第9章

Master’soutforhalfanhour，andItoldherIwasn’tallowedtosellpoisontostrangersinhisabsence。Shelaughedinaqueerway，andsaidshewouldcomebackinhalfanhour。Ifsheexpectsmastertoserveher，Ithinkshe’llbedisappointed。It’sacaseofsuicide，sir，ifevertherewasoneyet。"

ThesewordsaddedimmeasurablytothesuddeninterestinthewomanwhichIsaachadfeltatthefirstsightofherface。Afterhehadgotthemedicine—bottlefilled，helookedaboutanxiouslyforherassoonashewasoutinthestreet。Shewaswalkingslowlyupanddownontheoppositesideoftheroad。Withhisheart，verymuchtohisownsurprise，beatingfast，Isaaccrossedoverandspoketoher。

Heaskedifshewasinanydistress。Shepointedtohertornshawl，herscantydress，hercrushed，dirtybonnet；thenmovedunderalampsoastoletthelightfallonherstern，pale，butstillmostbeautifulface。

"Ilooklikeacomfortable，happywoman，don’tI？"shesaid，withabitterlaugh。

ShespokewithapurityofintonationwhichIsaachadneverheardbeforefromotherthanladies’lips。Herslightestactionsseemedtohavetheeasy，negligentgraceofathoroughbredwoman。Herskin，forallitspoverty—strickenpaleness，wasasdelicateasifherlifehadbeenpassedintheenjoymentofeverysocialcomfortthatwealthcanpurchase。Evenhersmall，finely—shapedhands，glovelessastheywere，hadnotlosttheirwhiteness。

Littlebylittle，inanswertohisquestions，thesadstoryofthewomancameout。Thereisnoneedtorelateithere；itistoldoverandoveragaininpolicereportsandparagraphsaboutattemptedsuicides。

"MynameisRebeccaMurdoch，"saidthewoman，assheended。"I

havenine—penceleft，andIthoughtofspendingitatthechemist’soverthewayinsecuringapassagetotheotherworld。

Whateveritis，itcan’tbeworsetomethanthis，sowhyshouldIstophere？"

Besidesthenaturalcompassionandsadnessmovedinhisheartbywhatheheard，Isaacfeltwithinhimsomemysteriousinfluenceatworkallthetimethewomanwasspeakingwhichutterlyconfusedhisideasandalmostdeprivedhimofhispowersofspeech。Allthathecouldsayinanswertoherlastrecklesswordswasthathewouldpreventherfromattemptingherownlife，ifhefollowedheraboutallnighttodoit。Hisrough，tremblingearnestnessseemedtoimpressher。

"Iwon’toccasionyouthattrouble，"sheanswered，whenherepeatedhisthreat。"Youhavegivenmeafancyforlivingbyspeakingkindlytome。Noneedforthemockeryofprotestationsandpromises。Youmaybelievemewithoutthem。CometoFuller’sMeadowto—morrowattwelve，andyouwillfindmealive，toanswerformyself——No！——nomoney。Myninepencewilldotogetmeasgoodanight’slodgingasIwant。"

Shenoddedandlefthim。Hemadenoattempttofollow——hefeltnosuspicionthatshewasdeceivinghim。

"It’sstrange，butIcan’thelpbelievingher，"hesaidtohimself，andwalkedaway，bewildered，towardhome。

Onenteringthehouse，hismindwasstillsocompletelyabsorbedbyitsnewsubjectofinterestthathetooknonoticeofwhathismotherwasdoingwhenhecameinwiththebottleofmedicine。Shehadopenedheroldwriting—deskinhisabsence，andwasnowreadingapaperattentivelythatlayinsideit。OneverybirthdayofIsaac’ssinceshehadwrittendowntheparticularsofhisdreamfromhisownlips，shehadbeenaccustomedtoreadthatsamepaper，andponderoveritinprivate。

ThenextdayhewenttoFuller’sMeadow。

Hehaddoneonlyrightinbelievinghersoimplicitly。Shewasthere，punctualtoaminute，toanswerforherself。Thelast—leftfaintdefensesinIsaac’sheartagainstthefascinationwhichawordorlookfromherbeganinscrutablytoexerciseoverhimsankdownandvanishedbeforeherforeveronthatmemorablemorning。

