CHAPTER I.

LUCY.

I t l a y d o w n i n a h o l l o w , rich with fine o l d t i m b e r a n d l u x u r i a n t p a s t u r e s ; and

you came upon it through a n a v e n u e o f l i m e s , bordered on either side b y m e a d o w s , over
the high h e d g e s o f w h i c h t h e c a t t l e l o o k e d i n q u i s i t i v e l y at you as you passed,
wondering, perhaps, what you wanted; for there was n o t h o r o u g h - f a r e , and unless you were
going to the Court you had n o b u s i n e s s t h e r e a t a l l .

At the end of this avenue there was an o l d a r c h a n d a c l o c k t o w e r , with a stupid,

b e w i l d e r i n g c l o c k , which had only one hand—and w h i c h j u m p e d s t r a i g h t f r o m o n e
h o u r t o t h e n e x t —and was therefore always in extremes. T h r o u g h t h i s a r c h y o u
w a l k e d s t r a i g h t i n t o t h e g a r d e n s of Audley Court.

A s m o o t h l a w n l a y b e f o r e y o u , dotted with groups of rhododendrons, w h i c h g r e w

i n m o r e p e r f e c t i o n h e r e t h a n a n y w h e r e e l s e i n t h e c o u n t y . To the right there were
the kitchen gardens, t h e f i s h - p o n d , and an o r c h a r d b o r d e r e d b y a d r y m o a t , and a
broken ruin of a wall, i n s o m e p l a c e s t h i c k e r t h a n i t w a s h i g h , and everywhere
overgrown with trailing ivy, y e l l o w s t o n e c r o p , a n d d a r k m o s s . T o t h e l e f t t h e r e w a s
a b r o a d g r a v e l e d w a l k , down which, years ago, w h e n t h e p l a c e h a d b e e n a
c o n v e n t , the quiet n u n s h a d w a l k e d h a n d i n h a n d ; a wall bordered w i t h e s p a l i e r s ,
and shadowed on one side b y g o o d l y o a k s , which s h u t o u t t h e f l a t l a n d s c a p e , and
circled in the h o u s e a n d g a r d e n s w i t h a d a r k e n i n g s h e l t e r .
 T h e h o u s e f a c e d t h e a r c h , a n d o c c u p i e d t h r e e s i d e s o f a q u a d r a n g l e . It was
very old, a n d v e r y i r r e g u l a r a n d r a m b l i n g . The windows were uneven; some small, some
large, s o m e w i t h h e a v y s t o n e m u l l i o n s a n d r i c h s t a i n e d g l a s s ; o t h e r s w i t h f r a i l
l a t t i c e s t h a t r a t t l e d i n e v e r y b r e e z e ; others so modern that they might have been added
only yesterday. G r e a t p i l e s o f c h i m n e y s r o s e u p h e r e a n d t h e r e b e h i n d t h e
p o i n t e d g a b l e s , and seemed as if they were so broken down by age and long service that they
must have f a l l e n b u t f o r t h e s t r a g g l i n g i v y w h i c h , c r a w l i n g u p t h e w a l l s a n d
t r a i l i n g e v e n o v e r t h e r o o f , wound itself about them and supported them. T h e p r i n c i p a l
d o o r w a s s q u e e z e d i n t o a c o r n e r o f a t u r r e t a t o n e a n g l e o f t h e b u i l d i n g , as if
it were in hiding from d a n g e r o u s v i s i t o r s , and wished to keep itself a secret—a n o b l e d o o r
f o r a l l t h a t —old oak, a n d s t u d d e d w i t h g r e a t s q u a r e - h e a d e d i r o n n a i l s , and so
thick that the s h a r p i r o n k n o c k e r s t r u c k upon it with a m u f f l e d s o u n d , and the visitor
rung a c l a n g i n g b e l l t h a t d a n g l e d i n a c o r n e r a m o n g t h e i v y , lest the noise of the
knocking should never p e n e t r a t e t h e s t r o n g h o l d .

A g l o r i o u s o l d p l a c e . A place that visitors f e l l i n r a p t u r e s w i t h ; feeling a

y e a r n i n g w i s h t o h a v e d o n e with life, and to s t a y t h e r e f o r e v e r , staring into the c o o l
fish-ponds and counting the bubbles as the roach and carp rose to the
s u r f a c e o f t h e w a t e r . A spot in which p e a c e s e e m e d t o h a v e t a k e n u p h e r a b o d e ,
setting h e r s o o t h i n g h a n d o n e v e r y t r e e a n d f l o w e r , on the s t i l l p o n d s a n d q u i e t
a l l e y s , the shady corners of the o l d - f a s h i o n e d r o o m s , the deep window-seats behind the
painted glass, the low m e a d o w s a n d t h e s t a t e l y a v e n u e s —ay, even upon the stagnant
well, which, cool and s h e l t e r e d a s a l l e l s e i n t h e o l d p l a c e , hid itself away in a
s h r u b b e r y b e h i n d t h e g a r d e n s , with an i d l e h a n d l e t h a t w a s n e v e r t u r n e d a n d a
l a z y r o p e s o r o t t e n that the p a i l h a d b r o k e n a w a y f r o m i t , and had fallen into the
water.
 A noble place; i n s i d e a s w e l l a s o u t , a noble place—a h o u s e i n w h i c h y o u
i n c o n t i n e n t l y l o s t y o u r s e l f if ever you were so r a s h a s t o a t t e m p t t o p e n e t r a t e i t s
m y s t e r i e s a l o n e ; a house in which n o o n e r o o m h a d a n y s y m p a t h y w i t h a n o t h e r ,
every chamber r u n n i n g o f f a t a t a n g e n t i n t o a n i n n e r c h a m b e r , and through that down
some n a r r o w s t a i r c a s e l e a d i n g t o a d o o r w h i c h , in its turn, led back into that v e r y
p a r t o f t h e h o u s e f r o m w h i c h y o u t h o u g h t y o u r s e l f t h e f u r t h e s t ; a house that
could never have been p l a n n e d b y a n y m o r t a l a r c h i t e c t , but must have been the
h a n d i w o r k o f t h a t g o o d o l d b u i l d e r , Time, who, adding a room one year, and knocking
down a room another year, t o p p l i n g d o w n a c h i m n e y c o e v a l w i t h t h e Plantagenets, and
setting up one in the style of the Tudors; s h a k i n g d o w n a b i t o f Saxon wall, allowing a
Norman a r c h t o s t a n d h e r e ; t h r o w i n g i n a r o w o f h i g h n a r r o w w i n d o w s i n t h e
r e i g n o f Queen Anne, and joining on a d i n i n g - r o o m a f t e r t h e f a s h i o n o f t h e t i m e of
Hanoverian George I, to a r e f e c t o r y t h a t h a d b e e n s t a n d i n g s i n c e t h e Conquest, had
c o n t r i v e d , in some eleven centuries, to r u n u p s u c h a m a n s i o n a s w a s n o t e l s e w h e r e
to be met with throughout the county of Essex. Of course, in such a house t h e r e w e r e s e c r e t
c h a m b e r s ; the little daughter of the p r e s e n t o w n e r , Sir Michael Audley, had f a l l e n b y
a c c i d e n t u p o n t h e d i s c o v e r y o f o n e . A board had r a t t l e d u n d e r h e r f e e t i n t h e
g r e a t n u r s e r y where she played, and on a t t e n t i o n b e i n g d r a w n t o i t , it was found to be
loose, and so r e m o v e d , r e v e a l e d a l a d d e r , leading to a h i d i n g - p l a c e b e t w e e n t h e
f l o o r o f t h e n u r s e r y a n d t h e c e i l i n g of the room below—a hiding-place so small that he
who had hid there must have c r o u c h e d o n h i s h a n d s a n d k n e e s o r l a i n a t f u l l
l e n g t h , and yet l a r g e e n o u g h t o c o n t a i n a q u a i n t o l d c a r v e d o a k c h e s t , half filled
with p r i e s t s ' v e s t m e n t s , which had been hidden away, no doubt, i n t h o s e c r u e l d a y s
w h e n t h e l i f e o f a m a n w a s i n d a n g e r if he was discovered t o h a v e h a r b o r e d a
R o m a n C a t h o l i c priest, or to have mass said in his house.
 T h e b r o a d o u t e r m o a t w a s d r y a n d g r a s s - g r o w n , and the l a d e n t r e e s o f t h e
orchard hung over it with gnarled , straggling branches that drew fantastical
s h a d o w s u p o n t h e g r e e n s l o p e . Within this m o a t t h e r e w a s , as I have said, the fish-
pond—a s h e e t o f w a t e r t h a t e x t e n d e d t h e w h o l e l e n g t h o f t h e g a r d e n and
bordering which t h e r e w a s a n a v e n u e c a l l e d t h e l i m e - t r e e w a l k ; an avenue so shaded
from the sun and sky, s o s c r e e n e d f r o m o b s e r v a t i o n b y the thick shelter of the o v e r -
a r c h i n g t r e e s t h a t i t s e e m e d a c h o s e n p l a c e for secret meetings or f o r s t o l e n
i n t e r v i e w s ; a place in which a c o n s p i r a c y m i g h t h a v e b e e n p l a n n e d , or a lover's v o w
r e g i s t e r e d w i t h e q u a l s a f e t y ; and yet it was s c a r c e l y t w e n t y p a c e s f r o m t h e
house.

