my sake d on t distre ss him ,

I f I di e fi rst ’
.
,

p romi se yo u will give hi m this littl e boo k o f h i s d rawi ngs ,

with my hai r i n i t Th ere c a n be n o harm whe n I am gon e

.
, ,

in tellin g hi m that I pu t i t the re with my o w n h and s An d .

say— oh Marian say for me then what I c a n n eve r sa y fo r

, , , ,

myself— say I loved hi m I

S he flun g h e r arm s rou n d my n eck a n d wh ispe re d th e ,

last wo rds in my ear wi th a passionate de l igh t i n utte ri ng

the m whi ch i t almost b roke my h eart to hear All the l on g .

re st rain t sh e had i mposed o n herse lf gave way i n that fi rst ,

last outbu rst o f tende rn e ss S h e b roke from m e with h y steri

.

cal veheme nce a n d th rew he rself o n th e sofa in a paroxysm

,
-

o f s obs a n d tears that sh ook he r from head to foot .

I tri ed vain ly to so othe he r an d reason with h e r ; she w a s

past bei ng soothed an d past being reason ed with , I t wa s .

the sa d sudden end fo r u s two of thi s me morable day

, , .

\Vhe n th e fi t h ad worn itself o u t sh e w a s to o exhau ste d t o ,

speak S he slu mbe re d toward s th e afte rn o on ; an d I put

.

away the book o f d rawi ngs s o th at sh e migh t n ot se e i t whe n

sh e woke My face was calm w hateve r my h eart migh t be
.
, ,

whe n sh e opened he r eye s agai n an d lo oke d at me We .

said n o m ore to each oth e r abou t th e d i stre ssin g i nte rview of

the mo rning S i r Pe rcival s nam e was n ot menti on ed
.
’
.

Walte r H a rtrigh t was n ot allude d t o agai n by e ith er o f u s

for th e remai nde r o f th e day .

I o th —
Fin din g that sh e w a s composed an d like he rself
.
,

th i s mo rn in g I retu rn ed t o the painful subj ect o f ye ste rday

, ,

for th e sole pu rpose o f im plo ri ng he r t o le t m e speak t o S i r

Pe rcival and M r Fairli e mo re plainly an d strongly than sh e
.
,

could speak t o eithe r of th em he rself about thi s lam entable ,

marriage S he i nte rposed gently but fi rmly in th e m iddle o f

.
, ,

my rem on st rance s .

I left ye ste rday to decide sh e said an d ye sterday [ m s ,

’

decided I t i s t oo late to go back

. .
’

S i r Pe rcival spoke t o m e th i s afte rn oon abou t wh at had ,

passed in Lau ra s room H e as su re d me that th e u m

’
.

paralleled tru st sh e had placed in h i m had awakene d su ch a n

answerin g c onvicti on o f he r i n noce nce a n d i ntegrity in h is -

’
mind , that h e was guiltle ss of havin g felt eve n a mome nt s
1
51
 T HE W O M AN IN W H IT E

u nworthy j ealou sy ei the r at the time whe n h e was in he r

,

p re se nce o r afte rward s wh e n h e had wi thd rawn from it

,
.

D eeply as he lamente d th e u nfortun ate attachment whi ch had

hin de re d th e p rogres s h e might othe rwi se have m ade i n he r
e stee m an d regard h e fi rmly believe d that i t had re main ed
,

u nackn owledge d in th e past an d that i t would remam u nde r ,

all chan ge s o f ci rcumstance which i t was po ssibl e t o contem

plate u nackn owledged in the futu re Thi s was hi s abs olu te
,
.

convicti on ; and th e stronge st proof h e could give of i t was

the assu ran ce which h e n o w o ff e red that h e felt n o curi osity
, ,

t o kn ow whethe r the attachment w a s o f recent date o r n ot ,

o r wh o had bee n the obj ect o f it H i s impli ci t confide nce in .

M is s Fai rli e made h im satisfie d w ith what sh e had th ough t

fi t to say t o him an d he w a s h on estly i n n ocent of th e slightest
,

feeli ng o f anxiety t o h ear m o re .

H e waited afte r sayin g th ose word s and l ooked at me

, , .

I was s o con sci ou s o f my u n reasonable p rej udice against him

—so con sci ou s o f an u nworthy su spicion that h e might be ,

sp eculatin g o n my i mpulsively an swerin g th e ve ry qu e sti on s

which he had j ust described h imself as res olved n ot to ask
that I evaded all referen ce t o thi s part of th e subj ect with
s omething lik e a feeling o f c onfusio n on my o w n part At .

th e sam e time I was re solved n ot t o l ose eve n th e smalle st

,

opp ortun ity o f tryin g t o plead Lau ra s caus e a n d I told h im ’

b oldly th at I regretted h is gen e ros ity had n ot carri ed hi m

o n e step farthe r a n d i nduced hi m t o withdraw from the
,

engagement altogethe r .

H e re agai n h e disarmed me by n ot attemptin g t o defend

, ,

h imself H e would me rely beg me t o re membe r the di ffere nce

.

th ere was betwee n h i s a l lowi ng M i ss Fair l i e to give h i m u p ,

which was a matte r of s ub missi on only a n d hi s forcin g ,

h imself t o give u p M i ss Fairlie which w a s in othe r words , , ,

asking hi m t o be th e suicide of h i s o w n h opes H e r c onduct .

o f th e day before had s o strengthen ed th e u nch angeable l ove

an d admiratio n o f two lon g years that all active contenti on ,

again st th ose feelings o n hi s part w a s h en ceforth entire l y

, ,

o u t o f h is p owe r I must think hi m weak selfish u nfee li ng

.
, ,

towards the ve ry woman wh om h e ido l i sed an d he must ,

b ow t o my opin ion as resign edly as h e could on l y putting

it to m e at the same tim e whethe r he r futu re as a single
, ,

woman pinin g u n de r an unhappily placed attachment which

, .

sh e c ould n eve r ackn owle dge could b e said to p romi se he r a ,

much b righte r p ros pect than her future as th e wife o f a m a n

w h o wo rshi pped th e very groun d she walked o n ? I n th e
last case there was h ope from time h oweve r slight it might ,

1 52
 T H E W O M AN I N W H IT E
’
M arian l h ow I e nvy yo u you r robu st ne rvou s system D on t
ban g th e d oo r
O n goin g to Lau ra s room I foun d that sh e h a d aske d fo r
’
,

m e a nd th a t M rs Ve sey had info rme d he r that I w a s w ith

,
. .

M r Fai rli e S he i n quire d at on ce what I had bee n wante d

. .

fo r ; an d I t old h er all that had passed with ou t attemptin g ,

to co nceal th e vexation a n d an n oyance that I really f elt .

H e r an swe r su rp ri se d a n d distre sse d m e i nexpressibly ; i t

wa s the ve ry last reply that I sh ou ld have expecte d h e r to
m ak e .

‘
My u ncl e i s right sh e said I have cau se d trouble ,
’
.

a n d anxiety e n ough to you a n d t o al l about me Let me , .

cau se n o m o re M arian — let S i r Pe rcival decide ,

.
’

I re mon strate d warmly : bu t n othin g that I could sa y

m ove d he r .

‘ ‘ ’
I am held t o my e n gage me nt sh e replied ; I h ave ,

b roke n wi th my o ld life The evi l d ay wil l n ot come the le s s .

su rely becau se I put it o ff N o M arian ! once again m y .

, ,

u n cle i s right I h ave cau se d trouble e n ough and an xiety

.

’
e n ough ; an d I wi ll cause n o m o re .

S he i tsed t o b e pliability i tself ; but sh e w a s n o w in fl ex ibly

passive i n he r re si gnati o n — I might a l most sa y in he r de spai r .

D early as I l ove he r I sh ould have bee n les s pai ned i f : sh e

,

had be e n vi olently agitated it wa s so sh ocki ng l y unlike h e r

n atu ral ch aracte r t o see he r as cold a n d i n se n sibl e a s I saw
he r n ow .

1 2 th .
—S i r
Pe rcival put s om e qu esti on s to me at b re akfast , ,

ab ou t Lau ra whi ch left m e n o ch oi ce but to tel l him what

,

she had sai d .

While we we re talki ng she h e rself came d own an d j oi ned ,

us . S he was j ust as u n n atu rally c omposed in S i r Pe rcival s ’

p re sen ce a s she h ad bee n i n min e Whe n breakfast wa s .

ove r h e h ad a n o pportu nity o f sayi ng a few wo rd s t o he r

'

p rivately i n a reces s o f on e of th e wi ndows They we re n ot

, .

m o re than two o r th re e mi nute s togethe r ; a n d 0 11 th ei r ,

s eparati ng sh e left th e ro om with M rs Vesey wh ile S i r

, .
,

Pe rcival came t o me H e said h e had entreated he r t o .

favou r him by mai ntaini ng he r p rivi lege o f fixin g the time

fo r the marriage at he r o w n wil l a n d pleasu re I n reply sh e .
,

h ad me rely expressed he r ac kn owledgme nts an d had de si red ,

him t o menti on what h is wi she s we re t o M is s H alcombe .

I have n o patie nce to write mo re I n thi s i n stance as in .

,

eve ry othe r S i r Pe rci val has carried h is p oi n t with th e

, ,

u tmost possibl e credit to himself i n spite o f eve rythi ng that ,

1
54
 T H E W O M AN I N VJ H I T E
’

I c a n say o r d o H is wi shes are n ow what they we re o f

.
, ,

c ou rse whe n h e fi rs t came he re a n d Lau ra havin g resigne d

,

he rse lf t o t he o n e i nevi tabl e s acrifice o f the marriage re main s ,

as coldly hope le ss an d e ndurin g as eve r I n partin g with th e .

li ttle occupati on s an d relies that reminded he r o f H a rtrigh t,

s h e se ems t o have par te d with all he r te nde rn es s an d all h er

impres sibility I t i s only th re e o clock in th e afte rn oo n

.
’

wh il e I write thes e lin es an d S i r Pe rcival has left u s already

, ,

in th e happy hu rry o f a bridegroom t o p repare fo r the bri de s

’

recepti on at hi s h ous e i n H ampshi re U nless s om e extra .

o rdin ary even t happe n s t o p revent it they will be m arried ,

exactly at th e ti me whe n h e wi she d to b e marrie d — bef ore

the en d of the year My ve ry finge rs burn as I write i t
.

1 th —A s leeples s night th rou h u n easi nes s abou t Lau ra

3 .
g , .

Towards th e m o rn ing I came t o a res oluti on to t ry what

,

change o f s ce n e would d o t o rouse he r S he cann ot su rely .

remai n i n h e r p resen t t orpo r o f i ns e nsi bility if I take h e r ,

away from L im m eridge a nd su rrou nd he r with the pleasan t

face s o f o ld fri ends P Afte r s om e con si de ration I decided o n ,

w riting t o th e Arn olds in Yorkshi re They are si mple kind

, .
,

l1 ea rted h ospitable pe ople ; an d sh e has kn own th em fro m

,

he r chi ldho od Whe n I had put th e l ette r in th e post bag

.
-
,

I told he r what I had d on e I t wou ld h ave be en a re lief t o.

m e if sh e had sh own th e S pirit t o resis t an d obj ect B ut n o .

— sh e on ly said ‘I wi ll go anywhe re with ou M arian I

, y , .

dare say you are righ t— I dare say the change will d o me go od .
’

14th I wrote t o M r Gi lmo re i nfo rmi ng h im th at the re

.
-
.
,

wa s really a p rospect o f thi s m ise rabl e marriage takin g place ,

an d als o me nti on i ng my ide a o f t ryin g what change o f s ce n e

would d o fo r Lau ra I had n o h eart t o go i nto p articu lars
. .

Tim e e n ough fo r them whe n we get n eare r t o th e e n d o f th e

,

fi
year .

th — Th ree lette rs for me The fi rst from th e Arn olds

1 5 . .
, ,

ful l o f delight at th e p rospect of seei ng L au ra a nd m e The .

second from o ne o f th e gentleme n t o wh o m I wrote o n

,

Walte r H a rtrigh t s behalf informin g m e that he has bee n

’
,

fo rtu nate e n ough t o n d a n opportun ity o f complying with my

request The thi rd from Walte r h imself than kin g me poo r
.
, , ,

fellow in the warmest terms fo r givin g h i m a n oppo rtu n ity

, ,

o f leaving h i s hom e his country an d h is frien ds A private

, , .

expedition to make excavation s am on g th e ruin ed citie s o f

C entral Ameri ca i s i t seems ab ou t to sai l fro m Liverpool
, ,

1 55
 T HE W O MA N I N W H IT E
The d rau ghts man wh o had been al ready app oi nted to a ec o m
p any it has l ost heart and withdrawn at the eleve nth h ou r
, ,

an d Walte r i s to fi ll h is place H e i s to be engage d for si x .

m onth s ce rtain from th e time o f th e landin g in H ondu ras

, ,

an d for a year afte rward s if the excavation s are successfu l , ,

an d if th e fun ds h old out H i s lette r e nds with a p romis e t o

.

write m e a farewell li ne whe n they are all o n board ship a n d

, ,

wh e n the pilot leave s them I c a n on ly h ope an d pray .

earnestly that he an d I are both acti n g i n thi s m atte r fo r th e

best .I t see ms such a seriou s step fo r him to take that the ,

m e re con templ ati on o f i t startle s m e An d yet i n h is n u .

,

happy po sition how c a n I expect him or wish him to re mai n

, , ,

at hom e P

1 6 th Th e carriage i s at the doo r

.
-
. L au ra an d I set o ut
on our visit t o th e Arn olds to day - .

P o lesdea n L o dge, Y o rk sh ire .

2 3rd — A
we e k in thes e new scene s an d among these ki nd
.

fi
h earted pe ople has d on e h e r s ome good though n o t so muc h ,

as I had h oped I have resolve d to prol on g o u r stay for

.

an oth e r wee k at least I t i s usel es s to go back t o Lim m eridge

.
,

t ill the re is a n abs olute n ecessity for ou r retu rn .

24 th .
—
S ad n ews by thi s m orn ing s po st
The expediti on ’
.

t o Ce n tral Ame rica s ailed o n th e twen ty rst We have - .

parte d with a tru e man ; we h ave lost a faithful frie nd .

Walte r Ha rtrigh t has left E ngland .

a 5 th .
— S ad n ews yeste rday
; omi nou s n ews to day S ir - .

‘
Pe rc ival Glyde has wri tte n to M r Fai rli e ; a nd M r Fai rli e . .

has writte n to Lau ra a n d m e t o re call u s t o L im m eridge ,

immediately .

What c a n thi s m ean P H as th e day fo r the m arr i age been

fixed in o u r absence P

Limmeridge House .

N O V E M B E R 2 7 th M y forebodings are r ealised Th e marriage

.
-
.

i s fixe d for the twenty secon d o f D e ce mbe r - .

The day afte r we left for P o lesdea n Lodge S i r Pe rcival ,

wrote i t seem s t o M r Fai rli e t o say that th e ne cessary

, , .
,

repai rs and alte rati on s i n hi s h ou se i n H amp shire would

1 5 6
 T H E WO MAN I N W H IT E

J us t as my han d was o n the d oor sh e caught fas t h old o f ,

my dre ss an d stoppe d m e , .

‘ ‘ ’
Let me go ! I sai d My ton gu e bu rn s t o tell you r .

u ncle that he an d S i r Pe rcival are n ot t o have i t all thei r own

’
way .

S he sighe d bitte rly a n d sti ll held my d re ss , .

‘
No she said faintly T o o late M arian to o late
, .
, ,
‘ ‘ ’
N o t a min ute to o late I reto rted Th e que sti on o f , .

ti me i s ou r que sti on — an d trust me Lau ra to take a woman s , ,

’

full advantage o f i t .
’

I u n c la sp ed he r han d from my gown while I sp oke ; but

sh e slipped both h e r arm s roun d my wai st at the same
m omen t an d held m e m ore e ffectually than eve r
, .

‘
I t will on ly i nvolve u s i n mo re trouble an d m ore c o n
’
fusion sh e said , I t w ill set you an d my u ncle at vari an ce
.
,

a n d b rin g S i r Pe rcival h e re agai n with fre sh cau se s of c o m

p lain t
S o much th e bette r I crie d o u t pa s sionately Wh o , .

care s fo r hi s cause s o f com plain t ? Are you to break you r

h eart to se t hi s min d at ease ? N o m a n u n de r heave n
de se rve s these s ac rifice s from u s women M en ! They are .

the e ne mi es o f o u r i n n oce n ce a n d o u r peace — they drag

u s away from ou r pare nts love a n d ou r siste rs frie ndship ’ ’

th ey take u s b ody a nd soul t o them selve s a nd faste n o u r ,

helple ss live s to thei rs a s they chai n u p a dog to hi s ke nn el .

An d what do e s the be st o f th em give u s i n retu rn P Let me

go Lau ra — I m mad whe n I th in k o f i t
,
’

Th e tears — mi serable weak wome n s te ars o f vexati on

~

, ,
’

a n d rage — started to my eye s S h e s mile d sadly ; an d put .

he r handke rch i ef ove r my face t o hide for m e the betra y al o f ,

my o wn weakn e ss — th e weakn es s o f all othe rs whi ch sh e

kn ew that I m ost d espi se d .

Oh M arian she said,

Yo u cryi ng Thin k what you .

would say t o me i f th e place s we re ch an ged an d i f those

, ,

tears we re mi n e Al l you r l ove a n d cou rage and devotion

.

wil l n ot alte r what m ust happen soon e r o r late r Let my , .

u ncl e h ave hi s way Le t u s have n o m ore t roubles an d.

he art bu rnings that any sacrifice of mi ne c a n p reve nt S ay

- .

you wi ll live with m e M arian when I am m arried an d say , ,

’
n o more .

B ut I did say m ore I forced back th e con temp tible tears .

_

that we e n o relief t o m e an d that only di stre s sed h er ;

r
,

an d reasone d an d ple ade d as calmly as I could I t wa s o f n o .

a vail S h e m ade me twi ce repeat th e p romi se t o live with he r

.

when sh e was married and the n sudden ly aske d a que stio n ,

1 58
 T H E WO M AN I N W H IT E

whi ch turne d my s orrow an d my sympathy for h e r i nto a n ew

direction .

’
Wh ile w e we re at P o lesdea n she sai d you had a , ,

l ette r M arian
,

H e r alte red ton e th e abrupt man ne r in which sh e l ooke d

away from m e an d hi d he r face o n my sh ou lde r th e he sita
'
,

ti on which si le nced her before she had complete d h e r questi on ,

al l tol d me but to o plain ly to whom th e half exp re sse d

, ,
-

inqui ry poi nted .

‘11 th oug ht Lau ra that you an d I we re n eve r to refe r to

, ,

hi m I said ge ntly , .

You h a d a lette r from hi m P sh e pe rsi sted .

‘ ’
Ye s I replied if yo u mu st kn ow i t ’
, , .

D o you mean t o write to him again P

I h esita ted I had bee n afraid t o tel l h e r o f h is abse n ce
.

fro m E ngland o r o f th e mann e r in which my exe rtion s to s e rve

,

h i s n ew h opes a n d p roj ects h ad c onn ected m e with h is depa r

tu re What an swe r could I make P H e was gon e whe re n o
.

letters c ould reach hi m fo r month s pe rhaps for ye ars ,to c ome , .

’
S uppos e I do mean to write t o hi m again I said a t las t , , .

What then Lau ra P ,

H e r cheek grew bu rnin g hot agains t my n eck ; an d he r

arms trembled a n d ti ghte ned roun d me .

D on t tell hi m about th e twemfy sec ond sh e whi spe red

’
-
,
’
.

‘
P romis e M arian — p ray p romi se you will n ot eve n m en ti on
,
’
my n ame to hi m wh e n you write n ext .

I gave th e p rom is e N o wo rds can say h o w so rrowfully I .

gave it S he i n stantly to ok he r arm from my waist walked

.
,

away to the wi ndow and s tood lookin g out with h e r bac k t o , ,

m e Afte r a m omen t sh e spoke o nce more but without tu rn

.
,

in g rou nd with ou t allowing m e t o catch th e smallest glimps e

,

o f he r face .

Are yo u going to my u n cle s room P sh e asked Wi ll ’

.

y o u say that I con sen t to whateve r arran gemen t h e may thi n k

best P N eve r mi nd leavin g me M arian I shall b e bette r , .

alon e fo r a little while .

’

: I wen t o u t I f as s oon a s I got i nto the p as sage I coul d

.
, ,

have transpo rted M r Fai rlie and S i r Pe rcival Glyde to th e .

utte rmos t e nds o f th e e arth by liftin g o ne o f my fi nge rs tha t , ,

’
finge r wo u ld have bee n raised wi th ou t an i nstant s hesitati on .

F o r on ce my u nhappy te mpe r n o w stoo d my frie nd I sh ould .

have broke n d own altogether a nd bu rst i nto a viole nt fi t o f

crying if my tears had n ot bee n al l bu rn t up in the heat o f my
,

ange r As i t w a s I dashed i nto M r F ai rli e s room — called

.
, .
’

to hi m as harshly as possible Lau ra con sents to the twent y ,

I S9
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I TE

se con d a nd dashed o u t agai n with out waiti ng for a wo rd o f

-

an swe r I banged the door afte r m e an d I h ope I shatte red

.

M r F ai rli e s n e rvou s system fo r th e re st o f the day

.
’
.

2 8 th .
—
Thi s mor nin g I read poo r H a rtrigh t s farewel l lette r
,
’

ove r again a doubt havin g c rosse d my mi nd sin ce yeste rday

, ,

wh ethe r I am actin g wisely in c on cealing th e fact o f hi s

dep artu re from Lau ra .

O n reflection I sti ll thin k I am right Th e a llu 5 1 o ns 1 n

,
.

hi s lette r t o th e preparation s m ade for th e expedition to

C e ntral Ame rica all show that th e leade rs o f it kn ow it t o be
,

dange rou s I f th e dis cove ry o f thi s makes m e u n easy what

.
,

wou ld i t make h er ? I t i s bad e nough t o feel that h i s depar

tu re has d eprived u s o f the friend o f all othe rs to wh ose devo
tion we could t rust in the h ou r o f n eed if eve r that hou r
, ,

c om es an d fi nd s u s helple ss B ut i t i s far wors e to kn ow th at

.

h e h as gon e from u s to fac e th e pe rils o f a bad climate a wi ld ,

country a n d a d istu rbed populati on

, S u rely i t wou ld be a .

c rue l can dou r to tell Lau ra thi s wi th out a p ressing and a ,

p ositive n ecessity for i t

I almost d oubt wh ethe r I ought n ot to go a s tep farthe r ,

an d bu rn the lette r at once fo r fear of i ts o ne day falling in to ,

wrong h ands I t n o t on ly refers to Lau ra in terms which

.

ought t o remai n a secre t fo r ever between the write r an d m e

but i t reiterates hi s suspici on — so o bsti nate so u naccountable , ,

a n d s o alarming — th at h e h a s bee n s ec retly watched sin c e h e

left L im m eridge H e declares that h e saw th e face s o f th e

.

two s tran ge men wh o followe d hi m about th e streets o f

,

London watchin g hi m among the c rowd which gath ere d at

,

Live rpool to see the expedition embark ; and h e p ositively

asserts that h e heard the n am e o f An ne C a th eric k pronou nced
behin d him a s h e got i nto th e boat, H i s o w n words are .
,

These eve nts have a m eaning thes e events mu st lead to a ,

result The mys te ry o f Ann e C a th eric k i s n ot cleared u p yet

. .

Sh e may n eve r c ross my path agai n ; but i f eve r sh e c ross es

you rs make bette r u se o f the oppo rtunity M i s s H alcombe
, , ,

than I m ade o f it I sp ea k o n strong c onvicti on ; I e nt reat

.

you to rem embe r what I say These are his o w n expressi ons .
’
.

The re i s n o dange r o f my forge tting them — m y mem ory i s

only too ready t o dwell o n a ny words o f H a rtrigh t s that refe r ’

to An n e C a th eric k B ut there is dange r i n my keepin g th e

.

lette r The merest acciden t migh t place i t at the mercy o f

.

s trange rs I may fal l ill ; I may die

. B ette r to bu rn i t at .

once and have o n e a nxiety the less

, .

I t i s bu rnt ! The ashe s of h is fare well lette r — th e last 11

1 63
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E

e xcite ments o f L on don They would o nly mak e th e fi rs t .

oppres si on o f thi s lame ntable marriage fall the he avi e r o n h e r .

I drea d th e begi nning o f he r n ew life m ore than word s c a n

te ll ; but I see s om e hop e fo r he r if she t ravels — n one if she
rem ain s at h ome .

I t I S strange t o look back at thi s latest entry in m y j ou rn al ,

an d t o fi n d that I am writi ng of the marriage an d the part i n g

with Lau ra as pe ople write of a s ettled thi ng I t s eems s o cold
,
.

a n d so u nfeeli ng to b e looki ng at the futu re already i n thi s

c ruelly compos ed way B ut what othe r way i s p ossible n ow.
,

that th e ti m e i s d rawi ng s o n ear ? B efore an othe r m onth i s

ove r o u r h eads sh e will be h is Lau i a in stead o f mi n e
,
H is
Lau ra ! I am as little able to reali se th e idea which thos e
two wo rd s c onvey — m y mi nd fee ls a lmost as dulled a nd
s tun n e d by it— as if wri ti n g of he r marri age we re like writing
o f he r death .

D E C E M B E R I st — A sad sa d day ; a day that I hav e n o

.
,

h eart to desc ri be at a ny len gth Afte r weakly putting i t o ff .

,

last night I was obliged t o speak t o h e r this m ornin g o f S i r

,

Pe rcival s p rop osal abou t t he wedding tou r

’
.

I n the full c onviction that I sh ou l d be wi th he r wh ereve r ,

s eh went the p oo r child — fo r a chi ld sh e i s s till in many

,

things — was a l most happy at th e p rospect o f seein g the

won de rs of Flo ren ce a n d Rome a nd N aple s I t n early b roke .

my heart to d ispel he r d elusion a nd to b rin g h er face t o face ,

with the hard t ru th I w a s o bliged t o te l l he r that n o m a n

.

t o l e rate s a rival — n ot eve n a woman rival — in hi s wife s ’

a ff ection s when h e fi rst marri es whateve r he may d o afte r

, ,

wards . I was obliged t o warn her that my chance o f livin g ,

with h e r pe rman ently u n de r h e r own roof depended e nti rely ,

o n m y n ot arou si ng S i r Pe rcival s j ealou sy an d distrust by

’

standing betwe e n them at the begi n ning o f thei r marriage i n ,

th e p ositi o n o f th e chose n d eposi tary o f hi s wife s closes t ’

secrets . D rop by d rop I p ou re d the p rofanin g bitte rn es s of

,

thi s wo rld s wi sdom in to that pu re heart and that i n n ocent

’

mi nd while eve ry highe r an d better feeling within m e

,
'

re coiled fro m my mi se rable task I t i s ove r n ow S h e has . .

l earn t h e r hard he r i nevi table le sson The s imple i llu si on s o f

, .

h er gi rl hood are gon e ; an d my h an d has stripped them o ff .

B e tte r min e than his — that i s all my consolatio n — bette r min e

than hi s .

S o th e fi rs t p roposal I S th e p rop osal accepted They are .

t o go to I t aly an d I am t o arrange with S i r Pe rcival s pe r

, ,
’

mi ss i on fo r meeting the m an d staying with them wh en they

, ,

1 62
 T H E WO MAN I N W H IT E

re tu rn to E ngland I n othe r words I am to ask a p e rs on al

”

.
,

favou r fo r th e fi rst time in my life an d to as k i t o f the m a n

, ,

o f all others to who m I l east desire to owe a se ri ou s obligatio n

o f any kin d Well ! I thi n k I could d o eve n mo re than that
.
,

for Lau ra s sake

’
._

a nd —O n lo oking back I fi n d myse lf always refe rri ng to

.
,

S i r Pe rcival in disparagi ng te rm s I n th e tu rn a ff ai rs h ave .

n ow taken , I mu st a nd will root o u t my p rej udice agai n s t

h im. I can not think h ow i t fi rs t got i nto my mi nd It .

certai nly n eve r existe d in forme r time s .

I s i t Lau ra s reluctan ce t o be com e h is wife that has se t

’

me agai n st h im P H ave Ha rtrigh t s p e rfectly i ntelligibl e ’

p rej udice s infected m e with out my su specting thei r i nfluen ce P

D oes that lette r o f An n e C a th eric k s s till leave a lu rki ng ’

distru st in my mi nd in spite o f S i r Pe rcival s explanatio n,

’
,

a n d o f th e p ro of i n my posse ssion o f th e t ruth o f i t P I can no t

accou n t for th e state of my o w n feelings the o ne th ing I am

ce rtai n o f i s that i t i s my duty d oubly my duty n ow n ot to
,
-
,

wrong S i r Pe rcival by u nj u stly distru stin g h im I f it has got .

t o b e a habit with m e always to write o f hi m in th e sam e

u nfavou rable man n e r I mu st an d will break myself o f thi s,

u nwo rthy te ndency eve n th ough th e e ff ort sh oul d fo rce m e to

,

cl ose th e pages o f my j ou rn al till th e marriage i s ove r I am

seri ou sly di ssati sfied with myself— I will write n o mo r e to day - .

D E C E M B E R 1 6 th — A whol e fo rtnight h a s pa sse d ; a n d I

.

hav e n ot o nc e opene d thes e page s I have bee n lon g e n ough .

away from my j ou rnal to come back to i t with a h ea lth ier a n d , ,

bette r mind I h op e so far as S i r Pe rcival i s conce rn ed

, ,
.

The re i s n ot much to re cord o f th e pas t two weeks Th e .

d res se s are almos t all fi nished ; and the n ew t ravelling trun k s

have bee n se nt he re from Lo ndon Poo r dear Lau ra h ardly .

leave s m e fo r a moment all day ; and las t n ight when , , ,

n eithe r of u s cou ld sleep she cam e an d c rept i nto my be d t o ,

‘ ’
talk t o m e the re I shall lose yo u so soon M ari an sh e
.
, ,
’
said I mu s t make the m os t o f you wh ile I c a n .

They are to be marri ed at Lim m eridge C hu rc h and ,

than k H eaven no t o ne o f the neighb ou rs i s to b e i nvited t o

,

the ce re mony Th e o nly visito r will be o u r o ld frie nd M r

.
, .

Arnold wh o i s t o come from P o lesdea n to give Lau ra away

, ,

h e r un cle bein g fa r to o delicate to tru st himself o utside th e

door in such i nclemen t weathe r as w e n ow have I f I we re .

n ot dete rmined from thi s day forth to se e n othing bu t th e

, ,

b righ t side o f o u r p rospects th e m elancholy abse n ce o f any ,

1 63 M 2
 T HE
L W O M AN I N W H ITE

m ale relative o f L au ra s at th e m ost i m po rtan t mom en t o f ’

,

h e r life would mak e m e ve ry gloomy an d ve ry distru stful o f

,

th e future B ut I h ave done with gloom an d di st ru st that i s

.
-

t o say I have don e with writin g about e ither the o n e o r th e

,

other i n thi s j ou rnal .

S i r Percival i s to arrive to mo rrow H e o ff e red in case - .

,

we wi sh ed to t reat him o n te rm s of rigi d etiquette to write ,

an d ask o u r cle rgyman t o grant hi m the h o spitality o f th e

rectory du ri ng the sho rt pe riod o f hi s soj ou rn at Lim m eridge
, ,

before the marriage U n de r th e ci rcum stan ce s n eithe r M r

.
, .

Fairli e n o r I thought i t at all n ece ssary for u s to t rou ble

ou rselves ab ou t atten di ng t o trifling fo rm s a n d ce remonies .

I n o u r wild moo rlan d cou ntry and i n thi s great lon ely h ouse , ,

we may well claim to be beyon d th e reach of the trivial

conve nti on alitie s which hampe r people in othe r place s I .

wrote to S i r Pe rcival to thank hi m fo r hi s polite o ff e r a nd to ,

beg that h e wou l d occu py h is o ld rooms j ust a s usual at , ,

L im m eridge H ouse .

— He
1 7 th arrive d to day lo oki ng as I th ought a little
.
-
, , ,

w o rn a n d anxiou s but sti ll talking and laughing like a m an i n

,

th e be st possi ble spi ri ts H e b rought with hi m some really .

beautiful p re sents i n j ewel ry which Lau ra re ce ived with he r

, ,

be st grace and outwardly at least w ith pe rfect self pos ses

, , ,
-

sion The on l y sign I can detec t o f th e struggle i t mu st cos t

.

he r to p rese rve appe aran ce s at thi s t rying time exp re sses ,

i tself in a sudde n u nwi l lingn ess o n he r part eve r to be left , ,

alon e I n stead o f retreati ng t o he r o w n room a s u sual sh e

.
, ,

seems to d re ad goin g the re Whe n I went u pstai rs to day .

-
,

afte r lu n ch to put on my bon ne t for a walk sh e volu ntee re d

, ,

to j oi n m e ; and again before di n ne r sh e th rew th e d oo r

, , ,

ope n between o u r two room s so that we might tal k to each ,

oth er while w e we re d ressin g K eep m e always doi n g .

‘
s om ethin g sh e sai d ; k ee p m e always i n com pany with
,
’

somebody D on t le t m e th ink — that i s all I ask n ow M arian

.
’
,
— do n t let me thin k
’
.
’

Thi s sa d change in he r on ly i nc rease s h e r attraction s for

S i r Pe rcival H e i nte rprets it I c a n see to hi s o w n advantage
.
, , .

The re i s a feve ri sh flush in he r cheeks a feverish brightness ,

i n he r eye s which he welcome s as th e return o f h e r beauty

,

a n d th e re cove ry o f h e r spi rits S h e talke d to day at di nne r .

-

wi th a gaiety and careles sne ss so false s o shockingly out of ,

he r characte r that I sec retly longed to si le nce he r an d tak e

,

he r away S i r Pe rcival s de l ight an d su rpris e appeared to be ’

’

b eyond all exp re ssi on Th e anxiety whic h I h ad noticed o n .

1 64
 T H E W O M AN I N W H ITE

afraid that we have lost h er D o yo u happe n to k now h e .

,
’

c ontinu ed lookin g m e i n the face ve ry attentively if the ‘

, ,

arti st — M r H a rtrigh t— i s in a po siti on t o give u s any furthe r

,

i nformati on ?
H e has ne ithe r h eard o f he r n or see n he r si nce he left , ,

Cumberlan d I an swe red ,

’
.

‘
V e ry sad said S i r Pe rcival spe akin g like a man w h o
,
’
,

was di sapp oi nted a n d yet oddly e n ough looking at the , , , ,

same tim e like a m a n wh o was relieve d

, I t is impossible to .

say what mi sfo rtun e s may n ot have h appe ned t o the mi se rable
c reature I am i nexpre ssibly an n oyed at the failure o f al l my
.

e ff orts to re sto re he r to the care and protecti on which sh e so

u rgently n eeds .
’

Thi s time h e really l ooked an n oyed I sai d a few sym .

p a th ising wo rds an d we the n talked of othe r subj ects o n o u r

, ,

way back t o the h ou s e S u rely my chance meetin g with him .

,

o n th e mo or h as di sclose d anothe r favou rable trait i n h i s

characte r ? S u rely i t w a s singularly con side rate an d u n ,

selfi sh o f hi m to thin k o f Ann e C a th eric k o n the eve o f hi s

’
m arriage an d to go al l th e way to Todd s Corn e r t o m ake
,

i nqui ries ab out he r whe n h e might h ave passed the tim e so ,

much more agreeably in Lau ra s society ? Con side ri n g th at ’

he c a n on ly h ave acte d from m otive s o f pu re charity hi s c o n ,

duct un de r the ci rcumstan ce s sh ows u nu sual goo d feelin g

, , ,

an d dese rves extraordi nary p raise Well ! I give h im extra .

o rd ina ry p raise— and the re s an en d o f it ’

.

roth .
—M ore discove rie s in the i n exhaustible min e of S ir
Pe rcival s vi rtue s
’
.

T o day I approache d th e subj ect o f my p roposed soj ou rn

-
,

u n de r hi s wife s roof whe n he b rings he r back t o E n gl an d

’
.
,

I had hardly droppe d my fi rst h i nt i n thi s di re ction befo re h e ,

caught m e warmly by th e hand and said I had made th e ve ry ,

o ffe r to him which h e had been o n hi s side mo st anxiou s t o

, , ,

m ake t o me I was the compan io n o f all othe rs who m h e

.

m ost sincerely longed to secure for hi s wife an d he begge d

m e t o believe that I had confe rred a lasting favou r o n hi m by
m aking th e p roposal to live wi th Lau ra afte r he r marriage ,
exactly as I had always live d with he r befo re i t ’
.

Whe n I had thanked h im i n he r name an d mine for h is , ,

con siderate ki ndne ss to both o f u s we pas s ed n ext t o th e ,

subj ect o f h is weddin g tou r and began to talk o f the E nglish ,

society in Rome to which Lau ra was to b e introduced He .

ran ove r the n ame s o f seve ral frie nd s wh om h e expected to ‘

m e et ab road thi s wi nte r They we re all E nglish , as well as I .

1 66
 T H E WO M AN I N W H ITE

ca n r eme mber with one exception T he on e e xcepti on wa s

,
.

Cou nt Fosco .

The menti on o f th e Cou nt s name an d the di scove ry that -

_
’
,

h e an d h is wife are likely to mee t the b ride an d bridegroo m

o n th e conti ne nt puts L au ra s m a rriage fo r the fi rs t time i n
’
, , ,

a di sti nctly favou rable light I t i s likely to be th e mean s o f .

healin g a family feud H ithe rto Madame Fosco has chose n

.

t o forget he r obligati on s as Laura s aunt o u t o f shee r spit e ’

,

again st th e late M r Fai rl i e fo r hi s conduct in the a ff ai r o f th e

.

legacy N ow h oweve r sh e can pe rsis t i n this cou rse o f c o n

.
, ,

duct n o longe r S i r Pe rcival a nd Cou n t F osco are o ld a nd

.

fast fri e nd s a n d thei r wive s wi ll have n o ch oice but to mee t

,

o n civil te rm s M adam e F osco i n he r maide n days wa s o ne

.
, ,

o f the m os t i mpe rti n en t wo men I eve r met with

— caprici ou s
,

exactin g an d vai n to the las t degre e o f absu rdity I f he r

, “
.

hus band h as su cceeded i n b rin ging h e r t o he r se n se s h e

“

d e se rve s the grati tude of eve ry m embe r of th e family— an d

he m ay h ave m in e to begi n with .

I am becomi n g anxi ou s to kn ow th e Cou nt H e i s th .

mos t i ntimate fri e nd o f Lau ra s hu sband ; a nd in that ’

,

capacity he excite s my stron ge st i nte re st

, N e ithe r Lau ra .

n o r l have eve r seen hi m All I know of him i s that hi s acci .

dental p re sence years ago o n the step s o f th e Tri nit a de l

, ,

M onte at Rome assiste d S i r Pe cival s e scape from robbe ry

,
r
’

a n d assas sin ati on at th e critical mome nt whe n h e was

,

wou n de d in the h and an d might the n ext i n stant h ave bee n

, , ,

woun de d in th e h eart I re membe r als o that at th e time of

.
,
’
the late M r Fai rlie s ab su rd obj ecti on s t o h i s si ste r s
.
’

marriage th e Cou nt wro te h i m a ve ry tempe rate an d sen si ble

,

lette r o n the subj ect w hich I am ash ame d t o say remain ed u m

, , ,

answe re d Thi s i s all I kn ow o f S i r Pe rcival s friend I won de r

.
’
.

i f he will ever come to E ngland P I won de r if I shal l like him P

My p en i s run nin g away into me re specu lation Let me .

retu rn t o sobe r m atte r o f fact I t i s ce rta i n that S i r Pe rcival s .

’

receptio n o f my ven tu re som e p rop osal t o l ive with hi s wife ,

w a s m o re than kind i t was almo st a fl ec tion a te I am su re

'

, .

Lau ra s hu sband will have n o re ason to co mplai n o f m e if I

’

ca n o nly go o n as I have begun I have a lready declare d .

hi m to be handsome agreeable full o f goo d feel ing toward s

, ,

th e u nfortunate and fu l l o f aff ectionate ki ndn e ss t ow a rds me

, .

R e ally I hardly kn ow myself again in my n ew c h a ra cter o f

'

, ,

S i r Pe rcival s warme st frie nd

’
.

20 th .
— I hat e S i r Pe rcival I fl atly de ny h i s good l ooks .

I c on sider hi m t o be em in ently ill tempe re d a n d di sagreeable ,

-

1 67
 T HE WO M AN I N W H IT E

a nd totally wantin g in kin dne ss an d good feeling Las t .

n ight th e cards fo r the marri ed c ou ple we re sen t h ome

,
.

Lau ra o pe ne d th e packet and sa w he r futu re n ame in pri n t

, ,

for th e fi rst time S i r Pe rcival looke d ove r he r sh oulde r

.

familiarly at the n ew card which had al ready t ran sfo rme d

M is s Fai rlie i nto Lady Glyde — smile d with th e m ost odi ou s
s elf complace ncy — an d whi spere d s ome thi ng in he r e ar I
- .

d on t kn ow what i t was — Lau ra h a s refused to tell m e — but I

’

sa w he r face tu rn t o such a deadly whiten e s s that I thought

s h e would have fai nted H e took n o n otice o f the ch ange

.

h e seeme d to be barbarou sly u ncon sci ou s that h e had said

anythin g t o pai n he r Al l my o ld feelin gs o f h o stility toward s
.

h i m revive d o n the i n stan t ; a n d all the hou rs that have

passe d si nce have d on e n othin g to di ssipate the m
, ,
I am .

m ore u n reasonable a n d m ore unj u st than eve r I n thre e .

words —h ow gli bly my p en wri tes them — in th re e words I ,

h ate him .

a15 —H ave the anxietie s of th is anxi ou s tim e shaken m e

t .

a little at last P I have been writi ng for th e last few days

, , ,

in a ton e o f levity which H eave n kn ows i s far e n ough from , ,

my heart an d which i t has rathe r shocked me to discover o n

,

looking back at the e ntries i n my j ou rn al .

Pe rhap s I m ay have caught the feve ri sh excitement o f

Lau ra s spi rits fo r the last wee k
’
, I f s o the fit has already .
,

p asse d away from m e and h as left me in a ve ry strange ,

s tate of min d A pe rsi sten t idea has be en forcing itself o n my

.

attention eve r si nce last night that s ometh ing wi ll yet happen
, ,

to p revent the marriage What h a s p roduced thi s s ingular .

fancy ? I s i t the i ndirect re sul t o f my apprehen si on s for

Lau ra s futu re P O r h as i t bee n u ncon sci ou sly suggested t o
’

m e by th e i ncreasi ng re stles sne ss a n d i rritability which I h ave

certain l y obse rved in S i r Pe rcival s man n er as th e wedding ’

day d raws n eare r an d n eare r ? I mpos si ble t o sa y I k now .

t hat I h ave th e i dea — su rely th e wildest idea u nde r the c ir ,

c u m sta n c es th at eve r e nte red a woman s head

,
—
but t ry as ’

I may I cann ot t race i t back t o i ts sou rce

, .

This last day has b een all confusi o n an d wretchedness .

H ow c a n I write about i t P — a n d yet I mu s t write Any , .

thin g i s better than bro odi ng ove r my o w n gloomy th ou ghts .

K ind M rs Vesey who m we have all to o much overl ooked

.
,

an d forgotte n o f late i n noce ntly cau sed u s a sad morning to

,

b egi n with S h e h a s been for m onths past sec retly maki ng

.
, ,

a warm S hetland shawl fo r he r dear pupi l — a m os t beautiful

an d su rp rising pi ece o f work to b e d on e by a w o m a n at h er
1 68
 TH E W O M ANI N W H I T E
a nd th e h a un ti n g d re a d im b u ni -
y ith r u , and yet ed
f
’
.
e e ox s

c vc r p ro so n l to bo th . th a t th u lo p lo ru blc m arri age mi gh t

i r u y o to h e th e o ne tu ml o i ro i i f h er li fe a nd the o ne h o pe
'
'

c ss so rrow o f mi n e F o r th e o r t im e in a ll th e y ears o f o ur
.

c l o se a nd h it py i n l c rc o m s c i t a l m o s t a v o ided l oo ki ng ea c h
o the r in th e non a nd wc w i n ded. 1) c o m mo n co nsent, fro m
s p o ukittg to ge l l1 c r i n p l i m l c uro ug th e whol e ev eni ng
. I .

“fawver fut ure so r ro w s m a y be

.

c a n dw el l o n it no lo ngc r .

in s tor e fo r me I s h a ll u l u u .

o f Dec emb er us th e m o s t

o f my li fe .

I 11 111 writi n g t h o se l i ne s “he so l i t ude o f my o wn ro o m,

lo u r u ll o r mid n i ght ; l i m i n g to ! co me b a c k fr o m a st o len
lo ot u l La u r a in h er p r o l l s l it. wh ite bod tho bed sh e h a s —
o c c u p ie d s i n c o th o d a y s o l li c rg i rlhw l .

T he re s h e la y . u m o us t io u fl mt I wa s lo o k ing a t h er
ui e t m o rc u ic l th a n I luu l a nd to h o pe, bu t no t s l eepi ng
q , q .

T h o gli mm er o f th e ni ght l i g lwh o w l m e th a t h er ey es we re

o n ly p a rti a lly c l o s ed : th o m o s o f tea rs g l is tened between
h c r eye lid s M y litt l e k o o | o k e o nly 11 b ro o h
. o n th e
~ c

l ublo i n h er beds i de wi th In n m .
m
bo o k a nd th e m inia t u re .

p ort ra it o f h e r fa th e r “ h u h 10 ta ken wit h h er wh erev er sh e

guns 1 w ul l ed a m o m en t b it ing a t h er fro m beh ind h er
m
. .

pi llo w. us sil o ll l y b o no u l ll m e wi o nc nrm a nd h and r e sti ng

o n th e wh i l e c o v c rlid s o s u l len q uietl y brea th ing tha t th e
. .

I rill o n h er ni gh t -d r o s s o n . mo ved ! wa it ed, lo o k i ng a t

’

h er 11 3 l h a v e so o n h c r l li o u etda o f times, a s I sh a l l nev er

.

see h er a g a i n - m i d th o u s ta bu t
!
: to m y ro o m M y o wn
m
.

l ov e ! wit h a ll yo u r w ea l th a all yo u r bea uty h o w fr iend

m
. .

Ic ss yo u a rc ! T h e o ne u n u w wo u ld gi ve his h ea rt s li fe
'

to serv e yo u is fo r 11 w n t o ti ng, thi s sto r m n i gh t. o n th e

. . .

a wful sea W ho c ls c I \ l o tto you ? No fa t or. no br o t her

.

-no livi n g c re a tu re bu t 1 11 m . useless wo ma n wh o M

wril c s l h c so sud li nes a nd m m
by you fo r th e m o rning.
,

i n s o rrow t h a t s he c a nno t c a meo. in do u bt t h at she c a nno t

li uo r O h wh a t 11 h u s tl e to be pla ced i n tha t ma n s ’

q
.
.

luu u s to -mo rrow l l l c vc l fo rgow it ; if ever he inj ures 11

h a ir o f h er ll cud l

T 1 1 1: T wnur v-sm o xo '

o n DRct ia n .
- ’
S a n u o c h xk '
. A
W i ltl un sett l ed m o r ni n g he h a s j ust . r isen —better and
t ulmc r, n ow th a t th o l im c I o co me. th a n wa s ye stc nluy
‘
sh e .

M o cloc k S h o is ! h o o d
’
. . “Cc h a v e k issed each o th er ;
we h a ve-p romi sed ouc h u m no t to low co urage. l 111 11

W9
awn fo r a m om ent roo m. in th e 11 h irl 11 nd
co n unio n of
my th o u tec t t h at r
st a nge fa n cy o f
m ine h i nd ra n ce h the ma rri a ge. s t i ll h a n gi ng

a bo ut my mi nd . m in d. to o ? I w e
h im fro m th e wi nd o w r a nd thi th er ttnenxil
h
.

ni n o n g th e c a rria ge s a ~ ~
I l ow ca n I writ e suc
fo lly ! T h e m a rria ge is
'

l n lean th an ha ll nn h o ur
we sta rt fo r th e ch urch .

Elmira ma r ried
'
o clock. I t is T h ey a re .

Th ree wdeda i bl i n d with

'

l hey un
r cryi n g
I ca n 11 rit e no mo re
A

l ure]
[ Tier F i rs! Sl ory close:
 T H E W O M AN I N W H I T E
a nd th e hau nting d read un expre sse d by e ith e r o f u s an d yet
‘

_ , ,

eve r p rese nt to both that thi s deplorable marriage might ,

fi
p ro t e to b e th e o ne fatal e rror o f he r life an d the o ne h O p e
_

l e ss sorrow of min e F o r the fi rs t time i n all th e ye ars o f 0 11 1

.

cl ose a n d happy i nte rco urse we alm ost avoided lookin g e ach
othe r in th e f ac e ; an d we refrai ned by commo n consen t from , ,

speaki ng togethe r in private th rough the wh ole eve n ing I , .

c a n dwell o n i t n o lon ge r Whateve r futu re s o rrows may be .

in store fo r m e I sh all always look back o n this twe nty rst

,
-

o f D ece mber as th e m ost comfortle s s a n d most mi se rable day

o f my life .

I am writin g thes e li ne s 1 n th e soli tude o f my own room ,

l ong after mi dnigh t ; havi ng j ust come back fro m a stole n

l ook at Lau ra i n he r p retty little white bed — the be d she has
o ccu pie d si nc e th e days o f h er gi rlhood .

The re sh e lay u n co nsci ou s that I was lookin g at h e r

,

qu ie t more quie t than I had d are d to hope but n ot sleepi ng

, , .

The glimme r o f th e nigh t ligh t sh owed m e that he r eyes w ere -

on ly partially closed : the t race s of te ars glis ten ed betwee n

he r eyelids My little keepsake — only a brooch — lay on th e
.

table at he r be dside with he r p raye r b ook an d th e mini atu re ,

-
,

portrai t o f h e r fathe r whi ch sh e take s with he r whe reve r sh e

goe s I w a ited a m omen t looki ng at he r from behi nd h e r
.
,

pillo w as sh e lay be neath me with o n e arm a n d h a n d restin g

, ,

o n th e white c ove rlid s o stil l s o quietly breathi n that the , ,

g
,

frill o n h e r night dress n eve r move d — I waited , l ooking at -

h er as I have see n he r th ou sands of ti me s as I shal l n eve r

, ,

see h er again — an d the n stole back to my room My o wn .

l ove wit h al l you r wealth and al l you r beau ty h ow frie nd , ,

les s you are ! Th e o n e man wh o would give his h eart s life ’

to serve you i s far away tossi ng thi s s tormy n ight o n the

, , , ,

awful sea Wh o else i s left t o yo u ? N o fat h e r n o brothe r

.
,
— n o livi n g c reatu re bu t th e helple ss usele ss woman wh o
,

write s th ese sa d line s an d watch es by y o u fo r th e m orni n g , ,

i n s orrow that she can n ot c ompose i n d oubt th at sh e cann ot , ,

c onque r O h what a tru s t is to b e plac ed i n that man s

.
,
’

han ds to morrow ! I f ever he forg ets it if eve r h e inj ure s a

-
,

hai r o f h er head
T W E N T Y S E C O N D o r D E C E M B ER , S even o cl ock A
T HE
’
’

- .

wild u n settle d m orn in g S h e has j ust ri se n — bette r an d .

calmer n o w that the tim e h a s come than sh e was ye ste rday

‘ “

, , .

’
Ten o c l oc k
S he i s d resse d We have ki ssed e ach othe r
. . ; .

w ha v e ro mi e d e ach othe r n ot t o l I am ‘

e p
-
s o se c o u ra e
g .

1 70 .
 T HE W O M A N I N W H I T E

T H E S E CON D E PO CH .

conti n ued by M AR I A N HAL C OM B E .

$55
.

3
B la ck wa ter P a rk , H a mpsh i re.

J ! N E 1 1 th 1 8 5 0 —S ix m onth s t o l ook back o h — six long

, .
,

lonely m onth s sin ce Lau ra an d I last sa w each othe r !

,

H ow m any days have I still t o wait ? O nly on e ! To

m orrow th e twelfth th e travelle rs retu rn to England
, , I can .

h ardly reali se my o w n happiness ; I c a n hardly believe that

the n ext fou r a n d twe nty h ou rs wil l complete the last day of
- -

separati on betwee n Lau ra an d me .

S he an d h e r hu sban d have been in I taly al l the w i nte r an d ,

afte rward s i n the Tyrol They come back acco m pani ed by

.
,

Cou nt Fosco an d hi s wife wh o p rop ose to se ttle somewh e re

,

i n th e n eighb ou rhood o f Lon don an d wh o have eng a ged t o ,

stay at B lackwate r Park fo r the summe r mon ths befo re

d ecidin g o n a place o f resi dence S o lon g as Lau ra re tu rn s
.
,

n o m atte r wh o return s w ith he r S i r Pe rcival m ay fi ll th e .

h ou se from fl oo r to ce iling if h e like s o n co nditi on that hi s

, ,

wife a n d I inhabit i t togethe r .

M eanwhile he re I am e stablishe d at B lackwate r Park ;

, ,
‘
the anci en t an d i nte re sting seat (a s the cou nty hi story ’

‘
obligingly inform s me ) of S i r Pe rcival Glyde Bart — a n d , .
’

th e futu re abiding place (as I may n ow ve ntu re t o add o n my

-

accou nt ) o f plai n M arian H alcombe spi nster n o w se ttle d i n , ,

a snug little sitting room with a c u p of te a by he r side an d

-
, ,

all her earthly p osse s sion s ranged roun d h er i n three b oxe s

and a bag .

I left Lim m eridge ye ste rday ; havi n g received Lau ra s ’

delightful lette r from Pari s th e day before I had bee n

, .

p revi ou sl y u nce rtai n whethe r I was to meet the m i n London ,

1 72 ,
 T H E WO MAN I N WH ITE

or i n H ampshi re ; bu t thi s last lette r i nfo rme d me that S i r ,

Pe rcival p ropose d t o land at S outhampton a nd t o trave l ,

str a igh t o n to hi s cou ntry house H e has spent s o much m on ey - .

abroad that he has n one left to defray the expen se s o f livi ng in

,

Lon don for the re mai nde r o f th e seaso n an d he i s e con omi

,

cally resolve d to pass the summe r an d au tum n qu ietly at

B lac kwate r Lau ra h as had mo re than e n ough o f excite men t
.

a n d chan ge o f s ce n e a n d i s please d at the p ro spect o f

count ry tranquillity an d reti reme nt whi ch he r husban d s ’

pru dence provides fo r he r As fo r me I am ready to be .

,

happy anywhe re in he r s ociety We are all therefore well .

, ,

c ontented in o u r variou s ways to b egi n with , .

Last n igh t I slep t in Lo ndon an d w a s de layed th e re so

, ,

l on g to day by variou s call s a n d commi ssion s that I di d n ot

,
-
, ,

reach B lackwate r this eve nin g till afte r dus k

, , .

J u dging by my vague i mpressi on s of th e place thus far , ,

i t i s the exact opposite o f Lim m eridge .

The h ous e 1 5 situate d o n a dead fl at an d see m s t o be shu t ,

in— almos t s u ff ocated to my n orth cou ntry n otion s by t rees

,
-
, .

I have see n n obody but th e man se rvan t who ope n e d th e doo r

,
-

to me an d the hou se keepe r a ve ry civi l pe rs o n wh o sh owe d

, ,

me th e way to my o w n ro om an d go t me my tea I h ave a , .

nice li ttl e b oudoi r a n d bedroom at th e en d o f a l on g p assage ,

o n the fi rst flo or The se rvants a n d s om e o f th e spare ro oms ’

.

are o n th e secon d fl oo r ; a n d all th e livin g rooms are o n th e

grou nd fl oor I have n o t seen o n e o f the m yet an d I kn ow
.
,

n othing about the h ouse except that o n e wi n g o f i t i s sai d ,

to be five hun dred ye ars o ld that i t had a m oat rou nd i t ,

once a nd that it gets i ts n ame o f B lackwate r from a lake in

,

the park .

E leve n o clock h a s j ust s truck in a gh o stly a n d sol em n

’

man ne r from a tu rre t ove r th e ce ntre o f th e h ous e which I

, ,

s aw whe n I cam e in A la i ge d og h as bee n woke appa .

,

ren tl
y by th e s ou n d o f th e b ell a n d i s h owlin g and yawn i n g ,

drearily so m ew h ei e roun d a corne r

, I hear e ch oing foot .

steps i n th e passage s be low an d the i ron thu mping o f b olts ,

a n d bars at th e hou se doo r The se rvants are evide n tly goin g .

to bed .S hall I follow thei r exampl e P

N o : I am n ot half sleepy e nough S lee py did I say ? .
,

I feel as if I sh ou ld n eve r cl ose my eye s agai n The bare .

anticipatio n of see i ng that clear face an d h eari n g that well

kn own vo i ce to -morrow keep s me in a pe rpe tu al feve r o f e x ,

c item en t I f I only h ad th e p rivilege s o f a m an I w ould

.
,

o rde r o u t S i r Pe rcival s best h o rse i n stantly an d tear away

’
,

o n a n ight gallop eastward t o m ee t th e risin g su n — a lon g

-
, , ,

1 73
 ‘

T H E WO M AN I N W H ITE
hard h eavy ceaseless gallop o f h ou rs a nd h ou rs like th e
, , ,

famou s h ighwayman s ride to York B ein g h oweve r n othin g

’
.
, ,

bu t a woman condemne d to p atie nce p ropriety an d petticoats

, , , ,
’
for life I must respe ct th e h ousekee per s opini ons an d try t o
, ,

compose mys elf in so me feeble an d fe mi nin e way .

Re adin g is o u t o f th e qu estion — I can t fix my atte n tion o n ’

b ooks Let me try if I ca n wri te myself i n to sleepine ss an d

.

fatigue My j ou rn al has bee n ve ry much neglected o f late

. .

Wh at c a n I re call — stan ding as I n ow do o n the th re shol d , ,

o f a n ew life — o f pe rson s a n d even ts o f chan ce s an d ch ange s , ,

du ri ng th e p ast six m on th s — the long weary e mpty i nte rval , ,

sin ce Lau ra s wedding day ? ’

-

Walte r H a rtrigh t i s u ppe rm ost i n my me mo ry ; an d h e

passes fi rst in the sh adowy p roce ssi on o f my absen t frie nds .

I re ceive d a few l in es from him after th e landin g o f th e ,

expe ditio n in H on duras wri tten m ore chee rfully and h ope ,

fully than h e has writte n ye t A mon th o r six we ek s late r I .

,

sa w a n extract from a n Ame rican n ewspape r de scribing th e ,

departure o f the adve ntu re rs o n thei r i nland j ou rney They .

we re l as t see n e nteri ng a wild pri meval forest each man wi th ,

his rifle on hi s shoulde r an d h is baggage at his back S ince .

that time civilisati on has l ost all t race of th em

,
N o t a l i ne .

more h ave I receive d from Walte r ; n ot a fragmen t o f n ews

from the expe diti on h as appeare d in a ny o f the p u blic j o u rn a ls .

The sam e den se di she arten in g obscu rity h an gs ove r th e

,

fate an d fortune s of An ne C a th eric k a nd he r com pani on M rs , ,

.

Cle me nts N othi ng whateve r h as b ee n h e ard o f ei the r of

.

them Whe the r they are in the cou n try o r o u t o f i t whe the r
.
,

they are living o r dead n o one knows Eve n S i r Pe rcival s

, .
’

s olicito r h as lost al l hope a n d h as o rde red th e u se le ss se arch

,

afte r the fugi tive s to be finally give n u p .

Ou r good o ld frie n d M r Gilmore h as me t with a sad check .

in h is active p rofessional caree r E arly in the sp rin g we we re .

,

alarmed by h earing that h e had b ee n fou n d i nsensibl e at hi s

desk an d that th e seizure was p ro n ou n ce d to be an a p o plec
,

tic fi t H e had been long complaining o f fulnes s an d o pp res

.

s ion i n th e head a nd h is docto r h a d warn ed hi m o f th e co n

s eque nces that would foll ow h is persistency i n continuing to
w ork ea ly a d l ate as if he was still a youn g man
,
r n
,
T he .

re sul t no w i s that h e h as b ee n positively o rde red to k ee p o u t

o f h is office fo r a year to co me at least an d to seek repos e o f , ,

b ody an d relief o f min d by altogethe r changin g his u sual

mode o f life T he bu sine ss i s l eft acco rdingly t o b e carrie d
.
, ,

on b
y hi s p artne r and h e i s hi mself at thi s m omen t away , , ,

1 74
 T H E W O M AN I N W H I T E
l in es What ca n I recall o f he r duri n g th e p ast six mo nth s ,
. ,

b efo re I close my j ou rnal for the night

I h ave only he r lette rs to guide m e ; a n d o n th e most ,

imp ortan t o f all the que stion s whi ch o u r corre sp on den ce can
di scu ss eve ry o n e o f th os e l ette rs leave s m e i n th e dark
,
.

D oe s h e treat h er kin dly ? I s sh e happie r n ow th an sh e

was wh e n I parte d with h er o n th e wedding day ? All my -

lette rs h ave c on tai ned thes e two in qui ries pu t m ore o r le ss ,

fi
di rectly n ow in o ne form an d n ow i n an othe r ; an d all o n
, , ,

that p oi n t o nly h ave re mai n ed with ou t reply o r h ave bee n

, ,

an swere d as if my qu estion s me rely relate d to th e state

o f he r health S h e i nforms me ove r an d ove r agai n that sh e
.
, ,

i s pe rfectly well that t ravellin g agre e s with h e r that sh e i s

getting th rough th e winte r for the fi rst tim e in h e r l ife , ,

with ou t catch in g c old — bu t n ot a word c a n I nd anywh ere

which t ells m e plainly that sh e i s re co n ciled to h e r m arriage ,

a nd th at sh e c a n no w l ook bac k t o th e twen ty se con d o f -

D ecember with ou t any bitte r fee li ngs o f repe ntan ce a nd re

gret T h e nam e o f h er husban d i s only m ention ed in h e r
.

lette rs as sh e m ight me ntio n th e n am e o f a frien d wh o was

fi
,

t ravelling with them an d wh o had unde rtake n to make al l the

,
’
arrangements fo r th e j ourn ey S i r Pe rcival has settled that
.

‘ ’
we leave o n such a day ; S i r Pe rcival has d ecided that we
trave l by su ch a road S ometi me s sh e write s
. Pe rcival ,
’

o nly but very seldom — in ni n e cases o u t o f ten sh e give s hi m

, ,

h i s title .

I can not nd th at h i s h abits a nd o pin i on s have chan ged

a n d coloure d h ers i n a n y single parti cu lar Th e u sual moral .

t ran sfo rm ati o n which i s i n sen sibly wrought in a youn g fre sh , ,

sensitive woman by he r m arriage s eem s n eve r to hav e take n ,

plac e in Lau ra S h e write s o f he r own thoughts an d i mpre s

.

si on s am id all th e wond ers sh e has seen exactly as sh e might

, ,

h av e wri tte n t o s om e on e e lse if I h ad bee n t ravelli ng with,

he r instead o f h e r h u sband I see n o be trayal anywhe re o f

.
,

sym pathy o f any kin d exi sting between them Even whe n .

sh e wan de rs from th e subj ect o f h e r travels an d occupie s he r ,

self with th e p rosp ects that awai t h er ih E ngland h e r sp ec u ,

la tio ns are busied with h e r future as my siste r and persi s ,

tently neglect to n oti ce h e r futu re as S i r Pe rcival s wife

’
In .

all thi s the re i s n o u nder ton e o f complai nt to warn m e that

,
-
,

sh e i s abs olutely u nhappy i n h er marri ed life T he i mp ressio n .

I have de rived from o u r corre sp on de nce d o es n ot than k God , ,

l ead me t o any such di stre ssing c on clu si on as that I o nly .

see a s ad torpo r a n u nchangeable i ndiffe re nce whe n I turn

-

, ,

my mi nd from h e r in the o ld characte r of a si ste r and look at ,

1 76
 T HE W O MAN I N W H I T E
h e r th ro u gh th e m ediu m o f he r le tte rs in th e n ew ch a ract er
, ,

o f a wife I n othe r word s i t i s always Lau ra Fai rlie wh o h as

.
,

bee n writi ng to me fo r th e las t s i x m onth s a n d n eve r Lady ,

Glyde .

T h e strange sile nce wh ich sh e mai ntain s o n the s ubj e ct o f

he r h usban d s characte r a nd c onduct sh e p re se rve s wi th
’
,

alm ost equal res oluti on in the few refe re nce s which h e r late r
’
lette rs contai n to th e n ame o f h e r hu sban d s b oso m frie nd ,

C oun t Fosco .

For s ome u n explain e d reason th e Coun t an d h i s wi fe ,

appear t o have changed thei r plan s ab ruptly at th e e n d of ,

last autu mn an d t o have gon e t o Vi e nn a i n stead o f goi ng t o

, ,

R ome at which l atte r place S i r Pe rcival h ad expe cte d to fin d

,

the m whe n h e left E ngland T hey o nly qu itte d Vi en n a in the .

spri ng an d travelle d as far as the Tyrol t o m eet the bride an d

,

bridegroo m o n thei r h om eward j ou rney Lau ra write s readily .

e nou gh about th e meetin g w i th M adame F osc o and as su re s ,

m e that sh e has foun d h e r aun t so mu ch ch anged fo r th e

bette r— so much quiete r a n d s o much m ore se n si bl e as a wi fe
than sh e w a s as a single woman — that I shal l hardly kn o w
h er agai n whe n I see h e he re B ut o n th e su bj e ct o f C ou nt
r
.
,

Fosc o (wh o i nte re sts m e i nfi ni tely m ore than h is wife ) Lau ra ,

is provoki ngly ci rcu m spec t an d silent S h e only says that h e .

puz z les he r a nd that sh e wi ll n ot tel l m e what h e r imp re ssi on

,

of h im is u nti l I have see n him and formed my o w n opini on

, ,

fi rst .

T hi s t o my mi nd l o ok s ill fo r th e Cou nt Lau ra h a s

, , .

prese rve d far m o re pe rfectly th an m ost pe opl e d o in late r

,

life the ch ild s subtle facu lty of kn owin g a frie n d by in stinc t

,
’

a n d i f I am righ t i n as su mi n g th at h e r fi rst i m p ression o f

,

Cou nt Fo sco h a s n o t bee n favou rable I fo r o n e am in s ome , , ,

dan ger of d oubti ng an d di str u sti ng that i llu stri ou s foreigne r

before I have so much a s set eye s o n h im B u t patie nce .
, ,

patie nce thi s u nce rtai nty an d many u nce rtai ntie s m ore , ,

can n ot last mu ch l onge r T o m o rrow will see all my d oubts .

-

i n a fai r way o f bein g cle ared u p s oon e r o r late r , .

Twelve o clock h as stru ck ; a nd I h ave j u st com e back t o

’

cl ose these page s afte r looki ng ou t at my O pe n win dow

, .

I t is a still su ltry m oonle ss n igh t Th e stars are dull and

, , .

few The tree s that shu t o u t the V i ew o n all side s look

.
,

dimly black a n d solid in th e distance like a great wal l o f ,

rock I hear th e c roaking of frogs fai nt and far o ff ; and th e

.
,

echoe s o f th e great clock hu m in th e ai rles s cal m l ong afte r ,

th e stro k es have ceased I w onde r h ow Black wate r Park

'

will look i n the daytime P I don t altogethe r like it by n ight

’
.

1 77 N
 T H E WO M AN I N W H ITE
l ath —A day . of i nvestigation s and disco v erie s — a m ore
i ntere stin g day ,
fo r many reason s than I had ventured t o ,

anticipate .

I began my sight see in g o f cou rs e with th e h ou se -

, , .

Th e m ai n body o f th e bu ildi ng i s o f the tim e o f th at highly

ove r rated woman Quee n E li z abeth O n th e grou nd fl oo r
-
,
.
,

the re are two hugely l on g galle rie s with l ow cei lings lyi n g , ,

fi
parallel with each oth e r a nd re nde re d additi on ally dark and ,

dismal by hide ou s family portrait s — eve ry o ne o f which I

sh oul d like to bu rn Th e ro om s o n th e fl oo r ab ove the two gal
.

leries are kept in tole rable repai r bu t are very seldom u sed
, , .

Th e civi l h ou sekeepe r wh o acted as my gu id e o ff e re d to , ,

sh ow me ove r th em but c on siderately added that sh e fear ed

I sh ould n d the m rathe r o u t of o rde r My respe ct fo r th e .

i ntegrity of my o w n petticoats an d stocki ngs i nfinitely exceed s ,

my re spect fo r all th e Elizabethan bed rooms i n th e kingdom

s o I positively de cline d explorin g the u ppe r region s of d ust an d
d i rt at th e risk o f soili ng my n ice clean cl othes T h e h ou se .

keepe r said I am qu ite o f you r opi ni on mi ss

,
and appeare d ,

to thi nk me the most sen si ble w oman she h ad me t wi th for a

l ong ti me past .

S o much the n fo r th e mai n building T wo wings are

, , .

a dded at eithe r end of i t The h alf rui n ed win g on th e left -

fi
.
, ,

(as yOu app roach th e h ou se ) was onc e a place o f re siden c e

.
-
. .

stan di ng by itself an d w a s built i n th e fou rteenth centu ry

, .

O n e‘o f i S ir Pe rcival s mate rnal ancestors — I don t remem be r

'

’ ’
,

a n d d on t car e wh ich — tacke d o n the main bui lding at righ t

’

, ,

an gle s t o it i n th e aforesai d Quee n E li z abeth s ti me The

,
’
.

‘ ’
h ou seke epe r told me that th e architectu re of the o l d win g ,

oth outside an d i nside was con side red remarkab ly n e by ,

good j udge s O n furthe r i nvestigati on I di scove re d that

.
,

goo d j u dge s cou ld only exe rcis e thei r abilitie s on S i r Pe rcival s ’

pie ce of anti quity by p rev iously di smi ssi ng from thei r mi nds
all fear o f damp darkness and rats U n de r the se ci rcu m
, , .

stances I u nh esitatingly ackn owledge d myself t o be n o j u dge

,
‘
at al l ; a nd suggested that we should t reat the o ld win g ’

p reci sely as we had p revi ously treated the E li z abethan bed

‘
rooms On ce m ore th e h ou sekeepe r said I am qu ite o f
.
, ,

you r O pini on mi ss ; an d on ce m ore sh e looked at me with

, ,

u ndis gu i sed admi ration o f my extrao rdi nary common se nse .

We went n ext t o the wing o n the right which was bu ilt

, , , ,

by way of completi ng th e wonde rful archite ctu ral j u mble at

B lackwate r Park i n th e time o f Ge orge the S e cond
, .

Thi s i s th e habitabl e part o f th e h ou se whi ch has bee n ,

repai re d an d r edecorate d i n side o n L au ra s accou nt My , ,

’
.

1 78
 T HE W O M A N I N W H IT E

fi rs th e path took a sh arp turn th e tree s abruptly ceased to

,

appear o n eithe r side o f me ; an d I fou nd myself standi ng

su ddenly o n th e margi n of a vast open space and l ooking ,

d own at th e B lackwate r l ake from whi ch th e h ou s e take s it s

n am e .

The grou n d shelvin g a w ay below me w a s all san d with

, , ,

a few little he athy hi ll ocks t o break the mon otony of i t i n

ce rtai n place s The lake i tself h ad evidently on ce fl owed to
.

the sp ot o n wh ich I stood an d h a d be en gradu ally wasted ,

and dri ed u p to le ss than a thi rd of its form er size I sa w its .

still stagnant waters a quarte r o f a m ile away from me i n

, ,

th e h ollow s eparated i nto pools an d ponds by twi n in g re eds

, ,

and ru she s an d little kn olls of earth

, O n th e farth er ban k .

from me th e t rees ros e thickly again an d shu t o u t the view

, , ,

an d cast thei r black shadows o n the sluggi sh sh allow wate r ,

.

As I w a lk ed d own to the lake I sa w that th e ground o n its ,

farthe r side was dam p a n d marshy ove rgrown with rank ,

grass an d dismal wi llows Th e water w hich w a s cle ar .

,

en ough o n th e O pe n sandy side w he re th e su n shon e lo oked , ,

black an d p oi son ou s opposi te t o me where i t lay deepe r ,

u nde r the shade of th e spon gy bank s an d th e ran k over ,

hanging thickets an d tan gled trees The frogs w e re c roaki ng .

,

a n d the rats we re sl ippin g i n an d o u t o f th e sh adowy w ate r ,

l ike live shadows th emse lves as I got n eare r t o the marshy ,

s ide o f th e lake I sa w here lyin g half in an d h alf o u t o f

.
,

th e water th e rotten wre ck o f an o ld ove rtu rn ed b oat with a

, ,

s ickly sp ot o f su nlight glimme rin g th rou gh a gap in th e t ree s

o n its dry surface and a sn ake baski ng in th e midst o f the
,

sp ot fantasti cally coiled and treache rou sly still

, Far and,
.

n ear th e V iew suggested th e sam e dreary impressio ns o f

,

s olitude an d decay ; and the gloriou s b rightn e ss o f th e

summe r sky overhead see med only t o deepen an d h arde n th e
,

gloom an d barrenn es s o f the wi ldern e ss o n whi ch it sh on e .

I turn ed an d retrace d my steps to th e high heathy grou nd ; ,

d ire ctin g them a little aside from my former path towards a ,

sh abby o ld woode n shed wh ich stood o n th e oute r skirt o f ,

fi
th e fir p lantati on an d whi ch had h ithert o bee n to o u m
,

i mp ortant t o share my n otic e with the wide wild prospect o f ,

the lak e .

O n approachi ng th e shed I foun d that i t had once bee n a ,

b oat h ou s e and that a n atte mpt h ad apparen tly bee n made t o

-
,

c onve rt i t afte rwards i nto a s ort o f rude arb ou r by placin g ,

i n side i t a rw o o d seat a few s tool s a n d a table I e nte re d

, ,
.

the place an d sa t d own for a little while , to res t an d ge t my

,

breat h a gain .

1 80
 T H E WO M AN I N W H IT E
I had n ot bee n in th e boat hous e mo re than a mi nute whe n -
,

i t s truck me that the s oun d o f my o w n quick breathing was

ve ry strangely ech oe d by somethin g be neath me I listen ed .

i ntently fo r a mome nt and heard a low thick s obbing breath , , ,

that see med to come from the groun d u nde r th e se at which I

was occupyin g My nerve s are n ot easily shaken by trifl es
.

but o n this o ccasi on I started t o my feet i n a fright —calle d

, ,

o ut — received n o an swe r — su mm oned back my recreant

c ourage — an d looke d u nder th e se at .

There crouch ed u p i n the farthe st corn e r lay th e forlorn

, ,

cau se of my te rro r in the shape o f a p oor littl e d og— a blac k

,

a n d white spaniel Th e creature moaned fee bly when I .

looked at i t and calle d to i t but n eve r stirred I move d , .

away the s eat a nd looke d close r Th e p o or little dog s eye s .

’

we re glazi ng fas t an d there w e re spots o f blood o n its glos sy

,

white side The mi sery of a weak h elpless dumb creature i s

.
, ,

s ure ly o n e o f the sadde st o f all the m ournful sights wh ich

this world c a n show I lifted the poo r d og in my arm s as .

gently as I coul d a nd contrived a sort O f make shift h ammock

,
-

for him to lie in by gathe rin g u p th e fr ont of my dre ss al l

,

rou nd him I n thi s way I took the c reatu re as painlessly as

.
, ,

possible an d as fas t as possible back t o th e hous e

, , .

Finding n o o n e in the hall I we nt u p at o n ce t o my o wn ,

sittin g room mad e a be d for the do g with o n e o f my o ld

-
,

s hawls an d rang the bell Th e large st an d fattes t o f a ll

,
.

p os sible h ouse maids answered i t i n a state o f cheerfu l ,

stu pidity which would have p rovoked th e patien ce o f a sain t .

Th e girl s fat shape less face actually stretche d into a broad

’

grin at th e sigh t o f the wou n de d creatu re o n th e floor

, .

What d o yo u see there to laugh at P I aske d as an grily ,

as if she had bee n a s ervant O f my own D o you kn ow .

wh ose dog i t i s P
’
N o mis s th at I certainly d on t
, , S he stopped an d ’
.
,

l ooked d own at th e s pani el s i nj u re d si de — brigh tene d ’

suddenly with the irradi ati o n o f a n ew i dea— and p ointi ng t o ,

the wou nd with a chuckle of s atisfacti on said That s , ,

’

B axter s doings that i s

’

, .
’

I w a s s o exaspe rate d that I cou ld have b oxe d he r ears .

B axte r I said Wh o i s the brute you call Baxte r

.
!

The girl gri nn ed again more chee rfu lly than eve r B les s , .

yo u miss ! B axte r s the keeper ; and when h e fi nds stran ge

,

dogs hu nti ng about he take s an d sh oots em I t s keeper s

,
’
.
’ ’

do o ty miss I thi nk that dog wi ll die H e re s whe re h e s ’ ’

, . .

been shot ai n t it ? That s B axte r s d oin gs tha t is

,
’ ’ ’
, .

B a x t er s d oin gs m is s , an d B axte r s do o ty
’
,
’
.
’

18 1
 TH E WO M AN IN W H IT E

I wa s almost wicke d e nough to wish that B axte r had sh ot

the h ouse mai d i n stead of th e dog S ee i ng that it was qu ite .

u s eles s t o e x pect thi s de nsely impe netrable pe rso nage t o

give me any help i n relievi ng the su ff eri ng creatu re at o u r
’
feet I tol d her to re quest th e hou sekeepe r s atten dance wi th
,

my com pliments S h e we nt o u t exactly a s sh e had c om e

.

i n gr i nn i n g fro m ear to ear

,
As th e do o r close d o n he r she .
,

said t o herself s oftl y I t s B a x te r s doings an d B axte r s

, ,
’ ’ ’

do o ty— that 8 wha t i t i s

’ ’
.

Th e h ou sekeepe r a pe rson o f s om e e du catio n an d in ,

telligen c e th oughtfully b rought u p stai rs with he r s ome mil k

,
-

a n d s ome warm wate r T he i n stant sh e saw th e d og o n the

.

fl oo r sh e starte d a nd change d c o l ou r
,
.

Why Lo rd b le ss m e c rie d th e h o u sekeepe r that m u s t

, ,
’
,
’ ’
b e M rs C a th eric k s dog !
.

Wh ose I aske d i n the u tm ost astonish me nt , .

M rs C a th eric k s Y o u see m t o kn ow M rs C a th erick ,

.
’
. .

M is s H alcombe
‘
N ot pe rs onally B ut I have heard o f he r D oe s sh e
. .

live he re H as she h ad a ny news of he r daughte r P

’
N o M is s H alc ombe
, S he came h e re to ask fo r news . .

Whe n P
O n ly ye ste rday S he sai d some o ne had re po rte d that a
.

st ran ge r an swe ri ng t o the descripti on o f h e r dau ghter h ad

bee n seen in o u r neigh bou rh ood N O such repo rt has reache d .

u s h e re ; an d n o su ch re p ort was kn own in the village whe n ,

I sen t t o m ake inqui rie s the re o n M rs C a th eric k s accou nt .

’
.

S he ce rtain ly brought thi s po or little dog with he r whe n sh e

cam e ; and I saw i t t rot out afte r he r whe n sh e wen t away .

I su ppos e th e creatu re straye d i nto the plantation s an d got ,

shot Whe re di d you fi n d i t M i ss H alcomb e

.
,

I n th e o l d she d that looks ou t o n the lake

’
.

Ah ye s that is the plantation side a n d the p o o r thin g

, , ,

d ragge d itse lf I supp ose to th e n eares t sh elte r as dogs

, , ,

will t o die
, I f you c a n m oisten i ts lips with th e milk M is s
.
,

H alcombe I will wash the cl otte d hai r fi o m th e wou nd

, I .

am ve ry mu ch afrai d it i s too late to do a ny go o d H owe v e r .

,

we c a n but try .
’

M rs C a th eric k ! T h e n ame still rang in my ears as i f

.
,

the h ou seke epe r had on ly that moment su rpri se d m e by

utte ring i t While we we re atten di ng t o th e d og th e wo rds
.
,

of Walte r H a rtrigh t s caution t o m e retu rn e d t o my me mory

’
.

‘
I f eve r Ann e C a th eric k c ros se s you r path m ake be tte r u se ,

o f th e opp ortu nity M is s H alcombe than I made o f it The ’

, , .

fi n ding o f the wou nde d S panie l had led me al ready to the

1 82
 TH E WO MAN I N W H I T E
’
Ve ry little replie d th e hou sekeepe r
, S he talked p ri n .

c i a ll
p y o f S i r Pe rcival and asked a great many qu e sti on
, s
ab out whe re he had bee n t ravellin g an d what s o rt o f a lady ,

hi s n ew wife was S he seeme d to be more s ou re d an d pu t

.

o u t than di stre ssed by failing t o fin d a ny t race s o f h e r

,
“ ”
daughte r i n these parts I give he r u p we re th e last .
,
“
words sh e sai d that I c a n re membe r ; I give he r u p .
,
”
ma am for l ost
’
,
An d from that sh e pas se d at on ce t o h e r
.
,

questio n s about Lady Glyde ; wantin g t o kn ow if she was a

h andsome amiab le lady c omely a nd healthy an d youn g
, ,

Ah dear ! I th ou ght h ow i t wou ld e n d

,
Look M i ss H al .
,

combe th e p oo r thing i s o u t o f it s mise ry at last

The dog w a s dead I t had give n a faint s obbi ng c ry i t
.
, ,
’
had su ff e re d a n i nstant s co nvulsi on o f the limbs j ust as ,
‘
thos e last word s comely an d healthy an d you ng d roppe d
, ,
’

from th e h ou s ekeep e r s l ips The change had happene d wi th ’

.

startlin g sudde n nes s — in on e momen t the c reature lay lifele ss

u n de r o u r han ds .

E igh t o c lock ’
I have j ust retu rn ed fro m di nin g d own
.

stai rs in solitary s tate The su n se t is bu rn ing re dly o n the

,
.

wilde rnes s o f tre es that I se e from my win dow ; an d I am

poring ove r my j ou rnal again to calm my i mpatie n ce fo r the ,

re tu rn o f th e t ravelle rs Th ey ought to have arr 1 y ed by my .

c alculation s before this , H ow still an d lonely th e h ouse I S in

.

the d rowsy eve nin g qui et ! O h me ! h ow m any minute s ,

mo re befo re I hear the carriage wheels an d ru n down stai rs to

’
fi n d myse lf in Lau ra s arm s
Th e p oo r little d og ! I wi sh my fi rst day at B lackwate r
P ark had n ot bee n as sociated with death — th ough i t i s o nly
th e death o f a st ray ani mal .

W elm ingh a m — I see o n lo okin g back th rough the se p rivate ,

page s o f mi n e that W elm ingh a m i s th e name o f th e place

,

whe re M rs C a th eric k lives

. H e r n ote i s still in my p osses .

s i on the n ote in answe r to that letter abou t he r unhappy

,

d augh te r whi ch S i r Pe rcival obliged m e to write One of .

the se days when I c a n fin d a safe opportunity I will take th e

, ,

n ote with me by way o f i ntroducti o n and try what I c a n ,

m ake o f M rs C a th eric k at a p e rs onal i ntervi ew I don t

. .
’

u nde rstan d he r wishing to conceal he r vi sit to thi s place from

’
S i r Pe rcival s kn owledge an d I don t fee l half s o su re as the ’

h ou sekeepe r see ms t o d o t hat he r daughte r An ne i s n ot i n ,

the n eighbou rh ood afte r all What would Walte r Ha rtrigh t

, .

h ave sai d 1 n thi s e me rge ncy ? Poo r dear H a rtrigh t I am , .

beginn in g to fee l th e wan t o f hi s honest a dvi c e an d hi s willin g

h el p alread y
,
.

1 84
 T HE WO MAN IN WH I T E
S urely I heard something Was it a b u st l e of footste ps
, .

’
below s tai rs Ye s I hear the h orse s fe et I hear th e rolling
wheels

J U N E 1 sth The confusi on of thei r arrival h a s had tim e to

.
-

subside Tw o days h ave e laps ed si n ce th e retu rn o f th e

.

t ravellers ; and that i nte rval has su ffi ce d to put th e n ew

machin e ry o f ou r live s at B lackwate r Park in fai r w o rking
o rde r .I may n ow retu rn to my j ou rnal with s om e little ,

chance o f bein g able to con ti nu e th e e ntrie s i n i t as collectedly

as u sual .

I th in k I must begin by puttin g d own a n odd remark ,

wh ich h a s suggested itself t o m e s i nce Lau ra cam e back .

Whe n two membe rs of a family o r two i ntimate frien ds are , ,

separated a n d on e goe s ab road an d o n e re main s at h ome th e

, ,

return o f the re lative o r frien d wh o h as bee n travellin g always ,

se ems to place the relative o r frien d wh o has been stayin g at

h ome at a pai nful disadvantage whe n th e two fi rst m eet ,
.

Th e sudde n e ncou nte r o f th e new th oughts an d n ew habits

e age rly gai ned in the o n e case with the old th oughts an d ,

o ld habits passively p re se rve d i n th e oth e r se e ms at fi rst to , , ,

part th e sympathie s of the m ost l ovin g re lati ve s a nd th e

fonde s t frie nds a n d to set a sudde n strange n ess u nexpe cted
, ,

by both and u ncont rollable by both b etwee n the m o n eithe r ,

side Afte r the fi rst happin es s o f my meetin g with Lau ra was

.

ove r afte r we had sat down togethe r han d in han d to recove r

, , ,

breath en ough an d calmn e s s e n ough to talk I felt th is stran ge ,

n ess in stantly a n d I could see that she felt i t too

, I t has .

partially worn away n o w th at we have falle n back i nto m os t

,

of o u r o ld habits an d i t will probably di sappear before long .

B ut i t has ce rtain ly had a n i nflue nce ove r th e fi rst i mp re ss ion s

th a t I have formed o f h e r n ow that we are livin g togethe r
,

again — fo r whi ch reason only I have th ough t fit to menti on

it he re .

S he has fou nd me u naltered b ut I ha v e foun d h e r

chan ged .

Changed in pe rson and in o ne re spect change d in , , ,

characte r I can n ot absolutely sa y that sh e i s les s beautiful

.

than she u se d to be I ca n on ly say that she i s les s beautiful

to m e .

O the rs wh o d o n ot l ook at her with my eye s a n d my

,

rec ollection s wou ld probably think he r i mproved The re i s

, .

mo re colou r an d m ore decisio n and rou ndne ss o f outli n e in

,

h er fac e th a n th ere u se d t o be ; an d her fi gu re see ms m ore

185
 T H E W O M AN I N W H ITE
fi rmly s et an d m ore su re and easy in all its moveme nts than
,

i t w a s i n h er m aide n days B ut I m is s someth ing w hen I look .

at he r— somethi ng that on ce belonged to the happy i n n ocent ,

life o f Lau ra Fai rli e an d that I can n ot find in Lady G lyd ,

The re was in th e O ld times a fresh ness a softn es s a n ever

, , , ,

va rying and yet eve r re mai ning tende rnes s o f beauty i n her -

face th e charm o f which i t i s n ot possi ble t o exp res s in wo rds

,
-
o r a s p oo r H a rtrigh t u sed ofte n t o say i n pai nti n g eithe r
, , , .

T h is i s gon e I though t I saw th e faint reflexion of it fo r a

.
,

mome nt whe n sh e tu rn ed pale u nde r th e agitati on o f o u r

,

s udde n meeting o n the eve ning o f he r retu rn ; but i t has

,

n eve r reappeared s ince N on e o f h er letters had p rep are d me .

for a pe rsonal chan ge i n he r O n th e contrary they h ad le d .

,

m e to expect that he r marriage h ad left he r in appearance at ,

least quite un alte red

, Pe rhaps I read h e r lette rs wrongly .
, ,

i n the past and am n ow re a din g h e r face wrongly i n the

, ,

p re sen t ? N o matte r ! Wh ethe r he r beauty h as gai ned o r ,

wh ethe r it has l ost in the las t six m onths th e s eparation , , ,

eithe r way h as mad e he r o w n dear se lf m ore p re ci ou s to m e

,

— ‘
than eve r and that i s o e good resu t of h e r marriage at
n ,

any rate
Th e s econ d change th e change that I ha v e obse rved i n h er ,

characte r has n ot su rprised me becau se I was p repared fo r

, ,

i t i n this cas e by the ton e o f h er lette rs N ow that sh e i s

, , .

at home again I fin d h er just as u nwi lling t o en te r i nto any

,

details o n th e subject of he r m arrie d li fe a s I h ad previ ou sly ,

fou n d h er all th rough th e ti me o f o u r separati on whe n we

, ,

c ou ld on ly com mu ni cate wi th each othe r by writin g At the .

first app roach I made to the fo rbidde n topi c sh e put he r hand ,

o n my lips with a look an d ge sture wh ich t ouchingly almos t

, ,

painfully recalled to my m emory th e days o f he r gi rlh ood and

,

fi
the happy bygon e ti me whe n th ere we re n o se crets bet ween u s .

Whe neve r yo u an d I are togethe r M ari an sh e said , ,

’
,

fi
we shall both be happie r and easie r with o n e an othe r if we ,

accept my marri ed life fo r what i t i s an d sa y and thi nk ,

as l ittle abou t i t as p ossibl e I woul d tel l y o u eve ry thing .

,
’
darling abou t mys elf sh e we n t on n ervou sly buc kling an d
, , ,
‘
u nbu ckling th e ri bb on roun d m y waist if my c o n den c es ,

co u ld on ly e nd th ere B u t the y coul d n ot — th ey wou ld lead

.

me i nto c o n den c es ab ou t my hu sband too ; an d n o w I am , ,

married I thin k I h ad bette r avoi d them for h i s sake an d

, , , _

for you r sake an d for m in e I don t say that th ey woul d

, .
’

d istre ss yO u o r distre s s m e — I wouldn t h ave you thin k that

,
’

for th e world B u t — I wan t to b e so happy n ow I h a v e go t

.
,

you bac k again an d I wan t yo u to be so h appy too ,

1 86
 T H E WO MAN I N W H ITE

pe rhaps becaus e I felt in my o wn h eart a n d c on scien ce that

, , , ,

i n h er p lace I should hav e asked th e sam e que stion s a nd had

th e same th oughts All I Could h one stly do was to reply th at
.
-

I had n ot wri tte n to hi m o r h eard from hi m lately a nd the n ,

to turn th e conversatio n to les s d ange rous topics .

Th ere has bee n much to sadden m e in o u r i nte rvi e w— m y

fi rst confide n tial i nterview with he r sin ce her retu rn Th e .

chang e which h e r marriage has p rodu ce d in o u r relation s

towards e ach oth e r by placi ng a forbidden su bj ect be tween
,

u s for th e fi rst time i n o u r live s

,
th e melanch oly co nvictio n
o f the d earth of all warmth o f feeling o f all close sympathy , ,

b etween her hu sban d an d he rself which he r o wn u nwillin g ,

words n ow fo rce o n my mind ; th e distressing discove ry th at

the i nflue n ce o f that i ll fated attachme nt s ti ll remain s (n o
-

m atte r h ow i nnoce ntly h ow h armlessly ) roote d as deeply as

,

eve r i n he r h eart— a ll th ese are d isclosu res to sadd en any

wo man wh o love s h e r as clearly an d fee ls fo r he r as acu tely , ,

as I do .

Ther e i s on ly o n e con solation to set agai nst th em a c o n -

solation that ought to c omfort me a nd that d oe s comfort me , .

Al l the graces a n d gentl en esse s o f h e r characte r ; all the fran k

a ffection o f he r n atu re all the sweet simple womanly ch arm s , ,

which u se d to make he r the darlin g an d deligh t o f eve ry on e

wh o approach ed he r have c ome back to m e with h e rself Of
,
.

my othe r i mpres si on s I am s ome time s a little i ncline d t o

doubt O f this last bes t happies t o f all imp ressi on s I grow
.
, , ,

mo re an d more ce rtain eve ry h ou r in th e d ay , .

Let m e turn n ow from he r to he r t ravelling compani ons

, , .

H e r hu sband mu st en gage my atte nti on fi rst What have I .

ob se rve d in S i r Pe rcival s i nce his retu rn to imp rove my , ,

O pin ion of him

I c a n hardly sa y S m all vexati on s a nd an n oyances s ee m
.

to h ave b ese t hi m since h e came back : an d n o m an u n de r ,

those circu mstances i s eve r p resen ted at hi s be st H e looks

, .
,

as I thi n k thi nn e r than he was wh en h e left Englan d

, His .

fi
weari som e cough an d hi s comfo rtles s restless n es s have
certai n ly in creased H i s man n e r— a t least hi s man ne r

fi
.
,

fi
towards m e — is mu ch m ore ab ru pt th an it us e d t o be He .

greeted me o n th e evening o f hi s retu rn with little o r n o

, ,

thing o f the ce rem ony a nd civility o f forme r time s —n o p olite

s peeches o f welcome — mo appearance o f extrao rdi n ary grati
c a ti o n at s eein g me — n othin g but a sh ort shak e o f the han d ,

a n d a sharp H ow d ye do M is s H alcombe — glad t o see yo u

"
-
’
-
,

agai n .
’
H e s ee me d to accept m e as o ne o f the n ece ssa ry
x tu re s of B l a c kwate r Park ; to be satisfi ed at ndin g me
1 88
 T HE WO M A N I N W H I T E
e sta bl ishe d in m y prope r place ; an d the n to pas s me Ov er
altogethe r .

M ost m en sh ow s omethin g o f thei r disp osition s in the i r

o w n h ou ses which th ey have c onceale d elsewhe re ; a nd S i r
,

Pe rcival h as al ready displayed a mani a fo r o rde r a n d regu

l a rity which i s qu ite a n ew revelati on o f h i m so far as my
, ,

p revi ou s kn owledge o f hi s ch aracte r i s con ce rn ed I f I take .

a book fro m the library an d leave i t o n th e table h e follows ,

m e an d puts i t back again

, I f I ri s e from a chai r a n d let i t
.
,

re mai n whe r e I have bee n sitting h e c arefully resto re s i t to

.
,

i ts p rop er place against th e w all H e picks u p stray fl owe r .

bloss oms from the carpe t an d mu tte rs to h imself as di scon

,

ten tedly as if they we re h o t C i nde rs bu rni ng h ole s in it ; an d

he storm s at the se rvants if the re i s a crease in the tablecloth
'
, ,

or a kn ife missing from i ts place at the di nn e r table as -

,

fie rcely as if they h ad pe rsonally i n su lte d him .

I h ave already referred t o the s mall an n oyan ces which

appear to have t rouble d hi m s ince h is retu rn M uch o f th e .

alte rati on fo r th e wo rs e which I have n otice d in hi m may be ,

du e to thes e I try t o pe rsuade myself that i t i s so becau se

.
,

I am anxiou s n ot t o b e di shearten ed already ab out th e futu re .

I t i s ce rtainly t ryi ng to any m an s tempe r t o be met by a vexa ’

ti on the m oment h e sets foot in h i s o w n h ou se again afte r a ,

l ong absen ce ; an d thi s an n oyi n g ci rc u m stance did really

h appe n to S i r Pe rcival i n my p resen ce .

O n th e eve n in g o f thei r arrival the h ou sekeepe r fO llo wed ,

m e into the hall t o re ceive h e r m aste r an d mi stres s an d thei r

guests Th e i n stant he sa w h e r S i r Pe rcival asked if any o n e
.
,

had called lately T h e h ou sekeepe r m enti on e d t o h im in

.
,

reply what sh e had p revi ously mention ed to m e th e vis it o f

, ,

th e st range ge ntleman t o m ake i n qui rie s abou t the ti me of he r

maste r s retu rn ’
H e aske d immediately fo r th e ge ntleman s
.
’

n ame N o nam e had bee n left Th e gentlem an s bu sin es s ’

. .

N o busine s s h ad been menti oned What w a s the ge ntleman .

like ? Th e h ou sekeepe r tried t o de scribe hi m ; bu t faile d t o

di stin gui sh th e n amele s s visito r by any pe rsonal peculiarity
which h e r maste r could recogni se S i r Pe rcival frown ed .
,

stampe d angrily o n th e floo r an d walke d on i nto th e h ouse , ,

t akin g n o n otice of anybody Why h e sh ou ld have bee n so .

d iscomp osed by a trifl e I can not say —but he was se riou sly
discompose d beyon d all dou bt
, .

U pon th e whole it wi ll b e best pe rhaps if I abstai n from

, , ,

formin g a de ci sive O p inion o f hi s man ne rs langu age an d con , ,

duct in hi s o w n h ouse u nti l time h a s e nable d him t o sh ake o ff

,

th e anxieties whateve r they may be which n o w evi dently

, ,

1 89
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E
trouble hi s min d in secret I will tu rn ove r to a n ew page
.

a n d my p en sh all let Lau ra s hu s ban d alon e for th e p rese nt

’
.

The two gue sts — the Cou n t an d Cou nte ss Fosco — com e
n ext in my catalogue I will dispo se o f the Countess fi rst so
.
,

as to have d on e with the woman as s oon as p ossibl e .

Lau ra was ce rtain ly n ot chargeable with any exagge rati on ,

in writin g me wo rd that I sh ou ld hardly recogn i se her aun t

again whe n we met N eve r before have I beheld such a change
,
.

p roduced in a woman by he r marriage as h as be en p roduced

in Madame F o sco .

As E leano r Fairlie (aged seve n an d th i rty ) sh e was always - -

,

talking p retenti ou s n on se n se and always wo rryin g the u m ,

fortu nate m en with eve ry s mall exactio n which a vai n an d

foolish woman can i mpos e on l ong su ff e rin g male humani ty -
.

As M adame Fosc o (aged th re e an d fo rty ) sh e sits fo r h ou rs - -

,

togethe r with out sayin g a word frozen u p i n the st rangest ,

m an ne r in he rse lf The h ide ously ridicu lou s love locks wh ich

.

u se d to han g o n eithe r s i de o f h e r face are n ow replace d by ,

s ti ff litt le rows of ve ry short cu rls o f th e so rt that o n e see s i n ,

o ld fash ione d wigs A plai n matronly c a p cove rs he r h ead

.
, ,

an d make s he r l ook fo r the fi rst tim e in he r life si nce I re

, ,

m ember h e r like a d ecen t woman N ob ody (puttin g he r

, .

hu sband o u t o f the qu e stion o f c ou rse ) n ow sees in he r , ,

what eve ryb ody o nce saw— I mean th e s tructu re o f th e femal e

skeleton i n th e uppe r regi on s o f th e c ollar b on e s an d th e
,
-

shoulde r blades
- Clad in qui et black o r gray gown s made
.
,

high rou n d the throat — d re ss e s that sh e would h ave laughe d

at o r s creame d at as the wh i m of th e m om en t i n clin ed he r
, , ,

i n h e r maiden days — she s its speechles s i n co rn e rs h e r d ry

wh ite h ands (s o dry that th e p o res of he r ski n l ook chalky )
in cessantly e ngaged eithe r 1 n mon oton ou s e mb roide ry work
, ,

o r i n rollin g up e ndle s s littl e ci gare tte s fo r th e Cou n t s o w n

’

p articular sm okin g O n th e few occa sion s whe n he r cold

.

blue eye s are O ff he r w m k they are gene rally tu rn ed on ,

h e r hu sband with the loo k of mute submi ss ive i nqu i ry

,

which we are all familiar with i n th e eye s o f a fai thful

do g . The o nly approach t o an i nward thaw which I h ave yet
detecte d u n der he r outer cove ring o f icy con straint h as be ,

f rayed i ts elf on ce o r twice in th e form o f a su pp re ss ed tige ri sh

, ,

j eal ou sy o f any woman in th e h ou se (th e maids i ncluded ) t o

whom th e Cou n t speaks o r o n who m he l ook s with anythin g
’

approaching t o special i nte re st o r atte ntion Except i n th i s .

o n e part i cu lar sh e i s always

, mo rn i n g n oon an d n ight in , , , ,

d oo rs an d O u t fai r weathe r o r foul a s cold a s a statue and

, , ,

a s impen etrable as the ston e o u t of whi ch i t i s cu t F o r th e .

1 90
 T HE W O MA N I N W H IT E

de nta l additi o n many pou nds o f fl esh has a directl y

of so

favou rable i nflue n ce ove r the di sposition o f the pe rs on o n

wh os e body they accu mulate I have i nvariably combated .

both thes e absu rd asse rti o n s by quoting example s o f fat people

wh o we re as m ean vici ou s an d cruel as the leane st and the
, , ,

wo rst o f thei r n eighbou rs I h ave asked whethe r H en ry th e

.

Eighth was a n amiabl e ch aracte r ? w hethe r Pope Alexande r

th e S ixth was a good m a n ? Wh ethe r M r M u rde rer and .

M rs M u rderes s Man n ing we re n ot b oth u nu su ally stou t

.

pe opl e Whethe r h i red nu rses prove rbially as c ru el a set of ,

women as are t o be fou nd i n all En gland we re n ot fo r th e , ,

most part also as fat a set O f women as are t o be foun d in all

,

E ngland — an d s o o n th rou gh d o z en s o f othe r example s , ,

modern an d an cie nt native an d fo reign high and low , , .

H oldin g these stron g opin ion s o n the su bj ect with m ight an d

m ai n as I d o at thi s mom en t h ere n eve rthele ss i s Count
, , , ,

F osco as fat as H e n ry th e E ighth h imself e stablished in my

, ,

favou r at on e day s n otice w ith out let o r h indrance from his

,
’
,

o w n odi ou s c orpule nce M arvellou s i ndeed ! .

I s i t h i s fac e that h a s re commended h im

I t m ay be hi s face H e i s a m ost rem arkable liken e ss 0 11
.
,

fi
a large scale o f th e G reat Napoleon
, H i s featu re s have .

N apole on s magn ificen t regularity hi s exp re ssi on recalls th e

’

grandly calm immovable powe r o f th e G reat S oldie r s face

,
’
.

Th i s strikin g resemblance ce rtain ly impre s sed m e t o begi n ,

with but the re i s s omethin g in him be side s th e resemblance ,

wh ich has i mpres sed m e mo re I thi nk the i nfluence I am .

n ow tryin g t o nd i s in h is eyes They are th e m ost u m

, .

fath omable gray eyes I eve r saw : and they h ave at time s a
c old clear beautiful i rresisti ble glitter in the m which fo rces
, , , ,

m e to look at him an d yet cau s e s m e sensati on s when I d o

, ,

look whi ch I wou ld rathe r n ot feel

, O the r parts o f hi s face .

a n d head h ave thei r strange peculiarities H i s co m plexion .

,

fo r i nstan ce has a si ngular sallow fairnes s s o mu ch at vari

,
-
,

an ce with th e dark b rown col ou r o f hi s hair that I suspect

-
,

the hai r o f being a wig an d hi s face closely shaven all ove r i s , ,

s moothe r an d free r from all mark s and wrinkle s than mi ne ,

thou gh (accordi ng t o S i r Pe rcival s accou nt o f him ) he i s close ’

o n sixty ye ars o f age B ut th es e are n ot th e p rominent pe r

.

s onal characteri stic s which distingui sh him to my mind from , ,

all th e othe r m en I h ave eve r seen The marked peculiarity .

whi ch si ngle s hi m o u t from the rank a n d file o f humanity lie s ,

e nti rely s o far as I c a n tell at present in th e extrao rdi nary ex

, ,

p r ession an d e xtraordi nary powe r of hi s eye s .

H i s man ne r and h is comman d o f o u r lan gu age , ma y a ls o

,

1
92
 T H E WO M AN I N W H ITE
h a v e a ssi sted h im , i n s ome degree , t o e stablish hi m self i n m y
good O pini on H e has that quiet defe re n ce that look o f
.
,

pleased atte ntive i nte re st in li ste nin g to a w o m a n a nd that

'

, , ,

secret gentlen ess in hi s voi ce i n speaking to a woman which , , ,

sa y what we may we c a n n on e o f u s re sist

, H ere too h i s .
, ,

u nu su al comman d of th e E ngli sh language n e ce ssarily h elp s

him . I had ofte n heard of the extraordi nary aptitu de wh ich
many I talian s sh ow in masteri ng o u r stron g hard N orth e rn , ,

speech ; but u ntil I sa w Coun t Fosco I had n eve r sup pose d

, ,

i t po ssible that any fo rei gne r c ou ld h ave spoke n E ngli sh as h e

speak s i t The re are time s whe n it i s almo st imp os sibl e to
.

detect by hi s accent that h e i s n o t a cou nt ryman o f o u r o w n ;

, ,

a n d a s for flue ncy the re are ve ry few born E ngli sh me n wh o

, ,

c a n talk with as few stoppage s and repetit ion s as th e Cou n t .

H e may c on struct h i s senten ce s m ore or less i n th e foreign , ,

way but I h ave n eve r yet heard h i m u s e a wron g expres si on ,

o r hesitate for a momen t i n hi s ch oice o f a word .

All th e smallest characteri sti cs o f this stran ge m an h ave

s o methi ng strikingly origi nal an d p e rp lexin gly c ontradicto ry
in the m Fat as h e i s and o ld a s h e i s h is m ove me nts are
.
, ,

aston ishin gly light and easy H e i s as n oisele s s i n a ro om .

a s any o f u s women an d m ore than that with al l h i s loo k o f

, ,

u nmi stakable me ntal fi rmnes s an d p owe r h e i s as n e rvou sly ,

sen sitive as th e weakest of u s H e starts at chan ce n oise s .

as i nvete rately a s Lau ra herself H e wi nce d an d sh u dde re d .

ye ste rday wh e n S i r Pe rcival beat o ne of th e s pan ie ls so th at

, ,

I fe lt ashame d of my o w n wan t o f te nde rnes s a n d sen si bility ,

by compari s o n with the Cou nt .

Th e re lati o n o f thi s last in ciden t reminds m e o f o ne o f hi s

most cu ri ou s peculiaritie s wh ich I have n o t yet m e ntion ed
,

hi s ext raordi nary fon dnes s fo r pet ani mals .

S ome o f thes e h e has left o n th e Conti nen t bu t h e h as ,

b rou ght with h i m to thi s h ou se a cockato o two canary bi rd s ,

-
,

a nd a wh ole family o f white mice H e atte n ds to all the .

ne ce ssitie s o f thes e strange favou rite s h i mself and h e h as ,

tau gh t th e c reatu re s t o b e su rpri singly fon d o f h i m and ,

familiar with h im Th e cockato o a mo st vici ou s an d

.
,

t reach e rou s bird towards every o ne else absolute ly see m s t o ,

l ove him Whe n h e lets it out o f its cage it h O p s o n t o hi s

.
,

knee an d claws its way u p his great bi g body an d ru b s its

, ,

top kn ot again st h is sallow double chi n in the m os t care ssin g

-

manne r i magi nable H e has on ly t o set th e d oo rs o f th e

.

canarie s cage s O pen an d to call the m ; an d th e p retty little

’
,

cleverly trai ned creature s perch fearlessly o n hi s h an d mou n t ,

h is fat o u tstretch ed fin gers on e by o ne whe n h e tells the m to ,

19
3 0
 T H E W O M AN I N W H I T E
’
go u p
- stairs a nd s ing togethe r a s if th ey would b u rst th ei r
,

throats with delight whe n th ey ge t to the top finge r H is ,

.

white mice live in a little pagoda o f gaily painted wirework i -

,

design ed and made By himself They are almost a s tame as .

th e ca naries and they are pe rpetually let o u t li ke the canarie s

, , .

They crawl all ove r him popping in an d o ut o f hi s w aistcoat , ,

an d s itting in couples white a s s n ow o n hi s capaciou s , ,

shou lde rs H e seems t o be eve n fonde r o f hi s m ice than o f

.

h is othe r pets s mile s at the m ki sse s th em an d calls the m by

, , ,

all sorts of endearin g n am es I f it be possible t o su ppose an .

E nglishman with any taste for su ch childi sh i nte rests a nd

amu seme nts a s these that E ngli sh man wou ld certainly fee l ,

rathe r ash ame d o f them a n d wou ld be anxi ou s to apologise ,

for them i n th e company o f gro w n u p p eopl e B u t th e Cou n t

,
- .
,

apparently see s n o th ing ri dicu lou s in th e ama z ing contras t

b etwee n hi s c olos sal sel f a n d hi s frail li ttl e pets H e wou l d ‘

b landly kis s his wh ite m ice , a n d twitte r t o hi s canary b i rd s -

,

amid an asse mbly o f En gl ish fox hu nte rs a nd would on ly -

,

p ity th e m as barbari an s wh e n they we re al l l aughing thei r

l oude st at hi m .

I t s ee m s hardly cre dible wh il e I am wri tin g i t d own bu t , ,

i t i s certainly true th at thi s same man wh o h as all th e fon d

, ,

n e ss o f an o ld maid fo r hi s cockatoo and all th e small dex ,

terities o f an o rgan b oy i n m anagin g hi s white m ice c a n talk

-
, ,

when anythi ng h app en s to r ouse h im wi th a daring indep en k

d enc e o f thought a k n o w ledge of bo oks in eve ry la n guage

, ,

an d a n experie n ce o f s ocie ty in half th e c api tal s o f Eu rop e ,

wh ich w ou ld mak e hi m the p rom in en t pe rsonage o f any

fi
a sse mbly i n th e civilized world This trainer o f canary bi rd s .
-
,

thi s arch i te ct o f a pagoda fo r wh ite mice i s (as S i r Pe rcival ,

h ims elf h a s told me ) on e of the fi rst expe ri m ental ch emists

livi n g a n d has d iscove red among oth e r wo nde rful i nve ntions
, , ,

a m ean s o f petrifyin g the body afte r death so as t o prese rve ,

i t a s hard as marble t o the end o f ti me Thi s fat i ndolent

, , .
, ,

elderly m an wh o se n erve s a re sO nely stru n g th at h e starts

'

at chan ce n oi se s and wi nces whe n h e se e s a h ou s e spanie l

,
-

get a whippi ng we nt into the s table yard on th e m orn in g

,
-

afte r hi s arrival an d put h is han d o n th e h ead of a chai ned

,

bl oodh ound — a beast so savage that the very groom who feed s
h i m ke eps o u t o f h is reach H i s wife an d I w e re pre se nt and .
,

I shall n o t forget th e sce ne that followed sh ort a s i t was , .

M i nd that d og sir sai d th e groom ; h e fl ie s at every

, ,
’

b ody H e d oes th at my frie nd replied th e Cou nt quietly

, ,
’
, ,

becau se eve ryb ody i s afraid o f him Le t u s see if he flie s at .

me And he laid hi s p lump yellow wh ite fi nge rs , o n wh ich

’
.
-
,

1 94
 fi
“

TH E W O M AN I N W H ITE

His method of re comme ndin g h ims elf to m e i s en tirely ,

di ff erent H e flatte rs my vanity by talkin g to me as se ri ou sly

.
,

an d s e nsibly as i f I w a s a man Yes ! I ca n n d h im o u t .

when I am away from him ; I kn ow h e flatte rs my vanity ,

whe n I thin k o f him u p he re in my o wn room — an d yet whe n

, ,

I go down stai rs and get i nto h is c ompany again h e will blin d

, ,

m e again an d I shall be flatte red again j ust as if I had n eve r

, ,

found h im o u t at all H e c a n manage m e a s he manage s h is ,

wife and Lau ra as h e managed th e bloodhoun d in the stable

,

yard as h e manages S i r Percival hi mself eve ry h ou r i n th e

, ,

day ‘My good Pe rcival ! h o w I li ke you r rough E nglish

.

humou r My good Percival h ow I enj oy you r s oli d

E nglish sen se H e puts the rudest re marks S i r Percival c a n
make o n hi s e ff e minate tastes a n d amusements quietly away ,

from hi m i n that man ne r — always calling the barone t by hi s

Ch ristian n am e s miling at him with th e calm est superi ori ty
patting him o n the shou lde r a n d bearing with h im b e
n igna ntly a s a good hu m oured fathe r bears with a wayward
,

s on .

Th e inte rest which I really cann ot help feelin g in thi s

st rangely original man has led m e to que sti on S i r Pe rcival
,

abou t h is past life .

S i r Percival ei the r k n ows little o r will tel l m e little abou t

, ,

i t H e and the Cou nt fi rst met many years ago at Rom e

.
, ,

u nde r th e dange rous ci rcumstan ce s t o which I have alluded

e lsewhe re S i nce that time the y have bee n pe rpetually
.
,

together in London 1 n Pari s and i n Vi enna— but n eve r in

, ,

I taly again ; th e C oun t havi ng oddly en ough n ot c ros sed th e

, ,

frontiers o f h is n ative cou nt ry for years past Pe rhaps h e h as .

,

b een made th e vi ctim of s om e politi cal pe rsecuti on At all

eve nts h e s ee ms t o be patri otical ly anxiou s n ot t o l os e sigh t
,

o f any o f his o w n cou ntr me n wh o may happen t o b e i n

y

fi
En gland O n the even ing of his arrival h e asked h o w far we
.
,

were from th e n eares t t own and whethe r we k n ew o f any

,

I talian gentleme n wh o m ight happe n t o be s ettle d the re H e .

i s ce rtainly i n corresponde n ce wi th pe ople o n th e Contin ent ,

for h is letters have al l s o rts o f O dd s tamp s o n them ; and I

sa w o n e for him thi s m orning waitin g i n hi s place at the
, ,

b reakfast table with a hu ge o f c ia l lookin g seal o n i t Pe r

-
,
- .

haps he i s in co rresp ondence w ith h is government A n d yet ,

that is hardly t o b e reconciled e ithe r with my othe r idea that

, ,

h e may be a political exile .

H ow much I see m t o have w ritten about Coun t Fos co !

And what d oes it all amou nt to — as p oor dear M r Gilmo re , .

wo u ld ask , in his im penetrable busines s lik e wa y I c a n only - .

196
 T H E WO MAN I N W H I T E
r epeat that I do assu redly fee l eve n o n this sho rt acq u aintance , ,

a stran ge half willin g half u nwilling l iki n g fo r the C ount

,
-
,
-
.

H e se ems t o h ave establishe d ove r m e th e sam e s o rt o f a s

c en da n c
y which h e has evidently gai ned ove r S i r Pe rcival .

Free a n d eve n ru de as he may occas ion ally be i n h i s man ne r

, ,

towards h is fat friend S i r Pe rcival is n eve rtheles s afrai d as I

, ,

c a n plai nly s ee o f givin g a n

y s eriou s o ff enc e t o th e C ount
, I .

won de r whethe r I am afraid to o ? I ce rtainly n eve r saw a ,

man in all my expe rience whom I should be s o s orry to h ave

, ,

fo r a n e nemy I s this because I like him o r becaus e I am

.
,

afraid o f h im ? C k z sa P— as Count Fos c o migh t sa y in h is

'

o wn language Wh o kn ows .

J U N E I 6 th — S omethin g t o ch ron icle t o day beside s my

.
,
-
,

o w n ideas a n d im pressions A vis ito r has arrived — quite u n .

kn own t o Lau ra a nd to m e and apparent ly qu ite u nexpecte d , ,

by S i r Pe rcival .

We were all at lun ch i n the ro om with th e new French ,

wi ndows that O pe n i nto th e verandah ; a nd the Count (wh o

devou rs pastry as I have n eve r yet s ee n i t devou re d by any
human beings but gi rls at boarding scho ols ) had j ust amu se d -

u s by askin g gravely fo r h i s fou rth tart — whe n th e se rvan t

ente red to an n ou nce the v isito r
,
.

M r M e rri man has j us t come S 1 r P e r e1 val an d W I S h es to

.
, ,

se e you i mmediate ly .
’

S i r Pe rcival s tarted a nd l ooked at the man with an ex , ,

p ressi on o f angry alarm .

M r M e rriman ? h e repeate d as if h e th ough t his o wn

.
’

ears mu st have de ceived h im .

Ye s S i r Percival : M r Me rri man from L ond on

, .
,
"
.

Whe re i s h e
I n the lib rary S i r Pe rcival
’
, .

H e left the table the i nstant th e last an swe r was give n

a nd hu rried o u t o f the ro om with out saying a wo rd to any o f

us .

Who i s M r Me rriman asked Lau ra appealing to me

.
, .

I have n ot th e least idea was al l I could say in reply ,

’
.

The Cou nt had fi nish ed his fou rth tart and had gon e t o ,

a s ide table to look afte r h is vici ou s cockatoo

- H e tu rne d .

roun d to u s u ith th e bi rd pe rched o n h i s sh oulde r

, .

M r Me rriman is S i r Pe rcival s s oli cito r h e sai d quietly

.
’
,
’
.

S i r Pe rcival s s olicito r I t was a pe rfectly s traightforward

’
.

answe r to Lau ra s qu esti on and yet u nde r the ci rcumstan ce s

’
, ,

it was n ot satisfactory I f M r M e rriman had bee n specially

. .

sent fo r by h is clien t there would ha v e b een n othin g v e ry

,

I 97
 T H E WO MAN I N W H I T E
wo nde rful in his leaving town t o obey th e su mm ons B ut .

when a l awyer travels from London t o H ampsh ire wi thout ,

bein g se nt fo r an d whe n hi s arrival at a gentleman s hous e

,
’

s e ri ously st artles t he gentleman h i mself i t may b e safely ,

take n fo r granted th at th e legal visitor i s th e b earer o f some

v e ry importan t an d very u nexpected n ews —n ews wh ich m ay
be eithe r ve ry good o r very bad bu t wh ich ca n n ot i n e ithe r , ,

case be of th e c om mo n eve ry —
,
day kind .

Lau ra an d I sat sile nt at th e table fo r a quarte r o f an ,

h ou r o r m ore wonde ri ng u neasily what h ad happen ed a nd

, ,

waiting for th e ch ance o f S i r Pe rcival s speedy retu rn The re ’

.

were n o si gn s o f his retu rn an d we ros e to le ave th e room .

Th e C ou n t attentive as u su al advan ced from th e corne r

, ,

in which h e had bee n feeding hi s cockatoo with th e bi rd still ,

pe rch ed o n h is sh ou lde r a n d opene d the d oo r for u s

, Lau ra .

and M adame F osco we n t ou t firs t J ust as I was o n the poi n t .

o f followin g them he made a sign wi th hi s hand and s poke

, ,

to me before I passed him in th e odde s t man n e r

, , .

‘
Y es he said ; qu ietly answerin g th e u nexp re ssed idea at
’
,

that mo me nt i n my mind as i f I had plai nly c onfided i t t o

,

h i m in s o many word s yes M is s H alco mb e s omething k a s

,

happened }
‘ ’
I w a s on th e p oin t o f answeri n g I n eve r said s o But , .

th e v iciou s coc kato o ru ffl ed hi s clipped wi ngs an d gave a ,

screech that s et all my n erve s o n edge in a n i n stant and made ,

m e only to o glad t o get o u t o f th e ro om .

I j o in ed Lau ra at th e foot o f th e stairs T h e th ought in .

h e r mind was the s am e as th e thought i n mi n e which Coun t ,

F osco had su rprised— an d wh e n sh e spoke h er wo rds we re

, ,

al mos t the e cho o f h is S he to o said to m e secre tly that

.
, , , ,

sh e w a s afraid s omethin g h ad happened .

J UN E I 6 th — I
have a few li nes m ore to add t o this day s
.
’

e ntry befo re I go t o bed to nigh t -

.

About two h ou rs afte r S ir Pe rcival ros e from the lu ncheon

table to rece ive h i s s olicito r M r M e rriman in th e li brary I
, .
, ,

left my room alone t o take a wal k i n the plantation s J ust

, , .

a s I was at the e n d o f th e landin g the library door open ed , ,

an d th e two ge ntleme n came o u t Thi nking i t bes t n o t to .

disturb the m by appearin g o n th e stairs I reso lv ed t o defe r ,

going down til l they had crosse d the hall Alth ough they .

spoke to each othe r in guarded tones , thei r wo rds we r e p ro ~

1 98
 T H E WO MAN I N W H IT E
I had n o t heard mu ch but th e li ttle that had reach ed my
ears was en ough to make m e fee l u neasy Th e s ometh in g .

that had h appe ne d was bu t too plainl y a se riou s m on ey ,

’

’
e mbarrass me n t ; and S i r Pe rcival s re lief from i t depende d
u po n Lau ra The p rospec t o f seeing he r inv olv e d i n he r
.

hus ban d s secret di ffi cultie s filled me with dis may exagge rated
’
, ,

n o dou bt by my ign oran ce o f busin es s and my s e ttle d distrust

,

o f S i r Pe rcival I ns tead o f goin g o u t as I p ropos ed I went

.
, ,
’
back im mediately to Lau ra s ro om to tell her what I had
heard .

S h e receive d my bad n ews so c omposedly as t o su rprise

m e S h e evi dently kn ows more o f he r husban d s charac ter
.
’

a nd h e r husband s embarrassmen ts than I have suspected u p

’

to thi s time .

’
I feared a s much sh e said wh en I heard o f that strange , ,

gentleman wh o called an d declined to leave his n ame , .

’

Wh o do you thi nk th e gentleman was the n I asked , .