Whenaman，previouslyinsensibletotheinfluenceofwomen，formsanattachmentinmiddlelife，theinstancesarerareindeed，letthewarningcircumstancesbewhattheymay，inwhichheisfoundcapableoffreeinghimselffromthetyrannyofthenewrulingpassion。Thecharmofbeingspokentofamiliarly，fondly，andgratefullybyawomanwhoselanguageandmannersstillretainedenoughoftheirearlyrefinementtohintatthehighsocialstationthatshehadlost，wouldhavebeenadangerousluxurytoamanofIsaac’srankattheageoftwenty。

Butitwasfarmorethanthat——itwascertainruintohim——nowthathisheartwasopeningunworthilytoanewinfluenceatthatmiddletimeoflifewhenstrongfeelingsofallkinds，onceimplanted，strikerootmoststubbornlyinaman’smoralnature。A

fewmorestoleninterviewsafterthatfirstmorninginFuller’sMeadowcompletedhisinfatuation。Inlessthanamonthfromthetimewhenhefirstmether，IsaacScatchardhadconsentedtogiveRebeccaMurdochanewinterestinexistence，andachanceofrecoveringthecharactershehadlostbypromisingtomakeherhiswife。

Shehadtakenpossession，notofhispassionsonly，butofhisfacultiesaswell。Allthemindhehadheputintoherkeeping。

Shedirectedhimoneverypoint——eveninstructinghimhowtobreakthenewsofhisapproachingmarriageinthesafestmannertohismother。

"IfyoutellherhowyoumetmeandwhoIamatfirst，"saidthecunningwoman，"shewillmoveheavenandearthtopreventourmarriage。Saylamthesisterofoneofyourfellow—servants——askhertoseemebeforeyougointoanymoreparticulars——andleaveittometodotherest。Imeantomakeherlovemenextbesttoyou，Isaac，beforesheknowsanythingofwhoIreallyam。"ThemotiveofthedeceitwassufficienttosanctifyittoIsaac。Thestratagemproposedrelievedhimofhisonegreatanxiety，andquietedhisuneasyconscienceonthesubjectofhismother。

Still，therewassomethingwantingtoperfecthishappiness，somethingthathecouldnotrealize，somethingmysteriouslyuntraceable，andyetsomethingthatperpetuallymadeitselffelt；

notwhenhewasabsentfromRebeccaMurdoch，but，strangetosay，whenhewasactuallyinherpresence！Shewaskindnessitselfwithhim。Shenevermadehimfeelhisinferiorcapacitiesandinferiormanners。Sheshowedthesweetestanxietytopleasehiminthesmallesttrifles；but，inspiteofalltheseattractions，henevercouldfeelquiteathiseasewithher。Attheirfirstmeeting，therehadmingledwithhisadmiration，whenhelookedinherface，afaint，involuntaryfeelingofdoubtwhetherthatfacewasentirelystrangetohim。Noafterfamiliarityhadtheslightesteffectonthisinexplicable，wearisomeuncertainty。

Concealingthetruthashehadbeendirected，heannouncedhismarriageengagementprecipitatelyandconfusedlytohismotheronthedaywhenhecontractedit。PoorMrs。Scatchardshowedherperfectconfidenceinhersonbyflingingherarmsroundhisneck，andgivinghimjoyofhavingfoundatlast，inthesisterofoneofhisfellow—servants，awomantocomfortandcareforhimafterhismotherwasgone。Shewasalleagernesstoseethewomanofherson’schoice，andthenextdaywasfixedfortheintroduction。

Itwasabrightsunnymorning，andthelittlecottageparlorwasfulloflightasMrs。Scatchard，happyandexpectant，dressedfortheoccasioninherSundaygown，satwaitingforhersonandherfuturedaughter—in—law。

Punctualtotheappointedtime，Isaachurriedlyandnervouslyledhispromisedwifeintotheroom。Hismotherrosetoreceiveher——advancedafewsteps，smiling——lookedRebeccafullintheeyes，andsuddenlystopped。Herface，whichhadbeenflushedthemomentbefore，turnedwhiteinaninstant；hereyeslosttheirexpressionofsoftnessandkindness，andassumedablanklookofterror；heroutstretchedhandsfelltohersides，andshestaggeredbackafewstepswithalowcrytoherson。

"Isaac，"shewhispered，clutchinghimfastbythearmwhenheaskedalarmedlyifshewastakenill，"Isaac，doesthatwoman’sfaceremindyouofnothing？"