A t t h e e n d o f t h i s d a r k a r c a d e t h e r e w a s t h e s h r u b b e r y , where, half buried

among the t a n g l e d b r a n c h e s a n d t h e n e g l e c t e d w e e d s , stood the ru s t y w h e e l o f
t h a t o l d w e l l o f w h i c h I h a v e s p o k e n . It had been of good service in its time, no doubt;
and busy nuns have perhaps drawn the cool water with their own fair hands ;
but it had fallen into d i s u s e n o w , and scarcely a n y o n e a t Audley Court knew whether the
spring had dried up or not. B u t s h e l t e r e d a s w a s t h e s o l i t u d e o f t h i s l i m e - t r e e
w a l k , I doubt very much if it was ever put to any r o m a n t i c u s e s . Often in the cool of the
evening Sir Michael Audley w o u l d s t r o l l u p a n d d o w n s m o k i n g h i s c i g a r , with his
dogs at his heels, and his pretty young w i f e d a w d l i n g b y h i s s i d e ; but in about ten minutes
the b a r o n e t a n d h i s c o m p a n i o n w o u l d g r o w t i r e d o f t h e r u s t l i n g l i m e s a n d t h e
s t i l l w a t e r , hidden under the spreading leaves of the water-lilies, a n d t h e l o n g g r e e n v i s t a
w i t h t h e b r o k e n w e l l a t t h e e n d , and would stroll back to t h e d r a w i n g - r o o m , where
my lady played d r e a m y m e l o d i e s b y Beethoven and Mendelssohn till her h u s b a n d f e l l
a s l e e p in his easy-chair.
 Sir Michael Audley w a s f i f t y - s i x y e a r s o f a g e , and he had married a s e c o n d w i f e
t h r e e m o n t h s a f t e r h i s f i f t y - f i f t h b i r t h d a y . He was a big man, t a l l a n d s t o u t , with a
deep, s o n o r o u s v o i c e , handsome black eyes, a n d a w h i t e b e a r d —a white beard which
made him look v e n e r a b l e a g a i n s t h i s w i l l , for he was a s a c t i v e a s a b o y , and one of
the hardest r i d e r s i n t h e c o u n t r y . For seventeen years he had been a w i d o w e r w i t h a n
o n l y c h i l d , a d a u g h t e r , Alicia Audley, n o w e i g h t e e n , and by no means too w e l l p l e a s e d
a t h a v i n g a s t e p - m o t h e r b r o u g h t h o m e to the Court; for Miss Alicia had r e i g n e d
s u p r e m e i n h e r f a t h e r ' s h o u s e since her earliest childhood, and had c a r r i e d t h e k e y s ,
and j i n g l e d t h e m i n t h e p o c k e t s o f h e r s i l k a p r o n s , and lost them in the s h r u b b e r y ,
and dropped them into the pond, a n d g i v e n a l l m a n n e r o f t r o u b l e a b o u t t h e m f r o m
t h e h o u r in which she entered h e r t e e n s , and had, on that account, d e l u d e d h e r s e l f i n t o
t h e s i n c e r e b e l i e f , that for the whole of that period, s h e h a d b e e n k e e p i n g t h e h o u s e .
 But Miss Alicia's d a y w a s o v e r ; and now, w h e n s h e a s k e d a n y t h i n g o f t h e
h o u s e k e e p e r , the h o u s e k e e p e r would tell her that she would s p e a k t o m y l a d y , or she
would c o n s u l t m y l a d y , and if my lady p l e a s e d i t s h o u l d b e d o n e . So the baronet's
daughter, w h o w a s a n e x c e l l e n t h o r s e w o m a n a n d a v e r y c l e v e r a r t i s t , spent most
of her time out of doors, r i d i n g a b o u t t h e g r e e n l a n e s , and s k e t c h i n g t h e c o t t a g e
c h i l d r e n , and the p l o w - b o y s , and the cattle, a n d a l l m a n n e r o f a n i m a l l i f e t h a t
c a m e i n h e r w a y . She set her face with a s u l k y d e t e r m i n a t i o n a g a i n s t a n y i n t i m a c y
b e t w e e n herself and the b a r o n e t ' s y o u n g w i f e ; and a m i a b l e a s t h a t l a d y w a s , she
found it quite i m p o s s i b l e t o o v e r c o m e Miss Alicia's p r e j u d i c e s a n d d i s l i k e ; o r t o
c o n v i n c e the s p o i l t g i r l t h a t s h e h a d n o t d o n e h e r a c r u e l i n j u r y by marrying Sir
Michael Audley. T h e t r u t h w a s t h a t Lady Audley had, in becoming the wife of Sir Michael,
m a d e o n e o f t h o s e a p p a r e n t l y a d v a n t a g e o u s m a t c h e s which are apt to draw u p o n a
w o m a n t h e e n v y a n d h a t r e d of her sex. She had come into the neighborhood as a governess
in the family of a s u r g e o n i n t h e v i l l a g e n e a r Audley Court. No one k n e w a n y t h i n g o f
h e r , except that she came i n a n s w e r t o a n a d v e r t i s e m e n t w h i c h Mr. Dawson, the
surgeon, h a d i n s e r t e d i n T h e  Times. She c a m e f r o m L o n d o n ; and the o n l y r e f e r e n c e
s h e g a v e w a s t o a l a d y a t a school at Brompton, w h e r e s h e h a d o n c e b e e n a
teacher. But this reference was so satisfactory that none other was needed ,
and Miss Lucy Graham was received by the s u r g e o n a s t h e i n s t r u c t r e s s o f h i s
d a u g h t e r s . Her accomplishments were so b r i l l i a n t a n d n u m e r o u s , that it seemed strange
that she s h o u l d h a v e a n s w e r e d a n a d v e r t i s e m e n t o f f e r i n g s u c h v e r y m o d e r a t e
t e r m s of r e m u n e r a t i o n a s t h o s e named by Mr. Dawson; b u t Miss Graham seemed
p e r f e c t l y w e l l s a t i s f i e d w i t h h e r s i t u a t i o n , and she t a u g h t t h e g i r l s t o p l a y
s o n a t a s by Beethoven, and t o p a i n t f r o m n a t u r e a f t e r Creswick, and w a l k e d t h r o u g h
a d u l l , out-of-the-way village to the h u m b l e l i t t l e c h u r c h , three times every Sunday, a s
c o n t e n t e d l y a s i f s h e h a d n o h i g h e r a s p i r a t i o n in the world than to do so a l l t h e
rest of her life.

People who observed this, a c c o u n t e d f o r i t b y s a y i n g t h a t i t w a s a p a r t o f h e r

a m i a b l e a n d g e n t l e n a t u r e a l w a y s t o b e l i g h t - h e a r t e d , happy and contented under
any circumstances.
 W h e r e v e r s h e w e n t s h e s e e m e d t o t a k e j o y a n d b r i g h t n e s s w i t h h e r . In the
c o t t a g e s o f t h e p o o r h e r fair face shone like a s u n b e a m . She would sit for a quarter of an
h o u r t a l k i n g t o s o m e o l d w o m a n , and apparently as pleased with the a d m i r a t i o n o f a
t o o t h l e s s c r o n e as if she had been listening t o t h e c o m p l i m e n t s o f a m a r q u i s ; and
when s h e t r i p p e d a w a y , leaving nothing behind her (for her poor salary gave no scope to her
benevolence), t h e o l d w o m a n w o u l d b u r s t o u t i n t o s e n i l e r a p t u r e s w i t h h e r
g r a c e , beauty, and her kindliness, s u c h a s s h e n e v e r b e s t o w e d u p o n t h e v i c a r ' s
w i f e , who half fed and clothed her. For you see, M i s s L u c y G r a h a m w a s b l e s s e d w i t h
t h a t m a g i c p o w e r o f f a s c i n a t i o n , by which a woman can charm with a word or intoxicate
with a smile. Every one loved, a d m i r e d , a n d p r a i s e d h e r . The boy who opened the five-
barred gate that s t o o d i n h e r p a t h w a y , ran home to his m o t h e r t o t e l l o f h e r p r e t t y
l o o k s , and the sweet v o i c e i n w h i c h s h e t h a n k e d h i m f o r t h e l i t t l e s e r v i c e . The
verger at the church, who u s h e r e d h e r i n t o t h e s u r g e o n ' s p e w ; the vicar, w h o s a w t h e
s o f t b l u e e y e s u p l i f t e d t o h i s f a c e as he preached his simple sermon; t h e p o r t e r f r o m
t h e r a i l w a y s t a t i o n , who brought her sometimes a l e t t e r o r a p a r c e l , and who never
looked for r e w a r d f r o m h e r ; her employer; h i s v i s i t o r s ; her pupils; the servants;
e v e r y b o d y , high and low, u n i t e d i n d e c l a r i n g t h a t Lucy Graham was the s w e e t e s t g i r l
that ever lived.

