misgiving that she may have it in her thoughts to leap over； and
dashing against ledge and cornice； strike her life out upon the
terrace below。 But a moment’s observation of her figure as she
stands in the window without any support； looking out at the
stars—not up—gloomily out at those stars which are low in the
heavens—reassures him。 By facing round as she has moved； he
stands a little behind her。
“Lady Dedlock； I have not yet been able to come to a decision
satisfactory to myself； on the course before me。 I am not clear what
to do； or how to act next。 I must request you； in the mean time； to
keep your secret as you have kept it so long； and not to wonder
that I keep it too。”
He pauses； but she makes no reply。
“Pardon me； Lady Dedlock。 This is an important subject。 You
are honouring me with your attention？”
“I am。”
“Thank you。 I might have known it； from what I have seen of
your strength of character。 I ought not to have asked the question；
but I have the habit of making sure of my ground； step by step； as I
go on。 The sole consideration in this unhappy case is Sir
Leicester。”
“Then why；” she asks in a low voice； and without removing her
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gloomy look from those distant stars； “do you detain me in his
house？”
“Because he is the consideration。 Lady Dedlock； I have no
occasion to tell you that Sir Leicester is a very proud man； that his
reliance upon you is implicit； that the fall of that moon out of the
sky； would not amaze him more than your fall from your high
position as his wife。”
She breathes quickly and heavily； but she stands as
unflinchingly as ever he has seen her in the midst of her grandest
company。
“I declare to you； Lady Dedlock； that with anything short of this
case that I have； I would as soon have hoped to root up； by means
of my own strength and my own hands； the oldest tree on this
estate； as to shake your hold upon Sir Leicester； and Sir
Leicester’s trust and confidence in you。 And even now； with this
case； I hesitate。 Not that he could doubt （that； even with him； is
impossible）； but that nothing can prepare him for the blow。”
“Not my flight？” she returned。 “Think of it again。”
“Your flight； Lady Dedlock； would spread the whole truth； and
a hundred times the whole truth； far and wide。 It would be
impossible to save the family credit for a day。 It is not to be
thought of。”
There is a quiet decision in his reply； which admits of no
remonstrance。
“When I speak of Sir Leicester being the sole consideration； he
and the family credit are one。 Sir Leicester and the baronetcy； Sir
Leicester and Chesney Wold； Sir Leicester and his ancestors and
his patrimony；” Mr Tulkinghorn very dry here； “are； I need not
say to you； Lady Dedlock； inseparable。”
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“Go on！”
“Therefore；” says Mr Tulkinghorn； pursuing his case in his jog…
trot style； “I have much to consider。 This is to be hushed up； if it
can be。 How can it be； if Sir Leicester is driven out of his wits； or
laid upon a death…bed？ If I inflicted this shock upon him tomorrow
morning； how could the immediate change in him be accounted
for？ What could have caused it？ What could have divided you？
Lady Dedlock； the wall…chalking and the street…crying would come
on directly； and you are to remember that it would not affect you
merely （whom I cannot at all consider in this business） but your
husband； Lady Dedlock； your husband。”
He gets plainer as he gets on； but not an atom more emphatic or
animated。
“There is another point of view；” he continues； “in which the
case presents itself。 Sir Leicester is devoted to you almost to
infatuation。 He might not be able to overcome that infatuation；
even knowing what we know。 I am putting an extreme case； but it
might be so。 If so； it were better that he knew nothing。 Better for
common sense； better for him； better for me。 I must take all this
into account； and it combines to render a decision very difficult。”
She stands looking out at the same stars； without a word。 They
are beginning to pale； and she looks as if their coldness froze her。
“My experience teaches me；” says Mr Tulkinghorn； who has by
this time got his hands in his pockets； and is going on in his
business consideration of the matter； like a machine。 “My
experience teaches me； Lady Dedlock； that most of the people I
know would do far better to leave marriage alone。 It is at the
bottom of three…fourths of their troubles。 So I thought when Sir
Leicester married； and so I always have thought since。 No more
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about that。 I must now be guided by circumstances。 In the
meanwhile I must beg you to keep your own counsel； and I will
keep mine。”
“I am to drag my present life on； holding its pains at your
pleasure day by day？” she asks； still looking at the distant sky。
“Yes； I am afraid so； Lady Dedlock。” “It is necessary； you think；
that I should be so tied to the stake？”
“I am sure that what I recommend is necessary。”
“I am to remain upon this gaudy platform； on which my
miserable deception has been so long acted； and it is to fall
beneath me when you give the signal？” she says slowly。
“Not without notice； Lady Dedlock。 I shall take no step without
forewarning you。”
She asks all her questions as if she were repeating them from
memory； or calling them over in her sleep。
“We are to meet as usual？”
“Precisely as usual； if you please。”
“And I am to hide my guilt； as I have done so many years？”
“As you have done so many years。 I should not have made that
reference myself； Lady Dedlock； but I may now remind you that
your secret can be no heavier to you than it was； and is no worse
and no better than it was。 I know it certainly； but I believe we have
never wholly trusted each other。”
She stands absorbed in the same frozen way for some little
time； before asking：
“Is there anything more to be said tonight？”
“Why；” Mr Tulkinghorn returns methodically； as he softly rubs
his hands； “I should like to be assured of your acquiescence in my
arrangements； Lady Dedlock。”
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“You may be assured of it。”
“Good。 And I would wish in conclusion to remind you； as a
business precaution； in case it should be necessary to recall the
fact in any communication with Sir Leicester； that throughout our
interview I have expressly stated my sole consideration to be Sir
Leicester’s feelings and honour； and the family reputation。 I
should have been happy to have made Lady Dedlock a prominent
consideration too； if the case had admitted of it； but unfortunately
it does not。”
“I can attest your fidelity； sir。”
Both before and after saying it； she remains absorbed； but at
length moves； and turns； unshaken in her natural and acquired
presence； towards the door。 Mr Tulkinghorn opens both the doors
exactly as he would have done yesterday； or as he would have
done ten years ago； and makes his old…fashioned bow as she passes
out。 It is not an ordinary look that he receives from the handsome
face as it goes into the darkness； and it is not an ordinary
movement； though a very slight one； that acknowledges his
courtesy。 But； as he reflects when he is left alone； the woman has
been putting no common constraint upon herself。
He would know it all the better； if he saw the woman pacing her
own rooms with her hair wildly thrown from her flung back face；
her hands clasped behind her head； her figure twisted as if by
pain。 He would think so all the more； if he saw the woman thus
hurrying up and down for hours； without fatigue； without
intermission； followed by the faithful step upon the Ghost’s Walk。
But he shuts out the now chilled air； draws the window…curtain；
goes to bed； and falls asleep。 And truly when the stars go out and
the wan day pe
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