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him at the first attempt he made to remove the knapsack from his
shoulders。 〃No；〃 she said； gently； 〃in the good old times there
were occasions when the ladies unarmed their knights。 I claim the
privilege of unarming _my_ knight。〃 Her dexterous fingers
intercepted his at the straps and buckles； and she had the dusty
knapsack off； before he could protest against her touching it。
They sat down at the one little table in the room。 It was very
poorly furnished； but there was something of the dainty neatness
of the woman who inhabited it in the arrangement of the few poor
ornaments on the chimney…piece； in the one or two prettily bound
volumes on the chiffonier； in the flowers on the table； and the
modest little work…basket in the window。 〃Women are not all
coquettes；〃 she said； as she took off her bonnet and mantilla；
and laid them carefully on a chair。 〃I won't go into my room； and
look in my glass； and make myself smart； you shall take me just
as I am。〃 Her hands moved about among the tea…things with a
smooth； noiseless activity。
Her magnificent hair flashed crimson in the candle…light； as she
turned her head hither and thither； searching with an easy grace
for the things she wanted in the tray。 Exercise had heightened
the brilliancy of her complexion； and had quickened the rapid
alternations of expression in her eyesthe delicious languor
that stole over them when she was listening or thinking； the
bright intelligence that flashed from them softly when she spoke。
In the lightest word she said； in the least thing she did； there
was something that gently solicited the heart of the man who sat
with her。 Perfectly modest in her manner； possessed to perfection
of the graceful restraints and refinements of a lady； she had all
the allurements that feast the eye； all the siren invitations
that seduce the sensea subtle suggestiveness in her silence；
and a sexual sorcery in her smile。
〃Should I be wrong；〃 she asked； suddenly suspending the
conversation which she had thus far persistently restricted to
the subject of Midwinter's walking tour； 〃if I g uessed that you
have something on your mindsomething which neither my tea nor
my talk can charm away？ Are men as curious as women？ Is the
somethingMe？〃
Midwinter struggled against the fascination of looking at her and
listening to her。 〃I am very anxious to hear what has happened
since I have been away；〃 he said。 〃But I am still more anxious；
Miss Gwilt； not to distress you by speaking of a painful
subject。〃
She looked at him gratefully。 〃It is for your sake that I have
avoided the painful subject；〃 she said； toying with her spoon
among the dregs in her empty cup。 〃But you will hear about it
from others； if you don't hear about it from me； and you ought to
know why you found me in that strange situation； and why you see
me here。 Pray remember one thing； to begin with。 I don't blame
your friend； Mr。 Armadale。 I blame the people whose instrument he
is。〃
Midwinter started。 〃Is it possible；〃 he began； 〃that Allan can be
in any way answerable？〃 He stopped； and looked at Miss Gwilt in
silent astonishment。
She gently laid her hand on his。 〃Don't be angry with me for only
telling the truth；〃 she said。 〃Your friend is answerable for
everything that has happened to meinnocently answerable； Mr。
Midwinter； I firmly believe。 We are both victims。 _He_ is the
victim of his position as the richest single man in the
neighborhood； and I am the victim of Miss Milroy's determination
to marry him。〃
〃Miss Milroy？〃 repeated Midwinter； more and more astonished。
〃Why； Allan himself told me〃 He stopped again。
〃He told you that I was the object of his admiration？ Poor
fellow； he admires everybody； his head is almost as empty as
this；〃 said Miss Gwilt； smiling indicatively into the hollow of
her cup。 She dropped the spoon； sighed； and became serious again。
〃I am guilty of the vanity of having let him admire me；〃 she went
on； penitently； 〃without the excuse of being able； on my side； to
reciprocate even the passing interest that he felt in me。 I don't
undervalue his many admirable qualities； or the excellent
position he can offer to his wife。 But a woman's heart is not to
be commandedno； Mr。 Midwinter； not even by the fortunate master
of Thorpe Ambrose； who commands everything else。〃
She looked him full in the face as she uttered that magnanimous
sentiment。 His eyes dropped before hers； and his dark color
deepened。 He had felt his heart leap in him at the declaration of
her indifference to Allan。 For the first time since they had