Beforehecouldanswer——beforehecouldlookroundtowhereRebeccastood，astonishedandangeredbyherreception，atthelowerendoftheroom，hismotherpointedimpatientlytoherwriting—desk，andgavehimthekey。

"Openit，"shesaid，inaquickbreathlesswhisper。

"Whatdoesthismean？WhyamItreatedasifIhadnobusinesshere？Doesyourmotherwanttoinsultme？"askedRebecca，angrily。

"Openit，andgivemethepaperintheleft—handdrawer。Quick！

quick，forHeaven’ssake！"saidMrs。Scatchard，shrinkingfurtherbackinterror。

Isaacgaveherthepaper。Shelookeditovereagerlyforamoment，thenfollowedRebecca，whowasnowturningawayhaughtilytoleavetheroom，andcaughtherbytheshoulder——abruptlyraisedthelong，loosesleeveofhergown，andglancedatherhandandarm。SomethinglikefearbegantostealovertheangryexpressionofRebecca’sfaceassheshookherselffreefromtheoldwoman’sgrasp。"Mad！"shesaidtoherself；"andIsaacnevertoldme。"Withthesefewwordsshelefttheroom。

Isaacwashasteningafterherwhenhismotherturnedandstoppedhisfurtherprogress。Itwrunghishearttoseethemiseryandterrorinherfaceasshelookedathim。

"Lightgrayeyes，"shesaid，inlow，mournful，awe—strucktones，pointingtowardtheopendoor；"adroopinthelefteyelid；

flaxenhair，withagold—yellowstreakinit；whitearms，withadownuponthem；littlelady’shand，withareddishlookunderthefingernails——TheDream—Woman，Isaac，theDream—Woman！"

ThatfaintcleavingdoubtwhichhehadneverbeenabletoshakeoffinRebeccaMurdoch’spresencewasfatallysetatrestforever。Hehadseenherface，then，before——sevenyearsbefore，onhisbirthday，inthebedroomofthelonelyinn。

"Bewarned！oh，myson，bewarned！Isaac，Isaac，lethergo，anddoyoustopwithme！"

Somethingdarkenedtheparlorwindowasthosewordsweresaid。A

suddenchillranthroughhim，andheglancedsidelongattheshadow。RebeccaMurdochhadcomeback。Shewaspeeringincuriouslyatthemoverthelowwindow—blind。

"Ihavepromisedtomarry，mother，"hesaid，"andmarryImust。"

Thetearscameintohiseyesashespokeanddimmedhissight，buthecouldjustdiscernthefatalfaceoutsidemovingawayagainfromthewindow。

Hismother’sheadsanklower。

"Areyoufaint？"hewhispered。

"Broken—hearted，Isaac。"

Hestoopeddownandkissedher。Theshadow，ashedidso，returnedtothewindow，andthefatalfacepeeredincuriouslyoncemore。

CHAPTERIV。

THREEweeksafterthatdayIsaacandRebeccaweremanandwife。

Allthatwashopelesslydoggedandstubbornintheman’smoralnatureseemedtohaveclosedroundhisfatalpassion，andtohavefixeditunassailablyinhisheart。

AfterthatfirstinterviewinthecottageparlornoconsiderationwouldinduceMrs。Scatchardtoseeherson’swifeagainoreventotalkofherwhenIsaactriedhardtopleadhercauseaftertheirmarriage。

ThiscourseofconductwasnotinanydegreeoccasionedbyadiscoveryofthedegradationinwhichRebeccahadlived。Therewasnoquestionofthatbetweenmotherandson。Therewasnoquestionofanythingbutthefearfully—exactresemblancebetweentheliving，breathingwomanandthespecter—womanofIsaac’sdream。

Rebeccaonhersideneitherfeltnorexpressedtheslightestsorrowattheestrangementbetweenherselfandhermother—in—law。

Isaac，forthesakeofpeace，hadnevercontradictedherfirstideathatageandlongillnesshadaffectedMrs。Scatchard’smind。Heevenallowedhiswifetoupbraidhimfornothavingconfessedthistoheratthetimeoftheirmarriageengagement，ratherthanriskanythingbyhintingatthetruth。Thesacrificeofhisintegritybeforehisoneall—masteringdelusionseemedbutasmallthing，andcosthisconsciencebutlittleafterthesacrificeshehadalreadymade。

Thetimeofwakingfromthisdelusion——thecruelandtheruefultime——wasnotfaroff。Aftersomequietmonthsofmarriedlife，asthesummerwasending，andtheyearwasgettingontowardthemonthofhisbirthday，Isaacfoundhiswifealteringtowardhim。

