se：　when　we　have　been　married　a　year　and　a　day；　I　will　tell　you；　but　not　now。　Are　you　satisfied；　Jane？　Do　you　accept　my　solution　of　the　mystery？”

I　reflected；　and　in　truth　it　appeared　to　me　the　only　possible　one：　satisfied　I　was　not；　but　to　please　him　I　endeavoured　to　appear　so—　relieved；　I　certainly　did　feel；　so　I　answered　him　with　a　contented　smile。　And　now；　as　it　was　long　past　one；　I　prepared　to　leave　him。

“Does　not　Sophie　sleep　with　Adèle　in　the　nursery？”　he　asked；　as　I　lit　my　candle。

“Yes；　sir。”

“And　there　is　room　enough　in　Adèle’s　little　bed　for　you。　You　must　share　it　with　her　to…night；　Jane：　it　is　no　wonder　that　the　incident　you　have　related　should　make　you　nervous；　and　I　would　rather　you　did　not　sleep　alone：　promise　me　to　go　to　the　nursery。”

“I　shall　be　very　glad　to　do　so；　sir。”

“And　fasten　the　door　securely　on　the　inside。　Wake　Sophie　when　you　go　upstairs；　under　pretence　of　requesting　her　to　rouse　you　in　good　time　to…morrow；　for　you　must　be　dressed　and　have　finished　breakfast　before　eight。　And　now；　no　more　sombre　thoughts：　chase　dull　care　away；　Ja。　Don’t　you　hear　to　what　soft　whispers　the　wind　has　fallen？　and　there　is　no　more　beating　of　rain　against　the　window…　panes：　look　here”　（he　lifted　up　the　curtain）—“it　is　a　lovely　night！”

It　was。　Half　heaven　was　pure　and　stainless：　the　clouds；　now　trooping　before　the　wind；　which　had　shifted　to　the　west；　were　filing　off　eastward　in　long；　silvered　columns。　The　moon　shone　peacefully