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attempt at returning his scrutiny was absent； awoke him to the
perception that probably his secret was by some means or other known
to her； how it had become known he could not tell。
She drew forth the letter； unfolded it； and held it up to him；
letting it hang by one corner from between her finger and thumb； so
that the light from the lamp； though remote； fell directly upon its
surface。
'You know whose writing this is？' she said。
He saw the strokes plainly； instantly resolving to burn his ships
and hazard all on an advance。
'My wife's；' he said calmly。
His quiet answer threw her off her balance。 She had no more
expected an answer than does a preacher when he exclaims from the
pulpit； 'Do you feel your sin？' She had clearly expected a sudden
alarm。
'And why all this concealment？' she said again； her voice rising； as
she vainly endeavoured to control her feelings； whatever they were。
'It doesn't follow that； because a man is married； he must tell
every stranger of it； madam；' he answered； just as calmly as before。
'Stranger！ well； perhaps not； but； Mr。 Manston； why did you choose
to conceal it； I ask again？ I have a perfect right to ask this
question； as you will perceive； if you consider the terms of my
advertisement。'
'I will tell you。 There were two simple reasons。 The first was
this practical one； you advertised for an unmarried man； if you
remember？'
'Of course I remember。'
'Well； an incident suggested to me that I should try for the
situation。 I was married； but； knowing that in getting an office
where there is a restriction of this kind； leaving one's wife behind
is always accepted as a fulfilment of the condition； I left her
behind for awhile。 The other reason is； that these terms of yours
afforded me a plausible excuse for escaping （for a short time） the
company of a woman I had been mistaken in marrying。'
'Mistaken！ what was she？' the lady inquired。
'A third…rate actress； whom I met with during my stay in Liverpool
last summer； where I had gone to fulfil a short engagement with an
architect。'
'Where did she come from？'
'She is an American by birth； and I grew to dislike her when we had
been married a week。'
'She was ugly； I imagine？'
'She is not an ugly woman by any means。'
'Up to the ordinary standard？'
'Quite up to the ordinary standardindeed； handsome。 After a while
we quarrelled and separated。'
'You did not ill…use her； of course？' said Miss Aldclyffe； with a
little sarcasm。
'I did not。'
'But at any rate； you got thoroughly tired of her。'
Manston looked as if he began to think her questions put of place；
however； he said quietly； 'I did get tired of her。 I never told her
so； but we separated； I to come here； bringing her with me as far as
London and leaving her there in perfectly comfortable quarters； and
though your advertisement expressed a single man； I have always
intended to tell you the whole truth； and this was when I was going
to tell it； when your satisfaction with my careful management of
your affairs should have proved the risk to be a safe one to run。'
She bowed。
'Then I saw that you were good enough to be interested in my welfare
to a greater extent than I could have anticipated or hoped； judging
you by the frigidity of other employers； and this caused me to
hesitate。 I was vexed at the complication of affairs。 So matters
stood till three nights ago； I was then walking home from the
pottery； and came up to the railway。 The down…train came along
close to me； and there； sitting at a carriage window； I saw my wife：
she had found out my address； and had thereupon determined to follow
me here。 I had not been home many minutes before she came in； next
morning early she left again'
'Because you treated her so cavalierly？'
'And as I suppose； wrote to you directly。 That's the whole story of
her； madam。' Whatever were Manston's real feelings towards the lady
who had received his explanation in these supercilious tones； they
remained locked within him as within a casket of steel。
'Did your friends know of your marriage； Mr Manston？' she continued。
'Nobody at all； we kept it a secret for various reasons。'
'It is true then that； as your wife tells me in this letter； she has
not passed as Mrs。 Manston till within these last few days？'
'It is quite true； I was in receipt of a very small and uncertain
income when we married； and so she continued playing at the theatre
as before our marriage； and in her maiden name。'
'Has she any friends？'
'I have never heard that she has any in England。 She came over here
on some theatrical speculation； as one of a company who were going
to do much； but who never did anything； and here she has remained。'
A pause ensued； which was terminated by Miss Aldclyffe。
'I understand；' she said。 'Now； though I have no direct right to
concern myself with your private affairs （beyond those which arise
from your misleading me and getting the office you hold）'
'As to that； madam；' he interrupted； rather hotly； 'as to coming
here； I am vexed as much as you。 Somebody； a member of the
Institute of Architectswho； I could never tellsent to my old
address in London your advertisement cut from the paper； it was
forwarded to me； I wanted to get away from Liverpool； and it seemed
as if this was put in my way on purpose； by some old friend or
other。 I answered the advertisement certainly； but I was not
particularly anxious to come here； nor am I anxious to stay。'
Miss Aldclyffe descended from haughty superiority to womanly
persuasion with a haste which was almost ludicrous。 Indeed； the
Quos ego of the whole lecture had been less the genuine menace of
the imperious ruler of Knapwater than an artificial utterance to
hide a failing heart。
'Now； now； Mr。 Manston； you wrong me； don't suppose I wish to be
overbearing； or anything of the kind； and you will allow me to say
this much； at any rate； that I have become interested in your wife；
as well as in yourself。'
'Certainly； madam；' he said； slowly； like a man feeling his way in
the dark。 Manston was utterly at fault now。 His previous
experience of the effect of his form and features upon womankind en
masse； had taught him to flatter himself that he could account by
the same law of natural selection for the extraordinary interest
Miss Aldclyffe had hitherto taken in him； as an unmarried man； an
interest he did not at all object to； seeing that it kept him near
Cytherea； and enabled him； a man of no wealth； to rule on the estate
as if he were its lawful owner。 Like Curius at his Sabine farm； he
had counted it his glory not to possess gold himself； but to have
power over her who did。 But at this hint of the lady's wish to take
his wife under her wing also； he was perplexed： could she have any
sinister motive in doing so？ But he did not allow himself to be
troubled with these doubts； which only concerned his wife's
happiness。
'She tells me；' continued Miss Aldclyffe； 'how utterly alone in the
world she stands； and that is an additional reason why I should
sympathize with her。 Instead； then； of requesting the favour of
your retirement from the po