`Haveyoudone？’askedmycompanionquietly。
`Yes；——Iknowyouhatemeformyimpertinence，butIdon’tcareifitonlyconducestopreserveyoufromthatfatalmistake。’
`Well！’returnedhe，witharatherwintrysmile——`I’mgladyouhaveovercome，orforgottenyourownafflictionssofarastobeabletostudysodeeplytheaffairsofothers，andtroubleyourhead，sounnecessarily，aboutthefanciedorpossiblecalamitiesoftheirfuturelife。’
Weparted——somewhatcoldlyagain；butstillwedidnotceasetobefriends；andmywell-meantwarning，thoughitmighthavebeenmorejudiciouslydelivered，aswellasmorethankfullyreceived，wasnotwhollyunproductiveofthedesiredeffect：hisvisittotheWilsonswasnotrepeated，and，though，inoursubsequentinterviews，henevermentionedhernametome，norItohim，——Ihavereasontobelieveheponderedmywordsinhismind，eagerlythoughcovertlysoughtinformationrespectingthefairladyfromotherquarters，secretlycomparedmycharacterofherwithwhathehadhimselfobservedandwhatheheardfromothers，andfinallycametotheconclusionthat，allthingsconsidered，shehadmuchbetterremainMissWilsonofRyecoteFarm，thanbetransmutedintoMrs。LawrenceofWoodfordHall。Ibelieve，too，thathesoonlearnedtocontemplatewithsecretamazementhisformerpredilection，andtocongratulatehimselfontheluckyescapehehadmade；butheneverconfessedittome，orhintedonewordofacknowledgmentforthepartIhadhadinhisdeliverance——butthiswasnotsurprisingtoanyonethatknewhimasIdid。
AsforJaneWilson，she，ofcourse，wasdisappointedandembitteredbythesuddencoldneglect，andultimatedesertionofherformeradmirer。
HadIdonewrongtoblighthercherishedhopes？Ithinknot；andcertainlymyconsciencehasneveraccusedme，fromthatdaytothis，ofanyevildesigninthematter。
TheTenantofWildfellHall：Chapter47CHAPTERXLVIISTARTLINGINTELLIGENCEOnemorning，aboutthebeginningofNovember，whileIwasinditingsomebusinessletters，shortlyafterbreakfast，ElizaMillwardcametocalluponmysister。RosehadneitherthediscriminationnorthevirulencetoregardthelittledemonasIdid，andtheystillpreservedtheirformerintimacy。Atthemomentofherarrival，however，therewasnooneintheroombutFergusandmyself，mymotherandsisterbeingbothofthemabsent，`onhouseholdcaresintent；“butIwasnotgoingtolaymyselfoutforheramusement，whoeverelsemightsoincline：Imerelyhonouredherwithacarelesssalutationandafewwordsofcourse，’andthenwentonwithmywriting，leavingmybrothertobemorepoliteifhechose。Butshewantedtoteazeme。
`Whatapleasureitistofindyouathome，Mr。Markham！’saidshe，withadisingenuouslymalicioussmile。`Isoseldomseeyounow，foryounevercometothevicarage。PapaisquiteoffendedIcantellyou，’
sheaddedplayfully，lookingintomyfacewithanimpertinentlaugh，assheseatedherself，halfbesideandhalfbeforemydesk，offthecornerofthetable。
`Ihavehadagooddealtodooflate，’saidI，withoutlookingupfrommyletter。
`Haveyouindeed！Somebodysaidyouhadbeenstrangelyneglectingyourbusinesstheselastfewmonths。’
`Somebodysaidwrong，for，theselasttwomonthsespecially，Ihavebeenparticularlyploddinganddiligent。’
`Ah！Well，there’snothinglikeactiveemployment，Isuppose，toconsoletheafflicted；——and，excuseme，Mr。Markham，butyoulooksoveryfarfromwell，andhavebeen，byallaccounts，somoodyandthoughtfuloflate，——Icouldalmostthinkyouhavesomesecretcarepreyingonyourspirits。Formerly，’saidshetimidly，`Icouldhaveventuredtoaskyouwhatitwas，andwhatIcoulddotocomfortyou：Idarenotdoitnow。’
`You’reverykind，MissEliza。WhenIthinkyoucandoanythingtocomfortme，I’llmakeboldtotellyou。’
`Praydo——IsupposeImayn’tguesswhatitisthattroublesyou？’
`There’snonecessity，forI’lltellyouplainly。Thethingthattroublesmethemostatpresent，isayoungladysittingatmyelbow，andpreventingmefromfinishingmyletter，andthereafter，repairingtomydailybusiness。’
