extraordinary name of his. Ozias Midwinter! Upon my life, his father
ought to be ashamed of himself." man's name! It is so remarkably ugly that it must be genuine. No sane
human being would _assume_ such a name as Ozias Midwinter." who is only known to others under the name of Ozias Midwinter. Stranger
still; it is not relationship, it is not chance, that has made them may hide my identity under any name I please. As Ozias Midwinter, Mr.
Armadale first knew me; as Ozias Midwinter he shall know me to the end "'I can't deceive you,' he answered, after another interval of silence;
'Midwinter is _not_ really my name.'

"I nestled a little closer to him. Ozias Midwinter took a step forward to the table. His wandering eyes
rested on the rector's New Testament, which was one of the objects lying
on it. I. THE MYSTERY OF OZIAS MIDWINTER. on the books, and identified him to the magistrate and the landlord
under the strangely uncouth name of Ozias Midwinter. Everything Ozias Midwinter said, everything Ozias Midwinter did, was
against him. He had spoken with a sardonic indifference, almost with an Once started on the subject of Ozias Midwinter, Allan rattled on about
his new friend in his usual easy, light-hearted way. But he had really his hand, and then, with a sudden misgiving, confusedly drew it back
again. "You meant that kindly, sir," said Ozias Midwinter, with his own Ozias Midwinter, recovering from brain-fever, was a startling object to
contemplate on a first view of him. His shaven head, tied up in an old 'Mr. Midwinter,'" he said, slowly, in a whisper. "She speaks of 'our
acquaintance.'" He waited a little and looked round the room. His "Mr. Armadale is not the man who took you away from me," he answered.
"Mr. Midwinter is the man. I found it out in your face yesterday. I just the common name which a cunning runaway boy would be most likely
to assume; Midwinter, just the remarkable name which he would be most
likely to avoid. The pursuit had accordingly followed Brown, and had Midwinter at twenty spoke of his life as Ozias Midwinter at seventy
might have spoken with a long weariness of years on him which he had
learned to bear patiently. The time has come, sir, to decide whether I am to be that companion or
not. After all you have heard of Ozias Midwinter, tell me plainly, will "'Nobody told me,' I said; 'and I don't know what made me suspect. Women
have strange fancies sometimes. Is Midwinter really your name?' "There is some mistake," said Midwinter. "I wished to see--" Once more
he tried to utter the name, and once more he failed to force it to his
lips. "Every word of it, from first to last."

"Have I dealt openly with you so far. Has Ozias Midwinter--"
Ozias Midwinter took a step forward to the table. His wandering eyes
rested on the rector's New Testament, which was one of the objects lying
on it. extraordinary name of his. Ozias Midwinter! Upon my life, his father
ought to be ashamed of himself." his hand, and then, with a sudden misgiving, confusedly drew it back
again. "You meant that kindly, sir," said Ozias Midwinter, with his own Ozias Midwinter, recovering from brain-fever, was a startling object to
contemplate on a first view of him. His shaven head, tied up in an old Everything Ozias Midwinter said, everything Ozias Midwinter did, was
against him. He had spoken with a sardonic indifference, almost with an Once started on the subject of Ozias Midwinter, Allan rattled on about
his new friend in his usual easy, light-hearted way. But he had really I. THE MYSTERY OF OZIAS MIDWINTER. who is only known to others under the name of Ozias Midwinter. Stranger
still; it is not relationship, it is not chance, that has made them Midwinter at twenty spoke of his life as Ozias Midwinter at seventy
might have spoken with a long weariness of years on him which he had
learned to bear patiently. The time has come, sir, to decide whether I am to be that companion or
not. After all you have heard of Ozias Midwinter, tell me plainly, will Midwinter looked at the steward. "Stand back," he said. "I want to speak
to Mr. Armadale." There was something in his eye which it was not safe Arrived in London, Mr. Brock found himself unexpectedly face to face
with a new anxiety. The unwelcome subject of Ozias Midwinter, which invited Ozias Midwinter to reside permanently in the neighborhood in the
new and interesting character of his bosom friend. "Mr. Armadale is not the man who took you away from me," he answered.
"Mr. Midwinter is the man. I found it out in your face yesterday. I formally summoned me to take leave of him, 'I got you cheap!' Was Ozias
Midwinter's stick as cruel as that? I think not. Well! there I was, out Mr. Brock slept badly that night. The issue of the interview in the lane
had made the problem of Ozias Midwinter a harder problem to solve than
ever. intention of writing to Ozias Midwinter with her own hand. Remonstrance
irritated her to such a pitch that she astounded Mr. Brock by reverting man's name! It is so remarkably ugly that it must be genuine. No sane
human being would _assume_ such a name as Ozias Midwinter." "Mr. Midwinter is a person of coarse manners and suspicious temper,"
rejoined the doctor, steadily watching her. "He was rude enough
to insist on staying here as soon as Mr. Armadale had accepted my
invitation." 'Mr. Midwinter,'" he said, slowly, in a whisper. "She speaks of 'our
acquaintance.'" He waited a little and looked round the room. His
"Dreams?" repeated the doctor, looking at Midwinter directly, and
addressing him under a mistaken impression of the meaning of Allan's
words. "With your constitution, you ought to be well used to dreaming by
this time." Once started on the subject of Ozias Midwinter, Allan rattled on about
his new friend in his usual easy, light-hearted way. But he had really of the dream. Here, strangely unmoved by the scene around him, so lately
the object of his superstitious distrust, Allan's friend now waited in your mind, have you?" He seized Allan impulsively by the hand. At
the same moment the consciousness came to him that he was speaking and
acting as earnestly as if he still believed in the Dream. The color of them, and hid his face on Allan's knee. "No dream!" he murmured to
himself, mournfully. "Oh me, no dream!" Allan influence him undividedly again, his mind hurried along the whole
resulting chain of thought at lightning speed. If the Dream was proved
to be no longer a warning from the other world, it followed inevitably He opened the narrative of the Dream, and held it under Allan's eyes.
His finger pointed to the lines which recorded the first Vision; his
voice, sinking lower and lower, repeated the words: "I believe you love Allan," he said, "and I believe you have spoken the
truth. A man who has produced that impression on me is a man whom I am
bound to trust. I trust you." "Many men, many opinions," he said. "I don't agree with either of you
about this dream. Your theory," he added, looking at Allan, with a Allan's eyebrows contracted impatiently; the subject of the dream, and
Midwinter's obstinacy in returning to it, seemed to be alike distasteful to part from Allan rooted itself in the belief that he had seen at Hurle
Mere the fatal fulfillment of the first Vision of the Dream. And this had settled his bills. Ozias Midwinter spoke of his obligations--and
especially of his obligation to Allan--with a fervor of thankfulness
which it was not surprising only, but absolutely painful to witness. He "By all means," said Mr. Hawbury. "Here it is. There is nothing at all
extraordinary in my theory of dreams: it is the theory accepted by which Allan had drawn--the conclusion literally forced into his mind by
the facts before him--was, nevertheless, the conclusion of all others
that was furthest even from touching on the truth. The true story of the Shadows of the Vision warned Allan in his sleep,' he went on; 'and
thrice those Shadows have been embodied in the after-time by You and by Allan's room. Resigning all further effort to connect his suspicion of a
conspiracy against his friend with the outrage which had the day before Mr. Hawbury spread the manuscript before him on the breakfast-table, and
read these lines:

  "ALLAN ARMADALE'S DREAM. him, Midwinter laid his hand gently on Allan's forehead. Light as the
touch was, there were mysterious sympathies in the dreaming man that answered by getting Allan to sleep in the Sanitarium. Everything that
he had noticed above stairs associated the lurking-place in which the "Allan," he said, "I have reasons--" He stopped. Could the reasons be
given before he had fairly realized them himself; at that time, too,
and Henry Blanchard had died, leaving no surviving child but a daughter.
Under these circumstances, Allan was the next heir male pointed at by
the will, and was now legally successor to the Thorpe Ambrose estate. subjects, especially if Allan led the way to them. But not a word
escaped him about himself. Mr. Brock tried him with questions about
his recent inheritance, and was answered as he had been answered Ambrose estate now appeared before him. He had never, in his relations
with Allan, so entirely forgotten his business interests as he forgot
them now. So the three lives were mown down by death. So, in a clear sequence of
events, a woman's suicide-leap into a river had opened to Allan Armadale
the succession to the Thorpe Ambrose estates. While this useless investigation (undertaken at Allan's express desire)
was in progress, the lawyers had settled the preliminary formalities
connected with the succession to the property. All that remained was Left necessarily to his own guidance in this matter, Allan settled
it for himself in his usual hot-headed, generous way. He positively The news of Allan's sudden appearance at Thorpe Ambrose had preceded the
servant's arrival at his destination by some hours. Wherever he went, composedly for Allan's return; and here, more strangely still, he looked
on a change in the household arrangements, due in the first instance
entirely to himself. His own lips had revealed the discovery which he During this period Allan had made regular inquiries at the inn, and, as
soon as the sick man was allowed to see visitors, Allan was the first "Is there no steward now on the estate?" he asked, his face showing
plainly that he was far from feeling satisfied with Allan's answer. "Is
the business neglected all this time?" instructing Allan on the subject of the domestic establishment which
she has left behind her. It seems that all the servants, indoors and out
(with three exceptions), are waiting here, on the chance that Allan he found his master the subject of public discussion. The opinion of
Allan's conduct among the leading townspeople, the resident gentry
of the neighborhood, and the principal tenants on the estate was master's movements than the servants indoors. He had seen Allan pass the
stables more than an hour since, going out by the back way into the park
with a nosegay in his hand. which Allan had tossed across the table to him. Before he had come to
the end of it, his hands dropped helplessly on his knees, and the blank truly." Never had Allan's habitual brevity as a letter-writer done him
better service than it did him now. With a little more skillfulness in The evening passed; the next day passed; Thursday morning came, and
brought with it a letter for Allan. The direction was in Mrs. Milroy's This letter did wonders in raising Allan's spirits. It gave him a
new interest to look to, entirely disassociated from his past life in called with Mr. Darch's answer. Allan briskly shut up the wardrobe, and
gave his whole attention to the lawyer's letter. The lawyer's letter
rewarded him by the following lines: "I have merely given a few simple directions," pursued Allan. "Our
friend the usher is to have everything he requires, and is to be treated
like a prince; and when the doctor and the landlord want their money
they are to come to me." With that characteristic request, Allan's report of his exploring
expedition among the resident gentry came to a close. For a moment
foot, of which Allan is destined to be the victim, and that the prime
mover in the conspiracy is the vile woman who helped his mother's
marriage and who hastened his mother's death. "What other person?" inquired Allan.

