English
Iwritetheselinesattherequestofmyfriend,Mr.WalterHartright.
TheyareintendedtoconveyadescriptionofcertaineventswhichseriouslyaffectedMissFairlie’sinterests,andwhichtookplaceaftertheperiodofMr.Hartright’sdeparturefromLimmeridgeHouse.
Thereisnoneedformetosaywhethermyownopiniondoesordoesnotsanctionthedisclosureoftheremarkablefamilystory,ofwhichmynarrativeformsanimportantcomponentpart.
Mr.Hartrighthastakenthatresponsibilityonhimself,andcircumstancesyettoberelatedwillshowthathehasamplyearnedtherighttodoso,ifhechoosestoexerciseit.
Theplanhehasadoptedforpresentingthestorytoothers,inthemosttruthfulandmostvividmanner,requiresthatitshouldbetold,ateachsuccessivestageinthemarchofevents,bythepersonswhoweredirectlyconcernedinthoseeventsatthetimeoftheiroccurrence.
Myappearancehere,asnarrator,isthenecessaryconsequenceofthisarrangement.
IwaspresentduringthesojournofSirPercivalGlydeinCumberland,andwaspersonallyconcernedinoneimportantresultofhisshortresidenceunderMr.Fairlie’sroof.
Itismyduty,therefore,toaddthesenewlinkstothechainofevents,andtotakeupthechainitselfatthepointwhere,forthepresentonlyMr.Hartrighthasdroppedit.
IarrivedatLimmeridgeHouseonFridaythesecondofNovember.
MyobjectwastoremainatMr.Fairlie’suntilthearrivalofSirPercivalGlyde.
IfthateventledtotheappointmentofanygivendayforSirPercival’sunionwithMissFairlie,IwastotakethenecessaryinstructionsbackwithmetoLondon,andtooccupymyselfindrawingthelady’smarriage-settlement.
OntheFridayIwasnotfavouredbyMr.Fairliewithaninterview.
Hehadbeen,orhadfanciedhimselftobe,aninvalidforyearspast,andhewasnotwellenoughtoreceiveme.
MissHalcombewasthefirstmemberofthefamilywhomIsaw.
Shemetmeatthehousedoor,andintroducedmetoMr.Hartright,whohadbeenstayingatLimmeridgeforsometimepast.
IdidnotseeMissFairlieuntillaterintheday,atdinner-time.
Shewasnotlookingwell,andIwassorrytoobserveit.
Sheisasweetlovablegirl,asamiableandattentivetoeveryoneaboutherasherexcellentmotherusedtobe—though,personallyspeaking,shetakesafterherfather.
Mrs.Fairliehaddarkeyesandhair,andherelderdaughter,MissHalcombe,stronglyremindsmeofher.
MissFairlieplayedtousintheevening—notsowellasusual,Ithought.
Wehadarubberatwhist,amereprofanation,sofarasplaywasconcerned,ofthatnoblegame.
IhadbeenfavourablyimpressedbyMr.Hartrightonourfirstintroductiontooneanother,butIsoondiscoveredthathewasnotfreefromthesocialfailingsincidentaltohisage.
Therearethreethingsthatnoneoftheyoungmenofthepresentgenerationcando.
Theycan’tsitovertheirwine,theycan’tplayatwhist,andtheycan’tpayaladyacompliment.
Mr.Hartrightwasnoexceptiontothegeneralrule.
Otherwise,eveninthoseearlydaysandonthatshortacquaintance,hestruckmeasbeingamodestandgentlemanlikeyoungman.
SotheFridaypassed.Isaynothingaboutthemoreseriousmatterswhichengagedmyattentiononthatday—theanonymouslettertoMissFairlie,themeasuresIthoughtitrighttoadoptwhenthematterwasmentionedtome,andtheconvictionIentertainedthateverypossibleexplanationofthecircumstanceswouldbereadilyaffordedbySirPercivalGlyde,havingallbeenfullynoticed,asIunderstand,inthenarrativewhichprecedesthis.
OntheSaturdayMr.HartrighthadleftbeforeIgotdowntobreakfast.
MissFairliekeptherroomallday,andMissHalcombeappearedtometobeoutofspirits.
ThehousewasnotwhatitusedtobeinthetimeofMr.andMrs.PhilipFairlie.
Itookawalkbymyselfintheforenoon,andlookedaboutatsomeoftheplaceswhichIfirstsawwhenIwasstayingatLimmeridgetotransactfamilybusiness,morethanthirtyyearssince.
Theywerenotwhattheyusedtobeeither.
