第7章

Sheseemedtohaveaconfuseddesiretokeepmefromleavingherafterthedoorhadclosedbehindus；butIbrokeawayandrandownstairstothesurgery，togoandcryformylostplaymatewiththesharerofallourgames，UncleGeorge。

Iopenedthesurgerydoorandcouldseenobody。Idriedmytearsandlookedallroundtheroom——itwasempty。IranupstairsagaintoUncleGeorge’sgarretbedroom——hewasnotthere；hischeaphairbrushandoldcast—offrazor—casethathadbelongedtomygrandfatherwerenotonthedressing—table。Hadhegotsomeotherbedroom？Iwentoutonthelandingandcalledsoftly，withanunaccountableterrorandsinkingatmyheart：

"UncleGeorge！"

Nobodyanswered；butmyauntcamehastilyupthegarretstairs。

"Hush！"shesaid。"Youmustnevercallthatnameouthereagain！"

Shestoppedsuddenly，andlookedasifherownwordshadfrightenedher。

"IsUncleGeorgedead？"Iasked。Myauntturnedredandpale，andstammered。

Ididnotwaittohearwhatshesaid。Ibrushedpasther，downthestairs。Myheartwasbursting——myfleshfeltcold。Iranbreathlesslyandrecklesslyintotheroomwheremyfatherandmotherhadreceivedme。Theywerebothsittingtherestill。Iranuptothem，wringingmyhands，andcryingoutinapassionoftears：

"IsUncleGeorgedead？"

Mymothergaveascreamthatterrifiedmeintoinstantsilenceandstillness。Myfatherlookedatherforamoment，rangthebellthatsummonedthemaid，thenseizedmeroughlybythearmanddraggedmeoutoftheroom。

Hetookmedownintothestudy，seatedhimselfinhisaccustomedchair，andputmebeforehimbetweenhisknees。Hislipswereawfullywhite，andIfelthistwohands，astheygraspedmyshoulders，shakingviolently。

"YouarenevertomentionthenameofUncleGeorgeagain，"hesaid，inaquick，angry，tremblingwhisper。"Nevertome，nevertoyourmother，nevertoyouraunt，nevertoanybodyinthisworld！Never——never——never！"

Therepetitionofthewordterrifiedmeevenmorethanthesuppressedvehemencewithwhichhespoke。HesawthatIwasfrightened，andsoftenedhismanneralittlebeforehewenton。

"YouwillneverseeUncleGeorgeagain，"hesaid。"YourmotherandIloveyoudearly；butifyouforgetwhatIhavetoldyou，youwillbesentawayfromhome。Neverspeakthatnameagain——mind，never！Nowkissme，andgoaway。"

Howhislipstrembled——andoh，howcoldtheyfeltonmine！

Ishrunkoutoftheroomthemomenthehadkissedme，andwentandhidmyselfinthegarden。

"UncleGeorgeisgone。Iamnevertoseehimanymore；Iamnevertospeakofhimagain"——thosewerethewordsIrepeatedtomyself，withindescribableterrorandconfusion，themomentIwasalone。TherewassomethingunspeakablyhorribletomyyoungmindinthismysterywhichIwascommandedalwaystorespect，andwhich，sofarasIthenknew，Icouldneverhopetoseerevealed。

Myfather，mymother，myaunt，allappearedtobeseparatedfrommenowbysomeimpassablebarrier。HomeseemedhomenolongerwithCarolinedead，UncleGeorgegone，andaforbiddensubjectoftalkperpetuallyandmysteriouslyinterposingbetweenmyparentsandme。

ThoughIneverinfringedthecommandmyfatherhadgivenmeinhisstudy（hiswordsandlooks，andthatdreadfulscreamofmymother’s，whichseemedtobestillringinginmyears，weremorethanenoughtoinsuremyobedience），IalsoneverlostthesecretdesiretopenetratethedarknesswhichcloudedoverthefateofUncleGeorge。

