WhileIacknowledgethatIwasnotstrongenoughtokeepmymotivesabovethereachofthisinstinctofrevenge，Icanhonestlysaysomethinginmyownfavourontheotherside。NobasespeculationonthefuturerelationsofLauraandmyself，andontheprivateandpersonalconcessionswhichImightforcefromSirPercivalifIoncehadhimatmymercy，everenteredmymind。Ineversaidtomyself，`IfIdosucceed，itshallbeoneresultofmysuccessthatIputitoutofherhusband’spowertotakeherfrommeagain。’Icouldnotlookatherandthinkofthefuturewithsuchthoughtsasthose。Thesadsightofthechangeinherfromherformerself，madetheoneinterestofmyloveaninterestoftendernessandcompassionwhichherfatherorherbrothermighthavefelt，andwhichIfelt，Godknows，inmyinmostheart。Allmyhopeslookednofartheronnowthantothedayofherrecovery。There，tillshewasstrongagainandhappyagain——there，tillshecouldlookatmeasshehadoncelooked，andspeaktomeasshehadoncespoken——thefutureofmyhappiestthoughtsandmydearestwishesended。
Thesewordsarewrittenundernopromptingofidleself-contemplation。
Passagesinthisnarrativearesoontocomewhichwillsetthemindsofothersinjudgmentonmyconduct。Itisrightthatthebestandtheworstofmeshouldbefairlybalancedbeforethattime。
OnthemorningaftermyreturnfromHampshireItookMarianupstairsintomyworking-room，andtherelaidbeforehertheplanthatIhadmaturedthusfar，formasteringtheoneassailablepointinthelifeofSirPercivalGlyde。
ThewaytotheSecretlaythroughthemystery，hithertoimpenetrabletoallofus，ofthewomaninwhite。TheapproachtothatinitsturnmightbegainedbyobtainingtheassistanceofAnneCatherick’smother，andtheonlyascertainablemeansofprevailingonMrsCathericktoactortospeakinthematterdependedonthechanceofmydiscoveringlocalparticularsandfamilyparticularsfirstofallfromMrsClements。Afterthinkingthesubjectovercarefully，IfeltcertainthatIcouldonlybeginthenewinquiriesbyplacingmyselfincommunicationwiththefaithfulfriendandprotectressofAnneCatherick。
ThefirstdifficultythenwastofindMrsClements。
IwasindebtedtoMarian’squickperceptionformeetingthisnecessityatoncebythebestandsimplestmeans。SheproposedtowritetothefarmnearLimmeridgeTodd’sCorner，toinquirewhetherMrsClementshadcommunicatedwithMrsToddduringthepastfewmonths。HowMrsClementshadbeenseparatedfromAnneitwasimpossibleforustosay，butthatseparationonceeffected，itwouldcertainlyoccurtoMrsClementstoinquireafterthemissingwomanintheneighbourhoodofallotherstowhichshewasknowntobemostattached——theneighbourhoodofLimmeridge。IsawdirectlythatMarian’sproposalofferedusaprospectofsuccess，andshewrotetoMrsToddaccordinglybythatday’spost。
Whilewewerewaitingforthereply，ImademyselfmasterofalltheinformationMariancouldaffordonthesubjectofSirpercival’sfamily，andofhisearlylife。Shecouldonlyspeakonthesetopicsfromheresay，butshewasreasonablycertainofthetruthofwhatlittleshehadtotell。
SirPercivalwasanonlychild。Hisfather，SirfelixGlyde，hadsufferedfromhisbirthunderapainfulandincurabledeformity，andhadshunnedallsocietyfromhisearliestyears。Hissolehappinesswasintheenjoymentofmusic，andhehadmarriedaladywithtastessimilartohisown，whowassaidtobeamostaccomplishedmusician。HeinheritedtheBlackwaterpropertywhilestillayoungman。Neitherhenorhiswife，aftertakingpossession，madeadvancesofanysorttowardsthesocietyoftheneighbourhood，andnooneendeavouredtotemptthemintoabandoningtheirreserve，withtheonedisastrousexceptionoftherectoroftheparish。
Therectorwastheworstofallinnocentmischief-makers——anover-zealousman。HehadheardthatSirFelixhadleftCollegewiththecharacterofbeinglittlebetterthanarevolutionistinpoliticsandaninfidelinreligion，andhearrivedconscientiouslyattheconclusionthatitwashisboundendutytosummonthelordofthemanortohearsoundviewsenunciatedintheparishchurch。SirFelixfiercelyresentedtheclergyman’swell-meantbutill-directedinterference，insultinghimsogrosslyandsopublicly，thatthefamiliesintheneighbourhoodsentlettersofindignantremonstrancetothePark，andeventhetenantsoftheBlackwaterpropertyexpressedtheiropinionasstronglyastheydared。Thebaronet，whohadnocountrytastesofanykind，andnoattachmenttotheestateortoanyonelivingonit，declaredthatsocietyatBlackwatershouldneverhaveasecondchanceofannoyinghim，andlefttheplacefromthatmoment。
