WEhaddawdledoverourluncheonbeforeMrs。MacallanarrivedatBenjamin’scottage。Theensuingconversationbetweentheoldladyandmyself（ofwhichIhaveonlypresentedabriefabstract）
lasteduntilquitelateintheafternoon。Thesunwassettinginheavycloudswhenwegotintothecarriage，andtheautumntwilightbegantofallarounduswhilewewerestillontheroad。
Thedirectioninwhichwedrovetookus（aswellasIcouldjudge）towardthegreatnorthernsuburbofLondon。
Formorethananhourthecarriagethreadeditswaythroughadingybricklabyrinthofstreets，growingsmallerandsmalleranddirtieranddirtierthefurtherwewent。Emergingfromthelabyrinth，Inoticedinthegatheringdarknessdrearypatchesofwastegroundwhichseemedtobeneithertownnorcountry。
Crossingthese，wepassedsomeforlornoutlyinggroupsofhouseswithdimlittlescatteredshopsamongthem，lookinglikelostcountryvillageswanderingonthewaytoLondon，disfiguredandsmoke—driedalreadybytheirjourney。Darkeranddarkeranddrearieranddreariertheprospectdrew，untilthecarriagestoppedatlast，andMrs。Macallanannounced，inhersharplysatiricalway，thatwehadreachedtheendofourjourney。
\"PrinceDexter’sPalace，mydear，\"shesaid。\"Whatdoyouthinkofit？\"
Ilookedaroundme，notknowingwhattothinkofit，ifthetruthmustbetold。
Wehadgotoutofthecarriage，andwewerestandingonaroughhalf—madegravel—path。Rightandleftofme，inthedimlight，I
sawthehalf—completedfoundationsofnewhousesintheirfirststageofexistence。Boardsandbrickswerescatteredaboutus。Atplacesgauntscaffoldingpolesroselikethebranchlesstreesofthebrickdesert。Behindus，ontheothersideofthehigh—road，stretchedanotherplotofwasteground，asyetnotbuilton。Overthesurfaceofthisseconddeserttheghostlywhitefiguresofvagrantducksgleamedatintervalsinthemysticlight。Infrontofus，atadistanceoftwohundredyardsorsoaswellasI
couldcalculate，roseablackmass，whichgraduallyresolveditself，asmyeyesbecameaccustomedtothetwilight，intoalong，low，andancienthouse，withahedgeofevergreensandapitch—blackpalinginfrontofit。Thefootmanledthewaytowardthepalingthroughtheboardsandthebricks，theoystershellsandthebrokencrockery，thatstrewedtheground。Andthiswas\"PrinceDexter’sPalace！\"
Therewasagateinthepitch—blackpaling，andabell—handle——discoveredwithgreatdifficulty。Pullingatthehandle，thefootmansetinmotion，tojudgebythesoundproduced，abellofprodigioussize，fitterforachurchthanahouse。
Whilewewerewaitingforadmission，Mrs。Macallanpointedtothelow，darklineoftheoldbuilding。
\"Thereisoneofhismadnesses，\"shesaid。\"ThespeculatorsinthisnewneighborhoodhaveofferedhimIdon’tknowhowmanythousandpoundsforthegroundthathousestandson。Itwasoriginallythemanor—houseofthedistrict。Dexterpurchaseditmanyyearssinceinoneofhisfreaksoffancy。Hehasnooldfamilyassociationswiththeplace；thewallsareallbuttumblingabouthisears；andthemoneyofferedwouldreallybeofusetohim。Butno！Herefusedtheproposaloftheenterprisingspeculatorsbyletterinthesewords：’Myhouseisastandingmonumentofthepicturesqueandbeautiful，amidthemean，dishonest，andgrovelingconstructionsofamean，dishonest，andgrovelingage。Ikeepmyhouse，gentlemen，asausefullessontoyou。Lookatitwhileyouarebuildingaroundme，andblush，ifyoucan，foryourwork。’Wasthereeversuchanabsurdletterwrittenyet？Hush！Ihearfootstepsinthegarden。Herecomeshiscousin。Hiscousinisawoman。Imayaswelltellyouthat，oryoumightmistakeherforamaninthedark。\"