S ome pe rso n who h as h eavy claims o n S i r Pe rcival sh e ,

’

an swe red and who has been th e cause o f M r Merriman s .

’

v is it he re to day - .
’

D o you kn ow anythin g ab ou t th ose claims

N o I kn ow no particulars .
’

Yo u will sign n othing Lau ra with out first looking at , ,

C ertain ly n ot Mari an Whateve r I c a n harmlessly and

, .

h onestly d o t o help him I wi ll do — for the sake o f making you r

life an d min e love as easy an d a s h appy as possi ble But I
, , .

will d o nothin g i gn orantly whi ch we might o n e day have

, , , ,

reason to feel ashame d of Let u s say n o more about it n ow .

, .

You h ave got yo ur h at o n— su ppos e we go and dream

away th e afte rn oon in the grou nds
O n leavin g the hou se we directe d o u r steps to th e nearest
shade .

As we passed a n open space am on g th e tree s in front o f

the hous e there was C oun t Fosco s lowly walkin g back
, ,

wards an d forwards o n the gras s sun ning himself i n the full ,

blaze o f th e h o t J un e afternoon H e had a b road straw .

h at o n with a vi olet colou red ribbo n roun d i t

, A blue blouse .
,

with profus e white fancy work ove r th e b osom cove red his -
,

prodigiou s b ody an d was girt about th e place whe re hi s waist

,

might on ce have been with a broad s carlet leathe r belt ,

.

N an kee n trouse rs displayin g m ore white fancy work ove r th e

,
-

ankles a nd purple m orocco slippers ad orned h is lowe r

, ,

extremities H e was s i nging Figaro s famou s s on g i n the

.
’

B arb er o f Sev ille with that cri sply flue nt v oc ali sa ti o n which i s
,

20 0
 T H E W O M AN I N W H I T E
n ever he ard from any othe r than a n I tali an throat ; a ecom
panyi n g hi mse lf o n the c on certi na which h e playe d with ,

e cstati c th rowi ngs u p of his arms an d graceful twistin gs an d

-
,

tu rn i ngs o f h is head like a fat S t Ce ci lia masqu e radin g i n

,
.

‘
m ale atti re Figaro q u a Figaro la Figar o su Fi garo gi ti
.

sang th e C ou n t j au ntily tos si ng u p th e con ce rt in a at arm s

,
’

le n gth an d bowi ng to u s o n on e side of the i ns trumen t with

, , ,

th e ai ry grace and e legance o f Figaro h imse lf at twen ty years

o f age .

Take my word for i t L au ra that m a n kn ows s omethin g , ,

o f S i r Percival s embarrass me nts I said as we retu rned th e

’ ’
, ,

Cou n t s salutation from a safe di stan ce

’
.

What makes you thi n k that sh e as ked .

H ow sh oul d he h ave kn own oth erwi se that M r Me rri man , , .

was S i r Percival s s olicitor ? I rej oi ned ’

B esides w he n I ’
.
,

followe d yo u o u t o f the lunche on ro om h e told me withou t -

,

a s i ngle word o f inquiry o n my part that s omethi ng h ad ,

happe ned D epe nd u pon it h e kn ows m ore than we do

.
, .
’

D on t as k him a ny que sti on s if h e d oes D on t take h i m

’
, .
’

i nto ou r confide n ce
‘
You see m to dislike h im Laura in a ve ry dete rmi ne d , ,

man ner What h as h e sai d o r don e to ju stify yo u

.

N oth in g M arian O n the con trary h e was all ki ndnes s

, .
,

an d atte nti on o n o u r j ourney h ome an d h e several time s ,

che cked S i r Percival s outbreaks o f tempe r in th e most c o n

’
,

side rate man ner towards me Perhaps I d islik e h i m be caus e .

,

he has s o much mo re powe r ove r my hu sban d than I have .

Perhap s i t hurts my pride t o be u nde r a ny obli gati o ns t o hi s

inte rfe re nce All I kn ow i s that I do disli ke hi m
.
, .
’

The rest o f the day and e ve nin g passe d quietly

e n ough T he Coun t a n d I played at ch e ss
. F or the fi rs t two .

game s h e politely allowed me to con que r him an d the n whe n ,

h e saw that I had found hi m o u t be gged my pardon and at , , ,

th e thi rd game checkmate d me i n ten minutes

, S i r Percival .

n eve r on ce referred all th rough th e eve nin g t o th e lawyer s

, ,
’

vi sit B ut eithe r that eve nt or s om ethi n g e lse h ad p roduce d

.
, ,

a si ngular alte ratio n fo r the bette r i n hi m H e was as p olit e .

n d agree able to all o f u s as he u sed t o b e i n th e days o f hi s

,

p robation at Lim m eridge ; a n d h e was s o amaz ingly atte n

tive an d ki n d to h is wife that eve n i cy M adame F osco ,

was rouse d i nto l ookin g at hi m with a grave su rp ri se What .

does thi s mean I th in k I c a n gu es s I am afrai d Lau ra c a n

guess ; an d I am su re Count Fos co k n ows I caugh t S i r .

P e rcival lookin g at hi m for approval m o re than o nce i n th e

c o u rs e of th e ev enin g .

30 1
 T H E WO M AN I N W H ITE
J U N E 1 7 th —A day of eve nts I m ost fe rvently h ope I may
. .

n o t have to add a day o f disaste rs a s well ,

.

S i r Pe rcival was as sile nt at b reakfast as h e had been th e

even ing before o n th e subject of th e myste ri ou s arrangeme n t ’

(as the lawye r calle d i t ) which i s h an gi ng ove r ou r he ads An ,

.

h our afte rwards h oweve r he sudde nly e nte red the morn i ng , ,

ro om whe re h is wife a n d I were waiti ng with o u r h ats

, ,

on ,
for M adame F osco to j oin u s ; an d i n qui re d for the
Coun t .

’
We expect to se e hi m he re dire ctly I said ,
.

‘The fact is S i r Pe rcival we nt o n walki n g n e rvou sly

,
’
,

about the room I want F os co an d his wife in the library for , ,

a me re busine s s formality ; a n d I wan t you there Lau ra for , ,

a m inu te to o H e stopped and appe ared to n oti ce for

, .
’
, ,

th e first ti m e th at we were i n o u r walkin g costu me

,
H ave .

j us t co me i n h e asked o r were you j us t goin g o u t ,

We were all thi nking o f goin g to the lake thi s m orn in g ,

’

‘
sai d Lau ra B ut i f yo u h ave any othe r arran geme n t to
.

propos e
‘
N o n o h e an swe red h asti ly
, ,
My arrange men t c a n
’
, .

wait Afte r lunch will d o as we ll fo r i t as afte r breakfast

.
,
.

All goin g t o th e lake eh A good idea Let s h ave an idle , .

’

’
morn in g I ll b e one of th e party ’
.

Th ere w a s n o mistaki ng h is mann e r even if i t had bee n ,

possible t o mistake th e u n characteristic readi ne ss wh ich hi s

wo rds expressed t o submit hi s o w n plans an d proj ects t o ,

th e conve nie nce o f oth ers H e was evidently relieve d at .

fin di ng an excuse for delaying the busin es s formality in th e

library to which hi s o w n words had refe rred
,
My h eart san k .

wit h i n m e as I d rew th e i nevi table i nfe ren ce

Th e Coun t an d h is wife j oine d u s at that mo me nt Th e
.
,

.
,

lady h ad he r hu sband s e mb roide re d tobacco p ouch an d he r ’

-
,

store of pape r i n he r han d fo r the m anufactu re o f th e ete rnal ,

cigarettes Th e ge ntleman dres sed as u sual i n hi s bl ous e

.
, , ,

an d straw h at carr ie d th e gay little pagoda cage with his

,
-
,

darling wh ite mice in it a n d s miled on the m a n d o n u s with , , ,

a bland amiability wh ich it was i mpossi ble t o resi st .

With you r kin d pe rmissi on sai d th e Coun t I will take ,

’
,

my small family h ere — m y p o o r little harmless p re tty M on seys - - - -

,

o u t for a n airin g alon g with u s The re are d ogs ab ou t th e .

h ouse a n d sh all I leave my forl orn white child re n at th e

,

me rci e s of the dogs Ah n eve r ,

H e chi rr upe d pate rnally at hi s small white child re n

th rough th e bars of th e pagoda an d we all left th e hou se fo r
the lake .

20 2
 T H E W O M AN I N W H ITE
What do you think Fos co ? I t look s j ust th e p l ace fo r a ,
’
murde r does n t it ,

My good Pe rci v al remon st rated the Cou nt What i s .

yo u r s oli d E nglish sen se thin kin g o f ? The wate r i s to o

sh allow to hide th e body ; and th e re i s san d everywh ere t o
p rin t o ff th e mu rde rer s footsteps I t is u pon the wh ole ’
.
, ,

the ve ry wors t place fo r a mu rde r th at I eve r set my eye s

’
on .

H umbug said S i r Pe rcival cuttin g away fie rcely at his ,

s tick ‘ Th e d reary s ce n ery— the

Y o u k n ow what I m ean
. .

lonely situati on I f yo u ch oos e to un de rstan d me yo u c a n

.
,
’
i f you d on t ch oos e I am n ot goin g to trouble myself to ,

e x plai n my mean in g .
’

‘
An d why n ot ask ed the Cou nt wh e n you r m eanin g
,
’
,

ca n b e explai ned by anyb ody i n two words ? I f a fool was

going t o comm it a mu rde r you r lak e i s th e fi rst place h e ,

would ch oose fo r i t I f a wise m a n was going t o commit a .

mu rde r you r lake i s th e last place he wou ld ch oose for it

, Is .

that you r m ean ing ? I f i t i s the re i s you r explanation fo r ,

’
you ready made Take it Pe rcival with you r good Fosco s
, .
, ,

blessin g .
’

Lau ra l ooke d at th e Count with he r dislike fo r hi m ,

appearin g a littl e too plai nly i n h e r face H e was s o busy .

with h is mi ce that h e did n ot n otice h e r .

I am so rry to hear th e lake view con ne cted with anythin g -

s o h orri ble as the ide a of mu rder sh e said An d if Coun t ,

’
.

Fosco mu st d ivide mu rdere rs int o classe s I th in k h e has ,

been ve ry u nfo rtu nate in hi s ch oi ce of expression s To .

d escrib e the m a s fools on ly s eems like t reatin g them with a n ,

i ndulge nce t o which th ey have n o claim An d t o de scri be .

them as wi s e men s ou nd s t o m e like a d own right contra ,

dicti on in te rms I h av e always heard that truly wise m en

.

are tru ly good men an d h ave a h o rro r of crime , .

’

‘ ‘ ’
My dear lady s ai d the Count th os e are a dmi rable
, ,

sentime nts ; an d I h ave see n them s tate d at th e tops of copy

’
bo oks H e lifte d o n e of th e white m ice in the palm of h i s
.

‘
h and a n d spoke t o i t i n hi s wh imsical way
, My p retty .

‘ ’
little s mooth white rascal h e said he re i s a mo ral less on , ,

fo r you A t ruly wi se M ouse I S a t ruly good M ouse M en

. .

tion that if yo u please to you r c ompani on s an d n eve r gnaw

, , ,

at the bars o f you r cage aga i n as l ong as you live .

‘
I t 1 5 easy to tu rn eve ryth ing i nto ridicule said Lau ra ,
’
,

r esolutely ; ‘
bu t you will n ot fi n d i t quite s o easy C ou nt ,

F os co t o give m e an i nstan ce o f a wi se m a n wh o has be en a

,
’
great c riminal .

20 4
 T H E WO MAN I N W H IT E

Th e C oun t sh ru gged hi s huge shoulde rs an d s mil ed , on

L au ra in th e frie ndliest m ann e r .

’
M ost tru e h e said The fool s cri me i s the c rime that
.

i s fou n d o u t ; an d the wis e man s crim e i s th e cri me that i s ’

.
gz ot foun d o u t I f I cou ld give you a n i nstance i t would n o t
.
,

b e the i n stance o f a wi s e man D ear Lady Glyde you r s oun d .

,

E ngli sh c omm on sen se has bee n to o mu ch fo r m e I t is .

checkmate fo r m e thi s time M iss H alcombe — h a ,

‘
S tand to you r gu ns Lau ra s nee re d S i r Pe rci val w h o
, ,
’

,
‘
had bee n listen in g in hi s place at the doo r Te ll h im ne xt .
, ,
’
th at cri me s caus e th ei r o w n de te ction The re s an othe r bi t o f .

copy b ook m orality for yo u Fo sco

- C rime s caus e th ei r o w n
, .

detecti on What i nfe rnal hu mbug

.

I be lieve it to b e tru e sai d Lau ra quietly ,

’
, .

S i r Pe rcival bu rs t o u t laughi ng ; s o vi ole ntly s o out ,

r age ou sly that h e qu ite s tartled u s all— the Cou nt mo re than

,

any of u s .

‘
I believe i t t oo I said comin g to Lau ra s re scu e
, ,
’
,
’
.

S ir Percival wh o had bee n unaccou ntably amuse d at h is

,

wife s remark was j ust as unaccoun tably i rritated by mi n e

’
, , , .

H e stru c k th e n ew stick savagely o n th e s and an d walke d ,

away from u s .

‘
Poo r dear Pe rcival c ri ed Cou n t F osco lookin g afte r ,

hi m gai ly he i s the vi cti m of E n glish splee n B ut my dea r .

,

M i ss H alcombe my dear Lady Glyde d o you really believe

, ,

that cri me s cau se the i r o w n detecti on An d y o u my angel , ,

’

he conti nued tu rn in g t o hi s wife wh o had n ot u tte red a

, ,

word yet d o you thi n k so to o

,
‘ ’
I wait t o be i nstru cted replie d th e Cou ntess in tone s o f , ,

free z in g reproof i ntended fo r Lau ra a n d me befo re I ve ntu re

, ,

o n givin g my opini o n i n th e pre sen ce o f well i nforme d m en

’
- .

D o yo u i ndeed , I said I re membe r th e time .

,

Cou ntes s whe n you advocate d th e Righ ts o f Wom en — an d

,

freed om o f fe male opinio n was o n e o f them .

’

What i s you r view o f th e subject Cou nt ? as ked ,

M adame Fosco calmly p roceedin g with he r cigarette s an d

, ,

not taking th e least n otice o f m e .

The C ou nt stroked o n e o f hi s white m ice reflectiv ely with

h is chubby little fin ge r befo re h e answered .

‘ ‘ ’
I t i s t ru ly wonderfu l h e said h ow e asi ly S ociety c a n
, ,

console itself fo r the wo rst of its sh ortcomi ngs with a little bi t

o f clap trap
- The machi ne ry i t has set u p for th e detecti o n
.

o f c rime i s mise rably i ne ff ective an d yet o nly i nven t a m oral -

e pigram sayin g that i t wo rks well a nd yo u bli nd eve rybody

, ,

to its bl u nde rs , from that mom ent C rim es ca u se th ei r o wn .

20 5
 T H E W O M AN I N W H I T E
detecti on , d o th ey An d murde r will o u t (anoth er m o ra l
epigram ) will it , Ask Corone rs wh o sit at in quests in large
town s if that i s tru e Lady Glyde Ask sec retarie s o f l ife , .

assu rance comp an ies if that i s true M i s s H alcombe Read

, , .

you r o w n public j ou rnal s I n the few case s that get into the .

n ewspape rs are the re n ot in stance s of slai n bodies found an d

, ,

n o mu rde re rs eve r di scove red Mu lti ply the cases that are
repo rted by the cases that a re n ot reported an d th e bodie s ,

that are fou n d by th e b odie s that are n ot foun d ; a n d what

conc lusi on d o yo u come to ? This That the re are fooli sh .

criminals wh o are discove red a n d wi se c ri minal s wh o escape , .

The hiding o f a crim e o r the detecti on o f a crime wh at is it , ,

A trial of ski ll betwee n the p olice on on e si de a n d th e i n di ,

vidual o n the othe r Whe n th e c rimi nal i s a b rutal ign o rant

.
,

fool the police i n n i ne case s o u t o f te n wi n When the

, , , .

criminal i s a res olute edu cated highly i ntelligent man the , ,

-
,

pol ice in nin e case s o u t o f ten l ose

,
I f th e police wi n you , .
,

ge ne rally hear all abou t i t I f th e police lo se you gen eI a lly .

,

h ear n othing And o n thi s totte ring fou ndati on you build u p
.
b

you r co mfortable moral maxi m th a t Cri me cau se s i ts o w n de

tec tio n Yes — all the c rim e y ou kn ow o f And what o f the
. .
,

rest
‘ ’
D evilish t rue a n d ve ry well put cri e d a voice at the
, ,

e ntranc e o f th e boat h ou se S i r Pe rciva l had recove red h is

- .

e quanimity and h ad com e back whi le we we re listen in g t o th e

,

Count .

‘ ‘
S ome o f it may be t rue I said ; a n d all of i t may be ,
’

ve ry well put B ut I d on t see why C ou nt F osco sh ou ld

.
’

celebrate th e vi ctory of th e c ri minal ove r s ociety with so m u ch

exultati on o r why you S i r Pe rcival should applaud hi m s o
, , ,

loudly fo r d oin g it .
’

D o yo u hear that Fosco aske d S i r Pe rcival, Take my .

advice and make you r peace wi th you r au di e nce Tell them

,
.

Vi rtue s a fin e thi ng— th ey li ke that I can promi se you

’

, .
’

Th e Cou n t lau gh ed i nwardly and silently ; an d tw o o f ,

the white m ice in hi s wai stc oat alarme d by th e i nte rnal con ,

v u lsio n goi ng o n beneath them darted o u t in a violen t hu rry , ,

and scrambled i nt o thei r cage again .

The ladie s my good Percival shall tell m e about vi rtu e

, , ,
’

‘
h e sai d Th ey are bette r auth o ritie s th an I am ; for they
.

kn ow what vi rtu e is a nd I don t ,

’
.
’

‘
Y o u hear hi m sai d S i r Pe rcival I s n t i t awful ? ’ ’
.

’
I t is tru e sai d th e Cou nt quietly
, I am a citizen o f th e , .

world an d I have met in my time with so many di ff e ren t

, , ,

sorts o f vi rtue , that I am pu z z led i n m y o ld age , to say ,

206
 T H E W O M AN IN W H IT E

T he worse h e th e m ore he make s the m the o bj ects fo r you r

is,
sympathy H e ofte n provi de s als o fo r himself A p ro fl iga te
.
, , .

spendth rift wh o i s alway borrowing m on ey will get more from ,

h is friends than the rigidly h on est m an w h o only b o rrows o f

the m on ce u nde r p res su re of th e di re st want
, I n the o ne case .
,

the friend s will n ot be at all su rpri sed an d they will give I n , .

the othe r case they will be ve ry much su rp ri sed and they wi ll

, ,

hesitate I s the pri s on that M r S cou ndrel live s i n at the en d

. .
,

o f h is caree r a more u ncomfortable place than the workh ouse

,

that M r H on esty live s i n at the e nd o f h is care e r

. Whe n ,

J ohn H oward Philanthropist wants to relieve mise ry he goe s

- -
,

to fin d it in pris on s whe re c rime is wretched — n ot in huts and

,

hovels whe re vi rtue is wretch ed to o W h o i s th e E nglish

, .

p oet who has wo n th e m ost u nive rsal sympathy— wh o m akes

the easiest o f all subj ects for pathetic writin g and patheti c
painting ? That n ice you ng pe rson wh o began life with a fo r
ge ry an d en ded i t by a suici de — you r dear romanti c i nte r
, , ,

e sting Chatte rton Which gets o n best d o yo u thin k of two

.
, ,

poo r starving dre ssmake rs— th e woman wh o resi sts tem p ta

ti on and i s h one st o r the woman wh o falls u n der temptation
, , ,

an d steals Y o u all kn ow that the stealing i s the making o f

that sec on d woman s fortu ne — it adve rtise s he r from length t o
’

b readth o f good hu moured charitabl e E nglan d — and sh e i s

-
,

relieved as the b reaker o f a c ommandme nt whe n sh e would

, ,

have b ee n l eft to starve a s th e keepe r o f i t C om e he re my , .

,

j olly little M ou se H ey presto p ass I t ran sform you ,

fo r th e tim e bein g in to a respectable lady S top the re in

, .
,

th e palm o f my great big hand my clear an d li sten Y o u , , .

marry th e poor m a n wh om you l ove M ou s e ; and o ne half ,

you r fri ends pity a n d the oth er half blame yo u And n o w

,
.
, ,

o n th e contrary yo u sell you rself fo r gol d to a m a n you do n t

’
,

care for an d all you r friends rej oice ove r yo u an d a mi niste r

o f public wo rsh ip sancti on s the base h o rror o f the vilest o f all

h u man bargains ; and s mile s and s mirk s afte r ward s at you r

table if yo u are polite en ough to ask h im t o breakfast H ey
, .

p resto ! pass ! B e a mou se again an d squeak I f you c o n , .

tinu e to be a lady much longe r I shall h ave you tellin g m e ,

that S ociety abh ors crime —an d then M ouse I shall d oubt if , ,

you r o w n eyes a n d ears are really of any use t o you Ah I .

am a bad man Lady Glyde am I n o t , I sa y what othe r ,

p eople only think a n d when all th e re st o f the wo rld i s in a

con spi racy to accept the mask for th e tru e face m ine i s the ,

rash han d that tears o ff the plump pasteb oard and shows th e ,

bare b on es be neath I will get u p o n my big ele phant s legs

.
’
,

b efo r e I do m yse lf a ny m ore h arm in yo u r amiab l e estimati on s

308
 T H E WO MAN I N W H I T E

fi
— I will ge t u p , an d take a little airy walk my o wn D ea r of .

ladies as you r excelle nt Sh eri dan said I go — an d leave my

, ,

characte r behin d me .
’

H e got u p put th e cage o n the tabl e ; a nd pa u s ed for a ,

momen t t o coun t the mic e in it

, O n e two th ree four .
, , ,

H a ! he c ried with a look of h orror whe re i n th e n ame o f

, , ,

H eave n i s the fth — th e you nge st th e whites t th e most

, , ,

amiable o f all — m y B enjami n o f mice

N eithe r Lau ra n or I we re in any favou rable dis po siti on to
b e amus ed The C ou nt s glib cyni ci sm had re v eale d a n ew
.
’

aspect o f h i s n atu re from which we both recoiled B ut i t was .

i mpossibl e t o resi st th e comi cal distres s of so ve ry large a m a n

at the los s o f s o ve ry s mall a m ous e We laughed in spi te .
,

o f ou rselves a nd whe n M adame Fosco ro se to s et the

“

example o f le avin g the b oat hou se empty so t hat h er h us -

,

band might search i t to its remotes t co rne rs we ros e als o to ,

follow h e r o u t .

B efo re we had take n th re e s tep s the C ou n t s quick eye ,

’

d iscove red the lost mous e un de r th e seat that w e had bee n

O ccupyin g H e pu lled aside the be n ch took the l ittle animal
.

u p in h i s hand ; an d the n sudden ly stopped o n hi s kn ees , ,

l ookin g i nte ntly at a particu lar plac e o n th e groun d j us t

beneath hi m .

Whe n h e ros e to h is feet agai n h is han d sho ok so that h e ,

could hardly put th e m ou se back in the cage and h i s face was ,

o f a fain t livid yellow hu e al l ove r .

’
Pe rcival he sai d i n a wh ispe r Pe rcival com e h e re
, . .

S i r Percival had paid n o atte nti on to a ny of u s fo r th e ,

last ten mi nutes H e h ad bee n e ntirely absorbed in writin g

.

figures o n th e san d an d th e n rubbing th e m out again with

, ,

the p oi nt o f h i s sti ck .

’
What s the matte r n ow h e asked l oun ging careles sly
, ,

i nto th e boat h ouse - .

‘
D O you see n oth i ng th e re ? sai d th e C ou nt catchin g , ,

h i m n er v o u sly by the col lar with o n e hand an d pointing with ,

the othe r to th e place n ear wh ich h e had foun d the mou se .

I se e ple n ty of dry sand answered S i r Pe rcival and a ,

’

sp ot o f di rt in the middle o f i t .
’

N o t dirt wh ispere d th e Cou nt faste ning th e oth e r h an d

’
, ,
’
s udde nly o n S i r Pe rcival s collar a nd s hakin g i t i n hi s agita ,

tion . B lo od .
’

Lau ra was near en ough to hear th e last word s oftly as ,

he whispered it S he turn ed to m e wi th a l ook o f te rror

. .

’
N o nsen se my dear I said , There i s n o ne e d t o b e
, .

’
al a rm ed I t i s o nly the blood o f a p oo r little stray d og
. .

20 9 P
 T H E W O MAN I N W H ITE
’
E ve ryb ody was astonish ed a n d everyb ody 5 eye s w ei e ,

fixed o n me i nqui ringly .

H ow do you kn ow th at asked S ir Pe rcival speaking ,

I foun d th e dog h ere dyi ng o n the da y wh en yo u all , ,

‘
retu rn e d from a bro a d I replie d The p oor creature h ad
,
’
.

s trayed in to th e plantati on a nd had be e n s hot by you r ,

ke epe r .
’

‘ ‘ ’
Wh os e dog was it ? i nqui red S i r Pe rcival N ot o n e .

o f mi n e
‘
D id yo u try t o save th e poo r thi ng ? asked Lau ra ’

e arn estly S urely you tried t o save i t M ari an 9

.
,
‘
Yes I sai d , the h ou sekeepe r and I b oth di d o u r bes t
’

but the d og was m ortally wou nded and he die d un de r o u r ,

han ds )
‘
Whose d og w a s i t ? persisted S i r Pe rcival repeatin g ’
,

hi s q uesti on a li ttle i rri tably O n e o f min e .

N o n ot on e o f you rs .
’

Wh ose then D i d the hou sekeeper kn ow

The h ou seke epe r s rep ort o f M rs C a th eric k s des ire to
’
.
’

c once al he r visit to B lackwate r Park from S ir Pe rcival s ’

knowledge recu rred to my memo ry the momen t he put that

,

last q ue s ti on a n d I half doubte d th e discre ti o n of answe ring

i t B ut in my anxiety t o quie t th e ge n e ral alarm I had
.
, ,

th oughtle ssly advanced too far to d raw b ack except at th e ,

ri sk o f exci ti ng su spici on wh ich might o nly make matters

wo rse There was n othing for i t but t o answer at on ce
.
,

wi th o ut reference to re su lts .

‘ ‘
Ye s I said , Th e housekeepe r knew S he tol d m e i t
’
. .

was M rs C a th eric k s dog

.
’
.
’

S i r Pe rcival had h ith e rto remain ed at th e i nn er en d o f th e

boat h ou s e with C oun t F osco while I spoke to h im from the
-
,

doo r B ut th e i nstan t M rs C a th eric k s n am e pas sed m y lip s

. .
’
,

h e pushe d by th e Coun t rough ly an d place d h im self face to ,

face with me u nde r the open dayligh t , .

H ow came the h ou sekeepe r to k n ow i t was M rs -

.

C a th eric k s dog ? he asked fixing hi s eye s o n m in e wi th a

’
,

frowning i ntere st an d atte ntion wh ich h a lf ange red half , ,

startle d me .

‘ ‘
S he k new i t I said quietly becau se M rs C a th eric k
,
’
, , .

b rought th e do g with he r
‘
B rought i t wi th h er ? Where di d sh e bring i t w ith
’
To thi s h ouse .

What the devil did M rs . C a th eric k want at this hou se

210
 T H E W O MA N I N WH ITE
T he e ff ect of my i nformatio n on hi m was i n on e re spect , ,

curi ou s e n ough .

I ntimately as he kn ows S i r Pe rcival and closely a s h e ,

appe ars t o be ass ociated with S i r Pe rcival s p rivate a ff ai rs in ’

ge ne ral h e is ce rtainly as far as I am from kn owin g anythin g

,

o f the true story o f Ann e C a th eri c k Th e u n solve d mystery .

i n co nn exi on with thi s u nhappy woman i s n ow rende red

d oubly suspiciou s i n my eye s by th e absolute convicti on
, ,

which I feel that the clu e to i t h a s bee n hidde n by S i r Pe rcival

,

from th e most i n t imate frie n d h e has in th e wo rld I t wa s .

i mpossible to mi stake th e eage r cu ri osity o f the C ou n t s look ’

an d man n er whil e he dran k in greedily every word that fell

from my lips There are many ki nds o f cu riosity I know
.
,

but the re i s n o misin te rp re tin g th e cu ri osity o f blan k su rp ri se

i f I eve r saw i t in my life I sa w i t in th e Coun t s face ,
’
.

While th e questi on s a n d an swe rs were going o n we had ,

fi
al l b ee n strollin g qui etly bac k th rou gh the plantation As , .

s oo n as we re ache d th e h ous e the fi rs t obj ect that we sa w in ,

fron t o f it was S i r Pe rcival s d og cart with the horse put to ’

-
,

a n d th e groo m wai ting by i t i n h i s stable j acke t I f these - .

u n expecte d appearance s we re t o be t ru sted th e examinatio n ,

o f the h ousekeepe r h ad p roduced i mportan t results al ready .

A n e h orse my frien d said th e Count addressin g th e

, ,
’
,

groo m with th e most e n gaging familiarity o f man n e r Y ou .

are goin g to d rive o u t

I am n o t goi ng sir replied th e man l ookin g at hi s , ,
’
,

stable j acket an d e v idently w onde rin g whethe r th e fo reign

-
,

ge n tleman took i t for h i s livery My master d rive s hi m .

’
self .

‘ ’
Aha ! sai d th e Cou n t d oe s h e i ndeed ? I won de r h e ,

give s h imself th e troubl e whe n h e h as got yo u to d rive fo r

him I s h e going to fatigu e that n ice sh i nin g p retty h ors e
.
, ,

by takin g him ve ry far to day ,

-

‘
I do n t kn ow sir an swe re d th e m a n
’
, T h e h orse i s a
,
’
.

m are if y o u please sir S he s the high est c o u ra ged thing

, , .
’
-

’
we ve got in th e stable s H e r n am e s B rown M olly sir ; an d .
’

sh e ll go till sh e drops
’
S i r Pe rcival u sually takes I saac o f.

York fo r th e sho rt di stan ces .

’

An d you r shining c ourageou s B rown M olly for the long

Ye s si r ,
.
’

Logical i nfe re nce M is s H alcom be co ntinued th e Coun t , ,

’
,

w h ee ling rou nd b riskly and addre ssi n g me S i r Pe rcival i s ,

goin g a lon g di stance to day - .

’

I made 11 0 reply I h ad my o w n i nfe rence s to draw from

.
,

what I knew th rough the h ouse keepe r and from wh a t I saw

212
 T HE WO MA N I N W H I T E

befo re me ; a nd I did no t ch oos e to share the m with C oun t

F os co .

Whe n S i r Pe rcival wa s i n Cumberland ( I th ough t t o m y

’
s e lf) he walke d away a lon g d istan ce o n An ne s acc ount to
, , ,

que stion the family at Todd s Co rn e r N ow h e i s in H amp ’

.

’
shi re i s h e goi ng to drive away a long di stan ce o n Ann e s
, ,

accou nt again to que sti o n M rs C a th eric k at W elm ingh a m

, .

We al l e nte red the hou se As we c rossed th e hall S i r .

,

Pe rcival came o u t from the lib rary to m eet u s H e looked .

hu rried an d pale an d anxi ou s — h u t fo r all that he was i n h is , ,

m os t poli te mo od whe n he sp oke to u s , .

I am so rry t o say I am oblige d to leave you h e b egan

, ,
’

a lon g d rive — a m atte r that I can t ve ry well pu t o ff I shall ’

. _

b e back in go od ti me to m orrow — but be fore I go I sh oul d -

, ,

li ke that little b usin ess fo rmality which I sp oke of thi s m orn

-
,

i ng t o be settled
, Laura wil l you come i n to the library ?
.
,

I t wo n t tak e a mi n ute — a me re fo rm ality Cou n te ss may I

’
.
,

t rouble you al so I want you a n d th e Coun tess Fosco to b e , ,

witn esse s t o a signatu re — n othi ng more Come in at o nc e .

,
’
an d ge t it ove r .

H e held th e library d oo r ope n u ntil th ey had p asse d in ,

fol lowed th em and shu t i t s oftly

, .

I rem a in ed for a m ome n t afte rward s standin g alon e i n

, ,

the hall with my heart beating fas t a n d my min d mi sgivin g

, ,

m e sadly The n I wen t on to th e staircase an d ascen de d

.
, ,

slowly t o my o w n room .

J U N E 1 7 th —J u st a s my han d was 0 11 th e d o or o f my room I

.
,

heard S i r Pe rcival s voice calli ng t o me from below

’
.

I m ust beg you to come down stai rs agai n h e said It ,

’
.

is F os co s faul t Mi s s H al combe n ot mi n e
’
, H e h a s starte d , .

some n on sen si c a l obj e cti o n t o hi s wife bein g o n e o f th e

wi tn e sses a n d has oblige d m e to a sk you t o j oi n u s i n the
,

library .
’

I e nte re d the room immedi ately wi th S i r Pe rcival Lau ra .

was waiting by th e writi ng table twi sting an d tu rn i ng he r -

,

garde n hat u neasily i n he r hands Madam e F osco sa t n ear .

h e r in a n arm ch ai r i mpe rturbably admi rin g h e r hu sband

,
-
, ,

wh o sto od by hims elf at th e oth er en d o f th e library pic kin g O ff ,

the dead leave s from the fl owe rs in th e wi ndo w .

The m oment I appeared the Count advance d to me et me , ,

an d t o o ffe r h is explanati on s .

‘ ‘
A thou an d pardon s M i s s H alcombe , h e said
s You ,
’
.

21 3
 T H E WO MAN I N W H I T E
k n ow the ch aracte r wh ich i s give n to my countrymen by th e
E ngli sh We I talian s are all wily an d su spici ou s by n atu re ,

i n the estimatio n o f th e good J oh n Bull S e t me dow n if yo u .

,

ple ase as bein g n o bette r than the res t o f my race

,
I am a .

wily I talian an d a suspiciou s I ta lian Y o u h ave th ough t so .

you rself dear lady h ave you n ot ? Well ! i t i s part o f my

, ,

wi lines s an d p art o f my su spici on to obj ect to Madame Fo sco

’
being a wi tn es s t o Lady G lyde s sign atu re whe n I am also a ,
’
witn es s mys e lf .

‘The re i s n ot th e shad ow o f a reason fo r h i s objection ’

,
‘
i nte rposed S i r Pe rcival I have explain ed to h im that th e.

l a w o f E nglan d allows Madam e Fosco t o witn ess a signatu re

as wel l as he r husban d .
’

‘ ‘
I admi t i t re su med th e C ou nt
,
’
T he law o f Engla n d .
‘

says Y es— but th e con science of F osco says N o

, H e sp read ,
.
’

o u t hi s fat fi nge rs o n th e bosom o f h is blou se an d bowe d ,

s olemnly a s if h e wi shed to i ntroduce h is conscience to u s all

, ,

i n th e characte r o f a n i llu striou s addition to th e society .

‘
What thi s d ocu me nt whi ch Lady Glyde i s about t o sign ,

may be h e continued I n eithe r k n ow n o r desi re to kn ow I

,
’
, .

only say thi s ci rcu mstan ce s may h appe n i n the futu re wh ich
may oblige Pe rcival o r hi s rep resentative s t o appeal to the
, ,

two w itne sse s ; in wh i ch case i t i s ce rtainly desi rable that

those witne sse s sh ould rep re se n t two O pin ion s which are
pe rfectly i ndepen den t the o n e o f the othe r Thi s cann ot .

be if my wife signs as well as myself becau se we have but ,

o n e opini on betwee n u s an d that O pini on i s mi ne I will

, .

n ot h ave i t cast in my teeth at s om e futu re day that M adam e , ,

Fosco acted u n de r my c oe rcion an d w a s i n plai n fact n o , , ,

witnes s at all I speak in Pe rcival s inte re st wh e n I p ropo se

.
’

that my n ame sh all a ppear (as th e neare st fri en d o f th e

hu sband ) and you r n ame M is s H alcombe (a s th e n earest
, ,

frien d o f the wife ) I am a J esui t if you please to thi nk so

.
,

a spli tte r o f straws — a m a n o f trifl es an d crotchets an d

s cruple s — bu t yo u will hu mou r me I h ope i n m e rciful c o n , ,

side rati on fo r my suspici ou s I talian characte r a nd my u n easy ,

I talian con scie nce H e bowe d agai n stepped b ack a few

.
’
,

p ace s and withdrew h i s con science from o u r s oci ety as

,

politely as h e had i ntroduced i t .

’
The Cou nt s scru ple s might have bee n h on ou rable an d
reasonable e n ough but th e re was somethin g i n h i s manne r o f
expressin g the m which i ncreased my u nwillingn ess to b e
‘

concerne d i n the bu si ne ss o f th e signatu re N o co nsi de rati on .

o f le ss i mportance than my co nside rati on fo r Lau ra would ,

have i n duce d me to con se nt to be a wi tn es s at all O n e look .

,

214
 T H E W OM AN I N W H IT E
‘What i s i t I am to sign sh e asked quietly .
,

I have n o time t o explai n h e an swe red Th e d og cart ,

’
.
-

i s at th e door ; and I must go directly B eside s if I had .

,

ti m e you wouldn t un de rstan d

, I t i s a pu rely fo rmal docu
’
.

men t — ful l of legal tech nicaliti es an d all th at s ort o f thi n g ,

.

Come ! come sign your n ame an d let u s have d on e as soo n ,

as po ssi bl e .
’

‘
I ought su rely to kn ow what I am signi n g S i r Pe rcival , ,

before I write my name

N on sen se What have wome n to d o wi th bu si ne ss I
tel l you agai n you can t u nde rstan d it
,
’
.
’

At a n y rate le t m e try t o u n de rstan d i t Whe never M r

, . .

Gil mo re had any bu si ne ss fo r me to do h e alway s e xp lai ne d ,

i t fi rs t an d I always u n de rstood hi m
, .
’

I dare say h e did H e was you r s e rvant and was oblige d

.
,

t o explain I am you r h usband and am n ot obliged

. H ow ,
.

m uch l onge r d o you m ean to keep m e here I tell you again ,

the re i s n o tim e fo r readi n g anythi ng : th e d og cart i s waiti ng -

at th e do o r O n ce for all will yo u sign o r wi ll you n ot

.
, ,

S h e still h ad th e p en i n he r han d bu t sh e mad e n o

approach t o signi ng he r name with i t .

I f my signature pledge s m e t o anythin g sh e said ,

’
,

surely I have some clai m t o kn ow what that pledge is

,

H e lifted u p the parchment an d struck i t angrily 0 11 the ,

table .

S peak o u t he said You we re always fam ou s fo r .

telling the truth N eve r min d M iss H alcombe n ever mi n d

.
,

Fosc o — say in plai n term s yo u di strust me

, , .
’

The Cou nt t ook o n e o f hi s hand s o u t o f hi s belt a nd laid ,

it 0 11 S ir Pe rcival s sh oulde r S i r Pe rcival sh ook i t o ff

’
.

i rritably T he Coun t put i t 0 11 agai n wi th u nru fli ed c o m

.

p o su re .

C ontro l you r u nfortu n ate temper Pe rcival h e said , ,

’
.

Lady Glyd e is right .

’

Right crie d S i r Pe rcival A wife righ t in di stru stin g .

he r hu sban d
I t i s u nj ust an d crue l to accu se m e o f di stru sti ng you ,
’

said Lau ra Ask Mari an i f I am n o t ju stified i n wanti ng t o

.

k n ow what thi s writing re qu ire s o f me before I sign it ? ,

‘ ’
I wo n t have any appeal s made t o Mi ss H alcombe re ,
’

f orted S ir Pe rcival M i s s H alcombe has n othi ng t o do with

.

’
th e matter .

I had n ot spoke n h itherto and I would much rathe r n ot ,

have spoke n n ow B ut the expre ssi on o f di stre ss in Laura s

.
’

fa ce whe n sh e t u rne d i t t oward s me an d th e i n solen t inj u sti ce ,

216
 T H E WO MAN I N W H I T E
of he r hu sb and s c on du ct left me no othe r al te rn ative than t o
’
,

give my opinion for he r sake as soon as I w a s asked for i t

, , .

Excu se me S ir Percival I said ,

but as o ne o f th e ,
’
,

witne sses to the signature I ve nture to thin k that I h a v e ,

’
something to do with th e matte r Laura s obj ecti on see m s .

to m e a perfectly fai r o n e ; a n d spe aking for myse lf on ly I , ,

cann ot assume the resp on si bi lity o f wi tne ssin g h e r signature ,

u nle ss she first u nderstand s what th e writing i s which you

wi sh h e r to sign .
’

‘
A co ol declaration u p on my s oul ! crie d S i r Percival ,
’
.

‘
Th e n ext time you i nvi te yourself to a man s h ou se M i s s ’
,

H alcombe I re com men d you not t o repay hi s h ospitality by

,
’
taking hi s wife s s ide agai n st hi m i n a matter that d oe sn t ’

’
con cern you .

I starte d t o my feet as suddenly as if h e h ad struck m e .

I f I had bee n a man I would have kn ocke d h im down o n th e ,

threshold o f h i s o w n door and have left hi s h ou se never o n , ,

a ny earthly co n side rati on t o e nte r i t agai n B ut I was on ly .

a woman — an d I loved hi s wife s o dearly

T han k God that faithful love helped m e a nd I sat d own
, ,

again with ou t sayin g a word

, S iz e kne w what I had su f .

fered a n d what I had supp ressed S h e ra n rou n d to m e with .

,

th e tears streamin g from h e r eye s Oh Marian sh e .

,

fi
‘
whi spere d s oftly I f my m othe r had bee n alive sh e could
.
,

have don e n o more for me

Com e back and sign cried S ir Pe rcival from th e othe r ,

side o f th e table .

S hall I she asked in my ear ; I wi ll if you te ll me , .

’

‘
N o I an swe red
,
’
Th e righ t an d th e truth are wi th .

you — sign n othing u n less you have re ad i t rst , .

’

Com e back an d sign he re ite rated in his l oude st a n d ,

angriest tone s .

Th e Cou nt wh o had watche d Lau ra and me wi th a close

,

and sile nt attenti on i nte rposed fo r the seco nd time , .

I re me mber th at I am in th e
’
Percival ! h e said .

prese nce o f ladie s B e go od e nough if you please t o re

.
, ,
’
membe r it to o , .

S i r Pe rcival tu rn ed o n him sp eechle s s with passi on The , .

Coun t s fi rm hand slowly tightened i ts grasp 0 11 h i s sh oulde r

’
,

a n d th e Coun t s steady voice

’ ‘
quietly repeated B e goo d , ,

e n ough if you p lease to re membe r it too

, , , .
’

They both lo oke d at each othe r S ir Pe rcival slowly d rew

hi s shoulde r from unde r the Count s hand slowly tu rned hi s ’

’
face away fro m th e Cou nt s eye s d ogge dly looked down fo r
a l itt l e w h i l e a t the par c hment o n th e table an d then sp oke ,

21 7
 T H E W O MAN I N W H I T E
wi th the sulle n submi ssi o n of a tame d ani mal rathe r th an th e ,

becoming re signatio n of a convi n ced man .

’
I d on t want to o ff e nd anyb ody h e said but my wife s
’
,
’
,

obsti nacy is e n ough to try th e pati e nce of a saint I have .

told he r thi s i s me rely a formal d ocu me nt —a nd what m o re

c a n sh e want You may say wh at you please bu t i t i s n o
part of a w o m a n s duty to set h er hu sban d at defian ce
’
O n ce .

m ore Lady Glyd e a nd for th e last time will you sign or wi ll

, , ,

you n ot
Laura retu rned to h is side o f th e table an d took u p th ,

pen again .

I will sign with pl easu re sh e sai d i f you w ill o nly trea t

,
’
,

me as a re spon si ble bei n g I care little what sacrifice is .

requ i red o f me i f i t w ill a ffe ct 11 0 o ne el se and lead t o 11 0 il l

, ,

re sult s
‘ ’
Wh o talke d o f a sacrifice bein g requi red of you ? h e
b roke i n w ith a half su ppres sed retu rn of h is former vi ole nce
,
- .

I o nly meant sh e re su med , that I w ould refu se n o

’

conce ssi on which I could h on ou rably make I f I h ave a .

scru ple abou t sign ing my name t o a n e ngage me n t o f wh ich I

kn ow n othi ng why sh ould you vis it i t o n m e s o seve rely ?
,

I t is rather hard I thin k t o treat Cou nt Fosco s s cruple s so

, ,
’

’
much m ore i ndulge ntly than you h ave treated mine .

This u nfo rtu nate yet m ost n atu ral refe ren ce t o th e Co u nt s
, ,
’

extraordi nary p owe ove r he r hu sband i ndi rect a s it was se t

i
, ,

S i r Pe rcival s smoulde rin g tempe r 0 11 fi re agai n i n a n i n stant

’
.

‘
S cru ple s ! he repeated
’
Yo u? sc ruples ! I t i s rath e r
.

late i n th e day fo r you to be scrupulou s I sh ould have .

th ought you h ad got ove r all weakn ess of th at sort whe n ,

you made a vi rtue of n eces sity by m arryi n g m e .

’

T h e i n stan t h e S poke th ose word s Lau ra th rew d own th e ,

pen — l ooked at h im with a n expre ssi o n in he r eye s which ,

th rough out all my expe ri ence of he r I h ad neve r seen i n them ,

before — a n d tu rn ed he r back o n h im in dead si len ce .

Thi s stron g exp ressi on o f the most O pe n an d th e mos t

bitte r contemp t w a s so e nti rely u nli ke h e rself s o utte rly ou t
, ,

o f her characte r that i t si lenced u s all

, The re was s omethi ng .

hidden beyon d a d oubt u nde r th e m e re su rface brutality

, ,
-

o f the word s which he r hus ban d had ju st addre ssed to he r .

There was some lu rki ng i n sult bene ath th em of which I was ,

wh olly i gn orant but which h ad left the mark of its profanati on

,

so plai nly o n h e r face that eve n a strange r might have seen it .

Th e Cou nt who was n o stran ge r saw i t a s disti nctly as

, ,

I did Whe n I left my ch ai r t o j oi n Lau ra I heard him

'

.
,

whi sper u n de r hi s breath to S i r Pe rcival You idiot

218
 T H E W O MAN I N W H ITE
sa y it d oe s — it is th e tone o f a m a n wh o c a n kee p h i s tempe r .

H ow many do se s o f good advice have I give n you in my time

M ore than you c a n cou nt H ave I eve r bee n wrong . I defy
you to qu ote m e a n in stance o f i t G o ! take you r d rive . .

The matte r o f the signatu re c a n wait till to mo rrow Let i t - .

wait — an d renew it when yo u come back .

’

S i r Pe rcival h esitated an d looked at hi s watch His

, .

anxi ety about the secret j ou rney which he was t o take that
day revived by the Cou n t s wo rds was n ow evidently dis
,
’

pu tin g po sses si on o f hi s m ind with h is anxiety t o obtai n

Lau ra s si gnatu re
’
H e con side red for a little while ; a nd
.

then got u p from h is chai r .

I t i s easy to a rgue m e d own he said when I have n o ,

’
,

time to answe r y o u I wi ll take you r advice Fosco — n ot

.
,

be cau se I want it o r believe i n i t bu t becau se I can t stop

, ,
’

h e re a ny longe r H e pau sed an d looke d rou n d darkly at h is

.
’
,
‘
wife . I f you d on t give me you r signatu re wh e n I come
’

back to m orrow - Th e rest wa s l o st i n th e n oi se of hi s

O pe ning th e b ook case cupboard again an d l ocking u p the
-
,

parch me nt o nce m ore H e took h i s h at an d glove s o ff th e

.

table an d made fo r the d oor

,
Lau ra and I d rew bac k to let .

h im pass Remembe r t o m orrow

. h e said t o hi s wife ; -

and wen t o u t .

We waited to give h i m time t o cross th e h all a nd d rive ,

away Th e Coun t approached u s while we we re standin g

.

n ear the door .

’
Y o u have j u st see n Pe rcival at hi s wo rst M i s s H alcombe , ,

he said As h i s old frie nd I am so rry for him and ashame d

.
,

o f him As h is o ld friend I p romi se yo u th at h e shall n o t

.
,

b re ak o u t to m orrow i n th e same disgraceful man n e r i n which

-

h e has broke n o u t to day - .

’

Lau ra had take n my arm wh ile h e w a s spe aking a nd sh e ,

p ressed i t si gnificantly wh en he had d on e I t would have .

bee n a h ard trial to any woman t o stan d by an d see the o fli c e

o f apologi st fo r h e r hu sban d s mi scon duct quietly assumed by
’

h i s male frien d in he r o w n h ouse — and it was a trial to k er .

I thanke d th e C ou nt civi lly and led he r o u t Ye s I thanke d , .

hi m for I felt already with a se nse o f i n exp re ssi ble helpless

,

n e ss and hum ili ati on that i t was eithe r hi s i nte re st o r h is

,

cap ri ce t o make su re o f my conti nu ing t o reside at B lackwate r

Park ; an d I knew afte r S i r Pe rcival s con duct to m e that ’
,

withou t th e support of the C ou nt s i nflu ence I could n o t h ope ’

,

to remai n the re H i s i nfluen ce th e i nflue nce o f al l others

.
,

that I d reade d most was actu ally the o n e ti e whi ch now ,

h eld me to L a u ra in th e hou r o f h e r u tmost n eed

220
 T H E WO MAN I N W H I T E
We h eard th e w heels o f th e do g cart c rash in g o n th e -

gravel of th e drive a s we came i nto th e hall S i r Pe rcival .

had started o n hi s j ou rn ey .

Whe re is h e going to Marian Lau ra whis pe red ,

.

Eve ry fresh thi ng h e doe s seems t o te rrify m e ab ou t the ,

futu re. H ave you any su spici on s

Afte r what sh e had u n de rgon e that m o rn in g I was u n ,

willi ng t o tell he r my suspici on s .

’
H ow sh ould I kn ow hi s se c rets I said evasively , , .

I won de r if th e h ou se keepe r kn ows she pe rsis ted .

Certain ly n ot I repli ed S he mu st b e qu ite as i gn oran t

,
’
.

as we are .
’

Lau ra sh ook he r head dou btfully .

Di d you n ot hear fro m th e h ou se keepe r that the re was

a rep ort o f Ann e C a th eric k havin g bee n s ee n in thi s neigh
b o u rh o o d D on t you thin k he m ay have gon e away to loo k
’

fo r he r
I wou ld rathe r compos e myself Lau ra by n ot thi nki ng , ,

about it at all ; a nd afte r what has h appe n ed you had

, , ,

bette r foll ow my exam ple C om e i n to my room and res t

.
,

and quie t you rse lf a little .

’

We s at d o w n togethe r close t o th e wi n dow an d le t the ,

fi
fragran t su mme r ai r b reathe ove r o u r face s .

‘ ‘
I am ashamed t o loo k at you M arian she said afte r , ,
’
,

w hat you su bmitted t o d own stai rs fo r my sake Oh my ,

.
,

o w n love I am almos t he artb ro ken wh e n I thi n k o f it !

, ,

B ut I wi ll try to make i t u p to you — I will i n de ed

H u sh ! H u sh I replied d on t tal k so Wh at is th e ’
.

trifli ng m o rti c a tio n o f my p ride c ompared t o th e d readfu l

s acrifice o f you r happin es s
‘
Y o u h eard what h e sai d to m e ? sh e we nt o n qui ckly
’
,
‘
and veh eme ntly You heard the wo rds — bu t you d on t
.
’

k n ow wh at they meant — yo u don t kn ow why I th rew down ’

th e p en a n d tu rned my back o n him S h e ros e i n sudde n .

’

‘
agitation and walke d abou t the room
, I have kept many .

things from you r k n owledge Marian fo r fear o f di stres si n g , ,

you a nd maki n g yo u u nhappy at the outset o f o u r n ew live s

, .

Y o u do n t k n ow h o w h e has u sed me
’
An d yet you ought .
,

t o kn ow fo r you sa w h ow h e u sed m e to day Y o u h eard

,
- .

him snee r at my pre su ming to b e sc ru pulou s you h eard hi m

’
say I had made a virtu e o f n e ces sity in marryin g him S he .

sa t down again ; h e r fac e flushe d d eeply an d he r h and s ,

‘ ’
twiste d an d twi ne d togethe r i n h e r lap I can t tell yo u .

abou t i t n ow sh e said , I shal l bu rs t o u t c ryin g if I te ll you

’

n ow — late r M arian whe n I am m ore su re o f myself My

, , .

22 1
 T H E W O MAN I N W H ITE
poo r h ead aches darlin g— aches aches aches Wh e re i s
, , ,
.

you r s melling bottle ? Let me talk t o you about you rself

- .

I wish I had give n hi m my signatu re for you r sake S hall I , .

give it to h im to m orrow I w o u ld rathe r comp romi se myself

,
-

than compromis e you Afte r you r takin g my part again st

.

him h e wi ll lay all th e blam e o n y o u if I refuse agai n

, ,
.

What shal l we do O h for a frie nd to help u s an d advise

,

u s — a friend we cou ld really trust

S h e s ighed bitte rly I saw i n he r face that sh e was thi n k
.

in g of H a rtrigh t— saw i t th e m ore plai nly becaus e he r last

word s set m e thinking o f him too I n s ix m on th s only from , .

he r marriage w e wante d the faithful service he had o ff e re d to

,

u s i n his farewel l words H o w li ttle I once though t that

.

w e shou ld eve r wan t i t at all

‘
We mu st do what we c a n t o hel p ou rs elves I sai d ,
’
.

Le t u s t ry to talk i t ove r cal mly Lau ra — let u s d o all in o u r ,

p owe r to decide fo r the bes t .

’

Putting what she k n ew o f her husban d s embarras sments ’

,

an d w hat I had h eard o f h i s conve rsati on with the l awye r ,

togethe r we arrive d n ece ssari ly at the con clusi on that th e

,

parch men t in the li brary h ad bee n d rawn u p fo r th e purpos e

o f bo rrowin g m on ey an d th at Lau ra s sign atu re was a b so
’
,
’
l u tely n eces sary to fit it for th e attai nme n t o f S i r Pe rcival s
obj ect .

The secon d questi on concern in g the n atu re o f th e legal

,

contract by wh ich th e m oney was to be o btai ned a n d the ,

degree o f pe rs on al responsibility t o which Lau ra migh t sub

j ec t h e rs elf if sh e signed i t in th e dark i nvolved con side ration s ,

which lay far beyon d a ny k n owledge an d expe rie nce that

e ithe r o f u s possessed My o w n c onvi cti on s led me to
.

believe that the hidde n c onte nts o f th e parchm en t con ceale d

a tran sacti on o f the meanest a n d th e m os t fraudulen t kind .

I had n ot form ed thi s conclusi o n i n co nseque nce of S i r

Pe rcival s refu sal to sh ow th e writi n g o r to explai n i t ; for
’
,

that refusal migh t well h ave proceeded from his obs tinate
disp osi tio n an d h is d omi nee rin g tempe r a lone My s ole .

motive fo r distrusti n g his h on e sty sp rang from th e change ,

which I had O bse rve d i n hi s language an d hi s manne rs a t

fi
B lack w ate r Park a change which c onvi nced m e that h e had
,

b ee n acting a part th roughou t the whole p eri od o f h is p roba

tion at Lim m eridge H ouse H is e laborate delicacy ; hi s .

cer emon ious poli te ne s s which harm on i ed so agre eably w i th

,
z

’
M r G ilmo re s o ld fashione d n oti ons ; hi s mode sty w ith
.
-

L au ra his can dou r with me hi s mode ration with M r Fai rlie

, , .

-
all thes e were the a rti c es o f a mean cun ning an d brutal , ,

222
 T HE WO MAN I N W H IT E

to be di re cted t o ask for m e to an swe r n o qu e sti on s addre ssed ,

t o hi m by any one e lse and to de live r hi s lette r into n o han ds

,

b u t mine .

‘
I n case S i r Pe rcival sh ould come back to mo rrow before -

‘
tw o o cl ock
’
I said t o Laura th e wise st p lan fo r you to
,
’
,

adopt i s t o be o u t in th e grounds all th e m orning with you r , ,

b ook o r you r work and n o t t o appear at th e h ous e till the

,

mes senge r has had ti me to arrive with th e le tte r I wi ll wait .

he re fo r h im al l the mo rni ng t o guard agai n st any m isa d

, ,

v entu re s o r mi stakes By following thi s arran geme nt I hope

.

and believe we shall avoid bei ng take n by su rprise Let u s .

go down to the d rawing roo m n ow We may excite su spici o n - .

if we remai n shut u p togethe r t oo long .

’

’
S uspicion ? sh e repeated Whose su spicion c a n we .

excite n o w that S i r Pe rcival h a s left the hou s e ? D o you

,

mean C ou nt F osco
’
Pe rhap s I d o Lau ra , .

Y o u are begi n n i n g to di sli ke h im a s much as I do ,

’
M arian .

N o n o t t o dislike hi m D islike i s always more o r le ss .

, ,

associ ate d with conte mpt — I c a n see n othing i n the Cou nt to

’
despise .

You are n ot afraid of him are you ,

Perhaps I a m — a little .
’

Afraid o f him afte r h is interferen ce in ou r favou r to day

,
-

Y es I am more afrai d o f his i nte rfe re n ce than I am o f

.

’
S i r Pe rcival s violence Remembe r what I sai d to you in th e
.

library Whateve r y o u d o Lau ra don t mak e an e nemy o f

"

’
.
, ,

the C ou n t
We we n t down stai rs Lau ra ente re d th e d rawing room
.
-

while I p rocee ded acros s th e hall wi th m y lette r in my hand , ,

to pu t i t into the p os t bag which hun g again st th e wall -

,

o p p os it e t o me .

Th e hou s e door was O pe n ; and a s I c ros sed past it I , ,

saw Coun t Fosco an d h is wife standin g t alking togethe r o n

th e steps o utside wi th th e i r face s tu rn ed toward s me
, .

The C ou ntes s came in to th e hall rathe r hastily an d aske d , ,

fi
if I had lei su re en ou gh fo r fi ve m inute s p rivate conve rsation ’
.

Feeling a little s u rp rised by such an appeal from such a

pe rs on I put my lette r into th e bag a nd replied that I was
, ,

q uite at he r disp os al S h e took my arm with u naccu stome d

.

fri e ndli n es s an d familiarity ; and in stead o f leading m e i nto

a n emp ty room drew m e o u t with he r t o the bel t o f turf
,

wh ich su rrou n de d the large sh pond - .

As we p assed the Cou n t o n th e steps he b owed and ,

2 24
 fi
fi
T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E
smiled an d the n we nt at once i nto th e h ou se pu shin g th e
,

hall door to afte r him bu t n ot actually clos in g it

-
, .

Th e Cou nte ss walke d me ge ntly rou n d th e sh pon d I - .

expecte d t o be made th e dep ositary o f s om e extraordi nary

confide nce an d I was aston ish ed t o n d that M adame
F osco s com mu nicati on fo r my p rivate e ar was n othin g m o re
’

than a polite assu ran ce of he r sympathy fo r me afte r what ,

had h appe n ed in the library H e r hu sban d had told he r o f

.

al l that had passed an d o f th e i n solen t manne r in which S i r

,

Pe rcival had spoke n to me Thi s info rmati on had so sh ocke d

.

an d distre sse d he r o n my acc oun t an d on Lau ra s that sh e

,
’
,

had made u p he r m i nd if anythin g of the sort happe ne d

,

again to mark he r se nse o f S i r Pe rcival s ou trage ou s c onduct

,
’

by leavin g th e h ou se T he Coun t had app rove d of h e r idea

.
,

and sh e n ow h ope d that I app roved of i t too , .

I th o u gh t thi s a ve ry s trange p rocee din g o n the part o f

such a remarkably rese rve d woman as M adame Fosco
e specially afte r the inte rchange o f sharp speeches wh ich had
pass ed be twee n u s du ri ng the co nve rsati o n in the b oat h ou se -
,

o n that ve ry m orn i ng H oweve r i t was my plai n duty t o

.
,

meet a polite a n d friend ly advance o n the part of o n e o f my ,

e lde rs with a polite an d frie ndly rep ly

, I an swe re d th e .

Cou ntess acco rdin gly in he r o w n ton e ; a n d the n thi nkin g

, , ,

we had said all that was n ec essa ry o n e ithe r s ide made a n ,

attempt to get back to th e hou se .

B u t M adam e F osco see med res olve d n o t t o part with me ,

an d to my u nspeakable amazeme n t re solve d als o t o talk

, , .

fi
H ithe rto the m ost si len t of women she n ow p e rsecute d m e
, ,

with flue nt conve ntion alitie s o n the subj ect o f marrie d life o n ,

th e subj ect of S i r Pe rcival an d Lau ra o n th e su bj e ct o f h e r ,

o w n happi nes s o n th e su bj e ct of the late M r F ai rlie s conduct

’
.
,

to he r in th e matte r o f he r legacy an d o n h alf a d o z en othe r ,

subj ects beside s u n til she h ad detai ned me walki ng roun d

, ,

an d roun d th e sh p on d fo r m ore than half a n h ou r a nd h ad

-
,

qu ite wearied m e o u t Whe the r sh e discove red thi s o r n ot

.
, ,

I can n ot say but she stoppe d as ab ruptly as sh e had begun

,

looked towards the h ou se doo r resu me d he r icy m an ne r in a ,

m oment — an d droppe d my arm o f he r o w n acco rd before I ,

c ou ld thi n k o f a n excu s e fo r accomplishin g my o w n releas e

from he r .

As I pu she d O pen th e doo r and ente red th e hall I fou n d, ,

myself suddenly face to face with the Cou nt again H e was .

j ust putting a lette r i nto the post bag - .

Afte r h e had d ropped it in an d had clo se d th e bag h e , ,

a s ke d me whe re I had left M adame F os co I to l d hi m ; a nd

Q
.

2 25
 T H E WO M AN I N WH ITE
h e wen t out at th e hall door i mmediately to j oi n hi s wife , , .

H i s m anne r when h e sp oke t o me was s o u nusually quie t

, ,

an d subdued that I tu rn ed a n d looke d afte r h im won derin g ,

if h e we re ill or ou t of spi ri ts .

'
Why my n ext p rocee ding was to go straight u p to the
p ost bag an d take o u t my o w n lette r an d l ook at i t agai n
-
, , ,

with a vagu e distru st o n me an d why the lo oking at it fo r

the secon d time in stantly suggeste d the i dea to my mind o f
s ealin g th e e nve lop e for its greate r s ecu rity— are mysterie s
which are eithe r to o deep o r to o shallow for m e to fath om .

W omen as everybody kn ows con stantly act o n i mpulse s

, ,

wh ich they can n ot explai n eve n t o the mse lve s ; a nd I c a n

on ly supp ose that on e o f those i mpu lses was the hidde n cause
o f my u naccountabl e conduct o n thi s o ccasi on .

Whateve r i nfl ue n ce animate d m e I fou n d cau se t o c o n ,

gratulate myself 0 11 having obeye d it a s s oon as I prepared ,

t o seal th e lette r in my o wn room I had o rigi nally c losed .

th e e nve lop e in th e u sual way by moi ste nin g th e adhesive

, ,

p oin t an d p ressi ng it o n th e pape r be neath ; an d when I ,

11 0 W tried it with my finge r afte r a l a p se of ful l th ree quarters

,
-

o f a n h ou r th e e nvel ope open ed o n the i n stant withou t

, ,
‘
sti cking o r teari ng Pe rhap s I had fasten ed i t in su fli c ien tly
.

Pe rhaps there might have b een some defe ct in th e adhesive

gum
O r pe rhap s — N o ! i t i s quite revo ltin g e n ough to feel
,

that third conj ectu re sti rri ng in my min d I would rathe r .

n ot se e i t confronting me in plai n b lack an d white , .

I almost dread to mo rrow— so much de pen ds o n my di s

-

c reti on an d self control The re are two precau ti on s at a ll

- .

eve nts which I am su re n ot to fo rget

, I mu st b e care fu l t o .

keep u p frie ndly appearan ce s with the Cou nt an d I mus t be

well 0 11 my gu ard whe n th e me sse nge r from the o ffi ce come s
,

here with th e an swer to my lette r .

! NE 7 th 1VVh e11 the din ne r h ou r b rought u s toge the r

.
-

again C oun t F osco was i n h is u sual e xcellent spi rits

, He .

exe rte d hi mself to i nte re st an d amuse u s as if h e w a s dete r ,

mined to efface fro m o u r memorie s all rec ollection o f what

h ad pass ed in th e lib rary that afte r noo n Lively de sc riptions .

o f hi s adve ntu re s in trave llin g ; amu sing ane cdote s o f re

markable p e ople wh om he had met with abroad ; quai nt
comparis o n s betwee n th e soc ia l cu sto ms o f vari ous nation s ,

illustrate d by example s d rawn from m en an d wom en i n dis

2 26
here .
fi T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E
we m ay nd i t coole r i n the ope n space than we nd i t
’

We walked th rough the shadowy plantati on in silen ce

T h e h eavines s i n the eve ning ai r O pp re sse d u s b oth ; a n d
fi .

when we reache d the b oat h ou se we we re glad to s it down -

,

an d rest i n side
, .

A wh ite fog hun g l ow ove r th e lake Th e de n se brown .

l in e o f th e tree s on the O ppos ite bank appeare d above i t like a , ,

dwarf forest fl oating i n the sky Th e san dy grou nd shelvin g .

,

downward from where we s at was lost myste ri ou sly in the ,

outward layers o f th e fo g The si len ce was h orri ble N o . .

rustlin g o f th e leave s — n o bird s n ote i n th e wood — n o c ry ’

o f waterfowl fro m the pools of th e hidden lake Eve n th e .

croaking of th e frogs h ad ceased to nigh t - .

‘ ‘ ’
I t i s ve ry de solate a nd gl oomy sai d Laura B ut we , .

’
c a n be more alone he re than anywhere e lse .

S he spoke quietly a nd l ooke d at th e wi lderne s s o f sand

,

a nd mist with steady th ou gh tfu l eye s I cou ld see that h er

, .

min d was too mu ch occupied to fee l the dreary im pressio ns

from with out which had faste ned the mse lve s already o n mine
, .

‘
I promi sed M arian t o te ll you the tru th abou t my
, ,

married life in stead o f le avin g you any l on ge r to gu ess i t

,
‘
for you rself she b egan
,
’
That secre t i s the fi rst I have .

ever had from you love a nd I am dete rmi ned it shall be th e

, ,

last . I was silent as yo u kn ow for you r sake — and p e rhaps

, ,

a little for my o w n sake as well I t i s ve ry hard for a woman .

to confess that th e m a n to wh om she h as give n her whole

life is the man o f all others wh o cares least for the gift
,
If .

you were marrie d you rself M arian — an d e speci ally if y o u ,

were happily married — you wou ld fe el for m e as n o s ingle

woman ca n feel h oweve r ki nd and true sh e m ay be
, .
’

What an swe r cou ld I make I could o nly take he r h and ,

an d look at h e r with my wh ol e heart as well as my eye s

woul d le t me .

‘ ’
H ow ofte n sh e wen t o n , I have heard you laughin g ,

over what yo u u sed t o call you r poverty h ow often yo u

have made m e mock s peeches of con gratulation o n my -

wealth ! Oh M arian neve r lau gh again Than k G od fo r

, , .

you r poverty— it has m a de you you r o w n mistress and has ,

save d yo u from th e l o t that has fallen o n m e

’
.

A sa d beginn ing o n th e lips o f a youn g wife — sad in

i ts quie t plain spoke n truth Th e few days we had all
,
- .

passe d togethe r at B lackwate r Park h ad bee n m any e n ough ,

to sh ow me — to show any o ne— what he r hu sban d h ad

m arried h er for .

2 28
 T H E WO M A N I N W H I T E
Y ou sha l l
’
no t be
distre ssed sh e said by he ari ng h ow , ,

s oon my d isappointme nts and my trials began — o r eve n by

k nowi n g what they we re I t is bad e n ough to have them o n
.

my m emory I f I tell yo u how h e re ce ive d th e fi rst a n d

.
,

las t atte mpt at re mon stran ce that I eve r m ade yo u will kn ow

, ,

h ow h e ha s always treated me as we ll as if I h ad describe d ,

it i n s o m any words I t was o n e day at Rome whe n we

.
,

had ridde n o u t togethe r t o the t omb o f Ceci li a M etella .

The sk y was calm an d l ove ly — an d th e gran d old ruin l ooke d

beautiful — an d th e re me mb rance that a husband s l ove h ad ’

rai sed i t i n th e old ti me t o a wife s me m ory made me fee l ’

more ten derly an d m ore anxi ously t oward s my hu sband than

I had eve r felt yet Would yo u bui ld su ch a tomb for m e
.
,
“
Pe rcival ? I asked hi m You said you loved me dearly
.
,

before we we re m arried ; and ye t s i n ce that time I ,

could get n o farthe r M arian ! he was n ot eve n l ooki ng at

.

me ! I pulled down my veil th in kin g it be st n ot to let hi m ,

se e that the te ars we re i n my eyes I fan cied he had n ot

“
paid any atte ntio n to me ; but h e had H e said Come .
,
”
away an d laugh ed t o h i mself as h e h elpe d me o n to my
, ,

h orse . H e m ou nte d h i s o w n h orse ; a nd laughed again as

“ ” “
we rode away I f I d o bui ld you a t omb h e said
. it , ,

will b e don e with you r o w n m o ney I won de r wh ethe r .

”
Ce cilia M ete lla had a fortu n e a n d pai d for he rs I mad e , .

n o reply — how could I wh e n I was c ryi ng b ehi n d my vei l ?

,
“ ”
Ah yo u light complexi oned wome n a re all sulky h e said
,
-
,
.

What d o yo u wan t compli men ts a nd s oft spee che s We ll

I m i n a go od hu m ou r thi s m orn i ng C onside r the compli
’
.

”
ments paid an d the speech e s said
, M en little kn ow when .
,

they s ay hard th ings t o u s h ow we ll we reme mbe r th em a nd , ,

h ow much h arm th ey d o u s I t would h ave bee n be tter for .

me if I had gon e on cryi ng ; but h i s co ntempt d ri ed u p m y

tears an d h arde ne d my h eart F rom that time Marian I
,
.
, ,

n eve r ch ecke d myse lf agai n in thin king o f Walte r H a rtrigh t .

I let the me mory of th ose happy days whe n we we re so fon d ,

o f each othe r i n se cret com e back an d comfort m e , What , .

e ls e h ad I t o look to for con solation ? I f we h ad bee n

together you would have helpe d m e to bette r thi ngs
, I .

know i t was wrong darlin g— bu t tell me if I was wron g

, ,

without any excu se .

’

I was obliged t o tu rn my face from he r D on t a sk me .

’

I said .H ave I su ff e red as you have su ff ered What righ t

have I t o decide ?
‘
I u sed to thin k of him she pu rsued d roppin g he r v oi ce ,
’
, ,
— ‘
and mo v in g c lose r t o m e I u se d t o thi n k o f him , wh en
22
9
 T H E WO M AN I N W H ITE
Percival left me alon e at n ight to go among th e O pe ra ,

fi
people . I u sed to fan cy wh at I might have bee n if it h ad ,

pleased G od t o ble s s m e with p ove rty a n d if I h ad bee n hi s ,

wife . I u se d t o see myself i n my ne at cheap gown si ttin g ,

at h ome a n d waiti ng for h im whi le h e was earn ing o u r bread ,

—si tting at h ome an d worki ng fo r h im a n d l oving hi m all ,

the bette r becau s e I h a d t o work for hi m — seei ng hi m come

in tired an d taking o h is h at an d coat for him — and M arian
,
"
, ,

pleasing hi m wi th little dishe s at din ne r that I h ad learnt t o

make fo r h is s ak e — O h I h ope h e i s n eve r l on ely e n ough
a n d sa d e nough t o th in k of me an d see me as I have th ough t , ,

o f h i m and see n h i m
As sh e said those melan ch oly words all th e l ost te nde rne ss ,

retu rned t o he r v oi ce an d al l the los t beauty tre mbled back

,

i nto her face H e r eyes rested as lovi ngly o n th e b ligh ted

.
,

s olitary i ll ome ne d vie w before u s as if they sa w th e

,
-
,

frie ndly hills of Cumberlan d in th e dim a nd threate n ing sky .

‘
D on t speak of Walte r any m ore I s aid a s s o on as I
’

,
’
,

could c o ntro l myself Oh Lau ra S pare u s b oth the

.
, ,

wretchedne ss o f talki ng o f h i m n ow ,

S h e rou se d he rself an d l ooke d at m e te nderly , .

3
I wou ld rathe r be s ilen t ab out h im fo r eve r sh e ,
‘
an swered than cause you a m ome nt s pai n
,
’
.
’

‘ ‘
I t is i n you r inte re sts I pleade d ; it i s fo r you r sake ,
’

that I speak I f your hu sb an d heard you

.

‘ ’
I t wou ld n ot su rpris e hi m if h e di d hear m e , .

S he made that strange reply with a weary calmness an d

coldness The ch ange in her m an ne r whe n s h e gave th e
.
,

answe r startle d me alm ost as much as the an swe r itself

, .

N ot su rpri se him I re peated Lau ra remembe r .

what yo u are saying— you fri ghte n m e I

I t is true sh e sai d i t i s what I wante d t o tell you t o
,
’

day wh en we were talkin g in you r room

, My only secret .

whe n I op en ed my heart t o hi m at L im m eridge was a harm ,

less secret Marian — you sai d s o you rs elf Th e n ame was

, .

all I kept from hi m — and h e h a s dis covered it .

’

I h eard he r bu t I could say n oth in g H e r last word s had .

killed th e little h ope that s till lived in m e .

I t happe ned at Rome sh e went on as we arily calm an d ,

’
,

cold as eve r We we re at a littl e party give n to th e

.
,

English by some friend s of S ir Pe rcival s — M r and M rs ’

. .

M arkland M rs M arkland had th e reputati o n o f s ketch in g

. .

very beautifully ; an d s om e o f the gu ests prevailed o n h er t o

show us he r d rawi ngs We all ad mired th em — but some .
,

thing I s ai d attracte d h e r atten ti on particularly t o me .

2 30
 THE W O M AN I N WH IT E
I had caugh t h e r i n my arms an d th e sti ng an d tormen t
o f my re m orse h ad closed th em ro un d h e r li ke a vi ce Ye s .

my rem ors e Th e white despai r of Walte r s face whe n my

.
’
,

c ruel wo rds struck hi m t o the heart in the summe r h ou se at -

L im m eridge rose before me i n mute u ne n du rable reproach

, ,
.

My hand had poin te d th e way which le d th e m a n my si ste r

l oved ste p by step far from hi s cou ntry an d h i s frie nds
, ,
.

B etwee n th os e two youn g h earts I had sto od to s un de r the m ,

for eve r the o ne fro m th e othe r— a n d hi s life an d he r life

,

l ay waste d before me ali ke in wi tnes s of th e dee d ,

I h ad , .

don e thi s a n d don e it for S i r Pe rcival Glyde .

F o r S i r Percival Glyde .

I heard h e r sp eaking a nd I kn ew by th e ton e o f he r voi ce

,

that sh e was comforting m e wh o de served n othin g but

the rep roach o f he r s ilen ce H ow l on g i t was befo re I
mast ere d th e abs orbing m isery o f my o w n th oughts I cann ot ,

te ll
. I was fi rst con sci ous that sh e was ki ssing me and ,

the n my eye s seem ed to wake o n a sudde n t o thei r s ens e o f

outward thin gs an d I knew that I was l ooking mechanically
,

straigh t befo re me at the p rospect of the lake .

‘
I t i s late I h eard h e r whispe r
,
’
I t will be dark in th e . .

plantati on . S he sh ook my arm an d repeated

’
Marian ! i t , ,

wi ll be dark in the plantation .

’

‘ — ‘ ’
Give m e a minute longe r I sai d a minute t o get , ,
’
bette r in .

I w a s afrai d to tru st myself to l ook at he r yet ; an d I

kept my eye s fixe d o n the V iew .

I t wa s late The den se b rown lin e of t ree s in the sky

.

h ad fade d i n the gath e rin g darkne ss to the fai nt resemblance ,

o f a l on g wreath o f s moke Th e mi st ove r th e lake below .

had s tealthily en larged a n d advan ce d on u s The sile nce , .

was as b reathle ss as eve r— but the h orro r of it had gon e an d ,

the solem n myste ry o f its stilln e s s was all that remain ed .

‘
W e are far from the h ou se she whi spe red Let u s go ,
’
.

b ac 1<
S he stopped s uddenly an d tu rne d he r face fro m m e ,

t owards the ent rance of the boat h ou se - .

‘ ‘ D o yo u se e
’
M arian ! s h e said t re mb ling violently , .

n othing Look
Wh e re P
D own the re below u s , .
’

S h e pointed My eye s followe d he r han d ; a nd I sa w it t oo

.
, .

A living fi gu re was movi ng ove r th e waste o f heath i n th e

di stance . I t cros se d ou r ran ge o f v iew from the b oat ho u se, -

2 32
 T H E W O M AN I N W H ITE

a nd asse d darkly alon g the oute r edge o f th e m ist It

p .

stoppe d far o ff i n fron t of u s— waite d — an d passe d o n ;

,

m oving s lowly with the white clou d o f mi st b ehind i t an d

,

above it— slowly slowly t ill it glide d by the edge o f the, ,

boat hous e and we sa w i t n o more

-
,
.

We we re both u nne rve d by what had passe d betwe e n u s —

that evenin g S ome mi nute s e lapsed before Laura would

.

vent u re in to the plantati on a n d befo re I cou ld make up my ,

mi n d t o lead he r bac k to the h ou se .

‘
Was i t a m a n o r a woman she as k ed i n a wh ispe r
, , ,

a s we move d at last i nt o the dark dam p n es s o f the oute r ai r

, .

I am n ot c ertai n .
’

Which do you th in k ?
I t looke d like a woman .
’

I was afraid i t was a man i n a long cloak .

’

I t may be a m a n I n thi s dim light i t is n ot p ossible to .

be ce rtai n .
’

Wait M arian I m frighte ne d — I don t see the path

,
’ ’
.

Suppose the figu re sh ou ld follow u s

N ot at all like ly Lau ra The re i s really n othin g t o be , .

alarmed ab out The shore s of th e lake are n ot far fro m th e

.

vill a ge a nd they are free to any o ne t o wal k on by day or

, ,

night . I t i s only won de rful we have s ee n n o livi n g cre atu re

the re befo re .
’

We we re n ow in th e plantation I t wa s ve ry dark — so .

dark that we foun d s ome di ffi culty i n keepin g the path

, I .

gave Lau ra my arm an d we walke d as fast a s we cou ld o n ,

o u r way back .

Before we we re half way th rough sh e stoppe d an d , ,

forced m e t o stop with he r S he was listeni n g . .

H ush sh e whispe re d
,
’
I hear s omethin g behi n d u s . .
’

‘
D ead leave s I sai d t o chee r he r o r a twi g blown o ff
,
’

the t ree s .
"

I t i s summe r ti me M arian and the re i s no t a b reath o f ,

wind . Liste n
I he ard th e s ound to o — a sou nd like a light fo otstep ,

following u s .

‘ ’
N o matte r wh o it is o r what i t i s I sai d ; le t u s walk , ,

on . I n an othe r mi nute if the re i s anythin g to alarm u s w e , ,

shall be n ear e n ough t o the hou se t o be heard .

’

We we nt o n quickly— so quickly that Lau ra wa s b reath ,

le ss by the time we we re n early th rough th e plantation an d ,

withi n sight o f the lighte d wi n dows .

I w a ited a moment to give he r b re athi ng ti me J u st as ,

- .

we we re about to p roceed she stoppe d me agai n an d signe d , ,

2 33
 T H E WO M AN I N W H ITE
1

t o m e with he r h an d to li ste n once m ore We both heard .

di sti nctly a lon g h eavy sigh b eh in d u s i n the black depth s

, , ,

o f the tree s .

Wh o s the re ’
I calle d out .

The re was n o an swe r .

Who s the re ’
I repeated .

An i n stant o f si lenc e followe d ; a n d the n we heard the

l ight fall of the footstep s a ga in fa in ter an d fain te r si n ki ng ,
‘
-

away into th e darkne s s — sin king sin king sinking — ti ll th ey , ,

we re lost i n the silen ce .

We hu rrie d o u t from the t ree s t o the ope n lawn beyond

c rossed i t rapidly ; an d with out an oth e r word pas si ng betwee n

us reache d th e hou se
,
.

I n the ligh t o f the hall lamp Lau ra l ooked at me with -

, ,

white chee ks an d startle d eye s .

‘
I am half dead with fear sh e said ‘Wh o cou ld it ’
.
,

have bee n
‘ ‘ ’
We will try to gue ss to m orrow I replied I n the -
, .

mean time say n othi ng to any on e o f what we h ave heard

,
’
an d see n .

Why n ot
B ecaus e silence i s safe — a nd we have n ee d o f safety in
this h ouse .
’

I se nt Lau ra u pstai rs i mmedi ately— waite d a mi nute t o

take o ff my h at an d put my hai r smo oth — an d th en went at
,

on ce to make my fi rst i nvestigati on s in th e library o n ,

p rete n ce o f searchin g for a b ook .

The re sa t the C ou nt filling o u t the largest easy chai r i n

,
-

th e hou se sm okin g an d readi ng calmly wi th h is fee t o n a n ,

ottoman hi s cravat ac ro s s hi s knee s a n d h i s shi rt collar

, ,

wi de open An d the re sat Madame F osco like a quiet child

.
, ,

o n a stool by hi s s ide maki ng cigarette s N eithe r husband

, .

n or wife c ou ld by a ny p os sibili ty have bee n o u t late that

, ,

even in g a nd h ave j u st go t back to the hou se in a hu rry

, I .

felt that my obj ect in visiting the library was answered th e

m oment I set eye s o n them .

Count Fo sc o rose in p olite c o nfu sio n a nd tied h is cravat ,

'

o n wh e n I ente re d th e room .

‘
Pray d on t let me disturb you I s aid
’ ‘I have only ’
.
,

com e he re t o get a book .

’

All u nfo rtun ate m en o f my si z e su ffe r fro m the heat said ,

’

th e C ou nt refre shin g h imself gravely with a large gree n fa n

, .

I wish I could change p lace s with my excellen t wife S he .

’
i s as co ol at thi s m oment a s a fi sh 1 n the pon d outside
, , .

T he Cou nte ss allowed he rse l f t o thaw u nder the i nfluen ce

2
34
 TH E WO M AN I N W H I T E
The hou sekeepe r was n ow the only pe rson wh o re mai ne d
to be accou nted for .

I s M rs M ichelson gone t o bed yet

. I i nqui red .

‘
I sh ould thin k n o t mi ss said the girl smi lin g M rs
’
, , , . .

M ichelson i s m ore l i kely to be getting ti p j ust n ow than , ,

going to bed .
’

Why What do you mean H as M rs M ichelson bee n .

takin g to her b ed i n the d aytim e

N o mis s
, n ot exactly bu t the n ext thin g to it S he s , .
’

been asleep all th e e v enin g o n the sofa i n he r own room , .

’

Putting together what I observed for myse lf i n the library

a nd what I have j u st he ard from Lau ra s maid o n e con clusi on
’

s eem s in evitable The figu re we saw at the lake was n ot th e

.

figure o f M adame F osco of he r hu s ban d o r o f a ny o f the , ,

se rvants The footsteps we h eard behind u s we re n o t the

.

footsteps o f any o ne be longing t o the h ou se .

Who could it have been

I t seems u sele s s to i n qui re I can n ot eve n decide whethe r .

’
th e figu re was a man s o r a woman s I can only sa y that I ’
.

’
thin k it was a woman s .

J ! NE I 8 th — T he mi sery o f self reproach which I su ff ered

.
-

yesterday eve nin g o n heari ng what Lau ra told me i n the

,

b oat house retu rned in th e lone line ss o f the night an d k ept

-
,

m e wakin g an d wretched for hou rs .

I lighted my candle at l ast an d se arched th rough my o ld ,

j ou rnals t o see what my share i n the fatal error o f h e r

marriage had really been and what I might have once d on e ,

t o save he r from i t The result s oothed m e a little — for it

.

fi
showed that howeve r bl in dly and ign oran tly I acted I acted
, ,

for the best Crying generally doe s me harm ; bu t i t was

.

n ot so last n ight — I thi nk it relieve d me I rose thi s m orn .

i ng with a settled re solution an d a qu iet m ind N othin g S i r .

Perc ival c a n say o r d o shall ever i rritate m e again o r make ,

me forget for o n e moment that I am stayin g he re i n defian ce

, , ,

a n d threats for L aura s se rvice an d

’
o f m o rti c a tio n s in sults , , ,

for Laura s sake ’

.

The specu lati on s in whi ch we might have i ndulged thi s ,

m orni ng o n the su bj ect o f the figure at the lake and the

,

footsteps in the plantation have been all suspended by a ,

t riflin g accident which has cau sed Lau ra great regret S h e .

has l ost the little brooch I gave her for a keepsake o n th e ,

da y befor e he r marriage As sh e wore it whe n we went o ut .

2 36
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E
yeste rday evenin g we c a n on ly supp os e that i t mus t have
dropped from her d re ss eithe r in th e b oat hou se o r o n o u r
,
-
,

way back Th e servants have be en s en t to search an d have

.
,

returned u n succe ssful An d n ow Lau ra he rse lf has gon e t o

.

l ook fo r i t Whethe r sh e finds it o r n ot th e l oss wi ll help

.
, ,

to excu se he r ab se nce fro m th e h ou se if S i r P e rcival return s ,

before the lette r from M r Gi lm ore s partn e r i s p laced in my .

’

hands .

’
O n e o cl ock has j ust struck I am cons iderin g wh ethe r I .

had bette r w ait he re for the arrival o f th e me s s e nge r from

Lon d on or slip away qu ietly and watch fo r h i m outs ide th e
, ,

lodge gate .

My suspicio n of everyb ody a nd eve rythi ng i n thi s h ou se

i ncli nes m e to thin k th at the secon d plan m ay be th e best .

Th e Cou nt i s s afe in th e b reakfast room I heard him - .

,

through the door as I ra n u p stairs te n mi nute s sin ce

,
-
, ,

exerci si ng h is canary bird s at thei r tricks Co me o u t o n

-

my little fi nge r my pret pret pretti es ! Come out and hop

,
- -
,

u p stairs !
- O ne two th ree — an d u p ! Three two o n e
, , , ,

an d down ! O ne two th re e — t“ it twit twi t twee t !

, , Th e ’

bird s burs t i nto thei r u sual e cs tasy of si ngi ng an d the C oun t ,

chirrupe d a nd whi stle d at the m I n return as if h e was a b ir d ,

himse lf My room door i s ope n an d I c a n he ar th e sh rill

.
,

sin gin g an d w histlin g at thi s ve ry mome nt l f I am re ally .

to sli p o u t without bein g observe d — n ow i s my ti me

, .

F ou r Th e th ree h ou rs that h ave pas t si nce I

’
o c l oc k .

made my last e ntry have turn ed th e wh ol e march of even ts

,

at B lackwate r Park in a n ew directi on Whethe r for good .

or for evil I cann o t a n d dare n ot d ecide

,
.

Le t m e ge t b ack first t o the place at which I left o ff— o r I

fi
shal l l os e myself i n th e confu sio n of my o w n th oughts .

I we nt out as I h ad p roposed to mee t th e m essenge r wi th

, ,

my le tte r from Lon don a t th e l odge gate O n the s tai rs .

I saw n o on e I n th e h all I heard th e Coun t s till exe rci sing

.

h is b irds Bu t o n c rossin g th e q u adrangle outside I passe d

.
,

Madam e F o sco walkin g by h erself in he r favou ri te circle

, ,

rou n d an d rou n d th e great sh pond I at on ce s lacke ne d .

my pace s o a s to avoid al l appearance of being m a hu rry

,

a n d eve n we n t th e len gth for cautio n s sake o f i n qu ir i n g if

,
’

sh e th ough t of going ou t before lu n ch S h e s m ile d at m e in .

b

th e fri endliest m a n n er— sai d sh e preferre d re main ing n ear th e

h ouse — n odded pleasantly— and re ente red th e h all I looked - .

back an d sa w that sh e had cl ose d the d oor before I had

,

ope ne d th e w icket by the side of the carriage gates .

 T H E WO M AN I N W H ITE
In less than a quarte r o f a n h ou r I re ache d the lodge , .

The lan e outside t ook a sudde n tu rn t o th e left ra n o n ,

straigh t for a hundred yards o r so an d the n took an other ,

sh arp tu rn to th e right to j oi n the h igh road Be twee nthese .

two tu rns hidden from the lodge o n on e side and from the way
,

to th e stati on o n th e oth e r I waited walking backward s an d , ,

forwards H igh hedge s we re o n eithe r side o f m e a nd fo r

.

twe nty mi nu tes by my watch I n either saw n o r heard a ny

, ,

thi ng At the e nd o f that ti me th e s oun d o f a carriage

.
,

caught my e ar ; an d I was me t a s I advan ced toward s th e , ,

secon d tu rn i ng by a fly from th e railway

, I made a sign t o .

th e d rive r to stop As h e obeyed me a respectable looking

.
,
-

m a n pu t h is head o u t o f the window to se e what was th e

matter .

I beg you r pardon I said but a m I right in supposing ,

’

that yo u are going to B lackwate r Park

Yes ma am ,
’
.
’

With a lette r for any o ne

’ ’
With a le tte r for M iss H alcombe ma am , .

’
Y o u may give me th e lette r I am M is s H alcombe . .

T h e m a n t ouche d h is hat got o u t of the fly immediately , ,

a n d gave m e the lette r .

I O pene d i t at o nce an d read the se li ne s I c 0 py the m , .

he re thinkin g it be st to de stroy the original fo r caution s sake

,
’
.

D E AR M A D A M —Y 0 u r lette r receive d thi s m orning has

.
,

caus ed m e very gre at anxiety I will reply to i t as briefly .

a n d plainly as possible .

‘
My carefu l con sideratio n o f th e state me nt mad e by
you rse lf a n d my knowledge o f Lady G lyde s position as
,
’
,

defi ne d 1 n th e settleme n t l ead me I regret to say to the , , ,

conclu si on that a loan o f th e trus t m on ey t o S i r Pe rcival

(o r in othe r words a l oan o f s om e portion o f th e twe nty
“

, ,

th ou s an d pou nd s o f L ady G ly de s fortun e ) i s in co ntem pla ’

ti on an d that sh e i s made a party to the deed i n order to

, ,

s ecure h er approval o f a flagrant breach o f trust a n d t o have ,

h e r s ignature p roduced agains t he r i f sh e sh ou ld co mplai n ,

h ereafter I t i s i mpos sible o n any othe r suppositi on to

.
, ,

account si tuated as sh e is for he r exe cuti on to a deed o f

, ,

a n y kind bei ng wan ted at all .

‘
I n th e even t o f Lady G lyde s sign ing s uch a doc ume nt ’

as I am compelled to suppose the deed i n que sti on to be he r ,

t ru stee s would be at libe rty to advance m oney to S ir Pe rcival

o u t o f h e r twenty thousand poun ds I f th e amount s o len t .

sh ould n o t be pai d back a nd if Lady Glyde should have ,

2
38
 T H E W O M AN I N W H I T E
I took hi s arm The fi rst o f my s cattered sen ses that
.

came back was th e sen s e that warn ed me to sacrifice anythin g

,

rather than make a n e nemy o f h im .

‘ ’
Y o u look surprised at seein g me ! h e repeated in his ,

qui etly pertin aci ou s way .

‘I thought Count I heard

yo u with you r bi rds i n th e
, ,

b reakfast room I an swe red as quietly an d firmly as I c ou ld

-
,
’
, .

S u rely B ut my little feath ered child ren d ear lady are

.
, ,

o n ly to o like oth er children They h ave thei r d ays o f per .

versity and thi s morning was on e o f them My wife came .

in a s I was putt i ng the m back in th ei r cage an d said sh e

, ,

had left you goin g o u t alon e for a wal k Y o u told he r so .

,

did yo u n o t
Certain ly .

Well M iss H alcomb e the pleasure of accom pan ying yo u

, ,

was to o great a temptation for m e t o resist At my a ge .

there i s n o harm in c onfes sin g s o mu ch as that i s there I ,

seized my hat an d s et o ff to o ff er myse lf as you r escort

, .

Eve n s o fat a n old m a n as F o sco i s su rely b etter than n o

e scort at all ? I to ok the wrong p ath — I came back in ,

d espair— a nd h ere I am arrive d (may I say it ?) at the height ,

’
o f my wishes .

H e talked o n in thi s comp lime ntary strai n wi th a fluency

,

which left me n o exe rti o n to make beyon d the e ff ort o f mai n

taining my comp osu re H e n eve r refe rred in th e most distant
.

man ne r to what h e had see n i n th e lane o r t o the letter ,

w h ic h I stil l had i n my han d This omi n ou s discreti on helped .

t o convince m e that h e mu st have surprised by th e most ,

d ish on ou rabl e m ean s th e secret of my appli cati on i n Lau ra s

,
’

i n terest t o th e lawye r and that havin g n o w assu red hi mself

, ,

o f th e private man ner i n which I had received th e an swer ,

h e had di scovered en ou gh to suit hi s pu rp ose s an d was only ,

b en t o n tryin g t o qu iet the su spici on s which h e kn ew he mus t

h ave arou sed in my m ind I was wis e e n ou gh un der thes e .
,

circumstan ces n ot to attempt to de ceive h i m by plau sible ex

,

planati on s— a nd woman en ough n otwith standing my dread ,

o f him , to fee l as if my han d was tainted by re st i n g o n his arm .

O n th e drive in front of th e h ou se we met th e d og cart -

b ei ng take n roun d to th e stable s S i r Pe rcival had j us t

-
.

returned .H e came o u t t o mee t u s at the hou se door - .

Whateve r other re sults hi s j ou rn ey might have had it had n ot ,

ended in s oftening h is savage te mpe r .

‘ ’
O h ! h ere are two o f you come back he said with a , ,
‘
lowering face What i s th e me ani ng o f th e house bein g
.

d eserted in this way ? Where is Lady Glyde

2
40
 T H E WO M A N I N W H ITE

I told him o f the l os s o f the b ro och a n d said that L a u r a ,

had gon e i nto the plan tation t o look for i t .

B rooch or n o brooch he growle d sulkily I rec om me nd ,

’
,

he r n ot to forge t h e r appointmen t in the li brary this after ,

n oon . I shal l expect to see h e r in half an h ou r .

’

I to o k my han d from th e Cou nt s arm an d slowly ascended

’

th e steps H e hon ou red m e with o n e o f hi s magnifice nt

.

fi
b ows a n d the n addre s sed himself gaily t o th e scowlin g

fi
maste r of the h ou se .

Tell me Pe rcival h e said have you had a pleasan t

, ,
’
,

drive An d has you r pretty shin ing B rown M olly c ome back
at all tired
B rown M olly be hanged — and th e d rive to o I wan t my
lu n c h
‘
An d I want five m inute s tal k with you Percival rst ’

, , ,
’

’
retu rned the Count Five mi nutes talk my friend here o n
.
, ,

the gras s .
’

What ab out
’
Ab ou t bu si ne ss that ve ry mu ch con cern s you .

I lingered lon g en ou gh i n passi n g throu gh the hall d oo r ,

-
,

t o hear thi s que stion an d an swer a n d to see S i r Percival ,

thrust h is hand s i nto his pockets i n su lle n h esitati on , .

I f yo u wan t to badge r m e with a ny m ore of you r i nfe rnal

scruples he said I fo r o n e w on t hear them
,
’
, , I want my ,
’
.

lunch
‘
Come o u t h ere a n d speak t o m e repeated the C oun t ,
’
,

stil l perfectly u n in fl uen c ed by the rudest speech that hi s frien d

c ou ld make t o h i m .

S ir Pe rcival de scen ded the steps Th e Cou n t took hi m by .

the arm a n d walked hi m away ge ntly Th e bu sine ss I was

, .
,
’

sure refe rred t o th e que sti on o f the signatu re They we re

, .

speaking o f Laura a n d o f me beyon d a d ou bt I felt h eart , .

sic k a n d fain t with anxiety I t migh t be of th e last importan ce .

t o bo th o f u s t o kn ow what they were sayin g to each othe r at

that moment— and n ot on e wo rd o f it cou ld by any p ossibility ,
.

rea c h m y ears
'

I walked abou t th e hou se from room t o room , wi th th e ,

lawyer s lette r in my b osom ( I Wa s afraid by thi s ti me eve n

’
, ,

to t rust i t u nde r loc k a n d key ) till th e opp re ssio n o f my ,

su spense half maddene d me The re we re n o sign s o f Lau ra s .

’

return ; an d I thou gh t of going ou t to loo k fo r h e r B ut my .

stren gth was so exh au sted by the trial s an d anxietie s o f the

mornin g that the heat o f the day qu ite ove rpowe re d me ;
,

a nd afte r an attempt to get t o th e door

, I wa s obl i ged to ,

24 1 R
,
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E

r etu r nto th e d rawing room , and lie down o n the n eare st sofa
-

t o recove r .

I was j u st co mposing myself whe n the doo r op ened softly , ,

an d the Cou nt l ooked i n .

‘
A th ou sand pardon s M iss H alcombe h e said ; I only
, ,
’

venture t o distu rb you becau se I am the beare r o f good n ews .

Pe rcival — wh o i s capriciou s i n eve rything a s you kn ow — has ,

s ee n fit to alte r h is m ind at the last m o ment ; a nd th e ,

bu siness o f the signatu re i s pu t o ff for the prese nt A great .

relief to all of u s M is s H alcombe as I see with pleasu re i n you r

, ,

face Pray present my best re spects an d felicitations when you

.

menti on this pl easant chan ge of ci rcum stance s to Lady Glyde .

’

H e left me b efo re I had recove red my aston ishment .

There could b e n o d oubt that thi s ext rao rdi nary alte ration o f
pu rpos e in the m atte r of th e signatu re was due to hi s ,

influence ; an d that hi s di scove ry o f my applicati on t o

London ye ste rday a n d o f my havi n g re ceived a n an swe r to i t
,

to day had o ff ere d hi m the m ean s o f i nte rfe ri ng with ce rtai n

-
,

success .

I fel t th ese i mpre ssi on s ; bu t my mind seemed to share

th e exhau s t i on o f m y b ody a n d I was i n n o conditi on t o ,

dwell o n them with any u seful refe re nce t o th e doubtfu l

,

p rese nt or th e th reaten ing futu re I t ried a secon d time t o

'

.
,

r u n out a n d find Lau ra ; but my h ead was giddy and m y

, ,

kn ee s t rembled u nde r me There was n o choice but t o give .

i t u p again an d retu rn t o the s ofa s o rely again st my will

, , .

Th e qu iet i n the h ou se a n d the low mu rmu rin g hum of,

su mme r i nsects ou tsid e the ope n window soothed me M y , .

eye s closed o f themselves an d I passed gradually i nto a

stran ge conditi on whi ch was n o t waking— fo r I knew nothin g
,

o f what was goi ng on about m e ; a n d n ot sleeping— fo r I

was con sci ou s of my o w n repose I n thi s state my feve red .

,

mind b roke lo ose from m e while my weary body w a s at re st ;

,

a n d i n a tran ce
,
o r day dream o f my fan cy— I kn ow n ot what
,
-

t o call it— I sa w Walte r H a rtrigh t I had n ot th ought of .

him since I rose that m o rn ing ; Lau ra had n ot said o n e w ord

,

to me eithe r di rectly or i ndi rectly refe rri ng to him — and yet I ,

sa w hi m n ow as p lainly as if the past time had retu rn ed and

, ,

we we re both togethe r agai n at L im m eridge H ou se .

H e appeare d to me as o n e am ong many othe r men n on e ,

o f whos e face s I could plainly disce rn They were all lyin g .

o n the steps o f an immen se ruined temple Colossal tropical .

t rees — with ran k c reepe rs twi n ing e ndle ssly ab out thei r tru nks ,

a n d h ideou s stone i dol s gli mme ring an d grin ning at inte rval s

b ehind leave s and stalks an d branches — su rrounded th e

24 2
 T H E W O M A N I N W H IT E
strike s th e S ea that d rown s the G rave that close s ove r L o v e
, ,

and H op e are steps of my j ou rn ey and take me neare r and

, ,
’
n eare r t o the E nd .

My h eart sank u n der a dread b eyond w o rds u nde r a grie f ,

beyon d tears Th e darkne ss cl osed rou nd the pilgri m at th e

.

marble t omb ; closed rou nd th e veiled w oman from th e

grave ; cl osed round th e dreame r wh o l ooked o n them I .

sa w a n d heard n o m ore
~ .

I was arou se d by a han d laid o n my shoulde r I t w a s .

Lau ra s ’
.

S h e h ad dropped o n he r knee s by th e sid e o f th e sofa .

H e r face was flushed a n d agitated ; an d he r eye s met mi ne in

a wild bewi lde re d mann e r I started th e i n stant I saw he r . .

‘
What has happen ed I asked What has frightened .

yo u ?
S he looked roun d at th e half open d oor— put h e r lip s close -

to my ear— and an swe red in a wh i spe r :

M arian — th e fi gu re at the lake — th e foot step s last n igh t
’
’
I ve j ust see n he r I v e j ust spoken to he r !
’

’
Wh o fo r H eave n s sake ,

An ne C a th eric k .
’

I w a s s o startled by the di stu rbance i n Lau ra s fac e and

’

manne r an d s o dismaye d by th e fi rst waking impre ssion s o f

,

my dream that I was n ot fit t o bear th e revelation wh ich

,

burst upon m e whe n that n ame passed h e r lip s

, I could .

only stan d roote d t o th e fl oor looking at h er i n b reathles s ,

silen ce .

S he wa s to o much abso rbed by what h ad happe ned to

‘
n otice th e e ff ect which he r reply had p roduced o n me I .

have see n Ann e C a th eri c k I have sp oken to An n e C a th eric k

she repeated as if I had n ot h eard he r , O h M arian I have .
, ,

such things to tell you Come away— we may be inte rrupte d

h ere — come at o nce in to my room .
’

With those eage r words she caught me by the hand and , ,

led me through th e libra ry t o the e nd room o n the grou n d ,

floor which had been fitted u p for he r o w n e special u se N o

, .

thi rd person except h e r maid cou ld have a ny excuse fo r

, ,

su rp ri sing u s h e re S h e pu shed m e in before he r locked

'

.
,

th e do o r an d d rew th e chintz cu rtain s that hun g over th e

,
O

1 n S 1 de .

The strange stu nn ed feeling which had take n po sses sion

,

o f me still remained B ut a growin g conviction that th .

compli cati on s wh ich had lon g th reatened t o gathe r about he r ,

and to gathe r about me had suddenly closed fast round u s ,

both , was no w beginning t o pe netrate my mi nd I c ould .

24
4
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E ‘

no t exp ress i t in word s — I could li ar ly eve n realise i t dim l y

i n my o w n thou ghts An n e C a th eric k . I whi spe re d t o
myself with u seless h elple ss reite rati on
, , An n e C a th eric k
Lau ra d rew m e t o the n eare st seat a n ottoman i n th e ,
‘
middl e o f the room Look ! sh e said ; lo ok he re ! —an d
.
’ ’

poi nted to the b osom o f he r d re ss .

I saw fo r th e fi rst time that the lost b ro och was pi nn ed

, ,

in its place again The re was s omething real in the si gh t o f

.

i t somethin g real in th e t ouchin g o f it afte rwards which

, ,

see med to steady th e whi rl and confusion i n my th ou ghts ,

and t o help me to compose myself .

‘
Whe re did yo u fi nd you r bro och ? Th e fi rst word s I
could sa y to he r we re the wo rds which put that t rivial que sti o n
at that importan t m omen t .

S/z e fou nd it Marian

’
.
,

Whe re
O n the fl oo r of the boat h ou se O h h o w shall I begi n -
.
,

h ow shall I tell yo u abou t i t ! S he talked to me s o st ran ely

sh e looke d s o fearfu lly i ll — sh e left me s o su dde n ly g
H e r voice ros e as the tumu lt of h e r re collection s p re sse d
u pon h e r mi nd Th e i nvete rate dist ru st which wei gh s n igh t
.
,

and day o n my spi rits in thi s h ou se i n stantly roused m e to

, ,

warn he r— j ust as the sight o f the b ro och had rou sed me t o

qu esti on he r the m ome nt before
, .

‘
S peak lo w I said ,
’
The wind ow i s open an d th e.
,

garde n path run s ben eath i t B egi n at the begi nn ing Lau ra .
, .

Te ll me word fo r wo rd what passed betwee n that woman

fi
, ,

and you .
’

S hall I close th e window fi rst ?

N o only speak low : on ly re mem be r that An ne C a th eric k
,

i s a dange rou s subj ect u nde r you r hu sband s ro of Whe re ’

.

did you fi rst see h e r ?

At the boat h ouse Marian I we nt o u t a s yo u kn ow t o
, .
, ,

n d my b rooch a n d I walked along th e path th rough th e

plantati on l o o k m g down o n the grou nd carefully at eve ry

,

ste p . I n that way I go t o n afte r a l on g time t o th e boat , ,

h ouse ; and as soon as I was inside it I we n t o n my k nee s

, ,

to hu nt ove r th e fl oo r I was still search ing with my back

.
,

to th e doo rway wh e n I heard a soft strange voi ce beh in d

, , ,

me sa y
, M is s Fai rlie
, .

M is s Fai rlie !
‘ —
Ye s m y o ld 11 ame —the dear fami liar n am e that I ,

th ought I had parted from for eve r I started u p— H O t .

frightened the v oice was too kind an d ge ntle t o frighte n

,

an ybod y— bu t ve ry m uch surpri sed T h e re lookin g at m e .

,

24
5
 T H E WO M AN I N WH I T E

fro m th e doorway, stood a woman , wh ose face I n eve r re

me mbe red to have se e n before

H ow was she d re ssed
S he had a n eat pretty white gown o n and ove r it a poo r
, ,

wo rn thi n dark shawl H e r bon net was o f brown straw as

.
,

p o or an d worn as the shawl I was struc k by th e di ff e re nce .

be twee n he r gown an d the re st o f he r d re ss and sh e saw that ,

”
I n oticed it D on t loo k at my bon net an d shawl sh e said
.
’
, ,
’
s peaki ng in a quick b reathle ss sudden way ; ,
if I mu stn t ,

wear white I do n t care what I wear Look at my go wn

,
’
.
,

as mu ch as y o u please I m n ot ashamed o f th at Ve ry
’
.

strange was i t n ot , B efo re I could sa y anything to s oothe

he r sh e he ld o u t o ne o f he r h ands an d I saw my b rooch i n
, ,

it. I was s o p leased and s o gratefu l that I wen t quite close ,

t o he r t o say what I really felt Are you than kful e nou gh .

”
t o d o m e on e little kindn ess
“
sh e asked Yes in deed I .
, ,

answe re d any ki ndness i n my p owe r I sh a l l be glad to sh ow

”
y ou The
. n let m e p i n you r brooch o n for you n ow I have ,

fou nd it H e r requ est was so u nexpected M arian and sh e

.
, ,

made it with such extraordi nary eagern e ss that I d rew back ,

a ste p o r tw o n o t we ll knowi ng what to do

, Ah she sai d .
,
”
you r mothe r would h ave let m e p in o n the b rooch The re .

w a s s omethin g i n he r v oice an d h e r l ook as well as in h e r ,

me ntionin g my m othe r in that rep roachful manne r whi ch ,

m ade me ashamed o f my di strust I too k he r hand with the .

bro och in it an d pu t it u p gently o n th e bos om o f my dre ss

, .

Y o u knew my moth er I said Was i t ve ry long ago .

have I eve r see n you before H e r hands we re busy fas te n in g

the bro och sh e s toppe d and p ressed the m against my b reast .

”
Y o u don t remembe r a fi ne sprin g day at L im m eridge
’
sh e ,

s aid a n d you r m othe r wal king down th e path that led to

,

the sch ool with a little gir l o n each si de o f he r

, I have h ad
n othing e ls e to thin k o f si n ce ; an d I remembe r i t Y o u .

we re o ne o f th e little girls an d I was th e othe r Pretty , .

,

cleve r M is s F ai rlie a nd poor daz ed An n e C a th eric k were

,

n eare r to e ach o th er the n than they are n o w , ,

D i d you remember her L au ra whe n she told yo u he r , ,

n ame
Ye s — I re membe red you r as king me about Ann e C a th eric k
at Lim m eridge and you r saying that sh e had once bee n c o n
,

s idered like me
’
.

What reminded y o u o f that Lau ra ? ,

S iz e reminde d m e While I was lookin g at h er while.

,

sh e was ve ry close t o me i t came over my mind sudden ly ,

th a t we w er e lik e each othe r ! H e r fa ce was pale a nd thi n

2
46
 T H E W O M AN I N W H I T E
hu sband I h ea rd yo u sa y yo u had n o i nfl ue nce to make hi m
'

b elieve yo u a nd n o influen ce to keep h im silen t Ah I kn ew

,
.

what tho se words mean t ; my con scie nce told me while I was
liste n ing Why did I eve r let y o u m arry h im
. O h my fear , ,

—m y mad mi serable wicke d fear !

,
S he cove red u p
,

he r face in he r p oor worn shawl an d moane d an d mu rmure d ,

t o herse lf behi nd it I began to be afraid sh e might b reak

.

o u t i nto s ome te rrible despai r wh ich n eithe r sh e n or I c ou ld

“ ” “
maste r Try to qu iet you rself I said :
. try to te ll me ,

h ow you might h ave p reve nted my marriage S h e to ok th e .

shawl fro m h er face a n d l ooked at me vacantly , I ought to .

h ave had h eart e n ough to stop at L im m eridge sh e an swe re d , .

“
I ought n eve r to h ave le t th e news o f hi s comin g there
frighte n m e away I ou gh t to have warn ed you a n d save d
.

y o u before it was to o late Why did I on ly h ave cou rage

.

e n ough t o write yo u that lette r Why did I o nly d o harm ,

whe n I wan te d a n d mean t t o d o go od ? Oh my fear — m y ,

”
m ad mise rable wicked fe ar !
, ,S h e repeate d those wo rds
agai n an d h i d he r face agai n i n th e en d o f h e r poo r worn
,

shawl .I t was d readfu l to se e h e r a n d d readful to hear her , .

’

S u rely Lau ra you as ked what the fear was which sh e

, ,

dwel t o n s o earn estly

Y es I aske d that .
’

An d what did sh e sa y
S he aske d me in return if I sh ould n ot b e afraid o f a
, ,

man wh o had s hut me u p i n a m adhou se , and wh o would

shut m e u p again if he cou ld I said, Are y o u afrai d still ,
”
S ure ly you wou ld n ot be h ere if yo u we re afraid n ow ? ,
“ ”
N o sh e said
,
I am n o t afraid n ow
, I asked why n o t . .

S he s udden ly b en t forward i nto the boat h ou se and said -

,

Can t yo u gu e ss why
’
I sh ook my head Lo ok at me .
,

sh e we n t on I told he r I was grieved to see that she looked

.

ve ry so rrowfu l an d ve ry i ll Sh e smiled fo r th e fi rst time .

, .

I ll ? sh e rep eated I m dyin g Y o u kn ow why I m n o t ’

.
’

afraid o f h im n ow D o you thin k I sh all m eet you r mothe r in

.

h eave n ? Will sh e fo rgive me if I d o I was so sh ocked , ,

“
and s o startled that I could m ake n o reply , I have been .

” “
thi nkin g o f it sh e went o n , all th e tim e I have been i n ,

h iding from you r hu sband all the time I lay ill My th oughts
, .

have d riven m e he re —I wan t to make aton emen t—4 wan t to

”
u nd o al l I c a n o f th e harm I o n c e did I b egged he r as .

earn estly as I c ould t o tell m e what sh e meant S he stil l .

looke d at me wi th fixed vacant eye s S h a l l I u ndo the .

”
harm ? she said to he rself dou btfully Y o u have friends , .

to take you r part I f y ou kn ow h i s S e cret h e wi l l be afraid

.
,

2
4 8
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E
of yo u h e wo n t dare u se yo u a s h e u se d m e H e m u s t treat
;
’
.

you me rcifully for hi s own sake if h e i s afraid o f yo u an d you r ,

friends An d if h e treat s you me rci fully an d i f I c a n say i t

.
,

was my doin g I liste ned eage rly fo r m ore ; but sh e

stoppe d at those words .
’

‘
You tried to make he r go on
I tri ed bu t sh e only d rew he rself away from me again ,

an d leane d he r face a n d arm s agai n st th e side o f th e b oat

”
h ouse . O h ! I heard he r sa y with a d re adful di stracte d , ,

tend ern e ss in he r voice oh if I coul d o nly b e bu rie d wi th

,

you r m othe r ! I f I coul d only wake at he r side wh e n th e ,

a nge l s t rumpet s ou nd s an d th e graves give u p thei r de ad at

’
,

the re su rrection — M arian I tremble d fro m head to foot

i t was h o rri ble to hea r h e r B u t there i s n o h op e o f th at
.
,
“
sh e said m ovin g a little s o as t o l ook at me agai n ;
, , no
h op e for a p o o r strange r li ke me I sh all n ot re st u n de r th e .

m arble c ro ss that I washe d with my o w n hand s a n d made s o ,

white a n d pu re fo r he r s ake O h n o o h n o ! Go d s m e rcy .

’
,

n o t man s will take m e to h e r w he re th e wi cke d cease from

’
, ,
”
troubling and the weary are at re st S h e sp oke th ose wo rd s .

quietly a n d s orrowfully with a h eavy h opele s s sigh ; an d

, ,

the n waited a little H e r face was co nfuse d an d troubled ;

.
‘

sh e seeme d to b e th inking o r tryin g t o thi nk What was

, .

i t I said j ust n ow sh e asked afte r a while Whe n you r ,

.

mothe r i s in my mi nd eve rythin g el se goe s o u t o f i t Wh at

, .

”
was I sayi ng ? what was I sayin g ? I reminde d th e p oo r
”
creatu re as ki ndly an d delicately as I could
, Ah ye s ye s .
, , ,

sh e said still in a vacan t pe rplexe d m an n e r

,
Y o u are
, .

helple ss wi th you r wicke d hu sban d Ye s A n d I mu st d o . .

what I have come to d o h ere — I mu st make it u p t o you fo r

”
havi ng bee n afrai d to speak o u t at a bette r ti me What i s .

” “
i t yo u h ave to tel l me ? I asked Th e S ec re t that you r .

“
crue l husband i s afrai d o f sh e an swe red , I on ce th reat .

e ne d him with th e S e cret a nd frighten e d hi m Y o u sh al l

, .

”
threate n hi m with th e S ecret and frighte n hi m to o H er , .

face darke ned ; an d a h a rd an gry s ta re fixe d itself in he r ,

eye s . S he be gan wavin g h e r hand at m e in a vacant u n ,

”
meanin g man n e r My m othe r kn ows the S e cret sh e said
.
, .

“
M y moth e r h a s waste d u nde r th e S ecre t half he r lifeti me .

O n e day whe n I was grown up sh e sai d s omething to m e

, , .

And th e n ext day you r husban d

, ,
‘
Ye s ! ye s ! Go o n What d id sh e tel l yo u abo u t you r
.

hu sband
S he stoppe d again Marian at that p oi n t, ,
‘
And s aid no m o r e ?
’

24 9
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E
‘ listened eagerly H ush ! sh e whispered still ”
An d ,
”
waving he r hand at me H ush ! S he m oved aside o u t .

o f the doorway m oved slowly a n d stealthily step by step till

, , ,
’
I lost h e r past the edge o f the boat house - .

S urely yo u followed he r ? ,

Ye s ; my anxiety made me b old e nough to rise a nd

follow h er J ust as I reached the entrance sh e a ppeared
.
,
“
again suddenly rou nd the side of the boat house
, ,
Th e -

”
secret I whispe red to he r
,
wai t and tell m e the secret
S h e caught hold o f my arm a n d looked at me wi th wild , , ,
”
frightened eye s N ot n ow sh e said . we are n ot alon e ,
— w e are watched C om e he re to morrow at this time — by
.
-

— ”
—
you rself min d by you rself S he pushed m e roughly i nto .

’
th e boat h ous e again ; and I saw he r n o m ore
- .

Oh Lau ra Lau ra an othe r chance lost ! I f I had only

, , ,

been n ear yo u she should n ot have escap ed us

, O n which .

side did yo u lose s ight of he r

O n th e left side , whe re the grou nd sin ks an d the woo d i s
thickest .
’

D id yo u run o u t agai n D id yo u call after he r

’
H ow cou ld I I was too te rrified to m ove o r speak .

B ut whe n you did m ove — whe n you came o u t

I ra n bac k he re to tell you what had happened , .
’

D id you see any o n e o r hear any o n e in th e plantatio n ,

N o — it seemed to b e all still and quiet when I p a ssed ,

th rough it .
’

I waited fo r a m omen t to con side r Was thi s th i rd .

p e rson su pposed to have bee n secretly p re se nt at th e i nte r

,

view a reality o r th e cre atu re o f An n e C a th eric k s excited

, ,
’

fancy ? I t was i mpo ssible t o dete rmine Th e o n e thing ce r .

tain w a s that we had fai led agai n o n the ve ry b ri n k o f di s

,

c o v ery — failed utterly and i rretrievably u nles s Ann e Cathe ,

rick kept he r appoi ntmen t a t the boat hou s e fo r the n ex t -

,

day .

‘
Are yo u quite su re yo u have told m e everythin g that
passed Eve ry wo rd that was said I i nqu i red .

‘ ‘
I thin k so sh e answe red My p owe rs o f memory
,
’
.
,

M arian are n ot like you rs B ut I was s o stron gly i mp res sed

, .
,

so deeply inte rested that n othing o f any i mportan ce c a n ,

p oss ibly have escaped me .

’

My de a r Lau ra the merest trifl es are o f imp ortance whe re

,

An ne C a th eric k i s c oncern ed Thin k again D i d n o chance . .

refere nce escap e he r as to the p lace m which she 1 3 living at

the present tim e ?
‘
N one that I can re membe r .
’

250
 T H E WO M AN I N W H ITE
of Ha rtrigh t— as I saw h im , in th e body , wh en he said fare
well ; as I saw him in the spi rit in my d ream — and I too
, , , ,

began to dou bt n ow whethe r we we re n ot advancing blind ,

fold to a n appointed a n d a n in evitable En d

, .

Leaving Lau ra to go u p stai rs alon e I wen t o u t t o loo k

-
,

ab out me in th e walks n ear th e house Th e ci rcumstance s .

u nde r which An ne C a th eric k had parted from he r had made ,

m e secretly anxi ou s to kn ow h ow Cou nt Fo sco was pa ssing

the afte rn oon ; and had ren de red m e secretly distru stfu l o f
the re su lts o f that solitary j ou rney fro m which S i r Pe rcival
had retu rn ed but a few h ou rs sin ce .

Afte r l ooking for the m in eve ry dire ction and di scove ring ,

n othing I retu rn e d to th e house an d e nte red the di ffe rent

, ,

room s o n th e grou n d fl oo r o n e after an othe r They we re all

, .

e mpty I c a m e o u t agai n i nto th e hall an d wen t u p stai rs

.
,
-

to retu rn to Lau ra M adam e F osco ope ne d he r d oo r as I

.

passed it in my way alon g th e passage and I stopped to se e

if she could i nfo rm me o f the wh e reab outs o f he r hu sban d
and S i r Pe rcival Ye s ; sh e h ad see n them both from he r
.

window m ore th an an hou r since Th e Cou nt had l ooked u p .

,

with his cu stomary kindne ss and had me ntioned with h is , ,

h abitu al attentio n to he r i n the smallest trifl es that h e an d ,

h is frie nd were goi ng o u t togethe r for a l ong walk .

F o r a long walk They had n eve r yet bee n in each othe r s ’

c ompany with that obj ect in my expe rience o f them S i r .

Pe rcival cared fo r n o exe rcise bu t riding : an d the C ount

(except wh e n he was polite en ou gh to be my escort ) cared
fo r n o exe rcise at all .

When I j o ined Lau ra again I fou nd that sh e had called ,

to mi nd i n my abse nce the i mpending question o f the signa

, ,

tu re to the deed which in the i ntere st o f discu ssing he r

, ,

i nterview with An n e C a th eric k we had hithe rto overlooked , .

H e r fi rst words whe n I saw he r exp res sed he r su rprise at the ,

absen ce o f the expected su mmon s to atte n d S i r Pe rcival in

the library .

Y o u m ay make your min d easy o n that subj ect I said

’
, .

‘
F o r the pre se nt at least n eithe r you r resolution n o r min e
, ,

will be exposed to any furthe r trial S ir Percival has altered .

hi s plan s th e bu siness o f the signature i s pu t o ff .

’

‘
Pu t o ff ? Laura repeated amazedly Wh o t old you , .

My authority is Cou nt Fosco I believe i t is to hi s i h .

terferen c e that we are i ndebte d for you r husband s sudde n

’

change o f purpos e
’
.

I t s eem s im possible Marian I f th e obj ect o f m y signin g

, .

