第4章

HalfanhourlaterIwasbackatthehouse，andwasinformingMissHalcombeofallthathadhappened。

Shelistenedtomefrombeginningtoendwithasteady，silentattention，which，inawomanofhertemperamentanddisposition，wasthestrongestproofthatcouldbeofferedoftheseriousmannerinwhichmynarrativeaffectedher。

`Mymindmisgivesme，’wasallshesaidwhenIhaddone。`Mymindmisgivesmesadlyaboutthefuture。’

`Thefuturemaydepend，’Isuggested，`ontheusewemakeofthepresent。ItisnotimprobablethatAnneCatherickmayspeakmorereadilyandunreservedlytoawomanthanshehasspokentome。IfMissFairlie。’

`Nottobethoughtofforamoment，’interposedMissHalcombe，inhermostdecidedmanner。

`Letmesuggest，then，’Icontinued，`thatyoushouldseeAnneCatherickyourself，anddoallyoucantowinherconfidence。Formyownpart，Ishrinkfromtheideaofalarmingthepoorcreatureasecondtime，asIhavemostunhappilyalarmedheralready。Doyouseeanyobjectiontoaccompanyingmetothefarmhousetomorrow？’

`Nonewhatever。IwillgoanywhereanddoanythingtoserveLaura’sinterests。Whatdidyousaytheplacewascalled？’

`Youmustknowitwell。ItiscalledTodd’sCorner。’

`Certainly。Todd’sCornerisoneofMrFairlie’sfarms。Ourdairymaidhereisthefarmer’sseconddaughter。Shegoesbackwardsandforwardsconstantlybetweenthishouseandherfather’sfarm，andshemayhaveheardorseensomethingwhichitmaybeusefultoustoknow。ShallIascertain，atonce，ifthegirlisdownstairs？’

Sherangthebell，andsenttheservantwithhismessage。Hereturned，andannouncedthatthedairymaidwasthenatthefarm。Shehadnotbeenthereforthelastthreedays，andthehousekeeperhadgivenherleavetogohomeforanhourortwothatevening。

`Icanspeaktohertomorrow，’saidMissHalcombe，whentheservanthadlefttheroomagain。`Inthemeantime，letmethoroughlyunderstandtheobjecttobegainedbymyinterviewwithAnneCatherick。IstherenodoubtinyourmindthatthepersonwhoconfinedherintheAsylumwasSirPercivalGlyde？’

`Thereisnottheshadowofadoubt。Theonlymysterythatremainsisthemysteryofhismotive。Lookingtothegreatdifferencebetweenhisstationinlifeandhers，whichseemstoprecludeallideaofthemostdistantrelationshipbetweenthem，itisofthelastimportance——evenassumingthatshereallyrequiredtobeplacedunderrestraint——toknowwhyheshouldhavebeenthepersontoassumetheseriousresponsibilityofshuttingherup——’

`InaprivateAsylum，Ithinkyousaid？’

`Yes，inaprivateAsylum，whereasunofmoney，whichnopoorpersoncouldaffordtogive，musthavebeenpaidforhermaintenanceasapatient。’

`Iseewherethedoubtlies，MrHartright，andIpromiseyouthatitshallbesetatrest，whetherAnneCatherickassistsustomorrowornot。SirPercivalGlydeshallnotbelonginthishousewithoutsatisfyingMrGilmore，andsatisfyingme。Mysister’sfutureismydearestcareinlife，andIhaveinfluenceenoughoverhertogivemesomepower，wherehermarriageisconcerned，inthedisposalofit。’

Wepartedforthenight。

Afterbreakfastthenextmorning，anobstacle，whichtheeventsoftheeveningbeforehadputoutofmymemory，interposedtopreventourproceedingimmediatelytothefarm。ThiswasmylastdayatLimmeridgeHouse，anditwasnecessary，assoonasthepostcamein，tofollowMissHalcombe’sadvice，andtoaskMrFairlie’spermissiontoshortenmyengagementbyamonth，inconsiderationofanunforeseennecessityformyreturntoLondon。

Fortunatelyfortheprobabilityofthisexcuse，sofarasappearanceswereconcerned，thepostbroughtmetwolettersfromLondonfriendsthatmorning。Itookthemawayatoncetomyownroom，andsenttheservantwithamessagetoMrFairlie，requestingtoknowwhenIcouldseehimonamatterofbusiness。

