Whenshetookthebabyaway，theladysaidtome，laughing，\"Don’tbealarmedabouthishealth。Hewillbebroughtupinabetterclimatethanthis——IamgoingtotakehimtoSwitzerland。\"
\"ToSwitzerland？WhatpartofSwitzerland？\"
\"Shedidn’tsay，sir。\"
\"Onlythatfaintclue！\"saidMr。Wilding。\"Andaquarterofacenturyhaspassedsincethechildwastakenaway！WhatamItodo？\"
\"Ihopeyouwon’ttakeoffenceatmyfreedom，sir，\"saidMrs。
Goldstraw;\"butwhyshouldyoudistressyourselfaboutwhatistobedone？Hemaynotbealivenow，foranythingyouknow。And，ifheisalive，it’snotlikelyhecanbeinanydistress。The，ladywhoadoptedhimwasabredandbornlady——itwaseasytoseethat。AndshemusthavesatisfiedthemattheFoundlingthatshecouldprovideforthechild，ortheywouldneverhavelethertakehimaway。IfI
wasinyourplace，sir——pleasetoexcusemysayingso——IshouldcomfortmyselfwithrememberingthatIhadlovedthatpoorladywhoseportraityouhavegotthere——trulylovedherasmymother，andthatshehadtrulylovedmeasherson。Allshegavetoyou，shegaveforthesakeofthatlove。Itneveralteredwhileshelived;
anditwon’talter，I’msure，aslongasYOUlive。Howcanyouhaveabetterright，sir，tokeepwhatyouhavegotthanthat？\"
Mr。Wilding’simmovablehonestysawthefallacyinhishouse—
keeper’spointofviewataglance。
\"Youdon’tunderstandme，\"hesaid。\"It’sBECAUSEIlovedherthatIfeelitaduty——asacredduty——todojusticetoherson。Ifheisalivingman，Imustfindhim：formyownsake，aswellasforhis。
Ishallbreakdownunderthisdreadfultrial，unlessIemploymyself——actively，instantlyemploymyself——indoingwhatmyconsciencetellsmeoughttobedone。Imustspeaktomylawyer;I
mustsetmylawyeratworkbeforeIsleepto—night。\"Heapproachedatubeinthewalloftheroom，andcalleddownthroughittotheofficebelow。\"Leavemeforalittle，Mrs。Goldstraw，\"heresumed;
\"Ishallbemorecomposed，Ishallbebetterabletospeaktoyoulaterintheday。Weshallgetonwell——Ihopeweshallgetonwelltogether——inspiteofwhathashappened。Itisn’tyourfault;I
knowitisn’tyourfault。There！there！shakehands;and——anddothebestyoucaninthehouse——Ican’ttalkaboutitnow。\"
ThedooropenedasMrs。Goldstrawadvancedtowardsit;andMr。
Jarvisappeared。
\"SendforMr。Bintrey，\"saidthewine—merchant。\"SayIwanttoseehimdirectly。\"
Theclerkunconsciouslysuspendedtheexecutionoftheorder，byannouncing\"Mr。Vendale，\"andshowinginthenewpartnerinthefirmofWildingandCo。
\"Prayexcusemeforonemoment，GeorgeVendale，\"saidWilding。\"I
haveawordtosaytoJarvis。SendforMr。Bintrey，\"herepeated——
\"sendatonce。\"
Mr。Jarvislaidaletteronthetablebeforehelefttheroom。
\"FromourcorrespondentsatNeuchatel，Ithink，sir。TheletterhasgottheSwisspostmark。\"
NEWCHARACTERSONTHESCENE
Thewords，\"TheSwissPostmark，\"followingsosoonuponthehousekeeper’sreferencetoSwitzerland，wroughtMr。Wilding’sagitationtosucharemarkableheight，thathisnewpartnercouldnotdecentlymakeapretenceoflettingitpassunnoticed。
\"Wilding，\"heaskedhurriedly，andyetstoppingshortandglancingaroundasifforsomevisiblecauseofhisstateofmind：\"whatisthematter？\"
\"MygoodGeorgeVendale，\"returnedthewine—merchant，givinghishandwithanappealinglook，ratherasifhewantedhelptogetoversomeobstacle，thanasifhegaveitinwelcomeorsalutation：\"mygoodGeorgeVendale，somuchisthematter，thatIshallneverbemyselfagain。ItisimpossiblethatIcaneverbemyselfagain。
For，infact，Iamnotmyself。\"
Thenewpartner，abrown—cheekedhandsomefellow，ofabouthisownage，withaquickdeterminedeyeandanimpulsivemanner，retortedwithnaturalastonishment：\"Notyourself？\"
\"NotwhatIsupposedmyselftobe，\"saidWilding。
\"What，inthenameofwonder，DIDyousupposeyourselftobethatyouarenot？\"wastherejoinder，deliveredwithacheerfulfrankness，invitingconfidencefromamorereticentman。\"Imayaskwithoutimpertinence，nowthatwearepartners。\"
\"Thereagain！\"criedWilding，leaningbackinhischair，withalostlookattheother。\"Partners！Ihadnorighttocomeintothisbusiness。Itwasnevermeantforme。Mymothernevermeantitshouldbemine。Imean，hismothermeantitshouldbehis——ifI
meananything——orifIamanybody。\"
\"Come，come，\"urgedhispartner，afteramoment’spause，andtakingpossessionofhimwiththatcalmconfidencewhichinspiresastrongnaturewhenithonestlydesirestoaidaweakone。\"Whateverhasgonewrong，hasgonewrongthroughnofaultofyours，Iamverysure。Iwasnotinthiscounting—housewithyou，undertheoldregime，forthreeyears，todoubtyou，Wilding。Wewerenotyoungermenthanweare，together，forthat。Letmebeginourpartnershipbybeingaserviceablepartner，andsettingrightwhateveriswrong。
Hasthatletteranythingtodowithit？\"
\"Hah！\"saidWilding，withhishandtohistemple。\"Thereagain！Myhead！Iwasforgettingthecoincidence。TheSwisspostmark。\"
\"AtasecondglanceIseethattheletterisunopened，soitisnotverylikelytohavemuchtodowiththematter，\"saidVendale，withcomfortingcomposure。\"Isitforyou，orforus？\"
\"Forus，\"saidWilding。
\"SupposeIopenitandreaditaloud，togetitoutofourway？\"
\"Thankyou，thankyou。\"
\"Theletterisonlyfromourchampagne—makingfriends，thehouseatNeuchatel。’DearSir。Weareinreceiptofyoursofthe28thult。，informingusthatyouhavetakenyourMr。Vendaleintopartnership，whereonwebegyoutoreceivetheassuranceofourfelicitations。
PermitustoembracetheoccasionofspeciallycommandingtoyouM。
JulesObenreizer。’Impossible！\"
Wildinglookedupinquickapprehension，andcried，\"Eh？\"