Beforeshecouldreplytothisungallantspeech，Roseenteredtheroom；andMissElizarisingtogreether，theybothseatedthemselvesnearthefire，wherethatidlelad，Fergus，wasstanding，leaninghisshoulderagainstthecornerofthechimneypiecewithhislegscrossedandhishandsinhisbreechespockets。
`Now，Rose，I’lltellyouapieceofnews——Ihopeyou’venothearditbefore，forgood，badorindifferent，onealwayslikestobethefirsttotell——It’saboutthatsadMrs。Graham`Hush——sh——sh！’whisperedFergus，inatoneofsolemnimport。
`“Wenevermentionher；hernameisneverheard。”’Andglancingup，Icaughthimwithhiseyeaskanceonme，andhisfingerpointedtohisforehead；
then，winkingattheyoungladywithadolefulshakeofthehead，hewhispered——amonomania——Butdon’tmentionit——allrightbutthat。’
`Ishouldbesorrytoinjureanyone’sfeelings，’returnedshe，speakingbelowherbreath，`anothertime，perhaps。’
`Speakout，MissEliza！’saidI，notdeigningtonoticetheother’sbuffooneries，`youneedn’tfeartosayanythinginmypresence——thatistrue。’
`Well，’answeredshe，`perhapsyouknowalreadythatMrs。Graham’shusbandisnotreallydead，andthatshehadrunawayfromhim？’Istarted，andfeltmyfaceglow；butIbentitovermyletter，andwentonfoldingitupassheproceeded，`butperhapsyoudidnotknowthatsheisnowgonebacktohimagain，andthataperfectreconciliationhastakenplacebetweenthem？Onlythink，’shecontinued，turningtotheconfoundedRose，`whatafoolthemanmustbe！’
`Andwhogaveyouthispieceofintelligence，MissEliza？’saidI，interruptingmysister’sexclamations。
`Ihaditfromaveryauthenticsource，sir。’
`Fromwhom，mayIask？’
`FromoneoftheservantsatWoodford。’
`Oh！IwasnotawarethatyouwereonsuchintimatetermswithMr。Lawrence’shousehold。’
`Itwasnotfromthemanhimself，thatIheardit；buthetolditinconfidencetoourmaidSarah，andSarahtoldittome。’
`Inconfidence，Isuppose；andyoutellitinconfidencetous；
butIcantellyouthatitisbutalamestoryafterall，andscarcelyonehalfofittrue。’
WhileIspoke，Icompletedthesealinganddirectionofmyletters，withasomewhatunsteadyhand，inspiteofallmyeffortstoretaincomposure，andinspiteofmyfirmconvictionthatthestorywasalameone——thatthesupposedMrs。Graham，mostcertainly，hadnotvoluntarilygonebacktoherhusband，ordreamtofareconciliation。Mostlikely，shewasgoneaway，andthetale-bearingservant，notknowingwhatwasbecomeofher，hadconjecturedthatsuchwasthecase，andourfairvisitorhaddetaileditasacertainty，delightedwithsuchanopportunityoftormentingme。Butitwaspossible——rarelypossible，thatsomeonemighthavebetrayedher，andshehadbeentakenawaybyforce。Determinedtoknowtheworst，Ihastilypocketedmytwoletters，andmutteringsomethingaboutbeingtoolateforthepost，lefttheroom，rushedintotheyardandvociferouslycalledformyhorse。Noonebeingthere，Idraggedhimoutofthestablemyself，strappedthesaddleontohisbackandthebridleontohishead，mounted，andspeedilygallopedawaytoWoodford。Ifounditsownerpensivelystrollinginthegrounds。
`Isyoursistergone？’weremyfirstwordsasIgraspedhishand，insteadoftheusualenquiryafterhishealth。
`Yes；she’sgone，’washisanswer，socalmlyspoken，thatmyterrorwasatonceremoved。
`IsupposeImayn’tknowwheresheis？’saidI，asIdidmountedandrelinquishedmyhorsetothegardener，who，beingtheonlyservantwithincall，hadbeensummonedbyhismaster，fromhisemploymentofrakingupthedeadleavesonthelawn，totakehimtothestables。
Mycompaniongravelytookmyarm，andleadingmeawaytothegarden，thusansweredmyquestion：——
`SheisatGrassdaleManor，in——hire。’
`Where？’criedI，withaconvulsivestart。
`AtGrassdaleManor。’
`Howwasit？’Igasped。`Whobetrayedher？’
`Shewentofherownaccord。’
`Impossible，Lawrence！！Shecouldnotbesofrantic！’exclaimedI，vehementlygraspinghisarm，asiftoforcehimtounsaythosehatefulwords。
