"I had sat for about twenty minutes turning the thing over in my mind and trying some possible explanation The more , the ore extraordinary and inexplicable did it appear still puzzling over it when I heard the door gently close again, and her footsteps coming up the stairs

"'Where been, Effie ? ' I asked as she entered

"She gave violent start and kind of gasping cry when I spoke, cry and start troubled me more than all the rest, for something indescribably guilty My wife had always been woman of frank, open nature, and it chill her slinking into her own room, and crying out and wincing when her own husband spoke to her

"'You awake, Jack ! ' she cried, with nervous laugh 'Why, that nothing could awake you '

"'Where been ? ' I asked, more sternly

"'I don't wonder that surprised,' said she, and I that her fingers were trembling as she undid the fastenings of her mantle 'Why, I never remember having done such thing in my life before The fact I were choking, and had perfect longing for breath of fresh air I really think that fainted if I gone out I stood door , and now quite myself again '

"All the time that she was telling me this story she never once looked in my direction, and her voice was quite unlike her usual tones evident that she was saying false nothing in reply, but turned my face wall, sick at heart, with my mind filled with thousand venomous doubts and suspicions it that my wife was concealing from me ? Where had she been during that strange expedition ? that no peace until , and yet I shrank from asking her again after once she had told me false All the rest night I tossed and tumbled, framing theory after theory, each more unlikely last

" gone City that day, but too disturbed in my mind attention to business matters My wife seemed as upset as myself, and I little questioning glances which she kept shooting at me that she understood that I disbelieved her statement, she was at her wits' end what We hardly exchanged word during breakfast, and immediately afterwards I went out for walk, that think the matter out fresh morning air

"I went as far Crystal Palace, spent an hour grounds, and was back in Norbury by one o'clock It happened that my way took me past the cottage, and I stopped for an instant to look windows, and if catch glimpse strange face which had looked out at me day before As I stood there, imagine my surprise, Mr Holmes, door suddenly opened and my wife walked out

" struck dumb with astonishment sight of her; but my emotions were nothing which showed themselves upon her face when our eyes met She seemed for an instant to wish to shrink back inside the house again; and then, seeing how useless all concealment , she came forward, with very white face and frightened eyes which belied the smile upon her lips

"'Ah, Jack,' she said, ' just been in if of any assistance to our new neighbours Why look at me like that, Jack ? angry with me ? '

"'So,' said I, ' where you went during the night '

"'What ? " she cried

"'You came here of it these people, that visit them at such an hour ? '

"'I here before '

"'How tell me what is false ? ' I cried 'Your very voice changes speak When have I ever had secret ? enter that cottage, and probe the matter bottom '

"'No, no, Jack, for God's sake ! ' she gasped, in uncontrollable emotion Then, as I approached the door, she seized my sleeve and pulled me back with convulsive strength

"'I implore you not to , Jack,' she cried 'I swear that tell you everything some day, but nothing but misery can come of it enter that cottage ' Then, as I tried to shake her off, she clung in frenzy of entreaty

"'Trust me, Jack ! ' she cried 'Trust me only this once never have cause to regret it that have secret for your own sake Our whole lives are at stake come home with me, all well force your way into that cottage, all is over '

" such earnestness, such despair, in her manner that her words arrested me, and I stood irresolute door

"' trust you on one condition, and on one condition only,' said I at last ' mystery comes to an end from now at liberty to preserve your secret, but promise me that there shall be no more nightly visits, no more doings which are kept from my knowledge willing to forget those which are passed promise that there shall be no more '

"' sure that trust me,' she cried, with great sigh of relief 'It shall be just wish Come away--oh, come away house '

"Still pulling at my sleeve, she led me away cottage went I glanced back, and that yellow livid face watching us upper window What link could there be between that creature and my wife ? Or how could the coarse, rough woman whom I had seen the day before be connected with her ? strange puzzle, and yet that my mind could never know ease again until I had solved it

"For two days I stayed at home, and my wife appeared to abide loyally by our engagement, for, as far as , she never stirred house third day, however, I had ample evidence that her solemn promise was not enough to hold her back secret influence which drew her away from her husband and her duty

"I had gone into town , but I returned 2 40 instead 3 36, my usual train As I entered the house the maid ran hall with startled face

"'Where is your mistress ? ' I asked

"' that she has gone out for walk,' she answered

"My mind was instantly filled with suspicion I rushed upstairs sure that she was not house As so I happened to glance out of upper windows, and saw the maid I had just been speaking running across the field direction cottage Then exactly what it all meant My wife had gone over there, and had asked the servant her if return Tingling with anger, I rushed down and hurried across, determined to end the matter once and forever my wife maid hurrying back along the lane, but stop cottage lay the secret casting shadow over my life I vowed that, come what might, it secret no longer even knock when I reached it, but turned the handle and rushed passage

" all still and quiet ground floor kitchen kettle was singing fire, and large black cat lay coiled up basket; but no sign woman whom I had seen before I ran other room, but equally deserted Then I rushed up the stairs, only two other rooms empty and deserted top no one at all whole house The furniture and pictures were most common and vulgar description, save one chamber window I had seen the strange face That was comfortable and elegant, and all my suspicions rose into fierce bitter flame when that mantelpiece stood copy of fell-length photograph wife, which taken at my request only three