Attwoo’clockMr.Fairliesenttosayhewaswellenoughtoseeme.
HEhadnotaltered,atanyrate,sinceIfirstknewhim.
Histalkwastothesamepurposeasusual—allabouthimselfandhisailments,hiswonderfulcoins,andhismatchlessRembrandtetchings.
ThemomentItriedtospeakofthebusinessthathadbroughtmetohishouse,heshuthiseyesandsaidI“upset”him.
Ipersistedinupsettinghimbyreturningagainandagaintothesubject.
AllIcouldascertainwasthathelookedonhisniece’smarriageasasettledthing,thatherfatherhadsanctionedit,thathesanctionedithimself,thatitwasadesirablemarriage,andthatheshouldbepersonallyrejoicedwhentheworryofitwasover.
Astothesettlements,ifIwouldconsulthisniece,andafterwardsdiveasdeeplyasIpleasedintomyownknowledgeofthefamilyaffairs,andgeteverythingready,andlimithisshareinthebusiness,asguardian,tosayingYes,attherightmoment—why,ofcoursehewouldmeetmyviews,andeverybodyelse’sviews,withinfinitepleasure.
Inthemeantime,thereIsawhim,ahelplesssufferer,confinedtohisroom.
DidIthinkhelookedasifhewantedteasing?No.Thenwhyteasehim?
Imight,perhaps,havebeenalittleastonishedatthisextraordinaryabsenceofallself-assertiononMr.Fairlie’spart,inthecharacterofguardian,ifmyknowledgeofthefamilyaffairshadnotbeensufficienttoremindmethathewasasingleman,andthathehadnothingmorethanalife-interestintheLimmeridgeproperty.
Asmattersstood,therefore,Iwasneithersurprisednordisappointedattheresultoftheinterview.
Mr.Fairliehadsimplyjustifiedmyexpectations—andtherewasanendofit.
Sundaywasadullday,outofdoorsandin.
AletterarrivedformefromSirPercivalGlyde’ssolicitor,acknowledgingthereceiptofmycopyoftheanonymousletterandmyaccompanyingstatementofthecase.
MissFairliejoinedusintheafternoon,lookingpaleanddepressed,andaltogetherunlikeherself.
Ihadsometalkwithher,andventuredonadelicateallusiontoSirPercival.Shelistenedandsaidnothing.
Allothersubjectsshepursuedwillingly,butthissubjectsheallowedtodrop.
Ibegantodoubtwhethershemightnotberepentingofherengagement—justasyoungladiesoftendo,whenrepentancecomestoolate.
OnMondaySirPercivalGlydearrived.
Ifoundhimtobeamostprepossessingman,sofarasmannersandappearancewereconcerned.
HelookedratherolderthanIhadexpected,hisheadbeingbaldovertheforehead,andhisfacesomewhatmarkedandworn,buthismovementswereasactiveandhisspiritsashighasayoungman’s.
HismeetingwithMissHalcombewasdelightfullyheartyandunaffected,andhisreceptionofme,uponmybeingpresentedtohim,wassoeasyandpleasantthatwegotontogetherlikeoldfriends.
MissFairliewasnotwithuswhenhearrived,butsheenteredtheroomabouttenminutesafterwards.
SirPercivalroseandpaidhiscomplimentswithperfectgrace.
Hisevidentconcernonseeingthechangefortheworseintheyounglady’slookswasexpressedwithamixtureoftendernessandrespect,withanunassumingdelicacyoftone,voice,andmanner,whichdidequalcredittohisgoodbreedingandhisgoodsense.
Iwasrathersurprised,underthesecircumstances,toseethatMissFairliecontinuedtobeconstrainedanduneasyinhispresence,andthatshetookthefirstopportunityofleavingtheroomagain.
SirPercivalneithernoticedtherestraintinherreceptionofhim,norhersuddenwithdrawalfromoursociety.
Hehadnotobtrudedhisattentionsonherwhileshewaspresent,andhedidnotembarrassMissHalcombebyanyallusiontoherdeparturewhenshewasgone.
HistactandtastewereneveratfaultonthisoronanyotheroccasionwhileIwasinhiscompanyatLimmeridgeHouse.
AssoonasMissFairliehadlefttheroomhesparedusallembarrassmentonthesubjectoftheanonymousletter,byadvertingtoitofhisownaccord.
HehadstoppedinLondononhiswayfromHampshire,hadseenhissolicitor,hadreadthedocumentsforwardedbyme,andhadtravelledontoCumberland,anxioustosatisfyourmindsbythespeediestandthefullestexplanationthatwordscouldconvey.
