mine。　I　am　not　afraid。　I　am　（as　you　more　correctly　put　it　in　the
  first　instance）　strangely　depressed。　My　nature　is；　as　you　know；
  naturally　sanguine；　and　I　only　see　to…day　what　but　for　my
  habitual　hopefulness　I　might　have　seen；　and　ought　to　have　seen；　a
  week　since。〃
  Miss　Gwilt　impatiently　threw　down　her　work。　〃If　words　cost
  money；〃　she　said；　〃the　luxury　of　talking　would　be　rather　an
  expensive　luxury　in　your　case！〃
  〃Which　I　might　have　seen；　and　ought　to　have　seen；〃　reiterated　the
  doctor；　without　taking　the　slightest　notice　of　the　interruption；
  〃a　week　since。　To　put　it　plainly；　I　feel　by　no　means　so　certain
  as　I　did　that　Mr。　Armadale　will　consent；　without　a　struggle；　to
  the　terms　which　it　is　my　interest　（and　in　a　minor　degree　yours）
  to　impose　on　him。　Observe！　I　don't　question　our　entrapping　him
  successfully　into　the　Sanitarium：　I　only　doubt　whether　he　will
  prove　quite　as　manageable　as　I　originally　anticipated　when　we
  have　got　him　there。　Say；〃　remarked　the　doctor；　raising　his　eyes
  for　the　first　time；　and　fixing　them　in　steady　inquiry　on　Miss
  Gwilt〃say　that　he　is　bold；　obstinate；　what　you　please；　and　that
  he　holds　outholds　out　for　weeks　together；　for　months　together；
  as　men　in　similar　situations　to　his　have　held　out　before　him。
  What　follows？　The　risk　of　keeping　him　forcibly　in　concealmentof
  suppressing　him；　if　I　may　so　express　myselfincreases　at
  compound　interest；　and　becomes　Enormous！　My　house　is　at　this
  moment　virtually　ready　for　patients。　Patients　may　present
  themselves　in　a　week's　time。　Patients　may　communicate　with　Mr。
  Armadale；　or　Mr。　Armadale　may　communicate　with　patients。　A　note
  may　be　smuggled　out　of　the　house；　and　may　reach　the　Commissioners
  in　Lunacy。　Even　in　the　case　of　an　unlicensed　establishment　like
  mine；　those　gentlemenno！　those　chartered　despots　in　a　land　of
  libertyhave　only　to　apply　to　the　Lord　Chancellor　for　an　order；
  and　to　enter　（by　heavens；　to　enter　My　Sanitarium！）　and　search　the
  house　from　top　to　bottom　at　a　moment's　notice！　I　don't　wish　to
  despond；　I　don't　wish　to　alarm　you；　I　don't　pretend　to　say　that
  the　means　we　are　taking　to　secure　your　own　safety　are　any　other
  than　the　best　means　at　our　disposal。　All　I　ask　you　to　do　is　to
  imagine　the　Commissioners　in　the　houseand　then　to　conceive　the
  consequences。　The　consequences！〃　repeated　the　doctor；　getting
  sternly　on　his　feet；　and　taking　up　his　hat　as　if　he　meant　to
  leave　the　room。
  〃Have　you　anything　more　to　say？〃　asked　Miss　Gwilt。
  〃Have　you　any　remarks；〃　rejoined　the　doctor；　〃to　offer　on　your
  side？〃
  He　stood；　hat　in　hand；　waiting。　For　a　full　minute　the　two　looked
  at　each　other　in　silence。
  Miss　Gwilt　spoke　first。
  〃I　think　I　understand　you；〃　she　said；　suddenly　recovering　her
  composure。
  〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　returned　the　doctor；　with　his　hand　to　his
  ear。　〃What　did　you　say？〃
  〃Nothing。〃
  〃Nothing？〃
  〃If　you　happened　to　catch　another　fly　this　morning；〃　said　Miss
  Gwilt；　with　a　bitterly　sarcastic　emphasis　on　the　words；　〃I　might
  be　capable　of　shocking　you　by　another　'little　joke。'　〃
