VII. The Episode of the Barrel

           Thepolicehadbroughtacabwiththem,andinthisIescortedMissMorstanbacktoherhome.Aftertheangelicfashionofwomen,shehadbornetroublewithacalmfaceaslongastherewassomeoneweakerthanherselftosupport,andIhadfoundherbrightandplacidbythesideofthefrightenedhousekeeper.Inthecab,however,shefirstturnedfaint,andthenburstintoapassionofweeping,—sosorelyhadshebeentriedbytheadventuresofthenight.Shehastoldmesincethatshethoughtmecoldanddistantuponthatjourney.Shelittleguessedthestrugglewithinmybreast,ortheeffortofself-restraintwhichheldmeback.Mysympathiesandmylovewentouttoher,evenasmyhandhadinthegarden.Ifeltthatyearsoftheconventionalitiesoflifecouldnotteachmetoknowhersweet,bravenatureashadthisonedayofstrangeexperiences.Yetthereweretwothoughtswhichsealedthewordsofaffectionuponmylips.Shewasweakandhelpless,shakeninmindandnerve.Itwastotakeheratadisadvantagetoobtrudeloveuponheratsuchatime.Worsestill,shewasrich.IfHolmes’sresearchesweresuccessful,shewouldbeanheiress.Wasitfair,wasithonourable,thatahalf-paysurgeonshouldtakesuchadvantageofanintimacywhichchancehadbroughtabout?Mightshenotlookuponmeasamerevulgarfortune-seeker?Icouldnotbeartoriskthatsuchathoughtshouldcrosshermind.ThisAgratreasureintervenedlikeanimpassablebarrierbetweenus.

           Itwasnearlytwoo’clockwhenwereachedMrs.CecilForrester’s.Theservantshadretiredhoursago,butMrs.