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¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
without¡¡a¡¡formal¡¡introduction£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡had¡¡now¡¡to¡¡ask¡¡whether¡¡£¨in
the¡¡event¡¡of¡¡her¡¡residing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡neighborhood£©¡¡any¡¡terms¡¡that
could¡¡be¡¡offered¡¡would¡¡induce¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Brock¡¡to¡¡open¡¡his¡¡doors¡¡once
more¡¡to¡¡a¡¡pupil£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡allow¡¡that¡¡pupil¡¡to¡¡be¡¡her¡¡son¡£
If¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Armadale¡¡had¡¡been¡¡a¡¡woman¡¡of¡¡no¡¡personal¡¡attractions£»¡¡or
if¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Brock¡¡had¡¡been¡¡provided¡¡with¡¡an¡¡intrenchment¡¡to¡¡fight
behind¡¡in¡¡the¡¡shape¡¡of¡¡a¡¡wife£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡probable¡¡that¡¡the¡¡widow's
journey¡¡might¡¡have¡¡been¡¡taken¡¡in¡¡vain¡£¡¡As¡¡things¡¡really¡¡were£»¡¡the
rector¡¡examined¡¡the¡¡references¡¡which¡¡were¡¡offered¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡and
asked¡¡time¡¡for¡¡consideration¡£¡¡When¡¡the¡¡time¡¡had¡¡expired£»¡¡he¡¡did
what¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Armadale¡¡wished¡¡him¡¡to¡¡dohe¡¡offered¡¡his¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the
burden£»¡¡and¡¡let¡¡the¡¡mother¡¡load¡¡him¡¡with¡¡the¡¡responsibility¡¡of
the¡¡son¡£
This¡¡was¡¡the¡¡first¡¡event¡¡of¡¡the¡¡series£»¡¡the¡¡date¡¡of¡¡it¡¡being¡¡the
year¡¡eighteen¡¡hundred¡¡and¡¡thirty¡seven¡£¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Brock's¡¡memory£»
traveling¡¡forward¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡present¡¡from¡¡that¡¡point£»¡¡picked¡¡up
the¡¡second¡¡event¡¡in¡¡its¡¡turn£»¡¡and¡¡stopped¡¡next¡¡at¡¡the¡¡year
eighteen¡¡hundred¡¡and¡¡forty¡five¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡
The¡¡fishing¡village¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Somersetshire¡¡coast¡¡was¡¡still¡¡the
scene£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡characters¡¡were¡¡once¡¡againMrs¡£¡¡Armadale¡¡and¡¡her
son¡£
Through¡¡the¡¡eight¡¡years¡¡that¡¡had¡¡passed£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Brock's
responsibility¡¡had¡¡rested¡¡on¡¡him¡¡lightly¡¡enough¡£¡¡The¡¡boy¡¡had
given¡¡his¡¡mother¡¡and¡¡his¡¡tutor¡¡but¡¡little¡¡trouble¡£¡¡He¡¡was
certainly¡¡slow¡¡over¡¡his¡¡books£»¡¡but¡¡more¡¡from¡¡a¡¡constitutional
inability¡¡to¡¡fix¡¡his¡¡attention¡¡on¡¡his¡¡tasks¡¡than¡¡from¡¡want¡¡of
capacity¡¡to¡¡understand¡¡them¡£¡¡His¡¡temperament£»¡¡it¡¡could¡¡not¡¡be
denied£»¡¡was¡¡heedless¡¡to¡¡the¡¡last¡¡degree£º¡¡he¡¡acted¡¡recklessly¡¡on