Arough，deepvoice，whichIshouldcertainlyneverhavesupposedtobethevoiceofawoman，hailedusfromtheinnersideofthepaling。
\"Who’sthere？\"
\"Mrs。Macallan，\"answeredmymother—in—law。
\"Whatdoyouwant？\"
\"WewanttoseeDexter。\"
\"Youcan’tseehim。\"
\"Whynot？\"
\"Whatdidyousayyournamewas？\"
\"Macallan。Mrs。Macallan。EustaceMacallan’smother。_Now_doyouunderstand？\"
Thevoicemutteredandgruntedbehindthepaling，andakeyturnedinthelockofthegate。
Admittedtothegarden，inthedeepshadowoftheshrubs，Icouldseenothingdistinctlyofthewomanwiththeroughvoice，exceptthatsheworeaman’shat。Closingthegatebehindus，withoutawordofwelcomeorexplanation，sheledthewaytothehouse。
Mrs。Macallanfollowedhereasily，knowingtheplace；andI
walkedinMrs。Macallan’sfootstepsascloselyasIcould。\"Thisisanicefamily，\"mymother—in—lawwhisperedtome。\"Dexter’scousinistheonlywomaninthehouse——andDexter’scousinisanidiot。\"
Weenteredaspacioushallwithalowceiling，dimlylightedatitsfurtherendbyonesmalloil—lamp。Icouldseethattherewerepicturesonthegrim，brownwalls，butthesubjectsrepresentedwereinvisibleintheobscureandshadowylight。
Mrs。Macallanaddressedherselftothespeechlesscousinwiththeman’shat。
\"Nowtellme，\"shesaid。\"Whycan’tweseeDexter？\"
Thecousintookasheetofpaperoffthetable，andhandedittoMrs。Macallan。
\"TheMaster’swriting，\"saidthisstrangecreature，inahoarsewhisper，asifthebareideaof\"theMaster\"terrifiedher。\"Readit。Andstayorgo，whichyouplease。\"
Sheopenedaninvisiblesidedoorinthewall，maskedbyoneofthepictures——disappearedthroughitlikeaghost——andleftustogetheraloneinthehall。
Mrs。Macallanapproachedtheoil—lamp，andlookedbyitslightatthesheetofpaperwhichthewomanhadgiventoher。Ifollowedandpeepedoverhershoulderwithoutceremony。Thepaperexhibitedwrittencharacters，tracedinawonderfullylargeandfirmhandwriting。HadIcaughttheinfectionofmadnessintheairofthehouse？OrdidIreallyseebeforemethesewords？
\"NOTICE。——Myimmenseimaginationisatwork。Visionsofheroesunrollthemselvesbeforeme。Ireanimateinmyselfthespiritsofthedepartedgreat。Mybrainsareboilinginmyhead。Anypersonswhodisturbme，underexistingcircumstances，willdoitattheperiloftheirlives。——DEXTER。\"
Mrs。Macallanlookedaroundatmequietlywithhersardonicsmile。
\"Doyoustillpersistinwantingtobeintroducedtohim？\"sheasked。
Themockeryinthetoneofthequestionrousedmypride。I
determinedthatIwouldnotbethefirsttogiveway。
\"NotifIamputtingyouinperilofyourlife，ma’am，\"I
answered，pertlyenough，pointingtothepaperinherhand。
Mymother—in—lawreturnedtothehalltable，andputthepaperbackonitwithoutcondescendingtoreply。Shethenledthewaytoanarchedrecessonourrighthand，beyondwhichIdimlydiscernedabroadflightofoakenstairs。
\"Followme，\"saidMrs。Macallan，mountingthestairsinthedark。
\"Iknowwheretofindhim。\"
Wegropedourwayupthestairstothefirstlanding。Thenextflightofsteps，turninginthereversedirection，wasfaintlyilluminated，likethehallbelow，byoneoil—lamp，placedinsomeinvisiblepositionaboveus。Ascendingthesecondflightofstairsandcrossingashortcorridor，wediscoveredthelamp，throughtheopendoorofaquaintlyshapedcircularroom，burningonthemantel—piece。Itslightilluminatedastripofthicktapestry，hangingloosefromtheceilingtothefloor，onthewalloppositetothedoorbywhichwehadentered。
