NowIwassofaratrestwithmyself，whenSundaycame，knowingthatIhadconqueredmyownmistrust，andrightedBrotherHawkyardinthejaundicedvisionofarival，thatIwent，eventothatcoarsechapel，inalesssensitivestatethanusual。HowcouldI
foreseethatthedelicate，perhapsthediseased，cornerofmymind，whereIwincedandshrunkwhenitwastouched，orwasevenapproached，wouldbehandledasthethemeofthewholeproceedings？
OnthisoccasionitwasassignedtoBrotherHawkyardtopray，andtoBrotherGimblettopreach。Theprayerwastoopentheceremonies；thediscoursewastocomenext。BrothersHawkyardandGimbletwerebothontheplatform；BrotherHawkyardonhiskneesatthetable，unmusicallyreadytopray；BrotherGimbletsittingagainstthewall，grinninglyreadytopreach。
’Letusofferupthesacrificeofprayer，mybrothersandsistersandfellow—sinners。’Yes；butitwasIwhowasthesacrifice。Itwasourpoor，sinful，worldly—mindedbrotherherepresentwhowaswrestledfor。Thenow—openingcareerofthisourunawakenedbrothermightleadtohisbecomingaministerofwhatwascalled’thechurch。’ThatwaswhatHElookedto。Thechurch。Notthechapel，Lord。Thechurch。Norectors，novicars，noarchdeacons，nobishops，noarchbishops，inthechapel，but，OLord！manysuchinthechurch。Protectoursinfulbrotherfromhisloveoflucre。
Cleansefromourunawakenedbrother’sbreasthissinofworldly—
mindedness。Theprayersaidinfinitelymoreinwords，butnothingmoretoanyintelligibleeffect。
ThenBrotherGimbletcameforward，andtook（asIknewhewould）
thetext，’Mykingdomisnotofthisworld。’Ah！butwhosewas，myfellow—sinners？Whose？Why，ourbrother’sherepresentwas。Theonlykingdomhehadanideaofwasofthisworld。（’That’sit！’
fromseveralofthecongregation。）Whatdidthewomandowhenshelostthepieceofmoney？Wentandlookedforit。Whatshouldourbrotherdowhenhelosthisway？（’Goandlookforit，’fromasister。）Goandlookforit，true。Butmusthelookforitintherightdirection，orinthewrong？（’Intheright，’fromabrother。）Therespaketheprophets！Hemustlookforitintherightdirection，orhecouldn’tfindit。Buthehadturnedhisbackupontherightdirection，andhewouldn’tfindit。Now，myfellow—sinners，toshowyouthedifferencebetwixtworldly—
mindednessandunworldly—mindedness，betwixtkingdomsnotofthisworldandkingdomsOFthisworld，herewasaletterwrotebyevenourworldly—mindedbrotheruntoBrotherHawkyard。Judge，fromhearingofitread，whetherBrotherHawkyardwasthefaithfulstewardthattheLordhadinhismindonlyt’otherday，when，inthisveryplace，hedrewyouthepicteroftheunfaithfulone；foritwashimthatdoneit，notme。Don’tdoubtthat！
BrotherGimbletthengroanedandbellowedhiswaythroughmycomposition，andsubsequentlythroughanhour。Theserviceclosedwithahymn，inwhichthebrothersunanimouslyroared，andthesistersunanimouslyshriekedatme，ThatIbywilesofworldlygainwasmocked，andtheyonwatersofsweetlovewererocked；thatI
withmammonstruggledinthedark，whiletheywerefloatinginasecondark。
Iwentoutfromallthiswithanachingheartandawearyspirit：
notbecauseIwasquitesoweakastoconsiderthesenarrowcreaturesinterpretersoftheDivineMajestyandWisdom，butbecauseIwasweakenoughtofeelasthoughitweremyhardfortunetobemisrepresentedandmisunderstood，whenImosttriedtosubdueanyrisingsofmereworldlinesswithinme，andwhenImosthopedthat，bydintoftryingearnestly，Ihadsucceeded。
SEVENTHCHAPTER
MYtimidityandmyobscurityoccasionedmetoliveasecludedlifeatcollege，andtobelittleknown。Norelativeevercametovisitme，forIhadnorelative。Nointimatefriendsbrokeinuponmystudies，forImadenointimatefriends。Isupportedmyselfonmyscholarship，andreadmuch。MycollegetimewasotherwisenotsoverydifferentfrommytimeatHoghtonTowers。