"A young lady who is a near neighbor of yours, sir. Shall I mention the
name in confidence? Miss Milroy." "Moore's own words, ma'am," said Allan, "in my mother's copy of the
Melodies." "Anne Milroy?" he repeated. "It must be the major's wife. What can she
possibly want with me?" By way of discovering what she wanted, Allan "What is her name?" asked Allan. "Brown? Grubb? Scraggs? Anything of
that sort?" Neelie looked up at her mother for the first time. The hardest part
of the confession was over now. She had revealed the truth about Miss
Gwilt, and she had openly mentioned Allan's name. The evening passed; the next day passed; Thursday morning came, and
brought with it a letter for Allan. The direction was in Mrs. Milroy's Allan started, and changed color.

"Miss Milroy!" he repeated. "Can _she_ be concerned in this miserable
business? I hope not, Mr. Pedgift; I sincerely hope not." She stole a glance at her companion which said plainly enough, "The name
is yours." Allan advanced a step nearer to her, and lowered his voice, from her young mistress, which was placed in Allan's hands. Left by himself, Allan rang for writing materials, and took out of his
pocket-book the fatal letter of introduction to "Mrs. Mandeville" which
he had received from the major's wife. associations connected with her early life. No word more on the
forbidden topic had passed between the rector and herself; no suspicion
had ever been raised in Allan's mind of the existence of his namesake; She gave a little start when Allan appeared, and came forward without
hesitation to meet him. She was not in her best looks. Her rosy
complexion had suffered under confinement to the house, and a marked
expression of embarrassment clouded her pretty face. inscription re-appeared. His previous knowledge of dates and persons
helped him to draw the true inference from what he saw. The books must
have belonged to Allan's mother; and she must have inscribed them with The one noticeable event of the next day was another disclosure of
Mrs. Milroy's infirmity of temper. Half an hour after Allan's basket of Allan's manner changed the moment the governess's name passed his
friend's lips.

"I wish you had heard my story first," he said. "Where did you meet with
Miss Gwilt?" Before Mr. Brock could make up his mind how to act in this emergency, he
received a note from Allan's mother, begging him to use his privilege as
an old friend, and to pay her a visit in her room. "Miss Milroy!" repeated Allan. "What are you thinking of! I'm not in
love with Miss Milroy."

"Who is it, then?" "Glad to see you looking so well, ma'am," said Allan, when the cook, in
the majesty of her office, stood proclaimed before him. "Your name is when I met them in the village half an hour since. They have been making
inquiries already about Allan's mother here, where her exemplary life
answered by getting Allan to sleep in the Sanitarium. Everything that
he had noticed above stairs associated the lurking-place in which the himself open to attack. He had positively denied on the previous evening
that he knew anything of Allan's movements, or that he had any interest "Wait?" repeated Allan, in the blankest astonishment at his friend's
excessive caution. "What on earth does he mean? I'll be hanged if I
wait. Where one of us goes, the other goes too!" He tried, as he spoke, to lead the way back by the outside of the house;
but Allan's flighty attention had been caught by the open window and the embarrassing and least dangerous to pursue. Accustomed to let his
impulses direct him on all other occasions, Allan acted on impulse in
the serious emergency that now confronted him. Though his attachment At nightfall he had come back stealthily in the darkness, had been
caught on the stairs by Allan, eager to tell him of the change in the The man led him away from the road, and pointed to a barely perceptible
break in the outer trees of the plantation. After pausing for one more
useless look around him, Allan turned his back on the Mere and made for
the trees. Allan made no further inquiries. He seemed to shrink from pursuing the
subject, after having started it himself. "Let's be doing something to
kill the time," he said. "Let's pack up and pay the bill." If Mr. Bashwood had been caught in the act of committing murder, he
could hardly have shown greater alarm than he now testified at Allan's In those terms the major's wife threw off the mask, and left her victim
to survey at his leisure the trap in which she had caught him. Allan's which Allan had drawn--the conclusion literally forced into his mind by
the facts before him--was, nevertheless, the conclusion of all others
that was furthest even from touching on the truth. The true story of "He is impatient to get away," thought Allan; "I'll try again." He
hailed the land once more, and, taught by previous experience, pitched
his voice in its highest key. As soon as the doctor's back was turned, Allan left his place at the
table, and appealed to his friend, with that irresistible heartiness of Before Mr. Brock could make up his mind how to act in this emergency, he
received a note from Allan's mother, begging him to use his privilege as
an old friend, and to pay her a visit in her room. end, and lowered the other to Allan in the boat. "Make that fast," he
said, "and wait till I see if it's all safe on board." With those words, master's movements than the servants indoors. He had seen Allan pass the
stables more than an hour since, going out by the back way into the park
with a nosegay in his hand. He went back to Allan, sat down by his side, and took his hand. "Forgive
me," he said, gently; "I have hurt you for the last time." Before it Good-morning." The doctor withdrew as noiselessly as he had appeared;
the man in the shabby livery silently opened the door; and Allan and his
companion found themselves in the street again. Allan had left a note at the lodgings, giving his address at the hotel,
and begging Midwinter to come and say good-by before his departure for
Paris. in Allan's return to England. Having detected Mr. Bashwood in one lie
told to himself. Midwinter instantly suspected him of telling another
to Allan. He seized the opportunity of sifting the statement about Miss
foot, of which Allan is destined to be the victim, and that the prime
mover in the conspiracy is the vile woman who helped his mother's
marriage and who hastened his mother's death. In those terms the major's wife threw off the mask, and left her victim
to survey at his leisure the trap in which she had caught him. Allan's witness. "Armadale will die this time," she said to herself, as she went
slowly down the stairs. "The doctor will kill him, by my hands." that she _has_ discovered me. She will find her way to Allan next; she
will poison my son's mind against me. Help me to get away from her! help of Allan's room fell to, but not noisily enough to wake him. She turned
as she heard it close. For one moment she stood staring at it like a wasting time on my own idle fancies, when I ought to have been carefully
gathering up facts. If this woman ever attempts to find her way to
Allan, I must be prepared to stop her." He began searching restlessly did. Was she some such pitiable victim to the treachery of a man unknown
as Allan had supposed? _She was no such pitiable victim_. The conclusion In this frame of mind Miss Neelie applied herself forthwith to the
fascination of Pedgift and the discomfiture of Allan. "Oh, Mr. Pedgift, Bashwood, that she had gone privately to London with Allan in the
character of Allan's future wife. the risk of Allan's seeing her and speaking to her, Mrs. Armadale would
leave England if necessary, and end her days in a foreign land. Taking answered by getting Allan to sleep in the Sanitarium. Everything that
he had noticed above stairs associated the lurking-place in which the In this tempting form the unscrupulous ingenuity of the major's wife
had set the trap. Without a moment's hesitation, Allan followed his forth to surprise Mrs. Oldershaw by a visit from her darling Lydia! It
is almost needless to add that I determined to sound her carefully, and In those artless words, still entirely unsuspicious of the character of
the woman he had to deal with, Allan put the weapon she wanted into Mrs.
Milroy's hands. ought to know; and to Allan she looked for information--with this
preliminary assurance to assist him in laying down the law, that she
would die of a broken heart a thousand times over, rather than be the composedly for Allan's return; and here, more strangely still, he looked
on a change in the household arrangements, due in the first instance
entirely to himself. His own lips had revealed the discovery which he Left by himself, Allan rang for writing materials, and took out of his
pocket-book the fatal letter of introduction to "Mrs. Mandeville" which
he had received from the major's wife. the poison of her life--wrung her to the heart. After moving a few
steps from the bedside, she stopped, and came back again. Armed with the Allan took his friend's hand and wrung it hard. "If you were as fond of
her as I am," he whispered, "you would take no rest, you could get no So the three lives were mown down by death. So, in a clear sequence of
events, a woman's suicide-leap into a river had opened to Allan Armadale
the succession to the Thorpe Ambrose estates.
"After solemnly announcing that she meant to sacrifice herself to her
beloved father's wishes (the brazen assurance of her setting up for a Lydia,' said the brazen old wretch, wiping her eyes. 'Nothing will
induce me to return to the subject of that wicked speculation of yours
on the folly of a rich young man.' possibly have hoped for. After the lawyer's report to me, there cannot
be a moment's doubt of what you ought to do. In two words, Lydia, take of me, and the first words she said were--'Oh, Lydia! Lydia! why are you
not at church?' So the three lives were mown down by death. So, in a clear sequence of
events, a woman's suicide-leap into a river had opened to Allan Armadale
the succession to the Thorpe Ambrose estates. the poison of her life--wrung her to the heart. After moving a few
steps from the bedside, she stopped, and came back again. Armed with the "Judging by my experience of women," remarked Bashwood the younger,
overhearing him, "I should say she probably tried to drown herself. But _had_ loved, never to love again. Does a woman not love when the man's
hardness to her drives her to drown herself? A man drove _me_ to that helpless. He dropped, as the dead drop. He lay as the dead lie, in the
arms of the wife who had denied him. She rose when the door closed on him. A change came over her the instant
she was alone. The color faded out of her cheeks; the beauty died out of She looked at the child, established comfortably on the bed, and an ashy
paleness spread slowly over her face. She looked at the fatal Mrs. Milroy leaned back on her pillow in dead silence. The plain
betrayal of her daughter's first love, by her daughter's own lips, which The instant she was alone she raised him from her knee. With both arms
clasped round him, the miserable woman lifted his lifeless face to hers One moment more of silence, one moment more of inaction, might have been
the salvation of her. But the fatal force of her character triumphed come by her death) was found dead--that a coroner's inquest inquired
into the circumstances--that the evidence showed her to have entered
the house as a patient--and that the medical investigation ended in say. Not much, indeed! It didn't last a moment. Your darling Lydia soon
came to her senses again. forth to surprise Mrs. Oldershaw by a visit from her darling Lydia! It
is almost needless to add that I determined to sound her carefully, and from her husband by making herself a widow, the captain must have been
the man. And unless she contrived, guarded and watched as she was, to "I have just finished the letter. It is headed 'private and
confidential,' and signed 'Lydia Armadale.' There is nothing in it to manner." Those were her words. She never lifted her eyes from the ground
while she spoke them. When she had done, the last faint vestige of color
in her cheeks faded out.
"Miss Milroy!" repeated Allan. "What are you thinking of! I'm not in
love with Miss Milroy."