Mrs。Macallandrewasidethestripoftapestry，and，signingmetofollowher，passedbehindit。
\"Listen！\"shewhispered。
Standingontheinnersideofthetapestry，Ifoundmyselfinadarkrecessorpassage，attheendofwhicharayoflightfromthelampshowedmeacloseddoor。Ilistened，andheardontheothersideofthedoorashoutingvoice，accompaniedbyanextraordinaryrumblingandwhistlingsound，travelingbackwardandforward，aswellasIcouldjudge，overagreatspace。Nowtherumblingandthewhistlingwouldreachtheirclimaxofloudness，andwouldovercometheresonantnotesoftheshoutingvoice。Thenagainthoseloudersoundsgraduallyretreatedintodistance，andtheshoutingvoicemadeitselfheardasthemoreaudiblesoundofthetwo。Thedoormusthavebeenofprodigioussolidity。ListenasintentlyasImight，Ifailedtocatchthearticulatewords（ifany）whichthevoicewaspronouncing，andI
wasequallyatalosstopenetratethecausewhichproducedtherumblingandwhistlingsounds。
\"Whatcanpossiblybegoingon，\"IwhisperedtoMrs。Macallan，\"ontheothersideofthatdoor？\"
\"Stepsoftly，\"mymother—in—lawanswered，\"andcomeandsee。\"
Shearrangedthetapestrybehindussoascompletelytoshutoutthelightinthecircularroom。Thennoiselesslyturningthehandle，sheopenedtheheavydoor。
Wekeptourselvesconcealedintheshadowoftherecess，andlookedthroughtheopendoorway。
Isaw（orfanciedIsaw，intheobscurity）alongroomwithalowceiling。Thedyinggleamofanill—keptfireformedtheonlylightbywhichIcouldjudgeofobjectsanddistances。Redlyilluminatingthecentralportionoftheroom，oppositetowhichwewerestanding，thefire—lightlefttheextremitiesshadowedinalmosttotaldarkness。IhadbarelytimetonoticethisbeforeI
heardtherumblingandwhistlingsoundsapproachingme。Ahighchaironwheelsmovedby，throughthefieldofredlight，carryingashadowyfigurewithfloatinghair，andarmsfuriouslyraisedandloweredworkingthemachinerythatpropelledthechairatitsutmostrateofspeed。\"IamNapoleon，atthesunriseofAusterlitz！\"shoutedthemaninthechairashesweptpastmeonhisrumblingandwhistlingwheels，intheredglowofthefire—light。\"Igivetheword，andthronesrock，andkingsfall，andnationstremble，andmenbytensofthousandsfightandbleedanddie！\"Thechairrushedoutofsight，andtheshoutingmaninitbecameanotherhero。\"IamNelson！\"theringingvoicecriednow。\"IamleadingthefleetatTrafalgar。Iissuemycommands，propheticallyconsciousofvictoryanddeath。Iseemyownapotheosis，mypublicfuneral，mynation’stears，myburialinthegloriouschurch。Theagesrememberme，andthepoetssingmypraiseinimmortalverse！\"Thestridentwheelsturnedatthefarendoftheroomandcameback。Thefantasticandfrightfulapparition，manandmachineryblendedinone——thenewCentaur，halfman，halfchair——flewbymeagaininthedyinglight。\"IamShakespeare！\"criedthefranticcreaturenow。\"Iamwriting’Lear，’thetragedyoftragedies。Ancientsandmoderns，Iamthepoetwhotowersoverthemall。Light！light！thelinesflowoutlikelavafromtheeruptionofmyvolcanicmind。Light！light！
forthepoetofalltimetowritethewordsthatliveforever！\"