Onhearinghimexpresshimselftothiseffect,Iofferedhimtheoriginalletter,whichIhadkeptforhisinspection.
Hethankedme,anddeclinedtolookatit,sayingthathehadseenthecopy,andthathewasquitewillingtoleavetheoriginalinourhands.
Thestatementitself,onwhichheimmediatelyentered,wasassimpleandsatisfactoryasIhadallalonganticipateditwouldbe.
Mrs.Catherick,heinformedus,hadinpastyearslaidhimundersomeobligationsforfaithfulservicesrenderedtohisfamilyconnectionsandtohimself.
Shehadbeendoublyunfortunateinbeingmarriedtoahusbandwhohaddesertedher,andinhavinganonlychildwhosementalfacultieshadbeeninadisturbedconditionfromaveryearlyage.
AlthoughhermarriagehadremovedhertoapartofHampshirefardistantfromtheneighbourhoodinwhichSirPercival’spropertywassituated,hehadtakencarenottolosesightofher—hisfriendlyfeelingtowardsthepoorwoman,inconsiderationofherpastservices,havingbeengreatlystrengthenedbyhisadmirationofthepatienceandcouragewithwhichshesupportedhercalamities.
Incourseoftimethesymptomsofmentalafflictioninherunhappydaughterincreasedtosuchaseriousextent,astomakeitamatterofnecessitytoplaceherunderpropermedicalcare.
Mrs.Catherickherselfrecognisedthisnecessity,butshealsofelttheprejudicecommontopersonsoccupyingherrespectablestation,againstallowingherchildtobeadmitted,asapauper,intoapublicAsylum.
SirPercivalhadrespectedthisprejudice,asherespectedhonestindependenceoffeelinginanyrankoflife,andhadresolvedtomarkhisgratefulsenseofMrs.Catherick’searlyattachmenttotheinterestsofhimselfandhisfamily,bydefrayingtheexpenseofherdaughter’smaintenanceinatrustworthyprivateAsylum.
Tohermother’sregret,andtohisownregret,theunfortunatecreaturehaddiscoveredthesharewhichcircumstanceshadinducedhimtotakeinplacingherunderrestraint,andhadconceivedthemostintensehatredanddistrustofhiminconsequence.
Tothathatredanddistrust—whichhadexpresseditselfinvariouswaysintheAsylum—theanonymousletter,writtenafterherescape,wasplainlyattributable.
IfMissHalcombe’sorMr.Gilmore’srecollectionofthedocumentdidnotconfirmthatview,oriftheywishedforanyadditionalparticularsabouttheAsylum(theaddressofwhichhementioned,aswellasthenamesandaddressesofthetwodoctorsonwhosecertificatesthepatientwasadmitted),hewasreadytoansweranyquestionandtoclearupanyuncertainty.
Hehaddonehisdutytotheunhappyyoungwoman,byinstructinghissolicitortosparenoexpenseintracingher,andinrestoringheroncemoretomedicalcare,andhewasnowonlyanxioustodohisdutytowardsMissFairlieandtowardsherfamily,inthesameplain,straightforwardway.
Iwasthefirsttospeakinanswertothisappeal.Myowncoursewasplaintome.
ItisthegreatbeautyoftheLawthatitcandisputeanyhumanstatement,madeunderanycircumstances,andreducedtoanyform.
IfIhadfeltprofessionallycalledupontosetupacaseagainstSirPercivalGlyde,onthestrengthofhisownexplanation,Icouldhavedonesobeyondalldoubt.
Butmydutydidnotlieinthisdirection—myfunctionwasofthepurelyjudicialkind.
Iwastoweightheexplanationwehadjustheard,toallowalldueforcetothehighreputationofthegentlemanwhoofferedit,andtodecidehonestlywhethertheprobabilities,onSirPercival’sownshowing,wereplainlywithhim,orplainlyagainsthim.
Myownconvictionwasthattheywereplainlywithhim,andIaccordinglydeclaredthathisexplanationwas,tomymind,unquestionablyasatisfactoryone.
MissHalcombe,afterlookingatmeveryearnestly,saidafewwords,onherside,tothesameeffect—withacertainhesitationofmanner,however,whichthecircumstancesdidnotseemtometowarrant.
Iamunabletosay,positively,whetherSirPercivalnoticedthisornot.
Myopinionisthathedid,seeingthathepointedlyresumedthesubject,althoughhemightnow,withallpropriety,haveallowedittodrop.
“IfmyplainstatementoffactshadonlybeenaddressedtoMr.Gilmore,”hesaid,“Ishouldconsideranyfurtherreferencetothisunhappymatterasunnecessary.