Shegrewsullenandcontemptuous；sheformedacquaintancesofthemostdangerouskindindefianceofhisobjections，hisentreaties，andhiscommands；and，worstofall，shelearned，erelong，aftereveryfreshdifferencewithherhusband，toseekthedeadlyself—oblivionofdrink。Littlebylittle，afterthefirstmiserablediscoverythathiswifewaskeepingcompanywithdrunkards，theshockingcertaintyforceditselfonIsaacthatshehadgrowntobeadrunkardherself。

Hehadbeeninasadlydespondingstateforsometimebeforetheoccurrenceofthesedomesticcalamities。Hismother’shealth，ashecouldbuttooplainlydiscerneverytimehewenttoseeheratthecottage，wasfailingfast，andheupbraidedhimselfinsecretasthecauseofthebodilyandmentalsufferingsheendured。Whentohisremorseonhismother’saccountwasaddedtheshameandmiseryoccasionedbythediscoveryofhiswife’sdegradation，hesankunderthedoubletrial——hisfacebegantoalterfast，andhelookedwhathewas，aspirit—brokenman。

Hismother，stillstrugglingbravelyagainsttheillnessthatwashurryinghertothegrave，wasthefirsttonoticethesadalterationinhim，andthefirsttohearofhislastworsttroublewithhiswife。Shecouldonlyweepbitterlyonthedaywhenhemadehishumiliatingconfession，butonthenextoccasionwhenhewenttoseehershehadtakenaresolutioninreferencetohisdomesticafflictionswhichastonishedandevenalarmedhim。Hefoundherdressedtogoout，andonaskingthereasonreceivedthisanswer：

"Iamnotlongforthisworld，Isaac，"shesaid，"andIshallnotfeeleasyonmydeath—bedunlessIhavedonemybesttothelasttomakemysonhappy。Imeantoputmyownfearsandmyownfeelingsoutofthequestion，andtogowithyoutoyourwife，andtrywhatIcandotoreclaimher。Givemeyourarm，Isaac，andletmedothelastthingIcaninthisworldtohelpmysonbeforeitistoolate。"

Hecouldnotdisobeyher，andtheywalkedtogetherslowlytowardhismiserablehome。

Itwasonlyoneo’clockintheafternoonwhentheyreachedthecottagewherehelived。Itwastheirdinner—hour，andRebeccawasinthekitchen。Hewasthusabletotakehismotherquietlyintotheparlor，andthenpreparehiswifefortheinterview。Shehadfortunatelydrunkbutlittleatthatearlyhour，andshewaslesssullenandcapriciousthanusual。

Hereturnedtohismotherwithhismindtolerablyatease。Hiswifesoonfollowedhimintotheparlor，andthemeetingbetweenherandMrs。Scatchardpassedoffbetterthanhehadventuredtoanticipate，thoughheobservedwithsecretapprehensionthathismother，resolutelyasshecontrolledherselfinotherrespects，couldnotlookhiswifeinthefacewhenshespoketoher。Itwasarelieftohim，therefore，whenRebeccabegantolaythecloth。

Shelaidthecloth，broughtinthebread—tray，andcutaslicefromtheloafforherhusband，thenreturnedtothekitchen。Atthatmoment，Isaac，stillanxiouslywatchinghismother，wasstartledbyseeingthesameghastlychangepassoverherfacewhichhadaltereditsoawfullyonthemorningwhenRebeccaandshefirstmet。Beforehecouldsayaword，shewhispered，withalookofhorror：

"Takemeback——home，homeagain，Isaac。Comewithme，andnevergobackagain。"

Hewasafraidtoaskforanexplanation；hecouldonlysigntohertobesilent，andhelpherquicklytothedoor。Astheypassedthebreadtrayonthetableshestoppedandpointedtoit。

"Didyouseewhatyourwifecutyourbreadwith？"sheasked，inalowwhisper。

"No，mother——Iwasnotnoticing——whatwasit？"

"Look！"

Hedidlook。Anewclasp—knifewithabuckhornhandlelaywiththeloafinthebread—tray。Hestretchedouthishandshudderinglytopossesshimselfofit；but，atthesametime，therewasanoiseinthekitchen，andhismothercaughtathisarm。

"Theknifeofthedream！Isaac，I’mfaintwithfear。Takemeawaybeforeshecomesback。"