Knowingmyselftobeunfitforthenoisierstirofsocialexistence，butbelievingmyselfqualifiedtodomydutyinamoderate，thoughearnestway，ifIcouldobtainsomesmallprefermentintheChurch，Iappliedmymindtotheclericalprofession。InduesequenceItookorders，wasordained，andbegantolookaboutmeforemployment。ImustobservethatIhadtakenagooddegree，thatIhadsucceededinwinningagoodfellowship，andthatmymeanswereampleformyretiredwayoflife。BythistimeIhadreadwithseveralyoungmen；andtheoccupationincreasedmyincome，whileitwashighlyinterestingtome。Ionceaccidentallyoverheardourgreatestdonsay，tomyboundlessjoy，’ThathehearditreportedofSilvermanthathisgiftofquietexplanation，hispatience，hisamiabletemper，andhisconscientiousnessmadehimthebestofcoaches。’Maymy’giftofquietexplanation’comemoreseasonablyandpowerfullytomyaidinthispresentexplanationthanIthinkitwill！
Itmaybeinacertaindegreeowingtothesituationofmycollege—
rooms（inacornerwherethedaylightwassobered），butitisinamuchlargerdegreereferabletothestateofmyownmind，thatI
seemtomyself，onlookingbacktothistimeofmylife，tohavebeenalwaysinthepeacefulshade。Icanseeothersinthesunlight；Icanseeourboats’crewsandourathleticyoungmenontheglisteningwater，orspeckledwiththemovinglightsofsunlitleaves；butImyselfamalwaysintheshadowlookingon。Notunsympathetically，—Godforbid！—butlookingonalone，muchasI
lookedatSylviafromtheshadowsoftheruinedhouse，orlookedattheredgleamshiningthroughthefarmer’swindows，andlistenedtothefallofdancingfeet，whenalltheruinwasdarkthatnightinthequadrangle。
Inowcometothereasonofmyquotingthatlaudationofmyselfabovegiven。Withoutsuchreason，torepeatitwouldhavebeenmereboastfulness。
AmongthosewhohadreadwithmewasMr。Fareway，secondsonofLadyFareway，widowofSirGastonFareway，baronet。Thisyounggentleman’sabilitiesweremuchabovetheaverage；buthecameofarichfamily，andwasidleandluxurious。Hepresentedhimselftometoolate，andafterwardscametometooirregularly，toadmitofmybeingofmuchservicetohim。Intheend，Iconsidereditmydutytodissuadehimfromgoingupforanexaminationwhichhecouldneverpass；andheleftcollegewithoutadegree。Afterhisdeparture，LadyFarewaywrotetome，representingthejusticeofmyreturninghalfmyfee，asIhadbeenofsolittleusetoherson。
Withinmyknowledgeasimilardemandhadnotbeenmadeinanyothercase；andImostfreelyadmitthatthejusticeofithadnotoccurredtomeuntilitwaspointedout。ButIatonceperceivedit，yieldedtoit，andreturnedthemoney—
Mr。Farewayhadbeengonetwoyearsormore，andIhadforgottenhim，whenheonedaywalkedintomyroomsasIwassittingatmybooks。
Saidhe，aftertheusualsalutationshadpassed，’Mr。Silverman，mymotherisintownhere，atthehotel，andwishesmetopresentyoutoher。’
Iwasnotcomfortablewithstrangers，andIdaresayIbetrayedthatIwasalittlenervousorunwilling。’For，’saidhe，withoutmyhavingspoken，’Ithinktheinterviewmaytendtotheadvancementofyourprospects。’
ItputmetotheblushtothinkthatIshouldbetemptedbyaworldlyreason，andIroseimmediately。
SaidMr。Fareway，aswewentalong，’Areyouagoodhandatbusiness？’
’Ithinknot，’saidI。
SaidMr。Farewaythen，’Mymotheris。’
’Truly？’saidI。
’Yes：mymotheriswhatisusuallycalledamanagingwoman。
Doesn’tmakeabadthing，forinstance，evenoutofthespendthrifthabitsofmyeldestbrotherabroad。Inshort，amanagingwoman。