Iawaitedtheman’sreturn，freefromtheslightestfeelingofanxietyaboutthemannerinwhichhismastermightreceivemyapplication。WithMrFairlie’sleaveorwithoutit，Imustgo。TheconsciousnessofhavingnowtakenthefirststeponthedrearyjourneywhichwashenceforthtoseparatemylifefromMissFairlie’sseemedtohavebluntedmysensibilitytoeveryconsiderationconnectedwithmyself。Ihaddonewithmypoorman’stouchypride——Ihaddonewithallmylittleartistvanities。NoinsolenceofMrFairlie’s，ifhechosetobeinsolent，couldwoundmenow。

TheservantreturnedwithamessageforwhichIwasnotunprepared。MrFairlieregrettedthatthestateofhishealth，onthatparticularmorning，wassuchastoprecludeallhopeofhishavingthepleasureofreceivingme。Hebegged，therefore，thatIwouldaccepthisapologies，andkindlycommunicatewhatIhadtosayintheformofaletter。Similarmessagestothishadreachedme，atvariousintervals，duringmythreemonths’residenceinthehouse。ThroughoutthewholeofthatperiodMrFairliehadbeenrejoicedto`possess’me，buthadneverbeenwellenoughtoseemeforasecondtime。TheservanttookeveryfreshbatchofdrawingsthatImountedandrestoredbacktohismasterwithmy`respects，’andreturnedempty-handedwithMrFairlie’s`kindcompliments，’`bestthanks，’and`sincereregrets’thatthestateofhishealthstillobligedhimtoremainasolitaryprisonerinhisownroom。Amoresatisfactoryarrangementtobothsidescouldnotpossiblyhavebeenadopted。Itwouldbehardtosaywhichofus，underthecircumstances，feltthemostgratefulsenseofobligationtoMrFairlie’saccommodatingnerves。

Isatdownatoncetowritetheletter，expressingmyselfinitascivilly，asclearly，andasbrieflyaspossible。MrFairliedidnothurryhisreply。Nearlyanhourelapsedbeforetheanswerwasplacedinmyhands。Itwaswrittenwithbeautifulregularityandneatnessofcharacter，inviolet-colouredink，onnote-paperassmoothasivoryandalmostasthickascardboard，anditaddressedmeintheseterms——

`MrFairlie’scomplimentstoMrHartright。MrFairlieismoresurprisedanddisappointedthanhecansay(inthepresentstateofhishealth)byMrHartright’sapplication。MrFairlieisnotamanofbusiness，buthehasconsultedhissteward，whois，andthatpersonconfirmsMrFairlie’sopinionthatMrHartright’srequesttobeallowedtobreakhisengagementcannotbejustifiedbyanynecessitywhatever，exceptingperhapsacaseoflifeanddeath。Ifthehighly-appreciativefeelingtowardsArtanditsprofessors，whichitistheconsolationandhappinessofMrFairlie’ssufferingexistencetocultivate，couldbeeasilyshaken，MrHartright’spresentproceedingwouldhaveshakenit。Ithasnotdoneso——exceptintheinstanceofMrHartrighthimself。

`Havingstatedhisopinion——sofar，thatistosay，asacutenervoussufferingwillallowhimtostateanything——MrFairliehasnothingtoaddbuttheexpressionofhisdecision，inreferencetothehighlyirregularapplicationthathasbeenmadetohim。Perfectreposeofbodyandmindbeingtothelastdegreeimportantinhiscase，MrFairliewillnotsufferMrHartrighttodisturbthatreposebyremaininginthehouseundercircumstancesofanessentiallyirritatingnaturetobothsides。Accordingly，MrFairliewaiveshisrightofrefusal，purelywithaviewtothepreservationofhisowntranquillity——andinformsMrHartrightthathemaygo。’

Ifoldedtheletterup，andputitawaywithmyotherpapers。ThetimehadbeenwhenIshouldhaveresenteditasaninsult——Iaccepteditnowasawrittenreleasefrommyengagement。Itwasoffmymind，itwasalmostoutofmymemory，whenIwentdownstairstothebreakfast-room，andinformedMissHalcombethatIwasreadytowalkwithhertothefarm。

`HasMrFairliegivenyouasatisfactoryanswer？’sheaskedasweleftthehouse。

`Hehasallowedmetogo，MissHalcombe。’