Perhaps it was the r u m o r o f t h i s w h i c h p e n e t r a t e d i n t o t h e q u i e t c h a m b e r of

Audley Court; or, perhaps, i t w a s t h e s i g h t o f h e r p r e t t y f a c e , looking over the surgeon's
h i g h p e w e v e r y S u n d a y m o r n i n g ; however it was, it was certain that Sir Michael Audley
s u d d e n l y e x p e r i e n c e d a s t r o n g d e s i r e to be better acquainted with Mr. Dawson's
governess.

He had only to h i n t h i s w i s h t o t h e w o r t h y d o c t o r f o r a l i t t l e p a r t y t o b e g o t
u p , to which the vicar and his wife, a n d t h e b a r o n e t a n d h i s d a u g h t e r , w e r e i n v i t e d .
 That one q u i e t e v e n i n g s e a l e d Sir Michael's fate. H e c o u l d n o m o r e r e s i s t t h e
t e n d e r f a s c i n a t i o n of those soft and m e l t i n g b l u e e y e s ; the graceful beauty of that
s l e n d e r t h r o a t a n d d r o o p i n g h e a d , with its wealth of s h o w e r i n g f l a x e n c u r l s ; the
low music of that gentle voice; t h e p e r f e c t h a r m o n y w h i c h p e r v a d e d e v e r y c h a r m ,
and made all d o u b l y c h a r m i n g i n t h i s w o m a n ; than he could r e s i s t h i s d e s t i n y !
Destiny! Why, she w a s h i s d e s t i n y ! He had never loved before. W h a t h a d b e e n h i s
m a r r i a g e w i t h Alicia's mother but a dull, j o g - t r o t b a r g a i n m a d e t o k e e p s o m e e s t a t e
in the family that would have been j u s t a s w e l l o u t o f i t ? What had been his l o v e f o r h i s
f i r s t w i f e b u t a p o o r , pitiful, s m o l d e r i n g s p a r k , too dull to b e e x t i n g u i s h e d , too
f e e b l e t o b u r n ? But this was love—this fever, t h i s l o n g i n g , this r e s t l e s s , u n c e r t a i n ,
m i s e r a b l e h e s i t a t i o n ; these cruel f e a r s t h a t h i s a g e w a s a n i n s u r m o u n t a b l e barrier
to his happiness; this sick hatred of his white beard; t h i s f r e n z i e d w i s h t o b e y o u n g
a g a i n , with g l i s t e n i n g r a v e n h a i r , and a slim waist, s u c h a s h e h a d t w e n t y y e a r s
b e f o r e ; these, wakeful nights and m e l a n c h o l y d a y s , so g l o r i o u s l y b r i g h t e n e d i f h e
c h a n c e d t o c a t c h a glimpse of her sweet face behind the window curtains, a s h e d r o v e
p a s t t h e s u r g e o n ' s h o u s e ; all these signs gave token of the truth, a n d t o l d o n l y t o o
p l a i n l y t h a t , at the s o b e r a g e o f f i f t y - f i v e , Sir Michael Audley h a d f a l l e n i l l o f t h e
terrible fever called love .
 I do not think that, t h r o u g h o u t h i s c o u r t s h i p , the baronet once c a l c u l a t e d u p o n h i s
w e a l t h o r h i s p o s i t i o n a s r e a s o n s f o r h i s s u c c e s s . If he ever remembered these
things, he dismissed the thought of them w i t h a s h u d d e r . It pained him too much to believe for
a moment that any one so lovely and innocent could value herself against a
s p l e n d i d h o u s e o r a g o o d o l d t i t l e . No; his hope was that, as her life had been most likely
o n e o f t o i l a n d d e p e n d e n c e , and as she was very young n o b o d y e x a c t l y k n e w h e r
a g e , b u t s h e l o o k e d l i t t l e m o r e t h a n t w e n t y , she might never have f o r m e d a n y
a t t a c h m e n t , and that he, b e i n g t h e f i r s t t o w o o h e r , might, by tender attentions, by
g e n e r o u s w a t c h f u l n e s s , by a love which should recall to h e r t h e f a t h e r s h e h a d l o s t ,
and by a p r o t e c t i n g c a r e t h a t s h o u l d m a k e h i m n e c e s s a r y t o h e r , win her young
heart, and o b t a i n f r o m h e r f r e s h a n d e a r l i e s t l o v e , the promise of her hand. It w a s a
v e r y r o m a n t i c d a y - d r e a m , no doubt; but, for all that, i t s e e m e d i n a v e r y f a i r w a y t o
b e r e a l i z e d . Lucy Graham a p p e a r e d b y n o m e a n s t o d i s l i k e t h e b a r o n e t ' s
a t t e n t i o n s . There was nothing whatever in her manner that b e t r a y e d t h e s h a l l o w
a r t i f i c e s e m p l o y e d by a woman who wishes to c a p t i v a t e a r i c h m a n . She was so
accustomed to admiration from every one, h i g h a n d l o w , that Sir Michael's conduct made very
l i t t l e i m p r e s s i o n u p o n h e r . Again, h e h a d b e e n s o m a n y y e a r s a w i d o w e r that
people had given up the idea of his ever marrying again. At last, however, Mrs. Dawson s p o k e
t o t h e g o v e r n e s s o n t h e s u b j e c t . The surgeon's wife was s i t t i n g i n t h e s c h o o l - r o o m
b u s y a t w o r k , while Lucy was putting the f i n i s h i n g t o u c h e s o n s o m e w a t e r - c o l o r
s k e t c h e s done by her pupils.

"Do you know, m y d e a r Miss Graham," said Mrs. Dawson, "I t h i n k y o u o u g h t t o

c o n s i d e r y o u r s e l f a remarkably lucky girl?"

T h e g o v e r n e s s l i f t e d h e r h e a d f r o m i t s s t o o p i n g a t t i t u d e , and stared
wonderingly at her employer, s h a k i n g b a c k a s h o w e r o f c u r l s . They were the most
wonderful curls in the world—soft and feathery, a l w a y s f l o a t i n g a w a y f r o m h e r f a c e ,
and making a p a l e h a l o r o u n d h e r head when the s u n l i g h t s h o n e t h r o u g h t h e m .
 "W h a t d o y o u m e a n , m y d e a r Mrs. Dawson?" she asked, d i p p i n g h e r c a m e l ' s -
h a i r b r u s h i n t o t h e w e t a q u a m a r i n e upon the palette, and p o i s i n g i t c a r e f u l l y
b e f o r e p u t t i n g i n t h e d e l i c a t e s t r e a k of purple which was to b r i g h t e n t h e h o r i z o n
i n h e r pupil's sketch.

"W h y , I m e a n , m y d e a r , t h a t i t o n l y r e s t s w i t h y o u r s e l f t o b e c o m e Lady
Audley, a n d t h e m i s t r e s s o f Audley Court."

Lucy Graham d r o p p e d t h e b r u s h u p o n t h e p i c t u r e , and f l u s h e d s c a r l e t t o t h e

r o o t s of her fair hair; and then g r e w p a l e a g a i n , far paler than Mrs. Dawson h a d e v e r s e e n
her before.

"My dear, d o n ' t a g i t a t e y o u r s e l f ," said the surgeon's wife, s o o t h i n g l y ; "you know that
n o b o d y a s k s y o u t o m a r r y Sir Michael u n l e s s y o u w i s h . Of course it would be a
m a g n i f i c e n t m a t c h ; he has a s p l e n d i d i n c o m e , and is one of the most g e n e r o u s o f
m e n . Your position w o u l d b e v e r y h i g h , and you would be e n a b l e d t o d o a g r e a t d e a l
o f g o o d ; but, as I said before, y o u m u s t b e e n t i r e l y g u i d e d b y y o u r o w n f e e l i n g s .
Only one thing I must say, a n d t h a t i s t h a t i f Sir Michael's a t t e n t i o n s a r e n o t
a g r e e a b l e t o y o u , it is really s c a r c e l y h o n o r a b l e t o e n c o u r a g e h i m ."

"His attentions—e n c o u r a g e h i m !" muttered Lucy, a s i f t h e w o r d s b e w i l d e r e d h e r .

"Pray, pray don't talk to me, Mrs. Dawson. I h a d n o i d e a o f t h i s . It is the last thing that
would h a v e o c c u r r e d t o m e ." She leaned her e l b o w s o n t h e d r a w i n g - b o a r d b e f o r e
h e r , and c l a s p i n g h e r h a n d s over her face, seemed for s o m e m i n u t e s t o b e t h i n k i n g
d e e p l y . She wore a n a r r o w b l a c k r i b b o n r o u n d h e r n e c k , with a locket, or a cross, o r a
m i n i a t u r e , perhaps, attached to it; b u t w h a t e v e r t h e t r i n k e t w a s , she always kept it
hidden under her dress. O n c e o r t w i c e , while she sat silently thinking, s h e r e m o v e d o n e o f
h e r h a n d s f r o m b e f o r e h e r f a c e , and f i d g e t e d n e r v o u s l y w i t h t h e r i b b o n ,
clutching at it with a h a l f - a n g r y g e s t u r e , and t w i s t i n g i t b a c k w a r d a n d f o r w a r d
between her fingers.

