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before her。 It was not a grand dinnera little friendly
gathering： no evening dress。 When the time came for going back to
Gleninch； what do you think Helena did？ She sent her maid back in
the carriage； instead of herself！ Phoebe was dressed in her
mistress's cloak and bonnet and veil。 She was instructed to run
upstairs the moment she got to the house； leaving on the hall
table a little note of apology （written by Helena； of course！）；
pleading fatigue as an excuse for not saying good…night to her
host。 The mistress and the maid were about the same height； and
the servants naturally never discovered the trick。 Phoebe got up
to her mistress's room safely enough。 There； her instructions
were to wait until the house was quiet for the night； and then to
steal up to her own room。 While she was waiting； the girl fell
asleep。 She only awoke at two in the morning； or later。 It didn't
much matter； as she thought。 She stole out on tiptoe； and closed
the door behind her。 Before she was at the end of the corridor；
she fancied she heard something。 She waited until she was safe on
the upper story； and then she looked over the banisters。 There
was Dexterso like him！hopping about on his hands （did you
ever see it？ the most grotesquely horrible exhibition you can
imagine！）there was Dexter； hopping about； and looking through
keyholes； evidently in search of the person who had left her room
at two in the morning； and no doubt taking Phoebe for her
mistress； seeing that she had forgotten to take her mistress's
cloak off her shoulders。 The next morning； early； Helena came
back in a hired carriage from Edinburgh； with a hat and mantle
borrowed from her English friends。 She left the carriage in the
road； and got into the house by way of the gardenwithout being
discovered； this time； by Dexter or by anybody。 Clever and
daring； wasn't it？ And； as I said just now； quite a new version
of the 'Domino Noir。' You will wonder； as I did； how it was that
Dexter didn't make mischief in the morning？ He would have done it
no doubt。 But even he was silenced （as Phoebe told me） by the
dreadful event that happened in the house on the same day。 My
dear Mrs。 Woodville！ the heat of this room is certainly too much
for you； take my smelling…bottle。 Let me open the window。〃
I was just able to answer； 〃Pray say nothing！ Let me slip out
into the open air！〃
I made my way unobserved to the landing； and sat down on the
stairs to compose myself where nobody could see me。 In a moment
more I felt a hand laid gently on my shoulder； and discovered
good Benjamin looking at me in dismay。 Lady Clarinda had
considerately spoken to him； and had assisted him in quietly
making his retreat from the room； while his host's attention was
still absorbed by the music。
〃My dear child！〃 he whispered； 〃what is the matter？〃
〃Take me home； and I will tell you；〃 was all that I could say。
CHAPTER XXXII。
A SPECIMEN OF MY WISDOM。
THE scene must follow my erratic movementsthe scene must close
on London for a while； and open in Edinburgh。 Two days had passed
since Major Fitz…David's dinner…party。 I was able to breathe
again freely； after the utter destruction of all my plans for the
future； and of all the hopes that I had founded on them。 I could
now see that I had been trebly in the wrongwrong in hastily and
cruelly suspecting an innocent woman； wrong in communicating my
suspicions （without an attempt to verify them previously） to
another person； wrong in accepting the flighty inferences and
conclusions of Miserrimus Dexter as if they had been solid
truths。 I was so ashamed of my folly； when I thought of the
pastso completely discouraged； so rudely shaken in my
confidence in myself； when I thought of the future； that； for
once in a way； I accepted sensible advice when it was offered to
me。 〃My dear；〃 said good old Benjamin； after we had thoroughly
talked over my discomfiture on our return from the dinner…party；
〃judging by what you tell me of him； I don't fancy Mr。 Dexter。
Promise me that you will not go back to him until you have first
consulted some person who is fitter to guide you through this
dangerous business than I am。
I gave him my promise； on one condition。 〃If I fail to find the
person；〃 I said； 〃will you undertake to help me？〃
Benjamin pledged himself to help me； cheerfully。
The next morning； when I was brushing my hair； and thinking over
my affairs； I called to mind a forgotten resolution of mine at
the time I first read the Report of my husband's Trial。 I mean
the resolutionif Miserrimus Dexter failed meto apply to one
of the two agents （or solicitors； as we should term them） who had
prepared Eustace's defensenamely； Mr。 Playmore。 This gentleman；
it may be remembered； had especially recommended himself to my
confidence by his friendly interference when the sheriff's
officers were in search of my husband's papers。 Referring back to
the evidence Of 〃Isaiah Schoolcraft；〃 I found that Mr。 Playmore
had been called in to assist and advise Eustace by Miserrimus
Dexter。 He was therefore not only a friend on whom I might rely；
but a friend who was personally acquainted with Dexter as well。
Could there be a fitter man to apply to for enlightenment in the
darkness that had now gathered around me？ Benjamin； when I put
the question to him； acknowledged that I had made a sensible
choice on this occasion； and at once exerted himself to help me。
He discovered （through his own lawyer） the address of Mr。
Playmore's London agents； and from these gentlemen he obtained
for me a letter of introduction to Mr。 Playmore himself。 I had
nothing to conceal from my new adviser； and I was properly
described in the letter as Eustace Macallan's second wife。
The same evening we two set forth （Benjamin refused to let me
travel alone） by the night mail for Edinburgh。
I had previously written to Miserrimus Dexter （by my old friend's
advice）； merely saying that I had been unexpectedly called away
from London for a few days； and that I would report to him the
result of my interview with Lady Clarinda on my return。 A
characteristic answer was brought back to the cottage by Ariel：
〃Mrs。 Valeria； I happen to be a man of quick perceptions； and I
can read the _unwritten_ part of your letter。 Lady Clarinda has
shaken your confidence in me。 Very good。 I pledge myself to shake
your confidence in Lady Clarinda。 In the meantime I am not
offended。 In serene composure I await the honor and the happiness
of your visit。 Send me word by telegraph whether you would like
Truffles again； or whether you would prefer something simpler and
lightersay that incomparable French dish； Pig's Eyelids and
Tamarinds。 Believe me always your ally and admirer； your poet and
cookDEXTER。〃
Arrived in Edinburgh； Benjamin and I had a little discussion。 The
question in dispute between us was whether I should go with hi m；
or go alone； to Mr。 Playmore。 I was all for going alone。
〃My experience of the world is not a very large one；〃 I said。
〃But I have observed that； in nine cases out of ten； a man will
make concessions to a woman； if she approaches him by her self；
which he would hesitate even to consider if another man was