25 2
 T H E W O M AN I N W H I T E

wa s, as we su ppos e , to obtai n money for S i r Pe rcival that

h e u rgently wanted how can th e matte r be pu t o ff ?
,
‘
I thi nk Laura we have th e mean s at han d o f se tti ng
, ,

that doubt at re st H ave you forgotte n the conve rsatio n

.

that I heard b etwee n S ir Perci val and th e lawye r as they ,

were c ros sin g the hall ?

‘N o
; but I don t rem embe r
’

I d o There were two alte rnative s propose d

. O n e was .
,

to obtai n you r signatu re to the parchmen t Th e other was .

,

t o gai n ti me by givin g bills at thre e m onths The last .

re sou rce i s eviden tly the re sou rce n ow ad opte d — an d we may

’
fairly h op e t o be relieve d fro m o u r share i n S i r Percival s
embarrassment s fo r s ome ti me to come .
’

Oh M arian i t sou nds too good to be t rue

, ,

D oe s it my love Y o u compli mented m e o n my ready

,

memory n ot long sin ce — but you seem to dou bt i t n ow I .

wil l get my j ou rn al a n d you shal l see if I am right o r wron g

,
.
’

I we nt away and got th e book at once .

’
O n l ookin g bac k to the e ntry refe rring to the lawye r s
visit we foun d that my recollection o f th e two alte rnative s
,

pre se nted was accu rately correct I t was almost a s great .

a relief t o my min d as t o Lau ra s to fin d that my mem ory ’

had se rve d me o n thi s occasi on as faithfu lly as u sual

, , In .

the pe ri lou s u nce rtai nty o f ou r p re se nt s ituation it i s hard t o ,

sa y what futu re i nte re sts may n ot depen d u pon the regu larity

o f th e e ntrie s i n my j ou rn al an d upon the re liability o f my

,

recollecti on at the ti me whe n I make them .

Lau ra s face an d man ne r su ggeste d t o m e that th i s last

’

con side ratio n had occu rred to he r as well a s t o myself A n y .

way i t is only a t riflin g matte r ; a n d I am almost ashamed

,

to pu t i t down h ere in writing— it see ms to set th e fo rlornn e ss

o f ou r situatio n in su ch a mi se rably V ivid light We mu st .

have little i nde ed to depen d o n whe n the discove ry that ,

my memo ry c a n still be tru sted t o se rve u s i s hailed as i f i t ,

was the di scove ry o f a n ew fri en d

The fi rst be ll fo r d in ne r separate d u s J u st as i t had .

don e ringin g S i r Pe rcival and the Cou nt retu rn ed fro m thei r

,

walk We heard th e maste r of the house stormi ng at th e

.

se rvants for bei n g five mi nu te s late ; an d the master s gue st ’

i nte rposing as u sual in the inte re sts of p rop riety patience

, , , ,

a nd peace .

as

The evening had come and gon e N o extraordinary .

even t has happen ed But I have n oticed certai n peculiari ties

.

i n the conduct o f S i r Pe rcival a n d the Co unt which hav e sent ,

25 3
 T H E W O M AN I N W H ITE
m e to my b ed fee lin g ve ry anxi ou s and u neasy ab out Ann e
,

C a th eri c k a n d about the resu l ts wh ich to mo rrow may produce

,
- .

I kn ow e nough by thi s tim e to be sure that the aspect of ,

S i r Pe rcival whi ch i s the mo st false a n d wh ic h the refo re

, ,

mean s th e worst i s hi s p olite aspect That lon g wal k wi th

,
.

h i s fri en d h ad e nded i n i mp rovin g h i s mann e rs e specially ,

t o ward s h is w ife To Lau ra s secret s u rprise an d to my

.
’

se cret alarm h e called h er by he r Ch ristian n ame asked if

, ,

sh e h ad h eard lately from h e r u ncle i n qu ired whe n M rs ,

.

Ve sey w a s to rece ive h e r i nvi tatio n t o B lackwate r an d ,

showe d h e r so many oth e r little attention s that he almo st ,

recalle d th e days of h is h ateful c ou rtsh ip at Lim m eridge

H ouse This w a s a bad sign to begi n with an d I th ought
.
,

i t m ore o mi n ou s still th at h e sh ou ld preten d afte r dinne r t o

, , ,

fall aslee p in th e drawin g room an d that h is eyes sh ould -

,

cunningly follow Lau ra a n d m e whe n h e though t we n eith e r ,

of u s su specte d h im I h ave n eve r had any dou bt that hi s

.

sudde n j ou rney by h imse lf took h im to W elm ingh a m t o ques

tion M rs C a th eric k — but the expe rience o f t o night h a s mad e
.
-

m e fear that th e expediti on was n ot u n de rt ake n i n vain an d ,

th at h e has got th e i nformatio n wh ich h e u nque stio nably left

u s to collect I f I kn ew whe re Ann e C a th eric k was t o be
.

fou nd I would be u p t o mo rrow with su nri se an d warn he r

,
- .

While th e aspec t u n de r wh ich S ir Pe rcival pre sented

h imself to night was u nhappi ly but t oo familiar t o m e th e
,
-
, ,

aspect u nde r which the Coun t appeare d was o n the oth e r ,

h and e nti rely n ew in my expe rience of him

, H e pe rmitted .

m e th i s eveni ng to m ak e h is acquain tan ce fo r th e fi rst ti me

, , , ,

i n th e cha racte r o f a M a n of S en ti me nt — o f se ntimen t as I ,

beli eve really felt n ot assu me d fo r the occasi on

, , .

F o r i nstan ce h e was quiet a n d su bdued

, h i s eye s an d h is
voice exp re sse d a re strain e d sen si bility H e wore (as if the re .

w a s s ome hi dde n con n exi on betwee n h i s sh owie st fine ry a nd

hi s deepes t feel ing ) th e m ost magnifice n t waistcoat h e h a s .

ye t appeare d in —it w a s made of pale sea green sil k an d -

,

delicately tri mme d with fin e si lve r braid H i s voi ce san k .

i nto th e tende re st i nflecti on s h is s mile exp re ssed a th oughtful , ,

fathe rly admi ration wh en eve r he s p oke to Lau ra o r to m e

, .

H e pres sed h is wife s han d unde r the table w hen sh e than ked
’

h im for triflin g little attention s at di n ne r H e took wi ne with .

‘
her . You r h ealth and h appiness my an ge l ! he said with ,
’
,

fon d gli sten in g eye s H e ate little o r n othin g ; an d sighed

.
,

an d said Good Pe rcival when h i s frie n d laugh ed at him .

After di nn er h e t oo k Laura by the hand an d aske d he r i f

, ,

sh e would be s o swe et as to play to him S he c om pli ed , .

’

25 4
 THE WOM AN I N WHIT E
in mos t sou l throu gh th e thicken ing obs cu rity O f the twilight .

H is voice trembled alon g eve ry ne rve in my b o dy a n d tu rn ed m e ,

h ot a n d co ld alte rnately The myste ry a n d te rro r O f my d ream

.
,

wh ich had hau nted me at i nte rvals all thr o ugh th e eveni n g
, , ,

n o w oppre sse d my m in d with a n u ne n du rable fore boding an d

a n u nutte rable awe I saw the w hite t omb again an d th e
.
,

vei le d woman rising out o f it by H a rtrigh t s side The

,
’
.

th ought of Lau ra welle d u p like a sp ri ng in the depth s O f my

heart a n d filled i t with wate rs of bitte rnes s n eve r n eve r
, , ,

known t o it before I caught he r by the h and as sh e passed

.
,

m e o n he r way to the table and ki sse d he r as if that night

,

was to part u s fo r eve r While th ey we re all gaz in g at me

.

in aston ishment I ra n ou t th rough the low wi ndow which w a s

,

O pe n b efore m e t o th e grou n d —ra n out to hide from the m in

the darkn es s ; t o hide eve n from myself .

We separated that even in g late r than u su al Towards

, , .

midnight the summe r silen c e w a s broken by the shu dde rin g

,

O f a low melanch oly wi n d amon g th e t re es We all felt th e

,
.

su dde n chil l in the atmosphe re but the Cou n t w a s the fi rst

t o n otice th e stealthy ri sin g of th e wi nd H e stoppe d while .

h e was lightin g my candle for me a n d held u p hi s hand ,

warningly
‘
Li sten h e said The re will be a chan ge to mo rro w
.
- .
’

J U N E 1 9 th T he eve nts O f ye ste rday warne d me t o be ready

.
-
,

soone r or late r to meet th e wo rst T O day i s n ot ye t at an

,
.
-

e nd an d th e worst h a s come .

J u dgin g by th e close st calculation O f tim e that Lau ra an d

I c ou ld make we arrive d at the con clu sion that Ann e C a th eric k
,

mu st have appeared at the boat h ou se at half past two O clock - -

’

o n the afte rn oon O f ye ste rd ay I acc ordingly arrange d that

.

Lau ra shoul d j u st sh ow he rse lf at the lu nch eo n table to day ,

-
,

an d sh ou ld the n slip o u t at th e fi rst O pp ortu n ity ; leaving m e

behin d to p re se rve appearan ces a n d t o follow he r as s oon a s ,

I could safe ly do so Thi s m ode O f p roceedin g if n o obstacles

.
,

occu rred t o thwart u s would enab le he r to be at the b oat

,

h ou se before half past two ; an d (whe n I left the table i n m y

-
,

tu rn ) would take m e t o a safe p ositi on i n th e plantati on ,

befo re th ree .

The change in th e weath e r wh ich last n igh t s win d ,

’

w arn ed u s t o expe ct came with th e m orning

, I t was rai n .

in g heavily whe n I go t u p ; an d it continue d to rai n u n ti l

2
56
 T HE WO MAN IN W H ITE

twe l v e O clo c k— whe n the clouds di spe rse d the b l u e sky

’
,

appeared an d th e su n shone again with the bright pro mi se o f

,

a fine afte rn oon .

My anxiety to know how S ir Pe rcival an d the C ou nt would

occupy the early part O f the day was by n o mean s set at re st , ,

s o far as S i r Pe rcival was c oncern e d by hi s leavin g u s i mme ,

dia tely afte r b reakfast an d going o u t by himse lf i n spite o f

, ,

the rain H e neithe r told us whe re he was go i ng n or whe n

.
,

we might expect hi m back We saw him pass the breakfast .

room wi ndow hastily with hi s high boots an d hi s waterp roof

, ,

c oat o n— an d that was all .

The Count passed the mo rn ing quietly indoo rs ; s om e ,

part O f i t in the library ; s ome part in the drawin g-room

, , ,

playing O dds an d e nds O f music o n the pian o an d h um min g ,

to him se lf J udgi ng by appearan ce s the senti me ntal side o f

.
,

h is characte r was pe rsiste ntly i nclined t o betray i tself sti ll .

H e w a s sile n t an d sensitive an d ready to sigh an d lan guish ,

ponde rously (as only fat m en c a n sigh an d lan guish ) o n th e ,

smallest p rovocati on .

Lu ncheo n time came ; an d S i r Pe rcival did n ot retu rn .

T he Cou n t too k hi s frien d s place at the table — plaintively ’

devou re d the greate r part O f a fruit tart su bme rge d u nde r a ,

whole j ugful O f cream — a n d explai ned the full me ri t o f the

‘
achieve me nt t o u s as soon as he had don e , A taste fo r .

sweets he said in hi s softest ton e s an d h is te ndere st manne r

,
’
,
‘ '

i s the inn o c ent ta ste O f wo me n an d childre n I lo v e t o shar e .

i t wi th the m — it i s an othe r bond dear ladies betwee n yo u , ,

’
and m e .

L au ra left the table in ten minu te s tim e I was so rely ’

.

tempted to accompany he r Bu t if we had bo th g o ne o u t .

togethe r we mu st have excited suspi cion and worse still if

, , ,

we allowed An n e C a th eric k to se e Lau ra accompanie d by a

s econ d pe rson wh o was a strange r t o he r we shou ld i n a l l ,

p robability forfe it he r confiden ce from that m o ment n e v e r to ,

regain i t again .

I waited the re fore as patiently as I could u nti l th e s ervant

, , ,

came i n to clear the table Whe n I quitte d the room , th ere .

we re n o signs in the h ou se o r o u t o f i t O f S i r Pe rcival s

, ,
'

retu rn . I l eft th e C ou nt with a piece O f sugar be twee n h i s

li ps a n d the vici ous cockato o sc ramblin g u p h is wai stc oat
,

t o get at i t ; wh il e M adame F osco sitti ng opposite to he r ,

husband watche d th e p rocee dings O f hi s bi rd a nd h imself as

, ,

attenti v ely as if she had n eve r see n anythin g O f th e sort before

i n he r life O n my way to th e plantatio n I ke pt caref ull y
.

b eyon d the range o f view fro m the l u nch eo n roo m wi ndow - .

s
25 7
 T H E W O M AN I N W H I TE

N ob o dy sa w me an d n obody followed me ,
I t was then a .
.

qu arter to thr ee 0 clock by my watch ’

.

O nce among the t re es I walke d rapi dly u ntil I h ad , ,

adva nced m ore than half way th rough the plantation At .

that poin t I slacke ne d my p ac e a n d p roceede d cauti ou sly

, ,

but I saw n o o n e an d he ard n o voice s By li ttle and lit tle I

,
. .

came withi n V iew O f the back O f the boat hou se — stopped a n d -

li ste n ed — the n we nt o n til l I was close b ehi n d i t an d must , ,

have heard any pe rs on s wh o were talk ing i nside S till the .

s ilen ce was u n broke n still far an d near n o sign O f a living .

, ,

c reatu re appeare d anywhere .

Afte r ski rting ro u n d by the back O f th e building fi rst o n ,

o n e s ide an d the n o n th e othe r an d m aking no discoverie s I

, , ,

ventured in fro n t o f it a n d fairly l oo k e d in The place was ,

.

I called Lau ra ! —i a t fi rst s oftly— th e n lou de r and l ou d er

,
‘ -
, .

N O on e an swe re d a n d n o on e appeared ,
Fo r all that I c oul d .

se e a n d hear th e on ly human c reatu re in th e n eighbourhood

,

o f th e lak e a n d the plan tation was mys elf , .

M y h eart began to b eat violently but I kept my res oluti o n

a n d s earch ed fi rs t the b oat h ouse and then the groun d in
,
-
,

fron t o f i t for a ny sign s which m ight show m e wheth e r Lau ra

, .

had really reached the p lac e o r n ot N o m ark O f he r p resen c e .

appeare d i nside th e buildi ng bu t I fou nd traces o f he r out side

it i n footstep s on the sa nd
, .

I detec ted the footsteps O f two pe rs on s — lar e footstep s

g ,

l ike a m an s and small fo otsteps which by putt i n g my o w n

’
, , ,

fee t i n to th e m a nd testi ng th ei r si z e in that manne r I felt ,

ce rtai n we re Lau ra s Th e grou n d was c onfusedly marked 1 n

’
.

thi s way j u st before the b oat h ouse

, C lose ag ain st o n e side - .

of it, u nde r shelte r o f the p roj ecting ro of I discove red a

.

little h ole in th e s a n d— a hole artifi cially made beyon d a d oubt , .

I j u st n oticed it a nd then tu rned away immediately t o trace

,

the footsteps as far as I could a nd to follow the d i rection i n ,

which they might lead m e .

T h ey led m e s tar ting from the left han d side O f the boat
,
-

h ouse alon g the edge o f the tre es a distance , I sh ould thin k

’

, , ,

o f between two and thre e hu n dre d yards — an d the n th e sandy ,

gr ou nd sh owe d n o fu rthe r trac e o f the m Feelin g that th e .

pers on s whos e cou rs e I w a s tracking m us t nece ssarily hav e

ent ere d th e p lantati on at thi s po i nt I e nte red it too At fi rs t , .
,

I c ould fi n d n o path— b u t I discove red o n e afterwards j u st , ,

fai ntly traced amon g th e tre es an d followed i t I t took me .

,

fo r s ome di stan ce i n th e di recti on o f t he vi ll age u nti l I

, ,

stopp ed at a p oi nt W h ere an othe r foot t rack crossed it T he - .

25 8
 T HE WO M A N I N W H I T E

a ly sh e m ight get back to he r frie nd s in C u mbe r l an d wit h o u t

e r ,

s top p i n g i n London where sh e was a total strange r , .

I felt di rectly that Fanny s departu re O ff e red u s a safe

’

m ean s o f commu nication with London an d with L im m eridge

H ou se o f which i t might be very impo rtan t to avail ou rselve s
,
.

Accordingly I told he r that sh e might expect to hear from he r

,

m istres s o r from me i n the cou rs e o f the eve nin g an d that ,

sh e migh t depen d o n o u r both doin g all that lay i n o u r p owe r

to h elp he r u nde r the trial O f le avin g u s for the pre sen t

,
.

T h ose words said I shoo k hands with h er an d wen t up , ,

s tai rs .

T he doo r which le d to Lau ra s room was the doo r o f an ’

,

a nte chambe r open in g o n to the p assage

- Whe n I tried i t it .
,

was b olte d o n the i n side .

I knocked an d the doo r was O pe ne d by the same h eavy

, ,

o v ergrown h ous emaid wh ose lumpish in se nsibility h ad tried ,

my patie n ce so seve rely o n the day whe n I foun d th e woun de d

d og I had since that time di scove red that he r n ame was
.
, ,

M argaret Porche r an d that sh e was the m ost awkward slat

, ,

ternly and obstin ate se rvan t i n the hou se

, .

O n O pening the doo r sh e i n stantly stepped o u t t o the ,

thre shold an d stood grin ni n g at me in stolid silence

, .

’
Why do yo u stan d th ere I said D on t yo u see that .

I wan t to co me in
‘ ’ ’
. Ah but yo u mu stn t come i n was the answe r with anothe r
, , ,

a nd a b roade r gri n s ti ll .

Ho w dare yo u tal k to m e in that way ? S tan d back

i n stan tly
S he stretched o u t a great red han d an d arm o n each side
O f he r so as to bar th e doo rway an d slowly n odde d he r addl e
, ,

h ead at me .

’
M aster s orde rs sh e said an d n odded agai n ,
’
.

I had need o f all my self contro l t o warn me again st c o n -

testing the matter with h er an d to re min d me th at the next ,

words I had to say mu st be addre sse d to he r m aste r I turned .

m y back o n he r a nd in stan tly wen t down stai rs to fin d hi m

,
- .

My res olution to ke ep my temper u n d er all th e i rritation s that

S i r Percival c ould O ff e r was by thi s ti me as complete l y , , ,

fo rgo tten — I say s o to my shame — as if I had neve r made i t .

I t d id me good — afte r al l I h ad su ff e red an d suppre ssed in

that hous e— it actually did me good t o feel h ow angry I was .

Th e drawing room and th e b reakfast room we re both empty :

- - .

I we nt o n to the l ib rary ; and the re I fou n d S i r Pe rcival the ,

C oun t an d Madame F O sco They we re all three stan di ng u p

, .

c los e togethe r and S i r Pe rcival had a littl e slip O f pap er in hi s

,

260
 TH E WO M AN I N W H I T E
h a nd As I O pene d the d oor I h eard the C o u nt say to h im
.
, ,

N O — a th ousand times ove r n o , .

’

I w a lk ed st rai gh t u p to him an d l ooke d hi m full i n th e ,

face .

‘Am I to u nde rstand S ir Pe rcival that your wife s roo m ’

, ,

i s a prison a nd that you r hous emaid i s th e gaole r wh o kee ps

,

it I asked .

’
Ye s that is what yo u are to u nde rstan d h e an swe re d ,
.

T ake care my gaole r has n t go t dou ble du ty t o d o — take car e ’

you r room i s n o t a pri son to o , .

’

‘
Take y ou care h ow yo u treat you r wife an d h o w yo u ,

th reate n me I b roke o u t in th e h eat O f my an ge r

,
’
The r e , .

are laws in E nglan d t o p rotect wome n from c ruelty an d o u t

I f yo u h u rt a h ai r O f Lau ra s h ead i f you dare to ia
’
rage .
,

terfere with my fre edom come what may to th os e laws I wil l , ,

’
a p p ea L

I n stead o f an swe rin g me h e tu rne d round to th e Cou n t ,

.

Wh at d id I tell yo u ? he asked What d o yo u sa y ’

.

n ow
’
What I said before replie d th e Cou n t NO
’
.
,

Eve n i n th e veheme n ce o f my an ge r I fel t hi s calm cold , , ,

gray eye s o n my face They tu rn e d away from m e as s oo n .

,

as h e had sp oken an d looke d sign ificantly at hi s wife , .

M adam e F osco i mm ediately moved cl os e to my s ide and in , ,

that p ositi on ad dre sse d S i r Pe rcival befo re e ith er o f u s c ould

,

speak agai n .

Favou r m e with you r atte ntion fo r o ne mom en t she sai d , ,

’

i n he r clear icily su ppres se d to nes I have to thank yo u S i r

- .
,

Percival for your h ospitality an d to decline takin g advantage

,

of i t any lon ge r I re mai n i n n o h ous e i n which ladie s a re

.

treate d as you r wife an d M is s H alcombe have bee n t reate d

he re to day -

S i r Pe rcival d rew bac k a step an d stared at h e r in d ead ,

sile nce Th e declaration h e had j ust heard — a decl arati o n

.

which h e wel l kn ew a s I we ll k new Madam e F osco wou ld , ,

n ot have ventu red to make with ou t he r h u sband s pe rmissi on ’

-
s ee med to petrify hi m with su rpri se Th e Coun t s tood .

by an d lo oked at h 1 s wife with the m ost enthu sia stic admi ra

,

tion .

S he is su bli me he sai d to himself H e approached he r , .

wh ile h e spoke and d rew h e r han d th rough his arm

, I am .

’
at you r s e rvi ce Elean o r h e wen t o n wi th a qu iet di gni ty tha t
, , ,

I had n eve r n oticed in him before An d at M iss H a lc o m be s .

’

ser v i ce if sh e will h on ou r me by a c ceptin all th e assi stan c e

,
g
I can o ffer h er ’
.

26 1
 T H E WO M AN I N W H IT E
D am n it ! what do yo u mean ? cri ed S i r Pe rcival a s th e ,

Coun t quietly moved away with his wife to the d oo r , , .

At other ti me s I mean what I say but at thi s ti me I , ,

mean what my wife says 1 ep lied th e impe netrabl e I talian ,

’
.

We have change d places Pe r c i v al fo r on ce ; and M ad ame , ,

Fosco 3 O pin i on i s — mi ne .

S i r Pe rcival cru mpled u p the pape r in h is hand an d pu sh

ing past the Cou nt with an othe r oath stood betwee n hi m an d
, ,

the do or .

H ave you r own way h e said with baffl ed rage in hi s ,

’
,

lo w half whi speri ng tone s

,
- H ave you r o w n way— a n d see .

what co me s o f it With th os e words he left th e ro om

.
’
, .

M adame F osco glan ce d i nqu iri ngly at he r hu sband He '

‘
h a s go n e away ve ry su dden ly sh e said What does it ’
.
.
,

mean
I t m ean s that you an d I toge the r h ave bro u gh t th e worst
temp ere d m a n in all E n gland to h i s sen ses answered the ,
’

‘
Cou nt . I t m ean s M is s H alc ombe that Lady Glyde i s
, ,

relieve d fro m a gro ss in dign ity an d yo u fro m the repetition ,

O f a n u n a rdo n a bl e i nsu lt S u ff e r m e to e x p ress my a d

p .

m ira tio n o f you r conduct an d you r c ou rage at a ve ry tryi ng

moment
’
.

S i n ce re admi rati on sugges te d M adame Fo sco ,

’
.

S incere admiration ech oed th e C ount ,

’
.

I had n o longe r the strength of my fi rs t a ngry re sistance

to outrage an d i nj ury t o support me My heart s i c k anxiety .
-

to s ee Lau ra ; my s en se o f my o w n helple ss i g noran ce o f

‘

what h ad hap pene d at the b oat h ou se pressed o n me wi th -

,

a n i ntolerable weight I tried t o keep u p appearan ces by

.
,

speaking t o the Cou n t an d h i s wife in th e to ne whi ch th ey

h ad ch ose n to adopt i n speaki ng t o me B ut the wo rds _
.

failed o n my lips — m y breath came sh ort and thick— m y eye s

looked l ongi ngly in si lence at th e door Th e C ount unde r
, , .
,

standing my anxiety O pe ne d i t wen t o u t an d p u lled it to

, , ,
~

afte r him At the same tim e S i r Pe rcival s h ea v y s tep

.
’ '

descen de d the stai rs I h eard the m wh ispe ri ng together

.
,

outside wh ile Madame Fosco was as su ring m e in he r calmest

,

a nd m os t conve ntion al man ne r that sh e rej oiced fo r all our ,

sake s that S i r Pe rcival s c on duct had n o t obliged he r

,
’

hu sban d a n d he rself to leave B lac kwate r P ark Befor e sh e .

had d on e speaki ng th e whispering ceased the doo r opened

, , ,

a n d the Cou n t looke d 1 n .

‘ ‘
M i s s H alcombe he sai d I am h appy to inform yo u
,
’
,

that Lady Glyde i s mistre ss agai n in h er o wn ho u s e I

.
.

thought i t might be m ore agreeable t o yo u to h ear o f t h is r

26 2
fixed o n Lau ra

h er wh ite face
,
.
fi
TH E WO M AN I N W H IT E

s u re a nd steady at all othe r times t rembled vi olently ; and

he r eye s loo ked w o l sh ly past me th rough the O pe n d oor and

S h e had been li sten in g before sh e kn ock ed ! I saw i t i n

I saw it in he r t rembli ng hands I sa w it in
,

h e r look at Laura .

Afte r waiting a n i n stant she turn e d from me in silence , ,

and s lowly walked away .

I close d the d oo r again O h Lau ra Lau ra We shal l

.
,

both rue th e d ay whe n yo u calle d the Cou nt a S py

Y o u would have called hi m so you rself M arian, if yo u ,

had kn own what I know An n e C a th eric k was right The re . .

was a third pe rson watchi ng u s in the plantation yeste rday ,

and that thi rd pers on

Are y o u su re i t was th e Count
‘
I am ab solute ly ce rtain H e was S i r Pe rcival s spy h e was .
’
-

S i r Pe rcival s i nforme r— h e set S i r Pe rcival watchin g a nd wait

’

ing all the m o rn i ng th rough for An n e C a th eric k an d fo r me

, , .
’

I s An n e fou n d D id y o u see he r at th e lake

‘N o
. S he has save d he rself by keepi n g away from the
place Whe n I go t to the boat h ou se n o on e was the re
.
-
, .
’

Ye s ye s
‘
I we nt in an d sat waiting fo r a few mi nute s But my
, .

restlessn es s made m e get up ag ain to wal k about a li ttle , .

As I pas se d o u t I saw s ome marks o n th e sand close u nde r

, ,

the fro nt o f th e b oat hou se I stooped down t o examin e

- .

them an d discove red a word writte n in large lette rs on

, ,

the sand T h e word was — LO O K

’

. .

And yo u sc raped away the sand and du g a h ollow plac e ,

in it
H o w do you kn ow that M arian ,
‘
I saw th e h oll ow place myse lf whe n I followed you to ,

th e boat h ous e G o o n— go o n
- .

Ye s ; I scraped away the s and o n the su rface ; an d in a

l ittle wh ile I came to a s tri p o f pape r hid den beneath which
, ,

h ad writing o n i t T he wri tin g was s igned with Ann e

.

C a th eric k s i nitials
’ ’
.

Wh ere is i t ?
S i r Pe rcival has take n i t from me .

‘
C a n yo u reme mbe r what the wr i t i ng was ? D o yo u
th in k yo u c a n repe at i t to me .
’

‘
I n sub stance I c a n M ari an I t was v e ry sh ort Y o u
, . .

w ou ld have re memb e re d i t word for w o rd

’
, .

Try to tell m e what th e su bstan c e wa s befor e we go any ,

fu rth er
’
.

26 4 .
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E
S he om pli ed
c I write th e li n e s d ow n h e re,
. e x actl y as
sh e repeated th e m to me T h ey ran thu s .

I was s ee n wi th yo u ye ste rday by a tal l stou t o ld man , , ,

an d had to ru n to save myself H e was no t qu ic k e n ough .

o n hi s fee t to follow me and h e lo s t m e am on g th e tree s , .

I dare n ot ri s k c omin g bac k he re to d ay at th e same tim e , .

I write th is a n d hi de i t in th e sand at six in th e m o rn i n g

,
.

, ,

to tell yo u s o Whe n we speak n ext o f you r wicke d h us

.

ban d s S ec re t we mu st s peak safely o r no t at all T ry to

’
.

h av e p atien ce I p romi se yo u shall s ee m e agai n ; and that

.

s oon — A C
. . .
’

‘
T h e refe re n ce to the tal l s tou t o ld m a n (th e te rm s o f ’

which Lau ra was ce rtai n th at sh e had repeated t o m e

co rrectly ) l eft n o d oub t as to wh o th e i ntrude r h ad
,

bee n. I c a lled to mi n d th at I h ad tol d S i r Pe rcival in th e ,

’
Cou n t s p re se n ce th e day b efo re that Lau ra h ad gon e to th e
, ,

boat house to l ook fo r h e r b rooch

-
I n al l p robabi lity h e h ad .

‘
followe d her the re in hi s o fli c io u s way to relieve h e r m i n d
, ,

abou t th e matte r o f th e sign atu re i mmediately afte r h e h ad ,

men ti oned th e ch ange in S i r Pe rc ival s p lan s to me in th e ’

d rawi ng room - I n thi s case h e c o u ld on ly h ave go t to the

.
,

n eighbou rh o od o f th e boat h ou se at th e ve ry mom en t wh e n -

,

An ne C a th eric k d isco v e red h im Th e su spici ou sly hu rrie d .

mann e r in which sh e parted fro m Lau ra h ad n o d ou bt ,

p ro mpte d hi s u sel es s atte mpt to follow h e r O f th e co nve rsa .

tion wh ich had p reviously take n pl ace b e twe e n the m he coul d ,

h ave heard n oth in g Th e distance be twee n th e h ou se and .

the lake and the ti me at wh ich h e left m e in th e d rawin g

,

room as com pare d wi th th e ti m e at wh ich Laura a n d An n e

,

C a th eric k h ad be en sp e akin g toge the r p rove d that fac t to u s , ,

at any rate beyon d a d oubt ,

.

H avin g arrived at som e thi ng li ke a co nclu si on s o far my , ,

n e x t gre at i nte re st was t o know wh at di scove ri e s S i r Pe rcival

h ad made afte r Coun t Fo sc o h ad give n hi m h i s i nfo rma
,

tion .

H ow cam e yo u to lose p oss e ssi o n o f th e lette r I asked .

What d id you d o with i t wh en y o u found i t i n th e sand ,

’
Afte r readin g it onc e th rough she repli ed I took i t , ,

i nto th e boat h ouse with me to si t down an d l oo k ove r i t a

-
, ,

secon d ti me Whi le I was readin g a shadow fell acros s th e

.
,

pape r I l o o k ed u p ; an d saw S i r Pe rci v al stan di ng in th e

.

d oorway watch ing me .

’

D id yo u try to hid e the letter

26 5
 T H E WO MAN IN WH ITE

‘I tried bu t h e stopped me Y o u n ee dn t t ro u bl e to .
’

hid e that h e said , I happen to h av eread it

. I could o nly .

loo k at h im h elple s sly— I cou ld sa y n oth in g

,
You u n de r .

stan d h e we nt o n I have read it 5 1 du g i t u p o ut O f th e

'

-
1 .

san d tw o h o u rs si nce an d bu ri e d i t again an d wrote the

'

, , ,
'

w ord ab ove it agai n an d left i t re ady to you r hands You

'

.
, ,

c an t li e you rself o u t o f th e scrape n o w

’
You sa w Ann e .

C a th eric k in secret ye sterd a y an d you h ave go t h e r lette r i n

you r h and at thi s m ome nt I h ave n o t caught 126 7 ye t ; but .

I have caught y ou Give m e th e lette r . H e stepped clo se u p .

to —m e — I was alo n e w ith h im M arian — what cou ld I d o '

I gave him th e l etter ’

‘

What did h e sa y whe n yo u gave i t to hi m

At fi rst h e sai d nothi ng H e too k m e by th e arm and
, .
, ,

led m e o u t o f th e boat h ou se a nd look ed abou t him o n a ll

.
-
, ,

sides as if h e was afrai d of ou r be ing see n Or h eard Then

, .
,

he claspe d h is han d fas t roun d my a rm , an d wh ispe re d to m e '

“
What did An ne C a th eric k say to yo u ye ste rd ay — I i n sist
’ ’

o n heari n g eve ry wo rd fro m fi rs t to last

”
.
,

D id you tell him

I was alon e with h im M arian — hi s cru el h and was brui s ,

ing my arm — what coul d I d o

I s the m ark o n yo u r arm s till ? Let m e see i t
Why d o you wan t to see i t
‘
I wan t to se e it Lau ra b ecau se ou r e ndu ran ce mu st end
Th at mark i s a weap on
, , ,

a n d o u r re si sta nc e mu st b egi n to day

’

- .

to strike hi m with Le t m e see i t n ow — I may h ave to s w ea r

.

t o i t at so me futu re time
, .
’

‘
’
’ ’
Oh M arian ; don t l ook so ! do n t ta lk so ! I t doesn t
,
’

h u rt m e n ow
L et me s ee it !
S he sh owe d m e th e mark s I was past grieving ove r
'
“
.

them past c rying ove r th em past shud d erin g ove r th em

, , .

Th ey say we are ei the r be tte r th an men o r wo rse I f th e , .

temptation th at h as falle n i n s om e women s way and m ade ’

,

the m worse h a d fa llen i n ni in e at th at m o men t

,
'

Than k ‘

God my face betraye d n oth ing that hi s wi fe cou ld read .

T h e ge ntle i nn oc en t a ff e ,cti on ate c reature th ough t I was

,

frighten ed for h e r an d sorry for h en — an d th ou ght n o m ore .

"
D on t thin k to o s eriou sly o f it Marian ’ sh e s aid sim ply
’

, , , , .

as sh e pulled he r sleeve down agai n ‘I t doesn t hu rt m e ’

.
,

no w
’
.

I will try to thi n k qu ietly o f i t my l ove for you rsa ke

‘

, . , .

Well ! we ll ! An d you tol d hi m al l th at An n e C a th eric k had

said to yo u— all that yo u told m e
26 6
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E
withdraw that i nte rfe re nc e to mo rrow S i r Pe rci v al h a s - .

a l re ady dismis sed Fan ny becaus e sh e i s a quick witted gi rl

,
-
,

an d devotedly attach ed to you an d h a s ch ose n a woman t o

take he r place wh o care s n othin g for you r i nterests and
, ,

wh os e d ul l i nte lligen ce lowe rs h e r to th e l evel o f the watch

do g in the yard I t i s i mp os sible t o sa y wh at vi olent mea
.

su re s h e m ay take next u nles s we m ake the m ost o f o u r

,
-

’
opportunitie s while we have the m .

"
What c a n we d o M arian ? O h i f we cou ld only l eave
, ,

th is hou se n eve r to see it a gain

,

Listen to me my love — an d try to th in k that yo u are no t

,
’
quite helple ss s o lon g as I am he re with yo u .

‘I wil l thin k so — I d o thi nk so D o n t al togethe r forge t .

’

poo r Fanny i n thi nki n g o f m e S h e wants help an d c omfort

, .
,
’
too .

‘
I wil l n ot forget h e r I sa w h e r befo re I came u p he re
.

a nd I h ave arrange d to co mmun icate with h e r to night - .

Lette rs are no t safe i n th e p ost bag at B lackwate r Park — an d -

fi
I shal l h ave two t o write to day i n you r i nte re sts wh ich -
, ,

must pas s th rough n o han ds but F anny s ’

.
’

What lette rs
‘ ’
I mean to write fi rst Lau ra to M r Gi lm o re s p a rtn e r
, , .
,

wh o has o ff ered to h elp u s in a ny fre sh e me rgen cy Little .

as I kn ow o f th e l aw I am ce rtai n that i t c a n p rotect a

,

woman from such t reatme nt as that ru f a n ha s 1 n fl ic ted o n

yo u to day I will go into n o detail s ab ou t Ann e C a th eric k
- .
,

becau se I h ave n o ce rtai n i nfo rmation t o give B ut the .

lawye r shall kn ow o f those b rui se s o n you r arm an d o f th e ,

f
f —
vi ole nce o ered to yo u i n th i s room h e shall befo re I res t ,

to -night
B ut thin k o f th e expo su re M arian
, ,

I am c a lculatin g o n the e x po su re S i r Pe rcival h as mo re .

to d read from i t th an you h ave The p rospect o f an exposu re .

may b ri ng hi m to te rms wh e n n othin g el se will , .

’

I rose as I spoke ; but L au ra e ntreated m e n o t to l eave

‘ ’ ‘
Y ou
wi ll d rive hi m to d espe rati on she said an d , ,

i ncre ase o u r dan ge rs ten fold .

’

I fel t th e t ru th — the di shearte ni ng truth — o f th os e word s .

B ut I cou ld n ot bring myself plainly to ackn owledge it to h e r .

I n ou r d readful position th e re was n o h el p an d n o h ope fo r

,

u s but in riskin g th e wo rst I sa id s o in guarded terms

, .
,
.

S he sighed bitte rly — bu t did n o t conte st the matte r S h e .

o nly asked abou t the second le tte r th at I h ad pro pose d

writing T o wh om was i t to be addr es s ed
.

268
 fi
T HE WO M A N I N W H I T E

To M r F airlie
. I said
,
’
. You r u ncle i s yo u r neare st
m ale relati ve , an d th e head o f th e famil y He m u st a nd
.

’
s hal l i nte rfe re .

Lau ra sh ook he r h ead s orro wfully .

‘
Ye s ye s I wen t o n ; you r u ncl e i s a weak s el s h
, ,
’
, ,

w orldly man I know B ut h e i s n o t S i r Pe rci v al Glyde an d

, .

h e has n o su ch fri en d abou t hi m as Cou n t Fo sco I expect .

n othin g from hi s ki ndn es s o r h i s tende rn es s o f feeling to wards ,

y o u
, o r towards m e B u t h e will d o anything . to pampe r h i s

o wn in dolen ce a n d to se cu re hi s o wn quie t
, Le t m e o nly .

p ersuade him that hi s i nte rfe re nce at thi s mome n t will save , ,

h i m i nevi table trou ble an d wretchednes s an d re sp on sibility

he reafte r an d h e will besti r h im self fo r hi s own sake
, I kno w .

h o w to deal wi th him Lau ra — I have h ad som e p ractic e

’
.
,
‘
I f you could only prev ai l o n hi m to let m e go back t o
L imm eridge fo r a little while and stay the re quietly with you , ,

Marian I could be almo st as happy agai n as I was before

,

I was married
Those words set m e th i nki ng in a new di rection Wou ld .

i t be po ssible to place S i r Percival b etwee n the two alte rna

tiv es o f eithe r exposin g himself to the scan dal O f legal i nte r
fere nce o n his wife s be half o r o f allowin g he r t o be qu ietly
’
,

se parated fro m hi m fo r a time u nde r pretext o f a visit to he r ,

u ncle s h ous e ? And cou ld he in that case be re ck oned o n

’
, ,

a s li ke ly to accept the last res ou rce —

I t was d oubtfu l m ore
than d ou btful And yet h opeles s as the experi me nt see med
.
, ,

surely i t was worth t ryi ng ? I res olve d to try it in shee r ,

de spai r o f kn owi ng what bette r to do .

’
You r u ncle shall kn ow the wish you have j u st exp re s sed ,

I said ; an d I wil l ask the lawye r s advi ce o n the subje ct a s ’

,

well Good may come o f it— and wi ll come o f it I hope

.
, .
’

S ayi ng that I ros e agai n ; an d agai n Lau ra tried to make

,

m e resum e my seat .

D on t leave me sh e said u n easi ly

’
My de sk is o n that
,
’
,
.

’
table You ca n write he re
. .

I t t rie d me to the qu ick t o refu se he r eve n i n he r o wn ,

i nterests B ut we had be e n to o lon g shut u p alon e togeth e r

.

al ready . Ou r chance o f seei ng e ach othe r agai n migh t

enti re ly de pen d o n ou r n ot excitin g any fresh su spici on s It .

was full time to show myse lf quietly an d u ncon ce rn edly , ,

amon g th e wretche s wh o were at that ve ry mome nt pe rhaps , , ,

thi n kin g o f u s a ri d talking of u s down stairs

,
I e xplai ned - .

th e mise rable nece ssity to Lau ra an d prevailed o n he r to

recognise it as I did , .

I will c ome back agai n love in an ho u r o r le ss I said , , ,

’
.

2 69
 TH E W O MAN I N W H I T E
-

T he worst i s over fo r to day K eep

'
'
"
-
- . you r self quiet an d fear ,
’
nothin g .

I s the key 1 n th e d oor M ar 1 an C an I l ock it O h the

' '

.
,

i nside ? '

he re 1 3 th e key Lock the do o r ; a 11 d ope n i t t o

'

n
. . .

obody ; u nti l I come u p stai rs z

I kis sed he r a n d l eft he r I t was a re lie f to m e as I
>

.
, ,

wal k ed away to hear the key turne d i n the lock a nd to kn ow

, ,

that th e doo r was at h er o wn c omman d

'
'

VIII .

J U N E l gth —I had on ly got as far a s th e top o f the stai rs

’
~

.
,

when the lockin g o f Lau ra s door sugge sted to me th e pre ’

c a u tio n o f als o locking my o w n doo r an d keepin g the k e

'

y ,

safely ab out me while I wa s o u t of th e room My j ou rnal - .

was already secu red with othe r pape rs in th e table d rawe r

, , ,

but my writin g mate rials we re left o u t Thes e i n cluded a .

s eal bearin g the common devi ce o f two dove s dri nkin g o u t of

,

the same c up an d s ome sheets of blotting paper which had ,

the imp res sion 0 11 th e m o f the cl osin g lin e s o f my wri ti n g i n .

these page s traced du ri ng th e past night

,
D i storted by .

th e su sp i ci on wh ich h ad n ow b ecom e a part o f myself ,

eve n such trifl es as th ese l ooked to o dan ge rous t o be tru sted

w i th out a guard — even the lock ed table drawer s eemed to b e -

n ot su fli c ien tly p rotecte d in my ab sen ce u ntil the mean s o f

, ,

acce ss t o i t h ad bee n carefully secu re d as well .

I fou n d n o appe aran ce of a ny on e havin g e ntered the room

whi le I had bee n talking with Lau ra My wri ti n g materi al s .

(whi ch I h ad give n th e s ervant i n struction s neve r to m eddl e

with ) were scattere d ove r the table mu ch as u sual The on ly .

circu mstan ce i n con n exion with them that at all struc k me '

was that the seal lay t idi ly in the tray wi th th e pen cil s and
, .

the wax I t was n o t i n my carele ss habits ( I am sorry t o sa y)

.

to put i t the re n eithe r did I remember putti ng it the re B ut .

,

a s I cou ld n ot call t o mi nd o n the othe r hand wh ere el se I , ,

had thrown i t down an d as I w a s als o doubtful wh ethe r I

,

might n o t fo r on ce h a v e la id it mechan i cal ly i n th e righ t

, ,
'

p la c e I ab staine d from addin g to th e perplexity with Which

,
.

the day s eve nts had fi lle d my m ind by t roublin g it afresh

’
,
.

ab ou t a tri fle I l ocke d the d oor ; pu t th e key in my pocket

.

and wen t d own stairs .

Madame F osco was alon e i n the ha ll , loo king at the

weathe r glas s - .

2 0
7
 T HE W O MAN I N W H I T E

th ose r a sh word s M ay I h ope that they wi ll be c on side rate l y

.

a n d gene rou sly fo rgive n

M o st assu redly s ai d the C ou n t s qui et v oice behind me

,
’ ’
, .

H e had stole n o n u s wi th hi s n oi sele s s tread an d hi s book

, ,

i n h i s h and from the li brary

,
.

’
Whe n Lady Glyde s aid tho se h as ty words h e wen t o n , ,

she di d m e a n inj ustice whi ch I lame n t —an d forgive Let , .

u s n eve r re tu rn to the su bj e ct M i ss H alcombe let u s a ll ,

c omfortably combine to forget it from thi s m omen t

’
, .

‘ ‘ ’
You are ve ry kind I said ; yo u re lieve m e in exp res ,

sibl
I tried to con ti nue — but h i s eye s we re o n me h is deadly
smile that hides eve rythin g was se t hard and u nwave ri n g
, , , ,

o n hi s broad s mooth face

, My distru st of hi s unfath omable .

falsen e ss my se n se o f my o w n degradatio n in s to opin g to c o n

,

c iliate hi s wife an d him self s o di sturbed an d c onfused m e , ,

that th e n ext wo rd s faile d on my lip s an d I stood the re i n ,

silence .

I beg you o n my kne es to say n o m o re M is s H alcombe ,

I a m truly sh ocked that yo u sh ould have thou ght i t n ece ssary

to say so much With that poli te speech h e to o k my han d
.
’
,

O h h o w I despi se myse lf ! O h h ow little comfort th e re i s eve n

, , ,

i n kn owi ng that I submitte d to i t fo r Lau ra s sake — h e to ok ’

my hand an d put i t to hi s p oi so n ou s li ps N eve r did I kn ow

,
.

al l my horror o f h i m ti ll then That i nn oce n t familiarity .

tu rn ed my blood as if i t had bee n th e vile st i n su lt that a man

,

could o ffe r me Ye t I h id my disgus t fro m hi m — I trie d to

.

s mile — I wh o on ce mercile ssly des pised deceit i n othe r women

, ,

was as fal se as the wo rst of them as fals e as the J udas wh o se ,

lip s had touched my hand .

I could n o t have mai n tai n ed my d egradi n g se lf con t rol — it -

i s all th at re de em s me in my o w n e sti mati o n to kn ow that I

could n o t — if h e had still conti nued to keep hi s eye s o n my
face . H i s wife s tige ri sh j eal ousy came to my re scue and
’

force d h is atte nti on away from m e the m ome n t h e p ossessed ,

h imself of my h an d H e r cold blu e eye s caugh t li gh t ; he r

.

dull white che eks flushe d i nto b right colou r she lo oked years
y ounge r than h e r age i n a n in stant , .

Coun t sh e said You r fo reign form s o f politene ss are

.

’
no t u n de rstoo d by E nglishwome n .

Pardon m e my angel ! Th e best an d deare st En gli sh

,
’
woman in the world unde rstand s them With th os e word s .
,

h e dropped my hand and qu ietly rai sed his wife s hand to hi s

,
’

l ips in place o f i t
, .

I ran back u p the stairs to take r efug e i n my o wn roo m ,

27 2
 TH E WO M AN I N WH I TE

I f the re had bee n ti me to thin k my th oughts whe n I w a s , ,

al one again would have caused me b itte r suffe ring

, B ut .

the re was n o ti me to thin k H appily for the p re se rvati on o f

.

m y c a lm ness a n d my cou rage the re was tim e fo r n othi n g but

,
.

act 1 on .

The lette rs to the lawye r a nd to M r Fairli e we re still to .

b e wri tten an d I sa t d own at once with o u t a m ome n t s hesi

, ,
’

ta tio n to devote myself t o th em

, .

The re was n o multitude o f re sou rces to pe rplex me —the re

was abs olutely n o o n e to depe n d o n in the first i n stan ce but , ,

myself S i r Pe rcival had n eithe r frie nds n or relative s in the

.

neighbourh oo d wh ose inte rce ssi o n I could attempt t o e mpl oy .

H e was o n the colde st te rms — in s ome case s o n the worst ,

te rm s— wi th th e familie s o f hi s o wn ran k and statio n w h o

l ive d near hi m We two wome n had ne ithe r fath e r n o r
.
,

b rothe r to com e to the h ouse an d take o u r parts The re was

, .

n o choice but to wri te th ose two doubtful lette rs — o r to pu t

,

Lau ra in the wron g a n d myself i n the wron g an d t o make a ll ,

pe aceable negotiation in the future i mpossible by sec re tly ,

e scapin g fro m B lac kwate r Park N othin g b ut the m ost im .

mine n t pe rsonal pe ril could j ustify o u r takin g that second

cou rse The le tte rs mu st be trie d fi rs t an d I wrote th em
. .

I s ai d n othi ng to th e lawye r a b ou t Ann e C a th eric k

becaus e (as I h ad al re ady h inte d to Lau ra ) that topi c was co
n ec ted with a myste ry whi ch we coul d n ot ye t explain a n d ,

w h ic h it would the refore be u seles s to write ab out to a p ro

_

fessio n a l m a n I left my c orre spon den t t o attribute S i r Pe r

.

c iv a l s disgraceful co n duc t i f h e pleased to fresh di sputes

’
, ,

ab ou t money matte rs a n d si mp ly co nsul ted h i m o n the

p o ssibili ty O f takin g legal p roceed in gs fo r Lau ra s p rotecti on ’

i n th e eve nt o f he r hu sband s refusal to allow he r to le ave

’

B lac kwate r Park for a ti me and return with m e to L im m eridge .

I referre d hi m to M r Fairlie fo r the details o f thi s last arrange

.

me nt — I assured hi m that I wrote with Lau ra s auth o rity ’

a n d I en de d by e ntreating hi m to act i n he r n ame to th e ,

utmost exten t of hi s p owe r and with the least p o ssi ble lo ss o f

,

ti me .

Th e le tte r t o M r Fai rlie occupie d m e n ext

. I appeale d .

to h i m o n the term s wh ich I had men ti on ed to Lau ra as the

most l ikely t o make h i m besti r h imse lf ; I e nclose d a c o p y o f
my lette r to th e lawye r to sh ow hi m h ow se ri ou s th e case was ;
,

an d I repre sen ted ou r removal to L im m eridge as th e o n ly

compromi se which would preven t the dange r a nd distre s s o f
’
Lau ra s pre se n t posi tion fro m i nevi tably aff ecting h e r u ncle as
well as he rs elf at no v e ry dis tan t time
, .

27 3
 T H E WO M AN I N WH I T E

W h en had don e a nd h ad sea l e d an d di rected th e two

I ,

envelopes I wen t bac k with th e l e tte rs to Lau ra s room to

’
, ,

show h e r that th ey were written .

H as an yb o dy distu rbed yo u ? I a sked when sh e op e ne d ,

th e do or to me .

‘N ob ody h as kn ocked ‘
sh e rep l ied B ut I h eard some ,
’
.

’
o ne i n the oute r room .

Was i t a m a n o r a woman
‘

A woman I heard th e rustling o f h er gown

. .
’

A ru stli ng li ke sil k
Yes li ke silk .
’

M adame Fosco had e v iden tly bee n watchi ng outsi de .

T h e m ischi ef sh e migh t d o by herself was little to be feare d .

B ut th e mischief sh e might d o as a wi lling i n stru me nt i n he r ,

h usban d s hands w a s t oo formidable to be overl ooked

’
, .

What becam e o f th e rustlin g o f the gown whe n yo u n o

? ‘
l onge r heard i t in th e an te roo m I i nqui red D id yo u - .

h ear it go past you r wall alon g th e passage ,

Yes I kep t still an d li sten ed an d j u st heard i t

.
, .
’

Which way di d i t go
‘
T oward s you r room .
’

I con si de red again Th e sou n d h ad n o t caught my ears . .

B ut I was th e n deeply absorbed in my lette rs an d I wri te wi th

a h eavy h and a n d a quill pen scraping an d s cratchi ng n oi sily
, ,

ove r the pape r I t w a s m ore li ke ly th at M ada m e F osco wou ld

.

h ear th e scrapin g of my p en th an that I shou ld h ear the

rustling of h er dres s
_
An othe r reason (if I h ad wanted o n e)
.

for n ot trusti ng my le tte rs to the p ost bag in th e h all - .

‘
Lau ra sa w m e th inking M ore d i fficu ltie s ! sh e s aid .
’
,
‘
w ea i ily mo re di ffi cul tie s a nd 11 1 o 1 e dange rs !
‘
N o dan ge rs I replied S om e li ttle difli c u l ty perh aps
,
’
.
, .

I am thi nking of th e safes t way o f puttin g my two le tte rs

into F anny s hands ’
.
’

Y o u h ave re ally wri tte n th em the n ? O h Marian ru n , , ,

n o ri sks — p ray p ray ru n n o ri sks,

N O 11 0 — n o fear let m e se e — what o cloc k i s i t no w

’
, ,

I t was a quarte r to six The re woul d b e time fo r m e .

to ge t to the village i nn a nd to come back again before , ,

din ne r I f I wai ted till the evenin g I migh t fi n d n o secon d

.
,

opp ortu nity o f safely le avin g the hou se .

‘ ‘ ’
Keep the key tu rn ed in th e l ock Laura I said and , , ,
’
d on t b e afraid ab out me I f you h ear any i n qui rie s made .
,

call th rough th e doo r a n d sa y that I am gon e o ut fo r a wa lk .

’

When sh all you be back

B efo re di nne r with ou t fai l C ou rage my love
, By .
,
.

27
4
 T H E WO MAN I N W H IT E
Whe n I c ros se d the h al l agai n no o ne was the re and th e ,

singing o f th e bi rds in the library had ceased I could n o t .

stop to make any fre sh i nve stigati ons I could only as sure .

myself that th e way was clear an d the n leave the h ou se , ,

with the two letters safe i n my pock et .

O n my way to th e village I p repare d myself fo r th e possi ,

b ility o f meeting S i r Pe rcival As l on g as I had hi m to deal .

with alon e I felt ce rtain o f n o t l osi ng my p re sen ce o f min d

, .

Any woman wh o i s sure o f h e r own w its is a match at any , ,

time fo r a m a n wh o i s n ot su re o f hi s o w n tempe r I had n o

,
.

such fear o f S i r Pe rcival as I had o f the Cou n t I n ste a d o f .

flutte ri ng i t had composed m e to hear o f the e rrand o n which

, ,

h e had gon e o u t While th e t racing o f Ann e C a th eric k wa s

.

the great anxiety that o ccupied hi m Lau ra and I m igh t h ope ,

fo r some ce ssati on o f any active pe rsecutio n at hi s h and s .

F o r ou r sake s n ow as well as fo r Ann e s I h oped a n d praye d

’
, ,

fe rvently that sh e migh t sti ll es cape hi m .

I walke d o n as b ri skly as the h eat would let m e til l I ,

reach ed th e c ros s road which led to th e vi llage l ookin g bac k

-

from time to time to make su re that I was n ot followe d by

,

any o n e .

N othi ng was beh i nd me al l the way but an empty c oun try , ,

waggon The n oi se m ade by the lumbe ri ng wheels an n oyed

.

m e a nd whe n I fou nd that th e waggo n too k the road to th e

village as well as myse lf I stopped t o let it go by an d pass
, , ,

o u t o f h eari ng As I looked towards i t mo re attentively than

.
,

before I though t I detected at intervals the feet o f a m a n

, , ,

walkin g close behin d i t ; th e carte r bei ng in fron t by th e

side o f hi s h orse s The part o f th e cross road which I had
.
-

j u st passed ove r w a s so narrow that the waggon comin g ,

afte r me b rushed the tree s a nd thickets o n e ith e r side a nd I

h ad to wai t unti l i t we nt by before I could test the correctn es s
,

o f my impres sio n Appare ntly that impression was wron g

.
, ,

for whe n th e waggon had passed me the roa d behi nd i t was ,

qui te clear .

I reached th e in n without meetin g S i r Pe rcival an d with ,

o u t noti cing anything m ore ; an d was glad to find that th e

lan dlady had received Fanny with all possible kin dnes s The .

girl had a little parlou r to si t in away from the n oi s e o f th e ,

tap room an d a clean bed chambe r at th e to p o f the house

-
,
- .

S he began cryin g again at th e sight of me ; a n d said poor

, ,

s oul truly e n ough that i t was dreadful to feel herself turn ed

, ,

o u t i nto the world as if she had committe d some u n pardon able

,

fault whe n n o blame could be laid at he r doo r by an ybody

,

n o t even by her maste r wh o had sent he r awa

y .

276
 TH E W O MAN I N W H I TE
T ry to make the best it Fan ny I said Your m is of , ,
’
.

tress and I will s tan d you r friends an d will take care that ,

you r characte r shall n o t su ff e r N o w li sten to m e I have ve ry .

,
.

l ittle ti me to s pare an d I am goin g to put a great t ru st in ,

you r hands I wi sh you to tak e care o f these two letters The

. .

o n e with th e s tamp o n it yo u are to pu t i nto th e post whe n ,

yo u reach Lo ndo n to mo rrow The othe r directe d t o M r - .

.
,

Fai rlie you are to delive r to hi m you rs elf as so on as you get

, ,

h ome Keep both the l etters about you and g1 v e the m up to

.
,
’
n o o ne They are o f the last i mportance t o you r mistress s
.

’
i nte rests .

F anny put th e lette rs i nto th e bo s om o f he r d res s The re .

they shall stop miss sh e said ti ll I have don e what yo u tell

, ,
’
,

me .
’

M ind you are at the statio n i n good time to morrow -

mo rni ng I conti nue d And wh en you see the h ou seke epe r

,
’
.
,

at L im m eridge give h e r my complimen ts and say that yo u , ,

are in my s ervi c e u ntil Lady Glyde i s abl e to take you back .

We may meet agai n s oone r than you thin k S o keep a goo d .

’ ’
heart an d don t mi s s th e seve n o cl ock t rain
,
’
.

Than k you mis s — than k you ki ndly I t give s on e c ourage

,
.

to hear you r voi ce again Please to o ff e r my duty to my .

.

lady ; an d say I left al l th e things as tidy as I coul d i n th e

time Oh dear dear wh o will dres s h e r fo r di n ne r to day
.
,
-

’
I t really breaks my heart mi ss t o thin k o f i t , , .

Whe n I got back to th e h ouse I had on ly a quarte r of a n ,

hour to spare to put myself in o rd e r fo r di nn e r a nd to say

, ,

two word s to Laura before I we n t d own s tai rs - .

The lette rs are in Fanny s hands I wh ispe red t o he r at ’

,
’
,

the door D o yo u mean to j oi n u s at di nne r

.

Oh n o n o — n ot fo r the world
, ,

H as anythi ng happened H as anyon e di sturbed

you ? ’

Ye s — jus t n ow— S i r P e rcival

D id h e come in
No he frighten ed m e by a thu mp o n th e d oor outside , .

’
I said Wh o s the re Y o u know he an swe re d Wi ll
“

.
, ,

a nd tell
yo u alte r you r mi nd me the rest Yo u shal l ,

S oone r o r late r I ll wri ng i t o u t o f yo u You know whe re

,
’
.

” “ ”
Ann e C a th eric k is at this m omen t ! I nde ed i n deed I, , ,
”
said , I don t You do h e called back
’
I ll crush you r
. .
’

obstinacy— mi nd that — I ll wring i t ou t of yo u H e wen t ’

away with th ose words — went away M arian hardly five

, , ,

min u tes a go .
’

27 7
 T HE W O MA N IN WH ITE
H e had n o t found An ne We were s a fe for that n ight
he had n ot fou nd h er yet .

Y o u are goi ng d own stai rs M arian ? Com e u p agai n in ,

’
the even ing .

Ye s ye s D o n t be u neasy if I am a l ittle late — I must

, .
’
,

b e careful n ot to give o ff e nce by leaving th em to o s oon .

’

The di n ner bell rang an d I haste ned away

- .

S i r Pe rcival took M adame Fo sco i nto the dinin g room ‘

-

a n d the C ou nt gave m e hi s arm H e was h o t an d flu shed .

,

and was n o t d re ssed wi th hi s customary care an d completen ess .

H ad he too bee n o u t before d in n er a n d bee n late in getting

, , ,

back ? o r w a s h e only su ffe rin g from the h eat a little more

s eve re ly than usual ?
H oweve r th is might be h e was u n qu estionably troubled ,

by s ome secret ann oyan ce o r an xiety which with all h is , ,

powers of decepti on he was n ot able enti rely to conc eal ,

.

Through the wh ole of di nne r he was almost a s silent a s S i r ,

Pe rcival h im self ; an d he every n ow an d then l ooked at hi s

’

, ,

wife with a n exp re ssi on of fu rtive u neasiness which was ,

quite n ew in my expe rie nce o f hi m The on e social obligati on .

which h e se em ed t o b e self posse ssed e n ough t o p erfo rm a s - e

carefully as eve r w a s the obligation o f be in g p e rsistently civi l

,

and atten tive to m e What vile obj ect he h a s 1 n V i ew I c a n

.
,

n ot sti ll di scove r ; but be the de sign wh at it may i n v ariabl e ,

‘

politene s s towards myse lf i nv ari able humility toward s Lau ra , ,

a n d invari able supp res si on (at any cost ) of S i r Pe rcival s ’

clu msy vi ole nce h ave bee n th e m ean s h e h a s res olutel y an d

,

i mpen etrably u sed to get t o h is en d eve r s in ce he set foot in ,

this h ou se I suspe cted i t w h e n h e fi rst i nterfere d i n o u r

.
,

favou r on the day whe n th e dee d was produ ced i n the library
, ,

and I fee l ce rtain of it n ow , .

Whe n M adame Fosc o an d I ro se to l ea v e the table , th e

Coun t ro se als o to accomp any u s back to th e d rawing room -
.

What are you going away for asked S i r Pe rcival I

m ean y ou Fosco , .
’

I am going away b ecau se I have had din n e r en ough an d , ,

wi n e en ough an swe red th e Cou nt

,
’
B e s o ki nd P ercival .
, ,

as to make all owan ces for my fo reign h abit o f goin g o u t with

the ladi e s as well as comi ng i n with th em
, .
’

N on se n se ! A nothe r glass o f cla ret w on t h urt yo u ’ '

S it down agai n like a n E nglish man I w an t half a n h ou rs .

’

quiet tal k with you ove r o u r w i n e .

’

A qu ie t talk Pe rcival with all my h eart bu t no t n ow

, , , ,

a n d n ot ove r the wi n e Late r 1 n the eveni ng if you pl e ase —

.
1

late r 1 n th e eveni ng .
’
 T H E WO MAN I N WH IT E
a re quest for a c u p o f tea I gave hi m th e c u p o f tea ; an d
.

t ried a secon d time to get away H e stoppe d me agai n .

thi s time by going back to the pian o an d sudde nly appealing

, ,

t o m e o n a mu sical questio n in which he dec lare d that the

honou r of hi s cou ntry was co nce rned .

I v a inly pleade d my o w n total ignoran ce o f mu sic an d ,

total wan t of taste i n that direction H e only appeale d to .

m e agai n with a veheme nce which set al l furthe r prote st o n

‘
my part at defiance The Engli sh and the Ge rman s (he
.
’

‘
i ndignantly declared ) we re always reviling the I talian s fo r
the ir i nability to cultivate the h ighe r kin ds o f m usi c We .

were pe rpetu ally talkin g o f o u r O ratori o s ; and they were

pe rpetually tal ki ng o f thei r Symph onie s D i d we fo rge t an d .

di d th ey forge t hi s im mortal frien d an d c ou ntryman Ro ssin i ? ,

”
What was M o se s in Egypt but a sublime o ratori o wh ich , ,

was acte d o n th e stage in stead o f bei ng coldly sung in a

,
“ ”
conce rt room - What was th e ove rtu re to Gu illaum e Tell ,

b ut a sym ph ony u nd e r an o th e r n ame ? H ad I h ea rd M os e s

”
i n Egypt ? Woul d I l i ste n to thi s an d this an d thi s a n d , , ,

sa y if anythin g m ore su bli me ly sacred an d gran d had eve r

b ee n co mpose d by m ortal m a n — And withou t waiting fo r ,

a wo rd o f asse nt o r di ssent on my part loo king m e hard i n ,

the face all th e time h e began thu nde ri ng o n th e pian o a n d

, ,

si ngi ng to i t wi th lou d a nd lofty e nthusiasm on ly i nte rrup t

ing him self at i n te rval s t o ann ou nce to m e fi erc ely th e ti tle s
, ,
‘
o f th e di ff ere nt piece s of m u sic : Cho ru s o f Egyptians i n ,

the Plagu e o f D arkness M i s s H alcomb e , Reci tativo o f

M ose s with the tabl e s of th e Law
,
P rayer o f I srae lite s at
.
’

th e passage o f the Red S ea Aha ! Aha ! I s th at sac red ?

i s that s ublime Th e pian o trembled u nde r hi s powe rful
ha nds and the teacup s o n the tabl e rattled as his big b a s s ,

voice thu nde red o u t the n otes an d hi s heavy foot beat time ,

o n th e fl oor .

The re was s omething h o rribl e — somethin g fie rce an d

devi lish in th e outbu rst o f h i s deligh t at hi s o w n singing and
,

playin g an d in th e triumph with which h e watch ed i ts e ff ect

,

u pon me as I sh ran k neare r an d neare r to the door I was

,
.

released at l ast n o t by my o w n eff orts but by S i r Pe rcival s

, , ,
’

i nterp osition H e open e d th e dining room doo r and called

.
-
,

o u t angrily to know wh at that infernal n ois e mean t Th e .

Cou nt i n stantly got up from th e pian o Ah i f Pe rcival i s .

‘
c oming h e said harmony an d mel ody are b oth at an en d
,
’
, .

Th e M u se o f M usic M is s H alcombe de serts u s i n di smay ;

, ,

an d I th e fat o ld min strel exh al e the re st o f my e nthu sias m

, ,

i n th e open ai r H e stal ke d o u t i nto th e ve randah , put hi s

28 0
 TH E WO M A N I N WH I T E
h ands in hi s p ocke ts a nd resu med th e R eci tati v o of M o ses , ,
’

sotto v oce i n th e garden , .

I h ea rd S i r Pe rcival call afte r h i m fro m th e din i ng roo m -

wi ndow B ut h e to ok n o n otice h e see med dete rmin ed n ot

.

to h e a r That l ong defe rre d q uie t tal k be twee n the m was

.
-

still to be put o ff was still to wai t for th e C ou n t s abso lute

, ,
’

wi ll and ple asu re .

H e h ad detai ned m e in th e d rawin g roo m n early h alf a n -

h ou r fro m th e ti me wh e n h i s wi fe l eft u s Whe re h ad sh e .

bee n a n d wh at had sh e bee n d oi ng in th at i n terval ?

,

I we n t u p stai rs to asce rtain bu t I m ade n o d iscove ri e s

-
,

a n d whe n I q u es tio ned Lau ra I fou nd that sh e had n ot h eard ,

anything N obody h ad di s turbe d h e r— n o fai nt ru stli ng of

.

th e sil k d i e s s h ad been au dibl e e i th e r i n the an te roo m o r i n ,

-

the passage .

I t was the n twenty m inu te s to n i ne Afte r goi ng to my .

roo m to ge t my j ou rnal I re tu rn ed a nd sa t with Lau ra ; , ,

so meti mes writi ng someti me s s toppi ng to tal k with he r , .

N obody came n ear u s a nd n othin g happened We remai ne d , .

togethe r till ten o cl ock I th en rose sai d my las t ch ee rin g

’
.
,

wo rds an d wi sh ed h e r goo d n igh t

, S h e locked h e r d oo r .

a ai n afte r we ha d arranged th at I should co me in and see

g
,

h e r the fi rst thi ng in th e m orn i n g .

I h ad a few senten ce s mo re to add t o my diary be fo re

oi n to be d myself a nd as I we nt down agai n to th e
g g , ,

d 1 aw i ng roo m afte r leavi n g Lau ra

- for th e last t i me that ,

weary day I resolve d me rely to sh ow myself th e re t o m ake

, ,

my excuses and the n t o re ti re a n h ou r e arli e r than u sual fo r

, ,

th e n igh t .

S i r Pe rcival an d th e C oun t an d hi s wife we re sitting

, ,

togethe r S i r Pe rcival was yawnin g in a n e asy chai r ; th e

.
-

C ou nt w a s reading ; M adame Fo sco was fann i n g he rs elf .

S trange to say h er face was fl ush ed n ow , S he w h o n eve r , .

,

s u ff e red fro m th e h eat was mo st u ndoubtedly su ffe ri n g fro m ,

i t to night
- .

‘I am afraid C ou nte ss yo u are n ot qui te s o well a s

, ,

u sual ? I said ’
.

‘Th e ve ry re mark I was abou t to make to

y ou sh e ,
’

replied Y o u are lo oking pale my dear

.
, .
’

My de ar ! I t was th e fi rst ti me sh e had eve r addre sse d

me with that fami liarity The re w a s an i n sole n t smile to o , ,

o n he r face whe n sh e said th e wo rds , .

‘
I am su ff e rin g from o n e o f my bad he adac h es I ,
’

a n swe red coldly , .

‘Ah i ndeed ? Want o f exerci se , I suppose ? A walk

,

28 1
 T H E WO M AN I N WH I T E
’
before di n ne r would have be en j u st the thi ng fo r you S he .

‘
refe rred to the wal k with a s tran ge e mphasi s H ad sh e ’
.

see n me go o u t ? N o matte r i f sh e h ad T he lette rs we re .

safe n ow i n Fanny s h ands ,

’
.

‘
C om e an d have a sm oke F osco said S i r Pe rc i v al
, , ,
’
,

ri sin g with another u neasy loo k at hi s frie nd

, .

‘
With pleasure Pe rcival whe n th e l adie s have gon e to , ,

bed replie d the Coun t

,
’
.

‘
Excuse m e C oun te ss if I se t yo u th e exam ple o f re
, ,
‘
ti ri ng I said ,
’
The o n ly re medy fo r such a headach e as
.

mi n e i s goin g to bed .
’

I too k my leave Th e re w a s th e same i ns ole nt s mile o n .

’
the woman s face whe n I sh oo k h an d s with h e r S i r Pe rcival .

paid n o atten tion t o m e H e was l o oki n g i mpatiently at .

M adame Fosco wh o sh owe d n o sign s of l e avi ng th e room

,

with m e Th e C oun t s miled to h imself behi n d h i s b o ok

. .

The re w a s yet an othe r delay to that quie t talk with S i r

Pe rcival —an d th e C ou nte s s was th e impedime nt thi s ti me .

J U N E t oth —O nce safely shut i nto my o w n room I open ed

.
,

the se pages an d p re pared to go o n with that part of th e day s

,
’

record wh ich was still l eft to write .

F o r te n m in ute s o r m ore I sa t idle wi th th e pe n in my ,

h and thin kin g ove r th e events of the last twelve h ou rs

,
.

‘
Wh en I a t last add res sed myself to my t ask I fou n d a di hi ,

c u lty 1 n p roce edin g with i t which I h ad n eve r experie nced

b efo re I n spite o f my e ff orts to fix my th oughts o n th e
.

matter in han d they wande re d away with th e stran gest

, ,

pe rsi ste n cy i n th e on e di recti on o f S i r Pe rcival and th e Coun t ;

,

a n d all th e i nte re st whi ch I trie d to con cen trate o n my j ou rnal

’

c en tred i n ste ad i n that p rivate i nte rvi ew between them

, , ,

which had bee n put o ff all t h rou gh the day an d which wa s ,

n ow to take place in th e sile n ce a n d solitude o f the nigh t .

I n thi s pe rve rs e state of my min d th e recol lecti on of what ,

h ad passed since the morn i n g woul d n ot come back to m e

an d th ere was n o resou rce bu t to cl ose my j ou rnal and to get
away from i t fo r a little wh ile .

I o p en ed the do or which led from my bedroom i nto my

_

si tting room an d h avi n g passed th rough pulle d i t to again

-
, , , ,

to p reve nt any accide nt i n case o f d raught with the candle , ,

left o n the d re ssi ng table My sitt i ng room win do w was -

.
-

wide ope n and I leaned o ut, li stle ssly to look at th e ,

n igh t .

28 2
 T H E WO MAN I N W H I T E

yo u give the wome n o ne othe r chance o n my sac red wo rd o f ,

’
h onou r they wi ll push yo u ove r it .

What th e devil d o yo u me an
‘
We will come to ou r explanati on s Pe rcival when the , ,

light i s o u t o f that window a n d wh e n I h ave had o n e little ,

l ook at the room s o n each side o f the li brary and a p ee p at ,

the s tai rcas e a s wel l .

’

T hey sl owly m ove d away and th e re st o f th e conve rsa

tion betwee n them (which had bee n con ducted th roughou t , ,

in the same l ow t one s ) ceased t o be audi ble I t was n o .

matte r I had heard e n ou gh t o dete rmi ne me o n ju stifyi ng

.

th e Cou nt s O pi nio n o f my sharpn e s s and my courage

’
B efo re .

the re d sparks we re ou t o f sight in the darkn ess I h ad mad e ,

u p my mi nd that the re sh oul d be a listen e r whe n th ose two

m en sat down to thei r tal k — an d that th e li sten e r in spite of ,

al l the Coun t s p recauti on s t o the contrary sh ou ld be myself

’
, .

I wante d but o n e m otive t o san cti o n the act to my o w n c o n

science an d to give me cou rage e n ough fo r pe rfo rmi ng i t ;
,

and th at m otive I had Lau ra s hon ou r Lau ra s happin e ss

.
’

,
’

Laura s life itself— mi gh t depe nd o n my quick e ars an d my

’

fai thful memory to nigh t ,

- .

I had heart the Cou nt say that he meant to examine th e

ro oms o n each side of the li brary an d th e stai rcase as well , ,

befo re h e e ntered o n any explanati on wi th S i r Pe rcival Thi s .

expre ssi on o f h is i nten ti on s was n ece ssari ly su fficie nt to in .

form m e that the li brary was th e roo m in which he propose d

that the conve rsation should take place The o ne mome nt o f .

time which was l on g e nough to bring m e to that c onclusi on ,

wa s also the m om ent wh ich showe d m e a mean s o f ba fll ing

h i s precautions — o r in othe r wo rd s o f h earing what he and
, ,

S i r Pe rcival said to each othe r with out the ri s k o f de sce ndin g ,

at all i nto th e lowe r regio n s o f th e h ou se .

I n speakin g o f the room s o n th e grou n d fl oo r I have ,

menti one d i n ciden tally th e ve ran dah outside them o n whi ch ,

they all ope ne d by mean s of F re nch wi ndows exte ndin g from ,

th e corn ice to th e fl oo r The top o f thi s ve ran dah was flat ;

.

th e rai n wate r bei n g carri ed o ff from i t by pipe s i nt o tan k s

-
, ,

which helpe d to supply the h ou se O n the narrow leade n .

roof which ran alon g past the be droom s and which was
, ,

rathe r less I sh ould thi n k than th ree feet bel ow th e sill s o f

, ,

th e win dows a row o f fl o w er p ots was ranged with wi de

,
‘

-
,

i nte rvals betwee n each p ot ; th e wh ole b ei ng p rote cted fro m

fallin g i n high w inds by an ornamental i ron raili ng along the
, ,

edge o f the roof .

The plan which had n o w occurre d to m e was to get o ut

28 4
 TH E WO MAN I N W H I T E

a t my sitting room wi ndow o n to thi s ro of ; to c reep alon g

-
,

n oiselessly till I reached that part o f i t which was im mediately

,

ove r the libra ry wind ow ; a n d to c rouch down betwee n the

flower pots with my e ar agai n st the oute r raili ng I f S i r
-
,
.

Pe rcival a n d the Cou nt sat a n d s moke d to night as I h ad -

,

seen them si tti n g an d sm oki ng many nights before wi th thei r ,

chai rs close at the O pe n wi ndow an d thei r feet stre tch ed o n ,

the zi nc garden seats which we re place d u nde r th e ve randah ,

eve ry wo rd they sai d t o each othe r above a whi spe r (an d n o

l on g conve rsati on as we al l kn ow by expe rie nce c a n b e
, ,

carrie d o n i n a whi spe r ) mu s t i nevitably re ach my e ars If .

,

o n the othe r hand they ch o se to night to si t fa r bac k i n side

, ,
-
,

the room the n the chance s w e re that I sh oul d hear li ttl e 0 1

,

n othi ng ; a n d in that case I mus t ru n th e far m ore s eri ou s

, ,

ri sk of tryi n g to outwi t the m d own stai rs - .

S tro ngly as I was fortifie d i n my re soluti o n by th e de spe rate

nature o f ou r situ ation I h ope d mos t fe rve ntly that I migh t
,
’
e scape thi s last eme rge ncy My cou rage was only a woman s .

c ou rage afte r all ; a n d i t was ve ry n ea r t o failin g m e wh e n

, ,

I thought o f t ru sti n g myself o n th e grou n d floo r at th e dead , ,

o f n ight withi n reach o f S i r Pe rcival an d th e Cou nt

,
.

I we n t softly back to my bedroom to try th e safe r exp eri ,

men t o f the ve ran dah roof fi rs t , .

A complete change in my d re s s was impe rative ly n ece ssary ,

fo r many reason s I took o ff my sil k gown to begi n with

.
,

be cau se the slightes t n oi se from it o n th at stil l n ight migh t , ,

have betrayed m e I next re move d the white a n d cumbe rsom e

.

parts o f my u nde rclothin g an d re place d the m by a pe tticoat ,

o f dark flan ne l O ve r thi s I pu t my blac k t ravellin g cl oak

.
, ,

and pulle d th e h ood o n to my he ad I n my o rdi nary eve nin g .

c ostum e I to ok u p the room o f three m en at l ea st I n my .

p resen t dre ss whe n it was hel d close ab out me n o m a n could

, ,

have passe d th rough the n arrowest space s mo re easily than I .

Th e li ttle breadth left o n the roof o f the ve randah be twee n th e ,

fl o w er pots on o n e side an d the wall an d the wi n dows O f the

-

h ouse o n th e othe r made thi s a se riou s con si de ra ti on

, If I .

knocked anythi ng down if I m ade the leas t n oi se w h o co ul d

, ,

sa
y what th e con se que n ce s migh t be
I only wai ted to put the matches n ea r th e can dle befo re I
exti ngui shed i t an d grope d my way bac k i n to the s itt i n g room
,
- .

I l ocke d that d oo r as I had l ocke d my be dro om doo r— then

,

qui etly got ou t o f th e win dow a nd cauti ou sly set my feet o n ,

t he leaden roof o f the ve ran dah .

My tw o room s we re at the in ne r e xtre mity o f the new wi ng

o f the hou se in which we all live d ; an d I had five wi nd ows to

28 5
 T H E WO M AN I N WH I T E

pass before I coul d reach the po siti on it was n eces sary to take
u p i mme diately o ve r th e library T he fi rst window belonge d .

t o a spare room which was empty The s econ d an d thi rd

,
.

win dows belon ged to Lau ra s ro om Th e fourth window ’

. .

belonged to S i r Pe rcival s ro om Th e fifth belon ged to th e ’

.

C ounte s s s room The o t he rs by which i t was n ot n ecessary

’
.
,

for m e to pas s we re the wind ows of th e Coun t s dressin g room

,
’
-
,

o f the bath room -

a n d of the secon d empty spare room
,
.

N o soun d reach ed my ear s— the b lack blin din g darkne s s Of

th e n igh t w a s all roun d m e when I first stood o n the ve randah ,

excep t at that part of i t which M adame Fo sco s wi ndow ove r ’

l ooked Th e re a t th e ve ry place ab ove th e l ibrary to wh ich

.
, ,

my cou rse was di rected — the re I saw a gleam of light ! Th e

Counte ss was n ot ye t in b ed .

I t was too late to draw back i t w a s n o tim et o wai t I dete r .

mine d to go o n at all h a z ards an d t r ust fo r security to my o w n ,

caution a n d to the dark ne ss o f th e n igh t F o r Laura s sake .

’

I thought to myself as I took the fi rst ste p forward o n th e

,

roof with o n e h an d h ol di n g my cloak close roun d me a nd

, ,

th e othe r g ropi ng agai nst the wall O f th e h ou se I t was bette r .

to b rush close by the wall than to ri sk stri ki ng my fee t agai ns t

the fl owe r pots with i n a few in che s of me 0 11 th e othe r side
-
, , .

I passed th e dark wi n dow o f the spare room trying th e ,

leade n roof at each s tep with my foot before I ri sked re sting

, , ,

my weight o n it I passed the dark wi ndows o f Lau ra s room

.
’

G o d bles s he r a n d keep he r to n ight I pas sed the dark -

wi ndow o f S i r Pe rcival s room Then I waite d a m omen t

’
.
, ,

k nel t down wi th my hands to support me ; a n d so Crept to

,

my p osition u n de r the p rote ction o f th e l ow wall betwee n th e

,

b ottom of the ligh ted wi ndow a n d the ve randah roof .

When I ve ntu re d to l ook u p at th e wi ndow i tself I foun d ,

th at the top of i t only w e5 open a n d that the blind i n side was ,

d rawn down While I w as l ooking I sa w the shadow o f

.

M a dame F o sco p ass a cros s th e white field o f the bli nd — the n

pass slowly back agai n Thu s far she could n o t h ave h eard
.
,
“

m e — o r th e shadow woul d surely h ave stoppe d at th e blind ,

eve n if sh e had wanted courage e nough to O pe n the win dow ,

an d loo k o u t .

I placed myself si deways agai nst th e railin g o f the veran

dah fi rst asce rtain in g by touching them the position o f
, ,

the fl o w er p o ts o n e ithe r side of m e The re was roo m e nough

-
.

fo r m e to si t between them an d n o mo re The swe et scente d , .

-

le ave s of the fl owe r on my l eft h an d ju st bru shed my che ek as

I lightly reste d my head again st the railin g .

The fi rst sou n ds that reached m e f1 om bel ow we re ca u se d

28 6
 TH E WO MAN I N W H ITE

whole i nte re st fixe d b reathles sly o n the conve rsati on ; and I

followe d i t word fo r wo rd .

’
Cri si s repeate d S i r Pe rcival I t s a worse cri si s than .

yo u thin k fo r I c a n tell y o u
’
.
,

8 0 1 should suppose from you r beh avi ou r for th e la st ,

’
day o r two retu rned the othe r coolly
, B ut wai t a little , . .

B efore we advance to what I d o no t kn ow le t u s be quite c er ,

tai n o f what I do kn ow Let u s fi rs t see if I am right ab out .

th e time that i s past before I make any p ropo sal to yo u fo r

,
’
the time that i s to come .

S top till I get th e brandy an d wate r H ave s ome yo u r .

Than k yo u Pe rcival Th e col d wate r with pleasu re

,
.
,

a spoon an d the basi n o f sugar Eau sucr é e my frien d

,
.
,
’
n othin g more .

S ugar an d wate r fo r a m a n o f you r age — There mi x,

you r sickly m ess Y o u foreign ers are all alike . .

’

N o w li sten Percival
, I will put o u r positio n plainly be
, .

fore you as I un de rstan d it ; an d yo u shall say if I am righ t

,

o r wrong . You an d I both came back to thi s h ou se from th e

Conti nen t wi th o u r a ffai rs ve ry seriou sly em barrassed
,

C ut i t sh ort ! I wanted som e thou sands and yo u som e ,

h u n dreds — a n d with ou t th e mon ey we were both i n a fai r

, ,
’
way to go to th e dogs togethe r There s th e si tuati on . .

’
M ake what yo u c a n o f i t G o o n . .

‘
Well Percival in you r o w n soli d E n gli sh words yo u
, , ,

wanted s om e th ou san ds a n d I wanted s ome hu ndre ds ; an d

th e on ly way o f getti ng the m was for yo u to rais e th e mon ey
for you r o w n n eces si ty (with a small margin beyond fo r my , ,

p oo r littl e hu n dre ds ) by th e h elp o f your wife Wha t did I

, .

tell yo u about your wife o n o u r way to E nglan d and what

di d I tell yo u again wh e n we had come h ere an d whe n I had
, , .

see n for myself th e s ort o f woman M is s H alcomb e was

Ho w s hould I kn ow Y o u talke d n in etee n to the dozen ,
’
I su ppo se j ust as usu al
,
.

‘
I sai d thi s : H uman i ngenuity my frien d h as h ithe rto , ,

only discovered two ways in which a man can manage a woman .

O n e way i s to k nock her down — a meth od largely adopted by

the brutal lowe r o rde rs o f th e people but u tterly abh orren t to ,

th e refined an d e ducated clas ses above them The othe r way .

(much lon ger much more di fficult but i n th e e nd n ot les s

, , , ,

cert ai n ) i s n eve r to accept a p rovocatio n at a woman s h ands ’

.

I t holds with animals it h olds with children an d it holds with

, ,

women wh o are n oth ing but childre n grown u p

, Q ui et reso .

lutio n i s the o n e quali ty the animal s the c hildre n , a n d th e ,

28 8
 T H E WO MAN I N WH I TE
wome n all fai l i n I f they c a n once sha ke thi s su pe ri or .

quality in th ei r master th ey get th e bette r of iz z m I f they

'

, .

c a n n eve r succeed i n di sturbing i t h e gets the bette r of th em , .

I said to you Remembe r that plai n truth wh e n yo u wan t

, ,

y ou r wife to help you to th e m oney I said Remembe r i t .

,

doubly and tre bly in th e p res ence of you r wife s si ste r M i s s

,
’

H alcombe H ave you remembe red it P N ot o nce in all th e

.
,

complicati on s that h ave twisted th emselve s abou t u s i n thi s

h ous e Eve ry p rovocati on that you r wife a n d he r sister could
.

o ff e r to you you i ns tantly accepte d fro m th em You r mad

, .

temper lost the sign ature t o th e deed lost th e ready m oney , ,

se t M i s s H alcombe writin g to th e lawye r for th e fi rst

time
Fi rst ti me P H as sh e wri tte n again
Ye s ; sh e has writte n agai n to day - .
’

A chai r fell o n the pave ment of th e veran dah — fel l wi th a

crash as i f i t had bee n kicked d own
, .

I t was wel l for me th at th e Coun t s reve latio n rouse d S i r ’

Percival s an ge r as i t did O n heari ng th a t I had bee n on ce

’
.

more dis cove red I started s o that the rai lin g agai n st which
,

I leaned cracke d a gain , H ad h e followe d m e t o th e inn ? .

D id h e i nfe r that I mu st h ave give n my letters to Fan ny

when I told hi m I h ad non e for the p o st bag ? Eve n i f i t -

was s o how coul d h e have examine d the letters wh e n they

, ,

had go ne straight from my h and to the bo som of the gi rl s ’

d res s
‘
Than k you r lucky star I heard the Cou nt s ay next that ,
’
,

you h ave m e in th e h ouse to u ndo the harm as fast as you , ,

do it . Than k you r lucky star that I sai d N o whe n yo u we re , ,

mad en ough to tal k o f turn in g the ke y to day o n M iss -

H alcombe as you tu rned i t in you r m ischievou s folly o n you r

,

wife Where are you r eye s C a n you l ook at M i s s H alc ombe

.
,

a n d n ot s ee that sh e h a s th e foresight a n d the res oluti on o f a

With that woman for my frie n d I would s nap thes e
'

m an ,

fingers of min e at the world With th at woman fo r my .

e nemy I with all my b rai ns an d expe ri e nce — I F osco cun

, , , ,

n i ng as th e devi l hi mself as you h ave told m e a hu n dre d ,

ti me s — I walk in your En glish ph rase u po n egg shells And

, ,
-

th is gran d c reatu re — I drin k he r health in my su ga r an d

wate r— thi s gran d c reatu re wh o s tands in th e stre ngth of h e r ,

love a n d h e r c ou rage fi rm as a rock betwee n u s two a n d th at

, ,

poo r flimsy p retty blonde w ife o f yours — thi s magnificen t

woman w h o m I admi re with all my s oul th ou gh I opp os e
, ,

her in you r in te rests and in mi ne yo u d rive to extremities as , ,

as if she w a s n o sh arpe r a nd n o bolde r than the rest o f her

28 !
_
9
 TH E W O M AN I N W H I TE
sex . Pe rci v al ! Pe rcival ! you de serve t o fai l an d you , h a ve
’
failed .

fi
’
The re was a pau se I write th e villai n s word s about .

fi fi
myself becau se I m ean to remembe r the m ; becau se I h op e
‘

yet fo r th e day whe n I may speak o u t onc e for all in hi s

p rese n ce an d cast the m back o n e by o n e i n h i s te eth
, , , .

S i r Pe rcival w a s th e fi rs t t o b re ak th e sile nce again .

‘
Ye s yes ; b ully an d blu ste r as much as yo u li ke h e
, ,
’

said s ul kily ; the di f c ulty abou t the m on ey i s n ot th e only

,

di f c ulty You woul d be for taking stron g measu re s wi th

.

th e women you rself— if yo u knew as m uch as I do

,
.
’

’
We will com e to th at sec ond di f c ulty all i n go od ti me , ,
‘
rej oi ne d th e Cou nt You m ay co nfuse you rself Pe rcival
.
, ,

a s much as you please bu t you shall n o t confuse me , Le t .

th e questi on o f th e m on ey b e settle d fi rst H ave I c o n .

v in c ed you r o bsti nacy ? have I sh own you that you r tempe r

wi ll n ot let you h el p you rself ? O r m us t I go back a n d (as ,

you p ut i t in you r d ear strai ghtforward E nglish ) bully a nd

bluste r a little mo re
‘
Pooh ! I t s easy e n ough t o grumble at m e S ay wh at
’
.

i s t o be do n e — th at s a littl e h arde r ’
.
’

‘
I s it ? B ah ! This i s wh at is t o b e don e : You give
u p all di recti on in the bu si ne ss from to night ; you leave i t -

fo r the futu re i n my han ds o nly I am talki n g to a P ra c .

tical B ritish m an — h a ? Well Practical will th at do fo r , ,

you
What d o you p rop ose if I leave it all t o you ,

Answe r me fi rst I s i t t o be i n my hands o r n ot P

.

S ay i t i s in you r han ds — wh at the n 9

A few que sti on s Pe rcival to begi n W 1 th ,I mu st wai t a , .

l ittle yet t o l et ci rcumstan ce s gui de me ; a n d I m us t kn ow

, , ,

i n eve ry p os si ble way wh at th ose ci rcu mstance s are li kely to

,

be The re i s n o time to lo se
. I have tol d you al ready that .

M i ss H alcomb e has writte n t o the lawye r to day fo r the -

,

secon d time .
’

H o w did yo u fin d i t o u t Wh at di d she say

I f I told you Pe rcival we sh ould on ly come back at th e
, ,

e n d to whe re we are n ow E n ough that I have fou nd it o u t .

—a n d the fi n din g has cau sed th at trouble an d anxiety which

made m e se i nacce ssible to you al l th rough to day N ow t o
.
- .
,

re fre sh my mem ory about you r a ff ai rs — it i s s ome ti me si nce

I tal ke d the m over with you The m oney has been rai sed .
,

i n th e abse nce of you r wife s signature by m ean s o f bi lls at ’

,

th ree mon th s — rai sed at a cost th at make s my pove rty stricke n -

foreign hai r stan d o n e n d t o thin k of it When the bills a re

2
90
 T HE WO M AN IN W H I TE

Paid down
’
Paid down .

They we re s ilen t on ce more As th e i r voice s ceased .

,

M adame F osco s shadow darke ne d th e blin d agai n

’
I nstead .

o f pa s sin g thi s time i t remai ned fo r a moment quite still

, , , .

I saw he r fi n ge rs steal rou nd the c o rn e r of th e bli nd and ,

d raw i t o n one side The dim white ou tlin e of he r face loo k

.
,

i ng ou t straigh t ove r me appeare d behi nd th e win dow I ,

.

kept still sh rou de d fro m head to foot in my black cl oak

,
.

The rai n which was fast wetti n g me dripped ove r the glas s
, , ,

blu rred i t an d preve nted h er from seei n g anyth in g

,
Mo re .

rai n ! I heard he r sa y to h e rself S he d ropped the blin d

’
.

an d I b reathed again fre ely .

The talk wen t o n b elow me the Cou n t re suming i t thi s ,

tim e.

Pe rcival d o yo u care ab out you r wife

F o sco th at s rath e r a down righ t que stion
’
.

’
I am a down righ t man an d I repeat it .

Why the devil d o you l ook at me i n that way

‘
Y o u won t an swe r me ? Well the n ; let u s say you r
’
,

wife dies before the su mme r is o u t

D rop it Fo sco ,

Le t u s sa y you r wife dies

D rop i t I tell you ,

I n that case you would gai n twe nty thousand po u n ds

,

an d you would lose

I sh ould los e th e chance o f th re e th ou san d a yea r .
’

‘
T he f em al e ch an ce Pe rcival — th e rem ote chanc e o nly , .

And y o u want m on ey at o nce I n you r p osition the gain i s .

,

ce rtai n —th e l oss doubtful .

’

S peak fo r you rs elf as w ell as fo r m e S ome o f th e .

m oney I wan t has been b orrowe d fo r y ou An d if you come .

to gain my wife s de ath woul d be ten th ou san d poun ds in

,
’

y ou r wife s p ocket S harp as you are yo u seem to have

’ -
.
,

conve n ie ntly forgotte n M adame F osc o s l egacy D on t l ook ’

.
’

at m e in that way I won t have i t ! What with you r l ook s ’

an d you r que stion s u po n my s ou l yo u make my fl esh creep

, ,
‘
You r fle sh ? D oes fl e sh mean con scien ce in E nglish ?
I speak o f you r wife s death as I speak o f a possibi li ty ’

, .

Why n o t ? The respectable lawye rs wh o scri bb le sc r a bble -

you r d ee ds a nd you r wills l ook th e death s o f livin g people in ,

th e face D o l awye rs make you r fle sh creep

. Why sh ould
I I t i s my bu sin ess to night to clear u p you r position -
,

beyon d the possibility o f mi stake — a nd I have n ow don e it .

H e re i s y ou r positi on I f you r wife lives you pay th e se bills

.
,

2
9 2
 T H E WO MAN I N W H ITE
with he r signatu re to the parchme n t I f you r wife die s you .
,

p ay the m with he r death .

’

’
A s h e spoke th e light i n Madame Fo sco s room was
,

extin gui she d ; an d the wh ole secon d fl oo r of the hou se was

n ow sun k in darkne ss .

Talk tal k grumbled S i r Pe rcival O n e would th i nk .

,

t o h ear you that my wife s signatu re t o the deed was get

,
’

alre ady .
’

Yo u have left th e matte r i n my hand s retorted the ,

’

fi
Co u n t an d I have more than two month s befo re me to tu rn
rou nd in S ay n o m o re about it if you please fo r th e pre sen t
.
, ,
.

When the bi lls are due yo u will see fo r you rself if my tal k ,

tal k i s wo rth something o r if it i s n ot An d n ow Pe rcival ,

.
, ,

havin g d on e wi th the m oney matte rs fo r to n igh t I c a n place - -

,

my attentio n at you r di sposal if you wi sh to con sult m e o n that ,

se con d di f c ulty which has mixe d itself u p with o u r little

e mbarrassme nts a nd whi ch has s o alte red you for the worse
, ,

that I hardly kn ow you agai n S peak my friend — an d .

,

pardon me i f I sh ock you r fie ry nati onal taste s by mixing

myself a secon d glass o f su gar a n d wate r .
’

I t s ve ry well to say speak replied S i r Pe rcival in a far

’
,
’
,

mo re qu ie t an d m ore p olite t on e th an he had ye t adopte d ;

’
but i t s n o t so easy t o know how to b egi n
’
.

S hall I help you ? su gge sted th e Coun t S hall I give .

th i s p rivate di ffi culty o f you rs a n am e What if I call it ,

Ann e C a th eric k
Lo ok he re Fosco yo u a n d I have kn own each othe r fo r
, ,

a long time ; and if you have hel ped me o u t of on e o r tw o

,

scrape s befo re thi s I have do ne the be st I coul d t o help you

,

i n retu rn as far as mon ey w ou ld go

, We h ave made as .

many frie ndly sacrifice s o n both si de s as m en cou ld bu t we , ,

have had o u r se crets fro m each othe r of cou rse — haven t ,

’

we
‘
You have had a secre t from m e Pe rcival T he re i s a , .

skeleton in you r cupboard h e re at B lac kwate r Park that h as

peeped o u t in the se last few days at othe r p eopl e be side s
, ,

you rself .
’

‘
Well suppose it has ,
I f i t d oesn t co n ce rn you you .
’
,

needn t be cu ri ou s about it need you

’
,

D o I look cu riou s about it

Y es you do
’
.
,
‘
S o ! s o ! my face sp eaks the truth the n ? What an ,

i mmen se fou n dati on o f go od the re mu st be i n th e n atu re of a

man who arrive s at my age an d whose face has n ot yet l ost ,

the habit o f speaking th e truth —Co me Glyde ! let u s be ,

29 3
 T H E WO MAN I N W H I T E
c andid o ne wi th the othe r Thi s se cre t o f yours has sough t .

me I have n ot sough t i t Let u s say I am curi ou s — do yo u

.

a sk m e ,
as you r o ld fri end to respect you r secret and to , ,
’
leave it on ce for all in you r o w n keeping ?
, ,

Y es— that s jus t what I d o ask

’ ’
.

The n my cu ri osity i s at an e n d I t dies in m e from this .

,

m omen t .
’

D o you really mean that

What make s you d oubt me
‘
I have h ad some expe rie nce Fo sco o f you r rou ndabout , ,

ways ; and I am n ot s o su re that you won t w o rm i t out o f ’

m e afte r all .
’

The chai r below suddenly creaked agai n — I felt th e trelli s

work pillar u nde r m e shake from top to bottom The Count .

had started to hi s feet a n d had struck i t with h i s han d in ,

i n dignatio n .

Pe rcival Pe rcival h e cried passi onately do y o u , ,

kn ow m e n o bette r than that ? H as all you r expe rien ce

S hown you n othin g o f my characte r ye t I am a m a n o f the
antiqu e type I am capable o f the m ost exalte d acts of
vi rtue — whe n I have th e chance o f pe rfo rmin g th em I t h as .

been the mi sfo rtun e of my life that I have had few ch ances .

My conception o f fri en dsh ip i s sublime I s i t my faul t that

you r s keleton has peeped o u t at me Why do I confes s my
cu riosity Y o u po o r superfi cial Englishm an it is t o magnify ,

my o w n self con trol -

I cou ld draw you r se cre t o u t o f you
.
,

if I liked as I d raw th i s fi nge r ou t of the pal m o f my hand

,

yo u kn ow I could B ut you h ave appealed to my fri endshi p

an d th e dutie s o f frie ndsh ip a re sacred to m e S ee I trample .

my bas e curi osity u nd e r my feet My exalted sentiment s .

lift m e above i t Recogni se the m .Pe rcival ! im itate them .

,

Pe rcival S hake hand s — I fo rgive yo u .

’

H i s voice faltere d ove r the last word s — falte red as if he ,

was actually shedding tears

S ir Pe rcival confusedly attempted to excuse himself But .

th e Count was too magnani mou s t o li ste n to h im .

‘ ‘
N o ! he said’
When my friend has wou nde d me I
.
,

c a n pardo n h i m withou t apologie s Tell me i n plai n words , .

,

d o yo u want my h elp
‘
Y es badly e nough
’
, .

And you c a n ask for i t with out compromi sing ou rself ?

I c a n try at any rate , .
’

’
Try the n
,
.

Well thi s i s h o w i t stand s — I told you to day that I

, ,
-
,

h a d don e my best to fin d Ann e C a th eric k and failed , .

’

29 4
 T H E W O MAN I N W H IT E
—a n i nfernal vagab on d of a drawing master named H art -
,

ri ght .
’

‘
My dear frie nd ! what is there extraordinary in that ?
They are all in love with som e other m a n Wh o gets th e .

fi rst o f a woman s heart I n all my experie nce I h ave neve r

’

ye t m et with the m a n who was N umber O n e N umbe r Two .

,

s ometi mes N umber Three Fou r Five ofte n

. N umbe r , , , .

O ne n eve r
, H e exists o f co urse — but I have n ot met with ,

hi m .
’

‘ ’
Wait ! I h a v en t don e ye t Wh o d o you thi n k helped .

An ne C a th eric k to get the start whe n the pe ople from th e mad ,

h ou se were afte r h er ? H a rtrigh t Wh o d o you thin k saw .

her agai n in Cumbe rland H a rtrigh t B oth time s he spoke .

,

t o her alone S top do n t i nterrupt m e The scou ndre l s as

.
’
.
’

sweet o n my wife as she i s o n him H e kn ows the S ecret .

,

and she knows the S ecret O n ce le t the m both get togethe r .

again an d i t s he r i nte re st and hi s i ntere st to tu rn thei r i nfer

,
’

mati on agai n st me .
’

Ge ntly Pe rcival — gently , Are yo u i n sen sible to th e

vi rtu e of Lady G lyde
That for th e virtue o f Lady G lyde I believe i n no thin g
about h er but h er money D o n t you se e how the case .
’

stand s ? S he might b e harmle s s e nough by he rself ; but if

sh e a n d that vagabond H a rtrigh t
Y es ye s I see, Whe re i s M r H a rtrigh t ?
, . .

O ut o f the cou ntry I f h e m ean s t o keep a whole skin .

o n hi s bones I re commen d hi m n ot t o come back i n a hurry ’

.
,

Are yo u sure h e is o u t o f the cou ntry

Certai n I had him watched from the time h e left Cu m
.

berland to the tim e h e sailed Oh I v e bee n careful I ca n .

,
’
,

tell yo u An ne C a th eric k live d with som e people at a farm

h ou se n ear L im m eridge I wen t th ere myself after sh e had .
, ,

give n me the slip an d made sure that they knew n o thi ng I

,
.

gave her m othe r a form o f letter to write t o M iss H alcombe ,

exonerating m e from any bad m otive i n putting he r u nde r

re straint I v e sp e nt I m afraid to say how mu ch in trying
’ ’
.
, ,

to trace he r And i n spite o f i t all she turn s up h ere and

.
, , ,

e scape s me o n my o w n p roperty H ow d o I know wh o el se

m ay see h er wh o e lse may speak t o her ? That p ryi ng
,

scou ndre l H a rtrigh t may come back withou t my knowing

, ,

i t and may make u se o f her to morrow

,
-

N o t he Pe rcival ! While I am on the sp ot an d while

, ,

that woman i s in the n eighbou rh ood I will an swe r for o u r ,

l ayin g hands o n he r before M r H a rtrigh t— eve n if he doe s , .

come back I se e ! ye s yes I see ! Th e fi nding o f An ne

.
, ,

29 6
 T H E WO MAN I N W H IT E

C a th eric k i s the fi rst nece s sity make you r mi n d easy ab o u t

the rest .You r wife i s here u nde r you r thum b Miss ,

H alcombe i s i n se parable from he r a n d i s the refo re u nde r , , ,

you r thumb also ; an d M r H a rtrigh t i s ou t o f the country .

Thi s i nvi si ble An ne o f you rs is a ll we have to thin k o f fo r th e ,

p re sent Y o u h ave m ade your inqui rie s

.

Ye s I have bee n to he r m othe r I have ran sacke d th e

.

vi llage — an d all to n o pu rp ose .

’

I s he r m othe r to be depe nde d o n

Ye s .
’

S he has told you r se cret o nce

S he won t tell i t agai n’
.
’

Why n ot Are he r o w n i nte re sts c once rn e d in keepin g

it as well as you rs
,

Y es— deeply conce rned

’
.

’
I am glad to hear i t Pe rcival fo r you r sake D on t b
, , .

fi
di scou raged my frie nd , O u r m oney matte rs as I told you.
, ,

leave me plenty o f ti me to tu rn rou n d in a n d I may search

fo r An n e C a th eric k to m orrow to be tte r pu rp ose than you - .

O ne l ast que sti on before we go t o bed

’
.
,

What i s i t
‘
I t i s thi s Whe n I we nt to th e boat h ou se to tell Lady
.
-

Glyde that th e little di f c ulty of he r signatu re was put o ff ,

acci den t took m e the re in time t o se e a strange wom an

partin g in a ve ry su spiciou s man ne r fro m you r wife B ut .

acci den t di d n ot b rin g m e near e n ough to se e thi s same

woman s face plainly
’
I mu st kn ow h o w to recogni se ou r
.

invi si ble Ann e What i s sh e li ke.

’
Li ke Come I ll te ll yo u i n two words S he s a sickly
’
.

likene ss o f my wife .
’

The chai r creaked and the pillar sh ook o nce m ore The ,
.

Coun t was o n h i s feet agai n — thi s ti me i n astoni shmen t .

Wh at h e exclaime d eage rly .

Fancy my wi fe afte r a bad i llne ss with a touch o f s om e

, ,

thin g wron g in he r head — an d the re i s Anne C a th eric k fo r

you an swe red S i r Pe rcival
,
’
.

Are they relate d to each othe r ?

’
N o t a bi t o f it .

A n d yet so li ke ,

Yes s o li ke What are yo u laughing about

,
.

There was n o an swe r an d n o sou n d o f any kin d T he , .

C ou nt was laughin g i n h i s sm ooth sile n t i nte rnal way .

What are you lau ghin g abou t ? reite rate d S i r Pe rcival ’

.

Pe rhap s at my o w n fan cie s my good frie nd

, All ow , .

—
m e my I talian h u mou r do I n o t c ome o f th e illu stri ou s
29 7
 T H E W O MAN I N W H ITE
n ation which i nven te d th e exhi bition o f P unch ? Well well , ,

w ell I shall kn ow An n e C a th eric k whe n I see he r— a nd so

,

e n ough for to ni ght Make you r mind easy Pe rcival S leep

- .
, .
,

my s on the slee p of the j u st ; a nd se e what I will d o fo r y o u

, ,

whe n daylight come s to h elp u s b ot h I have my p rojects .

an d my plan s he re i n my bi g head You shall pay th ese

,
.

bills an d fin d Ann e C a th eri c k — m y sacred wo rd o f h on our o n

i t bu t you shall
,
Am I a fri en d to b e treasu red in th e be st
corne r of you r heart o r am I n ot Am I worth th ese l oan s
,

o f mon ey whi ch you so delicately re min de d me o f a li ttle

while s i nce ? Whateve r yo u d o n eve r woun d m e in my ,

senti me nts any m ore Recognise them Pe rcival ! i mitate .

,

the m Percival ! I forgive yo u agai n ; I shake han ds again

, .

G ood night
-

No t an oth e r word was spoken I heard th e Cou nt close .

the library doo r I heard S i r Percival barrin g u p the win dow

.

shutte rs I t had bee n rai ni ng rai ning al l th e time

. I wa s , .

crampe d by my p ositi on an d chille d to th e bon es When , .

I fi rst t ri e d t o m ove th e e ff ort was s o painfu l t o m e th at I

, ,

was obliged to de si st I t ried a secon d ti me an d succe ede d

.
,

i n ri si ng to my knees o n the we t roof .

As I crept t o the wall an d raised myself a gainst it I , ,

l ooked back an d saw the win dow of the Count s dr essin g

,
’

room gleam i nto ligh t My si n king cou rage flickere d u p i n

.

me again an d kep t my eye s fixe d o n hi s wi ndow as I stole

, ,

my way back step by step past the wall of th e h ouse

, , .

The clock struck th e quarte r afte r one when I laid my ,

hand s o n the wi ndow sill o f my o w n room I had see n - .

n othin g a n d heard n othin g which c ould le ad m e to su pp ose

that my retreat had been di scove re d .

a 916

NE 2 0 th — T h e su n i s shinin g i n a clea r
’
J! Eight o clock
. .

sky . I have not bee n n ear my bed — I have n ot on ce closed my

weary wakeful eyes
, F rom th e same wi ndo w at which I
.

lo oked o ut i nto th e darkne s s o f last n ight I look o u t n ow at , , ,

the b right stilln es s of the m orni ng .

I cou n t the h ou rs that have passed si nce I e scaped to th e

.

sh elte r o f thi s room by my o wn sen sati on s — an d those hou rs

,

see m l i ke wee ks .

H ow sho rt a time an d ye t h o w l ong to m e— si nce I san k

,

d own in the dark ness he re o n th e fl oor ; d re nched to the , ,

29 8
 TH E W O M AN I N W H ITE
’
N i ne o clock Was i t n i ne struck o r eight
. Nin e , ,

su rely —
I am shive rin g agai n shive ri ng fro m h ead to foot , ,

i n th e su mme r ai r H ave I been sitti ng h ere asleep

. I don t ’

kn ow what I h ave b ee n doin g .

O h my God am I goi ng to be ill ?

,

I ll a t such a ti me as this
,

My head — I am sadly afrai d of my h ead I c a n wri te .

,

but th e lin es all ru n togethe r I see the words Lau ra — I . .

c a n write Lau ra a n d see I write i t Eight o r nin e — whi ch

, .

was i t

fi
S o cold s o col d — o h th at rai n last n igh t — and the
, ,

strokes o f the cl ock the stroke s I can t coun t ke ep strikin g

,
’

in my head
e

N OTE .

[ At thi s plac e th e e ntry i n th e D i ary ceases to b e legible .

T h e tw o o r th ree line s wh ich follo w co ntain fragme nts o f

wo rd s o nly m ingle d with bl ots and sc ratch e s o f the p en
, .

T h e last m arks o n th e pape r bear some re semblan ce t o

th e fi rst two letters ( L an d A ) o f th e n ame o f Lady Glyde .

O n the next page o f the D i ary an othe r e ntry appears It , .

is i n a man s handwriting large bold an d fi rmly regular ;

’
, , ,
‘ ’
an d the date i s J u n e th e z rst I t contain s these line s .

P O S TS C R I P T BY A SINC ERE FR I END .

T he i llness excelle nt M i ss H alcombe h a s a ff orded

o f o ur

m e th e opportun ity o f enj oyi ng a n u nexpecte d i ntellectual

p leasu re .

I refe r to the pe rusal (wh ich I have ju st completed ) o f thi s

inte restin g D i ary .

The re are many hundred page s he re I c a n lay my hand .

o n my heart a nd declare that eve ry page has charmed re

, ,

fresh ed delighted me
, .

To a m a n of my sen ti men ts it i s unspeakably gratifying to ,

be able to say thi s .

Admi rable woman

I allude to M iss H alcombe .

S tupendou s e ff o rt
I refe r to th e D i ary .

Ye s ! these page s are amazing T he tact which I fin d .

he re , the discre ti on , the rare c ou rage the wo nde rful powe r o f ,

300
 T H E WO MAN I N W H ITE

memo ry , th e accu rate observation characte r th e easy grace of ,

o f style ,
th e ch armin g outbu rsts o f womanly feelin g have all ,

i nexp ressi bly in creased my admirati on o f thi s subli me c re atu re ,

o f th is magn ificent M ari an The p resentation o f my o w n .

characte r i s masterly in the extreme I ce rtify with my .

,

whole h eart to th e fidelity o f the p ortrait

,
I fee l h ow vivid .

a n i mp ression I mu st have p rodu ce d to h ave bee n pai nted i n

such stron g su ch rich such massive colou rs as the se

, ,
I .

lame nt afresh the c ruel nece ssity which sets o u r i nte re sts at
variance an d oppose s u s to each othe r U nde r happie r
,
.

ci rcumstanc es h ow worthy I shou ld have bee n of M iss H al

c omb e — h ow worthy M iss H alcomb e wou ld h ave bee n o f M E .

The sentiments which ani mate my h eart assure me that

th e line s I have j ust written exp re s s a Profou nd Truth .

Thos e sentime nts exalt m e ab ove all me rely pe rsonal

con side rati ons I bear witn e ss i n th e m ost di si ntere ste d
.
,

manne r to th e excelle n ce o f the stratagem by wh ich thi s

,

unparallele d woman su rpris e d the p rivat e i nte rvi ew betwe e n

Pe rcival an d myself Also to th e marvellou s accu racy o f he r
.

repo rt o f the whol e conversati on fro m its begin nin g t o its

en d.

Those sen ti me nts have in duce d m e to o ff e r to th e u nim

p ressi o n a ble docto r wh o atten ds o n he r my vast kn owledge ,

o f che mistry a n d my l umi nou s expe rien ce o f the mo re subtle

,

resou rces which medical an d magn eti c scie nce have placed at
the disposal of man ki nd H e has h ithe rto declined to avai l
.

him self o f my assistance M i se rabl e m a n .

Fi nally those senti me nts dictate th e li n es — grateful sym

, ,

pathetic pate rnal li ne s — which appear in thi s place

, I clos e .

the book My stri ct sen se o f p rop riety re store s it (by the

.

han ds of my wife ) to its place on the write r s table Eve nt s ’

.

are hu rrying me away Ci rcumstance s are guidin g m e to

.

se riou s i s sue s Vast pe rspective s o f su cce s s un roll th emselves

.

befo re my eyes I accompli sh my desti ny with a calm ne s s

.

which i s te rribl e to myself N othing but the h omage of my .

admi rati on i s my own I depo sit it wi th respectful ten de r

.
,

n e ss at th e fee t of M is s H alcombe
, .

I b reathe my wishe s for he r recove ry .

I condole with he r o n the i nevitable failu re o f eve ry plan

th at sh e h as fo rmed fo r he r si ster s benefit At th e s ame ’
.

ti me I entreat he r t o believe that the i nformatio n whi ch I

,

have de rive d from he r diary will i n n o re spect h elp m e t o

cont ribute t o that fail ure I t si mply co nfi rm s th e plan o f
.

c on duct which I h ad previ ou sly arranged I have to than k .

30 1
 T H E WO MAN I N WH ITE
th e se page s for awaken ing the fi n est se nsibi litie s i n my n ature
n othing m ore .

T o a pe rson o f si milar se n si bility thi s simpl e a sse rti on ,

will explai n an d excuse eve rythi ng .

M i ss H alcomb e i s a pe rso n o f s im 1 1ar se nsi bility .

I n that pe rsuasi on I sign myself , ,

F o sc o

Tko S tow y F R E D ER I C K F A I RLI E , ES

; conti n u ed b Q .

o L i mm eri dge Hom e

!
f .

I T i s th e gran d mi sfo rt u n e o f my life that n obody will l et m e

al on e .

Why— I a sk everybody— why worry m e N obody an swe rs

that que sti on an d n ob ody lets m e alone Relative s friends .
, ,

an d strange rs al l combin e to ann oy me What have I .

don e ? I as k myself I ask my servant Louis fifty time s a

, , ,

day— what h ave I d one N eithe r o f u s c a n tell M ost .

extrao rdinary
Th e last an n oyance that has assailed m e i s the ann oyan ce
o f bein g called up on t o wri te thi s N arrative I s a man i n my .

state of n ervou s wretch edn es s capabl e o f writin g na rratives

When I put thi s extremely reasonable obj ection I am tol d ,

that ce rtai n ve ry seri ou s eve nts relatin g to my ni ece h ave , ,

happe ned withi n my expe ri en ce a n d that I am the fit p ers on

t o describe the m o n that account I am th reaten ed if I fai l
.
,

to exe rt myself in the mann e r requ i red with con sequ ence s ,

which I can n ot s o much as thi n k o f with out pe rfect p rostra ,

tion . Th ere i s really n o n e ed to threate n me S hatte re d by .

my miserabl e h ealth a n d my family trouble s I am i ncap able ,

o f resi stance I f yo u i n sist you take you r u nju s t a dv a n

.
,

tage o f m e an d I give way i mmediately I will endeavou r

- .

t o rem embe r what I c a n (u nde r p rote st ) and to write what ,

I c a n (also u nde r protest ) ; a n d what I can t rememb e an d ’

r

can t write Loui s must rem embe r and write fo r m e

’

, He is
,
.

an ass and I am a n i nvali d : a n d we are li kely to make al l

,

so rts o f mi stakes betwe en u s H ow humiliating .

I am told to remembe r dates Good H eave n s ! I n ever .

did such a thing i n my life h o w am I to begi n n ow ~

I have asked Loui s H e i s n ot quite such an ass as I h ave

.

h i the rto supposed H e remembe rs the date o f the event

.
,

within a wee k o r two — and I reme mbe r the n ame o f the

Th e m anner in wh ich M r F a i lie s N arrativ e a nd o th er N arra ti v es th a t
. r
’
,

a re sh o rtl y to fo ll o w i t were o ri ina ll

, g y o btained form s th e subj ect o f an ,

expl anation whi ch will a pp ea r a t a l a ter p eriod .

30 2
 TH E WO M AN I N W H I T E

Let Lady G lyde s maid come in Lou 1 s S tep’

D o h er , .

fi
sh oe s c reak
I was obliged to ask the question C reaking sh oe s .

i nv a riably up set m e fo r th e day I was re signed to see the .

Youn g Pe rson but I was n ot resigned to let the Young

,

Pe rson s sh oes upse t me The re i s a li mit eve n t o my en

’
.

du r ance .

Loui s af r me d distinctly that h e r sh oe s we re to be d epe nde d

upon I w a v ed my hand
. H e i nt roduce d he r I s i t n ec es. .

sary to sa y that she exp re ssed he r se nse o f embarrassmen t by

shutting u p he r m outh an d b reathin g through h e r n ose To
the stude nt of female h uman n atu re in the l owe r o rde rs su rely ,

n ot.

Let me d o the gi rl j u stice H e r sh oe s did n ot c reak B ut . .

why do Youn g Pe rson s i n se rvice all pe rspi re at the h and s

Why have they all get fat n o se s an d h ard ch eeks An d why
are their faces so sadly u nfini shed e specially abou t th e co rn e rs ,

O f the eyelids I am n ot stron g e n ough t o thi n k deep ly my self ,

o n a n y subj ect ; but I appeal to p rofe ssion al m en w h o are .

Why have w e 11 0 vari ety i n o u r breed o f You ng Pe rs on s

You h ave a lette r fo r m e fro m M i s s H alco mbe Put i t ,

d own 0 11 th e tabl e pl ease and d o n t u pset anythin g

, Ho w ’
.

i s M i s s H alcombe
Ve ry well th an k yo u si r , , .
’

An d Lady Glyde
’
I receive d n o an swe r Th e Youn g Pe rson s face becam e .

m o re unfi nishe d than eve r ; and I thin k she began to c ry ,

.

I ce rtainly sa w s omethin g moi st about he r eye s Tears o r .

pe rspi rati on Loui s (w h om I have j u st consu lted ) i s inclin ed

to th in k tears , H e i s in he r class o f life ; a nd h e ought t o
.

kn ow be st Let u s say tears

.
,
.

Except whe n the refin in g p roce s s o f Art j udici ou sly re

m ove s from them all res emblance t o N atu re I di stinctly ,

obj ect t o tears Tears are scientifically de scribed as a S ec re

.

ti on . I c a n un de rstan d th at a sec reti on may be h eal thy o r

u nhealthy but I can not se e th e i nte re st o f a secretio n from a
,

s en timental poin t o f view Pe rhap s my own secretions being .

all w ron g togethe r I am a little p rej u dice d o n the subj ect

, .

N o matte r I behaved o n thi s o ccasion with all possible

.
, ,

p rop riety and feeling I closed my eye s a nd said to Loui s

.
, ,

E n deavou r to asce rtai n what sh e means .

’

Loui s e ndeavou re d a nd th e You n g Pe rson e ndeavou red

,
.

They su cceeded in confusing each othe r to s uch an exten t

that I am b ou n d in common gratitude t o sa y they really ,

amused me I thin k I shall sen d for them a gai n whe n I am in

.

0
3 4
 TH E WO M AN I N W H I T E

l o w spir its I hav e j u st mention ed thi s i dea to Lou i s S t ra n ge

. .

to say , it see m s to make him un comfortable Poo r d evi l .

S urely I am n o t expected to repeat my ni ece s maid s e x

,
’ ’

planati on o f her tears i nterpreted in th e En glish o f my S wi ss

valet ? The thing i s man ife stly impo ssi ble
,

I can give my .

o w n i mpre ssion s a n d fee lings perhap s Wi ll that d o as we ll .

Please say Yes , .

My i dea is that sh e began by tellin g me (throu gh Lou i s )

that he r maste r had di smissed he r from h er mi stre s s s se rvi ce ’
.

(O bserve throughout th e stran ge i rrelevan cy o f the Young

, ,

Pe rson Was i t my fault that sh e had lost he r place

. On
he r dis mi ssal she had gon e t o the in n t o sleep (I do n t keep
, .
’

the inn— why me nti on i t to m e 9 ) B e twee n s ix o cloc k an d ’

seve n M i ss H alco mbe had com e t o sa y go o d by an d h a d

,
or -
,

g i ven he r two letters o n e for me and o n e for a gentleman 1 n

, ,

Lon don (I am
. n ot a gentleman i n Lon do n — hang th e gentle

m a n in Lon do n S he had carefully put the two letters into

her bo som (what have I to d o with he r boso m sh e had
bee n very u nhappy wh e n M i ss H alcombe had gone away
,

agai n she had n o t had the h eart to pu t bit o r drop betwe e n

her lip s ti ll i t was n ear bedtim e a n d then whe n i t was close ,

o n n ine o clock she had th ough t sh e should li ke a c u p o f tea

’
.
,

(Am I re spon si ble for a ny o f the se vu lgar fluctuati on s which

begi n with u nhapp ines s a n d en d with tea J ust as sh e was
wa rm i ng th e p ot ( I give the word s o n th e authority o f Lou i s ,

wh o says he knows what they mean and wishe s to explain , ,

but I s nu b hi m o n pri nciple ) — j u st as she was wa rmin g the

p o t the d oo r ope ned and she was str u c k of a 1z e (he r o w n
, ,

word s again and perfectly u nintelligib le th is time to Louis

, , , ,

as well as to myself) by th e appearance in the inn parlou r o f , ,

he r ladyship the Cou n tes s , I give my n iece s maid s desc rip .

’ ’

tion o f my sister s title with a sen se o f the highe st reli sh

’
.

My poor dear siste r i s a ti resome w oman w h o married a

foreigne r To re su me the doo r ope ne d ; he r ladyship th e
. .
,

Cou nte ss appeared 1 n the parlour a n d the You ng Perso n was

, ,

struck of a heap M os t remarkable .