Thisisinconfidence。’
Hehadneverspokentomeinconfidence，andIwassurprisedbyhisdoingso。IsaidIshouldrespecthisconfidence，ofcourse，andsaidnomoreonthedelicatesubject。Wehadbutalittlewaytowalk，andIwassooninhismother’scompany。Hepresentedme，shookhandswithme，andleftustwo（ashesaid）tobusiness。
IsawinmyLadyFarewayahandsome，well—preservedladyofsomewhatlargestature，withasteadyglareinhergreatrounddarkeyesthatembarrassedme。
Saidmylady，’Ihaveheardfrommyson，Mr。Silverman，thatyouwouldbegladofsomeprefermentinthechurch。’Igavemyladytounderstandthatwasso。
’Idon’tknowwhetheryouareaware，’myladyproceeded，’thatwehaveapresentationtoaliving？IsayWEhave；but，inpointoffact，Ihave。’
IgavemyladytounderstandthatIhadnotbeenawareofthis。
Saidmylady，’Soitis：indeedIhavetwopresentations，—onetotwohundredayear，onetosix。Bothlivingsareinourcounty，—
NorthDevonshire，—asyouprobablyknow。Thefirstisvacant。
Wouldyoulikeit？’
Whatwithmylady’seyes，andwhatwiththesuddennessofthisproposedgift，Iwasmuchconfused。
’Iamsorryitisnotthelargerpresentation，’saidmylady，rathercoldly；’thoughIwillnot，Mr。Silverman，payyouthebadcomplimentofsupposingthatYOUare，becausethatwouldbemercenary，—andmercenaryIampersuadedyouarenot。’
SaidI，withmyutmostearnestness，’Thankyou，LadyFareway，thankyou，thankyou！IshouldbedeeplyhurtifIthoughtIborethecharacter。’
’Naturally，’saidmylady。’Alwaysdetestable，butparticularlyinaclergyman。Youhavenotsaidwhetheryouwillliketheliving？’
Withapologiesformyremissnessorindistinctness，IassuredmyladythatIaccepteditmostreadilyandgratefully。IaddedthatIhopedshewouldnotestimatemyappreciationofthegenerosityofherchoicebymyflowofwords；forIwasnotareadymaninthatrespectwhentakenbysurpriseortouchedatheart。
’Theaffairisconcluded，’saidmylady；’concluded。Youwillfindthedutiesverylight，Mr。Silverman。Charminghouse；charminglittlegarden，orchard，andallthat。Youwillbeabletotakepupils。Bythebye！No：Iwillreturntothewordafterwards。
WhatwasIgoingtomention，whenitputmeout？’
Myladystaredatme，asifIknew。AndIdidn’tknow。Andthatperplexedmeafresh。
Saidmylady，aftersomeconsideration，’O，ofcourse，howverydullofme！Thelastincumbent，—leastmercenarymanIeversaw，—inconsiderationofthedutiesbeingsolightandthehousesodelicious，couldn’trest，hesaid，unlessIpermittedhimtohelpmewithmycorrespondence，accounts，andvariouslittlethingsofthatkind；nothinginthemselves，butwhichitworriesaladytocopewith。WouldMr。Silvermanalsoliketo—？OrshallI—？’
Ihastenedtosaythatmypoorhelpwouldbealwaysatherladyship’sservice。
’Iamabsolutelyblessed，’saidmylady，castinguphereyes（andsotakingthemoffmeforonemoment），’inhavingtodowithgentlemenwhocannotendureanapproachtotheideaofbeingmercenary！’Sheshiveredattheword。’Andnowastothepupil。’
’The—？’Iwasquiteataloss。
’Mr。Silverman，youhavenoideawhatsheis。Sheis，’saidmylady，layinghertouchuponmycoat—sleeve，’Idoverilybelieve，themostextraordinarygirlinthisworld。AlreadyknowsmoreGreekandLatinthanLadyJaneGrey。Andtaughtherself！Hasnotyet，remember，derivedamoment’sadvantagefromMr。Silverman’sclassicalacquirements。Tosaynothingofmathematics，whichsheisbentuponbecomingversedin，andinwhich（asIhearfrommysonandothers）Mr。Silverman’sreputationissodeservedlyhigh！’
Undermylady’seyesImusthavelosttheclue，Ifeltpersuaded；
andyetIdidnotknowwhereIcouldhavedroppedit。