Shelookedupatmequickly，andthen，forthefirsttimesinceIhadknownher，tookmyarmofherownaccord。Nowordscouldhaveexpressedsodelicatelythatsheunderstoodhowthepermissiontoleavemyemploymenthadbeengranted，andthatshegavemehersympathy，notasmysuperior，butasmyfriend。Ihadnotfelttheman’sinsolentletter，butIfeltdeeplythewoman’satoningkindness。

OnourwaytothefarmwearrangedthatMissHalcombewastoenterthehousealone，andthatIwastowaitoutside，withincall。Weadoptedthismodeofproceedingfromanapprehensionthatmypresence，afterwhathadhappenedinthechurchyardtheeveningbefore，mighthavetheeffectofrenewingAnneCatherick’snervousdead，andofrenderingheradditionallydistrustfuloftheadvancesofaladywhowasastrangertoher。MissHalcombeleftme，withtheintentionofspeaking，inthefirstinstance，tothefarmer’swife(ofwhosefriendlyreadinesstohelpherinanywayshewaswellassured)，whileIwaitedforherinthenearneighbourhoodofthehouse。

Ihadfullyexpectedtobeleftaloneforsometime。Tomysurprise，however，littlemorethanfiveminuteshadelapsedbeforeMissHalcombereturned。

`DoesAnneCatherickrefusetoseeyou？’Iaskedinastonishment。

`AnneCatherickisgone，’repliedMissHalcombe。

`Gone？’

`GonewithMrsClements。Theybothleftthefarmateighto’clockthismorning。’

Icouldsaynothing——Icouldonlyfeelthatourlastchanceofdiscoveryhadgonewiththem

`AllthatMrsToddknowsaboutherguests，Iknow，’MissHalcombewenton，`anditleavesme，asitleavesher，inthedark。Theybothcamebacksafelastnight，aftertheyleftyou，andtheypassedthefirstpart-oftheeveningwithMrTodd’sfamilyasusual。rustbeforesupper-time，however，AnneCatherickstartledthemallbybeingsuddenlyseizedwithfaintness。Shehadhadasimilarattack，ofalessalarmingkind，onthedayshearrivedatthefarm；andMrsToddhadconnectedit，onthatoccasion，withsomethingshewasreadingatthetimeinourlocalnewspaper，whichlayonthefarmtable，andwhichshehadtakenuponlyaminuteortwobefore。’

`DoesMrsToddknowwhatparticularpassageinthenewspaperaffectedherinthatway？’Iinquired。

`No，’repliedMissHalcombe。`Shehadlookeditover，andhadseennothinginittoagitateanyone。Iaskedleave，however，tolookitoverinmyturn，adattheveryfirstpageIopenedIfoundthattheeditorhadenrichedhissmallstockofnewsbydrawinguponourfamilyaffairs，andhadpublishedmysister’smarriageengagement，amonghisotherannouncements，copiedfromtheLondonpapers，ofMarriagesinHighLife。IconcludedatoncethatthiswastheparagraphwhichhadsostrangelyaffectedAnneCatherick，andIthoughtIsawinit，also，theoriginoftheletterwhichshesenttoourhousethenextday。’

`Therecanbenodoubtineithercase。Butwhatdidyouhearabouthersecondattackoffaintnessyesterdayevening？’

`Nothing。Thecauseofitisacompletemystery。Therewasnostrangerintheroom。Theonlyvisitorwasourdairymaid，who，asItoldyou，isoneofMrTodd’sdaughters，andtheonlyconversationwastheusualgossipaboutlocalaffairs。Theyheardhercryout，andsawherturndeadlypale，withouttheslightestapparentreason。MrsToddandMrsClementstookherupstairs，andMrsClementsremainedwithher。Theywereheardtalkingtogetheruntillongaftertheusualbedtime，andearlythismorningMrsClementstookMrsToddaside，andamazedherbeyondallpowerofexpressionbysayingthattheymustgo。TheonlyexplanationMrsToddcouldextractfromherguestwas，thatsomethinghadhappened，whichwasnotthefaultofanyoneatthefarmhouse，butwhichwasseriousenoughtomakeAnneCatherickresolvetoleaveLimmeridgeimmediately。ItwasquiteuselesstopressMrsClementstobemoreexplicit。Sheonlyshookherhead，andsaidthat，forAnne’ssake，shemustbegandpraythatnoonewouldquestionher。Allshecouldrepeat，witheveryappearanceofbeingseriouslyagitatedherself，wasthatAnnemustgo，thatshemustgowithher，andthatthedestinationtowhichtheymightbothbetakethemselvesmustbekeptasecretfromeverybody。IspareyoutherecitalofMrsTodd’shospitableremonstrancesandrefusals。Itendedinherdrivingthembothtotheneareststation，morethanthreehourssince。Shetriedhardonthewaytogetthemtospeakmoreplainly，butwithoutsuccess；andshesetthemdownoutsidethestation-door，sohurtandoffendedbytheunceremoniousabruptnessoftheirdepartureandtheirunfriendlyreluctancetoplacetheleastconfidenceinher，thatshedroveawayinanger，withoutsomuchasstoppingtobidthemgood-bye。Thatisexactlywhathastakenplace。Searchyourownmemory，MrHartright，andtellmeifanythinghappenedintheburial-groundyesterdayeveningwhichcanatallaccountfortheextraordinarydepartureofthosetwowomenthismorning。’