I mus t really re st a little befo re I c a n get o n any farth e r .

When I have recli ned fo r a few minute s with my eye s closed , ,

a n d whe n Lou i s h a s refre shed my po or achin g temple s with a

little eau de Cologne I may be able to p roceed

- -
, .

H e r ladysh ip the C o u ntes s ,

No I am able to proceed but n ot t o sit up I will reclin e

.
, .

an d dictate Lou is has a h orri d accen t ; but he kn ows th e

.

language and ca n write , H ow ve ry co nve nie nt .

30 5
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E
H er ladyship th e Cou ntess explain ed he r u nexpected, , ap

p ea ra nc e at the in n by telli ng F an ny that she had c ome to

b ring o ne o r two little m e ssage s wh ich M iss H alcombe in he r ,

h urry had fo rgotten Th e Young Perso n thereup on waited

,
.

a nxi ously t o hear what th e message s were ; but the Cou ntes s
see med disin clin ed to m ention the m (so like my sister s ti re ’

s om e w a y u nti l Fan ny had h ad h er tea H er ladysh ip w a s .

s u rp risingly kind an d though tful ab ou t i t (extremely u nlike

my si ste r ) a nd s aid I am s ure my poor gi rl yo u must want
, , , ,

you r tea We c a n let th e mes sage s wai t till afterwards

. .

’
Come c ome if n othin g e ls e wil l put you at you r eas e I l l
, , ,

make the tea a n d have a cu p with you I thi nk those were

, .
’

th e words as rep o rted excitably in my p re se nce by the Young

, , ,

Pe rs on At a ny rate the C ou nte ss i n sisted o n making the

.
,

tea an d carri e d he r ri dicul ous o ste ntati o n of humility so far

,
’
as to take o n e cup he rself an d to i nsist o n the gi rl s taking ,

the othe r Th e girl d rank th e tea a nd acco rding t o he r o wn

.
,

account s olemnise d th e extrao rdi nary occasi on five mi nutes

, ,

afte rwards by fainting dead away fo r the first ti me in her life

, , .

H ere again I u se he r o wn words Lou is th i nks they were

, .

’
accompanied by an i ncrease d s ec retio n o f tears I can t s ay .
,

mys elf The effo rt o f listeni n g being quite as much as I cou ld

.

manage my eye s we re cl ose d

, .

Whe re d id I leave o ff Ah ye s — sh e fainted afte r drin k , ,

i ng a c u p o f tea wi th the Counte s s a proceedi ng which might

h ave i nte reste d me if I had been he r medi cal man but being , ,

n othin g o f the sort I felt bored by h earin g of i t n othing more

, , .

’
Whe n sh e came to he rself i n half a n h ou r s time she was o n , ,

th e s ofa a n d n obody was with h e r b ut the landlady Th e

, .

Countess fi ndin g i t too late to re main any lon ge r at th e i nn

, ,

had go ne away as s oon as the girl showed sign s of recovering

and the landlady h ad bee n good e nough to help he r u p stai rs -

to bed .

Left by he rself she had felt i n he r bo som ( I regret th e

,

n eces sity o f refe rri ng to thi s part o f the su bj e ct a secon d time ) ,

and had foun d the two lette rs there quite s afe but strange ly , ,

crumpled S he had b e en giddy in th e n igh t but had got u p

.

well e nough t o t ravel i n th e m orn ing S he had pu t th e lette r .

addre ss ed to that obtrusive stran ge r the gentl eman in London , ,

i nto th e post and h ad n ow d elivered th e othe r letter i nto my

h and s as s h e was told This was th e plai n truth and thou gh
, .
,

sh e could n ot blame he rself for a ny i ntenti onal negle ct she was ,

sadly trouble d in he r mind and sadly i n wan t o f a word o f ,

advice At thi s poi nt Loui s think s the s ecreti on s appeared

.
,

a gai n . P erh ap s they did ; but i t i s o f infinitely greate r

306
 T HE WO M A N IN WH I T E
cou rse I wouldn t ve ntu re to do so ’
B ut I am so very anxiou s .

to d o all I ca n to se rve my mi stre ss faithfully

People in th e l ower clas s o f life neve r kn ow when o r h ow
to go o u t o f a roo m T h ey inv a ria bly requi re to b e h elped
.

o u t by th ei r bette rs I th ought i t high time to help the Young

.

Pe rs on o u t I did i t with two j udiciou s wo rd s

.

G ood mornin g
S ome thin g outside o r in side th is s ingular g1 rl suddenly
, ,

c reaked Loui s wh o was looking at he r (which I w a s n o t)

.
, ~ ,

says she c reaked whe n she cu rtseyed Cu ri ous Was i t he r . .

sh oe s h e r stays o r he r b one s
, ,
Loui s thi n ks it was he r stays .

M ost extrao rdi n ary

As soon a s I was left by myse lf I had a little n ap — I really ,

wan ted i t Whe n I awoke again I n otice d dear M arian s

.
,
’

lette r. I f I had h ad th e l east ide a o f what i t c ontain ed I ,

sh ould certai nly n ot h ave attempte d t o ope n it B eing u n fo r .

,

tu n a tely fo r myse lf qu ite i n n ocent o f all su spici on I read the

, ,

l ette r
. I t i mmediately u p se t me fo r th e da y .

I am by n atu re o ne o f th e most easy tempered c reatu res

, ,
-

that ev er live d — I make allowan ce s fo r eve ryb ody a n d I take ,

o ffe n ce at n o thin g B ut as I have befo re remarked there are

. .
, ,

li mits to my e n du rance I lai d down M arian s lette r and felt

.
’
,

myself— j u stly felt myself— a n i nj u re d man .

I am about to make a remark I t i s o f cou rse appl icable .

, ,

t o the ve ry se ri ou s matte r n ow u nde r n otice — o r I sh ould n ot

all ow i t to appear in thi s place .

N othi ng in my opi ni on s e ts the odious selfishn ess o f man

, ,

kin d in such a re pulsively vivi d light as th e treatme nt i n all , ,

c lasse s of s oci ety which th e S ingle pe opl e re ceive at th e h ands

,

o f th e M arri ed pe ople Whe n y o u h ave o nce sh own you rself

.

to o co n side rate an d self denying to add a family o f you r o w n -

to a n already ove rcrowde d populati on you are vi ndictively ,

m ar ke d o u t by you r m arrie d frie n ds w h o have n o sim ilar ,

co n side ratio n a n d n o si milar self den ial as th e recipien t o f -

,

h alf the ir conj u gal trouble s an d the b o rn frie n d o f all th ei r ,

child re n H u sban ds and wive s ta lk o f th e care s o f matrimony

.

a n d bachel ors a n d spi nste rs bea r them Take my o w n case . .

I con siderately remain single ; an d my p oor dear brothe r ,

Philip in con siderately m arries What does h e d o whe n h e

, .

dies ? He leave s hi s daughte r to m e S he i s a swe et girl . .

S he i s also a dreadfu l resp on si bility Why lay h e r o n my .

shou lders ? B ecau se I am bou nd i n the harmless characte r ,

o f a sin gle man t o reli eve my marrie d co nnexio ns o f all their

,

o wn trouble s I d o my be st with my brother s resp on sibility ;

‘
’
.

30 8
 T H E WO M AN I N W H IT E
I marry my n iece with i nfinite fu ss an d di fficu lty to the m a n
, ,

h er fathe r wanted he r t o marry S he an d her hu sb and di s .

gre e a nd u npleasant con seque nce s follow What doe s sh e

,
.

d o with th ose con seque nce s S he transfers the m to m e .

Why tran sfe r them to m e B ecau s e I am bou nd in th e harm ,

les s characte r o f a single man to re lieve my m arri ed c o n ,

n ex io n s o f all thei r o w n trouble s Poo r s ingle people Poo r .

human natu re
I t i s qu ite un nece ssary to say that M arian s lette r threat ’

e ned m e Everybody threate n s me All sorts o f h orrors

. .

were to fall o n my devoted head if I hesitated t o tu rn Li m ,

m eridge H ou se i nto a n asylum for my n ie ce and he r m isfo r

tu ne s I did h esitate n eve rtheles s
.
, .

I have mention ed that my u sual course hitherto had bee n , ,

to submi t to dear M arian and save n oise But o n this o c

, .
,

casi on the con seque nce s i nvolved i n he r extremely in c o n

,

siderate proposal we re o f a n atu re to m ake me pau se

,
If I .

ope ned L im m eridge H ou se as a n asylu m to Lady Glyde what ,

secu rity h ad I again st S i r Percival G lyde s foll owi n g he r he re ’

,

i n a state o f violent resentment again st m e for harbouri ng h i s

wife I saw s uch a perfect labyrin th o f t rouble s i nvo lved i n
thi s procee din g that I determi ned to fee l my grou nd as i t
, ,

were .I wrote the refore to dear Marian to beg (as sh e had

, , ,

n o hu sban d to lay claim t o he r ) that she wou ld com e he re by

herself fi rst and tal k the matter ove r with me

, ,
I f she coul d .

answe r my obj ectio n s to my o wn perfec t satisfacti on the n I ,

assured he r that I would receive o u r swee t Lau ra with th e

greate st pleasure — but n ot otherwi s e .

I felt o f cou rse at th e time that thi s temporisi n g o n m y

, , ,

part wou ld p robably e n d i n bringi ng M ari an he re in a state

,

o f virtu ou s in di gnation ban gin g do ors But the n th e othe r

, .
, ,

course o f p roceedin g might e nd in brin gin g S i r Pe rcival he re

in a state of virtu ou s i n dign ation bangin g doors als o a n d o f , ,

th e two i ndignation s an d bangin gs I pre ferre d M arian s ,

’

becau s e I was u sed to he r Accordi ngly I de spatched th e .

,

lette r by retu rn o f post I t gai ne d me time at all eve nts

.
,

and o h d ear m e what a poi nt that was to begi n with

, .

When I am totally p ro strate d (did I m e nti o n that I was

’
totally pro strated by M arian s lette r it always take s me
thre e days t o get up agai n I was ve ry u n reason able I
.
-

expected th re e days o f quiet O f cours e I did n t get th

.
’

The third day s po st brought me a most i mpertine n t lette r

’

from a pe rs o n with whom I was totally u nacquainted He .

de scribe d himself as the actin g partne r o f ou r m a n o f bu sin ess

—o ur d r i h ea ded old Gi lmo re — a n h e n o rm
d i f ed me th at
'

ea p g -
.

30 9
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E
h e h a d l ate l yr eceived by th e post a lette r add ressed to h im
, ,

fi
i n M iss H a l c o m b e s handwritin g O n o pen i ng th e envelope
’
.
,

h e h ad d i scovered to hi s asto ni shment that i t contain ed

, ,

n oth i n g but a blan k sheet of n ote pape r Thi s circumstance .

appeare d to hi m so su spiciou s (a s su ggesti ng to hi s re stles s

legal m ind that the letter had bee n tampered with ) that he
had at on ce writte n to M i ss H al combe and had rece ived n o ,

an swe r by retu rn o f post I n thi s di f c u lty i n stead o f acti ng.

,

like a sen sible man an d l ettin g th ings take thei r proper cou rse
h is next absu rd p roceed in g o n h is o w n showi ng was to pe ste r , ,

me by writin g t o i n qu i re if I kn ew anythi n g about i t What

,
.

th e deuce sh ou ld I kn ow about i t ? Why alarm m e a s well

as h im self ? I wrote back t o that e ffect I t was o n e o f my .

keene st lette rs I have p roduce d nothin g with a sharpe r

.

epi stolary edge to i t s i nce I tendered hi s dismissal in writi ng

,

t o that extrem ely troub le som e pe rson M r Walte r H art , .

right .

My lette r p roduced i ts e ff ect I heard n othin g m ore from .

th e lawye r .

Thi s p erhap s was n ot altogeth e r surpri sin g B ut i t was .

certai nly a re markable ci rcu mstance that n o second letter

reached m e from M ari an an d that n o warning signs appeare d ,

o f h er arrival H e r un expecte d abse nce did m e amazin g

.

good I t was s o very s oothin g an d ple asant to i nfe r (as I

.

did o f cou rse ) that my marri ed con nexion s had mad e i t u p

again F ive days of u ndi stu rbe d t ranqu i llity o f delici ou s
.
,

single ble ssedne s s qu ite restore d m e O n the sixth day I

, .
,

fel t strong en ough to sen d fo r my ph otographer an d to set ,

hi m at wo rk agai n o n th e prese ntatio n copi es o f my art

treasu re s with a vi ew as I have already mention ed to th e
, , ,

im prove m e nt o f taste in thi s barbarou s n eighbourh ood I .

had j u st dismis sed hi m to hi s worksh op a nd had j ust be gu n ,

coque tting with my coi ns wh en Loui s sudden ly mad e hi s ,

appearance with a card in hi s hand .

Another You ng Pe rso n ? I said I won t se e her In .

’
.

my state o f health Young Pe rson s disagre e with me N ot

, .

at ho me .
’

I t i s a ge ntleman thi s time sir , .

’

A gentleman o f course made a di ffe re nce I looked at the .

card .

’
G raci ou s H eave n my ti resome si ste r s forei gn hu sband .

Count F osco .

Is
i t n eces sa ry t o sa y what my fi rst impressi on wa s whe n ,

I look ed at m y v i sitor s card My si ste r havin g

’
S ure ly no t
31 0
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E
si mplest a nd th e most p rofou nd Will you let me alte r th e
ligh t in you r room
Ce rtain ly— if yo u wi ll be s o ve ry ki nd as n ot to let any o f
’
it i n o n me .

H e walked to the wi ndow S uch a contrast t o d ear .

M arian so extreme ly con side rate in al l h is movements

Light he said in th at delightfully confidential tone
,
’
,
‘
which i s so soothi ng to an invalid i s the fi rst esse ntial , .

Ligh t sti mu late s n ou ri she s pre se rves Y o u c a n n o m ore d o

, , .

wi thout i t M r Fai rli e than if yo u we re a flowe r O bse rve

, .
, . .

H e re whe re you sit I close the shutte rs to compose you

, , , .

There whe re you d o n ot sit I d raw u p th e bli nd and let in

, ,

th e i nvi go rating su n Admit the light i nto you r room if you .

,

cann ot bear i t on you rself Light si r i s th e gran d decre e o f .

, ,

Provide nce Y o u accept Providence with you r o w n re

.

striction s Accept light— o n th e same te rm s

. .
’

I thought thi s ve ry convin ci ng and atte ntive H e had .

take n m e in — u p to th at point ab out the ligh t h e had c er ,

ta in ly take n me i n .

’
You see m e confu se d he said retu rning to hi s place , ,
‘ n my word o f hon ou r M r Fai rli e you see me confu se d i n
o , .
,
’
you r presence .

S h ocked to he ar i t I am su re May I inqu ire why , .

S i r can I e nte r thi s room (wh ere you sit a su ff e rer ) an d

, ,

se e yo u su rrounded by th ese admi rabl e obj e cts o f Art wi thou t ,

di scove rin g th at you are a m a n whose feelings are acutely

i mpres si onable whos e sympathi es are pe rpe tually al ive
,

Tel l m e c a n I do thi s
I “ had b ee n stron g en ough to si t u p in my chai r I sh ou l d ,

o f cou rse h ave bowed N ot bei n g strong e n ough I s mile d

.
,

my ackn owledgme nts i nste ad I t di d j u st as well we both .

,

u nde rstood o n e ano th e r .

Pray follow my trai n o f th ough t con ti nu ed th e Count ,

’
.

I si t h e re a m a n o f refin ed sympathie s myself i n th e p resen ce

, ,

o f anoth e r m a n o f refi ne d symp athie s al so I am con sci ou s .

o f a terribl e n ecessity fo r lace rating th ose sympathie s by

referring to dome sti c even ts o f a ve ry melanch oly kin d .

What i s th e i nevitable con sequence ? I h ave d on e m yse lf

the hon ou r o f p ointing i t o u t to yo u al re a dy I si t co n , .

fu sed .
’

Was it at thi s p oi nt th at I began to su spec t he was goi n g

to bore m e I rathe r thi n k it was .

I s it absolutely n e ce ssary to refe r to th es e u nple as ant

m atte rs I i nqui red I n o u r homely En gli sh p hras e, .

Cou nt F o sco won t they kee p ,

’

31 2
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E
The Cou nt wi th the m ost alarmin g solem ni ty sigh ed an d
, ,

shook h i s head .

fi
M u st I really h ear the m

fi
H e s hrugge d h i s sh ou lders (i t was th e fi rst foreign thing
he h ad don e si nce h e had be e n i n th e room ) an d l oo ke d at
,

m e in a n u n pleasan tly pen e trati ng man n er My i n s tin ct s tol d .

me that I had be tte r clos e my eye s I obeye d my i n sti n cts . .

Pl eas e b reak it gen tly I p lead ed Anybody d e ad ,

’
.

D e ad cried th e Cou nt with u n nec essary fo reign erc e ,

‘
n e ss . M r F airlie ! you r n ati onal composu re terri es m e
. .

I n th e n ame of H e aven what have I said o r d one to m ake , , ,

you thin k m e th e m es sen ge r of d eath

Pray accept my apologies I an swere d You h ave s ai d ,
’
.

an d d on e n othing I m ake i t a rul e in th ese dis tre ssi n g

.
,

cas es always to an ti ci pate th e worst

, I t break s th e bl ow .
,

by m eeting i t h alf way an d s o o n I n expres si bly reli eved I

, .
,

am su re t o hear that n obody i s de ad Anyb ody il l

, .

I open ed my eyes an d l ooke d at h im Was h e ve ry

, .

yellow whe n h e came in ? o r had h e tu rn e d v e ry yellow in

, ,

th e last mi nu te o r tw o I re al ly can t say an d I can t as k ’ ’

Loui s b ecau se h e was n ot i n th e roo m at th e time

, .

Anyb ody i ll ? I rep eated ob se rvin g that my n ati o nal

com po sure sti ll app eare d to a ff ect h im .

‘
Th at i s part o f my b ad n ews M r Fairli e Y es S ome , . . .

b ody i s il l .
’

G ri eved I am su re Which o f the m i s i t

, .

T o my profou n d sorrow M i ss H alcombe Pe rhap s yo u , .

we re in some degre e p re pared to h ea r thi s Perh ap s wh e n ,

yo u found that M is s H alcomb e d id n o t com e h ere by h e rs elf ,

as yo u p rO p o sed a n d d id n o t writ e a s eco nd time you r a ff ec

, ,

tio n a te anxiety may h ave m ad e you fe ar that sh e Wa s i ll ?

I have n o doub t my a ff ection ate anxi ety h ad le d t o that
m el anch oly app reh e nsi on at s om e time o r othe r but at th e , ,

m ome nt my wretche d me mory enti rely fai le d t o remin d m e

,

o f the ci rcu mstance H oweve r I said Yes i n ju stice to m y

.
, , ,

self I was much s hocked

. I t was s o very u ncharacte ri stic .

o f su ch a robu st pe rso n a s dear Mari a n t o b e ill that I cou l d ,

o n ly su ppose she had met with a n accide nt A hors e o r a .

,

fals e ste p o n the s tairs o r somethi ng o f that so rt , .

I s i t se riou s I asked .

‘
S eri ou s — beyon d a d oubt h e replied D an gerou s — J ,
’
.

h ope an d tru st n o t M i ss H alcomb e un happily exp os ed h er

.

s elf to b e we tted th rough by a h eavy rai n Th e cold that .

followed was o f a n aggravated kind a n d it h a s n ow brou gh t

with i t the worst conseque nce —F eve r .
’

31 3
 T HE WO M AN I N W H I T E

Whe n I heard the word F eve r an d whe n I re me m , ,

be red at the sam e moment that th e u n scrupulous pe rso n

, ,

wh o was n ow addre ssi ng m e h ad j u st c ome from Black

water Park I thought I shoul d h ave fain te d o n the spot
“

.
,
‘
Goo d Go d I said I s i t i nfe cti ou s .

‘N ot at p re se nt h e an s w e red with dete s table comp o

’
, ,

su re ‘ m ay tu rn to i nfection — J o u t n o such d e plo rable

. It
complication had take n place whe n I left B lackwate r Park .

I h ave felt th e de epes t i nte rest in th e case M r Fai rlie — I , .

h ave e ndeavoure d to assi st the regular m edical atte n dant i n

watching it— accept my pe rs onal as su ran ce s o f th e u ninfe cti ou s
’
n atu re of th e feve r whe n I las t s aw i t
,
.

Accept h is as su rance s I n eve r was farthe r fro m accept

i ng anythin g in my life I woul d no t have believed hi m o n
.

h is oath H e w a s too ye llow to be b eli eved

. H e l ooke d .

like a walking We st I n dian epide mic

- -H e was bi g en ough
- .

to carry typh u s by th e ten an d to dye th e very carpet h e ,

walke d o n wi th scarle t feve r I n certai n e me rgen cie s my .

,

m ind i s re markably so o n mad e u p I i n stan tly dete rm ine d .

to ge t ri d o f him .

‘
Y o u wi ll ki n dly excuse a n i nval id I said bu t long ’
,

conferen ce s o f a ny kin d i nvariab ly u pse t m e May I beg to .

kn ow exactly what th e obj e c t i s to which I am i nde bte d fo r

the h on ou r o f you r vi si t
I ferve ntly h op ed that thi s re markably b road hint wou ld
th row him o ff hi s balan ce — confu se hi m — reduce h im to polite
apol ogie s — i n sh ort ge t hi m o u t o f the roo m O n th e c o n
,
.

tra ry i t o nly settled him i n hi s ch ai r

,
H e became addi tionally .

s olem n an d dignified an d co nfiden tial H e h eld u p two o f .

hi s h orrid finge rs an d gave m e an othe r of his u n pleasantly

,

pen etrati n g lo oks Wh at was I t o do ? I w a s n o t strong

.

e n ough to q uarre l with him Con ceive my s itu ation i f you

.
,

pl eas e I s lan guage a dequate t o de scribe i t

. I thin k n ot .

’
The o bj ects o f my vi si t h e wen t on quite i rrepres sibly , , ,

are n umbe red o n my fi nge rs They are two Fi rst I come

. .
,

to bear my testi mony with profoun d s orrow t o th e lame nt

, ,

abl e d isagree me nts betwe en S i r Percival and Lady Glyde I .

am S i r Pe rcival s oldest fri en d ; I am relate d to Lady Glyde

’

by marriage ; I am a n eye witnes s o f all that h as happened -

at B lackwate r Park I n th ose th ree capacitie s I speak with

.

authority wi th confidence with h on ou rable regret S i r ! I

, , .

i nform you as th e head o f Lady G lyde s fami ly that M i ss

,
’
,

H alcombe has exagge rated n othi ng in th e lette r whi ch sh e

wrote to you r addres s I a ffi rm that the re me dy which that
.

admi rable lady h as p roposed i s th e o nl y re medy that wi ll ,

31 4
 T H E WO M AN I N W H ITE

a ddre s s to me ? B e it so ; I am he re to an swe r Ask M r .

, .

Fa 1 rl 1 e — o bl1 ge me by asking to you r h eart s co nte nt ,

’
.
’

H e h ad said so mu ch al re ady in spite of m e ; a nd h e

l ooke d s o d readfully ca pable o f sayin g a great deal mo re ,

al so 1 n spite o f me that I decli ned hi s amiable i nvitati on in , ,

pu re self defe nce

- .

‘M any thanks ‘
I replied I am sinking fast I n my
,
’
. .

state o f health I m ust take thin gs for granted Allow m e

,
.

t o do so o n th i s occas io n We qu i te understand each other . .

Ye s . M uch obliged I am su re for you r kin d i nterfe rence , , .

I f I eve r get better a nd eve r h ave a se co nd opportun ity o f ,

improving o u r acquai ntance

H e go t u p I th o u gh t h e was goi ng
. No M ore tal k . .

more t i me for th e develop men t of i nfecti ous infl u en c es— in

my room to o ,
remembe r that in my room ! ,
‘
O n e m om ent yet h e said ; o n e m ome nt before I take
, ,

my leave I a sk pe rmi ssio n at partin g to i mpress o n you

.
, ,

a n u rge nt necessity I t i s th is sir ! Y o u mu st no t thin k o f

.
,

waiting ti ll M iss H alco mb e re cove rs before yo u rece ive Lady ,

G lyde . M is s H alcombe has the attendan ce of the doctor of ,

the h ousekeepe r at B lackwater Park and o f a n expe rience d ,

nurse as well —th ree person s for wh ose capacity an d devotion

I an swe r with my life I te ll yo u that I te ll you also . .
, ,

th at the anxiety and alarm o f h er siste r s i llnes s h a s already ’

a ffecte d the health an d spirits o f Lady Glyde and h as made ,

he r totally unfit t o b e o f use i n th e si ck room H e r position - .

with he r h usband gro ws m o re a nd m ore deplorable a n d

dangerous eve ry day I f you leave he r any lon ger at B lack
, .

wate r Park yo u d o n othing whateve r to haste n he r sister s

,
’

recovery and at the same time yo u ri sk the public scandal

, , , ,

which yo u a n d I and all o f us are bound in the sacred

, , , ,

i nterests o f the Family to avoid With all my soul I advis e , .

,

you to re move the seri ou s respo nsibi lity o f de lay from you r
o w n shoulders by writing t o Lady Glyde to come he re at
, ,

once . D o your a ff ectionate, your h on ourable your inevitabl e ,

duty ; and whatever happen s i n the futu re n o o ne c a n lay

, ,

the b lame o n y ou I speak from my large expe rie nce I o ff er

.

my friendly advice I s i t accepted — Y es o r N o .

,

I l ooked at h im — me rely looke d at him — with my se n se o f

hi s amazi ng assurance an d my dawnin g resolution to ring ,

for Loui s and have h im shown o u t o f th e room expressed

, ,

i n eve ry line o f my face I t 1 3 perfectly i ncredible bu t quite .

,

t rue , that my face did n o t appear to p roduce th e slightest

i mpression o n him B orn with out n er v es — evidentl y born.

,

W 1 th o ut n er v es .

16
3
 T HE W O MA N I N W H IT E

‘Y o u h esitate h e said M r Fai rlie I u nde r stand that

. .

h esitati on You obj ect— see si r h o w my sympathie s loo k

.
, ,

straigh t down into you r thoughts — you obj ect that Lady
Glyde i s n ot in health a n d n ot in spirits to take th e lo ng
-

j ou rn ey from H amp shi re t o thi s place by he rself H e r o w n

, , .

maid i s re moved fro m h e r as you kn ow ; and o f othe r ser

, ,

vants fit to trave l with he r from on e e nd o f E nglan d t o ,

an othe r th ere are n one at B lackwate r Park Y o u obj ect

, .
,

again that sh e can not comfo rtably stop an d re st in Lon don o n

, ,

he r way h e re be cau se sh e can n ot comfortably go alone t o a

,

public h o tel w h ere she is a total strange r I n one breath I gran t .

,

both obj ection s — in anothe r breath I rem ove them F ollow , .

me if you please fo r the last ti me

, , I t w a s my i ntention whe n .
,

I retu rn ed to E nglan d with S ir Pe rcival to settle myself in ,

the n eighbou rh ood o f London That pu rpose has j u st bee n .

happi ly accomplishe d I have taken fo r six month s a little

.
, ,

fu rn ished hou se in the quarte r cal le d S t J oh n s Wood

, Be .
’
.

so O bliging a s t o kee p thi s fact i n you r min d ; a nd obse rve

the programm e I n ow p ropose Lady G lyde t ravels to .

Londo n (a sh o rt j ou rney ) — I myself meet h e r at th e statio n

I take he r to re st an d slee p at my hou se which i s also th e ,

h ou se o f he r aun t — whe n she i s re stored I e scort he r to the ,

stati on agai n — sh e t rave ls t o th is p la c e a n d he r o w n maid

'

(wh o i s n ow u nde r yo u r roof) re ceive s he r at th e carriage

d oo r H e re i s c omfort con sulted ; he re are th e i nte re sts o f
.

p rop riety con sulted ; h e re i s you r o w n duty— duty o f h os

i ta lit sympathy p rotecti on to a n u nhappy lady i n n eed o f
p y , , ,

all th ree — s moothe d an d made easy from the begi nn ing to ,

the en d I cordially i nvite you si r t o secon d my effo rts i n

.
, ,

the sac re d in te rests o f th e Fami ly I se riously advise you to .

write by my han ds o ffe rin g the h ospitality o f you r hou se

, ,

n d th e ho spitality o f my hou se (an d heart ) to

( an d heart ) a , ,

that i nj u red a n d u nfo rtun ate lady wh o se cau s e I p lead to

day
H e waved hi s ho rrid hand at me h e s truc k his i nfecti ou s
breast ; h e add res sed me o rato ri cally— as if I was lai d u p i n
th e H ou se of Common s I t was high time t o take a de spe rate
.

cou rs e o f some sort I t w a s also high ti m e to sen d fo r Loui s

.
,

an d adopt th e p recauti o n of fumi gatin g the room .

I n thi s tryin g e me rgency a n idea occu rre d to me —a n i n

,

e stimable idea which s o to speak kille d two i nt rusive bi rd s

, ,

with o ne ston e I dete rm i ned to ge t rid o f the Cou nt s ti re

.
’

som e e loqu en ce an d o f Lady G lyde s ti res om e t rouble s by

,
’
,

c omplying with thi s odiou s fo reigne r s re quest an d writin g ’

,

th e letter at once The re was n ot t he least dange r of th e

.
 fi
T HE WO M AN I N W H I T E

i n v itatio n being accepted for the re was n o t the le a st chanc e ,

that Laura wou ld con sent to leave B lac kwate r Park wh ile ,

Marian was lyin g the re ill H ow thi s charmin gly convenient .

obstacle cou ld have e scaped the o f c io u s penetratio n o f the

Cou nt i t was i mpossible t o conceive — but it iz a d e scaped him
,
.

My dread that he might ye t discove r it if I allowed him any ,

mo re ti me to th ink stimu late d me to such a n amazing degree , ,

that I struggled i nto a sittin g positi on se i z ed really sei z ed ,

th e writing mate rials by my side and p ro duce d the lette r as

rapidly as if I h ad bee n a common cle rk in an o fli c e D earest .

Lau ra Please c ome when eve r you like

, B reak the j ou rn ey
,
.

by sleeping i n Lond on at you r au nt s hou se G rieved to hear ’

.

o f dear Marian s i llness Eve r a ffe ctionately you rs I handed

’ ’
. .

these line s at arm s len gth to th e Count— I san k back i n my

,
’
,
— ‘
chai r I said Excu se me ; I am e nti re ly p ro strated ; I c a n
,

d o n o mo re Wi ll you rest and lun ch down stai rs

. Love to
’
all an d sympathy a n d s o o n G ooa mo rnin g
, , .
7
. .

H e made anothe r speech — th e man was ab solutely in

exhau stible I closed my eye s ; I e ndeavoured t o hear as
.

little as p ossible I n spite o f my e ndeavou rs I was obliged

.
,

t o hear a great deal My s iste r s e ndle s s husband c o ngra tu

.
’

lated him self an d con gratu late d m e o n th e result o f 0 m ,

i nte rvi ew ; h e mentioned a great deal mo re about hi s sym

p a th ies an d mi ne he dep lored my mi se rable h ealth ; he
o ff e re d to wri te me a p re scriptio n ; h e i mpressed o n m e the
n ece ssity of n ot fo rgetting what he had said about th e im
p ortance o f light ; h e accepted my obligin g i nvitation t o re st
and lunch ; he re com me nde d me to expect Lady Glyde i n two
o r thre e days time h e b egge d my permi ssi on to l oo k forward
’

to o u r n ext meeting i n stead of paining h im self and pai nin g ,

me by sayi ng farewell ; h e added a great deal mo re which

, , ,

I rej oice t o thin k I did n o t atte nd to at the time an d do n ot

, ,

remembe r n ow I heard his sympathetic voice travellin g

.

away from me by degre es — but l arge a s he was I n eve r , ,

heard h i m H e had the n egative me rit o f bein g ab solutely

.

n oi sele ss I don t kn ow wh en he ope ne d the d oo r o r when

.
’
,

he s hu t it I ve ntured t o make u se o f my eye s agai n after

.
,

an inte rval o f sile nce — an d he was gon e .

I rang for Louis an d reti re d to my bath room Tepid ,

- .

wate r strengthened with aro matic vinegar for myself an d

, , ,

c opiou s fumigati on for my study we re th e obviou s p rec a u , ,

tion s t o take ; an d o f cou rse I adopted them I rej oice to .

sa
y they p rove d s ucce ssful
, I enj oye d my customary siesta . .

I awoke moi st and cool .

My first i n qu i ri es we r e fo r the C o u nt H ad we r eally go t .

31 8
 T H E WO MAN I N WH ITE

room dreadfully frighten ed I met the s erva nt o n th e sta ir s .

,

and went at o nce to M is s H alc omb e to see what w a s th e

matte r The poo r lady was i n capab le of te lling me
. S he .

was walking about he r room with a p en i n her hand quite ,

light he aded in a state o f b urn ing feve r

-
, .

Lady Glyd e (being n o lon ger i n S i r Pe rcival s se rvice I ’

,

may without i mproprie ty me ntio n my forme r mi stres s by

, ,

her name i n stead o f calling he r My Lady ) was the fi rst to

,

come i n from her o wn bedroom

, S h e was so dreadfully .

alarmed a n d distre s sed that sh e was q uite usele ss The , .

Count F osco a n d his lad y who came u p stairs i mme diate ly

, ,
-

afte rwards we re both most se rviceable and ki nd

, H e r lady .

ship assisted me to ge t M is s H alcombe to h e r bed His .

’

lo rdsh ip th e Count remai ned i n the sitting room and havin g ,

-
, ,

sen t fo r my medic ine che st mad e a mixture fo r M is s H al -

,

eo m b e a n d a cooli ng lotion to b e applied to h er head so a s

, ,

to l ose n o tim e before th e doctor came We ap plied the .

lotio n ; but we co uld n ot get he r to take the mixtu re Sir .

Pe rcival u nde rto ok t o send for th e doctor H e despatche d a .

gro om o n h orseback fo r the n eare st medical man M r

, , , .

D awson o f O ak Lodge , .

’
M r D awson arrive d in less than an h our s time
. H e was .

a respectable e lderly man well kn own all roun d th e c ountry ; , ,

and we we re m uch alarme d wh en we foun d that h e con side red

the case to be a very seri ous o n e .

H is lordship the Count a ff ably e ntere d i nto conve rsation ,

with M r D awson and gave h is opini o ns with a j udici ous

.
,

freedom M r D awson n ot over—

. courteously in qui red i f hi s
.
, ,

lo rdshi p s advice was the advice o f a doctor ; an d bein g i1i

’

formed that it was the advi ce o f o n e w h o had studied medi ci ne ,

unprofe ssi onally replied that h e w a s n ot accustome d to c o n

,

sult with amateur physicians The Count with truly Chri stian - .
,

meekne ss o f temper smiled a nd left the ro om B efore he , , .

went o u t he told me that h e might b e found in case h e was

, ,

wante d i n the course o f the day at the boat h ouse o n the ,

-

banks o f th e lake Why h e should have gon e there I cann ot

.
,

say B ut h e did go remaining away the whole day till seve n

.

’
o clock which was di nne r ti me
, Pe rhaps h e wi shed to set - .
,

the example o f keepin g th e h ouse as quie t as p ossi ble It .

was e ntirely in his character t o d o so H e was a m ost c o n .

side rate n oble man .

M is s H alcombe passed a very bad night th e feve r coming

and goi ng a nd gettin g wo rse towards the m orning i n stead
, ,

o f bette r N o n urs e fit to wait o n he r b eing at han d i n the

.

neighbou rh ood he r ladyship the Cou ntes s and myself u nder

, , ,

32 0
 T HE W O M AN I N W H I T E

took th e duty re lievin g each oth e r , Lady Gl yd e mo st .

,

unwi sely in siste d o n sittin g u p with u s

,
S he was much to o .

n e rvo us and to o de licate in health t o bear th e anxi ety o f

M i s s H a lc o m be s i llnes s calm ly S he o n ly did he rs elf harm
’

fi
.
,

without bein g o f th e least real assistance A more gentl e .

a n d a ff ectionate lady neve r lived but sh e cried and sh e w a s ,

fri ghte ned — two weakn es se s whi ch made he r e nti rely unfit t o
be pre se n t in a sick room - .

S i r Percival an d the Coun t came i n the m orning t o make

thei r in qui ri e s .

S i r Pe rci v al (from di stre ss I pre sum e at h i s lady s a f ic , ,

’

tion an d at M iss H a lco m b e s illne ss ) appeared m uch con fuse d

,
’

a nd u n settled i n hi s m ind H i s lord shi p te stified o n th e .

,

c ontrary a becomin g c omposu re a n d i nte re st

,
H e had hi s .

straw hat in o n e h and a n d h i s boo k i n the oth e r ; an d h e ,

me nti oned to S i r Pe rcival i n my h earin g that h e would go , ,

‘
o u t agai n an d study at th e lake Let u s kee p th e h ou s e .

quiet h e said
,
’
Let u s n o t sm oke i n doors my frie nd n ow
.
-
, ,

M i ss H alc ombe i s ill Y o u go your way and I wi ll go m in e

.
, .

Whe n I study I like to be alon e , G ood m orn in g M rs .

, .

M ich elson .
’

S i r Pe rcival was no t civi l e n ou gh — perhaps I ough t in , ,

j u stice to say n ot compo sed e n ough — to take leave o f m e

,

with th e sam e polite atte nti on Th e only person in th e .

h ouse i ndeed wh o treated m e at that t ime o r at any oth er

, , , ,

o n th e fo oting o f a lady i n di stre ssed circumstance s was th e ,

Coun t H e had the man ners o f a true n oblem an ; he w a s

.

con siderate toward s every o ne E ve n th e young pe rso n .

( Fan ny by name ) wh o atte nded o n Lady G lyde was n o t ,

beneath h i s n otice Whe n she was sen t away by S i r Pe rcival

.
,

h is lord ship (sh owing me hi s swe et little bird s at th e time )

was most ki ndly anxiou s to know what had be come o f he r ,

whe re sh e was to go th e day sh e left B lac kwate r Park and s o ,

on. I t is i n such little deli cate attention s that the advantage s

o f aristocratic b irth always sh ow the mse lve s I make n o .

apology fo r i n t roducing the se particulars ; they are brough t

forward in j ustice to h is lo rdshi p whose characte r I have , ,

reason to kn ow is v iewe d rather harshly in certai n quarte rs

, .

A n oble man wh o c a n re spect a lady i n di stres sed ci rcum

stance s and c a n take a fathe rly i ntere st in th e fortun e s o f a n
,

h umble servan t girl shows principle s an d fee lings o f t o o ,

high a n o rder to be lightly called in que sti on I advan ce n o .

opinion s — I o ff e r fact s o nly My e ndeavou r th rough life is .

t o j udge n ot that I be n ot j udged, O n e o f my belove d .

h u sban d s fi n est s ermon s was o n that t ext I read i t c o n .

3 21 Y
 fi
T H E W O M AN I N W H I T E

sta ntly— my o wn copy o f th e e di ti on p rinted by su bscrip

in
tion i n th e fi rst days o f my widowh ood — and at every
, ,

fresh perusal I de rive an i ncrease o f spiritual benefi t and

,

edi c atio n .

The re w a s n o imp roveme n t in M i ss H alcombe ; and th e

second night was even worse than the fi rst M r D awson . .

was constant in hi s atte ndanc e The p ractical dutie s o f .

n ursin g We re sti ll d ivided between th e C ounte s s a nd myself ;

Lady Glyde persi sting in si ttin g u p with u s though we both ,
‘
e ntreate d her t o take s ome re st My place i s by M arian s .
’

b edside was he r o nly answe r

,
’
Wh ethe r I am i ll o r well , ,

no thi ng will i nduce me to lo se sight of h er .

Toward s mi d day I we nt d own stairs t o atten d to s ome

-
,

o f my regular d utie s An hour afte rwards o n my way back

.
,

to the sic k ro om I saw th e C ou n t (wh o had gon e o u t agai n

-
,

e arly for th e thi rd time ) e nte ri ng th e h all to all appearance

, , ,

i n the highest go od spiri ts S i r Percival at the same .

,

m oment put h i s head o u t o f th e lib ra ry door a nd addre sse d

,
-
,

hi s n oble frien d wi th extreme e age rn es s in the se word s

, ,

H ave yo u foun d h er
’
H i s lord ship s large face became dimpled all ove r wi th
placi d smi les but h e made n o reply i n w o rds At th e same .

time S ir Percival tu rn ed hi s h ead obse rved that I was

, ,

approachin g the stai rs a n d looked at m e in the m ost rudely ,

angry man ne r possi ble .

Come in here and tel l me about i t he said to th e Coun t ,

’
, .

f W h en ev er the re are women i n a hou se th ey re always s ure ’

,

to be going up or down stairs .

’

M y dear Pe rcival obse rved h i s lordship kindly M rs ,

’

, ,
.

M ich elson h as dutie s Pray recogni se h er admi rable perfor .

mance of th em as si ncerely as I do ! H ow i s th e su ffere r ,

Mrs M ichel son

.

’
N o bette r my l ord I regre t t o sa y, , .

S ad — mo st sa d ! remarked th e Coun t Y o u look

’
.

fatigued M rs M ich elso n, I t i s ce rtai nly tim e you an d my

. .

wife h ad s ome help in n ursing I think I may be the mean s .

o f offe ring y o u that h elp C irc umstan ce s have h appened .

which wi ll oblige Madame Fo sco to trave l t o Lond on e ithe r

to morrow o r th e day afte r S he wi ll go away i n th e morn
- .

i ng an d return at n ight ; and sh e wil l b ring back with h e r

, ,

to re lieve you a n u rs e o f excellen t con duct and capacity wh o

, ,

i s n ow disengaged The woman i s kn own t o my wife as a .

person to be tru sted B efore sh e come s here say n othing .

,

about h er if you please to th e doctor because h e will look

, , ,

with a n e v i l eye on any n urse o f my provi din g Whe n sh e .

32 2
 T HE W O MA N I N W H I T E

fi fi
n esS a nd ex ha u sti o n J ust as I was m entioning th ese las t
.

particulars M r D awso n cam e o u t from the bedroom

, . .

Good morn in g s ir said h i s lord ship stepping fo rward

, ,
’
,

i n the m ost u rban e manne r a nd s topping th e doctor w ith a , ,

‘
h igh bred resolution impossible to re s i st I greatly fear ou ,

fi nd n o improvemen t i n th e symptom s to day 9 .

‘I
n d decided i m p ro v em ent an swe red M r Dawson . .

Y o u still persist i n you r l owe ring treatmen t of thi s case

o f feve r conti nued hi s lordsh ip .

‘
I pe rsi st i n the treatme n t which i s j u stified by my o w n
p rofe ssional experie nce sai d M r D awson ,
’
. .

Pe rmit m e to pu t o ne que sti on to you o n the vast subj ec t

‘ ’
o f professional experience obse rved the Count I p resum e , .

to o ff e r n o more advice — I only presume to make an i nquiry .

You live at some di stance sir from the gi ganti c ce ntre s o f , ,

scientific activity — London and Pari s H ave yo u ever heard .

o f the wasting e ff ects o f feve r being reason ably an d intelligibly

repaired by fortifyin g th e exhau sted patient with brandy wine , ,

ammon i a an d quin i n e ? H a s that n ew he re sy o f the h ighest

,

medical auth oritie s eve r reached you r ears — Ye s o r N o , .

‘
When a p rofessional man puts that que sti o n to me I ,

shall be glad to an swe r him said the doctor openin g the ,

’
,

d oor to go o u t Y o u are n ot a profe ssional man

. an d I beg
to decli ne answering y ou .
’

B u ff eted in thi s in excusably un civi l way o n o n e ch eek the , ,

Cou nt l ike a p ractical Chri stian immediately turn ed the

, ,

other and said in the sweete st man ne r Good m o rn ing M r

, , , , . .

D awson .
’

I f my late belove d hu sband had bee n so fortunate as to

know hi s lordship h ow highly he a nd th e Count would have
,

e steemed each othe r

H e r ladyship the Cou ntess retu rned by the last train that
n ight and brought with he r the nu rse from London
, I was .

’
i n st ructed that thi s person s name was M rs Rubelle H er . .

pe rsonal appearan ce and her imperfect E n glish w hen sh e

, ,

s poke i nforme d me that sh e was a foreign er

, .

I h ave always cultivated a feeling o f hu man e in dulgenc e

for foreigners They d o n ot posses s o u r ble ssings an d ad y a h
.

tage s ; a nd they are for th e most part b rought u p in the ,

b lin d e rrors o f pope ry I t has also always bee n my precept

.

and p ractice as i t w a s my dear hu sban d s precept and practice

,
’

before me (see S ermon xxix in the Co llecti on by the late Rev ,

.

S a muel M i chelson to do as I would be don e by O n

,
.

both the se acco u nts I will n o t sa y that M rs Rubelle struck

, .

34
2
 T H E W O MAN I N WH I T E
me as being a small wi ry sly pe rson o f fifty o r th e reab outs
, , , ,

with a dark brown o r Creole complexion an d watchfu l ligh t ,

gray eye s N o r wi ll I mention for the reaso n s j ust alleged

.
, ,

that I thought he r d ress though i t was of the plain est blac k,

silk i nappropriately costly in textu re a nd u nn ece ssarily refine d

,

i n trimmin g and fini sh for a pe rson in he r po sition i n life

, I .

sh ould n ot like these things to be said o f me an d the refore i t ,

i s my duty n ot to sa y the m o f M rs Rubelle I will me re ly . .

m ention that he r manne rs we re — not pe rhap s u n pleasantly

re served— but only remarkably quiet an d retiring ; that sh e
looked abou t he r a great d eal and said very little which , ,

might have ari se n quite as much from he r o w n mode sty as ,

from distrus t o f h e r positi on at B lackwate r Park ; and that

she decli ned to partake of supper (which was curious perhap s , ,

but surely n ot suspici ou s although I myself p olitely i nvited

he r to that meal in my o w n room , .

At the Cou nt s particular sugge stion (so like h is lordship s

’ ’

forgivin g ki ndne ss it was arran ged that M rs Rubelle .

should n ot ente r o n he r d uties u nti l she had bee n seen an d ,

approved by the doctor the next mo rnin g I sat u p th at night . .

Lady Glyde appeared to be very u nwilling that the n ew n u rs e

should b e employed to atte nd o n M i ss Halcombe S uch wan t .

o f liberality towards a foreigne r o n the part o f a lady o f he r .

educatio n and refine ment s urpri se d m e I v en tured to say .

,

My lady we mu st all re me mbe r n ot to b e hasty i n o u r j udg

,

ments o n o u r infe ri ors — e specially whe n they come fro m

fore ign parts Lady Glyd e did n ot appear to atte nd to me
.
’
.

S he only sighed and ki ssed M i ss H a lc o m b e s h and as i t lay

,
’

o n the cou nterpane S ca rcely a judicio u s proceedin g in a

.

sick room with a patien t whom i t w a s h ighly de si rable n ot t o

-
,

excite B ut poor Lady G lyde knew n othin g of nu rsing

.

nothing whateve r I am so rry to say , .

The n ext m orning M rs Rubelle was sent to th e sit ting

, .

room to be approved by the d octor o n h i s way through t o

, ,

the bedro om .

I left Lady Glyd e with M i s s H alcombe wh o w a s slumbe r ,

i ng at th e time and j oi ned Mrs Rube lle with the obj ec t o f

, .
,

kindly preve nting he r from feeling st range an d ne rvou s in

co nsequ en ce o f the u nce rtai nty o f he r si tuati on S h e did n ot .

appear to see it i n that light S h e s eemed to b e quite sati sfied .

,

beforehand that M r D awso n would approve o f h e r an d she

, .

sat calmly looking o u t o f wi ndow with eve ry ap pearance o f ,

e nj oyi ng th e cou ntry ai r S ome people might have th ou gh t.

s uch con duct sugg estive o f bra z e n assu rance I beg to say that .

I mor e lib er all y set it down t o extraordinary stren gth o f mind .

3 5
2
 T H E WO MAN I N W H I T E
I nstead o f th e docto r c omin g u p to u s I was se nt for to ,

see th e docto r I thou ght thi s change of a ff ai rs rather odd

.
,

bu t M rs Rubelle did n o t appear to b e a ff ected by i t in any

fi
.

way I left he r still calmly lo oking o u t o f the window a nd

“

. ,

still sile ntly e nj oying th e cou ntry ai r .

M r D awson was wai tin g fo r me by h imself in the break -

. , ,
6

fast room
- .

About thi s n ew nurs e M rs M ich elson said the doctor ,

.
,
’
.

Y es, si r
I n d that sh e has b een brought he re fro m London by
th e wife o f that fat o ld foreigne r who i s always trying to ,

i nterfe re with me M rs M ich elson th e fat o ld foreign er i s a

. .
,
’
Quack .

Thi s was very rude I wa s natu rally sh ocked at i t

. .

‘ ‘
Are you aware si r I said that you are talking o f a
, ,
’
,

n obleman
‘
Pooh ! H e i s n t th e first Q uack with a hand le to hi s
’

n ame They re all C ou nt s — h an g em

.
’ ’

’
H e wou ld n o t be a fri en d of S i r Percival G lyde s si r i f , ,

h e was n ot a m ember o f the highes t aristocracy — excepting _

th e E nglish ari stocracy o f cou rse ,

.
’

Very well M rs M ichelson call hi m what you li ke ; a n d let

, .
,
’
u s get back t o th e nu rse I have been obj ectin g to h er already . .

With out having see n her si r ,

‘
Ye s ; wi th out h avi ng see n he r S he may be th e be st .

n u rse in existence but sh e is n ot a n u rse o f my p rovi di ng .

I h ave pu t that obj ecti on to S i r Pe rcival as the maste r o f th e ,

fi
h ou se H e d oe sn t support me
. H e says a nurs e o f my
’
.

p rovidi ng would have bee n a stran ge r from Lon do n als o ;

a n d h e thi nks th e woman ought to have a trial after h i s ,

wife s au n t has take n th e trouble to fetch h er fro m London

’
.

’
The re i s some j ustice in that ; an d I can t decently say N o .

B ut I h ave made i t a conditio n that she is to go at once if I ,

n d reaso n to complai n o f her Thi s p roposal bein g o n e .

which I h ave some righ t t o make as medical atten dant S i r , ,

Pe rcival has con se nted to i t N o w M rs M iche lson I know .

,
.
,

I c a n dep en d o n y o u a n d I want you to keep a sharp eye o n

th e n u rse fo r th e fi rs t day or two and to see that sh e give s
, ,

M is s H alcomb e n o medi ci nes bu t min e T his fo reign n oble .

m a n o f you rs i s dyin g to try h is quack remedies (mesmeri sm

i n cluded ) o n my patie nt and a nurse wh o i s brought he re by
h i s wife may b e a little too willing to help him Y o u u nder .

ll
stand Ve ry w e then we may go upstai rs , I s th e nu rse , .

’
th ere
? I ll say a word to h er before she goe s i nto the sick !
,

ro om .

326
 T H E WO MAN IN W H ITE

backs she wa s a good n u rse ; an d sh e n eve r gave eith e r

,

Lady Glyde o r M r D awson the shadow o f a re as on for .

complai nin g o f he r .

The next ci rcumstance o f i mportan ce th at o ccurre d in the

h o u se was the tempo rary ab sence o f the C ou n t occasi oned ,
”

by bu si nes s which took hi m to Lond on H e we nt away ( I .

thin k ) o n the mo rn ing o f th e fou rth day a fte r th e arrival o f

M rs Rubelle ; and at partin g h e spo ke to Lady G lyde ve ry
.
, , ,

se ri ou sly in my p resence o n th e subj ect o f M i ss H alcom be

, , .

‘Trust M r D aws on ‘
h e said fo r a few day s more i f
.
,
’
, ,

o u please B ut if the re i s n o t som e ch ange fo r th e bette r

y .
, ,

in that time se n d fo r advice fro m Lo n don whi ch thi s mul e

, ,

o f a d octor must accept i n spite o f himself O ff en d M r . .

D awson and save Mi s s H alcombe

, I s ay th is se riou sly o n .
,

my word o f h on ou r an d from the bottom o f my h eart .

’

H i s lordship spo ke with extrem e fe eling an d ki ndne s s .

B ut poor Lady G lyde s n erve s we re so c omp letely bro ke n ’

d own that sh e se emed quite frighte ne d at hi m S he tremble d .

fro m h ead t o fo ot and all owe d hi m t o take hi s l eave with -

,

o u t utte ri n g a word o n he r side S he turn e d to me whe n h e .

,

had gone and said Oh M rs M ichelson I am heart b roke n

, , , .
,
-

about my si ste r and I have n o frien d t o advi se me , D o y ou

thi nk M r D awson i s wron g ? H e told m e him self thi s
.

morning that th e re was n o fear and n o n eed to sen d for

, ,

anothe r docto r .
’

‘
With all respec t to M r D awson I an swe red i n you r .
,
’
,
’ ’
ladyship s p lace I sho uld remembe r the Cou n t s advice ’
.

Lady Glyde tu rned away from m e sudden ly with a n a p ,

e a ra n c e o f desp a i r fo r which I was quite un ab le to accoun t

p ,
‘ ‘
H z s advice ! she said to herself God help u s— lz z s
' '
’
.

advice

T h e C ount was away from B lackwater Park as n early as ,

I re membe r a we ek , .

S ir Percival seemed to feel the l oss o f hi s lordship in variou s

ways and appeared also I th ought much d epre ssed and
, , ,

altered by the sickn ess and sorrow in the h ou se O ccasi on .

ally he was s o very restless that I c ould no t h elp n oticin g

, ,

i t ; c oming and going and wanderin g he re and there and ,

eve rywhere in the grou nds H i s i nqui rie s about M i s s H al .

combe and about hi s lady (whose failing health seemed to

,

cau se hi m si nce re anxiety ) were m ost attentive I thin k hi s .

h eart was much soften ed I f some ki nd clerical friend— some .

such friend as h e migh t have foun d in my late excellent h u s

band - ha d be en n e ar hi m at thi s time ch eer in g m or a l pro gre ss ,

328
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E
might h a v e bee n made with S i r P ercival I seldom fi nd .

myse lf mi stake n o n a poi nt of thi s so rt ; h aving had exp e

rien c e to guide me i n my happy marri ed days .

H e r ladyship the Cou nte s s wh o was n o w th e on ly c o m ,

pany for S i r Percival down stai rs rathe r n eglected him as I , ,

con side red O r pe rhaps i t might have bee n that he n eglected

.
, ,

he r A stranger might almost have suppose d that th ey were

.

ben t n o w they were left togethe r alon e o n actually avoidin g

, ,

o n e an othe r Th is o f co urse cou ld n ot be

. B ut i t did s o
, , .

happen n eve rthe le s s that th e C ou ntess m ade her di nne r at

, ,

luncheon time and that sh e always came u p stai rs toward s

-
,
-

evenin g although M rs Rubelle h ad take n the n ursin g d u tie s

, .

entirely o ff h er hand s S ir Percival dined by h im self ; and .

William (the m a n o u t o f live ry ) made th e remark in my ,

h earing that his maste r had put hi mself o n half rati on s

,

of food a n d o n a double allowan ce o f dri nk I attach .

n o imp ortan ce t o such a n in s olen t ob servation as this o n ,

the part o f a s ervant I reprobated it at the ti me a n d I .

,

wish to be u nderstood as reprobatin g i t once m ore o n thi s

occas ion .

I n th e cou rs e o f th e n ext few d ays M is s H alcombe did ,

certai nly see m to all o f u s to b e mendin g a little O ur faith .

in M r D aws on revived
. H e appeared to b e ve ry confiden t .

ab out th e case an d he assu red Lady Glyde when sh e sp ok e ,

t o him o n th e subj ect that h e wou ld himself prop ose to s en d ,

for a physician th e momen t h e felt s o much as th e shadow o f

a doub t cros sin g hi s o w n mind .

Th e on ly pers on amon g u s wh o did n ot appear t o b e

reli eved by the se words was th e Countess S he said t o m e , .

privately that she could n ot feel easy about M is s H alcombe

, ,

on Mr D aws on s auth ority and that sh e sh ou ld wait anxi

’
.
,

o u sly for he r husband s opini on o n h i s retu rn That retu rn’

,
.
,

h i s lette rs i nformed her would take place i n thre e days ti me ,

’
.

The Cou nt an d Cou nte ss c orre sp on ded regu larly every m orn
i ng d uring h i s lord ship s absence They were in that re spect
,
’
.
, ,

as in all othe rs a pattern to married pe ople , .

O n the eve nin g o f th e th ird day I n oticed a change i n ,

M is s H alcombe wh ich cau sed me seri ous apprehen si on M rs

, . .

Rubelle noticed it too We said n oth in g o n th e subject t o .

Lady Glyd e w h o was then lying asleep completely over

, ,

powe red by exhaustion o n th e sofa in the sitting ro om ,

- .

M r D awso n did n ot pay hi s even in g vi sit till later than

.

u sual As soon as h e set eye s o n hi s patient I sa w hi s face

.
,

alte r H e tried to hide it ; but he looked both co nfu sed an d

.

a l a r med A messenger was sen t to his r eside nce fo r h is

,

329
 T HE W O M AN I N W H I T E

medic in e che st di si nfectin g preparation s were u sed in th e

’

-
,

room a nd a bed was made up for hi m in the h ouse by hi s

,

o w n d irection s H as th e fever turned to i nfecti on

. I
‘ ‘
whispered to h im I am afraid i t h a s h e an swered ; we
.
,
’

’
shall kn o w better to morrow m orni ng - .

By M r : D awson s o w n directi on s Lady Glyd e was kept in

’

ignorance o f thi s change fo r the worse H e him self ab solutely .

forbade he r o n accou nt o f h er health to j oi n u s in the bed

, ,

ro om that n ight S he tried to resist— there was a sad sce ne

.

but he had hi s medical auth ority to support hi m ; a nd h e

carri ed hi s p oi nt .

The next m orning o n e of the me n servants was sen t t o,

-

Londo n at eleve n o clock with a letter to a physician in town

,
’
, ,

a n d wi th orders to bri n g the n ew d octo r back with h im by

th e earl iest possible t rain H alf a n h ou r afte r th e messe nge r

.

had gon e th e C oun t return ed to B lackwate r Park

, .

The C ountess o n he r o wn res ponsi bility i mmediately

, ,

b rought him i n t o se e the patie nt The re was n o imp ropriety .

that I could dis c over i n he r taking th i s c ou rse His l ordsh i p .

w a s a marrie d m a n ; h e was o ld e n ough t o b e M i ss H al

combe s fathe r ; and h e saw he r in the p resen ce o f a female
’

relative Lady G lyde s au nt

, M r D aws on n eve rth ele s s p ro
’
. .

tested again st hi s p rese n ce i h the room ; b ut I c ould plainly ,

remark th e docto r was to o much alarmed to mak e any seriou s

,

resistance o n th i s occasi on .

Th e poor s u ff e rin g lady w a s pas t kn owing any o ne about

he r S he seemed to tak e he r friends fo r e ne mi es Whe n th e
. .

C ount app roach ed he r bedside he r eyes which had bee n w a n , ,

de ring i nce ssantly rou n d an d rou nd the room before s ettle d ,

o n h is face with a dreadful stare o f te rror which I shall

, ,

re membe r t o my dyi ng day Th e Cou nt sat down by he r ; .

felt he r pulse a n d he r te mples ; looked at h e r ve ry atte n tively ;

,

and the n tu rne d rou n d u pon the docto r with such a n expres
s i on o f i ndign ati on a n d co ntemp t in h is face t h at th e wo rd s ,

faile d o n M r D aws on s lips an d h e Sto o d fo r a momen t ’ '

.
, , ,

pale wi th ange r an d a la rm p a le an d pe rfectly speechles s h

H i s l ords hip lo oke d n ext at me .

When d id the change happe n h e a sked .

I told h im the time .

H as Lady G lyde b een in th e room si nc e ? ’

I rep lied that sh e had n ot The d octor h ad abs olu tely .

forbidde n he r to come i nto th e roo m on th e even i ng b efore , ,

a n d had repeated th e order again i n th e m orn ing .

H ave yo u a nd M rs Rubelle bee n mad e aware o f th e full.

ex tent o f the mi sch ief ? —was hi s n ext que stion .

330
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E
arm s a nd sank forward
,
S h e had fai nted The Cou ntes s . .

a n d I to ok he r from th e doctor an d carried he r i nto her o wn ,

room Th e Count preceded us and waite d i n th e passage

.
, ,

till I came o u t and told hi m that we h ad recovered her fro m

,

the swoon .

’
I went back to the d octor to tel l him by Lady G lyde s ,

de sire that she insisted o n speakin g to h i m immediately

, .

H e withdrew at o nce t o quiet h er ladyshi p s agitati on an d ’

,
’
to as s ure he r o f the physician s arrival in th e cou rse o f a few
h ou rs T h ese h ou rs passed ve ry slowly S ir P ercival and
. .

th e Count were togethe r down stairs an d sent u p from ti me , ,

t o ti me to make thei r inqui rie s At last between five and

,
.
,

s ix o clock t o o u r great relief th e physician came

’

, , .

H e w a s a youn ge r m a n than M r D awson ; very seriou s .

,

an d very decided What h e th ough t o f th e previou s treat

.

ment I cannot say ; but i t stru ck m e as cu riou s that h e put

,

many m ore question s to myself and to M rs Rubelle than h e .

put t o the d oc to r a nd that h e did n ot appear to liste n with

,

much i nte rest to what M r D awso n said while h e was e x .

,
’
a m in ing M r D aws on s patient
. I began to su spect fro m .
,

what I ob served in thi s way that the Cou nt had bee n righ t ,

abou t the i lln ess all the way th rough ; and I was n atu rally
confirmed i n th at idea wh en M r D awson afte r som e littl e , .
,

d elay asked th e o n e i mportant question which the London

,

doctor had be en sent fo r to set at rest .

What i s you r opinion o f th e fever h e i nquired .

‘T yphu s ’ ‘
replied th e physician
, Typhu s feve r beyon d .

’
all doubt .

That quiet foreign person Mrs Rubelle cro ssed he r thin , .

, ,

brown hands i n fro nt o f h e r a nd looked at m e with a ve ry ,

significan t smile Th e C o u nt himself c ould hardly have

.

appeare d more gratified if h e had bee n presen t i n th e room , ,

a n d h ad heard th e confirmation o f his o w n opinion .

Afte r givin g u s some u seful directi on s abou t th e manage

me nt o f the patient an d me ntionin g that h e wou ld com e,

agai n i n five days time th e physician withdrew t o con sul t i n

’
,

private with M r D aws on H e would o ff e r n o opin ion o n

. .

M is s H a lc o m be s chan ce s o f recovery : h e said i t w a s im

’

po ssible a t that stage o f the illnes s to p ronounce o ne way o r ,

the othe r .

The five days pas se d anxi ou sly .

Counte ss Fo sco an d myself took i t by turn s to reliev e

M rs Rubelle ; M iss H a lc o m b e s condition growing wors e
.
’

a n d wo r se, a nd requirin g o u r u tm ost care and a tte ntio n It .

332
 T HE W O M A N I N WH I T E
wa s a te rribly tryi ng time Lady G lyde (supported a s M r .
,
.

D awso n said by th e con stant strai n o f he r su sp en s e o n he r

,

si ste r s accou nt ) ralli ed in th e m o st extraordinary man ne r

’ '

a n d sh owed a fi rm nes s and dete rminatio n fo r which I sh ou ld

myself n eve r h ave give n h e r c red it S he i n si ste d o n comin g .

i nto th e sic k room two o r th ree time s eve ry day t o l oo k at

-
, ,

fi
M i ss H alcomb e with he r own eye s promi sin g n ot to go to o
close to th e bed if th e d octo r would con sen t t o h e r wi she s
, ,

s o far M r D awso n ve ry u nwillingly made th e con ce ssio n

. .

required o f hi m I thin k h e sa w that i t was h ope le ss to di s

pute with he r S h e came i n every day ; an d sh e self
.

denyingly kept h e r promi se I felt i t personally so distressin g .

(as remindi ng m e o f my o wn a f ic tio n durin g my hu sband s

’

las t illne ss ) to see h ow sh e su ff ere d u nde r the se circu m

stance s that I must beg n o t to dwell o n th i s part o f the
,

subj ect any longe r I t is more agreeable t o m e to men tion

.

th at n o fresh disputes took p lace betwee n M r D aws on and .

th e Cou n t H i s lo rd sh ip made all h i s in qui rie s by deputy ;

.

an d remain ed co ntinually in com pany wi th S i r Pe rcival ,

d own stairs .

O n th e fifth day th e physi cian cam e again and gave u s

, ,

a little hope H e said th e ten th day from the fi rst appearance

.

o f th e typh u s would p robably de cide th e re su lt o f th e illne ss ,

and h e arrange d fo r hi s thi rd visit to take place o n that date .

T h e i nterval passed as before— except that th e Cou nt w en t

t o Lon don again on e mo rn in g an d retu rn ed at ni gh t
, ,
.

O n the tenth day i t pleased a me rciful Providen ce t o

relieve o u r h ou seh old from all furthe r anxiety an d alarm .

Th e physician positive ly assured u s that M is s H alcomb e w a s

o u t o f danger S he wants n o d octor n ow— all she requ ire s
.
,

i s carefu l watching and nursin g for s om e time to come and ,

that I see sh e has Th os e we re h is own word s That

.
’
.

evenin g I read my hu sban d s tou chin g sermon o n Recovery ’

from S i ckn ess with m ore happi n es s an d advantage (in a

,

s piritual poi n t o f vi ew ) than I eve r re membe r to have de rive d

fro m it before .

T h e e ffect of the good n ews o n poo r Lady Glyde was I ,

gri eve to say qu ite overp owe ring Sh e wa s too weak t o

, .

bear th e violen t reaction ; an d in anoth er day o r two sh e ,

san k i nto a state o f debility a nd depre ssion which obliged ,

he r to keep h e r room Re st a nd quiet an d chan ge o f ai r

.
,

afte rward s were th e be st remedie s which M r D awso n could

, .

sugge st for h e r benefit I t wa s fortunate that matte rs we r e .

n o worse for o n th e ve ry day afte r she too k t o h e r room

, , ,

th e C o u n t and the doctor had an othe r di sagr eement ; and ,

333
 TH E W O MAN I N W H I T E
t h i s time the di spute betwee n the m was o f so seriou s a
,

n ature that M r D awson left the h ou s e

, . .

I was n ot p rese nt at th e ti me ; but I u ndersto od that th e

subject o f di spute was the am ou nt o f n ou ri sh me nt which -

i t was n eces sary to give to assist M is s H a lc o m b e s c o nv a l ’

esc en c e afte r the exh au sti on o f th e feve r M r D awson

,
. .
,

n ow that h is patie nt was s afe was le ss i nclined than eve r to ,

submit to u nprofe s sio nal i nte rference a nd th e C oun t ( I c a n

n ot i magi n e why ) lost al l the se lf control whi ch he had s o -

j udiciously p re served o n forme r occasi on s and tau nted th e ,

doctor ove r an d ove r again with hi s m istake ab out the feve r

, , ,

whe n i t change d to typhu s T h e u nfortu nate a ffai r ended in .

M r Dawso n s appealing to S i r Pe rcival a nd th reatenin g

.
’
,

( o w that h e cou ld leave with ou t ab solute dange r to M iss

n

H alcombe ) to withdraw from h is attendance at B lackwater

’
Park if the Cou nt s i nterference was n ot peremptorily sup
,

pres sed from that mome nt S i r Pe rcival s reply (th ough n ot.
’

designedly u ncivi l ) had only re sulted in making matte rs

worse ; a n d M r D awson had th ereupon wi thd rawn from th e
.

’
h ouse in a state o f extrem e i ndignation at Cou nt Fosco s
,

u sage o f him a nd h ad sen t in hi s bill th e next morn ing

,
.

We we re n ow the refore left with out th e atte n dance o f a

, ,

m edical man Although there was n o actual n ecessity for

.

an othe r d octo r— nu rsing a n d watchin g b ei ng as th e physician ,

h ad observed all that M i ss H alcombe requi red — I sh ould

,

still if my au th ority had been con su lted h ave obtained pro

, ,
’
fessio n a l as sistance from some o th er quarte r for form s , ,

sake .

The matte r d id n ot seem to stri ke S i r Pe rcival in that

light H e sai d i t would b e time e n ough t o send for anothe r
.

d octor if M is s H alcomb e sh owed any sign s o f a re lap se

,
In .

the mean whil e we h ad the C ou nt to con sult in any mino r

,

di fficu lty and we n eed n o t u nnece s sari ly disturb our patient ,

in h e r pre se nt weak a nd n ervou s co ndi ti on by th e presence ,

o f a strange r at h e r b ed side There was m uch th at was .

reason able n o doubt in th es e con side rati on s bu t they left

, ,

m e a little anxi ou s neverth eles s N or was I quite satisfied

, .
,

i n my o w n mind o f th e p rop riety o f o u r con cealing th e

,
’
doctor s ab sen ce as we did from Lady G lyde , I t wa s a , .

me rcifu l deception I admi t — for sh e w a s i n n o state t o bear

,

any fre sh anxieti es B ut still i t was a deception ; and as .

,

such to a p erson of my pri nciple s at be st a doubtfu l

, ,

p roceedin g .

A se cond pe rpl e x i ng ci r cu mstance wh ich happe ned on the

o wl "
 T HE W O MAN I N W HI T E

‘Y o u will excu se me for re mi ndin g yo u S i r Pe rciva l t hat if , ,

th e s ervants go to morrow they mu st h ave a month s wages

-
,
’

’ ’
i n l ie u o f a month s warning .

’ ’
Le t th em A m onth s wage s save s a m onth s waste an d
’ ’
gluttony in th e se rvants hall - .

Thi s last remark conveyed an asper sion of the most

o ff en sive ki nd o n my management I h ad to o m uch self .

respect t o defe nd myself unde r s o gross a n im pu tation .

Ch ri stian con side ratio n fo r th e h elple s s position o f M is s

H alc omb e and Lady G lyde an d fo r th e seriou s in convenien ce
,

which my sudde n absence migh t i nflict o n them alon e pre ,

vented me from resignin g my situatio n o n t h e s pot I rose .

i mmediately I t would h ave lowe red me in my o wn e stima

tion to have pe rm itted th e i ntervie wto con tin u e a momen t
.

longe r .

Afte r that last remark S i r Percival I have n othi ng more

, ,

t o sa y You r di rection s shall be attended to

. Pron oun cing .
’

those words I bowe d m y head with the m ost di stant respect

, ,

and we nt o u t o f th e room .

Th e n ext day the se rvants left in a body S i r Pe rcival

, .

h imself di smissed the groom s a n d stablemen sendin g them

“

with all th e h orse s bu t o n e to Lon don O f th e whol e

, .

d omestic e stablishment in doo rs a nd o u t th e re n o w remai ne d

,
-
,

only myself M argaret Po rche r an d th e garden e r ; thi s last

, ,

livin g i n h i s o w n cottage and being wanted t o take care o f

,

the o n e h orse that remai ned in the stable s .

With th e h ou se left i n thi s strange a n d lon ely conditi on ;

with the m istres s o f i t i ll i n h er room wi th M i ss H alcombe
still as he lples s as a ch ild an d with the doctor s attendanc e ’

withdrawn from u s in e n mi ty— i t was s u rely n ot u n natu ral

that my spi rits shou ld sink an d my cu stomary compo su re b e
,

very hard to maintai n My min d w a s ill at ease I w ish ed

. .

th e poo r ladie s both well again ; and I wish ed m yself away

from B lackwater Park .

T HE n ext even t that o ccu rred was o f so singular a n atu re ,

that i t might have cau sed me a feeling of superstiti ou s su rpri se ,

if my mind had n ot b ee n fortifie d by principle again st any

pagan weaknes s o f that sort Th e un easy sens e o f some .

thin g wrong in th e family which had made me wi sh myself

away from B lackwater Park was actually followed strange , ,

to say by my departure from the h ous e

, I t i s tru e that m y .

336
 T H E WO MAN I N W H I T E
absence was fo r a temporary period on ly bu t th e coi nci den c e
was in my opinion n ot th e le ss remarkable o n that acc o un t
, , .

My departu re took place u nde r th e following ci rcum

stance s
A day o r two after the se rvants all left I was agai n s en t ,

for t o see S i r Pe rcival The unde se rved slu r whi ch h e had .

cas t o n my manage me nt o f the househ old d id n ot I a m , ,

happy to say preven t me fro m retu rn ing go od for evi l to th e

,

be st of my ability by complyi ng with hi s reque st as readi ly

,

an d re spectfully as ever I t cost m e a struggle with that .

falle n n ature which we all share in c ommo n befo re I could ,

suppre ss my feelings B ein g acc ustomed to self di scipli n e I

.
-
,

accompli sh ed th e sacrifice .

I found S i r Percival an d Co un t F o sco sittin g toge the r ,

agai n O n thi s occasi on hi s lordship remained pre sent at th e

.

i nterview an d ass isted in th e devel opmen t o f S i r Pe rcival s

,
’

V 1 ews .

The s ubjec t to w h ich they n ow re que ste d my attention ,

related to th e h ealthy ch an ge o f ai r by which we all hoped

that M is s H alcomb e and Lady G lyd e might s oon b e e nable d
to profit S i r Percival me ntio ne d that both th e ladie s would
.

p robably pas s th e autu mn (by i nvitati on o f Frede rick Fairli e ,

E squire ) at Lim m eridge H ouse Cumberland B ut befor e , ;

fi
they went the re i t was his opinio n confirme d by Co unt Fosc o
, ,

( wh o here took u p th e conve rsatio n an d continued i t t o th e

end ) that they would be nefit by a sh ort reside n ce fi rs t i n th e
,

ge nial cli mate o f Torquay Th e great obj ect therefore was .

, ,

to e ngage lodgi ngs at that place a ff o rding all the co mforts ,

an d advantage s o f which th ey stood in ne ed ; a nd th e great

di f c ulty was to fi n d a n exp eri e nced perso n capable o f
ch oo sing the so rt o f residence which they wanted I n thi s .

emergen cy the Co un t begged to i n quire o n S i r Percival s

, ,
’

behalf wh eth er I would obj ect to give th e ladie s th e b en efi t

,

o f my as si stance by proceeding myself to To rquay i n their

,

i nte rests .

I t was i mpossible for a pers on in my situation to mee t ,

any propo sal mad e in thes e ter ms with a pos itive o h

, ,

j ec tio n .

I could o nly ve nture to represent th e se rious inco nven ienc e

o f my leaving B lackwate r Park i n the extraordinary abse nc e ,

o f all the in door se rvants with the o ne exceptio n of M argare t

-

Porche r B ut S i r Pe rc ival an d hi s l ordship declared that they

.

were b oth willing t o put u p wi th i nconven ien ce for th e s ak e

o f the i nvalids I n ext re spectfully sugge sted wri tin g to a n
.

a gent at Torqu ay but I was met here by being remind e d of

337 Z
 T H E WO M AN I N W H ITE
th e imp rude nce o f takin g lodgings w ithout fi rst s ee in g them .

I was also i nformed that the Coun tes s (wh o would oth erwis e
h ave gon e to D evon shire h erself) could n ot in Lady Gl yde s ,
’

p re sent condition leave her n iece an d that S ir Percival a nd

,

th e Coun t had bu si ness to tran sact togeth er which wou ld ,

ob lige them to rem ai n at B lackwater Park I n sh ort i t was .

,

clearly sh own m e that if I did n ot u nde rtak e th e e rrand n o

, ,

o n e e ls e could b e tru sted with it U nder th ese ci rcumstances

.
,

I cou ld on ly i nform S i r Pe rcival th at my servi ce s were at the

disp osal of M is s H alcomb e and Lady Glyde .

I t was thereup on arranged th at I sh ould leave th e n ext

m orning that I sh ould occupy on e o r two days in examining
all the m os t conveni ent h ou se s i n T orquay ; an d th a t I sh oul d
return with my re port as s oo n as I c onven iently c ou ld A
, , .

m em orandu m was writte n for me by hi s lordshi p statin g th e ,

re qu isites wh ich th e p lac e I was se nt t o take mu st b e found to

p os se s s an d a n ote o f the pecu niary limi t assign ed to me was ,

added by S ir Pe rcival .

M y o w n i dea o n readin g ove r the se in structi on s w a s that

, , ,

n o such re si de nce as I s aw d e scribed c ou ld be foun d at any

wateri ng place in E nglan d ; and that even if i t cou ld by
-
,

fi
chanc e b e di sc ove red i t would certai n ly no t be p arted wi th
,

for any pe ri od o n s uc h te rm s as I was permitted to o ffe r

, I .

h inted at the s e difli c u lties t o b oth th e gentlemen ; but S i r

Percival (wh o u n dertook to an swer m e ) did n ot appear to fee l
them . I t was n ot for m e t o dispute th e question I said n o .

m ore ; b ut I fe lt a very stron g conv iction that th e bu sine s s

o n which I w a s sen t away was s o bese t by di f c ultie s that

my e rrand was almost hope les s at startin g .

B efore I left I took care to s ati sfy myse lf that M is s H al

,

comb e was going on favourably .

The re was a painful expre ssi on o f an x iety in h er face ,

which mad e m e fear that he r mind on firs t rec overi ng itself , ,

was n o t at ease B u t sh e was certainly strengtheni ng m ore

.

rapidly than I could have ventured to anticipate and she w a s

able to send kin d me ssage s to Lady Glyde s ayin g that sh e ,

was fast getti ng well an d e nt eatin g h er ladyship n o t to

,
r

exert he rself agai n to o soon I l eft h e i n charge o f M rs

.
r .

Rubelle wh o wa s sti ll a s quietly i ndepe nden t of eve ry o ne

,
'

els e in th e ho use as eve r Vhe n I kn ocked at Lady G lyde s

.
’

d oor before goi ng away I was told that sh e was still sadly
, ,

weak a nd depre ss ed my i nform an t bei ng the Counte ss wh o ,

was then keepin g h e r company in he r room S i r Pe rcival a n d .

the Coun t we re wal king o n th e road t o th e lodge as I was ,

d rive n by in the chai se I b owe d t o them an d qui tted the

.
,

338
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E
-

a n x iou s that m orn in g ab out M is s H alcombe th rough havin g ,

re ceived n o n ews o f he r from any o n e I th ough t thi s se emed .

to imply a blamable want of attention o n the part o f M rs .

Rube lle ; but I sai d n othin g an d remained with Lady G lyde , ,

to assist h er to d re s s When she was ready we b oth left the

.
,

room togethe r to go to M is s H alcombe .

fi
We we re stopped in th e passage by the appearance o f S i r
Percival H e lo oked as if h e had bee n purpo sely wai ting
.

the re to se e u s .

Where are yo u goin g he said to Lady Glyde .

’
To Marian s ro om sh e an swered ’
,
.

‘
I t may spare yo u a d isappoi ntme n t remarked S ir ,
’

‘
Percival if I tell you at on ce that you will n ot nd he r
,

there .
’

N ot fi n d h er there
N o S h e left the h ouse yeste rday m orn ing with F osc o
.

’
and hi s wife .

Lady Glyde was n ot strong e n ough t o bear th e surprise o f

thi s extraordi nary statement S he turn ed fearfully pale an d .

leaned back agai ns t the wall looking at he r husband i n dead ,

silence .

I was so astoni sh ed myse lf that I h ardly knew what t o ,

say I as ked S i r Pe rcival if h e really meant that M is s

.

H alcombe had left B lackwate r Park .

I ce rtainly mean it he an swe red ,

’
.

‘
I n h e r state S i r Pe rcival ! Withou t m en tioning h er
,

i nte nti on s to Lady Glyd e

B efore h e c ould reply her ladyship rec ove re d herself ,

a little and spoke

, .

I mp ossible sh e crie d o u t in a loud frightened man ne r ; , ,

‘
takin g a step o r two forward from the wall Where was .

th e d octor where was M r D awson wh e n M arian wen t .

away ? ’

‘
M r D aws on was n t wan ted an d wasn t he re said S i r
.
’

,
’
,
’

Percival H e left o f hi s o w n acc ord wh ich i s e n ough o f

.
,

i tself t o sh ow that sh e was stron g en ough t o trave l H ow .

you stare ! I f you d on t be li eve she has gon e l ook for you r ’

s elf O pe n her room d oor a n d all th e othe r room d oors if

.
, ,

y o u li ke .
’

S he took hi m at his word a nd I followed he r The re , .

was n o o ne in M is s Ha lc o m be s room bu t Margare t Porch er ’

,

wh o was busy setting it to rights The re was n o o n e in the .

spare room s or th e dres sin g rooms whe n we l ooked in to

,
-
,

them afterwards S i r Percival sti ll waite d for u s in the

.

p assage As we we re leaving th e last room that w e had

.

34 0
 T H E W O M AN I N W H I T E
e x ami ned Lady Glyd e whispered D o n t go M rs M ichels on !
, ,
’
, .

’
don t leave me for God s s a ke !
’
B efore I could say anythin g
,

i n return she was o u t agai n in the passage speakin g to he r

, ,

hu sband .

‘
What doe s i t mean S i r Pe rc ival ? I in si st I beg an d ,
-

pray yo u will tell m e what i t mean s

I t mean s he an swe red that M i ss H alc ombe was stron g
,
’
,

e nough yesterday morn in g to sit up and b e dre ssed ; and ,

that sh e i n siste d o n taking advantage o f F osco s goi ng t o ’

’
Lon don t o go there to o
,
.

T o London
Yes — o n her way to L im m eridge .
’

Lady Glyde turn ed a n d appealed t o m e , .

‘
Yo u s aw M iss H alcombe last she sai d Tell m e ,
’
.

plainly M rs M ichels on did you thin k sh e l ooked fi t to

,
.
,

t rave l ?
N ot in my opini on your ladyshi p , .
’

S i r Percival o n hi s side in stantly tu rned and appeal e d

, , ,

t o m e also .

‘ ‘ ’
B efore you we nt away h e said did you o r did yo u , , ,

n o t tell the nu rse that M i s s H alcombe loo ked mu ch stronge r

,

a n d better
I c ertai n ly made th e remark S i r Pe rcival , .
’

H e addre ssed he r ladysh ip agai n the mome n t I o ffe re d ,

that reply .

‘
S et o ne o f M rs M ichelson s op inion s fai rly agai n st th e
.
’

other h e said a n d try to be reaso nab le ab ou t a perfectly

,
’
,

plain matte r I f s he had n ot bee n well e n o ugh t o b e m ove d

.
,

d o you thin k we shou ld any o f u s have ri sked letti ng h er go

S he has got thre e comp etent pe ople t o loo k afte r h er— Fo sco
an d your aunt an d M rs Rubelle w h o went away with the m
,
.
,

expre ssly for that purpo se They took a wh ole carriage .

fi
ye sterday a n d made a be d fo r he r o n th e seat in cas e sh e
, ,

fel t tired T o day Fo sco a n d M rs Rubelle go o n with he r

.
-
, .

themselves to Cu mberland
Why doe s M arian go to L im m eridge an d leave m e he re ,

by myself ? said her ladyship i nterruptin g S i r Pe rcival , .

’
B ecaus e you r uncle wo n t receive you ti ll h e has see n
’
you r si ste r rst he replied H ave yo u forgotte n the lette r
,
.

h e wrote t o h er at the b egin ning of he r i lln ess ? I t was

,

shown to you ; you read i t you rself ; an d you ough t t o

’
re memb er it .

’
I d o remembe r it .

‘
I f yo u do why should you be s urp ri sed at he r leavin g
,

yo u ? You want t o b e back at Lim m eridge ; and sh e h a s

34 1
 T H E WO MAN I N W H ITE
gon e th ere to get you r u ncle s leave for yo u o n hi s o wn ’

te rm s
.
’

Poor Lady G lyde s eye s fi lled with tears

’
.

M arian n eve r left me before sh e said w ith o ut b idding ,

’
,
'

m e go od by -
.
’

‘ ’
S he would have bid yo u good by thi s time returned -
,
‘
S i r Percival i f sh e h ad n ot be en afraid of he rs elf and of you
,
.

S h e knew yo u would try to stop he r sh e knew you would

d istress he r by cryin g D o you want t o make any m ore .

obj ection s ? I f yo u d o you mu st c ome down stai rs a nd a sk

,

questi on s in th e d ini ng room These worrie s u pse t m e

-
. I .

wan t a glas s o f win e .

’

H e left u s sudde nly .

H i s man n e r al l th rou gh thi s strange conversati on had

bee n ve ry u n li ke what it u sually was H e see med t o be .

almost a s n e rvou s and flutte red eve ry n ow an d the n as hi s , ,

lady herself I should n eve r have supp osed that hi s health

.

had be en so de licate o r h is c omp osure s o easy to upset

, .

I tried to p revai l o n Lady Glyde t o go bac k t o he r room

but i t wa s u sele s s S he stopped in the passage with the
.
,

look o f a woman wh o se mi nd was pan ic stricken -

S omethin g has h appene d to my si ste r ! sh e said .

Remembe r my lady what su rp ri si ng e nergy there i s in

, ,

M i ss H alcomb e I sugge sted,

’
S he migh t well make a n .

e ff ort which othe r ladie s in he r situati on wou ld be unfit for

, ,
.

I h op e an d believe the re i s n othin g wrong — I d o i ndeed .

’

I mu st follow M arian said he r ladyship with the same ,

panic stri cken look

-
I m ust go wh ere sh e h as gon e
. I
must see th at sh e i s alive a nd well with my own eyes Come .

com e d own with m e t o S i r Pe rcival .

’

I he sitated fearin g that my p re se n ce might be co nsidered

a n i ntru si on I attempted t o repre sen t th i s to he r ladyshi p ;
.

but sh e was d eaf t o m e S he hel d my arm fas t en ou gh to

.

force m e t o go down s tai rs with h e r an d she stil l clun g t o

me with al l th e little stren gth sh e had at the m oment wh e n ,

I open ed th e din ing room d oor -

.

S ir Percival was s ittin g at th e table with a de cante r o f

win e before h im H e raise d the glass t o h is lip s as we wen t
.
,

i n an d d rain ed i t at a draught S eei ng that h e l ooked at me

, .

an gri ly wh e n h e put it d own again I attempted to make ,

s ome ap ology for my accidental p resence in the room .

.

D o you suppose the re are any secrets goi ng o n

here ? h e broke o u t suddenly ; th ere are n one — the re i s
’ ‘
,

nothin g u nderhan d n othi ng kept from you or from any o n e .

’

Aft er sp eakin g those strange word s l oudly and ste rnly he , ,

34 2
 T HE W O M A N I N V J H I T E

‘I would rathe r n ot go there — I would rather n ot stay a

night in Lon don said he r ladyship breaking o u t eagerly ’
, ,

fi
with th ose word s before I had quite d on e reading th e n ote , ,

short as i t was D on t write t o Coun t Fosco . Pray pray ’

d on t write to him
’

S i r Pe rcival fi lle d an other glas s from th e decante r s o awk ,

wa rdly that he upset it an d spilt all the wi n e over th e table , .

My sight seems to be failing me h e muttered to hi mself in ,

’

an odd m uf ed voice , H e slowly se t the glas s u p again .

,

refille d it a n d drai n ed it o nc e m ore at a draught I b ega n

, .

to fear from hi s l ook a n d man n er that the wi n e w a s gettin g

, ,

i nto h is h ead .

’
Pray d on t write to Cou n t F o sco persi sted Lady
Glyde m ore earn estly than eve r
, .

‘
Why n ot I sh ould li ke t o kn ow ? cried S ir Pe rcival
,
’
,

with a sudden burst o f anger that startled u s both Whe re .

c a n yo u stay m ore prope rly in London than at th e plac e you r

u ncl e him self ch oose s fo r yo u — a t your aun t s h ou se Ask ’

M rs M ichel son
. .
’

Th e arrange men t proposed w a s s o u n que stionably th e

righ t and the proper o n e that I c ould make n o p os sibl e ,

obj ectio n to it M uch as I sym pathi z ed with Lady G lyde i r

. .

other respects I could n ot sympathize with h er i n h er u nj ust

,

p rej udice s again st C oun t Fo sco I n eve r before met with .

any lady o f he r ran k a n d stati on wh o w a s s o lame ntably

, ,

n arrow minded o n th e subj ect o f foreigne rs N e ither h e r

-
.

’
u ncle s n ote n or S i r Pe rcival s i n creasin g i mpatience seemed
,
’

t o have th e least e ff ect o n he r S he s till o bjected t o staying .

a n ight i n Lon don ; sh e still imp lo red h er hu sban d n ot t o

wri te to th e Coun t .

‘
D rop i t ! said S i r Pe rcival ru de ly tu rnin g h is back 0 11
’
,
‘ ’
us. I f yo u h ave n t sen se e n ough to kn ow what is best fo r
yourself othe r pe ople mu st kn ow for you The arrangement
, .

i s made a n d the 1 e i s a n en d of i t You are only wanted t o .

d o what M i ss H alcombe h as d on e before yo u

Marian ? repeated h e r ladyship m a b ew ildered mann er ; ,

M arian sleeping in Cou n t Fo sco s hou s e ’

Yes i n Cou nt F osco s h ou se S he slept the re last n igh t

,
’
.
, ,

t o b reak th e j ou rney And you are to follow he r example .

,

and do what you r uncle tells yo u Y o u are to sleep at Fo sc o s .

’
,

to mo rrow n i ght a s you r siste r did to b reak the j ourney

-
, , .

’
D on t th row too many ob stacle s in my way do n t make me ’

repent of letti ng you go at all

H e starte d to h is feet an d suddenly wal ked o u t into th e
v erandah throu gh the open glass doors
, .

34 4
 T H E W O M AN I N WH IT E
‘Wi ll your ladyshi p excu s e me I wh isp ered if I su gges t ’ ‘
, ,

that we had bette r n ot wai t he re till S ir Pe rcival c om e s back

I am ve ry mu ch afraid h e i s ove r excited with wi n e -
.
’

S h e c on s ente d to leave the room in a w eary ab sen t , ,

man ne r .

As s oo n a s we we re safe u p stai rs again I did a ll I could -

,

t o compose her ladyship s spi rits I remi nded h er that M r

’
. .

Fairli e s lette rs to M is s H alcombe an d to h e rse lf di d ce rtai nly

’

san ction an d eve n re nde r n eces sary soone r o r late r th e

, , ,

cou rse that had bee n taken S he agreed t o thi s a nd eve n

.
,

ad mi tted o f he r o w n accord that b oth lette rs we re strictly i n

, ,

characte r with her u n cle s pecu liar di sp ositio n — b ut her fears

’

ab ou t M i s s H alco mb e an d he r u naccountable dread o f sleepin g

,

at th e Count s h ou se in London sti ll remai ned un shaken in

’
,

spite of every con side rati on that I cou ld u rge I though t i t .

my d uty to protest agai n st Lady G lyde s u nfavou rable opini on ’

o f h is lordship and I d id so with be comin g forbearance a nd

, ,

respect .

You r ladyship wi ll pardon my freedom I remarked in ,

’
,

co nclu si on but i t i s said ,

by thei r fru it s ye shall kn ow
,
” ’
them . I am su re th e Cou nt s con stant ki ndne s s and con stan t
atte nti on fro m the ve ry begi nn in g o f M i s s H a lc o m b e s illn ess ’

me ri t o u r be st confide nce an d e steem Eve n hi s lordship s .

’

seri ou s mi sunderstandi ng with M r D awso n was enti rely .

attributable to hi s an xiety o n M is s H a lc o m be s account ’

.
’

What mi sun de rstan din g i nqui red h e r ladyship with a ,

look of sudden i ntere st .

I related the u nhappy ci rcu mstance s u nde r which M r .

D awson had with drawn his atte ndance — m enti on ing th em al l

th e more readily becaus e I disapprove d o f S i r Pe rcival s c o n
,
’

tin u in g to conceal what had happene d (as h e had d one in my

p re sen ce ) from the knowledge of Lady G lyde .

H e r ladyship started u p with eve ry appearan ce o f bein g ,

addi tionally agitated and alarmed by what I had told h e r .

Worse worse than I th ought s he said walking ab out ,

‘
th e ro om in a bewildere d man ne r
,
The Co unt kn ew M r . .

’
D awso n would n eve r con sent to M arian s taking a j ou rney
h e pu rpo sely in sulted th e d octor to get hi m o u t o f the h ou se .
’

O h my lady ! my lady
,
I remon strated .

M rs M iche lso n . sh e we nt o n veheme ntly ; n o wo rd s ,

that eve r were spo ke n wi ll persuade m e that my si ste r i s in

that man s powe r and in that man s h ou se with h er o w n c o n
’ ’

se nt
. My horro r o f hi m i s such that n othing S i r Pe rcival ,

c ould say and n o lette rs my u ncle cou ld write would i nduce

, ,

me , if I had o nly my own fee lings t o con su lt to eat drin k o r , , ,

34 5
 T H E WO MAN I N W H IT E

sleep u nde r h is roof B ut my misery o f suspen se abou t .

Marian give s me the courage to follow he r anywhere — to

’
follow her even i nto Count Fosco 5 h ou se ’
.

I th ought i t 1 igh t at thi s poin t t o mention that M iss , ,

H alcombe had already gone o n to Cu mberland a ccordin g to ,

S i 1 Percival s accou nt of th e matter ’

.

I am afraid t o believe it an swe re d h er la dysh ip I am .

afraid she i s still in that man s h ou se I f I am wrong — if sh e ’

.

ha s really gone o n to L im m eri dg e— I am re solved I w ill n ot

sleep to — morrow night under Count F osco s ro of My deare st ’
.

friend in the world next to m y si ste r live s n ear Lond on You , ,

.

have heard me you have h eard M i ss H alcombe speak o f , ,

M rs Vesey ? I m ea n to write a nd propose to sleep at h e r

.
,

house I do n t kn ow h ow I shal l get the re — I don t kn ow

.
’ ’

h ow I shall avoi d th e Cou nt— but to that refuge I will e scape

in some way if my si ster has gon e to Cumberland,
All I .

a sk o f you to do i s to see you rself that my lette r to M rs

,
.

’
V esey oe s t o London to n ight as certain ly as S i 1 Perc ival s
Of
g ,

letter goe s to Count Fo sc o I have reason s for n ot t rusting .

th e post bag down stairs Will you keep my secret a n d help

- .
,

m e in thi s ? it i s the last favour pe rhaps th a t I shall eve r , ,

’
a s k o f you .

I hesitated— I thought it all ve ry stran ge — I almo st feare d

that her ladyship s mind had bee n a little affected by recent
’

anxiety a n d suffering At my o wn ri sk h oweve r I e nded by .

, ,

givi ng my con se nt I f the letter had bee n addre s sed to a .

stranger o r to anyone but a lady s o wel l known to m e by

,

report as M rs Ve sey I might have refu sed . I than k God , .

l ooki ng to what happened afte rwards — I th an k God I n eve r

thwarted that w ish o r any oth er which Lady Glyde e xpre ssed , ,

to me on the last day of he r re sidence at B lac kwate r Park

, .

The letter w a s writte n a n d give n into my hands I myself

“

.
,

put it i nto the post b ox in the village that even in g -

, .

We saw n othing m ore o f S i r Pe rcival fo r the rest of the day .

I slept by Lady G lyde s o w n desire i n th e n ext ro om t o

,
’
,

he rs with th e doo r ope n between u s The re was something

, .

so strange a nd dreadful in the lonelin e ss an d e mptine ss o f th e

hou se that I was glad o n my side t o have a compan ion near
, , ,

me H er ladyship sa t up late reading lette rs a n d burnin g

.
,

them and e mptying her d rawers and cabi nets of little things
,

sh e pri z ed a s if she n ever expe cte d to return to B lackwate r

,

Park H e r sleep was sadly d isturbed whe n sh e at last went

.

to bed sh e cried ou t in it several time s — once so loud that , ,

sh e woke herself Whateve r he r d ream s we re she did not

.
,

think fit to commu nicate them to me Perhap s i n my situa .

,

34 6
 TH E WO M AN 11 : W H ITE
‘ ’ ‘
answered M o st wi llingly M rs M ichelson
,
We all have ,
. .

o u r cros se s t o be ar my lady I said seeing h er silen t and ’

, , , -

thoughtful afte r she had promi sed to write

,
S he made n o .

re ply : sh e seemed to b e too much wrapped u p in h e r o w n

thoughts to atte nd t o m e I fear you r ladyship re sted badly .

last night I re marked afte r waiting a little

’ ‘Ye s sh e .
’

, ,
‘ ‘
said ; I was te rribly disturbed by dream s I ndeed my .
’
,

lady ? I thought sh e was going t o te ll m e he r dreams ; bu t

n o whe n she spoke next it was o n ly to ask a que stion
,
Y ou .

p osted th e lette r to M rs Vesey with your o w n han ds ? .

’

Y es my lady
’
.
,
‘
D id S i r Pe rcival sa y yeste rday that Co un t Fo sco was , ,
‘
to m eet me at th e te rmi nu s i n Lon don ? H e did my ’
,

lad y
S h e sighed h eavily wh e n I an swe red that l a st questi on ,

a nd said n o more .

We arrived at th e station with hardly tw o min ute s t o ,

spare . Th e gardene r (who had drive n u s ) manage d about

the luggage whi le I took th e ticket
, Th e whistle o f the .

t rain was sounding whe n I j oi ned he r ladyship o n th e p lat

form . S h e lo oked very stran gely and pre ssed her hand ove r ,

h er heart a s if some sudden pai n o r fright had ove rcome he r

,

at that mome nt .

‘
I w ish you we re goin g with m e ! sh e said catchin g ’
,

eagerly at my arm when I gave her th e ticket , .

I f the re had bee n time ; i f I had felt th e day before as I ,

felt the n I would have made my arran geme nt s t o accom pany

,

h e r— eve n though the doing so h ad oblige d m e to give S i r

Pe rcival warnin g o n the spot As i t was her wi she s exp re ssed .
,

at the last m ome nt on ly were expre ssed too late for m e to ,

c omply with them S h e seemed to u nde rstand thi s h e rse lf

.

before I could explai n it an d did n ot rep eat her desire to h av e ,

m e for a t ravelling compan ion The t rai n d rew u p at th e .

platform S h e gave th e garden e r a pre sent for h is children

.
,

and took my han d in h er si mple h earty manne r before sh e , ,

got i nto th e carriage .

‘ ’
You have bee n ve ry ki nd t o me and to my si ste r sh e ,

said ki nd wh e n we we re b oth friendle ss I shall reme mbe r .

yo u gratefully as l ong as I live to remembe r any o ne

, Go od .

b y —and G o d bles s y o u
S h e spoke tho se word s with a ton e an d a look wh ich
b rough t the tears i nto my eye s — she spoke the m as if sh e was
bidding m e farewell fo r eve r .

’
G o od by my lady I said p u ttin g h er into the carriage
-
, , , ,

and tryi ng to chee r her ; good by for the presen t only ; -

,

34 8
 T H E WO M AN I N W H IT E

good by with my be st a n d kin de st wi sh es fo r happi e r

-
,

tim es ! ’

S h e sh ook he r h ead a n d shuddered as sh e se ttl ed h e rself ,

i n the carriage Th e guard closed the d o o r

. D o yo u b elieve .

‘
in dreams ? sh e whisp ered to m e at th e window
’
My , .

d reams last night we re dream s I have n eve r had b efo re

, ,
.

Th e te rro r o f them i s hangin g ove r me still Th e whi stl e .

’

sou nded before I could an swe r a n d the trai n m ove d Her , .

pale qui et face l o oke d at me fo r the last ti me ; lo o ked s orrow ,

fully an d solemn ly fro m th e window S h e waved h e r hand .

a n d I saw h er n o mo re .

’
Towards five o clock o n the afte rn oon o f that same day ,

havi n g a li ttle ti me t o myself i n the midst o f th e h ou seh old

dutie s which n ow p res sed up on m e I sat down alon e in my ,

o w n room to t ry a n d compose my mi nd with the volum e o f

,
’
my h u sban d s S e rm o ns F o r the fi rs t tim e in my life I fou n d .
,

my atte nti o n wan derin g over th ose piou s an d cheeri n g wo rds .

Concludi ng that Lady Glyde s departu re mu st have disturbe d ’

m e far m o re se riously th an I had myse lf suppose d I put th e ,

b ook asi de an d we n t out to take a turn i n th e garden

, Sir .

Pe rcival h ad n ot yet return ed to my knowledge s o I c ould , ,

feel n o h esitati o n abou t showi ng myself i n the grou n ds .

O 11 t urnin g th e c orn er of th e h ou se a nd gain in g a V iew of ,

the garden I was startled by see i ng a strange r walki ng m it

, b
.

Th e s tranger was a woman — sh e was lounging along th e

path with he r back to me a nd was gathe ri ng th e fl owers
, ,
.

As I approach ed sh e h eard me an d turne d round , ,

.

My blood curdled in my vein s Th e s tran ge wo man in .

th e garden was M rs Rubelle .

I could neithe r move n o r s peak S h e cam e u p to me as , .

,

compo sedly as ever with h e r fl owe rs i n he r hand ,

.

What i s the m atte r ma am sh e said quietly ,

’
,
.

You h e re I gasped o u t N o t gon e to London Not .

gon e to Cumbe rlan d ! ’

M rs Rube lle smelt at h er fl owe rs with a s mile of maliciou s

.

pi ty.

’
Certainly n ot sh e said I have n eve r left B lackwate r
,
.

Park .
’

I summon ed breath en ough and cou rage e n ough fo r

another question .

Where 1 5 M i s s H alcomb e 9 .

M rs Rube lle fairly laughed at m e t hi s ti me an d replie d

.
,
i n these wor ds :
34 9
 T HE WO M AN I N W H I TE
‘M i s s H alcombe ma am has n ot left B lackwater Park , ’
, ,
’
ei ther .

Whe n I heard that astou ndin g an swer all my th oughts ,

were startled back o n the i n stan t to my parting with Lady

Glyde I c a n h ardly say I rep roach ed myself — bu t at that
.
,

m ome nt I think I wou ld h ave give n many a year s hard

,
’

savings t o h ave kn own fou r h ou rs earlier what I kn ew now .

M rs Rubelle waited qui etly arrangin g he r n osegay as i f

.
, ,

sh e expected m e to say something .

I cou ld say n othin g I th ough t o f Lady G lyde s wo rn .

’

o u t e ne rgie s a n d weakly health a n d I t rembled for th e ti me

whe n the s hock of the di scovery that I had made would fall
on her F o r a mi nute o r more my fears fo r the poo r ladie s
.
, ,

si len ced me At th e en d o f that time M rs Rubelle looke d

.
,
.

u p sideways fro m he r flowers a nd said H e re i s S i r Pe rcival , , ,

ma am retu rn ed from hi s ride

’
, .
’

I saw hi m as soo n as sh e did H e came toward s u s .

,

slashing viciou sly at the fl owe rs with hi s rid ing whip Whe n - .

h e w a s n ear en ough t o se e my face h e sto pped struck at hi s , ,

boo t wi th th e whip a n d burst out laughing so harshly a n d , ,

s o vi olently that th e bi rd s flew away

,
startled from the t re e , ,

by which he stood .

‘
We ll M rs M ichelson he sai d
, .
yo u h ave foun d it ou t ,
’

at last— have you

I m ade n o reply H e tu rn ed to M rs Rubelle . . .

Wh en di d you show yourself in th e garde n

I showed myself ab ou t half a n h ou r ago si r Y o u said ,
.

I might take my liberty again as soon as Lady Glyde had ,

gon e away to London .

’

Q uite right I d on t blame yo u— I only asked the ques

.
’

’
ti on . H e waited a mome nt and the n addre ssed hi mself ,

once m ore t o me Y o u can t believ e i t can yo u

. h e said ’

, ,

mocki ngly H ere come alon g a nd se e for yourself

. .
’

H e led th e way roun d to th e front of th e h ouse I fo l .

lowe d h im ; an d M rs Rubelle followed me Afte r passing . .

through th e i ro n gates h e stopped and poi nted with hi s , ,

whip to the disu sed middle wing o f the bui lding .

There he said Loo k up at the first floor Yo u . .

kn ow th e o ld E li z ab ethan bedroom s ? M i ss H alcombe i s

s nug a nd Safe in on e of th e be st o f th em at thi s moment , .

Take he r in M rs Rubelle (yo u h ave go t you r

, . take
M rs M ichelson i n a nd let he r o w n eye s satisfy he r that there
.
,

i s n o deception thi s time , .

’

The ton e i n which h e spoke to me and the minute o r two ,

35 0
 T H E W O M AN I N W H I TE
see if sh e h asn t been as well take n care o f in o ne part o f the
’

h ouse as in th e other Remember the d octor s o wn orders .

’

that Lady Glyde was to have a change o f ai r at the earliest

po ssible opportunity B ear all that well in min d— an d the n
.

say anythin g agai n st m e an d my proceedings if yo u dare

H e pou red o u t these word s fiercely all i n a breath walk , ,

ing backward s an d forwards and strikin g about him in the ,

ai r with hi s whip .

N othing that h e said o r di d sh ook my o pi nion o f th e di s

gracefu l seri es o f falseh oods that h e had told in my presence , ,

the day before o r o f the cruel d eception by wh ich h e h ad

,

separated Lady Glyde from her si ste r and had sent h er ,

u sele ssly t o London whe n she was half di stracted with ,

‘

anxi ety o n M iss Ha lc o m be s account I natu rally kept these ’

.

th o ughts to myself an d sai d n othi ng more t o i rritate him ;

,

but I was n o t the le ss re solved to persi st in my pu rpo se A .

soft an swer turneth away wrath ; and I suppre s sed my o w n

feelings accordin gly whe n it wa s my turn to reply
, , .

Whi le I am in yo ur service S i r Pe rcival I said I h o pe I , ,

’

kn ow my duty well en ough n ot to inquire i nto you r m otive s .

Whe n I am o u t o f you r service I hope I kn ow my o w n p lace ,

well en ough n ot to speak o f matters which don t c oncern ’

me
‘ ’
Whe n d o you want to go ? h e asked i nterrupting m e ,
‘
without ceremony D on t supp ose I am anxi ou s t o keep
.
’

o u — don t suppose I care ab out you r leavin g the h ouse

’
I
y .

am perfectly fair a n d open in this matter from first to last , .

Whe n d o y o u wan t to go
‘
I should wish to leave at you r earliest conve ni ence S i r ,

Percival .
’

‘
My conven ience h a s n othing to d o with it I shall b e .

o ut o f the h ouse for good an d all , t o m orrow m ornin g and ,

-

I c a n settle your accoun ts to ni ght I f yo u want t o studf - .

anybody s conven ience it had better b e M i ss H a lc o m be s

’
,
’
.

M rs Rube lle s time i s u p to day ; and sh e h as reason s for

.
’
-

wishing to be in London to n ight I f y o u go at once M i ss - .

,

H alcombe wo n t have a s oul left he re to look after her

’
.
’

I h ope it i s u n nece ssary for m e to sa y that I was quite

i ncapable o f deserting M i s s H alcombe i n such an e me rge ncy
a s had n ow befalle n Lady Glyde and he rself Afte r firs t dis .

tin c tly asce rtaining from S ir Percival that M rs Rubelle was .

certai n to leave at once i f I too k he r place an d after al so ,

obtaining p ermis si on t o arrange for M r D aws on s re suming .

’

h is attendance o n h is p atient I willin gly con s ented t o remain ,

at B lackwater Park unti l M i ss H alcombe no lon ger re q uired

35 2
 T HE W O MA N I N W H I T E
“

my services I t was settled that I shou ld give S i r Perci v al s

.
’

s olicitor a wee k s n otice before I left : an d that h e w a s t o

’

u nde rtake th e n ecessary arrangement s for app oi ntin g my suc

ce ss or The matter was di scussed i n ve ry few word s At its
. .

c onclusi on S i r Pe rcival abruptly turn ed o n hi s heel and left

, ,

m e free to j oi n M rs Rube lle That singular foreign person

. .

had be e n s itti ng composedly o n the door step all thi s time -

, ,

waitin g till I c ou ld follow he r to M is s Ha lc o m b e s room ’

.

I h ad hardly walked half way towards th e hous e wh en ,

S i r Percival wh o had withdrawn in the oppo site di r ecti on

, ,

s udden ly stopped and calle d me back , .

Why are yo u leavi ng my service he asked .

Th e question was so extraordinary afte r what had j us t ,

passed betwee n us that I hardly kn ew what t o say i n an swe r

,

to it.

‘ ’ ’
M in d ! I do n t kn ow why you are goin g h e wen t o n , .

‘You mu st give a reason for leavin g me I suppose whe n , ,

yo u get another situation What reason Th e breaking u p .

o f th e family I s that it
‘
There c a n b e n o p ositive obj ection S i r Pe rcival to that , ,

reaso n
Very well ! T hat s all I want to know I f pe ople apply
’
.

fo r you r characte r that s you r reason stated by yourse lf

’ ‘

.
, ,
’
Y o u go in con sequ en ce of th e b reakin g u p of the family .

H e tu rn ed away agai n before I cou ld say another word , ,

and walked o u t rapidly i nto the ground s H i s man ne r was .

as strange as hi s lan guage I ackn owledge he alarmed m e . .

Eve n th e pati en ce o f M rs Rubelle w a s gettin g exhau sted .

,

whe n I j o ined her at th e h ouse do or .

‘
At last ! sh e said with a sh rug o f he r lean foreign
’
,

shoulde rs .S he led th e way i nto th e inhabite d sid e o f th e

h ou se ascende d th e stairs an d open ed with he r key the doo r
, ,

at th e end o f th e passage which commun icated with the o ld ,

E lizabethan room s— a do or n eve r p revi ously u sed in my tim e , ,

at B lackwate r Park The room s the mselve s I knew we ll

.
,

h aving e ntered th e m myse lf o n variou s occasi on s fro m th e , ,

oth er sid e of th e h ou se M rs Rubelle stopped at the third . .

d oor along the o ld gallery handed m e th e key o f it with th e , ,

key o f th e door o f c ommu nication and told me I sh ould fin d ,

M i ss H alcombe in that room B efore I w ent in I th o u gh t .

, _

i t de si rable t o make he r understan d that her atte ndance had

ceased Accordingly I told he r in plai n word s that th e
.
,

charge of the s ick lady henceforth devolved enti rely o n myself .

‘ ‘
I am glad to hear i t ma am , said M rs Rubelle I ,
’ ’
. .

want to go very much .

’
 T HE W O M AN I N WH I T E
’
see if she hasn t been as well taken care o f in o ne part o f th e
h ou se as in the othe r Remembe r the doctor s o w n orders .
’

that Lady Glyde was t o have a ch ange o f air at the earliest

possible opportunity B ear all that well i n min d — and the n
. .

say anythin g against me an d my proceedings if you dare

H e poured o u t these words fiercely all i n a breath walk , ,

i ng b ackwards and forwards and strikin g ab out him i n the ,

air with hi s whip .

N othing that he s aid o r did sh ook my opin ion o f the di s

gracefu l serie s o f falsehoods that he had told in my presence , ,

th e day before o r o f the cruel deceptio n by wh ich h e h ad

,

separated Lady Glyde from her si ster an d had s ent h er ,

u sele ssly t o London when she was half di stracted with ,

‘

anxiety o n M i ss H a lc o m b e s account I n atu r ally kept thes e

’
.

thoughts to myself and said n othi ng more t o irritate h im ;

,

but I was n o t the less resolved to pers ist in my pu rpo se A .

soft answer turn eth awa y wrath ; an d I suppre s sed my o w n

feelings acc ordin gly whe n i t was my tu rn to rep ly
, , .

Whi le I am in yo ur service S i r Pe rcival I said I ho pe I , ,

’
,

know my duty well en ough n ot to i nquire i nto you r m otives .

Whe n I am o u t o f you r service I hope I kn ow my o w n place ,

we ll e n ough n ot to speak o f matters which d on t c on cern ’

me
‘ ’
When d o yo u want to go ? h e asked i nte rrupting m e ,
‘
without ce re mony D on t supp ose I am anxi ou s to keep
.
’

o u — don t suppose I care about you r leavi ng the house

’
I
y .

am perfectly fair a nd open in this matter from first to last , .

When do yo u want to go
‘
I should wish to leave at you r e arlie st co nvenien ce S i r ,

Percival .
’

‘
My convenience h a s n othing to d o with i t I shall be .

o u t o f the h ouse for good an d all t o m orrow m orning ; and

, ,
-

I c a n settle your accoun ts to night I f yo u want t o stu df - .

anyb ody s conven ien ce it h ad be tter b e M i ss H a lc o m be s

’
,
’
.

M rs Rube lle s time i s u p to day ; and sh e h as reason s for

.
’
-

wishing t o b e in London to night I f yo u go at onc e M i ss - .

,

H alcomb e wo n t have a s oul left here to look afte r her

’
.
’

I h ope i t i s u nn ece ssary fo r m e to sa y that I was quite

i ncapable o f deserting M is s H alcombe i n such an emerge ncy
a s had n ow befalle n Lady Glyde a nd herself Afte r fi rst dis .

tinc tly ascertaining from S ir Percival that M rs Rubelle w a s .

certai n to leave at on ce if I took he r p lace and after al so ,

obtaining permis si on to arrange for M r D awson s re sumin g .

’

hi s atten dance o n hi s p atient I willingly con sented to remain ,

at B lackwater Park until M is s H alcombe no lon ger re q uired

35 2
 T HE W O MA N IN W H ITE
My o wn part of thi s sa d family story is n ow drawing to
an end .

I have b ee n in formed that th e particulars o f M i ss

fi
Ha lc o m b e s waking an d of what passed be tween u s whe n
’
,

sh e found me si tti ng by he r bed side are n ot material t o the

23 ,

purpose which 1 5 t o be an swe red by th e p 1 esen t narrative I t .

wi ll be su ffic ien t for m e t o say in thi s place that sh e w a s , ,

n o t h e rself con sci ou s o f th e mean s ad opted t o rem o xe h e1

from th e i nhabited to th e un in habited part of th e house S h e .

was in a deep sleep at the ti me whethe r naturally o r a rti c i ,

ally produced sh e cou ld n ot sa y I n my absen ce at To rquay .

,

an d i n th e ab senc e o f all th e resident s ervants excep t ,

Margaret Porcher (wh o was pe rpetually eati ng d ri n kin g o r , ,

sleepi ng when sh e was n ot at work ) th e s ecret transfer o f

, ,

M is s H alcomb e from o ne part o f the h ou se to the other was

n o d oubt easi ly performed M rs Rube lle (as I discovered . .

for myself in lookin g about th e room ) had provi sion s an d al l

, ,

othe r neces sari e s togethe r wi th th e means o f heatin g water

, ,

broth a nd so o n withou t kindling a fi re placed at he r di s

, , ,

posal durin g th e few days o f he r imp ri sonmen t with th e si ck

l ady . S h e had decli ned t o an swer th e qu esti on s which M is s
H alcomb e natu rally put ; bu t had n ot in other respects , ,

treate d he r with un kindn e s s o r n eglect Th e disgrace o f .

lendin g herself t o a vile decepti on is the only di sgrace w ith

which I c a n con scien ti ou sly charge M rs Rubelle . .

I need write n o particulars (an d I am relieved t o kn ow it )

o f the e ff ect produced o n M is s H alcombe by the n ews o f Lady

G lyde s departure o r by th e far m ore melancholy tidings w hi ch

’

reached u s only too s oon afterwards at B lackwater Park In .

b oth cases I prepared he r m ind beforehand as ge ntly an d as

carefully a s p os sible ; havin g th e d octor s advice to guid e ’

me in the las t case on ly through M r D awson s being to o

, , .
’

u nwell to com e to the hou se for some days after I had sen t
fo r him I t was a sad time a time which it a ffl i cts me to
.
,

thin k o f o r to write o f n o w Th e preci ou s blessings o f

, , .

religiou s con solation which I endeavoured to convey we re ,

long in reaching M i ss H a lc o m be s heart ; but I hop e an d ’

be lieve they came h ome to h e r at last I n ever left he r till .

h e r strength was re stored The train which took m e away .

from that mi serable h ous e w a s th e trai n w hi ch took her away ,

also We parted very mournfully i n London

. I rem a in ed .

with a relative at I slington ; and sh e w ent o n to M r Fai rli e s .

’

h ou se in Cumberland .

I have o nly a few line s more to write before I close thi s ,

painful stat ement Th ey are dictated by a sen se o f duty

. .

35 6
 T H E WO MAN I N W H ITE
I n th e first place I wish to record my o w n personal c o n
,

v ic tio n that n o blame whatever i n con nexio n with the eve nts ,

w hich I have n ow related attache s to Cou nt Fosc o I am,

.

i nformed that a d readful su spicion has b ee n raised and that ,

s om e ve ry seri ous con stru ction s are placed u pon h is lord shi p s ’

conduct My persuasi o n o f the Cou n t s in noce nce remain s

.
’
,

howe v er qu it e u n shaken, I f h e assisted S i r Pe rcival in .

sen ding m e t o Torquay he assisted u nder a d elu sion for , ,

which as a foreigne r an d a strange r h e was n ot to blame

, If ,
.

h e was concern ed in bri ngin g M rs Rubelle t o B lackwate r .

Park i t was h is misfortun e an d n ot his fault whe n that

, ,

fo reign pe rson was base en ough to assi st a d eception plann ed

and carri ed out by the maste r of the h ou se I p rotest in th e .
,

interests o f m orality agai nst blam e bein g gratuitous ly an d

,

wanton ly attached to the proceedings o f the Count .

I n the seco nd place I d esi re t o expre s s my regre t at my

,

fi
o w n i nability t o re member th e p re ci se day o n which Lady

Glyd e left B lackwate r Park fo r Lo ndon I am to ld that i t i s .

o f th e last i mportance to ascertai n th e exact date o f th at

la m entable j ourn ey a n d I have anxiou sly taxed my memory

t o recall it Th e e ff ort has bee n in vain
. I c a n only re .

m embe r n ow that it was towards the latte r part o f j u ly We .

all kn ow th e di f c ulty afte r a l apse of time of fixin g pre , ,

c isel
y o n a past date un les s i t has bee n previously writte n
,

d own That di ffi cu lty i s greatly i ncreased in my case by

.
, ,

th e alarmi ng and co nfusin g even ts which took place abou t

the pe ri od o f Lady G lyde s departu re I heartily wi sh I had’
.

m ade a mem oran dum at the time I h eartily wi sh my me mory .

’
o f th e date was as vivi d as my mem ory o f that poor lady s

face w he n i t lo oked at m e sorrowfully for the last tim e from

,

the carriage wi ndow .

T HE S T O RY C O NTI N! ED I N S E V ER A L N A RR A T I V E S .

1 . N a rra ti ve f H E ST E R P I N H O R N
o , Cook i n t/z e S em i ce qf
C O U N T F o sco .

[ Ta te/z down f rom M r o wn sl a te/i z ei z t .

]
I A M so rry to say that I have n eve r learn t to read o r write .

I have bee n a hard working woman all my li fe a nd have kep t

-
,

a good character I kn ow that it i s a sin a n d wickedn e s s t o

.

s ay the thin g which i s n ot an d I wi ll tru ly beware o f d oin g

s o o n thi s occasi on All that I kn ow I will tell a n d I
.
,

h u mb l y beg the gentleman wh o take s thi s d own t o put m y

35 7
 T H E W O M AN I N W H I T E

l ang u age righ t as h e goe s o n, an d to m ake al l owan ce s fo r

my bein g n o sch olar .

I n thi s last summer I happen ed t o be o u t o f place (through

,

n o fau lt o f my o w n ) ; an d I heard o f a si tuation as plain ,

’
cook at N u mber Five Fore st road S t J oh n s Wood
, , I -
, . .

’
to ok the p lace o n trial My maste r s nam e was F osc o
,
. My .

m istre s s was a n E nglish lady H e was Cou n t a nd sh e was .

’
C ou nte ss There was a girl t o d o ho usemai d s work whe n
.
,

I got the re S h e was n ot over clean or tidy— b ut there was n o

.

h arm in her I an d sh e were the on ly servan ts in the h ou se

. .

O ur m aste r an d mi st re s s came afte r we got i n And as .

,

s o on as they did come we were told d own stairs that c o m , , ,

pany was expected from the country .

The company was my m istre s s s niece an d th e bac k b ed ’

,

room o n th e fi rst floo r was go t ready for he r M y mistres s .

m ention ed to m e that Lady Glyde (that was her n ame ) w a s

i n p oor h ealth and that I m us t be particu lar i n my co oki ng

fi
,

acco rdin gly S he was to c ome th at day as well as I c a n

.
,

remembe r— but whateve r you d o don t t rust my memory in ,

’

th e matte r I am sorry to say i t s n o use askin g m e about

.
’

d ays o f the m onth an d s uch li ke Except S un days half my

,
- .
,

time I take n o h ee d of them bei ng a hard wo rking wo man -

an d n o scholar All I kn ow i s Lady Glyde came ; and whe n

.
, ,
’
s h e did com e a ne frigh t sh e gave u s all surely I do n t
, , .

know h o w maste r brou ght he r t o the h ouse bei ng h ard a t ,

work at the time B ut h e did b ri n g h e r in the afte rnoon I

.
, ,

thi n k ; and th e h ouse maid ope ned th e door t o them a n d ,

showe d th e m i nto the parlou r B efore she had bee n l ong .

down in th e kitch e n agai n with me we h eard a hu rry sku rry ,

-
,

u pstairs a n d th e parlou r be ll ringing like mad a nd my

, ,

mi stres s s voice calli ng o u t for help

’
.

