receive quite a shock from the force of the argument。
Monsieur； as an English traveller； surrounded by all means of travelling
pleasantly； doubtless possessing fortune； carriages； and servants……
'Perfectly； perfectly。 Without doubt；' said the gentleman。
Monsieur could not easily place himself in the position of a person who
had not the power to choose； I will go here to…morrow； or there next
day； I will pass these barriers； I will enlarge those bounds。 Monsieur
could not realise； perhaps； how the mind acmodated itself in such
things to the force of necessity。
'It is true；' said Monsieur。 'We will……ha……not pursue the subject。
You are……hum……quite accurate； I have no doubt。 We will say no more。'
The supper having e to a close； he drew his chair away as he spoke；
and moved back to his former place by the fire。 As it was very cold
at the greater part of the table； the other guests also resumed their
former seats by the fire； designing to toast themselves well before
going to bed。 The host； when they rose from the table； bowed to all
present； wished them good night； and withdrew。 But first the insinuating
traveller had asked him if they could have some wine made hot； and as
he had answered Yes； and had presently afterwards sent it in； that
traveller； seated in the centre of the group； and in the full heat of
the fire； was soon engaged in serving it out to the rest。
At this time； the younger of the two young ladies； who had been silently
attentive in her dark corner （the fire…light was the chief light in the
sombre room； the lamp being smoky and dull） to what had been said of the
absent lady； glided out。 She was at a loss which way to turn when she
had softly closed the door； but； after a little hesitation among the
sounding passages and the many ways； came to a room in a corner of the
main gallery； where the servants were at their supper。 From these she
obtained a lamp； and a direction to the lady's room。
It was up the great staircase on the story above。 Here and there； the
bare white walls were broken by an iron grate； and she thought as she
went along that the place was something like a prison。 The arched door
of the lady's room； or cell； was not quite shut。 After knocking at it
two or three times without receiving an answer； she pushed it gently
open； and looked in。
The lady lay with closed eyes on the outside of the bed； protected from
the cold by the blankets and wrappers with which she had been covered
when she revived from her fainting fit。 A dull light placed in the deep
recess of the window； made little impression on the arched room。 The
visitor timidly stepped to the bed； and said； in a soft whisper； 'Are
you better？'
The lady had fallen into a slumber； and the whisper was too low to awake
her。 Her visitor； standing quite still； looked at her attentively。
'She is very pretty；' she said to herself。 'I never saw so beautiful a
face。 O how unlike me！'
It was a curious thing to say； but it had some hidden meaning； for it
filled her eyes with tears。
'I know I must be right。 I know he spoke of her that evening。 I could
very easily be wrong on any other subject； but not on this； not on
this！'
With a quiet and tender hand she put aside a straying fold of the
sleeper's hair； and then touched the hand that lay outside the covering。
'I like to look at her；' she breathed to herself。 'I like to see what
has affected him so much。'
She had not withdrawn her hand； when the sleeper opened her eyes and
started。
'Pray don't be alarmed。 I am only one of the travellers from
down…stairs。 I came to ask if you were better； and if I could do
anything for you。'
'I think you have already been so kind as to send your servants to my
assistance？'
'No； not I； that was my sister。 Are you better？'
'Much better。 It is only a slight bruise； and has been well looked to；
and is almost easy now。 It made me giddy and faint in a moment。 It had
hurt me before； but at last it overpowered me all at once。' 'May I stay
with you until some one es？ Would you like it？'
'I should like it； for it is lonely here； but I am afraid you will feel
the cold too much。'
'I don't mind cold。 I am not delicate； if I look so。' She quickly moved
one of the two rough chairs to the bedside； and sat down。 The other as
quickly moved a part of some travelling wrapper from herself； and drew
it over her； so that her arm； in keeping it about her； rested on her
shoulder。
'You have so much the air of a kind nurse；' said the lady； smiling on
her； 'that you seem as if you had e to me from home。'
'I am very glad of it。'
'I was dreaming of home when I woke just now。 Of my old home； I mean；
before I was married。'
'And before you were so far away from it。'
'I have been much farther away from it than this； but then I took
the best part of it with me； and missed nothing。 I felt solitary as I
dropped asleep here； and； missing it a little； wandered back to it。'
There was a sorrowfully affectionate and regretful sound in her voice；
which made her visitor refrain from looking at her for the moment。
'It is a curious chance which at last brings us together； under this
covering in which you have wrapped me；' said the visitor after a
pause；'for do you know； I think I have been looking for you some time。'
'Looking for me？'
'I believe I have a little note here； which I was to give to you
whenever I found you。 This is it。 Unless I greatly mistake； it is
addressed to you？ Is it not？'
The lady took it； and said yes； and read it。 Her visitor watched her as
she did so。 It was very short。 She flushed a little as she put her lips
to her visitor's cheek； and pressed her hand。
'The dear young friend to whom he presents me； may be a fort to me
at some time； he says。 She is truly a fort to me the first time I see
her。'
'Perhaps you don't；' said the visitor； hesitating……'perhaps you don't
know my story？ Perhaps he never told you my story？'
'No。'
'Oh no； why should he！ I have scarcely the right to tell it myself at
present； because I have been entreated not to do so。 There is not much
in it； but it might account to you for my asking you not to say anything
about the letter here。 You saw my family with me； perhaps？ Some of
them……I only say this to you……are a little proud； a little prejudiced。'
'You shall take it back again；' said the other； 'and then my husband is
sure not to see it。 He might see it and speak of it； otherwise； by some
accident。 Will you put it in your bosom again； to be certain？'
She did so with great care。 Her small； slight hand was still upon the
letter； when they heard some one in the gallery outside。
'I promised；' said the visitor； rising； 'that I would write to him after
seeing you （I could hardly fail to see you sooner or later）； and tell
him if you were well and happy。 I had better say you were well and
happy。'
'Yes； yes； yes！ Say I was very well and very happy。 And that I thanked
him affectionately； and would never forget him。'
'I shall see you in the morning。 After that we are sure to meet again
before very long。 Good night！'
'Good night。 Thank you； thank you。 Good night； my dear！'
Both of them were hurried