’Adelina，’saidmylady，’ismyonlydaughter。IfIdidnotfeelquiteconvincedthatIamnotblindedbyamother’spartiality；
unlessIwasabsolutelysurethatwhenyouknowher，Mr。Silverman，youwillesteemitahighandunusualprivilegetodirectherstudies，—Ishouldintroduceamercenaryelementintothisconversation，andaskyouonwhatterms—’
Ientreatedmyladytogonofurther。MyladysawthatIwastroubled，anddidmethehonourtocomplywithmyrequest。
EIGHTHCHAPTER
EVERYTHINGinmentalacquisitionthatherbrothermighthavebeen，ifhewould，andeverythinginallgraciouscharmsandadmirablequalitiesthatnoonebutherselfcouldbe，—thiswasAdelina。
Iwillnotexpatiateuponherbeauty；Iwillnotexpatiateuponherintelligence，herquicknessofperception，herpowersofmemory，hersweetconsideration，fromthefirstmoment，fortheslow—pacedtutorwhoministeredtoherwonderfulgifts。Iwasthirtythen；I
amoversixtynow：sheiseverpresenttomeinthesehoursasshewasinthose，brightandbeautifulandyoung，wiseandfancifulandgood。
WhenIdiscoveredthatIlovedher，howcanIsay？Inthefirstday？inthefirstweek？inthefirstmonth？Impossibletotrace。
IfIbe（asIam）unabletorepresenttomyselfanypreviousperiodofmylifeasquiteseparablefromherattractingpower，howcanI
answerforthisonedetail？
WhensoeverImadethediscovery，itlaidaheavyburdenonme。Andyet，comparingitwiththefarheavierburdenthatIafterwardstookup，itdoesnotseemtomenowtohavebeenveryhardtobear。
IntheknowledgethatIdidloveher，andthatIshouldloveherwhilemylifelasted，andthatIwasevertohidemysecretdeepinmyownbreast，andshewasnevertofindit，therewasakindofsustainingjoyorpride，orcomfort，mingledwithmypain。
Butlateron，—say，ayearlateron，—whenImadeanotherdiscovery，thenindeedmysufferingandmystrugglewerestrong。
Thatotherdiscoverywas—
Thesewordswillneverseethelight，ifever，untilmyheartisdust；untilherbrightspirithasreturnedtotheregionsofwhich，whenimprisonedhere，itsurelyretainedsomeunusualglimpseofremembrance；untilallthepulsesthateverbeataroundusshallhavelongbeenquiet；untilallthefruitsofallthetinyvictoriesanddefeatsachievedinourlittlebreastsshallhavewitheredaway。Thatdiscoverywasthatshelovedme。
Shemayhaveenhancedmyknowledge，andlovedmeforthat；shemayhaveover—valuedmydischargeofdutytoher，andlovedmeforthat；shemayhaverefineduponaplayfulcompassionwhichshewouldsometimesshowforwhatshecalledmywantofwisdom，accordingtothelightoftheworld’sdarklanterns，andlovedmeforthat；shemay—shemust—haveconfusedtheborrowedlightofwhatIhadonlylearned，withitsbrightnessinitspure，originalrays；butshelovedmeatthattime，andshemademeknowit。
Prideoffamilyandprideofwealthputmeasfarofffromherinmylady’seyesasifIhadbeensomedomesticatedcreatureofanotherkind。ButtheycouldnotputmefartherfromherthanI
putmyselfwhenIsetmymeritsagainsthers。Morethanthat。
Theycouldnotputme，bymillionsoffathoms，halfsolowbeneathherasIputmyselfwheninimaginationItookadvantageofhernobletrustfulness，tookthefortunethatIknewshemustpossessinherownright，andlefthertofindherself，inthezenithofherbeautyandgenius，boundtopoorrusty，ploddingme。
No！Worldlinessshouldnotenterhereatanycost。IfIhadtriedtokeepitoutofotherground，howmuchharderwasIboundtotrytokeepitoutfromthissacredplace！
Buttherewassomethingdaringinherbroad，generouscharacter，thatdemandedatsodelicateacrisistobedelicatelyandpatientlyaddressed。Andmanyandmanyabitternight（O，IfoundIcouldcryforreasonsnotpurelyphysical，atthispassofmylife！）Itookmycourse。