\"Impossiblesortofname，\"returnedhispartner，slightly——
\"Obenreizer。’——OfspeciallycommandingtoyouM。JulesObenreizer，ofSohoSquare，London（northside），henceforthfullyaccreditedasouragent，andwhohasalreadyhadthehonourofmakingtheacquaintanceofyourMr。Vendale，inhis（saidM。Obenreizer’s）
nativecountry，Switzerland。’Tobesure！poohpooh，whathaveI
beenthinkingof！Iremembernow;’whentravellingwithhisniece。’\"
\"Withhis——？\"Vendalehadsoslurredthelastword，thatWildinghadnotheardit。
\"WhentravellingwithhisNiece。Obenreizer’sNiece，\"saidVendale，inasomewhatsuperfluouslylucidmanner。\"NieceofObenreizer。（I
mettheminmyfirstSwisstour，travelledalittlewiththem，andlostthemfortwoyears;metthemagain，mySwisstourbeforelast，andhavelostthemeversince。）Obenreizer。NieceofObenreizer。
Tobesure！Possiblesortofname，afterall！’M。Obenreizerisinpossessionofourabsoluteconfidence，andwedonotdoubtyouwillesteemhismerits。’DulysignedbytheHouse，’DefresnieretCie。’
Verywell。IundertaketoseeM。Obenreizerpresently，andclearhimoutoftheway。ThatclearstheSwisspostmarkoutoftheway。
Sonow，mydearWilding，tellmewhatIcanclearoutofYOURway，andI’llfindawaytoclearit。\"
Morethanreadyandgratefultobethustakenchargeof，thehonestwine—merchantwrunghispartner’shand，and，beginninghistalebypatheticallydeclaringhimselfanImpostor，toldit。
\"Itwasonthismatter，nodoubt，thatyouweresendingforBintreywhenIcamein？\"saidhispartner，afterreflecting。
\"Itwas。\"
\"Hehasexperienceandashrewdhead;Ishallbeanxioustoknowhisopinion。ItisboldandhazardousinmetogiveyouminebeforeI
knowhis，butIamnotgoodatholdingback。Plainly，then，Idonotseethesecircumstancesasyouseethem。Idonotseeyourpositionasyouseeit。AstoyourbeinganImpostor，mydearWilding，thatissimplyabsurd，becausenomancanbethatwithoutbeingaconsentingpartytoanimposition。Clearlyyouneverwereso。Astoyourenrichmentbytheladywhobelievedyoutobeherson，andwhomyouwereforcedtobelieve，onhershowing，tobeyourmother，considerwhetherthatdidnotariseoutofthepersonalrelationsbetweenyou。Yougraduallybecamemuchattachedtoher;
shegraduallybecamemuchattachedtoyou。Itwasonyou，personallyyou，asIseethecase，thatsheconferredtheseworldlyadvantages;itwasfromher，personallyher，thatyoutookthem。\"
\"Shesupposedme，\"objectedWilding，shakinghishead，\"tohaveanaturalclaimuponher，whichIhadnot。\"
\"Imustadmitthat，\"repliedhispartner，\"tobetrue。Butifshehadmadethediscoverythatyouhavemade，sixmonthsbeforeshedied，doyouthinkitwouldhavecancelledtheyearsyouweretogether，andthetendernessthateachofyouhadconceivedfortheother，eachonincreasingknowledgeoftheother？\"
\"WhatIthink，\"saidWilding，simplybutstoutlyholdingtothebarefact，\"cannomorechangethetruththanitcanbringdownthesky。
ThetruthisthatIstandpossessedofwhatwasmeantforanotherman。\"
\"Hemaybedead，\"saidVendale。
\"Hemaybealive，\"saidWilding。\"Andifheisalive，haveInot——
innocently，Igrantyouinnocently——robbedhimofenough？HaveI
notrobbedhimofallthehappytimethatIenjoyedinhisstead？
HaveInotrobbedhimoftheexquisitedelightthatfilledmysoulwhenthatdearlady，\"stretchinghishandtowardsthepicture，\"toldmeshewasmymother？HaveInotrobbedhimofallthecareshelavishedonme？HaveInotevenrobbedhimofallthedevotionanddutythatIsoproudlygavetoher？ThereforeitisthatIaskmyself，GeorgeVendale，andIaskyou，whereishe？Whathasbecomeofhim？\"
\"Whocantell！\"
\"Imusttrytofindoutwhocantell。Imustinstituteinquiries。
Imustneverdesistfromprosecutinginquiries。Iwillliveupontheinterestofmyshare——Ioughttosayhisshare——inthisbusiness，andwilllayuptherestforhim。WhenIfindhim，Imayperhapsthrowmyselfuponhisgenerosity;butIwillyieldupalltohim。Iwill，Iswear。AsIlovedandhonouredher，\"saidWilding，reverentlykissinghishandtowardsthepicture，andthencoveringhiseyeswithit。\"AsIlovedandhonouredher，andhaveaworldofreasonstobegratefultoher！\"Andsobrokedownagain。
Hispartnerrosefromthechairhehadoccupied，andstoodbesidehimwithahandsoftlylaiduponhisshoulder。\"Walter，Iknewyoubeforeto—daytobeanuprightman，withapureconscienceandafineheart。ItisveryfortunateformethatIhavetheprivilegetotraveloninlifesoneartosotrustworthyaman。Iamthankfulforit。Usemeasyourrighthand，andrelyuponmetothedeath。
Don’tthinktheworseofmeifIprotesttoyouthatmyuppermostfeelingatpresentisaconfused，youmaycallitanunreasonable，one。Ifeelfarmorepityfortheladyandforyou，becauseyoudidnotstandinyoursupposedrelations，thanIcanfeelfortheunknownman（ifheeverbecameaman），becausehewasunconsciouslydisplaced。YouhavedonewellinsendingforMr。Bintrey。WhatI
thinkwillbeapartofhisadvice，Iknowisthewholeofmine。Donotmoveastepinthisseriousmatterprecipitately。Thesecretmustbekeptamonguswithgreatstrictness，fortopartwithitlightlywouldbetoinvitefraudulentclaims，toencourageahostofknaves，toletlooseafloodofperjuryandplotting。Ihavenomoretosaynow，Walter，thantoremindyouthatyousoldmeashareinyourbusiness，expresslytosaveyourselffrommoreworkthanyourpresenthealthisfitfor，andthatIboughtitexpresslytodowork，andmeantodoit。\"
Withthesewords，andapartinggripofhispartner’sshoulderthatgavethemthebestemphasistheycouldhavehad，GeorgeVendalebetookhimselfpresentlytothecounting—house，andpresentlyafterwardstotheaddressofM。JulesObenreizer。
