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hand。 Below the dial was a little platform； and at either end of
it rose two miniature sentry…boxes； with closed doors。
Externally； this was all that appeared； until the magic moment
came when the clock struck twelve noon。
It wanted then about three minutes to twelve； and Major Milroy
seized the opportunity of explaining what the exhibition was to
be； before the exhibition began。
〃At the first words； his mind fell back again into its old
absorption over the one employment of his life。 He turned to
Midwinter （who had persisted in talking all the way from the
parlor； and who was talking still） without a trace left in his
manner of the cool and cutting composure with which he had spoken
but a few minutes before。 The noisy； familiar man； who had been
an ill…bred intruder in the parlor； became a privileged guest in
the workshop； for _there_ he possessed the all…atoning social
advantage of being new to the performances of the wonderful
clock。
〃At the first stroke of twelve； Mr。 Midwinter；〃 said the major；
quite eagerly； 〃keep your eye on the figure of Time： he will move
his scythe； and point it downward to the glass pedestal。 You will
next see a little printed card appear behind the glass； which
will tell you the day of the month and the day of the week。 At
the last stroke of the clock； Time will lift his scythe again
into its former position； and the chimes will ring a peal。 The
peal will be succeeded by the playing of a tunethe favorite
march of my old regimentand then the final performance of the
clock will follow。 The sentry…boxes； which you may observe at
each side； will both open at the same moment。 In one of them you
will see the sentinel appear； and from the other a corporal and
two privates will march across the platform to relieve the guard；
and will then disappear； leaving the new sentinel at his post。 I
must ask your kind allowances for this last part of the
performance。 The machinery is a little complicated； and there are
defects in it which I am ashamed to say I have not yet succeeded
in remedying as I could wish。 Sometimes the figures go all wrong；
and sometimes they go all right。 I hope they may do their best on
the occasion of your seeing them for the first time。〃
As the major； posted near his clock； said the last words； his
little audience of three； assembled at the opposite end of the
room； saw the hour…hand and the minute…hand on the dial point
together to twelve。 The first stroke sounded； and Time； true to
the signal； moved his scythe。 The day of the month and the day of
the week announced themselves in print through the glass pedestal
next； Midwinter applauding their appearance with a noisy
exaggeration of surprise； which Miss Milroy mistook for coarse
sarcasm directed at her father's pursuits； and which Allan
（seeing that she was offended） attempted to moderate by touching
the elbow of his friend。 Meanwhile； the performances of the clock
went on。 At the last stroke of twelve； Time lifted his scythe
again； the chimes rang； the march tune of the major's old
regiment followed； and the crowning exhibition of the relief of
the guard announced itself in a preliminary trembling of the
sentry…boxes； and a sudden disappearance of the major at the back
of the clock。
The performance began with the opening of the sentry…box on the
right…hand side of the platform； as punctually as could be
desired； the door on the other side； however； was less
tractableit remained obstinately closed。 Unaware of this hitch
in the proceedings； the corporal and his two privates appeared in
their places in a state of perfect discipline； tottered out
across the platform； all three trembling in every limb； dashed
themselves headlong against the closed door on the other side；
and failed in producing the smallest impression on the immovable
sentry presumed to be within。 An intermittent clicking； as of the
major's keys and tools at work； was heard in the machinery。 The
corporal and his two privates suddenly returned； backward； across
the platform； and shut themselves up with a bang inside their own
door。 Exactly at the same moment； the other door opened for the
first time； and the provoking sentry appeared with the utmost
deliberation at his post； waiting to be relieved。 He was allowed
to wait。 Nothing happened in the other box but an occasional
knocking inside the door； as if the corporal and his privates
were impatient to be let out。 The clicking of the major's tools
was heard again among the machinery； the corporal and his party；
suddenly restored to liberty； appeared in a violent hurry； and