"Who is it, then?" The spring had advanced to the end of April. It was the eve of Allan's
wedding-day. Midwinter and he had sat talking together at the great "Are you sure of yourself, Allan?" he asked, with his face bent once
more over the book. "Are you really attached to this lady? Have you
thought seriously already of asking her to be your wife?" He went back to Allan, sat down by his side, and took his hand. "Forgive
me," he said, gently; "I have hurt you for the last time." Before it Allan hesitated. "I hardly know how to put it," he replied. "As you
said just now, I love her, and she loves me; and yet there is a sort of "I am thinking seriously of it at this moment," said Allan. "I can't be
happy--I can't live without her. Upon my soul, I worship the very ground
she treads on!" "It's too late to make objections," proceeded Allan. "I really mean it
when I tell you I'm in love with her." "Well," resumed Allan, "if there's no harm in her being only a
governess, and no harm in her being a little older than I am, what's the
objection to Miss Gwilt?" which Allan had drawn--the conclusion literally forced into his mind by
the facts before him--was, nevertheless, the conclusion of all others
that was furthest even from touching on the truth. The true story of "What other person?" inquired Allan.

"A young lady who is a near neighbor of yours, sir. Shall I mention the
name in confidence? Miss Milroy." Allan's views on marriage, until the servants downstairs began to think
that their master's strange friend had gone mad. Lastly, he had accepted Midwinter suddenly looked up again, his cheeks turning ashy pale, and
his glittering black eyes fixed full on Allan's face.

"You love her," he said. "Does _she_ love _you_?" did. Was she some such pitiable victim to the treachery of a man unknown
as Allan had supposed? _She was no such pitiable victim_. The conclusion truly." Never had Allan's habitual brevity as a letter-writer done him
better service than it did him now. With a little more skillfulness in "I believe you love Allan," he said, "and I believe you have spoken the
truth. A man who has produced that impression on me is a man whom I am
bound to trust. I trust you." to the end. He had detected the state of affairs between Miss Milroy and
Allan at glance, and he at once provided for his client's inclinations
in that quarter by offering, in virtue of his local knowledge, to lead Bashwood, that she had gone privately to London with Allan in the
character of Allan's future wife. Allan stood watching her in speechless admiration till she was out
of sight. His second interview with Miss Milroy had produced an The day's register comprised three marriages solemnized that morning;
and the first two signatures on the page were "Allan Armadale" and
"Lydia Gwilt!" She reverted to first principles, and insisted on knowing whether Allan
was quite sure he loved her. Allan called Heaven to witness how sure he
was; and got another question directly for his pains. Could he solemnly
"There _are_ two," interposed Mrs. Armadale. "Allan, as you know, is
sixteen years old. If you look back at the advertisement, you will find "I beg your pardon for speaking to you so roughly," said Allan; "but the
fact is, you rather startled me. My name is Armadale (put on your hat, The day's register comprised three marriages solemnized that morning;
and the first two signatures on the page were "Allan Armadale" and
"Lydia Gwilt!" continue to speak of him here, but in the name which was as certainly
his as mine, 'Allan Armadale.' The fraud at the outset presented few Armadale, whom I have long since known of, and who is the son of my old
mistress. A dark-haired Allan Armadale, whom I only know of now, and the description of Armadale of Thorpe Ambrose, if I had really married
him. 'Name and Surname'--Allan Armadale. 'Age'--twenty-one, "Would you like to hear what it is, Mr. Armadale?"

"If you please," said Allan. "And there are two Allan Armadales--two Allan Armadales--two Allan
Armadales. There! three is a lucky number. Haunt me again, after that,
if you can! "'Mrs. Armadale!' Pretty.

"'Mrs. Allan Armadale!' Prettier still. of the dark Allan Armadale, known as such to nobody but my husband and
myself; and I may, out of that very position, claim the character of christened her first-born by his father's name. You, too, were Allan
Armadale. Even in that early time--even while I was happily ignorant of "What do you think of my friend?" whispered Allan, as he and Miss Milroy
followed.

"Must I tell you the truth, Mr. Armadale?" she whispered back.

"Of course!" "Oh, Mr. Armadale, how very, very kind you are. How can I thank you?"

Allan saw his way to another compliment--an elaborate compliment, in the
shape of a trap, this time. "Yes; there is another person," said Allan, answering rather
unwillingly.

"Is the person a young woman, Mr. Armadale?" "Yours truly, ALLAN ARMADALE." me with Allan Armadale's father and mother. I asked him if he actually
thought me old enough to have known either of them. And he said No, poor come in when he pleases. Yours truly, Allan Armadale." And one to the
lawyer: "Dear sir, I regret that circumstances prevent me from "Mr. Armadale." "N. B.--On my word of honor as a gentleman, I am not to blame. Yours
affectionately,

"ALLAN ARMADALE. to dinner if you possibly can. Yours truly. ALLAN ARMADALE." Having read
this composition aloud with unconcealed admiration of his own rapidity
"Are you sure of yourself, Allan?" he asked, with his face bent once
more over the book. "Are you really attached to this lady? Have you
thought seriously already of asking her to be your wife?" Bashwood, that she had gone privately to London with Allan in the
character of Allan's future wife. possibly have hoped for. After the lawyer's report to me, there cannot
be a moment's doubt of what you ought to do. In two words, Lydia, take forth to surprise Mrs. Oldershaw by a visit from her darling Lydia! It
is almost needless to add that I determined to sound her carefully, and Allan hesitated. "I hardly know how to put it," he replied. "As you
said just now, I love her, and she loves me; and yet there is a sort of "My dear Lydia, the object is your future security (and mine). We may
succeed or we may fail, in persuading the parson that you have actually She reverted to first principles, and insisted on knowing whether Allan
was quite sure he loved her. Allan called Heaven to witness how sure he
was; and got another question directly for his pains. Could he solemnly "Well," resumed Allan, "if there's no harm in her being only a
governess, and no harm in her being a little older than I am, what's the
objection to Miss Gwilt?" subject of their own Christian names, and Allan was as near a pointblank
proposal of marriage as it is well possible for a thoughtless young
gentleman of two-and-twenty to be. creditable to his taste, and far more dangerous to both of us, than
the motive you supposed him to have. In plainer words, Lydia, I rather anybody. Well, and what of all this? you will ask, with that sparkling
impatience which becomes you so well. My dear Lydia, don't sparkle! The She gave a little start when Allan appeared, and came forward without
hesitation to meet him. She was not in her best looks. Her rosy
complexion had suffered under confinement to the house, and a marked
expression of embarrassment clouded her pretty face. Allan's proposal that he should be presented to the major's daughter,
and judge of her for himself, as readily, nay, more readily than it "Marry her?"

"Yes, mamma."

Breathlessly interested, Mrs. Milroy leaned forward, and twined her hand
caressingly in her daughter's hair. "I am thinking seriously of it at this moment," said Allan. "I can't be
happy--I can't live without her. Upon my soul, I worship the very ground
she treads on!" "Certainly!" said Allan. "I have a very particular reason for wishing to
see her." of me, and the first words she said were--'Oh, Lydia! Lydia! why are you
not at church?' had felt his heart leap in him at the declaration of her indifference to
Allan. For the first time since they had known each other, his interests
now stood self-revealed before him as openly adverse to the interests of "Miss Milroy!" repeated Allan. "What are you thinking of! I'm not in
love with Miss Milroy."

"Who is it, then?" to the end. He had detected the state of affairs between Miss Milroy and
Allan at glance, and he at once provided for his client's inclinations
in that quarter by offering, in virtue of his local knowledge, to lead
"There is more to tell before I can leave the dead man to his rest. I
have described the finding of his body. But I have not described the
circumstances under which he met his death. "The ship in which the deed was done," Midwinter answered, with the
first signs of impatience that he had shown yet. "The ship in which my
father's murderous hand turned the lock of the cabin door." by going into details. I have told you already how cleverly her counsel
paved his way for treating the charge of murder as the crowning calamity
of the many that had already fallen on an innocent woman. The two legal dark on more than one point of importance. I have already told you how
they were entrapped into the house, and how they passed the night
there. To this I can now add that something did certainly happen to Mr. "The first thing you know of me," he said, "is what my father's
confession has told you already. He mentions here that I was a child, "You wretch!" said Mrs. Milroy. With that expression of opinion, she
opened the letter.

It was evidently written in great haste, was undated, and was signed in
initials only. Thus it ran: later and fuller than any I had received thus far, of the widow of the
murdered man. The letter lies before me while I write. It comes from a "Tell me," reiterated Mrs. Milroy, more gently, "why do you hate her?"