AsheturnedintoSohoSquare，anddirectedhisstepstowardsitsnorthside，adeepenedcolourshotacrosshissun—brownedface，whichWilding，ifhehadbeenabetterobserver，orhadbeenlessoccupiedwithhisowntrouble，mighthavenoticedwhenhispartnerreadaloudacertainpassageintheirSwisscorrespondent’sletter，whichhehadnotreadsodistinctlyastherest。
AcuriouscolonyofmountaineershaslongbeenenclosedwithinthatsmallflatLondondistrictofSoho。Swisswatchmakers，Swisssilver—chasers，Swissjewellers，SwissimportersofSwissmusicalboxesandSwisstoysofvariouskinds，drawclosetogetherthere。
Swissprofessorsofmusic，painting，andlanguages;Swissartificersinsteadywork;Swisscouriers，andotherSwissservantschronicallyoutofplace;industriousSwisslaundressesandclear—starchers;
mysteriouslyexistingSwissofbothsexes;SwisscreditableandSwissdiscreditable;Swisstobetrustedbyallmeans，andSwisstobetrustedbynomeans;thesediverseSwissparticlesareattractedtoacentreinthedistrictofSoho。ShabbySwisseating—houses，coffee—houses，andlodging—houses，Swissdrinksanddishes，SwissserviceforSundays，andSwissschoolsforweek—days，arealltobefoundthere。Eventhenative—bornEnglishtavernsdriveasortofbroken—Englishtrade;announcingintheirwindowsSwisswhetsanddrams，andshelteringintheirbarsSwissskirmishesofloveandanimosityonmostnightsintheyear。
WhenthenewpartnerinWildingandCo。rangthebellofadoorbearingthebluntinscriptionOBENREIZERonabrassplate——theinnerdoorofasubstantialhouse，whosegroundstorywasdevotedtothesaleofSwissclocks——hepassedatonceintodomesticSwitzerland。
Awhite—tiledstoveforwinter—timefilledthefireplaceoftheroomintowhichhewasshown，theroom’sbarefloorwaslaidtogetherinaneatpatternofseveralordinarywoods，theroomhadaprevalentairofsurfacebarenessandmuchscrubbing;andthelittlesquareofflowerycarpetbythesofa，andthevelvetchimney—boardwithitscapaciousclockandvasesofartificialflowers，contendedwiththattone，asif，inbringingoutthewholeeffect，aParisianhadadaptedadairytodomesticpurposes。
Mimicwaterwasdroppingoffamill—wheelundertheclock。Thevisitorhadnotstoodbeforeit，followingitwithhiseyes，aminute，whenM。Obenreizer，athiselbow，startledhimbysaying，inverygoodEnglish，veryslightlyclipped：\"Howdoyoudo？Soglad！\"
\"Ibegyourpardon。Ididn’thearyoucomein。\"
\"Notatall！Sit，please。\"
Releasinghisvisitor’stwoarms，whichhehadlightlypinionedattheelbowsbywayofembrace，M。Obenreizeralsosat，remarking，withasmile：\"Youarewell？Soglad！\"andtouchinghiselbowsagain。
\"Idon’tknow，\"saidVendale，afterexchangeofsalutations，\"whetheryoumayyethaveheardofmefromyourHouseatNeuchatel？\"
\"Ah，yes！\"
\"InconnectionwithWildingandCo。？\"
\"Ah，surely！\"
\"IsitnotoddthatIshouldcometoyou，inLondonhere，asoneoftheFirmofWildingandCo。，topaytheFirm’srespects？\"
\"Notatall！WhatdidIalwaysobservewhenwewereonthemountains？Wecallthemvast;buttheworldissolittle。Solittleistheworld，thatonecannotkeepawayfrompersons。Therearesofewpersonsintheworld，thattheycontinuallycrossandre—
cross。Soverylittleistheworld，thatonecannotgetridofaperson。Not，\"touchinghiselbowsagain，withaningratiatorysmile，\"thatonewoulddesiretogetridofyou。\"
\"Ihopenot，M。Obenreizer。\"
\"Pleasecallme，inyourcountry，Mr。Icallmyselfso，forIloveyourcountry。IfICOULDbeEnglish！ButIamborn。Andyou？
Thoughdescendedfromsofineafamily，youhavehadthecondescensiontocomeintotrade？Stopthough。Wines？IsittradeinEnglandorprofession？Notfineart？\"
\"Mr。Obenreizer，\"returnedVendale，somewhatoutofcountenance，\"I
wasbutasillyyoungfellow，justofage，whenIfirsthadthepleasureoftravellingwithyou，andwhenyouandIandMademoiselleyourniece——whoiswell？\"
\"Thankyou。Whoiswell。\"
\"——Sharedsomeslightglacierdangerstogether。If，withaboy’svanity，Irathervauntedmyfamily，IhopeIdidsoasakindofintroductionofmyself。Itwasveryweak，andinverybadtaste;
butperhapsyouknowourEnglishproverb，’LiveandLearn。’\"
\"Youmaketoomuchofit，\"returnedtheSwiss。\"Andwhatthedevil！
Afterall，yoursWASafinefamily。\"
GeorgeVendale’slaughbetrayedalittlevexationasherejoined：
\"Well！Iwasstronglyattachedtomyparents，andwhenwefirsttravelledtogether，Mr。Obenreizer，Iwasinthefirstflushofcomingintowhatmyfatherandmotherleftme。SoIhopeitmayhavebeen，afterall，moreyouthfulopennessofspeechandheartthanboastfulness。\"
\"Allopennessofspeechandheart！Noboastfulness！\"criedObenreizer。\"Youtaxyourselftooheavily。Youtaxyourself，myfaith！asifyouwasyourGovernmenttaxingyou！Besides，itcommencedwithme。Iremember，thateveningintheboatuponthelake，floatingamongthereflectionsofthemountainsandvalleys，thecragsandpinewoods，whichweremyearliestremembrance，Idrewaword—pictureofmysordidchildhood。Ofourpoorhut，bythewaterfallwhichmymothershowedtotravellers;ofthecow—shedwhereIsleptwiththecow;ofmyidiothalf—brotheralwayssittingatthedoor，orlimpingdownthePasstobeg;ofmyhalf—sisteralwaysspinning，andrestingherenormousgoitreonagreatstone;
ofmybeingafamishednakedlittlewretchoftwoorthreeyears，whentheyweremenandwomenwithhardhandstobeatme，I，theonlychildofmyfather’ssecondmarriage——ifitevenwasamarriage。
Whatmorenaturalthanforyoutocomparenoteswithme，andsay，’Weareasonebyage;atthatsametimeIsatuponmymother’slapinmyfather’scarriage，rollingthroughtherichEnglishstreets，allluxurysurroundingme，allsqualidpovertykeptfarfromme。