Myladyhad，inourfirstinterview，unconsciouslyoverstatedtheaccommodationofmyprettyhouse。Therewasroominitforonlyonepupil。Hewasayounggentlemannearcomingofage，verywellconnected，butwhatiscalledapoorrelation。Hisparentsweredead。Thechargesofhislivingandreadingwithmeweredefrayedbyanuncle；andheandIweretodoourutmosttogetherforthreeyearstowardsqualifyinghimtomakehisway。Atthistimehehadenteredintohissecondyearwithme。Hewaswell—looking，clever，energetic，enthusiastic；bold；inthebestsenseoftheterm，athoroughyoungAnglo—Saxon。
Iresolvedtobringthesetwotogether。
NINTHCHAPTER
SAIDI，onenight，whenIhadconqueredmyself，’Mr。Granville，’—
Mr。GranvilleWhartonhisnamewas，—’IdoubtifyouhaveeveryetsomuchasseenMissFareway。’
’Well，sir，’returnedhe，laughing，’youseehersomuchyourself，thatyouhardlyleaveanotherfellowachanceofseeingher。’
’Iamhertutor，youknow，’saidI。
Andtherethesubjectdroppedforthattime。ButIsocontrivedasthattheyshouldcometogethershortlyafterwards。Ihadpreviouslysocontrivedastokeepthemasunder；forwhileIlovedher，—ImeanbeforeIhaddeterminedonmysacrifice，—alurkingjealousyofMr。Granvillelaywithinmyunworthybreast。
ItwasquiteanordinaryinterviewintheFarewayParkbuttheytalkedeasilytogetherforsometime：liketakestolike，andtheyhadmanypointsofresemblance。SaidMr。Granvilletome，whenheandIsatatoursupperthatnight，’MissFarewayisremarkablybeautiful，sir，remarkablyengaging。Don’tyouthinkso？’’I
thinkso，’saidI。AndIstoleaglanceathim，andsawthathehadreddenedandwasthoughtful。Irememberitmostvividly，becausethemixedfeelingofgravepleasureandacutepainthattheslightcircumstancecausedmewasthefirstofalong，longseriesofsuchmixedimpressionsunderwhichmyhairturnedslowlygray。
Ihadnotmuchneedtofeigntobesubdued；butIcounterfeitedtobeolderthanIwasinallrespects（Heavenknows！myheartbeingalltooyoungthewhile），andfeignedtobemoreofarecluseandbookwormthanIhadreallybecome，andgraduallysetupmoreandmoreofafatherlymannertowardsAdelina。LikewiseImademytuitionlessimaginativethanbefore；separatedmyselffrommypoetsandphilosophers；wascarefultopresentthemintheirownlight，andme，theirlowlyservant，inmyownshade。Moreover，inthematterofapparelIwasequallymindful；notthatIhadeverbeendapperthatway；butthatIwasslovenlynow。
AsIdepressedmyselfwithonehand，sodidIlabourtoraiseMr。
Granvillewiththeother；directinghisattentiontosuchsubjectsasItoowellknewinterestedher，andfashioninghim（donotderideormisconstruetheexpression，unknownreaderofthiswriting；forIhavesuffered！）intoagreaterresemblancetomyselfinmysolitaryonestrongaspect。Andgradually，gradually，asI
sawhimtakemoreandmoretothesethrown—outluresofmine，thendidIcometoknowbetterandbetterthatlovewasdrawinghimon，andwasdrawingherfromme。
Sopassedmorethananotheryear；everydayayearinitsnumberofmymixedimpressionsofgravepleasureandacutepain；andthenthesetwo，beingofageandfreetoactlegallyforthemselves，camebeforemehandinhand（myhairbeingnowquitewhite），andentreatedmethatIwouldunitethemtogether。’Andindeed，deartutor，’saidAdelina，’itisbutconsistentinyouthatyoushoulddothisthingforus，seeingthatweshouldneverhavespokentogetherthatfirsttimebutforyou，andthatbutforyouwecouldneverhavemetsooftenafterwards。’Thewholeofwhichwasliterallytrue；forIhadavailedmyselfofmymanybusinessattendanceson，andconferenceswith，mylady，totakeMr。
Granvilletothehouse，andleavehimintheouterroomwithAdelina。
