Mymothercameoutalonetowelcomemeback。Therewerenosecretsbetweenustwo。Itoldherallthathadhappened，justasIhavetoldittoyou。ShekeptsilencetillIhaddone。Andthensheputaquestiontome。
“Whattimewasit，Francis，whenyousawtheWomaninyourDream？“
IhadlookedattheclockwhenIlefttheinn，andIhadnoticedthatthehandspointedtotwentyminutespasttwo。Allowingforthetimeconsumedinspeakingtothelandlord，andingettingonmyclothes，IansweredthatImusthavefirstseentheWomanattwoo’clockinthemorning。Inotherwords，Ihadnotonlyseenheronmybirthday，butatthehourofmybirth。
Mymotherstillkeptsilence。Lostinherownthoughts，shetookmebythehand，andledmeintotheparlor。Herwriting-deskwasonthetablebythefireplace。Sheopenedit，andsignedtometotakeachairbyherside。
“Myson！yourmemoryisabadone，andmineisfastfailingme。
TellmeagainwhattheWomanlookedlike。Iwanthertobeaswellknowntobothofus，yearshence，assheisnow。“
Iobeyed；wonderingwhatstrangefancymightbeworkinginhermind。Ispoke；andshewrotethewordsastheyfellfrommylips:
“Lightgrayeyes，withadroopinthelefteyelid。Flaxenhair，withagolden-yellowstreakinit。Whitearms，withadownuponthem。Little，lady’shands，witharosy-redlookaboutthefingernails。“
“Didyounoticehowshewasdressed，Francis？“
“No，mother。“
“Didyounoticetheknife？“
“Yes。Alargeclaspknife，withabuckhornhandle，asgoodasnew。“
Mymotheraddedthedescriptionoftheknife。Alsotheyear，month，dayoftheweek，andhourofthedaywhentheDream-Womanappearedtomeattheinn。Thatdone，shelockedupthepaperinherdesk。
“Notaword，Francis，toyouraunt。Notawordtoanylivingsoul。
KeepyourDreamasecretbetweenyouandme。“
Theweekspassed，andthemonthspassed。Mymotherneverreturnedtothesubjectagain。Asforme，time，whichwearsoutallthings，woreoutmyremembranceoftheDream。Littlebylittle，theimageoftheWomangrewdimmeranddimmer。Littlebylittle，shefadedoutofmymind。
VII
Thestoryofthewarningisnowtold。Judgeforyourselfifitwasatruewarningorafalse，whenyouhearwhathappenedtomeonmynextbirthday。
IntheSummertimeoftheyear，theWheelofFortuneturnedtherightwayformeatlast。Iwassmokingmypipeoneday，nearanoldstonequarryattheentrancetoourvillage，whenacarriageaccidenthappened，whichgaveanewturn，asitwere，tomylotinlife。Itwasanaccidentofthecommonestkind——notworthmentioningatanylength。Aladydrivingherself；arunawayhorse；
acowardlyman-servantinattendance，frightenedoutofhiswits；
andthestonequarrytooneartobeagreeable——thatiswhatIsaw，allinafewmoments，betweentwowhiffsofmypipe。Istoppedthehorseattheedgeofthequarry，andgotmyselfalittlehurtbytheshaftofthechaise。Butthatdidn’tmatter。TheladydeclaredIhadsavedherlife；andherhusband，comingwithhertoourcottagethenextday，tookmeintohisservicethenandthere。
Theladyhappenedtobeofadarkcomplexion；anditmayamuseyoutohearthatmyauntChanceinstantlypitchedonthatcircumstanceasameansofsavingthecreditofthecards。HerewasthepromiseoftheQueenofSpadesperformedtotheveryletter，bymeansof“adarkwoman，“justasmyaunthadtoldme。“Inthetimetocome，Francis，bewareo’pettin’yerainblindedintairpretationonthecairds。Ye’reowerready，Itrow，tomurmurunderdispensationofProavidencethatyecannafathom——liketheEesraelitesofauld。
I’llsaynaemairtoye。Mebbewhenthemony’spoweringintoyerpoakets，ye’llnoforgetyerauntChance，leftlikeasparrowonthehousetop，wiasma’annuiteeo’thrattypundsayear。“