SuchisMYearliestremembranceasopposedtoyours！’\"
Mr。Obenreizerwasablack—hairedyoungmanofadarkcomplexion，throughwhoseswarthyskinnoredglowevershone。Whencolourwouldhavecomeintoanothercheek，ahardlydiscerniblebeatwouldcomeintohis，asifthemachineryforbringinguptheardentbloodwerethere，butthemachineryweredry。Hewasrobustlymade，wellproportioned，andhadhandsomefeatures。Manywouldhaveperceivedthatsomesurfacechangeinhimwouldhavesetthemmoreattheireasewithhim，withoutbeingabletodefinewhatchange。Ifhislipscouldhavebeenmademuchthicker，andhisneckmuchthinner，theywouldhavefoundtheirwantsupplied。
ButthegreatObenreizerpeculiaritywas，thatacertainnamelessfilmwouldcomeoverhiseyes——apparentlybytheactionofhisownwill——whichwouldimpenetrablyveil，notonlyfromthosetellersoftales，butfromhisfaceatlarge，everyexpressionsaveoneofattention。Itbynomeansfollowedthathisattentionshouldbewhollygiventothepersonwithwhomhespoke，orevenwhollybestowedonpresentsoundsandobjects。Rather，itwasacomprehensivewatchfulnessofeverythinghehadinhisownmind，andeverythingthatheknewtobe，orsuspectedtobe，inthemindsofothermen。
Atthisstageoftheconversation，Mr。Obenreizer’sfilmcameoverhim。
\"Theobjectofmypresentvisit，\"saidVendale，\"is，Ineedhardlysay，toassureyouofthefriendlinessofWildingandCo。，andofthegoodnessofyourcreditwithus，andofourdesiretobeofservicetoyou。Wehopeshortlytoofferyouourhospitality。
Thingsarenotquiteintrainwithusyet，formypartner，Mr。
Wilding，isreorganisingthedomesticpartofourestablishment，andisinterruptedbysomeprivateaffairs。Youdon’tknowMr。Wilding，Ibelieve？\"
Mr。Obenreizerdidnot。
\"Youmustcometogethersoon。Hewillbegladtohavemadeyouracquaintance，andIthinkImaypredictthatyouwillbegladtohavemadehis。YouhavenotbeenlongestablishedinLondon，I
suppose，Mr。Obenreizer？\"
\"ItisonlynowthatIhaveundertakenthisagency。\"
\"Mademoiselleyourniece——is——notmarried？\"
\"Notmarried。\"
GeorgeVendaleglancedabouthim，asifforanytokensofher。
\"ShehasbeeninLondon？\"
\"SheISinLondon。\"
\"When，andwhere，mightIhavethehonourofrecallingmyselftoherremembrance？\"
Mr。Obenreizer，discardinghisfilmandtouchinghisvisitor’selbowsasbefore，saidlightly：\"Comeup—stairs。\"
Flutteredenoughbythesuddennesswithwhichtheinterviewhehadsoughtwascominguponhimafterall，GeorgeVendalefollowedup—
stairs。Inaroomoverthechamberhehadjustquitted——aroomalsoSwiss—appointed——ayoungladysatnearoneofthreewindows，workingatanembroidery—frame;andanolderladysatwithherfaceturnedclosetoanotherwhite—tiledstove（thoughitwassummer，andthestovewasnotlighted），cleaninggloves。Theyoungladyworeanunusualquantityoffairbrighthair，veryprettilybraidedaboutaratherrounderwhiteforeheadthantheaverageEnglishtype，andsoherfacemighthavebeenashade——orsayalight——rounderthantheaverageEnglishface，andherfigureslightlyrounderthanthefigureoftheaverageEnglishgirlatnineteen。Aremarkableindicationoffreedomandgraceoflimb，inherquietattitude，andawonderfulpurityandfreshnessofcolourinherdimpledfaceandbrightgrayeyes，seemedfraughtwithmountainair。Switzerlandtoo，thoughthegeneralfashionofherdresswasEnglish，peepedoutofthefancifulbodiceshewore，andlurkedinthecuriousclockedredstocking，andinitslittlesilver—buckledshoe。Astotheelderlady，sittingwithherfeetapartuponthelowerbrassledgeofthestove，supportingalap—fullofgloveswhileshecleanedonestretchedonherlefthand，shewasatrueSwissimpersonationofanotherkind;fromthebreadthofhercushion—likeback，andtheponderosityofherrespectablelegs（ifthewordbeadmissible），totheblackvelvetbandtiedtightlyroundherthroatfortherepressionofarisingtendencytogoitre;or，higherstill，tohergreatcopper—colouredgoldear—rings;or，higherstill，toherhead—
dressofblackgauzestretchedonwire。
\"MissMarguerite，\"saidObenreizertotheyounglady，\"doyourecollectthisgentleman？\"
\"Ithink，\"sheanswered，risingfromherseat，surprisedandalittleconfused：\"itisMr。Vendale？\"
\"Ithinkitis，\"saidObenreizer，dryly。\"Permitme，Mr。Vendale。
MadameDor。\"
Theelderladybythestove，withtheglovestretchedonherlefthand，likeaglover’ssign，halfgotup，halflookedoverherbroadshoulder，andwhollyplumpeddownagainandrubbedaway。
\"MadameDor，\"saidObenreizer，smiling，\"issokindastokeepmefreefromstainortear。MadameDorhumoursmyweaknessforbeingalwaysneat，anddevoteshertimetoremovingeveryoneofmyspecksandspots。\"
MadameDor，withthestretchedgloveintheair，andhereyescloselyscrutinizingitspalm，discoveredatoughspotinMr。
Obenreizeratthatinstant，andrubbedhardathim。GeorgeVendaletookhisseatbytheembroidery—frame（havingfirsttakenthefairrighthandthathisentrancehadchecked），andglancedatthegoldcrossthatdippedintothebodice，withsomethingofthedevotionofapilgrimwhohadreachedhisshrineatlast。Obenreizerstoodinthemiddleoftheroomwithhisthumbsinhiswaistcoat—pockets，andbecamefilmy。
\"Hewassayingdown—stairs，MissObenreizer，\"observedVendale，\"thattheworldissosmallaplace，thatpeoplecannotescapeoneanother。IhavefounditmuchtoolargeformesinceIsawyoulast。\"
\"Haveyoutravelledsofar，then？\"sheinquired。
