〃Something　wrong　at　Thorpe　Ambrose？〃　asked　Allen。
  〃Yes；　Mr。　Armadale；　something　wrong　at　Thorpe　Ambrose。〃
  Allan　sat　down　resignedly；　and　opened　the　letter。
  ＇〃Private　and　Confidential。〃＇
  〃High　Street　Thorpe　Ambrose；　17th　July；　1851。
  〃DEAR　SIRI　cannot　reconcile　it　with　my　sense　of　duty　to　your
  interests　to　leave　you　any　longer　in　ignorance　of　reports　current
  in　this　town　and　its　neighborhood；　which；　I　regret　to　say；　are
  reports　affecting　yourself。
  〃The　first　intimation　of　anything　unpleasant　reached　me　on　Monday
  last。　It　was　widely　rumored　in　the　town　that　something　had　gone
  wrong　at　Major　Milroy's　with　the　new　governess；　and　that　Mr。
  Armadale　was　mixed　up　in　it。　I　paid　no　heed　to　this；　believing　it
  to　be　one　of　the　many　trumpery　pieces　of　scandal　perpetually　set
  going　here；　and　as　necessary　as　the　air　they　breathe　to　the
  comfort　of　the　inhabitants　of　this　highly　respectable　place。
  〃Tuesday；　however；　put　the　matter　in　a　new　light。　The　most
  interesting　particulars　were　circulated　on　the　highest　authority。
  On　Wednesday；　the　gentry　in　the　neighborhood　took　the　matter　up；
  and　universally　sanctioned　the　view　adopted　by　the　town。　To…day
  the　public　feeling　has　reached　its　climax；　and　I　find　myself
  under　the　necessity　of　making　you　acquainted　with　what　has
  happened。
  〃To　begin　at　the　beginning。　It　is　asserted　that　a　correspondence
  took　place　last　week　between　Major　Milroy　and　yourself；　in　which
  you　cast　a　very　serious　suspicion　on　Miss　Gwilt's　respectability；
  without　defining　your　accusations　and　without　（on　being　applied
  to）　producing　your　proofs。　Upon　this；　the　major　appears　to　have
  felt　it　his　duty　（while　assuring　his　governess　of　his　own　firm
  belief　in　her　respectability）　to　inform　her　of　what　had　happened；
  in　order　that　she　might　have　no　future　reason　to　complain　of　his
  having　had　any　concealments　from　her　in　a　matter　affecting　her
  character。　Very　magnanimous　on　the　major's　part；　but　you　will　see
  directly　that　Miss　Gwilt　was　more　magnanimous　still。　After
  expressing　her　thanks　in　a　most　becoming　manner；　she　requested
  permission　to　withdraw　herself　from　Major　Milroy's　service。
  〃Various　reports　are　in　circulation　as　to　the　governess's　reason
  for　taking　this　step。
  〃The　authorized　version　（as　sanctioned　by　the　resident　gentry）
  represents　Miss　Gwilt　to　have　said　that　she　could　not
  condescendin　justice　to　herself；　and　in　justice　to　her　highly
  respectable　referenceto　defend　her　reputation　against　undefined
  imputations　cast　on　it　by　a　comparative　stranger。　At　the　same
  time　it　was　impossible　for　her　to　pursue　such　a　course　of　conduct
  as　this；　unless　she　possessed　a　freedom　of　action　which　was　quite
  incompatible　with　her　continuing　to　occupy　the　dependent　position
  of　a　governess。　For　that　reason　she　felt　it　incumbent　on　her　to
  leave　her　situation。　But；　while　doing　this；　she　was　equally
  determined　not　to　lead　to　any　misinterpretation　of　her　motives　by
  leaving　the　neighborhood。　No　matter　at　what　inconvenience　to
  herself；　she　would　remain　long　enough　at　Thorpe　Ambrose　to　await