IremainedinmysituationattheWest-endofLondonuntiltheSpringoftheNewYear。Aboutthattime，mymaster’shealthfailed。Thedoctorsorderedhimawaytoforeignparts，andtheestablishmentwasbrokenup。Buttheturninmyluckstillheldgood。WhenIleftmyplace，Ileftit——thankstothegenerosityofmykindmaster——withayearlyallowancegrantedtome，inremembranceofthedaywhenIhadsavedmymistress’slife。Forthefuture，Icouldgobacktoserviceornot，asIpleased；mylittleincomewasenoughtosupportmymotherandmyself。
MymasterandmistressleftEnglandtowardtheendofFebruary。
CertainmattersofbusinesstodoforthemdetainedmeinLondonuntilthelastdayofthemonth。Iwasonlyabletoleaveforourvillagebytheeveningtrain，tokeepmybirthdaywithmymotherasusual。ItwasbedtimewhenIgottothecottage；andIwassorrytofindthatshewasfarfromwell。Tomakemattersworse，shehadfinishedherbottleofmedicineonthepreviousday，andhadomittedtogetitreplenished，asthedoctorhadstrictlydirected。
Hedispensedhisownmedicines，andIofferedtogoandknockhimup。Sherefusedtoletmedothis；and，aftergivingmemysupper，sentmeawaytomybed。
Ifellasleepforalittle，andwokeagain。Mymother’sbed-
chamberwasnexttomine。IheardmyauntChance’sheavyfootstepsgoingtoandfrointheroom，and，suspectingsomethingwrong，knockedatthedoor。Mymother’spainshadreturneduponher；
therewasaseriousnecessityforrelievinghersufferingsasspeedilyaspossible，Iputonmyclothes，andranoff，withthemedicinebottleinmyhand，totheotherendofthevillage，wherethedoctorlived。ThechurchclockchimedthequartertotwoonmybirthdayjustasIreachedhishouse。Oneringofthenightbellbroughthimtohisbedroomwindowtospeaktome。Hetoldmetowait，andhewouldletmeinatthesurgerydoor。Inoticed，whileIwaswaiting，thatthenightwaswonderfullyfairandwarmforthetimeofyear。Theoldstonequarrywherethecarriageaccidenthadhappenedwaswithinview。Themoonintheclearheavenslititupalmostasbrightasday。
Inaminuteortwothedoctorletmeintothesurgery。Iclosedthedoor，noticingthathehadlefthisroomverylightlyclad。Hekindlypardonedmymother’sneglectofhisdirections，andsettoworkatonceatcompoundingthemedicine。Wewerebothintentonthebottle；hefillingit，andIholdingthelight——whenweheardthesurgerydoorsuddenlyopenedfromthestreet。
VIII
Whocouldpossiblybeupandaboutinourquietvillageatthesecondhourofthemorning？
Thepersonwhoopenedthedoorappearedwithinrangeofthelightofthecandle。Tocompleteouramazement，thepersonprovedtobeawoman！Shewalkeduptothecounter，andstandingsidebysidewithme，liftedherveil。Atthemomentwhensheshowedherface，Iheardthechurchclockstriketwo。Shewasastrangertome，andastrangertothedoctor。Shewasalso，beyondallcomparison，themostbeautifulwomanIhaveeverseeninmylife。
“Isawthelightunderthedoor，“shesaid。“Iwantsomemedicine。“
Shespokequitecomposedly，asiftherewasnothingatallextraordinaryinherbeingoutinthevillageattwointhemorning，andfollowingmeintothesurgerytoaskformedicine！
Thedoctorstaredatherasifhesuspectedhisowneyesofdeceivinghim。“Whoareyou？“beasked。“Howdoyoucometobewanderingaboutatthistimeinthemorning？“
Shepaidnoheedtohisquestions。Sheonlytoldhimcoollywhatshewanted。“Ihavegotabadtoothache。Iwantabottleoflaudanum。“
Thedoctorrecoveredhimselfwhensheaskedforthelaudanum。Hewasonhisownground，youknow，whenitcametoamatteroflaudanum；andhespoketohersmartlyenoughthistime。
“Oh，youhavegotthetoothache，haveyou？Letmelookatthetooth。“
Sheshookherbead，andlaidatwo-shillingpieceonthecounter。
“Iwon’ttroubleyoutolookatthetooth，“shesaid。“Thereisthemoney。Letmehavethelaudanum，ifyouplease。“
Thedoctorputthetwo-shillingpiecebackagaininherhand。“I
