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           NodoubthethoughtIhadjustdroppedit.IwillhavedoorsandwindowsscrewedupandsixstoutmentoholdmedowninmybedbeforeIwillsurrendermyselftobehag-riddeninthisway.IhadanotefromMrs.Mardenthisafternoonaskingmetogoroundandseeher.Iintendedtodosoinanycase,buthadnotexceptedtofindbadnewswaitingforme.ItseemsthattheArmstrongs,fromwhomAgathahasexpectations,areduehomefromAdelaideintheAurora,andthattheyhavewrittentoMrs.Mardenandhertomeetthemintown.Theywillprobablybeawayforamonthorsixweeks,and,astheAuroraisdueonWednesday,theymustgoatonce—to-morrow,iftheyarereadyintime.MyconsolationisthatwhenwemeetagaintherewillbenomorepartingbetweenAgathaandme."Iwantyoutodoonething,Agatha,"saidI,whenwewerealonetogether."IfyoushouldhappentomeetMissPenclosa,eitherintownorhere,youmustpromisemeneveragaintoallowhertomesmerizeyou."Agathaopenedhereyes."Why,itwasonlytheotherdaythatyouweresayinghowinterestingitallwas,andhowdeterminedyouweretofinishyourexperiments.""Iknow,butIhavechangedmymindsincethen.""Andyouwon’thaveitanymore?""No.""Iamsoglad,Austin.Youcan’tthinkhowpaleandwornyouhavebeenlately.ItwasreallyourprincipalobjectiontogoingtoLondonnowthatwedidnotwishtoleaveyouwhenyouweresopulleddown.Andyourmannerhasbeensostrangeoccasionally—especiallythatnightwhenyouleftpoorProfessorPratt-Haldanetoplaydummy.Iamconvincedthattheseexperimentsareverybadforyournerves.