  any　more　definitely　expressed　imputations　that　might　be　made　on
  her　character；　and　to　repel　them　publicly　the　instant　they
  assumed　a　tangible　form。
  〃Such　is　the　position　which　this　high…minded　lady　has　taken　up；
  with　an　excellent　effect　on　the　public　mind　in　these　parts。　It　is
  clearly　her　interest；　for　some　reason；　to　leave　her　situation；
  without　leaving　the　neighborhood。　On　Monday　last　she　established
  herself　in　a　cheap　lodging　on　the　outskirts　of　the　town。　And　on
  the　same　day　she　probably　wrote　to　her　reference；　for　yesterday
  there　came　a　letter　from　that　lady　to　Major　Milroy；　full　of
  virtuous　indignation；　and　courting　the　fullest　inquiry。　The
  letter　has　been　shown　publicly；　and　has　immensely　strengthened
  Miss　Gwilt's　position。　She　is　now　considered　to　be　quite　a
  heroine。　The　_Thorpe　Ambrose　Mercury_　has　got　a　leading　article
  about　her；　comparing　her　to　Joan　of　Arc。　It　is　considered
  probable　that　she　will　be　referred　to　in　the　sermon　next　Sunday。
  We　reckon　five　strong…minded　single　ladies　in　this
  neighborhoodand　all　five　have　called　on　her。　A　testimonial　was
  suggested；　but　it　has　been　given　up　at　Miss　Gwilt's　own　request；
  and　a　general　movement　is　now　on　foot　to　get　her　employment　as　a
  teacher　of　music。　Lastly；　I　have　had　the　honor　of　a　visit　from
  the　lady　herself；　in　her　capacity　of　martyr；　to　tell　me；　in　the
  sweetest　manner；　that　she　doesn't　blame　Mr。　Armadale；　and　that
  she　considers　him　to　be　an　innocent　instrument　in　the　hands　of
  other　and　more　designing　people。　I　was　carefully　on　my　guard　with
  her；　for　I　don't　altogether　believe　in　Miss　Gwilt；　and　I　have　my
  lawyer's　suspicions　of　the　motive　that　is　at　the　bottom　of　her
  present　proceedings。
  〃I　have　written　thus　far；　my　dear　sir；　with　little　hesitation　or
  embarrassment。　But　there　is　unfortunately　a　serious　side　to　this
  business　as　well　as　a　ridiculous　side；　and　I　must　unwillingly
  come　to　it　before　I　close　my　letter。
  〃It　is；　I　think；　quite　impossible　that　you　can　permit　yourself　to
  be　spoken　of　as　you　are　spoken　of　now；　without　stirring
  personally　in　the　matter。　You　have　unluckily　made　many　enemies
  here；　and　foremost　among　them　is　my　colleague；　Mr。　Darch。　He　has
  been　showing　everywhere　a　somewhat　rashly　expressed　letter　you
  wrote　to　him　on　the　subject　of　letting　the　cottage　to　Major
  Milroy　instead　of　to　himself；　and　it　has　helped　to　exasperate　the
  feeling　against　you。　It　is　roundly　stated　in　so　many　words　that
  you　have　been　prying　into　Miss　Gwilt's　family　affairs；　with　the
  most　dishonorable　motives；　that　you　have　tried；　for　a　profligate
  purpose　of　your　own；　to　damage　her　reputation；　and　to　deprive　her
  of　the　protection　of　Major　Milroy's　roof；　and　that；　after　having
  been　asked　to　substantiate　by　proof　the　suspicions　that　you　have
  cast　on　the　reputation　of　a　defenseless　woman；　you　have
  maintained　a　silence　which　condemns　you　in　the　estimation　of　all
  honorable　men。
  〃I　hope　it　is　quite　unnecessary　for　me　to　say　that　I　don't　attach
  the　smallest　particle　of　credit　to　these　infamous　reports。　But
  they　are　too　widely　spread　and　too　widely　believed　to　be　treated
