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providing myself with the advice and assistance of which I stand
in need。
〃After vainly trying to think of some better person to apply to
in the difficulty which embarrassed me； I made a virtue of
necessity； and set forth to surprise Mrs。 Oldershaw by a visit
from her darling Lydia！ It is almost needless to add that I
determined to sound her carefully； and not to let any secret of
importance out of my own possession。
〃A sour and solemn old maid…servant admitted me into the house。
When I asked for her mistress； I was reminded with the bitterest
emphasis that I had committed the impropriety of calling on a
Sunday。 Mrs。 Oldershaw was at home； solely in consequence of
being too unwell to go to church！ The servant thought it very
unlikely that she would see me。 I thought it highly probable； on
the contrary； that she would honor me with an interview in her
own interests； if I sent in my name as 'Miss Gwilt'and the
event proved that I was right。 After being kept waiting some
minutes I was shown into the drawing…room。
〃There sat Mother Jezebel； with the air of a woman resting on the
high…road to heaven； dressed in a slate…colored gown； with gray
mittens on her hands； a severely simple cap on her head； and a
volume of sermons on her lap。 She turned up the whites of her
eyes dev outly at the sight of me； and the first words she said
were'Oh； Lydia！ Lydia！ why are you not at church？'
〃If I had been less anxious； the sudden presentation of Mrs。
Oldershaw in an entirely new character might have amused me。 But
I was in no humor for laughing； and （my notes of hand being all
paid） I was under no obligation to restrain my natural freedom of
speech。 'Stuff and nonsense！' I said。 'Put your Sunday face in
your pocket。 I have got some news for you； since I last wrote
from Thorpe Ambrose。'
〃The instant I mentioned 'Thorpe Ambrose；' the whites of the old
hypocrite's eyes showed themselves again； and she flatly refused
to hear a word more from me on the subject of my proceedings in
Norfolk。 I insisted； but it was quite useless。 Mother Oldershaw
only shook her head and groaned； and informed me that her
connection with the pomps and vanities of the world was at an end
forever。 'I have been born again； Lydia；' said the brazen old
wretch； wiping her eyes。 'Nothing will induce me to return to the
subject of that wicked speculation of yours on the folly of a
rich young man。'
〃After hearing this； I should have left her on the spot； but for
one consideration which delayed me a moment longer。
〃It was easy to see； by this time； that the circumstances
（whatever they might have been） which had obliged Mother
Oldershaw to keep in hiding； on the occasion of my former visit
to London； had been sufficiently serious to force her into giving
up； or appearing to give up； her old business。 And it was hardly
less plain that she had found it to her advantageeverybody in
England finds it to their advantage in some way to cover the
outer side of her character carefully with a smooth varnish of
Cant。 This was； however； no business of mine； and I should have
made these reflections outside instead of inside the house； if my
interests had not been involved in putting the sincerity of
Mother Oldershaw's reformation to the testso far as it affected
her past connection with myself。 At the time when she had fitted
me out for our enterprise； I remembered signing a certain
business document which gave her a handsome pecuniary interest in
my success； if I became Mrs。 Armadale of Thorpe Ambrose。 The
chance of turning this mischievous morsel of paper to good
account； in the capacity of a touchstone； was too tempting to be
resisted。 I asked my devout friend's permission to say one last
word before I left the house。
〃 'As you have no further interest in my wicked speculation at
Thorpe Ambrose；' I said； 'perhaps you will give me back the
written paper that I signed； when you were not quite such an
exemplary person as you are now？'
〃The shameless old hypocrite instantly shut her eyes and
shuddered。
〃 'Does that mean Yes； or No'？' I asked。
〃 'On moral and religious grounds； Lydia；' said Mrs。 Oldershaw；
'it means No。'
〃 'On wicked and worldly grounds；' I rejoined； 'I beg to thank
you for showing me your hand。'
〃There could； indeed； be no doubt now about the object she really
had in view。 She would run no more risks and lend no more money；
she would leave me to win or lose single…handed。 If I lost； she
would not be compromised。 If I won； she would produce the paper I
had signed； and profit by it without remorse。 In my present
situation； it was mere waste of time and words to prolong the
matter by any useless recrimination on my side。 I put the warning
away privately in my memory for future use； and got up to go。
〃At the moment when I left my chair there was a sharp double
knock at the street door。 Mrs。 Oldershaw evidently recognized it。
She rose in a violent hurry； and rang the bell。 'I am too unwell
to see anybody；' she said； when the servant appeared。 'Wait a
moment； if you please；' she added； turning sharply on me； when
the woman had left us to answer the door。
〃It was small； very small； spitefulness on my part； I know； but
the satisfaction of thwarting Mother Jezebel； even in a trifle；
was not to be resisted。 'I can't wait；' I said； 'you reminded me
just now that I ought to be at church。' Before she could answer I
was out of the room。
〃As I put my foot on the first stair the street door was opened；
and a man's voice inquired whether Mrs。 Oldershaw was at home。
〃I instantly recognized the voice。 Doctor Downward！
〃The doctor repeated the servant's message in a tone which
betrayed unmistakable irritation at finding himself admitted no
further than the door。
〃 'Your mistress is not well enough to see visitors？ Give her
that card；' said the doctor； 'and say I expect her； the next time
I call； to be well enough to see _me。_'
〃If his voice had not told me plainly that he felt in no friendly
mood toward Mrs。 Oldershaw； I dare say I should have let him go
without claiming his acquaintance； but； as things were； I felt an
impulse to speak to him or to anybody who had a grudge against
Mother Jezebel。 There was more of my small spitefulness in this；
I suppose。 Anyway； I slipped downstairs； and； following the
doctor out quietly； overtook him in the street。
〃I had recognized his voice； and I recognized his back as I
walked behind him。 But when I called him by his name； and when he
turned round with a start and confronted me； I followed his
example； and started on my side。 The doctor's face was
transformed into the face of a perfect stranger！ His baldness had
hidden itself under an artfully grizzled wig。 He had allowed his
whiskers to grow； and had dyed them to match his new head of
hair。 Hideous circular spectacles bestrode his nose in place of
the neat double eyeglass that he used to carry in his hand； and a
black neckerchief； surmounted by immense shirt…collars； appeared
as the unworthy successor of the clerical white cravat of former
times。 Nothing remained of the man I once knew but the
comfortable plumpness of his figure； and the confidential