"I t h i n k s o m e p e o p l e a r e b o r n t o b e u n l u c k y , Mrs. Dawson," she said, by-and-by;

"it w o u l d b e a g r e a t d e a l t o o m u c h g o o d f o r t u n e f o r m e t o b e c o m e Lady
Audley."
 She said this with so m u c h b i t t e r n e s s i n h e r t o n e , that the surgeon's wife looked up at
her w i t h s u r p r i s e .

"You unlucky, my dear!" s h e e x c l a i m e d . "I think you are the last p e r s o n w h o o u g h t

t o t a l k l i k e t h a t —you, such a bright, h a p p y c r e a t u r e , that it does every one good to see
you. I'm sure I don't k n o w w h a t w e s h a l l d o i f Sir Michael r o b s u s o f y o u ."

A f t e r t h i s c o n v e r s a t i o n t h e y o f t e n s p o k e u p o n t h e s u b j e c t , and Lucy never

again showed a n y e m o t i o n w h a t e v e r w h e n t h e b a r o n e t ' s a d m i r a t i o n f o r h e r w a s
c a n v a s s e d . It was a t a c i t l y u n d e r s t o o d t h i n g i n t h e s u r g e o n ' s family that whenever
Sir Michael proposed, t h e g o v e r n e s s w o u l d q u i e t l y a c c e p t h i m ; and, indeed, the simple
Dawsons would have t h o u g h t i t s o m e t h i n g m o r e t h a n m a d n e s s i n a p e n n i l e s s girl
to reject such an offer.

So, o n e m i s t y A u g u s t e v e n i n g , Sir Michael, s i t t i n g o p p o s i t e t o L u c y G r a h a m ,

at a window i n t h e s u r g e o n ' s l i t t l e d r a w i n g - r o o m , took an opportunity while the family
h a p p e n e d b y s o m e a c c i d e n t t o b e a b s e n t f r o m t h e r o o m , of speaking upon the
subject nearest to his heart. H e m a d e t h e g o v e r n e s s , in a few but solemn words, a n o f f e r
o f h i s h a n d . There was something almost t o u c h i n g i n t h e m a n n e r a n d t o n e i n w h i c h
h e s p o k e t o h e r —half in d e p r e c a t i o n , knowing that he c o u l d h a r d l y e x p e c t t o b e
t h e c h o i c e o f a b e a u t i f u l y o u n g g i r l , and praying rather that she would reject him, e v e n
t h o u g h s h e b r o k e h i s h e a r t b y d o i n g s o , than that she should a c c e p t h i s o f f e r i f
she did not love him.

"I s c a r c e l y t h i n k t h e r e i s a g r e a t e r s i n , Lucy," he said, solemnly, "t h a n t h a t o f a

w o m a n w h o m a r r i e s a m a n s h e d o e s n o t l o v e . You are so p r e c i o u s t o m e , my
beloved, t h a t d e e p l y a s m y h e a r t i s s e t o n t h i s , and bitter as the mere thought of
disappointment is to me, I w o u l d n o t h a v e y o u c o m m i t s u c h a s i n f o r a n y
h a p p i n e s s o f m i n e . If my happiness could be a c h i e v e d b y s u c h a n a c t , which it could
not—which it never could," h e r e p e a t e d , e a r n e s t l y —"nothing but misery can r e s u l t f r o m
a m a r r i a g e d i c t a t e d b y a n y m o t i v e but truth and love."
 Lucy Graham was not looking at Sir Michael, b u t s t r a i g h t o u t i n t o t h e m i s t y
t w i l i g h t and dim l a n d s c a p e f a r a w a y b e y o n d t h e l i t t l e g a r d e n . The baronet tried to
see her face, but her p r o f i l e w a s t u r n e d t o h i m , and he could not discover t h e
e x p r e s s i o n o f h e r e y e s . If he could have done so, h e w o u l d h a v e s e e n a y e a r n i n g
g a z e w h i c h s e e m e d a s i f it would have p i e r c e d t h e f a r o b s c u r i t y a n d l o o k e d
a w a y —away into another world.

"Lucy, y o u h e a r d m e ?"

"Yes," s h e s a i d , g r a v e l y ; not c o l d l y , or in any way as if she were o f f e n d e d a t h i s

words.

"A n d y o u r a n s w e r ?"

S h e d i d n o t r e m o v e h e r g a z e f r o m t h e d a r k e n i n g c o u n t r y s i d e , but for some

moments was quite silent; t h e n t u r n i n g t o h i m , with a sudden passion in her manner, that
l i g h t e d u p h e r f a c e w i t h a n e w a n d w o n d e r f u l b e a u t y which the baronet perceived
even in the growing twilight, s h e f e l l o n h e r k n e e s a t h i s f e e t .

"N o , Lucy; no, no!" he cried, v e h e m e n t l y , "not here, n o t h e r e !"

"Yes, here, here," she said, t h e s t r a n g e p a s s i o n w h i c h a g i t a t e d h e r m a k i n g h e r

v o i c e s o u n d s h r i l l a n d p i e r c i n g —not loud, but p r e t e r n a t u r a l l y d i s t i n c t ; "here and
nowhere else. H o w g o o d y o u a r e —how noble and how generous! L o v e y o u ! Why, there
are women a h u n d r e d t i m e s m y s u p e r i o r s i n b e a u t y a n d i n g o o d n e s s who might
love you dearly; b u t y o u a s k t o o m u c h o f m e ! Remember what my life has been; only
remember that! F r o m m y v e r y b a b y h o o d I have never seen a n y t h i n g b u t p o v e r t y . My
father was a gentleman: clever, a c c o m p l i s h e d , handsome—but poor—a n d w h a t a p i t i f u l
w r e t c h p o v e r t y m a d e o f h i m ! My mother—But do not let me speak of her. Poverty—
poverty, trials, v e x a t i o n s , h u m i l i a t i o n s , d e p r i v a t i o n s . You cannot tell; you, w h o a r e
a m o n g t h o s e f o r w h o m l i f e i s s o s m o o t h a n d e a s y , you can never guess what is
endured by such as we. Do not ask too much of me, then. I c a n n o t b e d i s i n t e r e s t e d ; I
cannot be b l i n d t o t h e a d v a n t a g e s o f s u c h a n a l l i a n c e . I cannot, I cannot!"
 B e y o n d h e r a g i t a t i o n a n d h e r p a s s i o n a t e v e h e m e n c e , there is an undefined
something in h e r m a n n e r w h i c h f i l l s t h e b a r o n e t with a vague alarm. She is still on the
g r o u n d a t h i s f e e t , crouching rather than k n e e l i n g , her thin white d r e s s c l i n g i n g a b o u t
h e r , her pale hair s t r e a m i n g o v e r h e r s h o u l d e r s , her great blue eyes g l i t t e r i n g i n t h e
d u s k , and her hands c l u t c h i n g a t t h e b l a c k r i b b o n a b o u t h e r t h r o a t , as if it had been
s t r a n g l i n g her. "D o n ' t a s k t o o m u c h o f m e ," she kept repeating; "I have been selfish
from my b a b y h o o d ."

"Lucy—Lucy, s p e a k p l a i n l y . D o y o u d i s l i k e m e ?"

"D i s l i k e y o u ? No—no!"

"B u t i s t h e r e a n y o n e e l s e w h o m y o u l o v e ?"

S h e l a u g h e d a l o u d a t h i s q u e s t i o n . "I d o n o t l o v e a n y o n e i n t h e w o r l d ,"
she answered.

He was g l a d o f h e r r e p l y ; and yet that and t h e s t r a n g e l a u g h j a r r e d u p o n h i s

f e e l i n g s . He was s i l e n t f o r s o m e m o m e n t s , and then said, with a k i n d o f e f f o r t :

"Well, Lucy, I w i l l n o t a s k t o o m u c h o f y o u . I dare say I a m a r o m a n t i c o l d

f o o l ; but if y o u d o n o t d i s l i k e m e , and if you do n o t l o v e a n y o n e e l s e , I see no
reason why we should n o t m a k e a v e r y h a p p y c o u p l e . Is it a bargain, Lucy?"

"Yes."

The baronet lifted her in his arms and kissed her once upon the forehead ,
then quietly b i d d i n g h e r g o o d - n i g h t , he walked straight out of the house.

H e w a l k e d s t r a i g h t o u t o f t h e h o u s e , this foolish old man, b e c a u s e t h e r e w a s

s o m e s t r o n g e m o t i o n a t w o r k i n h i s b r e a s t —neither joy nor triumph, b u t s o m e t h i n g
a l m o s t a k i n t o d i s a p p o i n t m e n t —some stifled and unsatisfied longing which lay heavy and
dull at his heart, a s i f h e h a d c a r r i e d a c o r p s e i n h i s b o s o m . He carried the c o r p s e o f
t h a t h o p e w h i c h h a d d i e d a t t h e s o u n d o f L u c y ' s w o r d s . All the doubts and fears
and timid a s p i r a t i o n s w e r e e n d e d n o w . He must be contented, l i k e o t h e r m e n o f h i s
a g e , to be m a r r i e d f o r h i s f o r t u n e a n d h i s p o s i t i o n .
 Lucy Graham went s l o w l y u p t h e s t a i r s t o h e r l i t t l e r o o m a t t h e t o p o f t h e
h o u s e . She placed her d i m c a n d l e o n t h e c h e s t o f d r a w e r s , and seated herself on the
edge of the white bed, s t i l l a n d w h i t e a s t h e d r a p e r i e s h a n g i n g a r o u n d h e r .