  with　contempt。　I　strongly　urge　you　to　return　at　once　to　this
  place；　and　to　take　the　necessary　measures　for　defending　your
  character；　in　concert　with　me；　as　your　legal　adviser。　I　have
  formed；　since　my　interview　with　Miss　Gwilt；　a　very　strong　opinion
  of　my　own　on　the　subject　of　that　lady　which　it　is　not　necessary
  to　commit　to　paper。　Suffice　it　to　say　here　that　I　shall　have　a
  means　to　propose　to　you　for　silencing　the　slanderous　tongues　of
  your　neighbors；　on　the　success　of　which　I　stake　my　professional
  reputation；　if　you　will　only　back　me　by　your　presence　and
  authority。
  〃It　may；　perhaps；　help　to　show　you　the　necessity　there　is　for
  your　return；　if　I　mention　one　other　assertion　respecting
  yourself；　which　is　in　everybody's　mouth。　Your　absence　is；　I
  regret　to　tell　you；　attributed　to　the　meanest　of　all　motives。　It
  is　said　that　you　are　remaining　in　London　because　you　are　afraid
  to　show　your　face　at　Thorpe　Ambrose。
  〃Believe　me；　dear　sir；　your　faithful　servant；
  〃A。　PEDGIFT；　Sen。〃
  Allan　was　of　an　age　to　feel　the　sting　contained　in　the　last
  sentence　of　his　lawyer's　letter。　He　started　to　his　feet　in　a
  paroxysm　of　indignation；　which　revealed　his　character　to　Pedgift
  Junior　in　an　entirely　new　light。
  〃Where's　the　time…table？〃　cried　Allan。　〃I　must　go　back　to　Thorpe
  Ambrose　by　the　next　train！　If　it　doesn't　start　directly；　I'll
  have　a　special　engine。　I　must　and　will　go　back　instantly；　and　I
  don't　care　two　straws　for　the　expense！〃
  〃Suppose　we　telegraph　to　my　father；　sir？〃　suggested　the　judicious
  Pedgift。　〃It's　the　quickest　way　of　expressing　your　feelings；　and
  the　cheapest。〃
  〃So　it　is；〃　said　Allan。　〃Thank　you　for　reminding　me　of　it。
  Telegraph　to　them！　Tell　your　father　to　give　every　man　in　Thorpe
  Ambrose　the　lie　direct；　in　my　name。　Put　it　in　capital　letters；
  Pedgiftput　it　in　capital　letters！〃
  Pedgift　smiled　and　shook　his　head。　If　he　was　acquainted　with　no
  other　variety　of　human　nature；　he　thoroughly　knew　the　variety
  that　exists　in　country　towns。
  〃It　won't　have　the　least　effect　on　them；　Mr。　Armadale；〃　he
  remarked　quietly。　〃They'll　only　go　on　lying　harder　than　ever。　If
  you　want　to　upset　the　whole　town；　one　line　will　do　it。　With　five
  shillings'　worth　of　human　labor　and　electric　fluid；　sir　（I　dabble
  a　little　in　science　after　business　hours）；　we'll　explode　a
  bombshell　in　Thorpe　Ambrose！〃　He　produced　the　bombshell　on　a　slip
  of　paper　as　he　spoke：　〃A。　Pedgift；　Junior；　to　A。　Pedgift；
  Senior。Spread　it　all　over　the　place　that　Mr。　Armadale　is　coming
  down　by　the　next　train。〃
  〃More　words！〃　suggested　Allan；　looking　over　his　shoulder。　〃Make
  it　stronger。〃
  〃Leave　my　father　to　make　it　stronger；　sir；〃　returned　the　wary
  Pedgift。　〃My　father　is　on　the　spot；　and　his　command　of　language
  is　something　quite　extraordinary。〃　He　rang　the　bell；　and
  dispatched　the　telegram。
  Now　that　something　had　been　done；　Allan　subsided　gradually　into　a
  state　of　composure。　He　l　ooked　back　again　at　Mr。　Pedgift's
  letter；　and　then　handed　it　to　Mr。　Pedgift's　son。
  〃Can　you　guess　your　father's　plan　for　setting　me　right　in　the
  neighborhood？〃　he　as