FortwoyearsIremainedathomeanddiscoverednothing。IfI

askedtheservantsaboutmyuncle，theycouldonlytellmethatonemorninghedisappearedfromthehouse。Ofthemembersofmyfather’sfamilyIcouldmakenoinquiries。Theylivedfaraway，andnevercametoseeus；andtheideaofwritingtothem，atmyageandinmyposition，wasoutofthequestion。Myauntwasasunapproachablysilentasmyfatherandmother；butIneverforgothowherfacehadalteredwhenshereflectedforamomentafterhearingofmyextraordinaryadventurewhilegoinghomewiththeservantoverthesandsatnight。ThemoreIthoughtofthatchangeofcountenanceinconnectionwithwhathadoccurredonmyreturntomyfather’shouse，themorecertainIfeltthatthestrangerwhohadkissedmeandweptovermemusthavebeennootherthanUncleGeorge。

AttheendofmytwoyearsathomeIwassenttoseainthemerchantnavybymyownearnestdesire。IhadalwaysdeterminedtobeasailorfromthetimewhenIfirstwenttostaywithmyauntatthesea—side，andIpersistedlongenoughinmyresolutiontomakemyparentsrecognizethenecessityofaccedingtomywishes。

Mynewlifedelightedme，andIremainedawayonforeignstationsmorethanfouryears。WhenIatlengthreturnedhome，itwastofindanewafflictiondarkeningourfireside。MyfatherhaddiedontheverydaywhenIsailedformyreturnvoyagetoEngland。

AbsenceandchangeofscenehadinnorespectweakenedmydesiretopenetratethemysteryofUncleGeorge’sdisappearance。Mymother’shealthwassodelicatethatIhesitatedforsometimetoapproachtheforbiddensubjectinherpresence。WhenIatlastventuredtorefertoit，suggestingtoherthatanyprudentreservewhichmighthavebeennecessarywhileIwasachild，neednolongerbepersistedinnowthatIwasgrowingtobeayoungman，shefellintoaviolentfitoftrembling，andcommandedmetosaynomore。Ithadbeenmyfather’swill，shesaid，thatthereservetowhichIreferredshouldbealwaysadoptedtowardme；

hehadnotauthorizedher，beforehedied，tospeakmoreopenly；

and，nowthathewasgone，shewouldnotsomuchasthinkofactingonherownunaidedjudgment。MyauntsaidthesamethingineffectwhenIappealedtoher。Determinednottobediscouragedevenyet，Iundertookajourney，ostensiblytopaymyrespectstomyfather’sfamily，butwiththesecretintentionoftryingwhatIcouldlearninthatquarteronthesubjectofUncleGeorge。

Myinvestigationsledtosomeresults，thoughtheywerebynomeanssatisfactory。Georgehadalwaysbeenlookeduponwithsomethinglikecontemptbyhishandsomesistersandhisprosperousbrothers，andhehadnotimprovedhispositioninthefamilybyhiswarmadvocacyofhisbrother’scauseatthetimeofmyfather’smarriage。Ifoundthatmyuncle’ssurvivingrelativesnowspokeofhimslightinglyandcarelessly。Theyassuredmethattheyhadneverheardfromhim，andthattheyknewnothingabouthim，exceptthathehadgoneawaytosettle，astheysupposed，insomeforeignplace，afterhavingbehavedverybaselyandbadlytomyfather。HehadbeentracedtoLondon，wherehehadsoldoutofthefundsthesmallshareofmoneywhichhehadinheritedafterhisfather’sdeath，andhehadbeenseenonthedeckofapacketboundforFrancelateronthesameday。Beyondthisnothingwasknownabouthim。Inwhattheallegedbasenessofhisbehaviorhadconsistednoneofhisbrothersandsisterscouldtellme。Myfatherhadrefusedtopainthembygoingintoparticulars，notonlyatthetimeofhisbrother’sdisappearance，butafterward，wheneverthesubjectwasmentioned。Georgehadalwaysbeentheblacksheepoftheflock，andhemusthavebeenconsciousofhisownbaseness，orhewouldcertainlyhavewrittentoexplainandtojustifyhimself。