`Shedid，’persistedheinthesamegrave，collectedmannerasbefore`andnotwithoutreason，’hecontinued，gentlydisengaginghimselffrommygrasp：`Mr。Huntingdonisill。’
`Andsoshewenttonursehim？’
`Yes。’
`Fool！’Icouldnothelpexclaiming——andLawrencelookedupwitharatherreproachfulglance。`Ishedyingthen？’
`Ithinknot，Markham。’
`Andhowmanymorenurseshashe？——Howmanyladiesaretherebesides，totakecareofhim？’
`None：hewasalone，orshewouldnothavegone。’
`Oh，confoundit！thisisintolerable！’
`Whatis？Thatheshouldbealone？’
Iattemptednoreply，forIwasnotsurethatthiscircumstancedidnotpartlyconducetomydistraction。Ithereforecontinuedtopacethewalkinsilentanguish，withmyhandpressedtomyforehead；thensuddenlypausingandturningtomycompanion，Iimpatientlyexclaimed，`Whydidshetakethisinfatuatedstep？Whatfiendpersuadedhertoit？’
`Nothingpersuadedherbutherownsenseofduty。’
`Humbug！’
`Iwashalfinclinedtosaysomyself，Markham，atfirst。Iassureyouitwasnotbymyadvicethatshewent，forIdetestthatmanasferventlyasyoucando——except，indeed，thathisreformationwouldgivememuchgreaterpleasurethanhisdeath：——ButallIdidwastoinformherofthecircumstanceofhisillness(theconsequenceofafallfromhishorseinhunting)，andtotellherthatthatunhappyperson，MissMyers，hadlefthimsometimeago。
`Itwasilldone！Now，whenhefindstheconvenienceofherpresence，hewillmakeallmanneroflyingspeechesandfalse，fairpromisesforthefuture，andshewillbelievehim，andthenherconditionwillbetentimesworseandtentimesmoreirremediablethanbefore。’
`Theredoesnotappeartobemuchgroundforsuchapprehensionsatpresent，’saidhe，producingaletterfromhispocket：`fromtheaccountIreceivedthismorning，Ishouldsay——’
Itwasherwriting！Byanirresistibleimpulse，Iheldoutmyhand，andthewords——`Letmeseeit，’involuntarilypassedmylips。
Hewasevidentlyreluctanttogranttherequest，butwhilehehesitated，Isnatcheditfromhishand。Recollectingmyself，however，theminuteafter，Iofferedtorestoreit。
`Here，takeit，’saidI，`ifyoudon’twantmetoreadit。’
`No，’repliedhe，`youmayreaditifyoulike。’
Ireaditandsomayyou。
Grassdale，Nov。4th。
DearFrederick，Iknowyouwillbeanxioustohearfromme：andIwilltellyouallIcan。Mr。Huntingdonisveryill，butnotdying，orinanyimmediatedanger；andheisratherbetteratpresentthanhewaswhenIcame。Ifoundthehouseinsadconfusion：Mrs。Greaves，Benson，everydecentservanthadleft，andthosethatwerecometosupplytheirplaceswereanegligent，disorderlyset，tosaynoworse——ImustchangethemagainifIstay。A
professionalnurse，agrim，hardoldwoman，hadbeenhiredtoattendthewretchedinvalid。Hesuffersmuch，andhasnofortitudetobearhimthrough。
Theimmediateinjurieshesustainedfromtheaccident，however，werenotverysevere，andwould，asthedoctorsays，havebeenbuttriflingtoamanoftemperatehabits；butwithhimitisverydifferent。Onthenightofmyarrival，whenIfirstenteredhisroom，hewaslyinginakindofhalfdelirium。HedidnotnoticemetillIspoke；andthen，hemistookmeforanother。
`Isityou，Alice，comeagain？’hemurmured。`Whatdidyouleavemefor？’
`ItisI，Arthur——itisHelen，yourwife，’ireplied。
`Mywife！’saidhe，withastart——`ForHeaven’ssake，don’tmentionher——Ihavenone。deviltakeher，’hecried，amomentafter，——`andyoutoo！Whatdidyoudoitfor？’
Isaidnomore；butobservingthathekeptgazingtowardsthefootofthebed，Iwentandsatthere，placingthelightsoastoshinefulluponme；forIthoughthemightbedying，andIwantedhimtoknowme。Foralongtime，helaysilentlylookinguponme，firstwithavacantstare，thenwithafixedgazeofstrange，growingintensity。Atlasthestartledmebysuddenlyraisinghimselfonhiselbowanddemandinginahorrifiedwhisper，withhiseyesstillfixeduponme，——`Whoisit？’