We b oth ra n u p ; a n d there we saw the lady laid o n th e

s ofa with her fac e ghastly white a nd he r hands fast cle nched
, , ,

a n d he r head d rawn d own to o n e side S h e had bee n take n .

with a sudde n frigh t my mistress said ; an d master he told

,

u s sh e was i n a fi t o f c onvulsi ons I ran o ut kn owi n g th e .

,

n eighb ourh ood a little bette r than the rest o f them to fetch ,

th e n earest doctor s help Th e n eare st h elp was at Good

’
.

’
ri c k e s an d Garth s wh o worke d togethe r a s partners and
’
, ,

had a good n am e and co nn exion a s I have heard all ro un d , ,

’
S t J oh n s Wood
. M r Good ricke w a s in a n d he came
. .

b ack with m e di rectly .

I t was s om e ti me before he cou ld make himself o f much

u se The p oor u nfortunate lady fell o u t o f o n e fi t i nto
.

a n othe r— an d wen t o n s o till she was quite weari ed o ut, an d .

35 8
 T H E WO M AN I N W H ITE
’
from he r somewhe re I couldn t catch the n ame the fi rst
.
,

time ; a n d th e secon d time master knocked at the door w ith ,

h i s regu lar m outhful o f que stion s an d anothe r of his trumpery ,

n osegays .

When I went i n early th e n ext morn in g the lady w a s

, ,

c lean worn o u t again and lay in a kind o f fain t sleep

, Mr . .

Good ricke brough t h is partne r M r Garth with h im to advise , .

, .

Th ey said she mu st n ot b e di sturbed o u t of her rest o n any ,

account They asked my m istres s a many que sti ons at th e

.
,

other en d o f the room about what the lady s health h ad been

,
’

i n past time s a n d who had attended her and whether she

, ,

h ad eve r s u ff e red muc h and lon g togethe r unde r distre ss o f

‘
mind . I remembe r my mistre ss said Ye s to that last , ,
’

que stion An d M r Goodricke looked at M r Garth an d

. . .
,

shook hi s h ead ; a n d M r Garth looked at M r Goodricke

. .
,

and sh ook his head They seemed to thin k that the di stre ss
.

might h ave so methi ng to d o with the m isch ief at th e lady s ’

h eart S he was but a frai l thin g t o loo k at poo r creatu re !

.
,

Very little stren gth at a ny tim e I should sa y— ve ry little

, ,

strength .

Later o n the same m orning whe n sh e woke th e lady , ,

t ook a sudde n tu rn and got seemin gly a great deal bette r

,
.

I was n ot let in agai n to see he r n o m ore was th e hou semaid , ,

for the reason that sh e was n ot to be distu rbed by strange rs .

W hat I heard o f h er being bette r w a s th rough my maste r .

H e was i n wonde rful good spi rits abou t the c h a ngep a n d

looked in at th e kitche n wi ndow from the garden with hi s ,

great big cu rly brimmed w hite hat on to go o u t

-
,
.

Good M rs Cook says he Lady Glyde is b etter

.
,
’
,
My .

mi n d i s m ore easy th an i t w a s ; a n d I am going o u t to

'

stretch m y bi g legs with a sunny li ttle summe r walk S hall .

I orde r for yo u shall I market for you M rs Cook ? What

, ,
.

are you making there A n ice tart for dinn e r Much crus t ,

if you please — much crisp crust my dear that melts and , ,

crumble s delici ou s i n the mo uth That was h is way H e .

’
.

was past sixty and fond o f pastry J ust thin k of that

, .

The doctor came agai n in the foren oon a n d saw for ,

h im self that Lady Glyde had woke u p bette r H e forbid u s .

t o talk to he r o r to let he r talk to u s i n case sh e was th at

, ,

way disposed saying sh e mu st b e kep t quiet before all things ,

a n d e ncour aged to sleep as much as possi ble S h e did not .

see m to wan t to talk w hen eve r I sa w h e r— excep t ove rnigh t ,

w he n I couldn t make ou t what sh e w a s sayi ng— sh e seemed

’

to o much wo rn down M r Good ricke was n o t n early i n such

. .

g ood s p i rit s ab out h er as mast H e sai d n othin whe n h e

s
;
Q
g
came d own stai rs , except that h e would call agai n at
o cl oc k
’
.
-
T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E

Abou t that ti me (wh ich was befo re m aster cam e h om e

agai n ) th e b el l ran g hard from th e bedroom an d my m i stres s
, ,
fi
ve

ra n ou t i n to the landing an d called fo r m e to go fo r M r ,

.

G ood ri cke an d tell hi m the lady had fai n ted

, I go t o n my .

b onne t a n d sh awl w h en as good lu ck wou ld h ave it the , , ,

d octo r himself came to th e h ou s e fo r hi s p rom ised visit .

I let hi m in an d wen t u p stai rs alon g with h im

,
Lad y - .

G lyde w a s j u st as u sual says my mi stres s to hi m at the ,

’

doo r ; sh e was awake an d l ookin g abou t h e r i n a strange , , ,

forl orn man n e r wh en I heard he r give a s ort o f h alf cry an d

, ,

she fai nted i n a m omen t The d octor we nt u p to th e bed .

’
,

a n d stoop ed down ove r the sic k lady H e l ooke d ve ry .

se riou s all o n a sudde n at th e sight o f h er ; an d p ut hi s

, ,

han d o n h er h eart .

‘
My mistre s s stared h ard in M r G o o dric k e s face Not .
’
.

dead ! says she whi spe ring a nd tu rni ng all of a tremb le

’
, ,

from h ead to foot .

‘
Yes says th e d octor ve ry quie t an d grave
,
’
D ead , . .

I was afrai d i t wou ld hap pe n sudde nly whe n I exami n e d he r ,

heart ye sterday My mi stress steppe d back from th e bedside

.
’
,

w hi le h e was s peaki ng a n d tre mbled and trembled again , .

D ead sh e wh i spe rs to h erse lf ; dead s o s udde nly dead

so s oon ! What will the Coun t say ? M r G ood ri ck e ’
.

advis ed he r to go down stairs an d quie t h e rself a little -

, .

‘ ‘
Y o u have bee n sittin g u p al l night says h e ; a n d you r ’
,

ne rve s are shaken Thi s p ers on says h e m eanin g m e thi s .

,
’
, ,

pe rso n will stay in th e ro om till I c a n s en d fo r th e n eces sary ,

assistance My mi stre s s did a s h e told he r

.
’
I mu st p rep are .

‘ ’
the C ou nt sh e says , I mu st carefu lly p repare the Cou nt . .
’

An d s o she left u s shaking from he ad to foo t an d wen t o u t , , .

‘
You r maste r i s a foreign e r says M r Goodric ke wh e n ,
’
.
,

my mi stre ss h ad left u s D oes h e un derstan d ab ou t regi s .

teri ng th e death I can t rightly tell sir says I bu t I ’

, ,
’

sh ould thi n k n ot Th e d octo r con sidere d a mi nu te ; an d .

’

th en s ays he I d on t u sually do such things says h e bu t

, ,
’
,
’
,

i t may save th e family troubl e m th is case i f I regi ste r th e ,

d eath mys elf I shall pass th e di strict o ffice in half a n hou r s

.
’

ti me and I c a n easily loo k i n M enti on if you please that .

, ,
‘
I will d o s o Ye s si r says I wi th thanks I m su re for
.
’
, ,
’
, ,
’

you r kindn es s in thi nking o f it ‘

Y o u don t mi nd stayin g
’ ’
.

h e re till I c a n se nd you the proper pe rs o

, says h e No n .
,

s ir sa y s I I ll stay wi th th e poor lady till then I supp ose

’ ’
, ,
.

nothin g mo re c o uld be don e si r than wa s d o ne ? says I , ,

’
.

~
q
61
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E
’ ‘
N o says h e
,
n othi ng ; sh e mu st h ave su ff ered sadly
before eve r I saw h er : th e cas e was hopele ss when I was
’
called i n Ah dear m e we all come to i t s oon er o r late r
.
, , ,

do n t we si r ? says I
’
, H e gave n o an swe r to that ; he
’
.

didn t see m to care abou t talki ng H e said

’
Good day .
, ,
’

and wen t o u t .

I s topped by the bed side from th at time ti ll th e time wh e n ,

M r Go odricke sen t the pe rs on i n as h e had promi sed

. She , .

was by n am e J an e Gould
,
I con sidered her to b e a respect
, .

abl e-looki ng woman S h e made n o remark excep t to sa y .

,

that she u nderstood what was wanted o f he r a nd that sh e ,

had wi nde d a many o f them in h e r time .

H ow maste r bore th e news when h e fi rst h eard it i s more , ,

th an I c a n tell ; n ot havi n g bee n pre se nt Whe n I did se e

fi
.

him h e lo oke d awfully ove rcome by i t to b e s ure

, H e sat , .

quiet in a co rn e r with hi s fat h ands han gi n g ove r h i s thic k

,

knee s an d hi s head d own an d hi s eye s l ookin g at nothin g

, , .

H e seemed n ot so much so rry as scared an d dazed like by , ,

wh at h ad happene d My mi stres s managed all that was t o .

b e don e ab out the funeral I t mu st have cost a sigh t o f .

,

m oney : th e co f n in particular bei ng m ost beautiful The , , .

d ead lady s hu sban d was away as we he ard in foreign parts

’
, , .

B ut my mistre ss (bein g h er aun t ) settled i t with he r frie nds in

the country (Cumbe rland I thin k ) that sh e sh ould be bu ri ed ,

the re in the sam e grave along wi th he r m othe r Everything

, .

was don e h ands omely i n re spect o f th e fun eral I say agai n , ,

and maste r went d own to attend the bu ryi ng in the cou ntry
h im self H e looked grand i n hi s deep mourning with his bi g
.
,

s ol emn face an d his slow walk an d h i s b road hatband — that

, ,

h e did
I n co nclusion I h a v e t o say in answe r to question s pu t
, ,

to me .

( 1 ) That n either I n o r my fell ow se rvant eve r saw m y -

m aster give Lady Glyde any medicin e h imself .

( ) Th at h e was neve r t o my k no wledge a nd beli ef left

2 , ,

alone in the room with Lady Glyde .

(3) That I am n ot able to say what cau sed the sudde n

fright wh ich my mistre s s i nformed me had seized the l ady
,

o n he r fi rst coming i nto th e hou se T he cause was neve r .

explai ned e ithe r to m e o r to my fellow se rvan t

,
-
.

The a b o y e statemen t has bee n read ove r i n my presence .

I have n o th m g to add t o it o r to take away from i t I say , .

,

o n my oath a s a Ch ristian woman Thi s is the truth , .

(S ign ed ) H E S T ER P I N H O R N H er Mark , .

"
J
62
 T H E W O MAN I N W H ITE ’

th e thirte e nth day o f O ctobe r 1 8 5 0 We landed lat e i n th e , .

afternoo n an d I arrived in Lo ndo n th e same n 1 gh t .

These pages are n ot the record of my wanderings an d my

dange rs away from h om e Th e motive s which led m e fro m
.

my c ou ntry a n d my frie nds t o a n ew world of adve nture an d

perii are kn own F ro m that self imposed exile I came back
.
-
,

a s I h oped prayed believed I should c om e bac k— a changed

, ,

man . I n the waters O f a n ew life I had tempered my n ature

afresh I n the stern school o f extremity an d dan ge r my wi ll
.

had learnt t o b e stro ng my h eart to be res olu te my min d t o

, ,

rely on itself I had gon e o ut t o fly fro m my o w n future

. I .

cam e back to face it as a m a n should , .

T O face it with that i nevitable suppres sio n o f myself which ,

I k n ew i t wou ld de man d fro m me I had parted wi th th e .

worst bittern es s O f the past but not with my h eart s remem ,

’

bran ce of th e sorrow and the tendern ess o f that m emorable

ti me . I had n ot cease d t o fee l the o ne i rreparable disappoi n t
ment o f my life — I had o n ly learnt to bear it Laura Fai rlie .

was i n all my th oughts whe n th e ship b ore m e away a n d I ,

l ooked my last at E n gland Lau ra Fairlie was in all my .

th ough ts whe n th e ship brought me back a n d the m ornin g ,

light sh owed the friendly shore i n view .

My pe n trace s th e O ld letters as my h eart goe s back to

th e O ld love I write of he r as Lau ra Fai rli e still
. I t i s hard .

to thin k o f h er i t i s hard to speak o f her by he r husband s

, ,
’

name .

There are n o m ore w ord s o f explanati on to add o n my ,

appearing for the second time in these page s Thi s n arrative .

,

i f I have th e strength an d th e cou rage t o write it may n ow ,

go o n .

My fi rst anxietie s and fi rst hopes when th e m orning came , ,

centred i n my m othe r a n d my si ste r I felt the n ecessity O f .

prepari n g the m for the j oy an d s urpri se O f my return after a n ,

absen ce du rin g which i t h ad bee n imp os sible fo r them to re

,

c eiv e any tidings O f m e for m onths past Early i n the morn .

ing I se nt a letter to the H amp stead Cottage and followed

,

i t myse lf m an hour s time ’

.

Whe n the fi rst meeting was over wh e n o u r qui et an d ,

c omp osure o f othe r days began gradually t o retu rn to u s I ,

sa w s omethin g i n my m othe r s fac e which told m e that a

’

s ecret O ppre s si o n lay heavy O n h e r he art There was m ore .

than l ove — the 1 e was sorrow in the anxiou s eye s that l ooked
O n m e so tende rly ; there w a s p ity in th e kin d hand that
s lowly a n d fondl y st1 ength en ed i ts hold on min e We h ad .

35 4
 T H E WO MA N I N VV H I T E
'

n o concealments fro m e ach othe r S he kn ew h ow th e hop e .

o f my life had bee n wrecked — she kn ew why I had left he r .

I t was o n my lip s to a sk as comp osedly as I could if any ,

lette r had come fo r m e from M i s s H alcomb e — if the re was ,

any n ews O f h er s iste r that I might hear B ut wh en I looked .

,

in my mother s face I l ost cou rage t o pu t th e qu e stion eve n

’
,

in that guarde d fo rm I c ould only sa y doubtingly and re

. ,

strainedly ,
’
You have someth ing t o tell me .

My siste r who had bee n si tting opposite t o u s ros e

, ,

sudden ly with o ut a word O f explanati on — ro se a n d left th e

, ,

room .

My m other m oved closer t o m e on the s ofa an d put h e r

arm s rou nd my nec k Th ose fond arms tre mbled the tears
.

fl o wed fast over the faithful l oving face .

Walter sh e whi spe re d my o w n darlin g ! my h eart i s

heavy for yo u O h my so n my so n try t o remembe r that
.
,

I am still left ! ’

My head san k o n h er b oso m S h e h ad said all in sayin g .

,

those words .

I t was th e m orn in g O f th e th ird day si n ce my return — th e

morn in g of the s ixte en th O f O ctobe r .

I had re maine d with the m at th e Cottage ; I had tri ed

h ard n ot to e mbitte r th e happin e s s O f my retu rn to Z/z em as , ,

i t was e mbittere d to m e I had don e all m a n cou ld to ri s e

.

afte r the sh oc k a n d accep t my life re sign edly— to le t my

,
0t
reat s orrow com e in tende rne s s t o my heart and n ot i n ,

d espai r I t was u se le ss a n d hopeles s

. N o tears s oothe d my .

aching eye s n o re lief came to me fro m my si ste r s sym pathy ’

o r my mothe r s love
’
.

O n th at thi rd m o rn i n g I O pened my h eart t o the m , At .

last th e words passe d my lips wh ich I had lon ge d to speak

o n th e day when my m oth e r told m e o f her d eath .

‘ ‘
Le t me go away alon e for a li ttle wh ile I said , I ,
’
.

shal l bear i t b ette r wh e n I have lo oke d once more at th e

plac e where I fi rst saw he r — whe n I have kn elt an d p rayed
by the grave wh ere they have lai d he r t o re s t .
’

I de parted o n m y journ ey — m y j ou rney to th e grave O f

Laura Fairlie .

I t was a qui e t autum n afte rn o on wh e n I stopp e d at th e ,

s olitary stati on an d set forth alon e o n foot by th e we l l

, , ,
~

reme mbered road Th e wan in g su n w a s sh in in g faintly

.

through thin wh ite cloud s ; th e ai r was warm an d still ; th e

6
3 5
 THE WO M AN I N W H ITE

peacefu l n es s O f the lone ly country was ove r shadowe d and -

s addened by the i nfluen ce O f the falli ng year .

I reach ed the m oor I stood agai n o n the brow of the hill

I looke d o n al ong th e path — an d th ere were the familiar
,

garden tree s i n the distan ce the clear sweeping semicircle o f

fi
,

th e drive , the h igh whit e walls o f L im m eridge H ou se Th e .

chance s an d changes th e wande ri ngs and dange rs O f month s

,

a nd month s past all sh ran k an d shrivelled to n othin g i n my

,

mind . I t wa s li ke yeste rday since my feet had last trodde n

,

th e fragrant heathy grou nd ! I th ough t I should see he r

comin g t o m ee t me with h er little straw hat shadin g h er
,

face he r si mp le dres s flutterin g i n the ai r and he r wel l lled

, ,
-

sketch boo k ready in he r hand

- .

O h D eath th o u hast thy sting ! O h G rave thou hast th y

, , , ,

vi ctory
I tur ned aside and there below me in th e glen was the
’

, ,

lone some gray church th e p orch wher e I had waited for the
coming O f th e woman in white th e hills e ncircling the quie t
bu rial grou nd ; th e bro ok bubbling c old ove r its s tony bed
- .

The re was th e marble cross fai r an d white at the head O f , ,

th to m b— the tomb that n ow ro se over m othe r a nd daughte r

alii e .

I approached the grave I cro ssed once more the l ow

.

ston e stile an d bared my head as I tou ch ed the sa cred

,

ground S acred t o ge ntle n es s and good ness ; sacre d to

.

reve re nce and grief .

I stopped b efo re th e pede stal fro m wh ich th e cros s rose .

O n o n e side o f it o n th e side nearest to m e the n ewly cut

, ,
-

i nscriptio n met my eye s— the hard , clear crue l black lette rs ,

which told th e story o f he r life an d death I tried t o read .

the m . I d id read as far as the n ame ‘ S acre d to the

, .

M emory of Lau ra The kind blue eyes dim with tears ;

th e fai r head d rooping we arily ; the i nn ocen t p arting word s ,

which i mplo re d m e to leave h e r— oh for a happie r last ,

mem o ry O f h er than thi s th e m emo ry I t oo k away with me ,

the m em ory I b ri ng back with me to h er grave

A secon d ti me I trie d to read the in scription I saw at .
,

th e e nd th e date o f he r de ath ; an d above i t

,

Above i t the re we re lin e s o n th e marble the re was a

, ,

n ame amon g them whi ch distu rbe d my th oughts O f he r

, I .

we n t rou n d t o the othe r si de o f th e grave whe re there was ,

n oth ing to re ad — n oth in g O f e arthly vilen e s s to force its way

b etwee n h e r spi rit an d min e .

I knelt down by the tomb I lai d my hands I lai d my .

,

h ead , o n th e b ro ad whit e ston e an d c lose d my wea ry eye s on ,

366
 TH E WO M AN I N W H ITE

T he wo man came slowly a n d silently came o n

on ; I .

looked at h e r— a t he r an d at n on e o the r from th at m omen t

, , .

Th e voi ce that w a s praying for me falte re d and san k low ,

the n ros e o n a su dden an d called a ff rightedly called

, ,

de spairi ngly to m e to co me away .

B u t th e veiled woman h ad po sse ssi o n o f me body and ,

s oul . S he stoppe d o n on e side O f the grave We stood face .

t o face with the tomb ston e betwee n u s S he w a s clo se to

,
.

the i n scription O n the side O f the pede stal H e r gown touch e d .

the black lette rs .

Th e voi ce came neare r a n d ros e and ros e more pas sion ately
,

still
. H ide you r face ! don t look at he r ! Oh , for G od s
’ ’

sake spare hi m
Th e woman lifted h er veil .

S ac red to th e M emo ry of Lau ra Lady G lyd e

,

Lau ra Lady Glyde was stan di ng by th e in script ion an d

, , ,

was l ooking at m e ove r th e grave .

S econd
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E

TH E T H I R D E PO C H .

T11 0 S tory conti n ued W AL T E R HART R I G HT .

I O P E N a new page I advan ce my n arrative by o ne

.

The hi sto ry O f th e i nte rval which I thu s pas s ove r mu st

re mai n u n re corded My h eart tu rn s fain t my mi n d s inks in
.
,

darkn ess an d confu sio n whe n I th in k O f i t Th i s m ust n ot .

fi
be if I wh o write am t o guide as I ought yo u w h o read
, , , , .

Thi s must n ot b e i f th e clue that lead s through the wi ndin gs

o f th e S tory is to remai n fro m e n d t o en d u ntan gled in my
, ,

hands .

A life su ddenly chan g ed — i ts wh ole pu rp o se created afre sh

i ts h opes an d fears its str uggle s i ts in te rests an d its sac ri
, , ,

c es all tu rn ed at o n ce a n d fo r eve r i nt o a n ew directi o n

, thi s -

i s th e prospect which n ow O pen s before m e li ke th e bu rst o f

vi ew from a m ou n tai n s top I left my n arrative in th e quiet
’
.

shadow O f Lim m eridge chu rch : I re sum e i t o n e wee k late r , ,

i n th e sti r and tu rmoil o f a Londo n street .

T h e stree t i s in
a populous a n d a poo r n ei ghbou rh ood .

Th e groun d fl oo r o n e O f th e hou se s i n i t i s occupied by a

of

small newsven do r s sh op ; an d th e fi rst fl oo r an d the secon d

’

are le t as fu rn ish ed lodgings O f th e hu mble st kin d .

I have taken those two floo rs in an assumed name O n .

th e uppe r floo r I live with a roo m to wo rk i n a roo m to

, ,

slee p i n O n the lowe r fl oo r u nde r the same assume d n ame

.
, ,

tw o wome n live wh o are de scribe d as my si ste rs

, I get my .

b read by drawi ng an d engravin g o n wood fo r the ch eap

pe ri odicals My siste rs are suppo sed t o hel p m e by taki n g
.

i n a li ttle nee dlewo rk O ur poor place O f abode o u r hu mbl e

.
,

c a llin g o u r a s su m ed relation shi p

, and o ur a ssume d nam e,
,

6
39
 T H E WO M AN I N W H IT E
are all u sed ali ke as a mean s O f hiding u s in th e h ouse fores t -

o f Lon don We are nu mbe re d n o lon ge r with the peopl e

.

whose live s are open an d known I am a n O bscure u nn otice d .

,

man without patron o r frien d to h elp m e Mari an H alcombe

,
.

i s n othing n ow but my eldest siste r wh o p rovide s for o u r

, ,

h ousehold wants by th e toi l O f he r o w n hands We two i n .

,

th e estimati on o f others a re at once the dupe s a n d th e agents

,

o f a dari ng impo stu re We are supposed to be the a c c o m

.

p lic es o f m ad An n e C a th eric k who clai ms the n ame the , ,

place an d th e livin g pers onality O f dead Lady Glyde

, .

That i s o u r si tuation T hat i s the ch an ge d aspect in

.

which we th re e mus t appear he n cefo rth in thi s n arrative , , ,

fo r many and many a page to c ome .

I n th e eye O f reaso n a nd o f law in th e esti mation of ,

relative s an d fri ends according t o eve ry rece ived formali ty

,

O f civi lised s ociety Lau ra Lady Glyde lay bu rie d wi th h er

, , ,
’

m o the r i n L im m eridge churchyard To rn in h e r o w n lifetim e .

from th e lis t O f the livi n g th e daughte r O f Phi li p Fai rlie and

,

the wife o f Pe rciv a l Glyd e might still exist fo r he r siste r ,

migh t still exist for me but to all the world be side s sh e was
,

dead . D ead to h er u ncle wh o had re n ounced h e r ; dead to

the se rvants O f the h ouse wh o had failed to re cogni se h e r ;
dead to th e pe rson s in auth ority wh o had transmi tted h e r
fortun e t o he r hu sband an d h er aun t dead to my moth er a nd
my si ste r wh o believe d me to b e th e dup e o f a n adve ntures s
,

a n d th e vi cti m O f a fraud socially morally legally— dead , , .

An d ye t alive ! Alive i n poverty and i n h iding Alive .

,

with the poo r d rawi ng master to figh t h e r battle and to wi n

-
,

the way back for h e r to he r place in th e world O f livin g

bein gs .

D id n o s usp icion e xci te d by my o w n kn owledge O f An n e

,

C a th eric k s re semblan ce t o h e cros s my min d when her face

’
r
, ,

was fi rst revealed to me ? N ot th e sh adow o f a su spicion ,

from the m oment when sh e lifted he r vei l by th e sid e O f the

ins c ripti on wh ich re corded he r death .

B efore the su n O f that day had set before the last glimpse ,

o f the h ome wh ich was close d again st h e r had passed from

o u r view th e farewel l wo rds I spok e whe n w e parted a t

,

Lim m eridge H ouse had bee n recalled by both of us re peated

by me re c ognised by he r
, I f eve r th e time come s when the
.

devo ti on o f my whole heart and sou l an d strength wi ll give

you a m omen t s happine ss o r spare yo u a moment s s orrow
’

,
’
,

wi ll yo u try to re membe r the p oor drawi ng master wh o has -

’
taught yo u ? S he who n ow reme mbered s o little o f the
,

tro u bl e and terror o f a late r ti me remembered those words , ,

37 0
 TH E WO MAN I N W H ITE
c ould no t u nde rtake t o say ) that a lette r arrived from Madame
F osc o an n ou ncin g Lady G ly de s s udden death in Cou n t '
’

F osco s h ouse
’
The lette r avoided me n tion in g date s an d
. ,

left i t to M rs M i ch elson s discreti on t o break the news at

.
’

’
o n ce to M is s H alcombe o r to defer doi ng s o u ntil that lady s,

h ealth sh ou ld be m ore firmly es tablished .

H a v ing c o n su lted M r D aws on (wh o had been h im self dela yed

.

by i ll health in re sumin g hi s atten dance at B l ackwate r Park ) ,

’
M rs M ichels on by th e d octo r s advi ce an d i n th e d octor s
.
,
’

p re sen ce com mun icate d the n ews e ith e r o n the day when
, ,

th e lette r was re ceived o r 0 11 th e da y afte r I t i s n o t n ec es

,
.

sary to dwe ll h e re u pon th e e ffect wh ich the i ntellige nce of

Lady G lyde s sudde n d eath produced o n h e r s iste r
’
I t is .

o n ly u sefu l t o th e p re se nt pu rpos e to sa y that sh e was n o t

able to trave l for m ore than th re e week s afte rwards At th e .

e nd o f that tim e sh e p roceede d t o London accompanied by ,

th e h ousekeepe r They parted there ; M rs M i chelson p re

. .

v io u sly i nform in g M i ss H alcombe o f he r addres s i n cas e they ,

m igh t wish to communi cate at a futu re pe riod .

O n partin g with th e h ou se keepe r M i s s H alcombe wen t at ,

o n ce to th e O ffi c e O f M es srs G ilmo re a nd Kyrle to con sult .

,

with th e latte r gentleman i n M r Gilmore s abse nc e S h e , .

’
.

menti on ed to M r Kyrle what sh e h ad though t i t desi rable to

.
,

conceal fr o m every o n e e lse (M rs M ich elson i n cluded ) — he r .

s uspicion O f th e ci rcu m stan ce s u nde r which Lady G lyd e was

s aid to h ave m et h er death M r Kyrle wh o h ad previ ou s ly . .
,

give n friendly p roof O f h i s anxiety to s erve M i s s H alcombe at ,

on ce u ndertook to m ake such i nqui rie s as th e delicate an d

dangero us nature O f th e i nvestigation p ropose d to hi m would
p e rm i t .

T O exhau st th i s part O f th e sub ject b efore goin g farth er ,

i t may be h ere men tioned that Coun t F o sco o ff ered every

facility to M r Kyrle o n that gentleman stating that h e was
.
,

sent by M iss H alcomb e to collect su ch particulars a s had no t

yet reach ed he r O f Lady G lyde s decease M r Kyrle was ’
. .

p laced in communi cation with th e medi cal man M r Good , .

ricke an d with th e two se rvants

, I n th e absen ce O f any .

mean s o f asce rtaining th e exac t date o f Lady G lyde s depar ’

ture fro m B l a c kwater Park th e result o f th e doc to r s an d the ,

’

s ervan ts e viden ce and o f the vo lunteered statements O f Coun t

’
,

F osco an d h is wife was co ncl usive to the mi n d o f M r Kyrle

, . .

H e could on ly as sum e that the i nte n sity o f M i s s H a lc o m b e s ’

su ff erin g un de r th e los s o f he r s i s ter had m isled her j ud g ,

m ent in a mo st deplorab le man ner ; an d h e wrote h er word

th at th e shockin g su spicion to which sh e h ad allud ed in hi s
372
 TH E WO MA N I N W H I T E
p re se nce was in hi s O pi nion d estitute of th e smalles t fra g
, , ,

me nt o f foundatio n in truth Thus the i nvestigati on by M r . .

Gi lm ore s partne r began a nd en ded

’
.

M eanwhi le M is s H alcomb e had retu rn ed t o L im m eridge

,

H ous e and had there collected all th e additi onal informatio n

which sh e was able to O btain .

M r Fairlie had received hi s first i ntimation O f h i s ni ece s

.
’

death from hi s si ste r Madame Fosco ; thi s lette r als o n o t

,

co ntaini n g any exact refe re n ce to dates H e had sanctio ne d .

hi s si ster s p ropo sal that th e deceased lady sh ould b e laid in

’

he r mother s grave i n L im m eridge chu rchyard

’
Count Fo sc o .

had accompanied th e remai n s t o Cumberland a n d had a t ,

tended th e fune ral a t Lim m eridge wh ich too k place o n th e ,

30 th O f J uly I t was followed as a mark o f re sp ect by al l

.
, ,

the inh ab itants O f th e village an d th e n eighb ourh ood O n th e .

n ext day th e in scripti on

, (originally drawn o u t i t was said , ,

by th e aun t of th e deceased lady a n d s ubm itted fo r approval ,

t o her brothe r M r Fairlie ) w a s engraved o n o n e side o f th

, .

m onu ment ove r th e tomb .

O n th e day o f th e fun e ral an d fo r o ne day afte r i t C ou nt

Fosco had bee n received as a gue st at L im m eridge H ou se ;
but n o i nte rview had take n place between M r Fairli e an d .

himself, by th e forme r gen tle man s desi re They had co m ’

.

m u n ica ted by writin g ; and throu gh thi s med ium Coun t , ,

Fosco had made M r Fai rlie acquainte d with th e detai l s O f

.

h is niece s last illn es s an d death Th e lette r p re se ntin g thi s

’
.

i nformatio n added n o n ew facts to the facts already known

but o ne ve ry remarkabl e paragraph was co ntain ed in th e
po stscript I t refe rre d t o An n e C a th eric k
. .

Th e sub stanc e O f the paragraph in questi on was as

follows
I t fi rst informed M r Fai rlie that An n e C a th eric k (of who m
.

h e might h ear full particulars from M i ss H alco mb e whe n sh e

reach e d L im m eridge) had been trace d and recove re d in th e
n eighbourh ood O f B lackwate r Park and had been for th e , ,

secon d time placed unde r th e charge O f th e medical m a n

,

from wh ose custody sh e had once e scaped .

Thi s was the fi rst part o f th e postscript The se cond part .

warn ed M r Fairlie that An n e C a th eric k s mental malady had

.
’

bee n aggravated by h e r lon g freedom from co ntro l a n d th at

the i n sane hatred a n d di stru st o f S i r Pe rcival Glyde which ,

had been o ne O f h er mo st marked delusi on s i n forme r ti me s ,

still existed u nde r a n ewly acqui red form The u nfortunate

,
- .

’
woman s last i de a i n con nexio n with S i r Pe rcival was th e ,

i dea of ann oyin g and di stre ssin g h im and O f e l ev ati ng her ,

37 3
 TH E WO MAN I N W H I T E
c ould no t u nde rtake t o say ) that a le tter arrived from Mad ame
F os co an n ou ncin g Lady G lyde s s udde n d e ath in Cou n t ’

F osco s h ouse
’
The l ette r avoided m ention i n g dates a n d
. ,

left i t to M rs M i ch elson s d iscreti on t o bre ak th e news at

.
’

’
o n ce to M i ss H alcombe o r t o d efer d oing so u ntil that lady s
,

h ealth sh ould be m ore fi rmly e stablished .

H avin g c on sulted M r D awson (wh o had bee n h im self dela yed

.

by ill health i n resumin g hi s attendance at B l ackwate r Park ) ,

’
M rs M i chels on by th e d octor s advi ce an d in th e d octor s
.
,
’

presen ce com mu n icated th e n ews e ithe r o n th e day whe n

, ,

the lette r was received o r 0 11 the d ay after I t i s n o t n ec es

,
.

s ary to dwell h e re u pon th e effect wh ich th e i ntellige nce of

Lady G lyde s s udden de ath produ ced 0 11 h e r s ister
’
It is .

on ly u sefu l to the p re se nt pu rpos e t o say that sh e was n ot

able to trave l for m ore than th re e week s afte rwards At th e .

en d o f that tim e sh e procee de d to Lon don accompanie d by ,

th e h ou se keepe r They parted there ; M rs Mi che lson p re

. .

v i o u sly i nform ing M is s H alcombe o f he r addres s i n case they ,

m igh t wi sh to c ommunicate at a fu tu re pe riod .

O n partin g with th e h ousekeepe r M i ss H alcombe wen t at ,

o nce to th e o fli c e o f M e ss rs G ilmore and Kyrle to con sult .

,

with th e latte r gentleman i n M r Gilmore s absence She

,
.
’
.

mention ed to M r Kyrle what sh e h ad though t i t desi rable to

.
,

c onceal fro m every o n e e lse (M rs M i ch elson i n cluded ) —her .

s uspici on o f th e ci rcu m stan ce s u nde r wh ich Lady G lyd e was

s ai d to have m et her d eath M r Kyrle wh o h ad previou s ly . .
,

give n friendly p roof of hi s anxiety to serve M i ss H al combe at ,

o nce u nde rtook to make such i nqui rie s as th e deli cate an d

dange ro u s n ature o f th e i nve stigation p rop osed t o h i m would
p ermi t .

T O exhau st th i s part o f th e sub ject before going farth er ,

i t may b e h ere menti one d that Coun t Fo sc o O ff ered every

facility t o M r Kyrle o n that gentleman stating that h e was
.
,

sen t by M i s s H alcombe to collect such parti culars a s had n o t

yet reached h e r of Lady G lyde s deceas e M r Kyrle was ’
. .

p laced in commu nication wi th th e m edical man M r Go od , .

ricke an d with th e two s ervants

, I n th e ab sen c e o f any .

m ean s o f asce rtain ing th e exact date o f Lady G ly de s depar ’

ture fro m B lac kwater Park th e re sult O f th e doc t or s an d the ,

’

’
s ervants e viden ce an d o f the voluntee red statements o f Count
,

F o sco an d his wife was co nclusive to th e mi n d o f M r Kyrle

, . .

H e could on ly assum e that th e i nte nsity o f M i ss H a l c o m be s ’

su ff erin g unde r th e los s o f he r si s ter had mi sled her j ud g ,

m en t in a m o st deplorable m an ner ; an d h e wrote he r word

t h at th e shocki n g su spici on t o which sh e h ad allud ed in hi s
37 2
 T H E WO MAN I N W H I TE
c ould n ot u nde rtake to say ) that a lette r arrive d from Madame
Fosc o ann ou ncin g Lady G lyde s s udden d eath in Cou n t O
’

F o sco s h ouse
’
Th e lette r avoided m enti on in g date s a nd
. ,

l eft i t to M rs M i ch elson s discretion t o bre ak the n ews at

.
’

’
o nce to M is s H al combe o r to de fer d oing so u ntil that lady s,

health sh ould be m ore firmly e stablished .

H a v ing c o n su lted M r D aws on (wh o had b ee n h im selfdela yed

.

by i ll health i n resuming h i s attendance at B lackwate r Park ) ,

M rs M ich els on by th e d octor s advi ce an d i n the d octor s

’ ’
.
,

p re sen ce com mu n icated the n ews e ithe r o n the day whe n

, ,

th e lette r w a s received o r 0 11 the d ay afte r I t i s n ot meces

, .

s ary to dwell h e re u pon the e ffect which th e i nte llige n ce of

Lady G lyde s s udde n d e ath produced on h e r s iste r
’
I t is .

o n ly u sefu l to th e p re se nt pu rp ose to say that sh e was n o t

able t o trave l for m ore than th ree week s afte rwards At th e .

end o f that tim e sh e proceeded to London accompanie d by ,

th e h ou sekeepe r They parted there ; M rs M iche lson p re

. .

v i o u sl
y i nform ing M iss H alcombe of he r addres s i n cas e they ,

migh t wish to communicate at a fu tu re pe riod .

O n partin g with th e h ousekeepe r M iss H alcomb e we nt at ,

once to th e O ffi c e o f M e ss rs Gi lmore a nd Kyrle to con sult .

,

with th e latte r gentleman i n M r Gilmore s abse nce S h e , .

’
.

me nti on ed to M r Kyrle what sh e h ad though t it d esi rable to

.
,

con ceal fro m every o n e else ( M rs M ichelson i ncluded ) — her .

s uspici on o f th e circu m stance s u nder which Lady Glyde was

sai d to have m et h e r death Mr Kyrle wh o had p reviou s ly . .
,

give n frie ndly p roof o f h i s anxiety to s erve M is s H alcombe at ,

on ce u nde rtoo k to make such i nqui ries as th e deli cate and

dangero us natur e o f th e investigation p roposed to h i m would
p e rmit .

T o e x hau st th is part o f th e sub ject b efore goin g farth e r ,

i t may be he re men ti on ed that Coun t Fo sco o ff e re d eve ry

facility to M r Kyrl e o n that ge ntleman stating that h e was
.
,

sen t by M is s H alcomb e to collect su ch particulars a s had n o t

yet reache d he r o f Lady G ly de s decease M r Kyrl e was ’
. .

p laced i n communi cati on wi th th e m edi cal man M r Good , .

ricke and with the two servants

, I n th e absen ce o f a ny .

m ean s o f asce rtaini ng th e exac t date o f Lady G lyde s d epar ’

tu re fro m B lackwater Park th e re sult o f th e doc to r s and the ,

’

’
s ervants e viden ce an d o f the volunteered statements of Count
,

F osco and h is wife was co nclusive to th e mi n d o f M r Kyrle

, . .

H e could on ly assume that th e i nten sity o f M i s s H a lco m b e s ’

su ff ering unde r the los s o f h e r si s ter had m i sle d her j ud g ,

m ent i n a m ost deplorab le man ner ; an d h e wrote her wo rd

th at the sh ocki n g su spicion to which sh e had alluded in hi s
,

372
 T H E WO MA N I N W H ITE

p resence w a s, i n hi s opini on d estitute

,
of th e smalle s t fra g ,

me nt o f foundation in truth Thu s the i nve sti gati on by M r . .

Gi lmo re s partne r began a nd ended

’
.

M eanwhile M i ss H alcomb e had retu rn ed t o L im m eridge

,

H ou se an d had th ere collected all the additi onal i nformati o n

which sh e was able t o obtain .

’
M r Fairli e had received hi s first i ntimation o f hi s n i ece s
.

death from hi s si ste r Madame Fosco ; thi s lette r al so n o t

,

contain in g any exact referen ce to dates H e had sanctione d .

hi s si ster s p ropo sal that th e deceased lady sh ou ld b e lai d in

’

h e r mother s grave in Lim m eridge chu rchyard

’
Count Fo sc o .

had accompani ed the re mai n s to Cu mberland an d had a t ,

tended th e fun eral a t Li m m eridge wh ich too k place o n th e ,

30 th o f J uly I t was followed as a mark o f re sp ect by al l

.
, ,

the inhabitan ts o f th e village an d th e n eighb ourh oo d O n th e .

n ext day th e in scripti o n (o riginally d rawn o u t i t was said

, , ,

by the au nt of the decease d lady a n d s ubmitted fo r approval ,

t o he r brothe r M r Fairlie ) w a s engraved o n o n e side o f th

, .

mo nu ment ove r the to mb .

0 11 th e day o f th e fune ral and fo r o ne day afte r i t C oun t

Fosco had been received a s a gue st at L im m eridge H ou se ;
but n o i nte rview had take n place between M r Fairli e an d .

himself, by th e forme r gen tleman s de si re They had com ’

.

m u nic a ted by writin g ; and through thi s medium Coun t , ,

Fos co h ad made M r Fai rli e acquainte d with th e detai l s o f

.

hi s niece s last i llne s s a n d d eath Th e lette r p re sentin g th i s

’
.

i nformati on added n o n ew fact s to th e facts already known

but one ve ry remarkab l e paragraph was contai ned in th e
postscript I t referred to An n e C a th eric k
. .

The substance o f th e paragraph in que sti on was as

follows
I t fi rst informed M r Fai rl ie th at An n e C a th eric k (of who m
.

h e m igh t hear full particulars from M is s H alco mb e whe n sh e

reache d L im m eridge) had been traced an d recove re d in th e
neighbourh ood o f B lackwate r Park and h ad been fo r th e , ,

secon d tim e placed u nde r th e charge O f th e m edical m a n

,

from whose custody sh e had onc e e scaped .

Thi s was the first part of th e postscript The second part .

warned M r Fai rlie that An n e C a th eric k s men tal malady h ad

.
’

bee n aggravate d by he r long freedom from co ntrol an d th at

the i n san e hatre d a n d di strust of S i r Pe rcival Glyde which ,

had bee n on e of he r m ost marked delusi on s in forme r ti mes ,

still exi sted u nde r a newly acquired form Th e unfortunate

,
- .

woman s last idea in con nexio n with S i r Pe rcival was th e

’
,

i d ea o f ann oyin g an d di stre ssing h im an d o f ele v ati ng her ,

37 3
 T H E WO MAN I N W H I T E
self as sh e s upp osed in th e e sti mation o f the patients a nd
, ,

n urse s by assumin g th e characte r o f hi s deceased wife th e

fi
,

scheme o f thi s personation h avin g evide ntly occurred to he r ,

afte r a stolen i nte rview wh ich sh e h ad succeeded in obtaini ng

with Lady G lyde an d at w h ich sh e had ob served th e extra
,

O i din a ry acciden tal likene ss betwee n th e deceased lady and

h erself I t was to th e last degree i mprobable that sh e would
.

s uccee d a secon d time in e scaping from the Asylum bu t i t ,

was j ust p os sible she mi ght n d s ome mean s of an n oyin g

th e late Lady G lyde s relat ive s with letters ; a nd in that case
’
, ,

M r Fai rlie was warn ed befo rehand h ow to receive th em

. .

The postscript expre s sed in the s e te rms w a s shown to

, ,

M i ss H alcombe whe n sh e arrived at L im m eridge The re

, .

we re al so placed in h e r p osse ssio n th e cloth e s Lady Glyde

had wo rn and the other e ff ects sh e had brought with he r t o
,

h e r au nt s h ou se They had b ee n carefully collected and sen t

’
.

to C umbe rland by Madame Fo sco .

S uch was the postu re of a ff airs wh e n M i s s H alcombe reache d

L i mm eridge in th e early part o f S eptembe r
, .

S hortly afte rwards sh e was confin ed to he r ro om by a

,

relapse ; he r weake ned physical en e rgies giving way unde r

the seve re m ental a ffl i ction fro m wh ich sh e was n ow su ff eri ng .

O n getting stronge r again in a mo nth s time he r su spicion

’
, ,

o f th e circ umstances describe d as atte ndi ng he r sister s death

’
,

sti ll remai n ed u nshaken S h e had h eard n othing in the in

.
,

te rim o f S i r Percival Glyde b ut letters had reach ed he r from

,

M adam e Fo sco maki ng th e m ost a ff ecti onate i n quirie s on

,

th e part O f he r husban d and h erself I n stead o f an swe rin g .

thes e letters M is s H alcomb e cau sed the hou se in S t J oh n s

, .
’

Wood a n d the p roceedings o f its i n mates to b e privately

, ,

watched .

N othin g doubtful w a s di scovered The sam e result a t .

tended the next investigati on s whi ch we re secretly in stituted ,

o n th e subj ect of M rs Rubelle S h e h ad arrive d i n Lond on

. .
,

about six month s before with he r hu sband They had come , .

from Lyo ns ; and they had taken a h ou s e i n the n eighbour

h ood O f Leiceste r s quare t o be fi tted u p as a boardin g ho use
-
,
-

fo r foreigne rs wh o we re expected to vi si t E ngland i n large

,

n u mbers t o see th e Exh ibition o f 1 8 5 1 N othin g wa s kn own

again st hu sban d o r w ife 1 11 the neighbou rh ood They w ere , .

quie t peopl e a nd th ey had pai d thei r w a y h on estly u p to th e

p re sen t ti me Th e fi nal 1 nq u i ries related to S ir Percival Glyde
. .

H e was settled i n Pari s an d livin g th ere quietly m a small

circle o f E ngli sh an d French friends .

F oiled at all p oi nts , bu t still n ot able to re st , Mi ss

374
 T H E WO MAN I N W H I T E
M i s s Ha lc o mb e s own impre ssi on wa s that the own er o f
’

th e Asylum had n o t bee n received i n to th e confidence of S i r

Percival and th e Cou nt H i s con senting at all to let h e r
.

vi si t h i s patien t seemed t o a ff o rd o ne p ro of o f this an d hi s ,

readi nes s in making admi s si on s whi ch could scarcely have

e scaped th e lip s o f a n accomplice ce rtain ly appeared to fu r ,

ni sh an other .

F o r example i n th e c ou rs e o f th e i ntroductory conversa

,

ti on which took place h e i nformed M i ss H alcomb e that An ne

,

C a th eric k had b ee n brought back to him wi th the nece ssary ,

o rde r an d ce rtificates by Cou nt F o sco o n the twe nty seventh

, ,
-

o f J uly ; th e Cou nt also p ro du c i n g a lette r o f explanati on s a n d

i n struction s signed by S i r Percival G lyde
, O n receiving hi s .

i nmate again th e p roprieto r of th e Asylum ackn owledged

,

that h e had obse rve d some curi ou s p e rsonal chan ge s in he r .

fi
S uch chan ge s n o d oubt were n ot w ithou t p receden t in hi s
, ,

experie nce o f pers on s mentally a ffl icted I nsan e people we re .

O ften at o ne time outwardly as we ll as i nwardly un like what

, , ,

they were at an othe r ; th e change fro m bette r to worse o r ,

fro m wors e to b etter i n th e mad nes s havin g a n ecessary

, ,

te ndency t o p roduce alte rati on s o f appearance extern ally .

H e allowed for the se and he allowed als o fo r th e m o di c a ~

tion in th e fo rm o f An n e C a th eric k s d e lu sion wh ich w a s ’

,

refl ected n o doubt i n h er man ne r an d expre ssion B ut h e

, , .

was still p e rplexed at times by ce rtai n di ff e rence s betwe e n

, ,

h i s pati e nt be fore sh e h ad e scape d and hi s p atien t sin ce sh e ,

had bee n b rought back Those di ff erence s we re to o minute .

to be described H e could n ot say o f cou rse that sh e was

.
, ,

abs olutely altere d i n h eight or shape o r complexion or ,

i n th e colour o f h er hai r a n d eyes o r in th e ge n eral form of ,

h e r fac e th e ch ange was somethin g that he felt m ore than ,

someth ing that h e saw I n short th e case had been a .

,

puzzle from th e first and on e more perplexity was added to ,

i t n ow .

I t can n ot be said that thi s conversati on led to th e result

O f eve n partially preparin g M i ss H a lc o m b e s m i nd for w hat ’

w a s t o come B ut i t p roduced n ev erth e ess a very se ic u s

.
, .
, .

e ff ect up on h e r S h e was so c ompletely u nn e rved by it that

.
,

some little tim e elapsed befo re sh e could summo n composu re

e n ough to follow the p roprietor o f the Asylum t o that part o f
th e h ouse i n wh ich the i nmate s we re c onfi ned .

O n i n quiry it turned o u t that the suppo sed An ne C a th eric k

,

was the n taki ng exe rcise in the grou nd s attach ed t o th e

e stablish men t O n e o f the n urse s volu nteered t o conduct
.

M is s H alcomb e to the p lac e ; the propri etor o f the Asylum

37 6
 TH E W O M A N I N W H ITE
remaini ng in th e hou se for a few mi nute s to atten d to a cas e
which requi red hi s se rvices a n d the n en gagin g to j oi n h is ,

visitor in the grou nds .

The n urs e led M is s H alcombe to a distan t p art o f the p ro

pe rty which was p rettily lai d o u t ; a n d afte r lo okin g abou t
, ,

her a l ittle tu rne d i nto a tu rf walk shaded by a sh rubb ery

, ,

o n eithe r si de Ab ou t h alf way down th i s walk two wome n

.
,

we re slowly app roaching The nu rse pointe d to the m a n d .

,
‘
said The re i s An n e C a th eric k ma am with th e atten dan t
, ,
’

who waits o n h e r The atten dant will an swe r any qu e sti on s

.

you wi sh to put With those wo rd s th e nu rs e left he r to

.
’
,

retu rn to th e dutie s O f the h ou se .

M i s s H alcombe advance d o n he r si de an d the wome n ,

advanced on thei rs Wh e n th ey we re withi n a d o z e n pace s

.

o f each othe r o n e o f th e w ome n stopped fo r a n i n stan t

, ,

looke d eage rly at th e stran ge lady sh oo k o ff th e n u rse s grasp ,

’

on he r and the n ext m ome nt rush ed into M i ss H a lc o m b e s

, , ,
’

arms . I n that momen t M i s s H alcombe re c ogni se d he r si ste r

— re cogn i sed th e de ad alive - .

Fo rt unately fo r the succe s s of the m easu re s take n su b se

que ntly n o on e w a s p re se nt at th at mome n t bu t th e n u rse
, , , .

S he was a youn g w oman an d she w a s s o startle d that sh e

fi
w a s at fi rst quite i ncapable o f i nte rferin g Whe n sh e was .

able t o d o so he r whole se rvice s w e re requ ire d by M is s

,

H alcombe wh o had fo r th e mome n t sun k altogethe r i n th e

,

e ff o rt to keep he r o w n sen ses u n de r the sh ock of th e dis

cove ry After w aiti ng a few minute s i n th e fre sh ai r an d th e
.

cool shade he r natural e ne r gy an d cou rage helpe d he r a little

, ,

a n d she became su f c ien tly mistres s of h e rself t o fee l the

n ece ssity o f re calli ng he r p re sen ce of mi n d fo r h e r u nfortun ate

si ster s s ake
’
.

S h e O btai n ed pe rmi ssio n to speak alon e w ith th e patien t ,

o n condition that they b oth re main ed wel l withi n the nu rse s

’

view Th ere was n o time fo r question s — the re was o nly

.

ti me fo r M i ss H alcombe to imp re ss o n th e u nhappy lady th e

n ece ssity o f controlli n g he rself a nd t o assure he r o f im me ,

diate help an d re scue if sh e di d so The p rospe ct O f e scapin g .

from the Asylum by O bedien ce t o he r si ste r s dire ction s w a s ’

,

su fficie n t t o quie t Lady Glyde a n d t o make h e r u nde rstan d ,

w hat w a s require d of her M iss H alcombe n ext return ed t o

.

th e nurse p laced all the gol d sh e the n had in he r p ocke t

,

(th ree sove rei gn s ) i n the n u rse s hands a n d as ke d whe n an d

’

w here she could speak to he r alon e .

Th e woman was at fi rst s urp ri se d an d distrustful But .

,

on M is s Hal c o m be s de clari n g that sh e on ly wanted to p u t

’

377
 TH E WO MAN I N W H IT E

s ome que stion s which she was too much agitate d to as k at

that m ome nt a nd that sh e h ad n o in te ntion o f misleading
,

th e nu rse i nto any de relicti on o f duty the woman took th e ,

’
m on ey an d p rop osed thre e o clock o n the next day a s
,

th e time for the inte rview S he might then slip ou t for half
.

a n hou r afte r the patie n ts had di ned ; and she would mee t
,

the lady i n a re tired place outside the high n orth w all which
,

scree ne d th e ground s of the hou se M iss H alcombe had .

o nly ti m e to asse nt an d to whi spe r to he r si ste r that she

,

should hear from he r o n th e n ext day whe n th e p rop rieto r of ,

the Asylum j oin ed them H e n oti ce d hi s vi sitor s agitation

.
’
,

which M i s s H alcombe accounted for by sayi ng that her i nte r

view wi th An n e C a th eric k had a little startled her at fi rst ,
.

S he to o k he r leave as s oon after as possi ble — that i s to say ,

as s oo n as sh e cou ld su mmon cou rage t o force h e rself from

th e p rese n ce of he r u nfortu nate siste r .

A ve ry l ittl e reflection whe n the capacity t o reflect re ,

tu rn ed c onvi nce d he r that any attemp t t o i dentify Lady

,

G lyd e and to rescu e h e r by legal mean s would eve n i f su c , ,

’
c essfu l i nvolve a delay th at might be fatal to her siste r s
,

i n tellects which we re shake n already by th e h orror of th

,

situation to wh ich sh e had b een con signed By the time .

M i s s H alcombe had got back to London sh e had determin ed ,

t o e ff ect Lady G lyde s e scap e privately by mean s of th e

’
,

nurse .

S he we n t at once to he r s tockbroke r and s old o u t of the

fund s al l the little p roperty sh e posse ssed amoun tin g t o ,

rathe r le s s than seve n hundred pounds D etermined i f .

,

n ece ssary to pay th e price o f he r siste r s l ibe rty wi th eve ry

,
’

farth ing she had in the world sh e re pai re d the n ext d ay , ,

havi ng the whol e su m about he r in bank n ote s to he r ,

-
,

app oi ntme nt outsid e the Asylum w a ll .

The n u rs e was th ere M is s H alcombe approach ed th e

.

subj ect cautiou sly by m any p reli minary que sti ons S he di s .

c ove red amon g othe r parti culars that the n u rse wh o h ad

, , ,

in forme r times atten de d o n th e t ru e Ann e C a th eric k had

, ,

bee n held re sp on sible (alth ough she was n o t to b lame fo r it )

’
fo r the patie nt s e sc a p e and had lost he r place in c o n se
,

q u en c e Th e same penalty i t was added would attach to the

.
, ,

pe rs on the n speaki ng to h e r i f the supposed Ann e C a th eric k ,

w a s mi ssing a second ti me and m o reove r th e nu rse in th i s , , ,

case h ad a n e special in te rest i n keepin g h e r place S he w a s

, .

e ngage d to be marri ed a n d sh e an d he r futu re h usban d w e re

wai ti ng till they could save togethe r b etw een tw o a nd th ree , ,
'

h u ndre d p ou n ds to start in busine ss T h e nu rse s wage s were .

’

37 8
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E
in th e h earin g of the othe r nu rse s that An n e C a th eric k h ad
b e en i nquirin g latte rly ab out th e distan ce fro m L o ndOn t o
,

H ampsh ire ; to wai t till th e l ast m ome nt before di scove ry

‘

, ,

was in evitable ; and the n t o give the alarm that Ann e was
m i ssin g Th e supposed i n qui rie s ab ou t H amp shi re w he n
.
,

c o mmunicate d t o the owne r o f th e Asylum would lead hi m ,

t o imagin e that hi s pati en t had return e d to B l ackwate r Park ,

u nder the i nfluen ce o f th e delusi on which m ade h e r pe rsi st

in asse rting he rse lf to b e Lady Glyde ; and th e fi rs t pu rsuit
would in al l p robabili ty be tu rned i n that di rection
, , .

Th e nu rs e c on sen ted to foll ow th es e sugge stion s — th e .

m ore readily as they O ff ere d h er th e means O f securi n g he r

,

fi
self again st any worse co nsequ e nces than th e los s of he r place ,

by remaining in the Asylum an d so m ai ntain ing the appear ,

ance o f i n n ocence at least S h e at o nce returne d to the

, . .

h ous e ; and Mi ss H alcombe l ost n o ti me in takin g h e r si ste r

back with he r t o London They c aught th e afte rn oon t rai n
.

to Carlisle th e same afte rn oon an d arrived at Lim m eridge , ,

without acciden t o r di f c u lty of any k ind that n ight , .

D u rin g the latte r part O f thei r j ou rn ey they we re alon e in , ,

th e carriage and M iss H al combe was able to collect such

,
’
rememb ran ce s o f th e past as he r sister s confu sed and weak -g
en ed me mory was able to recall Th e te rrible story o f th e
’

con spi racy s o O btai ned w a s presented in fragme nts s adly

, ,

i ncohe rent in themselve s a n d widely detached from each

,

other I mperfect as th e revelation w a s it m ust n eve rtheles s

.
,

be rec orded he re b efore thi s explan atory narrative closes with

the even ts of the n ext day at Lim m eridge H ou se .

’
Lady G lyde s recollecti on o f th e eve nts wh ich followed h e r
departu re from B lac kwate r Park began with h e r arrival at
th e Lon do n te rm inus o f th e S outh Weste rn Rai lway Sh e .

had omi tte d to m ake a m emoran du m beforeh an d O f th e day ‘

o n wh ich sh e too k the j ou rney All h ope o f fixin g that im .

p ortant d a te by any evi dence O f h ers or o f M rs M ichelson s

, , .
’
,
‘

must b e give n u p fo r l ost .

O n th e arrival o f th e trai n at th e platfo rm Lady Glyde ,

found Coun t F osco waitin g for he r H e was at th e carriage .

d oo r a s so on as the p orte r c ould ope n i t Th e trai n w a s u n .

u sually crowded and the re was great c onfusi on in gettin g

,

th e luggage S o me person who m C oun t Fosco b rought with

.

h im p rocu re d th e luggage which belonge d t o Lady Glyde It .

w a s marked with her n ame S h e d rove away alone wi th th e

.

C ount i n a v ehicle which sh e di d no t parti c u larly n o ti ce at

,

the time .

38 0
 T H E W O M AN I N W H IT E
'

H e r fi rs t questi on o n leavin g the te rm inu s refe rred to

, ,

M iss H alcombe The Cou n t i nform ed he r that M i ss H al

.

c ombe had n ot ye t gon e to Cumbe rlan d ; after c onside ration -

h avi ng cau sed h i m to d oubt th e p ruden ce o f h er taking s o

long a j ourney wi thou t some days p revi ou s re st ’
.

Lady Glyde n ext i nqui red whether her siste r was the n s tay
i n g i n the C oun t s h ouse H er recollectio n of th e an swe r
’
.

was confused h e r only distinct impre ssi o n i n relati o n to i t

,

bei ng that the C oun t declared he was the n taking h e r t o see

M is s H alcombe Lady G lyde s expe rie nce o f Londo n was so ’
.

limited that sh e cou ld n o t tell at the time through what

, , ,

st reets they we re d rivi ng B u t they neve r left th e streets .

,

a n d they n eve r pas se d any garden s o r trees Wh en th e c a r .

ria ge stoppe d i t s topped in a small s treet behin d a square

, ,
“

a s qu are in wh ich the re were shops an d public buildi ngs , ,

an d many pe ople From the se recollectio n s (of which Lady

.

Glyd e was certain ) i t see ms quite cle ar th at C oun t F osco did

n ot take he r to hi s o wn re side nce in th e suburb O f S t J ohn s .
’

Wood .

They e n te re d the hou se an d we nt u p stairs to a b ack ,

-

room eithe r o n the fi rst o r second fl oo r The luggage was

, .

carefully brough t in A female se rvant ope ned th e d oor ; an d

.

a m an with a d ark beard appare ntly a fo reigne r me t th e m , ,

i n the hall a n d with great p oli te nes s showe d them the w a y

,
’
u p s tai rs
-
I n an swe r t o Lady G lyde s i nquiries the Coun t
.
,

assure d h e r that M i ss H alcombe w a s in the hou se a n d th at ,

sh e should b e i mmediately i nformed o f h e r sis te r s arrival

’
.

H e an d the foreigne r th e n we nt away an d left h e r by h ers elf

in th e ro om I t was po orly furn ishe d as a sittin g room an d
.
-
,

i t l ooked out o n th e bac ks Of hou ses .

Th e place was remarkably quiet ; n o footstep s w e nt u p

o r down th e stai rs — she on ly he ard i n th e room be ne ath h e r
a dull rumbli n g s ou n d of me n s voice s talkin g B efo re sh e
,
’
.

h ad been long left alon e the Cou nt retu rn ed t o explai n that , ,

M is s H alc ombe was th e n takin g re s t a n d c oul d n ot b e di s ,

tu rb ed fo r a li ttle while H e w a s accompani ed in to th e room

.

by a gen tleman (a n E n glish man ) whom h e begged to p resen t

a s a frie nd o f h is .

Afte r thi s singular introduction — in the cou rse of which

’
n o n ames to th e best o f Lady G ly de s recollecti on had bee n
, ,

men ti one d she wa s left alon e with th e stran ge r H e w a s

-
.

pe rfectly civil bu t h e startled a nd confuse d he r by some o dd

q ue stion s ab out h erself an d by l ooking at he r while he aske d
, ,

th em in a S trange mann e r Afte r re mai ni ng a short ti m e

’

, .
,

he w en t o ut ; and a mi nut e o r two aft erwards a s econ d

” I

0
"
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E
s trange r— als o an E ngli shman — came in Th is pe rs o n in .

tro du c ed himself as an othe r frie nd o f C oun t Fosco s an d he ’

,

i n hi s tu rn l ooke d at h e r ve ry o ddly a nd aske d some cu ri ou s

, ,

que sti ons — neve r as we ll as sh e could reme mb e r addressin g

, ,

h e r by n am e ; and going o u t again afte r a littl e while like , ,

the fi rst m an By thi s time sh e was s o frightened abou t

.
,

h e rself an d s o u n easy ab out h e r si ste r that sh e h ad th oughts

, ,

o f ven turing d own stai rs agai n an d clai min g th e p rotecti on

-
,

an d assistance o f the on ly woman sh e had see n in the h ouse

- th e servan t wh o an swe red th e d oor .

J ust as sh e had rise n from he r chai r th e C ou n t cam e back ,

i nto th e room .

The m omen t h e appe ar ed sh e asked anxi ou sly h ow lon g ,

th e me etin g betwee n he r siste r an d he rself was to b e still

delayed At fi rst h e retu rn ed a n evasive answer ; but o n
.
, ,

bei ng p re ssed he ackn owledged with great apparen t relu c

, ,

t ance that M i ss H alcombe was by 11 0 mean s s o we ll as h e

,

had hitherto represented he r to be H i s ton e a n d man ne r in .

,

making this reply s o alarme d Lady Glyde o r rathe r s o pain

, ,

fully i ncrease d th e u ne asines s wh ich she had fe lt in the c o m

pany o f th e two strange rs th at a s udde n fai ntne ss ove rcame ,

he r an d sh e was obli ged t o ask for a glas s o f wate r The

,
.

Coun t calle d from the d oor for wate r an d for a bottle o f ,

smelling s alts B oth we re b rought i n by the foreign looking

- .
-

m an wi th the beard The wate r whe n Lady Glyde attempted .

,

t o d rin k i t h ad so strange a taste that i t i ncreased he r fain t

,

n es s a nd sh e hastily took th e bottle o f salts from Cou nt

F osco and smelt at it
, H e r head became giddy o n the .

i ns tan t The Count caugh t th e bottle as i t d ropped o u t o f

.

he r hand an d th e last imp ression O f wh ich sh e was consci ou s

was that h e held it to he r n ostrils again .

F rom this p oint he r recollection s were fo u n d to be c o n

,

fused fragm entary an d diffi cu lt to reconci le with any reason

, ,

abl e p robability .

H er O wn imp ressio n was that sh e recove red he r s en ses

later i n the even in g ; th at sh e the n left th e h ouse ; that sh e
wen t (as sh e had p reviously arranged to go at B lackwate r ,

Park ) to M rs V esey s that sh e d ran k tea the re ; and that ’

S he wa s
.

sh e p assed the night under M rs V esey s roof .

’
.

totally u nable to sa y h ow o r when o r i n what company sh e , , ,

left th e h o u s e to whi ch Cou nt F osco h ad brought he r B ut .

sh e pe rsiste d in asserting that she had bee n to M rs V esey s ; .

’

an d still m or e extraordi na ry that she had bee n helpe d t o

, ,

u ndre ss an d get to be d by M rs Rubelle ! S h e could n ot re .

member what the con v e rsati o n was a t M rs V esey s, o r who m .

’

38 2
 T H E WO M AN I N W H IT E

o rganised must have s uffe red u nde r such a n o rdea l a s th is

,
.

N O m a n co uld hav e gon e th rough it a n d come o u t of i t u n ,

changed .

Arrivi ng a t L im m eridge late 0 11 th ev ening o f the fifteenth '

M i ss H alcombe wisely re solved n o t to attempt th e asse rti on

o f Lady G ly de s i de nti ty u n ti l th e next day
’
.
,
’
The fi rst thing i n the m ornin g sh e wen t to M r Fai rlie s ,
.

ro om ; and u sin g all p ossible cauti on s a n d p re parati on s

,

beforehand at last told him in so many w ords what had

, , ,

happened As s oo n as his firs t aston ishme nt a nd a larm had

.

s ubsided he an grily declared that M iss H alcombe h ad al lo wed

,

h e rself to b e duped by An n e C a th eric k H e refe rre d he r to .

C ou nt Fosc o s lette r a n d to what sh e h ad h erself t old h im

’

o f the pe rs onal rese mblan ce betwee n Anne and h i s deceased

n iece ; a n d h e p ositively declin ed to admi t t o h i s p res ence

even fo r o ne m inute on ly a madwoman wh om i t was a n,

in sult a n d a n outrage t o have brought i nt o h i s h ouse at all .

M is s H alc ombe left the room waited till th e fi rs t heat o f

h e r indignati on h ad pass ed away decided on reflection that , ,

M r Fai rlie sh ould see h i s n iece i n th e i nte res ts o f commo n

.

human i ty befo re h e cl osed his d oo rs o n he r as a s trange r ;

,

a n d the reupon with out a wo rd O f p revi ou s warn in g took

, ,

Lady Glyde wi th he r t o h i s ro om Th e se rv ant was posted .

at the d oo r t o preve n t thei r e nt ran ce ; but M is s H alcombe

’
i nsi sted o n pas sin g h im an d made her way i nto M r Fai rlie s
, .

p rese nce leadin g he r s iste r by th e han d

, .

The s cen e that followed th ough i t o nly lasted fo r a few

,

m inutes was too pai nful t o b e described — M i s s H alcombe

,

he rse lf sh rank from refe rri ng to it Let i t b e en ough t o say .

that M r Fairlie declared in the m ost positive te rm s th at h e

.
, ,

did n o t recogni se th e woman wh o had been b rough t int o h is

room that h e saw n othing in he r face and man ne r to m ake
hi m doubt fo r a momen t that hi s n iece lay bu ri ed i n Li m
m eridge chu rchyard ; an d that h e would call o n th e law t o
p rotect hi m if befo re th e dav was ove r sh e was n ot rem oved
from the h ouse .

Takin g the ve ry wo rst view of M r Fairlie s selfishn ess .

’

i ndolen ce an d h abi tual want O f feeling i t was manifestly

, ,

imposs ible to sup pos e that h e was capable O f s uch i nfamy as

s ecretly recogn is in g an d openly dis own in g h is brothe r s child ’
.

M iss H al c ombe humanely a nd se nsibly allowed all due force

t o the i nfluenc e o f p rej udice a nd alarm i n p reventing hi m
from fairly exercising hi s pe rcepti on s ; a nd accounted fo r
what had happened in that way B ut when she n ext pu t
, .

the servants to the test , a n d foun d that they too were in ,

38 4
 TH E W O M AN I N W H ITE
e v ery c as e u nce rtai n to say the least of i t whethe r th e
, , ,

lady presented to them was thei r youn g mi stres s o r Ann e ,

C a th eri c k of wh ose re se mblance t o he r they h ad all h eard

, ,

the sa d conclusion was i nevitable that the c han ge p roduce d ,

i n Lady G lyde s fac e an d man ne r by he r i mpri sonment i n th e

’

Asylum was far m ore se ri ou s than M i s s H alcomb e had at

,

fi rst su pp osed Th e vile decepti o n wh ich had a sserted he r

.

d eath defied exp osu re even i n th e h ous e w here sh e w a s b orn

, ,

a nd amon g the peopl e with w h om she had lived .

I n a le ss critical situation the e ff ort need n o t h ave bee n ,

give n u p as h opeless eve n ye t , .

Fo r example the m aid Fan ny wh o happe ned to be the n

, , ,

absen t from L im m eridge was expecte d back in two days ; ,

an d there would b e a chan ce O f gaini ng he r re cogn itio n t o

start with seeing that sh e had been in m uch m o re con stan t
,

c ommunicati on with he r m istre ss an d had been much m ore ,

hearti ly attache d to he r than the othe r s ervants Agai n .

,

L ady Glyd e migh t have bee n privately kept i n th e h ou se o r ,

i n the village t o wai t u nti l he r health was a little re cove red

, ,

a n d h er mi n d w a s a little steadied again Whe n he r mem ory .

could be once m ore tru sted to s erve he r sh e wou ld n aturally ,

refe r to pers on s and even ts in th e past with a ce rtainty an d , ,

a familiarity which n o i mp osto r c ould simu late ; a n d s o the

fact o f he r identity which her o w n appearan ce h ad faile d t o
,

e stabli sh might subseq ue ntly b e p roved with tim e to hel p

, ,

he r by the su re r test o f h e r o wn words

, .

B ut the ci rcum stance s u nde r wh ich sh e had regained h e r

freedom ren dered all recourse t o such mean s as thes e simply
,

imp racticable T h e pu rs ui t from the Asylum dive rted t o

.
,

H ampshi re for the tim e on ly would i nfallibly n ext take th e ,

d irecti on O f C umbe rland Th e pe rson s appoi nte d to see k

.

the fugitive migh t arrive at L im m eri dge H ou se at a few

,

h ours n otice ; a nd in M r Fairlie s p rese nt tempe r o f m ind

’
.
’
,

they might cou n t o n the immediate exe rtion o f hi s local

i nfl uen ce an d auth ority to as si s t them Th e c ommon est c o n .

side ratio n for Lady G lyde s safety forced o n M i ss H alcomb e ’

,

the n ecessity o f resign in g th e struggle to d o he r j ustice a n d ,

o f re movin g her at once from the place o f all othe rs that wa s

n o w mo st dange rou s to her— the n eighbou rh ood of he r o w n
ho me .

An immediate retu rn t o London w a s th e fi rst an d wi se st

measure o f security which sugge sted itself I n th e great .

city all t race s o f them might be most speedily a nd mo st surely

e ff aced There were n o p reparati on s t o make — n o farewel l
.

word s o f ki ndne ss to exchan ge with any o ne O n th e afte r .

38 5 c c
 T H E W O MAN I N W H I T E
n oon o f that me morable day of the sixteenth M i s s H al c omb e ,

rouse d h er si ster t o a last exe rti on o f c ou rage and with ou t ,

a livin g soul t o wish the m well at partin g th e two took thei r ,

way i nto th e world alone an d turn ed thei r h a c k s for ever o n

,

Li m m eridge H ou se .

They had passed th e hill above th e chu rchyard when Lady ,

’
Glyde i n sisted o n tu rnin g back t o l ook h er last at he r m othe r s
grave . M is s H alcombe trie d t o sh ake he r re solutio n ; but ,

i n this o n e i nstan ce trie d i n vai n S h e was i mmovable

, . .

H e r di m eye s lit with a sudden fi re a nd fl ashe d th rough the ,

v eil that hu ng ove r th em h e r waste d fin ge rs strengthen ed ,

m oment by m om e nt rou n d th e frie ndly arm by wh ich they

,

h ad held so li stles sly till thi s tim e I believe in my soul that .

the H an d o f G o d was p oin ti n g thei r wa y back t o them an d

t hat th e m ost in n ocen t a nd the m ost a ffl i cte d O f H i s c reatu re s
wa s chosen i n that dread m ome nt to see i t
, , .

T hey ret race d thei r step s to the bu rial grou nd ; an d by -

th at act seale d the futu re o f o u r th ree li v e s .

T HI S wa s th e tory o f th e past— th e sto ry

s , so far a s we knew
i t th en .

T wo O bvi ou s con c l u si on s p re se nted th emsel v e s to my mi nd ,

afte r heari n g it I n the fi rst place I sa w darkly what th e natu re

.
,

o f th e con spi racy had b ee n how chan ce s h ad been watched ,

an d h o w circ um stan ce s h ad bee n h an dled to e nsu re impu nity

t o a dari ng an d a n i ntri cate c ri me While all de tails we re stil l .

a myste ry t o me the vi le man ne r in which th e pe rsonal re

,

s e mblan ce betwee n th e woman in white a nd Lady Glyd e had

bee n tu rne d t o accou nt was clear beyon d a doubt , I t wa s .

plai n that An n e C a th eric k h ad bee n int roduce d in to Coun t

’
F osco s h ou se as Lady Glyde ; i t was plai n that Lady Glyde
’
h ad take n th e dead woman s p lace i n th e Asylum — th e substi
tu tio n h avi n g be e n s o man aged as t o make in n ocent peopl e
(the do ctor a nd th e two se rvants ce rtai nly ; an d th e own e r o f
th e madh ou se i n al l probabi lity ) accomplice s i n the crime .

Th e seco n d c on cl usi on came a s the nece ss ary con sequ ence

o f th e fi rst We th re e had n o me rcy t o expect from C ount
.

F o sco and S i r Pe rcival Glyde The su cce s s o f th e co n spi racy .

h a d b ro u gh t with i t a cle ar gain t o th ose two me n Of thi rty

’

—
th ou san d p ou n ds twe nty thousan d to o ne te n thou san d
t o the othe r th rough h i s wi fe
, They had that in te rest as .
,

well as othe r i nte re sts in e nsu rin g thei r imp unity from exp o
,
:

su r e ; and th e y would lea v e n o ston e u nt u rned , no sacrifi ce

.

a86
2
 fi
TH E WO M AN I N WH ITE
fo r the expen se o f tho se secret i nqui ri e s an d i nve stigati on s
whi ch I w a s dete rmin ed to se t 0 11 foot a n d to car ry o n by ,

fi
myself i f I c ou ld nd n o o ne to help m e We calculated o u r .

wee kly expenditure t o th e las t farthin g and we n eve r tou ched

o u r little fund except i n Lau ra s i nte re sts an d for Lau ra s sake
’ ’
.
,

The h ou se work which if we had dare d t rust a strange r

-
, ,

n ear u s would have been d on e by a se rvan t w a s take n o n

, ,

the fi rst day taken as he r o w n ri ght by M arian H alcombe

, , .

’ ’
What a wom an s hand s a re t fo r sh e said early a n d late , , ,

th ese hands o f min e shall do They trembled as sh e held .

’

the m o u t The waste d arm s tol d thei r sa d s to ry O f the past

.
,

as sh e turn ed u p the sleeve s o f the p oor plai n d re ss that

sh e wore for safe ty s sake ; but the u n que nchable spirit O f
’

th e woman burnt b right in h e r eve n yet I s aw the bi g .

tears ri se thic k in her eyes an d fal l slowly ove r he r chee ks as ,

sh e l ooke d at me S he dashed th em away with a touch o f

.

he r o ld e ne rgy a n d smiled w ith a fai nt refle cti on of he r O ld

,

good spirits D on t doubt my cou rage Walte r sh e pleaded

.
’
, ,
’
,

i t s my we aknes s that crie s n ot m e Th e h ou se work shall

’
, .
-

c on que r it if I can t An d sh e kept h er word — the victory

’ ’
.
,

was w o n whe n we met in the evening an d sh e sat d own to rest , .

H e r large steady black eye s looked at m e with a fl a sh o f thei r

‘
bright fi rmne ss o f bygon e days I am n ot quite broke n .

d own yet she sai d

,
’
I am worth t ru stin g with my share o f
the wo rk B efo re I could an swe r sh e added i n a whi spe r
’
.
, ,

And worth tru stin g with my share i n th e ri sk and the dange r

t oo . Re membe r that if the time co m e s ,

I did remembe r it whe n the time came , .

As early as the e n d o f O ctober th e daily cou rse o r o u r ,

live s h ad assume d its settle d di recti on an d we th re e we re as

completely i solate d i n o u r place o f con cealm ent a s if the h ou se ,

we lived i n h ad bee n a de se rt i slan d an d th e great n etwork ,

o f stre ets an d th e thousands of ou r fe ll ow c rea tu res all rou n d

u s th e wate rs o f a n illimitabl e sea I could n ow reckon o n .

s om e lei su re ti m e for con side rin g what my futu re plan o f

acti o n sh ould be an d h ow I might arm myse l f m ost s ecu rely
, ,

at the outset fo r th e comin g st ru ggle wi th S i r Percival an d

,
-

th e Cou nt .

I gave up all h ope of appealin g t o my re cogn ition o f Laura ,

o r t o M arian s re cognitio n o f he r i n p roof o f he r i dentity If

’
.
,

we had love d he r les s dearly if the in sti n ct imp lanted i n u s ,

by that love had n ot bee n far m ore certai n than any exe rci se
o f re as on ing far kee ner th an any proce s s o f obse rvation ,
,

ev en we might have he sitated o n fi rst seeing he r , .

38 8
 TH E WO M AN I N W H I T E
T h e outward change s wrought by th e su ffe rin g an d the
te rro r o f th e pas t had fearfully almost h opele ssly st rengthen e d
, ,

th e fatal re se mblan ce be twee n Ann e C a th eric k an d he rse lf .

I n my n arrative o f eve nts at the ti me o f my reside nce in

L i m m eridge H ou s e I have reco rd ed fro m my o w n obse rvati o n
, ,

O f th e two h ow the like ne s s strikin g as i t was when viewed

, ,

gene rally fai led in many i mp ortant p oints O f s imi larity whe n
,

te sted in detail . I n th ose forme r days if they had both bee n ,

see n t ogethe r side by side n o pe rson cou ld fo r a m om en t

, ,

have mi staken the m o n e for the othe r — as has happene d ofte n

i n th e in stan ce s o f twin s I could n ot say thi s n o w Th e
. .

s orrow a nd su ff e ri n g which I h ad on ce blamed myself fo r

associating eve n by a pas si n g though t with the futu re o f
Lau ra Fai rli e lz a a set thei r p rofanin g mark s o n the youth
,
'

an d beauty of h e r face ; an d th e fatal resemblan ce which I

had on ce see n a n d shu ddere d at seein g i n idea on ly was n o w , ,

a real and livin g rese mblance which asse rted i ts elf before my
o w n eyes . S tran ge rs acquai nta n ce s frien d s eve n who cou ld
, ,

n o t l ook at he r as we l ooked if sh e had bee n sh own t o the m

,

i n the fi rs t days o f h e r rescue from the Asylum migh t have ,

doubted i f sh e we re th e Lau ra Fai rlie th ey h ad o nce see n a nd ,

dou bte d wi th ou t blam e .

Th e o n e remain ing chan ce which I had at fi rs t though t ,

m igh t be trusted t o se rve u s — the chan ce o f appealin g to he r

recollection o f p ers on s an d eve nts with which n o imp osto r
c ou ld be familiar was p roved by the sad te st o f o u r late r
, ,

expe rience to be hopele s s

, E very little cautio n that M arian
.

an d I p ractised towards he r ; eve ry little remedy we tried t o ,

strengthe n and s teady s lowly th e weaken ed shake n facu ltie s , ,

was a fre sh p rote st in itself again st th e ri sk o f tu rn in g her

mi nd back o n the troub le d a n d th e te rrible past .

Th e o nly eve nts of fo rm e r days which we ve ntured o n

e ncou ragin g h er to re call we re the little t rivial domesti c
,

events of that happy tim e at L im m eridge whe n I fi rst wen t ,

the re an d tau ght he r t o draw Th e day whe n I roused those

,
.

reme mb rances by sh owin g he r the sketch O f th e su mme r

h ous e which sh e had give n m e o n th e m o rn in g o f o u r farewell ,

and wh ich had n eve r bee n separate d from m e s in ce was th e ,

bi rthday o f o u r fi rst h op e Te nde rly and grad ually the

.
,

me mo ry o f th e o ld walk s an d d rives dawn ed u pon he r ; an d

the po o r weary pi nin g eye s l ooked at M ari an an d a t m e wi th
,

a new inte rest with a falteri ng thoughtful ne s s in them which

, , ,

from that m ome nt we che rished and kept alive

, I b ough t .

h e r a little box of col ou rs a nd a sketch b o ok like th e O ld

,
-

sketch -bo ok wh ic h I had see n in he r hand s o n the mo rnin

g
389
 T H E W O M AN I N W H I T E

when we first met O nce agai n — O h m e on ce agai n — a t

.
,

s pare h ours saved from my work i n th e dull Lon don ligh t i n , ,

th e poo r Lon don room I sa t by he r side t o gui de the falter

, ,

i ng touch t o he lp th e feeble hand

, Day by day I raise d a nd .
,

rai se d th e n ew i nte re st till its place i n the blan k o f h er

exi stenc e was at las t assure d — till she cou ld thin k o f he r
drawi ng an d tal k o f i t an d patiently p ractise i t by he rse lf
, , ,

with s ome fai nt reflecti on o f the i nn ocen t pleasu re i n my

en couragement th e growing enj oymen t i n he r o wn progress
, _ ,

wh ich belonge d to the lost life an d the lost happi n ess o f pas t
days .

We h elpe d h e r m in d slowly by this simple mean s ; we

took h e r ou t betwee n u s to walk o n fin e days in a quiet O ld , ,

City s qu are n ear at h and wh e re the re w a s n othing t o confus e

, ,

o r alarm he r ; we spare d a few pou n ds fro m the fun d at th e

banke r s to get he r wi n e an d th e delicate strengthen in g food
’
,

that she re qui red ; we amuse d h er in th e even ings with

childre n s games at cards with scrap books full o f prints
’
,
-

which I b orrowed fro m th e en graver wh o employed m e — by

thes e a nd othe r triflin g atte ntion s li ke them we com posed
, ,

he r a n d steadied he r an d hoped all th ings as che erfully as we

, ,

could fro m ti me an d care an d love that n eve r n eglected an d

, ,

n eve r despai re d o f he r B u t to take h e r mercilessly from

.

seclus ion a n d repose to c onfron t he r with stran gers o r with ,

acquaintan ce s wh o we re little better than strange rs to rous e

th e painful i mp re ssion s of he r past life which we had so ca re
fully hushe d to res t— this eve n in h er o wn i n te re sts we , ,

dared n ot d o Whateve r sacrifice s i t co st whateve r l ong

.
, ,

weary h eart b reaking delays it i nvolved th e wron g that had

, ,

bee n i nflicted o n he r if m ortal m eans could grapple i t mu st

, ,

b e red re s se d without he r kn owledge an d with out he r h elp .

Thi s res oluti on settled it was n ext ne ce ssa ry to decide ,

h ow the fi rst ri sk sh ould be ven tu red a n d what the fi rs t p ro ,

c eedin s shou ld be
g .

Afte r c on sultin g with M arian I resolve d to begi n by ,

gathe rin g togethe r a s many facts as cou ld be collecte d

then to as k the advice o f M r Kyrle (wh om we kn ew we
,
.

could trust ) and t o as ce r tai n from hi m i n th e fi rst in stance , ,

if the legal re medy lay fai rly wi thi n o u r reach I owed i t to .

Lau ra s i nte rests n o t to stake he r whole futu re o n my o w n

’

un aide d exe rtio ns s o lon g a s the re was th e fainte st p rospec t

,

o f strengthe nin g o u r positi on by o btai ni n g reliable assis tance

o f any kin d .

The fi rst sou rce o f i nformati on t o which I applie d was ,

t h e j ournal kep t at B lackwate r Park by M arian H alcombe

39 0
 T H E WO M AN I N W H ITE

ask th e h ou sekeepe r to supply u s with a plai n statem e n t o f

eve n ts i n the i nte re sts o f truth Whi le we we re wai tin g fo r
,
.

the an swe r which reache d u s i n a week s time I we nt to the

,
’
,
’
d octor in S t J oh n s Wood ; intro ducin g myse lf as s ent by
.

M i s s H alcombe to collect i f p ossi ble m o re particu lars o f

, , ,

h e r si ste r s last illn ess than M r Kyrle h ad fou n d the tim e t o

’
.

’
p rocure . B y M r G o o dric k e s a ssi stance I obtai ned a copy
.
,

o f th e ce rtificate o f death a nd a n i nte rview with the woman ,

(J ane Gould ) wh o had bee n e mployed to p re pare th e body fo r

the grave Th rough th is pe rson I al s o di s cove re d a mean s o f
.
,

c om municati n g with th e se rvant H e ste r P inh o rn S h e had , .

re cently left h e r place i n con seque nc e o f a di sagre emen t with

,

he r m istre s s ; an d sh e w a s l odgi n g with s om e pe ople in th e

n eighbou rh ood wh om M rs G ould kn ew I n the man ne r . .

h e re indicated I ob tain ed the N arrative s o f th e h ou sek eepe r

, '
,

o f the doctor o f J a n e Gould a n d o f H este r P in h o rn ex a c tly

, , ,

as they are p re sented i n th ese p age s .

F urn ish ed with such additional evide n ce as these docu

m en ts afforded I con side red mysel f to b e su ffi ciently p re
,

pared for a c on su ltati on with M r Kyrle ; a n d M ari an wrote .

accordingly t o m en tio n my n ame to him and to specify th e ,

day an d h ou r at which I re que ste d t o see hi m o n p ri v ate

b usine s s .

T he re was time e nough in th e m orn in g fo r me to take , ,

Lau ra o u t fo r he r walk as u sual a nd to see he r quietly s ettle d ,

at her d rawin g afte rwards S h e looke d u p at me with a n ew .

anxiety in h e r face as I rose t o leave the room ; an d he r

,

fi nge rs began to to y d ou b tfully in the o ld way with the , ,

b ru sh e s an d pencils o n th e tabl e .

Y o u are n ot tire d o f m e yet sh e said You are n ot .

_

goi ng away b ecau se you are ti red o f m e I wi ll try to do

b ette r— I will try t o get well Are yo u as fond o f m e Walte r .
, ,

a s you u sed to b e n ow I am s o pale a n d th in an d so slow in

, ,

l earning to draw
S h e spoke as a ch ild migh t have spoke n sh e showe d me
h e r th oughts as a ch ild might have sh own the m I waited a .

few minute s lon ge r— waited to tell her that sh e w a s dearer to

m e n o w than she had eve r bee n i n the pas t ti me s Try to .

ge t well again I said e nco uraging the n ew hop e i n the

,
’
,
‘
futu re which I saw dawnin g in he r mind ; t ry to get well
again fo r M arian s sake a n d for mi ne
,
’
.
’

‘ ‘
Ye s sh e sai d to he rse lf returnin g t o h e r drawin g
,
’
I , .

mu st try b ecau se they are both so fon d o f m e S he sudde nly .

’

l ooked u p agai n D on t be gon e long

. I can t get o n with
’ ’

my d rawi ng W a lte r when yo u are n ot h er e to h el p m e

, , .
’

"
02
 T H E WO MAN I N W H I T E
‘ —
I shall soon b e back , my darling soo n be back to see
’
how you are getti ng o n .

My voice falte re d a little in spite o f me I force d myself from .

th e ro om I t was n o time then fo r partin g with th e self contro l

.
, ,
-

which might ye t s e rve me i n my n eed befo re th e day was o u t .

As I opened th e d oor I beckoned to M arian t o follow m e ,

to th e stai rs I t was n e ce ssa ry to prepare h e r fo r a result

.

whi ch I fe lt might s oone r o r late r fo llow my sh owi ng myself

openly i n th e streets .

I shall in all p robability be back in a few h ou rs I said ;

, , ,
’

‘
a n d you w ill take care as u sual t o le t n o o n e i n side th e , ,

doors i n my abse n ce B u t if anyth in g happen s .

‘
What c a n happe n ? sh e i nte rp osed quickly Tel l me ’
, .
"

plainly Walte r if the re i s any danger — and I shall kn ow h ow

, ,

t o meet i t .
’

‘ ‘ ’
The only dan ge r I replied i s that S i r Pe rcival G lyd e , ,

m ay h ave bee n recalle d t o Lon don by th e n ews o f Lau ra s ’

e sc a pe Y o u are aware that h e had m e watch ed before I left

.

E n gland ; an d that he p robably k n ows m e by sight alth ough ,

I don t know hi m
’

S he laid he r h an d o n my sh ou ld e r an d lo oked at m e i n ,

anxiou s silence I sa w sh e u nde rstood the se ri ou s ri s k that

.

th reate ned u s .

‘ ‘ ’
I t i s n ot li kely I said th at I shall be see n in Lon d on
, ,

agai n so soon eithe r by S i r Pe rcival hi mself o r by th e pe rs on s

,

in hi s e mpl oy B ut it i s barely p ossible that a n acci den t may

.

happe n I n that case you wi ll n ot b e alarme d if I fail t o

.
,

return to night ; an d yo uwill sati sfy any in qu i ry of Lau ra s wit h

-
’

th e bes t excu se that yo u c a n m ake for m e I f I fi n d the least

reas on t o s u spect that I am watch ed I wil l take good care ,

that n o spy follows me back t o thi s h ous e D o n t dou bt my .

’

retu rn M arian h oweve r i t may b e delayed — and fear n othin g

, , .
’

N oth ing ! sh e an swe red fi rmly You sh al l n ot regret

’
, .
,

Walte r that y o u have only a woman t o help you

, She .
’

pau sed an d detai ne d me fo r a m om en t lon ge r

, Take care ! .

she said p res si ng my han d anxiously

, take care !
I left h e r ; a n d set forth t o pave th e way fo r discove ry
’
th e dark an d doubtfu l way which began at th e lawyer s do or , .

No ci rcu mstance o f the s lightest importance hap pened o n my

way t o the o fli c es of M e ssrs Gilmore an d Kyrle in Chan cery .
,

Lane .

W h ile m y ca rd was bei ng take n in to M r Kyrle a c on sid er a .

,

39 3
 T H E W O M AN I N W H ITE

tio n occu rred to m e wh ich I dee ply regre tted n o t h avin g thought "

o f before The i nformati on derived from M arian s diary made ’

.

fi
i t a matte r o f certai nty that C ount Fosc o had open ed he r fi rst
lette r from B lackwate r Park to M r Kyrle a n d h ad by m ean s .
, ,

o f hi s wife i ntercepte d th e se cond

, H e was therefore well .

aware o f th e addre ss o f th e o ffice ; an d h e wou ld n aturally

i nfe r that if M arian wante d advice a nd ass istance afte r ,

L au ra s e scape from th e Asylum she would apply onc e m ore

’
,

to th e exp e rienc e o f M r Kyrle I n th is case th e o f c e i n

. .
,

Chancery Lan e was th e ve ry fi rst place which h e an d S i r

Percival would caus e t o b e watch ed ; a n d if th e s am e pe rson s ,

we re ch osen for the pu rp os e wh o h ad bee n employed to follo w

m e before my departu re from E ngland the fact o f my retu rn
, ,

would in all p robability be ascertain ed o n that ve ry day I .

had th ought gene rally of th e chan ce s o f my being recogn ised

, ,

i n th e s tre ets ; but th e special ris k con n ecte d with the o ffice
h ad n eve r occu rre d to m e u n til th e p rese nt m oment I t was .

to o late n ow to repai r th is u nfortunate e rror i n j udgment

to o late t o wish that I had m ade arrangements for me eting
the lawye r in s om e place p rivately app oi nted befo reh and I .

c ould only re solve to b e cauti ous o n leaving Chancery Lane ,

and n ot to go s traight h om e agai n un de r any ci rcu mstance s

whateve r .

Afte r waitin g a few minutes I was sh own i nto M r Kyrle s , .

’

p rivate room H e was a pale th in quiet s elf p ossessed

.
, , ,
-

man with a ve ry atte ntive eye a ve ry lo w voi ce and a ve ry

, , ,

u ndem onstrative man ne r ; n ot (as I j udged ) ready with hi s

sympathy whe re strange rs we re conce rned ; a n d n ot at all
,

e asy to distu rb i n hi s p rofess i on al comp osu re A bette r m a n .

for my pu rp os e could hardly have bee n found I f h e com ; .

m itted hi mself t o a deci si on at all an d if th e deci si on was ,

favou rable the stre ngth of o u r cas e was as go od as p roved

,

from that m ome n t .

B efore I e nter o n th e busine ss whi ch brings m e h ere I ,

’

‘
said , I ough t to warn you M r Kyrle that the sh orte st , .
,

state me n t I c a n make o f i t may occupy s om e little time .

’

‘
My time i s at M is s H a lc o m be s disp osal h e replied ’
,
’
.

‘
'

a ny i nte re sts o f h ers are concern ed I repre sen t my

_ Whe re ,

partne r pe rs onally as wel l a s professi on ally , I t was hi s .

request that I sh ou ld d o so whe n he ceased t o take a n active ,

part in bu sin es s .
’

M ay I i n qui re wh eth e r M r Gi lmore i s in E ngland .

‘
H e i s n ot : h e i s livi ng with hi s relative s i n Ge rmany .

H i s h ealth has imp roved but the period o f his return i s stil l
,

u ncertain .
’

39 4
 T H E W O M AN I N W H ITE
p rove th e death a n d to show that i t to ok place un de r natura l
,

ci rcumsta nce s The re i s th e fact o f th e fun eral at Limme

.

ridge an d there i s the as se rti on o f the in scription o n th e

,

tom b That i s th e cas e yo u wan t to ove rth row What

. .

eviden ce have yo u to support the declaration o n you r side

that the person w h o died an d was bu ri ed was n ot Lady
Glyde ? Let u s ru n th rough th e main p oints o f you r state
me nt an d s ee what they are worth M is s H alcombe goes t o .

a ce rtai n private Asylum and the re see s a ce rtai n female ,

patient I t i s kn own that a woman n amed Ann e C a th erick

.
,

an d bearing an extraordinary pe rs onal resemblance to Lady

Glyde e scaped from th e Asylum i t i s kn own that th e pe rs on
,

receive d the re last J uly was rece ived as Ann e C a th eric k ,

brought back i t i s kn own that th e gentleman wh o b rough t

h e r back warn ed M r Fairli e that i t was part o f he r i nsanity
.

to be ben t o n pe rson atin g hi s dead n iece ; an d it i s kn own

th at sh e did repeate dly declare h e rself in the Asylum (whe re ,

n o o n e believed he r ) t o b e Lady G lyde These are all facts

, . .

What have y o u to se t again st them ? M i s s H a lc o m be s ’

recogn ition o f the woman which rec ognition afte r events ,

-

i nvalidate o r contradict D oe s M is s H alcombe asse rt he r

.

supposed siste r s i dentity to the owne r o f th e Asylum an d

’
,

take legal m ean s fo r re scuin g he r No sh e secretly bribe s

a nu rse to let he r e scape Whe n the patien t has bee n re .

leased i n th i s d oubtful man ne r an d i s taken to M r Fai rlie , .

,

doe s h e recognis e he r i s h e stagge red for on e i n stant i n hi s

’
belief o f hi s niece s death N o D o the servants recogni se .

he r ? N o I s she kept in th e n eighb ou rhood to asse rt he r

.

o wn i dentity a n d to stan d the test o f fu rthe r p roceedin gs ?

,

N o : sh e is p rivately take n t o Lon don I n the mean time .

,

o u have recognised he r als o — but you are n o t a relative ;

y
you are n ot even a n o ld frien d o f th e family The se rvants .

c ontradict yo u and M r Fairlie contradicts M i ss H alcombe.

and th e supp osed Lady Glyde contradicts he rself S he .

declare s sh e passed th e n ight in Lond on at a ce rt a i n h ouse .

You r o wn evi dence shows that she has neve r bee n n ear that
h ouse ; a nd you r o w n admissio n i s that he r c onditi on o f ,

m ind preven ts you from p rodu ci ng he r anywh e re t o submi t

to i nve stigati on and t o speak for herself I pass ove r min o r
, .

p oints o f eviden ce o n both sides to save tim e ; and I ask

, ,

o u if thi s case were to go n w i nto a cou rt o f law — to go

y , o
before a j ury boun d t o take facts as they reasonably appear
,

whe re are you r proofs ?

I was obliged to wai t and collect myself before I could
a n s we r h im I t was th e fi rst time the story o f La u ra and th e
.

39 6
 T HE \V H I T E
'

WO M AN I N
’
s tory o f M arian h ad bee n p rese nte d to me from a st range r s
p oin t o f view— the fi rst time the terrible obstacle s that lay
ac ross ou r path had bee n m ade t o sh ow th emse l v e s in thei r
true characte r .

‘ ‘
The re ca n b e n o d oubt I said th at the facts a s you ,
’
, ,

have stated them appear t o tell again st u s bu t

, z>
’
B u t you thi n k th ose facts c a n b e explai n ed away i nte ,
1 ~

po se d M r Kyrle
. Le t m e tell you th e re sult o f my ex p e
.

ri en c e o n that poi nt Whe n a n E ngli sh j u ry has to ch oos e

.

betwee n a plain fact on the su rface and a lon g explanati on

, ,

u n der th e s urface i t always take s the fact i n prefe re n ce to

, ,

the expla nation F o r exam ple Lady Glyde ( I call the lady
.
,

yo u rep rese nt by that n ame for argume n t s s ake ) declare s sh e

’

has slept at a ce rtain h ou se a n d i t i s p roved that sh e has ,

n ot slept at that h ou se Y o u explain thi s ci rcumstance by.

e nte ri n g i nto the state o f he r m ind a n d deducin g from i t a ,

m etaphysical con clusion I d on t sa y the con clu si on i s

.
’

wron g— I only say that th e ju ry w ill take th e fact o f he r

contradictin g he rse lf in p refe re nce t o any reason fo r the
,

contradiction that yo u c a n o ff e r .
’

B u t i s i t n ot pos sible I u rged by di nt o f patie nce and ,

’
,

exerti on to di scove r additional evide nce ? M i ss H alcombe

,

fi
a n d I have a few hun dred poun d s

H e lo oke d at me with a half su ppresse d pity a nd sh ook -

,

hi s h ead .

‘
Co n side r th e subj ec t M r H a rtrigh t fro m you r o w n , .
,
’ ‘
poi n t of view he sa id
, I f yo u are right ab out S i r Pe rcival
.

Glyde an d Coun t Fo sco (which I don t admit mi nd ) eve ry ’

, ,

i magin abl e di f c u lty woul d be th rown in the way o f you r

gettin g fre sh evi de n ce Eve ry obstacle o f liti gati on would
.

be rai sed ; eve ry p oin t i n th e cas e would b e systemati cally

con teste d — an d by th e time we h ad spe n t o u r th ousan ds ,

i n stead o f ou r h u ndred s the fi nal re sult wou ld i n all p roba

, ,

b ility be again st u s
, Q ue sti on s of i denti ty whe re i n stance s
.
,

o f pe rs onal re se mblan ce are con ce rn ed are in the mselve s , , ,

the hardest o f al l questi on s to settle — th e h ardest eve n whe n ,

they are fre e from th e com pli cation s which beset th e cas e —we
are n ow di scu ssin g I real ly se e n o p rospe ct o f th rowin g
.

any ligh t whateve r o n th is extrao rdi n ary a ff ai r E ve n if th e .

pe rson bu rie d 1 n Lim m eridge chu rchyard be n ot L ady Glyde ,

s h e was i n life
, o n you r o w n showin g 5 0 lik e he r that we
, , ,

sh ould bgain n othin g if we applied fo r th e ne ce s sa ry auth ority

,

t o h a v e the b ody exhumed I n sh ort the re i s n o case M r .

, ,
.

Ha rtrigh t— there i s really n o cas e .

’

I was dete rmi ne d t o believe that t he re was a case ; and i n ,

39 7
 TH E WO M AN I N W H I T E
that dete rmi nati on shifted m y grou nd a nd appeal e d to hi m , ,

once m ore .

Are the re n ot othe r p roofs that we mi gh t produce ,

be sides the p roof o f i dentity I asked .

N ot as yo u are situate d h e replied The simple st a n d ,

’
.
1

su rest o f all p roofs the p roof by compari son of dates i s as I

, , ,

u nde rstand altogethe r ou t o f you r reach

,
I f y o u c oul d sh ow .

’
a di sc repancy b etwee n the date o f th e d octor s ce rtificate
’
and th e date o f Lady G lyde s j ou rney to London the matte r ,

would wear a t otally di ffe re nt aspect ; a nd I shoul d b e th e

fi rst to sa y L e t u s go o n , .
’

’
That date may yet be recove red M r Kyrl e , . .

O n the day wh e n i t i s rec ove red M r H a rtrigh t you will ,

.
,

h ave a case I f you have any p rospect at thi s m ome nt o f

.
, ,

getti n g at it— tell m e an d we shal l se e if I c a n advi se you ,

.
’

I con side red T h e h ou sekeepe r could n o t hel p u s Lau ra

.

could n ot h elp u s M arian cou ld not hel p u s I n all proba .

b ility the o nly pe rson s i n exi ste n ce w h o knew the date we re

,

S i r Pe rcival a n d the Coun t .

‘
I c a n thi n k of n o m ean s o f asce rtainin g th e date at
‘
prese nt I said because I c a n thin k o f n o pe rson s wh o are
,
’
,

sure t o kn ow i t b ut Coun t Fo sco a n d S i r Pe rcival Glyde

, .
’

M r Kyrle s calmly atte ntive face rela x ed fo r th e fi rst

.
’
,

ti me into a smi le
, .

‘
Wi th you r opin ion of th e c onduct of th ose two gentle
’
men he said
, y o u do n t expect hel p i n t h at quarte r I
,
’

"
,

p resume I f they have combi ne d to gai n large sum s o f

m oney by a c on spi racy they a re n ot likely t o confe s s i t at , ,

any rate .
’

They may be force d to confe s s i t M r Kyrle , . .

’

By wh om
’
B y me .

We both rose H e l ooke d m e atten tively in the face

.

with more appearan ce of i nte re s t than h e h ad shown yet I .

could see that I had pe rplexe d hi m a little .

You are ve ry dete rmi ned he sai d Y o u have n o doubt ,

’
.
, ,

a pe rsonal motive fo r proceedi n g i nto which i t i s n ot my ,

busine ss t o i nquire I f a case c a n be p roduced in th e future

.
,

I c a n only sa y my best as si stance i s at you r se rvice At th e

, .

same time I mu st warn yo u a s th e m on ey questi o n always

, ,

e nte rs i nto th e law qu esti on that I se e l ittle h ope even if yo u , ,

ultimately establi shed the fact of Lady G lyde s bei n g alive o f ’

,

recoveri ng he r fortun e The foreigne r would p robably leave .

th e cou ntry before p roce edings were comme nce d ; an d S ir

,
’
P er ci v al s embarra ssm ent s are nu me ro u s e nough an d p ressin g
39 8
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E
u nable to help he r —excep t by advi ce which will n o t b e m ore ,

welcome I am afraid to her than to yo u

, , .
’

I looke d at th e letter whi le h e was speaki n g I t was .

‘
addressed t o M is s H alcombe Care o f M e s srs Gi lmore
’

. .

an d Kyrle Chance ry Lan e , The handwriting w a s quite .

’

u nkn own t o me .

fi
O n leavin g th e room I aske d o n e last quest 1 on , .

‘
D o yo u happen to kn ow I said if S i r Pe rcival G lyd e ,
’
,

i s still i n Pari s
‘ ‘
H e has return ed to London replied M r Kyrle At ,
’
. .

least I heard s o fro m hi s s olicitor wh om I met y e sterday , .

’

Afte r that an swe r I went o u t .

O n leavin g the o f c e th e fi rst p recaution to b e observed ,

was t o abstai n from attractin g attention by stoppi ng to look

ab out m e I walked towards o n e o f the quietest o f th e
.

large square s o n the n orth o f H olborn — the n s u dden ly

stopped an d tu rne d rou nd at a p lace where a lon g stre tch
,

o f paveme n t w a s left behi nd me .

The re we re two me n at the c orn er of the square wh o ha d

stopped also an d wh o we re standin g tal kin g together Afte r
, .

’
a m ome n t s reflection I turn ed back s o a s to pas s them , .

O n e m oved as I came near an d turned the co rn e r leading

, ,

from the square i nto the street The oth e r re mained sta .

tio n a ry I lo o k ed at hi m as I passed and i n stantly recog

.
,

n ised o n e of th e m en wh o h ad watched me befo re I left

E ngland .

I f I had bee n free to follow my o w n i n stincts I sh ou ld ,

probably have begu n by s peaking to the man an d have e nde d ,

by knocki ng h im d own B ut I was bou nd to con side r c o n se

.

q u enc es I f I on ce place d myself publicly i n the w ron g

. I ,

put the weapo n s at o nce i nto S i r Percival s hands The re ’

.

was n o ch oi ce bu t t o oppos e cu n ni ng by cun nin g I tu rne d .

i nto the street down which th e secon d m a n had di sappeared ,

and passe d h im w a iti n g in a doorway H e was a strange r

,
.

t o m e an d I was glad to make su re o f hi s pe rsonal appear

an ce i n cas e o f futu re ann oyance
, H avin g don e thi s I .
,

agai n walked n orthward till I reache d the N ew Road The re ,

.
,

I tu rn e d aside to the we st (havin g th e m en behin d me all th e

ti me ) an d waited at a p oint whe re I knew myself to be at
,

s ome distan ce from a cabstand until a fast tw o wheel c a b ,

-
,

empty sh oul d happen t o pas s me

, O ne passed i n a few .

minute s I j umpe d in a nd told th e man to drive rapidly

.
,

t o ward s Hyde Park The re w a s n o s econ d fas t c a b fo r th e

.

spie s behi nd me I saw the m dart ac ross to the othe r si de

.

o f th e road t o follow me by run nin u ntil a ca b o r c abstand ,

, g ,

4 00
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E
came in thei r way B ut I had the start o f them ; an d whe n .

I stoppe d th e dri ve r an d got o u t they we re n owhe re i n , ,

sight I c ro ssed H yde Park an d made sure o n the ope n

.
, ,

ground that I was free Whe n I at last tu rn e d my step s

, .

homewards i t was no t till many h ou rs later— n ot till afte r

,

dark .

I found Marian waitin g fo r me alone i n th e li ttle sittin g ,

room S he had pe rsuaded Lau ra to go to re st afte r fi rs t

.
,

p romi si ng to sh ow m e he r d rawin g th e m oment I cam e i n , .

Th e p oo r littl e d im fai n t s ketch— so triflin g i n itself s o ,

touchin g i n its association s— was p ropped u p carefully o n th e

table with two books an d was p laced whe re th e fain t ligh t ,

o f th e o n e can dle we allowed ou rse lves might fall o n it to th e

best advan tage I sat down t o loo k at the d rawi n g an d t o
.
,

tell Marian i n whi spe rs wh at had happen ed Th e partiti on

, ,
.

fi
w hich divi ded u s from the n ext room was s o thi n that we
could alm ost hea r Lau ra s breath in g an d we might have dis ’

tu rbed he r i f we had sp oke n aloud .

Mari an pre se rved he r c omposure while I de scri bed my

in te rview w i th M r Kyrle B ut he r face be came t rouble d . .

whe n I spoke next of the men w h o had followed me from th e

lawye r s o f c e and whe n I told he r of the discove ry o f S i r
’
,

Percival s retu rn ’
.

B ad news Walte r sh e said ; the worst n ews you coul d

, ,
’

bri n g H ave you n othing mo re t o tell me

.

I have something t o give you I replied handin g he r th e ,

’
,

n ote which M r Kyrl e had confide d to my care . .

S he looke d at the address an d recognise d the han dwritin g ,

i n stantly .

Y o u kn ow you r corre spon den t I said .

To o well she an swered My corre sp onde n t i s C ou n t

,
’
.

’
F osco .

With that reply sh e open ed th e n ote H e r face fl ush ed .

deeply whi le sh e read it— h er eye s brighte ne d w i th a nge r a s ,

she handed i t t o m e t o read i n my turn .

fi
The n ote contai ned th ese li ne s

I mpe lled by ho n ou rable admi ration — hon ou rabl e to m y

self h on ourable to you — I wri te magnifice nt M arian i n th e
, , ,

i ntere sts o f your tran quillity to say two con s oli ng words ,

Fear n othing
E xerci se your n e natural sen se a nd re main in reti re ,
!

m e n t D ear and admi rable woman i nvi te n o dange rou s

.
,

p ublicit y Resignation i s sublim e — adop t i t

. T h e mo de s t .

401 D D
 TH E W O M AN I N W H I T E

re pos e o f h om e i s e ternally fresh — e nj oy it The storm s o f .

life pass harmles s ove r the valley o f S eclu si on dwell dear ,

lady in the valley

,
.

D o thi s a nd I authori se you to fear n othin g N o n ew .

calamity shall lacerat e you r sen sibilities — sen si bilities p reci ous
to me as my o w n You shall n ot b e mole sted ; the fai r
.

c ompanio n o f you r retreat shall n ot b e p u rsued Sh e has .

found a new asylum in your heart Priceless asylum — I

,
.

e nvy he r an d leave he r the re

,
.

O n e last word o f a ffe cti o nate warning o f pate rn al caution ,

—a n d I tear myself from th e charm o f addre ssi ng yo u ; I

close these fe rven t li nes .

‘
Advance n o furthe r than you have gon e already ; c o m
p romi se n o se rious i nte res ts ; threate n n obody D o n ot I .
,

implore you force m e i nto action — M E the M a n o f Action

, ,

wh en it is th e che ri shed o bj ect o f my ambi tion to b e passive ,

to restri ct the vast reach of my e ne rgi e s an d my com binati ons ,

fo r you r sake I f yo u have rash frie nd s moderate thei r

.
,

deplo rable ardou r I f M r Ha rtrigh t returns to E ngland

. .
,

hold n o commu nicati on with him I w a l k o n a path o f my .

own ; and Perci v al follows at my heels O n th e day whe n .

M r Ha rtrigh t c ros se s that path h e i s a los t m a n

.
, .
’

The only signature to th ese l in e s was th e ini tial lette r F ,

su rroun de d by a ci rcle of intricate fl ou ri she s I th rew the .

letter o n th e table with all th e con tempt that I felt fo r i t

, .

H e i s tryi n g t o frighten you — a s ure si gn th at h e i s

frightene d hi mself I said ,
’
.

S h e was too genuine a woman to t reat th e l ette r as I

t re ate d it Th e i nsolen t familiari ty o f the language w a s to o
.

much fo r b e r self con trol As sh e l ooked a t m e ac ros s the

‘

- .

table he r han ds clen ched themselves i n he r lap and th e o ld

, ,

quick fi e ry tempe r flamed o u t again bri ghtly in h e r ch eeks , ,

a n d h er eyes .

‘ ‘
Walte r sh e said i f eve r th ose two men a re at you r
,

me rcy a n d if you are obliged to spare o ne o f the m — don t le t

,
’

i t be the C oun t .
’

‘
I will keep h i s lette r M ari an to h elp my me mo ry whe n , ,

th e ti me comes .
’

S he l ooked at m e attentive ly a s I put th e lett er away in

my pocket bo ok - .

When th e time come s sh e rep eate d C a n you speak .

o f th e futu re a s if yo u we re ce rtai n o f i t — certain afte r what

you have he ard in M r Kyrle s o ffice after wh a t has happe ned

.
’

to yo u to day -

4 02
 T H E W O MAN I N W H ITE
m ay well forge t th e date but are gui lty an d t/z ey kn ow ,

it I f I fai l eve rywh ere else I mean to fo rce a confe ssion o ut

.
,
’
o f o n e o r both o f them o n my o w n te rm s ,
.

’
All the wo man flushe d u p in M arian s face as I spo ke
B egi n with th e Coun t ! sh e whi spe re d eage rly .

m y sake begi n with th e Count

’
.
,
‘We mu st begin fo r Lau ra s sake wh e re the re i s th e ’
, ,
’
be st chance o f su ccess I replied ,
.

Th e c olou r faded from her face again an d sh e sh ook her ,

h ead sadly .

Yes she said yo u are righ t— it w a s mean and mi serable

,
’
,

o f m e to say that I try to be patient Walte r an d s uccee d

.
, ,

be tte r n ow than I did in happie r times B ut I have a little .

o f my old tempe r still left — and it will get th e be tte r o f m e

whe n I thin k of the Count !

‘ ‘
H is tu rn will come l said B ut remembe r th e re i s
’
.
, , ,

n o we ak pl ace in h i s life that we know o f yet I waited a , .

’

l ittle to let h e r recove r he r se lf p osse ssion ; an d th en sp oke -

the deci sive wo rd s

M arian There i s a weak place we b oth know o f in S i r
Pe rcival s life
’

Y o u mean the sec re t

‘
Ye s : th e S ec ret I t is o u r o nly su re h old 0 11 him
. I .

c a n fo rce h im fro m hi s positi on o f secu ri ty I c a n d rag h i m ,

a n d h i s villany i nto the face o f day by n o othe r means ,

.

Whateve r the Coun t m ay h ave done S i r Pe rcival has c o n ,

s ented to the co n spi racy agai n s t Lau ra from an othe r m otive

be side s th e motive o f gai n You heard hi m tell th e C ou n t .

that h e be lieved hi s wi fe knew e n ough to rui n h im ? Y o u

h eard hi m sa y that h e w a s a l ost man if th e sec ret of Ann e
C a th eric k Wa s kn own
’
Ye s ! ye s ! I did .

Well Marian wh e n o u r othe r re sou rce s h ave fai le d u s I

, , ,

me an to kn ow th e secret My o ld supe rstiti on clings to m e

.
,

eve n yet . I say agai n th e wom an i n w hite i s a livi ng i n fl uence

i n o u r th re e lives Th e En d i s appoi nted th e E nd i s d raw
.

i n g u s o u— a nd Ann e C a th eric k dead in her gra v e p o in ts the , ,

way to it still ! ’

T HE story o f my fi rs t i nqui rie s i n H ampsh i re i s soon told .

My early departu re fro m London e nable d me to reach M r .

D awson s hou se in th e fo ren oon

’
Ou r i nterview s o far a s .
,

th e obj ect o f my v i sit was con cerned le d to n o sati sfactory ,

re su lt
,

4 04
 T H E WO MAN I N W H I T E
Mr
’
D awson s b ooks ce rtainly sh owe d w h e n h e h ad
.

resu med h i s atte ndance o n M is s H alcombe at B lackwate r ,

Park but it was n o t possible t o cal culate back fro m th is date

,

with any exactne ss wi thou t such h elp fro m M rs M i che lson

fi
, .

as I kn ew she was u nable to affo rd S he c ould n o t say .

from me mory (who in simi lar cases eve r c a n

, h ow many ,
’
days had elapsed betwee n th e re newal of th e docto r s atten d
ance o n his patie nt and th e previou s de parture o f Lady
G lyde S he was almost certai n o f havi ng me nti one d th e
.

circum stance o f the departure t o M is s H alcombe o n th e day ,

afte r i t happen ed — but the n sh e was n o m ore able t o x th e

'

fi
dat e o f the day o n which thi s di sclo sure took p lace than t o ,

fi x the date o f the day befo re wh e n Lady G lyde h ad left fo r ,

Lon don Neithe r cou ld sh e calculate wi th any n eare r

.
,

approach t o exactne ss th e time that h ad passe d fro m th e

,

departu re o f he r mi stre ss to th e pe ri od wh e n th e u ndate d

,

lette r from M adam e F osco arrived Lastly as i f to complete .

,

the se ries o f di f c u ltie s the docto r h i mse lf h avin g b ee n ill at

, ,

the ti me had omitte d to make h i s u sual e n try o f the day o f th e

,

week a nd month whe n the garde ne r fro m B lackwate r Park

had called on hi m to deliver M rs M ichelso n s me ssage .
’
.

H opeles s o f obtai nin g assistan ce from M r D awson I .

,

re solved to t ry n ext if I could e stabli sh th e date o f S i r Pe rci

v al s arrival at K n o w lesbu ry
’
.

I t seeme d li ke a fatality ! Wh e n I reach e d K n o w lesbu ry

th e in n was shu t u p an d bills we re p osted o n the wall s Th e - -
.

speculation had bee n a bad o n e as I w a s info rmed eve r sinc e , ,

th e time o f th e railway Th e n ew h otel at th e stati on had

.

gradually ab so rbe d th e bu sine ss an d the old in n (wh ich we

knew t o be th e inn at wh ich S i r Pe rcival h ad put up ) h ad
bee n closed about two m onth s si nce The p rop rieto r h ad l eft .

the town with all h is good s an d ch attels a n d whe re h e had ,

gone I coul d n ot po si tively asce rtai n fro m any o n e

, Th e .

fou r peopl e o f wh o m I i nq u i red gave m e fou r di ff e ren t

accounts o f hi s plan s and p roj e cts wh en h e left K n o wlesb u ry .

There we re still some h ou rs to spare before th e last trai n

left fo r London ; and I d rove back again in a fly from th e ,

K n o wlesbu ry stati on to B lackwate r Park with th e pu rpos e

, ,

o f questi on in g th e gardene r a n d th e pe rson wh o kept th e

lodge .I f they to o p rove d un able to assist m e my
, , ,

resou rce s fo r the p re sent we re at a n e nd an d I migh t

, , ,

retu rn t o town .

I dismissed th e fl y a m i l e distan t fro m th e park ; a nd ,

gettin g my direction s from th e d rive r p roceede d by myself to ,

the ho u s e .

4 05
 T H E WO MAN I N W H I T E
As I tu rned i nto th e lan e from th e high road I s aw a ,

man with a carpet bag walki ng befo re me rapidly o n th e

,
-
,

way to the l odge H e was a little man dre ssed in sh abby

.
,

b lack an d wearin g a remarkably large hat I s et hi m down

,
.

)
’

( as wel l as it was possi ble t o j udge for a lawye r s cle rk an d

stopped at on ce to wi de n the di stance betwee n u s H e had .

no t heard m e an d he walked on o u t o f sight withou t l ook ,

i ng back When I passed through the gates myse lf a little

.
,

while afte rwards h e was not vi sible — h e had evidently gon e o n

,

to th e h ou se .

The re we re two wome n i n the lodge O n e o f them w a s .

o ld ; th e othe r I kn ew at o nce by M arian s descripti on o f

, ,
’

h er to b e M argaret Po rche
,

I aske d fi rst if S i r Pe rcival w a s at th e park ; and rec eiv ,

ing a reply in th e negative i nquired n ext wh en h e had left it , .

N e ithe r o f th e wome n could tell me mo re than that he h ad

gon e away i n th e su mme r I could extract n othin g from .

M argaret Porch e r but vacant smile s an d shakings of the head .

The old woman wa s a little m o re i ntelligent a n d I man aged

t o lead h e r i nto s peaki ng o f th e mann e r o f S i r Pe rcival s ’

departu re an d o f th e alarm that i t cau sed h er S he remem

,
.

b e re d h e r maste r callin g h er o u t of bed an d re membe re d h i s ,

frightening he r by sweari n g— bu t th e date at which the occu r

‘
ren ce happene d was as sh e h one stly ackn owledged quite
, ,

beyon d he r .
’

O n leavin g th e lodge I sa w the garde ne r at wo rk no t far ,

o ff
. When I fi rst addre sse d hi m h e looked at m e rathe r ,

distrustfully ; but o n my u sing M rs Mi chelson s n a me with

,
.
’
,

a civi l refe ren ce to h imself he e nte red i nto co nve rsation readily ,

e n eugh The re i s n o n eed to de scribe what passed between

.

u s : it e nded a s all my othe r attempts to discove r th e date

,

h ad ended Th e garden er kn ew that h is m aste r had d riven

.

away at night some ti me in J uly th e last fortnight o r th e

, , ,

last te n d ays i n the month —an d knew n o more .

While we we re speaking togeth er I sa w th e man in black , ,

with the large hat come o u t from the h ous e and stand at , ,

some littl e distance ob se rvi ng u s .

Ce rtai n su spicion s of h is e rran d at B lackwate r Park had

al ready crossed my m i nd They we re n o w i ncrease d by th e .

gardene r s i nabi lity (o r u nwillingnes s ) to tell me wh o th e m a n

’

was and I determined to clear th e way befo re me i f possi ble , ,

by speaking to hi m The plaine st question I coul d put as a . _

,

s tran ge r would be to i nqui re if the house was allowed to be

,

sh own to visitors I walked up t o the man at o nce and

.
,

accosted him i n th ose words .

4 06
'
 T H E W O MAN I N WH I T E
and I confe s s i t was a satisfacti on to m e to fee l that th e
su rest way— th e only way left— o f se rvin g Lau ra s cause w a s ’
,

to fasten my h old fi rmly o n th e vi llai n wh o had marri ed he r .

While I ackn owledge that I was n ot strong en ough t o keep

my motive s ab ove th e reach o f thi s i n sti nct o f reve n ge I c a n ,

honestly sa y somethi ng i n my o w n favou r o n the othe r side , .

