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〃Something wrong at Thorpe Ambrose？〃 asked Allen。
〃Yes； Mr。 Armadale； something wrong at Thorpe Ambrose。〃
Allan sat down resignedly； and opened the letter。
＇〃Private and Confidential。〃＇
〃High Street Thorpe Ambrose； 17th July； 1851。
〃DEAR SIRI cannot reconcile it with my sense of duty to your
interests to leave you any longer in ignorance of reports current
in this town and its neighborhood； which； I regret to say； are
reports affecting yourself。
〃The first intimation of anything unpleasant reached me on Monday
last。 It was widely rumored in the town that something had gone
wrong at Major Milroy's with the new governess； and that Mr。
Armadale was mixed up in it。 I paid no heed to this； believing it
to be one of the many trumpery pieces of scandal perpetually set
going here； and as necessary as the air they breathe to the
comfort of the inhabitants of this highly respectable place。
〃Tuesday； however； put the matter in a new light。 The most
interesting particulars were circulated on the highest authority。
On Wednesday； the gentry in the neighborhood took the matter up；
and universally sanctioned the view adopted by the town。 To…day
the public feeling has reached its climax； and I find myself
under the necessity of making you acquainted with what has
happened。
〃To begin at the beginning。 It is asserted that a correspondence
took place last week between Major Milroy and yourself； in which
you cast a very serious suspicion on Miss Gwilt's respectability；
without defining your accusations and without （on being applied
to） producing your proofs。 Upon this； the major appears to have
felt it his duty （while assuring his governess of his own firm
belief in her respectability） to inform her of what had happened；
in order that she might have no future reason to complain of his
having had any concealments from her in a matter affecting her
character。 Very magnanimous on the major's part； but you will see
directly that Miss Gwilt was more magnanimous still。 After
expressing her thanks in a most becoming manner； she requested
permission to withdraw herself from Major Milroy's service。
〃Various reports are in circulation as to the governess's reason
for taking this step。
〃The authorized version （as sanctioned by the resident gentry）
represents Miss Gwilt to have said that she could not
condescendin justice to herself； and in justice to her highly
respectable referenceto defend her reputation against undefined
imputations cast on it by a comparative stranger。 At the same
time it was impossible for her to pursue such a course of conduct
as this； unless she possessed a freedom of action which was quite
incompatible with her continuing to occupy the dependent position
of a governess。 For that reason she felt it incumbent on her to
leave her situation。 But； while doing this； she was equally
determined not to lead to any misinterpretation of her motives by
leaving the neighborhood。 No matter at what inconvenience to
herself； she would remain long enough at Thorpe Ambrose to await
any more definitely expressed imputations that might be made on
her character； and to repel them publicly the instant they
assumed a tangible form。
〃Such is the position which this high…minded lady has taken up；
with an excellent effect on the public mind in these parts。 It is
clearly her interest； for some reason； to leave her situation；
without leaving the neighborhood。 On Monday last she established
herself in a cheap lodging on the outskirts of the town。 And on
the same day she probably wrote to her reference； for yesterday
there came a letter from that lady to Major Milroy； full of
virtuous indignation； and courting the fullest inquiry。 The
letter has been shown publicly； and has immensely strengthened
Miss Gwilt's position。 She is now considered to be quite a
heroine。 The _Thorpe Ambrose Mercury_ has got a leading article
about her； comparing her to Joan of Arc。 It is considered
probable that she will be referred to in the sermon next Sunday。
We reckon five strong…minded single ladies in this
neighborhoodand all five have called on her。 A testimonial was
suggested； but it has been given up at Miss Gwilt's own request；
and a general movement is now on foot to get her employment as a
teacher of music。 Lastly； I have had the honor of a visit from
the lady herself； in her capacity of martyr； to tell me； in the
sweetest manner； that she doesn't blame Mr。 Armadale； and that
she considers him to be an innocent instrument in the hands of
other and more designing people。 I was carefully on my guard with