`Ishouldliketoaccountfirst，MissHalcombe，forthesuddenchangeinAnneCatherickwhichalarmedthematthefarmhouse，hoursaftersheandIhadparted，andwhentimeenoughhadelapsedtoquietanyviolentagitationthatImighthavebeenunfortunateenoughtocause。Didyouinquireparticularlyaboutthegossipwhichwasgoingonintheroomwhensheturnedfaint？’

`Yes。ButMrsTodd’shouseholdaffairsseemtohavedividedherattentionthateveningwiththetalkinthefarmhouseparlour。Shecouldonlytellmethatitwas``justthenews，’’——meaning，Isuppose，thattheyalltalkedasusualabouteachother。’

`Thedairymaid’smemorymaybebetterthanhermother’s，’Isaid。`Itmaybeaswellforyoutospeaktothegirl，MissHalcombe，assoonaswegetback。’

Mysuggestionwasactedonthemomentwereturnedtothehouse。MissHalcombeledmeroundtotheservants’offices，andwefoundthegirlinthedairy，withhersleevestuckeduptohershoulders，cleaningalargemilk-panandsingingblithelyoverherwork。

`Ihavebroughtthisgentlemantoseeyourdairy，Hannah，’saidMissHalcombe。`Itisoneofthesightsofthehouse，anditalwaysdoesyoucredit。’

Thegirlblushedandcurtseyed，andsaidshylythatshehopedshealwaysdidherbesttokeepthingsneatandclean。

`Wehavejustcomefromyourfather’s，’MissHalcombecontinued。`Youwerethereyesterdayevening，Ihear，andyoufoundvisitorsatthehouse？’

`Yes，miss。’

`Oneofthemwastakenfaintandill，Iamtold？Isupposenothingwassaidordonetofrightenher？Youwerenottalkingofanythingveryterrible，wereyou？’

`Ohno，miss！’saidthegirl，laughing。`Wewereonlytalkingofthenews。’

`YoursisterstoldyouthenewsatTodd’sCorner，Isuppose？’

Yes，miss。

`AndyoutoldthemthenewsatLimmeridgeHouse？’

`Yes，miss。AndI’mquitesurenothingwassaidtofrightenthepoorthing，forIwastalkingwhenshewastakenill。Itgavemequiteaturn，miss，toseeit，neverhavingbeentakenfaintmyself。’

Beforeanymorequestionscouldbeputtoher，shewascalledawaytoreceiveabasketofeggsatthedairydoor。AssheleftusIwhisperedtoMissHalcombe——

`Askherifshehappenedtomention，lastnight，thatvisitorswereexpectedatLimmeridgeHouse。’

MissHalcombeshowedme，byalook，thatsheunderstood，andputthequestionassoonasthedairymaidreturnedtous。

`Ohyes，miss，Imentionedthat，’saidthegirlsimply。`Thecompanycoming，andtheaccidenttothebrindledcow，wasallthenewsIhadtotaketothefarm。’

`Didyoumentionnames？DidyoutellthemthatSirPercivalGlydewasexpectedonMonday？’

`Yes，miss——ItoldthemSirPercivalGlydewascoming。Ihopetherewasnoharminit——IhopeIdidn’tdowrong。’

`Ohno，noharm。Come，MrHartright，Hannahwillbegintothinkusintheway，ifweinterruptheranylongeroverherwork。’

Westoppedandlookedatoneanotherthemomentwewerealoneagain。

`Isthereanydoubtinyourmind，now，MissHalcombe？’

`SirPercivalGlydeshallremovethatdoubt，MrHartright——orLauraFairlieshallneverbehiswife。’