ImayfairlyexpectMr.Gilmore,asagentleman,tobelievemeonmyword,andwhenhehasdonemethatjustice,alldiscussionofthesubjectbetweenushascometoanend.
Butmypositionwithaladyisnotthesame.
Iowetoher—whatIwouldconcedetonomanalive—aPROOFofthetruthofmyassertion.
Youcannotaskforthatproof,MissHalcombe,anditisthereforemydutytoyou,andstillmoretoMissFairlie,toofferit.
MayIbegthatyouwillwriteatoncetothemotherofthisunfortunatewoman—toMrs.Catherick—toaskforhertestimonyinsupportoftheexplanationwhichIhavejustofferedtoyou.”
IsawMissHalcombechangecolour,andlookalittleuneasy.
SirPercival’ssuggestion,politelyasitwasexpressed,appearedtoher,asitappearedtome,topointverydelicatelyatthehesitationwhichhermannerhadbetrayedamomentortwosince.
“Ihope,SirPercival,youdon’tdometheinjusticetosupposethatIdistrustyou,”shesaidquickly.
“Certainlynot,MissHalcombe.ImakemyproposalpurelyasanactofattentiontoYOU.WillyouexcusemyobstinacyifIstillventuretopressit?”
Hewalkedtothewriting-tableashespoke,drewachairtoit,andopenedthepapercase.
“Letmebegyoutowritethenote,”hesaid,“asafavourtoME.
Itneednotoccupyyoumorethanafewminutes.
YouhaveonlytoaskMrs.Cathericktwoquestions.
First,ifherdaughterwasplacedintheAsylumwithherknowledgeandapproval.
Secondly,iftheshareItookinthematterwassuchastomerittheexpressionofhergratitudetowardsmyself?
Mr.Gilmore’smindisateaseonthisunpleasantsubject,andyourmindisatease—praysetmymindateasealsobywritingthenote.”
“Youobligemetograntyourrequest,SirPercival,whenIwouldmuchratherrefuseit.”
WiththosewordsMissHalcomberosefromherplaceandwenttothewriting-table.
SirPercivalthankedher,handedherapen,andthenwalkedawaytowardsthefireplace.
MissFairlie’slittleItaliangreyhoundwaslyingontherug.
Heheldouthishand,andcalledtothedoggood-humouredly.
“Come,Nina,”hesaid,“weremembereachother,don’twe?”
Thelittlebeast,cowardlyandcross-grained,aspet-dogsusuallyare,lookedupathimsharply,shrankawayfromhisoutstretchedhand,whined,shivered,andhiditselfunderasofa.
Itwasscarcelypossiblethathecouldhavebeenputoutbysuchatrifleasadog’sreceptionofhim,butIobserved,nevertheless,thathewalkedawaytowardsthewindowverysuddenly.
Perhapshistemperisirritableattimes.Ifso,Icansympathisewithhim.Mytemperisirritableattimestoo.
MissHalcombewasnotlonginwritingthenote.
Whenitwasdonesherosefromthewriting-table,andhandedtheopensheetofpapertoSirPercival.
Hebowed,tookitfromher,foldeditupimmediatelywithoutlookingatthecontents,sealedit,wrotetheaddress,andhandeditbacktoherinsilence.
Ineversawanythingmoregracefullyandmorebecominglydoneinmylife.
“Youinsistonmypostingthisletter,SirPercival?”saidMissHalcombe.
“Ibegyouwillpostit,”heanswered.“Andnowthatitiswrittenandsealedup,allowmetoaskoneortwolastquestionsabouttheunhappywomantowhomitrefers.
IhavereadthecommunicationwhichMr.Gilmorekindlyaddressedtomysolicitor,describingthecircumstancesunderwhichthewriteroftheanonymousletterwasidentified.
Buttherearecertainpointstowhichthatstatementdoesnotrefer.DidAnneCatherickseeMissFairlie?”
“Certainlynot,”repliedMissHalcombe.
“Didsheseeyou?”
“No.”
“Shesawnobodyfromthehousethen,exceptacertainMr.Hartright,whoaccidentallymetwithherinthechurchyardhere?”
“Nobodyelse.”
“Mr.HartrightwasemployedatLimmeridgeasadrawing-master,Ibelieve?IsheamemberofoneoftheWater-ColourSocieties?”
“Ibelieveheis,”answeredMissHalcombe.
Hepausedforamoment,asifhewasthinkingoverthelastanswer,andthenadded—
“DidyoufindoutwhereAnneCatherickwasliving,whenshewasinthisneighbourhood?”