"No more dependence, n o m o r e d r u d g e r y , no more h u m i l i a t i o n s ," she said; "every

trace of the o l d l i f e m e l t e d a w a y —every clew to i d e n t i t y b u r i e d a n d f o r g o t t e n —
except these, e x c e p t t h e s e ."

She had n e v e r t a k e n h e r l e f t h a n d f r o m t h e b l a c k r i b b o n a t h e r t h r o a t . She

drew it from her bosom, as she spoke, a n d l o o k e d a t t h e o b j e c t a t t a c h e d t o i t .

I t w a s n e i t h e r a l o c k e t , a m i n i a t u r e , nor a c r o s s ; it was a r i n g w r a p p e d i n a n
o b l o n g p i e c e o f p a p e r —the paper partly written, p a r t l y p r i n t e d , yellow with age, and
crumpled with much folding .

CHAPTER II.

ON BOARD THE ARGUS.

H e t h r e w t h e e n d o f h i s c i g a r i n t o t h e w a t e r , and leaning his elbows upon the

bulwarks, s t a r e d m e d i t a t i v e l y a t t h e w a v e s .

"H o w w e a r i s o m e t h e y a r e ," he said; "blue and green, a n d o p a l ; o p a l , and blue, and

green; a l l v e r y w e l l i n t h e i r w a y , of course, but three months of t h e m a r e r a t h e r t o o
m u c h , especially—"

H e d i d n o t a t t e m p t t o f i n i s h h i s s e n t e n c e ; his thoughts seemed to wander in the

very midst of it, a n d c a r r y h i m a t h o u s a n d m i l e s o r s o a w a y .

"P o o r l i t t l e g i r l , h o w p l e a s e d s h e ' l l b e !" he muttered, o p e n i n g h i s c i g a r - c a s e ,

lazily s u r v e y i n g i t s c o n t e n t s ; "how pleased and how surprised? P o o r l i t t l e g i r l . After
three years and a half, too; s h e   w i l l   b e s u r p r i s e d ."
 H e w a s a y o u n g m a n o f a b o u t f i v e - a n d - t w e n t y , with dark face b r o n z e d b y
e x p o s u r e t o t h e s u n ; he had h a n d s o m e b r o w n e y e s , with a lazy smile in them that
s p a r k l e d t h r o u g h t h e b l a c k l a s h e s , and a b u s h y b e a r d a n d m u s t a c h e t h a t
c o v e r e d t h e w h o l e l o w e r p a r t o f h i s f a c e . He was tall and powerfully built; h e w o r e a
l o o s e g r a y s u i t a n d a f e l t h a t , thrown carelessly upon his black hair. H i s n a m e w a s
George Talboys, and he w a s a f t - c a b i n p a s s e n g e r o n b o a r d t h e g o o d s h i p  Argus, laden
with A u s t r a l i a n w o o l a n d s a i l i n g f r o m Sydney to Liverpool.

T h e r e w e r e v e r y f e w p a s s e n g e r s i n t h e a f t - c a b i n o f t h e  Argus. An elderly
w o o l - s t a p l e r r e t u r n i n g t o h i s n a t i v e c o u n t r y w i t h h i s w i f e a n d d a u g h t e r s , after
having made a f o r t u n e i n t h e c o l o n i e s ; a governess o f t h r e e - a n d - t h i r t y y e a r s o f
a g e , going home to marry a m a n t o w h o m s h e h a d b e e n e n g a g e d f i f t e e n y e a r s ; the
s e n t i m e n t a l d a u g h t e r o f a w e a l t h y Australian w i n e - m e r c h a n t , i n v o i c e d t o England
to f i n i s h h e r e d u c a t i o n , and George Talboys, w e r e t h e o n l y f i r s t - c l a s s p a s s e n g e r s
on board.

T h i s G e o r g e T a l b o y s w a s t h e l i f e a n d s o u l o f t h e v e s s e l ; nobody knew who or

what he was, o r w h e r e h e c a m e f r o m , but everybody liked him. H e s a t a t t h e b o t t o m
o f t h e d i n n e r - t a b l e , and assisted the c a p t a i n i n d o i n g t h e h o n o r s o f t h e f r i e n d l y
m e a l . He opened the c h a m p a g n e b o t t l e s , and took w i n e w i t h e v e r y o n e p r e s e n t ; he
told f u n n y s t o r i e s , and l e d t h e l i f e h i m s e l f w i t h s u c h a j o y o u s p e a l that the man
must have been a c h u r l w h o c o u l d n o t h a v e l a u g h e d f o r p u r e s y m p a t h y . He was a
capital hand at s p e c u l a t i o n a n d v i n g t - e t - u n , and all the merry games, w h i c h k e p t t h e
l i t t l e c i r c l e r o u n d t h e c a b i n - l a m p s o d e e p i n i n n o c e n t a m u s e m e n t , that a
h u r r i c a n e m i g h t h a v e h o w l e d o v e r h e a d w i t h o u t t h e i r h e a r i n g i t ; but he freely
owned that h e h a d n o t a l e n t f o r w h i s t , and that he didn't know a k n i g h t f r o m a c a s t l e
upon the chess-board .

Indeed, Mr. Talboys w a s b y n o m e a n s t o o l e a r n e d a g e n t l e m a n . The pale

governess h a d t r i e d t o t a l k t o h i m a b o u t f a s h i o n a b l e l i t e r a t u r e , but George had only
pulled h i s b e a r d a n d s t a r e d v e r y h a r d a t h e r , saying occasionally, "Ah, yes, by Jove!"
and "To be sure, ah!"
 T h e s e n t i m e n t a l y o u n g l a d y , going home to finish her education, h a d t r i e d h i m
w i t h Shelby and Byron, a n d h e h a d f a i r l y l a u g h e d i n h e r f a c e , as if poetry were a joke.
T h e w o o l s t a p l e r s o u n d e d h i m o n p o l i t i c s , but he did not s e e m v e r y d e e p l y
v e r s e d i n t h e m ; so they let him go his own way, s m o k e h i s c i g a r s a n d t a l k t o t h e
s a i l o r s , l o u n g e o v e r t h e b u l w a r k s and stare at the water, and make h i m s e l f a g r e e a b l e
t o e v e r y b o d y i n h i s o w n f a s h i o n . But when the Argus came to be within about a
fortnight's sail o f E n g l a n d e v e r y b o d y n o t i c e d a c h a n g e i n George Talboys. He grew
r e s t l e s s a n d f i d g e t y ; sometimes so merry that the c a b i n r u n g w i t h h i s l a u g h t e r ;
sometimes m o o d y a n d t h o u g h t f u l . Favorite as he was a m o n g t h e s a i l o r s , they were tired
at last of answering his perpetual questions about the probable time of
t o u c h i n g l a n d . Would it be in ten days, i n e l e v e n , in twelve, i n t h i r t e e n ? Was the wind
favorable? H o w m a n y k n o t s a n h o u r w a s t h e v e s s e l d o i n g ? Then a sudden passion
w o u l d s e i z e h i m , and he w o u l d s t a m p u p o n t h e d e c k , crying out that she w a s a
r i c k e t y o l d c r a f t , and that her o w n e r s w e r e s w i n d l e r s t o a d v e r t i s e h e r a s t h e
f a s t -sailing Argus. S h e w a s n o t f i t f o r p a s s e n g e r t r a f f i c ; she was not fit to carry
i m p a t i e n t l i v i n g c r e a t u r e s , with hearts and souls; s h e w a s f i t f o r n o t h i n g b u t t o b e
l a d e n w i t h b a l e s o f s t u p i d w o o l , that might r o t o n t h e s e a a n d b e n o n e t h e
worse for it.

T h e s u n w a s d r o o p i n g d o w n b e h i n d t h e w a v e s a s George Talboys lighted his

c i g a r u p o n t h i s A u g u s t e v e n i n g . Only ten days more, t h e s a i l o r s h a d t o l d h i m t h a t
a f t e r n o o n , and they would see the English coast. "I w i l l g o a s h o r e i n t h e f i r s t b o a t
t h a t h a i l s u s ," he cried; "I w i l l g o a s h o r e i n a c o c k l e - s h e l l . By Jove, if it comes to
that, I w i l l s w i m t o l a n d ."