Hegroundandtorehiswaybacktowardthemiddleoftheroom。Asheapproachedthefire—placealastmorselofunburnedcoal（orwood）burstintomomentaryflame，andshowedtheopendoorway。Inthatmomenthesawus！Thewheel—chairstoppedwithashockthatshookthecrazyoldflooroftheroom，altereditscourse，andflewatuswiththerushofawildanimal。Wedrewback，justintimetoescapeit，againstthewalloftherecess。Thechairpassedon，andburstasidethehangingtapestry。Thelightofthelampinthecircularroompouredinthroughthegap。Thecreatureinthechaircheckedhisfuriouswheels，andlookedbackoverhisshoulderwithanimpishcuriosityhorribletosee。
\"HaveIrunoverthem？HaveIgroundthemtopowderforpresumingtointrudeonme？\"hesaidtohimself。Astheexpressionofthisamiabledoubtpassedhislipshiseyeslightedonus。HismindinstantlyveeredbackagaintoShakespeareandKingLear。
\"GonerilandRegan！\"hecried。\"Mytwounnaturaldaughters，myshe—devilchildrencometomockatme！\"
\"Nothingofthesort，\"saidmymother—in—law，asquietlyasifshewereaddressingaperfectlyreasonablebeing。\"Iamyouroldfriend，Mrs。Macallan；andIhavebroughtEustaceMacallan’ssecondwifetoseeyou。\"
Theinstantshepronouncedthoselastwords，\"EustaceMacallan’ssecondwife，\"themaninthechairsprangoutofitwithashrillcryofhorror，asifshehadshothim。Foronemomentwesawaheadandbodyintheair，absolutelydeprivedofthelowerlimbs。
Themomentafter，theterriblecreaturetouchedtheflooraslightlyasamonkey，onhishands。Thegrotesquehorrorofthesceneculminatedinhishoppingawayonhishands，ataprodigiousspeed，untilhereachedthefire—placeinthelongroom。Therehecrouchedoverthedyingembers，shudderingandshivering，andmuttering，\"Oh，pityme，pityme！\"dozensanddozensoftimestohimself。
ThiswasthemanwhoseadviceIhadcometoask——whoassistanceI
hadconfidentlycountedoninmyhourofneed。
CHAPTERXXV。
MISERRIMUSDEXTER——SECONDVIEW
THOROUGHLYdisheartenedanddisgusted，and（ifImusthonestlyconfessit）thoroughlyfrightenedtoo，IwhisperedtoMrs。
Macallan，\"Iwaswrong，andyouwereright。Letusgo。\"
TheearsofMiserrimusDextermusthavebeenassensitiveastheearsofadog。Heheardmesay，\"Letusgo。\"
\"No！\"hecalledout。\"BringEustaceMacallan’ssecondwifeinhere。Iamagentleman——Imustapologizetoher。Iamastudentofhumancharacter——Iwishtoseeher。\"
Thewholemanappearedtohaveundergoneacompletetransformation。Hespokeinthegentlestofvoices，andhesighedhystericallywhenhehaddone，likeawomanrecoveringfromaburstoftears。Wasitrevivingcourageorrevivingcuriosity？
WhenMrs。Macallansaidtome，\"Thefitisovernow；doyoustillwishtogoaway？\"Ianswered，\"No；Iamreadytogoin。\"
\"Haveyourecoveredyourbeliefinhimalready？\"askedmymother—in—law，inhermercilesslysatiricalway。
\"Ihaverecoveredfrommyterrorofhim，\"Ireplied。
\"IamsorryIterrifiedyou，\"saidthesoftvoiceatthefire—place。\"SomepeoplethinkIamalittlemadattimes。Youcame，Isuppose，atoneofthetimes——ifsomepeopleareright。I
admitthatIamavisionary。Myimaginationrunsawaywithme，andIsayanddostrangethings。Onthoseoccasions，anybodywhoremindsmeofthathorribleTrialthrowsmebackagainintothepast，andcausesmeunutterablenervoussuffering。Iamaverytender—heartedman。Asthenecessaryconsequence（insuchaworldasthis），Iamamiserablewretch。Acceptmyexcuses。Comein，bothofyou。Comeinandpityme。\"
Achildwouldnothavebeenfrightenedofhimnow。Achildwouldhavegoneinandpitiedhim。
Theroomwasgettingdarkeranddarker。WecouldjustseethecrouchingfigureofMiserrimusDexterattheexpiringfire——andthatwasall。
\"Arewetohavenolight？\"askedMrs。Macallan。\"Andisthisladytoseeyou，whenthelightcomes，outofyourchair？\"