his¡¡first¡¡impulses£»¡¡and¡¡rushed¡¡blindfold¡¡at¡¡all¡¡his¡¡conclusions¡£
On¡¡the¡¡other¡¡hand£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡said¡¡in¡¡his¡¡favor¡¡that¡¡his
disposition¡¡was¡¡open¡¡as¡¡the¡¡day£»¡¡a¡¡more¡¡generous£»¡¡affectionate£»
sweet¡tempered¡¡lad¡¡it¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡hard¡¡to¡¡find¡¡anywhere¡£¡¡A
certain¡¡quaint¡¡originality¡¡of¡¡character£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡natural
healthiness¡¡in¡¡all¡¡his¡¡tastes£»¡¡carried¡¡him¡¡free¡¡of¡¡most¡¡of¡¡the
dangers¡¡to¡¡which¡¡his¡¡mother's¡¡system¡¡of¡¡education¡¡inevitably
exposed¡¡him¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡a¡¡thoroughly¡¡English¡¡love¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sea¡¡and¡¡of
all¡¡that¡¡belongs¡¡to¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡he¡¡grew¡¡in¡¡years£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no
luring¡¡him¡¡away¡¡from¡¡the¡¡water¡side£»¡¡and¡¡no¡¡keeping¡¡him¡¡out¡¡of
the¡¡boat¡builder's¡¡yard¡£¡¡In¡¡course¡¡of¡¡time¡¡his¡¡mother¡¡caught¡¡him
actually¡¡working¡¡there£»¡¡to¡¡her¡¡infinite¡¡annoyance¡¡and¡¡surprise£»
as¡¡a¡¡volunteer¡£¡¡He¡¡acknowledged¡¡that¡¡his¡¡whole¡¡future¡¡ambition
was¡¡to¡¡have¡¡a¡¡yard¡¡of¡¡his¡¡own£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡his¡¡one¡¡present¡¡object
was¡¡to¡¡learn¡¡to¡¡build¡¡a¡¡boat¡¡for¡¡himself¡£¡¡Wisely¡¡foreseeing¡¡that
such¡¡a¡¡pursuit¡¡as¡¡this¡¡for¡¡his¡¡leisure¡¡hours¡¡was¡¡exactly¡¡what¡¡was
wanted¡¡to¡¡reconcile¡¡the¡¡lad¡¡to¡¡a¡¡position¡¡of¡¡isolation¡¡from
companions¡¡of¡¡his¡¡own¡¡rank¡¡and¡¡age£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Brock¡¡prevailed¡¡on¡¡Mrs¡£
Armadale£»¡¡with¡¡no¡¡small¡¡difficulty£»¡¡to¡¡let¡¡her¡¡son¡¡have¡¡his¡¡way¡£
At¡¡the¡¡period¡¡of¡¡that¡¡second¡¡event¡¡in¡¡the¡¡clergyman's¡¡life¡¡with
his¡¡pupil¡¡which¡¡is¡¡now¡¡to¡¡be¡¡related£»¡¡young¡¡Armadale¡¡had
practiced¡¡long¡¡enough¡¡in¡¡the¡¡builder's¡¡yard¡¡to¡¡have¡¡reached¡¡the
summit¡¡of¡¡his¡¡wishes£»¡¡by¡¡laying¡¡with¡¡his¡¡own¡¡hands¡¡the¡¡keel¡¡of
his¡¡own¡¡boat¡£
Late¡¡on¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡summer¡¡day£»¡¡not¡¡long¡¡after¡¡Allan¡¡had¡¡completed
his¡¡sixteenth¡¡year£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Brock¡¡left¡¡his¡¡pupil¡¡hard¡¡at¡¡work¡¡in¡¡the
yard£»¡¡and¡¡went¡¡to¡¡spend¡¡the¡¡evening¡¡with¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Armadale£»¡¡taking
the¡¡_Times_¡¡newspaper¡¡with¡¡him¡¡in¡¡his¡¡hand¡£
The¡¡years¡¡that¡¡had¡¡passed¡¡since¡¡they¡¡had¡¡first¡¡met¡¡had¡¡long¡¡since
regulated¡¡the¡¡lives¡¡of¡¡the¡¡clergyman¡¡and¡¡his¡¡neighbor¡£¡¡The¡¡first
advances¡¡which¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Brock's¡¡growing¡¡admiration¡¡for¡¡the¡¡widow¡¡had