N o base speculation o n th e fu tu re relation s o f Lau ra and

myself an d o n th e p rivate and p e rs onal conces sion s which I
,

migh t fo rce from S i r Pe rcival if I once had hi m at my mercy ,

‘
eve r ente red my mi nd I n eve r said to myself I f I d o
.
,

succeed it shall b e o n e result o f my success that I pu t i t o u t

,
’
o f he r hu sband s powe r to take her from m e agai n I could ’
.

n ot look at he r an d thi nk of th e future with such thoughts as

th ose The sad sight o f th e change i n h er from h er forme r
.
-

self made the on e i ntere st o f my love a n i nte re st of ten de rn ess

,

an d compassi on which her fathe r o r he r b rothe r migh t have

,

fe lt and which I felt God k nows i n my i nm ost heart All

, , , .

my hope s looked n o farthe r o n n ow than to the day o f he r , ,

recove ry The re til l sh e was stron g agai n and happy agai n

.
,
— th e re till sh e cou ld look at me as she had on ce looked an d
, ,

speak to me as she had once spoke n — th e futu re o f my happiest

thoughts an d my deares t wi she s e nded .

Thes e wo rd s are writte n u nde r n o p romptin g o f idle self -

n

conte mplati on Passage s in thi s narrative are s oon to come

.
,

wh ich will set the min ds o f othe rs in j udgm ent on my conduct .

I t i s right that the be st a n d th e worst of m e should b e

fai rly balanced befo re that time , .

On the m orn i ng afte r my return from H ampshi re I to ok ,

M arian u p stai rs i n to my workin g room a nd the re laid before

- -

he r the plan that I had matured thu s far fo r mas te ri ng the , ,

o n e assailable poi nt in th e life o f S i r Pe rcival G lyde .

Th e way to th e S ecret lay th rough the myste ry hithe rto ,

impenetrable to all o f u s o f the woman i n white The approach, .

to th at i n its turn might b e gain ed by obtaini ng the

, ,

assi stance o f Anne C a th eric k s m oth e r an d the on ly asce rtai n

’

able mean s of prevaili ng o n M rs C a th eric k to a c t or t o speak

fifi
.

i n the matte r depe nded on th e chance o f my disc o v eri n g l o c a l

,

parti cu lars and family particu lars fi rst o f all from M rs , ,

.

Clements Afte r thinkin g the s ubj ect over carefully I felt

.
,

ce rtai n that I could o n ly begi n th e n ew inquiries by placing m y

self in communication with the faithfu l frie nd a n d p rotectre s s
o f Ann e C a th eri c k .

The fi rst di f c ulty the n wa s to nd M rs Clements , , . .

I was i ndebted t o M arian s qu ic k perception for meeting ’

4 08
 T H E W O MAN I N W H I T E
thi s n ecessity at o nce by th e best an d simple st mean s S h e .

proposed to write to the farm near L im m eridge (Todd s Corne r ) ’

,

to i nqui re whethe r M rs Clements had c ommu n icate d with

.

M rs Todd duri ng the past few month s

. H o w M rs Cleme nts . .

had bee n separat e d from Anne it was impossible fo r u s to ,

say but that separation once e ff ected it would ce rtainly o ccu r ,

to M rs Cle me nts t o i nqui re afte r the mi ssing woman i n the

.

n eighbou rhood of al l others t o which sh e w a s known to b e

m ost attached th e neighbou rhoo d of L im m eridge I saw
-
.

d irectly that M arian s proposal o ff e red u s a p rospect o f

’

succe ss ; an d sh e wrote to M rs Todd accordingly by that .

day s post
’
.

While we we re wai ting for th e reply I made myself maste r ,

of al l the info rmati on M arian could a ff ord on th e subject o f

S i r Pe rcival s fami ly an d o f h is early life
’
,
Sh e could o nly .

speak o n the se topic s from h earsay bu t sh e was reasonably

c ertain o f the truth o f what lit tle she had to tell .

S i r Percival was a n only chi ld H is fathe r S i r Fe lix Glyde

.
, ,

had su ff e red from hi s bi rth u n de r a pai nfu l an d in cu rable

, ,

d eformi ty an d had shu n ne d all society from hi s earlies t ye ars

, .

H i s sole h appi ne ss w a s i n the e nj oymen t o f musi c and h e had

married a lady with taste s s imi lar to hi s own wh o was said to ,

be a m ost accompli shed musician H e i nh erited th e B lack .

wate r p rope rty while still a you ng man N eithe r he n o r hi s .

wife aft e r taking p osse ssion made advan ce s o f any s ort

, ,

towa rds the society o f the neighb ourh ood ; an d n o on e en

dea v o u red to tempt them i nto abandonin g the i r re serve with ,

t he o n e disastrou s excep tio n o f th e recto r of th e parish .

The recto r w a s th e wo rst of all i n noce nt mi sch ief make rs -

—a n ove r z ealou s man

- H e had heard that S i r Fe li x had left
.

College with th e characte r o f being little bette r than a rev o lu

tio n ist i n politic s a n d an i nfi del i n religion ; an d h e arrive d
co nscientiou sly at th e conclusion that i t was hi s b ou n den duty
t o summo n the lord of the mano r to hear soun d views e nu n
c ia ted i n the parish chu rch S i r Fe lix fie rcely resente d th e
.

clergyman s we ll meant bu t i ll di rected i nte rfe re n ce ; i nsu ltin g

’
- -

h im so grossly a nd s o publicly that th e families in the neigh ,

b o u rh o o d se n t lette rs o f i n dignant re mon st ran ce to the park

a n d eve n th e te nant s o n the B lackwate r p rope rty exp res se d

thei r opin io n as strongly as they dared Th e baro net who had .

,

n o cou ntry taste s o f a ny ki nd and n o attachmen t to the estate

, ,

o r to a ny o n e l iving o n i t declared that society at B lackwate r

,

sh ould neve r have a second chance of an noyi ng him and left

th e place from that m omen t .

Afte r a short re side nce i n Lo ndon , he and hi s wife departe d

0
4 9
 T H E WO MAN I N W H I T E

fo r the Conti ne nt ; an d n eve r retu rne d t o E nglan d again .

They lived part o f the time in F ran ce and part in Ge rmany— ,

a

always keepin g the m selve s 1 n th e strict ret i re me nt which t h e

m o rbi d sen se of h i s own personal defo rmity had made a n ec es
sity to S i r Fe lix Th ei r so n Pe rcival had bee n b orn ab road
.
, , ,

a n d had be e n e ducated the re by private tutors H i s mother .

w a s th e fi rst o f h i s parent s whom he lost H i s fathe r h ad di ed .

a few years afte r he r e ithe r i n 1 8 2 5 o r 1 8 2 6 S i r Pe rcival had

,
.

bee n i n E n glan d a s a young man o nce o r twi ce before that

, ,

pe ri od ; but hi s acquai ntance with th e late M r Fai rli e d id n ot .

b egi n ti ll after the t i me o f h i s father s death They soon ’

.

became ve ry i nti mate alth ough S i r Pe rcival w a s s eldom o r , ,

n eve r at Lim m eridge H ou s e i n those days

,
M r F rede ric k . .

Fai rli e might h ave m et hi m o n ce o r twi ce i n M r Philip Fai rlie s .

’

company ; but h e could h ave known little o f h im at that o r

’
at any othe r time S ir Pe rcival s On ly i ntim ate frien d i n the

fi
.

’
F a i rlie fami ly had bee n Lau ra s fathe r .

The se were a ll th e particulars that I could gain from M arian .

Th ey sugge ste d n othing wh ich was u seful to my p resen t pu r

p ose but I n ote d the m down carefully in the eve nt o f thei r
, ,

p rovi ng to be of i mportance at any future pe ri od .

M rs Todd s reply (addre ssed by o u r o w n wi sh to a p ost

.
’
, ,

o f c e at some distance from u s ) had arrived at i ts desti nati on

w he n I we n t t o apply fo r it Th e chan ce s which h ad been all .

,

again st u s hitherto turn ed from this m oment in o u r fav ou r

, , , , .

M rs Todd s letter con tai ne d the first i tem of i n formati on o f

.
’

which we were in search .

M rs Cleme nts it appeared had (as we h ad conj ectu red )

.
, ,
’
wri tte n to Todd s C orn er ; askin g pardon i n th e fi rs t place , ,

fo r th e abrupt man ne r in which sh e a n d An n e had left thei r

fri en ds at th e farm h ou se (o n th e m ornin g afte r I h ad met th e
-

woman i n wh ite i n Limm eridge ch urchyard ) a nd then in ,

formin g M rs Todd o f An ne 5 disappearan ce a nd e ntreatin g

.
’

that sh e wou ld caus e i n quirie s to be made 1 n the n eighbou rhood ,

o n the chance that th e lo st woman might have st rayed back

to Lim m eridge I n makin g thi s reque st M rs Cleme nts had

.
, .

been careful to add to it th e address at which sh e might always

be h eard o f ; and that addre s s M rs Todd n ow t ran smitted t o .

M arian I t was i n L on don ; and withi n half an h ou r s wal k

.
’

o f o u r o w n l odgin g .

I n the word s o f the p rove rb I was re solved n o t to let th e ,

gras s grow u nde r my fee t The n ext morn in g I set forth t o .

,

see k a n i ntervi ew wi th M rs Cleme nts Thi s was my fi rst . .

step forward i n the i nvesti gation Th e sto ry o f the desperate .

attempt to which I n ow stood committed, b egin s he re .

10
4
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E
able from pe rson s wh o are n o t accu stome d t o arran ge their
ideas i s the narrative which goe s far e nough back at th e
,

begin nin g to avoid all i mpedi me nts o f retrospectio n in its

co urse I asked M rs Cleme nts t o tell me fi rst what had
,
.
, ,

happe ned afte r sh e h ad left Lim m eridge ; and so by watchful ,

questio ning carrie d h e r o n from point to poi nt till we reached

,

the pe ri od o f Anne s di sappearance ’

.

T h e sub stance o f the i nfo rmatio n which I thus obtai ned ,

wa s as follows
O n leavi ng the farm at Todd s Co rne r M rs Clements and ’
, .

Ann e had travelled that day as far as D e rby ; an d had

, ,

remai ne d th ere a week o n Ann e s account Th ey had then ,

’
.

gon e o n to London an d had lived i n th e lodging occupie d

,

by M rs C lements at that ti me fo r a month o r more whe n

.
, , ,

ci rcum stan ce s con nected with the h ouse and the landlord had
obli ge d the m to change thei r quarte rs Anne s te rror o f .
’

bein g disc overed i n Londo n or i ts n eighbou rhood wh en eve r ,

they venture d to wal k o u t had gradually commu n icate d itself ,

to M rs Clements ; and sh e had determin ed o n rem ovin g t o

.

o n e of the m ost o u t o f the way places i n En glan d — t o the town

- - -

o f Gri msby i n Lincoln shire whe re he r decease d h usban d had ,

passe d all hi s e arly life H i s relative s we re respectable pe opl e

.

fi
settled in the town ; they had always t reated M rs Clements .

with great kin dne s s ; an d sh e though t it impossible to do

’
bette r than go the re an d take the advi ce o f he r hu sban d s
,

friend s An n e woul d n ot hear o f retu rnin g t o he r m othe r at

.

W elm ingh a m becau se sh e had bee n removed to the Asyl um

,

from th at place an d becau se S i r Pe rcival would b e ce rtai n t o

,

g o back the re an d n d he r again There was se ri ou s weigh t .

i n thi s obj ection an d M rs Clements felt that i t was n o t to be

,
.

e asily re moved .

At Grimsby the fi rst se riou s symptoms o f illness had

shown them selve s in Ann e Th ey appeared soon afte r the .

n ews o f Lady G ly de s m arriage had been made public in th e

’

n ewspape rs an d had reache d her through that mediu m

, .

The medi cal m a n wh o w a s sen t fo r to atte nd the sick woman ,

di scove re d at on ce that sh e was su ff e rin g from a serious a ffec
ti on o f the heart Th e illness laste d long left he r ve ry weak
.
, ,

an d returned at i nte rval s th ough with mi tigated s everi ty,

, ,

agai n a n d again They remaine d at Gri msby i n con sequence ,

.
,

durin g the first half o f the n ew ye ar ; an d ther e they might

probably have stayed much longe r but fo r th e sudde n ,

resolution which Ann e took at thi s tim e to ve ntu re back to , ,

H ampshire for the pu rpose o f obtain in g a p rivate inte rview

,

with L ady Glyd e .

4 12
 T HE W O M AN I N W H I T E

M rs C lements did all i n h e r power to opp os e the execu ti o n

.

o f thi s h a z a rdou s an d unaccountable proj ect N o explanati on .

o f h e r motive s was o ff e red by Ann e except that she believe d ,

th e day o f h er death was n o t far o ff an d that sh e had s ome ,

thin g o n he r m in d which mus t be c om mun icated to L ady

Glyde at any risk in secre t H e r re soluti on to accomplish
, , .

thi s pu rp ose was so fi rmly settled that sh e declare d h e r ,

i nten ti on of goin g t o H am p shi re by herself if M rs C le me nts , .

fe lt a ny u nwillin gne s s to go wi th he r T he d octor o n be in g .

,

con s ulted was o f o pin io n that se ri ou s opp os iti on t o he r wi she s

,

wo uld in al l p robabi lity p roduce ano th e r an d perh ap s a fatal

, ,

fi t o f ill ne s s ; an d M rs Clements u n de r thi s advice yie lded

.
, ,

to n ece ssity an d o nce more with sa d forebodings o f trouble

, ,

a n d dange r to come allowed Ann e C a th eri c k to h ave he r o wn

,

way .

O n the j ou rn ey from London to H ampshire M rs , .

Clements discove re d that o n e o f thei r fellow pas sen ge rs was -

well acqu ai nted with th e n eigh bourhood o f B lackwate r an d ,

could give he r all th e i nfo rm a tion sh e n eede d on the s u bj ec t

o f localitie s I n thi s way sh e fou n d o u t that the o nly plac e
.
,

they could go to which was n ot dange rously n ear to S i r

Pe rciv al s re sidence was a large vi llage calle d S an don T h e
’
, , .

distan ce he re fro m B lac kwate r Park was be twee n thre e an d

, ,

fou r mi les — a nd that distance an d back again Ann e h ad , ,

walked o n each o ccasi on whe n sh e had appeare d in th e

,

n eighbou rhoo d o f the lake .

Fo r th e few days du rin g wh ich they we re at S ando n

,

with out being di scove red th ey had live d a little way fro m ,

th e vi llage i n the c ottage o f a dece n t wid ow woman wh o

,
-
,

h ad a be droom t o l et an d wh ose d isc re et s ile n ce M rs ,

.

Cle ments had done he r best to secu re fo r th e fi rs t wee k at ,

least S he had als o trie d hard to i nduc e An n e t o b e co nte n t

.

with writi n g to Lady Glyd e in th e fi rs t i n stance B u t th e

, .

failu re o f the warni ng co ntai n ed in th e an o nymou s lette r s en t

t o Lim m eridge h ad mad e An n e resolut e to speak thi s time ,

a n d o bstinate in th e d ete rminati o n to go o n he r erran d

al on e .

M rs C le me nts n everthe l ess followe d h e r p rivate l y on

.
, ,

e ach occasi on wh en she wen t to th e lake — without h oweve r , ,

v e n turing n ear e nough to the boat -h ous e to b e wi tnes s o f

what too k plac e the r e When An n e retu rn ed fo r th e last
.

tim e from the dange rou s neighbourhood th e fati gu e o f ,

wal ki ng day after day distance s which we re far to o great

, ,

fo r h er stren gth added to th e exh au sti n g e ff ect o f th e agita

,

t io n from wh ich sh e h ad s u ffered produced th e res u l t whi ch ,

4 3 1
 T H E W O M AN I N W H IT E

fi
M rs C lemen ts had d readed al l alon g
. The o ld pai n ove r th e .
-

h eart a nd th e othe r symptom s of th e i lln e ss at G rims by re

tu r n ed ; an d Ann e was confi ne d to her b ed i n the cottage .

I n thi s eme rge ncy the fi rst n ece ssi ty as M rs Clemen ts

, , .

kn ew by expe rience was to e ndeavou r to quie t An n e s anxiety

,
‘ ’

o f m in d an d for thi s purpose th e g ood woman went h e r

, ,

self th e n ext day to th e lake t o t ry if sh e c ould n d Lady ,

Glyde (wh o would be su re a s Ann e said t o tak e he r daily , ,

wal k t o the boat h ou se ) an d prevai l o n h er t o come back

-
,

p rivately to th e cottage n ear S andon O n reachin g th e o u t .

s ki rts o f th e plantation M rs Clements e n coun te red n ot , .

,

Lady Glyde b ut a tall s tout e lde rly gentleman with a boo k

, , ,

i n hi s han d — in othe r wo rds Cou nt Fosc o , .

The Cou nt afte r l ookin g at he r ve ry atte ntively fo r a

,

m oment asked if she expe cted t o see any o n e in that place ;

,

an d added before she could re ply that he was waitin g the re

, ,

with a m essage from Lady Glyde but that he was n ot qui te ,

certai n whethe r th e pe rs on the n before hi m an swere d the

descripti on of th e pe r so n with whom h e was de sired to c o m
m u nic a te .

Up o n thi s M rs Clemen ts at o n ce confide d he r e rran d to

, .

him a nd e n treated that he would help to allay Anne s anxiety

,
’

by t ru sting hi s m es sage to h e r Th e C oun t m ost readily an d .

ki ndly c o mplie d wi th h e r request The me ssage h e sai d .

, ,

was a ve ry imp ortan t o n e Lady G lyde e nt re ate d An n e a nd .

h e r good frie n d t o retu rn im mediately to Lon don a s sh e fel t ,

certai n that S i r Pe rcival would dis cove r th em if they re maine d ,

any l o n ge r in the neigh bourh ood o f B lackwater S h e wa s .

h erself goi ng to Lo n don i n a sh o rt ti m e an d i f M rs C leme nts .

a n d Ann e woul d go there fi rst a n d wou ld le t he r kn ow what ,

thei r addre s s was they should hear from he r an d see he r in

, ,

a fortn igh t o r le s s The Cou n t added that h e had already

.
,

attem pte d t o give a friendly w a rnin g t o An n e herself but ,

that sh e had bee n to o much startle d by seein g that he was a

strange r t o le t hi m app roach an d sp ea k to he r
“

.
,

To t hi s M rs Clements replied i n the greate st a larm an d

, .
,

distress that sh e aske d n othin g bette r than to take An n e

,

safely t o Lon don ; bu t that the re was n o p resen t h ope o f

removing he r from th e dange rou s n eigh bourh ood as sh e lay ,

i ll in he r bed at th at m ome nt T h e Cou n t i nqu i red i f M rs . .

Clements had sent fo r m edical advi ce an d hearing that sh e

h ad hithert o hesitated to d o so from th e fe ar o f makin g their ,

position publicly known i n the village info rme d he r that h e ,

was hi mself a medi cal man an d tha t h e would go back with ,

her if sh e p leased an d se e what c o uld b e done fo r Ann e

, .
 T H E WO M AN I N W H IT E
that sh e came fro m Lady G lyde wh o was the n at a n hote l ,

i n London an d wh o wi she d to see M rs Cleme nts fo r th e

,
.

pu rp os e o f arranging a future i nte rview with Anne M rs . .

Clements exp re ssed he r wi lli ngn es s (An n e bei n g p re se nt at

the time and e ntreating h e r to d o s o ) to forward the obj ect in
vi ew especially as she was n ot requi red to be away fro m the
,

h ou se fo r m ore than half a n hou r at the mo st S he and the .

elde rly lady (clearly M adame Fosco ) th en left i n the c a b .

The lady stopped the c a b afte r i t had d rive n som e distan ce

, ,

a t a shop before they got t o th e h otel ; an d begged M rs

, .

Clements to wait fo r he r fo r a few m inutes While she made a ,

pu rchas e that had bee n fo rgotte n S he n eve r appeared again . .

Afte r waitin g som e time M rs Clement s b ecame alarmed , .

,

an d o rde red th e cabman t o d rive back to h e r l odgi n gs .

When sh e got the re afte r an absence o f rathe r mo re than

,

h alf a n h ou r An ne was gon e, .

The only info rmatio n to be obtain ed from th e people o f

the h ou se was de rived from the servant wh o waited o n th e
,

l odge rs . S he had ope ned the d oo r to a boy from the st reet ,

who had left a lette r fo r the young woman w h o lived o n the

second fl oo r (the part o f the h ou se which M rs Cleme n ts
’
.

occupied ) The s e rvan t h ad delive red th e lette r ; had th e n

.

go ne d own stai rs and five minutes afte rwards had observed

-
, ,

Anne ope n the fro nt doo r a nd go o u t d re ssed i n he r bon ne t

, ,

an d shawl S he had probably take n the lette r with he r ; fo r

.

i t was not to be fou nd a nd i t was the refore i mposs ible to tel l

,

what i nducement had bee n o ff e red to make he r leave th e

h ou se . I t must have bee n a strong o n e for sh e wou ld n eve r -

s ti r o u t alone i n Londo n o f he r o w n acco rd I f M rs . .

C le ments had not known thi s by expe rience n othi ng wo uld ,

h ave i nduced he r to go away in the c a b eve n fo r so sh ort a ,

tim e as half a n h ou r on ly .

As soon as sh e could collect he r thoughts th e fi rst idea ,

that natu rally occu rred to M rs Clements was to go a nd .

,

mak e i nqu i ri es at th e Asylum to wh ich sh e d readed that ,

An ne had be en taken back .

S he wen t the re th e next day— having bee n informed o f

th e locality in wh ich the h o use was situate d by An ne he rself .

The an swe r sh e received (he r applicatio n h aving i n all p roba ,

b ili ty been made a day o r two befo re th e false An ne Cathe

,

ri ck had really bee n con signed to safe keepi ng in th e Asylu m )

was that n o such pe rson had bee n b rought back the re
, She .

had the n writte n to M rs C a th eric k at W elm in gh a m to kn ow

.
, ,

i f sh e had see n o r heard anything o f he r daughte r ; and had

receive d an an swe r i n the n egati v e Afte r that repl y had .

4 16
 . T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E

reached he r she was at the end o f he r res ou rce s and pe rfectl y

, ,

i gno ran t whe re else to i nqui re o r what e lse to do F ro m , .

that time to this sh e had remained in t otal i gno rance o f th e

,
’
cau se o f An ne s di sappearance and o f th e e nd o f Ann e s ,
’

s to ry .

T H U S far th e i nformatio n wh ich I h a d re ce ived from M rs

, .

C le me nts — though i t e stabli shed facts o f whic h I h ad n o t

previou sly bee n aware was o f a p reli minary characte r o nly -
.

I t was clear that th e se rie s o f deceptio n s which had removed

Anne C a th eric k t o Londo n a n d separated h e r fro m M rs .

Cleme nts had b ee n accomplished solely by Coun t Fosco an d

,

the Co untes s and th e que stion whethe r any part of the conduc t
o f husband o r wife had bee n o f a kin d t o place ei the r o f the m

withi n reach o f the law might be well wo rthy o f futu re c on ,

sideration B ut th e pu rpo se I had n ow in vie w le d m e in

.

‘
anothe r di rectio n than t his T he i mmediate object o f my .

vi sit t o M rs Cle me nts was to make som e app roach at least

.

to th e discove ry o f S i r Pe rcival s secre t ; a n d sh e had said ’

n othing as yet wh ich advanced m e o n my way t o th at im

, ,

portant e nd I felt th e nece ssity o f t rying to awake n he r

.

recollectio n s o f othe r time s person s and eve nts than thos e , , ,

o n which h e r memo ry had hithe rto b ee n employe d ; and ,

wh en I n ext sp oke I spo ke with that o bj ect i ndi rectly in

,

V 1 ew .

I wish I cou ld be of a ny help t o you in thi s sa d calamity ,

’

I said Al l I c a n d o i s to fee l heartily fo r you r d i stre ss

. If .

An n e had bee n you r o w n child M rs Cle ments you cou ld ,

.
,

have sh own he r n o t rue r ki ndnes s you cou ld h ave made n o -

read ie r sacrifice s fo r he r sake .

’

The re s n o great merit in that S i r sa 1 d M rs Cle men ts

’
, ,
’
.
,
‘
simply The poo r thin g was as goo d as my o w n ch ild t o
.

me . I nu rsed he r from a baby si r ; b ringin g h e r u p by ,

hand — and a hard j ob i t w a s to rear her I t wouldn t go t o .

’

’
my heart s o to l ose he r if I hadn t made he r fi rst sho rtclothe s , ,

and taught he r to walk I always said sh e was sen t to c o n .

sol e m e fo r n eve r having chick o r chi ld o f my o w n An d .

n ow sh e s lost the old ti me s keep coming back to my m ind ;

’
,

and eve n at my age I can t he lp c ryi ng about he r— I can t

, ,
’ ’

’
i ndeed sir ! ,

I w a ited a little t o give M rs C lement s time to compose .

h erse lf Was the light that I had bee n looking fo r so long

.
,

glimme ring o n m e — far o ff as yet— in the goo d woman s ,

’

re col le cti o n s of An ne s early life ’

4 1
7
 T HE WO M AN IN W H ITE

D id yo u kno w M rs C a th erick before An n e wa s bo rn I .

as ked .

N ot very lon g sir— n ot above fou r mo nth s We saw a ,

.

great deal of each othe r in that time but w e were n eve r ve ry ,

’
fri endly togethe r .

H e r voice was steadie r as sh e made that reply Pai nful .

as m any o f h e r re collection s might be I obse rved that i t was , ,

u nconsciou sly a re lief to he r min d to reve rt to the dimly see n

,
-

t rouble s o f the past afte r dwelling s o l ong o n the vivi d ,

s orrows o f the p resent .

Were y o u and M rs C a th eric k n eighbours I i nquired .

,

leadin g h e r m em ory o n as e ncouragingly as I could ,

.

Ye s si r— neighb ours at O ld W elm ingh a m

,
.
’

O ld W elm in gh a m There are two p lace s o f that n ame ,

then in H ampshire
,

Well si r the re used to be i n th ose days — bette r than thre e

, ,

and twenty years ago They built a n ew town ab out two mile s
- .

o ff ,
convenien t t o th e rive r— a nd O ld W elm ingh a m which ,

was n eve r much m ore than a village got i n time to be deserte d , .

The n ew town i s the p lace they call W elm ingh a m n ow— b ut ,

the old parish church i s th e pari sh church sti ll I t stan d s by .

itself with the h ou ses pu lled d own or gone to rui n all round
, ,

it. I ve lived t o se e sad change s

’
I t was a pleasant pretty .
,
’
p lace in my ti me .

D id yo u live there before yo ur marri age M rs Cleme nts , .

N o sir— I m a N orfol k woman

,
I t wasn t th e place my
’
.
’

h u sban d b elonged t o eithe r H e was fro m G rim sby as I , .

,

told y o u an d h e served hi s app re nticeship th ere B ut havin g .

frie nds down south a nd hearing o f a n O pe ning he got i nto , ,

b us in es s at S outhampton I t was in a small way b ut h e m ade .

,

en ough fo r a plai n m an to retire o n a nd settled at O ld Wel ,

m ingh a m I we nt there with him whe n h e married me We

.
, .

were n either o f u s youn g ; b ut we live d very h appy togethe r

— happier th an o u r neighbou r M r C a th eric k lived alon g with ,
.
,

hi s wife whe n they came to O ld W elm ingh a m a ye ar or two

, ,
’
afterwards .

Was your h usband acquai nted wi th the m before that

With C a th eric k sir— n ot w i th hi s wife S he was a , .

stranger t o b oth o f us S ome gentleman h ad mad e i ntere st .

fo r C a th eric k and he got the situation o f clerk at W elm ing

ham church which wa s the reason o f hi s coming t o settle i n
,

o u r neighbourh ood H e brought hi s n ewly marri ed wife alo n g

. -

with him ; and we heard in course o f ti me sh e had been , ,

’
lady s maid in a family that lived at V a rn ec k H all n ear ,

S o u thampto n C a th erick had foun d it a hard matter to ge t her

.

4 18
 T H E WO MAN IN W H ITE
‘Y es sir Anne was born i n th e J un e m onth o f eightee n
.
,

h undred and twenty seve n — and I think he came at the e nd o f -

’
Ap ril o r th e begi nning o f May
,
.

Cam e as a stran ge r t o all of y o u A strange r to M rs .

C a th eric k as well as to th e re st o f th e n eighbou rs

,

S o we thought at fi rs t si r B ut whe n the scandal b roke , .

o u t n obody believe d they we re strangers

,
I remembe r h ow .

i t happened as we ll as if i t was yeste rday C a th eric k came

,
.

i nto o u r garde n o n e night a n d woke u s by th rowi ng u p a ,

h andful o f grave l from th e walk at ou r window I heard , .

him beg my husband fo r th e Lord s sake to com e down and ,

’

speak to hi m They were a lon g ti me togeth er talkin g i n the

.

porch When my h usban d came back u p stai rs he was al l

.
-
,

o f a tre mble H e sa t d own o n the side o f the bed and h e

.
,

says to me Li zzi e I always told yo u that woman was a bad

,

o n e ; I always said sh e would e n d ill — and I m afraid i n my

’

o w n mind that th e en d h as com e already C a th eric k has

, .

fou n d a lot o f lace h andkerchiefs a n d two fi n e rings and a , ,

’
n ew gol d watch a n d chai n hid away in hi s wife s drawe r ,

thin gs that n ob ody but a born lady ought eve r to have — an d

’
h is wife won t say how sh e came by th em D oe s h e thin k .

s h e stole the m ? says I N o says he stealin g would .

, ,

b e bad e nough B ut it s wors e than that — she s had n o chan ce

.
’ ’

O f stealing s uch thi ngs a s th ose and she s n ot a woman to take ,

’

the m if sh e h ad They re gifts Lizzi e the re s he r own i n itials

.
’
,
’

e ngrave d i nside th e watch — an d C a th eric k h as seen he r talkin g ,

p rivately an d carrying o n as n o m arri e d woman sh ou ld with

, ,

that gentleman in mourning— S i r Pe rc ival Glyde D on t yo u .

’

sa anythi ng about i t— I v e quiete d C a th eric k fo r to n ight ’

-

’
y .

I ve told hi m t o keep h i s tongue to hi m self a n d hi s eye s an d ,

hi s e ars O p en an d to wai t a day o r two till h e c a n b e quite

, ,
” “
ce rtai n I beli eve yo u are both o f you wrong
. says I , .

’
I t s n ot i n n atu re comfortabl e and respe ctab le as sh e i s here
, ,

that M rs C a th eric k sho ul d take u p w ith a chance strange r

.

”
li ke S i r Pe rcival Glyde Ay bu t i s h e a strange r to h er ? .
,

says my hu sb and You forget h o w C a th eric k s wife came

.
’

t o marry h im S he we nt to hi m o f h er own accord afte r

.
,

s ayin g N o over and over agai n whe n h e as ked h e r T he re

, , .

h ave bee n wicked wome n before h e r time Li z z ie wh o have , , ,

u sed hon es t me n who love d the m as a me an s o f saving thei r

characters — and I m s orely afrai d thi s M rs C a th eric k is a s ’
.

”
w icked as the wo rst O f them We shall see says my husband
-
.
, ,
”
we shall s oon se e And only two davs afte rwards w e did .
,

see .
’

M rs Clements waited fo r a m oment before sh e went o n

.
, .

4 20
 TH E WO M AN I N W H I T E
E v e n in that moment I began to doubt wh ethe r the clue that ,

I th ought I had fou nd was really leading me to the ce ntral

mystery o f the labyri nth afte r all Was thi s comm on to o , .
,

common story of a man s treachery an d a woman s frai lty

,
’ ’

the key to a secret which had bee n the life lon g terro r o f S i r
Pe rcival Glyde .

‘
Well sir C a th eric k took my husband s advice an d
, ,
’
,
’ ‘
waited M rs Clements conti nu ed
, . And as I told you h e .
, ,
’
hadn t lon g to wait O n the secon d day h e foun d h is wife .
,

and S i r Pe rcival whispering together quite fami liar clos e ,

u nde r th e ve stry o f the chu rch I su ppose they thought th e .

neighbou rhood o f th e vestry was the last place in the world

where anybody wou ld thin k O f lookin g afte r the m — but ,

h oweve r that may be the re they were S i r Pe rcival bein g , .

,

seemingly surp ri se d and confounded defen de d hi mself in such ,

a gui lty way that p oor C a th eric k (wh ose quick tem pe r I h ave
told yo u o f already ) fell into a kind of fren z y at his o w n
d isgrace an d stru ck S i r Pe rcival
, H e was n o match (an d I .

am sorry to say i t ) fo r the man wh o had wronged hi m — and

h e w a s beate n in the c ruelest man ne r before th e n eighbou rs ,

who had come to the place o n hearing th e distu rbance cou ld ,

run i n t o part them Al l thi s happene d towards eveni ng a nd

.

befo re n ightfall when my hu sban d we nt to C a th eric k s hou se

,
’
,

he w a s go ne n obody kn ew whe re N o livin g sou l i n th e

'

.
,

village eve r sa w him agai n H e kn ew to o well by that .

,

time what hi s wife s vi le reason had been fo r marrying hi m

,
’

and h e fe lt hi s m isery an d disgrace — e specially afte r what had

happen ed to h im with S i r Percival — too keen ly The clergy .

m a n o f the parish put an adve rti seme nt in the pape r beggin g ,

hi m t o co me back an d sayin g that h e sh ou ld n ot lo se hi s

,

situation o r his frie nds B ut C a th eric k had to o much p ride .

and spirit as some people said — too much feelin g as I thin k

, , ,

si r — to face hi s n eighbours again an d try to live d own th e ,

m emory O f h is disgrace My husban d heard fro m him whe n .

,

he had left E ngland an d heard a second time whe n h e was ,

settled a n d do ing well i n Ame ri ca H e i s alive the re n ow

'

.
, , ,

as far as I kn ow ; bu t n on e o f u s in the O ld country — hi s

wicked wife least o f all— are eve r l ikely to set eye s o n hi m
agam .
’

‘ ‘
What became o f S i r P ercival ? I inq u ired D id h e ’
.

stay i n the neighbourh ood

‘
N ot h e sir Th e place was too hot to h old hi m
, . He .

was h eard at high wo rds with M rs C a th eric k the same .

,

n ight when the scandal broke o ut a nd th e ne x t morn ing h e -

’
took himself o ff .

4 21
 T H E W O MAN I N W H ITE
An d M rs C a th eric k .S urely sh e n eve r remai ned in the
v illage am ong the pe ople wh o knew o f he r di sgrace
,

S he did sir S h e w a s hard e n ough an d h eartle s s e nough

, .

t o set th e opi nion s o f all he r n eighbou rs at flat defian ce She .

declare d to everybody from the clergyman downwards that , ,

sh e was the victi m o f a dreadful mi stake an d that all th e ,

scan dal m on gers in th e place sh ould n o t drive h er o u t o f it as

-

i f she was a gu ilty woman All th rough my ti me sh e lived .

,

at O ld W elm ingh a m a nd afte r my ti me whe n th e n ew , ,

town was building an d the re spectable neighbou rs began ,

moving to it sh e m oved too a s i f she w a s determ ine d t o live

, ,

amon g them and scandali se them t o the very last The re sh e .

i s n ow and the re sh e will stop in defiance o f the be st o f them

, , ,

to he r dying day .
’

But h ow has sh e lived through al l these years I asked , .

Was he r hu sban d able an d wi llin g to h elp he r

B oth able an d wi llin g sir sai d M rs Cleme nt s I n the , ,
’
. .

s econd letter h e wrote to my good man h e said sh e had ,

b orn e hi s n ame an d lived in hi s home a n d wic ke d a s sh e

, , ,

was sh e mu st n o t starve like a beggar i n th e street

, He .

c ould a ff ord to make he r some s mall allowan ce an d sh e ,

m ight d raw fo r i t quarte rly at a place in London , .

’

‘
D id sh e accept th e allowan ce ? ’

N ot a farthin g of i t si r S he said sh e would n eve r b e , .

beholde n to C a th eric k for bit o r drop i f sh e lived to be a hun ,

d red An d she has kept he r word eve r sin ce Whe n my poo r

. .

dear hu sban d died an d left all t o me C a th eric k s lette r was

, ,
’

put in my p osses sion wi th the othe r things— and I told he r to

“
let me kn ow i f sh e was eve r in want I ll let all En glan d .
’

” “
kn ow I m in wan t she said
’
before I tell C a th eric k o r a ny
, , ,

friend of C a th eric k s Take that for your an swe r— a nd give ’

.

”
i t to h i m fo r an an swe r if h e eve r write s again .

D o yo u suppose that sh e had money O f he r own

Very little i f any si r I t was said an d said truly I am
, , .
, ,

afraid that he r means of livin g came privately fro m S i r

,

Percival Glyde .
’

After that last reply I waited a littl e to re con side r wh a t I , ,

had heard I f I u nre se rv edly accepted the sto ry s o far i t was

. _
,

n ow plain that n o approach direct o r i ndirect to the S ecret , ,

had yet bee n revealed to me and that the pu rsuit o f my obj ect ,

had en ded again i n leavi ng m e face t o face with the m ost

p alpable a nd th e m ost di sheartenin g failure .

B ut there was o ne poin t in th e narrative which made

m e do u bt the p rop riety o f accepting i t u nre se rv edly an d ,

4 22
 fi
H E WO M AN IN i VHlT E

so me in conceivable e rro r H ad S i r Pe rcival by any chance , ,

cou rted th e suspi ci on th at was wron g fo r th e sake of d ive rt ,

i ng from him self some othe r su spici on that was right H e re ,

i f I could nd i t — he re was th e app roach t o the S ecre t h idden ,

d ee p u nder the surfac e o f th e apparen tly unp romi si ng s to ry

w hich I had j ust heard .

My next que stion s we re n ow di rected to th e o n e obj ect of

asce rtain in g whethe r M r C a th eric k had o r had n ot arrived
.
, ,

t ruly at th e convi ction t is wife s misco nduct Th e answe rs ’

.

I re ce ived from M rs Clemen ts left me i n n o d oubt whateve r

.
,

0 11 that poin t M rs C a th eric k h ad o n th e cleare st e viden ce

. .
, ,

compromi sed he r reputation while a single woman wi th s ome , ,

person u n known a n d had marri ed to save he r characte r I t .

fi
h ad bee n p ositively asce rtai ned by calcu lation s o f tim e a n d ,

place i nto which I n eed n ot e nte r particularly that th e ,

daughte r wh o b ore he r husban d s name was n ot he r hu sband s ’ ’

child.

The n ext o bj ect of i n quiry wh e the r i t was equally ce rtai n

,

that S i r Pe rcival must have bee n th e fathe r of An ne was ,

be set by fa r greater di f c ultie s I w a s i n n o po siti on t o t ry .

the p robabi litie s o n o n e side o r o n the othe r in thi s i n stance , ,

by a ny better te st than th e te st of pe rsonal resemblance .

‘
I s uppos e yo u often sa w S i r Percival wh e n h e wa s i n ,

y ou r village I said .

Ye s sir— very O ften replie d M rs Clemen ts

, ,
’
. .

D i d you eve r O bse rve that An n e was li ke h i m

S h e was n ot at all li ke him si r , .
’

W a s sh e like he r m othe r then 9 ,

N ot like he r m othe r eithe r si r M rs C a th erick was

, , . .

dark and full in th e face

, .
’

N ot li ke he r mother a n d n ot like h e r (supposed ) fathe r

, .

I knew that th e te s t by pe rso nal resemblan ce w a s n ot to b e

—
i mplici tly tru sted but o n the othe r han d i t was n ot to be
, ,

altogethe r rej ecte d o n that accoun t Was i t p ossible t o .

stre n gthe n th e evide nce by discove ri ng any conclusive facts

,

i n relati on t o the l ive s of M rs C a th eric k and S i r Percival .

,

b efore they ei th er o f th em appeared at O ld W elm in gh a m

When I asked my n ext question s I p ut th em wi th thi s view , .

Whe n S i r Percival first arrived i n you r n eighbourh ood

-

,
’

I said did yo u hear wh e re h e h ad com e from last

,
‘
N o sir S om e said from B lackwate r Park an d some
, .
,

said fro m S cotland — bu t n obody knew .

’

‘
Was M rs C a th eric k l ivi ng i n service at V a rnec k H all ,
.

i mmedi ately before her marri age

2
4 4
 T H E WO M AN IN W H IT E ‘

sir
’
Y es , .

And had she bee n lon g in he r place

‘
Th re e o r fou r y ears si r I am n o t u ite ce rtai n which 1 1 .
’

D id you eve r hear th e n ame of the gen tle man to whom

V a rn ec k H all be longed at that time
‘
Ye s si r H is n ame w a s M aj or D o nth o rne
,
. .
’

D id M r C a th eric k o r did any o n e e lse yo u kn ew eve r

.
, ,

h ear that S ir Pe rcival was a friend o f M aj o r D o n th o rn e s o r ’

,

eve r see S i r Pe rcival in the n eighbou rhood o f V a rn ec k H all

C a th eri c k never did si r that I c a n remembe r— n or any , ,

o n e e lse e ithe r that I know O f

, ,
.
’

I n oted down M aj or D o n th o rn e s nam e and address o n ’

,

the chance that h e migh t sti ll b e alive an d that i t might b e ,

u seful at some futu re time to apply to him

,
M eanwhile , .
,

the impre ssio n o n my min d w a s n ow deci ded ly adve rse to th e

opi nion that S ir Pe rcival was An ne s fathe r a n d deci dedly ’

favou rable to the conclusi on that the se cret of hi s stole n i nte r

views with M rs C a th eric k was e nti rely u ncon nected with th e
.

disgrace wh ich th e woman had i nflicte d o n he r hu sban d s ’

good name I could thi n k of n o fu rthe r i n qui rie s wh ich I

.

m ight make to strengthe n thi s imp re s sio n — I cou ld on ly

e ncou rage M rs Cleme nts to speak n ext O f Ann e s early days
.
’
,

a n d watch fo r any chan ce sugge stio n which might 1 n thi s wa y

o ff e r itself to me .

‘ ‘
I have n ot h eard yet I said h ow th e poo r ch ild bo rn ,
’

, ,

in all thi s sin and mi se ry came t o be t ru ste d M rs Clement s , , .

,
’
to you r care .

‘
The re was n obody else sir t o take th e l ittle helple s s , ,

c reatu re in hand replied M rs Cle me nts The wicked

,
’
. .

m othe r see med to hate it— as if the poo r baby was in fau lt
—fro m the day it was bo rn My h eart was he avy for the chi ld .

an d I made th e o ff e r to bring it u p as ten de rly as if i t was my

o wn
’
.

‘
Di d An ne re mai n en ti rely u nde r you r care from that ,

time
‘
N ot quite entire ly si r M rs C a th erick h ad he r whi ms , . .

and fancie s abou t i t at ti me s an d u se d n o w a nd then to lay ,

clai m to the child as if sh e wanted to spite me fo r b ringin g i t

,

up .B u t the se fits o f he rs n eve r laste d fo r lon g Poor littl e .

Anne was always retu rned to me and was always glad to ge t ,

bac k — though she le d but a gloomy life in my h ou se havin g ,

n o playmates li ke other child ren to brighte n he r u p

.
, Our , .

lon gest separation was whe n her mothe r t oo k he r to Lim

m eridge J u st at that time I lost my hu sband ; an d I felt i t
.
,

wa s a s w ell , i n that mi s erable a ffliction , that An ne should no t

4 5
2
 T H E W O M AN I N W H I T E

be in the hou se S he was betwee n te n and eleve n years O ld

.
,

the n ; slow at he r le ssons poor sou l and n ot so chee rful as , ,

othe r childre n — but as pretty a little gi rl t o look at as you

would wish to see I waited at hom e ti ll he r mother b rought
.

he r back ; an d then I made the o ff e r t o take he r with m e to

London — the truth bein g sir that I c ou ld n ot find i t in my , ,

heart to stop at O ld W elm in gh a m afte r my hu sband s death ,

’

th e place was so changed an d so dismal to m e .

’

And did M rs C a th eric k con se n t t o you r p roposal

.

N o si r S he came back from the n orth harde r an d

, .
,

b itterer than eve r Folks did say that sh e had bee n obliged
.

to a sk S i r Pe rcival s leave t o go t o begin wi th a n d that sh e

’
,

only went to nu rs e he r dyi ng siste r at L im m eridge because

the p oo r woman was repo rte d to have saved mon ey— the
truth being that sh e hardly left e nou gh t o bu ry h e r The se
’

things may h ave s ou re d M rs C a th eric k likely e nough — but .

, ,

h oweve r that may be she wou ld n t hear of my taking th e ,

’

child away S he seeme d to like d i st res sing u s both by part

.

i ng u s
. All I cou ld d o was to give Anne my di rection and ,

t o te ll he r private ly if sh e was eve r i n t rouble t o c ome to

, , ,

me . B ut years passed befo re sh e was fre e to come I n eve r .

saw he r again poo r soul till th e night sh e e s cape d fro m th e

, ,

madhou se .
’

‘
You kn ow M rs C leme nts why S i r Pe rcival Glyde shut
, .
,

h er u p
I only kn ow what Ann e he rself told me si r T h e poo r , .

thing u sed to ramble a n d wande r about it sadly S he said , .

he r m other had got some secre t o f S i r Percival s t o keep an d ’

,

had let it ou t to he r lon g afte r I left H amp shi re — an d whe n

,

S ir Pe rcival foun d sh e knew i t he sh ut he r u p B ut sh e , .

neve r could say what i t was wh en I asked her All sh e , .

could tell m e was that h e r moth er might be the rui n and

destructio n o f S i r Pe rcival i f she ch ose M rs C a th eric k may
, . .

have let o u t j ust a s mu ch as that an d 11 0 m ore I m next t o , .

’

certai n I sh ould have h eard the wh ole truth from Ann e if sh e ,

had really known i t as sh e p retended to do — an d as she ve ry

,

likely fan ci ed she did poo r soul , .

’

Thi s idea had m ore than on ce o ccu rre d t o my o w n mind .

I had already told M arian that I doubte d wh ethe r Lau ra was

really o n the point O f maki ng any impo rtan t di scove ry whe n
she an d An ne C a th eric k we re di stu rbed by C ou n t Fosco at
the boat h ouse-
I t was pe rfectly in characte r with Ann e s
.
’

mental a ffl iction th at she should assume an absolute kn o w

ledge o f the S ec ret o n n o bette r groun ds than vagu e suspicion ,

d eri v ed from h ints wh ich he r mothe r had i n cautiously let d rop

26
4
 TH E WO M AN I N W H ITE
D ead said M rs Cleme n ts ; d ead so youn g — a nd I .

a m le ft to h ear i t ! I mad e he r fi rst short frocks I taugh t .

h e r t o walk The fi rst tim e sh e eve r said Mothe r sh e said

.
, ,

i t to m e— an d n ow I am left an d Ann e i s take n ! D id you

, , ,

fi
say si r sai d the poo r woman removin g th e han d ke rchief
, ,
’
,

from he r face an d l ookin g u p at m e fo r th e fi rst time

,
di d
yo u say th at she had bee n n icely buried Was it th e so rt of
fune ral sh e might have b a d if she had really been my o w n ,

child
I a ssu red her that it w a s S h e seeme d to take an in ex .

p licable p rid e in my an swe r — to nd a co mfo rt in i t which n o ,

‘
o the r a n d hi ghe r co nsi de ration s could a ff ord I t woul d .

‘
h ave b roke n my h eart sh e said simply if Ann e had n ot ,
’
, ,

been n icely bu ri e d — bu t h ow d o you know it si r ? wh o told , ,

you I o nce mo re e ntreated h er to wai t u n til I c ould spe ak

to h e r u nre se rvedly You are su re to see m e again I said ;
.
,
’

‘
fo r I have a favour to ask when you are a littl e mo re co m ,
’
p o se d — perhap s i n a day o r two .

‘D on t kee p i t wai tin g

’
si r on my accou nt said M rs , , ,
’
.

‘
Cleme nts N eve r mi nd my c ryi ng i f I can be of u se I f
.
, .

o u have anythin g o n you r min d to sa y to m e s ir— please to

y ,

i t no w
’
sa
y .

’
I only wi sh to a sk you on e last que stion I said I on ly , .

want to know M rs C a th eric k s addre s s at W el m in gh a m .

’
.
’

My reque st so startled M rs Clemen ts that fo r th e .

, ,

mome nt eve n th e tidings of Ann e s de ath seeme d to be d rive n

,
’

from he r mi nd H e r tears suddenly cease d t o fl o w and sh e

.
,

sat l ookin g at me in blan k ama z eme nt .

F o r the Lord s sake sir she said wh at d o y ou w ant

’

, ,

with M rs C a th eric k .

I want this M rs Cleme nts I replie d I wan t to kn ow

, .
,
’

fi
t he secre t of those p rivate meetings O f he rs with S i r Pe rcival
Gl yd e The re is s omethin g more i n what you have told me
.
,
’
o f that woman s past conduct a n d o f that m an s past relati on s
’

with he r than you o r any o f you r neighb ou rs eve r su spected

, , , .

There i s a S ec ret we n one O f u s know of be twee n th ose two

—an d I am goin g to M rs C a th eric k with the re solution to .
,

n d it o u t
’
.

‘
Thin k twice about i t sir ! sai d M rs Clements risin g ,
’
.
, ,

i n he r ea rne stnes s a n d layi ng h e r hand o n my arm S he s ’

, .

a n awful woman — you don t kn ow he r as I do Thin k twice ’

.

ab ou t i t .
’

I am su re you r warn in g i s kindly meant M rs Cle ments , . .

B u t I am det ermined to se e the woman whate v er come s ,

of it
’
.

4 28
 T H E WO M AN I N W H ITE
M rs Clemen ts looke d m e anxi ou sly in th e face
.
.

’
I see you r m in d i s made up si r sh e said I wi ll give , ,
.

y o u th e addre ss .

I w ro te i t down i n my pocket book ; an d th en took h er -

h and to say farewell

,
.

You sh all hear fro m me s oon I said ; yo u shall kn ow , ,

’

’
all th a t I have p rom ise d to te ll y o u .

M rs Clemen ts sighed a n d sh oo k he r h ead dou btfully

.
,
.

A11 O ld wo man s advice i s sometime s wo rth takin g si r

’ ’
, ,

she said Thi n k twice before you go to W elm ingh a m

. .
’

VIII .

W H E N I reache d h ome again afte r my intervi ew with M rs , .

Clemen ts I was struck by the appe arance o f a change i n

,

Lau ra .

Th e unva ryin g gen tlenes s an d patience which l on g mis

fortun e had trie d s o cruelly an d had n eve r con qu e red yet ,

seemed n ow t o h ave sudde nly fai led he r I nsen sible t o all .

M ari an s attempts to soothe a nd amus e he r sh e sa t with he r

’
, ,

neglecte d d rawing pushed away o n the table he r eye s

re solutely cast down he r finge rs twin in g and u ntwi nin g ,

themselves restlessly in he r lap M arian rose wh e n I came in .

,

wi th a sile n t distre ss in he r face ; waited fo r a m omen t to ,

see if Lau ra would loo k u p at my app roach ; whispe red to

me Try if y ou c a n rou se he r a n d left th e room
, .

I sat down in the vacan t chai r ; ge ntly un clasped the poo r ,

rn restles s finge rs ; and too k both he r hands i n m ine

, .

What are yo u thinkin g of Lau ra Tell me my darling , ,

— try a n d tell me what i t is .
’

S he struggled with herse lf and raised he r eye s to mi ne ,

.

I can t fee l happy sh e said

’
I ean t help thin kin g
,
’
She ’

s topped ben t forward a li ttle and laid he r head 0 11 my

, ,

sh oulde r with a te rribl e mute helplessnes s that struck me to

,

the heart .

Try to tell me I repeated gently t ry to tel l me why

,
’
,

y o u are n o t happy .
’

I am so u sele ss — I am such a b urden o n both o f you sh e ,

’

an swe red wi th a we ary hopeless sigh, You work a nd ge t , .

money Walte r ; and M arian helps you Why i s the re n othing

, .

I c a n do Y o u wi ll e nd in li king Marian bette r than you like

m e — yo u will becau se I am so helple ss ! O h do n t don t
, , ,
"
,
’
d on t treat me like a child
I raised h e r head and smoothed away the tan gled hai r ,

that fell over he r face and kissed he r— m y poo r faded fl ower , ,

4 29
 , fi
my l ost a f ic ted siste r !
T H E WO MAN I N W H ITE
Y o u shall help u s Lau ra
‘you sh al l begin my darling t o day
,
I said

S he loo ke d at m e with a feve rish eage rn e ss with a breath

le ss i nte res t that made me tre mble fo r the n ew life of hope
,
‘

,
- .
’
,

,
,
’

which I h ad called into bei ng by thos e few wo rds .

I rose a n d set he r drawin g materials in orde r and placed

, ,

the m near he r again .

’
Y o u know that I work and get m on ey by d rawin g I said , .

N o w you have take n such pain s n ow you are s o much im ,

proved you shall begi n t o work a nd get mon ey to o

,
Try to ,
.

finish this little sketch as n icely and prettily as you can .

When i t i s d one I will take i t away with m e and t 1 e same

,

person will b uy i t wh o buys all th a t I do You shall kee p you r .

o w n earn ings i n you r o w n pu rse ; a n d Marian shall c ome to you

to help u s as O ften as sh e come s to me

, Thin k how u seful .

you are goi ng to make yourself to both of u s and you will ,

’
soon be as happy Lau ra as th e day i s long , ,
.

H e r face grew eage r an d brightened into a smile I n th e

, .

m o men t while i t lasted in the m oment wh en sh e agai n took

,

u p the pencils that had bee n laid aside she almost looke d li ke ,

the Lau ra o f past days .

I had rightly i nte rp reted th e fi rst sign s o f a n ew growth

a nd strength in he r mi nd u ncon sciou sly expressin g them ,

selve s in the n otice sh e h ad take n o f the occu pati ons which

filled he r s iste r s l ife an d mine
’
M arian (when I told he r what .

h ad passed ) saw as I saw that sh e was l on ging t o assume

, ,

he r o w n little position o f importan ce t o rai se he rself in he r ,

own e sti mation an d in ou rs — and from that day we tende rly , ,

helped th e new ambiti on which gave promis e O f the h opeful ,

happie r f utu re that might n ow n ot be far O ff H e r drawings

, .
,

as sh e finishe d them or t ried to fi ni sh them were placed in

, ,

my hand s ; M arian took the m from me an d hi d them carefully ,

a rid I set aside a li ttle wee kly t ri bute from my earn ings to be ,

o ff ered to he r as the price paid by stran ge rs fo r the poor ,

faint value le ss sketches o f wh ich I was the only pu rchase r

, ,
.

I t was hard som etime s to maintain o u r i n n oce nt de ception ,

w he n sh e p roudly b rought out he r purse to contribute her

share toward s the e x pen se s and won dered with se riou s , ,

i ntere st whethe r I o r she h ad earn ed th e mo st t hat wee k

, .

I have all t hose hidden drawi ngs i n m y po ssession sti ll they .

are my treasu re s beyon d p rice — th e dear reme mbran ce s th a t I

love to keep alive — th e frie nds i n past adve rsity that my , ,

heart will n eve r part from my tende rnes s n eve r forget ,

.

Am I trifling here wi th the n ece ssiti e s o f my task ? am I

, ,

l ooking fo rward t o the happi e r time which my narr a tive

4 30
 T H E WO M AN I N W H IT E
th en be di rectly threate ned — a nd h e wil l act Walter to terrible , ,

purpose in hi s o w n defen ce
,
.
’

We may dep rive him of hi s weapon s befo rehand I said , ,

’
.

‘
S ome o f th e p a rtic ula rs I have heard from M rs Cle ments .

may yet b e tu rne d to accou n t agai n st him ; an d othe r m ean s

O f strengtheni ng th e case may be at o u r di sposal The re are .

passage s i n M rs M ichelson s n arrative which sh ow that th e

.
’

Cou nt fou n d it neces sary t o place hi mself in commu nicati on

with M r Fairlie ; and there may be ci rcu mstances which c o m
.

promi se him in that proceeding While I am away Marian .

, ,

wri te to M r Fairlie a nd say that you want a n an swer desc rib

.
,

i n g exactly what p assed betwee n the Coun t an d himself and ,

i nforming yo u als o o f any particu lars that may have c ome to

h is knowledge at th e same tim e i n con nexio n wi th hi s n iece , .

Tell him that the statement you re qu est will soo ne r o r later , ,

b e i nsisted o n if h e shows any re luctance t o furnish you with

,

i t of hi s o w n acco rd .
’

The lette r shall be writte n Walte r B ut are yo u really ,

.

d ete rmined to go to W elm ingh a m

Absolutely dete rmined I wi ll devote the n ext two days .

to earn ing what we want fo r the wee k t o come an d o n the ,

thi rd day I go to H ampshi re

, .
’

Whe n the thi rd day came I was re ady for m y j ourn ey ,

.

As it was p ossi ble that I might b e absen t fo r s ome little

time I arranged with M arian that we we re to co rresp ond every
,

d ay of cou rse addre ssing each othe r by assumed n ames fo r ,

’
cautio n s sake As long as I h eard from her regularly I should
.
,

assume that n oth ing was wrong B ut i f the m ornin g cam e .

an d b rought me n o letter my retu rn to London would take ,

p lace a s a matte r o f cou rse by the fi rs t t rai n

, I contrived to ,
.

recon cile Lau ra to my departu re by tellin g h er th at I was

goi ng to the cou ntry to fi n d n ew pu rchase rs for he r d rawin gs
an d fo r mi ne ; and I left he r o ccu pied and happy Marian .

followed m e down stai rs to the stree t doo r - .

Rememb e r what anxiou s hearts you leave sh e

whi spe red as we stood togethe r in th e passage ; remembe r
,

all the hope s that h ang o n you r s afe ret u rn I f strange things .

happe n to yo u 0 11 thi s j ourn ey ; if you an d S ir Percival meet

What m akes you thi n k we sh all meet I as ked .

I don t know— I ha ve fears a n d fa ci es that I c a t acco u t

’
n n
’
n

fo r
. Laugh at tl1 e1n VV a lter if you like — but fo r God s sake
, ,
, ,
’

k ee p you r tempe r i f you come i n con tact w ith that m a n

,
’
N eve r fear M ari an I an swe r fo r my sel f contr o l
,
- .

With those words we parted .

4 32
 fi
T HE WO MA N I N W H I T E

I walke d bri skly to the statio n T he re was a glow o f h o pe .

i n me there was a gro win g co nvictio n in my mi n d th at my

j ou rn ey thi s time would n ot be take n i n va i n
, , I t was a n e .
,

clear c old in o rn in g my n e rves we re fi rmly strung and I fel t

, ,

all the stren gth o f my re so lutio n stirrin g i n me vi go rou sly fro m

h ead to foot .

As I c ro ssed the railway platfo rm an d l ooke d right an d ,

l eft amon g th e people con gregated o n i t to search fo r a ny ,

face s amon g them that I knew th e d oubt o ccu rred t o m e ,

w hethe r i t might n ot h ave bee n t o my advantage i f [ had

adopted a d isguise before setting o u t fo r H amp shi re
, B ut .

the re was somethi ng s o repellent t o m e in th e ide a— s om ethi n g

so m eanly like th e com m on he rd of spi e s an d i nfo rme rs in th e

mere act o f adoptin g a di sgu ise — that I dismissed the que stio n
fro m con si de rati on almost a s so on as i t had ri sen i n my mi nd
, .

Even a s a mere m atte r o f expedie n cy the p roceedi n g was d oubt

fu l i n the extreme I f I trie d th e expe ri me nt at h ome th e land
.
,

lord of th e h ou se would soo ne r o r late r discove r m e and woul d

, , ,

h ave h is suspici on s arou se d i mmediately I f I t ri ed i t away .

fro m home the same pe rson s might see me by the co mmon est
, ,

accident w ith the disgui se an d wi thou t i t ; an d I should i n

, ,

that way b e i nviti ng the n oti ce a n d di stru st wh ich it w a s my

,

m ost p re ssin g i nte rest to avoid I n my o w n characte r I had

.

acted thu s far— a nd i n my o w n characte r I was res olve d to

c onti nue to th e e n d .

The trai n left me at W el m ingh a m e arly i n the afte rn oon ,

.

I s the re a ny wi lde rn ess of sand i n th e de se rts o f Arab ia i s ,

the re any prospect o f des olati on am on g the ruin s of Palestin e ,

which c a n rival th e repellin g effec t o n the eye an d th e d e ,

p re ssin g i nflue nce o n the mi nd of a n En gli sh country t own

, ,

i n th e fi rst stage o f its exi stence a n d i n the t ra nsitio n state o f

,

i ts p rospe rity I aske d myself that que stion as I passe d ,

through the clean des olati on the n eat uglin es s the p ri m to r

, ,

p o r o f the streets o f W elm ingh a m And the t rades me n wh o .

stared afte r me from thei r lonely shops the t ree s that dro op e d
h el ples s in the i r ari d exile of u nfinished cres cen ts a n d square s
the dead h ouse carcase s that waite d i n vai n fo r th e vivifyin g
-

h u man elemen t to animate the m wi th the breath o f life eve ry

creature that I saw ; eve ry obj ect that I passe d — se eme d t o
an swe r wi th o n e acco rd Th e de se rts o f Arabi a are i n n oce n t
o f o u r civilise d de solation the rui ns o f Pale sti n e are i ncapable
o f o u r m ode rn gloom

I i nqui re d my way to the quarte r o f th e town in which M rs .

C a th eric k live d an d 0 11 reachin g it fou n d myself in a squ are

A
1 33
F F
 T H E W O M AN I N W H I T E
O f small house s s to ry high The re was a ba e li ttle p l ot
, o ne .
r

o f grass in th e m iddle p rotecte d by a ch eap wi re fe nce An ,

.

e lde rly nu rse mai d an d two ch ildren w ere standing in a co rn e r

O f the e nclosu re l ooki ng at a lean goat tethere d to the grass
,
.

Two foot pass en ge rs we re talki ng together o n o ne side of th e

-

paveme nt before th e h ou se s an d a n idle little b oy was leadin g ,

a n idle l ittle dog al o n g by a stri ng o n th e other I h eard th e , .

dull tinklin g o f a pian o at a distance accompanie d by the in ,

term itten t kn ockin g o f a hamme r n eare r at han d These we re .

all th e sights an d s ou nd s of life that e ncou nte red me when I

e nte re d th e square .

I walke d at on ce t o th e do o r of N u mber Thirte en — the

nu mbe r O f M rs C a th eric k s h ou s e — an d kn ocked withou t
.
’
,

waiting to co n side r beforehan d how I m igh t be st p resent myse lf

whe n I got i n Th e first n ece ssity was to see M rs C a th eric k
. . .

I could the n j udge from my o wn obse rvatio n o f th e safest

, ,

an d easie s t man ne r of approachin g th e O bj ect o f my vi sit .

Th e d oo r was opened by a m elan ch oly middle aged woman -

se rvan t I gave he r my card a n d as ked if I cou ld se e

.
,

M rs C a th eric k The card w a s take n i nto the fron t parlou r ;

. .

an d th e se rvant retu rned w i th a message requ e sti n g m e t o

m entio n what my bu sin es s was .

S ay if you p lease that my busi ne s s relate s t o M rs C ath e

, , .

’
rick s daughte r I replied Thi s was the be st p retext I co u ld
,
’
.

th in k o f o n th e spu r of th e mome nt to accoun t fo r my visit

, ,
.

The servant agai n reti red to the parl ou r agai n retu rn e d ;

an d thi s time begged me with a loo k o f gloomy amaz eme nt
, , , ,

t o wal k in .

I e nte re d a little ro om with a fl arin g pape r o f the largest , ,

p atte rn o n the walls

, Chai rs table s c h effo n ier and sofa all
.
, , , ,

gleamed with the glutin ou s b rightne s s of cheap u ph olste ry .

O n the largest table in the middle of th e room stoo d a smart , ,

B i ble placed e xactly in th e c entre o n a re d a n d yellow

, ,

woolle n mat ; an d at th e side of th e tab le n earest t o th e

wi ndow with a little kni ttin g bas ket o n h e r lap an d a -

fi
, ,

wheezi ng blear eye d o ld spanie l crouch ed at he r feet the re

,
-
,

sat a n elderly wo man w earin g a blac k ne t c a p and a blac k ,

si l k gown a nd havin g slate colou re d m itten s o n h e r h an ds

,
- .

H e r i ron gray hai r hun g i n heavy bands o n eithe r si de O f h e r

-

face ; he r dark eye s looke d straight forward with a hard , ,

defiant i mplacable stare

, S he h ad ful l square cheeks a lon g .
,

rm chin ; an d thick sen sual c olou rle s s lips H e r figu re

, , .

was sto u t an d stu rdy an d he r man ne r aggre ssively self ,

n

p osse s sed T hi s was M rs C a th eric k

. . .

Y o u h a v e co m e to speak to me abo u t m y daughte r sh e ,

’

4 34
 fi
“

T H E WO M A N I N W H I T E

I h esita ted The right an swe r to that qu est io n was no t

.

easy to n d at a m omen t s n otice ,

’
.

‘
I f you have no othe r motive sh e we nt o n deli be rately ,
’
,

takin g o ff he r slate colou red m itte n s an d rollin g them u p I

-
, ,

h ave on ly t o than k you fo r you r vi sit ; a nd t o sa y that I wi l l

n ot detai n you h ere any l on ger You r i nformati on would .

be m ore sati sfactory i f you we re wi llin g t o explai n h ow you

became p ossessed of i t H oweve r i t j ustifie s me I supp ose .
, , ,

i n goi n g i nto m ou rn in g Th ere is n ot much alte ratio n n ec es .

sary i n my dre ss as you see Whe n I h ave ch anged m y

, .

’
mitten s I shall b e al l m black
, .

S he s ear ched l n th e pocket o f he r gown d rew o u t a pai r

o f blac k lace mitten s ; pu t the m o n with the stoniest a n d
steadiest composu re ; an d the n quietly c rossed he r hands in
h e r lap .

I wish yo u good m o rni ng sh e said b ,

’
.

The cool co ntempt o f he r man ne r i rritated me i nto di rectly

avowin g that th e pu rp ose of my vi sit had n ot bee n an swe re d
yet.

‘
I lz a ve anothe r m otive in coming h e re I said ,
’
.

Ah ! I th ought so re marke d M rs C a th eric k ,

’
. .

You r daughte r s death ’

What did sh e die o f ?

O f di sease o f the heart .
’

‘
Yes Go on . .
’

‘
You r daughte r s death has bee n made th e prete x t fo r ’

i nflicti ng se riou s inj ury o n a pe rson who i s ve ry d ear t o '

m e Two m en have be e n con ce rned t o my ce rtai n kn ow

.
,

ledge in doi n g that wrong O n e o f th em i s S i r Pe rcival

, .

Glyde .
’

‘ ’
I ndeed !
I loo ked attentively to see i f sh e fl in c h ed at th e su dde n
me ntion of that name N ot a mu scle o f he r sti rre d — the hard .
,

defiant implacable stare i n he r eye s n eve r wave red for a n

,

i n stant .

‘
Y o u may wonde r I we nt o n h o w the eve n t of you r ,
’
,
’
daughter s death c a n have bee n made the mean s o f i n flictin g
i nju ry on anothe r pe rson .
’

N o sai d M rs C a th eric k ; I don t wo nde r at all Thi s

,
’
.
’
.

appears to b e you r a ff ai r You are inte re sted i n my a ff ai rs . .

I am n ot i nte re sted i n you rs .

‘ ‘
Y o u may ask then I pe rsi sted why I m ention th e
, ,
’
,

matte r in you r p re se nce

, .

Ye s : I do ask that .
’

‘
I mentio n it beca u se I am dete rmi ne d to bri ng S ir
4 36
 TH E W O MAN I N W H I T E
P ercival G lyde to accoun t for the wickedn es s h e has co m
m itted
’
.

What have I to d o with you r dete rmi natio n

’
You shal l hear The re are ce rtai n eve nts i n S i r Pe rcival s
.

past life which i t is n ecessary to my pu rpose t o be fully

acquainte d with You know the m — and fo r that reason I
.
,

come to y ou .
’

What even ts do you mean

‘
Eve nts that occu rre d at O ld W elm ingh a m wh e n you r ,

h u sban d was pari sh cle rk at that p lace an d before th e ti m e

-
,

whe n you r daugh te r was b o rn .

’

I had reache d the woman at last th rough the barrie r O f ,

i mpe netrable rese rv e that sh e had t ried to set u p betwee n u s .

I s a w he r te mpe r s moulde ri ng i n he r eye s — as plainly as I

s a w he r hands grow re stle ss th e n u nclasp the mse lve s an d, ,

b egi n mechanically smo othin g he r dre s s ove r h e r knee s .

What d o yo u know O f tho se events sh e aske d .

‘
All that M rs Cleme nts cou ld tell me I answe red
.
,
’
.

T he re was a m omentary flu sh o n he r fi rm square face a , ,

m omentary sti llnes s in he r restles s han ds which se e med to ,

betoke n a com i ng outbu rst o f ange r that might th row he r O ff

h e r guard B ut n o — sh e mas te re d th e ri sin g i rritati on ;
.
,

l eaned bac k i n he r chai r ; c ro sse d h e r arm s o n he r b road

bosom an d with a s mile o f gri m sarcas m o n he r thick lip s
, ,

l ooke d at m e as steadily as eve r .

‘ ’
Ah ! I begi n t o u n de rstand i t all n ow sh e sai d ; h e r , ,

tamed and di sci pline d ange r o n ly exp re ssin g itself in th e

e labo rate m ocke ry o f he r to ne an d m an ne r Y o u have go t .

a grudge o f you r o w n agai nst S i r Pe rcival G lyde — a n d I mu s t

h elp you to wreak it I mu st tell you this that a n d th e o the r
.
, ,

about S i r Pe rcival an d mys elf mu st I Y es i ndeed You

, ,

h ave bee n p ryin g i n to my p rivate a ff ai rs You thin k you .

have foun d a lost woman t o deal wi t h wh o live s he re o n ,

su ff e rance ; an d wh o will d o anything yo u ask fo r fear you ,

m a y inju re he r i n the O pini on s o f the town speople I see .

t h rough yo u an d you r preciou s speculatio n — I do ! a n d i t

’
amu se s me H a ! ha !
.

S he stopped fo r a m omen t : h e r arm s tigh tened ove r he r

bo som an d sh e laughed to he rself a hard harsh angry
,
-
, ,

laugh .

‘
Y o u don t know h ow I h ave lived in thi s p l ace a n d
’

what I have don e in thi s place M r What s you r—n ame sh e

,
’ ’
.
-
, ,

we nt o n I ll tell yo u befo re I ring th e bell a n d have you

.
’

sh own o u t I came he re a wron ge d woman

. I came h e re .

robbe d of my ch arac te r an d dete rmin e d to c lai m i t bac k I ve .

’

4 37
 T H E WO MAN I N W H I T E
bee n years and y ear s ab o u t it— an d I h a ve c l aime d i t back
'

I have matche d the re spectable peopl e fai rly a nd op en ly O 11 ,

thei r o wn gro und I f t hey sa y anythin g again st me n ow

'

.
, ,

they must sa y i t in s ecret : they c a n t sa y it they daren t

‘ ’
,
’

say it O p enly I stan d high e n ough i n thi s t own to b e o u t

, .

o f you r reach T b e c l ergy m a n bows to m e Ah a you di dn t

’
. .

bargai n for that when you cam e he re G o to th e chu rch , .

,

and i n qui re about me you wi ll find M rs C a th eric k h a s h e r .

sittin g li ke th e rest o f t h em a n d pays th e ren t o n the day i t s

’
, ,
’
du e . G o t o th e town h a ll The re s a petition lyin g there ; - .

a petition O f th e respectable i nh abitants against allowing a

Ci rcu s to come an d pe rform h e re an d corrupt o u r m orals
ye s ! O ! R m orals I signed that petiti on thi s m orni n g G o
. .

t o th e b ookselle r s sh op T h e cle rgyman s Wedn esday eve n

’
.
’

in g Lectu re s o n Justification by Faith are p ublishi ng the re by

s ubscripti on — I m down on th e lis t T he d octor s wife only
’
.
’

put a shi lling in th e plate at o u r l ast ch arity s ermo n —I p ut

half a c rown M r Chu rchwarde n S oward h eld th e p late
. .
,

and b owed to m e T en years ago h e told P igru m th e .

,
’
chemist I ought t o b e whipped out o f th e town at th e cart s
, ,

tail. I s you r m oth er alive ? H as sh e got a bette r Bi ble o n

h e r table than I h av e got o n mi ne ? D oe s sh e stand bette r
with he r tradespe ople than I d o with m ine Ha s sh e always
live d withi n he r in come I h a v e always lived wi thi n mi ne .

Ah the re i s th e cle rgyman comi ng along th e s qu are Lo ok .

,

M r What s you r nam e— l ook if yo u please

.
’
- -
,

S h e s tarte d up wi th the activity O f a youn g wo man ; ,

wen t to the wi n d o w waited til l th e cler gyman pas sed an d

b owed to hi m sole mnly The c lergyman cerem oni ously rai sed .

h i s h at an d walke d o n M rs C a th eric k returne d to h er

, . .

chai r and looke d at m e with a grimmer sarcasm than eve r

, .

‘
Th ere ! sh e sai d
— ‘ ’
What do you thin k o f th at fo r a .

woman with a lo st ch aracter ? H ow doe s your speculation

l ook n o w ? ’

The singular m an ne r in whi ch sh e h a d ch o sen to assert

'

he rself th e extrao rdinary p racti cal vi ndi cation o f he r p os iti on

,

in the town which sh e had j ust o ffered had so perplexe d m e , ,

that I li ste ned to h e r i n sile nt su rpri se I was n ot the l ess .

re solved h owever to make an othe r e ffort to th row her o ff

, ,

her guard I f the woman s fierce tempe r once got beyon d

.
’

h e r control and on ce fl ame d o ut o n me sh e might yet say

, ,

the wo rd s wh ich would pu t th e clu e in my hands .

H ow doe s you r specu lation loo k n ow ? sh e repeated .

Exactly as i t l ooke d wh en I fi rst came in I an swe red ,

’
.

‘ ’
I d on t do u bt the p ositi o n yo u h a v e gain ed in th e town ;
4 38
 T H E WO MAN I N W H I T E
‘I advi s e yo u n o t to be to o sure o f that I rej oi ned ’ ‘I
, .

know some things abou t hi m — an d I s uspect many m ore .

’

What d o yo u susp ect

’ ’
I l l tell you wh at I don t suspe ct
’
I don t suspect him o f .

’ ’
being An ne s fathe r .

S he started to he r feet an d came close up to me wi th a ,

l ook o f fury .

H o w dare yo u talk t o me about Ann e s fathe r ! H ow

’

’
d are you say wh o was her fathe r o r who wasn t sh e broke ,

o u t he r face quiverin g he r voi ce tre mblin g with passion

, , .

The secret between you a nd S i r Pe rcival i s n ot th a t

secret I persisted
,
’
The mystery which darken s S i r
.

’
Percival s life was n o t born wi th you r d aughter s birth an d
’
,
’ ’
has n ot died with your daughte r s death .

S he drew back a step Go sh e said an d pointed .

,

stern ly to the door .

‘
T he re was n o th ought o f the child in your heart o r in
his I wen t o n determined to press he r back to he r las t
,
’
,
‘
defence s T here was n o bond O f guilty love between you
.

an d him whe n you held tho se stolen meeti n gs when you r

,
-

h usban d foun d yo u whispe ring togethe r u nde r the vestry O f

’
th e chu rch .

H e r p oi ntin g hand in stantly d ropped to h er side an d the ,

deep fl ush o f anger faded from her face whil e I spoke I saw .

th e change pass ove r he r ; I saw that hard fi rm fearless , , ,

self posse ssed woman quai l unde r a terror which he r utmos t

-

resoluti on was n o t strong en ough to re sist— whe n I said

those last five words th e vestry o f th e chu rch , .
’

F o r a min ute o r more we stood l ookin g at each other in

, ,

silen ce I spoke fi rst

. .

D o yo u st ill refuse to tru st me I asked .

S h e could n o t cal l th e colou r that had left i t back to he r

face — but she had steadied he r voi ce sh e had recovered th e ,

defiant self p os sessi on o f he r manne r when she an swe red me

-
.

‘
I do refuse she said ,
’
.

D o yo u sti ll tell me to go
Ye s G O — a n d n eve r come back
. .
’

I w alked to th e door waited a mome n t before I opened i t, ,

an d tu rne d rou n d to loo k at h e r a gai n .

I m ay have n ews t o b ring you o f S i r P e rcival which yo u

’ ’
d on t expect I said and in that case I sh all com e back
, , .
’

T he re i s n o n ews o f S i r Percival that I d on t expect ’

,
except
S he stopped he r p ale face darke ned ; and sh e stole ba c k ,
th a q uiet , st ea lth y, c a t li ke step to h er ch ai r -
.

4 0
4
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E
‘Except the n ews o f hi s death she said sittin g down ’
, ,

again with the m ocke ry of a smile j u st h ove rin g o n he r c rue l

,

lips a n d th e fu rtive light of hatred lu rkin g deep in he r steady

,

e y es .

As I ope n ed the door O f th e roo m t o go o u t sh e l ooke d ,

rou nd at me qui ckly The crue l s mile sl owly wide n ed he r .

li ps — sh e eyed me with a stran ge stealthy i nte re st from head , ,

t o foot — a n u nutte rable expe ctati on showed i tself wi ckedly

all ove r he r face Was sh e s pe cu latin g in th e sec recy o f he r
.
,

o w n h eart o n my youth an d stren gth o n the force O f my

, ,

s ense of inj u ry an d th e li mits o f my self control an d was sh e -

con side ring the lengths to wh ich they m ight carry m e if S i r ,

Pe rcival a n d I ever chance d t o meet ? The bare doubt that

i t might b e s o d rove me from h e r p rese n ce an d sile nce d eve n
, ,

the c omm on fo rm s of farewell o n my lip s Wi th ou t a wo rd .

more o n my side o r o n he rs I left th e room

, ,
.

As I O pe ned th e oute r do o r I saw the same cle rgyman ,

wh o had already passed the h ou se o nce ab ou t t o pass i t ,

again o n h is w a y back through the squ are

,
I waited o n the .

door step to let hi m go by an d l ooked roun d a s I di d s o at

-
, , ,

the parlou r wi ndow

M rs C a th eric k had heard h is footstep s app roach in g in
.
,

the si lence o f that lonely place ; a nd sh e was o n he r feet at

th e wi ndow again waitin g fo r him N o t all th e stren gth o f
,
.

all th e te rri ble pas si on s I had rou sed i n that woman s heart ’
,

c ould l oos e n he r de spe rate hold o n the on e fragme nt of s oci a l

con side rati on wh ich years o f res olute e ff ort had j ust d ragge d
withi n he r grasp The re sh e was a gain n ot a mi nu te afte r I
.
,

had left he r placed pu rposely i n a p os itio n which m ad e i t a

,

matte r o f c omm on courtesy o n the part o f th e cle rgym an t o

bow to he r fo r a secon d time H e rai sed hi s hat once m ore .
,
.

I saw the hard ghastly face behind th e wi ndow s often an d , ,

l ight u p with gratifie d p rid e ; I sa w the head with th e gri m

blac k cap ben d ce rem on i ou sly in return The cle rgyman had .

b owed to he r — a nd in my prese nce — twice in on e day

I L E F T the h ouse feelin g that M rs C a th eric k had helped m e

, .

a ste p fo rward in spi te o f he rself B efore I h ad re ache d th e

, .

turn in g which le d o u t o f the square my atte ntio n was su d ,

den ly arou sed by the s ou nd o f a closin g doo r behi nd me .

I looked rou nd a nd s aw a n u nde rsize d man in black o n

, ,

the d oor ste p o f a h ouse which a s well as I cou ld j udge

-
, , ,

stood n e x t t o M rs C a th eric k s place o f ab ode — nex t to it o n

’
.
,

44 1
 T HE WO M AN I N W H IT E

the side neares t to me T he man di d n ot hesitate a momen t

.

ab ou t the di rectio n h e sh ould take H e advance d rapidly .

toward s the tu rnin g at which I had stopped I recogni sed .

hi m as th e lawye r s cle rk wh o had p rece ded me in my visi t t o

’

B l ackwate r Park an d wh o h ad t ried to pi ck a qu arrel with

,

me whe n I asked him if I could se e th e h ouse

,
.

I waite d whe re I w a s to asce rtain whethe r hi s O bj ect was

,

t o com e t o close quarte rs an d speak o n thi s occasi on To , .

my su rp ri se he passe d o n rapidly withou t sayi ng a word

, , ,

with out even lo okin g u p i n my face as h e went by Thi s was .

such a c omplete inve rsion o f th e course o f p roceedin g which

I had every reason t o expe ct o n hi s part that my cu ri osity , ,

o r rather my su spici on was arou sed a n d I dete rmin ed o n

, , ,

my side t o keep hi m cauti ou sly in view a n d to di scove r what

, ,

the bu sin es s might b e o n which h e was n ow employed .

Wi th out carin g whe the r he sa w m e o r n ot I walked afte r ,

him . H e n eve r l ooke d back an d h e led me straight th rough

the s treets t o th e railway stati on .

The trai n was o n the poi nt o f starti n g an d two o r th ree ,

p assenge rs wh o we re l ate we re clu ste rin g roun d th e small

ope ning th rough wh ich the tickets we re issued I j oine d .

’
them a n d di sti nctly he ard the lawye r s cle rk dem an d a ticke t
,

fo r th e B lackwate r stati on I sati sfied myself th at h e had .

actually left by the trai n before I came away , .

Th ere was o nly on e i nterp retati on that I could place o n what

I had just see n a n d heard I had u nque sti onably obse rve d
.

th e m a n leavin g a hou se w hich closely adj oin ed M rs .

’
C a th eric k s reside nce H e had bee n probably place d the re
.
,

by S i r Pe rcival s di rection s as a l odger i n anticipation O f my

’
, ,

i nqui rie s leadin g me so one r o r later t o commu nicate with

, ,

M rs C a th eric k
. H e had doub tles s see n m e go in and come
.

o u t ; a n d h e h ad hu rrie d away by the firs t t rai n to make h i s

repo rt at B lac kwate r Park — to which place S i r Pe rcival would
n aturally b etake hims elf (kn owin g what h e evidently kn ew
of my moveme nts ) i n orde r t o b e ready o n th e spot if I
, ,

retu rn ed to H ampshi re B e fore many days we re ove r

.
,

the re seeme d eve ry likelih ood n ow that he an d I might , ,

meet .

Whateve r re sult events migh t b e destin ed to p roduce I ,

re solved to pu rsue my o w n course strai ght t o th e en d in view , ,

with ou t stoppin g o r tu rnin g aside for S i r Pe rcival o r fo r any ,

o ne . The gre at resp on sibility wh ich weighe d o n m e h ea v ily i n

—
Londo n the respon si bility o f so guiding my slighte st acti on s
as to p revent them from leadi ng acciden tally t o th e discove ry
o f L a u ra s place o f refu ge — was rem ove d n ow that I was i n
’

44 2
 TH E WO M AN I N W H I T E
b ee n more th an th e m e re witnes s of it— she was a l s o the
accomplice beyon d a doubt ,
.

What had been the n ature o f the c rime ? S u rely the re

was a conte mptible side to i t as well as a dange rou s side ,
—o r M rs C a th eric k wou ld n ot h ave repeate d my o w n
.

words refe rri n g to S i r Pe rcival s ran k a n d powe r wi th such

,
’
,

m arked di sdai n as sh e h ad ce rtai nly displayed I t was a .

c ontemptible c ri me then an d a dange rou s cri me ; an d she

, ,

h ad share d i n it an d i t was associate d with the ve stry o f th e

,

chu rch .

T he n ext c on siderati on to b e di sposed o f led m e a step

farthe r fro m thi s p oin t .

M rs C a th eric k s u ndi sguise d contempt fo r S i r Pe rcival

.
’

plai nly exten de d to hi s m othe r a s well S he had refe rre d .

,

with the bi tte rest sarcasm to th e great family h e had ,

desce nde d from e sp eci ally by the m othe r s side What ’

.
’

di d th i s mean T he re appe ared to be on ly two explan ati on s

of it . E ithe r hi s m othe r s bi rth had bee n lo w ? o r h i s ’

’
m oth er s re pu tati on was damage d by some hidde n flaw with
which M rs C a th eric k an d S i r Pe rcival we re both privately
.

acquai nted ? I c ould on ly pu t th e fi rst explanati on to th e

test by l ook in g at th e registe r o f her marriage an d so a sc er ,

tain ing he r maide n n ame an d he r p aren tage as a p relimin ary ,

to furthe r i nqu irie s .

O n th e othe r hand i f the second case supposed were th e

,

tru e o ne what had bee n th e flaw in h e r reputation ?

,

Re membering the acc ou nt which M arian h ad give n m e O f

S i r Pe rcival s fathe r an d mothe r a nd o f th e suspi ciou sly
’

u n social seclude d life they had both led I n o w aske d myself , ,

w heth e r it mi ght n ot be p ossible that h is m othe r had n eve r

b ee n m arri e d at al l H ere agai n th e registe r might by
.
, , ,

O fferin g written e vi den ce o f the marriage prove to me at , ,

a ny rate that thi s d oubt h ad n o foundati on i n truth

, B ut .

whe re was the registe r to be foun d ? At thi s p oint I to ok ,

u p th e c on cl usion s which I had p reviou sly formed ; and the

s ame me ntal p roce ss whi ch had di scove red the locality O f th e
c o ncealed c ri me n o w l odge d th e registe r also
, i n th e v e stry , ,

o f O ld W elm ingh a m chu rch .

T he se we re the re sults o f my i nte rview wi th M rs Cath e .

ri ck — thes e we re the vari ou s con si de rati on s a ll ste adily ,

c on v ergin g to o n e p oi nt which decide d th e c ou rse o f my

,

p roceedings o n the n ext day .

T he mo rni n g was cloudy and l owe ri ng but n o rai n fell ,

.

I left my bag at th e h otel to wai t the re ti ll I cal l ed for it ;

,

444
 T H E WO M A N I N WH IT E
a nd, a fte r in quiri n g th e way set forth o n foo t fo r O ld W el ,
d

m in gh a m church .

I t was a wal k o f rather m o re than two mile s the grou n d ,

ri si ng slowly all th e way .

O n the h ighe st poi nt sto od th e ch u r c h — a n ancien t

b ,

weathe r bea ten buildin g with heavy buttre s se s at its side s

-
, ,

and a cl umsy s qu are towe r in fro nt The ve stry at the back .

, ,

w a s built ou t from the chu rch a n d see me d to be o f the sam e ,

a ge . Roun d th e bui ldin g at in te rvals appeare d th e remai n s , ,

of th e vi llage whi ch M rs Cleme nts had de scri bed to m e a s .

he r husban d s place o f abode in fo rme r ye a rs a nd which th e

’

p ri n cipal i nhabi tant s had l on g sin ce de se rted fo r th e n ew

town S ome o f th e empty hou se s h ad bee n dismantled t o
.

thei r oute r wall s so me had bee n left t o decay with time an d

some we re still i nhabited by pe rson s evide ntly o f the po ore st
class .I t was a d reary scen e — and ye t i n th e wo rst aspec t ,

o f its ru in n ot so dreary as the modern town that I had j us t

,

left H e re the re was the brown bree z y sweep o f su rrou nd

.
, ,

ing field s fo r the eye t o repo se o n he re the tree s leafle s s as ,

they we re still vari ed the m on otony o f the prospect a nd

, ,

helped the mi n d t o l ook forward to sum me r time a n d shade - .

As I m oved away from th e bac k o f th e chu rch an d passe d ,

fi
s ome o f the dis mantle d cottage s in search of a pe rs on wh o
might direct m e t o the cle rk I saw two m en saunte r o ut ,

afte r m e from behi nd a wall The talle st o f the two — a

, .

stou t muscular m a n in the d re s s o f a game keepe r— was a

stran ge r to m e The othe r was o ne o f the m en wh o had
.

followed me in Lon don o n th e day w h e n I left M r Kyrle s , .

’

of ce I had take n particular n oti ce o f h i m at th e ti me an d

.

I fe lt su re that I was n ot m istake n in ide ntifyin g th e fellow

o n thi s occasi on .

N eithe r he n or his c ompani o n attem pte d to speak to m e ,

a nd b oth kept themselves at a respectful di stance — b u t th e

'

m otive o f thei r p re se nce in the n eigh bou rh ood of the chu rch
was plai nly appare nt I t was exactly as I had suppose d
.

S i r Pe rcival w a s al ready p repare d for me My vi sit t o .

M rs C a th eric k had bee n re po rte d t o hi m the eve nin g befo re

.

a n d th os e two m en had bee n placed o n the l ook out n ear -

,

the ch urch in anticipati on o f my appearan ce at O ld

,

W elm in gh a m I f I h ad wanted any furthe r p roof that my

.

i nve stigati on s had take n th e righ t di recti on at las t the plan ,

n ow adopte d for watch ing m e would have supplied it .

I walked o n away from the chu rch till I reache d on e o f

, ,

th e i nh abited house s with a patch O f kitch e n garde n attached

,

to it o n whi ch a labou re r was at wo rk

, H e di rected me to .

44s
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E
the clerk s ab ode — a cottage at s om e little di stan ce o ff
'
, ,

standing by i tself o n the outski rts o f the fo rsake n village .

The cle rk was in do o rs an d was j us t puttin g o n h i s great

-
,

coat H e was a chee rful famil iar lo udly talkative O ld m an

.
, ,
-
,

with a ve ry po or opin i on (as I s oon d iscove red ) of the plac e

in which he l ived a nd a happy sens e o f su pe ri o rity t o hi s
,

neighbou rs in virtu e o f the great pe rsonal distincti on o f

h avin g once bee n 1 n Lon don .

’
I t 5 well yo u cam e s o e arly si r said th e o ld man whe n
’

, , ,
‘
I had men ti oned the obj ec t of my vi sit I sh ould have bee n .

away in ten m inute s m o re Parish busine ss si r— a n d a .

,

goodish l ong trot b efore i t s all d on e for a m a n at my age ’

, .

B ut bles s you I m stron g o n my legs still ! As long as a

, ,
’

m a n d on t give at hi s l egs there s a deal o f work left i n him

’ ’
.
,

D on t you thin k s o you rse lf s i r ?

’

, ,

H e took hi s keys d own while h e was tal kin g from a , ,

hook behi nd the fi rep lace and l ocke d h is cottage d oor h e ,

hind u s .

’
N ob ody at h ome t o keep h ou se fo r m e sai d th e clerk , ,

with a chee rful sen se o f pe rfect free dom from al l fami ly

‘ ’
en cumbrance s My wife s i n th e chu rchyard th e re ; an d
.
,

fi
my child ren are all marri ed A wretched place thi s isn t it .
,
’
,

s ir ? B ut the parish i s a large on e — every m a n cou ldn t ge t ’

th rough th e busines s as I d o I t s learnin g does i t ; and .

’

I ve had my share an d a little m ore

’
I ca n tal k the Quee n s
, .
’

E ngli sh (Go d bles s th e Q ueen —an d that s more than most ’

o f th e pe ople abou t he re c a n d o You re from Lon don I ’

.
,

supp ose si r ? I v e bee n i n Lon don a matte r o f v e and

,
’

,
-

twe nty year ago What s th e news the re no w i f yo u

.
’

, ,

pleas e
Chatte ri ng o n in thi s way h e le d me back to th e ve stry , .

I l ooke d abou t to se e if the two sp ie s we re still i n sight

, .

fi
They w e re n o t vi sible anywhe re Afte r h avi n g di scovere d .

my applicatio n to the cle rk th ey had p robably con cealed ,

themse lve s whe re they could watch my next p roceedin gs in

p erfect freedom .

The ve st ry doo r was o f stou t o ld oak studded wi th stron g ,

n ails an d th e cle rk put h is large heavy key into th e lock ,

with the ai r o f a man wh o kn ew th at h e h ad a di f c ulty to

en cou nte r an d wh o was n ot qui te ce rtai n o f creditably
,

conque r i ng it .
1

’
‘
I m oblige d to b 1 ing yo u this way sir h e said bec a u s , ,
’
,

the door from the ve stry to the chu rch I S b olte d on the ve stry
side We migh t have go t in th rough the chu rch othe rwi se
.
,
.

T hi s i s a pe rve rse lock if eve r there was o n e y e t I t s big , .

’

446
 T H E WO M A N I N W H I T E
’
An d why we re th ey going to London To be r epaired ?
‘
That s i t si r To be repaired ; an d where they we re
’
, .

past repai r to be copied in s ou nd wood

,
B ut bless yo u the .
, ,

money fell sh o rt a n d the re they are waitin g for new sub

~

sc rip tio ns a n d n obody to sub scribe

,
I t wa s all done a year .

ago si r S ix gentle me n dined togethe r abou t i t at the h ote l

, . ,

i n th e new town They mad e speeches and pas sed re solu

.
,

ti on s a n d put thei r name s do w n a nd printed o ff th ousand s

, ,

o f prospectuses B eautiful p rospectuse s si r all fl ou ri shed

.
, ,

fi
ove r w ith G othic devi ce s i n re d i nk sayin g i t w a s a di sgrace ,

n ot to re store th e chu rch an d repai r the fam ous carvings an d ,

so o n The re are th e p rospectuse s that couldn t b e distri

.
’
~

buted an d th e architect s plans and e stimate s an d th e whole

,
’

corre sponde n ce which set eve rybody at l ogge rheads an d

ende d in a dispute al l d own togethe r i n that corne r behin d , ,

the packing cases The m oney d ribble d in a l ittle at rs t

- .

but what c a n you e xpect o u t of London ? The re was j ust

en ough yo u kn ow t o pack the b roke n carvings an d ge t the
, , ,

estimate s a n d pay the pri nte r s bill — a nd afte r that the re

,
’

wasn t a halfpe nny left The re th e thin gs are as I said

’
.
,

b efore We have n owhe re else t o put them — n obody i n the

.

n ew town care s abou t accomm odatin g a s— we re in a lo st ’

c orn er— and thi s i s a n u ntidy vestry — an d wh o s to he lp i t ’

that s what I want to kn ow

’
.
’

My anxiety to examin e th e regi ste r cud n ot dispose m e t o

o ffe r much en couragemen t to th e o ld man s talkative n es s I ’
.

agree d with hi m that nobody c ould help the u ntidine ss of th e

vestry— an d the n sugge sted that we sh ould p roceed to ou r

fi
busine ss with out more de lay .

Ay a y the marriage registe r t o be su re said th e clerk

’
, , , , ,

taki ng a little bunch o f keys from hi s p ocke t H ow far d o .

you wan t t o look back si r ,

M arian had i nfo rme d me o f S i r Pe rcival s age at th e tim e ’

,

wh e n we had s poke n toge the r o f h is m arriage e ngage me n t

with Laura S he had the n described hi m a s bein g fo rty v e
.
-

years o ld Calculati ng back from thi s a n d makin g due

.
,

allowance for the year that had passed si n ce I h ad gain ed my

i nformati on I fou nd that he must have bee n born in eightee n
,

hu ndred an d fou r an d that I migh t safely start o n my se arch

,

th rough th e regi ste r from that date .

‘
I want to b egi n with th e year eigh teen hundred an d
fou r I said
,
’
.

‘
Which way afte r th at sir asked th e cle rk
? F orwards ,
’
.

to o u r time o r backwards away from u s

, .
’

B ackwards from eightee n h un dred an d fo u r .

’

448
 TH E WO M A N IN W H ITE
H e o p ene d the door the p re ss es — th e pres s fro m
o f o ne o f
th e side o f which th e su rplices we re hangin g — an d p roduced

fi
a large volum e boun d i n greasy b rown leathe r I was struck .

by the i n se cu rity o f th e place in wh ich th e registe r was k ep t .

T he doo r o f th e p re ss was warpe d an d c racked with age ;

a n d th e lock was o f th e s mallest a n d commone st kind I .

c ould h ave forced i t easily with the walking s tick I carrie d i n -

my h and .

I s that con side re d a su f c ien tly secu re place for the

‘
registe r ? I i nqui red S u rely a b ook o f such importance
.
,

as thi s ought to be p rotecte d by a better l ock an d ke pt care ,

ful l y m a n i ron s afe 9 .

Well n ow that s curi ous ! sai d th e cle rk shu ttin g u p

, ,
’ ’
,

the b ook again j us t afte r he h ad opene d i t an d smackin g hi s

, ,

h an d che erfully o n th e cove r Th os e we re the ve ry words .

my ol d maste r was always sayin g years and ye ars a go whe n ,

I was a lad Why isn t the regi ste r (mean i ng thi s regi ste r
.
’

fi
he re un de r my h and )
, why is n t i t kep t in a n i ro n safe ’

’
I f I ve heard hi m say th at o n ce I ve h eard him say i t a ,
’

h und re d time s H e w a s the s olici to r i n th os e days s i r wh o

.
, , ,

h ad th e appoi n tme n t of ve stry cle rk to thi s chu rch A fin e - .

hearty o ld gentle man — an d th e m ost particu lar man b re ath

in g As l ong as h e lived h e kept a copy o f this b ook in hi s
.
, ,

o f c e at K no wlesb u ry an d h ad i t p oste d u p regular fro m , ,

time t o ti me to corre sp on d with the fresh e n trie s he re You

, .

would h ardly thi nk i t but h e h ad hi s o w n appoi nte d days

, ,

on ce o r twice i n eve ry qu arte r fo r ridin g ove r t o thi s church

, ,

o n h is o ld white p ony t o ch ec k th e copy by the registe r with , ,

“ ”
hi s o w n eye s a n d hands H ow do I kn ow (he u se d to .

say ) h ow do I kn ow th at th e registe r in this ve stry may

n ot be stole n O r d es troye d ? Why i sn t it kept i n an i ro n ’

safe ? Why can t I make o the r pe ople as careful as I am

’

mys elf S om e o f thes e days the re wi ll b e a n acciden t

happe n — a n d when th e registe r s l ost the n th e parish will ’

,
”
fi nd o u t the value o f my c opy H e u se d to take hi s pinch .

o f s nu ff afte r that a n d l ook ab out h i m as b old as a l ord

, .

’
Ah the like o f hi m for doin g busi nes s is n t easy to find n ow .

Y o u may go to London a n d n ot m atch him eve n t/z ere , , .

Which year did yo u sa y si r E ightee n hu ndre d and ,

what
E ightee n hun dre d and fou r I replie d mentally re ,
’
t

s olvin g to give th e o ld man n o more opportun itie s of talkin g ,

u n til my examin ation of th e regi ste r was over .

The clerk pu t o n hi s spectacle s an d turn e d ove r th e ,

leave s o f th e regi ste r carefully wettin g h is fin ge r an d thu mb

,

44 9 G G
 T HE W O M AN I N W H I T E
’
at every third page The re i t i s si r he said wi th ano the r
.
, , ,
‘ ’
cheerful s mack o n the ope n volume There s th e year yo u .

’
wan t .

As I was i gn oran t o f th e m onth i n which S i r Pe rci val was

b orn I began my backward s earch with the early pa rt o f th e
,

year T he registe r b ook was o f th e o ld fashioned ki nd ; t h e

.
- -

en trie s bein g all m ade o n blan k pages in m a nu script and th e , ,

d ivision s which se parated the m being in dicated by i n k li n es

d rawn across th e page at th e clo se o f each e ntry , .

I reached th e beginning o f th e year eightee n hu nd re d a nd

fo u r with out e ncoun te rin g th e marriage an d the n travelled
,

b ack through D e ce mb e r eighte e n hu ndre d a nd t h ree ,

.

t hrough N ove mbe r an d O ctobe r th rough ,

N o n ot th rough S eptembe r als o Un de r th e h eading Of .

that month in the year I fou n d the m arriage , .

I l ooke d carefully at th e entry I t was at th e bottom of .

a page an d was fo r wan t of room comp ress ed i nto a

, , ,
-

’
smalle r space than that occupie d by the marriage s above .

The marri age im mediately befo re it wa s i mpre sse d 0 11 my ’

’
atte ntion by the c i rcumstance o f th e b ridegroo m s Ch ristian
n ame being the same as my o w n The entry imme diatel y .

following i t (on the top o f th e next page ) was n oticeable i n ,

an othe r way fro m the l arge space i t occupied ; th e record ;

,

i n thi s case registeri ng th e marriage s of two b rothe rs at th e

,

same time The regi ste r o f th e marriage of S i r Felix Glyde

.

was in n o re spect remarkable exce pt fo r th e n arrown es s of ,

th e space into which i t w a s comp resse d at th e b ottom o f th e

page Th e i nfo rmation ab ou t hi s wife wa s the u sual info r
.
,

mati on give n i n such cases S he was de scribed as Cecilia .

J an e E lste r o f Park View Cottage s K no wlesbu ry only

, ,

daughte r o f th e late Patrick E lste r E sq form erly o f B ath , .

, .
’

I n ote d down these parti culars in my p ocket book feelin g -

, ,

as I did s o bot h doubtful and dishearten ed about my n ext

,

p roceedi ngs T h e S ecret which I had believed u ntil thi s

.
, ,

m oment to b e withi n my grasp seemed n ow farthe r from

, ,

fi
my reach than eve r .

What su gge sti on s o f any myste ry u n explain ed had ari sen .

o u t of my visi t t o the vestry ? I saw n o suggestion s any;

whe re What p rogres s h ad I made towards dis cove ring th e
. .

su specte d stain o n the reputati on o f S i r Pe rcival s mothe r ? ’

The o n e fact I h ad ascertain ed vi ndicated he r reputation ,

.

F r es h d oubts fresh di f c ulties fresh delays began to ope n

, , ,

befo re m e in i nte rmi nable p rospect What was I to do n ext .

T he o ne i mmediate resource left to m e appeare d to b e thi s , .

I m igh t institute i n qui ries ab out M iss E lste r o f Kn owles ; ,

4 5O
 TH E WO MAN I N W H I T E
o n
p y, looki ng right an d left all down th e street a nd n oddin g ,

to everybody ! B le ss you he was a p opular ch aracte r

,

h e d ha v e don e in Lon do n
’

H ow far i s it t o K n o w lesb u ry from thi s place

A l ong stretch sir said th e cle rk with that exagge rate d
, ,
’
,

ide a o f distance s an d that vivi d pe rceptio n o f difli c u lties i n

getting from place t o place which i s pe culi ar t o all coun t ry ,

pe ople . Ni gh o n five mile I c a n tell you ,

I t was sti ll early i n th e fo re noon The re was ple nty o f .

t ime for a walk to K no wlesbu ry and back agai n t o W elm ing ,

ham and the re was n o pe rs on p robably in the town w h o was

fi tte r to assist my i nqui rie s ab out th e characte r a nd positi on
o f S i r Pe rcival s m othe r before h e r marriage than the l ocal
’
, ,

solicito r Res olvin g t o go at once to K n o wlesbu ry o n foot

.
,

I led the way o u t o f th e vestry .

‘
Than k yo u ki ndly si r s ai d th e clerk a s I sli pped my
, ,
’
,
‘
l ittle p re sen t i nto hi s hand Are you really goin g t o walk
.

all the way to K n o w lesbu ry an d back Wel l you re stron g ’

o n you r legs too — an d wh at a bl essing that i s i sn t i t ?

, ,
’

T he re s the road ; you can t miss i t I wi sh I w a s going

’ ’
.

you r way— it s pleasan t to meet with ge ntle me n from

’

Lon don i n a lost co rne r like thi s O n e hears th e n ews

,
. .

Wi sh yo u good m o rnin g si r— a n d than k you ki ndly once

,

m ore
’
.

We parted As I left th e chu rch behin d me I l ooked

.
,

back— and the re we re th e two m en agai n o n th e road ,

be low with a thi rd i n thei r company ; that thi rd pe rso n

,

bein g th e short m a n i n black w hom I had trace d t o the ,

rai lway the e v e nin g before .

T h e th re e stoo d talkin g togethe r fo r a little whi le — then

separated The m a n in blac k wen t away by him se lf t owar ds
.

W elm ingh a m ; the othe r two remain e d t ogethe r evidently ,

waiting to follow m e as soon a s I walked o n

, .

I p ro c eeded o n my way withou t letti n g the fellows see ,

that I took any speci al n otice o f the m They cau sed m e n o .

con sciou s i rri tatio n of feelin g at that m oment — o n th e c o n

tra ry they rathe r revived my sinking h opes
, I n th e surp rise .

o f discove ring the eviden ce o f the m arriage I had fo rgotte n ,

th e i nfe re nce I had drawn o n fi rst pe rceivin g th e m en i n th e

,
‘

neighbourhood o f the vestry Thei r reappearan ce reminded .

me that S ir Percival had anticipate d my vi si t t o O ld Wel

m ingh a m chu rch as th e next re sult o f my i nte rvi ew with
,

M rs C a th eric k— othe rwise he would n eve r have place d hi s

.
,

s i e s th er e to wait fo r me S moothl y an d fai rly a s appear

p .

4 52
 T H E WO M AN I N W H IT E
an ec s l ooked i n th e vestry there was somethi ng wron g
,

beneath them — the re was s ometh in g in the regist er-b ook , fo r

augh t I kn ew , that I had no t di scove r ed ye t .

O N C E ou t o f sigh t o f the chu rch I p res sed fo rward b ri s kl y o n

,

my way t o K n o wlesbu ry .

The road was for the m os t part s traigh t a nd level

, , .

Wheneve r I looked back ove r i t I saw the two s pie s steadily

, ,

followi n g me F o r th e greate r part o f the way they kept a t

.
,

a safe distance behi nd B ut once o r twi ce they quicke n ed

.
, ,

thei r pace as if with the purp ose o f ove rtaki ng me — the n

,

stopped — con sulted togeth e r— a n d fell back again t o thei r

forme r positi on They had s om e special object evi dently in
.

vi ew ; an d they seemed to be h e sitatin g o r di ff e ri ng ab ou t , ,

the bes t means o f accomplish in g i t I could n o t gue s s .

exactly what thei r de sign might b e bu t I felt seri ou s doubts

o f reachin g K n o wlesb u ry withou t s ome mi sch ance happeni n g

to me o n the way Th ose d oubts we re reali z ed

. .

I had j u st e nte red o n a lon ely part of the road wi th a ,

sharp turn at s o me distan ce ahe ad an d h ad j u st concluded ,

( calculating by time ) that I mus t be getting n ear t o th e town ,

whe n I sudden ly heard the s teps o f the m en clos e behin d me .

B efore I c ould loo k roun d o n e o f the m (th e m a n by,

who m I h ad bee n followed i n Lon don ) passed rapi dly o n my

left sid e an d hu stled m e wi th h is sh ou lde r
, I h ad be e n .

more irritate d by the mann e r in which he an d hi s c ompan io n

had dogge d my s tep s all th e way fro m O l d W elm ingh a m
than I was myself aware o f an d I u nfo rtun ately p ushed th e
fellow away sm artly w i th my ope n h and H e i nstantly .

sh o u ted fo r help H i s c ompanion th e tall man i n th e game

.
,

keeper s clothes s pran g to my righ t side — an d th e n e x t

’
,

momen t the two scou nd rels he ld m e pi ni on ed betwee n the m

i n th e middl e o f the road .

The convicti on that a trap h ad bee n laid fo r me an d th e ,

vexati o n o f kn owi ng th at I h ad falle n in to i t fo rtu n ately

fi
,

restrain ed m e from making m y posi ti o n still worse by a n

u navai lin g struggle with two m en — o n e o f wh om woul d
in all p robability have b ee n mo re than a match for me s ingle ,

h anded . I repre ssed th e fi rst n atu ral movemen t by which I

had attempted to sh ake the m o ff an d looked about to se e if ,

the re was any pe rso n n ear to whom I cou ld appeal .

A l abo u r er was at w o rk i n an adj oi ni ng e ld , wh o m u st

4 53
 T H E WO MAN I N \V H I T E

have w itn essed all th at had passe d I c alled t o h im to follow .

u s t o th e town H e sh oo k hi s head with stoli d obsti nacy

.
,

a n d walke d away i n th e di recti on o f a cottage which stood

,

back from the high road At th e same ti me th e m en wh o .

held me betwee n the m declare d thei r i nten tion o f ch argin g

m e with a n assau lt I was cool en ou gh a nd wi se e n ough
.
,

n ow to make n o opp osition

,
D rop you r h old o f my arms .
,
’

‘
I sa id a n d I wi ll go with you to the town
,
Th e man in .
’

th e gamekeepe r s d res s roughly refused

’
B u t th e shorte r .

man was sh arp e nough to look to con sequen ces and n o t t o ,

let hi s c ompani on commi t him self by u n nece ssary vi ole nce .

H e made a sign t o th e othe r a n d I wal ke d o n betwee n th em , ,

wi th my arms free .

We reach e d the tu rn in g i n th e road ; an d th ere clo se ,

before u s we re th e subu rb s o f K n o w lesbu ry O n e o f the

, .

lo cal p oliceme n was w alki ng alon g th e path by th e roadside .

Th e me n at on ce appealed t o h i m H e replied th at the .

magi strate was the n sittin g at th e town h all ; an d rec o m -

mended that w e sh oul d appear before h im immediately .

We we nt o n t o th e town hall Th e cle rk made o u t a - .

fo rmal summon s a n d th e charge w a s prefe rred again st m e ,

with th e cu stomary exaggerati on an d the customary pe r v e r

si on o f the t ruth o n s uch occasi on s Th e magistrate (an
, .

i ll tempe red m a n with a sour e nj oymen t in the exe rci se o f

-
,

h is o w n powe r ) i nqui red i f any o n e o n o r n ear the road had , ,

witnessed the assault an d greatly t o my s urp ri se th e c o m , ,

plainant admitted the p re sen ce o f th e labou re r i n the field .

I was e n lighte ned h oweve r a s to the obj ect of th e admissi on , ,

fi
by the magi strate 5 next words H e re man ded me at on ce .
, ,

for th e p roducti on of the witne ss ; exp re ssin g at the same ,

time hi s wi llingn es s to take bai l fo r my reappearance i f I

, ,

could p roduce o ne re sp on sible su rety to o ff e r i t I f I had .

bee n kn own 1 n th e town he would h ave libe rate d me o n my

,

Ow n recognisances ; bu t as I w a s a total strange r i t was

, ,

n eces sary th at I should nd responsible bail .

Th e wh ole O bject o f th e stratage m was n ow di scl osed t o

me . I t h ad be en so managed as to make a reman d n ecessa ry
in a town whe re I was a p e rfect st range r an d whe re I c oul d ,

n ot h op e to get my libe rty on bail The rem an d me rely ex .

tended o v er th ree days u nti l th e n ext sitting o f the magi strate

'

.
,

B ut in that time while I was i n confine ment S i r Pe rcival

, , ,

might u se any m ean s h e ple ase d to emb a rrass my future p ro

c eedin s— perhap s to sc reen himself from dete cti on altogethe r
g
— withou t the s lightest fear o f any hind ran ce o n my part At .

th e en d of th e th re e day s the charge would 11 0 d ou bt , be, ,

li t
f
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E

B efo re half past th re e h e retu rn ed and b ro u gh t the d oc to r

-
, ,

with him M r D awson s ki ndness an d th e delicacy with

. .
’
,

whi ch h e t re ated hi s p rompt assi stance quite as a matte r o f

cou rse almost ove rpowe re d m e
,
The bail requi re d wa s .

’
o ff ered an d accepte d immediately B efore fou r o clock o n
,
.
,

that afte rn oon I was shakin g hands warm ly wi th th e good

,

o ld d octor— a fre e man agai n — l n th e streets o f Knowle s

bur
I\/I r D awson h ospitably i nvi ted m e to go back with him t o
.

Oak Lodge a nd take u p my quarte rs the re fo r th e night

,
I .

fi
c ould o nly reply that my ti me was n o t my o w n ; an d I could
only ask hi m to le t m e p ay my vis it in a few days whe n I ,

might repeat my than ks a n d o ff e r to hi m all th e exp lan ati on s

,

which I felt to be on ly hi s due bu t which I was n o t the n i n a ,

positi on to make We parted with fri en dly as su ran ce s o n

.

both si des ; a n d I tu rne d my step s at o nce to M r Wan s .

borough s o f c e in th e H igh S treet

’
.

Ti me w a s n o w o f th e last i mp o rtance .

The n ews o f my being fre e on bai l wou ld reach S i r Pe rci v al ,

to an a bsolute certai nty befo re ni ght I f the n ext few h ou rs

, .

did n ot pu t m e i n a positi on t o ju stify hi s worst fears and to ,

hold h im helple ss at my m e rcy I mi ght lo se eve ry i nch of the ,

grou n d I had gain ed n eve r t o recove r it agai n The un sern

, .

p u l o u s n atu re o f the man th e l ocal influe n ce h e p ossessed , ,

fi
the de sperate peri l O f exp osu re with whi ch my blindfold in
q u i ri es threate ne d h im — all warne d m e to press o n to p ositive

discovery with out the u sele s s waste o f a single mi nute

, I .

had fo u n d time to thi nk whi le I was waiting for M r D aws on s

, .
’

arrival and I h ad wel l employed it Ce rtain p ortion s o f th e .

conve rsation o f th e talkative o ld cle rk which had wearied m e ,

at th e ti me n o w re cu rred t o my mem ory with a n ew signi

,

cance ; an d a su spici o n c ross ed my m in d darkly wh ich had ,

n o t occu rred to m e whi le I was i n the ve stry O n my way to .

K n o w lesbu ry I had only p ropose d t o app ly to M r Wan s

, .

’
b orough for i nformation o n the su bj ect o f S i r Pe rcival s
m othe r My obj ect n o w was t o e x amin e the dupli c ate
.
, ,

registe r o f O ld W elm ingh a m chu rch .

M r W a nsbo ro u gh was in h i s o ffi ce whe n I i nqui red fo r

.

him .

H e was a j ovial red faced easy looking man — m ore like a

-

,
-
,
-

c ountry squi re than a lawye r— and he seeme d t o be both su r

p rised an d amu sed by my applicati on H e had heard o f his .

’
fathe r s copy o f the registe r but had n o t eve n s ee n i t himself .

I t had n eve r been in quired afte r— and it was no doubt in the

stron g r oo m, a m o n
g othe r pape rs that had no t b een distu rbed
4 56
 T H E WO MAN I N W H I T E

sin ce hi s father s death I t was a pity (M r W a nsbo ro ugh

’
. .

said ) that the o ld gentleman was n ot alive to hear his p reci ou s

copy asked fo r at last H e would h ave ridde n h is favou rit e
.

hob by hard e r than eve r n ow H ow had I come t o hear o f ,

.

the copy wa s i t through anyb ody i n th e town

I parrie d the question as well as I c ould I t was i m po s .

s ible at th i s stage o f th e i nvesti gati on to be to o cautiou s a nd

it w a s j ust as well n o t to let M r W a nsbo ro ugh kn ow p rema .

tu rely th at I had al ready examin ed th e origin al registe r I .

describe d myse lf the refore as pu rsuin g a family inq u iry to

'

, , ,

the obj ect o f which eve ry p os si ble s avin g o f time was o f gre at
importance I was anxi ou s to s en d certai n particulars t o
.

Londo n by that day s p ost ; and o n e lo ok at the duplicate

’

register (payin g of course the n eces sary fee s ) might supply

, ,

what I re quired and save m e a furthe r j ou rn ey t o O ld We l

,

m ingh a m I adde d that in th e even t o f my subse quen tly

.
,

requi ri ng a c o py o f th e ori gin al regi ste r I sh ou ld make a p ,

plication to M r W a nsb o ro ugh s office to fu rnish me wi th the

.
’

document .

Afte r thi s exp lanation n o obj ecti on w a s made to p ro ,

du c in g the c o p y A cle rk was s e nt t o th e stron g room

.
,

a n d afte r s ome delay

,
retu rn ed with th e volume ,I t was o f .

exactly the same si z e as th e volume in th e ve stry th e only ,

di ffere nce bein g th at the copy was more s martly bou nd I .

too k i t with me to an u n occu pi ed de sk My han ds we re .

tre mbling— m y head was bu rnin g hot — I felt th e n ece ssity

o f concealin g my agitati on as well as I could from th e pe r

son s about m e in the room befo re I ventu red on openi n g th e ,

bo ok .

O n th e blan k page at th e begi nn ing to wh ich I fi rst ,

tu rn ed we re traced some lin e s in faded i nk They con taine d

, , .

these wo rds
‘
Cop y o f the M arriage Regi ste r o f W elm ingh a m Parish
Chu rch Exe cuted u nde r my orde rs ; and afterward s c o m
.

pared ent ry by entry with th e origin al by mys elf (S igned )

, , , .

Robe rt W a nsb o ro u gh ve stry cle rk B elow this n ote the re

,
-
.
’
,

was a li ne added in an othe r handwri ting as follows

, Ex ,

tendin g from th e fi rst o f J anuary 1 8 00 t o the thi rtieth o f , ,

J une 1 8 1 5 3
,

I tu rn ed t o the month o f S eptembe r eightee n hu nd red an d ,

three I fou n d the marriage o f the man wh os e Christian

.

n ame was the same as my o w n I fou n d the dou ble registe r .

o f the marriage s of the two brothers An d be tween these .

e ntrie s at the bottom o f the page

, P
N oth in g ! N o t a v estige o f the e nt ry w h ic h r eco rd ed th e
4 57
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I TE
marr i age o f S i r F elix G lyde an d Cecili a J an e E lste r in th e ‘

register o f the chu rch

.
‘

M y h ea rt gave a great b ou nd an d th robbe d as if it would

'

sti fl e m e I l ooke d agai n — I was afraid to beli eve th e evi

.

de nce o f my o w n eye s N o ! n o t a do ubt The marriage .

‘
.

was no t the re Th e e ntri e s o n th e copy occupied exactly the

.
'

sa m e place s o n the page as the e ntrie s in the original The .

last entry o n o n e page re corded th e marriage of th e m a n with

m y Ch ristian name B el ow it the re w a s a blan k space — a
.
,

spac e evidently l eft be cau se it was too n arrow t o contain th e

e ntry of the marriage s o f th e two broth ers which i n th e c opy , ,

a s in the origin al occupi ed th e top o f th e n ext page That

, .

s p ace to ld th e whole story 1 The re i t mu st h ave re mained ,

i n the chu rch regi ste r from eightee n hu n dred and three (whe n ,

th e m arriage s had b ee n s olem nised an d th e copy had bee n

made ) to eightee n hu n dre d an d twenty sev en when S i r Pe r -
,

c iv a l appeare d at O ld W el m in gh a m H e re at K no w lesbu ry .
, ,

was th e chan ce o f commi ttin g th e forge ry sh own to me in ,

the copy— an d th e re at O ld W elm ingh a m was th e forge ry , ,

co mmi tted in th e regis te r of the chu rch

,
.

My he ad turn e d gi ddy I held by the des k t o keep myself

"
from fallin g O f all th e suspicions wh ich had struck m e in
.

rel atio n to th at de sperate man n o t o n e had bee n n ear th e ,

tru th Th e idea that h e was n o t S i r Pe rcival Glyde at all

.
,

that h e h ad n o m ore claim to th e baron etcy an d to B lack

wate r Park than the poo re st labo ure r wh o worke d on th e
e state h ad n ever on ce occu rre d t o my min d At on e tim e I
, .

h ad th ought h e migh t b e Ann e C a th eric k s father ; at an oth e r ’

tim e I had th ou gh t h e m igh t have be en An n e C a th eric k s ’

hu sband — th e o ff ence of wh ich he w a s really guilty had b een ,

from fi rs t t o last beyon d th e widest reach o f my imagin ation

, .

The paltry mean s by wh ich the frau d had be en e ff ecte d ,

th e magn itu de a n d dari n g o f the cri me that i t rep rese nted ,

th e horro r o f th e con sequen ce s i nvolved in i ts discove ry ove r ,

whelme d me W h o could wonde r n ow at th e brute re stle ss

.
-

n es s o f th e wretch s life ; at h is desp era te alte rnati on s between

’ ‘

abj ect duplici ty an d reckle ss v iole nce at th e madne ss o f

guilty dis tru st which had made h im i mp ri s on An n e C a th eric k
i n th e Asylum an d had give n him ove r to the vile con spi racy
,

again st hi s wife o n th e bare suspici on that the on e a n d th e

,

othe r knew hi s te rribl e secret Th e disclosure of that s ecret

might i n past y ears have hanged h im— migh t n ow tran sport
, ,

h i m for life Th e di scl osure o f that s ecret eve n if the su ff ere rs

.
,

by h is decept ion spare d hi m th e penalties o f th e l aw would ,

deprive h im , at o ne b l ow o f th e n ame the ran k , th e estate , , ,

45 8
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E

a n oted run n er— an d I had n o t wanted fo r p ractice sinc e i n ,

the late r tim e o f my experie nce in C en tral Ame rica .

I starte d from the town at a bri sk pace an d kept the ,

middle o f th e road .

A smal l mi sty rai n was fallin g ; and it was impos si ble fo r ,

the fi rst half o f the way to make su re whe the r I was foll owed
. ,

o r n ot B ut at the last half o f my j ourn ey when I supposed

.
,

myse lf to be about two m ile s from the church I sa w a man ,

ru n by me in the rai n — an d the n h eard th e gate o f a fi eld by

th e roadside shut to sharply

, I kept stra ight o n with my .
,

cudge l ready i n my han d my ears o n th e ale rt and my eyes , ,

s train in g to see th rough th e mi st an d the darkne ss B efore .

