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reluctance increased； and there the body remained。 The oven was；
after all； never likely to be opened in my time。
'I married Cytherea Graye； and never did a bridegroom leave the
church with a heart more full of love and happiness； and a brain
more fixed on good intentions； than I did on that morning。
'When Cytherea's brother made his appearance at the hotel in
Southampton； bearing his strange evidence of the porter's
disclosure； I was staggered beyond expression。 I thought they had
found the body。 〃Am I to be apprehended and to lose her even now？〃
I mourned。 I saw my error； and instantly saw； too； that I must act
externally like an honourable man。 So at his request I yielded her
up to him； and meditated on several schemes for enabling me to claim
the woman I had a legal right to claim as my wife； without
disclosing the reason why I knew myself to have it。
'I went home to Knapwater the next day； and for nearly a week lived
in a state of indecision。 I could not hit upon a scheme for proving
my wife dead without compromising myself。
'Mr。 Raunham hinted that I should take steps to discover her
whereabouts by advertising。 I had no energy for the farce。 But one
evening I chanced to enter the Rising Sun Inn。 Two notorious
poachers were sitting in the settle； which screened my entrance。
They were half drunktheir conversation was carried on in the
solemn and emphatic tone common to that stage of intoxication； and I
myself was the subject of it。
'The following was the substance of their disjointed remarks： On
the night of the great fire at Carriford； one of them was sent to
meet me； and break the news of the death of my wife to me。 This he
did； but because I would not pay him for his news； he left me in a
mood of vindictiveness。 When the fire was over； he joined his
comrade。 The favourable hour of the night suggested to them the
possibility of some unlawful gain before daylight came。 My
fowlhouse stood in a tempting position； and still resenting his
repulse during the evening； one of them proposed to operate upon my
birds。 I was believed to have gone to the rectory with Mr。 Raunham。
The other was disinclined to go； and the first went off alone。
'It was now about three o'clock。 He had advanced as far as the
shrubbery； which grows near the north wall of the house； when he
fancied he heard； above the rush of the waterfall； noises on the
other side of the building。 He described them in these words；
〃Ghostly mouths talkingthen a fallthen a groanthen the rush of
the water and creak of the engine as before。〃 Only one explanation
occurred to him； the house was haunted。 And； whether those of the
living or the dead； voices of any kind were inimical to one who had
come on such an errand。 He stealthily crept home。
'His unlawful purpose in being behind the house led him to conceal
his adventure。 No suspicion of the truth entered his mind till the
railway…porter had startled everybody by his strange announcement。
Then he asked himself； had the horrifying sounds of that night been
really an enactment in the flesh between me and my wife？
'The words of the other man were：
'〃Why don't he try to find her if she's alive？〃
'〃True；〃 said the first。 〃Well； I don't forget what I heard； and if
she don't turn up alive my mind will be as sure as a Bible upon her
murder； and the parson shall know it； though I do get six months on
the treadmill for being where I was。〃
'〃And if she should turn up alive？〃
'〃Then I shall know that I am wrong； and believing myself a fool as
well as a rogue； hold my tongue。〃
'I glided out of the house in a cold sweat。 The only pressure in
heaven or earth which could have forced me to renounce Cytherea was
now put upon methe dread of a death upon the gallows。
'I sat all that night weaving strategy of various kinds。 The only
effectual remedy for my hazardous standing that I could see was a
simple one。 It was to substitute another woman for my wife before
the suspicions of that one easily…hoodwinked man extended further。
'The only difficulty was to find a practicable substitute。
'The one woman at all available for the purpose was a friendless；
innocent creature； named Anne Seaway； whom I had known in my youth；
and who had for some time been the housekeeper of a lady in London。
On account of this lady's sudden death； Anne stood in rather a
precarious position； as regarded her future subsistence。 She was
not the best kind of woman for the scheme； but there was no
