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engagement until after I had accepted him。 When we next met in England…
…and when there was danger； no doubt； of the affair coming to my
knowledgehe told me the truth。 I was naturally indignant。 He had his
excuse ready； he showed me a letter from the lady herself； releasing him
from his engagement。 A more noble； a more high…minded letter； I never
read in my life。 I cried over itI who have no tears in me for sorrows of
my own！ If the letter had left him any hope of being forgiven； I would
have positively refused to marry him。 But the firmness of it without
anger； without a word of reproach； with heartfelt wishes even for his
happinessthe firmness of it； I say； left him no hope。 He appealed to my
compassion； he appealed to his love for me。 You know what women are。
I too was soft…heartedI said； Very well： yes！ In a week more （I
tremble as I think of it） we are to be married。'
She did really trembleshe was obliged to pause and compose herself；
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before she could go on。 The Doctor； waiting for more facts； began to fear
that he stood committed to a long story。 'Forgive me for reminding you
that I have suffering persons waiting to see me；' he said。 'The sooner you
can come to the point； the better for my patients and for me。'
The strange smileat once so sad and so cruelshowed itself again on
the lady's lips。 'Every word I have said is to the point；' she answered。
'You will see it yourself in a moment more。'
She resumed her narrative。
'Yesterdayyou need fear no long story； sir； only yesterday I was
among the visitors at one of your English luncheon parties。 A lady； a
perfect stranger to me； came in lateafter we had left the table； and had
retired to the drawing…room。 She happened to take a chair near me； and we
were presented to each other。 I knew her by name； as she knew me。 It
was the woman whom I had robbed of her lover； the woman who had
written the noble letter。 Now listen！ You were impatient with me for not
interesting you in what I said just now。 I said it to satisfy your mind that
I had no enmity of feeling towards the lady； on my side。 I admired her； I
felt for herI had no cause to reproach myself。 This is very important； as
you will presently see。 On her side； I have reason to be assured that the
circumstances had been truly explained to her； and that she understood I
was in no way to blame。 Now； knowing all these necessary things as you
do； explain to me； if you can； why； when I rose and met that woman's eyes
looking at me； I turned cold from head to foot； and shuddered； and
shivered； and knew what a deadly panic of fear was； for the first time in
my life。'
The Doctor began to feel interested at last。
'Was there anything remarkable in the lady's personal appearance？' he
asked。
'Nothing whatever！' was the vehement reply。 'Here is the true
description of her：The ordinary English lady； the clear cold blue eyes；
the fine rosy complexion； the inanimately polite manner； the large good…
humoured mouth； the too plump cheeks and chin： these； and nothing
more。'
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'Was there anything in her expression； when you first looked at her；
that took you by surprise？'
'There was natural curiosity to see the woman who had been preferred
to her； and perhaps some astonishment also； not to see a more engaging
and more beautiful person； both those feelings restrained within the limits
of good breeding； and both not lasting for more than a few momentsso
far as I could see。 I say； 〃so far；〃 because the horrible agitation that she
communicated to me disturbed my judgment。 If I could have got to the
door； I would have run out of the room； she frightened me so！ I was not
even able to stand up I sank back in my chair； I stared horror…struck at
the calm blue eyes that were only looking at me with a gentle surprise。 To
say they affected me like the eyes of a serpent is to say nothing。 I felt her
soul in them； looking into minelooking； if such a thing can be；
unconsciously to her own mortal self。 I tell you my impression； in all its
horror and in all its folly！ That woman is destined （without knowing it
herself） to be the evil genius of my life。 Her innocent eyes saw hidden
capabilities of wickedness in me that I was not aware of myself； until I felt
them stirring under her look。 If I commit faults in my life to comeif I am
even guilty of crimes she will bring the retribution； without （as I firmly
believe） any conscious exercise of her own will。 In one indescribable
moment I felt all thisand I suppose my face showed it。 The good artless
creature was inspired by a sort of gentle alarm for me。 〃I am afraid the
heat of the room is too much for you； will you try my smelling bottle？〃 I
heard her say those kind words； and I remember nothing elseI fainted。
When I recovered my senses； the company had all gone； only the lady of
the house was with me。 For the moment I could say nothing to her； the
dreadful impression that I have tried to describe to you came back to me
with the coming back of my life。 As soon I could speak； I implored her
to tell me the whole truth about the woman whom I had supplanted。 You
see； I had a faint hope that her good character might not really be deserved；
that her noble letter was a skilful piece of hypocrisyin short； that she
secretly hated me； and was cunning enough to hide it。 No！ the lady had
been her friend from her girlhood； was as familiar with her as if they had
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been sistersknew her positively to be as good； as innocent； as incapable
of hating anybody； as the greatest saint that ever lived。 My one last hope；
that I had only felt an ordinary forewarning of danger in the presence of an
ordinary enemy； was a hope destroyed for ever。 There was one more
effort I could make； and I made it。 I went ne