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first time in my life in a dead swoon。
That swoon was followed by a severe illness。 When I got strong
enough to look about me again； I found myself in one of the
farmhouse bedsmy father； Mrs。 Knifton； and the doctor were all
in the roommy cat was asleep at my feet； and the pocketbook
that I had saved lay on the table by my side。
There was plenty of news for me to hear as soon as I was fit to
listen to it。 Shifty Dick and the other rascal had been caught；
and were in prison； waiting their trial at the next assizes。 Mr。
and Mrs。 Knifton had been so shocked at the danger I had runfor
which they blamed their own want of thoughtfulness in leaving the
pocketbook in my carethat they had insisted on my father's
removing from our lonely home to a cottage on their land； which
we were to inhabit rent free。 The bank…notes that I had saved
were given to me to buy furniture with； in place of the things
that the thieves had broken。 These pleasant tidings assisted so
greatly in promoting my recovery； that I was soon able to relate
to my friends at the farmhouse the particulars that I have
written here。 They were all surprised and interested； but no one；
as I thought； listened to me with such breathless attention as
the farmer's eldest son。 Mrs。 Knifton noticed this too； and began
to make jokes about it； in her light…hearted way； as soon as we
were alone。 I thought little of her jesting at the time； but when
I got well； and we went to live at our new home； 〃the young
farmer；〃 as he was called in our parts； constantly came to see
us； and constantly managed to meet me out of doors。 I had my
share of vanity； like other young women； and I began to think of
Mrs。 Knifton's jokes with some attention。 To be brief； the young
farmer managed one SundayI never could tell howto lose his
way with me in returning from church； and before we found out the
right road home again he had asked me to be his wife。
His relations did all they could to keep us asunder and break off
the match； thinking a poor stonemason's daughter no fit wife for
a prosperous yeoman。 But the farmer was too obstinate for them。
He had one form of answer to all their objections。 〃A man； if he
is worth the name； marries according to his own notions； and to
please himself；〃 he used to say。 〃My notion is； that when I take
a wife I am placing my character and my happinessthe most
precious things I have to trustin one woman's care。 The woman I
mean to marry had a small charge confided to her care； and showed
herself worthy of it at the risk of her life。 That is proof
enough for me that she is worthy of the greatest charge I can put
into her hands。 Rank and riches are fine things； but the
certainty of getting a good wife is something better still。 I'm
of age； I know my own mind； and I mean to marry the stone…mason's
daughter。〃
And he did marry me。 Whether I proved myself worthy or not of his
good opinion is a question which I must leave you to ask my
husband。 All that I had to relate about myself and my doings is
now told。 Whatever interest my perilous adventure may excite；
ends； I am well aware； with my escape to the farmhouse。 I have
only ventured on writing these few additional sentences because
my marriage is the moral of my story。 It has brought me the
choicest blessings of happiness and prosperity； and I owe them
all to my night…adventure in _The Black Cottage_。
THE SECOND DAY。
A CLEAR； cloudless； bracing autumn morning。 I rose gayly； with
the pleasant conviction on my mind that our experiment had thus
far been successful beyond our hopes。
Short and slight as the first story had been； the result of it on
Jessie's mind had proved conclusive。 Before I could put the
question to her； she declared of her own accord； and with her
customary exaggeration； that she had definitely abandoned all
idea of writing to her aunt until our collection of narratives
was exhausted。
〃I am in a fever of curiosity about what is to come；〃 she said；
when we all parted for the night； 〃and； even if I wanted to leave
you； I could not possibly go away now； without hearing the
stories to the end。〃
So far； so good。 All my anxieties from this time were for
George's return。 Again to…day I searched the newspapers； and
again there were no tidings of the ship。
Miss Jessie occupied the second day by a drive to our county town
to make some little purchases。 Owen； and Morgan； and I were all
hard at work； during her absence； on the stories that still
remained to be completed。 Owen desponded about ever getting done；
Morgan grumbled at what he called the absurd difficulty of
writing nonsense。 I worked on smoothly and contentedly；
stimulated by the success of the first night。
We assembled as before in our guest's sitting…room。 As the clock
struck eight she drew out the second card。 It was Number Two。 The
lot had fallen on me to read next。
〃Although my story is told in the first person；〃 I said；
addressing Jessie； 〃you must not suppose that the events related
in this particular case happened to me。 They happened to a friend
of mine； who naturally described them to me from his own personal
point of view。 In producing my narrative from the recollection of
what he told me some years since； I have supposed myself to be
listening to him again； and have therefore written in his
character； and； w henever my memory would help me； as nearly as
possible in his language also。 By this means I hope I have
succeeded in giving an air of reality to a story which has truth；
at any rate； to recommend it。 I must ask you to excuse me if I
enter into no details in offering this short explanation。
Although the persons concerned in my narrative have ceased to
exist； it is necessary to observe all due delicacy toward their
memories。 Who they were； and how I became acquainted with them；
are matters of no moment。 The interest of the story； such as it
is； stands in no need； in this instance； of any assistance from
personal explanations。〃
With those words I addressed myself to my task； and read as
follows：
BROTHER GRIFFITH'S STORY
of
THE FAMILY SECRET。
CHAPTER I。
WAS it an Englishman or a Frenchman who first remarked that every
family had a skeleton in its cupboard？ I am not learned enough to
know； but I reverence the observation； whoever made it。 It speaks
a startling truth through an appropriately grim metaphora truth
which I have discovered by practical experience。 Our family had a
skeleton in the cupboard； and the name of it was Uncle George。
I arrived at the knowledge that this skeleton existed； and I
traced it to the particular cupboard in which it was hidden； by
slow degrees。 I was a child when I first began to suspect that
there was such a thing； and a grown man when I at last discovered
that my suspicions were true。
My father was a doctor； having an excellent practice in a large
country town。 I have heard that he married against the wishes of
his family。 They could not object to my mother on the score of
birth； breeding； or characterthey only disliked her heartily。
My grandfather； grandmother； uncles； and aunts all declared that
she was a heartless； deceitful woman； all disliked her manners；
her