alternative。 One quality of hers was valuable； she was not a
talker。 I went to London the very next day； called at the Hoxton
lodging of my wife （the only place at which she had been known as
Mrs。 Manston）； and found that no great difficulties stood in the way
of a personation。 And thus favouring circumstances determined my
course。 I visited Anne Seaway； made love to her； and propounded my
plan。
。 。 。
'We lived quietly enough until the Sunday before my apprehension。
Anne came home from church that morning； and told me of the
suspicious way in which a young man had looked at her there。
Nothing could be done beyond waiting the issue of events。 Then the
letter came from Raunham。 For the first time in my life I was half
indifferent as to what fate awaited me。 During the succeeding day I
thought once or twice of running away； but could not quite make up
my mind。 At any rate it would be best to bury the body of my wife；
I thought； for the oven might be opened at any time。 I went to
Casterbridge and made some arrangements。 In the evening Miss
Aldclyffe （who is united to me by a common secret which I have no
right or wish to disclose） came to my house； and alarmed me still
more。 She said that she could tell by Mr。 Raunham's manner that
evening； that he kept back from her a suspicion of more importance
even than the one he spoke of； and that strangers were in his house
even then。
'I guessed what this further suspicion was； and resolved to
enlighten her to a certain extent； and so secure her assistance。 I
said that I killed my wife by an accident on the night of the fire；
dwelling upon the advantage to her of the death of the only woman
who knew her secret。
'Her terror； and fears for my fate； led her to watch the rectory
that evening。 She saw the detective leave it； and followed him to
my residence。 This she told me hurriedly when I perceived her after
digging my wife's grave in the plantation。 She did not suspect what
the sack contained。
'I am now about to enter on my normal condition。 For people are
almost always in their graves。 When we survey the long race of men；
it is strange and still more strange to find that they are mainly
dead men； who have scarcely ever been otherwise。
'AENEAS MANSTON。'
The steward's confession； aided by circumstantial evidence of
various kinds； was the means of freeing both Anne Seaway and Miss
Aldclyffe from all suspicion of complicity with the murderer。
2。 SIX O'CLOCK P。M。
It was eveningjust at sunseton the day of Manston's death。
In the cottage at Tolchurch was gathered a group consisting of
Cytherea； her brother； Edward Springrove； and his father。 They sat
by the window conversing of the strange events which had just taken
place。 In Cytherea's eye there beamed a hopeful ray； though her
face was as white as a lily。
Whilst they talked； looking out at the yellow evening light that
coated the hedges； trees； and church tower； a brougham rolled round
the corner of the lane； and came in full view。 It reflected the
rays of the sun in a flash from its polished panels as it turned the
angle； the spokes of the wheels bristling in the same light like
bayonets。 The vehicle came nearer； and arrived opposite Owen's
door； when the driver pulled the rein and gave a shout； and the
panting and sweating horses stopped。
'Miss Aldclyffe's carriage！' they all exclaimed。
Owen went out。 'Is Miss Graye at home？' said the man。 'A note for
her； and I am to wait for an answer。'
Cytherea read in the handwriting of the Rector of Carriford：
'DEAR MISS GRAYE；Miss Aldclyffe is ill； though not dangerously。
She continually repeats your name； and now wishes very much to see
you。 If you possibly can； come in the carriage。Very sincerely
yours； JOHN RAUNHAM。'
'How comes she ill？' Owen inquired of the coachman。
'She caught a violent cold by standing out of doors in the damp； on
the night the steward ran away。 Ever since； till this morning； she
complained of fulness and heat in the chest。 This morning the maid
ran in and told her suddenly that Manston had killed himself in
gaolshe shriekedbroke a blood…vesseland fell upon the floor。
Severe internal haemorrhage continued for some time and then
stopped。 They say she is sure to get over it； but she herself says
no。 She has suffered from it before。'
Cytherea was ready in a few moments； and entered the carriage。
3。 SEVEN O'CLOCK P。M。
Soft as was Cytherea's motion along the corridors of Knapwater
House； the preternaturally keen intelligence of the suffering woman
caught the maiden's well…known foot