SuchweretheparticularswhichIgleanedduringmyvisittomyfather’sfamily。Tomymind，theytendedrathertodeepenthantorevealthemystery。Thatsuchagentle，docile，affectionatecreatureasUncleGeorgeshouldhaveinjuredthebrotherhelovedbywordordeedatanyperiodoftheirintercourse，seemedincredible；butthatheshouldhavebeenguiltyofanactofbasenessattheverytimewhenmysisterwasdyingwassimplyandplainlyimpossible。AndyettherewastheincomprehensiblefactstaringmeinthefacethatthedeathofCarolineandthedisappearanceofUncleGeorgehadtakenplaceinthesameweek！

NeverdidIfeelmoredauntedandbewilderedbythefamilysecretthanafterIhadheardalltheparticularsinconnectionwithitthatmyfather’srelativeshadtotellme。

Imaypassovertheeventsofthenextfewyearsofmylifebrieflyenough。

Mynauticalpursuitsfilledupallmytime，andtookmefarawayfrommycountryandmyfriends。But，whateverIdid，andwhereverIwent，thememoryofUncleGeorge，andthedesiretopenetratethemysteryofhisdisappearance，hauntedmelikefamiliarspirits。Often，inthelonelywatchesofthenightatsea，didI

recallthedarkeveningonthebeach，thestrangeman’shurriedembrace，thestartlingsensationoffeelinghistearsonmycheeks，thedisappearanceofhimbeforeIhadbreathorself—possessionenoughtosayaword。OftendidIthinkovertheinexplicableeventsthatfollowed，whenIhadreturned，aftermysister’sfuneral，tomyfather’shouse；andoftenerstilldidI

puzzlemybrainsvainly，intheattempttoformsomeplanforinducingmymotherormyaunttodisclosethesecretwhichtheyhadhithertokeptfrommesoperseveringly。MyonlychanceofknowingwhathadreallyhappenedtoUncleGeorge，myonlyhopeofseeinghimagain，restedwiththosetwonearanddearrelatives。

Idespairedofevergettingmymothertospeakontheforbiddensubjectafterwhathadpassedbetweenus，butIfeltmoresanguineaboutmyprospectsofultimatelyinducingmyaunttorelaxinherdiscretion。Myanticipations，however，inthisdirectionwerenotdestinedtobefulfilled。OnmynextvisittoEnglandIfoundmyauntprostratedbyaparalyticattack，whichdeprivedherofthepowerofspeech。Shediedsoonafterwardinmyarms，leavingmehersoleheir。Isearchedanxiouslyamongherpapersforsomereferencetothefamilymystery，butfoundnoclewtoguideme。Allmymother’sletterstohersisteratthetimeofCaroline’sillnessanddeathhadbeendestroyed。

CHAPTERIII。

MOREyearspassed；mymotherfollowedmyaunttothegrave，andstillIwasasfaraseverfrommakinganydiscoveriesinrelationtoUncleGeorge。Shortlyaftertheperiodofthislastafflictionmyhealthgaveway，andIdeparted，bymydoctor’sadvice，totrysomebathsinthesouthofFrance。

Itraveledslowlytomydestination，turningasidefromthedirectroad，andstoppingwhereverIpleased。Oneevening，whenI

wasnotmorethantwoorthreedays’journeyfromthebathstowhichIwasbound，Iwasstruckbythepicturesquesituationofalittletownplacedonthebrowofahillatsomedistancefromthemainroad，andresolvedtohaveanearerlookattheplace，withaviewtostoppingthereforthenight，ifitpleasedme。I

foundtheprincipalinncleanandquiet——orderedmybedthere——and，afterdinner，strolledouttolookatthechurch。NothoughtofUncleGeorgewasinmymindwhenIenteredthebuilding；andyet，atthatverymoment，chancewasleadingmetothediscoverywhich，forsomanyyearspast，Ihadvainlyendeavoredtomake——thediscoverywhichIhadgivenupashopelesssincethedayofmymother’sdeath。

