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The time of waking from this delusionthe cruel and the rueful
timewas not far off。 After some quiet months of married life；
as the summer was ending； and the year was getting on toward the
month of his birthday； Isaac found his wife altering toward him。
She grew sullen and contemptuous； she formed acquaintances of the
most dangerous kind in defiance of his objections； his
entreaties； and his commands； and； worst of all； she learned； ere
long； after every fresh difference with her husband； to seek the
deadly self…oblivion of drink。 Little by little； after the first
miserable discovery that his wife was keeping company with
drunkards； the shocking certainty forced itself on Isaac that she
had grown to be a drunkard herself。
He had been in a sadly desponding state for some time before the
occurrence of these domestic calamities。 His mother's health； as
he could but too plainly discern every time he went to see her at
the cottage； was failing fast； and he upbraided himself in secret
as the cause of the bodily and mental suffering she endured。 When
to his remorse on his mother's account was added the shame and
misery occasioned by the discovery of his wife's degradation； he
sank under the double trialhis face began to alter fast； and he
looked what he was； a spirit…broken man。
His mother； still struggling bravely against the illness that was
hurrying her to the grave； was the first to notice the sad
alteration in him； and the first to hear of his last worst
trouble with his wife。 She could only weep bitterly on the day
when he made his humiliating confession； but on the next occasion
when he went to see her she had taken a resolution in reference
to his domestic afflictions which astonished and even alarmed
him。 He found her dressed to go out； and on asking the reason
received this answer：
〃I am not long for this world； Isaac；〃 she said； 〃and I shall not
feel easy on my death…bed unless I have done my best to the last
to make my son happy。 I mean to put my own fears and my own
feelings out of the question； and to go with you to your wife；
and try what I can do to reclaim her。 Give me your arm； Isaac；
and let me do the last thing I can in this world to help my son
before it is too late。〃
He could not disobey her； and they walked together slowly toward
his miserable home。
It was only one o'clock in the afternoon when they reached the
cottage where he lived。 It was their dinner…hour； and Rebecca was
in the kitchen。 He was thus able to take his mother quietly into
the parlor； and then prepare his wife for the interview。 She had
fortunately drunk but little at that early hour； and she was less
sullen and capricious than usual。
He returned to his mother with his mind tolerably at ease。 His
wife soon followed him into the parlor； and the m eeting between
her and Mrs。 Scatchard passed off better than he had ventured to
anticipate； though he observed with secret apprehension that his
mother； resolutely as she controlled herself in other respects；
could not look his wife in the face when she spoke to her。 It was
a relief to him； therefore； when Rebecca began to lay the cloth。
She laid the cloth； brought in the bread…tray； and cut a slice
from the loaf for her husband； then returned to the kitchen。 At
that moment； Isaac； still anxiously watching his mother； was
startled by seeing the same ghastly change pass over her face
which had altered it so awfully on the morning when Rebecca and
she first met。 Before he could say a word； she whispered； with a
look of horror：
〃Take me backhome； home again； Isaac。 Come with me； and never
go back again。〃
He was afraid to ask for an explanation； he could only sign to
her to be silent； and help her quickly to the door。 As they
passed the breadtray on the table she stopped and pointed to it。
〃Did you see what your wife cut your bread with？〃 she asked； in a
low whisper。
〃No； motherI was not noticingwhat was it？〃
〃Look！〃
He did look。 A new clasp…knife with a buckhorn handle lay with
the loaf in the bread…tray。 He stretched out his hand
shudderingly to possess himself of it； but； at the same time；
there was a noise in the kitchen； and his mother caught at his
arm。
〃The knife of the dream！ Isaac； I'm faint with fear。 Take me away
before she comes back。〃
He was hardly able to support her。 The visible； tangible reality
of the knife struck him with a panic； and utterly destroyed any
faint doubts that he might have entertained up to this time in
relation to the mysterious dream…warning of nearly eight years
before。 By a last desperate effort； he summoned self…possession
enough to help his mother out of the houseso quietly that the
〃Dream…woman〃 （he thought of her by that name now） did not hear
them departing from the kitchen。
〃Don't go back； Isaacdon't go back！〃 implored Mrs。 Scatchard；
as he turned to go away； after seeing her safely seated again in
her own room。
〃I must get the knife；〃 he answered； under his breath。 His mother
tried to stop him again； but he hurried out without another word。
On his return he found that his wife had discovered their secret
departure from the house。 She had been drinking； and was in a
fury of passion。 The dinner in the kitchen was flung under the
grate； the cloth was off the parlor table。 Where was the knife？
Unwisely； he asked for it。 She was only too glad of the
opportunity of irritating him which the request afforded her。 〃He
wanted the knife； did he？ Could he give her a reason why？ No！
Then he should not have itnot if he went down on his knees to
ask for it。〃 Further recriminations elicited the fact that she
had bought it a bargain； and that she considered it her own
especial property。 Isaac saw the uselessness of attempting to get
the knife by fair means； and determined to search for it； later
in the day； in secret。 The search was unsuccessful。 Night came
on； and he left the house to walk about the streets。 He was
afraid now to sleep in the same room with her。
Three weeks passed。 Still sullenly enraged with him； she would
not give up the knife； and still that fear of sleeping in the
same room with her possessed him。 He walked about at night； or
dozed in the parlor； or sat watching by his mother's bedside。
Before the expiration of the first week in the new month his
mother died。 It wanted then but ten days of her son's birthday。
She had longed to live till that anniversary。 Isaac was present
at her death； and her last words in this world were addressed to
him：
〃Don't go back； my son； don't go back！〃 He was obliged to go
back； if it were only to watch his wife。 Exasperated to the last
degree by his distrust of her； she had revengefully sought to add
a sting to his grief； during the last days of his mother's
illness； by declaring that she would assert her right to attend
the funeral。 In spite of any thing he could do or say； she held
with wicked pertinacity to her word； and on the day appointed for
the burial forced herselfinflamed and shameless with
drinkinto her husband's presence； and declared that she would
walk in the funeral procession to his mother's grave。
This last worst outrage； accompanied by all that was most