her； for I don't altogether believe in Miss Gwilt； and I have my
lawyer's suspicions of the motive that is at the bottom of her
present proceedings。
〃I have written thus far； my dear sir； with little hesitation or
embarrassment。 But there is unfortunately a serious side to this
business as well as a ridiculous side； and I must unwillingly
come to it before I close my letter。
〃It is； I think； quite impossible that you can permit yourself to
be spoken of as you are spoken of now； without stirring
personally in the matter。 You have unluckily made many enemies
here； and foremost among them is my colleague； Mr。 Darch。 He has
been showing everywhere a somewhat rashly expressed letter you
wrote to him on the subject of letting the cottage to Major
Milroy instead of to himself； and it has helped to exasperate the
feeling against you。 It is roundly stated in so many words that
you have been prying into Miss Gwilt's family affairs； with the
most dishonorable motives； that you have tried； for a profligate
purpose of your own； to damage her reputation； and to deprive her
of the protection of Major Milroy's roof； and that； after having
been asked to substantiate by proof the suspicions that you have
cast on the reputation of a defenseless woman； you have
maintained a silence which condemns you in the estimation of all
honorable men。
〃I hope it is quite unnecessary for me to say that I don't attach
the smallest particle of credit to these infamous reports。 But
they are too widely spread and too widely believed to be treated
with contempt。 I strongly urge you to return at once to this
place； and to take the necessary measures for defending your
character； in concert with me； as your legal adviser。 I have
formed； since my interview with Miss Gwilt； a very strong opinion
of my own on the subject of that lady which it is not necessary
to commit to paper。 Suffice it to say here that I shall have a
means to propose to you for silencing the slanderous tongues of
your neighbors； on the success of which I stake my professional
reputation； if you will only back me by your presence and
authority。
〃It may； perhaps； help to show you the necessity there is for
your return； if I mention one other assertion respecting
yourself； which is in everybody's mouth。 Your absence is； I
regret to tell you； attributed to the meanest of all motives。 It
is said that you are remaining in London because you are afraid
to show your face at Thorpe Ambrose。
〃Believe me； dear sir； your faithful servant；
〃A。 PEDGIFT； Sen。〃
Allan was of an age to feel the sting contained in the last
sentence of his lawyer's letter。 He started to his feet in a
paroxysm of indignation； which revealed his character to Pedgift
Junior in an entirely new light。
〃Where's the time…table？〃 cried Allan。 〃I must go back to Thorpe
Ambrose by the next train！ If it doesn't start directly； I'll
have a special engine。 I must and will go back instantly； and I
don't care two straws for the expense！〃
〃Suppose we telegraph to my father； sir？〃 suggested the judicious
Pedgift。 〃It's the quickest way of expressing your feelings； and
the cheapest。〃
〃So it is；〃 said Allan。 〃Thank you for reminding me of it。
Telegraph to them！ Tell your father to give every man in Thorpe
Ambrose the lie direct； in my name。 Put it in capital letters；
Pedgiftput it in capital letters！〃
Pedgift smiled and shook his head。 If he was acquainted with no
other variety of human nature； he thoroughly knew the variety
that exists in country towns。
〃It won't have the least effect on them； Mr。 Armadale；〃 he
remarked quietly。 〃They'll only go on lying harder than ever。 If
you want to upset the whole town； one line will do it。 With five
shillings' worth of human labor and electric fluid； sir （I dabble
a little in science after business hours）； we'll explode a
bombshell in Thorpe Ambrose！〃 He produced the bombshell on a slip
of paper as he spoke： 〃A。 Pedgift； Junior； to A。 Pedgift；
Senior。Spread it all over the place that Mr。 Armadale is coming
down by the next train。〃
〃More words！〃 suggested Allan； looking over his shoulder。 〃Make
it stronger。〃
〃Leave my father to make it stronger； sir；〃 returned the wary
Pedgift。 〃My father is on the spot； and his command of language
is something quite extraordinary。〃 He rang the bell； and
dispatched the telegram。
Now that something had been done； Allan subsided gradually into a
state of composure。 He l ooked back again at Mr。 Pedgift's
letter； and then handed it to Mr。 Pedgift's son。
〃Can you guess your father's plan for setting me right in the
neighborhood？〃 he as