\"Notsofar，forIhaveonlygonebacktoSwitzerlandeachyear;butIcouldhavewished——andindeedIhavewishedveryoften——thatthelittleworlddidnotaffordsuchopportunitiesforlongescapesasitdoes。Ifithadbeenless，Imighthavefoundmyfollow—
travellerssooner，youknow。\"
TheprettyMargueritecoloured，andveryslightlyglancedinthedirectionofMadameDor。
\"Youfindusatlength，Mr。Vendale。Perhapsyoumayloseusagain。\"
\"Itrustnot。Thecuriouscoincidencethathasenabledmetofindyou，encouragesmetohopenot。\"
\"Whatisthatcoincidence，sir，ifyouplease？\"Adaintylittlenativetouchinthisturnofspeech，andinitstone，madeitperfectlycaptivating，thoughtGeorgeVendale，whenagainhenoticedaninstantaneousglancetowardsMadameDor。Acautionseemedtobeconveyedinit，rapidflashthoughitwas;sohequietlytookheedofMadameDorfromthattimeforth。
\"ItisthatIhappentohavebecomeapartnerinaHouseofbusinessinLondon，towhichMr。Obenreizerhappensthisverydaytobeexpresslyrecommended：andthat，too，byanotherhouseofbusinessinSwitzerland，inwhich（asitturnsout）webothhaveacommercialinterest。Hehasnottoldyou？\"
\"Ah！\"criedObenreizer，strikingin，filmless。\"No。IhadnottoldMissMarguerite。Theworldissosmallandsomonotonousthatasurpriseisworthhavinginsuchalittlejog—trotplace。Itisashetellsyou，MissMarguerite。He，ofsofineafamily，andsoproudlybred，hascondescendedtotrade。Totrade！Likeuspoorpeasantswhohaverisenfromditches！\"
Acloudcreptoverthefairbrow，andshecastdownhereyes。
\"Why，itisgoodfortrade！\"pursuedObenreizer，enthusiastically。
\"Itennoblestrade！Itisthemisfortuneoftrade，itisitsvulgarity，thatanylowpeople——forexample，wepoorpeasants——maytaketoitandclimbbyit。Seeyou，mydearVendale！\"Hespokewithgreatenergy。\"ThefatherofMissMarguerite，myeldesthalf—
brother，morethantwotimesyourageormine，iflivingnow，wanderedwithoutshoes，almostwithoutrags，fromthatwretchedPass——wandered——wandered——gottobefedwiththemulesanddogsatanInninthemainvalleyfaraway——gottobeBoythere——gottobeOstler——gottobeWaiter——gottobeCook——gottobeLandlord。AsLandlord，hetookme（couldhetaketheidiotbeggarhisbrother，orthespinningmonstrosityhissister？）toputaspupiltothefamouswatchmaker，hisneighbourandfriend。HiswifedieswhenMissMargueriteisborn。Whatishiswill，andwhatarehiswordstome，whenhedies，shebeingbetweengirlandwoman？’AllforMarguerite，exceptsomuchbytheyearforyou。Youareyoung，butImakeheryourward，foryouwereoftheobscurestandthepoorestpeasantry，andsowasI，andsowashermother;wewereabjectpeasantsall，andyouwillrememberit。’Thethingisequallytrueofmostofmycountrymen，nowintradeinthisyourLondonquarterofSoho。Peasantsonce;low—borndrudgingSwissPeasants。Thenhowgoodandgreatfortrade：\"here，fromhavingbeenwarm，hebecameplayfullyjubilant，andtouchedtheyoungwine—merchant’selbowsagainwithhislightembrace：\"tobeexaltedbygentlemen。\"
\"Idonotthinkso，\"saidMarguerite，withaflushedcheek，andalookawayfromthevisitor，thatwasalmostdefiant。\"Ithinkitisasmuchexaltedbyuspeasants。\"
\"Fie，fie，MissMarguerite，\"saidObenreizer。\"YouspeakinproudEngland。\"
\"Ispeakinproudearnest，\"sheanswered，quietlyresumingherwork，\"andIamnotEnglish，butaSwisspeasant’sdaughter。\"
Therewasadismissalofthesubjectinherwords，whichVendalecouldnotcontendagainst。Heonlysaidinanearnestmanner，\"I
mostheartilyagreewithyou，MissObenreizer，andIhavealreadysaidso，asMr。Obenreizerwillbearwitness，\"whichhebynomeansdid，\"inthishouse。\"
Now，Vendale’seyeswerequickeyes，andsharplywatchingMadameDorbytimes，notedsomethinginthebroadbackviewofthatlady。
Therewasconsiderablepantomimicexpressioninherglove—cleaning。
IthadbeenverysoftlydonewhenhespokewithMarguerite，orithadaltogetherstopped，liketheactionofalistener。WhenObenreizer’speasant—speechcametoanend，sherubbedmostvigorously，asifapplaudingit。Andonceortwice，astheglove（whichshealwaysheldbeforeheralittleaboveherface）turnedintheair，orasthisfingerwentdown，orthatwentup，heevenfanciedthatitmadesometelegraphiccommunicationtoObenreizer：
whosebackwascertainlyneverturneduponit，thoughhedidnotseematalltoheedit。
Vendaleobservedtoo，thatinMarguerite’sdismissalofthesubjecttwiceforceduponhimtohismisrepresentation，therewasanindignanttreatmentofherguardianwhichshetriedtocheek：asthoughshewouldhaveflamedoutagainsthim，butfortheinfluenceoffear。Healsoobserved——thoughthiswasnotmuch——thatheneveradvancedwithinthedistanceofheratwhichhefirstplacedhimself：asthoughtherewerelimitsfixedbetweenthem。Neitherhadheeverspokenofherwithouttheprefix\"Miss，\"thoughwheneverheutteredit，itwaswiththefaintesttraceofanairofmockery。
AndnowitoccurredtoVendaleforthefirsttimethatsomethingcuriousintheman，whichhehadneverbeforebeenabletodefine，wasdefinableasacertainsubtleessenceofmockerythateludedtouchoranalysis。HefeltconvincedthatMargueritewasinsomesortaprisonerastoherfreewill——thoughsheheldherownagainstthosetwocombined，bytheforceofhercharacter，whichwasneverthelessinadequatetoherrelease。Tofeelconvincedofthis，wasnottofeellessdisposedtoloveherthanhehadalwaysbeen。
Inaword，hewasdesperatelyinlovewithher，andthoroughlydeterminedtopursuetheopportunitywhichhadopenedatlast。