  The　doctor　held　up　both　hands；　in　polite　deprecation；　and　looked
  as　if　he　was　beginning　to　recover　his　good　humor　again。
  〃Hard；〃　he　murmured；　gently；　〃not　to　have　forgiven　me　that
  unlucky　blunder　of　mine；　even　yet！〃
  〃What　else　have　you　to　say？　I　am　waiting　for　you；〃　said　Miss
  Gwilt。　She　turned　her　chair　to　the　window　scornfully；　and　took　up
  her　work　again；　as　she　spoke。
  The　doctor　came　behind　her；　and　put　his　hand　on　the　back　of　her
  chair。
  〃I　have　a　question　to　ask；　in　the　first　place；〃　he　said；　〃and　a
  measure　of　necessary　precaution　to　suggest；　in　the　second。　If　you
  will　honor　me　with　your　attention；　I　will　put　the　question
  first。〃
  〃I　am　listening。〃
  〃You　know　that　Mr。　Armadale　is　alive；〃　pursued　the　doctor；　〃and
  you　know　that　he　is　coming　back　to　England。　Why　do　you　continue
  to　wear　your　widow's　dress？〃
  She　answered　him　without　an　instant's　hesitation；　steadily　going
  on　with　her　work。
  〃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。〃
  〃And　suppose　he　gets　home　alivewhat　then？〃
  〃Then　there　is　another　chance　still　left。〃
  〃What　is　it；　pray？〃
  〃He　may　die　in　your　Sanitarium。〃
  〃Madam！〃　remonstrated　the　doctor；　in　the　deep　bass　which　he
  reserved　for　his　outbursts　of　virtuous　indignation。　〃Wait！　you
  spoke　of　the　chapter　of　accidents；〃　he　resumed；　gliding　back　into
  his　softer　conversational　tones。　〃Yes！　yes！　of　course。　I
  understand　you　this　time。　Even　the　healing　art　is　at　the　mercy　of
  accidents；　even　such　a　Sanitarium　as　mine　is　liable　to　be
  surprised　by　Death。　Just　so！　just　so！〃　said　the　doctor；　conceding
  the　question　with　the　utmost　impartiality。　〃There　_is_　the
  chapter　of　accidents；　I　admit　if　you　choose　to　trust　to　it。
  Mind！　I　say　emphatically；　_if_　you　choose　to　trust　to　it。〃
  There　was　another　moment　of　silencesilence　so　profound　that
  nothing　was　audible　in　the　room　but　the　rapid　_click_　of　Miss
  Gwilt's　needle　through　her　work。
  〃Go　on；〃　she　said；　〃you　haven't　done　yet。〃
  〃True！〃　said　the　doctor。　〃Having　put　my　question；　I　have　my
  measure　of　precaution　to　impress　on　you　next。　You　will　see；　my
  dear　madam；　that　I　am　not　disposed　to　trust　to　the　chapter　of
  accidents　on　my　side。　Reflection　has　convinced　me　that　you　and　I
  are　not　（logically　speaking）　so　conveniently　situated　as　we　might
  be　in　case　of　emergency。　Cabs　are；　as　yet；　rare　in　this　rapidly
  improving　neighborhood。　I　am　twenty　minutes'　walk　from　you；　you
  are　twenty　minutes'　walk　from　me。　I　know　nothing　of　Mr。
  Armadale's　character；　you　know　it　well。　It　might　be
  necessaryvitally　necessaryto　appeal　to　your　superior
  knowledge　of　him　at　a　moment's　notice。　And　how　am　I　to　do　that
  unless　we　are　within　easy　reach　of　each　other；　under　the　same
  roof？　In　both　our　interests；　I　beg　to　invite　you；　my　dear　madam；
  to　become　for　a　limited　period　an　inmate　of　My　Sanitarium。〃
  Miss　Gwilt's　rapid　needle　suddenly　stopped。　〃I　understand　you；〃
  she　said　again；　as　quietly　as　before。
  〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　said　the　doctor；　with　another　attack　of