led¡¡him¡¡to¡¡make¡¡in¡¡the¡¡early¡¡days¡¡of¡¡their¡¡intercourse¡¡had¡¡been
met¡¡on¡¡her¡¡side¡¡by¡¡an¡¡appeal¡¡to¡¡his¡¡forbearance¡¡which¡¡had¡¡closed
his¡¡lips¡¡for¡¡the¡¡future¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡satisfied¡¡him£»¡¡at¡¡once¡¡and
forever£»¡¡th¡¡at¡¡the¡¡one¡¡place¡¡in¡¡her¡¡heart¡¡which¡¡he¡¡could¡¡hope¡¡to
occupy¡¡was¡¡the¡¡place¡¡of¡¡a¡¡friend¡£¡¡He¡¡loved¡¡her¡¡well¡¡enough¡¡to
take¡¡what¡¡she¡¡would¡¡give¡¡him£º¡¡friends¡¡they¡¡became£»¡¡and¡¡friends
they¡¡remained¡¡from¡¡that¡¡time¡¡forth¡£¡¡No¡¡jealous¡¡dread¡¡of¡¡another
man's¡¡succeeding¡¡where¡¡he¡¡had¡¡failed¡¡imbittered¡¡the¡¡clergyman's
placid¡¡relations¡¡with¡¡the¡¡woman¡¡whom¡¡he¡¡loved¡£¡¡Of¡¡the¡¡few
resident¡¡gentlemen¡¡in¡¡the¡¡neighborhood£»¡¡none¡¡were¡¡ever¡¡admitted
by¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Armadale¡¡to¡¡more¡¡than¡¡the¡¡merest¡¡acquaintance¡¡with¡¡her¡£
Contentedly¡¡self¡buried¡¡in¡¡her¡¡country¡¡retreat£»¡¡she¡¡was¡¡proof
against¡¡every¡¡social¡¡attraction¡¡that¡¡would¡¡have¡¡tempted¡¡other
women¡¡in¡¡her¡¡position¡¡and¡¡at¡¡her¡¡age¡£¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Brock¡¡and¡¡his
newspaper£»¡¡appearing¡¡with¡¡monotonous¡¡regularity¡¡at¡¡her¡¡tea¡table
three¡¡times¡¡a¡¡week£»¡¡told¡¡her¡¡all¡¡she¡¡knew¡¡or¡¡cared¡¡to¡¡know¡¡of¡¡the
great¡¡outer¡¡world¡¡which¡¡circled¡¡round¡¡the¡¡narrow¡¡and¡¡changeless
limits¡¡of¡¡her¡¡daily¡¡life¡£
On¡¡the¡¡evening¡¡in¡¡question¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Brock¡¡took¡¡the¡¡arm¡chair¡¡in¡¡which
he¡¡always¡¡sat£»¡¡accepted¡¡the¡¡one¡¡cup¡¡of¡¡tea¡¡which¡¡he¡¡always¡¡drank£»
and¡¡opened¡¡the¡¡newspaper¡¡which¡¡he¡¡always¡¡read¡¡aloud¡¡to¡¡Mrs¡£
Armadale£»¡¡who¡¡invariably¡¡listened¡¡to¡¡him¡¡reclining¡¡on¡¡the¡¡same
sofa£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡same¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡needle¡work¡¡everlastingly¡¡in¡¡her
hand¡£
¡¨Bless¡¡my¡¡soul£¡¡¨¡¡cried¡¡the¡¡rector£»¡¡with¡¡his¡¡voice¡¡in¡¡a¡¡new
octave£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡fixed¡¡in¡¡astonishment¡¡on¡¡the¡¡first¡¡page¡¡of
the¡¡newspaper¡£
No¡¡such¡¡introduction¡¡to¡¡the¡¡evening¡¡readings¡¡as¡¡this¡¡had¡¡ever
happened¡¡before¡¡in¡¡all¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Armadale's¡¡experience¡¡as¡¡a¡¡listener¡£
She¡¡looked¡¡up¡¡from¡¡the¡¡sofa¡¡in¡¡a¡¡flutter¡¡of¡¡curiosity£»¡¡and
besought¡¡her¡¡reverend¡¡friend¡¡to¡¡favor¡¡her¡¡with¡¡an¡¡explanation¡£
¡¨I¡¡can¡¡hardly¡¡believe¡¡my¡¡own¡¡eyes£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Brock¡£¡¡¡¨Here¡¡is¡¡an
advertisement£»¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Armadale£»¡¡addressed¡¡to¡¡your¡¡son¡£¡¨