H i s f r i e n d s i n t h e a f t - c a b i n , with the e x c e p t i o n o f t h e p a l e g o v e r n e s s , laughed

at his impatience; s h e s i g h e d a s s h e w a t c h e d t h e y o u n g m a n , chafing at the slow hours,
pushing away his untasted wine , flinging himself restlessly about upon the
c a b i n s o f a , rushing up and d o w n t h e c o m p a n i o n l a d d e r , and s t a r i n g a t t h e w a v e s .
 A s t h e r e d r i m o f t h e s u n d r o p p e d i n t o t h e w a t e r , the governess ascended the
c a b i n s t a i r s f o r a s t r o l l o n d e c k , while the passengers sat o v e r t h e i r w i n e b e l o w .
S h e s t o p p e d w h e n s h e c a m e u p t o George, and, standing by his side, w a t c h e d t h e
fading crimson in the western sky .

T h e l a d y w a s v e r y q u i e t a n d r e s e r v e d , seldom sharing in t h e a f t e r - c a b i n
a m u s e m e n t s , never laughing, and speaking very little; b u t s h e a n d George Talboys had been
excellent friends throughout the passage .

"D o e s m y c i g a r a n n o y y o u , Miss Morley?" h e s a i d , taking it o u t o f h i s m o u t h .

"N o t a t a l l ; pray do not l e a v e o f f s m o k i n g . I only c a m e u p t o l o o k a t t h e

s u n s e t . W h a t a l o v e l y e v e n i n g !"

"Yes, yes, I d a r e s a y ," h e a n s w e r e d , impatiently; "y e t s o l o n g , so long! Ten more

i n t e r m i n a b l e d a y s a n d t e n m o r e w e a r y n i g h t s b e f o r e w e l a n d ."

"Yes," said Miss Morley, sighing. "D o y o u w i s h t h e t i m e s h o r t e r ?"

"Do I?" cried George. "I n d e e d I d o . Don't you?"

"S c a r c e l y ."

"B u t i s t h e r e n o o n e y o u l o v e i n E n g l a n d ? Is there no one y o u l o v e l o o k i n g

o u t f o r y o u r a r r i v a l ?"

"I hope so," s h e s a i d g r a v e l y . They were s i l e n t f o r s o m e t i m e , he smoking his cigar

with a f u r i o u s i m p a t i e n c e , as if he could h a s t e n t h e c o u r s e o f t h e v e s s e l b y h i s
o w n r e s t l e s s n e s s ; she looking out at the w a n i n g l i g h t w i t h m e l a n c h o l y b l u e e y e s —
eyes that seemed to have f a d e d w i t h p o r i n g o v e r c l o s e l y - p r i n t e d b o o k s a n d
d i f f i c u l t n e e d l e w o r k ; eyes that h a d f a d e d a l i t t l e , perhaps, by reason of t e a r s
secretly shed in the lonely night .

"See!" said George, s u d d e n l y , p o i n t i n g i n a n o t h e r d i r e c t i o n f r o m t h a t t o w a r d

w h i c h Miss Morley was looking, "t h e r e ' s t h e n e w m o o n !"
 She looked up a t t h e p a l e c r e s c e n t , her own f a c e a l m o s t a s p a l e a n d w a n .

"T h i s i s t h e f i r s t t i m e w e h a v e s e e n i t ."

"W e m u s t w i s h !" said George. "I k n o w w h a t I w i s h ."

"What?"

"T h a t w e m a y g e t h o m e q u i c k l y ."

"M y w i s h i s t h a t w e m a y f i n d n o d i s a p p o i n t m e n t w h e n w e g e t t h e r e ," said

the governess, s a d l y .

"D i s a p p o i n t m e n t ! "

H e s t a r t e d a s i f h e h a d b e e n s t r u c k , and asked what s h e m e a n t b y t a l k i n g o f

disappointment.

"I mean this," she said, s p e a k i n g r a p i d l y , and with a r e s t l e s s m o t i o n o f h e r t h i n

h a n d s ; "I mean that a s t h e e n d o f t h e v o y a g e d r a w s n e a r , hope sinks in my heart; and a
s i c k f e a r c o m e s o v e r m e t h a t a t t h e l a s t a l l m a y n o t b e w e l l . The person I go to
meet may be c h a n g e d i n h i s f e e l i n g s t o w a r d m e ; or he may retain all the o l d f e e l i n g
u n t i l t h e m o m e n t o f s e e i n g m e , and then l o s e i t i n a b r e a t h a t s i g h t o f m y p o o r
w a n f a c e , for I was c a l l e d a p r e t t y g i r l , Mr. Talboys, when I s a i l e d f o r Sydney, fifteen
years ago; o r h e m a y b e s o c h a n g e d b y t h e w o r l d a s t o h a v e g r o w n s e l f i s h a n d
m e r c e n a r y , and he may welcome me for the sake o f m y f i f t e e n y e a r s ' s a v i n g s . Again,
he may be dead. H e m a y h a v e b e e n w e l l , perhaps, up to within a w e e k o f o u r l a n d i n g ,
and in that l a s t w e e k m a y h a v e t a k e n a f e v e r , and died an hour b e f o r e o u r v e s s e l
a n c h o r s i n t h e Mersey. I think o f a l l t h e s e t h i n g s , Mr. Talboys, and a c t t h e s c e n e s
o v e r i n m y m i n d , and feel t h e a n g u i s h o f t h e m t w e n t y t i m e s a d a y . Twenty times a
day," she repeated; "w h y I d o i t a t h o u s a n d t i m e s a d a y ."

George Talboys had stood motionless, w i t h h i s c i g a r i n h i s h a n d , listening to her so

intently that, a s s h e s a i d t h e l a s t w o r d s , his hold relaxed, a n d t h e c i g a r d r o p p e d i n
the water.
 "I wonder," s h e c o n t i n u e d , more to herself than to him, "I w o n d e r , looking back, to
t h i n k h o w h o p e f u l I w a s w h e n t h e v e s s e l s a i l e d ; I never thought then of
d i s a p p o i n t m e n t , but I p i c t u r e d t h e j o y o f m e e t i n g , imagining the very words that
w o u l d b e s a i d , the very tones, t h e v e r y l o o k s ; but for this last m o n t h o f t h e v o y a g e ,
day by day, a n d h o u r b y h o u r m y h e a r t s i n k s a n d m y h o p e f u l f a n c i e s f a d e a w a y ,
and I d r e a d t h e e n d a s m u c h a s i f I k n e w t h a t I w a s g o i n g to England to attend a
funeral."

T h e y o u n g m a n s u d d e n l y c h a n g e d h i s a t t i t u d e , and turned his face full upon his

companion, w i t h a l o o k o f a l a r m . She saw in the pale light that the color h a d f a d e d f r o m
his cheek.

"W h a t a f o o l !" he cried, striking his c l e n c h e d f i s t u p o n t h e s i d e o f t h e v e s s e l ,

"what a fool I am to b e f r i g h t e n e d a t t h i s ? Why do you come and say these things to me?
W h y d o y o u c o m e a n d t e r r i f y m e o u t o f m y s e n s e s , when I am going straight home
to the woman I love; t o a g i r l w h o s e h e a r t i s a s t r u e a s t h e l i g h t o f H e a v e n ; and in
w h o m I n o m o r e e x p e c t t o f i n d a n y c h a n g e t h a n I do to see another sun rise in to-
m o r r o w ' s s k y ? Why do you c o m e a n d t r y t o p u t s u c h f a n c i e s i n m y h e a d w h e n I
a m g o i n g home to my d a r l i n g w i f e ?"

"Your wife," she said; "t h a t i s d i f f e r e n t . There is no r e a s o n t h a t m y t e r r o r s s h o u l d

t e r r i f y y o u . I am going to England to r e j o i n a m a n t o w h o m I w a s e n g a g e d t o b e
m a r r i e d f i f t e e n y e a r s a g o . He was too poor to marry then, a n d w h e n I w a s o f f e r e d a
s i t u a t i o n a s g o v e r n e s s i n a r i c h A u s t r a l i a n f a m i l y , I persuaded him to let me accept
it, s o t h a t I m i g h t l e a v e h i m f r e e a n d u n f e t t e r e d t o w i n h i s w a y i n t h e w o r l d ,
while I saved a little money to h e l p u s w h e n w e b e g a n l i f e t o g e t h e r . I n e v e r m e a n t t o
s t a y a w a y s o l o n g , but things have gone b a d l y w i t h h i m i n E n g l a n d . That is my story,
a n d y o u c a n u n d e r s t a n d m y f e a r s . They need not influence you. M i n e i s a n
e x c e p t i o n a l c a s e ."
 "So is mine," said George, impatiently. "I t e l l y o u t h a t m i n e i s a n e x c e p t i o n a l
c a s e : although I s w e a r t o y o u t h a t u n t i l t h i s m o m e n t , I have never known a fear as to
t h e r e s u l t o f m y v o y a g e h o m e . But you are right; y o u r t e r r o r s h a v e n o t h i n g t o d o
w i t h m e . You have been a w a y f i f t e e n y e a r s ; all kinds of things m a y h a p p e n i n f i f t e e n
y e a r s . Now it is only three years a n d a h a l f t h i s v e r y m o n t h s i n c e I l e f t E n g l a n d .
W h a t c a n h a v e h a p p e n e d i n s u c h a s h o r t t i m e a s t h a t ?"