Forthepresent，hemerelytoucheduponthepleasurethatWildingandCo。wouldsoonhaveinentreatingMissObenreizertohonourtheirestablishmentwithherpresence——acuriousoldplace，thoughabachelorhousewithal——andsodidnotprotracthisvisitbeyondsuchavisit’sordinarylength。Goingdown—stairs，conductedbyhishost，hefoundtheObenreizercounting—houseatthebackoftheentrance—hall，andseveralshabbymeninoutlandishgarmentshangingabout，whomObenreizerputasidethathemightpass，withafewwordsinpatois。
\"Countrymen，\"heexplained，asheattendedVendaletothedoor。
\"Poorcompatriots。Gratefulandattached，likedogs！Good—bye。Tomeetagain。Soglad！\"
Twomorelighttouchesonhiselbowsdismissedhimintothestreet。
SweetMargueriteatherframe，andMadameDor’sbroadbackathertelegraph，floatedbeforehimtoCrippleCorner。Onhisarrivalthere，WildingwasclosetedwithBintrey。Thecellardoorshappeningtobeopen，Vendalelightedacandleinacleftstick，andwentdownforacellarousstroll。GracefulMargueritefloatedbeforehimfaithfully，butMadameDor’sbroadbackremainedoutside。
Thevaultswereveryspacious，andveryold。Therehadbeenastonecryptdownthere，whenbygoneswerenotbygones;somesaid，partofamonkishrefectory;somesaid，ofachapel;somesaid，ofaPagantemple。Itwasallonenow。Letwhowouldmakewhathelikedofacrumbledpillarandabrokenarchorso。OldTimehadmadewhatHE
likedofit，andwasquiteindifferenttocontradiction。
Thecloseair，themustysmell，andthethunderousrumblinginthestreetsabove，asbeing，outoftheroutineofordinarylife，wentwellenoughwiththepictureofprettyMargueriteholdingherownagainstthosetwo。SoVendalewentonuntil，ataturninginthevaults，hesawalightlikethelighthecarried。
\"O！Youarehere，areyou，Joey？\"
\"Oughtn’titrathertogo，’O！YOU’REhere，areyou，MasterGeorge？’Forit’smybusinesstobehere。Butitain’tyourn。\"
\"Don’tgrumble，Joey。\"
\"O！Idon’tgrumble，\"returnedtheCellarman。\"Ifanythinggrumbles，it’swhatI’vetookinthroughthepores;itain’tme。
Haveacareassomethinginyoudon’tbeginagrumbling，MasterGeorge。Stopherelongenoughforthewapourstowork，andthey’llbeatit。\"
Hispresentoccupationconsistedofpokinghisheadintothebins，makingmeasurementsandmentalcalculations，andenteringtheminarhinoceros—hide—lookingnote—book，likeapieceofhimself。
\"They’llbeatit，\"heresumed，layingthewoodenrodthathemeasuredwithacrosstwocasks，enteringhislastcalculation，andstraighteninghisback，\"trust’em！Andsoyou’veregularlycomeintothebusiness，MasterGeorge？\"
\"Regularly。Ihopeyoudon’tobject，Joey？\"
\"Idon’t，blessyou。ButWapoursobjectsthatyou’retooyoung。
You’rebothonyoutooyoung。\"
\"Weshallgotoverthatobjectiondaybyday，Joey。\"
\"Ay，MasterGeorge;butIshalldaybydaygetovertheobjectionthatI’mtooold，andsoIshan’tbecapableofseeingmuchimprovementinyou。\"
TheretortsotickledJoeyLadlethathegruntedforthalaughanddelivereditagain，gruntingforthanotherlaughafterthesecondeditionof\"improvementinyou。\"
\"Butwhat’snolaughingmatter，MasterGeorge，\"heresumed，straighteninghisbackoncemore，\"is，thatyoungMasterWildinghasgoneandchangedtheluck。Markmywords。Hehaschangedtheluck，andhe’llfinditout。Iain’tbeendownhereallmylifefornothing！IknowbywhatInoticesdownhere，whenit’sa—goingtorain，whenit’sa—goingtoholdup，whenit’sa—goingtoblow，whenit’sa—goingtobecalm。Iknow，bywhatInoticesdownhere，whentheluck’schanged，quiteaswell。\"
\"Hasthisgrowthontheroofanythingtodowithyourdivination？\"
askedVendale，holdinghislighttowardsagloomyraggedgrowthofdarkfungus，pendentfromthearcheswithaverydisagreeableandrepellenteffect。\"Wearefamousforthisgrowthinthisvault，aren’twe？\"
\"WeareMasterGeorge，\"repliedJoeyLadle，movingasteportwoaway，\"andifyou’llbeadvisedbyme，you’llletitalone。\"
Takinguptherodjustnowlaidacrossthetwocasks，andfaintlymovingthelanguidfunguswithit，Vendaleasked，\"Ay，indeed？Whyso？\"
\"Why，notsomuchbecauseitrisesfromthecasksofwine，andmayleaveyoutojudgewhatsortofstuffaCellarmantakesintohimselfwhenhewalksinthesameallthedaysofhislife，noryetsomuchbecauseatastageofitsgrowthit’smaggots，andyou’llfetch’emdownuponyou，\"returnedJoeyLadle，stillkeepingaway，\"asforanotherreason，MasterGeorge。\"
\"Whatotherreason？\"
\"（Iwouldn’tkeepontouchin’it，ifIwasyou，sir。）I’lltellyouifyou’llcomeoutoftheplace。First，takealookatitscolour，MasterGeorge。\"
\"Iamdoingso。\"
\"Done，sir。Now，comeoutoftheplace。\"
Hemovedawaywithhislight，andVendalefollowedwithhis。WhenVendalecameupwithhim，andtheyweregoingbacktogether，Vendale，eyeinghimastheywalkedthroughthearches，said：\"Well，Joey？Thecolour。\"
\"Isitlikeclottedblood，MasterGeorge？\"
\"Likeenough，perhaps。\"
\"Morethanenough，Ithink，\"mutteredJoeyLadle，shakinghisheadsolemnly。
\"Well，sayitislike;sayitisexactlylike。Whatthen？\"
\"MasterGeorge，theydosay——\"
\"Who？\"
\"HowshouldIknowwho？\"rejoinedtheCellarman，apparentlymuchexasperatedbytheunreasonablenatureofthequestion。\"Them！
Themassaysprettywelleverything，youknow。HowshouldIknowwhoTheyare，ifyoudon’t？\"
\"True。Goon。\"
\"Theydosaythatthemanthatgetsbyanyaccidentapieceofthatdarkgrowthrightuponhisbreast，will，forsureandcertain，diebymurder。\"
AsVendalelaughinglystoppedtomeettheCellarman’seyes，whichhehadfastenedonhislightwhiledreamilysayingthosewords，hesuddenlybecameconsciousofbeingstruckuponhisownbreastbyaheavyhand。Instantlyfollowingwithhiseyestheactionofthehandthatstruckhim——whichwashiscompanion’s——hesawthatithadbeatenoffhisbreastaweborclotofthefunguseventhenfloatingtotheground。