The answer came reluctantly, a word at a time, in fragments.

"Because she is trying--" If Mr. Bashwood had been caught in the act of committing murder, he
could hardly have shown greater alarm than he now testified at Allan's "All I can learn is that a strange man had been noticed hanging
suspiciously about the grounds; that the housemaid was so ugly a woman "If I could have killed them both at that moment by lifting up my little
finger, I have not the least doubt I should have lifted it. As things
were, I only waited to see what Miss Milroy would do. No such introduction to the evening readings as this had ever happened
before in all Mrs. Armadale's experience as a listener. She looked
up from the sofa in a flutter of curiosity, and besought her reverend
friend to favor her with an explanation. known to be, for the most part, outlawed ruffians capable of any crime,
and they were suspected and examined accordingly. It was not till
afterward that I heard by accident of the suspicion shifting round at his back, he was dead. We made all the outcry we could; but the dogs
were little, and I was little, and the place was lonely; and no help "Yes. A murderous hand had locked him in, and left him to drown. That
hand was mine." The window of the next room was open, when the doctor entered it from
the death chamber, with the child in his arms. He looked out as he
passed by, and saw Mr. Neal in the street below, slowly returning to the
inn. of inquiry. Slowly the motionless lips struggled into movement. With
thick, hesitating articulation, they put the question which the eyes
asked mutely, into words: "Are you the man?" "In the first place, the news of Armadale's death has reached Miss
Milroy. It has so completely overwhelmed her that her father has been discovering that she had died of apoplexy. My idea is that Mr. Midwinter
had a motive of his own for not coming forward with the evidence that he "So we parted. I went my way to an appointment at my place of business,
and he went his in a hurry; which is of itself suspicious. What I can't
"Why?"

"Do you remember what you told me a day or two since?" asked the doctor.
"You said there was a chance of Mr. Armadale's dying in my Sanitarium?" "Wait a minute," said Bashwood the younger. "Are you as certain as ever
that Mr. Armadale is the man?"

"What man?"

"The man who is going to marry her." "What next? The murder in the timber ship? No; the murder is a good
reason why the dark Armadale, whose father committed it, should keep his Armadale, whom I have long since known of, and who is the son of my old
mistress. A dark-haired Allan Armadale, whom I only know of now, and "It may possibly help your decision," he went on, "if I tell you how I
determined to act toward Mr. Armadale--in the matter of the similarity his face overspread it again. "Mr. Armadale is young; Mr. Armadale has
all his life before him," he whispered, cunningly, with his trembling "You have guessed right," he answered. "I stand in the place of a father
to Allan Armadale, and I am naturally unwilling to leave him, at his
age, with a man whom I don't know." "Because I am of a sanguine disposition, like you. I mean to trust to
the chapter of accidents to the very last. Mr. Armadale may die yet, on
his way home." "I can hardly believe my own eyes," said Mr. Brock. "Here is an
advertisement, Mrs. Armadale, addressed to your son."

Without further preface, he read the advertisement as follows: way. At the period of that second event in the clergyman's life with
his pupil which is now to be related, young Armadale had practiced long I felt persuaded that he knew you. 'How?' you will ask. My dear, as
ill-luck would have it, we were speaking at the time of young Armadale. Midwinter looked at the steward. "Stand back," he said. "I want to speak
to Mr. Armadale." There was something in his eye which it was not safe Armadale beforehand to any stranger who might come forward to help him.
Thus far the sole object I had kept in view was to protect myself, by
the sacrifice of Armadale, from the exposure that threatened me. I "I beg your pardon for speaking to you so roughly," said Allan; "but the
fact is, you rather startled me. My name is Armadale (put on your hat, the story of Mrs. Armadale's marriage. I have heard her son talk of her;
I know how he loves her memory. As God is my witness, he shall never
love it less dearly through _me_!" "I can't imagine why, but the parting words spoken to Armadale by that
old brute of a lawyer have come back to my mind! Here they are, as "I am quite serious. He is much better worth the venture than you
suppose. Only persuade him to make you Mrs. Armadale, and you may set "Would you like to hear what it is, Mr. Armadale?"

"If you please," said Allan. "'Don't think I am behaving cruelly to you, my dear: I am merely asking
you to put Mr. Armadale to the proof. It is not only right, it is "I know him to be an old friend of Mr. Armadale's," she said. "Does
he--?" Her voice failed her, and her eyes fell before the doctor's
"You have been dreaming," said Midwinter, as the other looked at him
wildly, in the first bewilderment of waking. of dealing with the dream next. Mr. Midwinter will probably not be
surprised to hear that I look at this matter from an essentially
practical point of view." Midwinter's face brightened instantly. "I will do anything you ask me,"
he said.

"Very well. Will you let the subject of the dream drop out of our talk
altogether from this time forth?" information in return. The one absorbing interest in Midwinter's
mind--the interest of penetrating the mystery of the dream--kept him matter is that Midwinter's belief in the Dream is Midwinter's only
reason for trying to connect me with Allan Armadale, by associating "Dreams?" repeated the doctor, looking at Midwinter directly, and
addressing him under a mistaken impression of the meaning of Allan's
words. "With your constitution, you ought to be well used to dreaming by
this time." It had come, in the bright freshness of the morning; it had come, in the
mystery and terror of a Dream. The face which Midwinter had last seen of Midwinter had leaped to its next conclusion at a bound. What if the
sleeper had been visited by another revelation than the revelation of "Tell me your dream," said Midwinter, with a strange tone of suspicion
in his voice, and a strange appearance of abruptness in his manner. "I have forgotten the Dream," said Allan.

As he made that answer, Midwinter took his hand, and led him round the
last turn in the path. Allan's eyebrows contracted impatiently; the subject of the dream, and
Midwinter's obstinacy in returning to it, seemed to be alike distasteful He looked at Midwinter as he made the inquiry, but it was Allan who
told him the story of the night, and Allan who asked the doctor for "I read these, or nearly read these words, from the Narrative of the
Dream, as Midwinter had taken it down from Armadale's own lips: "I have not slept well for some time past," replied Midwinter, quietly.
"Something has been wrong with me. But I believe I have found out the 'Mr. Midwinter,'" he said, slowly, in a whisper. "She speaks of 'our
acquaintance.'" He waited a little and looked round the room. His alone at the foot of one of the trees. Two steps nearer were enough
to make the figure familiar to him. "Midwinter!" he exclaimed, in shower, Mr. Armadale, which got into your mind when you read the extract
to your friend last night! And behold the dream, Mr. Midwinter, mixing
up separate waking impressions just as usual!" Midwinter smiled faintly. "I am always in extremes," he said; "my hand
was as hot as fire the first time you took it at the old west-country After reading the letter for the second time, Midwinter folded it up
thoughtfully, and placed it in his pocket-book, side by side with the
manuscript narrative of Allan's dream. Midwinter's face darkened for the first time. "I am sorry to hear it,"
he said, his voice sinking low, and his eyes dropping to the ground as
he spoke.
"Wait?" repeated Allan, in the blankest astonishment at his friend's
excessive caution. "What on earth does he mean? I'll be hanged if I
wait. Where one of us goes, the other goes too!" If Mr. Bashwood had been caught in the act of committing murder, he
could hardly have shown greater alarm than he now testified at Allan's foot, of which Allan is destined to be the victim, and that the prime
mover in the conspiracy is the vile woman who helped his mother's
marriage and who hastened his mother's death. which Allan had tossed across the table to him. Before he had come to
the end of it, his hands dropped helplessly on his knees, and the blank to the after-part of the ship, spoke to Allan as he advanced. Receiving
no answer, he approached the recumbent figure and looked closer at it. himself open to attack. He had positively denied on the previous evening
that he knew anything of Allan's movements, or that he had any interest embarrassing and least dangerous to pursue. Accustomed to let his
impulses direct him on all other occasions, Allan acted on impulse in
the serious emergency that now confronted him. Though his attachment At nightfall he had come back stealthily in the darkness, had been
caught on the stairs by Allan, eager to tell him of the change in the Allan suffered the shock, as all great shocks are suffered, in silence.
His first impulse would have driven him headlong for refuge to that very which Allan had drawn--the conclusion literally forced into his mind by
the facts before him--was, nevertheless, the conclusion of all others
that was furthest even from touching on the truth. The true story of Allan's room. Resigning all further effort to connect his suspicion of a
conspiracy against his friend with the outrage which had the day before answered by getting Allan to sleep in the Sanitarium. Everything that
he had noticed above stairs associated the lurking-place in which the There was a sudden silence. Allan sat listlessly, with his hands in his
pockets, looking out through the open window at the falling rain. If In a moment Allan was at his side. He looked uselessly round the lonely
limits of the wreck, as he lifted Midwinter's head on his knee, for a "He took a turn up and down the room, and then came and stood over me.

"'If Allan comes here to-morrow,' he began, 'and if you see him--' Allan made no further inquiries. He seemed to shrink from pursuing the
subject, after having started it himself. "Let's be doing something to
kill the time," he said. "Let's pack up and pay the bill." The man led him away from the road, and pointed to a barely perceptible
break in the outer trees of the plantation. After pausing for one more
useless look around him, Allan turned his back on the Mere and made for
the trees. He took Allan's hand, and wrung it hard. "Can I help you?" he asked,
growing paler and paler as he spoke. "He is impatient to get away," thought Allan; "I'll try again." He
hailed the land once more, and, taught by previous experience, pitched
his voice in its highest key. For a moment, Midwinter faced the messenger of evil tidings in silent
distress. That moment past, the sense of Allan's critical position
roused him, now the evil was known, to seek the remedy.
foot, of which Allan is destined to be the victim, and that the prime
mover in the conspiracy is the vile woman who helped his mother's
marriage and who hastened his mother's death. the poison of her life--wrung her to the heart. After moving a few
steps from the bedside, she stopped, and came back again. Armed with the did. Was she some such pitiable victim to the treachery of a man unknown
as Allan had supposed? _She was no such pitiable victim_. The conclusion In those terms the major's wife threw off the mask, and left her victim
to survey at his leisure the trap in which she had caught him. Allan's witness. "Armadale will die this time," she said to herself, as she went
slowly down the stairs. "The doctor will kill him, by my hands." answered by getting Allan to sleep in the Sanitarium. Everything that
he had noticed above stairs associated the lurking-place in which the wasting time on my own idle fancies, when I ought to have been carefully
gathering up facts. If this woman ever attempts to find her way to
Allan, I must be prepared to stop her." He began searching restlessly of Allan's room fell to, but not noisily enough to wake him. She turned
as she heard it close. For one moment she stood staring at it like a If Mr. Bashwood had been caught in the act of committing murder, he
could hardly have shown greater alarm than he now testified at Allan's Midwinter suddenly looked up again, his cheeks turning ashy pale, and
his glittering black eyes fixed full on Allan's face.

