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attempting to make her break her resolute silence； and time；
which sooner or later wears out all things； gradually wore out
the impression produced on him by the dream。 He began by thinking
of it carelessly； and he ended by not thinking of it at all。
The result was the more easily brought about by the advent of
some important changes for the better in his prospects which
commenced not long after his terrible night's experience at the
inn。 He reaped at last th e reward of his long and patient
suffering under adversity by getting an excellent place； keeping
it for seven years； and leaving it； on the death of his master；
not only with an excellent character； but also with a comfortable
annuity bequeathed to him as a reward for saving his mistress's
life in a carriage accident。 Thus it happened that Isaac
Scatchard returned to his old mother； seven years after the time
of the dream at the inn； with an annual sum of money at his
disposal sufficient to keep them both in ease and independence
for the rest of their lives。
The mother； whose health had been bad of late years； profited so
much by the care bestowed on her and by freedom from money
anxieties； that when Isaac's birthday came round she was able to
sit up comfortably at table and dine with him。
On that day； as the evening drew on； Mrs。 Scatchard discovered
that a bottle of tonic medicine which she was accustomed to take；
and in which she had fancied that a dose or more was still left；
happened to be empty。 Isaac immediately volunteered to go to the
chemist's and get it filled again。 It was as rainy and bleak an
autumn night as on the memorable past occasion when he lost his
way and slept at the road…side inn。
On going into the chemist's shop he was passed hurriedly by a
poorly…dressed woman coming out of it。 The glimpse he had of her
face struck him； and he looked back after her as she descended
the door…steps。
〃You're noticing that woman？〃 said the chemist's apprentice
behind the counter。 〃It's my opinion there's something wrong with
her。 She's been asking for laudanum to put to a bad tooth。
Master's out for half an hour； and I told her I wasn't allowed to
sell poison to strangers in his absence。 She laughed in a queer
way； and said she would come back in half an hour。 If she expects
master to serve her； I think she'll be disappointed。 It's a case
of suicide； sir； if ever there was one yet。〃
These words added immeasurably to the sudden interest in the
woman which Isaac had felt at the first sight of her face。 After
he had got the medicine…bottle filled； he looked about anxiously
for her as soon as he was out in the street。 She was walking
slowly up and down on the opposite side of the road。 With his
heart； very much to his own surprise； beating fast； Isaac crossed
over and spoke to her。
He asked if she was in any distress。 She pointed to her torn
shawl； her scanty dress； her crushed； dirty bonnet； then moved
under a lamp so as to let the light fall on her stern； pale； but
still most beautiful face。
〃I look like a comfortable； happy woman； don't I？〃 she said； with
a bitter laugh。
She spoke with a purity of intonation which Isaac had never heard
before from other than ladies' lips。 Her slightest actions seemed
to have the easy； negligent grace of a thoroughbred woman。 Her
skin； for all its poverty…stricken paleness； was as delicate as
if her life had been passed in the enjoyment of every social
comfort that wealth can purchase。 Even her small； finely…shaped
hands； gloveless as they were； had not lost their whiteness。
Little by little； in answer to his questions； the sad story of
the woman came out。 There is no need to relate it here； it is
told over and over again in police reports and paragraphs about
attempted suicides。
〃My name is Rebecca Murdoch；〃 said the woman； as she ended。 〃I
have nine…pence left； and I thought of spending it at the
chemist's over the way in securing a passage to the other world。
Whatever it is； it can't be worse to me than this； so why should
I stop here？〃
Besides the natural compassion and sadness moved in his heart by
what he heard； Isaac felt within him some mysterious influence at
work all the time the woman was speaking which utterly confused
his ideas and almost deprived him of his powers of speech。 All
that he could say in answer to her last reckless words was that
he would prevent her from attempting her own life； if he followed
her about all night to do it。 His rough； trembling earnestness
seemed to impress her。
〃I won't occasion you that trouble；〃 she answered； when he
repeated his threat。 〃You have given me a fancy for living by
speaking kindly to me。 No need for the mockery of protestations
and promises。 You may believe me without them。 Come to Fuller's
Meadow to…morrow at twelve； and you will find me alive； to answer
for myselfNo ！no money。 My ninepence will do to get me as
good a night's lodging as I want。〃
She nodded and left him。 He made no attempt to followhe felt no
suspicion that she was deceiving him。
〃It's strange； but I can't help believing her；〃 he said to
himself； and walked away； bewildered； toward home。
On entering the house； his mind was still so completely absorbed
by its new subject of interest that he took no notice of what his
mother was doing when he came in with the bottle of medicine。 She
had opened her old writing…desk in his absence； and was now
reading a paper attentively that lay inside it。 On every birthday
of Isaac's since she had written down the particulars of his
dream from his own lips； she had been accustomed to read that
same paper； and ponder over it in private。
The next day he went to Fuller's Meadow。
He had done only right in believing her so implicitly。 She was
there； punctual to a minute； to answer for herself。 The last…left
faint defenses in Isaac's heart against the fascination which a
word or look from her began inscrutably to exercise over him sank
down and vanished before her forever on that memorable morning。
When a man； previously insensible to the influence of women；
forms an attachment in middle life； the instances are rare
indeed； let the warning circumstances be what they may； in which
he is found capable of freeing himself from the tyranny of the
new ruling passion。 The charm of being spoken to familiarly；
fondly； and gratefully by a woman whose language and manners
still retained enough of their early refinement to hint at the
high social station that she had lost； would have been a
dangerous luxury to a man of Isaac's rank at the age of twenty。
But it was far more than thatit was certain ruin to himnow
that his heart was opening unworthily to a new influence at that
middle time of life when strong feelings of all kinds； once
implanted； strike root most stubbornly in a man's moral nature。 A
few more stolen interviews after that first morning in Fuller's
Meadow completed his infatuation。 In less than a month from the
time when he first met her； Isaac Scatchard had consented to give
Rebecca Murdoch a new interest in existence； and a chance of
recovering the character she had lost by promising to make her
his wife。
She had taken possessi