I had advance d a hun d red yards the re was a rustli ng i n th e ,

hedge 0 11 m y ri ght an d three me n sp ran g o u t i nto th e road

, .

I drew asid e o n the i n stant to th e footpath Th e two .

fore most m en were carried beyon d m e before they could ,

check them selve s Th e thi rd was as quick as lightning H e

. .

s topped — half tu rn ed — an d struc k at m e with hi s stick T he .

bl ow was aimed at ha z ard and was n ot a s eve re o ne I t fel l ,

.

o n my left sh oulde r I retu rned i t he avily o n h i s head

. He .

stagge red bac k an d j ostled hi s two compani ons j ust as they

, ,

we re both rushin g at me Thi s ci rcumstan ce gave me a .

m omen t s start I slipped by the m an d t oo k to th e middle o f

’
.
,

th e road agai n at the top o f my spee d

, .

Th e two u nhu rt m en pu rsued me They we re both good .

runn ers ; the road was smo oth an d level ; an d fo r th e fi rst ,

five minutes o r m ore I was con sci ous that I di d n o t gai n o n

,

them I t was perilous work to run fo r lon g in th e darkn es s

. .

I could barely see the di m black line of the hedges o n e ithe r

side and any chan ce obstacle in the road would have th rown
me down t o a ce rtain ty E re lon g I felt the groun d chang .
,

i ng : i t descended from th e level at a tu rn a nd then rose , ,

again beyond D own hill the men rathe r gai ne d o n me but

.
-
,

u p hi ll I began t o di stan ce them

- Th e rapid regular thump .
,

o f thei r feet grew fainte r o n my ear ; an d I calculated by the

sou nd that I was far en ou gh in advance to take to th e fields ,

with a good chance o f thei r passing m e i n th e darkne ss .

D ive rging to th e footpath I made fo r th e fi rst b reak that I ,

could gues s at rathe r than see in th e hedge

, I t p ro v ed to ,

be a closed gate I vau lte d ove r an d fi ndin g myself in a

.
,

fie ld k ep t a c ro ss i t ste a dily with my back to th e road I

'

, ,
.

h eard the m en pas s the gate still ru n ni ng— th en i n a mi nute , ,

more h eard o n e o f th em call to th e othe r to com e back I t

, .

was n o matte r what they did n ow ; I was o u t o f thei r s ight ,

an d o ut of thei r h ea rin g I ept strai gh t a cross the fi eld

g ,
.

4 0
 T H E W O M A N I N W H IT E
'

a n d, wh en I had reache d th e furthe r extre mity o f it waited ,

ther e for a minute to recove r my breath .

I t was i mp ossible to ve nture back to the road but I was

determine d n eve rthele ss to get t o O ld W elm ingh a m that
, ,

e v e n ing .

N eithe r m oon n or s tars appeared to guide me I only .

knew that I had kep t the wind an d rai n at my back o n leavin g

K n o w lesbu ry— a nd if I n o w kep t the m at my back still I ,

might at leas t be ce rtain o f n ot advan ci ng altogethe r i n the

wrong di recti on .

Proceedin g o n thi s plan I c rossed th e count ry — me eti ng,

wi th n o wo rse obstacle s than he dges ditches and thickets , , ,

which e very n ow an d the n obliged me to alte r my cours e fo r

a little while — u nti l I foun d myself o n a h ill side with th e -
,

groun d S loping away steeply befo re me I de scended to th e .

botto m o f th e hollow s quee z ed my way through a hedge

, ,

and go t out i nt o a lane H aving tu rned to the right o n

.

leavin g th e road I n ow tu rn ed t o th e left o n th e chan ce o f

, ,

regain ing the lin e fro m which I had wande red Afte r foll ow .

in g the muddy win dings o f th e lane fo r ten m inutes o r m ore ,

I sa w a cottage with a light i n o n e o f the wi ndows Th e .

garde n gate was ope n to the lane ; and I wen t in at on ce to

i nquire my way .

B efore I could kn oc k at the d oor it was suddenly opened , ,

an d a m a n came runn ing o u t with a lighted lante rn in h is

h a nd . H e stopped and held it u p at the sight o f m e We .

both started as we saw each othe r My wan de rings h ad le d .

me rou nd the outski rts of th e vi llage and had brought me ,

o u t at th e lowe r en d of i t I was back at O ld W elm ingh a m ;

.

an d the m a n with the lantern was n o othe r than my acquai nt

ance o f the morn ing the pari sh clerk , .

H i s man ner appeared t o have altered stran gely i n th e ,

i nte rval s ince I had last see n h im H e looked suspici ou s .

and co nfused h is ru ddy cheek s we re deeply flu she d an d h is

fi rst words when he spoke were qu ite u n in telligible to me
, , .

‘ ‘
Whe re are the keys ? he a sked H ave you take n ’
.

them
‘ ‘
What keys ? I repeated ’
I have thi s m omen t come .

from K no w lesb u ry What keys d o you mean .

‘
The keys o f the vestry Lord save u s an d help u s ! .

what shall I do The keys are gone D o you hear c ried

the o ld man shaking the lantern at me i n hi s agi tation ; th e
,

keys are gon e !

Ho w When Wh o c a n have take n them
‘ ’ ’
I d on t know said the c lerk staring ab out h im wildly
, ,
‘

461
 T H E W O MA N I N W H I T E
‘I ’ ve
I told you I
in the darkne ss only j u s t got back ‘

. .

h ad a long day s work thi s m orning— I locked the d oor a n d

’
,

shut the wi n dow down — it s ope n n ow the window s open ’

,
’
.

’
Lo ok somebody has got i n th e re an d take n th e keys , .

H e tu rn e d t o the casement wi ndow t o sh ow m e that i t .

was wide open The d oo r o f th e lante rn came l oo se from its

.

fastening as h e swayed i t rou nd ; and th e wind blew th e

candle out i nstan tly .

‘ ‘ ’
Get an othe r light I s a id ; an d let u s both go to th e ,

ve stry togethe r Quick qu ic k .

I h u rried h i m i nto th e h ou se Th e t reachery th a t I had .

eve ry reas on t o expe ct the treache ry that m igh t deprive m e ,

o f eve ry advant a ge I had gai ned was at th at m oment , , ,

perhaps in p roces s of accom pli shment

, My im patie nce t o .

reach the chu rch was s o great th at I cou ld n ot remain i nactive ,

in the cottage whil e th e cle rk lit th e lante rn again I walked .

o u t d own the gard e n path i nto the lane

, , .

B efo re I h ad advan ced ten pace s a m a n approached me ,

from th e di recti on leadin g to the ch u rch H e spoke respect .

fully as we met I c o u ld n ot se e his face ; but j udgi ng by

.
,

h is voi ce o nly he was a p erfect strange r to me

, .

I beg you r pard on S ir Pe rcival h e began ,

.

I stopped hi m before he c ould sa y more .

‘ ’
The darkn es s mi sleads you I said I am n o t S i r Percival ,
’
. .

The m a n drew back di rectly .

I thou ght i t wa s my maste r h e mut te red i n a confused ,

’
, ,

doubtful way .

Y o u expecte d to m eet you r m aste r here

I was told to wait in the lane "

.
’

With that an swe r h e retraced h i s steps I looked back

, .

at the cottage and saw the cle rk com in g out with the lantern
, ,

lighte d once m ore I t ook the o ld man s arm to help him o u

.
’
-

fi
th e mo re qu ickly W e hasten ed alon g th e lan e and passed
.
,

the pe rs on w h o had accosted me As w e ll a s I cou ld see by .

the light o f the lante rn h e was a se rvant o u t o f live ry , .

‘ ’
Who s that P whispe re d the cle rk D oe s h e kn ow .

anythin g about the keys

’ ’
We won t wait t o a sk him I replied We will go o n

fi
, .

t o the ve stry rst .

’

Th e chu rch was n o t visible eve n by day ti me u n til the ,

-
,

e nd o f the lan e was reached

‘

As we m ounted th e ri sing .

grou nd whi ch led to the buildin g from th at p oin t one o f the ,

village ch ild re n — a boy— came close up to u s attracted by the

light we carried an d re cognised the cle rk
, .

‘
I sa y, m ea ster, said the b oy pulli ng o f c io u sly at the
.
’
,

4 62
 TH E WO M A N I N W H ITE

dese rved— p a ssed from my mem o ry like a d ream I r emem .

bered n othin g but the h orro r of hi s si tuati on I felt n othin g but .

th e natural hu man i mp ulse to save hi m from a frightful death .

Try th e othe r d oo r ! I sh outed Try th e d oo r i nto the .

c h u rch !
’
The l oc k s hampe re d You re a dead man if you
’
.

waste anothe r m oment o n i t

There had bee n n o re ne wed cry fo r help whe n th e k ey ,

was tu rned fo r the last time The re was n o s ou nd n o w o f

.
, ,

any ki nd t o give toke n that he w a s still alive

,
I heard .

n othin g but the quicken in g crackle o f the flame s and the ,

sharp snap of th e glas s in th e s kylight above .

I looked round at my two compani on s The servant had .

ri se n to his feet : h e h ad taken th e lantern and was holding ,

i t u p vacantly at th e door Te rror seemed t o have struck .

hi m with d own right i di ocy— h e waited at my heels h e fo l ,

l owed m e about when I moved like a d og The clerk sa t , .

c rouched up o n o ne o f th e tombston es shive ring and moan , ,

in g to hi mself The o n e moment i n which I looked at them

.

wa s en ough to sh ow m e that they we re both helpless .

H ardly kn owin g what I did acting despe rately o n the ,

first impuls e that occurred to m e I sei z ed the se rvant and ,

pushe d h im agai n st th e vestry wall S toop I said and .

,

h old by the stones I a m goin g to climb ove r you t o the roof

.

— I am goin g to break th e skylight an d give hi m s om e ai r

,

The man tre mbled from head t o foot but h e held firm I , .

got o n hi s back with my cudge l in my mouth ; seized the

,

parapet with both hands ; and w a s i n stantly on the roof I n .

the frantic hu rry a n d agitation o f the m oment it n eve r struck ,

me that I might let out th e flame i n stead o f letting i n th e ai r .

I struc k at th e skyli ght an d batte red in th e cracked loosened

, ,

glass at a blow The fi re leaped o u t li ke a wild beas t from

-

i ts lai r I f the wi nd h ad n o t chan ced in the position I oc o n

.
,

pied t o se t i t away from m e my exe rti on s might have ended

, ,

then a nd the re I crouched o n the roof as the smoke pou red

.

o u t a b o v e m e with th e flame
,
The gleam s and flashe s o f the .

light sh owed m e th e servan t s face stari ng up vacantly unde r ’

the wall ; th e cle rk ri se n to his feet o n the tombston e w ring ,

in g h is han ds i n despair ; and th e scan ty p opulation o f th e

village haggard men a n d te rrified wom en cluste red beyon d
, ,

i n th e chu rchyard — all appearin g an d di sappeari ng i n the red ,

o f the dreadfu l glare in the black o f the ch oki ng smoke

, .

An d th e m a n bene ath my feet ! th e man su ff ocatin g bu rn -

, ,

i ng dying so near u s all so utterly beyon d o u r reach

,

I lo we re d myself fro m
,

Th e though t half madde ned m e .

th e roof by my hands , and dropped to the ground

, .

4 64
 T H E WO MAN I N W H ITE
‘ ‘
Th e key o f the chu rch ! I sh oute d t o the cle rk We ’
.

must t ry i t that way— w e m a v save h i m yet if we c a n bu rs t

ope n th e i n ne r do or .
’

No no no
, c ried th e o ld m a n
, N o h op e the ch u rch .

key and the vestry key are o n the sam e ri ng— b oth i nsi de
’
the re ! O h si r h e s past savi ng — h e s dus t an d ashe s by
, ,
’

thi s ti me
‘ ’
They l l s ee the fi re from the town said a voice from
’
,

am on g the m en behi n d me The re s a i n gm e i n the t own

.
’
.

They l l save the chu rch

’
.
’

I calle d to that man — iz e had hi s wits ab out h im — I called

t o hi m to com e an d speak to me I t would be a quarte r o f .

a n hou r at least befo re th e town engi n e coul d reach us Th e .

h orro r of remai nin g in active all that tim e was m ore than I , ,

c ou ld face I n defiance o f my o w n reas on

. I pe rsuade d ,

myself th a t th e d oo med an d lost wretch i n th e ve stry migh t

still be lyi ng se nseles s on the fl oor m igh t n ot b e dead ye t , .

I f we b roke ope n the d oo r might we save hi m P I knew th e ,

s trength of th e he avy l oc k— I kn ew th e th icknes s o f th e

fi
n ai led oak — I kn ew th e h opele ssn es s o f assaili n g the o n e an d
th e othe r by o rdi nary means B ut su re ly th ere we re beam s .

sti ll left i n th e dismantled cottages n ear th e chu rch P Wh at if

we got o n e and used it a s a batte rin g ram agai n st th e d oor P
,
-

Th e th ought leaped th rough me like th e fi re leapi ng ou t ,

o f th e shattere d skylight I appealed to th e man wh o h ad

.

spoken firs t o f th e re engin e i n th e t own - H ave yo u go t .

you r pickaxe s h andy P Yes ; they had An d a h atchet an d .

,

a sa w an d a bi t of rope ? Yes ! yes ! yes ! I ran down ’

,

fi
amon g th e village rs wi t h the lante rn in my hand
, F ive .

shillings apiece to every m a n wh o h elp s m e They started

in to life at th e wo rds That rave n ous s econ d hun ge r o f
.

pove rty— the hun ge r fo r mo ney — rous ed the m i nto tumu lt

‘
an d activity in a moment Two o f yo u for m ore lante rn s if
.

y o u have th em T w o o f y o u fo r th e pickaxe s and th e t ools

The r es t afte r me t o n d th e beam ! They chee red — wi th ’

sh ri ll starvelin g voice s they ch ee red The wome n an d th e .

chi ld re n fl ed back on eithe r side We ru she d in a body down .

the chu rchyard path to the fi rs t e mpty cottage N o t a m a n .

was left beh in d but th e cle rk — th e p oo r o ld cle rk stan din g o n

the flat t ombston e s obbin g and wailin g ove r th e chu rch
, .

The se rvant was still at my heels : hi s white h elpless p anic , ,

stricke n face was c lose ove r my sh ou lde r as we pu she d i nt o

th e cottage There we re rafte rs from th e t orn d own fl oo r
.
-

above lying loose on th e grou n d — bu t they we re t oo light

,
.

A beam ra n ac ross ove r ou r h eads but n ot o u t of reach o f ,

4 65 11 H
 T H E WO MAN I N W H ITE

o ur arm s a nd o u r pickaxe s — a beam fast at each end in th e

ruined wall with ceilin g an d fl ooring all ripped away an d a
, ,

great gap i n the ro of above ope n to th e sky We attacked , .

the beam at b oth en ds at on ce G o d ! how it held — h ow th e .

b rick an d m ortar of th e wall resi ste d u s ! We stru ck a n d ,

tu gged a nd tore The beam gave at on e end— it came d own

, .

with a lump of brickwo rk afte r it The re w a s a scream from .

th e wom en all huddled in the d o orway to look at u s— a

,

sh ou t from th e m en— two o f them d own bu t n o t hu rt , .

An othe r tug all togethe r— a n d the beam was loose at both

e nds We raise d i t an d gave the word to clear the doorway
.
, .

N o w for the work n ow fo r th e rush at th e doo r The re i s

the fi re streamin g i nto th e sky streaming brigh te r than eve r ,

to ligh t u s ! S teady alon g th e ch urchyard path — steady ,

with the beam fo r a ru sh at th e d oo r O n e two thre e — a nd

, .
, ,

o ff
. O ut rings th e chee ring again i rrepre ssibly We have , .

sh ake n i t already ; th e hinge s must give i f the loc k won t ,

’
.

An other ru n with the beam O ne two three — an d o ff I t s , , .

’

lo ose ! th e stealthy fi re darts at u s through the crevice all

rou nd i t Anoth e r an d a las t rush
. The door falls in with
,

a crash A great hu sh o f awe a stillne ss of breathle ss ex p ec

.
,

ta tio n p osse sses eve ry l ivin g soul o f u s

, We look fo r the .

b ody The sc orching he a t on o u r face s d rive s u s back : we

.

n othin g— ab ove below al l th rough the ro om we see, , ,

n othing bu t a sh eet of livin g fi re .

Whe re is h e P whispe red the se rvant staring vacantly at ,

th e flames .

’
H e s dus t and ashes said the cle rk And th e books are
,
’
.

du st a n d ashes — and o h si rs ! th e chu rch w ill be dust an d ,

ash es s oon .
’

Thos e we re the o n ly tw o wh o sp oke Whe n th ey were .

si len t agai n n othi ng s ti rred i n th e s tilln es s but th e bu bble and

,

the crackle o f th e flames .

H ark
A h ars h rattling sou nd in th e d istan ce — then th e h ollow ,

beat o f h orse s ho ofs at ful l gallop — then th e low roar th e

’

, ,

all p redominan t tumult o f hu ndreds o f human voi ce s clamour

-

in g a nd sh outing togeth e r The e ngi ne at las t .

The people about me all tu rn e d from th e fi re an d ra n ,

eage rly to th e brow o f the hill The old clerk tried to go wi th .

the re st ; but h i s strength was exhausted I saw hi m holding .

by o n e o f the tombston es S av e th e chu rch he cri ed ou t

.
,

fai ntly as i f the fi remen could hear hi m already

, S ave the .

chu rch
4 66
 TH E WO MAN I N W H ITE
‘
vestry I s he d readful t o l ook D readful !
’
at P
’
.
Not
about the face though P N o n o n o t s o much about the
,
’
,

face. D on t anyb ody kn ow h im P ’

The re s a m a n says h e ’

d oes .
’
W ho P ‘
A servant they say ’
B ut he s s truc k , .
’

‘
stupid li ke an d the police don t believe h i m
-
, D on t any ’
.
’ ’

body else kn ow who it i s P H u sh — l

The loud clear voice of a man in auth ori ty silen ced th e low
,

hu m o f talking al l roun d me in a n in st a nt , .

Whe re i s th e gentleman wh o t ri ed to save him ? said

the voice .

H e re s ir— he re he i s I
, D ozen s o f eage r face s p re ssed
about m e — d o z en s of eage r arm s parted th e c rowd The .

m a n i n auth ori ty came u p t o m e with a lante rn in his hand .

‘
Thi s way si r i f you please he said quietly , , ,
’
, .

I was u n ab le to speak t o h im I was u nable to resist him ,

whe n h e took my arm I tried t o say that I had n eve r seen .

th e dead man in hi s lifetime — that the re was n o hope o f

,

identifyi n g hi m by means o f a stran ge r like m e B u t th e .

words failed o n my lips I was fai n t a n d silen t and h elple ss . .

D o you kn ow him si r P ,
’

I was stan din g i n side a ci rcl e o f men Th re e of them .

,

opp osite to m e we re h oldi ng lante rn s low down to th e groun d

,
.

Th ei r e yes an d th e eye s of all th e rest we re fixed silently

, ,

a n d expectantly o n my face I kn ew what w a s at my feet .

I kn ew why they we re holdin g th e lante rn s so low to the

groun d .

C a n you i de ntify him sir P ,

My eyes dropped slowly At fi rst I sa w n othi n g u nde r .

,

the m but a c oarse canvas cloth Th e d rippin g o f th e rai n o n .

i t was audible in the d readful sile nce I loo ked u p alon g the .
,

cloth an d the re at th e end stark an d gri m an d black in the , ,

yellow li gh t— the re was h i s dead face , .

S o fo r the fi rst a n d last ti me I sa w him S o th e Vi sita

, ,
.

tion o f G o d ruled it that h e an d I sh ould meet .

fi
T HE I nquest was hu rrie d fo r ce rtai n l ocal reason s which
weighed wi th the coron e r an d the town auth o ritie s I t was .

held o n the afte rn oon o f the n ext day I w a s nece ssari ly .

, ,

o ne amon g th e witne sse s su mmon ed to assi st th e obj ects o f

the i nvestigation .

My fi rst p roceedin g in the m orn ing w a s t o go t o the p ost , ,

o f c e a n d i nqui re for the lette r which I expected from Mari an

, .

N o ch an ge of ci rcumstan ce s h oweve r extrao rdin ary c ould , ,

4 68
 T H E W O M AN I N W H I T E
’

fi
a ffect th e o n e great anxiety wh ich weighe d o n my mi n d whi le
’
I was away from Lon don The mo rn ing s lette r which was .
,

the only as su rance I coul d receive that n o mi sfo rtu ne had

happened in my absence was still th e abso rbing in te re st with
,

which my day began .

To my re lief the lette r from M ari an was at th e o f c e

,

waitin g for m e .

N othi ng had happe n ed— they we re both as safe an d a s well

fi
as when I h ad left the m Laura se nt he r love an d begge d
.
,

that I would let he r kn ow o f my retu rn a day beforehan d .

H er si ste r a dded in explanati on o f thi s me ssage that sh e had

, ,

saved nearly a sove reign out o f he r own p rivate pu rse an d ,

that sh e h ad claimed the p rivi lege of o rderin g th e dinne r and

givin g the di nn e r which was to celeb rate th e day of my retu rn .

I read th ese little d ome sti c c o n den c es in th e bright mo rni n g , ,

with the te rri ble recollecti on o f what h ad h appen ed the eve n

i n g before vivi d in my memory The n ece ssity o f sp arin g
,
.

Lau ra any sudde n kn owledge of the truth was the fi rst c o n

side ration which th e lette r sugge ste d to m e I wrote at once .

to M ari an t o tell he r what I have told in these page s ; p re

,

se ntin g the tidi ngs as gradually an d gen tly as I could an d ,

warning he r n o t to let a ny such thi ng as a newspape r fall in

Lau ra s way while I w a s ab sent I n the case of any othe r
’
.

woman le ss cou rage ou s an d le ss reliable I might have he si

, ,

ta ted before I ventu red o n un re servedly di sclosing th e wh ol e

truth B u t I owed i t t o M arian to be fai thful to my past
.

expe rience o f he r a nd to t rust he r as I tru sted myself

,
.

My lette r was neces sarily a lon g o n e I t occupie d me .

unti l the time came for p roceedin g t o th e I n quest .

The obj ects of the legal i n qui ry we re n ecessarily b ese t by

peculiar complication s an d di fficultie s B e side s the i nvesti .

ga tio n into th e man n e r in which the decease d had met h is

d eath th e re were se riou s questi on s t o b e settle d relating t o
,

th e caus e o f th e fi re to th e ab stracti on o f the keys a n d t o

, ,

the presenc e o f a strange r in the ve stry at the time whe n the

fl ames broke out E ve n th e i dentification of th e dead man
.

had n ot yet b ee n accompli shed Th e h elpless conditi on o f th e.

se rvan t h ad made the poli ce di strustful o f hi s asse rted recog

n itio n o f hi s maste r They had sent to K n o w lesb u ry ove r
.

night to secu re the attendance o f witnes se s wh o we re well

acqu ai nted with th e pe rs onal appearan ce of S i r Pe rcival Glyd e ,

and they h ad com mun icated the fi rst thin g in the m orn in g with
, ,

B lackwate r Park The se p recaution s e nabled th e co rone r

.

a n d j u ry to se ttle th e questi on of i de ntity an d to confi rm the ,

’
c orrectne ss o f the se rvant s asse rtion ; the evi denc e o ff ered
4 69
 TH E WO M AN I N W H ITE
by compete nt w itne sse s and by the di scovery o f ce rtain facts , ,

bei ng sub se q uently stre ngthe ned by a n examin ation o f the

dead man s watch The c re st an d the n ame o f S ir Pe rcival
’
.

Glyde we re en graved in side it .

The next i n qui ries related to the fi re .

The se rvant a n d I a nd the boy wh o h ad h e ard the light

,

struck in the ve st ry we re th e fi rst witnesse s called The b oy

,
.

’
gave hi s evi den ce clearly en ough but the servant s min d had
n ot ye t recove red the shock i nflicted o n it h e was plainly -

i n capable o f assi stin g the obj ects o f the i n qui ry and h e wa s ,

desi red to stan d down .

To my o w n relief my e xamination was n ot a long on e

, I .

h ad n ot kn own the decease d ; I had n eve r see n hi m I was

n ot awa re o f hi s prese nce at O ld W elm ingh a m ; and I had
n ot been in the ve stry at th e fi ndin g o f the body All I could .

’
p rove was that I had stopped at th e cle rk s cottage to ask my
way that I h ad heard from him of th e l os s o f th e keys that
I h ad accompanied hi m to the chu rch t o rende r what help I
could that I had see n th e fi re th at I h ad heard s ome pe rson
u nkn own i n side th e ve stry t ryin g vainly t o un lock th e door ;
, ,

an d that I h ad done what I could from m otives o f humanity , ,

to save the man O th er witne sse s wh o h ad been acquainted

.
,

with the deceased we re asked if they c ould exp lai n th e

,

myste ry o f hi s pre sume d abstracti on of th e keys an d hi s ,

p re sence in the bu rn ing room B ut the coron er seemed to .

take it for granted natu rally en ough that I a s a total stran ger
, , ,

i n th e n eighbou rhood a n d a total stranger t o S i r Pe rcival

,

Glyde could n ot b e in a p ositi on to o ffe r any evi de nc e o n

,

these two points .

Th e course that I w a s myself b ou n d to take wh en my ,

fo rmal examin atio n had cl osed seeme d clear to me I did , .

n ot feel called o n to volu nteer any statem en t o f my o w n

p ri v ate convi cti ons ; in the fi rst place becau se my d oing so ,

could s erve n o p ractical pu rpose n ow th at all p roof i n su p ,

p ort o f any su rmi ses of mi ne w a s bu rn t with the bu rnt regis

te r ; in the secon d pl ace b ecaus e I could n ot h ave intelligibly ,

stated my O pi nion — m y un supporte d opin ion — withou t dis

cl osin g t he wh ole story of th e con spi racy a nd p roducing , ,

b eyond a doub t th e same u n satisfactory e ff ect o n the min d

,

o f the corone r a n d th e j u ry which I had al ready produced o n

th e min d o f M r Kyrle
. .

I n thes e page s h oweve r an d afte r the time that has n ow

, ,

elap sed n o such caution s an d re strai nts a s are he re described

, ,

n eed fette r the fre e exp re ssi on o f my opinion I will state .

b riefly before my pen occupie s i tself with other even t s h o w

, ,

4 70
 TH E WO M AN I N W H ITE
been to o much fo r hi m whe n he tried to escap e by th e in n er
,

door H e must have droppe d i n hi s death swoon — h e mu st

.
-

have sun k i n the place whe re h e was fo u n d — ju st as I got o n

the roof to b reak th e skylight win dow Eve n if we had bee n - .

able afte rward s to get in to the church an d t o bu rst ope n

, , ,

th e do or from that side the de l ay mu st h ave bee n fatal

, He .

wou ld have be en past savin g l on g past savin g by that time , , .

We should only have gi ve n the flames free ingre ss i nto the

chu rch the chu rch which was n ow p rese rved b ut which in
, , ,

th at eve nt w ou ld h ave share d the fate o f th e vest ry There

, .

i s n o doubt in my min d — the re c a n be n o d ou bt in th e m ind

o f a ny o n e— that h e was a dead man before eve r we go t to
the empty cottage an d worked wi th might an d main t o tear
,

down the beam .

This is the n eare st app r oach that a ny the ory o f m in e c a n

make towards accou nti ng fo r a re su lt which was visible matte r
o f fact . As I have d escribed them so eve nts pas se d to ,

outside As I h ave related i t so his body was found

.
, .

T he I nque st was adj ou rn ed ove r on e day n o explanation

that th e eye o f the law c ould recognis e havin g bee n dis
covere d thu s far to accou nt for the myste riou s circumstances
, ,

o f th e case .

I t was arrange d that mo re witne s se s sh ould be summoned ,

a n d that the Lon do n solicito r o f the de cease d sh ould be i h

v ited to atte nd A medi cal man was a ls o charged with th e

.

duty o f repo rting o n th e me ntal conditi on o f the se rvant ,

which appeare d at p re sen t to debar hi m from givin g any ev i

den ce o f the least importance H e c ould on ly declare i n a .
,

daze d way that he had bee n o rdered o n th e ni ght of the fi re

, , ,

t o wait in the lane a n d that he knew n othin g el se except that

, ,

th e deceased was ce rtain ly h is maste r .

My o w n i mp re ssion was that h e had bee n fi rst use d (with

,

o u t any guilty kn owledge o h h is o w n part ) to asce rtai n the

fact o f the clerk s absen ce from h ome o n the p revi ou s day
’

a n d that h e had bee n afte rwards o rde re d to wait near the

church (bu t out of sigh t o f the vestry ) to assist hi s maste r ,

i n th e event o f my e scapi ng th e attack o n the road and o f a ,

collisi on occu rrin g between S i r Pe rcival an d myself It is .

n ecessary to a dd that the man s o w n testimony was n eve r

,
’

obtaine d to confirm thi s vi ew The medical rep ort o f hi m .

declare d that what little me ntal facu lty he posse ssed was
seri ou sly shaken ; n othin g sati sfacto ry was extracted from
hi m at the adj ourne d I nquest an d fo r aught I kn ow t o th e ,

c ont rary he may neve r have re cove red to thi s day

, .

4 72
 T H E W O M AN I N W H IT E
I re tu rned to the h otel at W elm in gh a m s o j ade d in b ody ,

a n d mi nd s o weake ned a n d depres se d by all that I had gone

,

th rough as t o be quite unfit to e ndu re th e local gossip a bout

,

the I n quest an d t o answe r th e trivial qu es ti on s that the

,

talke rs add res se d t o me in the c o ffee ro o m I with drew from - .

my scanty din ne r t o my cheap garret ch amb e r to secu re .

-
,

myself a little qui et a nd to thin k u ndis tu rbed of Lau ra an d

, , ,

M arian .

I f I h ad bee n a riche r man I would have gone back t o ,

London and would have co mforted myse lf with a sight of th e

,

two d ear face s agai n that ni ght But I was bound t o

, .
,

appear if calle d o n at th e adj ou rne d I n quest an d do u blv

, , ,

b ound to answe r my bail before th e magist rate at Kn owles

bury O u r sle nde r res ou rce s had su ffe red already ; a n d the
.

fi
d oubtful futu re — m ore d oubtful than eve r n o w— made m e
d read decreasi ng o u r m ean s u n nece ssari ly by allowi ng myself ,

a n in dulgence eve n at the smal l cost o f a d ouble rai lway

,

j ourn ey in th e carriages o f th e secon d class

, .

The n ext day— th e day im medi ately followin g the I n quest

-
w a s left at my o w n disp osal I began the m orn in g by .

again applyi ng at the p o st o f c e for my regular rep ort from -

M arian I t was waiting fo r m e as b efo re a nd it was written

.
, , ,

th rough out in good spi rit s

, I read the lette r than kfully ; .

an d the n set fo rth with my mi n d at e ase fo r the day to go t o

, ,

O ld W elm ingh a m an d t o view th e sce ne o f the fi re by the

,

m orn ing light .

What chan ge s met m e wh e n I got the re

Th rough all th e ways of o u r u ni ntelligi ble wo rld th e ,

trivial an d th e te rrible wal k han d in h and togethe r Th e .

i rony o f ci rcu mstan ces h olds n o m ortal catastroph e i n respect .

Whe n I reache d the chu rch the t ramp le d con dition of th e ,

bu rial grou n d was th e only se ri ou s trace l eft t o t ell of th e fi re

-

an d the death A rough hoardin g of boards had bee n

.

k n ocked u p befo re the ve stry doo rway Rude caricatu re s .

were scrawle d o n i t al ready ; and th e vi llage children we re

fightin g an d sh outin g for the posses si on of the best peep hole -

to see th rou gh O n th e spot wh e re I had heard th e c ry fo r

.

help from th e bu rn in g ro om o n th e spot whe re the panic ,

stricke n se rvant had d roppe d on hi s knee s a fussy fl ock o f ,

poultry was n ow s c ramblin g fo r the fi rs t choic e o f wo rms

afte r the rain — a n d o n th e grou n d at my feet whe re the d o o r ,

an d i ts d readful bu rde n h ad been laid a workman s din ne r ,

’

was waiti ng fo r hi m tied u p in a y ellow basin an d h is faithful

, ,

cu r i n charge was yelpi n g a t m e fo r comin g near the fo od .

The old clerk lo oking i dly at th e slow c ommen cement o f the

,

4 73
 T H E W O M AN I N W H IT E
repairs had only o n e i nte rest that he could talk abou t n ow
, ,

th e inte re st o f e scapin g al l blame fo r hi s o wn part o n a ccount , ,

o f th e acci de nt that had happ ened O n e o f th e village women .

,

wh o se white wild face I remembe re d the pictu re o f te rro r , ,

whe n we pulled down the b eam was gigglin g with an othe r ,

woman th e picture o f inanity ove r a n o ld wash in g tub

, ,
- .

There i s n othin g se ri ou s i n mortality ! S olomon i n all hi s

glory was S olomo n w ith th e elements o f th e contemptible
,

lurking in eve ry fold o f hi s robe s an d i n eve ry c orne r o f h is

palace .

As I left the place my th ought s tu rn ed n ot fo r the fi rst , ,

time t o th e complete ove rthro w that al l pre sent h ope o f

,

e stablishi ng Lau ra s iden tity h ad n ow suffe red th rough S i r

’

Pe rcival s d eath H e w a s gon e — and with him the chan ce

’
.
, ,

w a s gon e which had been th e o n e obj ect o f all my lab ou rs

an d all my h ope s .

C ou ld I look at my failu re from n o true r poin t o f view

than thi s P
S uppo se h e had lived — would that change of ci rcu mstan ce
h ave alte red the result ? Could I have made my discove ry
a marketable commodity eve n fo r Lau ra s sake afte r I had ,
’

fou n d out th at robbe ry o f the ri gh ts o f oth ers was the

e ssen ce of S i r Pe rcival s c rime ? Coul d I have o ff e red th e ’

price of my silence for h is confe ssi on o f th e c on spi racy whe n ,

th e e ff ec t of that si lence mu st have bee n to keep the right

hei r from the e state s a n d th e right own e r from the name ? ,

I mpos sible ! I f S i r Pe rcival h ad lived the di scovery from , ,

which (in my igno ran ce of the true n atu re o f the S ecret ) I had
h ope d s o much could n o t have bee n mi n e t o suppress o r t o
, ,

make public as I th o ugh t be st fo r th e vi ndi cati on o f Lau ra s

, ,
’

rights I n com mon h on esty a n d comm on h on ou r I must have

.

gon e at o n ce to th e strange r whose bi rth right had been

u su rpe d — I mu st have ren ou n ced the victory at th e m oment
when i t was mine by placi ng my di scovery un rese rvedly in
,

that stran ge r s hands — and I mu st have faced afresh all the

’

d i fficu ltie s wh ich stood betwe en m e an d th e o ne obj ect o f my

life exactly as I was res olved i n my h eart o f he arts to fac e
, , ,

them n ow
I retu rn ed t o W elm in gh a m with my min d c omposed ;
'

feel ing m ore su re o f myself a n d my re soluti on than I had felt

ye t
.

O n my w a y to th e h ote l I passed the e n d o f the square in ,

which M rs C a th eric k lived . S h ou ld I go b a c k t o the h ouse .

,

an d make an othe r attempt to see h e r ? N o That n ews o f .

’
S i r Pe rcival s death whi ch was the last n ews she eve r ,

4 74
 T H E WO MAN I N WH I T E
ca n I pay my de bt P I f I was a you ng woman still I might ,

say Come -
, p u t you r arm rou n d my waist a n d ki ss me if , ,

you li ke I shou ld have bee n fon d e nough of you eve n to

.
’
,

go that length and you woul d have accepted my i nvitati on

o u would s i r twe nty years ago B u t I am a n o ld woman
y , , ,

n ow We ll ! I can sati sfy you r cu ri osity and pay my debt

.
,

in th at way Y o u h a d a great cu ri osity to kn ow ce rtai n

.

p rivate a ffai rs o f min e whe n yo u cam e to see me —p rivate ,

a ff ai rs which all you r sharpne ss could n ot look into with

o u t my help — private a ff ai rs whi ch y o u have n o t d iscove red ,

e v en n ow Y o u sh a ll discove r the m you r cu ri osity s hal l be

.

sati sfied I will take any trouble t o please yo u my estimable

.
,

youn g frien d
You we re a little boy I suppos e i n the year twe nty , ,

sev en P I was a handsom e young woman at that time , ,

living at O ld W elm ingh a m I had a contemptible fool fo r a .

hus ban d I had als o the h on ou r o f being acquainted (neve r

.

mi n d h ow ) with a ce rtain gentleman (n eve r mi nd wh om ) I .

shall n ot call hi m by hi s n am e Why sh ou ld I P I t was n ot .

h i s o w n H e n eve r had a n am e : you kn ow that by thi s

.
,

ti me as we ll as I d o
, .

I t will be m ore to th e pu rp ose to tell you h o w h e worked

hi mself i nto my go od grace s I w a s born with the tastes o f .

a lady ; an d h e gratifie d the m I n othe r wo rds he admi re d .

,

m e an d he made m e p re sen ts
, N o woman c a n re si st .

admi ration a n d p re sen ts — especially p re sents p rovide d they ,

happe n t o be j ust th e thin gs sh e wants H e was sharp .

e n ough to kn ow that— m ost m en are N a tu r a lly he wanted .

,

somethin g in retu rn — all m en d o An d what do you thin k .

was the somethin g ? The mere st t rifle N othin g but the .

key o f the vestry an d th e key of the p re s s i n side it when my

, ,

hu sban d s back w a s tu rned

’
O f cou rse h e lied whe n I aske d .

hi m why h e wi shed m e to get him th e keys in that p rivate ,

way H e might have saved him self th e t rou ble — I didn t

.
’

believe him B ut I like d my prese nts an d I wante d m ore

.
, .

S o I got hi m th e keys withou t my husban d s kn owledge ; ,

’

a n d I watched him with ou t h i s o w n kn owledge O nce

, .
,

twice fou r time s I watche d hi m — an d the fourth time I

, ,

found h im o u t .

I was n eve r ove r scru pulou s whe re othe r pe ople s a ffai rs

-
’

were conce rned ; an d I was n ot ove r scrupu lou s about hi s -

adding o n e to the marriages i n the regi ste r o n hi s o wn ,

account .

O f cou rse I knew i t was wrong ; b ut it did n o h arm t o

,

m e— which was o ne goo d reas on fo r n ot makin g a fu ss about

4 76
 T H E WO MAN I N W H I T E
i t And I had n ot go t a gold watch an d chai n — which was
.

an other still bette r And h e had p romise d m e o ne from

, .

London only th e day before — wh ich was a thi rd be s t of all

, ,
.

I f I had kn own what th e law con side red the cri m e t o b e and ,

how the law puni shed it I shoul d have take n prope r care o f
,

myself a n d have exposed hi m the n an d the re

, But I knew .

n othin g— an d I longed for th e gol d watch All the c on diti on s .

I i nsisted o n we re that h e should take m e i nto hi s confide n ce

and tell m e eve rything I w a s as cu ri ou s about hi s a ff ai rs
.

then as you are about mi n e n o w H e grante d my c onditi on s

, .

— why you wi ll see p re sen tly

, .

This pu t in sho rt i s what I h eard from hi m

, , H e di d n o t .

wi llingly tell me all that I tell yo u he re I d rew s ome o f i t .

from hi m by pe rsuasi on an d some of it by q uestion s I was .

dete rmin ed to have all th e t ruth — an d I believe I go t i t .

H e kn ew n o m ore than a ny on e el se o f what th e s tate o f

things reall y was be twee n hi s fathe r an d m othe r til l afte r ,

hi s m othe r s death’
Then hi s fathe r confessed i t an d
.
, ,

p romi sed to d o what he c ould fo r hi s s on H e died h avi n g .

done n othing— n ot h aving eve n made a will Th e so n (wh o .

)
c a n blame hi m P wi sely provide d for him self H e cam e to .

E ngland at on ce and t ook po ssession o f th e p roperty

,
.

fi
The re was n o on e to suspect h im an d 11 0 o ne to say him nay ,
.

H i s fathe r an d mothe r had always lived as man an d wife

n one of th e few people wh o w e re acqu a i nted with the m eve r
suppose d them t o be anythin g else T he right pe rso n to .

clai m the property (if the t ruth had bee n kn own ) was a

fi
distant relati on wh o had n o i dea o f eve r getti ng i t a n d wh o
, ,

was away at se a when hi s fathe r died H e had n o di f c u lty .

,

s o far— h e too k pos sessi on as a m atte r o f cou rse B ut h e

,
.

fi
could n ot borrow m oney o n th e property as a matte r o f
c ou rse The re we e two thi ngs wante d o f him befo re h e
.
r
,

could d o thi s O ne was a ce rtificate o f h is bi rth an d th e

.
,

othe r was a ce rtificate o f his parents m arriage Th e c erti ’

.

cate of h i s bi rth was easily got — h e was b orn abroad an d th e ,

ce rtificate was th e re in due form Th e othe r matte r w a s a .

dif c u lty— an d that di ffi cu lty brou ght h im to O ld Wel

m in gh a m .

B ut for on e considerati on he might have gone to Kn owles ,

bu ry i n stead .

H i s m othe r had be en living the re j u st befo re sh e met with

hi s fathe r— living unde r he r maiden n ame ; the truth being
that sh e was really a m arried wom an ; married in I rel and ,

wher e he r hu sban d had i ll u sed he r an d h ad afte rward s gon e

-

o ff with s ome othe r pe rson I give you thi s fact o n good .

4 77
 T H E WO M AN I N W H ITE

auth ority : S i r Felix m enti on ed it to hi s so n as the reason ,

fi
wh y h e h ad n o t married Y o u may won de r why the s on
.
,

kn owi ng th at h is parents had met e ach othe r at K no w lesbu ry ,

di d n ot pl ay his fi rst tricks with th e registe r o f that chu rch ,

wh e re i t might have b ee n fairly p resume d his fathe r an d

m othe r we re married Th e reason was that th e cle rgyman
.
,

w h o di d duty at K n o w lesbu ry ch u rch i n th e year eightee n ,

hu n dre d an d th ree (when according t o hi s bi rth c erti c a te

,
-
,

hi s fathe r a nd moth er ough t t o have bee n married ) was alive ,

sti ll when he to o k posse ssi on of th e p rope rty in th e N e w

,

Year o f eigh tee n h u ndre d an d twe nty seven Thi s awkward - .

ci rcum stance fo rced h im to exten d h is i nqui rie s to ou r n eigh

b o u rh o o d The re n o s uch dan ge r exi ste d : the fo rme r
.
,

cle rgyman at o u r chu rch h avi ng been dead for some years .

O l d W elm in gh a m su ite d his p urp os e a s wel l a s Kn owles

bu ry H i s fathe r h ad removed hi s m oth er from K n o w lesb u ry
.
,

an d h ad live d with h e r at a cottage o n th e river a little ,

di stance from o u r village Pe ople who h ad known hi s soli

.

ta ry ways whe n h e was single di d n ot wonde r at h is s olitary ,

ways w h en h e w a s su ppose d to be married

'

I f h e had n o t .

be e n a hideou s c re atu re to look at hi s re ti red life with the ,

lady might h ave raise d su spici on s : but as thi ngs we re hi s , ,

hi din g hi s ugli nes s an d hi s defo rmity i n th e strictes t privacy

su rpri se d n obody H e l ived in o u r neighbou rh ood till h e came
.

in p os ses sion of th e Park After th ree o r fou r and twenty

.

years h ad pas sed wh o was to say (th e clergyman bein g

,

dead ) that h is marriage had n ot bee n a s private as th e re st o f

h is life and that i t h ad n ot take n pl ace at O ld W elm ingh a m
,

church P
S o as I told you the so n fou n d ou r n eighb ou rh ood th e
, ,

fi
su re st place he could ch oo se to se t thin gs right secretly i n ,

hi s o w n i n te rests I t may su rp ri se you to h ear that w hat h e

.

really di d to th e marriage regi ste r was don e on the spu r of

-

the m ome n t — d on e o n secon d th oughts .

H is fi rst n oti on was on ly to tear th e leaf o u t (in th e ri gh t

year a n d m on th ) to destroy i t p rivately to go back to Lo n
, ,

d on an d to tell the lawyers to get hi m the n ecessary c erti

,

cate o f hi s father s marriage i nn oce ntly refe rri n g the m o f

’
,

co urs e to th e date o n th e leaf that was gone N obody co uld .

say hi s fathe r an d mother had n ot bee n m arrie d after that

an d whether u nder the ci rcu mstan ce s they would stretch a
, ,

poin t o r n ot about len din g h im the m on ey (he thou ght they

would ) h e had hi s an swe r ready at all events if a
, ,

que sti on was ever raised about h i s right to the n ame and th e
.

e state .

4 78
 T H E WO M AN I N W H IT E

hi m o n your w ord of h onour as a gen tle man that he i s

, ,

wron g an d th at I am n ot to blame i n the way he th in ks I

,

am . D o m e that j u stice at least after all I have don e for , ,

you H e flatly refused in s o m any words

.
’
H e told me ,
.
,

plainly that i t was his inte rest to let my h usband a n d all my

,

n ei gh bours believe th e falsehood — b e cau se as lon g as they ,

did so they were quite ce rtai n neve r to susp ect the truth
,
I .

had a spi rit o f my own an d I told hi m they should kn ow th e

truth fro m my lips H i s reply was sh ort a n d to th e point
.
,
.

I f I spoke I was a lost woman as certain ly as he w a s a lost

, ,

ma n .

Yes i t had come t o that H e h ad de ceive d m e ab out th e .

ri sk I ra n i n helpi ng him H e h ad p ractise d on my ign oran ce .

h e had tem pte d me wi th his gifts ; h e had i n te res ted me with

hi s story — a n d th e re sult o f i t was that he made m e his
accomplice H e owned thi s coolly ; an d he ended by tellin g
.

me fo r the fi rst time what the frightful pun ish m en t really

, ,

was fo r h is o ff e nce and for any on e who h elped him to comm it

,

it I n th ose days the law w a s n o t s o te nde r h earted as I h ear

.
,
-

i t i s n ow M u rde re rs we re n ot the only people liable to be

.

hanged ; an d wome n convicts we re n ot treated li ke ladie s in

u ndese rved di stress I confess he frighten ed me — the m ean
.

i mposto r ! th e c owardly blackguard ! D o you u nde rstand ,

n ow h ow I hated hi m P D o yo u u nde rs tan d why I am taki ng

,

all thi s trouble thankfully takin g it— to gratify the cu ri osity

-

o f the m erito ri ou s youn g gentleman wh o h u nted h i m d own P

Well to go o n H e was h ardly fool e n ough to drive m e

, .

to down right despe rati on I was n ot th e sort o f woman wh om .

i t was quite safe to hun t into a corn e r— h e kn ew that an d ,

w i sely quieted me with p rop osal s for th e futu re .

I de se rved som e reward (he was kin d e nough t o say ) fo r

the se rvice I had d on e him an d s om e compen sati on (h e was ,

s o obliging as to add ) for what I h ad su ffered H e was quite .

willing— generou s scoun d rel — to make m e a h a n dso m e yearly

allowance pa y able qu arte rly o n two con diti o n s Fi rst I was
, , .
,

to h old my ton gu e — ih my o w n in te rests as wel l as in h is .

S econdly I w a s n ot to sti r away fro m W elm in gh am without

, ,

fi rst letting him kn ow an d waiting till I had obtai ne d h i s ,

pe rmi ssion I n my o w n n eigh bou rh ood n o vi rtuous fem al e

.
,

frie nds would tempt me i nto dan ge rou s gossiping at the tea
table I n my o w n n eigh bourh ood
. h e would always kn ow ,

whe re to fin d me A hard con diti on that se con d o n e— but I

.
,

accepte d it .

Wh at else was I to do P I was left h elpl ess wi th the p ro ,

spect o f a coming incu mbran ce i n the shap e of a chi ld What .

4 80
 '

T H E WO MAN I N W H ITE
"

else was I to do P Cast myself o n th e me rcy of my runaway

i diot o f a h u sban d wh o had rai se d th e s candal again st m e ?
I wou ld have died fi rst B esides the allowance was a hands om
.
,

o ne. I had a bette r i ncome a bette r hou se over my head , ,

bette r carpe ts o n my fl oors than half the wome n wh o turn e d ,

u p the white s o f thei r eye s at the sigh t of me The d res s o f .

Virtu e in our parts was cotton pri nt I had si lk

, ,
. .

S o I accepte d the con diti on s he o ff e re d me a nd made th e

, ,

be s t o f them and fought my battle with my re spectable n eigh

,

fi
bou rs o n thei r o wn grou nd an d w o n i t i n cou rs e o f ti me ,

as y o u saw you rself H ow I kep t h is S ecre t (and min e )

.

th rough all the years that have p asse d fro m that time to
thi s an d whether my late daughte r An ne eve r really cre pt , ,

i nto my confide n ce an d go t the keepi ng of the S ecre t to o

,
— are que stion s I dare sa y to wh ich yo u are cu ri ou s t o
, ,

nd a n answe r VVell ! my gratitu de refuse s you n othin g

'

. .

I w i ll turn to a fresh page an d give you the an swe r imme , ,

dia tely . But yo u mu st excuse o n e thin g— you mu st excuse

my begin ni ng M r H a rtrigh t with a n exp re ssi on of s urpris e
, .
,

at the in te rest which you appear t o have fel t i n my late

daughte r I t i s quite unaccountab le to m e
. If that inte re st .

m ake s you anxi ou s for any particulars of he r e arly life I ,

mu st refe r yo u to M rs Clemen ts wh o kn ows more o f the .

,

su bj ect than I do P ray u n derstand that I d o n ot p rofess

.

to have bee n at all ove r fo nd o f my late daughte r - .

S h e was a wo rry t o me from fi rst to last wi th th e ,

additional di sadvantage o f bein g always weak in th e head .

Y o u li ke candou r and I hope thi s sati sfie s yo u

,
.

The re i s n o n eed to t rouble you with many pe rsonal par

tic u la rs relati ng t o tho se past time s I t wil l be en ough to say .

that I obse rve d the te rm s o f the bargai n o n my side an d that ,

I enj oyed my comfo rtabl e i n come i n retu rn paid qu arte rly , , .

N ow a n d then I got away a n d chan ged the scen e fo r a ,

sh ort ti me ; always asking leave o f my lo rd and maste r first ,

a n d ge ne rally gettin g it H e was n ot a s I have already tol d

.
,

you fool en ough to drive me to o h ard an d he could reason

,

ably rely o n my h oldin g my tongue for my o w n sake if n o t , ,

for hi s. O ne o f my l onges t trip s away from h om e was th e

trip I took to Lim m eridge to n u rse a half siste r the re wh o ,
-
,

was dying S he was reported to have saved money ; a n d I

.

th ought it as well (in case any accident happene d to st 0 p my

allowan ce ) to l oo k afte r my o w n inte rests in that di recti on .

As things tu rne d o u t h oweve r my pain s were all th rown

, ,

away an d I go t n oth in g be cau se n othin g was t o b e had , .

I had take n Ann e t o the n o rth with me havi n g my whim s

481 I I
 TH E WO M AN I N W H ITE

and fancie s occasion al ly about my ch ild , a n d gettin g at s uch

, , ,

time s j ealous of M rs C lem en ts s in fl ue n ce ove r her

,
I n ev er
:
’
.

li ked M rs Cle ments S he was a poo r e mpty h eade d s piritless

. .
-

woman — what yo u call a bo rn d rudge — an d I was n ow a n d ,

th en n ot averse to plaguing he r by takin g Ann e away N o t

,
.

kn owin g what els e to do with my girl while I was nu rsin g ,

i n Cu mberland I put he r to school at L im m eridge

,
The .

lady of the man o r M rs Fairli e (a remarkably plai n lookin g

, .

wo man wh o had e ntrapped o ne of the hand somest m en in

,

E n gland i nto marry i ng h e r ) amuse d m e wonde rfully by , ,

taki n g a vi ole nt fan cy to my girl The c on sequ ence was .

,

sh e learn t n othin g at sch ool an d was petted an d sp oilt at ,

L im m eridge H ouse Am on g other whim s and fancie s which

.

they tau ght he r there they p u t some n on sen se i nto he r head ,

about always weari n g white H atin g whi te an d liki ng colou rs .

mys elf I dete rmi ne d t o take the n on sen s e o ut o f he r head as

,

s oo n as we go t ho me again .

S trange t o say my dau ghter re s olutely resi ste d me ,

.

Whe n s he h a d got a n oti o n on ce fixed in h e r mi nd sh e was ,

l ike othe r h alf witted pe opl e as obs tinate a s a m ule in keepin g

-
,

i t We quarrel le d fi nely ; a n d M rs Cle ments n ot liking t o

. .
,

se e i t I supp o se o ff e red t o take An ne away to l ive in Lon do n

,

with h e r I sh ould have sai d Ye s if M rs Cle ments had n ot

.
,
.

side d with my dau ghte r ab ou t h e r d res si ng he rself in wh ite .

B ut bei ng dete rmi ned sh e sh ould n ot d res s he rself in white

, ,

and disli ki ng M rs Cleme nts more than eve r fo r taki ng part

.

agai n st m e I s ai d N o an d m eant N o an d stuc k t o N o The

, , , .

co nsequence w a s my daughte r re mai ned with me ; and th e

,

con sequence of th at i n its tu rn was th e fi rst se ri ou s quarre l , ,

that happ en ed ab out th e S ecre t .

Th e ci rcu mstance to ok place lon g afte r th e time I have

ju st bee n writing o f I had bee n settl ed for years in the n ew .

town ; an d was ste adily livi ng d own my bad ch aracte r an d ,

slowly gai ni ng grou nd amo ng th e resp ectable i nhabitants .

I t helped m e fo rward greatly toward s thi s obj ect to have my ,

d au ghte r with me H e r harmlessn ess and h e r fan cy for

.
,

d re ssi n g i n white excite d a certai n amoun t of sympathy

, I .

left o ff opposing he r favou rite whim on that accoun t becau se , ,

s om e of the sympathy was su re in c ourse o f ti me t o fall to , ,

my share S ome o f i t did fall.

.
I date my gettin g a ch oice .

o f the two best sittings t o let i n th e chu rch from that time ,
-

an d I date the clergyman s fi rst b ow from my gettin g th ’

e

sittings .

Well being s ettled i n thi s way I received a letter o n e

, ,

morning from that highly b orn ge ntle man (n ow deceased ) i n ,

4 82
 T H E WO M AN I N W H IT E
said the day before — rep eated in hi s pre sen ce as if they had , ,

come from herself H e sat s peech le s s as white as the pape r

.
,

I am writin g o n wh ile I pushe d he r o u t o f the room Whe n

,
.

he re cove red h imse lf

fi
No ! I am to o respectable a woman t o me ntion what
h e said whe n he re covered himself My pen i s the p en of a .

membe r o f th e rector s con gregation an d a sub scribe r to th e

’
,

Wednesday Le cture s o n J u stificatio n by Faith — h ow ca n

o u expect me to employ i t i n writin g bad language P S up
y
pose fo r you rself th e raging swearing fre n z y o f the l owes t
, , ,

r u f a n i n Englan d an d le t us get on togethe r as fas t as may ,

be to the way i n which i t all e nded

,
.

I t e nded a s you probab ly gues s by thi s time in h i s ih

, , ,

s i stin g o n se curin g hi s o w n safety by shuttin g h e r up .

I trie d to set thin gs righ t I told him that she had mere ly
.

repeated li ke a p arrot the words sh e had heard m e say and

, , ,

that sh e kn ew n o particulars whatever becau se I had m en ,

ti o n ed none I explain ed that sh e had a ff ected o u t o f crazy

.
,

s pite again st him to kn ow what she re ally did n ot kn ow th at

,

she only wanted to th reate n him and aggravate h im fo r ,

speaki ng to h er as h e had j ust sp oken and that my unlucky

words gave he r j ust th e chan ce o f doing mi schief o f which sh e
was i n search I referre d hi m to oth er queer ways o f he rs
.
,

a n d to hi s o w n e x peri en ce o f the vagari e s o f half wi tte d pe ople -

i t wa s al l to n o p urpo se — h e wo uld n ot believe m e o n my oath

h e was ab solutely ce rtai n I had betrayed the whole S e cret .

I n sh ort h e would hear o f n othing but sh uttin g he r up

, .

U n de r these ci rcumstances I di d my duty as a mothe r , .

N o p aupe r Asylum I said I wo n t h ave he r put i n a paupe r

,
’ ’

Asylum A Private E stab lishme n t if y ou please

. I have my , .

fee li ngs as a mothe r an d my characte r to p rese rve in the town

,

an d I will submit to n othin g bu t a Private E stablish me nt o f ,

the sort which my gente el n eighb ou rs would ch o ose for a fflicte d

relative s o f their o w n Th ose we re my wo rds
.
’
I t i s grati .

fyin g to me to reflect that I did my duty Though n eve r .

ove r fond o f my late daughte r I had a p rope r p ride about he r

-
, .

N o pau pe r s tai n — than ks to my fi rmn es s an d re solutio n eve r -

re s ted o n M Y ch il d .

H avi ng carri ed my p oi nt (which I did the m ore easily in ,

con sequen ce o f the facilitie s o ff e re d by p rivate Asylums ) I ,

could n ot refu se to admit that the re we re certain advantage s

gained by shuttin g he r up I n the fi rst p lace she was take n
.
,

excelle nt care o f— bein g t re ated (as I took care to men ti on in

th e town ) o n th e footing of a Lady I n the se cond place sh e .
,

was kept away from W elm ingh a m whe re sh e migh t have ,

4 84
 T H E WO MAN I N W H IT E
set pe ople s u spe cting an d in qu irin g by repeatin g my o wn ,

i ncauti ou s wo rds .

Th e on ly d rawback o f putting h e r u n de r restrai nt w a s a

ve ry slight o n e We me rely tu rn e d h e r e mpty b oast ab out
.

kn owi n g th e S ecre t i nto a fi xe d delusi on H avin g fi rst sp oke n

, .

fi
i n shee r cra z y spitefuln es s again st the m a n wh o had o ff e nde d

h e r sh e was cun n i ng e n ough to see that sh e h ad se ri ously

,

fri ghte ned hi m an d sharp e n ough afte rwards to di scove r that b e

,

was con ce rn ed in shuttin g he r up The con se qu ence was she .

flame d o u t in to a pe rfe ct fren z y of passion again st h im goin g ,

t o the Asylu m ; a n d the fi rst wo rds sh e s aid to th e n u rse s ,

afte r they h ad quie te d he r we re that sh e was pu t in c o n n e

, ,

me n t for k nowing hi s sec ret an d that she mean t to open he r ,

lips an d rui n him whe n the right ti me came, .

S he may h ave sai d the same thin g t o you whe n you ,

thoughtle ssly assiste d he r escap e S he ce rtai nly said i t (as I .

h eard last su mme r ) to th e u nfo rtu nate wom an wh o marrie d

ou r sweet te mpe re d n amele ss ge n tleman l ately decease d
-
, , .

I f ei the r yo u o r that u nlucky lady had que stion e d in y

, ,

daughte r cl osely an d had i nsi ste d o n he r explai ni ng wh at sh e

,

really me ant you would have fou nd he r l ose all he r self

,

imp ortance sudd enly an d ge t vacant a nd re stle ss an d c o n

, , ,

fu sed — you would have discove re d that I am writi ng n othin g

here but th e plai n truth S he knew that the re was a S ecret
.

sh e kn ew wh o was c on ne cte d with it— she kn ew wh o would

suffe r by i ts bei n g kn own — a n d b eyon d that wh ateve r ai rs , ,

o f i mportance sh e m ay have give n he rse lf wh ateve r cra z y ,

boasting sh e may h ave i n dulge d i n with strange rs sh e n eve r ,

to he r dyi ng day k new mo re .

H ave I sati sfi ed you r cu riosity ? I h ave taken pai n s e n ough

t o satisfy i t at any rate Th ere i s really n othin g el se I h ave
.

t o tell you about myself or my daughte r My wo rst respon si, .

b iliti es s o far as sh e was con cerned we re al l ove r whe n sh e

, ,

was secure d in th e Asylum I had a fo rm of lette r relating t o

.

the circumstan ce s un de r which sh e was shut up give n me to ,

write in an swer to on e M i ss H alcombe wh o was curi ous i n

, ,

the matter a nd wh o must have heard plen ty of lie s about m e

,

from a ce rtai n tongue we ll accu stomed to th e tellin g of the

same An d I did what I co uld afterwards to trace my run away
.

daughte r a n d preve nt her fro m doin g mischief by makin g

, ,

in quirie s myself in the n eigh bourh ood whe re sh e was falsely

, ,

reporte d to h ave been seen B ut the se an d othe r trifl es l ike

.

them are o f little o r n o i ntere st to yo u afte r what you h ave

,

heard alre ady .

S o far I have written in the friendlie st pos si ble spi ri t B ut

,
.

4 85
 T H E WO M AN I N W H ITE

I cann ot close thi s lette r wi th out adding a word he re of seriou s

remon strance and repro of addre s sed to yourself
,
.

I n the course o f you r pe rso nal inte rview with m e you ,

’
audaci ou sly refe rre d to my late daughte r s parentage o n th e ,

fa th er s side a s if that pare ntage was a matte r of d oubt

’
,
.

This w a s highly imprope r an d ve ry un ge ntlem anlike o n you r

part I f we se e each other agai n re mem be r i f y o u please , , ,

that I wi ll allow n o libe rti e s to be take n w ith my reputation ,

an d that th e moral atmo sphe re o f W elm i ngh a m (to u se a

favourite exp re ssi on o f my frie nd the rec to r s ) mu st n ot be ’

tainted by l oose conve rsati on o f any ki nd I f yo u all ow you n .

self to doubt that my h usband w a s Ann e s fathe r you pe rson ’

,

ally in sult me in th e gros sest man ne r I f you have felt a n d .

,

if you still con tin ue to feel an unhallowed curio sity 0 11 thi s

,

subj ect I recom men d you i n you r o w n 1 n terests to check i t

, , ,

at on ce and for ever O n thi s side of th e grave M r Ha rtrigh t

.
, .
,

whateve r m ay happen o n the othe r th a t cu rio sity will n eve r ,

be gratified .

Perhaps afte r what I have j ust said you will see the
, ,

n eces sity o f writin g m e an apology D o so an d I wi ll .

willi ngly receive i t I will afterward s i f your wi she s p oin t

.
, ,

to a se con d interview with me go a step farthe r an d re ceive

, ,

y ou. My ci rc umstance s only e nable me to invite you to tea

n ot that they are at al l altered for the wors e by what h a s
happened I have always lived as I thin k I told you we l l
.
, ,

withi n my i ncome an d I have saved e n ough i n th e last twenty ,

years to make m e quite co mfortable for the re st o f my life

, It .

i s n ot my intenti on to leave W elm ingh a m The re are o ne o r .

two little advantage s which I have still to gain in th e tow n .

The clergyman bows to me — as yo u sa w H e i s married an d .

h is wife i s n ot q uite s o civi l I propo se to j oin the D orcas

.

S ociety ; an d I mean to make the clergym an s wife bow to m e ’

n ext .

I f yo u favou r me wi th your company p ray understand that ,

the conve rsation m u st be en ti re ly o n general subj ects Any .

attempte d referen ce t o thi s lette r will be quite u sele ss I am

determin ed n ot t o acknowledge havi ng writte n i t The .

eviden ce has bee n de stroyed i n the fire I kn ow ; but I thin k ,

it desirable to e rr o n the sid e o f cauti on n eve rthele ss , .

O n thi s account n o n ame s are mentione d here n o r i s a ny

, ,

signatu re attached to the se lines the han dwritin g i s di sguised

throughout a n d I mean t o deliver the lette r myself under
, ,

ci rcumstance s wh ich will preven t all fear o f its bei ng trace d

to my house Y o u c a n have n o pos si ble cau se to complai n o f
.

these precauti on s see ing that they d o n o t a ff ect the informa

4 86
 fi
T H E W O M AN I N W H I TE
free to return to L ondon by the aftern oon o r th e e v en in g
t rain .

My fi rst e rrand in the m orn in g w a s as u sual to the post , ,

o f ce The lette r from Mari an was there bu t I th ought

.
, ,

whe n i t w a s han ded to m e that i t felt unusually light , I .

anxi o usly ope ne d the enve lope There was n othing i n side .

but a small strip of paper folded in t wo The few blotted ,

.
,

hurri e dly wri tten lin e s which we re traced 0 11 it contained these

- .

wo rd s
C ome bac k as soon as yo u can I h ave been obliged to .

m ove Co me to Gowe r s Walk Ful ham (nu mbe r five )

.
’
I ,
.

will be o n the l oo k ou t for you D on t be alarme d about us

- .
’

we are both safe an d well B ut com e back — M arian . . .

’

The n ews which those line s contain ed — news w hich I

i n stantly ass ociated with some attempted treachery o n the
part o f C ou nt Fo sco —fairly overwh elmed me I stood breath .

le ss with the paper crumple d u p in my hand What had

,
.

happened P What subtle wickedne ss had the Coun t plan ned

a n d executed i n my abse n ce ? A night had passed sin ce
M arian s n ote was wri tte n — hours m ust elap se still before I
’
,

c ould ge t back to them — some n ew disaster might have hap

pene d already o f whi ch I was ign orant An d he re mi le s an d
, .
,

miles away from them here I must re main — held d oubly held
, ,

at the di sposal o f th e law

I hardly kn ow t o what forgetfulne s s of my obligation s
anxiety a n d alarm might not h ave tempte d me but fo r the ,

quieting i nfluen ce of my faith i n M ari an My absolute .

re liance o n h er was th e o n e earthly con side ration whi ch

helped me to re strain myself an d gave me courage to wait ,
.

The I n que st was the fi rst of the i mpe dime n ts i n the way o f my
freedom of acti on I attended it at the appoi nted time ; th e
.

legal formalitie s requirin g my pre sen ce i n the room but as , ,

i t tu rned out n ot callin g o n me to repeat my evidence Thi s

, .

u sele ss delay was a hard trial alth ough I di d my be st to quiet ,

my impatien ce by following the c ourse of the proceedin gs as

cl osely a s I could .

Th e Lon don so licitor of th e deceased (M r M errim an ) w a s .

a mong the person s pre se nt B ut h e was quite un able to .

assist the o bj ects of the in qui ry H e c ould only say that h e .

was i nexpressibly shocked an d aston ished an d that he cou ld ,

t hrow n o light w hateve r o n th e myste ri ous ci rcumstan ce s of

th e case At i nterval s durin g the a dj ourn ed i nvestigation he
.
,

sugge sted questi on s which th e Coron er put but which led to

, ,

n o re sults Afte r a p atie nt inquiry which lasted nearly three

.
,

h ours a nd which exhau sted eve ry available source of infe r

,

4 88
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E
matio n the j ury pron ounced the custom ary verdic t in case s o f
,

sudden death by accident They adde d to the formal deci si on

.

a state ment that th ere had bee n n o evi den ce t o show h ow the
keys had been abstracted h o w the fire had bee n cau sed o r
, ,

what the purpose was for which the decease d h ad ente red
th e vestry This act closed the p ro ceedings
. The l egal .

repre sentative o f the de ad m a n was left to provide for the

n ecessi ti es o f the i ntermen t ; a n d the witn es ses we re free
to retire .

Resolved n ot to lose a minute i n getting t o K n o w lesbu ry ,

I paid my bill at th e h otel an d hire d a fly to take me to the

,

town A gentleman wh o h eard m e give the orde r and who

.
,

sa w that I was going alon e informed m e that h e live d in th e

,

neighbou rh ood o f K n o w lesbu ry a n d asked if I would have ,

a ny obj ection t o hi s gettin g h om e by sharin g the fly with me .

I accepte d h is p roposal as a matte r of cou rse .

O ur conve rsatio n du ri ng the d rive was n atu rally occupie d

bv the on e absorbin g subj ect of l ocal i nte re st .

My n ew acquaintance had some kn owledge of th e late S i r

Pe rcival s s olicitor ; an d he an d M r Me rri man had bee n
’
.

discu ssin g th e state o f th e deceased ge ntleman s a ff ai rs and ’

the s uccessi o n to the p rope rty S i r Pe rcival s embarrassments

.
’

we re s o well kn own all ove r th e c ou nty that hi s solicito r cou ld

fi
only make a virtue o f neces sity a n d plai n ly ackn owledge
the m .H e had die d wi th ou t leavi n g a will an d he had n o ,

pers onal p rope rty t o be queath eve n if h e h a d made o n e ; th e,

whole fortun e which h e had derive d from hi s wife havin g

b een swallowe d up by h i s cre dito rs Th e he i r to th e e state .

( S i r Percival h aving left n o i ssue ) wa s a s o n o f S i r Felix

G ly de s fi rst cou sin — a n o f c e r i n comman d of a n E ast I n dia
’

ma n . H e would fin d hi s u n expecte d i nhe ritan ce sadly

en cumb ere d but th e p roperty wou ld recove r with time a n d , ,

if the captai n was careful h e might be a rich man yet

’
, ,

b efore he die d .

Absorbe d as I was in th e o ne idea of gettin g to Lo ndon ,

thi s i nform ati on (which eve nts prove d t o be pe rfectly co rrect )

had an inte rest of its o w n to attract my atten ti on I th ough t .

it j u stified me in ke epi ng secret my di scove ry o f S ir Pe rcival s ’

fraud The he i r wh ose right s h e had u su rpe d was the h ei r

.

wh o would n ow have the estate The i ncome from i t fo r th e .

,

las t th re e an d twe nty years which shou ld properly have bee n

- -
,

hi s a n d which the dead m a n had squandere d to the last farthi n g

, ,

was gon e beyon d recall I f I spoke my speaking would confe r

.
,

advantage o n n o o n e I f I kept the secre t my silen ce c o n

.
,

c ea l ed th e characte r o f the m a n wh o had che ated L au ra i nt o

4 89
 T H E WO M AN I N W H ITE
marryin g h i m F o r he r sake I w i she d t o con ceal it— fo r he r
.
,

sake still I tell thi s story u nde r feign e d name s

, ,
.

I parte d with my chanc e compan ion at K n o w lesbu ry an d

we nt at o n ce t o the town h al l As I had antici pate d n o o ne - .
,

was presen t to pro secute the cas e against m e — th e n ecessary

fo rmalitie s we re obse rved — and I was di scharged O 11 l eaving .

the court a lette r from M r D aws on was put i nto my han d

,
. .

I t info rmed me that h e was absen t o n profe ssional duty an d ,

i t reite rated th e o ff e r I had already receive d from hi m o f any

assi stance which I might require at hi s hands I w ro te b a c k .
,

warmly ackn owle dgin g my obligati on s t o hi s kindne ss and ,

apologi sing for n ot exp re ssin g my than ks pe rson ally i n ,

con sequence o f my i mmediate recall o n p re ssing busi ne ss to , ,

town .

H alf a n h ou r later I w a s speeding bac k t o L on don by th e

exp re ss t rain .

IT was be twee n ni ne an d ten o cl ock befo re I reache d F ulh a m ’

,

and fou n d my way to Gowe r s Walk ’

.

B oth L au ra an d M arian came to th e doo r to let me i n I .

thin k we h ad hardly kn own h ow cl ose the ti e was whi ch

bou n d u s th re e togethe r u nti l th e even in g came which u nited
,

u s again We m et as i f we had bee n parted fo r m onth s

.
,

i n stead of fo r a few days only M arian s face w a s sadly wo rn .

’

a n d anxiou s I sa w wh o had kn own al l th e dan ge r an d

.
,

b orn e all th e trouble i n my absence the m ome nt I l ooke d at

, ,
’
he r Lau ra s b righte r l ooks an d bette r spirits told m e h ow
.

carefully sh e had been spared all knowledge of th e d readful

death at W elm in gh a m and o f th e tru e reason for o u r change
,

o f abode .

The sti r o f the rem oval seeme d to have ch ee red a nd

i nte re sted he r S h e only sp oke o f i t as a happy th ou ght o f
.

M arian s to su rp ri se me o n my retu rn with a change from

’

, ,

the close n oi sy stree t to th e pleasant n eigh bou rho od of trees

, ,

and field s a nd the rive r S h e was full o f p roj ects fo r the .

future — o f the drawi ngs she was to fini sh o f th e purchase rs

I had found i n the coun try wh o we re t o buy them ; o f the ,

shillin gs an d sixpence s she had saved til l he r purse was so ,

heavy that sh e p roudly aske d me to wei gh it in my o w n hand .

The change fo r th e b ette r wh ich had been wrought i n h e r ,

d urin g t h e few days o f my abse nce w a s a s urp ris e to me for ,

which I was quite unprepared —a n d fo r all the un speakable

happin ess o f seein g it I was in debte d to M arian s cou rage
,
’

’
and to M arian s love .

4 90
 TH E W O MAN I N W H I T E

see me and said I had forgotten s omething u p stair s As

,
- .

soon as I was o u t o f the room I went down to the first land ,

i ng and waited — I was dete rmin ed t o stop him if h e tried to

,

fi
come u p-stairs H e made n o s u ch attempt The girl from
. .

th e sh op came through th e d oor i nto the passage with h i s ,

card i n h er hand — a large gilt card with hi s name and a , ,

corone t abo v e it an d these line s unde rn eath in pen ci l

, D ear
”
lady (yes the villain cou ld addre ss m e in that way still )
dear lady o n e word I i mplore yo u o n a matter se ri ous to
, , ,
”
u s both I f o n e c a n thin k at all i n se ri ou s d i f c ulties on e
.
, ,

thinks quick I felt dire ctly that i t migh t be a fatal mi stake

.

to leave myself a nd to leave you in th e dark wh ere such a ,

man as th e Coun t was c on cern ed I felt that the doubt o f .

what he migh t do in you r absence would be ten time s mo re

, ,

tryin g to me if I decl in e d to see h im than if I con se nted .

“
As k th e gentleman to wait in the shop I said I wil l be , .

”
with h im i n a m oment I ra n u p stairs for my bon net .
-
,

being dete rmin ed n ot to le t hi m speak to m e i h doors I

'

- .

knew h is deep ri n gin g voi ce a n d I was afraid Lau ra migh t

h ear it eve n in the shop
,
I n le s s than a min ute I was down .

again in the pas sage an d had opened the do o r into the street
, .

H e cam e round to meet m e fro m the sho p The re h e was .

,

i n deep mou rnin g with h is smooth bo w an d h is d eadly smile

, ,

and s ome idle boys a n d wo men n e ar him starin g at h is great ,

si z e hi s fin e blac k clothe s a nd hi s large can e with the gold

, ,

kn o b to it All the horri ble time at B lackwate r came back

.

to me the m omen t I set eye s o n him All the o ld loathin g .

c rept and crawled through me whe n he took o ff hi s hat with ,

a fl ourish an d spoke to me as if we had parted o n the

, ,

fri endlie st terms hardly a day si nce .

’

Y o u remembe r what h e sai d P

I can t repeat it Walte r Y o u shall kn ow di rectly what
’
, .

h e said about y ou— but I can t repeat what h e said to m e I t ’

.

was wo rse than the polite in solen ce o f hi s letter My hands .

tingled to stri ke h im as if I had been a man ! I on ly kep t ,

the m quiet by tearing hi s card t o piece s u nde r my shawl .

Withou t sayin g a word o n my side I walked away from the ,

h ouse (for fear o f Laura seei ng us ) an d he followed protest ,

in g softly all th e way I n the firs t by street I t urned an d

.
-
,

aske d h im what he wanted with me

-
H e wanted two things . .

Fi rst if I h ad n o obj ecti on to expre ss hi s sen timents

, I , .

declined to hear them S econdly t o repeat the war n ing in

.
,

h i s lette r I asked what occasi on there was fo r repeatin g i t

.
, .

H e bowed and smiled an d said he would explain The , .

explanatio n exactly confi rme d the fears I e x pressed before

492
 T H E W O M AN I N W H I T E

you left u s .I to ld you if yo u reme mbe r that S i r Percival

, ,
’
would be to o headstrong to take hi s frien d s advic e where
you were con cern e d ; an d that there was n o dange r to be
dreade d fro m the Coun t ti ll hi s o w n inte rests were threatened ,

a n d h e was roused i nto actin g fo r himself P

I recollect M arian ,
.
’

‘
Well ; s o it has really turn ed out Th e Coun t o ff ered .

h i s advi ce but it was refused S i r Pe rcival wou ld on ly take.

coun sel o f h is o w n violen ce hi s o w n obstinacy an d hi s o w n

, ,

hatre d o f y ou The Coun t let hi m h ave hi s way first

.

privately ascertai nin g in case o f h is o w n i nterests bein g

,

threatened n ext where we lived Y o u were followed Walte r

, .
, ,

o n return ing he re afte r yo ur fi rs t j o urney to H ampshi re — by

,

the lawye r s men fo r some distan ce fro m th e rai lway a n d by

’

the Cou nt him self t o the d oo r o f th e h ouse H ow h e c o n .

triv ed to escape bein g see n by y o u h e did n o t tel l m e but h e , ,

foun d u s o u t o n that occasi on a n d in that way H avin g mad e ,

.

the discovery he too k n o advan tage o f it till the n ews reached

,

h im o f S ir Percival s death — an d then as I told you he acted

’

, ,

fi
fo r himself becau se he beli eved you would n ext procee d
,

again st the dead man s partne r in th e con spiracy H e at

’
.

on ce made hi s arrange ment s to meet the own er o f th e Asylu m

in London a n d to take hi m to th e place where h is runaway
,

patien t was hi dden believin g th at the results whichever way ,

they ended would be to i nvo lve yo u in i nterminable legal

,

dispute s an d di f c ultie s an d to tie yo ur h ands fo r all pu rpose s

,

o f o ff en ce s o far as he was conce rn ed

, Th at was hi s pu rp os e .
,

0 11 hi s o w n confe ssion t o me The o nly con sideratio n which

.

m ade hi m hesitate at th e las t mo men t,

Ye s P
‘
I t i s hard to ackn owledge i t Walte r— an d yet I mu st , .

[ was the on ly con side rati on N o wo rds c a n say h o w de .

graded I fee l i h my o w n e stimatio n when I thin k o f it— bu t

the o n e weak poin t i n that man s i ron ch aracter i s the h orri ble ’

admi ration h e feels fo r m e I have t ried fo r the sake o f my

.
,

o w n self respect to di sbe lieve it as lon g a s I c ould

-
, but his
looks hi s action s fo rce o n me the shameful conviction o f the
, ,

truth The eye s of that mon ster o f wickednes s moiste ned

.

whi le h e was speakin g to me — they d id Walte r H e declared , ,

that at the moment o f pointin g o u t the house t o the docto r ,

h e though t o f my misery if I was separated from Lau ra o f ,

my respo n si bility if I was called o n to answer for e ff ectin g

h e r escape — and he risked the worst th at you co uld d o to him ,

th e secon d ti me fo r my sake All he asked was that I w o u ld

, .

remembe r th e sacrifice an d restrain yo u r rashne ss in my o w n

, ,

493
 TH E ‘ ‘
vV O lvI AN I N W H I TE

int ere sts — inte rests which he migh t n ever be able to con sul t
again I made n o such barg ai n with him I would have died
.

first . B ut believe hi m o r n o t— whethe r i t i s tru e or false that

,

h e sen t the docto r away with an excu se — on e thing is ce rtai n ,

I saw the m a n leave him withou t s o m uch as a glan ce at o ur ,

’
win dow o r even at ou r side o f th e way
,
.

I believe it M arian The be s t me n are n o t co nsi s tent in

,
.

good — why sh oul d th e worst m en be consi ste nt in evi l P At

th e s ame time I s uspe ct hi m o f mere ly attempting to frighten
,

you by th reaten in g w hat he can not really do

,
I doubt h is .

p owe r o f an n oyin g u s by mean s of th e owne r o f the Asylu m

, ,

n o w that S i r Pe rcival i s d ead an d M rs C a th eric k i s free from , .

all c ontrol B ut let me h ear mo re What did th e Cou nt sa y

. .

of me P
H e sp oke last o f you H i s eye s b ri ghte ne d a nd h ard ened .
,

a nd his m an ne r changed t o what I reme mbe r it i n pas t time s ,

— to that mixtu re o f pitiless re sol ution and m ounteban k
“
mockery wh ich make s i t s o imp ossible to fath om h im Warn .

M r H a rtrigh t
. h e said in h is l oftie st mann e r H e h as a,
.

man of b rain s t o deal with a m a n wh o snaps his bi g finge rs ,

at the laws and c onventi o n s o f s ociety w hen h e measu re s ,

h im self with M E I f my lamen ted frie nd had take n my advi ce

.
,

th e b u si ness of the I n quest would have bee n wi th the body o f

M r H a rtrigh t
. B ut my lame nted frien d was obstinate
. .

S ee ! I m ou rn hi s l os s — i nwardly i n my s ou l ; outwardly 0 11
my hat Thi s trivial c rap e expresse s se n sibi li tie s whi c h I
. .
‘

s ummon M r H a rtrigh t to res pect T h ey m ay be t ran sfo rm ed

. .

t o immeasu rabl e e n mities if h e venture s t o di sturb the m ,

-

Let hi m be conten t with what he has got — with wh at I leave

u n molested for your sake to h i m a n d t o you
, S ay to him , .

(with my compliments ) if h e sti rs me h e h as F osco t o deal , ,

with I n th e E nglish of the Popu lar Tongue I inform hi m

.
,
”
—F os co stic ks at n othin g ! D ear lady good m o rnin g .
,

H i s cold grey eye s settle d o n my face — h e t ook o ff h is hat

sole mnly —b owed bareheaded — an d left me , .
’

‘
With ou t returni ng P with out saying mo re last wo rds P
‘
H e tu rn ed at th e corn e r of th e street an d waved his ,

h and a n d then struc k i t theatri cally o n hi s breast

, I lost .

sight o f him after that H e di sapp eared i n the opposite

, .

directi on to our h ouse ; an d I ran back to Lau ra B efore I .

was i h d oors again I had made u p my m i nd that we mu st

-
,

go The h o u se (e specially i n y ou r absence ) was a place o f

.

dan ger in stead of a place o f safety n o w that the Count had ,

di scovere d it I f I c ould have felt ce rtain of your return I

.
,

sh ould have risked waiting till yo u came back B ut I was .

494
 TH E W O MAN I N W H ITE

purs u e them O n e o f thos e m en i s beyon d m ortal reach

. .

Th e othe r re mains — an d my resolution re main s .

’

H e r eye s lit u p he r c olou r ros e S h e said no th ing bu t .

I saw al l h e r sympath i es gat h ering to m i n e m h e r face , .

‘
I don t di sguis e fro m myse lf o r fro m yo u I wen t 0 11
’
, ,
’
,

that th e pro spect before u s i s more than doubtful The ri sks .

we h ave ru n alrea dy are i t may be tri fl es compared wi th , , ,

the ris ks th at th reate n u s in th e futu re — bu t th e v entu re shall

b e tri ed M arian fo r all th at
, I am n ot rash en ough to
, .

m easu re mys elf agains t such a m a n as th e Cou n t befo re I am ,

well prepared fo r hi m I h av e l earn t p atie nce ; I can wait

.

my ti me Le t hi m beli eve that h i s mess a ge h as p roduce d its

.

e ff ec t let h im kn ow n othin g of u s and hear noth ing o f u s ,

l e t u s give hi m full ti me to feel secure — h is o w n boastfu l

n ature u nle ss I seri ou sly mi stake hi m will h asten that resul t
, , .

Thi s i s o n e reas on fo r waitin g ; bu t the re i s an othe r more

impo rtan t still My p ositi on M arian toward s yo u an d towards
.
, ,

Lau ra ough t to be a stronger o n e than i t i s n ow b efore I

, ,
’
try o u r last ch anc e .

S he l ean e d near to me with a loo k o f su rp ri se , .

H ow c a n i t b e stronge r P she asked .

‘
I wil l tell you I re plied whe n th e ti me come s
,
’
I t has ,
.

n o t c ome yet : it m ay n eve r c om e at al l I may b e silen t .

about i t to Lau ra for eve r— I mu s t be sil en t n ow eve n to y ou , , ,

till I se e for myself that I c a n harmle ssly an d hon ou rably

speak Let u s l eave that su bj ect The re i s an othe r wh ich
. .

h as more p res sing claim s 0 11 o u r atte n tion Y o u h av e kept .

Lau ra me rcifully kep t he r i n ign oran ce o f he r hu sban d s

, ,
’

death
O h Walte r surely it mus t be l ong yet before we tell he r
, , ,

of it ?
’

No ,M arian B ette r that you sh ould reveal i t to h e r

.

no w than that acciden t which n o o n e c a n guard a gain st

, ,

should reve al i t to he r at s ome futu re time S pare he r all the .

details — break i t to h e r very ten derly — but tell h e r th at he i s

dead ]
Y o u h ave a reason Walte r for wi shin g h e r to kn ow o f , ,

he r hu sban d s death b eside s th e reaso n you h ave j u st

’

fi
,

me ntion ed ? ’

I h ave .
’

A reas on c on n ecte d with that subj ect which must n o t b e

me ntion ed betwe e n u s ye t P — whi ch may n eve r b e me n tion ed
to Lau ra at all P
S he dwel t o n the las t words me aningly Wh en I , .

an swe red he r i n th e a f r mative I dwelt on the m too

, , .

496
 TH E WO MAN I N W H ITE
Her fa c e grew pale F o r a while sh e lo oked at me with
.
,

a sad hes itatin g i ntere s t An u n accustom e d te nderne s s

,
.

tremble d in he r dark eye s a nd softe ne d h e r fi rm lips a s sh e ,

glance d asid e at the e mpty ch ai r in whi ch th e dear co mpani on

o f all ou r j oys an d sorrows had bee n si ttin g .

‘
I thin k I u n de rs tand she sai d I thi n k I owe i t to h e r
,
’
.

a nd to you Walte r to te ll her of he r hu sban d s death ’ ’

.
, ,

S h e sigh ed a nd held my han d fast fo r a mome n t— th en

,

droppe d i t ab ruptly a nd left the roo m O n th e ne xt day

, .
,

L au ra k new that h is death h ad rel ease d h e r an d th at th e ,

e rror an d th e calamity o f h e r l ife lay bu rie d in h is tomb .

H i s name w a s me ntion ed amon g u s n o more T h en c efo r .

ward we sh ran k fro m th e sligh te st app roach to th e s ubj ect

,

o f hi s death an d in the same scrupulou s mann e r M arian an d

, ,

I avoided all fu rthe r refe ren ce to that oth e r su bj ec t which by , ,

h e r c on sen t a n d mine was n o t to b e m e ntion ed betwee n u s

,

yet . I t was n ot th e le ss p resen t to o u r m ind s — it was rathe r

ke pt alive in th em by th e re strain t which we had impose d o n
ourselves We both watche d Laura m ore anxiously than
.

eve r ; sometime s waiting an d h oping so me ti me s waiti n g an d ,

fe aring till the tim e c ame

,
.

By degrees we return ed to ou r accustom e d way o f life

, .

I re su med th e daily wo rk which had bee n su spe n de d du ring ,

my absen ce in H ampshi re O u r new lodging s c ost u s m ore .

th a n the smalle r an d l ess conven ie n t rooms which we had left

an d th e clai m thu s i mplied on my i ncrease d exertion s was
strengthen e d by the doubtfulne s s o f o u r fu tu re p rospects .

E mergencie s migh t ye t happe n which wou l d e xh au st o u r little

fund at th e ban ker s a nd th e wo rk o f my han ds migh t b e
’

u ltimately al l we h ad to l ook to fo r suppo rt M ore perma

, .

n en t an d more lucrative e mploymen t than h ad ye t bee n

o ffe re d to me w as a nece ssity of o u r position — a neces sity fo r
which I n ow dilige ntly s et myself to provide .

I t mu st n ot be supposed that th e i nte rval o f re st an d

seclu sion o f wh ich I am n ow writing e ntirely suspe n ded o n , ,

my part al l pu rsui t o f the on e abso rbi ng pu rpos e with wh ich

,

my th ough ts a n d acti on s are associated in the se p ag e s , .

That pu rpose was fo r month s an d m onth s yet neve r t o relax

, ,

its claims o n m e Th e slow ri pe nin g o f i t still left m e a

.

measure o f p recaution to take a n obligatio n o f grati tude to ,

pe rform an d a doubtful question to s olve

, .

The me asure of pre cau tion related n ece ssarily t o th , ,

C oun t I t was o f th e last importan ce to asce rtain if p os si bl e

.
, ,

whethe r h is plan s com mitte d hi m to re mai ning in Englan d

497 K K
 T H E W O M AN I N W H ITE ’

or, in othe r words to re mainin g withi n my re ach

, I con .
e

triv ed to se t thi s doubt at re st by ve ry si mple means His .

addres s in S t J oh n s Woo d bei ng known to m e I inq u ired i n

.
’
,

th e n eighb ou rh ood an d h avin g fou n d o u t th e a gen t wh o h ad

th e di sposal o f th e fu rnished h ou se in which h e l ived I as ke d ,

i f n u mbe r five Fo rest Road was li kely to b e let withi n a

, ,

re asonable time Th e reply was in th e n egative

. I was ih .

fo rmed that th e fo reign gentleman the n residin g ih the h ou se

had ren ewed h is te rm o f occupat ion fo r an othe r six m on th s ,

and woul d rem ain in posse s si on u ntil the en d o f J u n e in the

followi ng year We we re then at th e be ginn ing o f D ecembe r
.

only. I left th e agen t with my mi nd relieved fro m all presen t

fear of th e C ou n t s e scapi ng me ’
.

Th e obligation I h ad to perform took m e on ce m o re into ,

the prese nce o f M rs Cleme nts I h ad promise d to retu rn

. .
,

an d to confide to he r th ose particulars relatin g t o th e d eath

an d burial o f An n e C a th eric k which I had bee n c bliged to ,
'

withhold at o u r fi rst i nte rvi ew Change d as ci rcumstance s .

n o w we re there w a s n o hi ndrance to my tru stin g th e good

,

woman with as much of the story o f th e conspi racy a s i t was

n ece ssary t o tell I had eve ry reason that sympathy an d
.

friendly feeli ng could suggest to u rge o n me the speedy pe r

fo rm a n c e o f my promi se — and I did c on scienti ou sly and
carefully perform it There i s n o n eed t o bu rden the se pages
.

with any state me nt o f what passed at th e inte rview I t wil l .

b e m ore to the p urpose to sa y that the i nte rview i tse lf

n ecessari ly b rought to my mi nd th e o n e d oubtful que stion stil l
remainin g to be solved — the que stion o f Ann e C a th erick s ’

parentage on the father s side ’

.

A multitude of small con siderati on s in con nexi on with

thi s subj ect — trifling enough i n th emselves b ut stri kingly ,

imp ortant whe n massed togethe r — had latterly led my mind

,

to a conclusi on wh ich I resolved t o ve rify I obtai ned .

Marian s permi ssion to wri te to Maj or D o nth o rne o f V a rn ec k

’

H all (whe re M rs C a th eric k had lived in servi ce fo r some

.

years previ ous to he r marriage ) to ask hi m certai n q uesti on s , .

I made the i nquiries in M arian s name an d described the m ’

,

a s relating to matte rs o f personal i nte re st i n he r family which ,

might explai n an d excuse my appli cation Whe n I wrote th e .

lette r I had n o ce rtai n knowledge that Maj o r D o nth o rne was

,

sti ll alive ; I de spatched it o n th e chance that h e might be

livin g and able an d willin g to reply
, .

Afte r a lapse o f two days p ro of came i n th e s hape o f a

, ,

letter that th e M aj or was living and that he wa s ready to

, ,

h elp us .

498
 T H E W O M AN I N W H I T E
writin g to m e) as plai n l o oki ng a nd as havin g entra ppe d
-
,
’

’
th e handsomest man in En glan d i nt o marryi n g he r B oth .

assertion s we re gratui tously made an d b oth were fal s e ,

.

J ea l ou s di slik e (which i n su ch a woman as Mrs C a th eric k

,
.
,

would e x pre s s itself i n petty malice rather than n ot expre s s

itself at all ) appeared to me to b e the o nly assign ab le cause
for th e peculiar i n solence o f he r refere nce t o M rs Fairlie .
,

u nde r ci rcum stan ce s which di d n ot n e cessitate any referen ce

at all.
’

Th e mentio n here o f M rs Fai rli e s n ame naturally suggests .

’

o n e othe r question D i d she ever suspect wh os e child the

.

little gi rl brough t to he r at L im m eridge might be P

M arian s testim ony was positive o n thi s p oint
’
M rs . .

Fairlie s l ette r to h er husband which h ad bee n read to me in

’
,

forme r days — th e lette r de scribi ng An ne s resemblan ce to ’

Laura an d ackn owledgin g he r a ff ectionate intere st in the

,

little strange r— had bee n written beyon d all question i n , ,

p erfect in n oce nce of h eart I t eve n seemed doubtful on c o n

.
,

side ration whether M r Phi li p Fai rlie himself had bee n n eare r
,
.

than h is wife to a ny s uspicio n o f the truth The di sgrace fully .

d eceitful ci rcumstan ce s un der which M rs C a th eric k had .

m arried th e purp ose o f concealme nt which th e marriage was

,
’
i ntended to an swer might well keep h er sile nt for cau ti on s
,

sake perhaps fo r h e r o w n pride s sake als o — eve n assuming

,
’

that she had th e mean s i n h is ab sen ce of commun icatin g wi th

, ,

the fathe r o f he r u nborn chi ld .

As thi s surmi se floated through my min d the re rose o n ,

my memory the reme mb ran ce of the S cripture denu nciatio n

which we have al l thought o f in ou r ti me with won der and , ,

with awe : The sin s o f the fathe rs shall be vi sited on the

children B ut for the fatal re se mblance betwee n the two
.
’

daughte rs o f on e father the con spiracy o f which Ann e had ,

bee n the i nn ocen t i n strume nt an d Lau ra th e i nn ocent victim ,

could neve r h ave been plan ned With what une rring and .

terrible directnes s th e l ong chai n o f ci rcu m stan ce s led down

from the thoughtle ss wron g comm itted by the father t o th e
h eartle ss inj ury i nfli cte d o n th e child
These th ou ghts cam e to m e a n d othe rs wi th th em which , ,

drew my mind away to th e li ttle Cu mbe rlan d chu rchyard whe re

An n e C a th eric k n ow lay bu ried I th ou ght o f the bygon e .

days wh e n I had met he r by M rs Fai rlie s grave an d met .

’
,

h e r fo r th e las t ti me I th ought o f h er p oo r helple ss h an ds

.

b e atin g o n th e to mbston e an d h er weary yearni ng words , , ,

mu rmu red t o the dead remain s o f h er protectres s an d he r

fri e nd Oh if I cou ld die and b e hidden an d at re st with
.
, ,

5 00
 T H E WO M AN I N W H ITE

you Little mo re th an a year had passe d since sh e b reath ed

that wish ; an d h ow i nscrutably h ow awful ly i t had bee n , ,

fulfilled Th e wo rds sh e had spoke n to Lau ra by the sh ore s

o f the lake the ve ry word s had n ow c om e t rue
,
O h if .
,

I could only be bu ried with you r mothe r ! I f I cou ld only

wake at he r s ide when the ange l s t rumpet sounds an d th e ’
,
’
grave s give u p the ir dead at the re su rrecti on ! Through
w h at mo rt a l c rime an d horro r th rough what darke st wi n dings
,

o f the way down to D eath th e l ost creatu re h ad wandered in

,

God s leadin g to the last h om e that livin g sh e n eve r h oped t o

’
, ,

reach ! I n th at sacre d re st I leave he r— in that d read c o m

,

p a n i o n sh ip le t he r re
, mai n u ndi stu rbed .

S o th e gh o stly fi gu re whi ch h a s h aun te d the se page s as i t

haunted my life goe s d own i nto th e i mpen etrable Gl oom
, .

Like a S hadow sh e firs t came to m e in the lon eli ne s s o f th e ,

nigh t Like a S had ow she passe s away i n th e lon eli n ess o f

.
,

the dead .

F O UR m onth s elapsed April came — th e m onth of S p rin g ;

.

th e month o f chan ge .

The cou rse o f Ti me had fl owe d th rou gh th e in te rval si nc e

the winte r peacefu lly a n d happily i n ou r n ew h om e
, I had .

tu rned my lon g le isu re to good accou nt h ad largely in crease d

my s ou rce s of e mployme nt ; an d h ad placed o u r m ean s o f
subsisten ce o n s u re r grou n d s F reed from th e su spe nse and
.

the anxiety which h ad tri ed he r s o s orely and hu n g ove r h e r ,

so l ong Mari an s spi rit s ralli ed ; a n d he r n atu ral en e r gy o f

’

characte r be gan to assert itself agai n with s omethin g if , ,

n ot all o f the freedom an d the vigou r o f fo rme r time s

, .

M o re pliable u nder chan ge than he r si ste r Lau ra sh owe d ,

m o re plai nly the p rogress m ad e by th e h ealin g i nflue n ce s o f

h e r new life Th e wo rn and waste d look wh ich had p rema
.

tu rely aged he r face was fast leavi n g it

, an d th e exp re ssi o n
which had bee n th e fi rst of its charm s in past d ays was ,

th e fi rst o f its beautie s that n ow retu rn ed My close st .

obse rvation o f he r detected but o n e se ri ou s re sul t o f the con

S p ira c y which h ad once th reate ne d he r reason an d h e r life .

H e r me mo ry o f events from the p e ri od o f her leavin g B lack

,

wate r Park t o th e pe riod o f o u r me eting in th e bu ri al grou n d -

o f L im m eridge chu rch was los t beyon d all h op e of re covery

, .

At th e slightest refe re nce t o that time sh e chan ged an d ,

tr embled stil l ; he r words becam e confused ; he r memory

5 0 I
 T H E WO MAN I N W H IT E
wandered an d l ost i tse lf as helples sly a s eve r H ere a n d he re .
,

on ly th e t race s o f th e past lay deep — to o deep to be e ffaced

,
.

I n all else she was n ow s o far o n th e way to recove ry

, ,

that o n h e r b est and b rightest days sh e sometime s looked

, ,

an d spoke like th e Lau ra of o ld tim es Th e happy ch ange .

wrought its n atural re sult in u s both From th ei r long .

slumbe r o n he r side an d o n m i ne th ose i mperi sh able

, ,

memories of o u r p as t life in Cumbe rland n o w awoke which ,

we re o n e a nd all alike th e memorie s o f ou r l ove

,
.

Gradually a nd in se n si bly o u r daily relati on s toward s each

,

othe r became c on strained Th e fon d words wh ich I had .

spoken to he r so natu rally in th e days o f h e r s o rrow a nd,

he r su ff e ring falte re d strangely o n my li ps

,
I n th e time .

whe n my d read o f l osing h e r was m ost prese nt to my

mi nd I had always ki sse d h e r wh e n she left me at n ight a n d
,

whe n sh e me t me i n th e morni ng Th e ki s s se emed n ow .

to have d roppe d betwee n u s— to be lost ou t of o u r live s O u r .

hands began t o t re mbl e again wh e n they met We hardly .

eve r looke d lon g at o n e an othe r o u t of M ari an s prese nce ’

.

The talk ofte n flagged between u s when we were al one .

Whe n I touche d he r by acci dent I fel t my heart beatin g fast , ,

as it u sed t o beat at Lim m eridge H ou se — I sa w the lovely

answeri ng flu sh glo w ing agai n in he r che e ks as if we we re ,

back amon g the Cu mbe rlan d H i lls in o u r past characters ,

o f maste r a n d pupi l o nce m ore S he h ad long i nte rvals o f .

si len ce a n d thoughtful ness ; an d d en ie d she had be en thi nk

i ng wh e n M arian asked he r the qu e sti on
, I su rpri sed .

myself o n e day neglectin g my work to dream ove r th e

, , ,

littl e wate r colou r p ortrai t o f he r which I h ad take n in th e

-

summe r hou se whe re we fi rs t met — j ust as I u se d to neglect

-

M r Fai rli e s d rawings to d ream ove r the same li kene ss

.
’

, ,

when it was newly fi nish ed in th e bygone time Change d .

as all th e ci rcu mstan ce s n o w were o u r p ositi on towards each ,

othe r i n th e golden d ays o f ou r fi rst compani on ship se eme d ,

to be revive d with th e revival of o u r love I t was as if Ti me .

had d rifte d u s back o n th e wreck of ou r early h opes to ,

fi
the o ld familiar sh ore
T o a ny oth e r woman I cou ld h av e spoke n th e decisive
,

word s whi ch I still hesitated t o speak t o h er Th e u tte r .

helplessne ss o f he r p osition h e r frien dles s depende n ce o n all

th e forbeari n g gentlene ss that I c ou ld show he r ; my fear o f
touch in g to o so on som e secre t se n si tivene ss in he r which ,

my i n stin ct a s a man mi ght n ot have been ne e nough to

, ,
—
discove r the se con side ration s and othe rs like them kept , ,

me se l f di stru stfu lly si lent An d yet I knew that th e restraint

- .
,

5 02
 T H E WO M AN I N W H ITE

summer hou se at Limm eridge a nd that those wa v es beyon d

-
,

u s are be ating o n ou r s ea sh ore - .

’

‘ ’
I was guided by your advice in th ose p ast days I said ;
'

,
‘ n
a d n ow M arian with re liance te nfold greate r I wil l be
, , ,

guide d by it again .
’

S he an swe red by p re ssin g my h and I saw th at she was .

deeply touched by my refere n ce to the past We sat togethe r .

n ear th e windo w ; and while I spoke an d sh e li sten ed we looked

, ,

at th e glory o f th e sunligh t sh in ing o n th e maj e sty o f the sea .

Whateve r comes of thi s confiden ce between u s I said ,

’
,
‘whethe r i t en ds happily ’
o r sorrowfully for m e Lau ra s ,

i nte rests will still be the i nte re sts o f my life Whe n we leave .

thi s place o n whateve r te rm s we leave it my dete rmination

, ,

to wrest fro m C ou nt Fo sco th e confessi on which I failed to

obtai n from h is accomplice goe s back with m e t o London as , ,

ce rtain ly as I go back myse lf N eithe r yo u n o r I c a n tell h ow .

that m an may turn o n me if I b ring hi m to bay ; we only ,

kn ow by his o w n words an d acti on s that h e i s capable o f ,

’
stri king at me th rough Lau ra with ou t a moment s hes itati on
, , ,

o r a momen t s remo rse I n o u r present p osition I have n o

‘ ’
.
,

claim o n he r which society sanction s which th e law allows

, , ,

t o stren gthen m e in resi sting h i m and i n p rotecting h er ,

.

This place s m e at a se ri ou s d isadvantage I f I am t o fight .

o u r cause with th e C ou nt strong in the con sci ou snes s o f ,

D o yo u agre e
’
Lau ra s safety I must fight it for my Wife
, .

to that M arian s o far ,

T o every word o f it sh e an swe red

’
.
,
’
I wi ll no t plead o u t o f my o w n heart I went o n I will ,

n ot appeal to the love which h as su rvived all ch an ge s an d a ll

sh ocks — I will rest my on ly vi ndi cati on o f myse lf for thin king
o f he r an d speakin g o f he r as my wife o n what I have j ust ,

sai d . I f th e chan ce of forci n g a confe ssio n from th e Count ,

i s as I believe i t t o be the last chan ce left o f publicly e sta

, ,

b lish in g the fact o f Lau ra s existence the least selfish reason

’
,

that I c a n advance for ou r marriage i s recognised by u s b oth .

But I m ay be wron g in my co nvi cti on ; othe r m ean s o f

fi
achievin g ou r pu rpos e may be in o u r p owe r whi ch are les s ,

u nce rtain a n d le s s dange rou s I have searched anxi ously in .

,

my o w n mi nd for th ose means — and I have n ot fou nd them

,
.

H ave yo u P
’
No I have thought ab ou t it to o and thou ght i n vain
.
,
.

‘
I n all likelihood I continued th e same que stion s have
’
, ,

occurred to you i n con sideri ng thi s di f c ult subj ect which

, ,

h ave occurre d to me O ught we to return with he r to Lim

.

m eridge no w that sh e i s like he rself again and t r u st to th e

, ,

5 0 4
 T H E WO MAN I N W H I T E
recognition o f he r by the people o f the vi llage o r by th e ,

chi ldre n at the schoo l ? O ught we to appeal t o th e p racti cal ,

test o f he r handwriti ng ? S uppo se we did so S uppo se th e .

recognition o f he r o btain ed and th e ide ntity o f th e hand ,

writing e stablished Wou ld succes s in b oth tho se case s d o

.

m ore than supply a n excellent foundatio n fo r a trial in a co urt

of law ? Would the re cognition and the han dwriting prove
her identity to M r Fairli e and take her back to Lim m eridge
.

H ouse agai nst th e evidence o f he r au nt agai nst th e e v ide n ce

, ,

o f the medical ce rtificate agai n st the fact o f the fun e ral an d

,

the fact o f the i n scriptio n o n the tomb ? N o ! We could

"

only hope to succee d in th rowin g a se riou s doubt o n th e

assertio n o f he r death — a dou bt which nothing sh ort of a legal
i nqui ry c a n settle I will assu me that we posses s (what we
.

have ce rtainly n ot got ) mon ey e n ough to carry t hi s i n qui ry

o n th rough all its stage s I will as su me that M r Fairlie s ’
. .

prej udi ce s might be reasoned away th at th e fals e testimony

o f the Cou nt an d h is wife a n d all th e rest o f the false te st i ,

mony migh t be confuted ; that the recogn ition cou ld n o t

,

possibly be asc ri be d to a mi stake betwee n Lau ra a nd Ann e

C a th eric k o r the h andwriti ng be d eclared by o u r e n emi e s to
,

be a cle v e r frau d — all th ese are assu mpti on s whi ch m ore o r ,

less set plai n p robabilitie s at defiance but let the m p as s

, ,

a n d le t u s as k ou rse lve s what wou ld be th e fi rst con seque n ce

o f the fi rst que stion s pu t t o Lau ra h e rself o n th e su bj e c t o f

the con spi racy We kn ow only too well what th e c on se quen ce

.

wou ld be— for we kn ow that she h as n eve r recove red he r

memory o f what happe ne d to he r in Lon don Exami n e he r .

p rivately o r examin e he r pu blicly sh e i s utte rly i n capable of

, ,
’
assi stin g th e asse rtion o f he r o w n case I f you d on t see .

thi s Marian as plainly as I se e it we will go to Lim m eridge

, , ,
’
a n d try th e exp erime nt to mo rrow ,
- .

I do see it Walte r Eve n if we had th e m ean s of payin g

, .

all the law expe n ses e ve n i f we succeeded i n the end the

, ,

d elays would be u ne ndu rable ; th e pe rpetu al su spen se afte r ,

what we have su ffe red already wou ld be h eart b reakin g ,

- .

Y o u are right ab out the h opeles sn e ss o f goin g to L im m eridge .

I wish I cou ld fee l su re that you are right als o i n dete rmin in g
t o try that last chance with th e Cou nt [ 5 i t a chance at all ? .

B eyon d a d oubt Ye s I t is th e chan ce o f recove rin g th e

, .

lost date o f Lau ra s j ou rney to Lon don With ou t retu rni n g

’
.

t o th e reason s I gave yo u s ome time si nce I am stil l as ,

fi rmly persua ded as eve r that the re i s a di screpan cy betwee n ,

th e date o f that j ourney an d the date o n the certificate o f

d eath T he re lie s th e w ea k poi nt o f the wh ol e c on spi rac y
.

5 0
5
 T H E WO M AN I N W H ITE

i t crumble s to pi ece s if we attack i t in th at way ; a nd th e

me an s o f attacking i t are in p ossessi on o f th e C ou nt If I .

s ucce ed i n wresting the m from hi m th e o bj ect o f you r life ,

an d min e i s fulfilled I f I fail the wron g that L a u ra has

.
,

s u ffe red wi ll i n thi s wo rld n eve r be red res sed

, , .
’

’
D o yo u fear failure you rs elf Walte r ? , ,

I dare n ot anti ci pa te success and for that ve ry reas on , ,

M arian I speak ope nly an d plainly as I have spoke n n o w

, , .

I n my heart a nd my co nsc ie n ce I c a n say it— Lau ra s hope s ,

’

fo r the future are at thei r lowe st ebb I kn ow that he r fo rtun e .

i s gon e I kn ow that the last chan ce o f re sto ri n g he r t o he r

p lace i n the world lie s at the mercy o f he r worst e nemy o f a ,

m a n wh o i s n ow abs olutely u nassailable a n d who may re mai n ,

u nassailable to the end Wi th eve ry worldly advantage gon e

.

from h e r ; with all prospect o f recove ring he r ran k an d

stati on m o re than doubtful with n o cleare r future befo re he r
than th e futu re which h e r h usban d c a n p rovide — th e poor
d rawing maste r may harmlessly ope n h is heart at las t I n
“

-
.

th e days o f h e r prospe ri ty M arian I w a s only th e teache r , ,

w h o guided he r hand — I ask for i t i n he r adve rsity as th e , ,

-

hand o f my wife
M arian s eye s m et mine affecti onately— I could say n o
’

mo re . My heart was full my lip s we re tre mbl in g I n spite

,
.

of myself I was i n dange r o f appeal ing to he r pity

, I got u p .

to leave th e room S he ros e at th e same mome nt laid he r

.
,

h and ge ntly o n my sh oulde r and s topped me , .

‘ ‘
Walte r ! sh e said I o nce parted yo u bo th fo r your
’
, ,

goo d a n d for he rs Wait he re my B rothe r . wait my ,

-
,

d eare st be st friend till Lau ra comes and tells yo u wh at I

, , ,

h ave d on e n ow
Fo r the fi rst ti me since the farewe ll morn in g at Limme
ridge she touched my fo rehead with he r lips A tear d ropped
, .

o n my face a s sh e ki ssed m e
, S he tu rned quickly poi nted .
,

to the chai r from wh ich I had risen a nd left the room , .

I sat d own alon e at the window to wai t th rough the c risi s ,

o f my life My mi nd i n th at b reathles s i nte r v al felt li ke a

.
, ,

total b lan k I w a s con sci ou s of n othin g but a painful inten

.

s ity o f al l familiar pe rcepti on s Th e su n grew blinding .

b righ t ; the wh ite sea bi rds chasin g e ach othe r far beyond
me seeme d t o b e flitti ng before my face the mellow murmu r
,

o f th e waves o n the beach was like thun de r i n my ear

T h e d oo r ope ned a nd Laura came in alone S o she had .

e nte red the b reakfast room at Lim m eridge H ouse o n the

-
,

m orni ng whe n we parted S lowly an d falte ri ngly i n s orrow

.
,

an d in he si tati on sh e h a d on ce appro ach ed me N ow , sh e

, .

06
5
 T H E WO M AN I N W H ITE

that he r sp irit was back agai n o n the fatal j ou rn ey from

Blackwate r Park That u ncon sci ou s appeal s o touching
.
,

a n d so awfu l i n th e s acred nes s o f he r s leep ran th rough m e ,

like fi re The n ext day was the day we cam e back to Lon don
.

— the day whe n my resolutio n retu rn e d to m e with tenfold

s trength .

Th e fi rs t n eces sity was to kn ow s om eth ing o f the m an .

T hu s far th e tru e sto ry of hi s l ife w a s a n impen etrable myste ry

,

t o me .

I began with such s canty s ou rce s o f informati on a s were

at my o w n di sposal The imp ortant narrative written by
.

M r F rede rick Fairli e (which M arian had obtain ed by follow

.

i ng the di re cti on s I h ad gi ve n to h e r in the winte r ) p roved to

be of n o se rvice to th e special obj ect with w hich I n ow looked
at i t While readin g it I recon sid ered th e disclosu re reveale d
.
,

t o m e by M rs Cle ments o f the se rie s of dece pti on s which had

.
,

b rought Ann e C a th eric k to Lon don an d wh ich h ad the re ,

de v oted he r to the i nte re sts o f th e con spi racy H e re again .

, ,

th e C ou nt had n ot O pen ly comm i tted himself he re again he , ,

was to all p racti cal pu rpos e ou t o f my reach

, , .

I next retu rne d to Marian s j ou rnal at B lackwate r Park ’

.

At my requ e st sh e read to m e agai n a passage which refe rre d

t o he r past cu ri osi ty about th e C oun t an d t o th e few p a rtic u ,

lars which sh e h ad discove red relating to h im .

fi
The passage to which I allud e occurs in that part o f he r
jou rn al which delin eates hi s ch aracte r an d h is pe rsonal appear
ance S he describe s hi m as n ot havin g c rosse d th e frontiers
.

o f h is n ative cou ntry fo r years pas t — as anxiou s t o know i f

any I talian ge ntle men we re settled in th e n eare st town to

fifi
B lackwate r Park — as receiving lette rs with all sorts of o dd
s tamps o n th em an d o n e with a large o f c ia l l ooking seal o n
, ,
-

’
it. S he i s i n clin ed to con side r that hi s lon g abse n ce from h is
n ative cou ntry may be accoun ted for by assumin g that h e i s
a political exile B ut she i s o n th e othe r hand unabl e t o
.
, ,

recon ci le this idea wi th the re ception o f th e lette r from ab road ,

bearin g th e large o f c ia l looking seal —lette rs from th e -

Con tin en t add ress ed to political exile s bei ng usually the last
to cou rt atten ti on from foreign p os t o f c es in that way - .

Th e conside ration s thus presente d to m e i n th e diary ,

j oin ed to c e rtain surmi ses o f my o wn that grew ou t o f them ,

sugge sted a con clu si o n whi ch I won de red I had n ot arrived

at before I n ow said to myself— what Lau ra had on c e said
.

to M arian at B lackwate r Park ; what M adame F osco had

ove rheard by listenin g at th e d oor— th e C ou nt i s a S py
L a u ra had appli ed th e word to him at h azard in nat u ral ,

08
5
 T HE WO M A N I N WH I T E
a ng er at hi s p rocee din gs toward s h e rself I applied it to .

hi m with th e delibe rate convicti on that hi s vocation in life

,

was the vo c a tion o f a S py O n thi s as sum ptio n th e reaso n

.
_

fo r hi s extraordi nary stay i n E ngland so lo ng afte r the ,

obj ects of th e con spi racy had bee n gaine d be came to my , ,

m i nd quite inte lligible

,
.

Th e year o f which I am n ow writing was the year o f th e ,

famou s Crystal Palace Exh ibiti on in H yde Park F o reigne rs .

,

in u nusually large n umbe rs h ad arrived already a n d we re

, ,

sti l l arrivi ng in E ngland M en we re among u s by hu n dre ds

.
, ,

wh om th e ceasele ss di st rustfu lne ss of thei r gove rn me nts h ad

followed privately by m ean s o f app ointe d age nts to o u r
, ,

sh ore s My su rmi se s di d n o t fo r a mome nt clas s a m a n o f

.

the Cou nt s abi litie s a nd social p osition with th e ordinary

’

ran k an d file of foreign spies I su spe cte d him of h olding a

.

p osi tio n o f autho rity o f bein g e ntruste d by the gove rn me n t

,

wh ich h e se cretly se rve d with th e o rganisatio n a n d man age

,

m en t o f agents specially empl oyed in t hi s country b oth m en ,

a n d women ; a n d I believe d M rs Rubelle wh o h ad bee n so .

,

o pportun ely fou n d to act as n u rse at B lackwate r Park t o be , ,

in all p rob ability o ne of the n umbe r

, .

Assumin g that thi s i de a o f m i n e h a d a foun dation i n truth ,

the po sitio n o f th e Coun t might p rove to be m ore as sailable

than I h ad hithe rto ve nt u red to h ope To wh om could I .

apply to kn ow so methin g m o re of the man s hi story an d o f ’

,

the m a n hi mself than I knew n ow

, .

I n thi s e me rgency i t n atu rally occu rre d to my mi n d th at

,

a cou ntryman of h i s o w n o n wh om I could rely migh t b e th e

, ,

fittest pe rson to help me The first m an wh om I th ought of

.
,

u nde r these circu mstanc e s was al so th e o nly I talian with

,

wh om I was i ntimate ly acqu ainte d — m y qu ai nt little fri end ,

Profe ssor Pesca .

The p rofess or has bee n so lon g abse nt fro m th ese page s ,

t hat h e has ru n some ris k of bei ng forgotte n altogethe r .

I t is the n ece ssary law o f such a story as min e that th e ,

p erson s c on cern ed in it on ly appear whe n the cou rse of events

take s them u p — they come and go n o t by favou r o f my pe r ,

s onal parti ality but by righ t o f the i r di rect conn exi on with
,

th e ci rcu m stance s to be detailed F o r this reason n o t Pesca .

,

only but my m othe r a nd siste r as well have bee n left far in

, ,

the backgroun d o f the narrative My visit s t o the H ampstead .

c ottage my m othe r s belief in th e de nial o f Lau ra s ide ntity

’ ’

which the conspi racy h ad accompli sh ed ; my vai n e fforts t o

’
ove rc ome the p rejudic e o n he r part an d o n my siste r s to
, ,

5 09
 T H E WO MAN I N WH I T E
which in thei r j ealo u s a ff ectio n fo r me they both co nti nu ed to
, ,

adhe re ; the p ainfu l n eces sity which that prej udice imposed
o n me o f con ceali ng my m arriage fro m the m ti ll they had
learned to d o j u stice to my wife — all the se l ittle d om es tic
occu rren ces h ave bee n left u nreco rded be cau se they we re n ot ,

e sse ntial to th e main i nte re st of the story I t i s n oth ing th at .

they added t o my anxietie s an d e mbitte red my d isapp oint

ments — th e steady march of event s h as i nexo rably pas sed
them by .

F o r the same reas on I h ave sai d n othin g h e re o f the

, , ,

con solation that I fou n d i n Pesca s b ro th e rly a ffe ctio n for me ’

,

whe n I saw him agai n afte r th e sudde n c es sation of my res i

dence at L im m eridge H ou se I have n ot reco rded the fidelity
.

w i th wh ich my warm hearted little frie n d foll owed m e to the

-

place o f e mbarkation wh en I sailed for Cen tral America

, ,

j
o r t he n oisy tran spo r t o f o y with which he rece ived me wh e n

fi
we n ext me t i n Lon don I f I had fel t j u stified in acce pting
.

th e o ffers o f se rvice which h e made to m e o n my return h e , ,

would have appeare d again l on g e re this B ut th ough I , .

,

knew th at hi s h on ou r an d h i s co u rage we re to be i mpl icitly

relied o n I was n ot s o s u re that hi s disc re tio n was to be
,

trusted a n d fo r that reas on only I followe d the c ou rse o f all

, ,

my i nqui ries alon e I t wi ll n ow be suf c ie ntly u nde rstoo d that

.

Pesca was n ot separated fro m al l c on nexi on wi th me a n d my

i nte rests alth ough he h a s hithe rto been separated fro m all c o n
,

n ex io n with th e p rogre s s of th i s n arrative H e was as true a nd .

as ready a friend o f min e still as eve r h e had been i n h i s life ,

.

fi
B efo re I su mm oned Pesca to my assistance i t wa s n ec es ,

sary to se e for myself wh at s ort o f m a n I had to deal with .

Up to thi s ti me I had n eve r o nce se t eye s o n Coun t F os co

, .

Three days afte r my retu rn wi th Lau ra a n d M arian to

London I set fo rth alon e fo r F o re st Road S t J ohn s
, , .
’

Wood betwee n te n a nd eleven o cloc k i n the mornin g I t

,
’
.

w a s a n e day— I had s ome ho u rs to spare — a n d I th ought i t

l i ke ly if I waited a l ittl e fo r him that th e Count might b e
, ,

tempte d o u t I had n o great reaso n t o fear the chance o f hi s

.

re cognisin g m e in the day ti me for the on ly occasi on wh en I

-
,

h ad bee n see n by him was the occasi o n o n which h e had

foll owe d m e h ome at n ight .

N o o n e appeare d at the wi nd ows in the fron t o f the h ou se .

I walked d own a tu rni ng whi ch ran past th e side o f it an d ,

looked ove r t he l ow garden wal l O n e o f th e back windows .

o n th e l owe r fl oo r w a s th rown u p and a n et was stretched

,

a cross the openi ng I s aw n obody ; but I h eard i n th e room

.
, ,

5 10
 T HE WO MAN I N W H I T E

y o u so me l un ch ! Th e organ gri n de r pi te ously put in h is

’
-

clai m to a pe nny fro m the ben evolen t s trange r Th e Cou n t .

sh rugged h is sh ould ers co nte mptuously— a n d passed o n .

We reach ed the stree ts an d th e be tte r clas s o f sh ops ,

b etwe en th e N ew Road an d Oxfo rd S treet Th e Cou nt .

stopped again an d en te re d a small optici an s sh op wi th a n ’

fi
, ,

i n scrip ti on in th e win dow ann ou ncin g that repairs we re ,

n eatly execute d i n side H e cam e o u t agai n with an ope ra

.
,

glas s in hi s han d ; walke d a few paces o n ; an d stopped t o

look at a bi ll o f the O pe ra placed outside a mu si c selle r s ,
-
’

shop . H e read the bill atte ntive ly c on side red a mome n t , ,

an d th e n haile d a n e mp ty cab as it passed him O pe ra box .

-

o i ce he sai d t o th e m a n— an d was drive n away

,
’
.

I c rosse d the road a n d looked at th e bill in my tu rn , .