"You love her," he said. "Does _she_ love _you_?" So the three lives were mown down by death. So, in a clear sequence of
events, a woman's suicide-leap into a river had opened to Allan Armadale
the succession to the Thorpe Ambrose estates. in Allan's return to England. Having detected Mr. Bashwood in one lie
told to himself. Midwinter instantly suspected him of telling another
to Allan. He seized the opportunity of sifting the statement about Miss In this tempting form the unscrupulous ingenuity of the major's wife
had set the trap. Without a moment's hesitation, Allan followed his In this frame of mind Miss Neelie applied herself forthwith to the
fascination of Pedgift and the discomfiture of Allan. "Oh, Mr. Pedgift, Ignorant of the report of Allan's death at sea; uninformed, at the
terrible interview with his wife, of the purpose which her assumption of that she _has_ discovered me. She will find her way to Allan next; she
will poison my son's mind against me. Help me to get away from her! help Bashwood, that she had gone privately to London with Allan in the
character of Allan's future wife. Left by himself, Allan rang for writing materials, and took out of his
pocket-book the fatal letter of introduction to "Mrs. Mandeville" which
he had received from the major's wife. himself open to attack. He had positively denied on the previous evening
that he knew anything of Allan's movements, or that he had any interest forth to surprise Mrs. Oldershaw by a visit from her darling Lydia! It
is almost needless to add that I determined to sound her carefully, and
Allan opened the letter. The first two words in it were the echo of the
two words the lawyer had just pronounced. It _was_ Miss Gwilt!

Once more, Allan looked at his legal adviser in speechless astonishment. "From Lydia Gwilt to Maria Oldershaw.--Good news! He is coming back. I
mean to have an interview with him. Everything looks well. Now I have For the third time Allan looked at his lawyer. And for the third time
his lawyer looked back at him quite unabashed.

"You seem to have a very bad opinion of Miss Gwilt," said Allan. "With all my heart, sir! This is the point. I attach considerable
importance--if nothing else can be done--to having Miss Gwilt privately pressure of his one dominant idea of revenge, and had shown him a
purpose to be achieved by the discovery of Miss Gwilt's secrets which
had never occurred to him till that moment. The marriage which he had "I haven't missed a word," rejoined Allan. "I tell you again, you don't
know what I know of Miss Gwilt. She has threatened Miss Milroy. Miss
Milroy is in danger while her governess stops in this neighborhood." and regrets that he cannot have the pleasure of seeing her at Thorpe
Ambrose." Allan had pleaded hard for a second sentence, explaining
that he only declined Miss Gwilt's request from a conviction that an "Yes, it is!" cried the other, infuriated by Allan's second allusion to
Miss Gwilt. "When I am asked to choose between the employer of a spy and
the victim of a spy, I side with the victim!" "How is he their instrument? How can he be the instrument of any enemy
of yours?" asked Midwinter. "Pray excuse my anxiety, Miss Gwilt: Allan's
good name is as dear to me as my own!" Bashwood, that she had gone privately to London with Allan in the
character of Allan's future wife. Allan's instinct had guessed, and the guiding influence stood revealed
of Midwinter's interest in Miss Gwilt. In an instant the inevitable association of ideas burst on his mind. The
opinion of Miss Gwilt, which he had heard the lawyer express to Allan at on Mr. Armadale as well as Miss Gwilt. I have saved you that expense.
You are certain that Mr. Armadale is bent on marrying her. Very good. Neelie looked up at her mother for the first time. The hardest part
of the confession was over now. She had revealed the truth about Miss
Gwilt, and she had openly mentioned Allan's name. "Are you sure of yourself, Allan?" he asked, with his face bent once
more over the book. "Are you really attached to this lady? Have you
thought seriously already of asking her to be your wife?" "I have been informed of the question which you addressed to my husband,
the day before yesterday, on the subject of Miss Gwilt. From all I have foot, of which Allan is destined to be the victim, and that the prime
mover in the conspiracy is the vile woman who helped his mother's
marriage and who hastened his mother's death. subject of Allan and Miss Gwilt. Opinions at the cottage rejected
that solution of the difficulty, on practical grounds. Miss Neelie had
remained inaccessibly shut up in her own room, from the Monday afternoon To get rid of Miss Gwilt! At those words--at that echo from her
daughter's lips of the one dominant desire kept secret in her own _me_. Is Miss Gwilt likely to succeed?" she asked, aloud. "Does Mr.
Armadale show any sort of interest in her?"
He went back to Allan, sat down by his side, and took his hand. "Forgive
me," he said, gently; "I have hurt you for the last time." Before it "I believe you love Allan," he said, "and I believe you have spoken the
truth. A man who has produced that impression on me is a man whom I am
bound to trust. I trust you." speaking to such an intimate friend as I am." He laid his hand gently
and kindly on Allan's shoulder. "I can't help seeing that I have made Once started on the subject of Ozias Midwinter, Allan rattled on about
his new friend in his usual easy, light-hearted way. But he had really "Allan," he said, "I have reasons--" He stopped. Could the reasons be
given before he had fairly realized them himself; at that time, too, "It shall be as you wish," he said, quietly. "I am sorry for what has
happened; but I am not the less obliged to you, Allan, for having done
what I asked you." himself open to attack. He had positively denied on the previous evening
that he knew anything of Allan's movements, or that he had any interest "Wait?" repeated Allan, in the blankest astonishment at his friend's
excessive caution. "What on earth does he mean? I'll be hanged if I
wait. Where one of us goes, the other goes too!" "You have guessed right," he answered. "I stand in the place of a father
to Allan Armadale, and I am naturally unwilling to leave him, at his
age, with a man whom I don't know." nevertheless acknowledge that I have a reason of my own for earnestly
desiring to see you here. Allan has innocently caused me a new anxiety
about my future relations with him, and I sorely need your advice to for Allan that was holding him back, suspended the next words on his
lips. He turned aside his face in speechless suffering. "Oh, my father!" embarrassing and least dangerous to pursue. Accustomed to let his
impulses direct him on all other occasions, Allan acted on impulse in
the serious emergency that now confronted him. Though his attachment had settled his bills. Ozias Midwinter spoke of his obligations--and
especially of his obligation to Allan--with a fervor of thankfulness
which it was not surprising only, but absolutely painful to witness. He Once more the conviction possessed itself of his mind that something was
to happen to Allan or to himself before they left the wreck. which Allan had tossed across the table to him. Before he had come to
the end of it, his hands dropped helplessly on his knees, and the blank revealed the secret of his attraction for Allan plainly enough. But had
all disclosures rested there? Had the man let no chance light in on his Conscious that his position toward his friend was altered already in
relation to Miss Gwilt, the first sight of Allan filled his mind with a "There's something strange between us," reiterated Allan. "For God's
sake, what is it?" connection, and was tending steadily to some unimaginable end. Without
knowing why, he began to feel uneasy at Allan's absence. Without knowing his hand, and then, with a sudden misgiving, confusedly drew it back
again. "You meant that kindly, sir," said Ozias Midwinter, with his own
possibly have hoped for. After the lawyer's report to me, there cannot
be a moment's doubt of what you ought to do. In two words, Lydia, take of me, and the first words she said were--'Oh, Lydia! Lydia! why are you
not at church?' Lydia,' said the brazen old wretch, wiping her eyes. 'Nothing will
induce me to return to the subject of that wicked speculation of yours
on the folly of a rich young man.' creditable to his taste, and far more dangerous to both of us, than
the motive you supposed him to have. In plainer words, Lydia, I rather "After solemnly announcing that she meant to sacrifice herself to her
beloved father's wishes (the brazen assurance of her setting up for a "My dear Lydia, the object is your future security (and mine). We may
succeed or we may fail, in persuading the parson that you have actually "Judging by my experience of women," remarked Bashwood the younger,
overhearing him, "I should say she probably tried to drown herself. But say. Not much, indeed! It didn't last a moment. Your darling Lydia soon
came to her senses again. "MY DEAR LYDIA--About three hours have passed, as well as I can
remember, since I pushed you unceremoniously inside my house in West manner." Those were her words. She never lifted her eyes from the ground
while she spoke them. When she had done, the last faint vestige of color
in her cheeks faded out. _had_ loved, never to love again. Does a woman not love when the man's
hardness to her drives her to drown herself? A man drove _me_ to that "MY DEAR LYDIA--I am in no state of mind to write you an amusing letter.
Your news is very discouraging, and the recklessness of your tone quite forth to surprise Mrs. Oldershaw by a visit from her darling Lydia! It
is almost needless to add that I determined to sound her carefully, and neglect, Lydia, stung me into writing as I did. I am so sensitive to
ill treatment, when it is inflicted on me by a person whom I love and So the three lives were mown down by death. So, in a clear sequence of
events, a woman's suicide-leap into a river had opened to Allan Armadale
the succession to the Thorpe Ambrose estates. anybody. Well, and what of all this? you will ask, with that sparkling
impatience which becomes you so well. My dear Lydia, don't sparkle! The "I have just finished the letter. It is headed 'private and
confidential,' and signed 'Lydia Armadale.' There is nothing in it to suicide; and she might, or she might not, have been at the bottom of
those inquiries that I made for Mrs. Oldershaw. I dare say you'll see "I can tell you why, Mr. Armadale," said the major's daughter, with
great gravity. "There are some unfortunate people in this world whose The moment she is threatened with exposure--exposure of some kind, there
can be no doubt, after what you discovered in London--she turns your
honorable silence to the best possible account, and leaves the major's
in his eyes once more. Resolutely struggling with his failing speech,
he summoned the Scotchman to take the pen, and pronounced the closing
sentences of the narrative, as his memory gave them back to him, one by which Allan had tossed across the table to him. Before he had come to
the end of it, his hands dropped helplessly on his knees, and the blank He looked at Midwinter as he made the inquiry, but it was Allan who
told him the story of the night, and Allan who asked the doctor for he came to the last. With his eyes fixed on the closing lines of the
manuscript, and with a strange mixture of recklessness and sadness in
his voice, he began his promised narrative in these words: Softly--as if he feared they might reach Allan, sleeping in the
neighboring room--he read the last terrible words which the Scotchman's
pen had written at Wildbad, as they fell from his father's lips: her deathbed she had shrunk from letting the light fall clearly on the
story of the past. She had looked at Allan kneeling by the bedside, "Read that, doctor," said Allan, as Mr. Hawbury opened the written
paper. "It's not told in my roundabout way; but there's nothing added After reading the narrative attentively to the last line (under
which appeared Allan's signature), the doctor looked across the
breakfast-table at Midwinter, and tapped his fingers on the manuscript
with a satirical smile. "The last news you had of us was news sent by Allan from the Isle of
Man. If I am not mistaken, he wrote to tell you of the night we passed "My dear fellow," exclaimed Allan, "what is the matter with you? Your
hand is as cold as ice." which Allan had drawn--the conclusion literally forced into his mind by
the facts before him--was, nevertheless, the conclusion of all others
that was furthest even from touching on the truth. The true story of He opened the narrative of the Dream, and held it under Allan's eyes.
His finger pointed to the lines which recorded the first Vision; his
voice, sinking lower and lower, repeated the words: just made to you in one way,' he said. 'I must ask you to recall what
happened in the next room, before Allan left us to-night.' Allan's manner changed the moment the governess's name passed his
friend's lips.