known each other； his interests now stood self…revealed before
him as openly adverse to the interests of his friend。
〃I have been guilty of the vanity of letting Mr。 Armadale admire
me； and I have suffered for it；〃 resumed Miss Gwilt。 〃If there
had been any confidence between my pupil and me； I might have
easily satisfied her that she might become Mrs。 Armadaleif she
couldwithout having any rivalry to fear on my part。 But Miss
Milroy disliked and distrusted me from the first。 She took her
own jealous view； no doubt； of Mr。 Armadale's thoughtless
attentions to me。 It was her interest to destroy the position；
such as it was； that I held in his estimation； and it is quite
likely her mother assisted her。 Mrs。 Milroy had her motive also
（which I am really ashamed to mention） for wishing to drive me
out of the house。 Anyhow； the conspiracy has succeeded。 I have
been forced （with Mr。 Armadale's help） to leave the major's
service。 Don't be angry； Mr。 Midwinter！ Don't form a hasty
opinion！ I dare say Miss Milroy has some good qualities； though I
have not found them out； and I assure you again and again that I
don't blame Mr。 Armadale。 I only blame the people whose
instrument he is。〃
〃How is he their instrument？ How can he be the instrument of any
enemy of yours？〃 asked Midwinter。 〃Pray excuse my anxiety； Miss
Gwilt： Allan's good name is as dear to me as my own！〃
Miss Gwilt's eyes turned full on him again； and Miss Gwilt's
heart abandoned itself innocently to an outburst of enthusiasm。
〃How I admire your earnestness！〃 she said。 〃How I like your
anxiety for your friend！ Oh； if women could only form such
friendships！ Oh you happy； happy men！〃 Her voice faltered； and
her convenient tea…cup absorbed her for the third time。 〃 I would
give all the little beauty I possess；〃 she said； 〃if I could only
find such a friend as Mr。 Armadale has found in _you。_ I never
shall； Mr。 MidwinterI never shall。 Let us go back to what we
were talking about。 I can only tell you how your friend is
concerned in my misfortune by telling you something first about
myself。 I am like many other governesses； I am the victim of sad
domestic circumstances。 It may be weak of me； but I have a horror
of alluding to them among strangers。 My silence about my family
and my friends exposes me to misinterpretation in my dependent
position。 Does it do me any harm； Mr。 Midwinter； in your
estimation？〃
〃God forbid！〃 said Midwinter； fervently。 〃There is no man
living；〃 he went on； thinking of his own family story； 〃who has
better reason to understand and respect your silence than I
have。〃
Miss Gwilt seized his hand impulsively。 〃Oh；〃 she said； 〃I knew
it； the first moment I saw you！ I knew that you； too； had
suffered； that you； too； had sorrows which you kept sacred！
Strange； strange sympathy！ I believe in mesmerismdo you？〃 She
suddenly recollected herself； and shuddered。 〃Oh； what have I
done？ What must you think of me？〃 she exclaimed； as he yielded to
the magnetic fascination of her touch； and； forgetting everything
but the hand that lay warm in his own； bent over it and kissed
it。 〃Spare me！〃 she said； faintly； as she felt the burning touch
of his lips。 〃I am so friendlessI am so completely at your
mercy！〃
He turned away from her； and hid his face in his hands； he was
trembling； and she saw it。 She looked at him while his face was
hidden from her； she looked at him with a furtive interest and
surprise。 〃How that man loves me！〃 she thought。 〃I wonder whether
there was a time when I might have loved _him？_〃
The silence between them remained unbroken for some minutes。 He
had felt her appeal to his consideration as she had never
expected or intended him to feel ithe shrank from looking at
her or from speaking to her again。
〃Shall I go on with my story？〃 she asked。 〃Shall we forget and
forgive on both sides？〃 A woman's inveterate indulgence for every
expression of a man's admiration which keeps within the limits of
personal respect curved her lips gently into a charming smile。
She looked down meditatively at her dress； and brushed a crumb
off her lap with a little flattering sigh。 〃I was telling you；〃
she went on； 〃of my reluctance to speak to strangers of my sad
family story。 It was in that way； as I afterward found out； that
I laid myself open to Miss Milroy's malice and Miss Milroy's
suspicion。 Private inquiries about me were addressed to the lady
who was my referenceat Miss Milroy's suggestion； in the first
instance； I have no doubt。 I am sorry to say； this is not the
worst of it。 By some underhand means； of which I am quite
ignorant； Mr。 Armadale's simplicity was imposed on；