AfterashortresidenceinLondonheandhiswifedepartedfortheContinent，andneverreturnedtoEnglandagain。TheylivedpartofthetimeinFranceandpartinGermany——alwayskeepingthemselvesinthestrictretirementwhichthemorbidsenseofhisownpersonaldeformityhadmadeanecessitytoSirFelix。Theirson，Percival，hadbeenbornabroad，andhadbeeneducatedtherebyprivatetutors。Hismotherwasthefirstofhisparentswhomhelost。Hisfatherhaddiedafewyearsafterher，eitherin1825or1826。
SirPercivalhadbeeninEngland，asayoungman，onceortwicebeforethatperiod，buthisacquaintancewiththelateMrFairliedidnotbegintillafterthetimeofhisfather’sdeath。Theysoonbecameveryintimate，althoughSirPercivalwasseldom，ornever，atLimmeridgeHouseinthosedays。MrFrederickFairliemighthavemethimonceortwiceinMrPhilipFairlie’scompany，buthecouldhaveknownlittleofhimatthatoratanyothertime。SirPercival’sonlyintimatefriendintheFairliefamilyhadbeenLaura’sfather。
ThesewerealltheparticularsthatIcouldgainfromMarian。Theysuggestednothingwhichwasusefultomypresentpurpose，butInotedthemdowncarefully，intheeventoftheirprovingtobeofimportanceatanyfutureperiod。
MrsTodd’sreplyaddressed，byourownwish，toapost-officeatsomedistancefromushadarrivedatitsdestinationwhenIwenttoapplyforit。Thechances，whichhadbeenallagainstushitherto，turnedfromthismomentinourfavour。MrsTodd’slettercontainedthefirstitemofinformationofwhichwewereinsearch。
MrsClements，itappeared，hadaswehadconjecturedwrittentoTodd’sCorner，askingpardoninthefirstplacefortheabruptmannerinwhichsheandAnnehadlefttheirfriendsatthefarm-houseonthemorningafterIhadmetthewomaninwhiteinLimmeridgechurchyard，andtheninformingMrsToddofAnne’sdisappearance，andentreatingthatshewouldcauseinquiriestobemadeintheneighbourhood，onthechancethatthelostwomanmighthavestrayedbacktoLimmeridge。Inmakingthisrequest，MrsClementshadbeencarefultoaddtoittheaddressatwhichshemightalwaysbeheardof，andthataddressMrsToddnowtransmittedtoMarian。ItwasinLondon，andwithinhalfanhour’swalkofourownlodging。
Inthewordsoftheproverb，Iwasresolvednottoletthegrassgrowundermyfeet。ThenextmorningIsetforthtoseekaninterviewwithMrsClements。Thiswasmyfirststepforwardintheinvestigation。ThestoryofthedesperateattempttowhichInowstoodcommittedbeginshere。VITheaddresscommunicatedbyMrsToddtookmetoalodging-housesituatedinarespectablestreetneartheGray’sInnRoad。
WhenIknockedthedoorwasopenedbyMrsClementsherself。Shedidnotappeartorememberme，andaskedwhatmybusinesswas。IrecalledtoherourmeetinginLimmeridgechurchyardatthecloseofmyinterviewtherewiththewomaninwhite，takingspecialcaretoremindherthatIwasthepersonwhoassistedAnneCatherickasAnnehadherselfdeclaredtoescapethepursuitfromtheAsylum。ThiswasmyonlyclaimtotheconfidenceofMrsClements。SherememberedthecircumstancethemomentIspokeofit，andaskedmeintotheparlour，inthegreatestanxietytoknowifIhadbroughtheranynewsofAnne。
Itwasimpossibleformetotellherthewholetruthwithout，atthesametime，enteringintoparticularsonthesubjectoftheconspiracywhichitwouldhavebeendangeroustoconfidetoastranger。Icouldonlyabstainmostcarefullyfromraisinganyfalsehopes，andthenexplainthattheobjectofmyvisitwastodiscoverthepersonswhowerereallyresponsibleforAnne’sdisappearance。Ievenadded，soastoexoneratemyselffromanyafter-reproachofmyownconscience，thatIentertainednottheleasthopeofbeingabletotraceher——thatIbelievedweshouldneverseeheraliveagain——andthatmymaininterestintheaffairwastobringtopunishmenttwomenwhomIsuspectedtobeconcernedinluringheraway，andatwhosehandsIandsomedearfriendsofminehadsufferedagrievouswrong。WiththisexplanationIleftittoMrsClementstosaywhetherourinterestinthematterwhateverdifferencetheremightbeinthemotiveswhichactuateduswasnotthesame，andwhethershefeltanyreluctancetoforwardmyobjectsbygivingmesuchinformationonthesubjectofmyinquiriesasshehappenedtopossess。
