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disguise。
〃Knowing the risks the doctor runs in his particular form of
practice； I suspected at once that something serious had
happened； and that even cunning Mrs。 Oldershaw was compromised
this time。 Without stopping； or making any inquiry； therefore； I
called the first cab that passed me； and drove to the post…office
to which I had desired my letters to be forwarded if any came for
me after I left my Thorpe Ambrose lodging。
〃On inquiry a letter was produced for 'Miss Gwilt。' It was in
Mother Oldershaw's handwriting； and it told me （as I had
supposed） that the doctor had got into a serious difficultythat
she was herself most unfortunately mixed up in the matter； and
that they were both in hiding for the present。 The letter ended
with some sufficiently venomous sentences about my conduct at
Thorpe Ambrose； and with a warning that I have not heard the last
of Mrs。 Oldershaw yet。 It relieved me to find her writing in this
wayfor she would have been civil and cringing if she had had
any suspicion of what I have really got in view。 I burned the
letter as soon as the candles came up。 And there； for the
present； is an end of the connection between Mother Jezebel and
me。 I must do all my own dirty work now； and I shall be all the
safer； perhaps； for trusting nobody's hands to do it but my own。
〃July 31st。More useful information for me。 I met Midwinter
again in the Park （on the pretext that my reputation might suffer
if he called too often at my lodgings）； and heard the last news
of Armadale since I left the hotel yesterday。
〃After he had written to Miss Milroy； Midwinter took the
opportunity of speaking to him about the necessary business
arrangements during his absence from the great house。 It was
decided that the servants should be put on board wages； and that
Mr。 Bashwood should be left in charge。 （Somehow； I don't like
this re…appearance of Mr。 Bashwood in connection with my present
interests； but there is no help for it。） The next questionthe
question of moneywas settled at once by Mr。 Armadale himself。
All his available ready…money （a large sum） is to be lodged by
Mr。 Bashwood in Coutts's Bank； and to be there deposited in
Armadale's name。 This； he said； would save him the worry of any
further letter…writing to his steward； and would enable him to
get what he wanted； when he went abroad； at a moment's notice。
The plan thus proposed； being certainly the simplest and the
safest； was adopted with Midwinter's full concurrence； and here
the business discussion would have ended； if the everlasting Mr。
Bashwood had not turned up again in the conversation； and
prolonged it in an entirely new direction。
〃On reflection； it seems to have struck Midwinter that the whole
responsibility at Thorpe Ambrose ought not to rest on Mr。
Bashwood's shoulders。 Without in the least distrusting him；
Midwinter felt； nevertheless； that he ought to have somebody set
over him； to apply to in case of emergency。 Armadale made no
objection to this； he only asked； in his helpless way； who the
person was to be？
〃The answer was not an easy one to arrive at。
〃Either of the two solicitors at Thorpe Ambrose might have been
employed； but Armadale was on bad terms with both of them。 Any
reconciliation with such a bitter enemy as the elder lawyer； Mr。
Darch； was out of the question； and reinstating Mr。 Pedgift in
his former position implied a tacit sanction on Armadale's part
of the lawyer's abominable conduct toward _me；_ which was
scarcely consistent with the respect and regard that he felt for
a lady who was soon to be his friend's wife。 After some further
discussion； Midwinter hit on a new suggestion which appeared to
meet the difficulty。 He proposed that Armadale should write to a
respectable solicitor at Norwich； stating his position in general
terms； and requesting that gentleman to act as Mr。 Bashwood's
adviser and superintendent when occasion required。 Norwich being
within an easy railway ride of Thorpe Ambrose； Armadale saw no
objection to the proposal； and promised to write to the Norwich
lawyer。 Fearing that he might make some mistake if he wrote
without assistance； Midwinter had drawn him out a draft of the
necessary letter； and Armadale was now engaged in copying the
draft； and also in writing to Mr。 Bashwood to lodge the money
immediately in Coutts's Bank。
〃These details are so dry and uninteresting in themselves that I
hesitated at first about putting them down in my diary。 But a
little reflection has convinced me that they are too important to
