AdayortwoaftertheservantsallleftIwasagainsentfortoseeSirPercival。Theundeservedslurwhichhehadcastonmymanagementofthehouseholddidnot，Iamhappytosay，preventmefromreturninggoodforeviltothebestofmyability，bycomplyingwithhisrequestasreadilyandrespectfullyasever。Itcostmeastrugglewiththatfallennature，whichweallshareincommon，beforeIcouldsuppressmyfeelings。Beingaccustomedtoself-discipline，Iaccomplishedthesacrifice。IfoundSirPercivalandCountFoscosittingtogetheragain。Onthisoccasionhislordshipremainedpresentattheinterview，andassistedinthedevelopmentofSirPercival’sviews。ThesubjecttowhichtheynowrequestedmyattentionrelatedtothehealthychangeofairbywhichweallhopedthatMissHalcombeandLadyGlydemightsoonbeenabledtoprofit。SirPercivalmentionedthatboththeladieswouldprobablypasstheautumn(byinvitationofFrederickFairlie，Esquire)atLimmeridgeHouse，Cumberland。Butbeforetheywentthere，itwashisopinion，confirmedbyCountFosco(whoheretookuptheconversationandcontinuedittotheend)。thattheywouldbenefitbyashortresidencefirstinthegenialclimateofTorquay。Thegreatobject，therefore，wastoengagelodgingsatthatplace，affordingallthecomfortsandadvantagesofwhichtheystoodinneed，andthegreatdifficultywastofindanexperiencedpersoncapableofchoosingthesortofresidencewhichtheywanted。InthisemergencytheCountbeggedtoinquire，onSirPercival’sbehalf，whetherIwouldobjecttogivetheladiesthebenefitofmyassistance，byproceedingmyselftoTorquayintheirinterests。Itwasimpossibleforapersoninmysituationtomeetanyproposal，madeintheseterms，withapositiveobjection。IcouldonlyventuretorepresenttheseriousinconvenienceofmyleavingBlackwaterParkintheextraordinaryabsenceofalltheindoorservants，withtheoneexceptionofMargaretPorcher。ButSirPercivalandhislordshipdeclaredthattheywerebothwillingtoputupwithinconvenienceforthesakeoftheinvalids。InextrespectfullysuggestedwritingtoanagentatTorquay，butIwasmetherebybeingremindedoftheimprudenceoftakinglodgingswithoutfirstseeingthem。IwasalsoinformedthattheCountess(whowouldotherwisehavegonetoDevonshireherself)couldnot，inLadyGlyde’spresentcondition，leaveherniece，andthatSirPercivalandtheCounthadbusinesstotransacttogetherwhichwouldobligethemtoremainatBlackwaterPark。Inshort，itwasclearlyshownmethatifIdidnotundertaketheerrand，nooneelsecouldbetrustedwithit。Underthesecircumstances，IcouldonlyinformSirPercivalthatmyserviceswereatthedisposalofMissHalcombeandLadyGlyde。
ItwasthereuponarrangedthatIshouldleavethenextmorning，thatIshouldoccupyoneortwodaysinexaminingallthemostconvenienthousesinTorquay，andthatIshouldreturnwithmyreportassoonasIconvenientlycould。Amemorandumwaswrittenformebyhislordship，statingtherequisiteswhichtheplaceIwassenttotakemustbefoundtopossess，andanoteofthepecuniarylimitassignedtomewasaddedbySirPercival。
Myownideaonreadingovertheseinstructionswas，thatnosuchresidenceasIsawdescribedcouldbefoundatanywatering-placeinEngland，andthat，evenifitcouldbychancebediscovered，itwouldcertainlynotbepartedwithforanyperiodonsuchtermsasIwaspermittedtooffer。
Ihintedatthesedifficultiestoboththegentlemen，butSirPercival(whoundertooktoanswerme)didnotappeartofeelthem。Itwasnotformetodisputethequestion。Isaidnomore，butIfeltaverystrongconvictionthatthebusinessonwhichIwassentawaywassobesetbydifficultiesthatmyerrandwasalmosthopelessatstarting。
BeforeIleftItookcaretosatisfymyselfthatMissHalcombewasgoingonfavourably。
Therewasapainfulexpressionofanxietyinherfacewhichmademefearthathermind，onfirstrecoveringitself，wasnotatease。ButshewascertainlystrengtheningmorerapidlythanIcouldhaveventuredtoanticipate，andshewasabletosendkindmessagestoLadyGlyde，sayingthatshewasfastgettingwell，andentreatingherladyshipnottoexertherselfagaintoosoon。IleftherinchargeofMrsRubelle，whowasstillasquietlyindependentofeveryoneelseinthehouseasever。WhenIknockedatLadyGlyde’sdoorbeforegoingaway，Iwastoldthatshewasstillsadlyweakanddepressed，myinformantbeingtheCountess，whowasthenkeepinghercompanyinherroom。SirPercivalandtheCountwerewalkingontheroadtothelodgeasIwasdrivenbyinthechaise。Ibowedtothemandquittedthehouse，withnotalivingsoulleftintheservants’officesbutMargaretPorcher。
Every。onemustfeelwhatIhavefeltmyselfsincethattime，almostsuspicious。Letme，however，sayagainthatitwasimpossibleforme，inmydependentposition，toactotherwisethanIdid。
TheresultofmyerrandatTorquaywasexactlywhatIhadfore-seen。