Heliftedsomethingbrightandmetallic，hangingroundhisneck，andblewonitaseriesofshrill，trilling，bird—likenotes。
Afteranintervalhewasansweredbyasimilarseriesofnotessoundingfaintlyinsomedistantregionofthehouse。
\"Arieliscoming，\"hesaid。\"Composeyourself，MammaMacallan；
Arielwithmakemepresentabletoalady’seyes。\"
Hehoppedawayonhishandsintothedarknessattheendoftheroom。\"Waitalittle，saidMrs。Macallan，\"andyouwillhaveanothersurprise——youwillseethe’delicateAriel。’\"
Weheardheavyfootstepsinthecircularroom。
\"Ariel！\"sighedMiserrimusDexteroutofthedarkness，inhissoftestnotes。
Tomyastonishmentthecoarse，masculinevoiceofthecousinintheman’shat——theCaliban’s，ratherthantheAriel’svoice——answered，\"Here！\"
\"Mychair，Ariel！\"
Thepersonthusstrangelymisnameddrewasidethetapestry，soastoletinmorelight；thenenteredtheroom，pushingthewheeledchairbeforeher。ShestoopedandliftedMiserrimusDexterfromthefloor，likeachild。Beforeshecouldputhimintothechair，hesprangoutofherarmswithalittlegleefulcry，andalightedonhisseat，likeabirdalightingonitsperch！
\"Thelamp，\"saidMiserrimusDexter，\"andthelooking—glass。——Pardonme，\"headded，addressingus，\"forturningmybackonyou。Youmustn’tseemeuntilmyhairissettorights。——Ariel！thebrush，thecomb，andtheperfumes！\"
Carryingthelampinonehand，thelooking—glassintheother，andthebrush（withthecombstuckinit）betweenherteeth，ArieltheSecond，otherwiseDexter’scousin，presentedherselfplainlybeforemeforthefirsttime。Icouldnowseethegirl’sround，fleshy，inexpressiveface，herraylessandcolorlesseyes，hercoarsenoseandheavychin。Acreaturehalfalive；animperfectlydevelopedanimalinshapelessformcladinaman’spilotjacket，andtreadinginaman’sheavylacedboots，withnothingbutanoldred—flannelpetticoat，andabrokencombinherfrowzyflaxenhair，totellusthatshewasawoman——suchwastheinhospitablepersonwhohadreceivedusinthedarknesswhenwefirstenteredthehouse。
Thiswonderfulvalet，collectinghermaterialsfordressingherstillmorewonderfulmaster’shair，gavehimthelooking—glass（ahand—mirror），andaddressedherselftoherwork。
Shecombed，shebrushed，sheoiled，sheperfumedtheflowinglocksandthelongsilkybeardofMiserrimusDexterwiththestrangestmixtureofdullnessanddexteritythatIeversaw。Doneinbrutesilence，withalumpishlookandaclumsygait，theworkwasperfectlywelldonenevertheless。Theimpinthechairsuperintendedthewholeproceedingcriticallybymeansofhishand—mirror。HewastoodeeplyinterestedinthisoccupationtospeakuntilsomeoftheconcludingtouchestohisbeardbroughtthemisnamedArielinfrontofhim，andsoturnedherfullfacetowardthepartoftheroominwhichMrs。MacallanandIwerestanding。Thenheaddressedus，takingespecialcare，however，nottoturnhisheadourwaywhilehistoiletwasstillincomplete。
\"MammaMacallan，\"hesaid，\"whatistheChristiannameofyourson’ssecondwife？\"
\"Whydoyouwanttoknow？\"askedmymother—in—law。
\"IwanttoknowbecauseIcan’taddressheras’Mrs。EustaceMacallan。’\"
\"Whynot？\"
\"Itrecalls_theother_Mrs。EustaceMacallan。IfIamremindedofthosehorribledaysatGleninchmyfortitudewillgiveway——I
shallburstoutscreamingagain。\"
Hearingthis，Ihastenedtointerpose。
\"MynameisValeria，\"Isaid。
\"ARomanname，\"remarkedMiserrimusDexter。\"Ilikeit。MymindiscastintheRomanmold。MybodilybuildwouldhavebeenRomanifIhadbeenbornwithlegs。IshallcallyouMrs。Valeria，unlessyoudisapproveofit。\"