Without¡¡further¡¡preface£»¡¡he¡¡read¡¡the¡¡advertisement¡¡as¡¡follows£º
IF¡¡this¡¡should¡¡meet¡¡the¡¡eye¡¡of¡¡ALLAN¡¡ARMADALE£»¡¡he¡¡is¡¡desired¡¡to
communicate£»¡¡either¡¡personally¡¡or¡¡by¡¡letter£»¡¡with¡¡Messrs¡£¡¡Hammick
and¡¡Ridge¡¡£¨Lincoln's¡¡Inn¡¡Fields£»¡¡London£©£»¡¡on¡¡business¡¡of
importance¡¡which¡¡seriously¡¡concerns¡¡him¡£¡¡Any¡¡one¡¡capable¡¡of
informing¡¡Messrs¡£¡¡E¡£¡¡and¡¡R¡£¡¡where¡¡the¡¡person¡¡herein¡¡advertised
can¡¡be¡¡found¡¡would¡¡confer¡¡a¡¡favor¡¡by¡¡doing¡¡the¡¡same¡£¡¡To¡¡prevent
mistakes£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡further¡¡notified¡¡that¡¡the¡¡missing¡¡Allan¡¡Armadale
is¡¡a¡¡youth¡¡aged¡¡fifteen¡¡years£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡this¡¡advertisement¡¡is
inserted¡¡at¡¡the¡¡instance¡¡of¡¡his¡¡family¡¡and¡¡friends¡£
¡¨Another¡¡family£»¡¡and¡¡other¡¡friends£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Armadale¡£¡¡¡¨The
person¡¡whose¡¡name¡¡appears¡¡in¡¡that¡¡advertisement¡¡is¡¡not¡¡my¡¡son¡£¡¨
The¡¡tone¡¡in¡¡which¡¡she¡¡spoke¡¡surprised¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Brock¡£¡¡The¡¡change¡¡in
her¡¡face£»¡¡when¡¡he¡¡looked¡¡up£»¡¡shocked¡¡him¡£¡¡Her¡¡delicate¡¡complexion
had¡¡faded¡¡away¡¡to¡¡a¡¡dull¡¡white£»¡¡her¡¡eyes¡¡were¡¡averted¡¡from¡¡her
visitor¡¡with¡¡a¡¡strange¡¡mixture¡¡of¡¡confusion¡¡and¡¡alarm£»¡¡she¡¡looked
an¡¡older¡¡woman¡¡than¡¡she¡¡was£»¡¡by¡¡ten¡¡good¡¡years¡¡at¡¡least¡£
¡¨The¡¡name¡¡is¡¡so¡¡very¡¡uncommon£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Brock£»¡¡imagining¡¡he¡¡had
offended¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡excuse¡¡himself¡£¡¡¡¨It¡¡really¡¡seemed
impossible¡¡there¡¡could¡¡be¡¡two¡¡persons¡¨
¡¨There¡¡_are_¡¡two£»¡¨¡¡interposed¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Armadale¡£¡¡¡¨Allan£»¡¡as¡¡you¡¡know£»
is¡¡sixteen¡¡years¡¡old¡£¡¡If¡¡you¡¡look¡¡back¡¡at¡¡the¡¡advertisement£»¡¡you
will¡¡find¡¡the¡¡missing¡¡person¡¡described¡¡as¡¡being¡¡only¡¡fifteen¡£
Although¡¡he¡¡bears¡¡the¡¡same¡¡surname¡¡and¡¡the¡¡same¡¡Christian¡¡name£»
he¡¡is£»¡¡I¡¡thank¡¡God£»¡¡in¡¡no¡¡way¡¡whatever¡¡related¡¡to¡¡my¡¡son¡£¡¡As¡¡long
as¡¡I¡¡live£»¡¡it¡¡will¡¡be¡¡the¡¡object¡¡of¡¡my¡¡hopes¡¡and¡¡prayers¡¡that
Allan¡¡may¡¡never¡¡see¡¡him£»¡¡may¡¡never¡¡even¡¡hear¡¡of¡¡him¡£¡¡My¡¡kind
friend£»¡¡I¡¡see¡¡I¡¡surprise¡¡you£º¡¡will¡¡you¡¡bear¡¡with¡¡me¡¡if¡¡I¡¡leave
these¡¡strange¡¡circumstances¡¡unexplained£¿¡¡There¡¡is¡¡past¡¡misfortune
and¡¡misery¡¡in¡¡my¡¡early¡¡life¡¡too¡¡painful¡¡for¡¡me¡¡to¡¡speak¡¡of£»¡¡even
to¡¡_you¡£_¡¡Will¡¡you¡¡help¡¡me¡¡to¡¡bear¡¡the¡¡remembrance¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡by
never¡¡referring¡¡to¡¡this¡¡again£¿¡¡Will¡¡you¡¡do¡¡even¡¡morewill¡¡you
