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hit on some plan of his own for dealing with this matter； rather
strangely involving； among other results； the letting of the
cottage which was the old steward's place of abode； in
consequence of the new steward's contemplated residence in the
great house。 A chance word in our conversation on the journey
here led Allan into speaking out more plainly than he had spoken
yet； and I heard to my unutterable astonishment that the person
who was at the bottom of the whole arrangement about the steward
was no other than myself！
〃It is needless to tell you how I felt this new instance of
Allan's kindness。 The first pleasure of hearing from his own lips
that I had deserved the strongest proof he could give of his
confidence in me was soon dashed by the pain which mixes itself
with all pleasureat least； with all that I have ever known。
Never has my past life seemed so dreary to look back on as it
seems now； when I feel how entirely it has unfitted me to take
the place of all others that I should have liked to occupy in my
friend's service。 I mustered courage to tell him that I had none
of the business knowledge and business experience which his
steward ought to possess。 He generously met the objection by
telling me that I could learn； and he has promised to send to
London for the person who has already been employed for the time
being in the steward's office； and who will； therefore； be
perfectly competent to teach me。
〃Do you； too； think I can learn？ If you do； I will work day and
night to instruct myself。 But if （as I am afraid） the steward's
duties are of far too serious a kind to be learned off…hand by a
man so young and so inexperienced as I am； then pray hasten your
journey to Thorpe Ambrose； and exert your influence over Allan
personally。 Nothing less will induce him to pass me over； and to
employ a steward who is really fit to take the place。 Pray； pray
act in this matter as you think best for Allan's interests。
Whatever disappointment I may feel； _he_ shall not see it。
〃Believe me； dear Mr。 Brock；
〃Gratefuly yours；
〃OZIAS MIDWINTER。
〃P。S。I open the envelope again to add one word more。 If you
have heard or seen anything since your return to Somersetshire of
the woman in the black dress and the red shawl； I hope you will
not forget； when you write； to let me know it。
O。 M。〃
2。 _From Mrs。 Oldershaw to Miss Gwilt。_
〃Ladies' Toilet Repository； Diana Street； Pimlico；
Wednesday。
〃MY DEAR LYDIATo save the post； I write to you； after a long
day's worry at my place of business； on the business
letter…paper； having news since we last met which it seems
advisable to send you at the earliest opportunity。
〃To begin at the beginning。 After carefully considering the
thing； I am quite sure you will do wisely with young Armadale if
you hold your tongue about Madeira and all that happened there。
Your position was； no doubt； a very strong one with his mother。
You had privately helped her in playing a trick on her own
father； you had been ungratefully dismissed； at a pitiably tender
age； as soon as you had served her purpose； and； when you came
upon her suddenly； after a separation of more than twenty years；
you found her in failing health； with a grown…up son； whom she
had kept in total ignorance of the true story of her marriage。
〃Have you any such advantages as these with the young gentleman
who has survived her？ If he is not a born idiot he will decline
to believe your shocking aspersions on the memory of his mother；
andseeing that you have no proofs at this distance of time to
meet him withthere is an end of your money…grubbing in the
golden Armadale diggings。 Mind； I don't dispute that the old
lady's heavy debt of obligation； after what you did for her in
Madeira； is not paid yet； and that the son is the next person to
settle with you； now the mother has slipped through your fingers。
Only squeeze him the right way； my dear； that's what I venture to
suggestsqueeze him the right way。
〃And which is the right way？ That question brings me to my news。
〃Have you thought again of that other notion of yours of trying
your hand on this lucky young gentleman； with nothing but your
own good looks and your own quick wits to help you？ The idea hung
on my mind so strangely after you were gone that it ended in my
sending a little note to my lawyer； to have the will under which
young Armadale has got his fortune examined at Doctor's Commons。
The result turns out to be something infinitely more encouraging
than either you or I could possibly have hoped for。 After the