Ifoundnothingworthnoticeinthechurch，andwasabouttoleaveitagain，whenIcaughtaglimpseofaprettyviewthroughasidedoor，andstoppedtoadmireit。

Thechurchyardformedtheforeground，andbelowitthehill—sideslopedawaygentlyintotheplain，overwhichthesunwassettinginfullglory。Thecureofthechurchwasreadinghisbreviary，walkingupanddownagravel—paththatpartedtherowsofgraves。

InthecourseofmywanderingsIhadlearnedtospeakFrenchasfluentlyasmostEnglishmen，andwhenthepriestcamenearmeI

saidafewwordsinpraiseoftheview，andcomplimentedhimontheneatnessandprettinessofthechurchyard。Heansweredwithgreatpoliteness，andwegotintoconversationtogetherimmediately。

Aswestrolledalongthegravel—walk，myattentionwasattractedbyoneofthegravesstandingapartfromtherest。Thecrossattheheadofitdifferedremarkably，insomepointsofappearance，fromthecrossesontheothergraves。Whilealltheresthadgarlandshungonthem，thisonecrosswasquitebare；and，moreextraordinarystill，nonamewasinscribedonit。

Thepriest，observingthatIstoppedtolookatthegrave，shookhisheadandsighed。

"Acountrymanofyoursisburiedthere，"hesaid。"Iwaspresentathisdeath。Hehadbornetheburdenofagreatsorrowamongus，inthistown，formanywearyyears，andhisconducthadtaughtustorespectandpityhimwithallourhearts。"

"Howisitthathisnameisnotinscribedoverhisgrave？"I

inquired。

"Itwassuppressedbyhisowndesire，"answeredthepriest，withsomelittlehesitation。"Heconfessedtomeinhislastmomentsthathehadlivedhereunderanassumedname。Iaskedhisrealname，andhetoldittome，withtheparticularsofhissadstory。Hehadreasonsfordesiringtobeforgottenafterhisdeath。Almostthelastwordshespokewere，’Letmynamediewithme。’AlmostthelastrequesthemadewasthatIwouldkeepthatnameasecretfromalltheworldexceptingonlyoneperson。"

"Somerelative，Isuppose？"saidI。

"Yes——anephew，"saidthepriest。

Themomentthelastwordwasoutofhismouth，myheartgaveastrangeansweringbound。IsupposeImusthavechangedcoloralso，forthecurelookedatmewithsuddenattentionandinterest。

"Anephew，"thepriestwenton，"whomhehadlovedlikehisownchild。Hetoldmethatifthisnephewevertracedhimtohisburial—place，andaskedabouthim，IwasfreeinthatcasetodiscloseallIknew。’IshouldlikemylittleCharleytoknowthetruth，’hesaid。’Inspiteofthedifferenceinourages，CharleyandIwereplaymatesyearsago。’"

Myheartbeatfaster，andIfeltachokingsensationatthethroatthemomentIheardthepriestunconsciouslymentionmyChristiannameinmentioningthedyingman’slastwords。

AssoonasIcouldsteadymyvoiceandfeelcertainofmyself—possession，Icommunicatedmyfamilynametothecure，andaskedhimifthatwasnotpartofthesecretthathehadbeenrequestedtopreserve。

Hestartedbackseveralsteps，andclaspedhishandsamazedly。

"Canitbe？"hesaid，inlowtones，gazingatmeearnestly，withsomethinglikedreadinhisface。

Igavehimmypassport，andlookedawaytowardthegrave。Thetearscameintomyeyesastherecollectionsofpastdayscrowdedbackonme。HardlyknowingwhatIdid，Ikneltdownbythegrave，andsmoothedthegrassoveritwithmyhand。Oh，UncleGeorge，whynothavetoldyoursecrettoyouroldplaymate？Whyleavehimtofindyou_here？_