Hewashardlyabletosupporther。Thevisible，tangiblerealityoftheknifestruckhimwithapanic，andutterlydestroyedanyfaintdoubtsthathemighthaveentertaineduptothistimeinrelationtothemysteriousdream—warningofnearlyeightyearsbefore。Byalastdesperateeffort，hesummonedself—possessionenoughtohelphismotheroutofthehouse——soquietlythatthe"Dream—woman"（hethoughtofherbythatnamenow）didnothearthemdepartingfromthekitchen。

"Don’tgoback，Isaac——don’tgoback！"imploredMrs。Scatchard，asheturnedtogoaway，afterseeinghersafelyseatedagaininherownroom。

"Imustgettheknife，"heanswered，underhisbreath。Hismothertriedtostophimagain，buthehurriedoutwithoutanotherword。

Onhisreturnhefoundthathiswifehaddiscoveredtheirsecretdeparturefromthehouse。Shehadbeendrinking，andwasinafuryofpassion。Thedinnerinthekitchenwasflungunderthegrate；theclothwasofftheparlortable。Wherewastheknife？

Unwisely，heaskedforit。Shewasonlytoogladoftheopportunityofirritatinghimwhichtherequestaffordedher。"Hewantedtheknife，didhe？Couldhegiveherareasonwhy？No！

Thenheshouldnothaveit——notifhewentdownonhiskneestoaskforit。"Furtherrecriminationselicitedthefactthatshehadboughtitabargain，andthatsheconsidereditherownespecialproperty。Isaacsawtheuselessnessofattemptingtogettheknifebyfairmeans，anddeterminedtosearchforit，laterintheday，insecret。Thesearchwasunsuccessful。Nightcameon，andheleftthehousetowalkaboutthestreets。Hewasafraidnowtosleepinthesameroomwithher。

Threeweekspassed。Stillsullenlyenragedwithhim，shewouldnotgiveuptheknife；andstillthatfearofsleepinginthesameroomwithherpossessedhim。Hewalkedaboutatnight，ordozedintheparlor，orsatwatchingbyhismother’sbedside。

Beforetheexpirationofthefirstweekinthenewmonthhismotherdied。Itwantedthenbuttendaysofherson’sbirthday。

Shehadlongedtolivetillthatanniversary。Isaacwaspresentatherdeath，andherlastwordsinthisworldwereaddressedtohim：

"Don’tgoback，myson，don’tgoback！"Hewasobligedtogoback，ifitwereonlytowatchhiswife。Exasperatedtothelastdegreebyhisdistrustofher，shehadrevengefullysoughttoaddastingtohisgrief，duringthelastdaysofhismother’sillness，bydeclaringthatshewouldassertherrighttoattendthefuneral。Inspiteofanythinghecoulddoorsay，sheheldwithwickedpertinacitytoherword，andonthedayappointedfortheburialforcedherself——inflamedandshamelesswithdrink——intoherhusband’spresence，anddeclaredthatshewouldwalkinthefuneralprocessiontohismother’sgrave。

Thislastworstoutrage，accompaniedbyallthatwasmostinsultinginwordandlook，maddenedhimforthemoment。Hestruckher。

Theinstanttheblowwasdealtherepentedit。Shecroucheddown，silent，inacorneroftheroom，andeyedhimsteadily；itwasalookthatcooledhishotbloodandmadehimtremble。Buttherewasnotimenowtothinkofameansofmakingatonement。Nothingremainedbuttorisktheworsttillthefuneralwasover。Therewasbutonewayofmakingsureofher。Helockedherintoherbedroom。

Whenhecamebacksomehoursafter，hefoundhersitting，verymuchalteredinlookandbearing，bythebedside，withabundleonherlap。Sherose，andfacedhimquietly，andspokewithastrangestillnessinhervoice，astrangereposeinhereyes，astrangecomposureinhermanner。

"Nomanhaseverstruckmetwice，"shesaid，"andmyhusbandshallhavenosecondopportunity。Setthedooropenandletmego。Fromthisdayforthweseeeachothernomore。"

Beforehecouldanswershepassedhimandlefttheroom。Hesawherwalkawayupthestreet。

Wouldshereturn？

Allthatnighthewatchedandwaited，butnofootstepcamenearthehouse。Thenextnight，overpoweredbyfatigue，helaydowninbedinhisclothes，withthedoorlocked，thekeyonthetable，andthecandleburning。Hisslumberwasnotdisturbed。Thethirdnight，thefourth，thefifth，thesixthpassed，andnothinghappened。