promise¡¡not¡¡to¡¡speak¡¡of¡¡it¡¡to¡¡Allan£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡to¡¡let¡¡that
newspaper¡¡fall¡¡in¡¡his¡¡way£¿¡¨
Mr¡£¡¡Brock¡¡gave¡¡the¡¡pledge¡¡required¡¡of¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡considerately¡¡left
her¡¡to¡¡herself¡£
The¡¡rector¡¡had¡¡been¡¡too¡¡long¡¡and¡¡too¡¡truly¡¡attached¡¡to¡¡Mrs¡£
Armadale¡¡to¡¡be¡¡capable¡¡of¡¡regarding¡¡her¡¡with¡¡any¡¡unworthy
distrust¡£¡¡But¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡idle¡¡to¡¡deny¡¡that¡¡he¡¡felt¡¡disappointed
by¡¡her¡¡want¡¡of¡¡confidence¡¡in¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡he¡¡looked
inquisitively¡¡at¡¡the¡¡advertisement¡¡more¡¡than¡¡once¡¡on¡¡his¡¡way¡¡back
to¡¡his¡¡own¡¡house¡£
It¡¡was¡¡clear¡¡enough£»¡¡now£»¡¡that¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Armadale's¡¡motives¡¡for
burying¡¡her¡¡son¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡herself¡¡in¡¡the¡¡seclusion¡¡of¡¡a¡¡remote
country¡¡village¡¡was¡¡not¡¡so¡¡much¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡him¡¡under¡¡her¡¡own¡¡eye¡¡as
to¡¡keep¡¡him¡¡from¡¡discovery¡¡by¡¡his¡¡namesake¡£¡¡Why¡¡did¡¡she¡¡dread¡¡the
idea¡¡of¡¡their¡¡ever¡¡meeting£¿¡¡Was¡¡it¡¡a¡¡dread¡¡for¡¡herself£»¡¡or¡¡a
dread¡¡for¡¡her¡¡son£¿¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Brock's¡¡loyal¡¡belief¡¡in¡¡his¡¡friend
rejected¡¡any¡¡solution¡¡of¡¡the¡¡difficulty¡¡which¡¡pointed¡¡at¡¡some
past¡¡misconduct¡¡of¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Armadale's¡£¡¡That¡¡night¡¡he¡¡destroyed¡¡the
advertisement¡¡with¡¡his¡¡own¡¡hand£»¡¡that¡¡night¡¡he¡¡resolved¡¡that¡¡the
subject¡¡should¡¡never¡¡be¡¡suffered¡¡to¡¡enter¡¡his¡¡mind¡¡again¡£¡¡There
was¡¡another¡¡Allan¡¡Armadale¡¡about¡¡the¡¡world£»¡¡a¡¡stranger¡¡to¡¡his
pupil's¡¡blood£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡vagabond¡¡advertised¡¡in¡¡the¡¡public
newspapers¡£¡¡So¡¡much¡¡accident¡¡had¡¡revealed¡¡to¡¡him¡£¡¡More£»¡¡for¡¡Mrs¡£
Armadale's¡¡sake£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡no¡¡wish¡¡to¡¡discoverand¡¡more¡¡he¡¡would
never¡¡seek¡¡to¡¡know¡£
This¡¡was¡¡the¡¡second¡¡in¡¡the¡¡series¡¡of¡¡events¡¡which¡¡dated¡¡from¡¡the
rector's¡¡connection¡¡with¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Armadale¡¡and¡¡her¡¡son¡£¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Brock's
memory£»¡¡traveling¡¡on¡¡nearer¡¡and¡¡nearer¡¡to¡¡present¡¡circumstances£»
reached¡¡the¡¡third¡¡stage¡¡of¡¡its¡¡journey¡¡through¡¡the¡¡by¡gone¡¡time£»
and¡¡stopped¡¡at¡¡the¡¡year¡¡eighteen¡¡hundred¡¡and¡¡fifty£»¡¡next¡£
The¡¡five¡¡years¡¡that¡¡had¡¡passed¡¡had¡¡made¡¡little¡¡if¡¡any¡¡change¡¡in
Allan's¡¡character¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡simply¡¡developed¡¡£¨to¡¡use¡¡his¡¡tutor's