Thepriestraisedmegently，andbeggedmetogowithhimintohisownhouse。Onourwaythere，ImentionedpersonsandplacesthatIthoughtmyunclemighthavespokenof，inordertosatisfymycompanionthatIwasreallythepersonIrepresentedmyselftobe。Bythetimewehadenteredhislittleparlor，andhadsatdownaloneinit，wewerealmostlikeoldfriendstogether。

IthoughtitbestthatIshouldbeginbytellingallthatIhaverelatedhereonthesubjectofUncleGeorge，andhisdisappearancefromhome。Myhostlistenedwithaverysadface，andsaid，whenIhaddone：

"IcanunderstandyouranxietytoknowwhatIamauthorizedtotellyou，butpardonmeifIsayfirstthattherearecircumstancesinyouruncle’sstorywhichitmaypainyoutohear——"Hestoppedsuddenly。

"Whichitmaypainmetohearasanephew？"Iasked。

"No，"saidthepriest，lookingawayfromme，"asason。"

Igratefullyexpressedmysenseofthedelicacyandkindnesswhichhadpromptedmycompanion’swarning，butIbeggedhim，atthesametime，tokeepmenolongerinsuspenseandtotellmethesterntruth，nomatterhowpainfullyitmightaffectmeasalistener。

"IntellingmeallyouknewaboutwhatyoutermtheFamilySecret，"saidthepriest，"youhavementionedasastrangecoincidencethatyoursister’sdeathandyouruncle’sdisappearancetookplaceatthesametime。Didyoueversuspectwhatcauseitwasthatoccasionedyoursister’sdeath？"

"Ionlyknewwhatmyfathertoldme，andwhatallourfriendsbelieved——thatshehadatumorintheneck，or，asIsometimeshearditstated，fromtheeffectonherconstitutionofatumorintheneck。"

"Shediedunderanoperationfortheremovalofthattumor，"saidthepriest，inlowtones；"andtheoperatorwasyourUncleGeorge。"

Inthosefewwordsallthetruthburstuponme。

"Consoleyourselfwiththethoughtthatthelongmartyrdomofhislifeisover，"thepriestwenton。"Herests；heisatpeace。Heandhislittledarlingunderstandeachother，andarehappynow。

Thatthoughtborehimuptothelastonhisdeath—bed。Healwaysspokeofyoursisterashis’littledarling。’Hefirmlybelievedthatshewaswaitingtoforgiveandconsolehimintheotherworld——andwhoshallsayhewasdeceivedinthatbelief？"

NotI！Notanyonewhohaseverlovedandsuffered，surely！

"Itwasoutofthedepthsofhisself—sacrificingloveforthechildthathedrewthefatalcouragetoundertaketheoperation，"

continuedthepriest。"Yourfathernaturallyshrankfromattemptingit。Hismedicalbrethrenwhomheconsultedalldoubtedtheproprietyoftakinganymeasuresfortheremovalofthetumor，intheparticularconditionandsituationofitwhentheywerecalledin。Yourunclealonedifferedwiththem。Hewastoomodestamantosayso，butyourmotherfounditout。Thedeformityofherbeautifulchildhorrifiedher。Shewasdesperateenoughtocatchatthefaintesthopeofremedyingitthatanyonemightholdouttoher；andshepersuadedyouruncletoputhisopiniontotheproof。Herhorroratthedeformityofthechild，andherdespairattheprospectofitslastingforlife，seemtohaveutterlyblindedhertoallnaturalsenseofthedangeroftheoperation。Itishardtoknowhowtosayittoyou，herson，butitmustbetold，nevertheless，thatoneday，whenyourfatherwasout，sheuntrulyinformedyourunclethathisbrotherhadconsentedtotheperformanceoftheoperation，andthathehadgonepurposelyoutofthehousebecausehehadnotnerveenoughtostayandwitnessit。Afterthat，yourunclenolongerhesitated。Hehadnofearofresults，providedhecouldbecertainofhisowncourage。Allhedreadedwastheeffectonhimofhisloveforthechildwhenhefirstfoundhimselffacetofacewiththedreadfulnecessityoftouchingherskinwiththeknife。"

