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alarm of a man overboard。 The man was Rothsay。 My sailing…master； seeing that he was unable to swim； jumped into the sea and rescued him； as I got on deck。 Rothsay declares it to have been an accident； and everybody believes him but myself。 I know the state of his mind。 Don't be alarmed； I will have him well looked after； and I won't give him up just yet。 We are still bound southward； with a fair wind。 If the new scenes which I hope to show him prove to be of no avail； I must reluctantly take him back to England。 In that case； which I don't like to contemplate； you may see him againperhaps in a month's time。〃
He might return in a month's timereturn to hear of the death of the one friend； on whose power and will to help him he might have relied。 If I failed to employ in his interests the short interval of life still left to me； could I doubt （after what I had just read） what the end would be？ How could I help him？ Oh； God！ how could I help him？
Mrs。 Rymer left the window； and returned to the chair which she had occupied when I first received her。
〃Are you quieter in your mind now？〃 she asked。
I neither answered her nor looked at her。
Still determined to reach her end； she tried again to force her unhappy daughter on me。 〃Will you consent；〃 she persisted； 〃to see Susan？〃
If she had been a little nearer to me； I am afraid I should have struck her。 〃You wretch！〃 I said； 〃do you know that I am a dying man？〃
〃While there's life there's hope；〃 Mrs。 Rymer remarked。
I ought to have controlled myself； but it was not to be done。
〃Hope of your daughter being my rich widow？〃 I asked。
Her bitter answer followed instantly。
〃Even then；〃 she said； 〃Susan wouldn't marry Rothsay。〃
A lie！ If circumstances favored her； I knew； on Rothsay's authority； what Susan would do。
The thought burst on my mind； like light bursting on the eyes of a man restored to sight。 If Susan agreed to go through the form of marriage with a dying bridegroom； my rich widow could （and would） become Rothsay's wife。 Once more； the remembrance of the play at Rome returned； and set the last embers of resolution； which sickness and suffering had left to me； in a flame。 The devoted friend of that imaginary story had counted on death to complete his generous purpose in vain： _he_ had been condemned by the tribunal of man； and had been reprieved。 Iin his place； and with his self…sacrifice in my mindmight found a firmer trust in the future； for I had been condemned by the tribunal of God。
Encouraged by my silence； the obstinate woman persisted。 〃Won't you even send a message to Susan？〃 she asked。
Rashly； madly； without an instant's hesitation； I answered：
〃Go back to Susan； and say I leave it to _her_。〃
Mrs。 Rymer started to her feet。 〃You leave it to Susan to be your wife； if she likes？〃
〃I do。〃
〃And if she consents？〃
〃_I_ consent。〃
In two weeks and a day from that time； the deed was done。 When Rothsay returned to England； he would ask for Susanand he would find my virgin…widow rich and free。
SEVENTH EPOCH。
WHATEVER may be thought of my conduct； let me say this in justice to myselfI was resolved that Susan should not be deceived。
Half an hour after Mrs。 Rymer had left my house； I wrote to her daughter； plainly revealing the motive which led me to offer marriage； solely in the future interest of Rothsay and herself。 〃If you refuse；〃 1 said in conclusion； 〃you may depend on my understanding you and feeling for you。 But； if you consentthen I have a favor to ask Never let us speak to one another of the profanation that we have agreed to commit； for your faithful lover's sake。〃
I had formed a high opinion of Susantoo high an opinion as it seemed。 Her reply surprised and disappointed me。 In other words； she gave her consent。
I stipulated that the marriage should be kept strictly secret； for a certain period。 In my own mind I decided that the interval should be held to expire； either on the day of my death； or on the day when Rothsay returned。
My next proceeding was to write in confidence to the priest whom I have already mentioned； in an earlier part of these pages。 He has reasons of his own for not permitting me to disclose the motive which induced him to celebrate my marriage privately in the chapel at Lord Lepel's house。 My uncle's desire that I should try change of air； as offering a last chance of recovery； was known to my medical attendant； and served as a sufficient reason （although he protested against the risk） for my removal to the country。 I was carried to the station； and placed on a bedslung by ropes to the ceiling of a saloon carriage； so as to prevent me from feeling the vibration when the train was in motion。 Faithful Mrs。 Mozeen entreated to be allowed to accompany me。 I was reluctantly compelled to refuse compliance with this request； in justice to the claims of my lord's housekeeper； who had been accustomed to exercise undivided authority in the household； and who had made every preparation for my comfort。 With her own hands； Mrs。 Mozeen packed everything that I required； including the medicines prescribed for the occasion。 She was deeply affected； poor soul； when we parted。
I bore the journeyhappily for me； it was a short onebetter than had been anticipated。 For the first few days that followed； the purer air of the country seemed； in some degree； to revive me。 But the deadly sense of weakness； the slow sinking of the vital power in me； returned as the time drew near for the marriage。 The ceremony was performed at night。 Only Susan and her mother were present。 No persons in the house but ourselves had the faintest suspicion of what had happened。
I signed my new will （the priest and Mrs。 Rymer being the witnesses） in my bed that night。 It left everything that I possessed； excepting a legacy to Mrs。 Mozeen； to my wife。
Obliged； it is needless to say； to preserve appearances； Susan remained at the lodge as usual。 But it was impossible to resist her entreaty to be allowed to attend on me； for a few hours daily； as assistant to the regular nurse。 When she was alone with me； and had no inquisitive eyes to dread； the poor girl showed a depth of feeling； which I was unable to reconcile with the motives that could alone have induced her （as I then supposed） to consent to the mockery of our marriage。 On occasions when I was so far able to resist the languor that oppressed me as to observe what was passing at my bedsideI saw Susan look at me as if there were thoughts in her pressing for utterance which she hesitated to express。 Once； she herself acknowledged this。 〃I have so much to say to you；〃 she owned； 〃when you are stronger and fitter to hear me。〃 At other times； her nerves seemed to be shaken by the spectacle of my sufferings。 Her kind hands trembled and made mistakes； when they had any nursing duties to perform near me。 The servants； noticing her； used to say； 〃That pretty girl seems to be the most awkward person in the house。〃 On the day that followed the ceremony in the chapel； this want of self…control brought about an accident which led to serious results。
In removing the small chest which held my medicines from the shelf on which it was placed； Susan let it drop on the floor。