Iknewthatmyladywouldobjecttosuchamarriageforherdaughter，ortoanymarriagethatwasotherthananexchangeofherforstipulatedlands，goods，andmoneys。Butlookingonthetwo，andseeingwithfulleyesthattheywerebothyoungandbeautiful；
andknowingthattheywerealikeinthetastesandacquirementsthatwilloutliveyouthandbeauty；andconsideringthatAdelinahadafortunenow，inherownkeeping；andconsideringfurtherthatMr。Granville，thoughforthepresentpoor，wasofagoodfamilythathadneverlivedinacellarinPreston；andbelievingthattheirlovewouldendure，neitherhavinganygreatdiscrepancytofindoutintheother，—ItoldthemofmyreadinesstodothisthingwhichAdelinaaskedofherdeartutor，andtosendthemforth，husbandandwife，intotheshiningworldwithgoldengatesthatawaitedthem。
ItwasonasummermorningthatIrosebeforethesuntocomposemyselfforthecrowningofmyworkwiththisend；andmydwellingbeingneartothesea，Iwalkeddowntotherocksontheshore，inorderthatImightbeholdthesuninhismajesty。
Thetranquillityuponthedeep，andonthefirmament，theorderlywithdrawalofthestars，thecalmpromiseofcomingday，therosysuffusionoftheskyandwaters，theineffablesplendourthatthenburstforth，attunedmymindafreshafterthediscordsofthenight。MethoughtthatallIlookedonsaidtome，andthatallI
heardintheseaandintheairsaidtome，’Becomforted，mortal，thatthylifeissoshort。Ourpreparationforwhatistofollowhasendured，andshallendure，forunimaginableages。’
Imarriedthem。IknewthatmyhandwascoldwhenIplaceditontheirhandsclaspedtogether；butthewordswithwhichIhadtoaccompanytheactionIcouldsaywithoutfaltering，andIwasatpeace。
Theybeingwellawayfrommyhouseandfromtheplaceafteroursimplebreakfast，thetimewascomewhenImustdowhatIhadpledgedmyselftothemthatIwoulddo，—breaktheintelligencetomylady。
Iwentuptothehouse，andfoundmyladyinherordinarybusiness—
room。Shehappenedtohaveanunusualamountofcommissionstointrusttomethatday；andshehadfilledmyhandswithpapersbeforeIcouldoriginateaword。
’Mylady，’Ithenbegan，asIstoodbesidehertable。
’Why，what’sthematter？’shesaidquickly，lookingup。
’Notmuch，Iwouldfainhope，afteryoushallhavepreparedyourself，andconsideredalittle。’
’Preparedmyself；andconsideredalittle！YouappeartohavepreparedYOURSELFbutindifferently，anyhow，Mr。Silverman。’Thismightyscornfully，asIexperiencedmyusualembarrassmentunderherstare。
SaidI，inself—extenuationonceforall，’LadyFareway，IhavebuttosayformyselfthatIhavetriedtodomyduty。’
’Foryourself？’repeatedmylady。’Thenthereareothersconcerned，Isee。Whoarethey？’
Iwasabouttoanswer，whenshemadetowardsthebellwithadartthatstoppedme，andsaid，’Why，whereisAdelina？’
’Forbear！becalm，mylady。ImarriedherthismorningtoMr。
GranvilleWharton。’
Shesetherlips，lookedmoreintentlyatmethanever，raisedherrighthand，andsmotemeharduponthecheek。
’Givemebackthosepapers！givemebackthosepapers！’Shetorethemoutofmyhands，andtossedthemonhertable。Thenseatingherselfdefiantlyinhergreatchair，andfoldingherarms，shestabbedmetotheheartwiththeunlooked—forreproach，’Youworldlywretch！’
’Worldly？’Icried。’Worldly？’
’This，ifyouplease，’—shewentonwithsupremescorn，pointingmeoutasifthereweresomeonetheretosee，—’this，ifyouplease，isthedisinterestedscholar，withnotadesignbeyondhisbooks！This，ifyouplease，isthesimplecreaturewhomanyonecouldoverreachinabargain！This，ifyouplease，isMr。
Silverman！Notofthisworld；nothe！Hehastoomuchsimplicityforthisworld’scunning。Hehastoomuchsinglenessofpurposetobeamatchforthisworld’sdouble—dealing。Whatdidhegiveyouforit？’