Itriedhardtocontrolmyself，butIcouldnotrepressashudderatthosewords。

"Itisuselesstoshockyoubygoingintoparticulars，"saidthepriest，considerately。"LetitbeenoughifIsaythatyouruncle’sfortitudefailedtosupporthimwhenhewanteditmost。

Hisloveforthechildshookthefirmhandwhichhadnevertrembledbefore。Inaword，theoperationfailed。Yourfatherreturned，andfoundhischilddying。Thefrenzyofhisdespairwhenthetruthwastoldhimcarriedhimtoexcesseswhichitshocksmetomention——excesseswhichbeganinhisdegradinghisbrotherbyablow，whichendedinhisbindinghimselfbyanoathtomakethatbrothersufferpublicpunishmentforhisfatalrashnessinacourtoflaw。Yourunclewastooheartbrokenbywhathadhappenedtofeelthoseoutragesassomemenmighthavefeltthem。Helookedforonemomentathissister—in—law（Idonotliketosayyourmother，consideringwhatIhavenowtotellyou），toseeifshewouldacknowledgethatshehadencouragedhimtoattempttheoperation，andthatshehaddeceivedhiminsayingthathehadhisbrother’spermissiontotryit。Shewassilent，andwhenshespoke，itwastojoinherhusbandindenouncinghimasthemurdereroftheirchild。Whetherfearofyourfather’sanger，orrevengefulindignationagainstyourunclemostactuatedher，Icannotpresumetoinquireinyourpresence。Icanonlystatefacts。"

Thepriestpausedandlookedatmeanxiously。Icouldnotspeaktohimatthatmoment——Icouldonlyencouragehimtoproceedbypressinghishand。

Heresumedintheseterms：

"Meanwhile，youruncleturnedtoyourfather，andspokethelastwordshewasevertoaddresstohiseldestbrotherinthisworld。

Hesaid，’Ihavedeservedtheworstyourangercaninflictonme，butIwillspareyouthescandalofbringingmetojusticeinopencourt。Thelaw，ifitfoundmeguilty，couldattheworstbutbanishmefrommycountryandmyfriends。Iwillgoofmyownaccord。GodismywitnessthatIhonestlybelievedIcouldsavethechildfromdeformityandsuffering。Ihaveriskedallandlostall。Myheartandspiritarebroken。Iamfitfornothingbuttogoandhidemyself，andmyshameandmisery，fromalleyesthathaveeverlookedonme。Ishallnevercomeback，neverexpectyourpityorforgiveness。IfyouthinklessharshlyofmewhenIamgone，keepsecretwhathashappened；letnootherlipssayofmewhatyoursandyourwife’shavesaid。Ishallthinkthatforbearanceatonementenough——atonementgreaterthanIhavedeserved。Forgetmeinthisworld。Maywemeetinanother，wherethesecretsofallheartsareopened，andwherethechildwhoisgonebeforemaymakepeacebetweenus！’Hesaidthosewordsandwentout。Yourfatherneversawhimorheardfromhimagain。"

Iknewthereasonnowwhymyfatherhadneverconfidedthetruthtoanyone，hisownfamilyincluded。Mymotherhadevidentlyconfessedalltohersisterunderthesealofsecrecy，andtherethedreadfuldisclosurehadbeenarrested。

"Youruncletoldme，"thepriestcontinued，"thatbeforeheleftEnglandhetookleaveofyoubystealth，inaplaceyouwerestayingatbythesea—side。Tiehadnotthehearttoquithiscountryandhisfriendsforeverwithoutkissingyouforthelasttime。Hefollowedyouinthedark，andcaughtyouupinhisarms，andleftyouagainbeforeyouhadachanceofdiscoveringhim。