IhastenedtosaythatIwasfarfromdisapprovingofit。
\"Verygood，\"saidMiserrimusDexter\"Mrs。Valeria，doyouseethefaceofthiscreatureinfrontofme？\"
Hepointedwiththehand—mirrortohiscousinasunconcernedlyashemighthavepointedtoadog。Hiscousin，onherside，tooknomorenoticethanadogwouldhavetakenofthecontemptuousphrasebywhichhehaddesignatedher。Shewentoncombingandoilinghisbeardascomposedlyasever。
\"Itisthefaceofanidiot，isn’tit？\"pursuedMiserrimusDexter！\"Lookather！Sheisamerevegetable。Acabbageinagardenhasasmuchlifeandexpressioninitasthatgirlexhibitsatthepresentmoment。Wouldyoubelievetherewaslatentintelligence，affection，pride，fidelity，insuchahalf—developedbeingasthis？\"
Iwasreallyashamedtoanswerhim。Quiteneedlessly！Theimpenetrableyoungwomanwentonwithhermaster’sbeard。A
machinecouldnothavetakenlessnoticeofthelifeandthetalkarounditthanthisincomprehensiblecreature。
\"_I_havegotatthatlatentaffection，pride，fidelity，andtherestofit，\"resumedMiserrimusDexter。\"_I_holdthekeytothatdormantIntelligence。Grandthought！NowlookatherwhenI
speak。（Inamedher，poorwretch，inoneofmyironicalmoments。
Shehasgottolikehername，justasadoggetstolikehiscollar。）Now，Mrs。Valeria，lookandlisten。——Ariel！\"
Thegirl’sdullfacebegantobrighten。Thegirl’smechanicallymovinghandstopped，andheldthecombinsuspense。
\"Ariel！youhavelearnedtodressmyhairandanointmybeard，haven’tyou？\"
Herfacestillbrightened。\"Yes！yes！yes！\"sheanswered，eagerly。\"AndyousayIhavelearnedtodoitwell，don’tyou？\"
\"Isaythat。Wouldyouliketoletanybodyelsedoitforyou？\"
Hereyesmeltedsoftlyintolightandlife。HerstrangeunwomanlyvoicesanktothegentlesttonesthatIhadheardfromheryet。
\"Nobodyelseshalldoitforme，\"shesaidatonceproudlyandtenderly。\"Nobody，aslongasIlive，shalltouchyoubutme。\"
\"Noteventheladythere？\"askedMiserrimusDexter，pointingbackwardwithhishand—mirrortotheplaceatwhichIwasstanding。
Hereyessuddenlyflashed，herhandsuddenlyshookthecombatme，inaburstofjealousrage。
\"Lethertry！\"criedthepoorcreature，raisinghervoiceagaintoitshoarsestnotes。\"Lethertouchyouifshedares！\"
Dexterlaughedatthechildishoutbreak。\"Thatwilldo，mydelicateAriel，\"hesaid。\"IdismissyourIntelligenceforthepresent。Relapseintoyourformerself。Finishmybeard。\"
Shepassivelyresumedherwork。Thenewlightinhereyes，thenewexpressioninherface，fadedlittlebylittleanddiedout。
Inanotherminutethefacewasasvacantandaslumpishasbefore；thehandsdidtheirworkagainwiththelifelessdexteritywhichhadsopainfullyimpressedmewhenshefirsttookupthebrush。MiserrimusDexterappearedtobeperfectlysatisfiedwiththeseresults。
\"Ithoughtmylittleexperimentmightinterestyou，\"hesaid。
\"Youseehowitis？Thedormantintelligenceofmycuriouscousinislikethedormantsoundinamusicalinstrument。Iplayuponit——anditanswerstomytouch。Shelikesbeingplayedupon。Buthergreatdelightistohearmetellastory。Ipuzzlehertothevergeofdistraction；andthemoreIconfuseherthebettershelikesthestory。Itisthegreatestfun；youreallymustseeitsomeday。\"Heindulgedhimselfinalastlookatthemirror。
\"Ha！\"hesaid，complacently；\"nowIshalldo。Vanish，Ariel！\"