ForamomentheturnedupontheCellarmanalmostasscaredalookastheCellarmanturneduponhim。Butinanothermomenttheyhadreachedthedaylightatthefootofthecellar—steps，andbeforehecheerfullysprangupthem，heblewouthiscandleandthesuperstitiontogether。
EXITWILDING
Onthemorningofthenextday，Wildingwentoutalone，afterleavingamessagewithhisclerk。\"IfMr。Vendaleshouldaskforme，\"hesaid，\"orifMr。Bintreyshouldcall，tellthemIamgonetotheFoundling。\"Allthathispartnerhadsaidtohim，allthathislawyer，followingonthesameside，couldurge，hadlefthimpersistingunshakeninhisownpointofview。Tofindthelostman，whoseplacehehadusurped，wasnowtheparamountinterestofhislife，andtoinquireattheFoundlingwasplainlytotakethefirststepinthedirectionofdiscovery。TotheFoundling，accordingly，thewine—merchantnowwent。
Theoncefamiliaraspectofthebuildingwasalteredtohim，asthelookoftheportraitoverthechimney—piecewasalteredtohim。Hisonedearestassociationwiththeplacewhichhadshelteredhischildhoodhadbeenbrokenawayfromitforever。Astrangereluctancepossessedhim，whenhestatedhisbusinessatthedoor。
Hisheartachedashesataloneinthewaiting—roomwhiletheTreasureroftheinstitutionwasbeingsentfortoseehim。Whentheinterviewbegan，itwasonlybyapainfuleffortthathecouldcomposehimselfsufficientlytomentionthenatureofhiserrand。
TheTreasurerlistenedwithafacewhichpromisedallneedfulattention，andpromisednothingmore。
\"Weareobligedtobecautious，\"hesaid，whenitcametohisturntospeak，\"aboutallinquirieswhicharemadebystrangers。\"
\"Youcanhardlyconsidermeastranger，\"answeredWilding，simply。
\"Iwasoneofyourpoorlostchildrenhere，inthebygonetime。\"
TheTreasurerpolitelyrejoinedthatthiscircumstanceinspiredhimwithaspecialinterestinhisvisitor。Buthepressed，neverthelessforthatvisitor’smotiveinmakinghisinquiry。
Withoutfurtherpreface，Wildingtoldhimhismotive，suppressingnothing。TheTreasurerrose，andledthewayintotheroominwhichtheregistersoftheinstitutionwerekept。\"Alltheinformationwhichourbookscangiveisheartilyatyourservice，\"hesaid。
\"Afterthetimethathaselapsed，Iamafraiditistheonlyinformationwehavetoofferyou。\"
Thebookswereconsulted，andtheentrywasfoundexpressedasfollows：
\"3dMarch，1836。Adopted，andremovedfromtheFoundlingHospital，amaleinfant，namedWalterWilding。Nameandconditionofthepersonadoptingthechild——Mrs。JaneAnnMiller，widow。Address——
Lime—TreeLodge，GroombridgeWells。References——theReverendJohnHarker，GroombridgeWells;andMessrs。Giles，Jeremie，andGiles，bankers，LombardStreet。\"
\"Isthatall？\"askedthewine—merchant。\"Hadyounoafter—
communicationwithMrs。Miller？\"
\"None——orsomereferencetoitmusthaveappearedinthisbook。\"
\"MayItakeacopyoftheentry？\"
\"Certainly！Youarealittleagitated。Letmemakeacopyforyou。\"
\"Myonlychance，Isuppose，\"saidWilding，lookingsadlyatthecopy，\"istoinquireatMrs。Miller’sresidence，andtotryifherreferencescanhelpme？\"
\"ThatistheonlychanceIseeatpresent，\"answeredtheTreasurer。
\"IheartilywishIcouldhavebeenofsomefurtherassistancetoyou。\"
WiththosefarewellwordstocomforthimWildingsetforthonthejourneyofinvestigationwhichbeganfromtheFoundlingdoors。Thefirststagetomakefor，wasplainlythehouseofbusinessofthebankersinLombardStreet。Twoofthepartnersinthefirmwereinaccessibletochance—visitorswhenheaskedforthem。Thethird，afterraisingcertaininevitabledifficulties，consentedtoletaclerkexaminetheledgermarkedwiththeinitialletter\"M。\"TheaccountofMrs。Miller，widow，ofGroombridgeWells，wasfound。Twolonglines，infadedink，weredrawnacrossit;andatthebottomofthepagethereappearedthisnoteAccountclosed，September30th，1837。\"
Sothefirststageofthejourneywasreached——andsoitendedinNoThoroughfare！AftersendinganotetoCrippleCornertoinformhispartnerthathisabsencemightbeprolongedforsomehours，Wildingtookhisplaceinthetrain，andstartedforthesecondstageonthejourney——Mrs。Miller’sresidenceatGroombridgeWells。
Mothersandchildrentravelledwithhim;mothersandchildrenmeteachotheratthestation;mothersandchildrenwereintheshopswhenheenteredthemtoinquireforLime—TreeLodge。Everywhere，thenearestanddearestofhumanrelationsshoweditselfhappilyinthehappylightofday。Everywhere，hewasremindedofthetreasureddelusionfromwhichhehadbeenawakenedsocruelly——ofthelostmemorywhichhadpassedfromhimlikeareflectionfromaglass。
Inquiringhere，inquiringthere，hecouldhearofnosuchplaceasLime—TreeLodge。Passingahouse—agent’soffice，hewentinwearily，andputthequestionforthelasttime。Thehouse—agentpointedacrossthestreettoadrearymansionofmanywindows，whichmighthavebeenamanufactory，butwhichwasanhotel。\"That’swhereLime—TreeLodgestood，sir，\"saidtheman，\"tenyearsago。\"
Thesecondstagereached，andNoThoroughfareagain！
Butonechancewasleft。Theclericalreference，Mr。Harker，stillremainedtobefound。Customerscominginatthemomenttooccupythehouse—agent’sattention，Wildingwentdownthestreet，andenteringabookseller’sshop，askedifhecouldbeinformedoftheReverendJohnHarker’spresentaddress。
Thebooksellerlookedunaffectedlyshockedandastonished，andmadenoanswer。
Wildingrepeatedhisquestion。
Thebooksellertookupfromhiscounteraprimlittlevolumeinabindingofsobergray。Hehandedittohisvisitor，openatthetitle—page。Wildingread：