ThenextdayhequittedEngland。"

"Forthisplace？"Iasked。

"Yes。HehadspentaweekhereoncewithastudentfriendatthetimewhenhewasapupilintheHotelDieu，andtothisplacehereturnedtohide，tosuffer，andtodie。Weallsawthathewasamancrushedandbrokenbysomegreatsorrow，andwerespectedhimandhisaffliction。Helivedalone，andonlycameoutofdoorstowardevening，whenheusedtositonthebrowofthehillyonder，withhisheadonhishand，lookingtowardEngland。Thatplaceseemedafavoritewithhim，andheisburiedclosebyit。

Herevealedthestoryofhispastlifetonolivingsoulherebutme，andtomeheonlyspokewhenhislasthourwasapproaching。

Whathehadsufferedduringhislongexilenomancanpresumetosay。I，whosawmoreofhimthananyone，neverheardawordofcomplaintfallfromhislips。Hehadthecourageofthemartyrswhilehelived，andtheresignationofthesaintswhenhedied。

Justatthelasthismindwandered。Hesaidhesawhislittledarlingwaitingbythebedsidetoleadhimaway，andhediedwithasmileonhisface——thefirstIhadeverseenthere。"

Thepriestceased，andwewentouttogetherinthemournfultwilight，andstoodforalittlewhileonthebrowofthehillwhereUncleGeorgeusedtosit，withhisfaceturnedtowardEngland。HowmyheartachedforhimasIthoughtofwhathemusthavesufferedinthesilenceandsolitudeofhislongexile！WasitwellformethatIhaddiscoveredtheFamilySecretatlast？I

havesometimesthoughtnot。IhavesometimeswishedthatthedarknesshadneverbeenclearedawaywhichoncehidfrommethefateofUncleGeorge。

THETHIRDDAY。

FINEagain。Ourguestrodeout，withherraggedlittlegroom，asusual。Therewasnonewsyetinthepaper——thatistosay，nonewsofGeorgeorhisship。

OnthisdayMorgancompletedhissecondstory，andintwoorthreedaysmoreIexpectedtofinishthelastofmyowncontributions。Owenwasstillbehindhandandstilldespondent。

Thelotdrawingto—nightwasFive。ThisprovedtobethenumberofthefirstofMorgan’sstories，whichhehadcompletedbeforewebeganthereadings。Hissecondstory，finishedthisday，beingstilluncorrectedbyme，couldnotyetbeaddedtothecommonstock。

Onbeinginformedthatithadcometohisturntooccupytheattentionofthecompany，Morganstartledusbyimmediatelyobjectingtothetroubleofreadinghisowncomposition，andbycoollyhandingitovertome，onthegroundthatmynumerouscorrectionshadmadeit，toallintentsandpurposes，mystory。

OwenandIbothremonstrated；andJessie，mischievouslypersistinginherfavoritejestatMorgan’sexpense，entreatedthathewouldread，ifitwasonlyforhersake。Findingthatwewerealldetermined，andallagainsthim，hedeclaredthat，ratherthanhearourvoicesanylonger，hewouldsubmittotheminorinconvenienceoflisteningtohisown。Accordingly，hetookhismanuscriptbackagain，and，withanairofsurlyresignation，spreaditopenbeforehim。

"Idon’tthinkyouwilllikethisstory，miss，"hebegan，addressingJessie，"butIshallreadit，nevertheless，withthegreatestpleasure。Itbeginsinastable——itgropesitswaythroughadream——itkeepscompanywithahostler——anditstopswithoutanend。Whatdoyouthinkofthat？"

Afterfavoringhisaudiencewiththispromisingpreface，Morganindulgedhimselfinachuckleofsupremesatisfaction，andthenbegantoread，withoutwastinganotherpreliminarywordonanyoneofus。

BROTHERMORGAN’SSTORY

ofTHEDREAM—WOMAN。