spun furiously across the platform。 Quick as they were； however；
the hitherto deliberate sentry on the other side now perversely
showed himself to be quicker still。 He disappeared like lightning
into his own premises； the door closed smartly after him； the
corporal and his privates dashed themselves headlong against it
for the second time； and the major； appearing again round the
corner of the clock； asked his audience innocently 〃if they would
be good enough to tell him whether anything had gone wrong？〃
The fantastic absurdity of the exhibition； heightened by Major
Milroy's grave inquiry at the end of it； was so irresistibly
ludicrous that the visitors shouted with laughter； and even Miss
Milroy； with all her consideration for her father's sensitive
pride in his clock； could not restrain herself from joining in
the merriment which the catastrophe of the puppets had provoked。
But there are limits even to the license of laughter； and these
limits were ere long so outrageously overstepped by one of the
little party as to have the effect of almost instantly silencing
the other two。 The fever of Midwinter's false spirits flamed out
into sheer delirium as the performance of the puppets came to an
end。 His paroxysms of laughter followed each other with such
convulsive violence that Miss Milroy started back from him in
alarm； and even the patient major turned on him with a look which
said plainly； Leave the room！ Allan； wisely impulsive for once in
his life； seized Midwinter by the arm； and dragged him out by
main force into the garden； and thence into the park beyond。
〃Good heavens！ what has come to you！〃 he exclaimed； shrinking
back from the tortured face before him； as he stopped and looked
close at it for the first time。
For the moment； Midwinter was inca pable of answering。 The
hysterical paroxysm was passing from one extreme to the other。 He
leaned against a tree； sobbing and gasping for breath； and
stretched out his hand in mute entreaty to Allan to give him
time。
〃You had better not have nursed me through my fever；〃 he said；
faintly； as soon as he could speak。 〃I'm mad and miserable；
Allan； I have never recovered it。 Go back and ask them to forgive
me； I am ashamed to go and ask them myself。 I can't tell how it
happened； I can only ask your pardon and theirs。〃 He turned aside
his head quickly so as to conceal his face。 〃Don't stop here；〃 he
said； 〃don't look at me； I shall soon get over it。〃 Allan still
hesitated； and begged hard to be allowed to take him back to the
house。 It was useless。 〃You break my heart with your kindness；〃
he burst out； passionately。 〃For God's sake； leave me by my
self！〃
Allan went back to she cottage； and pleaded there for indulgence
to Midwinter； with an earnestness and simplicity which raised him
immensely in the major's estimation； but which totally failed to
produce the same favorable impression on Miss Milroy。 Little as
she herself suspected it； she was fond enough of Allan already to
be jealous of Allan's friend。
〃How excessively absurd！〃 she thought； pettishly。 〃As if either
papa or I considered such a person of the slightest consequence！〃
〃You will kindly suspend your opinion； won't you； Major Milroy？〃
said Allan； in his hearty way； at parting。
〃With the greatest pleasure！ 〃 replied the major； cordially
shaking hands。
〃And you； too； Miss Milroy？〃 added Allan。
Miss Milroy made a mercilessly formal bow。 〃_My_ opinion； Mr。
Armadale； is not of the slightest consequence。〃
Allan left the cottage； sorely puzzled to account for Miss
Milroy's sudden coolness toward him。 His grand idea of
conciliating the whole neighborhood by becoming a married man
underwent some modification as he closed the garden gate behind
him。 The virtue called Prudence and the Squire of Thorpe Ambrose
became personally acquainted with each other； on this occasion；
for the first time； and Allan； entering headlong as usual on the
high…road to moral improvement； actually decided on doing nothing
in a hurry！
A man who is entering on a course of reformation ought； if virtue
is its own reward； to be a man engaged in an essentially
inspiriting pursuit。 But virtue is not always its own reward； and
the way that leads to reformation is remarkably ill…lighted for
so respectable a thoroughfare。 Allan seemed to have caught the
infection of his friend's despondency。 As he walked home； he；
too； began to doubtin his widely different way； and for his
widely different reasonswhether the life at Thorpe Ambrose was
promising quite as fairly for the future as it had promised at
first。
CHAPTER VII。
THE P