his gloves to dine）； though he sat opposite to me at the small table；
for I doubt if； looking up at all； he once removed his eyes from his
host’s face。 I found Richard thin and languid； slovenly in his dress；
abstracted in his manner； forcing his spirits now and then； and at
other intervals relapsing into a dull thoughtfulness。 About his
large bright eyes that used to be so merry； there was a wanness
and a restlessness that changed them altogether。 I cannot use the
expression that he looked old。 There is a ruin of youth which is not
like age； and into such a ruin； Richard’s youth and youthful beauty
had all fallen away。
He ate little； and seemed indifferent what it was； showed
himself to be much more impatient than he used to be； and was
quick； even with Ada。 I thought； at first； that his old light…hearted
manner was all gone； but it shone out of him sometimes； as I had
occasionally known little momentary glimpses of my own old face
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to look out upon me from the glass。 His laugh had not quite left
him either； but it was like the echo of a joyful sound； and that is
always sorrowful。
Yet he was as glad as ever in his old affectionate way； to have
me there； and we talked of the old times pleasantly。 These did not
appear to be interesting to Mr Vholes； though he occasionally
made a gasp which I believe was his smile。 He rose shortly after
dinner； and said that with the permission of the ladies he would
retire to his office。
“Always devoted to business； Vholes！” cried Richard。
“Yes； Mr C；” he returned； “the interests of clients are never to
be neglected； sir。 They are paramount in the thoughts of a
professional man like myself； who wishes to preserve a good name
among his fellow…practitioners and society at large。 My denying
myself the pleasure of the present agreeable conversation； may
not be wholly irrespective of your own interests； Mr C。”
Richard expressed himself quite sure of that； and lighted Mr
Vholes out。 On his return he told us； more than once； that Vholes
was a good fellow； a safe fellow； a man who did what he pretended
to do； a very good fellow； indeed！ He was so defiant about it； that it
struck me he had begun to doubt Mr Vholes。
Then he threw himself on the sofa； tired out； and Ada and I put
things to rights； for they had no other servant than the woman
who attended to the chambers。 My dear girl had a cottage piano
there； and quietly sat down to sing some of Richard’s favourites；
the lamp being first removed into the next room； as he complained
of its hurting his eyes。
I sat between them at my dear girl’s side； and felt very
melancholy listening to her sweet voice。 I think Richard did too； I
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think he darkened the room for that reason。 She had been singing
some time； rising between…whiles to bend over him and speak to
him； when Mr Woodcourt came in。 Then he sat down by Richard；
and half playfully； half earnestly； quite naturally and easily； found
out how he felt； and where he had been all day。 Presently he
proposed to accompany him in a short walk on one of the bridges；
as it was a moonlight airy night； and Richard readily consenting；
they went out together。
They left my dear girl still sitting at the piano； and me still
sitting beside her。 When they were gone out； I drew my arm round
her waist。 She put her left hand in mine （I was sitting on that side）；
but kept her right upon the keys—going over and over them；
without striking any note。
“Esther； my dearest；” she said； breaking silence； “Richard is
never so well； and I am never so easy about him； as when he is
with Allan Woodcourt。 We have to thank you for that。”
I pointed out to my darling how this could scarcely be； because
Mr Woodcourt had come to her cousin John’s house； and had
known us all there； and because he had always liked Richard； and
Richard had always liked him； and—and so forth。
“All true；” said Ada； “but that he is such a devoted friend to us；
we owe to you。”
I thought it best to let my dear girl have her way； and to say no
more about it。 So I said as much。 I said it lightly； because I felt her
trembling。
“Esther； my dearest； I want to be a good wife； a very； very good
wife indeed。 You shall teach me。”
I teach！ I said no more； for I noticed the hand that was
fluttering over the keys； and I knew that it was not I who ought to
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speak； that it was she who had something to say to me。
“When I married Richard； I was not insensible to what was
before him。 I had been perfectly happy for a long time with you；
and I had never known any trouble or anxiety； so loved and cared
for； but I understood the danger he was in； dear Esther。”
“I know； I know； my darling。”
“When we were married； I had some little hope that I might be
able to convince him of his mistake； that he might come to regard
it in a new way as my husband； and not pursue it all the more
desperately for my sake—as he does。 But if I had not had that
hope； I would have married him just the same； Esther。 Just the
same！”
In the momentary firmness of the hand that was never still—a
firmness inspired by the utterance of these last words； and dying
away with them—I saw the confirmation of her earnest tones。
“You are not to think； my dearest Esther； that I fail to see what
you see； and fear what you fear。 No one can understand him better
than I do。 The greatest wisdom that ever lived in the world could
scarcely know Richard better than my love does。”
She spoke so modestly and softly； and her trembling hand
expressed such agitation； as it moved to and fro upon the silent
notes！ My dear； dear girl！
“I see him at his worst； every day。 I watch him in his sleep。 I
know every change of his face。 But when I married Richard I was
quite determined； Esther； if Heaven would help me； never to show
him that I grieved for what he did； and so to make him more
unhappy。 I want him； when he comes home； to find no trouble in
my face。 I want him； when he looks at me； to see what he loved in
me。 I married him to do this； and this supports me。”
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I felt her trembling more。 I waited for what was yet to come；
and I now thought I began to know what it was。
“And something else supports me； Esther。”
She stopped a minute。 Stopped speaking only； her hand was
still in motion。
“I look forward a little while； and I don’t know what great aid
may come to me。 When Richard turns his eyes upon me then；
there may be something lying on my breast more eloquent than I
have been； with greater power than mine to show him his true
course； and win him back。”
Her hand stopped now。 She clasped me in her arms； and I
clasped her in mine。
“If that little creature should fail too； Esther； I still look forward。
I look forward a long while； through years and years； and think
that then； when I am growing old； or when I am dead perhaps； a
beautiful woman； his daughter； happily married； may be proud of
him and a blessing to him。 Or that a generous brave man； as
handsome as he used to be； as hopeful； and far more happy； may
walk in the sunshine with him； honouring his grey head； and
saying to himself； ‘I thank God this is my father！ ruined by a fatal
inheritance； and restored through me！’”
O； my sweet girl； what a heart was that which beat so fast
against me！
“These hopes uphold me； my dear Esther； and I know they will。
Though sometimes even they depart from me； before a dread that
arises when I look at Richard。”
I tried to cheer my darling； and asked her what it was？ Sobbing
and weeping； she replied：—
“That he may not live to see his child。”
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Chapter 61
A Discovery
he days when I frequented that miserable corner which
my dear girl brightened； can never fade in my
T
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