Shetrampedoutoftheroominherheavyboots，withthemuteobedienceofatrainedanimal。Isaid\"Good—night\"asshepassedme。Sheneitherreturnedthesalutationnorlookedatme：thewordssimplyproducednoeffectonherdullsenses。Theonevoicethatcouldreachherwassilent。Shehadrelapsedoncemoreintothevacantinanimatecreaturewhohadopenedthegatetous，untilitpleasedMiserrimusDextertospeaktoheragain。
\"Valeria！\"saidmymother—in—law。\"Ourmodesthostiswaitingtoseewhatyouthinkofhim。\"
Whilemyattentionwasfixedonhiscousinhehadwheeledhischairaroundsoastofaceme。withthelightofthelampfallingfullonhim。InmentioninghisappearanceasawitnessattheTrial，IfindIhaveborrowed（withoutmeaningtodoso）frommyexperienceofhimatthislatertime。Isawplainlynowthebrightintelligentfaceandthelargeclearblueeyes，thelustrouswavinghairofalightchestnutcolor，thelongdelicatewhitehands，andthemagnificentthroatandchestwhichIhaveelsewheredescribed。ThedeformitywhichdegradedanddestroyedthemanlybeautyofhisheadandbreastwashiddenfromviewbyanOrientalrobeofmanycolors，thrownoverthechairlikeacoverlet。Hewasclothedinajacketofblackvelvet，fastenedlooselyacrosshischestwithlargemalachitebuttons；andheworelacerufflesattheendsofhissleeves，inthefashionofthelastcentury。Itmaywellhavebeenduetowantofperceptiononmypart——butIcouldseenothingmadinhim，nothinginanywayrepelling，ashenowlookedatme。TheonedefectthatI
coulddiscoverinhisfacewasattheoutercornersofhiseyes，justunderthetemple。Herewhenhelaughed，andinalesserdegreewhenhesmiled，theskincontractedintoquaintlittlewrinklesandfolds，whichlookedstrangelyoutofharmonywiththealmostyouthfulappearanceoftherestofhisface。Astohisotherfeatures，themouth，sofarashisbeardandmustachepermittedmetoseeit，wassmallanddelicatelyformed；thenose——perfectlyshapedonthestraightGrecianmodel——wasperhapsalittletoothin，judgedbycomparisonwiththefullcheeksandthehighmassiveforehead。Lookingathimasawhole（andspeakingofhim，ofcourse，fromawoman’s，notaphysiognomist’spointofview），Icanonlydescribehimasbeinganunusuallyhandsomeman。ApainterwouldhavereveledinhimasamodelforSt。John。Andayounggirl，ignorantofwhattheOrientalrobehidfromview，wouldhavesaidtoherself，theinstantshelookedathim，\"Hereistheheroofmydreams！\"
Hisblueeyes——largeastheeyesofawoman，clearastheeyesofachild——restedonmethemomentIturnedtowardhim，withastrangelyvaryingplayofexpression，whichatonceinterestedandperplexedme。
Nowtherewasdoubt——uneasy，painfuldoubt——inthelook；andnowagainitchangedbrightlytoapproval，soopenandunrestrainedthatavainwomanmighthavefanciedshehadmadeaconquestofhimatfirstsight。Suddenlyanewemotionseemedtotakepossessionofhim。Hiseyessank，hisheaddrooped；heliftedhishandswithagestureofregret。Hemutteredandmurmuredtohimself；pursuingsomesecretandmelancholytrainofthought，whichseemedtoleadhimfurtherandfurtherawayfrompresentobjectsofinterest，andtoplungehimdeeperanddeeperintroubledrecollectionsofthepast。HereandthereIcaughtsomeofthewords。LittlebylittleIfoundmyselftryingtofathomwhatwasdarklypassinginthisstrangeman’smind。
\"Afarmorecharmingface，\"Iheardhimsay。\"Butno——notamorebeautifulfigure。Whatfigurewasevermorebeautifulthanhers？
Something——butnotall——ofherenchantinggrace。Whereistheresemblancewhichhasbroughtherbacktome？Intheposeofthefigure，perhaps。Inthemovementofthefigure，perhaps。Poormartyredangel！Whatalife！Andwhatadeath！whatadeath！\"