‘
T he performanc e ann ou nced was Lu crezia B orgia and i t ,
’

was t o take p lace that eve nin g The opera glas s in the .
-

Coun t s h and his carefu l readin g of th e bill an d hi s di recti on

’
, ,

to the cabman all sugge ste d that h e p roposed makin g o n e o f

,

th e audie nce I h ad th e mean s o f gettin g an admi ssi on fo r

.

myse lf an d a frie nd t o the pit by applyin g t o o n e o f th e

, ,

scene pain te rs attached to th e theatre w i th whom I h ad bee n

-
,

we ll acqu ai nted in past ti me s The re was a chan ce at le ast .

, ,

that the C ou n t migh t be easily vi sible am on g the au dien ce ,

t o m e an d t o any o n e with m e a nd in thi s case I had the

, , ,

mean s of asce rtaini ng whethe r Pe sca kn ew hi s c ou nt ryman ,

o r n ot that ve ry n ight
, .

Thi s consi de rati on at once decided the di sposal o f my

eve nin g I p rocu re d th e tickets leavin g a n ote at th e P ro
.
,

fesso r s lodgings o n th e way

’
At a quarter to e ight I .
,

called to take him with m e to th e the atre My li ttle frien d .

was i n a s tate of the highest e x citemen t with a festive fl owe r ,

i n h i s button h ole and the large st ope ra glass I eve r saw

-
,
-

hugge d u p un de r h is arm .

Are you ready I asked .

Right all right s ai d Pe sca

- -
,
’
.

We starte d fo r the theat re .

T HE las t n ote s o f th e i ntroducti on t o th e o pe ra we re bein g

played an d th e se ats in th e pi t we re all filled wh en Pesca an d
, ,

I reache d th e theatre .

The re was plen ty of room h oweve r i n the passage that , ,

ran rou n d the pit — p reci sely th e p ositi on be st calcu late d t o

a n swer the pu rp ose fo r which I was atte ndin g t h e per
5 12
 T H E WO M AN I N I NH I T E

fo rm a nc e I we n t fi rs t to the barrie r separatin g u s from th e

.

stalls an d l ooke d for the Cou n t in that part o f th e th eat re .

H e was n ot th e re Retu rni ng alon g the passage o n the left

.
,

han d side from the stage an d lookin g about m e attentive ly , ,

I di scove red h i m in the pit H e o ccupie d a n excelle nt place .

,

som e twelve o r fou rtee n seats from th e en d o f a bench ,

w ithi n th re e rows of the stall s I placed myself exactly o n a .

lin e with him ; Pesca standi ng by my side Th e Profe ss o r .

was n ot yet aware o f th e pu rpos e fo r which I had b rough t

him t o th e theatre an d he was rathe r su rprise d that we di d
,

n ot move n eare r to the s tage .

The cu rtain rose an d the ope ra began , .

T h roughout th e wh ole o f the fi rst act we remained i n o u r ,

position ; the Count ab sorbed by the orche stra a nd th e

,

stage n ever castin g so much as a chance glance at u s N o t

, .

a n ote of D oni z etti s delici ou s mu si c was lost o n him The re he

’
.

sat high above h is n ei ghbou rs smilin g a n d n oddin g hi s great

, , ,

head enj oyi ngly from time to time VJ hen the pe ople n ear hi m
,
.

applauded th e close o f a n ai r (as an En glish audience in su ch

ci rcumstance s always wi l l applaud ) without the least con

fi
,

side ration fo r the o rchestral movemen t which i mmediately

followe d it h e looke d roun d at them with a n exp re ssion o f
,

compassionate remonstrance a n d held u p on e han d with a ,

gesture o f poli te entreaty At th e m ore refined passage s of .

the sin gi ng at the more d elicate ph rase s o f the mu sic which

, ,

passe d u napplauded by othe rs his fat hands adorn ed with ,

pe rfectly tting black kid gloves softly patted each othe r in

-
, ,

toke n o f the cu ltivate d app reciation o f a mu sical m a n At .

such tim es hi s oily mu rmu r o f app roval B ravo

,
B ra a a a ,
- - -

hummed through th e silen ce like th e purrin g o f a great cat , .

H is immediate n eighbou rs o n eithe r side — hearty ruddy ,

faced people from th e cou ntry baski ng ama z edly in th e ,

sunshin e o f fashio nable Lon do n — seeing a n d hearing h im ,

began to follow h i s le ad M any a b u rst of applau se from th e

.

pit that night started fro m th e soft c omfortable patti n g o f

, , ,

the black gloved hands The man s voraciou s vanity d

- .
’

v o u red thi s i mplie d tribute to h is l ocal a n d c ritical su premacy ,

with a n appearan ce o f the highest reli sh S mile s rippled .

conti nu ously ove r h is fat face H e l ooke d abou t h im at the .

,

pau ses i n the music se renely satisfied with h imself an d h is

,
‘
fello w c re atu re s
- Ye s Ye s ! these barbarou s E n glish
.

people are learnin g s omething from M E H e re the re an d .

, ,

eve rywhe re I — Fosco— a m a n I nfluence that i s felt a M a n

, ,

wh o sits sup reme ! I f eve r face spoke hi s face sp oke the n ,

-
an d that was hi s language .

5 13
 T H E W O M AN I N W H I T E

T h e c u rtai n fellthe fi rs t a c t a nd the au dien ce ros e to on .

lo ok about them Thi s was the tim e I had waited fo r— th e

.

time to t ry if Pe sca kn ew him .

H e rose with th e rest a n d su rveye d the occupants o f the ,

b oxe s grandly with his ope ra glass At fi rst h is back was -

.
,

towards u s ; but h e tu rn ed roun d in time to ou r side o f th e ,

theatre and looke d at th e b oxe s above u s ; u sing hi s glas s

,

fo r a few minu te s — then re m oving i t bu t still continuing to ,

l oo k u p Thi s was th e m omen t I chose wh en hi s full face

.
,
’
was i n vi ew for di recting Pe sca s atte nti on to him
, .

D o you kn ow that m a n I asked .

Which man my fri end P ,

T he tall fat m an standi n g the re wi th hi s face towards

, , ,

P esca raise d himself on tiptoe and l ooked at the Cou nt , .

N o said th e Profes so r
,
’
T he big fat man i s a strange r .

to me I s he famous
. Why do you point him o u t
‘B ecau se I h ave particular reason s for wishing to know

s omething o f hi m H e is a cou ntrym an o f you rs hi s n ame

.

i s Coun t Fo sco D o you kn ow that n ame .

N o t I Walte r N ei the r the n ame no r the m a n is known

, .

’
to me .

’
Are yo u quite su re yo u d on t recognise hi m ? Look
agai n ; look carefully I wi ll tell yo u w h y I am so anxi ous .

about it whe n we leave th e theatre

, S top let me help you .

’
u p he re wh ere yo u c a n see hi m be tter
, .

I h elp ed the little m a n to pe rch h imself o n the edge o f

th e rai sed dai s upo n whi ch the pi t seats we re al l placed - .

H ere hi s small stature was n o h in drance t o hi m ; h ere h e

, ,

c ould se e ove r the heads o f th e ladie s wh o we re seated n ear

the outermost pa t of th e ben ch r
.

A slim light hai red m a n stan ding by u s whom I had

,
-
, ,

n ot n oticed befo re — a m a n with a scar o n h is left chee k

lo oked atte ntively at Pesca a s I helped hi m up a nd then ,

l ooke d still more atten tively followin g the direction o f ,

Pe sca s eye s at the Count

’
O u r conversation might have
, .

reache d hi s ears a nd might as it struck me have roused hi s

, , ,

curi osity .

M e anwhile Pe sca fixed hi s eye s earn e stly o n th e broad

, ,

full smili n g face turned a little upward exactly opposite t o

, ,

N o h e said , I have n eve r se t my two eye s o n that big

’

fat m a n before i n all my life , .

’

As he spoke th e Coun t looked downward s towards the,

bo x e s be h i nd u s o n the pit ti e r .

5 14
 ‘
TH E vV O M AN IN VJ H I T E

u s, avoidin g a stoppage cause d by some p eople o n o u r side

o f th e p it leavin g their place s by which Pes ca and mysel f ,

we re delayed Whe n we reached th e lobby the Coun t had

.

di sappe ared— an d th e foreign er with th e scar was gon e t oo .

’
Come h ome I said ; come home Pe sca to you r
, , ,

lodgings I must speak to you in private — I mu st s peak

.

directly .
’

‘
M y s oul bless m y soul
- - crie d the Profes sor in a state
- -
,
‘
o f th e extre me st bewilde rmen t What o n earth i s the .

matte r
I w a lk ed o n rapidly wi thout an swerin g The circum , .

stan ces under which th e Cou nt had left th e theatre suggeste d

to m e that h is extraordin ary an xi ety to e scape Pesca migh t
carry hi m to furthe r extremitie s still H e migh t e scape m e .
,

to o by leaving London
,
I dou bted the futu re if I allowe d .
,
’
hi m so much as a d ay s freedom t o act as he pleased And I .

d oubted that foreign stran ge r wh o had go t the start o f us ,

an d whom I su specte d o f i nte ntio nally followin g him o u t .

Wi th thi s double d i stru s t i n my min d I was n o t long in ,

making Pesca u nderstan d what I wanted As soon as we .

two were alon e in hi s room I in creased hi s confusi on an d ,

ama z ement a h und re dfold by te lli ng hi m what my purp os e

was as plainly an d un re se rvedly as I have ackn owledged i t
,

h ere .

My frie nd what c a n I do ? cried th e Profe sso r pite ously

, ,

appealin g to me with both han ds D euce what the deuce .

- - -

h ow c a n I help you Walte r wh en I don t kn ow th e m an

, ,
’

‘
H e kn ows y ou — h e i s afrai d o f yo u— h e has l eft the
theatre t o e scape you Pe sca ! there mu st be a reason fo r
.

thi s Lo ok back in to you r o wn life before yo u came to

.
,

En gland Y o u left I taly as yo u h ave told me you rself for

.
, ,

p olitical reason s Y o u have n eve r m enti on ed those reason s

.

to me ; an d I do n t in qui re i nto them n o w I on ly ask yo u

’
.
,

to con sult your own recolle cti on s an d to say if they sugge st ,

n o past cause for the terror which th e fi rst sight o f yo u

p roduce d in th at man .

T o my u n utterable s u rpri se these words harmless a s they , ,

appeared to m e produced the same astoundin g e ff ect o n

,

Pesca w h ich the sight o f Pe sca had pro duced o n the Coun t .

T h e ro sy face o f my littl e fri en d whiten ed in an i nstant ; an d

he drew back from m e slowly trembling from head to foot ,
.

’
Walter he said Y o u don t kn ow what you a sk
’
. .

H e spoke i n a wh isper — h e looked at m e as if I had

s u ddenly re v eale d to h im s om e hidden danger t o both o f u s .

I n le ss than o ne min u te o f time h e wa s so altered from th e ,

5 16
 TH E WO MAN I N W H I T E

e asy l i v ely quain t little man o f al l my past experien ce that

, , ,

i f I had met him in the street chan ge d as I saw him n ow I , ,

should most certainly n ot have known h i m again .

‘
F orgive me i f I ha v e uni ntenti on al ly paine d an d shocke d
,
’ ‘
yo u , I replied Re membe r the crue l wron g my wife h a s
.

su ff e red at Coun t F osco s hand s Remembe r that the wrong ’

.

c a n n eve r be redre sse d un le s s the mean s are in my powe r o f

,

forcing hi m to do he r j ustice I sp oke in h er i nterests Pesca .

,
— I ask you agai n to forgive m e — I c a n sa n o m ore “
’
y .

I ro se to go H e stopped me before I reache d the do o r

. .

’
Wai t h e said Y o u have shake n m e from head to foo t
, . .

Y o u d on t kn ow h o w I left my cou ntry an d w h y I left my

’

coun try Let me c omp os e mys elf le t m e thin k if I ca n

.
-
, .
’

I retu rne d to my ch ai r H e walke d u p a n d down th e .

room tal king to h i mself i ncohere ntly i n hi s o w n lan guage

, .

After se v eral turn s backward s a n d forward s he s udden ly ,

came u p to m e an d lai d h i s little hand s with a stran ge

,

ten derne ss a nd s ole mnity o n my b reast .

‘ ‘ ’
O n you r heart a n d soul Walte r he s aid i s the re n o , , ,

o the r way to ge t to that man but the ch an ce way through -

me
The re i s n o othe r way I an sw ered ,
’
.

H e left m e agai n open ed the do o r of th e ro o m and lo o ke d

o u t cautiously i nto th e passage ; c losed it on ce m o re ; a n d

came bac k .

‘
You wo n you r right ove r m e Walte r h e said o n th e , ,
’
,

da y when you saved my life I t w a s you rs fro m th at m ome n t .

,

when you pleased to take i t Take i t n ow Ye s ! I mean . .

What I say My next words as t rue as th e good G o d i s

.
,
’
above u s will put my life i nto yo ur hand s
,
.

fi
The t rembling e arnestn es s with which h e utte re d thi s
extraordi nary w a rn i ng carrie d with i t to my min d the c o n ,

v ic tio n that h e spoke the t ruth .

M in d this he w en t o n shakin g hi s h ands at m e in th e ,

‘
vehemence o f hi s agitati on I hold n o th re ad in my o w n .
,

mind between t h at man F osco , a n d th e past time which I

, ,

call back t o me fo r you r sake ,

I f y ou n d the th read ke ep .
,

i t to yourse lf— tell me n othin g —o n my kn ee s I beg an d p ray , ,

let me be ignorant let m e be in n oce nt let me be blin d to a ll

, ,

the future as I am n ow ,

H e said a few wo rd s more hesitatin gly an d di scon nectedly ,

— then stopped again .

I sa w that the e ff o rt o f expressin g h imself in English o n ,

an occasio n to o se riou s t o pe rmi t hi m the u se o f the qu ain t

turn s and phrase s o f hi s ordinary v ocabu lary was painfully ,

5 7 1
 T H E W O M AN IN WH ITE

i ncreas in g th e di ffi culty h e had fe lt fro m th e fi rs t in speakin g

to m e at all H aving learnt t o read an d unde rstan d hi s
.

n ati v e lan guage (though no t to speak it ) i n th e earlier days ,

o f o u r i ntimate compan ion ship I n o w sugge sted to him that

,

he should expre ss himself in I talian while I u sed E nglish i n ,

p uttin g any que stion s which might be n ecessary to my en

ligh tenm en t H e accepted the proposal
. I n h is sm ooth .

fl o wing lan guage— spoke n with a vehe men t agitation which

betraye d its elf i n the pe rpetual workin g o f hi s feature s in the ,

w i ldnes s and th e s udde nn es s o f hi s foreign ges ticulati on s ,

bu t n ever i n th e raising o f h i s voi ce — I n o w heard the words

which armed m e to meet th e last struggle that i s left fo r thi s
!
s tory t o record .

‘
You kn ow n oth ing o f my motive fo r leaving I taly h e ,
’

‘
began ,e x cept that it was fo r political reason s I f I had .

been drive n to thi s c ountry by the persecution o f my go v ern

ment I should n o t have kept tho se reason s a secret fro m yo u
,

o r from any o ne I have co ncealed the m becau se n o govern

.

m en t auth ority h a s pronounced the se ntence o f my e x ile .

Y o u have heard Walter o f the politi cal S ocieties that are

, ,

h idde n i n eve ry great city o n th e contine nt o f E urop e ? T o

o ne o f those S ocieties I b el o n ged in I taly— a n d belong still in ,

E ngland When I came to thi s country I came by the

.
,

directi on o f my Chief I was ove r zealou s i n my youn ger

.
-
,

time ; I ran th e risk o f compromisin g myself and others .

F o r those reasons I was ordere d to emigrate to E ngland

, ,

an d to wait I emigrated— I have waited — I wait s till T o

.
_

,
.

morrow I may be called away : ten years hence I may be

, ,

called away I t i s all o n e to me I am he re I support m y

.
-
,

self by teaching and I wait I vi olate n o oath (you shall

, .

h ear why pre sently) i n making my confidence complete by

fi
tellin g yo u the n ame o f the S ociety to which I belon g All I .

d o i s to p ut my life i n your han ds I f what I say to yo u .

n o w i s eve r kn own by othe rs to have passe d my lips , as

’
certainly as we two sit here I am a dead man ,
.

H e whispered the n e x t words in my ear I keep the .

secret which h e thu s commun icated The S ociety to which

fi
.

h e belon ged will be su i c iently i ndividualised for the purpose

o f these page s i f I cal l it ‘T he B rotherhood
’
o n the few ,

I t is o nly righ t to m entio n h ere, th at I repea t P esca ’ s sta tem ent to m e,

with th e ca reful suppressio ns a nd a lteratio ns which th e serio us nature o f th e
subj ect a nd m M y rst a nd l ast
y o wn sense o f duty to my fri end dema nd .

c o nc ea l m ents fro m th e rea der a re th o se wh ich caution renders absol utel

y
necessary in this portion of th e narrativ e .

518
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E

n ece ssi ty of the S o ciety to make the m kn own to each o th e r , .

With such a safeguard as this the re i s n o oath amon g u s o n ,

admittance We are identified with th e B ro therhood by a

.

secret mark which we all be ar which lasts while o ur live s

, ,

last We are told to go about o u r ordi nary busin es s and t o

.
,

rep ort o urselves to the President or the S e cretary fou r ti me s , ,

a year in the even t of o u r se rvices being re quired We are

, .

warned if we betray the B rotherh ood o r if we inj ure i t by

, ,

s ervi ng other i nte re sts that we die by the principle s o f the ,

B rothe hood — die by the han d of a stranger wh o may be sent

r

from th e other en d of th e world t o stri ke the blow — o r by the

hand of o ur o w n boso m frie nd who may have bee n a mem be r -

unkn own to u s through all the years o f o u r intimacy S o me .

ti me s the death i s delayed ; s ometi mes it follows close o n

, ,

the treachery I t is o u r fi rs t busines s to know how to wait

.

o u r secon d b usine ss to kn o w how t o obey whe n the word i s

spoken S ome of us m a y wait our lives through a nd m ay

.
,

n ot be wanted S ome o f u s may be calle d to the work o r to

.
,

th e p reparation for the work the very da y o f o u r admis sio n , .

I myself— the little e asy cheerful m a n yo u kn ow w h o o f h is

, , , ,

o w n accord would hardly lift up h is han dkerch ief to stri ke

,

down the fly that bu z z e s about hi s face — I i n my youn ge r ,

time u nder p rovocatio n s o dreadfu l that I will n ot tell yo u o f

,

it en tere d th e B rotherho od by a n impulse as I might h a v e

, ,

killed myself by a n impulse I must remain in i t n ow— it has .

,

go t me whatever I may thi n k o f i t i n my bette r circumstan ce s

,

and my coole r m anh ood t o my dying day While I was still ,

.

i n I taly I was chosen S ecretary ; and all the m embers o f that

,

time who were brought face to face w ith my President we re

, ,

brought face to face also w ith m e .

’

I began to un de rstand him I sa w th e en d towards which

hi s extraordin ary disclosure was n ow ten din g H e waited a .

moment watchin g me earn estly— watchin g till h e had evi dently

, ,

gue ssed what was passing in my mind before be resumed ,

.

’
You have drawn you r o w n conclusion already h e said , .

I se e it in you r face Tell me n othing keep m e o u t o f th e

.

secre t o f your thoughts Let me make my o ne last sacrifice .

o f myse lf for your sake a nd then have don e with thi s su bj ect
, ,

n ever to return to i t again .

H e signed to me n o t to an swer h im ro se— remo v ed hi s h

coat— an d ro lled up the shi rt sleeve o n h is left arm - .

’
I promi sed yo u that thi s confiden ce sh ould be complete ,

he whi spered speakin g close at my ear with his eye s lookin g

, ,
‘
watchfully at the door Whateve r come s of it yo u shall n ot
.
,

repro ach me with ha v ing hidden an ything from yo u which i t

5 20
 TH E WO M AN I N W H ITE

was n ece ssary to you r i ntere sts to kn ow I have said that th e .

B rothe rh ood identifies i ts membe rs by a mark that lasts fo r

life S e e the place a n d the mark o n it for yourself
.
, .
’

H e raised hi s bare arm a nd sh owe d me high o n th e uppe r , ,

p art o f it a n d o n the i nn er side a bran d deeply b urn t in the ,

fl esh a n d stai ned of a bright blo od re d c olour I abstai n -

.

from describi ng the device whi ch th e bran d rep resen ted It .

will be s u fficie nt to sa y that it was ci rcular in form an d so ,

small that it would have bee n comple tely cove re d by a shilling

com .

A m a n wh o h a s this mark branded in thi s place h e said , ,

’
,

cove ring h is arm again i s a membe r of the B roth erhood A

, .

m a n who has been false to the B rotherhood i s discove re d

fi
so on er o r late r by the Chiefs wh o kn ow h im — Pre siden ts o r
,

S ecretarie s as the case may be

,
An d a man discovered by .

the Chi efs is de ad N o h u m a n la ws ca n p rotect h i m Reme m

. .

be r wh a t you have se en an d heard draw what co nclus ion s yo u

li ke act as you please B ut in th e n ame o f G od whatever
.
, ,

you di scover whateve r you do tell me n othin g ! Le t me

, ,

remai n free fro m a resp o n sibility which i t h o rri es m e to thi nk

o f— which I kn ow in my con sci en ce ,
i s n ot my respon sibility , ,

n ow F o r the last time I say it— o n my h onou r as a gen tle

.
,

m an o n my oath as a Chri stian if the m a n yo u poin ted o u t

, ,

at the Opera knows m e h e i s s o alte red or so disgui sed th at

, , ,

I do n o t kn ow h i m I am ignorant o f h is procee din gs o r hi s

.

p u rposes in Englan d — I n ever sa w him I n ever heard the name

“

he goes by to my kn owledge before to night

,
I say n o m ore ,
-
. .

Leave me a little Walte r : I am overp o w ered by what has

,

happen ed ; I am sh ake n by what I have sai d Let me try to .

’
be like myself again wh en we meet next ,
.

H e dropped i nto a chair a n d turn in g away from me hi d , ,

hi s face in h is h ands I gen tly opened the door so as n ot to

.
,

disturb hi m — a n d spoke my few partin g words in low ton es ,

which h e might hear or n ot as h e pleased ,

.

I will keep the m emory o f to night in my heart o f hearts -

,
’

‘
I said . Y o u shall neve r repen t the trus t you have repose d
‘

i n me .M a y I come to v o u to morrow M a y I come as early -

as n in e o clock ’

‘
Ye s Walter he replied lookin g u p at m e ki ndly an d
, ,
’
, ,

speakin g in En glish o nce more as i f hi s on e anxiety n o w , , ,

w a s to get back to ou r former relation s toward s each othe r .

Come to my little bi t o f breakfas t befo re I go my ways

among th e pupils that I teach .
’

Good night Pesca ,

.
’

’
Good n ight my friend , .

521
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E

M Y first con v icti on , as s oon as I found myself o utside th e

ho u se was that n o alternative was left m e but to a c t at o n ce
,

o n the i nformatio n I had received — to make su re o f th e C ount ,

that night or to ri sk the loss if I on ly delaye d ti ll th e morn

, ,

ing o f Laura s last chan ce I loo ked at my watch : i t was

’
.
,
’
te n o clock .

N o t the shado w o f a do ubt crossed my mi n d of the purpose

fo r wh ich the Cou nt had left the theatre H is e scape fro m .

u s that evenin g was beyon d all que sti on th e p reli mi nary

, , ,

on ly to hi s e scape from Lo ndon Th e mark o f th e B rothe r .

hood was o n his arm — I felt as certai n of it as if h e had shown

m e the brand — a nd the betrayal o f the B rotherhood was o n
his con scien ce — I had seen i t in hi s recognitio n o f Pesca .

I t was easy t o u nde rstan d why that recogniti on had n o t

been mutual A m a n o f th e C oun t s ch aracter would n eve r
.
’

ri sk th e terrible con sequen ces o f tu rn ing spy with out lookin g

to his pe rsonal secu rity quite a s carefully as h e lo oked to h is
golden reward T h e sh ave n face whi ch I had poin ted o u t at
.
,
’
the O pe ra migh t have bee n covered by a beard in Pe sca s
,

ti me ; hi s dark brown hai r migh t be a wig ; hi s n ame was

evidently a false o n e The acciden t of time mi ght have helped
.

him as well — hi s i mmen se co rpulence might have c ome with

hi s late r years T he re was eve ry reason why Pe sca sh ould
.

n ot have kn own h i m agai n — e v ery reason also why he shou ld , ,

have known Pesca wh os e si ngular person al appearance made ,

a marked m a n o f him go whe re he migh t , .

I have said that I felt ce rtain o f the pu rp ose in the Cou n t s ’

m in d whe n he escaped u s at the theatre H ow could I dou bt .

i t when I saw with my o w n eyes that h e believed h imself,

, , ,

i n spite o f the change i n hi s appearance to have been recog ,

nised by Pesca and to be the refor e in danger o f his life

, If
I could get speech o f hi m that n ight if I co uld sh ow him that ,

I to o kn ew o f the mortal peri l in which h e stood what

, , ,

re sult wou ld foll ow Pl ainly thi s O ne o f u s mus t be maste r .

o f the situation — o ne o f u s mu st i n evitably be at the m ercy o f

the o the r .

I owed it to myse lf to con side r the chan ce s again st me ,

b efore I co nfronted the m I owed i t to my wife to do all that .

la y in my power to le sse n the ri sk .

T h e chance s again st me wan ted n o reckoning up : th ey

w er e al l me rged i n o n e I f th e Coun t di scovered by my o w n .
,

a v owal that th e di rect way to h i s safety lay through my life

, ,

h e wa s p ro babl y th e last man i n exi stenc e wh o wou ld s h rin k

5 22
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E
a nything happe ne d to me i n the Co unt s ho u se I had now ’
,

p rovide d for hi s answe rin g i t with his life .

That the mean s o f preventin g h is e scape un de r any c ir

c u m sta n c es whatever were at Pe sca s disposal i f h e chose to
’

, ,

exert the m I did n ot for an in stant doubt The extraordinary

, .

anxiety which h e had expresse d to re main u nenlightened as

to th e Count s i dentity — o r i n othe r words to be left u n
’
, ,

certai n enough about facts to j ustify hi m to his o w n co n

s cien ce in remainin g passive — betrayed plainly that the mean s
o f exercisin g th e terri ble j ustice o f the B rothe rhood we re
ready to his hand although as a naturally human e man he
, , ,

had shrun k fro m plainly sayin g as much i n my p re sence .

T he deadly c ertainty with which the ven geance of forei gn

political societies ca n hun t down a traitor to the cause hide ,

h i mself where he may had been to o ofte n exemplified eve n

, ,

in my superficial experience to allow of any do ubt , Con .

siderin g the subj ect only as a reade r o f n ewspapers case s ,

recurre d to my memory both in London a n d in Pari s o f

, ,

forei gne rs foun d stabbed in the streets wh ose assassin s ,

could n ever be traced — o f bodie s and parts o f bodie s thrown ,

into th e Thames and the S eine by hands th at co uld never b e ,

discove re d— o f death s by secret violence which could on ly be

accoun ted fo r in o ne way I have disgui se d n othin g relating
.

to myself i n the se pages — an d I d o n o t disguise here that I ,

’
believed I had written Count Fosco s death warrant i f the -
,

fatal e mergency happen ed which auth orised Pe sca to open my

enclosure .

I left my ro om t o go down to the ground fl oor o f th e

h ouse an d speak to the landlord about findin g me a mes
,

sen ger . H e happened t o be ascen din g the stairs at th e time ,

a n d we met o n the landing H i s so n a qu ick lad was th e

.
, ,

me ssen ge r he proposed to me o n hearin g what I wanted ,

.

We h ad th e boy upstairs an d I gave him hi s direction s H e .

was to tak e th e letter in a ca b to put it i nto Professor Pesca s ,

’

o w n hands and to brin g m e back a lin e o f ackn owledgment

,

from that gentleman return ing in the c a b an d keepin g it at ,

the door fo r my use I t was the n nearly half past ten I ca l

.
- .

c u la ted that the boy migh t be bac k i n twenty m inute s ; an d

that I m igh t drive to S t J oh n s Wood o n hi s return in twenty

.
’
, ,

minute s more .

When the lad had departed o n hi s errand I return ed to m y ,

o w n room for a little while to put certai n pape rs i n order so

, ,

th at they might easily be found in case of the worst T he key ,

.

o f the old fashion ed bureau in which the papers were kept I

-
,

se a l ed up , an d l eft it o n my table with Marian s name writt en

’
,

5 24
on

the doo r .
’
TH E WO M AN I N W H IT E
the outside o f th e little packet T hi s don e I we nt down
stairs to the sittin g 1 oom i n which I expected to nd Lau ra
-
,

and M arian awaitin g my return fro m th e O pe ra I felt my

hand tremblin g for t he fi rst ti me when I laid it o n the lock o f ,
.
,

.
fi
N o o n e w a s in the room but M ari an S he was readin g .

an d she loo ked at he r watch in s urpri se whe n I came i n , ,

.

‘
H o w e arly yo u are back she said Y o u mu st have .

co me away befo re th e opera was ove r .

’
Yes I replied ; neithe r Pesca n o r I waite d for the en d
,
’
.

Where i s Laura
S he had on e of he r bad headache s thi s evening an d I
’
advi sed her to go to bed when we had don e tea , .

I left the room again on th e p retext of wi s h i ng to see

,

whethe r Lau ra was asleep M arian s quic k eye s we re begi n

.
’

’
nin g to l ook in quiri ngly at my face Marian s quick in sti nct
wa s beginnin g to d iscover that I had someth ing wei ghin g
o n my mi nd .

Whe n I e nte red th e bed ch ambe r a nd s oftly app roache d -

,

the beds ide by the dim flicke r o f th e ni ght lamp my wife was '
-
,

asleep .

We had n ot be en married quite a month yet I f my h eart .

wa s h eavy if my re sol u tion for a momen t falte re d agai n wh en

, ,

I looke d at he r face turne d faithfully to my pillow i n h e r slee p

—wh e n I saw he r hand re sti ng ope n o n the coverlid as if it was ,

waitin g u ncon sci ou sly fo r mi ne — su rely the re was some excus e

fo r me I on ly allowe d myself a few m inute s to knee l d own at
th e bedside an d to look close at h er— so close th at he r breath
, ,

a s i t came a n d we nt flutte re d o n my face

, I on ly touched .

he r han d and he r chee k with my lips at parti n g S he sti rred ,

.

i n he r s leep and mu rmu re d my name — but w i thout waki ng

I lin gere d for a n i nstant at the door to l ook at h e r agai n .

G od bles s an d ke ep yo u my darling I whispe re d— a nd ,

left he r .

Marian was at the stair head waiti n g fo r me S he had a

- .

folded slip o f pape r in he r hand .

’ ’
The landlord s so n has b rought thi s for you sh e said ,
.

H e h as go t a c a b at th e doo r— h e says you ordered him

to kee p i t at your disp osal .

Q uite right M arian I wan t th e c a b I am goi n g o u t

, .

again .
’

I descende d the stai rs a s I sp oke an d lo o k ed into the sittin g ,

room to read th e slip of pape r by th e light on th e table It

c ontain ed thes e two sente nce s in Pe sca s han dwritin g ,
’

‘
Your lette r i s receive d I f I don t se e yo u before th e .
’

5 25
 T HE W O M A N I N W HI TE

time yo u menti on I wi ll break the seal when the c l oc k ,

’
stri ke s .

I placed th e p aper in my pocket book and made for th e -

,

d oor M arian met m e o n the thre shold and pu shed m e

.
,

back into th e room where the candlelight fell ful l o n my face .

S h e held me by both han ds an d he r eye s fastened search ingly ,

o n m ine .

‘ ‘
Y o u a re
’
I see ! she said in a low eager whispe r ,
.

t ryi ng the las t chance to n ight - .

’

Ye s —t h e last chan ce and th e be st I whi spere d back ,

’
.

‘
N o t alon e ! O h Walte r for God s sake n o t alon e !
’

, ,

D on t refuse me becau se I m on ly a
’
Let me go wi th you .
’

woman I mu st go ! I will go ! I ll wait o utside i n the

.
’

cab

I t was my tu rn n ow to h old h er S he tried to break away .

from me and get d own fi rst to th e doo r

, .

‘
I f yo u wan t to help m e I said stop h ere an d sleep in ,
’
, ,

my wife s ro om to n ight O n ly le t m e go away with my

’
- .
,

min d easy abou t Laura and I an swe r for eve rything e lse ,
.

C ome M arian give m e a ki ss a nd sh ow that yo u hav e

, , ,
’
the cou rage to wai t ti ll I come back .

I da red n ot allow he r time to say a wo rd more S he .

tri ed t o h old m e again I un clasped he r hands — an d was .

o u t of the roo m i n a momen t The boy below heard me o n .

th e stai rs an d opene d the hall door I j umped in to the ca b

,
- .
,

before the d rive r cou ld get o ff th e box Fo rest Road S t .

, .

’ ’
J ohn s Wood I called to hi m th rough the front win dow
, .

D ouble fare if yo u get there i n a quarter o f a n h ou r

, I ll .
’ ’

d o i t si r
, .
’
I l ooked at my watch Ele v en o clock — no t a .
’

minute to l ose .

T h e rapid moti on o f th e c a b th e se ns e that eve ry in stant ,

n o w was bringin g m e n eare r to th e Count the c onvicti on ,

that I was e m barked at last with ou t let o r hi ndrance o n my , ,

ha z ardou s e nterpri se heate d m e int o such a feve r o f excite ,

men t that I sh outed to th e man to go faste r a nd faste r As .

we left th e streets a nd c rossed S t J oh n s Wood Road my , .

’
,

i mpatien ce so complete ly overpowe re d m e that I stood u p i n

the cab an d stretched my h ead o u t o f the window to see the ,

en d of th e j ou rney befo re we reached i t J ust a s a chu rch .

cl ock in th e distan ce st ruck the qu arte r past we tu rned i nto ,

th e Fo rest Road I stoppe d the drive r a little way from th e

.

C ount s h ous e— paid and di smi ssed him — and walke d o n t o

’

th e do o r .

As I ap proache d th e garde n gate I s aw an othe r pe rson ,

a dv an c i n g to wards it a l so , from th e di rection oppo sit e t o

5 26
 T H E WO M AN I N W H ITE
u p- stai rs withou t retu rni ng my bo w My familiarity wi th
, .

Mari an s j ournal su fficiently assured m e that th e elderly lady

’

w a s M adame F o sco .

The servan t led m e to th e ro o m which the C oun te ss had

j u st left I en tered it ; and foun d myself face to face with
.

th e Coun t .

H e wa s still i n hi s evenin g d re ss except hi s coat w hich , ,

he had thrown acros s the chai r H i s shirt s leeve s were .

-

turn ed u p at the wrists — but n o highe r A carpe t bag was .

-

o n o ne si de o f him an d a box on the other B ooks pape rs

,
.
, ,

an d article s o f wearin g appare l w ere scatte red about th e

room . O n a table at on e s ide o f th e doo r stoo d th e cage
, , ,

so v ell kn own t o m e by de scripti on which c ontained hi s ,

white mi ce T he canarie s an d the cockatoo we re p robably

.

i n so me oth er room H e w a s seated befo re th e box packin g

.
,

i t when I we nt in an d rose w ith some pape rs in h is han d to

, ,

re ceive me H i s face still betrayed plain ti a c es of the shock

.

that had o v erv helme d hi m at the O pera H i s fat ch eeks .

hun g loo se hi s c old grey eye s we re furtive ly vi gilant ; hi s

,

voice loo k an d man n er were all sh arply susp i ci ous ali ke as

, , ,

h e advan ce d a step to meet me an d reque sted with di stan t , ,

civility that I wo uld take a chai r

,
.

‘ ‘
Y o u come he re o n busine ss sir ? h e said I am at a ,
.

’
loss to kn ow what that bu si ness c a n po ssi bly be .

The un concealed c uri osi ty w ith which he looked hard i n

my face while h e s poke convinced me th at I had passed ,

u nn oticed by hi m at the O pera H e h ad see n Pesca fi rst ; .

and from that momen t till he left th e theatre he had ev i , ,

dently seen n oth in g else My n am e would n ece ssari ly suggest .

to him that I had n o t com e i nto h is hou se with othe r than a

h ostile purpo se towards himself— but h e a pp ea i ed to be utte rly
ignorant thu s far o f the real natu re o f my e rrand
, , .

‘ ’
I am fo rtun ate i n fi ndin g you h e re to ni gh t I said , .

Y o u seem to be o n the p o int of takin g a jou rney

I s you r bu si ne ss con necte d with my j ourney
‘ ’
I n s om e de gree .

I n what de gree D o you know w here I am goin g to

No .I only kn ow why you are leavin g L ondon .
’

H e sli p ped by m e with the quickne s s o f th ought ; locked

the d oor o f the room ; a n d put the key i n hi s pocket .

‘
Y o u an d I M r H a rtrigh t are excelle ntly well acquainted
,
.
,
‘
wi th o n e anoth er by reputati on h e s aid D i d it by any ,
’
.
,

chance occur to you whe n you came to thi s h ouse that I was
,

n o t the sort of man you cou ld trifle with

‘ ’
I t di d o c cu r to me , I replied And I have n o t c om e to .

5 28
 T H E WO M AN I N W H ITE

tri fl e with yo u I am h ere on a matte r of life a n d death — a nd

.
~

i f th at doo r whi ch yo u have locked was open at th is m omen t ,

n othin g you co uld s ay o r d o would i nduce me to pass through

’
it
.

I walke d farthe r i nto the room a n d sto od opp osite to hi m ,

o n th e ru g before th e fi replace H e drew a chai r in fron t o f .

the doo r a nd sat down o n it with hi s left arm restin g o n the

,
, ,

table The cage with the white mice was close to hi m a nd

.

th e little creature s s campe red o u t o f thei r sleepin g place as -

,

h is heavy arm shook th e table a n d peer ed at hi m throu gh the ,

gap s in th e s martly pai nted wi re s .

O n a matte r o f life a n d d eath he repeated to himself .

‘
Those wo rd s are m ore se riou s pe rhaps than you think , , .

Wh at d o you m ean
’
What I say .

The perspi ratio n b roke out thickly o n hi s b road forehe ad .

H is left han d s tole ove r the edge o f the table The re was a .

drawe r in i t with a lock an d the key w a s i n the lock

, , His .

finge r a nd thu mb close d over the key bu t di d n ot turn i t .

‘
S o you kn ow why I am leavi n g Lo n don he wen t o n .

‘
T ell m e th e reason i f yo u please H e turn ed the key an d
, .
’
,

u nlocked the drawe r as h e spo ke .

I can do bette r than that I repli ed ‘I ca n sh ow you th e ’

,
’
reason if you like
,
.

H ow c a n you show i t
’
Y o u h ave go t yo u r coat o ff I said Roll u p th e shirt , .

s le eve o n you r left arm — a n d you will see it the re .

’

The same livid leade n chan ge passed ove r hi s face whi ch

, ,

I had seen pas s ove r i t at the theat re T h e deadly glitte r in .

hi s eye s sh one s teady an d s trai gh t into min e H e sai d .

n othing B ut his left han d slowly open ed th e table drawe r

.
,

fi
an d softly slipped int o it Th e harsh gratin g n oi se o f s om e .

thin g h eavy that he w a s m ovin g u nseen t o me s ou nde d fo r , ,

a mo me nt— the n cease d The sil en ce that followe d was so .

i nten se that th e faint tickin g n ibble of the white mice at thei r

,

wi re s was disti nctl y au di ble whe re I st ood .

My life hun g by a thread — and I kn ew i t At that fi nal .

m ome nt I th ought with h is mi nd ; I fel t with h is ngers— I

,

was a s ce rtai n a s if I h ad se en i t of what he kept hi dde n

, ,

from me in the d rawe r .

‘ ’
Wait a little I said You have got th e doo r lo cked
,
.

yo u s ee I don t move — yo u se e my han ds are empty Wait a

’
.

little I have somethin g m ore to sa y

. .
’

‘ ’
You have said e n ou gh h e replied with a s udde n c o m , ,
!

p o su re so u n natural an d so ghastly that i t t rie d my n e rve s a s

,

5 29 M M
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E
n o out break of vi olen ce cou ld have tried the m I wan t o ne .

momen t fo r my o w n thou ghts if you please D o yo u gues s , .

what I am thi nkin abou t

Perhap s I d o g .
’

‘I am thin kin g ‘
h e re marke d q uietly ,
’
wh ether I shal l ,

add to the di sorde r i n thi s room by s catte rin g you r brain s ,

about the fi replace .

I f I had moved at that moment I sa w i n hi s face that he ,

would have done i t .

‘
I advi se yo u to read two line s o f wri t i n g which I have
’
about m e I rej oin ed before yo u fi nally d ecide that que sti on
,
’
,
.

Th e p rop osal appeare d to excite h is curi osi ty H e n odded .

h is head I to o k Pe sca s ackn owled gme nt o f the receipt o f

’
.

my lette r o u t o f my p ocket boo k handed i t to h i m at arm s ’

len gth ; an d retu rne d to my forme r posi ti on i n fro nt of th e

fi replace .

H e read th e line s al oud You r lette r i s rece ived If I .

don t hear from you befo re the ti me you me ntion I wi ll break

’
,
”
th e seal when th e clock stri ke s .

An othe r man i n h is position would ha v e n eede d some

, ,

explan ati o n o f th os e wo rds — the Count felt n o such necessity .

O n e readi ng o f the n ote sh owed hi m the p recauti on th at I

had taken a s plainly as i f h e had been p resen t at th e ti me
,

wh en I adopted it Th e exp res sion o f hi s face changed o n

.

th e i n stant an d hi s han d came o u t o f th e drawe r empty , .

‘
I d on t lock u p my d rawe r M r H a rtrigh t h e said ;
’

,
.
,
’

an d I don t say that I may n ot scatte r your brai n s abo ut

’

th e fi replace yet B ut I am a j ust m a n even t o my e nemy

, .
,

and I will ackn owledge beforehand that th ey are clevere r , ,

brain s th an I though t th em Com e to th e poi n t si r ! Y o u .

,

want s omethin g o f me
‘
I do — a nd I mean to h ave it
~
.
’

O n con diti on s
’
O n n o conditi on s .

H i s han d dropped i nto th e d rawer again .

B ah we are t ravellin g i n a ci rcle h e said an d those ,

’

cleve r brain s o f yours are i n dan ge r again Your ton e i s .

d eplorably i mprudent si r— mode rate i t o n th e spot ! Th e ,

ri sk o f sho otin g you o n the place where yo u stand i s le ss to ,

me than th e ri sk o f lettin g yo u o ut o f thi s house except o n

, ,

c onditi on s that I di ctate a n d approve Y o u have n o t got my .

lamented fri en d to deal with n o w— you are face to face with ,

F o sc o ' I f the lives o f twen ty M 1 Ha rtrigh ts were the .

stepping ston es to my safety ove r all those stone s I wo uld

-
,

go su stain ed by my subli me i ndi ff ere nce self-balan c ed by

, ,

5 30
 T HE WO M AN IN W H ITE

at o nce folded hi s ar ms over his breast and li sten ed to m e

, ,

with a smi le of satirical atte nti on .

Y o u are well e nough aware I wen t o n of th e cou rs e ,

’
,

whi ch my i n qu irie s have take n for many mon th s past to ,

kn ow that any attempte d de nial o f plai n facts will be quite '

u sele s s i n my p resence You are guilty o f a n infa m o u s c o n .

sp ira c y And th e gai n of a fortu ne of ten thousand pound s

.

was you r m otive for i t .

’

H e said n othing B ut hi s face be came ove rcloude d

.

sudde nly by a loweri ng anxi ety .

(
'

Keep you r gain I said H i s face li ghten ed

,
’
agai n .

i mmediately and hi s eye s opened o n m e i n wide r an d wide r

,
‘
aston i shmen t ) I am n ot h ere to disg1 a c e myself by bar
.
_

gain in g for m on ey which has passed through y ou r hand s an d ,

which has been the pri ce o f a vi le crime

‘
Gently M 1 H a 1 trigh t Your moral clap traps have a n
, . .
-

excellen t e ff ect 1 11 E n glan d — kee p the m for yours elf an d your

o w n countrymen if you please The ten thousan d pound s
, .

w a s a le gacy left to my exc ellen t wife by th e late M r Fai rlie . .

Place the a ff ai r o n th o se groun ds and I will discuss it i f yo u

like T o a m a n of my sentimen ts h oweve r the subj ect i s
.
, ,

deplorably sordid I prefe r to pass i t ove r . I invite yo u to .

resume the discussion o f yo u r te rms What do you de man d .

‘
I n the fi rst place I demand a full confe ssion o f the c o n,
’
sp ira c y written a n d si gned i n my pre se n ce
,
by yo urself ,
.

H e rai se d h is fi nge r again One he said checking me .

,

o ff wi th th e steady attenti on o f a p ractical m a n .

I n th e se cond place I deman d a plain pro of which doe s , ,

n ot depen d o n your personal asseveration o f the date at ,

which my wife left B lackwate r Park and trav elled to ,

’
London .

‘
'

S o ! s o l you c a n lay your fin ger I see o n the weak , ,

‘
place he remarked composedly
,
’
Any m ore ?,
.
’

‘
At presen t n o m ore ,
.

Good ! yo u have mentione d you r term s ; n o w listen to

mine The respon si bility to myself o f admittin g what yo u are
.
,
“ ”
pleased to call th e con spi racy i s le s s pe rh aps upon the , , ,

whole than th e res pon si bility of layin g you dead on that

,

h earth rug Le t u s say that I meet your prop osal— o n my

-
.

o w n conditi on s The statement y o u de man d o f me sh all be

.

written and the plai n pro of shall be produced Y o u call a

, ‘
.

l etter from my late lamen ted frie nd informin g me o f th e d ay ,

’
and hour o f hi s wife s arrival in London writ ten signed an d , , ,

dated by himself a p roof I suppo se ? I ca n give yo u thi s

, , .

I ca n also send yo u to the m a n of whom I hi red the carriage

32
 T H E W O M AN I N W H I T E
t o fetch my visito r fro m the rai lway o n th e day wh en sh e
arrived his order book ma y help yo u to you r date eve n if
,
- -
,

hi s coachman w h o drove me proves to be o f n o u se These .

thin gs I c a n d o a nd will do o n co nditi on s

, I rec ite them
, . .

Fi rs t con dition ! M adame F os co a n d I leave thi s h ou se ,

wh en and how we please withou t interfere nce o f any kind , ,

o n you r part S econ d condi ti on ! Y o u wait he re i n com

.
,

pany with me to see my agen t who i s comin g at seven

, ,

o clock in the m ornin g to regulate my a ff ai rs You give my

’
.

agent a written orde r to th e m a n who has go t yo u r seale d

lette r to resign hi s p o sses sion of i t Yo u wai t he re till my .

agen t place s that lette r un ope ne d in my hand s a n d you the n

allow me on e clear h alf h ou r to le ave th e h ouse — afte r whi ch
- _

y o u resum e you r o w n freedo m of acti on an d go where you ,

please Thi rd condition ! You give m e the satisfacti on of a

.

gentle man fo r you r i ntru si on in to my private a ffairs a nd for

, ,

the lan gu age you have allowed yourse lf to u se to me at thi s ,

conference The ti me a n d place abroad to be fixed i n a

.
, ,

lette r from my han d when I am s afe o n th e Continent ; an d

that lette r t o contai n a stri p o f pape r measurin g accurately
th e len gth o f my swo rd Tho se are my te rm s . I nform me .

if yo u accept th e m — Ye s or N o , .
’

Th e extrao rdi nary m ixture of p rompt deci si on far sighte d ,

-

cunn in g an d mounteban k bravad o in thi s speech staggered

, ,

m e fo r a m omen t— an d on ly for a mo men t The one questio n .

to c on side r was whethe r I was j u stified o r n ot in po sses s

, , ,
’
i n g myself o f t h e mean s o f e stablishin g Laura s ide ntity at ,

th e cos t of allowi n g th e scou n dre l wh o h ad ro bbe d he r o f i t

t o e scape m e with i mpuni ty I knew that the m otive o f .

se curin g the j ust recogniti on o f my wife in the bi rthplace fro m

wh ich sh e had bee n drive n o u t as a n impo sto r an d of publicly ,
’
e rasi n g th e li e that still profan ed h e r mother s tombston e ,

was far pu re r in its freedo m from all taint of evil pas sio n
, ,

th an the vin dictive motive which had min gled i tself wi th my

p urpose fro m th e fi rst An d yet I cann ot honestly say that
.

m y own m o ral convi cti on s we re stron g en ough to deci de th e

struggl e in me , by themselve s They we re helped by m y
‘

. ,

rememb rance o f S i r Pe rcival s death H o w aw fully at th e ’

.
,

last moment h ad the workin g of the retribution fl z ere be e n

, ,
-
,

s natched fro m my feeble hands What ri ght had I to decide . ,

in my po or mo rtal i gn oran ce o f the futu re that t hi s m a n to o , , ,

m ust e scape with i mpunity be cause h e escaped m e , I

thou ght o f these th in gs — pe rhaps with the supe rst itio n ,

i nh e rent in my natu re perhaps with a se nse wo rthie r of me ,

5 33
 TH E WO M AN I N W H I T E
than su pe rstition I t was hard when I had fastened my hold
.
,

on him a t last
, to loosen it agai
, n o f my o w n acco rd — bu t I
forced myself t o make the sacrifi ce I n plaine r wo rds I .
,

dete rmin ed to b e gui ded by th e o ne hi ghe r m o tive o f which I

was certain the motive o f se rvin g th e cau se o f L a ura and the
,

c au se o f T ruth .

‘
I accept your con diti on s I sa id With o ne reser v ati on ,
’
. ,
’
o n my part .

What re se rvati on m ay that b e P h e as ked .

‘ ‘
I t refe rs t o th e sealed lette r I an swe red I requ i re ,
’
.

y o u to d estroy i t un opened i n my
, pre sen ce a s s oon as it,i s ,

placed i n you r hands .

My o bj ect i n making thi s sti pulati on wa s si mply to

p re v e n t hi m from carrying away wri tte n eviden ce of the n ature
o f my c o mmu ni cati on with Pe sca The f a c t o f my c ommun i .

cation he would n ece ssarily discove r whe n I gave th e ,

addres s t o his agen t in the mo rn in g B ut he co ul d make

,
.

fi
n o u se of it o n hi s o wn u n supp orted testimony — eve n if h e
,

really ve ntu red to try the e x pe rim e nt — which ne ed e x ci t e i n

m e the slighte st app rehen si o n o n Pesca s accou nt ’
.

‘
I grant you r reservation h e replied afte r co n side rin g ,
’
,

th e que sti on grave ly for a min ute o r two I t i s n ot wo rth .

di spute — th e lette r s hall be de stroye d wh e n i t come s i nto my

h a n ds
H e rose as he spoke from the ch ai r i n which he had been
, ,

s i tti ng O pp osite to me up to thi s time With o n e e ffort he

, .
,

a ppeare d to fre e h i s mi n d from the wh ol e p re ssu re o n i t of

th e i nte rvi ew betwee n u s thus far O uf h e crie d stretch

, .
,
‘
ing h i s arm s l uxuri ously ; th e s ki rmi sh was h o t wh ile it
l a ste d T ake a seat M r H a rtrigh t We me et as m ortal
.
, . .

ene mie s he reafte r— le t u s like gallan t gentleme n e xchange

, ,

p olite attention s i n the mean time Pe rmi t me to take th e .

li be rty o f callin g fo r my wife .

’

He u nlocked an d open ed the do or E leano r ! he called .

’

o ut in h is deep v oi ce
, T h e lady o f the vi pe ri sh face came i n
. .

M ad a me F o sco — M r H a rtrigh t said the C ount i ntroduci ng

.
,
’
,
‘
u s with easy dign ity My angel h e wen t o n addres sin g ’
.
, ,
‘
h is wife ; will you r lab ours o f packi ng up allow yo u time
-
-

to make me s om e ni ce strong co ff ee ? I have writin g

b u si n es s to tran sact wi th M r H a rtrigh t— and I requi re the .

fu l l poss ession o f my i ntelli gen ce to do j ustice to mys elf

’
.

M adam e F osco bowe d her h ead twice — on ce ste rnly to m e ;

o nce su bmis si v ely to he r h u sb a nd — a nd glid ed o ut o f th e
ro o m .

I
5 34
 THE VJ O M AN I N WH ITE

by hu ndreds fl ew ove r h is sh oulde rs on either side o f him til l

, ,

he had s nowed h imself u p in pa pe r all roun d h i s ch ai r H our .

after h eu r passed— an d there I sa t watching ; the re h e sat ,

wri ting H e n eve r s topp ed except t o sip h i s co ff ee ; an d whe n

.
,

that Wa s exhau sted to smac k h is fo reh ead fro m time to time , , .

O n e o cloc k s tru ck two th re e fou r— and stil l the slips flew

'
c ’ '

, , ,

a bout all roun d h im still the un ti rin g p en sc rape d its w a y

cea sele ssly from top to bottom o f th e page still th e wh ite .

ch a o s o f p ape r rose higher an d hi gher all rou n d hi s ch air At

fo u r o cloc k I heard a sudde n splutte r of th e p en i ndicative
’ '

, ,
‘
of the flo u ri sh with which he si gn ed h i s n ame B ravo he . .

cri ed — spri ngin g t o h is fee t with the activity of a yo un g man ,

a n d lookin g m e straigh t in the face with a smile o f superb

triumph .

—
D on e M r H a rtrigh t , he ann oun ce d w ith a self
.
, ,
u

ren ovating thum p o f h is fi s t o n hi s b road b reast D one t o .

,

my own profoun d satisfacti o n — to y on r profoun d aston ishment ,

when you read what I have written The subj ect i s exhau sted .

the m a n— Fo sco — i s n ot I p ro c eed to the arran gement o f .

my slip s t o th e revi si on o f my slips to th ereadin g o f my slips

, ,
’
-
addressed emphati cally t o you r private ear F o ur o cl ock
, , .

has j ust stru ck Good Arran ge men t revi si on readin g

.
, , ,

from fou r to five S hort s noo z e o f re sto ration fo r mys elf

.
,

from fi ve to six Fi nal p reparati o n s from six to seven

.
, .

A ff ai r of agen t an d sealed lette r from seven t o eigh t At eight , .

,

en r ou te B ehold th e programme
.

H e sa t down c ross legged o n the fl oo r a m o ng h is p a p ers

' '

'

-
,

str ung the m together with a bodki n a n d a piece of string ;

revi sed them ; wrote all the title s an d h on ou rs by whi ch he
was pe rs onally di stingui shed at the h ead o f the fi rst page ; ,

an d th en rea d the manu script to m e with lo ud theatrical

,
,

emphasi s a n d profu se theatrical ge sti cu lati on Th e reader wi ll ;

have a n opportunity e re long o f formin g his o wn opini on o f , ,

the do cu men t I t will be su ffi ci en t t o menti on here that it

.

an swe red my pu rpo se .

H e next wrote m e th e addres s o f the perso n fro m whom h e

h ad hi re d the fly an d h anded me S i r Pe rcival s letter I t was
,
’
.

fi
dated from H ampshi re o n th e 2 5 th of J u ly an d i t ann ounced
th e j ourney o f Lady Glyde t o London o n the 2 6 th Thus , .
,

on the very day (the 2 5 th ) whe n th e d octo r s ce rtificat e de ’

sh e wa s alive
,

c l a red that sh e had di ed in S t J oh n 3 Wo od

’
.
, ,

by S ir Pe rcival s o wn sh owin g at B lackwa te r— and o n the

’

, ,

day afte r she w a s t o take a j ou rn ey ! When the proof o f

,

that j ourn ey was obtaine d from the ym a n th e eviden ce ,

w o uld b e complete .

5 36
 T H E WO M AN I N W H IT E
A q u arte r past five sai d th e C oun t lookin g at hi s watch,
’
, .

T i me for my re sto rative sn ooze I person ally re semble .

Napole on the Great as yo u may h ave remarked M r H art , , .

right — I also rese mble that im mortal m a n in my p ower o f

co mmanding sleep at wil l Excus e me o n e m oment I wil l
'

.
, .

’
summon M adame Fosco t o keep yo u fr o m feelin g dull
'

.
,

Kn owin g a s well as he did that h e was summ o ni n g , _

M adame Fosco to en su re my n ot leavi ng th e house whi le h e

was a sleep I made no reply a n d occupied myself 1 11 tying u p
,

, ,

the papers which he had p laced 1 n my posse ss i on

The lady ca m
.

e i n co ol pale an d ven omou s as eve r , , , .

‘Amuse M r H a rtrigh t my angel said the Count He ’

.
.
, ,

p laced a chai r fo r he r ki sse d he r hand fo r th e seco nd time

, ,

withdrew to a s ofa and in th re e m in ute s was as peacefu lly

, , ,

an d happi ly asleep as the m ost vi rtuou s man in exi stence .

M adame Fosco took a book fro m the table — sa t down

an d looked at me with th e steady vi ndictive malice o f a
, ,

woman wh o neve r fo rgot a n d n eve r fo rg

I h ave b een li stenin g to your conve rsati on with my h u s
‘
band she said
,
’
I f I h ad bee n l n lz z s place — 1 woul d h ave
.

laid yo u dead o n the h earth rug .

’

With those word s sh e ope ned h erboo k ; a nd n eve r l o oke d

,

at me o r sp oke to me from that ti me till the time whe n her

, ,

husband woke .

H e opened hi s eye s a nd ro se from th e S ofa accurately t o ,

a n h ou r fro m th e ti me when he had gon e to slee p .

‘ ‘ ’
I feel infinite ly refre shed he re marked E lean or my , .
,
‘
go od wife are you all ready u p stai rs
. , That i s well My ,
-
.

little packing he re c a n be complete d in ten min ute s — m y

‘

travell ing dre ss a ssu med in ten min ute s more What remain s
- .
,

befo re th e age nt come s H e looked about th e ro om an d

'

n oti ce d the cage with hi s wh ite m ice in i t Ah he crie d .

pite ously ; a last l ace ratio n o f my sympathie s s till remain s .

My in noc en t pets ! my little cherishe d ch ildren ! what am I to

do with the m 9 For the pre sent we are settle d n owhere ; fo r
.
,

the present we travel in ce ssantly— the les s baggage we carry

, ,

the b ette r for ourse lve s My cockatoo my canar i e s an d my .

, ,

little mice — wh o will cheri sh them wh en the i r goo d Papa i s ,

’
gon e ?
H e walked about th e room deep i n thought H e had n o t , .

been at all troubled about writing hi s confession b ut he was ,

visibl y pe rplexed an d di stre ssed about th e far more imp ortan t

que st i on o f the disp osal of hi s pets Afte r l on g con sideration .
,

he sudden ly sat dow n again at the writin g table -

.

‘ ‘

An i dea ! h e e x claimed I will o ff e r my canarie s a nd .

S37 .
 TH E WO M AN I N W H I T E
my o c ckato o to thi s vast Metro poli s — m y agen t shal l pr esent
them in my name to the Z oological Garden s o f London
, ,
.

T h e D ocument that de sc ribe s the m shall b e d rawn o ut o n th e

’
spot .

H e began to write repeating th e word s as they fl owed ,

from hi s pe n .

N umbe r O n e C ockato o o f tran scen den t plumage

.

attracti on o f hi mse lf to all vi si to rs o f taste

,
N umber T wo
,
. .

Canari es o f un ri v alled vivaci ty an d i ntelligence worthy o f the

’
garde n o f E den worthy als o o f the garden in the Regent s
,
’
P ark H omage to B riti sh Z oology O ffe re d by Fosco
. . .

The p en s pl u tt ere d agai n ; an d the fl ouri sh was a tta c hed

to h is signat u re .

‘
C ount ! yo u h ave no t i ncluded the mice said M adam e ,
’

F osco .

He left th e table too k he r han d and place d i t o n h is

, ,

heart .

‘ ‘
All human res oluti on E lean or he said solem n ly h a s , ,
’
, ,

its limits M Y li mits are in scribe d o n th at D ocumen t I can no t

. .

p art with my white mice B ear with me my angel an d .

,
’
,

remove the m to the ir trave llin g cage u p stairs - - .

‘Admirabl e ten de rn es s ! sai d M adame Fosco admiri ng ’

,

he r h usband with a last viperi sh look in my dire c ti on S h e

, .

took u p the cage carefully a n d left th e roo m .

The Count l ooked at hi s watch I n spite o f hi s reso l ute .

assumpti on o f comp os ure he wa s ge ttin g anxi ou s fo r th e ,

’
agent s arrival The candle s had lon g sin ce been extinguish ed
.

a n d the s unlight o f th e n ew mo rnin g poured i n to the room .

I t was n o t till fi ve mi nu tes past seven that the gate bell ran g ,

a n d th e agent made h is appearan ce H e was a foreign er with .

a dark beard .

M r H a rtrigh t— M on sieur Rubelle said the C ount i ntro

.
,
’
,

du c ing u s H e to ok the agen t (a foreign spy i n every line o f

.
,

h is face if eve r th ere was one yet ) in to a corn e r of the room ;

,

whi spere d s ome dire cti on s to him an d then left us together .

’
M onsieu r Rubelle as s oon as we we re al on e sugge sted with
, , ,

great p olitene ss that I sh ould favour him with hi s in struction s

,
.

I wrote two line s to Pesca authorisin g hi m to deliver my ,

sealed lette r to the B eare r ; directe d th e n ote and handed

it to M on sieu r Rubelle .

Th e agen t waite d with me till hi s employer returne d ,

e quippe d in trave lling c ostume T he Count e x amine d th e .

addre s s o f my lette r b efore he di smissed the agen t I thought .

s o ! h e said turnin g o n me with a dark l ook a nd a l tering

’
, ,

a gai n i n h i s mann er fr o m that momen t .

5 38
 T H E W O M AN I N W H I T E

Y ou wait here with m e sir for half an hou r m ore s aid , ,

M o nsieu r Ru belle .

"
I do .

We ret u rned to th e sitting roo m I was i n n o h um ou r to - .

speak t o the age nt o r to allow hi m to sp eak t o me I to ok

,
.

fi
o u t th e pape rs whi ch th e Count h ad place d i n my hands an d
re ad the te rri ble story o f th e con spiracy told by the m a n wh o
had plan ned an d pe rpetrated i t .

T be S tory com i uuea by I S I D R O TT A I

‘
O B AL D A SSARE F o sco
VO C ou n t of til e
Holy R om a n E mp i re [ z zy/i t G ra z z a Cross of tire Order of M e B ra z en
’

C row n P erpei zca l A rc/i -M a sl er of M e R osi cr z cci a n M a son s of M esop ota m i a

fi
A ttacked (i n H ono ra ry Cap a ci ti es) to S oci eti es M csz ca l , S oci eti es M edi ca l ,
’

S ocieti es P /z i losop/z i ca l , a nd S oci eties Genera l B en evolent; wrong/to ut E u repe

T/1 e C OU NT S N ’
a rra i io e .

I N th e sum me r o f eighteen hund red an d fifty I a rriv ed in En g ,

l an d ,charge d with a deli cate political mi ssion from abroad .

Con fid en tial perso n s were semi O f c ia lly con necte d with m e -

,

wh ose exertion s I was authorized to dire ct — M on sieu r and

M adame Rubelle bein g amon g the n um be r S ome week s o f .

spare time were at my di sposal before I e nte red o n my ,

functi on s by e stabli sh in g myself in th e suburbs o f London .

Curio sity may sto p he re to a sk for som e explanation o f those

,

fun cti on s o n my part I e n ti re ly sympathize with the re que st

. .

I als o regret that diplo mati c re serve forbid s m e t o comply

with it .

I arran ged to pass the p reliminary period o f repose to

-

whi ch I have j ust refe rred in the superb man si on o f my late ,

lamented frie nd S ir Percival Glyde H e arrived from the

, .

Continen t with h is wife I arrived from the C ontin en t with .

m i ne . En glan d i s the land o f d ome sti c happines s— h o w

app ropri ately we e ntered it unde r the se domesti c circum
stan ce s
The bon d of fri endship which united Percival an d myself ,

w a s stren gt hen ed o n thi s occasion by a touchin g similarity

, ,

in the pecuniary position o n h i s side an d o n mi ne We both

, .

wanted money I m men se nece ssi ty ! Un ive rsal want

. Is
there a civi li z ed h uman bein g wh o does n o t feel for u s ?
H ow i n sen si ble mu st that man be O r h o w rich
I ente r in to n o s o rdi d parti culars i n di scussin g thi s part ,

o f the subj ect My min d recoi ls from them With a Roman

. .

austeri ty I show my e mpty pu rse an d Percival s to the

,
’

shrinkin g p ublic gaze Le t u s allow th e deplorab le fact to

.

asse rt its elf once fo r all in that manne r — and pass o n

, , .

54 0
 T H E WO MAN I N W H IT E

W e were re ceived at the man si on by the magnificen t

creature who i s inscribed o n my heart as M arian — wh o i s
kn own in the colde r atmosphere o f S ociety as Mi ss H al ,

combe .
’

J u st H eave n with what i nconce ivable rapidity I learn t to

ad ore that wo man At sixty I worshipped her with th e
.
,

volcani c ardour o f eighteen All the go ld o f my rich n ature .

was pou re d hope lessly at her feet My wife — po o r an gel .

m y wife wh o ad ore s m e got n othin g but the shi llin gs a nd

,

th e pennie s S uch i s th e World ; such M a n ; such Love

. .

What are we ( I ask ) bu t pu ppets i n a show bo x ? O h -

,

omnipoten t D e stiny pull ou r stri n gs gently !

, D anc e u s
mercifully O ff ou r mi se rable littl e stage
The precedin g li nes righ tlv un de rsto od exp re ss an, ,

e ntire syste m of phi losophy I t 1 5 M in e . .

I resume .

Th e d ome stic p osition at the commen ce men t o f o u r

residence at B lac kwate r Park has been drawn with amaz in g
accu racy with p rofound me ntal in si ght by the han d o f M arian
, ,

herse lf (Pass me the i n toxicatin g familiarity o f m entio nin g

.

thi s subli me creature by h er Chri stian n ame ) Accurate .

kn owledge o f th e contents of he r j o urnal — to which I obtained

acce ss by c landestin e mean s u n speakably p reciou s to m e in ,

the remembrance — warn s my eage r p en from topi cs which

thi s e ss entially exhau stive woman has already made he r o w n .

T h e i ntere sts — i nte rests breathles s a n d immen se with

,
-

which I am here c on ce rned begin with th e dep lorable calamity,

o f M ari an s i llnes s
’
.

The situati on at thi s peri od was e mphatically a s eri ou s

, ,

o ne. Large su ms of m on ey du e at a certai n time we re , ,

wanted by Percival ( I say nothi n g of the modicum e qually

ne ce ssary t o myself) ; an d the o ne s ou rce to lo ok to fo r
supplyin g the m was th e fortune o f hi s wife o f which n ot o ne ,

farthin g was at h is di sposal u nti l he r death B ad s o far ; .

,

a n d wo rse still farthe r o n My lamen ted frie nd had private

.

trouble s o f hi s o w n into whi ch th e delicacy of my di si nte re sted

,

attach men t to h i m forbade m e from i n qui rin g too curi ou sly .

I kn ew n othin g but that a woman named Ann e C a th eric k , ,

was hidde n i n the n eighbourho od that sh e w a s in com mu ni

cati on with Lady G lyde an d that th e di sclosu re o f a se cret ,

whi ch wo ul d be the certai n rui n O f Pe rcival might be th e ,

re sult . H e had told m e himself that h e was a lo st m a n unle s s ,

h i s wife was s ilen ced and u n le ss An n e C a th eric k was fou nd

, .

I f h e was a lo st man what would becom e o f Our p ecu ni a ry

,

54 1
 TH E WO MAN I N W H ITE

i nterests C ou rageou s a s I am by n ature I absolutely ,

trembled at the idea

Th e wh ole fo rce o f my i ntelli ge n ce was no w directe d to th e
fi nding o f Ann e C a th eric k O ur money a ff airs i mportan t as .
,

they were admitted o f delay— but the nece ssi ty O f discove ring
,

the woman admitted o f n one I only kn ew he r by desc rip .

,

ti o n as pres entin g a n extraord in ary pe rs onal rese mblan ce to

,

Lady Glyde The state ment o f thi s curi ous fact— i nte nded
.

me rely to assi st me in identifyin g the pe rson o f whom we we re

in search — when couple d with th e addition al informati on that
Ann e C a th eric k h ad escaped from a madhouse started th e ,

fi rst im me n se concepti on in my mind which subsequently led ,

t o such ama z ing re sults Th at c on cepti on i nvolved n othi ng .

less than the complete tran sformati on oftwo separate identi ties .

Lady Glyde an d An ne C a th eric k w ere to change n ame s places , ,

an d destin ie s the o n e with the other — the prodigi ou s c o n se

,

q u en c es contemplate d by th e change being the gai n o f thirty ,

thousan d po u nds an d the ete rnal p rese rvation o f S i r Pe rcival s

,
’

secret .

My i n stincts (whi ch seldom e rr ) suggested to m e o n revi ew ,

ing th e circumstan ce s that o u r i nvi si ble An n e wo uld soone r

, ,

o r late r retu rn to the boat h ouse at the B lackwate r lake

,
- .

T he re I posted myself ; previ ously menti onin g to M rs M ichel .

so n th e hou sekeepe r that I migh t be foun d when wanted

, , ,

immerse d i n s tudy i n that s olitary place , I t is my rule never .

to m ake un necessary myste ries and n eve r to set people su s ,

p ec ting m e fo r wan t o f a l ittle s eas on able candour on my ,

part . M rs M ichelso n believed in m e from fi rst to last Thi s

. .

ladylike pe rson (widow o f a Protestan t Priest ) o v erfl o w ed

with faith T ouched by such sup erfl u ity o f simple confidence
.
,

in a woman o f he r matu re years I O pened the ample re servoi rs ,

o f my n atu re an d abso rbed i t all , .

I was rewarded fo r po stin g myself senti ne l at th e lake by ,

the appearance — n ot o f Ann e C a th eric k herse lf but o f th e ,

pe rson in charge o f he r This i n divid ual also o v erfl o w ed with

.

simple faith which I absorbed in myself as in the case already

, ,

mentioned I leave he r to de scri be th e ci rcumstan ce s (if she

.

has n ot don e so already ) un de r wh ich sh e i ntroduced m e to

th e obj ect o f he r maternal care When I fi rst s aw An n e .

C a th eri c k sh e was asleep

, I was electrifie d by th e li keness .

betwee n thi s u nhappy woman an d Lady Glyde The detail s .

o f the gran d sch em e whi ch had sugge ste d themselve s in o u t

,

lin e on ly up to that period occurred t o me i n all thei r

, , _
,

m a st erly c ombinati on at the sight of the sleepi n g face At

, .

th e s a m e ti m e my h eart always acc es sibl e to t end er in fl u en c e s

, , ,

54 2
 T HE WO M AN IN W H IT E

pr eservation of Ann e C a th eric k s life Al l my anxieties we re

’

’
co ncen trate d o n M arian s rescue fro m th e han ds of the licen sed
I mbecile wh o atte nded he r a nd wh o fou nd my advi ce c o n ,

fi rmed fro m fi rst to last by the physici an from Lon don

, On, .

two occasion s on ly both e qually harm les s to th e i ndividual

-

o n wh o m I p racti sed — did I s ummon t o myself the ass istance

O f chemical kn owledge O n the fi rs t o f th e two afte r follow

.
,

ing M ari an to th e i n n at B lackwater (studying behind a c o n ,

v en i ent waggon which hi d m e fro m her the poetry o f motion , ,

as e mbodied in he r walk ) I availed myself O f the servi ces o f ,

my i nvaluable wife t o copy o n e a n d to in tercept the othe r o f

,

two letters which my adore d e n e my had e ntrusted to a dis

carded maid I n thi s case the l etters being i n the bo som o f
.
,
’
the girl s dre ss M adame F osco could on ly ope n them read
, ,

them perform he r in struction s seal them a nd p ut the m back

, , ,

again by scientific assi stance — which assi stance I ren dere d

,

in a half oun ce b ottle

-
The se con d occasio n when the same
.

mean s were emp loyed was the occasion (to whi ch I sh all soo n
,

refe r ) o f Lady G lyde s arrival in London N ever at an y

’
.
,

othe r ti me was I i n de bted to my Art as distinguishe d from

, ,

myself T o all othe r e me rge nci es an d complicati on s my

.

n atu ral capacity for grappling single handed with circum ,

-
,

stance s was invariably equal

,
I a ffirm the all pe rvadin g .
-

intelligen ce of that capacity At the expen se o f th e Chemi st , .

I vin dicate the Man .

Re spect thi s outburst o f gene ro us i n dign ation I t h as .

i nexp re ssibly relieved m e E n rou te Let us p roceed . .

fi
H avi n g s ugge sted to M rs Clement (o r Cl emen ts I am .
,

n o t sure which ) that the best meth od o f keepin g An n e o u t o f

Percival s reach was to re move h e r to Lo n do n ; havin g fou n d
’

that my p rO p o sa l was eage rly received an d havin g appointed

a day to meet th e travellers at the station a nd to see the m ,

fi
leave it— I was at liberty to return to the hou se and to c o n ,

fron t the dif c u lties which still remai ned t o be met .

My first p roceedi n g w a s to avail myself o f the sublime

devoti on o f my wife I had arran ge d with M rs Clements
. .

’
that sh e sh ould commun icate h er Lon don addre ss i n A n n e s ,

i nterests to Lady Glyde

, . B ut thi s was n ot en ough D esi gn . .

ing pe rs o ns i n my abse nce might shake the simple c o n

, ,

denc e o f M rs Cleme nts a n d sh e mi ght n ot write afte r all

.
, ,
.

W h o could I fin d capable of travellin g to Lon don by th e trai n

sh e travelled by an d of privately seein g he r home
, I asked
mysel f thi s q uestion The conju gal part o f me i mmedi a tely
.

an swe red — Madame F osco .

54 4
 TH E WO M AN I N W H I TE
’
Afte r de cidin g o n my wife s mi ssi on to Lon don I arran ge d ,

that th e j ou rney shou ld serve a double purpose A nu rse fo r .

the su fferi n g M arian equally devoted to the patie nt an d t o

,

myself was a necessi ty O f my p ositio n

,
On e o f the mos t .

e minently confide ntial a n d capabl e wo me n in exi sten ce was

by good fortun e at my disposal I refe r t o that respectable .

matron M adame Rubelle — to w ho m I a ddre sse d a lette r at

, ,

h er re sidence in Lon do n by the hand s of my wife , .

O n the appointe d day M rs Cle me nts a n d Ann e C a th eric k .

met me at the station I politely saw them O ff I p olitely

. .

sa w M adame Fosco o ff by the same train The last thin g at .

ni ght my wife return ed to Blackwate r havin g followe d he r

, ,

in structi on s with th e mo st unimpeachable accuracy She .

was accom panie d by M adam e R ubelle ; an d she brou ght m e

the London addre s s of M rs Clement s Afte r events prove d . .
-

thi s last p recaution to have been unneces sary M rs Clemen ts . .

punctually in formed Lady G lyde of he r p lace o f abode Wi th .

a wary eye o n future e me rgenci e s I kept the lette r , .

The same day I had a brie f in te rvie w wi th the docto r at

, ,

which I prote sted in the sacred in terests of humanity again s t

, ,

hi s treatment o f M arian s case H e was i nsolent as al l ’

.
,

ign orant people are I sh owe d n o resentment ; I deferre d

.

quarrellin g with him till i t was n ece ssary to quarrel to some

purp ose .

My n ext proceedin g was to leave B lackwate r myself I .

had my London re side nce to take i n anticipation o f comin g ,

events I had als o a little busine ss O f the dome stic sort t o

.
, ,

tran sact with M r F rederi ck Fai rli e .I fou nd th e hou se I .

wanted in S t j ohn s Wood

, .
’
I foun d M r Fai rlie at Li m . .
,

m eridge Cumberland , .

My o wn p rivate familiarity with th e n ature of M arian s ’

corre sponde nce h ad previously i nformed me that sh e had

wri tte n to M r Fairli e p roposin g as a re lief to Lady G lyde s
.
,
’

matrimon ial e mbarrassments to take he r on a visi t to he r ,

u ncle in Cumbe rland Thi s lette r I had wi sely allowed to.

reach i ts d estination ; feelin g at the time th at i t could d o , ,

n o harm a n d m ight do good

,
I n o w pre sented m yself befo re .

M r Fairlie to support Marian s own proposal — with certai n

.
,
’

modification s whi ch happily fo r the succes s o f my plan s

, ,

were rendered really i nevi table by he r i llnes s I t w a s n ec es .

sary that Lady Glyde shou ld leave B lac kwate r alone by h e r ,

unc le s i nvitation an d that sh e sho uld re st a ni ght o n th e

’
,

j o urney at her aunt s house (the h ou se I had in S t J ohn s

,
’
.
’

Wood ) by he r uncle s expre ss advice To achieve the se

,
’
.

results and to se cure a n ote o f i nvitation which could be

,

54 5 N N
 TH E WO M AN I N W H I T E

s hown to Lady Glyde were the obj e cts o f my vi si t to Mr , .

F airlie . When I have m e ntioned that thi s gentleman was

equally feeble in min d a n d body an d that I let l oose the ,

whole forc e o f my characte r o n him I h ave s a i d en ough I , .

came saw an d con quered Fai rlie

, ,
.

O n my return to B lackwater Park (with the letter o f inv i

ta tio n ) I found that th e doctor s i mbecile treatmen t of M arian s
’ ’

case h ad led to th e m ost alarmin g re sults The feve r had .

t urned to Typhus Lady Glyde o n th e day of my retu rn

.
, ,

trie d to force he rself i nto the roo m to n urs e her sister S h e .

an d I had n o affi nitie s o f sympathy ; she had committed the

u npardonable outrage o n my se n sibilities o f callin g me a S py ;
sh e w a s a stumbling bloc k i n my way and i n Percival s — but
’
-
,

for al l that my magnan i mity forbade m e to put he r i n dan ge r

,

o f i nfection with my o w n hand At th e same time I o ff ered .

,

n o hin drance to h er puttin g herse lf in dan ge r I f sh e had .

s ucce eded i n doin g so the i ntricate kn ot which I wa s slowly

,

an d patiently o pe ratin g o n mi ght pe rhap s hav e bee n cut by , ,

circum stan ces As i t was the d octor inte rfe red an d she was
.
, ,

k e pt o u t o f the room .

I h ad myself previ ou sly recom me n ded se ndin g fo r advice

t o London This cou rs e had been n ow taken The physician
. .
,

o n h i s arrival confirmed my view o f the case The crisis was

, .

se ri ou s B ut we h ad h op e o f o u r charmin g patien t o n the fifth

.

day from the appearance o f the Typhu s I was only once .

absent from B lackwate r at thi s time — wh en I wen t to London

by th e mo rnin g train to make th e fi nal a rran gements at my
,

h ou se in S t J oh n s Wood ; to ass ure myself by private

.
’

i nqui ry that M rs Cleme nts had n o t m oved ; an d to settle i

, .

o n e o r two little prelimin ary m atte rs with the hu sband o f

M adame Rubelle I return ed at ni ght Five days afte rwards
. .
,

th e physician p ronoun ced o u r inte resting M arian to be o u t o f

all dange r and to be in n eed o f n othin g but careful n ursin g
, .

Thi s was the ti me I had waited for N o w that m edical .

atten dan ce was n o l onger in di spen sable I playe d the fi rst ,

m ove in the game by asse rtin g myself agai n st the d octor .

H e was o n e am ong many witne sse s i n my way whom it was ,

n ece ssary to remove A live ly altercation between u s (in

.

which Pe rcival previ ou sly i n structed by me refuse d t o inter

, ,

fere ) se rved th e purpose in view I descended o n the mi ser .

able man in an i rre si stible avalanch e o f i n dignati on — and

swept him fro m the house .

Th e se rvant s were the n ext e n cumbrance s to ge t rid o f .

Agai n I i n structed Pe rcival (who se m oral courage requi red

perpetual stimulants ) and M rs Mi chelson was amazed o n e
, .
,

54 6
 TH E WO M AN I N W H I T E
to i mpris on h erself with he r patie nt fo r two o r thre e days
B efore takin g o u r departure I gave Percival M r Fai rlie s , .
’

letter o f i nvitation to hi s niece (instructing he r to sle ep o n th e

jo urney to Cumbe rlan d at he r aunt s h ouse ) with dire ctio n s ’

to sh ow i t to Lady Glyde o n hearin g from me I also obtaine d .

from hi m the address o f the Asylum m which An ne C a th eric k

had been confined and a lette r to the p roprietor ann oun cing
, ,

to that gentleman th e retu rn o f h i s runaway pat ient to

medical care .

I h ad arranged at my last vi sit to the m et ropolis to hav e

, ,

o u r m odest dom e sti c e stablishment ready to receive u s wh en

we arrive d i n London by the early train I n con se quen ce o f .

this wis e precauti on we we re enabled that same day to p lay

,

the thi rd move in the game — th e getting p osses sion o f Ann e

fi
C a th eric k .

D ates are o f i mp ortance he re I combin e in myself the .

O pposite characte ri stics o f a M a n of S entiment and a M a n o f

B usi ne ss .I have all the date s at my finge rs ends ’
.

O n Wednesday the 24 th of J uly 1 8 5 0 I sent my wife in

, , , ,

a cab t o clear M rs Clements o u t of the way i n th e fi rs t place

,
.
, .

A supposed message from Lady G lyde in Lon don was s u f c ient ,

to O btain thi s re sult M rs C le ments w a s take n a way in the

. .

c a b an d was left i n the c a b while my wife (o n p reten ce o f

, ,

pu rchasing somethin g at a shop ) gave her the sli p an d re turned ,

to receive h e r expected vi sitor at o u r hous e i n S t j oh n s .

’

Wood .I t i s hardly n ecessary to add that th e vi sitor had

bee n descri bed to th e se rvants as Lady Glyde .
’

I n the meanwhile I had followe d in anothe r c a b with a ,

note for An ne C a th eric k m e re ly mentioning that Lady Glyde

,

i nten de d to keep M rs Clements to spen d the day with he r

.
,

and that she w a s to j oi n them unde r care o f the good ,

gentleman waiting outside wh o had already saved he r from ,

di scovery in H ampshi re by S i r Pe rcival The good gentle .

m a n sent i n thi s n ote by a street b oy an d paused fo r re sults , ,

a door o r two farthe r on At the moment when Ann e appeared

.

at th e hou se door an d closed i t thi s excellen t m a n had th e

-
,

c a b doo r ope n ready fo r he r— abso rbed he r i nto th e vehicle

-

and d rove O ff .

(Pass me he re o ne exclamation i n parenthesi s H o w

, , .

intere st i n g thi s I S
O n the way to Forest Road my companion sh owed n o fe ar , .

I c a n be patern al — n o m a n more so — whe n I please and I

was i nten sely pate rnal o n thi s occasion What title s I had to .

he r confidenc e ! I h ad comp oun ded the medic ine whi ch had

done he r g o o d ; I had warn ed he r o f he r dan ger from Sir
54 8
 T H E WO MAN I N W H I T E
P e rc iv al . P erhaps I tru sted
imp licitly to the se titles ;
, to o
‘

perhaps I underrate d th e keenne ss of the lowe r in stin cts i n

p erson s o f weak intellect —it is ce rtain that I n eglected to
,

p repare he r su ffi ciently for a di sap pointmen t o n enterin g my

house When I took he r i nto the drawin g room — when sh
.
-

sa w n o o n e pre se nt but Madam e F osco wh o was a strange r ,

to h er— she exhibited the most violent agitation : if sh e had

~

s cented dan ger in the ai r as a dog scents the presence of s ome ,

creature u nseen he r alarm could no t h ave di splayed itself

,

more suddenly an d mo re causeless ly I inte rposed 1 n vam . .

T h efear from which sh e w a s su ff e rin g I mi ght have sooth ed ,

- but th e seri ou s heart disease unde r which sh e l aboured was , ,

beyon d the reach O f all mora l palliatives T o my un speakable .

ho rro r sh e was seized w ith c onvulsion s — a shoc k to the sys

,

tem in h e r con dition which mi gh t have laid he r de ad at any

, ,

mome nt at o u r feet ,
.

The n eares t docto r w a s s ent fo r an d was told that Lady ,

Glyde requi red hi s i mmediate servi ce s To my i nfini te relief .

,

h e was a c apable m a n I repre sente d my visitor to h im as a .

pe rson o f weak i ntellect a n d subj ect t o delusion s an d I ,

arran ged that n o n urs e but my wife should watch in the si ck

room Th e unhappy woman was to o i ll howeve r to cau se
.
, ,

any anxiety about what sh e might sa y The o ne dread whic h .

n ow oppressed m e was th e dread th at th e fals e Lady Glyde

,

mi ght die before the tru e Lady Glyde arrived in London

,
.

I had written a n ote in th e morn in g to M adame Rubelle ,

te llin g he r to j oi n me at he r husban d s h ouse o n th e evenin g

,
’
,

o f F riday th e 2 6 th ; with anothe r n ote to Percival warnin g

, ,

him to show hi s wife her un cle s lette r o f invitation to assert ’

,

that M arian had gon e o n before her and to de spatch he r to ,

town by the m id day train o n the 2 6 th al so O n reflection

,
-
, , .
_ ,

I had felt the necessity in An ne C a th eric k s s tate of health of,

’
,

precipitatin g events a n d o f havin g Lady Glyde at my disposal

,

earlier than I had ori ginally contemplated What fresh direc .

tion s i n the terrible un certainty of my po sitio n cou ld I n ow

, ,

i ssue I c ould do n othin g but trust to ch ance a n d the doctor .

M y emotion s expressed themselve s in pathetic apostrophe s

which I was j u st self posse ssed en ough to couple in the -
,
’
hearin g o f othe r people with the n ame o f Lady Glyde In ,
.

al l othe r respects F 0 5 00 o n that m emorable day was F osco

, , ,

sh rouded in total e clipse .

S he passe d a bad n ight — she awoke worn o u t— but later ,

in the day she revived amazin gly ,

M y elastic spirits revived .
.

with he r I could receive n o an swers from Pe rcival and

.

M adame R u be l le till the morn in g o f th e ne x t day— th e 26 th .

54 9
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E

In an ti c ipation o f thei r followin g my di rection s which acci , ,

dent apart I knew they woul d d o I we nt to secure a fl y to

, ,

fe tch Lady Glyde fro m th e railway di re ctin g it to be at my

h ouse o n the 2 6 th at tw o o clock After seeing the order ’ ‘

.
,

ente red in th e book I wen t on to arran ge matte rs with ,

M on sieu r Rubelle I also pro cured the ser vice s of tw o ge ntle

.

me n w h o could furnish me with the ne ces s ary certificates o f

,

l unacy O ne o f the m I knew pers on ally the othe r was kn own

.

to M on sieu r Ru belle B oth we re m en whose vi go rou s minds

.

soared superior to n arrow scru ples — both were labourin g u nde r

tem porary e mbarrassmen ts — both believed in M E .

I t was past five O cl oc k in the afte rn oo n before I returned

’

from the pe rformance o f the se dutie s When I go t back Anne .

,

C a th eric k was dead D ead o n th e 2 5 th and Lady Glyde was

.

n o t t o arrive i n Lon don till the 2 6 th

I was stunned M editate o n that F osco stun ne d
. .

I t was too late to re trace o u r steps B efore my return .

,

th e d octor had O fli c io u sly un dertake n to s ave m e all trou ble ,

by registeri n g the death o n th e date whe n it happen ed with ,

hi s o w n h and My gran d sche me un assailable hitherto had

.
, ,

i ts weak place n o w— n o e ff orts o n my part could alte r the , ,

fatal event o f th e 2 sth I tu rne d manfully t o the future . .

Percival s intere sts and min e bein g still at stake n othin g was
’

left but to play the gam e through to the e nd I recalle d m y .

i mpe netrable calm — and played i t .

’
O n the morn in g o f th e 2 6 th Percival s lette r reached me , ,
’
ann ouncin g his wife s arrival by th e m id day train Madam e -
.

Rubelle al so wrote to say sh e would follow i n the eve nin g I .

starte d in th e fly leavin g the false Lady Glyde dead in the

,

hou se to receive the tru e Lady Glyde o n he r arrival by th e

, ,

railway at three o clock H idden u nde r the seat o f th e c a r

’
.

ria ge ,I carri ed with m e all th e clothe s Ann e C a th eric k had

worn o n comin g into my house — they were d esti ne d t o assi st
the re su rrecti on o f the woman w h o was dead i n the pe rson o f
th e woman wh o was livin g What a situation I sugge st i t
.

to the ri sin g roman ce writers of En gland I O ff e r it as totally .

,

n ew to the worn o u t dramatists o f Fran ce

,
-
.

Lady Glyd e was at the stati on T he re was gre at crowd .

i n g an d con fusion and more delay than I li ke d (in case any o f

,

he r friends had happened to be o n th e spot ) in reclai min g ,

h e r luggage H e r fi rst que sti on s as we d rove O ff implored

.
, ,

m e to tell her news O f he r siste r I i nvented n ews o f the .

mo st pacifying kind ass uring he r that sh e was about to se e

h e r si ste r at my h ouse My h ou se on thi s occasi on only .
, ,

was i n th e n eigh bou rhood o f Leicest er Square an d wa s in ,

5 5°
 T H E W O M AN I N W H I T E
which followed i t I have to assert wi th the whole force Of
.
,

my c on v iction that the o ne weak place in my sch em e would

,

n eve r have been fou n d out if th e o n e weak place in my heart

,

h ad n o t been discovered fi rst N othin g but my fatal admira .

ti on for M arian restrain ed me fro m steppin g in to my o w n

re scue whe n sh e e ff ected he r si ster s e scape
, I ra n the ri sk ’
.
,

a n d trusted i n the complete d estructi on o f Lady G lyde s ’

i denti ty I f ei the r Marian o r M r H a rtrigh t attempted to

. .

assert that identity they would publicly expose themse lve s to

,

the im putation o f sustainin g a rank dece ption ; they wou ld

be di strusted an d di scredited accordin gly ; an d they would ,

therefore be p owe rles s t o place my inte rests or Percival s

, ,
’

secret in j eopardy
, I committed on e e rror i n t rustin g m y
.

self to s uch a blindfo ld calcu lati on o f chance s as thi s I .

committed an othe r whe n Pe rcival had pai d the penalty of hi s

o w n o bsti nacy an d viole nce by gran tin g Lady Glyde a secon d,

reprieve fro m the madhouse a nd allowi n g M r Ha rtrigh t a ,

.

secon d chance o f esca p ing me I n brief Fo sco at this

,
.
, ,

seri ou s cri sis w a s untrue to him self D eplorable an d u m

, .

characte ri sti c fault ! B eho ld the cau se i h my H eart ,

behold in the i mage of M arian H alcombe the first a n d last

, ,

weaknes s of F osco s life ’

At th e ripe age of sixty I m a k e this un paralleled c o n ,

fessio n . Youth s ! I in v oke you r sympathy M aiden s ! I .

clai m you r tears .

A word m ore — an d the attenti on o f th e reade r (co nc en

tra ted breathles sly o n myself) shall be re leased .

My o wn mental i nsight i nfo rms me that three i nevi table

questi on s will be asked he re by person s o f inqui rin g mi n ds
, ,
.

They shall be state d they shall be an swe red .

Fi rst q ue sti on What i s th e secret O f M adam e Fo sco s

.
’

unhe sitatin g d evotion o f herself t o the fulfilmen t o f my

boldest wi she s to the furthe ranc e of my dee pest plan s ? I
,

mi gh t an swer this by si mply referrin g to my o wn characte r

, ,

and by askin g in my tu rn —Whe re in the hi story o f th e

, ,

wo rld has a man o f my o rder eve r bee n foun d with out a

,

woman in the background self i mm olate d o n the altar o f hi s

,
-

life ? B ut I rem em ber that I am writin g in E nglan d ; I

'

remembe r that I was married in E ngland — a nd I ask i f a ,

woman s marri age obligati on s in thi s country provide fo r

’

, ,

he r private opinion o f he r husban d s prin ci ple s No They ’

charge he r un rese rvedly to love , h on o ur and obey hi m ,

.

That i s exactly what my wife h as done I stand he re on a .

, ,

suprem e moral ele v ation ; an d I loftily asse rt he r accu r a te .

552
 T HE WO MAN I N W H ITE

pe rforman ce o f he r conj ugal duti es S ilence Calumny ! Y o u r .

,

sympathy Wive s o f E n gland fo r M adame Fos co

, ,

S e con d questi on I f An n e C a th eric k had n ot di ed when

.

sh e did what should I have don e ? I s hou ld i n that case

, , ,

have assi sted worn out N ature in fin din g pe rman en t repose

-
.

I should have O pen ed th e d oors of the Pri so n Of Life an d ,

have extended to the captiv e (in cu rably affl icted in min d an d

body both ) a happy release .

Thi rd questi on O n a calm revisio n o f all th e ci rcum

.

stance s —I s my conduc t w orthy of any s eri ou s blame M ost

em phatically N o ! H ave I n ot carefully avoided exposin g
,

myself to the odium of c ommittin g unn eces sary cri me With

my vast re sou rce s in ch emistry I mi ght have taken Lady ,

G lyde s life At i mm en se personal sacrifice I followe d th e

’
.
,

dictates of my o w n in ge nuity my o w n humani ty my o w n , ,

caution — a nd took he r i dentity in stead J udge m e by what , .

I migh t have don e H ow comparatively inno cen t ! h ow

.

indirectly vi rtu ou s I appear in what I really did ! ,

I a n n ounced o n be ginnin g it that this narrative would

, ,

be a remarkable documen t I t h a s entirely an swered my.

expectati on s Receive these fervid line s — m y last legacy to

.

th e cou ntry I le ave fo r eve r T hey a re worthy o f th e o ccasi on

.
,

an d worthy o f
FOSCO .

T /z e S i ary concl uded by W AL T E R H ART R I G HT .

I .

W H E N I closed the last leaf o f th e C oun t s manuscri pt ’

,

the half hou r durin g wh ich I h ad e n gaged to re main at

-

Fo res t Road had expi red M on sie u r Rubelle looked at hi s

.

watch a nd bowed
,
I rose im med iately and left th e agent in
.
,

p ossession of the e mpty hou se I n ever saw hi m again ; I .

n eve r heard mo re of him o r o f h is wife O ut o f the dark .

byways of villany and de ceit they had crawled acros s o u r ,

path — into the same byways they crawled bac k sec fetly a nd
were lost .

I n a qu arte r of an hou r afte r l eaving F ore st Road I w a s at ,

home again .

But few words su fli c ed to tell Laura an d M arian h ow m y

despe rate venture had e nded a nd what the n ex t even t in ,

ou r live s was l ikely to be I left all details to be d e scri be d

.

later in the day ; a n d hastene d back to S t J ohn s Wood to .

’
,

s ee th e pe rson of who m Co unt Fosc o had ordered th e fly whe n

he we nt to m e et L aura at the s tation .

5 53
 TH E WO M AN I N W H I T E

in ‘
The address my p osse ssion led m e to s ome live ry
stables abou t a quarte r o f a mile distan t from F orest Road
,
’
.

The proprieto r p roved to be a civil an d respectable man .

When I explained that a n importan t family matter o blige d

me to ask hi m to refer t o hi s books for the purpose o f ,

asce rtaini ng a date with which the record o f hi s bu sine ss tran s

action s might supply me he O ff e red n o O bj ection to granting my ,

request The book was produced and there unde r the date
.
,
‘
of J uly 2 6 th the o rde r was ente red in these word s
, ,

B rou gham to Count Fosco 5 Fo rest Road T w o o clock , , .

’
.

(J oh n ‘
I found o n i nqui ry that the n ame o f J ohn Owen
, , ,
’

attache d to the e ntry referred to th e m a n wh o had be en e m ,

pl oyed t o drive th e fly H e was the n at work in th e stable .

yard an d was sent for to see me at my requ est

, , .

D O yo u re member d rivin g a ge ntleman in the m onth o f ,

J u ly last from N umbe r Five F orest Road to th e Waterloo

, , ,

B ridge station I asked .

‘ ’ ’
We ll si r sai d the m a n ; I can t exactly sa y I d o
, ,
’
.

Perh aps you reme mber the ge ntleman himself ? Can yo u

call to mi nd drivin g a forei gn e r last su mme r— a tall gentleman , ,

a n d remar kably fat

‘
The man s face bri ghtened directly
’
I reme mbe r him .
,

si r ! Th e fattest ge ntle man as eve r I see— a n d th e heavi est

cu stome r a s eve r I drove Yes ye s — I call hi m to m in d si r .
, , .

We di d go to the station a n d i t was fro m Fore st R oad , .

There w a s a parrot o r s ummat like i t screechin g in the , ,

window The gentle man w a s in a m ortal hurry abou t the

.

lady s lu ggage an d h e give m e a han ds ome pre sen t for

’

lo o k in g s h a rp and getti n g th e boxe s

’
.

Getti n g th e boxes ! I recolle cted im mediately th at Lau ra s ’

o w n account o f herself o n h er arrival i n Lo ndon descri bed , ,

he r lu ggage as bein g collected for he r by some pe rson wh om

Cou nt Fo sco brou ght with hi m to the station Thi s wa s the .

ma n .

‘ ‘
D i d you see th e lady I asked Wh at did sh e loo k ? ’
.

l ike W a s sh e youn g o r O ld
‘
Well sir what with the hu rry and the crowd o f pe ople
, ,

pushin g abou t I can t ri ghtly say what the lady looke d like
,
’
.

’
I can t ca ll n othi n g to min d about her that I kn ow O f
excepting he r name .
’

Y o u re me mbe r her n ame

Y es s ir H e r n ame was Lady Glyde ’
.
, .

H o w d o you come to re membe r that , when yo u h a v e

forgotten wh at she l ook ed like
5 54
 fi TH E W O M AN I N W H I T E
the st stage o f th e i n ve stigation to th e la st I t is only
n ece ssary t o menti on that he at once decided o n acc omp any
in g u s to Cumb erland
We started th e next mo rni ng by th e e arly t rain L a u ra ,
.

.
,

Marian M r Kyrle an d myself in o ne c a fria ge ; an d J ohn

, .
,
.

O wen with a cle rk fro m M r Kyrle s o ffi ce O cc u pyi ng p lace s

’
.
, ,

in anothe r O n rea c h in g th e L im m eridge stati on we went

'

.
,
’
fi rst to the farm hou se at Todd s Co rn er I t wa s my firm
-
.
'

determination that Laura sh ould n ot ente r he r u ncle s house ’

ti ll she appeare d the re publicly recognis ed a s his niece I .

left M arian to s ettle th e que stion of accommodation with M rs .

T odd as soon as th e good woman had re covered fro m th e

,

bewilde rmen t of hearin g what o u r e rran d was in Cu mberlan d

an d I arran ged with he r hu sband that J oh n O we n was to be
c ommitted to th e ready hospitality o f th e farm se rvants -
.

These preliminarie s completed M r Kyrl e a nd I s et forth , .

togeth er fo r Lim m eridge H ou se .

I can n ot write at any len gth o f o u r i nterview with M r .

Fai rlie for I cann ot recall it to m ind w ith o u t feelingS o f

, ,
' '

impatience a n d contempt whi ch make th e scen e even in t e

, ,

m em b ra n c e on ly utte rly repulsive to m e

, I p refer to record .

si mply that I carrie d my p oin t M r Fairli e attempted to . .

tr a t u s o n hi s c ustomary plan We passed w ithout n otice .

h i s polite i nsolen ce at th e outset of th e i ntervi ew We heard .

with out sympathy th e protestati on s with which h e tri ed next

t o persuade u s that th e di sclosu re o f the con spi racy had ove r
whe lmed him H e absolute ly whined a nd whimpe red at
.
,
‘
last li ke a fretfu l child
, H o w was h e to know that hi s
.

n iece was alive whe n h e was told that sh e w a s dead

, He
wou ld welcome d ear Laura with pleasu re if we would on ly , ,

allow him ti me t o recove r Di d we thin k h e looked as if h e

.

Wanted hurryin g i nto hi s grave ? N o Then why hurry .

,

hi m H e reite rated these re mon stran ces at every available

opportunity u nti l I checke d the m on ce for all , by placin g
,

him fi rmly betwee n two inevitable alternatives I gave him .

h is ch oi ce betwee n doin g hi s niece j ustice o n my te rm s — O r ,

facin g th e con sequence s o f a pu bli c asse rtion o f he r exi stence

in a court o f law M r Kyrl e to whom he turned fo r help
. .
, ,

told hi m plain ly that h e mus t d ecide th e question then and ,

there . Characte risti cally choosin g the alte rnative whi ch

promi sed s oon est to release hi m from al l p erso n a l a nxiety h e ,

ann oun ced with a sudden o u tbu rst o f ener gy that he was
, ,

n o t stron g enough to bear any more bullyin g a nd that we

‘

might d o as we pleased .
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E
Mr . Kyrl e
I at once wen t d own stairs an d a gr ee d
a nd -
,

u po n a form o f lette r which was to be sen t rou n d t o the

tenants wh o h ad attended th e false fun eral summ on in g th em , ,

in M r Fairlie s name to assemble i n Lim m eridge H ouse o n

’
.
, ,

the nex t day but o n e An o rde r refe rrin g to the same .

,

date was also written di rectin g a statuary in Carli sle t o

, ,

send a m a n to L im m eridge ch urchyard fo r the p urpo se ,

o f e rasin g a n i nscri ption — M r Kyrle who had arran ged to .

,

sleep in the hou se u ndertakin g that M r Fairli e should hear

, .

these le tte rs read to him a nd should si gn the m with hi s o wn ,

h an d .

I occupied the i nte rval day at the farm in writin g a plain , ,

narrati v e o f th e con spi racy a nd in addin g t o i t a statemen t ,

O f the practical contradicti on whi ch facts o ff e red t o th e asse r

tio n O f Laura s death This I submitted to M r Kyrle before
’
. .
,

I read it the n ext day to the assembled tenants We als o

, ,
.

arran ged the fo rm in which the evide nce should be pre sen ted at
the clos e o f the readin g Afte r the se matte rs we re settle d M r .
, .

’
Kyrle endeavoured to tu rn th e conve rsation n ext to Laura s , ,

a ff ai rs Kn owin g an d de si rin g to kn ow n othin g o f those

.
, ,

a ff ai rs ; an d d oubtin g whethe r h e would approve as a m a n ,

o f busines s o f my conduct i n re latio n to my wife s life ’

,

interest in th e legacy left to M adame Fo sco I be gged M r , .

Kyrle to excuse me if I abstained from discussing the subj ect .

I t was con nected as I could truly tell him with tho se so rrows
, ,

a n d tro u ble s of the past whi ch we neve r refe rred to am on g ,

ou rselve s and which we i n stinctive ly shran k fro m di scu ssin g

,

with others .

My last labour as th e even i ng a pproached was to o btai n

, ,
‘
The Narrative o f the T ombstone by takin g a copy o f th e ,
’

false in scri pti on o n the grave before i t was e rased , .

T he cam e — th e day wh e n La u ra once m ore e ntere d

da y
th e familiar breakfast room at L im m eridge H ouse All the -
.

p e rson s asse mbled ro se from th eir seats as Marian an d I le d

h er in A pe rceptible shock o f surpri se a n audi ble mu rm u r
.
,

of intere st ra n throu gh them at the si ght o f he r face

, Mr ,
. .

Fairlie was pre sen t (by my expre ss stipulation ) with M r , .

Kyrle by h is sid e H is valet sto od behind hi m with a s mel l

.

in g bottle ready in o n e hand and a white handkerchi ef

-
, ,

saturated with eau de Cologne in the othe r - -

, .

I O pene d the p roceedin gs by p ublicly appealin g to M r .

F ai rlie to say whethe r I appeared the re with hi s authority an d

u nder his expre s s sanction H e extended an arm o n eithe r .
,

5 57
 T H E WO MAN I N W H I T E

s id e to M r K yrle and to his v alet wa s by them a ssi st ed to

,
.

s tand o n hi s legs an d then expres sed hi mself in the s e te rms

Allow m e to pre sent M r H a rtrigh t I am a s great a n . .

i nvalid as e v e r a nd he i s so ve ry o bli gin g as to s p e ak for m e .

Th e s ubj ect i s dreadfully e mbarrass in g Please he ar hi m .

an d do n t m ake a n oise
’
Wi th those words he slowly sank ,

back again i nto the cha 1 r and took refuge i n hi s scented ,

pocket handke rchief

-
.

The disc lo sure o f the con spiracy followed — afte r I had

o ffere d my prelimi nary explanati on fi rs t o f all i n the fewest , ,

and the plaine st words I was the re pre sen t ( I informe d my

.

hearers ) to declare first that my wife the n sittin g by me w a s , , ,

the daughte r o f the late M r Phili p F airlie se condly to prove .

,

by positive facts that the fune ral which they had atte nded i n
,

Lim m eridge chu rchyard was the fun eral o f another woman ,

thirdly t o give them a plai n accoun t o f h o w i t had a ll hap

,

pen ed Wi th out furthe r preface I at once read the narrative

.
,

o f the c on spiracy de scri bin g it in clear outline

,
and dwellin g ,

o nly upon the p e cuniary motive for i t , i n o rder to avoi d c o m

pli catin g my state ment by u nnece ssary refe ren ce to S i r
Pe rcival s secret Thi s don e I re minded my audience o f the
’
.
,

date o n the i n scripti on in the churchyard (the 2 5 th ) an d c o n ,

fi rmed its correctness by prod u ci ng the ce rtificate o f death .

I then read them S ir Pe rcival s lette r o f the 2 5 th ann ouncing ’

hi s wife s i ntended j ourney from H amp shi re to London o n the

’

2 6 th
. I n ext showed that she had taken that j ourn ey by the ,

personal testi mony of the drive r o f the fly an d I proved that

sh e had performed i t o n the appointed day by the order book ,
-

at the livery stables M arian then adde d he r o w n state ment

.

o f the meetin g betwee n Laura and herself at the madhou se ,

and o f he r siste r s e scape Afte r which I clo sed the proceed

’
.

in gs by i nfo rm in g the person s pre se nt o f S ir Percival s death ’

a n d o f m y marriage .

M r Kyrle rose whe n I re sumed my seat a nd declared as

.
, , ,

th e le gal advise r of th e family that my case was proved by ,

th e plainest evi de nce he had eve r h eard i n h is life As he .

s poke th ose words I p ut my arm round Laura and raised

, ,

her so that she was plainly vi sible to eve ry o n e in the room .

Are yo u all o f the same opini on I asked advancing towards ,

them a few steps and poi ntin g to my wi fe

, .

T he e ff ect o f the question was e lectrical Far down at the .

lower end o f the ro om o ne o f the olde st tenants o n the estate

,

s tarte d to hi s feet a n d led the rest with him i n a n i n stan t

, I .

see th e man n o w with hi s hon est brown face and h is i ron

,

grey hair mount ed o n the window seat , wavin g hi s heavy

,

5 58
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E
the station with the hearties t enthu siasm a n d good w ill by
, ,

the whole vi llage a nd by all the fa me rs in the neighbou rhood

r

-
w e returned t o Lon don

fi
.

As o u r view of the Cu mbe rlan d hi lls faded in the di stan ce ,

I th ought of the fi rst di sheartenin g ci rcumstance s un de r which

the lon g struggle that w a s n o w past and over had been pur
sued . I t was strange to l ook back an d to s ee n ow that th e , ,

pove rty which had de nied u s a ll h ope of assi s t ance had bee n ,

the i ndi rect mean s of o u r succes s by forcin g me to act fo r,

myself I f we had be en rich e n ough to nd le gal help what

.
,

would have bee n the re sult ? The gai n (o n M r Kyrle s o w n .

’

showin g ) would have been m ore than doubtful ; th e los s

j udging by the plain te st o f eve nts a s they had really happened
—certain .The Law wou ld never have obtai ned m e my i nter
view with M rs C a th eric k T he Law would n eve r have made
. .

P esca the mean s o f forcin g a confes si on fro m the Cou nt .

T wo more events re mai n t o be added to the chain befo re i t ,

reach es fairly from the o utset of the story to the close .

While o ur new sen se of freedom from th e lon g o p p res

sion of the past w a s stil l stran ge to u s I was sent fo r by the ,

frie nd wh o h ad give n m e my fi rst employment in woo d

e n gravin g to receive from hi m a fresh te stimony of h is regard
,

for my we lfare H e had been commi ssi oned by hi s employers

.

to go to Paris an d to examine for the m a Fre nch discovery

,

in the p ractical application of h i s Art the merits o f which ,

they were anxiou s to ascertain H i s o w n en gagement s

.

had n ot allowe d hi m lei sure time to unde rtake the e rran d ;

an d he had m ost kindly suggeste d that i t should be t ran s
fe rred t o me I could h ave n o h esitati on in than kfully
.

acceptin g the o ff e r ; for if I acquitted myse lf o f my commi s

sion as I h oped I sh ould the result would be a permanen t
,

en gageme nt o n the illustrated n ewspaper to wh ich I was n ow ,

only occasi onally attached .

I re ceived my i n structi on s and packed u p for the j ourney

the n ext day O n leavin g Laura on ce more (under what
.

chan ge d circum stan ce s ! ) in her sister s care a serious c o n ’

,

side ration re curred to m e which h ad more than once crossed

,

my wife s mind as well as my own already— I m ea n th e

’
, ,

con side ration of M ari an s future ’

H ad we any right to let
.

o u r selfish a ff ecti on accept the devotion o f all that generou s

life P Was it n ot o ur duty o u r be st e x pres sion of gratitude

, ,

to fo rget our selv es and to think only o f h er ?

, I tried to sa y
5 60
 TH E WO M AN I N W H I T E
thi s whe n we we re alon e for a m omen t before I wen t a way
, , .

S h e too k my hand an d silenced m e at the fi rst words , .

’
Afte r all that we th ree have su ffe re d togethe r sh e said , ,

the re c a n be n o partin g betwee n u s till the l ast parti n g o f ,

all
. My heart a n d my happine ss Walte r are with Lau ra , ,
’
a n d you Wait a little till the re are chi ld re n s voice s at yo u r
.

fi reside I w il l teach the m to speak for me in i /z ez r lan

'

.
,

guage an d the fi rst less on they say t o thei r fath e r an d mothe r

shal l be We can t spare ou r aunt ’

M y j o u rn ey to Pari s w a s n ot un dertake n alon e At th e .

eleve nth hou r Pe sca decided that he would accompan y me

,
.

H e had n ot recovere d hi s cu stomary ch eerfuln e ss si nc e th e

n ight at th e Opera an d he de te rmined t o try wh at a wee k s ’

h oliday would d o to raise hi s spiri ts .

I pe rfo rme d the e rrand entrusted to me an d d rew o u t th e ,

n ece ssary repo rt o n the fourth day from o u r arrival i n Paris , .

The fifth day I arran ged to devote to sight seein g and ,

-

amusemen ts in Pe sca s com pany ’

.

O ur hotel had bee n too full to accommodate u s both o n

the same fl o or My roo m was o n th e second story an d .
,

Pe sca s wa s above me on th e thi rd O n the morn in g o f th e

'

, .

fifth day I wen t u p stai rs t o see if th e Professo r was ready to

,

go out j us t before I reache d the l andin g I sa w his doo r

.
,

opened from th e i n side a lon g delicate n e rvou s hand (n ot , ,

my frien d s hand ce rtain ly ) held it aj ar At th e same tim e I

’
.

heard Pe sca s voi ce sayi n g eagerly in l ow ton e s a nd i n h i s

’

, ,

o w n language I remembe r th e n ame but I d on t kn ow th e ’

man Y o u sa w at the O pe ra he wa s so chan ge d that I

.
,

coul d n o t re cogn i se him I wi ll forward the report — I c a n d o .

‘
n o mo re N o m ore n e ed be d on e an swe red a secon d voice
.
’
,
’
.

The d oo r ope ned wide ; a nd the light haired m a n with the -

scar o n his chee k— the man I had see n followin g Coun t

Fo sc o s cab a wee k before — came ou t H e bowed as I d rew
’
,

aside to le t h i m pas s — h i s fac e was fearfully pale —an d h e

.

held fast by th e bani sters a s h e descen ded the stairs ,

.

I pushed open the d oo r and en te red Pe sca s roo m He ,

’
.

w a s crouche d u p i n the stran ge st man ne r in a corne r o f th e , ,

s ofa .H e seemed to sh ri n k from m e whe n I app roached ,

h im .

‘
Am I di sturbi n g yo u I asked I di d n o t kn ow yo u .

h ad a frien d w ith yo u till I s aw him com e o u t .

’

’
N o friend said Pesca eagerly I see hi m to day fo r
, , .
-

the fi rst time a n d th e last , .

’

I am afraid he has brou ght you bad n ews

56 1
 TH E WO M AN I N W H I T E
‘H orri ble n ews Walter ! Let u s go back to London — I
,

don t want to stop he re — I am sorry I ever came The m is

’
.

’
fortune s o f my youth are very hard upon me h e said turn in g , ,
‘
hi s fac e to th e wall ; ve ry hard upon me in my late r ti me , .

I try t o fo rget them — an d they wi ll n ot fo rge t me !

We can t return I am afraid before the afte rn oon I
’

, , ,
’

‘
replied. Wo u ld yo u lik e t o come o u t with me in th e mean ,

time
N o my friend
,
I will wait h e re B u t let u s go back to .

day pray let u s go back

- .
’

I left hi m with the assurance that h e sh oul d leave Pari s

that afte rn oon We had arranged the even in g before t o
.
, ,

ascend th e Cathedral o f N otre D am e with Victor H ugo s -

,
’

n oble romance fo r o u r guide T here was n othin g in the .

French capital that I wa s more anxi ou s to see— and I de

parted by myse lf for the ch urch .

Approachin g N otre D ame by th e rive r side I passed o n

- -
, ,

my way the terri ble dead h ouse o f Pari s — the M orgue A

,
-
.

great crowd clamou red a n d heaved roun d th e door The re .

was evidently somethi n g i n side which excited the popular

curi osity a n d fed th e popular appetite fo r ho rro r
, .

I sh ould have walke d o n to the church if the conve rsation ,

o f two m en a n d a wo man o n the outskirts o f the crowd had

n o t caught my ear T hey had j ust come out from seein g th e

.

si gh t in the M o rgue an d th e account they were givin g o f the

dead b ody to thei r nei ghbours descri bed i t as the corpse o f a ,

man —a man of imme n se size with a strange mark o n hi s left ,

arm .

The moment th o se wo rd s reach ed me I stopped a n d took , ,

my place with th e crowd goin g in S ome dim fo re shadowin g .

o f the truth had c ro ssed my mi nd when I heard Pes ca s voice ’

th rough the ope n d oo r and whe n I saw the stran ge r s face as

,
’

he passed me o n th e stairs of th e h otel N o w th e truth i tse lf .

,

was revealed to me — revealed i n the chance wo rd s that had ,

j ust reached my ears O the r vengeance than mine had

.

followe d that fated m a n from th e theatre to hi s o w n do or ;

from h is o w n d oor to h i s refuge in Pari s O the r vengean ce .

than min e had ca lled hi m t o th e day of reckon in g and had ,

exac ted from h i m th e pen alty of hi s life The m o m ent wh en .

I had poi nted hi m out to Pe sca at th e theatre i n the hearin g ,

o f that stran ge r by o u r si de wh o was looking fo r hi m to o

,

w a s th e moment that sealed his doom I remem bered th e .

struggle in my o w n heart when he a n d I stood face to face

,

th e struggle before I cou ld let him escape m e — a n d shuddered

a s I recalle d i t .

562
 T H E W O M AN I N W H ITE
bu ri ed by M adame Fosco in th e ce mete ry o f P é re L a chaise
, ,
- .

Fresh funeral wreath s conti nue to thi s day t o be hung , ,

o n the orn ame n tal bronze raili ngs round the tomb by the ,

Cou ntess s o w n han d ’

S he live s in the stri ctest reti remen t
.
, ,

at Ve rsailles N ot long sin ce she published a B i ography

.
,

o f he r decease d h u sband The work th rows n o light what

.

ever o n the name that was really h i s o w n o r o n the secret ,

h istory o f h is life z it i s al most enti rely devoted t o the praise o f

h is d omestic virtues the asserti on o f hi s rare abilitie s an d the
, ,

e nu meratio n o f the h on ou rs confe rred o n hi m Th e ci rcum .

stan ce s atte ndin g h i s death are ve ry briefly n oti ced and are
s umm ed up o n the las t page i n thi s se nten ce
, H i s life was
,

o ne l ong asse rtio n o f the right s o f the ari stocracy an d the

sacred prin ciple s o f O rde r— a nd h e die d a Martyr to h i s

fi
cau se }

T HE sum me r an d autumn passed afte r my return from Pari s , ,

and brou ght n o chan ge s with them which n eed be n oticed

h ere We live d so simply and quietly that th e in com e which
.
,

I was n ow steadily earnin g su f c ed for all o u r wants .

I n the February o f the n ew ye ar o u r fi rs t chi ld was b orn ,

—a s on My m othe r a nd si ster an d M rs Ves ey w e re o u r

. .

gue sts at th e little ch ri stenin g party a nd M rs Clements was .

prese nt to as si s t my wife o n th e same occasi on

, Marian
, .

was o u r boy s godmothe r ; a n d Pesca an d M r Gilmore (th e

’
.

latter actin g by proxy ) we re hi s godfa the rs I may add he re .

,

that when M r Gilmore return e d to us a year late r he

.
, ,

assisted the de sign o f thes e page s at my reque st by writing , ,

the Narrative which appears e arly in th e sto ry unde r hi s n am e ,

an d whi ch th ough fi rst in order o f preceden ce was thus i n

, , ,

orde r o f time the last th at I received

,
.

The on ly even t in o u r live s which n ow remain s t o b e

recorded occurre d whe n o u r little Walte r was six mo nth s
,

o ld
.

At that time I was sent to I reland to make s ke tches fo r

, ,

c ertai n forthcomin g i llustrati on s in th e n ewspape r to which I

was attached I was away for n early a fortnight co rre
.
,

sp o n din g re gularly with my wife a n d Marian except d urin g ,

th e last three days o f my absence whe n my m ovements we re ,

to o u nce rtai n to e nabl e me to receive lette rs I -performe d .

the latte r part o f my j ourn ey back at nigh t ; an d wh en I ,

reache d h ome in the m orn in g to my utte r aston i shment , ,

there was n o on e to receive m e Lau ra and Marian and the .

child had left the h ouse o n the day befo re my return .

6
5 4
 T H E WO M AN I N W H I T E
A n ote fro m my wife which was give n to me by the ser v an t
, ,

o nly i ncrease d my su rpri se by i nfo rmin g m e that they had ,

gon e t o Lim m eridge H ou se M ari an had p rohibi ted a ny .

attempt at writte n explanati on s — I was entreated to follow

them the m ome nt I came back— complete enlighten ment
awaite d m e o n my arrival in Cumbe rland — an d I was fo rbidde n
to fee l the slighte st a nxiety in the mean time There th e , .

n ote en ded .

I t was still early en ough to catch th e m orn in g trai n I

”

reached L im m eridge H ouse the same afte rno on .

My wi fe an d M arian were b oth u p stai rs They had - .

e stablished them selve s (by way o f completing my amaze ment )

i n the little ro om which had been once assi gn e d t o m e fo r a
studio when I w a s employed on M r Fairli e s d rawings O n
, .
’
.

the very chair which I used t o occupy when I was at work ,

M arian was sittin g n o w wi th th e child i n dustri ou sly suckin g

,

hi s coral upon he r lap — while Lau ra was stan din g by the well
re membe re d drawing table which I had so ofte n u sed with -
,

the little albu m that I had fi lled fo r he r in past ti mes ope n , ,

unde r he r hand .

What in th e name o f H eave n has b rou ght you he re I

asked . D oe s M r Fai rli e kn ow .

M arian suspe nded th e que stio n o n my lip s by tellin g me ,

that M r Fai rli e was dead

. H e had bee n stru ck by paralysi s .
,

a n d h ad n eve r rallied after the shock M r Kyrle h ad info rme d . .

the m o f h i s death an d had advise d the m t o proce ed im

,

mediately to L im m eridge H ou se .

S ome di m pe rcepti on of a great chan ge dawn ed o n my

mind . Laura spo ke before I had quite realised i t S he stole .

close to me to enj oy th e surpri se which was sti ll expre sse d i n

,

my face .

‘
My darlin g Walter sh e said m ust we really accou n t ,
’
,

fo r o u r boldness i n coming here ? I am afraid love I c a n , ,

only explai n it by b reaking through o u r rule an d refe rring to ,

’
the past .

The re i s n ot the least n eces sity fo r doin g anythin g o f the

ki nd said Marian
,
’
We can be j ust as exp licit an d mu ch
.
,

m ore i nte restin g by referrin g to the future

, S he ro se ; an d .
’

held u p the child kicking a n d crowin g in he r arms

, D o yo u .

know wh o thi s i s Wal te r P she asked with b right tears o f

, ,

happin ess gathe ring in he r eye s .

Eve n my bewi lderme nt h as i ts limits I replied I thin k ,

’
.

I c a n sti ll an swe r for kn owing my o w n chi ld .

’

Chi ld ! she excl ai med with all h e r e asy gaie ty o f o ld

’
,

time s .D o you talk i n that familiar man ne r o f o ne o f th e

5 65