ThePoorwomanwasatfirsttoomuchconfusedandagitatedtounderstandthoroughlywhatIsaidtoher。ShecouldonlyreplythatIwaswelcometoanythingshecouldtellmeinreturnforthekindnessIhadshowntoAnne；butasshewasnotveryquickandready，atthebestoftimes，intalkingtostrangers，shewouldbegmetoputherintherightway，andtosaywhereIwishedhertobegin。
Knowingbyexperiencethattheplainestnarrativeattainablefrompersonswhoarenotaccustomedtoarrangetheirideas，isthenarrativewhichgoesfarenoughbackatthebeginningtoavoidallimpedimentsofretrospectioninitscourse，IaskedMrsClementstotellmefirstwhathadhappenedaftershehadleftLimmeridge，andso，bywatchfulquestioning，carriedheronfrompointtopoint，tillwereachedtheperiodofAnne’sdisappearance。
ThesubstanceoftheinformationwhichIthusobtainedwasasfollows：——
OnleavingthefarmatTodd’sCorner，MrsClementsandAnnehadtravelledthatdayasfarasDerby，andhadremainedthereaweekonAnne’saccount。
TheyhadthengoneontoLondon，andhadlivedinthelodgingoccupiedbyMrsClementsatthattimeforamonthormore，whencircumstancesconnectedwiththehouseandthelandlordhadobligedthemtochangetheirquarters。
Anne’sterrorofbeingdiscoveredinLondonoritsneighbourhood，whenevertheyventuredtowalkout，hadgraduallycommunicateditselftoMrsClements，andshehaddeterminedonremovingtooneofthemostout-of-the-wayplacesinEngland——tothetownofGrimsbyinLincolnshire，whereherdeceasedhusbandhadpassedallhisearlylife。Hisrelativeswererespectablepeoplesettledinthetown——theyhadalwaystreatedMrsClementswithgreatkindness，andshethoughtitimpossibletodobetterthangothereandtaketheadviceofherhusband’sfriends。AnnewouldnothearofreturningtohermotheratWelmingham，becauseshehadbeenremovedtotheAsylumfromthatplace，andbecauseSirPercivalwouldbecertaintogobackthereandfindheragain。Therewasseriousweightinthisobjection，andMrsClementsfeltthatitwasnottobeeasilyremoved。
AtGrimsbythefirstserioussymptomsofillnesshadshownthemselvesinAnne。TheyappearedsoonafterthenewsofLadyGlyde’smarriagehadbeenmadepublicinthenewspapers，andhadreachedherthroughthatmedium。
Themedicalmanwhowassentfortoattendthesickwomandiscoveredatoncethatshewassufferingfromaseriousaffectionoftheheart。Theillnesslastedlong，leftherveryweak，andreturnedatintervals，thoughwithmitigatedseverity，againandagain。TheyremainedatGrimsby，inconsequence，duringthefirsthalfofthenewyear，andtheretheymightprobablyhavestayedmuchlonger，butforthesuddenresolutionwhichAnnetookatthistimetoventurebacktoHampshire，forthepurposeofobtainingaprivateinterviewwithLadyGlyde。
MrsClementsdidallinherpowertoopposetheexecutionofthishazardousandunaccountableproject。NoexplanationofhermotiveswasofferedbyAnne，exceptthatshebelievedthedayofherdeathwasnotfaroff，andthatshehadsomethingonhermindwhichmustbecommunicatedtoLadyGlyde，atanyrisk，insecret。HerresolutiontoaccomplishthispurposewassofirmlysettledthatshedeclaredherintentionofgoingtoHampshirebyherselfifMrsClementsfeltanyunwillingnesstogowithher。Thedoctor，onbeingconsulted，wasofopinionthatseriousoppositiontoherwisheswould，inallprobability，produceanotherandperhapsafatalfitofillness，andMrsClements，underthisadvice，yieldedtonecessity，andoncemore，withsadforebodingsoftroubleanddangertocome，allowedAnneCathericktohaveherownway。
OnthejourneyfromLondontoHampshireMrsClementsdiscoveredthatoneoftheirfellow-passengerswaswellacquaintedwiththeneighbourhoodofBlackwater，andcouldgiveheralltheinformationsheneededonthesubjectoflocalities。Inthiswayshefoundoutthattheonlyplacetheycouldgoto，whichwasnotdangerouslyneartoSirPercival’sresidence，wasalargevillagecalledSandon。ThedistanceherefromBlackwaterParkwasbetweenthreeandfourmiles——andthatdistance，andbackagain，Annehadwalkedoneachoccasionwhenshehadappearedintheneighbourhoodofthelake。
ForthefewdaysduringwhichtheywereatSandonwithoutbeingdiscoveredtheyhadlivedalittleawayfromthevillage，inthecottageofadecentwidow-womanwhohadabedroomtolet，andwhosediscreetsilenceMrsClementshaddoneherbesttosecure，forthefirstweekatleast。ShehadalsotriedhardtoinduceAnnetobecontentwithwritingtoLadyGlyde，inthefirstinstance；butthefailureofthewarningcontainedintheanonymouslettersenttoLimmeridgehadmadeAnneresolutetospeakthistime，andobstinateinthedeterminationtogoonhererrandalone。