, and stood trembling and
staring at me, as if there was something perfectly frightful in my face.
I felt quite startled for the moment, for, of all the ways in which men
have looked at me, no man ever looked at me in that way before. Did you
ever see the boa constrictor fed at the Zoological Gardens? They put a
live rabbit into his cage, and there is a moment when the two creatures
look at each other. I declare Mr. Bashwood reminded me of the rabbit.

"Why do I mention this? I don't know why. Perhaps I have been writing
too long, and my head is beginning to fail me. Perhaps Mr. Bashwood's
manner of admiring me strikes my fancy by its novelty. Absurd! I am
exciting myself, and troubling you about nothing. Oh, what a weary, long
letter I have written! and how brightly the stars look at me through the
window, and how awfully quiet the night is! Send me some more of those
sleeping drops, and write me one of your nice, wicked, amusing letters.
You shall hear from me again as soon as I know a little better how it is
all likely to end. Good-night, and keep a corner in your stony old heart
for

"L. G."

3. _From Mrs. Oldershaw to Miss Gwilt_.

"Diana Street, Pimlico, Monday.

"MY DEAR LYDIA--I am in no state of mind to write you an amusing letter.
Your news is very discouraging, and the recklessness of your tone quite
alarms me. Consider the money I have already advanced, and the interests
we both have at stake. Whatever else you are, don't be reckless, for
Heaven's sake!

"What can I do? I ask myself, as a woman of business, what can I do to
help you? I can't give you advice, for I am not on the spot, and I don't
know how circumstances may alter from one day to another. Situated as we
are now, I can only be useful in one way. I can discover a new obstacle
that threatens you, and I think I can remove it.

"You say, with great truth, that there never was a prospect yet
without an ugly place in it, and that there are two ugly places in your
prospect. My dear, there may be _three_ ugly places, if I don't bestir
myself to prevent it; and the name of the third place will be--Brock!
Is it possible you can refer, as you have done, to the Somersetshire
clergyman, and not see that the progress you make with young Armadale
will be, sooner or later, reported to him by young Armadale's friend?
Why, now I think of it, you are doubly at the parson's mercy! You are
at the mercy of any fresh suspicion which may bring him into the
n