lawyer's report to me； there cannot be a moment's doubt of what
you ought to do。 In two words； Lydia； take the bull by the
hornsand marry him！
〃I am quite serious。 He is much better worth the venture than you
suppose。 Only persuade him to make you Mrs。 Armadale； and you may
set all after…discoveries at flat defiance。 As long as he lives；
you can make your own terms with him； and； if he dies； the will
entitles you； in spite of anything he can say or dowith
children or without themto an income chargeable on his estate
of _twelve hundred a year for life。_ There is no doubt about
this； the lawyer himself has looked at the will。 Of course； Mr。
Blanchard had his son and his son's widow in his eye when he made
the provision。 But； as it is not limited to any one heir by name；
and not revoked anywhere； it now holds as good with young
Armadale as it would have held under other circumstances with Mr。
Blanchard's son。 W hat a chance for you； after all the miseries
and the dangers you have gone through； to be mistress of Thorpe
Ambrose； if he lives； to have an income for life； if he dies！
Hook him； my poor dear； hook him at any sacrifice。
〃I dare say you will make the same objection when you read this
which you made when we were talking about it the other day； I
mean the objection of your age。
〃Now； my good creature； just listen to me。 The question isnot
whether you were five…and…thirty last birthday； we will own the
dreadful truth； and say you werebut whether you do look； or
don't look； your real age。 My opinion on this matter ought to be；
and is； one of the best opinions in London。 I have had twenty
years experience among our charming sex in making up battered old
faces and wornout old figures to look like new； and I say
positively you don't look a day over thirty； if as much。 If you
will follow my advice about dressing； and use one or two of my
applications privately； I guarantee to put you back three years
more。 I will forfeit all the money I shall have to advance for
you in this matter； if； when I have ground you young again in my
wonderful mill； you look more than seven…and…twenty in any man's
eyes livingexcept； of course； when you wake anxious in the
small hours of the morning； and then； my dear； you will be old
and ugly in the retirement of your own room； and it won't matter。
〃 'But；' you may say； 'supposing all this； here I am； even with
your art to help me； looking a good six years older than he is；
and that is against me at starting。' Is it？ Just think again。
Surely； your own experience must have shown you that the
commonest of all common weaknesses； in young fellows of this
Armadale's age； is to fall in love with women older than
themselves。 Who are the men who really appreciate us in the bloom
of our youth （I'm sure I have cause to speak well of the bloom of
youth； I made fifty guineas to…day by putting it on the spotted
shoulders of a woman old enough to be your mother）who are the
men； I say； who are ready to worship us when we are mere babies
of seventeen？ The gay young gentlemen in the bloom of their own
youth？ No！ The cunning old wretches who are on the wrong side of
forty。
〃And what is the moral of this； as the story…books say？
〃The moral is that the chances； with such a head as you have got
on your shoulders； are all in your favor。 If you feel your
present forlorn position； as I believe you do； if you know what a
charming woman （in the men's eyes） you can still be when you
please； and if all your resolution has really come back； after
that shocking outbreak of desperation on board the steamer
（natural enough； I own； under the dreadful provocation laid on
you）； you will want no further persuasion from me to try this
experiment。 Only to think of how things turn out！ If the other
young booby had not jumped into the river after you； _this_ young
booby would never have had the estate。 It really looks as if fate
had determined that you were to be Mrs。 Armadale； of Thorpe
Ambrose； and who can control his fate； as the poet says？
〃Send me one line to say Yes or No； and believe me your attached
old friend；
〃MARIA OLDERSHAW。〃
3。 _From Miss Gwilt to Mrs。 Oldershaw。_
Richmond； Thursday。
'YOU OLD WRETCHI won't say Yes or No till I have had a long；
long look at my glass first。 If you had any real regard for
anybody but your wicked old self； you would know that the bare
idea of marrying again （after what I have gone through） is an
idea that makes my flesh creep。
〃But there can be no harm in your sending me a little more
information while I am making up my mind。 You have got twenty
pounds of mine still left out of