Miss Morley l o o k e d a t h i m w i t h a m o u r n f u l s m i l e , but did not speak. H i s

f e v e r i s h a r d o r , the freshness and i m p a t i e n c e o f h i s n a t u r e w e r e s o s t r a n g e a n d
n e w t o h e r , that she looked at him h a l f i n a d m i r a t i o n , half i n p i t y .

"M y p r e t t y l i t t l e w i f e ! My gentle, i n n o c e n t , loving little wife! D o y o u k n o w , Miss

Morley," h e s a i d , with all his old h o p e f u l n e s s o f m a n n e r , "that I left my l i t t l e g i r l
a s l e e p , with her b a b y i n h e r a r m s , and with nothing b u t a f e w b l o t t e d l i n e s t o t e l l
h e r w h y her faithful husband h a d d e s e r t e d h e r ?"

"D e s e r t e d h e r !" exclaimed the governess.

"Yes. I w a s a n e n s i g n i n a c a v a l r y r e g i m e n t when I first m e t m y l i t t l e d a r l i n g .

We were q u a r t e r e d a t a s t u p i d s e a p o r t t o w n , where my pet lived with h e r s h a b b y o l d
f a t h e r , a half-pay naval officer; a regular o l d h u m b u g , as poor as Job, a n d w i t h a n e y e
f o r n o t h i n g b u t t h e m a i n c h a n c e . I saw through all his shallow tricks to catch one of us
for his pretty daughter. I saw all the p i t i a b l e , c o n t e m p t i b l e , p a l p a b l e t r a p s h e s e t f o r
u s b i g d r a g o o n s t o w a l k i n t o . I saw through his shabby-genteel dinners and public-house
port; his fine talk of the g r a n d e u r o f h i s f a m i l y ; his sham pride and independence, a n d t h e
s h a m t e a r s o f h i s b l e a r e d o l d e y e s w h e n h e t a l k e d o f h i s o n l y c h i l d . He was a
drunken old hypocrite, and he was ready to sell my poor, little girl to the highest bidder. L u c k i l y
f o r m e , I happened j u s t t h e n t o b e t h e h i g h e s t b i d d e r ; for my father, i s a r i c h m a n ,
Miss Morley, and as it w a s l o v e a t f i r s t s i g h t o n b o t h s i d e s , my darling and I made a
match of it. No sooner, however, d i d m y f a t h e r h e a r t h a t I h a d m a r r i e d a p e n n i l e s s
l i t t l e g i r l , the daughter of a t i p s y o l d h a l f - p a y l i e u t e n a n t , than he wrote me a f u r i o u s
l e t t e r, telling me he would never again hold a n y c o m m u n i c a t i o n w i t h m e , and that my
yearly a l l o w a n c e w o u l d s t o p f r o m m y w e d d i n g - d a y .
 "As there was no r e m a i n i n g i n s u c h a r e g i m e n t a s m i n e , with nothing but my pay to
live on, a n d m y p r e t t y l i t t l e wife to keep, I sold out, t h i n k i n g t h a t b e f o r e t h e m o n e y
w a s e x h a u s t e d , I should be sure to drop into something. I t o o k m y d a r l i n g t o I t a l y , and
we lived there in s p l e n d i d s t y l e a s l o n g a s m y t w o t h o u s a n d p o u n d s l a s t e d ; but
when t h a t b e g a n t o d w i n d l e d o w n t o a c o u p l e o f h u n d r e d o r s o , we came back to
England, a n d a s m y d a r l i n g h a d a f a n c y f o r b e i n g n e a r that tiresome old father of
hers, w e s e t t l e d a t t h e w a t e r i n g - p l a c e w h e r e h e l i v e d . Well, as soon as the old man
heard that I had a c o u p l e o f h u n d r e d p o u n d s l e f t , he expressed a wonderful degree of
affection for us, a n d i n s i s t e d o n o u r b o a r d i n g i n h i s h o u s e . We consented, still to
please my darling, who had just then a peculiar right to h a v e e v e r y w h i m a n d f a n c y o f
h e r i n n o c e n t h e a r t i n d u l g e d . We did board with him, a n d f i n a l l y h e f l e e c e d u s ; but
when I s p o k e o f i t t o m y l i t t l e w i f e , she only s h r u g g e d h e r s h o u l d e r s , and said she
did not like to be u n k i n d t o h e r 'poor papa.' So poor p a p a m a d e a w a y w i t h o u r l i t t l e
s t o c k of money in no time; and as I f e l t t h a t i t w a s n o w b e c o m i n g n e c e s s a r y t o
l o o k a b o u t f o r s o m e t h i n g , I ran up to London, a n d t r i e d t o g e t a s i t u a t i o n a s a
c l e r k i n a m e r c h a n t ' s o f f i c e , or as accountant, or book-keeper, o r s o m e t h i n g o f t h a t
k i n d . But I suppose there was t h e s t a m p o f a h e a v y d r a g o o n a b o u t m e , for do what I
would I couldn't get anybody to believe i n m y c a p a c i t y ; and tired out, and d o w n - h e a r t e d , I
returned to my darling, to find h e r n u r s i n g a s o n a n d h e i r t o h i s f a t h e r ' s p o v e r t y .
Poor little girl, she was very low-spirited; a n d w h e n I t o l d h e r t h a t m y L o n d o n
e x p e d i t i o n h a d f a i l e d , she fairly broke down, a n d b u r s t i n t o a s t o r m o f s o b s and
l a m e n t a t i o n s , telling me that I ought not to have m a r r i e d h e r i f I c o u l d g i v e h e r
n o t h i n g b u t p o v e r t y a n d m i s e r y ; and that I had done her a c r u e l w r o n g i n m a k i n g
h e r m y w i f e . By heaven! Miss Morley, h e r t e a r s a n d r e p r o a c h e s d r o v e m e a l m o s t
m a d ; and I flew into a rage with her, m y s e l f , her father, the world, a n d e v e r y b o d y i n i t ,
and then ran out of the house. I w a l k e d a b o u t t h e s t r e e t s a l l t h a t d a y , half out of my
mind, a n d w i t h a s t r o n g i n c l i n a t i o n t o t h r o w m y s e l f i n t o t h e s e a , so as to leave
my p o o r g i r l f r e e t o m a k e a better match. 'If I drown myself, her father must support her,' I
thought; 'the old h y p o c r i t e c o u l d n e v e r refuse her a shelter; b u t w h i l e I l i v e s h e h a s
n o c l a i m o n h i m .' I went down to a r i c k e t y o l d w o o d e n p i e r , meaning to wait t h e r e
t i l l i t w a s d a r k , and then drop quietly over the e n d o f i t i n t o t h e w a t e r ; but while I s a t
t h e r e s m o k i n g m y p i p e , and staring vacantly at the s e a - g u l l s , two men came down, and
one of them began to talk of the A u s t r a l i a n g o l d - d i g g i n g s , and the great things that were to
be done there. I t a p p e a r e d t h a t h e w a s g o i n g t o s a i l i n a d a y o r t w o , and he was
trying to p e r s u a d e h i s c o m p a n i o n to join him in the expedition.
 "I l i s t e n e d t o t h e s e m e n f o r u p w a r d o f a n h o u r , following them up and down the
pier, w i t h m y p i p e i n m y m o u t h , and hearing all their talk. A f t e r t h i s I f e l l i n t o
c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h t h e m m y s e l f , and a s c e r t a i n e d t h a t t h e r e w a s a v e s s e l going to
leave Liverpool in three days, b y w h i c h v e s s e l o n e o f t h e m e n w a s g o i n g o u t . This
man g a v e m e a l l t h e i n f o r m a t i o n I required, and told me, moreover, t h a t a s t a l w a r t
y o u n g f e l l o w , such as I was, c o u l d h a r d l y f a i l t o d o w e l l i n t h e d i g g i n g s . The
thought f l a s h e d u p o n m e s o s u d d e n l y , that I grew hot and red in the face, a n d t r e m b l e d
i n e v e r y l i m b w i t h e x c i t e m e n t . This was better than the water, at any rate. S u p p o s e I
s t o l e a w a y f r o m m y d a r l i n g , leaving her safe under her father's roof, and went and made a
f o r t u n e i n t h e n e w w o r l d , and came back i n a t w e l v e m o n t h t o t h r o w i t i n t o h e r
l a p ; for I was so s a n g u i n e i n t h o s e d a y s t h a t I c o u n t e d o n m a k i n g m y f o r t u n e in a
year or so. I t h a n k e d t h e m a n f o r h i s i n f o r m a t i o n , and late at night s t r o l l e d
h o m e w a r d . It was bitter winter weather, but I h a d b e e n t o o f u l l o f p a s s i o n t o f e e l
c o l d , and I walked through the q u i e t s t r e e t s , with the s n o w d r i f t i n g i n m y f a c e , and a
d e s p e r a t e h o p e f u l n e s s i n m y h e a r t . The old man was sitting d r i n k i n g b r a n d y -and-
water in the little dining-room; a n d m y w i f e w a s u p - s t a i r s , sleeping peacefully, w i t h t h e
b a b y o n h e r b r e a s t . I sat down and wrote a few brief lines, w h i c h t o l d h e r t h a t I n e v e r
h a d l o v e d h e r b e t t e r t h a n n o w , when I seemed to desert her; that I was going to try my
fortune in the new world, and that if I s u c c e e d e d I s h o u l d c o m e b a c k t o b r i n g h e r
p l e n t y a n d h a p p i n e s s ; but that if I failed I s h o u l d n e v e r l o o k u p o n h e r f a c e a g a i n .
I divided the remainder o f o u r m o n e y —something o v e r f o r t y p o u n d s —into t w o e q u a l
p o r t i o n s , leaving one for her, a n d p u t t i n g t h e o t h e r i n m y p o c k e t . I knelt down and
p r a y e d f o r m y w i f e a n d c h i l d , with my head upon the white counterpane that covered
them. I wasn't much of a p r a y i n g m a n a t o r d i n a r y t i m e s , but God knows that was a
h e a r t f e l t p r a y e r . I k i s s e d h e r o n c e , and the baby once, and then c r e p t o u t o f t h e
r o o m . The d i n i n g - r o o m door was open, a n d t h e o l d m a n w a s n o d d i n g over his paper.
He looked up as he heard my s t e p i n t h e p a s s a g e , and asked me w h e r e I w a s g o i n g . 'To
have a s m o k e i n t h e s t r e e t ,' I answered; and as this was a common habit of mine he believed
me. T h r e e n i g h t s a f t e r I w a s o u t a t s e a , bound for Melbourne—a s t e e r a g e
p a s s e n g e r , with a digger's t o o l s f o r m y b a g g a g e , and about seven s h i l l i n g s i n m y
p o c k e t ."
 "And you succeeded?" asked Miss Morley.