"I wish you had heard my story first," he said. "Where did you meet with
Miss Gwilt?" truly." Never had Allan's habitual brevity as a letter-writer done him
better service than it did him now. With a little more skillfulness in in his friend which had once been the foremost interest of his life. He
mastered his personal misery for the first time since it had fallen on
him, and gently taking Allan aside, asked what had happened. garret, a perpendicular Scripture reader, and a horizontal expiring
family--appealed to public favor, under the entirely unobjectionable
title of "The Hand of Death." Allan's resolution to extract amusement He went back to Allan, sat down by his side, and took his hand. "Forgive
me," he said, gently; "I have hurt you for the last time." Before it So the three lives were mown down by death. So, in a clear sequence of
events, a woman's suicide-leap into a river had opened to Allan Armadale
the succession to the Thorpe Ambrose estates. speaking to such an intimate friend as I am." He laid his hand gently
and kindly on Allan's shoulder. "I can't help seeing that I have made
"Read that, doctor," said Allan, as Mr. Hawbury opened the written
paper. "It's not told in my roundabout way; but there's nothing added "Read that," cried Allan, throwing out the lawyer's letter; "I've
written him back a smasher." himself open to attack. He had positively denied on the previous evening
that he knew anything of Allan's movements, or that he had any interest Softly--as if he feared they might reach Allan, sleeping in the
neighboring room--he read the last terrible words which the Scotchman's
pen had written at Wildbad, as they fell from his father's lips: composedly for Allan's return; and here, more strangely still, he looked
on a change in the household arrangements, due in the first instance
entirely to himself. His own lips had revealed the discovery which he "You ought to be informed, I think, of the contents of this letter, for
it has seriously influenced Allan's plans. He loses everything, sooner which Allan had drawn--the conclusion literally forced into his mind by
the facts before him--was, nevertheless, the conclusion of all others
that was furthest even from touching on the truth. The true story of Allan read these lines: you. It will help you in your sorest need, as it has helped me in mine.
It will show you another purpose in the events which brought you and
Allan together than the purpose which your guilty father foresaw. But if Allan wished to hear what he ultimately decided on, his agent in
London (whose direction he inclosed) would receive communications
for him, and would furnish Mr. Armadale at all future times with his which Allan had tossed across the table to him. Before he had come to
the end of it, his hands dropped helplessly on his knees, and the blank Allan's face flushed. "Good heavens, Midwinter," he exclaimed, "who
could suspect me of that?"

"Nobody, Allan, who really knows you." "I believe you love Allan," he said, "and I believe you have spoken the
truth. A man who has produced that impression on me is a man whom I am
bound to trust. I trust you." "'I will answer,' he said, 'for Allan's respecting any confidence that
I place in him. And I will undertake, when the time comes, so to use my revealed the secret of his attraction for Allan plainly enough. But had
all disclosures rested there? Had the man let no chance light in on his Allan hesitated. "I may as well tell you," he said, after a moment.
"It's nothing to be ashamed of; I only wonder you haven't noticed it Neelie looked up at her mother for the first time. The hardest part
of the confession was over now. She had revealed the truth about Miss
Gwilt, and she had openly mentioned Allan's name. "What other person?" inquired Allan.

"A young lady who is a near neighbor of yours, sir. Shall I mention the
name in confidence? Miss Milroy." among them is a letter from Allan, which has been lying unopened on my
table for ten days past. He writes to me in great distress, to say that in Allan's return to England. Having detected Mr. Bashwood in one lie
told to himself. Midwinter instantly suspected him of telling another
to Allan. He seized the opportunity of sifting the statement about Miss
The writer was the family lawyer at Thorpe Ambrose. After announcing to
Allan the deaths of his cousin Arthur at the age of twenty-five, of his which Allan had drawn--the conclusion literally forced into his mind by
the facts before him--was, nevertheless, the conclusion of all others
that was furthest even from touching on the truth. The true story of So the three lives were mown down by death. So, in a clear sequence of
events, a woman's suicide-leap into a river had opened to Allan Armadale
the succession to the Thorpe Ambrose estates. questioned Allan, in a singularly inquisitive manner, on the subject of
himself and his family, but had kept his own personal history entirely subjects, especially if Allan led the way to them. But not a word
escaped him about himself. Mr. Brock tried him with questions about
his recent inheritance, and was answered as he had been answered little more than one week's time death had mown down no less than three
lives in the family at Thorpe Ambrose, and Allan Armadale was at that Allan made no further inquiries. He seemed to shrink from pursuing the
subject, after having started it himself. "Let's be doing something to
kill the time," he said. "Let's pack up and pay the bill." instructing Allan on the subject of the domestic establishment which
she has left behind her. It seems that all the servants, indoors and out
(with three exceptions), are waiting here, on the chance that Allan There was a sudden silence. Allan sat listlessly, with his hands in his
pockets, looking out through the open window at the falling rain. If foot, of which Allan is destined to be the victim, and that the prime
mover in the conspiracy is the vile woman who helped his mother's
marriage and who hastened his mother's death. and tried to put matters in their proper light. Even at that time--even
while he was still ignorant of events which were then impending--Allan's
strangely isolated position in the world was a subject of serious which Allan had tossed across the table to him. Before he had come to
the end of it, his hands dropped helplessly on his knees, and the blank associations connected with her early life. No word more on the
forbidden topic had passed between the rector and herself; no suspicion
had ever been raised in Allan's mind of the existence of his namesake; garret, a perpendicular Scripture reader, and a horizontal expiring
family--appealed to public favor, under the entirely unobjectionable
title of "The Hand of Death." Allan's resolution to extract amusement answered by getting Allan to sleep in the Sanitarium. Everything that
he had noticed above stairs associated the lurking-place in which the Ignorant of the report of Allan's death at sea; uninformed, at the
terrible interview with his wife, of the purpose which her assumption of The news of Allan's sudden appearance at Thorpe Ambrose had preceded the
servant's arrival at his destination by some hours. Wherever he went, "There _are_ two," interposed Mrs. Armadale. "Allan, as you know, is
sixteen years old. If you look back at the advertisement, you will find "Allan," he said, "I have reasons--" He stopped. Could the reasons be
given before he had fairly realized them himself; at that time, too, composedly for Allan's return; and here, more strangely still, he looked
on a change in the household arrangements, due in the first instance
entirely to himself. His own lips had revealed the discovery which he
"Are you sure of yourself, Allan?" he asked, with his face bent once
more over the book. "Are you really attached to this lady? Have you
thought seriously already of asking her to be your wife?" Bashwood, that she had gone privately to London with Allan in the
character of Allan's future wife. possibly have hoped for. After the lawyer's report to me, there cannot
be a moment's doubt of what you ought to do. In two words, Lydia, take Allan hesitated. "I hardly know how to put it," he replied. "As you
said just now, I love her, and she loves me; and yet there is a sort of "Well," resumed Allan, "if there's no harm in her being only a
governess, and no harm in her being a little older than I am, what's the
objection to Miss Gwilt?" "My dear Lydia, the object is your future security (and mine). We may
succeed or we may fail, in persuading the parson that you have actually subject of their own Christian names, and Allan was as near a pointblank
proposal of marriage as it is well possible for a thoughtless young
gentleman of two-and-twenty to be. "Marry her?"

"Yes, mamma."

Breathlessly interested, Mrs. Milroy leaned forward, and twined her hand
caressingly in her daughter's hair. "I am thinking seriously of it at this moment," said Allan. "I can't be
happy--I can't live without her. Upon my soul, I worship the very ground
she treads on!" "Miss Milroy!" repeated Allan. "What are you thinking of! I'm not in
love with Miss Milroy."