\"ThemartyrdomoftheReverendJohnHarkerinNewZealand。Relatedbyaformermemberofhisflock。\"
Wildingputthebookdownonthecounter。\"Ibegyourpardon，\"hesaidthinkingalittle，perhaps，ofhisownpresentmartyrdomwhilehespoke。Thesilentbookselleracknowledgedtheapologybyabow。
Wildingwentout。
Thirdandlaststage，andNoThoroughfareforthethirdandlasttime。
Therewasnothingmoretobedone;therewasabsolutelynochoicebuttogobacktoLondon，defeatedatallpoints。Fromtimetotimeonthereturnjourney，thewine—merchantlookedathiscopyoftheentryintheFoundlingRegister。Thereisoneamongthemanyformsofdespair——perhapsthemostpitiableofall——whichpersistsindisguisingitselfasHope。Wildingcheckedhimselfintheactofthrowingtheuselessmorselofpaperoutofthecarriagewindow。
\"Itmayleadtosomethingyet，\"hethought。\"WhileIlive，Iwon’tpartwithit。WhenIdie，myexecutorsshallfinditsealedupwithmywill。\"
Now，thementionofhiswillsetthegoodwine—merchantonanewtrackofthought，withoutdivertinghismindfromitsengrossingsubject。Hemustmakehiswillimmediately。
TheapplicationofthephraseNoThoroughfaretothecasehadoriginatedwithMr。Bintrey。Intheirfirstlongconferencefollowingthediscovery，thatsagaciouspersonagehadahundredtimesrepeated，withanobstructiveshakeofthehead，\"NoThoroughfare，Sir，NoThoroughfare。Mybeliefisthatthereisnowayoutofthisatthistimeofday，andmyadviceis，makeyourselfcomfortablewhereyouare。\"
Inthecourseoftheprotractedconsultation，amagnumoftheforty—
fiveyearoldport—winehadbeenproducedforthewettingofMr。
Bintrey’slegalwhistle;butthemoreclearlyhesawhiswaythroughthewine，themoreemphaticallyhedidnotseehiswaythroughthecase;repeatingasoftenashesethisglassdownempty。\"Mr。
Wilding，NoThoroughfare。Restandbethankful。\"
Itiscertainthatthehonestwine—merchant’sanxietytomakeawilloriginatedinprofoundconscientiousness;thoughitispossible（andquiteconsistentwithhisrectitude）thathemayunconsciouslyhavederivedsomefeelingofrelieffromtheprospectofdelegatinghisowndifficultytotwoothermenwhoweretocomeafterhim。Bethatasitmay，hepursuedhisnewtrackofthoughtwithgreatardour，andlostnotimeinbeggingGeorgeVendaleandMr。BintreytomeethiminCrippleCornerandsharehisconfidence。
\"Beingallthreeassembledwithcloseddoors，\"saidMr。Bintrey，addressingthenewpartnerontheoccasion，\"Iwishtoobserve，beforeourfriend（andmyclient）entrustsuswithhisfurtherviews，thatIhaveendorsedwhatIunderstandfromhimtohavebeenyouradvice，Mr。Vendale，andwhatwouldbetheadviceofeverysensibleman。Ihavetoldhimthathepositivelymustkeephissecret。IhavespokenwithMrs。Goldstraw，bothinhispresenceandinhisabsence;andifanybodyistobetrusted（whichisaverylargeIF），Ithinksheistobetrustedtothatextent。Ihavepointedouttoourfriend（andmyclient），thattosetonfootrandominquirieswouldnotonlybetoraisetheDevil，inthelikenessofalltheswindlersinthekingdom，butwouldalsobetowastetheestate。Now，yousee，Mr。Vendale，ourfriend（andmyclient）doesnotdesiretowastetheestate，but，onthecontrary，desirestohusbanditforwhatheconsiders——butIcan’tsayIdo——
therightfulowner，ifsuchrightfulownershouldeverbefound。I
amverymuchmistakenifheeverwillbe，butnevermindthat。Mr。
WildingandIare，atleast，agreedthattheestateisnottobewasted。Now，IhaveyieldedtoMr。Wilding’sdesiretokeepanadvertisementatintervalsflowingthroughthenewspapers，cautiouslyinvitinganypersonwhomayknowanythingaboutthatadoptedinfant，takenfromtheFoundlingHospital，tocometomyoffice;andIhavepledgedmyselfthatsuchadvertisementshallregularlyappear。Ihavegatheredfromourfriend（andmyclient）
thatImeetyouhereto—daytotakehisinstructions，nottogivehimadvice。Iampreparedtoreceivehisinstructions，andtorespecthiswishes;butyouwillpleaseobservethatthisdoesnotimplymyapprovalofeitherasamatterofprofessionalopinion。\"
ThusMr。Bintrey;talkingquiteismuchATWildingasTOVendale。
Andyet，inspiteofhiscareforhisclient，hewassoamusedbyhisclient’sQuixoticconduct，astoeyehimfromtimetotimewithtwinklingeyes，inthelightofahighlycomicalcuriosity。
\"Nothing，\"observedWilding，\"canbeclearer。Ionlywishmyheadwereasclearasyours，Mr。Bintrey。\"
\"Ifyoufeelthatsinginginitcomingon，\"hintedthelawyer，withanalarmedglance，\"putitoff。——Imeantheinterview。\"
\"Notatall，Ithankyou，\"saidWilding。\"WhatwasIgoingto——\"
\"Don’texciteyourself，Mr。Wilding，\"urgedthelawyer。
\"No;IWASN’Tgoingto，\"saidthewine—merchant。\"Mr。BintreyandGeorgeVendale，wouldyouhaveanyhesitationorobjectiontobecomemyjointtrusteesandexecutors，orcanyouatonceconsent？\"
\"Iconsent，\"repliedGeorgeVendale，readily。
\"Iconsent，\"saidBintrey，notsoreadily。
\"Thankyouboth。Mr。Bintrey，myinstructionsformylastwillandtestamentareshortandplain。Perhapsyouwillnowhavethegoodnesstotakethemdown。Ileavethewholeofmyrealandpersonalestate，withoutanyexceptionorreservationwhatsoever，toyoutwo，myjointtrusteesandexecutors，intrusttopayoverthewholetothetrueWalterWilding，ifheshallbefoundandidentifiedwithintwoyearsafterthedayofmydeath。Failingthat，intrusttoyoutwotopayoverthewholeasabenefactionandlegacytotheFoundlingHospital。\"
\"Thoseareallyourinstructions，arethey，Mr。Wilding？\"demandedBintrey，afterablanksilence，duringwhichnobodyhadlookedatanybody。