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KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT MY WIFE EUNICE。 And now I must think about
arranging matters。'
Manston then retired to his office； and shut himself up for the
remainder of the evening。
XIX。 THE EVENTS OF A DAY AND NIGHT
1。 MARCH THE TWENTY…FIRST。 MORNING
Next morning the steward went out as usual。 He shortly told his
companion； Anne； that he had almost matured their scheme； and that
they would enter upon the details of it when he came home at night。
The fortunate fact that the rector's letter did not require an
immediate answer would give him time to consider。
Anne Seaway then began her duties in the house。 Besides daily
superintending the cook and housemaid one of these duties was； at
rare intervals； to dust Manston's office with her own hands； a
servant being supposed to disturb the books and papers
unnecessarily。 She softly wandered from table to shelf with the
duster in her hand； afterwards standing in the middle of the room；
and glancing around to discover if any noteworthy collection of dust
had still escaped her。
Her eye fell upon a faint layer which rested upon the ledge of an
old…fashioned chestnut cabinet of French Renaissance workmanship；
placed in a recess by the fireplace。 At a height of about four feet
from the floor the upper portion of the front receded； forming the
ledge alluded to； on which opened at each end two small doors； the
centre space between them being filled out by a panel of similar
size； making the third of three squares。 The dust on the ledge was
nearly on a level with the woman's eye； and； though insignificant in
quantity； showed itself distinctly on account of this obliquity of
vision。 Now opposite the central panel； concentric quarter…circles
were traced in the deposited film； expressing to her that this
panel； too； was a door like the others； that it had lately been
opened； and had skimmed the dust with its lower edge。
At last； then； her curiosity was slightly rewarded。 For the right
of the matter was that Anne had been incited to this exploration of
Manston's office rather by a wish to know the reason of his long
seclusion here； after the arrival of the rector's letter； and their
subsequent discourse； than by any immediate desire for cleanliness。
Still； there would have been nothing remarkable to Anne in this
sight but for one recollection。 Manston had once casually told her
that each of the two side…lockers included half the middle space；
the panel of which did not open； and was only put in for symmetry。
It was possible that he had opened this compartment by candlelight
the preceding night； or he would have seen the marks in the dust；
and effaced them； that he might not be proved guilty of telling her
an untruth。 She balanced herself on one foot and stood pondering。
She considered that it was very vexing and unfair in him to refuse
her all knowledge of his remaining secrets； under the peculiar
circumstances of her connection with him。 She went close to the
cabinet。 As there was no keyhole； the door must be capable of being
opened by the unassisted hand。 The circles in the dust told her at
which edge to apply her force。 Here she pulled with the tips of her
fingers； but the panel would not come forward。 She fetched a chair
and looked over the top of the cabinet； but no bolt； knob； or spring
was to be seen。
'O； never mind；' she said； with indifference； 'I'll ask him about
it； and he will tell me。' Down she came and turned away。 Then
looking back again she thought it was absurd such a trifle should
puzzle her。 She retraced her steps； and opened a drawer beneath the
ledge of the cabinet； pushing in her hand and feeling about on the
underside of the board。
Here she found a small round sinking； and pressed her finger into
it。 Nothing came of the pressure。 She withdrew her hand and looked
at the tip of her finger： it was marked with the impress of the
circle； and； in addition； a line ran across it diametrically。
'How stupid of me； it is the head of a screw。' Whatever mysterious
contrivance had originally existed for opening the puny cupboard of
the cabinet； it had at some time been broken； and this rough
substitute provided。 Stimulated curiosity would not allow her to
recede now。 She fetched a screwdriver； withdrew the screw； pulled
the door open with a penknife； and found inside a cavity about ten
inches square。 The cavity contained
Letters from different women； with unknown signatures； Christian
names only （surnames being despised in Paphos）。 Letters from his
wife Eunice。 Letters from Anne herself； including that she wrote in
answer to his advertisement。 A small pocket…book。 Sundry scraps of
paper。
The letters from the strange women with pet names she glanced
carelessly through； and then put them aside。 They were too similar
to her own regretted delusion； and curiosity requires contrast to
excite it。
The letters from his wife were next examined。 They were dated back
as far as Eunice's first meeting with Manston； and the early ones
before their marriage contained the usual pretty effusions of women
at such a period of their existence。 Some little time after he had
made her his wife； and when he had come to Knapwater； the series
began again； and now their contents arrested her attention more
forcibly。 She closed the cabinet； carried the letters into the
parlour； reclined herself on the sofa； and carefully perused them in
the order of their dates。
'JOHN STREET；
October 17；
1864。
'MY DEAREST HUSBAND；I received your hurried line of yesterday； and
was of course content with it。 But why don't you tell me your exact
address instead of that 〃Post…Office； Budmouth？〃 This matter is all
a mystery to me； and I ought to be told every detail。 I cannot
fancy it is the same kind of occupation you have been used to
hitherto。 Your command that I am to stay here awhile until you can
〃see how things look〃 and can arrange to send for me； I must
necessarily abide by。 But if； as you say； a married man would have
been rejected by the person who engaged you； and that hence my
existence must be kept a secret until you have secured your
position； why did you think of going at all？
'The truth is； this keeping our marriage a secret is troublesome；
vexing； and wearisome to me。 I see the poorest woman in the street
bearing her husband's name openlyliving with him in the most
matter…of…fact ease； and why shouldn't I？ I wish I was back again
in Liverpool。
'To…day I bought a grey waterproof cloak。 I think it is a little
too long for me； but it was cheap for one of such a quality。 The
weather is gusty and dreary； and till this morning I had hardly set
foot outside the door since you left。 Please do tell me when I am
to come。Very affectionately yours； EUNICE。'
'JOHN STREET；
October 25；
1864。
'MY DEAR HUSBAND；Why don't you write？ Do you hate me？ I have not
had the heart to do anything this last week。 That I； your wife；
should be in this strait； and my husband well to do！ I have been
obliged to leave my first lodging for debtamong other things； they
charged me for a lot of brandy which I am quite sure I did not
taste。 Then I went to Camberwell and was found out by them。 I went
away privately from thence； and changed my name the second time。 I
am now Mrs。 Rondley。 But the new lodging was the wretchedest and
dearest I ever set foot in； and I left it after being there only a
day。 I am now at No。 2O in the same street that you left me in
originally。 All last night the sash of my window rattled so
dreadfully that I could not sleep； but I had not energy enough to
get out of bed to stop it。 This morning I have been walkingI
don't know how farbut far enough to make my feet ache。 I have
been looking at the outside of two or three of the theatres； but
they seem forbidding if I regard them with the eye of an actress in
search of an engagement。 Though you said I was to think no more of
the stage； I believe you would not care if you found me there。 But
I am not an actress by nature； and art will never make me one。 I am
too timid and retiring； I was intended for a cottager's wife。 I
certainly shall not try to go on the boards again whilst I am in
this strange place。 The idea of being brought on as far as London
and then left here alone！ Why didn't you leave me in Liverpool？
Perhaps you thought I might have told somebody that my real name was
Mrs。 Manston。 As if I had a living friend to whom I could impart
itno such good fortune！ In fact； my nearest friend is no nearer
than what most people would call a stranger。 But perhaps I ought to
tell you that a week before I wrote my last letter to you； after
wishing that my uncle and aunt in Philadelphia （the only near
relatives I had） were still alive； I suddenly resolved to send a
line to my cousin James； who； I believe； is still living in that
neighbourhood。 He has never seen me since we were babies together。
I did not tell him of my marriage； because I thought you might not
l