“Yes.Atafarmonthemoor,calledTodd’sCorner.”
“Itisadutyweallowetothepoorcreatureherselftotraceher,”continuedSirPercival.
“ShemayhavesaidsomethingatTodd’sCornerwhichmayhelpustofindher.
Iwillgothereandmakeinquiriesonthechance.
Inthemeantime,asIcannotprevailonmyselftodiscussthispainfulsubjectwithMissFairlie,mayIbeg,MissHalcombe,thatyouwillkindlyundertaketogiveherthenecessaryexplanation,deferringitofcourseuntilyouhavereceivedthereplytothatnote.”
MissHalcombepromisedtocomp]ywithhisrequest.
Hethankedher,noddedpleasantly,andleftus,togoandestablishhimselfinhisownroom.
Asheopenedthedoorthecross-grainedgreyhoundpokedouthersharpmuzzlefromunderthesofa,andbarkedandsnappedathim.
“Agoodmorning’swork,MissHalcombe,”Isaid,assoonaswewerealone.“Hereisananxiousdaywellendedalready.”
“Yes,”sheanswered;“nodoubt.Iamverygladyourmindissatisfied.”
“Mymind!Surely,withthatnoteinyourhand,yourmindisateasetoo?”
“Ohyes—howcanitbeotherwise?Iknowthethingcouldnotbe,”shewenton,speakingmoretoherselfthantome;“butIalmostwishWalterHartrighthadstayedherelongenoughtobepresentattheexplanation,andtoheartheproposaltometowritethisnote.”
Iwasalittlesurprised—perhapsalittlepiquedalso—bytheselastwords.
“Events,itistrue,connectedMr.Hartrightveryremarkablywiththeaffairoftheletter,”Isaid;“andIreadilyadmitthatheconductedhimself,allthingsconsidered,withgreatdelicacyanddiscretion.
ButIamquiteatalosstounderstandwhatusefulinfluencehispresencecouldhaveexercisedinrelationtotheeffectofSirPercival’sstatementonyourmindormine.”
“Itwasonlyafancy,”shesaidabsently.“Thereisnoneedtodiscussit,Mr.Gilmore.Yourexperienceoughttobe,andis,thebestguideIcandesire.”
Ididnotaltogetherlikeherthrustingthewholeresponsibility,inthismarkedmanner,onmyshoulders.
IfMr.Fairliehaddoneit,Ishouldnothavebeensurprised.
Butresolute,clear-mindedMissHalcombewastheverylastpersonintheworldwhomIshouldhaveexpectedtofindshrinkingfromtheexpressionofanopinionofherown.
“Ifanydoubtsstilltroubleyou,”Isaid,“whynotmentionthemtomeatonce?Tellmeplainly,haveyouanyreasontodistrustSirPercivalGlyde?”
“Nonewhatever.”
“Doyouseeanythingimprobable,orcontradictory,inhisexplanation?”
“HowcanIsayIdo,aftertheproofhehasofferedmeofthetruthofit?Cantherebebettertestimonyinhisfavour,Mr.Gilmore,thanthetestimonyofthewoman’smother?”
“Nonebetter.Iftheanswertoyournoteofinquiryprovestobesatisfactory,IforonecannotseewhatmoreanyfriendofSirPercival’scanpossiblyexpectfromhim.”
“Thenwewillpostthenote,”shesaid,risingtoleavetheroom,“anddismissallfurtherreferencetothesubjectuntiltheanswerarrives.
Don’tattachanyweighttomyhesitation.
IcangivenobetterreasonforitthanthatIhavebeenover-anxiousaboutLauralately—andanxiety,Mr.Gilmore,unsettlesthestrongestofus.”
Sheleftmeabruptly,hernaturallyfirmvoicefalteringasshespokethoselastwords.
Asensitive,vehement,passionatenature—awomanoftenthousandinthesetrivial,superficialtimes.
Ihadknownherfromherearliestyears—Ihadseenhertested,asshegrewup,inmorethanonetryingfamilycrisis,andmylongexperiencemademeattachanimportancetoherhesitationunderthecircumstancesheredetailed,whichIshouldcertainlynothavefeltinthecaseofanotherwoman.
Icouldseenocauseforanyuneasinessoranydoubt,butshehadmademealittleuneasy,andalittledoubtful,nevertheless.
Inmyyouth,Ishouldhavechafedandfrettedundertheirritationofmyownunreasonablestateofmind.
Inmyage,Iknewbetter,andwentoutphilosophicallytowalkitoff.
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