be passed over。 Looked at from my point of view； they mean
thisthat Armadale's own act is now cutting him off from all
communication with Thorpe Ambrose； even by letter。 _He is as good
as dead already to everybody he leaves behind him。_ The causes
which have led to such a result as that are causes which
certainly claim the best place I can give them in these pages。
〃August 1st。Nothing to record； but that I have had a long；
quiet； happy day with Midwinter。 He hired a carriage； and we
drove to Richmond； and dined there。 After to…day's experience； it
is impossible to deceive myself any longer。 Come what may of it；
I love him。
〃I have fallen into low spirits since he left me。 A persuasion
has taken possession of my mind that the smooth and prosperous
course of my affairs since I have been in London is too smooth
and prosperous to last。 There is something oppressing me
to…night； which is more than the oppression of the heavy London
air。
〃August 2d。Three o'clock。My presentiments； like other
people's； have deceived me often enough； but I am almost afraid
that my presentiment of last night was really prophetic； for once
in a way。
〃I went after breakfast to a milliner's in this neighborhood to
order a few cheap summer things； and thence to Midwinter's hotel
to arrange with him for another day in the country。 I drove to
the milliner's and to the hotel； and part of the way back。 Then；
feeling disgusted with the horrid close smell of the cab
（somebody had been smoking in it； I suppose）； I got out to walk
the rest of the way。 Before I had been two minutes on my feet； I
discovered that I was being followed by a strange man。
〃This may mean nothing but that an idle fellow has been struck by
my figure； and my appearance generally。 My face could have made
no impression on him； for it was hidden as usual by my veil。
Whether he followed me （in a cab； of course） from the milliner's；
or from the hotel； I cannot say。 Nor am I quite certain whether
he did or did not track me to this door。 I only know that I lost
sight of him before I got back。 There is no help for it but to
wait till events enlighten me。 If there is anything serious in
what has happened； I shall soon discover it。
〃Five o'clock。It _is_ serious。 Ten minutes since； I was in my
bedroom； which communicates with the sitting…room。 I was just
coming out； when I heard a strange voice on the landing
outsidea woman's voice。 The next instant the sitting…room door
was suddenly opened； the woman's voice said； 'Are these the
apartments you have got to let？' and though
the landlady； behind her； answered； 'No！ higher up； ma'am；' the
woman came on straight to my bedroom； as if she had not heard。 I
had just time to slam the door in her face before she saw me。 The
necessary explanations and apologies followed between the
landlady and the stranger in the sitting…room； and then I was
left alone again。
〃I have no time to write more。 It is plain that somebody has an
interest in trying to identify me； and that； but for my own
quickness； the strange woman would have accomplished this object
by taking me by surprise。 She and the man who followed me in the
street are； I suspect； in league together； and there is probably
somebody in the background whose interests they are serving。 Is
Mother Oldershaw attacking me in the dark？ or who else can it be？
No matter who it is； my present situation is too critical to be
trifled with。 I must get away from this house to…night； and leave
no trace behind me by which I can be followed to another place。
〃August 3d。Gary Street； Tottenham Court Road。I got away last
night （after writing an excuse to Midwinter； in which 'my invalid
mother' figured as the all…sufficient cause of my disappearance）；
and I have found refuge here。 It has cost me some money； but my
object is attained！ Nobody can possibly have traced me from All
Saints' Terrace to this address。
〃After paying my landlady the necessary forfeit for leaving her
without notice； I arranged with her son that he should take my
boxes in a cab to the cloak…room at the nearest railway station；
and send me the ticket in a letter； to wait my application for it
at the post…office。 While he went his way in one cab； I went mine
in another； with a few things for the night in my little
hand…bag。
〃I drove straight to the milliner's shop； which I had observed；
when I was there yesterday； had a back entrance into a mews； for
the apprentices to go in and out by。 I went in at once； leaving
the cab waiting for me at the door。 'A man is following me；' I
said； 'and I want to get rid of him。 Here is my cab fare； wait
ten minutes before you give it