"N o t t i l l I h a d l o n g d e s p a i r e d o f s u c c e s s ; not until poverty and I had become such

o l d c o m p a n i o n s a n d b e d - f e l l o w s , that looking back at my past life, I w o n d e r e d
whether that dashing , reckless, extravagant, luxurious, champagne-drinking
d r a g o o n c o u l d h a v e r e a l l y b e e n the same man who sat on the d a m p g r o u n d g n a w i n g
a m o l d y c r u s t i n t h e w i l d s o f t h e n e w w o r l d . I clung to the memory o f m y d a r l i n g ,
and the t r u s t t h a t I h a d i n h e r l o v e a n d t r u t h w a s t h e o n e k e y s t o n e t h a t k e p t
t h e f a b r i c o f m y p a s t l i f e t o g e t h e r —the one star that l i t t h e t h i c k b l a c k d a r k n e s s
o f t h e f u t u r e . I was h a i l - f e l l o w - w e l l - m e t w i t h b a d m e n ; I was in the center of riot,
d r u n k e n n e s s , and d e b a u c h e r y ; but the p u r i f y i n g i n f l u e n c e o f m y l o v e k e p t m e
s a f e f r o m a l l . Thin and gaunt, t h e h a l f - s t a r v e d s h a d o w o f w h a t I o n c e h a d b e e n , I
saw myself one day in a b r o k e n b i t o f l o o k i n g - g l a s s , and was f r i g h t e n e d b y m y o w n
f a c e . But I t o i l e d o n t h r o u g h a l l ; through disappointment and despair, r h e u m a t i s m ,
fever, s t a r v a t i o n ; at the very g a t e s o f d e a t h , I t o i l e d o n s t e a d i l y t o t h e e n d ; and in
the e n d I c o n q u e r e d ."

H e w a s s o b r a v e i n h i s e n e r g y a n d d e t e r m i n a t i o n , in his p r o u d t r i u m p h o f
s u c c e s s , and in the knowledge o f t h e d i f f i c u l t i e s h e h a d v a n q u i s h e d , that the pale
governess could only look at him in wondering admiration .

"How brave you were!" she said.

 "Brave!" he cried, with a j o y o u s p e a l o f l a u g h t e r ; "wasn't I working for my darling?
T h r o u g h a l l t h e d r e a r y t i m e o f t h a t p r o b a t i o n , her pretty white hand seemed
b e c k o n i n g m e o n w a r d t o a h a p p y f u t u r e ! Why, I have seen her under my w r e t c h e d
c a n v a s t e n t s i t t i n g b y m y s i d e , with her boy in her arms, a s p l a i n l y a s I h a d e v e r
s e e n h e r i n t h e o n e h a p p y y e a r o f o u r w e d d e d l i f e . At last, o n e d r e a r y f o g g y
m o r n i n g , just three months ago, w i t h a d r i z z l i n g r a i n w e t t i n g m e t o t h e s k i n , up to
my neck in c l a y a n d m i r e , h a l f - s t a r v e d , e n f e e b l e d b y f e v e r , stiff with r h e u m a t i s m ,
a m o n s t e r n u g g e t t u r n e d u p u n d e r m y s p a d e , and I was in one m i n u t e t h e r i c h e s t
m a n i n A u s t r a l i a . I fell down o n t h e w e t c l a y , with m y l u m p o f g o l d i n t h e b o s o m
o f m y shirt, and, for the first time in my life, c r i e d l i k e a c h i l d . I traveled post-haste to
Sydney, r e a l i z e d m y p r i c e , which was w o r t h u p w a r d o f £20,000, and a fortnight
a f t e r w a r d t o o k m y p a s s a g e f o r E n g l a n d i n t h i s v e s s e l ; and in ten days—i n t e n
d a y s I s h a l l s e e m y d a r l i n g ."

"But in all that time did you never write to your wife?"

"Never, till the night before I left Sydney. I c o u l d n o t w r i t e w h e n e v e r y t h i n g

l o o k e d s o b l a c k . I could not write a n d t e l l h e r t h a t I w a s f i g h t i n g h a r d w i t h
d e s p a i r a n d d e a t h . I waited for better fortune, a n d w h e n t h a t c a m e I w r o t e t e l l i n g
h e r t h a t I s h o u l d b e i n E n g l a n d a l m o s t a s s o o n a s m y l e t t e r , and giving her an
address a t a c o f f e e - h o u s e i n L o n d o n w h e r e s h e c o u l d w r i t e t o m e , telling me
where to find her, t h o u g h s h e i s h a r d l y l i k e l y t o h a v e l e f t h e r f a t h e r ' s h o u s e ."

H e f e l l i n t o a r e v e r i e a f t e r t h i s , and p u f f e d m e d i t a t i v e l y a t h i s c i g a r . His
c o m p a n i o n d i d n o t d i s t u r b h i m . The last ray of s u m m e r d a y l i g h t h a d d i e d o u t , and
the pale l i g h t o f t h e c r e s c e n t m o o n o n l y r e m a i n e d .

Presently George Talboys f l u n g a w a y h i s c i g a r , and turning to the governess, cried

a b r u p t l y , "Miss Morley, i f , w h e n I g e t t o E n g l a n d , I hear that a n y t h i n g h a s
h a p p e n e d t o m y w i f e , I shall f a l l d o w n d e a d ."
 "M y d e a r Mr. Talboys, w h y d o y o u t h i n k o f t h e s e t h i n g s ? God is very good to us;
H e w i l l n o t a f f l i c t u s b e y o n d o u r p o w e r o f e n d u r a n c e . I see all things, p e r h a p s , in
a m e l a n c h o l y l i g h t ; for the l o n g m o n o t o n y o f m y l i f e h a s g i v e n m e t o o m u c h
time to think over m y t r o u b l e s ."

"A n d m y l i f e h a s b e e n a l l a c t i o n , p r i v a t i o n , t o i l , a l t e r n a t e h o p e a n d
d e s p a i r ; I have had no t i m e t o t h i n k u p o n t h e c h a n c e s o f a n y t h i n g h a p p e n i n g t o
m y d a r l i n g . What a blind, r e c k l e s s f o o l I h a v e b e e n ! Three years and a h a l f a n d n o t
o n e l i n e —one word from her, o r f r o m a n y m o r t a l c r e a t u r e w h o k n o w s h e r . Heaven
above! w h a t m a y n o t h a v e h a p p e n e d ?"

In the agitation of his mind he began to walk rapidly up and down the
l o n e l y d e c k , the governess following, a n d t r y i n g t o s o o t h e h i m .

"I s w e a r t o y o u , Miss Morley," he said, "t h a t t i l l y o u s p o k e t o m e t o - n i g h t , I

never f e l t o n e s h a d o w o f f e a r , and now I have that sick, s i n k i n g d r e a d a t m y h e a r t
w h i c h y o u t a l k e d o f a n h o u r a g o . Let me alone, please, t o g e t o v e r i t m y o w n
w a y ."

She drew silently away from him, and seated herself by the side of the
v e s s e l , looking over i n t o t h e w a t e r .

George Talboys w a l k e d b a c k w a r d a n d f o r w a r d f o r s o m e t i m e , with his head bent

upon his breast, l o o k i n g n e i t h e r t o t h e r i g h t n o r t h e l e f t , but in about a quarter of an
hour he returned to the spot where the governess was seated .

"I have been praying," he said—"praying for my darling."

H e s p o k e i n a v o i c e l i t t l e a b o v e a w h i s p e r , and she saw his face i n e f f a b l y c a l m

in the moonlight.