NosuchlodgingsasIwasinstructedtotakecouldbefoundinthewholeplace，andthetermsIwaspermittedtogiveweremuchtoolowforthepurpose，evenifIhadbeenabletodiscoverwhatIwanted。IaccordinglyreturnedtoBlackwaterPark，andinformedSirPercival，whometmeatthedoor，thatmyjourneyhadbeentakeninvain。Heseemedtoomuchoccupiedwithsomeothersubjecttocareaboutthefailureofmyerrand，andhisfirstwordsinformedmethatevenintheshorttimeofmyabsenceanotherremarkablechangehadtakenplaceinthehouse。
TheCountandCountessFoscohadleftBlackwaterParkfortheirnewresidenceinStJohn’sWood。
Iwasnotmadeawareofthemotiveforthissuddendeparture——IwasonlytoldthattheCounthadbeenveryparticularinleavinghiskindcomplimentstome。WhenIventuredonaskingSirPercivalwhetherLadyGlydehadanyonetoattendtohercomfortsintheabsenceoftheCountess，herepliedthatshehadMargaretPorchertowaitonher，andheaddedthatawomanfromthevillagehadbeensentfortodotheworkdownstairs。
Theanswerreallyshockedme——therewassuchaglaringimproprietyinpermittinganunder-housemaidtofilltheplaceofconfidentialattendantonLadyGlyde。Iwentupstairsatonce，andmetMargaretonthebedroomlanding。Herserviceshadnotbeenrequired(naturallyenough)，hermistresshavingsufficientlyrecoveredthatmorningtobeabletoleaveherbed。
IaskednextafterMissHalcombe，butIwasansweredinaslouching，sulkyway，whichleftmenowiserthanIwasbefore。Ididnotchoosetorepeatthequestion，andperhapsprovokeanimpertinentreply。ItwasineveryrespectmorebecomingtoapersoninmypositiontopresentmyselfimmediatelyinLadyGlyde’sroom。
Ifoundthatherladyshiphadcertainlygainedinhealthduringthelastfewdays。Althoughstillsadlyweakandnervous，shewasabletogetupwithoutassistance，andtowalkslowlyaboutherroom，feelingnoworseeffectfromtheexertionthanaslightsensationoffatigue。ShehadbeenmadealittleanxiousthatmorningaboutMissHalcombe，throughhavingreceivednonewsofherfromanyone。IthoughtthisseemedtoimplyablamablewantofattentiononthepartofMrsRubelle，butIsaidnothing，andremainedwithLadyGlydetoassisthertodress。WhenshewasreadywebothlefttheroomtogethertogotoMissHalcombe。
WewerestoppedinthepassagebytheappearanceofSirPercival。Helookedasifhehadbeenpurposelywaitingtheretoseeus。
`Whereareyougoing？’hesaidtoLadyGlyde。
`ToMarian’sroom，’sheanswered。
`Itmayspareyouadisappointment，’remarkedSirPercival，`ifItellyouatoncethatyouwillnotfindherthere。’
`Notfindherthere！’
`No。SheleftthehouseyesterdaymorningwithFoscoandhiswife。’
LadyGlydewasnotstrongenoughtobearthesurpriseofthisextraordinarystatement。Sheturnedfearfullypale，andleanedbackagainstthewall，lookingatherhusbandindeadsilence。
IwassoastonishedmyselfthatIhardlyknewwhattosay。IaskedSirPercivalifhereallymeantthatMissHalcombehadleftBlackwaterPark。
`Icertainlymeanit，’heanswered。
`Inherstate，SirPercival！WithoutmentioningherintentionstoLadyGlyde！’
Beforehecouldreplyherladyshiprecoveredherselfalittleandspoke。
`Impossible！’shecriedoutinaloud，frightenedmanner，takingasteportwoforwardfromthewall。`Wherewasthedoctor？wherewasMrDawsonwhenMarianwentaway？’
`MrDawsonwasn’twanted，andwasn’there，’saidSirPercival。`Heleftofhisownaccord，whichisenoughofitselftoshowthatshewasstrongenoughtotravel。Howyoustare！Ifyoudon’tbelieveshehasgone，lookforyourself。Openherroomdoor，andalltheotherroomdoorsifyoulike。’
Shetookhimathisword，andIfollowedher。TherewasnooneinMissHalcombe’sroombutMargaretPorcher，whowasbusysettingittorights。
Therewasnooneinthespareroomsorthedressing-roomswhenwelookedintothemafterwards。SirPercivalstillwaitedforusinthepassage。
AswewereleavingthelastroomthatwehadexaminedLadyGlydewhispered，`Don’tgo，MrsMichelson！don’tleaveme，forGod’ssake！’BeforeIcouldsayanythinginreturnshewasoutagaininthepassage，speakingtoherhusband。
`Whatdoesitmean，SirPercival？Iinsist——Ibegandprayyouwilltellmewhatitmeans。’
`Itmeans，’heanswered，`thatMissHalcombewasstrongenoughyesterdaymorningtositupandbedressed，andthatsheinsistedontakingadvantageofFosco’sgoingtoLondontogotheretoo。’
`ToLondon！’
`Yes——onherwaytoLimmeridge。’
LadyGlydeturnedandappealedtome。
`YousawMissHalcombelast，’shesaid。`Tellmeplainly，MrsMichelson，didyouthinkshelookedfittotravel？’
`Notinmyopinion，yourladyship。’
SirPercival，onhisside，instantlyturnedandappealedtomealso。
`Beforeyouwentaway，’hesaid，`didyou，ordidyounot，tellthenursethatMissHalcombelookedmuchstrongerandbetter？’
`Icertainlymadetheremark，SirPercival。’
HeaddressedherladyshipagainthemomentIofferedthatreply。