"Who is it, then?" She reverted to first principles, and insisted on knowing whether Allan
was quite sure he loved her. Allan called Heaven to witness how sure he
was; and got another question directly for his pains. Could he solemnly "It's too late to make objections," proceeded Allan. "I really mean it
when I tell you I'm in love with her." Allan's proposal that he should be presented to the major's daughter,
and judge of her for himself, as readily, nay, more readily than it anybody. Well, and what of all this? you will ask, with that sparkling
impatience which becomes you so well. My dear Lydia, don't sparkle! The forth to surprise Mrs. Oldershaw by a visit from her darling Lydia! It
is almost needless to add that I determined to sound her carefully, and "Certainly!" said Allan. "I have a very particular reason for wishing to
see her." nevertheless acknowledge that I have a reason of my own for earnestly
desiring to see you here. Allan has innocently caused me a new anxiety
about my future relations with him, and I sorely need your advice to of me, and the first words she said were--'Oh, Lydia! Lydia! why are you
not at church?' man is infatuated and the woman is determined. To the disgust of his
family and friends, Mr. Waldron made a virtue of necessity, and married
her." "I see you don't approve of the thing," Allan went on. "Do you object to
her being only a governess? You can't do that, I'm sure. If you were
foot, of which Allan is destined to be the victim, and that the prime
mover in the conspiracy is the vile woman who helped his mother's
marriage and who hastened his mother's death. answered by getting Allan to sleep in the Sanitarium. Everything that
he had noticed above stairs associated the lurking-place in which the himself open to attack. He had positively denied on the previous evening
that he knew anything of Allan's movements, or that he had any interest in Allan's return to England. Having detected Mr. Bashwood in one lie
told to himself. Midwinter instantly suspected him of telling another
to Allan. He seized the opportunity of sifting the statement about Miss which Allan had drawn--the conclusion literally forced into his mind by
the facts before him--was, nevertheless, the conclusion of all others
that was furthest even from touching on the truth. The true story of At nightfall he had come back stealthily in the darkness, had been
caught on the stairs by Allan, eager to tell him of the change in the Allan's face flushed. "Good heavens, Midwinter," he exclaimed, "who
could suspect me of that?"

"Nobody, Allan, who really knows you." "He took a turn up and down the room, and then came and stood over me.

"'If Allan comes here to-morrow,' he began, 'and if you see him--' If Mr. Bashwood had been caught in the act of committing murder, he
could hardly have shown greater alarm than he now testified at Allan's "Wait?" repeated Allan, in the blankest astonishment at his friend's
excessive caution. "What on earth does he mean? I'll be hanged if I
wait. Where one of us goes, the other goes too!" Allan's room. Resigning all further effort to connect his suspicion of a
conspiracy against his friend with the outrage which had the day before danger lay hid with Allan's room. To reach this conclusion, and to
decide on baffling the conspiracy, whatever it might be, by taking Two messages were waiting for Allan when he returned to the house. One
had been left by Midwinter. "He had gone out for a long walk, and Mr. "I haven't missed a word," rejoined Allan. "I tell you again, you don't
know what I know of Miss Gwilt. She has threatened Miss Milroy. Miss
Milroy is in danger while her governess stops in this neighborhood." In those terms the major's wife threw off the mask, and left her victim
to survey at his leisure the trap in which she had caught him. Allan's For a moment, and for a moment only, Allan was surprised. "Not know
who you are?" Even as he repeated the words, his easy goodhumor got "What do you think of my friend?" whispered Allan, as he and Miss Milroy
followed.

"Must I tell you the truth, Mr. Armadale?" she whispered back.

"Of course!" Allan made no further inquiries. He seemed to shrink from pursuing the
subject, after having started it himself. "Let's be doing something to
kill the time," he said. "Let's pack up and pay the bill." Mr. Brock wisely destroyed the second letter on the spot, and, after
showing Allan his cousin's invitation, suggested that he should go to
Thorpe Ambrose as soon as he felt fit to present himself to strangers. He looked at Midwinter as he made the inquiry, but it was Allan who
told him the story of the night, and Allan who asked the doctor for
"After solemnly announcing that she meant to sacrifice herself to her
beloved father's wishes (the brazen assurance of her setting up for a Lydia,' said the brazen old wretch, wiping her eyes. 'Nothing will
induce me to return to the subject of that wicked speculation of yours
on the folly of a rich young man.' possibly have hoped for. After the lawyer's report to me, there cannot
be a moment's doubt of what you ought to do. In two words, Lydia, take of me, and the first words she said were--'Oh, Lydia! Lydia! why are you
not at church?' So the three lives were mown down by death. So, in a clear sequence of
events, a woman's suicide-leap into a river had opened to Allan Armadale
the succession to the Thorpe Ambrose estates. the poison of her life--wrung her to the heart. After moving a few
steps from the bedside, she stopped, and came back again. Armed with the "Judging by my experience of women," remarked Bashwood the younger,
overhearing him, "I should say she probably tried to drown herself. But _had_ loved, never to love again. Does a woman not love when the man's
hardness to her drives her to drown herself? A man drove _me_ to that helpless. He dropped, as the dead drop. He lay as the dead lie, in the
arms of the wife who had denied him. She rose when the door closed on him. A change came over her the instant
she was alone. The color faded out of her cheeks; the beauty died out of She looked at the child, established comfortably on the bed, and an ashy
paleness spread slowly over her face. She looked at the fatal Mrs. Milroy leaned back on her pillow in dead silence. The plain
betrayal of her daughter's first love, by her daughter's own lips, which The instant she was alone she raised him from her knee. With both arms
clasped round him, the miserable woman lifted his lifeless face to hers One moment more of silence, one moment more of inaction, might have been
the salvation of her. But the fatal force of her character triumphed come by her death) was found dead--that a coroner's inquest inquired
into the circumstances--that the evidence showed her to have entered
the house as a patient--and that the medical investigation ended in say. Not much, indeed! It didn't last a moment. Your darling Lydia soon
came to her senses again. forth to surprise Mrs. Oldershaw by a visit from her darling Lydia! It
is almost needless to add that I determined to sound her carefully, and from her husband by making herself a widow, the captain must have been
the man. And unless she contrived, guarded and watched as she was, to "I have just finished the letter. It is headed 'private and
confidential,' and signed 'Lydia Armadale.' There is nothing in it to manner." Those were her words. She never lifted her eyes from the ground
while she spoke them. When she had done, the last faint vestige of color
in her cheeks faded out.
"He shows the most unaccountable interest," she said. "It's impossible
to understand it. It's downright infatuation. I haven't patience to talk
about it!" man is infatuated and the woman is determined. To the disgust of his
family and friends, Mr. Waldron made a virtue of necessity, and married
her." creditable to his taste, and far more dangerous to both of us, than
the motive you supposed him to have. In plainer words, Lydia, I rather anybody. Well, and what of all this? you will ask, with that sparkling
impatience which becomes you so well. My dear Lydia, don't sparkle! The of me, and the first words she said were--'Oh, Lydia! Lydia! why are you
not at church?' possibly have hoped for. After the lawyer's report to me, there cannot
be a moment's doubt of what you ought to do. In two words, Lydia, take fanatic. You will understand the sort of interest he took in the girl,
and the way in which he worked on her feelings, when I tell you that she
announced it as her decision, after having been nearly two years at the forth to surprise Mrs. Oldershaw by a visit from her darling Lydia! It
is almost needless to add that I determined to sound her carefully, and "MY DEAR LYDIA--About three hours have passed, as well as I can
remember, since I pushed you unceremoniously inside my house in West "Did she like the captain?" suggested Bashwood the younger, with another
laugh. "According to her own account of it, she adored him. At the same Lydia,' said the brazen old wretch, wiping her eyes. 'Nothing will
induce me to return to the subject of that wicked speculation of yours
on the folly of a rich young man.' touched, on his side, by her devotion, and had felt, in his turn, the
attraction of her beauty, her freshness, and her youth. Up to the time "My dear Lydia, the object is your future security (and mine). We may
succeed or we may fail, in persuading the parson that you have actually say. Not much, indeed! It didn't last a moment. Your darling Lydia soon
came to her senses again. seems to have put certain questions, and to have become convinced (as I
was convinced myself) that his daughter's heart, or fancy, or whatever
she calls it, was really and truly set on Armadale. The discovery coaxing me now. I am her darling Lydia again! She is quite shocked that
I could imagine she ever really intended to arrest her bosom friend; and believe he has seen some woman whom he likes at Turin. Well, let
him follow his new fancy, if he pleases! I shall be the widow of Mr. "Ever, my dear Lydia, affectionately yours,

"MARIA OLDERSHAW." from her; she looked at him with a furtive interest and surprise. "How
that man loves me!" she thought. "I wonder whether there was a time when
I might have loved _him_?" happened at the school which I find mildly described in these papers
as 'something unpleasant.' The plain fact was that the music-master
attached to the establishment fell in love with Miss Gwilt. He was a
It was only when the last trace of her had disappeared that Midwinter
roused himself, and attempted to realize the position in which he "He has gone," replied Midwinter, "after telling me a very sad story,
and leaving me a little ashamed of myself for having doubted him without "I say no more. When he walked away from me down that lane, he walked to
his death. I have written to Midwinter to expect me in London nest week,
and to be ready for our marriage soon afterward." doctors to be at an end. By the dying man's own desire, Midwinter was
summoned to take leave of him, and was entreated by Armadale not to lose Midwinter's face darkened for the first time. "I am sorry to hear it,"
he said, his voice sinking low, and his eyes dropping to the ground as
he spoke. A moment of silence followed those closing words. Midwinter rose from
the window-seat, and came back to the table with the letter from Wildbad
in his hand. Midwinter's face darkened when the last trace of the carriage had
disappeared from view. "I have done my best," he said, as he turned back Midwinter made no reply. The struggle between the hereditary
superstition that was driving him on, and the unconquerable affection The parted leaves of the manuscript dropped from Midwinter's hands. Mr.
Brock took them up, and sorted them carefully until he found the last
page. Midwinter appeared on the threshold. He took one step into the room, and
mechanically pushed the door to behind him. He stood in dead silence, which Mr. Brock had died. It was in the rector's handwriting throughout;
and the person to whom it was addressed was Midwinter himself. "Is he dead?" she asked.