Helaydownontheseventh，stillinhisclothes，stillwiththedoorlocked，thekeyonthetable，andthecandleburning，buteasierinhismind。

Easierinhismind，andinperfecthealthofbodywhenhefellofftosleep。Buthisrestwasdisturbed。Hewoketwicewithoutanysensationofuneasiness。Butthethirdtimeitwasthatnever—to—be—forgottenshiveringofthenightatthelonelyinn，thatdreadfulsinkingpainattheheart，whichoncemorearousedhiminaninstant。

Hiseyesopenedtowardtheleft—handsideofthebed，andtherestood——TheDream—Womanagain？No！Hiswife；thelivingreality，withthedream—specter’sface，inthedream—specter’sattitude；

thefairarmup，theknifeclaspedinthedelicatewhitehand。

Hespranguponheralmostattheinstantofseeingher，andyetnotquicklyenoughtopreventherfromhidingtheknife。Withoutawordfromhim——withoutacryfromher——hepinionedherinachair。Withonehandhefeltuphersleeve，andthere，wheretheDream—Womanhadhiddentheknife，hiswifehadhiddenit——theknifewiththebuckhornhandle，thatlookedlikenew。

Inthedespairofthatfearfulmomenthisbrainwassteady，hisheartwascalm。Helookedatherfixedlywiththeknifeinhishand，andsaidtheselastwords：

"Youtoldmeweshouldseeeachothernomore，andyouhavecomeback。Itismyturnnowtogo，andtogoforever。Isaythatweshallseeeachothernomore，andmywordshallnotbebroken。"

Helefther，andsetforthintothenight。Therewasableakwindabroad，andthesmellofrecentrainwasintheair。Thedistantchurch—clockschimedthequarterashewalkedrapidlybeyondthelasthousesinthesuburb。Heaskedthefirstpolicemanhemetwhathourthatwasofwhichthequarterpasthadjuststruck。

Themanreferredsleepilytohiswatch，andanswered，"Twoo’clock。"Twointhemorning。Whatdayofthemonthwasthisdaythathadjustbegun？Hereckoneditupfromthedateofhismother’sfuneral。Thefatalparallelwascomplete：itwashisbirthday！

Hadheescapedthemortalperilwhichhisdreamforetold？orhadheonlyreceivedasecondwarning？

Asthatominousdoubtforceditselfonhismind，hestopped，reflected，andturnedbackagaintowardthecity。Hewasstillresolutetoholdtohisword，andnevertoletherseehimmore；

buttherewasathoughtnowinhismindofhavingherwatchedandfollowed。Theknifewasinhispossession；theworldwasbeforehim；butanewdistrustofher——avague，unspeakable，superstitiousdreadhadovercomehim。

"Imustknowwhereshegoes，nowshethinksIhavelefther，"hesaidtohimself，ashestolebackwearilytotheprecinctsofhishouse。

Itwasstilldark。Hehadleftthecandleburninginthebedchamber；butwhenhelookeduptothewindowoftheroomnowtherewasnolightinit。Hecreptcautiouslytothehousedoor。

Ongoingaway，herememberedtohaveclosedit；ontryingitnow，hefounditopen。

Hewaitedoutside，neverlosingsightofthehouse，tilldaylight。Thenheventuredindoors——listened，andheardnothing——lookedintokitchen，scullery，parlorandfoundnothing；

wentupatlastintothebedroom——itwasempty。Apicklocklayonthefloorbetrayinghowshehadgainedentranceinthenight，andthatwastheonlytraceofher。

Whitherhadshegone？Thatnomortaltonguecouldtellhim。Thedarknesshadcoveredherflight；andwhenthedaybroke，nomancouldsaywherethelightfoundher。

Beforeleavingthehouseandthetownforever，hegaveinstructionstoafriendandneighbortosellhisfurnitureforanythingthatitwouldfetch，andapplytheproceedstoemployingthepolicetotraceher。Thedirectionswerehonestlyfollowed，andthemoneywasallspent，buttheinquiriesledtonothing。

ThepicklockonthebedroomfloorremainedtheonelastuselesstraceoftheDream—Woman。

Atthispointofthenarrativethelandlordpaused，and，turningtowardthewindowoftheroominwhichweweresitting，lookedinthedirectionofthestable—yard。