own¡¡expression£©¡¡from¡¡a¡¡boy¡¡of¡¡sixteen¡¡to¡¡a¡¡boy¡¡of¡¡twenty¡one¡£¡¡He
was¡¡just¡¡as¡¡easy¡¡and¡¡open¡¡in¡¡his¡¡disposition¡¡as¡¡ever£»¡¡just¡¡as
quaintly¡¡and¡¡inveterately¡¡good¡humored£»¡¡just¡¡as¡¡heedless¡¡in
following¡¡his¡¡own¡¡impulses£»¡¡lead¡¡him¡¡where¡¡they¡¡might¡£¡¡His¡¡bias
toward¡¡the¡¡sea¡¡had¡¡strengthened¡¡with¡¡his¡¡advance¡¡to¡¡the¡¡years¡¡of
manhood¡£¡¡From¡¡building¡¡a¡¡boat£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡now¡¡got¡¡onwith¡¡two
journeymen¡¡at¡¡work¡¡under¡¡himto¡¡building¡¡a¡¡decked¡¡vessel¡¡of
five¡and¡thirty¡¡tons¡£¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Brock¡¡had¡¡conscientiously¡¡tried¡¡to
divert¡¡him¡¡to¡¡higher¡¡aspirations£»¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡him¡¡to¡¡Oxford£»¡¡to¡¡see
what¡¡college¡¡life¡¡was¡¡like£»¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡him¡¡to¡¡London£»¡¡to¡¡expand
his¡¡mind¡¡by¡¡the¡¡spectacle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡great¡¡metropolis¡£¡¡The¡¡change¡¡had
diverted¡¡Allan£»¡¡but¡¡had¡¡not¡¡altered¡¡him¡¡in¡¡the¡¡least¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡as
impenetrably¡¡superior¡¡to¡¡all¡¡worldly¡¡ambition¡¡as¡¡Diogenes
himself¡£¡¡¡¨Which¡¡is¡¡best£»¡¨¡¡asked¡¡this¡¡unconscious¡¡philosopher£»¡¡¡¨to
find¡¡out¡¡the¡¡way¡¡to¡¡be¡¡happy¡¡for¡¡yourself£»¡¡or¡¡to¡¡let¡¡other¡¡people
try¡¡if¡¡they¡¡can¡¡find¡¡it¡¡out¡¡for¡¡you£¿¡¨¡¡From¡¡that¡¡moment¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Brock
permitted¡¡his¡¡pupil's¡¡character¡¡to¡¡grow¡¡at¡¡its¡¡own¡¡rate¡¡of
development£»¡¡and¡¡Allan¡¡went¡¡on¡¡uninterruptedly¡¡with¡¡the¡¡work¡¡of
his¡¡yacht¡£
Time£»¡¡which¡¡had¡¡wrought¡¡so¡¡little¡¡change¡¡in¡¡the¡¡son£»¡¡had¡¡not
passed¡¡harmless¡¡over¡¡the¡¡mother¡£
Mrs¡£¡¡Armadale's¡¡health¡¡was¡¡breaking¡¡fast¡£¡¡As¡¡her¡¡strength¡¡failed£»
her¡¡temper¡¡altered¡¡for¡¡the¡¡worse£º¡¡she¡¡grew¡¡more¡¡and¡¡more¡¡fretful£»
more¡¡and¡¡more¡¡subject¡¡to¡¡morbid¡¡fears¡¡and¡¡fancies£»¡¡more¡¡and¡¡more
reluctant¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡her¡¡own¡¡room¡£¡¡Since¡¡the¡¡appearance¡¡of¡¡the
advertisement¡¡five¡¡years¡¡since£»¡¡nothing¡¡had¡¡happened¡¡to¡¡force¡¡her
memory¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡painful¡¡associations¡¡connected¡¡with¡¡her¡¡early
life¡£¡¡No¡¡word¡¡more¡¡on¡¡the¡¡forbidden¡¡topic¡¡had¡¡passed¡¡between¡¡the
rector¡¡and¡¡herself£»¡¡no¡¡suspicion¡¡had¡¡ever¡¡been¡¡raised¡¡in¡¡Allan's
mind¡¡of¡¡the¡¡existence¡¡of¡¡his¡¡namesake£»¡¡and¡¡yet£»¡¡without¡¡the
shadow¡¡of¡¡a¡¡reason¡¡for¡¡any¡¡special¡¡anxiety£»¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Armadale¡¡had
become£»