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He interrupted me sternly。 〃I would not cross the street to see her；〃 he said。 〃A woman who deserts her child is a monster。 Forgive me for speaking so； miss！ When I see good mothers and their children it maddens me when I think of what _my_ childhood was。〃
Hearing these words； and watching him attentively while he spoke； I could see that my silence would be a mercy； not a crime。 I hastened to speak of other things。
〃If you decide to leave us；〃 I said； 〃when shall you go？〃
His eyes softened instantly。 Little by little the color faded out of his face as he answered me。
〃The General kindly said； when I spoke of leaving my place〃 His voice faltered； and he paused to steady it。 〃My master；〃 he resumed； 〃said that I need not keep my new employer waiting by staying for the customary month； providedprovided you were willing to dispense with my services。〃
So far； I had succeeded in controlling myself。 At that reply I felt my resolution failing me。 I saw how he suffered； I saw how manfully he struggled to conceal it。
〃I am not willing；〃 I said。 〃I am sorryvery； very sorry to lose you。 But I will do anything that is for your good。 I can say no more。〃
He rose suddenly； as if to leave the room； mastered himself； stood for a moment silently looking at methen looked away again； and said his parting words。
〃If I succeed； Miss Mina； in my new employmentif I get on to higher thingsis itis it presuming too much； to ask if I might； some dayperhaps when you are out riding aloneif I might speak to youonly to ask if you are well and happy〃
He could say no more。 I saw the tears in his eyes； saw him shaken by the convulsive breathings which break from men in the rare moments when they cry。 He forced it back even then。 He bowed to meoh； God； he bowed to me； as if he were only my servant！ as if he were too far below me to take my hand； even at that moment！ I could have endured anything else； I believe I could still have restrained myself under any other circumstances。 It matters little now； my confession must be made； whatever you may think of me。 I flew to him like a frenzied creatureI threw my arms round his neckI said to him； 〃Oh； Michael； don't you know that I love you？〃 And then I laid my head on his breast； and held him to me； and said no more。
In that moment of silence； the door of the room was opened。 I started； and looked up。 Lady Claudia was standing on the threshold。
I saw in her face that she had been listeningshe must have followed him when he was on his way to my room。 That conviction steadied me。 I took his hand in mine； and stood side by side with him； waiting for her to speak first。 She looked at Michael； not at me。 She advanced a step or two； and addressed him in these words：
〃It is just possible that _you_ have some sense of decency left。 Leave the room。〃
That deliberate insult was all that I wanted to make me completely mistress of myself。 I told Michael to wait a moment； and opened my writing desk。 I wrote on an envelope the address in London of a faithful old servant； who had attended my mother in her last moments。 I gave it to Michael。 〃Call there to…morrow morning；〃 I said。 〃You will find me waiting for you。〃
He looked at Lady Claudia； evidently unwilling to leave me alone with her。 〃Fear nothing；〃 I said； 〃I am old enough to take care of myself。 I have only a word to say to this lady before I leave the house。 〃With that； I took his arm； and walked with him to the door； and said good…by almost as composedly as if we had been husband and wife already。
Lady Claudia's eyes followed me as I shut the door again and crossed the room to a second door which led into my bed…chamber。 She suddenly stepped up to me； just as I was entering the room； and laid her hand on my arm。
〃What do I see in your face？〃 she asked as much of herself as of mewith her eyes fixed in keen inquiry on mine。
〃You shall know directly；〃 I answered。 〃Let me get my bonnet and cloak first。〃
〃Do you mean to leave the house？〃
〃I do。〃
She rang the bell。 I quietly dressed myself； to go out。
The servant answered the bell； as I returned to the sitting…room。
〃Tell your master I wish to see him instantly；〃 said Lady Claudia。
〃My master has gone out； my lady。〃
〃To his club？〃
〃I believe so； my lady。〃
〃I will send you with a letter to him。 Come back when I ring again。〃 She turned to me as the man withdrew。 〃Do you refuse to stay here until the General returns？〃
〃I shall be happy to see the General； if you will inclose my address in your letter to him。〃
Replying in those terms； I wrote the address for the second time。 Lady Claudia knew perfectly well； when I gave it to her； that I was going to a respectable house kept by a woman who had nursed me when I was a child。
〃One last question；〃 she said。 〃Am I to tell the General that it is your intention to marry your groom？〃
Her tone stung me into making an answer which I regretted the moment it had passed my lips。
〃You can put it more plainly； if you like；〃 I said。 〃You can tell the General that it is my intention to marry _your_ son。〃
She was near the door； on the point of leaving me。 As I spoke； she turned with a ghastly stare of horrorfelt about her with her hands as if she was groping in darknessand dropped on the floor。
I instantly summoned help。 The women…servants carried her to my bed。 While they were restoring her to herself； I wrote a few lines telling the miserable woman how I had discovered her secret。
〃Your husband's tranquillity；〃 I added； 〃is as precious to me as my own。 As for your son； you know what he thinks of the mother who deserted him。 Your secret is safe in my keepingsafe from your husband； safe from your son； to the end of my life。〃
I sealed up those words； and gave them to her when she had come to herself again。 I never heard from her in reply。 I have never seen her from that time to this。 She knows she can trust me。
And what did my good uncle say； when we next met？ I would rather report what he did； when he had got the better of his first feelings of anger and surprise on hearing of my contemplated marriage。 He consented to receive us on our wedding…day； and he gave my husband the appointment which places us both in an independent position for life。
But he had his misgivings。 He checked me when I tried to thank him。
〃Come back in a year's time；〃 he said。 〃I will wait to be thanked till the experience of your married life tells me that I have deserved it。〃
The year passed； and the General received the honest expression of my gratitude。 He smiled and kissed me； but there was something in his face which suggested that he was not quite satisfied yet。
〃Do you believe that I have spoken sincerely？〃 I asked。
〃I firmly believe it；〃 he answeredand there he stopped。
A wiser woman would have taken the hint and dropped the subject。 My folly persisted in putting another question：
〃Tell me； uncle。 Haven't I proved that I was right when I married my groom？〃
〃No； my dear。 You have only proved that you are a lucky woman！〃
MR。 LEPEL AND THE HOUSEKEEPER
FIRST EPOCH。
THE Italians are born actors。
At this conclusion I arrived； sitting in a Roman theaternow many years since。 My friend and t