’Forwhat？Andwho？’
’Howmuch，’sheasked，bendingforwardinhergreatchair，andinsultinglytappingthefingersofherrighthandonthepalmofherleft，—’howmuchdoesMr。GranvilleWhartonpayyouforgettinghimAdelina’smoney？WhatistheamountofyourpercentageuponAdelina’sfortune？Whatwerethetermsoftheagreementthatyouproposedtothisboywhenyou，theRev。GeorgeSilverman，licensedtomarry，engagedtoputhiminpossessionofthisgirl？
Youmadegoodtermsforyourself，whatevertheywere。Hewouldstandapoorchanceagainstyourkeenness。’
Bewildered，horrified，stunnedbythiscruelperversion，Icouldnotspeak。ButItrustthatIlookedinnocent，beingso。
’Listentome，shrewdhypocrite，’saidmylady，whoseangerincreasedasshegaveitutterance；’attendtomywords，youcunningschemer，whohavecarriedthisplotthroughwithsuchapractiseddoublefacethatIhaveneversuspectedyou。Ihadmyprojectsformydaughter；projectsforfamilyconnection；projectsforfortune。Youhavethwartedthem，andoverreachedme；butIamnotonetobethwartedandoverreachedwithoutretaliation。Doyoumeantoholdthislivinganothermonth？’
’Doyoudeemitpossible，LadyFareway，thatIcanholditanotherhour，underyourinjuriouswords？’
’Isitresigned，then？’
’Itwasmentallyresigned，mylady，someminutesago。’
Don’tequivocate，sir。ISitresigned？’
’Unconditionallyandentirely；andIwouldthatIhadnever，nevercomenearit！’
’AcordialresponsefrommetoTHATwish，Mr。Silverman！Buttakethiswithyou，sir。Ifyouhadnotresignedit，Iwouldhavehadyoudeprivedofit。Andthoughyouhaveresignedit，youwillnotgetquitofmeaseasilyasyouthinkfor。Iwillpursueyouwiththisstory。Iwillmakethisnefariousconspiracyofyours，formoney，known。Youhavemademoneybyit，butyouhaveatthesametimemadeanenemybyit。YOUwilltakegoodcarethatthemoneystickstoyou；Iwilltakegoodcarethattheenemystickstoyou。’
ThensaidIfinally，’LadyFareway，Ithinkmyheartisbroken。
UntilIcameintothisroomjustnow，thepossibilityofsuchmeanwickednessasyouhaveimputedtomeneverdawneduponmythoughts。
Yoursuspicions—’
’Suspicions！Pah！’saidsheindignantly。’Certainties。’
’Yourcertainties，mylady，asyoucallthem，yoursuspicionsasI
callthem，arecruel，unjust，whollydevoidoffoundationinfact。
Icandeclarenomore；exceptthatIhavenotactedformyownprofitormyownpleasure。Ihavenotinthisproceedingconsideredmyself。Onceagain，Ithinkmyheartisbroken。IfI
haveunwittinglydoneanywrongwitharighteousmotive，thatissomepenaltytopay。’
Shereceivedthiswithanotherandmoreindignant’Pah！’andImademywayoutofherroom（IthinkIfeltmywayoutwithmyhands，althoughmyeyeswereopen），almostsuspectingthatmyvoicehadarepulsivesound，andthatIwasarepulsiveobject。
Therewasagreatstirmade，thebishopwasappealedto，Ireceivedaseverereprimand，andnarrowlyescapedsuspension。Foryearsacloudhungoverme，andmynamewastarnished。
Butmyheartdidnotbreak，ifabrokenheartinvolvesdeath；forI
livedthroughit。
Theystoodbyme，Adelinaandherhusband，throughitall。Thosewhohadknownmeatcollege，andevenmostofthosewhohadonlyknownmetherebyreputation，stoodbymetoo。Littlebylittle，thebeliefwidenedthatIwasnotcapableofwhatwaslaidtomycharge。AtlengthIwaspresentedtoacollege—livinginasequesteredplace，andthereInowpenmyexplanation。Ipenitatmyopenwindowinthesummer—time，beforeme，lyinginthechurchyard，equalresting—placeforsoundhearts，woundedhearts，andbrokenhearts。Ipenitforthereliefofmyownmind，notforeseeingwhetherornoitwilleverhaveareader。