The surgeon carried Midwinter to the sofa, and ordered the windows to be
opened. "It is a fainting fit," he said; "nothing more." He had discovered Midwinter's lodgings, but he had failed to find
Midwinter himself. The only account his landlady could give of him was deserted him. For the first time, since he had told his story to
Midwinter, at their introductory interview in the great house, his mind
reverted once more to the bitter disappointment and disaster of the "Was that you, Midwinter?" he asked.

There was no answer. After hesitating a moment more, Allan returned to
the plantation. Midwinter was gone. already, Midwinter. Nobody but you can comfort me, and help me to bear
it." His voice faltered over those last words, and he said no more. Another interval passed, and Midwinter made a new effort to rouse
himself. This time he kindled the light without hesitation, and took the
pen in hand. Midwinter assented with a weary sigh. Always shyly unwilling to make new
acquaintances, fatigue increased the reluctance he now felt to become Left by himself, Midwinter paused, and looked up at the heavens in
silence. The night had cleared, and the stars were out--the stars which and passing over another attempt of Midwinter's to seize on the talk, as
if no such attempt had been made. "But as there does happen to be this
connection, and was tending steadily to some unimaginable end. Without
knowing why, he began to feel uneasy at Allan's absence. Without knowing Once started on the subject of Ozias Midwinter, Allan rattled on about
his new friend in his usual easy, light-hearted way. But he had really speaking to such an intimate friend as I am." He laid his hand gently
and kindly on Allan's shoulder. "I can't help seeing that I have made had settled his bills. Ozias Midwinter spoke of his obligations--and
especially of his obligation to Allan--with a fervor of thankfulness
which it was not surprising only, but absolutely painful to witness. He revealed the secret of his attraction for Allan plainly enough. But had
all disclosures rested there? Had the man let no chance light in on his At nightfall he had come back stealthily in the darkness, had been
caught on the stairs by Allan, eager to tell him of the change in the He stopped, and shrank away, under the anxious scrutiny of Allan's eyes.
"If you _will_ have it," he burst out, abruptly, "the horror of that "He took a turn up and down the room, and then came and stood over me.

"'If Allan comes here to-morrow,' he began, 'and if you see him--' "There's something strange between us," reiterated Allan. "For God's
sake, what is it?" in perfect repose was now the distorted face of a suffering man. The
perspiration stood thick on Allan's forehead, and matted his curling
hair. His partially opened eyes showed nothing but the white of the of the dream. Here, strangely unmoved by the scene around him, so lately
the object of his superstitious distrust, Allan's friend now waited "What did I tell you?" said Allan, laughing, a little uneasily. "That
night on the Wreck is hanging on your mind as heavily as ever." Conscious that his position toward his friend was altered already in
relation to Miss Gwilt, the first sight of Allan filled his mind with a composedly for Allan's return; and here, more strangely still, he looked
on a change in the household arrangements, due in the first instance
entirely to himself. His own lips had revealed the discovery which he silent throughout. Heedless of all that was said or done about him, he
watched Allan, and followed Allan, like a dog, until the time came for the moment when Allan left the room, the hidden Influence that works
in darkness began slowly to draw the two men together, across the great
social desert which had lain between them up to this day. taken place. Free from all mental disquietude on this score, Allan
had stoutly preserved his perverse interest in his new friend. He had "I believe you love Allan," he said, "and I believe you have spoken the
truth. A man who has produced that impression on me is a man whom I am
bound to trust. I trust you." which Allan had tossed across the table to him. Before he had come to
the end of it, his hands dropped helplessly on his knees, and the blank Allan took his friend's hand and wrung it hard. "If you were as fond of
her as I am," he whispered, "you would take no rest, you could get no
Once started on the subject of Ozias Midwinter, Allan rattled on about
his new friend in his usual easy, light-hearted way. But he had really arrangements off his hands, and that, in deference to their convenience,
he meant to defer establishing himself at Thorpe Ambrose till that
day two months. The lawyers stared at Allan, and Allan, returning the "It shall be as you wish," he said, quietly. "I am sorry for what has
happened; but I am not the less obliged to you, Allan, for having done
what I asked you." exactly fitted for his friend, for the simple reason that it would
necessarily oblige his friend to live with him on the estate. He
had accordingly written to decline the proposal made to him without "I have merely given a few simple directions," pursued Allan. "Our
friend the usher is to have everything he requires, and is to be treated
like a prince; and when the doctor and the landlord want their money
they are to come to me." instructing Allan on the subject of the domestic establishment which
she has left behind her. It seems that all the servants, indoors and out
(with three exceptions), are waiting here, on the chance that Allan "You have guessed right," he answered. "I stand in the place of a father
to Allan Armadale, and I am naturally unwilling to leave him, at his
age, with a man whom I don't know." speaking to such an intimate friend as I am." He laid his hand gently
and kindly on Allan's shoulder. "I can't help seeing that I have made Ambrose estate now appeared before him. He had never, in his relations
with Allan, so entirely forgotten his business interests as he forgot
them now. had settled his bills. Ozias Midwinter spoke of his obligations--and
especially of his obligation to Allan--with a fervor of thankfulness
which it was not surprising only, but absolutely painful to witness. He composedly for Allan's return; and here, more strangely still, he looked
on a change in the household arrangements, due in the first instance
entirely to himself. His own lips had revealed the discovery which he The news of Allan's sudden appearance at Thorpe Ambrose had preceded the
servant's arrival at his destination by some hours. Wherever he went, This was the man whom the march of events at Thorpe Ambrose had now
thrust capriciously into a foremost place. This was the one friend at
hand to whom Allan in his social isolation could turn for counsel in the
hour of need. master's movements than the servants indoors. He had seen Allan pass the
stables more than an hour since, going out by the back way into the park
with a nosegay in his hand. But if Allan wished to hear what he ultimately decided on, his agent in
London (whose direction he inclosed) would receive communications
for him, and would furnish Mr. Armadale at all future times with his thing," Allan added, after a moment's painful consideration, "which
ought to be understood between us at once. The advice you offered me
just now was very kindly meant, and it was the best advice that could be As soon as the doctor's back was turned, Allan left his place at the
table, and appealed to his friend, with that irresistible heartiness of "Allan," he said, "I have reasons--" He stopped. Could the reasons be
given before he had fairly realized them himself; at that time, too, "I believe you love Allan," he said, "and I believe you have spoken the
truth. A man who has produced that impression on me is a man whom I am
bound to trust. I trust you." This letter did wonders in raising Allan's spirits. It gave him a
new interest to look to, entirely disassociated from his past life in
What is Ozias Midwinter's real name? Who is Ozias Midwinter's stepfather? What does Ozias believe Allan's dreams are? What estate does Allan inherit? Who was Allan's mother's maid? How does Allan escape the murder attempt from Lydia's ex-husband? After taking matters into her own hands, how does Lydia plan to kill Allan? How does Lydia kill herself? Who does Allan marry at the end of the story? How many separate characters are named "Allan Armadale"? Why did Lydia wish to marry Allan? How do we learn of the initial murder? Why does the elder Armadale warn his son that he (the son) may become a murderer? How does Midwinter interpret the dream? How does the desperado attempt to murder Allan? By what method does Lydia attempt to murder Allan? Why does Lydia Gwilt want to marry Allan? Why does Ozias feel that he will harm Allan? Why does Lydia commit suicide? Who is transcribing Allan's deathbed story? Who is supposed to read Allan's confession? How many members of Allan's family died under mysterious circumstances? Why does Lydia want to marry Allan? Who plans to murder Allan? How does Lydia kill herself? Who is infatuated with Lydia? What does Midwinter do after Lydia's passing? Why does Ozias feel haunted by becoming close to Allan? What position does Allan intend to give Ozias at his estate?
Allan Armadale Allan Armadale
Mr. Neal Mr Neal
Prophesies of the future A prophesy of the future. 
Thorpe-Ambrose Thorpe-Ambrose in Norfolk.
Lydia Gwilt Lydia
He pretends to have drowned in a shipwreck. he was supposed to have drowned in a shipwreck, but he manages to escape and returns to England
Poisonous gas by having her Cuban desperado ex husband murder him
She goes into the poisonous gas-filled room. She walks into an air-poisoned room.
Eleanor Milroy Miss Milroy
There are three. There are three characters named Allan Armadale in the novel.
She married him for money. to achieve retribution for wrongdoings of Allan's family. 
Through a deathbed confession. A confession from Allen Armdale on his deathbed.
Because the elder Armadale murdered a man that he had disinherited. because he had murdered someone
He interpreted it superstitiously. As a portent of things that might come true in the future.
By drowning him in a shipwreck. The desperado attempts to kill Allan by drowning him in a shipwreck.
By using poison gas. Poison gas. 
Retribution for supposed family wrongdoings To get retribution for his family's wrongdoings. 
His father's letter warns him that he may kill him. because he is close to Allan
She cannot kill the man she really loves. She feels guilt for trying to murder Allen and almost murdering her own husband instead. 
Mr. Neal Mr. Neal
his son his son
3 Three
as a means of achieving retribution for his family's wrongdoings for his fortune
Lydia Lydia
by going into a room filled with poison gas She walks into a room full of poison gas.
Mr. Bashwood Ozias Midwinter
becomes a writer he becomes a writer
he fears he will hurt him He fears he will harm him. 
steward steward