  deafness；　and　with　his　hand　once　more　at　his　ear。
  She　laughed　to　herselfa　low；　terrible　laugh；　which　startled
  even　the　doctor　into　taking　his　hand　off　the　back　of　her　chair。
  〃An　inmate　of　your　Sanitarium？〃　she　repeated。　〃You　consult
  appearances　in　everything　else；　do　you　propose　to　consult
  appearances　in　receiving　me　into　your　house？〃
  〃Most　assuredly！〃　replied　the　doctor；　with　enthusiasm。　〃I　am
  surprised　at　your　asking　me　the　question！　Did　you　ever　know　a　man
  of　any　eminence　in　my　profession　who　set　appearances　at　defiance？
  If　you　honor　me　by　accepting　my　invitation；　you　enter　My
  Sanitarium　in　the　most　unimpeachable　of　all　possible
  charactersin　the　character　of　a　Patient。〃
  〃When　do　you　want　my　answer？〃
  〃Can　you　decide　to…day？〃
  〃To…morrow？〃
  〃Yes。　Have　you　anything　more　to　say？〃
  ''Nothing　more。〃
  〃Leave　me；　then。　_I_　don't　keep　up　appearances。　I　wish　to　be
  alone；　and　I　say　so。　Good…morning。〃
  〃Oh；　the　sex！　the　sex！〃　said　the　doctor；　with　his　excellent
  temper　in　perfect　working　order　again。　〃So　delightfully
  impulsive！　so　charmingly　reckless　of　what　they　say　or　how　they
  say　it！　'Oh；　woman；　in　our　hours　of　ease；　uncertain；　coy；　and
  hard　to　please！'　There！　there！　there！　Good…morning！〃
  Miss　Gwilt　rose　and　looked　after　him　contemptuously　from　the
  window；　when　the　street　door　had　closed；　and　he　had　left　the
  house。
  〃Armadale　himself　drove　me　to　it　the　first　time；〃　she　said。
  〃Manuel　drove　me　to　it　the　second　time。You　cowardly　scoundrel！
  shall　I　let　_you_　drive　me　to　it　for　the　third　time；　and　the
  last？〃
  She　turned　from　the　window；　and　looked　thoughtfully　at　her
  widow's　dress　in　the　glass。
  The　hours　of　the　day　passedand　she　decided　nothing。　The　night
  cameand　she　hesitated　still。　The　new　morning　dawnedand　the
  terrible　question　was　still　unanswered。
  By　the　early　post　there　came　a　letter　for　her。　It　was　Mr。
  Bashwood's　usual　report。　Again　he　had　watched　for　Allan's
  arrival；　and　again　in　vain。
  〃I'll　have　more　time！〃　she　determined；　passionately。　〃No　man
  alive　shall　hurry　me　faster　than　I　like！〃
  At　breakfast　that　morning　（the　morning　of　the　9th）　the　doctor　was
  surprised　in　his　study　by　a　visit　from　Miss　Gwilt。
  〃I　want　another　day；〃　she　said；　the　moment　the　servant　had　closed
  the　door　on　her。
  The　doctor　looked　at　her　before　he　answered；　and　saw　the　danger
  of　driving　her　to　extremities　plainly　expressed　in　her　face。
  〃The　time　is　getting　on；〃　he　remonstrated；　in　his　most　persuasive
  manner。　〃For　all　we　know　to　the　contrary；　Mr。　Armadale　may　be
  here　to…night。〃
  〃I　want　another　day！〃　she　repeated；　loudly　and　passionately。
  〃Granted！〃　said　the　doctor；　looking　nervously　toward　the　door。
  〃Don't　be　too　loudthe　servants　may　hear　you。　Mind！〃　he　added；
  〃I　depend　on　your　honor　not　to　press　me　for　any　further　delay。〃
  〃You　had　better　depend　on　my　despair；〃　she　said；　and　left　him。
  The　doctor　chipped　the　shell　of　his　egg；　and　laughed　softly。
  〃Quite　right；　my　dear！〃　he　thought。　〃I　remember　where　your
  despair　led　you　in　past　times；　and　I　think　I　may　trust　it　to　lead
  you　the　same　way　now。〃
  At　a　quarter　to