don’tselllaudanumtostrangers，“heanswered。“Ifyouareinanydistressofbodyormind，thatisanothermatter。Ishallbegladtohelpyou。“
Sheputthemoneybackinherpocket。“YOUcan’thelpme，“shesaid，asquietlyasever。“Goodmorning。“
Withthat，sheopenedthesurgerydoortogooutagainintothestreet。Sofar，Ihadnotspokenawordonmyside。IhadstoodwiththecandleinmyhandnotknowingIwasholdingit——withmyeyesfixedonher，withmymindfixedonherlikeamanbewitched。
Herlooksbetrayed，evenmoreplainlythanherwords，herresolution，inonewayoranother，todestroyherself。Whensheopenedthedoor，inmyalarmatwhatmighthappenIfoundtheuseofmytongue。
“Stop！“Icriedout。“Waitforme。Iwanttospeaktoyoubeforeyougoaway。“Sheliftedhereyeswithalookofcarelesssurpriseandamockingsmileonherlips。
“WhatcanYOUhavetosaytome？“Shestopped，andlaughedtoherself。“Whynot？“shesaid。“Ihavegotnothingtodo，andnowheretogo。“Sheturnedbackastep，andnoddedtome。“You’reastrangeman——IthinkI’llhumoryou——I’llwaitoutside。“Thedoorofthesurgeryclosedonher。Shewasgone。
Iamashamedtoownwhathappenednext。TheonlyexcuseformeisthatIwasreallyandtrulyamanbewitched。Iturnedmeroundtofollowherout，withoutoncethinkingofmymother。Thedoctorstoppedme。
“Don’tforgetthemedicine，“hesaid。“Andifyouwilltakemyadvice，don’ttroubleyourselfaboutthatwoman。Rouseuptheconstable。It’shisbusinesstolookafterher——notyours。“
Iheldoutmyhandforthemedicineinsilence:IwasafraidI
shouldfailinrespectifItrustedmyselftoanswerhim。Hemusthaveseen，asIsaw，thatshewantedthelaudanumtopoisonherself。Hehad，tomymind，takenaveryheartlessviewofthematter。Ijustthankedhimwhenhegavemethemedicine——andwentout。
Shewaswaitingformeasshehadpromised；walkingslowlytoandfro——atall，graceful，solitaryfigureinthebrightmoonbeams。
Theyshedoverherfaircomplexion，herbrightgoldenhair，herlargegrayeyes，justthelightthatsuitedthembest。Shelookedhardlymortalwhenshefirstturnedtospeaktome。
“Well？“shesaid。“Andwhatdoyouwant？“
Inspiteofmypride，ormyshyness，ormybettersense——whicheveritmightbe——allmyheartwentouttoherinamoment。Icaughtholdofherbythehands，andownedwhatwasinmythoughts，asfreelyasifIhadknownherforhalfalifetime。
“Youmeantodestroyyourself，“Isaid。“AndImeantopreventyoufromdoingit。IfIfollowyouaboutallnight，I’llpreventyoufromdoingit。“
Shelaughed。“Yousawyourselfthathewouldn’tsellmethelaudanum。DoyoureallycarewhetherIliveordie？“Shesqueezedmyhandsgentlyassheputthequestion:hereyessearchedminewithalanguid，lingeringlookinthemthatranthroughmelikefire。Myvoicediedawayonmylips；Icouldn’tanswerher。
Sheunderstood，withoutmyanswering。“Youhavegivenmeafancyforliving，byspeakingkindlytome，“shesaid。“Kindnesshasawonderfuleffectonwomen，anddogs，andotherdomesticanimals。
Itisonlymenwhoaresuperiortokindness。Makeyourmindeasy——
IpromisetotakeasmuchcareofmyselfasifIwasthehappiestwomanliving！Don’tletmekeepyouhere，outofyourbed。Whichwayareyougoing？“
MiserablewretchthatIwas，Ihadforgottenmymother——withthemedicineinmyhand！“Iamgoinghome，“Isaid。“Whereareyoustaying？Attheinn？“
Shelaughedherbitterlaugh，andpointedtothestonequarry。
“ThereisMYinnforto-night，“shesaid。“WhenIgottiredofwalkingabout，Irestedthere。“
Wewalkedontogether，onmywayhome。Itookthelibertyofaskingherifshehadanyfriends。
“IthoughtIhadonefriendleft，“shesaid，“oryouwouldneverhavemetmeinthisplace。ItturnsoutIwaswrong。Myfriend’sdoorwasclosedinmyfacesomehourssince；myfriend’sservantsthreatenedmewiththepolice。Ihadnowhereelsetogo，aftertryingmyluckinyourneighborhood；andnothingleftbutmytwo-